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

[Nevermort]

Well this does bring up the question of "what starts to happen if the Doom Clock hits 0?"

I'll start by saying this is not a pretty result.

First, I think we have to accept it is likely that Celestia will eventually discover the "Pathway through Nightmares" ritual and put 2 and 2 together. All she needs is someone to make it to the Blank Plains. And then she is starting to actively hunt lore users.

So worst case scenario happens and Celestia kills Velvet. Beyond the fact that this alone may be enough to turn her into full Daybreaker, it probably won't end there. At minimum, I suspect that Stormchaser would also die in this scenario since he has lore levels too. Frankly, I'm not even sure if Silky would be safe from the Celestial Inquisition. Frankly the only ones that I think get out of this are Selene and Soft Sweeps, and I can see what they do going a hundred different ways.

Just my usual worst-case catastrophizing

I'm becoming very certain about wanting to send Ash against Midday Dew with our free Mansus action next turn though. Anything to slow this clock down.

Click to shrink...

Velvet can escape at least once thanks to Edge artifact.
Daybreaker is not a immediate game over, it even have its own mechanics so it is multi turn affair.
And we meeting with Midday Dew this turn. Depending on how we go, we can be better of continuing doing so or even sending Mareinette his way. It likely would be more effective to subvert him and delay Celestia this way instead of just killing him since she would simply find replacement for him in short order.

 

[DelightedOne]

I'm becoming very certain about wanting to send Ash against Midday Dew with our free Mansus action next turn though. Anything to slow this clock down.

Click to shrink...

And you don't think it would be... dangerous to off Celestia's head researcher just when she is growing in the lores? She may actually be motivated by Ash attacking/killing Midday Dew to do the research herself and speed up her progression.

We have a meeting with him this turn while under two max level Influences(SH and Grail) so we will likely have a better chance(or more opportunities) of getting involved in Eclipse(either slowing them down by doing some subtle sabotage/misleading or giving them Celestia's other lores so she has other things to study besides Lantern)

I still hold hope that Selene soothing the night will help with Daybreaker or that after this turn she will start doing something about her(considering she will reach All-4 and use her Winter Realization for the first time).

 

[spiderhellian]

The Day Before Hearth's Warming

'Twas the day before Hearth's Warming, and all through the estate, ponies were preparing for the holiday.

In the most prominent house, a couple put the finishing touches on the decorations. One levitated the holly into place, the other hovered to carefully affix it to the mantle — but the details of what they were doing were not important either, solely the fact that they were doing it together.

Dashing through the corridors like she was practicing flying, their youngest daughter was delivering hand-written cards to the house's most important guests. One of them knew what it said before she opened the envelope, another cared more to remind the filly that she'd be warmer in his cap than about any sentimental prose, and the third dinnae ken tha' point of this fookin writin' but still accepted the card as payment for fifteen minutes worth of stories. Still, the filly cared about Hearth's Warming and cared about them, and in their own way, each of the guests cared as well.

The maids scurried to and fro, finishing their work while exchanging gossip and well-wishes and discussions of what the next day's break would see them doing. Many would gather at the estate to join in the celebrations, but one in particular mentioned she would also be visiting friends, who were very much looking forward to the occasion.

An uncle sat alone in a cozy chair, lost in thought. A brother fretted over the half-dozen gifts he had planned to give, thinking over how they could be made into exchanges instead. A princess stared from the roof into the snowy sky, a slight smile on her face, as she considered how far she has come in the past year, and how far she has yet to go.

And of course, a small way's off, a monster prepared as —

Well. She did, but tragically that most honoured of guests will not be this story's starring character. Though she undoubtedly remains at the center of it, all the same.

No, to find today's protagonists, you'll have to take a step in another direction. Not north or south or east or west, not up or down, not left or right. Take a step in a fourth direction.

---

Here, you'll find another house, just as central to the estate yet never seen by its denizens (except one, perhaps.)

Yet walk inside, and you'll find it is just as full of activity.

In a corner, a white-blue Pokémon works hard at an easel, painting with watercolours as a complement to what the Primarina normally does with words. For all the work demands focus, nothing in the room -- not a single stray line of dialogue, or peculiar choice of wording -- escapes this thoughtful artist's notice.

A strange figure, dressed all in black and bearing a sword, knocks at the front door with one hand. The other is dragging… what was once a quite beautiful pony, but is now undoubtedly a corpse. For all he insists that "Copper is my plus one!" and "she did nothing wrong!" and "it's all explained in this ten thousand word treatise!", he's not allowed in until he pushes the body roughly into the snowbank with a whispered promise that he'll be back for her soon. But then he is eagerly welcomed, a cup of lush cider pressed into his hands.

Above the fireplace there is a mantel laden with dice, and above that mantel a spider spins a web. It has some intricate decorations, some truly bizarre ventures, and if you look from afar you can make out what he's spinning now — it seems like some glorious fire or star, surrounded by increasingly frantic arrows.

In front of the fireplace, a just-as-firey white wolf has curled up, enjoying the way the warmth feels on her newly adopted flesh (it allows so much more sensation than the black hole ever did!). Still, she will not let the cozy crackling drag her to slumber any time soon. Instead, she exchanges words with a strange person nearby, dressed all in black and white. They've been interlocutors for years now, and yet to run out of conversation.

A great dragon has even squeezed itself into the house, with minimal disruption to the furniture. It wishes there were more friends around ("they say friendship is magic, but really it's an economic engine!"), but that hasn't stopped it from adorning the wall behind it with some of the abode's most impressive decorations. They shade from colour to colour in a beautiful gradient, and add a new artistry to the abode. In conversation with the dragon is one of the few guests that can match its stature, an impressive tigersaurus, whose talons flash through the air as it gestures to make a point. It is deep in conversation, but all the same, it doesn't let any guest into the house without giving them their share of thumbs-up badges.

Lounging on a chair, a dark wolf's thoughts turn to an idea at the center of this holiday -- family. The wolf doesn't earn much in the way of looks askance -- though this house is rife with wolf-related paranoia, this one in particular is always a welcome guest. Nearby, a Fall Maiden has paused in sharing their unique perspective, taking a break from combatting (or is it embracing?) that paranoia to instead sip on a blood-red cup of mulled wine.

Hovering high above the gathering, a floating eye looks up from its close review of some pages levitating next to it, and with focused blinks it begins a 'dialogue' of sorts with the blue-white pattern that decorates wall nearby. A forge-draped figure exchanges words with one similarly steeped in knock, with... is that the tricuspid gate itself?! joining in from time to time.

A few seats are left empty, a few glasses are filled but remain undrunk. There are absent friends, and places lost to ash.

Just as that other manor house has been so recently reminded, there is loss and pain. These things are certain in life. Yet that truth should only serve as a reminder of how grateful we should be for ongoing joy and company.

With a hush, the room goes quiet, and all eyes turn to a large mirror on the wall, which shows the world left behind in that strange, fourth, direction.

The scene zooms in past birds flitting by, and lands on a certain Monster who looks particularly self-satisfied today. What, you thought you could leave her behind? Impossible, she is as vital here as blood or a heartbeat is to the body.

And all watch, as Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires, begins to dance.

Spoiler: AN

It's been a long and eventful year. But throughout it, and though it seemed rocky at times, this story has been a source of joy and fun. Thanks to everyone who makes that possible: from Bird for writing it, to all you who comment and vote and make this thread a fun place to be, to everyone reading this, lurkers included.

Happy holidays!

 

[Shaper47]

Nearby, a Fall Maiden has paused in sharing their unique perspective, taking a break from combatting (or is it embracing?) that paranoia to instead sip on a blood-red cup of mulled wine.

Click to shrink...

Nice, in hindsight my image in the previous thread matches my Name more but I really like how this turned out.

Fighting and yet embracing the child.

Well I can certainly take a break from that to share a drink.

Happy Holiday!

 

[Flaregamer82253]

Velvet can escape at least once thanks to Edge artifact.
Daybreaker is not a immediate game over, it even have its own mechanics so it is multi turn affair.
And we meeting with Midday Dew this turn. Depending on how we go, we can be better of continuing doing so or even sending Mareinette his way. It likely would be more effective to subvert him and delay Celestia this way instead of just killing him since she would simply find replacement for him in short order.

Click to shrink...

By Daybreaker I'm suggesting that Celestia Doom Clocking Velvet, who until then was Above All Suspicion, would push her further into Daybreaker due to betrayal. In other words, I'm considering what could happen in a "post defeat" world and how the circumstances will turn out as it becomes Soft Sweeps quest.

And you don't think it would be... dangerous to off Celestia's head researcher just when she is growing in the lores? She may actually be motivated by Ash attacking/killing Midday Dew to do the research herself and speed up her progression.

We have a meeting with him this turn while under two max level Influences(SH and Grail) so we will likely have a better chance(or more opportunities) of getting involved in Eclipse(either slowing them down by doing some subtle sabotage/misleading or giving them Celestia's other lores so she has other things to study besides Lantern)

I still hold hope that Selene soothing the night will help with Daybreaker or that after this turn she will start doing something about her(considering she will reach All-4 and use her Winter Realization for the first time).

Click to shrink...

It may be dangerous, but the idea is more that sending Ash would slow Midday Dew and Eclipse's progress down and gamble on this not killing him quickly. And I think we have options for distraction too. Sending the constables at the Changelings while we do this may split her attention.

My point is that it's an option that could be fruitful. I'm more than willing to wait to see how our current plans with talking to Midday Dew and Selene's action turn out before I commit, but I'm not gonna get my hopes up before we know what they do for us.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

In conversation with the dragon is one of the few guests that can match its stature, an impressive tigersaurus, whose talons flash through the air as it gestures to make a point. It is deep in conversation, but all the same, it doesn't let any guest into the house without giving them their share of thumbs-up badges.

Click to shrink...

Thank you for including me, and happy holidays!

 

[Rafuki22]

The Day Before Hearth's Warming

Click to shrink...

Happy Holidays!

 

[Flaregamer82253]

The Day Before Hearth's Warming

Click to shrink...

Always nice to receive a gift at this time of year. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Spoiler: Guessing Game

In a corner, a white-blue Pokémon works hard at an easel, painting with watercolours as a complement to what the Primarina normally does with words. For all the work demands focus, nothing in the room -- not a single stray line of dialogue, or peculiar choice of wording -- escapes this thoughtful artist's notice.

Click to shrink...

Sveta08

A strange figure, dressed all in black and bearing a sword, knocks at the front door with one hand. The other is dragging… what was once a quite beautiful pony, but is now undoubtedly a corpse. For all he insists that "Copper is my plus one!" and "she did nothing wrong!" and "it's all explained in this ten thousand word treatise!", he's not allowed in until he pushes the body roughly into the snowbank with a whispered promise that he'll be back for her soon. But then he is eagerly welcomed, a cup of lush cider pressed into his hands.

Click to shrink...

Jelloloaf

Above the fireplace there is a mantel laden with dice, and above that mantel a spider spins a web. It has some intricate decorations, some truly bizarre ventures, and if you look from afar you can make out what he's spinning now — it seems like some glorious fire or star, surrounded by increasingly frantic arrows.

Click to shrink...

Spiderhellian

In front of the fireplace, a just-as-firey white wolf has curled up, enjoying the way the warmth feels on her newly adopted flesh (so much more sensation than in those years spent a black hole!). Still, she will not let the cozy crackling drag her to slumber any time soon. Instead, she exchanges words with a strange person nearby, dressed all in black and white. They've been interlocutors for years now, and yet to run out of conversation.

Click to shrink...

Graymere and Pittauro

A great dragon has even squeezed itself into the house, with minimal disruption to the furniture. It wishes there were more friends around ("they say friendship is magic, but really it's an economic engine!"), but that hasn't stopped it from adorning the wall behind it with some of the abode's most impressive decorations. They shade from colour to colour in a beautiful gradient, and add a new artistry to the abode. In conversation with the dragon is one of the few guests that can match its stature, an impressive tigersaurus, whose talons flash through the air as it gestures to make a point. It is deep in conversation, but all the same, it doesn't let any guest into the house without giving them their share of thumbs-up badges.

Click to shrink...

Venerable Ro and Talon Tiger Dino

Lounging on a chair, a dark wolf's thoughts turn to an idea at the center of this holiday -- family. The wolf doesn't earn much in the way of looks askance -- though this house is rife with wolf-related paranoia, this one in particular is always a welcome guest. Nearby, a Fall Maiden has paused in sharing their unique perspective, taking a break from combatting (or is it embracing?) that paranoia to instead sip on a blood-red cup of mulled wine.

Click to shrink...

Somebody and Shaper47. I can't ID this one.

Hovering high above the gathering, a floating eye looks up from its close review of some pages levitating next to it, and with focused blinks it begins a 'dialogue' of sorts with the blue-white pattern that decorates wall nearby. A forge-draped figure exchanges words with one similarly steeped in knock, with... is that the tricuspid gate itself?! joining in from time to time.

Click to shrink...

Steady Gaze and Maer, des-pair-2 and LieutenantSpirit

A few seats are left empty, a few glasses are filled but not remain unsung. There are absent friends, and places lost to ash. But just as that other manor house has been so recently reminded, there is loss and pain. Those things are certain in life. Yet that truth should only serve as a reminder of how grateful we should be for ongoing joy and company.

Click to shrink...

the many others who are and aren't here

With a hush, the room goes quiet, and all eyes turn to a large mirror on the wall, which shows the world left behind in that strange, fourth, direction.

The scene zooms in past birds flitting by, and lands on a certain Monster who looks particularly self-satisfied today. What, you thought you could leave her behind? Impossible, she is as vital here as blood or a heartbeat is to the body.

And all watch, as Our Lady of Wires begins to dance.

Click to shrink...

and but of course, our Immaculate Host!

 

[Sveta08]

The Day Before Hearth's Warming

Click to shrink...

Aww, well isn't that the sweetest?

Happy Holidays friendly weirdos! Glad to be here with ya!

 

[Venerable Ro]

The Day Before Hearth's Warming

Click to shrink...

How marvelous, thank you! Merry Christmas to you!


View: https://youtu.be/TRtY2sp-hsQ

Happy Holidays friendly weirdos! Glad to be here with ya!

Click to shrink...

It's an odd assemblage that's for sure, but very genuine.

 

[DelightedOne]

The Day Before Hearth's Warming

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I hope we get a Hearth's Warming gift this year.

Happy Holidays!(even for the Wolf worshipers)

 

[Maer]

This is truly a sweet gift. I'll make another Ash Weaver. This is definitely making that a desire.

Very fun to see myself and so many others there!

Happy holidays, one and all!

 

[jelloloaf]

A strange figure, dressed all in black and bearing a sword, knocks at the front door with one hand. The other is dragging… what was once a quite beautiful pony, but is now undoubtedly a corpse. For all he insists that "Copper is my plus one!" and "she did nothing wrong!" and "it's all explained in this ten thousand word treatise!", he's not allowed in until he pushes the body roughly into the snowbank with a whispered promise that he'll be back for her soon. But then he is eagerly welcomed, a cup of lush cider pressed into his hands.

Click to shrink...

Alas, if only the rest of the world would see reason. I'd call it 'beating a dead horse,' but I could never do that to my dear sweet Copper

This was incredible, thank you for sharing! Hope everyone has a great holiday.

 

[Flaregamer82253]

The Sisters' Magical Night

You are Soft Sweeps, and today, you are busy!

"Ngh!" you grunted as you finally placed the last item on the floor of the barn you are in.

Frankly, you didn't think that you would be able to get it all prepared so quickly, but a single comment in frustration suddenly had the entire grief support group taking the time out of their days to help you get everything you needed ready. Whacky especially seemed to know multiple places where you could get the right supplies to do this. Still, you were almost ready to pull off the biggest surprise of someone's life!

Taking a step back, you beheld everyone's efforts with no small amount of pride! A pain staking effort made from sweat, blood, and tears.

Five sealed Windigo jars.

In truth, the hardest part of all this was just finding the right time to pass off the supplies when they wouldn't be needed by Mrs. Velvet. A cold memento and a little piece of metal meant you had everything you needed to get started, and it went better than you could have imagined.

You nodded to yourself. Asking Mrs. Velvet to teach you a way to protect her and everything important to her was about to pay off!

…Except there was still a problem.

How exactly were you going to get these to where you need them?

Your support group has already done more than enough for your efforts unprompted. Asking for anything more would feel grossly impolite but delivering them was gonna be difficult as a one pony job. You want to surprise Mrs. Velvet by taking care of her worries! And you couldn't do that if you took too long.

Still, needs must after all, so you'll just have to fib some-

"What'cha doing?" a squeaky voice sounds next to your ear.

Failing to stifle a squeal, you swerved your body around with a flap of your wings only to see-

"Silky!?" you gasped out with a hoof raised to your chest, "What are you doing here!?"

Silky's expression slumped. "I'm bored," she waved a hoof around limply, flitting her wings to stay afloat. "Mom, dad, and Selene still aren't home yet and everyone else seems busy. So I started practicing flying. Then I saw you pulling a cart over here, so I came to check it out!" Perking up again, Silky gave you a big smile. "Sooo, what'cha doing?"

Right, that. "I'm um, uh…" You look at her, fumbling for some kind of explanation. You can't exactly tell her you've been summoning esoteric creatures to attack one of her mom's enemies. Turning, your eyes take in the five jars nearby, and- "…I've been making- making cookies! To send to Mrs. Velvet's fo- FRIEND who owned the building where she used to meet for her old, uh, book club. It's an, um, belated Hearth's Warming gift…?"

There was complete silence in the barn. You could feel your fur standing on end as the embarrassment started to slip inside your skin. It feels as if even the sealed Windigos were speechless from your claim, as if they were too confused at being called cookie jars to remember to hate that they were called that. You open your mouth to at least try and salvage-

"REALLY!?" Silky shouted with a zip up to your face. With a short step back, you recognize her expression is the one where she's about to start- "That's a lot of cookies! How'd you make so many? What flavors are they? Why'd you keep it a secret? I would've helped! Did mom ask you to help with this? Can I have some!?" She started to fly right past you towards one of the jars.

"I got a lot of help from some friends, snowballs and gingerbread, because I want to surprise Mrs. Velvet by doing this for her, no she doesn't know, no you can't have any they're not for you," your mouth answered as you reached out to gently turn her back towards you. Her sweet tooth has caused many struggles, but it's at least something you know how to handle. "These are for Mrs. Velvet's friend and only her friend. I just finished packing them all up for delivery, so I'm putting them here for a moment until I can deliver them in the evening"

"So you just need to deliver them? Can I come? Please? Pleasepleasepleaseplease? I'm so boooored. Pleeeeeease?" Silky started to beg with those puppy dog eyes of hers. Unfortunately for her, you are an older sister.

"No Silky you… can't…" your mind slowed to a halt, considering the answer to all your problems.

You could probably get these to their destination alone if you took enough breaks on the way, but you wouldn't be back until the midmorning past the beginning of your shift. It wouldn't do for you to miss any more work after being given so many days off over the year. Silky was young, but even her efforts in helping to move your small cart would lessen the load significantly, meaning you would need to take less breaks and be back in time for your shift and for Silky to go to school.

There's also the matter of how you were gonna sneak the jars into his home undetected. Silky is better than you are at being quiet.

"…Actually, maybe you can help me deliver them!" you finished with a big smile towards Silky. Her expression immediately mirrored yours.

"YES!" she jumped right back into the air. Her excitement was almost contagious. "When do we go!?"

"We'll go this evening after dinner. Just meet me here an hour after. It's a couple towns away, so we'll have to fly through most of the night. We'll take plenty of breaks though." You gave her a firm look. "But remember that we're giving these gifts in secret. It's supposed to be a surprise for everyone involved, so we're just going over there, quietly leaving the gifts inside, and then coming right back. And you never tell ANYONE we did this. Understand?"

"If it's a secret, can I have a code name then?" she whispered with wide eyes.

"Uh, sure. You can be… uh…" you racked your mind for a good name to indulge her. Looking around you, you answered "…Stable Hooves! The secret gift giver, Stable Hooves. And I'll be Rosy Glow, who takes you through the night to your destination," you finished with a long, slow wave of your hoof.

"Awesome!" Stable Hooves shouted. She was shaking with excitement. "I'll be here on the dot. Thanks Soft!" she gave a quick hug around your neck before dashing off with a "Woo-hoo!" that she couldn't hold in. Your lips curved into a little smile.

Keeping Silky happy, doing your maidly duty, and making mother proud. Tonight was gonna be a magical night!

Spoiler: Author's Notes

I'm not the kind of person that does much writing, but the idea has been in my head for most of the last week and I needed to get it out. I had two inspirations that formed this.

The first was that I noticed like many of you did that turn 9 was our last Hearth's Warming and it is now turn 21 while we are in our own holiday season. Sometimes we get to have nice coincidences like that, and it has been an enjoyable time reaching for Glory with all of you this past month. I'm glad to be a part of this quest with you all and hope to remain for a long time to come, running around like headless chickens all the while.

The second inspiration was this:

I mean, the stuff I had in mind for her requests were "buy me a cute dress" or "teach me how to summon Windigos" or "half-siblings or not, please approve of my marriage with Evil"

Click to shrink...

and the idea hit me like a truck. So really, OurLadyOfWires, this is your fault.

Finally a couple loose ends to take care of:
We need way more of Soft spending time with her little sisters, and I'm mostly convinced that Silky is MOTH and KNOCK aligned. I won't explain why here, but I think it fits the bill, and it played perfectly for the theme of family and holidays that I was going for here.
Yes, they are going to deliver to you-know-who, the background of why Soft is sending Windigos there and how she knows where he lives are beyond the scope of the story, but there are plenty of ways to fill in the blanks.
Yes, Gingerbread. Probably one of the only times you can ever make this Edge colored, but it works when you get it.

And with that, I hope everyone has a happy holiday on this merriest of nights!

 

[Maer]

That was amazing and hilarious.

I also find it incredibly fitting that Selene is going to do her first ever 'Soothe the Night' during the Hearths Warming Season. X3

Holy crow that's a coincidence, given that didn't enter the discussion until well after it had been chosen.

This though… this is a terrifying concept. Softy, sweaty… noooo… please tell me he's at least solace isolated enough that they'll desummon after he's… 'enjoyed his gift' and before anyone else is… made to enjoy it as well?

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Letter from Windy Flakes after this event:

Dear Velvet,
I don't know how you do it, but my project has once more eagerly supped upon the things you sent to it. Neighnia is being frustratingly mum about what happened, but so far your earlier prank was the only time somepony other than I had made it Paler. Do tell me your secret.
Sincerely, Windy Flakes

 

[Maer]

I stand corrected.

 

[DelightedOne]

Holy crow that's a coincidence, given that didn't enter the discussion until well after it had been chosen.

Click to shrink...

Well... at this point we should have learned that there are no coincidences.

An Incarnadescence being choosen when we needed more Grail without even being aware of it.

Selene reaching All-4 a year after All-3.(and maybe a new change arriving)

Hearth's Warming happening at the same turn the Alicorn of the Moon fights the darkness in the World and the Harmony Path finally has progress.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Yeah, he had a painting of blank Canvas suck something out of the Risen we sent to nail up all his furniture way way back in the day. If that is a Palest Painting in the making then I'm sure it'll still be hungry for more.

 

[Maer]

Huh… definitely all rather significant. A strange about the woods… Seeing Selene fly through their branches once the fear of the dark has naturally faded would have been wondrous…

Alas, unless we Go through rituals we cannot create- due to very rational and reasonable limitations of effort and such- that dead seed will ever remain dead, and the forest remain irrevocably gone… unless the House of the Moon is ever opened…~

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Well... at this point we should have learned that there are no coincidences.

An Incarnadescence being choosen when we needed more Grail without even being aware of it.

Selene reaching All-4 a year after All-3.(and maybe a new change arriving)

Hearth's Warming happening at the same turn the Alicorn of the Moon fights the darkness in the World and the Harmony Path finally has progress.

Click to shrink...

Oi, I knew full well that an Incandescence would be needed for all our Socials and argued for it constantly as the crafter of the winning Follower Plan. Get your SH out of here for that specific statement, my Lantern made that happen.

Everything else is valid though.

Also, Merry Christmas!

 

[Venerable Ro]

I also find it incredibly fitting that Selene is going to do her first ever 'Soothe the Night' during the Hearths Warming Season. X3

Click to shrink...

She's got such a lovely mien, you should hear her sing.


View: https://youtu.be/HHxgsnO3UB8?feature=shared

Yeah, he had a painting of blank Canvas suck something out of the Risen we sent to nail up all his furniture way way back in the day. If that is a Palest Painting in the making then I'm sure it'll still be hungry for more.

Click to shrink...

If he's doing a Medium playthrough then the best thing we could do is simply leave him alone and let him finish. Honestly I think I'd prefer he wound up with Neighgina, she'd be a good influence and arguably the single best person to get him away from the Wolf.

 

[spiderhellian]

The Sisters' Magical Night

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This was so fun.

Maybe the best part of the Soft vote is that she'll have a starring scene next update! And more Softy is always delightful, exemplified here perfectly.

 

[AuthorTransient]

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S 6 K
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In Which (S) Collide Part 6

Spoiler: Author's Notes

I think for some of yous Christmas isn't over yet. Anyway, here is a holiday gift. This segment fought me quite a bit, like trying to pet a wolf while making sure your mouth doesn't get licked.

I also realized that Reading the Record needs to apply to diplomacy contests as well :/ that's what I get for not writing finish the entire series before posting.

Wait, where the fuck did I get that +26 bonus from? Shit, now I have to try and mindread my past self. Assuming that SH applies, that's +20 for 'finding something', as in finding out the future or finding out the telegraphed AoE splash zones to avoid, then I guess apply Martial 9 during combat so it's +29? But where's the +6 from?? Did I seriously get confused with + 25 + 1?

And wait, did I really edit out the narration of casting Ultimate Fate Works with Velvet's Brand? This is what I get for not writing completely the entire series before posting :/

Same for the Twilight interlude - Twilight didn't apologize to her friends at all.

Previously:

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

"[MOTH]..."

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

The Horse of the Sun has arrived.

---

Slowly, Mareinette takes a few steps backwards, keeping both sides in view.

You eye Celestia nervously. Side by side that you and her are, or rather, between Celestia and Selene that you currently are, you feel... something. Something strange – something that's not a part of any Lore that you know, and yet still feels familiar and almost welcoming. Like warmth.

But you don't have time to examine it carefully. As you watch, Mareinette's jaws unhinge. All of them. White cartilage shine along the deep darkness of her throats like lights in a tunnel, or a snake. The blood rubies that are her eyes glisten like overripe fruits and almost seem to grow, as if to take in everything that is Celestia's golden sun. In a moment that seems to stretch on, the song of her heart rumbles throughout heaven and earth.

And for that moment in time, you stare into her abyss.

Then a blinding white-hot comet smashes into her face.

Some loose instinct in the back of your brain has you throwing up a barrier over everypony, and in the next moment you're already careening through the air in a flickering sphere, shut eyes not helping at all as heaven and earth trade places like hot cakes, not even having the time for thoughts before you smash back down through several branches and trees and the barrier breaks, its magic spent. You lean over and retch. For a moment, that's the only thing you can do.

Then you get back up. Everypony! Is everypony alright?

Baldomare is already there, and Selene is alighting beside you, and you can smell Comet Feet coming from... oh. Oh dear. Oh – fuck!

You gallop forward to them, the smell of iron souring your nose, and help Comet Feet carry your husband and Jade further into the small clearing you had made with your body.

They're injured, heavily. Jade's eyes are closed and she's breathing laboriously, and your husband is... he smiles at you. It's not fair. It's not fair how much you love him, and it's not fair that for all of your love for him – that you still can't prevent him from being harmed.

You dig your face into the crook of his neck, but despite it being muffled, you still can't quite miss the soft sound that Selene made, like a stiletto sliding between your ribs.

The ground rumbles, and you wish you could ignore it. But Stormchaser – he still gently pushes you away. "I'll be fine, my little horseshoe." And you hate, you hate it so much. "I just need to take a small nap," he tells you. "And I'll be right as rain afterwards. You take good care of yourself, okay?"
Your words get stuck in your throat so you just wordlessly nod.

"And Selene, take care of your mother for me. I'm just going to take... a short rest..." Slowly with your help, he bends to the floor and closes his eyes. There's a soft sound like a page turning, or a rose being placed into a bouquet, and you can't feel his brand anymore. Stormchaser – your Stormchaser, though the difference is arbitrary – lies there now, uninjured but still asleep. His chest rises and falls and his expression is unlabored.

You wipe your face and try to untie the knot in your heart. And as you do, you realize something.

Separating from him was like wounding yourself. Like the blood on your hoofs was yours as well. And you can't help but compare what you felt and are feeling right now to Mareinette's philosophy. As you look up, you see the light shining a path through the woods, giving you an aperture to look at the battlefield. Through a lens, darkly.

In the distance, two titans dueled. One of an unceasing pulsing hunger, one of incandescent divine wrath. Flesh burnt and carbonized by the other sloughed off and regenerated. Galeforce and snapping limbs went ignored or were dodged entirely. A monster tries to swallow the burning sun.

Mareinette is a shadowy titan in the fire and smoke, clashing again and again against a white-hot comet. For a split moment, Princess Celestia of Esquestria rears her head back, the halo behind her a blazing incandescent sun of divine wrath, pillars of light erupting from the earth and descending from the heavens, a thunderstorm manifest except the raindrops are fire and lances of light. Projectiles fire off in every direction, unheeding of collateral damage.

Celestia activates No Holds Barred! +30 to her Combat!

It's an attack that you are not in the ballpark of, you are nowhere near this ballpark, you are outside of this ballpark, the ballpark is in another city, this attack has literally changed the landscape.

Essentially, fire. Fire everywhere.

It was a scene of utter desolation. This is not a fight you can really contribute to.


But ignore all of that for a moment. Look at Mareinette.

Look into her eyes and her abyss.

And you think you can understand, just a little.

To give and give and to keep giving, yet always finding yourself left behind and alone. Desperately reaching out with outstretched hooves, but everypony else keeps saying goodbye. So maybe it's your fault. Maybe you're not giving enough. And you give, and give, like boiling an empty kettle, like removing bits and pieces to feed others and please ponies, until you're unsure if you're even living at all. Somehow managing to convince everypony that you're fine despite howling and screaming in loneliness.

No wonder you want returns – you want to show that you're useful, you want to show that your actions weren't worth nothing, but more than that, you want ponies not to leave you alone.

And then one day you make a mistake. A mistake only a monster could make.

What happens when somepony who is able to convince the world itself was wrong - - turned that power onto herself?

Convince yourself that you are a monster. And a monster would do monstrous acts, right? And they wouldn't feel guilty about it. A monster would enjoy doing them, even. And as you commit more and more, the easier it is to convince yourself that you are a monster, and the easier it becomes to hurt others.

A self-deception as volatile as it is potent, and frighteningly... self-sustaining.

Becoming an absence in the world, or an eternal hunger, a void that only knows how to consume. A cup that can't be filled - an empty mare.

You had once looked into that abyss, to remove a fear that you had - but even then, it was only a glance. You didn't stare. Now the abyss is staring back.

And you see yourself in it. You could have been this pony.


...or maybe this isn't what happened at all, and you're just projecting. Trying, desperately, to see something worth redemption. Because it means that you could be redeemed as well.

But can you risk that? Can you even risk that chance of Mareinette winning? Even now, whatever material she's made out of is regenerating, even now she looms from the smoke. And all she has to do is outlast Celestia until the toxic fumes from her vitality overwhelms the Princess of the Sun.


You realize... you're not strong enough to be able to offer that mercy.

And so the moment passes. Your mind focuses. Due to the Illumination, Mareinette can't hide, but mortal beings will find it difficult to fight on the frontlines of this battle, and may even be snatched up to boost Mareinette even further.

Oh. She may not be able to hide, but she can run to Ponyville and use any of the hundreds of ponies there. Blood is the currency of the world. A hot flash runs up your neck. Did you really think you could kill a monster so easily?

Killing her would require a Name. A Name, you realize, you have the summons for.

Simultaneously, an understanding crystallizes. If you don't stop Mareinette, she will swallow Esquestria's sun. And then she'll come for your daughter.

And you can't let that happen.

---

Current Allied Status:
Stormchaser – INCAPACITATED
Jade Whistle – INCAPACITATED
Comet Feet – 3/3
Baldomare – 2/2
Selene – 4/4
Velvet Covers – 2/2

Who do you send to support Princess Celestia?
[] Write-in

Who will help you in the summoning ritual (pick one)?
[] No One
[] Write-in

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S 6 K​

 

[Sveta08]

My goodness! A bevy of fun stories to read over the holiday.

From Reenacting Hearthswarming to a question to the Sun Eternal, a fun pair there!
Shoot. Maybe I should whip together a writing gift here in a while.

 

[Maer]

To Struggle and Climb

---

You are Ashen Weaver, and you have started to realize something.

There are certain truths about the world as it is. Truths that belong to Honesty. After all, The nature of Light is to reveal, to make things known. It is Honest, True, a Lantern Light in the mist; and sadly, it so rarely has the chance to be Kind. But that doesn't matter. What matters… is that you have figured out a few important Truths.

Light is Honest, revealing and merciless. The Kindness of ponies filters Honest truth in Generous sweetness. It makes things more palatable. Loyalty ensures Honesty remains, while Kind Generosity brings out the best of the Light and Laughter helps soothe the harsher truths. The odd man out in the cute little five-man band of Harmony is Magic, which… it feels like there is a better name for Magic, as Magic itself seems like more a byproduct than the purpose and aspect mixed in.

But the fact of the matter is… you cannot lie to yourself. To burn the brightest you can, to share light and help it grow, you cannot remove that most fundamental and foundational key. Honesty remains the back on which everything else grows and can form, everything else is a Filter for it. You cannot lie and expect any kindness, generosity, or laughter to be true. Loyalty, by its nature, IS Honest. To be loyal, how can you lie to a friend?

Thus, your issue.

The nightmares have not stopped. The wolves prowl through your dreams, haunt your nightmares, and rest atop you in those rare days when your chest is heavy with paralysis before you can fully wake up. The creature chuffing in amusement and baring fangs in a hollow, aching smile of promised pain… promised Agony.

No, you cannot spread the light while lying to yourself anymore. You tried, for a month, and it failed. So… you stepped into a dream. You found some arcane secret kept intentionally or accidentally hidden from ponykind, and now you were in the thick of things. You could not play the blind fool any longer, and you refused to be another tragedy. So… how could you bring the light back? Well… Honesty was knowledge. Generosity and Kindness, even Laughter and Magic required knowledge. Every aspect of the elements spoken of so frequently in mythology surrounding the Sisters had knowledge within it. It was not an element, but something somehow even more foundational.

So, you needed knowledge. You knew of no one who had explored this place, nor anyone who could tell you the Honest truths you needed so badly. So… what else to do, but start actively exploring yourself? If nothing else, when you inevitably told others, you would at least know what pitfalls they could avoid.

As you climbed up to your apartment after a long day of physical labor, backbreaking for any other less physically gifted race, you considered your options and slowly nodded to yourself. You were determined to explore this 'Mansus' place, to face the wolf again.

This time, you knew what to expect. You settled into place properly, relaxed your breathing, cautiously clipping a section of your mane and settling in. You looked at the calendar as you settled in to rest. Hearthswarming would be soon… you needed to speak to your neighbors about how to start some event for the city… to spite the tragedy if nothing else. To mourn those lost, and celebrate those who survived. To show that they were not broken or made lesser by those monsters…

But those were thoughts for another time. Sucking in a breath, you lay down, looking at your empty bed and pondering on the odd feeling of Love that had hovered in your chest ever since the wedding. You… you wanted it. Somepony special to share your heart with, to build a life with. To be together with in this nightmare…

But you were alone. More than ever since the tragedy of not long ago…

Those lingering sorrows followed you down into what should have been a nightmare, and instead… you opened your eyes. Before you was a crossroads, a mess of winding paths… a place you had been before. You started walking, remembering the small trickle of secrets from the pamphlet. To be lost is to find your way. To know nothing, is to know everything. To be blind, is to see.

All idiotic rambling of somepony trying to be philosophical, but the main points, the meaning behind it… Well. That was something you grasped. Chaos, secrets, uncertainty. The world is full of wonder and horror, full of impossible truths and painfully realistic lies. The only way to tell them apart is to seek. To chase after that most precious and wonderous of things… the Light.

The very essence of the secrets in that pamphlet had all been surrounding the seeking of Light. Of something more pure and foundational to creation than anything else you could imagine or think of. Which made sense for a 'principle' called 'Moth'. It felt… right, as well. To chase the Light, like you had all your life.

So, you looked up. There was… the wasteland made seeing much beyond the heat and glare difficult, but there was… a Beacon. A Light. It was important, guiding, revealing the path, the way, the course that needed to be set. So you fixed your gaze on the Light, and started walking. You felt the path turn and twist under you, but ignored where your hooves took you, as long as your gaze remained fixed. And… and you yelped when you felt the burn of the Ash under your hooves.

It… you'd made it. To the ashen, sandy wastes. It… in truth, there was never any sand here, naught but ash, and the feeling of loss. It ached alongside the tragedy of what had been lost in the waking world, the truth reflected in this twisted dream. Still, whatever the case may have been in the past, you were here now, in a horrid wasteland of loss, ash, and laughing Wolves.

Every step was painful, a sharp, stabbing pain reminding you not to tarry. You felt, in some corner of your being, that you should try to fix this- to undo the tragedy, soothe the pain, and cool the heat. To make some fresh growth form out of this ashen nightmare. But you… you didn't know how. You were uncertain how to even keep yourself safe rigt now, much less how to heal this wound. Sadly, you were not talented in the healing of lands.

But… you may not have been specialized for repairing the lost ecosystem of this place, nor were you even sure how to start, but one thing you COULD do, was pave the path. Lead the way for others who knew more than yourself. You would become an expert in this place, learn its secrets, and share them with those that could help.

You pressed on, eyes fixed on the Beacon. You didn't know what you didn't know, but you DID know that you needed to reach that Light. Of course, the shift of Ash in front of you had you pause, and you slowly lowered your gaze. There, in the ash, sitting as though it had been there all along, was a wolf. A wolf already looking up at you with malice and gleeful cruelty.

You held back your shivers and fear, knowing it could still tell, but unwilling to grant it the satisfaction of seeing how badly it frightened you. Instead, you frowned, keeping your gaze on it. It bared its teeth in what could have been a grin, or a snarl- it was so hard to tell with its maw so cruel and full of sharp teeth… so harshly and hatefully eager to tear flesh from bone. The Pale fur and Yellow eyes haunting his mind as the Bloody teeth remained exposed.

"I see you finally came back… what took you so long? I've been wanting to say hello again for ever-so long…~" You found yourself shuddering as the mere sound of it left you aching inside, like your ears had been assaulted by some kind of torment- sandpaper layered in salt and glass shards, delicately avoiding the fragile parts and running roughshod across the less easily broken parts.

You swallowed, dearly wishing to step back, but… then it would sense weakness and chase. Instead, you refused to dignify it with a response. You walked past, giving it a Generous berth and doing it the Kindness of leaving it in peace. It flinched slightly at that, barely an ear twitch, but… you noticed. How could you not? It growled louder as you slowly moved to leave it behind, remaining fixed on the beacon. Though… you had to turn and leave your back turned if you wanted to continue. Could you make it…?

You turned and ran in the moment between one heartbeat and the next, hearing a howl the instant your gaze left the creature, and you could FEEL the ash shift under you, every step suddenly harder giving less power than expected. You were slower than you should be, and losing distance with every hoofstep of your gallop. The beast seemed able to glide across the ash, and the very ashen soil beneath your hooves clung to and dragged at you.

You heaved in air, air gushing out with each exhale as you pushed your innate Earth Pony strength into your legs and powered through the sheer awful burning, cloying ache of the ash as it dug into your hooves. Glancing up revealed the Beacon still in the distance…

And now far to the left. The very ground beneath you seemed to shift, guiding you further from your destination, and in some other direction. You gritted your teeth, already struggling to stay ahead of what felt like the beast snapping at your rear hooves- you couldn't even look back, too busy fighting to move forward.

You knew that wherever the beast was taking you would be horrendous, an awful experience, but you had to go through with it. To face this danger so you could prepare yourself and others to face it again in the future more safely. As it hounded your steps, you saw the temple you'd visited and fled last time in the distance, the awful thing full of horrendous and bloody knowledge you had refused to act on.

You knew… awful things because of that place. But it wasn't your destination, as you curved yourself away, and it vanished from view between one eye blink and the next. Just as rapidly, you could feel exhaustion beginning to fill your limbs, but you pressed on. You were asleep, it wasn't real exhaustion. You ignored it, and it faded as you pressed on. Though you suspected that you'd be paying for it later somehow.

Of course, when you eventually did find the place it was leading you, you dearly wished you hadn't. Here, a faint mist of ruddy, Brackish Fluid filled the air in a fine mist that seared with every touch against your fur. As you pressed on, bearing the agony with force of will, you saw the source. A massive and growing pool of Horrid Red that gushed from high above and fell below.

You had no idea how this had formed, or why a waterfall of horrendously Agonizing Blood would be falling from the sky, but it didn't matter. You were out of places to go. So you pressed on, then dove to the side just before the pool, whipping around and sending Ash flaring into the air in a faint dusty cloud around you as you turned and saw… nothing.

It wasn't there. It hadn't followed you. It- You screamed as pain FLARED in your rear left hoof, rearing and kicking your hind legs as you smacked into something with far too satisfying a CRACK. Turning again, now limping, you saw the wolf licking its chops as it slowly got up, your own blood leaking from the creature's maw as it slowly grinned, chuckling and chuffing, its eyes shining with malice.

"The first lesson of Heart, is that it never ceases to Beat. Through Agony, Suffering, and even when on the very verge of Death, it continues, forcing life to stay and attend it until every shuddering breath has been stolen away, every thought formed and faded, every Light dimmed and every Flame flickered out. And then, when all has been done and said, passed and withered and crumbled around you, it continues to Beat and Dance, to spite and howl against the dying of the light, and the Ending that all things must inevitably face. It is never ending, and it would deny all things their final rest, with no care for the pithy longings of those who Suffer in Agony. Do you understand…?"

The horrible thing was… you did. You could feel it, the knowledge beyond simple words burned into your mind. The agony of knowing you would live through this suffering… it wasn't escapable. You would live, and you would suffer, and nothing would EVER stop that… until the Heart no longer Beat in your chest. But… why. Why was it teaching you?

It grinned wider. "The first lesson of Winter is that all things end. Because all things MUST end. No matter the Agony, it will be relieved. No matter the joy, it will die. No matter the bliss, it will fade. Until everything is cold, and dead, and dark. Nothing can stop this, because Endings are inevitable. No Beating Heart can stave off Death forever, no pony, no thing, no idea is truly permanent, Aside from Glory. But Winter will remember all and hold you close in it's bitterly cold embrace, and beckon you sweetly into it's dark, endless eternity of Silence and Beauty. Oh, to End, to Finish and Cease... to Die. Is it not the most beautiful of gifts? So cruelly denied to those of us in Agony...~"

The pain of the teaching hurt worse than the bite had, and left you shaken, your mind struggling under the weight of it, each word digging deeper now, clawing at your insides. It left ragged, jagged wounds in your soul, and you weren't certain you could handle more. Another lesson would cause something to be horribly, irreversibly damaged you could tell. There was nothing you could do, either. It was too much, too quickly, and skipping over the baseline needed to know it existed, much less to have a level of understanding in it.

"The first lesson in Edge is-" You roared and lunged forward, spinning and kicking the creature again, it's pained yelping bark escaping it as it was rammed back, looking up in time to see you lashing out and throwing a hoof into its face, searing pain lancing through your hoof as you saw Wolven blood splatter across your hoof. Yet it was cackling and laughing, even as you turned and ran, certain you had not killed it and uncertain if you even could. It was so cruel and heartless, so cold…

You ran on your injured limb, your hoof sending Agony through every step as ash burned its way inside and bloody mist attacked the open wound. Seeking the Paths into your body, through the door exposed by your wound. It was… it was agony. Winter soothed the pain in your mind, while Heart soothed the agony in your leg, the suffering teaching a valuable lesson that itself sent your mind spinning with aches and pains. It was too much… you'd have to think this over for weeks or months…

But beyond everything else, you had to know… why. Why was the Wolf trying to teach you??? Why was it trying to kill you??? How did those overlap…? They couldn't, could they? What kind of horror was it spreading to you? Was there even a way to escape? It was so much, your mind spun and dove with the knowledge, the shifts in perspective, the sudden dives and dips in knowledge leaving you with no outlet for the buzzing in your brain…

You tripped before getting too far, tumbling and screaming as your wounded leg was buried in the ash. Looking back, there was the wolf. Sitting where you'd been running, and grin on its terrible face as you stared. It winked, then lunged with jaws spread and… and you sat up gasping for breath as you shook in your bed, the apartment dark and cold, but your body feeling rested… albeit, injured given the blood on your rear leg. Pulling it out from under the blanket exposed a bite weakly gushing blood, the pattern of your heartbeat strong and steady as you whimpered.

You stood, limping to your bathroom and beginning to bandage your leg, wrapping it in fabric you kept there for emergencies. After the tragedy, it had seemed like such a good idea, and it was paying off, but… but more importantly, there were secrets you had learned. Principles besides Moth. Winter, Heart, and you'd heard enough to know that Edge must be a principle as well, you had also felt something about your Wound, and how it… worked. You'd need to think about it for a while before risking another lesson with that Monster… or another encounter. It hadn't only taught, after all…

But still. You'd managed it. You'd visited that wretched place, survived, and… come back ultimately stronger. You'd fought the monsters, bloodied the unkillable, and stolen knowledge from the mouth of a biting Wolf. All while surviving. That was rare in stories, and difficult. You weren't sure it hadn't simply allowed you to escape.

But whatever the reason or cause, you were here. You were now. You had lived. And… and you would do this again. Whatever reason it had for taking you there, you were certain it had been important for more than just that reason, and you were curious. Still… you had a mission. One you'd already started on. It was a darker start than you'd hoped, but you HAD started. It was… something, at least…

---

You have learned the secret existence of the principles of Winter, Edge, Heart, and Knock Something about Wounds and Paths.
You must study a Knock and Edge lore object or book to gain a scrap for them.
You have gained 1 scrap of Winter, and 1 Scrap of Heart. You learned both in such quick succession, and from such an agonizing source, that you much spend an action each studying them to internalize the lesson and actually make use of them. Beware the Wolf.
You can FEEL the pattern forming in your mind. Edge leading to Winter, leading to Heart, leading… somewhere, before Moth. Knock at the center of it all. You're missing pieces you can tell, but you have not discovered what they are yet. Best of luck, Neophyte…~

---

So, this feels a touch rushed to me, but I'm fairly proud of it. Why is Ash teaching Lore to some random Pony?
Good question.

Anyways, if you notice points where it could be improved, please let me know! And if I made any major mistakes... also let me know.
Happy Holidays!