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

[OurLadyOfWires]

This is a dream.

That is the first thought you have, the moment you regain consciousness.

It is night. You are in your room. And you went to bed less than two hours ago.

You should be asleep right now. You know that. You have a full day ahead of you tomorrow, and you have no business doing anything other than trying to rest.

And yet, you just woke up. Your eyes open, as if you have just received a shock, and you almost gasp for air while you fight a sudden wave of vertigo. You have no business being awake, and yet you already know you will not be able to sleep again even if you try.

Because your heart is just beating too quickly right now. The rhythmic, frenetic, almost panicked thumps coming from inside your chest fill your ears, to the point where you can barely hear yourself breathing.

Your mind, also, is too turned around for you to calm down. You feel nervous, and tense, and almost scared all at the same time. Even though you have no idea why. Your entire body is acting up, almost as if it is trying to fight you. And as the seconds drag on, even your soft bed begins to feel uncomfortable, and then hard, and then almost itchy in a way that you can't stand it anymore.

But still, despite all that, you still know that…



This is a dream.



You jump out of your bed. Because even though that is one of the most comfortable places in the world, the thought of being there even for a moment longer is simply unbearable right now. You jump out of bed, and this itching, panicked, grasping discomfort in your mind decreases a tiny little bit.

And somehow, that slight drop in your discomfort makes you realize what you have to do next.

This idea that you just had, this sudden understanding of what you are supposed to do, doesn't make any sense. You know it doesn't make any sense. It can't make any sense.

But thankfully, it doesn't need to make any sense either.

Because this is a dream.

So, you let your legs move underneath you. You let your hoofs guide you, to where you are supposed to go, and you take over once you realize where exactly you are going.

And with each step you take, this sting you are feeling in your head gets a little smaller. Not small enough for you to calm down, but at least you feel a little better.

You consciously avoid making any sound, as you make your way out of your room. Because even though this is a dream, you also know you aren't supposed to be here.

Still, you leave your room, and you walk down the long hallway, and you silently make your way to the top of the stairways that lead down to the entrance hall.

And then you stop. You hide, just behind that last corner. You are just shy of reaching the topmost step of the stairway. And if you peek around the corner, you will be able to see the entirety of the entrance hall while staying out of sight.

And that is exactly what you are going to do.

Because you aren't supposed to be here.

You are only supposed to see, but you can't be seen.

So, you crouch down on the floor. You bend your legs until your belly touches the floor. And then, you very slowly peek around the corner. Looking down the stairs and towards the entrance hall.

As you do that, the itching, heart-pounding tension you are feeling, it… well, it doesn't begin to fade. Not exactly. But it definitely changes into something else. And slowly, very slowly, that agonizing compulsion that told you to "come to this spot and stay quiet" turns into…

Into what? Concern? Alertness? Focus?

You hold your breath, focusing your eyes on the very center of the entrance hall.



Because there she is.



Velvet Axe is near the center of the entrance hall.

However, you can already tell that the mare looks different.

Her cloak looks more lustrous, its hems embroidered and shiny, completely different from the rags she insists on wearing. Her hood, also, is covering all of her face, to the point that you can barely see the tip of her snout.

But most alarming of all, you can see that the mare is tense. She is pacing back and forth, walking in a tight circle. Looking around her, shooting urgent glances at the corners of the hall, as if looking for something you can't see.

You can tell, even from this far, that her body language is frantic. And even though you can't see even a single patch of her coat, you can tell that she is not alright.

The alertness inside of you turns into a sudden wave of worry. The notion that you should go down there and help her, or at least ask what is going on, flashes through your mind for a moment.

But just as quickly, the idea is drowned down by the imperative that you can't.

Because this is a dream.

And you are not supposed to be here.

And you can't be seen.

So, you stay put.

And as your ears get used to the silence, you realize that Axe is also mumbling to herself.

Eventually, you begin to make out the words.



"Knew et would foken happen. Knew et'd come fer me. Foken knew et… canny have a foken moment o' peace. Canny even be happy for a damn' second befor' this foken…"



Velvet Axe's voice is…

There is no other way to put it. Her voice is shaking. Velvet Axe's voice is shaking.

The realization catches you by surprise. And you strain your ears for a few moments, because you simply can't believe this is happening. But sure enough, Velvet Axe is…. she is trembling, and her breath is short, and if you didn't know any better you would even say she is nervous.

Still, no matter how you look at it, the haughty, arrogant, self-important mare you have come to know is nowhere to be seen. And in her place is a mare who is… scared.

Mumbling to herself, nervously glancing all around her as if the shadows had eyes.

Talking to herself through gritted teeth.

That is, until she freezes. Out of nowhere, Velvet Axe stops moving. The stops walking, and talking, and maybe even breathing. She isn't even trembling anymore.

Instead, she is focusing the entirety of her attention on one of the side doors of the entrance hall. The one that leads to the dining room.

She focuses all of her attention in that direction, and even though her face is entirely covered by her hood, you can tell that she is glaring right now.

You have no idea what is happening, until-



!!!



-something lunges out of the shadows. The doors to the dining room literally burst open as something rushes towards Axe. A thin, arrow-like blur, that speeds towards the mare in a gale so quickly it causes a gale.

And at the same time, Velvet Axe turns into a blur herself. Her movement so quick it almost looks like she twisted in the air.

The deafening, cannonball-like sound of metal striking metal echoes in the entrance hall. Your eyes couldn't follow what just happened, but less than a moment later you can see the end result.



"Ye'll FOKKEN hav to do BE'AH than tha'!"



Velvet Axe shouts, her voice loud and angry.

The thing that lunged at her is now under her hoof. And you can finally take a better look at it.

It is a chain. A long, barbed chain made out of metal and rust. A great, tight shackle on its tip, like the jaws of a hungry predator.

Still, the long, vicious chain is being firmly stamped down by her hoof. Five of its links shattered against the floor. The rest of the chain is sprawled on the floor, its length trailing back to the dinning hall and away from your sight, like a dead animal.

Your heart almost jumps to your throat as you realize what just happened. As you realize that the chain was not only alive, but that it just hurled itself towards Axe. And that somehow, the mare reacted just as quickly.

However, you don't even have time to process your surprise.



!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Because all around Velvet Axe, coming from every door, and every window, and every shadow of the great entrance hall, you can hear the rattling of chains. The growing, almost deafening noise of chains upon chains upon chains trembling against each other. All of them moving, going into position, as they surround Velvet Axe from all sides.

You hear a low, piercing sound coming from Axe. One that you swear sounds too much like a hiss.

But before you can prepare yourself for what is about to happen, everything starts to move all at once.

An entire circle of chains, blur-quick and barbed, charge at the mare. All of them coming from a different direction. Some of them breaking through the glass of windows in a rain of shards, others bursting through wooden doors or out of the carpeted floor.

For a moment, you think the mare will be drowned by the chains. For a moment, you think the shackles are going to dig into every last part of the mare's body, and that they will all try to painfully drag her away in different directions.

But that moment never comes.

Instead, the mare lashes out. Her neck twists in a way that should not be possible, and before the first chain can reach even the halfway point towards her, the mare pulls out a great metal axe from her robes.

The thing is so large that the movement should have cut her, or her robes, as she pulled it out. But none of that happens.

Instead, the axe, firmly gripped in her mouth, makes a long circular motion through the air.

And for a moment, the entrance hall is filled with light.

A small, localized hurricane of sparks flares around Velvet Axe. She spins around so quickly, and the movement of her axe is so precise, that she immediately decapitates the first wave of shackles that lunged towards her. The barbed instruments of rusted metal cracking and breaking with sparks the moment her edge kisses their links.

And then comes the second wave. And then the third, and the fourth. Forcing Axe to leap and twirl to avoid them, punch and kick when her weapon is too busy elsewhere.

Until there are no chains left. None that are capable of moving, at least. And Velvet Axe is alone in the entrance hall, surrounded by leg-high piles of broken chains.

The mare, you can see, is heaving with exertion. Velvet Axe is exhausted, her cloak battered and stained with rust. Gleaming spots covering her fabric here and there, from where a chain struck her so hard that her coat bruised and bled under her clothing.

She lets go of her axe, the sharp edge burying itself on the floor. And she takes long, painful breaths with an expression that appears to be half-dazed.

Still, a few moments later she gets her bearings once again. Spitting on the floor before shaking her head.

"Es… Es tha' all ye fokken got…?"

She grits her teeth, that same hissing sound from before escaping her lips as she blinks her sweat away.

"ES THA' FOKKEN ET?"

She yells that, and then she turns towards the entrance door.

The same doors that, despite the previous rush of chains, have remained closed shut. The one part of the entrance hall that, in sharp contrast to the previous violence, still remains unblemished and undisturbed.

The same doors from which you can hear… a rumbling, growing, almost cacophonous rattle of chains.

As if, right behind the entrance doors, there is a sea of chains preparing to charge. Enough chains, barbed and rusted and topped with vicious shackles, to make the previous attacks look like a drop in the ocean.

Still, the mare glares at the door, taking in a few more tense, barely-not-panicked breaths as she yells her defiance.



"AE WAS AN AXE-BEAR'A, A SLITHERIN' SIS'ER, NAME O' ORDER AN' HUNTER OF MONSTERS! AE'M THA FOKKEN DO'AH O' AXES, AN AE'M NOT FOKKEN AFRAID OF YE FOKKEN CORS!"



Her words echo through the entrance hall, washing over you and reverberating through the rest of the estate.

And almost as if in answer, the entrance door shakes. It shakes, and then it buckles, and then it bends as a river's worth of chains presses against it.

In response, the lonely mare picks up her antler-topped axe.

She doesn't have time to do anything else before the door bursts open.



!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



The things that flow in through the door are not chains. They are not chains, nor a hydra made out of chains, and not even a battering ram made out of links and barbs. No.

The thing that bursts in through the entrance door, and hits Velvet Axe dead center, is a force of nature. An imperative of binding and joining that washes over her. It strikes her with the force of a hurricane, or maybe a stampede, and it carries so much momentum that it just keeps going. Even after it surrounds and envelops and completely covers the mare, it keeps going. Rushing towards the stairs, and flowing out to the rest of the hall, and filling every last part of the lower floor like water coming out of a broken dam.

You can't see Velvet Axe. Not anymore. But you can hear her struggle. You know she is somewhere down there, drowning in that sea of barbed chains. But even then, you can still hear her fighting.

Even though you can already tell that… that her efforts will all be for nothing.

Her struggles eventually die down. And slowly, like a retreating wave, the sea of chains retracts back towards the entrance doors.

And for a moment, your heart sinks. Your heart sinks because you think that, once the chains finish retracting, Velvet Axe will simply be gone. You think that once the chains are all gone, there will be nothing left but an empty and damaged entrance hall.

However, as the chains slowly crawl away, you notice a mass of resistance. You notice a blob of chains, at the bottom of the stairs, that are trying to pull themselves back. However, despite their supernatural efforts, you can see that those chains are only succeeding in stretching themselves taut.

And when the other chains are gone, you can finally see why that is happening.

Velvet Axe is at the bottom of the stairs. Holding on to her namesake weapon for dear life. The blade of her axe sunk deep into the ground, stuck on the stairs and stopping her from being dragged away.

And the mare herself… your heart aches when you finally get a better look at her.

Because Velvet Axe is hurt. She is hurt, and she is bleeding, and her previously beautiful cloak is now in tatters. Covered in sticky blood, ragged and pierced from hood to hem.

She is also completely chained and bound. Her four legs tightly clasped by spiky shackles, her chest and neck surrounded by painfully tight chains.

But the worst part is definitely her expression.

It actually hurts for you to look at her. But Velvet Axe is… she is simply broken.

Her expression is pained. It is pained, and sorrowful, and miserable. You have never seen her cry before, you didn't even think that was possible. But sure enough, the mare is crying. She is weeping, and sobbing, and shivering as much as the taut chains allow her to.

And for the first time in this entire night, Velvet Axe finally looks up at you. She looks up from where she is, chained and bound. Looking you in the eyes as if she knew you were there all along.

And when she speaks, her voice comes out in broken, stuttering sobs.



"A-ae… ae dinnae wan'… ae dinnae want to be alone ageen…"



And the last thing you hear is her scream, as her grip on her axe falters and she is dragged away into the darkness. Her desperate, grasping hoofs clawing at the floor to no avail.

…

Leaving you alone.



- - -



You wake up.

You wake up, and for some reason you know that your home is a little emptier than it was before.

Your legs move before you can even think about it. Your legs move, and moments later you are out of your bed, and then out of your room, and then you are walking down the hallway towards the guest rooms.

The door to Velvet Axe's room is already half-open when you reach it. Which is already enough to make you swallow something dry. Because in all these months, you have never seen her door like this.

You want to hesitate. You want to stop, right here and right now, and go back to your room. You want to tell yourself that you should give Axe her privacy, and that you should just go back to sleep.

But the recent and vivid memory, of her crying and lonely expression, won't let you.

So, your forelegs are already pushing the door further open. And you are walking into her room, even though you realize the mare will yell at you the moment she realizes you are there.

Still, you do it anyways. Because you want her to yell at you. You need her to yell at you, and to prove to you that you just had a silly nightmare, and that she is still here to grumble and scowl and complain about everything you do.

However, when you step into her room…

…

… you see nothing but darkness.

Your breath gets stuck in your throat.

"Axe…?" you ask, your voice low and hesitant.

You take another step into her room. Then another. Then another. Looking all around you, hoping one of the dark silhouettes in the room will turn out to be the hooded mare.

But you don't see her. You can't find her anywhere. And before you realize it, you have already reached her bed.

The covers are messy and strewn around, as if she had just slept here, tossing in her sleep. Everywhere you look, you see everything but the silhouette of a mare.

That is, until you see another shape on her bed. A peculiarly placed something, nestled on top of a soft pillow in a way that looks particularly careful.

You cautiously make your way towards it, but it doesn't take long for you to realize what it is.

"…"

A soft, stifled sniff comes out of your mouth. And you don't even try to stop the next few from following.

You slowly, delicately reach out to grab the… the little rag doll shaped like a pony. You bring it towards you, cradling it in your forelegs. Noticing how strangely smooth parts of it are, as if it has been hugged for too long by something that has scales instead of fur.

Still, you realize a part of the rag doll is strangely coarse. And as you turn it around, you notice there is something written on its underside. As if something corrosive had been used to very carefully write a few letters on the rag doll's belly.

You almost can't read it. You almost can't read it, because it is still too dark, and the setting moon is barely bright enough for you to be able to see. But also because, you just realized, there are tears coming out of her eyes because she said it was a silly gift and she scoffed when you said she should give it a name even though you knew she appreciated it an-



"Silky? Is that… Silky, what happened? Is everything alright?"



You can't really stop yourself anymore. You don't even care when you hear Soft's voice coming from somewhere behind you. You just cry. You cry as you remember Axe's expression, as she was dragged away in your nightmare. You cry at how lonely she looked. And you cry because, even though you know it doesn't make any sense, you know Axe is gone.

Worse than that, you know she didn't just leave. You know she didn't want to leave. Something, something that you saw in that nightmare, took her away. It took her away, and now she is alone.

"Shh, shh, it's alright Silky. It's alright, shh… But please, what happened? A-are you hurt? Did Axe say something mean again?"

You can feel Soft Sweeps hugging you, but you can't answer her. You can barely bring yourself to shake your head, to at least try to tell her she is wrong.

But still, you can't even do that properly.

The only thing you can do is hug the rag doll, the one you gave Axe all those months ago. The one that she named, even though she said that she wouldn't. The one where she carefully, almost delicately, wrote the word Pasharka. And even though you have no idea what that means, you know that word is a name, and you know that it must mean something very dear to Axe.

Still, you can't do anything but cry.

Because every time you close your eyes, the only thing you can see is her devastated expression.

And the only thing you can think of is that, wherever she is, she is alone now. Alone, and without her Pasharka.

…

It takes almost a full hour for your older sister to calm you down. And even then, you don't really feel happy for a long time.





The Daughter-of-Axes has been unsummoned. She will only be available for summoning again at the beginning of turn 19.

The Level 4 Influence "Wrong Door" has expired.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Nightmare's Revenge (Forma Social Awareness)
-[X] 3 personal actions
-[X] (Shopping) Purchase Edge 3 artifact
-[X] Deny it. (Will destroy a Wrong Key)
-[X] (Other) Give Stormchaser a Wrong Key to use while he's away, just in case.
-[X] (Servants) Work on the ground level of Jade's old house.
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Fluttershy) Train
-[X] (Jade) Investigate Selene
-[X] (DoA) Knock Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Grail lesson
-[X] (Selene) Edge
-[X] (AotL) Lantern: Edge Artifact
-[X] (Forge) Moth 3
-[X] (Knock) Explore beyond the Ruined Church
-[X] Study: Edge 3 artifact, Lantern 6 book
-[X] [COPPER] Perform The Path Through Nightmares aimed at this opponent
--[x] Sacrifice Moth 3 reagent
--[X] At Jade's House. (if this is somehow not available use the Rarity's House)
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Cadance

You are Velvet Covers.

And you will not sugarcoat it. You had a very bad month.

Well, the month is still ongoing. So technically, it is not that you "had" a bad month. You are very much having a bad month.

You try to be thankful. You really do. You realize you are not the most positive mare in Equestria, but you still try your best to look at the positive things that have happened to you. Even if you don't feel that you deserved them most of the time.

You have a crippled hindleg? Well, at least you were born a noble, so you never had to perform physical labor to survive that would need four good legs. You were sold into an arranged marriage? Well, you were lucky enough to meet the love of your life. You nearly died during labor? Well, if you hadn't gone through that you would never have that little light in your life called Silky Stream.

However, this month has been really challenging when it comes to finding the positive side of things.

And the reason for that, the reminders for how you feel that way, reach you as soon as you arrive at the front gate of your family's property.

The ride from Canterlot to Ponyville was, thankfully, uneventful. You even managed to sleep a little bit. The walk from the train station to the estate, also, was quiet. The sun has not yet risen on the horizon, and your slow pace through the empty streets of Ponyville almost made you feel like you were having a moonlit stroll.

However, the moment you reach the gates of the property, those bad things hit you again. All at once.

It hits you in the form of a memory, as you remember what you started. It hits you like a sudden wave of nervousness, as you second-guess yourself wondering if you… if the "help" you gave Cadance was really the right thing to do.

And most of all, those bad feelings come to you the moment you feel the sweet mist of Grail that wafts out of one of the annex buildings, while you walk through the garden. As well as when you feel that tiny ball of anger inside your home, coming from Selene's room, once you approach the front door.

In short, trying to tell yourself this is all for the best has been really hard. To say the very least.

Still, you will keep trying. You have to keep trying. You already spent years of your life not trying, and the only thing you got out of that was several years locked inside your estate as your daughter slowly grew up. And you don't really want to live like that again.

So, you will keep trying. Even if that means dragging yourself through this morass. Even if you have to cheat a little bit. Beg, borrow, or barter, you will find the energy to keep your head raised!

With that in mind, you take a deep breath, massage your temple, and tap the front door open.



- - -



It is still night. The clock might say it is a bit past six in the morning. And some ponies might already be getting out of their beds to begin the day, even though it is the weekend. However, technically, and most importantly legally, it is still night.

At least, as far as ponykind is concerned.

Because the moon is still in the sky, which means Princess Celestia has not yet deigned to let the day begin. So, even if the moon is so close to the horizon that it is almost touching it, it is still night.

And if other species in their barbarous faraway kingdoms want to think otherwise, that is entirely their problem. You don't see their Princesses raising the sun. Oh no.

Idle thoughts like that, and others besides, swim through your head as you lie on your bed. You don't really take any of those thoughts seriously. But still, this is the closest you can get to shutting your brain down without going to sleep. The comfortable, semi-numb sensation of doing nothing at all washes over you for the longest time.

That is, until you feel that somepony is already out and about in your house.

Your thoughts slowly come back into focus, as a particular part of your brain shakes you into a higher state of attention. The same way your stomach would start rumbling if you smelled food, so too does your mind starts acting up.

After all, the pony you can feel is important to you. It is not just one of your maids, or one of the several unknown servants who came with your brother.

Quite on the contrary, the pony you can feel is one of your daughters!

A nearby clock tells you it is almost seven in the morning. Meaning that, apparently, the sunrise snuck by you and you didn't even notice it. However, it is still too soon for anypony to be properly awake. Especially given today is a Saturday.

With that in mind, you jump out of your bed and head downstairs.

And once you enter the living room, tracking the familiar scent, you find Soft Sweeps sitting on the sofa that faces the fireplace.

You don't particularly try to be silent. In fact, you want her to notice you. And as you walk into the large living room, you watch as the young mare's ears perk up. Her expression becomes guarded for half a second, as she hears hoofsteps behind her. But as soon as she turns around to face you a smile immediately appears on her face.

And there it is. Despite everything that has been happening, watching Softy's expression turn happy as soon as she sees you makes a wave of warmth flare inside your chest. And not just because you know this is good for her. Not just because you recall everything that happened to her, and seeing her smile is a wonderful sign of progress. It is more than that, and at the same time it is a lot simpler.

It is simple. You feel a wave of warmth inside of you because you care about her, and seeing her smile makes you feel that you are doing something right.

"Mrs. Velvet! Good morning to you!" She says, standing up from the sofa and walking towards you.

Her smile is all happiness and innocence, and the way she is walking towards you immediately tells you that she isn't even thinking about it. As if what she is doing is the most natural thing in the world, and there is nothing wrong with it.

But ohoh, you know better! The mother inside of you, that part of your brain that holds the greatest sway over you, immediately realizes what is going on.

So, you stay put. You stay where you are, you stay silent, and you do your absolute best not to interrupt this.

"I didn't expect to see you before breakfast," she continues to say, her tone excited and fluid like the filly she is.

And step by step, she walks closer and closer to you. And your mind raises more and more flags as it confirms your suspicions. A wide smile appearing on your face even as you try to keep your mouth shut.

Because the way she is acting so innocently, without thinking. The way she is coming towards you as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Oh, she is going to hug you. She is so walking towards you to give you a hug. Soft Sweeps is about to hug you, and this might actually the first time she initiates it while she is happy.

"But still, I'm glad you are already home!"

She is totally going to hug you, and she hasn't even realized it. She isn't even thinking about it at all. Her own words are distracting her from what is about to happen. And as for you-

-don't move, don't talk, don't even breathe. Be completely still. Don't make a sudden movement that might snap her out of it. Don't make any movement at all!

"Speaking of which, is there anything you want for breakfast? The cook hasn't arrived yet, but I can make sure to tell him if there is something you wan-"

That is, until the young mare freezes. She freezes, and her eyes go wide open in surprise. Because she finally realized it.

Soft Sweeps is so close to you that your noses are almost touching. She is so close to you that she has reached the point where a normal pony would raise their forelegs to wrap them around you. However, the moment she reaches that crucial point she finally realizes what she was about to do.

Which causes the mare to freeze. Her entire body petrifying in a sudden wave of panic. A violent blush appearing on her face as her words die inside her throat.

And internally, you curse. Oh, how you curse! Your mind stomp its hoofs against the ground in anger, at just how close you were to greatness only for you to be denied your just reward. Your mind curses, and yells, and grit its teeth within the confines of your brain.

However, on the outside, you remain the picture of calmness.

No, more than that. You also pretend you didn't notice anything. Because to do otherwise would make your daughter distressed and embarrassed, and that just would not do.

Still, you bask on Softy's frozen, beet red expression for a few more seconds.

"A-ah, I-…!" she tries to say something, although she fails to do anything more than stammer.

And you take that as a sign that now is the time to walk past her. Pretending like nothing happened, and heading towards one of the sofas as if that had been your plan all along.

"That is wonderful to hear, Soft," you say, sitting down next to her spot on the sofa. Spotting a small, closed notebook and a pen, which you think she was writing on. "And no, nothing comes to mind. I'll have whatever for breakfast, as long as I have company."

You hold back a chuckle as you hear the mare take several long, quiet breaths behind you.

Still, you make a point of giving her the time that she needs.

"Right, right, uhm, company yes…" you hear her mumble.

And then you hear her… do something?

She couldn't possibly have just slapped herself. Right…?

Good heavens, you can appreciate how confusing these last few months have been for her. But it is still slightly worrying to see her get this flustered.

"Still, the fillies probably won't wake up for another hour," she says, sitting next to you after a few more deep breaths. "So, how was your week, Mo-ahem-Mrs. Covers?"

Your ears perk up at her near faux pas, and you resist the urge to do several different things.

Instead, you focus on answering what she just asked you.

"Same thing as always. Work, work, work… It feels like running the farmlands, a little bit. At least the paperwork," you feel a small knot forming inside your chest, cooling down the fuzzy warmth that was there until now. So, you force your tone to become a little more upbeat. "But! There's definitely more plates to spin, so that's exciting."

You say that with a smile, even though you don't really want to talk about it that much.

And you are about to change the subject, you are about to ask about the little notebook Soft is now holding, when something in her expression gives you pause.

Because you notice that Soft Sweep's head is… slightly tilted?

No, that's not it. Not exactly. Her expression is still normal, but for some reason it feels unusually serious. She is not furrowing her brow, or doing anything you can properly see. But still, you get that feeling from her.

The way she is looking at you is… one that you are not used to. And it's definitely not something you have ever seen on her before.

In fact, you swear that her nose twitched just now. Almost as if she just sniffed something.

"Mrs. Velvet, is… is everything alright?"

You raise an eyebrow at her question. Because you can tell that she isn't just asking that for the sake of asking. In fact, she isn't even asking that question to try to probe you for an answer.

No, she asked that question… but somehow, she already knows the answer?

"Why do you ask that, Soft?" you say. And you feel curious, the same way that you feel worried that she is being able to see through your perfectly schooled expression.

You ask that question, and then you wait. You wait, because you can see that the mare is conflicted on how to answer.

But not because she doesn't know what to say. Instead, she is conflicted because she is wondering whether she should say it.

Almost as if she is wondering if she should hide something or not.

"I-I… I don't mean this in a strange way, Mrs. Velvet. And of course, you're a busy mare! You are busy, and you are important, and you definitely don't need to tell me if you don't want to." She says that, and then she takes a few seconds to muster her courage. "But do you… would you like to talk about it?"

She says that, and the moment she speaks those words you feel something curious.

Because you admit that you were worried. You were worried that she was seeing through you. Worried that you just did something, some slip-up you didn't notice, that made one of your daughters concerned. You were disturbed by the idea that you messed up, and that there is some crack in your behavior that might let them see something they shouldn't.

However, the way she said those words… it actually calms you down.

And you can see what she is doing. You can see how that question, maybe even those exact words, is something she has been asking other ponies for several weeks now. You can even tell that the tone she used just now, while speaking to you, is the same tone she probably uses in her… well, in her support group sessions.

But something about it just works. And for a moment, you don't feel like you are talking to a daughter you must protect at all costs. Instead, for some reason, you simply feel like you are talking to somepony who wants to help you.

Even if the only thing she can do is to hear you out.

And something about that is strangely comforting. Because you worry about her so much that it is almost strange, in a good way, to see her worry about you in a reciprocal way.

You don't know what to make of this. Not yet, at least. But it definitely doesn't feel bad. In fact, it feels very good. To the point that the knot that was forming in your chest quickly dissipates.

"Actually, Softy, I would like to talk about it… Do you mind sitting here with me for a while?"

She answers you with a surprised, but encouraging smile. Giving you a warm nod as she gives you her full attention.

Well, maybe you should come to terms that, daughter or not, she is several years older than what you are used to from Silky.

She already lost ponies who are dear to her. She already worked herself to the bone. She already had bad things happen to her, and still she is already pulling herself together like this. And on top of that, you trust her of course.

So maybe, you should rely on her a little more than you were before.



- - -



Your conversation with Soft Sweeps is cut short when Silky Stream wakes up.

Make no mistake, you told her several things, and you feel a lot better. But you definitely have more things worrying you than a single hour of conversation would be able to cover.

Still, your first daughter wakes up, Selene grudgingly follows after her for breakfast, and your day officially begins in a surprisingly pleasant fashion.

That is, until your breakfast is interrupted by a maid, informing you that you have a visitor at your door.

Well, it is one of your maids who informs you of that. So, she knows who it is. Furthermore, you also realize who it is the moment you check.

Which also tells you that the only reason the maid didn't let her is was because, well, it is way too early for a social visit.

Still, you excuse yourself from the table, and tell the maid you will take care of it yourself.

And then, you go to the front door to greet Jade Whistle.

"Hello, Velvet Covers," she says. Her tone neutral, and perhaps slightly sleepy, but otherwise as normal as Jade can ever be.

Well, no wonder her tone sounds sleepy. The first thing you notice about her is the worrying amount of dark circles under her eyes. And you don't know if you should address that, or if you should ask why she is here at this hour to begin with.

You can't decide, so you end up doing both.

"Jade, good morning and… is everything alright?"

You don't even try to keep your worry from creeping into your voice. Although, admittedly, it is not too much worry. You care for Jade, of course, but you have already seen her worse. So, seeing her like this might just be… her usual aloofness?

"Yes. Everything is alright. May I come in?"

You hesitate for half a second. Because if she says she is alright, you will believe her. This could just be a bout of insomnia she is going through, or something like that. After all, she already mentioned that happening before.

But more than that, you believe her because her tone sounds strangely focused. No, wait, her tone doesn't sound like anything. It is her timing that makes you feel she is focused. Because she didn't look around, like she usually would. She didn't wait in silence, waiting for you to invite her in.

No, she asked you if she can come in. She wants to come in, and is asking you out of politeness.

So, you pull the door a bit more, and you step aside so she can come in.

"Thank you," she says, walking past you and going to the center of the entrance hall.

And you follow after her, more curious than anything else. Watching as she stands in the middle of the hall and looks around.

Although, you realize she is already familiar to your house. You can tell that, instead, she is looking around.

"Would you like to join us for breakfast?" you ask, even as you curiously watch her go about her actions.

The mare doesn't even answer you. She looks up the stairs towards the second floor, and then she looks in the direction of the dining hall where your daughters are. Until her eyes finally settle on the living room.

Which is the direction she goes in, without another word.

"Jade? Is there anything going on?" you ask once again. But this time because you are intrigued.

After all, Jade Whistle seems to be intently inspecting your living room. Closely eyeing your sofas, of all things, before going towards the fireplace.

But this time, she answers you with her usual demeanor. Which means she doesn't answer you at all. Instead, she slowly walks around the room, squinting her eyes here and there at some detail only she can see.

Until finally, she sits down on one of the sofas. Her expression is strangely confused, or perhaps frustrated, but even that seems to be little more than a shadow behind her eyes.

And when she looks up at you, it almost feels like she just remembered you are there.

"Do you mind if I stay here for a while?" she asks.

Although, once again, you think this is more of a formality than anything else.

She wants to do… whatever she is doing. And it is so rare for Jade to want things that you would be hard pressed to deny her even if you wanted to.

"For as long as you need, Jade," you say, accepting that you won't be getting anything else out of her. At least for now. So, you make your way out of the living room and back to the dining hall. "And my offer for breakfast is still open," you say towards her, even as you walk away.

And you pretend that the thing you just heard coming from her was a mumbled "thank you".



- - -



Jade stays in your house. She quite literally stays in your house for the rest of the day.

You check on her, every now and then, although you spend most of your time with Silky and Soft. You check on her, asking if she wants to join you for lunch, and then tea, and then dinner. And even though she refuses all your offers, you make sure that somepony takes her some snacks every now and then.

You also make sure to keep track of her with your nose. But other than a few times she went here and there, she really does spend the entire day on that very same sofa.

Still, you have no idea of what she is doing. Or even of what she is trying to do. And the only word you manage to coax out of her is that she is doing "research". But you consider that more than enough to understand you ought to leave her to it.

And Jade doesn't really do anything, throughout the entire day.

That is, until it is late at night.

…

It is almost midnight. You are just about to go to sleep, and everything inside your home is calm and quiet. Your daughters are in their rooms, the servants have already retreated to their quarters, and Jade… well, Jade is still in the living room. But she is a grown mare, and you trust her, so you will let her do what she thinks is best.

You undo the belt strap of your sleeping robe with a flick of your horn, to give you a little more comfort, and you gingerly climb onto your bed to-



-to gain the higher ground because there is somepony running towards your room and you need the tactical advantage-



-and you practically jump up in surprise, as your nose flares up with a spike of Edge. The aggressive scent-message running through your body and raising every last fur on your body.

It takes you half a second to realize it is jade, and three more seconds to push back the notion that you are in danger. Because even though you realized it was her, your senses still insisted you should prepare for a fight.

Another deep breath, and those feelings die down. Right on time for you to hear a soft, but unusually fast, knocking on your door.

You re-tie the holds of your robe, lighting up your horn to open the door even as you walk towards it.

Only to find a tense, nervous Jade looking back at you. With pursed lips and wide-open eyes.

And to your surprise, the mare actually speaks up before you can.

"What did you just do?" she asks. Her tone far from her usual slowness. Her words making it clear that she needs to know the answer.

To which you can only answer with… surprise? Confusion?

Because you have no idea of what she is even asking.

"I… beg your pardon? What do you mean what just happened? I was just going to sleep?"

The mare shakes her head, looking past you and into your room. Searching for something with a literal glint in her eyes.

And you can only respond with… more uncertainty?

In fact, your uncertainty turns into honest concern as Jade makes an expression that is very clearly distressed. She shakes her head, looking at your room, and then at you, and then down towards the hallway she just came from. A long and drawn out groan escaping her lips.

"Not here… wrong place…" she mumbles to herself.

Only to begin walking away from you.

But this time, you can't contain your own confusion anymore.

"Wait, hold on Jade," you say, following after the mare. "What is this all about? What are you even looking for?"

You ask that because, as you follow after the mare, a few more pieces begin to click together. And you realize that Jade hasn't been sleeping because of this, whatever this is.

"Something just happened," she answers, although you can tell she is talking to herself as much as she is talking to you. "Something happened, and it was important. But I'm not in the right place anymore, so I can't tell why it's important and…"

"What do you mean by right place? Goodness, Jade, what did you even feel to begin with?"

You continue following after her until the two of you are, once again, back in the living room. The mare pacing around the place as you try to understand what is going on. Or rather, as you try to get her to say something that might help you understand. Something that might at least make sense.

"Not the right place… upstairs is special, but this is the right place and… no, this is the best place because… it looks the way it should?"

But Jade Whistle is too absorbed by her own thoughts to answer any of your questions. To be honest, you are not even sure that she can hear you in the first place.

Which makes you realize you have to do something more, if you are to get this mare to talk to you.

"Jade. Stop. JADE!" you grab the mare by the shoulders. Rude as it might sound, you even shake her a little bit. "Jade, please! If you don't know how to explain whatever this is, at least tell me what is going on. But please, snap out of it. I at least want to try and help you!"

You yell that. You take care not to be too loud, so as to not alert anypony else this late at night. But still, you do the closest thing to a shout that you can.

And then you shake her again, for good measure. You consider being gentle, but then you remember you are a unicorn and she is an earth pony. You probably wouldn't hurt her even if you slapped her in the face.

But thankfully, your actions seem to have some effect. Because Jade finally stops mumbling, and she looks you in the eyes with that glinting gaze of hers.

A second passes in silence. And then another. And another. Until the mare finally opens her mouth and begins to say something very slowly. Almost as if the idea is forming inside her head at the same time she is expressing it.

"Velvet Covers you… you are an unicorn… and…" you are about to interrupt her, worrying that she is going to start saying confusing things again. But she says something reasonable before you actually do that. "Velvet Covers, can you help me with something? I need to test something."

You let go of her, and you give her a worried, cautious nod.

Still, the mare actually follows through with her request, and begins to ask you to do something that you can understand.

Well, you still don't know why she is asking you to do it. But at least she is asking you to do something. And like she said, you hope she is testing some hypothesis about… whatever this is.

"Sit down," she says, pointing towards the sofa. The one that is facing sideways to the fireplace. "No, no there. To your left."

You do as she asks. But still, the only reaction she has is to once again frown. That very particular, un-Jade-like frown that tells you the mare is incredibly frustrated.

She asks you to move to another place on the sofa. Then to another seat. Then she asks you to follow her to the dinner room, only to groan in frustration the moment you two leave the living room. Almost galloping back to where she was before grumbling about "right places" and "something else".

You ask her to explain what is going on, to which she complies. Or rather, she tries to comply. She really does. But after several minutes of frustrated half-words and botched analogies, you come to realize that Jade herself has no idea either.

All she knows is that the living room feels right, and that you being here feels less wrong. She tells you that she has been chasing this feeling for almost the entire month now, and that she tracked it out of her house and throughout Ponyville, until she ended at the doorsteps of your home.

So, she can tell you without a shadow of doubt that it's supposed to be your living room. But she is as confused as you are about what any of this is about.

And you have no idea of how to help her. You just stay there, sitting on the sofa, as the mare paces from one side of the room to the other. Looking at you, and then the fireplace, and then towards the entrance hall as if trying to piece a puzzle together.

That is, until the mare appears to give up, and she sits down next to you on the sofa-

!!!​

-and you let out a sharp, surprised gasp. A cannonball of emotions hitting you dead center in the middle of the chest.

Out of nowhere, a wave of feelings and thoughts and memories quite literally floods you. As soon as Jade sits next to you. To the point that you can barely breathe.

And you immediately realize that… you immediately understand that…

You recognize this!

You recognize what just happened. You recognize what this means. And you immediately understand what you have to do next.

Because this is where he was sitting. The stage is set. The stage is set, even if it is wrong. Even if it can never be truly right.

You are sitting where he was sitting. You are in the correct position in the wrong place that is still the best you can possibly do. You are in the correct position and you are a unicorn and that is the best that can possibly be done even though you are not the father.

Selene too is in the correct position. And the "thing" Jade felt not long ago was the fact that Selene finally fell asleep. Because the daughter must be asleep for the daughter to be woken up.

And Jade is sitting where she was sitting. And it is good that she is an earth pony and it is bad that she is not the mother and even now her mind is filling with memories that are not hers and she knows what she must do next. And the next step is for her to lean towards you and tell you to go wake your daughter up and to remind you of how groggy your daughter can be when she sleeps for too long and that it is what must be done even though it means you will never see her ag-​

The flow of memories is suddenly severed, and you feel as if you have just received a shock. You breathe in heaves, as flashes of memories from that place and that house and those two ponies rush through your head. Those memories that are not yours, but that are still so strong that they hurt, hammering at your brain with an intensity that is almost frightening.

You are breathing in heaves. Your eyes are filled with tears. And no matter what you do, you cannot shake the feeling that you just tripped on something that shouldn't even be possible.

No… you didn't trip on this. Jade did, you realize.

That thought reminds you that the mare is still here with you. And when you turn to face her, you realize Jade is no longer sitting next to you.

On the contrary. She was hit far, far worse than you. Because she is not the mother nor the father and has no place in this affair.

You shake those thoughts away, jumping out of the sofa and rushing towards the mare. Your first priority being to make sure she is not hurt, and your second being to somehow help her.

Because Jade Whistle is now on the floor. This connection, whatever it was, began when she sat next to you, and only ended because the mare hurled herself away from the sofa. She is down on the floor, curled into a ball, and clutching her head with her hoofs.

And she is weeping. A low, soft, and constant moan coming out of her as if she is in pain. Tears streaming out of her eyes even as she chokes and coughs through her own breath.

"Jade! Jade, can you hear me?!" you bring her towards you, trying to get a hold of her, but the mare doesn't even seem to be listening to you.

But you understand what just happened. Even if your friend has no idea of what is going on, what just happened is painfully evident to you.

Because those memories… those flooding emotions of care, and love, and loss, were the same that you fell almost a year ago. It was the same thing you experienced, when you met the ponies that you believe were Princess Luna's parents.

It all fits together. How you spoke to them in their living room, which was a little bit like yours. How they were sitting, a unicorn and an earth pony, side by side in a sofa, just like you and Jade were just now.

How they were filled with warmth and concern for their daughter, who was asleep upstairs. And how they were being crushed by the separation that was about to happen.

Because the next thing that must happen is that the father shall go upstairs, to wake up the sleeping daughter.

And after that, they know they will never see her again.​

And the blatant, obvious, almost fated similarities are all there. You realize, now, that you know what happened and… and that you know what to do next.

You know how to repeat it.

"Calm down, Jade. It's alright. Everything is alright. I figured it out. It made sense to me. You don't have to worry about it anymore."

But still, you push those thoughts for another time. Because right now, Jade needs your help.

You do not know if Jade was struck harder because she is not a "part" of this. Who knows, maybe those two ponies made it so that only… only Selene's parents could be involved. So maybe, Jade was hit by a grievous backlash because she stumbled upon something she shouldn't have.

Or maybe, she was simply devastated by the nature of the memories themselves. Because they struck you as suddenly as they did it violently. The entire history of that safe, loving, and warm childhood home hitting you in the span of a single second. Closed off by the realization that the story ends with the parents leaving their daughter behind.

The kind of story that definitely would leave Jade like this…

Still, you push those thoughts aside.

Even if, now, you know what to do.





Jade Whistle has successfully researched Selene's level 3 Knock.

You have learned the Rite of the Mother and the Father.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Clouded River never really appreciated being helped by other ponies.

But not because he was arrogant. Not exactly. He didn't reject help from other ponies because he thought he was better than them. In fact, he was even willing to listen to advice, if it came from somepony he trusted.

However, he would always reject any kind of direct, physical help. Help carrying something. Help with a work project. He even refused loans from his friends, at the time he found himself in a financially bad situation. Still, regardless of what shape or form it took, he was always adamant in refusing help.

And nopony really knew why that was the case. Not even Clouded's own, oldest friends. Some of them thought it was because he had a rough childhood. That tragic mixture of poverty and sickness that, even though he managed to surpass when he grew up, clearly left a mark on him. Others said that he became like that after his wife passed away, leaving him to raise their only son alone.

Still, nopony could say for sure what made him like that. Who knows, maybe Clouded River himself didn't know either.

The only thing everypony knew was that, whenever they asked why he was refusing this or that, he simply answered that he "didn't want to get used to something he couldn't rely on."

Clouded River was not really an antisocial pony. Still, he was not exactly friendly by pony standards either. After all, there were just too many small social conventions that relied on giving and taking. And since Clouded River was adamant in not taking, it also felt awkward for other ponies to ask him to give.

But still, despite that strange quirk of his, Clouded River was still pleasant enough to be with. He still led a normal life, with normal friends. And even though he was a widower, he was still a good father to his son.



And then the Catastrophe happened.



There was no single, cohesive story of what happened that day. Everypony knew the general points. But if you asked ten ponies what exactly happened, you would inevitably receive ten slightly different stories. Some of those stories would focus on the fires. Others, on the monsters. And some ponies would simply state they couldn't remember anything, and then they would change the subject.

And if you asked any of Clouded River's friends how the Catastrophe affected him, you would get the same result. Some of his friends said he and his son survived, but promptly moved away. Others would claim both the stallion and his colt sadly passed away. And again, others would simply refuse to talk about it at all.

In the end, as is often the case, the truth was a mixture of all those stories. Clouded River lost his son. The pony himself died a little inside after that day. And before the dust was settled, the pegasus stallion took off never to return. And the few friends he left behind had nothing to go by, except the fact that after the fires were put out both the stallion and the colt had disappeared.

Clouded River's story was not exactly common, but it wasn't unique either. After all, pegasi are uniquely gifted with the ability to relocate all across Equestria, faster than the trains can carry them. And the Catastrophe created several pegasi who suddenly lost their roots, and had every incentive to leave a place that was so full of bad memories.

However, Clouded's story was slightly different, because he was one of the few ponies who, after flying for who knows how long, decided to land on the then-small town of Ponyville.



- - -



When Clouded River "moved" to Ponyville, he didn't do what ponies would call "starting a new life". To be honest, he didn't want to leave his old life behind to begin with. The problem was that he didn't have a choice. He didn't want to leave, but he wanted to stay at his old home even less.

So, he did not start a new life. He just ended his old one.

That being said, he landed in Ponyville with literally nothing. Not even with a saddle on his back. He had nothing but the feathers on his wings and the fur on his body, as well as an overwhelming desire to be alone.

And given his circumstances, Clouded had no choice but to accept the help of others. Thankfully, the spreading awareness of what had just happened all over Equestria, added to the welcoming nature of the small town, meant that there was no shortage of ponies willing to help him. He spent less than a day on the street, before one pony or another offered him a place to stay, no questions asked.

In fact, a few more ponies like him eventually trickled into Ponyville, as the days went by. To the point that the Mayor herself got involved, to talk about what would be of the newcomers. Turning them away was unthinkable, of course. Especially given what had happened to them, and how everypony was hurting. After all, even Ponyville was struck by the Catastrophe, even if the timing was a little off.

But still, suggestions became ideas, and ideas matured into an understanding of sorts. So, the small community came together to help the mourning newcomers with all sorts of things. An old house was refurbished and gifted to the newcomers, for them all to share and live in. Small gifts were given here and there. And as the displaced ponies slowly got back on their hoofs, jobs and a place in the community were offered.

And just like everypony else, Clouded River would not have survived if he had not accepted that aid. Even if he didn't like it. Even if, every time he received something from somepony, he felt like that was another blow against his pride. One more thing to weigh him down, one more reminder that he wasn't enough, together with the memories of the son he could not protect and the life he could not keep.

However, again, he would not have survived if not for the aid of other ponies.

So, to try and make it as bearable as possible, he learned how to numb himself to it. Because every time somepony helped him, he could feel nothing but a growing shame over the fact that he would never be able to repay them. So, he at least learned how to ignore the shame. He quietly taught himself how to shoulder that growing humiliation, and he slowly figured out how to simply go with the motions.

After all, he had not been a good enough husband, so his wife passed away. He had not been a good enough father, so he lost his colt. And regardless of what everypony said about how it was not his fault, he knew they were wrong.

So, if he was going to be a nopony, at least he should learn how to be a quiet nopony.

And with that dead-eyed mindset, he slowly began to live through one day at a time. He accepted the job he was offered. He worked hard to be as small a burden as he possibly could. He volunteered his time whenever the opportunity arose. And he gave away his bits almost as quickly as he received them, except for a small parcel that was barely enough to afford him enough food for the week.

It came to the point that Clouded River was not exactly sure of when was the last time he ever said "no" to anypony.

So, when a pair of ponies knocked at his door and gave him a flier, something about a support group, he didn't have it in him to refuse their invitation. After all, a worthless pony such as himself had no right to make other ponies around him uncomfortable, by refusing their offer. Also, he had nothing but time.

Still, his visits to the nightly gatherings were… uneventful. He barely listened as they all sat down in a circle and volunteered their words here and there. And he didn't even notice when it was his turn to talk. He only really noticed he missed his turn when the pony on his left began to talk, after the long silence after the pony to his right was finished.

Just like everything else he did, his time there barely even registered.

That is, until…



"Alright everypony, thank you all for sharing. We are done with our official meeting, and if anypony wants to leave, please do. However, after our… repeated requests, she has finally agreed to speak a few more words to us. So, without further ado, those who want to stay please lend your ears to…"



For some reason, those words brought him to focus. It was a strange, half-dazed sensation. As if he had his eyes closed for weeks, or maybe months, and he was opening them for the first time.

Everything around him was blurred. The ponies around him were nothing more than vague shapes of mixed colors.

However, for the first time in so long, his mind was actually trying to understand what was going on.

And it was all thanks to…

"I-I… uhm, well… I would like to thank everypony for your time. A-and to congratulate you all! I mean, congratulate all of us for what we did tonight. I see a few new faces here and there, which is great. And some of you were even willing to share today, which is even better! B-but of course, those of you who are not ready yet, it's no problem at all! Please take as long as you need…"

That voice.

There was something about that voice that… that was just strange. As if those words were somehow poking a part of his brain that he couldn't quite name.

It hurt. It actually, legitimately hurt. But he had no choice but to listen. Almost as if every other part of his brain was either asleep, or too weighted down to fight back. And that voice was trying to wake up something inside of him that he had buried too deep to even know how to defend.

"But I, uhm. I guess nopony is here to hear me talk about that… Hay, even I don't want to hear me talk about that, s-so I apologize. Still… I feel like I should. Or rather, I think it would be wrong if I didn't address it. Because all of you who are here for the first time, I get it. I get that you don't want to be here. I didn't want to come here either. And it only makes sense, right? It's a bit embarrassing, and a bit humiliating, and deep down it hurts. Forcing yourself to come here hurts. Admitting you need help, and that you lost somepony… it just hurts."

He could practically feel the blood being pumped towards his eyes. Forcing his sight into a bright, edge-sharp focus. His ears, too, perked up without conscious prompt. And the scenery around him was practically forced into his mind one bit at a time, the incoming knowledge as painful as it was curious.

Because… weren't they supposed to be in a circle? No, he was sure of it. They were supposed to be in a circle. For the last several weeks he came here, they were always sitting down in a circle as they talked.

And yet, they weren't. Not anymore. The entire group was arrayed in rows and columns, all facing the same way, as if they were in an auditorium or something. On top of that, he could tell that they had been like that for the entire night. Apparently, he was so out of it that he didn't even realize that night's configuration has been completely switched.

And they were all sitting down on their chairs, facing the same direction, looking towards…

"It just… hurts. And just like you, just like all of you, I hated that pain. It took me almost an entire month to share for the first time, because even talking about them was another reminder that they were gone."

They were all looking towards a mare. A pegasus mare, that was awkwardly speaking from behind a raised lectern.

She looked young. And most of all, she looked nervous. The mare was very much not a good speaker, stopping herself every now and then as she second-guessed her own words. Her tone dying down to a mumble every now and then, to the point that he could barely hear sometimes.

And yet, somehow, her words just… reached him. He felt this strange, murky part of his mind heating up as she spoke.

No, not just heating up. Every now and then Clouded River actually had to flinch from the pain. Because sometimes, the mare would say something that felt like a branding rod being pressed against him.

But he could not stop listening to her. Nor could he look away. And just like everypony else, he kept listening to her with a degree of attention that was almost rapt.

"I used to hate that pain. Hate that they left me behind, or hate that I was alone. But more than that, I hated the thought that it would only stop hurting if… if I let them go. That is, until I realized that… that maybe that wasn't it?"

He felt his body inching a little bit forward, slightly leaning in the mare's direction so he could hear her better. There wasn't a single sound in that room that wasn't coming from her. The wind was still, and at times Clouded thought that he wasn't even breathing. Just so he could hear her better.

And for all that the cattle-prod pain was still there, in his mind, he also realized he was paying attention to her words. More than just listening to her, he was thinking. Pondering.

Internalizing.

"Because this pain, this bleeding that I feel inside my chest. It hurts, yes. But isn't it also a proof that they were alive? That I loved them? That they were so important to me, that when they passed away… that when they died, they took a part of me with them? And if that is the case, doesn't that mean that the day it stops hurting they will be completely gone?"

Clouded River felt his thoughts going hazy. The heavy, aching memories of his family coming back to him as the mare spoke.

He remembered the fire. He remembered arriving home to a dead son. He remember feeling so shocked that he almost didn't escape his house on time.

He remembered the sheer disgust he felt of himself, at letting his wife and son die before he did. He remembered the agony of flying through Equestria for almost two days straight. And how he considered just dropping himself in a lake, to drown and die, when his wings were ready to give up.

But most of all, the mare's words also made him…

"So maybe… maybe this hurt that I am feeling, maybe it's their final gift to me? Their final gift for us? I think that's the case. Or at least, that's the only conclusion I can reach nowadays. So, truth be told… I don't want it to stop hurting. I don't want it to scar, or to heal. I don't want to grow stronger, or to do any of those things other ponies tell me to do. Because if I do any of that, then the pain will stop. If I do that, then they will be gone for good!"

He felt a strange pain in his neck. A weird sensation in the back of his mind.

And it took him the longest moment to realize that the pain was his body nodding his head. And that the sensation was his mind, his very thoughts… agreeing with the mare.

His eyes, also, began to burn. And it hurt him to keep the tears at bay.

"A few ponies told me, a while ago, that time heals everything. That I should let time run its course, and that it will get better. But I don't believe in that anymore. I don't want to believe in that. Time won't heal this… b-because… Because I won't let it!"

He felt something twist inside his chest. A strange, painful twinge that he had not felt in a very long time. A gasp, sobbing sniff that was as involuntary as the burning in his eyes.

Clouded felt a hoof on his back. A sudden pat on the back that was at the same time gentle and understanding. And at any other point in his life, he would have moved away from the hoof, sending the message that he did not want any of that pity.

But he didn't do any of that. He couldn't.

He could not stop paying attention to the mare.

"I won't let it. I… I think I want it to keep hurting. No. I think I need it to hurt. Because as long as it hurts, I know I still love them. As long as it burns, I know they are still here. And I… well, I won't let it stop hurting, and I think none of you should let it either."

The mare finished her piece, and a short but thunderous round of applause followed. With hoofs stomping against the ground with such intensity that it surprised even the mare. She clearly had no idea why they were all so moved by her words. In fact, she couldn't even tell that they were moved at all.

It completely escaped her that, somehow, her words had ignited this… flame, inside of them. And she merely thought they were being warm and encouraging at her poor attempt of a speech.

But that couldn't be farther from the truth. They all stomped their hoofs against the ground in applause, and Clouded River had joined them before he even realized it.

After that, the mare left, and they slowly began to disperse.

However, Clouded River did something he had not done in the longest time. For the first time ever since the Catastrophe, he tried to speak to one of the ponies who were there.

He turned around to speak to the pony who had patted his back. An older stallion, whose eyes were as hollow as Clouded's, but who also has this flame in his stare that the pegasus very much envied.

"She… I…" he coughed. He had not spoken in so long that it even felt wrong to do it. "That mare… who was she?"

"That would be Miss Sweeps. She's a veteran in the group. Joined since the beginning, or at least she's been here for longer than me. And I don't know about you, but I always thought she talked sense, even if she refused to talk to anypony if it wasn't a one-on-one. We've been trying to get her to speak up to everypony for a while now, and boy am I glad somepony finally managed."

"… she's been in the group for a while? But I… I don't remember her talking before and…"

"Oh no, she's been sharing for a while now. But whenever she shares, it's the same as everypony else. So I'm sure you wouldn't have noticed. It's only when she speaks her mind like that it really clicks."

"I see… but she…" Clouded shook his head. He knew he was about to say something that made no sense, but he had to get it off his chest anyways. It burned too much to just keep it inside. "She… that mare… she reminded me of my wife…"

He said that. But to his surprise, the older stallion chuckled.

"And she reminds me of my daughter. And if you ask around, you will realize she reminds everypony of somepony. I can't explain it either, but she's just special like that, eh? And maybe that's the point of what she is trying to tell us."

The older stallion waved for Clouded to follow him, making his way out of the city hall where they had their meetings.

"By the way, glad you're finally awake. I saw the gaze you had, before. Had it meself for the longest time. We all did. Glad we have Sweeps to put some fire behind our eyes. Because even if it hurts… well, maybe I want it to hurt. Anyhow, mind walking an old stallion home?"

Clouded River watched the stallion walk away. And despite his hesitation, he did yet another thing he never thought he would be able to do.

He followed him.

And they talked, and then chatted, and then laughed together as they walked into the night. Idly commenting about how they hoped Miss Sweeps would agree to talk again in the next session.

They felt like she knew how they were supposed to feel.

They felt like, if she told them, then they would finally know what to do next.

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] She should follow her heart.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Selene.

And regardless of what anypony might say, you really don't feel hungry right now.

"Selene? Are you here? Mom is calling us for dinner and…"

You knew it was Silky who was entering your room even before she spoke up. She is the only one who enters your room without knocking. Plus, you could tell from the slow, hesitant way the door was open.

Silky's last few visits into your room have been… less than pleasant. And you can tell how, for several days now, she has been more cautious when coming here.

"… and are you asleep already?" she asks, her tone going down almost to a whisper.

Because sure, she might be here to call you for dinner, but you can tell how conflicted she is about waking you up.

Still, you aren't really asleep. You are on your bed, under your covers, with your back turned to the door. You are also trying to be alone for even a few blasted minutes. But, apparently, you can't really have anything your way, can you?

"Not hungry." You say, loud enough for her to hear you. And even though your words were barely a grumble, you know she understood you.

More than that, you can almost feel her eyes on your back, as she ponders what to do next.

"C'mon sis… you haven't eaten all day," you hear her say, as she slowly walks towards your bed. "You can't stay locked in your room like this… please?"

She is standing right next to you now. You can hear how close her voice is. The same way you can tell how doubtful, maybe even worried, she is. Because she either is doing a very poor job at hiding it, or she isn't trying at all.

But that won't work on you. You won't let it work on you. You're too angry for that.

Silky might have a way with words most of the time, but you won't let her get to you that easily.

"No. Go away," is all you say, as you pull your blankets closer towards you.

Although your words only seem to have the opposite effect. You hear a soft, muffled sound, which is maybe Silky tapping a hoof against the floor. And her tone is a lot more determined when she speaks again.

"It's just dinner, Selene. Maybe it'll just be thirty minutes? You don't even have to talk to anypony… although maybe you should? You know that you avoiding mom is making her sad."

"And I don't care, Silky. I don't care how your mom feels. And I don't care about dinner."

You hear a short, disgruntled neigh. And you are sure that, if she wasn't frowning before, then Selene definitely has a frown on her face now.

"Selene, you're really not being nice right now. Come on, we gotta figure this out. You haven't even told me yet why you are angry at mom to begin with. But we have to find a way to get past this!"

Silky then starts to do… something. You're not sure what it is, but she is making some weird noises right now.

"I don't want to. And I don't have to. And leave my room."

Still, regardless of what she is doing, you decide to ignore her. You will ignore her until she goes away. It has already worked before, so you are sure it will work this time.

Or that's what you think at first. Until you feel your mattress shift slightly under you, as if more weight is being added to your bed. Which finally makes you realize that the weird noises Silky just made were the sound of her climbing onto your bed.

"I won't. Because I can't let you mope here all by yourself. And I'm gonna help you even if you don't want me to! So…!"

She says that, and then she immediately tries to pull away your blankets.

"He-… hey!"

She tries to drag your blankets away. Maybe even drag you out of your bed. And you try to stop her. And before you realize it, the two of you are locked in a localized struggle.



"Stoppit! Leave me alone!

"No. You're either being silly or you're being dumb. And I'm not gonna let you be either!"

"Silky, I'm serious. Stop doing this!"

"You stop fighting back, and just come downstairs with me!"

"Like I said. I. Don't. Want. To!"

"It's for your own good!"



She manages to uncover your face just as she says those words.

And at that exact moment, something clicks inside your head.

Because the way she is trying to force you to do something. And the way she just said it's for your own good. And the way her brown fur reminds you that she is Mrs. Velvet's daughter and that she is trying to force you to do something and that she is convinced that it is for YOUR own good even though you don't want it makes you-



"GET AWAY FROM ME!"



You don't just push Silky away. You kick her. You are lying belly when it happens, so your four legs lash out against her. You hit her at the center of her chest with all your strength.

And for a full second, all that you feel is angry at her. Angry that she barged into your room. And angry that she wouldn't listen to what you want. And angry because they all keep saying they know what is best for you.

But all those red-hot feelings inside of you, all that rage that is boiling up in your mind, dies down the moment you realize what just happened.

Or rather, it all dies down the moment you hear the choking, half-gasped sound Silky makes when she hits the floor.

"Ack-!"

That is when you realize you just shoved her. No. That you just hurt her. You let your anger get the best of you, and all that you are left with is the sight of your sister sprawled on the ground.

Everything inside of you turns cold. You try to say something, and apologize, and jump out of your bed to help her all at the same time. But for some reason, you can't do any of that. For some reason, you feel frozen by what you just did.

And all you can do is watch, as Silky gets up on her hoofs. Her legs shivering slightly as she does so. You watch as she gets up, looks at you, and then runs out of your room.

But the way she looked at you… a chill runs down your spine, because she looked scared. She was scared of you… Silky Stream, your own sister, was scared of you. You are also sure you heard a stifled sob. And of course she must be moments away from crying, because you just hurt her.

"W-wait! Silky!" you yell after her, but it's already too late. She already ran off.

So, you jump off from your bed and go after her.

You exit your room, running through the hallway and jumping down the central stairway two steps at a time.

However, you skid to a halt the moment you reach the entrance hall. Or rather, you are forced to stop, because there is somepony blocking your way.

"What… did you do?"

Your heart is still racing inside your chest. You are still terrified, that you might have just hurt Silky. You need to find her as soon as possible to apologize.

But still, even that crushing guilt you are feeling is being… not replaced, but definitely contrasted, by another rising wave of anger.

Because she is the one who is blocking your way. She is the one who, almost dramatically, is waiting for you in the middle of the entrance hall.

And her eyes tell you that, regardless of what she says, right now she is very angry at you as well.

"I asked you a question young miss. What did you do?"

Mrs. Velvet, that tall, brown-coated, hag of a mare is standing in front of you. Her brow furrowed, and her expression stern and scowling.

But you… you are not afraid of her. If anything, looking at her self-righteous face only makes your own expression mirror hers. Because she is so sure that she is always in the right, you can't help but hate her.

"That's not your business. And I'm looking for Silky. This is between me and her, so leave me alone."

You say that, stomping a hoof for good measure, and then you start walking once again. You walk around Mrs. Velvet, keeping your distance from her even as you make your way towards the dinner hall. You are sure Silky went that way, so that's where you are going to-

"Oh no you're not, young filly."

-but your thoughts are interrupted by the gripping sensation of magic. Your whole body glowing the same color as her horn. And without moving a muscle, she quite literally picks you up in the air, and places you down where you were before you started walking.

And you can feel your whole body bristle at that. Every last fur on your coat raising with how furious that makes you.

To the point that, even if only for a moment, you forget about why you are here to begin with. You forget about Silky, and what you just did.

"I asked you a question, and you are going to answer me," she says, her tone cold and sharp. The so-called mother trying to discipline you.

But you don't even feel scared of her. Not anymore. The only thing you feel is angry. And it is so strong that your head is starting to hurt. Any more of this, and you might actually start shaking.

"I said… this is between me and Silky," you say. You are not sure what part of you is holding back your urge to yell at her. But still, you say those words through gritted teeth. Your jaw clenched so tight that it is beginning to ache. "And it is none of your business."

"Selene, I really do not appreciate how you are talking to me. You are going to tell me what just happened between you and your sister. And you are going to tell me now."

Her harsh, scolding, cold, arrogant and sanctimonious tone finally gets to you. Something inside of you finally cracks.

It cracks, and it bends, and it breaks, and before you realize it your anger is coming out of you in the form of words. Words that you wouldn't be able to contain even if you wanted to. Not anymore.

"And what are you going to do?! Huh?! What in Equestria are you going to do?!"

You take a step forward. But not away from her, and not towards the dinner hall. No. You take a sudden, irate step towards her.

"Are you going to lock me in a room that is not mine? Shove me into a body that isn't me?! KEEP ME STUCK IN A LIFE I DON'T WANT TO LIVE?!"

Another step, and then another. You don't even register how the mare is looking at you wide-eyed. You don't even notice how she has to make an effort to stand her ground. Her legs almost taking a half-step back at how surprised she is.

You don't notice any of that.

You just keep yelling. Loud enough for the whole estate to hear. Loud enough for the whole world to hear, even.

"WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO ME THAT YOU AREN'T ALREADY DOING?!"

However, regardless of how angry you are, you are still just a filly.

And even if it takes her half a second, Mrs. Velvet centers herself even before you are done gasping for air after your outburst.

"That's it, Selene. You're grounded. Do you want to stay up in your room? Fine! You can stay in your room as long as you want."

She says that, and before you can do anything her horn is once again glowing. The shining grip of her magic surrounds your entire body before you have the chance to move. Floating you away from the ground as if you were light as a feather.

You can see that she will follow through with her words. You can tell that she is about to march up to your room, throw you in there, and maybe even lock the door as she leaves. The only logical conclusion to a fighting match between a filly and her guardian.

But that is so demeaning, so ridiculous, so unfair to you that you-



"NO!"



-you do something. You yell something. And her magic snaps around you. The glowing, levitating spell being snuffed out like a candle's flame in the wind.

You fall towards the ground, barely landing on your hoofs.

And when you look up, you can see Mrs. Velvet is surprised. No, more than just surprised. She doesn't know what to do next.

Maybe she even looks scared.

But you are still too angry to care. Your heart is still beating too quickly, and the headache in your head is still too strong for you to pay attention to those little details.

All that matters to you is that she was trying to tell you what to do. And that she can't anymore.

"You are not going to boss me around anymore!" you yell at her.

You yell at her, and you take a step forward.

And Mrs. Velvet takes a step back.

"You are not going to act like you own me anymore!"

Another step forwards. Then another. Then another.

And the mare keeps retreating.

"Selene, I-I…" she tries to say something. She is half-interrupted when her hind finally hits the closed door behind her, but she continues trying to speak nonetheless. "Selene, I am your mother. I-I… I'm doing all of this for you. Everything I do i-is because… I know what is best for you and-"



"NO. YOU. DON'T!"



You stomp a hoof on the ground. And finally, the mare shuts up.

She shuts up. Your thoughts shut up. The whole world shuts up.

And as you open your mouth to say something else-

-!!!-​

-you realize you just heard the sound of glass breaking.

Mrs. Velvet looks around, also confused, but she can't keep her eyes away from you for too long. You too look around, wondering what just happened.

But still, everything around you looks normal. And the sound came from so close that it couldn't have been one of the windows or…

You look around for a few moments, until you finally realize that, when you move slightly, the sound of cracked glass comes again. It is coming from underneath your hoof.

You are stepping on it.

The large entrance hall is carpeted. However, as you look down, you realize you are stepping on broken glass. No, that's not it. What happened is that the place you just stomped your hoof on broke like glass. And even though you are stepping on a soft carpet, you can see the spiderweb-like marks of broken glass spreading all around you.

"Wha… what?"

You look up in confusion, but Mrs. Velvet is not there anymore.

You look around you. But everywhere you look there is… well, there is nothing. No walls, no stairs, no doors.

No house.

You are standing on solid ground, even though there is nothing underneath you when you look down.

Nothing but the growing cracks of broken glass.

And before you can finish another thought, the glass breaks.



- - -



You wake up.

It is night. The moon is shining down on you from the open window. And you are wide awake.

You are wide awake, and yet your mind is completely empty.

Your anger? It is gone. That slow-burning, constant hatred you felt is nowhere to be seen. You can barely remember you had it inside you to begin with.

Your anger is gone, and the inside of your head feels hollow. Your mind feels like a… like a carved-out toy, or maybe a vase. Too full of air. Too empty of memories.

No, it's more than just your head. Your whole body feels hollow. But hollow in a way that has a shape to it. As if your insides have been perfectly molded to fit… something. And the emptiness inside of you is so deliberate that you feel… less, without it. You are now acutely aware that there is something missing from you, and without it you feel incomplete.



There is something very wrong with you.



But now… now you finally know why.

You drag yourself out of your bed, and make your way towards the door.

You move, but you barely register the familiar scenery around you. You mind, your memories, are completely focused on what just happened. On what you just saw.

Because after the glass broke? After you fell, and fell, and fell?

You landed on a… not quite on an empty place. But you landed somewhere. It doesn't matter where that place was. All that matters was what you saw there.

Because you saw… a door.

Not just a door. A Door. Your Door. Your Door, with your cutie mark on it.

You saw your Door. You found your Door. And for the first time since you woke up as Selene, you finally felt like you were ready. You finally felt like you were right.



Because your mind was finally ready for it.

And your body was once again in its correct form.

And you remembered the knowledge needed to open it.

And, at long last, you had the strength to do what had to be done.



So, you opened your Door.

You opened it, and you saw.

And now that you are awake, the only thing in your mind is the revelation of who you are…

No, not of who you are. Of who you were.

Because right now, you are still just… Selene.

You walk out of your room, making your way down the hallway towards the master bedroom.

You walk, and you limp, and you nearly trip several times. Even though you have four legs under you. But how could you not trip? Your legs… they are too thin, and too short, and too weak. To the point that you feel like you are dragging yourself through the ground rather than truly walking.

Not that it matters. Not that you even care. Your eyes are wide-open, and your thoughts are totally focused inwards. As names and faces and memories and knowledge and skill flows through you like the nightly breeze. Shackled by the fact your filly brain is too undeveloped to process all of it. Chained by the fact you lack the body to perform a tenth of what it should be able to.

Still, you eventually reach the door to their room.

Maybe it is unlocked. Maybe you unlocked it. It doesn't matter.

You don't even notice how the two ponies are dazed, barely awake, when they finally notice you. Nor do you realize how surprised, even panicked they are, when they finally see you.

And you don't really ignore their questions, asking if you are alright or if you are hurt or if something happened. You don't really ignore them, because you can barely hear them.

The only thing you know is that they finally fall silent when you look up at them, and ask…



"Mrs. Velvet… Mr. Stormchaser… please."





Selene has reached Level 3 of EDGE.

She is ready.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

"Is… is she asleep?"

"I put her to bed, Stormy. But I… I don't know if she will really sleep. I hope she does."​

"Her eyes… by Celestia, the way she looked at us…"

"… yes… I saw…"​

"…"

"…"​

"So, this is it? Everything we talked about, the things you told me. Is it finally happening?"

"I'm afraid so, Stormy… I didn't think… I had no idea it would be like this. But it's done. You saw it as well. She needs it to happen."​

"… but… but it hasn't even been a year, Velvet. We haven't… Selene has been with us for less than a year. That just… it doesn't feel right… it can't be right…"

"I… I know, Stormy. Deep down, I agree. But this is not about us… this is not about either of us. It's about her an-"​

"I KNOW it's about her. I love her as much as you do a-!... I'm sorry, sweetheart… it's just that…"

"… it's okay."​

"…"

"…"​

"… do we really have to? She… Velvet, she is just a filly. She can still grow. She has nothing but time. And just because she got this far, it doesn't mean we have to an-… oh, who am I kidding…"

"I saw your expression, Stormy. You know you felt it. You… you know it better than I do, even. It has to happen… And you also know that I need your help."​

"… not even a year, Velvet… she is our daughter, and we can't even keep her for a single year…"

"…"​

"I… I know… I know she needs it but… can you at least give me one more month? Just one more month. For me. For you. For Silky… For Selene, while she is still Selene…"

"Stormy, I…"​

Stormchaser has asked you for one more month. One last month with his daughter. One last month as Selene's father.

And you understand that, of course. You understand why. To be honest, you too wish you could have more.

But still, you must think of Selene first. Always.

So, you will…

(PICK ONE)



[] One more month.

-You will give Selene enough help, and maybe suppress her memories a little bit, so she doesn't remember what just happened. Selene will not "suffer" through this last month.
-Stormchaser will agree to perform the Rite of the Mother and the Father at the END of Turn 18.


[] Perform the Incision of the Heart on Selene.

-This will not cost an action, but will still cost the required bits.
-Stormchaser will not try to stop you, nor will he hate you for it. He will not hate you, but he will resent your decision. Still, he will understand.



Additionally, there are more things for you to worry about.

You will also make preparations to…

-The following choices WILL cost actions, to be deducted from the next turn. You may also assume you will receive at least 200 bits total, as you calculate your plan. WRITE IN any reagents or extra actions involved.
-If you attempt to summon Baldomare, that ritual will be CONTESTED by at least one party.
-Because of the crucial, on-the-spot nature of this decision, you will NOT be given a preview of what Fleeting Opportunities you will have next turn. This is all happening on the present, with only the information you have available right now.



[] [SUMMONING] You will summon… (WRITE IN)

[] [SUMMONING] You will not summon any creature of the Mansus.





Vote in PLANS. The decision regarding Selene is too important to NOT be tied with your preparations for the next turn. Especially due to the contested summoning of Baldomare.

You may ask for information you are not sure of, but the most likely answer will be "Velvet does not know". Since Velvet will make decisions at this exact moment, and not narratively "adapt" her plan as she meets future opportunities, she must decide with what she knows right now. However, Velvet does not believe that she can summon Biedde quickly enough to assault Copper's attempts at summoning Baldomare. IF Copper is truly the one (and only) who will contest the summoning.

Twelve hours of moratorium.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan: Almost all in on Baldomare
-[X] [SELENE] One more month.
-[X] Make two reagents (1 AP)
--[X] Lantern 2, Knock 1 (45 bits)
--[X] Lantern 2, Knock 1 (45 bits)
-[X] Summon Baldomare, using both reagents (95 bits, 1 AP)
-[X] Total cost: 185 bits (65 remaining), 2 AP (2 remaining)

The sun rises. Tiny rays of light leak into your room through cracks in the badly closed curtain. They move at a quick pace. Or rather, the sun itself moves at a quick pace, as it rushes past the horizon until its entire circumference is visible in the sky. After that, it stops, and begins its hours-long journey through the heavens.

Somewhere in your house, a cuckoo clock chirps six times.

You are Velvet Covers. And right now, you are sitting on your bed with your husband.

It is the first day of the week. By all rights, you should be arriving in Canterlot soon. But you couldn't care less about the Lunar Bureau right now. Whether you will head to the capital later today, or if you will just skip the entire day, is something you will decide later.

The perks of being your own boss, you suppose.

But much, much more importantly, you and Stormchaser are…

Well, you and your husband are not really talking. Not anymore. You two already had a long, long conversation. The two of you decided on what to do about Selene, and then you talked about your lives, and then about everything else. The deep, personal, "laying on your bed while looking at the dark ceiling" kind of talk that you can only have with a pony who truly knows you.

The two of you have already talked about everything that was needed. And right now you two are just…

Enjoying the silence.

Keeping each other company.

And perhaps even commiserating.

Because now, the two of you know… or at least, it has finally struck you two that…

That days like this are numbered.

When Stormchaser said he wanted another month, or rather that he needed another month, you were surprised. But only for a moment.

After all, you too wanted another month. Another month, another year, another decade even. You wanted as much time as you could possibly get. You wanted to watch your two fillies grow up into beautiful mares, together, one day at a time. And do whatever you needed to do with Selene only when she became an adult, and even then only if she truly wanted it.

But you didn't feel like that was your choice to make. You owe it to Princess Luna to wake her up as soon as possible. You owe it to her parents, given the promise you made them. And as much as you echoed Stormchaser's sentiment, you also stopped yourself from trying to put it off. Because if you gave yourself another day, you knew you would not be strong enough to not give yourself another. And maybe an entire year would pass before you even considered the question once again.

But ultimately, you realized Stormchaser was right.

Delaying this would be selfish. Because how dare you give yourself another month?

Delaying this would be stupid. Because how dare you deny Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Equestria itself of an alicorn?

Delaying this would be irrational. Because nothing will really change in a month. If anything, you two will only become more attached to your daughter. And doing what needs to be done after a month will only be harder.

However, Stormchaser said, he doesn't want to do it for you. He doesn't want to do it for you, or for himself, or even for Equestria. He doesn't want another month for any rational, sensible reason.

He just wants Selene to exist for another month. Without lessons or nightmares, without your constant nudges here and there that led her to believe that something was wrong with her.

The two of you understand that you don't deserve another month with your daughter.

But your daughter deserves another month with her family.

This is all about Selene.

The fact that you will benefit from it, even if you will suffer more when it is over, is irrelevant. The fact that Stormchaser also needs this time to come to terms with it, even if he ultimately fails, is a coincidence.

So, you whispered words of calm and patience in her ears, and you obscured her perception, and you hid the keys that she had found in her mind, and you closed the wounds that were forming in her ready-to-burst soul.

And when you put her to sleep, she was nothing but a regular filly. And perhaps, she is even more mundane now than on the first time you ever saw her.

It won't last, you know. Even though you know her so well, and even though you were wheeling back the things that you helped put into place, you know this little trick of yours won't last.

But you have a month.

Or rather, Selene has a month.

Even if it is her last.

"Let's go to Cloudsdale," Stormchaser suddenly says, as he still looks towards the ceiling.

"What?" you say, honestly surprised. His words partially snapping you out of your own thoughts.

You lazily feel that, at some point, Soft Sweeps began making her way upstairs. Your nose picks up on how she just opened the door to Silky's room, only for the younger pegasus to immediately attack her. Probably an overexcited hug, or something like that. Moments later, the two presences make their way to Selene's room.

"You heard me. Let's make a trip to Cloudsdale. All of us! I always wanted to take Selene there, and I don't think Soft Sweeps has gone there either? But still, Selene asks me about my work all the time, and she always has this look when I tell her about the cloud factories and… What the hay, it's a city made of clouds, and she already cloud-walking horseshoes."

You can feel the slow-burning sadness in your husband's voice, even as he says that. But still, his growing excitement is more than enough to drown it out. And soon enough, you find yourself nodding to him, a smile appearing on your face as he talks about this little plan he just thought about.

"That sounds great, Stormy! Yeah, let's take them to Cloudsdale. It will be a family holiday. It might shave into a few of their schooldays, but…"

"Just a few? Sweetheart, why not go for two weeks? Silky won't fail out of school for just a few absences. Besides, what foal doesn't like skipping school?" he says, through a short laugh.

You let out a shocked gasp, but you don't have it in you to argue against him. Oh, what the hay, you actually agree with him.

You join him in laughter as you sense the Softy-riding Silky entering Selene's room. And moments later, the sleeping filly is also attacked by Silky.

And this time, the sudden, surprised yelp reaches you two, even through the closed door.

Which tells you now is a good time to let them know you are still home. Because they should be going downstairs for breakfast in a few minutes, and of course you are going to join them.

Of course, doing that will only make it harder for you to leave for the train station later today but…

Well, you suppose that will be the theme for this whole month.

"I think the fillies woke up, sweetheart," Stormchaser says, his ears perked up as he looks towards the door.

And with a shared nod, the two of you get up to start another day.



- - -



There is time for joy, and then there is time for work.

In the end, you and Stormchaser walked your daughters to school, and then Stormchaser and Soft Sweeps took you to the train station.

And when you arrived at the Lunar Bureau, you were greeted by your Deputy, as well as the full complement of your most important figureheads. Your most skilled investigators, as well as the ponies who had been given leadership roles, were in the middle of a very important discussion with Shining Armor when you arrived. Of course, they were gathered around him so he could relay their findings to you at your earliest convenience. But your arrival was all that was needed to upgrade their short meeting into a full-out war-room discussion.

What followed was a briefing session that barreled through the moonrise, and that you adjourned when it was close to midnight.

The subject of the briefing? The Blueblood family.

You all went through everything you have learned, and all the evidence you have gathered so far. And the utility that your meeting had was twofold.

Because first. Your investigators, who so far had been working in different areas of Equestria, were allowed to see the "complete picture" you had for the first time. And the gathered pool of inquisitive, puzzle-cracking and investigative cutie marks you had there was capable of reaching further conclusions you had not even considered.

And second. The gathered ponies were able, in turn, to educate you on what you were looking at. Which, in turn, allowed you to make the informed decision they were all waiting for.



"Deputy, how long do we need to get everypony in place so we can kick down their door?" you asked. To which Shining Armor, as well as two of the burlier stallions in the room, sat down a little straighter as they heard your question.

"Commissioner, we can break and enter in less than an hour, if you really wanted it right now," he said, looking at the two other stallions and getting a small confirming nod from each. "But what really matters is not when we can, but when we should go in."

You remember raising an eyebrow at him. But another investigator, his serious expression still looking down at the large map of Equestria on the table, spoke up before he could.

"Their house won't move, but the fish might. We want to cast the net when we know we will get as many of them as possible." You realized it was Reproach who was talking, and he was eyeing several of the more distant cities as if he was looking at something particularly vile. "Scheme this big needs trusted couriers. Lesser cousins or members of branch-families probably move around a lot. We have to strike at them when we know they will all be in the main house."

"Which leads me to another point, Commissioner," Shining continued. "Princess Cadance has declared earlier today that she will be making an… announcement, in the middle of the week."

He said that, and you were thankful that you were too tired to let a knowing smirk appear on your face.

"So, we would like to suggest you schedule the raid to that day, or the day after. But from experience, those kinds of announcements tend to make the nobility flock back to Canterlot."



After that, plans were made, opinions were voiced, and everypony expectantly looked at you for the final decision.

It was honestly daunting, to be in a room filled with so many competent mares and stallions, and realize that everything they were saying was for your benefit. That they were the underlings, and all their expertise was being pooled so that you could decide what to do next.

It was daunting, but ultimately that was what happened. You made your decision, and only then were the privacy wards of the meeting room lifted. Everypony went about their businesses (which would hopefully be their beds, given the hour), and you know that tomorrow they will all be extra busy.

Detective teams in the faraway cities must be recalled from their assignments. Equipment must be checked and re-checked for their action debut. Larger maps, from Canterlot at large and the noble district in particular, must be carefully studied. And a thousand smaller things must be seen to, for what will be the first overt action performed by the Lunar Bureau.

But all of that will happen… tomorrow.

And as your physically tired, mentally exhausted, and emotionally ragged self arrives at your room in the Royal Castle, all you can think of is going to bed.

Tomorrow will be a big day. A big day, in an even bigger week.

You don't even bother taking off your dress as you march towards your bed and throw yourself on its soft surface.

And almost immediately, you can feel your blood pressure lowering, your eyes slowly closing even as your conscience fades. Your vision blurring away into darkness as you fall asleep and-

-BLAM-



"VELVET COVERS!"​

-and your door is kicked open and all your senses scream as a machine capable of easily murdering you marches into your room.

"Ahh!"

You barely register that strangled, frightened yell as your own, even though you are sure it just came out of your mouth. Your senses yell three different things at you, with your fight or flight impulses almost taking over your muscles for a moment.

But still, even though your heartrate just spiked, you at least manage to turn around towards the door before doing anything else. And you immediately understand what is happening.

Or rather, you immediately recognize who just barged in through your door.

It is Cadance.

Cadance is walking towards you, and she has a smile on her face.

She is happy. More than just happy, she is ecstatic. She is beaming at you, and you even think you can see little stars in her eyes.

A small part of your mind, that grumpy and tired part of you that just wants to sleep, tells you that you should be angry. That small part of you even tries to sour your mood, given how somepony just barged into your room without so much as a knock on the door. Especially considering how exhausted you are.

But that tiny lump of sourness inside your brain is quickly kicked aside. You can practically feel it being shoved into a closet, which is then closed, sealed, and hurled into an icy lake.

And as Cadance walks towards you with that brilliant smile, the only thing you can do is get up from your bed and stare back at her. A smile growing on your own face as your expression dawns with understanding.

Because to be honest, her happiness is infecting.

She smiles.

You smile.

She knows.

You know.

And now she knows that you know.

"Velvet! Velvet, Velvet, Velvet! You. Will. Not. Believe what happened!"

She says that, and you are prancing in place as she speaks. Tip-tapping on the floor like a filly who is about to be given a present.

And the next few words almost burst out of her, as if Cadance couldn't bear to contain them inside of her anymore.



"Shining Armor proposed to me!!!"



"Ahhhh!" you feel like her words alone just made you ten years younger. You act like you were younger. You yell at her with an excited squee, and you realize you are hugging her only after you bury your face on her mane. The alicorn herself, also, is so excited that some of her words seem to make the very air shiver.

"I'm a fiancée! I'm gonna be a bride! I'm. Gonna. Get. Married!!!"

You realize you two are jumping up and down now. But you don't care. You don't care that the door to your room is open (and maybe broken off of its hinges), you don't care somepony might be listening to this, you don't even care that the mare is flapping her wings as she jumps, and that she is carrying the two of you a bit higher than should be possible with legs alone.

"Cadance, that is wonderful! I am so, so happy!"

"So am I! I love him, Velvet! I love him sooo much! And we're finally getting married!!!"

She says that, and then she lets go of you. She still has her hoofs on your shoulders, but still she stares at you with those dreamy eyes of hers.

"Oh, but who am I kidding. You knew, didn't you? Tell me the truth, you had to know."

There is absolutely nothing accusatory in her tone of voice. In fact, she seems even more delighted at the thought that you were somehow involved.

And as you hear her say that, you hesitate. No, you even stammer. Which the mare takes as a confirmation of her owns suspicions.

Which only causes her to pull you towards her once again, burying you in the fluff of her chest in a loving hug.

"I knew it! I knew it, knew it, knew it!!! It's just too perfect! The way you told me to wait, how confident you sounded when you said it would work out. I should've known you were in on it!"

"I-I, really. Caddy I really wasn-"

"Did you help him plan it? Oh, I bet you did. Was the zeppelin ride your idea? Or did you help him pick the ring, which I loved by the way," the mare interrupts you. In fact, she probably didn't even hear you trying to speak. "Oh but it was just the perfect weekend. I almost feel bad! If he can think of something like that, then I have to step up my game! Make it up to him!"

You try to tell her that you didn't play a part in it. You really try.

But very quickly, you give up on the idea.

Cadance is euphoric. She won't believe in you even if you try to say otherwise. And frankly, there is no need for you to say anything else.

On top of that, the warm, fuzzy and growing happiness you are feeling inside of you wouldn't let you do anything other than celebrate with her.

Still, that doesn't mean you can't get her to tell you the specifics.

"Oh, what the hay. Tell me all about it, girl! How was it? What did he plan? Where did you two go?!"

You ask that, your own curiosity and happiness bleeding into your voice as you ask those questions. To which the mare immediately lets go of you, and begins to recount her last few days together with her lovestruck stallion.

And once again, the two of you talk into the early hours of the morning. News of this, you know, are probably bleeding through the maids of the Royal Castle even as you speak. Additionally, the mare confirmed to you that this will be the substance of the Royal Announcement she will make two days from now.

"Oh, and we simply must start planning my wedding! I want everypony to feel what I'm feeling. I want all of Equestria to cast off this gloom, and feel that we can all make it together through love!"

The two of you talk for a long, long time.



And the knowing, smug smile you give Shining Armor, when you meet him on the next day, is absolutely insufferable.





I realize the vote for Selene is not yet closed. But (1) I do not think it will swing, and (2) I wanted to write.

Don't forget to count the currently open vote from the LAST threadmark, when tallying it!

The summoning rolls (or the contested summoning rolls) will be made after the voting is closed. The results of that, and options for Turn 18, will be written after that.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan: Almost all in on Baldomare
-[X] [SELENE] One more month.
-[X] Make two reagents (1 AP)
--[X] Lantern 2, Knock 1 (45 bits)
--[X] Lantern 2, Knock 1 (45 bits)
-[X] Summon Baldomare, using both reagents (95 bits, 1 AP)
-[X] Total cost: 185 bits (65 remaining), 2 AP (2 remaining)

You are Commissioner Velvet Covers.

And for the very first time, you are about to put that title to use.

It is midday. The sun is at the very top of the sky, and it is looking down upon Equestria like Celestia's own glare. The irony of that is not beyond you. And you can't help but feel slightly nervous at the fact that, even if she is not watching you with her own eyes, Princess Celestia no doubt expects you to show results after today.

However, even that nervousness is no stronger than a twinge inside your head. You might be cheating a little bit, to keep yourself calm. But it definitely isn't just that.

After all, you can confidently say you did your best. You wrung yourself to the bone. You went above and beyond to gather the very best ponies for the job. And then you gave them the means and the authority to do what they do best.

So, whatever results you reap today, you know it will be the very best Ponykind has to offer. And if that isn't enough for Princess Celestia, then you will simply have to accept that you have all failed her. Period.

… and that is a rather grim conclusion if you ever saw one. Good heavens, you might be using a few tricks to keep yourself calm, but maybe you should tone it down a little bit? There is a saying that nervousness helps a pony stay focused, after all. And you can tell that being at peace is, rather unhelpfully, helping you accept your own failure even before you begin!

You shake your head, chasing those thoughts away as you concentrate on the here and now.

You have a job to do.

It is midday, and the sun is shining down upon all of Canterlot. And you can see that clearly because, despite your limitations as a unicorn, you are actually above the capital right now. Looking down at the mountain-perched city from a pegasus' point of view.

To be more accurate, you are standing on a cloud.

Of course, you are neither a pegasus nor an alicorn. That would be ridiculous. Instead, you are standing here because of the enchanted horseshoes you are wearing. And you managed to get here thanks to the midnight-black carriage that is parked behind you, hidden from the city below by the same cloud you are standing on.

And flanking you are the two carriage pullers that brought you here. Two of your agents from the Lunar Bureau, whose job in today's operation is solely your "transportation and safety".

Which means, in laymare's terms, that they are here to catch you in case you trip and fall down from this cloud.

But given how high up in the air you are, you dearly hope that doesn't happen.

Still, you are standing up here for a reason. Your horn is lit up, and you are floating a pair of binoculars in front of your eyes.

And your attention is solely focused on the Noble District of Canterlot. That ring-shaped part of the city that surrounds the Royal District, and that is chock full of opulent mansions owned by the nobility.

In particular, you are focused on one particular mansion. One of the largest (or perhaps the largest) in all of Canterlot. The one that, even if it is not the fanciest, is definitely the oldest and most venerable. Beautiful enough to show that its owners have wealth to spare, but old enough that its owners don't need to display their wealth just to impress their neighbors.

You are looking, of course, at the Blueblood mansion.

You are looking at the subtle, localized orchestra of movement that is happening around it right now. Inconspicuous ponies, positioned here and there, that are at the tail end of their day-long stakeouts. Groups of soldiers from the Royal Guard, courtesy of Shining Armor's efforts, that are "patrolling" more distant roads, ready to move in and blockade key streets once the signal is given. And most importantly, the several midnight-black carriages that just left the Royal District, carrying the horsepower and equipment necessary for what happens next.

And as those carriages advance towards the Blueblood mansion at a purposefully unsubtle gale-speed gallop, you can't help but think of everything you have learned about your target so far.

The Blueblood family, you know, is the oldest noble family in Equestria. Their patent of nobility was the very first to be penned by Princess Celestia herself, and their reach and influence is second only to that of the Crown. You know that. Every last noble in Equestria knows that. And you are pretty sure that even most of the common folk are aware of their importance.

To the point that said piece of information is nothing new. You were taught about them as a filly, even.

But as the investigators of the Lunar Bureau worked their magic, and your dossier on the Bluebloods grew thicker and thicker, you learned more details about them. You learned about certain… aspects, that you were not aware of.

For example, you learned what, exactly, their patent of nobility gives them primacy to do. And apparently, the first Blueblood was named the first noble when, in ancient history, ponies set out from under Princess Celestia's wings to found communities of their own.

It seems that, given the growing complexity of the first pony city exploding into a country, the first Blueblood was Celestia's chosen administrator. A pony (you are not sure if it was a stallion or a mare) who was trusted with directing the burgeoning settlements. A figurehead who would keep in touch with, guide, and even order the newly founded villages as they tamed the distant wildernesses.

You wonder how many of those villages succeeded. You wonder which of the modern cities that dot Equestria can trace their ancestry back to those tiny seeds, that were planted by the Bluebloods. And, for all that today's Equestria is known and mapped and connected by railroads, you wonder how hard and dangerous that task must have been, almost a thousand years ago.

Still, that was the task of the first noble. The first Blueblood. And as generations went by, there were fewer villages being "founded", and a greater need for the existing villagers to be "directed". Thus, the Bluebloods' task changed from settling the wilderness to being the link between community leaders and Princess Celestia herself.

Fast forward centuries later, and the Bluebloods became what they are today. The de-facto "over-governors" of Equestria. The Crown's chosen stewards. The ponies who, with the Princess' own blessing, can direct and command all the cities in Equestria save for Canterlot itself. After all, regardless of how a city chooses its leader, Princess Celestia is still the true governess of Equestria. So, even if a town elects a mayor like in Ponyville, that mayor is still subordinate to the Crown, and the Crown commands the cities through the Bluebloods.

And once a pony stops and thinks about it, they realize that the Bluebloods command a… terrifying amount of power, to put it lightly. After all, if a city faces an issue and wishes to reach Princess Celestia, they must first pass through the Bluebloods. So, their interests and say on matters are not just important, they are crucial to how something might be framed (or even presented at all) to the Crown. Furthermore, matters of taxation and trade are obvious examples of what their remit reaches. However, they are technically allowed to interfere with matters that are far more important to a city than just those. For example, you found mentions in old documents that a Blueblood, centuries ago, already threatened to order Cloudsdale to land among other, equally egregious things.

But of course, those were the details your analysts dug up while digging through books and documents. Yet another thing they found out, for example, is that the Bluebloods were not always called that. The official patent of nobility in the Royal Archives had the original name scratched over and changed, by Celestia's own hoof nonetheless. Still, whatever their original name was, your analysts could not find any trace of it, and is most likely only remembered by the Princess herself.

Still, again, those were the things that the Lunar Bureau learned from the archives.

What your investigators learned on the streets was far more relevant for your official duties.

Incredibly, the Blueblood family is not, in fact, involved in any crimes. Not directly, at least. Not in a way that gets their own hoofs dirty. Which befits their changed name, you suppose. After all, they are too high and mighty to do it themselves, even if the end result is both orchestrated by (and beneficial to) them.

Instead, the Bluebloods are actively engaged in something your investigators have called a "country-wide dereliction of duty". Patterns of decisions, orders and even punishments that cover areas so wide (entire cities, literally) that they are almost hard to notice. Things that affect so many ponies that, rather than being seen as criminal, are considered to be "the current bad thing".

Some cities have already been subjected to harsh taxes from the Crown which, even though they have a "sensible reasoning" behind them, clearly reflect the mood of the Blueblood family head at the time. Other towns had entire public projects "vetoed" by the Crown, citing entirely plausible "safety concerns", but that caused the town's population to turn against its governor, until he or she was replaced by another. And after said replacement, the same projects were usually approved without any issues.

As the weeks dragged on, your team discovered pressures, balances, and decisions that sometimes were meant to target a city's neighbors rather than the city itself. Political plays that impacted the lives of thousands of unsuspecting ponies, just for the sake of achieving some goal or ensuring a certain noble family was suppressed.

And of course, even though you have not found it yet, everypony agrees that there is a healthy dose of bribery involved. Like anything else, the Blueblood's approval has a price. And you have already found enough trails to see that all roads lead to Canterlot, and that those roads are paved with shining bits.

Do you have any cold, hard evidence of this? No, you do not. But you don't have any evidence because you couldn't collect any evidence. Everything your investigators learned so far, they learned by proxy. They learned by sniffing around, and investigating the tracks left behind by an invisible monster that is the size of Equestria itself.

However, that too is by design. Your investigators did not really pressure any of their targets, in their individual investigations, because you were very clear that you did not want to alert the Bluebloods of your efforts. After all, you could very well have ordered them to push certain ponies here and there. In fact, you could even have called a few of the governors involved for a "chat" at any point.

But still, you realized that doing anything like that would no doubt alert the Bluebloods of what was going on. And since, to date, the Lunar Bureau has never really done anything, you still have secrecy in your side. Because even though Princess Celestia's decree made it clear that you have very broad powers, you have not yet done anything with that power in practice. Not enough to scare certain groups, at least.

And besides, for all that there is no shortage of evidence scattered all throughout the cities, your entire team is sure that the most damning ones will be hidden in the Blueblood manor itself.

Which brings you… to this.

"Commissioner, all teams are in position. The entire block is ready to be surrounded by the Royal Guard, and our carriages… seem to be just out of sight of the mansion itself," one of the two pegasi who is with you says. The stallion is also carrying binoculars, and is scanning the streets underneath your cloud as he speaks.

You answer him with a short nod, peering into your own binoculars again just to double check. And sure enough, despite how far away you are, you can see the little details he just mentioned.

Several groups of golden-armored Royal Guards, who are not a rare sight in the streets of Canterlot, have started doing something that is decidedly unusual. Especially in the Noble District. Watching through your binoculars, you can see shining gold lines of ponies blocking entire streets, creating a block-wide cordon centered on a particular mansion. You even spot a carriage that, already, is being refused passage.

Good. You won't involve the Royal Guard on the raid itself, but Shining's idea of involving them in the operation's security at large was definitely a good one. A little bit because it adds more legitimacy to the whole thing, at least from the public's perspective. And also because, to be frank, you don't have enough ponies to make a cordon this large.

You also suppose it is good for their morale, to be helping in something like this. You have already heard from Shining that, ever since the Catastrophe, the Royal Guard has been… in low spirits, so to speak. So, their participation in what is about to happen (especially given how some of the entry teams were recruited from their numbers) will definitely help. Even if just a little.

More importantly, you also see that the midnight-black carriages are already disgorging their passengers. They are out of sight from the mansion itself, but they are still within the closed-off cordon. And as the seconds stretch by, you watch as several grim-faced, heavily armored ponies file out of the carriages. Arranging themselves in teams, closing off helmets and checking their equipment one last time. Several teams of six ponies, two of each race, forming up behind individual leaders.

They all assume their positions, and then they just… wait.

Not for the first time, you feel a slight shiver run through your body. Not for the first time, you hesitate for a moment as you realize that they are all waiting for you. That there are dozens of competent, highly motivated and well-trained ponies waiting on your word, to go fulfill your orders.

You take a deep breath, and you light up your horn. The simple spell forming at the center of your forehead without any difficulty.

It is almost intimidating, to realize that even now you can call this entire operation off. It is almost scary, that you have the power to stop this entire day in its tracks by firing out a single orange flare. Not for the first time, you wonder if you really should be the one to do this. You wonder if it really should be you, and not anypony else in all of Equestria.

But once again, you remember something Shining Armor said to you in passing. You remember what he told you when you voiced your concerns. The words he said with the no-nonsense tone that could truly only come from a Royal Guard.

"If it's good enough for the Princess, then it's good enough for us. And nopony I know will ever think otherwise," he said.

You remember those words.

And moments later, a purple flare flies through the skies of Canterlot, exploding in a shower of sparks right above the Blueblood mansion.



- - -



You do not know the first thing about raids. And to be honest, you know even less about military operations.

You have Shining Armor for that. And for all that he is meant to be a neutral Deputy, a voice that equally represents all your agents and employees, you can already tell how tendentious he is towards his own background and experiences.

Still, again, you don't know the first thing about raids.

But you do understand a little about theatrics. And modesty aside, you know a thing or two about war.

So, for all that this whole operation was planned as a "raid", you can see it for what it truly is. Because the moment your purple flare erupts over the skies of Canterlot, the Blueblood mansion is not simply "raided".



It is placed under siege.



With a quick, almost march-like trot, the several teams make their way towards the mansion. Most noble mansions, especially the richer ones, are entirely surrounded by streets, and don't have any "neighbors" in the true sense of the word. So, in less than a minute, the mansion is surrounded. Two teams flanking the main gate, and at least one on all the smaller entrances.

Although, for all that they might be "gates", the mansions of noble ponies are not truly designed with security in mind. They are made, first and foremost, to display wealth. So, as sturdy as the gates might be, they are more gilded monuments than anything else. And the "walls" that surround the mansion are actually glorified fences, that allow the gardens within to be fully viewed by passersby.

So, it is no exaggeration to say that anypony who looks out through the window right now will realize that the place is being surrounded.

And a reason to look out through the window appears moments later.

Almost like clockwork, the moment the teams reach the gates, several pegasus-pulled contraptions rush through the skies. Blocky things with wings, sporting several cannisters and pipes, that trail heavy clouds as they fly. Industrial-grade cloud dispensers. Pieces of machinery that are as expensive and complicated as they are ingenious, capable of doing an entire weather team's worth of work in a fraction of the time. In less than a minute, the skies above the Blueblood mansion are covered in thick, lightning charged clouds. Not the kind that lets out water or rain, but still the kind of thing that any pegasus knows not to try and fly through.

Some of the members of the Blueblood family are pegasi, and without a doubt several of their servants have wings as well. So, a no-fly net above the mansion is a necessity.

As soon as the umbrella of dark clouds is in place, the teams move in. Gates are kicked down, and the black-clad ponies rush through the gardens and into the house. Yet another set of doors is kicked in, and they disappear inside the opulent mansion.

You can't really tell, given how far you are, but you presume there is a lot of shouting and yelling going on right now.

A few more moments pass, and you see the figure of Shining Armor, and several other ponies, making their way into the mansion's garden. They are not clad in the "assault" gear the other teams had (or at least, that's the word Shining used when explaining you) and are instead wearing the uniform of the Lunar Bureau.

One of the nearby ponies give him something. A megaphone. And even though you are so far away, and up in the sky, you can hear the faint sound of his voice, telling the ponies inside the house not to resist, among several other things.

The minutes stretch on, and you can do nothing but wait. Every now and then you can see a flash of magic coming from one of the windows. Two times, a few pegasi try to make a run for it and fly away, but the unicorns with Shining Armor shoot them down, and the pegasi with him try to catch their stunned bodies before they hit the ground.

At least once, they fail to catch the falling pony. One of the several possible externalities that you were told could happen, and that you signed off anyways.

Unfortunately, today is a day that, by necessity, involves countless risks. And that was one of them.

Still, eventually, you finally get the first sign that things just might go your way.

One of the windows of the mansion is opened from the inside, and the armored form of one of your agents appears through it. You can't tell any other detail about him, or her, but you soon realize he is a unicorn. And you can tell that because, moments later, three red flares erupt from his horn, exploding near the clouds above the mansion.

"Commissioner, three red flares," one of your accompanying pegasi says. And for all that he tries to hide it, you can hear the relief in his voice.

Because this whole operation today has three distinct objectives.

The "Red Team" as you called it would be exclusively charged with locating, and capturing, the head of the Blueblood family. And the three red flares are the signal that they succeeded. So, the single most important thing you needed to do today has been achieved. The Blue Team are in charge of corralling the rest of the principal members of the family, and the Green Team will probably take the longest, gathering every other pony in the mansion so they could all be taken away.

"Would you like to go down there, Commisisoner?" the other pony asks.

You too allow yourself a moment of reprieve, letting out a short sigh of relief.

And once again, you answer them with a nod, turning towards the waiting carriage as you speak.

"Yes. Take me down there. I need to have words with Red Team's catch."



- - -



The carriage settles down with only the slightest of lurches. You are sure that at some point the carriage must have gone straight down, but even then you did not feel it. Thank the heavens for pony craftsmanship and magic.

Still, the carriage lurches, and then it halts, and moments later one of your agents opens the door.

And you are greeted by a sight that is entirely different from the panoramic view you had from the distant cloud.

You step out of the carriage to the waiting form of your Deputy. The black-and-purple overcoat he is wearing is similar to yours, even if yours is only slightly fancier. Regardless, he gives you a sharp salute, and you answer him with a short nod.

To your right, you can see a cordon of Royal Guards. Their backs are turned to you, and they are blocking off what seems to be a small crowd of onlookers. Regular ponies, nobles, and even a blocked carriage that has a few curious ponies standing on top of it. You don't see any pegasi nearby, using their wings to give them a vantage point, but you suppose that is thanks to the very real threat of being shot down with stunning magic.

After all, nopony here is playing around. Shining's expression is dead serious, the Royal Guards look downright harsh, and all your agents have a grim expression on their faces. The crowd, you can tell, has already caught on to the fact that this is serious. More than serious. And seeing how all your agents reacted the moment you arrive, you can tell that the onlookers whispers have died down to a frightened silence.

And to your left, you can see the short road that leads to the Blueblood mansion itself. You are not exactly near it, but you are not far either. You can get there in maybe ten seconds, if you walk at a brisk trot. And the unobstructed view also lets you see Red Team making its way towards you.

But still, you walk to the middle of the road, putting yourself just a few paces away from the crowd and the Royal Guards, and then you wait.

Because you might know little about military operations. And every now and then you might doubt whether you are truly fit for this role.

However, you do know a thing or two about theatrics.

As you look towards the Blueblood mansion, you watch as no less than fourteen ponies make their way towards you. Two teams of six ponies, led by two team leaders, are coming in your direction. They are all clad in black armor, some of them even sporting a few marks here and there, and they are all carrying a full array of equipment between them. Those ranging from diverse magical gadgets, and going all the way to armaments and lethal blades.

But much more importantly two of those ponies, a pair of particularly large earth ponies, seem to be dragging along a third figure.

The head of the Blueblood family is, right now, a sight to behold. And the contrasts you see all over his figure is only surpassed by the rage you can see burning in his eyes. Because he is wearing something expensive, yes. A piece of clothing that seems to be a bright red suit, with gleaming details that might very well be laced with real gold. However, you can't really see too many details because of how chained and cuffed the stallion is.

No, really. The unicorn noble can barely move under his own power right now. He is, quite literally, being carried by the two agents. His four legs are cuffed, with the chains connecting both to each other as well as the large ring around his neck. The extended links are also tied around the middle of his body, given how the thing is also made to accommodate (or rather, immobilize) a pegasus if needed be. His head is sporting a tight set of blinkers, which stop him from being able to look anything that is not in front of him. And finally, and most importantly, a crystal-covered ring has been placed around his horn, fastened into place by more chains connected to other places, to stop him from trying any kind of magic.

You remember how one of your agents whistled in surprise when he saw that, the first time he was looking over your available equipment. You recall how he said that he had never really seen an "iron maiden" before.

You have no idea of what that term means. An informal name for that full-body shackle, you suppose. Still, the term stuck in your head.

But still, despite all of that, the family head still has the dignity, or perhaps the fury, to glare at you as he is placed in front of you.



"What is the meaning of this?! What in the Tartarus are you all talking about the Crown's authority?! I will have all your flanks for this, do you hear me?! I WILL HAVE YOU ALL SERVED TO ME ON A PLATTER!"



The family head of the Bluebloods, despite being chained, shackled, and surrounded by all of you, still has enough presence to sound intimidating. In fact, he still sounds confident enough that a part of you believes in his words.

But… that feeling only lasts for a second.

So, as the stallion begins to yell bloody murder, towards you, your agents, and even the silent crowd that is behind you, you go about your plan.

Because you see, you understand the importance of theatrics. You understand how useful the art of presentation is, and you have already read plenty of mystery books to know how this goes.

This, you know, is the part where you tell him what is going on. This is the part where you declare him to be under arrest, in a loud and clear tone, and denounce him as a criminal by order of the Crown.

This is the perfect moment to make him realize what is truly happening. To speak the words that will make his irate expression become one of dread and realization. To show him that his misdeeds have finally caught up to him, and that the Crown's favor that he boasted is finally turning into ire.

This, you know, is the perfect moment to show the head of the Blueblood family who you are.

However… you are not performing for him. You could do any of those things, if you wanted. You could do all of those things, really. But you don't need to. You never intended to, even.

Because this little bit of theatrics is not aimed at the head of the Bluebloods. Oh no. You are not doing any of this, you are not standing here right now, for the "benefit" of the noble unicorn.

You are doing this for everypony else who is watching. For the curious eyes that are gazing out from the nearby mansions. For the growing crowd that is, very hesitantly, watching from behind you. And most importantly, you are doing this for everypony else who will hear about it, once the news spread like wildfire. For everypony who will hear about this once the gossips reach them, and once the newspapers confirm it.

So, you don't do any of that. You don't make a long and elaborate speech about his crimes. You don't declare him to be under arrest. You don't even identify yourself.

Instead, you simply light up your horn, and you take out a scroll from your overcoat.

It is a list. A very short list, with the names and cutie marks of all the current members of the Blueblood family, together with a few pictures.

The noble stops yelling once he sees the list. His ire smothered by curiosity as he wonders what you are about to read to him. Or maybe he just needs a moment to catch his breath.

It doesn't matter. You are not here to talk to him.

"Cutie mark," you say out loud.

And before the noble can even react, the two ponies who brought him here lift him up again, turning him to the side so that the noble's flank is facing you.

Then, without a second thought, one of the stallions rips the side of his clothes, tearing through the incalculably expensive suit without hesitation.

The noble tries to do something, but the shackles stop him. He also starts to yell once again, but you ignore him. Instead, you just make a show of comparing his cutie mark with the one you have on your list.

There is no real need for any of this. Not to confirm his identity, and nor to do anything else you are doing.

But again, theatrics.

"That's him," you say, floating the scroll back to your pocket. "Take him in."

You then turn around and walk away.

And maybe two seconds later, the final piece of the "iron maiden", which had been hanging from the surrounding chains, is put into place on the noble's body. A few more indignant words escape his mouth until a sharp, metallic "clack!" of a muzzle being closed reaches your ears.

And the head of the Blueblood family can speak no more.

You don't even look towards the now-shocked crowd as the shackled and muzzled noble is dragged away. Instead, you simply walk towards your carriage, with Shining Armor silently accompanying you.

"Deputy, you have the floor. Report to me in the Bureau once the mansion is empty," you say.

And again, you make a point of not looking back even as the stallion gives you a salute. Closing the door of your carriage behind you, before your pullers fly you away and back towards the Lunar Bureau.

Later, as the hours dragged on, several transport carriages came to and from the Lunar Bureau. And slowly, the entirety of the Blueblood mansion was emptied. And one family head, twenty-two family members, and more than a hundred servants were carted off to the underground of the Bureau. Sorted into cells, from communal to solitaries, based on their importance, to be parsed through and questioned by the Burau's agents at the Commissioner's leisure.

Far away from the prying eyes of Ponykind.

Thankfully, the Solar Court made a hasty, almost rushed announcement on the following morning. Filling in on the Lunar Burau's intentional, terrifying silence with the news that, very soon, those ponies would be tried for their crimes.





The Lunar Bureau has successfully captured the key members of the Blueblood noble family and confiscated its holdings in Canterlot. The Blueblood mansion will be declared off-limits and guarded, and over the next few days and weeks your analysts will dissect every last document in it for evidence.

Throughout the next month, the Blueblood family will be charged and submitted to the Solar Court, while remaining under arrest in the Lunar Bureau. The Commissioner, and Equestria at large, will have the opportunity to observe those proceedings as they happen.

No further actions are needed regarding the Blueblood matter, although Velvet Covers may be offered the chance to do something if the situation arises.

Your first Princess-given task has been completed. Velvet Covers may now direct the Lunar Bureau.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan: Almost all in on Baldomare
-[X] [SELENE] One more month.
-[X] Make two reagents (1 AP)
--[X] Lantern 2, Knock 1 (45 bits)
--[X] Lantern 2, Knock 1 (45 bits)
-[X] Summon Baldomare, using both reagents (95 bits, 1 AP)
-[X] Total cost: 185 bits (65 remaining), 2 AP (2 remaining)

This was not an easy decision to make.

The entirety of the now-fragmented Cult knows about Baldomare. Many high-ranking members were present when she was summoned. The Cadre, many of whom no doubt fled Ponyville when the Cult dissolved, aided in her summoning. Even the Master kept tabs on her, as much as the Moth creature was absent and elusive.

So, you have no doubt that there are dozens of ponies out there who know about her. They know about her, and they know how to summon her, and most importantly they realize they can summon her. After all, her exit from the Wake was not something you tried to (or even could) hide.

Additionally, you also realize that some of those ponies, who no doubt are interested in Baldomare's services, have already tried to kill you.

Consequently, you would be a fool if you did not try to summon her yourself.

After all, you recall what she can do. You remember how, sometimes, the mare acted as if she was more light than pony. And for all that she seemed content in lounging around your home drinking wine, you vividly remember how Baldomare did… things, that to this day are still beyond you.

She read through that ancient tome, that you spent weeks trying to decipher, as if she was reading from a newspaper.

She clarified and contextualized events that, despite your participation, you would not be able to comprehend.

She even held your mind on her hoofs and parsed through your memories as if she was glancing through a photo album.

Pleasant or not, friendly or not, Baldomare is still a Name. And for all that she refused several of your requests, you are still terrified of what might happen if she is summoned by a pony who actually convinces her to apply the full array of her abilities.

So, summoning her as soon as possible, and as soon as she was willing to return to the Wake, should have been an easy choice to make. It should have been the only choice to make.

However

However...

For the longest time, you were conflicted because…

Because like it or not, you actually found an alternative.

Baldomare, you know, is a Name of Lantern. She is a Name of Lantern, and she is perhaps the highest authority in Secret Histories that exists in this Era. And that is by her own account, which certainly trumps the opinion of anypony else as far as you are concerned.

However, you found another Name in the Mansus. Just a few days ago, you found another creature that rivaled her, even if it was in another area.

You found Biedde, the Name of Edge. A Soldier from an Era where that title truly meant something. An existence that is exalted as Baldomare. But where Baldomare aligned herself to knowledge and light, Biedde in one who dedicated himself exclusively to the art of murder.

And your main problem was that… well, you only have so much time. You only have enough time, and resources, and even secrecy to summon one of those beings. At least, if you wish to do it in a competent manner. In a way that would guarantee you some degree of success, and that wouldn't see you relying on luck or fate.

So, you thought. You thought, and you pondered, and you banged your head against the figurative wall of opportunities and consequences.



Until you reached a decision.



As you said, everypony in the Cult knows about Baldomare. Every last member of the Inner Circle, every Chosen, and all the members of the Cadre know how to call her forth. And if they really want to, any of them can draw a circle in the middle of nowhere and try their hoofs at summoning Baldomare. So, whether you like it or not, the next few days will be the only window you will ever have, to summon the Lantern Name yourself.

But Biedde?

Oh, you are absolutely sure that you are the only one who knows about Biedde.

So, you could try to summon Biedde right now. You could try to summon him, and send him and Mareinette after Copper Secateur. You could put all your eggs in the Edge-sharp, Grail-tainted basket of conflict, and hope that once the dust settles there will be nopony else trying to kill you.

However, if you fail, then Copper Secateur will still be alive… and she will have two Names at her service. One specialized in the cold of Winter, and the other a master in uncovering secrets and information.

And the thought of Baldomare whispering secrets at Copper's ear sends a shiver down your spine.

So, you will play the long game. Or rather, you will play the longer game, even if only by a month.

You can summon Biedde next month, or in the month after that.

But Baldomare?

Well, the fight for her must be decided here and now.

With that in mind, you light up your horn, floating away the several pieces of cloth that were covering the waiting mirrors.

After that, you begin to speak the words. And the ritual circle, within the out-of-the-way barn of your family's property, begins to glow with the eerie off-pink of the Secret Histories.



[CONTESTED SUMMONING]



[SECRET HISTORIES]

[VELVET ROLL: 27 + 13 (Magic) + 40 (SECRET HISTORIES, Level 4) = 80]

[OPPONENT ROLL: 37 + 26 (Act?) + 20 (Blood?) -10 (Paranoia) = 73]

[VELVET COVERS VICTORY]



[KNOCK]

[VELVET ROLL: 3 51 (Re-roll invoked) + 13 (Magic) + 40 (KNOCK, Level 4) + 20 (Reagents) = 124]

[OPPONENT ROLL: 48 + 28 (Act?) + 40 (Blood?) – 10 (Paranoia) = 106]

[VELVET COVERS VICTORY]



[LANTERN]

[VELVET ROLL: 65 + 13 (Magic) + 40 (LANTERN, Level 4) + 40 (Reagents) = 158]

[OPPONENT ROLL: 93 + 46 (Act?) + 30 (Blood?) -10 (Paranoia) = 159]

[OPPONENT VICTORY]



[All participants successfully completed the summoning]

[Velvet Covers won in two out of three steps. No further re-rolls are needed.]

[Velvet Covers has successfully summoned Baldomare]



- - -



The mirrors begin to crack one after the other. Showering the ground, and the ritual circle, with tiny shards of light-bleached glass.

The mirrors, you know, are breaking apart due to the strain they are being subjected to. However, that strain is not coming from the words you are speaking, or even from the slightly acid substance you coated them with. Instead, they are cracking and bursting thanks to the LIGHT that is trying to pass through them.

Thanks to the LIGHT that is trying to escape from them.

The smaller mirrors, that dot the larger Lantern-circle, are the first to go. One by one they shatter, following a pattern that you can almost follow. Then, the ones in the middle-circle break apart, littering the Knock patterns inscribed around them with their shards.

And every time a mirror breaks, the light seems to focus on the mirrors that are not yet broken. Every time another glass surface all but explodes in a shower of fragments, the other mirrors only grow brighter.

That is, until there is only one mirror left. Until the single mirror that you placed in the centermost circle, the one that is as large as a pony is tall, is leaking out so much light it is almost blinding.

You finish speaking the words. And the ritual reaches the point where you would not be able to stop it even if you wanted.

After that, you can only wait. Ten long seconds crawling by as you look at the increasingly brighter mirror, squinting your eyes and hoping you will not go blind before anything happens.

But thankfully, the mirror does not shatter, nor does its light become any brighter than it already is. Instead, the light fades down, and the image in the mirror's surface coalesces into something visible.

A scenery that is not a reflection of the barn around you, but that is definitely familiar.

The mirror, you realize, has become a portal. One that you cannot cross, due to the still-existing glass that divides it. But still, a portal that connects to a place that is almost… familiar.

And after the light dies down, you find yourself looking at the interior of a lodge. The interior of a room you have not visited, but whose walls you immediately recognize nonetheless.

More than that, you also realize you can hear through the mirror. Even if the sound is muffled by its transparent, yet solid, boundary.



"Just a moment, dear. I am not done packing yet."



And an honest, unmitigated wave of relief runs through your body, as you recognize the voice you just heard.

"Ah! That's where I left it. Good, good," the voice mumbles to itself for a few more moments. "No mare should go on a trip without her trusty comb!"

But after that, you see movement.

And a familiar mare finally appears on the other side of the mirror.

"Velvet Covers! I thought I recognized your hoofwork. How have you been? No, wait, don't tell me yet."

With those words, Baldomare appears before you, greeting you through the other side of the glass. Her muffled voice reaches your mind even before it reaches your ears. And her pleased smile takes a weight off your back that you didn't even realize was there.

Still, before you can say anything, the mare steps through the glass.

Light becomes flesh. Ideas become solid.

And the familiar bespectacled unicorn mare, her mane tied back in a bun, steps into the Wake as if she had just crossed an open door. Her body now as solid as the glass she just crossed. The saddlebag on her back making her look more like a tourist or a traveler than a Name of the Mansus.

Although, the moment she finishes touching the solid ground, the mirror behind her breaks neatly in two. A perfectly vertical fissure separating it in two halves, with the image of her home fizzling out of existence one moment later.

"Ah, much better. Much easier for you to answer me now that your words can reach me. So, what did I miss? How are you doing? Oh, and why in the Mansus did I receive two invitations? Did I miscalculate and close my door for three years or something?"

She asks all those questions casually. Her tone is quite literally conversational. But still, you can tell that her eyes are already looking here and there, analyzing the circle that surrounds her, and the barn you are currently in, and looking at other places as if she could see beyond the walls and the farmlands and maybe even the horizon itself.

And yet, when she looks back at you, her expression is completely free of judgment.

You even dare say that she looks glad to be back. Or at least excited.

"About that, Baldomare. You can say that… some things have happened, while you were away."

You wave for the mare to step out of the circle, lighting up your horn to begin the long process of cleaning up. She joins you without a second thought, and soon enough you find yourself telling her everything that is going on.

And Baldomare does not sound surprised at all at what you tell her. In fact, she even laughs here and there.

"Oh, so you finally started killing each other? It was only a matter of time, I suppose. Speaking of which, you say you met a pony named Biedde higher in the Mansus? By the Watchpony, that name does take me back. And since we are talking about Names, why don't I tell you about…"





You have succeeded in performing a contested summoning ritual. You have used your KNOCK Re-roll for this turn.

You have produced, and consumed, two level 3 reagents. 90 bits have been deducted from your personal coffers.

You have successfully summoned Baldomare. 95 bits have been deducted from your personal coffers. She will be unsummoned at the END of Turn 20, unless her bindings are renewed.

"Are you reading through the archive? Well, I hope you are enjoying the story so far. I won't tell you how it ends, just in case. But say, why don't you scroll down to the next… you call them posts, right? Why don't you scroll down to the next post? Or just tap here. There is an errant little History you might miss if you don't. It is embellished, as most Histories are, and definitely false. Still, there is always something to be learned from a reflection, even if it is twisted."

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

It is night. The moon is high up in the sky, painting everything around you in a pale light.

Everypony is asleep. And you are so far away from the estate that you don't think anypony would be able to see you, even if they were looking out of their window with a telescope.

Still, you make a point of being as silent as you can. You try your best to be as furtive as possible.

Your horn is lit up, letting out a faint glow of magic. You are surrounded by the floating form of several disparate items, from knives to precious stone to reagents, that you need for what you are about to do.

And right before your eyes is the locked door of the barn you have chosen for this ritual.

Tonight, you will summon the dread Name of Edge called Biedde. Tonight, you will acquire the blade that you will send against your enemies… against your would-be killers.

And hopefully, one month from now you and your family will be safe.

You focus yet another strand of magic towards the door, unlocking it from the inside and opening the barn for you to enter-



-when you suddenly realize you are surrounded. You are surrounded, and you are in danger.



You immediately snuff out your magic, your stance going wide and your eyes closing shut as you prepare to fight. Your heart racing inside your chest as your mind attempts to catch up to your instinct. As you try to understand what the hay is going on, and more importantly how you can keep yourself alive for the next few minutes.

You are surrounded. That is the first thing you confirm. You sniff the air and, sure enough, you detect three different presences around you. Two a bit to your sides, and one right behind you. All three of them forming a triangle of sorts around you.

They are all hidden within the tall crops.

They all stink of Lantern and knives.

And the three of them are slowly approaching you.

You don't think any pony could have this sort of presence. Not this early in the fight. You don't think Copper Secateur, or anypony else, would be able to train three adepts into such bright and sharp edges in such a short amount of time. Not when the Cult was dissolved, and thrown in disarray, less than three months ago.

Not when your little war with Copper, so far, can only be measured in weeks.

No, these are not ponies. These are not even mortals to begin with. And even though you have never summoned them, you are immediately sure of what creatures you are dealing with.

Mares-in-the-Light. Three of them, who have been sent to murder you while you are still at your weakest.

Well, to be honest, you don't think they could have picked a better moment. In fact, given how you were just a few hours away from summoning a Name of Edge, they couldn't have chosen a better time.

"But if they think I won't go without a fight, they are sorely mistaken…" you whisper to yourself. And your horn lights up, floating towards you the seven knives you had selected for the summoning ritual.

Your priorities begin to flash through your mind, gathering in a plan of sorts. You are almost sure they don't know that you noticed them. However, they will probably give chase the moment you start to run. So maybe, and just maybe, you should try to pick one of them off while you can.

No, that is a stupid idea. The other two will be upon you before you have a chance to even harm the first with a Wrong Key. And you definitely don't have enough of those to just throw around. Instead, you should run to your home, straight to the annex building. Get Mareinette involved, even if it means the fight will be a little closer to where your family is sleeping.

You can't protect them if you are dead, and you don't think they will be safe even if you do end up dying. You wouldn't put it past Copper to order their deaths after you are dealt with, even if only to spite you.

The muscles in your legs tense, as you prepare to make a run for it.

That is, until you realize that… that the Mares have stopped.

No, they did not stop. Not all of them. Two of them stopped, and the third is still walking towards you in a pace so slow that it is almost a stroll.

And what is more, for all that you can sense how dangerous they are…

You can't really feel that they are getting ready to fight you.

This… you can't really explain it. But your senses tell you that…

That this is a parley. Or, if nothing else, this is definitely not an ambush.

So, despite your growing tension, you turn to the direction that the walking Mare will come from.

And sure enough, the phantasmagorical, pale-white mare steps out of the crop field with a careful gait.

And the moment she sees you, she gives you a short, respectful bow.

After that, she reaches for something in her floating dress.

It is a letter. Which she then leaves on the ground, and takes a few steps back to give you a wide berth.

You cautiously float the letter towards you.

But the moment you place a hoof on its surface, you realize that you are right.

The Mares, you can see now, are just here to deliver a message.

But just like any knowledge, the message they are here to deliver you is anything but kind.

Dear Velvet Covers,

It is delightful to see how well you are doing. I am glad that the fillies are doing well, and that they are all growing… even if their growth ought to be measured in different ways.

Granted, your choice of company is strange. But I have already done worse, so trust me when I say that I am not judging you.

Still, I am glad that you are doing well yourself. Even gladder that I will be able to confirm how much you have grown with my own eyes. You see, I once heard that the best way you can measure a pony is by becoming his enemy. So, I am delighted that I will finally be able to take your true measure.

Because you see, it seems that I will have to kill you in the coming months.

Naturally, it is nothing personal. I always thought (and still think) that you are a very pleasant mare, even if a little too curious and excited (your daughter certainly got that from you, by the way). However, I also stick to my own standards, and the requirement of a summoned creature is to follow the whims of its summoner.

That being said, I don't need to do everything I am told. And I am certainly not a stick, to be brandished by any brute. Which leads me to the reason I am writing you.

I have not been part of an occult war in a very long time. And for all that I don't intend to lose, I still have my own criteria of what it truly means to "win".

So, I would like to propose you that we keep this personal. Or, to be more precise, that we keep this between you and me.

I have no interest, nor do I see the need, to go after your family. And I know you will appreciate knowing that. So, I ask you to do the same. To name: I will not go after your family if your family doesn't come after me.

And I mean it. Your husband and your daughters. All your daughters. If you do not send them against me, I promise not to go after them.

Well, I promise not to go after them. But I can't speak for my summoner, or for her other employee.

Still, that is all I have to say. No need to answer me. I will accept your enemy's invitation into the Wake in a few days, but I sent my entourage ahead of me to make sure the playing field is settled between us.

I will be seeing you very soon!



Your sincere opponent,

Baldomare



PS: And in case it is not obvious, don't try to send Mares-in-the-Light after me. Please, don't embarrass yourself like that. I have an understanding with light.​

You finish reading the letter, the information contained in its glowing ink flowing into your mind through your hoof.

And when you are done, the trio of Mares give you a short bow, turn around, and begin to walk away.

But the growing dread you feel, that you are still being watched, doesn't disappear even after you finish summoning Biedde.





Baldomare, the shining Name of Lantern, has been summoned by your Opponent.

Baldomare has agreed not to target your family if you do not employ your family against her. Any actions from Stormchaser, Soft Sweeps, or Princess Luna (upon her awakening), if performed against Baldomare, will be seen as a breach of that agreement.

You have gained the information that Baldomare is immune to actions from Mares-in-the-Light.

"Baldomare" has been added to your list of Opponents.

"Not that any of this happened, of course. Tap here to go back to where you came from, dear."

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan: Almost all in on Baldomare
-[X] [SELENE] One more month.
-[X] Make two reagents (1 AP)
--[X] Lantern 2, Knock 1 (45 bits)
--[X] Lantern 2, Knock 1 (45 bits)
-[X] Summon Baldomare, using both reagents (95 bits, 1 AP)
-[X] Total cost: 185 bits (65 remaining), 2 AP (2 remaining)

After you and Baldomare return to the estate, you find yourself forced to part ways with her.

Granted, you know she will be there tomorrow, but you had honestly forgotten how entrancing the mare can be when she decides to speak. After all, everything she tells you, even if it is just a story, is always so coated with tidbits of information that you feel like you can fill a whole plate just with the "crumbs" that she drops.

Still, needs must. And you need to at least pretend you were sleeping through the night, and that you were not performing eldritch rituals in an out-of-the-way barn. So, you take her to her guest room, hear her say this and that about how the room next to hers still "smell like snakes", and you go back to bed.

And when the sun rises, you are already waiting in front of her door the moment she steps out of it for breakfast.

"Now Velvet, I am not one to give advice for free. But still, let me tell you something you already know."

The two of you are walking downstairs, towards the dining room. Your daughters, you can tell, are already there with your husband.

Although, of all the ponies present, so far only Stormchaser knows that Baldomare is already here.

"There are always two ways to win at something. The first is by reaching your objective, of course. Which is a convoluted way of saying that you win by winning. And the second way is by making sure your adversaries lose." She says that as you two reach the bottom of the stairs, and you nod as she looks around before heading to the dining room. "The problem is that too many ponies think they are doing the first, when they are actually doing the second. And that is doubly so when they are in a war. Too many good adepts stopped climbing because they were too busy trying to kill their enemies. But that's the trap, Velvet: there will always be more enemies."

You try to stop yourself from frowning. Her saying to easily that you are at "war" is already bad enough, even though you know the mare is right. But her statement that, well, "there will always be more" is the opposite of reassuring.

Because so far, you can only think of four ponies… well, three ponies and one creature, that you should be wary of. Five, if you count Comet Feet.

But still, she… has a point. After all, the knowledge of the Lores is spreading, even if at a snail's pace. Too many ponies that were a part of the Cult moved away to places unknown. So, it is only a matter of time before other ponies start racing for Glory.

Soon, there might just be too many ponies for you to try to stop, like you are doing with Copper Secateur. So, the only way for you to win might just be to come first, instead of ensuring everypony else is second.

"Nevertheless, what's that thing you mentioned about your little brother wanting to date a snake?"

She finishes that phrase by giving you an amused, almost curious look. And right when she lights up her horn to open the door to the dining room.

However, before you have a chance to do that-



"Aaaaaaaaaauntie BALDIE!"



-several things happen at once.

It takes a second. No, less than a second. In fact, scratch that. It doesn't even make sense.

Because the moment Baldomare started opening the door, but before either of you entered your family's sight, you hear the voice of your daughter.

You hear Silky Stream letting out an excited shout. And you hear her approaching.

The two of you hear her approaching very quickly.

Your daughter, who is on the opposite side of the dining room, flies towards Baldomare. She zips towards her, causing napkins and vegetables and all sorts of breakfast utilities to fly from the sheer gust of wind.

She is upon the Name in less than an eyeblink. And your mind can only register how Baldomare is wide-eyed and frozen in the instant before your daughter reaches her with a cannonball of a hug.

Or rather, that is what you thought was going to happen. Because somehow, Baldomare seems to phase in and out of existence, and your daughter passes through her as if the mare was an illusion, or as if she was made out of light.

Still, that happens too quickly for anypony to notice. And Silky Stream certainly doesn't realize it at all. Maybe she just thinks she missed. Or maybe, some other, deeper sense that transformed her into a homing arrow only shrugs and recalibrates for another run. Because sure enough, your flying daughter merely corkscrews through the air, creating a localized tornado in the entrance hall, before she is set to collide with Baldomare once again.

Thankfully, that gives you enough time to reach. And you light up your horn, catching the filly in midair, just as she is about to land on Baldomare's back.

Nevermind that Baldomare is still shocked. And that her sturdy earth pony body (which she had been all along, of course) was only half-postured to receive the coming blow.

"Silky Stream! What did I tell you about tackling our guests?" you say, the harshness of your tone mellowed down by how cute your daughter looks, as she shakes her forelegs while trying to reach for Baldomare, even as she floats in your magical grip.

"Auntie Baldie! Auntie Baldie! Welcome back! Selene, come here! Auntie Baldie is baaack!"

And it seems that your daughter didn't hear you anyway.

You can do nothing but sigh, releasing Silky from your magic once Baldomare gives you stunned nod. And thankfully, your daughter acts a lot more tame once you let her go.

Why, she even waits for Baldomare to fly up and greet her, the pegasus mare (which she had been all along, of course) giving your daughter a hearty hug once she is no longer afraid of being a victim of death-by-filly.

"Silky! You've grown so much! How have you been?"

And with that, you begin another weekend with your family. The presence of at least one Name of the Mansus at your table being almost commonplace by now.



- - -



IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:

-You think Jade Whistle could use some free time. Alternatively, you could ask her to do something very simple, hope she succeeds, and hope that it won't exhaust her even further.

-Velvet Covers may now direct the Lunar Bureau. Available options are included in the relevant tab.

-Unfortunately, QM lacks the time and bandwidth to play the Lunar Bureau in the micromanagement intensive way that was presented before. However, your Lunar Bureau is still a "small" force capable of intense effort. So, its orders have been simplified, and narrative occurrences will be more relevant.

-To put it simply you "point" the Bureau at something, and they will either give you results, or you will be appraised of what problems you will have to deal with instead.

-Additionally, Velvet Covers is now accustomed to her "Canterlot routine". She may now perform extra actions, relating to the Bureau, for free. As shown in the relevant tab.

-Furthermore, Velvet Covers is now accustomed to her current work-life balance. Velvet Covers may now perform one "Social Action", or teach one follower, for free.

-Finally, your current three-circle ritual location is UNDER SUSPICION. Gossip has reached you through Ponpon that "something strange" has happened in one of the more distant barns. Your efforts at making it less suspicious have worked, so you were "shielded" from any blowback. However, this latest summoning has "burned through" that shield, and performing additional summons will now be suspicious (and risk discovery/blowback) if performed, unless you locate or prepare another safe place.



- - -



This turn's available bits: 81

Monthly revenue: 160 bits/month (-185 from Baldomare summons and reagents)

Rarity's dividends for this turn: 56 (concentrated work, noticeable success)

Stormchaser is AT HOME this month. (Efforts at guarding yourself and your family will apply to him.)



- - -



You have TWO personal actions, ONE (free) social action, and ONE servant action to use freely. (Four personal actions, minus two already used to summon Baldomare and craft the necessary reagents)

During this month, Velvet Covers will be more absent from her work in order to spend time with her family. No further actions are needed to address that.

During this month, Velvet Covers will be involved with (or maybe dragged by) Cadance to help her plan the Royal Wedding. At some point, Velvet Covers will be able to "choose" (vote) for something good. Additional actions may be invested in that, to both expand the list of possibilities, and allow her to pick more items from it. (By default, she will only be able to pick ONE thing if she doesn't choose to do anything else)



The Lunar Bureau

Spoiler: Orders, Commissioner?

(NOTE: During this month, Velvet Covers will neglect her work in the Bureau to spend more time with her family. You cannot say how that will impact the result of the Bureau's actions, if at all.)

General notes:
-Velvet Covers may NOT "tamper with evidence" of anything the Lunar Bureau captures.
-The Lunar Bureau has no knowledge of the Lores. They might miss Lore-related things, or might not know how to react to them, if Velvet Covers is not personally involved.
-Velvet Covers MAY "plant evidence" in advance, in an already-explored expedition site or somewhere you direct the Bureau to go. Consult with QM for details, to write-in a Velvet action aimed at that.


Pick ONE of each.

You don't have many detectives, but the ones you do are the best of the best. What should they focus on this month?
-[] [DETECTIVES] Despite their friendly nature, ponies are capable of crimes just like any other intelligent creature. Have them investigate crimes at large, in the several cities of Equestria. (Less impactful in the grand scheme of things. But helps the Bureau keep a good image, and decreases the "tension" of the population at large, as the world becomes a worse place)
-[] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[] [DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[] [DETECTIVES] Nudge them in the… "correct" direction. Put them on the trail of one of your Opponents. (WRITE IN which Opponent. Sets the Bureau to investigate a pony you have a personal problem with)


Former constables, ex-Guards, defenders, one and all. They are not perfectly suited for investigations, but the Bureau needs muscles. And these ponies provide.
-[] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[] [CONSTABLES] Plan and execute a raid. Within Equestria, or anywhere else that is needed. (WRITE IN an Expedition, OR an Opponent the Bureau has investigated. The Bureau will attempt to perform the Expedition, or will assault an Opponent)
-[] [CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Default target is Velvet's home. WRITE IN if targeted at Stormchaser, if he is "Away". Adds two 3/3 health, "+15 Personal Combat" ponies as bodyguards, if the target is attacked during this turn)


Of course, now that you have a better handle of this, you can find the time to pursue other endeavors while in Canterlot.
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Some of the ponies in the Bureau are figureheads. Get to know them better.
--[] Shining Armor, your Deputy.
--[] Beyond Reproach, your finest detective.
--[] Spend time with somepony else. (Discover, and talk to, another key figure)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[] The Solar Court, and Fair Trial.
--[] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Get your hoofs dirty. (Participate in the "Investigators" actions. And join the "Constables" in a raid/Expedition, if they are ordered to do a raid/Expedition)

-[] Do something about your opponents

Spoiler: Opponents

"They might not be your enemies, but they are definitely not your friends."
(Knowing, or at least suspecting, an opponent's location is vital for a non-ritual action to succeed. Otherwise, the pony sent will spend their action investigating an opponent's whereabouts)

Defend your home. Because you can't keep fighting if you are dead.
--[] [GUARD] You would very much like to keep this safe. (May NOT be performed by Velvet herself. WRITE IN who will perform this.)
-Your opponents will always target your home, not Velvet herself, unless they specifically target Stormchaser when he is "Away", or one of your followers in particular.
-A "Guard" action will always be aimed at your home, unless you specify otherwise. Followers ordered to "Guard" will always be involved when your home is assaulted.
Followers ordered to "Guard" will NOT magically teleport to Velvet if she decides to participate in combat outside her home, or if she throws herself in danger in an Expedition or some other setting
-If you are not attacked during a turn, the "Guard" action has NO EFFECT and is functionally WASTED. No "tangential rewards" will apply. A guard's duty is to wait, and hope he is not needed.

Copper Secateur (possible location suspected)
--[] [COPPER] Send somepony to attack this opponent (WRITE IN who)
--[] [COPPER] Send somepony to locate, or spy on, this opponent (WRITE IN who)
--[] [COPPER] Perform a ritual aimed at this opponent (WRITE IN which)
--[] [COPPER] Attempt to contact this opponent (WRITE IN who to send, and what to discuss if successful)

Windy Flakes (possible location unknown)
--[] [WINDY] Send somepony to attack this opponent (WRITE IN who)
--[] [WINDY] Send somepony to locate, or spy on, this opponent (WRITE IN who)
--[] [WINDY] Perform a ritual aimed at this opponent (WRITE IN which)
--[] [WINDY] Attempt to contact this opponent (WRITE IN who to send, and what to discuss if successful)

Starry Dancer (possible location unknown)
--[] [STARRY] Send somepony to attack this opponent (WRITE IN who)
--[] [STARRY] Send somepony to locate, or spy on, this opponent (WRITE IN who)
--[] [STARRY] Perform a ritual aimed at this opponent (WRITE IN which)
--[] [STARRY] Attempt to contact this opponent (WRITE IN who to send, and what to discuss if successful)

The Master (possible location unknown)
--[] [MASTER] Send somepony to attack this opponent (WRITE IN who)
--[] [MASTER] Send somepony to locate, or spy on, this opponent (WRITE IN who)
--[] [MASTER] Perform a ritual aimed at this opponent (WRITE IN which)
--[] [MASTER] Attempt to contact this opponent (WRITE IN who to send, and what to discuss if successful)

You also have the free time to…

Spoiler: This won't take long

These personal, non-Mansus actions are free.

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

-[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)

-[] The delights of subservience (Leash currently targeting: SHINING ARMOR)
--[] Change Leash to another target. (Write-in who)
--[] Un-Leash the current target.

Pick ONE social/teaching action, for your free time at home.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Mayor Mare, the de-factor ruler of Ponyville.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy businesspony.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend.
-[] [SOCIAL] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Jade, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Fluttershy, and make her a Disciple.
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach your family the Lores. (Requires "all Lores" to be Level 4 or higher, affects your entire family)

Confidants and Summons

Spoiler: Options of Focus

-The characters below have their own lives and objectives, but are willing to perform one (or more, if listed) action on your behalf per turn.
-They can also accompany you for an expedition, as long as it is a "short" expedition. Longer expeditions (or if failure on a short expedition delays it) will overwrite the order you gave them.

Spoiler: Rarity

Rarity (currently an Initiate, GRAIL Level 1, FORGE Level 0):

Current Health: 3

Special considerations: She will always dedicate her time to her career, but performing actions for you inevitably require her focus. She will warn you if she thinks that her career is in danger of taking a hit.
Rarity will be treated as a Minion if (1) your Grail level is superior to her, OR (2) you are currently under the effects of An Incarnadescence. (She will be a Minion if either is true).

-[] [RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[] [RARITY] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick TWO of Velvet's personal actions for her to aid you in)
-[] [RARITY] Act as your emissary. (Pick an action from Velvet's list.)
-[] [RARITY] The Secret Library has enough knowledge for her to learn on her own. Tell her to focus on her studies, so she may turn into a Disciple. SECRET LIBRARY INSUFFICIENTLY LEVELED
-[] [RARITY] 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)
-[] [RARITY] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)

Spoiler: Jade Whistle

Jade Whistle (currently a Disciple, LANTERN Level 3, HEART Level 1):

Current Health: 3

Special considerations: Jade Whistle might react badly if she fails an action, or if she feels she is not being useful.

-[] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[] [JADE] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick TWO of Velvet's personal actions for her to aid you in)
-[] [JADE] Act as your emissary. (Pick an action from Velvet's list.)
-[] [JADE] The Secret Library has enough knowledge for her to learn on her own. Tell her to focus on her studies, so she may turn into an Seeker. (This will level her up, at the expense of her own focus action instead of an action of your own) SECRET LIBRARY INSUFFICIENTLY LEVELED
-[] [JADE] 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)
-[] [JADE] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)

(Baldomare will expire at the end of turn 20)

Spoiler: Baldomare

Baldomare (LANTERN Level 6, SECRET HISTORIES Level 6):

Current Health: 2

Special considerations: Something interesting might happen if, while prolonging her stay, you gift her a Level 6 unread book.

-[] [BALDOMARE] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick TWO of Velvet's personal actions for her to aid you in)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Act as your emissary. (Pick an action from Velvet's list.)
-[] [BALDOMARE] 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)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Ask for a Lesson. (Grants you one scrap of Lore, SPECIFY if Lantern or Secret Histories)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (During this turn, instead of the usual two months, she will gift you the highest order of Influence of a Lore, SPECIFY if Lantern or Secret Histories]
-[] [BALDOMARE] "Go have fun." (Give an amount of bits to Baldomare, and she will return with something interesting. She won't bother to do it unless you give her at least 100 bits. You may suggest to her what you want, but she will most likely not listen to you.)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Prolong her stay. (WRITE IN an unread book of level 5 or higher. If you do, Baldomare will reset her summoning period as if she was summoned at the BEGINNING of the next turn. This is a free action.)

-[] [BALDOMARE] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)

Spoiler: Fluttershy/Comet Feet

Fluttershy (currently an Initiate, WINTER Level 1, UNKNOWN nonexistent)

Current Health: 3/3

Special considerations: She is, probably, especially unsuited for social actions. And then there is Comet Feet...

-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from you... mutual friend. (WRITE IN a favor, that you will ask her to ask Comet Feet to do)
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick TWO of Velvet's personal actions for her to aid you in)
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Act as your emissary. (Pick an action from Velvet's list.)
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] ] The Secret Library has enough knowledge for her to learn on her own. Tell her to focus on her studies, so she may turn into a Disciple. (This will level her up, at the expense of her own focus action instead of an action of your own) SECRET LIBRARY INSUFFICIENTLY LEVELED
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] 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)
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)

(Mareinette's current bindings will expire at the end of Turn 19)

Spoiler: Mareinette

Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires (GRAIL Level 6, HEART Level 6):

Current Health: ??/??

-[] [MAREINETTE] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick TWO of Velvet's personal actions for her to aid you in)
-[] [MAREINETTE] Act as your emissary. (Pick an action from Velvet's list. INCLUDING social actions private to Velvet)
-[] [MAREINETTE] 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)
-[] [MAREINETTE] Ask for a Lesson of Grail. (Grants you one scrap of Grail Lore)
-[] [MAREINETTE] Ask for a Lesson of Heart. (Grants you one scrap of Heart Lore)
-[] [MAREINETTE] Channel a Grail/Heart Influence. (During this turn, instead of the usual two months, she will gift you the highest order of either Grail or Heart Influence]
-[] [MAREINETTE] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)

Spoiler: Selene

Selene (MOTH 3; WINTER 3; EDGE 3; KNOCK 3):

As an alicorn, Selene has TWO actions.

-[X] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

No more running, no more hesitation. If you don't do this, somepony else will, and that thought sometimes terrifies you.

Spoiler: The Dreams come, whether you like it or not

You must pick a single action. You will suffer a malus if there are no new locations to explore (but reaching a Door will give you a "grace" period of a few turns)
-[] [KNOCK] The Woods
--[] [KNOCK] Explore the Temple of the Wheel (Mansus Expedition)
--[] [KNOCK] There has to be somewhere in or around the Woods you have not yet seen. Looking for them will help you understand this place better.

--[] The Blank Plains (Blank Plains fully explored)

-[] [KNOCK] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [KNOCK] A labyrinth of stairs. A monument of a gone age. A sprawling ruin. See where the many paths might lead you.

-[] [KNOCK] The Ruined Church
--[] [KNOCK] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church (Mansus Expedition)

-[] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.

-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus. (Actions towards your possible Sacraments)

Spoiler: Sacramentum means a Solemn Oath

--[] Towards that cold Winter that awaits us all
---[] Investigating the End (Costs 30 bits. May be done multiple times per turn. Somepony, somewhere, will die.)
---[] Beg for knowledge of the End, so that you may learn of its necessity. (Will also provide you with an Edge Sacrament) [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]
---[] Invitation? No Winter Names summoned

--[] Knock, and ye shall open
---[] Study the manners in which the skin of the world might be cut. (Research action, full requirements unknown.)
---[] Offer to go beyond the foggy mirror, to perform an errant for the Daughter-of-Axes Requires Knock 4/4

--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
---[] Follow Baldomare, towards a place Beyond the Map's Edge (This is an Expedition action) (this costs ONE Baldomare action, ONE Velvet action, and 40 bits)

--[] Take that terrifying leap, into the abyss we call change
---[] Don the mask, shear your mane, pick the only pony who will notice it. Snip snip snip (WRITE IN a CONFIDANT to be permanently lost) Requires Moth 4/4
---[] Invitation? No Moth Names available

--[] But what might we learn, when we fulfill out desires?
---[] "The Act" (WRITE IN three minion-equivalent ponies) Requires Grail 4/4
---[] "An invitation to dinner" (WRITE IN a minion-equivalent pony, or a prisoner, to be destroyed)

--[] You must learn more. Always, always more. The higher you rise, the more you see!
---[] "The Conversation" (WRITE IN a minion-equivalent pony, or a prisoner, to be destroyed) Requires Lantern 4/4
---[] Pay Baldomare her fee. (WRITE IN FOUR followers, or equivalents, for Baldomare's expedition) Requires Lantern 4/4

--[] Learn of that bright Edge, that lives within us all
---[] "I see you my enemy" (WRITE IN who you will challenge) Requires Edge 3/4
---[] Be blessed by that Wound, which never ceases to grow. (Will also provide you with a Winter Sacrament) [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]
---[] Invitation? No Edge Names summoned

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

Spoiler: Another moment, and they will be gone

--[] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)

--[] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)

--[] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.

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

Spoiler: Bits and Buyings

(Velvet Covers is immune to transportation costs)
--[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
---[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
---[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (LANTERN, GRAIL, SECRET HISTORIES)
---[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (MOTH, EDGE, KNOCK)
(Due to SECRET HISTORIES 3, now you have a better idea of what you are more likely to find in each city)

--[] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? (Search for an artifact to buy)

--[] You have ingrained yourself with the merchants of Ponyville. Tap into your sources and procure an artifact. (Specify LORE and LEVEL, up to Level 3. It will be added to your available list, but will be more expensive than normal)

--[] You haven't forgotten about it, you just put it on hold until a more convenient time. (Purchases done here will arrive/be completed at the end of this turn.) (Does NOT cost an action)
---[] NO ARTIFACTS AVAILABLE

On furthering your interests

Spoiler: In Ponyville

-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
--[] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.

On planning an Expedition.

Spoiler: Out into the World

(All options involve a test, and can fail, Secret-Histories aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
-[] [EXPEDITION] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets…
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that is old in its History. Where the influence of the Mansus is but an echo, but that can still be heard in the wind. (Search for an intermediary expedition)
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that should be better left forgotten. According to the powers of this Era, at least. Finding it will be hard, though, and uncovering its secrets even harder. (Search for a very hard expedition)

-[] [EXPEDITION] "Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 2"
--[] [EXPEDITION] Scout out the place so you can have a better grasp of what lies ahead of you.
--[] [EXPEDITION] You know enough, and there is not much time. Gather your followers and head out. (Costs TWO actions, as specified)

On furthering knowledge. Yours, or somepony else's.

Spoiler: The allures of Power

-[] [TEACH] Write a Manifest. It will not benefit you directly, but it will certainly benefit anypony else with whoever you allow into your library. (WRITE IN Lore)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[] [TEACH] Teach Jade, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [TEACH] Teach Fluttershy, and make her a Disciple.
-[] [TEACH] Teach your family the Lores. (Requires "all Lores" to be Level 4 or higher, affects your entire family)

(You may study three books, OR two artifacts, OR one book and one artifact. Studying/developing a ritual costs an entire action.)

-[] [LEARN] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is
--[] KNOCK Level 2 artifact

-[] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[] [LEARN] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
--[] [LEARN] BOOK, FORGE Level 1. "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire".
--[] [LEARN] BOOK FORGE Level 3. "A real guide to beginner's level blacksmithing. The bookstore owner almost seemed excited in having this reach your hoofs via your servants."
--[] [LEARN] BOOK FORGE Level 3. The book is simply titled 'Chemistry', and your servants reluctantly admitted that was the only word they understood in it. Of course you know they were being dramatic, but that also means that the contents of the book must be way, way beyond what they teach at schools."
--[] [LEARN] BOOK, KNOCK Level 2. "A fairly recent, and short, book about dream interpretation. You know it is recent because it was dedicated to Princess Luna's return".
--[] [LEARN] BOOK EDGE Level 1. "The title is self-explanatory: 'Four self-defense spells every unicorn should know'. You doubt they are anything more than different variations of concentrated telekinesis."
--[] [LEARN] BOOK UNKNOWN LORE. "An old book, hoof-written and bound with rusty metal pins. Found in the cavernous undergrounds of the Royal Castle. The language written in it is strange, but the alphabet itself is not. This is clearly from this age." (REQUIRES DECIPHERING, unknown if it will grant Lore-knowledge. From Current Era: "-20" malus while deciphering. Current Progress 0/50)

-[] [LEARN] It all fits together, somehow… or so you hope.
--[] [LEARN] "Unknown Ritual – A Memory of Light" Step one (Progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)

On scaling the Mansus (Pick TWO options for every action spent)

Spoiler: The House without walls

-[] [MANSUS] The Woods
--[] [MANSUS] Wander around the Woods, and hear its many whispers.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Dry Well, with its many scents.
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the Temple of the Wheel (Mansus Expedition)
--[] [MANSUS] There are other places connected to the Woods, but that are not in the Mansus proper. Look for them. (Search for a new area)

-[] [MANSUS] The Blank Door
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the Blank Plains, the first afterlife of ponykind.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony. You may not be able to talk to Baldomare, but you surely can listen very well.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Garden of Mirrors, where the Mares attend the glassy flowers.
--[] [MANSUS] Explore what lies beyond the Garden of Mirrors, behind that pale veil of fog Requires a Winter Sacrament
--[] [MANSUS] Reach for The Tower, at the impossible edge of the Blank Plains, and meditate on what you are lacking. (Gain one scrap of Secret Histories Lore) This option will not net you any gain.

-[] [MANSUS] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [MANSUS] Wander through the maze of broken stairs. Perhaps you will stumble upon something.
--[] [MANSUS] Reach for the Valley of Keys, where the snakemare of the Mansus toils for her freedom.
--[] [MANSUS] Seek audience with the Wolf-Divided (you will be given a useful gift. Gifts will always be increasingly more precious and useful. There is no risk of receiving any maluses or wounds) [This is a Regrettable Action]
--[] [MANSUS] There are other markings to be followed within this maddening labyrinth of stairs. Follow them. (Search for a new area)

-[] [MANSUS] Beyond the Tribal Door
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church (Mansus Expedition)
--[] [MANSUS] Visit Biedde on his post, and gaze upon the Worm Museum
--[] [MANSUS] The Crumbled Concursum leads upwards. So up we go.

On more personal matters

Spoiler: Home and heart

-[] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

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

-[] Much to your own satisfaction, you now have a personal life outside of your maids, immediate family and business related meetings. You could choose to spend some time with…
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony
--[] Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)

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

Spoiler: The old ways

Your own reagents, and other possible sacrifices:
-All of your Artifacts
-HEART, Level 1
-2x Wrong Key (KNOCK reagent, level 3)


-[] [FORGE] It's actually a lot simpler than it sounds, now that you know what you are doing (produce a reagent, write in which Lore/combination of Lores.
(You cannot produce a reagent with a Lore level superior to your own.) (Producing a single reagent is a FREE ACTION, producing 3 costs 1 action, 5 costs 2 actions, so on.)
--[] [FORGE] Level 1 reagent (5 bits)
--[] [FORGE Level 2 reagent (20 bits)
--[] [FORGE] Level 3 reagent (45 bits)

-[] It's grim work, but needs must.
--[] Acquire a dead body from the local cemetery.
--[] Acquire a live pony. (You have no place to keep live prisoners)

-[] "The proper things, in the proper manner, in the proper order. God help us all." (Perform a Ritual)
--[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Rite of Childhood's End" You have committed not to
--[] "The Forge's Redemption"
--[] "The Incision of the Heart"
--[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
--[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
--[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Reflection of the Tapestry" (specify subject)
--[] Invoke a Risen (SPECIFY dead body used as source. ONE Risen is a FREE ACTION)
--[] Invoke a Windigo
--[] Invoke a Mare-in-the-Light
--[] Invoke Baldomare Already summoned
--[] Invoke the Daugher-of-Axes Only available at Turn 19
--[] Invoke Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires
--[] Invoke Biedde

--[] To be performed at your own home, where you will... hopefully not leave many trails
--[] To be performed in Jade's old house (only up to Two-Circle rituals)
--[] To be performed on another location (you do not yet know or own any such location)

-[] Something else? (WRITE IN. Anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)





Remember that write-ins for anything may be suggested. I'll do my best to answer if they are reasonable in a timely manner.

There will be at least 48 hours of voting, and TWELVE hours of moratorium.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

You are Velvet Covers.

And right now, you are in your tearoom. You are in your tearoom, and you are enjoying a very pleasant afternoon with your friends.

Even if, right now, you are looking at…

He is angry. Angry, and deadly. And part of that anger is directed at you. You should leave. You should leave, and then gain as much distance as possible.​

Well, suffice to say that you are witnessing something intriguing.

Because on one side, you have Baldomare. The bespectacled and young-looking mare (just like you, thank you very much) is sitting on one of the single sofas of your tearoom. Wearing a smile on her face as she sips from a cup of tea, while she speaks to the pony who is standing at the door.

"It is lovely to see how much you changed! And I really mean it. You were a mess, last time we parted. But I am glad you left all that Mansus nonsense behind. And for a great reason, nonetheless!"

She is smiling, and talking with a perfectly casual tone. As if she just met an old friend. Or as if she is talking about the weather.

Still, you have Baldomare on one side.

And on the other, standing by the door, you have…

"Velvet Covers… that is a Name."

His wings look slightly drooped. Definitely weighted down by hidden knives on the underside, tied next to his feathers. He is closer to you than to her. You are in danger.​

On the other side you have Comet Feet, who is currently glaring at Baldomare.

The pegasus stallion just arrived at your home. But instead of going straight to see Stormchaser, he made a beeline to your tearoom, where you are waiting with your other guests.

Which, of course, also means that he is with…

"Oh, this place has already hosted more Names than I can be bothered to count. So pipe down, you. And more importantly! I take it the filly you are hiding behind you is Miss Fluttershy? Or is it Mrs. Fluttershy already?"

You and Rarity exchange a pointed, scandalized, glance. An entire letter's worth of information being exchanged between you two in a fraction of a second, as Baldomare casually asks something that you and Rarity have barely tiptoed around for weeks now.

And besides, she is a Name. A Lantern Name nonetheless. What does she know that you two don't? WHAT HAS SHE SEEN?

Your thoughts are instantly riled up into a storm. Rarity, for her part, chokes on her tea, and almost suffocates as she tries to cough it out without making too much noise.

Still, back in the real world, Comet Feet only hesitates at Baldomare's sudden irreverence.

"I-… she-… that is not the point, Name. You-"



"Uhm… is something going on?"



However, the large and imposing stallion is suddenly interrupted by yet another voice. And for all that Fluttershy's tone is as low as a whisper, it is somehow more than enough to make him quiet down immediately.

And not long after, the mare herself steps out from behind Comet's back.

She hesitates for a few moments as she takes in the scene. Her gaze going over Comet, who is glaring at Baldomare, and then it goes to Jade, Rarity and yourself all sitting in the familiar tearoom.

And you take both pegasi's hesitation as the perfect moment to step in, and defuse the situation before anything happens. Or rather, before Fluttershy thinks anything bad is happening. Because you know for a fact you aren't the mare who can make Comet stop scowling, so you will focus on the pony you are actually friends with.

"Fluttershy! I am so glad you could join us today. I don't believe you have met Baldomare yet?"

You say that, and you watch as Fluttershy's expression immediately changes.

Because you have already told Fluttershy about Baldomare, of course. You are not sure if she already had the Dream. Maybe she had it during this last month, or maybe she has not yet reached the Crossroads. However, you already told her enough of the Lores for her to understand what a Name is.

And, again, you have already told Fluttershy about Baldomare.

Fluttershy's expression is surprised for a second, and you think it flashes through fear or hesitation for a moment. Still, her face quickly settles on something pleasantly formal as she addresses Baldomare.

Maybe this is a way she learned to "work around" her shyness? To be polite and formal, as if meeting somepony important, rather than trying to introduce herself to a much scarier "possible friend"? Or who knows, perhaps she is learning a little more about calm and patience. She does have a knack for Winter, after all.

Still, you watch as Fluttershy completely fails to stammer, or freeze up, or move to hide behind Comet's back once again. Instead, you are surprised by how she offers Baldomare a small bow. Almost a curtsy, even though she was clearly never taught noble etiquette.

"I am honored to meet you, Baldomare," she says. And you can tell how she hesitated, before speaking her name, as if wondering if using a Name's name might be too familiar or rude. Still, even that hesitation was almost imperceptible.

But Baldomare's own response is almost instantaneous.

"Oh, get your head up. I am not a pony who deserves that sort of treatment. Not by a long shot! Get up, dear. And tell your colt to go off and play with Velvet's husband, will you? More importantly, has Velvet told you about Illopony? Seeing you two reminded me of how…"

Without a second though, Baldomare gets up from her sofa. She then straightens Fluttershy's posture, her tone once again warm and casual, and casually dismisses Comet's blatant glare while she does that. Still, to your repeated surprise, Fluttershy herself doesn't balk or takes a step back. She barely reacts at all, at least in a negative way.

You suppose Fluttershy not reacting negatively stopped Comet Feet from saying anything else. But still, you are impressed. Less than two months ago, you figure the mare would have practically curled up if somepony invaded her personal space like that. Well, you still think she might react like that if it were a regular pony doing that. But you suppose Baldomare is not really a pony, despite her mannerism.

Still, Baldomare starts to tell a story, even as she guides Fluttershy to sit next to Jade. And you are too interested in what she is saying to even notice how, at some point, Comet simply grunted something and left.

And with that, your pleasant afternoon with your friends continues.



- - -



"Speaking of which," you say at some point, "there is a bit of an announcement I would like to make?"

Your words make everypony look towards you once again. Thankfully, the current nature of your company means that there are more ponies who are talkative than silent. To the point that, between Rarity's gossips and Baldomare's stories, you had very little opportunity to talk about certain things.

Not that this is something bad. Quite on the contrary! Still, you all talked about your previous month, and about your lives, and about the coming Royal Wedding, as well as everything in between. But the evening is fast approaching, and you really need to tell them something before it slips your mind.

"It's not really important. But I still want to let you all know. To put it simply, me and Stormy are taking the fillies to visit Cloudsdale. We should leave in maybe one week for now, to stay there for maybe two weeks. Still, we decided to go on a family outing, of sorts, so we will be gone for a little bit."

Your words are met with a small wave of nods and comments. None of you speak openly about the real reason for this little trip of yours. After all, you have not yet told Fluttershy about Selene. Not because you don't trust her, but because… well, you don't really trust Comet as much as you trust her, and nopony will be hurt if you keep it like that for one more month.

Still, the conversation immediately switches to the clouded city itself.



"I've never been fond of high places. Well, I'm not afraid of them, but I rather stay just high enough if you know what I mean. Besides, I am not a pegasus. So, enjoy your trip, dear."

"Is that right, darling? Well, if there's a pony who deserves some time off it's you. Still, you simply must bring me back some research material! There are a few brand names over there that… actually, do you mind if I write this down? I would like you to bring me some catalogues, if you absolutely don't mind."

"Hmm? I can talk to him. No, it's not a problem at all. To be honest, given everything you told me, I understand why you would want to feel safe… But do you mind if I come with? Comet might be more willing to go if I go as well. And this is a great opportunity to introduce him to my parents."



After you say your piece, the last hour you all have together passes by in a flash. You talk about your plans to spend more time with your family. Fluttershy talks a little bit more her family, even though she clearly leaves out several details. And Baldomare enters into a small dispute with Rarity over pegasus-exclusive clothes. The Name insisting that wing-inclusive clothes are "inconvenient two thirds of the time" and the fashionista insisting that Baldomare's point is ridiculous.

Still, you take the increasingly louder dispute as an opportunity of sorts. And while Rarity stands her ground against a creature older than recorded history, you slowly approach the one mare who, rather worryingly, has not spoken a single word the entire day.

"Is everything alright, Jade?" you ask.

You already know the answer. Everything is very much not alright. The earth pony mare has, throughout the entire day, not looked anypony in the eye. And every now and then you could see her nervously rubbing a hoof against one of her forelegs.

Still, you ask her anyways.

"… yeah… just couldn't sleep…" she answers, her tone low and mumbling.

But thankfully, you have known her for long enough. So, you know how to take things from there.

And before the day is done, and everypony gets ready to leave, you quietly suggest Jade that maybe she should make a trip to the clouded city as well. No need for her to go with you, of course. No pressure. But you are sure that having a familiar face there could make her dream-trip a little more pleasant.

After all, you recall how, several months ago, she mentioned how she always wanted to visit the place. In fact, despite her downtrodden expression, you even noticed how her ears perked up when you mentioned your trip there. Despite her otherwise sullen mood.

So, you tell her this and that, and you remind her how everypony deserves a break. Including her.

And you are glad that when she answers you, with a non-committing and hesitating nod, you think you see a hint of a smile behind her eyes.





Rarity will focus on her work throughout this month.

Comet Feet, at Fluttershy's request, will guard you and your family throughout the month.

More to follow.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

You are Velvet Covers.

And you are so… very… close to Glory.

You are so close that finally, finally, it is starting to hurt. The light, that knife-like radiance, is cutting into your fur (though your dream-body has none) and your skin (though, in truth, that is your mind).

Normally, it would have taken you far longer to do this.

Under normal circumstances, you realize that this would have been the labor of several days. Or perhaps even weeks.

Because even when you decide your next course, even when you decide what part of the Mansus you will focus your attention on, there are usually things that get in your way.

Sometimes, the grasping claws of the Woods ensnare. And much to your frustration, you waste an entire night as one of the lost.

Sometimes, your drifting mind will refuse your suggestions, and you will wander the Blank Plains. Listening to the silent echo of the departed dead, and gazing at the aching beauty of that empty place.

And sometimes… sometimes you reach the Tribal Door… and your regrets overpower you. Making you turn around, in shame and defeat, resolute to never attempt to Climb ever again.

You always come back, of course. You always try again.

But still, the fact remains that this usually takes time. Time and concerned effort. You need to have your Wake affairs in order, so you have the energy to Dream. You need your mind to be sound and sharp.

However, that is not the case right now.

Oh no.

You can't really describe it… no, you can. You definitely can describe it. The problem is that the only word that truly fits, right now, is more than a little worrying. Worrying, and perhaps shameful. Still, there is no other way to put it.

You are obsessed. Because you are here and Glory is right there and in your whole life you have never been this close.

And so, even though this is the very first night you are trying it, you have already reached this point. You are already in the bowels of that upside-down mountain of glass, trudging through its edge-sharp corridors. Chasing that LIGHT that seems to be reflected in every possible surface. Even your own eyes.

You are already at the highest point you have ever been.

And tonight, you will rise even higher.



[Escaping the Chamber of Ways, cd 100]

[Roll: 77 + 9 (Martial) + 40 (EDGE, level 4) = 126]

[Success]



The sharp walls demand a price of blood. You pay it with your dreams.

The shifting tunnels narrow and tighten around you. You shed off your hesitations to gain passage.

The light nearly blinds you. You stop fighting its glare.

Until finally, the glass labyrinth ends, giving way to clear Mansus stone.

And you step hoof on the topmost level of the Mansus. Your white-bleached forelegs grazing against swaying flowers made of crystal, which were allowed to grow untouched for an entire Era.



…



There is no single, true way to describe the Mansus.

Sometimes, especially when you look at it from the Woods, it looks like an edifice. Most of the times, especially when you gaze at it from the outside, you feel like it is a pyramid of sorts. With increasingly narrow layers, not unlike floors, that are crowned by the distant light of Glory.

When you are inside the Mansus, on the other hoof, it feels like an entire world. Without a doubt, the Blank Plains look like a dreamy visage of the Wake. And the vistas, of blizzards and deserts, that you have already seen in the Shattered Stairways certainly feel like entirely different realities. Still, the fact remains that, when you are inside the Mansus, it strangely feels like you are somewhere else, or at another Era. With the only exception being that Glory, always Glory, is somewhere in the sky. Sometimes like a midday glare, sometimes like a setting sun.

But now? Now that you are here?

The Mansus feels like… a sphere, or maybe a cylinder, or perhaps an endless sea of concentric rings. Or maybe…

No. There are no words. Just looking at it, and trying to understand it, hurts. After all, your mind has already been given enough to navigate this place. But trying to truly comprehend it is folly.

Understanding this place, you realize, is not meant for mere mortals like you.

And who knows, perhaps even the Hours themselves were not capable of doing so.

Still, as your hoof steps on the firm Mansus stone, you understand that… that Glory is the center.

Maybe the Mansus, or perhaps the entire world, is an inverted sphere. And if that is the case, then Glory is at its very center.

Maybe all of reality is a cylinder. Layered in levels, with the Mansus being the innermost and Wake the outermost. And everything spins around the axis that is Glory.

Or maybe, directions are meaningless. And every last cartographer's efforts are simply a crude, primitive way of trying to situate themselves in relation to Glory. Perhaps, every last attempt at drawing a map, or setting a course, is just a filtered down attempt at understanding where the Glory is, and how far away or angled you are from its blinding light.

But none of that matters. Not when you are here. Not when you are so close that it hurts.

Because here, you finally understand. You finally understand that to go up is to go towards Glory. To go down is to move away from it. And that which Glory's light cannot reach is nothing. The places where Glory does not shine is Nowhere.

However, your eyes still work. And you have no choice but to see.

So, you gaze around you. You look at this highest of places, where every last detail is laid bare by that nearby source of grandest light.

You look around you.



And you see a scene of destruction. Destruction and, paradoxically, calm beauty.



Very little remains of the top of the Mansus. The ground does not stretch on towards the horizon, and it takes very little effort to locate cracks and holes that let you see all the way down to the Woods. In fact, you truly feel like you are standing on the roof of a house without walls. After all, when you look towards the distance, you can see the Crossroads. You can see the Crossroads, and the vile fumes that bleed from the Dreamlands, and the faraway mountains that exist beyond everything.

Still, there is nowhere in all of the Mansus that is sturdier. So, even though the ground beneath your hoofs is cracked, and even though there are holes here and there, you can still picture how this place was long ago.

Yes… you can see that this is the place where the Mansus was struck. This is where all the damage begins. And yet, ironically, there is no other place where the Mansus stone was thicker. So, like a great anvil or like a sturdy armor, whatever punishment that struck the Mansus was transmitted downwards when this entire floor refused to break. The terrible strike that sundered the Mansus was conducted downwards, shattering the Concursum a hundred different times, and pulverizing the delicate Stairways into the maze they are today.

But this part of the Mansus? It is as unharmed as it could possibly be.

More than that, it is also… strangely peaceful.

All around you, strange crystalline flowers seem to be in full bloom. They seem to grow out of the very cracks in the ground, their lattice-petals pointing towards Glory. You also swear they are swaying, although you cannot feel any kind of breeze.

And it is not just the flowers. Everything around you feels… calm? Content? At rest? Even the previous, ugly obsession you had been feeling moments ago seems to have vanished. You had expected it to double in intensity, when you reached this place. You honestly thought that, by now, you would be galloping at full speed, your mouth frothing as you desperately rushed to finish your journey.

But you don't really feel any of that.

You don't feel anything at all. To the point that you can honestly appreciate the peace that seems to cover this place.

As if…



As if something ended here, and the echo of that relief still persists to this day.



You hear a sigh, coming from somewhere nearby. And it takes you several moments to realize you are the one sighing.

This… this sensation of peace, of relief, is borrowed. You know that. A long time ago, something reached this place. Something much larger than you. And its arrival marked the end of a very long suffering.

Still, you can't help but share it. You have no choice, even, but to share in it.

But considering everything else you have already been forced to experience… this honestly isn't so bad.

However, you are here for a reason.

So, even if it pains you a little bit, you focus on the task ahead of you.

…

Yes, you think to yourself. Focus, Velvet. You are very close now.

Once again. You have just left the glassy cavern of the upside-down mountain. Behind you is a hole in the Mansus stone, and within that hole is the end of the sharp, mirror-like labyrinth you just escaped.

All around you, you see the crystal flowers, and the damaged floor of Mansus stone. Some holes, here and there, let you see the lower places. The lack of walls allow you to see far away. But none of those things matter right now.

This floor has been damaged. Less so than the others, but it is still missing a lot of its former magnificence. You can see paths that are broken. Stairs that connect to nothing. And more distant places that, possibly, led to holy places inhabited by Hours.

Still, all those paths are broken. Sheared off from the rooftop of the House of the Sun, when it was broken.

There are only… three things here. As you look around, you can clearly see that only three points of interest remain.

The first is…



THE FIRST IS GLORY.



The top of the Mansus is shaped like a ring, a floating ring of slabs made out of Mansus stone, and at its center is Glory.

The top of the Mansus is a single, mesa-like roof, with Glory resting at its farthest edge.

The geometry matters not. Only the contents are important.

Glory, you can see, is right there. Its light only barely contained by a tri-valved Gate. The last set of stairs blocked only by one last, most sacred of Doors. You can see it, and you know it to be the Tricuspid Gate, and behind it you see the final stairs, and beyond them you see Glory.

That is the first, and most important thing here. The raison d'être of the Mansus. The sole reason why the entirety of the House still stands. The place where the Path leads.

It is right there, and you will explore it… soon. Very soon.

The second thing you can see, is the crater.

The roof of the Mansus is, without a doubt, its strongest part. The ground here is hardened, like clay baked under the grandest of suns. Gods rose from this very stone, long ago, and this will be the last place to break if the House is toppled.

However, even if this place is unbroken, it is certainly wounded.

The crisscross of cracks in the floor, the flowerbeds of crystalline blossoms, undoubtedly come from that place. You can see, right there, that a large section of this floor has been broken. Imploded, even. You can see the limits of a crater, not far from where you are standing. And you immediately understand that that was the place where the Mansus was struck.

You realize, without a shadow of doubt, that the Mansus was hit from above. And that crater is where the blow was struck. That is the source of all the damage, the birthplace of all the ruination.

Naturally, you are eager to explore it. You are aching to gaze upon that oldest of crime scenes.

But you will do that… later.

The third thing you can see is… the proper Way.

After all, you have reached the highest floor of the Mansus, and yet you did not cross a Door. You have ascended to the level that is closest to Glory, and yet you did it like vermin burrowing through the floor.

In fact, you quite literally left through a hole in the ground, just now. After traversing a maze that very much tried to kill you.

Granted, you do not feel ashamed of it. And you most certainly do not want to pay any other price. But still, you understand enough of the Mansus to realize that something is… very wrong with that.

And so, the third thing you see is the proper Way. Your eyes first spot the pale-blue road, marred and cracked as it may be, and you follow it with your gaze until you see the place through which you were supposed to enter.

Right there, at the edge of this floor, you see a Door. You see an Arch. A shining thing of amethyst and mirror.

You see what is…

No…

You see what was the Mirror Door.

And you can see that it is broken.



Your hoofs take you there before you realize you are walking.



The Mansus is, or maybe was, a filter of sorts. It was a forum where the Hours, the ancient gods of Ponykind, met and discussed the Histories. Where they argued and debated and fought each other, until they disagreed on the past and decided the future. There, they filtered their ideas, until enough common ground was found to build a History.

It was also a filter for mortals. A place where the pony adepts of old could strive. Where they could rise, and fall, and battle, until they finally ascended, or they failed. Either way, the adept would always end up dead. They would either die, to become something greater, or die in failure. Still, the Mansus filtered their souls nonetheless.

The Mansus existed before Ponykind. And perhaps it was a thing that passed from hoof to hoof, from species to species, until it was finally inhabited by your kind.

Regardless, one thing that never changed in the Mansus were its Doors.

The Doors themselves changed, of course. Baldomare herself already told you they have already been torn and rebuilt. Even you already… participated in such an action. Still, you understand that the Doors have always been there. That those clear, unshakable thresholds, which required a price to be crossed, have always been the Mansus' way of barring the unworthy.

To the point that you realize, in a very deep and personal way, that toppling a Door is just wrong.

And yet…

And yet, right before your eyes, you can see yet another broken Door.

Your hoofs take you to it, and you stop just are you reach its base.

Before your eyes, you can see what was once an arch of glass. A gleaming, beautiful, amethyst-purple Door with an impeccably smooth surface. The penultimate and most vain of Doors, which delighted in testing mortals and sending them away. Reflecting an adept's imperfections back at them, and permitting passage only to those who pleased (or maybe pleasured) her.

That is what the Door… was.

What it is right now, on the other hoof, is a carcass.

The arch, you can see, is broken. Its purple splendor, bathed in the light of Glory since the dawn of time, scattered to the winds. Its shards lost in the Shattered Stairways, and sprinkling the dew-covered grass of the Blank Plains, and greedily stolen away by the roots of the Woods.

To the point that, right now, you are standing at its back. You are facing it from the wrong direction. Right beyond the dead Door you can see nothing but the crumpled Path, and an endless fall after that. You are already at the point that is beyond the Mirror Door, a place where adepts of old would have killed to reach, and you did not even pay the Door's price. In fact, the Path that would lead to the Mirror Door is now completely gone.

And seeing that, looking down at the twin stumps of the crystal arch, finally makes you realize that you have done it. You have done it. You have reached the top of the Mansus. There is nothing, nothing between you and Glory save the Tricuspid Gate itself. No more Doors, no more floors, only Glory.

Still, you also… you also remember what happened, every time you reached a Door.

You remember… no, you can also feel the memories. The lingering knowledge of what happened, long ago, still imprinted on the shattered body of the Mirror Door. And you can tell that whatever destroyed the Mirror Door was so savage, so powerful, that its story was written in the cracks and fissures left behind.

You can't help it. The memories are so strong that you can almost hear them.

And before those echoes from the past can overwhelm you, you reach out with your hoof and touch the crystalline remains of the Mirror Door.

Spoiler: A Dream from Long Ago

METAL IS WATER – STONE IS WAX – FLESH IS SMOKE – MY WAIT IS FINALLY PAST​

You are Crucible. Servant, Prince, King. Your title matters not. Only your Name. For you are the Fire at your Goddess' heart, and the sacred flame of Her own creation. You love Her so. And today, at long last, you serve Her.

THE UNBURNT GODDESS FOLLOWS - IN HOLY PROCESSION WE RISE – THE HOUSE SHUDDERS – IT HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO PERMIT​

She is beautiful. More than that, She is beauty itself. Radiant like the sparks of hammer against anvil. Brilliant like alchemy's savage summit. And for all that the denizens of the House writhe, in joy or in shock or in objection, they dare not try to stop them. None can really stop Her. Those who would have already been diverged. Those who could, deep down, do not wish to.

This moment has been long in the making. It is, in truth, inevitable.

So, all of the Mansus can do naught but watch.

WALLS RISE – MIRRORS OBJECT – WORDS DENY – THE OLD ORDER BURNS LIKE A RIVER​

Still, one tries. And soon, Goddess faces Goddess. The old, crude, and base, attempts to stop She who came down from the very Light.

That thing is beneath your Dame's notice. And yet, She gifts her with a moment of Her time.

Your beloved Mistress' kindness knows no bounds. She creates, and She gives. And today, She shall give once more. Your tears are sulfur as you once again witness Her greatness.

"You cannot pass. I do not permit it! You may not undo that which is eternal! I was worshipped before your descent, and I shall remain when your followers are ugly ash. And that will be so forevermore!"

She is Vak. The Goddess. The Language. The Door.

The unchanging thing which stands in your Lady's way.

You are overcome with emotion, even before it happens.

HARK – THE MYSTERY OF UNMAKING – THE SECOND NATURE – TO END WHAT WILL NOT CHANGE​

"Is that so? Even though you can see what is right before your eyes, you will try to stop it? Are you truly uncapable of changing?"

"T'is not in my nature to change. My nature is to permit and deny passage. To judge the worthy and turn back the unworthy. And I deem thee unworthy of secret light! Turn back! Away with your ugly ideas, and your proposal for the Future. Not a single step further!"

The old Goddess, old like only she can be, stands firm against Her. A glaring, irate mare standing on the path of your calm, smiling Goddess.

She lets out an amused sigh, shaking Her head as if to say there is not helping it.

"If you are not willing to discuss, and if you are so eager to blame your nature… Then by all means, blame my nature for what happens next."

She declares so with Her voice, beautiful like brass and fierce like the flames.

After that, She raises a foreleg, Her hoof stained black from her labors of love. Moving Her hoof towards the opposing Goddess and-

!!!​

THE SKY SUNDERS – STAIRS BREAK LIKE SHACKLES – GLASS IS WIND AND PATHS ARE CLEAVED – THE DOOR IS NO MORE​

The Forge of Days gently touches Vak-

-THE MALLEARY IS HURLED DOWN FROM ABOVE-

-and the Goddess' expression twists with pain, her body twisting as she yells-

-AND IT HITS THE MIRROR DOOR LIKE A FLAMING METEOR, SHATTERING IT, AND THE GROUND UNDER IT, AND THE MANSUS BELOW-

-and while the Language and the Goddess and the Door and the mare is crumpling in the floor, She proceeds to-

-your body lurches back. Every last muscle in your body spasms. Your form might be false, but the pain is not.

The entirety of your dream-self twists in pain as you recall the Door's shattering. The agony so great that you can't even scream. Your eyes roll back, and you can't even tell the passage of time from the searing agony that is running through your body.

Too much. That was too much.

Even this remembered, half-borrowed pain is too much. And the memories are simply so incandescent that your brain gives up on burrowing them away, and simply throws them out of your mind.

They leave you in the form of incandescent tears, molten orange and bright gold. They exit your mouth in the shape of words, and they fall out of your body like lost fur.

To the point that you only realize you are no longer in pain… no, you only realize that you are in less pain, when you notice you can't really remember what just happened.

Well, you don't remember it in details. You must not remember the details. The owner of those memories, you realize, was a creature of fire and flames. Even looking through its eyes should have blinded you. And the thing he was looking at… the thing he was walking next to, is something that you must not dwell upon.

Not from that perspective. Not with the mind of a mortal, who is trying to see through the eyes of a Name.

Still, despite the aching, seared scar it left in your brain, you remember… parts of it.

No details. No colors. Not even shapes. But still, you remember the… ideas. The concepts.

You even dare say you remember the sequence of events.

Still, this is too much. Too much for your mortal self. Too much for your mortal mind.

You must Wake, and quickly so, less you lose even more of yourself.

However, you are not done here yet.

Not just yet.

So, despite the pain, you limp your way to the other side of this floor. You turn your back to the toppled Door, and take the painful steps that will lead you to the one place that truly matters.

You make your way around the crater. You don't even look at it. You already know what lies at its center. That flaming meteor of an Hour's own making, her own dwelling, that fell down upon the Mansus.

You already know what is in the crater, so you ignore it. Your fraying, bruised, burned mind focused on one thing and one thing only.

Your steps take you to a shadow, one that is so dark that it almost consumes you.

But of course, that darkest of shadows may only exist because it is contrasted by the brightest of lights.



And finally, you look up.



The Tricuspid Gate stands before you. Closed like the valve of a heart. Folded into itself like an impregnable puzzle.

It is the last threshold that stands between a mortal and Glory. The last barrier, that guards what even the Hours could not rival.

You gaze upon that Summit Door…

And you finally realize… you finally realize why things are the way they are.

Or at least, you understand one more thing. You discover one more piece of the puzzle.

The Tricuspid Gate was already challenging to open, in that distant Era where the Hours ruled. It opened only under the highest of sponsorships, such as the attention of an Hour. Or, it permitted passage only to the most daring of adepts, who brokered with powers that were far beyond them.

It was already challenging to open it, back then. Under the old rules, reaching Glory was already the labor of an entire life, and it demanded a price of many more lives besides.

But now?

Now opening the Tricuspid Gate is… impossible.

You know the Summit Gate is right before you. You can see its shape. You realize you are at the very edge of this floor, and that beyond it lies that final stairway.

And yet, you cannot truly see the Tricuspid Gate.

Because something stands before it. Something, that was not there before, is blocking it. Like a wall or a gate or the crown of a casket.

It is a thing made of fire and smoke. A ward, made of shackles and flames and the most faithful servant of the Forge of Days.

You cannot remember how it perceived the world. Not anymore. But you remember its name. Why, you just saw its memories, imprinted like burn scars on the remains of the Mirror Door. You remember its name, and you remember it was once a Name.

Still, you finally realize that Glory… is unreachable.

Because one of the highest powers in the Mansus, and the one who caused its destruction, apparently left behind a lock, before she went further. She left behind her servant, reshaped into chains to close the door behind her.

And there is no power in this world that can undo it. There is no mystery in the Mansus that can quench the undying flames of those shackles.

…

There is nothing in this world that can open this lock…

Nothing from this world, at least.



[Velvet Covers has reached a possible End]

[…]

[Velvet Covers lacks the trait "Blood of the Outsider"]

[Her hoofs lack what could douse the flames]

[The Tricuspid Gate remains closed]



Nothing from this world.

But time went on, and the world has changed. And other powers, that came from the Outside, have already meddled with Equestria.

And you… you know what to do. You know what to do. Even if you don't know how, you know what can be done.

You rush back to the Wake, your mind teeming with ideas.







Velvet Covers has witnessed an old memory. It seared and blinded her mind, and she could not hold it. But even that passing flame filled her with knowledge. Gain one scrap of FORGE Lore.

Velvet Covers has reached the Tricuspid Gate. It is chained shut, but Glory awaits right behind it. Break the chains, and the Gate will open.

The chains that seal the Tricuspid Gate cannot be broken by any power of this world. But the Eras have changed, and powers from the Outside have already made themselves known.

Your best course of action REMAINS to reach for Glory. So:
-Velvet Covers is now determined to break the chains around the Tricuspid Gate.
-To that end, she believes she must locate an Outsider, and do… something with it. Regardless of what the steps are, locating an Outsider is definitely the first.
-She will assiduously, and passively, try to discover what she can do next. Options on how to proceed will be presented to her once she discovers them.
-Baldomare will, most likely, take to consuming a lot more wine.

However, there is nothing she can do right now but Wake.

More to follow.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

The moment you open your eyes, you are beset by this… curious feeling.

It feels like an itch, of sorts. A constant, slow burning annoyance that you can't quite scratch.

However, you don't feel it on your skin. Not exactly. You don't feel it on your coat, or inside of you, or even in your brain. It is not really an itch in the sense that you can reach it. To the point that you don't think you would be able to "scratch" this feeling away even if you had a knife. Even if you had a knife, and you were willing to plunge it as deep in your body as you needed.

Maybe this… discomfort, that you feel, is in your soul.

Or maybe, it is outside of you. Everywhere around you. Maybe it is in the entire world, and only now you are noticing it.

…

You feel restless. Disturbed for a reason you cannot name. Stressed by a cause that might not exist.

You need to do… something.

But you have no idea what that is.

Because this is not the usual Glory-yearning that you have felt for so long. This is something else. After all, your need for climbing the Mansus can be satisfied by climbing the Mansus. Just like hunger can be satisfied by eating.

But this? This is something else. It is not a drive, or a need, or even a desire. Quite on the contrary, in fact. You don't feel as if a fire has been lit inside of you. To be honest, you feel the opposite.

It is a hollow sensation. As if… as if you just learned that you are an orphan. You, or perhaps Ponykind, or maybe even the entire world. After all you have just reached the top of the House of the Sun, only to learn that the final gate towards Glory is locked. You have just learned that… that the world you live in is nothing but an empty shell. A faint echo of the past. A sad mockery of the previous Eras.

This is not simple frustration. You are not merely angry, or confused, or sad because the last Gate of the Mansus is locked shut. No. This feeling runs a lot deeper than that. You are distressed… because of the implications of that final lock.

Because you have just learned you never had a chance. No, worse than that, you have just discovered that the game was rigged from the very beginning. Things have been this way since before you were born. Since before the Princesses appeared, even. The existence of that ward… the existence of that lock ever since that ancient past means that your people never could have made it. Period. For as long as Ponykind has existed in Equestria your people have been barred away from what truly matters. This whole time, you have all been denied that final access to Glory.

Which means that… that ponies never really had a chance. For the entirety of this Era, and who knows how much longer towards the past, ponies have never really mattered. You were as insignificant and unimportant as the birds and the clouds and the rodents that live in the forests. None of you really mattered. None of you could ever do anything, this whole time.

After all, since the Tricuspid Gate has been barred this whole time, nopony would ever have been able to reach Glory. No single pony, no member of Ponykind, would ever have been able to take the reins of your very existence. Even if they tried. Even if they reached the top of the Mansus.

So, this whole time… for this entire Era, even, you all just… lived. You lived, and mated, and died, and disappeared. With no grand plan, no greater purpose, and no chance at taking matters into your own hoofs.

You were divested of the life, or the opportunities, that your ancestors had. You were robbed of the ability to make a difference. No longer can a pony, through true grit and effort, become more than they are. And your entire species went down from being the owners of the world to just… living in it.

And that… that is why you feel…

…

You are on your bed, huddled close together to your husband. But right now, not even Stormchaser's presence can offer you any peace.

You quietly leave your bed.

There is only one pony you can talk to, right now. Only one creature will understand how you feel.

And to be honest, you think you can understand her a little better now.



- - -



"Quite the ugly thing, wasn't it? Never really thought it was her most elegant work. But without a doubt, it is gruesomely effective at its given task."

Baldomare speaks to you in her usual tone. However, you feel a trace of wistfulness here and there, whenever she mentions certain details. Still, the Name mare is unusually talkative tonight.

Or perhaps, you are finally ready to hear what she has to say. So, she is willing to share a little more.

Still, you were thankful when you reached her room, only to find her door open. And you are doubly thankful that, from what you can tell, she doesn't really expect you to say anything. You came to her room, you found her quite literally waiting for you with two glasses of wine, and a single nod from her told you that she immediately recognized your expression.

"I remember when it happened. The Mansus had a lot more denizens, back then. Five of my fellow Names from our shared patron were still around, even. And while several ponies, mortal adepts or not, were killed by the debris… well, most of them were not. The Mansus was swarmed right after that. By the hopeful, and the greedy, and everypony else who knew even a smidge of the Lores. Dreadfully turbulent times, Velvet. Which was why I kept to myself in my Lodge."

The two of you sip from your glasses every now and then. But still, those cautious sips eventually add up, and soon enough Baldomare is opening a second bottle.

She offers you a small comment about how she doesn't have a liver anymore, but that you should be careful. Still, she refills your glass without so much as a word from you.

"Still, the Mansus was swarmed. And for a very short time, everypony thought they could do it. After all, everything was falling apart so why not give it a try? However, those who made it to the top… well, they eventually came face to face with that. And one by one they realized there was nothing else they could do. One by one they tried, and by the Watchpony did they try. But eventually, everypony… every creature, every thing gave up."

You don't ask her why. You don't ask her how. You already know what answer she will give you anyways. You don't know, so you don't know.

But honestly, you appreciate her mindset now. Truth is never kind, and given how you feel right now, you don't think you would like to be told more. You don't think you would enjoy learning about… about yet another detail of how sad and crooked your world is. About some other thing that was taken away from your kind, by the beings that should have been your gods.

"That is, until the Mansus was almost entirely empty. Until new adepts stopped dreaming, and the old ones died, and the creatures that were not too keen of expiring found their ends in some other way… But you already know all of that, don't you? Yes, I suppose you already know all of that. But I won't tell you, just in case."

You listen to her words, and for the longest time you are deep in thought. Your mind wandering and wondering at everything you have seen in the Mansus, and at that last sad barrier you have just reached.

It even reaches the point that… that you understand. You understand, or at least you think you understand. Still, you finally get it, why the Master and Baldomare, and all the other creatures you met in the Mansus are this way. Baldomare no longer climbs because she knows it is impossible. The same is probably also true for Mareinette. The Daughter-of-Axes seems to be bound and chained, but perhaps she was already a Name when the Mansus was broken and shares the same mindset.

And the Master…? That is, your former Master? Well, she is a creature of whims and fancy. Perhaps she alone, Moth-aligned as she is, can't help but yearn for Glory. But ultimately, she too claimed your world was crooked from the moment you met her.

You think about all that, and many other things besides…

That is, until you remember something else. Until another thought crosses your mind.

And Baldomare notices it. She catches the rumblings of your thought even as they float around your head, almost as if she could see them.

You watch as she raises an eyebrow, and you feel almost compelled to share what you are thinking.

"But… but Baldomare, can't we break that barrier? Isn't there anything we can do about it?"

You say those words, and her reaction is almost instant. It is quick to the point of reflex. As if she had already heard that same question, asked herself that same question, too many times already. And of course, she already knows the answer. She always did.

"Of course not, Velvet. Nothing can be done. There is no power in this world that can undo that ward. Trust me, they tried. They all tried."

"No, I know that. I realize that…" you say, your thoughts forming inside your head even while you speak. "But there are other things, no? Other things we can try? Other things that are not from this world? I mean… what about Selene, for example?"

You say those words.



And your mind instantly freezes.



You can't move. You can't speak. You can't even think and… no, it's not that. It is not that you can't do anything.

It is time that can't do anything. Your senses can't catch up because time isn't moving to begin with. Even your thoughts feel disconnected, as if they were all pieces of a puzzle you have been prohibited from touching. As if cause and effect are still there, but they are being held in place by one who can manipulate them as if they were physical things.

Still, you know enough… you can see enough to understand that…

The gears of history have been stopped.

Because Baldomare is thinking.

Not Baldomare the mare. Baldomare the Name. And you can do nothing but watch, from the frozen confines of your mind, as she… as she THINKS.

But a chill runs down your spine as you realize that, to her, the concept of "thinking" means an entirely different thing.

Her body does not move. Because why would she need to move her crude, corporeal body? She is so much larger than that. So much greater than the shape she chooses to inhabit.

Instead, you watch as she reaches out. Tendrils of light expanding out of her and in all directions. Larger than this room. Larger than even the estate you are in.

She reaches out, first, into you. Sifting through your thoughts like a hungry beggar, dissecting your memories, even the ones you can't understand, like an obsessed scholar. Learning what you know, and drinking from your unique perspective, in less than a moment.

Then, she grabs hold of you, of your very being, and follows the path backwards. Seeing where you have been. Unspooling your life as if you were but a thread in a larger tapestry. Following your choices and your bonds and then the lives of the other ponies you have touched.

Your mind shakes when you finally realize where she is going. Your thoughts, slowed down to a halt, rattle inside the cage of your brain when you see what she is doing.

And you try with all your might to push back against her, when she finally reaches Selene.

You try to push her back. But your efforts are futile. And you feel like you are less than a small animal she is pinning down with a single hoof. You can't stop her any more than a book can stop a reader from flipping through its pages.

And she is holding on to you so intently because you are right. You are right. The several disparate thoughts, and ideas, and facts you have gathered so far all converge into a single point, as she reaches that conclusion. They all gather, fit, and fall into place like grains of sand inside an hourglass. Baldomare herself can see that the only reason she didn't notice it herself was because she was too dulled to care. She had already seen so much, and tried so hard, that she had been disinterested ever since she arrived in the Wake. Even though she saw Selene so long ago, she never really bothered to see.

But now? Now she can see. Now she realizes that there is a path. That there is a way. And that she can finally reach for Glory herself.

Less than a second passes. And yet, you watch as the mare you have come to know completely disappears the moment that idea clicks into place.

For a fraction of a moment, you see the flames of ambition flash through her eyes. And for one terrifying instant, you realize you are not just talking to Baldomare. You realize you are not just in the presence of the kind, if elusive, mare who seems content with lounging at your home and drinking from your alcohol.

Oh no.

For a moment, you realize you are with Baldomare, the Name of Lantern. A creature older than the world you live in, and wiser than anything that walks the Wake. A being who has already performed acts, terrible and cruel, which were sufficient to ascend her to Namehood.

You watch, with dawning terror, as Baldomare simply disappears, and Baldomare once again takes her place.

And for a single, horrible instant, you realize you are now standing in the presence of an enemy. No, more than just that. You realize you are in audience with a creature so vast she could sweep you off from the board as if you were a powerless pawn.

And all of that because she, who has been closer to Glory than even you have, now realizes that maybe… maybe she really could do it.

…

But that lasts only for a moment.

And a single, full second later, the world breathes out as if nothing happened. The gears go back to turning, time resumes its flow, and you are nothing but a mare inside a noble guest room, in the presence of a friend.

The only difference is that, now, Baldomare is shaking her head at herself. The movement slow and heavy, ponderous from all the regrets she already has on her back.

"I am too old for this. My time has come and passed…" she says, although you realize she is talking to herself.

Still, she puts down her glass and picks up an entire bottle, uncorking it with her teeth and drinking straight from mouth.

"What were we talking about again? Oh, right. I suppose you are right, Velvet. I suppose you little ponies can find a way, given everything new that happened in this world…"

You want to say something. Anything. But still, the sudden, frightening dread you just felt at how suddenly the mare decided she should kill you… well, that dread is completely offset by the fact she didn't.

Still, you are more than a little shaken… it is things like this that reminds you that Baldomare is not a pony, you suppose.

However, despite everything that just happened, now it's Baldomare's turn to look uncharacteristically thoughtful. She doesn't look any older than usual, but you can clearly see that she is a lot more weary right now.

"Still, let me tell you a few things you already know. Blood is the price, because of course it is. It is the most universal of currencies. However, I assume your little Selene is not one of the cards you are willing to use. Which is good. However… Well, don't try to look for another method. That is the kind of folly several adepts already fell to. If you know a path, stick to that path, and don't try to find a new one. Finding a new path is the work of generations, and you haven't learned how to cheat death."

She says that, and then she goes on a small tangent of reminding you that you are not special.

It takes the form of a story, as it usually goes with Baldomare. Still, she tells you a story about an adept who, after researching ancient texts, finally discovered the means to complete his journey.

"But that's the thing, Velvet. Everypony thinks they are the successful adept. But most of us are the insane, deranged ancestor who wrote the ancient texts. They forget that every single artifact they collected was the work of an entire life. That they are only the last to cross a bridge that was built with bodies. So, don't try to innovate. Because if you do, you will die as a scholar, and a more ambitious pony will study the fruits of your labor to achieve their own ends in some distant future. Don't be that pony, Velvet. Focus on what you know."

She tells you that, and a lot more.

And by the time the sun rises, you are resolute in… well, it is as she says. It would be the work of years, or maybe decades, to try and find another way around. If one even exists to begin with.

So, you have made up your mind.

You need to find an Outsider. One that you are willing to kill.

And then, you need to figure out a way to kill it. Or, alternatively, do whatever you need... to acquire the value of its "blood".





A/N: This turned out a lot longer than expected. So no harm in stopping here for now.

More to follow.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

You are Velvet Covers. And despite your best efforts to stop it, time continues its march towards the future, one second at a time.

The world does not care for what you discovered. It does not care about your shock, or your feeling of emptiness, or the fact that your entire species has been cheated out of what is rightfully yours. The world does not care, and the only thing you received for your trouble was the slight hangover you were left with after talking to Baldomare for so long.

However, all that indifference also means the world won't particularly bother to stop you, now that you have decided what you will do about this.

So, time marches on and the clock still ticks. But now, you have an idea of what you should do next.

Well, you don't have a perfect idea. You realize you are still grasping for straws, given your undeniable ignorance of what an Outsider… well, given how you know almost nothing about them to begin with. Still, for all that you are grasping at straws, you at least know the straws are there.

And until you discover something a little more useful, you will be very well served strengthening your bases.

Which takes you to the present. To what you are doing right now.

Although, if anypony were to look at you right now, you don't think they would classify your current endeavor as… "strengthening your bases".

You are currently inside Rarity's boutique. The two of you are in her workshop, surrounded by half-finished dresses, mannequins, and the tools of her trade. And right now, you are standing on an elevated platform of sorts, wearing one of her latest prototypes.

"No, no, no! This doesn't work either. Maybe we should go with satin for the sides?" she says, her voice at the same time critical and sour as she lights up her horn, picking up yet another batch of fabrics and floating them towards you.

And it doesn't take much to see that the mare is unusually frustrated.

"Maybe we should take a breather, Rarity?" you chance. To which the mare answers by shifting her displeasure away from the bundles of floating fabric and aiming it towards you.

Her disapproving eyes tell you everything you need to know. So, you promptly shut your mouth once again.

That is, until her mumbling becomes too much. And you think that, even if it makes her scowl at you again, you should try to say something. After all, you volunteered to help her today. And even though you did it to spend more time with her, and watch the unicorn at work, you also think you should try to actually help her. Even if she is leagues ahead of you when it comes to fashion and design.

"Actually, Rarity, I have been thinking," you start to say once again. And for all that you hear a soft, high-pitched neigh coming from the mare, she doesn't really interrupt you. Well, she doesn't look up from the fabric samples she has floating around her, but you will take that as a good sign. "You call this dress a prototype, but I already think it is wonderful. And for all that I don't know nearly as much as you… why do you think it's still not good enough? Could you help me understand? Maybe that will help you a little?"

You watch as Rarity stops focusing on the fabrics around her. Narrowing her eyes as she does that. And for a moment you think she is about to wave your idea away, or maybe even snap at you. You wouldn't get mad at her if she did, of course. After all, you know she takes her job very seriously, and her current frustration is making her visibly short-tempered.

The struggles of an artist, you suppose.

Still, something eventually gives inside her mind, and she lets out a defeated sigh before floating the fabrics away. After that, she turns towards you and take a few steps towards the platform where you are standing.

"There really isn't anything to explain, darling. It just doesn't work," she says, waving a hoof at the prototype dress you are wearing. Her tone making it very clear that she is stating the obvious.

But you can't really tell if she is really addressing you, or if she is just talking to herself. And besides, for all that this is obvious to her, it very much isn't obvious to you.

No, it's worse than that. You really have no idea of what she is talking about. Seriously, as far as you can tell this dress is perfect!

So you just… give her an uneasy smile?

Goodness gracious. You are clearly out of your depth here.

"By Celestia, darling, you can't be that out of touch," she says, rolling her eyes.

However, thankfully, she continues to talk. And as Rarity speaks, she also lights up her horn and pulls a particularly large mirror towards you.

She then places the mirror right in front of you, allowing you to look at yourself a little better. Because for all that your little platform is surrounded by mirrors, none of them are really for your benefit. So yes, you can look at what you are wearing, and you could watch Rarity go about her work, but you couldn't really see it with a critical eye.

Still, as you gaze upon the full-body mirror, and take more time to look at yourself…

"Uh, Rarity… I really don't know how to say this. But the dress is perfect."

You can't really find any defects. Less than that, you can't find anything about the dress that isn't great. You couldn't criticize anything about it even if you wanted, and you wouldn't be able to suggest any kind of improvement even if you tried.

"Perfect? Perfect?! Velvet, darling, are you mocking me?"

But Rarity, apparently, disagrees.

And she is very vocal about it.

"The dress is a perfect mess, that's what it is. Just look at it, look at it! The colors are mismatched, the fabric is wrong, and what in Equestria was I thinking when I designed these details?!"

You have never really seen Rarity on a rampage. You have never seen the mare fuming. But apparently, that has just changed. And with each sharp, barbed comment that she throws at the dress, she takes yet another step as she circles around you.

And sure enough, she very quickly criticizes, condemns, and outright insults the dress, time and again. Painting a picture that, rather than wearing a Design by Rarity, you are actually wearing a legitimate mockery of sewn-together trash.

It reaches the point that you actually feel bad for her. Because you can tell she isn't really beating herself up. It is clear that her anger and frustration are aimed squarely at the dress. But still, this is something she created. So even if she doesn't fell bad about bashing it so thoroughly, you certainly do.

That is, until it reaches the point that… that you think…

Maybe she is a little too angry at this dress?

No, that's not it. You have an inkling that something is wrong, but it's not her anger. The problem is not in her passion, or in her skills, or anything the like.

However, the fact remains that… that the things she is saying about the dress… they don't really make sense?

"Rarity? I-..."

"And lapels? I'm sorry, is this an elegant dress for a mare, or a collared shirt for a farmer? What in Tartarus was I thinking when I-"

"Rarity!"

Your shout tugs at something inside of her, and your dear friend finally gives you a chance to speak.

"I- well- yes, darling?" she says, shaken out of her anger. Even if only for a short while.

"Rarity, I'm serious. This dress…" you start talking, but you immediately stop. After all, complimenting the dress, or even suggesting that it is not that bad, will only make Rarity restart her tirade.

Instead, you decide to do something else. You decide to say something else.

And most importantly, you try to follow this sudden hunch you have.

"Actually, let's try something else. Rarity, tell me something, what color is this dress I am wearing?"

You ask that question. And for all that you try to sound as polite as possible, Rarity immediately answers you with a frown.

Well, your question is quite silly. Or perhaps "condescending" is a better word for it.

Still, you raise an eyebrow, showing her that you are still waiting for an answer. And thankfully, the mare indulges you.

Even if her tone is… well, not mocking, but certainly displeased.

"The color of that dress is wrong, Velvet. Any more questions?"

She answers that without hesitating.

And that only causes your hunch to grow stronger.

"Rarity. I mean it. Please, even if it means you will lecture me on the entire history of this color, in the world of fashion. What color is this dress I am wearing?"

You say that, and Rarity furrows her eyebrows. Still, she quickly opens her mouth to say that…

… that…

… she opens her mouth to answer you that, clearly, this dress is…

"It's… this dress… well the fabric is clearly… No, it's just like in my drawings, I am sure it is…"

The mare tries to answer, then she pauses. Her mouth opens and closes several times again, but nothing really comes out of it.

And slowly, very slowly, her frown turns into curiosity, then frustration, and finally concern.

"No, darling, I mean it. The color of the dress is just wrong. I-I don't know how to explain it but-"

"But you can't tell me what the color is, can you?" you ask.

And you watch as Rarity's anger towards the dress completely dissipates. Being replaced by, well, by a growing sense of fear.

Because she clearly has no idea of what is going on. She even begins to look around her, at the several half-finished dresses displayed in the surrounding mannequins, and her eyes grow wider as she realizes the is seeing the same thing in all of them.

Her breath quickens, and she takes a panicked, trembling half-step back as she-

"Rarity, Rarity, listen to me. Look into my eyes, dear. Deep breaths. Deeep breaths."

But you catch her, just as she is about to fall. Figuratively speaking, of course. But still, you recognize her expression, and you know what to do from here.

In fact, as she looks into her eyes in that half-dazed panic, you think you see a glimpse of something on her gaze.

Maybe she can see what "should be"? Or perhaps she can see what ponies desire, or what they might desire if she brings it into reality?

Regardless, it is right there, hidden in her eyes.

And thankfully, you are here to help her bring it out.





Rarity is now a Disciple (Grail 3, Forge 1).



- - -



Before you leave for work, there is one last thing you must do. One more thing in your plans that you simply must see to, before you head back to Canterlot.

One thing that, in your opinion, you should have done a long time ago.

But also, that you have been afraid of doing this whole time.

And that thing is… well, it is fear itself. Or rather, this overwhelming fear that you always have about you, and that you know drags you back like a heavy set of chains.

There is something wrong with you. You know that. You know that, and it would be silly of you to try and deny it.

You have never really made peace with this knowledge. Still, this is something that you have come to… well, not accept, but you at least learned to live with it.

To put it simply, you know that you are afraid. You know that you are a coward.

For the longest time, especially before you joined the Cult, you were a very frightened mare. You were always easy to scare, always easy to startle. The horn on your head never really allowed you to be afraid of the dark, but the fact remains that you always had a ready source of light available to begin with.

But it wasn't just that. This… fear that you have, it doesn't just extend to the constant impression that something might jump at you. No.

It runs much deeper than that.

The fear of missing a deadline. The fear of being scolded by your father. The fear that Stormchaser might leave you. The fear that the next bundle of mail might have some sort of bad news you are not ready for. Those were your constant companions, for the longest time. And their presence was so ubiquitous that you actually learned how to live with them, because you really had no choice.

And of course, they only grew after Silky was born. You remember being afraid of letting her out of your sight. You remember dreading the day she realized she could fly. To the point that you recall keeping her cradle in your office while you worked, when she was still very small. As well as the… conversation you had with Stormchaser, where you tried to suggest that maybe your daughter shouldn't be taught how to fly.

Those fears… diminished, after you entered the Cult. Or maybe, they didn't diminish, and you just learned about greater fears that in turn claimed larger portions of your mind.

Still, the fact remains that you are afraid. You have always been afraid.



But no matter how hard you try… you just… can't… point out… why.



You remember what happened to you, when you were younger. Or at least, you remember… most of it. Still, there isn't a single occurrence that you can point to that could justify this ever-present dread.

Who knows, maybe there isn't a single occurrence to blame. Maybe this is the accumulated weight that you carry inside your mind, from the dozens of small (and not so small) things that happened to you.

However, none of that really matters right now. None of that matters today.

All that matters is that these fears… these chains, they are dragging you back.

So, you will cut them out like the weaknesses they are.



"[Moth]?"



Mareinette's voice reaches you, from where she is standing at the far end of the dimly lit room. The two of you are inside Jade Whistle's old house, in the largest room that you set aside for these sorts of things.

And the large, ceiling-tall creature just asked you… if you are ready to change.

You answer with a nod. And without a word, she waves at you to step into the circle.

You want to think that this is also a test, to see if Mareinette can truly be trusted. You want to tell yourself that, today, you will make yourself stronger, or braver, or just better than you are right now.

But to be honest, as you step past the large Heart-attuned circle, and into the smaller Edge-drawn configuration, none of those thoughts are really at the forefront of your mind.

To be honest… you just want to stop being weak. You just want to stop being wrong.

You just want this damn weight to be taken off from your shoulders.



"[Edge]!"



And without further ado, Mareinette begins the ritual.



[Rolling…]

[Ritual successful]



The Incision of the Heart is, at its core, a very simple ritual.

It is simple, but that does not mean it is easy to perform.

Still, it only requires two ingredients: a knife, and persistence.

The knife is there for obvious reasons. It is the symbol and representation of Edge. And most importantly, it is the surgical tool that will be used to cut away a part of your mind. Or maybe your heart. Or perhaps even your soul.

Still, the knife is one tool.

And insistence is the other.

If you were the one performing this ritual, you know it would have taken you one, maybe two weeks to prepare it. Because by definition, the Lore of Heart can only be summoned through insistence. And insistence can only be called upon through repetition.

Which means, in practice, that the circle must be drawn, and then redrawn. Again, and again, and again, until the shapes and forms of the outer circle flow out of the chalk like the written lyrics of a song. The knife, also, must be sharpened again, and again, and again, until the blade is so thin that it is ready to crack.

You have no idea how Mareinette achieved both of those things in just such a short span of time. After all, you asked her to start working on this ritual only two days ago. Still, the mare-thing reported that she was ready for your presence last night, and you are only doing this now because you were busy earlier today with Rarity.

Still, preparing the ritual is not the only simple, yet hard thing to do.

Executing the ritual is also an equally… delicate procedure.

Still, you can do nothing but watch as Mareinette raises the brittle-thin knife, and slowly presses its tip against your forehead.

And then…



And then, she pushes it towards you.



But the knife does not cut you. Or at least, it does not cut your skin. Instead, it cuts through you, and it digs into your forehead, right between your eyes and under your horn, as if it was slicing through air.

You don't feel pain. You don't feel anything at all.

But still, you can sense what the knife is reaching for. What the knife is trying to cut.

There is something inside of you… something that is stuck. Something that is buried away like a rotten tree, but whose cancerous roots spreads far and wide inside your mind.

If your mind was a machine made out of gears and clockwork, than that thing would certainly be a wrench that was thrown in there. If your mind was like a river, than that thing would certainly be a dam, or a levee, or maybe a pit that led part of the stream into somewhere darker and deeper than it should.

Still, Mareinette unerringly reaches for it with the strangely ethereal knife.

And the moment its sharp tip touches it, you immediately understand that… all at once, you remember how…

Spoiler: You remember...

There was once a filly named Velvet Covers, who loved her father very much.

And one day, that filly-

Spoiler: !!!

-WAS DRAGGED AWAY BY BONY HOOFS AND RAISED TOWARDS A WIDE OPEN MAW AND GREEDILY SWALLOWED DOWN BY A THING THAT THIRSTS AND THIRSTS AND THIRSTS AND-

A mute, cutting sound echoes through your mind.

And before you realize what just happened, you forget. You forget what you just saw, and you forget what you remembered. And most importantly, you forget why you have been afraid of for all these years.

You think… you think Mareinette just took something away from you. Something disgusting, like a tumor or a cancer. Something that you very much did not wish to keep anymore. And for all that you don't know what exactly it was, you can tell that she took it nonetheless.

And for all that her face is a dry skull, and nothing more, you swear you saw her lick her lips just now.

Still, you can also tell that… that she didn't take anything else.

She did exactly what you asked. And nothing more.

You don't thank her, and you leave without another word.

But still, you… it worries you, a tiny little bit. But you realize you feel thankful for what she just did. Whatever it was.

Maybe you shouldn't be. Maybe she just stole something from you, and you are only thankful out of ignorance.

Still, you can't help how you feel. Even if that worries you.

However, you have more important things to do right now. Much, much more important things to do.

Because for all that you just stepped away from a Lore-fueled ritual, the fact remains that you feel good. You feel great. You feel fantastic, and you just realized what is the first thing you want to do with this feeling.

So, you trot all the way to your house. And the moment you reach your home, you start working on something in the garden, while there is still light outside and before the sun finally sets.

And once you are done-

"Silky? Silky dear, can you come outside for a moment? Also, call your sister and your daddy as well!"

-you greet your family with a small surprise.

Because right now, there are several bright rings floating above the garden. Several floating rings, simple constructs made of magic, arranged in a particular pattern. Forming loops over the taller trees, and wide arches near the roof of the surrounding buildings.

You greet your family with a small, hastily made obstacle course. Made specifically for those of your family who have wings.

And the moment they all realize what you are doing, and right as you finish placing the finishing line, you turn to face them with a bright smile.

"Silky dear, you always tell me about how much of a good flier you are. Could you give us a little demonstration?"

You say that, and Silky Stream is already zipping up to the air in an excited burst, before you even have the chance to finish explaining yourself.

And the next few hours show you, or at least give you a taste, of everything you have been missing this whole time.

You were always afraid that, one day, your daughter would fall. You were always terrified that some day her wings would fail her, and you would not be there to catch her.

But right now? And from now on? You just want to see her fly.





Mareinette has successfully performed The Incision of the Heart on Velvet Covers. Velvet Covers no longer has the trait "Frightened". 20 bits have been deducted from your personal coffers.

Still, your fears were cut away from you, and dragged screaming and kicking into a yawning gullet. You will not miss them. But hopefully you will perform the Redemption of the Forge on yourself, if only to get a better view of them. No better way to face your own demons than with your own hoofs.



- - -

Covers! How are you doing, kiddo? Always lovely to hear from you, and-

No, wait, that is no way to start a letter, is it? I'm supposed to be an example to you, old and boring as I might be!

So, let me try this again.

Dear Velvet Covers, my beloved niece, how have you been?

I was very happy to receive your last letter. Still, I could tell that you didn't put a lot of details in it. Was it because you knew it would run through the main house? Or was it because you simply don't know a lot about that to begin with?

Regardless, let me tell you that yes, I did hear about it. Thankfully (at least, in your father's opinion) those rumors are still confined within our house. But boy oh boy did it spread like wildfire!

Your younger brother? In love? With one of your guests?! I wish I could go there myself, just so I could see the mare with my own eyes!

Or rather, I wish I had visited before she left. Because that bit of news hasn't reached us in Canterlot yet (or at least, not at the time I am writing this). But from what you told me, your guest leaving means poor young Pride is experiencing his first heartbreak. Hah! I love you both, but hearing something like that really takes me back to my younger days!

Still, I am only glad you wrote me, and doubly so that you seem (I hope?) intent in talking to him about it… Or at least that you want to reach out to him.

Anyhow. I will go into more details later. But let me tell you that, before talking to him, I think you should ask around first. Not in a blatant way, of course. But you know how it goes.

Part of this is because it is just good sense not to walk into this blind. But another, equally important part is… well, Pride is still young. He is still in that phase where your father keeps a very close eye on him. And I assure you that, even though he moved away from Canterlot, that particular aspect of his life has not changed in the slightest. I admit I am not acquaintanced with his personal servants. But still, if I were in your horseshoes, I would definitely try to change that before I made any moves.

So, before you talk to him yourself, try to… learn more about his staff.

But still, how are the fillies? I was at a business trip in Manehattan the other day, and I couldn't help but remember how…​

The letter goes on after that, but you will finish reading it later. You fold it back into the envelope and store it safely away inside your dress.

After that, you give Vellum a satisfied nod, to which he answers with a short bow. And, like always, the young stallion refuses to stay the night at your estate. He leaves shortly after, claiming he has more things to do for your dear uncle, but thanking you for your kindness, nonetheless.

Still, your uncle's letter certainly gave you a good idea. You definitely should try to learn more about your brother… or more precisely, about his staff, before you go talk to him.

After all, he is still young, and has not yet made a name for himself. But, on the other hoof, the ponies who your father surrounded him with are certainly veterans. Experienced butlers and maids who are either trusted by your father, or who have skills that your father wanted your little brother to have at his disposal.

So, learning about them will certainly help you learn about your little brother. And it will undoubtedly enlighten you about whatever circumstances he is being subjected to.

With that in mind, you decide to…



Who will you ask to investigate Velvet Pride's staff throughout the week?

[] Soft Sweeps. Friendly and personable, but definitely lacking in skills. Still, she already said she wants to help.

[] Ponpon. An experienced, old hoof in this sort of thing, but her status as head maid will make them leery of talking to her.

[] Mareinette. The word "nuclear option" comes to mind, even though Ponykind has not discovered nuclear fission. The word "invasion of privacy", however, is a lot more familiar.

[] Silky Stream and Selene. This is as good as sending nopony. They will not find out anything, but at least your conversation with your brother will not be "tainted" by a previous investigation.





I miss low stake votes. So, pick whatever you want, this is just to set the stage and will not (mechanically) impact your attempt at talking to your brother. The narrative side of it, however…

No moratorium. Approval voting. Pick however many you like.

This will be a short voting period. Really, don't sweat about this one.

Spoiler: Author's Note

And finally. Velvet's past was always meant to be exposed after she fixed herself. Originally, and for obvious reasons, those memories would be locked behind two parts, to be discovered after each Ritual. You didn't "lose" anything, so don't worry. The one-half of your memories you should have seen here were not permanently lost. But now both parts are held in her scarred leg. To be remembered if you perform the ritual yourself.

But if you are not the one doing it, then they will just be forgotten, as traumas often are. No harm in that, either.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Soft Sweeps. Friendly and personable, but definitely lacking in skills. Still, she already said she wants to help.

You are standing at attention, your neck is ramrod straight, and your ears are perked up and focused.

You are Soft Sweeps.

And finally… finally, you are being given a mission.

"Softy, dear, is everything alright?" she asks.

"No, Mrs. Velvet. Everything is perfect! Please, continue what you were saying!"

You answer makes Mrs. Velvet… raise an eyebrow. Not exactly concerned, but almost as if she is witnessing something unusual.

Naturally, you have no idea why she reacted like that. There is nothing wrong. There is nothing out of place. You are just excited!

And the reason you are excited couldn't be more obvious. It is because Mrs. Velvet called for you, just a few minutes ago, to give you a task. But this isn't any old, regular task. She just told you that she needs you to do something that she thinks is important. Something that, by her own words, she can't trust anypony else to do!

So how could you not be thrilled?

You barely notice the several seconds Mrs. Velvet spends, looking at you quizzically, until she finally gives up with a shrug.

"Anyhow, as I was saying. For a while now, I have been wondering how I should handle the… no, handle is not the right word," she says, narrowing her eyes slightly. "I have been thinking about how to open relations with my younger brother, who recently moved into the estate. And I was hoping you could help me with that."

She says that, and you immediately feel a cold breeze blow inside the room.

There is no breeze, of course. You just imagined it. Still, you definitely felt a cold breeze just now. The kind that, for some reason, seems to pierce through your fur, and your coat, and is able to reach all the way into your heart. To the point that the excitement you were feeling flickers, like a candle's fire against a strong wind.

You are not scared. Of course you are not scared. Why would you be scared? Mrs. Velvet is asking for your help, so you can't be scared. You can't screw this up!

Even though it relates to her younger brother. Who is a noble. And a Lord. Even though she is asking your help with something like that, you can't say no to her. You have to be brave. For her! For Mrs. Velvet! Even though she is asking your help in regard to a noble, who can ask you to do anything he wants, and who can and WILL ruin your lifeifyouevenDAREtothinkaboutnot-



"Softy? Soft Sweeps? It's okay, Softy. Everything is alright. The favor I need you to do isn't anything scary."



Mrs. Velvet's words reach you, and you almost jump up in surprise. You seem to have… dozed off at some point?

You shake your head, trying to focus once again. What just happened? You are not sure. But as you once again focus on Mrs. Velvet, her expression is nothing but kind.

The excitement you were feeling earlier is no longer there. In fact, you can barely remember you felt it in the first place. Still, you feel… fine. Perfectly neutral, even.

What a strange reason to doze off to, you think. You shrug off that strange sensation, and focus your attention back on Mrs. Velvet.

"Sorry, Mrs. Velvet. You were saying?" you ask, trying to put your thoughts back on track.

Mrs. Velvet looks at you for a few more moments, her expression gentle but analytical. But whatever she was looking for, she seems to have found it. So, she nods to herself and tries once again.

"Well, to put it very simply, ever since my b…" she starts, only to stop for a few moments as if she is thinking about what words to use. "Ever since the number of workers here in the estate increased, almost doubled, I realize that I don't really have a good hoof on the pulse of our house anymore."

You nod at her. That makes sense. Ponpon was kind enough to give you her room, since she has a house in Ponyville. But you realize the common quarters in the servant's section of the estate are now full to bursting.

Most of the newcomers work on the annex building, of course. Because of reasons. But the central building remains the heart of the estate, so you bump into maids and workers whose name you don't know more often than not, nowadays.

"So, I was wondering if you could help me with that. I know the fillies keep you awfully busy, and we are all going on our trip next week. But could you try to look into it?"

You continue to nod to her. Actually, you never really stopped nodding to her. A smile growing on your face as you do.

"Absolutely Mrs. Velvet! I won't let you down. But…" you hesitate for a second. Part of you not wanting to ask what is (definitely) a stupid question. While another part of you reminds you that it is best to make sure you understand what your assignment is, so you don't fail her!

Eventually, your cautious side wins out, and you ask her what you have in mind.

"But what exactly would you like me to find out? I think I understand what you mean with the… pulse of the house? But, uhm, is there anything in particular you'd like me to ask around for?" you ask.

And even though your question is silly, Mrs. Velvet manages not to show it on her face.

"I'm glad you asked. I would like you to focus on two things in particular. One is their…" she trails off for a moment, as if trying to figure out another way to say a word that starts with emp and possibly rhymes with loyer. "I want you to see what they think about their working conditions. Yes, that. Do they think the tasks they are given are reasonable and fair? Are there any problems they usually face? Be it in regards to their hours, or payment, or anything else? Also, I really want to know everything, so you can tell me stuff even if it is just gossip."

Your expression is more serious now, as she explains to you what she needs. You try your best to commit her words to memory.

"The second thing I want you to look into is their… let's call it their hierarchy. I mean, before the new maids arrived everypony was supposed to listen to Ponpon, right? She is our official head maid and all that. And we knew how the house was supposed to work because everypony where to look for instructions. But what about these new maids? I want to know who they answer to, and who is at the top of the servant's chain. But most importantly, I want to know about them. And again, anything you hear about is useful, even if it's just gossip."

You understand what she is asking you to do. Or at least you hope that you do, and you are resolute not to fail her.

So, you push down your nervousness, and you hold back the other questions you have boiling in your mind. Such as why she isn't asking Ponpon to do this kind of thing. After all, you already know the answer to that.

Ponpon would probably have been able to do this a lot better than you, but Mrs. Velvet trusts you. And she wants to be able to trust you more. She clearly does.

Which means this is a test.

And if you want to help Mrs. Velvet more in the future, if you want her to trust you with even more important things, than you cannot fail her!

"I won't let you down, Mrs. Velvet," you say.

And she answers you with a confident nod.

"I know you won't."



- - -



All of that happened yesterday. Later that night, close to midnight, she left for the train station. By now, she should be arriving in Canterlot.

Which means that, as of right now, you have five days to complete your task. Five days to investigate the recent addition to the estate's staff, so you can report your success to Mrs. Velvet when she returns!

It is still early in the morning. You dropped the fillies off at their school maybe an hour ago, and you have just finished cleaning their rooms and rushing through your morning routine.

So now, you are going to…!

You are going to…

You are…

Wait, now that you think about it, you have no idea of what you are supposed to do next.

Right now, you are standing in the middle of the great entrance hall. You realize Mrs. Velvet asked for you to do this in your capacity as a maid, so you are currently wearing your best-kept uniform. Both to act the part and, admittedly, to psych yourself up. However, now that you are mentally prepared, and now that you have two or three free hours to get to it, you realize that you have no idea of how to proceed.

Should you just walk up to somepony and talk to them? Should you just stop the first maid you are not familiar with, and start asking her about this and that?

You don't even finish that thought before you realize how much of a bad idea it is. After all, all the servants in the Velvet estate are very busy most of the time. So, you wouldn't just be awkwardly trying to start a conversation with a pony you never met before, you would also probably be getting in the way of their work.

But still, maids gossip all the time, don't they? At least, that is what Tip Top tells you. You spend most of the time caring for the fillies, so you don't really know. However, it seems to be common knowledge that maids talk, which means in turn that they somehow find the time to talk.

Your concentrated expression slowly turns into a frown as you try to think. Ironically, you remember how you already heard that there is an entire underground society in the maid world. Although you only ever heard that as a joke. Still, as you start to bang your head against this imaginary roadblock, you can't help but feel like you are trying to gain entry to some kind of secret world.

Because you are a maid, through and through. You have the cutie mark to prove it, and you have been working on this trade literally for as long as you remember. But still, the fact remains that you were never really interested in the whole gossiping part. During your first few years as a maid, a few of the older maids were mean to you, and some of them were nice, but you were still too young and too busy to care. You were actually afraid of talking to anypony while working, because you simply couldn't afford to lose your job.

After that, of course, you were assigned to be a nanny. And for all that is a job within the four walls of the house, the entirety of your time was focused (or some would say isolated) on one part of the house. That, and your schedule was entirely different from the usual rotations that the other maids have.

Still, you will not be deterred! You shake off your hesitation, and you push away the thoughts of asking for help. From Tip Top, or from anypony else. Mrs. Velvet asked you to do this, and so you shall!

"And standing still here won't do me any favors," you say to yourself.

With that in mind, you set out from the central building, and towards the estate at large.



- - -



The Velvet estate is, to put in very few words, quite large.

It is comprised mainly of five separate buildings. The central building, which is a large mansion, and four annex buildings of difference sizes and functionalities. Those five buildings are placed around the large, vaguely square-shaped gardens, with the mansion itself dominating the east side, two annex buildings on the north, and two to the garden's south.

You don't know enough about other noble estates to know if this configuration is unique to the Velvet estate in Ponyville, or if this is the norm for every noble house outside of Canterlot. Still, you understand that the Velvet estate is large out of necessity.

Well, it is also large because is can be large. After all, Ponyville is not exactly short on free land. Still, you know the estate is large because of the several facilities it needs for it to function.

The noble mansions of Canterlot are at the heart of Equestria. And everything a noble might need is just a few districts away. After all, Canterlot has developed an economy that is able to satisfy the needs of the Royal Castle, so whatever a noble might need can be bought or procured within the mountain-perched city.

But a noble house in Ponyville is another matter entirely. And that is doubly so because this is not just a vacation home of sorts, but the center of an entire farming operation. So, the annex buildings are filled with all sorts of workshops, storages, and other things besides necessary to maintain, repair and even furnish a noble holding like this.

A workshop for carpenters, a smithy for the resident tool worker, a strong-smelling apothecary, the annex buildings have all sorts of facilities for all sorts of needs. All of those boasting at least one pony with a related cutie mark, who knows what he or she is doing. Granted, none of those facilities are particularly large, and they are only really suited to fulfill the needs of the estate. Still, there is no shortage of nooks and crannies in the Velvet estate where servants are busy working on all kinds of things.

Hay, the southernmost building, the one that has its own side-entrance by the walls, even has a sawmill. A relic from the time the estate was still being built, and they had to cut down part of the forest to make way for the farmlands.

Still, you aren't headed to any of those facilities. Granted, you realize there are probably some of your fellow maids here and there, keeping everything clean and tidy. But you have an idea, and that idea is leading you somewhere else.

Ever since the newcoming servants arrived, the two annex buildings to the north of the garden have become a hive of activity. The largest one is in the process of being renovated, and everything on its second floor was taken somewhere else so the freed rooms could be turned into suitable accommodations. The entire place, also, is receiving as much attention as the main mansion. In fact, it might even be receiving more care than the central building itself.

But the other north-side building was also subjected to a few changes. If for a different reason.

Because since the number of servants in the estate suddenly doubled, the estate suddenly found itself in short supply of certain facilities. After all, for several years now most of the servants of the estate were residents of Ponyville. However, now that there is an entire score of servants in the estate who are from Canterlot, there is now also dozens of ponies who chose to live in the estate almost fulltime.

And to be honest, even though there were enough beds in the servant's quarters to accommodate all those ponies, that was only true in the strictest sense of the words. Because yes, there were "several dozen" available beds for the "several dozen" new residents. But given the decades of Ponyville-resident servants, the estate was simply not equipped for all those new ponies to live there.

So, the second annex building north of the garden was (and still is) slowly being repurposed for that end.

You heard that a larger, more comfortable dormitory is being built there, so the newcomers will have more space than just the tightly-packed servant quarters of the mansion. However, one place that you know is already up and running is the newly built mess hall.

So, your hoofs take you through the garden, past the larger annex building, and into that partially ready "servant's building".

Curiously, the moment you step hoof in it you realize this is the first time you have entered it after all the changes. You remember that this place was, originally… maybe mostly storage? You remember the tailor's workshop was here, but nine out of ten ponies who can thread a needle are either unicorns or have related cutie marks. So, you have never been there too often, except for the times you needed your uniform repaired. You also think the candle making… stuff was here, as well.

Still, you are immediately greeted by the large, refectory-like mess hall. And a whiff from the air tells you that some nearby kitchen, also recently built, must be in the early stages of preparing lunch for the servants.

But much, much more importantly, you feel a surge of encouragement run through your body.

Because sure, the mess hall is almost entirely empty. Right now, it's maybe ten or eleven in the morning. You servants will only have a full break to eat at midday. However, the place is not deserted either.

And your eyes immediately fall on a fellow maid who is sitting on one of the long communal tables. Apparently just idling her time away. The regular maids are usually rotated around a schedule, so you think that maid is currently on her "easy" circuit, and probably already ended her tasks for the morning. Hence her being here, just enjoying a window of free time.

Or who knows, perhaps she is skipping work.

But you don't know that particular mare. Which means not only that she is not Ponpon's responsibility, but also that she is precisely the type of pony you was hoping to find!

With a confident smile, you make your way towards her, and you sit right in front of her on the wooden table.

"Good morning!" you say, trying to sound as casual as possible. "I don't think I've met you yet? My name is Soft Sweeps. How is your day going?"

The mare didn't notice you when you sat down. So maybe you startled her, but she freezes the moment you start talking to her.

After that, she looks at you wide-eyed. And maybe for five full seconds she just stares at you, as if she doesn't believe what she is seeing.

For a moment, you feel your confidence waver. Did you do something wrong? Did you forget how to talk properly to other ponies? Are you that incompetent?!

But after her frozen shock, the mare's expression immediately changes into something much more pleasant, and much more amicable.

"Soft Sweeps you say? I already heard so much about you. I am delighted to meet you! My name is…"

After that, the two of you begin to chat.

And you can feel a warm wave of happiness run through you as you talk.

Because you were right! Coming here was the right idea. And you certainly, definitely will be able to help Mrs. Velvet!



- - -



"What did you do?!"

A voice comes from behind you, and you immediately jump up in surprise. An undignified yelp escaping your lips.

"Ack-!"

You turn around, only to see the shocked, worried, and maybe even angry expression of your friend Tip Top. Or rather, you think she is still your friend? You hope she still is? You have definitely never seen Tip this angry before, and that scares you!

"W-what? What do you mean, Tip Top?" you ask, still trying to get your bearings.

It is already late in the afternoon. The sun is about to set, the fillies are in their room playing, and naturally you are in the central mansion taking care of them.

In fact, you were heading downstairs to the kitchen just now, to grab them a snack. When Tip Top suddenly appeared right behind you, nearly scaring the fires out of your body.

"I meant what I meant, Soft. And this is serious. What did you do?"

You look at the earth pony mare, and then around you, trying to gain a little more context. Hay, you are trying to see if there is anything nearby that can tip you of what she is talking about. Did you drop something? Did you forget to do some chore, and she is looking for you at Ponpon's request?

Oh Celestia. Tip Top is in charge of the central chandelier, and you remember you helped her the last time she cleaned it. Did you screw something up with that? Did something break and it's your fault?!

"I-I… Tip, I didn't…? Did I do something wrong? W-what's going on?" you ask, feeling your heartrate accelerate as more and more agonizing scenarios, all of which are definitely your fault, flash through your head.

You take a frightened half-step back, and for a moment you think Tip Top is going to take a step forward. To keep the same distance between the two of you, to keep the pressure on you as she scolds you for something you did wrong.

But the mare never does that. Instead, her expression… changes. Her initial scowl turning into confusion, then doubt, until it finally settles on some kind of understanding.

"Wait, wait… Hold on, Soft, let me think for a moment…" she says, raising a hoof as she closes her eyes.

You have no idea of what is going on. And of course, that only makes you more nervous. You completely fail to calm down your breathing, and the inside of your chest only becomes more frantic. But still, years of conditioning at least helps you to stay still and silent. And that is enough for Tip Top to think for a few more seconds.

"Wait, wait, waaaait... oh… oh damn," the mare finally says, mostly to herself, as if she just realized something. But she finally opens her eyes, and her expression is less angry than before as she speaks to you. "Okay Soft, I think I understand what is going on. But answer me very carefully. Did you speak to anypony today? Anypony besides, I don't know, Ponpon, the fillies, or some of our friends?"

She looks less angry, and maybe more understanding, but none of that makes you feel any less scared. Your body is still entirely locked in place, as you realize you are being scolded. So, you can't even answer with words, you only nod your head up and down in a frightened, almost mechanical motion.

Tip Top understands your answer, and she reacts to it by immediately whispering something. A crude, drawn-out word that you must definitely never repeat within earshot of the fillies.

"… of course that's what happened and…" she mumbles to herself for a few more moments, turning her attention back to you once again. "Okay, so, this is important. Tell me who you talked to, and what you talked about. Tell me everything that happened, if you can."

"O-okay…?" you swallow something dry, taking a deep breath. Your brain still trying to figure out what the hay is going on, and what in Equestria you did wrong. "I-I… I wanted to learn a bit more about the newcomers? S-so I just, y-you know… I went to the second building? There was this n-nice mare in that new mess hall, so I-"

"Soft Sweeps, are you telling me you tried to barter? That YOU, tried to BARTER?!"

But Tip Top doesn't just interrupt you, she says something that makes your legs shake.

And she didn't really yell at you. She almost barely raised her voice. But the way she said that, with a mixture of shock, and plain admonishment, was as good as a slap to your face given the circumstances.

Even though you have no idea of what she is talking about!

"W-what?! what does that mean? T-Tip Top, d-did I do something wrong?!"

Your words come out of your mouth before you can even think about them. The plain, honest, and innocent fear you are feeling becoming immediately apparent to anypony who might be listening.

And once Tip Top realizes that you truly have no idea of what is going on, her harshness completely evaporates.

Instead, she just looks…

No, she doesn't "look" like anything. She just facehoofs. The movement lightning quick, and the slapping noise as her hoof hits her forehead making it sound a little bit painful. Still, she facehoofs, her eyes closed shut as she tries to process… well, as she tries to process whatever she just realized.

Because you still have no idea of what is going on.

"Soft, I… by Celestia, how do I even begin to explain," she says, letting out a long and drawn-out sigh. "You don't even guess what bartering means, so how do I…"

Her hinds hit the ground with a soft, carpeted thud. And she finally opens her eyes once again, only this time she looks… not disappointed, but certainly disheartened.

"Soft, we are maids. Don't you listen to the stuff I tell you?" she begins to say. "We are maids. We trade in gossip and information. What we know is just as important as where we work. And I don't mean this in a silly, mare-talk way. This sort of stuff can actually cost us our jobs. It can even affect the family we serve!"

Yet another wave of dread runs through you, as you hear her say that. The old, trained concern of having your job threatened being enhanced by the newer, much more powerful fear that you just did something that might affect Mrs. Velvet or the fillies.

"It doesn't make any difference if it's any old gossip or story. But when it's important? We literally trade, barter for that kind of stuff. And you, Soft, should realize that you aren't a small deal. You aren't a small deal at all! You're the fillies' nanny. You are invited to eat with the Lady's family on every single meal. And apparently, you just did a barter without having any idea of what you were doing. It was as good as extortion, Soft, and the whispers I heard say that you basically flooded the market with information about the Lady's family."

Your eyes go wide with that, the muscles of your wing going taut as you finally understand why Tip Top is acting like this. Your panicked mind trying to think back of what exactly you told that mare, only for your brain to return you blank memories. You just had a chat with her, so you can't even remember what you two talked about.

"D-did… Did I do something…" you start to say, but you stop yourself. You almost ask if you did something wrong, but you stop yourself from saying it. Because of course you did something wrong. Of course you just messed up. You messed up, and you are so bad at this that you don't even know how bad it was.

So, rather than asking the stupid obvious, you go to the second worse thing.

"W-was it really that bad…?" you ask

To which Tip answers with another sigh.

"I wish I could say it wasn't, Soft. But the point is that I don't know. I really don't. It will be a few days before we can get a feeling of what is being talked, and how ponies might react. Maybe they didn't really get anything out of you? Maybe she's just leveraging the fact she was seen talking to you? I don't know, Soft. I really don't know. I only hear the rumors."

After that, neither of you really have anything left to say. Tip Top notices how shaken you are, but her half-hearted attempts to play it down don't really work after everything she told you. But, if nothing else, she promises to keep you informed of how things go, as she hears about it.

Still, the two of you eventually go your separate ways.

"And for Celestia's sake, Sweeps. Next time you need something, just ask me. I'm your friend."

Except that, as you go back to your tasks, you do it with heavy hoofs. And you can almost feel the weight of your failure dragging behind you, as you walk away.



- - -



It is night. The Velvet estate is quiet and empty.

And you can't sleep.

You are lying on your bed, inside the old head maid's room, and you can't sleep.

Of course you can't sleep. You just feel bad. Everything feels bad.

Mrs. Velvet has given you an important task just a bit over twenty-four hours ago. And in the span of a day, you not only managed to fail at it, but you failed so spectacularly that it might even impact her.

Because you don't do gossip. You don't have that strange, almost instinctual ability that Tip Top has. That thing that she does where you tell her something, she chuckles, and then she proceeds to explain to you all the implications of whatever you just told her. Things that make sense after she tells you, but that you never would have guessed otherwise.

So, what exactly did you tell that mare? What simple, innocent tidbits did you let slip, that she might have used to map out something much larger? How badly did you mess up?

No matter how hard you try to remember, you just can't recall anything.

Did you tell her something about Mrs. Velvet? About Mr. Stormchaser? About some habit that you all have in the central mansion, that maybe you should have kept private? Did you tell her something about the fillies?

Your body hurts. Your fur feels like needles against your coat.

You can almost hear them, now. The head maid's room is in the servant's quarter, in the central mansion. So, you are just a few doors away from the regular quarters. Just a few hoofsteps away from where the newcomer servants are lodging and sleeping. You are this close to them, and you can almost hear them.

Laughing at you.

Mocking you.

Chatting about your life, and the Lady's life, and how much of an idiot she is, for keeping around an incompetent mare like you.

You try to press a pillow against your ears, but it doesn't help. It's just too much.

Hay, even this room feels wrong. This is Ponpon's assigned room. This place belongs to the head maid. And in her absence, it should be empty and unused. So even the pity she took on you, when she lent you this room, is too much.

You jump out of bed before you realize what you are doing, and soon enough your hoofs take you away from that place.

…

You wander around the house, for a few minutes. But everywhere you go, everything you look at, just makes you feel bad. After all, you are one of the few servants who is allowed on the second floor, close to the places where the Lady lives. So, going anywhere near there just makes you feel bad. As if you had just let an entire throng of curious onlookers go there with you, invading Mrs. Velvet's privacy through your careless words and stupid mistakes.

So, you don't go anywhere near the second floor. And even the first floor feels overbearing.

You walk out through the front door soon after. The night breeze of the garden blowing against your mane as you wander.

This… this feels a bit better. No, not better, just less bad.



Still, it's an improvement.



You wander around the garden, taking in the moonlit sights. You try not to think about anything, and instead just let your hoofs take you where they want.

Soon enough, your idly-walking hoofs enlist the help of your wings, and you don't really try to stop what happens next. As a pegasus, flying is as natural as walking, so you allow your wings to lazily flap themselves, and soon enough you are gliding through the skies above the estate. Following an unseen path, taking you wherever your body, or something else inside of you, wants to go.

You just let it happen. You don't really care about it anymore, and allowing your head to stay empty is certainly better than the alternative.

However, you are snapped out of your daze when your hoofs land on something hard. And you realize you are now standing on a roof.

"Wait, what?" you ask yourself.

Because… because suddenly, quite literally as if a bubble has been burst, you are aware once again. You don't feel alarmed, or scared, or anything like that. Still, this definitely feels like…

You feel as if that dazed, half-thought way you were in just now, where you let your body take you anywhere it wanted, just shut itself down.

No, it's more than just that.

You feel as if, when you dozed down, your body took over. And then your body intentionally brought you here. And now that you are finally here, that "auto-pilot" way your body was acting in is satisfied, so it shut itself down.

Which is… confusing?

"Because… because where am I? No. Why am I here?"

You look around, and you immediately realize where you are.

You are on the roof of one of the annex buildings. To be more precise, you are on the roof of the largest annex building. The one that… became the center of attention of the newcoming servants.

Still, for all that you know where you are, you have no idea why you came here. It doesn't even occur to you to question why "your body" would possibly do something that you didn't want to do. It doesn't even occur to you to wonder why you are thinking that "something else inside you" brought you here. All of that just feels natural, so you don't even think about it.

But that doesn't mean you aren't curious. Maybe even intrigued.

However, all of your thoughts are immediately interrupted as you hear something. More than that, your ears perk up, and your whole body becomes alert. Your previous sadness is still there, inside of you, but definitely shoved into a corner and forgotten for now as something much more urgent reaches you.

Specifically, you hear the sound of a pony crying. The low, hiccupping sobs of a pony who tried to stop herself from crying, but who gave up after a while.

You also immediately realize it is indeed a her. And your mind runs a short, urgent checklist as that new information hits you.

Not a filly. Not one of your fillies. Not Mrs. Velvet, as unlikely as that would be. Not anypony else you know…

Not bleeding. Not maimed. Not physically hurt. Purely emotional pain.

Sorrowful, but not in agony.

You shake your head, a string of strange thoughts disappearing before you can really grab hold of them. Still, whatever you were thinking just now doesn't really matter. There is a pony on this roof, and she seems to be crying. So, naturally, you need to help her.

With that in mind, you immediately follow the sobs and the sniffs. And it doesn't take too long for you to find their source, sitting behind a chimney.

It is a mare, you realize. Well, you already knew that, but you finally see it with your own eyes.

A young-looking mare who is maybe your age, sitting on her hinds on the hard tiles of the roof. Hugging herself with her forelegs as she quietly sobs with her eyes closed.

Unsurprisingly, you have never seen her before. Is she perhaps one of the new servants? She is not a pegasus, so she couldn't have just landed here. You already heard the story of several pegasi, who described how they just landed somewhere sobbing after the Catastrophe. But still, those stories all happened exclusively during or after the Catastrophe, for obvious reasons. And, again, the mare is not a pegasus, which means she came up here…

Hold on, there are no stairs or doors that lead to the roof. Repairs on the roof tiles are usually made by pegasi. How in Equestria did she get up here? Did she just climb?!

You are in the middle of wondering who this mare is, when you finally realize she stopped crying. No, wait, she didn't stop crying. She stopped sobbing. Her eyes are still very much leaking tears.

However, those same eyes are now open, and looking straight at you. The mare's expression clearly scared, now.

"Oh, I-I'm sorry," you blurt out, taking a half-step back. "I-I didn't mean to interrupt you. I was just flying around wh-"

"When you came here to laugh at me as well?" she asks, the miserable tone of her voice still strong enough to interrupt you.

And for a moment, you fumble. You almost open your mouth to answer her immediately. You almost speak the first thing that comes to your mind, be it a denial, or an apology, or maybe just a statement you will leave her alone.

But you don't say any of that. Because the way she just spoke… something in her eyes… it just gives you pause.

It gives you pause, and for some reason that allows you to think a lot more clearly, before you speak up again.

"I'm… I'm not here to laugh at you," you say, a strange confidence coating your words as you speak them. "I promise."

The mare looks at you, her expression as sad as it is accusatory.

But you keep her gaze. And eventually, she looks down once again.

Still, she doesn't say anything else. She doesn't say anything else, and as the silence stretches longer you begin to feel strange. As if something was telling you to fill the silence. Not because you should always fill it, but because in this particular situation, it is best if you say something.

And when you open your mouth, your tongue feels curious. It feels a little bit like an itch, and a little bit like you are licking something rough and prickly.

However, that strange sensation seems to be almost alive. And every time you try to say something, it pricks and freezes in your mouth. It doesn't really stop you from talking, and you feel like you could force your way through the discomfort if you really wanted. But you don't do that. Instead, you decide to… trust it? You don't know if that's the word for it. However, you roll several different possibilities through your mouth. You try to articulate several alternatives, of how you might break the stretching silence.

And you pick the one that your tongue doesn't dislike. You pick the one that, if not right, at least doesn't feel wrong.

"Did you have a hard day at work today?" you ask.

But the mare only answers by shutting her eyes, stifling down a sniff.

And your tongue pricks you.

You said it wrong.

Not a hard day.

It's something you are familiar with.

"Did… did they give you a hard time at work today?"

The mare half-opens her eyes as you say that. Her expression even more sad than before, but also confused now. You struck a chord inside of her.

Better.

She doesn't answer with words. But still, she tells you everything you need to know.

A short, hesitant nod. Because she doesn't trust you.

A bit more strength on her forelegs as she hugs herself. Because she feels alone.

A short, particularly timed sniff. Because the memories are still fresh.

Your legs move underneath you. Four more steps, and you are standing right next to her. Bend your hindlegs, and you are sitting by her side.

She doesn't react.

But she doesn't push you away.

"I used to have a hard time like that, a while ago," you say, because the words sound right against your tongue. "It was the small things. Always the small things. But maybe it hurt a lot because I was also so small? Still, any spots I didn't get, any silly little mistake I made… Sometimes it even felt like they made it up. Bashing me because I would hold stuff the wrong way, or use too much product, or too little product… Can you even hold something the wrong way? It never really made sense. But it hurt all the same."

The mare doesn't say anything. You aren't even sure if she is listening. To be honest, you might as well be talking to yourself. Or maybe you will look to the side and realize she already left a while ago, and you were none the wiser.

But she is listening. You know she is.

So, you keep talking.

"And then they started to blame me for everything. It was bad when they blamed me for mistakes that didn't happen. But when they started doing it for real mistakes? For the ones they made? Yeah… and after that it got… worse… then more… stuff, happened…"

You trail off, the unwelcome memories coming back to you. Making your body tense up, and your voice die down on your throat. And for a moment, you don't really feel like your present self anymore. You just feel like a little filly who…

Still, for all that your memories get to you, they also definitely get to your voice.

Your tone reaches that perfect, sorrowful timbre.

And suddenly, she commiserates. Because you went all the way down to her level. Because you jumped down to the bottom of the well. Now, you are together with her.

Misery loves company.

"I…" she starts to talk, her voice broken and failing after so much time crying. Still, she starts to talk.

Not to comfort you. Not because she is trying to lift you up. She doesn't have the energy for that.

Instead, she starts to talk because somepony is finally down there with her.

"I really… really… hate it here," she says.

You aren't crying. But still, your own memories are so vivid now that, when you look at her, your expression is similar to hers.

Maybe she saw curiosity on your gaze, or maybe she just wants to talk. But still, she takes your glance as a sign to continue speaking.

"I-I'm… I'm not fit to be a maid. I really, really am not. And this… feels like a fish out of water and… because they are so mean…"

The mare is interrupted by her own tears. But now, her tears are more angry than they are sad. And seeing that, you start feeling angry yourself. Your own memories of rage, at the way those other maids treated you in your first job, coming back to you.

She gets angry. You get angry with her. The two of you start climbing up together.

"A-and… and do you know how they call me?" she says, not waiting for you to answer. "They call me Can-trip. Because I tripped and let that glass fall down. Once! And then? Then it got worse! Because I was assigned to his son!"

Her tears die down, or maybe they are smothered by her anger. Still, her broken, sobbing voice is nowhere to be seen now. Instead, there is only an increasing growl as she speaks. Louder and louder, as her hoofs leave her eyes and move in anger to grab at her mane.

"And why would a clumsy, stupid maid be assigned to his son? She has a cutie mark for magic, not for being a maid! She didn't even train for the job. She came here straight out of the school for gifted unicorns. So why?! Oh, but the answer is obvious, isn't it? Why would he assign a pretty, magically-competent, unicorn to be the personal maid of his own unicorn son?!"

She stamps a hoof against the floor, cracking a rooftile.

An angry scar that tonight happened on the skin of the world.

But that physical burst of anger is enough to calm her down. Maybe it channeled a bit of her rage out of her. Maybe she just realized she broke something, and that she should calm herself down before she breaks something else.

Still, by now, she is practically talking all by herself. Without even so much as a push from you.

"Of course, it's all lies. I thought the same, at the very beginning. But he never even touched me. And of course he wouldn't. He's the kindest, most gentle pony I ever met, even if he tries to hide it. Certainly the kindest I ever worked for…"

She says that, and her expression becomes a lot less pained. A rush of better memories reaching her, pushing her further and further out of the pit she was in.

"But still, it's… this job, this life… it is not for me… But I don't have anything else, ever since the whole world went hind-up… b-but the other maids… everypony is so mean, and they always keep saying those horrible things and…"

The unicorn mare continues to talk. About herself, about the horrible maids who whisper behind her back. About her life, before the Catastrophe. She continues to talk, as if she didn't have anypony to talk to for a very long while. So, you just listen.

And slowly, very slowly, you start to say something here and there. Until it turns into a conversation of sorts. And until the minutes turn into hours, and you two realize the moon is close to touching the horizon.

Which means that, unfortunately, you two will have to go your separate paths. At least for now.

"I hate to say this, but I think we should get going," you eventually say. "But what's your name again? I will definitely look for you during my routine, if you don't mind."

"Oh, I would actually love that! Thought it might be a bit… hard. My schedule is, uh, a bit unpredictable? Still, my name is Cantrip… the mean nickname everypony calls me by wasn't made up… unfortunately."

"I can call you something else if you'd like."

"No no no, it's fine. Actually, I'd appreciate having a pony call me by my name in a nice way… like a friend? Wait, shoot, I never even asked. What about you? What is your name?"

"Oh, I'm Soft Sweeps!"

Her eyes go wide in surprise when you tell her that, and you kick yourself for forgetting Tip Top's advice so quickly.

But what the hay, what else were you supposed to do? Make up a name and lie to her?

Still, the two of you eventually go your separate ways. True to her word, meeting her is dreadfully hard. In fact, not once do you catch even a glimpse of her during the work hours. Still, given how she is one of the servants who is now living in the estate, you two find a way.

And thankfully, thank all the stars in the sky and the sun in heaven, Mrs. Velvet seems strangely proud when, instead of telling her what she wanted to know, you tell her about how you made a new friend among the servants.

It is slightly weird, how Mrs. Velvet insists you tell her everything about Cantrip. But that weirdness evaporates when she tells you that you did a good job.

So, you suppose that everything is well when it ends well.





As the days went by, Tip Top eventually told you that nothing really came out of the rumors about you. And thank Celestia for that! You apparently didn't say anything important, and the initial hub-dub of gossip just came from the fact you were seen talking to somepony else.

Still, you learned your lesson. You definitely learned your lesson.

And much more importantly, you think you made a new friend! Although you… you will make sure to run that through Tip Top, and maybe Ponpon. Still, this is exciting!

Soft Sweeps has made a new friend. Cantrip has been added as one of Soft Sweep's followers(?).

Velvet Covers has gained relevant information on one of Velvet Pride's most important servants.

You briefly wonder how things might have gone differently. But that is probably the domain of another, stranger History.

Spoiler: But... why?

"So… I mean, please don't take this the wrong way. But why did he assign you to his son? You aren't… I-I mean, you don't have the cutie mark of a maid. You said it yourself. So why…"

She answered you with a small smile. Maybe the first she gave you that entire night. And then, she lit up her horn.

Her face contorted with effort, and the wind began to blow around you. Stronger and stronger, until there was sweat forming on her brow.

That is, until the world exploded around you. And the two of you landed on the soft ground, in the middle of a plantation patch, with a soft thud. Ruining the lives of a few unfortunate batches of produce under your hinds.

"Because…" she said, between heaves of effort and strain, "safety…" she gasped out the word.

But you, on the other hoof, almost hugged her in excitement.

"That. Was. Awesome!" you blurt out.

"Wazzit really…?" but the mare seemed too dazed to even answer you properly.

Still, that was the most amazing thing you had ever seen an unicorn do! The most amazing magic you ever participated in!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

There is a monster living in the Velvet estate.

"Why hello there, Mareinette. It has been such a long time. How have you been?"

"[Lantern]!"

Correction, there is a monster hanging on to the Velvet estate.

"Is that so? I see, I see… Well, I am glad to hear that. I wish you could enter the Plains, to visit me, but it is what it is."

"[Grail]?"

"Oh, don't give me that look. You know how much I dislike your home. And besides, you know why I need to stay where I stay!"

No, really. A monster is literally hanging on to the Velvet estate.

Like a great, morbid spider hugging a wall at an impossible angle, Mareinette is currently sprawled against the outer wall of the central mansion. Her bony limbs are only partially covered by her dress, as she digs her hoofs into the wall to keep her head close to one window in particular.

Under normal circumstances, her posture would have looked undignified. Perhaps even humiliating. But to the trained eye, her bone-dry body and phantasmagorical appearance makes her look like a scene out of a horror story. Like a crawling, climbing creature straight out of a nightmare, who is clawing its way into an unsuspecting house to perform horrifying acts.

And to the untrained eye, of course, there is nothing wrong. Nothing out of place.

But still, despite her size, and despite her proximity to the windows of certain rooms, the Grail-thing really is not doing anything wrong right now. Quite the opposite.

After all, if not like this, then how else could she have a conversation with one of the estate's guests? How else would she be able to catch up with an old friend?

"Still, you realize she will be furious if she hears you have been skirting her no-entry rule by doing this, right?"

Clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack.

"We'll see who is laughing when I'm the one to tell her."

"[Forge]?"

"Really…? Well, in that case we have a deal."

The large, pale-white skull right outside the window breathes out a sigh of relief.

"Anyhow, you said you have a task of sorts? What do you have in mind?" the other, much smaller mare asks from inside her room. She then approaches the window, and takes a curious look at the larger creature's attire. "And where in the seven Histories did you find a dress like that… that fits your size?"



- - -



There is a monster living in the Velvet estate.

That is a secret truth that is known only to very few ponies. A terrifying reality that lives right behind a veil. A veil that is made out of eldritch oaths, secrecy, and barely-held self-control.

But like most truths, that fact is very unlikely to ever see the light of day.

However, recently, another veil has appeared to obscure it. Yet another layer of illusions and deceits has been lit by the limelight.

And like most veils, it took up all the attention. It dazed and flashed, with smokes and mirrors, until nopony in the estate could talk about anything else.

There is a monster living in the Velvet estate. And nopony knows that.

There is a maid working in the Velvet estate. And everypony heard of her.



- - -



Accounts of her arrival vary. Everypony claims to be telling the truth, and almost everypony claims to have been the first to talk to her. Still, all those versions are most likely wishful thinking, and very few ponies can truly claim to have been there.

Chief among them is, naturally, Subtle Glare himself. After all, he was the one who agreed to hire her on that fateful day. And perhaps he alone knows the truth. However, whenever he is asked about it the old stallion can only cry as the fond memories overpower them.

So, to this day, details about that day are largely unknown. And the truth only exists in bits and fragments, spread over the several stories that run through the estate.

But fortunately, two narratives seem to be prevalent. Or at least, most of the stories seem to be versions that derive from those two alleged testimonies.

On one of them, she arrived during a thunderstorm. A lone mare, poor and humble, yet bewitchingly beautiful, who all but begged to be allowed inside. And for all that her looks and charisma would have let her cross any door, she still insisted on working to earn her stay. Almost as if it was her calling, or as if her arrival had been destined to occur.

And on the other version, some ponies claim she arrived on a bright and sunny day. Floating down from the air while holding on to a magical umbrella. Carried by the winds as much as by her beauty and grace. Claiming she was there to fill a vacancy nopony was aware of. Presenting a flier, talking about a job description, nopony remembered writing.

Regardless of what version is the truth (if either of them is true at all), the charismatic mare quickly gained a place in the Velvet estate.

In fact, to this day Subtle Glare still speaks fondly of the moment he agreed to hire her.



"My fair lady, I cannot possibly accept your service. Nay, I will not. As a servant of the Velvet household, as the steward of the young Lord… as a stallion in love. I simply cannot allow you to toil as a maid, no matter how much you insist."

"[Grail]!"

"Alas, I am convinced."



And from that day onwards, the Velvet estate knew true happiness.

She seemed to be everywhere at once. She seemed to be able to befriend everypony at the same time. And before her first day was done, everypony was talking about her, and nothing else.

They talked about how she seemed so much larger than everypony else. But of course, they meant it in the sense of her being "larger than life". Of course.

They spoke about how she wore her maid uniform so elegantly. To the point that everypony swore that, if she were to donate her dress away, there would be enough cloth there to dress four separate mares. Figuratively speaking, naturally.

They chatted and wondered about her boundless enthusiasm and effortless grace.

And yet, despite all the adoration aimed at her, nopony can really remember her name. Or rather, everypony remembers her name, but nopony can quite agree on what it was.

Some insist she called herself Mare Poppins. Others swore she presented herself as Neigh McPhee.

Still, everypony remembered the way she talked, and the way she walked. Everypony recalls fondly how, during the days she was there, she taught the Velvet estate how to truly listen to the sound of music.

In fact, countless times while she was working on the estate, she would simply begin to sing.

She would sing, and all the servants in the estate, no matter how far, would join in with her.

Why, despite the passage of time, everypony still remembers the words of her songs!

Particularly of her most favorite one.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Cute little foals all tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things



Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Savant adepts who write rituals in doodles

Windows on Churches where things can be seen

These are a few of my favorite things



Grail-red dreams from the time of Division

Fading into legend and superstition

Vague mentions of an Era filled with kings

These are a few of my favorite things



When the Snake bites

When the Edge stings

When I feel Thirst

I simply remember my favorite things​

But alas, just like how every day eventually ends, so too did that period of joy and happiness come to a close.

It was a somber day, when she left. A sad day. Tears flowed a-plenty, and every last servant in the estate gathered in the garden to bid her farewell.

According to the calendars, she stayed with them for only five days. But in their minds, she would live on for five decades. And in their hearts? Ah, in their hearts she would live on forever and ever. A ray of light, piercing through the clouds of darkness. A reminder that there is still magic out there, somewhere. And that ponies, real flesh and blood ponies, still exist that embody it.

Still, after she toasted a glass with everypony once, and had a heart-to-heart conversation with everypony twice, she finally bid her adieu. And for all that the Velvet estate felt less without her, without that most graceful of guests and masterful of maids, they were still thankful for her.

After all, it is better to love and lose than to never love at all. Or at least that is what they tell themselves, when her absence strikes them most dearly.

...

And nopony noticed that, as soon as she turned around a corner and disappeared, fair lady Mareinette returned from her short trip moments later. Well, actually everypony noticed that, but nopony noticed anything wrong with it. In fact, they even moaned and sobbed at the great tragedy, that fair Mareinette had just missed the opportunity to meet such a magnificent pony like that maid.

Still, one day later when Lady Velvet herself returned, she suddenly seemed to know everything about everypony. Every last dark secret, of every last servant, despite the fact they only ever told those secrets to one, unshakably trustworthy soul.

So, given how everypony is absolutely sure that she would never betray them, nopony really knows how Lady Velvet learned all those secrets.

It remains a mystery for the ages.





At your behest, Mareinette has successfully gathered information on the Velvet estate.

Spoiler: These are a few of my favorite things!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IagRZBvLtw

My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music (Official HD Video)

Spoiler: Votes and results

Available votes/results:

-Silky Stream and Selene: A secret mission to spy on the newcomers! But alas, the two agents were busted by nopony less than uncle Pride himself. (Gain a better "in" with Pride, due to familiarity)

-Soft Sweeps: A pair of (self-declared) "incompetent" maids bond over their mutually familiar hardships. A new friendship is born! (Gain information on Cantrip)

-Ponpon: A game of chess, between two old hoofs. The board is the estate's timetable, the pieces are the maids and servants. Rivalry is born, but so is a deep sense of respect. (Gain information on Subtle Glare)

-Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires: The Velvet estate is taught the meaning of joy. (Gain perfect knowledge on all servants, including Cantrip, Subtle Glare, and ???. Velvet Pride immediately becomes a Confidante. Velvet Hills barges into your house, crying, begging for your forgiveness. Immediately gain fillyfied Áine as your daughter.)

But alas, this History was never meant to be. So maybe you should return to your proper History.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

You are Lady Velvet Covers.

And right now, you are particularly focused on the "Velvet" part of your name.

You have returned home one day earlier than usual. And as much as you hesitate in admitting it, this is actually the first day of what will be a small vacation of yours. The Bureau is still hard at work, of course, and just this week the Bluebloods were formally charged based on all the evidence you have found so far.

You are not exactly familiar with the judicial proceedings of Equestria, but even you know that something of that level would usually happen in the lowest courts. And yet, Justice Fair Trial presided over the "opening shots" of what is being called the trial of the century. Also, that particular court session was… contentious. The principal counsel of the Bluebloods practically yelled defiance against Fair Trial, and demanded that his clients be judged by Princess Celestia herself.

He was then forcibly escorted out of the courtroom. And Fair Trial made it very clear that the Bluebloods would either follow procedures, or she would consider that they have decided to plead guilty on all charges.

Still, that is neither here nor there. The Bureau is hard at work, more and more evidence is still being collected and presented to the Crown's chief prosecutor, and your field agents have already been pulverized across several cities for their next assignment.

So, you are confident that… or at least you hope that things will be able to move without your constant supervision.

Which is why your schedule is currently set the way it is. You have arrived home a full day earlier, you and your family will travel to Cloudsdale in three days, and you will pass the following two weeks going to and from Canterlot from the clouded city every other day. Just for long enough to check in on the Bureau, and more importantly to make sure you have time for Cadance.

Because you already met the mare, earlier this week. And she practically has a fire in her eyes as she focuses exclusively on her coming wedding.

But you digress. That is something you will focus on, with prodigious effort, later this month. Right now you are…

Where were you again?

Right, right. The "Velvet" in Velvet Covers.

You have arrived home a full day earlier because, among other things, you want to make sure you will be able to speak to your little brother.

And that is what you are preparing to do right now.

Right as you arrived, Soft Sweeps was the first to seek you out. The young mare eager to report on what she discovered. You admit you were not sure of what results she would bring you. After all, the young mare is an overthinker and quite prone to bottling up her stress. But at the same time, she also has been taking great strides, becoming a lot more sociable with her support group and generally recovering very well given everything she has been through.

Still, you had no idea of how she would tackle the favor you asked her to do.

Part of you expected the "usual" kind of report you would hear from Ponpon. Maybe a broad, bird's-eye view of the estate as a whole, based on several pieces of information she managed to collect. Another part of you expected her to make it a group effort and recruit some other servants you know she is friends with to help her out.

Regardless, you were expecting something broad, reasonably reliable, and vague enough to give you an idea on where you would like to focus next.

You definitely did not expect a full report on Velvet Pride's own personal maid.

So, she did not just exceed your expectations. She definitely made you proud.

And you were sure to praise her for that, of course.

Furthermore, the things she told you armed you with a whole swathe of information. Because first of all, the things Softy told you about the maid's schedule confirmed that, indeed, you brother has been avoiding you. Soft's casual remark that "packing days are particularly hectic" told you that your brother seems to tie his schedule so he is returning to Canterlot at the same time you are traveling to Ponyville.

On top of that, you also learned that your brother's butler, a stallion called Subtle Glare, is even more important that the maid. Your Softy didn't have anything to tell you about him, but knowing he is a particularly relevant piece is already valuable in itself.

Of course, you were also able to glean enough to know when your brother finishes his work day.

So, you are out of the central mansion, and walking towards his building of residence, the moment your clock strikes at the correct hours.

You wish to meet him on that particular window where he has just put his pen down for the day, but hasn't yet retreated to his quarters. The precise moment where he can't claim to have other matters to attend to, but when there are still enough hours in the day for a relatively long meeting.

Granted, you don't know how long this will last, but it's best to have the available time and not need it than to have to cut a meeting short.

With that in mind, you walk your way up through the annex building, passing by the surprised servants as if your presence there was only natural, and stop right when you reach the door you assume leads to your brother's office.

If nothing else, you are sure he is in there.

You knock on the door, and a unicorn maid partially opens it to greets you. Her shocked expression only lasts a second, before she excuses herself to announce your presence.

That was probably Cantrip, you think to yourself. You think that was the same maid that was next to your brother when you first saw him, over a month ago. And her face definitely fit Soft's description.

Still, you aren't given much time to wonder about this and that. Because less than a minute later, the doors open once again.

"Lady Velvet Covers, Lord Velvet Pride is available to see you now," the maid says, lighting up her horn to open the doors wide for you to enter.

And you are immediately treated to your brother's serious expression, as he waits for you behind his large work desk.

"Hello, little brother," you say as you enter.

The doors are closed behind you.

And it begins.



- - -



You are not a mare who likes to improvise.

Granted, you can improvise. You have developed skills that allow you to improvise. Be it in social gatherings, unexpected meetings, or anything besides you know you are able to do something that might work.

But that's the thing about it that you dislike. You know that when you improvise, it might work. And you will take the extra work that goes into preparation over a lazy "might" any day of the week.

However, needs must. It has only been two hours since Soft Sweeps told you what she learned, and yet you realize that if you dally too long your brother will make himself unavailable. Perhaps he might even take an early train to Ponyville, just to keep his habit of avoiding you.

So, you need to talk to him here, and you need to do it now.

Although, you must admit you have a problem.

As you sit on the cushioned chair, staring at the stallion who is a curious mixture of both your parents, you find yourself facing a conundrum of sorts.

Specifically, you are not sure of how you want to start this conversation.

Because in truth, you and your brother are still strangers. The first time you saw him in your entire life was a few weeks ago, where you made a point of telling him you hope your family is kept in peace.

But after that? Well, you now know he has been actively avoiding you, from what Soft told you about his maid's routine. And you haven't exactly gone out of your way to talk to him either. His status as heir gave you the perfect excuse to "formally introduce yourself" to him at some point. But the ideal moment to do that was last month, and choosing to observe that formality now would be awkward at best, and an apparent disrespect at worst.

Furthermore, the true reason you are here is because of… well, there is no beating around the bush. You are here because of the gossip you have heard.

You are here because, just last month, you learned that somehow, for some bizarre and unexplainable reason, he was smitten by the Daughter-of-Axes. And that out of all available mares in Equestria, especially the ones that surround him such as his cute maid, he somehow fell for the very worst alternative possible.

But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Because after Axe's departure, you heard he became… moody, and quiet, and withdrawn. And any pony who is capable of adding two and two together knows the reason for that.

To put it simply, your little brother is lovestruck. He is lovestruck, and now that the object of his affection is gone he is heartbroken.

Still, that's it. That's what you know, and that's why you are here. You don't know anything else. You haven't heard any stories about what he tried to do, if anything. You have no idea if he even tried to court the blasted snakemare. And most importantly, you have only known him for two months, so you absolutely do not qualify as a pony he would be willing to talk to about this.

You are not his trusted older sister, who can guide him through the thorns and barbs of love. You are just a noblemare who happens to be related to him.

So how in the hay do you even…

…

You stare at him, and he stares back at you. It has been less than ten seconds since you entered his office, and less than five since you sat down. By all accounts, you should still be settling down and getting comfortable on your chair. And this level of silence is perfectly acceptable so far.

However, you realize that if you stay quiet for any longer, then the silence will stretch to the point it is uncomfortable. And if that happens, you will definitely lose any initiative you might have.

You are not a mare who likes to improvise.

Still, needs must.

"Lord Pride, I appreciate you meeting me on such short notice," you begin to say, putting a calm and polite smile on your face as you do. "I understand you are a very busy stallion, and how unreasonable it was of me to ask of your time. Still…"

You take a deep breath as you prepare for the plunge. There are too many variables. You have no idea what he thinks of you. You can't even begin to imagine how your father raised him.

Heavens, now that you think about it… do you even know what you want from this conversation? It would be good to get on your brother's good side. It would be nice to have a real brother, an uncle to your daughters, and maybe another piece of an actual family. But how much are you willing to invest in that? And how likely is it that you will be able to work against something your father had decades to groom and prepare?

You don't know. You don't have enough information.

Another second passes you by. No more time to think. You have to start talking now.

"Still, Lord Pride…"



[Solace to the love-struck, breakpoints 60/80/100/125]

[Roll: 77 + 14 (Diplomacy, Grail doubled) + 5 (Beautiful) + 40 (GRAIL bonus, doubled) = 136]

[Highest breakpoint reached]



"… so, Axe huh?"

You say that. Or rather, you blurt that out. An undignified sequence of words that sum up everything you are thinking, except that they also show you didn't think before you spoke.

Still, you know that crying over spilled milk only makes things worse. So, you hold back the urge to facehoof, and you stop yourself from cursing Axe at how she is causing you troubles even when she is not in the Wake.

And instead, you just keep staring at your brother.

That is until, to your surprise… no, to your shock, he begins to…

Wait, what?

What?!

Your schooled expression slowly crumbles into surprise, and then into honest amazement, as you watch your brother's face break.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

Still, as soon as he hear that damned name, his face slowly becomes pained. Pained, and then tired, and then hurt.

And you watch as the noble-blooded unicorn who you know almost nothing about… you watch as he slowly, but surely, assumes the very familiar expression of a stallion who is hopelessly in love, and who has no idea of what he should do next.

He speaks before you even have the chance to react. But his voice makes it clear that he is talking to himself. That he wouldn't be able to listen to you even if he tried, if you tried to speak up.

Because his mind is too filled with thoughts of loss and regret. And most of all, his mind is too filled with thoughts about her.

"Ah yes," he says, his voice as low as a whisper. But still, he sounds like he is physically wounded, even though you know his body is completely unharmed. "Yes… her…"

He says that, and then he lets out a long, heavy sigh. One that… that actually makes you feel bad for him.

Part of you is still reeling at the fact he is like this because of Axe. Part of you is still screaming in confusion, as you try to comprehend how… how such a romantically-minded stallion (you assume) fell heads over hoofs for her. And after only glancing at her for a few seconds, from what you have heard.

Still, that part of your brain is slowly losing strength. That criticizing, very-justified-Axe-hating side of you is slowly losing traction.

Because as you look at Velvet Pride… no, as you look at you poor little brother, you honestly can't help but feel sad for him.

"I don't… I don't even know what she likes… don't even know if she got the flowers I sent to her. Because of course I was too much of a coward to give them to her myself and…" he trails off, hoofs going to his head in a very undignified pose.

He is very far from the noble he is supposed to be.

But you can't even bring yourself to criticize him for that. After all, before being a noble, right now he is a stallion who is in love.

"But please, Lady Velvet… no, my sister," he says, suddenly looking at you with eyes full of dread. His eyes are filled with dread, but also with a desperate hope you can't quite name. And you already know he is going to ask a question that has been tormenting him for weeks, now, even though he has not yet spoken it. "Please, I need to know… you need to tell me… is Lady Axe married?!"

…

You…

Oh, to Tartarus with it.

Forget about plans. Forget about intrigue. Forget about the decades of history you have with your father, and all the related uncertainties that the stallion before you represents.

Right now he is hurting.

And you can't call yourself a pony if you don't try to do something about it.

"I… Well, Pride, I am not sure you are going to like what I have to tell you but…"

You say that, and you watch as the stallion's back goes straight. His ears raised and his eyes open in rapt attention. And you don't know what he knows or doesn't know about Axe. But you can tell that anything you say, anything at all, will be met with all of his focus and attention.

Still, well… you suppose knowledge is never kind?

He is clearly in love with her.

And he clearly doesn't know what that means.

Also, you don't know him nearly well enough to know what you should tell him or not. Whatever you say, be it encouraging or not, will be said from the perspective of a near-total stranger.

But sometimes, the best you can do is improvise.

He is still your little brother, after all. And maybe, just maybe, this is the first step for you to become his big sister.



You have a long conversation with him. And ultimately, you tell him about…

Spoiler: Encouragement and discouragement

Velvet Pride is determined. However, even if his determination cannot be broken today, it can certainly be damaged. It can be mined, cracked, and even misdirected. Alternatively, it can also be reinforced.

Tipping the scales towards encouragement, or discouragement, will certainly make him veer in one direction or another. Or who knows, too much of either might just blind him and cause him to charge headfirst towards whatever his heart pointed him at.

Here, "encouragement" and "discouragement" refers to Pride's opinion of himself, or of his "chances" with the Daughter-of-Axes, as well as his energy to continue pursuing her.

You are acutely aware that you are working on very limited information. About both the Daughter-of-Axes as well as your little brother. This is a shot in the dark, but you are determined to make it your best.

(Thanks to your efforts, you have NO LIMITATION on how many options you may pick. Vote in plans.)

-[] "To put it simply, I don't think you should go for it."
-You will discourage Velvet Pride. Plain and simple.


-[] "Go for it!"
-You will encourage Velvet Pride. Plain and simple.


-[] "Any gentlepony knows that mares love gifts. And I would be delighted to help make any packages from you reach her."
-Convince Velvet Pride to provide "gifts" for Velvet Axe, and that you will deliver them in his stead. In truth, you will… well, you will technically use them for Axe's benefits. Several rare elements can be extracted from fancy perfumes, after all.
-He will provide you with two GIFTS. One gift can be either be used to pay up to 50 bits on any Lore-related activity, or they can be given to Axe as promised.
-Using a GIFT to pay for (part of) any Lore-related activity will anger Pride, as he will find out you did not uphold your promise (unless it is Axe's summoning ritual). Failing to give the GIFTS to Axe by the end of the turn she is summoned will also be seen as breaking your promise.
-Giving a GIFT to Axe as promised (or using them on her summoning ritual) will, instead, "merely" discourage Pride, since she will scoff at them.


-[] "Her schedule? Yes, I am aware of it. Don't worry, I can guarantee she will return in…" (WRITE IN WHEN)
-You will "promise" Pride that Axe will return. Sooner rather than later.
-Pride will be encouraged if Axe returns on the EXACT turn you promise.
-But he will be discouraged if your prediction turns out to be incorrect.


-[] "She is quite the adventurous spirit. Why do you think she was out of the estate for all those days?"
-Pride will be encouraged.
-However, he might have… stupid ideas. "Cushy noble stallion trying to do something more active" kind of stupid.


-[] "She is… a difficult mare. In fact, I never met a mare that is so hard to deal with. And I have two fillies!"
-Pride will be discouraged
-However, you will give him more realistic expectations. This might help him be prepared for what might otherwise be a shock.


-[] "I… I hope you don't tell her what I'm saying. But to be honest? She is a very lonely mare. She has… things going on."
-You do not know how this might affect him.
-This might also be seen as a breach of Axe's privacy. You can't know how she might react.
-Still, this is the plain truth.


-[] "The thing you need to understand about Axe is that she is… exotic. She is not… an earth pony mare."
-You will reveal to Pride that Velvet Axe, or rather the Daughter-of-Axes, is not actually an earth pony mare. She is, in fact, a snakemare. Although you never heard of that before yourself.
-This is NOT a "reveal the Lores to Pride" option. You will not tell him of the Mansus, or about the Lores.
-Still, you will reveal she is "magical". In a more-than-a-pony kind of way.
-You have no idea how Pride will react. You have no idea if Axe might be annoyed if she learns about this, if she will consider this a breach of her privacy, or if she will just not care.


-[] "Whatever you do, do not think of her as a damsel in distress. However, she is on a quest of sorts… she is looking for something that is very important to her."
-You will reveal to Pride that Axe is searching for "a key that only opens"
-You have no idea how Pride will react. You have no idea if Axe might be annoyed if she learns about this, if she will consider this a breach of her privacy, or if she will just not care.


-[] "Axe owes me a favor. So yes, I can arrange for a meeting. What? A date? Well, call it whatever you like."
-Velvet Pride will PARTICIPATE in the next action that Axe undertakes. And you will ORDER Axe to take him along.
-If the order is reasonably "long" such as an expedition, Pride will accompany her. If the order is "short" such as forging Wrong Keys, you will instead ORDER Axe to… "spend time with him". (Although write-ins WILL be permitted, to tailor that experience)
-In theory, Pride will be absolutely thankful to you, and will claim he owes you a great favor.
-In practice… you have no way of predicting how their "outing" might go.
-This could end poorly.


-[] Something else? (Write in)





Vote in PLANS. Six hours of moratorium.

Originally, your choices would have been a lot smaller, and a lot simpler. And I really meant it, a lot smaller and more limited. However, the groundwork you did, and your high roll result, warranted something more. You have a lot more leeway.

The write-in was added just in case you think of something I haven't. But they will pend approval before becoming allowable.

And finally, this is not a "game". Maximizing encouragements is not necessarily good, and discouraging him isn't necessarily bad. It is best to focus on what you want to TELL HIM, and use the further clarifications under each option as guides rather than the object of your focus.

What you decide Velvet wants to say will educate me on your intentions as much as the presumed effects of your choices. It will tell me of her state of mind and intentions.

SHIPPERS, THIS IS THE MOMENT YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ACT.

As always, I hope you have all been well.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] "Go for it!"
-You will encourage Velvet Pride. Plain and simple.
[X] "Any gentlepony knows that mares love gifts. And I would be delighted to help make any packages from you reach her."
-Receive two GIFTS
[X] "Her schedule? Yes, I am aware of it. Don't worry, I can guarantee she will return in…" (Turn 19)
-Pride will be ENCOURAGED if Axe is summoned on Turn 19, and discouraged if she is not.
[X] "She is… a difficult mare. In fact, I never met a mare that is so hard to deal with. And I have two fillies!"
-Pride will be discouraged
-However, you will give him more realistic expectations. This might help him be prepared for what might otherwise be a shock.
[X] "I… I hope you don't tell her what I'm saying. But to be honest? She is a very lonely mare. She has… things going on."
-You do not know how this might affect him.
-This might also be seen as a breach of Axe's privacy. You can't know how she might react.
-Still, this is the plain truth.

In the end, you tell Velvet Pride… several things. Still, when you look back to that conversation, you realize you mostly spoke from the heart.

The first thing you did was to encourage him. And you think he listened to you. If not as an older sister, then at least he heard you as an older mare. But still, you encouraged him because, to put it simply, a stallion chasing a mare who wanted nothing to do with him… well, that is the story of your life, isn't it? You would not be the pony you are today if Stormchaser had not done everything he could, and a few things he couldn't, to make you reciprocate his love.

And it worked. It really worked. And you are thankful for him every day for that.

You realize, of course, that you might be… an exception. Maybe, in the grand scheme of things, you are a rarity. The odd one out. And maybe ninety-nine out of a hundred couples in your position would have ended differently. However, maybe you are spending too much time with Cadance, or maybe you just want Pride to be as happy as Stormchaser. Still, the fact remains that you encouraged him.

You are not betting any bits on Axe giving him the time of her day. But still…

Regardless, as you look back to that conversation, you realize that was the only bit of encouragement you gave him.

Everything else you told him also came from your heart, of course. But those bits and pieces were far, far less heartwarming.

You told him when Axe "might" return. Granted, you plan on summoning the snakemare during that period, but you can't be sure you will succeed. The same way you can't be sure another priority won't get in your way. Still, you know that he heard your "might" as "absolutely certain", so you know he will be let down if you fail in that regard.

You also told him that Axe is… difficult. He mentioned he couldn't even understand her the one time she talked to him, and his eyes went wide in surprise when you revealed to him that that is how she speaks.

And then, of course, you told him everything else. You told him about all the swearing, and her stubbornness, and the sheer attitude she has most of the time.

Then again, despite your misgivings with Axe, you weren't just gratuitously slandering her. You really were honest. You even told Pride that she can be serious, even if harsh, if she is in a… more professional setting.

Your younger brother listened to all of that with a serious expression. But in the end, he gave you a slow, understanding nod. You definitely broke, or at least cracked, whatever fairy-tale image he had of her, but at least he knows the truth now.

Of course, after that, your honesty went… did it go downhill? Did it go uphill? Did it merely tilt in a different direction? You are not really sure.

Still, you told him that Axe is just… lonely. Or at least that she has been alone for a very, very long time. But certainly not in the vulnerable way. Definitely not in the sense that she will desperately open up to the first stallion who gives her a bit of attention. Quite in the contrary, actually.

Of course, he asked you for details, but you couldn't give him any. Part because you did not want to tell him about her true nature, and part because… well, you don't know the details yourself.

Because Axe mentioned to you, precisely one time, that her "Mother did what she did". But given the lack of context, that tells you nothing except for the fact that she had a mother. Which, you assume, is already a given. So, apart from that, all you know is that she has been alone… well, ever since the Mansus cracked. And that she has been alone for enough time to craft an entire mountain's worth of keys, with all the frustration that entails.

You are not sure what Pride thought of what little you told him. You are not sure what you think of that yourself.

And ultimately, he asked you for advice. He asked you what he should do next.

In hindsight, you are not sure you regret it or not. But still, you told him that he could try giving her gifts, and that you would be happy to forward them to Axe. And Pride seemed a little… too excited at the idea.

You don't know if you regret it or not because, on one hoof, you know she will completely ignore them. Which will make Pride a little more heartbroken. But on the other hoof, you can definitely put those gifts to good use. Or at least, that is what you thought when the first basket, filled to the brim with expensive gifts, was delivered to you by Cantrip. To the point that you were almost tempted to keep everything to yourself, even if that meant angering your little brother.

Almost.

Regardless, by the end of your conversation with Pride, he was neither excited nor downtrodden. Instead, he had the particular expression of a Velvet who was deep in thought. And by the end of it…

"Thank you, Lady Velvet. I will not forget what you told me today," he thanked you. Not as an older sister, but not as a nopony. He thanked "Lady Velvet," which you hope is an improvement from what he thought about you before that day.

And more importantly, given his expression you are certain he made up his mind about something.



But none of that really matters, right now. After you had your conversation with him, you two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then you left. And then, you immediately went to your husband so the two of you could get to work.

Because much more importantly than your little brother… you and your husband have a trip to plan!



Two GIFTS have been added to your inventory.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You are Selene, and you just woke up.

…

You take a deep breath, lazily blinking your eyes as the vague memory of a dream slips away from your consciousness. You can see a few rays of sun here and there, leaking in through the gaps in the curtains, but other than that your room is peacefully quiet.

That is, until you roll on your bed once, and look at the dimly-lit alarm clock on your bedstand.

"Wait, I'm late?" you say out loud, the question escaping your mouth before you can even think about it.

But sure enough, as your eyes adjust to the faint darkness and you focus on the hands of the clock, you can confirm that you are late.

Well, you aren't late late. You are just a bit late. After all, today is already Monday. Mrs. Velvet left to work yesterday, and you have to go to school after breakfast as usual.

However, looking at your clock, you can see both that the alarm didn't go off, and that ten minutes have already passed from the time you would usually wake up.

So, you are not late. Not really. You just overslept a tiny little bit.

"Still, that's not good at all!" you say to yourself.

With a newfound urgency, born from the idea that you don't want to be a tardy filly, you jump out of your bed. You shake your head slightly to fight off the lingering drowsiness, but you immediately start your morning routine. You open the windows and let the morning sun in, so you can see better. You make your way to the closet and collect your school saddlebag. You quickly make sure all your books are in it and… and…

"Wait, what?" you ask yourself.

Because you just noticed something… strange?

Sure enough, your school saddlebag is how it should be. All the books you will need today are in it, as well as your other things. However, when you look back towards your closet you notice there is stuff… missing?

You slowly close your saddlebag with your hoofs, not really paying attention to that anymore. Instead, you focus on your closet, as you rack your brain trying to figure out what is going on.

After all, you don't have a lot of clothes. You have the nice dress they gave you on Hearth's Warming Eve. You have a few more items Mrs. Velvet gave you over the months. And a few more accessories you were gifted here and there.

But looking into your closet, you realize some of them are not there.

Which is weird. Not exactly wrong, but definitely weird.

"Maybe Soft Sweeps took them out to wash everything?" you mumble to yourself, trying to rationalize an explanation.

Yes, that makes sense. It's probably that.

Although…

"Wait, Soft Sweeps," you say in surprise as your own thoughts remind you of her. "Where is she? She usually checks on me a few minutes after my clock goes off, but…"

Your words trail off, as you begin to piece all these weird little things together.

Because you are sure you turned your alarm on yesterday, and yet it was off this morning.

And you don't really remember Soft, or anypony else, taking any of your clothes away during the weekend. Soft usually lets you know when she gets your things, and you are almost certain she didn't do that.

Furthermore, Soft herself is late! Granted, she doesn't really owe you anything. You don't even think she is a maid anymore, even though she sometimes wears the uniform. Still, she never really failed to check if you woke up in the morning before.

You pause, trying to understand what is going on. But nothing really comes to mind. This last weekend was utterly normal, except for the fact Mrs. Velvet arrived a day earlier. Still, everything was normal, nothing strange happened, and Mrs. Velvet left yesterday as always. So…

The low ticking of your bedstand clock snaps you out of that chain of thought. Regardless of what is happening, you are wasting time worrying about it. With that in mind, you wear your saddlebag on your back and leave your room.

Of course, rather than going downstairs, you immediately go to Silky's room. Following something that is more than just a hunch.

And sure enough, the moment you enter Silky's room you are greeted by a scene very similar to your own. There is no sign of Soft Sweeps, the windows are closed shut, and your sister is sleeping away on her bed.

Granted, she doesn't have a suspiciously-deactivated alarm clock on her bedstand. But only because she is such a heavy sleeper that her parents already gave up on the idea of an alarm clock. Instead, your sister is usually woken up by Soft.

But since there is no Soft here to speak of…

"Sis!" you say, as you open her windows to let the sunshine in. "We're late! Come on, we have to get breakfast, or we'll be late for school!"

As expected, you are immediately met by a low, sleepy mumble. Still, you know her well enough to realize that by itself is a sign of progress. So, you go to and from her closet as you work on waking her up.

Shake your sister a bit, open her closet. Shake her a bit more, check her saddlebag. Pull her covers away, throw the books she forgot inside her bag. So on and so forth.

And soon enough you are marching out of her room with a… well, not with a wide-awake Silky in tow, but at least your sister is following you. You don't mind carrying her saddlebag as you two go downstairs, you're just glad she is trailing after you.

However, as you walk down the stairs and towards the entrance hall, you can't help but notice several other strange things. In fact, for a moment, you even ask yourself if today is Sunday rather than Monday. Or, who knows, maybe it's a holiday and nopony told you?

Because the entrance hall is also dark. Or at least the ground-level windows are still closed tight, and the morning light is only entering through the higher windows. But you are sure that, by now, one of the maids would have opened them already. In fact, you are pretty sure the windows are meant to be open on sunrise.

And where is everypony to begin with? At this time, you would usually have seen somepony other than Silky.

All of that is very weird, but you will not be deterred. And Silky is still too sleepy to answer any of your questions. So, you make your way to the dining hall. Part of you thinks that maybe the chef is gone too, and that there will be no breakfast waiting for you two when you get there.

But the moment you open the door-



"Surprise!"



-you jump up in surprise, and a sleepy Silky bumps into your hind.

But how could you not be surprised? You were just met by the popping sound of confetti being set off. Shiny bits of metallic paper covering you and your sister, as well as a few items in the… in the incredibly full dinner table. No, seriously, this isn't just a breakfast, there is almost a breakfast-banquet waiting for you two!

However, the thing that surprises you the most is that one of the ponies who just popped a confetti thrower is-



"Mrs. Velvet?"

"Wait… mom's here?"



You and Silky speak up almost at the same time. As the two of you realize that Mrs. Velvet, Mr. Stormchaser, Soft Sweeps, and even auntie Baldie are waiting for you around the dinner table.

"That's right dear!" she says, lighting up her horn and taking both your school saddlebags off your backs. "Now sit down and eat, we have a full morning ahead of us!"

"But I thought you left for work," you say, still confused.

Because why the hay is everypony so… festive?

"And what do you mean full morning?" Silky asks, her expression still dazed as her sleepy mind tries to wrap itself around the scene before you. "Me and Selene have school and-"

"Well not anymore," but Mr. Stormchaser interrupts her, his face all smiles. "There will be no school for the next two weeks. We are going on a vacation!"

He says that, and that is all you and your sister need for a smile to appear on your faces.

And true to their words, you have quite a morning ahead of you!





- - -
- - -
- - -





You are Silky Stream.

And right now, you are definitely not jumping up and down in excitement.

"Silky, dear, please stop jumping."

Curses, they noticed you!

Alright, fine. You are trying not to jump up and down in excitement. Some might say that you are failing, but you think you are doing your best and that's what counts.

But how could you not be excited?

You are all going on a trip!

It is already late in the afternoon, and right now you are all in a sky-station. You, your sisters, mom and dad. Everypony carrying their respective bags.

But again, you are all in a sky-station. A sky-station!

You all left home after breakfast and went straight to Ponyville's train station. The train trip itself took several hours, and you all had fun looking at the changing scenery. After all, you don't really remember when was the last time you left Ponyville!

Your mom explained you that, normally, going up the mountain takes several more hours. Which makes sense, since something as large and heavy as a train probably has trouble going uphill. But since this train is taking another route, you only passed through the tunnels that cross the mountain itself.

And then, you arrived where you are right now. Right under Cloudsdale. Your daddy told you that it's a lot easier for non-pegasi to arrive right under Cloudsdale and take a balloon that goes straight up, rather than taking a sky ship from Canterlot. So, that is what you are all about to do!

"Silky, you're a pegasus," Selene says, as you all wait in line to board the large balloon. "Why are you so excited about this?"

"Well, I've never been in a balloon before!" You give her the obvious, logical answer.

Of course, you are so excited that you don't even notice how she looks at you, and then at your wings, and then gives you a confused look.

But still, that is nothing but the truth. You have never been in a balloon before!

And you think she is about to say something else, when your mom speaks up.

"Alright everypony, our tickets are up. In we go," she says.

And you all follow after her.

This balloon, your dad explained to you, is actually just a regular sky ship. Of course, you have never been to the sea before either, but you know from books what a ship looks like. And true enough, this looks just like one, except that it has large fans on its side for it to move forwards, and large balloons on its top. He also told you that its engines are slower than a train, and that's why it's quicker to come here by land and then just move up!

Well, your daddy also tried to explain to you that it was a zepal-… a zep-something. And that there was a difference between that and a "blimp". But you… well, you are sure Selene understood all of that, and that she will be able to explain it to you again later.

Still, you all follow after your mom, making your way into the sky ship. You all walk up the boarding ramp, and into the large wooden ship and…

And it's so big! The inside is a lot larger than you thought. And everything looks so nice!

You have no idea how many ponies would fit in here. You aren't even tall enough to look over all the seats. Still, the passenger compartment is enormous! And as your mom takes you all up the stairs, you realize that there is more than just one level.

So, you all follow after her, you let the nice ticket-pony clip your numbered ticket as you all enter another section of the ship, and soon enough you are all getting seated.

"Wait, we aren't all going together?" Selene asks, the moment you all start sitting down.

And as she says that, you look around and notice that… huh, sure enough, you are not all sitting next to each other.

"What do you mean, Selene. We are right here," your dad answers. He then sits down right behind you, as if to prove a point.

But you too tilt your head slightly as you notice what Selene is talking about.

Because this section of the airship is… a little smaller. Not tight or uncomfortable. In fact, it even looks nicer than the previous place. Still, this part of the airship seems to only have rows of three seats.

So, your mom, dad and Soft are sitting right behind you. With you and Selene sitting in front of them.

However, again, the seats in this area are placed in threes. And you aren't sitting next to Selene. Instead, the seat between you and Selene is empty.

"Oh, it's not a problem sis," you say, jumping to the empty middle seat and sitting next to her. "Here, I can just scootch over and-"

"No you can't, young lady," but your mom interrupts you. Floating you up before you even land on the empty seat, and carrying you back to your spot. "Our tickets are numbered, and it would be rude to steal somepony else's seat. You can move over if it's empty when we take off, but the ticket-pony will not like it if you do it before!"

Oh! That makes sense, yeah. You definitely don't want anypony to think you are misbehaving! You give your mom an understanding nod, and then she floats you back on your seat. After that, you pick up your ticket and… well, sure enough you are on the right place, as is Selene.

"And it really isn't a problem," your dad speaks up again. "We are all right behind you two, so no worries."

That seems to be enough placate Selene as well. After all, all your seats are facing the front of the ship. But still, your mom and dad are right behind you. You aren't all facing each other like in the train cabin, but you are all together.

"Besides," you say, facing backwards to ask your parents. "Daddy, you said this part of the trip only takes a few minutes?"

To which he gives you a nod.

"That's right, Silky. It takes maybe half an hour. A bit more if the winds are blowing and they have to compensate with the engines."

You and Selene give him a nod, and then you two sit back down.

After that, the minutes stretch by. Selene is sitting by the window, so you get up to look outside together with her. And you two watch as the long lines of ponies make their way onto the ship, until finally the ramp is brought in and the doors are closed.

A loud whistle blows, somewhere outside, and your dad tells you to sit back down as the ship slowly, but surely, begins to tilt a little bit. You are all about to take off!

Still, just as the sky ship is about to leave the ground, somepony else comes up to the two of you.



"Ah, this 'ere seems to be me place. Scuze me little filly."



You were so busy looking towards the window from your seat that you didn't even notice him. Still, you lean back towards your chair as the elderly stallion, with a long beard and longer scarf covering most of his face, walks past you.

And you feel a small tinge of disappointment as he sits between you and Selene.

Still, even as the sky ship begins to make its ascent, the ticket-pony comes by once again and checks on everypony. And sure enough, that old stallion seems to be sitting in the correct spot.

Between you and your sister.

Grumbling every now and then when the sky ship tilts in this and that direction…

And there's nothing wrong with that. Not exactly. But you… well, you want to be next to Selene!

"Excuse me, sir?" you ask.

The stallion is wearing a lot of clothing for the cold. You can barely see his face, save for a tip of a horn poking out of a skullcap. But still, from his voice and everything else, you are pretty sure he is a sir.

"Um, I know that is your seat but… do you mind if we switch seats? You are sitting next to my sister, and I'd really appreciate if-"

"WHA-? You talkin' to me, lil' filly?" but he interrupts you with a shout. You actually have to cover your ears for a moment, as he turns to face you. Also, he turns towards you so quickly that his long beard almost hits your face! "Yer' gonna hav to speak up a little. Me ears ain't what they used to an' all!"

He yells at you. Yells. Not in a scary way. But still with enough strength to make you cringe against your seat. You can barely see his half-opened eyes underneath all those scarfs, but at least you think he is looking at you now.

Still, you will not be discouraged!

"I said," you try again, this time louder. "Do you mind if we tr-"

"Louder, lil' un. I'll have you know I'm nearly deaf!"

"I SAID," you try, this time even louder! "DO YOU MIND IF WE-?"



"WHY IN DARNATION YOU YELLIN' AT ME POOR OLD SELF LITTLE FILLY? DON' YE KNOW THAT'S RUDE?"



But before you can even finish a sentence, the stallion interrupts you. He calls you rude! He says that as if you just yelled him out of nowhere.

Which you… don't really understand? You are confused. Because you are sure he knew you were talking to him. Hay, he just asked you to speak more loudly? So why did he just-?

"I tell ye, nopony knows how to raise polite fillies nowadays," but before you can even finish your thoughts, the old pony grumbles to himself once more. Talking to himself about how you were rude, and how you are a bad filly, and…

A-and… and you don't know what to do? You feel bad, with a mix of shame and guilt flaring inside of you. But most of all you feel confused?

You are about to… to do something, maybe turn back and ask your mom if you did something wrong. When the old stallion once again reclines back on his seat.

"An' if ye ain't saying anything that makes sense, I'll go to sleep!" the old pony says.

Immediately after that, he reclines back on his cushioned seat. To the point that you can finally see past him and towards Selene, who is apparently looking at you just as confused. Sure enough, she saw everything that just happened. And you are glad, or at least relieved, that she also thought that was weird!

Still, almost immediately, the old stallion also begins to snore. The sound loud and rasping against your ear. In fact, he is snoring so loudly that even his scarf is falling down from his face!

But before you can stand up on your seat and look back at your mom and dad, you realize that…

"Wait… Selene… am I going crazy…?" you say.

… because you realize that…

"Hold on. Is that… a fake beard?" Selene asks, mirroring your confusion.

Because sure enough, now that his scarf fell down and you can take a better look at him, you are sure that his long, snow-white beard is… false? Well, you are sure you can see an actual, colored coat under it. Also, are those strings you see?!

You have no idea. However, in a show of bravery much greater than yours, you watch as Selene cautiously raises a hoof towards the sleeping pony.

But the moment she is about to touch him-

"Aha!"

His horn flares up! The old pony's horn lights up with magic, and in one quick motion his beard, scarf, and everything else covering his face is floated away. Revealing to you the pony under all of that.

"Uncle Steppes!" and you jump out of your seat in excitement the moment you recognize him!

"Uncle Steppes?!" Selene, too, has a similar reaction.

"Grand-nieces!" he says, throwing his disguise to the ground, and floating the two of you towards his outstretched forelegs.

Only then do you realize your parents were holding their laughter, right behind you, this whole time. And only because, well, they finally begin to laugh.

And the six of you have a very noisy trip as the ship makes its way up to Cloudsdale.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You are Lady Velvet Covers.

And right now, you feel fine.

No, it's more than just that.

You feel rested, you feel content, and above all else you feel great.

Your family arrived in Cloudsdale three days ago. And every day you have visited a different place. Seen a different sight. Done something different.

Your daughters are all happy. Your husband is ecstatic. And absolutely nothing has gone wrong so far. You have already been there before, but you had honestly forgotten how large the place is. Still, Stormchaser seems to know the city like the back of his hoof, and every day holds a new adventure.

Besides, the main export product of the city is clouds. Clouds and rainbows. And your husband seems to be on a first-name basis with almost everypony who works on those. So, you have already visited the rainbow factory on your very first day there, and he already scheduled other visits to other parts of the pegasus industry in the near future.

Still, duty calls. So, as you and Stormchaser planned beforehoof, you have just arrived in Canterlot to spend some two days making sure everything is in order in the Bureau.

You thought you would feel a little sadder, during these days. You thought that having to pause your vacation, and leave your family behind, would be painful. Even if only for a few days.

But on the contrary, and much to your surprise, you actually feel content. You don't really feel like you left them behind, or like you are missing out on something. The mere knowledge that they are happy is more than enough to keep a smile on your face. The joy you felt when you were with them is still around you, almost like a physical thing. Like a set of clothes you are in no rush of removing, or like a kiss on your cheek the warmth of which you can still feel vividly.

And besides, it's not like you will slave away at the Bureau.

Oh, no. You have… other duties waiting for you in Canterlot.

"Here you go, Commissioner. These are the summed up reports we have so far," a secretary says, as she places a trio of binders on your work desk. "Will you be needing anything else?"

"Thank you very much. And no, this will be all. Still, again, is there anything that needs my immediate attention? Do we have a situation somewhere, or does something need an urgent signature?" you ask the question again, just to make sure.

"Not at all, Commissioner. The instructions you left us last week have been more than enough. And like you ordered, if anything comes up we will send a runner to the address you left us." She says.

You give her a thankful nod, and wave a hoof to tell her she can go.

"By your leave. Commissioner… Princess Cadance…" the secretary leaves, after she gives you a short, respectful nod…

… and a deep bow to the Princess who is waiting on one of the chairs.

After that, the door to your office is closed. Leaving you two alone.

You feel a smile spread on your face, as you mentally begin to count down.

Five…

Four…

Three…

Two-

"Are you really going to read any of that?" Cadance asks.

You hold back a chuckle. She didn't even last the whole five seconds you were expecting.

The fully grown mare… nay, the alicorn, asks that. And for all that her tone is refined and patient, you can almost feel her anticipation.

You can see how she is almost digging her hoofs into the chair, even though she is trying to hide it. By the heavens, you live with pegasi, so you can see how a few feathers on her wings are preening with anticipation.

But even though she is trying to hide those things, she is definitely not trying to hide the fire she has in her eyes. That mixture of an ambitious smile, together with undisguised glee as she visualizes what she truly wants to be doing right now.

And you don't blame her. You don't blame her at all. Hay, you even support her!

In fact, the reason you are here in Canterlot is precisely to support her.

"Will you let me read any of this?" you ask, your tone humorous. And Cadance's smile grows as she realizes the two of you are of the same mind.

"Well, the Commissioner is apparently too high and mighty to take orders from the Princess of Love," she says, joking about something that, so far, you always thought to be a delicate subject.

But her mood seems to be so high that she simply doesn't care. She can't care. How could she care?

After all, she is about to get married to the love of her life!

"So not even a Decree from me would be able to stop you," she says, with a mock-serious tone as if she is trying to imitate somepony else. Still, that tone dies down on the next moment, and she is looking at you with nothing but those brilliant, expecting eyes of her. "But maybe a request from a friend will?"

You can't really contain your laughter anymore. So, you just float up the binders and stack them in your "IN" box.

"You don't even need to ask! So, what do you have in mind, and how can I help?!"

Cadance claps her hoofs in excitement, and she begins to tell you everything. Everything. From her dreams, to her plans, to the headway she already began to make from the day she officially declared her coming wedding.

Because the news might be calling the whole Blueblood affair the "trial of the century". But even that has been relegated to the second page of the newspapers.

After all, front and center in every piece of media, is the development of what is being called the marriage of the millennium!

And you and Cadance are out of the Bureau less than an hour later. Because, barring some urgent occurrence in the Bureau, your visits to Canterlot these next two weeks will be entirely dedicated to helping your bride-to-be friend!



"First order of business, the venue! There are three places in the Royal District I have in mind, and you simply have to give me your opinion!"



The way she speaks, with that paradoxical mixture of utter certainty and nervous doubt, fits her perfectly. And for the first time, you feel like she is actually embracing those two parts inside of her, being both the Alicorn of Love and an ordinary enamored mare at the same time. You feel like, rather than driving a wedge between them, this whole experience is helping her to learn even more about herself.

So, you follow after her. And as the hours rush by, you slowly begin to get a better feeling of what she has in mind. As well as what she has in mind for you during all of this.

And when she casually says that she "wouldn't trust anypony but her best friend" for this and that, you finally realize just how much of a part you will play in all of this.



So, as the days go by, it so happens that…

Spoiler: Important notes

If an option has an explanation, it will do precisely what it says.

If an option has "???" for an explanation, you have NO way of predicting what it might do.

None of the options will be a "net negative". Meaning that no options, if picked, would put you in a worse place you were before. However, there ARE options which are "net neutral". Meaning that some options will not benefit Velvet at all, to the extent some voters could consider it "wasted" due to lost opportunity cost.

THE OPTIONS ARE NOT MADE EQUAL OR BALANCED. For example, one of the options nets you bits. You should NOT think all options are "balanced" and that they are all "equivalent to 500 bits". They are not.

Pick what you want to see or gain, not what you "think" is "best" or "optimized".

[APPROVAL VOTING - THE THREE MOST VOTED OPTIONS WILL BE PICKED]

[] "I would be honored to be the maid of honor." (Become closer to Cadance)

[] You will spend a long time with Cadance. Whisper a few Lore-secrets, here and there. (???)

[] "Your dress is good. But it could be better. I know a mare..." (Involve Rarity in dressmaking. Applies Rarity's Lore levels)

[] Are they a couple? Are they just friends? You don't really know what Comet Feet and Fluttershy are. But ever since you invited them to the wedding, Fluttershy has been having… ideas. (???)

[] "But none of them are nobles. Are you sure I can invite them?" (Increase all non-locked ponies in your Contacts list to Good Friends)

[] "Yes, they are nobles, but… I am not sure I want to invite them." (Invite the Velvet family / ???)

[] Everypony who is important enough is involved in some way. Get to know your co-equals better, from the Solar Court and elsewhere. (???)

[] "Cadance, both you and Shining sent invitations to Twilight. But maybe we should… check on her in person?" (???)

[] "Cadance, do you mind if I put a few Names on the list…?" (Invite all Names who are summoned on Turn 19 / ???)

[] "Cadance, what do you mean keep the change? What do you mean that I should keep the change?! " (Gain 500 bits)

[] "What do you mean you want a traditional wedding? Cadance, you are literally writing tradition right now. You are a Princess for-…! Alright, fine, I'll check the Royal Archives." (WRITE IN Lore / ???)

[] "Velvet, is there anything you want in return? A Frangiclave? Of course I know what that is! Here, you can have it. What's that? Also the mirror in the palace undergrounds? Consider it done!" (Gain a Frangiclave, gain a Watchpony's Glass) [COSTS FOUR PICKS] [OPTION UNAVAILABLE DUE TO LACK OF PICKS]





If two votes have DIFFERENT write-ins (only the Royal Archive one, really), they will be considered SEPARATE interests, and their number of votes will not be "combined" to make that option win.

There is a very, very small chance some votes might combine. Even if only narratively. An example (which is very unlikely to win) would be if the Velvet family is invited together with the Names, which would put Pride and Axe in the same room. Those "combinations" are not planned or intentional, and you should not vote with them in mind.

Because you picked all possible wedding-related options, the list is at its largest possible. I will not reveal what options were included because of that, so as to not create an incorrect idea that "those options are better". The three most-voted picks will win. Vote in approval.

Twelve hours moratorium.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] "I would be honored to be the maid of honor." (Become closer to Cadance)
[X] "Your dress is good. But it could be better. I know a mare..." (Involve Rarity in dressmaking. Applies Rarity's Lore levels)
[X] "Cadance, both you and Shining sent invitations to Twilight. But maybe we should… check on her in person?" (???)

On distant Ponyville, a flying chariot landed on the hard ground.

Under normal circumstances, that alone would already have raised several eyebrows. No, more than that. Under normal circumstances, that would have gathered a small crowd all by itself. After all, flying chariots weren't exactly a common sight. Heck, flying chariots weren't even a rare sight. They were much, much more unusual than that. A gilded luxury that even the highest nobles could not afford.

And of course, that was only when considering a "flying chariot" in a vacuum. Because that flying chariot would certainly have gathered a large crowd around it. In fact, its colors, and the pedigree of the pegasi pulling it, and most of all the cutie mark emblazoned on its side… Under normal circumstances, those things would have been enough for the chariot to be met with fanfare.

After all, it is not every day that a Princess decides to grace small Ponyville with her presence.

But there was no fanfare to speak of. No ceremony, no crowd, not even the curious gaze of onlookers. The chariot landed near the center of the town, right in the middle of a wide street, but nopony even took notice of it.

However, that was more than understandable. Perhaps even desirable.

Because the chariot arrived in the middle of the night. Or maybe it was early in the morning?

Regardless…

In the middle of the night, on distant Ponyville, a flying chariot landed on the hard ground. And its two passengers exited it shortly after.

The decision for them to go there had been… sudden. In fact, it would be more appropriate to say that it was abrupt, almost reflexive. To the point that, it being the middle of the night, was quite literally a coincidence. They might as well have arrived in the middle of the day, if things had happened any differently.

Still, the two mares arrived at that time purely because one of them suggested, almost hesitantly, that they should… "check" on a friend. Of course, that just prompted another, more curious question from the other mare. And then another. And another. Until the worried hesitation of one mare became the undisguised concern of both, and they boarded the nearest chariot just a few moments later.

And, again, it just so happened that said conversation happened late at night. Which was why they had arrived when the moon was dominating the skies.

However, not even the soft light of the moon could hide the fact that…

"She… Velvet, are you sure this is the place?"

"… yes. I have already been here before. It looked a lot better, months ago. And I mean a lot better. But…"

"I… oh no… I should have come here before, I should have thought about her before… but it was just so much that…!"

"Cadance, Cadance, please. Remember what I told you when we were in the chariot. This is nopony's… this is not your fault… Too much happened. In fact, I'm sorry that… well, I wish I didn't have to tell you about this. You should be happily planning your wedding back in Canterlot, not-"

"No. You were right. And I'm thankful you did. But still…"

The two mares gazed once again at the downtrodden image of the tree-shaped library. The long shadows of the night making it look even more decrepit than during the day.

"… well, thank you for coming with me, Velvet."

Their hesitation lasted a few more seconds. But eventually, the two of them made their way to the old-looking door.

One of the mares stepped forward, almost intentionally, and purposefully placed her hoof on the doorknob. A soft click and a strange sound followed, but when she pushed the door, it opened without resistance.

"She left it unlocked. I hope that means she is still here," the mare said. And her companion was too worried to even notice the white lie.

However, the moment the other mare was about to enter the building…

"… I…"

She stopped. Hesitating. Shuddering for a reason she could not describe.

"… this… Velvet, I… I don't know how to tell you this. But… do you mind if I go in alone?"

"… I don't really mind? Well, I wish I could go with you, but I don't mind waiting. But why? Did something happen?"

"I don't know? It's… I don't even know how to describe it. This isn't even a gut feeling? I just feel like I should go alone and… I am really, really sorry that I made you come all the way here just to ask you this and…"

"Oh, no. No, no, no. Cadance, dear, your intuition is worth more than I can bother to name. By all means, go ahead. Do you want me to wait here by the door, or do you think it's best if I wait in the carriage?"

"Actually… I think… you should leave?"

"What? Leave? Like… go back home?"

The silence stretched for a few more moments. The confusion on one mare's face increasing the discomfort in the other's expression.

"Velvet, do you trust me?"

"Of course I do."

"And do you… no, actually, I need to be honest. This feels new even to me. So can you trust me with something even if I don't know what I'm about to do?"

"Yes. And if there is anything I can do to help, just say the word."

"Hah, you answered that so quickly… I wish I had your confidence to… Well, thank you Velvet. So, please close your eyes."

"Okay…? Strange request, but go on."

"Now, think about your family."

"That's easy enough… but Cadance, why can I see light? Are you doing some sort of magic?"

"Well, close your eyes tighter! But… are you really thinking about your family?"

"Of course! But why?"

"I'm about to tell you a little secret, Velvet. I am actually really bad at magic. So, I only feel confident about using teleportation when I have something to focus on, at the destination. And the thing I can focus on most easily is, well, love."

"Cadance why are you suddenly talking about teleporta-?"



A whisp of dislocated air rushed through the open door, and one of the mares disappeared.



After that, the remaining pony waved at the chariot, and the two pullers understood they ought to leave as well. Moments later, they were on their way back to the capital.

Leaving the other mare… alone. Alone, and standing right before that open door, which would lead her into that dark and gloomy place.

She knew what she should do next. She knew what she had to do next. And yet, she hesitated. She hesitated because she was afraid. And she was afraid because she knew that… she knew, as she looked into that dark library, that…

… that there was no love inside that place.

And despite everything other ponies thought about her, despite everything she knew about herself, she still didn't know if she would be enough, even as she set hoof into that darkness.

---

​

---

On faraway Cloudsdale, the front door of a house was knocked.

"Mom? Dad? Are you home?"

The voice who first knocked at the door was familiar.

"Is that you, Fluttershy? Give me a moment, I'll be right there."

But when the father pulled the door open…

Well, the voice who called for him was familiar. It certainly was his daughter coming to visit, no doubt.

But-



"Mom, dad, there is somepony I would like you two to meet."

"Sweet clouds below…"

"Flutter, dear… where exactly did you two… meet…?"



-but the large, imposing stallion who was standing next to her certainly wasn't.

"Hello dad. I'm sorry for the sudden visit. Can we come in?"

Still, that first meeting proceeded as they usually do.

Even if the ponies involved were a little more… reserved than most.

However, as it happened, the mother and the daughter eventually secluded themselves in the kitchen, under the casual excuse of preparing lunch.



"Fluttershy, dear, that friend of yours… isn't he… dangerous?"

"Of course he is, mom. But even birds can be dangerous if you aren't kind to them."

"I suppose…"



While the two stallions were left in the living room.



"So, how did you two… meet?"

"I was in a bad place. Your daughter saved me… sir."

"I… suppose…"



In the end, not a lot was said. Not a lot was said, and even less was communicated.

However, the one thing everypony noticed was that, throughout the entire day, the daughter had a smile on her face. And that she, of all ponies, seemed to be perfectly content. Even if, or perhaps in spite of the fact that, nopony else knew what to do.

And when the two visitors left, the parents had more questions than they did before they arrived.

Was he like another dangerous animal their daughter rescued?

Was she right in the head?

Were they dating?

"Well, dear, we always knew our little Fluttershy was the bold one in our family…"

"Do you think we should visit her in Ponyville? Just to, well, make sure she is doing alright?"

"Oh by Celestia, no."

"But, well… while we were preparing lunch, I think she mentioned they are living together?"

"You think she mentioned what?"

Still, regardless of what anypony else might have thought, that day went on perfectly in Fluttershy's opinion.

---

​

---

On sky-high Cloudsdale, a pony reached the peak of a mountain.

Of course, it wasn't really a mountain. Not in the truest sense of the word. Granted, it was a very, very high mount that wingless ponies had to scale. But still, said mount was made out of clouds, instead of earth.

It was a tourist attraction, of sorts. A tall, fluffy tower of clouds, which non-pegasi ponies could scale to have a better view of Equestria, way down below. Naturally, since it was made with non-pegasi in mind, the place was perfectly safe, and overseen by winged ponies ready to rescue anypony in need.

But still, to her, it was a mountain. And to her, reaching its top was an achievement of sorts.

She knew that a pegasus could have made the trip up in a fraction of the time. Of course she knew that.

She knew that there were balloons available to ferry her, and any other visitor, to that peak, for just a few bits. Of course she knew that.

She knew that place wasn't really a mountain. More like an observation tower of sorts, built on a city that was already flying.

Of course she knew all of that.

But still, to her, she had just scaled a mountain.

And most important of all. To her, she had just finished an adventure.

Because she made a point of taking the "scenic" route to the top. She made a point of taking the path that had steep ramps, and ropes, and literal climbing on the way up. She made a point of going through the way that had her circle the mountain five times over, and that took an entire day's worth of climbing, while the tourist's path was less than an hour on hoof.

She did all of that intentionally. Because even though that place was padded, and cloud-soft, and literally safe, it was still her first adventure.

It was late in the afternoon when Jade Whistle reached the top of Cloudsdale horizon-watching mountain. And once she got there, the first thing she did was to sit down and look at the scenery.

All around her, Equestria stretched on in every direction. She was in a place that was higher than Canterlot's mountain, and she could see so far away that the world itself seemed to curve to hide what was beyond.

She looked at all of that, and for the first time in a very long while… she smiled.

As she smiled, she moved to grab something from inside her saddlebag. She fetched out a small wooden toy, and she set it next to her.

"Just like we promised," she said, as she gently put the wooden toy on the soft ground. "An adventure, just like mom and dad used to tell us about. We reached the highest place in Equestria, all on our own."

And then, she stayed like that. She stayed like that as the hours went by, and she stayed next to the little wooden toy as the sun began to set and the shadows grew long on Equestria.

"I still love you," she said, to the colt who was not sitting next to her.

She stayed there, sitting next to the toy, until the sun reached the horizon.

Until evening was about to arrive, and the last balloon that went down was about to leave.

She knew she had to go. She knew that place was still a tourist attraction, and that she would be asked to leave with the last balloon. It was a bit of a shame that she couldn't stay there to watch the sunset, but that was just the way of things. She couldn't have everything she wanted, but she was grateful for what she had.

Still, when she stood up to leave, she made a point of leaving the little wooden toy behind. She left it right there, looking down towards great Equestria, even as she packed her other things and left.

It didn't rain in that place. And the wind didn't really blow all the way up there. So, she knew the wooden toy would remain there, right where she left it. She knew it would stay there, until it was found by somepony else, or until it faded away into nothingness.

She hoped it would be found by somepony. Hopefully by a small colt, who would cherish it and play with it like its previous owner did.

But until that happened, she knew the small toy would enjoy the view.

---

​

---

Inside Cloudsdale's largest hotel, a family gathered.

Was it a… strange family? Definitely. After all, of the three daughters, one of them was adopted, and another didn't even realize she was adopted. That, and the oldest stallion present was one of the parent's uncle rather than anypony's grandfather.

But more importantly, was it a loving family? Absolutely.

They were all gathered together in the hotel's restaurant, tucked away in a (rather noisy, thanks to them) corner, around a large table.

However, that wasn't just a regular dinner they were having. That small gathering wasn't just a meal to mark the end of another day in their vacation. It was something much, much more special than that.

It was a surprise, of sorts. Even if it had been a poorly hidden one. Still, rather than eating something from the menu, they were all gathered around a large cake, topped with colorful cream and sparkling candles.

Still, that surprise came from a sudden idea. Like most of the time, it came from the rich imagination of one of the blood-related daughter.

Because she asked her adoptive sister when her birthday was. The other filly, of course, had no idea. And the older sister said that it stood to reason that the filly's birthday ought to be on the day she was adopted.

The logic made sense, of course, but it so happened that the grand-uncle had heard that tidbit of conversation. And the grand-uncle, wise as he was, knew that love had no interest in logic. No matter how much sense it made.

And so it came to pass that, a few hours later, the grand-uncle made a small suggestion to the father. And the father made a small suggestion to the mother after she… well, after she materialized on top of him, in their hotel room, two nights later.

She could see in his eyes that he was already set on that idea. But still, he wanted her to agree as well, because he understood it would only matter if it came from both of them. Especially given the… additional context that the couple was aware of.

And the mother…

"You are right. We won't even have her for a year. But that doesn't mean we can't give our daughter a birthday. While she is still young enough for it to be magical, at least…"

… well, suffice to say the mother agreed to the idea.

And so, on the following night, the family gathered. They gathered, and a cake was produced, and the two parents held back their tears as they started singing "happy birthday" to their youngest filly.

And the beautiful image of the adoptive daughter gazing at the bright candles on the cake, flanked by her two sisters, would stay in their mind forever. That innocent, almost entranced expression the filly had, as she looked at her first birthday cake, was something they would never forget.

Even if they knew it would be her last.

At least, her last as a filly…

Hopefully her last as a filly, with many more to come after that. Or at least, that is what the parents pray for...





The things ponies do for Love.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

You are Velvet Covers, and just a few hours ago you returned to Canterlot.

You feel alive. Alive and revitalized. It feels like these last two weeks passed by in a flash. However, you have nothing but good memories every time you think back on them.

Still, your little vacation with your family is now over. Earlier today you were all together on Cloudsdale's sky-port, but that was the place where you all went your separate ways. Stormchaser and your daughters took a balloon down, so they could take a train back to Ponyville, and you took a sky-ship back to Canterlot. Uncle Steppes, also, said he had some things to do in Cloudsdale, so he accompanied you all to the sky-port but went back to the busy streets after seeing you all off.

After that, you greeted the coming day with gusto. You made your way to the Lunar Bureau and started catching up with your responsibilities. There was no overeager Cadance waiting for you there, so you had a chance to honestly read the waiting reports as the hours went by. You asked about the Princess here and there, as your secretaries came to and from your office, but the only thing they heard was that the Princess was "out and about" these last few days. All over Canterlot, according to the latest gossip, coordinating the crescendo of activities surrounding her wedding.

You had not seen her ever since she whisked you away from Ponyville. But still, if she came back to Canterlot and dove straight into planning her wedding, you assume things went well. Or at least that they didn't go badly.

Of course, your Deputy was also nowhere to be seen. But you have written him off as unavailable until the wedding, and definitely for at least a week following the ceremony.

Still, after the day was done, you went straight to Cadance's apartment in the Royal Castle. Her guards, thankfully, let you in without a word.

You were only mildly surprised when you found out that Cadance herself was not there. Still, you had no problem waiting for her there.

Until finally, the mare herself arrived. With that same excited fire in her eyes as if she had just returned from a successful day of campaigning against her foes.

She didn't look at all surprised to find you waiting in her living room. Instead, to your delight, she immediately sat down and started putting you up to speed.



- - -



It is now night.

And it is very, very late.

In fact, you can confidently say that it is way past bedtime for good little fillies.

But alas, you, and the mare sitting opposite to you on the table, are anything but good little fillies.

Especially given the… nature of the conversation you two were having just now.

"Anyhow… that is all I have to say right now," you finish, and you make a point of floating one of the wine bottles towards you and drinking straight from it.

And poor Cadance, her face beet red and her wings wide open behind her, takes a few deep breaths before following suit.

"But again, the honeymoon comes after the ceremony. So how about we focus back on that?" you ask, throwing a rope to a mare that, for all intents and purposes, must be drowning inside her own thoughts.

Still, this is all her fault. This is all her fault and she knows it. She was the one who started asking all those questions, after all!

And to be honest, you actually showed a lot of restraint! You practically gave her a lecture on the subject, and it took all your willpower to not just teach her about Grail instead. Because you know she has an affinity for it. But instead, out of your own modesty (and maybe a bit of common sense) you decided to pick and choose your words, so you would not accidentally teach her anything about the Red Lore.

However, you definitely fulfilled your duty as an older-… as a more experienced mare, by giving a few pointers to a soon-to-be-married, less experienced friend.

"I-I… well we… yes, let us focus back on the wedding," she says, finally pulling herself out of whatever gutter her mind was in, and focusing back on the present. If only slightly.

You suppress the urge to laugh a little bit. But still, it is boundlessly ironic how much the Princess of Love herself is so innocent in that aspect.

Well, she was never interested in anypony before Shining Armor, so it only makes sense. And for all that Princess Celestia was a parent figure of sorts to Cadance, you can't imagine the high and mighty alicorn of the Sun teaching Cadance about that.

So, as it happens, it fell to humble little you to…

"Good, good, now that we have our heads back on our shoulders," you say, watching the Princess shake her head a little more as she centers herself. "So, you already picked the venue, the invitation list is ninety-nine percent settled…"

You say that, and you once again look down at the dinner-table-turned-planning-center in front of you. Because Cadance might not be the most organized of mares, but her assistants definitely are. And sure enough, you have all sorts of lists and papers spread out in front of you right now. Some of them made by merchants and professionals, and others penned down by hoof, probably as a transcript of the things that Cadance herself said over these last few days.

Still, it goes without saying that you are standing before the solidified plan of the wedding itself, laid in paper form.

Lists and schedules regarding the menu, the decorations, and everything else besides. You tap a hoof on the table as you go over those several subjects one by one.

That is, until your eyes fall on one stack of papers in particular…

"Cadance dear, I know I asked you this before, but are you sure about how you are handling your wedding dress?"

Your words finally snap Cadance out of her (ahem) reverie. And her eyes finally focus on you as you talk about the one thing you know she is still uncertain about.

Well, you say she is only "uncertain", but in all honesty… you realize you are being rather kind in your description.

And the expression that comes to her face the moment you ask that question, the one devoid of confidence and full of fear, definitely tells you how she really feels about this.

But in fairness, how could she not be worried about this? How could she not be stressing over the topic of her wedding dress, even though the ceremony itself is but a few days away? After all, Cadance and Shining will be the centerpieces of the wedding. And she is acutely aware that it is her dress, together with her makeup, that will make or break how she presents herself on the day of her wedding, in front of the whole world.

In fact, damn the world. Damn everypony else's expectations, and damn the fact she is the first alicorn to ever get married. Cadance is too lovestruck to worry about that and you know it. More important than anypony else, her wedding will define how she presents herself to the love of her life on the day they get married!

So yes, you can understand why it is that she feels… several different things, whenever this subject is brought up.

"I-… well… I know what you are asking, Velvet. But how else could I possibly handle this? How in Equestria could I possibly decide?" she asks.

And for all that her tone is strong, almost harsh, you can tell that there is not a single drop of accusation in her words. Quite on the contrary, she almost sounds desperate. Like she is begging for an answer.

And she is feeling like this because…

Well, right in front of you, spread around the table, there are several different proposed drafts, for several different wedding dresses. The reason why she has so many options is obvious enough, of course. A word from Cadance was enough for the entirety of the fashion world to gather in Canterlot. And less than twenty-four hours after she declared the date of her wedding, she received a small deluge of offers and proposals.

What followed those first few days was a rigorous filter. And every last proposal she received was rigorously vetted by Cadance herself, her secretaries, you, and… well, and to be honest, any available mare within earshot. Even her accompanying Royal Guards, when they happened to be mares, were asked to look this or that draft so they could tell their opinion.

Still, the fact remains that, right now, she has no less than five possible designs for her wedding dress on her table. Those being the finalists among finalists and that, for lack of a more polite term, had Cadance completely stumped.

She simply did not know which to decide. And for all that a cutie mark made a pony industrious, she was running out of time to choose! Because whatever dress she picked would still have to be produced, tested, refitted and prepared for the big day.

But luckily for Cadance…

"Actually… Cadance, there is something I have been meaning to tell you. I was a bit hesitant to say it, because I didn't want it to look like I was influencing you bu-"

"Will you please just tell me what to do already?!" the mare interrupts you, hoofs pulling at her mane as she desperately asks you to cut to the chase.

"Alright, alright. Heavens… Well, to put it simply, I know a mare. And I can give you my word that she can prepare you a design so good it will make you want to throw these other offers in the trash!"

Cadance, her expression close to desperate as yet another one of her dress-freakouts rears its ugly head, sends you a look that is a mixture of despair and disbelief. And for a moment you almost, almost, think she will just sink further into her growing panic, as you offer to solve her problem of "too many dresses" by giving her yet another option from which she will have to decide.

Because Cadance, you are coming to learn, is a… particular mare to deal with. She is a Princess, no doubt, and she is as calm and controlled as one would expect her to be.

That is, until her emotions are involved. Because when that happens, she can definitely remind you that "passion" is one of the faces of Love.

Still, to your surprise, the mare doesn't answer you. Not with words, at least.

Instead she lights up her horn and-

"GUARDS!"

-floats up all the proposed designs with her magic. Carrying them all to the nearest trash can and literally dumping them into the bin.

Before you can even react, or maybe tell her she is overreacting, two Royal Guards come in through the door with a short bow. Their expressions completely undisturbed by her tone, or by how late it is.

Well, given the past few days, you assume they are becoming… accustomed to this?

"My Princess?" one of them asks.

And Cadance, her mane ragged and expression undignified, answers without even turning to look at them.

"Wake the courier. No, better yet. Get a chariot ready. I'm issuing a summons."

You watch, completely silent, as one of the two guards leaves with a short bow. The second one stays, waiting for further instructions.

"And who shall be summoned, my Princess?" he asks.

To which Cadance answers by looking you in the eyes. Waiting for you to tell her the damned name that will finally put one of her troubles to rest.

And a dazed, confused, and utterly flabbergasted Rarity is delivered at the apartment's doorsteps just a few hours later.

Much later, after you and Cadance are once again presentable and Rarity is deep in the process of taking her measures, Rarity quietly tells you that she will name her firstborn after you, if she ever ends up having foals.



- - -



The days go by. The wedding gets closer and closer.

Final decisions are made, a wedding dress if declared completed and hidden behind lock and key, and the final details are either ironed out or completely sheared off.

And yet, a few concerns remain in your mind.

After all, try as you might to ignore it, there is still a conspicuously empty spot in the invitation list.

Well, to be honest that description isn't entirely accurate. Instead, there is a conspicuously empty stop in the confirmation list. The ones where the ponies who confirmed that yes they will be coming to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had their names written.

So, when you finally find yourself once again inside Cadance's apartment, you ask her the question you have been… avoiding, this whole time.

"Cadance, I feel like I need to ask… how did that night go? How… how was Twilight?"

You ask that, and you watch as Cadance's eyes move here and there. You watch as she lies back on the chair she is sitting, as if thinking about what words she should use to answer you.

Still, she looks fine. In fact, she looks like you just asked her about the weather, or what time it is. Or as if you just asked her about something related to the wedding that she has already decided.

And not long after, she opens her mouth to speak.

Although what she tells you is… well, it's not the answer you are waiting for.

"Did I ever tell you about my family?" she asks.

In fact, what she says is no answer at all. She answers you with a question. Or maybe she doesn't even answer to begin with, as if she didn't even hear you ask her anything.

You raise an eyebrow, concern flashing through your eyes for a moment.

Because Cadance… just deflected your question. Yes, you are sure of it. She just deflected your question, and she isn't even trying to hide it.

She doesn't want to talk about it.

Still, for all that your heart feels heavy at what this implies… well, Cadance is also your friend. So, for all that you worry about Twilight, you care about Cadance as well. And if things went in a direction that she doesn't want to talk about, you don't have it in you to force the issue.

Maybe Twilight told her something? Maybe the young unicorn said something that Cadance feels she shouldn't tell you? Or something she won't tell you?

Well, whatever the reason might be, Cadance hasn't treated you any differently these last few days. So, you hope that… Well, you will respect Cadance's decision.

And speaking of her question, now that you think about it, you don't think she ever told you about her family. In fact, you don't think you ever read about that anywhere. And given how she is a Princess, this can only mean that…

"I don't think you ever did," you answer her. "To be honest, I don't think you ever told anypony about your past?"

You say that honestly, and Cadance gives you a short nod. Of course, she immediately caught on to what you mean by that.

After all, you have no idea how her life must be like, given how important she is. To the point that you even told her as much, in the past. Because sure, Cadance was the first pony to "become" a Princess. However, before being lauded as a ruler, Cadance also became an instant celebrity of sorts. Especially during the first few months after she was presented to the public, when she was taken under Princess Celestia's wing.

Because even though she had not taken any royal responsibilities back then, she was still a Princess. So naturally, everypony wanted to know everything about her. And you recall how, for several months, the interviews with her and Princess Celestia were published far and wide in the papers.

However, now that she mentioned it, you don't think you ever heard anything about her family. Or about her life before becoming a Princess.

"You are right," she says, her tone still calm and normal. "It is not something I talk about all that much."

She says that, and then you watch as she furrows her brow. As if she is trying to remember something, or as if she is deep in thought. So, you stay quiet.

Her mood still seems normal, as she focuses on her thoughts. Still, as the seconds turn into a full minute you can't help but think that she is acting… too normal?

In fact, you can't help but feel that something is off. And given the reason you two began this line of conversation, well…

Still, a few more moments pass, but your thoughts are interrupted as Cadance finally lights up her horn.

And you immediately sense that she is casting a spell of sorts.

But she doesn't do anything complicated. No surprise teleportation, poofing you on top of your shocked husband. No grand feats of magic that only an alicorn should be capable of doing. Nothing of that sort. You feel as much magic surrounding her horn as you would feel from a unicorn who is still inexperienced, and the soft light she is conjuring is just as strong.

She focuses her magic at the tip of her horn, and then she very carefully begins to paint a few floating lines in the air.

And it doesn't take you long to realize she is, in fact, drawing. She is literally drawing something on the air with her magic, using the tip of her horn as a brush of sorts, against an invisible canvas.

"Velvet, I know I can't prove this to you, or to anypony, so please just take my word for it," she says. "But this… this was my cutie mark, before I became a Princess."

She says that as she finishes drawing a crude image on the air.

However, the implication of what she just told you hit you like a rushing train.

You open your mouth to say something, anything, as you realize what she is showing you. But you force your mouth shut just as quickly.

Because sure enough, the first thing you wanted to say was that yes, you would believe her regardless of what she said. And then the second thing you wanted to say was that you definitely did not believe her.

And finally, you shut your mouth just as a very loud "what?!" was about to escape your lips.

Still, you can't help but feel shocked. You don't think anypony who studied a little bit wouldn't be shocked.

After all, cutie marks are poorly understood by ponykind. But one of the few things you know is that they only appear on ponies, and that they do not change. Sure, there are spells and illusions that clever unicorns can cast here and there. But at the end of the day, a pony's cutie mark stays the same. Unphased by age, or life circumstances, or even death. To the point that everypony understands, deep down, that your cutie mark is a part of you.

No two cutie marks are ever the same, and it is the symbol that comes to define you even if you never learn how to write and read. It is the mark that appears on your flank when you are young, that guides you towards your joys in life, and that is engraved on your tombstone when you die.

And yet…

And yet Cadance just told you that hers was changed.

She looks at your shocked expression, but her own face remains completely unphased. Still, she gives you a few more moments to recover. And once again, now that you are a little less shocked, you realize that her calmness is actually… worrying. For reasons you can't really name.

But the mare continues to speak the moment she realizes you are done taking your deep breaths.

"The story of how I became a Princess is… a bit longer, and it's not really what I want to tell you about. Well, at least the real story, with the details I only ever told Celestia, is longer. Still, that's not the point. Instead…"

She stands up from her chair, moving towards the magic-painted cutie mark and eyeing it with a critical expression. She adds a few more details to it with her glowing horn. And then, she takes a few steps back and sits down on the floor.

And you watch as her expression… well, it doesn't really change. It remains calm and collected.

However, you can't help but think that it is a bit recontextualized, now. You can't help but feel like… like she is staring at a strange reflection on a mirror. As if she can't quite recognize that cutie mark anymore.

Or maybe, she can't really recognize herself, as she looks at it.

"Well, like I said, that is what I had. That was the cutie mark that appeared on my flank, when I was a filly."

You purse your lips, and you feel your own brow furrowing as you look at her. Cadance's eyes locked on the rather cartoonish representation of her… former cutie mark, that is floating in the middle of the room.

You are sure the drawing isn't precise. In fact, you can tell from Cadance's expression that she isn't exactly happy with it. Or maybe she is concerned because she can't remember all the details herself.

Still, you turn your gaze to the drawing, and you stare at the shining depiction of a mortar and a pestle. You think the painted green things within the mortar are supposed to be leaves. And the round shape next to them is definitely a half-filled potion bottle.

But when your eyes move back to Cadance, you can see that she is…

She is…

You get up from your chair and you walk towards her, sitting on the ground next to Cadance as she once again begins to talk.

Because despite the fact that her tone is still calm, you think you know what she is about to say next. And for some reason, you feel…

"My parents were doctors. Well, I suppose apothecary is a better term for it. Still, the two of them were herbalists and physicians who traveled around the northern settlements of Equestria," she says, her eyes still trained on the drawing. "Dad was a unicorn who likes to experiment, mom was an earth pony who knew where the rarer plants liked to bloom…"

Her words trail off, but her eyes remain on the drawing. After a while, her horn lights up again, and she adds a small symbol to the bottle, as if something just reminded her about that little detail.

"Or at least that's what they did before I came around… Dad never blamed me for it, of course. Not for a moment. And of course, the two of them were physicians to begin with. But still, things happened during my birth, and he had to raise me alone."

Your expression becomes a lot more closed-off when you finally understand what she meant by that.

But to your honest surprise, when you turn your head slightly to look at Cadance, she actually has a small smile on her face.

Not a happy smile. Not a satisfied smile. But still, she looks like she is reminiscing on something… good?

No, that's not it. That's not what her smile means. Not exactly.

Ah, you can see it now. She is thinking about something that she remembers fondly.

Or rather… you can tell that she is the kind of pony who keeps the good parts of a story very close to her. Because you are sure there are plenty of sad things, little details and remarks, that she is not telling you. But not because she is hurt by them. Not because she is consciously avoiding those things.

Instead, you can see that she is just the kind of pony who focuses on the good parts.

And those are exactly the parts she tells you about.

"Still, growing up I knew everything about mom. To be honest, sometimes it felt like mom was the only thing that dad liked to talk about," she says, and she actually chuckles as she says that. An honest, sincere laugh escaping her lips, without even a hint of sourness or resentfulness. "He definitely loved. Yes, dad loved mom very, very much."

She says that, and then she tells you about… well, about whatever comes to her mind, really.

She tells you about the lessons she learned from him, and about how he trained her to be an apothecary as well.

She tells you about how the two of them were never in the same place for more than a month. Always moving around from one village to another. Always moving on that long, achingly slow circuit around Equestria, stopping on the furthest and newest settlements to offer your knowledge and aid.

She tells you that her mother's name was Cadenza. And how it took her several years to realize that her full name was, well, a way for her father to keep telling her mother that he loved her. But still, she tells you about how she didn't mind it.

And then, she tells you about the last time she ever saw her father.

"He taught me everything he knew. And then he kept teaching me even after I got my cutie mark. Until one day… well, one day we came upon a crossroad. One path took us to a village we already knew about, in our usual route, and the other… went higher up a mountain, and towards north. He said he would take the path north, to see if he could find an even more secluded settlement that might need help, but…"

Her calm expression finally breaks. But still, it doesn't break into sadness or sorrow. Instead, she just looks… well, you are not sure. Maybe she looks pained? Maybe she looks confused? Maybe a mixture of both?

Still, you watch as Cadance's expression definitely becomes lost. As if she is reliving that day all over again.

As if, rather than looking at the floating drawing of her cutie mark, she is staring at her father. Trying to understand why he is telling her, lying to her, about a village farther up north that they both know doesn't exist. While urging her to make her way down the trodden path, alone.

Still, even then, she doesn't look sad.

She doesn't look sad… and to be honest, that worries you. More than just a little bit.

Because maybe, and just maybe, Cadance is that much of an optimist. You have no idea of how her upbringing was truly like, but maybe she is indeed the kind of pony who can only focus on the good things. Who remembers and cherishes her father, rather than feel betrayed by him. A pony who can find the shining gems of happiness even inside a cave that is almost completely overtaken by darkness.

But… but what if she is not? What if that isn't the case? What if she is just dulled, numb to what is truly going on inside her head?

Or even worse… what if she is incapable of feeling certain things? After all, her own cutie mark was already changed by something beyond your comprehension. Who can tell if she didn't have more things taken away from her?

But you don't voice any of those thoughts. You can't. Not now, and definitely not as she is about to open her mouth to say something more.

"Well, not long after that day… several things happened, and I became a Princess."

Still, you can only watch as she completely dismisses the thought. You can only watch as her previous lost expression… changes back to normal. In fact, you can only watch as she once again begins to smile, of all things.

"And things were great after that. They really were! Shining's parents were lovely. And of course, Princess Celestia herself took me in. She really was like an aunt to me for the longest time. I don't really feel like I lacked anything, back when it was just me and dad. But I definitely gained something I didn't have, after Princess Celestia brought me to Canterlot."

She says that in a tone that almost sounds distracted. As if she is telling you one thing, but thinking about something else entirely. In fact, she is so deep in her thought that she doesn't even notice her magic is slipping away. What little concentration she was focusing on the magical drawing finally fades, and her long-gone cutie mark disappears right after.

However, despite her upbeat words, you think that… you think you know what she is truly talking about.

Despite her content and distracted expression, you think you know what she is truly thinking about.

After all, she is talking about Shining's parents. About Shining's mother, who introduced her to her current husband-to-be. About Shining's father, as she vaguely recalls the lessons on magic he taught her while she was still getting used to the horn on her head.

And of course, she also tells you about her… "Auntie" Celestia.

However, it is painfully obvious to you that none of those ponies are around anymore.

And she knows that.

Oh, she definitely knows that.

Still, she keeps talking. About the good memories she has, and the great things that happened to her as she learned how to act more like a Princess.

That is, until she reaches the present. Until her stories end, a few months back from today, and she realizes she has nothing else to tell you that might be a happy thought.

And when she becomes silent, you have no option but to remain silent yourself. Even as the silence stretches long, there is nothing you can really do other than stay there next to her.

Until finally, Cadance lets out a short sigh.

"Velvet, can I ask you something weird?" she asks.

And you pretend you don't notice how her voice shook for a moment, before she got a better hold of herself. You pretend you don't notice anything at all.

"Sure."

"Can you promise not to judge me?" she asks.

For a moment, you think about answering her with a joke of sorts. To try and alleviate the heaviness in the air, if nothing else. For a moment, you think about saying something like no promises, or trying to dismiss her concerns that you will judge her as silly. Because of course, you would never judge her, and you very much want to put a smile on her face.

But still, you also realize that what she needs right now is the serious, no-nonsense and honest answer.

"I won't," you say.

She doesn't look towards you. Instead, she keeps looking straight ahead, towards the center of the room, as if she could still see the disappeared drawing of her former cutie mark.

That is, until she lets out another, longer sigh.



"Promise you won't leave me?"



She asks that.

And the moment she asks you that, you realize that… you realize that you misjudged Cadance.

Because this whole time, throughout this entire conversation, you thought Cadance was content. As she told you about the memories she has, and the ponies who she bonded with, you thought she was focusing on the good things because those were all that she could see. You thought that she was deeply and truly the kind of pony who "was happy because it happened rather than sad because it ended".

But as she asks you that question, as you listen to how her voice shook as she said those words, you realize how wrong you were.

Of course, maybe there is more to this than you imagine. Maybe something inside of her changed, together with her cutie mark, all those years ago. Or maybe being an alicorn means there psychology, deep down, is just different.

However, right now, the one thing you are sure is that…

That she loved those ponies. Her mother who she never met, her father who taught her… Shining's parents, the maternal figure that was Princess Celestia. She loved them all. She loves them so much that she can't bring herself to hate them, or even resent them, for leaving her behind.

But still, deep down, she does feel hurt. Because she does feel like they abandoned her.

And as she asks you that question… as she says those words while refusing to look at you, as if afraid you will abandon her as well, you understand what is going on inside her mind.

A small part of you wonders what exactly happened, when she spoke to Twilight Sparkle. A small part of your mind worries what could have caused this, to the point that she told you all this because of that simple question you asked about the unicorn.

But you… don't… really… care about that right now. Not about Twilight, and not about anypony who isn't Cadance.

And the only thing you can really tell her is…



"I promise, Cadance."



You say that, and you lean slightly towards her. Putting your head on her shoulder.

She doesn't move. She doesn't say anything. She doesn't even react. In fact, you don't even know if she heard your answer at all.

But still, even if just for a moment, you swear you feel… something.

Not a connection, not even a spark. But maybe something you could call a presence.

And who knows, perhaps this was something Shining Armor himself felt, years ago, when Cadance met him for the first time? Or maybe this is something else entirely?

Still, you feel like Cadance is… counting on you. Or at least that she is willing to fall on you, if some day the very ground under her hoofs decides to break and leave her as well.







You have become much, much closer to Princess Cadance.

You have come to realize she has an affinity towards Heart, Winter, and of course Grail. But you dare not teach her anything yet.

Later that day, she asked you if you could be her bride…smaid. Her Bridesmaid. Her maid of honor. And of course, you accepted.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: CONTENT WARNING

According to the rules of this site it is acceptable to post in the SFW section:

• Written scenes that heavily imply any kind of sexual conduct (even if the sexual conduct itself would be illegal), so long as it remains at implication, and does not cross over into explicit explanation/description.
• You won't suffer punishment for posting it outside the NSFW section, but it might be polite to give warning.

This is a warning that this update contained options that, if picked, would result in off-screen sexual conduct that would be illegal (rape).

That option was never picked. Still, it is present in this update, so here is a complimentary warning.

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

You are Velvet Covers.

Wife to your husband, mother to your daughters… and Maid of Honor of the Princess of Love.

Because this is it. Tomorrow is the big day, and the only way you can possibly describe your current mood is giddy!

As far as you know, Equestria as a whole has come to a stop. Of course, you know that isn't really the case, and Cadance hasn't really pushed her weight to declare a national holiday. Still, you wouldn't be surprised if you were told that every last pony in Equestria is aware of what will happen tomorrow. And knowing how ponies are, you are sure that the other cities will also be celebrating in their own way.

More importantly, you can confidently say that Cadance achieved one of her objectives. Granted, you can't speak for the other major cities, but you remember how the mood in Cloudsdale was simply better when you were there with your family. With news about the upcoming wedding dominating the newsstands, and being the topic of several conversations you overheard. And of course, Canterlot itself is ecstatic. And given how many ponies are visiting Canterlot for the big event, you are sure their cheers and good spirits will spread throughout Equestria the moment they board the trains and go back home.

So, Cadance definitely succeeded in cheering up Equestria. Sure, the fact that it took the first alicorn wedding in history speaks volumes of how gloomy things were. But that dark cloud is definitely gone now. And you sincerely hope it never returns.

No, it is your job to ensure it never returns. The Lunar Bureau was literally created for that.

But that is neither here nor there. You aren't really thinking about your job right now. And to be honest, for all that the uplifted mood of Ponykind is good, you aren't really focused on that either.

Instead, your thoughts are all focused on tomorrow. Because tomorrow is the day! You will have to wake up way before sunrise, and as the Maid of Honor you will be in charge of several things before Cadance walks down the aisle. But you will be damned if you will not make sure everything happens perfectly.

"Sweetheart, shouldn't you be going to bed?"

Stormchaser's voice snaps you out of your thoughts, and you realize that… heavens, you are so excited that you were, quite literally, lost in your own thoughts. You shake your head, and you finally realize that you are still sitting in front of the large vanity mirror in your room. You vaguely recall how you sat down to double-check your mane before going to bed, and it seems your thoughts just overwhelmed you at some point.

Still, you are thankful Stormchaser is here to snap you out of it. He arrived at the Royal Castle, together with your family, earlier today. And even though you weren't able to meet him when he arrived, he was waiting for you in your guestroom once your day was finally done.

Your daughters, of course, are in the adjacent rooms.

But still, for all that you are thankful for him, how could you not be overwhelmed by your thoughts? After all, this is just too exciting! You should be going to bed right now, sure, but that's because tomorrow is the big day! Tomorrow is the day, and you will have to wake up early! You set aside a whole hour for you to spruce yourself up, and then you will put on that gorgeous dress before setting out to check on-

"Sweetheart, please," Stormchaser says again. And somehow, at some point, he simply appeared right next to you. Staring at your own reflection, with his head on your shoulder. "You really need to sleep. You wouldn't want to mess up tomorrow because you were too tired, would you?"

"Right, right… thank you, Stormy. I think I'm really out of it tonight," you say, watching as your husband laughs a little bit.

Still, you do what he says. You force yourself to stand up, and you make your way to the large bed on the other side of the room.

"I'll try to be quiet," he says, "and I'll make sure the girls are alright in a bit. But you don't need to worry about anything."

You nod at him, and then you take a deep breath, trying to slow your thoughts down. After that, you force your legs to move under you as you make your way towards the bed.

Because your husband is right. Of course he is right. You need to sleep, and you need to be well rested for tomorrow, and you need to stop going down the rabbit hole of how excited you are.

So, you try to… empty your mind… You try to pretend this is just another night, and that you are back at your home in Ponyville, and that everything is in order for you to go to bed.

Yes… this is just another night, and nothing strange or unusual is going on. You feel your heart rate slow down as you sell yourself that little lie. In fact, you even start doing your nightly routine, to make that lie more believable.

You take off your necklace, with your hoofs rather than your horn, and you carefully place it on your bedstand.

You give your hindleg one last stretch, even though it hasn't really ached in months, right before you climb on the bed.

And finally, you give the air one last sniff, checking in on everypony one by one. You check on Silky and Selene, noticing how they seem to be… going up and down? Ah, they are probably jumping on their beds. You also notice Sweetie Belle right next to them, doing the same thing, and that reminds you that you all decided to let the fillies stay in the same room.

You brush that off as a sleepover of sorts. Pretending you are all back in Ponyville rather than… here.

After that, you check on Softy as well. And she is… well, she is in her own room. You can sense her pacing around in a circle, and you suppose she is either nervous or embarrassed. But you let out a soft chuckle as you remember why that might be happening. After all, she was almost hauled off to the servant's section of the Royal Castle earlier today. To the point that you had to intervene, and quite literally strip her of her maid uniform with your magic, to convince the surrounding maids that your silly daughter was supposed to be treated as a guest rather than an accompanying servant.

Seriously, you should talk with Soft about her… dependency on that uniform. But that is a matter for another day.

And of course, Stormchaser right there with you, reading from a book as he quietly waits for you to fall asleep.

Good, good, everything is in place. Everything is in order. You can go to sleep now…



Except for the fact that there is somepony coming towards your door.



The careful self-imposed calm you were able to muster immediately shatters. And you let out a soft groan, which causes Stormchaser's ears to perk up. But before he can ask you what happened, the answer comes in the form of a trio of knocks on your door.

Still, you make a point of staying in bed. You even shut off your senses, deciding only to listen to what happens next. So, you hear Stormchaser silently opening the door, followed by a few whispered words, and then…

"Uhh… Sweetheart? Do you happen to know a pony called Chalkhoof?" Stormchaser asks after closing the door. "He said he is here because… the groom wants to speak to you?"

Your eyes go wide open at that, and you feel… well, slightly confused?

Captain Chalkhoof is Shining's best man. One could even say he is your counterpart, given how you are the maid of honor. And even though Cadance dominated most of the wedding's organization, Shining Armor was still involved with a good deal of it. So, you had several brushes with Chalkhoof these last few days.

Besides, you had already met the stallion before. More than a year ago, mind you, and under different circumstances. Still, he is a known face.

But he is here because… Shining asked him to call you?

You get up from the bed without a word, lighting up your horn as you float the nearest dress towards you.

"Tell him I'll be there shortly," you say to your husband.

You wonder what this is about…



- - -



You have never been in Shining Armor's room before, in the Royal Castle. Of course, you have already been to Cadance's apartment several times, but they technically don't live together yet, so that doesn't really count.

Besides, given Cadance's… innocence, you don't suppose Shining ever set hoof on her apartment himself. The two of them are too romantic to be that kind of couple, so you don't see them doing those sorts of escapades while away from the public eye.

But that is beyond the point.

You have never been to Shining Armor's room before… and that isn't about to change right now.

To your surprise, Chalkhoof takes you to a rather secluded part of the Royal Castle. You aren't anywhere suspicious or strange, of course. But still, you are in one of those nooks and crannies of the Royal Castle that is easy to overlook. One of the several balconies with a pleasant view of Canterlot, which you assume was more popular with nobles back when they were welcome in the Royal Castle.

Still, true to his word, good Chalkhoof thanks you for your availability and takes you to Shining Armor, who is waiting for you on that balcony. After that, the stallion leaves the two of you alone.

And you immediately understand why Shining Armor called for you.

…

Heavens, the poor stallion is a pile of nerves.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with Shining Armor. He looks healthy, and happy, and definitely full of energy. He is the perfect picture of a proud husband-to-be, and he looks just as dashing as he always does.

Still, you can tell at a glance that he is… well, he isn't trembling, not exactly, but he is definitely tense. The smile he has on his face is on the thin edge between joy and panic. And he very much looks like he only realized the enormity of what is about to happen… maybe ten seconds ago.

The poor colt is nervous, and he knows it. He knows it, and he isn't even trying to hide it.

So, you offer him a soft, understanding smile when he greets you.

"Lady Velvet! Thank you so, so much for your time. I know it's already late, but I… well, thank you."

"It's alright, Shining," you say, with an honest smile. "No, more than that. Right now, everything is about the two of you. So, I'm happy to help with whatever you need!"

You feel a tiny nudge of guilt, inside of you, as you notice how Shining trembled when you mentioned that "everything is about them". But still, you can tell he is more happy than nervous, so you don't feel bad.

Besides, you said nothing but the truth! And you really mean it. After all, even though you are the bridesmaid, whatever the groom might need is certainly more important than your own sleep schedule.

"Still, what can I help you with?" you ask.

And you can't help but wonder what this might be about. After all, he had Chalkhoof call for you, so this couldn't be the case where he couldn't find his best man and needed to resort to the maid of honor instead. So maybe this is something to do with Cadance?

There is a tradition that the bride and groom shouldn't see each other before the wedding. And sure, Cadance isn't exactly enforcing that rule. But maybe Shining is hesitant to go talk to her when they are this close to the ceremony?

That would make sense. Other than the maids, you are probably the pony with the most access to Cadance right now. And you can certainly reach her more easily than Chalkhoof would be able to, if this is a matter of Shining wanting to tell her something.

"Well, this is something rather… actually I don't even know how to describe it?" the stallion says.

Still, you give him a slow, patient nod as he collects his thoughts. You watch as he takes a few deep breaths, and you very politely ignore how one of his hoofs is shaking.

"Still, this is something I have been meaning to ask you for a while now… Or at least, I think that's the case? I… I feel like I have this need to…"

You raise an eyebrow as Shining Armor, very uncharacteristically, begins to stammer and stop.

Goodness gracious, you might need to help him a little bit. Because you are sure this isn't him having cold hoof about the wedding, but this is definitely something.

But eventually, he finally manages to put his thoughts into words.

"Please don't think this is strange, Lady Velvet. And I wouldn't be asking you if I had any other option. But…"

He looks you in the eye as he prepares to make his request-



I need the Name, Velvet. Give me the Name.



-and you spin on your hoofs, interrupting his words with your sudden, violent movement. You feel your legs locking under you in a fighting stance, and your horn lighting up on your forehead, as you suddenly hear a voice.

"Shining, we need to leave, now!" you almost yell, your voice sharp and urgent.

The stallion freezes up behind you, no doubt shocked by your sudden urgency. But you don't care. You can't care. The only thing that matters is that he is hesitating and that his inaction is costing you precious time.

You hear him trying to say something, but you cut him off before he has the chance.

"No time to explain. Now!"

Still, even though you said that, you don't really know what you should do yourself. Because what is going on? What is happening?

What did you just hear?!

You swear it was a voice. That voice. That unmistakable, whispering, mocking voice that can summon so many things from your memories.

You swear on your family's life that… that you just heard you Master. Or your former Master. Or whatever that thing was supposed to be, before it disappeared and the Cult fragmented.

But… but how…?

No, more importantly, where did it come from?

Because you are sure you just heard it.

But also, you swear that it came from inside your head.



Velvet…



Every last hair on your coat stands on their ends as you hear it again.

And you… you don't know what to do.

Should you run? Should you grab Shining and run? You are a bit far away from Cadance, but she is an alicorn, and consequently your best bet at safety. Especially given how Shining is there with you, and that the two of you are in danger.

But if you decide to run, will you make it in time?

Because where is that voice coming from? Where is she?!



Little Velvet…



You expand your senses, opening up your nostrils as you desperately try to understand what is going on.

The voice isn't coming from the wind, and it certainly isn't coming from inside of you. But still… still…

You can't sense anypony other than yourself and Shining Armor.

And that terrifies you.

Because the Master, you know, is the greatest authority in existence when it comes to Moth. At least in the Wake. And if there is one creature who could be standing right next to you, without letting you see it, it has to be her.

But you make a decision. To Tartarus with it, you will grab Shining and run. You will drag him by the hoof if you need to. You will make a beeline towards Cadance, avoid getting anywhere close to your family at all costs, and convince Cadance to take you all to Celestia no matter what it takes.

Your eyes dart around you one last time, as you look at the dark corridors of the castle. You try one last time to see if you can spot the Master. You try one last time to check if one of those shadows don't look slightly out of place, to see from where she might jump at you two once you start galloping for your lives.



"Velvet. Calm down."



And your whole body freezes when you finally realize where the voice is coming from.

"That's a lot better. Now could you turn around again? It is rude to turn your back when someone is talking to you."

Your body freezes, a chill runs down your spine and your heart twists with pain as you… as you finally understand that…

… that the voice…

You slowly turn around. Your stiff, terrified legs ponderously turning you around to face the origin of that familiar voice.

And when you finally stare at Shining Armor once again, you realize he has a familiar, mocking smile on his face.

He opens his mouth once again.

"Good."

But the voice that comes from his lips is not his own.

Or at least, it does not belong to Shining Armor.

"Now as I was saying… I need the Name, little Velvet. Give me the Name."

You hear those words, and it takes all of your willpower to… to stay.

Because you have to drown out the shout that nearly burst out of your mouth.

And you have to stop your face from devolving into an expression of shocked horror.

And you have to grip every last muscle in your body to stop you from running away.

It takes all the willpower you have, and maybe a few things that you don't have, to stop yourself from doing anything.

So, you can only stare in muted shock, as you…

As you look at Shining Armor.

And see, deep in his amused eyes, that you are now speaking to the Master.

"H… how…?" you whisper that word, because that is the only thing you can bring yourself to say.

Still, you realize you said that more out of shock than anything else.

However, that doesn't stop Shining-… that doesn't stop her from taking it as a question.

"You mean to tell me you didn't know?" Shining says. And a low, wrong-sounding chuckle escapes his lips. The noise of leaves brushing against each other feeling utterly unnatural as they leave a pony's mouth. "Well, I suppose it only makes sense. You wouldn't have reason to seek out Comet Feet after he betrayed us… and given his skills, it probably wouldn't be wise either."

She says that, her voice altering between her own and Shining's, as if she is stating the obvious.

Although you have no idea what she is talking about. None of it makes any sense. You… you have no idea of what she is talking about, and you can feel your pulse quickening as you realize just how out of your depth you are.

"Comet Feet… betrayed us…?" you ask, your words slow. Slow, and cautious. Because you have absolutely no idea what she is talking about and…

No, you think you know what she is talking about. You think she is referring to when Comet Feet left the cult.

But if that is the case, why is she saying that Comet Feet betrayed "us"? Why… doesn't she know that you too left the Cult? Where did she get that information from? Does she not know that you decided to… to betray her as well?

How exactly does she view everything that happened?!

"Of course he did. He gave up on his task, did he not? I thought you would have understood it as well, little Velvet. But…"

Shining Armor gives you a small shrug, as if to say there was no helping it.

And then, his smile twists into the horrifyingly familiar expression of an old matron that is about to give a lecture. The stallion's face, and his body, remains unchanged. But the way he is moving is… just wrong.

"A lesson, then. Think about what you have been doing, little Velvet. Our Cult took on a different shape, really, but none of us ever stopped working towards our final goal… You kept to the climb, Copper kept spreading our influence, Windy…" you hear a chuckle, but her words trail off. "Well, you all kept to your tasks. A few nudges were needed, of course. For example, I couldn't let Copper's little animosity towards you go to waste. So, I sent a little nightmare her way, and a little cold breeze towards you, and you two picked things up just like you were meant to. But still, those were all just tidbits of guidance, to help you move along."

You force your eyes to not go wide in surprise. Because… because she…

She just casually told you that… that she tried to kill you? No, worse than that. And it all makes sense in retrospect.

Because that first time, that first death ritual that was aimed at you. It wasn't Copper… it was her. And if you understand this correctly, she also attacked Copper at the same time. So a few weeks later, when you two tried to kill each other in earnest, that was just…!

"But Comet Feet? Oh, he deserted us, didn't he? He had duties to fulfill, and he abandoned them. So, of course, I went after him… I sought him out, and I found out he left us for love, as those things usually go."

Shining's expression looks amused. And it feels utterly wrong to hear those words being spoken with his voice.

You are almost thankful when his tone shifts back to the raspy, familiar voice of the Master.

"I had to kill him, of course. No point in making a threat if you are not willing to follow through. But then… to my absolute surprise, he offered to bargain instead," she says that, and then she raises one of Shining's forelegs. Inspecting his hoofs as if she was talking about a product. "He told me this little body was nearby, and reminded me of its value. He offered to bring it to me, in exchange for his freedom. And I accepted."

You feel your blood run cold as he says that.

Because that means… if her story is true, then that means…

How long has she been in there? Was she… was she living his life, acting like him this whole time?

Did… was she already inside of him, seeing through his eyes, when he was inside your house? When he was close to your family?!

"Naturally, I had more things to do. And making a puppet dance takes… focus, when the Wake is involved. It's like pulling strings through a keyhole. So, I accepted Comet's offering, and I released him from his duty. And in return, I planted a little seed inside this body."

A small wave of relief rushes through your body, but it is immediately overwhelmed by shame.

Because you feel relief at what he just told you. Of course you feel relief. After all, you just learned that… that this whole time, Shining Armor was himself. You weren't interacting with a monster in disguise. None of his actions were manipulated. And most importantly he didn't get anywhere close to your family.

But still, you feel ashamed of your relief because…

Because this is all still horrifying.

"But now was the time for that seed to bloom," she says.

And as she says that, she slowly… raises the hoof she was inspecting.

She raises it towards the sky, and you can't help but follow it with your own eyes.

And for a moment, for a fraction of a moment, you see it. You watch as the moonlight faintly reflects against… something. And for a fraction of a second, you can see a string, tied around Shining's foreleg, being pulled taut towards the night sky. As if he is a living puppet who is being controlled by something old and terrible, that is just outside of your view.

You realize all of that, and you…

And you ask the one thing that is on your mind. The one thing that you don't want to learn, but that you have to.

After all, the Master is working on… a lot of assumptions.

She doesn't know you consider yourself her enemy. In fact, she even thinks you are still serving her, even if in a different way.

And she called you here… no, she gave Shining a compulsion to call you here, and then she took over his body… for a reason.

She mentioned, after all, that she has a request.

She said she wants… a Name.

"Wh-what… do you need…?" you ask, holding back from saying anything that might doom you. Biting down your tongue from saying something that might make the Master see you as an enemy.

Because you too are in danger. When it comes down to it, right now you are alone. Alone, in the presence of your former Master, who is controlling a body that is by far a lot stronger than you.

In short, you can die at any moment if you say the wrong thing.

So, you ask…

And she answers.

"The Name, Velvet. The bright-red Name of Grail. I have need of her. There are mysteries of blood and birth that are beyond me. They are beyond me, but they are not beyond her. I need her for what happens next."

Your eyes go wide at that, and the aching sensation in your chest makes you realize that your heart is pounding. It is beating so quickly that it hurts.

But you… you understand what she is saying. No, you understand who she is talking about.

Your Master wants Mareinette. She wants Mareinette the same way she wanted Baldomare, all those months ago. But you have no idea why.

The only thing you remember is that, last time you gave your Master what she wanted, bad things happened.

"You… you want her… why?"

She answers with a chuckle. The noise of leaves rustling, so unnatural when coming from a pony's mouth, floating away in the night breeze.

"Why? Isn't it obvious, little Velvet? Because of the alicorn. She will want to join with this body once their little ceremony is done, no? There is potential in that. Birth has always been one of the entryways to this world, and it is also the domain of Grail. So, with the Name's assistance, I will be able to… acquire another body."

Your body reels with disgust at what she says, the moment you understand what exactly she means by that. And it takes visible effort for you not to retch.

Still, you can no longer stop your expression from shifting. And the Master lets out a soft laugh as he sees that.

"Oh, do not worry. I will keep your little friend asleep until I am done. Mareinette will need to be present, of course, but I can hide her from the alicorn's sight. And after that… well, I will begin a new life, and it might take years. But I am sure the rewards will be worth it. And you… all of you, who followed me, no longer need me to hold your hoofs. You know what to do from here."

You can feel your legs shaking, as he casually says that.

And you are thankful… you are thankful that, apparently, Shining Armor can't hear any of this either.

From what you understand, and from what she just told you, Shining Armor is… asleep right now. Maybe it's an immediate effect of her taking over his body, or maybe it is something else. But still, he couldn't hear the horrible words she casually used his mouth to utter.

So, thankfully, he won't know what happens next. Whatever you tell the Master, whatever you decide, he will not know about it.

Unless, of course, you let the Master remain in his body. Because at some point, you are sure he will wake up… you are sure he will wake up, and realize he is now in a prison of his own body, trapped behind his own eyes as something lives his life in his stead.

But still, whatever happens, you need to decide it now.

"Give me the Name, little Velvet, and we will further our goals in protecting this world. We will finally have an alicorn on our side. We will have me. Give me the Name… and you will be rewarded."

That twisted, alien smile looks wrong in Shining's face.

It makes you feel sick.

Still, you have no choice but to…





[] Refuse her "offer".

-The Master will entertain your decision, and will not harbor any ill will towards you. She will think your action to be "quaint".
-From this point onwards, you (and you alone) will be aware that the Master is living Shining Armor's life.
-Very soon, Shining Armor will "wake up" and realize he is a prisoner inside his own body. That will be his life from that moment onwards.
-You think it is very unlikely that Cadance will realize what happened, if she even notices it at all.
-You are not aware of any methods which might be used to "exorcise" Shining Armor, if they even exist at all.
-You cannot possibly predict how the Master will leverage her newfound position as "Deputy" of the Lunar Bureau. But given her words, you assume she will continue to "watch over" his perceived servants. That being said, she will probably sabotage any attempts from you to use the Bureau against any of your former cultist colleagues (but she will allow you to continue your occult wars).

"What problem is there in a mask, if no one else will ever notice?"



[] Show her your true colors.

-You will, once and for all, show the Master you are no longer her servant.
-You will banish the Master. This will use (destroy) one Wrong Key.
-The Master will refuse to be summoned by you from this point onward.
-The Master will begin to actively move against you as an enemy, although her hoofs will be tied until she returns to the Wake. She did not consider herself your enemy before this.
-The traumatic backlash of cutting the strings will kill Shining Armor.
-Velvet Covers will not be blamed, or even suspected, for his death. Not even by Cadance.

"Well then."



[] Accept her offer.

-You will temporarily "lend" Mareinette to the Master. Mareinette will return to you shortly after, with no problems whatsoever.
-This will not impact any of Mareinette's actions, or her binding period towards you. It will be a "free action" that will happen immediately.
-The Master will permanently and completely disappear for the duration of the Quest, and this will be a problem left for the future.
-The Master will reward you for this, and will give you a parting gift.
-To Cadance's immense surprise, her first daughter will not be who she dreamed about. Princess Flurry Heart will never come to be, and her first… son, will be an alicorn who will be given another name.
-Other than yourself, only Mareinette will ever know this happened. And she will keep your secret as long as you remain in good terms.

"[Grail]!"



[] Offer yourself instead.

-You will offer the Master to leave Shining Armor, and possess you instead. She will accept.
-Velvet Covers will permanently lose one personal action point, which the Master will use for herself.
-The Master will be able to influence, interfere, and overwrite some of your actions and decisions moving forward (but this option will not interfere with the Rite of the Mother and the Father in any way).
-You cannot possibly predict what else she might be able to do, after entering you. You suspect she will be able to do more.
-You are not aware of any methods which might be used to "exorcise" you, if they even exist at all.

"A life for a life. That trade is almost always fair… Almost."



[] Kill the Master [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]

-You will convince the Master that you will "take Shining's place" and allow her to enter you instead.
-After the Master leaves Shining, but before she possesses you, you will kill her.
-The Master will be permanently and completely eliminated from the Quest, and this situation will be immediately resolved. Nopony, not Shining, nor Cadance, nor anypony you care for, will suspect anything happened or learn about this.
-You cannot know what other ramifications this action will have.
-This is a Regrettable Action.





You have witnessed a mask, donned by a master of the art. And the sight shook you to your core. Gain one scrap of MOTH Lore.

Spoiler: Author's Note: regarding the past

Baldomare already said that you should focus on winning, rather than not losing. And QM already said you should reach for Glory. Every turn that passes when you are not doing that is another turn your foes can use for themselves.

That being said, let me be very clear about one thing.

You are going against powers that are stronger than you. Those powers are motivated, intelligent, and they know what they want. This is simply one of those players making their own move.

I will have very little patience towards cries about this being "unfair" from a game perspective. I am not going out of my way to make the quest harder, or to create gratuitous difficulties. This is the result of characters exercising their agency, not a punishment from a sadistic QM.

Kindly keep that in mind during your discussions. QM is also human.

Spoiler: Author's Note: regarding the present

The options are not balanced from a mechanical perspective. Velvet can make a decision, and that decision might have mechanical effects as stated. But these are not balanced compared to each other.

Write-ins will not be accepted, but their suggestion is not forbidden either. If any of you can lawyer or finagle your way out of this, by all means share it with the thread. However, said action must be something Velvet can do in a split second. Trying to trick the Master will not work, as she will turn hostile the moment she notices your deceit (or rather, you would only be able to solve that with the patronage of an Hour). Making a promise you cannot fulfill immediately will also not work. The options offered are, in honesty, the only ones I could perceive as being viable: do nothing, start another war, accept, trade, or Wolf.

But of course, I might have missed something.

Spoiler: Author's Note: regarding the future

Come next turn, you will have a Fleeting Opportunity to "address" Comet Feet's decision, which caused this. And it will be noted that failing to pick that option will mean you will "tacitly accept" what he did.

That will happen later, if you even pick that option at all. Now is not the time to address that.

Vote by approval (pick as many options as you want). The SINGLE highest-voted option will be picked.

Twelve hours of moratorium.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Your breathing is ragged. Your coat is frazzled. Your heart is pounding inside your chest. And most of all you are afraid. Your mind is teetering on the brink of panic, and for all that your panic is keeping you focused, you realize you are just one push away from breaking down into paralyzing dread.

You are Velvet Covers, and right now you are racing through the Woods. Galloping as quickly as your dream-body can carry you. Rushing through the leaves and the barbs and the reaching claws of older things that no longer have names, as you try desperately to find that chosen place.

Of course, this being the Woods you know that none of your pains are real.

You know that your breathing is not truly ragged, for you are not really filling your lungs with air.

You know that your coat is not truly ragged, and that the painful whips of hard branches against your sides are imaginary.

You know that this frantic beat inside your chest is not truly coming from your heart.

However, you also know that even though your pains are not real, everything else is.

And your fears? Oh, your fears are dragging behind you like chains.

But still, despite your pains, and your fears, and the countless eyes that are watching you, you continue to run.

Because you have to get there.

You have to get there before it is too late.

Before her patience runs out, and she decides that enough is enough.



"So, my little Velvet, have you made your decision?"
"I… Master I… I can't... I just can't..."
"Ahah... You always had so much trouble shedding your doubts. But fear not. If you cannot decide, then I will just remain in this body an-"
"WAIT-!"
"…?"
"I-I… the Name, Master, I dare not give you the Name… I fear her displeasure. I fear she might lash against me, if I give her away like…"
"Ahh… yes, that makes sense. You think she still clings to pride, yes. You certainly do not know her… but I can see why you would fear her displeasure, if I were to leave for so many years… But I sense you have more to say? The ideas in your mind, they buzz so strongly I can almost hear them… speak, little Velvet. Be not afraid."
"Master… that body is… beneath you… May I please offer you… another?"
"Oh? Ahh… Ah, I understand. Yes… yes, I can see why you are doing this. Your morals, they still shackle you, yes? You wish for my aid in breaking them, correct? Good, little Velvet, good. I accept. I will leave this one behind…"
"Th-… thank you… Master."
"Come to me, Velvet Covers. You know where to look for me."



That conversation, that damned conversation, still echoes inside your mind. The fear that you felt, that you are still feeling, that she might catch on at any moment… it still crashes inside your head. Like a pulsing headache that aches in time with your beating heart, or perhaps like a hammer striking against the cracking anvil of your brain.

Still, she accepted your request. She accepted your request, and Shining Armor fell unconscious on the floor the moment she did.

But you could not do anything about him. You couldn't even sigh in relief at the fact that she believed you and that you were still alive. You didn't even have the time to find somepony to take care of Shining Armor.

Instead, you just ran away. You rushed to the nearest unused guest room, unlocking it with a tap of your hoof, and then you barricaded yourself inside of it so nopony could disturb you.

And then, you sheared off a lock of your mane, and forced yourself to sleep.

That is why you are here.

That is why you are in the Woods.

Because here, you know, is where you will find the Master.

Here, you know, is where she will find you. And here is where she will enter you and bind you and dig herself so deep into your brain that…

That…

You don't have time to think about it. Instead, you redouble your efforts. You force your legs to run faster and faster, until you somehow start to outpace your very thoughts.

After all, no matter what it takes, you have to get there before she decides to take you.

"Little little Velvet…"​

A voice, that voice, comes to you. It is so low that it might as well have been a thought. And yet, it is so clear that you think somepony just whispered into your ears.

A chill runs down your spine as you realize that, most likely, both ideas are true.

"Such haste… such hurry… Are you truly so eager to find me? Have you finally realized that those things you carry within you, your love and your fears and your memories, are nothing but weights upon your back? Have your yearnings to shed them away, so that you might climb higher, finally caught up to you?"​

The voice comes from everywhere, and yet it comes from nowhere at all. You swear you can hear it coming from the very trees. But no matter how hard you try, you simply can't tell what direction it is coming from.

You feel as if every word she speaks is, somehow, made by the rustling of dry leaves.

You feel as if every phrase she utters is, for some maddening reason, an impossible coincidence. As if a stray wind somehow rattled the right bush, and for a single moment your mind was tricked into thinking you just heard a pony cough out a syllable.

Except that it happens a thousand times. Again, and again, and again, to the point that those syllables connect into words which connect into phrases which connect into the mocking ideas that are buzzing their way into your head.

"But still, you remain so blind… Can you not see that you have already found me? Can you not see that, this whole time, I was all around you? Ah… a lesson, then. Better yet, a question. Have you found the answer already, little Velvet, to those questions I asked you so long ago? Tell me, little Velvet, do you know… what loyalty tastes like?"​

She is getting closer. Her patience is waning and... no, it is changing. Shifting into desire and then yearning and then the compulsion to take over your skin.

And still, you run. You run because you have no other choice. You run because you have no better choice.

Because no matter what happens, you must reach that place.

Of course, you cannot look up. Or rather, you know you will not see anything if you look up. After all, there is nothing but darkness all around you. And the black trees are so thick here, their leaves so greedy to drink the light of Glory, that you wouldn't be able to see the Mansus even if you tried to look up.

Still, you run.

Because you know you are getting closer.

You know… somehow you know that…

… that you are nearly there.

"No answer? Well, I thought that would be the case. Still, you are not to blame… not to blame… After all, you have never truly known loyalty, have you? Oh, I know you have not. Not to me, at least. You did not owe me, like Comet did. You were not fascinated by me, like Starry is. You did not yearn for my attention like Copper, and you never feared me like Jade… But that was why I knew you had it in you, little Velvet."​

You trip on a root, and you fall face first into the ground. Your mouth fills with the black dirt, and you have to struggle to get your leg free. You eventually do it, but the struggle that it is to get up only makes you realize that you are shaking.

You can't see anything. Even with your eyes closed, you can't see anything.

But still, you swear that the root around your leg grasped for you.

Of course, you know the Woods are strange. Especially when you are in a part that is as deep as this. You know that things around here can simply… move. And you know that it is no coincidence that, so far, you have not really crashed into any of the trees.

But that root? That was certainly… different.

That was certainly her.

You are almost there, you know.

But you might not make it in time.

You get up on your shaking legs and you continue to run.

"After all, ambition is oh so important to climb… None the matter. The second question, then… Little, little Velvet. Have you finally figure it out? Do you know… what I am?"​

You remember the first time she asked you that question. You remember like it was yesterday.

It was months ago. Almost a full year back. When you were still in the Cult, and when you had beseeched her for a lesson on Lantern.

You did not know the answer to that question back then.

But now…? As you follow this… feeling of yours?

As you madly rush to a place that… to the one place where you can do… something?

Your mind is too frantic to properly think. Your thoughts are too focused, or perhaps too confused, for you to put the pieces together.

However, even then, an understanding slowly begins to dawn on you…

But none of that matters. Not anymore, at least.

Because suddenly, something inside of you lurches, and you dig your hoofs on the ground as you screech into a hard stop.



Because this is the place and this is the time and all that is left to do is end this once and for all.



It is a sickening feeling. A painful wrench inside your guts. As if you had a compass, inside of you, that twisted into the wrong direction as you ran past the designated spot. A sharp compass, made of hooks and knives and fangs sunk into your flesh, that for some reason lived in the place between your stomach and your heart.

And it hurt you as it lurched. But the dry gasp that escaped your lips as it twisted your insides was drowned out by the buzzing words of your Master.

"You already know the answer, don't you? Or perhaps, you knew it all along? Perhaps you realized it the first time you visited me, but chose to forget? Just like you and your kind forget so many things, as you stroll alongside me?"​

No, it didn't just lurch. This thing inside of you didn't just stop, after it told you that you had reached this place. It did something… it is doing something much worse than that.

You can barely hear her words now. You know she is saying… something. But you can barely hear it.

Because the pain is… the pain is…!

The compass inside of you. That part of your soul that you tapped into in your panic. That ugly scar inside of you, that you begged to help you. It is not… it is not a compass.

It is not just a compass.

It is something so, so much worse…

And now that you are in the correct place, it is opening and it is expanding and it is slicing through more and more chunks of your innards as it assumes its true configuration.

Of course, there isn't really anything inside of you. It is not as if you are truly carrying a sharp thing of metal, a device of pain and daggers, within your guts. This is a dream, after all, and this is only how you feel. This is only how your brain, or perhaps the Mansus itself, chose to translate this sensation to you. However… you are also not stupid enough to think that nothing is happening.

After all, the device might be imaginary.

But its purpose is not.

You can barely keep your legs under you as it happens. Your Master's words are falling on deaf ears, but given the increasing strength of the wind you are sure she is saying something.

So, with the last strand of your sanity, you try to keep up appearances. Even if only for a moment longer. You stay where you are. You let the Master speak her words. And you force your mouth shut because the moment you stop forcing your teeth together you will scream and scream and scream and SCREAM AND SCREAM.

Because it hurts. It hurts SO MUCH.

The thing inside of you, the compass-that-is-not-a-compass continues to shred something inside of you. And for all that the exterior of your dream-body is completely intact, at least on the outside, you realize that you are now less of a pony than you were before.

Still, that infernal contraption that guided you here finally reveals its true function.

Because as it twists and turns, and as it assumes its final configuration, you realize that… it was not a compass. Not exactly.

This imaginary device… this ugly, cancerous part of your soul… its purpose was not to guide you to this place.

It was to guide something else towards you.

It was never a compass.

It is a beacon.

Still, all around you the Woods is a frenzy of activity. The Master, you know, is almost upon you. She cares not that you are frozen in place by agony. She can't even notice how you are a few seconds away from crumpling down in pain.

You can barely hear the roots, as they burst out of the ground to surround you and enter you and become you.

You can barely hear her words, as she finishes asking her final question.

"Tell me, little Velvet, do you know… what is about to happen?"​

Something inside of you flares.

And the voice that comes out of your mouth is not your own.

Still, in a painful flash of realization, you understand that you are answering all three of her questions. All at the same time.

Because with a blinding, searing jolt of agony, as if the thoughts were being branded into your brain, you understand it. You discover the taste of loyalty, and you understand the Master's true identity, and you realize what is about to happen next.

"Yes."​

And the flames crash down on you like a violent storm of-





- - -
- - -
- - -





It burns.

Everything is red.

It burns.

Everything is black.

It burns.

Everything hurts.

It burns.

It hurts so much you can't remember anything. It hurts so much you can't even think.

It burns.

It hurts so much that, perhaps, your thoughts, and your memories, and maybe your very soul are being burned away by the flames.

IT. BURNS.



The House of the Sun is a place that defies geometry. Even from the outside, it can look like tower, and a pyramid, and an entrancing maze of floating mesas. All at the same time.

Even when one is in the Woods, which grow beneath and around the Mansus, one can see different things when they look up.

At times, one can see the underside of a higher level. Those who reached the Blank Door will usually think they are gazing at the mesa that holds the Blank Plains. Those in the Know realize it might be something else.

At times, one can look up and see Glory. Because for all that there are several floors and levels between the Woods and that highest place, the uncovered light of Glory still shines upon all of the Woods indiscriminately.

But more importantly, there are certain places in the Woods that, maddeningly, allows one to see… other parts of the Mansus.

A forgotten lake, untouched by the black trees, where one can see the reflection of the Moon.

An old well, from which clever adepts can spot the crooked shape of the Ruined Church.

A battered crater, which somehow aligns precisely with a crater that lies right besides the Summit Gate.

The Woods yearn for all of those places, for they are all touched by Glory. So, for all that the Woods guards those places jealously, there are also places within its dark depths where one might look up and see those impossible sights.

And this…



This is one such place.



Because that part of your soul, the one that smells like dirty flames and desperation, brought you here for a reason. It guided you here because this is the closest spot.

So, you ran and ran and ran through the Woods, as your master mused and spoke to you, because…

Because you are right underneath that place.

You are right underneath the Shattered Stairways.

More precisely, you are right underneath it.

If you were to look up, you would see nothing but a floating mesa of Mansus-stone, flying high in the distant sky. Actually, if you were to look up, you would see nothing but the blocking leaves of dark trees. But still, for all that you ran to the dark depths of the Woods, the place you reached would look utterly unremarkable to any other adept.

It certainly looked unremarkable to her.

However, when you spoke…

When the thing inside of you reached out…

The underside of the Mansus, right above you… that faraway, distant ceiling of the Woods, which marked the ground of somewhere higher…

It cracked.

It cracked, and it broke, and it crumbled.

And that section of the Woods, that impossible spot, was right underneath Him. It was right underneath His resting place, as He impales Himself forever and ever and ever.

The ceiling of the Woods cracked. The floor of the Mansus gave way.

And an entire Era's worth of His filthy blood crashed down towards you. It hit you like a river of flame and filth. It washed over you like a torrent of tar and sulfur.

It fell, and it falls, and it will fall. Forever and ever and ever. Like a waterfall that never ends. Like a burning cascade that will never stop.

You did not survive its touch. And yet you remain, but only because He will not permit you to die.

However, the endless sea of trees around you. That deep, dark, ancient forest that existed since time immemorial, did not share His kinship like you did.

So, it became kindle to His flaming blood.​

Velvet Covers has gained a further stain upon her soul, and the world will suffer for it.

"A Stain Upon the Soul" has reached level three.

CAPUT GERAT LUPINUM. The Sun was Divided, and this is its Wound. Gain one scrap of EDGE and WINTER Lores.

The Mansus location "The Dry Well" has been destroyed.

The Mansus location "The Temple of the Wheel" has been destroyed.

The Mansus creatures "Percussipony!" have gone extinct.

The Heirloom "The First Drum of the Orchestra" has been destroyed.

The Mansus location "That old darkness" has been destroyed.

The Mansus creatures "Winged Shadow" have gone extinct.

The Heirloom "The Dappled Ashes" has been destroyed.

"The Will of the Woods", last Name and Heir of Moth, has been destroyed.


The Mansus location "The Woods" has been- THE WOOD IS DUST

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Kill the Master

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You have lost something.

You do not know its name. You do not know its nature. You don't even know how it felt like, because not even a memory of it remains.

It is not as if you have a "hollow" feeling inside of you, now. It is not as if you have an empty space inside of you, which makes you realize that something was taken away. In fact, you don't even have it in you to care.

However…

However.

You lost something. Of that, you are absolutely certain.

Because it would be impossible to go through this experience, and not become less.



- - -



IT BURNS AND IT BURNS AND IT BURNS AND IT BURNS AND IT BURNS AND-



You were washed away. Once that cascade of filthy blood crashed down upon you, you were dragged away like a leaf in a waterfall. The sticky ichor, stale from an entire era of stagnation, clung to your fur like mud. The dreadful fuel, volatile like liquid hate, burned everything it touched in its torrential wake.

It scorched everything. Spreading in all directions like the bastard son of a wildfire and a tsunami. But worst of all, it consumed everything with a blistering hate that was almost alive. Because the burning ichor was outpaced by the flames, and the flames were outpaced by the fang-shaped rancor that somehow radiated from the dirty fires.

It burned the entirety of the Woods to the ground. It licked through everything, named or nameless, remembered or forgotten, new or old, without discrimination. It turned everything into bitter ash and sour dust.

It burned, and it burned, and it burned and it burned until nothing remained.

Nothing…

… except for you.



-IT BURNS AND IT BURNS AND IT BURNS AND IT BURNS AND-



You were dragged down by the burning blood. You were dragged down, and you were drowned, and you were crushed, and your lungs were filled with fangs and then fire and then ash. Your body was torn and shoved and flung in every direction.

And yet, you live.

Because that is the nature of your kinship. And if He is not allowed to die, then neither are you.

So, you live. You were not awarded the sweet taste of death. You were not even given a moment of unconsciousness. You were forced to live through it, and burn through it, and suffer through it.

And now… now you think you understand it a little better.

However, you can't help but realize that… now that you think about it, you can't help but notice that…

Well, you realize that you are thinking.

And that is strange because…

Because until now, there was nothing but pain. You could not think, you could not see, you couldn't even tell if time was passing. Until now, there was only agony. There was only pain, and the hate you felt towards the pain.

But now…? Now you are… you. You are once again yourself.



But you know better, now. You know it is not over. You know it will never truly be over. But your connection to that mode of existence has been… paused, for now.



Your thoughts are fragmented. It hurts to think, and every idea that comes to you has to step over blistering charcoal. However, you have no choice but to think, so you try to recollect your thoughts as quickly as possible.

The first thing that comes to mind is that you are now permitted to die, once more.

The second thing that comes to your mind is that… after what you have just been through, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea.

But then, a third thing comes to your mind, then a fourth, then a fifth, until you finally remember what just happened and where you are and what you just did.

And you also realize that you can't breathe. Everything is dark, and you can't breathe, and regardless of whether this is a dream or not you are suffocating.

You begin to struggle. Everything is dark, and you feel like you are being pressed down. Every movement elicits a pain from within, as your broken dream-body refuses to move properly, as well as from without, as the something that is all around you tries to keep you in its grip.

Still, you eventually manage to break free.

You go up. You go towards the light you can't see. And eventually, you break out of the grainy waterline like a drowning pony who just escaped the grasping waters. Your whole body hurts, everything is heavy, and you are heaving from exhaustion and effort.

But finally, finally, you can see once again.

You really mean it when you say you were drowning. Because as you look around, you can see that… that you just crawled out of a small mountain of ash. A mountain of dirty ash, and mournful dust, that clings to your fur like a needy son. You are literally covered by it, and every last inch of your dream-body is caked in soot.

It isn't just your coat that is covered… your lungs want to cough, and your eyes want to forcefully tear up, and the insides of your ears prickle, and your tongue tastes something sour, and…

And dear heavens… and all around you, everywhere you look as far as your eyes can see… everything is ashes.

Your breath immediately gets stuck in your throat. You don't have words to describe it. You don't know how you could possibly explain what you are feeling right now. Because… because as you look around you, you can see that…

The Woods are gone.

You remember how the Woods looked like. You remember how that sea of trees looked like, from the Crossroads, and how they felt like an endless and forbidding wall that surrounded the Mansus. The first true trial a pony would face during the Climb. The first taste an aspirant would truly have, of a place that was dominated by the Lores.

You also remember how the Woods looked like from above. You recall how that endless ocean of treetops, with their swaying leaves of grey, seemed to envy you, as you looked down at it. You remember how it felt vast, and endless, and old, and most of all alive, and how you felt that it yearned to trade places with you, so that it could climb towards Glory as well.

You remember how… how every, single, night, for… for the last several months, you would see the Woods every night, every time you dreamed, whenever you made your way towards the Mansus.

So, you can't help but feel a strange sense of vertigo, or perhaps wrongness, as you realize that it is gone.

And instead of the Woods, you are now surrounded by ash. You are surrounded by hills and mountains of ash. By valleys and paths that seem to resemble some twisted attempt at topography. Everywhere you look, you see nothing but the dusty remains of cremated trees. Everywhere you look, you see nothing but the mocking carcass of what was once the Woods.

You wish you could tell how far this place goes. You wish you could say that… that maybe the damage is contained, or maybe this only affected a part of the Woods, or maybe the fires are still raging somewhere, and there is still a chance for this to be stopped.

But unfortunately, you can't even tell that much. Because everywhere you look, your vision is eventually blocked by another mountain of ash. Some of them are as low as hills, and are relatively close. Other are as tall as mountains, and you think they might reach as high as the Mansus that floats above you.

However, the one thing you can tell for certain is that… well, that this is what ponykind will have to face from now on. This is what awaits every dream adept, instead of the Woods, if they wish to Climb. This gargantuan, twisting desert of ash, with its winding mountains and treacherous valleys.

And for some reason, although you have no idea why, you feel like this is somehow worse than the Woods. You have no idea why you are thinking this. To be honest, you are simply too exhausted, and your dream-body is too hurt, for you to properly understand why. Still, you can't help but feel this way.

Although, now that you think about it, you realize that…

…

You realize you can also feel something else.

…

No, you literally feel something. You are sure of it. This is not just some stray thought that came to your mind, this is not some trick that your tired brain is pulling on you. You can definitely feel something, and that sensation is coming from somewhere nearby.

And now that you think about it, you also realize you have no idea how to leave this place. You have no idea how to leave, and you have no idea how to Wake.

So, you decide to follow this strange sensation.

Hopefully, it will take you somewhere… better.

Although, you can't help but think that anywhere would be better than this place. So, on second thought, you just feel that this sensation will take you somewhere else.



- - -



It didn't take long for you to find it.

In fact, it only took you a few minutes. Or rather, given how time works differently here, you figure that it only took you a short while to get here.

You could have arrived here a little faster, if you really wanted to. However, you decided to take the longer way. You decided to walk around the hills, rather than climb them. And you did that for two reasons. One, because your legs are simply too tired for you to climb anything. And two… well, you don't really want to go anywhere that might give you a vantage point.

You don't really want to… confirm, with your own eyes, how far the fires truly reached.

After all, even though something inside of you tells you that the fires reached everything, and that the Woods are entirely gone, you don't… really… want to…

Well, you made your way around the hills, and you took the long way.

But again, you finally got here.

You feel a small wave of relief as you make your way around the last hill, and your eyes finally see something familiar.

In fact, you feel more than just relief. You actually feel a little glad. Because you aren't just looking at a familiar thing, you also realize that you are looking at a familiar pony.

Because the thing that you felt, that pulsing sensation that swept over you like a patient lighthouse, was nopony other than Baldomare herself.

And not just that, the Name-mare is completely untouched by the filthy ashes because she is sitting upon Mansus-stone. Baldomare, you realize, is sitting on the steps of the first staircase. She is sitting on that impossibly tall set of stairs that would take a pony from the Woods towards the Mansus.

She is, quite literally, waiting at the end of the first trial an adept would ever face.

And of course, she seems entirely unsurprised as she turns her face to look at you.

Several things come to your mind at the same time. After all, you can't help but realize this is the first time you are actually looking at Baldomare in the Mansus. That is, looking at her without the mind-dulling fog of the Blank Plains covering your senses. And you feel your mind freezing for a moment as you realize how bright she is, and how transparent your thoughts are to her.

You also realize that her expression is not judgmental, but that you can't feel any warmth from her either. Because she looked at you, just now, and apparently she saw everything she needed to see. After that, she does not give you any more attention than she is giving to the surrounding scenery.

And realizing that doesn't make you feel good. But it also doesn't make you feel bad either. It is not that she resents you, or that she is judging you. She just doesn't care. She already understands everything so there is no need for her to pay attention to you anymore.

She doesn't hate you, you know that for sure. She doesn't hate you, even though she knows far more than you do, and even though she can see everything around you with a clarity that you will never be able to understand. Despite all that, she still doesn't hate you.

And yet, she doesn't love you either.

Which does make you feel a little… lonely. Because you felt relieved when you saw her familiar face. But now, well, you don't feel as relieved as you felt before.

Still, you have nowhere else to go but towards her. Because you don't want to wander in this miserable desert of ash anymore. And you know how to Wake from the Blank Plains.

So, you make your way towards Baldomare, and the stairs.

And you practically collapse in front of her, just as you were about to reach the steps of Mansus-stone.

Your legs are too heavy, and you are too hurt and tired to continue. So, you fall down on the filthy ash, a few steps away from Baldomare. Heaving as you try to catch your breath.

After a few moments, you feel her gaze fall upon you once more. And you swear you can hear the sound of glass, or perhaps of horseshoes made out of glass, as she climbs down a few more steps towards you.

Still, she doesn't do anything else. She certainly doesn't move to touch you, or perhaps pick you up. And you don't really blame her for that.

Because you know that you are filthy. You know that the ashes that cover you are more than just dirty. And despite your exhaustion, you can understand why she doesn't try to get any closer to you than she already is.

However, she does reach out to you in… another way.

After all, she is a Name of Lantern, a pony made out of light and knowledge. So, even though she refuses to touch your body, you can still feel the consoling hoof she is placing on your shoulder when she reaches out to you with her voice.



"I always hated the Woods."



That is the first thing she tells you. Those are the first words that reach you. And her tone is so clear that it doesn't even hurt to understand her words.

In fact, there is something about her words that… you can't really explain it, but nothing about her words hurt.

Because everything else hurts. Everything else hurts so much that you almost couldn't notice it anymore. Moving hurts. Looking around you hurts. Thinking hurts.

But Baldomare's words, for some reason, don't hurt at all. As if your mind was a fragmented cluster of islands, but her words were forming bridges between them. As if your thoughts were the sharp remains of a shattered window, and her words were like glue that was patiently putting them back together.

Oh… oh heavens… it's not just that. Because now that you found something that doesn't hurt, now that you found this tiny oasis of sanity in the shape of her words… now you can see how truly broken you are.

You know none of this is real. You know this is just a dream, and that the thing you are looking at is just your dream body.

However… well, you are not doing well. Your dream-body, or perhaps your mind, or perhaps your soul… This vessel that you inhabit while in the Mansus is… definitely not well.

It is a small miracle that you managed to drag yourself here, you think.

Or maybe, you never really had a choice.

Still, there you can't get up anymore. Not yet. Not in this state. So, there is nothing you can do but wait as… well, as Baldomare shares her thoughts with you.

You can do nothing but wait, and hope, that her thoughts are enough to mend the damage you can now see.



"I always hated the Woods, and I think it was mutual. But it only makes sense, I suppose. I wanted to understand everything, and the Woods… well, its nature was to understand nothing at all, wasn't it?"



You stink. Your sense of smell returns to you, or perhaps if repaired, and you finally realize how much you stink.

It's the ash, you know. It's all this dust that infiltrated you all the way to the depths of your lungs. It stinks of sulfur, and of rot, and of the cremated bodies of all the things that once inhabited the Woods.

It stinks, and it is covering you from tail to snout.

And you hate it.



"However, for all that I hated the Woods, I never really resented it. After all, as the old saying went, in the forests of the first continent, our ancestors cursed themselves with their own god… Tell me, Velvet, do you know what that means? Or rather, do you know what that meant?"



Something inside of you snaps back into place, and you realize you can move your neck once again.

No, that's not exactly it. You could move before, and you certainly moved when you… made your way here. However, something just happened, and you can now move your neck in a way that isn't wrong.

So, despite your body's protests, you slowly move your face towards Baldomare, so you can at least face her as she speaks.

After all, she just asked you a question. You wouldn't be able to answer it even if you tried, of course. But still…

Well, you don't want to stay face-down, looking at all this dirty ash.



"You don't? Well, I am not surprised. It's a bit of an old saying, I suppose. And the meaning behind it is… well, I suppose it's a bit like being able to speak Vak nowadays. But I think I can explain it to you. So let me see… Ah, I know. Velvet, do you happen to know what an appendix is?"



Something else snaps inside of you, close to your stomach, but this time it is met by a sharp stab of resistance. And you don't feel like you regained anything that you lost. So, you stay where you are.

Although you try to at least tilt your head. To show her that you don't understand what she is asking, if nothing else.

Because an appendix… isn't that… isn't that a part of a book? You remember that word, from when you were… back in college, maybe?

It feels like a lifetime ago.

Still, maybe she can see it in your expression, or maybe she caught it from your fragmented thoughts. But you watch as Baldomare shakes her head in response.



"No, no, that's not it. Well, I figured you wouldn't know. You see, there are some animals… mostly omnivores, who veered too much into a diet of flesh and forgot how to eat certain plants. But still, some of those animals have this organ called an appendix. It is a… shriveled and useless cecum. An organ that is as good as a memory, or a dusty heirloom, that they still carry within them nonetheless."



To your surprise, you watch as Baldomare chuckles. As if she had just remembered a joke of sorts.

And her words, together with all her implications, cause a few more connections to form in your head. You think you can understand what she is saying a bit better.

But that only makes the biting responses, that come from the corners of your mind, more painful.



"It sounds funny, doesn't it? That a creature can have an organ that serves no purpose? Well, I've known a few ponies with brains that could be described that way. But still, that is not what I want to say."



She says that, and then she looks around her.

However, to your surprise, she doesn't have a neutral expression, as she gazes upon the endless fields of ash. She doesn't have a neutral expression, and she doesn't look disgusted either. Instead, her expression is almost nostalgic.

As if she could see something that you no longer can, all around you. As if the memories she has of the now-gone Woods are, somehow, even stronger than your own.

Well, it would be folly for you to say otherwise. After all, she has already explored more of the Mansus than you ever will, and has already reached higher than you ever could. So, for all that she said she hated the Woods… well, you have already learned that rivalry can also give way to companionship.



"So, to put it simply, that is what the Woods are, Velvet… well, actually, it is more accurate to say that is what the Woods were. Because long, long ago, they served an important function. Long ago, they were the bounds around the Mansus. That strange, not-place between the Wake and the house of the Sun. After all, back then, you could see the Mansus in the distant horizon, even while awake. And back then, the Woods could be reached by hoof as much as they could be braved in dreams."



Another snap, another jolt, and you feel that your front legs won't crumble into dust if you try to move them again.

So, you try to sit up. You try to raise yourself towards a posture that is less pathetic.

Even if only so you can look at Baldomare's expression better.

Because her expression is not neutral.

But it is also no longer nostalgic.



"But the Woods were more than just that, Velvet. They were more than just some distant boundary… Before that time, before even my time… the Woods were real. They were the forests of the first continent, when our kind was little more than animals. They were made of vibrant colors, under a glorious sun. And they became this dark, forbidding and shadowy place… when we made them that way."



You finally manage to sit up, somewhat. You finally manage to look at Baldomare with eyes that are less fogged and dull with pain.

And as you finally manage to piece together what she just told you, your expression is nothing but confused.



"In the forests of the first continent, our ancestors cursed themselves with their own god. But what is a god, Velvet? All Hours are gods, but not all gods are Hours. And a god, in truth, is a way to explain the world. A god, Velvet, is the name that we give to the things we don't understand, so that they might make sense. Something to explain why the rain falls, or why the harvest grows, or why thunder crashes during a storm."



She says that, Baldomare says those words, and as you think of the saying she mentioned… something inside of you clicks.

Something inside of you clicks, and you think you understand what she is telling you.



"When we lived in the Woods as simple, primitive denizens, the Woods were bright and welcoming because we did not fear it. We did not understand enough to fear it. But when we cursed ourselves with our own gods… when we started trying to understand things. That is when we stepped up from mere sentience to true sapience. And that is also when the Woods changed. Because the world belongs to Ponykind, Velvet. Never doubt that. So, when we… when stopped embracing the unknown, and finally began to fear it, that is when the unknown world stopped being bright and welcoming, and when it became dark and foreboding. That… was when the Woods became as we knew it."



Her words, you can tell, are sewing back together the torn patchwork that is your mind. And given her nature, Baldomare can't help but make you understand what she means, as she touches you with her mind.

So, you understand what she means. You understand the meaning behind her words.

Because from what she just told you, the Woods… well, the Woods were always there. But in that distant, faraway Era that preceded even hers, the Woods were different. The Woods were different because ponies were different. And the world was as simple and as welcoming as your kind thought it was.

However, when ponies finally understood enough to… to understand the very concept of the unknown, then the Woods changed. The unknown world around them became a threat. The shadows of the night became the potential lair of predators, and the things that ponies did not understand became a cause for fear rather than astonished wonder.

So, when ponies finally learned to be afraid of the dark, the Woods came to embody exactly that. And everything that was unknown, everything that did not yet have a name or a form, became a denizen of the Woods.

And that is why… the nature of the Woods, and the nature of Moth, is to understand nothing. Because once something is understood, once something is known and named, it steps out of the unknown. Once something becomes known, it steps out of the Woods.



"So, like I said, I never really resented the Woods. Because even though I hated it, it was still a part of us. It was a part of our world. Of our very history as a species. Because when Ponykind became afraid of the dark, that wasn't something that crippled our ancestors. In fact, the opposite happened. Our fear of the dark was what gave us the drive to fight against it. It motivated ponies to name things so we could understand them. It inspired us to master the flames, and everything that came after. It is written in the very Lores, Velvet. The unknown of Moth is tamed by the knowledge of Lantern. The light of Lantern inspires us towards the creations of Forge. Ignorance, which becomes knowledge, which becomes innovation. And so on."



Baldomare says that, and you think that… you think you finally understand.

You think you understand where she is going. You think you understand what the purpose of the Woods is… or what it was.

And for a moment, you are filled with revulsion over what you did. Well, right now your mind is filled with negative things, but for a moment the feeling of revulsion comes to the fore.

However, you can't help but remember something else Baldomare said. Because despite everything she just told you, she also mentioned that the Woods were like… an old organ. Something that was still there, but that was no longer needed.

Although, for all that you think you just remembered that, maybe it was Baldomare who guided your thoughts there. The same way she is now closing the last few gaping holes in your mind, or perhaps in your soul.

And maybe as if to confirm your suspicions, the Name-mare gives you a small nod before she says her next words.



"So, you must be wondering… what did we lose today? How will this impact the world? Well… I don't think this will impact the Wake at all, Velvet. This place… it was an appendix. An old and shriveled thing that we, as a species, outgrew Eras ago. Something we had little need for, even in my time. In fact, I think the only thing that will change is that, from now on, no foal will ever be afraid of the dark again."



You hear that, and you feel a sigh of relief forming inside your parched, dust coated throat.

However, before you can express any kind of comfort towards her words, Baldomare raises a hoof to stop you.

And whatever expression she had on her face once again turns neutral.

Because, as she finishes fixing the harm you did to yourself, you are suddenly reminded of something else about Baldomare.

So, for all that good Baldomare was considerate towards you, and for all that she told you the things she knew you needed to hear… You also understand that she is bound to tell you everything else.

Because Baldomare is, above all else, a creature made out of knowledge.

And knowledge is never kind.



"Or that is what I would say, if the Woods had turned into dust all by themselves thanks to nothing but the passage of time. But that's not what happened, was it? Of course it wasn't. After all… you brought the Wolf into this."



She says that, and you begin to hear something.

You begin to hear something, coming from somewhere behind you.

There is something coming your way. Something that you wouldn't be able to see even if you were to turn around and look for it.

Something that is leaving pawprints on the dirty ash, as it stalks and then treks and then rushes towards you.



"So, one final question for you, Velvet. One that I think you already know the answer to, but that I won't tell you just in case. Ever since we became a civilization, we had a spark inside of us. A will to create, and invent, and grow, which was motivated by our fear of the dark. We mastered the light of progress, so to speak, to fight the darkness of the Woods. Don't worry, Velvet, your actions today did not snuff out that light. But… if the light of Ponykind is no longer pushing back against the darkness of the Woods… then what fear exactly will the light of progress be fighting against? What sort of fear will fill the mind of our scientists? What nightmares will curse our inventors, to shake them out of their beds and towards their workshops?"



It is getting closer.

You want to move. You need to move. But your legs might as well be made of lead right now, and now that Baldomare let go of your bruised mind, your very thoughts feel sluggish.

And it is getting closer.

You want to speak up. To scream. To ask or beg for her help, even though you know she will not do anything. Because even if you were able to lift a single foreleg right now, you know she would never touch your filthy, ash-covered hoof to pull you towards safety.

Perhaps, because she knows you are not truly in danger.

Even though you both know it will hurt anyways.



"Well, it won't be the gentle darkness that will spur us onwards. Not anymore. But… what do you think will take its place? And why do you think that, whatever it is, it will have oh so many teeth?"



You make one final, desperate effort to move towards the safety of the Mansus-stone. But the only thing your exhausted body manages to do is trip forward, falling face-first into the bitter ash.

And the last thing you see is the answer to Baldomare's question as it jumps towards you wi-



- - -



You are drowning.

That is the first thing you realize. You are drowning. You are literally drowning in cold water, and there is a pair of hoofs holding you by the shoulders, keeping your body under the waterline.

You are not entirely sure of what happens next. For a moment, your horn is flaring up, you are screaming and kicking, and after a few moments you heave yourself out of the water.

Your thoughts are all over the places. Because even though none of it was real, the memories of everything that just happened are still fresh in your mind. With all the pain and the bitterness and the agonyandthefilthandtheashand-



"Mrs. Velvet! It's alright! Everything is alright, so please calm down!"



But suddenly, all those thoughts come to a halt, and you feel a familiar pair of forelegs surrounding you. For a fraction of a moment, you think you are being attacked. But only until another part of your mind, one that holds a greater sway over you, takes over and tells you that you know this feeling.

You are being hugged. You are being hugged by a pony that you love.

And slowly, terribly slowly, everything begins to fall back into place.

The first thing that comes back to your is your sense of touch. Because if that hug was the first thing you noticed, then the things around that hug came next. So, you realize that you are heaving in panic, but only because those forelegs are wrapped around your chest. Then, you realize you are shaking and crying, but only because her face is pressed against yours.

And then you realize that… that you are cold, and that you are wet, and that you are tired…

But you also realize that you are not in pain.



"Shh, shh, that's it, Mrs. Velvet, everything is alright… I promise…"



Yes, you are not in pain… You can see more than just red and black, and you are not covered in viscous fire, and you are not in the aftermath of something you will regret for the rest of your life.

None of that matters right now.

All that matters is that you are here, and that she is here with you.

"S-soft…?" you say, your words coming out in a wet croak. But you can't say anything else, because soon after your sobs catch up to you, and your lungs seize as even more tears begin to fall from your eyes.

"Yes, I'm here, you're fine, everything is fine," she says.

You are too confused to even register that her voice is actually relieved. You are too dazed to even notice that she sounds scared, and that she clearly had no idea of what she was doing until now. But that she is thankful that it worked, nonetheless.

You are too… your thoughts are… your mind is still reeling too much for you to think about any of that. So, instead, you just raise your shaking forelegs and hug her back.

It takes you a few moments, maybe even a full minute, to realize that your hoofs are… covered in wet ash. It takes you even longer to realize that you are, well, inside the bathroom of the guest room where you barricaded yourself, and that the bathtub right next to you is half-full of steaming water, and covered in ashes.

And it takes you even longer for you to calm down, and for Soft Sweeps to finally tell you that… well, she doesn't tell you why she came here, or how she found you. But she tells you that she found you covered in steaming ash, and that it was all she could do to try and help you. Neither of you got hurt or burned, somehow, but she still tells you that the water turned into steam the moment it touched you, and that you evaporated more than half of the cold bathtub before you finally began to show signs of conscience.

…

In the end, you decide not to dwell on it.

You are safe, now. Your daughter helped you, or maybe even saved you. And for all that neither of you understand exactly what just happened, you are both glad that you are safe.

And given everything that just happened, you think that is the best you could possibly ask for.

So, you go back to her room, the two of you spend hours washing away the burning smell from your body, and you get ready just in time for the morning of the coming wedding.

And in the end, after you are over the shock, you realize that… that nopony noticed anything at all. Your husband did not suspect anything, no guards noticed your movements, and even Rarity couldn't smell a single whiff of burning ash about you.

The only ponies who will ever know what happened will be you and one of your daughters.

The rest of Ponykind will only ever be able to… suspect.

But that is a price you are willing to pay.

And more importantly, right now you have a friend to marry.





A Royal Wedding, filled with Love and untainted by any evil, to follow.

 

[Shaper47]

The Fate of Selene​

You are Selene, and right now you are with Mrs. Velvet.

You are currently right between her forelegs, being pressed against her chest. You enjoy the feeling, that special warmth mixed with a small bit of nice perfume.

It is night and you can't see the moon from the darkness of Mrs. Velvet's room. The room in which she has taken you to be sleeping with her tonight.

Your eyes close and you begin to be lulled to sleep.

Your fur is cut, sniped by what were once horseshoes, and you are grabbed by a dark shadow as a secret is whispered into your ears.

---

You are awake and you are dreaming.

You are in the dark, you are in the shadows cast by the Woods.

You see pitch-black leaves attached to black trees with the faint moonlight above only casting shadows that leaves things more in darkness.

You do not know the moon that shines down on these Woods.

You...

You are not alone.

SNAP

---

---

---

You are being carried, you feel soft fur underneath your hooves as rest on the back of the creature carrying you.

"Welcome to my dreams Selene."

You hear a voice, you know that voice, you have always known that voice from the very moment you...

You feel black leave tickle your coat as Mrs. Velvet pushes herself though the thick bushes.

You remain silent as she senses your confusion and explains to you where you are, as she shares the dark secret she whispers into your ears.

"We are in the Woods."

"In the first forest. In the first continent. Where the first ponies walked. Where they had no maps, for there was nothing to be mapped. Where they had no tools, for there was nothing to be built. Where there was no "self", for there was nothing to do but live, and die. Where ponies remained before they learned the secrets of fire and words. Before ponykind cursed itself with its own God."

You see a light that shines forth in the darkness.

You see a light that bleeds the shadows.

You see black dirt give way to shining water.

You know that light.

Of course you know it. It is your duty to make that light shine brighter and brighter.

And you forfilled that duty. You made sure that the lights gathered together and they shined most brightly together.

Till it was bright enough to call the one who...

...

It was your duty.

Not is.

Not anymore.​

She heads towards the bleeding familiar light, hoofs soft on the branching roots.

She walks though the shadows and leaves black dirt and shadowed roots for black stone.

She walks upon the shadowed bridge and stops halfway.

You can see the light ahead, shining in the form of mist that radiates light.

You can see the shadows behind you, a darkness you can not see though, a darkness in which one is lost.

You can see her by your side.

You can see the kindness in her eyes.

You can see the love in her eyes.

You can see the fear in her eyes.

"It's time for me to share a secret with you Selene. It is a heavy burden, the truth, and if after hearing it if you do not wish to bear it I will take it from you. For there is mercy in the shadows, and in the shadows you will forget."

She places her hoof on your shoulder comforting you.

"Ahead of us lies the dream lands, behind us lies the Woods. But they are tiny matters compared to what lives within you."

And so she tells you the truth, the illuminating merciless truth.

She tells you of the House of the Sun. Of the Gods that once ruled the world, of the Gods who the nature of ponykind is tied to. Of the Gods ponykind had, for they are gone now. Dead or crippled and the Mansus, the reflection of ponykind broken and in ruins.

She tells you of the lores. The secrets she has been whispering into your ears, the teachings that have given you strength.

"The lores make up the mansus, the principles of natural laws. The Hours, the Gods of ponykind reflected and created the lores. The mansus is a reflection of the wake, just as the wake is a reflection of the mansus."

She tells you of how the Hours that equalled, these principles of the world, the divine representations of the lores have fallen.

"The well is dry. The Grail is drained. The Sun is divided. And I suspect that the edge is dulled"

She tells you of Harmony, what little she knows. The force that has usurped the wake, that has taken control of ponykind. She tells you of it's opposition to the lores and the light it forces ponykind to shine, the fire of magic that serves as a beacon.

"In truth I know little of Harmony. In fact I know almost nothing. All I know is a few things of what it has done and my suspicions on it's actions"

"It is possible to subvert a lore and to change its nature. Lantern is subverted by Forge, Forge is subverted by Edge, Edge is subverted by Winter, Winter is subverted by Heart, Heart is subverted by Grail, Grail is subverted by Moth, Moth is subverted by Lantern and Knock subverts all while Secret Histories is subverted by all. Moth was a created by changing Heart while Forge was created via a change of Flint."

"I thus suspect that Harmony's opposition to the lores is born of its attempted subversion of them. The Elements of Harmony that now hold dominion over the Wake represent the new principles of the Wake. Laughter subverts heart, Love subverts grail, Kindness subverts winter, Honesty subverts lantern, loyalty subverts edge while Magic subverts forge."

"An example of Harmony's subversion would be Cutie marks. Cutie marks cover the natural affinities ponies have to the lores. Originally the Cutie marks were a symbol of rebirth, done though the passing of the Door of Want in order to be Branded with a principle of lore. A symbol of the lores, of the mansus. Now they are a symbol of Harmony's dominance over the Wake."

"Harmony tries to prevent the influence of the Hours, of the lores from entering the wake, and crippled as the Mansus is it has had some successes. Indeed I suspect it is only due to how dead some of the Hours are that their lores could be subverted. Which would explain why there's six elements of Harmony for the nine lores."

"Of Harmonies grand plan, I do not know the details but I do know of part of the effects. The dreamlands shine with light, brightened with the cutie mark of every pony that remains under its influence. Even now the dreamlands try to devour the Woods, the core nature of ponykind that remains in darkness in order to shine all the brighter."

"For all the similarities between the both the lores and the Elements of Harmony acting as principals of the world there is a major difference. The Hours represent the lores they embody. Harmony given what is known of it does not represent its Elements unfortunately."

Mrs Velvet sighs, the faintest hints of sadness and irritation in her voice.

"Long have the lores been kept secret, the worms kept secret. A lie that how things really are is that ponies exist in a peaceful land of magic and harmony. A lie that ingores the dangers in Equestria. Lies that reveal that Harmony does not represent its Element of Honesty."

"This wake that we live in has been shaped by the Elements of Harmony. It's a good world for ponies, a bright world where the sun rises and sets each day. A kinder world."

"If only Harmony would be as kind."

She tells you of the Outside. Of what comes from there. Of what Harmony, of what the lights its kind world calls from there.

"Beyond existence is Nowhere. Nowhere is very cold. Nowhere is lit by lamps of black nephrite."

"From Nowhere come cruel shadows that creep through the hinges of reality."

You know of them.
​

"They are called Worms."

You know of their touch.
​

"And if they have their way all will be dying but never dead. Suffering that will never end as they feast."

You know of their goal.​

"Even now they crawl though the dreamlands called by the light of the cutie marked doors."

"Then there are others that come from Nowhere. They are known as Outsiders."

"There is the Outsider Discord. The cruel god the inflicted great suffering upon ponykind long ago."

Wrenched scum, he has our ira.​

"Then is an Outsider that sought entry into this world and was granted it by a pact with Harmony. And Harmony in a repetition of that most abominable of fates divided the Outsider."

You remember your other half.​

"Obeying the laws of entrance by birth, and of departure by death. The divided Outsider was born by a mare in the form of two sisters."

Tia.​

"We know them as the Princess of Sun and Moon, the first Alicorns."

One to rule and one to watch​

She tells you of how she knows this. She tells you of a group who learned of the lores, who sat at the feet of a Mentor exalted in the lores and greatest in Moth, a being of the Woods. She tells you of their concerns over the Alicorns efforts in the service of Harmony that left the doors to Equestria are wide open so that any being or Outsider could just barge into it as it sees fit. That attracted by the fires of Harmony and magic, cruel shadows that creep through the hinges of reality would come The Worms. Of their shared desire and of the Mentors duty to protect the world. So when the Princess of the Moon returned to enflame the lights but still scarred from the nightmare she acted.

You remember she took the form of your sister.​

She tells you have how they broke down the seals upon Luna's memory. Of how they found out the truth. That Luna and Celestia had been working to ensure that the lights shown brighter, that the lights called for the Worms, and that Luna did not know of the Worms. That it was Luna's ignorance that lead to her being Worm-Consumed over a thousand years ago intill Harmony freed her and sealed the memories and the truth of the Worms away from her.

"The merciless truth was to much for Luna. A thousand years of torture left scars Harmony did not heal. And in the end knowledge of what happened and what she had done broke Luna."

She looks at you and as she does a voice deep from inside you seems to grow louder


Because your mind was ready.

Your body was once again in its correct form.

And you remembered the knowledge you contain.

And you had the strength to continue.

And you already knew the answer deep inside you just needed her to illuminate it for you.

"And so Luna fell asleep and the dream we call Selene came into being."

Mrs. Velvet looks at you with those loving kind eyes and what she says next shocks you.

"Now it's time for you Selene to decide what happens next."

You begin to speak your will when​

A hoof reaches over and delicately holds your chin. The hoof tilts you chin up till your eyes meet shadowed loving eyes.

"The choice of what happens to you now is yours Selene."

A voice inside your head is trying to tell you to stop looking into her eyes. But as you look into her eyes that voice gets smaller and smaller, till you can't hear it at all. As if it is smothered in shadows unable to effect you at all.

"And yours alone."

Mrs. Velvet turns your head towards the dreamlands. The home of Luna, where the door awaits that holds Luna's sleeping form. The bright shinning welcoming dreamlands. With the scuttering worms.

"You can choose to wake up. To no longer be Selene and be Luna once more. But remember every dream ends when the dreamer wakes, and it would mean the end of the dream called Selene. I don't know what memories and emotions of Selene Luna will remember and keep. Perhaps you will remember us, your family or perhaps you will forget."

"The lessons I have given you will remain. The knowledge of the lores shall help you. It's part of you now."

"Stormchaser disapproves of course. He wants you to keep being his daughter. He wants to keeps supporting and loving you as your father. He does however understand."

"To me you will always be my daughter and I will keep loving you."

Mrs. Velvet turns your head behind you to the Woods you were just within. The Woods are dark, the shadows long, and yet... You feel a sense of belonging, like a comfortable home waiting for you where you will be safe.

"There is mercy in the shadows and in the shadows you can remain. I can smother the echos of Luna within you in darkness and ensure you remain Selene. You will not remember this conversation. This pleasant life, this joyful dream can continue."

"You can just be a filly. You can continue to have Silky as your sister. You can continue to have Soft Sweeps as your sister. You can continue to have Stormchaser as your father. You can continue to have me as your mother. You can continue to have, to be a part of this loving family of ours."

"Days of fun will continue day after day. You need not bear the weight of the world on your shoulders. You will be free to enjoy this carefree innocent life, you will be loved and be supported by your family."

She turns your head towards her.

"Or you can choose to have both. To wake up while remaining Selene."

"If you ask it of me I will burn the truth of my love upon the world and it will remain forever as a scar upon reality. As a wound leaves a scar. A door that once opened shall never be closed. A path that once we start walking we can never step off."

"A truth that you are Selene and you are loved. And this shall be the truth that can not be denied. And if this is a world that will not let us have what you desire, to be awake and be Selene. Then it will be the world that bends and breaks, not my will. Not my love."

"I will go to where Luna sleeps and I will slay her with the power of my love. I will regret strangling Luna in her cradle, ensuring she will never wake but I will not regret loving you Selene. No matter what."

"A part of me will be in you making us mother and daughter forever. And that part, that thing born of love will hurt. Because sometimes, loving something means being willing to be hurt for it or even hurt by it. Because this love that we will share is worth getting hurt for. And so the dream that is Selene shall become the nightmare that is Selene

She hugs you then and as you enjoy her warm loving embrace and try and decide.

The Shinning Bright dreamlands, where Luna sleeps. Shall you be more then you are?

The dark woods, and the family that is waiting for you. Shall these wonderful days continue?

Or the mare by your side, the mare who's embrace you enjoy, the mare who you have never called mother. Shall you finally call her mother?

The choice is yours and yours alone.

[] "The Velvet's answer is No, and that is always her answer."
There is mercy in the shadows and in the shadows you shall remain.

-You will not remember this conversation, you will not be burdened by the merciless truth, you will remain Selene.
-You will continue to enjoy this carefree innocent life, you will be loved and be supported by your family, Velvet Covers, Silky Stream, Stormchaser and Soft Sweeps.
-Perhaps when you begin to grow you might journey to get a Brand and live your life as a pony like any other
-You will not grow further in the lores

-Stormchaser strongly supports this option
-Luna strongly disapproves of this option
-Velvet Covers will support and love you and you will return that love


[] "Clotho colum retinet, Lachesis net, et Atropos occat"
Every dream ends when the dreamer wakes. You will die, forget the dream, and awake under the morning sun. You will be freed from this claustrophobic life called Selene.

-So ends the life called Selene.
-Selene will pick the ritual used to awaken Luna
--"The Incision of the Heart" - Permanently removes any mind-affecting malus
--The Rite of the Mother and the Father - "It is time to wake up."
---"They know they will never see her again."
-Luna will awaken healed of the Scars of the Nightmare and remembering all that was done to her while she was Luna
-Luna shall retain all the lore levels of Selene and can improve herself in the lores should she find the sources to do so
-Luna's awakening shall have the positive modifiers "A Calm Awakening" and "A Pleasant Dream"
-You do not know how much of the memories of Selene Luna will remember
-You do not know how much of the emotions of Selene Luna will keep
-It shall be the end of the dream called Selene
-Luna as the Princess of dreams may in time come to remember more over the years
-Should it be that Luna decides to inform Celestia of the lores (dependent on memories and emotions kept (mainly emotions) Velvet Covers will not survive
--Should Velvet Convers end due to this the following consequences shall unfold
---Silky Stream, Stormchaser, Rarity, Fluttershy and Jade will be devastated
---Mareinette shall be unbound upon the Wake
---Soft Sweeps shall pick up the torch and the fire inside of her shall burn with her hate for Celestia
---Other predictable consequences

-Stormchaser strongly disapproves of this option
-- He wishes to keep being a father for his daughter
-Luna strongly supports this option
-Velvet Covers will support and love you but shall you return that love?

[] "Wolf thy name is Selene"
"I will cast a shadow upon my kingdom of dreams snaring with cords into a land of thick darkness, as darkness itself, where in that darkness the lights will dim."

-You will remain Selene, you will always remain Selene, you will love her and she will love you, you will always be her daughter, and she will always be your Mother. By the black fire you both share, if not by blood.
-Velvet Covers will slay Luna in her sleep with the double edged blade known as love, she will regret strangling Luna in her cradle (this is a [REGRETTABLE ACTION] by Velvet Covers),
-Velvet Covers will not regret loving Selene
-Your bond of love with Velvet Covers will always remain no matter what happens
-The malus 'unquiet sleep' will effect all those who dream in Equestria
-The dreamlands shall be placed in darkness and thus their attraction of the worms shall have the malus 'shrouded in darkness'
-Upon awakening you shall remember all the memories of Luna and Selene while remaining Selene
-Upon awakening you shall keep all the emotions of Selene
-You will retain all your lore levels and can improve them further
-You will receive an offer for an invitation for your Winter and Edge Sacrament, the price has already been paid
-The black fire that has consumed you does not bear interlopers, you gain protection against being worm-consumed
-The dream that was Selene shall become the nightmare that is Selene
-You will never be alone

-Stormchaser does not know of this option
-Luna is terrified of this option but respects it, for she can not scorn one for embracing love, for reaching back out to what reached out to you.
-Velvet Covers will support and love you and you will embrace that love, for with your Mothers love all things you can endure
-Soft Sweeps approves of this action

 

[Gyldir]

Example: [b][COLOR=#fef809]Colorcodes[/COLOR][/b] gives Colorcodes
The Lores

Color	ColorValue
KNOCK	8000ff
LANTERN	fef809
FORGE	f78000
EDGE	b3b300
WINTER	08fbff
HEART	fc9997
GRAIL	fe020e
MOTH	7b8080
SECRET HISTORIES	f700ff

Other Mansus related

Color	ColorValue
WOLF DIVIDED	630000
Worms	0a0103

The ponies

Color	ColorValue
Luna	0000ff

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You breathe in…

And you breathe out…

You breathe in…



"Sweetheart is everything alr-?"



You quickly raise a hoof, stopping Stormchaser mid-sentence.

Thankfully, your dear husband complies. And your ears pick up the vague sounds of him doing… something else, behind you. You are not sure what, but it doesn't really matter right now.

The only thing that matters is that you keep looking into your own eyes, as you face the mirror. Until finally…

You breathe out once again.

You are Velvet Covers, and right now you are doing several things at the same time.

It might not look like that to your husband, of course. After all, as far as he can tell you are just sitting on the cushioned chair, staring intently at the large mirror you have in the castle guest room you two have been occupying.

In fact, to anypony in the Wake, it might as well look like you are just wasting your time. After all, you have a thousand things to do today, and staring at your reflection is definitely not one of them.

However, none of that could be further from the truth. Because inside your mind, you are doing several things. All of them important. Nay, all of them crucial to the hours to come.

Because although almost everypony in the Royal Castle just woke up from a peaceful night of sleep, your night was… a little more eventful than usual.

But you don't want to think about it right now. You can't think about it right now. In fact, that's the whole point. That is one of the things you are working on right now.

You are working on forgetting what needs to be forgotten.

You are working on calming down what needs to be calmed.

You are working on accepting that what is done is done.

And slowly… achingly slowly… you are working on stoking an entirely different flame inside of you.



"Today is the day…"



You start whispering to yourself. You start whispering those words to yourself over and over. As you shift the gears inside your head towards what really matters right now.

"Today is the day…"

"Today is the day…"

"Today. Is. The. Day…"

You say those words, again and again. A mumble that turns into a whisper that turns into a mantra that turns into a prayer. You keep saying those words, and like a self-fulfilling prophecy you can almost feel your energy returning to you.



"Sweetheart? Did you… did you just say something?"



You hear Stormchaser say that, from somewhere behind you. But almost at the same time your other senses return to you.

You can sense your husband behind you. And like an expanding web, you slowly begin to sense everypony else.

You feel your daughters clashing against each other, as Soft Sweeps struggles to make three excited fillies wear their dresses.

You smell the scent of a hundred ponies, be they servants or guards or the countless hoofs involved in the coming event, coming and going in all directions. A crescendo of activity that feels like the beginning of an orchestra's presentation.

All of those things, and so much more, come to you in growing waves. Until every other thought you had in your head is pushed away, giving place to the once in a lifetime event that is about to take place.

"Today is the day…!" you say once again. No, you practically hiss those words.

The fur on your coat stands up.



"Sweet… sweetheart? I-is everything alright?!"



You hear your dear Stormchaser's words coming from behind you.

You can tell from his voice that he is looking at you.

You can tell that he is afraid.

Good.

Because he is not speaking to Velvet Covers anymore.

Instead, he stands before the Mare of Honor of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!

And you answer him with the battlecry that had been building up inside of you this entire time.

"TODAY IS THE DAY A PRINCESS GETS MARRIED!" ​

Stormchaser falls to the ground, stunned.

No, it's not just him. Everypony falls to the ground. Every last pony in the Royal Castle feels that something just happened, even though almost none of them heard your voice.

Still, the effect is instant. As if the maestro had just stepped onto the podium, or as if a whip had just lashed the collective backs of everypony involved, the entire Royal Castle is suddenly abuzz with frenzied activity. You can feel it.

They all felt it. They all know that something just stirred. And that if even a single thing goes wrong from now until the end of the day, they will rue the day that they ever failed the Princess' Mare of Honor.

"RARITY!" you yell towards the door, marching past your still-disoriented husband. And even though the unicorn's guest room was several doors away from your own, you can hear the sound of Rarity galloping towards you moments later. Your door being swung open a few seconds after that.

"Yes, my Lady?!" Rarity says, as she all but bursts through your door. Her expression as fiery and determined as your own.

"Attend me at once! We must begin checking on the preparations immediately, and I will not have anypony else prepare my mane!" you say, to which the mare immediately complies.

And moments later, the two of you are preparing for the greatest day of your lives.

Completely ignoring your poor Stormchaser, who only shakes off his confusion after the two of you are gone.

And when he realizes he is still alone in your guest room, still halfway through putting on his suit, he can only shake his head as he gets ready to… find out wherever you are.

"Mares…" he whispers to himself, as his mind finally stops spinning after… whatever the Tartarus his wife just did to him. To him, and probably to the rest of Canterlot, knowing how she is.

Still, he also couldn't help but share in the excitement, as it begins to dawn on him exactly what was about to happen.



- - -



Hours pass. Morning turns into afternoon, and the sun begins its slow descent towards the west after reaching its zenith.

Throughout that entire time, you make sure everything runs smoothly. But eventually, and inevitably, there is nothing left to do but allow all the pieces to fall into place. At some point, Rarity takes her leave to go to Cadance's apartment, to help the Princess garb herself in her magnum opus. And there is nothing left for you to do but hound the venue itself, searching for flaws or problems that simply do not exist.

That is, until the gates are open, the crowds of visitors are let in, and your husband finds you.

After that, there is nothing you can do but wait. There is nothing anypony can do but wait.



And finally, the hour arrives.



You are currently in the largest park of Canterlot. A great stretch of green and colorful trees, with marble walkways and silvery fountains, located in the central district of the capital. Cadance had considered holding the ceremony in the Royal Castle, but very quickly decided that she would rather have something more public, and in a place where more ponies could be present.

Of course, that doesn't mean the park is any less presentable that the Royal Castle itself. You, and everypony involved, made sure of that. And you can see the fruit of those efforts all around you. The fountains are polished to a mirror sheen, the bridges that arch over the meltwater rivers have all been renovated, and thanks to the wonders of weather control all the plants are literally in a full spring bloom.

It's strange to think that just one week ago this park was undergoing a localized winter. But after you witnessed a full row of flowers bloom right before your eyes, just a few minutes ago, you can confidently say that the pegasi knew exactly what they were doing.

Still, although the ceremony itself will "officially" take place within the park, that doesn't mean the celebration will be contained within its grassy limits.

After all, another decision Cadance made early on was that she wanted no barriers around the park. No cordons, no walls, nothing. Of course, you eventually convinced her that some degree of safety would be required, otherwise the invitation list she worked so hard on would become obsolete. But still, even after she agreed to a… "perimeter" of Royal Guards, she still made it very clear that she wanted the ceremony to be as visible and public as possible.

The logical part of you thought it was because she wanted to uplift the spirits of ponykind as much as possible, and making a show like that would certainly help. But whenever you looked into her eyes, you couldn't shake the feeling that… well, that she just wanted as many ponies to be able to hear her when she finally yelled how much she loves Shining Armor.

You have already learned that Cadance is just like that, sometimes.

Regardless, the time has come, everything is in place, the large crowd of guests is seated on rows upon rows of polished benches, and the ceremony is about to begin.

You can't help but feel a chill run through your spine, as you count down the second. Because what if something goes wrong? What if, somehow, everything you all worked so hard on turns out not to be enough?

What if today just isn't special enough?

After all, so many things didn't go as planned… Twilight Sparkle never appeared, despite having received an invitation. Princess Celestia, also, was meant to be the one officiating the ceremony, but she never even answered, and Fair Trial is standing in her place at the altar. More than that, you could make a very, very long list of all the little compromises and alterations that needed to be made, as the event took shape. All the small "can't"s and "won't"s that built up as the days went by.

What if a group of disgruntled nobles, be they guests or not, try to make a scene? What if something worse happens?

You feel a chill run through your spine, as all those thoughts rush into your head at once.

But before you can address any of them-

!!!


!!!


!!!

​

-the great clock tower of the distant Royal Castle strikes three in the afternoon, with the orchestra picking up right after.

And as Cadance steps hoof on the marble walkway that leads to the altar, all your concerns immediately vanish.



- - -



You always thought a marriage was just a ceremony.

You always thought that, when it really came down to it, a marriage was just a sequence of events. Pony walks towards the altar, ponies say a few words, ponies kiss, and that's it.

That's how your marriage felt like, at least. And that is also how every marriage you ever read about felt like. Well, they felt like that, and they also felt like a reason to have a party.

But today, you finally realize how wrong you were. Or maybe how right you were, when it comes to every other marriage.

Because… because what happened today, it didn't feel like "a" marriage.

What you just saw, what you just witnessed, felt like "the" marriage.

You feel like every other marriage, in the history of ponykind, was a rehearsal for this. As if every groom and bride that ever existed in pony history were just practicing, or perhaps serving as test subjects, for what happened today.

You also feel like every marriage that will happen in the future will try to imitate what happened today.

And yet, for some maddening, unexplainable reason, that doesn't feel like a bad thing.

Because it is impossible to look at what happened today and feel anything but pride and inspiration. As if ponykind had just been introduced to the sun, so now they know how light is meant to look like. As if you had just witnessed something perfect, so now you know what path you should take towards it.



And that was all thanks to Cadance herself.



It was all thanks to Cadance. It was all her, and nothing else. Not the venue, or the park, or the flowers… it wasn't the smiling crowd, or the beautiful music of the orchestra, or anything else you could point to. Because although all the preparations that were made helped the ceremony be excellent, it wasn't any of those things that turned it into the perfect event.

Oh, no. What made today perfect was Cadance herself.

She almost seemed to glow, as she made her way through the marble path. In fact, you could swear that she was glowing, every now and then. And everything about her dress, from the long and translucent pink-and-gold skirt that covered her tail, to the crystal laurels she had upon her head, seemed to amplify that effect.

You could almost feel something radiating from her. Not an oppressive presence that would weigh you down into bowing, but instead a soothing presence that filled your heart with joy and love. As if Cadance herself was a cup that was overflowing, and everypony around her was being bathed with what she was feeling inside of her.

To the point that you only realized you were crying when you let out a wet chuckle, when the ringbearers made their way towards the altar.

Of course, the trio of ringbearers were chosen exclusively because Cadance insisted on there being one for each pony race. And since choosing fillies from one or another noble family could have caused political problems, Cadance made the hard decision of choosing those three fillies based on her own arbitrary criteria.

The fact that the three ringbearers ended up being your two earth-pony and pegasus daughters, and the unicorn younger sister of your best friend, is entirely coincidental.

Still, vows were exchanged, despite the how the groom stayed silent for several seconds until he realized he was supposed to speak. And then rings were placed onto horns.

And finally-



"By the powers vested in me, and before all of Equestria, I now declare you husband and wife."



-the soft overflowing joy coming from Cadance turned into a deluge when Fair Trial finally declared them wedded.

And you were honestly surprised at how much restraint the Princess showed, when she only gave Shining Armor what must have been the deepest kiss you have ever seen in your life.



- - -



"Are you sure mom's gonna be fine?" Silky asks. Although thankfully, her tone is more curious than worried.

Because sure, she just saw you bawling your eyes out a few minutes ago. But nopony would be able to miss that you were also laughing. And heavens, you definitely aren't the only pony that is still holding a tissue right now.

"She will, I promise. Now get a move on, Silky, otherwise the dessert table might get cleaned up!" Soft Sweeps says.

And her words seems to have the desired effect, because moments later your daughter's eyes go wide open, and she is galloping walking as fast as she can towards the lavishly stocked food tables. Dragging Selene by the hoof without even thinking about it.

Of course, the ceremony ended just a few minutes ago, and the celebratory part of the afternoon just started, so you know Soft's suggestion was just a way to make the fillies go away.

Still, you appreciate her giving you a little more room to breathe.

Because, well… you are still a bit emotional.

"Still, are you really alright, Mrs. Velvet?" Soft asks, turning to you right after.

And you answer her with a weak, teary-eyed nod.

"I'm fine, Softy. But thank you though," you say, wiping a few more tears from your face.

Because by Equestria, everything around you is making you emotional, no matter where you look. The sight of your two younger daughters in their pure-white ringbearer dresses, laced with ribbons of gold and green. The gorgeous figure of Softy, who you just realized you had never seen in a dress that wasn't a maid uniform. The smiling crowd all around you, cheerful and bright and actually pleasant despite almost every one of them being nobles.

Heavens, even the music is making you tear up a bit. The fact that every now and then a salvo of fireworks, from the celebrations in the surrounding city, drown out the sound for a few seconds isn't even diminishing from that.

"It's just that… it's just that I'm so happy, Soft. It feels like everything worked," you say, to which the young mare answers with an agreeing nod. "More than that. It feels like everything turned out better than expected and… I'm sorry, I'm just rambling."

"Oh, no, it's alright Mrs. Velvet! I… I definitely agree. Looking at the Princess during the ceremony definitely made me feel…"

She trails off, but you are too busy blinking your tears away to look at her expression.

Still, you understand what she means.

"Well, I don't think the crowd around Cadance will disperse anytime soon," you say, looking towards the altar where… well, where Cadance, Shining, and Fair Trial are still completely surrounded by a small legion of guests. All of them eager to speak to the newlyweds, for obvious reasons. "And the celebrations will certainly go well into the night… Say, did you see where Stormy went, Soft?"

You say that as you look around, searching for your missing husband. He left your side as soon as the ceremony was over. But the sudden cheers (and your own "bawling your eyes out" predicament) did not allow you to hear where he said he was going.

"I'm don't know, Mrs. Velvet. But I'm sure we will find him eventually."

You float the tissue away, tucking it in the one small pocket you have on your dress. After that, you take another deep breath, and you look around as you decide where you should go next.

Because the crowd of guests is slowly but surely spreading out into something that resembles a party, but things are not so organized yet. So, everywhere you look you can see a mixed group of ponies, all of them looking around for somepony they know or are hoping to find. You spot Rarity a few groups away, already surrounded by a growing crowd of hanger-ons. And as if it wasn't hard enough to move already, you spot a small army of waiters filing towards the guests and weaving through the confusion, floating or carrying drinks as they usher in the first wave of alcohol that will certainly drown the coming party.

Seeing all of that, a small part of you considers just waiting where you are until Stormchaser returns.

That is, until you sense somepony purposefully making his way straight towards you.

Your teary-eyed expression immediately becomes concerned, and Soft Sweeps notices the change in your behavior immediately.

"Is… did something happen, Mrs. Velvet?" she asks.

But instead of answering her question, you get up from your seat and turn towards the approaching figure. Pivoting just in time to see a perfectly normal stallion, dressed as a waiter, making his way towards you.

Although, you immediately recognize that stallion. And you immediately understand why he is coming towards you so intently.

"Excuse me, ma'am? The Mare of Honor is needed in the kitchen, to sort out a small issue with one of our cooks," he says.

You let out a small sigh, nodding at the stallion and gesturing him to wait for a moment.

"Softy, would you please go check on the fillies? This shouldn't take long," you say.

She answers you with a nod, going away in the direction the fillies went without a second thought.

Leaving you alone with the waiter.

Or rather…

Leaving you alone with one of your Lunar Bureau agent, who just told you the code for "trouble that requires your attention".

"Well then," you say, gesturing him to lead the way, "which of our cooks is having issues?"

Of course, the stallion doesn't answer. Instead, he guides you through the crowd towards the edge of the park. And you silently follow him as he goes.

The ceremony itself took place near the center of the park. With the altar, surrounded by the rich benches for the guests, being built just for the occasion. Near and around the benches are the tables, where the guests will be able to dine more properly as the celebrations advance into the night. Everything around you wouldn't be out of place in a ballroom, or in a noble party that was being hosted in a garden. And given how this is a Princess' wedding, you don't think anypony will mind that they aren't anywhere near a mansion or a proper building.

However, the fact remains that events like this need a place for the staff to work. So, you follow your agent towards one of the several tents that were raised around the venue, where the items and horsepower needed to cater for hundreds of nobles and a Princess could be properly stored and managed.

"It's not anything big, ma'am. Just an… unexpected situation involving a guest."

"Well, what kind of guest?"

​

[CHOOSE ONE OPTION]


[] A troublesome guest

Spoiler: A troublesome guest

You follow your agent towards one of the tents that was set aside for "security personnel". One of the stakeouts from which your agents are able to monitor the event, and help the more overt Royal Guard keep everything safe.

And as soon as you enter, you are greeted by a small group of your agents. No, not a group. You are greeted by a squadron of your agents.

More importantly, you immediately realize they have been in an… altercation of sorts. The suit that some of them are wearing, to remain undercover, is scuffled here and there. One of them has a bloody lip.

And the reason why they are roughed up is currently tied and cuffed in the middle of the tent.

"Report," you say, and the leader of the squadron immediately begins to explain what happened.



"Would you like a cup of water, Fair Trial?"

"I… water? No, no, I... I just need a moment to think."

"That is alright. Take as much time as you need. I completely understand that this is a shock."

"…"

"…"

"… did… Commissioner Velvet, are you sure that… are you sure they were planning to do… that?"

"Yes… I am really sorry to say that, Fair Trial, but that really was their plan. Don't worry, we caught all their accomplices, and I will have two of my ponies following you for the rest of the night. That is, unless you prefer we relocate you immediately."

"No, no, no need for that. I just… By Celestia, I never thought somepony would try to… to assassinate me. And… Dear sun, Velvet, what do I do?"

"Well… if you really want to stay for the rest of the celebration, I definitely would tell you to go grab a drink. I'll join you, even."

"I… actually, I think I will take you up on your offer, Commissioner. As soon as my legs stop shaking, that is."



-A small, badly coordinated attempt against Justice Fair Trial's life was stopped by the Bureau.

-Nothing major came from it. All ponies involved were swiftly captured, and you made sure Cadance (and everypony else, really) was none the wiser. No reason to spoil the mood of such a wonderful day.

-Still, Fair Trial is certainly thankful for you. And the two of you spent a lot of time together, during the party, in a much welcome non-professional setting.

-EFFECT: Gain an "in" with Fair Trial.

[] A disturbed guest

Spoiler: A disturbed guest

You follow your agent towards one of the tents that was set aside for "security personnel". One of the stakeouts from which your agents are able to monitor the event, and help the more overt Royal Guard keep everything safe.

However, to your surprise, once you enter the tent you find…



"Midday Dew? I thought… You were in the guest list, but they told me you never arrived. What happened?"

"I… I saw… I…"

"Midday? Heavens, you look terrible and… Everypony, give me the tent. I want to talk to him alone."

"…"

"Midday Dew? What happened to you? I mean… what is going on?"

"I had a dream, this night and… no, not a dream. N-not a nightmare. Not a vision. Not even a p-promise… I…"

"Nightmare? Visions? Dew, you are not making sense. Please, just tell me what hap-"

"I SAW IT, Commissioner. You d-don't understand it. I SAW it. And I don't think I'll ever s-stop seeing it…"

"Saw? Midday Dew, you are scaring me. What are you talking about? Why are you so-"

"I saw the wolves! I… I s-saw them, Commissioner, and they… and HE saw ME!"

"…"

"A-and… and he told me…. things… h-horrible things… I can still hear him, even…"

"… what did he tell you, Midday Dew?"

"He… i-it wasn't with words. But it w-wasn't with images e-either… it was more like ideas? S-still… He told me… he made me see… It was like every… e-every wall we ever built… every light we ever lit. Everything we e-ever did… EVERYTHING. Since we first invented the l-lock and key, or lit t-the first bonfire… It was never enough. It was never enough, and it will never BE enough."

"…"

"I-it won't be enough, Commissioner… t-they will come for us all… drag us down a-and… And my whole life, I thought I was h-helping… T-thought I was helping shine a light a-and… towards the f-future and… but it shone too bright, and now I f-finally saw…"

"… what did you see, Midday Dew?"

"I'm n-not afraid of the dark anymore. B-because I saw what's hiding inside of it."

"…"

"… t-they will all come for us a-and..."

"I know of a way to make us safe again."



-Hounded, hunted and haunted. Midday Dew is terrified of what the future holds. As he was the very first scientist to be woken up, screaming, by what would later be known as "the innovator's curse".

-Still, right now he is vulnerable. And more importantly, he is pliable, and certainly willing to make a few compromises if it will help fight the horror away.

-As you look at him, you can't help but think that he is a toy, or perhaps a small trophy, left at your doorsteps by an obedient dog.

-EFFECT: Gain an "in" with Midday Dew.

[] A self-invited guest

Spoiler: A self-invited guest

You thought you would follow your agents to one of the Bureau-designated tents. But instead, much to your surprise, he actually takes you towards one of the kitchens.

The two of you walk into the impossibly-busy kitchen, wading through cooks, chefs, and a constant flux of ponies carrying out trays full of food and bringing back empty plates.

Still, despite the veritable crowd of focused workers, it doesn't take you long to find the source of this "problem" that required your attention.

"Normally, we wouldn't have called you for something like this, ma'am. But… well, she insists that she knows you."

You nod at the agent, and take a deep breath as you prepare to deal with…



"I'm keep telling you, this will be over as soon as I walk out of here with that bottle. That's how this story ends. I know it because I checked! And- oh, hello Velvet."

"Baldomare… fancy seeing you here?"

"Yes, yes, lovely to see you too dear. But more importantly, could you please tell these stubborn cooks -Yes, I am referring to YOU, you stubborn colt!- how crucial it is that one of those vintage bottles end in my hoofs?"

"I… well, I… actually… No, this is just too much. Baldomare, what the hay are you doing here?!"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to get a hold of some good wine. I mean, I'm not on bad terms with the alukite, but ever since she nested in the cellar, I can't have a sip of anything without tasting her blasted influence."

"I… okay, first of all, you just told me several things I will want to address later. Second… well, why here? Why not raid any other cellar in Equestria? I know you could do it. You never had a difficulty finding things you want to find."

"Oh, isn't that obvious? Convenience, Velvet. Coming here is just a lot less work, with the anchor and all."

"I beg your pardon, with the what now?"

"The… the anchor? Glory above, Velvet, are you telling me you don't know about it? I thought you were working in this city BECAUSE of the anchor."

"Hold on. Baldomare, I need you to explain to me… very carefully, what you mean by that."

"Pff, you know that's not how it works. I'm not going to tell you something you don't kn-"

"Tell me what you are talking about and I'll make them give you all the bottles you want."

"DEAL!"



-Good Baldomare has told you a secret. Good Baldomare has told you something you did not know. Good Baldomare told you something you already knew, but never really connected the dots about.

-Good Baldomare told you there is an "anchor", somewhere in Canterlot. A place, or a thing, or a pony, that exists in all Histories at once. One that she could use like a door, or like a ladder, to quickly reach the pony capital.

-Good Baldomare told you that this "anchor" is, without a doubt, an Outsider. One whose blood could be harvested for the inescapable end that is reaching Glory.

-EFFECT: Advance your objective of locating an Outsider

[] A Royal guest

Spoiler: A Royal guest

You follow your agent towards one of the tents that was set aside for "security personnel". One of the stakeouts from which your agents are able to monitor the event, and help the more overt Royal Guard keep everything safe.

Inside the tent, you find a small group of ponies, managing several magical instruments. As soon as you enter, one of them comes to you with a serious expression. And he immediately gives you a report with a dangerous mixture of urgency and professionalism.

"Commissioner, we just confirmed it. The sun has stopped moving."

Of course, that could only mean one thing.

"I see… Well, there really is nothing we can do about it. I will go warn Cadance. Thank you, and as you were."

A few minutes later, you were already by Cadance. Whispering into her ear the very educated guess, that bordered on a certainty, of what might happen very soon.

And sure enough, a few minutes later, the sun started moving once again.

However, it began moving in the wrong direction. Making its way back to the top of the sky in a matter of seconds.

But of course, the reason for that was plain for all to see. After all, the sun had no choice but to follow, as its Princess chose to make an appearance.

"Cadance, I can see that you… No, it doesn't matter. This is my gift to you."

​

-Princess Celestia, regent of the sun, made a brief appearance right after the ceremony.

-There were no speeches. There was no fanfare. She did not even smile.

-The only thing she did was congratulate the Princess of Love. And to give her a small gift.

-EFFECT: Princess Cadance receives a gift from Celestia, a small jewel box to be opened later. And perhaps something more besides.

[] A host of guests

Spoiler: A host of guests

You follow your agent towards one of the larger tents. One that was set aside as an ad-hoc barracks for the Royal Guard. The place from which they are coordinating their security cordon and, if things make a turn for the worse, the mobile armory where they are keeping their more lethal instruments.

Still, despite your initial concerns, you don't arrive to an ongoing crisis, and you are not greeted by the stern faces of officers gathering in a war-room.

Instead, you are quickly introduced to the Royal Guard officer who seems to be in charge, who was apparently in the middle of a discussion with the Bureau liaison that was assigned to him.



"Ah, Commissioner Covers. Thank you so much for making the time. And my apologies for bringing you away from the celebration."

"No problem at all, captain. More importantly, what seems to be the problem."

"It's… not actually a problem, Commissioner. But still, it's not something I am sure how to handle. Or rather, I don't even have the clearance to do anything about it. I asked for you because I wanted to bring this to your attention, or perhaps your judgment."

"Go on."

"You see, there haven't been any problems with the cordon. The park is as safe as it can be, despite the Princess' decision of not using any kinds of… well, physical obstacles. However, I have been getting reports from our guards all around the place that…"

"That…? I can't imagine why a lack of problems would be cause for alarm. Did something happen?"

"Quite on the contrary, Commissioner. What I've been hearing is that we might not even need a cordon at all."

"For the first time in our lives, we know that we are ready for this!"

​

-The crowd is singing. Ponykind is cheering. And the torrent that overflowed from Cadance's heart reached farther and wider than anypony could have imagined.

-The cordon around the park was lifted, and the "official" celebration mingled with the city-wide festivities in a way that only ponies are capable of achieving.

-Not a single problem or accident came from that decision, and everything went better than expected for everypony involved. And just like kindle to the flames, that infectious joy spread like wildfire towards all of Equestria.

-EFFECT: Cadance's objective of "uplifting the spirits of ponykind" will be completely fulfilled.

This will be the first time we have a vote in this new site. I'll have to get used to the tallying program, and things will move a bit slower until we get this engine running.

Still, nothing out of the ordinary to see here.

Approval voting. Vote for as many options as you like, and the SINGLE most voted option will win.

Six hours moratorium, just for the sake of people finding their way here. And no prediction of when the vote will end.

Yes, the "effects" have vague descriptions. That is intentional. All the options are good, or at least not bad, so if in doubt just pick what you feel is best.

Good day to us all.

 

[jelloloaf]

Originally posted this back on the SV thread, but it never got a threadmark, so I thought I'd crosspost here for visibility. Also, as a bonus in honor of our new site, I've added on a new alternate ending.

---

In which the war ends

---

Copper Secateur was beginning to get sick of abandoned warehouses.

Yes, they were free, yes, they were spacious, yes, nopony would suddenly barge in asking difficult questions about all the blood, but it just felt like every single time there was something to be done, it ended up being done inside yet another abandoned warehouse. Not that this one was really abandoned anymore.

The typical light coating of dust over the drab concrete floor was absent, mostly due to the exhaustive search for traps, tricks, and other such tidbits that might interfere with what was supposedly going to be a parley with Velvet Covers of all mares.

It had been a difficult thing to accept. A truce with Velvet Covers, her rival, her foe, the root cause of at least eighty-two percent of her current problems to date; the idea was frankly absurd. But Copper knew Velvet's reputation, for sneaking and conniving and general Moth bullshit. Velvet had a plan, and she was not going to stand by and let her enact it unopposed.

She couldn't really see what that plan might be, which meant that she had to be extra cautious to make sure she didn't fall into it by accident. Velvet had let her choose the meeting place, but Copper wouldn't put it past her to somehow scry the location out of her mind and preemptively trap it before she arrived or something equally ridiculous. That was why she'd brought over some of her followers more skilled in Lantern to check and recheck that absolutely nothing suspicious was going on. Even now, they were spread out as an early-warning perimeter around the surrounding blocks.

Of course, they might have been compromised as well, but you can only take so much paranoia before you cripple yourself, and Copper would not give Velvet that satisfaction.

There was not a clock in the warehouse, but a loud tick of the minute hand would have been very thematically appropriate.

Copper shuffled around slightly. She was supposed to have arrived by now. Quickly glancing behind her to make sure nopony was attempting a sneak attack, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when her turn back forwards revealed Velvet standing a few meters away from her. Bucking theatrical Moth bullshit.

Her entire body tensing up, Copper leapt backwards, already planning out which way to dodge the incom-

"I'm not here to fight you, Copper. I promised, didn't I?"

Velvet looked … not mournful, her face remained perfectly calm, but something about her posture indicated a deep tiredness. As though she had just finished doing something very difficult and unpleasant.

For a heartbeat, Copper stared at Velvet, still anticipating some sort of trick, but after a long few moments of nothing passed, she relaxed marginally. Maybe this wasn't a trap?

Velvet slumped slightly as well, letting out a long sigh. "I'm sorry, Copper. I didn't … I never wanted it to turn out this way."

No, no, this was definitely a trap. Copper tensed back up again. Velvet, apologizing? Either she had gone insane or this was a poor attempt to trick her into lowering her guard.

Velvet sighed again. "Copper, I know that this will be … hard to believe, but we don't need to fight each other."

Copper scoffed at that. "You're right, that is hard to believe. Maybe I could have believed that four months ago, but a lot has happened since then."

Velvet scrunched her eyes shut, hoof twitching in an aborted motion to rub them. "It's … difficult to explain, but please, just hear me out. I spoke to the Master and"

… Of course. Of bucking course she did. The Master didn't disappear, she was still talking to her favorite Velvet Covers. Not to her, who had been with her from the beginning, but Velvet Covers.

Velvet – apparently unable to read Copper's mind by the way she didn't react to any of the very hostile thoughts about her – continued speaking. "I know it's a lot to ask, I know that you don't have any reason to trust me right now, but if you could just …" Velvet's voice began trailing off before she let out yet another heavy sigh.

"And why should I?" Copper was beginning to get angry. No, scratch that, she already was angry. "Why should I trust you, after everything you've done? Do you think this is some foals' story where we can just hug and make up and then everything will be all better?"

Velvet looked angry too, and for a second Copper thought a fight was going to break out, but Velvet shook herself, took several very deep breaths, and generally tried to calm herself down, to some success.

"Look, Copper." Another sigh, her breath misting out in front of her. "When the Master vanished, I was just as surprised as you were. I only found out she was still around a few weeks ago, and as soon as she told me that she had framed both of us for attacking first I set up this meeting with you. I don't want us to be enemies, Copper. All that time when we were friends, all the time we were on the same side, surely it meant something."

All things considered, having Velvet begging for forgiveness was quite nice, but not quite nice enough. Not anymore. "It did mean something, Velvet. It meant a lot to me. The cult was the first place where I finally felt important, needed." As Copper continued, her voice got louder and louder. "For the first time in my life, I mattered! I was important! And then you took it all away." She was aware that she might've maybe possibly sounded ever so slightly unhinged, but it was all coming out, and there was no stopping it now. "YOU BETRAYED US, VELVET!"

Velvet opened her mouth to say something, but Copper glared at her until she closed it again. "Let. Me. Finish. Velvet. When I first met you, I thought we had something in common. Happy ponies don't join cults, Velvet. Neither of us felt like we fit into the rhythm of Equestria, we didn't quite match the scenery, we always sang just a little out of tune."

"Because even though we had our Cutie Marks, we never felt quite sure that they were the right ones, because surely this isn't what we're meant to be doing for the rest of our bucking lives! Let's take mine as an example, the humble pair of pruning shears. Makes sense, doesn't it? Because why would an Earth Pony ever want to be more than just a gardener? After all, that's all she's good for."

Velvet remained silent, and Copper didn't care to notice if she was even listening anymore. She was going to get this out and she was going to do it now. "Do you have any idea how good it felt to be told that there really is more to life? That you don't need to just shut up and accept your place? Do you, Velvet?" When she remained silent, Copper scoffed. "That's what I thought."

"When I first met you in that bar, I was willing to put aside my personal issues with your background. Hay, we even became friends after it seemed clear that you were different. Jade trusted you, Starry trusted you, and I trusted you too. And then you took that trust and you made it disappear, just like you do with everything else that gets in your way."

Copper glared furiously at Velvet, who just silently stared back. "We weren't in tune with everypony else, so we made our own tune, Velvet!" Copper stomped down onto the floor, and maybe it was just shoddy lowest-bidder construction, and maybe it was just the heat of the moment, and maybe it was nothing at all, but she could almost swear the concrete cracked underneath her hoof. "We made something all our own, and we finally fit in, and we finally had our place, and we were finally able to belong. But that wasn't enough for you. You wanted exactly what you bucking parasites always want, to be on top of everypony else."

Velvet's face was somewhat blurry though the tears (was she crying?), but she seemed stunned by the sheer vitriol that had just been spit at her. But Copper wasn't about to let up now. She leaned in close, staring Velvet straight in the eyes. "Every bucking meeting it was always you, you, you, and now you're saying it's about us? It's about everything we did together?" Copper took a heaving breath. "So I'll ask you again, Velvet, why should I listen to you? You say the Master wants us to fight, why should I turn away from her too? Why should I turn away from the only pony who ever cared?"

Several long moments passed, Copper panting heavily, and Velvet remaining silent.

"Because." Velvet paused to take a long, cold breath. "Because the Master is dead."

What? No, that couldn't be. Velvet had said she had just spoken with the Master, how could they be dead? Was there something she had missed in …

"She's dead because I killed her, and the Wood with her. I do not want this to have to be a threat."

All the tension drained out of Copper immediately. Velvet's statement was so unexpected that she almost burst out laughing right then and there. No, not almost, she did burst out laughing, in the loud, wheezing laughter that you get from the very best emotional whiplash. It took a good twenty seconds before Copper was finally able to speak again. "Oh, I thought you were supposed to be a schemer, Velvet. Did you really think such a blatant lie was going to work? Really, destroying the Wood, at least come up with something halfway believable." Surely Velvet couldn't be telling the truth.

Surely.

And then just like that, a tiny seed of doubt planted itself in Copper's mind. She hadn't been to the Mansus recently (too much of a security risk, sleeping around all those new cult members), and North Star had been giving more portents of doom than usual (when had anypony last seen North Star?). Copper kept thinking of more and more minor issues that only just now seemed like they might have been connected, and the more she thought about it the more she couldn't stop thinking about it.

As much as Copper wanted to immediately run off to check for herself (just to make sure), she wouldn't give Velvet the satisfaction. She would calmly spend a few minutes finishing up this farce of a meeting and she would only start galloping once she was well out of view.

It seemed Velvet had the same idea – the finishing up, not the galloping. "That's all I have to say to you, Copper. Are we still going to be enemies?"

The answer was obvious. Even if Copper was growing increasingly worried, there was no way that she would ever settle for peace with Velvet Covers. Either she was lying,and thus could just easily be lying about wanting a ceasefire in the first place, or she was telling the truth, and she had just committed the greatest possible betrayal. Copper let out another laugh, short and sharp this time. "Yes."

Velvet slumped almost imperceptibly and stepped back. "Well then. Goodbye, Copper." Her Edge senses screamed at her, and Copper didn't hesitate for a moment. She lunged towards Velvet, tackling her to the ground. At last, she had finally shown her true colors, it was finally time to …

A few seconds later, the doors to the warehouse burst open as heavily armored ponies streamed in and formed a perimeter around the pair. The fight was broken up almost as soon as it had begun, Copper stunned by a flurry of law-enforcement spells and hooves before subsequently being clapped into chains by the Lunar Bureau agents. How had they gotten past her scouts? Unless …

She never should have come here. She had known that Velvet was going to try and trick her, and yet she agreed to a meeting anyway. Every single time she put her trust into other ponies they just stabbed her in the back again and again. She had nopony to blame but herself for this.

Her musings were interrupted by Velvet stepping back into her field of view. Copper stared at her face, searching for even the slightest hint of the pony that she had once called a friend. Velvet Covers stared back at her. The sadness in her eyes almost looked genuine.

A Bureau agent cast a spell, and everything went dark.

---

One of the traditional paths to enter the Mansus is to sleep in a room painted entirely white. While not entirely the same thing, a law-enforcement stun spell and the off-grey of the interior of a Lunar Bureau prisoner transport carriage were close enough for one as powerful in the Lores as Copper was.

Velvet hadn't been lying. The Woods were destroyed. The Dry Well was gone. An enormous waterfall of flaming blood dripped from the sky. What was once an endless expanse of forest was now nothing but ash.

Copper Secateur collapsed on the worn Mansus-stone path and sobbed.

---

Spoiler: Alternate Ending

She was aware that she might've maybe possibly sounded ever so slightly unhinged, but it was all coming out, and there was no stopping it now. "YOU BETRAYED US, VELVET!"

Velvet opened her mouth to say something, but Copper pushed it shut again. When had she gotten close enough to do that? Their faces were almost touching. "You betrayed … you betrayed me."

Copper was panting, exhausted from the outpouring of emotion, and Velvet looked just as stunned. With everything that Copper had just poured out in an unceremonious emotional crash, with such a suggestive position, with the naturally heightened sensations of a Grail influence, it was almost understandable how Velvet had gotten the wrong idea.

"Copper, you know, ah, I … don't really see you … that way."

Copper stared at her in utter shock. Velvet, still tragically unaware of Copper's internal experience, averted her eyes, blushing slightly.

"It's just that, I'm … already married, so, you know … "

Copper continued staring, still attempting to process the thorough derailment of her admitting her hatred. Velvet continued to dig herself deeper.

"And I know the stories about Grail, but it's not really proper …"

Copper finally managed to shake herself free. "Velvet?"

Velvet looked uncharacteristically nervous. "Yes, Copper?"

"What the buck are you talking about?"

Now it was Velvet's turn to stare blankly as her entire argument collapsed around her. "You … weren't confessing your love for me?"

"What the hay, Velvet!" Copper rubbed her face, desperately attempting to wake back up in the real world where things made sense. "We're rivals! Edge dyads! We try to murder each other at least once a month!"

Velvet tapped her hooves together, studiously examining the rafters. "It's a popular genre, that's all. Back when we were still a book club and not a 'book club', you always liked the romance novels the best. I thought that maybe … this was your way of trying to tell me something."

"You thought that me sending a magical ritual to kill you was my way of letting you know that I had a crush on you?" Copper gave another one of her world-famous incredulous stares. "Why did you even come if you thought I was flirting? You're already married!"

"I was going let you down gently!" Velvet shot back, some intensity finally making its way into her voice. "andmaybealsoadoptyou."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing. No plans for another daughter here, none whatsoever. After all, we've got this whole romance mess cleared up now, right?" Velvet gave Copper one of those annoyingly endearing smiles of hers.

"I guess." Copper grudgingly admitted. "You've kind of derailed the whole confession about how I hate you for ruining my life. It would be awkward to keep fighting now."

"Truce?"

"... Truce."

And so, with Harmony and Friendship once again proven to be the most powerful forces in the universe, the first occult war seen in ten thousand years came to an end.

 

[AuthorTransient]

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S​

Here's the first part of the omake. Heh, I think there's other omakes posted already.

In which (S) Collide – Part 1,

Velvet: Rite

You are Velvet Covers and right now you are... thinking.

You haven't had the time to sit down and think on what you've done for a while now. A long while. There was always another fire to put out, or preparations to put out a fire, or an unexpected event, or... Truth is, you haven't really thought about your deeds because you've always been so busy. Or maybe it's that you haven't given yourself the time to think. Because if you did, you might just realize the scope of everything you've done, and then, and then...

This vacation has been good for you. It was needed for Selene, and you're glad for that, that you can still care for your family (despite everything), but it has also been good for you. And the wedding went off without a hitch, despite – –

Your thoughts spiral.

Honestly, you have no idea how you've survived for so long without getting somepony confronting you with your sins, haha! You chuckle under your breath, but inside, you're almost breaking down in hysterics. By Celestia, you killed a Name! Albeit with the help of another Name, and desolated the Woods in the process, but... is it something to be proud of?

It seems both like only yesterday and somewhere lost in history when you joined a book club with Copper Secateur... whom you just recently tried to kill, several weeks ago.

All the things you've done. How far is too far, and how far is not enough? Do your good deeds outweigh your sins crawling on your back? And do they cancel each other out?

No.

You are not perfect. You know this. And you have tried your best. Maybe there were other things you could have done, actions not taken, fleeting opportunities not used, or choices not pursued that could have led to a different result, but – you have tried your best. And you are still trying your best, and you will continue trying your best.

You marshal yourself with pure pony strength of will, holding everything in check with an iron calm. You take a deep breath, feeling your ribcage expand, pushing against your skin. You let it out. You breathe.

You open the door.




Your preparations are complete. Mostly. Your plan, if it can be called that, is to throw yourself down at Luna's feet and beg for mercy.

Baldomare is watching from the attic above, ready to intervene if necessary. Rarity and Jade Whistle are with her, presumably making small talk.

Fluttershy is in the adjacent room, along with Comet Feet, who is pacing around.

Stormchaser nods his head at you as you settle onto the couch beside him.

Silky Stream looks up at you sleepily.

Soft Sweeps is struggling to stay awake.

Selene is already almost asleep, half-curled underneath a bundle of crocheted blankets that were knitted with love.


You had sent out everyone else – your brother is on an overseas trip right now – and you've told your staff to take a vacation. Even Ponpon, who had paused at the door and said that you could talk to her about anything. You didn't quite manage to look her in the eyes, but she thankfully had not pressed.

The fireplace is warm, although you can barely feel the fire on your skin. Still, you tuck in your daughters before the couch... and pause.

You don't want to die (and you still don't) but now that you've thought about it, getting judged by the same pony you've wronged might be for the best – as long as your family is safe (or Fair Trial, you guess, but even that is contingent on her knowing all the facts). Sometimes you think your sanity is only maintained because of your family. Sometimes you want everything to just end, just so you can stop remembering your regrets. But you move on from those times, because of everypony dear to you. An idea had started everything, the idea that you did not exist in a peaceful land of magic and harmony, the idea that was about secrets, about how the world hides its own in the most unusual of ways, and about how those secrets change and transform while the world isn't looking. That something was in the wrong shape.

And you had realized, slowly, that that idea was right.

Equestria is in danger, and something must be done about it. It is not a peaceful land of magic and harmony, and that is something that had been proved over and over again, from the Worms to the unnecessary sacrifice of the Royal Knights to the Luna imposter to the Catastrophe to the Wolf and your own actions and choices, of which none can be an exemplar of that idea more than the still smoldering Ashes of what was once the Woods – here be horrors.

But you had kept a line in your heart, and you had managed to keep this line, you had managed to keep yourself from crossing that line, despite everything, despite sometimes feeling like the rest of the world had trampled across it. But about where you truly desire to be, and everything you had learnt, you were realizing another idea. Another different idea. Which was that you were doing this for the people dear to you. And this idea was borne from that time Fluttershy had pushed the line back, and the Ashes of your own actions.

And that idea that has been rooting inside of you – is now budding; unfolding, like a blooming lotus, or fires in the night, or the shivering of a moth's wings.

"Mom?" Silky Stream and Selene ask.

When you raise your hoof to your eyes, you find that you are crying.

You open your mouth to apologize, or deflect, but what comes out is a sob.

Your daughters stumble out of their blankets, and you try to push them back, you try to cover up... and you fail. Or rather, you choose to fail.

Tonight, your family is together.

You hug your daughters, and your daughters hug you. The couch dips as Stormchaser's presence settles beside you, to give you a warm nudge.

"You know that I love you all, right?" You ask. "You know that I love you all, very very much?"

At the chorus of affirmatives, you let go and look at your beautiful, beautiful daughters. You are planning to wake Luna soon, but that's not really fair to just spring onto the rest of your daughters, is it? And perhaps, neither is it fair to Selene.

So you speak.

"I need to tell all of you something."

What do you tell your daughters?

[] WRITE-IN

--- --- ---

Mareinette: Ascend

Down, down in the cellar... a horror opens Her eyes.

Standing up in grace as befitting Her station, the Lady opens the door and begins to climb.

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S​

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

There is a saying that good times are not supposed to last. Otherwise, you would just get used to them, and they wouldn't be special anymore… or something like that. You are not really sure. You can't really quote a pony who said that. But still, you are sure somepony, at some point, penned those thoughts onto paper.

Still, the details don't really matter.

What matters is that you hate that saying.

You hate it, and you hate the fact that you agree with it even more.

Cadance's marriage is finally over. Of course, you are only referring to the "official" event. Because although the festivities ended several hours ago, when the royal couple took their leave to begin their honeymoon, the "unofficial" festivities went on for several hours after that.

Heavens, you are sure that some ponies are still celebrating. Even though it is almost midday of the following day. Every now and then you can still hear fireworks in the skies above Canterlot, or the very distant murmur of a song echoing throughout the city.

However, the fact remains that, for all intents and purposes, Cadance's marriage ceremony was "yesterday". It was "yesterday", and now you are living the "today" that comes after that.

And that is… well, it's not bad. But it's not mind-numbingly good either.

Still, time only marches in one direction, so you have no choice but to keep up with it.

Your family is making its way back to Ponyville right now, after spending one last night in the Royal Castle with you. Your poor husband looked a little worse for wear, but he assured you it was just regular tiredness. Of course, you were worried about him, but only until he reminded you that… well, he can't really copy your methods so of course he wouldn't be fully rested after just half a night of sleep. Especially given the size and proportion of yesterday's party.

And you suppose that makes sense… still, you asked the fillies to look out for him, and reluctantly let them go their way.

Rarity is also going with them, of course. She offered to stay with you for a while longer, and let Stormchaser take her sister back home, but you told her there was no need for that. After all, you don't really think anything will be happening in Canterlot for the next few days.

In fact, you don't think a lot of things will be happening in Equestria for the next few days. After all, yesterday and today were declared official holidays. And you just feel like things will take a while to settle down back into normalcy.

Regardless, you still thought that staying here in Canterlot would be for the best.

So this is why you are currently in your guest room, inside the Royal Castle, talking to a… particular guest.



Or would it be better to say that you are collecting a debt you are owed?



"You know, in a better time this sort of thing would have cost you Sprintiae. Actually, do you even know what Sprintia is? Eh, whatever. Those were actually worse times when you think about it, anyways."

You patiently nod as Baldomare, her horn glowing with soft magic, gently unbuckles her saddle-bag from her back. You can hear the clinking sound of glass bottles coming from inside the thing, as she very carefully places it on the ground, but you try not to think too much about it.

Or rather, you try not to think too much about how many bottles you can hear. Because you know for a fact that you instructed the kitchen staff to give her two bottles, but you are sure that you can hear more than just that coming from her saddle-bag.

Still, you are not about to lock horns with a Name about that. Especially when you still need said Name to uphold her part of your bargain.

"Be that as it may, Baldomare, you still agreed to a price, and we made a deal. So, what can you tell me about this… anchor? That was the word you used, right?" you ask, still hoping the mare won't just change her mind.

"Yes, yes, I know. And a promise is a promise, as long as you have standards, so I'll keep to my word as well."

She says that, looking around for a place to sit after she is satisfied with the safety of her precious package. Still, you can tell that she is now dedicating her attention to you, rather than just making idle chatter.

"So, the anchor. Let me start by saying that you already know about it. What I am about to tell you isn't really anything new, because I am just helping you connect the dots. But again, I was honestly surprised when y-"

"Wait, what do you mean I already KNOW about it?!" you say. Or rather, the surprised words leave your mouth before you can stop them.

To which Baldomare responds by rolling her eyes in annoyance.

"Yes, I was about to get there, Velvet. Mansus' light, I forgot how… eager you could be, during our conversations," she says.

Although she is talking to herself more than she is talking to you. She has already given up on chastising you for your curiosity, you think.

"But if you think back to… how long was it, five months ago? Five and a half? Well, right around when you summoned me for the first time, you told your cult about something you found here in Canterlot." She says that, and then she looks you in the eyes. Her previous annoyance completely gone, and replaced by something else.

You don't really feel that she is looking into you, but her expression is still…

"Don't you remember it, Velvet? It wasn't the kind of thing an adept would overlook. Even though you knew you couldn't comprehend it, back then, you still realized you had stumbled upon something that was beyond you."

The way Baldomare is saying that… the specific period she is referring to… you think back to everything you told the Cult, when you were still a part of it. You think back to all the tasks your former Master gave you, and the reports you presented to it…

You think back to all the times you have been to Canterlot, before entering the Royal Castle became more routine to you. And you remember…

Oh.

"Yes, exactly," Baldomare says, as if she could see what you are thinking about right now. As if your eyes were showing her the very memory you are recalling.

Well, considering her nature, that might really be what is happening right now, from her point of view.

"The statue," you say to yourself.

"The statue exists in all the Histories at once, yes. Well, that's not really what it's doing. But given your understanding of things, that is the best way to describe it," she says.

You think back to that moment, that day you were walking through the Royal Gardens… or was it at night? You can't really remember. Still, you try to remember it. You try to recall what the statue looked like. Heavens, you try to remember anything about it, but the only thing you can truly recall is…

… that feeling…

"Wait, you said that's not what it was doing? Then what-?" you try to ask, three questions coming up to you before you can even finish your thoughts.

But Baldomare interrupts you. Or rather, she raises a hoof to stop you, and you realize you will not get any answers from the Name that she is not willing to give.

However, you can tell that she is also not done talking.

"Like I said, that is the part you already knew. That statue, or the thing you want to call a statue, is the anchor I was talking about. Something that a creature of my disposition can use for… well, it doesn't really matter. Still, none of this is new to you, and I'm just helping you connect the puzzle pieces you already have."

The mare then lays back on her cushioned seat, looking up as she thinks about something. That is, until she finally shrugs, perhaps deciding that a simple explanation is the best way to get this done with.

"Now, I will tell you two things you don't know yet."

She says that, and you realize that at some point you went to the edge of your own seat, ears perked up as she continues to speak.

"First: that thing you called a statue is actually an Outsider. And, well, given the state it was in when you saw it, I think it's safe to say that it is… or was immobilized. Well, it's probably still immobilized. Outsiders literally play by their own rules, so I think we would have noticed if it was free and operating in the Wake."

Your eyes go wide as she… as she just casually says that. To think there is an Outsider within reach… hay, to think there is one in Canterlot of all places!

You almost say something, but Baldomare once again raises a hoof to stop you. But this time, it is because she already knows what question you are about to ask.

"The second thing is that I don't know where it is. It is nearby, and that is for sure. Within this city, or at least somewhere in this mountain. But looking for it is like… well, the best way to describe it is that trying to look for it is like looking at a kaleidoscope, or a house of mirrors. The thing was moved, for sure, but wherever it was moved to is warded in a way that ponies in this Era probably forgot how to replicate. Scrying for it would have been hard even for me, so I am glad we caught wind of it like this."

Baldomare says that, and then she gets up from her seat. Floating up her precious saddle-bag as she makes her way towards the door.

"So, you will have to look for it," she says as she leaves your guest room.

However, despite the finality in her words, you can't help but notice the smile she has on her face. More than that, you can't help but think the Name sounds a little excited.

Because sure, even though you have no idea of where that statue is… heavens, even though a Name of Lantern just told you she doesn't know where it is either, both of you realize that…

Well, this is the closest you have ever been to it yet. This is the closest anypony has been to reaching Glory, ever since the Summit Gate was locked at the closing of another Era.





Velvet Covers has discovered than an Outsider, perhaps the only one you will ever find in your lifetime, exists somewhere in Canterlot.

She will now have the option to "Search Canterlot" to look for it.

"Search Canterlot" is currently at 0/200 progress, and is influenced by Intrigue and Secret Histories.





- - -

- - -

- - -





Above the skies of Equestria, a flying chariot made its way to the south.

Within its spacious confines, six ponies were waiting for their (relatively short) trip to end. The youngest of them looking out through the window while the older ones engaged in light conversation.

Of course, flying chariots are a rare breed to begin with. And the midnight black-and-purple one that was carrying them was no exception. So, it was only natural that their current transport was one of the topics they were discussing.



"Goodness gracious, is this really how it feels like to fly? And Sweetie Belle, darling, could you please keep your hoofs off from the doorhandle?"

"Don't worry about it, Rarity. The doors are locked, and it takes more to unlock them than just twisting the handle. And to answer your question, no, flying feels a lot better in my opinion."

"Is that so, Stormchaser? Why is that?"

"Well, for loads of reasons. The wind on your face, the sensation of punching through a cloud. Even the scenery is better, mind you. Looking out through a small window like this one doesn't really do it justice."

"I'll take your word for that… Still, I can't thank Velvet enough for arranging this for us. I mean, you heard about it as well, didn't you? About how the trains out of Canterlot are already fully booked for the next few days?"

"Yes, I heard about it. It does make sense, though, considering how packed Canterlot was. Although… I still don't think Velvet needed to go this far for us…"

"Oh, darling, don't give me that. You know how Velvet is. Especially when it comes to you all!"

"Yes, yes, I know. And I am thankful to her, don't get me wrong. But still… telling our carriage-pullers that taking us home was a matter of national security…?"

"It just goes to show how much she cares about you."

"… and then threatening to fire them if any one of us got sky-sick during the trip…?"

"Well, I… maybe Velvet did go a bit overboard? Well regardless. I have something I have been meaning to ask you, Stormchaser. Right after the ceremony was over, I noticed you were gone for a while. Or so I was told. Could I possibly ask what you were doing, right after the wedding finished?"

"I… nothing important, Rarity. Don't worry about it. Y'know, just… stallion business and all."

"Could it possibly have anything to do with the whispers I heard about how you were seen talking to-"

"Isaiditwasn'tanythingimportant!"



The magical chariot flew across the sky, a tiny dark dot within an endless sea of blue.

Until it finally reached its destination, landing in the growing town of Ponyville.

And after that, its passengers went their separate ways.



- - -



Somewhere in the growing town of Ponyville, within a conspicuously shaped fashion saloon, a unicorn mare prepares for another day of work.

However, if anypony were to look at her at that moment, then almost nopony would be able to recognize her as she currently is.

Because one week ago, she was not just a mere pony. She was Madame Rarity, the dazzlingly beautiful, uniquely talented, and most importantly mysterious unicorn who had soared into the fashion industry one year ago. The cryptic and reclusive, but undeniably genius, designer who was currently releasing hit after hit for the Needle family, under her exclusive line of Designs By Rarity.

Yes, one week ago, she was impeccably dressed, hooficured, and styled for what was the greatest wedding in pony history. And of course, more importantly, she was present for the debut of yet another one of her own designs. One that was worn by nopony other than the bride herself.

By the alicorn bride.

In the alicorn wedding.

Did she already mention she made the dress for the first alicorn wedding ever?

Anyhow, it is safe to say that Madame Rarity was surrounded by a crowd of admirers on that momentous occasion. One that was dwarfed only by the crowd around the Princess herself.

But that was then, and this is now. And right now… well, right now Madame Rarity is nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a unicorn mare who just woke up is slowly making her way to her kitchen, to prepare for another day of work. Her mane still unkept, and her eyes still squinting against the unwelcome light coming from the half-open windows.

She opens her mouth and lets out a loud, unsightly yawn. But still, she doesn't chastise herself over it. After all, the only other resident of that place, her younger sister, is still fast asleep upstairs.

Lucky filly, she thinks, able to sleep in during a weekend… only having school to worry about and…

She thinks about that, and other vague thoughts besides-



-until her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of knocking coming from her door.



Rarity's ears perk up at that. Not because it is strange for somepony to knock on her door, although that has happened a lot less ever since she closed her boutique around one year ago. But still, it's strange that somepony is knocking this early in the morning.

Still, no further knocks arrive. Instead, Rarity hears the low, metallic sound of her door's mail slot being pushed open, followed by the sound of a letter falling towards the floor.

Ah, she thinks, it was just the mailpony. Or maybe the courier from the Velvets, bringing another telegram from the Needles.

Rarity shakes her head, and lazily makes her way towards the front door to collect the letter. She knows that reading something will help her brain wake up more quickly. So, she lights up her horn, collects the letter, and absent-mindedly rips it open to take out its content.

Still, she is so sleepy that she doesn't even realize that the letter is perfumed, and unusually fancy. Even for her own standards.

In fact, she doesn't even realize the sender is… well, that the letter is not from the Needles. Or from anypony else she knows, for that matter.

She just reads it to herself, as she resumes the process of making her own breakfast.

"Dear Madame Rarity…" she reads out loud. "We are so thankful for your delightful presence and attention during the wedding and…"

She reads through the letter without giving it much thought.

Or rather, she reads the letter without giving it much attention… until she does.

And by the time she reaches the end of the letter, her breakfast is almost entirely forgotten. And she is floating the letter right before her eyes, re-reading every single word almost as if she can't believe what she is looking at.



"… and we are willing to cover any breach-fines with the Needles. On top of your own commission. Whatever price it takes for your precious time is…?!"



It takes a long while for Rarity to remember about her breakfast.

And she doesn't dare read that letter again, or even touch it, until she can meet her more-business-savvy best friend.





Rarity is now able to "Take a Commission", accepting a private commission from a wealthy patron for an exclusive piece of clothing. To create another piece from the designer who clothed a Princess during her marriage.

When taking a commission, Rarity will be unavailable for the remainder of the turn, and will automatically fail her "career" roll for that month. However, Velvet Covers will immediately receive a large downpayment of at least 100 bits. (This downpayment is applied at the beginning of the turn that action is taken, rather than the usual end of turn). Performing this option is particularly taxing for Rarity.

More to follow.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

You are Commissioner Velvet Covers.

And right now, you are at work.

Much to your surprise, however, you are not actually working. Sure, you are physically at work, sitting inside your office and all that. But you are not currently dedicating any attention to the (several) stacks of files in front of you.

Not because those files don't matter, of course. Quite on the contrary. You have reports to go over, about the ongoing investigations. Several petitions from your subordinates asking for you to make small procedural changes here and there. An entire package about an "encounter" that went south, involving one of your detectives. And even a letter from Fair Trial that came in just this morning, that you have not yet opened.

You have a lot to do, and all of it is important. In fact, you don't think anything that reaches your table will ever not be important.

However, you also know that… well, there will always be more to do. So, you won't chastise yourself for taking a small breather.

"Still, not having our Deputy around certainly doesn't make thing any easier," you say to yourself.

Your Deputy, of course, being Shining Armor. The lucky stallion who is currently on his honeymoon with nopony other than the Princess of Love herself.

Not that you begrudge his absence, of course. Well, you don't welcome the extra work, but the couple certainly deserves their getaway. And…



And you finally realize that you are just rambling to yourself, and that you definitely aren't going to get anything else done for the rest of the day.



That thought, or maybe that realization, strikes you like a small nudge to the side of your head. In fact, you feel like you just woke up, or like you were snapped out of a dream or something. Still, the fact remains that whatever focus you had earlier today is well and truly gone now.

Which means that, as you look around your desk, and then your office, you also realize you really aren't interested in engaging with any of those matters right now.

So, you just get up from your chair. You get up from your chair, and you walk around your office, and before you realize it you are already going out through your door.

And perhaps for the first time since you accepted this job, you just stroll around the Lunar Bureau.



- - -



You walked around the Lunar Bureau for a while.

You didn't really go anywhere in particular, and you didn't make the long trek to the underground levels. But still, you went down to the ground floor, idling here and there around the main entrance and its adjacencies, and exchanged a few words with the ponies you crossed paths with.

However, all those conversations were… well, they were rather short. Or perhaps "tense" would be a better way to describe them.

That is, whenever you met ponies who had a background in the Guard, they would move along towards the wall, and silently salute you as you passed. And whenever you saw a pony with a more administrative background, they just seemed out of their depth when they talked to you. Or they were particularly eager to tell you how they had an urgent task they should get to.

Things like that happened several times. Whenever you met somepony as you walked here and there. And no matter how hard you think about it, you just can't figure out why they were all acting like that and…!

…



Oh, who are you kidding, you know very well you are the problem.



Well, saying that you are the "problem" seems rather harsh. But still, you would have to be delusional to think that you aren't the "reason" as to why those attempted conversations were all awkward and, well, so very short.

So, sooner rather than later, you decided to end your walk around the Bureau. And you made your way back to your office.

No, you did not have a sullen and defeated look on your face. Stop imagining things.

However, rather than going straight to your office, you did one last detour. Rather than secluding yourself in your own space, to try and tackle whatever issues you have for the day, you instead made your way to the opposite door.

And that is why you are here right now.



"Are you absolutely sure you don't want anything, Commissioner? Not even a glass of water or anything?"

"No, like I said, I'm fine. But thank you."



You are currently in the Secretariat. One of the two doors that flank the corridor that lead to Princess Luna's office, and the nerve center that connects the head of the Lunar Bureau to its several limbs.

The Secretariat itself is, in reality, a small office complex in its own right. A large room staffed by seven ponies, each with their own obligations and concerns. And for all that you can roughly tell what each of them is responsible for, you also realize that the struggles they face here are more complex than they appear to be at a glance.



"In that case… is anything the matter? Are there any issues you would like us to work on?"

"Not at all. No issues, no."



Over here, you can see a desk surrounded by open crates, filled with letters and packages. And you spot a trio of worn letter openers tucked inside a mug, standing proudly right next to a magical eyeglass meant for inspecting the validity of official seals.

That desk, you presume, is where all the incoming mail is gathered. And the several "out" boxes on the desk, destined to your office, other desks of the Secretariat, or even to other departments, are a testament to how much information passes through this place. Although the large trash bin, full of triturated letters, also speaks of just how much is filtered.



"So, should I… get something from your office, Commissioner? Do you have a package for us to send out? Or maybe a letter?"

"Oh, no. No letters. In fact, I haven't been able to get much done to begin with."



On the opposite side of the room, you see a pair of desks covered in scrolls, surrounding a pair of typewriters. And next to the typewriters you see a much more familiar sight, that of the neat and organized paper that arrives at your desk in the form of field reports. That desk, you think, is where all the chaos that is discovered by your agents is distilled into something resembling order, which is then taken to your attention.

Over there, you spot a large calendar fixed on the wall, behind yet another desk. That calendar, you immediately realize, is a more complex version of your own agenda. Filled with changes, errata, and the odd question mark on days you have not yet decided what you will be doing.

You see all of that, and a lot more, all around the room. Hundreds of small details that show this place has not yet seen a calm day. Closed doors that lead to storages and archives that are slowly being filled. A larger, and empty, desk from where Shining oversees the running of this place.

But more important than any of that, you are currently looking at…



"In… in that case, Commissioner… well… Is there any reason for you to be here?"



You are currently looking at the ponies who work here. The secretaries and administrators that truly compose the Secretariat of the Lunar Bureau.

And you can't help but notice that they are… well, they are not "nervously watching" you. But you can tell they are not at ease either.

You know all of these ponies, of course. You remember all their names, and all of them enter your room, every now and then, to deliver or recover one or another document.

However, now that you think about it, you don't really know these ponies.

And even though they aren't nervously fidgeting, stoically saluting you, or trying to evade you as politely as possible, you realize they also don't know you either.

Huh…

"Actually, there is one thing I would like to ask," you say. And the several ponies around you, each of them sitting behind his own desk, look at you with even more attention than before.

The mare in charge of your calendar, a smartly dressed white unicorn called Inkwell, gives you a short nod. Although you can tell that even she is slightly relieved that, well, you are about to make sense of your sudden visit here.

"Of course, Commissioner. Whatever it is you would like to know?"

But rather than asking them about something business-related, or about something that recently reached your desk, you surprise them with something else.

You ask them what they think about their job, and how they have been handling this oh-so-recent part of their lives as part of the Lunar Bureau.

You try to start a conversation.

And you think you succeeded. Even if it was only with these seven ponies, who work right across the corridor from you.





They used to know you from the sound of the magical bell you ring, to summon one of them. Or from one of the piercing yells you let out, whenever you call for the Deputy.

But now, they know you by your name. And you call them by theirs.

You have taken the first step towards knowing the Lunar Bureau better. And towards being better known by them in turn.





- - -

- - -

- - -





As the days rush by, and you recover the free time you had invested in Cadance's marriage, you finally find yourself able to focus on… a certain project of yours.

Have you been avoiding this project? You are not… entirely sure.

Are you afraid of this project? Yes, you definitely are. You won't beat around this particular bush.

In fact, you are glad that you are afraid of doing this. It means you still have some measure of common sense about you. Or maybe, if not common sense, that your survival instinct is still working.

However, the fact remains that today… well, today you will force yourself to push past those barriers. Today, you will ignore your fears, and your common sense, and even your survival instinct.

Today, you will try to take a better look at something that has been with you for a while now.

…

You remember when this… thing began to happen. You remember when you first… "acquired" it? When you were first "afflicted" by it? When you first "realized" it?

Now that you think about it, you don't even know how to call this thing. You don't even know what words to use.

Is this a phenomenon that is happening to you? Is this a skill that you have acquired?

Or perhaps, is this a sickness you have in your brain? Is this a symptom of some esoteric insanity?

You… you don't know. You have no idea.

You don't know what it is, and you have nopony you can ask about it. Your former Master is gone. Baldomare refused to answer your questions. You will be damned if you ask Axe for any help. And of course, you are still reluctant to… confide in Mareinette, despite her offers.

So, you are under no illusions that you are lost in the dark. You have no idea of what this is, you have no idea of what it can do, and you have no idea of what to do next. Or even if you should do something about it.

However, or perhaps because of your ignorance, you still feel this urge to… try something. To learn about it. To explore it, even if it could be dangerous.



You are speaking, of course, about your… visions. About those memories from the near-past that appear in your mind every now and then. Those glimpses that aren't quite yours, but aren't quite anypony else's.

Those strangely-reliable déjà vus, as if you had just glanced over the thing you were looking for, that always took you in the right direction.

Those unexplainable waking dreams, where realize you were talking to a pony a few moments before. Even though you were somewhere else when that conversation happened, and you had never seen that pony in your entire life.



Yes, that maddeningly strange pathway inside your mind, that smells like hawthorn and has a color that is so achingly familiar. That strange book you have inside your head, that every now and then somepony else will write a memory into.

Today you will do something you have been avoiding this entire time.

Today, rather than pushing those thoughts away when they come to you, you will try to look deeper.

Even if it feels like something else will look back at you, when you do it.



- - -



You are sitting on your bed, with your eyes closed.

You are sitting at the very center of your bed, keeping your eyes as closed as possible without reaching the point you can actually see through them.

Your room is dimly lit, and your breathing is as slow and calm as you can handle it.

In short, you are meditating.

Or rather, you are trying to meditate.

You once read a book about meditation. And its instructions said, among other things, to try it in a calm and silent place. And to try to minimize any external distractions that might reach you.

However, that book also had terms like "sitting cross-legged" and "keeping your spine vertical" towards the floor.

You don't think that was a very good book. It didn't even specify which legs to cross!

Still, you are trying your best to…

"… keep my mind… clear!"

You let out a loud groan, opening your eyes in the process. This is definitely not working. And you are pretty sure that using other means will just taint the process.

"But it doesn't make sense," you say to yourself. "This… these memories, these visions. I have them all the time. Why isn't it working now?"

You mumble to yourself as you shift on your bed, the soft mattress suddenly feeling uncomfortable under your hind.

Not wanting to fight against your growing frustration, you just stand up and jump off from the bed. Walking around the room as you continue grumbling.

"I mean, it always feels like I… like I just talked to somepony. Like somepony told me where that pen was, or what time the clock was saying when I last looked at it. But right now…"

You keep walking in circles around your room. Once, twice, five times. Wracking your brain for that maddeningly familiar pull that, for some reason, just isn't there.

"… but right now, it just feels like I'm talking to myself. Like there's nopony else in here but me!"

The words echo through your room for a moment, but after that you are once again alone with your thoughts.

That is, until your eyes fall upon the large, full-body mirror on the corner of the room. The one you placed by the door, so you could check your dress one last time before you leave to start the day.

And for some reason, you suddenly remember a few of the… glimpses you had, ever since this thing started to happen.

Of course, you have already seen all sorts of things. Hints of houses that looked like your estate, but with small differences here and there. Sights of cities you are sure do not exist in the Equestria you know.

But the strangest visions were always… the ones where you were looking at a mirror.

No, it wasn't that.

The strangest visions were always the ones where somepony else was looking in a mirror.

A pony that wasn't quite you, but wasn't quite somepony else either.

A different Velvet Covers, with a face that looked just like yours, if a pony was trying to paint you from memory alone. Right in a hundred ways, but slightly off in a thousand different ones.

You remember that strangeness. And before you realize it, you are already standing in front of the tall mirror.

You look at yourself… at your mane, and your dress, and your body. Until finally, you start looking into your eyes.

And slowly, you begin to edge closer to the mirror. As if you are trying to see something in your eyes that you can't quite name. You slowly walk towards the mirror until you realize the tip of your horn is now pressing against it.

But still, you keep looking at your own eyes. You focus on that, and nothing else.

Until you can see your own reflection, inside the mirrored version of your eyes.

Until you can see that eyes of that Velvet, the one that lives inside the eyes that are behind the mirror.

Deeper, and deeper, and deeper. Until you feel like you just placed a mirror in front of a mirror. Until you feel like you are looking into a long corridor, made out of the darkness of pupils and arched by rings of irises.

Until you feel like you are-



- - -



[ROLLING 1d9 FOR LORE]



- - -



-the first thing that hits you is how cold it is.

You wake up with a start, even though you know you were not asleep.

Still, the fact remains that you were lying on the ground, your legs sprawled around you. So, you get on your hoofs as quickly as you can.

Because the ground is hard. And more importantly, it is very, very cold. So cold that you can even feel it through your horseshoes.

"W-what… how… where am I?" you hear a voice coming from somewhere.

And it takes you a full second to realize that voice just came from your mouth. And that it sounds so much like yourself, except that it doesn't.

Your heart begins to race as you look around, desperately trying to regain your bearings.

You are currently in a… room of sorts. There is a bed right behind you, but you are definitely not in a bedroom. The walls are made out of stone, as is the floor, and everywhere you look there is a bookshelf full of tomes or a table covered with strange alchemical tools.

Not a bedroom, but definitely a workshop. A workshop where… well, judging by the unkept bed and scraps of food, a pony frequently sleeps in.

You look around you, taking in the details, until you finally notice the obvious.

You finally realize that, right in front of you, is a small mirror fixed on the wall.

And just like that, you remember what you were trying to do. Your chain of thoughts guiding you through what you remember, until you finally understand what must have happened.

It is obvious, now that you think about it.



You succeeded.



And as you look into the small mirror, you can finally see the fruit of your labors.

You are Velvet Covers.

And despite all the similarities, you almost can't recognize the mare in the mirror.

"What… heavens, what have you done exactly?" you say to yourself, although you feel more curious than worried.

Because as you look at yourself, at your own body, you can see that…

Well, your horn looks thinner for starters. But not in a natural way. Your horn looks thinner, and slightly sharper. Almost as if you grinded it until it took its current shape.

Your body as a whole also feels… strange. But in a good way, mind you. You are not wearing any clothes, but as you turn your body sideways, you realize your right hindleg is healed. You can't see a single blemish or scar on your flank, and your cutie mark is in full display.

A strange sense of vertigo runs through you, as you look at that. It's just that you haven't seen your right-side cutie mark in so long that…

You take a deep breath, shaking your head as you do.

And heavens, again, the air is so cold.

Where exactly are you? The way that the walls are carved rather than built make you think you are somewhere underground. But this room doesn't look like a cavern or anything like that.

Is this how this Velvet… is this how you live in this place… in this History?

This isn't Ponyville. This isn't anywhere near Canterlot or central Equestria. Just what on earth happened to your life for you to end up here?!

Those thoughts run through your head, one after the other, and your emotions try to keep up with them as they run.

Part of you feels curious, as if you were looking at somepony else's life or reading about a character from a book. Part of you feels sad, because this place feels… well, you wouldn't trade your family for this, and you can't imagine yourself forcing them to move here with you. And part of you even feels guilty for…

Wait, no… why do you feel guilty? These thoughts, these emotions, they are yours. But not all of them. Some of them are coming from your body, rather than your mind.

This guilt, for example, seems to be something that you… that this Velvet carries inside of her, even though her mind just escaped somewhere else.

But before you can even think about prying into it-



-a thought occurs to you. No, not a thought. A memory from just now.

You are looking at yourself. Examining a familiar dress, as you look into a mirror in a familiar room.

Velvet Covers is looking at your body, her expression as curious as your own. Examining the rich room, and then the vista of Canterlot outside the window, with the same amount of wonder.

That is, until she looks at her reflection in the mirror, and gives it a short bow.

That is, until she looks at you, and gives you a short bow.

And the agreement of a time, no more than one hour, is reached-



-you realize you don't have time for that. Or maybe that it would be rude to pry. Or perhaps both.

With that in mind, you make your way towards the door, confident to explore this place as much as you can, while causing as few problems as possible.

And you know that, somewhere else far away, another you is doing the same.



- - -



Your body feels… strange. It doesn't feel like your own body, and yet you can do anything you want without any problems. It feels like wearing a new dress, that somehow has already seen the contours of your wear and use.

For example, the moment you make your way towards the door, your horn lights up. And before you realize it, you are casting a spell from muscle memory that you… well, that you have no idea of its purpose.

But as you go along with the movements of the maddeningly familiar spell, you quickly realize you are levitating something inside a small cabinet. Unfortunately, paying this much attention to the spell means that you ruined the flow of your body's memory. However, after quickly investigating the cabinet, you discover a long scarf and a thick cloak.

You put them on, of course. And you are thankful for it moments later.

Because somehow, the air outside your small workshop-room is even colder than inside of it.

Still, exiting the room helps you confirm some of your suspicions. You are definitely under the ground. Everything around you, the walls, floor and ceiling, is carved from the same dark-grey stone. And you spot a few support columns here and there.

Still, this place is not nearly as expansive as the underground level of the Wildhoof Club, for example. And other than a second room, with a bed and some personal belongings, and a small storage full of strange ingredients, you don't find anything else other than a stairway that leads up.

You really wish you had more time to check everything you have found. Heavens, the ingredients, and the scrolls, and even the instruments that this other you seems to use have all piqued your curiosity. The Lore-related applications to everything you have found so far are clear, but unfortunately they are not so obvious that you could learn from them at a glance.

However, since you are more curious to… well, learn more about her than about her methods, you quickly tear your eyes away from her cabinet of ingredients, and make your way up the stairs.

And as you reach the top of the stairs, opening a wooden trapdoor that covered its top, you see…



"Back already, Master? Is there anything you need?"



As soon as you open the trapdoor, you are almost immediately greeted by a strange stallion. An earth pony, or perhaps a pegasus, wearing heavy winter clothes that cover almost his entire body. His face is uncovered, and you can see a hint of his tail behind him, but other than that there is precious little you can tell about him.

But more importantly, what… what did he just call you?

"Excuse me, what did you say?" you ask, but you only realize that even that question was a blunder far too late.

After all, well… you think it would be best if you didn't cause any suspicion at all. You certainly wouldn't want your other-self going around doing strange things. So what if… well, what if this stallion doesn't know anything about the Lores? What if you end up acting in a strange way that causes suspicion?

Ack, an unpleasant thought suddenly occurs to you, as you think about that. Because what if this strange stallion is in some sort of relationship with you? You certainly wouldn't want to indulge him if he tried to kiss you or anything.

No, too many variables. You know too little. You don't even know enough to understand what "unsuspicious" would be, in this History.

The best thing you can do is just-

"Sorry, Master. Cold must be making my throat dry again. I just asked you if you need anything," he asks.

And thankfully, he sounds respectful. Perhaps even slightly worried. Thank the heavens, at least this should mean he isn't your lover or anything.

You bite down the small sigh of relief that was building up inside of you, and you quickly walk out of the trapdoor and shut the thing behind you.

"No, no need for anything," you say, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Should you finish it with a "thank you"? You can't really tell. This stallion just called you "Master", but that really isn't enough for you to measure your relationship with him. Or rather, that isn't enough to know if you should treat him politely or not.

However, and once again thankfully, the stallion just gives you another nod, and turns your back to you once again. Acting as if nothing out of the ordinary just happened.

You bite down another relieved sigh, and focus on your surroundings.

You seem to be… inside a shop? Yes, this is definitely a shop. The temperature is almost freezing, and you can see hints of fog and icing on a window. One that seems to lead to a street of sorts. But more importantly, you can see several wares placed on wooden shelves. Foodstuff, supplies for the cold, and several items besides that you aren't really familiar with.

You can also see that this place is… well, you would best describe it as "run down". The entire shop seems to be made out of wood. But for all that it looks solid enough, at least to keep the roof over your head, everywhere you look you can see something in disrepair.

Plus, considering how cold you feel, there doesn't seem to be any insulation to speak of.

Still, you look around you very carefully… drinking in the details, trying to figure out more about whatever place this might be. Are you even in Equestria? Could it be you are somewhere out of the country, perhaps on the far north or distant south?

You still can't tell.

So, you carefully make your way through the run-down shop. The stallion, who you think is your "apprentice" is reading from a book as he sits behind the counter. And other than that…

You look out through the window, and you see nothing but a cobblestone street covered in snow. Other buildings, made out of wood and also in disrepair, seem to flank the street. But the window itself is too fogged for you to make out any details.

You try to sniff at the air, and you feel… you feel…

You can't feel anything. Nopony nearby, not your apprentice, not even yourself…

Fascinating. You try to close your eyes, but you don't see anything other than the darkness of your eyelids.

Could this mean that those skills you have learned are…

No, you don't have time to dwell on this either. You want to go out, to explore this strange place. To at least figure out where you are, and what could have possibly brought another-you here.

But before you leave, you take a small gamble. And you turn towards your "apprentice" to ask him a question.

"I will be leaving for a tiny bit. But tell me, did anything happen while I was downstairs?" you ask, hoping that you didn't trip on any small detail. Because who knows, maybe there are certain terms or words that should be familiar to you, and that you didn't use right now.

You hope your body's muscle memory would have picked up on that, if it happened.

"Hm? No, nothing out of the ordinary, Master," the stallion answers, looking up from his book as he speaks.

He sounds awfully respectful as he does, but you can't tell anything other than that.

"Well, actually, somepony did pass by here, Master," he says, but he shrugs as if he wasn't about to say anything new. "That junkie Amore passed by a few minutes ago, begging for another drop. But I shooed her away, no worries."

He says those words so casually.

But you practically feel your heart drop inside your chest, as soon as you hear that name. And your mind all but freezes as you repeat what he just said to you.

You exit the shop without another word less than a second later.



- - -



You don't really know where you are. Some of the roads have signs on them, and the signs are written in Equestrian. But none of those names are familiar.

The sky also seems to be entirely covered in snow clouds. So even though there is still enough sunlight for you to be able to see, everything around you seems to be covered in this perpetual gloom of sorts.

But you don't care about any of that. None of that matters.

You don't have the time to investigate any of that. Not if, according to your understanding, you have less than an hour before you leave this place.

All that matters to you is that name, the name that your "apprentice" so casually mentioned. The name that, apparently, belongs to a… what did he call her? A junkie? An addict? You aren't really sure.

You don't have enough time to dwell on the details either.

All that matters is that, somewhere in this snow-covered village, nestled between two mountains in Tartarus-knows-where, there is a pony you need to find.

Because you might be wrong about this. In fact, you hope you are wrong about this. But even though you are in an entirely different History, there is only one pony you have ever met who has the word Amore as part of her name.

And thankfully, this village is small enough that you find her before long.

…

Although, well, you aren't really relieved by what you see…



- - -



"I… I'll pay you back, I swear! I-I just haven't… n-need more time and..!"

"Cadance…"

"B-but I'll be able to pay you b-back sooner if I… p-please, it just helps me focus. J-just one more drop and I know I…!"

"Cadance…"

"N-no! Don't come any closer! I'll do anything, please just-"

"Cadance, I just want to talk to you… please."



It seems that you are… or rather, that the Velvet from this History is… an alchemist.

Furthermore, getting any reliable details is very difficult. But apparently, you… or rather, this Velvet, knows how to make a substance called Keyhole Glimpse. A substance, mind you, that seems to be highly addictive.

Or maybe, it is not addictive at all. Because from what you understand, the only thing that substance does is allow you to look at "another life" of yours.

But… but if your current life is miserable, and drinking from that potion allows you to see a life that is just perfect, how could that potion be anything but addictive to you?

That is what you slowly come to understand, as you speak to the mare you just met. That is the puzzle you piece together, as you speak to… Mi Amore Cadenza. Although, if it wasn't for her name, you don't think you would have been able to recognize her at all.

The pink of her fur is a dirty brown. Her wings are battered and bruised. Everywhere you look she seems to be thin and malnourished. And the place you found her was… well, the two of you are literally under a bridge, although you don't think a river has flown through this village in a very long time.

"I-it's just that… you don't understand, Merry. What I see is just… it's just so good…"

It took you a lot of effort, but you finally managed to get Cadance to speak normally… or at least not yell in fear as she looks at you. Still, so far she has only called you "Merry". You haven't bothered to correct her on that.

"I know, Cadance, I understand," you say, trying to… well, you are not really sure.

"No, you don't. Y-you really don't… I… Merry, I was beautiful. I… I saw it, I swear I saw it. I had a horn and… and my dress… and he loved me, Merry… He loved me more than anypony ever loved me in my entire life."

You are sitting on the cold, hard ground, under the shadow of the stone bridge, as you listen to her. But the poor mare just drones on and on. Talking about a party that she knew could never happen. Describing a stallion who she didn't even know the name of. Choking on tears as she remembered a joy she could barely describe.

And you… just…

You don't know what to do.

Part of you thinks this is another History, so none of this is your concern. So you shouldn't do anything about it.

And another part of you… well, another part of you knows you can't do anything about it. This Cadance seems to be terrified of you, due to some debt that you know nothing about. She is… well, addicted, sick and miserable. And most importantly, you are running out of time.

You wouldn't be able to help her even if you wanted to. And you do want to help her, but…

…

No, there has to be a way. You only have a few precious minutes left, but there has to be something you can do.

This might be a shot in the dark. This might be a risk, or maybe even a problem that the Velvet from this History will have to deal with later on.

But still, you… you are Cadance's friend. She trusts in you and you care about her.

So, even though the logic of the Mansus dictates this is just another History, and that its fate does not belong to you.

You… refuse to accept that logic.

Cadance is your friend. Not just in your History, but anywhere she is.

And you will be damned if you don't do something to help her in this life.

"Cadance, I need you to listen to me very carefully," you say.

More than just that, you stand up. You stand up and you make your way towards her.

The mare recoils in fear as you do so. And even though you don't know why she is so afraid of you, you also realize your body, and this Velvet, is deep in the Lores. So, you understand you could have become a fearsome mare if you wanted to.

Still, you march towards her, even as she presses her back against a column that holds the overhead bridge.

And then you place a soft hoof on her shoulder. Even though that makes her shake so very much.

"Cadance, what if I told you that… I know what you saw? What if I told you that I saw it too, that I saw your marriage and your happiness and… him?" you say that as you look into her eyes.

The mare tries to answer, words forming on her dry and bruised lips. But something, perhaps fear or perhaps the memories she saw from her other life, stops her.

Still, you can tell that she believes you. Fearsome, or perhaps cruel, as Velvet Covers might be here, this Cadance understands that you are not lying. That the magiks you sell her in the form of that addictive potion is just the tip of a much larger iceberg.

And once you know she believes in you, you tell her what really matters.

"And what if I told you that… I can tell you where you can find him. Here, in real life, rather than just in your visions from the bottom of a flask?"

You say that, and you watch as Cadance's eyes go wide in surprise. No, more than just that.

You see in Cadance's eyes something that she hasn't felt in several years now. You see in Cadance something that, just for an instant, flashes brighter than her fears, and her regrets, and even her sorrow and addiction.

You see in her eyes… a glimmer of hope.

"His name is Shining Armor, and you will find him in a city called Canterlot. He is just a bit younger than you, and you will probably find him with a purple unicorn called…"



You tell her everything you know.

You tell her everything you can.

And seconds before your time is up, you hear her promise you that no matter what it costs her, or how long it takes, that she will find him.



"Thank you, Merry Locksmith, I… I will never forget this."



And then you are back.



[SH Sacrament – First Step, cd 110]

[Roll: 61 + 14 (Learning) + 40 (Secret Histories Level 4) = 115]

[Success]



[But did you learn anything from it?, cd 100]

[Roll: 25 72 + 14 (Learning) + 40 (Knock Level 4) = 116]

[Knock re-roll used]

[Success]





You have advanced one step towards your Secret Histories Sacrament. The next step will be harder.

Gained one Knock scrap of Lore.

Knock-Velvet, the wandering potion-maker who had secluded herself in distant Yake Range, has made amicable contact with you, and perhaps learned a little bit from her foray into your History.

Servant-actions results to follow.

Spoiler: Author's Note

A while ago, back when you were still making your way into Cadance's life, I heard a song. And for some reason, that song made me think of... how are the Cadances of other Histories going?
After all the existence of alicorns are so covered in mystery. So what if the Cadances of other Histories never became alicorns? What if their lives turned into something totally different?

What if they never met Shining Armor?

And what if, given your own Secret Histories skills, one of those Cadances could peek into the life of the Princess of Love?

Well, that song made me think about all of that because I can only imagine that Cadance would also think "This day should be for me".



However, as time progressed and votes evolved, something else happened. You gave Cadance a perfect marriage.

And for all the harshness of the Lores that surround this setting, Cadance's happiness was a victory for Harmony. And that matters.

In every History.

So, take this as word of god that you helped this Cadance. Love won in your History, and that overflowed to the nearby threads. Even if it was just a drop of it.

And at least this Cadance will also find her Shining Armor, even if the path she must walk is hard.

Here is the song, for those who are curious:

Spoiler: Song

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Jtgj8j4tY

Mili - Skin-Deep Comedy ("魔法使いの約束" Part 2 theme song)

Thank you for reading this! And have a wonderful day.