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

Reader mode
LieutenantSpirit said:
Does the leader of an expedition carry a mechanical benefit/malus? I'd rather have the vastly more experienced Edge 7 Biedde lead over Rarity, who will likely not be comfortable with the violence.
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Nah, hurdles always use the person best-equipped for it.

(But having Comet lead and Rarity go to the Grave probably works better.)

EDIT: I guess this is all weird because we don't actually specify who's doing what. We'll have a vote about who's leading expeditions and who they're bringing along in the mid-turn (them both being short makes it a lot easier). So we can make this call then.
 
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I'm not willing to compromise on Luna's training or guarding action, and the Outsider search does not need to be completed in one fell swoop, especially if overcommitting resources would still only put us at a 75% chance of instant completion.

Swapping Rarity and Comet for expedition leads makes sense though, and since that gets decided at the expedition planning phase we don't even have to adjust anything to account for that.
 
Venerable Ro said:
I'm not willing to compromise on Luna's training or guarding action, and the Outsider search does not need to be completed in one fell swoop, especially if overcommitting resources would still only put us at a 75% chance of instant completion.
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Their is zero reason for Luna action to be wasted on guarding their will 8 people defending the home this turn 6 Constables, Biedde, and Soft.
 
[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Digging
I think I would prefer for Mareinette to find a victim instead, but this is good enough and I don't think any new plan would manage to gather votes quickly enough.
 
spiderhellian said:
Probably the way to do it if we were doing it like this would be to have Comet lead the attack, and Rarity go on the Grave expedition (maybe lets us send DoA along, rather than Mareinette, since we'll have social actions better-covered).
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I'd rather not have Comet masterminding the demise of his various associates, for the sake of his sanity if nothing else.

Earth-Destroyer said:
Their is zero reason for Luna action to be wasted on guarding their will 8 people defending the home this turn 6 Constables, Biedde, and Soft.
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Zero reason other than everyone's stress, worry, and concern.
I agree that there are better things to be done, but there isn't no reason for Luna's guarding.
 
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Earth-Destroyer said:
Their is zero reason for Luna action to be wasted on guarding their will 8 people defending the home this turn 6 Constables, Biedde, and Soft.
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Where are you getting Soft from? She doesn't have any actions we can dictate, and in any case is a perfectly normal pony.

As to the rest, it's flimsier than you might think, we've seen how Biedde works in combat and he's actually a terrible blocker when fighting mundane ponies. Our constables haven't been tested on-screen yet but while good they are as yet without Lore and thus at a disadvantage against even cheap first or second level Influences. Observe Shining getting his bell rung by the conventionally untrained Comet, or our wounded noblemare self being a deadly threat to a professional killer. Putting aside the significant emotional and character-driven reasons to let Luna protect her beloved family, she's also an excellent backline to handle any and all threats that manage to slip past Biedde while the constables back her up.


We have one turn left where Copper could still potentially give some sort of order or make some sort of hail-Mary play out of desperation or irrational hate. This isn't dooming, this is rationalism, we are still very vulnerable for one more turn.
 
Earth-Destroyer said:
Wasted energy and time that should be spend on productive activities, that actually matter. Time managment and delegation is an important lesson Velvet should be teaching Selene.
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I don't think Selene's headspace would accept any such lessons right now, sadly. Just that Mom is telling her to go do a thing she'd rather not.

Like again, I agree that there are more important things to be doing, I just wanted to point out that emotional needs are a thing and a reason.
 
Can we even afford purchasing two Heart 3 Books on top of Expeditions, Reagents, and paying off Biedde?

How does one even do vote tallies on this site?
 
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Talon Tiger Dino said:
Can we even afford purchasing two Heart 3 Books on top of Expeditions, Reagents, and paying off Biedde?
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Possible, depends on when we're doing Canterlot Pt. 3.

One issue is we're not likely to see 2 level-3 books, let alone 2 level-3 Heart books, in one action. Especially lacking our upgraded book search from SH 3.

Talon Tiger Dino said:
How does one even do vote tallies on this site?
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See this post.
 
Rafuki22 said:
Does Axe get unsummoned in turn 20?
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At the end of turn 21 I believe it was, unless we absolutely smash through the Sacrament and get that Key for her. One presumes that's what'll either prolong her stay or make it permanent.

We were going to take a crack at it this turn, but well, the Church and then the attack...
 
Venerable Ro said:
At the end of turn 21 I believe it was, unless we absolutely smash through the Sacrament and get that Key for her. One presumes that's what'll either prolong her stay or make it permanent.

We were going to take a crack at it this turn, but well, the Church and then the attack...
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Thanks, then i can make a variant of my plan that has an assault on Copper, we can have the Wrong Keys next turn.

[X] Plan Relative calm during the Assault
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X] [CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X] [JADE] Research "A Memory of Light".
-[X] [SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X] [SELENE] Guard her mother.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Twilight Sparkle, if vetoed then search Canterlot for the Outsider.
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry.
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them.
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare.
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Prolong her stay by giving her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Moth 5 book.
-[X] Lead an expedition. (A Grave on a Hill)
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider. (x 2)

[X] Plan Relative calm before the Assault
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X] [CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X] [JADE] Research "A Memory of Light".
-[X] [SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X] [SELENE] Guard her mother.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Twilight Sparkle, if vetoed then search Canterlot for the Outsider.
-[X] (AXE) Craft Wrong Keys. (She will give you three Wrong Keys, which will expire after five turns. Only once per summoning.)
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry.
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them.
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare.
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Prolong her stay by giving her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Moth 5 book.
-[X] Lead an expedition. (A Grave on a Hill)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider. (x 2)

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)
 
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Steady Gaze said:
Time for the follower phase table. (@OurLadyOfWires this may be of interest to you.) @ me if something is inaccurate or you need something updated. I forgot how tedious it was to make this, so I decided to skip the double-check and action counting this time, and I might stop doing it going forward. About the plans:
  • So, I noticed people have been specifying followers for actions that are not actually unique to those followers. I'm not sure how the QM will handle this, so I decided not to really worry about presenting this info.
  • Some voters include the constables 24/7 guard upgrade (vs. discretionary guard) as part of the actual plan, while other voters treat it as a separate vote. No one who proposed a plan actually voted for the discretionary guards though, so it probably won't matter.

Plan/FollowerTURaWorkTURaSearchElimThreatOutshine2TakeAliveMoreHeartGetOutsiderRCAssaultTURSSSTURSSSVMTROWSTURaDig
Security24/724/724/724/724/724/724/7
DetectivesAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackersAttackers
ConstablesGuardGuardGuardGuardGuardGuardGuardGuardGuardGuardGuardGuard
RarityWorkWorkWorkWork
SeleneWinterWinterGeneralWinterWinterWinterGeneralWinterWinterWinterWinterWinter
SeleneGuardGuardGuardGuardSpy WindySpy WindyGuardGuard
MareinetteSocial FilthySocial FilthyHeart inflGrail inflGrail inflFind victimSocial FilthySocial TwilightSocial FilthyFind victimFind victimSocial Filthy
MareinetteSocial SpoiledSocial SpoiledSocial SpoiledSocial SpoiledSocial Spoiled
DoAWrong keysWrong keysKnock lessonKnock lessonWrong keysWrong keysWrong keysWrong keysWrong keysWrong keysWrong keysWrong keys
BaldomareL6 or L5L6 or L5 bookL6 bookL6 or L5L6 or L5L6 or L5L6 bookL6 or L5L6 or L5L6 or L5L6 or L5L6 or L5
ServantsFind easy exped
JadeMemLightMemLightMemLight
*Outsider 2xOutsider 3xOutsider 2xOutsider 3xOutsider 1xOutsider 4xOutsider 2xOutsider 3xOutsider 3xOutsider 2xOutsider 2x
*Scry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry CopperScry Copper
*Scry Windy
*Assault CopperAssault CopperAssault CopperAssault CopperAssault CopperAssault CopperAssault CopperAssault CopperAssault CopperAssault CopperAssault Copper
*Grave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave expedGrave exped
*Make prisonMake prisonMake prison
*Find Heart, Forge books
Plan/FollowerTURaWorkTURaSearchElimThreatOutshine2TakeAliveMoreHeartGetOutsiderRCAssaultTURSSSTURSSSVMTROWSTURaDig


This plan doesn't include which expedition to go on. I decided to assume you meant the Grave on a Hill.
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super appreciated, I still have to look at all plans properly...

and yeah, making those tables is pretty annoying, especially with so many plans

Venerable Ro said:
All of this being a longwinded way of saying that Selene's [guard] action is not just gilding the lily but allowing her to uphold her promises to her family and make up for her perceived failure. If we send her off to another city or to dream-haunt some random serial killer
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hey, I resent that!

It wasn't a random serial killer! It was a very specific one!
:V
ok, let's see, what to vote for...
[X] Plan Outshine v2
[X] Plan Take them Alive

Most plans share most actions, really, so I decided to go for the plans with Grail influence, at least for now.
 
Rafuki22 said:
Thanks, then i can make a variant of my plan that has an assault on Copper, we can have the Wrong Keys next turn.
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Well my personal logic was to get the keys this turn, both so that we'd have them available in the event of "randomly an EIB", and so we'd be able to ask Axe for an influence or lesson depending on need to get to work on that Sacrament. In the unfortunate event that she's unsummoned before we can finish the keys will also help with resummoning her.

I'm honestly interested if finding out if we can stack the Knock influence and the Secret Histories Influence together for maximal chances at success.
 
The Axe Looks in the Mirror (Canonicity TBD soon, after more careful analysis)
  • Extras
    • The Axe Looks in the Mirror

    The night smelled quiet. The axe was honed razor-sharp. The hatchling was sneaking downstairs to steal cookies.

    All was as it should be.

    And so, for the first time this visit back to the Wake, the Daughter of Axes was looking in the mirror. Some in the manor might do that out of vanity, or to keep an eye on the room behind them, or to see how it caught the light. But she wasn't vain, or on guard, or curious.

    No. She was...

    Well, adjectives like "sad" or "grieving" or "wistful" are not well-applied to the Name of Knock. So, let us say for the moment, that she was determined.

    She breathed out, her forked tongue flickering, and the mirror before her fogged.


    There was a story she remembered from her childhood, when she was but a young snake slithering out into the world. A story of a magical princess, who had to save a captured prince. The prince was trapped in a tower where the air had no taste, the walls had no doors, and the steps could not be slithered down. Only the princess could save him.

    It was a story for hatchlings, so some might be surprised at how sad the ending was. After a long adventure, involving greater powers than just she, the princess had to sacrifice herself to free her prince — her blood-smell leading the way out, her venom melting a door out of stone, her corpse a path to slither upon.

    When the Name heard that story, long ago, she wanted to be that princess. Not that she wanted to die, but even from a young age, she certainly aspired to a venom that could melt passageways, and she was proud of her royal blood.

    But she never thought much about the prince.

    The one locked away from all he knew. The one who had no say in his rescue. The one who was left to go on, alone.

    What if he hadn't wanted to be rescued? What if he would have preferred just yelling at the princess from his tower, and her yelling back? What if they could have fought together, found a way together, come home together, instead of her making the choice for both of them?

    Maybe that would have been better. A better life, one lived together. And if they failed, a better death, to die together.

    Because whatever happened to that Prince after the story ended, he would be wounded, in a way that could never heal. Whatever his Mother said. And whatever world he found when he left that tower. And whatever he found to distract himself with. And, and, and — tha's just nae wha' sissers do!


    With a snarl, the Daughter of Axes brought her axe out from under her robe. She swung it at the wall, and the mirror shattered, broken beyond repair.

    She heard a scream from below -- could that wolf-freak just not, for once? — and replied with an equally loud yell, "Fok off!"

    Did that wake up the ponies sleeping elsewhere in the manor? Maybe, but it's their own damn fault. They'd be fine if they heard like a proper snake, not with those oh-so-sensitive ears.

    She looked at her shattered reflection in the mirror-shards below her. After a long pause, she sighed. And then with a grimace, the Daughter of Axes curled up in bed, Pasharka tucked close beside her.

    She dreamed of home.

    Please officer, just one more Daughter of Axes theory, please, I promise this is my last, just one more, please.

    God I love speculating about the DoA. There's just enough info in this quest, and just enough info in CS lore, to have a foundation for theorizing but nothing concrete. Absolutely perfect for deranged theory-crafting.

    Remembering that Bird definitely has changed things from core CS lore, I'm wondering here about the Hooded Princes(ses) (or was there even more than her and Pasharka?) not having been saved, brought to another history, by the Mother of Ants... aside from one. Perhaps her sister(s) saved her, but perhaps not by her own will.

    Because this:
    OurLadyOfWires said:
    She tells you that the thing you are looking for, or rather the thing that the Daughter-of-Axes is looking for, is very far away… and yet, closer than anypony might imagine.
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    Has got to be another history, right? Something oh-so-close but also incredibly far away?

    So perhaps she grew up in a history where snakes or snake mares reigned, which explains why she's so confused about 'normal' ponies. She knew a time where she had a sister, and then a time when she was alone. Which puts that "ae dinnae want to be alone ageen…" she said when the curse struck last into a very sad context.

    Where the Sister-and-Witch/Witch-and-Sister's curse comes in, admittedly no clue. Though that is more recent, I think, perhaps around the Mansus's ending? But it is peculiar, because that "imperative of binding and joining" has to be the curse that Baldomare references, what are the odds one Snakemare has two different curses!

    Edit: I guess one possible explanation is she wasn't locked away prior to the curse, even if she left her Mother behind. And now for eras she's been unable to go back, not even to leave flowers on a grave…
     
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  • Extras
    • Venerable Ro said:
    Well my personal logic was to get the keys this turn, both so that we'd have them available in the event of "randomly an EIB", and so we'd be able to ask Axe for an influence or lesson depending on need to get to work on that Sacrament. In the unfortunate event that she's unsummoned before we can finish the keys will also help with resummoning her.

    I'm honestly interested if finding out if we can stack the Knock influence and the Secret Histories Influence together for maximal chances at success.
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    well, we CAN stack influences from different Names, but the implication has been that Knock shouldn't be particularly useful for Axe's sacrament.

    we need knock lvl 4 4/4 to survive the trip, but once we've done that the errand seems to be about FINDING something, so that implies near certain use of SH. which... I suppose might actually give us a reason to try and do SH Sacrament, first, in theory? I suppose we could try doing both in the same turn, but that's a bit risky, and uses a lot of actions.



    ...mh...

    Turn 21 "both sacraments" plan (just to see if it's viable)

    Baldomare: SH influence

    Axe: Keys/lesson/Knock influence?

    AotL: SH (likely to apply during Axe Sacrament)

    Other Names: maybe other influences? we could stack in total SH, Knock, Edge and Grail/Heart

    Servants + Comet + Selene x2 + Rarity = 2 cover your bases extra actions


    Velvet 1: study Lantern/Knock artifacts
    Velvet 2: SH Sacrament
    Velvet 3: SH Sacrament
    Velvet 4: Axe Sacrament
    Velvet 5: Axe Sacrament
    Velvet 6: Axe Sacrament.


    ....I'm actually slightly tempted, but it's most likely a bad idea. We're fairly likely to use the SH Reroll in the first OR Second action of the SH Sacrament, and we're piling risks upon risks.

    Also we have other stuff to do. Mansus, Expeditions, Outsider...
     
    Pittauro said:
    ....I'm actually slightly tempted, but it's most likely a bad idea. We're fairly likely to use the SH Reroll in the first OR Second action of the SH Sacrament, and we're piling risks upon risks.
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    I would prefer to have our Secret Histories Sacrament before trying Axe Knock Sacrament.
     
    spiderhellian said:
    The Axe Looks in the Mirror
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    Absolutely delightful. Thank you for sharing it!

    I will want to read this very carefully, very soon. But for now, no further comments on it.

    I don't have much time right now, you see. I have been working on something, that I will post right now, and then I will immediately leave for other things.

    I hope you are all doing well, and I will see you all soon!
     
    spiderhellian said:
    #5394. Weird if the link didn't work, it was fine for me. But here:
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    Thank ye.

    Rafuki22 said:
    I would prefer to have our Secret Histories Sacrament before trying Axe Knock Sacrament.
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    Sadly DoA is unsummoned end of next turn, so we either kick it into high gear to save that snake or we consign ourselves to being short our best expedition pony for three turns again, and contesting the summon should we get drained of Keys. And so on.
     
    When the linchpin cracks
  • Threadmarks
    • It is night. The sun is nowhere to be seen, and the moon is currently being blocked by angry clouds charged with lightning. And within the empty corridor of a mansion's second floor, something very unusual is happening.

    And that unusual thing is that there is a Princess there… there is a Princess there, and she is waiting.

    Princess Cadance is not a mare who is used to waiting for things. Not because she is harsh or demanding, but simply because she is a Princess. And as the years went by, even a mare as kind and humble as herself simply grew accustomed to having her every request fulfilled immediately.

    However, the fact remains that right now, she is being made to wait. Right now, there is something she wants… something she needs to do, but still she was put in second place so another pony could go first.

    But of course, she is not angry about that. She is not angry or upset. In fact, she even agrees that this is the right way for this to happen.

    Still, it doesn't retract from the fact that she is waiting. And that, since there is nothing she can do but pace back and forth, she is so worried that it hurts.

    Princess Cadance is currently walking back and forth on the long corridor of the Velvet mansion. The one on the second floor, where the Lady's family lives, that leads to the grand stairs and connects all the guest rooms and family accommodations. She has no idea of how late she is, and she doesn't really care.

    The best she can do right now is not press her ear against the nearby door, that leads to the master bedroom, to try and hear what is being said inside. The least she can do right now is at least give them some privacy.

    Because she is waiting… for a chance to speak to her friend. She is waiting to speak to a mare who, less than a day ago, survived a… an assassination attempt. She had been waiting in this mansion all day, and as soon as she was told that the mare had finally woken up, she practically planted herself in front of her door for a chance to see her.

    But of course, she is still waiting because there are other ponies in that room right now. And Princess or not, they are more important than her when it comes to this sort of thing. After all, they are…



    "Will… will mom get better…?"
    "I don't know, dear… I don't know."



    A pair of voices, painfully familiar and crushing in how much sorrow they are speaking with, snap her out of her thoughts. And Cadance almost hurts her neck with how quickly she turns to face the door to the master bedroom.

    And sure enough, a small group of ponies is exiting the room. They are her friend's family. Her husband, and her three daughters, who were called here as soon as Velvet opened her eyes. The one group of ponies who, given the circumstances, would have priority over a Princess.

    She looks at them, with a mixture of hope and nervousness, but she… but they…

    … her heart sinks. Because the four ponies look more than just downtrodden, and they don't even look at Cadance as they walk down the corridor.

    And that… that can't be good news. It just can't. Of course, she wasn't expecting them to leave the room laughing, and talking about their expectations of a quick recovery. Cadance certainly hoped that was the case, but she knew that was unlikely.

    However, she certainly didn't expect her friend's family to exit the room even sadder than they were before they entered it.

    Is… is it really that bad?

    The four ponies don't even realize she is there, as they quietly walk away. But still, they left the door open behind them. And they all knew Cadance was waiting to see her friend.

    So, Cadance takes a deep, heavy breath… and then she enters the master bedroom.

    …

    "Velvet…? Are you… how do you feel?" she says.

    Although she has to blink her eyes a few times to get used to the darkness. Because the windows are closed shut, and there is no moonlight to speak of. But more than that, there isn't a single lit candle inside the room.

    Cadance wonders how bad her friend must look like, for that to be the case. And she… she decides not to light up her horn. To give her friend some privacy, and maybe not to cause her any pain, given how she was told that Velvet was struck on the head.

    "Velvet? It's me… can you hear me? Are you… are you still awake?" she says, closing the door behind her as she enters the room. Cautiously making her way towards her dear friend as she whispers those words.

    Cadance is not particularly used to this room, but she can see its contours well enough. The faint light coming from the corridor, from under the door, is barely enough for her to see where the bed is. And she can make out the faintest hint of a mare, covered in bandages, lying on it.

    However, she can't… she can't really feel…

    "Velvet? Do you… do you know who I am…?" she asks, struggling to keep her voice from shaking.

    And finally, she hears the faintest hint of movement coming from the bed. The sound of bandages rustling as a head turns to face her in the darkness.

    "Cadance… you have a lot of nerve coming here," the voice says.

    And it takes Cadance several moments to recognize that voice. Because it sounds like her dear friend… but only in the same way that a strong wind during a storm sounds like a whistle.

    Although, Cadance is much more worried about what Velvet just said. Her heart skips a beat as she tries to understand what her friend meant by that.

    "I'm sorry… what? What do you mean, Velvet? Of course I came. I… I'm worried about you," she says, trying her best to keep her tone low and hushed.

    Because of course she would come. How could she not?! In fact, she is having to force herself to stay where she is. Because all she wants to do right now is to light up her horn, and hug her friend, and look her in the eye and tell her that everything will be alright.

    So, why would Velvet ever say that she…

    "That is not what I meant… you know what I meant." Velvet says.

    And Cadance's heart sinks a little bit more as she realizes that Velvet's tone is not just tired.

    It is angry.

    "You. Know. What. I. Meant." Velvet repeats.

    Cadance freezes as she hears that, the nervousness in her chest giving way to the painful hammering of her heart. Because why… why would Velvet say that? Why would Velvet say those words with that tone?

    Several things come to her mind at the same time. The tense conversation she had with Stormchaser, as she stallion explained to her the nurse had no idea of how bad the damage was to her friend's head. The reports from the ongoing investigation that more than just a few strange things had occurred.

    The image she just saw, of Velvet's family looking even worse than they were before… after they were able to see the mare.

    All of those things come to Cadance's mind at the same time. And for a moment, there is nothing she can do other than stand there, afraid that something worse might happen if she even moves.

    "No answer? Of course you aren't going to say anything," Velvet continues, the pain in her voice overshadowed only by the weight behind her words. "Because nothing is ever your fault, is it? Nothing you do is ever wrong."

    "Velvet, I… W-what do you mean?" the Princess asks, slightly panicked.

    "Oh, don't give me that, you viper. You know what you did. You forced me into this job. You made this happen-!"

    The mare says that, her voice growing more and more strained as she struggles to yell. Until her voice finally fails her, and she begins to cough.

    Cadance can't help but make her way towards the mare. Because the way she is coughing makes it clear that her friend is in pain.

    However, she doesn't dare to touch her. Her body moved on its own, to get closer to her friend, but her mind is still reeling at what she just heard.

    "Velvet, please, let me-!"

    "Don't come any closer, you…!" Velvet says.

    And Cadance's voice gets stuck inside her throat.

    "You asked me… me, to become the face of Celestia's anger in Equestria. You made me the most hated pony alive. And when this happens, you expect me to believe you didn't mean it?!"

    Cadance's voice gets stuck inside her throat, as Velvet continues to speak, and as the seconds go by she slowly begins to feel her eyes burning up.

    "N-no…! I just…" she tries, and fails, to say something.

    "You just what? You are going to blame me? You are going to blame somepony else? Swear up and down it is not your fault? The same way it wasn't your fault when you let the country fall apart, right when Celestia needed you most? The same way it wasn't your fault that the pony you claim to love the most lost his horn? The same way it wasn't your fault when you failed to save Twilight?!"

    Each word that Velvet says feels like a knife being stabbed on Cadance's heart. Each time Velvet say something, Cadance dearly wants to answer. To say that she is sorry, to say that she didn't mean for any of that to happen. But every time she tries to speak, she just can't.

    The only way she can respond is through her tears, as they begin to run down her face and fall to the ground.

    "Everypony around you gets hurt. Everypony around you gets broken. How many more times does this have to happen before you realize that the one thing they all had in common was you. How many more ponies need to suffer before you see that this is all your fault?! Princess of Love, you call yourself? More like Princess of Loss." Velvet says.

    "Nno! I-I…! Velvet, I, please-!"

    Cadance tries to say something, anything. But suddenly, she feels a pair of hoofs on her shoulders. And on the next moment, Velvet pulls her towards her chest.

    And on that moment, Cadance realizes that Velvet is… that her dear friend is dead.

    She realizes that her chest is so very cold, despite her fur. To the point that even her warm tears become chilly to the touch.

    She realizes that the mare has no pulse. That the mare has no heartbeat.

    She realizes that the mare is telling the truth.

    "You. Made. This. Happen." Velvet whispers into her ear, and the only thing Cadance can do is-



    "-Cadance! Cadance!"



    -fall on her hindquarters as the world suddenly twists around her.

    Because suddenly, she was being gripped by the hateful body of her dead friend.

    But now, she is… suddenly… she is somewhere else?

    H-how… what just happened?

    "Cadance! Look into my eyes. Deep breaths, Cadance, deep breaths."

    Cadance suddenly finds herself in a vast, empty space. A vague recollection of a large room, with white walls and whiter floor, to the point that she can barely make out where the ceiling ends and the walls begin.

    And for some reason, Princess Luna is right in front of her, holding on to her shoulders as she looks her in the eyes.

    "I… L-Luna, Velvet just…!"

    "Cadance, stop. This was just a nightmare. Nothing happened, and you are fine. Everypony is fine."

    Luna says that, and it takes several moments for Cadance to understand the meaning of those words.

    No, she is right… everything is slowly coming back to her… A few seconds pass, and Cadance finally remembers the real conversation she had with her friend, and everything after that.

    This really was just…

    "I… thank you, Luna…" she says, hesitantly.

    Although she still can't shake a particular thought that stuck to her mind.

    "But…but Luna… the things she said… the things Velvet told me just now…"

    "Mom didn't tell you anything, Cadance. This was just a dream. That was just a figment of your imagination."

    "No, that's… that's exactly what I mean. If that was just something that came from my mind… isn't there a bit of truth to them? Doesn't that mean that…?"

    Cadance trails off, as her stunned mind slowly connects the idea that just formed in her mind.

    Because for all that this was a nightmare, this was still something that was created by her subconscious. So, doesn't that mean that… doesn't that meant that deep down, she thinks that…

    "Luna, I… you heard those words, didn't you?" Cadance asks, as the weight she has inside her chest refuses to fade. The false worry from the nightmare being substituted by another, perhaps deeper concern.

    "…"

    "I… please, Luna. You are the only pony I can talk to, about this. You are the only pony who understands what it is to be a Princess… the things you heard, that I know you heard. Do you really think that I… was it really my fault? Did I really fail that much?" Cadance asks.

    No, she doesn't ask. It is clear from Cadance's tone of voice that she is begging right now.

    She is begging Luna, an alicorn who is older than her, to tell her that she did not fail.

    She is begging Luna, the pony who has the greatest understanding of dreams and nightmares, to tell her those words were just mirages and illusions conjured by her own worries.

    She is begging Luna… to tell her that she didn't fail. That this isn't her fault.

    However, Cadance is so deep in her own misery that she doesn't even realize that Luna herself…

    She doesn't even realize that Luna herself is wearing the same expression that she is, right now. That the Princess of the Moon is asking the same question, and that she is being crushed by the same weight.

    She doesn't realize any of that.

    So, when Luna finally answers, her words feel like a hammer's blow against Cadance's back.

    "Cadance, I need you to get yourself together. I can't keep doing this every night."

    And as Luna says those words, Cadance doesn't even realize the other alicorn is also talking to herself.

    "If you think this is your fault, then do better."

    She doesn't realize that Luna is also in as much pain as she is. Or perhaps even more.

    Instead, she only thinks that the Princess of the Moon has found her wanting.

    And when she wakes up, in the middle of the night and back in the Royal Castle, the only thing she can think of is…





    - - -

    - - -

    - - -





    It has been… maybe a week, ever since the attempt on her mother's life.

    Ever since that day, she has stayed at home. Walking up and down the house, sneakily checking if the constables were at their posts, and giving her mother good dreams whenever she wasn't in too deep of a sleep.

    Of course, she has been irate at the fact she still had to go to school. The only reason she accepts doing that at all, is because that way she can keep an eye on her sister. But still, her mother's insistence that "fillies need a routine" was one that she was adamantly against.

    Because what if something happens while she is at school?

    What if somepony tries to hurt her family again, and she is not there to protect them?

    Her disguise is not worth it. She should just reveal herself right now, and damn the consequences. That way, the constables would have to obey her orders to fortify the mansion, and she wouldn't be expected to haul her flank to school to learn about fractions.

    Selene thinks about all of that, and more, as she lies on her bed.

    …

    It has been difficult, for her. It has been difficult for her to live with herself, this past week.

    Because every time she closes her eyes, every time she tries to sleep, she wonders if that will be the moment when it happens again. She wonders if that will be the night that yet another evil pony will pick, to stalk into her home and hurt the ponies she loves.

    She has already replayed that night inside her head more times than she can count. She even remembers, down to the minute details, what kind of training she was subjecting herself to, as that thrice-cursed group of villains broke into her house and nearly beat her mother to death.

    …

    No, they didn't just almost beat her mother to death. She knows… what really happened.

    Her mother did not yet have the time to teach her the theory in depth, and most of the knowledge she has is from the empirical lessons she learned over the last year. But still… still, winter is close enough to heart to detect its influence.

    "Selene…? Are you awake…?"

    But Selene's thoughts are interrupted by a familiar voice. And moments later, she looks up from her bed, and she spots the figure of Silky Stream quietly entering her room.

    "Yeah… I'm here sis," she answers.

    "Can I stay with you tonight…?" the filly asks.

    And without the slightest delay, a faint glow appears on the tip of her forehead. Even though she is an earth pony. Moments later, the light washes over her, and her bed is now being occupied by a much larger alicorn. Still, her new bed is big enough to accommodate that form, and this entire motion is almost familiar by now.

    Without a word, the pegasus filly climbs up the bed, and soon enough she is huddling up to her sister.

    And Selene… doesn't say anything.

    She doesn't ask if Silky is alright, because she already knows the answer to that.

    She doesn't ask if Silky is cold, because she knows the real reason why her little sister is shaking.

    And she definitely does not mention that they have been doing this every night now, because she will be there for Silky for as many nights as she wants.

    So, she just stays there. Lying on her side. Covering her little sister with her large wing, as the filly lies with her head on her flank.

    However, the filly doesn't fall asleep. Of course she doesn't.

    It pains Selene to admit it, but the little filly has not been falling asleep easily ever since that night.

    "Sel-… Selene…" Silky starts to say something.

    And her voice is so heavy, and so wet, that it is clear that the filly is trying her best to hold back her tears.

    "Is… is any bad pony coming to hurt us tonight? I-is… is mom going to wake up tomorrow…?"

    Selene can feel a knot getting tighter inside her chest.

    But still, she is the older sister. She can't let it show.

    So, she just pulls the filly closer to her, and covers her under the protection of her large wings a little more.

    "Nopony is going to hurt us, Silky. I won't let them. I promise. And mom will wake up tomorrow just fine, and we will talk to her again as soon as we get back from school."

    She feels the filly nodding against, the movement rustling the fur of her flank. And she tries to ignore the wet drops she can feel against her cutie mark.

    "O-okay…" is all the filly says.

    And another night drags itself within the Velvet mansion.





    - - -

    - - -

    - - -





    "We both know you are not angry at me," the mare says.

    And the stallion can only grunt in answer.

    Because she is right. She is always right. Good Baldomare is never wrong, and speaking to her is always as illuminating as it is distressing.

    "Maybe I am a little angry at you," he says. Although he says that more out of anger than anything else.

    And to his surprise (although he is too angry to appreciate it) the mare answers him with an understanding expression.

    Because he is being terribly rude to her. He is definitely not acting in a way that a host should treat a guest.

    And yet, she is still talking to him. She is still answering his questions.

    She is still… keeping him company. Perhaps even like a friend ought to do.

    In fact, Baldomare would have poured him a drink, if she didn't already know he would not accept it.

    Because Stormchaser knows this is not the time to drink. He drinks to socialize with other ponies, and he drinks to celebrate good times. But these are not good times, and he will not allow himself to be anything but alert in case something happens, and a nurse or a maid calls for him.

    "But you… are right. I am not angry at you," he says, closing his eyes as he takes a deep breath.

    The mare shrugs, looking out through the window, towards the setting sun, as she casually speaks.

    "To be fair, you are a little angry at me, yes. You are not wrong," she says. And even that, coming from her, is a kindness of sorts. After all, for her to sidestep the issue, and twist her words so they are not entirely false, is something she doesn't do often.

    So, from the Name of Lantern, that is indeed a way to show kindness. Small as it may be, she is finding a way to say that he is "right", even if that kind of thing doesn't mean as much to him as it does to her.

    "But Baldomare, I… I still need to know. I need you to tell me," he says, circling back to the issue they had been discussing before.

    He says that, as he once again asks her the question that brought him here in the first place.

    Because what good is a husband… what is Stormchaser even worth, if he couldn't be there to protect his own wife?

    Couldn't he have avoided this somehow? Shouldn't he have predicted something like this was coming? Damn it all, shouldn't he be the one who was bound to a bed, fighting for his life, instead of his fragile, crippled wife, who almost died giving birth to their daughter?!

    He doesn't know. He doesn't know, and that is why he is here.

    Maybe he should have studied those secrets more intensely. Maybe he should have begged his friend for help, and paid whatever price he asked. Or who knows, maybe he should have quit his job and stayed home, regardless if his cutie mark insisted that he shouldn't.

    Still, he… he has to know.

    He needs her to tell her.

    "I don't want to hurt you, Stormchaser," the mare says, as she lets out a pained sigh. "Please," she finishes.

    And for some reason, that last word carries an unusual amount of weight.

    Almost as if the mare was asking him not to make her hurt somepony. Although he isn't sure if Baldomare is afraid that she will hurt him… or herself.

    But still, the stallion can't stop himself. He has to know. Even if it hurts him.

    "Was… was there anything I could have done? Anything at all?" he asks.

    To which the mare responds with a tired expression.

    "No."

    And that one word cuts the stallion deeper than anything else he has ever felt in his life.





    - - -

    - - -

    - - -





    "Hey there, Soft. I haven't seen you since yesterday… how are you doing?"

    The unicorn mare asks that, as she carefully sits on a nearby chair.

    It has been… a few days, since the commotion happened. Of course, there are still guards walking around, but the bulk of the Canterlot police has already left. There aren't any more investigators looking into this and that, and there aren't any more ponies being taken to the side for those long interviews and questions.

    But that didn't stop Cantrip from checking in on her friend, whenever she could.

    It is early in the morning. Lord Pride is currently busy in his office, with more work to do thanks to the recent occurrence, but he has been very kind in letting her leave whenever she asked for it. So, she didn't even take off her uniform as she came straight to her friend's room in the central mansion.

    And just like every other day, she found Soft… here.

    Alone.

    With that very worrying expression on her face.

    "I'm doing fine…" Soft says.

    And just like every other day, Cantrip can't really say that she believes in her.

    But still, she can't even imagine how rough things must be for her friend Soft. After all she knows her friend's… well, let's call it her background.

    She knows about Canterlot, even if Soft doesn't really speak about it a lot. And she knows how close she is to the noble family.

    Tartarus, word on the corridors is that she works as a maid because she wants to, and that she has already been offered a room on the second floor where the Lady's family lives. She is keeping the job for a sense of stability, or maybe out of duty. But as far as Cantrip knows, Soft is as good as family to the Lady.

    So, knowing what happened to Lady Velvet is definitely… taking a toll on her.

    "I'm glad to hear it, Soft. Say, Lord Pride will probably have a late lunch again, so I think I should eat right about now, before midday. Would you like to join me?" she asks, hoping that her friend will finally accept something that involves leaving her room.

    Because from what she heard, the pegasus mare only leaves her room to take the Lady's daughters to and from school. Other than that…

    … well, she knows the mare has been eating. Or at least she hopes so. But still…

    "No… thanks… I don't really feel like eating right now…" the pegasus mare answers.

    Cantrip answers her with a strained smile, but she nods nonetheless.

    No lunch for her today as well, then. Because she certainly won't leave without her friend. And she much prefers staying here with her for the next hour than using this pause from work to do whatever else.

    Still, the silence begins to stretch as the two mares just stare at each other. Or rather, as Cantrip look at Soft, and Soft looks despondently towards the ground.

    Well, her friend is getting a little better. The general mood of the house has been improving, as the Lady's health steadily gets better. But still, Cantrip can personally attest that Soft is far better today than she was before.

    After all, just a few days ago, Soft was a lot more talkative… she was a lot more talkative, and a lot angrier.

    She doesn't remember what exactly Soft Sweeps said, on the first day she came here to see her. But she still remembers how her words made her feel.

    She still remembers how… how Soft told her that… how her words made her remember all those...

    No! No. Stop. Stop right there Cantrip! The mare shakes her head, as she once again remembers that she shouldn't think about that.

    Yeap, there is nothing to think about. Her friend Soft Sweeps is far better than she was before, and that's all that matters. And as her friend, Cantrip will keep her company until she convinces her to go have lunch with her!

    "Oh, I know!" Cantrip says, as an idea comes to her mind. "Say, do you remember how I told you that some of the maids quit?" Cantrip asks.

    Of course, the reason why the maids quit is the one thing Cantrip will avoid talking about at any costs. Nopony likes the idea of working and sleeping in a place that might be dangerous. But still, that is not what Cantrip is focusing on.

    Far from that, what Cantrip is talking about is the latest bit of gossip that has been going around!

    "Yeah… what about it?" Soft answers.

    "Well, I heard Subtle Glare is already working on finding replacements. Most I heard is that he sent out a missive to the main house in Canterlot. But what's really been buzzing around is that a candidate appeared who is here from Ponyville!"

    Soft tilts her head slightly at that. But she is clearly interested in what Cantrip is saying.

    "It was just the one. And I didn't hear anything about prior experience or cutie marks. But still, I heard she made quite the impression with Subtle Glare on her interview yesterday. So, we might have a new face working at Lord Pride's home sooner rather than later!"

    Soft Sweeps narrows her eyes at that, as if she had just thought about something.

    But more importantly, to Cantrip's relief, Soft's expression is definitely better than it was a few seconds ago. In fact, the pegasus mare almost looks normal, as if they have been having a casual conversation this entire time.

    "A maid recruit… from Ponyville?" she asks.

    "Yeap! Maybe she heard that we would be hiring from somepony? Or maybe this was just a coincidence? I'm also surprised, because I just thought we would get a few replacements from the Canterlot mansion, and that things would be settled that way," Cantrip continues, her tone almost excited from how she finally got a reaction from her friend. "But word on the corridors is that this new mare came-a-knocking some two days ago, and that Subtle Glare agreed to interview her yesterday. Quite the funny story, don't you think?"

    "Yeah… very unusual… especially if… Actually, I'm sorry, did you say what her name was?"

    Cantrip thinks for a few moments, opening the lower drawers of her mind as she tries to remember if that obscure bit of information was present in the gossip she heard.

    "I think it was… Amor? No, not just that. Double name, something-Amor, but I can't remember the first one for the life of me."

    She says that, and something unexpected immediately happens.

    Soft Sweeps smiles. Maybe for the first time in days.

    "Ah… I know her. She's a friend of mine and… Uhm, Cantrip, I don't like… asking for favors. But… do you think you could put in a good word for her? I mean, if she's going to be hired by your side of the estate, I can't…"

    "No need to say anything else. Of course I will!" Cantrip says, as soon as the mare trails off. But the smile that Soft has on her face is more than worth making this promise. "That's what friends are for. And also, any friend of yours is also a friend of mine, so I'd love to meet this Amor!"

    Soft answers her with a thankful nod.

    And finally, finally, Cantrip feels like she is talking to a normal pony again. Finally, Cantrip feels like she is talking to the one friend she managed to make, ever since she came to this distant town.

    These last few days have been tense. They have been tense, and more than a little worrying.

    But she is glad to think that the sun might be finally rising in this particular night.

    And hey, she really meant it when she said it. Any friend from Soft is a friend of hers!

    She is sure there will be no problems whatsoever relating to this "Amor" mare that they are talking about.

    "And… I think I am getting a little hungry. Can I join you for lunch?" Soft asks, with a slightly uncomfortable (but hopeful) smile on her face.

    To which Cantrip answers by standing up from the wooden chair, and leading the way towards the door.

    After all, friends are meant to be there for each other.

    And the more friends one has, the merrier.

    Right?

    Right?





    This is a reminder that you are not forced to accept Selene's request to guard you this turn.

    And this is a reminder that she won't be guarding just you, if you do order her to stay.

    And the there is… everything else, that also happened.

    Voting is still open. To be closed on Sunday night. Remember to pick the correct post to start counting the votes from, and not just pick "last threadmark" from whatever program you use.
     
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