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

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] plan DENY BALDOMARE TO CULT, SHE'S OURS! (conditional version) (and Windy instead of Rarity)
-[X] (Book) Forge 3 (30 bits)
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Give it to Baldomare If we reach Moth or Winter or Edge 4, eat it otherwise
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary: (Fleeting Opportunity) Dissociate from Loremaster's fame
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2)
-[X] (Baldomare) Secret Histories Influence
-[X] (Selene) In order: Winter > Moth > Edge if levels are the same, if one of these reaches lvl 4 go with that one.
-[X] Attention of the Laws: Grail, use on the first valid target of the following: Stormchaser, Fluttershy, Soft Sweeps
-[X] Hintseekers: Track down other members of the Expedition
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Fluttershy
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Soft Sweeps
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Windy Flakes (WRITE IN OBJECTIVE)
--[X] Subtly check Windy's opinions and loyalty to the cult in view of the current events.
-[X] Mansus exploration (7 exploration actions)
--[X] Take actions in order, repeating failed actions until we succeed or run out of actions
--[X] If we acquire a Wound or a Malus, skip to the Blank Plains step
--[X] Search out a new location in the Shattered Stairs
--[X] Fully explore the new location
--[X] Seek out the next Door and study it
--[X] Cross the Door, but don't spend an action on the other side
--[X] Search for new locations in the Blank Plains until locations are exhausted
--[X] Search for new locations in the Woods until locations are exhausted

- - -

You are Velvet Covers.

And right now, to your honest relief, you are with your friends.

"Covers, darling, is everything alright?" Rarity says, her tone honestly worried as she sets down a cup of tea in front of you. "I don't mean to criticize your looks, but you, uh… you definitely feel a bit…"

"You look exhausted," Jade Whistle says, nonchalantly as always, without even looking up from the notes that she is reading from.

But even that, even their worry, is something that you are grateful for.

Because considering everything that is happening, considering everything that you have been worrying about, simply being with ponies who care about you is like having a weight lifted from your back.

Although of course you know other ponies care about you. Of course you know Stormchaser is concerned about you, and that your daughters love you. And you love them back, for sure.

But still, there is a difference.

You care about your daughters, but you are also constantly worried about them. Especially given Selene's particular situation. And you know that Stormchaser has your back, but until a few weeks ago you were still hiding too much from him. And even now, after you have told him everything that you were keeping inside your chest, you can tell that there is still too much he doesn't understand. He might know about all of that, of course, and he might trust you and be willing to follow you on this. But until you properly introduce him to the Lores you realize that he won't be able to truly grasp the situation that you are all in, let alone be able to do anything about it.

But here? Right now? Inside Rarity's room while you are sharing a cup of tea with her and Jade? Well, being with them has a whole special meaning of its own, which in turn brings you a very particular kind of relief.

Because Rarity and Jade? These are your partners in crime, so to speak. These are fellow cult members who are your friends, and who are together with you in agreeing that you must all leave -betray- the cult.

Here, right now, you don't feel like you have the weight of the world on the back. You don't feel like you have a whole conspiracy exclusively tucked away inside your head, and that you are fighting alone against an eldritch thing that might very well be able to read your thoughts.

"I just…" you say, bringing the teacup towards you and taking a small sip, "I just have had a lot in my mind, Rarity. We all have."

You see Jade absent-mindedly nod at your words, from where she is sitting on the other side of the table.

"By the way, this tea is lovely Rarity. Thank you," you say, giving a pleasantly surprised look to the tea and taking a few more sips from it.

"I can guarantee it's not as good as what you usually serve us in your house, Velvet, but thank you," she says, sitting on her own chair and picking up her own teacup.

Although you do note that she is still stealing worried glances at you, every now and then.

Well, you all have a lot on your individual plates, and Rarity's own worries towards you are coming from a good place. So rather than trying to address the issue directly, you hope to be able to convince her that you are fine (or as fine as you can be) by acting normally.

"Well, if you insist on that, then I say your tea is refreshingly novel," you retort with a smile, watching as she concedes the point with a chuckle. "But anyhow, we are all here now. And by the heavens is it a relief to meet you two… Still, we have plenty to talk about, so do any of you mind if I begin?"

"By all means, darling, go ahead," Rarity says with a nod.

And you are pretty sure you heard Jade mumble something, her gaze still focused on the notes she had. But you know that she is listening, so you will take that as a sign from her that she is fine with it as well.

"Right. So," you begin, taking a final sip before floating the teacup back to the table, "we all agreed, last time we met, that whatever happened was bad. But we also agreed that we didn't have a lot to go with. Well, except for all the dreadful business that happened in Canterlot, and everywhere else, as well as…"

Your words trail off as you look at Jade, and then at Rarity.

"So, we might know what happened, but we are utterly lost when it comes to the 'hows' or 'whys'. Plus, thanks to those gaps we might very well be missing crucial details," you continue, drawing further nods from the two mares. "I personally don't think there's anything we could possibly find out that would justify what happened, but we might be missing a detail that could help us know how to best move forward."

Jade picks up the bundle of notes she had on the table and stacks them into a somewhat organized pile. After that, she turns to you and gives you her… erm, her full attention.

For all that her expression makes her look like she is barely interested in being here at all.

"So, I had a few of the cult members dig around for information. Meeting somepony in the Woods is always hard, with all the getting-lost issues that we usually have," you say, remembering the several frustrating nights you had when you tried, and failed, to meet up with the Hintchasers. "And I swear that the ponies I did meet would sometimes forget what they were saying mid-sentence. But still, they told me a few things that were quite useful."

"Isn't it dangerous to do that?" Jade speaks up, her monotone voice carrying the slightest inflection of worry. "I mean, talking about that in the Woods… how can we know the Master won't be listening?"

"Well, it's the only way I have of communicating with the Hintchasers," you say, "to be honest, I have yet to meet any of them personally… I don't even know who most of them are, and finding that out in the first place would take up time that I don't feel we have."

"Agreed. And besides, Jade, having Velvet meet with any of them in person at this point would do more harm than good," Rarity adds in. "I mean, we are trying to dissociate her from the image of the cult's Loremaster, and I'll talk about how that went later, but having more cult ponies meet her in purpose for cult dealings would be…"

She trails off, but her expression alone already tells what she thinks about that.

And you agree. Meeting with the Hintchasers in the Wake, while having Rarity try to convince the cult that you are not the Loremaster, would at the very least make things complicated.

"I also think, or at least hope, that having them tell me about how the expedition went won't be seen as a big deal. Even if the Master had heard everything they told me, and everything I told them back, I don't think we talked about anything that was outright suspicious."

Or at least, nothing suspicious enough to suggest what the three of you are planning to do.

The Master is… unpredictable, sure, but you don't think that her thoughts would immediately jump to betrayal, if she learned that you were just curious about what happened.

Right?

… right…?

Well, what is done is done, and you will never get anything done if you worry about every possible detail. You hear Jade let out a soft "hmm" at that, which you hope means she agrees with what you and Rarity just said, and you take it as a cue to get back on track.

"Still, they did tell me some useful things," you continue. "First of all, we knew that they summoned four windigos, and that none of them returned. We thought the Master had them moved to another place for future use, but…"

You purse your lips as you say those next words.

"But apparently… the Master set the windigos free."

You see Rarity tilt her head at that, which is understandable seeing how she doesn't exactly know the… the details that revolve around windigos.

And you see Jade's eyes going slightly wide at that, which tells you enough about how this must have shocked her as well.

"Not… are you sure the Master didn't have them unsummoned?" Jade asks, her speech slightly slower than normal.

But to answer her, you only shake your head.

"Hold on, is there something I'm missing Velvet?" Rarity asks, as she looks at the short exchange you just had with Jade. "I mean, the windigos are… like in those fairy tales, right? I can see why they are bad, but didn't you say summoned things disappear after a while?"

Your expression turns into a grimace as you try to figure out how to best explain it to her. Because she is right, of course.

However, the time that the windigos would have between them being released and dissipating, could be... bad. Very bad.

"I can explain to you the details… later, Rarity," you say, very carefully, and not looking forward to the next piece of information you are about to share. "But let me complement that with something else. One of the ponies told me, when we were alone, that they heard… I hope this is wrong, of course, but that they heard that… there were other ponies, in the changeling hive. Prisoners, I believe."

You watch as Rarity's eyes narrow for a few moments, until they open up in shock and she lets out a soft gasp.

And you share her sentiment, of course. You dearly hope that particular information to be wrong, especially given how the Hintchaser told you it was something they heard. Just a rumor.

But still… it is a rumor that makes sense. After all, ponies disappeared. The infiltrators that were in Ponyville were filling in the horseshoes of already existing citizens, so those ponies have to have gone somewhere. And Ponyville itself is a tiny city, so if more infiltrators were sent to larger cities it would make sense for there to be far more ponies who were sequestered from other places, and for all those ponies to be taken to their hive.

Again, you hope this information is wrong. You hope it's just the dark kind of gossip that sprouts when something bad happens, just a mixture of pessimism and fear turned into words.

But, you think as you look at the Lantern-glint in Jade's eyes, you also know that you can't hide yourself from a truth just because it is uncomfortable.

"Oh, goodness gracious, I… that can't be right, can it? I mean, I-… well-… if they really-…" Rarity tries to say something, anything, in starts and stops. A hoof going to her forehead not long after as she realizes that she can't rationalize her way out of that either. "Well, I... I do hope that whoever said that is wrong, darling. I really do."

"So do I, Rarity," you agree.

Although you don't think anypony in this room really believes that to be the case.

You also feel a slight tug on your connection with Rarity, as she glosses over the obvious connection that she should have made, when it comes to what you just said.

But, again, the look that Jade has in her eyes gives you the strength to soldier your way through it. Feeling bad about this is the right thing to do, it's what makes you a pony. But you also can't let your feelings get the best of you. Not when you know how Rarity will react, if she connected the dots on what you and Jade already know.

"And finally," you continue, after letting Rarity breathe for a few more moments, "I heard that one of the ponies that went to the expedition, one of the cult members that is, didn't return. Nopony could tell me what exactly happened to her, I think it was a mare, but that's something to look into."

"How so, Velvet? Wouldn't finding a pony who didn't come back from that whole thing harder than finding out somepony who went and is still here in Ponyville?" Rarity asks.

"I thought so at first, Rarity. But seeing how hard it was for anypony, even the Hintchasers, to get anything out from those who went is telling that they decided to stay quiet about all of that. Maybe the Master herself told them not to talk about what happened there. A pony who never came back, on the other hoof…"

"May have run away, or even defected from the cult during the expedition itself…" Jade chimes in, her voice a low mumble.

"Exactly what I thought," you say.

"… or they may have died," Jade continues.

"Which I hope is not the case, of course."

Still, that was all you had to say. The Hintchasers did their best to gather information, although you honestly hoped them to be able to find out more. But that goes to show how difficult it is to gather information on the cult to begin with.

And besides, one thing they told you, that the Master had the windigos released, is already damning enough in your opinion. You truly, truly hope that there were no prisoners in the hive but…

But well, Twilight was there, so there was at least one prisoner. And it wouldn't make any sense for there not to have been more.

Add the released windigos to that equation… with the fact that you know that they hate ponies, that you have already felt the hate they feel towards ponies, and…

You can't follow the Master anymore. What happened to Twilight was already enough, for you, but this… this also…

"Well, I'd like to tell you two about how things went on my end, if you don't mind," Rarity says, cutting the silence that you didn't even realize was gathering over the room.

And you are thankful for that. Plenty of dark clouds over your heads already, so you're glad Rarity is willing to drag you three out of this particular one.

"Oh, sure, please do," you say, lighting up your horn and bringing your tea towards you again.

"Well, the cult is a mess for starters. Well, not a mess," she says, as if struggling to find the right words, "but I definitely would call it… chaotic? That works better. But to put it simply, everypony seems to believe something slightly different. Everypony knows about certain key things, like the Master, and the Lores, and about the Inner Circle and all that, but everypony still seems to have a slightly different version of it."

You and Jade let out a low, curious murmur at that, as Rarity tell you two a few more details about all that.

And to be quite honest, you do find what Rarity tells you quite intriguing. After all, you haven't really had as much contact with the rest of the cult as you could have. Granted, you were busy of course. But still, the short tale that Rarity tells you about her experience, as a newcomer in the already established cult, is quite unfamiliar to you.

You used to have more contact with members at large of the cult before, when your number could be counted in the dozens and there wasn't much keeping you together other than the Master's irregular sermons.

But the tale Rarity tells you, about this… this entire institution that is the cult, as confusing as it may be, is at the very least interesting.

"I spent the whole month talking to a lot of ponies, and if I didn't know any better I would have thought there were three separate groups operating under the guise of the same cult. The stories I heard, about the Master, and things that happened, and even you two girls were all over the place."

"There are stories about… me?" Jade asks, looking down at her tea.

"More than you would believe, darling," Rarity says, an amused smile appearing on her face as she continues, "why, I even heard one pony say that it's rude to blow at candles, because somehow you can see through them, and you might take it as an offense towards yourself."

You let out a short laugh at that, or at least you try to, and it turns into a fit of coughs as you realize too late you were in the middle of swallowing your tea.

"They say what?"

And Jade's face, and the fact that what Rarity just said made her show an expression, doesn't help your laughing in the slightest.

"Jade, darling, I have all sorts of weird stories after this last month," Rarity says, waving a placating hoof at the other mare. "But really, going back to what really matters. I think that establishes my point that the cult is a bit of a mess, gossip-wise. And I am not really sure if that worked for or against me."

"How so?" you ask, your voice still slightly rasp from your coughs, "I would have thought that would have made fertile ground for you to start a new rumor."

"You are right on the fertile ground thing, darling, but there are already quite a lot of rumors circulating to begin with. I think I helped, sure. I think I managed to take a few more hoofsteps in the direction we want. But I'm sure that some ponies still think the local noblemare is the Loremaster just for the sake of that being their pet theory. Although…"

She thinks for a few more moments, tracing a hoof through her mane as she does.

"Although I do think I would have been able to impress a lot more ponies, especially the more hard-headed ones, if I knew a bit more of Grail... Oh, but please don't take it the wrong way, darling," she immediately blurts out, "I know we don't have time to do everything at once."

You nod at that. And frankly, you can see that Rarity managed to do a lot on her own. You know it's impossible, short than you faking your own death, for you to convince everypony that you are not the Loremaster. And at the same time, from what Rarity told you, you know a lot of ponies already think that story to be far-fetched to begin with.

So as long as the majority of the cult doesn't believe it, as long as the ones who insist you are the Loremaster are just the conspiracy-theorists, you think the situation will be good enough.

"But I couldn't make any progress in the idea that the local noble is not a part of the cult. There are ponies who think you are, and ponies who don't, but that discussion is a door that I couldn't get any of my forelegs through," Rarity finishes.

"I see. Thank you, Rarity. Really. With the things we have in mind, and with Dull Glass in Ponyville, I can't tell you how relieved I am from what you told me."

"It was a pleasure, darling. That's what friends are for!" she says, with an honest smile.

And you let out a relieved sigh, taking another sip from your tea before you turn towards Jade.

Only to realize that, once again, she has her eyes turned towards the scribbled parchments she is holding on her hoofs.

And you are not entirely sure if you should… talk to her. Would that break her concentration? Would that be implying she isn't paying attention, when you clearly know that she is? After all, you know Jade is no fool, but sometimes you can't help but worry that she is helpless in certain aspects.

Or maybe this is just her lacking confidence? Maybe she is just mustering her courage to say what she has to say?

Or, most likely, maybe you are just overthinking this. But you know yourself well enough. You can't really help that.

"Jade Whistle? Darling? What about you, how did your thing go?" Rarity asks, pretty much coming to your rescue whether if she realizes it or not.

And you watch as Jade… does nothing at all.

Heavens, you are supposed to be getting better at understanding her expressions, even when they don't move an inch, not worse!

"I…" she says, slowly, and both yours and Rarity's ears perk up at that, the two of you edging towards the mare to hear her better.

"I'm not sure how to describe it," she finally says.

And then she once again starts putting her notes on the table, putting the parchment papers side by side so she could read them all at the same time.

"I've been having this dream, ever since I realize what Selene is. Or at least I used to. It started to fade away, although I still have it every now and then. But the point is, Selene is…"

She taps a hoof against the table, and then points at one of her notes.

"Selene is half," she says, and then she moves her hoof towards another note, "but she is also whole. And in my head both those words mean… too many different things. I know they make sense, but I don't know how, and that's what I'm stuck at."

The mare then crosses her forelegs, still deep in thought, and you and Rarity exchange a glance wondering if you should chime in.

But Jade continues to speak before either of you have a chance.

"But I feel that this thing that I saw in her, that gave me the dreams and all, is also being smothered by her current state. This… stuff," she says, waving a hoof over her notes, "will probably be more relevant, or easier to study, once she returns to her original self. But still, I'd like to spend more time studying this… if you two think that's a good idea?"

"Well, I don't see why not. And anything we can learn about Selene, anything that could help her, is something good in my opinion," you say, to which Rarity also nods in agreement.

"Right, I'm glad to hear that. There is also something else," she continues, "I feel like there might be something else in there, in her that is, but it's too hidden for now. Maybe after she learns even more about Knock, I might be able to gleam whatever it is."

You nod at that

"But as things currently stand, I wouldn't really need to personally check on her anymore, like I did this last month. This further studying I want to do can be done based on my notes alone."

She says that, and then her words strangely… trail off, for a few moments.

"Which is a shame. I liked having an excuse to visit your daughters," she finishes.

To which both you and Rarity tilt your heads in confusion.

Because Jade's tone is clearly… well, she doesn't sound sad, but she at the very least sounds a little bit down.

But uh… well… doesn't she know that she…?

"You do know you can visit them anytime, right?" you ask.

And you see Jade's eyes narrow at that, as if you had just told her something she had not considered before.

After that, the three of you continue your conversation from there, until evening comes and you and Jade go your separate ways.





You have discovered, officially discovered that is, that the Master had the summoned windigos unleashed. Adding that to the fact that there were certainly prisoners on the changeling hive… well, you now have even more personal problems with what the Master did, and how she handled the whole changeling situation.

You have also found out that one of the expedition members apparently never returned. You have no idea who she is, or if it's even a mare to begin with, and you have no clue of how to find her. But maybe, if you somehow do find her, you might have another source of information. A witness, if nothing else, to what truly transpired, seeing how Baldomare "professionally" refused to discuss what her Summoner (temporary as your Master might have been) did in her presence.

Rarity has successfully distanced "Velvet Covers, local noblemare" from "the cult's Loremaster". She thinks more can be done, or that she could have done more. But she also thinks that, given her skills and time constraints, she did a very good job. She was not, however, able to even begin smothering the belief that you are (or rather, that the only noblemare in town is) a cult member.

Although, for all that Rarity believes she can "double down" on it next month, you also realize she might be neglecting her own career if she dedicates herself to that next month.

Jade Whistle may now use her actions to research "A Memory of Light". But this, she is almost sure, is something that has to do with "Luna" rather than "Selene".

Jade Whistle believes that there is one final thing to be discovered, but only after Selene learns more about Knock.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] plan DENY BALDOMARE TO CULT, SHE'S OURS! (conditional version) (and Windy instead of Rarity)
-[X] (Book) Forge 3 (30 bits)
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Give it to Baldomare If we reach Moth or Winter or Edge 4, eat it otherwise
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary: (Fleeting Opportunity) Dissociate from Loremaster's fame
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2)
-[X] (Baldomare) Secret Histories Influence
-[X] (Selene) In order: Winter > Moth > Edge if levels are the same, if one of these reaches lvl 4 go with that one.
-[X] Attention of the Laws: Grail, use on the first valid target of the following: Stormchaser, Fluttershy, Soft Sweeps
-[X] Hintseekers: Track down other members of the Expedition
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Fluttershy
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Soft Sweeps
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Windy Flakes (WRITE IN OBJECTIVE)
--[X] Subtly check Windy's opinions and loyalty to the cult in view of the current events.
-[X] Mansus exploration (7 exploration actions) (3 actions remaining)
--[X] Take actions in order, repeating failed actions until we succeed or run out of actions
--[X] If we acquire a Wound or a Malus, skip to the Blank Plains step
--[X] Search out a new location in the Shattered Stairs
--[X] Fully explore the new location
--[X] Seek out the next Door and study it
--[X] Cross the Door, but don't spend an action on the other side
--[X] Search for new locations in the Blank Plains until locations are exhausted
--[X] Search for new locations in the Woods until locations are exhausted

- - -

You live in a large estate. You are aware of that.

Or should you say that you are "self-conscious" about it, rather than just "aware"?

Because you are aware of how large your house is, yes, but you also realize that you are used to it. So, whenever you visit somepony else's home, you have to remind yourself that it is not their homes that are small, it's yours that is way too large.

But self-critique aside, that is all really beyond the point.

The point is that, since you live in a large mansion, it also happens that you have several guest rooms.

And right now, you are making your way to one of them.

You have already been to that particular room, to talk to that particular guest, several times these past few months. And more than once you left that place frustrated, drunk, or being chased away by scolds and cutting glares. Those last ones being completely unjustified, of course, seeing how you are such a good host that asks so few (and entirely reasonable) questions.

You definitely don't get chased out of that room only after spending several hours in it repeatedly asking the same questions like an over-excited filly. No sir.

However, you aren't going to that guest room for any of those reasons.

No. You are going there, because you feel that today, your guest is…

"May I come in?" you ask, knocking at the half-opened door.

Only to find your guest already waiting for you.

Only to find Baldomare sitting on a chair, her back turned at you, looking out at the sun. You can't see her expression, but for some reason the entire room feels… quiet.

You purse your lips as you look at her bed, neatly made and with an open baggage filled with small things over it. But apart from that, you can't see anything else out of place in the room. You see none of the several open books that she had sprawled over her study table, none of the empty glasses and corked bottles that she would sequester from the kitchen and keep under her bed. Nothing.

You can't see anything else out of place in the room. You can't see any signs that this room has ever been occupied by a guest. Except, of course, for the open baggage and the mare herself.

"Ah, there you are," she says, turning away from the sun and towards you, "and right on time. Please, Velvet, do come in. Although this is your house, so I hardly think I can tell you what you can or can't do."

You give her a half-hearted nod and make your way in, sitting on another chair by her study table, a few hoofsteps away from her and the window.

And even though you had been thinking about what to say, the things you had in mind… really don't feel appropriate right now. Not in this atmosphere. Not like this.

So, as the silence begins to stretch with the two of you simply staring at each other, Baldomare's calm smile implying that she is waiting for you to begin, you can't really help but to say what is really on your mind.

"So…" you say, slowly, almost hesitantly, "this is it?"

To which Baldomare answers only by raising an eyebrow. As if she knew that the words you just said were a possibility, but didn't quite expected you to have picked them.

"This is not 'it', Velvet," she says, in a slightly amusing tone. "This is never 'it'. Not in this world, at least. You have a sun that rises and sets every day, after all, so tomorrow will always bring something new. That's what is so nice about this place, I suppose."

She laughs at her own words, as if she had just said something amusing. But before you can say anything else, out of frustration or otherwise, she waves a placating hoof towards you.

"But yes, this is it. My time here is up, after all. So this is how things have to go."

And you can't help but furrow your brow at that. You are not sure if you are thankful, that she at least tried to make some small talk instead of going straight to the heart of the subject, or if you are feeling bad that the two of you are having this conversation in the first place.

But again, your next words come out of your mouth before you can even think about them.

"The girls will surely miss you. I will miss you," you say.

Even though you have no idea why you are saying that. Even though you don't even know what point you are trying to make.

Because what, are you trying to convince her to stay? Do you even think that you could possibly convince her to stay? Well, you could, you know it is possible, but you also realize that you are not willing to do it.

So, this is a moot point. Anything you say is a moot point. You being here, even, is a moot point.

And this… you… this whole situation is so frustrating!

You knew this could happen, you know this will happen, so why are you so angry to begin with?!

Why are you even here?!

What is the point in what you are doing right now, if you know tha-

"If you know that I will leave anyways, right?" she says, still with that casual smile. "Yes, it is quite frustrating."

And you balk at that, not as if you had just taken a shock or been slapped to the face, but somehow close to both.

Because you realize what is happening. You realize what is going on right now. You realize why you can't help but be honest… why you can't help but say what is truly going on in your mind right now.

Why you can't help but feel the way you really want to feel, with all this frustration, and anger and… and sense loss?

It is Baldomare herself. This… this is her very nature. You wouldn't be able to tell a lie even if you wanted to. Not even to yourself.

And when you realize that, you can't help but feel…

But feel that…

She is giving you a small taste of what it must be, to be like her.

Maybe as a parting gift. Maybe as a moment of rare vulnerability. Or maybe just for the sake of having one last, honest conversation with you.

But right now, she is… it is not that she is inside your head. No. To even think that would be hubris. Because Baldomare is such a large creature, is such a labyrinth of light, that it is you who is inside her head right now.

You have been, ever since you entered this room. Or maybe even before that.

You wonder if all of this, the room and the window and this conversation, is even real.

You wonder if it makes a difference.

"No, dear, it really doesn't. So don't worry about that," she says, giving you a tiny nod.

And with that, you finally realize that… that you don't really know what to say.

Because everything you want to say, everything you could say, heavens even everything you are feeling… she already knows.

So you just… stay there.

You just enjoy her company, while it lasts.

"Yes, that's the proper way to go about these things," she says. "However, there is something I want to tell you, before I'm gone."

You raise an eyebrow at that, your doubt and curiosity obvious in your every movement as you turn your ears towards her.

"I would like to thank you for this."

"Thank… thank me?" you ask, even if words aren't needed, "for what, exactly?"

"For not making it a choice, really. After all, as things currently stand, you would have to chose between me and Selene. Which means you don't have a choice at all. We both know that."

You understand what she is saying, but you can't help but grimace at that. Even though her reasoning is… not flawed.

Still, as right as she may be, you can't help but feel a little sour, about all of this.

And she knows that. Which makes her say her next words, her tone almost as if she is trying to comfort you.

"But don't get me wrong. I enjoyed my stay here, I really did. And, well, I'm not really thankful for the current circumstances. That's not what I meant, exactly," she says, and strangely hesitates for a few moments.

And, very uncharacteristically, she actually… takes a few moments, before continuing to talk. As if she is thinking really hard whether if she should say something or not, or as if she is picking her words very carefully.

She only continues to speak after she turns her eyes back towards the window, and towards the sun.

"What I am really thankful for, is… that you made things turn out this way. Because you see, I… I don't want to care, Velvet. Caring for something, wanting for something, is the old and trodden path that will inevitably lead you to pain. And I don't like feeling pain, Velvet. I never did."

She says that, as she looks out at the sun. And for all that the silence stretches long, after she says that, you can't really find it in yourself to break the silence.

Not when you know what expression Baldomare has on her face, even though you cannot see it.

"And I know you realized that," she finally says, turning back towards you with an uncharacteristic smile. "You are a smart mare, after all. So, I thank you for respecting that part of me. Thank you for not making me stay, and not letting me care. Because I am sure that I would start caring, if I dallied too long. The Wake… this Wake, it does have a way of snaring you in, so to speak…"

You feel, rather than hear, her take in a deep breath, and let out a long sigh.

"You even made it so that it was nopony's fault even," she says chuckling a little bit, "unless we are going to blame Selene, of course, but neither of us has the heart to do that."

You let out a short, tiny, laughter at that. To share in her chuckle, if nothing else.

And the two of you stay like that, silently sharing each other's company, until the sun gets so high that it leaves the view of Baldomare's window.

Which, you understand, is the sign that it is time for her to go.

"But still, I have to ask. You know, for formality's sake," she says, as she gets up.

You watch as Baldomare gets up, makes her way towards the bed, closes her baggage and straps it around her saddle.

However, before she moves to leave, she turns towards you. And in a way that is almost professional, even though she already knows the answer, she asks you a question.

"Is there anything you want to tell me, that I don't already know?"

She says those words, those words, almost as if she was reading from a script. She says them with a smirk on her face, almost as if she was telling you a secret or asking for a password. As if she was sharing a cultural greeting with you, or some other sort of catchphrase that had a deeper meaning than those mere words let by.

And you immediately understand what she means by that. You immediately understand what she is asking, and the only two ways that you might answer her.

Because this is it. This is the price. The ritual. The exchange.

It is a query, to see if you are willing to exchange knowledge for knowledge. A gift of light, form you, in exchange for maintaining the light of her mirage.

And that is the reason why she always insisted that she needed an unread book. She needs it, that piece of untainted light, unmarred even by your own perception, in order to keep her physical self in the Wake.

You also understand that you can pay that price. That you have something, something to tell her that she doesn't know. You have a secret to share, that is waiting for you just outside your estate in the shape of a grey fruit.

But alas, the two of you also that this is not a choice you are willing to make.

You need that knowledge, for yourself.

You need that knowledge for Selene.

"No."

So, you give her the only possible answer.

However, even to that, Baldomare still gives you a satisfied smile and an approving nod.

"In that case, I will be seeing you, Lady Velvet Covers. But until then, this summons bids you to excuse her," she says, giving you a short bow, and making her way towards the door.

And when she leaves the room-

-everything is gone.​

- - -



You wake up.

In your house.

In your room.

In your bed.

And you are not really sure if everything that just happened was inside your head, or if everything you just saw is about to happen, as soon as you get up and make your way towards Baldomare's guest room.

But you think you recall her saying that it doesn't really make a difference.

And think you understand what she means, or meant, by that.

Still, you can't help but feel slightly empty as you get up from your bed.

You never really liked goodbyes. You are not sure anypony does.

However, you notice something, out of the corner of your eye, as you stand up.

"Huh?"

There is something on your bedstand, right next to you. Something that you are sure wasn't there before.

Something that looks very much like a small leather pouch, that a pony might use to carry small objects.

And underneath a pouch, a piece of parchment. A letter.

A gift.

You carefully pick up the pouch, and untie its top with a flick of magic, only to see that inside of it there is…

"Dust?" you ask yourself, eyeing the contents of the pouch carefully.

No, not just dust…

Lantern-dust?

Yes, you can definitely feel a tinge of Lantern from it, but you have no idea what that might be.

So, you pick up the letter that is underneath the pouch, taking care not to spill the dust itself. You are not really surprised when you see Baldomare's hoofwriting on it.

However, the letter is… surprisingly short.



Dear Velvet.

I had planned on taking this as a memento back to the Lodge.

However, I also realize that you are set on the path you have chosen. Giving you this would not have made any difference, and in a way is just a confirmation of what you already know. But still, those factors are precisely what makes this gift somewhat fitting.

The truth is never kind.

And for whatever it is worth, I am sorry.

PS: I didn't make it, of course. And I think that you already know who actually did. But I won't tell you, just in case.



You read the letter carefully, trying to see if there is any hidden meaning to it. You even hoof-read it a few times, just to make sure. But ultimately, you conclude that it is indeed just ink on parchment.

So, you turn your focus back to the pouch itself, and its strange Lantern-dust.

"Well, I don't really think Baldomare would give me anything dangerous. Not without a warning, at least. So I might as well try it out," you say.

And then you touch the dust with the tip of your hoof.

You can see… you can feel… that it is…

It is dust.

Lantern-touched dust. But a very specific kind… very old and… No, the method used to make it, to grind and preserve it, is old, but the material itself is not.

The material itself, the thing that was pulverized to make the dust, is actually quite new.

And that material is…

!!!

You let out a loud gasp, pulling back your hoof as if shocked, as soon as you realize it.

"Oh… oh no…" you whisper to yourself.

Because you realize that this dust… this thing is a unicorn's horn. That it was a unicorn's horn, before being snapped off and mowed into fine dust.

This thing…

It… it was…





You have acquired the LANTERN 1 reagent "Pulverized unicorn horn (Twilight Sparkle)".

Baldomare has been unsummoned. She will only be available for summoning again at the beginning of turn 18.

The Level 4 Influence "I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE" has expired.

This conversation, or something very close to it, would have happened had you gifted Baldomare a Level 5 book.

You feel like something good might happen, if you gift Baldomare a level 6 book.

Although giving her a Level 5 book will be enough to reset her summoning period, in the future, even if it does not encourage her to say anything else.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] plan DENY BALDOMARE TO CULT, SHE'S OURS! (conditional version) (and Windy instead of Rarity)
-[X] (Book) Forge 3 (30 bits)
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Give it to Baldomare If we reach Moth or Winter or Edge 4, eat it otherwise
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary: (Fleeting Opportunity) Dissociate from Loremaster's fame
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2)
-[X] (Baldomare) Secret Histories Influence
-[X] (Selene) In order: Winter > Moth > Edge if levels are the same, if one of these reaches lvl 4 go with that one.
-[X] Attention of the Laws: Grail, use on the first valid target of the following: Stormchaser, Fluttershy, Soft Sweeps
-[X] Hintseekers: Track down other members of the Expedition
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Fluttershy
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Soft Sweeps
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Windy Flakes (WRITE IN OBJECTIVE)
--[X] Subtly check Windy's opinions and loyalty to the cult in view of the current events.
-[X] Mansus exploration (7 exploration actions) (3 actions remaining)
--[X] Take actions in order, repeating failed actions until we succeed or run out of actions
--[X] If we acquire a Wound or a Malus, skip to the Blank Plains step
--[X] Search out a new location in the Shattered Stairs
--[X] Fully explore the new location
--[X] Seek out the next Door and study it
--[X] Cross the Door, but don't spend an action on the other side
--[X] Search for new locations in the Blank Plains until locations are exhausted
--[X] Search for new locations in the Woods until locations are exhausted

- - -

The monarch SPOKE.

And from every corner of the Mansus His words were heard, his utterance a decree that reshaped the House itself. For the light of the Glory was His word, and His words were the light of the Glory.

It was as it had once been, long ago, and as it was always meant to be.

Magnificent.

Splendorous.

… IRRESISTIBLE.

And as those words spread, the Mansus itself erupted into a frenzy of activity. As if all in the House had been collectively holding their breath, for an entire Era, waiting for that moment alone.

None were left unmoved. None could avoid, or resist, enacting their own agendas.

And from your bosom, one such shadow erupted.

THIGH-BORN DAPPLE-KING rose from your shadows, wings fluttering towards the skies even as the heavens were colored in fire. The deep dark of your unknown reaches erupting in shrieking cheers as he flew towards his fate.

Your shadows cheered, even as the entirety of the Mansus screamed in panic. Or, perhaps, your shadows cheered because their nature was to be the opposite of that panic. But that matters not.

For you did not cheer, nor did you panic or cry. You only watched.

You only watched, with yearn and wanting, as he rose higher and higher.

And he fluttered through the cold plains, where the dead themselves stopped their march to witness what happened above.

For even the dead felt what came to pass.

And he fluttered through the maze of stairs, as its butterfly-net of criss-crossing paths broke and bent, for the first time ever aiding rather than hindering passage.

For there would no longer be a need to sort the worthy.

And he fluttered through the very heart of the House, as its cobwebs of passages ceased to be, their purposes fulfilled.

For there would no longer be a need for the Climb.

And he fluttered through the higher reaches, as they toppled and fell towards down below, their denizens rejoicing and mourning over what had happened.

For their time was coming to an end.

Higher and higher he flew. And you watched, as his eyes grew wider and brighter, and his wings dappled not with the blotches of black ink, but with flaming holed opened by the falling shards.

Higher and higher he flew, until he reached that which he had always desired.

Into the night circle he flew, until the fire consumed him.



And that sight was seared into your memory forever.



VINE-CROWNED MOTH-KING gained what he had always desired.

He tasted, and bathed, and drowned in the ultimate light of the king's Glorious crown.

And its touch obliterated him.

His burnt carcass fell down from the skies of the House like a gleaming star made of black onyx.

When his fall finally struck your face, what remained of him disintegrated into ash. And for all that the howling winds eagerly picked at them, and the other things took pieces of his remains for themselves, it was you who retained the greatest memento.

For the pitch-black shape of his silhouette, that charred imprint from when his scorched body gleefully hit you, was branded into your surface forever.

He was the first to go, when it happened. Although he certainly would not be the last.

It would be a long, long time before the raucous panic of the House finally settled, and the last piece of stone fell and was laid to rest.

But did he really wish for that? Was that need to reach for the Light, that famished lust, truly his? Or was he just enacting his own nature, being helpless to resist the allure even as his wings moved against his will and he flew higher and higher?

You had always wondered that. You had always wondered what was the true nature, that dwelled inside his chaotic mind.

And as his ashen remains washed over your roots, you finally learned the answer to that question.

For it was from those ashes that you acquired the gift of thought.

Or who knows, maybe you just inherited his. It would not have been the first time that life stirred from ashes, nor the first time the MOTH claimed life by stealing the skin of another.

IN

GI

RUM

IMUS

NOC

TE

ET

CON

SUMI

MUR

IG

NI

SNIP

SNIP

SNI-ou open your eyes. And although you have no idea of when you closed them, you don't really feel like you have just woken up either.​

In fact, you don't even feel like any time at all has passed. Your hoof is still raised, near your mouth. Your pose is still exactly as it was, just a second ago, as you finished raising the fruit to take the first bite from it.

And as you look down, you can even see that the fruit is still on your hoof.

However, you can see the fruit for what it truly is, now.

Because upon your hoof, you have nothing but a small pile of ashes. In your mouth, as well, there is nothing but ashes, from the mouthful that you have just taken a bite of.

Still, you are not surprised.

You had thought that you would be surprised. You had thought that, after you had taken a bite from the fruit, you would collapse, and perhaps wake up where you are several hours later. You had thought, perhaps, that something about you, a part of your body or your mind or your soul, would even have been changed by the experience. Or that the fruit would have no effect until you went to sleep, after eating it, and that you would have been dragged kicking and screaming into some ancient pit of dreams.

But no, none of that happened.

You have just… relived a memory, that was not yours.

You have just… realized certain things, and can now see them for what they truly are.

And that is why you are not surprised by the true nature of the fruit, the hoof-full of ashes that you are holding, and neither you are disturbed by the dry lump of ashes inside your mouth.

The taste, you realize, is even slightly pleasant. Perhaps nostalgic.

And if nothing else, the ashes are certainly softer than splinters.

Maybe you finished the fruit, taking in bite after bite from the pile of ashes as your unfocused eyes kept gazing at the horizon, your mind thinking about nothing at all.

Maybe you discarded the fruit, burying the ashes in a discrete part of the garden where they would never be found, until a certain curious flower came out form the soil.

Maybe you did something else entirely.

You don't really remember.

For your mind is still full of memories that are not your own.





You have consumed the book "A Memory of the Woods". You have gained two scraps of MOTH Lore.

Your MOTH Lore is now level four.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] plan DENY BALDOMARE TO CULT, SHE'S OURS! (conditional version) (and Windy instead of Rarity)
-[X] (Book) Forge 3 (30 bits)
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Give it to Baldomare If we reach Moth or Winter or Edge 4, eat it otherwise
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary: (Fleeting Opportunity) Dissociate from Loremaster's fame
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2)
-[X] (Baldomare) Secret Histories Influence
-[X] (Selene) In order: Winter > Moth > Edge if levels are the same, if one of these reaches lvl 4 go with that one.
-[X] Attention of the Laws: Grail, use on the first valid target of the following: Stormchaser, Fluttershy, Soft Sweeps
-[X] Hintseekers: Track down other members of the Expedition
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Fluttershy
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Soft Sweeps
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Windy Flakes (WRITE IN OBJECTIVE)
--[X] Subtly check Windy's opinions and loyalty to the cult in view of the current events.
-[X] Mansus exploration (7 exploration actions) (3 actions remaining)
--[X] Take actions in order, repeating failed actions until we succeed or run out of actions
--[X] If we acquire a Wound or a Malus, skip to the Blank Plains step
--[X] Search out a new location in the Shattered Stairs
--[X] Fully explore the new location
--[X] Seek out the next Door and study it
--[X] Cross the Door, but don't spend an action on the other side
--[X] Search for new locations in the Blank Plains until locations are exhausted
--[X] Search for new locations in the Woods until locations are exhausted

- - -

You are Velvet Covers. And you think you understand it, now, what Baldomare meant when she explained you something long ago.

She had told you that climbing the Mansus is like climbing a mountain, and that the higher you reached the less effort you would need to do certain things. Much like how, if you are high enough in a mountain, you need only to throw down a pebble in order to create an avalanche.

There are quirks to this comparison, of course, and you understand it to be only a thought experiment. After all, you honestly hope that the whole avalanche analogy is just a myth to begin with. Or at least you hope that mountain climbing isn't so dangerous that any small rock might be able to cause such a destructive effect.

But still, again, there are quirks to it. That analogy is good enough for a foal to understand, but it also has a certain depth to it. After all, in order to reach high in a mountain you must learn the skill of climbing. You must learn something, become intimate with a set of skills, that sometimes requires a pony to have a cutie mark in order to master it. You must learn what to pack, where to step, how strong your body is, and even how to survive, in order to reach the hypothetical mountain top of the analogy.

However, here is a subtle detail that you just realized: it is that knowledge, that hard-won skill of how to climb a mountain, that allows you to cause the avalanche itself.

Merely climbing the mountain is not enough. Heavens, it might be even possible to climb a mountain without knowing anything about mountaineering to begin with, although you realize that is very foolish. However, for all that reaching high on the mountain is important, that pre-requisite knowledge is also crucially important. Because it is your understanding of the mountain itself, that intimate and deep understanding of how the mountain works, that allows you to… simply throw a rock, in that one spot, that one place where you noticed the path was more loose and dangerous, and cause the deadly avalanche.

Likewise, once you apply that thought experiment for its true purpose, seeing the mountain as the Mansus, and the climbing skills as knowledge of the Lores…

Well, you think you finally get it.

Because that is what you are about to do.

That is why you needed so much knowledge, so much depth of knowledge, in order to teach Selene.

You cannot teach her what you do not know to begin with, of course.

However, in order to teach her properly, in order to teach her what she needs, you require a very… subtle, and polished, understanding of what you are doing.

And that is a level you believe you have reached. A level you hope to have reached.

Because tonight, you are going to do it. After a whole month's worth of subtle preparations, silent hints and imperceptible nudges… after nearly an entire year preparing her for this, tonight you will finally begin. Tonight, you will tell Selene something that she was always meant to know, something that you have been preparing to tell her all along. Something you have been preparing her to hear all along.

And you will do it with a single word.

Tonight, you will cause an avalanche with nothing but a pebble.

It will hurt you. It will pain you. You love Selene, and you dearly hope that she survives the falling rocks.

But you also trust her.

The foundation of her knowledge was laid out by Silky, who gently pried her out of her shell, and you trust that bedrock to be strong. The pillars that she has built within herself were motivated by her love for your husband, and you know that they will endure as long as she cares for him.

But it is you, and nopony else, who must help her take these final steps.

Nopony ever said being a mother is easy.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Selene.

You are Selene.

You. Are. Selene.

That is what you have been telling yourself. That is what you have been telling yourself this whole night. That is what you have been telling yourself all along.

So why…

Why does that feel like a lie?

You don't know what woke you up, whether if it was a shiver or a nightmare or the dreams of a pony you have never met but feels so familiar. You are not sure what it was, you can't really remember, but you have been awake ever since.

But even though you woke up just now, you feel exhausted. It's not usually like this. In fact, you have never felt like this before. For as long as you can remember, you have never really felt tired when you woke up in the middle of the night. Of course, sometimes tiredness would reach you as soon as the sun rose up, but you have never really felt tired during these… these night sorties of yours, when you are awake or can't sleep for one reason or the other.

Still, you feel exhausted. Your body feels heavy. You feel strange. As if your limbs were far too small, or far too weak-

-or made of the wrong substance, as if mere flesh was not enough.

You feel exhausted, but despite that you couldn't really stay in bed. Lying still was agony. Being there… being you was too much.

So, you snuck out of bed, tip-hoofing your way around Scootaloo, and made your way to the house at large.

You have been wandering ever since.

…

When did this happen?

When did you get so… tired?

When did you become so… weak?

Why is it that you feel so… so small?

Restlessness grows inside of you, as if there was somepony else inside your skin, trying to burst out through your coat. You don't like pain, you don't like falling down or getting hurt, but for the first time in your life you feel like you would actually be glad if… if something…

-if somepony-

-were to burst out from inside of you.

But you don't know what to do.

You. Don't. Know. What. To. Do.

So, you wander around the house. Running with tired limbs, yelling with a muted voice-

-panicking as you realize your lungs are too small, and that you are about to suffocate from how little air you are taking in.

Your body, it feels wrong-

-it doesn't feel, it IS wrong-

-and the more you realize that, the worst it gets.

You stay away from the light. You avoid the faint moonlight, as you wander through the house, running away even from the faintest gleams of moonlight as if they were the plague.

You don't want to see yourself anymore.

You don't want to be yourself anymore.

You don't even want to see the shape that your shadow casts against the walls.

You feel desperate, but you can't even cry about this. The tears won't even flow out of your eyes, because your mind is too twisted and turned around to understand what you want to cry about.

You want to run away. Go somewhere else, anywhere else, that is not here.

You want to leave this all behind. These memories, this body, this life that you have.

Because none of it really feels like it is yours. You feel like an impostor in your own skin.

You want to run away.

You have to run away.

And thankfully, even though you are exhausted and you can barely think straight, your hoofs begin to do just that.

With slow, cumbersome, heavy hoofsteps, you slowly begin to make your way downstairs. You begin to make your way towards the entrance door, and towards your only escape from all of this.

You pass by the several windows that line the second floor corridor.

Do not look at your own reflection.

You nearly trip, as you make your way down through the stairs.

Do not look at your own body.

You close your eyes, as you walk down the final stretch of the entrance hall. Horrified tears filling your eyes as you realize just how bright it is, because of the moonlight shining in from the higher windows, and just how careful you have to be so you won't look at yourself.

Do not even thing about that shadow you can see, in the middle of your forehead.

But you have to do this.

You have to do this.

You have to get away from… from…

-from this body-

-from this mind-

-from this self-

-from this damnable thing you don't know the name of.

From this claustrophobic life that you call Selene.

...

But as reach halfway across the entrance hall, you notice something.

You can somehow see it, even through your closed eyes. Or maybe you can see it only because your eyes are closed. Still, there is something… there is something right there.

A whisper, or a presence, or a gust of wind that somehow is blowing despite all the windows being closed for the night.

There is somepony in the adjacent hall, in the enormous living room that is next to the entrance hall.

There is somepony… sitting on one of the couches, looking at the roaring flames of the lit fireplace.

…

You feel drawn to it. To the presence, or to the pony, or to the fire, or to whatever it is that is distracting you from all of this.

So, you make your way towards her. Anything to distance you from yourself. You make your way towards her like a drowning pony might make his way towards dry land.

And as you approach the entrance to the living hall, you can see that it is… her.

She is sitting right there, with her back towards you, looking at the fire with an expression you can't see.

But still, you recognize her. You somehow recognize her even though you can't remember if you have ever even spoken to her.

It is the nice lady who found you, the nice lady who you met while you were asleep.

You can't remember her name.

But you can't even remember your own name either, so it's all the same.

…

You must get closer.

You try to sneak towards her-

-but your crystal horseshoes are too loud-

-and she hears you.

You freeze, holding your breath as you wait to see how she will react.

But she doesn't do anything at all.

She just waits.

And that is so… frustrating!

Does she not have the answer to your plights?

Isn't she the one who can help you?

So why isn't she doing anything, why is she just… sitting there doing nothing?

This frustrates you, in a deep way that you can't describe with words.

So, maybe out of a whim or out of panic or because you have no idea of what you should do, you wait as well. You stand utterly still, holding your breath to see what she will do next.

But she just waits-

-and your agony grows-

-and she waits-

-and your body feels heavier-

-and she waits-

-AND YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO BURST FROM INSIDE OF YOU-

-and when you can't take it any longer, you open your mouth. You want to scream at her, to beg for help or to denounce her cruelty.

But instead, even to your own surprise, something else comes out of your mouth.

Something that you had not expected.

And that for some reason terrifies you.

"Mrs. Velvet, I…"

It is a voice, that comes out from you. A tiny, all-too-young voice.

"I am not really…"

A voice that doesn't belong to you. A voice that cannot belong to you.

"… I am just… just a filly, right?"

A voice that feels as wrong as your body, and your memories, and your life, and everything else that has been happening to you ever since you went to sleep.

"I am just a filly that was abandoned and that you took in… right?"

A voice that asks a question that doesn't make any sense, even though it does. A voice that makes you terrified, for reasons you don't remember. A voice that you can't stop, even thought it is your own consciousness that is controlling it.

The voice asks that.

And the mare takes in a deep breath to answer.

But she does not turn around to face you.

Even though she heard that your voice came from a higher spot than it should. Even though she realized that your voice came from a height that was not that of a filly, but instead of a grown mare, perhaps even a pony that was slightly taller than herself, she does not turn to face you.

She does not turn around to face you, because that would ruin everything. Because nothing, not yourself or the lady or even the world, knows how you look like right now. And if she were to turn and face you, if she were to look upon you, then your shape would have to be decided, and everything would be ruined.

No. She, keeps her back turned to you, and she only says a single word for her answer.



"No."



It takes you a long, long time before you find your way back to your bed.





- - -

- - -

- - -





The next day, you wake up before sunrise, and you go to Selene's room before anypony else awakes.

You did not want to go to sleep. It took you a long time to fall asleep, even, after you doused out the fireplace and went back to your own room.

But you had to. It was part of the requirements.

Still, you wake up before sunrise, impatient and worried and with urgency on your hoofs as you rush down the corridor and into Selene's room.

And you find her terribly sick, as you knew she would be. You find her burning up with a fever, breathing heavily and in short gasps, shivering as if she was about to freeze. Her body drained of energy as if her filly body had tried to sustain something much larger, and much greater, than any grown pony would ever hope to be.

And when you see that, you do what you would have done even if you did not know anything about the Lores, your motherly side taking over as it kicks you into a mixture of panic and focus. The servants who stayed the night are awake moments later, and you only permit the house to settle down once you are satisfied that Selene is being properly nursed, by yourself in your room, and that there is nothing to do but wait, and give her time to heal.

Although nopony, nopony but you and Stormchaser, learn about one final detail.

Because when you reached Selene, when you carried out of her bed with that unique mixture of urgency and care, you saw that something fell down to the floor.

It was a single feather, long and elegant with a midnight-blue color, that was somehow wrapped under her blankets. That was somehow close to her body, or maybe even came from it, as she slept.

You showed it to Stormchaser, and the two of you burned it a few hours later. You couldn't take the risk of keeping it.

It pains you, to know that you did this… all of this… Or that you helped her do this to herself.

It pains you, to see Selene so fragile and small, suffering so much because all of this.

It pains you, but you know this to be necessary.

Nopony ever said being a mother is easy.





Selene has reached Level 3 of MOTH.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Princess Cadence and…

…

… and…

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" you ask the royal guard stallion once again, watching his frown grow even deeper as he hears your question.

And his expression alone is enough answer for you.

Yes, it is clear to you, from the way that he reacted to your question, that he is sure about it. It is clear that this isn't some sort of accident, or that what he just told you might be a miscommunication, or anything like that. In fact, you can see by the look on his face that his orders came directly from… from the source itself.

His body language already tells you as much. The way that he is at the same time tense, because this conversation is making him take too long to perform his orders, while he is also hesitant over the fact the answer he has to give you is not exactly a pleasant one.

But still, he speaks up nonetheless, even if only to confirm what the two of you already know.

"Yes, my Princess. Princess Celestia has summoned you," he says, not exactly being able to hide his own anxiety as he says those words. "She has asked me, directly, to bring you to her at your earliest convenience."

He says that in the most disciplined and courteous way possible.

But of course, you know what he means by that. You know that when he says "asked" he really means "ordered", and that the very polite "at your earliest convenience" is the best way he found to translate the "now" that he probably heard.

You nod at the royal guard, signaling that you will follow him. Although you can't help but notice that he isn't relieved even by that. In fact, you can't feel any positive emotion coming from him at all.

You can't feel any trace of satisfaction coming from him, even though he is successfully carrying out his orders. Not even the slightest hint of it. Not even that minute ping that ponies usually feel when completing a small task.

There is no sign of relief coming from him, even though he was able to locate you in a section of the castle where you don't usually go often.

You can't even feel from him that usual… that minute wave of contentment that ponies usually feel, or used to feel, when they are close to you. Because for all that you don't do it consciously, you are aware that you have a certain effect on ponies due to you being an alicorn.

But still, you feel none of that in him. You are more attuned to the emotion of love, of course. You are orders of magnitude more attuned to love itself. However, you still have this ability to feel… or perhaps sense other kinds of emotions, coming from other living creatures. It was something you began to notice several years after became an alicorn, and that you have been slowly developing and improving as a skill ever since.

But still, again, you don't feel anything coming from him. You don't feel anything positive coming from him, at least. The only things that you can feel are… his worry, that he might be late, and his nervousness, due to the uncertainty of what might come next, and his fear.

You don't feel anything positive inside of him, and that pains you.

Truth be told, you can't feel any positive emotion coming from anywhere at all. Not from him, not from the castle, and perhaps not even from the entirety of Canterlot. And even though you are an alicorn, or perhaps because you are an alicorn, you feel this hollowness weighting down a very deep and intimate part of you.

You know you can't blame him, for feeling like this. You can't blame anypony, for feeling the way they are. And claiming that he should be "strong" and not be disturbed by what is going on, just because he is a royal guard, would be as absurd as saying that you should not be affected by all of this just because you are a Princess.

So, since there is nothing you can really do about his pains, you just follow him.



- - -



You would be lying if you said that you aren't nervous. You would be lying if you said that your tension didn't grow more and more, as you followed the royal guard into the deeper reaches of the Royal Archives.

It doesn't help, that the air itself gets thicker with apprehension the closer you get. It doesn't help, that as you reach closer to Princess Celestia the quantity of royal guards that you pass by increases, and all of them have their expressions marred with the same trepidation that you are feeling.

Because, as everypony knows, Princess Celestia has… well, she hasn't exactly changed, but she isn't the same as she used to be either.

It is a bit of a paradox, even. Everypony still respects her, of course. Everypony still obeys her. You would even dare say that everypony still loves her. But still, nopony is truly… at ease with her. Not anymore. After all, her mannerism, her humor, and even her way of ruling have all changed. It is a paradox in the sense that you can clearly tell that everypony, be they the guards or the servants or even the population in general, is still loyal to Princess Celestia, but still nopony really wishes to be in her presence anymore. Nopony is truly at ease in her presence anymore.

For obvious reasons.

"Princess Celestia? You called for me?" you ask, as soon as you pass through the large metal doors of the room.

Princess Celestia is at the center of the room, her back turned to you as she looks down at what appears to be several ornate wooden chests. Each of them, you can see, is incredibly old, clearly made from high quality wood and produced by the hoof of an able crafstpony.

However, you must admit that you don't exactly… know what they are for, or what they contain.

Well, you have a vague idea of what is inside the chests. The chests are filled with several very old scrolls. That is something you can see easily enough, given how all the chests are open and Celestia has a few of those scrolls floating in front of her.

But still, you have absolutely no idea of what those scrolls contain.

And that is because, to your… puzzlement, Princess Celestia has summoned you to the Royal Archives.

You are not in the Royal Library, so those scroll can't be maps, or historical notes, or anything like that. The two of you are not in the any one of Celestia's many magical libraries, so those chests almost certainly don't have anything in them that refers to magic or spells either.

Quite on the contrary. You know that those scrolls don't have any of that exactly because you and Celestia are in the Royal Archives.

You two are in one of the deeper parts of the archive, sure. The part that is kept locked and secure, and that is only accessible to high ranking bureaucrats and administrators. But these are still just the Royal Archives. So, you can't imagine that those chests, and the scrolls within them, contain anything but documents.

In short, the only thing that those scrolls can be is paperwork.

"Yes, Cadance, I did," but still, she answers your question as if she is stating the obvious. And with a curt tone that... you are still not used to.

Without the gentle smile that she would usually have on her face.

Without turning around to greet you.

Without any of the thousand little things that she would always, always, do whenever you or anypony else entered her presence.

She just says that, with a dry tone that you had never heard before… any of this happened.

You control your expression, to suppress the grimace you can feel coming to the fore. And you wait for her to continue speaking.

But while you wait, you can't help but think about this whole situation. And not for the first time, and certainly not for the last time, you wonder if there is something you should do. You wonder if there is anything you can do.

Because sure, you have lived with Celestia for years, more than a decade even. You were mentored by her, ever since you became an alicorn, and you honestly believe that you are one of the very few ponies that ever became truly close to her.

She was… she is your auntie Celestia, after all. She taught you almost everything you know, and you have already been there for her during some of her (very rare) moments of weaknesses. She has already told you things, about her regrets and fears and other things besides, that you are not sure if anypony alive even suspects about.

But still…

Still.

You are also acutely aware that you have only known her for a bit more than a decade. You wouldn't even be considered an adult mare, if you were to count only your alicorn years. And if you were to compare even your full lifespan to Celestia's millennia of existence then you are less than a foal to her.

So, for all that you think you might know something about Celestia… for all that you think that, in all of Equestria, you have the "best shot" when it comes to doing something about the current situation, you also realize that your "best shot" isn't really a shot at all.

She is alone. And you are one hundred years too young to even say that you have been making her company long enough, for her to be thankful for you being here.

"Cadance," she says, that single word snapping you into attention so quickly that you can feel your back straightening.

Even though she still has her back to you, and only seems to be giving you slightly more attention than she is to the air that she is breathing.

"Do you know what these scrolls are?" she asks.

And you think, you think, that you detect maybe the slightest hint of inflexion in her dry voice. A memory, or perhaps a shadow, of the tone she would usually have when teaching you about something.

"No, Princess Celestia," you answer.

Although you are not too sure if you answered too slowly because you hesitated, out of fear of her disappointment, or if you answered too quickly because you are afraid of making her wait.

After all, for all that you think you heard the distant echo of an educator's tone, you are acutely aware that the mentor Princess Celestia is… not gone, you hope, but clearly absent.

"These are patents of nobility," she answers, still without turning to face you. "The original patents, that is. These are the documents that were made, by me, to each of the noble families. And it bears the name of every pony who was truly awarded the title of Noble, from the first member of the family down to the latest heir."

She then floats one of them towards you, that you grab it in mid-air with your own magic.

And sure enough, you can see what she means by that. Analyzing the scroll you can see Celestia's own hoof-writing, detailing what rights and powers a certain pony had been awarded, and for what deeds, followed by a list.

The one she gave you is rather long, you can see, and the scroll itself is ancient, clearly made out of magical paper so it wouldn't crumble away with the passage of time. And under the awards and deeds you see a long list of names, all of them followed by dates. This, you can see, is the true list of succession of a noble family, the link of inherited rights passed down from family head to family head. Each name being followed by a date of inheritance and a date of death, with the sole exception of the last name which only has a date of inheritance.

"This place, this locked room, is where the patents are kept," she continues. "They all stay here, in this room that is only accessed on the rare occasion that a new noble family is created by me…"

But as she speaks, you feel a cold chill run down your spine.

There is absolutely no difference in Princess Celestia's tone, as she explains that to you. However, you can still feel… something…

Her words remain unchanged, her posture remains unchanged, her presence remains unchanged. But you can still feel, perhaps with that sixth sense that allows you to feel love and other things inside of ponies, that there is something inside of her. Something that is heating up, perhaps even boiling, in a very deep corner of her.

"… or on the less rare occasion that a family head perishes," she continues saying, and you feel a spike in that boiling sensation that Celestia has inside of her.

If you didn't know any better, you would even think that the room temperature became higher, if only for a moment.

"Because when the head of a noble family dies, then the two patents, the copy that the noble family keeps and the original in here, must be updated with the name of the latest heir."

She says that, and then she becomes silent.

And for all that she has one of the patents in front of her, floating within an aura of golden magic in tandem with her horn, you know that she isn't really looking at the scroll itself.

You are not even sure if she remembers, or cares, that you are here in the room with her, right now.

Several moments pass by. Maybe even a few minutes. But you do not dare to speak up.

You do not dare to interrupt her, whatever thoughts she may be having. You do not dare to poke the extremely thin bubble that you can feel, around that boiling thing that she is carrying deep inside of her.

Because you fear what might happen if that bubble pops.

So, you wait, until she finally speaks up again.

"Cadance," she says, speaking to you as if she had not been completely silent for several minutes now. "Tomorrow, at midday, have the nobles gathered in the court. All of the family heads, that have their names in these patents."

She says that, and then she turns around to leave the room. She doesn't even look at you as she passes by your side, leaving you alone with the several patent-filled chests.

"I will have a few words with them," she says, before she crosses the metal door.

Leaving you alone, with nothing but the several dozens of names that you will have to call for in less than twenty-four hours.



- - -



You are standing next to Princess Celestia, where she is sitting on her throne. Her fur is an impeccable white, her regalia is gleaming to a shine, and even though you know she is still wounded there isn't a single sign in her body that she was ever hurt.

Before the two of you are the five large wooden chests, filled with all the patents of nobility in the kingdom, their tops open and their contents visible for all to see.

And gathered in the court, separated from you and Princess Celestia by a line of royal guards, is a respectable crowd of ponies. All of them extremely well dressed, most of them of middle age and older. All of them are nobles, all of them are the family heads that you summoned, that you ordered to come, from all corners of Equestria.

The tension in the air is palpable.

You wonder what is going on in their minds. You wonder if they have heard the gossips, of how Princess Celestia has been acting these last few weeks.

After all, even though Princess Celestia has only stepped hoof out of the castle very few times ever since the tragedy itself, you are sure that gossip would still have spread regardless. The Royal Castle may have been locked for "petty affairs", as she called it, and she has not held court or received any nobles in here ever since the great tragedy. But still, you are sure that they must have learned about, or realized, some things.

No, you can feel it.

Because even though you can't feel even an ounce of love inside this great hall, you can feel what lies in its absence.

Uncertainty, trepidation and fear, in the hearts of the nobles.

A buried, boiling something, in the heart of Princess Celestia.

And the thin, razor-sharp tension in the line of guards separating you from the crowd of nobles.

And you have no doubt in your heart that the royal guards are tense because of the one who is sitting behind them, and not because of the mass of nobles awaiting in front of them.

"Nobles of Equestria," Princess Celestia speaks, and you can feel the emotions in everypony's heart rise to a crescendo.

She says that, and then she pauses. And you swear that you can see her lean slightly forward in her throne, her eyes narrowing as if she was trying to see something that only she could see.

But that lasts only for a moment.

"I remember the first of you," she continues. "I remember the very first pony, that I asked to help me rule Equestria. I remember the very first one, of you, that had ever received the title of Noble."

Her horn begins to glow. And from the open chest in the center she floats a single piece of parchment, old with age and long with the name of heirs and dates.

"That title carried a different meaning, back then. I used the term Noble because, in truth, that was the only way I could describe her, the founder of the family that would later… rename itself as Blueblood," she says that word with a slight, but still perceptible, tinge of disapproval.

Or perhaps disgust.

"I called her Noble because that was truly what I meant. I called her Noble because she had qualities. Because she had personal characteristics that deserved to be admired and followed. Because she had characteristics that I aspired to, and that I knew deserved to be used to help guide our fledgling ponykind."

You can hear it, a murmur of whispers coming from the crowd of nobles. Subtle stares and subtler words being exchanged, as Princess Celestia's words pointed at a… certain direction.

Her reproach is obvious, even if it isn't clear. But nopony, not even yourself, can still be absolutely sure of where she is taking all of this.

"It was about putting the right ponies in the right places, you see. Of making sure that leaders were allowed to lead. In fact, the patent letters were first created not as a badge to the holders, but as a guarantee to those around them who were being asked to follow. It was… it was literally meant to be a letter that said 'hey, this pony is really good at doing this, so you can trust what he says'. It was a way to show that those who were Nobles could be trusted, that were vouched for and that they should be followed."

Princess Celestia raises a few more scrolls from the chests. All of them very long, and every last one of them written in her own hoofwriting.

"And for a good while it worked. It worked very well. And when the first Nobles passed away, they had their foals to carry on the torches. Their cutie marks were almost the same as their parents, and it was clear that they had been raised to continue opening the path from where their fathers and mothers had left off," she says, almost trailing off as her eyes fall on a certain name on one of the lists. "However…"

She then lowers the list, as if she is trying to compare the names that she can read with the crowd of ponies gathered before her.

As if she is trying to find somepony, anypony that is on the scrolls, in the group of nobles that is before her.

And of course, she can't find any of them.

They are all dead. All the names in all of the lists, save for the very last ones, are dead.

"However, at some point… things went wrong."

The murmurs from the crowd of nobles stop.

The exchange of glances stop.

You even think that some of the nobles have stopped breathing, holding their breaths in wait of what is to come.

"I am not really sure when it was, but I can only blame myself. I was too soft, you see. I let the nostalgia get the better of me. Because you all…" she says that, her eyes going over every single one of the nobles, one by one. "You are all so similar to them. You all have something that reminds me of them. In some generations, its only the color of your eyes, or a quirk or a habit. In other generations, you are so similar that I almost think your ancestors have somehow returned. But that's what I got wrong. I was so attached to the similarities that I saw between you and those first, true Nobles, that I let myself become blind to the differences. Even as those differences... grew."

And with those words, she returns the scrolls to their chests.

However, her horn does not stop glowing, even though she is no longer floating anything with her magic.

In fact, you feel the concentration of magic in her horn increase, not decrease. You know that every last unicorn in the room can feel the same as well.

"At some point, your families began to use your letters of patents not as proof of trust to your followers, but as badges of authority to lord over them. You stopped carrying your titles with pride, and began to be carried by it."

Her surge of magic grows. To the point that even the non-unicorns can feel it now.

And you, and only you, can feel the boiling inside of her grow as well. Even if her tone and posture remains dry and curt as it has been the whole time.

"You ceased to teach your heirs those qualities that made you worthy of admiration, that made you worthy of being followed, and you became the self-serving schemers that you are today. I do not blame you, individually. I blame your families, the long lines from which you inherited your behaviors and lessons, and I blame myself for being complacent. However-"

The magic on her horn reaches a peak.



And the wooden chests, filled with the original patents of nobility, burst into golden flames. Their contents becoming ashes and smoke before the gathered crowd of nobles.



"-your services are no longer required." Celestia finishes speaking. "Return to your riches, and your mansions, and your servants. Enjoy them all you want, and while you can. Your obligations and your rights end with you, and will not be inherited by your heirs. Keep your copies that you protect so jealously, and shove them in the face of anything that displeases you as you have done for these last few centuries. But I will not add any more names to them when you are done."

She says that and, ignoring all the shocked gasps and yelps from the crowd and nobles, she stands up from her throne and turns to leave.

And for all that you can feel the boiling inside of her simmering with heat and pressure, she doesn't look at all disturbed as she makes her way towards the back exit of the court hall.

"You are all dismissed. I have no more need for you"

Princess Celestia takes three steps, her back turned to the increasingly distressed crowd of nobles. Each of them sporting a different reaction, from calculating indifference to near panic. However, when you are about to turn around and follow after Princess Celestia.


"How dare you!?"


One of the nobles cries out, stomping his way to the front of the crowd and only being stopped by a pair of royal guards.

But still, for all that the guards closed ranks to stop him from going any further, they still couldn't stop him from yelling at the retreating Princess.

"How dare you do this?! This is ours! It belongs to us! Our powers, our stations, our… they are out birthright! How dare you even try to do this?! What makes you think that you even ca-?!"



!!!!!



It happens in an instant.

You can barely accompany it, even though you are right there. Even though you are seeing it, as it happens.

Princess Celestia was about to take another step. Her hoof was about to touch the floor with the usual pace that she has as she walks.

So why is the floor cracked? Why is the place where her hoof only briefly touched now a crater, marring the marble floor for several meters around it?

When did the air itself become so heavy? When is it that everypony, the guards and the nobles and almost you, was forced to bow, their heads rammed against the ground as they prostrated themselves out of fear and awe and sheer weight?

When did the air become so blistering hot?

It happens in an instant.

One moment, Princess Celestia has her back to the crowd.

Then the boiling thing that you could feel inside of her bursts.

And on the next moment, she is advancing towards the noble, her eyes bloodshot red and her horn shining so much that it hurts to look at it.

She stops walking only when her horn is a mere few inches from your own.


"Princess Cadance… why are you standing in my way…?"


And only then do you realize that, at some point, you rushed to stop her. Only now do you realize that you are standing between her and the foolish noble, your wings outstretched and your own horn glowing.

But still, you realize that your posture is not imposing at all. You are not bravely standing up to Princess Celestia. You wouldn't be able to even if you tried.

No, you are just… hoping. Hoping that she decides to stop, hoping that you at least give her pause…

Hoping that she doesn't lose her patience with you as well, and share with you the same displeasure she was about to share with the noble.

Hoping that your eyes, open wide in terror, or that your very palpable fear, or that the fact that the tip of your feathers are beginning to trail smoke from how hot it is will somehow change her mind.



"I asked you a question," she says.



To which you can only reply with a whimpering, whispered…

"… please…"



…..



And to your absolute relief, you can see Princess Celestia's expression… only slightly soften. Not because any peace has reached her mind, no. But only because the peak of rage that came to her passed, or at least diminished a fraction.

You can feel it in the room, even, seeing how the blistering heat is starting to diminish, and the terrible pressure that you were feeling, that threatened to push even you down to the ground, is beginning to recede.

Princess Celestia looks into your eyes only for a moment longer, and then her gaze moves to stare at the noble, who is now cowering behind you, shivering in fear even as he sweats profusely from the sweltering heat.

You know that he is not looking back at her. For all that he can feel her gaze on him, or perhaps because he can feel her gaze, you still know that he has not yet moved from where he fell after throwing himself to the ground. His forelegs covering his face as he whimpers.

Still, Princess Celestia looks down at him only for a few more moments.

"Tomorrow you will be dust," and she says those words in a low tone, before she turns around to leave once again.

This time, thankfully, nopony dares to repeat the display that the cowering noble had made.



- - -



For several days, after she called for the nobles, nopony sees Princess Celestia.

She locked herself in her room. And nopony, not even you, dared to disturb her. Nopony even dared to knock on her door, not even to bring her a meal.

The guards stationed at her door, every now and then, would also report to you that they heard sounds of violence, coming from the other side of the door.

But still, several days pass before Princess Celestia summons you again.

And when you reach her, you can feel that the boiling is… still there. However, you are thankful that you can feel that thin bubble around it once again.

You realize that to be something bad, of course. You realize that when a pony keeps something inside of them, especially something like that, then things are bound to end poorly at some point. However, you can't help but feel honestly relieved to see that she is… at least back in control of herself.

And what is more, she seems to be especially talkative. If only to explain to you what she will ask of you next.

"I am not a fool, Cadance," she says, and you suppress the wince that you always have when you realize how much Princess Celestia has changed. Even in the way she speaks. "What Equestria needs the most right now is stability and safety, not yet another radical and violent change. And for all their failings, the nobility is still the only thing keeping the current system running. They are still supplying Equestria with a modicum of stability."

You nod at her words, not really sure if you should say anything.

"And taking away all their titles and privileges would not have any effect, since they would still have their riches and the means to do what they wish. Besides, stripping them of their titles would also justify them in abandoning their own duties, so what little good things that they are still doing would quite literally vanish into thin air. And even though cutting off a sick leg might be the quickest solution, that kind of solution is still an amputation. I do not want my ponies to suffer any more pain than they already have. I will not have any of that."

"I… think I understand," you tentatively, and very hesitantly, say. "But Princess Celestia, you still took away their families' privileges. Won't that create conflict? Or at least cause dissatisfaction?"

"Yes, of course. But not in the way you are thinking. You see, Cadance, the ponies that I truly harmed with my decision were the family heirs, those who were situated to inherit the title of Noble as family heads once the current heads passed away. But until the current heads perish, absolutely nothing will change… Absolutely nothing will change officially, that is. But noble families are nothing if not protective of their future interests."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"It is all about how they will react. How each individual player will react. Noble families, or at least the modern noble families, are basically rich families who have their power assured by a monopoly of sorts. Each family holds something like a right to explore a region, official power to govern a city, first rights over certain transactions, things like that. Rights that were twisted from their original purposes, but rights nonetheless. But the fact remains that they are all rich families, like a rich institutions or trade guild of sorts, that will lose those monopolies and obligations as soon as a certain old pony in their family passes away."

"But if they are guaranteed to lose their rights, what can they do? What future interests will they have to protect?"

"Well, again, it depends on what they decide to do from now on. Some families will have family heads that will work on preparing their heirs for when they die, so they can continue their family businesses even without the patents of nobility. Other families will see their heirs plotting and scheming against their family heads. Maybe to liquify as many assets as they can to ensure a fat inheritance, maybe to do something else. Other families may even see bloodier business, if the family head instead decides to burn all their riches and enjoy themselves as much as they can before they pass away. And I am sure those families will create particularly vengeful heirs, who might even expedite their elder's demise."

"But… Princess Celestia, won't that take too long? You are talking about things that will happen years… perhaps even decades down the line. Isn't that too much?" you ask, taking the opportunity that she is giving you, since your words have not yet been met with a reprimand. "If the system is broken now, why can't we fix it right now? Don't… doesn't the general populace needs it fixed now? Don't they deserve to have it fixed now, after everything that just happened?"

"There is no immediate fix, Cadance," she says, her tone still level and disturbingly calm. "There is not immediate solution. Our kingdom was already hurt, and deeply so. This current generation, everypony that is alive right now, is already condemned to live the rest of their lives in the shadow of this wound, and under the lash of this pain."

She says that, and for all that you have been trying your best to control your expression you can't help but purse your lips at what she says.

"A quick and immediate change would only open more wounds, and there lies the risk, Cadance. Open too many wounds, and you bleed to death. We have barely survived this last blow, so I will not punish my ponies with another blow from my own hoofs."

She says that, and then she narrows her eyes, as if she is finally reaching the point that she wanted to reach.

"And besides, Cadance, if I were to disband all the nobles right now, what then? Who would I be able to trust, and I say trust to help me run a kingdom, apart from you and me? I need a new system, Cadance, but I also need time to build it. And I intend to build is during the decades that the old nobles will take to die, expanding it to fill the spaces left every time another family head perishes."

She taps a hoof against the floor, and you are not sure if that is a mark of impatience, disappointment, or of something else.

Although you do feel the boiling inside of her shudder slightly as she does that.

"And that is why I called you, Cadance. I have plans, and I need ponies I can trust to see them done. This last month I had you fly all over Equestria, in the wake of what happened, to put out the fires and make sure nothing truly fell apart, and you did my bidding well. But very soon we will need more hoofs, to do work that doesn't warrant the direct presence of an alicorn. Find me those ponies, Cadance. Bring them to me."

She says that, and then she begins to explain to you what exactly she has in mind. All the changes that she plans to do on Equestria, to reshape her kingdom after the tragedy that just befell it.

But more importantly, she explains to you in detail about one particular institution, that she will begin founding immediately. One particular group, that will have a function she sees as being immediately required. A project that will require a pony that can be absolutely trusted.

And when she says that, and asks you to find a pony to guide that group with all due haste, one name immediately comes to your mind.

You tell Princess Celestia that name, the one that you remember.

And to your surprise.

She remembers that name as well.





Velvet Cover's trait "Favored in Canterlot (Mi Amore Cadenza)" has evolved into "Above All Suspicion".

A Royal Summons has been sent to the Velvet estate in Ponyville

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Lady Velvet covers and right now you are surprised, to say the least.

Very surprised.

Extremely surprised.

"Did you… sweetheart, did something bad happen?" your husband asks you, the tinge of barely concealed fear in his voice.

And you honestly have no idea how to answer him.

You look down at the missive, at the royal missive, that you have on your hoofs. The thing is written in a gold-trimmed and high quality parchment, and it has an authentic Royal Seal to boot. To the point that you wouldn't be able to doubt the veracity of the document that you are holding even if you wanted to.

And to be honest, even if there was no royal missive. Even if there wasn't the writing, or the scroll, or the seal, you still wouldn't have any choice but to believe the message itself.

After all, it was delivered by hoof, by two royal guards.

Those same two royal guards that are standing in front of you right now.

The same royal guards that parked a chariot, a magical flying chariot, on your estate's garden.

"Are you… did she really mean right now?" you ask, looking up at one of the guards.

"Yes, Lady Velvet. Right now," he says, confirming your doubts. "Princess Cadance has asked you to be escorted to the Royal Castle immediately."

He says that, and then he lightly moves his wings to drive home the point that he is a pegasus.

"We are ready to take you there at your earliest convenience, if there is anything of urgency that you would need to settle. But otherwise, we would like you to accompany us right now. Any conveniences that you require can be provided, once we reach the Princess."

You nod at that, slowly.

Because neither the missive, nor the guards, know or reveal why you are being summoned. Nopony seems to know why you are being summoned by Princess Cadance, to the flipping Royal Castle in Canterlot, out of the blue. Nopony can tell you why a flying chariot was just brought to your home, together with an order to take a several-hours trip to the capital without prior warning.

However, the guard's tone does make you believe that… well, at least that you aren't under arrest, or that you haven't done (or been found out to have done) anything wrong.

They wouldn't extend "conveniences" to your otherwise, and you don't feel any threat from those guards either. Not to the point that they would be willing to tie and drag you there if you refuse to go, at least.

"Well then Stormy," you say, realizing that you don't sound entirely confident either but still turning to talk to him. "I guess I have to go? I'll write home if I can't return soon, but… well, will you be alright?"

You watch as Stormchaser frowns, but you can see that it's at the suddenness of this whole thing rather than because of any fear of him. He seems to have caught up as well that, well, this doesn't seem to be something that is openly or clearly negative.

"I guess… Don't worry about us, and Selene's fever hasn't returned in two days, so I think she's on her track to a full recovery. So, uh… well, take care sweetheart."

"You too, Stormy," you say, giving him a short kiss before you turn to the guards. "And well, I don't suppose I should pack or I would probably take too long. Shall we get going then?"

You are on your way to Canterlot shortly after.



- - -



The trip to Canterlot was… long.

The chariot was comfortable, of course. It was fully covered, chock full of spells for weightlessness and stability (you didn't feel a single bump or tremor, even though the pegasi were pulling it through the skies), and it was downright luxurious.

But still, the trip was long.

Because you had nothing to do but think.

However, everything changes as soon as you arrive at the Royal Castle and meet Cadance.

Approaching the Royal Castle was strange. You weren't able to see much of Canterlot, seeing how you were flying above the clouds, until you were on the final descent to land.

The Royal Castle itself, as well, felt strange. It felt too empty, and too quiet, and even the guards that you knew from your time during the searches felt odd. Everypony was too solemn, almost mournful.

Which is something completely understandable, of course, but that goes to show how well Ponyville is doing comparatively. Because you thought Ponyville was having it hard, seeing how so many ponies disappeared in such a small town. But compared to what you are feeling here? Just in the Royal Castle alone? Well... you honestly think Ponyville is doing more than fine, to be honest.

However, again, everything changes when you meet Cadance.



"Velvet Covers!"



You don't exactly know how to describe it.

Cadance looks tired. She looks tired, and stressed out, and maybe a bit thinner than you remember her being. However, as soon as she sees you, you can see how her eyes light up.

You have only spoken to her twice. And for all that you like her as a mare, and absolutely respect her as a Princess, you certainly did not expect her to hug you as soon as she finished walking up towards you.

But it wasn't just any kind of hug. You know these sorts of things. It was a heavy hug, a tired hug. As if she was somehow recuperating her energies just by being there with you. As if you were a breath of fresh air when she was drowning, or a glass of cold water in the middle of the desert.

"It's just that…" she says, sounding only slightly embarrassed when she finally lets go of you. "Well, it's just nice to see a pony so full of love after so long."

She says that, and you think you understand what she means… especially given how grim things have been, and how solemn and stoic everypony around her (and perhaps in the whole castle) seems to be right now.

Still, you feel glad that you are helping her, if nothing else.

Although she wastes no time to go straight to the matter at hoof.

"First of all, it is so good to see you again. And second, I am so sorry for the suddenness of this, and the vagueness in the letter. However, the thing is that I… can't really tell you certain details, about what this is all about. Although, of course, I can tell you enough."

After that, she begins to explain it to you.

She explains to you how Princess Celestia is making a lot of changes in the Capital. She tells you about how she abolished the noble families, in the long term, and how that information will probably begin to trickle down to Equestria at large soon enough.

But more importantly, she tells you about a certain plan that Princess Celestia has in mind. Because everything that just happened shows that ponykind is in peril, if not outright danger, and that something must be done about it.

You realize that Cadance sticks very closely to the story that the attacks were made by "monsters", and that she fully believes you don't know that they are shapeshifters or changelings. But you still see how her story revolves around having to be wary and prepared for "unexpected threats" and "unknown dangers". Even the ones that, as she puts it, "might still be walking unseen in our midst".

She tells you, in short, that Princess Celestia is planning to create an institution to... ensure that nothing like that, like the tragedy that just befell ponykind, happens ever again. And for all that she is being vague and evasive about what sorts of dangers those might be, you know enough to understand that said institution would be charged with ponykind against the changelings, be they survivors or perhaps those who try again in a distant future, as well as against any similarly unexpected threats.

"It will be called the Lunar Bureau. Officially, it will be tasked with continuing the searches for Princess Luna, as well as investigate every other event connected to it, going all the way back to the first attack against her. Unofficially… well, I'm not supposed to tell you about anything 'unofficial', in case you decide not to accept it, but unofficially it will also fill in Princess Luna's horseshoes, until she is found. Somepony, Princess Celestia says, has to guard against the darkness in night."

Although of course, for all that she is telling you all of that, you still have no idea of where the conversation is going exactly.

That is, until she says that she would like to offer you a position in that institution. Any chair you want, with very good terms to be decided later, but that preferably she would like you as its director.

"It's not just your administration skills, Velvet. Or the fact that you worked around here for a while and already knows how things work. It's not just any of that. The thing is that I really think we need ponies like you, right now. We need ponies like you doing what really matters."

She goes on to say that she doesn't expect an answer right now, and that although she says that you should be "doing what matters" she wholeheartedly agrees that your family and loved ones is what honestly and truly "matters". So that you must make a decision with them in your heart. Although she says that she already knows you will do that anyways.

Cadance also tells you that the bare bones of the institution that you are being hypothetical offered a place at aren't even laid down yet. She makes it entirely clear that she will only ask you for an official answer at the end of next month, and even then a lot will have to be ironed out even later.

Still, you can tell how hopeful she is that you will accept her offer when the time comes.

"But of course, I know this is something way too big for you to decide now. It's a huge commitment, and one that nopony expects you to take lightly. In fact, let me be absolutely clear, you do not have to do this if you don't want to. I don't care that we are Princesses, Velvet, this is not an order from the Crown. I thought about you for this job, because… well, because I think you are exactly what you need. Still, I want you to know that I would rather you deny this offer, because you don't want to do it, than that you are doing it because you feel obligated."

She says all of that, and when you say that you will honestly think about it she gives you another hug.

But unfortunately, right after that, she all but cuts your conversation short.

You can see it, how much she would really like for you to just stay and chat. You can see how dearly she would like to have a few more moments of sanity, maybe just a repeat of your first mare-gossiping talk, just to help her a little more.

However, you can also see just how utterly busy she is. And even as the lines of exhaustion return to her expression, you also see an undertone of determination settling within her as she forces herself to place her duty before herself.

So, as much as it clearly pains her, you accept her offer for her to walk you back to the chariot, less than three hours after you arrived.

At this pace, you should be arriving back home by nightfall, at the latest.

Although…



Although…



You do notice one thing.

One crucial thing, that makes your heart ache just from thinking about it.

During the short few minutes that the two of you managed to talk, those few moments that you truly managed to get Cadance to unwind, you realize how overburdened she is.

You realize how much she is being stretched in all directions.

To the point that she is probably overlooking some things.

She made no mention of Shining Armor, although she doesn't know that you know (or suspect) about him being her beloved.

She made no mention about her personal life, or if she even had one these last few months, ever since the false Princess Luna came to Canterlot.

But most importantly, you realize that she made no mention at all to Twilight. Not a question about her wellbeing, not a single comment that could even vaguely show that she had thought about her.

In fact, you are absolutely sure she doesn't even remember about Twilight. Not in the sense that she forgot about the young unicorn, but more in the sense that she forgot to check. In the sense that she didn't even consider the possibility that something wrong might have happened. Maybe because her subconscious is sure that Twilight is alright, and can't even consider a world where something happened to Twilight that she didn't find out about immediately.

But still, whatever the reason might be, the fact remains that you realize that she doesn't know Twilight Sparkle is missing.

Telling her is the right thing to do, you know. As much as you understand that it will hurt her, you also know that she would want to know about it. That if she could choose, she would have discovered about it immediately, and would start doing something about it as soon as physically possible.

But still, you also know that… well, that it might be more useful to you if you don't mention it to her. No need to get out of your way, no need for you to do this. Especially given how more attention being sent towards Twilight Sparkle would be more attention that might be sent towards you, and your... less pleasant dealings. So keeping your mouth shut about this, even if it's not to your advantage, could help by simply not causing you more problems.

And ultimately, you realize that this is truly your conscience and your pragmatism fighting against each other for supremacy.

But it doesn't take long for you to reach your decision.

You decide to…



[] "Cadance… I am so, so sorry, but… you don't know that…?"

-Tell Cadance that Twilight Sparkle is missing. She will surely begin working on that on her own, although you don't know how, when, or what resources she would be able to spare. The whole Royal Castle seems to be stretched thin, after all.

-You don't know if her efforts would even be beneficial to you, seeing how being discovered as a criminal is not permissible.

-However, this is a showing that Velvet Covers truly believes that saving Twilight Sparkle is an urgent priority, even if she must take acceptable risks to do so. (QM will take this a sign of that, and will proceed accordingly)

-Because of Velvet Covers' urgency, picking this option will unlock the "Crepuscule Jailbreak" expedition, which will permit Velvet Covers to attempt to rescue Twilight Sparkle come next turn.



[] Tell her nothing.

-Do not tell Cadance anything.

-This will be a showing that Velvet Covers believes that delaying Twilight's rescue is acceptable. (QM will take this a sign of that, and will proceed accordingly)

-Velvet Covers will only be willing to save Twilight Sparkle after more preparations are done. Which will involve at least a careful scouting of Manehattan itself, and of the cult's presence/workings in Manehattan.

-It will be, effectively, impossible to rescue Twilight Sparkle on turn 15, and the "Crepuscule Jailbreak" expedition will be permanently unavailable. (Twilight's rescue might be done through some other mechanic, or another expedition entirely).





Understand that Twilight's disappearance is NOT a secret that is for Velvet Covers to keep. In the sense that it's not a secret she "can keep", but merely information that she will decide "not to reveal right now, on her own". Twilight Sparkle is a missing person, and that is "public knowledge", which means that anypony can eventually find out about it. The fact remains that Cadance (and apparently nopony else in Canterlot) simply doesn't know about it at this moment. Although it would be reasonable to believe she would find out about it eventually.

Understand that if Velvet mentions Twilight's disappearance to Cadance, she will NOT reveal anything else. She will not talk about the cult, or that "she might be in Manehattan" or anything like that. Velvet Covers will only say that "Twilight Sparkle disappeared on the day that several ponies went missing, in what we think was the monster's early attack".

Any other consideration, or effect that might be caused by picking an option, or implications that may come from not picking another option, is left to your sound discretion.



Regardless of your options, Velvet Covers has also just been made an offer.

At the end of Turn 15 Velvet Covers will be given the option to accept or decline a job at the nascent Lunar Bureau. Details about that will be given at a later date, as it becomes relevant.

For those who played the CS game, it helps to basically think that you will be changing your legacy.

And finally, bonus points if you youtube search this update's title.

Twelve hours moratorium.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] "Cadance… I am so, so sorry, but… you don't know that…?"

- - -

The realization, that Cadance didn't know about it, that perhaps nopony in Canterlot knew about it, crept up to you like a cold fog on a winter day.

You knew you had to tell her, of course. Or rather, it was not like "you" had to tell her, but still you understood that "she had to be told" about it.

And yet, you hesitated. Because for all that you knew that you had to tell her about Twilight Sparkle's disappearance, you also knew how much it would hurt Cadance, if you told her.

But still, you also knew that you didn't have a choice.

You couldn't not tell her. It would not be right. She had the right to know, she had to know, the same way you would have wanted to know if (heaven forbid) anything ever happened to your daughters.

But still…

Still…

You knew how Cadance was doing. You could see it. And even though you understood that she was probably very good at hiding it, even though you realized that you probably didn't get a perfect read of how she was doing, you could still see it.

You could feel it, from her tone of voice. From how her every word seemed to carry that ever-so-slight strained undertone.

It was obvious, just by looking at her, how tired she really was, for all that she was still keeping herself together.

You even thought she looked just a tiny bit too eager to keep talking to you, for just for a minute longer. Even though she kept telling you (or perhaps herself) that you should get going, and that she had several other duties to take care of.

But even then…

Even then, you still knew that you had to tell her. Even though you knew that telling her might be the tipping point, even though you knew that telling her might be the thing that would finally break her. You still had to tell her.

You could see how much weight she was carrying on her back, and at the same time how strong she was just by keeping herself together.

So that is why…

…

That is why it hurt so much to see her crumble, when you told her about Twilight's disappearance.



"Wha… what…? Velvet Covers, what do you mean by…"
"I… I thought you knew. Or rather, I… I thought news of that had arrived here already. But seeing how you-… I mean… it is obvious that… well, I can tell that you didn't know about that."
"Bu… sh-… are you absolutely sure about…?"
"… I am so, so sorry."



It was like watching a house of cards begin to fall. It was like a scene from a novel you read, long ago, where a pony just realized how wounded he was, raising a hoof from their side to realize they were wounded and about to bleed to death. It was like looking at a pony who had just stumbled and was beginning to fall, after just realizing there wasn't any ground under their hoofs anymore.

First you watched her smile, small as it might have been, disappear from her face. Then you watched what little light she had in her eyes vanish. And then her posture, and then her bearing, and then everything else.

But even then, even then, she held strong. If only in front of you. If only because you were watching, or because there were other ponies nearby, or because she had to pretend she was alright because she is a Princess or because everypony is counting on her or because if she crumbled right there and then everything would start falling apart or-



"I… Velvet Covers, could you… could you wait here for a bit? Until I come back? Please?"



That was all she said.

She didn't even wait for your answer, before she walked away.

And of course, you waited.



- - -



You wait for a long time.

You wait where she left you, at first, just a few hoofsteps away from the exit that would take you to the waiting carriage.

Then you waited on a nearby hall, on the nearest and most comfortable seat you could find, after one of the guards guaranteed they would call for you as soon as the Princess came back.

Then you waited on one of the several guest rooms, in the visitor's quarters, after the sun gets so close to the horizon that night threatens to begin. The guards promising you to call for you as soon as they got word from the Princess.

Then you wait a full day.

You are in the middle of writing your husband a letter, saying that you are not sure how long you will be here, when you finally hear somepony opening your door.

You look over your shoulder, wondering if it's just another maid checking in on you, or if finally one of the guards have come to tell you that you are being called. Or, who knows, maybe somepony is here to relay the message that you are free to go back home.

But you nearly jump out of the chair, in a mixture of surprise and worry, when you see Princess Cadance herself entering the room.

You feel surprise because, of course, it's the Princess herself. She had not need to come here. You didn't expect her to come here. As a Princess, it is only natural that you go to her, if she ever requires it.

However, nearly eclipsing your surprise, you also feel worried. And that is because…

Princess Cadance doesn't look fine.

She doesn't look fine at all.

And when she closes the door behind herself and just looks at you…

Your words get stuck in your throat.

"Can I talk to you, for a few minutes?" is all she says, after perhaps a few too many moments of silence.

And you just… numbly nod with your head.

…

She doesn't look fine. Not. At. All.

You can see it, with how her wings are slightly depressed, as if barely holding themselves together to the side of her body instead of being dragged like a loose limb.

You can see it in how her eyes are… hollow, and how her fur and her mane and everything else looks frazzled and unkept.

You can see it in her eyes, with how hollow they look, and how the white in her eyes looks red.

And her posture… by the heavens, you feel like she is about to collapse.

"By all means, Princess Cadance, please take a-" you begin saying-

"Don't," but she immediately interrupts you.

And for all that her words surprise you, you can tell that she is the one who winced, at something you just said.

"Please don't… don't call me Princess. Not you too," she says, rubbing a hoof to the side of her head as she sits down on a chair. "Just… just don't."

You purse your lips at that, watching as she Princess… watching as Cadance lets out a long and heavy sigh, her eyes still closed as she just sits there.

And you don't know if you should even say anything at all. Not with how you can clearly tell she is at least nursing a splitting headache right now. Together with… a lot of other things.

So, you just wait. You just give her time. Heaven knows, this might be the first period of quiet that she's had in a very long while, without having somepony expectantly waiting for her to make a decision, or to decide on something that is at the same time extremely delicate and important.

You just wait, watching her expression shift. Her face changing from stress to pain to worry, until it finally settles on exhaustion.

Until finally, she opens her eyes again.

Although she keeps looking at the floor, as she talks to you.

"I… Twilight Sparkle is… well, I think you know that…" she tries to say something, several things, but her own words seem to escape her. Perhaps because she simply doesn't know where to begin, or perhaps because the whole subject is too painful for her.

But still, it takes her a few more moments until she starts speaking coherently.

"Velvet Covers, I understand that you are close to Twilight. And I am thankful for that. Equestria knows she's a brilliant mare, but that she is also a little… withdrawn. But still, I connected the dots that you are at least close to her, after what happened a few months ago with the impostor Luna. And I think that I know you well enough to understand that, if you are that close to her, that you also care for her."

She says that, and you can only nod. But you don't dare to say anything back.

Because you think… or rather, you can almost tell that she isn't just talking to you.

You can tell that she is so weighted down, that she is so confused and stressed about all of this, that she is probably also talking to herself right now. That she is probably trying to make sense of the whole situation, if only to be able to grasp everything that just happened. Of everything that is still happening.

"So I think you know that, well, I was… that I am close to her family… what's left of it. You wouldn't have thought to tell me about it, otherwise, so I think that you heard from Twilight herself, that we are very close to each other."

This time, she looks up to you, and you can see that she is waiting for an answer. Or a confirmation.

Although you are not sure what exactly it is that she wants you to confirm to her.

Does she just want to make sure that you heard it from Twilight?

Or does she want you to say that… that she really is close to Twilight? Does she, instead, wants some confirmation… any confirmation, that she isn't just some heartless monster? That she really cares about Twilight, and didn't just forget about her while she was being kidnapped and forgotten after being sent to live in some faraway place?

You hope she is looking for an answer to the former. But you can see it, in the depth of her eyes, that she just might be asking the latter.

Still, you can only nod. You can only confirm to her that yes, she is right, whatever question she might be asking.

"I thought so…" she says, her gaze once again going to the floor, "I am also close to her brother, Captain Shining Armor, and… I went to talk to him, Velvet. I had to talk to him."

You can feel the pain that she is feeling, inside her chest, as she says those next words.

"The rest of his family is dead, Velvet. Twilight Velvet and Night L-… well, their parents, they are both gone. And then I had to go tell him that Twilight Sparkle, that his sister is also one of the missing ponies, and…"

You watch as she raises her hoofs, looking down at them. Her eyes going wider and wider in what you can only describe as a mixture of surprise and panic.

Because she can tell, and even you can see from the other side of the room, that her hoofs are shaking.

"And why am I telling you any of this?" she says out loud.

This question, you are absolutely sure, is not aimed at you. She just asked that to herself.

Why is she doing this?

What is she doing right now?

And what in Tartarus is she supposed to do next?!

It happens in an instant.

One moment she is looking down at her hoofs, her voice faltering as she tries and fails to say something else.

Then, her faltering voice is interrupted not by her own confusion, but by a sob.

Then another.

And another.

Until you see tears falling down her face.

You have never seen an alicorn cry. You have never seen a Princess cry.

"I-I'm… I'm supposed to be better than this and-… and I'm supposed t-to know w-what to do… and everyp-pony is counting on me, a-and I have to be there f-for Shining a-and…!" she says, as her wings finally fall down to her sides, going limp, her hoofs going to her eyes as if she could physically hold back her tears.

But right now, you don't see an alicorn, or a Princess, or anything like that.

You just see a tired, lost mare, who has too much weight on her back and nowhere she can run to.

And when she hugs you back, the weight of her pains and worries, and perhaps of the entirety of Equestria that she is carrying on her back, almost crushes you.

But still, if it relieves even a fraction of her sorrow, you will try to help her carry it. Even if only for as long as your hug lasts.

Although it is a very long time before she manages to speak again.



- - -



"I shouldn't be telling you this. Not officially."

She begins to say, at some point.

"But I don't care. Even if you don't accept the offer I told you about, I at least want you… I need you to know about this. Even if only so you can protect your family, back at your home."

The door to your gest room is locked. And you realize that she cast a noise-cancelling spell over it.

You have no idea when she did it, although it wouldn't surprise you if it was before she started crying. Perhaps even before she entered the room.

But thinking about how she worries, how she has to worry, even about that sort of thing, when she is this overburdened… is painful to you.

"Princess Celestia called them changelings, Velvet. They are shapeshifters. Monsters who survive by drinking the emotions of other living creatures. And us ponies are particularly nourishing to them."

But still, she tells you that, and you listen.

"But that's the thing, Velvet. Their attacks, we think it was a harvest, of sorts. We have no idea when they truly arrived, and even the false Luna was their queen, from what Princess Celestia told me. But still, we think they attacked us for food."

She recounts you the tale about when Canterlot was attacked.

And you realize just how vague and slim were the news that you got about what happened. You realize how little Ponyville as a whole was told, about what happened.

"And after their attack, the number of ponies who were gone was greater than the number of corpses. They took some ponies away, Velvet, for food, or whatever else they do. But we are looking for them. However… as grim as it might be, there is still some hope, even in that. Because we have been finding them. After the attack, we have been looking for the missing ponies everywhere, on the outskirts of all the major cities and the mountains of Canterlot itself."

But still, despite the mournful story she tells you, you can still see a glimmer of hope return to her eyes. Small and faint that it may be, you can still see that second wind, perhaps because of her nature as an alicorn, or maybe just because she is a good mare, return to her.

"The guard is stretched thin doing this. We can't send too many, because we can't open our guard, but we are still sending everypony we can. But so far, all the kidnapped ponies we found were still alive. So I hope… I know Twilight is alive. And we have to look for her. We will look for her."

And by the end of your conversation, she is already back on her hoofs.

You can see that she is still tired. You can see that she is still worried, and weighted down, and that the only thing you managed to do was add another thing to her already enormous list of pains. But still, by the end of your conversation, Cadance already has some energy back in her voice.

And she tells you what she is going to do about all of this.

"We can't spare anypony right now. As much as it pains me, as much as I'd like to go myself, we can't… we just can't. But as soon as it is even marginally possible, I'll send some ponies to Ponyville. Shining Armor will go there himself, even. And we will find Twilight. I promise it!"

After that, Cadance says that she must go, and that you should go back home to your family. Her strained voice alone tells you that she already skipped on time she couldn't spare, with how she disappeared for a whole day. So, with a few parting words, she tells you that she hopes to see you very soon.

You wish you could stay here. You wish you could stay here and help, or at least just be there for her.

But you also have too much to do. In fact, you have a lot to do related to what you just told Cadance about.

But, if nothing else, now you are all the more motivated to see this through.

You will help Cadance, and you will save Twilight.

And considering how she said that Shining Armor will be going to Ponyville as soon as they can spare him, because you understand the cruel logic that the searches around Canterlot will save far more ponies than a search around a small town like Ponyville, you still think you can spin these events for the best.





Velvet Covers has been told, even if informally and in secret, about the true nature of the "monsters" that attacked ponykind. Well, she has been told about it from an "official" source, that is. But knowing about it from a non-cult source, even more so when it is from a figure of authority, allows you to use that knowledge without fear of being linked to the cult.

Captain Shining Armor, and a small group of guards, will reach Ponyville near the end of Turn 15. Velvet Covers will know enough about their timing to plan her own expedition to Manehattan (if she chooses to do it) before their arrival.

Although that puts a severe constraint on how long the expedition can last.

The expedition "Crepuscule Jailbreak" has been added to your available expeditions.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

The day is finally here, and for all that you try to calm yourself down, you can't help but feel a little anxious about this.

After all, this is the first time you will be meeting the Master ever since the changeling calamity itself.

And there is still so much that you don't know.

You don't know what happened, exactly, during the assault on the changeling hive itself. For all your efforts, and despite everything the Hintchasers told you, you still don't know exactly what happened. You don't even know why the changelings suddenly attacked everywhere. Because even though you are pretty sure there is a connection between those two events, you still don't understand how or why things turned out the way they did.

You also don't know what the Master plans to do next. After all, you pushed the cult to attack the changelings because you hoped to be able to rescue Twilight. And that plan worked, in a sense, even though what happened to her is something that you still regret. But still, for all that you knew the Master wouldn't find Luna, you still don't know what she plans to do with that information.

And most of all, you don't know what awaits in your future. Because this may very well be the last cult meeting you attend. Or perhaps not. Who knows? Maybe you will be able to continue in the cult, as an infiltrator, until the Master asks you to do something you feel that you must refuse. Because you will no longer follow the Master, and you will no longer aid the cult, but that doesn't mean they have to know about that until you absolutely need to reveal it to them.

Or maybe the Master already knows about your plans, and is planning to kill you in front of the rest of the Inner Circle as an example.

Again, who knows?

You certainly don't.

So, you are nervous. For all that you can hide it, even from yourself, you are still nervous.

Still, you hoofsteps are purposeful and confident, as you make your way to the depths of the Wildhoof Club, and into the strange Woods-close room where you always meet with the Master.

You pass by the last threshold, through the entrance that is permanently covered in drapes and curtains. You push your way through the heavy cloth, feeling as something begins to happen to your surroundings, or perhaps to yourself, as you go deeper and deeper.

You keep walking, pushing through the increasingly heavy covers, until everything around you is totally dark. Until you can't see anything but your own body, even through your closed eyes.

That is, until you can feel the drapes no more, and finally realize that you are pushing yourself through the thick bushes with pitch-black leaves.

And you realize you are in the Woods. Or at least to the closest place you can be to it, while still in the Wake.

You don't see anypony else. Not that it means anything, of course. But still, you see no sign of the Master, or of anypony else of the Inner Circle.

That is, until you turn around, and realize that Starry Dancer is looking right back at you, peeking at you with a smile on her face from inside the bush you just stepped out of.

"AH!" you shout in surprise, jumping up and away from her as a chill runs through your body.

Because for all that you might know about the Lores (or maybe because you got too used to sensing everypony) seeing her there catches you completely unaware.

You should have anticipated that something like this would happen, someday. You know your Edge-senses are dulled, or perhaps work differently, in the Mansus. But heavens, you haven't been surprised like this in a while.

"Oh, did I scare you?" Starry says, giggling to herself as she steps out of the bushes. "Geez, I thought you would have been used to this by now."

You take a deep breath, calming down your heart as the pegasus mare walks up to you, brushing off a few loose leaves that stuck to her mane and coat.

"Or are you just surprised that it's me?" she asks, when she finishes waving away a final leaf that had stuck to her wing, her giggle turning into an innocent smile.

And for all that you can sense the innocence in her question, you can't help but realize that she is… right. Even if she herself doesn't realize why.

After all, if she's here, then she is no longer in jail. And you can tell that she is really here, in body, and that this isn't just her dream-self.

And the fact that she is out of jail is something that has… implications, all on their own. It means that somepony in the cult, since you doubt she would have been able to escape all by herself, did something about that.

"I… well, yes? I just didn't expect to see you here, to be honest. Still… nice to see you again?" you say, trying your best to hide your own discomfort. Not at Starry herself, but at what it means for her to be here to begin with.

Although Starry doesn't notice anything at all, of course. And her smile only turns all the wider as she hears your words.

"Well, it's nice to see you again as well!" she says, walking towards you and then looking around the Woods. "So, wanna go to the meeting together?"

But still, however it was that Starry got out, she is here right now. And you can tell that she really is happy to be talking to you.

So, you nod, and the two of you begin to walk side by side. Neither of you know where to go exactly, of course, but the trick really is that you will get there eventually, as long as neither of you are really looking for the place where you want to go.

That is how things work in the Woods, after all.

"So, what have you been up to?" she asks, as the two of you wade through the spaces between the trees.

You quickly wonder how to answer that.

Because she is obviously referring to what you have been doing after she was imprisoned, of course. And you have been "up to" a lot.

But you don't really want to talk about certain things. Not to Starry at least.

Or, as you remember how close she is to the Master, you especially don't want to tell Starry about certain things.

"Oh, you know, this and that. Spent a lot of time making sure the cult was under control, and helping the town itself calm down."

You watch her nod excitedly at her words, and you bite down your own question of "what about you?"

Because you know the answer to that, of course. Starry has been in jail. After all none of you bothered to break her out of there. Even if it was under the excuse that "it wasn't worth it".

But as you think about what you should say next, Starry once again beats you to it.

"Huh, was that all? Are you sure?"

And your ears can't help but twitch slightly at that. At her tone, or at her words, or at something you are not entirely sure what it is.

Because you don't feel any malice coming from her question. That wasn't a jab coming from her or anything like that. But still…

You can feel from her honest curiosity that she knows about something, and that she would like to know more about whatever it may be.

"Why do you ask?" you say.

To which she answers with a short laugher.

Which, for some reason you can't describe, makes your ears twitch again in curiosity.

"Well, pff, it's obvious isn't it? I mean, I don't think anypony didn't feel it. Whatever did you do up there in the Mansus?"

And to that, you nearly freeze. Your pace stops, even if only for a moment, and you do your best to immediately hide your surprise.

Outwardly, you nearly freeze. You don't think Starry notices it, and you are back to walking by her side right after.

Internally, however, you are… you don't really know what to say. You don't even know what exactly this means.

Because you know what she is talking about. But what the hay does she mean by it? How does she even know?!

She just said that she could feel… something, you don't even know what she means by that, or what exactly she felt. But what… how… how does that change things? Was she in the Mansus when it happened? You can certainly see her spending a lot of time asleep while in prison. But still, does she only have a vague feeling that "something" happened, or does she know exactly what you did?

More importantly, who else might have felt the same? Jade didn't mention anything to you, but she might just not have been in the Mansus when you broke the Tribal Door.

And what is more, what the hay do you answer to her? You don't want to be honest, but since she knows something you have no idea how much you can omit before she realizes you are lying.

"Well…" you say, hesitantly, as you realize that in a few more moments you might have been quiet for too long. "I… am not entirely sure what you are talking about."

"Oh silly Velvet. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about!" she says, letting out a loud laugher.

And for all that her tone is light and innocent, you can't help but feel tense for some reason.

"I mean, some stuff happened waaaaay up there in the Mansus. And who else could've gotten that high?" she says waving a hoof upwards as she speaks.

But still, you don't know what to…

"Fine, fine, keep your secrets. I really don't mind," she says, giving you a mischievous wink.

Which frankly makes you have to suppress a sigh, with how relieved you feel.

"But!" she continues, "I gotta ask. I noticed the light got a bit dimmer out there. Did anything happen to the Name?"

And once again, you get that unnerving… feeling.

Why?

However, you also realize this is not something you can really hide. Baldomare's presence in the Wake, or at least in Ponyville, is indeed somewhat obvious. Or at least detectable, to those who know enough. And for all that you don't see a Brand on Starry, you also know she is an Inner Circle member as much as you all are.

And besides, she might wear her emotions on her face, and you think that for some reason she might be fond of you. But you don't really think she is gullible. Not that you want, or need, to lie to her about this to begin with.

"I unfortunately had to let her go."

"Oh?" she says, her expression suddenly becoming… judgmental?

You see a frown on her face. Yes, she definitely disapproves of that just now.

"You had to let her go? You didn't get her killed or anything? Didn't even use her for a ritual? Geez, Velvet, that wasn't good of you. I mean, I don't like her either, but c'mon. She's useful!"

And her words, exactly because they were entirely honest, actually feel like a slap on her face.

"Hey, that's not fair," you say, "I could not keep her around, so she had to go! There was nothing I could have done."

"Pff" she lets out an odd sound, rolling her eyes, "now that is something we know is a lie. We both know you could have done something."

"Wha… I…" and you are… honestly flabbergasted at that. You don't know if you feel angry, or disappointed, or just plainly surprised that she is saying that, of all ponies. But you are sure you feel something.

You feel something. You realize you feel it. And you don't know if it's because you are in the Woods, or because it's Starry, or because you are just plain and simply stressed, but you really don't like the tone she is having with you right now.

To the point that you next words practically jump out of your mouth.

"Well, sorry to disappoint you then, but I really couldn't. And I do not appreciate being called a liar."

"You don't? But you are a liar, Velvet. Everypony in the cult is a liar! Well, except maybe for Jade, but you know what I mean," she says, nodding to herself as she speaks. "But again, we both know you are lying. Because we both know you could have done something if you wanted to. If you really, really wanted to you would have somehow pulled it off. You just didn't want to try."

Her tone is a mixture of honesty, disapproval and provocation.

And you stop walking, slamming a hoof against the ground as you turn to face her.

"Things aren't as easy as you think they are, Starry. And I really do not appreciate the way you are talking to me right now!" you burst out, looking her in the eyes.

And to that she.

"What?" she asks, tilting her head curiously.

And her expression is so… honest, yet strange, that you can't help but be taken aback by it.

Because you can see… you can clearly see in her eyes, how she has no idea about something you just said. That she is honestly surprised about something.

The strange feeling you have, inside of you, that something is very wrong only grows.

It grows and grows to a peak, as you…

As you watch Starry look at you, and then around herself.

And then as she raises a hoof, looking at it curiously.

And then as she… very carefully touches and pokes her own face with her raised hoof.

Until finally, she starts to laugh.

"Oh, ah… ahahahahahaha…"

Your heart begins to hammer inside your chest as you realize that… that something is going on right now.

"Ahahahahaha! I see it now. Oh bu-" she tries to say, in fits and stops as her own laugher overpowers even her speech, "but it's so funny how you… Ahahahahahahahaha!"

You begin to walk away from her, your hind hitting a tree as you try to put more distance between you and Starry Dancer. As she laughs, and laughs, and collapses to the ground with how loudly, how strongly she is laughing.

"Y-you… Ahahahahahaha! You don't even know… don't even know WHO you are talking to and… Ahahaahhaahah! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

And your eyes go wide as she says those words.



"Oh, my little…"



And you finally notice the strings, attached to every last one of Starry's limbs.



"Little…"



And you realize that Starry's skin is just a drape, a sock puppet of flesh, being worn by something terrible and alien and filled with eyes and mouths and roots.



"Velvet."



And as Starry finally looks up at you again, you realize that she-





- - -
- - -
- - -





Conscience returns to you in a fit of coughs, and you get up on your hoofs in a near state of panic. The black dust of the Woods pricking against the inside of your ears and behind your eyelids even as you cough out the dust that you have in your mouth.

You shake yourself from head to toe, feeling the crawling-things skitter away now that they can feel you can think properly once again.

And you take several long moments, breathing in heaves with a frenetically beating heart, before you finally calm yourself down.

You are in the Woods. Or at least close to it.

You are still in the cult, as you were before.

And you have no idea of what just happened.

You look around yourself, searching for… something, for somepony, for anything to help you ground yourself.

Only to find Starry Dancer herself, but a few hoofsteps away from where you were lying.

And you can see that she is… you have no idea what you just truly saw. But you are sure that was Starry Dancer, or at least her body.

You are also sure that whatever happened to Starry Dancer isn't happening anymore.

Because as you look at her, you can see that she is definitely not fine.



"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no..."



She is sitting on her hinds, hugging herself with her forelegs, rocking back and forth as she mumbles to herself.

She is not fine. You are not even sure if she is actually conscious.

What you are sure of, is that she is crying, and that her voice is terrified.

Still, you are extremely cautious as you approach her. And for all that your Edge-senses work strangely in here, you remain as alert as you possibly can.

Even if Starry doesn't seem to react at all, as you get closer to her step by cautious step.

"Starry…?" you ask, hesitantly, "what just… is this you?"

And to that, Starry's face almost snaps in your direction, the mare looking at with bloodshot eyes.

You immediately raise a foreleg, to push her away or defend yourself or just jump back should the mare make any more sudden movements.

But she just stares at you. She stops mumbling, and moving, and just stares at you with crying eyes.

And when she opens her mouth, a low, tortured voice comes out of it.

It is her own voice, for sure.

But you can almost feel the… the pain, and the confusion, and the loss that she is feeling right now.

"Velvet… help me…"

She says that, and then her terrified expression turns into a… not a smile, not in the good sense. But still, her lips curl up into a sad, self-depreciating, pained smile.

"It was... it was all there Velvet… I knew how to… I didn't… I wasn't stupid anymore, Velvet. I-I knew how to… I could… it was all there…"

She says that, and you… you don't know how to react.

Even as she slowly gets up to her hoofs.

Even as she slowly begins to look around herself, as if she is lost, or as if she had just lost something and was desperately looking for it.

"It was all THERE, Velvet. It was all inside my head, and it all made SENSE, and I…"

She takes a step towards you.

You take a step back.

"And I…! And I can't let it go, Velvet. I can't go back to being just me! I…! I have to…!"

And suddenly, before you can even think how to react, her ears perk up. Her ears perk up and she looks to another direction, faraway into the Woods, as if she had just heard something.

"I… I have to have it back, Velvet. I HAVE TO!"

"Starry, wait!" you yell back at her.

But all too late.

Before you can even think to react, Starry has already ran away, to the depths of the Woods.

And you know that you will never catch up to her or find her. Not in here. Not right now.

So, for all that you have… no idea what just happened… or rather, no idea how to feel about what you think just happened, you make keep walking on your own.

Hoping to reach the cult's meeting sooner rather than later.



- - -



The mark that divides the skies. The comet that rides in a trail of fire. The herald of the one whose landing brings calamity and destruction.

The tool made to reap what is beautiful, and cut out what is undesirable. The one who finds the most precious flowers in the gardens of the King and cuts them away for herself, with or without permission.

You are all here.

You are all gathered, with one exception.

Comet, Copper, Windy, yourself and Jade are gathered before the large trunk of a cut-off tree. And the Master, at least in her Wake body, is sitting upon it with an amused expression.

And you all know why you are gathered, right now.

"The pony lands have been beset with chaos and confusion, ever since we took action against the changelings. So tell me. Tell me what benefits you reaped from it, and I shall enlighten you all on what steps we shall take next."

You watch a few glances being shared. You watch Copper's eyes fall on Jade for a few moments longer, probably because she realizes Jade is the only one who is not Branded.

Still, everypony realizes Starry Dancer isn't here, despite the Master's orders to begin.

Nopony feels inclined to bring that up, apparently.

"I have been busy. Influence ends soon, so I've been hard at work," is all the pegasus stallion says. And the Master's nod makes you believe that is enough. Either because she knows what he has been doing, or because she does not care.

"I… have been rather preoccupied with Wake-affairs, Master," Windy says, "disaster makes for poor business, so I've been doing my best to make sure we still have assets and means, even through all of this. Especially for whatever we need to do after."

Copper seems to wince, even if slightly, at that, and speaks up next.

"About that, Master. I have been able to get in touch with a… well, she is definitely from the Mansus. But still, I've gotten in touch with a creature in the Wake. She is… it is hard to describe, but she is more memory than not. However, she has taught me how to bring her fully back into being. And she is definitely worth our time and effort. However, the cost for that will be…"

But the Master stops her with a curious tilt of the head.

"Memories, you say? And you are sure this she is Mansus-touched… what principle have you felt?" the Master asks, with a vey particular tone that seems to encourage Copper.

"Definitely Winter, Master. And she identified herself as… or rather, I remember her name, even thought she never told it to me. And it was… Neighnia?"

"Ah," the Master gives a pleased smile, "work towards her summon immediately. Windy, procure whatever Copper requires for it. This is an excellent piece of news, Copper," she says.

And Copper responds with a beaming smile, before nodding back to the Master and finishing her part.

"I have… been laying low," is all that Jade says, and you can feel her biting down a mumbled explanation before the Master simply gives her an understanding nod.

And then, the Master looks at you.

"And you, little Velvet…?"



You decide to tell her, and everypony else, that…



Regarding the Garden of Mirrors:

-[] You will not reveal anything about the Garden of Mirrors.

-[] You have reached a part of the Mansus that is blocked to all but those who are deep in Winter. (Reveal about the barrier, but not about the Mares-in-the-Light)

-[] You have found new summons, to do the cult's bidding. (Teach the cult how to summon Mares-in-the-Light)

-[] Tell everything about the Garden of Mirrors. (Tell about the Mares and the barrier both)



Regarding the Daughter-of-Axes:

-[] You will not reveal anything about the Daughter-of-Axes.

-[] You have met a mighty Name of Knock, who you can summon immediately. (Teach the cult how to summon the Daughter-of-Axes, and summon her at the cult's expenses) [COSTS ONE ACTION FROM NEXT TURN]



Regarding the tall and lonely Tower:

-[] You will not reveal anything about the Tower.

-[] You have found a tall and lonely Tower, at the impossible edge of the Blank Plains, and you believe it might be touched by the Mansus-moon.



Regarding the Tribal Door and what lies beyond:

-[] Stay silent about the Tribal Door. (You will not say anything, be it truths or lies)

-[] You have reached, the Tribal Door.

-[] You have reached, and crossed, the Tribal Door.

-[] You have crossed the Tribal Door, and seen that a great place of Grail lies beyond it. You might need more resources, or aid in some form, to brave that next place.

(Velvet Covers Regrets her actions, by their very definition, and will not reveal how she crossed the Tribal Door.)



Regarding the offer you received for the Lunar Bureau:

-[] Stay silent about the Lunar Bureau.

-[] Reveal that you were called to the Royal Castle, and believe you are favored by the Princesses. (Reveal your alleged connection to the Princesses, but NOT the reason you were called)

-[] Reveal you were called to the Royal Castle, and explain the offer you were made. (Reveal the offer you were made regarding the Lunar Bureau)



Regarding Ponyville, and its soon-to-be visitors:

-[] Stay silent about the coming of Captain Shining Armor.

-[] Reveal that Captain Shining Armor, brother of Twilight Sparkle, will soon arrive at Ponyville, at a certain date.


Anything else?

-[] WRITE IN (do not include in plan before QM approval)





IF a plan to reveal about the Daughter-of-Axes wins, the winning plan on how to summon her will also come into effect.

Spoiler: On summoning the Daughter-of-Axes

Regarding the summoning of the Daughter-of-Axes (the cult will cover ALL bits expenses for this plan):

-[] Do not ask for any help from the cult

-[] Ask for resources to make a reagent (WRITE IN what Lores the reagent will have) [THIS WILL CONSUME YOUR "action-free" REAGENT MAKING FOR TURN 15]

-[] Ask for changelings to use as sacrifice (WRITE IN how many)

-[] Ask for live captive ponies to use as sacrifice (WRITE IN how many)

-[] Something else (WRITE IN)

Twelve hours moratorium.

Vote in plans. The plan of "what to tell" is SEPARATE from the plan of "how to summon Daughter-of-Axes".

Players are NOT required to present two plans, or even to vote for both kinds of plans. And the plan on "how to summon Daughter-of-axes" will be DISCARDED if the winning plan of "what to tell the cult" does NOT include the decision to reveal her.

And be nice to each other!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[X] You will summon the Daughter-of-Axes, asking for TWO changeling prisoners to use as sacrifice

[X] Plan An assortment of disclosure
-[X] You will not reveal anything about the Garden of Mirrors.
-[x] You have met a mighty Name of Knock, who you can summon immediately. (Teach the cult how to summon the Daughter-of-Axes, and summon her at the cult's expenses) [COSTS ONE ACTION FROM NEXT TURN]
-[x] You have found a tall and lonely Tower, at the impossible edge of the Blank Plains, and you believe it might be touched by the Mansus-moon.
-[x] You have crossed the Tribal Door, and seen that a great place of Grail lies beyond it. You might need more resources, or aid in some form, to brave that next place.
-[x] Stay silent about the Lunar Bureau.
-[x] Stay silent about the coming of Captain Shining Armor.

- - -

The Master's eyes settle on you, and you can feel the glances of the rest of the Inner Circle following suit right after.

And despite how much you prepared for this moment, you can't help but feel nervous.

Because right now, you feel like you are playing a very dangerous game. A very tense and nerve-wracking game, that feels like a mixture of chess, and poker, and perhaps that foal's toy where you stick little swords into a barrel until a toy pirate jumps out.

Although, of course, you are the little toy pirate in this analogy, stuck in a claustrophobic barrel in which an Edge-sharp blade is thrust every time you tell a lie.

And what is more, you are aware that this little "game" has a lot more rules than just that. You know that this situation you are in has a lot more moving parts than just yourself, and that you things might run out of control even if you do absolutely everything right. Heavens, you even realize that one of the rules in this game is that you very much don't know what all the rules are.

Because what if somepony else already suspects you? What if, say, perhaps Windy Flakes read something between the lines during your last conversation, and is somehow already onto you? Or what if somepony reads too much into Jade's behavior, or somehow traces Rarity's actions back to you, or by sheer coincidence or Moth manages to divine what is going on inside your mind right now?

But of course, that's not the whole problem. Because even though you are aware of all those risks, even though you have already spent quite a few nights awake over all these tiny little details that you have to be aware of, that still doesn't address your greatest concern.

Even though you have to be wary of the entire Inner Circle, and of the Cult at large, you still know that they are all just a sidenote.

After all, you are planning to betray the Cult, yes. But most importantly, that means that there is one pony… one creature in particular, that you intend to betray.

And you realize, with absolute certainty, that there is nothing you can do against this creature. Not yet, hopefully. But still, you are acutely aware that even if the entirety of the Wildhoof Club were to disappear, even if there were no longer any windigos, or Comet Feets, or random cultists that might try to hurt your family in Ponyville, you still wouldn't be safe as long as this creature is here.

After all…



"So, little Velvet… what fruits do you bring us?"



After all, you are about to try and perform a masquerade against the Master, of all creatures. You are about to invite her into a dance of pretense and deceit, one that you only have a chance of winning if she doesn't even realize that she is participating in.

But, you also realize, who could ever be better in playing a game in which they don't know they are a participant… who could be better in expecting the unexpected, other than a creature so deep in Moth such as the Master?

And that is all assuming she doesn't already know, of course. Because what if she can read your thoughts? What if she can really smell your loyalty, like she mentioned so long ago? What if she notices every single omission you make, about your forays in the Mansus, because she somehow knows where you have been, like when she realized every time you crossed a new Door?

And most frightening of all, what if she knows about all of that and is just letting you do all of this?

You have no idea how to work around the Master, because to this day you have not yet discovered who or what she is, and you have no idea about her motivations. You only know that she wants to stop the Worms, and that is about as useful and self-evident as you knowing that you don't want to die.

But still, there is nothing you can do but move forward. You had already decided what to say several days in advance, so there is nothing else you can do but go with it and pray nopony realizes how nervous you really are.



- - -



The smile that the Master has on her face… on her puppet-body's face, that is, is an enigmatic one.

Because a very large part of your mind is telling you, yelling at you even, that she knows. That she saw through every last one of your omissions, even though you have not spoken a single lie. Heavens, that part of you even swears that everypony else of the Inner Circle around you is looking at you with suspicion and accusation in their eyes. Even Jade Whistle.

But a far smaller part of your mind, that is only barely managing to keep an iron hoof around your nerves, tells you otherwise. That smaller, desperately rational part of you is telling you that the Master is merely thinking. And perhaps that she is slightly pleased by what you, and the whole Inner Circle, have told her.

Still, the seconds stretch long as you wait for the Master to say something.

Until she finally does.

"That is all… very good," she says, nodding to herself, her matronly voice not giving away any hint of malice or hidden intent.

In fact, she sounds like a perfectly normal pony right now. She even feels more normal than the rest of you, Branded and Lore-cloaked as you all are.

She almost feels out of place, in this dark clearing of the Woods where you all are, as she continues to speak.

"Now, listen to me carefully as I explain what we must do from here on. And pay close attention, for this will be a change in our way of acting that will cause great ripples as time goes on."

She almost sounds thoughtful. For all that her tone is intense, and perhaps even serious, she still sounds…

"We were small, once. But a group of faithful, of hidden Lore practitioners, tucked away in a small town that is barely large enough to appear on a map. We were small, and we remained small, because there was no need for us to grow."

She says that, and then she looks at each of you, as if remembering everything she told you, ever since you entered the Cult. Everything she taught you, when you were all just ignorant members meeting together in the dark basement of a shop.

"We knew the world was crooked, of course. It still is. But we also knew there was nothing we could do about it. And who knows… perhaps huddling together and quietly spreading the Lores was all that could be done, considering our circumstances. That is, until an opportunity presented itself to us. Until the alicorn of the night returned to this world."

It feels like the Master is telling a story about somepony else. As if she is retelling all of that to a group of ponies who weren't there.

And considering how all of you, of the Inner Circle, quite literally lived through everything she is saying… you can't shake the feeling that she is retelling this story to herself.

"But of course, as the task grew in size, so did we. First we had to reach the alicorn in her dreams, then look for her in the Wake, and then we had to mold ourselves so we could take her by force from the clutch of the changelings. And we would have succeeded, of course… if the exiled shapeshifters had the alicorn at all."

You feel a shift in some of the ponies around you. Specifically, you think you hear a slight reaction from Copper, and your heart spikes at that.

Because of course nopony here, except for Comet Feet and the Master herself, truly know what happened in the changeling hive. And it would make quite a lot of sense for the Master's absence, this last month, to have happened because she had taken Princess Luna for herself. You and Jade know that wasn't the case because of Selene, of course, but nopony in the Cult truly knew if Princess Luna had been found in the hive or not.

And Copper's slight reaction of surprise makes you feel even more exposed in your lack of reaction, and you swear that the Master's eyes stay on you for just a little longer.

"But regrettably, our efforts ultimately bore no fruit. The changelings overt actions were either based on a bluff, or were made because they killed the alicorn of the moon themselves. But either way, they did not have her. And because our scrying failed utterly in locating her, then that can only mean that she is no more. Which means, also, that we have ultimately failed in the goals we have set out all those months ago."

She says that. But for all that she is talking about what amounts to a failure, she still has a smile on her face. It is almost an expectant smile, as if she somehow relishes this turn of events, or looks forward to what is about to happen.

"So naturally, we will change as well."

And then, the thoughtfulness and reminiscence in her voice are gone, replaced by a sudden energy and purpose that completely contrasts with the old appearance of her false body.

"Equestria is in disarray. We have confirmed that one of their irreplaceable alicorns is no more, and ponies are on the edge of an abyss. I have no doubt that they will regroup and rebuild, even if they lose something along the way, and I have no intention of… pushing them, to their doom. However, they are lacking in cohesion, purpose and guidance. And we will deliver it to them."

With that, she finally stands from where she was sitting, looking down the five of you from the tree-stump as if it were an elevated dais.

"The Cult is to grow. We must gather strength and power so that we may steer ponykind in the right direction, when the time comes. We must expand so that no place is beyond our eyes and hoofs. And most importantly, we must spread the knowledge of the Lores among our ranks so that their influence slowly bleeds out to ponykind at large. Such is the direction we will take henceforth, and such will be our focus. And know this: we must still be covert in our actions, for now, but only because we are still few in number. But I am no longer worried about secrecy for its own sake, secrecy is from now on a tool to be used like any other, and to be discarded if needed."

She says that, and then she turns to each of you in turn.

However…



However.



You feel something, as she begins to address each of you in turn. You feel something that is at the same time maddeningly familiar, while also utterly confusing and new.

Because the Master begins to give out her orders, yes.

But you also feel like…

Like…

Like she is also… like her words…

You honestly have no way to describe it. It is not just as if the Master is something much larger than you. Larger, and older, and wiser, and greater than you think. It's not just that.

It's not as if you suddenly became aware that the thing talking to you is just a puppet.

No, it is way more than that.

You somehow feel as if… as if her words…

You feel like they have a much deeper meaning. As if everything she is telling each of you is an order wearing a mask, an ironically obvious and yet subtle way to convey a hidden meaning, to say something open yet secret to each of you in turn.

And what is more, your mind suddenly reminds you of Starry Dancer… or rather, of the glimpse you saw of Starry Dancer, before you lost conscience not long ago.

Because you can't help but feel that… that those strings you saw attached to Starry's limbs? You can't help but feel like the Master has those around all of you. You can't help but feel your paranoia spike, as you wonder just what exactly, or why exactly, the Master is telling each of you what she is telling right now.



"Comet Feet, there is no place for hesitation, no place for weights or weaknesses. Not anymore. Cut them off from our Cult."

The stallion answers her with a grim, but focused, nod.



"Copper Secateur, you have performed exquisitely in the Manehattan branch. It is yours in all but name. So stop ruling it in my stead and rule it. Make it yours, and do not be sated. All that I ask is that you, first, summon the entity you have met."

Copper's eyes go wide at the Master's words, and you can see several different thoughts running through her head in the span of a few moments. Maybe you see a glimpse of surprise, because the Master blatantly shrugged off something she had tried to keep secret? Or maybe you see satisfaction, at the praise and power she had just been given openly?

You do not know.

But you do see the gleam of ambition in her eyes, even if only for a moment.

"I will also be sending Starry your way. Have her aid you as you see fit, but do not deny her if she suddenly… decides to do something on her own accord," the Master continues, a wry smile appearing on her face as she says that. "Starry Dancer is in a… path, so to speak. But she is still an equal among you, so be courteous with her."

Copper responds to all of that, both the Master's orders and her boons, with a soft bow.



"Windy Flakes… I have every confidence in your skills, but I feel like you are shackling yourself. Why is that?" the Master asks, aiming a curious glance at Windy's unusually neutral expression. "You mentioned, understandably, that a crisis makes for bad business. But we both know that is not really true, don't we? It is only bad for… certain kinds of businesses."

You have the impression, even if only for a moment, that you see a shift in Windy's expression.

Or, perhaps, you feel the weight of Winter settle heavier around him, as he calls more of it to himself to remain silent.

To which the Master answers with a chuckle.

"Do as I do, Windy. Have confidence in your skills, in your… hunches. Follow them," she continues, almost as if she is prodding him. Until, finally, her tone returns to something more normal, and she continues speaking as if nothing had just happened. "Of course, what I mean to say is that we will require ever more funds. And you must acquire them, Windy, by any means necessary."

She says that, and then she turns to face Jade.

However, with the slowness of a glacier cracking, Windy's expression slowly… shifts.

The neutral expression on his face is gone, and in its place you can see that Windy is… thinking about something very carefully.

And when he opens his mouth to speak, he seems clearly hesitant. Eager, but frightened.

The Master, however, seems entirely satisfied as she turns back to face Windy. As if she had predicted that the unicorn stallion would react precisely that way.

"Master, I…" Windy says, hesitantly, as if afraid he is about to be censured by even suggesting whatever it is that he is thinking about. "May I be permitted to… to go to another city, then? To pursue new ventures, of course," he adds those last words in a rush.

And as the Master holds Windy's gaze for just a moment longer, you recall the things you have discovered about Windy, recently, and you understand the implications of his request.

"Any means necessary, Windy," the Master says.

And you watch as Windy's hesitation turns into an excited smile.



"Jade… while it is true that all your problems become nails when you choose to use hammers, a hammer is currently all that we have. Since we lack a more… subtle option, you are to bolster our Cult's strength with what you have. Summon me more windigos, and keep them sealed. Distribute them to our new cult cells as required."

She turns away from Jade before the mare can even respond.

Which is for the best, you suppose. Jade remained utterly frozen in place after hearing the Master's orders.



And finally, the Master turns to you.



"And you, little Velvet, what am I to do with you…?" she says, her words dragging unusually slow as she looks at you.

And you feel your heart beginning to hammer inside your chest at that.

"You have… such things boiling and bubbling inside your head, don't you? Such chittering thoughts within the shadows of your mind, like howling winds blowing fiercely through a forest…"

The Master's smile grows, and you do your best not to break your composure as she seems to stare into the very depths of your soul.

"Don't you think that it is time that you… share them with us?"

She asks.

And in that moment, you know. You know that she knows. She has to know. There is no way that she doesn't know.

You can tell from that smile, that damned, Woods-cursed smile. You have never been so certain of anything in your life that not only she knows, but that she is also toying with you.

Right?

Right?!

"Share them with the Cult, little Velvet. Share them, so that we may grow in numbers and power. Thus, my order to you is that you shall dedicate yourself to teaching the Cult. I do not need you to scale the Mansus, not on my orders. Instead, reduce your knowledge to writing, so that every Cult cell we create shall have the tools needed to thrive, and every pony under us shall have a path to fulfill their potential," she says.

And just like that, your certainty is gone.

Because as a wave of relief rushes through your body, that she at least didn't expose you then and there, you also realize that… you also realize how much your own thoughts were poisoning your view of things.

After all, you can see now that the Master's "knowing" smile was just her usual matronly expression. You can see, as you frantically repeat her words in your head, that she was just praising you. Because it is easy for you to forget that you, alone, probably know more about the Lores than any other pony in the Cult. So her words could very well mean that she just feels that you have grown enough, and should join her in teaching the Cult at large.

She isn't onto you. She doesn't know what you are planning. She can't read your damned thoughts. You are fine.

Right…?

Right?



"Those are my orders. See to them," she says, dismissing you even as the painfully fast drumbeat of your heart begins to slow down.

And just like that, her puppet-body is gone.

Although it still takes you almost all of your willpower not to run away.





The Master has given you your orders, and has enlightened the Inner Circle about the shift in focus of the Cult.

The Cult as a whole is now ordered to grow. This period of confusion following the recent tragedy will be a fertile soil for recruitment and expansion, but she also seems to wish for the Cult to grow as an institution. Revealing the Cult's existence is no longer strictly forbidden, but everypony understands that secrecy is still useful, and revealing its existence should only be done to further the Master's goals.

(Think, for example, that it is now acceptable to reveal the cult exists to, say, a rival gang in Manehattan. "This is Wildhoof territory" is acceptable to claim territory, but running to the cops and telling about the Cult is not. Things on that line.)

Your orders, as well, are as follows.
-You will immediately summon the Daugher-of-Axes (as pre-decided), but the Master doesn't seem to have any immediate need for her. Although he still ordered her to be summoned.
-You must make the Cult reach Level 3 in one Lore every month (NOT counting Name-given bonuses, you must make the Cult reach Level 3 by the sum of transcripts/books alone).

Jade Whistle's orders are as follows.
-She is to summon windigos for the Cult.

Given the particularities that are involved in summoning windigos, Jade would very much like not to follow this order, but will do so if you ask her.

Failing to obey your orders (either you or Jade) will incur in suspicion, which in turn ticks a [TRIGGER EVENT] clock. It is your understanding that you have good will accumulated with the Master, and that Jade might not have as much, if at all. But (as a QM) I very much dislike people seeing good will and favor as quantifiable resources. And your Master is also Moth-aligned. So I discourage trying to push your luck by not doing something, because it might very well blow up on your face once somepony or somecreature reacts in a perfectly reasonable way.

More soon.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] You will summon the Daughter-of-Axes, asking for TWO changeling prisoners to use as sacrifice

- - -

Despite everything you know, and everything you have learned, performing a ritual is not exactly an easy task.

Rituals… actually take a while to prepare, if they are to be done correctly. Or at least as correctly, and safely, as possible.

And this, you realize, is one of the conveniences that you have from being in the Cult. A convenience that you will soon lose access to, inevitably. But one that you can still take advantage of nonetheless.

Because for all that you understand how to perform a ritual, to the point that you even taught the larger circles to the Cult to begin with, actually performing one isn't exactly a walk in the park.

Sure, they can be done quickly. And if worst comes to pass, and time is deadly short, it is indeed possible to make due with a scribbled circle on the ground, the bare minimum materials and a few muttered words. In fact, if you were to set a clock on the wall and try to figure out how much time it takes to perform a ritual from scratch, in the most absolute of rushes, it wouldn't really take that long, provided you had the least of required reagents on hoof.

However, that would also open the way for all sorts of dangers. A rushed ritual might fizzle, or backfire, or even have a completely unknown and unpredictable effect. Truth be told, the Cult simply has not yet performed enough rituals for you to know what the possibilities even are. Ritual-casting is an eldritch activity, and more than simply being far from an exact science, you don't even know if it can ever become an exact science to begin with.

But you digress. The bottom line, again, is that rituals take a while to prepare, if they are to be done safely and correctly. There is always a more precise reagent that can be sought. One can always put another day between the circle-engraving and the final check, just to make sure you go over the inscriptions with fresh eyes. There is always a specific time of the day where it ought to be done, and that you should wait for if you have the time to spare.

So, when you informed the Cadre of the ritual you were going to perform… when you informed them the specific… reagents that you would be using, and how exactly the ritual should be changed to accommodate them…

Well, you had quite a while to think about it. A few days, even.

You had quite a while to stop it. To regret it. To turn back from this path, and change your orders, and not do what you are about to do.

You had quite a while to do anything, anything at all, to keep yourself from doing this.



But you didn't.



And now... now your time is up. Now the ritual is ready. Now everything is in place, as you have painstakingly instructed it to be, and you are here.

The ritual circle stretches out before you, the three concentric Lore-boundaries covering almost all of the available space in the room's floor.

The cloak that you have begun to use while doing Cult business, to at least help to keep your name away from the title of Loremaster, weighs heavily on you, covering up all of your physical traits with the sole exception of your horn.

The Cadre stands in position, on auspicious places on and around the circle, looking at you expectantly.

And in the circle itself, on very specific positions that you took pains to explain to them, are the two changelings. The two prisoners that the Cult had kept in cold, lonely captivity all these months.

The two sacrifices, that you are going to… that you are going to kill.

The summoning room feels terribly cold. Even though you are wearing your cloak, and even though not a single hint of Winter has been called upon yet.

You feel something dry stuck inside your throat.

But still, you say what you must.



"Let us begin," you command, the doors of the ritual room being closed shut, locked from the outside, at your word, and the entirety of the present Cadre steeling itself in preparation.



And within the confines of your mind, you focus yourself. This is for the best, after all. This is the smart thing to do, the logical thing to do, considering your plans. Because you have ponies that you absolutely must protect, and if there is even the slightest possibility that you might make them safer by… by depriving the Cult of resources, then…

Then you have to do this.

Even if... even if those "resources" are…

…

Your body feels heavy as you step into the ritual circle, and make your way into the innermost configuration for the first step.



- - -



Adding more… variables, to a ritual does make it more likely to succeed. However, the preparations required also increase in volume. The participation of the Cadre, or any helper for that matter, requires small alterations in the ritual circle itself, for example.

So that is why the ritual configuration in front of you has been… extensively modified.

The two changelings are within the confines of the ritual circle, obviously, but their positions and situations are very specific. One of the changelings in at the very center of the circle, lying on the ground with all his four legs tied and spread, so that he has his belly facing up. The other one is on the third, larger circle, tied face down.

But that is just the technical part of it. That is just the brute description of their positioning, and the relative way of how each of them will… aid, the invocation of each Lore.

You say that because, when you look at the changelings, you realize that they are…

They are…

…

Perhaps you should have also ordered them to have been blindfolded.

Because you honestly did not expect... you honestly were not ready, for what you are seeing in the two changelings right now.

Because they are...



...



Changelings are evil

Or at least that's what you are telling yourself right now. That's what you have been telling yourself this whole time. They are evil. They are the enemy. Their species has caused terrible harm to countless ponies.

They are not even of your species. So that makes them evil, right?

They are supposed to be evil.

They have to be evil, by their very nature.

So why…?

Why is it that…?

Why is it that they are looking at each other like that?

The two changelings are tied to the ground. The instruments that you will use on them are on their plain view, and it is morbidly obvious that neither of them will leave this place alive. Even if the reason for that is beyond their comprehension.

But still, why are they acting so… why do they feel so…

Why aren't they thrashing and hissing? Why aren't they resisting to the very end? Why aren't they acting like the cruel… beasts that they are supposed to be? Like the creatures that prey on the love and feelings of ponies, the monsters who committed the most gruesome tragedy that your species has seen in centuries?

Why aren't they doing any of that? Why aren't they justifying the hatred you know you should feel for them?

Why is it that they are just… staring at each other, their eyes hollow, yet strangely resolute, as if they were trying to console each other in their final moments?



Why is it that they look… that they feel exactly like a pony should?



They don't look like ponies. Their bodies are covered in a black, chitinous-like carapace instead of fur. They have no cutie marks. They have dark horns upon their heads, and strange bug-like wings on their backs. They definitely do not look like ponies at all.

And yet, you can't help but feel like they are ponies. You can't help but feel like what you are about to do, the act you are about to commit, is being committed upon ponies. And not that you are about to... to kill these strange, nebulous monsters that should be the target of all your hate, and upon which any gruesome act should be justifiable.

And what is more, you honestly can't help but wonder who is truly evil, from their point of view.

After all, the Master did tell you that they came from the Mansus, and that they, or at least their blood, knows of Moth and Grail. So perhaps they cannot stop themselves from doing what they do, perhaps they need to do what they do, the same way that you need to eat and drink and sleep.

So perhaps, and just perhaps, they were just acting on their necessities. This doesn't justify the result of their actions, and it never will, but perhaps they didn't really have a choice. Perhaps their motivation was not this innate evil you see in them, or that you wish to see in them, but instead just... hunger, or instinct, or even the fear of death.

But your motivation? Or rather, the Cult's motivation? What the Cult did was definitely not out of some innate necessity. It was certainly not hunger that made you do all of this. It was definitely not by instinct or nature that you kept them in the cold, dark, Winter-thick confines of the White Room for several months, stored like food or like wood to be used on a cold day. And you... well, it is definitely out of free will that you are doing this, this sacrifice, where you are weighting their lives as barely worth more than a Reagent you could craft with just a few days' worth of your time.

You wonder how it felt like, to them, to be in that cold dark, their lives unable to fade away thanks to the iron grip of their confines. You wonder how they felt, having nothing but each other as mute, miserable company for so long.

You wonder if that is why they are looking at each other so intently, with their eyes full of fear and… and perhaps just the slightest glint of relief.

You wonder if they are relieved for each other, thinking that their only companion, who was with them during that frigid hell, will finally be free.



...



For what must be the thousandth time, you tell yourself that the changelings are all evil, and that you have to do this, and all the other justifications you have been telling yourself these last few days.

And you pick up the long knife that was prepared for you, next to your first sacrifice.



[Summoning Ritual]



"Blood has always been the currency of the world. Any world," you intone loudly, reciting the words that the Master has taught you so long ago, as you look down towards what lies at the very center of the innermost circle.

"It is the paint upon the canvas that is the Mansus," the Cadre replies back.

The innermost circle is, as required, engraved with the Lore of Winter. And by itself this already brings some difficulties.

After all, Winter is the Lore of many things, but Endings is one of its chief characteristics. So attempting to begin a ritual by invoking the Lore of ending is, by itself, a small paradox. And what is more, the act you are about to commit must not only be one of Winter by itself, but it must also reinforce the future application of Knock, seeing how the changeling before you carries no innate weight of Winter by nature.

This is not an unsurmountable obstacle, of course. But it still is a… difficulty.

The changeling lies in front of you, tied down in a somewhat awkward position. His… its four legs are spread outwards, and it is lying with its back to the ground so that its belly is clear and exposed to you.

You try to ignore the fact that, even in this unnatural position and with you standing next to it, it is still looking intently at its companion's eyes. Instead, you focus on the task at hoof.

You can see that its belly, thankfully, seems soft enough for what you are about to do. However, you confirm with your own eyes another detail that the Cadre had already mentioned before.

Namely, the changeling's belly lacks one peculiar trait.

You wonder if it is because of some trait of their physiology. You wonder if it is because, at least according to an obscure book you read, they are born from eggs. You have no idea if birds, or creatures born from eggs, truly lack this characteristic or not. You only know that ponies have it, as well as other mammals.

But still, this is a ritual. So, an act of ritualistic meaning will suffice.

You place the sharp tip of the knife upon the changeling's belly, ignoring its shuddering as it feels the faint kiss of its metal.



[Winter Roll]

!!!

[Success]



And then you push.



You stab the changeling, on the hallowed place where a pony would have a scar. Where every pony has a scar, hidden as it might be by fur. For it is the first scar that every pony receives, when the serpent of their birth is severed, and they are brought screaming into this world.

You stab the changeling where its navel would be, if it had one, and you push the knife until it bites deep, through its guts and lungs and all the way into its faintly beating heart.

You stab it with a single motion, creating a wound of great importance for Knock, while also causing an end in celebration of Winter.

The changeling's life fades away after one final, painful gasp, the months of abuse it had suffered making it unable to resist this last, grievous wound even for a moment longer.

Although, even though you killed it, you swear you also see the light fade from the other changeling's eyes as well. As if it finally realized, without a shadow of doubt, what its own fate will be. And also that, since its companion is now dead, it no longer has any reason to keep its bravery.

The other changeling, you see, quietly begins to cry.

And in the background of your thoughts, you hear the Cadre speak the words of opening and serpent-calling, as well as the deafening silence of the ones who are acknowledging the changeling's death for the sake of Winter.



The innermost circle begins to glow like a sunset seen through fog.



You then make your way towards the outermost circle, ignoring the middle circle of Knock for now, and you come upon the second changeling.

The first changeling's position was very specific, being in the center of the Winter circle so that its death would be confined to its boundaries. The second changeling's position, however, is even more important in its detail.

It is tied to the ground, with its legs kept close to its body so that it cannot move even an inch. But more importantly, much more importantly, this changeling's body is not entirely confined to the outermost circle of Edge.

No. Quite on the contrary.

The changeling is lying on the large, outermost circle of Edge, yes. However, its head is tied, practically leashed, so that it is being pulled towards the middle-circle of Knock.

Most important of all, the changeling's neck is exactly placed on the limit between Edge and Knock.

And a sharp axe lays by its side, ready to be picked up by the leading ritualist.

You pick up the axe. It is heaver than you thought it would be.

The Cadre begins to intone the stanzas of battle and strife, calling upon the Lore of Edge and combat.

The changeling begins to shudder. But to your surprise it does not close its eyes. It keeps them wide open, even if tear filled, looking at its dead companion.

You swing the axe down during the minute period of silence between the seventh and eighth stanza.



[Edge Roll]

!!!

[Success]



And the changeling's neck is neatly severed in one clean motion.



This act should have shocked you. It does shock you. But only a deep, primal side of you.

But your higher thoughts, the one you are keeping focused with the razor blade of Edge and the cold grip of Winter, shrug that shock away. Or at least store it for another time.

Still, you somehow manage to spring into action immediately.

The changeling's blood jumps out of its severed neck in a sickly wet gush. Once, twice, three times, in consecutively weaker bursts of arterial blood, as its fading heart finally weakens as it realizes there is no longer a life to be kept.

Still, you take that precious bounty onto your hoofs. Literally. Due to the changeling's positioning, its blood spills neatly into the surface of the Knock circle, and you know that you have but a few moments if you are to invoke the terrible intensities of Knock required for this ritual.

To summon a creature of the Mansus, Knock is required, together with whatever other Lores define said creature. To summon the Daughter-of-Axes, however, more than mere summoning-Knock is required. Or rather, it might be more accurate to say that Knock must be celebrated twice.

The changeling's blood falls into an auspicious pattern, which you expand upon and around with your own hoofs. The Knock circle had been prepared exhaustively by the Cadre, of course, but the place in front of the changeling had been left intentionally un-engraved.

And that is because the glyphs you must carve may only be drawn with the currency of life.

So, you take the dripping blood from the changeling's severed neck and you begin to draw and carve. You draw the snake-paths, and the dream-spirals, and the curved keyhole. You draw the Stairs, and the Way, and you are silently thankful that the blood on your hoof dries up before you can begin the Wrong Door. You then take the still warm blood of the initial splash, which spread on the ground in a curiously wave-like pattern, and you expand it into the approximation of a serpent.

You stain your hoofs in blood. For the sake of the ritual. For the sake of what you have to do. And then you join your voice into the rising choir of the Cadre, whispering then muttering then intoning then singing then yelling the words of invitation and of key-making and of snakes boiling from the ground.



[Knock Roll]

…

;;;;;;

!!!!!!!!!

[Success]



And all around you, the centermost Knock-circle begins to glow. It glows the deep purple of dreams and royalty, pulsing like a mute breeze or a distant heartbeat. And before your eyes, the blood-drawn serpent begins to expand like a yawning door.



And the Daughter-of-Axes accepts your invitation into the Wake.



[All three rolls successful]

[Ritual successful]





You have successfully summoned the Daughter-of-Axes. Her detailed status, and more, will be revealed on the next update.

Your first kill would have given you several different options on how to internalize your actions. However, due to there being sufficient narrative justification (the circumstances), an IC interest in a particular result (Velvet knows she needs to learn more about Winter, and Selene is a family-level priority) as well as OOC interest (the voting would most likely have gone for Winter), I will skip the voting and decide the result myself.

What you did was a mercy. That is what you will say to yourself for the rest of your life. You have gained one scrap of WINTER Lore.

Winter is now level 4.

You have gained the trait [Murderer], and that is a burden you will carry for the rest of your life, clear and obvious for all those who have the eyes to see.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Low Tone.

And right now, you are witnessing the most incredible thing you have ever seen in your entire life.

"Did… did we do it? Did it really work?"
"I… I think it did…!"​

Around you, the rest of the Cadre mutters and whispers in excitement, the low conversation turning into a growing rumble as the pall of Winter fades, and everypony collectively begins to come to terms with the fact that this is really happening.

But you can't really bring yourself to join the hushed conversation. Or rather, you are physically unable to do so, right now. Your body is petrified in awe, your mind is frozen in shock, and you know that you wouldn't be able to say anything even if you tried.

The only thing you can really do is look on in muted excitement.

You feel like you are watching a dream come true. Except that you mean that in the most literal way possible. After all, you are watching with your very own eyes as the largest glyph on the ground, the one freshly-carved by the cloaked Loremaster himself, yawns and expands like a gate. The serpent-like symbol leaking a deep-purple light that is the exact same color of your Mansus-dreams.

And much more than merely see, you can also feel it. The base of your fur tingles with the heavy sensation of Knock in the air. Your mane billows underneath your cloak, as a gust of wind suddenly comes from the growing opening -from the growing portal- on the ground, a fierce gale enveloping the room even though you are in a sealed-off and locked place.

But far more shocking is the fact that you can feel the Mansus itself. You can feel its very presence, even. That sensation that you only have in the deepest of dreams, when you look up from within the dark Woods and towards the House. That humbling feeling of staring at something great and old and unreachable, knowing that you are both tied to it in some deep and unexplainable way, and that you are as unimportant to it as a speck of dust is to a mountain.

You stare, wide-eyed and in awe, as you witness the Loremaster rip a hole into a place that is deeper and higher within the Mansus than you have ever seen. Higher than you ever even thought it was possible to reach.

"Is… is this really happening?"
"It is. It has to. We can't all be going insane at the same time!"
"I can't… I still can't believe that we helped. That we actually helped, and it actually worked."​

The hushed words become more and more excited as the purple light grows, the Loremaster's own cloak billowing fiercely as he is the closest pony to the opening rift.

And to be honest, for all that you lack the strength to join the rest of the Cadre in its whispering, you can't help but share in your fellow Cadre members' amazement.

This, right now, really feels like a dream. In fact the whole experience, the whole ritual that preceded this moment, felt unreal.

It felt like you were watching a drama, like you were watching the most emotional of theatrical plays, when you saw the Loremaster kill the first changeling. The Winter settling around him like falling snow as he pierced the sacrifice with the long dagger. And even though the changeling was a monster, you couldn't help but feel the heavy weight of mourning as the changeling's life was extinguished.

There was so much Winter about, in fact, that you almost thought the Loremaster cradled the dying changeling on his forelegs, for a few moments. You almost thought that the Loremaster somehow regretted it.

And in truth, you felt like that as well, while Winter was the sole Lore that had been invoked. In truth, you even think a tear fell from your eyes.

That is, until the Loremaster's face snapped towards the second sacrifice, and the whole atmosphere changed with it.

Witnessing the Loremaster walking, almost marching, towards the second changeling was like witnessing inevitability itself. You watched, the Lore-words you were required to speak barely making it out of your mouth, as he picked up the sharp axe with a resolute and heavy motion. Every movement seemingly unstoppable, as if he were an executioner from ancient stories. Every action inexorable, as if he were death itself.

And when the Loremaster swung down the axe, you swear the changeling's throat was cut before the axe even touched it, so extreme was the thrilling intensity of Edge coiled around the blade itself.

"Look, look! It's happening! I can see it!"​

But right now?

Right now, you are witnessing the impossible.

The Loremaster raises a single hoof, and the whole room comes into an abrupt silence, everypony holding their collective breaths as they stare into the deep-glowing scar on the ground.

The seconds stretch by as you all stare into the portal, watching as it slowly coalesces into an image, then a path, then into reality, as if there is no portal at all, but instead a hole that has been carved into the ground.

You all watch, amazed, as a terrible figure stares back.

And the fur on your entire body stands on its end as a terrible voice, older than Equestria and sickly-sweet with the weight of the Lores, speaks from the depths of the portal, towards the Loremater.

"Well, et's aboot foken time ye summned me, innit?"​

None of you understand what eldritch words the creature just spoke. But you all know, without a doubt, that it must have uttered ancient knowledge that will forever remain beyond your comprehension.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Lady Velvet Covers, although right now you are trying very hard to keep that fact covered up.

Literally covered up, in this case, by the heavy cultist cloak that you are wearing. But that doesn't really matter right now.

What really matters is that you have… let's say a bit of a problem.

"How en all foks sake de ye managed tae do tha?!"

"The… the creature, it speaks to the Loremaster? But how?"
"It speaks the language of the Gods, there is no other explanation!"​

A very angry, snake-like problem, who is currently yelling at you.

It's actually a little funny, in a rather ironic way. Because you might have managed to punch a literal hole through reality, sure. But the mare on the other side of said hole is not only thoroughly unimpressed, but is also using said hole to berate you, of all things.

"No, seerisly, ae'd be mpressed if et wasn't so daft of ye. Canny ye even follow sum simpl' foken nstroctions?! Long-martyr o' Bethlehem, this is part of me curse innit? Et's gotta be!"

"The Loremaster understands it! He is communing with the Mansus-thing!"
"Praise the Loremaster! Praise the enlightened one!"​

Although you…

"Well, uhm… I'm sorry?" you say in a low tone, whispering towards the purple-glowing rift on the ground, hoping the Cadre around you won't be able to hear you.

Although you can't help but admit that you… may have, somehow, messed this up.

"WELL BEING FOKEN SORRY AIN' MAKING ME JOB ANY EASIER, EH?!"

"Th- the beast is angry! It will devour us all!"
"Hold fast, the circle still stands. The Loremaster will subdue its wrath, have faith!"​

You instinctively lower your ears as the mare, the Name, the Daughter-of-Axes, continues to yell at you from literally a whole reality away.

And the whole problem is that, to put it very simply, the Knock-portal from the ritual is placed on the ground. Which means, in very few words, that you are looking down at the Daughter-of-Axes.

However, you have no idea why, the Daughter-of-Axes is also looking down towards you. As if the two of you have your respective ends of the portal on the ground. It feels, in a sense, like you are looking down at a mirror, or perhaps a puddle of water.

But the fact remains, as the Daughter-of-Axes made it very clear through her yelling, that this makes it so that it is very hard to walk through the portal.

Because you might have created a portal to the Mansus, yes. But, she made it very clear through the prodigious use of expletives, that doesn't mean that she can just ignore the basic rules of gravity.

"But, uhm," you say meekly, as the snakemare glares at you, "can't you just… cross it?"

The only answer she gives you is to pick up a rock she has nearby, and drop it towards her own side of the portal.

And you watch, with nervous tension growing inside your chest, as the rock quite literally "falls" towards you, rises up through your side of the portal thanks to the accumulated momentum, and then proceeds to fall back towards her side. The rock coming to and from the portal in an almost pendulum-like movement, as the gravity of each side of the portal takes it in turn and throws it back to the other side.

You cringe under the Daughter's growingly intense glare, as she communicates without words that you probably breached a whole book's worth of summoning etiquette.

But still, you can't help but think that… well, isn't she being just a little unreasonable? Can't she just…

"But can't you just… you know," you say, tentatively, hesitantly, "snake your way through the portal? I mean, I know it might be a bit uncomfortable, but maybe just come through it as if you were climbing? I mean, the portal is right there, and I can just lend you a hoof and help y-"

"AN AEMBARESS MESELF IN FRON' OF YER WHOL FOKEN FANCLOB?! WO' IF AE TRIP AN FALL?! THIS YER WHOL PLAN TAE ASSERT DOMNENCE OVER ME OR SOMETHIN'?!"

The Daughter-of-Axes yells (yells!) at you, to your and the entire Cadre's shock.

And before you can do anything about it, be it try to placate her or even cover your ears.



"Well, fok all this!"



She taps at the portal with one of her hoofs.

And the portal closes shut, fizzling out of existence in less than a moment. A strange silence, that you can somehow taste with your eyes, settling over the parched ground where the portal once stood.

And you…

You…

"What… what just happened?"
"Did the Loremaster banish it? Was the creature's power too vast to control?"​

You have no idea what just happened, or what to do.

…

You stand there, in utter shock, as you try to process the… the…

The yelling you just heard, and… and the rage you just saw, and…

And the sheer tantrum that you just witnessed!

Until it finally dawns upon you what just happened, you can't help but feel anger boiling inside of you.

Because how the hay does she dare to act like that?! Isn't… isn't she a Name, for heavens sake? Isn't she an old, ancient, and "wise" creature from the damn Mansus?! That whole outburst of yelling and hoofstomping just now was something you'd expect from a… from a teenager! And not from an Hours-blasted Name, not from a weird… snake, mare, whatever the Tartarus she is.

Oh, but you are going to summon her again. You are going to summon that young lady, and she is the one who is going to get a good dressing down from you this time! You are going to repeat the whole ritual right freaking now, and you are going to drag her to the Wake in by the ear if needed be.

Because you don't care how old or alien she is. That mare has the word "daughter" in her name, and you'll be damned if you don't teach her some discipline!

You take in a deep breath, and you are about to order to Cadre to prepare itself when-



!!!!!



-when suddenly, the whole world becomes heavy, and you are nearly forced into the ground by the sheer weight of a presence that just manifested itself inside the room.



!!!!!!!!!!



It feels as if the whole world just turned upside down. It feels as if a veil is being cut by an axe, or as if an acrid poison is spreading underneath the skin of time or your body or the world itself. You feel like bowing, and running, and cowering in sheer terror all at the same time. But above all else, you feel like a rat, frozen in terror as if a snake the size of the horizon is staring down at you.

You feel like that. The whole Cadre feels it as well, you are sure. And you all feel the opening pressure covering and coating you like a storm as your eyes are forced open and your ears hear more clearly than ever before and the heavy doors of the room, locked from the outside for safety, buckle as if struck by a battering ram.

But above all else, everypony in the room, without exception, has their attention drawn to the very center of the summoning circle. As a loud and sickening ripping noise comes from the body of the dead changeling.



"Et's foken demeaning, tha's wot et es."



You feel like you are watching a scene straight out of a horror book. You feel like you are witnessing a nightmare, a twisted parody of reality given form.

Because you watch with your very own eyes as the changeling in the center of the room… as the dead changeling on the center of the Winter circle begins to move.

As you hear a voice, a very familiar voice, coming from its dead and unmoving mouth.



"Canny hav a competent sumna fer once. Canny evn' hav a wee bit o' dignety, evn' on the foken Wake."



The deceased changeling is still tied to the ground. It is still very much dead, with the long dagger buried on it.

However, it is also moving. Or rather, it is being moved, almost as if…

Almost as if there is something stirring inside of it.



"So ae gotta do all the damned legwork, as usual. An ae gotta do it the 'ard wae. As. Foken. USUAL."



You watch, in muted horror, as the changelings mouth… slooooowly begins to open. Wider, and wider, and wider still. Wider than anypony, or any creature, should ever be able to. And at the same time, you can see how the rest of the changeling's body begins to… deflate? No, that's not it. You don't know how to describe it, but you can see the changeling's skin… flatten, almost as if his insides are being emptied out.



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



The weight of Knock grows around you, to the point that it almost becomes painful. To the point that you almost feel something inside of you will open, or your scar on your hindleg will burst, just by being here. And together with that feeling, you watch in sickened horror as… as a pair of hoofs spring out of the changeling's outstretched mouth, followed by forelegs, and finally what looks like a snout.

You hear a muted gasp come from somepony in the room, heralding the sound of a pony fainting and falling towards the floor.

And then it dawns upon you. It dawns upon you what is happening, what exactly you are witnessing. As more and more of the Daughter-of-Axes quite literally crawls out of the changeling's mouth, and the dead changeling itself deflates into an empty husk, you realize that… that you are watching a snake shedding, that somehow the Daughter-of-Axes used the changeling's corpse as a path, and that she is crawling out of it like a snake might crawl out of its own old skin.



And by the time she is finished, you can see in her face how very little she enjoyed doing it.

"The walls of the world are cracking! Run! Run for your lives!"
"She comes! By all the trees in the Woods she comes!"
"Let us out, let us out!"​

By the time she is finished, also, you are the only pony left in the room, the whole Cadre having run away in terror as soon as the doors of the summoning room slammed themselves open thanks to the sheer weight of Knock.

Which means that, right now, you are alone. With a very angry Daughter-of-Axes. Who doesn't seem at all pleased with the fact that she is covered in changeling's innards, which her glare somehow makes you feel she also thinks is your fault.

"Well?!" her utterly pissed voice resounds through the now-empty summoning room. "Canny ye a'least borrow me yer cloak? Cuidn't bring me own fer obveous reasons."

You very carefully wonder how you should word your suggestion that she should take a shower first, and considering her... apparent demeanor, you very cautiously wonder how exactly you should go about dealing with her.




You have summoned the Daughter-of-Axes. Her full status are now available to you.

You have discovered an added functionality for the Wrong Keys: "Using a Wrong Key as a sacrifice to summon the Daughter-of-Axes will decrease the ritual cost by 50 bits, and will give you one level of [Priority] over any opposing rituals". (Priority meaning that, if an opposing party attempts to summon her as well, you will not "compete" for the summoning and will always "win", as long as you successfully roll the minimum required for her summoning and have a [Priority] level greater than your foes).

Spoiler: The Daughter-of-Axes

"She claims that she was the Daughter of 'another', before, but that she had to bind herself to a new patron once her Mother 'did what she did'. Always wearing a cloak upon her body, and a scowl upon her face, you have slowly come to realize that, perhaps, her problem is that she simply isn't good with words. Or with ponies. Most likely with both, to tell the truth. You are also pretty sure that she has scales underneath that cloak, instead of fur, but you will definitely not pry. Especially given how she seems to hide that great horn-topped axe so easily underneath that cloak. And considering her Lore nature, you wouldn't be surprised at all if the inside of her cloak is a lot larger than it appears."

Daughter-of-Axes

Summoning requirements: KNOCK 120, EDGE 60, WINTER 60.

Summoning cost: 100 bits.

Summoning details:
-The Daughter-of-Axes is capable of crafting THREE "Wrong Keys" to you, in a single turn. however, she is only willing to do that ONCE per summoning period.
-The Daughter-of-Axes is capable of CHANNELING the highest intensity of Influence in her Lore, and gifting it to you for a full month. She is also capable of CHANNELING a lower-intensity Influence of her secondary Lore, although both of you consider that to be a waste of her time.
-The Daughter-of-Axes is considered to be a Minion, and does not mind being sacrificed for Rituals.

Health: 5
General bonus: +30
"Expedition actions" bonus: +50 (applies to any expedition roll that is NOT combat [or social] related)
Aspects: KNOCK 6, EDGE 3
[NAME]: There is, or was, a hierarchy within the Mansus. She has reached high within its ranks.
[ONE WHO IS VERY GREAT]: The Daughter-of-Axes is willing to offer you Sacrament in the Lore of Knock, should you fulfill her requirements.
[WEIGHT OF PRESENCE]: The Daughter-of-Axes grants a full level up to the Wildhoof Club for her preferred Lore.
[CRAFTER]: Is capable of producing "Wrong Keys" (three in a single action, but only once per summon).

[PROUD]: Will refuse to cast any rituals that do not involve Knock.
[UNIQUE]: The Daughter-of-Axes is a unique creature. She may refuse summons at will, and will refuse re-summons for three ONE full month should she be unsummoned for any reason (including if she is killed).
[UNINTERESTED]: Will refuse any gifts to stay in the Wake (however, her cooldown for re-summoning is a single full month)
[ANTISOCIAL]: All her bonus, regardless of circumstance or situation, fall down to a flat "+10" if she attempts to engage in any social action (even her usual +50 expedition bonus, if the hurdle being faced is social in nature).

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Author's Note

Following a short discussion, it was decided that Silky Stream would give the Daughter-of-Axes a name. A more "regular" name for her to use while in the Wake.

The winning vote was "Velvet Axe".

Very subtle, Silky. Very subtle.

You sag on your chair, letting yourself sink deeper and deeper into the soft cushion of your worktable seat.

And as strange as it sounds, you can't help but look around your office and feel the slightest sense of nostalgia. Well, not exactly nostalgia, you can't say you miss being here. But you definitely feel a sense of displacement. After all, how long has it been since you last sat on this chair?

Less than a month, you are sure. The farmlands weren't active this last month, following the changeling crisis, but you still came here for this and that. So it hasn't really been that long.

Still, being here right now feels… weird, in a sense. You feel like you used to pass a lot more time here. In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say you spent most of your waking hours here, just a bit over one year ago. So the realization that you have been spending less and less time on this life-appointed "work" of yours, to the point that you did not do any of it at all last month, is… odd, for lack of a better word.

You know it's something small. You know it's something very personal, and maybe even silly. But still, you realize that this is yet another part of your life that is changing. Another part of you, of the self that you knew for so long, that is changing. Small as it may be.

But that's the thing, isn't it? Most changes, almost all changes, are small. And you only really notice how much things have changed when they pile up, and you realize that they are now blocking your way on a path you used to tread for so long. Forcing you to go on new directions, since you can no longer stand for or accept the old.


However-
"Well, but I don't really have time to mull over that sort of thing, do I?"
-you snap out of this little reverie of yours, shaking your head and chasing those thoughts away.


After all you do have, as the saying goes, taller hay to harvest right now.

"Although this particular patch of hay has a name, even if it's a weird one," you mumble to yourself. "Plus, this problem isn't exactly one that I thought I would have to worry about to begin with."

You are, of course, thinking about the Daughter-of-Axes.

Because sure, you have successfully summoned her. And sure, you managed to extricate from her enough information to understand her abilities well enough. But the fact remains that she is…

How can you say it properly?

She is a far cry from what Baldomare was, during her stay here, as far as summoned creatures go.

Because Baldomare, for starters, was professional.

Baldomare was professional, she was pleasant, and you honestly like her. She also made her situation and her boundaries abundantly clear from the very beginning. And for all that you (at least partially) understand that she isn't exactly a pony, you still think of her as nothing but a very pleasant mare.

The Daughter-of-Axes, on the other hoof… well, she is… she's just not. You can very easily take everything you know and think about Baldomare, and simply add a "not" when it comes to that blasted snakemare that you have just summoned.

To the point that, even though you have only known her for a few hours, you can very confidently say that you do not like her, thank you very much.

And how could you? She is loud, she is disruptive, she is rude, and she quite literally seems to be fighting you every step of the way. Oh, she is your summons, you have no doubt about that. You know the proper bindings are in place, at least as much as anypony can bind a Name, and you know that she will listen to you if push really comes to shove.

But still, the things you had to suffer through… it hasn't even been a full day yet, but the things you had to hear from her already… Where the hay is the civility in that? Where in Tartarus is her blasted education?!

You can't believe you will be having her as a guest, for the next three months. You don't even know if you want her as a guest, for the next three months.

Because most worrying of all, what the hay kind of influence will she be on the fillies?!



And as an aside, you made it very clear you will banish her if you realize Silky or Selene learned even a single swear-word.



"Dear heavens, what am I supposed to do…" you say to yourself, letting out a long, tired sigh as you do.

Still, for all that you don't like her as a pony… you still have to admit that you don't like her as a pony.

And you realize that you are making that distinction because… well, you are not sure how to describe it, or even why you feel this way, but she still feels like a pony. Or at least, she feels a lot more like a pony than Baldomare did.

And the fact remains that she is also very interesting, when it comes to her Mansus-aligned nature.

After all, for all that she feels like a pony, you are not really sure she is one to begin with. For several reasons.

The first, and most obvious of them, is because she has scales.

Well, it's not really that "obvious". You do understand why she insists on wearing a cloak at all times, given how well it hides them. Still, she did say several times that she is a snake, and right after you summoned her, still on the Wildhoof Club, you could confirm with your own two eyes that she is indeed… different.

She still has a mane, of course. A mane, and a tail, and you think you saw a very thin coat of furs, especially on the parts that are less covered by her cloak, like her legs and face. But still, most of her body is covered by scales, and you couldn't shake off the impression that she is more malleable, so to speak, than a pony.

Because who knows? It wouldn't surprise you if she can do something like completely turn her neck around. Or maybe even extend it, as unsettling as it might sound. You can't really place a hoof at why you think this, but you have the distinct impression that her neck is a lot more snake-like than a normal pony's should be.

You also noticed she doesn't have a cutie mark, or even a Brand for that matter, or any kind of Brand at all, which you found to be very unexpected. You have no idea if this means that she somehow avoided the Branding Door, or that perhaps she is too far removed from a pony to abide by the rules of an apparently pony-centric Mansus. Still, that's something else that you noticed and filed away in your mind.

And of course, she is also powerful. You already expected her to be, given how she so easily stated she was a Name the first time you met her in the Mansus. But there is a difference between claiming you are a Name and actually showing that you are one. And you have to admit that she did show it. Because you did feel it, that heavy presence in the air centered around her, just like you did with Baldomare. And you could also feel how the world itself, or at least Ponyville, reacted to her presence accordingly.



If only there was a pleasant mare attached to all those characteristics…



You let out a low, tired groan as you realize that this whole situation, the Daughter-of-Axes' presence, is now something new that you will have to take care of from now on. She is a "net positive", for sure, in the sense that you know she will bring you more good than bad.

But still…

"I really, really wish that she would be more like…" you mumble to yourself, in a rather defeated tone.

Still, having her in the Wake will be a very different experience than having Baldomare over. Because Baldomare also was a net positive, but the Lantern Name had the added bonus of not bringing you any bad to offset her good.

"Although at least," you say to yourself, realizing that at some point you laid your head on your working table to nurse your headache, "I won't have to worry about her for the next few hours."

You say that with no small amount of relief.

"Or, who knows, the next few days. Maybe she is hibernating or something? Wait, do snakes hibernate?"

You say that out loud, your suddenly headache-filled brain taking you down stranger and stranger questions as time goes by.

But still, you are thinking about that because, to put it simply, the Daughter-of-Axes is soundly asleep right now.

It was a rather convoluted affair, so to speak. You summoned her today because your husband is away, having left just yesterday to go back to work, and because your daughters are at school, which finally resumed activities just this week. So, you summoned her this morning so you could (or at least that was the plan) give the snakemare more time to adapt herself to the Wake, before introducing her to your family.

Because your plan was -and rather regrettably still is- to keep her in your estate as a "guest". But, since you remembered how often Baldomare commented how different the Wake was from what she was used to, you hoped to give your latest guest some time to settle in before getting involved with other ponies.

However…

However.

The snakemare was not only completely uninterested in what you had to tell her, but she was also very rudely dismissive towards… towards everything. She didn't want to hear about the things you had to tell her, be it about the Cult or otherwise. She had no interest in what you wanted to tell her about the Wake, or even about the current situation that Equestria is in. And you even remember how you literally bristled when she rolled her eyes, when you told her you at least wanted to show her around the house.

What kind of rude guest does that?!

And that whole parade of annoyances and lack of cooperation continued until you showed her the guest room she would be staying. That, if nothing else, seemed to be the first thing she actually paid attention to.

But only because, as soon as you told her that would be her room, she very loudly proclaimed that you had "messed something up in her summoning" and that she was going to "fix it", before slamming the door of her guest room on your face.

You heard snoring only a few seconds later.

So yes, the blasted snakemare is asleep. She is asleep, she has been thoroughly committed to your bad books, and you have no idea what in the heavens you are going to do when she wakes up.



"Mooooom, we're hooooome!"



But thankfully, your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar sound of your daughters returning from school. And you aren't even bothered that you didn't sense them beforehoof, so distracted you were by your troubles. If nothing else, Silky's voice definitely came as a pleasant surprise, to drag you out of this mess you are in right now.

"Well," you say to yourself as you get up from your chair, "time to very clearly instruct the fillies not to disturb our… latest guess."

You try your best to suppress a sigh as you begin to move, wondering what the hay else this month has in stock for you.

After all, while you were trying (and failing) to at least have an amenable conversation with the Name, one of your servants had told you a rather important missive had just arrived from the main house. But you haven't even had time to look over that yet.

Well, you have your priorities.

Fillies first, because you do not want them learning the Daughter-of-Axes' vocabulary any time soon. And then you worry about planning your future schedule.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You have a lot of things in your mind, and a lot of things happened in a few days:

You have received a letter from your father, which contained a very peculiar mixture of admonishing critique and uncaring dismissal.
-You have (correctly) concluded that you are no longer under a "travel ban" (you may now exit Ponyville without fear of reproach).
-A very large sum of bits was also transported to the estate. Those resources are meant, you know from the letter, to be invested on the farmlands.
-Considering you have heard from Princess Cadance about the abolishment of nobility, and how that isn't common knowledge yet, you can only imagine what your father is planning.


You have a lot of things to worry about, in the near future, so you don't really care about your smaller problems right now.
-There was no mention of anything for you, from that very large pile of bits that was escorted to your estate. But, again, you don't care. (You have paid yourself 180 bits this month. This will have no negative consequence towards you.)
-You will dedicate the very minimum amount of time to administering the farm. But only because you truly believe you owe it to the hundreds of ponies who work for you. A non-inconsiderate part of Ponyville's economy and livelihood depends on it, after all. (You will have six action point this turn. Seven because of your choice, turned into six due to DoA's summoning)


You have way, way, way more things to do than you have time. Especially given how you actually have very real deadlines to be wary of.
-Captain Shining Armor will come to Ponyville in a few week's time. You would really like to rescue Twilight Sparkle before that.
-You will, according to Princess Cadance, be offered a job at the end of this month.
-You still want to make more progress on your own safety, for your inevitable break with the cult.
-As well as several Fleeting Opportunities
-You will basically have to decide what you want to prioritize.


Very soon you will lose access to the Cult's infrastructure. One problem in particular that you will face is that of ritual-casting. Ritual circles require space, the larger and more complex they become, and their reagents and particularities might leave traces. Your current options and ideas, regarding that, are:
-You don't really have a problem when it comes to one-circle rituals. A shame you know so few of them.
-You think you can cast two-circle rituals in Rarity's home, on the large bottom floor where she has her boutique. But doing so will certainly interrupt and hinder her own work for the month.
-You think Jade Whistle's house, the larger living room, can accommodate a two-circle ritual. But you will have to clean the place up, first.
-Your own estate can accommodate ritual circles of any size. Your own house for one or two-circle rituals, and a larger farm barn for a three-circle rituals. Casting those rituals on your home, however, will cause the highest amount of suspicion and talk among your serfs, especially if you don't clean up properly after.


And finally:
-Your Influence of "An Awareness of Appetite" has faded away.
-Rarity will be at risk of taking a blow on her professional life, if she does not dedicate herself to it this month.


[AN: And I have no idea where to add this in particular, but here it is. In short, and in an unusual roll of the dice, the problem of your connection with Starry Dancer took care of itself. Velvet decided to ignore it, it worked, and options regarding that will be quietly removed.]





- - -

- - -

- - -





"The Lies We Tell"

This not an exhaustive list. More of a helpful reminder.

Spoiler: The Lies We Tell: Rarity

You HAVE told Rarity about the following:
-That Selene is Princess Luna, and that you remain certain of that even though "Princess Luna" has returned to Canterlot
-That you are part of a Cult
-About the Lores, the Mansus and the Worms. Her depth and understanding of said pieces of information being her current level on the occult

You have NOT told Rarity 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, she 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

- - -



Last turn's shopping list
(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: 83
-NONE
(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)



- - -



This turn's available bits: 295 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month(?) (although this month you have "given yourself" 180 bits)

Rarity's dividends for this turn: 32

Stormchaser is AWAY this month. He will spend more time far from you than not, and will not be passively protected by you personally. (You will not automatically "bodyguard" him, as you do the rest of your family.)



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

[X] You will do the bare minimum to get the farm running. For the benefit of your workers and your city, if nothing else.

You have SEVEN SIX personal actions this turn, ONE servant action and ONE cult-minion action. (Velvet Covers has auto-picked the seven actions option, but has already spent one to summon the Daughter-of-Axes.)


[] Do something about your foes

Spoiler: Foes

Inspector Dull Glass
-You know Starry Dancer escaped imprisonment, or was broken out, by the Cult. Or maybe the Master. But still, that the good inspector didn't even come to question you about it, even if indirectly, makes you think you need not worry about that.
-You honestly do not feel threatened by his presence, right now. And considering your future employment prospects, it might be better not to antagonize him at all.

-[] (DULL GLASS) Have somepony tail him, see what he has been doing. (This action requires dedicated time, and is best done by a servant or a minion than by a single action from yourself)
-[] (DULL GLASS) Do something about him. Talk to him, trick him, hurt him. (Write in what)

[] The delights of subservience (Leash currently targeting: RARITY)
-[] Change Leash to another target. (Write-in who)
-[] Un-Leash the current target.


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 is at risk of having negative impacts on her career, if she does not dedicate herself to it this month)

Spoiler: Rarity

Rarity (currently an Initiate, GRAIL Level 1, FORGE Level 0):

Current Health: 3

-[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (She will still work on her designs if this is not picked, but there will be a chance for this month to be a "failure" by her reckoning)
-[] 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)
-[] The Bright Library has enough knowledge for her to learn on her own. Tell her to focus on her studies, so she may turn into a Disciple. BRIGHT LIBRARY INSUFFICIENTLY LEVELED
-[] 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)

(Jade has two NEW OPTIONS this month)

Spoiler: Jade Whistle

Jade Whistle (currently a Disciple, LANTERN Level 3, HEART Level 1):

Current Health: 3

(You are personally worried that Jade might react badly if she fails on an action she attempts)

-[] She has her orders. Have her summon windigos for the Cult, as unpleasant an experience as that might be. The two of you must, after all, avoid suspicion. [NEW OPTION]
-[X] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally. (DEFAULT PICK)
-[] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick HALF of your own personal actions, rounded DOWN, and Jade Whistle 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, Jade Whistle will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)
-[] The Bright Library has enough knowledge for her to learn on her own. Tell her to focus on her studies, so she may turn into an Seeker. (This will level her up, at the expense of her own focus action instead of an action of your own) BRIGHT LIBRARY INSUFFICIENTLY LEVELED
-[] Lead an Expedition. (Select her as the leader of an Expedition in which you will not take part, plan the other details of the expedition accordingly. You will still have to fund the Expedition yourself)
-[] Jade Whistle thinks she saw something in Selene, and would like to investigate that further. (Research "A Memory of Light") [NEW OPTION]
-[] Jade mentioned she has a... feeling, about Selene. She'd like to investigate it, if that's alright. Require Selene's Knock level 3
-[] 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)

(The Daughter-of-Axes will expire at the end of turn 17)

Spoiler: Daughter-of-Axes

Daughter-of-Axes (KNOCK Level 6, EDGE Level 3):

Current Health: 5

-[] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick HALF of your own personal actions, rounded DOWN, and the Daugher-of-Axes 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. The Daughter-of-Axes will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)
-[] 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)
-[] Ask for a Lesson of Knock. (Grants you one scrap of Knock Lore)
-[] Channel an Influence. (During this turn, instead of the usual two months, she will gift you the highest order of Influence of Knock]
-[] Craft Wrong Keys. (She will give you three Wrong Keys, which will expire five turns after their creation, starting this turn. May only be picked ONCE per summoning)
-[] 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)

Spoiler: Selene

Selene (MOTH 3; WINTER 2; EDGE 2; KNOCK 2):

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.)
-[-] "And this feeling of wrongness shall be with her, until the day she wakes." (There is nothing more you can teach her about MOTH)
-[] There is something that she must learn now… for everypony's sake. (Teach Selene the final lesson of WINTER)
-[] She cannot shy away anymore. Not from this. (Teach Selene the final lesson of EDGE)
-[] She learned of the key. She learned of the lock. Now, she must learn about opening. (Teach Selene the final lesson of KNOCK)

[] 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")


[] Before this month starts, you will write uncle Steppes! [SPECIFY ACTION]
(Pick an action and ask if he can help. He may not be able to help, depending on the context, but there is no way of knowing beforehand. Do not pick this option if you don't want to ask his help this month.)


[] No more running, no more hesitation. If you don't do this, somepony else will, and that thought sometimes terrifies you.

Spoiler: The Dreams come, whether you like it or not

You must pick a single action. You will suffer a malus if there are no new locations to explore (but reaching a Door will give you a "grace" period of a few turns)
-[] The Woods
--[] There has to be somewhere in or around the Woods you have not yet seem. Looking for them will help you understand this place better.

-[] The Blank Plains (Blank Plains fully explored)

-[] The Shattered Stairways
--[] A labyrinth of stairs. A monument of a gone age. A sprawling ruin. See where the many paths might lead you.

-[] The Only Way Up
--[] Attempt to explore "The Ruined Church" (This is a Mansus Expedition, with all its dangers and implications)

[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus

Spoiler: Sacramentum means a Solemn Oath

-[] Towards that cold Winter that awaits us all
--[] Investigating the End (Costs 30 bits. May be done multiple times per turn. Somepony, somewhere,, will die.)
--[] Beg for knowledge of the End, so that you may learn of its necessity. (Will also provide you with an Edge Sacrament) [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]
--[] Invitation? No Winter Names summoned

-[] Knock, and ye shall open
--[] Study the manners in which the skin of the world will be cut. (Research action, full requirements unknown.)
--[] Offer to go beyond the foggy mirror, to perform an errant for the Daughter-of-Axes Requires Knock 4/4

-[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
--[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
--[] Follow Baldomare, towards a place Beyond the Map's Edge (This is an Expedition action) (this costs TWO actions, and 80 bits) Baldomare not currently summoned, requires Secret Histories 4/4

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

Spoiler: Another moment, and they will be gone

-[] Dedicate time to Soft Sweeps. You do not take your loved ones for granted, and you do not think of their suffering lightly. Soft Sweeps needs help, so there you will be. (NOT taking this action will incur in a "Stressed" malus for all your other actions this turn)

-[] Teach your family the Lores. This will take time, but you consider it to be utterly important. For their safety, if nothing else. So, you better start sooner rather than later. (You will dedicate yourself to teach Stormchaser and Silky. You will also cover Soft Sweeps if you ALSO pick the action to spend time with Soft.)


You can think of several ways you can go talk to Comet Feet. The problem is that you don't know how he will be, as soon as his Influence fades, so the timing of when you bring Fluttershy into the conversation (if at all) will be important.
(These actions are all mutually exclusive).
-[] Take Fluttershy with you, of course, and have her be by your side the moment you find Comet. Making her trust you enough to help her was no small feat, so you would be remiss if you didn't follow through with your promise. (Fluttershy will appreciate this, but you have no idea how Comet Feet will react)
-[] Take Fluttershy with you, but keep her in reserve. Out of sight, and perhaps not even within earshot. You will have her as a fallback plan, if things go wrong, or you will take Comet Feet to her, if things go right. But since it could go either way, you'd rather have the mare at a safe distance at first. Even if it means her not participating in the conversation. (Fluttershy will not appreciate this, and you have no idea how Comet Feet will react)
-[] Don't take Fluttershy with you. Comet Feet might be unstable, and bringing the mare over might cause whatever relationship they have to simply dissolve on the spot. Plus, the whole situation might be dangerous to begin with. Plus, come on, hoping Fluttershy will help you on a conversation? (Fluttershy will definitely not appreciate this, but only if she finds out. You have no idea how Comet Feet will react.)


Captain Shining Armor will arrive near the end of the month. You will plan to be done before that.
-[] Go save Twilight. What are you waiting for? (This is the "Crepuscule Jailbreak" Expedition option, placed here for your convenience)

-[] If you plan on going to Manehattan to do something dangerous, you really should stack the deck in your favor. And you know just the Ritual to help you with that. (Perform the "Reflection of the Tapestry" ritual for the "Crepuscule Jailbreak" expedition. Costs 35 bits)
--[] To be performed in your own estate, where you might leave traces for somepony to find.
--[] To be performed in the Cult, although you will NOT ask for help of the Cadre, and that might turn some heads.
--[] To be performed in Jade Whistle's old house, where you can fit a Two-Circle Ritual in the largest room (Requires cleanup first)
--[] To be performed in Rarity's boutique. It will take up a lot of space on the ground floor, thought, and will definitely impact her work.
--[] Somewhere else…? (WRITE IN) (You have no convenient places to perform rituals outside the Wildhoof Club, that QM knows of)

-[] If you plan on going to Manehattan to do something dangerous, it would be best to get a lay of the land first. Go there yourself, or send somepony, to scout it out. (Physically send somepony to Manehattan to look for Twilight. Costs 35 bits in transportation)


A literal cartload of bits was delivered to your estate. An obvious and interested infusion of capital from your father, which may or may not have to do with the recent decisions of the Crown. Regardless, money is money, and there is always something you can do to make a few more of those bits end in your own purse. (Embezzle funds. Options with increasing rewards, but increasing risks)
(You will officially use up, or at least commit, this money in the farmlands by the end of the month. This is your only window to make a decision regarding it)
-[] You already "paid" yourself this month. But you think you can grab a bit more. But only an amount that is barely noticeable, unless somepony really sifts through the numbers.

-[] Transfer a reasonable amount of bits for your own personal use. This will require you to "cook the books" a bit, though.

-[] Steal (that's right, steal) a considerable amount of bits. Although you might get found out If you don't cover your trail properly, or if somepony really tries to find out about it.

-[] Embezzle a very large amount of bits. You will have to dedicate more time to cover it up, though, and it will involve far greater and traceable risks. (Costs TWO actions)


You also have to deal with your soon-to-happen "retirement" from the Cult.
-[] Not having evidence that can point at you, when it comes to cult activity, is paramount. Steal the originals of your manuscripts, in the Bright Library. The thing is chock-full with your hoof-writing, and it is something you would rather not have there. (Due to the amount of copies the cult has of your manuscripts, it is impossible to "remove" them from the cult's knowledge. This is only an evidence-reducing effort).

-[] Lady Velvet Covers never was a high-ranking member of the Inner Circle, and anypony who believes that is too deep into Moth for their own safety. (Double down on distancing your name from the title of Loremaster, especially among the Cadre and the more knowledgeable cultists).

-[] What the hay are you saying? Lady Velvet Covers isn't even in the Cult. She was at most just a backer for the Wildhoof Club itself, together with the other well-to-do families of Ponyville. (Focus on completely erasing your connection with the Cult, especially among the lower ranking cultists at large).

-[] Try instead to increase your influence, especially over the Hintchasers. You will try to do this without associating "Velvet Covers" with "Loremaster", but running a masquerade in a Moth Cult can always go either way…

-[] Try instead to increase your influence, or the Loremaster's influence, over the Cult at large. You will try to do this without associating "Velvet Covers" with "Loremaster", but you can already tell how hard this will be just from thinking about it...

-[] Try instead to sow dissent over the cult at large. To make sure more ponies defect, or are scared into "permanently" lying low, if things ever get ugly. (This will be especially harder due to your previous efforts to make sure the Cult kept itself focused and calm, after the changeling purge)

-[] You heard from your Hintchasers that one pony on the expedition never returned. That might be a red herring, or that might be a goldmine of information. You can only think of one way to locate that pony thought. (This is a "Reflection of the Tapestry" ritual option. Cost 35 bits).

[] On what must be done
-[] Write a Manuscript for the Cult. You will make sure not to do it in your hoofwriting. (WRITE IN what Lore)


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

Spoiler: Bits and Buyings

-[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
--[] 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.

-[] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? (Search for an artifact to buy)

-[] You haven't forgotten about it, you just put it on hold until a more convenient time. (Purchases done here will arrive/be completed at the end of this turn.) (Does NOT cost an action)
--[] NO ARTIFACTS AVAILABLE

[] On furthering your influence

Spoiler: In Ponyville

-[] In Ponyville
--[] 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, 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)
---[] 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)
---[] Something else. WRITE IN.

--[] Ponyville's local guard is, according to Windy Flakes, slowly slipping into the Cult's pockets. Get a hoof in on that process. It wouldn't hurt anypony there to know they should also listen to you as well.

--[] 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.

--[] There is a house near the outskirts of town. One which very nearly got burned to the ground. You know its sole owner will not step hoof in it for a long while, but you surely can put it to use, right? Highly suspicious (Your first turn there will be spent "cleaning up" the most alarming things of the house. Further cleaning will surely be needed, but after this first once-over its suspicion level will lower)

Spoiler: In Manehattan

-[] In Manehattan (all options cost 35 bits in transportation)

--[] Copper Secateur has been given the Cult branch in Manehattan. Maybe you should try to get on her better side?

--[] Copper Secateur has been given the Cult branch in Manehattan. But there is always a way to (secretly, of course) try to sway it into your own influence.

--[] Manehattan has a guard. Local guard, a constabulatory, police center, whatever they call it. Get to know them, that is always the first step.

--[] Manehattan most certainly has an underworld. Crime is much easier to commit in a place like that, you see. Go there and see what you make of it.

Spoiler: In Canterlot

-[] In Canterlot

--[] 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

Spoiler: The Wildhoof Club

-[] 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
--[] Try to spend some time with it, plain and simply. No other way to get to know him.

-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] She was sent to Manehattan, but the last time you saw her certainly left an impression on you. Reach out to her.Now that you know her a bit better, you can always just spend time with her. (Costs 35 bits in transportation. WRITE IN what you would like to do involving her.)

-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] She is gone from Ponyville, and is currently working to further the cult's interests in Manehattan. Reach out to her. (Costs 35 bits in transportation. WRITE IN what you would like to do involving her.)

-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] Try to get closer to him, with no real ulterior motives. Planting friendship in the present is, after all, the way to have fruits in the future.
--[] You know what he has been hearing. Nudge him in the right direction. (This is NOT a Regrettable Action, but will… encourage, Windy Flakes, in pursuing whatever it is that he's so interested in.)

-[] Actually, you just want to chat with somepony. (Write in who, if it's an Inner Circle member or if you want to get to know more about the Cult in general. Write in if there is a specific subject to talk about. Talking to ponies outside of Ponyville costs transportation.)

[] On planning an Expedition.

Spoiler: Out into the World

-[] "Beneath the Royal Castle"
--[] Scout out the place so you can have a better grasp of what lies ahead of you. (costs 20 bits in transportation) Scouted via ritual
--[] You know enough, and there is not much time. Gather your followers and head out. (Write in how many actions you will invest on this. An expedition will start at the end of this turn.)

-[] "Crepuscule Jailbreak" (This option is also listed in the "Fleeting Opportunities")
--[] Scout it with a ritual. (Costs 35 bits for ritual, write in where to cast)
--[] Send somepony to scout it. (Costs 35 bits in transportation)
--[] You know enough, and there is not much time. Gather your followers and head out. (Write in how many actions you will invest on this. An expedition will start at the end of this turn.)

[] On furthering your knowledge.

Spoiler: The allures of Power

-[] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up until level 5, gives a single scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)

-[] A boon? A gift? A trade? Petition your Master for something. (WRITE IN WHAT. She walks the Wake, so talking to her is now less complicated. She may, however, ask for something in return for a boon. She may also react in an entirely unexpected way

-[] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick two artifacts to learn from their 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 three 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 1. "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire".
--[] BOOK FORGE Level 3. "A real guide to beginner's level blacksmithing. The bookstore owner almost seemed excited in having this reach your hoofs via your servants."
--[] BOOK FORGE Level 3. The book is simply titled 'Chemistry', and your servants reluctantly admitted that was the only word they understood in it. Of course you know they were being dramatic, but that also means that the contents of the book must be way, way beyond what they teach at schools."
--[] BOOK, KNOCK Level 2. "A fairly recent, and short, book about dream interpretation. You know it is recent because it was dedicated to Princess Luna's return".
--[] BOOK EDGE Level 1. "The title is self-explanatory: 'Four self-defense spells every unicorn should know'. You doubt they are anything more than different variations of concentrated telekinesis."
--[] BOOK LANTERN Level 6. "An ancient, and enormous, hardcover tome written in an unknown language. You are not even sure what its title is, if it even has one, but the symbol laid on its front was enough for you to understand what it is about. On its cover you can clearly see the icon of a Sun, Divided." (DECIPHERED, will grant +one Lantern Lore if studied, small risk of FASCINATION.)
--[] Some other book (select a book you have bought this turn)

-[] This thing is ancient, and its secrets were nearly lost. You will have to first understand it before you can begin to learn from it. (Decoding a book requires dedicated research, your progress being based on a study roll. Reaching at least 50% of the total progress will "reveal" the total amount needed.") No untraslated tomes available

[] On scaling the Mansus (Pick TWO options for every action spent)

Spoiler: The House without walls

-[] The Woods
--[] Wander around the Woods, and hear its many whispers.
--[] Visit the Dry Well, with its many scents.
--[] There are other places connected to the Woods, but that are not in the Mansus proper. Look for them. (Search for a new area)

-[] 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.
--[] Visit the Garden of Mirrors, where the Mares attend the glassy flowers
--[] Explore what lies beyond the Garden of Mirrors, behind that pale veil of fog Requires a Winter Sacrament
--[] Reach for The Tower, at the impossible edge of the Blank Plains, and meditate on what you are lacking. (Gain one scrap of Secret Histories Lore) This option will not net you any gain.

-[] The Shattered Stairways
--[] There are other markings to be followed within this maddening labyrinth of stairs. Follow them. (Search for a new area)
--[] Reach for the Valley of Keys, where the snakemare of the Mansus toils for her freedom
--[] Seek audience with the Wolf-Divided (you will be given a useful gift. Gifts will always be increasingly more precious and useful. There is no risk of receiving any maluses or wounds) [This is a Regrettable Action]

-[] The Only Way Up
--[] Brave the Ruined Church (This is a Mansus Expedition, with all its dangers and implications)

--[] Explore what lies beyond the Ruined Church Requires clearing the Ruined Church at least once

[] On more personal matters

Spoiler: Home and heart

-[] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] 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.
--[] 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.

-[] 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 yourself, and have her turn into an Disciple
--[] Teach Jade Whistle yourself, and have her turn into a Seeker Insufficient personal levels
--[] 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
--[] Fluttershy, the recluse mare who lives on the outskirts of Ponyville
--[] Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)

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

Spoiler: The old ways

The White Room, and the cult's cupboards:
-Nothing

Your own reagents, and other possible sacrifices:
-All of your Artifacts
-HEART, level 1 reagent
-LANTERN, level 1 reagent ("Pulverized unicorn horn (Twilight Sparkle)")
-1x Wrong Key (KNOCK reagent, level 3)


-[] It's actually a lot simpler than it sounds, now that you know what you are doing (produce a reagent, write in which Lore/combination of Lores. Cannot produce a reagent with a Lore level superior to your own.) (Producing a single reagent is a FREE ACTION, producing 3 costs 1 action, 5 costs 2 actions, so on.)
--[] Level 1 reagent (5 bits)
--[] Level 2 reagent (20 bits)
--[] Level 3 reagent (45 bits)

-[] It's grim work, but needs must.
--[] Acquire a dead body from the local cemetery.
--[] Acquire a live pony for the White Room.

-[] "The proper things, in the proper manner, in the proper order. God help us all." (Perform a Ritual)
--[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Rite of Childhood's End"
--[] "The Forge's Redemption"
--[] "The Incision of the Heart"
--[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
--[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
--[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Reflection of the Tapestry" (specify subject)
--[] Invoke a Risen (SPECIFY dead body used as source. ONE Risen is a FREE ACTION)
--[] Invoke a Mare-in-the-Light
--[] Invoke Baldomare Unavailable until the beginning of Turn 18
--[] Invoke the Daugher-of-Axes Already summoned

--[] To be performed at your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet. But the cult will know of your actions.
--[] 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. (Disallows the use of the cult's Cadre and possessions)
--[] To be performed in Rarity's boutique (only up to Two-Circle rituals)
--[] To be performed on another location (you do not yet know or own any such location)

[] Something else? (WRITE IN. Anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)





A cautionary note. Running around screaming rebellion works as the "spark" that starts the flame. It has no effect if you don't first put fuel next to it. Velvet's first attempts at anything will first be the cautious scouting and prodding, so do NOT see these actions as "Pick this to guarantee all Hintchasers are undyingly loyal to you".

Remember that write-ins for anything may be suggested. I'll do my best to answer if they are reasonable in a timely manner.

There will be at least 48 hours of voting. Let's take it slow and steady and observe a TWENTY FOUR HOUR MORATORIUM before voting.

And this is probably chock-full of small details that need to be fixed, so let me know if there's anything weird or inconsistent here!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Silky Stream, and right now…

It is night.

You are on your bed.

And your eyes are closed.

Which means, of course, that you are…


AWAKE


You open your eyes, feeling your excitement swelling inside of you even though you can barely see your own nose. Your wings going wide open under your covers as a smile slowly appears on your face.

Because you can tell what time it is. You can feel it. You know how long it has been, listening to how quiet the house is right now. You can see the faintest trace of moonlight at a very particular angle, from the slight gaps between the closed drapes. You know the time has come.

It is time…

To do it.

With that on your mind, and nothing else, you silently creep out of bed.



- - -



This thing, that you are doing right now, is a tradition as old as time itself. It is something you have been doing for longer than you can remember.

And you mean that literally. Because you can kinda remember stuff from a few years back, but you still somehow know you've been doing this for even longer. Before you could even fly, really.

But still, back to the topic at hoof. This thing, that you are doing, is something very important to you. It is, as Sweetie Belle would say with her dictionary words, part of your very indemnity. To the point that you can't say you are Silky Stream if for some reason you stop doing this.

So, as you have done so many times before, you once again set out in the middle of the night. Creeping out of your bed, tip-hoofing out of your room, and silently making your way towards the first floor. Towards your ultimate objective.



Towards the forbidden cookie jar.



You remember the last time your mom caught you doing this. You still remember the scolding, which was so long that your ears were hurting by the end of it. And you also remember how ashamed you felt, and how she made you promise that you would never do that again.

But of course, you were very ashamed… ashamed of having been caught, not of what you had done.

And you really meant it when you promised that would never happened again.

But here's the thing. You promised, to your mom and to yourself, that she would never again catch you stealing from the cookie jar.

That she would never catch you again.

You fully intent to keep that promise, of course. Your parents did not raise a lying filly, after all. So, in order to keep that promise, you made sure never to get caught again.

You did not stop. You merely got better at it.

And oh, how much better you are now, compared to back then.



By now, you have practically reduced this whole thing to an art.



You leave your room quickly, but not really quietly. You don't go to those lengths of opening your door extra-slowly, because that would be suspicious on itself. After all, what would you do if somepony was walking around the house? What would you do if one of the maids, or dad, or (Celestia forbid) your mom herself sees you, opening the door so slowly and suspiciously?

Why, if that happened you would be caught before your mission even began!

So no, you don't do it like that. Instead, you go for deniability on this first step. You make sure to pretend that you are extra sleepy, and you open the door quietly enough for it to look like you are only half-awake, and only barely conscious enough that you are remembering you shouldn't make too much noise at this time of the night.

Because if you do it like this, and somepony happens to be on the corridor, then you can just mumble that you are going to the bathroom or something.

After you successfully reach the corridor undisturbed, and can confirm that there's nopony around, then you engage your full stealth mode.

You disappear in the blink of an eye, your wings flapping as you zip from the ground to the very ceiling. And then you literally crawl through the ceiling as quickly as you can, your best bet at stealth at this point being that anypony who happens to leave their rooms simply won't think to look up. Trusting your speed, and the fact that the ceiling is really dark at this time of the night, since the faint moonlight that comes through the glass windows is aimed at the floor, and not up.

You make your way through the corridor as quickly as possible, the distance between yourself and the ground increasing as you keep to the ceiling even as you reach the main stairways.

Soon enough you are on the main hall, and your next checkpoint is right in front of you. The enormous crystal chandelier, that upside-down tree of glass and candle-holds, dominates a good chunk of the central airspace of the main hall. However, you have also discovered several years ago, it has a very convenient foal-sized empty space, right at its center.

You carefully navigate through the more delicate parts of the chandelier, not letting your experience stop you from doing it as slowly as you need. And soon enough, you are perched on top of the main support at the chandelier's center, mostly hidden from sight.

Having reached the first truly safe stop of your mission, you just stay there for a while, letting your wings rest from the effort of flying upside-down during the first corridor-stretch. But more importantly, you strain your eyes as you look down at the main hall far below.

Because you might be hidden by the several… crystal… things (which you have no idea how are called, now that you think about it) that surround you, but that also means you can't look around very well. So, you make extra sure to take a good long look at your surroundings, or else you might miss something obvious. Who knows, maybe there is somepony in the living room that you might spot if you pay attention, or maybe there is a faint trace of candle-light coming from somewhere that you might miss if you do this too quickly.

You stay hidden on the chandelier, until you feel your heartrate quiet down, and until you are satisfied that you can't pick up any noise, sound or sight that might be out of place.

Then, you prepare yourself for what comes next.

"Final stretch," you whisper to yourself, barely louder than a sigh, as you very gently take flight once again. Navigating the top of the entrance hall until you are right above the door that takes to the dining room. You then stop flapping your wings, silently free-falling for a few seconds, and stop your fall right as you are about to hit the ground.

You feel your heart beating faster as you realize that, from here on, you are on a time limit. After all, you are now on the ground, with two doors between you and the kitchen, during a time of the night that you have absolutely no business being here. Which means that no amount of excuses will ever get you free if somepony catches sight of you right now.

You open the door with a very specific mixture of rush and stealth, sneaking into the dining room and closing the door behind you as quickly as possible. And then, you repeat the same process for the kitchen door itself.

Your heart is hammering inside your chest as you reach the most crucial moment of your mission. The only thing left to do right now is raid the pantry, which is a challenge in and on itself. After all, raiding the pantry is a very delicate and technical activity, seeing how it involves making sure you take out everything standing between you and the (poorly hidden) cookie jar, and then making sure you place everything back on the precise same order and position. Because you know the cook is very particular about his organization, and you don't want to risk him realizing you placed a bottle of sauce facing the wrong direction, or something like that.

With that in mind, you very carefully close the kitchen door behind you, and turn around towards the direction you have to walk to reach the pantry itself an-



"The fok yer doin' 'ere?"



-and your heart almost leaps out of your chest as you hear somepony call you from the middle of the kitchen.



You freeze. You have no idea how many seconds, or maybe even minutes, pass as you just stay where you are. One of your hoofs still on the kitchen's doorknob as you remain petrified where you stand.

Because you… you just got caught? You just heard somepony? And even though the kitchen is completely dark you are pretty sure there is somepony there??

Yes, you definitely got caught. You got caught, and now it's all over.

The seconds begin to stretch as you slowly come to terms that you have been busted, your throat drying up as you realize there is no way to fast talk yourself out of this. Because it wasn't your mom's voice, sure, but this just means that your execution will be delayed until this maid tells on you as soon as morning comes.

And then your mom is going to serve you your flank on a silver plate, and you are probably going to be a fully grown mare before you are ever ungrounded and let out of your room again, and you're probably going to get a cutie mark for committing crimes and-

"Wo'… Wo's wrong with ye?" the maid (or at least, the pony your mind immediately pins as a maid) asks. "Did ye just break or somethin'? Wait… or is et tha' ye just canny 'ear me?"

Wait… hang on…

Wait, wait… waaait wait wait. You don't really… recognize this maid's voice?

Your body unfreezes, even if only enough for you to tilt your head in confusion for a few moments. And after gathering a bit more of courage you finally let go of the doorknob, turning around to face the darkness of the kitchen.

And sure enough, you see somepony there, on one of the corners near a counter. You can barely make out her silhouette, with how little moonlight is coming in from the glass window. But you still think you can see her there.

Although you don't think… that… that she looks like a maid? And what is more, you definitely don't recognize her voice, even if you are pretty sure it's a mare from her voice. But you don't recognize her voice, and you are pretty sure you know all the maids who do shifts staying the night, so…

"Uhm… excuse me?" you ask the figure. Although, now that you are over the shock of having heard somepony, you are beginning to realize you aren't really sure you understood what she said. "Do I know you…?"

You ask that, but even as you say those words something is suddenly rattled inside your memory.

"Hang on a second…" you say, both to the mare and to yourself, your eyes narrowing as you… as you think back to what your mom said earlier today about…

Wait. It's a mare. That you definitely don't recognize. Who has a strange way of talking. And who is also… is she wearing clothes? Her silhouette is kinda fuzzy, and you swear that it was a bit longer and taller just a second ago. But yeah, now that you take a better look at her you are pretty sure that she is wearing some clothing of sorts.

Which means that…

Your eyes go wide open with excitement as you finally connect the dots of who exactly is in the kitchen with you.

"Wait, are you the guest mom told us not to talk to?!" you say, a sudden rush of eagerness running through your body, your legs kicking off in a short hop at that!

To the point that you don't even notice the mare takes a weirded-out, half-step back at your sudden reaction.

"Ae… Ae sppose ae am? Waet… guest tha yer not supposed tae…? The fok did she mean tha ye canny talk tae me?!"

And she has the grumpy attitude mom told you about!

Oh, she so much is the guest. You are sure of it!

Once you realize that, you completely forget about your cookie mission. Even if only temporarily.

Instead, you begin to jump where you stand, your mind filling up more and more with all the stuff that you simply have to know.

So, naturally, you begin to ask her the questions you have in your mind.

You begin to ask her all the questions.



"Oh oh oh! My name is Silky Stream! And I'm my mom's daughter! And I live here! Are you going to live here too? How long are you going to be our guest? Oh, and how did you meet mom?! Are you also a friend of hers from her school days?"

You don't even notice how the mare takes a confused step back for every hop you take on her direction.​

"And have you met my dad? And what did you think of our house? Is it different from the house you live in? Is it larger? Smaller? Same size? Do you like being here?"

It is too dark, even, for you to see the lost, nearly panicked expression she has on her face. Her eyes darting around in every direction, looking for an escape that isn't there.​

"Oh! And why are you here? Are you writing a book? And can you read?! I'm learning how to read! I mean, I already know how to read, but there's a lot of words I don't know! Do you know what a dictionary is? Are you using a dictionary to help you write your book?!"

Almost as a reflex, she reaches out for something underneath her cloak, panic-induced speed aiding her trembling teeth as they find purchase around the handle of her a-​

-but the two of you are interrupted by the very loud sound of a grumbling stomach. Coming from the strange mare, of course.


And when you hear that, you stop. You literally stop, in mid-air even. Your excited hopping interrupted as you suddenly look at the mare with very different eyes.

After all, and how could you not have noticed this before… this mare… is definitely hungry!

Why else would she be in the kitchen at this time of the night?

"Oh, I'm so sorry miss, I should have realized it earlier," you say, not realizing how much the mare sagged in relief at your… change in tone. "Can I get you something to eat? I promise I know where all the good stuff is," you say with a smile on your face.

And because it's so dark, you can't see the mare's expression. So you can't really see her face turning back into a practiced frown, as she prepares to tell you to go away. Instead-

-another growl interrupts whatever she is going to say-

-and you decided to take it upon yourself to help your newest guest.

"Hang on tight! Just give me a few seconds to go through the pantry and I'll get us both something delicious!"

And as soon as you turn your back to her, the mare's frown crumbles, turning into a mixture of confusion and… honest relief, even if she does her best to hide it as soon as you return to her with your trusty cookie jar.



- - -



In the end, they indeed had a talk of sorts. Because few things are more helpful at making a pony honest than filling an empty belly. And few things can make a talkative pony quiet down than the necessity of chewing down something delicious.

And in the end, an understanding was born out of several small misunderstandings, as these things go.

"So ye canny be talking tae me."
"That's right!"
"And ye also shudda not be eating these… wo're they called again?"
"Cookies! And also yes, I really shouldn't! Mom says I get all jittery and stuff when I have too many."​

They had that conversation, of course, with an open cookie jar between them, each of them munching down on a new one between their words.

"And yer still doin' it aneewae… E's tha' why she cors'd ye?"
"What? Mom didn't curse me. She loves me!"
"Wo' de ye mean yer not cors'd? Look at ye! Yer so wee smol, it has tae be a cors. An' et's pretty mess'd up tha' yer own ma cors'd ye, if ye ask me."​

And for all that the filly could only understand about half of what the older mare said, she still laughed at most of it.

"I'm not cursed, I'm just young!"
"Ye… yer wo'? But tha's not what being yong means, innit? Being yong jus' means yer a big ol' snek, just hatched, and tha' yer still learning tae take on horse shape, nae?"
"Ahahaha, that's not right at all… I think? I'm not reeeeally sure where foals come from and… But anyways, I'm just young! I don't even have a cutie mark yet, see?
"Wha… so wot? Bu'… ain' tha normal? Ae mean, et'd be pretty foken scary if ye wee cursed gremlin-sized mares were runnin' around with Brands, no? 'Sides, ae dunnae hav a Brand either."
"YOU. DON'T. HAVE. A. CUTIE. MARK?!"
"Wo'-… WO'? GET OFFA! ME WO'S WITH YE?!"
"SHOW ME SHOW ME SHOW ME!!!"​

It might not have been the most… productive of conversations.

But, ironically, it might have been the most meaningful one the older mare had in a long, long time.

However, as these things go, eventually that conversation came to an end. Even if the filly ended up going back to her room a lot later than she had initially planned.

"Oh, also also also! Can we keep this a secret? I mean, mom would get really, really mad if she found out we, uh… well, if she founds out about anything, really."

"Like how ye talked tae me?"

"Yeap."

"An' how we ate all that stoff?"

"Yeap!"

"Do ye at least haf an idea of how tae explain the emptee cooke jar?"

"Nope!"

"Aye then… well, I actelly hav a problem with tha'. Y'see, I canny really promis tae keep this a secret. Sorry 'bout tha'."

"What? Why?"

"Yer ma' told me not tae swear near ye an' all, so ae canny make any promises or bindin' oaths near ye. Or a'least tha's wo' ae think she meant. Et's a pretty foken daft order if ye ask me, but wot do ae no… Dinnae want 'er to gremlin-curse me like she did ye."

"Oh… uh… really? Well shoot… this might actually be, uh, pretty bad and…"

"… Ahh, stop makin' tha' face. Alright, alright, tell ye wot, le's find a loophole, aye? Ae'll make a promise not tae tell aboot this, alright? Ae canny swear near ye, bu' ae'm sure et's foine if ae do it someplace far from ye."

"Oh, is that how it works? Can you do that?!"

"No foken clue, bu' ae really don' care much eetha. An' actelly, ae'll thro ye an extra. Ae'll also promis tae take responsblty far tae cookies-"

"Really?! Promise really?!"

"-IF… ye introdooce me tae tha' littl' guild ye told me aboot. The one tha's reely good at finding stuff? Tha' Brand-Templars? Like ae told ye, ae'm here looking fer somethin'. So, promis me tha' yer all gon' help me find tha' thing, an' we got a deal."

"Oh, you mean the Crusaders? Sure, I can definitely do that! And we're definitely going to help you!"

"Aye! We got a deal then. Now scooch off tae yer bed, et's nearly Glory-rise."​

And then they went their separate ways. The filly being absolutely sure that she had just made a friend, who wanted help finding her cutie mark. And the mare being absolutely sure she had just recruited a very skilled band of cursed adventurers, who would help her find the key to her freedom.

Because whoever said that miscommunications can only bring about bad things?

Spoiler: Winning Vote

"Ae said," she tries for the third time, "me name is Doh'ah' o' Axss! Et canny be tha hard te understand!"

To which the filly replied by... narrowing her eyes, stroking her chin with a hoof as she once again fails to grasp what the mare is saying.

"Why don't we try calling you something else?"

(What will be the Daughter-of-Axes' name?)

[X] Velvet Axe

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[X] Plan Vespertine
-[X] You will do the bare minimum to get the farm running. For the benefit of your workers and your city, if nothing else.
-[X] (Servants) Find a way to reduce suspicion of at-home rituals (don't tell them that, of course)
-[X] (Hintchasers) Obtain a dead body from the cemetery
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Jade) Scout Crepuscular Jailbreak with RotT
--[X] Sacrifice Lantern 1 reagent
--[X] At the Velvet estate
-[X] (Velvet Axe) Lead an expedition (Beneath the Royal Castle
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to physically scouting Crepuscular Jailbreak if RotT fails
-[X] (Risen) Fleeting opportunity: Steal the original manuscripts from the Bright Library
-[X] Selene (Winter)
-[X] (AotL) Grail: Comet Feet
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Ruined Church
-[X] (Forge) Grail 3
-[X] (Winter) Raise a Flourishing Risen
-[X] Perform the Calling of Influence (Grail)
--[X] Sacrifice Grail 3 reagent
--[X] At the cult's gathering place
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Comet Feet
--[X] With Fluttershy from the start
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Family Lore lessons
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Dissociate 'Velvet Covers' from cult
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to Crepuscular Jailbreak if both RotT and scouting fail
-[X] Lead an expedition (Crepuscular Jailbreak)

- - -

You are Velvet Covers, and right now you are taking care of your priorities.

After all, you have plenty to do. Perhaps too much to do, even. But still, you are determined to see everything through.

You have ponies to talk to. You have places to be. You have to interact with a Cult to try and reap as many benefits as you can, while also trying to convince it that you don't exist, or at least that "Lady Velvet Covers" is a not a member of it. And worse of all, you have to do all of that while maintaining a façade of normalcy in your life.

Of course, you also have a time limit for all of that. After all, what was once a nebulous (even if very dangerous) deadline of "do as much as you can before you are found out" has been joined be several other very real dates. Such as captain Shining Armor's imminent arrival, and Princess Cadance's offer of… well, of a very important job.

So, you can indeed say that you have a lot of things to do, and not a lot of time.

To be honest, you don't really know how you are even handling all of this right now. You are not even sure if somepony else would be able to do all of this, or work under this much pressure and…

Oh, who are you kidding?



You know exactly why you are being able to handle all of this stress. And you know exactly just how desperate somepony else would be, if they were in your horseshoes.



But still, regardless of how you are being able to keep yourself together, the fact remains that a day in your life still only has twenty-four hours. And you only have around three weeks' worth of those, give or take, before Shining Armor arrives, hopefully to find his little sister alive and well and in Ponyville.

So, again, priorities. Too much to do, too little time, and heaven knows what unpredictable changes might happen after that first deadline comes. Because of that, the only way you could really decide on what to do was to put everything on a list, decide what is more important than what, and then go take care of that. Which means your schedule is orders of magnitude less organized than you would like, but this really was the only way you could get yourself to move.

And right now, you are at the very top of your list, as you begin to work your way down. Which means that you are…


"Bye mom! See you after school!"
"Bye bye! Behave in school today. I love you!"


You are watching as Silky and Selene join the small crowd of fillies and colts that is slowly making its way into the wide open doors of Ponyville's school, disappearing from your sight a few moments later as you sense them navigating the short corridor towards their classroom. Cheerilee herself appears on one of the windows shortly after, and you two shortly wave at each other before the mare turns her attention back towards her gathering classroom.

And you are here, of course, because taking care of your daughters is at the very top of your list of priorities. With taking care of Stormchaser, and maybe yourself, confidently placed under that first item.

So, once you ensure that your fillies are safely delivered to school for the next few hours, you turn around and mentally prepare yourself for what comes next.

After all, you honestly had trouble deciding on what your priorities are, as you went further down the list, but the things you realize you have to do no matter what are pretty straightforward.

After all, no matter what happens, you have to take care of your daughters.

Daughters. Plural.

With that in mind, you turn your back to the school, and start walking towards a direction of Ponyville that you haven't really been to that many times.



- - -



Of course, you know Soft Sweeps isn't your daughter.

You know that.

After all Soft Sweeps already has a family. She was raised, you know, by loving parents. And she had… she has several younger siblings that she cares about very much, even if they… aren't around anymore.

You also know that Soft Sweeps doesn't need you to take care of her either. She doesn't really need anypony, to take care of her. It's not like she is an abandoned filly for you to raise. It's not like she is a destitute pony who can't fend for herself, and who desperately needs somepony to catch her as she falls down.

Quite on the contrary, actually. Soft Sweeps is already a grown mare. She is still young, for sure, and maybe she had to group up a lot more quickly (and, unfortunately, a lot more painfully) than most ponies. But still, she's already grown. She has already paid her toll. She has already made it.

So, you know that she isn't really your daughter, and that she will never be that. She doesn't need you to… to teach her, and to be there for her, and to protect her against a harsh world as she grows up. In fact, you also have every faith in her that despite… everything that happened to her, and that is happening to her, you still believe that she will make it through it, even if you never saw or talked to her again. Even if you didn't try to reach out to her at all.

You know all of that.

…

But you definitely don't feel that way.

Because Soft Sweeps… well, you simply care for her, there is no other way you can put it.

You are not even sure when you began to feel like this, or why. Maybe this is the result of all the effort she put on taking care of Silky, and your daughter's affection for her became your own. Or maybe you simply became accustomed to her presence as the years went by, during a period of your life where you were pretty much isolated from the world, and then grew closer to her as you got to know her better. A conversation the two of you had, long ago, when you finally learned about her family comes to mind, even.

Still, you are not entirely sure when you came to care about her… when you came to love her. But you don't really care either. And you also don't care if she isn't related to you by blood, or if she was already almost an adult when you first met her, or even if you only truly came to care for her maybe a few months ago.

What matters for you is that you care for her.

She might not be your daughter. She might not even want to see herself as that, and you completely understand that. But still, she is your daughter's older sister, she is a very kind and honest pony, and you sincerely feel that you owe it to her… that you have to be there for her right now.

And all of that, put together, really makes her as good as your family. No matter what you, or the mare herself, or even the world says.

Although of course, you mean your real family. The kind that is connected by love rather than just blood.

And you will be damned if you don't do your best to take care of her when she needs it.

As you think about all of that, you finally reach your destination.

You finally arrive at Ponpon's house.

The two-storied house is pretty normal, or at least as "normal" as a house can be by Ponyville's standards. It is certainly well kept, and has a few bouts of uniqueness here and there that is characteristic of a pony house. But it's definitely not unique to the point of being, say, pastry-shaped, or to the point of having a chimney in the shape of a musical instruments or the likes.

Still, this is Ponpon's house, and as you get close enough to knock on its door you also begin to feel the presence of its two inhabitants.

You feel Ponpon herself, of course, heavy with that oh so faint sweat-like scent that you have come to attribute to long-term stress or worrying. Which is unfortunately fitting, given her situation. Because she had Soft living with her before this all happened, and she agreed on the spot to drop everything and take care of the mare when you brought her here a few days ago, after Soft Sweeps returned from Canterlot. But still, you realize that doing this is probably taking its toll on Ponpon herself, for all that you know that the older mare can take it.

And then, you feel the young pegasus herself, somewhere on the second floor. She is alone, where you assume is her room, and her presence is so faint that you aren't really sure if she is even awake.

But still, more worryingly, you can also sense that her presence… that her scent is… cold.

You knock on the door, keenly aware that Ponpon, also on the second floor, immediately reacts to it, while Soft Sweeps doesn't.

And you wait, as her presence slowly makes its way downstairs and towards you.

Until Ponpon finally opens the door.

"…"

And the question that you were about to say, the words that were practically ready to jump out of your mouth, get stuck in your throat.

Ponpon realizes that, of course. In fact, she knows you well enough that the two of you almost have an entire conversation, just during these few seconds where you stare at each other.

You are sure of it, that she can see how anxious and hopeful you are.

And she knows that you can see it, just as well. The heavy mixture of tension and worry that she has in her eyes, as well as the… hesitation she has, because she knows that she needs to tell you something, but also doesn't really want to.

This silent, lightning-quick conversation the two of you share immediately tells you that…

"Ah, I thought it was you when I heard the knocking. Good morning, ma'am," she says, pursing her lips as if already knowing how this whole conversation will go.

"Yes, it's me… I did think I should wait a few more days, but here I am… Hello Ponpon," you answer.

And then you ask the question you have been meaning to ask all along, even though you… already know the answer, just from Ponpon's expression.

Still, the two of you play out your parts, almost as if you are actors on a stage.

"So, how is Softy?" you ask.

And you watch as Ponpon's expression cracks ever so slightly, as if her mind is quickly going several recent memories, of the sad and bitter things that have been weighting her down and stealing her sleep.

"She is… not doing so well, unfortunately."

"Well, I came here to visit her, but… do you think she would like to see me?"

"I don't think… that's a good idea… yet," she says, very carefully. Not out of fear of hurting your feelings, though, but instead because she clearly isn't sure.

Although you can tell that she is sure about the first half, of course. She is sure, and you can see it clearly from her conflicted expression, that she is sure that you seeing Soft Sweeps right now would be a terrible idea.

What she is not sure about, is the word "yet".

You have no idea how these last three days have been, for Ponpon. You have no idea how these last few days have been for Soft herself. But whatever is happening, it has Ponpon thinking that…

Well, you trust her. You trust her judgment, and you trust her that she is doing her very best. Both of care about Soft, after all.

"I see… well, thank you for taking care of her… I'll try again tomorrow?" you ask, hopefully.

"I'd be doing this even if you hadn't asked, ma'am. And… yes, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll let her know you came by and… hopefully…"

Her words trail off, and the two of you can't really do anything but stare at each other for a few moments.

And then you both share a long, worried sigh.

"Let me know if there's anything I can do, Ponpon. Anything at all," is all you say.

To which she simply gives you a deep, understanding nod.

"I will. I promise. But really, most of the times I… I don't even think I'm helping with anything… she's torn apart, ma'am. These last few days and nights… the best moments she seemed to have was when she was just unresponsive. At least then I could change her bandages without her…"

The mare once again trails off, bringing up a hoof to her forehead as if she has a headache. And for all that just these few tidbits that she told you already make your heart ache, you bite down the burning need to ask her to tell you more.

"She will get better, Ponpon. I promise you," you say, to which the mare answer with another, less spirited nod. But still, a nod nonetheless. "I trust her. We trust her. And the only thing we can do right now is give her time."

The two of you share a few more words, and you double check if there isn't anything else that she might need.

But still, a few minutes later, the two of you realize that there is nothing you can do for today, and that you definitely won't be seeing Softy right now.

"I'll be back again tomorrow," you say, "and the day after. I'll be taking the fillies to school for a while, so I'll make sure to drop by whenever I can."

And Ponpon looks thankful for that, and maybe just slightly more hopeful than she was when you first arrived.

Still, a few moments later you say your goodbyes, and she closes the door.

And you have to walk away from her home, acutely aware that throughout the whole time that you were talking to Ponpon, you couldn't feel neither movement nor reaction from Softy's presence.

In fact, if you didn't know that you can't sense dead bodies, you wouldn't even be sure that she was alive.

But ultimately, as you and Ponpon agreed, there is nothing you can do but wait. And hope.





You will visit Soft Sweeps as much as you can, throughout the month. This was but the first visit of many. And, as much as it was unsuccessful, it was also necessary.

Velvet Covers will take care of Soft Sweeps during this month.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Vespertine
-[X] You will do the bare minimum to get the farm running. For the benefit of your workers and your city, if nothing else.
-[X] (Servants) Find a way to reduce suspicion of at-home rituals (don't tell them that, of course)
-[X] (Hintchasers) Obtain a dead body from the cemetery
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Jade) Scout Crepuscular Jailbreak with RotT
--[X] Sacrifice Lantern 1 reagent
--[X] At the Velvet estate
-[X] (Velvet Axe) Lead an expedition (Beneath the Royal Castle
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to physically scouting Crepuscular Jailbreak if RotT fails
-[X] (Risen) Fleeting opportunity: Steal the original manuscripts from the Bright Library
-[X] Selene (Winter)
-[X] (AotL) Grail: Comet Feet
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Ruined Church
-[X] (Forge) Grail 3
-[X] (Winter) Raise a Flourishing Risen
-[X] Perform the Calling of Influence (Grail)
--[X] Sacrifice Grail 3 reagent
--[X] At the cult's gathering place
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Comet Feet
--[X] With Fluttershy from the start
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Family Lore lessons
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Dissociate 'Velvet Covers' from cult
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to Crepuscular Jailbreak if both RotT and scouting fail
-[X] Lead an expedition (Crepuscular Jailbreak)

- - -

You open the window of your study room, suppressing the loud and very unsightly groan that you dearly want to let out.

Because you are definitely not tired. You are definitely not frustrated. And you have definitely not been hitting your head against a metaphorical brick wall for the last few hours.

"But how in Tartarus does Cheerilee do that?!" you yell whisper under your breath towards the open window, and you definitely don't stomp a hoof at the floor in frustration.

But really, as much as you might be calm and composed right now, you can't help but echo that question inside your mind again and again. To the point that you are almost considering throwing everything to the air and going out to talk to the mare right now.

Because how in the hay do you decide what… and how to teach something potentially dangerous to a filly? To your own daughter?



How in the heavens does one make a curriculum?!



Not for the first time you wish you were a little closer to Cheerilee. And you can't help but add another item to your list of reasons of "why you wish Twilight was here in Ponyville". Because sure, rescuing a friend from horrible captivity is a noble reason that can stand very well on its own legs. But right now, you can't help but wish Twilight was here just so she could help you walk through the basics of an education system.

The young unicorn certainly looks like she knows a lot about it, after all.

But, much to your extended concern, you have neither of those two ponies with you. Heavens, even Stormchaser is absent, so you can't even talk through your ideas with him, for the sake of having somepony else's common sense to double check them.

Nope. It's only you right now. It's only you, the afternoon sun looking down at you, and your problem.

"No, don't think of it like that, Velvet," you say to yourself, massaging your temples with your hoofs as you fruitlessly close your eyes due to decades of habit. "Just think that you are looking for a solution. You don't have a problem, just a solution you haven't reached yet…"

You take a deep, long breath, and once again turn your back to the window, sitting on your chair and looking down at the open parchment you have on your study desk.

To put it simply, you are trying to figure out how, and what, to teach your family, when it comes to the Lores.

This is an idea you have been wanting to implement for a very long time now. A wish you have been wanting to fulfill ever since you pulled out the first Moth-related cantrip that you learned after listening to several of your Master's sermons. Several years ago.

You remember how delightful it felt, to slowly piece together the countless (and many times conflicting) secrets and comments on the nature of the world that he would tell you all about, when the Cult was still small and uncrowded. You remember how good it felt when you put them all together, forming a puzzle that didn't make sense, but that still somehow made you figure out how to make your shadow move on its own. You think that you remember feeling like a filly again, who had just figure out how to make her horn glow.

But none of that matters right now. What matters is that, again, you have been wanting to share your Lore knowledge with your family for the longest time. Because for the longest time you felt that this was something interesting, that this was something helpful.

Heavens, there were even days when you thought that it would be the best thing ever if all of ponykind learned of the Lores! That it would be a net positive for all of Equestria if your species were to remember that lost knowledge, fantasizing of all the scientific and cultural advancements that would doubtlessly follow.

But now…? Well, now you are not so sure about that. About any of that.

Because these last few months, as your knowledge of the Lores grew, and so many horrible things happened to you and to Equestria as a whole… well, you have also come to realize that the Lores are dangerous.

Very dangerous.

You know what you are capable of doing… what the Cult is capable of doing, with what little Lore knowledge you already possess. The rituals you have already learned, and the Windigos, are enough proof of that.

You also know… you have also seen how the world was like, when the Lores were known and prevalent in Equestria. You still remember them, those un-memories you saw on the Tribal Door. And for all that you dearly hope that ponykind will never become so fractured as it was back then, you still remember how easy it was for ponies to use the Lores against each other.

And what is more, you definitely know that… well, that times have changed. The fact that ponykind continues to create new technologies, machines and spells, also shows that your species is definitely a lot more creative than it was back then.

So you can't help but think of… of what new things, what new evils, ponies might create nowadays, if the Lores were to suddenly be taught to all.



Even you have done so much with so little… would you really like for that to spread?



You shake your head, pushing away that dirty flame of a thought which came to you just now. Corralling those incendiary ideas on your head into the anvil of reason, and turning them into something else.

"The fire that makes the plowshare also makes the sword," you say, burning away the black tar that was trying to creep up into your mind, as you once again turn your attention to the task at hoof.

Still, for all that your flights of fancy about a Lore-blessed future were lessened, you still believe that you can, that you must, teach the Lores to your own family. If not to benefit them, then at least to protect them. And for all that you might fear what an unchecked Lore-knowing Equestria might look like, your family is not Equestria, and you are sure that you will be enough to safely guide them through it, and that it will be far easier than trying to guide a whole nation of ponies.

But the great problem that you have right now is that you don't know how to do it safely.

More specifically, you don't know how to make this safe for Silky.

Everything else, to be honest, is almost as good as done.

Teaching Stormchaser will be easy. You already have a good idea of what his affinities are, even though you are still going to double check to make sure that he isn't suited for anything else. But more importantly, Stormchaser is already an adult. It will be easier to introduce him to the often confusing aspects of the Lores, and you had a very long talk with him before he left for his business trip on how you plan to introduce him to this.

As if to prove a point, you light up your horn for a few moments, floating up the letter you prepared for him. The contents of the letter are a very, very basic introduction to the simplest principles of Knock, and it contains so little "secrets" that you wouldn't even mind reading it out loud within earshot of your maids. It's a short talk about dreams, and it feels like philosophical musings if nothing else.

Still, that's your plan for him. You will send him these simple letters every so often, to give him time to slowly settle those ideas in while he is at work, and then you will take a more hoofs-on approach on the weeks he is back at home.

After all, you can't really… (ahem) check him for other Lore affinities through mere correspondence.

But the fact remains that teaching Stormchaser doesn't feel like too hard of a job.

When it comes to Selene… well, Selene is an exception among exceptions. You will continue to do exactly what you have been doing all along. No changes there, and her situation is so different from the rest of your family that you will continue to treat her as a separate effort.

Now, again, when it comes to Silky…

Stormchaser might not now anything about the Lores, but he is already an adult.

Selene might be a filly, but she is also… well, an alicorn. And whatever else being an Outsider means, even if she is only half of one.

But Silky? Silky is a filly. Silky is your filly. She is still learning math. She still has nightmares every now and then. And for all that pony science isn't that great when it comes to the study of the brain, Silky's body is still very much developing itself.

And you are sure as all Tartarus that you will not have your daughter be a test subject for the effects of the Lores on a developing foal.

Because YOU had breakdowns, terrifying and painful mental breakdowns, as your own knowledge of the Lores grew. Sure, you think you have learned what are traps and pitfalls you fell into. You are pretty sure that nopony else that you teach, such as Rarity or Stormchaser, won't have the same problems you did, as long as you are there to guide them through it.

But still, the fact that those traps and pitfalls exist in the path is reason enough for you not to be willing to bring Silky through it. No sir. You will not bring your daughter down a rocky road until you have built a carriage for her, and concreted the holes on the road into gruesome submission.



"Aaaaaand we are going to take a deeeeep breath…" you say to yourself, snatching your own thoughts before they ran afoul again, taking a long, deep breath to center yourself.



And only when you are done calming yourself down do you once again look at the parchment you have before you.

Because you have had some ideas, so far. After all, despite all the dangerous implications you are well aware of, you still want to teach your daughter about this. Part of it because you want to share something you really like with her, and another part because… well, the world is not a safe place, and you can't shake the feeling that it will become less and less safe as time goes by. So, you realize you have to teach her unsafe things, so that she will know how to deal with unsafe situations.

So, all of your ideas so far have centered more around the practical side of things. You have a bit of experience on how to very subtly give hints about the Lores, thanks to your time nudging Selene in the right direction. So, you have been trying to think of ways to teach Silky about things… about useful tools, that could be useful to her if the very worst happens.

After all, you teach a unicorn foal how to create a barrier while playing ball tag, and they naturally realize that they can use that skill to protect themselves from harm.

"Still… mixing Moth with hide-and-seek is already pretty straightforward… but is there a way to teach lockpicking without actually picking on a door? I don't want her to tell somepony that I taught her that, and make everypony else think I'm raising a little thief and…"

You continue musing to yourself how to go about this for a long time, until you decide to call it a day.

"Maybe I will have a better idea tomorrow," you say to yourself, as you put down your writing pen and make your way out of your study room.

Still, while you were wondering how to teach these sorts of things to Silky, you couldn't help but wonder about something else.

You haven't yet been able to meet Soft Sweeps. These last few days, every time you went to Ponpon's house, you were met by Ponpon's dejected and apologetic expression, which told you enough about how Softy herself was going.

But still, you can't help but think that… when you meet Softy, and you are fully confident that this is a when and not an if, that you should also go prepared to…

Well, you feel like your time with her will be limited and precious, when you finally manage to talk to her. So maybe… as long as you feel it will help her… yes, you should definitely think about something to tell her.

Because maybe Softy won't be in a mood to talk at all. Or maybe she will be angry, at you or at the world. Or maybe the first time you see her again will go in a completely unexpected direction.

But still if, and only if, she is willing to listen… or maybe if she is even willing to talk… then it wouldn't hurt for you to think about what you should be ready to tell her.

As long, of course, that you feel like it will honestly help her.





Stormchaser is now an Initiate. His Lore levels are now SECRET HISTORIES 1, KNOCK 0.

You have decided on what, and how, you will teach Silky Stream in the future. But this will not have any tangible effect until you put it into practice. (Silky's knowledge, limited as it will be, will progress as your family's knowledge progresses).

You will try to give Soft Sweeps the slightest of Lore nudges, as you visit her throughout the month, if you feel that will help her. (Soft Sweep's Lore knowledge will not fall behind in relation to the rest of your family).

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: CONTENT WARNING

According to the rules of this site it is acceptable to post in the SFW section:

• Written scenes that heavily imply any kind of sexual conduct (even if the sexual conduct itself would be illegal), so long as it remains at implication, and does not cross over into explicit explanation/description.
• You won't suffer punishment for posting it outside the NSFW section, but it might be polite to give warning.

So, this is a small warning that this update contains "tantalizing" scenes that imply sexual conduct.

Personally, the author does not think said scene is that tantalizing. But this author has already been punished in another site for this exact post, so here is a complimentary warning.

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Vespertine
-[X] You will do the bare minimum to get the farm running. For the benefit of your workers and your city, if nothing else.
-[X] (Servants) Find a way to reduce suspicion of at-home rituals (don't tell them that, of course)
-[X] (Hintchasers) Obtain a dead body from the cemetery
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Jade) Scout Crepuscular Jailbreak with RotT
--[X] Sacrifice Lantern 1 reagent
--[X] At the Velvet estate
-[X] (Velvet Axe) Lead an expedition (Beneath the Royal Castle
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to physically scouting Crepuscular Jailbreak if RotT fails
-[X] (Risen) Fleeting opportunity: Steal the original manuscripts from the Bright Library
-[X] Selene (Winter)
-[X] (AotL) Grail: Comet Feet
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Ruined Church
-[X] (Forge) Grail 3
-[X] (Winter) Raise a Flourishing Risen
-[X] Perform the Calling of Influence (Grail)
--[X] Sacrifice Grail 3 reagent
--[X] At the cult's gathering place
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Comet Feet
--[X] With Fluttershy from the start
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Family Lore lessons
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Dissociate 'Velvet Covers' from cult
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to Crepuscular Jailbreak if both RotT and scouting fail
-[X] Lead an expedition (Crepuscular Jailbreak)

- - -

As you look back at your memories, to the knowledge you have learned and the rituals you have witnessed, you can't help but be greeted by several disparate feelings. After all, the things you have done and the things you have seen can be described as otherworldly, sure… but they can also be described as horrifying.

Still, as you think back on all of that, you realize now that no matter what happened, no matter what you did or saw, or even the consequences of your actions, you can see that there has been this one… particular thing, that has accompanied you this whole time. One very specific sensation, or perhaps you should call it a feeling, that has been with you throughout this whole journey.

Because you have already felt frightened. Heavens, you have already felt horror. In the Mansus, and in the Wake, and in the height of the more gruesome summoning rituals where you realized you were inviting a being that maybe should not have been allowed back into Equestria.

And you have already felt thrill, as well, throughout this journey. Like in those moments when it dawned upon you that you, and you alone, were rediscovering, and even re-exploring, things and places that had been forgotten for more than an era.

However, you realize now that… there was also something else. Something that has accompanied you this whole time, regardless of if it was during the fright of your escapades, or the excitement of your discoveries, or even the boredom of the nights spent awake trying to gleam some esoteric insight out of an otherwise ordinary book.

This whole time you have been accompanied by something else… perhaps motivated by something else, even.

And this thing, this one feeling that has truly been with you every step of the way, no matter what you did…



Was curiosity.



Yes. That's it. It almost sounds silly when you put it like that. It almost sounds too simple.

But still, as you put things in perspective, you can see it clearly now.

Maybe this is your talent, the thing you have always been meant to do.

Maybe this is your sin, and you are planting seeds that future ponies will hate you for.

But most of all, deep down you are very… very…

Curious.

And you realize all of this because, right now, you are feeling a very peculiar kind of satisfaction.

Right now, as you have done so many times before, you have just sated your curiosity.



"Ah…"



And this peculiar pleasure that you are feeling, this emotion that carries with it a mixture of satisfaction and completeness, is so strong that… well, it is almost as if it helped you open your eyes.

You suppose you can almost call it addictive, this realization that you have understood something new, while also realizing that there is still oh so much left to learn. Like sampling a particularly tasteful wine, while gazing down at a full cellar that has yet to be raided.

But the things that you will learn tomorrow are pleasures for your future self. Right now, you are relishing the present.

Because you always wondered how it felt like, to do this.

You saw the ritual itself, of course. You were there, two months ago, when he did it. Why, you even helped him do it!

But still, that was not enough. Not enough to sate your curiosity. Not enough to sate your… desire, to know how it was like. Because you have already been dubiously blessed by the Master, and have received Baldomare's watered down gifts. But even those experiences pale in comparison to… to this.

You didn't know, until now, how it truly felt like. How it was like to be in his horseshoes. How it was like to be so weighted down by it, to the point that you were smothered. How it was like to be filled until there was nothing else to do but overflow.

However, that has changed.

Because now you know.

This is the fruit that you are relishing right now.



And as you finish quaffing down the strong, honeyed concoction that you had prepared just for this moment, the ordered chanting of the cultists around you breaking down to raucous shrieks and longing gasps, you finally understand how Comet Feet felt. You finally understand what it feels like, to become a host to something so much larger than yourself that you have no choice but to be carried by it.



And oh, how divine this sensation is.



[Calling of Influence: Grail, cd 60/80/110/150]

[Roll: 86 + 13 (Magic) + 30 (GRAIL Level 3) + 18 (Cadre) + 30 (Grail 3 reagent) = 177]

[Velvet Covers is now under the effect of "An Incarnadescence"]



- - -



The next few days pass by you in a blur.

A pleasant, sweet-smelling blur.

You spend this time at your home, enjoying your newfound perception of the world. The wafting scent of the flowers in your garden, as they bloom anew each time you pass them by. The clumsily hidden gazes of adoration and befuddlement from your servants, as they throw themselves over each other to fulfil your every whim. The childish confusion of your daughters, as they stare at you wide-eyed unable to comprehend what exactly changed in you, when you still look exactly the same.

At first, you had planned on staying home by design. You had no idea how all of this, if you were successful, would affect you. But in hindsight you feel silly for worrying so much, and you express your mirth at that through bell-like laughter that echoes through the corridors of your home, entering the ears and minds of your servants like tiny gifts for them to take home with them and cherish.

But still, the fact remains that you are spending this time at your home because you want to. Forget about your silly plans, and worries, and contingencies and whatnot.

After all, you are sure that you are in full control of your faculties.

You are doing all of this because you want to.

But that is not to say that you have been idle, of course. You are succulent, not slothful. And so you entertained the farmlands and saw that all its needs were satisfied. You signed the papers that needed signing, and nourished the decisions that needed to be made, and all in all made sure that your domain remained lush and thriving.

Although that is not to say that you did not entertain your own pet projects, while at that.

You had your little snake slither away to her errant, her foul mood unable to sour the honeyed taste that you still carry on your lips, even though the ritual happened days ago.

You asked your servants reorganize the less used barns of the farmlands, claiming that a new arrangement was needed for the coming expansion of the estate. And you watched as they prepared the place you had set aside for your hidden purposes without even suspecting it.

You called upon your faithful Hintchasers to commit some light grave-robbing.

And of course, you entertained your friends.

Because how could you not?

After all, you asked Jade during one of your teatimes if she could test the new ritual location that you prepared, in your Estate. So how could you not extend your hospitality when you made that request?

Besides, you realize the two "friends" Jade Whistle has been living with have not been having many moments of privacy, ever since the quiet mare moved in with them. So, what better way to repay them for their kindness? How else to extend them your gratitude if not by giving them that sweet time, by having Jade stay a while at your home?

And more importantly…

Oh, so much more importantly...

You.

Have.

Also.

Been.

Helping…



- - -



You gently fix the tiara onto your head, right behind your horn. Feeling the prickle of the empty sockets where it will be fitted with precious gems in the near future, savoring the feeling of how it elegantly holds down your mane.

And for all that she claims this to be an incomplete design, you can already tell how much unborn potential it already has. As if you were looking at a filly, who would no doubt grow into a beautiful mare, or a sapling that will one day bear luscious fruits.

You can't help but express your delight. You wouldn't be able to even if you tried.



"Oh Rarity… this is gorgeous…"



You say out loud, as you look at yourself in the mirror, wearing the still incomplete dress that Rarity brought for you to try on.

And the mare, whose reflection you can see right behind you, by the far corner of the room, mutely nods back at you in agreement.

Although you can see that she is not looking at the dress. She agrees with what you say, but she has not thought about the dress for a long time now. Still, you pretend you don't realize it.

Getting into this situation was… simple enough.

Because during your last teatime, while you were asking Jade to do this and that for you, you also asked how Rarity's efforts have been going, when it came to her career. After all, you all agreed that it would be best if she dedicated herself fully to it this month.

And the mare told you that she was doing her best. Revisiting old ideas, trying on new things, simply dedicating her time more intensely than she has for a while now.

But she also told you, through the furtive glances and suppressed sighs that you can see so clearly now, that as of late she has been lacking… inspiration.

And you immediately knew what she wanted. You immediately knew what she needed, even if the mare herself did not know it.

An innocent offer to model for her was, of course, met with a delighted spark from her eyes, and a more-controlled agreement that yes, that was a sensible idea.

And then she came to your home more and more frequently, for longer and longer hours, where you would entertain her by trying on whatever new piece she came up with.

And then the two of you spent more and more time together, the mare's new prototypes being more closely sized to your proportions rather than her own body-sized mannequins.

And then you suggested that she stay the night every now and then. Because Jade was already here, and what sort of friend would you be if you let her go back home at such a late hour?



And now you are here.

In your study room.

At night.

With her.



You shake your head for a few moments, testing the perfectly-fitting tiara against your movements to ensure that the thing would not fall off if you were to turn your head too quickly or the likes. After all, you are modeling for the dress, so you have to do small tests like this.

Never mind that by doing this, by merely shaking your mane back and forth, you are also filling the room with this sweet, sugary scent, that is neither honey nor roses, but somehow better than both.

You then look back at the mirror, this time looking straight at Rarity's reflected eyes. Seeing how the mare is all but pressing her back against the wall, as if desperately trying to restrain herself from…

From what, you wonder?

You turn around to face her.



"But you simply have to tell me, dear… what is your inspiration to do something like this?"



You look at the mare as you slowly walk towards her. The sound of each of your hoofsteps as silent as a whisper, and yet you can tell that for Rarity they are deafeningly loud. Each of them causing another crack to form at a certain wall she has in her mind, at that fortress-like bulwark that she erected so long ago but that feels so desperately thin right now.

"I… I don't think this dress is all that d-darling…" she says, stammering. "And you know, I was just thinking a-about this and t-that, as I…"

Her words drone off into silence as you bring a hoof to your mane and let it fall to your side, Rarity's wide-eyed expression telling you that she is staring, gawking even, at the exact answer to your question. Her eyes telling you the truth that her words clumsily try to deny, that she is right now looking at the exact image she had in her mind's eye as she prepared this dress. That she is staring at the thing she wants to create for the whole world to see.

Or maybe, for her alone to see.



"Nonesense, dear… Everything you do is inspired. Everything you do is gorgeous… Everything about you is…"



You walk up to the mare, feeling as something inside of her desperately thrashes against its bindings, yearning for release, even as she musters all of her will to keep herself frozen solid. Her forelegs pushing her back towards the corner of the room, where she is now helplessly trapped, as they desperately try to put even another inch between you and her.

And never mind that, now, the two of you are so close that if she stops pushing her back against the wall the two of you will…

"I… V-velvet darl-ling, I really d-don't-"

"Hush," is all you say to interrupt her.


And you can feel as the mare's body flares up in response to that. Her voice dying out as if you had just physically closed her lips with a hoof, or with your magic, or with something else that is even closer and sweeter than either of those.


"I said it then, and I will say it again. You have... something in here," you say, as you place a caressing hoof against the fluff of her chest-

-feeling her frenetic heartrate double at that-

"… that is natural."

You bite down the word "talent". You are sure she understands exactly what you mean.

And then you look up from her chest, tracing the elegant lines of her face as if you were appreciating a work of art, until you are looking back into her eyes once again.



"And I can't help but wonder… what else do you have in mind?"



You ask that innocent piercing question, and you watch as the fur on her coat stands on its end, her lungs taking in a sharp breath of the honeyed air only for her to bite her tongue at the last second, barring the words that she so desperately wants to speak. Caging inside of her the thing that she so desperately wants to express.

But you press on, because what sort of friend would you be if you didn't?



"What else do you… want to make real? What else do you yearn to bring to reality, like you did this dress…?"



You say that, and then you bring your face closer to hers. Your cool sigh hugging her warm breath only for a moment, before the fur on your cheeks brush and she finally realizes, with agonizing confusion and conflict, that you were just moving closer so you could whisper on her ear.

But the tickling words that you say, right after that, hit the last vestiges of the barriers she has in her mind like a battering ram.



"And what can we do… what do you want to do… to make that happen... Rarity dear?"



You ask that, you say those words, as you idly think over the fact that…

Jade Whistle left, just this morning, to go back to the place she is staying.

Your daughters, and Rarity's younger sister, are in one of their friends' houses, spending the night at a sleepover.

And Stormchaser will be gone for so many more days.

You say those words, and then you wonder. You wonder if Rarity will move to adjust the tiara that you have on your head, and continue to work on the dress… or if she will do something else.





[The Chalice Murmurs. What became of that redmost dream?]


[] "You are a fool, cozened by a fool to emplace one more stone in the walls of the Mansus. You may, if you choose, cast that stone away into the night." (OPTION UNAVAILABLE)
-Where is the fun in that?


[] "So the seeds . . . were planted, though for long years [they will be] nothing but an unfulfilled ache."
-Rarity will temporarily become a Minion
-Rarity will stop being a Minion as soon as her Grail level becomes equal/greater than yours, AND An Incarnadescence ends (both conditions must be met)
-Rarity will RETURN to being a Minion, should her Grail level ever become lower than yours, OR if you come under the effect of An Incarnadescence again (either condition being met will be enough for her to become a Minion again in the future)


[] "The real Hours don't meet the Gods-from-Nowhere, but the Ring-Yew meets the Mare-in-the-Tree in where the Wood grows lush. Their couplings are forbidden, and forbidden things have power, and this is the story of their coupling."
-Rarity will permanently become a Minion.
-Rarity will be upgraded to a Disciple (Grail 3, Forge 1)
-Rarity will ???



[Regardless of your choice, Rarity is currently a Minion due to a reason other than your Leash.]

[Your Leash has retracted back to you, and is available for further use.]


Leash somepony else?

[] Leash Fluttershy, the next time you meet her. You are about to go talk to the mare, and have her help in something very, very important. What better way to stack the deck in your favor? (You have no idea if Comet Feet will be able to sense it, or how he might react if he does.)

[] Leash Soft Sweeps, the next time you meet her. This will certainly help her come out of her shell quicker. Straight into your embrace, even. What is there not to love? (This will help you approach her more easily. Unhealthy? How could this possibly be unhealthy? You are succulent, and you renew, and by the Hours that is what you will do to her.)

[] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)





Velvet Covers is now under the effect of "An Incarnadescence". This effect will accompany her until the END of turn 16, or until otherwise dispelled.

Velvet Covers has summoned an Influence of the highest intensity of Grail, she has gained TWO scraps of GRAIL Lore.

Velvet Covers has spent bits for the following actions: crafting a Grail 3 Reagent, performing a Calling of Influence ritual, giving money for Jade Whistle to perform Reflection of the Tapestry in the near future, giving money for the Daughter-of-Axes to leave on an expedition.

Velvet Covers had her servants prepare an out of the way barn, on her estate, to be used for less public activities. Performing rituals on the Velvet Estate is now possible, and slightly less suspicious than it would originally be. (It is still relatively suspicious and risky to perform rituals there).

Velvet Covers has summoned a Flourishing Risen, it will be available until the END of turn 16, and will perform its actions this turn as ordered.



Velvet Covers is currently under the effects of "An Incarnadescence". QM will purposefully decline from answering any questions of "what does Velvet think about this."

Interpret this, all of this, however you will. I will not comment on anything that isn't explicitly written.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)
[X] "So the seeds . . . were planted, though for long years [they will be] nothing but an unfulfilled ache."

You are Lady Velvet Covers.

And you… just woke up.

"Dear heavens, how much did I drink last night…?"

Although part of you wishes you did not.



Because the headache you are feeling is…



Your senses come back to you in waves. Painful, glaring waves of consciousness as the Wake closes its grip around you more and more strongly.

First comes your sight, the fully lit interior of your room coming into view as your mind finally accepts it has woken up. And that by itself leaves you with a hard choice to make, because seeing your room in such richness of detail makes you feel sick, but opening your eyes and being plunged into the welcoming darkness makes your eyes hurt.

Then comes your sense of smell, and you are all but assaulted by the stench of alcohol. And you feel the telltale scent of a pony who had too much to drink last night coming from everywhere around you. Of course, you feel it coming from all around you because that scent is coming from you.

After that you feel your sense of taste returning. No, that's not exactly it. You just become suddenly (and very uncomfortably) aware that your tongue is inside your mouth. And you can feel it is dry and sour, after any sweetness it felt last night between whatever wine you had left it.

And you…

… and you…

… and you would think that having this much Grail at your disposal would make you immune to these sorts of problems. Because despite all these physical discomforts you are having, you can still feel the Influence of Grail draping you like a cloak. However, much to your discomfort, you are also acutely aware that there is nothing your metaphysical sensibilities can do about your physical indisposition.

You are quite literally both covered in the glory of Grail, and also stuck with… with a damn earthly hangover. And the only reason you don't feel more offended by it is because thinking hurts right now.

The echoing voice of Baldomare comes to your mind, as you recall her saying that cheating death is indeed very hard, and you think you understand what she means a little better now. How many Grail adepts, you wonder, died of alcohol poisoning because they thought themselves immune to it.

And finally, your sense of touch returns to you, sluggish and confused, and you realize that…

…

"Wait, what?"

Your sense of touch returns to you. And you can feel how dry your body is. The coarse sensation of unkept fur here and there, where you probably spilled your drink on yourself as you floated it around with magic. The heavy weight of tired limbs, that could definitely use a day or perhaps a whole week of rest after whatever your drunk-self did yesterday.

And you also feel… softness?

Your body freezes, as if a cold bucket of water had been thrown on your face, because you just noticed something else.

Your eyes go wide open, plunging the room into darkness, as you realize that there is somepony nestled between your forelegs. And whoever it is, it has the entirely wrong shape to be either one of your daughters or your husband.

Of course, you wouldn't want any of your daughters to be here with you, given your unsightly after-drinking condition.

But still, your mind spins as you sluggishly begin to put two and two together.

That is, until you feel the pointed sensation of a horn against your chest.

And you lift your covers with a flick of magic to discover a certain white unicorn quite literally squeezing herself against you. A wide grin on her lips, as if she had won some prize she had been wanting for a long time, even though she is still clearly passed out and asleep.



You… decide to begin your day.

Before Rarity wakes up.



- - -



You stare at Rarity from across the dining table.

And she returns the same blank, dry and tired expression that you have.

You have the undignified expression of a noblemare who definitely should not be disturbed today. And thankfully, your servants picked up on that almost immediately.

Of course, all the Grail surrounding you is still distorting everything you do like a crimson lens. So sure, the servants that cleaned up your room saw the empty bottles of wine and the alcohol soaked sheets and everything else, and you are sure that gossips are being whispered even right now as the news spread. But still, due to your other circumstances, you know that their whispers are geared towards longing and regret. And that their ideas are more centered around regret, that they weren't the ones assigned to stay in the estate for the night shift and weren't present, rather than anything malicious towards you.

And besides, you managed to avoid the worse possible outcome, gossip-wise. That is, you managed to unceremoniously toss Rarity onto the bed of one of the guest rooms, the one farthest away from your own room, before any of the maids began going around the house.

So you know that all the gossiping will, at worst, be that Lady Velvet got drunk. Which is rare for your Ponyville household, but is common to the point of boredom in Canterlot.

And much more importantly, you know the gossiping will not be that one of the servants "caught you in bed" with your financial protegee and best friend.

"Just how much did we have to drink…" Rarity half-asks, half-mumbles between the small bites she is taking from her breakfast.

The two of you are clean now, at least, and a little more conscious. Taking a cold shower helped with that, even though yours and Rarity's manes are far from dignified.

Still, you can tell from her tone of voice, and from the hoarseness in your words as you answer her, that neither of you will be doing anything productive today.

"I didn't bother to count the bottles… and I am actually afraid to ask, even though I am sure somepony took stock…" you say, stopping to take a long sip of water. "Oh, Rarity, more importantly. We didn't damage any of your clothes, did we?"

"Don't worry about it, darling," she says, waving a sluggish hoof, "I checked the study room before coming downstairs. The floor carpet looks tragic, but by some miracle my dresses and the fabric I brought are all untouched."

You allow yourself a relieved sigh at that. Rarity is focusing on her career this month, and you would feel terrible if her visit to your estate had set her back on her work on top of the hangover she is currently suffering through.

Although you can't help but… worry a little bit.

Because you can't remember what happened yesterday. Well, you can, but not really with words or images.

You can feel what happened yesterday, but not… not in the sense that you would be able to write it down or tell somepony if you wanted to.

You remember… sensations. Sensations, and ideas, and warmth, and sweetness and softness and the fine line between thirst and dampness and-

….

Well, again, you can't remember it in words. And the things that you remember don't make any sense. Not to you, at least.

But what you can do right now… is see the effects on the present.

Because Rarity can't tell. You are sure that she can't feel any difference, and that she won't be able to notice even after her hangover passes. She doesn't realize it, but you do.

You realize that the… the pull you had over her is gone. That the connection you had with her… that you had around her, like a leash or perhaps a noose, retracted back to you. But not because it was broken, oh no.

Instead, you don't have any of your sway around her because you don't need it.

You are not sure how you feel about it. You are too tired, and too dehydrated, and you have too much of a headache to think about it right now.

But still, you can tell with absolute certainty that…

That the thing Rarity wants the most right now, the thing that she will want the most for the foreseeable future… is you.

It might just be as a longing. It might just be as an inspiration. Or perhaps it might become an obsession. But still, you can tell that Rarity…

Well, you know for a fact that she will do anything you ask. And that knowledge makes you feel as if you had just gulped down a cup of sour and burning wine. Because no matter how much you promise yourself that you will not abuse that, the knowledge is still there. And the truth is never kind.

"But what are you doing today, darling?" Rarity says, snapping you out of your thoughts, "I mean, do you have any plans on your schedule?"

You try to shake your head to focus on her question, and the pain on your head causes you to immediately regret it. But still, you blink a few times at her question, and you try to remember exactly what you are supposed to be doing.

After all, you are sure you didn't just get drunk for no reason. You have a lot of things to worry about. You all do.

"I… I'm going to meet that friend of yours tomorrow. That pegasus that lives near the forest?"

You say that, although you can't remember the mare's name for the life of you. Still, you remember you have to meet her tomorrow, because tomorrow is the day Comet Feet's own influence is supposed to fade. And unless something extremely unexpected (and potentially bad) happened, tomorrow is the best possible day for you to try and talk to him.

And you promised the pegasus that you would take her with you.

"Who? Fluttershy? Oh right, you know her. By Celestia, I still can't believe you somehow met her. I mean, she barely ever leaves her house for anything and…"

Rarity's words trail off, as her expression makes it very clear that she is physically incapable of saying anything else without feeling pain. The slow, methodical way she once again picks up her water and sips at it makes you give her a commiserating nod.

The two of you finish your breakfast in relative silence, and mutely agree to stay in your room's balcony, sitting under the shade of the large parasols, until lunch.

And after several hours, after the two of you are finally able to act normally once again, Rarity leaves you and goes back to her boutique, to focus on her work.

Both of you have a lot of work to do.



- - -



You splash cold water on your face, taking as much care as you possibly can to avoid getting your mane wet.

It has been a whole day since you woke up with Rari-… (ahem), it has been twenty four hours since you began nursing yourself from a particularly vile hangover. And even though you can still feel that you aren't precisely in top shape, you definitely feel more than good enough to go about your business. The insistence of your heartbeat giving your energy and the coolness of your mind brushing away any discomfort you might have.

You also think you are now more used to the Grail Influence that you called into yourself. In fact, curiously, you think that getting drunk actually helped you gain some perspective, on how to interact with it.

Because the Grail Influence… it feels like… it feels like you are only slightly tipsy. As if you had enough to drink that you are able to slip into a sillier, less caring, more indulgent train of thought.

But that's the thing about it. You are only slightly tipsy. So even though it takes a considerable amount of willpower and care, you can still push it back if you really want to.

Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that engaging with the Influence and giving in to it are one and the same.

But anyhow, esoteric semantics aside, you think you have a better hang of it. It still covers you like a wedding dress, of course, and you are sure that anypony that knows anything about the Lores would be able to sense it in a heartbeat. Still, you think you are better able to use it as a tool rather than ride it like an uncontrolled sled.

With that in mind, you take one last look at the mirror, give the perfectly normal noblemare that is staring back at you a satisfied nod, and then you prepare to leave your estate.

After all, you have a long walk ahead of you. And even though you know your timing won't be perfect you still have a feeling that you are on the right schedule.



…



The grass-covered cottage comes into view just as the song-like chirping of birds reaches your ears. And as your hoofs take you towards the front door of Fluttershy's home, you see the welcome sight of several small critters running here and there. Looking at you curiously from treetops and from the surrounding bushes and from the countless little bird-houses that surround the pegasus mare's house.

And you really mean it, when you say that the critters are a "welcome" sight.

After all, you realized a while ago that they usually disappear, when a certain menacing pegasus makes a visit. And also that they act up, whenever they are worried about the mare herself. So, seeing that the critters are out and about tells you that nothing wrong happened, if nothing else.

However, as you approach the cottage itself, you notice something… unusual.

No, really. You quite literally notice something. Or rather, you sense somepony.

It takes you a full second to realize that the scent you can feel is from Fluttershy herself. And that strikes you as odd because…

"Well, because the mare is usually so recluse that I can barely feel her at all," you whisper to yourself, raising an eyebrow towards the door as if you could see through it.

But the fact that you can feel her so clearly, as well as…

You focus for a few moments just to make sure.

… as well as the fact that she is pacing around her house, tells you that she is worked up.

And you can't immediately tell if she is scared, or stressed, or tense, or even if she is physically wounded. But you can clearly tell that she is very uncharacteristically nervous.

Of course, it doesn't take a genius to figure out why.

So, you take a deep breath, and you take the last few steps towards her door, knocking on it with a hoof.



The mare immediately freezes, and you can all but tell that she is looking at the door, wide-eyed and holding her breath.



"Fluttershy? Are you there? It's me, Velvet Covers," you say, pretending you don't know she is in the house out of courtesy. After all, if the mare decides to pretend she is not home… well, you will decide what to do based on her reaction.

You purse your lips as the seconds stretch by, the sensation of a locked door standing in front of you becoming more and more apparent.

But just as you begin to think the mare might actually not react, you hear the sound of hoofsteps approaching from behind the door.

And you mask your relief when the yellow pegasus unlocks the door, her pink mane half-covering her eye as she opens a small gap and peeks out at you.

"Uhm… hi there, Velvet," she says, her words slow and strangely heavy.

Almost as if she doesn't want to speak to you, because she knows what will happens next.

Because she knows that if you are here, several weeks after the last time you two spoke, then it means you have come to fulfill the promise you made her.

Which in turn can only mean that…

…

You can clearly see how conflicted the mare is. You can clearly see how her nervousness piled up, as she waited for this day to come, and how she wishes this day would never arrive now that you are here.

You can tell all of that, even though all you can see is Fluttershy looking down at the ground, and even though she only spoke four words to you.

Still, you can't back out now. You came here because you told her what is going on, and because you promised she could help you when the time arrived.

"Fluttershy," you say, trying your best not to purse your lips, "today is the day. Remember what I told you? That he… he might need help? Well, today is the day we need to go look for him."

As you say those words, you notice several things at the same time.

You can see how the open gap of the door closes a fraction.

You can see how her hoofs begin to shudder slightly.

And most of all, you can see how all her nervousness, all her tension, and all the self-doubt that piled up as she waited is crashing down on her. The determination that she had, when she spoke to you all those days ago, disappearing like a candle that was left in a storm.

To be honest, you think you can almost hear what she is thinking right now. Because what the hay was she thinking? What the hay was going on in her mind when she thought that Fluttershy, awkward, fumbling, and weak Fluttershy, would be able to do anything in regards to a pony that is not only dangerous, but that very clearly pushed her away?

You can see now, that she doesn't remember it. She doesn't remember what she thought, or how she felt. She doesn't remember all the tension, and the worry, and the pain that she felt. Oh no. All that she can see right now is the impossibility of the task before her.

So it seems that… you might have to… tell her something.

You just might need to motivate her.



"Velvet, I'm... I'm not so sure about this..." she says, although you already knew what her words would be even before she opened her mouth.

"Fluttershy…" you begin to say, very carefully. "Please listen to me. You don't have to come with me, if you really don't want to. But remember what I told you… he needs our help and…"

You take a deep breath.



[The push she needs, breakpoints 60/80/100/120/150]

[Roll: 83 + 13 (Diplomacy) + 5 (Beautiful) + 15 (GRAIL bonus) + 40 (An Incarnadescence) = 156]



"… and hear me out, Fluttershy," you say, as you place a hoof on the door, and slowly push it open.

Letting the words flow out from your mouth like honey. Keeping a grip around them as if you were handling a very dangerous tool, but still letting them flow nonetheless.

And the mare, suddenly wide-eyed as if she had just lost her breath, doesn't even remember that she also has a hoof on the door that was supposed to be pushing you back.

You are inside her house moments later, and your words enter her heart just as quickly.





[The minimum breakpoint was needed for you to convince Fluttershy not to give up. The subsequent breakpoints allow you to reveal her more information without her freaking out.]

[You can tell Fluttershy whatever you want, and she will both understand and accept it.]



What did you tell her? With what knowledge will she be armed with, as the two of you set out to look for Comet Feet?


[] (Roll 60) You just reminded her that she cares about Comet Feet. You don't utter the name of the feeling she has, but you rekindle it all the same. (You will not tell Fluttershy anything.)

[] (Roll 80) "… he might be hurt, or he might just be confused. So I need you to be ready for that." (You tell her that Comet Feet got himself into a very dangerous situation.)

[] (Roll 100) "… but even though he is dangerous, he is not evil. The situation he is in, on the other hoof…" (You tell her that Comet Feet is very dangerous, and not entirely guilt-free.)

[] (Roll 120) "… a sequence of bad decisions. I regret it, and I think he does too. Still, we need to find him before it's too late." (You tell her that there is a cult, and that Comet Feet's hoofs are stained with blood.)

[] (Roll 150) "… and if that happens, the Colonel will never release him." (You tell Fluttershy everything. Fluttershy will also be immediately introduced to the Lores, and will become and Enlightened of Winter 0, and lesser affinity unknown.)





Authors Note:

-Fluttershy will go with you. What you tell her will determine both how "prepared" she will be, and how thankful she will be for your sincerity.

-No matter what you pick, she will not be dissuaded from wanting to go after Comet Feet, and it will not impact your relationship with her (or her relationship with Comet) in the slightest. At least, it will not make your relationship with Fluttershy any worse, although some options might make it better.

-However, you have no idea how Comet Feet will react, or feel about, what you decide to tell Fluttershy. Don't forget that the secrets you tell her are not entirely yours.

Approval vote. Only the highest voted will be picked. Six hours of moratorium.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Vespertine
-[X] You will do the bare minimum to get the farm running. For the benefit of your workers and your city, if nothing else.
-[X] (Servants) Find a way to reduce suspicion of at-home rituals (don't tell them that, of course)
-[X] (Hintchasers) Obtain a dead body from the cemetery
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Jade) Scout Crepuscular Jailbreak with RotT
--[X] Sacrifice Lantern 1 reagent
--[X] At the Velvet estate
-[X] (Velvet Axe) Lead an expedition (Beneath the Royal Castle
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to physically scouting Crepuscular Jailbreak if RotT fails
-[X] (Risen) Fleeting opportunity: Steal the original manuscripts from the Bright Library
-[X] Selene (Winter)
-[X] (AotL) Grail: Comet Feet
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Ruined Church
-[X] (Forge) Grail 3
-[X] (Winter) Raise a Flourishing Risen
-[X] Perform the Calling of Influence (Grail)
--[X] Sacrifice Grail 3 reagent
--[X] At the cult's gathering place
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Comet Feet
--[X] With Fluttershy from the start
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Family Lore lessons
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Dissociate 'Velvet Covers' from cult
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to Crepuscular Jailbreak if both RotT and scouting fail
-[X] Lead an expedition (Crepuscular Jailbreak)

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] (Roll 150) "… and if that happens, the Colonel will never release him." (You tell Fluttershy everything. Fluttershy will also be immediately introduced to the Lores, and will become and Enlightened of Winter 0, and lesser affinity unknown.)

"… and hear me out, Fluttershy."

You say those words as you push her door open.

And much to your surprise, the mare does not push the door back. On the contrary, Fluttershy herself backs off as you enter, and before you realize it you are closing the door behind you.

In fact, you realize that… that this also surprises the pegasus herself.

Maybe it was something you said. Or maybe it was how you said it. But still, you can tell from the mare's expression that you somehow struck a chord inside of her. You can tell from her wide-eyed surprise that even though she is still slightly shivering, from her fears and her doubts and her self-depreciation, that there is still something firm on the back of her mind that…

… that wants to know. That wants to hear what you have to say.

And as you realize that, as you realize that perhaps for the first time you have not only her undivided attention, but also her interest, you freeze. You hesitate, if only for a moment.

Because you can't help but wonder… what exactly should you tell her? In fact, what can you tell her?

After all, you don't know Comet Feet that well. Ironically, you think that the mare in front of you might know him better than you, or anypony else, ever did. Even if she doesn't realize it.

But that's not the issue you are facing right now. If nothing else, her knowing Comet Feet better than you might even be helpful. And that is because…

Well, because you might not know Comet Feet personally, as a pony. You might not know about his past, or what goes on inside his mind.

But what you do know, and what you realize the mare wants to know… is the things you have learned about Comet Feet.

Because you don't know him personally, and you know very little about how he thinks. But you certainly know what he has done. You know about the Cult and about his dealings with it. You know about his achievements and his deeds. And most of all, you know exactly how dangerous he is…

And the two of you also realize, from the way you are looking at each other's eyes right now, that if you were to tell all of that to Fluttershy you might just give all the pieces that she is missing in the puzzle she has been building, these past few months.

A puzzle that she has… grown to care for very much, you realize.

However, again, you have a problem. Because should you tell her what you know? Can you tell her what you know?

You ask yourself that because… well, the secrets you know are not yours to share.

And that doubt makes you freeze for a moment.



But only for a moment.



"Fluttershy, the thing that I need to tell you… actually, the several things that I need to tell you, they might come as a bit of a shock."

Your hesitation, your doubts, your fears. They only last for a moment.

And that is because…

"However, I need you to trust me when I say that I need to tell you these things. No, I need you to trust me when I say that you need to know about this. All of this."

… because as you look at Fluttershy right now…

"And I say this… from experience."

… you see yourself.

No, more than that. You don't just see yourself. You see a little bit of yourself, and a little bit of Stormchaser. And most of all, you see the story that the two of you just lived through. You can see how the mare in front of you is about to take the first step into a long, winding and painful road that you know all too well.

And you would very much like her to avoid that road… No. It is your duty to help her avoid that road.

After all, Fluttershy is a… a recluse mare, to say the least. You don't know what caused her to be like this. Maybe she was hurt by somepony, or something. Maybe she is afraid. Or perhaps she was just born like this. However, she is… detached. The same way you were detached and alone, spending all those years locked in your room after your own accident.

But still, Fluttershy is already proving to be far stronger than you ever were. Because just like how Stormchaser saved you from all of that, from that room and that loneliness and that emptiness, you can also see in her eyes that… that she cares for Comet Feet.

And Comet Feet… just like yourself, is holding secrets.

And even though Comet Feet has a right to hold those secrets, you also know from your own experience that those secrets might eventually hurt Fluttershy. Heavens, your own secrets almost destroyed your own relationship with Stormchaser, and worst of all they hurt him deeply.

And you… don't… want… her to be hurt like that.

So even if this shocks Fluttershy so much that she decides to abandon Comet Feet. Or even if this causes Comet Feet to hate you. You have to tell her.

Because you know that not telling her will be far, far more painful, down the road.

"This might take a while, but… remember the first time I came here? That I told you I knew Comet Feet from a… book club? Let me tell you what I really meant by that…"

That, you know from experience.



- - -



You are still on time.

Your conversation with Fluttershy… actually took a good while.

Well, you say "conversation," but it was more of a monologue. You just talked, and talked, and talked. Telling her first what you knew, then what you heard, and finally about what you suspected about Comet Feet.

And you didn't just tell her about Comet Feet. You also told her about… several other things besides. You even showed her a thing or two. Whispered to her one or two words.

But still, the mare did not interrupt you. Not only did she let you speak, but you could tell that she would urge you to continue speaking should you ever stop.

The only real difference you saw in Fluttershy was in her expression. As the wide-eyed, Grail-struck surprise she had at first, when she realized how much she wanted to know what you had to say, was slowly substituted by… furrowed eyebrows… and pursed lips… and a strange, tense, worrying that you couldn't exactly tell whether if it was good or bad.

Still, once you were done, you asked if she would still like to come with you. After all, there were still a few hours of daylight left, but you would still have to locate Comet Feet. And you realized that after everything you told her, she might just want to… not.

Her only answer to you was to stand up from where she was sitting, and wordlessly walk out through the front door.

And as you followed her out you realized that…

You are still on time.

In fact, you realize that if you had spent any less time in her cottage, if you had not told her everything you told her, you would in fact have left to search for Comet Feet too early.

And that makes you all the more certain. It needs to be like this. She needed to know what you told her. Otherwise, the timing would not fit. Otherwise… she would just get hurt, down the road. The same way you hurt Stormchaser.

And as you realize that, you can't help but think that…

Coincidences do not exist.



…



Locating Comet Feet isn't difficult. In fact, once you realize where he is it almost feels obvious in hindsight. Because where else would he be? Where else could he have stayed that would be both close to Ponyville, while also sufficiently inhospitable and dangerous enough to cater to his current mentality?

It is obvious, then, that your attempts to look for Comet Feet immediately point you to the Everfree Forest.

You immediately think about stopping, of course. You immediately think about going back, or at the very least trying to get a hold of the Daughter-of-Axes before even setting hoof inside the forest.

After all, you heard the stories. Like everypony else in Ponyville did. You know that there are dangers lurking in the Everfree Forest, literal monsters and magical creatures, and that the forest itself is already strange to begin with. To the point that you don't know if you would be able to survive in there by yourself, despite your paltry Edge-knowledge, so you are sure that you will not be able to protect Fluttershy.

However, as soon as the two of you arrive at the edge of the Everfree Forest, you also notice… something else.

You are not sure if you would describe it as an absence of sorts, or if this feels like some kind of weight.

But still, you immediately notice that the Everfree Forest is quiet. The strange furtive noises you would expect, the wild cloud-moving winds that should blow on their own, seem to be entirely absent.

On top of that, you also feel the weight of stillness. In fact, you might even think the forest itself, or at least the part where you and Fluttershy are about to enter, is covered in a pal of fear.

And most glaringly, you don't feel any presence at all. No threatening predators lying in wait, observing you two from a distance. No forgotten magical lifeforms wandering nearby, that might see your presence as some form of transgression. Not even the presence of critters, scampering about in the nervous rush as they try to survive another day at the bottom of the food chain.

You even think Fluttershy feels it as well. Or that she realizes how unusually quiet it is, if nothing else.

Still, even though that unusual emptiness tells you that you should be more nervous, it is also an indication that the two of you will be safe… or as safe as one can be inside the Everfree Forest. So, the two of you continue on.

And soon enough you find Comet Feet's trail.

Calling it a "trail" might be a poor choice of words, though. The two of you immediately realize what you are looking at.

The large tree, mauled by three deep gashes, is very clearly a territory marker. One that even the creatures of the forest were sure to understand.

However, the two of you also immediately realize that the symbol itself, the way the three deep cuts in the tree trunk are placed in relation to one another, is the unmistakable shape of a knife. Fluttershy realizes it, even from her own normal-life experiences. And you recognize it, as the most basic symbol of Edge. The same symbol you saw in the Mansus, pointing the way to that endless pit of knives in the Shattered Stairways. The same symbol you wrote in the ritual circle that summoned the Daughter-of-Axes, together with so many others.

The "trail" only gets more and more obvious as the two of you carry on. More maimed trees, the signs of vegetation that had been cleanly cut… You and Fluttershy even pass by the dead body of a large animal, left to rot and completely unpicked by other creatures. The clear sign that not even carrion-feeders had dare to come this far, you two realize, despite the free meal.



The forest becomes darker, and the atmosphere gets heavier, until you arrive where you are standing right now. In front of a large, forbidding cave.



To your surprise, it is Fluttershy who speaks up, even though you and the mare barely exchanged any words ever since you left her cottage.

"This… is a manticore lair…" she says, as you turn your face to look at her.

And judging by her tone of voice and the expression she is wearing, you are not entirely sure if she just spoke to you, or if she was talking to herself.

Because Fluttershy is… you are honestly not sure. She doesn't look terrified, not exactly. Even though you can tell her hoofs are trembling and her voice is shaking. She doesn't look tense, not quite. Even though you can see how tightly pressed her wings are against her sides.

She doesn't look like she wants to be here. And yet, between the two of you, she takes the first step towards the cave.

And you don't even have to check, to know if you are going in the right direction.

Because the scent coming from inside the cave is choking in its intensity.



- - -



The atmosphere inside the cavern is almost oppressive.

The cavern is dark. It is not the pitch-blackness of a lightless cavern, due to the glowing fungus that grows from the ceiling. But still, even though there is enough light for Fluttershy to be able to walk around, she would definitely not be able to navigate the twists and turns, and the branching paths, without you.

The cavern is also damp. Hot and damp. As if the two of you had just entered the mouth of a large predator. The slow gust of air that passes you by, too weak to be even called a breeze, feeling like the breath of something too large, with dripping stalactites for teeth.

But most of all, the cavern reeks of blood.

You have already bled, during your life. You have already been hurt, badly, and you know how blood looks, tastes and even smells like. That bitter taste on the back of your mouth. That coppery scent of when there is so much of it that even bandages aren't enough. And you are sure that Fluttershy is familiar with it. Maybe she knows more, due to caring for a particularly wounded animal. Maybe she knows less, due to her sheltered life.

Still, neither of you were prepared for this. Both of you stop, and cough, and even gag once the stench hits you.

"Wh-hat ish…?" you ask, or you try to ask, as the two of you walk into one of the deeper turns of the cave, and the smell hits you all at once.

Fluttershy can't even answer, the mare has to take a full minute of coughing behind her wings before she can even look at you again. And when she does, her eyes have the pinprick of water around them, just from how overbearing the smell is.

And your eyes, your closed eyes that can see through the near-darkness with ease, immediately see where the stench is coming from.

"Oh m-y-goo-dn-…" you say, almost retching, even opening your eyes so that the thing you just saw would become only a dark silhouette instead of a starkly clear image.

But even if you couldn't see it anymore, the image remains clear and fresh inside your head.

At the end of the cave's corridor, close to another curve that carried the cavern further away from your sight is a… was, a manticore. You only say that because the thing that you just saw… can't rightly be called a manticore anymore.

You could see, for the short seconds before you opened your eyes, what it once was. You could almost picture the great feline body it had, the powerful venomous tail jutting from its rear, and the bat-like wings that would allow it to take flight. You could see how it was a feline body worthy of the title of a "monster".

But the thing that took over this cavern does not look kindly upon any of that. It does not look kindly upon cats, and it certainly does not look kindly upon monsters.

That manticore was… you did not see enough details to be rightly sure, but it was barely recognizable as one anymore. Its body was pockmarked with wounds, its tail was crushed and oozing old and rotten poison, and you are sure that you did not see any trace of its wings before opening your eyes.

However, most telling of all, you did not see its head. And whether if it was taken as a trophy or crushed as a particularly vile symbol, you do not know. You only saw the… all the things that leaked out from its empty spot, lending its stench to the cavern, covering you and Fluttershy like a sick mantle.

You pull on her hoof, having her navigate that part of the cavern while almost hugging the wall. A silent, disgusted understanding crossing her eyes as the two of you pass so close to the thing that even the glowing moss allows the mare to see what that dark silhouette was.

But still, she doesn't back down. And even when you pause for a moment, the mare keeps walking, holding her breath even as her hoofs shake and her wings shiver.

…

The number of manticores that you pass by, as well as their size, only increases as you go deeper into the cave.



…



"I think… I see light?" Fluttershy says in a whisper, her voice so low that you can barely understand he.

But still, your open eyes pick up on what she means.

The two of you had passed by the two largest manticores yet just a few turns ago. The headless creatures had been held up against each other like a grizzly arch of sorts, like the entrance to a barbaric castle. Still, they were displayed over the only way forward, so the two of you had been forced to pass underneath them.

Luckily, their dried blood was no longer dripping.

And perhaps as a small blessing, or maybe a final warning that you had reached your destination, the smell of blood and rot and other visceral things slowly began to fade. Slowly began to be left behind, even if parts of it still tried to stick to your coat like an unwelcome blessing.

However, like the mare just said, you could indeed see light. The red-and-yellow light of a bonfire, or perhaps a torch.

And you could also… hear something… the sound of running water, perhaps of an underground river, but also the constant… repetitive… almost desperate sound of…



"… … … … …"



The two of you quicken your pace, making your way through the blocking columns of old stone, the light reflected on their damp surfaces helping you two to walk more quickly without fear of tripping. In fact, once you realize you will probably not regret it anymore, you close your eyes and dash forward even faster, showing the way for Fluttershy to follow after you.

And all the while, the sound of running water becomes stronger, and the desperate, repeating noise becomes recognizable. Even if not understandable.

You realize that they are words, you realize that whoever is speaking them is frightened. But you can't yet tell what they mean.



"…-ome off… wo… ff… t com …"



That is, until you make your way around the last few rocks, and you find the source of light.

You find the source of light, a badly kept bonfire inside a large upturned skull. You find the flowing river, a shallow stream that cuts that section of the cavern in half. And you find…

… and you find Comet Feet.

You also finally understand the words he is saying.



"…-ome off… it won't come off… it won't come off…"



Comet Feet is…

He is…

You can barely recognize him.

He is standing on the water stream, although the water itself is not so deep and only reaches up to maybe half of his legs.

Still, you…

You remember Comet Feet has a dark green coat. You remember that, like any other pony, he had colors to him.

…

Well, you can't see any of those colors now.

You watch, in muted horror, as Comet Feet tries to clean himself.

As he tries to clean himself of all the blood.

To say that he is covered in blood is not enough. To say that he is caked in it, that he was embedded in it, that he was slowly lowered into a pool of blood until it seeped into every last spore in his coat, is not enough. And his frantic, almost panicked motions as he tries to clean off one of his legs doesn't seem to be making any difference.


"…it won't come off… it won't come off… it won't come off… it won't come off…"


But worst of all is… well, everything else.

Comet Feet looks gaunt. You recall him being a strong and solid stallion, with not a single hint of waste in his body. However, right now he also looks like he has not eaten a single thing for the last two months.

Comet Feet looks wounded. His wings are depressed and fallen to the side, revealing the side of his body that is usually hidden in a pegasus. And you can see on his side several scars, long and deep. You recall how sharp his feathers looked, the last time you saw him. You wonder if those weapons of his body also worked their wicked edge against him, sheathing themselves in his own skin when they were not being used. Demanding to drink somepony's blood, even when not engaged in their holier purposes.

And Comet Feet looks terrified. His voice is… hollow. His eyes seem to be staring through his own foreleg, even as he desperately tries to clean it. And his expression looks like his mind is anywhere but here. As if he is still recoiling from what just happened. Reliving all of his memories through the horrible eyes of a now-sane pony.

It almost shocks you when he suddenly stops. When his eyes snap open with sudden clarity, and he unerringly snaps up to look straight towards you.

Which makes you realize, all too late, that you got too close. That even in his state, he could still notice you.

And even though you can tell the Influence itself is gone, you can see how the muscle memory he learned from it is not. And so you watch as, faced with something new and unexpected and unwelcome, he slides back into the well-oiled movement of hate.



"You…"



Comet Feet sees you. He sees you, and he understands that you are here, and he hates you.

"What… are you doing here… why is it you…?"

And his words, even though they are just words, almost cut through you. They don't wound you, but they harm you all the same. They don't slice through your body, but they still slash through any notion and any hopes and any illusion that he isn't willing to hurt you right now.

You realize that Comet Feet is about to lunge at you.

You take a step back, out of instinct. Your senses telling you that you are very much in danger. That you are about to have to fight for your very life.

But before you can say anything, even though your mind tells you that words will probably not save you-

"Co-… Comet Feet…? I-is that you…?"

Fluttershy appears on your side. And you realize maybe a second too late that you are so focused on Comet Feet that you quite literally forgot the mare is here with you.

However, something happens. As soon as his eyes move from you to the other mare, something happens.

You can feel it. Both as a sharp stab in your Edge-senses… as well as a cold, sinking feeling in your guts.

Comet Feet was moments away from lunging at you.

But now that he has seen Fluttershy. Now that he has seen you together with Fluttershy. And now that he has connected the dots.

Comet Feet is going to kill you.



[Rolling…]



But the mare acts first. And you are absolutely sure that it is not because Comet Feet hesitated. No. Instead, Fluttershy steps in front of you because she never stopped. Because as soon as she appeared by your side, she was already walking towards him.

To the point that she is now standing in between you and him. And you can't help but notice how soft and frail she is, and how she will die before her head ever hits the floor as soon as Comet Feet makes good of his desire to murder you.

And you know he will. You know that any second now will be your last.

Because you cannot see Fluttershy's expression, with how she is standing in front of you.

But you can very much see his.



[Rolling…]



"Why… did you bring her here…?"

The words hurt. Fluttershy flinches. You watch her hindlegs buckle, nearly giving away. You look as her posture quivers, wings almost opening to fly away in fear.

Because never mind that she is in the depths of a labyrinthic cave. Never mind that she would never, ever be able to find her way out. And never mind that even if she did, she would still be within a forest that is known to be deadly to ponies. After all, any other danger would be preferable to the certainty that is before you. To the menace that she right in front of her.

"I-…" you try to say something. Anything. Maybe an answer, maybe a fearful whisper.

But he cuts you off before you can even do that much.

"LOOK AT ME!"

Comet Feet steps out of the water, walking towards you and closer to the fire.

The two of you tremble at what you see.



[Rolling…]



But both of you stand your ground.

It might be because you are paralyzed by fear. It might be because you understand that turning your back to him, even if to flee, means death. But still, neither of you move.

The two of you watch, as you realize the extent of his condition. How even the inside of his mouth is covered in blood. How some of that blood is his, still flowing from his Edge-feather pierced sides.

"LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE MAKING HER SEE!"

He says that, his word like a mixture of hurt and shame, coating a dagger of hate that is aimed directly at you. He says all of that looking you in the eye, as if Fluttershy didn't even exist.

"IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED? WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT. I. AM. A. MONSTER!"

He says that, slamming a hoof into the ground, the solid stone cracking under the grievous punishment.

But much to your surprise-



[Rolling…]



-somepony else strikes a hoof against the ground as well.

And you think it was you. You think that some insane, panicked part of your brain just moved your hindleg, hitting a hoof against the ground in defiance.

Until you realize you didn't.

Fluttershy did.

"No… no you are not!"

The mare says that, her tone low and hesitant, her voice a breeze against a hurricane. But still, she says that.

And Comet Feet's eyes once again turn towards her.

But this time, it is not with a glance. He does not look at her as if to check if she is still here, before turning his hate towards you once again.

No, this time he looks at her with that same terrible intensity.

And even though you can see all the hairs on Fluttershy's coat standing on their ends, she remains between you and him.



"You stink of Grail… you don't know what you are doing."



"Yes... yes I do. Velvet helped me, but I am here because I want to!"



"You don't want to do this. I'm not worth it."



"Yes you are."



Their exchange goes back and forth. With each word the stallion says, you are sure Fluttershy will finally break. With each painful stab of his speech, you are sure the mare will finally break and run.

But somehow… somehow she doesn't.



[Rolling: And He Will Not Release Him]

[Rolling: For Every Single Living Creature]



That is, until the stallion, gaunt and blood-soaked and deadly, takes a half-step forward. No, he places a hoof on the ground, as if drawing a line.

"I am going to murder you if you take a single step forward."

And he says something you immediately understands to be the truth.

Comet Feet will kill her. If she gets even a single step closer to him, he will kill her.

You begin to move in a panic. Your hindlegs flex, to leap towards the mare in front of you so you may push her back. Your horn focuses into life, preparing to do something, anything, to save her. Your mouth opens to let out a warning, or a single word, or even a shout. Anything to tell Fluttershy that Comet Feet is telling the truth.

But before you can do any of that, Fluttershy takes a hoofstep towards that invisible line.



!!!!!



And the line is pushed back.

The words, the alarmed cry that was about to jump out of you, they all die inside your throat.

You can only watch, wide-eyed and heart hammering in your chest, as Fluttershy takes another, and another, and another step towards him.

And somehow that final, unbreakable promise of death gets pushed further and further back.

It is as unthinkable as a soldier going back on his orders. It is as absurd as a garrison opening up their gates to an enemy. And yet, despite Comet's oath being so strong that you can almost see it, that same line is somehow pushed back.

Until it is as thin as the blood covering his coat.

Until she is so close to him that their faces are almost touching.

And even though their postures are as different as night is from day… even though Comet's wings are open in threat and sharp with menace, while Fluttershy's body is so small that she might as well be curled up in fear… even despite all of that, you still cannot shake the impression that it is Comet Feet who has been backed into a corner.

Fluttershy then looks up to him-



"I don't believe you."



-and you watch as the stallion all but crumbles under the weight of those four words.

Because even though her words were trembling with fear, even though she knew that she would die if the stallion merely closed his wings around her, and even though he wanted to do that…

… she still did it. She still showed him that he was worth… all of this. This pain, and this fear, and even her death.

And that promise, that unbreakable oath of murder and hate, retreats even further, away from Comet Feet and to the farther edges of that dark cave. Like a shattered army that is routing. Like a defeated soldier running for his life.

You think there is a Pony, nearby, in the deep dark to which the oath retreated. You think he had his grip nearly closed around Comet Feet, like a coffin that was about to be nailed shut. You think he is shaking his head in disapproval, as his grip disappears like a faint mist.

But nopony else notices him.

And you…

…

You decide to leave. Comet Feet will know the way out of this cavern, and there is nothing else for you to do.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Vespertine
-[X] You will do the bare minimum to get the farm running. For the benefit of your workers and your city, if nothing else.
-[X] (Servants) Find a way to reduce suspicion of at-home rituals (don't tell them that, of course)
-[X] (Hintchasers) Obtain a dead body from the cemetery
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Jade) Scout Crepuscular Jailbreak with RotT
--[X] Sacrifice Lantern 1 reagent
--[X] At the Velvet estate
-[X] (Velvet Axe) Lead an expedition (Beneath the Royal Castle)
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to physically scouting Crepuscular Jailbreak if RotT fails
-[X] (Risen) Fleeting opportunity: Steal the original manuscripts from the Bright Library
-[X] Selene (Winter)
-[X] (AotL) Grail: Comet Feet to be used somewhere else
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Ruined Church
-[X] (Forge) Grail 3
-[X] (Winter) Raise a Flourishing Risen
-[X] Perform the Calling of Influence (Grail)
--[X] Sacrifice Grail 3 reagent
--[X] At the cult's gathering place
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Comet Feet
--[X] With Fluttershy from the start
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Family Lore lessons
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Dissociate 'Velvet Covers' from cult
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to Crepuscular Jailbreak if both RotT and scouting fail
-[X] Lead an expedition (Crepuscular Jailbreak)

You gave yourself… a few days off, after your affairs with Fluttershy and Comet Feet.

Just a few days, though. Enough for you to be able to think about the word "pegasus" and not immediately associate it with sharp objects. Or dark caverns. Or manticores. Or the fact that, somewhere out there, there is at least one very dangerous pony who very much wants to-

Ahem.

Like you said, you allowed yourself some time off. Until you are able to think of your family, which is entirely comprised of pegasus (or pegasus-adjacent, even if they don't know it yet), whenever you think about the word itself.

But now that you are back on your hooves, it is time to work.

You have a lot to prepare, and precious few days to get it done. The date of Captain Shining Armor's arrival is drawing nearer, and you are spinning several plates that you must safely land before that happens.

Off you go then.



- - -



As the days go by, the first bit of news you receive is a rather grim one.

It comes to you in the form of a cold breeze, even though you are having dinner in the warm and comfortable confines of your dining room. It hits you like a rubber band that had finally snapped, after being pulled too taught.



[Stealing the original manuscripts from the Bright Library, cd…]

[CD: 50 (base) + 15 (Secular securities) + 20 (Forge-warded, level 2) + 10 (Lantern Staff, level 1) = 95]

[Roll: 31 + 5 (General bonus) + 10 (Moth, level 2) = 46]

[Failure]



It comes as a half-remembered memory, the faint echo of mourning as if you had just heard some distant neighbor had just passed away.

Your Flourishing Risen was destroyed.

And you can't help but purse your lips in worry, as you wonder how exactly he met his demise, and whether those circumstances might be traced back to you.



- - -



For the next several days, you focus your attention on the Cult itself.

You had always planned on doing this, of course. After all, you feel like this month and the next might be the last window of opportunity you have to dissociate the noblemare Velvet Covers from the Wildhoof Club. You and Jade Whistle have already discussed several ideas as to how you might get that done.

However, like all ideas usually go, everything either of you suggested inevitably had some risk attached to it. After all, you can't exactly do something so eye-raising that somepony in the know, or perhaps even the Master herself, might seek you out for clarifications. While conversely, if you don't do enough, it might just be a waste of time and effort.

Additionally, you are not asking somepony else to do this in your stead. Rarity certainly didn't face the problems that you are facing because all she had to do was spread lies, and maybe inflate some rumors. Still, due to the simple fact that she wasn't "Velvet Covers" herself, the result of her efforts would either fall into believing ears or be brushed off as baseless gossip.

You, on the other hoof… whatever you do, however you decide to proceed, will have the added layer of truth. Because a rumor that Lady Velvet Covers did this or that is different from Lady Velvet Covers actually doing this or that.

Still, you don't really have a choice.

Eventually, you settle for the story that Lady Velvet Covers was but another patron of the Club, and nothing else.

And once you decide on that particular poison, you set out to sell it as if it is the sweetest of wines.



[She was just a Patron, I swear!, breakpoints incremental +25]

[Roll: 39 + 12 (Intrigue) + 5 (Beautiful) + 15 (GRAIL bonus) + 40 (An Incarnadescence) = 111]

[Fourth breakpoint reached]



Whenever an employee commits a mistake, and something bad happens that is their fault, they are faced with a particular choice.

They can either report it to their employer, and face whatever punishment awaits them, or they can hide their mistake and hope nothing bad ever comes from it.

You think you managed to thread that particular line.

...

Your efforts began small. After all, one of the best ways to turn a lie into the truth is by pretending it was the truth all along.

So, since Lady Velvet Covers was always a Patron of the Wildhoof Club, one of its financial investors, you simply began to visit the place in order to enjoy the accommodations.

As a noblemare Patron, mind you. Not as a… weird member of some weird organization… what are you even talking about?

And as it befits a noblemare, you arrived in a carriage, you were accompanied by a servant that was twice your size in case you needed doors opened or commoners shooed away. But most importantly, you very convincingly tilted your head in doubt whenever somepony tried to talk to you about… magical nonsense? You really had no idea. After all, why did those two earth ponies try to talk to you about magic? What the hay could they ever know about it? They are not unicorns.

But anyways.

You also invited your fellow Patrons, of course. And Filthy Rich was only happy to comply, on one of those afternoons, when you went to assert the quality of the Red Bar for yourself. The drinks were good enough, and the bartender knew better than to try and tab the two of you. Still, you both left before all the youngsters arrived, given how dreadfully loud you knew the music in that place could get during the nighttime.

And finally, on one particular day in which you were absolutely sure Windy Flakes was absent, you employed the well-known skill that nobles have… of being able to see offensive slights anywhere they look. Which resulted in a very apologetic manager trying (and failing) to have you forgive him for a ruined dress, during the one time you had lunch in their restaurant.

The sight of Lady Velvet Covers storming out of the Wildhoof Club, her face flustered with indignation, will surely be remembered by the ponies present. And the obvious conclusion that she does not plan to have anything to do with the place will quickly follow.

At least… to the ponies not in the know. Who might not be the key figures of the Cult itself, but still comprise the majority of it nonetheless.

And you are pretty sure that Windy Flakes didn't catch wind of it.

Because again, whenever an employee commits a mistake, they can either report it or not. And you are pretty sure you were able to thread the fine line, of making enough of a fuss for word to spread, without raising enough problems for them to feel the need to take it to their employer.

Spoiler: Dissociating from the Cult

Incremental "+25" results:

25 – A few raised eyebrows, but nothing more.

50 – Rumors and misdirection. To be believed, or forgotten, like so many others.

75 – Key appearances with the other Patrons, their unusual presence drawing eyes.

100 – A staged falling-out, but a falling-out nonetheless. Loud and dramatic and public.

125 – A new Loremaster?

150 - ...

You also… think, that you saw an opportunity.

Not in the Wake, mind you. Not during your outings into the Club, while you were trying to distance yourself from it.

No, you think you saw an opportunity in the Mansus.

It was a pony who appears to have more passion than sense. A pony who will probably never be able to reach beyond the Woods, because he believes that becoming lost is all there is to it.

However, you think you found a pony that is so lost that he… might be pliable to believing certain things, with enough encouragement.

After all, a pony who spends so much time lost, who so easily forgets so many things, can certainly be convinced… no, can certainly be reminded, about some aspects of his life.

In short… you think you found yourself a substitute. Or at least somepony willing to tell anypony willing to hear, and maybe some who aren't, that he is in fact the Loremaster.

Provided that you arm him with some "proof".

The Inner Circle will, obviously, not be fooled by that at all. Jade Whistle knows the truth, Comet Feet is… unavailable, and Windy Flakes will most likely laugh at the sudden and unbased rumor. The Hintchasers, as well as the Chosen, might raise an eyebrow.

But the outer members of the Cult? They will definitely eat that lie up.



[You require "+14" on your result to reach the next breakpoint. Providing the "Loremaster" with a Manuscript will give you "+10" per level]

[] Provide the "Loremaster" with "proof" of his station. (WRITE IN LORE)
(WRITE IN what Lore. Will provide the Cult with a Level 2 Manuscript of a Lore of your choosing. Will raise your success in dissociating with the Cult to the next breakpoint of "125")
(Does not cost an action)

[] Do not.



- - -



You are in your estate's Tea Room, the place where you usually meet your guests. Which is to say that this is usually where you, Jade and Rarity gather whenever they are visiting your house. Mostly to gossip or just pass the time.

However, the mood of today is entirely opposite of those carefree reunions.

In fact, the way things are right now reminds you of the serious atmosphere that the Royal Guard had, when you were helping them in the search for Princess Luna.

Because just like back then, you are staring down at a map, forelegs crossed and expression serious as you listen to what is basically a report. With markings being made on the map and notes being taken whenever something particularly important is said.

And just like back then, you are currently planning to do something… dangerous.

Still, you and two other mares look intently down at the map that is open over the central tea table.

"This map fokken sucks," the Daughter-of-Axes says, to which you can't help but nod.

Even though you were the one who provided the map.

"There is nothing I can do about it," you say, more to yourself than to anypony else. After all, you already know that no amount of explanation will ever make the damned mare stop complaining. "But it's a city on the other side of Equestria, so a tourism map is the best I could find in my library."

To be honest, you are happy that you found a tourism map, which has the dignity of being almost the size of the table. And not a tourism brochure, which would be so small that you wouldn't even be able to draw on it.

"It is also a few years old…" Jade says, from where she is sitting on your side. Still, unlike everything the Daughter-of-Axes said so far, you don't sense the slightest hint of malice. In fact, she is actually saying that in order to make a helpful comment. "It is slightly different from what I saw. At least on these outskirts, which is the place we were looking for."

Still, even though you three lack the best tools to do the job, you begin to make your preliminary plans for your foray into Manehattan. And despite her pointed comments and foul mood, the Daughter-of-Axes actually gives you and Jade several important imputs, which no doubt draw from her vast experience in doing things like this.

But most importantly, Jade Whistle tells you all that…



[Scrying for Twilight Sparkle, cd 60, breakpoints incremental +20]

[The Ritual was performed on your estate]

[SH Roll: 18 + 13 (Magic) + 30 (Artifact, level 3) = 61]

[Lantern Roll: 75 + 13 (Magic) + 30 (LANTERN level 3) + 10 (Reagent, level 1) -20 (Forge-warded) – 10 (Moth-warded) = 98]

[Four degrees of success]



"I…" she begins to speak, before pausing for a few moments.

She then takes several long seconds looking at the map before turning to face you.

"Thank you for lending me that book," she says, with a particularly unusual intensity despite her monotone voice. Still, the way she looks into your eyes as she says that makes you think that she just got something off her chest.

To which you can't help but… answer with a confused expression?

You have no idea of what she is talking about.

Still, even though you are sure the mare saw your confusion, she turns back to the map as if nothing happened.

"I managed to take a good look at the place. It's a warehouse, near the fringes of the city, though it's not close to the docks…"

She circles a particular place on the map. Although, that being a tourist map, the section she is talking about is mostly greyed out, being so far from any tourist attractions and, most likely, near the "bad parts" of Manehattan.

"Although this is not where the cult itself meets. Or at least I don't think it is. There were too few ponies there, and they all seemed to be on guard. I also didn't see any circles or the likes… They just had boxes, and stuff, and… well, prisoners."

You nod at that. You can't help but feel slightly worried, given how this means you don't know where the Manehattan branch of the Cult has its headquarters. However, if Twilight Sparkle is not in the headquarters itself, that means you most likely won't bump into… certain ponies.

Copper Secateur, Starry Dancer… whoever else they have at their disposal, as they try to summon the Winter Name that Copper mentioned in the last meeting.

"But looking into the place was… well, it wasn't hard. Not exactly. But it was harder than it should be," Jade continued, "they barricaded the place as well as they did the Club here in Ponyville. Everything they know about Forge and Moth is in place. Made the scrying a bit harder. But once I got past that, I saw that they also used those secrets to fortify the walls. Twilight is locked behind a-"

"Ae can break thru wo'eva yer littl' clob can come up with," the Daughter-of-Axes says, interrupting Jade.

Earning a glare from you, which she promptly ignores.

Still, you take a deep breath as you think about everything she told you. And as you try to smother down your irritation at the bad-mannered Name sitting opposite to you.

"Thank you Jade… so this means we have…" you trace the lines of the streets that jade drew into the map, reaching the small backdoor that she told you awaits at the back of the warehouse. "Guards waiting in the place, probably the criminals that Copper mentioned she would try to convert, some time ago."

The mare nods, as you absent-mindedly tap your hoof against the table.

"Then we have the doors themselves," you say, looking at the Daughter-of-Axes, who simply shrugs, "which I don't think will cause us much problem. And finally…"

You then look at the rest of the map. In particular, you look at the relatively long distance between the warehouse and the train station. And you can't help but think that distance will be awfully long, considering that on the way back you will be carrying…

"… finally, we have to worry about being subtle on the way out. And not just out of the warehouse, out of the city as a whole. We have no idea how Twilight will be like. She might be knocked out, she might help us, or she might even be confused to the point of hindering us," you say, a slight knot forming in your chest as you think about how Twilight might be doing right now.

And as you say all of that out loud, you can't help but feel both underprepared, and also that you have done everything you can.

Your caper into Manehattan itself will still be a foray into a maze of uncertainties and unpredictable factors, even though you are preparing yourself as best as you can.

However, as you look at the Daughter-of-Axes' bored expression, you can't help but think that you might be sufficiently prepared for it. Regardless of what awaits you.

"Oh, speaking of which, Axe," you turn your attention to the robed mare, "how did your travel to Canterlot go?"

Your words reach the mare just as she finishes sniffing her tea (for the umpteenth time) and putting it down without even taking a sip from it (again, for the umpteenth time). A particularly fowl expression marring her face as if the tea had somehow offended her.

And the only answer she gives you is to point to a large sack she had brought into the room and tucked into a corner.

It takes... a good deal of insistence, for her to tell you more than that.

Spoiler: Expedition: Beneath the Royal Castle

[The Daughter-of-Axes smashing through a low-level expedition]

[Sneaking into the Royal Castle, cd 75]

[Roll: 27 + 50 (Expedition Bonus) = 77]

[Success]

"She didn't try to sneak into the deeper, better guarded parts of the Royal Castle. And they are already stretched thin due to the current situation, so…"


[Navigating the caverns, cd 60]

[Roll: 24 + 50 (Expedition Bonus) = 74]

[Success]

"You can't shake off the impression that she put only the minimal effort required. Still, she made her way through the confounding caverns of shining crystals just fine."


[Opening a door, cd 80]

[Roll: 38 + 50 (Expedition bonus) = 88]

[Success]

"Forge would have been ideal. Forge, and pickaxes, and maybe even dynamite or some other more esoteric substitute. But apparently, her axe alone was enough."


[Expedition successfully completed]

Spoiler: Beneath the Royal Castle, results

"After maybe a bit more coaxing than it should be necessary, the Daughter-of-Axes finally gave you some explanation of what she found. The underground caverns were vast and unexplored… but, she said, apparently it was by design. Near the exit she created, by the side of a mountain, there was a conspicuously well-carved room. A checkpoint, or maybe a listening post, for whoever had claimed the caverns as their territory. It was pony-sized, strangely civilized, and particularly old. And most curious of all, it had felt the faintest touch of the Lores. She had no explanations as to what that meant, except that the deeper reaches of the caverns might yield more answers. And inside the bag she gave you, the few trinkets she had found in that room, abandoned like forgotten prizes."

-Gained one Artifact (Knock, level 2, unstudied) of unknown properties.

-Gained one book (Unknown Lore, if any. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/50. From the Current Era, "-20" to deciphering rolls.)

-Gained one Reagent (HEART, Level 4)

-Located a (small) hidden location in Canterlot. One-circle Rituals may be performed in Canterlot without suspicion.

-Discovered the Expedition "Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 2"

After a long, and overly tiring session of attempting to extract useful information from the Daughter-of-Axes, you finally let her go. Something that, you can tell, the two of you mutually face with relief.

You then enjoy Jade's company for a little longer, before the mare takes her leave.

And you… well, you and the Daughter-of-Axes agreed to go to Manehattan in two days. So you get up from your seat and go do your final preparations.

Your husband already knows you will be leaving, but you have to double-check if your daughters will be fine while you are gone.

Which means, of course, that you also have to pay Soft Sweeps a visit. You haven't yet been able to talk to her, despite your repeated visits to Ponpon's house throughout the month. Still, checking in on her is as important to you as ensuring Silky and Selene will be alright.

With that in mind, you head out of your estate, and begin the long trek towards Ponpon's home.

You wonder how the two of them are doing.





Your Flourishing Risen has been destroyed.

Despite your efforts while interacting with the Cult, you were unable to discover the circumstances surrounding its death, and whether anypony traced that back to you. It might have fallen in a Forge-laid trap and dragged itself to die in the Everfree Forest. It might have been discovered and stopped by Windy Flakes himself.

Jade Whistle has, at your behest, used a reagent. Lantern Reagent level 1 ("Twilight Sparkle's pulverized horn") has been removed from your inventory.

Jade Whistle has successfully scouted Manehattan. "Crepuscule Jailbreak" expedition's minimum requirement reduced from "2 actions" to "1 action".

Hazard information about "Crepuscule Jailbreak" expedition has been updated.

The Daughter-of-Axes has completed the "Beneath the Royal Castle" expedition. The appropriate rewards have been placed in your inventory.

You have discovered an expedition: "Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 2"

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

There is something fundamentally wrong about a pegasus falling to her death.

You know that.

Even though you are an earth pony yourself, you know that.

"Ponpon. Ponpon, listen to me! I need you to listen to me."​

You might not have wings.

You might never have flown, or stepped hoof on one of those large air balloons.

You might not… now that you think about it, you were never even carried on the back of a pegasus when you were a filly. Not even for the sake of playful experience.

Yes, you have absolutely no experience when it comes to flying.

However, you still know that notion to be absurd. You understand that it is simply impossible.

Pegasi do not fall to their death. That just doesn't happen.

"Pon-… PONPON! … I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… Please, just look at my eyes. Just try to listen to my voice."​

And that is because… it's not just because they have wings. It's a lot more than that.

It's because the magic that the pegasi have is the magic of flight.

The same way you are physically stronger, and almost never get sick.

The same way that you can encourage a plant to grow just by caring for the soil.

The same way that unicorns have a horn on their head and can use magic, and you don't.

Pegasi can fly. They are made to fly, and the magic of their bodies is meant for flight.

"Everything is fine, Ponpon. Look me in the eyes. I need you to believe me that everything is alright."​

They have wings. Wings. Everypony has four legs and a tail, but they have two entire extra limbs that are made exclusively for flying.

And more than just that, their wings are also magic.

They are able to push and pull a lot more air than their size should allow. They are able to shove clouds around and change the weather itself.

Even their hoofs… their hoofs can hold on to clouds as if they were solid. They can walk on clouds as if they were weightless.

And that is why… that is why you know that…

That is why you know that pegasi will never fall to their death. They can't. It's impossible. They just need to open their wings, just a tiny little bit, and their magic will have them glide down safely.

So why…

Why…

"Pon-ack! Stop… hitting m-ack! Settle down, you… Ponpon, you are raving. Listen to me! She. Is. Not. Dead! Everything is fine!!!"​

Why did Soft Sweeps fall to her death?

Why did you find her in your front yard in a mess of blood and feathers and exposed bones? As if she had flown upwards and upwards and upwards and then just… given up on flapping her wings?

And why have you been hearing this… awful… screaming this whole time? That just went on and on and on and-

"Ponpon, I need you to STOP SCREAMING."​

Screaming, and crying, and thrashing, and yelling-

-because of the bones and the blood and the fact that she was still breathing despite how hurt she was-

-and no matter what you did it just got worse and worse, because she was so hurt that you didn't even know where to begin and your hoofs were getting slick with all that blood and you think you were just causing her more pain and-

"This is getting nowhere. I-… I'm sorry Ponpon. This is all a bad dream. This is all just a nightmare, and you will wake up soon. I promise."​

… and…

… and everything is going dark and…

…



- - -



You open your eyes.

Saying that you just woke up feels… wrong. You don't feel like you just woke up because you don't feel like you ever fell asleep.

You feel like the whole world is trying to convince you that you just had a nightmare. But you won't allow yourself to fall for that. You won't believe it.

You know what you saw.

You are not insane.

….

You are Ponpon, and the moment you open your eyes, you already know where you are.

The dimly lit interior of the second-to-last guest room of the Velvet estate presents itself to you, well-kept and impeccably presentable as always. You are laying on the large bed near the center of the room, and before long you realize Daisy Ribbon is sitting on a chair by the door.

She gets up as soon as she realizes you are moving, making her way out of the room without a word. And you immediately understand what that means.

This guest room, which is definitely a noble guest room and not a room at the servant's quarters, is usually set aside for a particular eventuality. The room itself is better ventilated than most, and has a south-facing window to ensure a pony wouldn't be bothered by the sun so they could sleep during the day.

Which means, in short, that this is a room set aside for guests who are sick-



-she fell on her left side, the larger bone of her left wing didn't twist but instead impaled itself through her back, the white of her eyes a bloodshot red as she wheezed in pitiful gasps of pain an-



"Ponpon?"

A voice comes to you, and you realize your hoofs are covering your eyes.

There is a soft, whimpering noise filling the room. You realize it's you.

Your heart is beating so quickly that you can feel it like a hammer inside your head.

Something inside your chest hurts.

"Ponpon… shh, it's alright, you are alright…"

You uncover your eyes. Lady Velvet is standing next to you, her eyes full of pity.

You have no idea when she arrived.

You are shivering.

"There, there, everything is fine…" she says, and for some reason you…

It feels strange, but you…

… you feel a little bit calmer?

There is something about the way she is holding your hoofs, something about the way she is speaking, that just…

"Ponpon, can you understand what I am saying?" she asks.

You are breathing in hiccups, your mind feels like it's both spinning and numb at the same time.

But still, you manage to nod. Or at least you think you do.

"Alright… thank you for answering me. Listen, Ponpon, there is something I need to tell you. Maybe you already know it, or maybe it will come as a shock, but I need you to listen to me all the same."

She says that, and you realize that you have been looking at her eyes for a while now. You realize that with every word she says, the spinning inside your head… it doesn't get any slower, but you feel it less and less. As if the numbness was not only winning out, but was somehow being caused by Lady Velvet's words.

"Ponpon, you had a… you had a nervous breakdown."

Until she says something that… just doesn't make sense?

You have no idea of what she is talking about, but for all that her tone of voice is so pleasant that you truly want to believe her, she just said something that… a part of you… doesn't want to believe?

"And I'm sorry for that. I really am. Everypony lost someone. Everything these last few months has just been happening too fast. It's almost frightening, really," she keeps talking. Her every word somehow making your head, and your thoughts, and your… vivid memory of what just happened, grow more and more distant.

As if you were somehow forgetting what just happened.

However, a part of you refuses to give in. The horrible image of that dead and mangled body staying wedged in your brain like a sharp piece of broken glass.

"So I should have realized that I was asking too much of you… I really am sorry," she finishes.

Giving you a look that is at the same time pitying and understanding, while also painful to look at. As if even by looking at you she was trying to pry that sharp memory from your brain, only to make it hurt more deeply.

"Wha… what do you mean?" you ask her, your voice hoarse, the words causing a dry pain to throb inside your throat.

Which only causes this to make less and less sense. Because your voice is hoarse. Your voice is rasped from all the screaming and… and everything else.

You think Lady Velvet's expression flickers at that, as if she were annoyed at something. But only for a moment. The next time she speaks, her words are honeyed and apologetic just like before.

"I mean to say that I'm sorry, Ponpon. I really am. The disappearances, and all the mess in the estate, and all the panic in town. You really did your best, but I should have realized it was too much. It was too much to ask, on top of all that, for you to take care of Soft-"

-you flinch at the mere utterance of the name, your heartrate peaking and your breath coming to you in fits-

-and you don't realize that Lady Velvet immediately stops talking. You don't realize her expression, again only for a moment, has the tense pursed lips of a pony who is trying to run a thread into a needle.

"I… but I… it didn't…" you look at her, not understanding why your thoughts are so slow. You can barely think straight, you can barely remember what words you want to use.

Your thoughts feel sluggish and strange, but the only thing that is still clear in your mind is the one thing that hurts to think about.

"… I'm not… I know what I saw ma'am," you say.

You really don't. You really don't know what you saw, or what you are talking about, or even what you are thinking about. Even that sharp-edged, dagger-pointed memory is beginning to feel twisted now. As if covered in thick honey. The attempts to completely pull it out now replaced with the effort to simply drown it until it is lost.

And you are too lethargic, too confused to realize that what you are saying, the conversation you two are having, doesn't really make any sense. Not if a pony were to listen to it from the outside, at least. The two of you exchanging words based on a context that you are already forgetting.

Although Lady Velvet's expression, even though you don't notice it, makes it clear that you are… not forgetting about it quickly enough.

"Ponpon, So-… she came to me earlier today, worried… remember? She came to the estate because she said you weren't feeling well… And when I got there you… don't you remember?"

Half-formed images come to your mind, of Lady Velvet coming to your house for her periodic visit.

You remember her holding you down. You remember yelling at her, or at yourself, or maybe at the word. You remember months of stress finally crashing down on you, triggered by… something?

"It was not weakness, Ponpon. You are not weak. In fact… you held out for far longer than anypony should have to," she continues saying. And as your eyelids grow heavier and heavier, you don't even realize that her expression is now focused, her kindness from before replaced by a strange concentration.

But you don't notice any of that. You can only hear her voice.

"Nothing wrong happened… You just need to rest… Everything is fine… You have been at it for too long…"

You don't realize when she stopped talking. You are barely aware that your eyes are almost close. In fact, you don't even respond when she haves a hoof in front of her eyes.

After all, even that movement from her feels completely… natural.

Everything she does makes sense. Everything she says is right.

"Thank goodness… now, Ponpon, there is somepony I need you to see, okay?"

She says that, and a few moments later the door opens, and a young mare walks in.

Your mind reels in horror. That hot, sharp, painful memory embedded deep into your brain twists itself in panic.

Because you know that what you are looking at makes no sense.

Because you know that she is dead.

And you know that any second now it will happen all over again. And that on her next hoofstep she is going to trip and fall, and her insides are going to spill out through her bursting skin as if she was a poorly made doll that was coming undone.

You know all of that. The deep spear of trauma you have inside your brain won't let you forget.

However.

However…

That terrifying memory is so drowned out in honey, so cushioned by soft words and softer feelings, that no matter how much it pushes or thrashes you… you just don't feel it.

You just nod in placid understanding, your eyes half-closed and calm, as the young pegasus mare makes her way towards you.

You even have a smile on her face, because everything Lady Velvet said is right.

The mare stands next to you, taking your hoof on her own, and you two stare at each other. And everything is fine. You notice neither the nervousness on the young mare's face, nor the fact that Lady Velvet is holding her breath.

You just…

"Thank you for taking care of me," the young mare says.

And you don't smell the blood on her breath, or on her fur, or coming from the open skin where her hindleg twisted in the wrong direction as she fell an-

-and you don't feel any of that. Because none of that ever happened.

You nod at Soft Sweeps, but you can barely hold your foreleg up as she holds your hoof because you are so very tired…

You fall asleep before she even lets go of your hoof, and the two mares leave the guest room without making a sound.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Lady Velvet Covers.

And you are… in control.

You are breathing in.

And you are breathing out.

Because nothing went wrong.

Everything is fine now.

There are no… loose ends…

And sometimes, that's all there is to it. Something sudden happens, but once the dust settles and everything falls into place you are all still fine.

Sometimes, the absence of bad news is the best news you can have.

…

You always wondered how you would react, if something horrible happened to Silky Stream.

Throughout the several years that followed her birth, when you still locked yourself in your estate and dedicated your time almost exclusively to running the farmlands, you remember asking yourself that question… every now and then.

Like a grim hypothetical, that you would bounce against the walls of your mind.

A flash of morbid curiosity, wondering how your life might go back to being utterly miserable after you had reached an unexpected place of happiness from marrying Stormchaser.

But regardless of where that question came from, you still remember asking it nonetheless. And you also remember the answers that you would come up with.

Part of you thought that you would just lose the will to live. That you would just lose yourself in tears like so many mares did, in the books you had that ended in tragedy, and that you would live out the rest of your days like a husk. Because whoever said that it is "better to love and lose, than not love at all" is surely wrong, and you were always sure that outliving your daughter would only end in misery.

Another part of you thought that you might just go insane. A madmare, cackling with twisted joy as you lashed out against the world. At least, of course, until you caused enough embarrassment, or perhaps property damage, that your father finally committed you to an asylum.

You can tell nowadays that those were not… pleasant thoughts. But you can't blame yourself for having them either. You spent most of your fillyhood being loved by your father, only to lose it, so you couldn't help but wonder if that newfound happiness you had with your husband and daughter wasn't just going to be stripped form you as well.

Those were not pleasant thoughts, but they were thoughts you had nonetheless. For several years, even.

But curiously…

Very… curiously…

None of them really came to pass.



"Mrs. Velvet?"



You are pushed out of your thoughts by your daughter's voice.

And you look down, to the eye level of a filly, only to realize that you are looking at Soft Sweep's forelegs.

You shake your head. You have too much in your mind right now. All the Grail you just had to use of Ponpon still covering your mind like a drunk fog. And even that is still not enough to clean out the aftertaste of… what you did before.

"Yes, Soft? Is anything the matter?"

You look up, back to a normal height, and you come face to face with Soft Sweeps

She might look slightly worried. Her tone might be slightly hesitant. But it is still your Soft Sweeps.

And will never let anypony say otherwise.



"That's what I was going to ask, actually… is… is everything alright?"



She asks that, and you…

You remember how…

You remember how-

-how her body was broken-​

-how Ponpon had slipped into a panicked shock-​

-how she was already dead when you got there-​

-the things you did afterwards-

-because you didn't fall into misery, and you didn't go insane-​

-you didn't react to a loved one's death in any of the ways you ever thought you would-​

-ALL YOU COULD SEE WAS SOMETHING WRONG, THAT YOU HAD TO MAKE RIGHT-​

-you remember how you had a hectic day. But that everything is alright now.

"Yes, Softy, everything is alright," you answer her with a tired smile. "That was just… a lot, with Ponpon. She needs to rest. We all do."

But still, you can tell from her expression that you didn't exactly convince her.

You watch as she purses her lips, hesitating for a second, before speaking up once again.



"Mrs. Velvet, did I… I-I'm sorry, but today was such a blur that I can't really… remember some things? Did I do something wrong…?"



You shake your head.

Because of course she didn't. She didn't do anything wrong.

She just-

-she just died-

-she died, as her despair crushed her mind and gnawed at her bones-​

-she died in agony, as she couldn't even muster the energy to fly higher, to ensure that she would die on impact-​

-she didn't even mean to do it, she just reached a point where her body stopped-​

-she just got a bit hurt, and you helped her. Because you will always be there for your Soft Sweeps.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Softy. Don't worry," you say, letting out a sigh before forcing a calm smile to appear on your face. "Trust me," you add for good measure.

To which the mare nods, slowly.

And as you watch her do that, your forced smile actually turns into a genuine one.

Because you can see it. You can see that this is your Soft Sweeps. You can see that this is still her.

That same attentive, even if slightly nervous, gaze that she always had, as she listens to your words. That same faint eagerness, tempered by caution, that she always has in her posture.

Yes. This, all of this, is still her. This is still your Soft Sweeps.

Even though you can see, from her expression, that she can tell something is… slightly off.

Even though you can see, from her confusion, that she thinks there are some… inconsistencies, that she just can't point her hoof at.

Your honest smile remains on your face, even as she slowly asks another question.



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



And for all that you still feel genuinely glad, for all that you are still truly content as you look at her, you can't bring yourself to answer that question. You can't bring yourself to lie to her. Not now. Not yet.

Not when the memories are still so fresh in your mind.

And that is because-

-because she killed herself, and the Wolf-Divided smiles upon that-

-for he is present when the flames spread with malice-​

-and he is born at the death of Gods-​

-and he looks favorably at anguished ends, for that is what he desires above all other things-​

-so you knew he was nearby-

-you could taste him, as the grass of could taste her pooling blood-​

-you could see him, in the twisted configuration of her broken bones-​

-so you did what you had to-​

-you grabbed those dispersing remains, you weaved them into your tears-

-you denied that anguish to end, and through the hate it felt from its continuing existence you harnessed its energy-​

-and when you lodged that shackled hate into your daughter, it had no choice but to make her heart beat once again-​

-because you would not would not would not let her go-​

-because you love her.

And thankfully, Softy sees that in your expression. She sees how you are just glad that things turned out this way, and she thinks she has an answer. Or perhaps that the answer to her question doesn't matter anymore.

So, the young mare lets out a sigh of relief, and you can't help but silently thank her for not pushing that last question.

Because again, you don't have it in you to lie to her.

Not yet.

"Still, I'd like to ask the same thing," you ask her in turn, watching her ears perk up in attention. "Are you alright, Softy? Are you feeling anything wrong?"

You ask that with a normal tone. You ask her as if just making sure that everything is indeed alright.

But still, you observe her as intently as you can while the mare thinks.

Because the thing you did…

You can't feel it. You can't feel any of it. You can't feel that faint smell of rot that comes from you, from that dirtied part of your soul and the things it reminded the world about. You can't see it anywhere in her, not in her voice nor in her movements nor in the glint she has in her eyes.

And you looked for it. You really did.

But although you did place something inside of Soft Sweeps, and you know that thing breathed life back into her once again, you honestly can't see any trace of it.

It only exists in your memory, in the utter knowledge that it's still in her. Like a lump of coal keeping a stove warm or like the wind keeping a mill turning.

"I, uh, I think so, Mrs. Velvet… I mean, it actually feels weird how fine I feel? But I… like I said, I am a bit worried that I can't remember some things. D-don't worry! It's not like I feel dizzy or anything, it's just that…"

But if you can't see it… and if she can't feel it…

"Oh, it's all right Soft. I just wanted to double check."

Then you suppose it really is fine.

Soft Sweeps seems to have forgotten some things. You will have to very carefully check what those things are, but she certainly can't remember most of what happened today. And more importantly, she can't seem to realize just how much she forgot.

But did she forget about her family? Did she forget that she was mourning?

Did she forget about… when she was in Canterlot, following the changeling tragedy?

You do not know.

But those are not questions you will be able to answer today.

For now, you are only thankful that everything ended well.

…

Although you will have to make sure to talk to Silky and Selene, once they return from school. After all, before they left early in the morning they still lived in a world where Soft was absent and… going through things. But now, you will have to tell them that things have changed.

Even if you don't know yourself what those changes are.

"Still, we had plenty of excitement for the day. I think I'll go lie down," you say, feeling the exhaustion of the last few hours settling on your mind.

And everything today was about your family, so you refuse to brush it off through your other means.

"Right, I actually think I will do the same," she younger mare says, letting out a long and drawn-out breath.

"Good girl. But Softy, let me be absolutely clear about this. If you feel anything is wrong…" you begin to say, as carefully as you can, "or if you remember anything, or if you just want somepony to talk to. You come to me right away, alright? I need you to know that I am here for you no matter what-"

You cut off right before you say because I love you.

But still, you think your tone managed to get that across.

"I'm… I'm here for you, alright?" you say.



Yes Mother.



"What did you say?" you ask, your head snapping back towards her so quickly that it almost hurts.

But the only thing you see is Soft Sweeps, wide-eyed in surprise at your reaction.

"I-I… I said yes, Mrs. Velvet?" she says.

And you immediately know she is telling the truth. You can remember it clearly, even.

Yes, that is exactly what she just said. "Yes Mrs. Velvet."

She didn't just call you Mother.

She didn't just talk in a voice that burned in your ears.

You are just… imagining things.

"Right, right…" you say, shaking your head slightly. "I'll see you later, uhm… Soft Sweeps."

You say that as you head back to your room.

And you sleep so deeply that you don't even wake up when your other two daughters return from school.





You arrived too late to save her from the Wolf, but not so late that you could not catch him before he left.

You have put something inside Soft Sweeps. Feed it, and it will grow. Remove it, and she will die.

It will be fed, like all the dirty things in this world, by the performance of Regrettable Actions.

This was not a Regrettable Action. For Velvet Covers, because she will never regret saving her own daughter. And for the world, because a seed planted is not a tree grown. At least for now. All seeds brim with potential.

- - -

Velvet Covers has revisited her opinion regarding the death of her loved ones. The Quest will no longer be doomed should a member of her family die. Instead, she will be compelled to bring them back, by any means necessary.

The world has revisited its opinion regarding the death of Velvet Covers. The Quest will no longer immediately end should Velvet Covers die. There is now somepony else that will pick up the torch. Even if that is for the worse.

- - -

Soft Sweeps is now living in the Velvet estate. Ponpon is on vacation, but will soon recover, and she can't really recall what the fuss was all about.

You will keep an eye on Soft, especially as she returns to socializing with the rest of your family, as the days and weeks go by.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Vespertine
-[X] You will do the bare minimum to get the farm running. For the benefit of your workers and your city, if nothing else.
-[X] (Servants) Find a way to reduce suspicion of at-home rituals (don't tell them that, of course)
-[X] (Hintchasers) Obtain a dead body from the cemetery
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Jade) Scout Crepuscular Jailbreak with RotT
--[X] Sacrifice Lantern 1 reagent
--[X] At the Velvet estate
-[X] (Velvet Axe) Lead an expedition (Beneath the Royal Castle)
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to physically scouting Crepuscular Jailbreak if RotT fails
-[X] (Risen) Fleeting opportunity: Steal the original manuscripts from the Bright Library
-[X] Selene (Winter)
-[X] (AotL) Grail: Comet Feet to be used somewhere else
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Ruined Church
-[X] (Forge) Grail 3
-[X] (Winter) Raise a Flourishing Risen
-[X] Perform the Calling of Influence (Grail)
--[X] Sacrifice Grail 3 reagent
--[X] At the cult's gathering place
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Comet Feet
--[X] With Fluttershy from the start
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Family Lore lessons
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Dissociate 'Velvet Covers' from cult
--[X] Conditional: Drop and reassign to Crepuscular Jailbreak if both RotT and scouting fail
-[X] Lead an expedition (Crepuscular Jailbreak)

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Provide the "Loremaster" with "proof" of his station. (Heart)

It is night. The shadows stretch long, your daughters are asleep, and the entirety of your estate is covered in peaceful silence. Not a single pony is going about any sort of business, and nopony seems to have any thought in their mind apart from whatever dreams they might be having.

Nopony, except for you.

You are Lady Velvet Covers, and you are currently in your study room.

You check for what must have been the hundredth time the map that is laid upon the central table, ensuring that the plans you have made regarding transportation all make sense. You also triple-check your calendar, to make sure that Captain Shining Armor is indeed at least one week away from arriving at Ponyville. Or at least that his estimated date of arrival is still several days away, since you don't have any official confirmation of when exactly he is arriving.

Your eyes go over the physical possessions that you set aside, the clothes and curios and choice small items that you think or hope will be useful. Enough things for you not to feel unprepared, while also not being so much that it would burden you down.

And finally, make a mental list of the ponies that will accompany you.

You think you are ready.

You can only hope you are.

However, there is... one last thing you have to decide.

It is something that has been in your mind for a while. Something that you haven't really talked about with anypony. But only because, in truth, you didn't really want to talk about it yourself.

Jade thought about it, you are sure. But you think Jade knows you too well, and that she didn't bring it up for the same reason.

Rarity... well, you are not proud to admit it, but Rarity probably didn't bring it up due to your own fault. Any thoughts that something you are planning might be wrong just... don't occur to her anymore.

And the Daughter-of-Axes, well... She is not from this world, from starters. She is also from an era when certain things were far more common, as well as gruesome.

Plus, you don't think she even realizes you might take some exception with... this particular subject. After all, you already employed it during her summoning, and you are not exactly close and personal to the snakemare. As far as she is concerned, you are as gruesome and determined as the adepts of her misbegotten age.



The subject you are thinking about is, of course, that of violence. Specifically, the degree of violence you are willing to accept, because some level of violence is almost certain.



Because Jade Whistle told you there will be guards. There will be guards, and they are either members of the cult, or under their employment.

Which means you have a... decision to make.

Letting the guards live will mean, at best, that they will realize their prisoner has disappeared almost immediately. Which will mean that an alarm will be raised perhaps even before you escape the city, and you would very much rather have as much distance from Manehattan as possible, when Twilight's disappearance is finally noticed.

Letting the guards live will also, at worse, mean that you are exposed. Because only a single guard needs to survive, and describe you to somepony in the Cult, for your involvement to be discovered with both finality and certainty.

But not letting the guards live... well, that means... murder.

Even if you don't do it yourself, you will be planning, ordering and approving of murder. Of murdering ponies.

And for all that your hoofs are already stained with blood, that was the blood of monsters. Monsters who hurt Soft Sweeps, and so many others besides. Monsters who captured and maimed Twilight Sparkle, and did so many other atrocities.

However, right now, you are planning to...

...

You will have a decision before sunrise.



- - -



Expedition: Crepuscule Jailbreak

Difficulty: Small/Medium

Expected dangers: Jade Whistle scryed the place where they are holding Twilight Sparkle. She is in an old and battered warehouse, near the fringe section of the city... or at least it is old and battered when looking from the outside. But within its walls, the place is guarded, either by hired muscle or cult members, and you will need to force your way through them. Additionally, despite its beaten exterior, the inside of the warehouse has been reinforced with the Cult's Forge-secrets. You will need a way to open them, or to destroy them. Finally, there is the escape itself. You have no idea how helpful Twilight Sparkle will be, but as you escape the town, not drawing attention, or being able to divert attention away, will certainly be useful.

Expected amount of actions required: 1 (5 days)

Base cost: 6 bits (6 bits per pony per day. 30 bits must be available per pony sent)

Current available funds: 160 bits


[X] Expedition Leader: Lady Velvet Covers (may not be changed)

[] Accompanying team: WRITE IN

[] Artifacts and Curios taken: WRITE IN

[X] Regarding the inevitable
-[] You are willing to kill the ponies guarding Twilight Sparkle
-[] You will not authorize any ponies to die, no matter what (might incur combat maluses, and other problems besides)

Spoiler: Available Contacts

Confidants:
-Rarity (GRAIL 1, FORGE 0)
-Jade Whistle (LANTERN 3, HEART 1)
-The Daughter-of-Axes
-Generic cultists (unavailable, for obvious reasons)

Good Friends:
-Inner Circle members (unavailable, for obvious reasons)

Spoiler: Available Artifacts and Curios

-Artifacts taken risk being lost, stolen or destroyed.

-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.

-SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 (STUDIED)
"A large hardcover book, or perhaps a grimoire, that displays the content of a different book every time its pages are turned. Some of the things written on it, you are pretty sure, are not true, or never happened."
Appraised cost: 200 bits
Special properties: Gives a variable bonus (from +5 to +15) for any rolls that involve "research" or "study", of any subject.

The Cult has been provided with a level 2 Heart Manifest. The Bright Library has been updated accordingly.

Because this was posted late in the night, kindly observe twelve hours of moratorium. Vote in plans.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[x] Plan No Clues Left Behind
-[x] Expedition Leader: Lady Velvet Covers (may not be changed)
-[x] Accompanying team: Daughter-of-Axes
-[x] Artifacts and Curios taken: None
-[x] You are willing to kill the ponies guarding Twilight Sparkle

In the end, you failed.

You had promised yourself that you would reach a decision before sunrise. But ultimately, you failed.

The question weighed you down far more than you thought it would. Far more than you even thought possible. Because at first, it was just a matter of saving Twilight. And if there was something between you and her, then you would just have to push it aside.

However, that rationale only lasted for so long. More specifically, it lasted until you realized that it wasn't "something" between you and Twilight, it was somepony. And that you weren't planning on just "pushing it aside", you were planning on killing. And for all that your rational thoughts tried to counterargue that these were cult members, criminals, or perhaps even both, those arguments also fell silent when you realized that…

Well, aren't you the same?

After all, you are a member of the Wildhoof Club as well. Or you were. But still, being a "past member" of a criminal organization is rarely something that exculpates a pony of their past crimes. And what is more, you weren't just any member of the Wildhoof Club, you were part of its leadership. A key part of its leadership, perhaps.

It was you who acquired the ritual to strike against Princess Luna. It was you who summoned the Master to the Wake. It was you who taught them how to summon Windigos. It was you who… well...

So, aren't you a criminal as well? Haven't your actions made the world a worse place? Haven't you empowered others who made the world a worse place?

And if you are willing to kill ponies like them, wouldn't that mean that it would also be acceptable, perhaps even preferable, to kill you as well?

Your mind reeled against that notion, of course. After all, if you die who will take care of your family? Who will take care of Silky Stream, and Stormchaser, and Selene and Soft Sweeps? Your mind reeled against the thought that you can, and should, be banded together with the ponies who are guarding Twilight's jail with all the strength of a pony's survival instinct.

But still, in the end, that is where your arguments were coming from.

From your instincts.

From your emotions.

From the selfish, self-centered, egotistical certainty that… you are right, or that you have to do this, or that somehow your actions are justified because it is you.

Spoken like a true autocrat…

But still, eventually, the morning came. And you still had not come to a decision.

The morning came, and you got out of your bed, and you collected your saddle-bag, and you went to the room that the Daughter-of-Axes had claimed only to find her grinding her great axe against a strange stone.

And when the two of you left your estate, you did not mention to her even a single word about whether she should kill the guards or not.

Because you know that you have to, and you know that you will.

But you are also too disgusted to admit that this is yet another line you have agreed to cross.



- - -



[Expedition: Crepuscule Jailbreak]

[Expedition – Days 1 and 2]



You and the Daughter-of-Axes arrive in Manehattan just as the clock strikes midday, and the sun reaches its height in the sky.

The time you planned to arrive here is, of course, intentional. After all, the trains to Manehattan are particularly packed at this hour, which means you will have a crowd around you as you disembark from the train. But it also means that since it is so bright outside, you (a dressed mare) walking around with a parasol will not strike anypony as something out of place. Which means that you have yet another way to mask your appearance, while staying hidden in plain sight.

Granted, you have no idea of how large the Cult cell in Manehattan is. You have no idea if they would have eyes in places like the train station, and you certainly don't think that you are either expected or suspicious.

Still, you are about to do something that will very much put you at odds with the Cult. So, it pays to be cautious.

"This is the passenger's stop of the train station," you say, under your breath, to the mare walking by your side. "The cargo trains keep going through the parallel train tracks over there, towards the docks and the more industry heavy part."

"Aye. Tha' wuid've taken us clos'ah tae where we wont tae be," she whispers back, even as she scans the crowd around you with a deceptively disinterested expression.

"Yes, but it would also mean sneaking in and out of a cargo train."

"An' ther's no need tae do tha' when th' front door is wide opn an' ungorded," she says. And it takes you a moment to realize that, much to your surprise, she is actually agreeing with you.

Which in turn makes you realize that the Daughter-of-Axes has been… unusually helpful, so far. In fact, she hasn't backtalked to you or been disagreeable in any way ever since the day started. Which makes you wonder if she is in some sort of "professional" mode, if she thinks this outing as a whole is interesting, or if she can just sense something that you can't which is making her more tense for some reason.

Still, this is the first time you have been able to interact with the snakemare without having to roll your eyes, sigh in exasperation or simply leave the room before you felt compelled to unsummon her. So, you will take your blessings where you find them.

"Alright. Just like we planned then. First stop is to find a place to stay the night, right?"

"Aye. Th' scryin' is good an' all. But we canny skip tha' chance tae hav a wee look wit' our own aes."

With yet another nod of agreement, the two of you deftly navigate the crowd, making your way into the city proper and looking for a place where you might set up a temporary base.



- - -



Despite your personal wishes, you and the Daughter-of-Axes waited for a full day and a half before setting out.

It gnawed at you, of course, to wait for so long. It hurt you to think that you have come so far, literally to a city in the other side of Equestria, and that Twilight was so close… and yet you were waiting, in some dingy hotel near the center of the city.

Still, you two waited this long because of Axe's insistence. And for all that you disliked her suggestion, you found yourself forced to agree with the logic behind it.

Because even though your emotions were telling you that you were waiting idly while Twilight was imprisoned, the two of you actually set out to get things done. And after several forays into the city at large, you two got an appreciable lay of the land, were able to find an actual map of the city, and managed to check the path that would take you from the hotel to the district where the warehouse was located.

Of course, the two of you didn't go all the way to the warehouse itself. You went as far as you could without leaving the boundaries of the "good part" of Manehattan, where you would be away from the safety of a surrounding crowd and perhaps closer to somepony who might be acting as a lookout for the Cult.

But still, the two of you got things done.

After a light dinner, one last look on the map, and one final discussion with the Daughter-of-Axes, the two of you packed your things and checked out of that dingy hotel.

And as the two of you follow down the path that you agreed upon, you can't help but realize how strange it feels that… well, that you two agreed upon this path. In fact, it still feels strange to realize how nonchalant the Daughter-of-Axes has been as a whole.

If nothing else, you can feel that you are the one getting more and more tense, as the time approaches.

You let out a calming sigh, and follow the mare to the outskirts of the city.



- - -



Ponies don't really need to wear clothes. Your species already has fur, and that's usually enough to keep you comfortable in most places where your kind has settled. Furthermore, the fact that Equestria has a literal weather department means that ponykind has the means to ensure the places where you create hamlets, villages and towns are both pleasant and habitable.

So, the idea of covering your bodies with added protection against the elements simply does not make any sense.

However, clothes are still a thing. And even though ponies do not wear clothes for the practical reason of safety and survival, they still wear clothes for other practical reasons.

To put it simply, there are two kinds of ponies who wear clothes: Those who have something to show, usually as a display of wealth or culture through their attire, and those who have something to hide.

And Manehattan is full of both of those kinds of ponies.

So, you and the Daughter-of-Axes don't attract any attention at all. The two of you, wearing the oldest and least flattering clothes that you could find in your wardrobe, blend in on almost all the places that you pass through.

You two only look slightly out of place as you make your way through the center of the town, where everypony is well dressed and fancy, if only because your clothes look so poor in comparison. But then again, there are so many ponies around that you two are just an extra pair of mares in the crowd.

Then you two look almost at home near the suburbs, as the sun begins to set and several other ponies make their way home from work. In fact, you and the Daughter-of-Axes almost look like you have lived in this neighborhood all of your lives, and that you are about to enter the very next apartment building that you are going to pass by, to have a nice dinner before going to bed.

And finally, you two once again look only slightly out of place as you pass by the periphery, but this time only because your clothes look slightly nicer than the place you are at. Still, you made a point of keeping your mane unkept before leaving the hotel, so it has none of its usual luster. And you are sure that Axe's disgruntled expression kept anypony from really trying to accost you.

The two of you only really look out of place once you reach the fringes of Manehattan.

But only because there is nopony to be seen. Or at least nopony who wants to be seen.



"There it is," you whisper to the Daughter-of-Axes, as the two of you peek out from a run down alley.



You would have thought this part of Manehattan was abandoned, if you didn't know any better.

Everywhere around you, all you can see are the signs of abandonment and discontent. Broken street lights, cracked windows, buildings in sore need of repairs and factories with large signs claiming that they are either condemned or for sale.

But this is Manehattan, and you know better.

You realize that maybe one in ten of those places are used for legitimate businesses. You know that maybe one out of five of the warehouses you passed by are used for honest purposes, by businesses who are either cutting losses or who just lack the budget to keep their things somewhere closer to the docks, or at least somewhere safer. And you also know that places like these are a constant concern to whoever is governing this city. Or at least to its population.

But you can tell that this place is very much not abandoned. Even though it stinks of rust and alcohol, and other less pleasant things. Even though this looks like the place where ponykind's inherent goodness has gotten sick. You still know this place is thriving… with another kind of activity.

"Those two goons tha' dinnae get tha' messeg. They still followin' us?", she asks from behind you.

You sniff at the air, just to double-check.

"No. They stopped following us two blocks back…" you tense, remembering all the lookouts, hideouts and blatant dangers that you felt, and avoided, on your way here.

And you can't help but worry if those two ponies who had managed not only to see you, but also follow you two, were somehow…

"I still have no idea how they saw us," you whisper back to her, "you think they knew something about Lantern?" you ask, trying not to sound any more nervous than you already are.

"Dumb luk exists," she says with a shrug, before taking one last look down the street and sneaking her way out of the alley.

You follow right after her, keeping your eyes sharp and your nose sharper.

Your hoofs are dirty with mud, your clothes reek with traces of alcohol and smoke, and you can feel your sweat dampening your coat underneath your mane. Still, your steps are firm as you make your way after the snakemare.

And finally, you two reach the warehouse where, according to Jade's ritual, Twilight Sparkle is being kept prisoner.



[Day 1 and 2 hurdle: Watchponies]

[Rolling for number of guards…]

[Roll(2d3): 3 + 3 = 6]



The two of you reach the locked door at the back of the warehouse, both of you crouching in the stinking darkness where the light of the moon can't reach.

And as much as your physical senses grate at that, you still take a careful sniff of the air, the snakemare looking at you intently as you do.

"Seven ponies, as far as I can tell…" you say, to which she immediately nods.

"Candle-mare di' sae ther' were prisners. Plural. Maeks sense tha's so man-e," the Daughter-of-Axes answers.

However, you raise a hoof for her to stop talking as you notice… something.

"Wait…" you say, as you pay more attention to the scents inside the warehouse.

Because as you pay more and more attention, you realize that most of those scents… no, you realize that all of them, except for one, feel way more dangerous than they should.

You stay there, crouched and paying attention, for perhaps a full minute before you finally confirm it. A sinking feeling reaching your gut as you do.

Six of those scents are moving. Six of them are moving, and feel at least slightly dangerous. Which very much means they are not prisoners.

"Fok…" the mare says, as she watches your expression shift. "Fok fok FOK… how man-e…?"

"Six," you answer, already knowing that she understood your own dread, and also realizing what she was asking.

"Well… taek us in. Le's get whoevah is alone or n' a wee group." She says that, and for the first time in two days her voice has the practiced tone of annoyance that you are used to.

You would feel surprised at the fact her annoyance is still not aimed at you, if you had the mind to notice that kind of thing right now.

But you don't. You really, really don't have it in you to notice that right now.

"An… stae behin' me. Ae'll need 'elp if they try tae run. Bu' yer like brittl' glass, so stae behin' me."

She only waits for a moment, to make sure that you nod at her words, before going to the door.

And you have no idea what she does next, because as soon as her hoof reaches the rusted doorknob, it opens, because it was always open, and its hinges slide as if just oiled.



The Daughter-of-Axes doesn't so much sneak into the warehouse as she slithers into it. You follow right after.



[Sneaking through the warehouse, cd 80]

[Roll: 8 + 50 (Daughter-of-Axes leading) + 20 (MOTH bonus) + 0 (MOTH bonus, Daughter-of-Axes) = 78]

[Failure, element of surprise lost]

[Velvet Covers invokes MOTH re-roll]

[Re-roll: 6 + 50 (Daughter-of-Axes leading) + 20 (MOTH bonus) + 0 (MOTH bonus, Daughter-of-Axes) = 76]

[Failure, element of surprise lost]



The two of you stalk your way into the warehouse, the total darkness not being an issue for your closed eyes, and for whatever the Daughter-of-Axes uses to keep herself oriented.

You also make sure to stay conscious of where the six ponies, who are moving around the warehouse, are at all times. Which in turn helps you notice that at least one has not moved away from the faint and cowed presence you assume is Twilight Sparkle. Still, the other fives move in duos and trios, and sometimes all come together in certain places.

However, what neither of you expect is how… utterly labyrinthic the interior of the warehouse is.

You expected this to be a large, open place, perhaps like an oversized barn, where rows upon rows of large boxes would be kept. You know that these industrial-scale operations have tools that can lift weights much heavier than your farm produces, and you know that containers can be stacked incredibly high. But still, you expected perhaps a small maze of crisscrossed metal boxes laid over pallets.

Instead, the place you find yourself in appears to have been meant for smaller, more individualized loads. And you two find yourself inside a series of concrete corridors, filled with rows upon rows of heavy metal doors. Each of the doors lead to a frustratingly small room, that can barely fit two ponies, filled with empty and abandoned shelves. And for all that you have no idea what they hay this place was meant to storage, that warranted such individualized security, the fact remains that you and Axe simply cannot find your way through it.

The guards that you sense, however, seem to have no such problem.

However, your question on how the hay you are supposed to navigate this place is answered in the worst possible way. Because as you and the Daughter-of-Axes navigate yet another one of the disgustingly long corridors, a group of guards that were on the corridor next to yours somehow appear on yours.

The rusted sound of a metal door being opened right in front of you makes every last fur on your body stand on its end. And as a group of guards casually exits one of the tiny rooms, you realize this place is so run down that some of the rooms have holes on their walls.

Holes that, apparently, are the way these ponies use navigate through this maze of storage rooms.

And you definitely have no idea of which of the countless doors might be hiding those.

But again, the guards do.

You stare at each other in mute surprise for less than a moment, before the Daughter-of-Axes is upon them.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Guards in this group? (1d3+1 = 4)]

[Daughter-of-Axes' current health: 5/5]

[Guard-1's health: 3/3]

[Multi-combatant fight. Axe will only "compete" to wound the nearest guard, but may be wounded by all other guards]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Axe – 0, Guards' – 0]



[Axe's first roll: 79 + 45 (Personal Combat) – 15 (outnumbered: 3) = 109]

[Guard-1's first roll: 90 + 16 (Personal Combat) = 109]

[Guard-2's first roll: 96 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 109]

[Guard-3's first roll: 29 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 4]

[Guard-4's first roll: 10 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 22]



[Overflow: Axe – 0, Guards' – 0]



[Axe's second roll: 86 + 45 (Personal Combat) – 15 (outnumbered: 3) = 115]

[Guard-1's second roll: 4 + 16 (Personal Combat) = 20]

[Guard-2's second roll: 65 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 78]

[Guard-3's second roll: 14 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 26]

[Guard-4's second roll: 77 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 89]



[Overflow: Axe – 95, Guards' – 0]

[Guard-1 suffers one wound (-50 to Axe's overflow)]

"What the f-?"

"Hey-HEY! Grab em'!"

Four stallions. Three earth ponies and a pegasus. All of them strong or lean or somehow scarred as if life had not been kind to them. Large, but in a way that is different than the farmers you have under your employment. All of them the clear opposite to your cushioned, comfortable life.

That is all you can observe from them, during the split second that you stare at them in surprise.

The Daughter-of-Axes acts first. The four stallions right after.

And you only snap out of your shock perhaps a full second after that.

The snakemare leaps at them, producing her large, antler-topped axe from the impossible folds between the scarf she is wearing and her neck. The thing is held in her mouth right after, making a wide swing through the corridor.

Two of the ponies were carrying flashlights. But the portable sources of precious light are forgotten less than a second later, dropped from shock-opened mouths and left to roll on the ground in long, lazy circles.

The Daughter-of-Axes strikes first, and for all that the blade of her axe whiffs due to the stallions being a bit too far, you can still hear the hard sound of one of the antlers hitting a pony's face.

"The crazy bitch's got a bat! Sack her first!" one of them yells in the darkness.

A corner of your mind thinks that, between the darkness of the corridor and the absurd speed the axe was swung, they were only able to see the handle that she is biting down with her mouth. None of them, you are sure, realized that there is a wide and ornate and deadly blade attached to the end of that "bat".

Two of the earth ponies charge at the Daughter-of-Axes, emboldened by the thought that they are four and you are two and they are stallions and you are mares and that one of you only has a "bat".

Not enough time has passed for anypony to even consider the situation you are all in.

Even less time passes before the weighty axe is swung back at the two charging stallions, with impossible strength and ridiculous speed.

You hear screaming.

The screaming is only barely louder than your heart, hammering inside your chest, as you realize your legs are still paralyzed.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Daughter-of-Axes' current health: 5/5]

[Guard-1's health: 2/3]

[Multi-combatant fight. Axe will only "compete" to wound the nearest guard, but may be wounded by all other guards]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Axe – 45, Guards' – 0]



[Axe's first roll: 57 + 45 (Personal Combat) – 15 (outnumbered: 3) = 87]

[Guard-1's first roll: 42 + 16 (Personal Combat) = 58]

[Guard-2's first roll: 20 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 33]

[Guard-3's first roll: 95 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 107]

[Guard-4's first roll: 62 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 74]



[Overflow: Axe – 74, Guards' – 20]

[Guard-1 suffers one wound (-50 to Axe's overflow)]



[Axe's second roll: 97 + 45 (Personal Combat) – 15 (outnumbered: 3) = 127]

[Guard-1's second roll: 49 + 16 (Personal Combat) = 65]

[Guard-2's second roll: 48 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 61]

[Guard-3's second roll: 86 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 98]

[Guard-4's second roll: 16 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 28]



[Overflow: Axe – 86, Guards' – 20]

[Guard-1 suffers one wound (-50 to Axe's overflow)]

[Guard-1 has been killed, Axe's overflow reset for new target]

The flashlights are still rolling, making a long circle on the floor, near the spot they were dropped.

There is a sick, wet noise as something metallic carves through something. Something that is soft, then bone-hard, then soft again.

The dark silhouette of one of the charging stallions crumples on the floor. The sound of his body hitting the ground muted by the much louder wham of the second stallion body-slamming the Daughter-of-Axes. The snakemare and the stallion grabbing at each other for a moment before pushing each other away slightly.

But as soon as the short, grasping melee ends, the three stallions notice something is wrong.

The flashlights finish their lazy circle-motion, one of them hitting against the leg of the pegasus. Its ray of light aimed squarely towards you and the Daughter-of-Axes.

Illuminating the decapitated body lying on the ground, arterial blood gushing out of its open neck. The head nowhere to be seen.

Three stallions look at the gruesome sight with eyes wide-open in shock.

You stare, equally frozen. Something inside your stomach fighting to eject itself out through your mouth.

The Daughter-of-Axes lunges again, her eyes snake-like and predatorial with murder.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Daughter-of-Axes' current health: 5/5]

[Guard-2's health: 4/4]

[Multi-combatant fight. Axe will only "compete" to wound the nearest guard, but may be wounded by all other guards]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Axe – 0, Guards' – 20]



[Axe's first roll: 25 + 45 (Personal Combat) – 10 (outnumbered: 2) = 60]

[Guard-2's first roll: 79 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 92]

[Guard-3's first roll: 58 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 70]

[Guard-4's first roll: 53 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 65]



[Overflow: Axe – 0, Guards' – 67]

[Axe suffers one wound (-50 to Guards' overflow)]



[Axe's second roll: 19 + 45 (Personal Combat) – 10 (outnumbered: 2) = 54]

[Guard-2's second roll: 100 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 113]

[Guard-3's second roll: 5 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 17]

[Guard-4's second roll: 34 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 46]



[Overflow: Axe – 0, Guards' – 76]

[Axe suffers one wound (-50 to Guards' overflow)]

[Nat 100, Axe suffers one wound]

"Wha… WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"This fucker crazy!"

The three stallions, wide-eyed in terror, practically jump back. And the Daughter-of-Axes charges towards them, as if determined not to let them gain any distance, or perhaps escape through another side door neither of you know about.

But perhaps in panic, or maybe in mindless bravery, the other two stallions that had been on the back run at her. And just for a moment the snakemare is not sure of who to strike.

Before she can decide, the pegasus lunges at the middle-section of her axe, grabbing hold of it for just a moment longer than she thought he could. And whatever attention she could spare towards that was shoved out of her, together with her breath, as the other pony kicks her on the side.

But it is the third stallion, the one who had nearly been decapitated along with the first earth pony, who draws a yell out of her. Her mouth lets go of the hilt of her axe, as she lets out a loud, sharp yell, just as the third stallion finishes burying a shiv in the middle of her chest.

"AAAAAAAHHH!"

That would have killed a pony. That would have pierced the heart of any regular pony. The three stallions realize that immediately. Still, none of them have any time to react, either by expressing the shock at how one of their number just died, or to let out a panicked laugh at how their crazy assailant is finally dead.

None of them have any time to react, because the insane mare they are nearly holding down is not dead.

And her yell is not one of pain, but one of ear-opening frustration.

"WELL AREN'T YE MORTALS JUST FOKKEN PRECIOUS?!"

The air is roused with HATE, and the mare, easily smaller than any of the three stallions, shoves them all back.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Daughter-of-Axes' current health: 2/5]

[Guard-2's health: 4/4]

[Multi-combatant fight. Axe will only "compete" to wound the nearest guard, but may be wounded by all other guards]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Axe – 0, Guards' – 26]



[Axe's first roll: 94 + 45 (Personal Combat) + 20 (A Rousing Air) – 10 (outnumbered: 2) = 149]

[Guard-2's first roll: 21 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 34]

[Guard-3's first roll: 79 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 91]

[Guard-4's first roll: 29 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 41]



[Overflow: Axe – 115, Guards' – 26]

[Guard-2 suffers two wounds (-100 to Axe's overflow)]



[Axe's second roll: 47 + 45 (Personal Combat) + 20 (A Rousing Air) – 10 (outnumbered: 2) = 102]

[Guard-2's second roll: 33 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 46]

[Guard-3's second roll: 93 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 105]

[Guard-4's second roll: 64 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 76]



[Overflow: Axe – 71, Guards' – 29]

[Guard-2 suffers one wound (-50 to Axe's overflow)]

[Guard-4 attempts to flee, rolling…]

[Failure, Daughter-of-Axes interrupts]

She pushes the three stallions back, her clothes partially tearing as something bursts underneath them. As if a giant and coiled tail had just lashed out in wrath, pushing and straining at the fabric of her own dress and all but shoving the three stallions away.

Before they even hit the wall behind them, a hate-filled Axe jumps at them. Or rather, she jumps at the pony who had shanked her, and she does it with vengeance.

Her antler-topped axe is aimed at him like a spear, the tip of the horns facing him like a great charging deer.

The stallion yells, his legs moving underneath him in panic, trying to jump, run or crawl away from the deadly weapon. And he succeeds, but only in avoiding the thing from skewering his chest, seeing how the antlers still open a great and bloody gouging wound on his side, and pierce through one of his front legs, pinning it to the wall.

The other earth pony attempts to strike at her, and for all that the blow connects he might as well have hit a wall with his hoofs. The pegasus doesn't even try, and makes a run for the door from where they came from.

And the hoof-impaled stallion lets out a blood-curling cry as his hoof is freed from its pointy grip, as the Daughter-of-Axes swings her axe towards the pegasus, hitting the ground with guillotine strength and blocking his path to the exit.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Daughter-of-Axes' current health: 2/5]

[Guard-2's health: 1/4]

[Multi-combatant fight. Axe will only "compete" to wound the nearest guard, but may be wounded by all other guards]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Axe – 21, Guards' – 29]



[Axe's first roll: 66 + 45 (Personal Combat) + 20 (A Rousing Air) – 10 (outnumbered: 2) = 121]

[Guard-2's first roll: 71 + 13 (Personal Combat) = 84]

[Guard-3's first roll: 36 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 48]

[Guard-4's first roll: 28 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 40]



[Overflow: Axe – 58, Guards' – 29]

[Guard-2 suffers one wounds (-50 to Axe's overflow)]

[Guard-2 has been killed, Axe's overflow reset for new target]



[Axe's second roll: 67 + 45 (Personal Combat) + 20 (A Rousing Air) – 5 (outnumbered: 1) = 127]

[Guard-3's second roll: 20 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 32]

[Guard-4's second roll: 83 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 95]



[Overflow: Axe – 95, Guards' – 29]

[Guard-3 suffers one wound (-50 to Axe's overflow)]

[Guard-4 attempts to flee, rolling…]

[Success]

You watch as the second earth pony stallions heaves at the several punctures on his side and leg. His shiv falling on the ground as his jaw goes slack, drooling blood. But still, he half-limps and half-runs at the Daughter-of-Axes, closing what little distance there is between them, and attempts to strike her.

His metal horseshoe impacts against the wide side of her axe, that she raised from its place blocking the pegasus and directed at the incoming blow almost with prescient speed.

And in a fluid, almost water-like motion she spins her axe. The hoof that was pushing against the side of her axe, even if only for a moment, then "trips" towards her, and the stallion that was putting his weight behind it follows.

The mare merely pushes her axe forward, and the blade finds itself cutting through the falling stallion's throat with terrible precision a moment later. He falls on the ground, hard, heaving through the open wound on his throat.

He drowns in his own blood seconds later.

But as she struck out with her axe, she also opened the path for the pegasus to lunge for the exit. And lunge he does, tripping over his own legs and dead companions, flapping his wings in instinctual panic as he tries to escape.

You are running after him before he even disappears from your sight.

You can feel terrified tears threatening to form on your eyes. The entire melee between the Daughter-of-Axes and the four stallions had lasted… way less time than you thought it would. Way less time than you thought it should. And yet you just saw two grown earth ponies fall to the ground in dead, bloody messes in that short span of time.

As you chase after the pegasus, you realize you are doing it because you know the Cult cannot find out about this.

But still, you can't help but wonder if you will die as quickly as the two stallions you left behind, or if perhaps you will fall like a puppet with its strings cut off, should the pegasus turn around and knife you in the middle of the chest like the Daughter-of-Axes was.



[Chasing the escapee, competing rolls]

[Roll: 37+ 9 (Martial) = 46]

[Guard-4's roll: 13 + 7 (Martial) = 20]

[Success]



You chase after him, through the twists and turns of long corridors. Following after his scent, running into metal doors left wide open and jumping into pony-sized holes on unkept walls.

You chase after him, even as you realize your own rationality, your own common sense, is chasing you as well. And that it will force you back into terrified stillness should it ever catch you.

It doesn't even occur you to push those thoughts aside. Your entire body trembling at how close you are to danger.

You hear the pegasus cry out for the other guards. You smell danger and movement in the far distance, as they hear him.

Still, you catch him. Or at least you catch up to him.

Your horn is shining with hesitant, unpracticed movements, that you only ever tried against wooden dummies, as you strike against him.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Velvet Covers' current health: 2/2]

[Guard-4's health: 3/3]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Velvet – 0, Guard-4 – 0]



[Velvet's first roll: 80 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 94]

[Guard-4's first roll: 69 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 81]



[Overflow: Velvet – 13, Guard-4 – 0]



[Velvet's second roll: 72 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 86]

[Guard-4's second roll: 62 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 74]



[Overflow: Velvet – 25, Guards' – 0]

You catch up to the pegasus only in the sense that you tackle him. But given how desperately he was running, even that is enough, and your grasp on his hindlegs causes him to fall on the ground.

The two of you struggle, for a moment, and he attempts to kick at you with his hind once one of his legs escapes from your grip. He misses, by sheer luck, but the violence in his movements causes you to wince, releasing his other leg.

However, you are still on your legs, and he is still lying prone on the ground. So you jump over him, placing yourself between him and the direction he was going. You are still acutely aware that the other two ponies who heard his cries for help will come from behind you. But such rational concerns can't really reach your panicked, adrenaline-flooded mind.

The pegasus, still heaving from exertion and as scared as you are, lunges at you. If only because he doesn't believe he has any other choice.

Your horn flares with light.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Velvet Covers' current health: 2/2]

[Guard-4's health: 3/3]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Velvet – 25, Guard-4 – 0]



[Velvet's first roll: 43 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 57]

[Guard-4's first roll: 76 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 88]



[Overflow: Velvet – 25, Guard-4 – 31]



[Velvet's second roll: 33 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 47]

[Guard-4's second roll: 43 + 12 (Personal Combat) = 55]



[Overflow: Velvet– 25, Guard-4 – 39]

You try to apply what you know in theory.

You try.

The pegasus lunges at you, and you can almost see his movement in slow motion. You can feel the air tense around his wings with magic, as he opens them slightly mid-jump. You can almost taste the fearful sweat accumulating near his hoofs. You can see all that, and you know what you can do. What you should do.

Sidestep, block his hoofs with your own, partially deflect his momentum with magic… Tartarus, even lowering your head to gorge him in the exposed chest with your horn. Any of those would have been a good alternative. Any one of those options would give you the upper hoof, and you know that.

But as the pegasus lunges at you, you might as well be a critter facing down an eagle, because you freeze.

His body smacks down against you with the weight of a fully grown pony. His hoof grazes against your cheek, and even that clumsy miss has the strength of a punch given your situation. The two of you roll on the ground, pain spreading through your body as you realize how thin and frail and brittle you are.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Daughter-of-Axes' current health: 2/5]

[Velvet's current health: 2/2]

[Guard-4's health: 3/4]

[Multi-combatant fight. Guard-4 will only "compete" to wound Velvet Covers, but may be wounded by all adversaries]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Velvet - 25, Guard-4 – 39]



[Axe's first roll: 24 + 45 (Personal Combat) + 20 (A Rousing Air) = 89]

[Velvet's first roll: 62 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 76]

[Guard-4's first roll: 23 + 12 (Personal Combat) -5 (Outnumbered: 1) = 30]



[Overflow: Velvet – 130, Guards' – 39]

[Guard-4 suffers two wounds (-100 to Velvet's overflow)]



[Axe's first roll: 92 + 45 (Personal Combat) + 20 (A Rousing Air) = 157]

[Velvet's first roll: 7 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 21]

[Guard-4's first roll: 15 + 12 (Personal Combat) -5 (Outnumbered: 1) = 22]



[Overflow: Axe – 165, Guards' – 30]

[Guard-4 suffers three wounds (-150 to Velvet's overflow)]

[Guard-4 has been killed]

The two of you continue to roll on the ground, but no longer due to momentum. Instead, you two keep at it thanks to the frantic kicking and bucking of your legs, as both of you try to gain some form of advantage over the other. The struggle ends with the pegasus on top of you, but a desperate part of your mind realizes all four of his legs are either holding his weight or horribly out of position, and that his neck is exposed.

You punch up, as fiercely as you possibly can. Putting your whole body behind your foreleg even though you are all but lying on your back. And your hoof is met with the sickening sensation of something straining, like a wire taught to the point of nearly snapping.

And more importantly, you also hear a muted, dry cough, of a pony who just realize he can't breathe anymore.

The pegasus slips to the side, one hoof going to his neck in panic, and you take the opportunity to get your legs underneath you and stand up.

But the pegasus is out of your sight for a moment as you do that, as you roll to get up and reorient yourself, and that terrifies you.

Still, as soon as you look back up towards the po-… towards your enemy, you realize he is on the floor.

Two seconds later, you realize there is a great horned axe embedded on his back, nearly bisecting him in half.

And with that you realize that…

… you realize that…

That this is finally over.

And that your legs are still shaking, and your mind is in tatters, and that you nearly died, and that you just watched several ponies die, and that everything is going dark an-



"Don' ye FOKKEN wuss out on me!"



The Daughter-of-Axes is in front of you on the next moment, her hoofs on your shoulder as you finally realize she is the reason your vision is shaking so hard.

Her words cut through the panic you are feeling, but only for long enough that you finally realize you are sweating cold and… and your head is light and weak and… and the Daughter-of-Axes is still bleeding from where her chest was stabbed a-and tha-

"Two moar. Ye sed thar's two moar, aye? Wher' tha' fok are they?!" the mare asks, her voice focused and urgent.

And you can barely whisper to her that they are approaching, given how absolutely disoriented you are.

"Aye. Go fokken hide som'ere, ae'll com' back for ye," she says, letting go of your shoulders as soon as you tell her what she needs to know.

The snakemare doesn't even spare you a glance before picking up her axe, and running in the direction you pointed her to go.



[Rolling combats…]

[Success. Daughter-of-Axes current health: 2/5]



- - -



[Day 1 and 2 hurdle: Warded Door]



You took… a long time to get back on your legs.

The Daughter-of-Axes left you alone, as she went to look fo-… as she went to hunt the last two ponies. And even though you could see clearly without light, you still felt like she left you alone in the dark.

Your body still hurt, from where you rolled in the ground. Your face still ached, from where the grazing blow struck you. Your mind was still reeling in fear that you nearly died. That several other ponies died right in front of your eyes and that it was just so easy.

To be honest, there were so many things to be terrified about that you couldn't even form a single coherent dread.

Because how easy would it be for a creature like the Daughter-of-Axes to be thrown against you?

How easy would it be to drown in your own blood, from a single cut on the neck, like that stallion did?

How simple would it be for you to never to see your family again, if you were to die here?

Still, you eventually get back on your hoofs.



But only because you can.



The Daughter-of-Axes returns to you just as you finish drying your tears on the sleeves of your clothes. Your clothes still feel warm to the touch.

She gives you a single nod, that the deed is done, before waving for you to follow after her.

A few minutes later, navigating through the now-empty warehouse, you finally reach the barred door. The Forge-touched barrier that stands between you and the only other living pony in this place.

You wave a hoof towards the thing, and the Daughter-of-Axes is upon it moments later.



[Warded Door, cd 80]

[Roll: 65 + 50 (Daughter-of-Axes leading) + 20 (KNOCK bonus) + 30 (KNOCK bonus, Daughter-of-Axes) = 165]



The door buckles open before she even reaches it, and you can't help but think that the movement was similar to that of a scared foal jumping in fear.

In fact, you think that all the Daughter-of-Axes did was glare at the door.

"Ees wo' ae fokken thought…" you hear her mutter under her breath, towards the cowering door.

But you pay her no heed. Instead, you pull the door open, and enter into a large room.

And there, shivering in a corner, you find the pony you came for.

You can see her, terrified, tensing as she looks up towards the door. And as she looks in your direction with blind fear you remember that the room is actually covered in total darkness, and that she can't see either of you.

She looks…

Twilight Sparkle is…

The way she is imprisoned here is…

…

You take a deep breath, telling her what she needs to hear as you light up your horn.



[Soothing words?, breakpoints 80/120]

[Roll: 77 + 12 (Intrigue) + 30 (GRAIL bonus, doubled) + 40 (An Incarnadescence) = 159]

[First breakpoint reached, "Misery: Cooperation -1" malus avoided]

[Second breakpoint reached, "Virtue: Cooperation +1" received]



Twilight Sparkle is…

Spoiler: SANITY

[Twilight Sparkle's Sanity]

[Amassed Virtues: "Parting Words: +1"]

[Amassed Miseries: "Spike: -2"]

[Total dice modifier: + 1 - 2 = - 1]


6 or higher: Functional.

5: Stressed.

4: Panicked.

3: Unresponsive.

2: Delusional.

1: Traumatized.

0 or lower: Insane.

Spoiler: MEMORY

[Twilight Sparkle's Memory]

[Amassed Virtues: "Savant Memory: +2", "Expedited Rescue: +1"]

[Total dice modifier: + 2 + 1 = +3]


6 or higher: She remembers everything.

5: She forgot that "Princess Celestia" was a fake…

4: … she also forgot your involvement…

3: … she also forgot where she is…

2: … she also forgot what happened, all of it…

1: … she forgot everything, even who she is.

Spoiler: COOPERATION

[Twilight Sparkle's Willingness to Cooperate]

[Amassed Virtues: "Soothing Words: +1"]

[Amassed Miseries: "Parting Words: -1"]

[Total dice modifier: + 1 - 1 = +0]


6 or higher: Clinging to you like a foal.

5: Cooperative.

4: Untrusting, but willing to follow.

3: Convincing required; (if failed, go to "2")

2: Coercion required; (if failed, go to "1")

1: Restraining required.

0 or lower: Twilight Sparkle initiates combat.

[All three status will be decided on separate 1d6 rolls]





A/N: You really had the worse luck. For the damned Moth roll for surprise. For the number of guards, the amount of guards on the first combat, and for the Nat100 that got the Daughter-of-Axes. Still, Velvet came out unscathed, even though that should have been way less traumatic.

QM will roll those three d6 for Twilight. Here. In the thread. At... some point in the future, later today. Must sleep.

And before you ask about the Virtues:
-"Parting Words", the good and the bad, are the words you told her when you saw her in the jar. Great to keep her sane, not so great to make her trust you given how you still kept her there.
-"Expedited Rescue" refers to the fact you rushed there. After all, this expedition was only available this turn because you told Cadance that Twilight was missing, and that signaled how worried Velvet was, and how little time (comparatively) she was while there.
-The others I believe are self-explanatory.

Character sheet and all other relevant things will be updated after the end of the expedition. The Crepuscule Jailbreak is still under way.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Twilight Sparkle's condition

Twilight Sparkle's Sanity: Unresponsive.

Twilight Sparkle's Memory: She remembers everything.

Twilight Sparkle's Cooperation: Convincing required.

You feel the weight of your own horror pushing against your mind. You feel your emotions reeling in disgust. Disgust, and revulsion, and fear, and so many other things. In fact, you feel so repulsed by all of this that you don't even have the spare energy to feel angry about this.

But those are your emotions speaking. Those are just your baser instincts, still shocked at how close you were to death, and how dangerous this whole night has been, and the fact that you just aided in murdering ponies…

… and now, at the situation Twilight Sparkle is in.

Those are just your emotions, reeling in panic on the corner of your mind.



But you don't really need to care about that right now.



You shunt away all those things that aren't your rational thoughts, you submerge into the refuge of the icy lake you have inside yourself, and you allow the horror you are feeling to numbly push against its cold surface.

And more importantly, you focus on the task at hoof.

The room before you is… well, a prison.

It's not a prison. It's a… a Tartarus-damned-!​

A prison.

A total of six pony-sized cages, nailed to the floor, line the walls. Three on each side. Five of them, you can see, are open and empty. Twilight Sparkle is inside the one to your right, furthest away from the door.

As you walk towards her, you can see and… and smell the… the signs that there were recently other ponies in th-

You decide to ignore the evidence of recent occupation in the other cages, and focus on the reason you are here.

Besides, the smell of cleaning chemicals is almost enough to mask the other scents.

You reach the cage that is holding Twilight Sparkle, and you can't help but notice the thing is quite literally meant for animals. Probably for some kind of livestock, or perhaps for veterinary purposes in relation to large creatures. It is pony-sized, its bars are thick, and the space between them is not enough for a hoof or a leg to pass through.

It also has handles on its top and sides, which makes you think the thing was made with transportation in mind.

And when it comes to the mare herself, inside the cage-

-she is dirty and… and shivering, and she looks TERRIFIED and she is THIN and she has CLEARLY BEEN-​

-she looks malnourished and cold. And clearly distressed. But otherwise, she is movable.

You stand in front of the mare, looking at how she is curled up in a corner of the cage. And then you light up your horn, cutting through the oppressive darkness of the room and allowing her to see you. Twilight Sparkle squints for several seconds, but still you don't see her cover her eyes or even blink. And for several seconds you just look into her eyes, watching her pupils get more and more constricted, as she stares at the light of your horn.

And when the mare finally recognizes you, her expression… changes.

It is… hard, to put her expression into words. It is even harder given her physical condition, since you can't really say if she is in pain because she is hurt, or if her expression is pained because she just realized it is you.

But still, that is how she looks like. She looks pained, as well as many other things besides. She looks like she is in pain, and like she is tired, and like she is sick, and her expression tells you that she is not entirely sure if she wouldn't have preferred to come face to face with one of her jailors instead.

She hates you.​

But most of all, she has the eyes of a pony who had time to think. She has the eyes of a pony who had nothing but time to think.

She blames you.​

And you immediately understand why. Twilight Sparkle has not said a single word. Heavens, she hasn't even moved an inch ever since her eyes adapted to the light of your horn and she saw it was you. But still, she has already conveyed everything she wanted to tell you.

Because you can see it, in her eyes. You can see how she remembers everything. You can see how the young unicorn is way, way too smart for her own good. And how she used all of that intellect, and all of the time she had here to think. To think, and think, and think, and go over what happened and how it happened and why it happened and where things went wrong.

And you are sure that she relived it, again and again and again, all the pains she had been subjected to, until she ended up in a cold, stinking cage in some-​

She has the eyes of a Lantern-pony. And you have not yet met a mare who has potential for Lantern and who did not regret being alone with her thoughts.

She has Jade Whistle's eyes, even if slightly different.

She has Baldomare's expression, when she is particularly drunk, even if slightly different.

But none of that really matters right now.

"Twilight," you say, "it's me."

None of that really matters right now. Because you are bruised, the Daughter-of-Axes is wounded, and none of you are even close to safety yet.

"I am here to take you home. I will keep you safe."

All that matters is taking her away from here. Before the Cult catches wind of your actions, or before your own thrashing emotions break through your mental barriers and incapacitate you as well.

You undo the lock with a tap of your hoof, but the mare doesn't move. She doesn't even flinch.

She just continues to look at you with those eyes that are at the same time dead and accusing.

And when she finally moves, all she does is take in a slightly bigger breath, to open her mouth and speak. Her tone so low it might as well be a whisper.



"… you…"



The walls around your rational thoughts buckle under the weight of your emotions.

And you take a deep breath.

She doesn't trust you.

She doesn't trust you any more than she did her previous captors.

She isn't any more relieved to see you than she would be to have somepony deliver her yet another day's worth of… whatever she was being fed here.

But you can also see she won't fight you. Not with her body, at least. Not yet.

It doesn't help that you don't know exactly why she hates you. It doesn't help that you don't know precisely what conclusion she reached, after all the time she spent here. And it definitely doesn't help that you don't know what she knows exactly. Did somepony in the Cult speak to her? Did she overhear something? Did some horrible thing happen to her that you are not aware of?

You don't know any of that.

Even though you can make… very educated guesses.

However, you do know what might be able to coax her.

Because Twilight Sparkle doesn't need to like you for her to be willing to follow you.



[Convincement?, cd 80]

[Roll: 48 + 13 (Diplomacy) + 15 (GRAIL bonus) + 40 (An incarnadescence) = 116]



"I will take you back to your family."

That is all you have to say.

That is all she really, really wants. What she truly desires, from the bottom of her haunted and scared heart.

And so, she gets up on her hoofs, and walks after you.



- - -



[Day 3 hurdle: Escape]



As you escape the warehouse, there is nothing any of you can do about being dirty. Or in Axe's case dirty and bloodied. Still, it is the dead of the night, and you are in a bad part of Manehattan, so you manage to leave the place without drawing any attention.

You and the Daughter-of-Axes had planned for several eventualities. The very worst-case scenario would have you running towards the trainyard, in the hopes of smuggling yourselves into a cargo train so you could at least leave the city.

But this is not the worst-case scenario. Twilight's condition makes you feel like this is the worst-case scenario. The fact that the snakemare had to carry Twilight on her back, given how lethargic the unicorn is, makes you feel like this is the worst case scenario. Heavens, the fact that Twilight Sparkle has not yet said another word makes you feel like this is the worse-case scenario.

But this isn't. You know it isn't. Neither you nor the Daughter-of-Axes are crippled, or being pursued, or surrounded on all sides by ponies who are searching for you.

So, you are able to take the longer and safer way out.

You two make your way to the nearest and most unkept motel nearby. You enter it alone, which was already in your original plan but is now a necessity since Axe has blood all over her, and you pay for a room with a single bed. The bored stallion on the counter doesn't even bother to look up at you as you do it, and you don't think he will ever remember the fake name you gave him.

Minutes later, the snakemare sneaks into the place, carrying Twilight on her back.

The three of you clean yourselves up as best as possible, and less than an hour later you are all ready to leave, wearing yet another set of inconspicuous clothes.

"You think we should double back and try to get rid of…" you stop, hesitating as you look at Twilight, who is sitting on the corner of the room facing a wall. "You know… the things we left behind?"

You mean the corpses. And the Daughter-of-Axes understands, her gaze still focused and unannoyed as she looks between you and Twilight.

"No time. We dinnae kno' ther' scheduls. Dinnae kno' if we cuid do et without summon walkin' in on us. And we dinnae kno' this place. Dumpin' em' might take mor' time an' effort than we imagn. An' we might just fail," she says, with the clear tone of experience in her voice. "'Sides, too much blod. They'll kno' it was death, no' dissapearrnces."

You bite down the question of whether she can't just… eat them. Because you can already see the Daughter-of-Axes giving you an annoyed glare, and returning to her usual demeanor, if you do that.

With an insecure nod, you finish stuffing the dirty and bloodied clothes in your saddle-bag, and the three of you sneak out of the motel right after.

Your leg to the train station is blessedly uneventful. And for all that you had the option to wait for the morning, so you could enter the station with the benefit of a crowd, you two agree that it's best to risk the streets and move out of the city before the Cult realizes what happened. Because right now, the existence of Cult eyes in the streets is an uncertainty, and even if they exist there is no reason to think they would be on the lookout for you.

But once the Cult realizes what happened?

Well, better to be gone by then.

Still, you arrive at the train station, and you are never surrounded by menacing and cloaked figures before the first train out of Manehattan arrives.

And you are accelerating out of the city less than an hour later.



[Escape, cd 80]

[Roll: 61 + 50 (Daughter-of-Axes leading) + 20 (MOTH bonus) + 0 (MOTH bonus, Daughter-of-Axes) – 10 (Heavy Cargo: Twilight Sparkle) = 121]

[Success]

[All hurdles have been overcome. Expedition successful.]





The expedition "Crepuscule Jailbreak" has been successfully completed, and has been removed from your available expeditions.

The Daughter-of-Axes has been reduced to 2/5 health.

You have passed through three hurdles, with a two pony team, in a total of three attempts. 36 bits (3 days x 2 ponies x 6 bits) have been deduced from your coffers, out of the 60 bits you set aside.

Twilight Sparkle has been safely(?) returned to Ponyville, and will be taken to your estate.

Twilight Sparkle is not cooperating with you, has not spoken a single word, and does not appear to be willing to do either any time soon. You have promised to take her to her family, and that is the only thing that appears to have made her move.

Your arrival back in Ponyville, and whatever happens next, will follow.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Velvet Covers.

And you are barely holding on.

But you can still make it. You just need to do one more thing.

Just one more thing.

It is night. You and the Daughter-of-Axes have just smuggled Twilight Sparkle into your estate. Nopony is awake, so there won't be any gossips about the time you arrived or how bedraggled you all looked.

Just one more thing.

You placed Twilight in one of your guest rooms. And for all that the mare has not yet talked… or even moved, really, you are sure you will be able to figure that out as well.

Just one more thing.

You just need to put away your things. Hide your saddle-bag so the maids won't see what's inside of it. Maybe completely burn the dress that the Daughter-of-Axes all but destroyed during her fight. Then you need to clean yourself properly, of course, so you look absolutely normal tomorrow. And you also have to figure out how to clean Twilight as well, because her condition will surely raise eyebrows, which will in turn create gossiping, which will then create problems.

Just one more thing.

And then there is tomorrow, of course. Because you just stole from the Cult. So any minute now they might catch wind of that, and you have no idea how they might react. So you have to prepare. Because you always have to prepare. After all, the only way to survive in this insane situation is by being one step ahead, so you have to…

Just one more thing.

And you… and you have to move. You have to start moving right now. Because even though you just entered your room you haven't yet taken a single step. Because why in Tartarus did you look at the damn mirror? Why did you look into the mirror, at your own exhausted and wide-eyed self, as soon as you entered the room? Why did you look at the mirror and just stop?

Just one more thing.

You don't have time to stop. You don't have time to stand still like this. You have too much to do. So you have to start walking, drop your saddle-bag inside your closet, get yourself into a presentable shape, and you have to STOP. LOOKING. AT. THE. MIRROR. IN. HORROR.

Just. One. More-



!!!



The Winter grip you have on your own mind breaks like a dam-
-and your tired legs crumble under the weight of your exhausted body-
-and your breath gets stuck inside your throat as the guilt and horror of what you have just done catches up to you-
-and your mind finally snaps as you recall how Twilight looked at you and how unrecognizable you look right now and the fact that Spike wasn't there.



You barely manage to stuff your face into a pillow, with whatever last strand of rationality you still had, before you begin screaming.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You wake up on your bed, in the small room that you have been using in the servant's quarter. On the ground level of the Velvet estate.

You wake up because you swear that you can hear… something.

You are Soft Sweeps, and with silent, cautious hoofsteps you slowly get out of your bed.

It is night, and the estate as a whole has been experiencing a lull in activity for the past few days. Lady Velvet herself has been away on a trip for a few days now. And since the number of servants required per shift is still being kept low, following the… several occurrences of the past few months, there just haven't been that many ponies around.

Comparing to how it was before, at least.

Plus, since it has just been the fillies in the house, you have basically volunteered to take over for whatever maid has been assigned to the overnight shift. And of course, none of the maids have rejected your offer so far.

And no, you are not being territorial, you are just being helpful.

But none of that really matters right now.

Because it is night.

And you are alone in your room.

And you can hear this… thing?

You perk your ears up, trying to focus. But no matter how hard you try, you can't really... hear anything. Even though you swear you can.

You can't really hear anything. Anything at all. Not even a faint breeze against the window, or maybe a ringing inside your head.

But still, almost maddeningly, you can sense… something. You have never felt anything like this before, so you don't even know how to name this sensation. It doesn't even feel familiar. And yet you can still tell that it is there.

And because it's there, you can't really calm down. Because it's still there, you can tell that you didn't wake up because of some noise outside that died out before you got fully conscious. You can't convince yourself that you really did listen to something that is gone now, simply because this "noise" isn't gone at all.

However, the noise isn't really a noise either.

You purse your lips, feeling slightly worried. After all, it's just you and the fillies in the house. And even though you know you can grab them and fly away, in a worst-case scenario, it's still not good to think that sort of thing might be necessary.

So, naturally, you decide to investigate. You sneak out of your room, walking down the narrow corridor of the servant's quarters, and make your way to the more important parts of the house.

Your first plan was to check the entire house, starting from the second floor and then making your way down. Peeking into the fillies' rooms to make sure they are alright, checking the adjacent rooms as you passed them by, and finally going downstairs to check the halls, kitchen and everywhere else.

But as soon as you arrive on the main hall, you immediately… know where to go.

Because this noise that you are hearing, this… sensation that you don't have a name for, it doesn't just get stronger. It also somehow gets clearer.

You feel your heartbeat quickening, as you climb the main stairway. And for all that you planned on checking on the foals first, you immediately make a turn and head straight to the master bedroom.

The door is closed, even though you are sure you left it slightly opened before turning in for the night.

You make your way towards the door, ears turned towards it as you try to listen for a hint of what the hay is going on. Did one of the fillies sneak into Mrs. Velvet's room to snoop around? Is somepony that shouldn't be there inside the house? Are you maybe even being robbed?

A small part of your thoughts, that seems to be in line with this feeling inside of you, somehow tells you that all of those options are wrong. Still, your basic common sense pushes that idea away, and you carefully make your way towards the door of the master bedroom.

But as you very slowly open the door, straining your eyes to peek in through the sliver while trying to see past the darkness, you notice-



"Mrs. Velvet?!"



You open the door wide on the next moment, rushing into the room. And right there, on the floor by the large bed, barely illuminated by what little moonlight can peek in through the windows, you see her.

You see Mrs. Velvet.

And she looks… she looks horrible.

"Mrs. Velvet, wha-? What happened? When did you come back and-? And why-?"

You can barely form a single sentence as you make your way towards her. Or rather, as you try to make your way towards her. Because you stop, and stutter, and think that you should actually leave at least three times before you actually reach the mare.

Because the way she is right now is just…!

Mrs. Velvet is lying on the floor, curled up and shaking. She has a partially ripped pillow next to her, which you are sure she both bit into and impaled with her horn at some point. Part of her clothes are dirty, her usually lustrous mane is all over the place, and she is both crying and drooling.

Her eyes are wide open and bloodshot, and she is heaving in panic.

You can tell that she isn't even aware that you entered the room, or that you are trying to speak to her.

"Mrs. Velvet, please! Tell me wh-!" You try to say, but you are interrupted by her once again stuffing her face into the pillow, her horn making yet another hole into it, followed by the muffled sound of her yelling into it.

And you can't stand to see this anymore. You throw caution to the wind, your own thoughts a confused mess as you realize that you don't know what to do but that you still have to do something.

"Mrs. Velvet!" you say, putting your hoofs on the mare's shoulders.



And for some reason her face snaps towards you, her entire body flinching as if suddenly scared.



"Wh-a…t, did yo-ou call me?"

Her question, that you can barely understand, comes out of her mouth in a hoarse whisper.

And you can't help but take a half-step back, as if you had just done something wrong.

"I-I called you Mrs. Velvet?" you ask, hesitantly.

But just as you realize she is about to slip back into her own mind again, you also jump at the sliver of attention she has just given you.

"But wait! Mrs. Velvet please! Tell me what happened! I-I mean, tell me what's wrong. Anything!"

You reach out for the mare again, but you almost recoil in shock as this time Mrs. Velvet slaps your hoof again.

"N-no… go aw-way…" she says, more to herself than to you. But still, she says that regardless. "H-have to… take c-care of… a-and… f-failed… can't also m-mess up because… a-and protect Silky… elene… a-and Soft…"

Your heart sinks as you realize that she… not only that she is losing it again, that she is slipping back into her… into whatever panic she is under.

But you also feel a weight inside your chest, a mixture of shame and guilt as you realize why exactly she is like this.

Because you can't really… remember much, of these last few weeks. You can't remember the fine details, and you are sure you just don't know as much as most ponies do.

But you still know what is going on. You still know that everything has been going wrong for everypony, yourself included.

However, even though she has always been one of the ponies that kept things together… even though all the maids, and even several ponies in town, have been saying that things would probably be much worse if she hadn't stepped up with the mayor… you still realize that…

Well, that things have probably been falling apart for Mrs. Velvet herself. And she is still just a pony.

And after everything she has done for you, in particular, you can't stand to just… let her protect you like this anymore.

"Mrs. Velvet, stop that!" you say, grabbing her by the shoulders and trying your best to at least have her look in your direction.

Because you have no idea how to do this. You have no idea how she would have done it, if your positions were flipped, even though you know she would have known how to do it correctly. But still, you can't stop yourself from at least trying.

"Please, look at me. I-I don't know what is wrong, and I don't know what to do b-but… But please let me help you!"

And even though your heart is beating so quickly that you can almost feel it in your mouth, and even though Mrs. Velvet's body is cold to the touch, you still realize after a few moments that her eyes are actually aimed at you.

"I-I just want to help you! I promise I'll take care of everything, so please… Please just tell me what you need. Something, anything!"

She is looking at you, and you can see that you are hurting her more than you are helping. You can see that you just started yet another war inside her head, her babbling whispers that still trail out of her drooling mouth saying that you are just a filly, and that she should be the one protecting you, and that she somehow failed. All of that and a lot more, in half-spoken and confused words.

But you can also tell that whatever resistance she has, inside of her, is simply too weak to fight. Too overwhelmed to put up any resistance at all.

So, she tells you. She might not even realize she is doing it, or might not even want to do it. But still, she tells you. If not what she wants you to do, then what she thinks she failed to do. If not directions, then at least hints of what is weighting her down.

And when you finally leave her room, you do it determined not to let her down. You do it determined to at least begin paying her back for everything she has done for you.

You will not fail her.

You will help Mrs. Velvet.



- - -



Once you knew what to do, or at least thought you knew what to do, the night suddenly felt terribly short.

First of all was Mrs. Velvet herself. Or, since you were hesitant to touch the older mare, at least the items she had with her.

Because the saddle-bag that was thrown on the ground was filled with… things. A good amount of bits, everyday items with various different uses, a knife, and most of all clothes.

Inside the saddle-bag there were a few sets of torn, dirty, bloodied clothes.

You washed those, as best as you could, and then you put them away in a place the other maids would not find, even in the unlikely possibility they managed to enter Mrs. Velvet's rooms. After all, you locked it after you left her room. But still, it pays to be cautious.

Then you went to one of the guest rooms, the one occupied by the recent and strange guest.

You had not yet met her, but you did hear a few things about this "Axe" mare from the fillies.

Convincing her that you were there to help her took a while, and getting her to open her room and allow you in took even longer.

But you understood why she was so private as soon as you saw her.

She didn't let you help her with her… wound. And to be honest, you wouldn't be able to help her even if she wanted. You don't know much about medicine, and those kind of things are usually left for the maids who know a bit about nursing or to Ponpon herself.

Still, you help her with what little amenities she needs, and she takes you up on the offer of fresh and clean clothes. Throwing her dirty (and slightly bloodied) ones she was wearing before in your direction.

Washing and getting rid of those also took a fair amount of time.

And now, finally, there is… the other guest.

As you stand before the guest room in question, you think back to what Mrs. Velvet told you about this other guest, even if her words were… difficult to understand.

You have never really met her before, and you don't really remember the fillies even mentioning that name. You have no idea of who this "Twilight Sparkle" mare is, if she is even a pony at all. Because who knows.

But still, you gathered that she is… well, "young". Or "too young," to use the precise words. And also that she is "hurt," and that she… "lost someone"…

And also, if Mrs. Velvet's words are to be taken at face value, that this is all Mrs. Velvet's own fault, somehow.

But still, you can't stay like this, hesitating in front of the door and wasting time. Morning will come sooner rather than later, and you will have a long day ahead of you taking care of other things. You will have to gather the maids you know you can trust, with Tip Top and some other names coming to mind. You will have to stop rumors before they are even born. You will have to make sure the fillies don't suspect anything. And so many other things besides.

You wish Ponpon wasn't also sick right now. But still, hopefully, she will wake up a little better, at least to give you some advice on how to get this done.

With all of that in mind, you hesitantly knock on the door of the guest room. Not so loudly that somepony in the nearby rooms might hear it, but still not so low that this Twilight pony herself might not notice it.

And then you wait…

For a good while…

Until enough time passes that you think you should knock on the door again.

…



This whole ritual repeats itself two more times, before you finally decide to go into the room.



"Excuse me?"

As you enter the room, you immediately realize how strangely heavy the air itself feels. As if the atmosphere was not only solemn, but almost uncomfortable.

Still, the room is somewhat lit. The curtains had been left open, so the light of the setting moon is covering almost half of the room in its glow.

And thanks to that, you immediately notice the pony herself.

She is a mare, you can tell at a glance. The light is too poor for you to be able to tell the exact color of her coat or mane, but you can still tell she is a mare. But what is more, a chill runs through your spine as you realize, only several seconds later, that she is not an earth pony.

Which reminds you that Mrs. Velvet did use the word "hurt".

"I apologize for barging in," you say, habit and training taking over as your mind freezes. "I am a maid of the estate, at your service, so please excuse me."

You say that with a short bow, at first to gain you more time to think, but then to see if the mare even reacts at all.

But she doesn't. After you are done bowing, you look up to the mare only to see that she has not moved an inch. She did not look at you, her ears did not move, and to be honest you are not even sure she is breathing.

The mare just stays where she is… sitting on the floor next to the bed, her head lying on the bed itself, over one of her forelegs, as she stares at a wall.

You carefully walk into the room, closing the door behind you. Wondering what you should do next.

Because you… don't think there is anything you can do? After all, the mare is wearing clothes, and those are slightly dirty, but you don't dare to touch her. The same way you didn't try to undress Mrs. Velvet, and didn't get anywhere near that Axe guest.

You also don't see anything on the floor? Mrs. Velvet had that full saddle-bag that you had to go through. Axe asked you for several things, such as food and bandages and, much to your confusion, a whetstone.

But here? Right now? This Twilight mare is just… there.

Still, you can't just leave without at least trying. Trying to be useful, or trying to talk to her, or at least trying to figure out how you can help.

"Excuse me? Miss Twilight?"

You make your way towards the mare, going around her so you can at least take a closer look.

And as you approach her, you can see more and more details on the dim light.

You can tell, first of all, that she is… well, that she is slightly older than you, for starters. You can also tell, thankfully, that she is unhurt. Sure, her clothes are dirty, and they don't seem to fit her that well, but compared to what Mrs. Velvet had on her saddle-bag, or what Axe was wearing, these are way more presentable.

But as you squint your eyes a little bit, you can also see that the contours of her body are awfully thin, even under those baggy clothes.

"Uhm, Miss… would you like me to bring something to eat? Or at least just a cup of water?" you ask, trying to sound more confident now, using that question as an excuse (or maybe a boost of confidence to yourself) to get a bit closer to her.

But as soon as you get close enough to see her face, you nearly let out a shocked gasp.

Because you can see it… you can see in her face that the older, wounded unicorn is…

Her eyes are… they are hollow. They are hollow, and she is in pain, and she is nearly being crushed by something that you can't really see.

But most of all, you can tell that she isn't just tired or uncomfortable. No.

This mare is miserable. She is more than miserable, but "miserable" is the only word you know that can properly describe her. Even if only partially.

And you… even by being here, you realize that… even though you never met this mare before, you can tell that.

…

The silence that hangs heavy in the air stretches itself, for several long seconds.

And you think you should leave.

No, you know you should leave. You know that you are neither expected here, nor wanted. In fact, you can somehow tell that… that nopony would be wanted here. That there isn't a single pony alive that would somehow make this better, should they walk into this room right now.

However, you…

You also realize that you… recognize this?

The expression she has on her face, the heavy silence covering the room, they all speak to this… feeling that you have inside of you.

And even though Mrs. Velvet just half-stuttered that this mare "lost someone," you somehow know that… that it wasn't just that? That there is more to it? No, it's that.

Or rather, it's not just that.

There is more to her situation, that somehow speaks to you. There is more to this… this mourning, or this pain, or this agony, that you can somehow understand. That you can relate to.

Almost as if you already know the answer, to a question that you can't really put into words.

Almost as if you understand the effect, even though you have no idea to what is the cause. Like you see smoke, but you have no idea that "fire" even exists.

But still, that is better than nothing. This might be just a gut feeling, and it might be a stupid idea besides. But it is better than just leaving the room and letting this hollowed-eyed mare to her own devices.

So, you follow this strange sensation you have inside of you.

And you begin to talk to her. Even though your words are breaking the deep, miserable silence of the room. Even though breaking this silence is doing way more harm than good. You still begin to talk to her.

Because you have to. Not only because somepony has to talk to her, but because the mare needs somepony to talk to her.

"I… I am really, really sorry," you say.

Walking towards her-… no, walking to one of the corners of the room.

Because she needs space? Because it's darker in the corner of the room, and she doesn't want to see you? Because you need to be in the corner of the room?

"I am really sorry, and I know how that feels."

You have no idea. You don't even know what you are saying.

But somehow, the words almost flow out of you.

"It feels like… it just hurts, doesn't it? It feels like a wound, but also like something that is part of you now, doesn't it? Like this… this horrible wound that won't heal, and that you can't really stand, but that you are stuck with. Like it's going to be with you forever, from now on, but you can barely stand even a second of it."

You just talk.

To yourself.

And to her.

About yourself.

And, somehow, also about her.

And even though you have never met her, and you don't know anything about her, you can still feel that the things you are saying are striking chords. But not just general, broadly relatable chords. No. You know that even the specific things that you are saying apply to her, on a deep and personal level.

"… and I just don't know. Every time I think that I just will never see my littler brother again I just… stop," you say out loud.

You have been telling her about your family for a while now.

You have been telling her about how much it hurts.

You have been telling her about the pain you know she is feeling.



And you realize that the mare… is listening.



You get up from where you are sitting, on the dark corner of the room.

You watch as the mare begins to quietly cry, as you approach her.

But you also know that she doesn't want you to go away. Because even though everything you just told her was painful, her entire life is pain right now. So, what you are saying at least make sense. And since it makes sense, it helps her at least ground herself. And since it helps her to ground herself, she wants you to tell her more.

You have no idea what you are doing.

But it is working, and for some reason it feels easy.

Almost natural.

So, when you reach her, you very carefully put your lips close to her ear, and you whisper to her. Almost as if you are sharing a secret.

You whisper to her a question. A proposal. An invitation.

And finally, the mare begins to… talk.

Things become much, much easier after that.

And your heart hammers inside your chest, with tension at the thought that you are making progress, and maybe just a hint of pride at the fact that following your guts worked.

But most of all, you feel glad because…

Because you are helping Mrs. Velvet.

And that is exactly what you will strive to do, from now on.

Because you owe her too much, and it's about time you start paying her back.





Following her return from the expedition, Velvet Covers became unavailable for a few days.

Her trusty maid-slash-daughter, Soft Sweeps, has stepped up to cover for her. Quelling any unusual rumors, masking her absence as a "sickness", and keeping her daughters placated. All of that with the help of Ponpon, once the more experienced maid recovered.

Velvet Covers will be appraised of what happened during her "indisposition" as soon as she gets back on her hoofs.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Velvet Covers.

And you hate that.

…

You have hated that for a while now.

Although you are not really sure how long "a while" has been, by now.

Because you had nothing to help you track the time. Not even your own thoughts. At all times, your head would either be so full that it would spin and overflow, or it would be barren and empty.

You don't really remember eating or drinking anything. But you also don't remember feeling the need to do either. You had a vague sensation that you were wasting away, but you also didn't really care. Or rather, you didn't even mind.

Are you alive? Are you dead? It really doesn't matter.

…

But still.

…

As time passes.

…

Or at least, as you think time passes.

…

You also realize that you don't disappear either.

…

And at some point, you finally realize you are awake.



- - -



The first thing that comes to your mind is how hungry you are.

Everything is dark, around you. The darkness is pierced every now and then by flashes of clarity, whenever you blink but otherwise everything around you is dark. You think it's night, but you are not sure. And really, you have neither the energy nor the will to check the clock.

Still, all you feel is hungry. You feel hungry, and nothing else.

As if everything else you felt, and everything you could possibly feel, has already been exhausted. You don't feel weak, and you also don't feel horrified. You don't feel disgusted, or guilty, or even ashamed. You vaguely recall that you have a mountain's worth of reasons to feel bad, due to how your actions affected other ponies. Because you can't help but think you have been a bad mother, and a bad friend, and a bad wife, and just a bad pony.

Still, you can't feel anything about any of that. As if all those emotions have already hammered down on you for so long that the hammers themselves broke and crumbled away.

And now, the only things left are your instincts. The only things that really occur to you are the most basic of sensations, that come from that ancient part of your brain that never really evolved in your species.

All you feel is hungry.

You get up. The entire right side of your body hurts from where you leaned against a cabinet for… who knows how long.

You think you would be able to do a lot more things if you just put your mind into it. You think you would be able to somehow tell where everypony is in the house, if you just put a tiny bit of effort. But you don't. Or rather, it's impossible. You don't have any amount of effort you can give right now. You can't even be bothered to care.

You just feel hungry.

So, you leave your room.

You can tell it is night. And you can tell that your daughters would be scared, maybe even terrified, if they saw the way you look right now. But you really don't care.

You just drag yourself downstairs, unceremoniously raid the pantry, drink perhaps way more water than you should, and then you go back upstairs and lock yourself in your room.

And for the first time in a very, very long time, you actually crash on your bed and fall asleep.

You fall into a restive sleep, that is. Because you are sure you didn't rest at all, during your bouts of blacked-out unconsciousness from the last few days.



…

…

…

……



And now you are in the Woods.

You don't know how this happened. You certainly didn't intend to come here. And for all that you can dream your way into the Mansus without the need to do any particular actions or rituals before sleeping, you also need to want to go to the Mansus. Otherwise, you just have a dreamless sleep, waking up on the next day with a rested body and the sensation you did something wrong.

Still, you are in the Woods, and you are certain that you didn't mean to come to the Woods.

You get up, slowly, and you shake your head. Trying to get your thoughts in order, and to get your bearings.

Because doing that here is at the same time easier and harder than in the Wake.

After all, your mind is still your own. And the first thing that you think about is… well, your recent memories.

In short, you are acutely aware of your situation. Of the things you did, back in the Wake, as well as the state you were in for the last few days… the state that you still are, right now. You can tell how your mind is still reeling in exhaustion, and you can almost hear the temptation that you have inside your brain, telling you that you should slam your head against the nearest tree until your own horn breaks.

Being in the Mansus, rather than the Wake, makes it harder to get your thoughts in order. Because here, you are not in your Wake-body. Here, you don't have exhaustion or hunger to weight you down or move you to action. Here, your thoughts are much sharper and clearer, and your passions can quite literally interact with your surroundings as well as your hoofs can.

However, being here also makes it easier to put your mind in order. Because here, it is also just as easy to… ignore, all of that.

Or not ignore it, not exactly. Not in the sense that you are running away from your problems. But precisely because your thoughts are heightened, it is also easier, or at least less hard, to… parcel them out. To understand them. To interact with them, even.

Because you can feel it, your shame and your guilt and all the blood that is coating your hoofs. You can feel them almost like a cloak, weighting you down, or like roots that are growing around your legs and trying to pull you into the black dirt.

But that's what makes it easier. After all, you know how to shed cloaks, and you know how to avoid roots, and you realize that in all of the Mansus you are in the one place where anything can be lost. Even if they are, or should be, a part of you.

So, you do just that.

You let the buzzing of the Woods around you enter your brain, and fill the empty places where shame and guilt might otherwise take root.

And you let the things that shear cut away at your horror. And you don't quite forget the things you have done, but you don't quite remember them either.

And you for the longest time you wonder if you should also leave your regrets here. You wonder if you should spit them out like a seed, and plant them in the soft dirt so that they might grow into a black tree, indistinguishable from all the others around it.

But that, you decide to keep. You don't have the right to stop regretting, otherwise you feel you might lose the will to also make things right.

Still, you slowly disrobe yourself of all the things that had been covering you, until the bone-deep cold of exposing yourself so much becomes unbearable.

But thankfully, you have the warm dress of your Grail Influence to cover yourself with, and keep the worst of the chill away from your essence.

…

After you do all that, you finally realize you still have a question.

Because, as you look around the Woods with a hazier mind and clearer eyes, you finally remember that you are still here.

No, that's not it. Not exactly. You remember that you were brought here.

Which in turn makes you realize that… you were summoned.

And being summoned into the Woods can only mean one thing.

Or at least, that is what you think at first. But something is not right. The last few times you were summoned into the Woods were different. Because the last few times you were summoned, you felt compelled to go somewhere, or you just appeared in the designated place. Heavens, there was even one time where you were dragged, screaming and kicking, by the roots of the trees.

Still, all those other times, all those other summons, had a sense of inevitability to them. All those times, you were being beckoned by something much greater than yourself, that you had no choice but to obey.

But this time?

Well, the fact that you are mulling over these details right now already shows that something is wrong.

Already shows that this summoning is somehow lesser.

To the point that you aren't exactly sure where to go, for a few moments. In fact, you actually have to focus to figure out where this… thing, this presence that called you from your own sleep and into the Woods, is even coming from.

But as soon as you find it, you make your way deeper into the trees.

To find out what the hay is going on, if nothing else.



- - -



"Thank goodness this worked…"

That is the first thing you hear, as soon as you step into the clearing.

That is the first thing you hear Copper Secateur say, from where she is standing in the middle of the clearing. As you, Jade Whistle, Comet Feet and Windy Flakes step out of the surrounding bushes at the same time.

And you can't help but… well, the four of you can't help but look at the mare in confusion, the unspoken question of what the hay is going on clear on all your faces.

"What… Copper, what is going on?" Windy speaks up, before anypony else can.

Because this was a summons, you are sure of it. It was faint and weak, but the five of you… or at least the four of you, not counting Copper, have been summoned here.

But where is the Master? Why is Copper waiting here, instead of her?

And why does Copper look so tense?

"Everypony, I need you to listen to me," she says, and her tone makes it clear that she is trying her best to keep her voice level. Or at least to keep it from shaking any more than it already is. "We have a problem. A big problem. Two of them, in fact."

"Well, then make it three," Windy chimes in, his voice also unusually nervous. "Because just yesterday I caught wind of something bad here in Ponyville."

Windy and Copper stare at each other for several painful seconds, before the stallion nods at her and they mutely agree that she should go first.

"The way things are going, they might even be related…" Copper says, more to herself than to anypony else. "I'll cut to the chase. First of all, the Master is gone."

That makes everypony's eyes go wide in surprise, and you think you hear a shocked gasp coming from somepony. Although you have no idea who.

But still, you can also tell that… nopony really believes it? No, it's not that. You can tell that nopony thinks that can be possible. Not even Copper herself, judging by her expression.

However, for all that her face makes it clear that she agrees with you all that this shouldn't be possible, everypony can also tell that she wouldn't be saying that if something didn't happen to strain that belief.

"You said you'd cut to the chase," Comet Feet speaks up, his tone grave. "So tell us why you think that's the case."

"The Master… she… she passed by Manehattan. To be honest I was sure she was still around, given how she would pop up out of nowhere and leave just as quickly. But the very last thing she told me was that she would be… busy for a while? And that I should remember what she told me?"

Copper waves a frustrated hoof, her words starting and stopping as if she was trying to remember something, anything that could be useful.

"I just thought that was her usual nonsensical spiel. But here's the problem. Starry Dancer is… or was also in Manehattan with me, and she has been going crazy with every passing day," she says, and your eyes glance around the clearing as she says that, as if to confirm that the pegasus mare is indeed missing. "But yesterday she was normal? Not normal, but she was freakishly calm. And then she told me that the Master is gone, as if that was the most normal thing in the world."

She says that, and when she is done an uneasy silence settles around you. Broken only by Copper's own hard, nervous breathing, as she looks at each of you in turn.

"Well? Does anypony know anything about this?" she asks, "did the Master just up and appear in Ponyville or something? Did she just mean to say she would go back there?"

"You said Starry was acting weird," Comet speaks up. "You even called her insane. I don't think she's insane. But still, you said it yourself, so there's no reason we should trust her w-"

"This was DIFFERENT," the mare yells over him, much to everypony's surprise. "You weren't there, so please trust me on this. The way she said it… she was telling the truth! Like a damn moth… prophet, if that combination of words even make sense."

Comet Feet stays quiet, after that. But still, you can tell from his expression that… he believes her.

In fact, you can tell that everypony believes her.

Not because of Copper's words. Her story doesn't really add up, and you all know it. Heavens, even the mare herself realizes it.

No, you all believe her because of how disheveled she is. Because you can all tell that she believes it.

Because the Master disappearing just doesn't make sense. Less than that, it feels like it should be impossible. Everypony, Copper included, thinks so.

But for Copper to be this exasperated shows that her belief, her faith even, has been broken. And if she truly believes that the Master is gone, then she felt something… then something happened, that she can't put into words, that also corroborates her story.

So, you all believe her.

And as the meaning of her words slowly settle in, you all begin to realize what this means.

"So the Master is… gone?" Jade says, "so… what do we do now?"

Her question doesn't fall on deaf ears. But still, nopony answers. Because everypony realizes that you just don't know the answer to that question.

You purse your lips, your thoughts racing as much as everypony else's. But still, a cold weight settles inside your chest as you remember that…

"You said two problems, Copper," you say, drawing everypony's attention. "What else happened?"

You think you hear the mare say something under her breath, but you have no idea what it is. Still, she begins to speak a few moments later.

"The one mare we brought from the changeling hive, remember her? The one you said was a protégé of a Princess? That the Master wanted to keep as a bargaining chip?" the mare lets out a long sigh, before continuing, "well, she is gone. The place we kept her got raided by the guard. They killed everypony and took her, and we only found out a short while ago. That's why I just threw caution to the wind and tried this ritual to call you all."

Your eyes go wide at that, together with everypony else's. But before you can even react to her words-

"Oh no…" Windy says, his face going pale. "Oh… oh no… that is very bad news…" he says.

And everypony's attention turn towards him, because you all know that he also had a problem, about something in Ponyville.

"Everypony, this is bad," he says, his eyes darting here and there, as if he was tracing back his own memories. "Because yesterday I heard about a rumor. That there's a pony from the Guard snooping around town. That a pony of the Royal Guard came to Ponyville, not long ago, and has been seen going here and there. Very few ponies even recognized him at all, because they say he's not in uniform or anything. In fact, now that I think of it, I'm not even sure if it was just one."

"So we have ponies from the Royal fucking Guard in Ponyville?" Copper asks, what little control she had over her voice finally slipping, and her words coming out in short, panicked rasps. "And they are going around without their… they're undercover?"

"That's the only thing this can mean," Windy says, the words coming out of his mouth coated in nervousness. "Which means not only they found your warehouse, but they also traced it back here. They found out about us!"

Windy and Copper continue with their back-and-forth for a few more moments, complementing their own findings with what the other knew. And as the three of you listened to them, a heavy sense of dread fell upon the clearing as you all realize that none of you can deny the terrible conclusion that they came to.

Or at least, none of you volunteer any information that they know.

So, the only conclusion they can reach is precisely that. That the Guard somehow discovered the Cult's warehouse in Manehattan, they rescued the Cult's prisoner, and now there are undercover members of the Royal Guard going around Ponyville, no doubt trying to find your hideout.

Windy and Copper are close to panicking when they finally ask the obvious question.

"Well then, what in Tartarus do we do?!" Copper asks out loud.



"Nothing."



And the dry, non-committing answer comes from…

Comet Feet?

You all turn to the large stallion, and you realize he almost looks annoyed at the attention.

"What… what do you mean with nothing, Comet?" Windy asks, "I mean, we have to do something."

And you can hear in Windy's voice, for a moment, what seems to be a tinge of hope.

Because maybe Comet Feet has a plan? Maybe he knows what to do?

Maybe "nothing" means that nopony else needs to do anything, because he will take matters into his own hoofs? Because none of you know how he would fare against an entire group of ponies, let alone members of the Royal Guard. But if there is one pony who might have a chance, it has to be the frightening and deadly Comet Feet.

You can hear that glimmer of hope in Windy's voice.

And you watch his expression crumble, as Comet Feet dashes it a moment later.

"I mean that I am not going to do anything," he says, getting up and turning his back to the clearing. "I am done."

He says that, and then he begins to walk away.

"Wha… W-what do you mean done?! Comet, come back here!" Copper shouts at him, her voice equal parts angry and terrified. "We are all in this together! You can't ju-"

"I said I am done. I followed the Master. And if he is not around anymore, then I have no reason to be in the Cult."

He says that, and then… he leaves. Copper's attempts at shouting at him dying on her throat, both because she knows it will not do any good, and because…

Because…

"Wha… what do we do…?" somepony whispers.

And you realize your own opportunity to leave the Cult is right before your eyes.





[The Master is gone and the Inner Circle has fractured. A TRIGGER EVENT has occurred]

[Velvet Covers is in what is probably the very last meeting of the Inner Circle as it was. You will all discuss what to do, and how to do it, and Velvet has a final chance to put her hoof on the scale.]

[After this, Velvet will cut her own ties with the Cult, and walk away herself.]





Now is the time. Copper and Windy are in panic, the Cult is fearing that it's Ponyville headquarters was discovered, and perhaps about to be raided. And nopony has any idea of what to do.

You decide to…



[] "I also have too much to lose, and I was here for the Master. If she is gone, then I have no reason to be here as well."

-You will immediately leave the gathering. Jade Whistle will follow.
-But right before you leave, you will weave your words so as to inflame panic and tension. Windy Flakes will also cut himself off from the Cult.
-Copper Secateur will be the whole remaining leadership of the Cult. You have no idea what she will do moving forward.
-You will immediately lose access to everything in the Cult. Including its assets, infrastructure, and access to your Manuscripts. All of that might be gone before you have any chance to visit the Wildhoof Club.



[] "The Cult has to leave Ponyville, and that needs to happen right now!"

-You will inflame panic and tension, and convince Copper and Windy that the Cult needs to evacuate Ponyville immediately.
-Windy Flakes will remain a member of the Cult.
-Windy Flakes will immediately begin emptying the Wildhoof Club. He and his followers will take whatever they can carry on their backs, collapse the underground areas, and torch the rest.
-They will be able to transport a small amount of resources, the original contents of the Bright Library, and whatever other damning evidence they still had with them.
-Due to panic and expediency, the Cult will lose a considerable amount of funds and resources, as very little will be transported from Ponyville to Manehattan.
-Before he leaves, Windy Flakes will reach out to you one last time. You will then reveal to him that you have too much to lose, and a whole life in Ponyville, and that you will not follow him. He will take that information to the Manehattan branch and Copper Secateur.



[] "Calm down everypony! We have no idea if these Royal Guard rumors are even true. We have to leave Ponyville, but we can't put the cart ahead of the pony."

-You will diminish panic and tension, and convince Copper and Windy that the Cult can leave Ponyville in a calm, orderly fashion.
-Windy Flakes will remain a member of the Cult.
-The Cult will begin to move its presence from Ponyville to Manehattan over the course of a whole month (one turn), and will be able to transport a considerable amount of funds and assets.
-You will have one turn to interact with the Cult's presence in Ponyville one last time, be it to steal the original manuscripts from the Bright Library or perform other actions.
-However, you can only convince Copper and Windy that everything is alright if you show you are willing to "take the risk" with them. You will lock one action next turn to aid in moving the Cult.
-Due to your involvement in the Cult's moving-out, you will create more rumors/evidence/links that you are connected with the Cult.
-Before he leaves, Windy Flakes will reach out to you one last time. You will then reveal to him that you have too much to lose, and a whole life in Ponyville, and that you will not follow him. He will take that information to the Manehattan branch and Copper Secateur.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You open your eyes.

You are on your bed. In your estate. In Ponyville.

You are not in the Woods anymore. In fact, part of you feels that you are not even in the Cult anymore. Your ties with it are now broken, one way or the other.

If not because of your own actions, then because the one reason that made you terrified of leaving is now… gone?

You still don't believe it. You still think that she is just busy, or that this is a test, or that she really just meant she was leaving Manehattan and heading back to Ponyville.

But all those ideas come from the rational side of your brain. All those ideas make sense.

And that is why you know that they are wrong.

Because the Master is, first and foremost, a being of Moth.

And disappearing like this, making you wonder if she is either just watching from the shadows, or if she ever even existed to begin with, feels exactly like something she would do.

Still, the fact remains that, regardless of the reason, she is not here anymore.

Or maybe she left the Cult. Maybe she was the first to abandon it, and Comet Feet was just the second.

Regardless, you have work to do.

Your body "only" feels exhausted, as you get out of bed and prepare to take a shower. You feel hungry, and thirsty, and undignified. And you also feel your guilt, and the other things you left back in the Woods, still following you, like an echo or a shadow.

You can also sense your regret, clear as day, sinking its talons into your chest. Because you very much did not let it go.

But still, all of those things are lessened now. You took the time you needed, so they are now only as heavy or as painful as the limp on your hindleg.

Nothing but a familiar burn, that is not nearly enough to dull your thoughts or stop your legs.

With that in mind, you set out to begin your day.



- - -



"Lady Velvet, again, I-… I cannot… I really cannot say how…"

"It's okay, Shining. Really, it's… it's alright. I'm just glad that, well… that she is back."

You lay back on the cushioned couch, watching as the large unicorn in front of you almost sags in relief.

Your daughters are in school right now, so hugging them is the only thing on your list of "essential to-dos" that you haven't checked yet. But still, you have been able to catch up with what happened during your… absence.

Much to your surprise, it was Softy, and not Ponpon, who gave you a report. Granted, Ponpon was also there, but the older maid was all but encouraging Soft Sweeps to… well, to own up to her merits.

Because she really did a lot.

From what they told you, nothing terrible really happen during the last few days. Despite you being locked in your room, neither your daughters nor any of the servants said or did something they shouldn't. There were no gossips about… well, anything, and everypony was convinced (even if very worried) about the sudden "illness" that befell you.

Additionally, Twilight's presence also didn't raise many eyebrows. But mostly because Soft Sweeps, at Ponpon's suggestion, called Rarity. And your trusted friend immediately took Twilight away with her.

From what you gather, Twilight Sparkle is in Rarity's house right now. And you honestly think that is… better, than the alternative.

But more importantly, it seems Twilight Sparkle also sent a letter to Canterlot.

And that following that letter, her older brother immediately came to Ponyville.

By himself.

Unofficially.

Without his uniform.

And you immediately understood that the… "undercover Royal Guards spotted around Ponyville" were just Shining Armor himself, going to and from Rarity's house and your own estate. The stallion, it seems, did nothing but stay with his sister, and check if you were already out of your room and available to talk.

Which means not only that the rumors that reached Windy were quite over-inflated, but that the Cult is overreacting to them. Their actions make sense from their limited perspective, of course… but then again, that is the danger in acting without information.

But all of that leads to where you are right now.

In your tea room.

Tired, but alert.

Talking to Captain Shining Armor for the first time in several months.

You… you really ought to thank Softy, for how well she handled all of this. Well, you already thanked her, but you should figure out how to thank her more. And for all that she seemed strangely happy when you absent-mindedly patted her head, you realize that you need to find something that is better than just words.

"But still, Lady Velvet, I… Twili is… she is all I have left," the captain says.

And you let him speak, because you realize he is talking to himself more than he is talking to you.

You can almost see it, the weeks of stress and fatigue, the dreadful thoughts he carried ever since he learned his little sister was missing… you can almost see all of that seeping out of him, as he talks.

"I know so many ponies lost so much more, but still… Twili is…"

He lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. And you quietly float his cup of tea closer to him.

And you only say something after the stallion accepts it.

"It's alright, Shining. Really. Twilight Sparkle is… well, she means a lot to me as well."

"But still, I-I'm thankful for you. I really, really am, but…" he says that, and then he looks at you. Drawing attention to how sickly you look. You are also sure he is thinking about how frail you are to begin with. "But I am sure that was dangerous. I know what Ca-Princess Cadence told you, but to think that you acted out on that regardless is…"

He lets his words drag on, his eyes fixed on your own. And from the way he is looking at you, you can tell that he is all but waiting for you to agree with him.

And you just stare back at him, letting the seconds tick by. A small, amused smile slowly forming on your face.

"I really mean it, Lady Velvet. What you did was… I have been involved with similar efforts, around Canterlot and other towns besides. And I know that what you did was dangerous."

He says that.

Captain Shining Armor, a stallion who has dedicated his life to placing himself in danger to protect other ponies, once again stresses those words. And then he looks at you with the expression of a stallion who is sure that what he says makes sense.

And you can also tell that he is sure that, any second now, you are going to nod at him. He is sure that you are going to nod at what he said, and admit that what you did was indeed stupid. That is was stupid, and dangerous, and that you really shouldn't have.

…

"Well…?"

But all you give him in return is the amused eyes of a mother.

And the stallion lets out an exasperated sigh at that.

"Alright, alright… I should have realized you are like this ever since… well, ever since that," he says, thinking back to the time you two worked back together in the efforts to search for Princess Luna.

"I am glad we both care for Twilight Sparkle, Shining," you say, taking a sip of your tea. The fresh mint doing wonders to your battered throat. "And I am sure you care about her more than anypony else. Certainly more than I do."

The stallion gives you a… complicated smile, at your words. And you decide not to pry.

"But still, there is something I want to ask you about," he says, his tone suddenly serious. "Something… well, it's the question I wanted to ask all along. You see, Lady Velvet, I have been with Twili these last few days, and she is… quiet. She hasn't talked a lot, not even to me. But she has told me… enough. She told me… things…"

You forcibly stop your ears from perking up at that, and you feel your heart quicken at that.

Because Shining Armor is still here, talking to you amicably, so you… well, you can't be sure of what Twilight Sparkle told him. But still…

"And my sister is… well, I want you to know that she is still very confused. She said that you… that you knew that she had been taken? She even said that, well… that she saw you, and that you saw her, as she was taken away."

He says that, but he immediately raises a hoof to stop you from reacting, asking you to let him finish.

"Now, I haven't yet told her about the… changelings," he says that last word in a hush, while looking towards the closed door. "But my sister is… please, even if she is saying things, I can promise you we are both very thankful for you. But I need you to understand that Twili is… confused."

Your heart nearly jumps out of your chest, and you keep your hoofs from trembling by picking up your cup and sipping from your tea.

Because you don't know if you should feel tense… or relieved. Because even though you are desperate for details that you can't ask for, it seems that Twilight told Shining Armor about… at least parts of her rescue. But also that he doesn't believe her.

Because why would he believe her? After all, he knows about the changelings, and he has seen Twilight's state. He knows that she disappeared for several weeks, and that she is probably traumatized. And that's without even talking about her horn, given how studying magic meant everything to the young mare.

So why… why would he ever believe her? Even if she is his sister? Or maybe it is because he is her sister that he feels even more protective of her, and is more willing to see trauma and confusion where the mare is trying to tell the truth. So why would he believe her words, when she is telling some story that he savior had in fact known about her horrible predicament?

However, you can tell that the stallion's eyes are still… not alert, but tense. He still wants to know the truth. He still needs to know what happened to his sister.

"So please, Lady Velvet, I have to ask you… I need to know. What exactly happened to Twili? How did… how did you find her? What happened?"

And you answer him that…



[] You will talk to him, with more than just words. And suddenly, he will lose interest in his own question. None of this matters. All that matters is that his beloved sister is back. (You will Leash Captain Shining Armor).

[] You found Twilight Sparkle in the outskirts of Ponyville, near the Everfree Forest. (You will adopt this LIE as the truth, and you will tell it to anypony else who also asks about it.)

[] You will tell him that… (WRITE IN) (You will create another version of the events, and you will adopt that as the truth. Telling it to anypony else who also asks about it.)





The Master is gone.

Velvet Covers has determined that this is the best moment to break from the Cult. Both in the wake of Comet's own exit, and by using a similar excuse. Even if Velvet decides to aid in the Cult's departure for one last month, she will still do the same thing in the end, and tell Windy she is no longer in the Cult as soon as she is done helping him.

Regarding Shining Armor. Any vote that isn't the Leash will be "gaslighting" the whole world, claiming that Twilight is disturbed and telling confused lies. Regarding the "write-in" option, it is NOT acceptable to tell the truth, or to tell a lie that directly exposes the Cult, given how Velvet fears it would be too easy to trace the Cult back to her.

The two votes have independent significance. Voting by approval, not plans.

Twelve hours moratorium.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Shining Armor, and you are many things.

Unicorn. Guardspony. Captain.

Orphan. Weakling. Failure.

But right now, you are just glad to be a brother. You are glad that you are still a brother.

Because despite everything that happened, despite all the horrors that still creep in the corners of Princess Celestia's realm, you still have some of the ponies that you care for the most.

Of course, you did not go through this unscathed. You don't think anypony really passed through that catastrophe truly unscathed. Throughout all of Equestria, everypony lost something to some extent.

But still, the unfair truth is that some lost more than others. And when it really comes down to it, you realize that you are among the ponies who somehow lost less than most.

Because you still have Twilight.

You lost ponies. You lost ponies that you loved dearly. And even Twili herself is hurt. She is hurt, and she is devastated, and you know you will have to be strong for the two of you.

But you still have her.

Or rather, you finally have her back. After those long, hellish weeks after Cadance told you that she was gone, after that horrible period where your own sister was nothing but another name in an endless list of missing ponies, your little sister was somehow brought back to you.

It's mind-boggling just to think of how lucky you are. And to be honest, this whole situation feels so unbelievable that you don't even want to think about it. A part of you almost feels like this is a dream that it will shatter like glass if you poke at it too much.

But still, if this is a dream, then it is certainly a long one. After all, it must have been… at least a week since Twili returned, and almost three days since you all but kissed Lady Velvet's hoof for finding your sister.

So you know this isn't a dream. It can't be a dream. Twili is back, and things are finally looking up again.

That is all that matters. You can sense this confidence, this certainty, rooted in your mind like a strong and firm tree. And you think that as long as you keep this perspective at the center of your mind, you will be able to continue moving forward.

Although you don't just have Twili, of course.

You also have Cadance as well, even if your relationship with her is… complicated. Although naturally, it is complicated because of you. She has already very clearly told you that she loves you, and your relationship is only being kept private because you asked her to keep it that way. But still, again, your relationship with her is a tad complex.

And how could it not be? She is a Princess.

You love her, of course, but every time you two are together you can't help but think that you are somehow dragging her down. And not just because she will outlive you, or because everything you can do she can do far better, but also because she is a freaking alicorn. Half the time you are with her you don't even think you should be standing so close to her, let alone touching her.

Not that you have really "touched" her yet. Well, you have already held her hoof, and other things besides, but you are not sure you will ever muster the courage to-



"And I am definitely going off track with this," you say to yourself. Shaking your head for good measure as you try to regain your focus.



You then slowly turn your head to the left, and then to the right. Stretching your neck as you force those invasive thoughts out of your head.

Still, you can't help but feel a very small smile forming on your face.

Because the mere fact that you can have silly and personal thoughts like those… the mere fact that you can think about things that make you happy makes you realize how much weight you had been carrying on your back all this time.

You can't really remember when was the last time you were not… grimly focused on work, or chastising yourself for not doing things quickly enough or competently enough. These last several weeks you have been so focused on your duty, while leading the search efforts around the larger cities, that you didn't even realize how miserable your life has been. How miserable everything and everypony around you has been.

But things are changing now. You can feel it.

Twili is back, and things are finally starting to look up.

With that in mind, you focus yourself on the task at hoof.

Your days following Twili's return saw you spending almost all your time with her. Granted, you couldn't see it happening any other way, even if most of the time you can do nothing but keep her company.

But still, you have only been able to spend most of your time with her. Most of it, not all of it. Because Twili has also been…

Well, you can very much tell that she also needs space.

So, whenever you aren't with Twilight, you have been keeping yourself busy with other things.

At first, whenever you weren't with Twilight, you would spend your time waiting at the nearby noble estate. After all, you both knew Lady velvet and Twili's letter made it very clear that the noblemare was somehow involved in finding your sister. And of course, as your sister slowly began to talk, your need to talk to Lady Velvet to understand what happened only grew.

So, you would spend most of your free time waiting on the noblemare, even though she was frustratingly understandably indisposed for several days.

But now that you got that sorted out, you took it upon yourself to scout around Ponyville whenever you are not with your little sister.

After all, you are still a stallion of the Guard. So even though you have been "officially" on leave ever since Twili's letter reached you and Cadance in Canterlot, there are still ways you can make yourself useful.

And even though you came to Ponyville several days ahead of schedule, there is still an entire platoon set to arrive sooner rather than later to search around the small town. So, whatever you can learn about its outskirts ahead of time will surely be helpful.

Never mind that it also helps you keep your own hoofs busy.

"Although I can't help but feel this place will keep us a lot busier than normal. Even though this is a small town…" you say to yourself, as you think about what you have learned so far.

Because Ponyville is… small. It can barely be considered a town in some aspects, and by aesthetics alone the place actually feels like a village. Still, there are some things about it that just don't add up, when comparing it to the other towns that were attacked.

The most glaring issue is the matter of timing. Without exceptions, all the other towns in Equestria were attacked on the same day. According to Celestia herself, perhaps because of some unknown signal or perhaps because they planned it all along, the shapeshifting monsters all dropped their disguises on the same night, and rampaged whatever town they had infiltrated.

However, as far as you could tell from talking to the townspeople, it seems that there was no attack in Ponyville. Or at least nothing as traumatic and violent as the attacks that happened everywhere else. Instead, some five days before the catastrophe itself everypony just woke up to a town that had several dozen ponies missing.

And given Ponyville's physical proximity to Canterlot, you can't help but think this place was a testbed of sorts.

Additionally, despite Ponyville's "smallness" as a town, it still covers a lot of ground. The farmlands, orchards and plantations that surround it are in turn bordering much larger forests. And to make matters worse there is also the "Everfree Forest" that everypony has warned you about. Which sounds like an ideal place for the shapeshifters to have set up a lair or keep their abducted victims.

Granted, places like that are unfortunately common in Equestria, especially the farther away you go from the capital. But still, it is highly unusual to have a place like this so close to a town, which is in turn so close to Canterlot that you can see it in the distance.

"Still, I think I have done enough for today," you say to yourself, making a mental checklist of everything you will want to write down in your report. "I'll make a proper visit to the orchard family in the south tomorrow, but I think I have a hang of this place now."

You say that as you turn back east and make your way back to Ponyville.

You have already taken a good look at the town's north and east, as well as the edges of the Everfree Forest to the southeast. Today, you have explored the outdoors to the west, and marked down the hills and tree-covered places you will want to check once you have a platoon of ponies covering your hind.

But still, you have done nothing but look from afar and gather information for your report.

So with the day done, you prepare to make your way back to town.

That is, until you notice something.

You see a streak of color somewhere above you, and you look up to see there is a pegasus flying near the distant clouds.

The first thing that comes to your mind is how envious you feel. After all, you are faraway to the west of a small town, with nothing around you but uninhabited hills and forests, while you are trying to map out said town's outskirts. And for all that you enjoy being a unicorn, you would very much like to have a pair of wings right now. After all, you still have a long trek ahead of you before you reach Ponyville, but just by looking up you have been painfully reminded that some ponies would be able to cover that distance in mere minutes.

The second thing that comes to your mind, however, is…

"That is… worrying. Did something happen back in town?" you wonder out loud, a pang of concern appearing in your mind. "Or maybe somepony sent a flier for me because of Twili?"

You say that to yourself because you also realize that the pegasus is currently flying down. The pegasus is flying down in your direction, and the fact that you are the only other pony in sight makes it clear that you are the reason the pegasus is landing.

Still, you push back against your concerns. You are sure that everything is alright with Twili, and that nothing bad happened back in Ponyville. And even if something bad happened, your cutie mark means you are the kind of pony who would want to be the first to know, so you can help with whatever might be needed.

So, you wait as the pegasus slowly circles around you and finally touches the ground.

And the first thing you realize is that… the pegasus is hurt?

No, not hurt. Wounded.

You have never seen this pegasus before, and you are sure you have not spoken to him during these few days you have been in Ponyville. You are certain of that, because you know you would have committed this pegasus in particular to memory.

He is a stallion, you can immediately tell, even though he didn't really land close to you. He is a stallion, and he is large. As large as most ponies you have served with in the Guard, and easily as large as an earth pony stallion.

You can also see he is wounded because you can see the long, clean bandages he has covering his sides. But again, he is wounded, not hurt. And for all that the wounds he has on his sides appear to be large and painful, from the size of the bandages, he is carrying still himself as if they don't bother him at all.

But most of all, there is something about his eyes… something about his gaze, and the way he is looking at you, that gives you pause. No, it gives you more than just pause. It puts you on edge.

Because the way he is looking at you is not a glare. Not exactly, at least. It is neither a glare nor a snarl, but it is not a simple serious glance either. It is something in between, that carries an entirely different meaning all on its own.

Still, the pegasus landed. He landed a few paces in front of you, and the two of you stare at each other for several long seconds.

Then the pegasus nods at himself, and takes a deep breath to speak to you.



"I see you my enemy."



And your mind freezes as you hear those words.

Because you did not understand them. He did not speak in a language that you know. He did not speak those words in a language anypony alive would understand.

But still, you recognize those words.

They are the words that symbolize a challenge. They are a challenge and a praise both. A recognition that the speaker and the addressee are enemies, in the sense that they are opposed to each other. But also a recognition that you two are enemies, in the sense that he sees you with enough respect to consider you his foe.

You know, from some deep and almost instinctual part of your brain, that those are the words that can only be spoken to a worthy opponent. Those are words that have been spoken, again and again, for as long as ponies have been in existence. Words whose mere utterance would be enough to open a wide gap even in the most chaotic of battlefields. For everypony who heard them would understand that a personal war was about to erupt, and that to stand between the two challengers would be to invite a gruesome death.

And somehow, somehow, you understand. You understand that even nowadays those words are still spoken. Whenever a pony insults another pony. Whenever a pony calls somepony else to violence, or to a challenge, those words are somehow still present. Bastardized. Changed. Thick with the accent of peace and softness and centuries without true conflict. But still somehow there.

Your mind freezes as you hear those words. As all that unexplainable, almost intuitive and primitive knowledge strikes you all at once.

Your mind freezes.

But your body does not.

Because even though your mind reeled at what is understood, your body responded with its own instinct. Your body responded as a pony would respond to those words, even though they had not been spoken so clearly in centuries, and your body responded as a worthy opponent would. And before you realize it, your expression has hardened, your legs flexed to give you a better stance, and your eyes focused on the pegasus. Your horn lighting up with life and energy as the very air around you hardens with magic.

And when your racing thoughts finally catch up to your body, you realize what just happened. You realize that, on top of tensing up and preparing for what comes next, your body also nodded to the pegasus. Out of reflex, or perhaps out of a deeper understanding that your mind will never be able to reach.

You nodded to the pegasus, and you watch as the pegasus himself nods back at you, one last time.

But of course you nodded to the pegasus.

You nodded at him because you accept his challenge.

Because you don't have a choice.

After all, the moment he spoke those words, your instincts immediately came to terms with the fact that one of you will die today.

Even if your mind only just now caught up to that.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Comet Feet's current health: 3/4]

[Shining Armor's health: 4/4]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Comet – 0, Shining – 0]

[A Confident Certainty: Comet Feet can reroll one every six dice]



[Comet Feet invokes the Attention of the Laws]

[Comet's first roll: 47 14 + 39 (Personal Combat) + 20 (Attention of the Laws) = 106]

[Shining's first roll: 23 + 25 (Heroic) = 48]



[Overflow: Comet – 58, Shining – 0]

[Shining suffers one wound (-50 to Comet's overflow)]



[Comet's second roll: 69 + 39 (Personal Combat) + 20 (Attention of the Laws) = 128]

[Shining's second roll: 63 + 25 (Heroic) = 88]



[Overflow: Comet – 48, Shining – 0]

The pegasus opens his wings sideways, kicking against the ground at the same time as he flaps them. A gale wind erupts all around him, flattening the grass around him for a few moments as he soars to the skies.

But you don't have any attention to spare for that. Not for the grass, not for the wind, not for anything that isn't the pony that you will either kill or be killed by.

Your horn erupts with light as your head follows his path, a trio of flashing bolts firing toward the pegasus even as he makes an arc in the air around you. But he doesn't dodge them so much as he flaps his wings again, almost doubling his speed. Your magic sizzling through the spots he should have been as he quite literally outruns your ability to aim at him.

With another gale-making burst of his wings, the pegasus suddenly shifts his momentum. You can see his eyes narrow as if he had just seen a flaw in an armor, and on the next moment he is flying towards you like an arrow set loose.

You don't have time to conjure a proper barrier. The magic-hardened air around you barely decreases his speed.

With more urgency than sense, you jump to the side, and the pegasus barrels through the spot you were standing in a moment ago. The air around you turbulent as if you had just dodged a battering ram.

But as you land from your impromptu jump you also almost crumble to the side. Pain flaring from your shoulder to your flank with burning intensity. You spare a glance to your own body as you gasp in pain, only to see a wide cut tracing your body.

Which doesn't make any sense. Your mind jumps into panicked, battle-focused thought as you try to understand how that happened.

Until you see the stallion stop, once again, as he finally lands from his charging strike.

As he turns towards you, wings wide open, you can see a streak of blood under his own left wing. And you finally understand.

His wing grazed you, as he flew.

And you can see sharp blades hidden between his feathers, tied into place by a complicated yet ingenious strapping of leather.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Comet Feet's current health: 3/4]

[Shining Armor's health: 3/4]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Comet – 48, Shining – 0]



[Comet's first roll: 74 + 39 (Personal Combat) = 113]

[Shining's first roll: 80 + 25 (Heroic) = 105]



[Overflow: Comet – 56, Shining – 0]

[Shining suffers one wound (-50 to Comet's overflow)]



[Comet's second roll: 70 + 39 (Personal Combat) = 109]

[Shining's second roll: 98 + 25 (Heroic) = 123]



[Overflow: Comet – 6, Shining – 14]

You stare at each other once more for half a second.

But you have the range advantage, and the pegasus knows it. So, you are not surprised when he flaps his wings and once again charges at you the moment your horn begins to glow.

And he is as violently fast as he was before.

Which gives you no choice but to change tactics.

After all, you are not fighting a pony, you are fighting a monster. You would even think he is no pony at all, and that he is perhaps one of the shapeshifting things, if not for the bone-deep certainty you have from the words you heard him speak. For those words belong to ponykind.

Still, you will fight him as you would a monster.

With that in mind, you conjure the one spell that you can, in the little time it will take for his gale-speed and knifed wings to reach you. You conjure the one spell you have been practicing your whole life, and the one thing you have always felt proud about when it came to magic.

You conjure a barrier.

A light-purple sphere of magic, thick with energy and brightness, appears around you a fraction of a second before the pegasus collides against it.

And collide against it the stallion does. In fact, he does more than just hit it. His outstretched foreleg punches against your shield just as he flies at it, and his hoof breaks your barrier.

But you also expected that.

The barrier explodes as soon as it is breached, lashing out with a magical blast in all directions. And what is more, the barrier was so bright, and intentionally non-transparent, that the pegasus could not see you during the few moments that it was up. And as soon as he breaks through it, you are already crouched.

The pegasus flies over you, missing your horn by a few centimeters. His body bruised at the blast he quite literally just took to the face.

However, the turbulence of his passage is still so strong that it pummels you against the ground. And you were very much not ready for that, falling belly-first on the ground with an undignified thud. Your side-injury bleeding a lot more thanks to the unwelcome impact.

And what is more, your all-around blast against the pegasus lacked the strength of a more focused spell. So you can tell that for all that you struck him, he is still very far from wounded.

Still, you get back on your hoofs.

And not a second too soon.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Comet Feet's current health: 3/4]

[Shining Armor's health: 2/4]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Comet – 6, Shining – 14]



[Comet's first roll: 59 + 39 (Personal Combat) = 98]

[Shining's first roll: 68 + 25 (Heroic) = 93]



[Overflow: Comet – 16, Shining – 14]





[Comet's second roll: 93 + 39 (Personal Combat) = 132]

[Shining's second roll: 31 + 25 (Heroic) = 56]



[Overflow: Comet – 95, Shining – 14]

[Shining suffers one wound (-50 to Comet's overflow)]

But just as you get on your hoofs and turn around to face the pegasus-

!!!

-you can see that he is already upon you.

You turn around just in time to see him finish leaping at you. You have no idea how he ever this close so quickly. But even more alarmingly, you can see that his movements have less of the brutality of a brawler, and more of the precision of a doctor performing a surgery.

"Wh-?!"

And a shocked, half-questioning gasp barely leaves your lips before he gets to work.

!!!

His foreleg meets your front left knee, and you buckle forward.

!!!

He shoves you further down, your face hitting the floor, and you feel something hard and strong hitting your side followed by the sound of a crunch.

!!!

Your mind spins as you are kicked, and before you realize it your back is on the ground and you are facing the sky.

!!!

You see a flash of sharp metal, as a wing makes its way to your throat and-

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Comet Feet's current health: 3/4]

[Shining Armor's health: 1/4]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Comet – 45, Shining – 14]



[Comet's first roll: 28 + 39 (Personal Combat) = 67]

[Shining's first roll: 71 + 25 (Heroic) = 96]



[Overflow: Comet – 45, Shining – 43]





[Comet's second roll: 22 + 39 (Personal Combat) = 61]

[Shining's second roll: 30 + 25 (Heroic) = 55]



[Overflow: Comet – 51, Shining – 43]

[Shining suffers one wound (-50 to Comet's overflow)]

[Comet Feet has defeated Captain Shining Armor]

-you flare up your horn, one last desperate blast of magic aimed squarely at the chest of the pegasus that is almost standing over you. Just as his wing comes down.

!!!

You see your life flash before your eyes, as the blades of the cold knifes meet your neck.



- - -



The pegasus looks down at his prey… no, not prey, at his foe.

Because despite everything he had fought so far, this one had been the only one he had found worthy to be deemed a foe rather than just prey. The only one who was worthy, and who could also be killed. And not some otherworldly creature that only presented itself through an avatar. And not some winged monstrosity who could vaporize him with a flick of her crowned horn.

This pony had been the only one whose death would be enough for the enactment of his Sacrament. The necessary next step for him to become more powerful. For him to be able to do more, and never fail again.

So why…

As he looks down at his bruised, bleeding foe.

Why…

… did he stop.

The pegasus stare down at the unicorn.

And the unicorn stares back at him. Eyes wide eye in surprise and adrenaline. Both ponies heaving at each other from their pains and efforts.

The unicorn knows what has happened. The pegasus can see in the unicorn's eyes that his foe realizes he lost. He lost, and what happens next is death. It will happen now as it has happened countless times before.

And the pegasus understands it as well. His outstretched wing is poised on the unicorn's throat, and he realizes he will be able to cut an artery with the smallest of movements.

He has won.

This is his reward.

So why…

Why…?

…

The pegasus' eyes, once filled with focus and determination, are now full of anger. Of frustration.

Because he hates being a pawn.

However…

"This is not what she wants…"

He says.

The unicorn flinches as the pegasus raises a crushing hoof, aimed straight at the unicorn's face.

And he falls unconscious from shock, letting out one last pained shout, as the raised hoof comes down. Crushing his horn.

But leaving him alive.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Lady Velvet Covers.

And right now you are in your estate, having breakfast with your…

One, two, three… four…? Well Scootaloo doesn't count, but she's been here for a while and…

… you are having breakfast with your several daughters.

"Mom," Silky speaks up, drawing your attention, "is the handsome unicorn eating with us today?"

She is, of course, asking about Shining Armor. Because for all that the stallion had been spending most of his time with Twilight Sparkle, you still offered him a place to stay in your estate. After all, it wouldn't be proper for him to stay at Rarity's house. For several reasons.

So, he has been spending the night in one of your guest rooms, and his handsome charismatic self has been an unexpected addition to your breakfast table these last few days.

Much to your daughter's…

"Selene is asking," Silky says, in a hurried tone, as you raise a questioning eyebrow at her. "I-I mean, Selene has a crush on him and-!"

"No I d-don't! She's lying Mrs. Velvet!"

"Yes you do!"

You don't even bother to answer as the three fillies descend into a battle of shouts. In fact, you think you will let them keep at it for… a few more minutes, maybe.

After all, the good captain is an excellent standard for them to have their first crush on. And, as much of a painful experience as it might be, it will also be a controlled way for them to have their first heartbreak once you tell them of the… competition involved.

Because alas, not even if you had two more Leashes to spare would you be able to win him from the Princess of Love herself.

But that is neither here nor there. You extend your questioning gaze to Soft Sweeps, who has also been having breakfast with your family at your insistence, and the younger mare answers by looking elsewhere with a small blush. With that settled, you once again return to your breakfast.

Still, Silky's question does raise a fair point. Where is Shining Armor? The stallion has already returned to your estate late in the night more than once, these last few days. But he would always wake up in time to join you all in breakfast, and would be out the door right after.

However, he is not here right now, so you can't help but wond-



"Velvet! Is Velvet in here?!"



Your thoughts are interrupted by a loud, frantic shouting coming from the entrance hall, and you immediately recognize Rarity's voice.

And you barely understand what she is saying, as she all but barges into the dinner room desperately telling you to follow her to Ponyville.



- - -



Captain Shining Armor wakes up… slowly.

It has been several hours now. Several hours of panic, and then waiting, and then heat-crushing sadness when Twilight Sparkle herself was finally informed and arrived where you all are.

But still, he wakes up.

And despite his horrible condition, everypony lets out a sigh of relief.

You, Rarity, Twilight, and several ponies besides are currently in a room inside Ponyville's only clinic. It is nearly night, and as Shining finally wakes up you have already been able to gather… most of what happened.

In fact, you in particular understood almost everything. Because you immediately knew about one crucial detail that everypony else lacks.

After all, as soon as you saw his wounds you knew who the culprit was. But for the life of you, you still don't understand the why.

Still, from what you gathered, Shining Armor was found near the west of Ponyville. He had been left beaten and bleeding near the train station, and a railway porter found him just before sunrise. The previously unidentified stallion was then rushed to the clinic, the town's doctors was brought from his own house as soon as physically possible, and a few hours later one of the nurses who saw him around town finally followed the gossip trail that led her to Rarity's house.

And now, several hours after you all gathered at the clinic, he is finally awake.

His condition is… dreadful. The stallion is all bruises and sutures, his complexion is pale, and as if it were some cruel joke his horn is also broken and missing its upper half. Twilight Sparkle, in particular, has not yet said a single word ever since she came to the clinic. But just from her expression you can tell that…

Still, you all hold your breath as the stallion finally opens his eyes.

His dazed, half-open eyes look first at himself, and then at the room.

You can see him looking at the bed he is in, and then at his bandaged and covered body. And then he looks at each of you in turn.

When he is done gazing around, his head finally rests at the bed's pillow once again. The stallion just looks at the ceiling for a few moments

And then…

He begins to…

Laugh?



"Ah… aahahahahahaa…"



The oppressively heavy atmosphere of the room… well, it continues heavy. But it also feels somewhat confused?

The doctor then carefully approaches the stallion, perhaps wondering if he should check him for a fever or more head concussions. But still, before any of that, he just asks a question.

"Sir, are you… are you alright? Do you know who you are? Can you tell me your name an-"

"I'm fine doc," the stallion interrupts him, between short and clearly painful chuckles. "Better than fine, I'm alive!"

Everypony's eyes go wide at that.

Because despite everything that just happened, and the almost funeral expression some of you have on your faces, it is Shining Armor himself who seems to be in the highest spirit.

And for some reason, his laughter seems to be spreading. Like sunrise banishing the shadows, everypony slowly begins to smile at the stallion.

Even Twilight Sparkle.

"Oh damn, Twili already knows. But hey," the stallion says, beckoning his little sister towards him, and giving her a weak hug when she reaches him. "Maybe you can tell me some health trivia that you read in your biology books? I think I'll need it while I get back in shape."

He says that, half-joking and half-serious, and Twilight just… laughs?

It's a heavy laugh. A wet, teary-eyed laugh that looks like the first sign of an emotional dam that is about to break. But still, even Twilight's expression shifts to… relief?

And as the younger unicorn hugs her older brother back, even you find yourself letting out a chuckle, full of surprise and heavy with sudden, unexpected relief.

"B-but Shining… what happened?" Twilight asks as she keeps her forelegs around him. The first words she has spoken in hours. "Who… what did this to you?"

And to that, the captain answers with a curious expression. He begins to talk, and then he stops, and then he narrows his eyes as if trying to focus on something.

"I… I have no idea?" he answers, his words making it clear at how surprised he is with that.

But still, he continues by saying something with the utmost certainty.

"All that I know is that… all I can remember, even, is that I think I should have died. And I have no idea why, but I didn't."

He says that, and for all that you can tell that Twilight… no, that nopony is really satisfied with that answer, you can also tell that nopony really disagrees with Shining Armor in his other point.

That he is just grateful to be alive. Because in these scary times, this is really the best thing a pony can hope for.

"Just one thing…" Shining Armor says, looking towards you in particular. "Lady Velvet, I… please don't tell her?"

He says that as he lets go of Twilight, falling back towards the bed with an exhausted expression.

And everypony but Rarity looks at you with a tinge of curiosity. Even Twilight Sparkle, who you are sure have been looking at you with nothing but animosity, now seems to be slightly curious as well.

But of course, you know who the stallion is referring to. There is only one "her" who he would probably not like to tell about his condition. After all, given how wounded and weak he is, he would probably not want her to be worried about his condition on top of everything else.

Which makes sense. After all, Princess Cadance, with whom he has a secret relationship with, would probably be extremely affected if she learned he was like this, and would probably come flying to Ponyville regardless of what she was doing.

So of course Shining wouldn't want that to happen. The Princess is busy, she should definitely not be given any more things to worry about, and even more glaringly anything she did would most likely expose her secret relationship with Shining Armor.

Of course. Now that he is awake, and everything seems to be miraculously fine, all of those points seem glaringly obvious.

…

In hindsight.

"Oh… about that…" you say, with no small amount of guilt. And you watch as Shining's high-spirited expression finally sinks with dread.

Because you should probably have thought about all of that, before penning a letter, jamming it into Soft Sweep's hoofs, and telling her to fly straight to the Royal Castle and have that delivered to Princess Cadance even if she was thrown in jail after that.

"Lad… Lady Velvet…" Shining Armor says, his words now slow and heavy with mounting fear. "Please… please don't tell me that you…"

But he is interrupted.

He is interrupted by a heavy sensation. A literally heavy sensation, as the pressure of the very air grows, and the magic in the room becomes so thick that everypony can feel it. And it continues to grow, more and more, until it becomes glaringly obvious even to those without a horn. But still, those of you who are unicorns can also immediately sense that the magic is tied to Shining Armor.

No, not just "tied" to Shining Armor. It is also homing in on Shining Armor.



"Oh fuck…"



Those are the last words you hear Captain Shining Armor speak, before a flash of pink magic erupts from the middle of the room, followed by a blast of pressurized air-

-and you feel as if the entire world was alive. Alive, and able to love, and actively caring for the future of every living creature in it-

-and you feel as if you finally get it. You finally understand all the wrongs that happened in your life, and you finally find the inner strength to forgive your own father for everything he has done-

-and Love itself appears before you. Love itself walks the land, as real as day and night, in all its glory and warmth and power-



"WHERE IS MY SHINING ARMOR?!"



-and a panicked, desperate pink alicorn materializes from thin air.

It takes her several seconds to understand why everypony is bowing down, some of you even crying. It takes several more seconds for you to be able to see Princess Cadance again, rather than something so much greater, as she finally gets a grip on herself once again.

And by Celestia, it takes her hours to swear everypony in the room to secrecy.

You leave the room just as Twilight begins to angrily yell at the two of them. Something about keeping a secret and whatnot. You are not sure. But still, your exit doesn't happen before the Princess gives you a long and almost crushing hug to thank you.

…

You are sure you will have time to talk to her, if she doesn't decide to teleport the unicorn siblings back to Canterlot.





Dread Comet Feet has denied himself his own Sacrament.

"Since Issus they have striven so." You have learned, through OOC knowledge, the requirements for a personal Edge Sacrament. There is no reason for QM to not officially confirm this information.

Velvet Covers has made the very educated guess that Comet Feet was the one responsible for the attempt on Captain Shining Armor's life. Her actions moving forward will be based on that information.

Shining Armor himself, however, does not remember anything that happened to him. He only has the certainty he should have died, but didn't.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, the Alicorn of Love, has relocated to Ponyville. Temporarily, at least.

More to follow.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Velvet Covers, and right now you are… intimidated? Close to panic? Overwhelmed?

You are in over your head, that is for sure. Because you are sure that you are doing this wrong. And even though a small part of you knows you are trying your best, the fact remains that your best is just not enough. So, you are at the same time almost being crushed by a sense of inadequacy, at the same time that you realize you should get used to this.

After all, never before in your life have you hosted a Princess.

And you understand your situation, rationally speaking. You understand that nopony would ever be able to properly host a Princess. You know that there is nowhere in Equestria, not even the largest mansion of the greatest noble families, that can compare to the Royal Castle. So, you realize that anything you do or try is doomed to be inadequate.

Still, that is your rational side speaking.

As usual, your emotional and self-conscious side couldn't care less about what your rational side thinks.



But Cadance doesn't seem to mind it one bit.



"Oh my, they are so cute! I-I mean," the mare, the Princess, clears her throat as if she just said something she shouldn't, and tries again. "I mean, good evening. I am Princess Cadance. Your mother told me all about you, so it is lovely to meet you."

You are currently in the entrance hall of your estate. And despite all the promises that your emotional and self-conscious side made, Princess Cadance has not yet scowled at what she saw.

Instead, she is currently introducing herself to your daughters, who you called downstairs. And what is more, you swear that the alicorn even has a glimmer in her eyes, as she looks at your fillies.

But of course, your two younger daughters (and Scootaloo) are currently hiding behind your legs. Looking wide-eyed at the fact that there is now a Princess standing in the middle of the entrance hall.

In fact, if it wasn't so late in the evening, you are sure that the whole place would be crawling with servants peeking in with muted shock. But thankfully, given how late it is, it is just you, your daughters, and the one maid on night duty.

"I, uhm… m-my… My name is Silky Stream," still, after only a bit more of encouragement, Silky finally comes out from hiding behind you and very shily gives the Princess a small curtsy. "It's a-an honorable to meet you, Princess Cadance."

You watch as the Princess… well, as the mare lets out a light giggle. She then returns your daughter's curtsy. The movement so elegantly informal that she looks like a normal pony who is just talking to a shy foal.

In fact, she is doing it so naturally that you can see Silky herself slowly thawing out of her own trepidation.

"Well then, thank you for having me here. And could I just call you Silky? You can call me Cadance if that's alright with you."

A growing smile appears on Silky's face at that. And in a few moments, the previously shy filly is gone, replaced with the daughter that you are far more used to. Much to your own relief.

Which of course means that you are only slightly worried that she might try to tackle the Princess. But thankfully, that never really happens.

"I… Okay! And these, uhm… this is my sister Selene and my friend Scootaloo!" the filly says, quickly making her way behind you and quite literally pushing the two other fillies into Cadance's view. "She lives with us now and-!"

With more and more intensity, proportional to the number of words coming out of her mouth, Silky then continues to say… well, everything. And soon enough the filly is practically telling the Princess about your house, school, and her whole life. Even as she somehow continues to keep a firm grip on the two other fillies, who are still very much intimidated by the fact that they are no longer hidden behind your back.

And you are only partially surprised by the fact that Cadance is not just enjoying it, but also honestly smiling as she interacts with your young daughter.



- - -



Somehow, you don't feel nervous.

More than just not feeling nervous. You somehow actually feel at ease.

As you tried to understand why that is the case, your first explanation was that it must be the setting. After all, you are in your tearoom. And this is quite literally the place where you almost exclusively come to relax.

But it couldn't be just that.

Then you thought it was the tea. Because you just had a very long day, and it's already late in the night. So how could you not feel calm when you finally got yourself a warm cup of tea?

Still, that rationale only lasted… well, maybe a couple of seconds.

Until you realize that you are like this because of the company.

Because at some point, you simply forgot that you are "hosting a Princess" in an estate that is too small, presently understaffed, and overall too humble for a pony as important as her. That thought just disappeared from your mind, even if you don't know when.

Instead, you are just… in your tearoom.

Sitting on your favorite couch.

Talking to a friend.

"I think I might just fall asleep if we stay like this."

You hear Cadance say that, and you look up from your own teacup to see the mare almost lying sideways on her couch. She is larger than a normal pony, being an alicorn, but not nearly as large as Princess Celestia. In fact, she is only slightly larger than an earth pony stallion, you think.

So thankfully, the couch she is sitting on is more than enough for her to be very comfortable with.

"Oh, please don't. I know I would wake up with an aching back if I slept like that," you say, hearing her let out a small laugh, as you return to putting more sugar to your tea. "Still, I know might be an obvious question… but are you staying the night?"

You ask that, and you watch as the mare slightly narrows her eyes. Her brow furrowing as if she is thinking about something.

"That's the thing, Velvet. I…" she hesitates for a moment, and much to your surprise she sits up properly, her face suddenly serious. "I feel as if…"

You watch her stop, and then start again, only to fail to really say anything. And even though you feel a slight hiccup inside of you, because you can see that you asked something that you shouldn't have… to a Princess. You dismiss that hesitation much more easily than before.

And instead, you just give Cadance time to think.

As you would with any other friend.

So, after maybe an entire minute of watching her mumble, purse her lips, and nervously sip from her tea, she finally stops. Her eyes narrowing, and then going wide open, as if she had just realized something.

"You feel as if…?" you ask, repeating the last words she spoke. Encouraging her to speak.

"I feel as if…" she says, finally putting her teacup down and looking you in the eye. "Velvet, I think you have a very nice family."

You raise an eyebrow at that.

Because you agree with her, of course. But you don't really know how to answer to that?

Still, Cadance continues to speak before you even have the chance to.

"I think you are a really nice mare. And I can honestly say that… that despite what happened, just being here… just by being in this house, I already feel better than I have felt in Canterlot in a long while." She says that, and then she looks around the room as if she could see something in the air.

And then she looks back at you.

"And I loved meeting your daughters. I loved talking to them, and I love being here, and I love how much they love you, and how much you love them back, and… And I want to have a family with Shining Armor."

She says that, and you just freeze.

Because sure, she just said that as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. And granted, you have already spoken with Cadance before. Months ago. It was very obvious then that she wanted something like that, and as soon as you discovered Shining Armor was in a secret relationship with her it was just a matter of adding one plus one to reach two.

Besides, she is the Princess of Love for heaven's sake.

But still, you can't help but be… surprised, at least, at the fact that an alicorn is so casually telling you all of that.

Your pony instincts are reeling for you to feel uncomfortable. For you to choke on your tea or do something that a lowly unicorn like you should.

You almost have to strangle those reflexes into submission.

Almost.

But still, you manage to treat her… normally. Without metaphysical assistance, that is.

"Well… I…" you say, as soon as you realize she has been silent for a few seconds, and not because she has been deep in thought. "I know I am a bit biased, but I think you should go for it? I mean, I can tell you that being with Stormchaser and having Silky were the best things that ever happened to me. But I… am a bit surprised that you are telling me this, when I just asked you if you are staying the night?"

You watch the mare's eyes go wide, a soft "oh, right" escaping her lips as you say that.

Not that you are letting her leave this unscathed, of course.

"Unless, you got me completely wrong?" you say, a wry smile appearing on your lips. "I mean, Shining Armor is right there. And even though he is all tired I am sure he would be able to… you know. Because if having a family was the first thing that came to your mind, then I think he would be happy to help you w-"

"T-THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"

You let out a short cackle as you watch the alicorn blush. The mare all but jumping from the couch, to the point that you thought she was going to charge you for a second.

And you stare at each other for a few moments. The beet-red faced mare staring at your mockingly elegant expression as you calmly sip tea. Almost as if demanding you to take back your words.

But you hold her gaze. You hold it, and your eyes all but tell her what you are thinking. Your expression clearly whispering to her that, even though she is the Princess of Love, you have personal experience about certain things that she very much does not.

After all, your daughter was not delivered to you by a stork.

Your smile grows more and more wry, and her blush becomes more and more intense. Until she can't take it anymore, and finally looks away. Sitting back on the couch.

And you revel in the fact that you just won a staring contest with an alicorn.

"T-that's not where I was going with that!" she says once again, taking a few deep breaths.

You watch as she takes several gulps of the tea, and you realize that the tea is probably cold when compared to how hot the mare must be.

"Whatever do you mean by that, Cadance?" you ask, your voice all honesty and innocence.

To which Cadance answers with a disgruntled, embarrassed neigh, shaking her head for a few moments before centering herself.

"W-what I meant was that… well, that I want to be happy," she says, saying that last word very carefully. "And also that I really should… start working towards that happiness."

"Go on," you say. This time, in a voice that is really sincere and thoughtful. Honestly encouraging her to share her thoughts.

"Because the thing is, Velvet, I think I am going to live for a very long time. Princess Celestia doesn't show any signs of getting older, and even though I've been like… like this, for just ten years or so" she says, looking up at her horn. Reminding you that she was originally a pegasus, from what you heard, "I don't see why I would turn out any different from Princess Celestia."

She puts her teacup down, and you silently float it towards you. Filling it up once again as she continues to speak.

"And for a while I thought that's what I was supposed to do? That I was expected to… even meant to be just like her? But these past few months have been… different. Princess Celestia is…" she stops herself, looking down at the floor as if wondering if she should say something or not.

However, her doubt drags on for far longer than you think she would like it. And she finally shakes her head, letting out a short sigh.

"Well, let's just say that I don't think I am meant to follow in her hoofsteps. So I didn't know how to answer you because… because every hour that I am here, every minute even, is another minute that I am not working back in Canterlot. Another moment that a Princess isn't helping Equestria to get back on its hoofs, but I also realize that…"

She trails off, as if she knows what she wants to say, but not the exact words to use.

But you think you know exactly where she is going with this.

"You realize that the work will always be there?" you offer.

"Exactly! And me being here doesn't mean that I don't care. It just means that I am busy with something that matters more," she says, looking towards the door. No doubt, you realize, looking in the general direction where Shining Armor is recuperating from his injuries. "And even if it doesn't matter more to Equestria as a whole, it certainly matters more to me."

She says that, and you can't help but nod.

In fact, you can't help but smile.

Because right now, you can really feel how utterly normal Cadance is.

After all, everything she just said makes sense to you. But only because you are much older than her, and have already experienced and suffered more than she did. At least when it comes to having a partner.

And what is more, everything she just said should have been "obvious". At least to the Princess of Love herself. Because you can tell that a part of you really thought that, as the "Princess of Love," Cadance should have an almost… innate understanding of this? Almost as if Love as a concept was something she should just know?

But she doesn't. You can tell she doesn't. In fact, you think back at the way she looked at her horn a few minutes ago, and you realize that maybe this whole "Princess of Love" thing might be as alien to her as having a horn on her head as a born pegasus.

So, right now, you can really feel that you are just talking to a normal mare. A normal mare who is just trying to navigate her own feelings, and who just realized she will have to work towards her own dream if she really wants them to come true.

Because Princess of Love or not, the "Princess" part will probably drown her in its duties, if she doesn't make time for the "Love" in her name.

"Well, there really isn't anything I can add to that," you say, tapping your teacup against her in a small toast, "because I completely agree. But if I may just say something from personal experience? Really, and I mean really keep what you just said in mind. Because every now and then you will feel guilty, thinking you should have done more, even if it meant taking care of certain ponies less. When that happens: don't. Loving somepony doesn't make you a monster, even if you let some other plates fall now and then."

She smiles at that, nodding at you.

"I… thank you, Velvet…"

And even if she doesn't realize it, you can tell how much her posture is relaxing now. To the point that she is almost sinking in the soft cushion of the couch.

You can honestly tell that, right now at least, she has found some measure of peace.

She lets out a long sigh, and a few moments later she looks up at you. This time, with the familiar expression of a mare who is about to talk about some kind of gossip.

"Oh, by the way, congratulations!" she say, her tone clearly excited. "Have you thought about a name already?"

She asks that and you…

You….

What?

"I'm sorry, name? What exactly are you talking about?" you ask with an honestly confused expression.

To which she answers by raising an eyebrow, until some kind of understanding finally dawns on her and she almost claps her hoofs in excitement.

"Oh, you mean you don't know yet? Dear me, I… well, I apologize for this being so sudden. But I learned a few years back that this is just the kind of thing I can feel. So, congratulations-"

You tilt your head.

"-on your pregnancy!"

And then your eyes go wide in surprise.

What?

WHAT?!

Your thoughts somersault, as you finally come to terms with what the mare just said.

Because you aren't… you can't be. You… you are sure of it!

Well… you are almost sure of it. But still!

"I-I… you… what?!" the words come out of your mouth before you can stop them.

And Cadance just nods, all happiness and excitement.

"Yeap! In fact this, uh, sensation I have. It's way stronger than usual. But it just makes sense, coming from you. I mean, you're almost covered in love for all that I can tell!"

She says those words.

And it finally clicks.

Oh no…

Oh shit…

She can feel it. Your Influence. She can feel it, and she misunderstood it for… whatever other, unexpected skill she has for being the Princess of Love.

And now you have to figure out how in Tartarus you are going to talk your way around this.

With that new hurdle in front of you, you and Cadance keep talking several hours into the morning.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Ponpon.

And you have a problem.


"Mrs. Ponpon! I volunteer to the night shift!"
"No, I do!"
"W-wait! I already talked to Soft and-!"
"Nuh-uh! Going by the rotation schedule it's my turn!"


You have several problems.

"Everypony. SHUT UP!"

Your yell finally brings a modicum of order to the servants' quarters.

Which means that every maid in the Velvet estate… literally all the maids, who are looking up at you expectantly, finally shut up.

And you follow up with a particularly harsh stare, further cowing them into compliance.

Because they are your problem.

"Alright, everymaid, you will listen to me and you will listen well," you say. Drawing from all skills you have accumulated, throughout the years. From all the time you spent touring through noble houses back in Canterlot.

Drawing from all the experience you have as head maid.

"I will have silence and I will have order. And believe me when I say this. I know this estate is mostly peaceful, and some of you haven't even served in a Canterlot noble manor to know about this. But our job is serious, and I will have the Lady issue punishments if any of you step out of line."

You gaze at the crowd of maids with an experienced eye. You look at the younger mares first, the ones you know are from Ponyville and lack real noble-related experience, and you can see that they are actually intimidated by your words.

Good.

On the other hoof, as you look at the more experienced mares... the ones who served in larger places, and who know what will happen... you look at them and you see nothing but eyes filled with defiance.

You commit their names to memory. Knowing that you will have to keep a particularly close watch on them.

"Now, as you all know already, the rumors are true. This might have been the coziest and easiest assignment in your careers so far, but that has changed. At least for the foreseeable future. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is indeed in the estate. And I am sure you all saw the Royal Guards going about the place when you arrived."

You say that, and you hear a very dangerous… enamored sigh, coming from somewhere in the crowd.

And that… that is the thing you are worried about the most.

"So let me be entirely clear. There will be no dilly-dallying. There will be no downtime. And most importantly, there will be no interaction with the Royal Guards."

A few menacing glares come at you, from the crowd, but you meet them. You meet those glares and you glare back at them in return.

Finishing Touch, Sprinkles, Clowdy Hoof… you glare back at them one by one, mentally writing down the list of the maids… of the predators that you will have to keep a very tight leash on.

A chill runs down your spine as you realize that you counted at least seven. And you are certain there are many more like them, hidden in the crowd of maids.

"Night shifts will be tripled until further notice. Day shifts are back to normal. And we will both start and finish the day with a headcount back here at seven o'clock sharp."

The younger maids nod, suddenly aware of how heavy the atmosphere in the room has become. Because by now, even the most dim-witted of maids has noticed that... you aren't just giving orders or warnings. You aren't just making general statements as head maid, before a particularly full day of work. No.

You are addressing certain maids. About a very specific issue.

The younger maids notice, their eyes going wild as they realize they are witnessing the opening shots of a battle, which will take place in the dangerous underworld of maid politiks.

And the more experienced maids... just smile.

Because they know the game is on.

But still, you are the head maid. So you can make the first move.

"And everypony swap to the winter uniforms," you say, drawing annoyed moans from the expected part of the crowd. "No short skirts. No frilly mane accessories. And if I see a single flank or cutie mark exposed, that maid is going on unpaid leave for a month."

With that, you finally dismiss the maids to their duties.



- - -



It has been… maybe two and a half days, since Princess Cadance just up and appeared in the estate.

This has never happened before. Even when you were back in Canterlot, you had never heard of something like that. Princess Celestia making an announced visit to one of the greatest noble families? Maybe. But a Princess just… dropping by? A Princess just dropping by and staying as a guest?

Unheard of.

Unimaginable.

Unthinkable, even.

But the Princess is not the problem. Or rather, she is something to be very careful about, but that is just part of the job. You assigned Tip Top and your other most trusted maids to her, and you will personally supervise anything that she or Lady Velvet needs. Still, that is something… manageable.

Because again, the Princess is not the problem.

No.

It is the consequence of the Princess' presence that is the problem.

Namely, the Royal Guard.

They arrived in the morning following the Princess' arrival, even as news of her presence spread like wildfire. They arrived in their pink-and-gold chariots, wearing their polished armors, and began walking around with their toned, chiseled, handsome bodies of-

AHEM.

Anyhow. They arrived in the morning. And even though the estate's staff has been reduced ever since the disappearances, with maybe just a third of the usual number of servants being assigned to work per day... well, news of the Princess' arrival changed that.

News of her entourage's arrival changed that.

And before midday of the same morning, every single maid that works in the estate had already reported for duty. Everypony suddenly interested and ready to do their jobs at the Velvet estate.

All because of those devilish guards...

...



All because of that damned book.



Because you see, there is a book that… every maid working in a noble household has already read. One way or the other.

Some consider reading that book an initiation into the maid life, even. But you disagree. Because nopony ever gives you that book to read. Nopony ever gives it to you. Reading the book just... happens.

And it is not a book you will ever find in a bookstore either. In fact, nopony even knows who wrote it, or when it was first published. Every copy of the book is always old and slightly battered, the name of the writer faded and illegible. But still, every noble house has at least one of those. Every maid underworld somehow has it. Every new maid, during their first night shift, just... finds it. Sitting on the last table they have to clear for the night. Waiting by their bed in the servant's quarter, just as they are about to head to sleep.

In fact, legends even say that whenever a noble moves into a house, and maids begin to work there, an old and battered copy of that book just appears.

The Guard In Yellow is the book's name.

And everywhere that book goes, insanity follows… love-related insanity.

Because the book is a romance.

A page-turner of a romance. A romance that is both thrilling, and captivating, and downright spicy, to the point that no mare is really able to put it down once she begins to read it.

It tells the tale about an unexperienced maid who is assigned to the Royal Castle, and who begins a forbidden affair with a Royal Guard. A dashing Royal Guard, who wears an iconic yellow-gold armor.

And that book… that mysterious book that just seems to have popped into existence one day, is the sole reason as to why…


… why every last noble house maid in Equestria has a Royal Guard fetish.


And now you have dozens of them… dozens of those handsome devils just trotting around your estate. With tight bodies barely contained by their armors. Doing this and that as they go about the dangerous and thrilling job of protecting a Princess.

And worst of all. Surrounding them, you have up to thirty-odd thirsty maids, who are all but dying to have a thrilling, on-the-job affair.

By Celestia, you can even feel it yourself. You can even feel these urges, these whispers, creeping in the back of your mind. As you recall the spiciest bits of that book as if it was open right before your eyes, and you were somehow reading from it.

But you can't succumb… you won't succumb. You will harness your head maid powers and push those desires back.

And most importantly, you will not let anything happen that might disgrace the estate.

Even if you have to push back against the awesome, overwhelming influence of the Princess of Love herself!





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Stormchaser.

And you are finally, finally returning home.

These last few weeks have been… intense, to say the least.

First of all because of the sudden, and honestly tragic, horsepower shortage. After all, even though they have "grunt" in the job title, weather grunts are still trained ponies who perform a very important job. So, following the catastrophe, the central department was met with the problem that, in some places, there was quite literally not enough ponies to cycle the weather within the assigned schedule.

Secondly, because of politics as a whole. There were supply shortages and changes in demands. Sudden changes of priorities even after cloud shipments were sent. And most of all, every local governor was demanding enough cannisters of rainbows to make a blasted air-parade, to lift their cities' spirits, and the factories in Cloudsdale can only do so much!

But most of all, it has been a long month because everypony just seems to be on edge. Even you. As soon as you left Ponyville you just felt this… sensation, that somepony was out to get you. Like some kind of monster was about to jump at you, or like you were going to be fired over some petty little thing. And even though you know it was just a feeling, it still… well, everypony has been on edge.

You just hope things get better as time goes on.

Still, that is all behind you. The month is now over, you are heading home, and your rotating schedule means you won't have to make another visit to the other cities during the next few weeks.

And as you think about that, your spirits rise even further as your home finally comes into view.

You always fly back home. Granted, the distance is considerable and the journey is tiring, but you have always been a good enough flier. Plus, you know you aren't getting any younger, so the trek at least helps you stay healthy.

But also, you fly back home because it is faster. Your last night of work usually ends after the last train to Ponyville has left, so you know you will get home faster if you just fly.

With your house finally in view, you stop flapping your wings, keeping them wide open and letting the wind gently hit against them. And you slowly glide down towards the balcony by your room.



!!!

"-ack!"



That is, until you hit something hard.

You hit a wall. You are dozens of meters above your house, flying in the air, but you have quite literally just hit a wall. A slightly bubble-shaped wall that seems to be just floating in the air around your house and…

No, not a wall. You recognize this thing.

Wait, what?

"Why…?" you mumble to yourself, rubbing a hoof against your foreleg to numb the pain from the sudden impact. "Why the hay is there solid vapor around the house?"

You cautiously poke against the… against the barrier around your house, and you confirm your suspicions.

It is, without a doubt, solid vapor. Harder than most magical barriers, not needing much maintenance, rain-friendly, mostly invisible, and most of all…

"… extremely expensive… what the hay is going on here?"

The questions you have in your head only grow in size and urgency, as you look down to your house and realize there is a pegasus flying up towards you.

An armored pegasus. A very strong and serious looking pegasus, with a fancy armor that you have never seen in any of the larger cities.

"Sir, I need you to follow me and please land outside the front gate," he says, very matter-of-factly.

To which you answer with legitimate confusion.

"E-excuse me, but… I live here? What is going on?!"

The pegasus only answers by looking at your cutie mark, his eyes narrowing as if he recognized something.

Still, his voice is still firm and serious as he talks to you aagain.

"Be that as it may, sir, the entrance checkpoint is still the front gate. If you would please follow me?"

You… you follow the guard, making your way around the umbrella-shaped and solid dome that is now covering your house.

You follow the guard without the slightest clue of what the hay is going on.



- - -



There were no less than three guards in the front gate, once you got there. One of each pony race.

By the gate, they also had a list. A list with names and cutie marks. And you are still shocked at the fact that… well, that there are guards, in your front gate, with a list that has your cutie mark on it.

Still dazed, you make your way to the front door.

Only to find your wife waiting for you there. Wearing a happy expression as if nothing was wrong.

"Stormy! Welcome home!" she says, giving you a kiss.

And for all that you are happy to see her… you are much more confused than you are happy. If nothing else, your wife is currently the only anchor of normalcy, when you are surrounded by…

"Sweetheart…" you ask, your voice coming out in a confused haze as you look around at… everything. "… why are there guards by the gate…? Why are there guards… everywhere?"

Because you saw… several guards on the way here. Patrolling the garden. Nestled on top of the estate's roof watching the skies. By Celestia, you even see a pair of them by the living room, out of the way but still watchful.

"Oh, you know dear, this and that happened, so now they are here." Your wife… your dear and beloved and incomprehensible wife just answers like that, as if it was the most normal thing in the word. Her tone utterly calm.

"Right, right…"

You then follow her towards the dining room. It is morning, after all, and you usually arrive in time for breakfast.

"But sweetheart," you try again, trying your best to keep a grip on your sanity. Trying to... to make sense, of everything around you. Because you also realize that... "I thought we were having less maids come over, with everything that happened. So why… why is the house so full?"

You ask that, because... well, because for every guard that you saw, you are sure that you can see at least two maids. And they all look unusually busy and vigorous. But most of all, considering how empty your house has been these last few months, seeing it like this and with so much activity is almost dizzying.

You ask that, and you hang on to hope. Because this time… this time for sure, she is going to answer you. She is going to tell you something that will make sense.

She has to.

"Oh, you know dear, this and that happened, so now they are back," she answers, still walking by your side as you make your way to the dining room.

Still smiling, brushing her mane against yours as if absolutely nothing was wrong.

And you... you...!

...

You are going insane. You have to.

That's it. That has to be it. You are hallucinating all of this. The barrier, and the guards, and the excess of maids. This is all inside your head!

You worked too much, and now you are losing it. This is the only explanation!

You think that, you try to make sense of everything around you through that, until you reach the dining room.

Until your wife opens the door and just walks in, taking her seat in the breakfast-filled table next to your daughters.

But you just stand there.

You freeze.

Because…

Be-… because…

"Sweetheart… why is there a Princess in our house?"

"Oh, you know dear," she answers, with that same smile. That same lovely calm that she has about her.

She just smiles, and answers your question.

"This and that happened, so now Princess Cadance is staying with us for a while."

…

You don't really hear her answer. You don't hear her answer, and you don't really understand what happens next. In fact, you barely realize that at some point Silky zipped towards you and barreled into you with a strong hug. Excitedly proclaiming that you are back.

Because you are just… stuck. Your mind is just frozen, at the fact that…

That there is a Princess, sitting in your dining room, eating breakfast next to Selene. And that she is for some reason smiling and waving at you. And that you seem to be too shocked to even remember you should be bowing.

You don't really remember what happened next. Nopony ever said that you fainted, but whenever you think back to that moment, all you can remember is how everything went dark.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Lady Velvet Covers.

And you just finished a very important conversation.

Or rather, you have just been asked a very, very important question.

"So that's it, Velvet. I know I promised you a few more days… well, I promised you until the end of the month, and that's still a few days from now. But still, I think Shining is well enough to be teleported, so I'm taking him with me back to Canterlot. So I'm sorry for asking you now and not-"

"No, no, it's fine," you say, waving an interrupting hoof at Cadance. "If I hadn't come to a decision by now, then a few more days to think wouldn't be enough to cure my indecisiveness. Besides, it's how you said it. You didn't plan to come here, and you are not here for your official duties. But getting this out of the way is best for everypony."

Cadance gives you a thankful smile, nodding at your words.

"Yes, and… well. It will at least save you a trip? I would hate for you to go all the way to Canterlot just to give me an answer. But I don't think you would have wanted to answer my mail," she says, laughing a little bit.

"Oh, absolutely."

"So, again…" she says, her expression once again turning serious. Her words suddenly formal and regal. "Princess Celestia and myself would like to offer you a position in an institution we are about to establish. We believe you have both the skills and determination… as well as our trust, to perform the tasks assigned to that institution."

But still, even though her tone is serious and grave, you can still hear the hints of the kind mare that is Cadance, behind her words. Especially as she continues to speak.

"And like we talked… like I saw in your home, and your family, while I was here. I do not expect you to… no, I don't want you to accept this, if you think it will stand between you and your family. I might be a Princess, but this is still an invitation, not a royal request."

You nod at that. Because, especially after these few days, you understand how much you and Cadance agree when it comes to that.

"So. Lady Velvet Covers, would you be willing to help us establish the Lunar Bureau, and take charge of it once it is ready to serve Equestria?"

This almost feels like a formality.

So, you give her the answer that you have decided upon for a good while now.

You…



[] Accept the offer.

-The next turns (plural, unknown amount) will REQUIRE (read: force-lock) Velvet Covers to invest an unknown number of actions into a "Developing the Bureau" choice.
-Velvet will feel a lot less at ease in neglecting her new work. Even after the Bureau is created, Velvet will have actions that will be forced into "Bureau Actions" and will lose the liberty to ignore work as much as she did with her family's work.
-There will be several changes and upheavals in Velvet's and her family's life.


[] Refuse the offer.

-Velvet Covers' life will remain as it is.



AUTHOR'S NOTE (unlike most others, please read these):

Spoiler: Author's Note

Some might say this vote is useless. I disagree. Some actions arise from the characters, guided by their own personal imperatives. But other things just need the stamp of approval from a vote, especially when they are game-changing.

Besides, so far your turns saw you doing whatever you wanted. In particular, picking the number of actions you could perform per turn was mostly a balancing act against your father's ire.

If you accept, you will be locking actions on the long term, and will lose some liberty in your personal life. Being the only noble who lives in a backwater town, under the thumb of a neglecting father, is a lot different from being an important public servant.

I don't intend to do anything game-breaking. But still, this is an evolution on your (to use CS language) "Legacy" option. Your "Noble" background will evolve to "High Public Servant", with all that entails.

Also, the Bureau does not exist yet. If you accept, the next few turns will be dedicated to creating an institution from the ground up, and that will take work from Velvet and everypony else involved.

Finally, ask anything you would like. But be prepared to receive an "it's impossible to tell right now" answer.

Questions you are bound to ask:

Spoiler: Answers

What about payment?
-"Uhm… The answer is… Yes?"
-QM answer: You will be paid at least as much as you currently receive

What about safety?
-"Well, I… I wish I could promise you something, Velvet. I wish I could promise everypony something. And I am sure Princess Celestia feels… the same. But we are creating the Bureau because nopony is really safe right now. Of course, you will have your own staff, so I hope you and your family will be safer than most."
-QM answer: There won't be a "VIP security detail" assigned to you. Just like it currently is, where you can assign a summons to protect somepony, you will have to manage your resources. The difference is that you will have more resources with the Bureau, and will be able to choose to assign them to protect somepony.

What about housing?
-"I really don't want you to feel pressured. And I'll find somepony else to fill in the gap if you refuse!... somehow… But anyhow, this really is a "you-offer", so to speak. So, if you want to stay in Ponyville? We can arrange transportation."
-QM answer: Velvet Covers will refuse to move from Ponyville, and that will not be a problem when it comes to the Bureau itself. You will, however, have to negotiate things with your father. Additionally, you "Bureau Actions" will be centered in Canterlot.

6 hours moratorium.

Cadance will leave, not long after this, and THEN we will have a Mansus Expedition and Selene lesson.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

Regarding the Cult:

[X] "I also have too much to lose, and I was here for the Master. If she is gone, then I have no reason to be here as well." (You have left the Cult immediately, exacerbating panic. Windy Flakes has also left the Cult.)

[X] You will talk to him, with more than just words. And suddenly, he will lose interest in his own question. None of this matters. All that matters is that his beloved sister is back. (You will Leash Captain Shining Armor).

Regarding Cadance's offer:

[X] Accept the Offer (You will lead the Lunar Bureau)

You are Velvet Covers.

And you have just finished hosting a Princess.

Princess Cadance teleported away from your estate just yesterday, and her Royal Guard escort finished packing up and leaving early this morning.

But much to your surprise, you are currently dealing with certain… problems.

Because sure, you realize that your estate had been a hive of activity while Cadance was here. And that was only natural, given the mare is a Princess, and doubly so given the suddenness of her visit. However, you also thought this atmosphere of… tension, would have dissolved from your home the moment the alicorn left.

And yet it didn't.

In fact, this last night was far from peaceful. This one night, between Cadance's departure and the Royal Guard's exit in the following morning, was strangely tense.

Nothing really happened. Or at least, nothing really happened in the main house. But still, you could feel in the air this strange… pressure. Like a sharp smell that tickled at your Edge-sensing nose, or like a calm that preceded a storm.

And even though nothing happened in the main house, you also have no idea about the rest of the estate. Because your Edge-senses definitely don't reach as far as the adjoining buildings, for example, and the farmlands around your properties are also a lot larger.

So you have no idea of why… so many maids stayed the night, for example. Or why the Royal Guard decided to stay an entire night before leaving. Or why Ponpon is so angry as she talks to you right now.

"Are you quite sure this is necessary, Ponpon?" you say, as you look down at the several documents Ponpon has brought you.

"Absolutely, ma'm. And trust me, I am being very lenient with them," she says, her words uncharacteristically poisonous.

Because Ponpon is mad. More than mad, she is furious. And she brought you no less than seven missives that she wrote, giving out punishment to several maids, that she asked you to sign. The punishments went from a bad mark on future references all the way to unpaid leave.

Of course you asked her why she was asking you to sign those punishments. But the scowl the maid gave you was so strong that you decided not to pry.

After all, Ponpon is your head maid, and you trust her. Besides, she is also a friend, as much as she likes to keep your relationship professional. So, given how distressing and infuriating the context behind these punishments seem to be, you decide that it is better not to pry.

She wouldn't ask you to do this if it wasn't absolutely necessary, you think.

You hope…

Still, you sign the missives and float them back to her, which she tucks into her uniform without ceremony.

"Thank you, ma'am. This will teach them to respect this house," she says.

And you once again bite down your tongue, to avoid asking her what the hay she is talking about.

Also, is that a tinge of Grail you smell…?

"Anyhow, there is one last maid problem I would like to discuss with you, ma'am," she says. That is, until she furrows her eyebrows, thinking on her words for a few more moments. "Although this isn't really a problem. And I don't really think it is about a maid. Not anymore, at least."

Under normal circumstances you would have raised an eyebrow. However, the particular way Ponpon worded it makes you immediately understand what she is talking about.

Or rather, who she is talking about.

"Yes. Her," Ponpon says, nodding at your expression, as she also realizes you understand what she means. "And like I said, ma'am, it's not a problem. But it is something I would like to clear up with you? Especially so I can clear it up with her? Not that she asked any questions or the likes. But still…"

Ponpon trails off. But there isn't really any need for her to say anything else. You understand.

Because she is asking, of course, about Soft Sweeps.

After all, the young mare herself is not a problem. But her situation is problematic, to say the least.

And the pegasus is, technically, a maid. But from Ponpon's words you can see how that is changing from an official employment to an informal arrangement.

These last few days you have seen her in her maid dress, going about her responsibilities and taking care of the fillies.

But well…

Is she doing that because she is a maid? Or would she continue to do that even if she wasn't wearing the uniform?

Is she still your employee? Or should the mare be free to do whatever she wants?

And furthermore, where does she… lives? From what Ponpon told you, she has been sleeping in the estate ever since Ponpon was indisposed following her unfortunate nervous episode. But Ponpon is all better now, and the rush of activity is over with Princess Cadance's departure. Will Soft go back to sleeping at Ponpon's residence?

Is that what she wants?

If you are to be absurdly honest, you already have an answer to all those questions. You already know how you feel about Softy, and where you stand when it comes to her.

But that's the thing about it. That's the crucial detail you can't overlook. Those are your answers, not Soft's.

"It's just that the last week passed by in a blur, ma'am, with all the stuff leading to the Princess' arrival. And it got even more frantic during her stay," Ponpon says, voicing the same thoughts you have in your head. "But still, this is the kind of thing I need to sit down and talk to Soft Sweeps about. And the way I see it, delaying it won't do anypony any favors."

You nod at her. Because of course she is right.

Softy needs to be sat down and talked to. Because her life has been so dreadfully turbulent these last few months that you are sure she is just taking things one day at a time. Still, it's high time somepony talked to her and anchored her in place.

There is only one thing you don't agree with Ponpon, when it comes to what she just said.

"You're right Ponpon. But if you don't mind, I'd rather be the one who talks to Soft about this. I'll wait a bit more for the dust to settle, but you can leave this to me."

Ponpon gives you a knowing smile, as if she had been expecting you to say that.

"Understood ma'am, I'll leave that to you. Just let me know once it's settled," she says with a short bow, making her way towards the door right after. "Now, if you will excuse me."

With that, the maid leaves. Leaving you alone in your office.

Which suits you just fine. You have plenty of affairs to get in order, so you can begin your night with a clear, focused head.



- - -



You went about your day with as much normalcy as you could muster.

You did the things that needed doing. You said the words that needed saying. You took care of your mortal affairs.

And when the sun set, you put your daughters to bed and excused yourself into your own room.

But for all that you tried to focus on your waking life as you lived it, you couldn't really give it the entirety of your attention. Not today.

Not knowing what you will do tonight.

Because most days, you don't really think about the Mansus. Not really. In fact, some days you even hate the Mansus. You hate what it stands for, and the dangers that lurk in it, and the fact that you can no longer sleep without feeling its invitations.

Most days, you can live a normal life. In the Wake. With your family.

But today was not one of those days.

Because the entire day, you knew… you knew what awaited you.

Throughout the entire day you knew, that you would face its dangers, and that you would explore its secrets, and that you would strive to climb higher. And not because you are being forced to do it. Not because somepony else is commanding you to. But because you want to. After all, even though you know doing it is a necessity, you still… you still…



Throughout the entire day, the whole world felt dull. The sun felt less bright, and the colors less vibrant.

Because all you could think of was the light of Glory.

And now, you are finally here.



You crossed the crossroads and you braved the Woods and you climbed the Plains and you found the correct stairs. You stepped over the disgusting consequence of your regrets, and you marched on and on through the only way that is left upwards.

You went higher and higher, until twisting path became narrower and narrower, so marred with cracks and so full of flaws that it only exists because the Mansus is still there.

Until you reach the place you are right now.

The Ruined Church stands before you. And for all that you have no idea of when you first thought of that name, you suspect that it was whispered to you by the Mansus itself. Still, regardless of its origins, it does feel fitting.

After all, the great castle-like structure is indeed ruined. There is no other way to describe it.

It is enormous, topped with curved towers and with tips of ruby. The side that is facing you is a great mud-red wall, dotted with mosaics that are still beautiful and luscious even though most of them are at least partially damaged.

It is leaning awkwardly to the side, as if it is floating. Kept in place by the unbreakable fact that it is now part of the only way forward. Meaning that if it ever were to fall down, the path would be broken, and Glory would be unreachable. Which is, of course, impossible. So, the Ruined Church stands before you, nestled in your way, inviting you to its depths.

And almost tauntingly, the Glory seems to be positioned right on top of it. Barely concealed by two of its tallest towers. As if telling you that you will reach closer to it only if you cross this place.

So, cross this place you will.

Like a moth drawn to the flames, you make your way to the Ruined Church. All to get closer to the Glory that lies beyond it.



- - -



[Mansus Expedition: The Ruined Church]



The path of Mansus-stone that leads to the Church is narrow. Perhaps only wide enough for two ponies to walk side by side, and even then only if they brush their flanks against each other.

But you are here alone, so it is more than wide enough for you.

As you approach the side of the Church, you can finally see where exactly the path leads you. After all, for all that the Church clearly fell down from above, its fall was far from gracious. The great structure is not only tilted, but you also cannot see its front from the path you are on. Instead, the side of the Church now dominates most of your view, from how close you are to it.

And sure enough, the path leads straight to one of its many shattered mosaics. Your way into the Ruined Church, it seems, will be through a broken window.

At first, you feel like a thief. Like a burglar sneaking into a holy place in the dead of the night, driven by your own ambitions and selfish desired.

As you get closer and closer to the Church, however, your perception changes. Because the Church… it is not only inviting, but you can feel now that it is also…

It is also inviting you.

You are still walking on the Mansus-stone path. You aren't even close to the Ruined Church yet. But even now, you can already feel it. You can feel this… this thick, pleasant, alluring scent coming from the broken window at the end of the stone path.

Even this far away from the Church, you can already tell that its insides… they are thick with this smell… with this seductive presence that is…

… covering it like a fog…

… and caressing your ears…

… and whispering for you to come closer…

… and telling you that it will share so many secrets with you…



-and trying to drag you into its thirsting maw-



-you snap out of your thoughts, a frightened gasp escaping your lips as you realize what almost happened.

Because you are… you are almost at inside the Ruined Church.

As you look down, you realize that you have already reached it. You could have sworn that a moment ago you were still far away from it, walking down the path of Mansus-stone.

But as you shake your head, you realize that the broken window is now right in front of you. In fact, as you look down, you realize your raised foreleg was about to take that final step.

You realize you were about to step into the Ruined Church… you realize you were about to step on a very sharp edge of broken mosaic.

You take a step back, your heart hammering inside your chest even though you know this is only your dream-body.

But still, as you retreat from the broken window to inspect it from a bit further away, you finally notice something… disturbing. Even if, in hindsight, it should have been obvious.

The window that will take you into the Church is broken. That much is obvious. You can see it is a broken mosaic, and you can tell from its still-standing corners that it must have depicted a pony at some point… or perhaps many, engaged in an activity of sorts.

However, even though you knew it was broken this whole time, you only now realize exactly how it is broken.

Because the few shards of colored glass that remain… they also seem to be shaped in a certain way. Like rows of jagged surface, that remind you too much of a carnivorous plant, or perhaps the open jaw of a waiting predator.

A chill runs down your spine as you understand that you almost stepped on one of its waiting teeth. And you immediately realize that this place, this entire building even, is alive. It is a predator, and above all else it is a place that thirsts.

This, you know, was already the first of its attempts to drink from you. And you haven't even taken a single step into its depths.

So, you know that it will be the height of foolishness to enter it with unguarded senses.



[Agree to see or refuse to listen?, cd ???]

[Roll: 73 + 13 (Magic) + 40 (Winter Level 4) = 126]



This place, you know, is both devious and seductive. It will try to fool you, into spilling your blood unwillingly. Or, it will try to convince you into giving yourself by your own choice.

Consequently, there are two ways for you to enter it. You can either attempt to see through it and navigate through its lies and invitations, or you can ignore them altogether.

And you already know which option is the one that suits you best.

You take in a long, deep breath of the Grail-heavy mist that wafts out of the broken window. It enters through your nostrils like an eager guest and makes itself at home within the lungs of your dream-body.

You then hold your breath.

You hold your breath, as the fog makes a nest inside you. Confident that its presence inside of you is a mark that you are now under its thrall.

And you hold your breath, as the fog tries to creep out of your lungs and into the rest of your body. First through its promises, then through its caresses, then with everything else it has.

And you hold your breath, as the fog begins to tremble inside of you. As it realizes that your body is getting colder and colder. The confines of your lungs feeling more and more like the inside of a coffin.

And you hold your breath, as the fog begins to claw at your guts. Desperate to escape. Frantically trying to break out through the closed mausoleum door that is your throat.

You hold your breath, until the fog dies. Asphyxiated in snow and Winter.

Only then do you breathe out. And when you do, the dead Winter-fog covers you like a drape. Hanging around you like a grizzly trophy. Tucked around you like a skin, that you stole from a half-dead creature that made the mistake of crossing your path.

With that done, you finally step into the Ruined Church.

And as you walk over the sharp edges of the broken window, stepping hoof on the blood-red marble of the floor, the Grail-mist recedes. More than that, it takes two steps back for every one step you take forward. Giving you a wide berth, as you march into the Ruined Church wearing the carcass of its former kin.

The whispers of the Church will not bother you anymore.



[Success]



However, as you look around, you realize you have another problem.

Namely, you have no idea of what direction you should go.



[Discovery or Violation?, cd ???]

[Roll: 29 + 14 (Learning) + 40 (Secret Histories Level 4) = 84]

[Velvet Covers invokes SECRET HISTORIES re-roll]

[Re-roll: 60 + 14 (Learning) + 40 (Secret Histories Level 4) = 114]



The Ruined Church is large. Not as large as the Mansus, of course. And perhaps not as large as the appetite of its original inhabitants. But it is large nonetheless.

You are also acutely aware that you are, right now, inside a dream. Even if that dream is also the Mansus. So, you cannot fool yourself into thinking that this place would extend you the courtesy of keeping its interior unchanged.

Because sure, its interior might not change at all.

But it might also change every time you wake up.

Or perhaps, it might even change while you are looking. Like a lascivious pony taunting you as it slowly changes its garments in front of you.

Still, you only know two things about this place. The first being that it has already tried to harm you. And the second being that you don't know everything else.

However, as you look around you… you slowly begin to realize something.

Because this place is old. Very old.

After all, you have just entered through a broken window. You have entered through a broken window, and you are now inside a long corridor that stretches in both directions. But everywhere you look, you can see signs of damages.

The nearby doors that dot the corridor are all cracked, the walls are peeling off, and you are sure that you can see a hole on the floor, further down the corridor.

It is obvious that the powers that be, which kept this place alive and lush, are long gone.

So maybe… just maybe…

You might be able to add to the damage and create a path of your own.

But you also notice something else.

You also notice that this place is beautiful.

Not only that. It is both beautiful and somehow familiar.

It is old, for sure. But the mixture of age, beauty, and familiarity are all mixing in your mind to create the acute sense of…

Of melancholy

And you realize that you know this place.

The floor under your hoofs, even though it is hard and red marble, is lukewarm. It is lukewarm like the memory of an embrace, or a hug that still lingers against your coat.

The columns that flank the corridor, cracked as they may be, as still topped by wide arches. Some of the arches, you can see, still have the sculpted faces of ponies. They still look happy, as if remembering the great and beautiful things that have walked under their gaze.

Heavens, you can even… you can even see it on the walls. Because even though their colors are faded, you can still see that at some point they had been painted and beautiful. So beautiful, even, that no pieces of art had ever been displayed on them. But only because the walls had once been works of art themselves.

And as you look around you, you slowly piece it together. You slowly manage to describe this sensation that you have, in a deep and forgotten corner of your mind.

Everywhere you look, you feel like you are gazing at…

You feel like you are gazing at an aged lover.

You can see damage, of course, but that damage feels like mere wrinkles. Wrinkles of age, under the eyes of one who has looked at you tenderly for a very long time.

You can see how its colors have faded fades. But only like the fur of a pony's coat, that has become lighter with the passing years. And even that just helps to accentuate the vivid memory of how it looked long ago, in better days.

So, even though you have no idea where you should go right now, you immediately know where you would have to go… back then.

And as you walk down the long corridor, turning around corners and passing through rotting wooden doors, you feel more like you are retracing your steps.

Because even though you have never been here, you still feel like you have been here just yesterday.

After all, these halls… this entire place, its construction drew inspiration from the hungers and thirsts that reside within every pony. And even if several Eras have passed, you know those desires have remained mostly unchanged.

Consequently, you can see a map of this place just by looking inside yourself.



[Success]



- - -



You have been inside the Ruined Church for a very long time now.

You have no idea how long it has been, and you know that only a single night will pass in the Wake.

But you are not in the Wake. Not yet, or perhaps not anymore. And within the walls of the Ruined Church, you can feel that time acts… differently.

Because this place still remembers. It still carries the echoes of its past like a precious treasure, or perhaps a private memory.

At some points, you think you are in the past. You can hear sounds and murmurs and laughter from beings that you know don't exist anymore. At some points, you even hesitate before turning a corner, because you are intimately sure that you will witness walk into an ongoing scene of indecency if you walk too rapidly, or if you open a door too quickly.

However, this place has also been… alone. This thirsting, wanting, living place has been alone and empty for far, far too long. With nothing but its own desires, and the memory of its previous inhabitants, to keep it company.

And as you make your way deeper into the Ruined Church, you begin to see the… signs, of that isolation.

The change was subtle, never sudden. It mounted upon itself the deeper you went. It gave you yet another sign with every passing corridor, but always in a subtle way.

It was like watching the color red very slowly change its tone, only to realize several hours later that you are now looking at something orange.

It was like walking deeper and deeper into a cave, only to realize several hours later that the light is now so dim that you can barely see.

Because you saw love, and then you saw joy, and then you saw desire and then you saw need and then you saw…

Well, now you realize you are surrounded by obsession. And after an entire era of maddening dryness, after millennia having nothing to satiate itself with, you can now see that this place finally sunk its teeth into itself. Cannibalizing its own thoughts, hunting down the echoes of its own pleasures, just to be able to taste something again.



And as you hear the guttural sound of something moving, you realize there is something else here with you.



[The Things That Lust, cd ???]

[Roll: 53 +12 (Intrigue) + 40 (Moth Level 4) = 105]



You have no intention of staying here to discover what made that noise.

You make your way deeper into the Church. And even though you know the direction you must go, you still feel like you are walking in circles half the time.

The walls and the corridors and the stairs and the doors, they all twist around you. They twist before your very eyes, and you know this is not trick of the mind. The guards around your senses are still holding strong.

So, you realize it is the Church itself that is warping around you, and not that your thoughts are being warped by its influence.

Still, this only makes your current predicament more frightening.

Because you are now inside the mind of something very old. Something very old, that has gone insane from millennia of unfulfilled desires. And in its insanity, it has created its own dreams and nightmares to keep it company.

And those nightmares, those many-limbed, thrashing, reaching nightmares are nearby. Maybe they have already caught your scent, and are writhing their way towards you. Maybe they aren't even aware that you are a living pony, and would treat you as they would each other.

Both options, you know, would involve a very unpleasant fate.

But for all that you can hear them, you can tell they are still far away… relatively speaking.

So, you could try and cut your way through the erratic thoughts of the twisting corridors, or you could try to run through them.

As you hear a sucking, giggling noise coming from nearby, seeing a shadow stretch for way longer than it should from behind a corner, you quickly elect to do the latter.

You shut your eyes, knowing that within the Mansus you will only see the darkness of your own eyelids, and you begin to run.

And you don't open your eyes until you can't hear them anymore. Until you can no longer hear the giggles and the moans and the drooling and the sound of something trying to run with fifteen legs that all crawl in different directions.



[Success]



- - -



[Kinship?, cd ???]

[Roll: 41 + 30 (Grail Level 3) + 40 (An Incarnadescence) = 111]



At some point, you come upon an unusually lush place. You pass by a door that is unusually well-kept, considering it surroundings, and that feels like it wants to share with you more than it wants to take from you.

You would have missed if you had been paying less attention. In fact, you almost missed it. But the door spoke to the Influence you carry inside your heart, and you heard that part of your soul respond to it as if they shared a particular appetite. And it was only thanks to that conversation you overheard that you decided to stop. It was that sudden, unexpected exchange of pleasantries that made you stop, and finally notice the nearby door.

And as you enter through the door, you find yourself inside a clean room. With a bed at its center, and several soft cushions laid on the floor in an orderly fashion, no doubt for an audience. The strange, if unsurprising, mixture of a bedroom and a shrine.

But on top of the bed, you find a vial. Inside the vial, a dark liquid.

That liquid might have bestowed immortality, in a brighter age. But nowadays, you know it only has unparalleled sweetness.

Still, you tuck it away in a corner of your soul. And you know you will be holding it on your hoofs when you wake up.



[Extra event successful]



- - -



You sit down on the hard marble floor. Breathing in gasps even though you know this isn't air. Feeling exhausted even though you know this is a dream.

But you are not exhausted in the mundane, physical way. You are not feeling like this because you have walked a long distance, or because you ran from things you are glad you didn't see. You don't feel tired in your body, because you know your body is currently on your bed, inside your room, within the comfort of your estate.

No, you are tired because you have been here… for a very long time now.

At first you thought it was just some kind of mental exhaustion. After all, it makes sense that your dream-body would draw its stamina from your mind, rather than your physical abilities. It made sense, when you first began to feel this way, that you were getting tired because you have been focused for too long while inside a dream.

But as you kept going forward, you realize it wasn't just that.

No, it's this place… the walls and the light and the very air around you. It is feeding on you. Every second you spend in this place, it is feeding on you. Even from the smallest interactions you make with this place, even when you do something as simple as look at its walls, it is drinking from your attention.

It is slurping down, deeply and greedily, even from the mere contact that your hind is making with the floor. You don't even know how to describe this… this faint yet all-covering desperation that you can feel from this place. You don't even know if it has a name.

You don't even know if this deep, microscopic leeching that you feel around you even should have a name.

However, you know this will be over soon.

Because you are almost there.

You finally got your bearings. And after making your way through the chaotic center of the Ruined Church you finally found your way to its exit.

You found the arteries that would guide you to the heart. You found the throat that would take you to the mouth. And by following the corridors that became wider and grander, you are finally here.

You stand before an archway-topped door, made of reflective metal and engraved with flowing symbols. And even though the door before you is magnificent by itself, you realize that it is only a side-door. You know that this is only a lesser passage, that was used by lesser servants who were meant to remain unseen.

However, even though it was used by lower creatures, you still know that this door is magnificent because of the place it led to. Because of the room that is beyond it.

After all, the Ruined Church was once a place of worship. A place where Grail was enacted and celebrated.

And if this place was a Cathedral, then you know this door will lead you to its central nave. If this place was meant for adoration, then this door will lead to its greatest sanctum.

You immediately know all of that, just by looking at this door.

And the moment your hoof touches the cold-and-warm metal of the doorknob, you feel your senses being assaulted by…

… by everything.



[You must not lick the floor, cd ???]

[Roll: 19 + 9 (Martial) + 40 (Winter Level 4) = 68]

[Velvet Covers invokes WINTER re-roll]

[Re-roll: 74 + 9 (Martial) + 40 (Winter Level 4) = 123]



The door opens before you.

The greatest hall of the long-lost Red Church greets you.

And even though this was the entrance hall, you still feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Perhaps even satisfaction. Because even though this was the first place that a pilgrim of the old Mansus would see, you know times are different.

You know this. And the Red Church, now the Ruined Church, knows it as well.

So, as you step into the unfaded eminence of an older era, you feel what is almost a physical presence bathing you in return.

Because this place still remembers. It remembers what it saw, and what it felt, and all the acts that were done under its roof and upon its rosy altar. It remembers all of that, and it exults in the fact that you are now here to remember it as well.

Because almost nowhere else was the Grail so celebrated. And almost nowhere else is it so vividly remembered.

And as the first mortal pony to step hoof here in so long, those memories wash over you almost with rabid eagerness.



And you muster just enough willpower to not lose yourself in it.



[Success]



The light of Glory shines into the great hall. Tinged with the hues of love and want from the colored windows.

And most of all, its light shines in unobstructed through the wide entrance doors.

Because you can see it, now. You can see it right there. The great double doors, which were once the ancient entrance of the Church, are wide upon. And the Mansus stretches beyond it. The only way forward continuing out of it like a paved road, leading the way upwards to the higher levels of the Mansus.

You finally made it.



[All hurdles have been overcome. Expedition successful.]



However, you also realize that…

… you are not alone.





You have Leashed Captain Shining Armor. Your personal file has been updated to reflect that.

It was a crevice, or maybe an opening, or maybe something much more private and intimate. Still, you found your way into it, and brought its secrets back with you. You have found a Level 4 Grail Reagent.

The Ruined Church is old, but in its distant past it has witnessed the quenching of many a great thirst. And that history is still echoed in its halls, even if only as a whisper. In listening to that whisper, you have gained one scrap of Grail Lore.

The Ruined Church is old, and its present reflects the only possible end it could have met. Indulgence was pursued to the point of obsession, and now it is infested by chaos. In witnessing this fall, you have gained one scrap of Moth Lore.

You have successfully completed the Mansus Expedition "The Ruined Church". You are now able to safely traverse the Ruined Church.

You have traversed the Ruined Church, but much of its depths remain unexplored. You are now able to further explore it through another Mansus Expedition "Into the Depths of the Ruined Church".

You have not yet escaped from the Ruined Church.

You. Have. Not. Yet. Escaped.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Your senses. They are all overwhelmed. You have nothing left to tether your mind to. Nothing.

Not even a body. For when you are in the Mansus, your dream-body is only as real as you understand it to be. You only exist in the Mansus while you have cohesive thoughts, shaped in the form of Velvet Covers.

So, right now, you do not exist. Velvet Covers does not exist.

Because your thoughts are overwhelmed.

They are all taken over by what is outside of you.

Your vision is bleached white by the glare of Glory, for you have spent so long within the confines of the Ruined Church that its light is now blinding.

Your thoughts are painted red by the memories of the Grail. And for all that you are witnessing everything that happened, from its inception to the shattering of the Mansus, your overwhelmed mind is incapable of understanding any of it. Let alone remembering it.

Your ears are filled with blessed noise. The melodious cries of birth. The mournful groans of pleasure denied. The wet noises of liquid being quaffed.

Your coat is covered with the sticky sensation of Grail-matter. For even though the floor has long ago been licked and scraped dry, it still bears the mark that it was touched.

Your mouth is empty, but at the same time filled with the taste of flesh. And even though this is utterly contrary to pony biology, you think you understand for the first time how some creatures might be carnivorous.

Your nose is drowned by the smell of blood. As well as…

… as…

You can also smell that…



There is something nearby.



That urgent thought lurches you into consciousness. Or at least it shocks you out of whatever torpid lethargy you were under just a moment ago.

You have no idea what just happened. You have no idea how you could fall "unconscious" when you are already in a dream. Part of you even thinks that you just didn't exist for a moment. That your brain had been hijacked by a deafening echo from the past, to the point that you were no longer Velvet Covers.

But still, you are much, much more worried about what you just felt.

Because you just sensed something. There is a presence nearby, that is at the same time achingly close and disgustingly wrong.

However, you can't feel it anymore. Or rather, you can't sense it anymore.

And that is the whole problem.

Because your skills… these tricks you learned. They don't work in the Mansus. Or at least you have never learned how to apply them either confidently or regularly while in the Mansus. So, the same way that you can't see in the dark through your closed eyelids, you also know you aren't able to smell things with your Edge-sense. At least not while you are here.

And yet, somehow, you just did.

Or at least you think you did… at least, something happened that lurched you out of that… of that shock, or daze, or dissolution, or whatever the hay that was.

Still, you have no idea of what just happened. You just know two things.

One, that there is something nearby.

And two, that it is dangerous.

You are currently lying on your side, slowly regaining your balance after the sudden vertigo, so you at least try to put your legs under you. But still, you don't really stand up. Not yet, at least. You just reorient yourself, feeling your body heavy and sticky as if you had just been coated with… something.

It's the ground, you know. The floor of this hall is bone-dry, but you still feel a slight pressure pulling you down whenever you try to raise a hoof.

But you don't have time to worry about this. Even if the marble of the floor might sometimes feel like the inside of an organ. Even if this whole place might as well be an analogy to a… to a stomach, or maybe something else, you still don't care. You can't care.

Because you are not alone here.

You look behind you, and you see that you are just a few hoofsteps beyond the metal door you just opened. It seems you dragged yourself a few meters forward, after opening the door. Probably during your stupor.

Still, as you look around you can confirm that you are indeed in a… nave, of sorts.

This knowledge, you know, is being given to you more than anything else. You have studied a lot during your life, and you have read a lot. Sometimes even about the culture of other species. But ponykind has never really developed religious practices. In fact, the very concept of religion is something that you only heard about when reading about other species. So, you are confident that you… that you definitely don't know about churches. You don't know about churches, or cathedrals, or the precise terminology of where a nave ends and a transept begins.

And yet, right now, you do know this. By sheer virtue of having reached this place, this alien knowledge of how to properly carry yourself in such a holy place is now second nature to you. Almost as if it was gifted to you, as a courtesy, or perhaps self-evident in itself as soon as you laid your eyes upon this place. But still, you can tell that this knowledge you possess comes from somewhere outside of you.

Still, it is strange to think that this was the norm. It is strange, to think that ponykind once had gods. And that they were not only forgotten, but that you are now in a place where one of them took residence.

But still, none of that matters. At least not right now.

You get back on your hoofs, but you remain crouched. The metal door brought you to the middle section of the this cathedral-like hall, and you are currently crouched between two sets of bone-like pews.

You try not to think about how the pews literally look like bones. As if this entire hall was a living creature that had grown to look like a church. You try not to think of the implications as to why the air is so humid, and why the breeze seems to come and go in time with a ponderous breath.

In front of you, just the length of a few pews away, you see the central passage. The long, richly carpeted pathway that goes from the entrance door all the way to the altar. And you can also see the cutting, and achingly close light of Glory shining down from your left. So, you know the entrance is that way, and that the altar of this grand hall is to the right.

Still, you stay where you are. You stay crouched behind the pews and you stay silent. Straining your ears as you try to listen for… something. Feeling the beat of your frantic, terrified heart all the way on the top of your head, even though you know this is a dream and your dream-body probably doesn't have a heart.

You just stay there.

And you wait.

…

Until you convince yourself that you… can't really hear anything.

Or rather, that you can only hear yourself. Your own breathing, and your own heartbeat, and the thoughts you have inside your head.

So you slowly… very slowly, get up from your crouching position. You cautiously peek your head from behind the pews, and you take a longer, more careful look at the surrounding hall.

And you feel a strange, awesome pressure rise in your chest as you do that. Because you feel that, if not for your sudden tension and panic, you might have been swept away again.

Because this is it. This is the interior of the Red Church.

As you look around, you see rows upon rows of glistening, bone-shaped pews. The large ones at the front in a place of honor, left for the Grail-Long. The cushioned ones in the middle for honored guests. The countless ones towards the back for those who managed to climb this far in ancient times.

There are no pews for the Names, you realize, for they would always aid in the ceremonies.

You turn your gaze slightly upwards, and you see the arched, rib-like columns that reach the ceiling, flanked by visages of colored glass that seem to move. The columns seem at the same time sculpted and alive. The glass windows seem at the same time like works of art and multi-faceted eyes.

Some of the windows are broken. Most of them are not.

But most of all you see, all around you, the mark of Grail. The places where new pleasures were birthed. The alcoves where new torments were designed. The frescos where enticements were memorialized. You look all around you at a hall that seems to be very much alive. A place where birth itself was once celebrated.

And you also see... the clear signs of age and stagnation.

Because for all the life and abundance that this place once boasted, it still inevitably… dried.

Everywhere you look, you feel as if… you feel like you are looking at the stones that were left behind, after a waterfall dried. Because the stones themselves might be smooth and beautiful. They might have been ideal to permit the flow of water, and were indeed shaped by the constant passage of the water itself.

However, the waterfall is gone, and all around you there are nothing but the stones that were left behind. They might be beautiful, and smooth, and crafted by the rushing flow that one caresser it. But now, they are nothing but abandoned stones. Not, they are nothing but the empty receptacle that once held something, but that is now rendered meaningless after the drying of its source.

Because this place is beautiful. It is beautiful, and it is alive only because it once carried the stuff of life itself. This was the place where Grail held court, and you can see from its shape and contour how the Church itself became a larger basin. A larger receptacle, that could contain and bask in the endless overflow of its mistress.

But that endless overflow has finally dried up. And this place is now…

Great.

And smooth.

And sculpted.

And still living.

But ultimately dry and meaningless.

Because the Great Mother is no longer here.

You see all of that. You finally understand the nature and torment that the Ruined Church has carried this whole time, as you look around this grand and dry hall of adoration.

You see all of that, and you can't help but feel an empty sense of loss and awe.

That is, until your eyes finally settle on the far end of the hall. Until you finally look at the end of the elegant carpet, that leads to the elevated altar.



And your blood freezes.



Because there it is.

You can see it now. The thing that you sensed. The offending presence that made you fear for your life. Even when you were in a state where you couldn't think.

It is right there.

You think it is a statue. For a moment you think, you hope, that it is just a statue. But it is not. You immediately understand, you somehow know, that it is not a mere statue.

You are in danger.

It is large. Even from this far away you can tell that it is large. Larger than anypony has the right to be. Larger than an alicorn. Larger than Celestia herself, even though it feels wrong, terrifying, to even think that.

You should run.

You can tell that it is at least equine in nature. But it is not a pony. It might be horse-shaped, but it is only a pony in the sense that a tiger is also technically a cat. Still, you can't see most of its body. You can't see most of its body and you know you should be thankful for that. You can only see that it is covered in a lavish cloak, from head to hind. A lavish cloak of the darkest red, its hems embroidered with precious threads, with writings in dead and mournful languages.

You want to run.

The cloak covers its entire body, except for its head. Or at least part of its head. You can see its snout, if nothing else. You can see its snout… no, you can see her snout. And you immediately realize that it is made of bones.

But she already knows you are here.

Her head is nothing but a bony skull. And when she turns to face you, you see nothing but a thirsty dryness coming from her empty eye sockets. The hem of her robes sways with her movement, and you can see that her forelegs, and maybe part of her chest, are also the skeletal mockery of an overly large equine.

She already knows you are here, and she can see you.

She is… or rather, she was mounted over the altar. Cradling it like a desperate lover. Slack-jawed from thirst as she tried to scrape it from any last drop of succulence it might still have. You know that only because the altar… is not there anymore. Half of its top is missing, and it is covered with years and decades and centuries and millennia of toothy scratches.

She can see you, and she can smell you.

Because this horrible thing that is staring down at you doesn't have a tongue. Or at least not one that it chooses to show. It doesn't have a tongue, and yet it still thirsts. It thirsts because its bone-dry existence knows nothing else, ever since she assumed that accursed form.

She can smell you. And she knows you have already celebrated both blood and birth.

So, she has been here since the Church fell. She crawled like a vermin through the forbidden paths of the Mansus until she reached this place. And she had been sucking it dry of every last ounce it carried ever since. Until the Church stands as it is today, bone-dry and maddened with thirst. Because once she took residence here, this hallowed place had no choice but to be torturously changed until it resembled her more than anything else.

She smells all of that. Her empty nostrils takes in your entire life with a long, greedy breath.

…

She smells all of that…



And oh, how that causes her to THIRST.



The great, wrong thing stands up from the altar. The once holy pinnacle now serving as both plate and throne for the overly large, cloaked horse. She stands upon the altar, and part of it snaps under her shifted weight. Because she had been sitting upon it, gnawing upon its surface, for almost as long as she has been thirsty, and the fragile altar is now very brittle indeed.

She stands upon it, and you feel an overwhelming pressure crush you. The kind of pressure that is only possible when one is under the gaze of something very old.

She stares at you with her empty, ruby-like eyes.

And a chill runs down your spine as you see a thin, translucent line of droll drop from her teeth-filled skull of a mouth.

She then opens her mouth slightly wider.

And her skull clack-clack-clacks with a dry noise, as it opens and closes. All while she speaks to you.



"[Grail]…"



She speaks with words. Words that your mind understands, even if you are not fully capable of repeating them. She tells you of her thirst. And of how she forged her way into this place after it was abandoned. And she tells you about her thirst. And of how she has already gnawed and scratched and scraped at every last surface of this Church with her dry teeth. And she tells you about her thirst. And of how she is so, so very parched.



"[Grail]."



She tells you about her children, and how not even they were able to slake her thirst.

And she tells you about your children, and how she knows that they exist, from the scent you have and the fruits you carry in your body.

And she tells you about her thirst, and how it is so maddeningly all-consuming.



"[GRAIL]!!!"



And she tells you how Mareinette will finally, finally, finally be able to drink again.

You think she was talking to herself.

You think that was her name.

But you weren't really concerned with your own thoughts.



You could barely hear your own terrified scream, as you ran away. Back into the depths of the Church. As the heavy, thunderous and dry stampede of her bony hoofs followed right after you.



- - -



"[GRAIL]!!!"



Your blood is tasty and you have bore fruits and your blood is tasty and she will slake her thirst and your blood is tasty and she will suck you dry until she drinks the marrow of your bones and your blood is tas-

You run into the dark depths of the Ruined Church, unheeding of whatever dangers might be in front of you.

None of them matter. Not the things that crawl, not the winding passages, and not the sharp and broken mosaics.

All of them are better than the certainty of maddening murder that is chasing after you.

You can't even think straight. You just run. You think you would be crying if your dream-body was capable of that, but you can't even muster the sanity to create tears within a dream.

You just run.

But Mareinette, if that is even her name, is at least twice your height. Maybe even thrice. And her legs are at least as large as you are tall.

She is upon you in an instant.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Velvet Covers' current health: 2/2 + ???]

[Our Lady of Wires: ??/??]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Velvet – 0, Mareinette – 0]

[Velvet Covers will be solely focusing on escaping alive]



[Velvet's first roll: 55 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 69]

[Mareinette's first roll: 19 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 59]



[Overflow: Velvet – 10, Mareinette – 0]



[Velvet's second roll: 48 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 62]

[Mareinette's second roll: 87 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 127]



[Overflow: Velvet – 10, Mareinette – 65]

[Velvet Covers' Influence is drained. -50 to Mareinette's overflow]



[Escape attempt]

[Velvet's roll: 62 + 9 (Martial) = 71]

[Mareinette's interrupt: 38 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 78]

[Failure]

The mare, if you can even call her that, is huge. And she is even larger up close.

But more than that, she is upon you in an instant.

Because you can see in her eyes how much she wants you. How much she needs you. You can see in her a dryness that borders insanity.

But any hopes that her thirst might have detracted from her capabilities are gone in an instant.

She chases you like a single-minded apparition of white bone and gleaming ruby, even as you run through the deserted corridors of the Ruined Church.

She jumps towards you in a movement that feels too unnatural. And you swear that the shape underneath her cloak was utterly monstrous, if only for an instant, as she lunged in your direction.

But you can't care about those trifling details. Because on the next moment she is already upon you. Heavy and white and reeking of old blood and meat and regrets. Before you have time to understand what is happening, a horribly strong hoof made out of dry bones slams you against the ground, pinning you in place. And you feel nothing but horror as the sharp jaws of her skull-head close around you like a guillotine.

There is pain. You think there is pain. You think something is being taken from you, like a wedding dress might be torn away from a bride. You think you are less than you were before as her sharp teeth tear at you. You think you howl in pain or panic.

You are not really sure. Given your situation, a shriek of panic would sound exactly the same as a pained yell.

But much, much more importantly. As soon as Mareinette bites that something away from you, she begins to thrash on the floor. Openly chewing at the soul-shaped thing she just took from you. Wolfing down on it like a rabid predator that was moments away from dying of starvation.

And she focuses so completely on consuming what she just took from you, that she doesn't even realize she took her hoof away from your chest. She doesn't even realize she lost her grip on you.

You run away. Limping from the loss of a limb that wasn't any of your legs. Leaving behind a dripping trail of red soul-stuff from whatever you just lost.

Better to lose that than your truer, more precious blood.



"[GRAIL]!!!"



You hear her thirst-maddened cry but a few seconds later.

And this time, tears begin to stream down your face as you run.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Velvet Covers' current health: 2/2 + 1/2 Influence]

[Our Lady of Wires: ??/??]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Velvet – 10, Mareinette – 15]

[Velvet Covers will be solely focusing on escaping alive]



[Velvet's first roll: 20 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 34]

[Mareinette's first roll: 73 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 113]



[Overflow: Velvet – 10, Mareinette – 94]

[Velvet Covers' Influence is drained. -50 to Mareinette's overflow]

[Velvet Cover's Influence has been completely drained. It will no longer stand between her and Mareinette.]



[Velvet's second roll: 81 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 95]

[Mareinette's second roll: 40 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 80]



[Overflow: Velvet – 25, Mareinette – 44]



[Escape attempt]

[Velvet's roll: 19 + 9 (Martial) = 28]

[Mareinette's interrupt: 27 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 67]

[Failure]

You hear that howl, that promise, that makes the very walls of the Ruined Church shake. A promise to you, that you will become one with her. A promise to herself, that she will finally, finally, finally be slaked from her thirst.

You know her promises are all false. You know her tone is covered in madness.

But you still have no illusion that she is a fool.

To the point that you don't even try to hide. You just run. Because she probably knows this place better than you know your way around your own estate. And also because you understand your only chance to survive is to flee. Down to the Shattered Stairways, all the way to the Blank Plains. And who knows, the utter wrongness you feel from that monster of a mare-thing might mean you won't be safe even as a Blank Pony.

Because you somehow know, with a bone-deep certainty you can't explain, that the monstrous mare doesn't exactly follow the rules. And for all that her existence might be its own punishment, that still means she might as well be able to chase you even in the Winter-pall of the Blank Plains.

Still, you run. And you run. And you run.

And again, she reaches you almost without effort. You watch as the shadows of the corridor in front of you grow deeper and bloodier, and before you realize it you are staring up at the lustrous cloak that the monstrous horse wears.

Her heavy hoof, almost the size of your head, pins you down once again. Striking at the middle of your back and pushing you down like a bug.

Her jaws are around you right after that.

And this time you really feel pain. You feel the exposure of your last defenses being stripped away from you. You finally understand that she had been munching away from your Grail Influence, but only because it is now almost totally gone. And worse of all, you feel the scrape of her sharp teeth against your side, as she rips away your Grail-dress with all the hunger of a lustful criminal.

You don't even feel relief as she once again focuses her entire attention on wolfing down the part of your soul that she just stole. You just feel horror.

Because you know she will probably catch up to you again just as easily.

And you are nowhere near the end of the Ruined Church.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Velvet Covers' current health: 2/2 + 0/2 Influence]

[Our Lady of Wires: ??/??]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Velvet – 25, Mareinette – 44]

[Velvet Covers will be solely focusing on escaping alive]



[Velvet's first roll: 70 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 84]

[Mareinette's first roll: 86 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 126]



[Overflow: Velvet – 25, Mareinette – 86]

[Velvet Covers suffers ???. -50 to Mareinette's overflow]



[Velvet's second roll: 63 + 14 (Personal Combat) = 77]

[Mareinette's second roll: 39 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 79]



[Overflow: Velvet – 25, Mareinette – 38]



[Escape attempt]

[Velvet's roll: 86 + 9 (Martial) = 95]

[Mareinette's interrupt: 25 + 40 (Old and Terrible) = 65]

[Success]

You feel like a mouse. You feel like a pathetic, shivering rodent, running within the confines of a maze. Being chased not by a snake, and not by a hunting cat. But instead by a pony, who is watching you from above. An intelligence beyond your understanding that is for some reason bent on tormenting you.

That is how you feel as you run through the claustrophobic confines of the Ruined Church. As you cry, gasp and run while trying to retrace your steps.

But you know it will be to no avail.

You know this is where you will die.

And true to her promise, Mareinette once again all but materializes next to you. Exploding out of a closed door, spraying splinters of wood everywhere, with all the voracity of a rabid boar.

She doesn't even pin you down this time. She just lunges at your midsection. Her enormous skull-jaw closing around your entire thorax with ease.

You barely have the breath in you to shout in agony, as her very real teeth sink into the stuff of your dream-body.

And this time, she draws blood.

Her jaws are around you only for a moment. Because on the next, thanks to her maddened shaking, she throws you away.

You can see her, in the corner of your vision. Choking on the blood she just gulped down. Scraping and rolling and dragging herself on the floor where splashes of your blood fell. Competing with the marble Ruined Church's floor to see who will drink more of it first.

You think you see a tongue-like appendage rolling out of her dry mouth. But you are not sure, because you see all of that only from the corner of your vision.

You are much more focused on running away. Praying that the taste of real blood will keep her at bay. At least for longer than munching down on your Grail Influence did.

You focus on running. And you run, and you run, and you run.

And every time your galloping hoofs approach a corner, you die a little bit inside. Every time you run by a door, you are sure this will be it. You are sure that this time she will burst out from the wet shadows and devour you for good.

But that moment… never comes.



You leave the Ruined Church. And you go down, and down, and down. Until you reach the Woods and the Crossroads and the empty spaces in between its stony paths.

You run until you Wake.



You wake up the same way you went to sleep. On your bed, covered by your blankets, surrounded by the soft cushion of your pillows.

You wake up the same way you went to sleep. Except that this time you are shivering.

Because you remember what you saw.

And you remember what you felt.

And you remember how you bled.

But the worst part is that…

The worst part is that you somehow understand. The same way that you had the knowledge of churches presented to your brain, as you entered the main hall of the Ruined Church, you now also understand something else. Somehow, this deep and intimate part of you just knows that...

That what just happened was nothing but a conversation. You had nothing but a conversation with Mareinette.

And everything that happened to you just now...? It was just that. It was a dream-expression of her thirst. A enactment of something that she can't help but do, magnified by her presence in a place that couldn't help but become like her after she claimed it.

The worst part is exactly that. The fact that you understand that you... just had a nightmare. That you just shared a nightmare. But you were sharing it with a creature that is so much larger and older and greater than you are, that even that nightmare was horrible beyond understanding. You understand that you stepped into a place that belongs to something higher, so you had no choice but to partake in the effects of its existence. For the Ruined Church belongs to her the same way that an abandoned house belongs to a rat. But still, even if Mareinette is but an invading rat, you realize you might as well but just an ant.

And of course, given how this was a nightmare from the Mansus, it was definitely real.

But still, you had nothing but a conversation.

And you are left with the lingering impression that… that she even liked you. That she liked you. Or your blood. Or perhaps there is no appreciable difference between the two. Not for her, at least.

And as surely as she drooled when she first saw you, you somehow know that she is absolutely sure that she will meet you once again.

One way or the other.

You understand all of that, as soon as you open your eyes and wake up shivering.



And you just... lay there. You just lay on your bed, for a very long time.



You only try to move after the sun rises. And only then you finally realize what else happened to you.

Because a wound taken in the Mansus is as real as any other. The only difference is that it can also hurt in places where a knife cannot.

So, as you try to move, you finally realize that Mareinette also…


[] Mareinette drunk deeply from your body, and you can feel how dry it is now. Or water. Of blood. Of the ability to bear fruit. You can barely muster the strength to move from your bed. (Receive one wound)

[] Mareinette drunk deeply from your soul, and you can feel how dry it is now. Of colors. Of joy. Of the succulence you had been gathering through such effort. You can barely muster the will to move on. (Lose three scraps of Grail Lore)





You have met Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires.

Regardless of your decision, your Influence has degraded from "An Incarnadescence" (+40) to "An Urgency of Appetite" (+20). It will still completely vanish at the end of Turn 16.

You have learned the Rite of Raucous Birth.

Your blood bears all the Nine Tastes, and it is like a wine that is at the same time nostalgic and novel. Mareinette has taken an interest in your blood, and consequently in you. She might be willing to barter for it, in the future. Velvet Covers will receive an additional "+20 (Interest)" bonus to perform the Rite of Raucous Birth.

It is impossible to cross the Ruined Church, and reach higher in the Mansus, as long as Mareinette remains there. Summoning her into the Wake is a way to remove her from there.

Six hours moratorium.