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

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Stormchaser, and you and your wife are about to go to sleep.

Well, your wife is halfway there, truth be told, the smile she has on her face being the only indicator that she is still somewhat conscious.

But as much as you would love to keep staring at your beautiful wife, you are concentrating on something else right now. Specifically, on her hindleg.

You see, pegasi have very fine motor control on their wings. Some of the bones there can be considered quite delicate, of course, so it's not like wings can be used for all kinds of activities. But, you have learned many years ago, they are exceptionally good for massages. The strong muscles that allow for sustained flight pairing up perfectly with the delicate bones needed to apply the correct amount of pressure at the correct spots.

And Velvet, your dear and sometimes headstrong wife, spent a little too long strolling around today on the Sisterhooves Social. She may put up a front that almost everypony else falls for, but you know better. You can feel it, in fact, judging by the tension that the few muscles that still work on her leg are under.

But you also want her to sleep while you are at it, of course, so there is no need for you to apply too much strength. Just the slow and steady repetition of pressure and release, gently easing her leg into a more comfortable state, working in silence as her breathing grows more and more peaceful.

You have been doing this a lot more frequently, as of late. Not that you mind of course.

"How do you manage it…?" you hear her voice, half a whisper and half a moan, and you look up partly wondering if she is sleep talking.

"What was that sweetheart?" you ask her back, your tone low just to make sure.

"I said, how do you manage it?" she asks, her tone just a little more than a whisper this time, with the telltale signs that she is both nearly asleep and that she is very thankful for your massage.

"How do I manage what, dear?" you gently repeat the question, turning your attention back to her flank with a soft smile on your own face.

"All of it," she continues, "the traveling... the work... me…" you are not sure if she meant to say that last word out loud, but she probably didn't even notice it, "I mean, I was out for two weeks and I felt like I was about to lose it…"

You let out a gentle sigh at that, nothing that she would notice or hear, still with a smile on your face, but you sigh regardless.

You wonder if you should simply allay her wondering, if it would be better for you to simply stop working on her leg for five seconds, and just go towards her and give her a light kiss on her lips, whispering for her to sleep. You know that she will fall asleep right after if you do it, of course, you know her well enough.

But there is no need for you to do that either, and there is no harm in her question.

"Well, it helps knowing that you and Silky are waiting for me here," you answer her.

And you see her give the slightest nod in return, eyes closed and hugging her pillow with one of her hindlegs.

"I can't believe… how lucky I am…" she whispers tenderly, almost as if speaking to herself.

And a part of you melts at that.

You slow down your wings for a moment and take a long look at your nearly sleeping wife.

And you can't help but remember the first time you saw her.

She had always been stunningly beautiful, ever since the first day you met her. At first you couldn't believe that you were going to be forced into an arranged marriage, much less so with a noble family from Canterlot, but any thoughts about going against the idea evaporated from your mind the moment you set your eyes on the beautiful unicorn you were to be engaged with.

But she, for her part, couldn't have cared less about you.

You knew that it wasn't necessary, your parents even told you again and again that neither of you had any choice in the matter, so there wasn't any need for you to put any effort into it, one way or the other. But the moment you saw that mare, something inside of you clicked, as it sometimes does in your life. You knew that you had to, then and there. And because of that you spent every waking moment, every single day of the eight weeks prior to your marriage, since the ceremony's date had already been set for months now, trying to get to know her better.

You tried talking to her, outright courting her, inviting her for a stroll around the city, by carriage or hoof or wings if you had to carry her. You tried giving her gifts, although you didn't know the first thing about what she could possibly like, and despite the fact that buying a gift to a noble mare is exactly as hard as it sounds like.

You tried everything, and you failed, the mare's disinterest in you growing into abject dislike with every attempt. Giving up never crossed your mind, of course, but as the wedding ceremony approached you knew that you were fighting a losing battle.

But still, you didn't know why, but you simply needed her, you needed her to feel about you... the same way you felt about her.

Love works in mysterious ways, you know, and the appearance of a Princess dedicated to that single aspect all but proved to you that love is a force as real as the sun and the moon.

And you are thankful for it.

Your hard work, also, finally paid off. Not in the way you were hoping, or even expecting, but it paid off regardless.

It was three days before the wedding ceremony. You were resolute, and perhaps even a bit grim, as you walked towards your fiancée's room. You had a bouquet of flowers with you, several of them in fact, and you hoped that one of them was of the flowers that she liked.

You didn't even knock on her door, however, before you heard the muffled sound of her crying, coming from within.

The door was locked, of course, but you didn't care. The nearest window wasn't locked, and neither was the window to her own room.

And the mare, the beautiful and cold and elusive mare that you were to marry in three short days, was crying too much to care for your sudden entrance. In fact, she was crying so much that she went towards you and hugged you before you even had the chance to say anything.

She started talking, before you even had the chance to ask a single question.

You remember how she said, crying in your embrace, that she felt like she wasn't even a living being anymore. How her life up to that moment had been nothing but failure and criticism, up to the point where she was finally deemed no better than just an item to be trade off in exchange for something else. About how she said that she felt like she had no one, that she had felt like that for as long as she could recall.

And you remember how you answered her. You gently raised her chin with your hoof, and you said that she had you.

You will never forget the way she hugged you, after that. You immediately knew how scared she was, how alone she was, how lost she felt about all of that. But at least, from that moment onwards, she knew that she could count on you, as a friend if nothing else.

You married her three days later, of course, but you took things as slowly as she needed them to go. You already had your hoofs on the one thing you had wanted your entire life, the thing that you didn't even knew you wanted until you met her, that is. So there was no need to be in a rush about anything else.

You slowly learned about her love for books, and her need to have things in the chaotic mess that she claims to be organized.

You slowly learned about her familial… situation, hearing more and more details as the months went by, piecing together the puzzle of what led her to be eventually married off to you.


And once, only once in a snowy night, she told you about what exactly happened to her leg, and why she spent the following years bound to a bed, with nothing but books for company.


You knew that she was not happy most of the times. You knew that she had a lot of reasons not to be happy.

But still, to this day you are boundlessly thankful for the fact that you are one of the reasons that make her smile. It is your honest belief that, as much as she might think otherwise, you are the one who got impossibly lucky in all of this. You are lucky for the fact that this whole thing worked out, for the fact that she was able to bear your daughter, as much as the loose nerves inside her leg made part of the process excruciatingly painful.

And because of all of that, you really don't mind any of this at all. Not the travels, not the work, not staying up late massaging the unreasonably stiff hindleg of a sleeping mare. In fact, looking at the piece of fine work that she is, you even enjoy that last part. Perhaps a little more than you should, that is.

She always says that she is happy that Silky Stream has your eyes, but every time you look at your daughter all you can see is your wife's smile on her face. And thinking that, through her, she might be having a second chance at being a happy filly herself… well that is all that you really need.

"You know that you are my favorite horseshoe, right?", she asks, suddenly, her voice already droning off into unconsciousness.

You doubt that she even meant to say that consciously, but you don't care.

That is one of the many quotes she uses, from one of the many books she has read. A particular tale about a farmer who was stuck on her mundane life, until it was suddenly turned upside-down when she met a traveling merchant.

But regardless, that is the secret way that she uses, the secret phrase that the two of you share, for her to say that she loves you.

You don't even need to answer her, you don't even need to whisper back your part of the quote, like they did in the book. You don't even need to let her know that you feel the same, because she is already fast asleep and you know that your words won't reach her.

"And you are my favorite horseshoe nail, sweetheart."

But you do it anyways.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Rarity, and you are currently lying on your bed, looking at the ceiling of your room.

And there is a lot going on in your mind, right now.

The last few hours, the last few days, the last few weeks are still repeating themselves in your head, flashing in your memory as if on a loop, to the point where you feel dizzy whenever you try to focus on a single part of it.

And you can't help but recall that it all began because you simply bumped into her, months ago, without having any idea of who she was, and decided to compliment her dress.

Of course, you didn't do any of it out of interest. You wouldn't have, even if you knew who she was before you met her. But still, not even in your wildest dream you would have thought that…


"Uhm… I don't think I quite follow, darling. What is this all about?"

"Oh, that's just a short contract… a tab, of sorts? A letter of credit...? I forget the term."

She had simply asked if you knew who the Needle family were. Of course you knew, seeing that their work was displayed in almost every magazine that you subscribe to.

And she was simply saying nonchalantly about how…

"Well, call it whatever you want, but simply send a letter to that address with whatever materials you need, and they will be forwarded to you in a week. The middlepony is an employee of mine, so as to preserve your identity, but I hope you won't mind that little detail."

She handed you a contact list, a contact list that led to the Needle family, and a form detailing that you were holding the rights to more bits than you would be able to accumulate in several months of work. She did all of that almost as an afterthought.

And then she gave you the second, longer contract.

"Read it," she said, her tone serious, "thoroughly. Ask me if you have questions about anything. I can guarantee we can make a few changes, although it might take some days to do so by mail. But only sign it if you are absolutely sure about it."

You had never read a contract as complex as that, before. There were several clauses that you needed her to explain to you, some of them that she brushed off as "the usual legal talk", and others that were actually important.

But by the end of it, you understood what that was all about.

By the end, you were dumbfounded.


You look towards the ceiling, idly raising a hoof, your mind still slightly stunned by all of that.

Because you remember what you had asked her after you finished reading the contract.

Why?

And you remember her straightforward answer, the way she responded almost immediately.



"Because I believe in you," she said, as if that was utterly obvious.



Then she went on to complete that answer, of course. Saying that she believed you have talent, saying that you are her friend and that she felt honored in helping you pursue your dreams, and saying a lot of other things.

But that first, simple answer stuck to you. It struck deep into your core because the way she said it made it clear that it was the deepest, most honest thing she had in her mind.

You didn't know how to thank her then. Prancing like a filly wouldn't have done it, shouting in glee wouldn't have done it, hugging her, crying in emotion, none of that felt like it would have been enough, although you wanted to do all of those at the same time. You still do, whenever you remember that moment.

But you simply nodded, shell-shocked, as you signed your name in a contract to something that you never thought would be more than a wild dream of a small city mare.

However, when you finished signing it, something occurred to you. You said something that, you hoped, would help transmit at least part of how utterly serious, honored, dedicated and most importantly thankful you were feeling about that. Something that, at least in your mind, you hoped would pass on the message to Velvet that you… that you would make her proud.

Little did you know how stupid saying that would make you look.


"Velvet I… I will give this my all. I promise! As soon as I get back to Ponyville I will lock myself in my boutique, and I won't leave until I have done a whole year's worth of work!" yes, that was the very least you could do. The very least you had to do.

She had just given you the means and the contacts, after all, everything a pony in your line of work would ever need, and more. The full scope of the situation had not yet dawned on you, but she had just given you everything you would need from the outside world, so by Celestia you would pour your blood, sweat and tears into this. You would work yourself to the bone at the expense of all else!

It was the only way you could ever repay you, of course. The only way you could ever start repaying her for all of this.

And she simply answered you with a short laugh.

That is, until she looked into your eyes a little more carefully, and saw how serious you were.

"I… admire your dedication?" she said, somewhat awkwardly, "but really Rarity, what about everything else? You still have a life, after all. Sisterhooves Social is coming up, among several other things."

And you honestly didn't understand what she meant by that.

"Sisterhooves… what, that event for little fillies? Covers, darling, after all this I… I won't have the time for anything else! I simply can't allow myself to…!"

You tried to explain her the obvious, you tried to tell her that you didn't have the right not to give it your all, not after what she had just done for you.

But the more you talked, the more her expression grew more and more worried.

Until she got up from her seat, took your hoofs on her own, and looked deep into your eyes.


You remember what she said, almost word for word.

She told you, very calmly and very simply, that you had to calm down and take a few deep breaths, which you did.

And then she told you to forget about everything that just happened, even if for just a moment. About Canterlot, about the parties, about the work, about the Princesses, and about the contract most of all.

That took you a little longer to do, but she patiently waited until you, with your eyes closed, told her that you honestly did so. Or at least to the greatest extent that you were capable of.

And then, she told you to remember why you are doing all of this.

You have a dream, ever since you were young, of having your craft known. You do not dream about simple fame, or about acknowledgement. Those two things are inevitable to successful ponies, of course, but the thing you wish for is something far deeper and more complex than that.

You wish to be admired. But not in the base and vain way that might sprout jealousness, not in the ugly way that involves doing wrong things or tarnishing yourself. No, you wish to be admired because you know you can create things worthy of admiration. You wish to create dresses, you wish to create works of art, that ponies can look upon and immediately know that are good, that are inspiring and uplifting and so much more.

Not because you think yourself better than other ponies, but because deep down you know that you can create such things. You have that ability to turn cloth and gems and threads into something that is almost alive. And having that ability, without allowing it to sing and create, is something that you know to be at the same time tragic and maddening.

You know that you can create diamonds, you know that you have it in you to produce things that are sublime by their very nature.

You have those very same diamonds on your flank, after all.

But then, Velvet told you to remember about everything else you have already achieved.

At first, your mind drew up an enormous blank. You have your shop, of course, and quite a few pieces that you are proud of. But try as you might, none of the achievements you ever accumulated throughout your life really had the level you aimed for.

You kept trying to think about what she meant, until the ideas slowly eased themselves into your mind.

And you understood what she was saying.

You had not immediately thought about those things because they were on the background of your mind, because they form the background of your very life. Your friends, your hobbies, your own sister. The hundreds of little things that make you who you are.


"Rarity," you remember her saying, while you still had your eyes closed, "losing those things is far too easy. I know that you are not the kind of mare that, in the end, would make that sort of mistake. But I need you to know from the beginning that said mistake exists, and that it is a long path that you can step into without even realizing."


And you could see it happening. You also think, or at least you hope, that you wouldn't have actually lost anything or anypony dear to you along the way. But you could see how rocky that path might have been, how rocky it might still be, if you are not careful.

You can picture yourself fighting with your sister, because you put your work over her.

You can picture yourself losing some crucial moment or memory with your friends, because you were too engrossed chasing your dreams.

You can picture yourself, as much as it hurts, finally "making it" as you always dreamed you would, but looking around you and realizing you are alone.

You remember opening your eyes inside of that train cabin, and seeing Velvet Covers smiling at you, a slow and satisfied nod from her telling you that she was glad you understood the meaning behind her words.

And as much as you wanted to get to work immediately, the first thing you did when you returned to Ponyville was visit your friends, see your parents, and sign you and Sweetie Belle into the Sisterhooves Social.

And really, seeing your little sister beaming with joy, when you told her that, was something… that you will take care to remember as being priceless.



But despite all of that, here you are, on your bed. Still looking at the ceiling, still trying to put your thoughts in order. However... you think that you finally understand the crux, the very core, of your confusion.

Velvet Covers herself.

Your friend, more than that if you think about it, that you have met by chance in Ponyville.

You can't really understand her… well, you can understand her, but a part of you still feels some sort of conflict whenever you try to put a hoof on why you are feeling so conflicted about her.

That is, until you remember Sweetie Belle's own smile, after the end of that obstacle race. You remember the way your sister looked at you, and you remembered what your own dream is all about, and everything suddenly clicked.

You finally get it.

You admire her.



You admire her.



The way she always seems to be in control of a situation, only to whisper to you that she had no idea what something was all about right after. The way that she can be in charge of an operation that spans the entirety of Equestria, and keep her cool about it, until she collapses on her bed the moment she reaches her room. The way she can dedicate herself to her work, but somehow not lose sight even for a moment of how madly in love she is with her family.

The way she seems to have it all figured out. The way she took the time to look at you, a pony who she has not known for more than six months, and... simply did everything she just did.

You want to be like her. As much as she might be a grown mare like you… actually, she is a bit older than you, so the thought makes sense…

"I want to be like her when I grow up", you think, emulating the phrase that is usually used by foals. The thought makes you blush slightly, thinking that it is just a little bit immature of you, especially when you know how much of a very normal mare Velvet Covers is. Putting her on a podium won't do, you know, and she certainly wouldn't want you to do that. But still...

You want to make her proud.

"And by Equestria, that is exactly what I am going to do!", you say to yourself with a nod, some newfound determination coming to you as you jump out of bed and head to your workshop downstairs.

You have work to do, and all the tools and materials that you could dream of thanks to your… your idol? Icon? Inspiration?

Let's go with friend, you think, knowing that she would prefer to keep things simple.



Rarity has reached Confidant level, she is now personally loyal to you, and will follow you. You can trust her with almost anything now.

Come next turn, you will be able to guide Rarity's efforts or direct her to certain actions, as you would do with a Summoned Creature. This will remain so until she is no longer your Confidant, or personally loyal to you.



Rarity can be safely, and immediately, inducted into the Cult. Doing this now costs nothing, doing it at a later date will require you to dedicate one action (or dedicating her "focus" for the turn) into said action.

[] Do.

[] Do not.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Previous voting result:

[X] Do not introduce Rarity to the cult. You did it for her, and she has far too much on her mind right now. Let her have this moment.



- - -



You are sitting in your office, a concentrated expression on your face and your brow furrowed, as you finish checking the final lines of your monthly report. Needless to say that you are paying special attention to the numbers, which are in all honesty the most important part of the whole thing.

Normally you would have read through the whole thing, twice, and made sure that everything added up along the way, causing the end of the report to be an expected result rather than a point of tension. But this month you simply did not have the time to do such a thing, so, sloppy as it might feel from your habits and perspective, you have to employ this direct and much less secure method.

A long sigh of relief escapes your lips as you confirm that everything has added up properly. You have kept a tight hoof around your farmlands for years now, so you know (or at least hope) nopony will start stealing things or embezzling bits on the first sign that you have been a little more absent than usual.

But still, it's your job to make sure.

You start binding and sealing the reports, to be mailed to your family, already knowing that your father's accountants will find all sorts of little details to fuss over and report back to him. You are certain that you will receive a strongly worded letter telling you not to neglect your job, but considering how you spent the first half of the month on Canterlot said letter just might be the usual Velvet Hill formality of reprimand.

Something you can safely ignore, you hope. You will have to read it to be sure, of course, since by now you are already used to the tone and wording your father uses when writing you.

Specifically, you know that if he openly criticizes your work and actions, you are good. However, if he is circuitous about a certain subject, or fails to mention it in anything more than passing, that's when you know you ought to be extremely careful.

Point in case, so far all of his letters regarding Silky Stream have all but openly threatened to disown you if you don't have her moved to Canterlot for "better education", his disapproval and disappointment made clear through ink. That means he couldn't care less about her, and you usually rip those letters before you are even done reading them.

Bless your daughter and her wings, you suppose. Your life would be a lot different if your father had any actual interest in her.

A knock comes to your door, causing you to look up and momentarily pause the mechanical movements of levitating and wax-sealing the report scrolls.

"Excuse me ma'am," Ponpon enters a few moments later, "mail just arrived, and…"

She seems a little… puzzled? Disturbed might be a better way to put it. You can tell that there is some sort of conflict in her eyes, and this causes you to float the scrolls down.

"And what?" you ask, your voice becoming slightly curious at that, "did we receive some strange package or the likes?"

You are fairly sure you didn't order any… curious artifacts, so this isn't the case of a mummified claw of some large insect having arrived by pegasus-courier or anything.

Not that something like that has ever happened before, but you are mindful about not setting precedents to begin with.

"Not exactly a package, ma'am, and admittedly it isn't something… extremely strange but…"

You can sense that she is being as indirect and careful as possible with her words. And considering how you have known her for many years now, most of which she has been your personal maid no less, this sets off all sorts of flags inside your head.

"But it is rather… unusual?" she finishes, clearly conflicted, taking out a few envelopes from one of the pockets of her uniform, and placing them on your desk.

You eye the envelopes, four of them are regular letters which you immediately dismiss, but your eyes soon focus on the fifth thing jutting out from between them like a sore hoof. You can't help but feel like Ponpon even made sure to somewhat "hide" that thing among the envelopes, as she brought them here, as if she had been uncomfortable about even carrying the thing to begin with.

You quickly float it, whatever it is, towards you with your horn.

"I just find it weird, ma'am, because it specifically has your name written on it and..."

You eye it carefully.

It's a card, of sorts. An invitation, perhaps?

It's about half the size of a normal mail envelope, printed in a glossy black type of hard-paper, sufficiently thick for you to think the thing might actually be… plasticized? You're more used to using scrolls and ink-written paper, so you're not familiarized with the intricacies of that particular form of printed press.

The card looks like it is the expensive sort of thing to get done, for sure, and you think it even has a tinge of perfume to it. You are a reputable mare, of course, but you can't help but think that this looks like the sort of… invitation that nobles send to each other, when summoning their peers for events in which they might partake in less than reputable activities. Down to the last detail, the slight watermark that resembles a pair of glasses being clinked, and the way the borders have a pleasant imagery of vines and leaves printed on them... in red ink, contrasting against the black color of the card as a whole.

And because of that thought, and all those tiny details, the fur on your coat practically stands on its end when you read exactly what is written on the luxuriously made card.

"Esteemed Lady Velvet Covers

We of the Wildhoof Club would like to thank you for your extended patronage and membership in our book club, and cordially invite you to a final perusal of our new establishment before the grand opening takes place.

Upon your arrival you will receive your membership card, and complimentary drinks.

Kindly join us on the following date and address to…"​

You close your eyes, floating the card back down to the table once you realize you can still read the thing just fine, and you focus your willpower on your forelegs, keeping them locked in place and stopping them from flying towards your face to perform a much needed facehoof.

You also do your best to keep the… groan that is welling up inside your throat from escaping your lips.

Membership in our book club? Complimentary drinks? How in the heavens are you even supposed to start the damage control on the sorts of rumors that will arise, after you received an invitation to the "new space for your book club" that looks like the damn flier to something that sounds like a…

A blasted cabaret?

And worse, when the cursed thing says you have been giving it "extended patronage"?!

You think you can hear Windy Flakes in the distance, cackling, as you picture the damned card being passed from hoof to hoof through every last servant in your Estate until it reaches Ponpon, and much later your desk.

Doesn't that blasted unicorn know the first thing about subtlety?

Of course he does… you think. The question is, does he even damn cares about it?!

"Ma'am…?" Ponpon starts hesitantly, but a part of you already knows what she is going to say, "the servant who passed me the mail couldn't help but notice that the letter mentions it's from your… book club?"

You can see in the mare's expression that it is exactly as bad as you think it is, that even as you speak the gossiping must be spreading like wildfire, as the servants recall every time you left to go to your "book club". They are probably, also, starting to piece together the scant times they must have noticed when you were absent during the rather more suspicious times of the day.

You also recall that Ponpon meekly mentioned that the thing has been especially printed with your name on it. No chance for it to be a random sort of mass-printed pamphlet, then.

And you can see, from her expression, that even she has the slight glint of doubt in her eyes.

You take a deep breath, and picture yourself introducing Windy Flakes to a particularly beautiful ending, through strangulation of course.

"Thank you Ponpon, that will be all," you say, your expression still calm and neutral, but your tone sufficiently sharp for the maid to know she should leave.

And you quickly run a mental check list. You live in Ponyville, so there really aren't many ponies whose opinions actually matters, and the capital is too far for this sort of gossip to reach in any relevant way. The only ponies who matter are those whose opinions you personally value, so basically only your husband in your household. Ponpon as well, of course, but the damage seems to have already been done on her, so you will have to take the longer road to explain her what this is all about.

Your daughter is too young to understand whatever this might mean or imply, and the only maid who really has any contact with her is Soft Sweeps, who you trust, so there isn't much danger on that front either. Or at least at first…

And there is also…

"Great… so I only have to make sure that my version of this whole thing reaches Stormchaser first, and there is Rarity and possibly…" you start talking to yourself, your face on your hoofs and the half-bound reports forgotten on your desk.

As much as you love your husband, sometimes you are thankful for the fact that he travels around so much.

And by the heavens, you will have Windy Flake's coat for this.



- - -



You know the address by heart, the distasteful situation in which you read it on the first time having all but burned it into your memory, but you still bring out the invitation from your saddle purse to double check. You are somewhat close to the center of Ponyville, now, sufficiently close to the urban and commercial parts of it for there to be a reasonable number of ponies on the streets, that is.

It also helps that the sun is high up in the sky. It feels strange, to be heading for a cult meeting during the day, but the excuse you have for it seems somewhat reliable.

If not for the ridiculous way it was presented, of course, added to the kick that it gave to your personal standing.

You turn around the last corner, and… you are not quite sure how to feel about it.

You see it. It is a rather large building, something that would have taken most of an entire block if the buildings and roads in Ponyville didn't follow the characteristic habit of being spaced out in a comfortable manner. The thing is two-storied and has clearly been through large renovations, its painting fresh and gleaming, and the large signboard on its front having clearly been installed recently.

"THE WILDHOOF CLUB" is written on the signboard, in large grey letters, with the "W" being two large, interlocked metal horseshoes. A smaller, temporary, signboard is also visible next to it, the words "Grand Opening" written in bright red and flowy letters, next to tomorrow's date.

A part of you thinks it is somewhat impressive. This looks like a lot more than you thought anypony would have been able to do in such a small period of time, after all the building is quite large and has the looks of an impressive establishment.

But another part of you can't help but wonder about…

How is this even remotely close to subtle? How can this be a good idea, when you are part of a cult centered around the idea of subtlety? How could Windy Flakes even fathom that, when your master mentioned he was supposed to ensure the cult would have funds, that he was supposed to open a Clubhouse?



And most importantly, how are you supposed to keep the image of a respectable married mare if you are seen walking into that sort of establishment?!



You have seen places like this, but only in large cities like Manehattan and Canterlot. A bar slash restaurant by day, and a nightclub after dark. The sort of place, sometimes membership-exclusive, in which ponies can spend their time and maybe take their families.

Not that you trust the unicorn to make a place that is anything close to family-friendly, of course.

Granted, you have never actually been inside any of those, but you have heard from enterprising nobles about it, and your experiences with the things nobles come up to pass the time, be it parties or otherwise, more than makes up for anything you might see inside those sorts of places. Those sorts of places, from what you hard in Canterlot at least, can house anything from a theater to a gold course.

You let out a low groan as you remember that this place is now tied to the idea of your "book club"… you wonder if it will be better to come up with another cover story, or if simply insisting on it will suffice.

And also, you are somewhat worried that you didn't hear about this being built at all. As much as you have been a little more active in Ponyville, it seems that your own Estate and lifestyle are still sufficiently cut off from Ponyville as a whole for these kind of news not to reach you.

The double-edged blade of anonymity, perhaps…?

But that is beside the point. As you approach the building, you notice a familiar fiery-red coated unicorn stallion exiting through the front doors. He must have seen you from a window as you approached, because he immediately waves towards you, wearing a smile as if everything is right with the world.

A particularly insufferable smile, you must add.

"Velvet Covers, so glad you could come!" he says as soon as you are within earshot, "thank you once again for your extended patronage, come on in!"

You look around, checking to see if there are any ponies that could hear his incessant yammering, and you resist a small urge to zap him with a bolt from your horn.

Instead, you just glare daggers in his direction, walking through the double doors as soon as possible so as to get out of the streets.

"Eager for a tour, are we?" he follows right behind you, closing the doors with a flick of magic, "I will be happy to comply!"

By the heavens… this damned unicorn.



- - -



Extremely annoying club host aside, you must admit that…

You are somewhat impressed.

The place is deceptively large, enough for it to perhaps be considered a townhouse or a particularly small mansion. There are several large halls, especially on the second floor, which are completely empty, but Windy Flakes seems to have plans for almost all of them.

"This was an abandoned museum of sorts, owned by an old antiquarian. Not nearly as impressive as it is right now, of course. It looked like a haunted house, mind you, but earth pony industry sure is impressive."

The very first hall, right after you entered, is a large bar-like place, several tables strewn around to accommodate a small crowd of ponies. The place is brightly illuminated, even though there are no windows, but you also spy several red lamps on the walls and ceiling, and you can guess that the whole place will have a dimly lit red color once it switches to its night public.

"The Red Bar," he says, helpfully, "the names are a work in progress, of course. That door right there leads to the Rhythm Room. Dance floor and all other things for the younger ones, and I found this white coated unicorn that seems to be interested in working here on the musical front," he finishes, once again mumbling for you to let him know if you have any better suggestions for the ambient names.

"How in the heavens did you get the bits to do all of this?" you ask, turning your appraising eyes in every direction as you go, "I can tell this whole place has practically been renovated from scratch…"

"Oh, it was thanks to that wonderful Starry mare. No idea what she did, but the Rich and the Gleam families came here a few weeks ago and practically fought each other to get a partnership on this!"

He takes you over the other, empty halls, saying how he plans to turn everything into thematically fitting ambience.

His inspiration for said theme, of course, is obvious.

"But this really is supposed to be a club. Sure, regular clientele can come and go as they please, but I'll have other places set up to be exclusive for actual paying members. Great way to have our members meet up in an unsuspicious way, out in the open. Great way to launder money as well," he says nonchalantly.

To which your ears perk up almost as if you had received a shock, and you look around worriedly, dreading somepony else might be listening to your conversation.

"Oh, and if you're wondering about Edge, I had this wonderful idea of keeping an illegal fighting ring on the underground level," he says with a bright smile, "a shame that Comet said almost nopony in town is worth their salt for that, but I'm not giving up on it!"

How in the heavens can he say those sorts of things so calmly?

And your hoofsteps finally take you to the staircases that lead, as you expected, to the underground. A proper staircase, that takes you to a proper corridor and rooms, not an underground-dug cavern of sorts.

You do notice, however, that you had to get through a couple of locked doors to get here. This must be what he meant by the "membership only" part of the club. But he also mentioned most of the staff will be cult members proper, so at least this much shouldn't arouse suspicion.

You hope…

"Anyways, last door to the right. The others are all empty, mind you, so you won't find anything if you peek into them. White Room surely isn't ready yet as well. Off you go then, I'll go wait for the others to arrive!"

And with that the unicorn goes back towards the entrance, leaving you on the underground corridor, flanked by four doors.

You make your way to the last one on the right, as he instructed, and open it.

A curtain meets you, a long and grey curtain that goes all the way down to the floor. You part it, only to see that there is another one immediately after that one.

You think you know what this is about, so you lower your head slightly and start walking through the sequence of curtains horn-first.

As you expected, the amount of curtains seems to be almost endless, as you keep walking onwards and onwards. Either that, or this room is particularly large, but you just close your eyes and keep walking.

You focus your mind on nothing at all, taking special care not to focus on the curtains as they caress your sides each time you pass through another set.

And slowly, almost imperceptibly, the curtains stop feeling like cloth and start feeling like leaves. You dismiss the curious feeling, even as the branches of said leaves start to scratch you from unseen directions, even as you start hearing hints that the room will be much larger if you stop walking forwards and turn towards any other direction.

You keep walking, until at last you pass through the final curtain, and a dark forest appears before you, visible through your closed eyes. You cannot see the sky, as the dark leaves of the tall trees completely cover it, but you can feel that the moonlight would be shining down upon you if it could.

You have arrived in a clearing of sorts, and you see Jade Whistle sitting there, alone. You open your eyes for a few moments, being greeted by total darkness, and a part of you understands that this is what it looked like on the underground of your cult's previous gathering place.

With your eyes closed once again, you head towards Jade Whistle, her ears perking up as your hoofs disturb the leaf-like wings left behind by the countless that are flying just out of your sight, the noises they make curiously silent and buzzing at the same time.

"Velvet Covers," she says, with her usual apparently bored voice, as she turns to face you.

Her eyes, you see, have a small glint to them. Nothing visible if you open your eyes, but still you can see sparks that might one day become spotlights.

You shake your head, blinking as you wonder exactly why those thoughts are occurring to you, but the buzzing you hear around you soon makes you forget that such a thing should be odd to begin with.

"Yes. Good afternoon, Jade," you say.

Her eyes are following you, but they are slightly off, as if she can only see your shadow, and not you. So, you make sure to loudly sit by her side when you get close enough to her.

To which she simply nods, and stares back towards the dark forest around you.

You eye the mare curiously. A part of you just wants to stay there in silence, and hope that she finds your company at least pleasant. But you can't help but wonder about something else.

"I was wondering..." you start, slowly, for some reason being careful about your words, "I take it that you did this whole thing?" you say, referring to the place in which the two of you are.

You are not sure if you are really, physically within the Woods, or if this is an invocation of it, a reflection that you might see through a pool, or perhaps that you might see in the moon when its surface is like that of a mirror.

You think that it is the latter, since opening a portal into the Mansus doesn't sound like something that is even possible, but you still can't help but wonder how she did it.

"Yes," she answers simply, not even turning to face you.

"And you also did it on the cult's other meeting place, I take it?"

"Mhmm…"

You double-check your logic, just to make sure you wouldn't say something foolish, before you continue. Although trying to think in a straight line feels a little silly of you, right now, but you are sure that this Woods-like meeting place already existed on your cult's previous gathering place when you were first introduced there.

"But the Master taught us about the ritual circle a long time after that, I believe… so how exactly did you do it then, on that first time?" you finish you question, "how did you do it this time, again?"

You don't see any circles inscribed on the center of the clearing, after all.

However, the mare keeps looking towards the forest, to the point where a part of you wonders if she even listened to your last question.

Until you hear her take a deep breath.

And something inside of you freezes up, knowing that this much of a reaction from her means that she…

"The first time I did it was by pure chance," she says, her voice totally unphased despite the weight you can feel from them. "Doing it is… unpleasant," she finishes, and goes completely silent once more.

You do not understand what she means by that.

But you still feel like you have just asked something that you should not.



- - -



You hear leaves being stomped over, as the two final figures approach the gathering.

Windy Flakes still has his pleased smile about him, although the telltale way his eyes dart about makes it clear to you that he is utterly blind.

Comet Feet on the other hand…

"Is that noise… Comet Feet and Windy Flakes?" Starry Dancer, sitting next to you, whispers to nopony in particular.

And in return, the large pegasus looks towards her.

You have your eyes closed, and you know you have a particular advantage over everypony else in here. But it is precisely because of said advantage that you can see how Comet Feet is looking directly at her, more precisely than Jade Whistle even.

And his eyes seem somewhat… sharp.

But despite that sharpness, you detect no form of threat from him, although a small part of you whispers that maybe you should.

The two of them sit around the small circle the four of you had been forming, and Jade Whistle immediately begins to talk.

"I'll start," she says simply.

You think the winds might have grown a little quieter, on the upper part of the trees, but you are not sure. Still, much like in an earlier meeting, she can probably feel a certain attention on her.

"I have made some progress in searching for Princess Luna," she declares in her low tone, "the scrying ritual is ready in theory, but I haven't had the chance to test it for effectiveness or for things like false positives."

You can see her face turn in your general direction before she continues.

"I understand it if you can't, but I'd appreciate your help with testing it. But I know you have been busy yourself, so don't mind thinking about it as just a backup option."

She then goes completely silent. You think it would have taken a few moments for Windy Flakes to realize she was done, but he also starts speaking almost immediately, eyes opening wide as he certainly feels something about him.

"Our new front is done," he says, eyes darting around as if searching for something, "made it with having a place for our followers to meet in mind. Without it looking suspicious or being a place where they could only meet at night, that is."

He stops and looks behind his back for a few moments, before facing the rest of you once more and continuing.

"Starry Dancer also got us some incredible partnerships, so as far as bits are concerned, we shouldn't have a problem. I had just the income from regular clients and our cult members in mind, but I think it will go better than that. As long as the idea of something like this sticks to this small town, of course, but I'm confident that word of mouth from our own members can help us with that."

He shakes his head for a few moments, and you see the smile on his face disappear for a few seconds as if he is feeling disturbed by something.

But Comet Feet doesn't seem to join him on his concerned reaction.

"I grow," he says, his voice a low growl. "Approaching the fourth exercises soon."

He turns his face towards Jade Whistle as he says that.

"Will need you cadre to invoke an Influence, or else I will take longer than necessary."

You see Jade Whistle nod at that.

But you are not sure of how you feel about the pegasus' demeanor, in all honesty. His voice, although not actively threatening, definitely sounds as sharp as his eyes.

"On my part," Copper Secateur's voice interrupts your worrying, somewhat, "we managed to disrupt the investigations, and my followers managed to convert a few more of the population, but only a few. Couldn't get involved in it directly, though. Sabotaging the investigation very nearly ended… disastrously."

The mare shudders slightly at that, and you can tell that she is remembering a particularly close call of sorts.

She looks slightly rattled, as well.

"Uhm… it's my turn, right? Well, I managed to get close to a couple of wealthy families here in Ponyville!" she says brightly, "and I think I managed to point them towards Windy Flakes without a hitch, but uh... I don't think I managed anything else that is worth talking about."

You see Windy Flakes snort at that, whispering something about the mare selling herself too short.

But then, it is your turn to speak.

And you finally notice it.

Or rather, it finally turns its notice towards you.

It feels like a spotlight, of sorts, as if suddenly you have become very aware of your own body, and the position that every last strand of fur juts out from your coat, and the awkward symmetry of your teeth inside your mouth and the way your eyes can't see behind you and how your body feels heavy an-

And everything else. Except that the sensation is only getting stronger.

Far stronger, you must add, then the last time you have felt it, months before.

You feel like you are being submerged in water, a grey and heavy sort of water, with physical pressure covering you like a coat.

You feel like there are roots slowly growing around your hoofs, just shy from touching your coat properly but still scraping against your fur.

You feel like something old and large and terrible is right behind you, looking at you with its many eyes.

And a small part of you wonders how everypony else could have been subjected to that same scrutiny and not have flinched. In fact, you understand Windy Flake's reaction perfectly now, although you admit that you feel like displaying thrice the unease that he did.

But a greater part of you simply starts to talk, the words rolling out of your mouth mere seconds after you think about them.



It is a good thing, then, that you came with your story well-rehearsed.



[] On the search for Princess Luna, by means of hoof and hard work.

-[] You did not participate in the nation-wide searches for Princess Luna. (Lie, and omit that you had any part in it)

-[] You have lent a hoof here and there, and have a general understanding of how they are going. (Reveal that you took part in it, but downplay your role. A small lie, but one that allows you to explain how the search in general is going, and nothing else)

-[] You have taken a major role in the searches, and this is how things are looking right now… (Don't lie, specifically about the professional parts of the search. This will give your cult full disclosure about how the kingdom's efforts are taking place) (If you pick this option, you must pick one of the following two)

--[] Detail the places that Princess Luna has already been searched for. (This will help your cult, specifically Jade Whistle, on her own parallel search efforts).

--[] You only pushed paper and facilitated the process, you don't know about the results. (This will not help Jade Whistle on her searches)



[] On Rarity.

-[] Don't say anything about Rarity.

-[] You are a little close to one of the Elements of Harmony, but that's it. (Reveal that you are a reliable link to her)

-[] You believe that you have her dancing on your hoof, now… (Reveal that Rarity can be, to a certain extent, involved in the cult, and how much influence you have over her)



[] On Captain Shining Armor.

-[] Don't say anything about Shining Armor.

-[] You have met him, in passing.

-[] You dare say you are a little close to him, and have learned that he is in a relationship with the Princess of Love.



[] On the Princess of Love.

-[] Don't say anything about Cadance.

-[] You have met Princess Cadance, in passing.

-[] You dare say you can reliably contact her again, especially after you (possibly) saved her beloved from danger. A danger of your own design, mind you, but that is irrelevant. Oh, did you mention she is having a secret affair with the Captain?



[] On Princess Celestia.

-[] Don't say anything about Princess Celestia.

-[] You have seen her, once, and very quickly. But you didn't have any contact with her.

-[] You have talked to the Princess of the Sun, however quickly, but you can tell that she is tired and vulnerable. You are also, you hope, on her "good book", for now.



[] On Princess Luna, her current situation and dreams.

-[] You have made zero progress in searching for Princess Luna's dream door.

-[] You have located her cutie-marked door, in the Dreamlands, but failed to enter it.

-[] You have entered her cutie-marked door, in the Dreamlands, and can confirm that she is… alive, at least.



-[] On Princess Luna and her location. (Be wary to keep this in tandem with your reports about the search)

-[] You have made zero progress in searching for Princess Luna's location.

-[] Your efforts in the search have narrowed down, slightly, where she might be. But only slightly. (Reveal little information, only disclosing that she is not in the farthest and most dangerous of places)

-[] Your efforts in the search have greatly narrowed down where she might be. (Reveal that she is somewhere… nearby, but you are not sure of where.

-[] You know where she is. (Reveal her location, and immediately prompt an Expedition there)



[] Will you mention anything about how you approached the other cult members? (This is not necessary)

-[] Yes. (WRITE IN)

-[X] No.



[] Will you mention anything else, on any other subject? (This is not necessary)

-[] Yes. (WRITE IN)

-[X] No.





Voting will stay open for at least 48 hours, and is to be made in planned format as usual.

"Book club? Really?"
Your personal standing has taken a blow! Thanks to that blasted unicorn. Maybe this will come back to bite you later?

A tiny, but no longer insubstantial, part of Ponyville has been converted into the cult. Some rolls performed in Ponyville will now receive a "+3" bonus, as every now and then you are given knowing nods and small signs of obeisance.

Finally. Welcome to the Wildhoof Club proper. Your cult's status will now be tracked through a separate Informational post.

I have to admit this is a sight of relief from me. It "just" took us six turns to open it, but turns have been moving slowly as things go. Not that any of us are in a hurry, so no harm in that.

And just for the record, Starry Dancer rolled a 97 on her first month of her "entice the merchants" mission, followed by a 70+ on her second month. So yeah, she was a good mare. Filthy Rich hook included, and the Wildhoof Club will not have many immediate problems.

Your Master's reappearance, and what comes next, will be on the next update. For now, just focus on what is going on inside your own head.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[X] [Plan] Honest, but discrete.

-[X] On the search for Princess Luna, by means of hoof and hard work.
--[X] You have taken a major role in the searches, and this is how things are looking right now… (Don't lie, specifically about the professional parts of the search. This will give your cult full disclosure about how the kingdom's efforts are taking place) (If you pick this option, you must pick one of the following two)
---[X] Detail the places that Princess Luna has already been searched for. (This will help your cult, specifically Jade Whistle, on her own parallel search efforts).

-[X] On Rarity.
--[X] Don't say anything about Rarity.

-[X] On Captain Shining Armor.
--[X] Don't say anything about Shining Armor.

-[X] On the Princess of Love.
--[X] You have met Princess Cadance, in passing.

-[X] On Princess Celestia.
--[X] [Write-In] You have seen her, once, and very quickly, when you were reporting your results as part of the search. However, you didn't glean much insight from the conversation, and she left soon after.

-[X] On Princess Luna, her current situation and dreams.
--[X] You have entered her cutie-marked door, in the Dreamlands, and can confirm that she is… alive, at least.

-[X] On Princess Luna and her location. (Be wary to keep this in tandem with your reports about the search)
--[X] Your efforts in the search have narrowed down, slightly, where she might be. But only slightly. (Reveal little information, only disclosing that she is not in the farthest and most dangerous of places)

- - -



It is a very good thing that you had thought this out beforehand.

You can feel it. This is not like that other time, before the Ritual, but it is still overbearing in its own way.

You are not feeling like something is entering you, you are not feeling that anything is invading you, you are not feeling that you are being forced to do anything.

Not directly, that is.

You feel that something far larger than yourself is looking at you. You can feel that your image is being reflected in countless black eyes, looking from the darkness, and that all of them are interested in what you have to say. All of them want you to speak.

This is not the aggressive kind of strength, but it is pressuring all the same. You feel like a foal under the scrutiny of somepony older, you feel like a student being observed by your tutor. You feel like the only thing you can do, that you must do, is talk.

So you begin to speak, the disturbingly symmetrical teeth in your mouth scraping awkwardly against the inner side of your cheeks, the shadows around you, and the darkness between your coat and the inside of your body, itching madly.

You begin to speak, because you know that it will be the only way for this to end.

"I have helped the official search efforts looking for the Princess," the word feels wrong in your mouth, alicorn or perhaps outsider would have felt better, "and know the places where she has already been searched. This will help our own efforts," you say, specifically to Jade Whistle, looking towards her as you speak.

And you see her nod back at you. If she can see how exasperated your expression is, then she does not seem perturbed by it.

No, your expression is just fine, you know. It's the inside of your head, the shape of your skull, that feels-

"I have also seen the two remaining Princesses," you almost have to force that word out, now. You doubt you will be able to say it again, "but only in passing. They are still active, and somewhat present, and I have exchanged a few words with them, but nothing of importance for our purposes."

Copper Secateur seems interested in that, her ears perking slightly as you mention the rulers of Equestria.

"And on the final… sister, herself. I have located her dreams, although reaching them again might be extremely dangerous, and I can confirm that… that she lives." You can tell that you are speaking faster now, as if the interest that the many eyes have on your words has reached its peak, your body begging for you to speak as the pressure around you grows.

"My efforts have also somewhat made it clear that she is… within the country," you almost feel as if something is squeezing your chest, but you manage to let those final words out, "but the abstracts of her dream couldn't help me narrow it down any further."

You finish talking, and your mouth snaps shut, the pressure you feel still heavy around you.

Until slowly, painfully slowly almost, you feel it recede. As if every last flying thing, hidden in the dark leaves of the dark trees, has suddenly gone still and quiet, or as if the wind has retreated from this clearing like the tide might retreat from a beach.

You feel as if something very large has decided to stop squishing you with a clawed member, some sort of spectral talon made out of shadow and the attention of its eyes, something made out of strings and the scrutiny of something greater than yourself.

It is only then that you realize that you have not breathed in for a long while. That pressure, that agony you were feeling in your chest, being something very physical perhaps because of that. You have not breathed during your whole report, in fact, and you finally take a greedy gulp of air, feeling your lungs burn in protest of you having neglected them for so long. Although, disturbingly, you make no sound while doing so.

You are sure that you are gasping for air, your hoofs trembling as you recover from something that might have been close to suffocation, and yet you can't even hear yourself.

Nothing is making any sound at all, in fact.



SNAP.



Until you hear a noise, an ear-splitting crack that sounds like a tree trunk being twisted until it is broken, as if some gigantic creature as tall as a hill is walking nearby, and has stepped on a tree like a pony might snap a twig underneath their hoof. You see Starry Dancer jump up in surprise, and you can feel your whole body tense at the suddenness of it, adrenaline making your fur rise on its end as your instinct warns you about incoming danger.

You almost don't recognize the sound for what it is. In fact, you wouldn't have, going just by the sound itself, but the sensation that nearly overwhelms you right after is enough for you to understand what just happened.

It is a little like what you have just felt while giving your report, but not as intense. You can still breathe, but it is exactly because you can breathe that you detect… a taste of pressure in the air, a sour noise of sorts underneath your tongue. You can tell that it is the same weight as before, but it is now… covering the entire clearing, so to speak, and not just yourself.

But it is still a very large weight, and you can feel it bearing down on all six of you with every passing moment.

Everything around you slowly starts to fade into blackness, everything starts to go dark, as if some vast curtain is slowly being closed. You even blink, opening your eyes a few times, to make sure that there is still a difference, to make sure that everything is still totally dark when you have your eyes open. By the time everything stops changing you are nearly blind, even with your eyes closed, being barely able to see the form of your compatriots near you.

You know what just happened. Your Master, you somehow understand, has just extended his shadow over all of you. You can feel his eyes looking down towards you, high up from the treetops.

You can tell that he is very large. Larger than you ever thought he might be.

And that he has so many eyes...



"Your progress is commendable. All of you, in fact, are deserving of praise."



The voice seems to come from everywhere at once. From behind you, from the ground, from the center of the circle, even from the inside of your skull. Not being able to see where it comes from is a small agony all on its own, for some reason, and you realize a little too late that you may have become too used to being able to see at any given time, regardless of there being light or not.

You had almost forgotten what it felt like to be in the dark.



"Especially given how… absent, I have been. But let your fears be allayed, for I too was engaged in important work. And I have found something… enlightening."



And then you begin to see it, floating above the center of the clearing, some sort of… you find it hard to describe.

Everything around you is covered in darkness, to the point where you can barely discern the ponies standing next to you, let alone those who are standing opposite to you in the clearing. The shadow that engulfs you is not only covering the surface of things, it is also in the air, as if it was some heavy fog, as if its presence was not only the absence of light, but its disappearance altogether.

So, you cannot rightly describe what you are seeing, except that you can see it to begin with. That single characteristic is what makes it something out of place.

If everything around you is un-light, then the thing in front of you, floating in the middle of the clearing, is the absence of that oppressive darkness. That slowly expanding sphere is the only place unaffected by whatever is marring your vision.



"And I will share it with you, now, this thing that I have found while away."



And slowly, you realize that the thing you see has a … not a light to it, but a color. You have no idea how you can see that something has color without there being light, but you know that it is a color.

Perhaps it might be silver, perhaps it might be the color of your own eyes, reflected back as you stare intently at it.

Perhaps, it is a reflection of something that is not here.



"Behold: purpose."



The muted color reaches a crescendo of existence, it becomes so strong and maddeningly familiar that you can feel the name of that color at the tip of your tongue. It is something that you should know intimately, something that has been with you your whole life. Something that, perhaps, even makes you the pony you are.

Ah…

But of course, you realize. That is the color of a memory.

Spoiler: A Vision

You are…



You are.



You are great. You are great, and tall, and old, and thesnappingoftwigsthebu, and filled with visions that pass for memories, and memories that pass for visions. You are both lost and secure, you are both confused and certain, with a body that is zzingofwingstheflut a voice that is the buzzing of a thousand insect wings and the howling of the wind against terofleavesth.

But most importantly, you are yourself, and you are thinking about something of the utmost importance.

The ritual into the alicorn's mind has… already happened. Time sometimes works differently in the Woods, so nitpicking about dates can ehowlingofwindtheab. But the ritual is in the past, as certainly as the future has not yet happened.

Your mind, however, is still as abuzz as it was right after the ritual was completed.

Could it truly be that the alicorn knew nothing? Her view of the world felt like that of a mortal, and her thoughts lacked the echo of something greater, those echoes that are usual in senceoffor. It also seemed that she could mthelosingofthoughtth History at any given moment and…

It is clear to you that she is an unwitting paw of esheerringof, but is she truly that ignorant? Can it be that she is no more than a puppet, with the only markings of her power being those written on the very marrow of her soul by the thing that blessed her?

That raises worrying questions. The alicorn, as well as her sister, possibly, is too young to have witnessed when THEADVENTOFDAWNTHEUSAGEOFL, they can still be potentially useful, but not as immediate sources of knowledge. It is possible to thewhispersoflustth, but not yet, not now.

And that is what you need.

Knowledge.

There are too many unknowns. You know not about the status of the wards, you know not about the thepaththeroadthewayt, you know not about the thelawsofbloodthelesson the Worms in thefallingofsnowtheprancingo. You didn't even have any idea that they could now walk in the flesh and memories of those they consumed, although you know that they couldn't thewrongthewrongthewrongth.

You need to find something older, something more reliable.

You need to… find a secret.

So, despite the risks it involves, you decide to do something you have not done in a long, long time.



You decide to get lost.



The Woods are old. They were seeded when the Mansus was built, they came to be before anything else. They have tasted the blood sofpainthehowlingofs the downpour of time both, and such things have allowed it to grow like rain might feed a plant.

The nature of the Woods is not necessarily to take, but it certainly is not to give either. It reaches out for things, and then it hides them underneath its roots, and as time passes and the dark trees grow skinthechang, those secrets become the Woods' own secrets. Such has been its nature ever since thethreadsofth, and so shall it be until it is burned to the ground or its branches finally reach Glory.

However, every now and then, the Woods also produces fruits. Said fruits soon fall off from its branches and towards the soil, as fruits are wont to do, where they rot and are absorbed back by the forest around it.

But those fruits, those crystallized, physical secrets still exist, even if only for a short while. They exist for an eternity, by some measures, and eworldthewaysofourfa by others.

Perhaps it is the Woods' desire to taste of its own secrets again, forgetting it for a short while until it falls upon its roots. Perhaps it is the simple nature of ingofeyesthef.

Whatever the explanation is, you wished to find one such fruit.

And to do that, you had to lose yourself.



You roamed the Woods, in your own body, then in the shape of a pony, then in the shape of a snake, then in the shape of a moth. You roamed the Woods until you were shapeless, and had forgotten reedomofselft.

You roamed until you forgot who you were, theflightofamoththewa were.

Until you forgot what you were looking for, or why.

So, it was only natural that you had no idea what you were looking at once you found it.

It was a pool, a small and perfectly circular lake filled with silver water. The Woods is not a dry place, but there is no water in it either, every last drop being sucked by the greedy ysthroughthewin under the greedy soil, being lost under the black dirt or scattered in the winds.

And yet, you stood before a small lake, its surface growing shallower and shallower with every passing second as its water was drained by dtheformsofchaos.

But you could see its surface clearly, if only for a little while longer.



And reflected on its silver surface, was the Moon.



You had the impression that the Moon should have a hebridgethed surface, like a broken mirror might, but the Moon was unblemished and clear, its image so bright that you could not tell if you were looking upon a reflection of the one on the sky, or if you were looking upon a portal that led to a second sky, underneath oortheporta.

Perhaps it was both.

Because you could see that the Moon was close to the Mansus, on that reflection, and the Mansus was different.

You could not tell what was different about it. Glory was not brighter, the doors and floors and everything else thedancetherhythmthebeatingo, and yet it felt different.

Ah, but of course. The Mansus felt different because something still walked its halls. Something THELIGHTTHEWAYTHEVISION absolute, something that shone like the sun, something splendorous.

Something that had descended from Glory, and shaped the world THETRUTHTHEWILLT.

Yes…

Yes.

This was the Mansus back then, you could see it.

The world, around the Mansus, in its proper state. The Woods, surrounding everything as they were meant to. The sun and the moon fshapesthelaughterofsile, beautiful and unmoving.

HEBRILLIANCETHEOPEAll of that, that ancient and perfect configuration, was decreed into being from the very peak of the House of the Sun. So, it could be reshaped as such a second time, by one who sat upon the House as if it was a throne, and who wielded Glory as a king might wield a scepter.NINGOFEYEST

ncethewillofAll of that, that ancient and perfect image, was reflected and remembered by the Moon, the same way that it was reflected and remembered by you, through that silver pool. So, it could be brought back into being, if the Moon was to be turned inside out, and the world as it is today was to be swapped by the reflection on the Moon's surface.thedeadtheechooflive

You had no idea who you were, but you knew that you had found what you sought.

You would never, ever, find that place again, but that would not be needed.

Your conscience returns as the last drop of the pool is sucked by the black dirt, and you remember that you are thebarksofaforestthesnippingofscissorsthevoic

You heave in air, coughing in fits as the black dirt of the ground is sucked into your lungs.

Your whole body feels rigid, even painful in some spots, and your mind spins as the visions and memories try to settle down inside your head. There is so much of it, so much that you can't even understand. It was as if you had too many eyes, each looking at a different world, or as if your body was far greater than it was ever meant to be, and you could feel the world around you through your very skin.

You were not ready for that vision. Perhaps it would have been impossible for you to ever be ready, your mind stretching itself to grab what it can, at the expense of everything else. The echo of many inputs, a great number of them too alien to even register in your head, being forcibly shunted away from your mind.

It takes you a few more moments to realize that you are sprawled on the ground, and several more for you to be able to get on all four hoofs.

The other ponies around the circle are not faring any better, to the point where you shakingly walk towards Starry Dancer to help her get on her hoofs, her wings open in wrong angles as her body clearly misreads exactly what she needs to do to regain her balance.

You also finally notice that you can see them clearly, or at least almost clearly, the heavy shadow from before having turned a lot tamer and lighter.

You take a few more deep breaths, one of Starry's forelegs still hanging onto you for support, as you look around.

The other ponies seem to be doing alright. Jade herself, curiously, seems to have elected to keep lying down.

But she doesn't look dizzy, although she never looks like she is disturbed by anything, so you decide to trust her that she doesn't need any help. Or at least that she doesn't need more help than Starry clearly requires.

"Purpose," the Master's voice comes again, softer this time.

Almost pony-like, coming from a single unidentifiable direction, instead of as a chorus.

"There are still many things which are… better left hidden, for now," he says, her voice almost pleasant, "but no longer do we need to blindly fumble for power and knowledge. Four courses of action have presented themselves to us, and more might be revealed as we head along the way."

Starry Dancer finally let go of you, and right on time for you to focus on what your Master says next.

"Firstly, we may reach for Glory. The Mansus is a reflection of the world, as the world is a reflection of the Mansus, so if we acquire dominion over the Mansus we may be able to influence the world on a more general, intimate level. The very peak of the House is a goal as old as time, of course, but we are now sure that if we reach it then our goals might be fulfilled. That perhaps we may have the same… agency, as that place may have granted in the past."

"Secondly, we may reach for the Moon, instead. It is a long-lost knowledge now, but the Moon was once a reflection of the Sun, of Glory, and all that it bathed. Within the Mansus, that is. It seems, however, that said reflection is still one of the Mansus on its old form, from an era when the Mansus itself was different. There is a path, to the Moon, and if we find it and tread it then we may be able to rescue that image, and make it real."

"Thirdly, we may embrace what is new, and embrace Change. Harmony is to blame, for all of this, but it has power, and it has made covenant with the alicorns. It is passive and bright, but although it may not act it is still a power that be. We know not how it thinks, or if it thinks at all, but it has enough of a sentience to have communed with the outsiders, even if only to decree that they needed to enter by birth. The alicorns might be the only path to Harmony, as their scions, or there may be other paths we do not know, but if we reach for Harmony… we may be able to change it, and teach it to hide, as much as we may allow it to change us so we may better bend it to our will."

"And finally," the voice grows… heavier, "we may simply douse the flames. Better to have a cold world than have no world at all."

Their words weight heavy on the air, their voice charged with the slight tinge of...

"The outsiders are a problem," the voice says, with certainty, "the flames, are a problem. The detestable configuration that this world currently has is a problem, but above all else our goal is to ensure that this world survives. To ensure that the Mansus survives, first and foremost."

You feel… something, passing over you. You think it might be your Master's gaze, but it is such a small presence, compared to what you felt not long ago, that you cannot really be sure.

"And there is no need for commitment, as of yet. We will flutter around those four paths and jump between them. We will study them and give small steps as necessary, until we learn which is the quickest or the most needed. That is our way, after all. But keep those paths in mind, all of you, for the doors of the world are still wide open, and the flames are still strong and bright. The Worms… still see us all."


snap


A small twig snaps, behind you, but you see nothing when you turn around.

However, you can still hear his voice, whispering in your ear.

The whisper is short, shorter than a soft breeze, and as quiet as the sound that your eyes might make when you blink. It is there, and then gone, before you can even begin to interpret its words.

"Find me that alicorn," it says. Not in a commanding tone, not in a pleading tone, but in a strange tone that makes it clear that this course of action is the only one suitable for pursuit, right now. Opportunity and convenience both dictating that this window will soon be closed, so your efforts must be concentrated on it.

Much like how you hear the voice whispering for Comet Feet to continue his training, and for Windy Flakes to lay low and ensure his work produces fruit, and for Jade Whistle to keep on her efforts, helping or being helped by you if necessary.

The only things that seem slightly more complex are the ideas that Copper Secateur is not yet to expand to other cities, as they might be too riled up as of now, and that Starry Dancer should gently try to endear herself to the guardians and law enforcers of Ponyville, that last one with a tone that almost suggested an encouraging pat on her back. You also almost think you see Starry let out a sigh of relief at that. Almost.

Although, somehow, you swear that those ideas were conveyed in no more than four or five words, whispered with a brevity you would be hard pressed to even begin describing how it might have happened.

The Master is fading, now, what is left of his shadow following him deeper into somewhere far away, but their voice is still here, even if only a ghost of it.

"I will resume my supervision of the cult," they say. Although you wonder if that is a warning, perhaps to you, or if that is a comfort of sorts, perhaps for somepony else.

"And I must say," you hear a final whisper, one that you are sure only you can hear, "what beautiful eyes you have, little Velvet. If you keep on this path, perhaps, one day you might even find…"

But, with the maddening habit of a Moth, the whisper fades away, becoming inaudible before you can finish hearing it.

And then your Master is gone.



- - -



The six of you leave that place shortly after. You hear Windy Flakes mentioning that he is planning to build an antechamber of sorts, where you will all be able to discuss in comfort after such reunions, but such room is obviously not ready yet.

But that does not mean that there is nothing to be discussed.

Comet Feet leaves immediately, not bothering to talk to anypony, not even Windy Flakes, as he makes his way to the stairs. You are not sure if you feel more worried or more surprised by that.

The unicorn himself seems unperturbed, and quickly goes towards Starry Dancer and Copper Secateur to talk about how they will combine their efforts of dealing with the population of Ponyville in general.

You, however, stand there, looking towards the stairs, watching the large pegasus climb the steps and leave your sight.

Until you notice Jade Whistle doing the same thing you are, still standing by the door from which you all just came out of, watching Comet Feet with her impassive and bored eyes.

It surprises you a little when the mare walks towards you.

"That looks worrying," she says simply, her words making it clear that she is not worried, but that, just like she said, something is worrisome by its very nature.

You nod at her, your own expression conflicted. But the mare does not volunteer anything else.





The members of the Inner Circle have swapped the necessary information among themselves, and all future joint actions have been planned as necessary.

Your Master has not revealed why the world is as it currently is, but he has revealed to you how you might change it, either back into its old form, or into something else. The paths towards the final objective of your cult have been laid out. More might appear, and some may be discarded, but for now they are all that you have. Hopefully, they will be all that you will need as well.

A light has been shed, distant as if at the end of a tunnel, pinprick-bright like a star in the night sky. But still, it brings with it the revelation of purpose. It is unkind in its finality, seeing that there is nothing to be done but change and hide, or be consumed, but it is the only light you have. Gain one scrap of Lantern Lore.

Your Master was unusually absent these last few months, and maybe now you know why. They have returned now, and their presence is once again usual even on the small meetings performed by the Outer Circle members, even if only observing from a distance, making their presence known only through the buzzing of wings and the howling of the wind.





- - -
- - -
- - -





Last turn's shopping list

Spoiler

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

Last turn's available bits: 81


[] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.

[] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.

[] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.

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

- - -


POSSIBLE ACTIONS

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

Spoiler: On Suspicion Level and Ponyservant actions

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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



This turn's available bits: 201 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month



CONFIDANTS AND SUMMONS

Spoiler: Options of Focus

-The ponies and creatures listed below can be given a "focus" for this turn. Not mentioning them will incur in their "default picks" being selected. Be wary, also, to the "expiration date" of summons.
-The ponies and creatures listed below may be safely taken for a single one-turn (five days) Expedition without hampering their "focus". Taking them for a two-turn (6+ days) or greater Expedition will cause them to not execute their selected "focus".



Rarity (currently an Enlightened, GRAIL Level 0, FORGE Level nonexistent):

-[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she wont dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

-[] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick HALF of your own personal actions, rounded DOWN, and Rarity will accompany you while you perform them, giving narrative advantages or mechanical buffs as needed)

-[] Act as your emissary. (Pick an EXTRA action from your own pool, Rarity will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)

-[] Call her. Give her tasks, and books, and lessons. Turn her into an Initiate. (This will level her up, at the expense of her own focus action instead of an action of your own)

-[] Call her, you have a lot of things to tell her… and then a few introductions to make. (Induct her into the cult)

-[] Lead an Expedition. (Select her as the leader of an Expedition in which you will not take part, plan the other details of the expedition accordingly. You will still have to fund the Expedition yourself)

-[] Other (WRITE IN, in case you have a viable idea that I have not thought about. Certain ideas might even enter this list if they make sense)

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

-[] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)



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

-[] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna. The Mansus is the only advantage you have over the search parties, so helping her on this is surely the way to go.
--[] Honestly help her. (There is a chance she will be able to execute the ritual before the month ends)
--[] Subtly attempt to sabotage her efforts and win yourself time. (This is not required if you set out on an Expedition this turn)

-[] You had second thoughts, after all…
--[] Send an anonymous letter to the Canterlot hub. You set up the protocols yourself, so you know the Royal Guard will eventually get it and send a search party. (Relinquish the knowledge of where Princess Luna is to the Royal Guard, anonymously)
--[] Go to Canterlot yourself, gather an entire platoon of guards, and go for the Princess. You can leverage enough favors to get things done, until the results speak for themselves and everypony forgets how hard-hoofed you were on your demands. (This will "jump" the expedition, by sheer weight of resources thrown at it, but Princess Luna will be found by the Crown. You will gain the credit for it, but you will probably not even be able to talk to the Princess)



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

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

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

-[] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

-[] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
--[] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
---[] Reach out to your mother, as much as it might be… complicated. (costs 20 bits in transportation)
---[] Attempt to locate your older brother, Velvet Wings, as much as it might be difficult. (attempt to locate him, at first, via correspondence)
---[] Go there yourself and try to talk to your younger brother, Velvet Pride, although getting caught will probably be bad. (costs 20 bits in transportation, involves invading your family's own mansion)

-[] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.

-[] Reach out to other higher nobles of Canterlot, although that might be more complicated.



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

-[] The Bright Library! Windy Flakes mentioned he has a hall ready for it, but you still need to hash out the details with him, as well as prepare the books you have already read so they can be placed there.

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

-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Now that you know her a bit better, you can always just spend time with her.
--[] The mare seems to be on a good streak and in high spirits. This time, she is supposed to get on the good graces of guards and law enforcers, and you are interested in helping her.

-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] She was the first pony you met from the cult, and you two have become good friends. Pay her a visit.
--[] What she did when she first met you, the whole recruiting dance, seems to be something she does often. Accompany her during one such night out and see if you can be of use.

-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] You realize you don't know very much about him at all. Time to remedy that.
--[] His business is all set up, and now he has to run it. And do you know who is good at running businesses? That's right, you are.
--[] Windy Flakes has messed with you, so now you will mess with him. (WRITE-IN HOW, specify if you will do it with good intentions [just to scare him] or with bad intentions [actually hinder him])

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



[] Set out on an Expedition.

-[] The most precious treasure hunt ever. (already an option on the Fleeting Opportunities)



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

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

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

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

-[] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
--[] BOOK, FORGE Level 2. "A book about ingenious farming equipment, and how they function".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…".
--[] Some other book (select a book you have bought this turn)



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

Spoiler: On exploring the known Mansus

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

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

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

-[] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus. (Mansus Hurdle CD 80, WINTER) (applies DIPLOMACY to traverse the Blank Plains, and SECRET HISTORIES to search, added to your WINTER Level)



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

-[] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
--[] Alright, this might be a BIT on the cult-y side, but… why not start giving your family subtle hints of Lore here and there? You might catch their attention, or perhaps even their interest.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] You are on the good graces of Velvet Steppes, your uncle, although he feels like the pony who has his entire family on his good graces to begin with.
--[] Call him over! He hasn't met his own grandniece yet, after all, and better late than never when it comes to knowing him better.
--[] He is called the Facilitator. You have no idea why, but the effect is self-explanatory. Ask for his help regarding… (WRITE IN a favor you would like to ask, or COMBINE this action with another, to involve your uncle in it) (Your uncle is very good at making things easier)

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

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

-[] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets.
--[] Have a servant do it, having an actual scapegoat is ideal if things go wrong. Highly suspicious.
--[] Do it yourself, it's better this way.
--[] Wait, right, the Wildhoof Club. Get in touch with Windy Flakes, and see how serious he was when he mentioned the whole "laundering bits" thing.



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

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

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

-[] Much to your own satisfaction, you now have a personal life outside of your maids, immediate family and business related meetings. You could choose to spend some time with… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call" or "a step forward to converting said pony". SPECIFY if "you are willing to spend bits on this", for that little extra leverage)
--[] Teach Rarity, and have her turn into an Initiate
--[] Induct Rarity into the cult
--[] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)


[] You haven't forgotten about it, you just put it on hold until a more convenient time. (Purchases done here will arrive/be completed at the end of this turn.)

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



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

-[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
-[] "The Forge's Redemption"
-[] "The Incision of the Heart"
-[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
-[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
-[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)

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



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





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

There will be at least 48 hours of voting.

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

And one last thing that must be addressed. IF you wish to keep the results on your attempts to find Luna a secret, make sure you keep it away from your fellow cult members, or other entities interested in searching for her. You cannot be expected to convincingly lie if you take Jade Whistle to tag along, for example, or if you ask help from anypony else on that matter. Considering the mixed stand you seem to have about the Master, I figure this is relevant for you all to know.

The above message will be repeated until one of the parties involved locates Princess Luna.

Voting is getting more complicated. Kindly observe a SIX HOUR MORATORIUM before suggesting your plans, so as to avoid editing them too much, and to have enough discussion to know what you intend to lay down.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan: Maximum GRAIL power
-[X] Shopping list
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
--[X] At the end of the cult meeting, tip off Windy Flakes about the MOTH artifact we found.
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of GRAIL
--[X] Apply to talking to Luna when we find her
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month?
--[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] On invoking the Lores
--[X] "The calling of Influence" for GRAIL
---[X] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
----[X] If anyone questions why we're doing this, claim that we're trying to smooth over the reputational knock caused by Windy Flakes invitation and maybe help some business deals on the side.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Study books
---[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
---[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
----[X] Invite Twilight for book study with tea and biscuits. Try to pique her curiosity with the scroll's topic and allude to possibility of unearthing unusual non-explicit, implied knowledge.
---[X] Do both of these before casting "The calling of Influence"
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)
-[X] On aiding the cult
--[X] Help Jade Whistle
---[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[X] Help Comet Feet
---[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
----[X] Ask for a lesson in EDGE. Tell him we've come to realise that we may find ourselves having to use it in the future, and we'd like to be prepared. If necessary, be willing to talk about how we got our scar and the fear that has been with us ever since, and how we think we need to overcome it.
-[X] Ponyville politics
--[X][Servant action] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.

- - -

You have purchased the three books, 60 bits have been deduced from your personal coffers.

You have given Windy Flakes the information regarding the currently available MOTH artifact, and he promised to keep it in mind. However, due to the Wildhoof Club having only recently opened, and the lack of an existing library (which he may or may not have stated, with an insufferable grin, is your responsibility), he mentioned that he is unlikely to think about purchasing it anytime soon.



The search effort for Princess Luna continues, and in fact seems to have reached a crescendo of activity. You only keep in touch with its progress through the newspapers, now, but you already know more than enough about it to be able to read the fine print. In fact, you think you might be able to draw up a map of Equestria from memory, and simply update it with the projected progress caused by your own organizational hoofwork, if you really wanted.

There is, however, one thing you read from the newspapers that you… well, not that you didn't expect, but that you find a little sobering nonetheless.

"Princess Cadance has issued a Royal Ordinance, noting the sorrowful passing of the guards who, these last few weeks, have…"

You purse your lips as you continue to read it, and you slowly realize that you recognize all of the names. All of them, you see, were on the initial draft of the list you had asked for.

And you know that there will be a lot more notes like this, on the newspaper, before this is over...



[The Wolf's Due]

[Roll: 12 – HALF (the dangerous searches began in the middle of the previous month) = 6]

[6 Royal Guards have been consumed by the San Palomino desert, while performing their duty.]



- - -



[GRAIL Book, Level 2, CD 60]

[Roll: 21 + 20 (Level 2 source) + 10 (Lantern) + 14 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) – 10 (Respectable Married Mare) = 70]


That was certainly… interesting.

The book was a lot more contentious than you thought it would be, and a lot more graphical than you expected. It appears that you have missed the entire section of… "referential illustrations" that the book has, on the first time you skimmed through it before deciding to buy it back in Canterlot. You didn't have any trouble learning from the book itself, your whole problem was "when" you could read the thing.

You usually do your reading while working or walking around the house. During the odd minutes when you have to wait for a particular report to arrive, whenever you have to go out to the farmlands for one reason or another, those moments.

But you soon realized that this was NOT the sort of book you could just casually bring with you, so out through the window went that time. Sometimes you almost felt like a foal, trying to do something you weren't supposed to be doing in the sneakiest way possible.

You will also have to figure out, you realize as you examine the now-read book one final time, where you will store it, since this is the sort of thing you don't really want anypony else to know that you have in your collection, especially not your daughter.

Oh, and the book also has an amazing recipe for whipped cream in one of its chapters… You ought to make sure that Stormchaser isn't allergic to any of the more unusual ingredients, but it will surely be worth a try.

But anyways, on to the more important aspects of your reading.

As much as you were rather shocked at some moments, it was somewhat curious to learn the… extents, that ponies are willing to go. You are equally impressed that somepony was willing to commit such things to paper, or even publish it, and in that you feel there is a lesson. Ponies, it seems, are capable than more than you thought they originally were, for the satisfaction of certain desires.

However, you are a respectable married mare, so in the end this surprise might be unwarranted. This could be some innocence that you had, due to your sheltered upbringing perhaps, and it might not be that much of a surprise after all.

But regardless if it was something obvious or not, you have learned something, and that is what matters.



A small lesson. Not about Birth, not about Blood, but about the Feast. Maybe you were just too naïve, and merely had a few notions shattered, or maybe not. But in the end, a lesson nonetheless. Gain one scrap of GRAIL Lore.

GRAIL is now level two!





- - -
- - -
- - -





You patiently wait, already hearing the signs of an answer after having knocked on the door.

Your saddle purse is a little heavier than normal. Not overbearingly so, of course, but still a little more than you are used to.

Of course it is, you have come prepared after all.

"Afternoon," the door finally opens, the small purple dragon having to look up to speak with you, "can I help you with anything?"

Thankfully, you are a lot less shocked than you were on the first time you met him. But still, seeing a dragon up close, even if he is smaller than you are, is something you find extremely unusual. Frightening, almost.

But you don't let it show on your face, obviously.

"Good afternoon Spike," you greet the small dragon back, "is Twilight Sparkle here? I would like to talk with her if she is."

You know she is, you saw her reading on the balcony of her… tree… house… library? Well, you saw her as you approached the building, and you could tell that she was deeply engrossed in whatever she was reading. And you know from Rarity that that's usually what she does the entire day, so you knew you would catch her here.

However, the small dragon's expression turns somewhat conflicted at your question.

"Uhh… Twilight is a little… busy? She is in the middle of some research and…" he says, clearly trying to be careful with the words he picks.

A mixture, you can tell, of him trying to say that the mare is busy, while being uncomfortable over the fact that she is probably busy for the same reason every single day. You get the feeling that Spike must have turned away other ponies, these past few days, for that very same reason.

Didn't Rarity say that she moved to Ponyville to make friends? That doesn't sound very productive of her…

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that, but I have something that I think she might be interested in. I came here to ask for her help, in fact," you feign some slight exasperation, even floating the bound scroll you are carrying out from your saddle purse, so he can see what you are talking about.

And you see that, with that, Spike becomes even more conflicted. Twilight must have told him directly not to let anypony disturb her, then, for him to be this resilient.

But you can tell that he is wavering. Maybe just another push and he might…

"And Rarity did say you are especially close to her, so I'm sure she won't have any problems if you ask her nicely…?" you ask, drawing from what you know to cover your words in a tinge of hope.

"Well… wait, you know Rarity?" Spike says, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

Bingo.

"Do I know Rarity? Why, you're better off asking if I know you by proxy. She talks to me about you all the time after all," you say with a smile.

You lie with a smile. But you see his expression melt at that, his prior conundrum completely forgotten.

Boys… you think with a chortle.

"She also told me you have a sweet tooth for gems, and asked me to pass this along to you," you say, this time speaking the truth, as you float a small box with gems from your saddle purse.

Which he accepts with one of his clawed hands over his chest, a truly dumbfounded smile on his lips as he opens it and sees the tiny hoard of precious stones. No larger than his opened hand, mind you, but probably worth a pile many times its size, in his eyes.

"Make sure not to snack on them all before you call Twilight?" you ask, gently reminding him of what you are asking him to do to begin with.

To which the dragon nods without even looking at you, eyes fixed on the small gemstones and at the thought that those were a gift from Rarity to him. He doesn't even remember to close the door as he retreats back into the library, his feet taking him up the wooden stairs in leaps before he disappears from your view.

You nod to yourself at that, thankful that you didn't have to mention the whole "Spikey Wikey" thing.

Should you feel bad about this whole…? Ehh, probably not, you quickly conclude, just a little misdirection won't hurt anypony. Or anydragon, for that matter.

The dragon is soon back, still smiling and carrying the small box as he welcomes you inside.

The library is just as you remember it, books neatly stacked into the wall-carved shelves, showcasing a collection as large as a small town like Ponyville will probably ever need. Spike guides you to the stairs, pointing you to the glass door that will take you to the balcony, and you leave him with his treat, thanking him as you ascend the stairs by yourself.

And you find Twilight Sparkle, as you expected, sitting on the balcony and surrounded by books.

"Excuse me?" you say, as you gently open the glass door to the small balcony.

"Oh? Velvet Covers? Spike didn't mention it was you," she says, getting up from to greet you, expertly negotiating her path through the many books that lay open around her as she makes her way towards you.

There are a lot of books around her, though, and you mean a lot. Neatly stacked piles of untouched books stand to one side of the balcony, and other, less organized stacks, are on the other side. You also spy several notes on the ground, some old and some freshly inked, which you realize at a glance that are about…

"Studying teleportation?" you tentatively risk, thinking that a few of the magical matrixes you see might be close to what you have studied on the theory of matter transportation.

Theory, mind you, teleportation is a magic that you have never really tried your hoof with.

"More like getting pushed about by teleportation," she answers with a small frown, "I can teleport around short distances without a problem, but I just can't get the details of how to make it stable over longer distances and…"

You stare wide-eyed at the mare, as she casually chides herself over… that. Teleportation is already an incredibly complex magic on its own, and not only did she just casually remark she can do it, but she is also trying to enhance her spell even further?

Several questions come to your mind. "Why?" being one of them, "what is wrong with her?" being another. But you shove them aside, less you lose your focus as to why you are here to begin with.

"That sounds complicated," you remark, getting Twilight's attention once again before she goes back to mumbling about her formulas, "and unfortunately I don't think it's something I know the first thing about. At all," you say with a short laugh. "But…"

You then float the scroll out from your saddle purse once again.

"Could I perhaps ask for your help? Perhaps something to get your mind out of whatever mage-block you are currently in, if nothing else?"

Twilight Sparkle eyes the scroll curiously, raising an interested eyebrow when she hears you mention you would like her "help".

And she nods shortly after.



- - -



"No, this word actually means that the crystal ponies first resisted his rule, and then he shattered the Crystal Heart," she says, causing the words on the scroll to glow with a flick of her horn.

"What…? No, it clearly says here," you go back a few pages, sure of what you are saying, "no, wait… you're right," you concede, seeing Twilight smile at that.

This mare…

"But what about turning Princess Amore into stone? Where does this puts her imprisonment and eventual shattering?"

"Oh, I'm pretty sure it happens here then."

This mare is a genius.

Twilight Sparkle was interested in the scroll. Not impressed, you could see, as she probably had access to this sort of thing routinely, being under Princess Celestia's tutelage, but she was interested nonetheless. Even more so when the two of you realized how convoluted the text was, being faithfully transcribed from its original ancient grammar.

But that is the point, once you mentioned that you would have difficulty reading it, she simply passed you a reference book for classical Pony Language. A single copy, that is, heavily marked and with signs of great use. She didn't bring a copy for herself because she didn't need one.

She could basically quote the book, sometimes even telling you the number of the page you would need to check to see if she was right or not. And right she was, almost every time.

Impressed doesn't even begin to describe how you feel. You are unsure if the best word to describe the young mare is "genius" or "savant", but you can tell after but a few hours of interaction that she has a near-perfect memory, and the mental capacity to actually use the information she stores.

But you weren't about to let yourself be overtaken by such a young mare, genius or not.


[Impressing her, of all ponies, is a tall order, CD 80/120/160]

[81 + 14 (Learning) + 20 (SECRET HISTORIES Level 2) = 115]


In fact, you smile as you confirm a particular detail on the text, you are about to introduce a little chaos into that genial, perfectly ordered mind of hers.

"Exactly, that would put Princess Amore's demise there," you nod with her, "and that is why we are wrong."

Twilight tilts her head, and turns towards you with an almost disgruntled expression.

"Wrong? How so? The temporal implication of the text is clear, this is the only possible sequence of events."

The two of you are in front of a blackboard, one she had brought down from her own room and placed in the balcony so you could better follow your studies of the scroll. There, you and Twilight have basically written the chronology of the events described by the scroll.

It was a simple necessity, at first, given how utterly confusing the language on the scroll is. But eventually the two of you descended into an amicable research of sorts, dissecting the text down to its fine print to get every last detail out of it. Now, a few hours later, you effectively have a summarized timeline of King Sombra's short reign of terror, with an impressive quantity of notes written on the blackboard itself and several pages worth of notes neatly stacked around you.

And despite being years younger than you, Twilight has already proven to be more than a match to your academic knowledge, to the point where you are basically fact-checking her assumptions and sometimes, albeit rarely, pointing some small flaw or suggesting some small correction.

Until now, that is. And that is because you have a distinct advantage over the studious mare.

She knows a lot more about history than you, but you know a thing or two about Histories.

"See? There is no other way things could have happened," she repeats herself after quickly reviewing the short timeline, taking in the entirety of the notes on the blackboard in less than a minute.

"Do you have a copy of Ancient Equestria Historiae?" you ask with a small smile on your face, seeing her nod back at you, still wearing her doubtful expression.

"Of course I do, it's a must-have from Henri Caballus," she says matter-of-factly, walking out of the balcony and down the stairs towards the library without a second thought.

"Unedited edition?" you throw the question at her before she is down the third step, watching her pause for a few moments.

"What difference does it make?" Twilight asks, curiously.

But you simply nod at her to entertain you for a few minutes more, watching her go upstairs towards her room instead, returning not long after with a battered and old tome of a book, the letters "AEH" printed on its cover.

The book has clearly seen a good mileage. You can tell that this is either an old copy she got from a library in Canterlot, or a personal issue that she has read and reread several times already. You wouldn't be surprised if it was a combination of both, in fact. Regardless, you accept it with a gentle nudge of floating magic.

"Well, you seem to be familiar with our good friend Caballus," you say as you open the large book, quickly rolling the pages aside with magic until you reach the, comparatively short, chapter about the Crystal Empire, "then what have you to say about this?"

You then give the book to her and watch her read through the page you are pointing at.

Twilight Sparkle's expression becomes focused at first, and then doubtful, and finally confused as she turns back to you.

"I don't see your point… it says the same thing. The short revolts, the Crystal Heart being stolen away, and then the shattering of Princess Amore," she reads back from the book, "the order of the events is the same, so why are you saying our timeline is wrong?"

"Yes, sure it's the same, but isn't there a tiny detail that is different?" you ask, causing her to float the scroll towards her as she compares the two texts.

Goodness gracious, you can't even read the scroll at the speed she is reading, and yet she can do it while comparing it to another book.

"Look Velvet, I don't really see… what…" she starts talking again, but her words slow down as she squints at a particular word, "what…? Wait, the Crystal Heart was stolen away?" she says to nopony in particular, eyeing the unedited book, "and here it says it was… shattered?" she reads from the scroll.

And then she turns her doubtful eyes towards you.

"Well, so it seems," you agree, a mischievous smile on your face as you see her confused expression.

"Then one of them clearly is wrong," she says simply, laying the two texts down, "I mean, Caballus was notorious for having famously accurate books, the difference between his unedited and edited works is largely in the grammatical part, mostly making his work more understandable for contemporary readers, not correcting his actual study."

You nod at her. Good, she knows her authors, so that means you won't have to explain that particular piece of trivia to her.

"So the scroll must be wrong one," she says, pacing around the small balcony as she thinks, eyeing your scroll suspiciously, "but…"

"Yes. But." You say, still with an amused smile of sorts, "but we checked what we found on the scroll, didn't we? I'm pretty sure Introduction to Ancient Pony History over there all but says that the Crystal Heart was shattered, no? We even marked it with the other references, after all."

Twilight looks at the blackboard, seeing the small list of references the two of you drew upon as you read the scroll, her eyes focusing on the small line under the entry "Crystal Heart shattered" in your tentative timeline, a single straight chalk-drawn arrow connecting it to the two books you confirmed it from.

Yes, she remembers it. You can practically hear the cogs of her possibly perfect memory summoning up the image of the book, confirming what she read on that particular line of text. She doesn't even need to physically re-check it, even though she easily could.

"So then…" she bites her lips, nervously now, "some of the books are wrong? A lot of them are wrong?" her pace becoming faster as she walks in circles around you. "Books can be wrong?!"

You cover your mouth with a hoof as you let out a small giggle.

"How can you be laughing at this? This is important!" she finally sits down, a hoof going towards her forehead as several books float in her direction with an absent-minded surge of magic, "granted that there are few surviving pieces of evidence when it comes to the Crystal Empire, but these are history books! They must draw from reliable sources! We can't have them spreading misinformation."

You watch as she simultaneously opens four of those books, checking the pages written on the blackboard so as to cross-reference the pieces of literature that she is holding.

You laugh a little more at that, but you tone yourself down a little when you realize that she is actually starting to get worked up over this.

"Twilight, calm down, there really is an explanation to this," you say, watching the books freeze in midair, her attention immediately focusing back on you.

You do realize, though, that she only paused her efforts because you said that you know why this is happening. You can tell that anything else, any simple attempt at smoothing her distress, would not have worked, especially if it was based solely on emotions.

Twilight, you can see, is indeed very… interesting.

But she might be the kind of pony who need somepony else to hold her back. If she gets this exasperated with just some small error in a few books, you can't imagine how she must be when facing actual difficulties in life.

"Here, allow me," you say, floating the several books away from her, "and I know you know that all those books have reliable sources. I'm sure that if you really try you will find exactly why they claim what they each claim. Some of them might quote an ancient mural, depicting the Crystal Heart being shattered, others might quote some oral tradition or foal's lullaby about the Crystal Heart being stolen away."

It is usually something like that, you know. After all, you have already heard about other such… loopholes, so to speak, told to you by your Master as the years went by, in a few of the cult meetings.

You had checked each of them, of course, and all of them had this duplicity of sources, two reliable pieces of historical evidence pointing at different directions.

It was sheer luck that you noticed this one, right now, but nonetheless it is something that you feel sharing with Twilight will be… well, let's go with "interesting".

"So instead of trying to figure out which of the two versions is wrong, why don't you entertain the thought that both of them might be right?" you ask, a knowing expression on your face.

To which Twilight Sparkle, not unexpectedly, answers with a skeptical expression of her own.

"Both are right? Velvet, this is history. His-to-ry," she says, her tone serious, "only one thing could have happened, and these books are supposed to tell us what," and you can hear a tinge of tension returning to her voice.

"Well then, if that's what you are so sure of," you turn your back to her, facing the blackboard, and you float a piece of chalk to one of its free areas, "then why don't I leave you with a bit of homework?"

You can feel her inquisitive gaze against the back of your head as you slowly write down the few occurrences you can remember, but soon enough you have a short list of five historical moments on the blackboard. "Who won the third edition of the Equestria Games?", "Which cousin of the Greenhoof family forged his wife's Letter of Ladyship?" and a few other questions neatly laid in order.

All of them, you know, have ambiguous answers. Checked, well-documented, evidence backed ambiguous answers.

You recall how you spent entire months checking all of those, when you first heard about them. Each of them little footnotes in history books, each of them requiring further investigation that sometimes went all the way to the dusty archives of a Library in Canterlot, or even a letter to some famous historian.

Something tells you that Twilight Sparkle will have them all checked in two weeks, or maybe three. But still, you know she is in for a ride.

"I'm not sure I will have time for this… I mean, I'm still trying to improve my teleportation spell," she says, rubbing her chin as she reads the five small historical entries. But you can see you caught her attention if nothing else.

"Then just check one of them, and if you can't find anything interesting forget about it," you say with confidence, seeing the mare's doubtful expression, "and think of it as a pastime. Really, I'm sure that if you stop your teleportation studies for a few days you will be able to look at it with fresh eyes once you return to it," you try prodding her just a little more.

To which she finally nods.

"Well, I guess I could go for some idle researching for a few days…" she says, still a little conflicted, but clearly coming to a decision.

"I look forward to hearing about your findings then," you say, collecting your scroll and floating it towards your saddle purse.

You have been here for a few hours now, after all, and the muffins you brought have already been eaten by the two of you.

And your saddle purse will be, thankfully, all the lighter thanks to that.



You have given Twilight Sparkle something to think about.

There is definitely a little Lantern in the mare, you can see, but you are not sure how intense it is. You might be able to see how much it is if you get back to her and ask how her research went.


Yes, but have you learned anything yourself?

[SECRET HISTORIES Book, Level 3, CD 70]

[Roll: 41 + 30 (Level 3 source) + 10 (LANTERN bonus) + 14 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) = 100]


Gained one scrap of SECRET HISTORIES Lore.

SECRET HISTORIES is now level three!

And it seems that you have had a brush with a situation in which you applied your Knowledge Bonus for a Lore. These are rare, or at least harder to come by than Application Bonus situations (which are much more broad and general), but remind yourselves that "Knowledge Bonus" is "your knowledge and intimacy with a Lore, as well as how much of its power you carry", so it stands to reason that while specifically trying to "teach" or "prod" somepony else about it, you will apply it.

You nearly gave her… something "more interesting" to think about, but it was a high CD to begin with given how this is a book reading action coupled with a little bit of social.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You are standing in the middle of the room, at the heart of the triangular representation of the Mansus that forms the centerpiece of the Ritual Circle.

This is one of the underground rooms that Windy Flakes had prepared, and perhaps this might be one of the most important rooms in the entirety of the Wildhoof Club. The Club itself is already open, and with quite a good number of ponies that you don't know already present at the Red Bar. But several others, including the entirety of the staff, are cult members, so you were able to make your way towards the "restricted" stairs without any curious glances following you.

It is, in fact, a little strange to be treated with this much deference. You are treated with respect by your own servants, sure, but you already have a somewhat informal relationship with them after so many years, especially with Ponpon and the other maids who are closer to you. Being in Ponyville, also, means that most of the time you are simply a regular mare while out in the streets.

Not that you dislike that, quite on the contrary. The peace and calm of social anonymity, or perhaps the disregard to nobility as a whole, is one of the good points of Ponyville.

But still, the way you are treated by your fellow cultists is a curious reminder that you are, indeed, one of the six ponies of the Inner Circle.

However, that is besides the point. You are here today to perform a ritual, not to wonder at such social intricacies.

Fifteen ponies stand around you, at the edges of the outer circle, silver cups at their hoofs as they await your prompt.

A larger grail, filled with a red liquid that has been prepared prior to your arrival, is on the ground before you.

You sit down on your hinds, take the grail with your hoofs, and you say the words.

And the attendants around the circle repeat them.


[30 bits have been deduced from your personal coffers]

[The Calling of Influence: GRAIL]

[7 + 20 (GRAIL, Level 2) + 10 (Jade Whistle's Cadre) + 12 (Magic) = 49]

[You have not reached any intensity of GRAIL Influence]


You finish drinking the contents of the grail, whispering the names and the words and the calls between every gulp, the last cup of the last attendant is also emptied as you drain the last drop from your own part. And you feel…

Nothing…

You feel the pleasant aftertaste of the wine, heavy with alcohol and other things. You feel the slight tinges of inebriation on the corners of your mind as your body reacts to it. But nothing else.

Perhaps Grail has failed you.

Perhaps you have failed the Grail.

The ashen taste of disappointment comes to your tongue shortly after.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Your eyes focus on the problem you have been searching for the last ten minutes, an "Aha!" coming from your lips as you circle the offending numbers, everything else clicking into place as you correct it.

A fourth of a granary's worth in produce (an entire fourth!) would probably not have been shipped out this month if you had not followed your guts, hunting for the nagging sensation that something was not adding up. Literally, in this case.

You press your large "REWRITE" stamp against the scroll and float it towards the "RETURN" pile of documents. Heavens know that you won't re-do that entire report, especially when it was somepony else's mistake to begin with, and you let out a rather tired sigh.

And as usual, your eyes idly drift towards the other documents and reports on your "IN" pile. That ever tall, ever increasing pile.

Well, everypony has their lot in their lives, and you surely won't start complaining about yours, all things considered.

A knock suddenly comes from your door, snapping you out of your thoughts as you look towards it. Your thoughts disentangle themselves from your work as you wonder who it might be.

Ponpon usually knocks, but being your personal maid she lets herself in without further ado, so its not her. However, everypony else in your house knows not to disturb you while you are working, and they wouldn't even have bothered to knock if it was an emergency, so who…?

"Come in," you say, your expression serious and your voice even more so, watching as the door slowly opens.

"Uhm… mommy?" and your expression immediately softens as you see your daughter's small face, hesitantly peeking in, "sorry to interrupt."

She is not interrupting you, of course, especially not when she is looking so apologetic. Really, you think, she is such a well-behaved daughter!

"There is no problem Silky, what can mom help you with?" you ask, your voice mellowing down as you speak over the fawning voices inside your head.

"I know it's something silly, and that I'm not supposed to bother you but…" she says, and you have to force yourself not to put your two hoofs on your cheeks and awwww at her, "I looked everywhere, and I can't find my homework. Have you seen it anywhere?"

Ah, so it was just that.

"Have you asked Soft Sweeps to help you look?" you gently ask.

To which your daughter replies by opening the door a little more, revealing the figure of Soft Sweeps, an uncomfortable and clearly forced smile on her face.

"She couldn't find it either," you daughter says, as the maid mouths a mute apology when your eyes glance over her.

"Well, have you tried asking daddy?" you try.

To which she, once again opens the door a little more, and you see your husband standing there, his eyes wide open at the fact that Silky tattled that he was listening in so easily.

For some reason you can see Stormchaser shiver slightly as he sees you looking at him. You idly wonder how your expression must look like right now, but you discard the thought soon after.

Really, those three…

"Well, as it might happen, I think I have seen it," you say, much to their shared surprise.

Yes, you recall it clearly, you were going up the stairs of the main hall when, by chance, you think you saw a small notebook… forgotten on top of the chandelier, near the ceiling.

"And I think mommy told you not to do your homework anywhere other than the desk inside your room, no?" you ask pointedly, seeing the filly's eyes shoot wide open as she connects the dot.

"Oh, right… thanks mom!" she says, quickly closing the door.

You think you hear something akin to a hushed conversation, and you let out a low chuckle as you hear what sounds like blaming accusations being thrown around among the three of them.

But you phase that noise out, slowly concentrating on your work once again.

As much as seeing your daughter is a good way to have a short break of sorts, you still have a lot to do. Focusing on your horn once again, you float another one of the sealed reports towards you, quickly opening it to-



Another knock, shattering your focus before it even finishes gaining shape.



You look up, this time seeing Stormchaser's face, an extremely uneasy smile on his lips as he interrupts you.

Again.

"Excuse me sweetheart, really sorry to be disturbing you," he says, making it clear that he wished he wasn't, "but have you also seen Silky's feathered pen? It wasn't with her notebook and…"

A short neigh akin to a grumpy snort escaping from your nose, as you glare at your interrupting husband. He very nearly crumbles under your stare, not enjoying the same adoring protection your daughter has from your work-self, cringing under the pressure of your scowl.

You see him try to retreat, maybe step back into the corridor and close the door behind him, but two pairs of hoofs, pushing him from behind, keep his cowering form firmly in place.

"Under the dinning table," you say, your voice sharpened into a blade by your diminishing patience, "she let it fall there earlier today, during breakfast."

You remember it clearly. Silky had brought her studying material to the table this morning, and let the thing fall to the ground between bites on her pancakes. You idly wonder why you didn't point it out to her then, but the thought seems unimportant next to the burning question of why your husband is still standing there.

"Thanks sweetheart, loveyouexcuseme!" he says, disappearing behind the door and nearly slamming it shut behind him.

You let out a small sigh. Peace, finally.

Once again, you bring the report to the center of your office desk and unseal it, doing your usual checks.

Names, dates, addresses, work field, assigned earth ponies… you idly float last month's ledgers towards you as you check if the very first lines of the report matches the last lines of the ledger, making sure that the spot where you had left off from the previous period has the same information. Soon, you are making your way down to the figures and numbers as-



Another knock.



Your patience, your concentration, your very calm cracks like brittle glass as somepony hurriedly knocks on your door. Only this time they knock, open the door, and throw in a terrified Soft Sweeps who falls on the ground hind first, slamming the door shut behind her right after.

The maid is trembling as she looks up at you, not even being able to stand up from her awkward sitting position as you glower at her.

"What?" you ask, to which the maid practically presses her back against the door, forelegs to her side as if she was a small animal being stared down by an angry predator.

From the maid's perspective, in some points, she might as well be.

"Y-young miss'… Silk-ky's…" she stutters, which only causes your mood to grow darker as she wastes your time, "backpack, Mrs. V-Velvet, her b-backpack!" she finally squeals.

You take in a long, deep breath, wondering how anypony could miss something so obvious.

Silky went out through the window to go to school, early this morning, and then remembered today is a weekend. She then doubled-back and left her backpack in the roof of the estate, and Soft Sweeps didn't notice it because she didn't fly after her. You saw that, all of that, from your window earlier this morning.

Heavens, you just looked out through your window, seconds ago, and confirmed that her backpack is still there. You remember it clearly an-



Your mind grinds to a halt with that thought. You… remember it clearly…?



A shiver runs down your spine.

"T-terribly sorry Mrs. Velvet, I… I'llbe takingmyleave now,pleasedon'tfireme!" the maid quickly excuses herself, mistaking your sudden shift in expression for something far, far worse.

But you… you couldn't care less right now.

Well, you do care for her, annoyances aside, but right now you can't really bring yourself to give it much thought. Something far more concerning is slowly coming to your mind, as you slowly piece together several disconnected thoughts.



Something far more disturbing, that is.



You try to piece the memories back together. When did you walk up the main stairs again? When was it that you looked up and saw your daughter's notebook?

It was during the afternoon, it had to be. You remember how the sunlight was angling into the hall, after all.

But you haven't left your office since lunch time. You haven't been at the entrance hall since this morning.

And her… was it her quill? How did that play out again…?

Yes, you remember… but the breakfast you have in mind, Stormchaser wasn't there. But…

Well, but he is home right now, simply put. You definitely ate breakfast with him and your daughter this morning, so why do you remember that you were too busy floating a napkin to your daughter's mouth to tell her about her fallen quill? Why do you recall that the chair next to her, the one where your husband usually sits, was empty?

Your eyes are wide open now, your thoughts running as you try to make sense of what the hell is going on. These things, these images, they are clear as day, fresh as a memory might be, except…

Except you can only recall the images. No sound, no taste, no smell, nothing that a normal memory would have, but you still recall them as if you had been there yourself, as if you had seen those moments with your very own eyes.

You can feel your heartrate getting faster.

What in Equestria is going on?!

The more you think about it, the more you can see. Glimpses of you walking with your husband through the farmlands, on a rare occasion that you called him to accompany you, images of you talking to Ponpon, as she hands you your mail.

But the fields around you and your husband are the same as they are today. The letters Ponpon is carrying, in your memories, are the same you have received a few hours earlier from another servant.

More images, more memories. You close your eyes, uselessly, as you try to calm yourself down.

You see yourself, you see through your own eyes. You are in the entrance hall, looking at the central clock.

The time, you are looking at the time right now. You are at the central hall of your estate, looking at the time, even though you are sitting on your chair in your office.

Your breathing grows faster, shallower, you are very nearly having a panic attack.



The time, the hands of the large clock of the entrance hall, is the same time that you can see on the small clock on your office desk. You press your head against the hard wood of your desk, hoping for even a smidge of darkness, hoping to be able to see nothing for at least a few seconds as you try to recollect your thoughts.

You fail, of course, your closed eyes being able to see perfectly even as you cover them completely with your hoofs.

You can see perfectly, you can see the clock of the entrance hall perfectly, the image of its small hands counting the seconds going in tandem with the sound of the small clock right in front of you.

You are there, right now, the same way that you are here.



What the hell are these things? Glimpses? Insights? Hallucinations as your mind slowly fractures?

Whatever it is, you can see… you can damned see.

You float an empty parchment to your desk, nearly throwing the other reports aside, and you take out your quill.

"My name…" you hurriedly write, mumbling to yourself as you go, worried that perhaps you might slip away if you don't do this, "is… Velvet Covers…"

You write that down, and stare intently at your own rushed hoofwriting, trying to focus on that image as if you were searching for… something.

And soon enough, you find it. A memory, so recent that it might have been from a few seconds ago, a recollection of you looking at that same parchment.

But much to your terrified surprise, or perhaps just as you expected, you can see that something very different is written on that same parchment, in your seconds-old memory.



"So am I. So are we. Relax." You read, or you remember that you read, from a memory that you are sure is not exactly yours, but you can tell that is from a few moments ago at best.



It takes you a long time to actually calm down.



You have achieved the third level of Secret Histories, and have come to a Realization. You can now see glimpses of your own memory, from other Histories. Memories, flashes of visions, and nothing else. You are terrified by it, and will avoid doing it whenever possible, but you have noticed that whenever you are "looking for something" the memories of how you found it (or rather, how you may find it) come unbidden.

Your "Book/Artifact Search" action has been upgraded. These actions will now yield books and artifacts in greater quantities as a rule, and will have their "reward table" updated, even when performed by a servant. However, servant actions will continue not to enjoy your other personal bonuses.

If those actions are performed by yourself, personally, they will not cap at the 100 mark.

You have taken to wearing a necklace, with a picture of your husband and daughter. Whenever the images get too strong, and you are not sure if it's your own eyes that you are seeing through, you take up the locket and look at it.

You hope no other Velvet Covers copies that habit.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan: Maximum GRAIL power
-[X] Shopping list
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
--[X] At the end of the cult meeting, tip off Windy Flakes about the MOTH artifact we found.
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of GRAIL
--[X] Apply to talking to Luna when we find her
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month?
--[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] On invoking the Lores
--[X] "The calling of Influence" for GRAIL
---[X] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
----[X] If anyone questions why we're doing this, claim that we're trying to smooth over the reputational knock caused by Windy Flakes invitation and maybe help some business deals on the side.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Study books
---[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
---[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
----[X] Invite Twilight for book study with tea and biscuits. Try to pique her curiosity with the scroll's topic and allude to possibility of unearthing unusual non-explicit, implied knowledge.
---[X] Do both of these before casting "The calling of Influence"
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)
-[X] On aiding the cult
--[X] Help Jade Whistle
---[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[X] Help Comet Feet
---[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
----[X] Ask for a lesson in EDGE. Tell him we've come to realise that we may find ourselves having to use it in the future, and we'd like to be prepared. If necessary, be willing to talk about how we got our scar and the fear that has been with us ever since, and how we think we need to overcome it.
-[X] Ponyville politics
--[X][Servant action] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she wont dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

- - -

You are standing in front of her house, wondering if perhaps you should call out for her. You have a nagging impression that she habitually sleeps until very late, or at least that's what you gathered from the last time you have been here, so perhaps she is still asleep.

Or perhaps you should throw pebbles at her window? The childish thought idly crosses your mind, and you entertain it for a few moments before gently suppressing it with the more adult logic that you would probably break her old windows by accident.

But would that really be that bad a thing? It would force her to do some sort of maintenance in her house, after all, and of course you would both help her and pay for any damage you caused and…

No, wait, better not. She would probably keep her broken window, and her house would fall into further disrepair, only this time it would be your fault.

"But still…" you whisper to yourself, eyeing her front door with a complicated expression, "I did write her. Several times, in fact, and…"

You have been trying to get in touch with Jade Whistle for a while. You probably sent her the first letter on the beginning of the month, you think. And then you sent her a second letter, thinking the first didn't reach her by some freak accident.

And then the third letter, since the last two went by unanswered…

The same way you have already knocked on her door, several times, without even a hint that the mare might be in there.

"Maybe I should just go inside?" you think out loud. It probably wouldn't be that hard, you think, just a little Knock and some prodding with your horn and you could open her locked door jus-

"Hello Velvet," Jade Whistle says, standing next to you, and you nearly jump in surprise at her sudden appearance.

You stare at her in disbelief for a few seconds, but the mare, as usual, seems totally unperturbed by your surprise or by your presence, much like she seems unperturbed by everything else.

"Jade!" you yelp, shaking your head and getting a better grip of yourself shortly after, "I mean, Jade, good afternoon. How have you been?"

The mare stares at you, and you take the opportunity to have a better look at her as well.

She seems… normal, if such a description can be applied to her. Light blue coat in its usual tone, grey mane perhaps a little unkept, but that's it.

You also see she is carrying a saddle bag, with what appears to be packages of food jutting out of it. You have to admit you are not too savvy when it comes to that sort of thing, your own shopping and cooking being handled by your servants after all, but it looks like she is carrying nothing but instant food.

That definitely doesn't look healthy, you think.

"I see you were out?" you try again, seeing that the mare will probably not answer your first question. To which she just stares at you for a few more seconds.

A few more long, drawn out, silent seconds.

And then she walks by you, and heads to her door. You suppress a shiver, your whole body going rigid as you hold back whatever physical response you might be wanting to perform, until the mare finally says something.

"I woke up and realized I didn't have any food left," she says simply.

And you jump at that answer like a drowning pony might grab hold of a floating log.

"I see, I've only been here for a few minutes, so I suppose I'm in luck that you got back home now," you say.

Immediately groaning, internally of course, at your own phrasing.

She usually is already silent when you directly ask her something. How in the heavens can you expect her to volunteer anything after you just make an off-hoof comment like that?!

"By the way," you continue after a few moments, not breaking stride, "did you get a letter I sent you? I'm not sure if I got your address or your cutie mark wrong, or if there was a problem at the post office and you didn't receive them, but… well, is there any chance we could do something today? Have a nice chat or the likes?"

Jade Whistle has her back to you, while she fishes her keys from the saddle bag and slowly unlocks her door. But it is good that she can't see you, you think, because you are not sure how genuine, or downright uncomfortable, your smile is right now.

Regardless of how your smile is, though, you are sure it is not getting any better as the mare wordlessly opens her door.

"May I perhaps come in?" you ask, taking a final risk. Hoping for something, anything that might-

"I'd rather you didn't," she answers in her monotone voice, passing through her open door and closing it behind her right after.

Leaving you alone in the empty street.

…

You finally let your jaw drop, your shock taking the better of you.

Did she just…? What was…?

She didn't slam the door on your face, but she might as well have. You feel like you have just been struck, as you are left alone in the quiet street, staring at the silent shape of her front door.

Is she alright? Should you be worried? Was that response from her supposed to mean anything?! You like to think of yourself as a reasonably social mare, and sometimes you even entertain the thought that perhaps you know a thing or two about reading ponies. But you have no idea of what to make of this.

Was she annoyed by your question? Does she not want company, yours or anypony else's?

Several ideas come to your head, ranging from forcing your way through her door and following after her, to trying to reach her through the Mansus, to simply doing… well, nothing. She is a grown mare after all, as much as you might know she has her… situation, so to speak.

You sigh, the more immediate and radical ideas quickly dying out in your head, smothered by the veils of common sense. She didn't give you any clues that she needs immediate help of any kind, although she never gives any clues about anything, so you better just give up and leave.

"Allright…" you slowly recompose yourself, surprise still clear on your face, "that just happened…"

That question was a risk, after all. You knew it was a gamble. The only thing is that you never imagined you would lose like that. But shocked as you might be, it doesn't change the fact that you are alone now, in an empty street, with nothing but your thoughts to keep you company as you make the long trek back home.

You turn away from her house, still feeling a little defeated, but soon enough you start walking, your thoughts starting to think of what else you might do with your free time now. Maybe you could salvage this? Salvage the afternoon, you mean. Try and meet somepony else, or visit Rarity? Or perhaps-

Your thoughts once again grind to a halt as you hear the sound of a door being unlocked, and you turn to see Jade Whistle calmly closing it behind herself and walking towards you.

Her expression, of course, totally unphased as she looks at you.

"Oh, you're leaving," she says nonchalantly, eyes empty as usual despite her words, "you are actually busy then."

To which your mind does a somersault, the reflexive prompts to facehoof and let your jaw fall being both held back by conscious willpower as Jade Whistle finishes approaching you.

"I… I thought you were the busy one?" you ask, or you try to ask, not sure if your question even makes sense at all. "I mean, you went into your house and closed the door?"

Her head tilts slightly at that, almost imperceptibly.

"My house is a little…" she starts, her voice trailing off as she looks towards her door, then back towards you, "I'd rather if you didn't enter it," she finishes simply.

But of course, you mockingly chide yourself, how didn't you realize that's what she meant in the first place.

She never asked you to leave. Well, she didn't tell you to wait for her either, but she didn't ask you to leave, did she? Go you, Mrs. Socially Wise!

By the heavens, this mare…

"I'm sorry, I did something wrong again, didn't I?" she cuts through your thoughts, although her voice doesn't make it clear if she actually feels sorry about anything. "I am annoying you."

"No! I mean, not at all Jade," you quickly correct your tone, remembering how disturbingly observant the mare is, hoping basically that she can't read your mind as you hurriedly banish the image your reflection mocking yourself, "you are not annoying anypony."

Although you can't tell if your words are having any effect.

"Anyhow, like I said, did you get any of my letters?" you ask again, hoping to change the subject.

She looks at you for a few more moments but, thankfully, she opens her mouth to talk.

"I thought it was a dream," she says, "I'm not sure when was the last time I received a letter."

You nod at that, slowly starting to walk, and admittedly feeling relieved when the mare follows you without you needing to actually tell her to.

"But I receive less letters than I have nice dreams, so I thought it was the latter," she says simply.

She says it simply, but you can't help but feel a warm something on your chest at that.

You ought to write Jade more frequently, if that is the case.

Or, you think rather hopefully, you ought to do something better, then. Being her "friend" sounds a lot better than being her "pen pal". If she is willing to, that is.

You hope she is.

"Do you know anyplace nice around here?" you ask in an off-hoof manner as the two of you walk, "I'm not really used to this part of Ponyville."

You see her look down at that, something that hopefully means she is thinking about your question, not overthinking about something else.

Although you can't help but notice that you are doing a lot of overthinking yourself, it seems.

"There is this park I usually go to, this way," she says, pointing the two of you in a certain direction.

Very much to your surprise, you have to admit. You really didn't think you would get any answer from that, and you already had a nearby tea house you were planning to take her.

But well, you are not about to turn down her offer, you think as you follow after her.

And indeed, the two of you arrive at a park shortly after, a nice patch of greenery, even by Ponyville standards, stretches for a good while at the end of the dirt road. Several flowerbeds dot the place, some of them surrounding tall trees, and wooden benches painted in several colors can be seen on its edges.

You see a few foal's toys near the center of the park. A small assortment of slides, climbers and whatnots, some of them already occupied by a group of colts as they laugh and shout at each other.

"I'm always surprised at how Ponyville manages to come up with places like this," you say, mostly to yourself.

But you see Jade Whistle looking at you, so you hope that means she is wondering what exactly you mean by your comment.

"I mean, Ponyville has the feeling of a small city, but it has a surprisingly large number of inhabitants," you say, drawing from the information about the city's statistics you read once, "but still, the houses and buildings are spaced and they manage to almost hide these sorts of places here and there."

You follow her as you talk, seeing that she is leading the two of you to a particular bench, with a good view of the park as a whole and of the playing foals.

"I'm glad that real urbanization has not gotten its hoofs here, at least not yet. I think Ponyville would lose a lot of its charm if it became a place like Vanhoover," you finish.

And it makes you glad to see her nod at that.

"Yeah, I think its good when things stay the way they are," she says as you sit down next to each other.

The two of you then look towards the playing colts, you in particular with a bit of a smile on your face.

To be honest you are not entirely sure of where to go from here. You had planned something along the lines of what has already happened, so to speak, you are sitting with her in a pleasant place after all, but its not like you thought ahead of exactly what you would talk about with her.

After all, so many things seem rather… too touchy, to say the least, to be a good subject. Far too many things, now that you think about it.

You have a loving family, you live in a nice house, you dare say that you have healthy friendships and relationship.

And Jade Whistle… well, those are not particular subjects you felt you should bring up, so you didn't plan ahead on any of those lines.

Still, you absolutely don't want to talk with her about cult things. It would feel like the equivalent of "talking about work", and you both don't really need that sort of thing right now, as well as you very much prefer to try to actually bond with the mare.

"Any other places you know about?" you ask, focusing back on the present, the wind softly blowing on your manes as you talk.

However, you don't think she heard your question, still looking towards the playing colts. Until she finally blinks a few times, as if she had snapped out of a thought, before turning towards you.

"Hm? Oh… not really," you notice how natural she sounded for a few moments, while she was somewhat surprised, before reverting to her usual tone, "I like this park, so I don't really bother to look for other places."

"Really? That's a bit of a shame, Ponyville has all sorts of wonderful places… Which makes me want to ask: have you ever visited another city?" you say, in the most amicable way possible.

"Not that I remember," she shakes her head, her eyes following one of the colts as he slides down on one of the toys.

"Aren't you even curious about visiting them?"

You expect an answer akin to a "not really", but in all honesty you are still happy with this. You are not sure why but Jade Whistle seems far more approachable then she usually is.

"That's a good question," she says, following up with something rather surprising to you, "I sometimes am curious about other places, but… if I already like it here, why would I need to go someplace else?" she asks, turning to look at you.

This was… not the sort of thing you were expecting, but you don't really feel any sort of second intentions from her.

So this is just idle philosophy? You can do that without any problems.

"Well, to have some new experience, perhaps? To grow as a pony?" you say, not really intending to go anywhere with it, but trying to rise to the occasion that her question brought nonetheless, "there is no problem in liking a place in particular and staying there, since…"

You very nearly say that those sorts of places, the ones we like, are the best places to build a home, for example. But you think that might not be the best sort of wording to use with her.

"Well," you continue, "I just think there is nothing wrong with wanting to see new places either."

You think you hear her let out a "Hm" at that, but you are not sure.

"Well, I always really wanted to visit Cloudsdale, it looks nice. A shame that we non-pegasus can't really go there…" she says, her voice somewhat bored, but…

Your ears perk up. Do you hear a tinge of something else in her tone? Could that be an actual, honest, longing of hers, small as it may be?

"You do know that there are spells for that, don't you?" you say, drawing from the memory of the time you have been to Cloudsdale, "in fact, I think I recall that they rent enchanted horseshoes on the balloon airports."

"You have already been to Cloudsdale?" she asks.

And maybe for the first time since you met her, you actually think her voice resembles a questioning tone, and not a monotonous drone.

You even think her eyes are fractionally wider in surprise!

"Jade, my husband is a pegasus," you answer with a short, honest laugh, "and yes, I have been to Cloudsdale. Here, let me tell you all about it. The place is wonderful."

Much to your delight, Jade Whistle actually shows that she is paying attention as you tell her about the Capital of Clouds.



- - -



The two of you are still sitting on that same bench.

The colts are gone now, they went away a short while ago. But the two of you have been sitting there the whole time, while you told Jade Whistle everything you remember about Cloudsdale.

She didn't say a word the whole time, but you could tell that she was really interested in it.

You two are sitting in silence now, but it's the sort of silence that you aren't uncomfortable with. It's the silence of pleasant company, perhaps, and you genuinely hope that she is feeling the same way right now.

"I really didn't know we could go there," she finally says.

"Maybe you would have known if you went out more?" you try saying in the gentlest tone you can muster.

And it is a bit of a relief when you see her nod at that.

"Maybe I would…"

You allow yourself to relax with that. In all honesty, this whole afternoon went far better than you hoped it would. Jade Whistle was mostly quiet the whole time, and inexpressive as usual, but you feel that this time it wasn't in a distant and disconnected way.

You feel like she was simply quiet, not distant. She still felt like she was there, sitting right next to you.

"Can I ask you something?" she says, snapping you out of your thoughts.

"Sure," you look towards her, curiously.

"I…" she starts talking, only to stop before long, looking towards the foal's toys on the center of the park for a few moments.

Picking her next words, or maybe something else.

"I sleep a lot," she says, suddenly, "but I don't really go into the Mansus that often."

You slowly nod at that, your eyes narrowing slightly, but you don't say anything, for some reason afraid that you might discourage her of continuing if you do.

"I didn't use to, that is. But I have been there more frequently, ever since… a few months back."

You don't need to think too hard to know what particular event she is talking about.

"And not long ago, I…" you see her take a deep breath.

And your smile immediately disappears from your face.

"I reached the Blank Door," she says, looking towards the ground.

Of course, you understand the several things she means by that.

Jade Whistle said she reached the Blank Door, not that she crossed it. But still, she mentioned it as being "the Blank Door", by name. A part of you instantly understands that she has learned exactly what is behind the Blank Door.

Maybe she even had the same vision as you. Vision, dream, glimpse of the past, or whatever else that was.

She knows, then, that behind the Blank Door is…

You realize she is looking towards the foal's toys, on the center of the park, once again.

"And…?" you force the word out of your mouth, your throat for some reason feeling dry. The meaning behind it implicit.

She said she wanted to ask you a question, after all.

"And I wanted to ask…" her voice has not changed one bit, still monotonous. Her expression has not changed one bit, still neutral, or perhaps bored.

But for some reason you can tell… you can feel that there is some sort of weight forming around her. Inside of her, or on her back, or maybe on her soul. You don't know where it is, but you can tell that something is pushing her down as she takes another deep breath, eyes still fixed on that same place, before she finally asks her question.

"… Master says you have already crossed it. So what is it like, behind the Blank Door?"

She might as well be asking what time it is, from her tone of voice.

But you know that this question is something that has been tormenting her. Deeply.

And perhaps, you think, it has been tormenting her for far longer than she even knew about the Mansus or the Blank Door.



[How does it feel, to feel nothing at all? - Breakpoints 40/60/80/100]

[Roll = 97 + 14 (Learning) = 111]



You feel a knot inside your chest. You feel it tighten a bit more every time you look at Jade Whistle.

You feel it tighten every time you follow her stare, and realize she is looking at the foal's toys on the center of the park.

You feel it tighten every time you look back at your memory, and realize she had been watching the colts play during that whole time, while you told her about Cloudsdale. While you explain to her how was it like to visit it with your family, and how excited your small daughter was at this and that.

But most of all, you feel that this thing inside your chest, this gripping sensation akin to a strangling rope around your heart, is only an echo of whatever the mare sitting next to you is feeling right now.

And you can't help but purse your lips at that.

You are sitting right next to her, so close that you can reach her if you stretch out a foreleg.

But the way you are feeling, she might not even be there at all. The way you are feeling right now, she might as well be back in her house, behind her locked door.

Alone.

You open your mouth to answer her. It is not a simple question, but it is not a complicated one either. You know what it is like, behind the Blank Door, you can describe it perfectly to her if you really want to.

You know what is like to be dead.

But…

"Jade… this is not…"

But that answer would have been too wrong. Too cold, too sharp, too kindly soothing, too dismissively calm.

It would have felt, at the same time, like silk and like splinters against your tongue.

Instead, what comes out of your mouth is what is really going through your heart, right now. The only thing that truly makes sense in your mind.

"This is not what you really want to know, is it?" you ask.

You honestly tried your best to keep that… that hollowness out of your voice, that tinge of sadness. But for all you tried, you really couldn't. The question came out the way it did, with the same tone you might have used to ask her about…

And with that, when she hears your tone, or your words, or perhaps even your intention, her expression simply crumbles.

As if she had just taken off a mask, or as if she had just woken up from a dreamless sleep and into a miserable life. Jade Whistle suddenly looks…

She shakes her head, answering your question, confirming your honest suspicion, and with that movement from her you understand why she says she sleeps so much, and why she mentions her dreams so often.

Suddenly, Jade Whistle looks very tired. She looks tired, and many, many other things.

And you know the expression she has right now very well.

"Me and my brother used to come here all the time," she says, looking towards the several toys on the center of the park.

A chill runs down your spine, but you don't say anything. There is nothing for you to say.

And what can you say anyways? What can you possibly ask? If she doesn't mind coming here? If she doesn't mind the memories? Or maybe ask if she comes here because of those very memories?

There is nothing for you to say, and the mare is not done speaking anyways.

"And I'm…" she tries to continue, but the words get stuck in her throat.

It happens without warning, to the point where you can't hide your surprise when it does.

Her voice, her calm and serious and monotonous and maybe even bored voice, it simply crumbles, just like her expression did a few moments ago. Her tone shifts, in a split second, to the heavy, rasping voice of somepony who…



"… I'm scared?"



Of somepony who is very closed to crying.

She asks. She doesn't affirm, instead she asks, and she does it with that sort of voice, her eyes fixed on the same place they have been this whole time.

"Jade…?" you say, without conscious prompt, the distance between the two of you stretching even further, almost as if something is stopping you from moving, from even trying to approach her.

You dearly want to reach out to her, you really do, but you feel as if something is paralyzing you. The utter knowledge, perhaps, that if you move even a single inch she will clamp up again and not speak another word.

There is nothing you can say, nothing you can do but watch, wordlessly, as she continues to stare towards the toys at the center of the park.

"I… I realized what that door is… it's the afterlife, the Mansus' afterlife at least, but…" her words become faster, maybe even with a tinge of desperation to them, "I… don't know what to do?"

You can tell that her tone is pained, almost as if she is pleading to herself.

You know that she is begging, almost imploring to herself, to discover what the question she wants to ask is. You can see that she doesn't know what it is that she wants to know, but that she understand that it is causing her all this pain. And she needs to discover what that question is, she needs to ask it, otherwise the knot inside her own chest won't stop becoming tighter and tighter.

Her posture bends, slightly, almost as if she is slowly curling up.

"And I don't know if I'm scared of who I might see if I cross it…? Or who I might not see if I cross it and… and…?"

Her hoofs starts to tremble under her, you see her breathing becoming sharper and faster, and you can-

And you can't take it anymore! Tension be damned, her own possible silence be damned, you immediately cover the small distance between the two of you.

And you bring her into a tight hug.

But you were right. You immediately feel her clamping up at that, you feel her words dying inside her mouth when you hug her, as if she had only been able to say them before because she had forgotten you were sitting right beside her. As if she had only been able to let those emotions show because she thought that she was by herself, and you approaching her immediately dispelled that illusion.

As if she had only been able to feel her pain because she was alone with her memories. The image of her younger self, sitting on that same bench and looking at her younger brother play on the small toys, being the only catalyst she had to cope with that.

As if the only place she can be herself, the only place she can do or feel anything at all, is in her past. You immediately understand that that is how she deals with all of this.

But that feels so lonely to you.

So you keep her in your embrace, but as much as it pains you there isn't anything you can really say.

You hug her tightly, because there is nothing else to be done. As much as she might come to this park every week, there will never be anything else here but her memories. As much as she might try to sleep and dream, maybe about her past or maybe about nothing, she will still wake up on that same abandoned house.

Saying the Blank Plains is empty won't bring her peace, it will only make her realize that she will never see… who she wants to see, ever again.

Saying the Blank Plains is a calm place won't make her feel any better. You can tell that, deep down, it's not the peace of somepony else that she is looking for, it's her own peace that she desperately wants.

She didn't tell you what her question is, and you know that she is still in pain because of that, but you also know that the answer will never be the one she is hoping for.

"I'm sorry," you whisper against her ear, your own eyes downcast as you press her against yourself.

And with those words you feel her forelegs slowly, hesitantly, close in around you.

You are not sure how long it takes her. It somehow feels like the seconds are stretching, becoming longer and heavier the more you stay there with her, but you keep holding her firmly regardless.

You can feel the conflict inside her head, or maybe inside her heart, as her forelegs hover an inch away from your coat, hesitating on that final moment.

You can tell that part of her feels like this will be a betrayal of sorts, as if she was not meant to ever hug anypony else. After all, she is to blame for what happened all those years ago. She knows now, down to the precise moment, when exactly she should have acted to stop that from happening, she definitely knows it after so many years of living and reliving that past. But she didn't stop it from happening, and she lost everypony who ever loved her, so it stands to reason that she is not worthy of being cared for by anypony else, ever again.

You can tell that another part of her feels scared. She has been alone for so long, after all, that she has forgotten what anything else feels like. She has been by herself for so long that the only thing she can think of, in a situation like this, is that she might be going back to the first step, on the long road to all the pain and suffering and loss and everything else that will inevitably be waiting for her at the end of the road.

You can tell all of that… because that is what you felt the first time you hugged your own husband. Not nearly as intensely as Jade Whistle must be feeling right now, of course. You feel a little bad for being thankful for that, but you know that your plight when you were younger was not nearly as heavy as hers.

However, you still have some… experience, of sorts, to draw from.

That is why you know exactly what she is missing, so you keep hugging her without letting go.

And eventually, finally, you can feel her hugging you back, her forelegs crossing that final distance and reaching for your back. Trembling, uncertain, without much strength, but still hugging you back.

She doesn't say anything, she simply nods.

Maybe she is agreeing with you, saying that she is sorry as well, for all of this.

Maybe she is thanking you.

Or maybe it's nothing. Maybe it means nothing. After all you can feel that she closed herself tightly once again. You feel it by the way she is trying her best not to move or say anything. You feel it by the way that she has not cried a single tear, her eyes stubbornly holding back against a pressure that would have broken you with but a fraction of its weight.

But whatever it is that her nod means, you also know that she has not hugged anypony else in a very long time.



She doesn't say a word as the two of you finally let go of each other, you are not sure how long after. She doesn't look you in the eyes as the two of you walk back to her house. She doesn't even say goodbye as she closes her door behind her.

That weight, that thing around her is still there, and you know that you have done nothing but make it more evident. You realize that you have done nothing but remind her that it is there, with all its crushing grip of loneliness and blame.

The only thing you did was reopen an old wound, make it more evident in all of its pain, and grief, and throbbing weight, and everything else that it entails.

But you also know that, as much as it might hurt, you have helped her feel something. In a life in which she has not felt anything in a very long time, you have helped her experience something that is not the lonely memories she has drawn around herself like a blanket.

You are not sure if this was good, you are not sure if this was bad, you are not sure if this was kindness or if this was cruelty. But in the end, Jade Whistle hugged you back.

And that has to count for something.





You have helped Jade Whistle.

Have you helped Jade Whistle?

You hope you have helped Jade Whistle.

Spoiler: The Blank Plains? Well...

40: ...it is cold there.

60: ...it is empty there.

80: ...it is peaceful there.

100: ...this is not what you really want to know, is it?

This, as much as it hurts, was the best possible scenario. Or at least you dearly hope so.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan: Maximum GRAIL power
-[X] Shopping list
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
--[X] At the end of the cult meeting, tip off Windy Flakes about the MOTH artifact we found.
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of GRAIL
--[X] Apply to talking to Luna when we find her
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month?
--[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] On invoking the Lores
--[X] "The calling of Influence" for GRAIL
---[X] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
----[X] If anyone questions why we're doing this, claim that we're trying to smooth over the reputational knock caused by Windy Flakes invitation and maybe help some business deals on the side.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Study books
---[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
---[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
----[X] Invite Twilight for book study with tea and biscuits. Try to pique her curiosity with the scroll's topic and allude to possibility of unearthing unusual non-explicit, implied knowledge.
---[X] Do both of these before casting "The calling of Influence"
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)
-[X] On aiding the cult
--[X] Help Jade Whistle
---[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[X] Help Comet Feet
---[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
----[X] Ask for a lesson in EDGE. Tell him we've come to realise that we may find ourselves having to use it in the future, and we'd like to be prepared. If necessary, be willing to talk about how we got our scar and the fear that has been with us ever since, and how we think we need to overcome it.
-[X] Ponyville politics
--[X][Servant action] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she wont dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

- - -

It wasn't exactly easy, finding out where Comet Feet is.

You almost had to do a tiny investigation of sorts. At first trying to track down where he lives, then trying to figure out where he works, since nopony knew the answer to your first question.

But in the end, the only thing you really learned was that almost nopony knows anything about him. Or at least nopony had ever seen him before the cult was founded, and that he is only seen during cult meetings or when going about doing cult business. Granted, his presence became more usual during the last few months, up until the point where the Master ordered him to lay low, but nopony you talked with knew anything about his life before that.

So, it all comes down to simple logic, and following the only hunch you really have. Comet Feet is mostly seen about and around the cult itself, which makes you think he is either uncommonly dedicated to it, or that he has little else to do.

Or both. Which in turn makes you wonder about what his sources of income might be, but that is beside the point.

You recall Jade Whistle mentioning that he came from out of town, so considering that everypony saw less of him after he was ordered to stay out of sight…

"And considering that he has remained suspiciously absent, even after the investigations were over…" you whisper to yourself as you walk.

It should have been obvious all along, especially considering that the Master had not given him a new assignment, telling him instead to continue his training. You should have known from the very beginning that he simply wouldn't change anything about how he was going about his task.

This is the hunch that brought you to where you currently are.

Once again, you are on the narrow path that leads to the small abandoned house, far on the outskirts of Ponyville. The Mansus-shared memories you had of this place are nearly gone, but now you have your own recollections from the last time you have been here to draw from, so you managed to make your way here once again without any problems.

However, you can already feel a slight… difference, in the air.

It was almost imperceptible at first, just a strange sensation you started feeling when you were somewhere around the middle of the trail. A slight impression you couldn't shake out, something that told you not that you were being watched, but that instead you should be more attentive to your surroundings.

That you should be more wary, perhaps, looking at the trees as cover instead of as hiding places. You couldn't consciously say what the difference between those two things was, but you definitely caught on to the subconscious difference, the more interpretative difference between those two points of view.

The feeling only got stronger as you went deeper through the trail, not heavier or oppressive, but more noticeable nonetheless. And as you finally force your way through the last overgrown bush, the abandoned shack finally coming into view, you realize what this sensation is.

A slight coppery taste somewhere inside your mouth, the sensation that the trees around you are obstacles in some sort of grand arena the size of the forest, and that the abandoned house is a particularly poorly-defensible fortress, the impression that shouting in anger at somepony might not be so difficult, or wrong, after all.

This is the effect an EDGE Influence. Maybe you are simply not used to Edge to begin with, maybe Comet Feet succeeded in summoning a particularly powerful one, or maybe he has simply been here for so long that it has permeated the entire area.

Whatever the case might be, you can clearly identify that this is the effect of an Influence. A strong Influence.

You wonder if this will make your presence here a more… complicated matter.

You very nearly open your mouth to call out for the pegasus, seeing that wandering around here feels like a rather poor idea. But you don't even have time to formulate them, or even to properly breathe in with your lungs.

Because something interrupted you. Something from within you, that is.

It feels like a… as if a blade of sorts has been drawn. You don't hear anything, but the insides of your ears still hiss, mutedly, as if a sword or something else has just been drawn from its scabbard somewhere nearby. You don't feel like it's hovering against your coat or your neck, but you can somehow feel that a blade is near you, and very much so. It's a sense, although one you can't rightly explain, that is somehow telling you with the utmost certainty that said blade is being pointed at you. You feel the same way that a paranoid pony might feel while insisting that someone is watching them, only that you know you are right.

You have never felt this before, and yet you recognize it immediately, almost as if it is some part of your instinct, something that your brain never had the need to use before but knows how to do regardless. And that thing, that shapeless presence that you "know" is there, can only be described as a "blade" because the one and only purpose of a blade is to cut or to harm something.

So that means that somehow, you purse your lips as you finish interpreting your own irrational thoughts… somehow, you know that you are feeling that something whose only purpose is to cut or to harm is pointed at you, and…

No, that is not yet exactly right, you think as you continue to parcel this recently-discovered sense.

Not "something", but "somepony". And not "pointed", but "looking at". Your thoughts click, and as naturally as you might hear through your ears or see with your eyes, you suddenly understand it with a keen clarity.

You turn in the direction that the drawn blade is looking at you from.

And you see Comet Feet, as you knew you would. His very presence allowing you to hear him, although he didn't make a sound, or see him, as much as he was not in your line of sight.

You felt him. You felt his attention on you.

And now, your own attention is directed towards him as you look at the stallion.

He looks… sharp. Sharp is the only word that can do him justice right now. His eyes are narrowed, but you know that it is not because of the darkness cast by the trees all around you. His lips are closed in a tight line, and his wings are slightly open as if they were an extra set of limbs that could be used.

He has the gait of a predator as he walks towards you, his body fractionally, almost imperceptibly, coiled and lowered, constantly prepared to pounce at a moment's notice.

But despite all that, you don't feel any particular aggressivity or threat coming from him. Not in the sense that he does not make for a threatening view, quite on the contrary, but in the sense that he is not directly threatening you.

You hear a part of you whispering that you feel like that because he truly is not making any effort to intimidate you.

While another part tells you that he does not need to in the first place.

After all if he wanted to hurt you, if he wanted to kill you, he could do it. You know that he could do it, that he can do it. The two of you know that he is be able to do so without any real effort, that he does not need to use enough of what he knows to appear threatening towards you to begin with. Much like he doesn't need to apply his full weight to snap a twig, needing only to step on it as he walks if he wishes to see it broken.



And that, seeing him in the flesh, knowing all of that, being capable of feeling his very presence with a sense you didn't even know you had…

Is terrifying.

To the point where you are suddenly very much aware that you are here with Comet Feet, alone, and that most likely nopony close to you even knows where you are.



However, for some reason, you don't feel nearly as scared as you thought you would. The thought that everypony eventually dies presents itself to you, as a way to calm you down.

But you decline that thought. You don't need calm to smother you fears. Because for some reason…

For. Some. Reason…

You are feeling fear, the certain fear that you can be in danger at a moment's notice if the stallion so wishes, but that doesn't scare you.

Well, at least not nearly as much as it is making you feel thrill.

"Velvet Covers," he says, his voice a low growl, "you didn't mention you would come."

True, you didn't leave him a note on the Woods as you did last time.

But mostly because you were almost sure he wouldn't have answered, if you did.

"You didn't really give anypony a chance to do so, leaving right after the meeting like you did," you answer.

And you see his eyes narrow even further at that.

"And what are you here for?" he asks, in a tone that very nearly does not sound like a question at all.

"I am here to talk to you."

"Not interested," he says quickly as he turns to walk away, and you are sure his words would have interrupted yours if your sentence had been any longer.

"I'm not asking," you answer back, walking after him.

To which you see his wings bristle, slightly. The sort of movement you know you can notice only because you live with two pegasi yourself.

But that just brings a small smile to your face, knowing that you got to him.

So, naturally, you press him further.

You open your mouth to let fly another, more barbed phrase. Something to get another reaction out of him, something that will hit him an-

When you suddenly stop, both talking and walking, a realization coming to you from a corner of your mind like a slap to the cheek.

You… you are enjoying this. You realize that you very nearly let yourself slide down the slippery slope of taunting him, for the mere sake of taunting. For that sudden glee you know you will get if you see his wings bristle even further, for the joys of having him denying you again, more sharply or aggressively, only for you to scale it further. From conversation to argument, from argument to something else.

For no other reason than to make conflict for the sake of conflict.

You swallow your words and try to shake those thoughts from your head.

It's the air, you can tell. It's the air, and it's Comet Feet himself. His very posture seems to be inviting your taunts, his previous words seem, in hindsight, laced with openings and traps and offense so that you might jump into it as easily as you just did.

And something tells you that he is not even aware of that, as if it is a natural part of him to act with all those tiny, Edge-sharp details.

You didn't imagine that the Influence would be like this, with this effect, strong and subtle at the same time. You had come prepared for it to be like an overbearing presence of sorts, some wall of barbs around Comet Feet that would make interacting with him nigh impossible, not this… subtle change, as if the entire world was a canvas that was usually painted with one brush, and the Influence was instead the change of that brush for another one that drew thinner and sharper lines. Still the same drawing, and yet not.

Nothing feels different, unless you stop to really think about it, and that's why it is so easy to fall into it.

"What I mean to say is…" you take a deep breath, stilling your thoughts and analyzing each word before it leaves your mouth, "that I am here to ask for your help."

It felt strange to say that, it felt a little more difficult than it should have been. Not the way you worded it, but the way you said it.

The words almost sounded a tiny little bit muffled, as if the very air was somehow resistant to them. And you are sure, although you have no idea how, that your words would have sounded a lot better if they had been said in a more demanding tone. As if the air would have carried them more easily if you had been more forceful about it, instead of having used your… "conceding" tone of voice.

But still, your words give him pause. He does not turn around to face you, but something tells you that he doesn't need to. You have his attention once again, point in fact that he has stopped walking.

"I have realized," you continue to say, slowly, your words coming out with a nigh imperceptible, but still annoying, difficulty, "that the day might come when… when certain actions will be inevitable."

However, they do become easier to pronounce as you slowly realize how to weave your way around them, if that even makes sense.

"And I would rather know how to perform them, than to be caught unprepared," you continue, keeping your gaze steady on his back.

Not in a pleading tone, but in the disciplined way a student might ask for a lesson.

Not aggressively demanding, but still showing that you won't back down either, even if he denies you.

The air is still clinging to your coat, trying to goad your muscles into growing taut, trying to whet your words until they are sharp. But you just might be able to dance around those allures and traps, or at least lessen their effect on you, although you are sure you will not be able to use them to your advantage. Not with how little you know, at least.

"So I would like to ask for a lesson, if you have the time," you finish.

And you allow the seconds to drag on, the fact that Comet Feet has not yet walked off and ignored you being enough of an indicator that at least he is still listening.

"Asking the Master for a lesson will be a better use of your time," he says, turning his face slightly towards you, but not yet moving his hoofs.

"But he has also told us to help each other, and I have realized recently that teaching somepony else about something, even if it's just the basics, is a great way to also learn," you answer quickly, almost as if you were giving a return blow in a duel of words, using the call of conflict in the air to speed your thoughts.

Cautiously, less you fall into its trap again.

And with that, he finally turns in your direction and faces you.



No, he doesn't just face you, he glares at you.



His eyes are… sharper still than they were before. This is not a glare of hate, this is not his contempt being aimed at you, but this…

You freeze, and the only possible motion your body is capable of performing is to take a step back, and then another, and then a third as your heart starts first to beat harder inside your chest, and then tries to hammer its way out of your body.

This is him directing his attention to you, in all its implied threat. He is not looking at you, he is studying you. Seeing the way your pupils are dilating, even though it is dark and your eyes are closed. Noticing the way your hoofs are unbalanced as you hesitantly retreat. Seeing the imperceptible change in hue on your horn as you store a sliver of magical energy at its base.

Noticing your limp.

Your hoofs stop moving, but more out of the knowledge that no matter how much you walk back, you still won't be out of his reach.

Your fear still has you paralyzed. You don't feel "like" a small animal under the gaze of a predator. Right now you "ARE" a small animal, under the gaze of something very large and very deadly.

You very much regret asking him for this, any spine or courage you had beforehand being completely forgotten as you stare up towards something that can kill you if it so much wishes it.

And the meaning behind his eyes is that…



[To catch a sharp Comet, breakpoints ???]

[Roll: 68 + 12 (Diplomacy) + 10 (GRAIL bonus) – 20 (A Rousing Air) = 70]

[She has a point, of sorts…]



The very air around you becomes sharp, almost gripping, with the scrutiny of his attention.

Until it becomes so sharp that the aggressivity in it actually…

... starts to bleed out?

There is no physical change on the stallion, he is still looking at you from snout to tail, still reading your flaws, still calculating how many steps you would be able to make before he caught up with you.

But now it is just… idle observation. It is no longer him preparing.

And there was a world of difference in that.

"You may have a point," he says, somewhat grudgingly. But he still turns back towards the way he came from, simply waving a wing to signal that you should follow.

You feel that the thought of bleeding the air even further, perhaps enough to dry the Influence altogether, crossed his mind, but that in the end he decided not to.

Well, at least he didn't turn you away this time.



- - -



It feels somewhat strange to be without a dress. Most ponies only wear simple accessories, as cultural consensus mostly views clothing as pieces of formal attire, but seeing that you wear one almost during every waking moment of your life, you feel rather exposed without it.

But still, you had to take it off. Impracticalities have no place here, especially when you need to make a point that you are being serious.

Much to your surprise, though, he didn't even look at your hindleg, to the point where you thought that either he could not see it, or that perhaps he knew about it all along.

"I realize it's a weakness, and that I have to be conscious about it," you said at some point, in the middle of his instruction.

"It is not a weakness," he replied, almost as an afterthought.

You recall eyeing him, making your disagreement clear with your expression, although you did not voice it.

"It is only a weakness if you allow it to be," he then finished.

During the whole day, your interactions with him were more or less like that.



Still, you managed to get the stallion to talk. Although you had to be precise with your wording, and you still had to focus on the knowledge he was imparting to you.



"But how do you even survive here?" you asked after a few hours, while you focused on floating the several dulled knives in the pattern that he had drawn on the ground, a three-faced formation meant to minimize the angles that a defending pony would have to block them.

"Nothing in this forest is threatening," he answered without much thought, eyeing your magic with sharp eyes.

"Not survive as in… how do you live here? I hear you don't even step a hoof in Ponyville, but you still need basic sustenance."

"I have supplies brought to me regularly," he mentioned in an off-hoof manner.

"Nopony mentioned it when I asked about you."

"Not by somepony of the cult," he said.

You recall that your eyes went slightly wider at that, but he waved your curiosity away as he continued talking.



Hours passed, long and exhausting hours.

He refrained from grilling you physically, saying it would have no purpose since it would only be for a single day. But still, he was very particular about showing you "the correct way" that a unicorn is meant to fight, according to him.

You were surprised about how knowledgeable he is on that matter, since you thought that, if there are different styles for each pony species, he would have focused fully on whatever was more suited for pegasi.

But he scoffed at that notion, critically, when you voiced it, saying that it was obvious that one had to master combat as a whole, and not just a particular facet of it.

You also noticed that what he was teaching you, although he made it sound obvious and natural, is entirely different of how you have heard that ponies (magical users or not) fight. While talking specifically about what you are meant to do as a unicorn, he was much more focused on principles and stances that focus on precision, ways to take advantage of pony physiology and the likes, instead of talking about clever ways to use spells as most unicorn mages are wont to do during fights.

The things he showed you, also, involved a lot of knifes. You weren't able to do it, of course, but he drew on the ground a dizzying pattern of knives, fanned around a user with the help of magic, and how each of them is meant for a specific spot and purpose.

A pony, he said as he drew the unicorn lesson, only needs to kill his foe once. Overkill is waste, zapping off a limb, when cutting an artery suffices, is a waste. This, he mentioned in an off-hoof manner, is murder-making, not fighting.

His lesson went something like that.



"And these are the Three Identifiable Wounds," he says, jamming the third dull knife into the throat of the wooden mannequin. It spoke volumes of his strength that he managed to sink a dull knife deep into the solid wood. Much more so when you see that there are several other marks like that one near the same spot.

"A pegasus will have more ease with the Second, if he can properly use the blades he has attached to the underside of his wings, but a unicorn can more easily reach the Third, between this muscle of the hindleg and the abdomen itself, although precision is required, as it goes with unicorns," he finishes pointing at the three jammed knifes in turn as he speaks.

The First Wound, of course, being the one he had just put the knife through, although he was clear when he mentioned that knifes are not required to reach the throat since everypony has teeth.

You nod, your mind somewhat hazed and tired due to the constant use of magic and his words. You feel a rather sore headache building up, but it has not hit you just yet.

The air of this place, you know, is helping you wonders with keeping up with Comet Feet.

"But ultimately, this knowledge will be of no use to you," he finishes, his tone annoyed in its certainty, although something tells you that said annoyance is not directed towards you... exactly.

And your ears perk up slightly at that, your face tilting at the suddenness of his statement.

"Why?" you ask the obvious.

"Conflict on behalf of the cult is my burden to bear," he says simply, moving to take the several dull knifes from the wooden mannequin.

Although for all of his… Actually, scrap that thought. You realize you can't judge his demeanor from his body stance, not the with way he is under the Influence.

But still, you can't help but think about how particular his wording was just now.

"You won't always be there," you say matter-of-factly, hoping your tired mind is not veering into offence too sharply.

But you can tell that your words disgruntled him, regardless. You can only hope that you have not annoyed him enough for him to choose to speak no further about it.

"And I have been given the task to further our knowledge on the Lores," you continue, trying to be more amicable about it, "so it is also my duty to learn, even if there will be somepony else there to put it into practice."

You hear him grumble at that, a sound that is at the same time a low snarl and something that might be close to an "I suppose…"

His mind, however, is still clearly focused on your last comment.

You watch him in silent for a few more moments, as he takes off the last knifes, wondering whether if he will add anything to his lesson, if he will perhaps dismiss you in some way, or if he will simply ignore you until you leave on your own.

It is somewhat surprising when he does something that is neither of those three.

"Well, have you ever failed before?", he asks suddenly, almost in an accusing manner.

You are taken aback by that, until you… well, until something tells you that his aggressivity might not be aimed towards you, as much as his tone might suggest.

It is only a hunch, but still…

"Of course I have," you say, trying your hardest to dose your next words so they won't sound like the trap they really are, "who hasn't?", you ask, throwing the bait, hoping to dig a little deeper into your hunch.

He moves his eyes towards you, his expression surprisingly unthreatening for all the clear contempt that are within them. Of course he realized what you are trying to do, his Influence-soaked senses clearly capable of sensing a prodding question as easily as he might have noticed an approaching foe.

"And how did it feel?" he says in a low, angry tone, "how did failure taste?"

But contemptuous as he and his words might be, he is still talking. He is still telling you something, or trying to tell you something, consciously or not. You just need to understand what it is.

You meet his stare, and you hold it. He knows what you are trying to goad out of him, so backing down now will only result in certain failure.

You might be angering him, but he is already in a mental state that is quick to anger. This might quickly turning into the more aggressive variant of a conversation, but the two of you are still exchanging words.

It is only a matter of how deep you can go, then, before the Influence makes him decide he has had enough.

"Bitter," you say, almost tasting the word as it leaves you mouth.

To which he grunts, a noise that, as much as it sounds aggressive, still manages to bear an undertone of agreement.

"My duty," he says, slowly, almost menacingly, "is to protect. And I will make sure I do not taste that bitterness again. Ever."

But before you can process his words, Comet Feet has already tucked the last dull knife on the makeshift straps he has under his wings, their worn grips bound and tied, while their rusted blades were free and uncovered like a set of extra feathers, hidden between his body and his wings.

"Now leave me to my training," he says, as he walks deeper into the forest, and its many punished and slashed trees, without looking back.

You nod towards his retreating form, uncertain of what to make of those last words of his, and you make your way towards the path, something telling you that distancing yourself from the effects of his Influence will surely cause your headache to finally rear its ugly form.

Spoiler

[Talking and Teaching 60/80/ 100/120 A Rousing Air surrounds him]

[Roll: 70 + 8 (Martial) + 10 (GRAIL Bonus) + 5 (The Colonel's Favor?) = 93]

You have… perhaps learned a thing or two about Comet Feet.

He is a dedicated stallion, and seems unperturbed by his current solitude, although said solitude might not be as absolute as you first believed.

He also seems to believe that he has a duty to... protect?

It is hard to parcel out what might have been him, and what might have been the Influence. Furthermore, you recall how he was during the last time you met him, but you saw no trace of his prior annoyance. That, too, may be smothered under the overbearing mantle of Edge he currently has around himself.

You worry if he will lose himself, like this...


Yes, but did you learn anything?

[Scrap of Lore? CD 60]

[40 + 8 (Martial) + 30 (The Three Identifiable Wounds) = 78]

It was a day of theory, any practical part of it being mostly for the sake of demonstration and for you to "feel" how things ought to be done. He knows a lot, and he spoke a lot, but you were all too focused on keeping your eyes on the stallion himself for you to learn any more.

Gain one scrap of EDGE Lore.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

The hour is late, your husband is asleep in your room, and all the servants have been dismissed or have already turned in for the night.

You are sitting in your office, your eyes idly resting on the large pile of reports you have finished approving.

Things are, right now, as ready as they will ever be. Now it's time to get your hoofs dirty.

You take a map of Equestria from your drawer, going over your mental check-list one final time. You got as much of your work out of the way as you possibly could, even pulling two all-nighters over the last three weeks to make sure nothing will pile up while you are away. You have instructed the servants that generally work directly with you, and over the course of the month slowly seeded the cover story that you will use to justify your absence. You made stock of everything you will need, and the several utilitarian items you will take with you, mundane or esoteric, are ready to be silently packed at a moment's notice, to be put inside a "final" luggage you will "nearly forget" and prepare at the last minute.

Your excuses are ready... your lies are ready. Everypony that needed to be lied directly, those who are closest to you, believe in you implicitly, so there was not a smidge of suspicion in their eyes.

Although that didn't make lying to them any easier. Quite on the contrary, in fact.

You let out a sigh, wondering how this happened... wondering when your idle hobby of a club became something that would prompt you to do... this.

But the answer comes to you immediately after, in the form of the memories of a demigoddess.

Your sigh dies inside your chest.

Time to draw a plan.



Expedition: The most precious treasure hunt ever.

Difficulty: ???/Low

Expected dangers: Unknown / Rough Terrain

Expected amount of actions required: 1 (5 days)

Base cost: 5 bits (5 bits per pony per day. 25 bits must be available per pony sent)

Current available funds: 111 bits


[] Expedition Leader: WRITE IN (must be either yourself or a Confidant)

[] Accompanying team: WRITE IN

[] Artifacts and Curios taken: WRITE IN

Spoiler: Available Contacts

Confidants:
-Rarity (GRAIL 0, FORGE none)
-Generic cultists

Good Friends:
-Stormchaser (unknown variable)
-Soft Sweeps (unknown variable)
-Inner Circle members (wildcards, or depending of your current social situation)

Friends:
-Twilight Sparkle

Spoiler: Available Artifacts and Curios

-HEART Level 3 (STUDIED)
"The skin of a furred animal worked into a large blanket, or perhaps a thick carpet. The salespony insists that whoever sleeps under it (or over it) will wake up feeling refreshed."
Appraised cost: 200 bits
Special properties: +30 on tests to recuperate health or cure lasting debuffs. Applies on contact.

NOTICE 1: This is our first expedition, both mine and yours, so certain mechanical effects still lie untested. However, Velvet Covers is a smart cookie. DO NOT worry about "adventuring gear", the cost for whatever you might need to traverse terrain will be purchased by her "as needed" and applied as necessary, and is included in the Base Cost. Expeditions on the Frozen North might be more expensive because of that, for example, but for now it is this low 5 bits.

NOTICE 2: This expedition is currently "Totally Secret", you are currently the only pony (that you know of) who knows about Princess Luna's location, and the only one who knows about this caper. Including a Confidant will not break secrecy, including a Good Friend or lower may cause information leak, and including a Cult Member will cause an immediate reaction that will range from "stopping your expedition and turning it into the Cult's" to a possibly very delicate situation once you reach your goal. Secrecy will only apply to this Expedition (I hope).

NOTICE 3: Unless things grow socially out of control, and the "suspicion" around you is incredibly high, your Expeditions will be mostly you going out on "short trips". So for now taking artifacts and rather strange objects is not impossible, and your only artifact will not incur suspicion if taken. That might change up ahead if you collect more, and more suspicious, items, but for now there is no problem in taking your artifact. Bar the fact that it may be stolen, damaged or lost, as is the case with everything else you are taking with you.

NOTICE 4: (Boy, I hope these don't compound too much) Kindly detail the "level of explanation" you will give to anypony you decide to bring with, since Rarity is not yet in the know about the occult, or your situation, and other contacts (Stormchaser, Soft Sweeps, Twilight Sparkle) know even less.

Kindly observe a 6 hours moratorium, and voting will be open for 48 hours unless a crushing majority is observed by the end of 24 hours.
This will be a learning experience for the QM as well, so let's all be amicable. Ask anything you feel like, and I will try to answer to the best of my abilities.

But ultimately, Expeditions are risks, and this one in particular you neither have somepony/creature to send on a "scouting" mission beforehand (which will be possible if/when you gain such capacities) as well as you are on a time constraint.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Expedition: The most precious treasure hunt ever

Spoiler: Expedition plan

[] Quest for Knowledge, absent Stormchaser
-[] Expedition Leader: Yourself
-[] Accompanying team: Rarity (GRAIL 0, FORGE none)
--[] Explain the very basics of the lores and occult, and promise a complete explanation once we reach our destination. Please. This is very important.
-[] Artifacts and Curios taken: HEART Level 3 (STUDIED)

- - -



"Goodbye mom!"

"Take care sweetheart, you know how I… well, if you need anything just send a letter! We can have somepony with you by the end of the day if you need!" you husband says shortly after, still clearly uncomfortable at the idea of you going out on a trip, short as it may be.

You dislike this.

"Goodbye, I love you too! Both of you!" you answer them from the window of the carriage.

Correction, you hate this.

You wave back to your daughter and husband until they are blocked from your sight by the walls around your estate, and your smile disappears from your face the moment that happens.

You close the window, and sag back into your seat.

Alone.

Stormchaser is uncomfortable, yes, and he even asked you privately if you were absolutely sure that you didn't want to bring a couple of servants with you, or at least Ponpon. You assured him that there would be no need, that you would give Ponpon the entire week off and that you were simply going on a trip with your friend for her to "look for inspiration" for a new line of dresses. The latest contract you set up for Rarity, which Stormchaser already knows about, only made your story more believable.

It will only be a short trip to somewhere different, you told him, so your friend can get her eyes into a new scenery.

You lied to him, that is.

And he believed you, his greatest worries being your hindleg, and the fact that you would be going unaccompanied. No greater suspicions, no other plights but his usual loveable care for your wellbeing, no sign of anything that could even hint that he was doing more than worrying about his beloved and fragile wife.

The taste of the words you said, as you allayed his fears and assured him that you will be just fine, still feels bitter inside your mouth.

You thought about this for the longest time during this past month, about whether you should do this or not, about whether you should bring him or not. He is your husband, after all, and you love him. You trust him, it also goes without saying, but...

Well, but telling him about this, at least right now, just doesn't feel like the best time. You know where Princess Luna is, or at least where you hope she still is, but then what? Were you supposed to simply go up to Stormchaser and say "I know where the disappeared Princess is, please follow me"?

His common sense would come to the forefront, of course, and he would immediately say the two of you should go to the Guard, at the very least. After all, Princess Luna disappeared after an "attack" against the castle. Speculations of why she disappeared range everywhere from "she was kidnapped" to "she believed she was the target, and exiled herself for everypony's safety".

There have been crueler rumors that the Princess herself orchestrated the attack, of course, but those are heavily frowned upon. Ponykind's nature for goodness usually discarding those theories as soon as they are borne.

Anyways. If you then told your husband you could not go to the Guard, or any authority, and that you needed to find her yourself, what then? It would only sound suspicious, and you could only ask him to trust you so many times before you had to give him at least a partial explanation.

But this whole situation is… not something that can only be partly explained. You would either sound mad or…

You sigh, looking at the ceiling of the moving carriage. It's during moments like these that you really miss the ability to close your eyes, and have a minute of calm and darkness.

But your eyes don't work like that anymore, so there is nothing to soothe your mind away from all these thoughts.

And what if you did find the Princess with Stormchaser in tow? What would you tell her? What could you tell her that you shouldn't have told your husband months, or maybe years ago?!

Telling him you had a hunch, but not one you wanted to bother the guard with, was also an idea that crossed your mind, but… well, in the end if you found Princess Luna, you would still have a lot of explaining to do, in a very delicate moment. So in the end, it is better to only have one pony to explain things to than having two.

There really wasn't a correct answer for this, there really wasn't an easy way to go about this. Both would involve lies, both would involve the story that you have been weaving around yourself all these years. You are in a cult, after all. You are in contact with… whatever your Master is. You are dealing with the knowledge of the Lores, which for some reason are both true and valid, and have been forgotten for heaven knows how long.

You just hope you have not picked the worst of the two poisons, with this decision.

It doesn't help that you feel a slight nudge of a memory, from a corner of your mind that you have been actively avoiding as of late. That memory, that glimpse, is from a few seconds ago.

And in that memory you are inside this very same carriage, with the sole difference being that Stormchaser is sitting right next to you.

You float up the small necklace you have around your neck and smell that soft perfume that you keep on it, focusing on the scent.

It also doesn't help that this is a perfume your husband gifted you, and that you have a picture of him, and of Silky, inside the locket.

You dearly hope you are making the correct decision.



- - -



The train starts moving, slowly but surely building speed with the familiar sound of its steam engine revving into life.

You are sitting opposite to Rarity inside the train cabin, its door locked shut.

She is looking at you with a worried expression.

And you know your expression is even worse.

"Well, darling," she says after taking a deep breath, "here we are. Inside the train, as promised. So what exactly… do you want to talk to me about?"

You let out a sigh, making Rarity look even more worried.

Yes, this is what you asked her to do. You asked her to please, please, quietly set aside a few days of her month, pack for a trek of sorts, and wait for you at her boutique today. You asked her this as a favor, an important favor, but that you would explain her the reason for all of this when…

Well, when the two of you were here. Inside the train, alone, as she just mentioned.

You try to regain your balance, slowly. No reason to make her worry over the wrong reasons, after all.

You are indeed distressed, you admit, but more because of your doubt over whether you should have brought your husband or not. You are not distressed over being here, or the reason behind this whole outing.

And you are certainly not distressed for having called her.

So, you think as you take another deep breath, you ought to make your peace with your decision, and ensure that you do the best you can now that you are here.

Better, you think. At least a little bit.

"I'm sorry Rarity," you begin, shaking your head a little and propping your mane up a bit, "I have a few things going on in my mind. Nothing really big, mind you. But it's usually the small things that get to us, isn't it?"

You let out a small smile. Not a forced one, not a strong one, but the best you can do while being honest about it.

And you see her nod, and smile a little herself, at that.

Good.

"Now, to the thing I wanted to talk to you about…" you absent-mindedly look towards the window, focusing more on your thoughts as you clop your hoofs together, "well, for starters, what do you know about magic?"

She tilts her head at that. Clearly, she was expecting something else.

"About magic? Well, maybe as much as any other unicorn knows? Except for Twilight, of course," she says with a short laugh, to which you wholeheartedly agree, "but I do know the basics of how to do it."

You nod at that, taking special notice of the way she worded it.

She knows how to "do it", not "how it works". Well, she probably knows the theoretical basics that everypony learns while in school, but you are almost sure she is not really privy about the more arcane parts about it.

Run of the mill unicorn know-how, you think to yourself, years of practice and day to day usage of a horn.

"Sure, but why does it work? What makes magic work?" you ask, focusing your eyes away from the window and back to her.

"It just does, Velvet," she answers, her expression still curious, "magic exists in all of Equestria, and inside of everything. We unicorns simply manipulate the energy we have inside of us using our horns."

You let out a soft "mhm". She didn't mention the manipulation of the trace-energy that exists in the air or in other things, but that's not really the goal of your conversation right now. That sort of thing is something you would discuss in more depth with Twilight.

"And what about gravity, then? What makes it work?" you ask, making sure to keep your face as calm and serious as possible.

"Why, darling, you can't really be asking me these sorts of things. It's gravity! It just is," she answers, her expression starting to slip from doubt into… something else.

No more beating around the bush then.

"Well, allow me to tell you a few things then," you say slowly, but it's a long train ride and you have plenty of time in your hoofs. "It might sound strange, at first, since nopony really knows or talks about it, but I ask that you hear me out, and that you please trust me on this, at least during the beginning."

You see Rarity's expression grow serious at that.

"Please," you say, looking deep into her eyes.

But you can see it's not the skeptical sort of serious, nor the disbelieving or bored sort of serious. She has the expression of a pony who will listen to you, even if she has her own reserved thoughts and doubts, but that will honestly consider what you are saying nonetheless. Because you are asking her to.

Because she trusts you.

And right now, that is all that you need.



[Confidant. No rolls required.]



You give her the long explanation, the slow explanation. The shallow explanation.

The same talk that Copper Secateur gave you years ago, over the course of several meetings and conversations, over the course of months. You had to condense and omit a lot of it, of course, and you had to ask her to trust you in a lot of other things.

But now she knows.

You left out the parts of how you came to discover all of that, and by the end of it she had so much on her mind that she didn't even remember to ask you. You left out everything about the cult, and the Master, and the Mansus, and the worms, and everything else more complicated.

But now she knows.

"And this…" she says, her eyes somewhat unfocused, aimed at the floor, "this is how the world…?"

You nod, already knowing what her question is.

"How a part of it works, at least. These principles are…" you try to think of a term that she might be more familiar with, "well, real. As real as love or gravity, and definitely as real as the Elements of Harmony. The Elements themselves, the ideas they represent, not the physical artifacts."

She looks at you, an awkward confusion of sorts clear on her expression.

Confusion, yes, but not disbelief.

You think you did a good job explaining her, all things considered, although you have only given her a glass of water when there is still an entire pool to dive into.

And you are a little relieved about how well she took what you were trying to tell her. Most of it, you know, she was able to listen to at first because she trusts you, at least until your arguments slowly started to build around each other, until something resembling a logical pattern of sorts was available for her to think about.

But she was also, so to speak, less shocked than you thought she would be. That surprised you at first, although in hindsight you can understand why this is the case.

Equestria is, after all, a place full of magic, so finding out about unknown things, finding out that unknown things exist to begin with, is not really something mind-shattering.

But maybe that might be a double-edged blade, so to speak.

Knowing that you live in a world full of magic can help you accept that "there are things that you do not know", so accepting that you don't understand something is a little bit easier.

But not knowing about why something is the way it is, not being able to understand something "because it is magical", can also be a sort of bubble. A comfortable veil of ignorance, so to speak. So learning that there "is" an explanation can be a little bit of a shock, or at the very least can be something that is hard to wrap your head around.

Well, whatever is going through Rarity's mind right now, at least she doesn't think you are crazy. Or if she does, at least she might be entertaining the thought that maybe she is crazy too.

All in all, you think this conversation went as well as it could possibly have.

"And this place that we are going," she says, as if looking at the floor of the cabin for long enough had suddenly reminded her that the two of you are still inside a train, "why… what does it have to do with all of this?"

"Well, that's the favor I'd like to ask you," you say, giving her the best, most reassuring smile you can, "there is a lot more that I still need to explain, about all of this, but I know that this sort of thing takes time to understand. So, I promise you I'll explain it better once we find this thing we are looking for."

You see Rarity purse her lips at that. You can tell that she is confused at everything you just told her, at the same time that she wants you to tell her more. But you can also tell that she…

"Please. This is very important," you say, "I promise."

For all her hesitation, she still nods at you.

"Alright Velvet, lets do this then."

For all the other feelings you see in her eyes, you can tell that she sees just how important this is to you. You can clearly see Rarity shoving her doubts aside, her hesitation turning into mettle as she decides that helping her friend, helping you, takes priority over all else.

Her determined smile is infectious, even, and soon enough you start feeling more courageous about all this yourself.

You definitely do not regret bringing your friend.



- - -



[Expedition – Day 1]



The two of you arrive after several hours, the sun being already well on its way to the opposite side of the horizon.

And unlike what your maps and books had suggested, the train station, a small wooden platform in the middle of… well, in the middle of nowhere, to be honest, is quite far away from the village itself.

Lucky you that you told Rarity to pack lightly, and for a trek. Between the two of you, you managed to float the large baggage with the thick carpet, as well as the backpack with the equipment you brought with you, in a somewhat comfortable pace.

Praise the heavens for your horn, though. You are particularly thankful that you are a unicorn, or else you would have to carry all of this on your back.

After what must have been almost an hour, a long and nervous hour in which you followed a dirt road with no signs to guide your way, and with no indication that the village even exists, you finally reach the settlement proper.

It is a small settlement, that's for sure. The frontier kind of thing that take decades to grow naturally, unless there is an influx of immigrants looking for a new life. You can picture how Ponyville was once a place like this, rows of wooden buildings laid out in a long corridor, inhabited by hard working ponies and tightly knitted families.

Centuries ago, mind you, but still this is what Ponyville must have been like long ago. This is what a settlement, on the purest meaning of the word, looks like.

However, as soon as the two of you lay a hoof on the village, you notice the… stares.

"Covers, darling, are you absolutely sure that this is the place…?" you hear Rarity whispering towards you, her voice also tense as she notices the poorly concealed animosity of the few passersby near you, "I mean, this place doesn't look exactly… inviting."

You slowly nod at her, seeing the curious… effect, that your presence is having in the place.

You see ponies looking at you with doubtful eyes, then with open disapproval. Foals being hushed towards homes or out of your sights, while some of the elderly outright glare at you while mumbling something under their breaths.

And you finally realize that the villagers, every last one of them, are earth ponies, and that their shocked stares are all directed at yours and Rarity's horns, and the floating objects you are carrying with you.

Oh… so it's this sort of thing.

It takes the two of you a… substantial amount of talking, which is made harder by the fact that almost nopony wants to speak with you to begin with, to get anything done.

It also takes several assurances that you will not be here for more than a few days to get any piece of information out of anypony. You also promise that you will not go about the village itself, and that you will most certainly not approach any foals, and many other things, to get anything close to a useful answer out of the single pony that somewhat agrees to speak to you. You also had to gently suggest the fact that, if you don't get any reasonable help in finding what you are looking for, you just might have to stay there for a little longer as you continue your search.

But you are eventually pointed towards an inn, of sorts, from which you will be able to set out towards the forest. You are also able to gleam the general direction in which "the hills by the river" are, in the forest itself, which will spare you the pains of having to explore blindly.

You and Rarity still agree, though, that it will be best if you two leave before the sunrise, come tomorrow.



[Day 1 hurdle: Xenophobic village]

[Roll: 48 + 12 (Diplomacy) + 10 (GRAIL bonus) + 1 (GRAIL bonus, Rarity) = 71]

[Success]



- - -



[Expedition – Day 2]



The two of you made sure to avoid the farming fields proper, less you accidentally stumbled upon one of the less friendly villagers, but you made your way towards the direction you were pointed at. Hoping, in all honesty, that their interest in seeing you gone outweighed the blatant dislike they were feeling over the fact that you were unicorns.

Well, hoping that their animosity only meant that they wanted you two gone as soon as possible, not dead. You dearly hope they didn't point you towards the lair of some forest beast.

But even if they did send you in the right direction, this is still not being easy.

The two of you are carrying the smallest amount of things possible. Basic supplies in rustic saddle bags that you brought with you, enough water (you hope) and food to last you some time in case you get utterly lost, and the full list of equipment you gathered from several camping manuals, from compass to a large knife you dearly hope you will never have to use.

But the fact that the two of you are hopelessly unused to this sort of activity doesn't help in the slightest.

Thank the heavens for magic, once again. You have no idea how harder this would be if you had to cut your way through the dense foliage with knives or whatnots, instead of the magic you two are using.

Your long and uncomfortable trek eventually leads you to a bridge, and that is actually a good sign. The grumpy villagers had mentioned that there would be a bridge somewhere along the way, so at least the two of you are going in the right direction.

"Oh thank Celestia, darling. I was beginning to thing we were going to have to double back and start from scratch," Rarity says, looking at the bridge with the same relief as you are.

"I couldn't agree more… although this bridge doesn't look exactly… safe?" you ask.

It is a rope bridge. Well, not a simple bridge made out entirely of ropes, it looks well made and has wooden logs on the walking part. But it still is terribly old, and the ravine over which it passes looks deep and uninviting.

The two of you look at the bridge, and then your eyes go down and down and…

"I don't see any other way across, though," Rarity says, clearly trying to convince herself as much as she is trying to encourage you, "so I don't think we really have a choice."

You gulp something dry, before nodding as well. Although…

"One at a time?" you ask, seeing the sorry state of the old ropes holding the bridge together.

"One at a time," she agrees, "but I will not admit any weight jokes once we are on the other side," she says.

Managing to get a chuckle out of you.

You float your part of the equipment closer to you, trying to remind yourself that floated objects don't transfer their weight to the caster, and slowly place a hoof on the bridge.

Putting more and more of your weight on it, seeing if it will hold, nervously watching the old thing remember its old purpose as the wood creaks and the ropes grow taut.

And then you put another hoof, then a third, and finally your fourth.

Until, with sweat coming from your brow, you make your way through the thing.

Breathing a sigh of relief when you reach the other side.

"Alright, I think it's a little more resistant than we thought," you shout towards Rarity, as she slowly starts making her way through it as well.

With a little more confidence, seeing how you managed to do it just fine.

"Thank goodness some things still retain their functionality then," she says back to you, as she slowly makes her way over the old bridge. "But still, this old bridge looks absolutely terrible. It could certainly do with a retouch or-"

And it happens in less than a moment.

You feel, rather than you hear, the word Rarity used.

And so did the bridge.

On the next instant, the ropes that held the bridge are cleanly snapped, the entire bridge being cut in two as if a gigantic invisible scissor had divided it in the exact point where Rarity's hoof had touched the wooden log, as she said what she said.

You can only hear her yell in fright as she tries to grab hold of the bridge before she disappears from your view.

"Rarity!!!" you jump towards the limit of the ravine, looking down and searching for your friend, your heart hammering against your chest almost painfully as you once again realize just how deep the damn thing is.

"Rarity, hold on!"

The gear she had floating around herself is gone, but you couldn't care less. Your mind tries to feel relief for a split second, but that relief is shoved to the side by a second surge of adrenaline as you see Rarity hanging on to dear life on the remains of the bridge.

It takes a good amount of effort to help her up, first with as much floating magic as you can until she is within your reach, and then with your hoofs, but after heaven knows how long she is finally out of the ravine's clutches and by your side.

The two of you sit next to each other, heaving from the effort and fright, for a long time.

"Are…" you break the silence after a good while, your eyes still shot wide open as you speak, "are you all right?"

You see her get on her hoofs, slowly, and you notice when she winces at something.

"I think I hit the wall of the ravine too hard when the bridge fell against it…" she says, feeling the side of her chest with her hoof, and wincing a second time as she does it, "but thank goodness the bridge didn't fall down after it," she says.

You nod at that, feeling utterly guilty for your friend having been hurt, but thankful beyond relief that she is still alive.

You were not ready for this sort of thing.

"Here, let's take it easy for a while," you say, looking towards the now-broken bridge, wondering how you will make your way back.

There has to be a way around the ravine, you hope, but the trek will be… far longer on the way back it seems.

"I brought this with us for a reason," you say, trying to shake your shock away with action as you unpack the larger container you brought with you, bringing out the heavy carpet, "lay down on top of this and drink some water, I'll go take a quick look around to see where we can put up the tent we brought."

She looks at you with a slightly confused expression as you lay down the carpet on the grass, but something in her side makes her face double back into pain, and she quickly agrees with you.

She will feel its effect soon enough, you know, so you don't mind her skepticism.

Well, at least she is still alive, you think, shivering slightly.



[Day 2 hurdle: Rough terrain]

[Roll: 1 + 8 (Martial) + 1 (FORGE bonus) + 0 (FORGE bonus, Rarity) = 10]

[Critical failure. Rolling malus]

[Rarity has received one wound, 2/3 health remains]

[The return trek will take far longer than expected, you will "lose" an action from the next turn, for the time it will take to make your way back]



- - -



[Expedition – Day 3]



At least the carpet had a positive effect. Rarity still winces whenever she moves in a specific way, or whenever she pokes at the side of her chest.

But by the heavens, she is feeling energized.

"And that thing by the bridge, you are telling me that…?"

"I am not sure, in all honesty, I'm not that privy about it either," you admit as the two of you make your way through the increasingly sparse vegetation, "but I can tell you for certainty that it was something to do with Forge."

"But wasn't that…" she stops talking for a few moments, as if trying to remember, "but don't forges have to do with creating things?"

"Or destroying them, or remaking them. These things can have a lot of different interpretations."

"Ohhh…"

She woke up as well as the carpet salespony promised, at least. Not healed, not by a long shot, but with the attitude of somepony who was ready to press on regardless.

So the two of you continued your journey. You had considered doubling back and maybe focusing on finding a path back to the village first, depending on how Rarity would be feeling, but the mare herself convinced you that now more than ever you had to make your way onwards.

And there was sense in that. If the way around the ravine is long, then making your way back to the village for her sake, only to make the entire trek back alone, would be… difficult, to say the least.

You make your way through the forest, then. And a few hours later you hear the sound of water running.

You hear a river. It has to be a river, and your heart skips at the thought that it might be your river.

When you finally reach it, you confirm that it is indeed the river you are looking for. Two small hills can be seen right beyond it, and you think you remember the view from Princess Luna's dream well enough to be able to figure out where her vantage point must be from here.

The two of you quickly locate a shallower part of the river, enough for you and Rarity to comfortably make your way through it and refill your water supplies.

You double your pace as you make your way to the nearest hill.



[Day 3 hurdle: Rough terrain]

[Roll: 61 + 8 (Martial) + 1 (FORGE bonus) + 0 (FORGE bonus, Rarity) = 70]

[Success]

[All hurdles have been overcome. Expedition successful]



- - -



You find it. You finally find it.

The sun is still high up in the sky. You and Rarity are tired, with have scratches and sore spots all over your bodies, your hindleg hurts, Rarity is wounded, and your manes are in a state that they absolutely cannot be seen by anypony else.

But you found it.

There was a third, taller, hill hidden behind the smaller two, and it aligned perfectly with the angle that the two hills had in the dream. You made your way there until you saw an old trail that led upwards. You followed it, and soon enough you chanced upon a clearing.

A very large clearing, a pony-made clearing with all the signs of earth pony hoofwork, the sort of place that the very trees agree not to grow into anymore for as long as the curious magic of earth ponies persists in Equestria.

And right there, you see it.

A house.

The remains of a house, the ruins of an ancient house, thick wooden walls all but consumed by time and the elements, the signs of ancient stonework toppled by the wind and heaven knows how many years, decades or even centuries of rain.

But it still has something approaching a barely held second floor, and you can already tell that from that vantage point you just might have the same view that you saw on Princess Luna's dream, of the two other smaller hills with the river flowing around them.

"This is the place," you say, as much to yourself as you do to Rarity, your heart starting to beat faster and faster, tension coming to your body as you realize that this is it.

After all these months, after everything that happened since the Ritual, you will finally be able to speak to the Princess herself. You will finally be able to…

You swallow something dry, knowing that as hard as reaching this place might have been, what comes next might be even harder.

The two of you slowly walk into the clearing, and towards the ancient and crumbling house.

"Listen to me, Rarity. This is very important. If everything goes well, what we are about to do inside that house is…"

But suddenly you feel something... out of place.

Something is... something is definitely off, you realize suddenly, you heart beating faster for a split second as your eyes go wide open.

"Rarity?!" you turn around towards your friend.

And you see-

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You breathe in, as if you had just woken up.

Your mind is in some sort of haze, and… you are lying on the floor? How did that…?

Yes, you can clearly see the ground right next to your face, the sensation of grass against your cheek, and the whole side of your body, coming to you right after.

Were you pushed, and fell down into this position? Did you fall asleep? Did you perhaps hit your head or something? Your memories, or at least the last few seconds, seem somewhat disconnected, and you try t-

"Rarity!" you suddenly remember everything, and you snap into an upright position as you face Rarity and… wait…



Where is she?



"Rarity…?" you look around, searching for her, "where did you…?"

But your words die inside your mouth as you look around.

You don't recognize this place.

You realize you have no idea of where you are.

"Rarity? Where are you?!" you shout, eyeing your surroundings and looking for her, looking for anything that might be remotely familiar or resembling the place you were at moments ago, your heart starting to beat faster as you take in the scenery and try to understand exactly what the hell just happened.

You can see the limits of a forest in the near distance, just like in the place you were with Rarity, but it feels different. The trees look different, the soil itself feels strange.

In fact, you feel incredibly stupid for not having realized it before. You blink twice, confirming that you had your eyes closed this whole time, and the moment you open your eyes everything around you is immediately covered in shadows and darkness.

It is night.

The thought that something might have happened, the ridiculous notion that perhaps you hit your head and passed out, and was simply left there, presents itself as a logical option, but you immediately rebuke it. Rarity would never do that to you after all.

But... you feel something else. This sensation of strangeness is coming from… well, from all around you truth be told, but it feels especially strong from one direction in particular.

You slowly look up, sensing that, although it is dark, the night is a lot brighter than it should be.

And you can also feel a… or rather, you can also hear? It is strange, to the point where you almost can't describe it. You know that this isn't normal, that this whole situation isn't normal. Not necessarily wrong, you can tell, but it is not right either. And this thing you hear… it sounds like a message, of sorts.

It sounds as if a message had been whispered to the wind long ago, and the wind still remembers it. The faint whisper of the wind against your ears almost sounds like a voice, of sorts, and you can almost make out the words.

You finish pointing your eyes up, and as you look towards the sky you see an ocean of stars.

But above all else, you see that the moon is very, very large in the sky.

Larger than it should be, larger than it could ever naturally be. So close that you think it might fall down at any moment towards you, and crash against the earth. It is covering perhaps an entire third part of the skies, its normally peaceful and distant glow radiating down to Equestria with many times its calm intensity.

The countless stars, also, are arrayed around the moon as if they were a grand crown of silver jewels, or perhaps a mantle of royalty.

Your eyes go wide when you see all of that, when you finally finish taking all of that in, and you immediately understand what it is that the winds are whispering.



"The Moon is here, and all of the stars have gathered in reverence."



But you don't just understand the words, you understand the deeper meaning of it as well.

The moon is here, high up in the sky and mantled in an infinite array of stars, because the Moon is here.

You understand, immediately, that the moon is centered exactly on this place, and that it is here for a very particular reason.

That doesn't exactly calm you down, not in the sense that it gives you any more certainty of where you are or what happened. But it does tell you that something happened to begin with, something very strange, and yet not wrong.

And that is something you can work with, perhaps. That is something your mind can comprehend, even if your rationality cannot.

You face the moon for a few more seconds, before allowing your eyes to go downwards. Until you are looking once again at the abandoned house, bathed under the moonlight.

Only it is not abandoned anymore. In fact, it is not even close to falling apart.

The ruined house… it is a house, now, that looks lovingly well kept even, made mostly of wood with some signs of stonework here and there, on one of its walls and on the tall chimney from which a small amount of smoke is coming out. You also see a small garden in front of it, with some flowers, everything being surrounded by a short fence.

The fence's gate is open, and you feel like you are being invited, although you do not know why. So, you walk towards the house and pass through the gate.

It feels… you feel… There is surely something very wrong here, although you are not sure if the wrongness is in your mind, or in your soul, or in this place as a whole.

But somehow, you feel a sense of… of nostalgia?

As if this place, this house, had been the house where you have lived a loving childhood. Everywhere you look at, be it the small flowers or the scratches on the window or even the trees in the nearby limit of the forest... everywhere you look you can feel memories, you can feel a small flutter in your heart as if you had just found something precious, something that you had forgotten you had even lost, long, long ago.

Even the air, this breeze-like smell you can feel, even this is something you can almost recognize, although you have no idea from where or when.

You are walking towards the door, but your hoofsteps become slower and slower, each shorter than the last. Until you find yourself in the middle of the small garden and just… stop. You are breathing quickly now, through your nose, your mouth closed shut less something escapes through it.

You know this place. You know this place. And you have been wanting to see this place again ever since… ever.

This place… this is your… this is your…

The door, that rustic yet lovingly crafted wooden door, slowly opens up. You first see the warm glow coming from the inside of the house as the door opens, and then you see…



You missed her so much.



A… an aged mare is… you feel your eyes burn, the hint of tears that are not far away coming from them.

It's her.

"Ah, you arrived!" the aged mare, an elderly earth pony with dark blue coat, appears from behind the door, looking at you with a warm smile.

And you… you just…

"What are you waiting for dear? Come on in, you'll get sick if you stay out in the cold like that," she says, beckoning you with a wave of her hoof.

You were frozen solid, hit by a wave of memories that was almost causing you to take a step back under its pressure. But that simple wave of a hoof, together with that smile, was enough to dispel all of that. Or rather, not to dispel it, but to compel you to walk towards the house with an even stronger emotion.



The unmistakable emotion of returning home.



"She's here love," the mare says towards the corridor, closing the door behind you as you step into the house, "I told you she would come," she says as she walks.

You follow behind her, trying your hardest to hold back your overflowing emotions, trying not to notice the… trying not to notice everything.

The faint and comfortable heat coming from the living room where you are following her to, the soft smell of something freshly baked, the slight noise of the wind coming from the outside as it caresses the walls. You feel the urge to not follow after her, to take a turn into the open door the two of you are passing by just now, to explore the entire house and feel every feeling, see everything.

Remember all the memories.

But you can't, you know you can't. You would not make it through the first hoofstep before you were overpowered by your own emotions.

"Mhmm…" you hear the answer coming from up ahead, from a voice that you know all too well.

The two of you then arrive at the living room, and you take in another sharp breath without any conscious prompt. What you see makes your body feel so light that you almost forget how exactly you are supposed to walk.

The roaring fireplace lends the entire room a calm light, the occasional snap from the timber coming like a familiar melody to your ears. The rustic leather sofas, worn from age and use and maybe too much jumping on it by foals, feels exactly as you know they will. Everything else, also, is… The paintings on the walls, the wooden carved figures of ponies made by inexperienced hoofs, the mementos and several small objects, the cabinet filled with a few books.

Everything is…

The old stallion, his coat white like fresh snow illuminated by the morning sun, is sitting on his couch, reading from a book.

As he almost always was.

The elderly mare, her fur the color of the night sky, sits next to the old unicorn.

You sit opposite to the two of them, the sensation of the couch against your hind and back maddeningly familiar and impossibly comfortable. You feel like you could sleep here if you but closed your eyes. After all, there is no better place to be than here. Nowhere else in all of Equestria, in any point of time, is better than… safer than…

Than home.

You watch as the elderly mare takes up a pair of needles, and slowly resumes a crochet she was working on, her smile content as she begins to hum a small tune.

You know the notes to that tune, to that old lullaby. You could hum with her if you wanted to, or maybe even sing the lyrics to the song if you really searched your mind for them. You know that song, because you had it softly hummed to you countless times on countless nights as you gently drifted off to sleep in your bed, in this very house surrounded by forest in all directions.

And that… that memory, that certainty… That is what makes you realize…

This. All of this. All these memories, all these feelings of nostalgia, all of this love even.

They are not yours.

You can feel them, though, as if they were your very own. And you know it immediately. You understand that this place is so… so absolutely precious, so unique and exceptional and impossible, that the very air is charged with these feelings. It is what brought this place into being, after all, it is why those two are here.

They are here because she needed them. They are here because, if they weren't, she wouldn't be able to sleep safely.

They are here because their presence is what makes this place what it is. Not the wooden walls, not the noise of the wind outside, not the warmth from the fireplace, but those two. It is the utter knowledge that they will be there when she wakes up, as they always were, that makes all of this possible.

And your arrival… the fact that you are here means nothing but…

You swallow something wet. These feelings might not be originally yours, but you can still feel them very keenly and deeply. A tear nearly comes to your eyes as you finally realize that your presence here means that this is all about to end.

But that is so…

Ending this would be so… so unfair, and quick, and cold, and painful and everything else. It would be so right, and yet so wrong.

You very dearly wish for this not to end.

But it must.

You open your mouth, but the words are stuck in your throat. You know the words, as well as you know that you must speak the words, but they simply won't come out.

Something deep inside of you is asking, begging even, for you to wait just a minute longer, just a second longer. Something inside of you very dearly wishes for this not to end, just not yet.

So, you say something else. After who knows how long you manage to force words out of your mouth, but they are not the words that must be spoken. Instead, you ask something else. You ask the question that has been burning inside your chest, constricting your throat, this whole time.

You ask the question that, somehow, you already know the answer to.

"Who… are you?" you ask the two ponies sitting opposite to you.

You ask the elderly earth pony mare, as you remember she would always be the one to which questions were asked.

And she looks up from her crochet.

"Who am I?" she laughs, "oh sweetie, you already know who I am. And I can't answer your question, not when you word it like that."

You see the old unicorn nod, slowly, his eyes still on the book.

"Simply because I no longer am," she finishes, emphasizing that last word. "I belong in the past, dear. We, both of us, were left behind. And that is exactly how things are meant to be."

She looks towards the fire as she says that, and as she does that you can tell that she looks small, and very old.

"But… I had to come back," she continues, still looking at the fire, "when I heard her, in the state she was in… Well, we simply couldn't leave her like that. We had to come back."

You immediately understand what she means by that.

You feel something coming up from deep inside you. You don't want to, you dearly don't want to, but you have to.

This time the words are forcing their way out of your mouth, but it is you who are trying to hold them back.



"I'm…" your voice breaks as you start saying the words, trembling and quaking under the weight of your emotions.



You don't want to.

You can't.



"I'm here to…"



She is safe in here.

She is happy here.



"I'm here… to take her with me…"



But you finish saying the words regardless. They force their way out of you, leaving a wound in your heart, regardless.

The two elderly ponies look towards you at that, and you know that there is nothing else that you can do now.

But the elderly mare also sees that in your eyes, and you see her smile gently at that, as if she knows everything that is happening in your heart and in your mind.

"Oh dear, we know… Don't make that face," she says lovingly, soothingly, as she lays her crochet down, "we all have to say our goodbyes someday, don't we?"

You nod at that, but the movement causes a tear to jerk free from your eye, slowly making its way down through your cheek.

"Won't you go wake her up, love? You know how groggy she can get after she sleeps for longer than she should," she says towards the unicorn, who nods and walks away from the living room.

The mare, for her part, goes towards you, taking your hoofs on her own as if she was consoling a child.

"Don't be like that, dear. Think of it this way, we came back one last time, for one last night," she says, her voice tender and warm, "isn't that what we say sometimes? That we would give anything for just one more moment? Well, try and see it this way, that dream came true!"

You nod, not being able to answer with the ragged way you are breathing.

But you understand what she means, and she sees that you understand.

"I... I know, and…" you try to answer, but you can't hold back the tears anymore, "and I know I would do the same thing and… and if Sil... if my own dau... if she asked, I would come back no matter what, and…" you almost can't speak properly, but you know that the mare understands you regardless, "… and if she called me I'd…"

The old unicorn returns, heading to the elderly mare and whispering something into her ear.

To which she nods, pulling your hoofs gently and helping you out of the couch.

"Yes, dear, I know you agree. We are both mothers, after all, it's in our nature… even if we have to break certain rules, every now and then," she says, giving you a gentle, and somehow mischievous, wink.

And you wholeheartedly, from the bottom of your soul, agree with her in that.

"But our time here is up, and I think you know what you are supposed to do next."

You nod back at her, although with far less enthusiasm, your eyes downtrodden as you walk out of the living room.

Alone.

You don't want to go alone, though. You want them to come with you, you want them to promise that they will be right behind you and never leave.

But you know that you can't ask for that, much like they can't promise that.

The same way that you can't promise that to your own daughter.

It's how things go, after all.

You hear the two of them walking behind you, from a distance. You hear them whispering something to each other that you can only guess what is.

You slowly go up the stairs, one step after the other.

And you realize that you have committed a grave mistake.

That step you just placed your hoof on, you know, was the point of no return. And you just crossed it.

You know the two old ponies are still right behind you, you know they are still looking at you, lovingly, as you go to a place where they cannot follow, to do something that they cannot help you with. You know that they very much wish they could, but that they also know they cannot.

You breathe in, sharply, trying to say something… anything. You are not ready to say goodbye, you know you will never be.

But even in that, the elderly mare is quicker than you. The benefit of age and wisdom, it seems.

"And Velvet Covers?" she asks, almost as an afterthought, a question that she already knows the answer to, but that she will still make anyways, perhaps as a parting gift.

You also realize that not once you have told her your name.

"Please…" she says, her voice suddenly sounding very tired, although you can still hear she is talking through a smile, "promise you will do what is best for my daughter?"

And you can't hold in your feelings anymore.

"I promis-!" you say, turning around to face them one last time.



But the word dies in your mouth as you realize they are not there anymore.



Nothing is there. You are facing a crumbling ruin, and your hoofs are stepping on the precarious skeleton of a ruined stair. You can see that it is day, as well, the sun creeping in through the several holes on the walls and on the roof. Everything is gone.

The only thing that remains the same are your emotions, and with trembling hoofs you slowly clear the tear that is falling down through your cheek.

They are not here anymore, perhaps they never were.

Except that you are sure they were, and you... or maybe whoever called them, misses them very much.

With a heavy heart you finish climbing the stairs.

The second floor is in ruins, but you know where to go. You avoid the large hole on the ground as you pass by the empty opening, the one that would have led to the master bedroom. You walk by the entrance to the broken place that was once the room of the older, and you enter the room of the younger.

And there you see her, still lying somewhat groggily on a… on a small mount of lovingly crocheted blankets, their appearance pristine and new in stark contrast with everything else in this entire place.

You see her, coat as black as the night sky, the same color as the elderly mare's.

You watch her as she looks around, her mind still trying to piece together exactly where she might be.

Until she finally sees you, and…

And looks at you with the innocent eyes of a pony who has no idea of where they are.

Or of who they are.

"Where…" she says, stopping to let out a short yawn, "where are they? Where did they go?"

Your heart sinks with that question, as you continue to take a long look at…

At a pony who might be only slightly smaller than you. A pony without wings, without a horn, and who does not even have a cutie mark on her flank.

At a pony who, you know, is Princess Luna, at the same time that you know she is… not. Not anymore, or maybe just not yet.

You understand without any logical prompt. You understand as if somepony had told you, just a few moments ago, that she… was put to sleep. That she is still sleeping. That if you go into her dreams, right now, you will still find the sleeping demigoddess, resting peacefully.

You also understand that this was the only way, after the other and more powerful solution had been so utterly broken.

"They had to go," you answer with the only words that you can. "But they were just here… they stayed until…"

You can't finish that phrase.

But she slowly nods at that, regardless. You know that she is not thinking too hard about it, you know that something is helping her not think too hard about it, perhaps some final mercy of love, or maybe just the odd way she is slightly leaning towards the crocheted blankets underneath her.

But still, you know she understands. She might not understand exactly why or how, but she understands that it must be like this.

"And who are you...?" she asks, innocently, completely ignorant to... everything. "I'm... I think my name is Selene...? But who are you? What is your name?"

You feel something tighten around your heart, only for another, gentler emotion, release you from that grip.

This is for the best, you know. This was the only way, after...

"I am Velvet Covers," you answer.

"And are you here…?" she continues, looking to the walls around her, then to the blankets underneath her hoofs, and finally into your eyes once again, "are you here to take me somewhere else?"

You look into her eyes, her innocent and waiting eyes, and you know what you must do.

Your lips set into a line as you decide that…





[You have witnessed something which was both sacred and secret. It is impossible, however, to witness such moments and not be seen yourself, as well.]

[This is Selene, and she will follow you, wherever you wish to take her, until she is Selene no more.]



- - -



It is seldom that fate presents itself in such a pure way. It is rare for the world itself to reach such a clear crossroad, holding its breath as a single pony stands upon its crux.

After all, it is usually the world, and its many Histories, that guides Ponykind.

But sometimes, on very rare and unique occasions, the world and its Histories follow the guidance of another, of a single pony perhaps. Sometimes, the hoofs of every last pony in Equestria, and the strand of every last History that forms the tapestry, aligns themselves and follow after a trail left by a single track of hoofsteps.

The ponies who leave behind such tracks might be called heroes, or perhaps monsters. Such ponies might be called fated, or perhaps just extremely lucky. Such ponies sometimes are not even aware that they stand upon such a moment at all.

And yet, right now, the world is holding its breath, as it waits and watches.

What path, then, will those hoofsteps leave a trail into?





[] The Moon shall be taken to the Sun, and Equestria shall be crowned by the halo of an equinox as they reunite.

-You will walk out of the house with Selene in tow, determined to reunite her with her sister;
-You will be given the option of how to explain the situation to those who await you outside;
-You have no way of knowing how Princess Celestia will react to this;
-If your Master finds out about this, it will surely be seen as a grave betrayal;
-You do not know for sure if Princess Celestia can bring Princess Luna's memories back;

-But… even if she somehow manages to, can you trust how Luna will react to them? Like opening a box without knowing the contents, won't Celestia just repeat this all over again?



[] The Moon shall heed your council and hide itself within the embrace of a dark Wood. Its light will not emerge unchanged, but that will surely be for the best of Equestria.

-You will walk out of the house with Selene in tow, determined to bring her to the cult;
-You will be given the option to explain the situation to those who await outside;
-Your Master will surely reward you for this, and the options for said reward will be presented later, as well as they will favor you greatly from here on;
-If Celestia finds out about this, it will surely be seen as a grave betrayal;
-Your Master has the means to bring back Princess Luna's memories;

-But… can you trust her, as vulnerable as she is, to your Master?



[] The Moon shall be stolen away, the most precious jewel of the heavens will disappear without leaving a trace. But it will be safe, with you, and you will help her return to her full splendor.

-You will walk out of the house with Selene in tow, determined to take her back to your own home;
-You will be given the option to explain the situation to those who await outside;
-Selene will immediately become a Confidant, and you will be given options (both with her actions and your own, each turn) on how to educate her and help her retrieve her memories;
-This will happen in the form of Lore lessons. As she grows in certain Lores she will safely recuperate her memories and powers, and will slowly be eased into fully accepting them while also learning about the occult;
-You have no way of knowing how your Master will react to this, if he finds out;
-You have no way of knowing how Celestia will react to this, if she finds out;

-But… can you trust yourself with such precious a jewel?



[] The Moon will stay where it is, and wait, and hope.

-You will wish Selene the best of luck, and tell her to stay where she is, and to go back to sleep if she can;
-You will not have to explain anything to anypony. The Expedition, and your hunch, will simply be brushed off as wrong;
-You will leave, and allow History to decide its own path;

-But… if you were the one who first arrived here, is this really the correct option?



[] The Moon will be shattered. Its blood will fall down to the earth as a rain of shooting stars, and Equestria will weep. But after all she has been through, and knowing all the pain that still awaits her, you know this to be a mercy.

-You will kill Princess Luna. She will not resist, and it will be done quickly and mercifully;
-You will not have to explain anything to anypony. The Expedition, and your hunch, will simply be brushed off as wrong;
-Nopony will ever find out about this, unless you tell them. Anything or anyone else that might know, or eventually discover, will either agree with your decision or not be in a position to punish you;
-You will gain the permanent trait [Blood of the Outsider]. This trait is not a Malus;
-You will gain two scraps of EDGE Lore, and one scrap of every other Lore;

-But… will you be able to live with your own conscience?





By the laws of the harsher of the two universes, she is in this state. She is Selene, and she is lost.

By the laws of the kinder of the two universes, it is possible for her to recover. She will, if helped correctly, once again be Princess Luna.

She will, if helped correctly, perhaps even be more. Certain experiences can change us, but growth is a natural part of life.

I will have no discussion about the nature of souls and conscience, or about personality. This is so.

So please, kindly decide what course the moon shall take.

Spoiler: The flowing of Time, the Fates that were Not

100 – Alicornae: They are the epitome of creation, the guardians of Harmony. Princess Luna has mastered her memories and returned all the stronger, standing as tall as her sister and just as mighty despite the thousand years gap of experience. She knows what her enemy is, now.

99-96 – Grim, but firm: There is a darkness in her eyes, now. By strength of will did she emerge from her own personal hell, but it has marked her. A demigoddess still, but one now with a new point of view.

95-86 - Shaken: Shivering like a foal. Afraid of her own shadow. Afraid to even close her eyes and sleep. She remembers everything, but it is clear that she wishes she didn't.

85-66 – Selene: The moon has many faces, and many names. Equestria needs it to be full, but right now it is waning, soon to be totally hidden and lightless. But she is still in there, you know it, in peace. And she can be brought out again.

65-51 - A fumbling hermit: Mouth frothing with madness, insane babblings and incoherent thoughts, so many tears amidst hysterical laughter. At least she forgot all about her powers as well, it seems, and you might be able to bring her back with you. She needs help, though, as much as can possibly be given.

50-36 – (Un)awakened: You can see it in her eyes, the desperation. She does not yet believe she has woken up. Perhaps she never will. Her horn glows with the barely leashed power of creation, though, as she searches for the direction that her torment will come from next. Better not make any sudden movements… (Lose one sanity point, willing to talk if found this turn, re-roll if not)

35-05 – Not yet: She is still in there. Alone. With the Worm of her memories. (Lose one sanity point, re-roll after a full month)

04-02 - Worm-found: The Worms nearly got to her, and she took the only way out she could think of. Not that fate. Never again. Bringing her body back will be a grim affair, though…

01 – Worm-touched: The Worms have found her before anypony else did. Equestria will surely suffer.



[After-chase, first roll: 67]

[Fate sealed]



These are the fates that were Not. This was devised the moment Luna rolled her 100, and the story would have turned out very different indeed if, back then, any other threshold had been landed on.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] The Moon shall be stolen away, the most precious jewel of the heavens will disappear without leaving a trace. But it will be safe, with you, and you will help her return to her full splendor.

- - -

[This is important, but will be spoilered for brevity]

Spoiler: Selene

Selene will come with you and will live in your house for however long she needs to, and you thank the heavens that you live in Ponyville for that. For several reasons, in fact.

For starters, you are the only noble in town, so there is nopony else you need to impress, and there is no source of intentional and evil gossiping directed towards you.

You also live in a somewhat isolated estate. So far that has been useful for your anonymity, but it just might be all the more important now.

And finally, this is Ponyville. You can't think of a more peaceful and inviting place. Being away from the intrigues of nobility has never been so good.

You do, however, have certain ponies that you will have to do some explaining to, but that is beyond the point right now.



Selene's recuperation will follow a certain mechanic, as follows:

MOTH – will help her deal with remembering about her blood and the changes of her body. The secrets of the earth, wind and magic will come back to her through it.

EDGE – will help her master her own powers, and the overbearing intensity that sleeps in her blood. An alicorn is a being beyond a mortal pony, and coming to terms with that is no simple task.

KNOCK – will help her unearth what is within her mind, be it her dream access or her memories. It is what will allow Princess Luna, the one on the Dreamlands, to slowly wake up to who she is.

WINTER – will help her come to terms with all of the above, as well as with other things. Calm, patience, fatalism, they will all be necessary, and it will be folly not to acquire them.



-Selene will start with all Lores at Level 0.

-You will be the one who teaches her, and her lesson on a Lore will be "complete" once she reaches Level 3 in a Lore. Each lesson will give her a "Level up" on a single Lore (she will not follow Scrap of Lore mechanic).

-Teaching her when you are the SAME level as the lesson will proc a dice roll, which can fail. Teaching her while you are ABOVE the level of the lesson (teaching her Moth 1 when you are Moth 2 or greater) guarantees success.

-Her lessons will be "complete" once she reaches Level 3 in all the above Lores, but Princess Luna will only return once you successfully perform a "The Incision of the Heart" Ritual on her. You have no idea, as of yet, of how Selene's mind might (or might not) change as she learns, or if she will start to "remember" things or not.

-You may cast "The Incision of the Heart" at ANY moment, even before reaching Level 3 in all the Lores. But that is unadvised.

- - -



"Yes," you answer, after taking a deep breath, "I am here to take you somewhere else."

The answer is obvious. What you have to do is obvious.

So obvious that you might say there was no other option to begin with.

"Where?" she asks, partly timid and partly curious. You can tell that she is slowly waking up, that she is slowly starting to understand where she is and…

No, you can tell that she is slowly starting to realize that she no longer is where she was before. She is no longer there, with them… She is here now.

"I will take you with me, to where I live," you say, gently, as you walk towards her, taking her hoofs on your own, "and I promise…" you continue, looking deep into her eyes as you speak.

You say it, in the way you wish you had been able to promise to them.


- - - - -

[] "I promise I will take care of you. For as long as you need, and even after that," you say, you promise, you swear, while looking in the eyes of the lonely filly. And she slowly, but honestly, nods back at you.

-Selene is a filly, she even looks to be the same age as your daughter.

-This is the easiest way for her to avoid notice. Almost nopony will be suspicious of a filly, and foals are already usually overlooked as a rule. The fact that she lacks a cutie mark will be seen as natural.

-Her "Confidant Focus" options will only be "to learn a Lore lesson" that turn. Apart from that, she will live a normal life.

-As a filly, Selene will only be able to learn a single Lore lesson per turn.

-This is the slowest option, and perhaps the safest. But deep down, you know that this is the only option in which Selene will experience innocent happiness.



[] "I promise I will be here for you, and I only ask you to trust me in return," you say, you promise, while looking at the young mare's eyes. And she slowly, but surely, nods back at you.

-Selene is a young mare, the equivalent of a "teenager" perhaps, reaching for adulthood.

-This will draw some suspicion. Her age will make a few options for explanation less likely, and her lack of a cutie mark will draw some attention. You are sure some of your older dresses might fit her, but that trait will surely be noticed at some point.

-Her "Confidant Focus" option will allow for more actions, mainly those that involve accompanying you while you perform your own actions. But she won't be able to perform actions by herself in your stead, and taking her to do certain things might draw attention.

-As a young mare, Selene will be able to learn two Lore lessons per turn (by using her Focus and one of your actions, or two of your actions), but it is better not to do it that often so as to avoid burnout.

-This can be quicker than a filly, but you can see by the confusion in her eyes that this haste will make her need more of your help.



[] "I promise I will help you," you say, while looking at the mare's eyes. And she slowly, perhaps even hesitantly, nods back at you.

-Selene is a grown mare.

-This will draw the most suspicion. An amnesiac adult is already something that causes whispers to flourish. Her lack of a cutie mark will only make things more contentious, especially since it is known (at least by those who have studied a little) that amnesiac ponies do not lose theirs. Wiser or more attentive ponies might even realize that there are "dots" to be connected, even if they don't connect them.

-Her "Confidant Focus" will be equal in possibility as Rarity's.

-As a grown mare, Selene can safely learn two Lore lessons per turn, and three if that is done judiciously.

-This is the quickest option. But that will also mean you will have less time to simply get to know her. Quick changes, also, makes for more confusion, and you can tell that she is already a little confused.

- - - - -



You say that to Selene and she nods a second time, more certainly now.

But you also see her looking towards the ground.

And then towards the walls.

And then to the small pile of crocheted blankets on which she just woke up.

You can see that she is piecing it together, that she just realized what all of this means. That she just understood exactly what it means to wake up. You can see that she somehow understands that, from now on, it will only get colder and more difficult.

After all, no place will ever be as warm and happy as the place she just woke up from.

"I…" she says, downtrodden, "I don't… want to go…? I know I have to, but…"

She is still looking at the ground, as you hold her hoofs, but you can tell that she is slowly leaning towards you.

Maybe she doesn't even realize it, but she looks like a pony who is completely lost. A pony who does not know anypony or anything, one who can't even recognize where she is. A pony who has nothing, not even memories of her dreams, only the faint impression that she was somewhere safe and warm.

Somehow you can see it. She doesn't even know where she was, she only remembers the how it felt to be there.

Consequently, she only remembers what she just lost.

"But I…" she tries saying once again, not even knowing anymore what it is that torments her.

And you open your forelegs just as she is about to reach you, bringing her into a tight hug.

Selene is not even trembling, she doesn't even remember that she can feel like that. She is hollow, right now, and the only thing that hollowness does to her is make her feel scared.

So you whisper something in her ear to help her, even if only a little bit.



- - - - -

[] You tell her that she does not need to be afraid of change, and that you will teach her to hide until she is ready. (Raise her MOTH to Level 1. You will cut her mane short as you speak those words, and Selene will be naturally more subtle, decreasing her detectability.)

[] You tell her that this is the beginning of a new adventure, and that you will help her every step of the way. (Raise her EDGE to Level 1. Selene will be less meek and more sociable, decreasing her troubles with certain difficulties of life.)

[] You tell her that she will be fine, and that she will remember that good feeling every time she sleeps and dreams. (Raise her KNOCK to Level 1. Selene will be naturally calmer, and will usually wake up well rested, decreasing her fatigue depending on what Confidant Focus she engages in [this is less useful for Filly Selene])

[] You tell her, in few words, that everything will be alright. And she understands you. (Raise her WINTER to Level 1. Selene will be a quiet and observant pony, who is harder to knock down than normal. This will help her, once the nightmares start.)

(This First Lesson will be her very first outlook about her new life. The "observation" described in each possible vote will apply to her.)

- - - - -



You keep her in a tight hug. You keep her in a hug until she finally understands what this all means. You keep her in a hug until she starts to tremble and hugs you back, and then until she stops trembling.

You only let her go when she gently indicates that she is ready to be let go.

"Now, it will be a bit of a trek back, but I'll have to ask you to bear with it," you say, slowly shifting your mind back to the factual parts of how this will have to happen. "But I'll tell you all about the place we are going to, while we are at it," you finish, hoping to at least give her something to look forward to, even if only slightly.

Trying to encourage her curiosity about the future, since she has nothing to look back to in her memories, feels like a good way to go right now.

"And also, I'll have to ask you something… I have a friend outside, and I need to have a short talk with her before I introduce you. Can you please wait for me here? I'll be as fast as I can," you ask, still trying to keep a warm smile about your face.

Selene looks slightly uncomfortable at that, at the thought of being alone so quickly after waking up. But you see her look at the crocheted blankets from the corner of her eyes, and she takes a deep breath right after that, nodding that she will be fine.

Or as fine as she can be, considering her situation.

"Thank you," you say, as you slowly make your way out of her room.

Looking at her during the whole time, to make sure she doesn't have any second thoughts about it.

This will be hard, you can already tell… but right now, you have to decide what to tell Rarity.



- - - - -

[] Everything. Selene is Princess Luna, you will help her, and you need Rarity's help in return, if only to keep it a secret.

[] Part of the truth. Your occult knowledge has led you here, but you have no idea of who Selene is. You only know that she needs your help. (Rarity understands enough of the Lores to the point that claiming you came here due to the occult will not cause more confusion)

[] A lie. You expected to find something else here, and in that the Expedition failed. But you found Selene, and she clearly needs help.

[] Something else. (WRITE IN)

(There are no mechanical comments to be offered here, nor will I comment on "how does Velvet think Rarity will react?". Velvet considers her a Confidant, and she trusts Rarity. How much of that trust YOU are willing to impart, though, is really up to you.)
(You will talk to Rarity away from Selene's presence. There is no need to worry about telling one something, and telling another thing to the other.)

- - - - -



- - -



It was a long trek back. Long, but at least free of complications.

Material complications, at least.

You saw Rarity off to her boutique, still nursing her wound, and you lent her your Heart Artifact. It didn't even cross your mind not to. She is your closest friend, so it is the absolute least you can do.


[HEART Artifact has been lent to Rarity. It will be unavailable until she is back to full health.]


However, another thought crosses your mind right now.

You are in front of the gates to your estate. You didn't schedule the carriage to pick you up on the station, but you lost enough things when the bridge broke that you actually didn't have to carry much weight at all as you walked home from the station on hoof.

But still. You are in front of the gates to your estate, with Selene standing next to you, and you are about to go in.

Lucky you, then, that you had enough time to straighten your story.



- - - - -

Who is Selene?

[] An abandoned filly who you could not leave to her own fate. You will officially adopt her, paperwork and all. (To the public's eye, this will be nothing but a kind, even if eccentric, whim of a noblemare)

[] An amnesiac pony who you saw all by herself, and you firmly decided to take in while you search for her family. (Family is sacred, and having spent so much time helping look for Princess Luna has mellowed you down to it. This is, however, a story that inevitably "draws attention", as other ponies might try to "help you search for her family" with the best of intentions)

[] A relative from the Velvet family. Her family situation is currently… complicated, so you will be taking her in for a while. (Those in the know of the inner workings of the Velvet family will know this is a lie. Nopony else will doubt your word, though. Suspicion based on age and lack of cutie mark still applies.)

[] A relative from your husband's family. Her family situation is currently… complicated, so you will be taking her in for a while. (Those in the know of the inner workings of your husband's family will know this is a lie. Nopony else will doubt your word, though. Suspicion based on age and lack of cutie mark still applies.)

[] A pony who was in desperate need for help, and who you decided to employ as a maid. Bad luck can hit anypony, after all, and helping each other is what being a pony is all about. (You will employ her as a maid. Unavailable for filly Selene, obviously. This has its own sets of opportunities and complications.)

[] Something else. (WRITE IN)

(Selene will go with your story. You told her to be cautious and to keep that small secret, so she will, to the best of her abilities.)

- - - - -



"Well then, Selene," you say as you open the front doors to the entrance hall. "Welcome home."

And you immediately see your family.

Maybe you caught them in the middle of going somewhere and this is just a coincidence, maybe they saw you approaching from a window, or heard that you have arrived from a servant, and rushed to the entrance hall to greet you.

You will never know which it was, because whatever expression they had in their faces immediately disappeared as soon as you open the front door.

You know that expression.

It is the expression that Stormchaser has whenever something clicks inside his head. Whenever he is looking at something extremely important. He is wearing that unmistakable expression as he looks at Selene.

But to your surprise, so is Silky Stream.

The three of you stay utterly still, and utterly silent, as your husband and daughter look at the pony who is shily standing next to you. You can tell Selene is meekly balking under their stares, but you too are unsure of what to do next.

You see Stormchaser take a deep breath and open his mouth.

But before he can say anything, Silky Stream slowly spreads her wings, and flies towards Selene.

And as if the entire world was in slow motion, you see her gently take one of Selene's hoofs with her own, as she looks her in the eyes.

"I'm Silky Stream, but you can call me Silky," she says, in an unbelievable kind tone, "do you want me to show you around the house?"

You hold your breath while that happens, your eyes fixed on your daughter, wide open in surprise, as you see Selene slowly nod back at her, following behind Silky right after.

Both you and your husband only move once again after the two of them have left the entrance hall.

And your next movements, both yours and Stormchaser's, is to face each other.

The two of you don't need to say anything as you silently make your way towards your room, and lock the door behind you.



- - -



You sit down on your bed, after Stormchaser helps you up.

You are tired from the last few days, you are hungry, and you certainly don't look very pleasant right now.

But you absolutely have to have a talk with your husband, no matter what.

You take in a deep breath, and you open your mouth to-

"Sweetheart, I have to tell you something."

But he interrupts you before you do.

You look up from the ground, towards Stormchaser, and you see that his eyes are fixed straight ahead. As if he was looking beyond the walls of your room, to somewhere far away.

He is thinking deeply, you can tell. And you are not about to interrupt him if that is the case.

"I don't honestly mind… a lot of things," he starts talking, slowly, but you can tell that his words are coming from somewhere very deep. "I don't mind my job, because it lets me do a lot of things. I don't mind having been forced by my family to marry somepony, because otherwise I never would have met you."

He emphasizes that last word, and you can feel the meaning behind it. You can feel all the love, and promises, and honesty he has dedicated to you throughout the years when he says that word.

You know that he is telling the truth.

"I don't mind it when we have our small arguments, because they are a part of life. I don't mind…" you see him look towards his hoofs, trying to think of what else he might pick from an enormous list of small things, that enormous list of unreasonable things that life throws at him, at everypony, throughout their lives.

He then looks at you, and you nod at him.

You understand.

"But I know something just happened, and… I know, whoever that pony is, that there is something about her. And I…"

He walks towards you, taking your hoofs on his as he looks into your eyes.

But there is more than honesty on his face. More than just his trust and love for you.

Perhaps what you are seeing is confusion in his eyes.

Perhaps you see fear.

You feel a small knot in your chest, as you realize that you have no idea of how he might react if you tell him everything. Will his fear evolve into terror? Will his confusion evolve into betrayed shock? Will his trust and love for you win over everything else?

You do not know…

"I don't mind. I really don't mind whatever it is that life throws at me, as long as I can be here for you and Silky. I don't mind whatever cost I have to pay, as long as I know that I am being the very best pony I can be, for the two of you. As long as I know that I am doing what is best for the two of you. But…"

You see his lips tighten, his expression somewhat lost as he searches for the words to say.

"The moment I saw her, I knew that… I know that I have to do… something!" He nearly shouts the last word, and you can tell just how maddening the sensation must be to him, "I just have to… but I don't… I don't have the first idea of what the hell that is."

He says, before looking into your eyes again.

And you slowly nod at him, before you take a deep breath and say your own piece.

You will…



- - - - -

[] Tell him the truth. The whole truth. The years since you met Copper Secateur, the cult, the Ritual, Luna, Selene, everything. And dearly hope that he doesn't come to the conclusion that he "has to" go to the Royal Guard, for yours and Silky's safety. You also dearly hope he doesn't take all of this as a… betrayal, of sorts. You fear he honestly might. (Much like before, while deciding to bring him to the Expedition, you have no idea how he might react)

[] Tell him part of the truth. Tell him who Selene is, but that you are the one who has to help her. You absolutely cannot take her back to Princess Celestia like this. (WRITE IN your explanation of "why" you are the one who has to help her.)

[] Tell him a small lie. You were out on a trip with your friend, you found Selene, and you have decided to take care of her. You might not have his "sight" but you can also tell that… well, you really hope he understands that he "has to" help you, the same way you know that you "have to" help Selene. And from the possible fear you see in his eyes, this might be the best option.

[] Something completely different. (WRITE IN)

(ALL options can be changed or altered, especially to adapt to your "cover story")

- - - - -



This is important, this will be write-in heavy, and this in a small part is technically a "character creation" for Selene. There will be 48 hours of voting, with the first 6 hours being a moratorium, and QM will do his best to answer questions and correct stray interpretations of the mechanics.

ALL options are subject to write-in, and write-ins are actually encouraged. Think of the current options (with the exception of which Lores Selene will need, and the three age options) as mere suggestions.

Good luck.

Spoiler: FOR EASE OF PLANNING

[] Selene's Age
-[] Filly
-[] Teenager
-[] Grown mare

[] First Lesson
-[] Moth
-[] Edge
-[] Knock
-[] Winter

[] What to tell Rarity
-[] Everything
-[] The occult brought you here
-[] Nothing, this was not what you expected
-[] WRITE IN:

[] Selene's cover story
-[] Officially adopted (Filly only)
-[] Taken in
-[] A stray Velvet
-[] She is from Stormchaser's family
-[] Make her a maid (not allowed if filly)
-[] WRITE IN

[] What to tell Stormchaser
-[] Everything, and pray
-[] Tell him who she is, but only that (WRITE IN why you can't bring her to Celestia)
-[] Nothing, you found her and you can feel she needs to be helped
-[] WRITE IN

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X]Plan What Needs To Be Said
-[X] {Age} Filly
-[X] Moth
-[X] Everything
-[X] Officially adopted (Filly only)
-[X] Not everything, but enough. Tell Stormchaser that there is more be said, but this is what he needs to know:
--[X] The Lore; enough to demonstrate the hidden nature of the world, and how we now have abilities beyond the typical.
--[X] The Worms; enough to convey the cataclysmic threat they pose.
--[X] The Moon Princess; enough to show how she has suffered, how she cannot bear the weight of her memories, and how Celestia tragically appeared in those memories.
--[X] The Cult and the Master; enough to explain where we learned what we know, and to caution that while you are largely on the same side, the Master is unlikely to treat a vulnerable Alicorn with the kindness and gentleness she needs.
--[X] Selene. How she used to be Luna; how her memories and nature have been sealed until she can deal with them; how you have made a promise to help her.
--[X] ...And your goals for her. How you intend for her to be hidden and taught and loved. Stormchaser should have enough context to understand, by this point. Why you can't bring her to Celestia - for she needs to be taught, both to recover and to face what was and what is still to come. Why you can't bring her to Master - for she needs to be cared for, and not merely used. Why she needs to be here.

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan: Maximum GRAIL power
-[X] Shopping list
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
--[X] At the end of the cult meeting, tip off Windy Flakes about the MOTH artifact we found.
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of GRAIL
--[X] Apply to talking to Luna when we find her
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month?
--[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] On invoking the Lores
--[X] "The calling of Influence" for GRAIL
---[X] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
----[X] If anyone questions why we're doing this, claim that we're trying to smooth over the reputational knock caused by Windy Flakes invitation and maybe help some business deals on the side.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Study books
---[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
---[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
----[X] Invite Twilight for book study with tea and biscuits. Try to pique her curiosity with the scroll's topic and allude to possibility of unearthing unusual non-explicit, implied knowledge.
---[X] Do both of these before casting "The calling of Influence"
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)
-[X] On aiding the cult
--[X] Help Jade Whistle
---[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[X] Help Comet Feet
---[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
----[X] Ask for a lesson in EDGE. Tell him we've come to realise that we may find ourselves having to use it in the future, and we'd like to be prepared. If necessary, be willing to talk about how we got our scar and the fear that has been with us ever since, and how we think we need to overcome it.
-[X] Ponyville politics
--[X][Servant action] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she wont dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

- - -



You are Ponpon, and you are…

Well, you are basically doing your job.

Although you have not done this particular aspect of it in a long, long time. Neither you can say that it is a part of it that you enjoy doing.

But as much as you might not like doing it in general, you are especially willing to do it right now. At least in this household.



"… like this? All this time?!"



You hear another bout of shouts, coming from a distance, and you grimace a little bit more at that.

You are on the second floor of the estate, standing a few hoofsteps away from the main stairs itself. To put it in a few words you are literally blocking the corridor, more specifically you are impeding access to the very last door on the corridor which leads to the master bedroom of the estate. But you are blocking the whole corridor because, well…



"… years, Velvet. YEARS. And… older than our DAUGHTER…"



Because raised voices, and outright shouts, can carry over very long distances.

To be honest, everypony has problems in their personal lives, and everypony deserves their privacy. However, you have found out, as the years went by, that this is something especially important to be mindful of in your career. Everypony has problems, yes, but not everypony has dozens of servants working in their house, and the absolute power to simply fire a lot of them if they are in a particularly bad mood, or if they hear a small offhoof comment about this or that. Be that comment imagined or not.

And you have seen that happen before, especially the "imagined" variation of it.

So as the longest-standing maid in the mansion, as well as because you are Lady Velvet's personal maid, it is an unspoken understanding that these sorts of more delicate situations fall under your jurisdiction. Most of the other servants, especially those who have already served in other houses, understood what is happening almost immediately, as soon as they saw you planted on the spot where you are right now.

The others, less experienced ones, simply took the clue and avoided being anywhere near the entrance hall altogether.

But this whole situation has started a while ago. As it currently stands, a few of the other older maids have already come to you for instructions about this and that, and helped spread the word that everypony was to complete their assignments as soon as possible and simply leave. You also told them to make sure that the cook had tomorrow's meals ready as well, just in case that it turns out to be "better" that as few ponies as possible come to work tomorrow.

You also told them to have somepony call for Soft Sweeps. The mare was having a day off today, by Stormchaser's leave, but… well, it is safe to say that things have changed.

Speaking of whom, as you think that you finally see her arrive, closing the large doors of the entrance hall behind her and looking around at the unusually empty place. Moments later she spots you, and makes her way up the stairs.

"Ponpon, did something happen?" she asks as she walks towards you, "Bins came to your house and called for me, saying that-"



"That is NOT what I meant, and you know it. Would you please LISTEN…"



Lady Velvet's shout, muffled by the distance and the thick wooden door, interrupts Soft Sweeps.

Her reaction is instantaneous, wings slightly opening and freezing in shock, her eyes going wide open and aimed at the door to the master bedroom.

"I… is everything…" she looks at the door, and then at you, "what's happening…?" she asks, and you hear a tinge of fear in her voice.

You let out a small sigh, and gently pat the young mare's wings back into place while you think.

Some of the other maids have already worked in other houses, you recall, as has Soft Sweeps. But her situation is rather different. She has probably seen nobles fighting, of course, but you know that she was rather… young, during her time in Canterlot, so you know she didn't have the necessary perspective to face that sort of situation.

Well, she already told you she had plenty of nobles shouting at her, but that's another thing entirely.

"Alright Soft," you say, your voice gaining the slight ring of focus it usually has when you are ordering the other maids around, Soft Sweeps included, "listen closely to what I'm about to say."

Causing her posture to immediately straighten up, knowing that you are being serious. And you smile a little at that.

Soft Sweeps is a good girl, you know.

"First of all, I think you agree when I and the other older servants say that Lady Velvet is a good boss, right? She and her family, that is."

"Of course they are!" she answers, her posture disarming a little bit at that, her expression growing slightly worried as she wonders where you are going with that.

"Yes, good. Trust us on that. But just so you know, not more than two hours ago Lady Velvet returned from her trip, and she brought a filly in tow with her. Nopony knows what the hay this is all about, but not a minute after she arrived she and her husband locked themselves in their room and have been there since then. And it looks bad."

You see Soft Sweeps look towards the ground at that, her expression thoughtful, before she looks back at you and slowly nods.

"And I… well, take it from me, this is a really good place to work at. I think it's the very best house I've ever worked in my entire life, in fact," you admit, after thinking for a few moments, "but I need you to keep in mind that this is the sort of situation that must be handled very carefully."

You say those words slowly, determined to make sure that Soft understands exactly what it is that you mean by that. You have already seen situations like this, after all. Places that were good environments turning sour because a noble family started having problems of that sort, and it usually follows that when the higher ups are in a bad spot, those below them suffer even more so. You have already seen ponies being mistreated or outright fired because of simple, even stupid, things, during moments like these.

And you know just how infatuated Soft Sweeps is with this place. You're happy for her, in fact. But you need to remind her that your employer is still a noble mare, and that this is not the sort of thing that one should mess around with.

"Listen. I trust Lady Velvet, you trust Lady Velvet, and all of us dearly hope that this will blow over in a few days, or hours if Celestia wills it. But I have a feeling that it won't. And as much as I trust our Lady, I have no idea how she might react to this sort of thing, do you understand?"

After all, your boss and her husband have practically been the quintessential lovey-dovey couple through all these years, and this sort of situation has never happened before. You have no idea if she will turn aggressive, or sour, or simply break down due to… whatever the hell just happened. You don't even know if she will simply brush it off, and walk out of her room with a pleased trot as if she just had her mane done.

What you do know is that you have to make sure that everything in this house is running smoothly, regardless of how Lady Velvet reacts.

"I… I understand…" you see her answer with a pained expression.

She is worried for them. Good, so are you, but you have the years of experience to hide it and to know how to act.

"But what do we do then, Ponpon?" she asks, as many other ponies have, throughout the day.

Of course she is asking you that. You are the head maid after all.

To some, you said that they should simply go about their duties, quietly, for the next few days. To others, you asked that they be especially attentive to rumors, after all it won't do for certain things to start being whispered about the house. You know how certain words can be the spark that makes a powder keg explode.

But you and Soft Sweeps, especially, have a few more things to be mindful about.

"You leave the two of them to me. Actually, try to interact with them as little as possible," you say, looking her in the eyes. "You have to focus on Silky, and whoever that other filly is. I know they will eventually catch up to this, we know Silky has a sharp eye for her age, but right now you can't let them come anywhere near the second floor."

Noble or not, it's always ugly to see a foal hear their parents having a nasty argument like that. You would very much like to spare them that, if you can.

"But how am I supp…?" she starts to ask, but the words die in her mouth.

And she thinks for a few moments, before nodding back to you, her expression determined.

She really is a good girl, you think with a tinge of relief.

"Any idea of where they are?" she asks, to which you shake your head.

Soft Sweeps then gives you a nod, a worried yet focused nod, before she flies down the stairs in the search for the two foals.

Leaving you alone, once again, on the beginning of the corridor of the second floor.

You hear another muffled bout of shouting, but although you can't make out the words this time you know that it doesn't sound any better than the last few ones.

You really hope this turns out alright.



- - -



It has been a while now.

The shouting has died down, but you are worried about the silence that settled on its place.

You silently approached the door when that happened, putting an ear against it to see if they were still talking, but you couldn't hear anything. You didn't hear crying, which was good, but you didn't hear anything else either.

Lady Velvet's husband is a pegasus, so you have the strong impression that she was alone in her room, now.

But experience told you that it would be better if you didn't knock on the door. You were close to her, but unfortunately not close enough to be able to help her with that.

So, you did the next best thing. You went to check on how Soft Sweeps was doing.

And you found her on the garden, with the two fillies.

"Oh, that's Ponpon! She's the maid that works with mom," you hear Silky's voice as soon as you find them.

And for the first time since this entire ordeal started, you lay your eyes on the filly that might very well be the cause for this whole situation.

"Good afternoon," you say, with a gentle smile, "I am Ponpon. What is your name?"

"I'm Selene," she answers, rather shily.

She is… well, she is a perfectly normal filly. Her coat is dark, a color that you can tell isn't exactly black, but some shade of purple or blue, and her short mane is a lighter color of that. But other than that, she is a perfectly normal earth pony filly.

Her expression is somewhere between overwhelmed and confused, but not in a way that you feel you should be worried about, so you safely attribute her current feelings to being bombarded by Silky Stream's usual excited antics, since you can also see that Soft Sweeps looks normal and unperturbed.

Outwardly unperturbed, that is. You don't miss the look that the maid sends your way while the two fillies are not looking.

"It's lovely to meet you, Selene," you say, then turning towards the other maid, "and I just came to ask if any of them would like to take a bath, since little Selene here just came from a rather long trip from what I've heard. I can have it ready in a few minutes if that's the case."

Soft Sweeps slowly nods at that. You being here is already telling, but the main bathroom is also on the second floor, so that all but confirms that, for better or for worse, she can let them go to the second floor now.

You also see a tinge of relief on her face, and you wonder if it is because she knows that the worst of the fighting must be over, at least for now, or if it is because subtly making the two fillies stay away from the mansion itself must have been extremely hard.

Probably a mixture of both, you conclude.

"Oh! Lets lets lets! I think the three of us can fit in the bathtub without a problem!" you hear Silky Stream answer, while she starts jumping in place.

To which you laugh a little bit, while Selene takes a step back from the other filly, and Soft Sweeps quickly starts saying something rather diplomatic about personal space.

You leave them at that, making your way back towards the mansion. You still have work to do, and a lot of it.

You had all the other servants dismissed for the day, after all. A slight overextension of your authority as head maid, but one that you are sure nopony will mind given the circumstances. But you still have things to take care of, so you better make sure everything is accounted for in case Lady Velvet decides to come out of her room.

You doubt that she will though, but still…



[Contact the Merchants – Servant action]

[Roll: 80 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 3 (Cult presence, Ponyville) = 94]

[You have successfully introduced yourself to the merchants of Ponyville. More options to interact with them have become available.]



If she does, at least you have a slight bit of good news to deliver to her, in the form of a report that awaits her at her desk.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Velvet Covers, and a lot of things have happened recently, in a very short span of time.



Due to your lateness, the Expedition cost its full price. 50 bits have been deducted from your personal coffers.

You have had a nasty argument with your husband. Your marital situation can be currently described as "strained" because of that.

You have chosen to harshly reveal a truth, with no thought of how that could affect the receiving party. You have gained one scrap of LANTERN Lore.

You have NOT told Stormchaser about the following:

-The more unsettling details about your Master's nature, or at least what little you have interacted with them (your husband does not know that your Master is... well, he thinks they are a regular pony);
-The murders you believe your cult has committed;
-The cult's actions about Princess Luna's ritual and eventual disappearance;
-Details about the cult itself, and details about the Lores.

Your husband is now aware that the "book club" is a cult, that a reasonable amount of ponies are a part of it, that the Lores exist and are real, that the Worms exist, that Selene is Princess Luna and the reason as to why she cannot be taken to Princess Celestia.

Your husband was shocked, and feels betrayed that you have hidden that for so long. He will be absent for a few days, but will return before your turn properly "starts". He was also shocked that you told him that "there is more to be said", but not telling him more than you did was better than telling him everything.

Your daughter will realize something is wrong as soon as her father returns.

Due to your good standing with your servants, your daily life will hopefully not be very much affected by this latest turn of events. Ponpon, especially, will watch your back from behind the curtains.


[And how well did you take that? Breakpoints 30/60/100]

[Roll: 51 + 8 (Martial) + 10 (WINTER bonus) = 69]

[First breakpoint reached: You will NOT be forced to take an action regarding Stormchaser]

[Second breakpoint reached: You will NOT receive a general "-10" malus during this round due to stress]

[Third breakpoint failed: You WILL receive a general "-10" malus due to stress if you do not devote an action to addressing this situation, this turn]



- - -



Things… did not turn out the way you hoped they would.

Stormchaser left.

That is a combination of words you never thought you would think about, much less witness, but he left. He looked around the room, looked at you, as if he couldn't recognize any of it, and simply said he needed time to think as he went for the window.

The worst part was that you could tell that doing that hurt him as much as it is hurting you right now.

And a part of you thinks you deserve this pain.

You stood there, facing the open window, for a long time. Your bed felt very cold and empty after that.

But you can't let that shake you down, you still have important things to do. First and foremost, you have a daughter to take care of, and make sure that she doesn't… well, you don't really expect to be able to hide that from Silky, seeing how awfully clever she is. But you fully hope that you will be able to tone it down as much as possible.

Actually, you have two daughters to take care of now, don't you? Three if you count Soft, but she's a grown mare so you will actually be relying on her a lot for this whole situation.

Anyways. Yes, two daughters. It is strange to think that you are doing this to Princess Luna, but…

When you think that you are doing this for Selene, a small and frightened filly who is the very opposite of an immortal alicorn, and when you think about the experience you had on that abandoned house… When you think back on the promise that you made, it feels a lot more obvious and clear to be doing this. It feels natural, even.

You promised her parents you would take care of her. You promised her that you will take care of her.

So now you have two daughters.

With that in mind, you make triple sure that you are presentable as you look at yourself on the mirror, before you head towards the door and gently unlock it with a flick of magic.

You had the whole night to wallow in your own misery, but you keep that part of you inside your room as you close the door behind you. It might be waiting for you there when you return at night, you know, but right now you have things that are more important than yourself to take care of.

You are also very hungry, seeing that you have not eaten in more than a full day.

"Ah! There are my girls, good morning," you say, as you step into the dining room.

"Mom! Good morning! Welcome back!" Silky immediately jumps in your direction, wings buzzing as she zips towards your chest, enveloping you in a hug.

"I missed you too, dear," you say honestly as you hug her back, not really finding it in you to remind her that she shouldn't fly in the dining room.

Rules are important, sure, but so are exceptions.

"And good morning Selene, did you sleep well?" you ask towards the other filly, who is nervously sitting on one of the chairs around the long table.

It is rather curious, now that you look at her more calmly. She is looking rather meek, for a lack of better word, and you can only imagine how utterly intimidating this whole ordeal must be to her. Not to say frightening, even.

But more than that, there is something about her that… that makes her hard to notice?

Maybe it's the way her mane is cut short, lending her an even smaller frame. Maybe it's the way she is sitting, a posture that is neither one in which she is crouching or trying to hide, nor is it one that is exactly outgoing and comfortable.

That particular trait, that strange impression you had just now, makes you immediately worried that she might be the kind of filly that is especially easy to lose in a crowd, of course.

But considering her situation… that trait of her might actually be for the best.

"Hi Mrs. Velvet…" she answers, still looking towards her food as she talks, her tone low, "and I slept fine…"

You gently nod at that, while you hear Silky excitedly say how she showed her around the estate yesterday.

"That's very good to hear. From the two of you," you say with a smile as you float your daughter back to her seat with a flick of your horn. "But I have something important to say, so I would like you to listen carefully," you continue.

Which gets the attention of the two fillies.

"Actually, I have something important to say to all of you," you also address Soft Sweeps and Ponpon, who are standing on the sides of the room, "and I'd like to ask you to relay that to everypony else in the house, Ponpon."

The two of them nod at you, their expressions somewhat curious as well.

Well, if they are curious then that shows you that Selene probably did not mention it to anypony yesterday, since she is the only one, apart from Stormchaser and Rarity, to whom you have disclosed the information you are about to reveal.

"Well," you say, mostly focusing on the two fillies, on Silky specifically, as you speak, "I found Selene while I was travelling, as you probably realized, and she is a filly who very much needed help when I found her. And I know that you must have noticed that as well, when you met her yesterday, so I really hope you can help her with whatever it is that she needs from now on."

You see Selene cringe a little bit at the sudden attention being directed at her, but Silky nods at that, her excited smile giving way to something a little bit more focused.

Something close, perhaps, to the focus you saw on her face yesterday when she first saw Selene. But not quite that, obviously, not quite a "click".

"Now, I don't mean what I am going to say next in a mean way, and I would like to ask that this particular tidbit stays between us. Everypony in this room are ponies you can trust, Selene," you continue, gently saying towards the other filly, "so letting them know this will help."

You then turn towards the two maids for a few moments, seeing them nod as well.

"But I need you all to know that Selene here unfortunately has no memories of how her life was, before I found her. All she could remember when we met was her name. So I hope we can all be especially nice to her, while she is here."

You face the two fillies again, as you finish what you need to say.

"Especially because me and your father are going to adopt Selene. I know this kind of thing takes time, and everything will happen as slowly as they need to happen," you say towards Selene, your voice even covered with a tone of experience as you recall how your own marriage started, as you recall how important it is to pace this sort of thing, "but from now on, the two of you are sisters." You finish with a smile, saying those last few words to Silky.

It is safe to say that Silky Stream is overjoyed when she hears that.

It is also rather ironic how it can be said that she is beaming like the sun at that, since from now on she will officially be Selene's sister.

The other filly, however, simply nods in a rather uncomfortable way.

But you know you really can't blame Selene for her reaction, you think.

After all, you have not told her who she is, neither do you plan to do so for a long time. So, she is nothing but a filly without memories, who woke up one day on an abandoned house with nothing but a strange mare promising to take care of her.

With all your heart, you hope that you will be able to slowly show her that you will make good of your promise. You hope that, above all else, she can be happy here.

You also privately hope that, much like how you were "forced" into marrying Stormchaser but slowly turned into the happiest mare in the world yourself, that your decision right now is one that will allow Selene to be equally happy.

At least for as long as she stays here with you.

And you don't even finish thinking about all of that before Silky throws herself at her newfound sister with a tackle hug.

To your surprise, however, Soft Sweeps is already upon them before you can even finish charging your horn with magic. That sort of thing must be habitual from your daughter, you realize, if Soft has already developed such a reflex.



- - -



Last turn's shopping list

Spoiler

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

Last turn's available bits: 61


-There are no items to be bought from last turn.


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



- - -



POSSIBLE ACTIONS


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

Spoiler: On Suspicion Level and Ponyservant actions

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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


This turn's available bits: 181 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month



CONFIDANTS AND SUMMONS

Spoiler: Options of Focus

-The ponies and creatures listed below can be given a "focus" for this turn. Not mentioning them will incur in their "default picks" being selected. Be wary, also, to the "expiration date" of summons.

-The ponies and creatures listed below may be safely taken for a single one-turn (five days) Expedition without hampering their "focus". Taking them for a two-turn (6+ days) or greater Expedition will cause them to not execute their selected "focus".



Rarity (currently an Enlightened, GRAIL Level 0, FORGE Level nonexistent):

Current Health: 2/3

-[] Focus on getting better. (This will regenerate her health fully without the need to throw a dice. Since she currently has your HEART artifact, picking this action is probably not needed)

-[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she won't dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

-[] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick HALF of your own personal actions, rounded DOWN, and Rarity will accompany you while you perform them, giving narrative advantages or mechanical buffs as needed)

-[] Act as your emissary. (Pick an EXTRA action from your own pool, Rarity will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)

-[] Call her. Give her tasks, and books, and lessons. Turn her into an Initiate. (This will level her up, at the expense of her own focus action instead of an action of your own)

-[] Call her, you have a lot of things to tell her… and then a few introductions to make. (Induct her into the cult)

-[] Lead an Expedition. (Select her as the leader of an Expedition in which you will not take part, plan the other details of the expedition accordingly. You will still have to fund the Expedition yourself)

-[] Other (WRITE IN, in case you have a viable idea that I have not thought about. Certain ideas might even enter this list if they make sense)



Selene (MOTH 1; WINTER 0; EDGE 0; KNOCK 0):

As an alicorn, Selene has TWO actions.

-[X] Go play. (Selene will live a normal and happy life. This option costs one of her actions, it will always be picked, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.)

-[] What might be learned from a simple game of hide-and-seek? (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of MOTH)

-[] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them. You will always have us, so don't worry. (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of WINTER)

-[] Life is an adventure, so go live it! (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of EDGE)

-[] There is always something more to be learned from our dreams. (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of KNOCK)

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

-[] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to. (WRITE IN how you will breach the subject, or don't if you want Velvet to do it herself)



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

-[] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna. The Mansus is the only advantage you have over the search parties, so helping her on this is surely the way to go.
--[] Honestly help her.
--[] Subtly attempt to sabotage her efforts and win yourself time.



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

-[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.

--[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost) (HEART, FORGE)
--[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation) (applies "Royal Favor") (LANTERN, GRAIL, SECRET HISTORIES)
--[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation) (MOTH, EDGE, KNOCK)

(Due to SECRET HISTORIES 3, now you have a better idea of what you are more likely to find in each city)

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

-[] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.



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

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

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

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

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

-[] You now have a better grasp of the merchants in Ponyville, having had several letters of introduction sent around in your name. But what would you like to do next?
--[] Meet a few of them in person, and ingrain them to your cause. (WRITE IN if you will try to win them as personally loyal to you, or if you will point them in the direction of the cult)
--[] They are bit handlers, and that means they are a source of income. "Borrow" a few bits from your family and do a few quick investments. Everything will be back to its place by the end of the month, and you will be a little richer for that. (Attempt to gain a few more bits on the side, using your family's fortune as a lever) Highly suspicious.
--[] They know somepony who knows somepony who knows somepony. Use that to your advantage. (Ask them to search for an artifact. Specift LORE and LEVEL, up to Level 3. It will be added to your available list, but will be more expensive than normal) Not suspicious.
--[] Something else. WRITE IN.

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

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



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

-[] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
--[] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
---[] Reach out to your mother, as much as it might be… complicated. (costs 20 bits in transportation)
---[] Attempt to locate your older brother, Velvet Wings, as much as it might be difficult. (attempt to locate him, at first, via correspondence)
---[] Go there yourself and try to talk to your younger brother, Velvet Pride, although getting caught will probably be bad. (costs 20 bits in transportation, involves invading your family's own mansion)

-[] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.

-[] Reach out to other higher nobles of Canterlot, although that might be more complicated.



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

-[] The Bright Library! Windy Flakes mentioned he has a hall ready for it, but you still need to hash out the details with him, as well as prepare the books you have already read so they can be placed there.

-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him.
--[] He definitely is attempting to go deeper into the Lore of Edge. Help him.

-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Now that you know her a bit better, you can always just spend time with her.
--[] The mare seems to be on a good streak and in high spirits. This time, she is supposed to get on the good graces of guards and law enforcers, and you are interested in helping her.

-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] She was the first pony you met from the cult, and you two have become good friends. Pay her a visit.
--[] What she did when she first met you, the whole recruiting dance, seems to be something she does often. Accompany her during one such night out and see if you can be of use.

-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] You realize you don't know very much about him at all. Time to remedy that.
--[] His business is all set up, and now he has to run it. And do you know who is good at running businesses? That's right, you are.
--[] Windy Flakes has messed with you, so now you will mess with him. (WRITE-IN HOW, specify if you will do it with good intentions [just to scare him] or with bad intentions [actually hinder him])

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



[] Set out on an Expedition.

-[] You don't have anywhere interesting to go, currently. Look for one. (Attempt to locate an interesting place to prepare an Expedition to. WRITE IN, if any specific theme is in mind.)



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

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

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

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

-[] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).

--[] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
--[] BOOK, FORGE Level 2. "A book about ingenious farming equipment, and how they function".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…".
--[] BOOK, KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…"
--[] Some other book (select a book you have bought this turn)



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

Spoiler: On exploring the known Mansus

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

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

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

-[] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus. (Mansus Hurdle CD 80, WINTER) (applies DIPLOMACY to traverse the Blank Plains, and SECRET HISTORIES Bonus to search, added to your WINTER Level)



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

-[] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
--[] Alright, this might be a BIT on the cult-y side, but… why not start giving your family subtle hints of Lore here and there? You might catch their attention, or perhaps even their interest.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] You are on the good graces of Velvet Steppes, your uncle, although he feels like the pony who has his entire family on his good graces to begin with.
--[] Call him over! He hasn't met his own grandniece yet, after all, and better late than never when it comes to knowing him better.
--[] He is called the Facilitator. You have no idea why, but the effect is self-explanatory. Ask for his help regarding… (WRITE IN a favor you would like to ask, or COMBINE this action with another, to involve your uncle in it) (Your uncle is very good at making things easier)

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

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

-[] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets.
--[] Have a servant do it, having an actual scapegoat is ideal if things go wrong. Highly suspicious.
--[] Do it yourself, it's better this way.
--[] Wait, right, the Wildhoof Club. Get in touch with Windy Flakes, and see how serious he was when he mentioned the whole "laundering bits" thing.



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

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

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

-[] Much to your own satisfaction, you now have a personal life outside of your maids, immediate family and business related meetings. You could choose to spend some time with… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call" or "a step forward to converting said pony". SPECIFY if "you are willing to spend bits on this", for that little extra leverage)
--[] Teach Rarity, and have her turn into an Initiate
--[] Induct Rarity into the cult
--[] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)



[] You haven't forgotten about it, you just put it on hold until a more convenient time. (Purchases done here will arrive/be completed at the end of this turn.) (Does NOT cost an action)

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



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

-[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
-[] "The Forge's Redemption"
-[] "The Incision of the Heart"
-[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
-[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
-[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)

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



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





Keep in mind you have ONE LESS ACTION this turn due to the Expedition nat 1.

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

There will be at least 48 hours of voting.

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

Velvet Covers is devoted to taking care of Selene. Actions that may ultimately lead to said duty being threatened will be extremely difficult to pull off. QM will comment if anything like that is being voted on.

Voting is getting more complicated. Kindly observe a SIX HOUR MORATORIUM before suggesting your plans, so as to avoid editing them too much, and to have enough discussion to know what you intend to lay down. These six hours are included in the first hours of the 48 hour period.

I hope I don't have to say that all actions are subject to writing-ins. Don't feel constrained by the abovementioned options, but keep in mind that they might be vetoed for in-character reasons.

Spoiler: For ease of planning

[] The Attention of the Laws [SPECIFY LORE]

[] Number of actions
-[] 4+1
-[] 5+1
-[] 6+1
-[] 7+1

[] Rarity
-[] Heal
-[X] Focus on her work.
-[] Accompany you.
-[] Act as your emissary.
-[] Level her up.
-[] Induct into cult

[] Selene
-[] Moth.
-[] Winter.
-[] Edge.
-[] Knock.

[] A fleeting opportunity
-[] Talk to your husband (Write in?)

-[] Help Jade Whistle on her Ritual.
--[] Honestly help her.
--[] Subtly sabotage.

[] Shopping
-[] Books
--[] In Ponyville.
--[] In Canterlot.
--[] In Manehattan.
-[] Search for a place to buy in Ponyville.
-[] Search for Artifact

[] Ponyville politics
-[] Look for muscle-for-hire in town.
-[] Look for muscle-for-hire among your employees.
-[] Scout for cult candidates among your employees.
-[] Scout for cult candidates in town.
-[] Merchants
--[] Interact
--[] Attempt to raise bits for yourself.
--[] Ask for specific Lore artifact.
--[] WRITE IN.
-[] Contact Guard and law enforcement.
-[] Contact underworld(?) of town.

[] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
-[] Your family
--[] Contact your mother.
--[] Look for your older brother.
--[] Contact your younger brother.
-[] Reach out to other minor nobles.
-[] Reach out to higher nobles.

[] On aiding the cult
-[] The Bright Library
-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] Contact him.
--[] Help him with his task.
-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Contact her.
--[] Help her with her task.
-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] Contact her.
--[] Help her with her task.
-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] Contact him.
--[] Help him with his task.
--[] Get back at him.
-[] Help Jade Whistle
--[] Contact her.
--[] Help her with her task. (already on Fleeting Oportunities)

[] Set out on an Expedition.
-[] Look for a place to go.

[] On furthering your knowledge
-[] Lesson from Master [SPECIFY LORE]
-[] Ask Master a question (risky)
-[] Study artifact (none availabe)
-[] Read book (write in which)

[] The Mansus
-[] The Woods
--[] Explore.
--[] Look for other places connected to it.
-[] The Blank Door
--[] Explore.
--[] Visit Baldomare
--[] Look for other places connected to it.
-[] Go higher in the Mansus

[] Personal life
-[] Family
--[] Idle interaction
--[] Attempt to teach Lore.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)
-[] Velvet Steppes.
--[] Call him over.
--[] Ask for help (Write in on what)
-[] Ask your father for a raise.
-[] Ask your father for a one-time boon of bits.
-[] Steal bits from your family
--[] Have a servant do it.
--[] Do it yourself.
--[] Do it through the Wildhoof Club

[] Contacts
-[] Try to meet someone new.
-[] Contact other lesser nobles away from Canterlot.
-[] Interact with Known Contact
--[] Level up Rarity
--[] Induct Rarity into the cult
--[] Twilight Sparkle
--[] Cheerilee
--[] Mayor Mare
--[] Filthy Rich
--[] WRITE IN

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

[] Rituals
-[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
-[] "The Forge's Redemption"
-[] "The Incision of the Heart"
-[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
-[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
-[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)
--[] To be performed your cult's gathering place
--[] To be performed at your own home

[] Something else? (WRITE IN)

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

You are sitting in your office, which much to your annoyance seems to be the only place inside your house that seems unaffected by the recent everything that has been going on. There is still an ever-increasing pile of reports piled on your "IN" box, there are still disappointed letters written by your father arriving by mail.

You don't even bother to read them anymore. The letters, that is. These last few days you have been throwing them all into a fireplace as soon as they reach your hoofs. Ponpon seems worried, although she is doing her best to keep a professional attitude, but you don't really care.

Your hoofs are massaging your temples, eyes open but not looking anywhere in particular. Better than to have them closed, you have learned. But it is not any sort of regular pain that you are trying to banish, in fact you wish this was just a normal headache. Instead, what is bothering you is something else, something far deeper and more agonizing than a headache could ever be.

It has been four days now.

Four days with a cold bed, and an empty chair in the dining hall. Four days having to lie to your daughter about a business trip. Four days not knowing when, or if, this will end.

Four days now, of keeping your emotions locked inside your room every time you leave it to start a new day. You can't have Silky or Selene suspecting of how utterly delicate the whole situation is, and you sure hope that you have been able to so far.

You have been trying your best. You are taking care of the adoption papers yourself, you took Selene to her first day in school with Silky and had a discrete conversation with Cheerilee, and you are doing everything in your power to be as good as you can. To both of them, of course. It won't be any good if Silky Stream suddenly starts feeling any complicated emotions over this sudden change in her life. But so far you see no signs of it, much to your relief, although you do realize that it has been less than a week so far.

But still, as much as you are trying to continue with your life the best you can, every time you return to your room at night you... you can feel that it is a little more full in there, a little more heavy, the very air a little more overbearing, weighting down on your covers as you try to sleep.



You just wish you could just see your husband again, like you did ten seconds ago when you were in your room and-



You jump with a start at the sudden flash of unwarranted memory. Unwarranted but not unwelcome, that is, as you are out of your office and nearly running down the corridor moments later.

You open the door to your room with an almost violent surge of magic.

And there you see him.

Stormchaser seems frozen on the spot. But not because of your sudden entry, he doesn't even react as you close the door behind you and… just stand there, not really daring to get any closer.

After all, he has his back turned to you, the nearest window but a few hoofsteps away from him, and even though it is closed you can still remember how it felt like when you saw him fly out of it the first time.

And by the heavens you don't want to see him do it again a second time.

"Storm?" you ask tentatively, almost in a whisper, the knot that has been in your chest these last few days getting slightly tighter at that.

He doesn't answer, but you can tell what is going on inside his head.

He has his back to you because he is facing the large cabinet, the one next to the tall mirror.

The cabinet on which the two of you keep several pictures of your family. Pictures of you, him and Silky.

You don't need to look at his face to know what he is thinking, seeing that he is looking at one of your pictures.

"Storm dear?" you try again, the silence between the two of you slowly growing to become unbearable.

Until he finally turns to face you at that.

He seems… fine. Or at least he seems to be doing his best to appear to be fine. And that is at the same time a relief of sorts, knowing that he is… well, and also a slight jab against your chest.

You know that him being fine is a lie, after all, you can tell from the countless small details.

You can see from the slight damp rustle of his feathers that he has been sleeping in clouds these past few days, you can tell from the bags under his eyes and the gauntness of his cheeks that he probably hasn't been sleeping or eating well, if at all.

You can tell from his expression that he has been…

That he has…

You are glad that he is here, that he has returned, that you are looking at your dear Stormchaser.

But you can't bring yourself to smile. You don't deserve to.

You don't deserve, you know, to feel happy.

Not after what you have done.

You see his lips purse as he looks back at you, as he looks into your eyes, until he finally takes a deep breath and opens his mouth.

"I married," he starts saying, slowly, "a mare called Velvet Covers."

He slowly turns his head towards the cabinet for a few moments, as if sneaking another peek from the pictures there. As if he is checking if it really was you and him hugging Silky on the centermost one.

"But are you her?" he asks, turning back to face you. "Did she ever even exist? Or was she just somepony who I thought…?"

He doesn't finish the question, and you feel your heart ache at that.

But he has a point. More than that, he is right.

You, on the other hand… you have nothing to say, really. No clever words, no denying. All your desperation and anger already spent from the last discussion the two of you had, days ago. You have nothing to offer him, no explanation that would magically make this all understandable.

"I'm sorry," is all you can say, not being able to even look at him anymore, casting your eyes downwards at that, your heart too heavy for you to be able to do anything else.

And since you can't bear to look at him anymore, you don't even realize how pained his own expression is, as he sees you like that.

"When did this happened?" you hear him ask, his voice tense as if he was being choked, the words coming out of his mouth with obvious difficulty. "All of this? When did we go wrong?"

You nearly close your eyes at that, as if you had just been hit by something. But you slowly let out a sigh when he finishes speaking, in part because you already know the answer to that.

"Not we," you say, dejectedly, "you didn't do anything wrong. I... I swear to you, that you did everything right."

You think you see his lips purse, from the corner of your eyes, but you still can't really bear to look at his face.

"You married Velvet Covers," you continue, your tone low, "you were there for her when nopony else was, you loved her when nopony else did. You tried your best to give meaning to her life and…"

You take a deep breath, slowly raising your eyes to meet his as you do, as much as it takes all of your courage to do it.

It takes all your courage to do it because you are scared. You are terrified, because you don't know what you might see in his eyes.

But it scares you that you might never see love in them again even more, and because of that you raise your eyes to face him.

"And you succeeded," you say, for some reason feeling a smile come to your face. A smile you can't explain, but that you can't smother down either, so you keep it there, "I was no one before I met you, and I… I became somepony thanks to you."

Your voice has started to fail, for some reason, but you continue to talk anyway, and he doesn't move as he listens to you.

You keep talking. You have to keep talking. Because if it is your words that are keeping him here then you have to continue saying them, for the next second, for the next minute, forever if it's what's keeping him here. You are not sure why he is even here, listening to you after everything you have done. But if he is here, and you can keep him here, then this is what you absolutely have to do, no matter what.

You can feel that a part of your mind has stopped making sense, but you don't really care anymore. You don't even need your mind, something inside of you saying that your words are coming from your heart now.

"And how could I not become somepony? After all you were so inspiring. You were always there, and always spontaneous, and always loving, and always so certain of everything. You were even certain that you loved me, from the moment we met."

You see his expression crack a little bit every time your voice fails, but still you can't help but smile at those memories.

It's strange, even, to feel all these conflicting emotions at the same time.

You feel a kind of warmth, as you remember everything you love about your husband. And at the same time you feel something stabbing your heart, as you also remember how betrayed he looked, how betrayed he felt, as it dawned on him that you had broken his trust. You are smiling with an expression that is both happy and sad, but the two emotions are not really mixing into the bittersweet thing that would usually come from that.

You can't make sense of anything anymore. Not of your words, not of your feelings, not even of your thoughts. You are feeling so overwhelmed that you don't even notice the tears that are coming down through your face, that have been falling from the moment your voice started faltering.

You just continue to pour your heart out, your voice shaking.

"But I was the one who took that certainty for granted. I… I hope you know that I love you, from the bottom of my heart. I really do, but," you breathe in a long sniff, although you don't know why, "but I never stopped to think how… how it must be like… And I know, or at least I hope I know, how maddening this whole… thing can be for you. I think I can see it your eyes, sometimes, how utterly… how powerless you feel? How scared you are sometimes? How frightening it must be?"

The words get stuck in your mouth, the part of you that simply wants to let it all out fighting some small vestige of reason that is telling you that this is not about you, that you should pick your words better.

But as they fight, the pressure that is building up inside your heart only grows stronger. You even think you feel the pressure going to your head, now, and you bring a hoof to your forehead as if holding your head would make the world stop spinning.

"I think I saw it, I mean, but I never really did anything and…"

You stop, eyes going towards the floor again, your whole vision fogging up for some reason. You pass a foreleg on your eyes, not really connecting that the strange liquid there is tears. Your mind far too preoccupied with a thousand other thoughts at the same time, none of them that makes any sense.

They say you only realize how much you love something when you lose it. But you already know how much you love him, so you can't have that lesson, not that way.

"Please," you think you say, both to yourself and to the world.

You try to open your mouth again, to say that you are sorry again, to say that you love him. But you don't manage even that, only a strange breath that is the mixture of a hiccup and a sob coming out.

You want to tell him that you are sorry, that you screwed up, that you were caught in the moment, anything that will make him understand that this is none of his fault.

But you are also terrified of saying what would come next. You are frightened of admitting to him that…



That you don't know who that Velvet Covers is.



You can't bring yourself to say that the mare he married is… well, it's not that you hate her or that she doesn't exist, but you don't even know her that well to begin with. You can't say when you "changed" or when things started to go wrong, because for you the whole process was like getting to know yourself for the first time.

Before marrying Stormchaser, you were nopony, and before being nopony, you were a filly who you can't even recognize anymore. Just a foal being groomed into a tool by a ruthless pony, just a child who didn't know anything about anything.

You are not even sure if you know yourself now.

All that you have are a few certainties, all that you have are a few anchors that keep you steady in place as you try to live your life.

All that you know is-

"That I love you," you say, your trembling hoofs covering your eyes, "and that I love Silky, and"

You try to breathe in, but all you can do is cough and sniff and-

"And I'd do anything for the two of you and-"

You are breaking down now, there is no other way to put it. You are not even sure if he is looking at you anymore, you are not even sure if he left a while ago, seeing how you have your hoofs covering your eyes.

All you feel is alone, and sorry, and cold, and terrified that one of those anchors that you have might be disappearing from your life.

Until you feel his forelegs come around you in a hug, and for the first time since the beginning of this conversation, you really cry.

You don't have the energy to hug him back, you don't have the energy to say anything else, you simply cry.

But this time, in genuine sadness.

"A-and I'm s-sorry and…"

Because this is not the hug he usually gives you, the kind that he has given you throughout all these years. This is not the warm wing-hug that he envelops you with every time he returns from a trip. This is not the slightly-too-strong hug that shows just how much he loves you.

No. This is the hug… of a friend. The kind he used to give you, years ago, before your daughter was borne. The kind that showed that he cared… but also that he didn't know you that well yet.

You know that you are crying because you realize now how much you have lost.

Because this time, you are not some lonely mare that he has fallen in love with, and that he will try his damned best to get a smile out of.

The two of you are back to being... less than you were before.

And this time, you know it's your fault.



[Are you still there, Velvet? Breakpoints ???]

[Roll: 53 + 12 (Diplomacy, GRAIL doubled) + 20 (GRAIL bonus, doubled) = 85]

[Second breakpoint achieved]





You have passed the first and second breakpoints. Stormchaser feels less conflicted about this, and might even understand. He also knows you well enough, and you were honest enough, for him to pick up even on the words you left unspoken.

You have failed to pass the third and fourth breakpoints. Stormchaser is not yet willing to compromise about some of your secrets, and is not yet willing to accept some of them. He is also not yet willing to be a father for Selene.

You decide that it is better to wait a little bit before you bring this up again. It will be a tense and awkward month, but honestly you are just glad he is back. (The passage of time will decrease the CD of the further breakpoints for the next time you talk, next turn, if you so choose to).

Further options will be available next turn. You will be able to choose to "prove him something" (i.e.: reveal him a secret, present him somepony of the cult, or something else) in order to "skip" the third breakpoint about compromises and secrets.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

This last week has been… complicated? Tense?

Well, who are you to judge anyways? The whole situation you are currently in is your doing, after all, and a good part of you still regrets it. You regret telling Stormchaser what you told him, you regret realizing that you lost something.

But you regret those things the same way you regret allowing the situation to go on for all those months, all those years even, to begin with. And all those different forms of regret ache in your heart like your hindleg aches every time you walk around too much.

However, regret is not the only thing you have been feeling ever since your husband returned home.

As much as you might have committed mistakes, as much as you might have messed up, at the very least you stopped with the lies. You told him the truth, you bared out your heart to him, with all the ugliness that it entailed, and you are honestly happy that he has not walked away from what he saw. He was hurt, of course, because you hurt him, but he is still there. It may have taken you a good few days of calming down, but you have come to realize that this is all that matters.

And although you have not yet heard him say that he loves you even once, ever since you returned home with Selene, you were indeed being honest when you told him that he changed you over the years that you have been together.

One of those changes, in particular, being that you have learned from him how to be determined about something. Especially when that something matters to you.

So you have decided, you have made the resolution in your mind that...

That you will get him back. You will make it up to him, and you will turn into a mare who is deserving of his love again. The same way he toiled for years to make you fall in love with him, you will toil even harder to earn his trust and love back.

But that said, determined as you are, this is not being easy in any way. Especially to those who are being caught in the non-literal crossfire.

Namely, Silky Stream and Selene.

This was not the first impression you had hoped to give Selene, of course, but you also know that Silky is being even more affected by the current situation. You know that she is a smart filly, you realize that she can tell something isn't right, that she can see the absence of the thousand small things that you and your husband used to do every day for each other. The small interactions that used to happen naturally before… all this.

And although she has not yet approached you to ask what is going on, you dread the day she decides to do it.

You dread the day that you will have to look at you daughter's innocent eyes and explain that… well, that mommy and daddy are passing through a complicated time right now.

But as much as you might be worrying about the future, as much as you might be weary from the present, at least you are back on your hoofs again. At least you can think again, and function like a normal pony.

You can finally walk out of your room without feeling like you are putting on a mask of sorts.

It's far from perfect, of course, far from even the normal that you were used to, but at least you can go back to handling your life, and your other responsibilities.

And all that they… entail.



That said, you still let out a sigh as you look at your own reflection on the mirror, gazing at your own tired eyes with the empty bedroom serving as a background.

Well, at least your bedroom is empty because it is supposed to be, for a normal reason. Stormchaser really left for a business trip earlier today, so you being alone right now is something perfectly normal.

If not for the fact that he didn't kiss you goodbye as he left, instead giving you a long and tense look, his eyes making it clear that he was wondering what exactly you would be doing during his absence. And it doesn't help that he was right to have that doubt, you think as you eye the small pair of scissors floating an inch away from your mane, covered in the same glow that your horn is giving off.

And you can't help but feel a small stab of guilt in your heart as you cut a lock of your mane with he scissors.

Doing this sort of thing while he is at home is stupid, you know, especially right now.

But it still doesn't change the fact that you waited for him to leave, that you chose to do this in a way that he wouldn't find out.



It takes a while for you to fall asleep, those two thoughts warring against each other inside your head. Because as much as you know that you are doing the right thing, you still can't help but fear that, perhaps, you are not doing it the right way... if there even is a right way to begin with...

And it's with that sort of worried, and perhaps even confused reasoning, that you make your way to the crossroads, and then to the Woods.



- - -



"Your mind is abuzz" the voice comes from somewhere nearby.

With that, your thoughts comes back to focus almost with a sharp pain, your legs jerking under you as you move, almost making you trip as they struggle to remember how they are supposed to do it correctly. Your body for some reason sending you the nonsensical message that maybe, just maybe, you had not been walking this whole time.

Nonsense, you dispatch the thought as soon as it manifests itself. You had obviously been walking, and not fluttering around through means that you can't rightly explain.

You look around. Not searching for the source of the voice, as you know it to be pointless, but wondering where you…

Well, you know where you are, and how you got here. You are in the Woods, and something tells you that you have been here for a while now. The trees grow thick in every direction, and you know you will see nothing if you open your eyes. The light of Glory does not reach this place, and you can only see the faintest hints of moonlight piercing through the treetops.

You are very deep in the Woods, it seems.

"Your thoughts scraped against the winds adequately, but not in a pleasant way," the voice continues, almost as if musing to itself, "too heavy with the Wake. Confusion borne… from something, not from nothing, not for its own sake."

Do you hear interest in the voice? Or is it disappointment?

You shake your head, throwing away the stray thoughts from your head, and the idle notion that perhaps you were hearing worry in that tone, as you might shake away some pestering insect that had landed on your mane.

And with that, you are finally back to your faculties.

"Greetings, Master," you say towards no direction in particular, with the same tone of voice you would use to talk to a pony that was right next to you.

"Velvet Covers," the voice answers, unnerving in how natural it sounds, considering the other variations of it that you have already heard.

It almost sounds like a pony. It almost sounds like a ventriloquist who was particularly tired during a puppet show, and decided to speak with their natural voice for once.

You also realize… that there was no snapping this time, no breaking of twigs to herald their presence. No dying of winds, no falling of leaves.

You almost feel as if you would be able to see your Master, if you but searched behind the tree that is right in front of you…

"I would have left you to your own devices if I did not know you any better," the voice continues, and you can swear that it sounds like… like who? "After all, I have yet to see you enter this hallowed place for idle pursuits, as so many others already have…"

It almost feels like somepony you know, the sensation of having a name right on the tip of your tongue almost driving you crazy as you search your memory for something you know is not there.

"Then I thank you for your attention, Master," you say, sitting on the ground, feeling the black dirt of the soil mar the fur of your dream-body, "and indeed I come with a purpose. I would ask for a lesson, if you would teach me."

"But of course," she answers, definitely a she, "and what might you be interested in learning about?"

"About the Lore of Lantern, Master," you say, trying to narrow down from where, or when, that voice was from.

You feel as if you have heard it before. Although only once, and in a moment that you would never forget...

And that makes no sense at all.

"Lantern… an interesting choice," she muses idly, "we all strive for its light after all, don't we? However… that does not sound fair, nor does it sound adequate, don't you think?"

You tilt your head slightly at that.

"I do not follow Master, what do you mean?"

"Well, you wish to learn about that whose very nature is to reveal. But..." you can sense something in her voice, now... something else, "is it fair that I alone reveal secrets to you…?"

Something worrying, from the way she is picking her words and saying her piece.

You repeat her last phrase inside your head several times, trying your best to not let your eyes go wide in surprise and sudden restlessness.

But you can't control your heart, and you feel it starting to beat slightly faster as you hear her speak.

"Is it not fair that… you reveal me something else, in return?" you think you can almost hear her asking through a smile.

That voice… that blasted voice that sounds so familiar to you, but that you just can't quite yet place from who it is. You hear her say that, and you immediately understand exactly what it is that she means.

How did she...

How does she know?

How did she find out about her?!

A part of your mind knows that if this was not a dream, and if you were not in a dream-body, there would be droplets of cold sweat on your forehead.

However, you also know that being in a dream does not equate to being in safety.

You suddenly feel very exposed, being pointedly aware that you are surrounded by a sea of black trees that stretch on forever in every direction.

And that you are being watched by something you would never have any hope of outrunning to begin with.

"Then why don't we do it like this?" the voice asks, its source slowly changing its position as if she was walking in a long circle around you, always right behind the trees, always moments away from appearing in your sight, "why don't I ask you a question, and if you can answer it correctly, then I will teach you your lesson?"

She is definitely enjoying herself as she asks that, and you have several guesses as to why that must be.

Some of your guesses are less pleasant than the others.

"As you wish, Master," you answer, doing your best not to gulp down on whatever it is that is sticking inside your throat.

And you hear a chuckle at that.

"Well then, Velvet Covers… tell me, what does it mean… to be lost?" she asks, with clear amusement.

To which you furrow your eyebrows.

You feel confused, seeing that this was not the question you were expecting. But you do not dare to feel relief.

After all, it dawns on you that you do not exactly know how to… answer that question.

You know how being lost feels like, but you do not know how to describe it.

You are not even sure if there are words for that, to describe what it means to be lost. At least in a way that might satisfy her, of course. Summoning up the literal definition of being lost would earn you a soft reprimand at best, and her unamused disappearance at worst.

But this just means that…

"I… am not sure how to answer that, Master," you concede, somewhat wondering if this is being a trap, a long game of cat and mouse in which you are being toyed with.

After all, this whole "asking questions" thing, you are almost sure, can only really mean one thing.

Your Master never really sounded like the kind of pony who would ask a question to which she did not know the answer.

Which in turn means that, if she comes about to ask what you are thinking of… that she knows.

That she knows about…

"Then another question," she says, interrupting your thoughts, "what… does loyalty taste like?"

You freeze, very real tension spreading through your un-real body, the memory of adrenaline surging through your limbs as you take in the full meaning of that nonsensical question. Is she reading your thoughts? Can she read your thoughts?

You do your very best to keep your breath steady, remembering too late that you don't need to breathe in here to begin with. This is a dream, after all.

But her question right now, that question, something inside of you is practically screaming that…

"I… I do not know, Master," you answer, saying each word slowly so that you will not stutter or give away any other telling sign of your nervousness, "I was not aware that it had a taste to begin with…"

"Oh, but it has, Velvet Covers. Everything has a taste," you hear her voice, now coming from somewhere behind you, "a taste, and a shape, and a color. It is always merely a matter of having the proper tongues, and limbs, and eyes."

You hear the sound of leaves being crushed underhoof, coming from behind you. The telltale sound of hoofsteps treading softly on the dark soil of the Woods, making their way towards you.

A chill runs down your spine as you feel something brush against your back, although you have no idea if it was the wind or an insect or the tip of a long mane.

What you do know, however, is that you can feel her breath against your ear, as she whispers against it.

"Another question then," her breath smells like old things, like hard wood and dust, like the air during a gust of wind or perhaps during a refreshing breeze, "what… am I?"

It feels like a threat.

It feels like a threat, and a reassurance, and a vote of confidence, all at the same time.

It feels like all of that, and so much more.

A reminder, perhaps, of who you are dealing with. A promise, you know, of terrible knowledge and power, to be given both freely and at a price. A declaration, this you are certain of, that the thing speaking to you is something very large.

And for some reason, you can't help but to think that this is also an... invitation, of sorts. Perhaps even an invitation to know her better.

That last thought sticks with you, although you are not sure why. But for sure, the more you think about it the more it feels like an invitation.

After all…

"I do not know, Master, for I have never seen you."

After all, that is the only answer you can give.

Why would she ask you that, if she already knew that this was the only answer you could give?

"And that is your problem," she answers sagely, the whisper right next to your ear disappearing like a fading mist, "Lantern is about revealing, about knowing, and yet you cling only to certain aspects of it…"

Her voice, the voice, is slowly reverting to its usual erratic way. You can hear the wind growing in strength around you, howling its way through the trees, and it is slowly coming to the point where you no longer can tell where their voice ends and the buzzing of insects begins.

But a part of you, now, honestly feels relief at that, as your Master reverts to their teaching tone.

As that terrible, and somehow knowing scrutiny, decides to leave you be... for now. Allowing you passage for some enigmatic reason.

"After all, am I not here right now? Do you not feel my presence? Do you not know that I am all around you, and do my words not fill your head? So obsessed you are with the idea that Lantern is about seeing, that you forget that not once you have laid your eyes upon me," the voice says, its tone like that of a patient mentor, "and yet, here we are…"

You nod at their words, slowly, trying to piece together exactly what they mean by that.

But little by little you begin to understand the point that they are making.

"Do ideas have shape, little Velvet? Can you see them? Can you taste them? You cannot… and yet, you can touch them, feel them, with your mind. You cannot carry them with your hoofs, but you can do so with your words and your dreams… And this knowing, this taking, this giving, those are also places where Lantern resides."

And with that, the idea clicks in your mind. So sudden it is in its obviousness that you open your eyes as if a light had been lit in the Woods.

But the moment you do that, everything is gone. The sound of the wind, the noise of the insects, your Master. Even the Woods are gone, and you are staring at the dark shape of the ceiling above your bed.

However, you decide not to sleep for the rest of the night, as much as you might regret it come morning.

Your dreams don't exactly feel… private, right now.





You have gained a scrap of LANTERN Lore.

LANTERN is now level three!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

There was once a Sky-Pirate named Galleon.

He had a ship, a dream, and ten strong and brave ponies who would follow him everywhere.

But Galleon wasn't your old and cold Sky-Pirate, he didn't go a-looting every balloon he found, or every cloud village that he passed by.

No, no no no. He wasn't like that, because he also had a dream. You see, what Galleon wanted more than anything else was to steal a certain jewel. A jewel, so rare and so precious, that he knew he would never find out in the open skies, no matter how much he searched for or how brave he was.

More rare than the pure ice of mountaintops, more rare than the first snowflake over the open ocean, and even rarer than the crystallized lightning that was spoken of in legends, the kind that could only be found in the eye of a raging hurricane.

Nay. The jewel he searched for was more precious than those, and rarer still, for it was not a jewel that was rewarded to brave and daring ponies. It was much more subtle and well-hidden than that.​

"Mommy, what does subtle mean…?"

"It means that something is hard to notice."

"Ok…"

It was much more subtle and well-hidden than that.

And so rare it was that even his friends, loyal as they were, thought that it didn't exist. They thought Galleon to be so great that he had taken to search for a treasure that could never be found. They thought their brave captain had invented that jewel, so he could continue adventuring forever in a search for something that could never be found.

But Galleon knew that jewel existed, though. He had seen it. Even if only once, he had already seen it.

He had seen that great and rare jewel long ago, when he was but a young stallion, reflected in the eyes of…​

You keep looking at your daughter as you read, watching as her expression turns from drowsy to sleepy. Until she finally…

"Reflected in the eyes of a mare called…" you say, with a voice so low that it might as well be a whisper.

And with that, your daughter closes her eyes.

You douse out the lights with a gentle flick of your horn, watching as Silky relaxes under her covers as the room goes completely dark, and you place the book on her bedstand.

"Good night sweetie. I love you," you whisper softly towards her, as you slowly lean towards her face and kiss her on the forehead. You hear her mumble something under her breath, but you know she is fast asleep now.

You keep looking at her, as she gently floats off to the kingdom of sleep, while a few stray thoughts run through your head. A part of you wants to go check on Selene as well, to see if she is sleeping. But as usual, you ponder to yourself if that is really a good idea.

After all, you gave Selene her own room precisely because of this. This is a new life for her, everything is new and maybe even intimidating, aggravated by the fact that she has no previous memories to fall back to. So, you have decided a while ago, it won't be good for anypony if you don't give her space.

After all, you remind yourself, as much as you care for her you are also something new in her life. As much as you are trying your best you, and even Silky, are still strangers to her.

So, you gave Selene her own room. It might be right next to Silky's, but it is still something you made very clear that belongs to her.

And as much as it pains you, you know that going there right now, even with the best of intentions, won't have any effect.

Any positive effect, at least.

At best you will find her sleeping soundly, something which would only serve to make you feel better, not her. At worst, she will be awake due to some problem, but you can tell that you are not on the level that your presence would help her in any way…

You are not on that level yet, you sincerely hope.

So, as it happens almost every night, you once again come to the conclusion that it's better to not check on Selene… Every day you do this, you know, is another small brick of trust you hope you are building a house with. Every night you do this, a part of you sincerely hopes, is another night that she is either resting peacefully, or slowly taking her time to think that…

Well, nopony said it would be easy. But you do hope Selene will open up, even if at her own pace.

You get on your hoofs and go towards the door, when something strikes you as odd.

Huh… curious.

You look at the book on Silky's bedstand, "The Tale of Galleon", and you realize that it's still in its wrappings. A fine red lace is still tightly bound around it, showing that it had been recently bought from a bookstore.

Silly of you to have forgotten about that, you think, as you take the book with your hoofs and bite away the wrapping.

You keep the book closed as you do that, and give it another once-over to make sure that there aren't any tragic or scary parts that you should be careful of while reading.

Well… there is an action scene where some of his friends are imprisoned… then the escape from the castle… then the noblemare… and finally he remembers that the rare jewel, which he once again sees in the noblemare's eyes, was love all along.

Cute, you think, as you place the unopened book back on the bedstand, and considering how quickly Silky falls asleep when you read to her, you doubt you will reach the part where the pirate falls in love with the noblemare before you have resolved your situation with Stormchaser.

It will spare Silky from asking a question she might not like the answer to, after all.

With that, you silently walk out of her room, noiselessly closing the door behind you as you leave.

You walk down the corridor towards your office, not bothering to turn any of the lanterns on. It's already late at night, so none of the servants will come here anytime soon. And more importantly, you will be able to get some work out of the way in peace.

You sit down on your chair, and float one of the reports to you.

And you start reading it, with your eyes closed.

But for some reason, you don't go very far in it.

There is something… annoying, about this. The calligraphy of whoever wrote this is horrible, for starters, but more importantly, you are taking too long to simply read.

And how are you supposed to find the mistakes in the math like this? Reading the final parts of the reports will simply reveal if there is something wrong, but not exactly where the mistakes are. Which means that every time you find something not adding up you will be forced to do everything again from scratch in order to correct it.

You let out a sigh, and float the report towards you, taking it with your hoofs.



Better.



The words flow more easily like this, and you can see the mistakes in the numbers like you would be able to notice that a line that was supposed to be straight suddenly turned in a sharp angle.

And most importantly, you no longer have to flip the pages. Heavens, you don't even have to open the report to do this.

But still, you think idly, no reason to be sloppy about it. As much as you can do it more comfortably, it won't do for you to be hasty for haste's sake. So, with your usual methodical attention, you make your way through the reports, until you feel like you are getting too tired to do this.

When that moment comes, you put the report you currently have on your hoofs down, and make your way out of your office, ready for a restful night of sleep.

It idly crosses your mind that you just did something there, but you don't really give it much thought.

In fact, deep down the thing that impresses you the most…

Is that you are not frightened at all.

And maybe, a small, dwindling part of you thinks, this is exactly what you should be the most frightened of.





You have achieved the third level of Lantern, and have come to a realization. You can now gleam the secret of things with more than just your eyes. For now, you can only do it with your hoofs, but you feel like you are starting to pull at something more…

You can now read three books per turn, or study two artifacts. You will also generate slightly less suspicion towards the Family Head if you neglect your work, by nature of it being more precise now. However, you have not gained enough efficiency to gain another "action" from neglecting your work. Suspicion towards close relatives remains unaffected, since they do not gauge how strangely you are acting based on how good your work is.

You can "learn" about things you touch. Although so far you have only been able to do it reasonably well with books, not even needing to open them anymore since they are meant to store knowledge. But you can feel something even when you step on the ground. Because of that, you have started to wear simple metal horseshoes, since the details of your usual hoofwear was starting to give you headaches.

You are not frightened at all.

You are not even surprised.

And perhaps that is what you should be most wary of.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

There are several unpleasant things going on inside your head, right now.

The first of them came to you this morning, in the form of a newspaper. It was another royal missive, from Princess Cadance, officially mourning the passing of more Royal Guards while they searched for Princess Luna.

The thought weights down on you, to the point where you have been avoiding to think about it as of late. Those happenings… those deaths, as it feels disrespectful to try and sugarcoat it with any other word, would at least have had a good consequence. After all, they are motivating the search to go on with more vigor, and you have heard that the previously rowdy nobility has started to chip in on the search as well, after seeing that ponies have started to lose their lives.

Well, again, they would at least have had a good consequence… if you didn't know for a fact that finding Princess Luna is now utterly impossible.

The number of Royal Guards on the news was more than you had hoped for… and you did not recognize a few of the names from your initial list.

Not a pleasant thought to have, knowing that your initial list probably has very few names not crossed out now.

But, you try to push your thoughts away from that particular place, you are also having another unpleasant sensation right now. And although it is admittedly one that is far less pressing, it is still somewhat annoying.

Specifically, you are having the uncomfortable feeling that you are about to do something you are not looking forward to.

Especially, you think with a tinge of annoyance, when that "something" involves talking to Windy Flakes.

But needs must. After all, this project that you have been thinking about, and delaying for a long time now, will indeed benefit the cult as a whole.

In fact, it could very well be said that what you are about to do is your primary duty as the Loremaster, although you don't feel particularly guilty for not having put your hoofs to it until now. After all, these last few months you have been working under direct orders of the Master, so it is perfectly understandable that you have had little time to…

Well, to interact with the cult proper. It even strikes you, now that you think about it, that you are probably the member of the Inner Circle who has had the least contact with the Outer Circle. You even start to think about your fellow Inner Circle members, as you walk down the streets of Ponyville.

Comet Feet did make a recluse out of himself, but you know he tried to search for ponies who had affinity with Edge among the other members… Copper Secateur and Windy Flakes obviously must have the most clout among the Outer Circle, and Jade Whistle trained her cadre. It also wouldn't surprise you if Starry Dancer also had a following of sorts, even if by simple virtue of being able to "facilitate" certain things in town, thanks to her current job as assistant to the mayor.

All of them are probably well known within the cult, most likely. Well, you think that you are also "known" in the cult, in the sense that you are recognized by your fellow members, but other than that your influence within it feels pretty limited.

And while you are distracted wondering if any of the earth ponies who work in your family's land are members of the cult, the Wildhoof Club itself finally comes into view.

Which in turn makes you realize that you have not yet been here after the club itself was inaugurated. The last cult meeting with the Master happened one day before the inauguration, and you have been rather busy ever since.

But looking at the large and well-kept two-storied building, that indeed looks like respectable social club that you might find in a larger city, you can't help but remember that… well, that your fellow Inner Circle members also work as hard as you do.

In their own ways, tackling their own assignments, but still…

You have to admit that you are experiencing a somewhat unexpected feeling. That is, you regularly walk into an eldritch place like the Mansus, in your dreams, and you regularly speak to… whatever your Master is. But it is right now, seeing a large and very real building that is used as a front, that you feel like you are actually part of a cult.

You know how to handle a business, you know how hard it is to run operations and handle bits, how complicated it is to organize large groups of ponies. And ironically, seeing this place with your own eyes is hammering down the fact that you are part of a cult, a secret society with maybe even a few hundreds of members, more than witnessing a ritual or speaking to your Master ever did.

This is certainly not what you had expected that would be crossing your mind when you left your home earlier today, you think as you make your way to the double front doors.

"Lady Velvet Covers," you are not two steps into the club itself, passing through the open doors, before a doorpony is already greeting you, "it is a privilege to have you here. May I help you with anything?"

You eye the staff member for a few moments, seeing that he is neatly uniformed for his post, and then you turn your gaze to the interior of the club itself.

This hall where you are, the very first hall of the club, is the Red Bar, as you already know. But apart from the name, there is nothing to be seen that would remind you of a "bar", except for the counter made of polished wood on its opposite end, of course.

For all intents and purposes, the place is basically a restaurant. Or at least is currently set to be one. You see dozens of tables, noticing that most of them are filled, with ponies going about their meals, waiters wearing the same uniform as the doorpony walking here and there as they attend to their clients.

You idly wonder how much work it must be to "convert" this ambient into a bar as night falls, as well as you wonder how much movement this place sees from the night life of Ponyville.

But more than that, you wonder how many of the ponies here are cult members. Truth be told, you thought you would see nothing but cult members everywhere you looked, quietly going about their days and using simply enjoying the conveniences that being a member of a club would bring them.

Now, you are not so sure about that. And not because you are out of touch with the Outer Circle, not being able to recognize too many faces here, but because… well, you see what looks to be entire families in many of the tables.

"I would like to speak to Windy Flakes," you say, still looking around you as you do.

"Right this way then," the pony answers without batting an eye, guiding you to one of the many doors that lead out of the Red Bar. Curiously, he doesn't take you up the flight of stairs as you had expected, but instead guides you to a rather more "administrative" part of the building.

You would describe it that way because you can feel that, after a certain threshold, the corridors you are passing by distinctly feel less adorned. You can tell that the desire to impress and please is less present around here, with more focus given to function over form. You can also hear the noise of quills scratching against paper, as well as the characteristic "tack" sound of calculating machines coming from some doors you pass by.

The sound of bureaucracy.

However, you begin to hear another sound as you approach the last door on the corridor, the one with the name "W. Flakes" written on its front. And you must admit that the thing you are hearing is not exactly what you had been expecting.

You are hearing music, a faint melody that grows louder as you approach that final door.

The pony opens the door without knocking, and waves a hoof for you to enter.

"After you, Lady Velvet," he says politely.

You thank him, entering Windy Flake's office right after.

"Velvet! Just the mare I was thinking about," and you are immediately greeted by the unicorn himself, the fiery red of his coat and the yellow of his mane, which curiously give him an almost bonfire-like appearance, excitedly turning towards you.

However, another unexpected impression hits you, as you take in his office.

Much like how seeing the club itself made you think about the fact that you are part of a real cult, the sight before your eyes also… well, not exactly surprises you, but it also strikes a particular spot that you had not thought about before.

Namely, that Windy Flakes, apparently, is surprisingly competent.

This is a work office, you can tell at a glance. This is the place from which a reasonably complex operation is administered. You see it in all the small details.

The ledgers spread over his large desk, with a few scrolls scribbled over that clearly tell about the bean-counting scrutiny that they are being poured over with. The large architectural blueprints laid out against on one of the walls, speaking of future projects that have not yet been tackled by contracted engineers and builders. The several cabinets already filled with files that, you assume, must be copies of the profiles of club members, for bookkeeping.

You notice all of that in an instant, and a lot more. From the way the quill on his desk already seems to be slightly worn, to the fact that the candles on the lanterns by the walls are already half-spent.

And seeing all of that, you can't help but think that he is competent, because… well, basically because this place reminds you of your own office.

The only exceptions, of course, being that you have a lot more of already-filled ledgers on your archives, for obvious reasons, and the fact that there is a gramophone next to his desk, humming the faint wordless melody that you could hear from the outside.

Music was definitely not something you expected him to… enjoy?

"How have you been? What brings you here today?" he says, setting aside a few papers he had been reading and making his way around his large wooden desk. "And thank you Penny, I'll take it from here," he gives a wave of the hoof to the pony who had been accompanying you, dismissing him.

"I could be better," you say, as the doorpony gives the two of you a short bow before leaving.

You want to say that you are impressed, or at least surprised, by how well things seem to be going on his side. Of course, you know that appearances and numbers can sometimes tell very different stories, but he doesn't have the looks of a pony who is constantly writing numbers in red on his ledgers.

But you bite that remark of yours, since you are not sure that you would be able to deliver it in a way that wasn't close to "it's good to see that you can get things done when you focus your… creative energy on being productive instead".

You still haven't forgotten about the thing with the invitation, but you really aren't in the mood to bring that up.

"And I'm here to talk about that idea of making a library for our," you slowly turn your gaze towards the door, and then towards the gramophone, and-

"For our cult," he says, interrupting you, "so finally our Loremaster is going to start edging away from the Master part of the word, and work on the Lore eh? Well, I'm glad you are finally thinking about us other lowly ponies!"

He says that with a smile, mind you.

To which you answer with a frown.

"Oh, I'm just pulling your leg," he says, chuckling a little bit, "I know we've all been busy, and goodness gracious do we have our work cut out for us, right? I'm just glad we'll be able to make some of our fellows more useful with this. The Master can only teach so much during the lesser meetings, after all."

"So long as we all remember that we are still not supposed to draw attention," you say, "and I like to think of this more as sharing knowledge. These things are, after all…" you search for a word that could describe what you have in mind. "Well, these things we learn are real. They work. They are the truth," you say, for some emphasizing that last word.

"In that, we are in agreement," he answers with a pleased smile, "so, care to follow me upstairs? I'll show you what I have in mind for the reading room, and we can go from there."

You give him a nod, to which his horn starts to glow.

You think he is about to open the door with his magic, but for some reason he focuses his eyes on another part of the room.

The gramophone next to his desk starts to glow, and you watch curiously as he slowly, almost gently, floats the needle away from the disk. His expression almost makes it look like he is enjoying something about it, from his pleased smile to his… you are not sure how to describe his eyes.

You are not sure how to describe any of this, in fact, since he is taking far longer to preform that simple action as it would ever be normal.

Until the music finally dies down, and he is back to his usual smile as he makes his way out of the room, excitedly beckoning you to follow behind him.



You have no idea of what just happened.



- - -



"And are you sure that nopony will be able to get here?" you ask, after he finishes showing you the hall that he had separated for the library.

"Absolutely. Second floor is for club members only, and membership to the club by invitation, as you can gather. Besides, the really juicy stuff is on the underground, so even if we have some curious pony sneaking here they probably won't find anything contentious here," he says with a pleased smile, "you do plan not to put anything contentious in the library, right?"

You are somewhat surprised that he is asking you that, and not the other way around.

With an expression that you would have thought was genuine concern, if you didn't know him any better.

"Of course not," you say the obvious. You also very nearly give him a retort about whatever it is that he is doing on the underground level, but again you bite it down.

This place is his assignment, after all. It won't do for you to start stepping on his hoofs and giving him a reason to start stepping on yours.

"But I really have to ask you to make sure this place is… safe? I'll be bringing in a few things I have read, together with some interpretative texts I'm planning to write down for ease of understanding. If we do have somepony sneaking up here who is not in the know, it will definitely be enough to raise some eyebrows at least."

"Dully noted," he nods back to you.

"Well then, I'll get things done on my end and will bring my part over around next week. You did mention that you still want to get the furniture for the place ready, after all," you say, looking around at the still empty hall, but starting to imagine how it might look like with the renovations Windy said he has planned.

"Right-oh. Oh, but before you go," he calls for you, as you made your way out of the room, "could I ask your help with something?"

That actually gives you pause, so you stop and turn towards him, raising an eyebrow at that.

"You see, from one business manager to another, I wanted to ask you for, well…" he says, as if trying to pick his words, "you see, I'm planning to build a pool for the club, the sort of convenience that really gives the place a more family-oriented allure."

"Oh," you are honestly surprised at that. This is both not the kind of help you thought he would ask you for, as well as it sounds like something you can really help him with, if it involves the managerial part of things of course, "and what exactly could I help you with, then?"

He gives you a satisfied smile as he continues to talk.

"I believe you have a husband who works with weather?" he asks, which makes you tilt your head, and his own smile grow wider, "so I was wondering if you could introduce me to a few ponies. You know, the usual, tell me whose hoofs I could grease to make the weather hotter so the pool will be more attr-"

You are walking out of the room with a loud and annoyed sigh, even before the blasted unicorn can finish his sentence.

And the last thing you hear before you descend the staircases to the ground level is the sound of his cackling laugher.





You have arranged for the construction of the Bright Library!

The Bright Library is now considered built, and its bonuses will become available to the cult as a whole as stated in the Wildhoof Club informational threadmark.

The Bright Library will be updated for activation shortly.

[THE WOLFS DUE]

[Roll: 15]

[Fifteen brave ponies were devoured by the Hayseed Swamp, while searching for Princess Luna]

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

You have been worried about Jade Whistle, this last month.

A lot of things have happened, and a lot of important things have demanded your attention and energy, so it wouldn't really be honest of you to say that you were thinking about it "every single day".

But you were still worried. Every now and then your idle thoughts would still gravitate towards her, every other day you would stop and hope for a few things.

You would hope that she was doing well, or at least better than when you last saw her.

You would hope that she had managed to sort out her own thoughts, and maybe even her feelings.

You would hope that she wouldn't try doing anything stupid.

And you made a promise, of sorts, with yourself, after you last saw her. She did say that she liked receiving letters, right? She might not have said it directly, or at least you don't remember if she did, but you are sure that she implied that.

So, you started writing letters for her, and looking back you are pretty sure that you managed to send at least one every week. There wasn't really anything of great importance in those letters, they were just the written equivalent of an idle chat. But still you hoped that… well, you hoped that she liked receiving them anyways.

Or at least that, even if only during the few minutes she would take to read them, her thoughts would be in a less dreadful place.

But well, that's what you did this last month, these last five weeks to be more precise.

However, something happened recently that made your simple "worrying" grow into your current "worried sick" mood.

Namely: nothing. Nothing happened.

At first, you thought it was just Jade Whistle's usual aloofness, so everything was fine. You were just sending her letters, and that was it.

Then the weeks went by, and you are pretty sure that by your third letter you said very clearly that it would be nice if she wrote you back. You worded it as gently as possible, of course, but still you made it clear that you wanted to hear from her. And yet, you received no response.

Heavens, it even grew to the point where you said she could just drop by your house at any moment if she felt like it. You did your very best not to let your nervousness show in your words, but still you were getting increasingly distressed as the weeks turned into a full month with no answer coming from her.

Until finally, when you went to the Wildhoof Club yesterday to talk to Windy Flakes, you asked some questions to the club staff before you left the place, and everypony who you talked to said that they had not seen Jade Whistle in a very long while. Which, they also said, was rather strange, since she would usually come by every few days, or at least once a week, to address her cadre.

A few more questions and a quick calculation later, and it became obvious. Nopony has seen Jade Whistle ever since you talked to her on that park.

You remember that a chill ran down your spine when you realized that.

And that is why you are here right now, standing before the front door of her house.

Her house is still in the same state of disrepair as you saw it the last time you were here.. The plants around it are still growing wildly, the old paint is still peeling off, and everywhere you look there are cracks and other signs of wear. This is the third time you come here, but for some reason you are now, more than ever, aware of just how much this house seems to be the very reflection of its sole inhabitant.

And it doesn't help in the slightest that you are under the impression that the house is on the verge of crumbling. That does not help your worrying self at all.

You don't want to say it, you don't even want to think about it. But you can't help but have the impression that something might happen very soon if you don't do anything about it.

With that in mind, you nod to yourself and head towards her door.

To hell with knocking on her door or calling for her, you have a gut feeling that she won't answer anyways and that the only thing you are going to do is make is a scene on the street she lives in.

Your horn glows to life for a few moments, the precision required to push certain parts of her door's internal mechanisms being foal's play at this point. Her door unlocks with an audible click after a few seconds of your magical nibbling, and you are closing it behind yourself shortly after.



Darkness, and the heavy smell of dust and age, immediately greets you as you step inside Jade Whistle's house.



Both of them stop affecting your eyes as soon as you close them, but the same cannot be said about your lungs. You make sure to breathe in slowly, and only through your nose, but still the place is unkept enough to the point that even breathing is slightly uncomfortable, both due to the dust in the air as well as the heavy smell of… the smell of what exactly?

An unwarranted though creeps into your head, that you have just walked into some sort of tomb. It doesn't help that the place is deathly quiet. Your own efforts to be silent, also, only accentuate it, since you can't even hear your own breathing or your heartbeat.

Slowly, almost gently, you realize that the only thing you can really hear is a ringing of sorts, in your own ears. The disturbing sensation that what you are listening to right now is truly "nothing".

More uncomfortable, however, is the thought that Jade Whistle lives here regardless, even despite all... all of this.

You walk in through the entrance corridor, an open door to your left revealing the abandoned living room and the entrance to the study room where you talked to her a few months back.

But you can't find any signs of her. You quietly make your way to the study room just to make sure, but you don't see anypony there either, everything being covered by spiderwebs or a disquietingly thick layer of dust. Or even both, sometimes.

You make your way back across the living room and through the entrance corridor, only to find yourself in a dining room, a flight of stairs leading to the second floor on the opposite end of it, and the entrance to what might be the kitchen on the side.

You head towards the kitchen, and the stench hits you before you even step a hoof on it.

The place is… well, by your standards it is absolutely filthy, but you can see that it is more due to neglect and lack of care than excessive use. The place doesn't look like a tornado has passed through it, but what very little usage it has seen certainly was not cleaned up. You see half-finished plates of food on the sink, the smell of rot already overtaking a good part of it.

You step back from the kitchen, the awful smell following you for a short while until you put enough distance between yourself and its source.

By the heavens, you think. This place… this whole place is… you nearly let out a delayed gasp from what you just saw, but for some reason the very silence of this place manages to mute you. It almost feels as if the atmosphere around you is slowly seeping into your body, its heavy influence quietly easing its way through your coat.

You look around the dining hall one last time, taking in the small table with four chairs neatly kept around it. Only one of them seems to have been moved or used for the last few years, the rest of them are…

You realize that you are grimacing, that you have been grimacing this whole time. In all honesty, the more time you spend here the more you wonder how in the heavens Jade Whistle can live here all by herself.

The house is quiet as a tomb, but in a way that you almost feel like your own thoughts are echoing inside your head. The air itself feels heavy, and you are not sure if it's because of the dust or because of everything you know about this house and her life.

And you also realize that you know very little about her. You know very little about her, and already you feel like this. So how can she bear to live here when she… when she is herself? When she is the Jade Whistle, to whom this house is a…?

You stop your train of thoughts before it can go any further, focusing back on what you are here to do. And with that, your eyes slowly drift towards the stairs.

It feels wrong, for some reason. Even looking at the stairs feels more wrong than everything you have done here so far, which can basically be summed as "breaking and entering". You can tell, although you are not sure of how, that whatever is on the second floor is more personal and private than everything else you have already seen here. You know by some gut feeling that if you walk away right now you will be able to continue your life as if none of this had ever happened, but that if you go up that flight of stairs, you will be doing something that you will never be able to take back.

But just like how you are slowly getting used to the heavy sensation of dust in the air, you are slowly getting more and more inured to… well, basically to how much you are willing to break her privacy with all this.

Doing this is not right, and you know it. But you also can no longer ignore the fact that Jade Whistle needs help. And if you have to do something this questionable to give her that help, then so be it.

You know that taking a deep breath is a bad idea, so you steel yourself mentally as much as you can, and slowly ascend the staircase.



And you are greeted by another corridor, equally badly illuminated by windows covered with old curtains. However, all the doors in this corridor are closed.



You purse your lips at that. The place is so noiseless that the silence feels like a physical wall by now, but you still don't enjoy the idea of how much the doors might creak and groan if you attempt to open them.

Still, you can't think of any other option. You hope to find her, after all. You have to find her.

So, you go to the nearest door, your horn glowing with the faint hum of magic for a few moments, before you think better and do it with your own hoofs.

And you slowly, achingly slowly, open the door, wordlessly whispering the syllables that you know will help hinges move as if oiled, and pushing it with the same soft weight you would use to stalk through the Woods.

You step in through the gap of the door as soon as it is large enough for you to do so, not wanting to push your luck. And as soon as you stick your head in through the gap, you see-

Your mind freezes when you see it, a choked sound escaping your mouth, your eyes going wide open in shock and tears forming on its side without prompt.

NO!

Oh no, no, no, no no no nononono.

You see the one thing you had been absolutely dreading that you would find. Your heart immediately starts beating like a frantic drum in your chest as you swing the door open and run into the room.

You have found Jade Whistle, her body hanging limply from a noose tied to the ceiling, her eyes-


No.



No, no, no.



Calm down, Velvet, calm down.



Wait... calm down...



You blink a few times, forcing your terrified imagination back into its reins.

And you force that damned, cursed memory into a deep corner of your mind, hopefully to a place where you will never see it again.

You don't see Jade Whistle.

The room is empty. There is nopony else here but you.

Everything is fine.

You can stop trembling now, you think to yourself. Or at least you try your best to.

You are breathing in heaves, your heart still thumping inside your chest as a slight headache comes to you due to the sudden peak of adrenaline. Your hinds collapse on the ground, a hoof going to your forehead to clean away the cold sweat as you just try to calm down.

You take a deep breath and look up again. There is only a noose there, an empty noose hanging from the ceiling with a wooden chair underneath it.

By the heavens…

You pry your eyes away from the… from that, and you know that they would be wide open in terror if they weren't closed shut. But still, you force yourself to look at the rest of the room, and you immediately understand that this is Jade Whistle's room.

The fact that she has this right in the middle of her room, though, is…

You see a bed on the opposite end of the room, a closed cabinet, and a small table next to another chair. A study, of sorts, with several papers on it.

You don't see many personal belongings, or anything that might clearly indicate that this place is her room, but you can tell that she spends a lot of her time here precisely from the lack of such details. That, and the fact that this place seems less dusty than the rest of the house. By virtue of her walking around here more frequently, you are sure, and not because she has cleaned the place recently, which she obviously has not.

But speaking of it… a particular detail catches your eye, something that your initially terrified vision did not allow you to notice before.

The noose, you can tell, seems to have been here… for quite a while now. You tentatively touch it with a hoof, and although you can only mostly tell that it is made of rope, you do get a glimpse of sorts that this thing is also "old" in a way.

As shiver runs down your spine as you realize that it has definitely been here for a few months now, at least, perhaps for as long a time as a full year, or maybe even more. You are absolutely sure of it. And you can't tell if that makes you more or less horrified.

Shaking your head, and trying to banish those dreadful thoughts, you head to the wooden desk.

And finally, you find at least a trace of something you have been looking for.

You find your own letters, the ones you have sent her, and all of them are opened, neatly tucked into a corner of the table.

The rest of the table's top, however, is far less organized than the corner in which your letters are.

Several other pieces of paper and parchments of scroll are strewn haphazardly over the hardwood surface. You eye them for a few moments, seeing that they all have something written on them, and you realize that… that they are drafts of letters. You see a bottle of ink and a pen next to them, together with a few unused envelopes, and you see that these were… answers, or at least attempts at answers.

Drafts of answers to your letters. So many of them…

And you can't help but read some, as your eyes glaze over them.



"Dear Velvet Covers, I'm not good with words…"



"Dear Velvet. First of all, thanks,"



"Lady Vevl"



There are several of them, perhaps even dozens. Some of them are only a few words long, others have been scratched over to the point where you can't make anything out.

Others are longer. Or at least longer than the others, comparatively.



"I've been feeling really weird these last few days, but I managed to get out of bed when I heard the mailpony so I thought I'd also write you back. I still haven't read your letter yet though, I'll do it while I eat since I havent done that in a while as well. By the way do y"



And some of them… some of them have blotches on the paper, spots where the ink has been marred by a drop of some transparent liquid.

Exactly like how a letter might turn out, if a pony had been crying while writing it.



"I haven't had a good dream in a while now. Its still the same dreams that I always had, but I dont like them anymore. I dont like dreaming about him anym"



You look away form that last draft, the heavy feeling of the air around you finally finding its way to the inside of your chest. Or at least you think that just happened. After all, you can distinctly feel that something is squeezing your heart, making it ache a bit every time it beats.

You shake your head and look around her room one last time. Reading these drafts is not why you are here, and you... you still have to find her.

So out of her room you go, gently closing the door behind you, and you make your way to the second room.

You realize, as you stand before the next door, that you feel a lot heavier than you did before you came up the stairs to the second floor.

And after a deep breath, the dust not irritating your nose nearly as much as you thought it would, you once again pry the door open as slowly as you can. But this time, you see something that surprises you.

In fact, more than seeing it, you smell it, you even feel it. Whatever is on the other side of this door, it is totally different to the rest of the house.

You squeeze yourself through the door as soon as you can fit the gap and… and you realize you are in her brother's room.

And the place is spotlessly clean.

The paint on the wall is unmarred, the wooden floor doesn't have a smidge of dust on it, you see a small open chest on the corner of the room filled with toys, all of them polished to a shine, and everything has the pleasant perfumed smell of a cleaning product. You see a cabinet, its drawers closed, and you wouldn't be surprised if all the clothes in it were clean and ironed.

And you finally find Jade Whistle herself.

You see her lying on the bed at the opposite end of the room. The bed is so small, or perhaps she is so large for it, that she is curled up on it, but something tells you that she doesn't mind that. Her back is turned to you, but as uncomfortable as her posture looks, you can tell that she is sleeping, and…

No, she is not sleeping.

You have no idea of how you know it, but you can tell that she is not sleeping. She is just…

Lying there.

And you…

And she knows you are here. As silent as you were, opening the door still leaked some light into the otherwise totally dark room. As subtle as you might be, you are still breathing, and your heart is still beating.

And in this room, those sounds are almost deafening.

"Hello, Velvet Covers…" you hear her say, her back still turned to you, after the two of you stayed like that for… you are not sure how long.

At least, you think, her voice sounds normal. At least she still sounds like she might just be slightly bored. You hope that means that she is doing well...

But you can tell from a glance that... she isn't.

"Hello Jade," you answer, as there is no other answer you can really give.

"This is not a dream."

Your purse your lips at that.

She was not asking or wondering. She was affirming.

"But I don't remember when was the last time I had a nice dream, so I guess it's all the same…" she says, still facing the wall.

And then she turns to face you.

"But what are you doing here?"

It takes a good amount of willpower for you not to let your shock blatantly show.

Jade Whistle is… she is not well. Her voice might still be in her usual monotone, but everything else is not. The white of her eyes is a deep red with heavy and dark bags under them, which you can see are both because she has probably cried too much, and because she has been sleeping far too little, if at all.

Her face is thin, her entire body is thinner than when you last saw her, actually, and from the slight crisp on her lips you have the impression that she might not even have drank anything in a while now.

She looks weak. She looks exhausted.

And she looks very, very tired.

"Jade, you are…" you try to say something, but you don't really know what to say.

Were you supposed to ask her what happened? You already know the answer to that.

Should you ask her why? You also know that.

You wrack your brain trying to think of what you can say, of what you can do, but…

But nothing really occurs you.

You don't have the life experience to know what to do, you don't have the social skills to simply say something that would make her feel better. Heavens, you are not even sure if anything exists that could be said to achieve that effect.

You don't have the knowledge, esoteric or otherwise, that could you aid you in… in helping her.

You… you feel lost. You can see that she is wasting away before your eyes, that she has been for a long time now, but you…

"Jade… I…" but you have no idea what to do.

So you simply walk towards her, her eyes accompanying your movement although the room is pitch dark, and you simply sit on the floor next to her bed.

"I came to see you, Jade… I was worried…"

She nods at that, with an expression that looks like she might drop unconscious at any moment. But she doesn't say anything else.

So you just sit there, in silence. Not even knowing if your company is registering in her head.

You dearly hope it is, though, but you are honestly not sure.



- - -



"I already tried it before… killing myself," she says, although she is not looking at you while she does, "it was how I first got to the Woods, how I first met the Master…"

You are not sure how much time has passed, you are not sure of how long you have been here.

The only thing you know is that you have been trying to think of what you could do during the whole time.

So, her suddenly speaking caught you by surprise.

A… well, you wanted to say that it was a grim surprise… but in all honesty, you already had your suspicions about that.

It is still very sad to hear her say it out loud, though.

"And I was the first," she continues, her empty eyes looking at the opposite wall, her monotonous tone sounding as if she is talking to herself, "the very first pony to step hoof there in who knows how long. And the Master… well, he said everything he needed to say to convince me to… to stop me from doing what I was doing. To help him instead. I can tell it, now. I can see it was the Grail talking. But honestly, I really don't care."

You are looking at her while she speaks, and you think you see a small tear run down from her eyes.

There is a faint smile on her face now for some reason, but you can hear that her voice is tearing up, the monotony on it slowly fading away with each word.

"It was nice, you see, to finally have something to do. I finally had somepony to talk to, finally had a reason to get out of bed, and take a shower, and breathe, because I had a purpose. I had somepony counting on me, and a list of things to do, so I couldn't be looking like beggar when I went out in the night to find more ponies who could help and..."

There is a bittersweetness to her voice. Something that tells you that she still cherishes those memories, that ember of happiness she had found. She still cherishes the memories, that is, but not what her reality turned into as time passed.

It squeezes your heart a little more, to realize it. Maybe it's because she has an excellent memory, but you can see that she can almost feel the joy she had back then as she tells you about how it was.

But knowing that said joy has ceased to exist… that is what must really weight down on her.

"I suppose I was lucky that Copper was the first one I found. Master sniffed her out, still don't know how, but she made the talking part easier. I could focus on… the other things, but I was still doing fine for a while. I was doing fine, that is, till I realized that I…" she takes a deep breath, holding it in for a few moments before letting it out, "that I really wasn't."

The tiny smile she had on her face vanishes, and you see what you can only describe as misery slowly appearing on her expression.

The tears, as well, are also starting to flow more and more.

"Master is not really a pony. He can't really relate, he can't really care, so as the months went by, I realize that I… that I really didn't have anything again, really, that I… that nopony needed me, and that I wasn't important or useful and…"

Jade Whistle starts to breathe more frantically now, and she looks around the room as if searching for something.

Until her eyes settle on yours.

"The Worms are scary, but I just don't care anymore," she says as if she is confessing to a crime, her voice getting more erratic as she speaks, "I tried to care, I tried to… but I just don't."

You can see that she is trembling now, the red in her eyes slowly starting to convey something that you have never seen in her before.

"And it has been… years now…" she says, slowly, agony evident in her voice as she says each syllable.

"It."

"Has."

"Been…"

"FUCKING. YEARS!", she suddenly shouts, hoofs going to the sides of her face in a sudden burst of anger that takes you by surprise.

You even hear the sound of wood creaking, as she kicks the tiny confines of the bed she is on with her hindlegs.

"Fucking YEARS that I've been like THIS! YEARS that I can't feel anything and…! And…"

And as quickly as her anger came, it fades, although her hoofs still remained on the sides of her head.

You hear her breathe for a few more moments.

Only to realize that she has started to quietly sob, a slow and whimpering sob that cracks as she tries to form words.

"What… what do I do Velvet? Where do I go…?" she says, now covering her eyes with her hoofs. And you can tell that she is…

That she is empty. Absolutely empty.

You can tell that there is no energy left in her, you can tell that she has lost all of her motivation, you can tell that even the small reprieve she would find in her memories now feels utterly wrong and draining to her.

She is lost. Quietly sobbing while lying in the bead of her long dead brother, within a house that has nothing but sorrowful memories, in a life bereft of meaning and happiness.


She is... completely alone.


You have your forelegs around her a few moments later, standing up from the ground and sitting next to her on the bed so you can hold her better.

And she hugs you back without hesitation.

Jade Whistle is trembling, soaking your chest with her tears, as she continues to speak almost as if she was talking to herself, crying uncontrollably while she does it.

"I don't want this anymore. I don't want to be me anymore. I can't take being tired anymore. I can't take living in this house anymore." Her grip on you grows tighter as she says those words, her voice choked with tears and, maybe even more frighteningly, honesty.

"I just want this all to end."

And you know that you have to do something. That you have to do something exactly now.

You softly pat her mane as you hug her back, and then you decide that you will…



[] Accompany her to the Blank Door. It will be a grim business, walking Jade Whistle back to her room, but at least she will not be alone when she does it. (This will be a mercy, and Jade Whistle will never have to feel anything ever again. Gain two scraps of WINTER Lore. This will be considered a death committed by your own hoofs, but there is no need to worry about investigations or law enforcement.)

[] Become her new reason to live. She needs something to focus her energy on, somepony who will give her a purpose, and the Master lacked the necessary empathy to do that. You will not commit the same mistake. (Jade Whistle will immediately become your Minion. A Minion is a Confidant who will never betray you, and will always obey your every command. This will not be healthy.)

[] Tell her that you are sorry, and that you have no idea of what you can do to make this any better. But you promise that you will always be there for her, as her friend, and that you will do everything you can. (There is no quick way out of a rut, but she has opened herself to you. And now that you are in, you can at least keep her company.)
-[] And you will take care of her for the day. Make sure she eats, stay with her until she sleeps. She is in no condition to be left alone in this house, after all. (Gain one scrap of HEART Lore.)
-[] And you will take her back home with you. Your husband is out of town, you have plenty of guest rooms, and she will not stay for more than a few days. (Gain one scrap of WINTER Lore.)





None of the choices will have any negative "fallout" or consequence. For you, at least.

Voting will remain open until the next update, which will not be posted before 48 hours have passed.

There is no planning to be made, so no moratorium will be observed.

Spoiler: Roll

[Outpacing the Wolf, breakpoints 60/80/100]

[Roll: 75 + 12 (Intrigue) + 15 (MOTH bonus) = 102]

[His tracks are fresh in the snow, the air is thick with his smell, but you found her before He did]

And I'd rather not reveal the breakpoint margins this time.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Silky Stream, and you can't sleep.

You are... you feel confused. There is a lot going on in your head, but the really bad part is that... this thing that you are feeling, it's not really something recent, you are not feeling it just now. To tell the truth, you have been feeling like this so often that sometimes, like tonight, you can't even sleep. You simply lay awake, looking at the ceiling.

It's a strange feeling, one that you really don't like. It's like your head is spinning and you can't focus on what you are thinking about, or like there is a weight inside your chest that won't go away… It feels like you are a little bit worried, and a little bit scared, and a little bit sad, all at the same time.

But the worst part, confusing as it might sound, is that it's not a crushing feeling, it's not even a strong one. You don't feel like crying, or hugging somepony. But the problem is that you feel that ache all the time, like a sprain on the wing that simply won't go away no matter how many days or weeks go by. Sometimes you even wish that you this emotion would grow stronger, just so it would go away faster, but it doesn't.

It's simply... there. All the time.

There must be a word that describes exactly what you are feeling, you are sure, but you don't know what word that might be. You don't know how to describe this feeling, only that it hurts.

You have been trying your best to not let it show, after all you don't want to worry anypony else. Well, you may have been trying your best, but you know that every now and then you can't really help it.

Miss Cheerilee has noticed, or at least you think she has. She did call you during recess this week, and asked you if everything was alright in a very meaningful way… and you messed up while trying to answer. You didn't want to lie to miss Cheerilee, but you didn't want to tell her anything either.

So, you are sure she noticed. She wouldn't have told you that you can tell her anything, no matter what, if she hadn't noticed that something was… that something is wrong.

Your friends have probably noticed as well, maybe Apple Bloom did, or Sweetie Belle. They have been giving you a few strange looks these last few days, but you can't really be sure.

Everything feels strange nowadays. Your mommy looks like she is more tired, and you can tell that she has been trying her best to pretend that she is ok. But she is not, you know that she is not. Daddy, as well, hasn't smiled in a good time now, and even though the two of you promised long ago to always tell the other everything you… you just haven't been brave enough to ask him why he is looking so down like that.

Hay, speaking of your mom and dad, you don't even remember when was the last time you saw them kissing each other, or saying the sweet things they used to say to each other all the time!

And it's not just them. Soft Sweeps seems to be more worried, or at least it feels like she has been watching you a lot more closely. Ponpon as well has…

You grimace in the dark of your room. Everypony, everything has changed. And it really isn't hard to say when this started.

Everything started feeling weird, everypony suddenly started looking worried or sad… the day Selene arrived, a few weeks back.

And you know it's very, very wrong to even think about it. It goes against everything that you have been taught, about being a good pony, about being loving and kind to others, and about helping those who are in need, but...



But a part of you really wants to feel angry at Selene. Even though you know it's not her fault, even though your mommy said that the two of you are sisters now, a small part of you really wants to be mad at her, and blame her for everything that's happening.



You can tell, although you don't know how, that it would make everything easier. Having somepony to blame would make everything more simple.

After all, not only this whole thing started happening after she arrived, but also… what the hay is wrong with her? What is her problem, even? You are not sure why, but from the moment you saw her you knew that… that something was going on. There is something about Selene, something very strange and wrong about her, but you simply don't know what it is.

Still, no matter how you look at it, she is really weird.

She barely speaks with anypony, she hasn't made any friends, she won't even talk to you as much as you try getting closer to her. She doesn't want to be your sister, you are almost sure of it, and maybe she doesn't even want to be here at all.

So, since she is being mean to everypony and making everypony around you worried, why not be mean to her? Why not pay her back for-

You hit your head against the pillow, groaning at yourself. You know that you just thought about something very bad and ugly, you know that everything you just told yourself is wrong. Being mean to others is not what good fillies do, it's not what good ponies do.

It's not what you want to do.

But then, what can you do? This is another question that has been chewing your heart for a while now.

Mommy and daddy are certainly… not well, but you don't have the first idea of what you could do to help them. In fact, even thinking about why they are not well to begin with makes you scared, as you become honestly frightened whenever your thoughts turn to the direction that, perhaps, what might be happening is that they don't love each other anymore.

And what can you do about Selene? You realize that she is also going through something, but you have no idea what. Your mom said she doesn't have any memories, but you can tell that there's more than that. You have this strange feeling… you think it's called an intuition? You have these thoughts that… that she looks like somepony had hurt her, or that there is something scaring her, even if Selene herself doesn't know what it is.

But just having that feeling doesn't help you with anything. She still won't talk to you, she still won't play with you, she still won't try to make friends at school. And even though you come back home with her every day, and try your best to stay with her as much as you can, you still don't feel like you are getting any closer to her.

You softly hit your head against your pillow again, just raising your head and letting it fall down. For sure, this is the most frustrated that you have ever been in your entire life. You keep staring at the dimly lit ceiling, not really being able to focus on anything…

When you hear something.

You just heard something, a muffled scream of sorts, a muted yelp that sounded too much like somepony being bit by a monster. Your eyes shoot wide in surprise as you look around your room, immediately curling up and covering yourself as you try to understand just what exactly that scary noise was.

Your heart hammers inside your chest for a few more moments. You are not afraid of the dark, normally, but you certainly are afraid of hearing things in the middle of the night!

Until you notice that you are hearing another sound, but you can't exactly tell… what it is…

Or can you?

You don't know why, but it sounds like somepony is… crying?

You slowly unfurl the covers that you have around you, ears perking up as you try to understand exactly what is going on. Your ears swish around until you can faintly tell from what direction the sound is coming from, and you can hear that the source of the noise is one of the walls of your room.

You purse your lips, but you are out of your bed a few moments later, your mind connecting the dots as you silently make your way to the door.

You heard a scream, of sorts, and now you think you are hearing somepony sobbing. You think you do, but you are not sure. However, those sounds definitely came from the room next to yours.

Which means they came from Selene's room.

You stare at your own door, your mind still spinning and hazy with all your worries and fears. But cutting through all that is the shaking conviction that you should at least check what that sound just now was.

Of course, this would mean entering Selene's room, which is something your mom has explicitly forbidden you from doing, unless Selene invited you in. Still, this has to be an exception to that rule... right?

You gulp down as you open your door and step out into the corridor.

You don't know if what you are about to do is the right thing.

Then again, you haven't been sure of anything this past month.

But at least doing this feels right. Or at least, it doesn't feel wrong.

So, although you are scared of it, this is the best you have right now.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You are Selene, and you are scared.

You are hugging yourself under the blankets, trembling, because you just had a terrible dream.

And you can remember it clearly, although you wish you didn't.

You were on the shore of a lake, of sorts, a very large lake of pitch black water, it was night and you were alone.

You were alone.

There was nopony else on the shore with you. There was nopony else on the side of the lake that you were. Period. Everypony else, everypony in the whole wide world, was on the opposite side of that lake. You think you could almost see them, at the far distance, pinpricks of light that could be bonfires on the far shore, or perhaps even streetlamps of a city.

You couldn't make it out, you were too far away. And that was the problem, that was what scared you so much.

You had no idea of how you ended up on that far shore, away from everypony else. You had no idea why you were there.

The only thing you knew was that, for some reason, you had the nagging impression that being there was your fault, and that the only way to get across that lake was by walking through it.

Not swimming through it, not going around it, not even flying over it, since you don't have wings. No, the only way you could ever get across that lake was by walking through it. By holding your breath and taking one step after the other, as your body submerged into the water, and walking through the floor of the lake until you reached the other side.

It didn't any make sense, of course. You knew you couldn't do it, you knew you would drown before you made it to the other side, you knew the water would be too cold and too heavy around you for you to take even a single step.

But you also knew that you had to. The other option was being on that side of the lake… alone. Forever.

You remember trying, you remember taking a meek step towards the dark lake. You remember seeing the moon reflected on its surface, even though there was no moon on the night sky when you looked up.

You remember that you realized the lake was wriggling, as if it was made not of water, but instead of countless writhing worms.

You remember waking up, screaming into your pillow.

And that's why you are here right now, awake, huddled under your blankets and trembling at your most recent memories.

Alone.

That is the worst part.

As much as the dream was scary, as much as remembering how the lake wriggled and shifted with those worms might be terrifying, for some reason the fact that you are still alone even after waking up is the worst part.

Maybe it's the worst part because you know that this detail is real, because even though you know that there was no shore, and no lake, and no worms, you being alone right now is something that has accompanied you back to the waking world.

And it is also something you can't do anything about.

That, too, is something that makes you feel very guilty. You somehow know that it's your fault, but there is nothing you can do about what is going on, be it your dream or... the things that have been happening ever since you arrived at this house...

Mrs. Velvet is a nice lady, and you realize that you are very lucky that she found you. You shudder every time you think what might have happened if you had woken up in that place all by yourself, and you are thankful that she brought you in.

But still, she is…

She is not your mom.

You don't remember your mom. You don't remember your family, or even if you had one. You don't remember the house where you woke up, and you are not even sure of why you like the blankets that you brought back with you. But as much as you realize how kind and caring Mrs. Velvet is, you still know that she is not your mom, you still can't connect with her.

It doesn't help that you know that something is going on, you know that bringing you with her has caused her a lot of trouble, so you can't really bring yourself to talk to her, or to even do anything towards her simply because you don't want to cause even more problems. You feel too guilty about it to even try.

And Mr. Stormchaser… well, you haven't really spoken or seen much of him. And even when he is in the house you avoid him.

You can't help but feel bad whenever you look at him. You know that he and Mrs. Velvet used to love each other very much, until you arrived, but now…

You close your eyes shut, feeling that you are still trembling slightly. You don't want to go back to sleep, but you don't want to stay awake either. You don't want to go back to that scary dream, but you don't want to keep thinking about how everything is your fault.

You don't want to be alone, but you have no idea of what you can do t-

"Selene? Are you awake?"

Your thoughts freeze inside your head as you hear a voice, one that you immediately recognize, coming from the door.

You completely missed the sound of it being opened, but you can tell from the volume of her voice that she must be peeking her head inside.

"Selene…?" you hear her asking again.

You really want to hold your breath and go still. For a moment, you really want to pretend you are asleep so she would go away.

You don't dislike Silky Stream, but you don't want to talk to her either. Not after everything you have done, that is. You might not be close to Mrs. Velvet or Mr. Stormchaser, but she is. She is their daughter, after all.

And knowing that your arrival caused such a ruckus in her life makes you feel…

"Selene, I know I'm not supposed to come in if you don't let me," you hear Silky whisper, her voice honestly apologetic, "but I heard you… screaming? Is... is everything alright?"

Her voice is apologetic… and truly worried.

You sag under your covers. You don't know who you are, you are causing all sorts of trouble to her parents, and now you are causing problems to Silky herself. You are making her worry, and you really wish that...

"I'm sorry," you finally answer, letting go of the breath you were holding for a few moments.

"Sorry? For what?"

For making your mom and dad fight, for making everypony worried, for taking away the time you would usually spend with your friends after school.

"For waking you up," you answer, almost in a whisper. Not really sure of how much of it was a lie.

Well, it surely wasn't the whole truth.

You hear the muffled sound of her hoofsteps tentatively getting closer to you, a slight creaking noise telling you that she closed the door behind herself. Silky Stream, you know, is now inside your room.

You don't want to be alone anymore. But having her here is also frightening, because you are almost sure that this just means something you are going to regret is about to happen, and that it will be your fault.

"It's ok, I… I couldn't sleep. You didn't really wake me up," she answers, her voice also low and meek.

But that catches you a little bit by surprise.

"You couldn't sleep? Why?" you slowly uncover yourself as you turn to face her, what little moonlight that passes through the curtains letting you at least make out her silhouette.

"Well… stuff," she says vaguely, and you can see that she just sat on the floor.

You frown at that, as you are almost sure that you know exactly what she means by "stuff".

But just like how you are unsure about everything else, you don't have the slightest idea of what you can say to make her feel better…

Still, you tentatively get out of your bed, and sit in front of her. You almost think you can see the dim moonlight reflecting from her eyes, although you are not sure. But if you can, then you can tell that she is looking at the ground.

Something tells you that her expression is… not sad, but something very close to it.

"And what about you?" Silky asks her, "why can't you sleep?"

"I had a bad dream."

"Do you… want to talk about it?"

You really don't, but saying that out loud feels somehow wrong...

Still, you know that she understands it, from the silence that hangs between you two.

You and Silky Stream stay a long way like that, sitting on the ground in front of each other, not saying a word.

And you don't know what to do next. You are scared of not knowing what to do, you are scared that by not doing something you are somehow annoying her or making things worse. You really want her to leave, but only because you know that if she leaves then this won't turn out any worse than it has so far.

You want her to leave, at the same time that you really don't want her to leave.

"You know what? I'm sorry too," she snaps you out of your thoughts, even giving the ground a light stomp with her hoof.

But for some reason, her voice seems determined at something. Her voice sounds the exact opposite of how you feel, in fact, as if she is sure of something, although you have no idea of what that is.

"You are… sorry?" really, you have no idea of what she means with that, "for what?"

Silky Stream, you know, has absolutely nothing that she is to blame for.

It is you who has.

"For not thinking about you," she answers, much to your confusion.

But she continues before you can say anything in return.

"I really don't know… a lot of things, I really don't know why a lot of things are happening right now," she says, her voice halting for a few moments, and that tells you exactly what she means by those 'lot of things'. However, her words still have that determined hint to them, "but as much as things might be strange right now, I didn't really stop to think how it must be like for you."

You purse your lips at that, a part of you is very afraid of what she might be getting to, of what she might say next.

But for some reason, another part of you is feeling… something you don't really know how to describe.

Some kind of… warmth?

"And I… I know it sounds stupid, and it might even sound insensitive from me. But when mom said we were going to be sisters, I was so excited that I… well, that I really didn't think about how you might be feeling about it. This whole time, I didn't even ask what you think about this whole thing, especially since you…"

She stops for a few moments, but you understand what she is talking about.

Especially since you don't remember anything at all, she was probably going to say.

"I know that…" she says, then stops for a few moments, "I really hope you don't think that I am saying something mean, but I really don't know you."

And then she takes a few steps towards you, putting a hoof on your shoulder.

"But I want to know you. I really do. And I really understand if you don't want us to be sisters, but I really, really would like us to be friends."

Her hoof pass from your shoulder to your foreleg, and a few moments later she is holding your hoofs on her own.

And despite the near total darkness, you know that she is looking straight into your eyes.

"There's a lot of things that feels like they are changing. I'm confused, and a little scared, and I know that whatever I'm feeling isn't even close to what you might be going through, but… if you're ok with it, I'd really like you to know that we can be here for each other if you want."

You feel the part inside of you, the one that was afraid of whatever she was going to say, crumble when you hear her say those words.

"Or at least, I'd really like you to know that, whatever happens, you can count on me," she says through a shy smile.


Neither of you knew that Silky Stream had just repeated, almost word for word, the promise that another pegasus made to a certain unicorn, many years before she was borne.


And after that, she simply begins to talk.


It was something of an unspoken understanding. You might not remember anything about yourself, you might not have anything to say, but that doesn't mean that you can't get to know her better.

She speaks about her parents, and about Soft Sweeps, and about her friends. And then about what she likes doing, be it after school or at home, and many, many other things.

You don't really remember when the two of you sat down on your bed, but you keep on talking anyways.

Eventually, and perhaps naturally, you even try telling her what little you know about yourself, or at least what comes to your mind. You tell her about your dream, and about how you are afraid of the moon, since you always feel like it is staring at you, and how you think that Mrs. Velvet is indeed a nice mare, and about your struggles with learning certain things in school despite miss Cheerilee's best efforts.

The two of you simply chat, exchanging secrets and whispers, with nothing but the total darkness of your room as witness.

And in the end, the two of you make a promise.

It is a simple promise, an innocent promise between two foals, but still one that, you know, the two of you make from the bottom of both your hearts.

You and Silky Stream promise that, no matter what happens, you are going to look after each other.

The two of you might not know each other yet, the two of you might not even be friends yet. You might still be slightly scared of her by sheer virtue of you having met her less than a month ago, and by sheer virtue of you not remembering anything at all about your own life. But still, you promise each other that whatever happens, from this moment on, you will face it together.

After all, isn't that exactly what sisters do? Isn't that what sisters are?

Aren't sisters just two ponies who, by chance, are borne into the same family? Who have been thrown into the world, together, by sheer luck?

You don't know. You don't even know if there is a right or wrong answer to that question. But you don't feel like you are exactly wrong when you think that, if sisters are really paired by chance, then it's up to you to turn that coincidence into a blessing.

The two of you are woken up on the next day by Mrs. Velvet and Soft Sweeps, who are wearing a warm smile on their faces that you don't quite know the meaning of. You and Silky must have dozed off at some point, but you don't really mind.

After all, you definitely don't feel like you are alone anymore.





Selene has... has she regained something that she had lost? Has she instead just been given something she never had before in her life?

Whatever it might be, she is calmer now, she is surer now. She is no longer alone. The world might be a large and frightening place, but there is now somepony else with her, on the edge of that lake.

Selene's WINTER Lore is now level 1.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Tell her that you are sorry, and that you have no idea of what you can do to make this any better. But you promise that you will always be there for her, as her friend, and that you will do everything you can. (There is no quick way out of a rut, but she has opened herself to you. And now that you are in, you can at least keep her company.)
-[X] And you will take her back home with you. Your husband is out of town, you have plenty of guest rooms, and she will not stay for more than a few days. (Gain one scrap of WINTER Lore.)

You have gained one scrap of WINTER Lore.

- - -

It wasn't easy, in all honesty.

You didn't know what you were supposed to do, or how you were supposed to answer her question if such a thing was even possible. But at least you knew what you could not do.

Specifically, you could not let her stay in that house for another instant, if at all possible.

You knew you had to take her out of there. You didn't know what you ought to do next, but you were sure of that much at least. Sure enough to be willing to drag her out if needed, but luckily that much was not needed. She didn't exactly object when you told her that she was coming with you.

Although, truth be told, she didn't answer anything at all when you told her that.

She just followed you.

The two of you attracted a few curious and worried glances as you walked through the streets, but that wasn't exactly the hard part about it. Jade lived near the edge of Ponyville, so any such attention was short-lived enough for you to not really worry. No, the hard part about taking her back home with you was when…

When she just stopped.

It happened a few times. There were moments, while the two of you walked towards your home, when Jade Whistle simply… stopped, dead on her tracks. Sometimes she would even sit on the ground, sometimes she would just lower her head, but every time she did that… it was as if she wasn't capable of doing anything anymore. She would simply stare at nothing, looking towards nowhere at all.

She wouldn't answer you when you tried talking to her, she wouldn't even acknowledge your presence. You would have carried her, if your floating magic or your body were strong enough, but since they weren't there was nothing really you could do.

Nothing you could do, that is, but keep her company, whispering a few words every now and then that you honestly prayed that she was listening to.

It was a long trek, back to your estate.

And you sometimes wondered, seeing how little life the mare still had in her, if you had really arrived in time to save her.

But still, the only thing that seeing that could do was fill you with certainty that you were doing the right thing.

Eventually, you arrived at your home, Ponpon's face going through several different emotions when she greeted you on the door and saw Jade with you. You saw concern on her expression, for sure, since the last time you brought a stranger with you less than a month ago things didn't exactly end well, then you saw worry when she finally took a good look at Jade, and then understanding.

After a few quick words with her you had Jade settled on one of your guest rooms, and two of your more attentive maids instructed to be extremely careful when attending her. You, for your own part, didn't leave her side. Not until you saw her eat and, much, much later, finally fall asleep in the room she would be staying.

You only realized how utterly exhausted you felt, both physically and emotionally, after you closed her door behind you.

But above all else, you couldn't stop your heart from beating just a little bit more frantically, at how close this whole affair had been.



- - -



The following days are… rather hectic, so to speak. But eventually everything calms down.

Not before causing you a good few days of headache-inducing worry, but now you can take a long deep breath and say that everything is fine. Or at least that things are as good as they can get.

And that is because, basically, Jade Whistle woke up terribly sick on the following morning after she arrived on your house.

In hindsight, that was something that you should have realized that could have happened, considering the state she was in when you found her. After all she was practically malnourished, and most likely had not slept a wink for several days. Also, heaven knows how much her mental state was mining what little energy her body had available, so all things considered her body was was several steps below "fragile" when she finally arrived at your home.

Of course, you were beyond worried during the first two days, and in practice you were the one who took care of her, while your maids merely aided you in nursing that burning fever out of the poor mare. But now that you can think about it with a more level-headed mind, a part of you can't help but wonder why it was that you did not find her sick like that back in her house to begin with.

But finally, and thankfully, a normalcy of sorts was returning. You are not glad that she had to suffer like that, and you are still worried about how she might be recovering mentally, but at least you can say for sure that physically speaking she is doing well. Jade Whistle has gotten plenty of sleep, even if part of that was encouraged by the medicine she is being given, she is eating well, and she is being generally well treated and pampered by attentive maids during the few bouts of consciousness she has.

Heavens, if you didn't know her any better you would have even said that she looks like a perfectly normal and healthy pony, and you almost swear that her coat looks to be a shade brighter now.

She should be out of her bed soon enough, you think. But right now, there is nothing else you can do but wait, and perhaps hope that, if nothing else, these last few days of recovery will help her feel at least a tiny bit better once she is back on her hoofs.

Thinking that, you idly float another report towards you.

Of course you do. You kept up with your work, after all, once you had deemed Jade to be well enough to be trusted to your maids. Never mind that you are keeping the door to your office open as you work, and that you have been stealing glances at the far away door of her guest room every now and then. Never mind any of that, you are definitely still doing your work!

So to speak...

You snap back to attention once you realize the report you have floating in front of you is not related to the farmland, and is in fact a missive from one of your servants in Manehattan.

Oh, right. You had nearly forgotten about that.



[Book search: Manehattan – Servant action]

[Roll: 47 + 12 (Learning) = 59]

KNOCK lvl 3, "An encyclopedia about poisonous snakes, with several artful illustrations", 30 bits.

FORGE lvl 1, "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire", 7 bits.

MOTH lvl 1, "A poetry book. Amateur work, really, but one of them talks about masks…," 7 bits.



You read the short missive with a raised eyebrow. This was a test, you recall, of how your servant might go about his duty if you gave him a few hints about "a bookstore you remember going to a long time ago". It was a lie, of course, and you were relaying what you could glimpse from your memories. But still, the results might speak for themselves once you actually get any of those books and check if they are indeed worth it.

Well, you will think about it later, you think to yourself as you fold the report and leave it at the side of your desk.



- - -



"Hey there… how are you?" you say, your tone gentle, as Jade rubs her eyes awake.

She answers by looking at you and blinking a few more times, and then looking around at the room.

However, you can already tell, and with no small amount of relief from your part, that there is something about her… something good, that is. Or at least you think that her usual "bored" expression has a more healthy tone to it, to the point where she looks like she is simply "sleepy" instead of her regular dispassionate expression.

Well, you hope that is the case, and that you are not seeing things and being optimistic.

"I don't think I've ever seen a bed so big," she finally says, looking at the bed she is laying on.

To which you can't help but let out a short laugher. This might be a completely honest and clinical observation from her, but you take it as a tiny attempt at a joke.

Which is good, you think.

"Well, wait until you see the one in my room," you answer her with a smile. "By the way, do you remember… anything? I ask that because, well, you were pretty out of it for a while," you say, your tone still low and soft, hoping that you are not prodding too soon at something that you should leave alone for a little while longer.

But in a rather refreshing display of her usual self, she simply looks at you in a neutral way, her head tilting slightly in something that you can only interpret as the mare actually thinking about your question.

"Yeah, I remember everything," she then says nonchalantly, "well, everything until two days ago, when you brought me here. After that everything is a bit hazy," she trails off.

Oh, that's how it is then. She does remember you… finding her in her home, and then bringing her here, but you can confirm that she was as good as unconscious, not to say delirious, while she was sick.

And you can say that with confidence because she has been out of it for six entire days, and not just two. But that's a detail you decide not to tell her right now.

It was also a bit of a shame that you didn't have your Heart blanket with you, when Jade needed it. But it is being put to very good use by Rarity, so there's nothing you can do about it.

All of that said, you decide to take the day off as well, seeing that she is finally feeling well enough to get out of her bed, so you can keep her company.

And the two of you have a pleasant day. You properly introduce her to your house, for starters, and then you introduce her to a lunch that isn't soup. You even consider having somepony bring out the carriage so you can take her on a short stroll around the farmlands, but you decide against it once you realize how hot it is outside.

But most importantly, and again you hope that this isn't just you being optimistic… you think that… You think that you can actually understand her better now, you think that you can read her expression and gestures a bit better, or that she is expressing herself a little bit more, perhaps.

You are not sure how to describe it, but something inside of you is saying that Jade Whistle seems to be a little bit more… "awake".

Although, as the day goes by, you also think that you detect a little bit of awkwardness from her, and then a little bit of tiredness in her mannerism.

You are not sure if this (very slightly, of course) more "outward" behavior is being a front that she is putting, or if her memories and shadows are slowly managing to creep back to her.

You are also absolutely sure that her problems have not disappeared, and that you will have to keep an eye on her for a good long while from now on.

But it finally feels like you are finally getting to know the mare called Jade Whistle. And, if your intuition is right, you can say that this makes the two of you happy.

Heavens, you even manage to prod a few words out of her, as the two of you sit down on the large balcony by your room. You can't say that you are surprised when she starts talking about the occult, though, but at least she is talking.

And she is talking about it in an academic, if such a word can be used to describe the Lores, so at least it is a topic of conversation. Even if you still throw a few long glances towards the glass door that leads to your room every now and then, while the two of you talk, just to make sure that you are not being overheard.



[A helpful conversation – Aiding Jade Whistle on the confection of a Ritual]

[Your roll: 13 + 30 (SECRET HISTORIES, level 3) + 14 (Learning) = 57]

[You were… helpful, so to speak]

[Her roll: 90 + 10 (Learning) + 0 (SECRET HISTORIES, level 0) + 5 (Velvet Covers' Insight) = 105]



"Oh…"

She lets out the sort of sound that would usually be followed by a raised eyebrow or something like that. But that would be asking too much from her, of course.

"Is something on your mind?" you ask, as that sort of reaction from her, even if small, is still considerable.

"Could you repeat what you just said? About the strands and all that?" she says, reclining back at her cushion and looking up, and you can tell that she is trying to recall a particular detail in her mind.

"Alright…" you say, wondering where she was going with that, "I said that the Histories, I think, are like strands, in the way that they can interact with each other, but still retain their individuality," you say, trying to recall exactly which words you used to form an analogy about knots and sewing.

You continue to retrace your words from memory, saying that no matter how complicated a knot is, as long as the threads remain uncut they are still individual lines, even if they are entangled in a chaotic mess. And they still will, eventually, be "free" again to follow their own individual directions.

However, your words slow down as you are more curious about Jade's expression while she listens to you. It gets to the point where you fall completely silent, but the mare doesn't even seem to react to that, so focused on her thoughts that she is.

"Oh." She finally says, once again that same sound with that same, her eyebrows still unmoving, "I think I got it."

"Got what, exactly?" you ask, not sure on what you had just helped her with, although you are sure it must not have been that much help. At least you don't feel like you just told her anything especially eye-opening.

"I was struggling on how I was supposed to interpret the search aspects of the magic itself…" she begins to say, still looking upwards as she tries to put her own thoughts in order while she speaks, "the Lantern part was easy, but I wasn't sure of how to set it to look for something, and…"

It finally dawns on you that she is talking about the ritual she was trying to devise.

To search for Sel… for Princess Luna.

A very slight chill runs down your spine as you remember that whole thing. You had intended to help her with the ritual, of course, but you thought it would have a more research-like approach to it, and that you would be able to, so to speak, tamper with it as needed so as to make sure that the ritual did not consider Luna's current state as a valid target.

You definitely did not expect to help her like this.

"And the analogy you used about strings," she continues, finally turning to face you, "made me think that perhaps those strings might also coil around things… perhaps important ponies or important occurrences, in a way that… actually, do you have any paper? I think I might be able to explain it better if I could draw what I have in mind for the circle."

You do your best to keep your expression calm as you nod at her and head to your office to bring some quills and blank scrolls.





Jade Whistle has finished devising the ritual she was attempting to create, a small nudge given by you on the nature of the Secret Histories bridging a final gap she had been lacking.

You did not roll nearly high enough to be able to alter its function in any way.

The ritual "The Reflection of the Tapestry" has been added to your cult's grimoire!



- - -



Jade Whistle has been working, you will give her that.

Seeing her work laid out in front of you actually makes you realize that the search for Princess Luna has indeed been going on for months now. You can't say for sure of how dedicated she had been to this project recently, given her current predicament, but there surely is at least two and a half months of work written in several scrolls before you.

"This is actually very impressive," you honestly say, as you finish reading the last few details about the ritual circle she drew for you.

A small version of it, of course, that she drew on the papers you brought her, and that you are making sure is not visible to any ponies who might chance upon the glass doors of the balcony.

"I don't think it is, really… actually the whole thing feels really obvious now that I'm taking a better look at it," she says, her tone neutral.

"Obvious? Don't say that," you wave a hoof in her direction, not even bothering to look up as you give the esoteric inscriptions you are holding another full inspection, "it's the sort of thing that looks obvious in hindsight, sure, but that is because it is elegant. Because it flows gracefully, so to speak."

You speak your mind as you finish reading the invocation, noticing how the inner circle invokes the strands of Histories right underneath the iconic representation of Glory, thus calling for Lantern to reveal that which the caster desires to learn about.

"Saying that this is obvious is just like saying that teleportation magic is obvious," you say, looking up and facing her, "and I'll be damned if you sell yourself so short an-"

Wait. Your words grind to a halt inside your throat as you take a better look at Jade, seeing that she is looking at the ground while listening to you.

And she, in turn, notices your silence, and hesitantly looks in your direction as well.

"I… well…" she struggles for a few seconds, before finally blurting out in an awkward manner, her voice so low that it is almost a whisper, "thank you…"


Is that a slight blush you see on her face?!


A smile slowly comes to you, as you finish coming to terms with what you are seeing, and with the fact that this sort of reaction from her is even possible. You immediately feel several different reactions fighting for supremacy inside your head, as a part of you wants to simply continue talking normally, so as to not embarrass her any further, while another part of you desperately wants to keep fawning over her so you might see a little bit more of that blush.

But those reactions, and a few others that were beginning to present themselves in your mind, crash to a halt as somepony knocks on the glass door of the balcony. You jump up in surprise for a moment, before you quickly light up your horn and collect the several scrolls around you with skill borne from years of pushing papers.

You also notice, with a slight tinge of annoyance, that Jade Whistle's expression is back to its usual neutral self.

Well, nothing you can do about it for now.

"Come in," you say towards the entrance to the balcony, after you have the scrolls safely folded and stowed away under your cushion, watching as the doors open a few moments later.

In all honesty you were expecting to see Ponpon or another maid, but in walks Silky Stream, followed closely by Selene.

You smile at that, seeing how close they got recently. You were worried that Silky might start feeling affected over your current… situation with Stormchaser, and that Selene might take a few more weeks, if not months, to open up. But a few days ago, while Jade was still recuperating, you found the two of them sleeping together in Selene's room, and your heart couldn't have felt any warmer at that sight.

But the fact that they are here also means that school is over for the day, and that you may have been talking to Jade for longer than you thought you had.

"Good afternoon mommy, we're back from school," Silky says, with a lot less excitement than she usually greets you with after returning home.

And the reason for that is obvious, as you see her eyes alternating between looking at you and then at Jade. You made sure to tell them not to disturb Jade, in practice forbidding them from even entering the guest room she was in, so this is the first time they are actually meeting the strange mare that has been keeping the maids busy for almost an entire week now.

"Welcome back Silky, welcome back Selene, and I hope the two of you had a good day at school," you say as you get up from your cushion, "and this is aunt Jade Whistle, she is mommy's friend," you say simply.

You watch as Jade also gets up from her cushion to stand next to you, the two fillies greeting her back, although you can see Selene shily fidgeting her way so as to hide behind Silky.

"Good afternoon," the mare says to the two fillies, her expression deadpan as ever as she looks at them, "your mom is a nice pony," she says a few moments later.

To which Silky nods, whatever nervousness she had melting away as she… well, it wouldn't surprise you if your daughter understood Jade in a few moments better than you did after months of knowing her, but you surely hoped that wasn't the case.

And then Jade's gaze goes towards Selene herself, as much as she is trying to hide behind the other filly.



[Lantern-sight]

[Jade's roll: 100 + ?? (LANTERN, level ??) = ???]

[Jade Whistle has rolled a "Detection: YES"]



And she stays quiet for a short while.

"Oh…" is all she finally says.

But your eyes shoot wide open as you realize that, this time, you see her raise an eyebrow.



- - -



Your daughters left shortly after, Selene following close behind Silky, Jade Whistle's eyes following the two of them the entire time.

And then Jade Whistle turned to you.

And then she looked into your eyes.

You were worried that you might see confusion there. You were worried that you might see certainty there.

You were worried that you might see hurt or betrayal in them.

But it terrified you that you saw… nothing. She seemed as unperturbed as she might have been if you had told her that the two of you ought to go downstairs to eat something.

But considering that she also had that same expression when she told you about how her entire family abandoned her or died, seeing her calm and collected like that was the very opposite of relieving.

Your thoughts started to race then and there, wondering what she might be thinking, or how she might react, or what she might do. You care for Jade Whistle, you really do, so you couldn't help but to honestly dread what might happen next, your mind immediately reminding you of how badly Stormchaser himself reacted when you told him about a secret that you had been keeping.

However, Jade Whistle reacted before you could, even as you opened your mouth to try and say something, anything, to get a feeling of what in the heavens might be going on in her mind.

"I need some time to think," is all she said.

And then she left.

You could have tried to stop her, of course. You could have followed behind her, and tried to say… something.

No matter what it was, you could have at least tried to say anything at all. You could have apologized, even if that made you sound guilty. You could have tried to explain yourself, even if that made it sound like you were betraying the cult. You could have asked her to help you, even if that risked making you sound like you were trying to get close to her just to use her, although heavens forbid her actually interpreting it that way.

But in the end, you did nothing. As much as it had gnawed at your heart then, as it gnaws now, you did nothing.

Because a tiny, minuscule part of your mind, the one that thought you had finally started to understand Jade Whistle better, told you to trust her.

After all, she said she needed to think.

So just like how she slammed her door on your face after saying she'd rather you not enter her house you think, or at least you dearly hope, that she meant exactly what she said with her words.



Still, that didn't do anything at all to help you calm down, especially as the days went by.



Especially as, right now, you are in the underground of the Wildhoof Club hearing your fellow Inner Circle members report on their progress, and you don't see Jade Whistle anywhere.

The worst part being that your Master bid the meeting to start without her, as if she was not at all surprised by her absence.

So you hear their reports, trying your best to keep your expression neutral and your breathing calm, while your mind frantically wonders about what might have happened since you last saw her.

Several ideas come to mind, and none of them are encouraging.

But still, you do your best to wait for your turn to speak, if only to have this meeting end sooner.

You hear about Comet Feet's progress, and about how he has made a breakthrough and reached the Fourth Intensity, but will need help if he is to progress any further.

You hear about how Starry Dancer has personally met a few important members of the regular Guard in Ponyville.

You hear from Windy Flakes that the club is going well, his pet project of a "White Room" being nearly finished, and from Copper Secateur that the cult's presence in Ponyville as a whole is growing.

And when it is finally your turn to speak, you feel the subtle presence of your Master cover you, like a rather large spider-like insect might put its long legs around its prey. Not exactly touching it, but still surrounding it.

You feel like you have just been put inside a cage, though, as if coming here was a mistake.

Your words are caught in your throat for a split second before you can begin to speak.



"Jade Whistle has told me…" and then your Master interrupts you before you can regain your balance and say what you planned to say.



Your feel your heart hammering inside your chest, almost making its way to your throat.

She knows.

Jade Whistle reached out to her, and told her everything, and now she knows.

You feel a single drop of cold sweat fall from your forehead, making an achingly slow trail through the side of your face, and then your neck.

It this how you die?



"That the two of you have been hard at work, and have finished a ritual that might aid us in locating the alicorn," your Master continues speaking, almost absent-mindedly.



It takes your utmost effort and willpower to not let out a sigh of relief at that. At least you were not outed right here and right now.

But of course, this being your Master, this could mean anything.

After all, didn't she know already? Can you really be sure, or were you just being paranoid the last time you met her, when you beseeched her for a lesson? Is your Master even a she?

With confused thoughts that border on agonizing, you feel every last certainty you had crumble to the ground as you try to think about them with reason, as you try to hear any sort of hint or clue about anything at all in your Master's voice, be it about what they might or might not know, be it about their identity or anything else.

A fool's errant, you know, considering their very nature. But still, you can't help but…

You can't help but worry. And you say "worry" so you won't say "suffer".

This is not at all how you thought this meeting would turn out. This is not how you thought any of this would turn out.

"And I have heard from out Outer Circle initiates of your efforts in educating them in certain Lores, through books."

You clench your jaws, just to make sure that your mouth is not hanging slightly open in nervousness.

"And I gathered Jade's cadre not long ago, to attempt said ritual… and it fizzled. There is no other way to really describe it. The ritual did not fail, it simply bore no fruit."

You feel your Master's attention expand once again towards the other ponies present, the wind unnervingly quiet, the usual sounds of the dark trees around you disturbingly stilled.

"Something is going on…" your Master muses, "and I wished to discuss this with all of you, so that you may understand it better and properly guide your efforts…"

You take a deep breath, doing it slowly so as not to make it obvious, but you can feel that your nervousness is slowly draining away.

There is certainly a scrutiny, of sorts, in this meeting. There is certainly an aura of unease and confusion. Your Master is certainly thinking very deeply about something.

But that attention, that focus and thoughts, they are not focused on you.

And that makes all the difference.

"The searches continue, the older alicorn still reaching aimlessly for the far corners of the world, but… the younger seems to be beyond even our own methods of detection. That means… that something has reached her, or covered her in deeper shadows than simple physical disappearance."

And then you hear a sound that, if you didn't know any better, you would think that amounted to a honest shrug.

"Or she might be dead," the Master says dismissively, "but whatever circumstance it might be, we have an opportunity to act more brazenly now, while the rulers of Ponykind fumble in their desperate efforts, too unfocused to notice more overt movements."

With that, you feel that rather… musing and wondering tone disappear, a totally different voice of a totally different creature taking its place.

Certainty and purpose taking over thought and wonder.

Edge eclipsing Moth, even if only temporarily.

"Comet Feet and Copper Secateur, your labors have borne fruit. Ponyville is already steadily falling into our grasp, and your own followers will be able to pick up from where you left. Head to another city and found a cell. Not as grandiose as what we have here, but we need those who are faithful in other places. Specifically, head for a city that might be rich in blood and Edge."

It goes without saying that Comet Feet will follow her for her safety.

"Starry Dancer, tighten your grip. Comet Feet's absence bodes somewhat ill for us, as idyllic as this town might be. Being in the good graces of the guards is one thing, but it is better to have them indebted to us. Help her as you must, Windy Flakes, but otherwise continue your own duties as well."

You see the two of them nod at that, but moments later your attention is focused on the presence you feel around you.

This is… not at all how you are used to feeling your Master near you.

You don't feel as if she is weary or worried, but you don't feel as if he is close either.

You have no idea of what to make of this.

"Velvet Covers, the alicorn's… rather curious fate means that our treading down the path towards its patron is stymied, for now. We require more power in order to search her, as well as we must also tread the other paths towards our ultimate end. Scaling the Mansus does well for both. Jade Whistle has been instructed to further train her cadre, for the efforts that awaits us, but you must reach higher into the House itself. Bring me the third circle, the bridge-maker and door-opener that will allow us to summon servants to do our bidding."

And with that, you feel your Master's presence… lessen, even further than it did before.

A part of you thinks that this might not even be your Master at all, that it is a completely different creature.

"I will delve further into the alicorn's disappearance," they say, "for now, this is my will. See to it."



And then, your Master is gone.





Cult presence in Ponyville has grown to "Small". You will now receive a +6 bonus on certain actions within the city's area/influence.

Jade Whistle is nowhere to be seen. It will not be possible to interact with her until she reappears, or until you locate her.

Your original intention, if Jade Whistle's ritual detected Selene, was to tell her the truth and try to convince her to keep it a secret. But she rolled herself a 100, so the initiative on how to guide that situation was hers/for her benefit.

Comet Feet and Copper Secateur will leave for Manehattan this month, interaction with them will become more difficult, or at least costly, starting at turn 10.

Turn 9 choices will be posted shortly.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You have several things going on in your mind.

You are still slightly estranged with your husband, although you hope you will be able to address that sooner rather than later.

Jade Whistle knows. But you have no idea of how she might have taken to that since she simply asked you to... well, asked you not to look for her, basically, before she simply disappeared. She didn't even go to the latest cult meeting, mind you.

And then there is the cult itself, or rather the Master, who you were absolutely sure that knew about Selene until...

Well, whatever is going on, it does feel very Moth of her... him? Them? You're not even sure of that anymore.

Added to that is the fact that Copper and Comet will leave for another town soon, and you are not sure how long they might stay there.

And then, and then...

Heavens... you bring up the locket you have around your neck, staring longingly at the picture of your family, and try to center yourself even if just a little bit.

You have a lot to do, and little certainty about what might be best to tackle with your limited time.




You have NOT told Stormchaser about the following:

-The more unsettling details about your Master's nature, or at least what little you have interacted with them (your husband does not know that your Master is... well, he thinks they are a regular pony);
-The murders you believe your cult has committed;
-The cult's actions about Princess Luna's ritual and eventual disappearance;
-Details about the cult itself, and details about the Lores.



- - -



Last turn's shopping list

Spoiler

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

Last turn's available bits: 181


[] KNOCK lvl 3, "An encyclopedia about poisonous snakes, with several artful illustrations", 30 bits.

[] FORGE lvl 1, "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire", 7 bits.

[] MOTH lvl 1, "A poetry book. Amateur work, really, but one of them talks about masks…," 7 bits.


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



- - -



POSSIBLE ACTIONS


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

Spoiler: On Suspicion Level and Ponyservant actions

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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


This turn's available bits: 301 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month



CONFIDANTS AND SUMMONS

Spoiler: Options of Focus

-The ponies and creatures listed below can be given a "focus" for this turn. Not mentioning them will incur in their "default picks" being selected. Be wary, also, to the "expiration date" of summons.

-The ponies and creatures listed below may be safely taken for a single one-turn (five days) Expedition without hampering their "focus". Taking them for a two-turn (6+ days) or greater Expedition will cause them to not execute their selected "focus".



Rarity (currently an Enlightened, GRAIL Level 0, FORGE Level nonexistent):

Current Health: 3

-[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she won't dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick a final time, three months making a full season's worth of clothing. After that, it will be your lessened risk and choice.]

-[] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick HALF of your own personal actions, rounded DOWN, and Rarity will accompany you while you perform them, giving narrative advantages or mechanical buffs as needed)

-[] Act as your emissary. (Pick an EXTRA action from your own pool, Rarity will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)

-[] Call her. Give her tasks, and books, and lessons. Turn her into an Initiate. (This will level her up, at the expense of her own focus action instead of an action of your own)

-[] Call her, you have a lot of things to tell her… and then a few introductions to make. (Induct her into the cult)

-[] Lead an Expedition. (Select her as the leader of an Expedition in which you will not take part, plan the other details of the expedition accordingly. You will still have to fund the Expedition yourself)

-[] Other (WRITE IN, in case you have a viable idea that I have not thought about. Certain ideas might even enter this list if they make sense)



Selene (MOTH 1; WINTER 1; EDGE 0; KNOCK 0):

As an alicorn, Selene has TWO actions.

-[X] Go play. (Selene will live a normal and happy life. This option costs one of her actions, it will always be picked, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.)

-[] What might be learned from a simple game of hide-and-seek? (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of MOTH)

-[] Sometimes, it is more about knowing how to react to what happens than doing anything at all. Sometimes, it is all about patience. (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of WINTER)

-[] Life is an adventure, so go live it! (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of EDGE)

-[] There is always something more to be learned from our dreams. (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of KNOCK)

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

-[] You know him too well, you love him too much. Heavens willing (because you will certainly do your own part) you will be able to settle things with Stormchaser. Enough time has passed for at least this much, so talk to him again. (Write in if you wish to approach this from a particular angle. Velvet will do it her own way if not.)
-[] You completely understand why your husband is feeling the way he is feeling, but you can also help him see that the "great secret" you were keeping to yourself isn't so great and terrible after all... (COMPROMISING about something, or gently introducing him to a certain thing will greatly help with your main efforts at getting your beloved husband back)
--[] Introduce him to a few Inner Circle members of the cult (pick TWO advisors to introduce Stormchaser to. Jade Whistle is unavailable for this)
--[] Introduce him to the Master... if you think that is a good idea.
--[] Try and teach him about the Lores, even if only to show him that they aren't as unnatural as they seem. (Failing to teach him might, instead, scare him and backfire)
--[] Teach him how to reach the Mansus, and try to teach him enough for him to even traverse the Crossroads (so you can actually meet him in the Woods, ideally). But all in all, give him access to the awe-striking and terrible vista that is the Mansus.
--[] Something else (Write in)



[] On what must be done (Ascending within the Mansus)

-[] There is no real trick to it, no grand preparation. You have reached the Blank Plains, now it is time to search for a path that leads upwards. (Mansus Hurdle CD 80, WINTER) (It is a single dice-roll to search for a way up. It applies DIPLOMACY to traverse the Blank Plains, SECRET HISTORIES Application Bonus to search, added to your WINTER Knowledge Bonus for its power.)



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

-[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.

--[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost) (HEART, FORGE)
--[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation) (applies "Royal Favor") (LANTERN, GRAIL, SECRET HISTORIES)
--[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation) (MOTH, EDGE, KNOCK)

(Due to SECRET HISTORIES 3, now you have a better idea of what you are more likely to find in each city)

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

-[] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.



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

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

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

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

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

-[] You now have a better grasp of the merchants in Ponyville, having had several letters of introduction sent around in your name. But what would you like to do next?
--[] Meet a few of them in person, and ingrain them to your cause. (WRITE IN if you will try to win them as personally loyal to you, or if you will point them in the direction of the cult)
--[] They are bit handlers, and that means they are a source of income. "Borrow" a few bits from your family and do a few quick investments. Everything will be back to its place by the end of the month, and you will be a little richer for that. (Attempt to gain a few more bits on the side, using your family's fortune as a lever) Highly suspicious.
--[] They know somepony who knows somepony who knows somepony. Use that to your advantage. (Ask them to search for an artifact. Specift LORE and LEVEL, up to Level 3. It will be added to your available list, but will be more expensive than normal) Not suspicious.
--[] Something else. WRITE IN.

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

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



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

-[] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
--[] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
---[] Reach out to your mother, as much as it might be… complicated. (costs 20 bits in transportation)
---[] Attempt to locate your older brother, Velvet Wings, as much as it might be difficult. (attempt to locate him, at first, via correspondence)
---[] Go there yourself and try to talk to your younger brother, Velvet Pride, although getting caught will probably be bad. (costs 20 bits in transportation, involves invading your family's own mansion)

-[] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.

-[] Reach out to other higher nobles of Canterlot, although that might be more complicated.



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

-[] You are the Loremaster! You are supposed to help your Master teach the faithful in the cult all manners of eldritch knowledge. Get to writing a Manifest on a Lore! [SPECIFY LORE] (Will produce a "book" to be added to the Bright Library, said book will be of the same level as your current level on the chosen Lore)

-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] He is probably... preparing, who knows how, for his coming trip. Reach out to him.

-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Now that you know her a bit better, you can always just spend time with her.
--[] One step further from getting into the good graces of Ponyville's Guard, she is now supposed to somehow get them even closer. She would surely benefit from your presence.

-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] She was the first pony you met from the cult, and you two have become good friends. Pay her a visit, before she departs for who knows how long.

-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] You realize you don't know very much about him at all. Time to remedy that.
--[] His business is all set up, and now he has to run it. And do you know who is good at running businesses? That's right, you are.
--[] Windy Flakes has messed with you, so now you will mess with him. (WRITE-IN HOW, specify if you will do it with good intentions [just to scare him] or with bad intentions [actually hinder him])

-[] Jade Whistle (UNAVAILABLE)



[] Set out on an Expedition.

-[] You don't have anywhere interesting to go, currently. Look for one. (Attempt to locate an interesting place to prepare an Expedition to. WRITE IN, if any specific theme is in mind.) Slightly Suspicious



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

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

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

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

-[] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).

--[] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
--[] BOOK, FORGE Level 2. "A book about ingenious farming equipment, and how they function".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…".
--[] BOOK, KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…"
--[] Some other book (select a book you have bought this turn)



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

Spoiler: On exploring the known Mansus

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

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

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

-[] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus. (Mansus Hurdle CD 80, WINTER) (applies DIPLOMACY to traverse the Blank Plains, and SECRET HISTORIES Bonus to search, added to your WINTER Level) Already specified as current objective.



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

-[] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
--[] Alright, this might be a BIT on the cult-y side, but… why not start giving your family subtle hints of Lore here and there? You might catch their attention, or perhaps even their interest.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] You are on the good graces of Velvet Steppes, your uncle, although he feels like the pony who has his entire family on his good graces to begin with.
--[] Call him over! He hasn't met his own grandniece yet, after all, and better late than never when it comes to knowing him better.
--[] He is called the Facilitator. You have no idea why, but the effect is self-explanatory. Ask for his help regarding… (WRITE IN a favor you would like to ask, or COMBINE this action with another, to involve your uncle in it) (Your uncle is very good at making things easier)

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

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

-[] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets.
--[] Have a servant do it, having an actual scapegoat is ideal if things go wrong. Highly suspicious.
--[] Do it yourself, it's better this way.
--[] Wait, right, the Wildhoof Club. Get in touch with Windy Flakes, and see how serious he was when he mentioned the whole "laundering bits" thing.



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

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

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

-[] Much to your own satisfaction, you now have a personal life outside of your maids, immediate family and business related meetings. You could choose to spend some time with… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call" or "a step forward to converting said pony". SPECIFY if "you are willing to spend bits on this", for that little extra leverage)
--[] Teach Rarity, and have her turn into an Initiate
--[] Induct Rarity into the cult
--[] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)



[] You haven't forgotten about it, you just put it on hold until a more convenient time. (Purchases done here will arrive/be completed at the end of this turn.) (Does NOT cost an action)

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



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

-[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
-[] "The Forge's Redemption"
-[] "The Incision of the Heart"
-[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
-[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
-[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)
-[] "The Reflection of the Tapestry" (specify subject)

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



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





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

There will be at least 48 hours of voting.

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

Velvet Covers is devoted to taking care of Selene. Actions that may ultimately lead to said duty being threatened will be extremely difficult to pull off. QM will comment if anything like that is being voted on.

Voting is getting more complicated. Kindly observe a SIX HOUR MORATORIUM before suggesting your plans, so as to avoid editing them too much, and to have enough discussion to know what you intend to lay down. These six hours are included in the first hours of the 48 hour period.

I hope I don't have to say that all actions are subject to writing-ins. Don't feel constrained by the abovementioned options, but keep in mind that they might be vetoed for in-character reasons.

Spoiler: For ease of planning

[] The Attention of the Laws [SPECIFY LORE]

[] Number of actions
-[] 5+1
-[] 6+1
-[] 7+1
-[] 8+1

[] Buy Books
-[] KNOCK 3
-[] FORGE 1
-[] MOTH 1

[] Rarity
-[X] Focus on her work. (Third time is the charm, QM advised one last time)
-[] Accompany you.
-[] Act as your emissary.
-[] Level her up.
-[] Induct into cult

[] Selene
-[] Moth.
-[] Winter.
-[] Edge.
-[] Knock.

[] A fleeting opportunity
-[] Talk to your husband (Write in?)
-[] Compromise with something
--[] Introduce to two advisors (Write in)
--[] Introduce to Master
--[] Try and teach Lore
--[] Teach him how to reach the Mansus
--[] Write in

[] Mission
-[] Go higher in the Mansus

[] Shopping
-[] Books
--[] In Ponyville.
--[] In Canterlot.
--[] In Manehattan.
-[] Search for a place to buy in Ponyville.
-[] Search for Artifact

[] Ponyville politics
-[] Look for muscle-for-hire in town.
-[] Look for muscle-for-hire among your employees.
-[] Scout for cult candidates among your employees.
-[] Scout for cult candidates in town.
-[] Merchants
--[] Interact
--[] Attempt to raise bits for yourself.
--[] Ask for specific Lore artifact.
--[] WRITE IN.
-[] Contact Guard and law enforcement.
-[] Contact underworld(?) of town.

[] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
-[] Your family
--[] Contact your mother.
--[] Look for your older brother.
--[] Contact your younger brother.
-[] Reach out to other minor nobles.
-[] Reach out to higher nobles.

[] On aiding the cult
-[] Write a Manifest [SPECIFY LORE]
-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] Contact him.
-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Contact her.
--[] Help her with her task.
-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] Contact her.
-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] Contact him.
--[] Help him with his task.
--[] Get back at him.

[] Set out on an Expedition.
-[] Look for a place to go.

[] On furthering your knowledge
-[] Lesson from Master [SPECIFY LORE]
-[] Ask Master a question (risky)
-[] Study artifact (none availabe)
-[] Read book (write in which)

[] The Mansus
-[] The Woods
--[] Explore.
--[] Look for other places connected to it.
-[] The Blank Door
--[] Explore.
--[] Visit Baldomare
--[] Look for other places connected to it.
-[] Go higher in the Mansus

[] Personal life
-[] Family
--[] Idle interaction
--[] Attempt to teach Lore.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)
-[] Velvet Steppes.
--[] Call him over.
--[] Ask for help (Write in on what)
-[] Ask your father for a raise.
-[] Ask your father for a one-time boon of bits.
-[] Steal bits from your family
--[] Have a servant do it.
--[] Do it yourself.
--[] Do it through the Wildhoof Club

[] Contacts
-[] Try to meet someone new.
-[] Contact other lesser nobles away from Canterlot.
-[] Interact with Known Contact
--[] Level up Rarity
--[] Induct Rarity into the cult
--[] Twilight Sparkle
--[] Cheerilee
--[] Mayor Mare
--[] Filthy Rich
--[] WRITE IN

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

[] Rituals
-[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
-[] "The Forge's Redemption"
-[] "The Incision of the Heart"
-[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
-[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
-[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)
-[] "The Reflection of the Tapestry" (specify subject)
--[] To be performed your cult's gathering place
--[] To be performed at your own home

[] Something else? (WRITE IN)

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Golden Plume, and you have a question.

It is a question that has tormented you for the longest time, a question that might very well be as old as Ponykind. Namely: what the hell defines one's cutie mark?

Are cutie marks predestined? Is a pony borne with their "innate talents" already set, and must discover them through effort and chance? Are there "several" possible cutie marks that a pony can have, and as they mature and grow up they finally fixate on a single one?

Or is it that foals can, in fact, have any cutie mark? Could it be instead that a cutie mark appears when a young pony feels a sufficiently strong emotion while performing an action, and their body generates a cutie mark based on that?

You don't know. Nopony knows, in fact, and that gnaws at you.

Specifically, because you hate your own cutie mark.

Well, why wouldn't you? Your cutie mark is stupid, there is no other way to talk about it. Why should you be satisfied with it anyways?

After all, you have a cutie mark about whistling.

About whistling.

You can carry a tune for hours if needed be, and you are really good at it. But that is exactly why you hate it.

There are cutie marks, and then there are cutie marks, and you can't help but think that it is like a cruel lottery of sorts. Some ponies are borne with skills, useful and practical skills, that other simply lack. There are pegasi who are gifted fliers, unicorns who have magical tomes drawn in their flanks, earth ponies who are borne to farm… and those are just the more obvious ones.

You have ponies who are borne to cook, to dance, to write, to perform, to build, to craft, even to paint. You live in a society where everypony will respect you, or at least give you the benefit of the doubt that you know about something, simply because of what kind of drawing you have on your damned flank. And that is even more so when you go into the merit that, as many ponies believe, you cutie marks enhance or even give you skills on its subjects.

Some ponies believe that cutie marks are merely subconscious encouragements for your innate skills, but with the amount of magic going on in Equestria it might very well be the case that a pony with a cutie mark about said subject will always be better than one without.

And with all those possibilities at hoof… with all the countless skills that could have graced your flank, you picked, or were picked by, a talent that revolves around whistling.

You tried to make use of it, you tried to enjoy doing it, you really did. You pursued every last possibility, followed every single advice, and tried to do everything to use your "talent" in a productive way. You tried joining an orchestra, a traveling band, even a blasted circus where you could try to enchant snakes. You tried all of that and many, many other things. But nothing really worked out, in the end.

It came to the point that you simply had to accept that you had one of those talents that simply wasn't that useful. After all there was nothing that you could do that magic, or specialized instruments, couldn't do better. Not to the point where you could keep a job about it.

It came to the point that you had to accept that… that everypony else could make Equestria a better place, or at least be useful, with their natural borne talents, except for you.

Not the most pleasant of realizations, you have to admit.

So you settled down, you accepted your lot in life. You were still an earth pony, so it wasn't like you wouldn't be able to find a job. There were plenty of fields to be plowed in Equestria after all, and your earth pony blood doesn't really care much for what is drawn on your flank.

But you could still feel that you were slowly letting yourself fade away. That you were slowly turning from that excited young filly, who had just gotten her cutie mark, into just another earth pony working in a farm, surrounded by earth ponies who were borne farmers by the look of their flanks, mind you, carrying a soft whistling tune that only you could hear while you followed the endless dance of the seasons in the great farmlands around Ponyville.

There is a term for ponies like you, you know, a slang that is universally considered very rude to say, but that you still can't help but find fitting.

"Background Pony".

A pony whose only use is to fill the scene, a pony who is at her best element only when she is vaguely acknowledged. Just another face in the crowd, that helps said crowd feel larger.

Yeap, that slang, rude or not, described you perfectly.

Well, you would think every now and then, at least you can carry a damn whistling tune, right?

However, your dull and uneventful life changed completely…



When you met a certain pony.



It was late in the evening on one of the few bars in Ponyville who were actually serious about serving alcohol, and you were drinking away your latest payment in bits, as you usually did. When you were suddenly approached by a mare you had never seen before.

Her name was Fluffy Cloud, and the two of you bonded almost immediately.

She was also a "background pony" just like you, having a cutie mark about studying magic when she was a pegasus of all things. You know that, on paper at least, she might have been able to do something with it if she really dedicated herself. There is plenty of theoretical things about magic that a non-unicorn can research about, after all.

But in all honesty, you know that is a foal's tale. Her chances of doing something useful with her borne talent were as good as your chances of making it big as a musician who can whistle.

You could see that she had also accepted that there was nothing she could do that a unicorn couldn't do better, cutie mark or not.

The two of you talked for a long while, and maybe you did say a little bit more than you should have, but you can't really blame yourself. Fluffy was the first pony who you could open yourself to in years, and you had already gone through half of that week's earnings in drinks even before she arrived.

But what intrigued you the most was that, as the night grew late and the two of you talked, she told you that there are certain things, certain skills, that nopony had a cutie mark about. She told you, and you remember listening to her with all that was left of your attention, that there were certain secrets and abilities that a pony could only claim through hard work and dedication. No cutie mark nonsense involved whatsoever.

And she told you that she could introduce you to a few ponies who might teach you how to tread that path. A path where your commitment and diligence defined who you could be or how high you could rise, and not some damned lottery or subconscious decision that you had made when you were seven years old.

The next day, she took you to a small meeting of sorts, and introduced you to a few other ponies that she knew.

And one week later, you had joined a cult.



- - -



You are nervous.

"Come on in, Golden. No need to be shy," the mare says with a smile as she opens the large wooden doors. You gulp down something dry as you follow behind her.

Damn Fluffy Cloud for talking you into this!

"Ex… excuse me…" you say demurely as you follow right after her.

The two of you are inside the old looking building that the cult has recently acquired. You have lived in Ponyville your entire life, sans the years that you wasted "pursuing your dreams" of trying to make your cutie mark be something useful, but for all the years you did live in this town you can't really remember passing in front of this place more than four times.

You think it was an abandoned museum of sorts, maybe a century old crumbling mansion that was owned by an elderly pony. You are not really sure.

It belongs to the cult now, or so you have heard from the gossips of the Outer Circle.

And its interior looks just like how one would expect.

"Goodness gracious, this place does need a lot of care… but trust me, it was even worse when I first came here. At least they cleaned out all the spiderwebs and such," the mare who is guiding you says as she walks ahead of you.

You nervously nod as you follow after her, grumbling something that you hope she takes as you agreeing with her.

It is important to note, however, that you are not nervous because of the place you are at. Granted, the old building looks like a haunted house, and considering how large the place is you are not sure that you will be able to make your way out of it without somepony guiding you.

But no, you are feeling nervous because of the pony who is guiding you, and who is casually making small talk as if the two of you were long time friends.



You are nervous because you are following behind Copper Secateur, a member of the Inner Circle and a pony who is personally favored by the Master.



The cult doesn't have an official hierarchy. Not one that is enforced, at least. The Master is in charge, that much is obvious to anypony who has ever even felt their presence, but apart from him everypony else is more or less equal.

Everypony else, that is, except for six ponies in particular.

That didn't make much sense to you at first. When you first went to the "meeting" Fluffy Cloud had invited you, before you realized what you were getting yourself into, you thought this "society" of hers would have some complex hierarchy of sorts, some tangled mess of seniority that you were about to get thrown into.

But you didn't hear about any of that. Instead, all you heard were stories and tales.

Far-fetched tales, mind you, that you didn't really believe at first. Gossips from the other members of the "Outer Circle", of which you became a part of, about things that they promised you would believe in as soon as you went to your first proper cult meeting.

They were mostly all, specifically, about the six (or, as some stories went, four) ponies who were part of the "Inner Circle" of the cult.

You had heard about Jade Whistle, or at least you think that was her name, and about how she has the second largest following in the cult, being in charge of a tight-knit cabal of Lore knowers who every now and then perform rituals at your Master's behest.

There was also one Starry Dancer who, from what you heard, was a disarmingly happy pegasus who was seen in some cult meetings of the Outer Circle. Her joyous mannerism was a façade though, if the rumors were to be believes. From what you have heard in more hushed tones she was a mastermind of sorts, who had already wormed her way into the good graces of the Mayor, of all ponies, and who had been setting all sorts of strings around Ponyville for the Master to pull at.

There wasn't much gossip going on about Windy Flakes, which was something that put you on edge by itself. But not hearing anything about him was far better than what you had heard about the two final members of the Inner Circle.

One of them, you were told, was said to not even be a pony, but a monster of sorts that the Master brought with himself from the Woods, a source of cautionary tales about why betraying the Master or the cult was not really the brightest of ideas.

And the other, much like the rumors about that monster, was said to be a ghost. A deceased spirit favored by the Master who was only ever seen in passage, a mare wearing a long and flowing dress that brought gifts that greatly please the Master. Some ponies of the Outer Circle swear to have already seen her, saying they saw the hem of an elegant dress disappearing into the darkness of the meeting halls, but only during the largest and most important meetings of the cult. Others say that is just a made-up story, of course.

That said, you didn't believe any of those stories, of course, and took them for what they were: embellished tales and folklore from a small and weird club that sprung up in Ponyville.

Or that is what you had thought, until you met Copper Secateur.

Meeting her was enough to immediately dash any doubts and suspicions you had about everything Fluffy Cloud had said. Every story you heard about her, from the befuddling way she smiles to the effect that meeting her gaze seems to have, were suddenly believable as you felt those effects first hoof.

And with that, you also came to believe that those curious skills could be learned.

You went to a proper cult meeting a few days later, where you finally met the Master, and there is little you can say about that apart from the fact that, after feeling that presence, the stories about the other members of the Inner Circle went from "believable" to "probably toned down a little bit" inside your head.

"Right, here we are," Copper's voice snaps you back into the present as the two of you come before another set of large wooden doors at the end of a particularly long corridor.

She gives the door a few knocks, and opens it after hearing some sort of response.

"Windy? I brought the girl with me, can we come in?" she asks.



You are invited into the makeshift office a few moments later.



Once again, damn Fluffy Cloud for talking you into this!

You have only ever talked to Copper Secateur a few times before, and each time you have already been awed by her subtle presence.

You have only been in the Master's presence twice, and both times you couldn't sleep for an entire day after those meetings.

So as much as you tried to prepare yourself mentally, being casually guided by a member of the Inner Circle to meet yet another pony who is favored by the Master is definitely not something that you can say you are confident about doing.

"Ah! So this is the mare you have been telling me about? So glad to finally meet you, Golden Plume, do have a seat!"

You are sitting inside an office that is clearly in the middle of being refurbished. The chairs and furniture are all new, but you can see that two of the walls have not yet been painted, and that the glasses of the windows still have visible signs of age about them.

Sitting next to you is Copper, who has just finished introducing you, and sitting opposite to you is…

Sitting opposite to you is…!

"Yes sir…"

"Sir? Why, no need to be so reserved about it. We are all among friends here!"

Is the most handsome unicorn you have ever seen in your life.

What the hell is wrong with this cult?!

You know Copper is deep in the Master's favor, and has learned much about Grail thanks to it, so you can understand why she just "feels" beautiful whenever you look at her. That is something that the gossips cover extensively, even.

But nopony had ever told you that this Windy Flakes was so… so!

"Copper here tells me that you would like to help with our little endeavor at turning this building into our cult's new meeting spot, is that correct?" he asks with a jovial smile, his fiery mane swaying lightly as he speaks.

Where in Equestria have they been hiding stallions like him your entire life? Do ponies who join cults simply become prettier as time passed?!

"I, uhm… yes?" you try to get your thoughts back in order as you struggle to answer the question, "I heard you were asking for help, so…"

Thankfully, you don't have to finish that sentence, as he simply nods in understanding. You try your best to not follow his face with your eyes as he does that, but you can't be sure that you did a good job at that.

And it doesn't help at all with your concentration that he is looking directly into your eyes while he talks. You can feel that there is something about his stare that simply…

A strange sound comes from somewhere and snaps you back into focus. It takes you a few seconds to realize that it was Copper Secateur chuckling.

"Great! Now, I heard all sorts of rumors of what we were planning to do here," he continues saying. "Some ponies are thinking we will Forge this place into a fortress, while others swear that we will spirit the whole building away into the Woods… somehow."

You simply nod as he speaks.

"But what we really have in mind is turning this place into a club! Regular place where we can all meet in the light of the day, and garner to non-cult members as well. We'll need help to do that, of course."

Maybe you are nodding too much, you realize, an awkward blush coming to your face as you try to freeze your head from moving any more.

"So first order of the day will be to find staff, and that's why we put out word to the Outer Circle that we need help. I understand that you work on the fields here in Ponyville, right?"

Your blush grows slightly stronger as your brain translates his perfectly reasonable question into a variant on the lines of "he wants to know more about us. Everypony panic!" And it takes you a few more seconds than normal to get your bearings on how to best answer that.

"Yes si…" you interrupt yourself quickly enough to not let another 'sir' out, "yes. I work as a farmer in the fields to the east."

Great! Bravo Golden Plume! You couldn't have worded that answer in a more boring way, could you? You'll definitely catch his attention with this whole "farm pony" routine.

"Oh, you work for the Velvets?" his ears perk up at that, for some reason, "that ought to make things easier then. And say, what are you good at?"

The handsome unicorn casually drops the question that you are still trying to come to terms with almost as an afterthought.

Right… of course this would be asked. It is, after all, perfectly normal to ask what a pony's skill is when you are thinking about hiring them for anything, and this is a job interview of sorts, from what you have gathered.

You feel your embarrassment go up a notch as you mentally prepare yourself to admit your own personal shame to the two most beautiful ponies you have ever met in your life.

"I, uhm… I can whistle pretty well…" you say with a defeated tone of voice.

To which the two other ponies simply answer with a…

Doubtful expression?

Well, of course they wouldn't believe if you just told them, it really is a stupid skill after all. You can see Windy Flakes tilt his head at that, and Copper Secateur steal a glance at your flank as the two of them slowly make the connection inside their heads.

You expect them to start laughing at any second now.

But much to your surprise, instead, they-

"Ohhhh, no dear. We don't care about that. I didn't word my question properly, do forgive me," the unicorn says, and you can't help but feel that a small light appeared behind your eyes as you hear that dashing stallion say that he doesn't care about your stupid cutie mark. "I meant to ask what Lore you feel most comfortable with. It's not like we have a log or a cult archive about that, after all… Yet."

"Oh, uhm, I…" goodness, you feel very stupid now. Exposed, and embarrassed, and for some reason hopeful. But still mostly stupid, "Master said that I have talent for pursuing the Lore of Moth, and… and are you sure that you don't care about what my cutie mark is about?"

You have to admit that the question slipped out of your mouth without you wanting.

But the only thing he gives you for an answer is a mischievous wink.

Which, admittedly, is already enough to make your mind give a few somersaults.

What the hell is wrong with you? You're not a schoolfilly anymore, get a grip of yourself Golden! You chide yourself mentally at that.

"Dear, we are a cult," you hear Copper answering your question as well. "That means we are supposed to help each other, don't you think?"

And the only response you can offer them is a smile. An honestly relieved smile, mind you.



- - -



You have been in the cult for a few months now. And frankly, you can't really picture yourself going back to the life you had before joining it.

And that is because you are not a nopony anymore, you are no longer a mare who is slowly fading away in a world that doesn't have any use for her.

You are not a background pony anymore.

You have seen things, incredible things. You have learned things, and you have discovered things in which you are good at, things that nopony else can claim to be better than you simply because they have some stupid drawing on their flank.

You have reached the Woods by your own merit, something that quite a few ponies of the Outer Circle can't yet claim to have done, and you have even spoken to the Master in private once. You have learned secrets and you are slowly, painfully slowly, learning how to tread on his hoofsteps.

You will learn how to do it properly someday, how to become truly lost, but for now you are content that whenever you stroll around the Woods you have the faint impression that you hear the Master's humored chuckle, and that is enough to tell you that each time you reach for the Woods you are getting closer.

You sorely wish that lady Velvet, who you now know to be the elusive Loremaster, would favor those who aspire for Moth as much as she has already favored those who follow Grail and Knock. Fluffy Cloud is one such pony who is mentored by Copper Secateur, and the effect that reading the latest Grail treatise had on her is visible, for those who know where to look.

But that is beyond the point.

What matters right now is that you want to do…

Something.

You are not sure what it is, but for the longest time now you have been hearing this… this maddening sound inside your head. It is the good sort of madness, you know, the kind of sensation that unhinges you enough for you to be able to move better, for you to be able to realize that there were hinges tying your movements down to begin with.

But now that you have this curious, extra freedom, you don't know how to channel it properly.

You tried asking the Master what you are supposed to do, but every time you think you have found him in the Woods, you merely hear his chuckle coming from a different direction before you feel his presence disappear.

Well, a part of you also says that you already know the answer to your question. After all, the Master had already told you what you were supposed to do when he first gave you this maddening blessing of his, weeks ago.



"Go and do… whatever you want, little one," you recall him saying, as he softly blew that incessant whistling noise into your mind.



Well, you are supposed to do whatever you want? Then so be it.



With that, you decide to follow your own whims.



You are in the Bright Library, late at night.

Alone.

You can hear the faint, almost imperceptible, sound of music coming from the Heartbeat House, the Wildhoof Club having already changed into its nighttime configuration a few hours ago. Which is as clear an indicator as any that by all rights you should be home by now, and fast asleep. You work the dayshift of the club, after all, being part of its staff since it the day it opened.

But you can't go home, not yet. You don't know why but you are gripped by an… indecision, of sorts.

You hear the incessant sound inside your brain, and something tells you that it will drive you insane if you stay put in here for another minute.

So you make your way out of the Bright Library, down towards the Red Bar.

You hear the thumping sound of music coming from the Heartbeat House, shaking your very bones at some moments, but you pay it little heed. You deftly make your way through the small crowd of ponies, most of them too busy with their drinks to even notice that you are there, as you head to the side corridor.

You see Timber Leg blocking the door that leads deeper into the administrative part of the club. He's Forge aligned, if you recall correctly, being the second best thing the club can use as a bouncer since you have so little Edge users among you.

You want to pass through the door he is blocking, and he would probably let you if you asked him. You are pretty sure he will recognize you even though you are not wearing your uniform right now.

Only problem is -you wince as the noise inside your brain makes a painfully sharp note- that you don't want to be seen.

You stalk your way to him, dancing around the drinking ponies and the waiters as they carry their drinks.

Until you get within earshot of Timber Leg.

And you know he will hear you, even with the loud music coming from the nearby room.



[The sounds of the Woods]

[Roll: 87 + 9 (Intrigue) + 1 (MOTH bonus) + 10 (A buzzing in the brain) = 107]



You let out a soft whistle. You purse your lips and use the only skill that Equestria ever gave a damn to gift you with.

But you add to that whistle the wondrous things that you learned, thanks to the Master and your own merit.

You whistle the sound that the leaves make in the Woods, as they rustle against the trees.

You let loose the noise that the winged things fill the air with, as they flutter from dark tree to dark tree.

You carry a tune that… it even takes you a few moments to realize, but you carry a tune that is the same one that is buzzing inside your head.

And you think you hear your Master chuckle.

The effect is instantaneous. All the waiters, those who have reached the Woods at least, suddenly stop. Their confusion go unnoticed by the customers at large, but everypony who knows what they are listening to suddenly starts looking around, wondering where that sound is coming from.

That small window of inattention is all that you need, however, to slip your way past Timber Leg and deeper into the club.

You don't know what you are doing.

You don't know where you are going.

You just continue carrying that merry Wood-tune as you trot your way deeper into the club, following your hoofsteps as you go.

Until you finally realize where it is that you have been heading to, all along.

The noise, the buzzing inside your brain, is louder than ever now as you look at that large wooden door. The sound inside your head seems to be complimenting you whistles, now, the two of you composing a curious and senseless melody that only you can fully hear.

You stand before the door for less than a minute before you make your way in.

Without knocking.

And you finally stop whistling as soon as you see him.

"Ah, Golden Plume, fancy seeing you here at this hour. Can I help you with anything?" he asks, with that same smile he always has.

You walk towards him without a word, eyeing him as if you were admiring a work of art.

You try to take all of it in as you make your way closer and closer to him, appreciating the way his mane curls around his horn, and the way his eyes stares back at you with a mixture of curiosity and interest, and the manner that his lips slowly curl into a smile, and… and…

And all of that… cold beauty he has about him.

"Golden Plume?" he asks one final time, when you finish walking around his large desk and stand right in front of him.

And he can't say anything else as you cover his lips with your own, giving him the long and passionate kiss that you have been fantasizing of giving him ever since you met him, months ago.

You feel like you have just woken up from a dream, when you finally part from him, taking a deep breath as you realize several things at once.

One, that the buzzing sound inside your head is gone, to the point that only now you are realizing that there was a gramophone playing a soft melody next to his desk.

Two, you realize what you have just done. Part of you wants to say that "you have just done what you have been wanting to do all along", but that is a very gentle way of wording that "you have just kissed your boss".

And three… you realize Windy Flakes is still smiling. A different smile than the one he usually has, though, a more… engaged smile.

Which only causes you to blush even harder.

"Well, Golden dear, you could have just said something," he says, and you see his horn glow for a few moments.

You hear the sound of the door locking shut right after, followed by the volume of the gramophone being raised a few notches.

"But I think I understand what was going on in your mind…" he finishes saying, gently taking your chin with his hoof, "so yes, why don't we try making something beautiful together?"

And this time, he is the one that pulls you into the next kiss.

The soft melody of the gramophone drowns out everything that happens after that. And you, for your part, are so overwhelmed, and embarrassedly happy, that it doesn't even cross your mind to wonder exactly what he meant by "beauty".

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[X] Plan Solid Foundations V3
-[X][Attention of the Laws] GRAIL, to help with bridging the gap between us and Stormchaser.
-[x][Work] A measured commitment (6 personal actions available)
-[x][Purchase Books] KNOCK 3, FORGE 1, MOTH 1
-[X][Selene] EDGE if the lesson with Comet Feet is successful, KNOCK otherwise
-[x][Servants] Search for Books in Manehattan
-[x] Read books: FORGE 2, KNOCK 2, KNOCK 3.
-[x] Reach out to Copper Secateur. You wish you'd caught up with her sooner, especially after that close call she had - how is she?
-[X] Reach out to Comet Feet. It is your duty to learn, and you've had a hard time locating books that can teach you about EDGE. Can he give you another lesson before he goes?
-[x] Reach out to Twilight. You did say you were looking forward to hearing her findings, after all.
-[X] Meeting with Stormchaser (write in)
-[X] Help Convince Stormchaser (his choice of a lesson in Lore, meeting Copper and Starry, or just simply time spent together)

- - -



You are Stormchaser, and you are working.

Yes, working. That's all you have been doing lately, isn't it? You even traded your last Ponyville shift for a Vanhoover weather-run last month, just so you could stay an extra week away from home, didn't you?

You sigh, trying to put the jumbled mess of thoughts that you have in your head back into order.

What a mess that you have gotten yourself into…

"Anything the matter, boss?" a familiar voice brings you back to the present.

Right, you haven't said anything in a while.

"Oh, it's nothing, don't worry about it," you say, shaking your head as you try to focus once again on the task at hoof.

You are looking at a detailed map of Ponyville, a detailed map of Ponyville's sky-plane, mind you, not of the city itself. Sky-plane maps are large pieces of work, where variables like temperature and air pressure are displayed so that the month's weather can be efficiently planned. These sorts of maps have to be updated regularly, of course, so that weather engineers like yourself can work without accidentally causing a small disaster, although small cities like Ponyville rarely see large or relevant changes with each monthly update.

It's not like the place has any large industry causing artificial pockets of heat, for example, like larger cities do. Although you have been noticing a small increase of magic saturated in the low atmosphere over the last few months.

"Doesn't sound like nothing. You've been staring at that map for an awful long time just to say that we should stick to the usual schedule," he tries again.

And you realize he has a point.

Both on the nothing part and on the job part. There really have been no relevant changes that would warrant an update on the weather plan you had them use last month, in all honesty.

"It's just a… problem," you concede, mouthing the report that had been sitting on the adjoining desk and signing the authorization for the weather plan, "nothing that anypony can do about it, truth be told."

You can feel Warm Front's eyes on your back as you go about the motions of signing and stamping the documents, and you all but know exactly what expression he must be wearing while he watches you.

Warm Front is an old pegasus. He has worked in Ponyville's weather department for decades now, and has been properly in charge of the place since about the year you have moved into town after marrying your wife. This means that the two of you have been working together for a long time now, since you are usually given Ponyville on your shifts for obvious reasons.

"Sounds like troubles in paradise," he says.

Warm Front is also a very wise stallion.

"Yes Warm, that sort of problem," you say, rolling your eyes while you still have your back to him. This is not exactly the kind of conversation that you really want to have, if you can have any say on this.

But something tells you that he is not going to give you that sort of luxury.

"Well then, I'm all ears. Always wondered when I'd have this sort of talk with you," you hear him sit down on one of the nearby chairs, "part of me even worried you'd only ever need it after I had retired."

He says that with his usual experience-driven surety tone of voice, but you can't help but feel taken aback by that.

"What do you mean you always wondered that?" You ask him back, and in all honesty you have to dose your voice a bit so you don't actually sound as offended as you feel, "I've already had problems in my personal life, I just don't bring those sorts of problems to work like other ponies do."

"That's where you're wrong, Storm," he says with a small chuckle as he sets his back more comfortably against the chair he is on, "don't take it wrong when I say this, but all these years that I've known you, you have practically been living a fairy tale when it comes to your marriage."

Warm Front says that so suddenly that, for a few moments, you don't really know how to answer him. Part of you wants to say that he is wrong, of course, but another part can't help but agree with him, even if just a little bit.

"I mean, I work with weather grunts," he continues, "and let me tell you, some of their lives are... well, no other way to describe it but as an awful mess. So really, having a good wife and a happy family is not something to be ashamed of, quite on the contrary. But nothing's perfect, so I know your life isn't, either."

He says that, and you can see from his expression that he really means it when he says that all these years he had been wondering when this would happen.

That doesn't help you from feeling a small surge of anger appearing in your chest, of course, but you know it's not because of Warm Front. Not exactly, at least. You are feeling this anger, this budding weight appearing inside your chest, because of the subject itself, as you have felt every time you thought about it this last month.

You take a deep breath, knowing that it won't help in the slightest, more out of habit than anything else.

"So c'mon, take a seat. We've known each other for years now, and you're not some young weather grunt that needs some harsh words or a shoulder to cry on. Let's just make this an honest talk," he says, as you audibly exhale the breath you have been holding.

But still, you follow his advice and sit down. He is an old friend after all.

"I'd even tell you that I have some of the good stuff stowed away in my working desk there, but I both know that you don't drink much, and that you are exactly the uptight kind of weather engineer from Central that gets ponies in trouble for drinking in their workplaces," he says, smiling a bit.

To which you only answer by looking back at him. You don't glare or frown at him, you just look at him, and Warm Front holds your gaze for a few moments.

Curiously, though, you can see his smile disappear after a few seconds, and he gets up from his chair shortly after, making his way to his desk.

"Shit," is all he says as he opens up one of the bottom drawers, letting out a long whistle as he takes out a bottle and a pair of glasses, "that bad? Hate to ask, but has you wife been… using up her free time while you are away at work?" he says between his teeth as he pours the dark beverage on the two glasses.

You wince at his words, although you understand why that would be the first conclusion anypony would come to. Adultery isn't exactly uncommon among weatherponies, considering the long hours away from home and how they sometimes have to work on faraway places. That, and it's not exactly a secret that this sort of thing is one of the less uncommon scandals among nobles. So you being a weatherpony who is married to a noble would obviously mean that…

"Not that," you say, accepting the glass without a second thought, "just… things."

You feel his eyes on you, and you can tell that they are slightly more worried now, as you look at the dark liquid inside the cup.

You also feel the fiery pressure inside your chest build up a little bit more, so you take a gulp from the glass and hope that the interaction between those two elements doesn't turn out to be explosive.

"Anything I'd lose my job over if somepony knew you are talking about it with me?" he asks, his ideas clearly veering to the side that, since it wasn't your wife fooling around, then it's something best kept under wraps.

"You know what? I'm not really sure myself," you say, with an honesty that even you weren't expecting.

But really, now that you think about it you don't even know what to make of the things that your wife told you.

Well, the whole problem is that you believed her when she said those things. You believed in her because if you didn't then the only option would be to send her to a mental institution. But was there even a modicum of sense in the things that she told you?

After all, from what she said she has been part of a secret organization of sorts for years now, which has been studying magic and whatnot, among other things. And then she told you that the filly she brought home with her is actually…?

To be fair, you don't even want to think about that conversation in details, you don't want to remember it, or the fight that the two of you had right after.

Because deep down, the part of it that you know hurt you the most was…

"Well, we have a daughter," you say as you take another gulp, feeling the burning sensation wash down your throat, "and she has been keeping something to herself for around as long as our daughter has been alive."

You see Warm Front raise an eyebrow at that, pursing his lips together as he tries to imagine exactly what that secret might be.

"Noble family stuff," you say nonchalantly, to which he immediately nods in understanding.

It's a lie, of course, but since Velvet Covers is a noble, it's the easiest way to have Warm Front not think about it anymore. Canterlotian nobles are notorious for, every decade or so, having a small scandal that is quickly put under covers, and everypony knows that it's the sort of thing which is best left alone.

Better for him to think that your wife is a bastard and was never eligible for inheritance, or whatever else he might privately come up with, than for him to even suspect what is really going on.

But really, you think with a long sigh as the alcohol battles the ball of anger you feel inside your chest, what is actually going on?

"So," Warm Front says tentatively, "it's the sort of thing that you can't do anything about. But I also get the impression that you are not disturbed by that secret in itself… whatever it is, but instead by the fact that it existed in the first place."

To which you answer with a grunt, drinking the rest of your own glass shortly after. Burn your throat as it might, it's still a good drink.

"Her deciding not to tell me, throughout all these years, was a choice she made. Living with me and talking to me every day, and deciding not to tell me every single day, was a choice she made," you say.

"Well, maybe because she wasn't comfortable with telling you about it?" He says, still looking you in the eyes. Whatever it is that he sees in your eyes, however, makes him take a deep breath, "listen Storm, I know that I'm not working with the details here. Celestia knows I don't want to know the details, even. But I can tell that for all that your marriage isn't perfect, and no marriage is perfect, you are having a problem because of something your missus didn't do, instead of because of something she did."

The old pegasus then gets off from his chair with a short flap of his wings, bringing the bottle with his mouth and slowly refilling your glass.

You have the impression that he was waiting for you to say "when" while he was pouring the alcohol, but you don't really care at this point.

Having a full glass, also, will stop you from accidentally thinking about any "glass half-full" figures of speech.

"Sure, she chose not to tell you… whatever it was, during this entire time. But in the end she did, didn't she?" he asks, waiting for you to confirm that she did decide to tell you whatever had caused the two of you to fight, and not that you discovered it by yourself, "and also, well, there's the fact that up until now things have been pretty good, haven't they?"

You can feel the unasked question hanging in the air, you realize what he means with that.

He means that you should ask yourself what has changed, exactly, now that this great mysterious secret is out in the open? And besides, isn't it a good thing that your wife chose to finally tell you, instead of you discovering it on your own?

Because, in a sense, if all those things that Velvet told you about have been going on for all these years while the two of you were happily married, then it means that they didn't really have an impact on your relationship, right? So you can just continue living your life like you did before you ever found out about them.

Right…?

"It's not that simple…" you say, noticing the hesitation in your own voice, as you take another swing of your glass.

"Well, it can be as complicated as you want," is what Warm Front says back to you without missing a beat, as he takes another short gulp of his half-filled glass, "but really, it's usually the mare's job to make things complicated," he finishes, letting out a short chuckle as he shrugs.

Which actually makes you frown, a retort immediately coming to your mouth, in part facilitated by the alcohol you've already had.

"Now listen here yo-"

"Hey boss, are we going to get those weather plans today or…" but before you can finish your very poorly thought reply, a young pegasus nearly barges in through the door.

Needless to say, her words die inside her mouth as she slowly takes in the scene before her eyes.

There is her boss, looking at her with a well humored expression. And then there is her boss' boss sitting opposite to him, with an expression that looks like… well, you are not sure how exactly you look like right now, but something tells you that you are not entirely presentable.

And then there is the fact that the two of you seem to be drinking something very expensive, and clearly alcoholic in content.

The young pegasus takes a long look at all of that, and slowly reaches for the doorknob with her hoof, awkwardly trying to retreat away from that most unusual of scenes.

"Nuh-uh, come in," that is, until she is interrupted by Warm Front, who makes her freeze with a few simple words, "and close the door behind you."

You can see the young pegasus gulping down something dry, as she wonders exactly what sort of trouble she just got herself into. But you already caught on to what Warm Front has in mind.

And you let out a low annoyed grunt as you see him take out a third glass from the drawer in his desk.

"Sit down, you're not in trouble," he says to the young mare, before once again turning to you, "now Storm, why don't we get this youngster's impression on your problems? See if she has any fresh insight that might be of use to us old horses?"

Damn Warm Front and his antics, you think as you see him pour down the glass and give it to the extremely confused pegasus.



- - -



"So there you have it… hic," the young pegasus says in a slur, as her words come out in a nearly unintelligible mess filled with too many hiccups, "sure, she screwed up by… hic, by keeping that secret. But c'mon, boss-man…"

"Stormchaser," Warm Front helpfully adds, as he grins at the whole situation.

"Yeah, that… c'mon, nothing that'x worth doing is ever easy doing, so you gotta be loyal to her y'know? To the thing you had between you two before this… problems came up," she finishes, with something that you believe was her best attempt at trying to sound sage.

The young pegasus didn't need much convincing to join into your conversation, all things considered.

She's a good girl, you can tell, and the fact that Warm Front told her to stay when she just barged into his office shows you that he clearly trusts her to begin with. Or at least that he trusts her by principle, if not in her common sense. And you could also see that she trusts him in return, especially because she seemed to be more hesitant about talking to you than she was about barging into his office or accepting a glass of extremely expensive alcohol.

But still, she is… hilariously weak when it comes to holding her drink.

The three of you have been at it for less than fifteen minutes, with the mare only having finished a single glass, and already she is in a state where you are worried if she will be able to fly back home, or even if she will be able to fly in a straight line.

"See Storm? Even young Dash here has got the right idea," he says, as he gently pries away the glass from the mare's hoofs, forgetting about it on his desk after telling her he would refill it, "I know it's not easy, being in the horseshoes of the pony who's in the middle of the storm, but if you don't think this whole ordeal is worth breaking up with her, then you gotta stand by that decision. If you're standing by her then do it properly, don't lose the good things you had because of bitterness or whatnot."

You let out a disgruntled neigh as he says that, gulping down the remainder of your fourth glass and throwing an annoyed glare at the two pegasus sitting opposite to you in the room.

The blue mare visibly recoils at that, going wide-eyed for a moment as if suddenly afraid that the scary supervisor from Central Weather might magically smite her or something.

But Warm Front for his part simply gives you another nod.

"Well then, I think this is settled. I got the weather plans signed, and a whole lot less brandy, so I think I'll get back to my actual job," he says as he gets up, stopping for a few moments to give the mare a wing as she tries, and fails, to do the same thing, "and you Rainbow, you can take the rest of the day off. Just make sure you leave through the window, will you? Wouldn't want for there to be talk about you getting drunk at work if you can't fake it properly."

The two of you watch as the blue mare clumsily make her way to the window, mumbling a mixture of thanks for the time off and that she was feeling well enough to go… something about practicing a stunt? You're not sure, but she is out of Warm's office shortly after.

He looks at you after seeing her off, and simply shrugs as he sits down behind his desk and gathers the documents you had signed earlier.

"What? Don't give me that look. Kid's got a good head on her shoulders, and more importantly she said what you needed to hear. I'm sure I could have done the same, but a neutral, young and honestly drunk third party usually gets the point across quicker to old stallions like us, even if we won't admit it."

You let out a short sigh, feeling the smell of alcohol in your breath as you do it.

Just in your breath, though, it takes far more than that to even get you tipsy.

"Thanks," you say, to which he simply gives you a friendly nod, "this whole thing is a mess but… well, I guess it helps to talk about it."

"You sure could have done a little more of talking," he says gently stowing away the bottle on the last drawer and pushing it close, "but at least you listened. And I know you're not a crier, so it's not with me or with some young weather grunt that you really need to talk to anyways."

"I suppose…" you somewhat agree, knowing what he means by that.

He means that the hardest part of the talking is yet to come, and you know that he is right.



You thank him one last time, and a few minutes later you are flying back to your own home.



You find your wife in her office, and she is honestly surprised when you call her attention by tapping on her window.

But she opens it nonetheless, with apprehension in her eyes you might add, and none of the murderous what-do-you-want attitude that you usually see when you interrupt her while she is working.

That goes to show, you know, just how much this whole thing has been affecting her as well…

"Yes dear?" she asks as soon as you land inside her office, with a hesitant tone of voice that you are as uncomfortable listening to as you think that she is with using.

By Celestia… you really ought to fix this mess, before you actually lose something that you will surely regret losing.

And with that, you make a decision.

"Follow me, we are going," you say, taking her by the hoof before she can even answer you, seeing her hesitant expression turn into confusion as she follows behind you out of sheer surprise.

"Going? Is… is something the matter dear? Did anything happen?" she stammers as she says, more because she has no idea of what's going on than anything else, you know. "Going where exactly?"

You are not sure, but that might just be the magic of it.

"No idea," you answer, "but it's not like staying here is doing us wonders anyways."

You see her tilt her head at that, but you don't give her any time to think.

You don't even give her any time to pack, something that she only realizes after you close the carriage door behind the two of you, and it gently starts accelerating towards the train station.

She does, however, refuse to board the train until the two of you make a quick stop at a post office, where she writes a short letter to your daughter telling her to behave and listen to the maids, and that the two of you will be back soon.

But you don't really mind that last part, since that worry is something that oddly strikes you as refreshingly normal from her. And not long after, the two of you are inside a train, on your merry way to somewhere far away from all of that.

It is important to note, however, that you only bothered to check where the train was going after it started moving, having basically asked the tickets salespony what train was about to leave, and buying two tickets for that one.

The two of you need some time alone, after all. Everything else, you know, is just details.



[It takes two to tango, incremental every +10, minimum of 100 required]

[Roll: 69 (your roll) + 70 (her roll) = 139]



- - -



You have already been to every last pony city in Equestria at least three times, and it is easy to forget that other ponies don't exactly travel around as much as you do for work. So it came as a small bonus when your wife admitted that she had never been Los Pegasus when you arrived five days ago.

The two of you are eating breakfast right now, after having checked out from the hotel you stayed in these last few days, and in all honesty you had missed this sort of thing.

Not the erratic travelling, no, definitely not that. Your wife doesn't do much "traveling", at all, so this is not the sort of experience that is making you reminisce, although you will cherish the memories of these last few days.

What you really missed doing was this, the experience that you are having right now. The simple happiness of having a breakfast with your beautiful wife, as you watch her laugh over something silly that you just said.

"What, do I have something on my face Mr. Chaser?" she asks, waving a hoof at you rather bashfully as she speaks.

You consider saying something extremely corny about her eyes, but you decide against it at the last moment.

Maybe if this was a normal situation back at home, and if you had Silky listening in to further embarrass your wife, you might have said it. But not right now, you think.

You hold her gazer for a few more moments as you take a deep breath, steeling yourself to ask about the final subject that you categorically avoided talking about these last few days.

It was a cute little adventure, of sorts, that the two of you had, going to a city where she had never been to before with nothing but the clothes you had on your backs. That, of course, and a sizeable amount of bits you had brought with you, but still it was something that had the two of you completely out of your elements.

And that helped, you know, grounding both of you, in a way. It helped you realize personally that, in the end, this was still the mare that you love and that you have known through all these years. And it helped her in some way as well, you are sure of it, although you are not really positive of how.

But right now, on this last day of your escapade together, you know that you have to take care of one last little detail.

"So…" you say, watching her beautiful expression go to a more neutral and focused, but still beautiful, tone as she notices the seriousness in your voice, "Selene?"

And with that single word, you voice all the worries and apprehensions that you have inside of you.

To which she purses her lips, and take a deep breath.



[It's not about us, it's about her, breakpoints ??/??]

[Her roll: 59 + 13 (her Diplomacy, GRAIL doubled) + 20 (GRAIL, doubled) = 92]

[More than enough]



But she continues looking into your eyes, even as she holds the deep breath she just took. You wonder what she sees there, you wonder what is going on in her mind right now.

You don't know, but you know what you see in hers.

You lack the words to describe it, you are not even sure if those words exist to begin with. Maybe they do, maybe the last Princess who was crowned a few years ago invented the proper words for that, to describe the muted sea of stars that you see in her eyes, or maybe she didn't invent them.

But whatever name this feeling has, you know that it means that you will trust whatever your wife decides to tell you.

Because you can see in her eyes that she will be honest in whatever she says next, from the depths of her very being.

"Selene…" she says, after letting out a long sigh, "is just a filly."

And you nod at that, a slow and understanding nod.

You remember, and she knows that you remember, all the things she told you, about the group she is a part of, and of her studies, and about who Selene really is. You remember that, but it is exactly because of that that you understand what she means by those words.

Selene might be exactly who she told you, but right now Selene is just a filly.

Or at least, right now, that is all that matters for Velvet Covers.

"She is just a filly, and the only thing she really needs right now is…"

She breaks eye contact with you for a few moments, but you understand why.

You can see her looking around, as if searching for something.

It doesn't make sense, you know, but you know that she is also looking for a word, a word that also doesn't exist.

She is looking for a single word that can, by itself, convey the entire… universe of things that she wants to say, and that she knows that Selene needs.

But naturally, she can't find that single word, so she settles for the closest approximation she can think of.

"She just needs to be loved," your wife says simply. "She needs to be cared for. She needs a family," she continues, reaching out from across the table to take your hoof with her own, "and I couldn't think of a better family that she could be a part of, in all of Equestria, so I brought her with me…"

She takes your hoof between the two of hers, and gives it the lightest of squeezes.

And with just that, you understand everything that she means by it.

Velvet Covers knows what it means to have a bad family around her, as do you. Maybe your upbringing wasn't as convoluted as hers, by far, but in the end the two of you were sold away into marriage, so you can understand that much.

But thanks to the unbelievable luck that the two of you had in meeting each other, followed by the small star of happiness that was Silky Stream after she was borne, the two of you also understood what it means to have a happy family.

She knows that, she realizes that, and regardless of everything else that you might think about Selene, you can tell that what your wife really wants is to give that abandoned filly all of that joy that the three of you built together.

But… you can also see in her eyes one last thing.

It is something obvious, something that she doesn't have to say out loud but that you understand regardless.

You know that it won't be the same thing, that the abandoned filly won't be introduced to that happy little family, if you are not there.

You are an integral part of it, after all, an irreplaceable part of that tight-knit group of ponies that means the world to each other.

And you can feel it, inside your chest, the anger that you had felt this last month flaring up one last time, telling you that it isn't right that she made that decision all by herself, and that she is forcing you to play by her rules. You can feel your pettiness and grievances rearing up their ugly heads, saying that the two of you decided to create a family with Silky, and that it isn't fair that she is practically having somepony else invade it just because.

You feel all those ugly retorts coming to your mind as you look deep into your wife's eyes.

And then they are gone.

Really, you know that you can feel angry about it, if you want. But if you do that... you might also lose sight of what is really important.

You love your wife, you love your daughter, and you want to make the two of them happy. And if the two of them want Selene to enter that equation, then…

Well, then having grievances against it will only make things more complicated.

Besides, who is to say that you won't end up loving her as well? You surely didn't know Velvet when you first met her, and you definitely didn't know what kind of pony Silky would grow up to be when she was borne, so why do you even think that you won't be able to connect with Selene?

After all, you have it in good standing with the best filly in the world that you are a great father, thank you very much, so taking in another daughter will probably be a walk in the park... you hope.

"I see," you say, as you get up from your seat and gently pull her to follow you.

But you know that she understands what is going on in your mind. You can tell it by the look of happiness, and no small amount of relief, that she has on her face as she follows behind you.

"Shall we go back home then?" you ask, nodding towards the exit of the hotel's breakfast hall, "we have two daughters waiting for us back in Ponyville, after all."

"Yes, let's," she says walking by your side, with a beaming smile that you haven't seen in far too long.

And the two of you start the long trek back home, to the family that you have built together.





You rolled well for the final conclusion.

And when it came to the "compromise", your option was for Stormchaser to choose, so he chose what he wanted the most.

He chose the thing that he knows and loves: you.

If he will ever get to know the other part of "you", the one he didn't know until very recently, is another matter entirely. Whether if he even wants to get to know that or not is something that is best left unasked for a good while.

But finally, you think that your husband is happy once again.

And so are you.


Your ordeal with Stormchaser has been resolved. He has decided to ignore your dealings with the occult, and has drawn a line that as long as you are not in danger, and as long as it doesn't involve Silky Stream, he will not let it get to him.

It is safe to say that Stormchaser will be severely unaffected by "suspicion" from now on, when it comes to simple dealings. He will still, however, react as expected if he suspects or finds out that you are doing something morally wrong or illegal.

He views your dealings with the occult as a hobby, so that is not morally wrong or illegal in his eyes… as far as he knows. It is just his wife studying curious magic.

Picking any actions that involves teaching him or Silky Stream about the occult will be viewed as an extreme breach of trust for the foreseeable future. Your lessons to Selene, however, are long-term and subtle enough that you don't have to worry about them. Otherwise, Stormchaser is completely uninterested in anything occult. Otherwise involving him or Silky in anything cult-related, when it is explicitly clear that it involves the occult, will be more of a grey area that might upset him.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Selene, and you are… asleep.

You are vaguely aware of your surroundings, and all of it is comfortable and warm. The curtains of your room are closed shut, not allowing a single ray of sun to pass through them, and you are under several thick and warm blankets, the deepest layer of them being the crocheted ones that you brought back from the place where Mrs. Velvet found you.

You really like this, right now. All of this. The way that you are only dimly conscious, just enough to know that you are warm and happy, together with the slightly coarse feeling of the crochet around you, that for some reason feels incredibly soothing and familiar. That sensation that, although you don't know why, almost feels like there is somepony… hugging you?

There might be a smile on your face, but you are too out of it to be sure of th-


*BLAM*


"WAKE UP!"


But all of that is lost in an instant, as your door is brutally slammed open.

A panicked yelp escapes your lips, the soft covers around you suddenly turning into a tangled mess as you roll around while trying to get your bearings, your confused mind utterly convinced that you are falling towards the ceiling for a few desperate moments.

Whatever sense of balance that you are about to regain is quickly lost, however, as you are assaulted by the sudden feeling of something repeatedly hitting you.

No, not hitting you.

Jumping on your back…?

"Wake up Selene! Wake up wake up wake up!"

You are flat on your bed now, lying on your belly with your legs sprawled around you after your mind finally gave up on trying to understand which way is up and which way is down.

It takes a few more seconds for you to realize that the oddly rhythmic thing jumping on top of you is, in fact, Silky Stream, with the several layers of covers between the two of you turning the weight of her hoofs as they hit you into a soft pat against your back.

Yes, your mind is finally getting its bearings for you to notice that much. What you cannot understand yet, though, is what exactly she is shouting about.

"Wake up! It's time! We have to go! C'mon c'mon c'mon!"

You try to mumble a question as you start disentangling yourself from your bed, but your mind is still too hazy for the words to form properly. But she must have heard you, or at least felt you fumbling around, because you can feel that Silky has stopped jumping and that she flew away from you, followed by the tippy-tappy sound of her excitedly trotting in place right next to your bed.

You finally manage to at least pop your head from underneath your blankets, being immediately greeted by Silky's beaming smile when you do. Your expression is probably the opposite of hers, you idly think, but that doesn't seem to faze her in the slightest.

If anything, her trotting-in-place only grows faster when she finally sees you.

"What?" you manage to ask, your voice hoarse.

"Get up Selene!" is all she answers, and you can tell that it is taking all of her willpower to not grab you from your bed and drag you out of your room, "we have all sorts of things to do today!"

You slowly, slowly, start crawling out of your bed, although you know that you will only stop regretting it a few hours from now.

"Why…? Did anything happen?" you ask, also noticing that the air is surprisingly cold, actually, "and why is it so cold?"

You have no idea why, but for some reason your question makes Silky literally jump in excitement, not even bothering to fall back to the ground as her wings hold her in midair.


"Because today is Hearth's Warming!!!"


And acting as if that answer is supposed to be enough of an explanation to you, Silky simply grabs you by the hoof and finishes dragging you away from your bed, what little willpower she had left in her finally deserting her as she rushes to pull you out of your room, and then down the stairs.

You don't even have the breath to ask her what in Equestria that answer was supposed to mean before the two of you are already on the main hall downstairs.

But when you finally finish descending the stairs, your confusion focuses on something else entirely.

Specifically, you are wondering when exactly they put that giant decorate tree in the middle of the entrance hall, since you are absolutely sure that it wasn't there last night.



- - -



A wave of cheers erupts around you as countless ponies shout their cheers and praises, hoofs clapping against the ground to the point you almost feel like the earth itself is trembling with the joy radiating from everypony present.

You are also amazed, for your own part, but you are not sure how to express it. It takes a few moments for your to realize that your mouth is gaping open, but nopony seems to have even noticed that.

The four of you are standing in the middle of a crowd at the central park of Ponyville, where a great stage had been built and where a group of ponies has just finished singing the last song for the night. You had no idea that it was even possible for ponies to sing that well, and although you had been given a brochure with the lyrics in case you wanted to sing along with he crowd, you simply couldn't take your eyes away from the group for long enough to find what song they were currently singing.

You are still wide-eyed at the spectacle. The entire day, in fact, has been a sequence of things that, to put it simply, didn't give you a single moment of pause.

It began with Silky waking you up, of course, with three times the usual energy that she seems to have. But her rush to bring you downstairs soon made sense. There was the tree in the entrance hall, sure, but there was also Mr. Stormchaser and Mrs. Velvet waiting there, smiling while they sipped from mugs filled with hot chocolate.

Calmly sitting next to a small mountain of wrapped boxes.

You have been living with them for some time now, less then two months, and their family has already given you a lot of things. Way more things than you are comfortable with, or that you even know how to thank them for. They gave you a house to live in, and your own room, and all other sorts of things.

They also care for you, although you have no idea why considering how Mr. Stormchaser and Mrs. Velvet literally fought when you first arrived. And as if that wasn't enough, Silky also… well, Silky is also there for you.

You know that they have already given you far more than you deserve, or that you will ever be able to give them back.

So it goes without saying that… well, that you had no idea how to react when they sat you down by the decorated tree, and Mrs. Velvet floated three of the wrapped boxes towards you.

It was strange. They had already given you so much, but for some reason you couldn't help but think that that moment was also the first time you had ever received a "gift".

And then there was the storytelling by the fireplace, and then you all went out together for you to find out that the world was covered in soft and white snow, and then you went to the houses of some of Mrs. Velvet's and Silky's friends where they joined in with your group, and then you went all together to the central park of the town where a giant festival was going on, and then, and then…

Well, a lot more things happened, and now you are here, holding on to Mrs. Velvet's back so you can see better over the crowd, with Silky right next to you sitting on top of Mr. Stormchaser.

You also have to point out that, for all the snow and cold going on, you couldn't be warmer, seeing that you are currently wearing the gifts that you received on the beginning of the day. Silky's gift is the red scarf that you have around your neck, that seems to closely resemble the ones she and Mr. Stormchaser are also wearing. Mrs. Velvet gave you the dress you are wearing, dark colored to go with your coat and with several ruffles that, by her own words, "makes you look like a cute doll". And Mr. Stormchaser gave you a set of shinny horseshoes with small feather-like details graved on their sides.

Mrs. Velvet is also a bit warm as you hold on to her, of course. That surely helps.

"So? What did you think?" and speaking of which, Mrs. Velvet's voice snaps you back to the present, as you finally tear your eyes away from the stage and look down towards her.

"I…" you try to answer, realizing that at some point your mouth had gone wide open again. You shake your head a little before trying again, "I didn't know that anypony could sing so well… They were all so talented at it."

The crowd slowly starts to disperse around you, but still not enough for you or Silky to be able to dismount from the grown-ups, so they simply start walking away as well while carrying the two of you.

"Well, it is true that they practiced a lot," Mr. Stormchaser says, agreeing with you, "but they are not as talented as you think."

You tilt your head at that, not really sure of what Mr. Stormchaser meant by that. You are pretty sure, after all, that all those singers were amazing. Beyond amazing, even!

But for some reason, he simply laughs when he sees your quizzical expression.

"No, I don't mean it like that Selene," he says, "they can all sing very well, but there's two things that set them apart and that made them go up on that stage tonight. The first is that they put a lot of hard work into training, so it wasn't all just talent. Nopony is good at everything, and I'm sure that most of them don't even have cutie marks that are about music, so there was a lot of time and hoofwork on that show as well."

"He's right, dear. Rarity was up on the stage, remember?" Mrs. Velvet joins in on the conversation, "that's why we parted ways from her and Sweetie right before the show began. And as cute as her cutie mark is, it surely doesn't have the first thing to do with how well she can sing."

You can't help but mumble a low "ohhh…" at that.

"And second, again, nopony is good at everything," Mr. Stormchaser says once again, "that's why they were working together as a group."

"As a group? You mean the band they were all in, Mr. Stormchaser?" you ask, trying to make sense of what he was talking about, "so you are saying that they can all sing well together because… none of them can sing that well?"

This time you hear Mrs. Velvet laugh a little bit, and you feel your cheeks warm up at that, since you clearly just asked something extremely silly.

"It's called a choir dear, and well… it's a little bit of what you said, but it's honestly a lot more than just that," she says, looking up at you as she walks. "It's all about teamwork, really. Remember how some of them only sang some of the notes because of how deep of high their voices were? Well, thanks to having the rest of their friends there, thanks to the rest of the choir, they could all practice only the parts and notes of the music that they were really good at, so they could give us this show tonight."

"Yes, and more than that," Mr. Stormchaser continues without skipping a beat, "I can guarantee you that some of them were very scared of walking onstage. But having their friends there with them gave them the courage they needed. Both because they trust each other, and because they know that they each… how can I say it… Well, they each complement their friend's weaknesses, so to speak."

Ohhh… yes, it does make sense, you think, when they say it like that.

"Yeah! Just like how a family is supposed to be!" Silky speaks up, saying that with a smile on her face.

And you see all three of them smiling at that, her parents nodding at what she just said.

You can't help but smile at that, seeing them all together and happy.


But still…


Well, still, you can't really say that you are smiling with them.

After all, they might care for you, and be there for you, and give you all these incredible gifts. But deep down…

Deep down you know that you are not really one of them. Silky is your friend, of course, your very best friend in the whole world. But you understand, for some reason, that you are not really a part of their happy fam-

"Yes, that's why choirs work so well, because they are like that," Mrs. Velvet says, interrupting your thoughts while, for some unknown reason, her calm smile turns rather…

Rather mischievous?

"Being there for each other, helping out with the parts that the others aren't so good at, giving each other courage. Just like our family. You can even say that we are like a little choir, so to speak, and that's why it works so well," she continues, as if she somehow had read the thoughts you were having just now.

You see her horn glow in front of you, and on the next moment you and Silky are glowing as well, Mrs. Velvet using her magic to gently float the two of you so you would swap places.

Now you are sitting on Mr. Stormchaser's back, and Silky is on Mrs. Velvet's.

But why did she just…?

"The same way…" she calmly continues speaking, as Mr. Stormchaser sits down on the ground while Mrs. Velvet walks to stand in front of him. "The same way that you can count on us, Selene, because you are part of our family now."

You feel Mr. Stormchaser lean down slightly, to the point where you are on Mrs. Velvet's eye level.

And only now do you realize that Silky, just like her mother, also has that same wry smile on her face.

Although a part of you is conflicted at what Mrs. Velvet just said, a much larger part of you is simply confused at what exactly is going on.

"So, dear Selene, consider this our warm and loving welcome, for joining our little choir," she says as, for some reason, she uses her magic to gently make sure that the scarf around your neck is tight.

"Silky dear, is your sister's scarf properly tied?" she asks.

And for some reason some instinct of yours that you can't explain is telling you that something is about to happen. You have no idea of what, but you can feel your heart starting to beat faster now.

"Yes mommy. She's ready for takeoff!" Silky answers, after carefully looking at your scarf for a few moments.

Wait a second…

Takeoff?!



The next moment, you see Mr. Stormchaser opening both his wings on your sides,, and you barely have enough time to grab at the back of his neck before he flaps them down, sending the two of you flying towards the skies.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You watch as your husband abruptly takes to the skies, with Selene holding on to him for dear life while she screams.

You feel a laugher forming inside your chest, and you try to hold it in. You fail, however, when Silky herself starts laughing while on your back.

The two of you laugh for a few more moments as you see the pair break through the snow clouds and away from your sight.

Heavens, you are glad this all worked out.

The dress itself that you gifted her, made by Rarity of course, is insulated for flight, but you also know that the scarf, Silky's gift, will ensure that Selene won't feel any cold.

It is, after all, a scarf for flying, the kind that Silky and your husband always wear when they go out in this kind of weather. You know that it is an unusual present for a non-pegasus filly, but Selene didn't know enough about this sort of thing to catch on to the ruse earlier today, when she opened the gift.

The horseshoes, as well, are the enchanted kind for cloud-walking, so you are sure that soon enough she and Stormchaser will settle down on the top of those clouds. After he finishes pirouetting her through the night sky, of course.

Sure, it strains and pushes at your every instinct to know that your non flying filly daughter is currently away from the range of your levitation magic, but… Well, this was Stormchaser's idea, and Silky wholeheartedly agreed with it, so you suppose you can bear with it.

For a few more minutes, at least.

"Mommy," you hear your daughter calling you from your back, and you already know what she is about to ask even before she says it, "can I go as well? Pleeeease?"

You let out a sigh. You knew this would happen, of course, and you categorically dislike having your daughter go to that sort of altitude unaccompanied. And already you can feel the slight knot forming in your heart as you prepare to say the only answer that you can really give. But... you also know that, deep down, you don't really have a choice.

You can't deny her this moment, not when she was born with wings.

"Promise you'll fly straight up until you reach the clouds," is all you say, before the small ball of happiness on your back thanks you between cheers and zips towards the sky.

Causing the knot on your chest to become a lot tighter, of course, but you do your best to not let it show on your face as you watch her disappear in the lightless sky.

Well, nopony ever said that being a mother was always comfortable.

"I did notice that you three were planning something," you hear a voice coming from next to you, "but I didn't think it would be this."

You turn towards Filthy Rich, seeing Diamond Tiara riding on his back as well. The filly still has her eyes turned towards the clouds, and you think that perhaps she was just a little scared at how loudly Selene screamed when your husband took her away, but you can tell from Rich's humored expression that the surprise wasn't really that startling.

"Well, she has a father and a sister who are pegasi," you say with a smile, "so she'd better get used to that sort of thing."

Rich chuckles at that, and the two of you follow the crowd as you all head out of the park. You know it will get colder soon enough since, from what Stormchaser told you, the clouds have a full week's worth of snow that will fall down every night. So everypony knows that they ought to get home sooner rather than later.

"And I have to say," he continues, although you can feel that he is being rather careful with his words, "that it was a very nice thing of you to take in little Selene. She's lucky to have you three."

You nod at that, understanding why he is being rather roundabout when it comes to that sort of thing.

Not because of you or your family, you know, but because of his.

After all, when you dropped by his mansion for them to join in with your family, you did notice that his wife was nowhere to be seen. A part of you even started to think that he was perhaps a widower, until he offered a small remark about how he "asked if his wife wanted to come with, and that she gave him a few choice words about the festival as a whole before refusing", so she wouldn't be coming with that day.

He also mumbled something about him not having told her that your family was going to the festival with him and his daughter, but at that point Silky had tackled Diamond so the subject changed rather abruptly.

You realize, then, that his choice of words and hesitation is because his own family is rather… well, you understand.

"We are the lucky ones, I think, for having her," you answer, before turning to face him as well, "as we are all lucky to be your friends, Rich," you say with a smile, "you too Diamond, thank you for being Silky's friend."

The filly doesn't know how to respond, but you can see Filthy Rich smiling at that. A complicated smile, sure, but one that you can tell that deep down is honestly warm.

It makes you a little worried, truth be told, as you can clearly see that Rich and his daughter seem to have some sort of real problem… Diamond is your daughter's friend, and you honestly think that Rich is a good stallion so you care for him as well, so it surely is something that you might want to take a closer look at.

But… not right now.

Today is Hearth's Warming. Tonight is a night that you all ought to be happy.

Worrying can come later.

"Oh, and I think some of the stalls haven't closed for the night yet," you say, seeing his daughter's eyes light up at that, "so why don't we get something hot and sweet to drink before we head back to our homes?"

You see Rich's smile grow at that, as he looks up to his daughter and says a very badly faked "I don't know… what do you think dear?", to which Diamond Tiara answers with a very obvious "Yes!"

And with that, the three of you head towards the warmth of the food stands around the park, while the night slowly deepens around you, and your youngest daughter plays on the cloud-tops for the first time in her life.





The first lesson, taught in innocence, was the certainty that there is one who will always be there for her, no matter what.

The second lesson, taught in warmth, is that more will be there for her, if she but accepts them.

Selene's Winter is now level two.

And more importantly, Selene now has a family.



He is a good father, and a dedicated husband, but something tells you that there might be a waste in some of his efforts. At least, you hope, he will consider asking you for help if he really needs it… although something tells you that by his very nature, he is not the kind of stallion that easily asks for help. You are now Friends with Filthy Rich.



This is a gift. Written during a New Year past.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Solid Foundations V3
-[X][Attention of the Laws] GRAIL, to help with bridging the gap between us and Stormchaser.
-[x][Work] A measured commitment (6 personal actions available)
-[x][Purchase Books] KNOCK 3, FORGE 1, MOTH 1
-[X][Selene] EDGE if the lesson with Comet Feet is successful, KNOCK otherwise
-[x][Servants] Search for Books in Manehattan
-[x] Read books: FORGE 2, KNOCK 2, KNOCK 3.
-[x] Reach out to Copper Secateur. You wish you'd caught up with her sooner, especially after that close call she had - how is she?
-[X] Reach out to Comet Feet. It is your duty to learn, and you've had a hard time locating books that can teach you about EDGE. Can he give you another lesson before he goes?
-[x] Reach out to Twilight. You did say you were looking forward to hearing her findings, after all.
-[X] Meeting with Stormchaser (write in)
-[X] Help Convince Stormchaser (his choice of a lesson in Lore, meeting Copper and Starry, or just simply time spent together)

- - -

You have purchased a number of books. 44 bits have been deduced from your personal savings

You have recently read that 10 Royal Guards never returned from the Forbidden Jungle while on the search for Princess Luna. Reading these, now monthly, news is not becoming any easier for you.



- - -



This is a little bit of a new experience for you.

You have been able to "read" things with your hoofs for a few weeks now, but you have been giving yourself time to adjust to this new… thing.

What are you even supposed to call it? A secret? An ability? A skill? It is somewhat difficult to describe it because whenever you do it, it feels obvious and simple, to the point that you sometimes wonder why you never tried doing this before your whole life. But when you try to mentally explain how you are able to do it, whether you are pretending to talk to somepony about it or even when you try to write down instructions on how somepony else might do it, you realize you are at a loss for words.

It feels like an entire new sense, of sorts. It is something you can do, and that you know how it works, but you can't explain it with words any more than you can teach somepony to look through their eyes or listen with their ears.

Yes, of course, the air vibrates and your ears pick that up, that's how you hear. But simply saying that everything refracts the light of Glory in the Wake, as it leaks in through the air, and that you simply have to read said refraction… is not exactly a useful instruction that a pony can put into practice.

This, you figure, is exactly what your Master meant when she said that "everything has a taste"…

Anyhow. You have been able to do this for a few weeks now, but so far you have been "testing" it, so to speak, in order to learn exactly how much you are capable of doing with it.

It is important to note, however, that these tests have not been made out of skepticism. You know that you can trust that sense the same way that you can (or, when anything Magical is involved, can't) trust your eyes and your ears. Your tests didn't involve reading a page with your hoof, and then rereading it with your eyes "just to make sure", because…



Actually, you realize with a start, why didn't you do that?



Scientifically speaking, you feel stupid. Everything you know about magic has taught you that new spells and mysterious phenomena must be extensively studied, and yet you didn't do something as simple as double checking that you are actually reading what is written in a page.

And yet you know that you don't need to do that because…!

"Heavens, this is frustrating," you say out loud, sitting on the chair of your office.

Your Master has once told you that Lantern is about understanding everything, while Moth is about understanding nothing at all. And this gnaws at you.

This frustration gnaws at you because you know just enough about Lantern to grasp at this new skill, and yet you do not know enough to completely understand it…

Or this frustration might just be the Moth inside of you repeatedly flying against the light of this knowledge you now have, making a tink-tink-tink noise that might yet drive you insane.

"You know what? I just don't care," you say to yourself, eyeing the pile of reports you have already gone through and deciding that if there are any mistakes you have made by relying on your new Lantern-touch, then your father's accountant will surely let you know by means of an extensively disappointed report.

But if you keep dwelling on that, if you keep trying to understand exactly "why" this thing works, you won't get anything done.

You ought to simply understand "how much" it works, so that you can use it to its full potential. For now, at least, this feels a lot more useful, or at least it feels like you are going somewhere or making a little bit of progress.

And besides, trying to give a neat and proper explanation to something that has metaphysical properties is a very quick way to insanity.

With that, you float a new set of scrolls and quills towards you, as well as the books that you will try to turn into reports for the benefit of the Bright Library… and yourself, of course.



You usually take a few days to read through a single book, since more often than not you read when you have nothing else to do while working. You mostly read during those rare moments where you can do nothing but wait for a batch of reports to be corrected by your employees, or when you order the inventories to be counted.

Which means that you don't usually have much time to read. Unless you decide to do it during your own free time, of course, but between your family and all the other things you need to take care of, those are also somewhat rare.

Still, you took… a lot less time than expected to go through the books you picked.

It still took you a few days, and several hours of concentrated effort to write down your thoughts about what you had just read. However it still took you less time than you would have needed to read through half of that, had you used only your eyes.

This was also a learning experience.

You started with the largest of the three books, the Ophidiae Encyclopediae, which you thought had a needlessly wordy title. The book itself was very in-depth, though, so you hoof-read your way through it with a growing interest on the subject.

That is, until you got to the anatomical illustrations.

The illustrations weren't badly drawn. Quite on the contrary, they were thorough and detailed. Too detailed, in fact. To the point where you got a splitting headache as soon as your Lantern-touch reached the part of the book where the diagrams and illustrations were.

It took you a while to realize what had happened, but it seems that… it seems that you don't so much "read" the book, even when there are words to be read, as much as you "absorb knowledge".

But words are tame things. Most of the time they only ever mean one thing, being that which is written, and very rarely they will mean two or three things at once, something that you feel mostly when you try to read poetry with your Lantern-touch, or some particularly cleverly-worded text.

The anatomical diagrams, however, were crammed with knowledge, so much so that where you had to drop the book a few moments after you felt them.

You found an equilibrium of sorts, in the end, where you paged through the more complex parts of the book with your eyes, while you read the rest with your hoofs. Everything went a lot better from that point onwards, and after you nursed your head back to a less throbbing and painful state.

But let it not be said that the only thing you learned was about your most recent skill. Quite on the contrary.

Snakes are interesting, sure, although you wouldn't much appreciate being face to face with most of them. The details about how several tunnels were dug on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, which you learned from the second book you read, were also… interesting, so to speak.

However, after you finished reading both of those books, and started putting your thoughts into paper, you started seeing a few connections here and there. Connections about how both snakes and trains move, and about how poison is delivered through an opening, as well as several other things. You put them all down on a scroll, feeling like you were slowly putting together a large puzzle with every line you wrote, and you bound and hid away said scroll shortly after you finished writing it.

The very last lines of the text you wrote had a small remark from you, a small tidbit of wondering that struck you as odd. You remember writing down that the mountain that houses Canterlot is, in fact, more useful due to its tunnels.

An obvious statement at first glance, for sure, but you couldn't help but wonder how much that little phrase might change if instead of "tunnels" you thought about them as "wounds".

"Huh…" you remember saying out loud, as that small realization dawned on you.

That mountain was merely a mountain, until it was wounded and became so much more. It then became a haven, and a passage, and a gate to the heart of a kingdom.

So you couldn't help but wonder… if wounds, when correctly applied, could perform such changes in a mountain, what transformations might a pony's body undergo, if correctly wounded?

And what exactly might those "correct" wounds be like?

Those questions remained stuck on your head even long after you hid the scroll away.



But after that, armed with the knowledge that diagrams and drawings might contain more knowledge than you initially thought, you approached the final book a lot more carefully.



You thought it would be a dull read, after all you already knew a thing or two about farming equipment to begin with, although you still hoped to gain some insight on how machines as a whole operate by reading that book.

However, when you reached a particularly unassuming chapter, which had some diagrams about a simple cog-based mechanism, you certainly didn't expect that…

That when you slowly, carefully tried passing your hoof over that diagram, since it looked so basic and simple…

You certainly didn't expect that you would see something so beautiful.

Maybe it was the perfection of its simplicity.

Maybe it was because the small piece of equipment that chapter was dedicated to explaining was, somehow, close to how things of much grander designs work.

You don't know.

All that you know is that you put the book down right after, and immediately started writing about how the sunrise and sunset might work, if the sun had to be moved through the skies by a machine.

Because even if said machine had to be forged by a god, its principles would still be understandable by mortals.

And something tells you that you caught a glimpse of that.

Spoiler: Rolls

[Reading a Level 2 FORGE book, CD 50]

[Roll: 100 + 14 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) + 15 (LANTERN bonus) + 20 (Level 2 book) = 154]

[Critical success, rolling bonus]


[Reading a Level 2 KNOCK book, CD 70]

[Roll: 51 + 14 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) + 15 (LANTERN bonus) + 20 (Level 2 book) = 105]


[Reading a Level 3 KNOCK book, CD 70]

[Roll: 16 + 14 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) + 15 (LANTERN bonus) + 30 (Level 3 book) = 80]

You have gained two scraps of KNOCK Lore by reading two books.

KNOCK is now Level 3!

You have gained two scraps of FORGE Lore by reading a single book.

FORGE is now level 1!

You have done more than learn about simple mechanisms and gears. What you did was gain true insight on why it is that things move. Gain one extra scrap of FORGE Lore. Your report on this book will have double weight at the Bright Library.

FORGE is now level 2!



- - -



It is late in the afternoon, during that time of the day when the shadows are starting to stretch, and evening is fast approaching. You have finished writing your notes on the books you read a few days ago, and you have been waiting for an opportune moment to head to the Wildhoof Club to deliver them.

Of course, you could have gone there at any time during the last few days, but you have been waiting for something in particular to happen. Specifically, you have been waiting for a day in which you remember also meeting Copper while you are at the Club. You know she goes there frequently, but you simply haven't had the time to catch up with her, bar the short moments when you meet after seeing your Master. But, rather understandably, the two of you are usually too busy or worried with other things to be able to talk properly.

Something that you are about to remedy, you think, as you recall the image of Copper sitting in the Red Bar having a drink.

It still feels weird, to have a memory that your mind tells you is from "a few seconds ago" in which you were in another place. Maybe that sort of thing would feel less alien if you knew how to teleport, you think, as that sort of skill might help you get used to changing the scenery around you so abruptly.

But you don't know how to teleport, and even if you did you doubt that you would be able to cover such large distances.

And so, while idly thinking about the several times that you failed to enter the School for Gifted Unicorns when you were younger, you finish taking the scrolls you had hidden away in you office, carefully place them inside your saddle purse, and head out through the front door of your estate.

It is only when you are halfway to the Club, trotting down the streets of Ponyville, that you realize that you forgot to tell anypony that you were leaving.

Well, nothing you can do about it anymore. Besides every now and then the sun will simply sit on the horizon for a few more hours than it should while patiently waiting for the sunset to happen, so there is a very real possibility that you will be back home before night actually falls.

You walk into the Wildhoof Club, and you can't help but notice that it is unusually empty. You see at most a few ponies in the entrance hall, along with the usual staff, and something tells you that everypony present is a member of the cult, with no sign of the usual non-member clientele that you have already seen crowd the place.

Well, Ponyville is a small-ish town, and you are not here during one of the peak hours, so this is more than understandable.

Still, this makes your job a lot easier, to the point where you don't even have to jog your not-memories to find out where Copper Secateur is. After all, she is right there by the counter of the bar, sipping from something.

Seeing her with your own eyes, however, is a lot different from the glimpses you had from your memories.

Copper is sitting by the bar, yes, but there are at least four other ponies, the bartender included, practically orbiting around her. She seems to be in the middle of saying something, as she swirls her glass with a hoof like a cat would lazily toy with a ball of yarn. Other passersby, club staff or otherwise, also seem to linger for a few moments whenever they walk near her, and you even see some of them shake their heads, or sometimes sigh, before continuing with their activities.

As you approach her, you realize that you can't really blame those ponies for acting like that. The closer you get to her, the more you realize that there is something about Copper that is simply… well, she simply feels interesting. Her words, even if you cannot yet make out what she is saying, seem to linger in your ears for a few seconds more than they should, leaving a tingling sensation behind. Her body, as well, doesn't merely "look" attractive so much as it "tells you" that it is attractive.

Most interesting, however, is that you can feel that this is not the effect of an Influence. Or rather, you can't feel an Influence about her. This, all of this, is all her.

Part of you wonders just how deep in Grail she must be already, or exactly when she started feeling like that, but then you also remember that…

Well, that the only ponies of the Inner Circle who you have spoken to for an appreciable amount of time recently were Comet Feet and Jade Whistle. And the former was covered in an Influence the last time you saw him, while the latter was not really in a good mental state for you to be able to notice anything. Your thoughts then shift to wonder if Starry might also give you an impression like Copper is giving you right now, and you begin to question yourself if you missed anything strange about Windy, since you also spoke to him not long ago.

But still, as much as you feel somewhat surprised right now, something tells you that she has already been like this for a while now.

And also, you think for a moment longer…

This might be a strange thing to ask yourself, but you shortly wonder if this is how it feels like, to be able to feel the effects of something subtle around a pony. After all you are, and perhaps this might be something bad, too used to the overwhelming presence of your Master, perhaps even to the point that you might have failed to notice the more subtle changes happening to the other members of the Inner Circle around you.

And these strange thoughts, this concern that things might be changing faster than you realize, only grows deeper when you realize that this same failure to notice things might also apply to yourself.

After all, you just realized that you are already standing right behind one of the ponies who is listening to Copper, and yet nopony has noticed yet that you have gotten this close already.

Even worse, however, is that you didn't mean to approach them unnoticed. Consciously, at least…

You let out a muted sigh at that thought. How much have you changed already? How have these little things been affecting you day by day, subtly, without you noticing?

And when will it stop? Is it possible that one year from now you wouldn't even be able to recognize yourself if you looked back?

You shake your head, banishing those thoughts away. Now is not the time to wonder about that sort of thing.

Although you do hope that those who are around you, your family most importantly, have not started to notice that…

Another sigh escapes your lips. But right after that, you draw your breath and raise your voice.

"Am I interrupting a fan club meeting of sorts?" you ask, stepping into the empty space that appeared between two of her listeners for a split second, while they were laughing at something she had said.

To which the group as a whole reacts almost immediately. You hear quite a few gasps and yelps of surprise, and the bartender who was listening in, and who had not taken his eyes away from Copper until this very moment, nearly drops the bottle he was holding.

Copper, for her own part, just smiles at you, a genuinely friendly smile.

"Velvet dear, what a pleasant surprise! I thought I felt a fresh pair of eyes looking at me," she says, waving a hoof towards the barstool right by her side, "won't you take a seat? I don't think I've ever seen you here when you're not on business."

She doesn't even seem to register that the barstool she pointed at is currently occupied by one of the ponies who was listening to her.

"You are here for something other than business, right?"

Or rather, the seat by her side was occupied by somepony. The stallion who is sitting there gets up a few moments later, wearing a complicated expression on his face.

The whole group, you realize, is wearing rather curious expressions.

Except for Copper, of course.

The stallions around you seem to be shocked, looking at you wide-eyed in surprise. However, their shock seems to be actively battling against their urge to at the very least steal a few glances at Copper every now and then.

Heavens, even the pony who just got up from the place Copper invited you to sit at seems… regretful? He seems to be partially regretting having to stand up from his place next to her, and partially dreading that she might be somehow disapproving of him for having been there to begin with. Like a stallion who was trying to pick up a mare in a bar, and just received a "I'm reserving that seat to my friend" to the face.

But while you are not sure how to address this whole situation, Copper seems to be more than in control of it. She seems to be relishing it, in fact.

"Well, I came here to deliver a few things I wrote to the Bright Library," you say, nodding at your saddle purse, "but truth be told, that's just a bonus. I actually came because of you."

You internally raise an eyebrow at your own choice of words, and you can't help but notice that a part of you, small as it may be, wants to be infatuated with her as well.

For a few moments you consider taking a deep breath to center yourself, but you decide not to.

After all, you can tell that this thing you are feeling is not being caused by something malicious on her part. And you really are here just to have a chat with her, so putting your guard up to begin with seems like the wrong hoof to put forward.

Whatever it is that you are feeling, you understand that causing it is a natural part of your friend, now.

This is the nature of change, after all. Copper has grown, so to speak, and this is how things will be around her from now on.

"Do you mind, boys?" she says, addressing the stallions around you after giving you an understanding nod, "us mares would like to have a little girl chat right now."

And with that, the group immediately disperses. You see several apologetic expressions, some of them downright disappointed, while a few of them even give her a few parting words wishing her a good evening, in a tone that you can tell is veering a lot more towards adulation than simple goodbyes.

The bartender, as well, suddenly becomes very interested in cleaning a few glasses on the far side of the counter, but you see him sneaking a few glances towards you and Copper every now and then.

"Impressive," is all you can say, as you watch her take another sip from her drink.

"Well, I try my best," she answers with a pleased smile, "we've all been busy, but the best part is that we have been picking up a few things along the way, isn't it?" she finishes, giving you a wink.

You slowly nod at that, agreeing wholeheartedly.

You also smile softly, feeling a little giddy at the wink she just gave you.

"Speaking of busy, how have you been? We haven't been able to sit down and just chat in a long while," you ask, partially recalling how the two of you would talk a lot more frequently back when the cult was smaller.

"Everything has been fine, really. And you do have a point," she says, idly clinking her glass with a hoof as she thinks for a few moments, "when was the last time we just stopped to chat? It feels like it was just yesterday, but it must have been… quite a while, now that I think about it, with all this juggling that we have been involved with as of late."

"It was several months ago, at least," you answer, watching her grimace for a few moments.

Also, even her grimace looks pleasant, somehow. Giving you a slight urge to simply fawn over her until she is back to smiling again… very curious, you note.

"I guess time does fly when you have things to do," she says, almost as if speaking to herself.



And with that, the two of you begin to chat.



Much to your relief, despite the uncanny and subtle urges you feel towards her every now and then, the conversation you have really does feel a lot like it did back then. You ask her how things are going at work, and she asks you how your family is going, and then the two of you start gossiping about some idle things that have happened in Ponyville and beyond.

However, at some point while you are chatting you realize that… that this does feels too much like how you used to talk to her.

You realize, although you manage to hide it well enough, that the two of you have not talked about anything that might be truly relevant. It suddenly dawns at you that every time the conversation starts steering towards certain subjects, Copper deftly starts talking about something else.

To name a few things… so far, you haven't been able to directly ask her, for example, how she felt about the aftermath of the ritual that happened months ago, or about the Master's latest decrees of what the cult must do in order to achieve success. You haven't even been able to ask her about how her recent efforts to draw in new recruits have been going.

You couldn't even find a way to wedge in a question about how her preparations for her departure to Manehattan are progressing.

This, you see, is the sort of maneuvering with words that you have already seen happening several times. Heavens it is something that you have already done sometimes, the pleasant and subtle kind of smooth talking in which nothing is really said.

She has been leading you around on this conversation, there is no other way to describe it.



The only thing you don't know, however, is rather if Copper is doing this consciously… or if is doing this without realizing it. Maybe she doesn't want to talk about those subjects, and the things she knows about Grail have been making her act like this without the mare herself noticing it.

Only one way to find out, you think. Now that you've seen through it, it's only a matter of interrupting her and driving the subject home.



"Actually, Copper," you say, narrowing your eyes slightly, "I have to get something out of my chest, now that we are here."

You make sure your tone is a little strained as you say it, somewhat apologetic. You even lower your voice as you speak, showing that you'd rather this just stayed between the two of you.

"A few months back I recall that you had your plate rather full when it came to your assignments from the Master. I know we all had a lot to do, but I really wish I had been able to help you, with whatever you had to do on that whole…" you look around, waving a hoof at the entire club around you, "investigation thing."

And then you see it. For the slightest moment, her pleasant complexion seems to become somewhat… strained. Yes, strained seems to be the only way you can describe it.

But a second later, that slight slip is gone as if it had never existed.

"Oh, that?" she asks, taking a hoof to her mouth to cover a short laugher.

You can feel some sort of tension rising inside of you, as you can't help but swear that her laugher is absolutely genuine. You wouldn't have had any idea that she meant something else if you had not noticed that slight slip right now.

But still, if she can even fake something like that, if she can be that genuine whenever she wants, what else might have you missed then?

"That was nothing, Velvet. Besides, you had far grander things to do, didn't you? And I managed things on my end just fine. Why, I'd say it was almost easy to sort that whole mess up!" she says.

She lies, actually.

You know that she is lying, because the only thing that comes to your mind is how rattled she looked, when she reported her results to the Master a few months back. You can almost swear that she described the whole ordeal as "nearly disastrous".

And it also strikes you that she doesn't know you can see through the darkness of the Woods, during those meetings. So she surely doesn't know that you could see her face back then.

Yes… you are sure of it. She definitely has something on her mind, and she has spent this entire conversation dancing around and avoiding it. In fact, she spent this entire conversation avoiding everything of any relevance.

She looked troubled back then… and you are almost sure that she also looked trouble just now, during that split second that her expression slipped.

The problem is that you have no idea why that might be.

Oh dear…

"One moment Velvet, I think those are…" but before you can say anything else, she looks over your shoulder towards another group of ponies. You turn around to see a mare and a stallion, talking to a rather nervous looking pony near the entrance of the Club. "Those two are mine… and I think they're trying, and failing, to sweet talk somepony into…"

She lets out a sigh, an honest sigh that is both humored and slightly annoyed. The clear expression of a pony who has just seen her apprentices not reaching her expectations, and who has to intervene sooner rather than later.

You also wonder how much of that sigh is honest.

It rattles you that you have no idea.

"Well, I'd better go there and take care of it before they frighten that pony too much," she says, flashing you a smile as she gets off her seat, "I did love our chat Velvet. And I hope we can have more like this in the future."

She is gone a few moments later, not even waiting for you to say your goodbyes or anything else.

There is clearly something going on.

But between her alluring smile and she way she knows how to talk, you are not sure if you will be able to find out what it is. Not from her, at least.

You watch her as she heads towards the trio, and the nervous looking pony immediately reacts to her mere presence as she approaches. She then begins to talk to said pony like the two of them were long time friends, any prior nervousness quickly forgotten.

You purse your lips at that, watching as a few more ponies gather around her not long after, seeing her revel in…

Didn't Jade Whistle mention that she felt like Copper needed to look interesting…?

You shake your head at that, getting off your own seat and heading upstairs to leave the recently written scrolls at the Bright Library.

And you are away from the Wildhoof Club, completely unnoticed, not long after.

Spoiler: Rolls

[Having a small sip, breakpoints 30/60/100]

[Roll: 63 + 12 (Diplomacy) + 10 (GRAIL bonus) + 5 (Beautiful) = 90]

[Success. You notice there is something bothering, or wrong with, Copper Secateur]


[Getting a read on her, CD 60]

[Roll: 79 + 12 (Intrigue) = 91]

[Success. You realize her avoidances while you talked were intentional, not accidental or subconscious.]

There is definitely something troubling Copper Secateur, to the point where she completely avoided talking about anything cult-related, anything recent at least, and happily chatted about the "good old times" when things were calmer.

You do not, however, have any idea of what it might be. After all, she avoided talking about everything, not just her… experience, or whatever else might have happened while she tried to deal with the investigations a few months back.

You are also not sure of how much she outclasses you when it comes to talking or reading ponies. After all words, you remembered almost too late, are her weapons of choice. That, and if anywhere is a place that might be her domain, it is the Red Bar.

Still... as much as you might have forgotten how good with words Copper is, the fact remains that you weren't expecting that you would "duel" her to begin with... You will certainly be more attentive, the next time, now that you know that something is bothering your friend enough that she decided to act like that towards you.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You arrive at your estate just as the sun finishes setting on the horizon, although, in all honesty, you are not really sure if the sunset happened on schedule or not.

That is to say, you won't exactly be surprised if you discover that it is a lot later than you think it is, once you step into the entrance hall and check the large clock that you have there. But who knows, maybe your worryingly idle chat with Copper didn't really last that long.

You pass the open gate and stroll down through the garden as you make your way to the front door. The sun has already set fully, and the lantern posts spread around the garden have not been lit ever since you moved into this estate, since they are meant to illuminate the whole place for social events and whatnot, so you can safely walk with your eyes closed knowing that you are fully covered in darkness.

Nopony will be able to notice it, even if by chance they look out through a window, and this way you can appreciate the beauty of the well-trimmed trees around you. You have a smile on your face when you finally reach the front door.

Of course, you know what is really important in your life, you know that you would trade away your status, riches and everything else in a heartbeat if it meant, say, that you would be able to keep your family and friends.

But still, living in a large mansion and having a nice garden are still things you can appreciate.

You stop walking, standing before the front door as you idly think about all of that. However, for some reason another thought is lazily floating inside your mind, together with everything else.

This door before you, you know, is locked.

There is nothing unusual about that thought, no weird or uncanny connotations to it, no eldritch shadows surrounding it like a mantle, no subtle strangeness whatsoever.

Except for the fact that… well, that you don't usually think about that sort of thing, you don't usually think about little details like that, especially not one that is so specific as "this door is locked".

That is what strikes you as odd, if nothing else.

"Also, how is it that can I tell…?" you think out loud, voicing the half-formed question that followed that unusual thought.

And you can't help but raise an eyebrow at that.

Really, how can you say that this door is locked? Well, you know that it is, but what gave it away?

Night has just fallen, and you were away from your home, so it would be perfectly reasonable for the servants to not yet have locked the door as they awaited your return. Sure, everypony knows that you carry the keys with you, but leaving the entrance door unlocked for you could have been done as a matter of principle.

It's all a silly wondering, you know, this that you are doing right now. But still, it is a large and solid door, and one that definitely does not have anything on its making that would give away rather if it is locked or not at first glance, so you can't help but ask yourself how…

You take a step back, then another, then another. You keep walking backwards until you are standing at the center of the garden, and you can see the entirety of the estate's front side.

You glance at the door, and then at the closed windows.

And down to the very last one, you can tell which of them are locked, and which are not.

"Oh, of course," you chide yourself.

How didn't you notice it before? It is obvious, now that you take a second look at it.

The locked ones are the ones which are denying you passage.

Really easy to spot, you see. The same way you can tell what color the walls are painted in, you can see which of them are denying passage and which of them are not.

"Now let's get inside before the cold hits," you say to yourself, walking towards your house once again.

You feel the slight nudge of the key inside your saddle purse, as it yearns to be used on the locked door, but you scoff at it. You definitely don't need a key for this, what a ridiculous thought!

After all, snakes are visitors who cannot be denied.

With that in mind, you give the door a light tap with your hoof and-


Click


It unlocks.

Of course, you know, you are not a snake. You still have no idea how real snakes do it, although you have a few guesses.

But this door definitely was not properly built to deny passage, so you know you can do at least this much.

However, you do need your key to lock it once again after you are inside, but a quick flick from your horn has the small thing floating out of your saddle purse and towards the keyhole shortly after.

With that, you make your way to the stairs, looking at the clock and seeing that the sun did set late today, which means that the rest of your family probably had dinner without you. Rather unfortunate, you think, but this sort of thing has already happened several times by virtue of you being in your office working and simply losing track of the time, so it's not like it is something extremely out of the ordinary.

You reach the second floor, wondering what exactly you should do next. Several unlocked doors can be seen down both sides of the corridor, each of them a path that you can pick, be it by design or whim. You can head down to your daughter's room just to check on her, or you can go to your own room to see what your husband is doing, or you can simply go back to your office and get back to work.

So much to do, you think, so many doors…



And then you finally freeze.



Your body comes to a complete halt, eyes opening slightly wider as you look down and you realize that already you had a hoof up to walk… somewhere.

But what…

What the hell is going on in your mind right now?

You turn around towards the stairs, facing the entrance hall and looking at the front door.

How the… how the fuck can you tell that the door is locked?!

You take a few steps back, your heart beating faster as you try to put a rein around all those… all those what? Those thoughts? Those ideas inside your head? Those facts?

Wait, hang on, it's alright. Calm down Velvet, calm down… you take a deep breath to center yourself and-

No. No you don't! Why the hell is… is doing that calming to begin with?

You begin to breathe faster and faster, your mind slowly entering a loop as you think about something, and then you start asking yourself why you are thinking about that to begin with.

Why?!

You don't understand any of this, you don't recognize any of these thoughts as being yours, and yet you feel an urge to understand them. You know that everything will be alright if you just lose yourself in those thoughts, but something tells you that losing yourself is… well that it is supposed to be something scary!

You hit a wall with your back, only now realizing that you were still walking backwards, trying to distance yourself as much as you can from that… from that damned door that you can somehow tell is unlocked!

Your breathing is ragged now, a hoof going to your head as you realize that you can't tell left from right, because your mind is too busy telling you to either accept it or let go of it.

It doesn't help, either, that you start seeing flashes of… other things and...

Your heart is frantically beating against your chest now, as all those images begin to assault your mind. Are you even yourself? Is this even happening right now?!

Are you the Velvet Covers sitting on the corridor of the second floor with a hoof on her forehead? Or are you the one who is lying on your bed, hugging yourself and trembling?

Are you having dinner with your family, watching your daughter laugh at something silly your husband said? Or… or are you…?!

You feel your hinds hit the floor as your legs fail you, the hoof hitting your horn telling you that you are trembling. That everything is trembling.

That the house is trembling, everything begins to spin around you faster and faster as your try to understand what the hell is-!

"Velvet? What in Eques… Are you alright?!"

You hear somepony calling out for you from far away, and another pony gasping for air. Everything suddenly twists around your body as vertigo overtakes you, the ground suddenly getting a lot closer to your face. You think you feel a smack of pain on the side of your head, but you are panicking too much over the fact that you are drowning to care.

Somepony might have just lifted you up, while shouting something that you can't really understand. That, or gravity itself finally gave in and you are falling towards the ceiling.

You wouldn't really know, truth be told, because you are desperately trying to keep your eyes covered with your hoofs during all of this.

Because ponies are not supposed to be able to look through their eyelids.

It only gets worse.

You think you hear somepony calling your name, and the panicked voice of your daughter asking what is happening.

It only gets worse.

You think can feel somepony struggling, pain barely registering in some parts of your body as you try to crawl away from all of this still while you keep your eyes covered. It might be that you are hurting yourself in your panic, while your husband desperately tries to hold you in place, or it might be that your body is finally falling apart after whatever that monster that you call Master did to you months ago, on the eve of the ritual.

It only gets worse.



You feel something crack inside your head as it dawns on your that you might not even be a pony anymore. You think you hear somepony screaming, and that the scream sounds too much like your own voice.



It only gets worse.



And then everything goes dark.





- - -
- - -
- - -





"Are you sure you are alright dear?" he gently asks as his hoof softly caresses your mane.

You don't say anything, you just nod.

You don't say a single word, and you keep hugging Stormchaser tightly.

It is night. You are lying on your bed next to him as you lay under the sheets, and your eyes are open.

You have been doing this for while now, keeping your eyes open for as long as you can, because you know that if you don't do that it won't be dark anymore.

Because every time you can't bear it anymore, and that you have to blink, you shudder at the sudden flash of clarity around you, even if all you can see is the underside of the blankets and your husband's chest.

You don't want to see that. You are not supposed to be able to see that. You just want to be in the dark.

But at least… at least you have stopped trembling for a while now.

"Everything is fine now… don't worry," he says, either because he didn't see you nod, or because he didn't believe you. But you don't care, you keep hugging him tightly and you keep your head firmly against his chest.

You focus on listening to his heartbeat. Nothing else matters but your husband's heartbeat.

It is something constant, something that makes sense, something that tells you that he is right there and that he is not going anywhere.

After all, heartbeats, at least, are not strange yet.

You shudder a little more as you think about that.

"Try and get some sleep, sweetheart," you hear him whisper, "please… I know you've been awake this whole time."

You think you might be hearing a bit of pain on his voice, but you are not sure. You are not sure of anything anymore.

But you do know that he is right. You haven't slept in a long while now.

Your body is tired. Your mind is tired. You remember that at some point you simply stopped screaming, and you know that it was because your brain was simply too tired to continue that tug of war between all the things that were… that are inside your head.

You are exhausted, and there is nothing that you want more than simply falling asleep so you might be able to forget about everything.

But you are scared… you are frightened of falling asleep.

Because at some point, after you stopped screaming and your husband didn't need to pin you down anymore and your mind simply went blank… at some point, you are not sure how long ago, you…

You are not sure how to describe it. You are not sure even of what this means.

But now that your mind is in tatters, now that everything is quiet and calm, you have finally noticed one small thing.

That impression, that alien impression that you now have whenever you look at doors or windows or cabinets, that unnatural sense that tells you that something is denying you passage… you realize that you are feeling something like that…



Inside your head.



There is a lock inside your head, a lock that you never knew was there, somewhere deep inside of you. But you also know… you are not sure of how, but you simply know that the moment you fall asleep that lock will slide open like a well-oiled mechanism, with that sickening "click" sound that you heard earlier today when the front door popped open after you hit it with your hoof.

You know that will happen as soon as you give in to your exhaustion and close your eyes for good.

And that terrifies you.

Because locks are meant to stay closed.

Because you don't want that sort of change, whatever it might be, to happen inside your own damned head.

You just want to stay right here, hugging your husband, where you are safe and warm and…

And comfortable, and…

and so cozy, and…



CLICK





- - -
- - -
- - -





You don't want to be here.

…

You are not meant to be here.

…

You don't know how you got here.



Your eyes are wide open, and you know that shock is the only reason as to why you are not crying.

Because you are sure that you want to cry. Out of fear, or maybe frustration, or maybe confusion, or maybe because you might be going insane and you don't want to lose your family or yourself.

But shock, and nothing else, is keeping your tears at bay.

Right now, all you can do is stare.

All you can do is stare, wide-eyed and in shock, at the Mansus, and the Woods that surrounds it, and the Crossroads underneath your hoofs, and the mountains beyond the horizon.

All you can do is stare in shock, because you were not supposed to be here. You didn't cut a lock of your mane, you didn't whisper the words, you didn't even want to get here, and you have no idea of how you did.

But deep down… much to your absolute horror, deep down you know you no longer have a choice.

Something, deep inside your mind or perhaps deep within your soul, has been unlocked.

However, the method employed to unlock it cares only for that, it cares only for opening and allowing passage. It cannot, and will not, do the opposite.

And unlike the front door of your house, you do not have the keys to once again lock whatever it is that has been opened.

You turn around, away from the Mansus, and you run. You run, disregarding the paths of the Crossroads, knowing that you will be lost in an instant. You run away until the shock is gone, and the tears start falling down.

You run because you just want to wake up as soon as possible. You just want to be on your bed, next to your husband, back at your life.

You don't want to be here anymore.

But it takes you a long, long time for you to find your way back into the Wake.







You have reached the third intensity of KNOCK and you had a realization.

Mundane locks can no longer bar you.

Your entrance to the Mansus has become easier. From now on a single action spent on the Mansus will allow you to pick TWO choices.

Something has been unlocked.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Solid Foundations V3
-[X][Attention of the Laws] GRAIL, to help with bridging the gap between us and Stormchaser.
-[x][Work] A measured commitment (6 personal actions available)
-[x][Purchase Books] KNOCK 3, FORGE 1, MOTH 1
-[X][Selene] EDGE if the lesson with Comet Feet is successful, KNOCK otherwise
-[x][Servants] Search for Books in Manehattan
-[x] Read books: FORGE 2, KNOCK 2, KNOCK 3.
-[x] Reach out to Copper Secateur. You wish you'd caught up with her sooner, especially after that close call she had - how is she?
-[X] Reach out to Comet Feet. It is your duty to learn, and you've had a hard time locating books that can teach you about EDGE. Can he give you another lesson before he goes?
-[x] Reach out to Twilight. You did say you were looking forward to hearing her findings, after all.
-[X] Meeting with Stormchaser (write in)
-[X] Help Convince Stormchaser (his choice of a lesson in Lore, meeting Copper and Starry, or just simply time spent together)

- - -

In the end it was fear that got you back on your hoofs.

And you hate it.

It wasn't your husband's efforts that helped you get back to your senses, as much as he practically stayed right by your side during the whole ordeal.

It wasn't the love that you feel for your daughters that shook you out of your panic, as much as you knew that seeing you in that state terrified them, sometimes to the point of tears.

No. Far from it, in fact. It wasn't Stormchaser, or Silky Stream, or Selene, or anypony else that made you finally accept that you don't really have a choice on this anymore. It wasn't love or friendship or any other pony-lauded value that helped to repair the gaping holes on the walls of your self-control and reason. That helped you, perhaps, even reclaim a little bit of your sanity.

No… it was fear that did that.

Fear of the things you know, fear of the things you have seen.

Fear of the Worms.

Because as much as you tried... as much as you screamed and cowered on your bed, you couldn't forget what you have seen, what you have already learned. In fact, even if you could forget you realized that you wouldn't have any right to. After all…

After all, you are aware of the monsters that wriggle and writhe in the Dreamlands, but a closed door's distance away from the minds and thoughts of countless sleeping ponies. You have been made privy of the state that Equestria is in, on the other side, surrounded in all directions by an endless and hungry darkness, even while it burns brightly like an inviting beacon.

After all, you have connected those obvious and terrible dots which point that... someday in the future, even if it might be centuries, or perhaps even millennia from now, Equestria will be consumed.

You know that Princess Lu… that Selene's nightmares, both the ones that you saw during the ritual and the ones that you know have not yet even begun to haunt her, will eventually become reality if you don't do anything about it. An endless, horrible reality. A reality in which everypony, every creature, and even Equestria itself will be always deader, but never dead.

And you know that the only way to stop that is… by learning the things that you have already learned, and by learning even more.

You are frightened, of course. Frightened that you now see openings instead of doors. That you can see through your closed eyelids. That you feel whispers of light whenever you touch anything with your hoofs... But as much as you might be terrified, you also know that only by embracing these "gifts"... and by reaching for even deeper gifts, that you will be able to do anything about the terrible situation that Equestria is in.

You realize that you might be slowly, terrifyingly slowly, becoming something that is not quite a pony.

However, a normal pony would never be able to reach Glory, or Harmony, or the Moon, or… do whatever else might be necessary.

So, after you realized that, after you accepted that, you finally managed to make your way out of your bed. You finally managed to cross the door that leads out of your room without being paralyzed by the alien sensation that you had just crossed a door.

After that, you slowly tried to do what came next, with fear weighting you down, and an even greater fear pushing you forward.

There was work to be done, whether you liked it or not.



- - -



You are not sure how long you were in that state. Finding out would be as simple as looking at a calendar, of course, but for some reason you don't quite want to do that.

For now, you are simply going with the usual movements. Get out of bed, interact with your family, work, repeat. You are doing your best to ease yourself into all of this, into the unnerving sensation that there is something deeply wrong with… either yourself, or with the entire world.

It might be both. You are not really sure.

But still, you slowly ease yourself back into your old rhythm. Keep wearing metal horseshoes, tell your husband everything is fine whenever he asks, make sure you have your locket around your neck before you leave the bed, tell Silky that you love her too, avoid looking at doors whenever you cross them, assure Selene that this is not her fault.

Don't mind that you don't dream anymore, avoid being in dark places whenever possible.

And as the days go by, you start feeling like you are Velvet Covers once again.

Of course, not everything is going smoothly.

You know the expression that your husband has on his face. He is obviously still worried, but at least you have convinced him that you are well enough for him to go back to work.

You haven't seen Silky smile in a long time now. She is terrified, you can tell, of what happened with you, with way too much worry crammed into a filly that is too observant for her own good, at least at her current age. But at least she has stopped crying.

Selene, you know, thinks this is her fault… and well, in all honesty she is not exactly wrong. But if anypony is to blame for her current circumstance it's you, so you cannot, and will not, blame her. After all, the path she is currently in is one that you chose for her.

But you don't have time to deal with any of those things right now. You don't have the time, and perhaps you just might make things worse if you even try doing anything so soon.

Yes, you think to yourself… better to focus on something else, at least for now.

With that in mind, you decide to simply leave for a walk without telling anypony.



- - -



The forest is deathly silent, to the point that you decide to make sound on purpose as you walk.

Furtively trotting down the path would have been easy for you, of course, but you don't exactly feel… comfortable doing that right now.

So down the shadow-covered trail you go, your hoofs disturbing the piles of leaves and the fallen branches as you make your way to the place where you now assume is Comet Feet's permanent residence. If that place can even be called a residence to begin with, of course.

You know that you would be able to navigate a lot faster if you did it with your eyes closed, but you don't want to do that either.

Eventually, you reach the place where a final bush gives way to a clearing of sorts. The abandoned woodcutter's lodge is still almost completely covered by trees, to the point where you can barely make out its shape on the dimly-lit place. But you know that you have finally reached your destination.

Right, now to find the pegasus himself…

The last time you came here the place was covered in a blanket of Edge, as if the entire world was presenting itself through a colored glass of sorts. You remember how surprised you were at its subtle influence. You thought that feeling an Influence in somepony else would have felt like some power seeping into you, like a foreign spell trying to affect you. Instead, it was simply a gentle yet persistent nudge, that eased you into seeing everything with the idea that conflict was a valid way of engaging with the world.

You can't feel any of that anymore, which leads you to assume that either Comet Feet didn't summon another Influence… or that he might not be here at all.

Regardless, the absence of said effect really brings into focus just how silent this place is. You can't hear any of the sounds that you would expect a forest to have, not the tweet of birds or the buzzing of insects. The reason for that is obvious, however.

The entire forest knows that something very dangerous has taken residence here, so its inhabitants that were capable of movement very sensibly decided to take their leave.

You keep moving towards the abandoned shack, hesitantly closing your eyes every now and then just to make sure you won't trip over anything. You freeze, however, when you finally realize that you hear a sound.

With all the dead silence of the forest around you, it really sticks out like a sore hoof.

It is a rhythmic sound, of sorts. Repetitive, and perhaps rasping or grating. A sound that… you just might know what is causing it.

And if you are right, this is a sure sound that Comet Feet is here and is making preparations for his trip to Manehattan.

Grim preparations, you might add.

You make your way to the entrance of the hovel. You say "entrance" because your senses barely register it as a "door", the sorry thing made out of rotting wood barely being kept in place by its hinges. The sound stops for a few moments as soon as you reach the entrance, as if somepony had idly noticed your presence, but it resumes its rhythmic rasping shortly after.

A sure sign as any that, at the very least, you are not unwelcome here.

You enter the abandoned place, telling yourself that you really have no choice but to keep your eyes closed as you do so.

Everything is exactly as you thought it would be. The interior of the lodge has signs of wear and tear, its moss-covered walls telling you that the roofs have not been able to stop the rain from entering for a long while now. You also have to maneuver carefully so as not to accidentally step on any of the several holes on the floor.

But still, you follow the constant sound until you reach its source.

And there you find Comet Feet, working under the dim light of a single candle.

"Velvet Covers," he says idly, still focusing on his work and not bothering to turn towards you.

However, you take a few seconds to answer him.

Mostly because Comet Feet feels…

Different.

The last time you saw him was during the cult meeting, but now that you think about it you didn't exactly pay too much attention to him. Much like how you didn't notice how much Copper had changed, for example.

But now that you are here, and that you are not being overwhelmed or worried by your Master's presence, you can't help but noticed how much he has… changed.

He looks slightly larger, for starters. Granted, you can't say for sure if he really is, but…

How might you put it into words… his muscles seem to be more defined now? No, it's not that... You have seen countless workhorses and farmponies on your line of work, so it's not that Comet Feet seems to be larger or stronger than them…

But for some reason, you can't help but think that he seems to be more "solid" than any other pony you have met in your life.

He looks like a… as strange as it might sound to use that word to describe a pony, it really strikes you that he looks like a warrior now. Not like a soldier, not like a guard pony who takes up arms because his cutie mark or his job requires him to. No…

He looks like he "is" a warrior. Not a pony "who is good at fighting", but a pony "who fights". He looks like he has the capacity of causing conflict within him, in a subtle way that transcends cutie marks, just like how an earth pony has shares a link with the earth regardless of what he has on his flank.

You purse your lips at that. He is clearly a lot deeper in Edge than Copper was in Grail. Or that you are in any Lore, for that matter. And you are not sure how you feel about what you see in him...

"Comet Feet," you answer him, realizing you have been mute for a while now.

But he doesn't seem to mind. He doesn't even spare you a glance, continuing to, as you had guessed, run the edge of a knife on the large whetstone he has before him.

After a quick glance around the room you notice a good number of knives that have already been sharpened, resting on a cabinet that seems to be entirely out of place by sheer virtue of it not being old and rotting. Next to him, of course, you see many more knives waiting for his attention.

It wouldn't surprise you if he had been doing this, and little else, ever since the last cult meeting.

It also won't surprise you at all if the stallion says nothing else, unless you directly engage him in conversation.

Although, in all honesty, you are not quite sure how to go about it.

The last time you asked him for a lesson he was under the effect of an Influence, so you are not sure how receptive he will be to teaching you as he currently is. You also recall that you sold him the idea that he might improve himself if he committed to teaching somepony else the basics of what he knew. So, helping you would, in some ways, also be a way for him to train himself back then.

But right now you can clearly see that he is busy with something. And considering how he said he reached some sort of "barrier", you highly doubt that sparing the time to teach you will benefit him in any way.

Still, you have no choice but to try.

"Comet Feet," you say once again, your mind still unable to muster anything especially devious or complicated. Not with the recent… happenings that you have been through. "Do you have a moment?" is all you are able to ask.


[Rolling]


But much to your surprise, he simply let go of the knife he has on his mouth, carefully placing it on the ground next to the whetstone.

He then turns towards you with a grunt and makes his way to the entrance.

And you silently follow after him.



- - -



"Stop," Comet Feet says, his tone at the same time terse and calm.

Perhaps "commanding" might be a better way to describe it.

You take a deep breath, waving your horn and bidding the fan of knives you are currently floating to come back towards you.

And then you patiently wait, for the rebuttal or comment that is sure to come.

This is how the two of you have been going, for the last few hours. Comet Feet gave you a quick revision of most of the things he had told you about the last time you had been here. But, after that, he simply gave you a series of dulled blade, and had you repeat a series of exercises against a particularly punished wooden dummy again, and again, and again.

This lesson, he told you, was as much about mentality as it was about practice. He had you strike the dummy with the various blunt knives repeatedly, but each time he would give you a small pointer about how (or rather, how wrongly) you were going about it. Anatomical remarks about where you should strike. Observations about how you ought to keep at least some of the blades about you, floating them next to your body as reserve weapons for your own defense.

Comments that the dummy wasn't even alive, so you shouldn't be striking at it so slowly as if you were afraid of harming it.

But for some reason, right now he is silent.

"Well?" you say, taking another deep breath and gently easing the energy inside your horn into a less draining configuration, "do you not have anything to say about this last attempt?"

You turn towards him, blinking a few times and keeping your eyes opened, the glow of your magic being enough for you to at least see the silhouette of the large pegasus.

"You are focused," is all he answers, after a few more seconds of silence.

To which you can't help but tilt your head a little bit.

"And that would be detrimental… how, exactly?" you risk asking.

At least you assume he is seeing that as detrimental, after all for the last few hours he has only commented on things that he said you were doing incorrectly.

"You are too focused," he says, and it takes you a few more moments to realize that there is something else in his voice, "it is unlike you," he finishes.

You are not sure if what you are hearing is curiosity or something else, but you are sure that it is not him being worried.

"Maybe it is because I have a lot going on, so I'd rather focus on the here and now," you answer him back, trying your best not to frown at the stallion's sudden prodding.

It's not like he would volunteer any information if the tables were turned anyways.

"And besides," you continue, "you are also way too focused most of the time. Living here in the middle of nowhere, making a point of talking to nopony else, doing nothing but…"

You trail off as a thought, obvious in hindsight, strikes you.

"Almost as if you are running away from your own ghosts…" you say, as all the memories you have of Comet Feet, all the little interactions you had with him these last few months, start coalescing and forming an idea of sorts.

You look at the stallion. With your eyes closed, this time, so you can better study his features. You can see that he knows where your thoughts are heading to, and already you see his mouth opening so he can give you some cutting retort of his own.

"But I don't want to know about those," you quickly say, interrupting him before he can interrupt you. You are sure that Comet Feet was about to dismiss your thoughts, or perhaps even tell you to leave and mind your own business. But right now you really don't have the slightest interest in learning more about the elusive and secluded pegasus, and something tells you that you simply don't have enough of your wits about you to make any reasonable attempts at prying.

No. What you have in mind is something else. You are far more interested in…

"But I…" you start speaking, and then you stop. Part of you is unsure of how exactly you are supposed to word your question, while another part wonders what it is that you really want to know.

You want to ask him how he… coped with his problems? Or do you want to ask if he is already… changing, just like you are?

"What I would like to ask is…" you try once again, looking him in the eyes and seeing that, for once, he really seems to be curious as to what you are about to say.

Especially after you were clear that you won't be digging about his past, whatever it might be.

But more importantly, you take a deep breath and say what you have on your mind.

"Look... These things… the things that we are learning, these lessons that our Master is giving us…" you try for the third time.



[Grabbing a sharp Edge, breakpoints 60/90/120]

[Roll: 69 + 8 (Martial) + 10 (GRAIL bonus) + 5 (Tracks Fresh in the Snow?) = 92]



"How do you cope with the… changes?" you manage, almost painfully, to get the question out of your chest.

And you see him raise an eyebrow at that.

Comet Feet understood what you meant by that. You know he did.

After all, it is obvious, to anypony in the cult and to the Master, that the two of you are the most advanced when it comes to your depth in the Lores. You have been dedicating yourself to several of them, to the point where you are being able to slowly spread what you know to the rest of the cult. While Comet Feet, on the other hoof, has dedicated himself entirely to one aspect, and seems to have reached a height, and a corresponding block, that even the Master might not be able to help him cross.

Although something tells you that the Master can indeed help him but is choosing not to.

Regardless, you know Comet Feet understands what you mean by your question because he, above all the others, understands exactly what sort of… effects, that learning the Lores might have over a pony.

"What makes you think I have an answer to that?" he says, in a tone that is far from gentle, "maybe I don't like the pony who I was before all of this. Have you ever considered that? Maybe I relish these changes that you seem to be afraid of."

He says that, and you can't help but grimace a little bit. You feel somewhat stupid, now, and it shows on your face.

Of course he would answer something like that. Whatever else did you expect from Comet Feet? It's not like he would simply-

But suddenly he lets out a long sigh, one that almost feels forced, rolling his eyes and shaking his head as he takes a few steps away from you. He seems to be muttering something under his breath as he does that, and soon enough he turns to you once again, a scowl on his face.

What surprises you, however, is that his dissatisfaction doesn't seem to be aimed at you.

"What I mean to say is…"

This time you are the one who raises an eyebrow, as you watch Comet Feet…

Hesitate?

"That some parts of us might be changing, yes. But losing things and gaining things is a part of life."

And you can't help but think, judging both by the annoyance on his face and the way he is saying those words, that he is in fact repeating something that somepony else must have told him.

Something that Comet Feet himself is very grudgingly trying to agree with, paradoxical as that may sound.

"But as much as those things might happen to us, we won't really change, deep down, unless we allow ourselves to lose the things that we really think are important."

Your eyes go wide open for a few moments, before you shut them once again. The sheer depth in Comet Feet's simple words, and the clear animosity he seems to be feeling towards them, surprising you for a good few seconds.

You see the stallion scoff at what he just said, his expression twisting as if he had just bit something particularly sour. You also can't help but find it interesting that he has this… conflict, within him to begin with.

Comet Feet always struck you as a straightforward pony. You know he must have his own skeletons inside his closet, literal or otherwise, but to see him struggling with… with ideas? With the way he looks at his own life? Whatever it is that you are seeing, it surely is not something you were expecting.

And also, you can't help but to give him a little bit of credit for his words. You know that there are things changing in you. The way you look at the world being one of them, the ways you can interact with the world being another. But, as far as you can tell, at least you are still yourself.

So as long as you hold on to that, the other things that have been changing within you really ought not to bother you so much. You might even face it as growing up, perhaps, in a twisted way.

You also honestly hope that it never comes to the point where you will have to "give up" on being Velvet Covers…

But for now, you just might have learned a little bit more from Comet Feet than the simple Edge lessons you were hoping to get.

"I… well… thank you. That is surprisingly helpf-"

"Enough of that nonsense," he interrupts you, or perhaps he said that out loud so as to interrupt his own thoughts, with the same commanding voice he had used earlier. "Blades up, we have wasted enough time as it is."

And you decide not to prod him any further when it comes to that.

At least, you think, he didn't just tell you to go away.



- - -



You feel the beginning of a headache making its way to the base of your horn, and you see that the shadows seem to be a lot deeper around you. What little light that was able to penetrate through the thick foliage dying out as the sun makes its way to the horizon.

The wooden dummy has a lot more jabs and cuts than it had before, something that Comet Feet seems to notice with a nod as he hauls it away.

"We are done," he says simply, watching you wince as you release the knives from your floating magic.

You know that you have made good progress, but you can't say that you are sad that today's lessons are finally over.

"Thank you," you say, already nursing your forehead with a hoof. You know the headache is just going to get worse, of course, as it usually happens when you overdo with your magic. But still, you realize just how much Comet Feet has been helping you.

In more ways than one, mind you.

"You are not welcome," he says curtly, which catches you a bit off guard, "because I want you to do something for me in return," he finishes idly.

Oh, you think, so that wasn't just some strange antic or gratuitous rudeness from him.

Well, it stands to reason that he wouldn't be giving you his lessons for free…

"And what would that be?" you ask, curious as to what exactly he, of all ponies, would ask for help with.

"I need you to deliver something for me," he says, lugging the wooden dummy he was carrying on a small pile with several others, and finally turning towards you. "A letter."

The expression he has is his usual no-nonsense one.

So that just makes you wonder why…

"A letter?" you bite down the question of why he couldn't deliver it himself. After all, you are sure that he would simply answer something on the lines of 'you owe me an afternoon' or something like that.

But still, a letter? He would like you to deliver a letter?

You would certainly understand if he wanted help with sharpening his knives, for example, since it's something that involves manual labor and that perhaps you could help with Forge.

Unless, you think, said letter involves something…?

"It's nothing illegal," he says, rolling his eyes and turning his back to you, walking towards the abandoned shack, "and it's not something in another city either. It's in Ponyville."

What in the heavens…? You really can't wrap your head around this.

Is this him trying to be gentle or caring towards you? Perhaps making you "pay him back" by doing something menial and symbolic, so you won't feel like you owe him anything?

Or maybe it's the opposite? He will start asking you to do things to waste your time so you will stop bothering him for lessons?

Or… Or…?

"Uhm, far from me to question what you are asking me for…" you say, rather hesitantly, as you follow after him into the woodcutter's lodge, "but are you sure that you just want me to… deliver a letter as a way to return your favor?"

You hear a sharp and violent neigh at that, one that makes the hairs of your coat stand on their ends for a few moments.

"Listen," he says impatiently, "are you going to do it or not?"



[] Yes. (You will gain a new "Fleeting Opportunity" option come next turn. You will not be obligated to take it, and Comet Feet will be out of town, so it's not like you will really have to do it. But you will still be making him a promise.)

[] No. (Very smart, Mrs. Velvet. Say no to the murder blender, great idea!)



You give him your answer, realizing that you won't be able to prod any further information from him. And after that, you are on your way back home.





You have spent a little bit of time with Comet Feet, this time without the overbearing effect of an Influence.

And, well… you are not quite sure what to make of him. He surely seems to be protective of his past, although you can't say if it is due to regret or contempt, but otherwise he seems to be at least open for conversation. And he seems to be rather… annoyed at himself for what he told you? Strange of him to be annoyed at anything, really, as you thought he was the kind of stallion who "dealt with" things that annoyed him.

Besides, what the hay is this about delivering a letter?

Dear heavens… it really gives you a headache when stallions decide to act this confusing.


[Yes, but did you learn anything?, cd 60]

[Roll: 90 + 8 (Martial) + 40 (Level 4 source) = 138]


Gained one scrap of EDGE Lore.

EDGE is now level two!

Also, a helpful reminder that the "social" part of your social interactions with Comet Feet lose a little bit of efficiency, since you are also trying to gain something else from him (Edge lessons) when you meet. This can be balanced by having good rolls, of course, and is not prohibitively cumbersome. But it's still something you should keep in mind. Narrative marriage of actions may be virtuous, but it is not always perfect after all.

Spoiler

60: Whatever you think comes next?

90: How do you cope with the… changes?

120: Aren't you afraid?

Well then. This will be posted very early in some timezones, but let's have a one-hour moratorium for its own sake, shall we?

Apart form that, the usual "at least 48 hours of voting" and all that as I try to get back to schedule.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Solid Foundations V3
-[X][Attention of the Laws] GRAIL, to help with bridging the gap between us and Stormchaser.
-[x][Work] A measured commitment (6 personal actions available)
-[x][Purchase Books] KNOCK 3, FORGE 1, MOTH 1
-[X][Selene] EDGE if the lesson with Comet Feet is successful, KNOCK otherwise
-[x][Servants] Search for Books in Manehattan
-[x] Read books: FORGE 2, KNOCK 2, KNOCK 3.
-[x] Reach out to Copper Secateur. You wish you'd caught up with her sooner, especially after that close call she had - how is she?
-[X] Reach out to Comet Feet. It is your duty to learn, and you've had a hard time locating books that can teach you about EDGE. Can he give you another lesson before he goes?
-[x] Reach out to Twilight. You did say you were looking forward to hearing her findings, after all.
-[X] Meeting with Stormchaser (write in)
-[X] Help Convince Stormchaser (his choice of a lesson in Lore, meeting Copper and Starry, or just simply time spent together)

- - -

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Yes. (You will gain a new "Fleeting Opportunity" option come next turn. You will not be obligated to take it, and Comet Feet will be out of town, so it's not like you will really have to do it. But you will still be making him a promise.)

You have promised Comet Feet that you will deliver his letter, which he gave you shortly after without ceremony.

Curiously, the thing is not sealed, or even tucked into an envelope to begin with. In all honesty, it feels more like a note than anything else. There is no address written on it either, only a few instructions on how to reach the desired destination.

Aerial instructions, mind you. The sort of bird's eye referential writing that you know pegasi use to guide their flight over long distances.

You're lucky that you have gone to college, then, and that you are married to a pegasus if worst comes to worst. Decoding this will be a pain...

- - -



At long last, you float a particularly lengthy scroll towards the "OUT" pile on your desk, allowing yourself to sag into your chair for a few moments after this latest bout of mental gymnastics.

Hoof-reading through everything is still a lot faster than the alternative, as much as you might get a chill every now and then while doing it. However, you are still on a state that even doing this much feels a little bit more tiring than it should.

You hope this will pass soon, all this tiredness and indisposition and…

"Heavens, this really isn't something that I would wish upon anypony else," you say to yourself while you idly float the next scroll on your "IN" pile towards your hoofs.

You break the seal out of habit, knowing that having several sealed scrolls on your "OUT" pile would raise all sorts of questions from your servants. But you don't really have to open it in order to start reading its contents.


[Book search: Manehattan – Servant action]

[Roll: 51 + 12 (Learning) = 63]

-Lvl 3 EDGE, "a posthumous, and rather contentious, biography of the legendary pegasus called Flash Magnus," costs 30 bits

-Lvl 2 KNOCK, "a fairly recent, and short, book about dream interpretation. You know it is recent because it was dedicated to Princess Luna's return," costing 15 bits

-Lvl 2 WINTER, "a book on the benefits of Meditation, and why you should try it," costs 15 bits

(35 bits have been deduced from your personal coffers for your servant's transportation.)


You are almost halfway through your servant's letter, about his findings in Manehattan, when you finally realize that this is a report on an errant you had him run, and not yet another scroll from your farmworkers.

Dear me, you think, you really ought to take a break if you are that much out of it.

Placing the scroll once again over the desk, you let out another sigh as you get up from your chair.

"Right, I really should take it easy, at least for the rest of the day," you say to yourself as you walk out of your office, "slowly getting better and actually being better are two very different things, after all."

Besides, you are sure that at least the maids (and eventually Stormchaser, through the inevitable gossiping that you know to happen) will be relieved to see that… well, to see that after "those last few days" you will not balance things out by going on the opposite direction and locking yourself inside your office.

After all everypony, including yourself, is still wary that you might still be just a little bit… unhinged.

"Done for the day, ma'am?" you hear Ponpon trotting in your direction as soon as you close the office's doors behind you. The relief you see on her face when you answer her with a nod being enough to tell you that you made the right decision.

"Yes, I think I'll just take a breather on the garden until the girls are back from school," you say, walking past her and making your way downstairs, "the weather is simply too good for me to stay inside and just…"



And then your mind freezes.



It is always strange, you think, how a pony can remember the oddest things without any apparent prompt. That, and how their minds can connect the most disparate of dots into an idea seemingly out of nowhere.


"Ma'am? Is… everything alright?" you hear Ponpon ask, taking a step towards you with a visibly growing amount of worry on her expression.


But you don't really pay that much attention to her, your mind instead fixating itself on a particular set of very specific concepts and memories. Again, you have no idea of why you are suddenly thinking about this, but you can't shake the feeling that...

You furrow your brow, and try to focus on whatever it is that you seem to be trying to remember.

You can't help but think, for starters, about the letter you got from your servant, of his search for books in Manehattan…

You also can't shake off the idea that… well, the obvious idea that you have been very tired as of late, and…

No, that doesn't make sense… why is it that you are…?


"Ma'am? Ma'am??" Ponpon takes another step towards you, tentatively raising a hoof as if to shake you.


No, you think, it's not the letter, or your tiredness. It's something much simpler. Books, you realize. Books and stress.

Yes, that's what your mind has decided to latched onto so suddenly… But why in the heavens would you think about that?


"Lady Velvet, can your hear me?!"


Books… stress… overthinking… who is it that you remember that has something in common with all of that? Certainly not a pony you are close to, of course, but for some reason you can't help but recall a conversation you had with… with Rarity?

Yes, an innocent chat the two of you had over tea some time ago, where she was telling you about a close friend of hers who, as per her words, "freaks out over the smallest things, and reads books like she-"

"Oh no," you say to yourself, causing even more alarm on Ponpon, as you finally remember a certain purple unicorn. A unicorn who, from what Rarity told you, might just be a little bit propense to overthinking things and…

And who you haven't talked to for several weeks now, after giving her "homework" about...

"Oh no..." everything falls into place. Including, and most importantly, the idea that you forgot about something very... delicate? Important?

Well, certainly not something you should have forgotten about, that is for sure.



You make sure to tell Ponpon that everything is alright, of course, but that you have decided that you will be taking a walk in Ponyville, and not on your garden.

And you are rushing out through the front door before she can even ask if you would like your chariot to be brought out.



- - -



[Twilight Sparkle's "Debunking the Illogical" research]

[Roll: 22 + 16 (Learning) + 10 (Very Well Read) – 20 (SECRET HISTORIES Level 2 homework) = 28]

[Twilight Sparkle's Mental Resilience]

[Roll: 19 – 10 (Serious Overthinker) + 10 (A full month to calm down) = 19]



You make your way to the Golden Oak Library as quickly as you can, and your heart sinks a little bit when you finally reach it.

Specifically, you nervously bite down on your lips when you see that the library now has a hole blown on one of its side walls. The hole itself is clearly not recent, and is already under repairs, but it still stands out no matter how you look at it. After all, there is a wall under construction on the side of a building that is, for all other intents and purposes, a tree.

Your mind goes through several scenarios of what exactly might have prompted the young unicorn to create said hole. None of them are pleasant.

And more than a few of them involve a rather stressed-out purple unicorn aiming a particularly powerful magical beam at a… "frustratingly contradictory" group of books.

Heavens, maybe you shouldn't have had that talk with her…

You walk up to the front door, giving it a few knocks shortly after. Making sure not to unlock it by accident, of course.

However, much to your surprise, since you honestly thought you would have to wait quite a while, you hear a response a few short seconds later.

"I told you girls…" you hear a voice, an annoyed voice, coming from inside, "I'm FINE! There's NOTHING to be worried about."

More than annoyed, you realize. If that voice is coming from Twilight Sparkle then she is definitely very tired, to say the least.

"Now LEAVE me to my BOOKS. There's something I have to figure OUT!"

If… that is Twilight Sparkle. Big if. You haven't really interacted that much with the mare, apart from the afternoon the two of you spent reading that scroll. But the voice you are hearing is, truth be told, almost completely unrecognizable.

"Twilight…? Is that you?" you tentatively ask, grimacing at… whatever might be going on.

But as soon as you speak, you can't hear anything else from the other side of the door. As if the interior of the library had simply frozen up as soon as it realized it was you who was knocking.

You breathe in to call for her again, but before you can speak you start listening to…

Hoofsteps?

Yes, there is definitely somepony walking towards the door. Hesitantly walking towards the door, mind you. And as soon as they arrive at the door you hear the telltale sound of telekinesis being used to unlock it.

However, it strikes you that you hear… several locks being undone. Several more than you thought there would be, at least, and definitely several more than you remember there was the last time you were here.

But finally, with a sliding sound that accompanies the impression that the door is no longer denying you passage, it opens before you.

And you see the purple mare named Twilight Sparkle.

"Twi… light?" you half-hesitate at what you see, your voice failing for a split second out of sheer surprise. But you force yourself to finish your question. "How have you been?"

Although you already know her answer for that.

She has not been well.

She has definitely not been well.

Her coat is ruffled all over, her mane is… unkept, to the point that your mind comes up with several adjectives that would be better used to describe wild animals. Her eyes are wide open, but that just drives home the point of how little white you see in them, with several signs of exhaustion being present right there along with the heavy bags that are under them.

But most worrying of all is her expression, as you can tell that she has clearly not bee-



!!!



Cutting your line of thought, she slams the door close with a sudden flash of her horn as soon as your eyes meet.



"nOPE!" you hear her say a moment later, her voice breaking as she half-yells the word, "I am NOT doing that with you again!"

The door didn't hit you, of course, but you still feel as if you have just been physically struck.

"Twilight? Twilight Sparkle, I just want to talk to you!" you answer back, almost stammering from shock as you hear the several locks of the door being shut into place.

But all you hear for an answer is… a disturbingly high-pitched bout of laughter.

"And that's the THING, isn't it? You juuuust want to TALK to me," she says, in between her laughter, as she finishes locking the door, "just like how we talked last time."

You wince at that. Not just at her words, mind you, but at the tone she is speaking them.

Twilight Sparkle sounds… beyond unhinged. You really, truly don't want to use the term "insane", but precious few other words seem adequate to describe her.

"Just like how you made me go aaaaaaall the WAY to Canterlot and…" her voice turns slightly muffled as you hear her distance herself from the door. You can't make out what she is saying anymore, but she is definitely still going on about something.

And more than once you hear her stop, just to laugh about whatever she is talking about, before she resumes speaking once again.

But she returns to your hearing range a few moments later, still talking to you as much as she seems to be talking to herself, "and then I couldn't find a SINGLE almanac that had the ANSWER for that!"

While she speaks, to the point where you have to strain your hearing to understand what is going on, you hear the sound of something made out of wood being placed next to the door, your senses telling you, strange as it might sound, that…

Did she just put a chair under the doorknob?

Is she... is she barricading her door???

"So NO, thank you very MUCH. I definitely do not want to TALK to you!"

And with that, you hear the mare trotting away from the door.

"Twilight, wait!" you bang against the door, your shocked surprise finally giving way to panicked worry as you finish piecing together just how much on the deep end the mare seems to be, "really I just want to tal-… I just want to help you!" you shout towards the door.

But all you hear for an answer is a muffled yelp from the mare that very much sounds like a "go away!", although you are not quite sure of what words she used.

You have no idea of what you should do. A part of you is wondering if this is something close to what Stormchaser must have felt a few days ago when he saw you, while another part of you reels at the fact that... well, that you might have caused whatever the mare is going through.

But still, you have no idea of what to do next.

So you go with your guts, and pray that this won't just make things worse.

And with a soft tap of your hoof,


Click


You unlock the door, hearing several locks slide into their open positions, a padlock outright jumping out of place and landing on the wooden floor of the library.

A slight nudge against the door reveals that it is indeed barricaded, but a few bouts of magically aided pushes are able to solve that matter shortly after.

And then you make your way into the library proper, the smell of stale air hitting you after you take your first step into the place. But more importantly-

"How in the TARTARUS did you do THAT?!"

More importantly, you quickly locate the shouting mare, seeing that she is halfway up on the stairs that would take her to the second floor of the library.

Needless to say that she is frozen in shock, her expression relaying unto you with absolute certainty that she can tell for a fact that you didn't use magic to undo those locks.

Not mundane magic, at least…

And that just causes her eyes to go even wider. The hoof that she has raised, frozen mid-step, clearly starting to shake.

"Twilight please…" you say, with the gentlest tone you can muster, slowly making your way towards her, "I know that you have a lot of things going on in your mind, but I can expl-"



[Rolling Twilight's reaction]



With a sudden flare from her horn, a purple beam zaps from the center of her forehead, striking the ground where your hoof was about to land.

Of course, that promptly makes you stop walking, and talking, as your heart begins to hammer inside your chest.

Especially after you steal another quick glance at the still-under-repairs hole on the side of the library.

"You know I have a lot in my MIND?" the mare gasps, part frightened and part angry. Perhaps, although you dearly hope not, taking your words on a literal sense. "You know what it's like to spend thirty hours TRANSLATING a zebra manuscript of their first contact with ponykind, only to find out that it doesn't MATCH with our own accounts of it?!"

"Calm down Twilight… I promise we can talk this out and…" you can see that the young mare has a dangerously wide smile on her face, something that you can only attribute to honest panic, and that she seems to be breathing a lot harder than she was before, "let's just sit down and…"

But her horn glows once again, a trio of zaps forcing you to take several steps back towards the door, scorch marks appearing on the ground where her blasts barely missed hitting your legs.

"You KNOW how it feels like to be talking to this mysteeeeeerious mare who doesn't even have her eyes OPEN while she looks around?!" she continues, and you curse under your breath at that, opening your eyes a moment later.

Which makes you realize, as well, that the interior of the library is completely dark, except for the glow coming from Twilight's horn and what little light is coming from the open door behind you.

A slight shiver runs through your back as you realize that, apparently, all the candles have been used up a long time ago, and that the mare must have been in here for however long with nothing but the glow of her horn as a source of light. But that wouldn't have impeded her reading bouts in the slightest, of course.

"Well then, why don't you go ahead and bathe me with the LIGHT of your knowledge," she screams at you, her voice rasping, "because in case you haven't notice, I can't ask anypony else what this is all supposed to mean. Because Princess Celestia is still MISSING!"

"Twilight, please!"

You try to say something, anything to calm her down, but she doesn't even seem to be hearing you.

The only reaction she has is to once again light up her horn, this time with an intensity that illuminates the entirety of the library with that purple-white glow.

And once again you are reminded that, for all her young age, Twilight Sparkle is still something else. After all, it just took her a few short seconds to muster enough magical energy to…

Your eyes, almost reflexively, once again sneak a peek at the still-under-repairs hole on the wall.

To cause a lot of damage if she decides to focus all of that on some sort of offensive magic!



[Controlling the chaos, breakpoints 30/70/100]

[Roll: 70 + 12 (Diplomacy) + 10 (GRAIL bonus) – 15 (Twilight Sparkle ?????) = 77]



"I also had the dream!" you shout towards her, after giving it far less thought than you should have. But nothing else that you could have said would have worked, at least none of the things that came to your mind in the short seconds that you had available to think. So you had to resort to something that might give her pause, even if only to wonder what in the heavens you were talking about.

But much to your relief, although your heart is still trying to make its way out of your body through your throat, that seemed to have some effect on the mare.

Twilight's panicked smile, if nothing else, is slowly being replaced by something akin to doubt. Doubt, you notice, or outright fear.

Her horn flares brightly for another second, and with a flash of light she appears right in front of you. Teleporting in her mental state is no small feat, even if only a small distance. But still, not even this impressive show of skills can stop you from noticing just how ragged the poor mare seems to be.

"You know about the…? Of course you'd know about the dream," she says, her doubt once again turning into... something else, as she chuckles a little bit to herself, "how could you NOT know about the dream?"

"Twilight…"

"After all, the dream doesn't make any SENSE! And EVERYTHING about you doesn't make sense, does it? Does IT?!"

"Twilight."

"Or is THIS a dream as well? That LIGHT… I can't forget that light… It wasn't Celestia's light," she says, amidst another bout of laugher, seemingly talking to herself as much as she is talking to you, "but then what the hay was it? I never read about anyth-"

"Twilight!" you say, taking a step forward and shaking the mare.

You make sure to keep an eye on her horn while you do that, of course. But your shaking seems to pay off, as the mare seems to snap back into herself. Without reflexively using her impressive magical skills, that is.

Actually, you think as you notice that her eyes are still slightly hazed, she didn't exactly snap out of it. But you still have the impression that she is as close to lucidity as she can get, given her current state.

Of course, you come to that conclusion with no small amount of worry.

But still, she seems to be thinking straight once again, even if only for a few moments. She blinks her eyes a few times, and then she looks at the hoof you have on her side. And then her eyes keep going higher and higher, until she is staring straight at you.

And slowly, painfully slowly, her expression makes it very clear that she has only just realized that she is standing right in front of you.

Even worse, perhaps, she also seems to be realizing just now that you are currently touching her.

And she doesn't know how to react to that.

You sure hope she doesn't decide to simply teleport away in a fit of panic. Although she might, and she certainly has the skill to do so.

Which means you probably won't have another chance like this anytime soon.



[Take a deep breath with me, breakpoints ??/??/??]

[Roll: 86 + 12 (Diplomacy) + 10 (GRAIL bonus) – 15 (Twilight Sparkle ?????) = 93]



"Twilight please…" you say, slowly, with a very... specific tone.

Not an entirely gentle one, as she clearly won't be able to properly internalize gentleness. Instead, you say it with a commanding tone, the softest commanding tone that you can muster.

Something close to what a mentor might have used, perhaps, if their apprentice was very close to running astray.

And she seems to react to that as well.

"I need you to look into my eyes," you say, "and take a deep breath…"

This is the sort of situation in which giving simple orders is much more effective than saying vague things like 'I need you to calm down'. So that's exactly what you are going to do.

Twilight Sparkle seems to be on the verge of panicking once again, so a steady hoof is needed.

You lock your eyes on her own and take a long, deep breath yourself. Your expression is the picture of calmness, although you are having to put in a great deal of effort to not let your nervousness show. But thankfully, the young mare follows your lead.

She looks into your eyes as well and breathes in together with you.

"Hold it," you say, slowly counting down a few seconds, "and breathe out," before telling her what to do next.

It worries you that she still very much looks to be on edge. There is something in her eyes, you can tell, that is still there, like an ugly stain of sorts.

But at least you don't seem to be causing that… stain, whatever it might be, to flare from within her.

"Now I need you to listen to me," you say, putting your hoofs on her shoulders and gently nudging her down, making her sit on the floor. "I know what is going on in your mind. I read the same books and got to the same place that you are right now," you say, while looking into her eyes.

That is a lie, of course, but one that she really needs to hear right now.

"I also had the dream, and I also spent the longest time trying to make sense of things."

That is a little bit more true, although something tells you that she didn't have a Mansus dream proper. This feels like… something else.

Definitely Glory-touched, you can tell, but not exactly relating to the Mansus. The more you look into her eyes, the more you can see that…



[Identifying the cause, cd 60]

[Roll: 54 + 30 (LANTERN level 3) = 84]



That there is a LIGHT in there.

Too much of it.

Oh dear…

"And it will all make sense. I promise you that," you sit down in front of her, still with your hoofs on her shoulders, "but it's like… It's like learning a new language, or getting into the theory of magic for the first time when you are a filly. It takes time, and dedication, and a bit of an open mind towards new things. But I promise you that it all fits together once you see the bigger picture."

"Y-you… you promise?" she asks, visibly sagging as her exhaustion seems to reclaim more and more of her body and mind, now that her panic-induced surge of energy is gone.

"I promise," you say, letting a small smile grow on your lips, "in the end it's just like any other science. In the end, it's something that makes sense, and that you can understand."

This time you honestly don't know just how much you are lying.

Maybe this is not a lie. After all, the Lores are laws of this world. You have already seen, and even experienced, proof of it, so it stands to reason that everything might just fit on some grander scale.

But on the other hoof... the more you think about it, the more you feel like this is just a lie. One that you have been telling yourself these last few months as you went deeper and deeper into the Lores. A vain hope that everything will fit together, in the end.

Well, you really hope that you aren't lying to Twilight Sparkle, even if you are not so sure about it yourself.

You really hope that you aren't lying to yourself...

Still, that doesn't matter right now. What matters is that you have a desperate mare in front of you, and that she really needs to hear something that will help her calm down, no matter what it is.

"But…" you hear her say, almost in a whimper. And you can't help but raise an eyebrow as Twilight…

You can't help but feel a slight jab on your heart as Twilight Sparkle says something, with a voice that makes her sound a lot younger than she actually is.

"But Princess Celestia… she is not here to teach me… she doesn't answer my letters and I…"

You see her curl up slightly at that, her eyes leaving your own and going towards the floor as the unspoken words that "she doesn't know what to do" hang in the air around her.

Ah… you should have realized it.

Rarity didn't mention she was this close to the Princess. Maybe because she didn't know.

But from what you have seen, and from what you have heard, she must really be close to Princess Celestia. Extremely close, that is. And it makes sense that her current state couldn't have been caused just by… her rather unfortunate research, after the two of you parted ways.

Yes… it makes sense that other things, other stresses, must have… compounded.

Weighted her down.

Threatened to crush her.

Heavens, you sigh internally, this mare really is too young for this. All of this.

Too young to be a bearer of an Element of Harmony, too young to be the pupil of a demigoddess. Too young to have her entire world, which she only knows through her books of course, shattered as she begins to learn just how flawed and stitched together it is.

And part of this is your fault, you know. You did give her the slightest peek to what lies beyond the veil.

But even if it wasn't your fault, you'd still want to try and remedy all of that. After all, you can't not help her. Not while she is like this.

With all of that in mind, you gently place a hoof under her chin and make her look at you again, and you tell her that…



[] Princess Celestia doesn't know. Not about this. Even if she was here she wouldn't be able to... help you. But don't worry, I will teach you.
(Having a Mentor seems to be a very central part of Twilight's life. It's a shame that the spot is "temporarily" open, and it surely will be by virtue of caring for her, and nothing else, that you are willing to "temporarily" fill that spot. Gain 1 scrap of GRAIL Lore. Will require you to spend at least one action per turn mentoring her. You definitely won't turn into her new "Celestia"… soon, at least, but this is certainly a step.)

[] Yes, but you are more than smart enough to do this without her, aren't you? Isn't that what the brightest pupils do? Here, I will give you some pointers… pointers that will make sense this time, I promise.
(Continue to lead her down into the occult, but keeping a little bit more of a distance.)

[] … You're right, she is not… I have an idea. It's a beautiful day outside, so why don't we go out and forget about all of this?
(Attempt to douse the fires of her panic and nothing else. This will aid her in recuperating from her mental state, but will smother her interest in the occult.)





Season two Twilight Sparkle had a stuffed toy named Smarty Pants. Season two Twilight Sparkle bewitched a trio of fillies in order to create a problem because she couldn't find something to write a report about.

Season one Twilight Sparkle is slightly less mature than season two Twilight Sparkle.

Season one Twilight Sparkle has found out that the light LEAKS through the CRACKS.
Season ONE Twilight SPARKLE's mind is now BRIGHTER than it EVER was.
THE HIGHER SHE RISES THE MORE SHE SEES.

You are now Good Friends with Twilight Sparkle!

Regardless of the choice picked, you have confirmed that Twilight Sparkle is afflicted by "Fascination". "Fascination" is a debuff that compounds into itself if left alone for too long. It would be beneficial for her if she made her way out of it as soon as possible, although her friends will surely be able to help her even if you decide not to intervene any further... right?

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: You saw...

It is a beautiful view. Nopony could ever deny that.

You are standing on a balcony over the garden of a large estate, with several acres of farmlands stretching farther towards the distance. Green hills can be seen even further away, as well as a gentle river weaving a path between them until it makes its way out of your sight.
HALF A DOOR. HALF A PATH. HALF A BRIDGE.
The sky is perfectly blue and devoid of any clouds, and the sun is shining upon all of Equestria. It is, to the very definition of the word, a perfect day.
HALF A FATE. HALF AN OATH. HALF A SOUL.
But you could not care less about any of that.
HALF A DREAM. HALF A WILL. HALF A GOD.
Because your eyes are focused on one thing, and one thing alone.
IT IS SHAPED LIKE A FILLY, BUT IT IS NOT.
And that one thing is-
IT IS SHAPED LIKE A GODDESS, BUT IT IS NOT.
That one thing is-
A HALF-REMEMBERED KISS TO THE FOREHEAD. A HALF-FORGOTTEN SCREAM OF PAIN.
That thing is-
THE CERTAINTY THAT ONE BECAME TWO.
That thing-
A REPETITION OF THAT MOST ABOMINABLE OF FATES.
That-
IT CAME FROM THE OUTSIDE. PERFECT. COMPLETE. ALONE.
IT WAS ALLOWED ENTRANCE, SHELTER FROM THE DARKNESS. ON ONE CONDITION.
HALF A DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. HALF A PATH CANNOT BE TREAD. HALF A BRIDGE LEADS NOWHERE.
BUT THE DOOR, AND THE PATH, AND THE BRIDGE, IF MADE WHOLE ONCE AGAIN, MAY STILL LEAD BACK TO THE THING THAT DIVIDED IT.
And that one thing is the filly that Velvet Covers said is Selene.

You are Jade Whistle, and you have just woken up.

You open your eyes, yes, but in all honesty you do this as a mere formality. You don't really care for what you are seeing right now, your mind still entirely focused on what you have just…

On what you have just what? Remembered? Experienced? Re-lived?

To be honest, you are not even sure of what it is that you have just woken up from.

That scene, that memory, presents itself as a dream, sure, but only in the sense that you begin to see it when you go to sleep and that it stops once you wake up. But in all other aspects…

Well, you have already slept a lot in your life, and you have already dreamed a lot. You definitely know how dreams, even lucid dreams, are supposed to feel like.

And this thing, these images and memories and ideas that keep revisiting you every time you sleep… they definitely feel like something else entirely.

But if they are not dreams, then what are they…?

A message, perha-?



"Excuse me miss… are you alright?"



A voice snaps you back into waking attention, your eyes opening a fraction wider as your mind remembers that you are indeed awake. The ideas that were forming inside your head a moment ago vanish, but you don't really care. This entire rodeo of you waking up and trying to make sense of that revelation has already happened several times now. Enough times, at least, for you to know that it will repeat itself tomorrow.

Of course, it might not, and you might have just lost your last chance of figuring this whole mystery out.

But truth be told, you wouldn't mind that either.

"Miss? Do… do you want me to call a grown-up or-?"

"I'm fine," you interrupt the voice as you get up on your hoofs, shaking your head slightly as you begin to focus on your immediate surroundings. Yes… everything seems to be in order.

You are in a park, under a tree. Exactly where you are supposed to be.

Although you are not in that park, or under that tree. You have been making sure to avoid those sorts of places.

No. You are in the park where you have been coming to sleep these last few days, ever since you left Velvet Cover's house. There is nothing familiar about this place and, as you intended, you have no memories attached to the scenery before you.

Point in case, even the small colt standing in front of you, eyeing you nervously, is one that you have never seen before in your entire life.

You blink, staring down at the foal.

He must be, you think, probably between seven and ten years old. His coat is well-kept, although not excessively so, and he doesn't seem to sport any injures, indicating that he is not homeless or mistreated. His eyes, you also notice, are slightly wide in trepidation, but despite that he is still standing firm in front of the mare he just woke up.

A quick glance towards the park at large also tells you that there is another pair of foals, hiding behind a bench further away, anxiously observing the two of you.

A trio of friends, you conclude, who came here to play early in the morning and found you sleeping. The little one in front of you probably thought it best to check if you needed help, while the other two were either opposed or too scared to join him. The whole tension that you see in his eyes, and on those of his friends, must be probably from the clash of ideas that he should not talk to strangers, but that he should offer aid to ponies who appear to need help.

All of this, you conclude, makes you think that he must be a good kid. He even reminds you a little bit of your bro-

You forcibly stop that thought before it can fully manifest.

"I'm fine," you repeat yourself, your voice still a little bit coarse from lack of use. Although the fact that his expression only turned a little more apprehensive must mean that you probably didn't sound as gentle as you hoped.

You really should learn how to speak better…

"Thank you," you continue, hoping that it would help him feel less nervous.

You see him hesitantly nod at that, his tense posture slowly turning more relaxed as he realizes both that you are not dangerous and that you are not hurt or anything else.

A really good kid, you nod internally to yourself. And cute too.

"But you shouldn't talk to strangers," you say, raising a hoof and giving a slight ruffle to his head.

After all the world is not kind to good kids, cute or otherwise. You hope he remembers that.

Figuring that you have said enough you turn around and leave, softly patting the dirt away from your coat as you walk, leaving the trio of foals behind you.



- - -



"I need some time to think." That is what you told Velvet Covers before you left her house. And ever since then you have been doing nothing but thinking.

But no matter how much time passes, you don't seem to be getting anywhere.

And that is because…



Well, because you don't really know what it is that you need to think about.



You have been stuck in a loop, so to speak. You wish you were banging your head against a proverbial brick wall, because then it would mean that you know what the problem is to begin with.

But that's the thing, you don't even know what is…

What is what?

What is bothering you? What is troubling you? What is making you feel so… uncomfortable?

What is making you feel?

Something inside of you hurts at that last question, but you don't really know why.



So, once again, you start trying to make sense of things. You start thinking about things in that same loop, as you have been doing these last few days, hoping that it will lead to a different result this time. Hoping that this time you will be able to figure out what is the source of all this… maelstrom that you have inside your head.

As usual, you try analyzing things from a rational point of view first.

Selene, the adorable filly that was hiding behind Velvet Cover's adorable daughter, is Princess Luna. You could tell that at a glance, much like how anypony who knows the slightest thing about Lantern would be able to see. The… things that have been coming to your mind every time you sleep only further confirms it.

Well, yes. But so what?

Velvet Covers found Princess Luna, and somehow that happened. The Princess was forced through terrible psychological trauma during the ritual, so it might be that she chose to turn into a filly so she can work through her issues.

You think there is a magic spell for that… there probably is. Unicorns aren't exactly fond of following rules with their magic. And even if there isn't a spell for that, Princess Luna is an alicorn, so if anypony can do that it's her.

Anyways.

Velvet Covers found her, and she is hiding her in her house. The Master surely knows, of course, and all of this is probably being done under his orders. Although you have no idea as to why he ordered Velvet Covers to lie about her progress to the rest of the Inner Circle.

He even went to the trouble of having you perform your ritual to search for the Princess, just to see it fizzle and fail. Which means both that your Master is committed to keeping that façade, as well as the fact that he didn't realize that you know about the filly Princess.

However, no matter how many times you analyze this particular piece of knowledge, your mind still circles back to the same conclusion.



"So what?"



You don't care about the cult, at least not nearly as much as you did a few years ago. And the only thing that you found out was that the Master's plans have been going apace, with Velvet Covers once again being able to give him what he wants.

But you don't care about that. You don't care for the fact that he got what he wanted, as always. You don't care for the fact that for some reason he is forcing Velvet Covers to lie about it. You don't even care for the fact that you have been given a superfluous assignment, and that you wasted your time devising a ritual that was ultimately not needed.

You don't care about any of that…

So why are you feeling so…?

So…?!

So lost.



You sigh, closing your eyes and concentrating on your thoughts. Careful now, you think to yourself, it would be too easy to start thinking about… other things…



Like…



Like how you don't care about being given a useless assignment. After all, what else would you have done with your free time anyways? It's not like you have been doing anything productive since ever.

Or the fact that, truth be told, you should be thankful for that sort of thing. Thankful for the Master, and the cult, and everything else. It makes sense that he would only give useless assignments to a useless mare, but at least he has been keeping you busy, right? In fact, he is probably forcing Velvet Covers to lie about having found Princess Luna so you, and the other Inner Circle members, won't feel bad about your own shortcomings, right?

Hah! Who are you lying to…?

Let's face it. You are probably the only one who didn't know. This whole lie, even, is probably something that the Master is doing for your benefit, much like how he seems to take special care with Starry Dancer. After all, you are the one with the least achievements, you are the one who is least useful.

You probably only have a spot on the Inner Circle because you were the first member, more of a token membership than anything else.

But apart from that you know you are useless.

You can't even scale the Mansus properly or train your helpers quickly enough.

Can't even make sure that a small colt is still inside the house while you are cleani-



"Stop."



You say under your breath, shaking your head with enough force for it to actually hurt. Forcing yourself to get out of that loop of thoughts, the same one where you have been falling into these last few days.

You slowly, very deliberately, take a deep breath and try to center your thoughts once again. Away from the memories that you have been actively trying to avoid, away from the spiral of thoughts that you know will lead you… downwards.

You take another deep breath, and you start walking again, going nowhere in particular through the streets of Ponyville.

And once again… you try to think. Back to square one, back to what might have caused this whole… confusion that you are going through right now.



This… is basically how these last few days have been for you…



- - -



Why is it that you are so conflicted? Why is it that you felt like you needed to think about something to begin with?

What changed? What did you see that made you react like this? If you don't care about the filly, or about what the filly's identity means, then why did things turn out like this?

Why did you leave her house? If she cares for you, if she did everything she could to be there for you, why are you running away from her almost as if you are afraid of something?

Why didn't you return to your own house? Why are you avoiding your memories as if you were afraid of being burned by them?

Why do you feel so confused?

...

You don't know.

But your hoofs, if nothing else, seem to be wanting to take you somewhere.

So you let them run their course, wherever it might be that they wish to take you.



- - -



The white-coated unicorn mare stares back at you, doubt and disbelief clear in her eyes.

Of course she doesn't believe you. She has never met you before in her life, so she has no reason to trust your words.

"I would like to speak with her," you say once again, "I am her friend."

"Well, about that… Listen, I know all of her friends, and I'm pretty sure you're not one of them," she says.

"I am an old friend," you answer. "I probably met her before you did."

You can see irritation seeping into her body language at that, lips pursing and muscles growing minutely tense.

Wait… more than irritation. Are you seeing… something else?

You mentally raise an eyebrow at the mare's reaction. Is this… jealousy that you see?

"Is somepony at the door?" a clear voice reaches the two of you, coming from deeper within the house. Both yours and the unicorn's ears perk up at that, although for different reasons.

Yes… that voice is definitely one that you don't recognize, but that for some reason feels sickeningly familiar.

"Nopony important," the white unicorn says, her wild blue-ish mane swinging messily as she turns her head to shout the answer into the house.

"Well, I certainly can't understand then," the other voice says as it comes closer, the sound of hoofs descending a staircase accompanying it, "why you would be on the door for so long if it really is nopony important."

And with that, a grey-coated pony, her well kept mane almost the opposite of the unicorn's, comes into your view. She has a cute bow-tie on a white collar around her neck, and a pleasantly calm smile on her face.

However, both that smile and that calmness freeze as soon as she sees you.

"Hello Octavia Melody," you say, looking at her from snout to tail and taking in all the details, glaring or subtle, that have changed from the last time you saw her, "it has been a while."

Her frozen expression turns into utter disbelief as you turn your body slightly so she can see your cutie mark.

"Ja… Jade Whistle?" she whispers, almost as if to herself. To which you nod for an answer.

Her companion, the unicorn whose name you don't yet know, raises an eyebrow at that, her subtle annoyance only growing more evident. But still, you are let into their house shortly after.



- - -



The three of you are sitting around a rather small dinner table.

This was her house, you remember. The structure is still as you recall it. But her parents must have moved out, and the white unicorn moved in, for quite a while now, after all everything in the house seems to have been thought with two ponies in mind. The place is neatly divided in half, and there seems to be two sets of everything no matter where you look, from instruments to furniture to almost everything else.

To prove your point, for example, there were only two chairs around the table. Octavia insisted that you sat down on her chair, bringing up a small stool from somewhere "her side" of the house, which caused the unicorn to insist that Octavia sat down on the second chair, the white unicorn promptly floating the stool away from her friend and claiming it for herself.

Rather overprotectively, you note. Or perhaps… dotingly.

Which gives you a small tingling sensation that maybe they are not just two friends sharing a house…

"Well Jade…" Octavia's hesitant voice quickly makes your eyes focus on her once again, "it sure has been… a while."

Yes, it has been quite a while. Somewhere around ten years, you think. The two of you were friends ever since you were fillies, and all the way through your adolescences until…

Until…

You slightly shake your head, focusing on the matter at hand.

"Yes," you agree with her.

You had more friends back then, of course, but you always got along the most with Octavia.

"So… what brings you here after so long…?" she tries once again, rather demurely, while her… friend? While the unicorn, whatever she is to Octavia, watches the two of you with her forelegs crossed, a suspicious expression on her face.

That is a good question. What brought you here, after all?

You have been wandering around town for a few weeks now, thinking about… everything, trying to understand exactly where this whole thing started.

But this wasn't like your usual reminiscing. These past few weeks weren't like how you… have been these last years. Your memories don't really make you happy anymore. In fact, you can't really tell what makes you happy anymore, so this certainly wasn't your usual trip down memory lane to "happier times".

No, this was more… thorough, so to speak.

You thought about your recent finding about the filly that is living in Velvet Cover's house, then you thought about the months that preceded that, then you thought about your first years in the cult, then you thought about the years that came before that, and then…

And then…



And then you remembered about what came before even that.



That time, those years, they always felt like a haze, like something that you chose to forget about. You clearly remember the very day where your brother left the house and never return, down to the spot where you were when you realized that the door was open, and you couldn't hear him anymore.

However, for some reason you never really thought much about what came before that.

You had friends before that. There were other ponies in your life, apart from your mother and your father.

You even think that they tried to do… something. You think that you remember them banging and knocking at your door, day after day, after your parents left. You think you remember the knocking growing less insistent as the weeks, then months, passed by.

But you think… that Octavia was the very last one to give up on knocking.

You think… that she promised that no matter how long it took for you to come out from that house, the two of you would still be-



"Jade…?"

"Do you, uh… want something to drink?"



The two of them say something, you are not sure what, but it snaps you out of your thoughts. You really should stop doing that… you are pretty sure that Velvet Covers told you once, jokingly, that it makes her worried sometimes when you simply go quiet like that.

"I'm sorry," you say as you look up at the two mares.

For some reason, thought, they look… Well, Octavia Melody looks extremely distressed at… something, and she is looking at you intently for some reason. The white unicorn, as well, looks equally worried, and perhaps downcast or sad, her previous annoyance nowhere to be seen.

You have no idea why they suddenly got like that, or why they are looking at you so apologetically.

You also have no idea why your eyes are burning up.

"I…" you say, noticing that your voice is wrong for some reason. You cough a few times before you continue. "I would like you help with something," you say simply.

To which Octavia's eyes only grow wider in surprise.

"My help? Wh-… Why? With what?"

Because the two of you were best friends.

Because she doesn't know how much you have been wasting your life these last few years.

Because you don't know, but you don't want this anymore.

"I…" you try to say something, anything, but for some reason you just can't.

"It's okay, it's okay," the white unicorn says, her voice clearly distressed, "I'll go get some water for her Tavvy."

Octavia answers her something back, but you can't really make out what she said.

You can't make out much of anything anymore.

The only thing you know is that your mind is starting to spin, and that your hoofs are shaking, and that you hate this.

This is just like how you were in the park, or in your brother's room when Velvet found you. But you don't like being like this.

It makes you scared.

"Shh, shh, it's alright Whistle, don't worry," you feel somepony taking hold of your hoof, a glass of water being floated in front of you not long after.

At some point Octavia's chair appeared right next to yours, but you really don't have it in you to care about the little details right now. In fact, you don't even have it in you to keep your eyes open.

"C-could you…" you start saying, your voice cracking for some reason.

But still, you came all the way here… you have to do this.

As much as it frightens you.

"Could you hear me out… p-please?"

It's stupid, you know. It doesn't make any sense to hope that she will remember a stupid promise she made over ten years ago. It is stupid of you to hope she will remember it, and even more stupid to hope that she will actually keep her word.

But still… now that you are finally out of that house, now that you remembered that you had other things before this whole mess started, you can't help but to hope that…

"No problem Whistle," she answers, and you feel the hold on your hoof growing tighter, "we can continue from where we left off."



- - -



You told her everything.

Well. Most of everything. Call it an abridged version of things.

But you did tell her all that matters.

You told her of how things were like after she gave up on knocking on your door, and the years after that. You told her about how you eventually tried to busy yourself, even if you were just going with the motions.

You didn't tell her about the cult. Not directly, at least. But what little you told her about "some ponies you met" was cursory at best. The cult doesn't matter, after all, and you only told her about things that matter.

That is to say…. You didn't go into details about the cult itself, but you did tell her about how you finally managed to get out of that house, and that it all started when you met …



"Jade?! By the heavens, I'm so glad you are alright," you hear her voice coming from behind you, and you don't have to turn around to know that she is practically running towards you, much as it might hurt her leg.

You also don't have to turn around to know that she stopped a few meters away from you, hesitating for some reason. She is probably worried.

It makes sense for her to be worried. After all, you didn't exactly say a lot when you left her house. That, and she usually worries a lot.

"Hello Velvet Covers," you say without moving, knowing that she can hear you just fine even though you are not facing her. "I think I did tell you to come here at midnight in my letter," you say.

It is not midnight, you note, idly looking to the skies. It is already night, but it is not even close to midnight.

And yet, here she is. She came to your house just like you asked her to in your letter. She arrived quite early, but you figure she would have probably waited here had you not been present. That, or she would have broken into your house to look for you like she did last time.

Well, that just goes to show that she cares and…

Wait. You might have been quiet for too long now.

"I'm sorry," you say, still with your back turned towards her, still looking at the house where you and your brother grew up.

"Sorry…? For what, Jade?" she asks, hesitantly taking a few steps towards you.

You are sorry for being quiet for so long, of course. After all, she already told you that it makes ponies uncomfortable every now and then. That, and the fact that you asked her to come here in the middle of the night.

And a lot of other things, you realize. You are sorry to a lot of ponies for a lot of things, most of them relating to the house right in front of you.

You are sorry that you gave up on everything for so long. But… as much as it wounds you to think that… you can't keep dwelling on those things forever.

You will still dwell on them for a long, long time, you know. But you also know that you will never gain distance from it if you don't… start moving away from it.

If you don't start… moving on.

That term still tastes sour on your mouth, but-

"Jade…?" you hear her speak up, somehow managing to sound even more worried than before.

Right, too quiet for too long again. You shake your head and focus on the present.

"I'm sorry for asking you to come here so late at night. But I really wanted you to…" you tilt your head minutely for a few moments, wondering how you should word what you have in mind, "I really wanted you to be here for me," you say.

No other way to put it, really.

You are not really good with words, you are not really good with a lot of things, but you do hope that you said it in a way that she could understand.

After all, you are really bad at being understood, but Velvet Covers is really good at understanding, so you hope that those two things manage to cancel each other out… somehow.

A faint smile comes to your lips as you hear the mare slowly making her way towards you. You can see her look at you, from your peripheral vision, checking if you are alright.

And right after that, she sits down on the ground next to you, the two of you now facing the place you called home for the longest time.

You keep your eyes fixed on the house, not even turning to look at her. But still, you can tell that she is struggling with something as she alternates between looking at you, the saddle bag you have at your side, and the house.

Until finally, she simply sighs.

"Well, I'm here for you."

And says that with a sincerity that…

That…

Well. She understood you.



That makes you very glad.



You should start, then. You know that she will only get more and more worried if you stay silent like this.

"I really like to collect things," you say, knowing that if you try and pick your words the two of you might stay here until midnight. "Cutie mark and all… so it was really hard to follow through when I promised myself I'd only pack a single saddle bag," you say, poking a hoof at the bag you have at your side.

You sigh at that, finally wrenching your eyes away from the house and turning towards her.

You can tell from her eyes that she has a lot going on in her mind right now, and probably quite a few questions that she would like to ask.

But still, she doesn't say a word, letting you continue your sorry excuse of a monologue.

"Or at least, I thought it would be hard. When I started to gather the things I thought were really important… it turned out that there wasn't a lot of it, after all."

You open your saddle bag at that.

Indeed, there are not many things in it at all. Your brother's favorite toy, the one picture that you have of him that isn't crumpled or torn, a few of your personal belongings, Velvet Cover's letters for you, a few bits that you had in the house.

And a box of matches.

Really, not many things at all. You thought you would have wanted to pack the entire house, right before you started. You thought you would not be able to choose what you wanted to bring for the life of you. But in the end, it wasn't that hard.

Although it sure wasn't pretty, by all means. It took you the whole day to select those few items, and your eyes are still burning from all the crying and…

Huh. You wonder if that's why Velvet Covers is staring at you so worriedly. Yes, your expression is probably not presentable and-

Silent for too long again, you admonish yourself.

"Well, thank you for being here," you say, standing up from the ground and picking up the box of matches from your saddle bag with your mouth.

"Jade…?" you hear Velvet Covers asking very… slowly… "what are you going to do with… with that?"

Curious. You thought it would be obvious to her. Maybe she is in denial?

Or maybe she thinks you are planning to stay inside the house as you do it?

The thought did cross your mind but… you wouldn't have called her if that had been your plan.

"I'm going to burn the house down, obviously," you answer, walking towards it.

Of course you are. You have decided long ago that this place would have been your tomb. But you also decided very recently that you don't… well, that that sort of thing can wait, even if only a little longer.

Which means that you now have two conflicting decisions.

Something that you need to rectify.

"Wa… What? You are going to do what?!"

That, you are sure, is denial from her part. You know for a fact that she heard you clearly.

You open the front door for what you hope will be the last time and pick a match from inside the box. Everything in there is old and flammable, you know, so you didn't even bother to spread alcohol anywhere.

"Jade, wait!" she calls from behind you, nearly galloping towards you.

You stop what you are doing, more out of worry that she might hurt herself with all that running, and turn to face her.

She looks… worried.

You look into her eyes, and you can tell that she is downright scared of what you are doing.

It hurts you, a little bit, to make her scared like that.

However, you can't help but ask the only question that comes to your mind right now.

"Why…?" you ask.

Why does she want you to wait?

Why does she want you to stop?

What exactly do you have in that house that you would possibly want to keep?

You question, single-worded as it might have been, strikes her. Of course it does, after all she understands you.

And with that, you can see that she…





[] To destroy that which will not change.

You see something click inside of her. She then looks at you with those kind, caring eyes of her, seeing that you are… seeing that you are okay right now. Then she looks at the house, remembering everything you told her. And finally, she looks at the match you are holding. A spark flicks from her horn a moment later, lighting the match, and she nods you the blessings that only a true friend can give. The house is ablaze moments later, the two of you running together into the shadows of the night. You think you can hear something as you run away, the sound of you and your brother playing. You think the two of you sound happy.

(Jade Whistle will strive to destroy that which will not change, adopting FORGE as her secondary Lore. Velvet Covers will gain one scrap of FORGE Lore for having witnessed such change. Jade Whistle's house, the place she knows to be her tomb, will be destroyed.)



[] To become unceasing.

She smiles, plain and simply. A smile that tells you that she finally understands you, perhaps better than you understand yourself. "You don't need to do this," she says calmly, her tone both gentle and patient, "you don't need to completely let go of them." She then floats the box of matches back into your bag, "you just need to stop holding on too tightly," she finishes saying, taking you by the hoof and gently pulling you with her, towards the night. And you think, deep down, that she just stopped you from doing something you would eventually have regretted. You think, deep down, that you feel something pulse inside your chest, right next to your heart. Something faint and steady, that might be like what you felt every time you hugged your brother against your chest.

(Jade Whistle will strive to become unceasing, adopting HEART as her secondary Lore. Velvet Covers will gain one scrap of HEART Lore for having saved one who was about to cease. Jade Whistle will not lose her love for collecting things.)





Regardless of your choice, you can tell that Jade Whistle is not "better". But you are glad she decided to take the first step, and you promise yourself that you will be there when she takes the second.

Regardless of your choice, Jade Whistle is now personally loyal to you. Her action pool will be added to your list of Confidants come next turn.

Regardless of your choice, Jade Whistle will not set hoof anywhere near that place for a long, long time.



Jade Whistle has done more than seen something in Selene. She might be onto something, but she will need time to figure it out. Dedicated time, that is.

And on a lesser note, Jade Whistle would have adopted WINTER as her secondary Lore if you had taken her down the Minion route.

Kindly observe a two hours moratorium.