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Moonlit CYOA

By Mirta
Created: 2023-02-12 01:40:58
Updated: 2025-05-08 18:12:20
Expiry: Never
cyoa

  1. >Your mirror image stared back at you from a polished granite floor.
  2. >You waved a hoof in front of your face.
  3. >The reflection mirrored your move.
  4. >You're fairly certain that mirrors weren't supposed to work in dreams.
  5. >You were also fairly certain that you were asleep since the last thing you remembered was crawling into bed after a night shift and marveling how smooth and warm your sheets and covers were.
  6. >But as seconds ticked on, you began doubting that.
  7. >The moonlit corridor you found yourself in was too detailed for a dream, with its mirror polished floors, engraved pillars, and the row of doors lining the wall that wasn't mostly stained glass windows.
  8. >It was something you'd only seen in pictures of Canterlot Castle.
  9.  
  10. >You smashed your hoof on the floor as a final confirmation.
  11. >The loud bang echoed up and down the corridor as you shook the stinging pain out of your leg.
  12. “Ow.”
  13. >Definitely not asleep.
  14. >Probably.
  15. >You wished you knew.
  16. >You also wished life was easier and getting an answer didn't raise more and harder questions.
  17. >Like 'How did I end up here?' or 'What in Equestria is going on?'.
  18. >There was also a shiver going down your spine as how your ears swiveled all around, trying to make sense of the sound of hoofsteps coming from somewhere.
  19. >Perhaps making a very loud noise wasn't the best of ideas.
  20.  
  21. >Your ears perk up as you focus on one direction.
  22. >There's at least two sets of hooves coming your way, accompanied by the jingle of metal.
  23. >Guards, if you had to guess.
  24. >Whether that was a good thing or not depended on where you were.
  25. >You slink into the shadow between two windows and focus on the other direction.
  26. >Heavy steps of shod hooves.
  27. >Only one set.
  28. >Further away than the pair(?) of guards(?).
  29. >Apart that, there were the stained glass windows and the doors.
  30. >You could smash a window and leap through, but you had no idea what was out there – apart the moon somewhere high up in the sky.
  31. >The windows were also pieces of art depicting scenes of Equestria's past and you really didn't want to destroy one.
  32. >Finally, there were the doors.
  33. >They were all identical, with locks and very polished gold doorknobs.
  34. >And hopefully unlocked.
  35.  
  36. >You were just about to make for one of the doors when two ponies rounded a corner at the end of the corridor.
  37. >They should've been further away and-!
  38. >Two... ponies?
  39. >They were the size and shape of ponies, moved like ponies, and their hoofsteps sounded like those of ponies.
  40. >But, they looked nothing like ponies.
  41. >What you saw was two blotches of darkness that felt like blind spots in your vision.
  42. >Fuzzy blackness in the shape of a pony.
  43. >Whatever they were, they hadn't noticed you yet as you were hidden in the shadow between two beams of moonlight.
  44. >But, it was only a matter of time before they would as there was nothing to hide behind.
  45. >You gulped down a bit of saliva and hoped they wouldn't hear your racing heart.
  46.  
  47. []Chekku dooru
  48.  
  49. >You ears perked up once more as you listened closely to the approaching pair.
  50. >You heard their hooves and a light jingle of metal, but nothing else from that direction.
  51. >The pair of heavy, shod hooves was getting closer in the other direction.
  52. >Hiding behind one of the pillars felt like a bad idea and that was the best you had.
  53. >Glancing at the closest door, you figured it was your best bet.
  54. >You set a rear hoof on the wall behind you, tried to push everything else out of your mind, and bolted for the door.
  55. >The starting boost from the wall helped your hooves not slip on the rock hard, mirror polished floor, but it didn't make it any less noisy.
  56. >Your hoofsteps thundered in the quiet corridor as you zipped across.
  57.  
  58. >Or so it felt to you.
  59. >Either way, you skidded to a stop in front of the door and pulled on the knob.
  60. >The door swung open, revealing a bedroom.
  61. >One that nopony'd been in for quite a while.
  62. >It wasn't dusty, but the bed, the desk, and the chair in front of it were covered with white cloth.
  63. >There was a small window on the opposite wall, but otherwise the room was a dead end.
  64. >Apart that, there was only a large, fancy closet of engraved wood.
  65.  
  66. >You glanced down the corridor again.
  67. >The pair of guards(?) had stopped.
  68. >One of them was pointing a hoof at you and looking at the other.
  69. >They looked like they were talking, but you couldn't hear a thing apart the now galloping set of shod hooves rapidly approaching from the other direction.
  70.  
  71. []Geddin, try to lock or block the door, checkku winduwu
  72.  
  73. >You slipped into the room and pulled the door closed behind you.
  74. >The inside of the door was no different to the outside: just a doorknob and a keyhole.
  75. >A quick glance around the room didn't reveal a key and with three sets of hooves approaching you didn't have time for a more thorough check.
  76. >There could've been one in the desk drawers or in the closet.
  77. >You scampered to the window instead of checking those.
  78. >After a bit of fiddling, you found a latch that released the window.
  79. >It swung outwards as you pushed it.
  80. >A most peculiar sight awaited you outside.
  81. >Right below was a moat, deep enough that you wouldn't get out yourself after falling in.
  82. >Above was a spectacular night sky with far more stars than you'd ever seen, with even the milky river of light of the galaxy clearly visible.
  83. >But, the oddness was on the other side of the moat.
  84. >There was a thatch roofed quaint village house, like one from Ponyville, squeezed between a patch of untamed jungle and a high-rise apartment building from Manehattan.
  85. >You blinked, and could swear the trees in the jungle and the windows of the apartment building moved.
  86. >A sudden scraping sound from the door reminded you that you had no time to waste.
  87.  
  88. []The Closet calls
  89.  
  90. >You glanced down into the moat and the murky water at the bottom of it once again and shook your head.
  91. >Nope.
  92. >Lacking better options, you yanked the closet open, hoped you wouldn't knock a coat hanger off to clatter on the floor, and hopped in.
  93. >The doors, once you'd pulled them closed, had a tiny crack between them.
  94. >You peered out the best you could.
  95.  
  96. >They... walked through the door like it wasn't even there.
  97. >You could've sworn they were bigger now than they were in the moonlit corridor.
  98. >Their hoofsteps sounded like claps of thunder to you as one of them trotted to the window and the other strode to the bed.
  99. >Somewhere, in the back of your mind, you registered the sound of metal screeching on stone from somewhere very close.
  100. >But you were too caught up on the guard(?) who checked the bed now heading straight at you.
  101. >Time itself grew still as it got closer and closer, with each hoofstep echoing in your head.
  102. >You pulled your head back, propped yourself against the back wall, and lined up your rear hooves to give the closet door a solid kick.
  103.  
  104. >Slam!
  105. >The door out of the room slammed into a wall loud enough to make you twitch just as you were about to kick the closet's door into the approaching thing.
  106. >That'd make it confused!
  107. >You bucked with all your might.
  108. >A mighty crack of wood echoed in the room as the closet's door was torn off its hinges.
  109. >And sailed right through the being like it wasn't even there.
  110. >As did your hooves.
  111. >It felt like plunging your hooves into a bucket of ice water.
  112. >”Begone, fiend!”
  113. >Numbness spread upwards from your hooves.
  114. >It reached your head in a fraction of a second.
  115. >As your vision began fading into blackness, you saw a majestic dark alicorn with a mane of billowing stars lunge at the darkness with a sword of dark steel.
  116. >The last thing you saw was an arc of blue light.
  117.  
  118. >You lied on a soft mattress.
  119. >Your head was propped up against something firm.
  120. >Something warm caressed your cheek.
  121. >”Such scant little time we have.”
  122. >An alicorn, with a coat as black as the darkest night, a mane of twinkling blue, and cyan eyes with slit pupils lied beside you.
  123. >Not just beside you, but below you as well; your head rested on her flank.
  124. >”I wish we had more.”
  125. >Her lips curled into a smile, parting ever so slightly in the middle to reveal sharp fangs.
  126. >She leaned in as you drew breath, pushing her soft lips onto yours before you could utter a word.
  127.  
  128. >The next thing you knew is that you were staring at the moon.
  129. >You were lying on a blanket on a small balcony with silver railing around you.
  130. >A wide open glass door led to a luxurious bedroom.
  131. >You heard the steady crackle of a well kept fire and saw a bed with plush silk covers that had a large crescent moon embroidered on top of them.
  132. >After listening for a while you also heard the scribble of a quill on paper.
  133. >You shifted a little to see more.
  134. >”Ah.”
  135. >Wood scraped on stone as a chair was pushed back.
  136. >”You're awake.”
  137. >Princess Luna trod into her bedroom.
  138. >”That means you have a strong enough will to resist fading away. But, I have to ask. Who are you and how did you end up in the guest quarters?”
  139. >Her head tilted to the side as she arched a brow.
  140.  
  141. [](You) are the Kirin and know jack shit
  142.  
  143. >”Well.”
  144. >Luna's gaze glided from your horn all the way down to your hooves.
  145. >She'd had too many decades to practice showing the expression she wants to for you to guess at what she was thinking.
  146. >”A shame. I'd wished you could tell me what is going on, but it appears we are equally clueless. Still, I suppose I can tell you what little I do know of this place.”
  147. >The princess beckoned you to come inside.
  148. >”Come. You've definitely stabilized. Moonlight weakens them and helps fight fading. What are they, you ask?”
  149. >Luna shook her head.
  150. >”I would tell you if I knew.”
  151. >She held a hoof on the door handle as you pushed yourself off the blanket and onto your hooves.
  152. >Her lips twitched, revealing a hint of a smile.
  153. “Aren't you mad about my intrusion? And what do you mean with fading?”
  154. >You trotted into her bedroom.
  155. >It was smaller and simpler than you'd expect a monarch's room to be, with just the bed, a desk and a chair, and a fireplace in it.
  156. >That, and two doors leading somewhere.
  157. >”Mad?”
  158. >Luna had a surprised look on her as she pushed the door closed behind you.
  159. >It took a few seconds for her to answer.
  160. >”Had you faded out, you would've become a shadow creature much like your assailants were. I much prefer making friends to making foes. Speaking of which...”
  161. >Her horn lit up and one of the two doors that didn't lead to the balcony swung open.
  162. >Behind it was a small kitchen.
  163. >”...would you like some tea?”
  164.  
  165. >You blew at your tea, floated the cup to your lips, and took a sip.
  166. >It was absolutely top notch stuff: full of flavor and with a charming aftertaste that lingered forever.
  167. “I'm not the first one to show up? What happened to the others?”
  168. >Luna stirring her tea with a small spoon filled the intervening silence with quiet clinking.
  169. >”You are the fourth. The first two agreed that we best stick together and are out there looking for fresh produce. The third left. I do not believe he'll return with the terrain around the castle changing like it does – what is now a cottage and a jungle now might be a vast mountain range tomorrow.”
  170. >You glanced out of the window and past the balcony to see that the cottage and jungle, along with the high rise, were indeed still there.
  171. >”Well, I say tomorrow, but there are no days here. The sun never rises. I keep the moon in the sky because moonlight weakens the shadows. Sunlight should banish them back to the hole they crawled out of and perhaps even break whatever power holds Equestria like this. Or us here, whichever is the case.”
  172. >Luna drew another breath, only to stare at her cup in silence for a while.
  173. >”I dare not leave the castle myself in case my power is what keeps it here.”
  174. >She sucked her lower lip between her teeth, then let go of it and forced a smile.
  175. >An extremely convincing smile.
  176. >It would've fooled you had you not seen how she was before it.
  177. >”Now. I'd like to know whether you want to stay and help or search for a way out on your own. I will of course answer any questions you have the best I can should it help you decide.”
  178.  
  179. []I have many questions, Your Highness
  180.  
  181. >Luna rolled her eyes at your honorifics and glared at you for a second before even drawing breath.
  182. >"The others said they arrived much like you did, finding themselves here after falling asleep."
  183. >She sipped at her tea.
  184. >"But tell me, on what date did you end up here? What is the last day you remember?"
  185. >Her cup clinked as she set it down on its platter.
  186. >You found yourself squirming under the gaze of her blue eyes.
  187. "Um..."
  188. >You told her the date.
  189. >She blew a little bit of air out of her snout and nodded.
  190. >Her lips curled into a tired smile.
  191. >"Which is the exact same day I remember before waking up here. And for everypony I've asked so far."
  192. >She waved a hoof in the air and shook her head.
  193. >"Every time I go to sleep I hope I wake up, trod downstairs like usual, hug my sister, and have some of her overtly sweet pancakes for breakfast. I've woken up disappointed every time for the past three weeks now.”
  194. >For one vanishing moment, she looked very tired.
  195. >You weren't sure if it'd been real or just your imagination once the moment passed.
  196. “Thanks. I just wish it made more sense.”
  197. >This time, Luna's lips curled into a genuine, warm smile as she stared at you.
  198. >She reached out to cup your chin with a shod hoof and made you look up at her instead of into your cup.
  199. >”We are half awake and half in a dream, my floofy friend. Do not expect even half of a dream to make much sense.”
  200. >Princess Luna was...
  201. >A very charming pony, you had to admit, as you stared into her mesmerizing cyan eyes.
  202.  
  203. >The moment was interrupted by plodding hoofsteps and furious muttering from behind the door that led to neither the kitchen nor the balcony.
  204. >Wham!
  205. >Said door swung open and slammed into the wall, revealing two mares, one carrying the other on her back.
  206. >The one doing the carrying had a dark purple coat, a red mane styled into a mohawk, and wore a skintight suit and shoes armor on top of it.
  207. >But the most glaring things about her were how most of her horn had broken off and she had a huge scar over one eye.
  208. >”Luna! Your pet noble did it a- oh, I didn't know you had another pet.”
  209. >She had a deep, authoritative voice.
  210. >The other unicorn, on the dark one's back and completely limp, was the polar opposite.
  211. >A mare as well, but with a tall and slender build, a milky white coat, and a light pink mane with white stripes in it.
  212. >Her mane and tail were trimmed and styled just so, her coat was blemishless, and one of her hooves was as black as the night with the very tip of it the slightest bit translucent.
  213.  
  214. >”Tempest, meet Anon. Anon, meet Tempest.”
  215. >Luna nodded at the dark, broken-horned unicorn, then at you.
  216. >”I'd introduce Fleur as well, but it looks like she is in need of some aid. Speaking of which...”
  217. >The princess' teacup set itself down with a clink as the blue magic surrounding it faded away.
  218. >Her chair scraped the floor as she pushed it back and got on her hooves.
  219. >”...please excuse us for a moment. I have to make sure she doesn't fade any more than she already has.”
  220. >A blue magical aura wreathed the unconscious mare and lifted her off Tempest's back.
  221. >The door to the balcony clicked and swung open.
  222.  
  223. >You set your own cup down and hopped off your chair as Luna lifted who had to be Fleur into the balcony.
  224. >You weren't the most familiar with pony greetings, but remembered hearing of one thing so you stuck a hoof out at Tempest.
  225. “Hi there. Nice to meet you!”
  226. >Shaking hooves was a pony thing, or so you'd heard.
  227. >Tempest arched a brow and glanced at your cloven hoof.
  228. >Then at the scales on your back and the floof around your neck.
  229. >”Huh. Can't say I've seen one of your kind before.”
  230. >She lifted a front hoof out of its shoe and bumped yours with it.
  231. >”Kirin, right? I'd heard of you but I never thought you'd be quite so...”
  232. >You nodded at her as her gaze flitted from your face to your hooves to your horn and finally back to your face.
  233. >”...ambivalent. Sorry, but I have to know who I'm working with.”
  234. >She'd slipped past you to your side before you could react.
  235. >One of her shod hooves pulled on your rear hoof, forcing it up and out to the side.
  236. >A burning heat rushed to your face as she stuck her head under your hoof to get a look at what hung between it and the other hoof.
  237. “Eep.”
  238. >”So male Kirin do exist. I'll have to cash in on a bet.”
  239. >She let go of your hoof, but you were too tense for it to fall back down.
  240.  
  241. []Sure, but I would vote to give her a love tap and not an outright kick.
  242.  
  243. >You coiled your leg for a kick.
  244. >Tempest ducked and spun out of the way from where your kick would've landed before you could've hit her – had you tried to.
  245. >She didn't react as you hopped closer to her on three hooves, holding one in the air and ready to kick.
  246. >You did, however, notice her steal a glance – or two, or three – at your crotch.
  247. >Which meant that your kick did catch her off guard as she was too busy ogling and biting her lip to see it coming.
  248. >Not that it was much of a kick.
  249. >Just enough to snap her out of it and make her rub her cheek to ease the stinging.
  250. >”Okay. I deserved that one. Can you forgive me?”
  251. >You said nothing as you cast a judging glance at her and trotted towards the balcony where Luna and Fleur were.
  252. >You did, however, brush her cheek with the tip of your tail as you left.
  253. >She drew a sharp breath, but you didn't see how she reacted.
  254.  
  255. >Luna sat on the same blanket you laid on not long ago.
  256. >She'd set Fleur down in front of her and had stretched out the blackened hoof into direct moonlight.
  257. >Said hoof looked smaller and more translucent than you remembered it being.
  258. “Is that how it's supposed to work?”
  259. >The princess glanced at you.
  260. >”Yes. The shadow has to be purged before what it replaced can return.”
  261. >Luna stared at the unicorn for another second, then stood up and stepped off the blanket.
  262. >It flapped in the air as a flash of blue magic pulled it to cover Fleur from the withers down.
  263. >”She'll be fine in an hour or two. Meanwhile...”
  264. >The alicorn's shod hooves clopped on the stone of the balcony as she trod back in.
  265. >”...there's what these two were after. Tempest?”
  266. >”Huh?”
  267. >Tempest, who'd stared out of the window, lost in thought, shook her head.
  268. >”Oh, we found it but I had to leave it behind when she-”
  269. >She pointed an armored hoof at the balcony.
  270. >”-got too fancy – again – and I had to carry her back. It's just outside the gate. I'll go get it right away.”
  271. >She shook her head once again, glanced at you, and headed for the door.
  272.  
  273. [] Ask ALL the things!
  274.  
  275. >Your flood of questions brought a melancholic smile to Luna's lips.
  276. >She looked down at the floor between you.
  277. >”Something far too precious to risk losing keeps this whole tower safe, not just my personal quarters. The whole castle's protected by it, even if it doesn't keep the weaker shadows out.”
  278. >Her voice was quieter than usual.
  279. >After a second of silence, she looked back up and at Tempest, any sign of sadness gone.
  280. >”I will make her an amulet while you're go-”
  281. >”Him.”
  282. >Tempest's lips curled into a smug smile as she interjected.
  283. >The princess glanced at you, then at her, then at you again, and shook her head with a bewildered look on her face.
  284. >The look was gone as soon as it appeared and stayed for such a short instant it once again left you wondering whether you'd imagined it or not.
  285. >”I will make him an amulet while you're gone so don't let him get too far and keep him safe. You are a better teacher than I am so I'll let you tell him what you know instead of confusing him myself.”
  286. >Luna's horn flashed in blue as the door to the corridor swung open.
  287.  
  288. >Less of a corridor and more of a very tall and narrow spiral staircase, as it turned out.
  289. >Tempest thudded her shod hoof into one of the two doors on the floor below.
  290. >”Fleur and I sleep here. I think these were the quarters of Luna's closest servants.”
  291. >She was quieter than you thought was possible, scaling down the stairs with steelshod hooves.
  292. >”We'll have to get you something to sleep on. Or maybe it'll be taken care of when we return. She's actually pretty good at organizing things and ponies. Runs in the family or something.”
  293. >Your tail swished from wall to wall as you stepped as light as you could.
  294. >Which, given your cloven hooves, was even lighter and quieter than Tempest.
  295. “So, about the shadows. Luna fought off the two that found me. How do we fight them? And what did Fleur do?”
  296. >The armored mare in front of you stopped mid-step for just long enough to glance back at you.
  297. >”We don't fight them. We avoid them. If we can't, we hide. If we can't hide, we run. If we can't run either, we lure them into moonlight and hope we hit whatever scrap of solid shadow is in them on the first try.”
  298. >Wham!
  299. >You flinched as a steelshod hoof slammed into the wall right in front of your face.
  300. >Tempest – as tall as you despite being on the step below you – stuck her face right up to yours so your snoots almost touched.
  301. >She had a dead serious look on her and tiny sparks of magic arced around what was left of her horn.
  302. >”Never.”
  303. >Her voice, despite being but a whisper, resounded in your ears.
  304. >”Ever. Try to take anything on in the dark.”
  305. >She narrowed her eyes and glared at you.
  306. >Your tail tucked itself safely between your rear legs as you gulped down a bit of saliva.
  307. “O-ok. I won't.”
  308. >Tempest held you there for what felt like an eternity before finally letting her hoof fall back down.
  309. >”Fleur thought she knew where to strike. Don't ever think you can do what Luna did. She is an eternal alicorn princess of Equestria who rules over the night. You, are not.”
  310.  
  311. >The two of you managed to reach the Grand Hall just a short courtyard from the main gate when you heard the all too familiar soft jingle of metal and a pair of hoofsteps coming your way.
  312. >Both your and Tempest's ears perked up as you heard it.
  313. >”Hush. They're here.”
  314. >She pulled you back into the corridor where you'd come from.
  315. >The hoofsteps were coming from the opposite end of the Hall – which, thanks to its grand size, was quite a ways away.
  316. >The Hall was a long rectangular room, much longer than it was wide.
  317. >To your left were the ludicrously tall double doors leading to the throne room.
  318. >To the right were the not quite as but still very tall doors to the main gate.
  319. >A very plush and grand red carpet ran the entire length of the hall from the throne room to the entrance.
  320. >The carpet was lined with intricate and lifelike statues of ponies.
  321. >The only two you recognized were Luna and Celestia right by the throne room doors.
  322. >All the statues stood on pedestals and had very official looking stiff poses – apart Celestia's, which had a playful smile on its lips and was lying down on its side with one wing spread.
  323. >In addition to a row of statues on both sides of the carpet, there were also a row of pillars supporting the ceiling on each side, with the statues placed between the pillars.
  324. >Intricate stained glass windows lined the top edges of the walls to let some light in.
  325. >Not the most functional layout, but it was an impressive sight to behold.
  326.  
  327. []Stay quiet, stay hidden, follow her lead.
  328.  
  329. >You reversed further back into the darkness of the corridor and hid behind Tempest.
  330. >Which was quite easy considering how you were the size of a pony mare while Tempest was a fair bit larger than average.
  331. >”So you have half a brain. Good.”
  332. >She kept her voice down to a whisper as she scanned the Hall.
  333. >Her ears stood upright and swiveled from side to side as she tried to pin where the hoofsteps were coming from.
  334. >”Let's see where they're going before making our move. We'll be fine here unless they come straight at us – they can't see very well.”
  335. >She leaned into the wall next to her, blending into the shadows.
  336. >You followed her example.
  337.  
  338. >Two blobs of darkness in the shape of ponies walked out of the corridor opposite to you.
  339. >Tempest tensed up as she watched them head to the center of the room.
  340. >You backed up a few steps, but she remained still.
  341. >Their hoofsteps turned into soft thumps as they reached the carpet.
  342. >And turned towards the throne room.
  343. >Tempest waited for them to get some distance, then zipped to the closest statue.
  344. >You tread back to the end of the corridor, glanced at the pair of shadows, and followed her.
  345. >Both of you peeked out from behind the pedestal.
  346. >The pair hadn't noticed you and was still headed for the very tall doors.
  347. >You glanced at each other.
  348. >She nodded at the doors to the main gate.
  349.  
  350. >You never heard the ridiculously tall doors open so you assumed the two voids passed right through them like you'd seen them do before.
  351. >If there was something solid in them, it definitely didn't stop them from phasing through solid wood.
  352. >You made a mental note to ask about it later as you and Tempest reached the doors at the opposite end of the Hall.
  353. >She set a hoof on one door and gave it a push.
  354. >It clicked and crept open with a very quiet groan.
  355. >Both of you peeked out.
  356. >The main gate was a good five second's dash away.
  357. >A cobbled road led to it, lined by bushes trimmed into shapes of ponies.
  358. >Stone walls surrounded the pathway with their crenellations casting shadows on the path.
  359. >Right outside the gate, on the drawbridge and in the moonlight, lied a pile of small brown sacks.
  360. >And a lone shadow guard(?) looking(?) at it.
  361. >Tempest turned to look at you.
  362. >”Well now. Looks easy enough for even you. Any ideas?”
  363.  
  364. [] Throw a rock to draw it away or something
  365.  
  366. >You nodded at Tempest.
  367. >She took a step back and both nodded and pointed a hoof at the door.
  368. >You pushed it open just enough to slip through.
  369. >On the other side, you zipped to the bushes and hid behind one.
  370. >The leafy pegasus had a surprising amount of detail to it, considering it was a plant.
  371. >Pony magic at play, no doubt.
  372. >You were pleased to discover that there was enough space between the bushes and the wall for you to squeeze through.
  373. >It was a tight fit, with some leaves and branches brushing your barrel, but your hooves were far quieter on the grass than they would've been on the cobbles.
  374. >A large, green and leafy earth pony stallion provided you cover as you took a peek at the shadow.
  375. >It was still staring at the pile of bags while glancing around.
  376. >A slight rustle from behind made you jerk as your heart skipped a beat.
  377. >”So far so good.”
  378. >Tempest had followed your example and gave you a reassuring pat on your flank.
  379.  
  380. >There were pebbles at your hooves.
  381. >Those gave you an idea.
  382. >You slipped by the earth pony bush and lit up your horn to float up a rock.
  383. >It flew in a high arc, over the gate and out of sight.
  384. >And splashed into the moat.
  385. >The guard snapped into attention and dashed off in the sound's direction.
  386. >You took your chance and levitated one of the bags.
  387. >It was heavier than it looked, but you managed to get it to you.
  388. >Just in time before the shadow returned.
  389. >One down, four to go.
  390. >”Good going. What's the next step?”
  391. >You flinched as Tempest was right behind you again.
  392. >She gave you another pat on the flank.
  393.  
  394. []Do you think the same rock trick is going to work another four times?
  395. []NTA but I say ask Tempest.
  396.  
  397. >You turned to look at the mare behind you.
  398. “You think I could do that another four times?”
  399. >Tempest shook her head.
  400. >”Maybe one more time. They're not that dumb.”
  401. >Your brow furrowed as you peered through the bush – unicorn mare – that you were hiding behind.
  402. >It was a shame you could see so little through the gate.
  403. >There was an open grassy area and then a treeline way further than you could throw.
  404. >You figured you'd try your luck again and chucked a pebble over the wall, roughly in the same direction as the first one.
  405. >It landed with a rustle and a thump.
  406. >The shadow looked at where the sound came from, glanced at the bags, then dashed off once more.
  407. >Tempest sprung into action.
  408. >”Load me up.”
  409. >She leaped from behind the bush and dashed to the bags.
  410. >You did as told.
  411. >Your glimmering aura enveloped a bag, lifted it off the ground, and let it fall onto her back with a quiet thump.
  412. >It felt excruciatingly slow as she kept glancing in the guard's direction and you floated another bag onto her.
  413.  
  414. >”Time's up!”
  415. >Tempest rocketed off as soon as the third bag landed on her back.
  416. >Her shod hooves struck sparks off the cobbles and filled the courtyard with thundering noise as she took to a full gallop.
  417. >Her horn sparked with magic.
  418. >She had enough control over it to yank the doors open.
  419. >A lot quieter but almost as fast came the shadow behind her.
  420. >Its armor clinked and jingled as it too galloped through the courtyard behind Tempest.
  421. >The thunder of metal shoes on cobble turned into hard thumps of shoes on carpet, then into increasingly distant clatter of steel on polished granite.
  422.  
  423. >Silence took over soon after, leaving you alone behind the bushes with a bag next to you and one on the drawbridge.
  424. >You lit up your horn and floated the last bag to you and onto your back.
  425. >Heavy.
  426. >Tempest had to be far stronger than she looked.
  427. >You floated the second bag onto the first one, wiggled your body to make whatever was in the settle, and glanced around yourself.
  428. >There was no way you could run and not drop the bags, but they weren't too heavy to carry.
  429. >You sneaked to the doors and peeked in.
  430. >The Hall was deserted.
  431. >Only thing you could hear was the now very distant sound of shod hooves pounding the stone floors.
  432. >That, you figured, meant Tempest was just fine.
  433.  
  434. >You slipped into the Hall and pulled the doors closed behind you.
  435. >They shut with a quiet click.
  436. >The click turned into hoofsteps and a soft jingle of metal.
  437. >Those came from the direction of the throne room.
  438. >You glanced around yourself, saw a statue nearby, and zipped behind its pedestal to hide.
  439. >A pair of shadows trotted right through the throne room doors and into the Hall.
  440. >If those were the same pair you saw on your way out, how come they hadn't heard Tempest's less than stealthy approach?
  441. >You shook your head.
  442. >That was a question for later.
  443.  
  444. []Wait till the shadows are gone, then retrace the same route we took back to Luna.
  445.  
  446. >You skulked behind the pedestal, sneaking a peek at the pair every few seconds.
  447. >They looked to be in no rush as they trod to the very center of the room before turning towards the corridor they originally(?) came from – the only one you didn't know anything about.
  448. >It led away from Luna's tower, and the princess said something about a power keeping her tower safe with a lesser effect on the rest of the castle.
  449. >Was it the same for the whole castle, or did the power fade with distance?
  450. >You listened to the jingle of chain armor and the clip-clop of hooves on stone grow quieter as the pair headed down the corridor.
  451. >Another question for later.
  452. >You perked up your ears and swiveled them all around, but couldn't hear anything else.
  453. >Even the clamor of Tempest's hooves was gone.
  454. >Hopefully because she'd reached her goal.
  455. >That you also had to reach, with a shadow somewhere between you and it.
  456.  
  457. >The silence made you nervous as you crossed the hall.
  458. >Your cloven hooves did little to break it, despite the stone floor.
  459. >Lacking anything to process, your brain filled itself with terrible scenes of what could've happened to Tempest.
  460. >Such as you running into a shade in her shape.
  461. >Or perhaps even worse, returning to the Princess to find out you were the first one back.
  462. >You shook your head to rid it of the thoughts.
  463. >At the mouth of the corridor, you paused to listen once more.
  464. >Silence.
  465. >It felt like it pressed on your ears.
  466. >But, rather silence than the jingle of metal.
  467. >You squirmed to make the bags settle again and continued down the corridor.
  468. >The dense burlap chafed on your back in a way you really didn't like.
  469. >You'd no doubt find dust and tiny bits of string between and under your scales.
  470.  
  471. >The route to Luna's quarters was neither long nor complex.
  472. >It was just to the end of the corridor from the Hall, through a courtyard, and down another corridor that soon turned into stairs.
  473. >You were about to reach the end of the first corridor when you heard... something and slowed your steps.
  474. >A faint jingle of metal and soft hoofsteps came from ahead, but it wasn't the only thing.
  475. >You could've sworn you also heard muffled speech.
  476.  
  477. >You sneaked up to the mouth of the corridor and peeked into the moonlit courtyard.
  478. >It wasn't a big place, with a flower arrangement in the middle that looked like a crescent moon, covered, paved walkways around the edges, and a few stone benches on the grass around the flowers.
  479. >A shade paced back and forth on the grass near the corridor that led to Luna's quarters.
  480. >The muffled speech didn't come from that direction, but from the opposite side of the courtyard.
  481. >There was a single closed door on the wall there.
  482. >You weren't close enough to make out any words, but it sounded like a mare and a stallion.
  483.  
  484. []Well, we can't get passed the shade yet, so we might as well sneak over to the door and eavesdrop.
  485.  
  486. >The shade looked preoccupied with its pacing and staring into the corridor.
  487. >You'd only have a low stone fence with holes in it for cover, but the sounds were too intriguing for you to ignore.
  488. >New friends, perhaps?
  489. >Staying out of the light, you kept your steps light as you sneaked on the paved pathway surrounding the courtyard.
  490. >The bags on your back were quiet, if not comfortable.
  491.  
  492. >You made it to the door without the shade noticing.
  493. >Or if it did notice, it didn't care.
  494. >The sounds were still to muffled for you to make out any words, so you pressed your ear onto the door.
  495. >There was nothing to hear for a moment.
  496. >”I know. It's getting worse.”
  497. >A stallion's voice.
  498. >”Yeah. It's something new every day. Should we even call them days? The sun never sets.”
  499. >A mare responded.
  500. >You nearly fell off your hooves.
  501. >What in Equestria?
  502. >That made no sense.
  503. >You had to know more, so you glanced back at the shadow.
  504. >Those things never spoke.
  505. >You just had to know.
  506. >A light tug of the handle was enough to open the door so you could slip inside.
  507.  
  508. >”Did you hear that?”
  509. >A flash of your magic pushed the door closed behind you.
  510. >”Yeah. Sounded like the door opened.”
  511. >You found yourself in what looked like an apartment.
  512. >Rain coats hung off hooks on the wall beside you and there was a worn rug under your hooves.
  513. >But you had little time to study the living room you were in as two sets of hooves approached.
  514. >All you had time for was to hide behind the closest thing – a recliner.
  515. >”Huh. Nothing.”
  516. >A peek revealed two... shadows?
  517. >They were the size and shape of ponies, but they weren't the same as the one outside – that one was a solid blob of darkness you couldn't see through at all.
  518. >These two were like normal shadows, like those cast by sunlight: a bit darker than the surroundings.
  519.  
  520. []Slowly poke our head out: "Umm... Hello? Please don't be alarmed, I just want to talk."
  521.  
  522. >”Did you hear that?”
  523. >Both of them perked up their ears.
  524. >The stallion glanced at the mare, then turned to stare at you.
  525. >His brow furrowed.
  526. >”I heard something but I have no idea what.”
  527. >He did not, however, mention seeing anything.
  528. “Hello? Can you hear me?”
  529. >You were as loud as you dared to be without alerting the shade outside.
  530. >”That's definitely something.”
  531. >The mare trod closer.
  532. >You waved a hoof at her.
  533. >She didn't react at all.
  534. “Hi. I'm right here, want to talk?”
  535. >”I don't kn... It's so qu... Can't...”
  536. >Her voice faded out as she was speaking.
  537. >As did her form.
  538. >A few seconds later you were staring at a deserted, dead silent apartment.
  539. >You hopped out from behind the recliner and took a look around.
  540. >It was a luxurious apartment, with plush exotic carpets that felt nice under your hooves and the kitchen had actual silverware in it.
  541. >But, there was no sign of anypony there.
  542.  
  543. >You pulled the door open and peeked outside.
  544. >The courtyard had no sign of the shade.
  545. >A quick shove made the door swing open.
  546. >You left the apartment with one last look and a second spent listening.
  547. >Silence.
  548. >A flash of magic pushed the door closed as you zipped across the courtyard and into the corridor to Luna's tower.
  549.  
  550. >A sense of warmth and security filled you as you passed the spot where you saw the shade pacing back and forth.
  551. >It felt like walking next to a stone wall in the evening when it'd been heated up by the sun during the day.
  552. >It was that kind of a soothing warmth.
  553. >Giving it some thought, you surmised it'd always been there but you only noticed it now that you'd left and come back.
  554.  
  555. >When you reached the top of the stairs, you only wanted to get the bags off your back.
  556. >They'd been fine down on level ground, but climbing made them chafe and pull on your scales in a way you really didn't like.
  557. >You banged a hoof on the door before pushing it open.
  558. >A fragrant scent of floral tea filled your nostrils as you trotted in.
  559. >Tempest peeked out of the kitchen as you let the bags slide off your back and thump on the floor.
  560. >”What took you so long. I was starting to get worried.”
  561. >She sounded impatient, but you thought you saw a look of relief flicker on her face.
  562. >”You should trust your allies, Tempest.”
  563. >Luna's voice came from somewhere out of sight in the kitchen.
  564. >You glanced at the balcony and saw Fleur there, in the same position but with her hoof looking as immaculate white as the rest of her.
  565.  
  566. [] Get a cup. Discuss nice shadows talking about the world of eternal day. Do Luna and Tempest have any long-term strategy, or they just wait for something good to happen?
  567. [] And it's about time we ask what's actually in these heavy sacks as well.
  568. [] The shadow that chased you was waiting in front of the door for a bit.
  569.  
  570. “I was held up by the thing that followed you.”
  571. >You glanced around the room to see if there was a brush of some sort to get all the dust and bits of string out of your scales.
  572. >There was one.
  573. >A very fancy looking silver hairbrush, with a handle that was shaped like a diving alicorn.
  574. >Its backside was a very dark blue and had a crescent moon of inset white jewels on it.
  575. >You dared not touch something that fancy.
  576.  
  577. >You pointed a hoof at the sacks down on the floor next to you.
  578. “So what's in these anyways?”
  579. >Tempest's lips curled into a smile as she trotted out of the kitchen.
  580. >”Flour. A mare's gotta eat and bread stays fresh for only so long. This'll last us a good while and doesn't go bad.”
  581. >She trod right up to you, looked down at one of the bags, bit her lip, and focused.
  582. >Sparks of magic arced out of the stub of her horn as a bag rose into the air, wobbling and tumbling.
  583. >She hopped under the bag and let her magic fade.
  584. >The bag thumped onto her back.
  585. >The focused look on her turned into one of triumph.
  586. >You lit up your horn and floated one bag beside you as you followed her into the kitchen.
  587.  
  588. >Luna had set four cups on the table and was looking into a cupboard when you got in.
  589. >The cupboard was full of various kinds of teas on one shelf and coffees on another.
  590. >She beamed a smile at you and pointed a hoof at a narrow door on the far wall.
  591. >”You can put them in there. I set one for Fleur too as she should be waking up any moment now.”
  592. >It wasn't too amazing of a kitchen.
  593. >A stove and an oven, a tap and a sink, and a fridge.
  594. >Some table space to prepare foods in, a few cupboards to store ingredients in, and the kitchen table along with four chairs.
  595. >All very fancy, with just about every available surface carved, gilded, polished, or otherwise decorated
  596. >And top quality of course.
  597. >But with little signs of wear on any of it – apart a teapot on the stove and the cups on the table which all looked well worn in with ingrained discolorations from past drinks.
  598.  
  599. >Luna's horn flashed with magic and the narrow door swung open to reveal a stocked pantry.
  600. >With railings for hanging clothes off of in it, complete with coat and dress hangers but sans any coats or dresses.
  601. >There were a few fancy hats on the top shelf, though.
  602. >”Don't mind the clothes. I'll get more whether I want to or not once all this is done with.”
  603. >You waited for Tempest to drop off her bag before adding yours on top of the pile.
  604. >The sound of tea being poured into cups filled the room before she reversed out of the tiny room.
  605. >Multiple chairs scraped the floor and you wheeled around to find the princess pointing at pulled back chairs.
  606. >You needed no further encouragement.
  607.  
  608. >The tea was truly excellent, with a bold yet subdued flavors of mint and jasmine in addition to that of tea leaves.
  609. “Have you ever seen or heard a different kind of shadow? I saw two that were translucent and spoke of a world of eternal day.”
  610. >Luna's cup stopped halfway to her lips.
  611. >She turned to stare at you.
  612. >”Near one of those dark fiends?”
  613. >The cup, held in her magic, rose to her lips and she took a sip.
  614. >You nodded.
  615. “Yeah. I ran into those while one of the darker kind blocked my way here.”
  616. >The princess set her cup down and flashed a smile.
  617. >”Pay little heed to what happens around those abominations. The dream is thin around them and echoes from the other side can get through.”
  618. >She let out a tired sigh and looked down at the cup in front of her.
  619. >”I wished not to horrify you with the full truth, but it's better you know all than try to guess at some.”
  620. >She squeezed her eyelids shut and remained still and silent for a moment.
  621. >”It matters not how or who, but somepony had access to terrible forbidden magic and attempted to rip all of Equestria apart and replace it with their dream version of it. It is a spell even I would not dare attempt not only because it would be an unthinkable thing to do even when successful, but because I doubt even I or my sister would manage a spell that powerful.”
  622. >Luna blew some air out of her nostrils to produce a 'hmph'.
  623. >She looked dead tired all of a sudden.
  624. >”Needless to say, the spell failed. It ripped Equestria in half and fizzled out, probably due to the caster running out of spell power and life force to maintain the spell. At that point, instead of joining back together, the halves of reality merged with the dream realm. I know not why that happened, but it did and now there are two realms, both half real and half dream.”
  625. >The princess glanced at Tempest.
  626. >”Can I trust him?”
  627. >The unicorn shrugged and nodded.
  628. >Luna turned to stare at you.
  629. >Her cyan eyes pierced yours and, as it felt like, your soul as well.
  630. >”Can I trust you? With my dearest, most precious thing and secret?”
  631.  
  632. [] Nod resolutely. "You can trust me, Princess. I won't let you down."
  633. [] If there is any chance that bits and pieces of this pony's perfect dream realm still linger around, then "who" does matter. What kind of a pony it was?
  634.  
  635. >Luna glared at you for a moment longer, studying your face.
  636. >”You need a few more decades of acting classes before you can fool me.”
  637. >Her lips curled into a smile and she reached over the table to boop you on the snoot.
  638. >”I decided to trust you earlier, when you were eager to help us. I'll show you when we're done with tea.”
  639. >You were taken aback by the sudden touch of metal on your snootle and lost your train of thought.
  640. >As a result, you stared dumbfounded at Luna for a few seconds.
  641. >Tempest, you noticed, hid a snicker by sipping at her tea.
  642. “Uh. So about whoever cast the spell. If there is any chance that bits and pieces of this pony's perfect dream realm still linger around, then "who" does matter. What kind of a pony it was?”
  643. >You sipped at your tea and found the taste calmed your nerves.
  644. >Luna shook her head waved the same hoof she booped you with in the air.
  645. >”Whoever it was must have perished in the attempt. Their dream died with them. It no longer exists.”
  646. >She blew into her cup before downing its contents in one big gulp.
  647. >”I know not who it was either way. I felt it happen when I was in the dream world, and then I was here before I could even react.”
  648. >You followed her example and downed your remaining tea.
  649. “I see.”
  650. >Your chairs scraped the floor as you pushed them back and hopped off.
  651. >Glancing at Tempest, you saw her in no rush as she took a leisure sip at her drink.
  652. >”I've seen what there is to see. Go ahead, I'll watch over Fleur and give her an earful when she wakes up.”
  653. >Luna rolled her eyes and threw her a disapproving glance, but said nothing as she trotted out of the kitchen.
  654.  
  655. >The princess led you into the staircase and down one floor.
  656. >There were two doors there: one that Tempest said was where she and Fleur slept, and another that you had no clue about.
  657. >Luna bowed her head and her horn lit up with a bright white glow.
  658. >She faced the door you knew nothing about and stuck her horn into its keyhole.
  659. >The lock clicked, and she pushed the door open to reveal a small bedroom.
  660. >There was a single small window through which moonlight shone in, a desk and a stool, a chest of drawers, and a cabinet.
  661. >And the bed, of course.
  662. >In which slept a pure white alicorn with a mane of billowing rainbow colors.
  663. >Luna pushed you inside before you could say anything, followed behind you, and flicked the door closed with a flash of her magic.
  664. >The corners of her mouth drooped and you noticed a glimmer of wetness in the corners of her eyes.
  665. >”Sister! We have a new friend! Would you like to meet him?”
  666. >Her voice was cheery, too much so.
  667. >Luna trod to her sibling, placed a hoof on her withers, and shook her gently.
  668. >To no avail.
  669. >”Sister! Celestia! Wake up!”
  670. >You winced at how loud the princess' voice was.
  671. >The elder sister did not react.
  672. >Her barrel rose and fell gently with her breathing, but otherwise she did not move in the slightest.
  673. >Luna let out a deep sigh and planted her rear on the floor next to her sister's bed.
  674. >”I will find a way to wake you. That I promise.”
  675.  
  676.  
  677. []Aww, give her a hug
  678. []What is she doing here, one hoof in the dream and the other in the nighty realm?
  679. []Is she the one keeping the shadows at bay? But how?
  680. []Who else knows about Celestia? Does Fleur know? Does the fifth pony, the one who left Luna to try her luck elsewhere, know?
  681.  
  682. >You head was swimming with questions.
  683. >You pushed them aside for the time being, trod to Luna, wrapped a hoof around her withers, and pulled her in for a hug.
  684. >She was incredibly tense, and had an incredibly smooth coat.
  685. >You felt her shiver as you nuzzled the side of her neck.
  686. >Whether that was a good sign or a bad sign you did not know.
  687. >Perhaps ponies just weren't used to the touch of scales.
  688. >You were surprised when a slender black hoof wrapped itself around your neck and buried itself in all the fluff.
  689. >”Thank you.”
  690. >You held each other for a moment before the flood of questions you were holding back grew too large to contain.
  691. >Letting go of her, you drew a deep breath.
  692.  
  693. >”You have many questions but I'm afraid I have few answers.”
  694. >Luna stared at her sister's sleeping face in silence for a moment.
  695. >”The four of us here are the only ones who know of her existence. She does indeed keep the shadows at bay.”
  696. >She shook her head.
  697. >”The rest of your questions I cannot answer. I found her in her own quarters, slumped over her desk and fast asleep, and brought her here so I could better keep watch over her and make sure nothing happens to her. As for dreams?”
  698. >She turned to look at you as her lips curled into a sly smile.
  699. >”There are none. The realm of dreams is no more. We sleep, but do not dream. You may catch the occasional glimpse of the other half of dream-reality, but that is it.”
  700. >Luna plodded to the window and looked out at the moon, falling silent for almost a full minute.
  701. >You dared not interrupt her, choosing to watch her sister's sleeping form instead.
  702. >Princess Celestia looked peaceful, without any signs of distress.
  703. >If what Luna said about the lack of dreams was true, was she watching the other realm, or was she just out cold?
  704. >The moment was broken by some very muffled shouting coming from the floor above.
  705. >”Ah. Sounds like Fleur woke up.”
  706.  
  707. [] "Um... should we intervene, Princess?"
  708.  
  709. >”No, I trust Commander Tempest's judgment. If she believes Fleur deserves an earful, then she deserves one.”
  710. >Luna looked up at the ceiling as her ears perked up.
  711. >Silence took over.
  712. >”See? She's not angry. Just scared and shocked that Fleur took a risk.”
  713. >The princess pushed herself onto all fours and leaned in towards you.
  714. >”Tempest can come across as cold and rough, but she cares immensely for her friends. She fears nothing more than losing those close to her – again. Just don't tell her I know, nor that I told you. Best let her hold to her image.”
  715. >You nodded as she trod past you to the door.
  716. >It swung open with a short flash of blue from her horn.
  717. >”Now, I believe it's time to get you introduced. And to make some dinner.”
  718.  
  719. >Luna traced some shape on the door with her hoof after she pushed it closed behind you.
  720. >She muttered something as her horn lit up and the lock clicked.
  721. >She then leaned in and pressed her forehead against the wood
  722. >”Stay safe. I'll be right back.”
  723. >You had to look away for a moment.
  724.  
  725. >Fleur sat in the kitchen, with a steaming cup of fragrant tea on the table in front of her, as you trotted in behind Luna.
  726. >One of her brows arched as she looked at you, her gaze pausing for a split second on your horn and on your floofy chest.
  727. >”Why hello there. I was told we have a new friend.”
  728. >She hopped off her chair and trotted to you.
  729. >Her hooves were a bit louder than those of the others as they hit the stone floor since she had a bit of flair to her steps.
  730. >”Always a pleasure to meet some... one new. Fleur de Lis.”
  731. >She half-bowed, half-nodded at you and offered a hoof.
  732.  
  733. [] Gentle hoof touching, like a fist bump but softer
  734. [] "Anonymous. I'm pleased to meet you too. I take it you've never met a kirin before, Ms. de Lis?"
  735.  
  736. >You weren't quite sure what to do, but remembered Tempest bumping your hoof.
  737. >Imitating that, you lifted a hoof off the floor and pressed it against Fleur's.
  738. >Hers was warm and smooth, well cared for in every way.
  739. >You also noticed a faint floral scent coming from her.
  740. >You glanced at Tempest, hoping you'd done your greeting right.
  741. >Fleur cocked her head and arched a brow.
  742. >”I have indeed not. And I can tell you have not met too many ponies. You learned it from Commander Tempest, did you not?”
  743. >She rolled her eyes as you nodded.
  744. >”But of course. Commander, I would prefer if you did not teach him such brutish manners.”
  745. >The scolding tone of her voice mare Tempest's lips curl into a smug smile.
  746. >Fleur let out a sigh and shook her hoof and yours with it.
  747. >She then pulled her hoof back and set it back down on the floor as she turned to look at Luna.
  748. >”My apologies, Princess. The commander and I could not agree on whose plan was better. It was short sighted of me to reject the inferior plan when either would've been more than sufficient in the situation.”
  749. >”Inferior?”
  750. >Tempest interjected before Luna could get her mouth open.
  751. >”You're the one who wanted to – and did – rush in headfirst! That was...”
  752. >The princess lifted a hoof into the air.
  753. >You weren't sure what it was, but that simple gesture was enough make the two mares quiet down.
  754. >”That is enough. Let bygones be bygones. Now I believe you two-”
  755. >Luna fell silent for a moment as she cast long looks at both Tempest and Fleur.
  756. >”-should make us dinner. I'm sure you can come to an agreement on what to make to welcome our new friend.”
  757. >She trotted back into her bedroom as the two mares cast sheepish glances at each other.
  758. >”I will go see the spot where you saw some reflections from the other half, Anon. Would you like to join? Or will you rather stay and ensure those two make something palatable?”
  759.  
  760. [] We're the one that saw it, so it makes sense that we should be there.
  761. [] Wouldn't mind taking another crack at communicating with the other side. If the world really is split in twain then we might need coordination from both sides to heal it. The last time the two lighter shadows definitely heard us, albeit faintly, before fading away. Maybe with Luna's more powerful magic and her knowledge of dream realm we'll have more success this time.
  762.  
  763. “I trust these two lovely mares are capable cooks.”
  764. >You beamed a smile at Tempest and Fleur.
  765. “So let's go have a look at that apartment. What's it there for, anyways?”
  766. >Luna glanced back at the two mares, arched a brow, and shook her head before trotting to the door to the stairs.
  767. >”The apartment? That's for the night minister. He takes care of my duties in Equestria should I be unable to, like when I was away visiting some other place, and whatever simple and mundane issues I'd delegate to him.”
  768. >She gave the door a quick shove to make it swing open, then nodded and pointed at it.
  769. >”The apartment's actually rented to him. That's what we do for most of the apartments in the castle – apart ours, of course. They get the prestige of living in the castle and a large place for cheap and you taxpayers don't need to pay for all of the upkeep.”
  770. >She flashed a smile as you trotted past her into the stairs.
  771. “Huh. All we ever had was Rain Shine taking care of what we couldn't. Which wasn't much. Sometimes she had to have the final say over something to get some kind of a decision made, but that's about it.”
  772. >You scaled downwards and soon heard Luna's shod hooves hit the stone behind you.
  773. “I guess stuff gets more complex when there's more than one village to take care of.”
  774. >”Like you wouldn't believe.”
  775.  
  776. >You enjoyed the feeling of grass caressing and tickling your hooves as you trotted through the courtyard and past the crescent moon flower arrangement.
  777. >Now feeling safe and secure, you stopped for a moment.
  778. >It was a warm night and the air was heavy with the scent of flowers.
  779. >It was quiet, apart the distant sound of cicadas somewhere outside the walls and Luna's hooves thudding on the grass.
  780. “This is where I first heard it. There was a shadow about where you stand right now, pacing back and forth and looking into the corridor where we came from.”
  781. >You pointed at Luna, who stood at the edge of the flowerbed close to the mouth of the corridor.
  782. >”This is indeed as near as they can come to our quarters. You could have dashed past it and it couldn't have followed.”
  783. >The princess trod in a small circle, her ears pivoting from side to side.
  784. >She stopped, stuck her snout up at the sky, and sniffed at the air.
  785. >”'tis a fine night. Let us look at the apartment. What exactly did you see and hear?”
  786. >She stared at you as she trotted past.
  787. >Her horn flashed blue as the door swung open.
  788.  
  789. “And that's when they faded away. I don't think they ever heard what I said, just that there was some noise.”
  790. >You held a hoof on the recliner you hid behind not long ago as you finished recounting your encounter with the reflections.
  791. >”Hmm.”
  792. >Luna's brow furrowed as she trod into the kitchen.
  793. >You heard her rummage around as cutlery clinked and cupboard doors creaked.
  794. >”There is something in here, but it is too weak on its own.”
  795. >She peeked into the living room.
  796. >”Help me find it. It's quite small and has this hazy feel and look to it, like it doesn't quite belong in this worl-”
  797. >The princess froze in place all of a sudden, before her eyes opened wide and a look of revelation spread on her.
  798. >”But of course!”
  799. >She trotted into one of the rooms you hadn't checked – an office – and came back with... a stamp?
  800. >It looked like it was wreathed in shadows and shifted around in Luna's blue aura like it was trying to escape.
  801. >Looking at it made you feel dizzy.
  802. >You shook your head, rubbed your eyes with a fetlock, and looked away.
  803. “I don't like it. What is it?”
  804. >”The day minister's seal. They are each other's substitutes.”
  805. >The dizziness didn't fade.
  806. >You stumbled backwards a few steps before sitting down.
  807. >That helped enough for you to look at Luna and the seal again.
  808. >You could've sworn it fizzled in and out of existence as you watched it.
  809. >The princess let the item fall into her hoof and offered it to you.
  810. >”You hold it. That should make it more stable to you; I'll be fine.”
  811.  
  812. [] Take it.
  813. [] "The day minister's seal, huh? I suppose if this world really half runs on dream logics, then certain amount of symbolism and duality is to be expected. Bad news for me, since I was never any good at interpreting dreams..."
  814.  
  815. >You lifted a hoof off the floor and stuck it out towards Luna.
  816. >She placed the seal in your outstretched hoof.
  817. >A sudden jolt hit your spine.
  818. >You jerked and almost dropped what you held.
  819. >Luna cocked her head and arched a brow while looking at you.
  820. “I'm... fine?”
  821. >You felt almost normal.
  822. >There was just a slight tingle in your neck.
  823. >The seal looked almost normal.
  824. >It was made of wood and bronze, had a sun motif, and had traces of wax on it.
  825. >It still looked like it had a layer of shadows covering it, though.
  826. >”Good.”
  827. >She flashed a smile and headed for the door.
  828. >”Let's take it somewhere safe. We can probably find a use for it if we find another like it...”
  829. >The princess' words trailed off as she stopped mid-step.
  830. >”...I'm sure it's fine.”
  831. >She shook her head and trotted back out into the courtyard.
  832.  
  833. >”Duality and intepreting dreams?”
  834. >Luna's lips curled into a smile as she lifted a shod hoof to suppress a chuckle.
  835. >”The castle is full of duality. That is how we designed it. Celestia's tower has a near identical courtyard near it, only the flowers are arranged to form a sun.”
  836. >She made a sweeping motion towards the crescent moon flowerbed as you passed by it.
  837. >”And that's just one of countless examples. It starts from the thro- r—m a-d t- w-l c- i-”
  838. >Her voice turned into a jumble of mismatched noises as her shod hooves reached the stone tiling of the corridor to her tower.
  839. “What'd you say?”
  840. >”An-n? W-t w-?”
  841. >She wheeled around, her hooves beating the stone tiling.
  842. >Or that's what you saw her do.
  843. >The sound never reached your ears, or got lost somewhere between those and your brain.
  844. >Instead, you heard another set of shod hooves approach from behind you.
  845. >You turned to look, but there was nothing to see...?
  846. >...or maybe, there was?
  847. >You had to stare at it for a while, but you thought you saw something that had the same shape as Luna.
  848. >It was ever so slightly darker than the surroundings.
  849. >Glancing back at the princess, you saw her getting more and more concerned.
  850. >Her lips moved like she was talking, but you couldn't hear anything.
  851.  
  852. [] Drop it.
  853. [] Say hi to the shadow.
  854.  
  855. >The seal, still in your hoof, was growing darker.
  856. >Instead of being veiled in shadows, it now had a sphere of shadows around it.
  857. >You stuck your hoof out as far as you could before glancing at the faint shadow behind you.
  858. “Hi. I'd love to stay and chat but I don't think it's a good idea.”
  859. >You tilted your hoof enough to make the seal roll off it.
  860. >”A shame. It's lonely in here.”
  861. >Its voice sounded like Luna's, but harsher – and sadder.
  862. >The seal reached the edge and fell off.
  863. >You had just enough time to feel sorry for whoever or whatever it was before a sudden jolt hit your spine.
  864.  
  865. >The next thing you knew was that Luna's magic held you mid-air.
  866. >You, along with the seal, floated beside her as she scaled up the stairs to her quarters.
  867. >She noticed you move, glanced your way, and stopped for just long enough to place a hoof on her chest and let out a sigh.
  868. >”Don't ever scare me like that again.”
  869. >She let you float down to the steps.
  870. >You first touched the stone with one hoof, then with all four.
  871. >The support of her magic faded away slowly as your weight shifted from her aura to your hooves.
  872. >They held, though not without shaking.
  873. “What happened?”
  874. >The seal floated down to Luna and did a twirl between the two of you.
  875. >”I cannot tell you, for I do not know. But I believe it has something to do with this. It appears that this thing's effects are amplified by sister's presence.”
  876. >She continued up the stairs.
  877. >”You couldn't hear me, but you heard and saw something. What was it?”
  878.  
  879. [] We saw something that had a similar build to you and a similar, but harsher voice. They seemed lonely and disappointed we said we were leaving.
  880. [] Tell her it was Nightmare Moon, and her butt is not as flat, you boldly assume, and that you want to see her again.
  881.  
  882. >Luna's wings spread halfway and she shifted her weight onto her rear legs as she heard you say you wanted to meet who you thought was Nightmare Moon again.
  883. >Her lips curled into an uneasy, twitchy smile.
  884. >”'tis... Not entirely impossible. Implausible, but not impossible.”
  885. >She fell silent for a moment.
  886. >She regained her posture and her brow furrowed.
  887. >”'tis best to avoid any contact with her, whatever the situation. Remember that her words are poison and she will lie, flatter, deceive, bribe, blackmail – anything to get what she wants. She knows of neither love nor compassion.”
  888. >Her ear flicked as a hint of red rose to her cheeks.
  889. >”And she does not even have a body of her own! She stole mine! Our forms are one and the same!”
  890. >She stuck her snout up in the air and craned her neck to look away.
  891.  
  892. []Has she ever experienced love or compassion?
  893. []A ton of other stuff.
  894.  
  895. >”She's experienced all I have. I know not where she originated from, but we co-existed for a while. Until she betrayed me and took over the first opportunity she had, that is.”
  896. >The princess looked down at her own hooves.
  897. >The corners of her mouth drooped to form a frown.
  898. >”She saved...?”
  899. >Luna turned to stare at you with her mouth left hanging open.
  900. >She placed a hoof on her face and shook her head.
  901. >”Why would you think she is the one who saved you? How do you think you ended up in my quarters, then?”
  902. >She stuck a hoof out at you to silence you as soon as you drew breath.
  903. >”No need to tell me. You are under her spell, are you not? Why else would you wish to ally with a traitor?”
  904. >Her nostrils flared as she glared at you.
  905. >”Hmph. You have had your only and final warning.”
  906. >You only realized how tense you were when Luna finally turned around and continued up the stairs.
  907. >”Come. Let us eat.”
  908. >Your tail unwrapped itself from around your rear leg.
  909.  
  910. [] Sorry, it turns out our memory is hazier than we thought. How did she find us in that room so quickly, anyway? Was she just accidentally passing by, or she was following some signs or feelings that manifest when a newcomer appears in this world? And where does she keep her sword? Will we get a sword?
  911.  
  912. >Luna's ears swiveled backwards as you spoke.
  913. >Her stance relaxed, she glanced back at you, and even suppressed a chuckle as you asked about a sword.
  914. >She spread her wings and took off with a mighty flap, only to bap your snoot with a rear hoof and land immediately after.
  915. >”You are impossible. Sure, I'll show you my 'sword' and let you hold it. You'll have to give it back, though.”
  916. >Her lips curled into an amused smile as she shook her head.
  917. >”And I found you because I feel any disruptions in the castle. You punched a hole clean through the dreamweave and fell through. That stood out like a bonfire in the darkness.”
  918. >You finally reached the top floor where Luna's quarters were.
  919. >The princess' horn flashed and the door to her own bedroom swung open.
  920. >She stopped to wait beside the door.
  921. >”It was the same for the three others I've found. It likely happens outside the castle as well, but alas, my ability is limited and I sense nothing from outside the walls.”
  922. >You trodded in past her.
  923. >She followed immediately behind you and pulled the door closed.
  924.  
  925. >The scent of fried onions, tomatoes, and pasta filled the room.
  926. >You peeked into the kitchen.
  927. >Tempest and Fleur sat at the table, both with frowns on their lips, and looked away from each other.
  928. >There were two pots on the stove, slowly bubbling away.
  929. >”Here. My 'sword'.”
  930. >You wheeled around to see Luna holding a cast iron poker in her magic grasp.
  931. “Oh. Is that really what you had?”
  932. >She nodded and floated it towards you.
  933. >You lit up your horn and took it.
  934. >It was fairly heavy and the tip was sharp so it would do for a weapon in a pinch.
  935. >”Now there's another one somewhere...”
  936. >Luna pulled her closet open and rummaged around in it.
  937. >”...ah, here.”
  938. >She pulled out a short sword.
  939. >Both the scabbard and the hilt were either silver or at least silvered, and beset with jewels.
  940. >”I'd give this to you, but your kind cannot wield the magic needed to make it effective against the fiends.”
  941. >To emphasize her words, she yanked the sword out of its scabbard.
  942. >Both her horn and eyes flashed blue as she swung it.
  943. >It left behind a blue arc.
  944.  
  945. [] Make a few lunges in the air with the poker.
  946. [] Do these work against the shadows? I thought they were incorporeal?
  947. [] Lick the poker
  948.  
  949. >You reared up and propelled yourself forwards with a strong push of your rear legs.
  950. >With the poker held in front of you, you imagined yourself as Luna lunging at the shadows attacking you.
  951. “Ha!”
  952. >You spun around and reared up again.
  953. “Begone!”
  954. >Despite your best efforts, you couldn't match Luna's poise and grandeur, or the ferocity of her lunge.
  955. >But, you did bring an amused smile to her lips as she watched you.
  956. >”You'd be an expert in no time. But, I think we've denied our hearth its tool for long enough.”
  957. >She pointed at a rack of tools next to the fireplace.
  958. >The fire in it had turned into a pile of glowing embers.
  959. >You floated the poker into the rack and let it fall into its place.
  960. >But not before before bringing it to your mouth for a quick lick.
  961. “Bleugh, oak soot. So bitter. I prefer maple or birch.”
  962. >Luna, with a half-formed word frozen on her lips, watched you bring a fetlock to your snoot to wipe off rest of the soot.
  963. “Do these work against the shadows? I thought they were incorporeal.”
  964. >The princess shook her head.
  965. >To clear it, not to indicate anything.
  966. >”Not without the proper spell to go with it. Alas, it is a difficult one and only the most capable and gifted unicorns may wield such magic.”
  967. >She glanced into the kitchen and the two mares – who now watched you – there.
  968. >”Of us here, I am the only one who can. Sister could, were she awake, and perhaps a few of her brightest pupils.”
  969. >Luna looked back at the sword she still held in her magic and stuck it back in its sheath.
  970. >She stared at it with a blank look on her for a while before chucking it back in the closet and pushing the doors closed behind it.
  971.  
  972. >You trotted into the kitchen, where the two pots still bubbled on the stove and the scent of onions, tomatoes, and pasta hung heavy in the air.
  973. >The two mares kept their gazes fixed on you, taking great care to not glance at each other.
  974. >Neither said a word.
  975. “What's got you so down?”
  976. >Fleur blew some air out of her nostrils to produce a loud “hmph.”
  977. >She slowly craned her neck to glare at Tempest.
  978. >”Why, nothing, nothing at all. I simply told her how much I appreciate her 'rescuing' me when I'm about to eliminate our opposition. That, and the onions I told her to sauté somehow ended up soft and overdone. And we'll be serving it to the princess herself!”
  979. >”Uh-huh.”
  980. >Tempest crossed her front hooves, cast a short glance at Fleur, and looked out of the window.
  981. >”Well sorr-y for saving your flank and frying an onion like you told me to. I couldn't have carried you here fast enough had you missed and gone through the thing instead of just grazing it.”
  982. >”Commander.”
  983. >Fleur's tone dropped by an octave.
  984. >”I do not miss when I catch them unawares from behind. And I did not stutter when I said sauté.”
  985. >You glanced back at Luna.
  986. >She had a sly smile on her and nodded at the two mares, then at you, and took a step back.
  987.  
  988. [] Is there a point in eliminating shadows? Aren't they inexhaustible? And the same question about food: does it regenerate, or sooner or later they'll exhaust whatever larder they've been raiding?
  989. [] From what Tempest said, it sounds like not missing actually would've been much worse. And, as for sautéing, most have not had enough cooking lessons to know the difference between it and frying.
  990.  
  991. “Wouldn't hitting it have meant touching it anyways and have had you end up the same way, or worse?”
  992. >Fleur arched a brow as she turned to look at you.
  993. >”What exactly have you been telling him, Commander?”
  994. >She glanced back at Tempest.
  995. >”I would have touched it anyways, yes, but that would've caused no harm as I would've hit and immediately eliminated the target. They are not at all difficult to terminate.”
  996. ”So.”
  997. >You had conflicting feelings about the two.
  998. >On one hoof, it very much looked like they were at each others' throats.
  999. >On the other, Luna did say that that's how Tempest showed she cares.
  1000. “If they're easy to get rid of, why not just go on a hunt and get them all?”
  1001. >Both of the two mares stared at you.
  1002. >It was Tempest who was quicker to draw breath and get her mouth open.
  1003. >”Luna tried exterminating every single one she could find, but there would always be just as many the next day. We don't know where they come from or if they're truly endless, but so far our efforts have made no noticeable difference in their numbers. So, it's best not risk it.”
  1004. >Fleur nodded.
  1005. >”I agree that it's best not go out hunting for them. But, eliminating one does remove it for at least a couple of hours. Long enough to get whatever you're doing done.”
  1006. >She and Tempest glanced at each other, then shook their heads in disapproval.
  1007. >You heard Luna let out a sigh somewhere behind you.
  1008. “Well if the shadows are endless or near enough, then how about food? We got some flour, but where'd you find it and how much is there left to find?”
  1009. >The princess trod into the kitchen, her shod hooves breaking the quiet.
  1010. >”We largely exhausted the castle kitchen's stocks stocking our little storeroom here. What we get now is from outside the castle where the terrain changes often. Most changes brings food with them. They've even found fresh milk out there a few times.”
  1011. >She squeezed past the table and the mares sitting at it to get to the stove.
  1012. >Her horn lit up and both lids floated off their pots.
  1013. >She stuck her snout close to the column of steam rising off the pot that had tomato sauce in it and sniffed at it.
  1014. >”Anon, why don't you add the spices? There's plenty; you should be able to make it similar to what you're used to.”
  1015.  
  1016. [] Should probably taste some before we do anything seasonings-wise.
  1017. [] >sprinkle in some oregano, salt, sugar and drizzle in some olive oil. shred in a generous amount of Parmesan if they have that too. "Such an empty realm we find ourselves in. Where do you think the rest of the population is? Will they slowly turn up like we did?" "Princess, you mentioned that somepony didn't stick around and left the castle on their own. Did they say least say who they were?"
  1018.  
  1019. >You zipped over to the pot and leaned in with Luna.
  1020. >Sniff, snif...
  1021. >Tomatoes from a can and overcooked onions.
  1022. >Not the best, but also not beyond salvation.
  1023. “I can work with this.”
  1024. >A quick trip to the pantry had you return with jars, dried bushels, and bottles floating around your head like some weird halo of flavor.
  1025. >You hummed an old Kirin song as you flipped the dials on the stove to zero, floated down a cutting board and a knife, peeled a few cloves of garlic, chopped them to bits, and set them aside to wait.
  1026. >You failed to spot a mortar or a pestle, so you pulled a few leafy twigs of both basil and oregano from their respective bushels and placed them next to the garlic on the board.
  1027. >Sacrilegious taste contamination, you knew, but they were going in the same dish anyways.
  1028. >Lacking better tools, you lifted a hoof off the floor and turned it around to look at its bottom.
  1029. >And stopped.
  1030. “Now this is going to be a biiiit weird but don't panic, OK?”
  1031. >You flashed a smile at the mares around you.
  1032. >Luna cocked her head and arched a brow, Tempest leaned in closer, and Fleur shifted in her seat and glanced at the door.
  1033. >With the warning out of the way, you drew breath.
  1034. >Fwooooosh!
  1035. >And breathed a jet of dark flame at your hoof.
  1036. >It tickled, and sterilized.
  1037. >You had the ingredients, but you figured they weren't ready for Nirk's Breath in their food quite yet, so you kept it to your hoof.
  1038. >It was very quiet when you ran out of breath and the flame died out.
  1039. >You didn't let that stop you from stomping the herbs to dust.
  1040.  
  1041. >”I commend your expertise and quick thinking, Anon.”
  1042. >Fleur set down her fork and floated up a napkin to wipe the traces of red tomato sauce from around her lips.
  1043. >”I did not think it recoverable but you made it work. Thank you.”
  1044. >She bowed her head at you.
  1045. >You figured it was an important gesture.
  1046. >Tempest rolled her eyes at it.
  1047. >”That was tasty. Thanks.”
  1048. >She had a tiny speck of tomato on her dark cheek as she hopped off her chair.
  1049. >You rubbed the back of your neck, not used to such lavish praise.
  1050. “I'm glad you liked it. I thought we could all use something good in an empty world like this. Where's the rest of Equestria anyways? You said somepony chose to leave. Who was it?”
  1051. >Luna dabbed her lips with a napkin.
  1052. >Her magic tingled in the air as the plates and cutlery floated into one neat pile.
  1053. >”I believe they are stuck in time, as you were. Perhaps they will show up somewhere at some time, like you did, or perhaps they will wake up as if nothing had happened once we fix all this.”
  1054. >Her shod hooves thudded on the floor as she slipped off her chair and turned towards the sink.
  1055. >”Thunderlane, I believe his name was. He said he would go find his friends and left. I have not seen him since.”
  1056. >The stack of dirty dishes jingled as she lowered it into the sink.
  1057.  
  1058. >The sound of sloshing water and Luna scrubbing clean the dishes carried from the kitchen.
  1059. >Tempest lounged on the princess' bed, staring out of the window.
  1060. >Fleur stood on the balcony.
  1061. >You padded to her, your cloven hooves making little sound on the stone.
  1062. >She stared at the high rise building, biting her lip and looking deep in thought.
  1063. >”I wonder...”
  1064. >Her voice was so quiet even you could only just hear it.
  1065. >She fell silent for a few seconds, still staring at the building.
  1066. >Then she shook her head.
  1067. >”...no, best not -oh!”
  1068. >Only then did she notice you.
  1069. >She flinched and took a step back, only for her rear to bump into the railing.
  1070. >”I didn't notice you. I thought I'd read a bit before we retire for the night. Would you accompany me on a trip to the Royal Library? Or did you have something in mind?”
  1071. >She cocked her head and arched a brow, then shook her head again and placed a hoof on her chest.
  1072. >”Ah, but how uncouth of me. You must be tired after such an eventful day. I'll show you where you can rest.”
  1073.  
  1074. [] "Forgive me, didn't mean to startle you. I saw your staring at that building. I know the look of homesickness when I see it, is there somepony you miss?"
  1075.  
  1076. “Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you. You just looked homesick to me. Do you miss somepony or someplace?”
  1077. >Fleur let her hoof fall back on the stone tiling and looked down at it.
  1078. >She let out a sigh.
  1079. >For a moment, she looked very tired.
  1080. >”There are some I miss more than others. I haven't...”
  1081. >She trailed off and took a second before continuing.
  1082. >”...slept quite right without my cat purring me to sleep. He's the sweetest, gentlest little nugget to ever exist.”
  1083. >Her lips curled into a smile as she looked back at you before trotting back inside and beckoning you to follow.
  1084. >”Come. You can rest on my bed while we find you a proper place to sleep.”
  1085. >You were unsure what exactly she meant, but decided to follow her.
  1086. >Tempest, now nodding off on the bed, cast one glance at you as you passed by.
  1087.  
  1088. >Fleur led you down to the floor below and pushed open one of the two doors.
  1089. >”Here we are. It isn't much, but it'll do.”
  1090. >She let you squeeze in past her.
  1091. >You found yourself in a room with two beds in it, a drawer for each, a desk with a mirror on it, and a chair for the desk.
  1092. >There was an open door on one wall that led into a bathroom.
  1093. >The furniture, compared to the princess' room looked plain.
  1094. “It'll be a bit cramped if we want to fit a third bed in here.”
  1095. >You measured the room in your head and figured it'd fit, if only just.
  1096. >”That is true. But, we have to make do. It is far better we have a room up here where it's safe than go down to the guest rooms where there's plenty of space.”
  1097. >Fleur flashed you a smile.
  1098. >”My bed is the one on the left. Rest for as long as you like. I will ask Tempest to accompany me to the library to pick up something to read. We'll bring you a bed on the way back up.”
  1099. >She bowed her head at you.
  1100.  
  1101. [] Tempest seemed pretty tired herself. We can accompany you to the library and hold off on getting the bed until everybody's awake.
  1102. [] What books she may recommend us in this library?
  1103.  
  1104. “Tempest looked pretty tired. How about I come to the library with you instead? Let's let her rest.”
  1105. >You wheeled around and beamed a smile at Fleur.
  1106. >”Well...”
  1107. >She blinked twice and glanced down at her hooves.
  1108. >”You really should get some rest, but I'm not going to oppose if you insist.”
  1109. >She then flashed you a sweet smile, beckoned you to follow, and trotted out of the room.
  1110. >You followed behind her, only stopping to pull the door closed with a quick flash of magic.
  1111. >The door thumping closed and your two sets of hooves echoed up and down the spiraling stone staircase as you scaled down.
  1112.  
  1113. >The castle was quiet.
  1114. >Fleur zipped from shadow to shadow, pillar to pillar, or door to door ahead of you, her hooves only just audible on the mirror polished stone.
  1115. >Both her and your ears swiveled back and forth as you listened to any sign of trouble.
  1116. >But, apart from you two, the hallways were dead silent.
  1117. >”I am not sure how to feel about this. It's getting late, but not so late there shouldn't be any patrols around.”
  1118. >She stopped in plain sight in the middle of the corridor for the first time and held a front hoof in half in the air.
  1119. >She drew a deep breath and held it in, then perked her ears upright.
  1120. >Her face became one of focus.
  1121. >You stopped in your tracks, teetering on two hooves until she let the breath out and shook her head.
  1122. >”Nope, I cannot hear a thing. Curious.”
  1123. >She shrugged and beckoned you to follow.
  1124. >This time she trod in the middle of the path and her hooves made quiet clip-clops.
  1125. >Quieter than those of Tempest's, but still louder than before.
  1126. “How do you know what to expect here?”
  1127. >Fleur glanced back at you as you took a few faster steps to catch up.
  1128. >”I have gone out every day – or night, or whatever these are. With Luna or with Tempest. Do that enough and you start noticing patterns. They do not follow the same schedules as the Royal Guard did back before all this happened, but they do follow some kind of a schedule. For the most part.”
  1129. >She wagged a hoof in the air in a dismissive motion as she said the final sentence.
  1130.  
  1131. >You had to admit you had lost track of both time and where you were until Fleur stopped at the entrance to the Great Hall and peeked in.
  1132. >It was just as quiet as everywhere else.
  1133. “I guess I should get myself something to read as well. Is there anything you think I'd like? There's definitely going to be too many option to choose between.”
  1134. >Fleur didn't make her way to the middle where the statues were yet, but remained still and listened for a few seconds.
  1135. >There was nothing to hear.
  1136. >”Hm.”
  1137. >She turned to look at you, studying you from hoof to horn.
  1138. >Her brow furrowed.
  1139. >”I believe you would like Princess Celestia's diaries. They offer a very unique look into Equestria's past, spanning from Nightmare Moon's banishment to her defeat and Princess Luna's return.”
  1140. “That does sou-”
  1141. >Fleur stuck her hoof almost into your mouth all of a sudden.
  1142. >”Hush.”
  1143. >Her ears perked up and swiveled backwards as her gaze lost focus and she stared somewhere far behind you.
  1144. >There was nothing to hea...
  1145. >...r?
  1146. >The faintest jingle of metal and the sound of many hooves came from somewhere across the Hall.
  1147. >There were too many for you to come up with a number.
  1148. >More than four was your best guess.
  1149. >Fleur wrapped her hoof around your neck and chest and pulled you deeper into the darkness of the corridor, close to where it forked.
  1150. >”I do not know what they're doing. Best stay back for now and let them pass.”
  1151. >You nodded and squeezed yourself to a shadowy wall.
  1152. >You heard her do something similar behind you, but dared not look as a pair of shadows emerged from a corridor on the far side of the Hall.
  1153. >It was followed by another pair, then another, then another, and even more until you lost count.
  1154. >Each pair trotted to the center of the room, to the plush red carpet, then headed out towards the main gate.
  1155. >The once quiet corridor was full of the sounds of jingling metal and hooves on both stone and carpet.
  1156. >Fortunately, none headed your way.
  1157. >It took several minutes before the final pair trotted out, reached the carpet, and headed out.
  1158. >The sound of metal and hooves started growing more and more distant until it faded out entirely.
  1159. >”I wonder what that was all about.”
  1160. >Fleur stepped out form behind you and rubbed her chin with a hoof.
  1161.  
  1162. [] Go after them
  1163.  
  1164. “Let's go see where they're going and find out.”
  1165. >You hopped out of the shadows and headed down the corridor towards the Hall, keeping your ears perked up as you went.
  1166. >The only thing to hear, apart your own soft hoofsteps, was the now very distant jingle of metal and hooves on gravel.
  1167. >”Follow them? Just the two of us?”
  1168. >You heard Fleur's hooves thud on the stone behind you as she took after you.
  1169. “I feel like knowing what they're doing will help us get to the bottom of everything.”
  1170.  
  1171. >Peeking into the Great Hall, you found it deserted.
  1172. >There was no sign of them left.
  1173. >You zipped across to the statues faster and louder than you would've liked, afraid of letting them get out of earshot.
  1174. >Fleur was slower to follow than you would've liked and kept glancing back the way you came, but follow she did.
  1175. >Your heartbeat felt louder than usual as you stepped onto the plush red carpet and dashed towards the door to the main gate.
  1176. >The luxurious rug dampened the sound of your hooves enough for you to hear the horde ahead.
  1177. >You were catching up.
  1178.  
  1179. >”Wait!”
  1180. >Fleur set her hoof on top of yours just as you were about to push open the door leading to the main gate.
  1181. >She glanced around the Hall before looking at you.
  1182. >”Luna didn't give you your amulet, did she?”
  1183. >Her horn lit up and a dreamcatcher floated out from under her mane.
  1184. >The string looked like it had the faintest, tiniest stars stuck in it and the feathers hanging off of it were dark blue.
  1185. >”You may not be able to find your way back to the castle if you go out without one.”
  1186.  
  1187. [] Drats, I guess we should stick to within the castle grounds. I suppose technically we will be alright if we venture out with Fleur, but I don't like the risk of us two getting separated. I vote on going back to visiting the library.
  1188.  
  1189. “I might have forgotten about that. Maybe it's best we just go to the library, then.”
  1190. >You let your hoof fall back to the carpeted floor.
  1191. >Or would have, if Fleur hadn't pinned it to the door with her own, warm hoof.
  1192. >The mare let out a short sigh before letting go.
  1193. >”A relief. I do not fancy the thought of being out there with so many of them.”
  1194. >Her springy steps thudded on the carpet as she headed away from the door.
  1195. >”Come. I'll show you to the library. It's not far.”
  1196. >You heard the distant sound of a multitude of hooves on gravel from somewhere beyond the door.
  1197. >You'd find out what it was all about some other day.
  1198.  
  1199. >Fleur zipped across the Hall to peek into the corridor they came from.
  1200. >You couldn't hear anything, and her beckoning you forth suggested she didn't see anything either.
  1201. >”It's along this corridor. Come quick, they patrol here often.”
  1202. >Your hooves made quiet thuds on the carpet and the stone as you crossed the distance between you and her.
  1203. >The corridor you were heading towards had a white and gold theme to it, compared to the blue and silver the one that led to Luna's quarters had.
  1204. >Otherwise it was similar: granite floor polished to a mirror sheen, carved pillars lining the walls, doors of various sizes between the pillars, and the occasional painting or photo hanging on the walls.
  1205. >Fleur trotted down the corridor until she came to a halt in front of a particularly wide and fancy door.
  1206. >She glanced back at you, flashed a smile, and pushed the door open.
  1207.  
  1208. >The library was... extensive, with a word.
  1209. >Extremely tall, decorated shelves packed to the brim with books of all imaginable shapes and sizes filled the room.
  1210. >There was a counter and a few reading desks near the door, and a balcony above with even more desks on it.
  1211. >Fleur shoved the door closed with a rear hoof.
  1212. >”Here we are!”
  1213. >She trotted towards the shelves and did a sweeping motion towards them.
  1214. >”Only a few of Equestria's largest libraries can match this collection of literature. And that's not counting the Royal Archive, which is in its own building on Canterlot Square.”
  1215. >Her voice gaining in pitch and tempo as she spoke betrayed her excitement.
  1216. >”The history section is this way, I'll show you where. Princess Celestia's diaries are there.”
  1217. >She headed off towards a specific row of shelves.
  1218. >You noticed she once again had that same spring to her steps as when you first saw her awake.
  1219. >You were just about to follow her when she slammed all four hooves to the floor and skid to a stop, and then wheeled around to look at you.
  1220. >”...or was there something else you wanted to read about first? You have a lot of questions. Maybe some of the answers are here?”
  1221.  
  1222. [] She is clearly excited about Celestia's diaries, we can look at those first. Plenty of time for some other books after, right?
  1223. [] I wasn't aware that the Princess publishes her diaries, are the public versions heavily edited in any way?
  1224. [] Maybe there is a book or two that can teach us some new spells?
  1225.  
  1226. >You fancied the thought of studying magic, but that'd be very slow and you weren't sure you could do unicorn magic in the first place.
  1227. >It'd been no doubt tried, but you hadn't heard of the results – and weren't too gifted with magic anyways.
  1228. “How are the diaries? Are they heavily edited or?”
  1229. >You pointed a hoof and nodded at the shelves past Fleur.
  1230. >”I would say they are relatively lightly edited. The editors have added extensive notes to explain most less known events and has added some narrative based on other sources to bridge some gaps in entries. The Princess' own writing is almost untouched.”
  1231. >She headed towards a row of shelves as she spoke.
  1232. >”She thought about her diaries ending up in the wrong hooves and didn't write down anything that'd compromise national security. Or so she wrote after the second changeling invasion – that she never forgot the first one and kept the critical information to just herself.”
  1233. >You nodded at her as you followed her deeper into the library.
  1234. >The massive bookshelves stacked to the brim on both sides muffled the echoes of both her voice and your hooves.
  1235. >”Now, I believe her intention was to publish them all along to make other ponies realize she's much more like them than the idolized perfect ruler some make her to be. Or that's how I feel since I know she's more than enough of a diplomat to hide how she feels yet still I found since she always seemed uncomfortable if somepony treated her like she was superior or...”
  1236. >Fleur's sudden flood of words about the princess left your head swimming.
  1237. >She just kept babbling on like an excited filly, more and more about Princess Celestia.
  1238.  
  1239. >”...and then – ah! Here we are.”
  1240. >Silence took over in a welcome change as Fleur both stopped and fell silent.
  1241. >She pointed at a extremely long row of near identical books right next to her.
  1242. >Celestia's Diary, parts 1 through...
  1243. >...
  1244. >...you had to trot along the row for a bit to see the last one...
  1245. >...103.
  1246. >Well then.
  1247. >”Now don't worry. They're far faster to read than you think. But yes, a thousand years is a lot to write about!”
  1248. >The mare beamed a wide smile at you.
  1249.  
  1250. [] Personally I want to grab one completely at random and read a random passage from some point in her life.
  1251. [] give it a read, but glance at her flanks
  1252. [] Let's grab the first one or two for our perusal back at the tower, then focus on helping Fleur finding her books
  1253.  
  1254. >You yanked out a book from somewhere in the middle, floated it to you, and flipped to a random page.
  1255. >'I hope Sweet Cream returns soon. The cakes have not been the same without her. The Saddle Arabians should enjoy them too, which should help secure that trade agreement. The agreement should be of considerable benefit to both out peoples.'
  1256. >Feeling enlightened, you flipped a few more pages for another entry.
  1257. >It was a short one.
  1258. >'Sweet Cream has succumbed to the plague. I once again have nopony to boop snoots with. Or talk to who doesn't care about my position.'
  1259. >The one following it was even shorter.
  1260. >'I'm tired.'
  1261. >You slammed the book shut and shoved it back into the shelf, then took a step back and sat down on the cold and hard stone floor.
  1262. >You shook your head and looked down at Fleur's hooves.
  1263. “I wasn't expecting that.”
  1264. >A hoof stroked your neck floof.
  1265. >”The Creeping Death was the worst disaster to ever hit Equestria. The Princess herself avoided it, but there was nopony who didn't feel its effects.”
  1266. >Her tail grazed yours as she swished it out of the way to sit down next to you.
  1267. >”For almost a hundred years, the disease ravaged Equestria – until it vanished without a trace. But it left behind a severely depopulated land. The Princess estimates as much as two thirds of all ponykind perished. She laments how ponies are now little more than numbers to her, that all she can do is minimize the number of deaths.”
  1268. >You craned your neck to look up at her.
  1269. >She had a mellow smile on her lips.
  1270. >You stretched upwards, had to stand up halfway to reach, and touched the tip of her snoot with yours.
  1271. >It made her blink and scrumnch.
  1272. “I'll take the first two parts with me to read. But, you wanted a book too. I'll help you find it.”
  1273. >”No need to.”
  1274. >She bapped your snoot with a hoof before standing up.
  1275. >It was your turn to blink and scrumnch.
  1276. >”I know precisely where it is.”
  1277. >She wheeled around, her tail brushing your face before she trotted off.
  1278. >You followed behind her, taking the first two journal parts with you.
  1279.  
  1280. >It was along the same row of shelves.
  1281. >”Here it is.”
  1282. >Her steady, springy hoofsteps came to a halt as she lit up her horn.
  1283. >A book floated down from the top shelf.
  1284. >The Count of Maneto Christo.
  1285. >”It is a shame I have not had the time to read it earlier. A timeless classic about a vampony and one of the building blocks of modern literature.”
  1286. >You had never heard of it and were now more interested in Fleur herself.
  1287. >She wasn't what you'd call toned, but she was slim and had a very nice, shapely flank.
  1288. >You were almost certain she noticed you looking, but pretended not to.
  1289. >”Well then. Shall we return, or was there something else?”
  1290.  
  1291. [] Follow the mare back and ask her more about her book.
  1292. [] Boop her back or rub your flank against her side
  1293.  
  1294. “One more thing.”
  1295. >You trod to her side, lifted a front hoof into the air, and looked at the book.
  1296. >Then turned to look at her and went for a sudden boop!
  1297. >Her hooves clopped on the floor as they shot into a wider stance and she swung her head out of the way.
  1298. >Then she realized what was going on and let out a chuckle.
  1299. >”Oh. I apologize. I am a bit too much on the edge here.”
  1300. >She pressed her soft, warm snoot into the bottom of your cloven hoof.
  1301. >You felt the corners of your mouth curl into a smile at the sensation.
  1302. >”I believe that makes us even, no?”
  1303. >She pulled back and trotted past you, flicking her tail so it brushed your side as she went.
  1304. >You shook your head, made double sure you had both books floating above you, and turned around to follow her.
  1305.  
  1306. >The castle's corridors were once again quiet.
  1307. >It was just your two sets of hooves, with no other sounds to be heard.
  1308. >There was something in the air that kept the both of you glancing backwards as you headed towards the Grand Hall.
  1309. >It was a twisting feeling in the bottom of your stomach that urged you to run faster because there was something back there, just out of sight.
  1310. >But, there was nothing to see or hear.
  1311. “S-so. That book. What's it like?”
  1312. >You had to make an effort to not break into a gallop.
  1313. >Fleur zipped to the end of the corridor you were in and peeked into the Hall.
  1314. >There was nothing to see or hear.
  1315. >”I wish I could tell you.”
  1316. >She glanced behind you and you heard her gulp down a bit of saliva.
  1317. >”But I haven't read it yet.”
  1318. >She sounded tense.
  1319. >”I can tell you that-”
  1320. >Her ears perked up and swiveled around.
  1321. >She otherwise went stock still.
  1322. >Silence.
  1323. >Deep silence.
  1324. >There was nothing to see or hear.
  1325. >Fleur let herself relax and let out the breath she'd held.
  1326. >”Never mind. I believe it's best we get a move on.”
  1327. >She beckoned you to follow her with a swing of her hoof and dashed into the Hall.
  1328.  
  1329. >A long, wailing howl carried down the corridor you were in from somewhere far away.
  1330. >Both you and Fleur came to a stop and turned to stare at each other.
  1331. >Your tail wrapped itself around your rear leg.
  1332. “That was just the wind, right? Sounded just like it.”
  1333. >Silence took over as Fleur's ears swiveled to scan the surroundings.
  1334. >”I... hope it was.”
  1335. >She glanced back the way you came.
  1336. >There was nothing to see.
  1337. >”There's a few rooms with beds in them just down this corridor, along the way back.”
  1338. >She continued down the corridor, her hooves beating the stone floor at a faster pace than before.
  1339. >You followed behind her.
  1340. >But, you didn't get far before another wailing howl came from somewhere, this time followed by the sound of rushing wind.
  1341. >It was still distant, but not quite as.
  1342.  
  1343. [] Flee, you foals!
  1344.  
  1345. “You know, I have this feeling that uh...”
  1346. >Your stomach lurched as you took half a step towards Luna's tower and safety.
  1347. >In the lack of any actual sounds to hear, your brain made up the sound of huge claws clicking on hard stone.
  1348. “...we should make a run for it.”
  1349. >Your hooves were rearing to spring into a gallop, but you held yourself back.
  1350. >Fleur glanced behind you once more.
  1351. >”For just this once I'll agree with you.”
  1352. >She bent her legs and lowered herself a bit, then shot forwards far faster than you'd thought she could.
  1353. >Your hooves skidded on the polished stone as you broke into a full gallop behind her.
  1354. >Your mind closed out the clamor of hooves and you could only think about how you couldn't catch up to Fleur and her longer legs.
  1355. >Fortunately, she glanced back at you and slowed her dash to let you catch up.
  1356. >A sudden cold breeze tickled the back of your neck despite all the floof and had you push your legs to and beyond their limit.
  1357. >You flew down the corridor faster than you thought possible.
  1358. >And across the moon-themed courtyard.
  1359. >And up another corridor and to the stairs.
  1360.  
  1361. >The wall felt cold against your side as you leaned on it, having finally stopped for breath.
  1362. >You still dared not stop for more than a few seconds.
  1363. >Fleur, breathing heavy but not panting and out of breath like you, looked up the stairs.
  1364. >”We should go tell them what happened.”
  1365. >You nodded.
  1366. >Another long, howling wail sounded from behind you as you took the first step.
  1367. >Your tail wrapped itself around a rear leg again.
  1368. >A cold breeze blew into the corridor you were in, tickling your floof and leaving Fleur shivering.
  1369. >You glanced at each other and dashed up the stairs.
  1370.  
  1371. >You burst into Luna's bedroom and collapsed into a sweaty pile of fluff.
  1372. >Lactic acid burned in your legs and you were gasping for breath.
  1373. >Luna, sitting at her desk with a blank, open book in front of her and a quill floating beside her, craned her neck to look at you.
  1374. >She arched a brow and cocked her head as Fleur staggered in behind you.
  1375. >”Did something happen?”
  1376. >Just then, the whole tower shook and trembled.
  1377. >A sudden gale howled all around you.
  1378. >Luna looked up at the ceiling and set her quill down.
  1379. >The gale passed as suddenly as it came.
  1380. >The shaking stopped.
  1381. >You noticed the stars wink out one by one as it grew darker outside.
  1382. >Luna's horn flashed blue and the balcony door swung closed and its lock clicked just as the moon faded out.
  1383. >Soon there was nothing to see outside beyond the stone tiling and silver railing.
  1384. >The silence was broken by Tempest's shod hooves as she trod from the kitchen.
  1385. >A small fire in the fireplace was the only source of light.
  1386.  
  1387. >Luna pushed herself off the chair and onto her hooves.
  1388. >She glanced at the fire, lit up her horn, and chucked a few pieces of wood into the hearth.
  1389. >They lit up with a whoosh, filling the room with more light and warmth.
  1390. >Still, shadows danced on the princess' face as she studied you and Fleur's sweaty, out of breath forms – and the books beside you.
  1391. >”Now tell me.”
  1392. >She paused to glance out of the window and at the nothing out there.
  1393. >”What exactly did you do?”
  1394.  
  1395. [] All we did was go to the library. We did notice the guards completely leaving the castle but we didn't follow them to try to figure out why. On our way back, the guards haven't returned yet and we heard something so we decided to forgo stealth and get back as soon as possible.
  1396.  
  1397. “All we did was go to the library. We did notice the guards completely leaving the castle but we didn't follow them to try to figure out why. On our way back, the guards haven't returned yet and we heard something so we decided to forgo stealth and get back as soon as possible.”
  1398. >Luna studied your face for a while as you fanned out your floof to cool down.
  1399. >”A shame. Were you the cause, it would be easy to erase from existence.”
  1400. >Tempest's shod hooves thumped on the stone floor – you'd forgot how loud they were – as she trod closer.
  1401. >”So you know what's going on, Luna? Well, you better because we're high up in a weak, cosmetic tower and something just shook the foundations.”
  1402. >The princess spared Tempest a glance before rolling her eyes.
  1403. >”The castle is made up of far more than just stone and mortar. But yes, I do know what just happened. Somepony's nightmare was unleashed. I am now wondering whose.”
  1404. >The half-horned unicorn shook her head.
  1405. >”That's not really helping. I get it's trouble but of what kind and how do we solve the issue? Do we just go get rid of it, or do we 'redeem' it with friendship?”
  1406. >She first swung her hoof at the air like she was hitting something, following it up with an air quote.
  1407. >Luna turned to glare at her.
  1408. >”I understand your concerns, Commander.”
  1409. >The alicorn's tone was cold.
  1410. >”But this is not the Equestria you know and the methods you are familiar with would prove ineffective.”
  1411. >She let her voice return to its former warmth as she spoke.
  1412. >”To deal with a nightmare – like what we're facing – you must confront it and come to terms with your fear. Others may aid the effort, but ultimately it falls to whoever is having it. For this reason, we must find out whose nightmare this is.”
  1413. >She cast a long glance at each of you, Fleur, and Tempest in turn.
  1414. >”Take a moment to think of what is your worst nightmare and try to describe it. We will then deduce which of them is out there.”
  1415. >Tempest's brow furrowed and she rubbed her chin with a hoof.
  1416. >Fleur let out a whimper, went even paler than she usually was, curled up, and began rocking back and forth.
  1417. >She mouthed 'no' over and over again as her gaze fixed on something far away that you couldn't see.
  1418.  
  1419. [] Since Anon's a kirin, it could be coming back to Kirin Grove to find that everyone had gone back to their silent ways again.
  1420. [] Or getting pushed into and drowning in the Stream of Silence.
  1421. [] I'd rather try and comfort Fleur than answer. Seems to me she already knows whats coming.
  1422.  
  1423. >You scooted closer to Fleur and reached out to stroke her back.
  1424. >She was very warm and damp with sweat, but she did not react in any way.
  1425. “We're safe here.”
  1426. >”Ahem. Miss de Lis.”
  1427. >Luna's voice was authoritative.
  1428. >Fleur twitched as her eyes fixed on what was front of her.
  1429. >”P-princess?”
  1430. >She scrambled onto her hooves.
  1431. >”I-I'm sorry. I wasn't-”
  1432. >She froze in spot, staring at Luna.
  1433. >Slowly, she craned her neck to look at you and Tempest.
  1434. >A faint red hue rose to her cheeks.
  1435. >The princess lifted a shod hoof off the floor, cupped Fleur's chin with it, and leaned in to touch snoots with her.
  1436. >”It is fine, de Lis. That is a memory, not a nightmare. You won't have to experience it again.”
  1437. >Luna pulled the unicorn into a hug, fanning out her wings to cover her head and neck from view.
  1438. >You heard her whisper something, but couldn't make out what.
  1439. >”Why don't you go make us something to eat before we go to sleep?”
  1440. >Fleur sniffled and lifted a hoof to her face before Luna folded her wings.
  1441. >”Yes, Princess. I'll make something simple.”
  1442. >Her face still had a red tint to it and there was a hint of dampness in the corners of her eyes.
  1443.  
  1444. >Luna pulled the door to the kitchen closed behind Fleur.
  1445. >”Well then. How about you two?”
  1446. >She kept her voice down as she wheeled around to look at you.
  1447. “I...”
  1448. >Your stomach lurched as you were about to speak.
  1449. >You bit your lip and herded together your scattered thoughts.
  1450. “Silence. My worst nightmare is getting silenced again. Feeling the rushing waters rip away your voice and emotions...”
  1451. >You shivered as your tail wrapped itself around a rear leg.
  1452. “...and then emerging from the stream to realize it's not just you but everyone who's turned into a shadow of their former selves.”
  1453. >The princess, with a soft smile on her lips, trod to you.
  1454. >She reached out to stroke your cheek with a shod hoof, then leaned in for a nuzzle.
  1455. >She was warm, soft, and comforting.
  1456. >”Thank you. We will find a way for you to overcome that.”
  1457. >Both you and her turned to look at Tempest.
  1458. >She had a solemn look on her as she stared down at her own hooves.
  1459. >Luna took a few steps towards her.
  1460. >”Tempest? Is it something you can share?”
  1461. >The half-horned unicorn nodded and gulped down a bit of saliva.
  1462. >”Betrayal.”
  1463. >Her nostrils flared as she blew out a sudden burst of air.
  1464. >The princess nodded and turned around to face you again.
  1465. >”That leaves us with only one real option.”
  1466. >Both she and Tempest stared at you in silence.
  1467. >Your stomach felt like it sank and twisted.
  1468. >There was no way you could face th-
  1469. >”Now.”
  1470. >Luna had a wide smile on her lips as she raised her voice.
  1471. >”How about we go see what miss Fleur is making us? We can then retire for the night. You look like you could use some rest.”
  1472.  
  1473. [] Would NMM be her nightmare?
  1474. [] I'd like to ask Luna if she has any experience fighting nightmares OUTSIDE of the dream realm like this. Or maybe we're going to go into the dream realm to fight it and that's why she's politely insisting on going to sleep?
  1475. [] I want to hug Luna.
  1476.  
  1477. “What's your nightmare, Princess?”
  1478. >You had a feeling you knew, but thought it better to let her confirm it.
  1479. >Luna's ears drooped.
  1480. >”Ehh... I am not certain if that is-”
  1481. >”You're not worming out of this one, Luna.”
  1482. >Tempest piped in.
  1483. >She took a step closer, slamming her hoof down a bit louder than she had to, causing Luna to twitch and turn to look at it.
  1484. >”That really isn't-”
  1485. >Tempest took another, thumping step.
  1486. >A spark of magic arced from the stump of her horn.
  1487. >Luna rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
  1488. >”Fine. I suppose it's only fair since you did tell of yours.”
  1489. >She pawed at the floor and rubbed her left rear leg with the right one.
  1490. >”It's losing control. Be it due to drunkenness, a fit of rage, or...”
  1491. >The princess gulped down a bit of saliva.
  1492. >”...all-devouring jealousy. And then hurting what I hold dear.”
  1493. >She stared down at her hooves for a moment before perking both her head and ears upright.
  1494. >”But enough of that. Let us go-”
  1495. >Her eyes went wide with surprise as you hopped over to her, reared up, and wrapped your hooves around her withers.
  1496. >She was warm and had a little bit of softness to her.
  1497. >”-eh, why, thank you?”
  1498. >She blinked rapidly a few times and patted your back with a shod hoof.
  1499. >You let go and pulled back – and almost stumbled and fell since you had to do so while balancing on your rear hooves.
  1500. “How much do you know about fighting nightmare outside dreams? That's what we're going to do, right? Or are you trying to get us to sleep so you can get into our dreams?”
  1501. >Luna shook her head.
  1502. >”Ah, no. I am tired, is all. It has been a long day and a lot has happened. Ponies do not dream since the dream realm is no more. As for your other question, yes and no. My sister and I fought plenty to keep Equestria safe in its early days. And remember, this realm is half dream. So I am quite knowledgeable in combat in both dreams and outside them.”
  1503. >Tempest, quiet until now, let out a chuckle.
  1504. >”Yeah, right.”
  1505. >She kept her voice down, but not so much you couldn't hear.
  1506. >The princess glared daggers at the unicorn.
  1507. >”So. How about we see what Fleur has cooking?”
  1508. >The mention of cooking had you sniff at the air.
  1509. >A faint scent of butter and herbs filled your nostrils.
  1510.  
  1511. >Luna pushed the door open to reveal Fleur in front of the stove.
  1512. >She had an egg and some toast sizzling in a touch of butter in a pan, and a bowl full of some kind of herb-laced batter on the counter next to her.
  1513. >”Why hello there! I hope you are fine with something fast and crude.”
  1514. >There was still a hint of redness to her eyes, but otherwise she looked no different from normal.
  1515. >Tempest trotted right in to peek and sniff at the bowl.
  1516. >”What's this?”
  1517. >Fleur shooed her away, pointing at the table.
  1518. >”It is butter mixed with the boiled eggs we didn't eat yesterday, spiced with herbs. A recipe from northeastern Equestria.”
  1519. >You and Luna glanced at each other, trod to the table, and pulled back chairs for yourselves.
  1520. “I haven't seen anything like that before. Will you fry it on the pan or what?”
  1521. >Fleur only spared a glance at you.
  1522. >A flash of magic made a cupboard fly open before plates floated out and onto the table.
  1523. >”No, it goes on bread as-is. Won't be but a few minutes now.”
  1524.  
  1525. >A bit later, you all sat around the table with now empty plates in front of you.
  1526. >It was still completely dark outside, but the tower hadn't shook and it was quiet.
  1527. >The adrenaline in your veins was gone, and you were starting to feel a bit sleepy now that you'd had something to eat.
  1528. >There was one issue, though.
  1529. “So, where am I going to sleep? We couldn't get me a bed.”
  1530. >Luna glanced at you, then downed what little water remained in her glass.
  1531. >”I suppose you could share my bed. It is the largest one, after all. Or did you have something in mind?”
  1532.  
  1533. []Tactically speaking, it'd be better if we all slept together in a big pony pile. It'd help with nightmares, as well as make it harder to take us by surprise and turn us into shadows one after another if Celestia's protection over this tower will ever falter. But sleeping with Luna is a step in the right direction.
  1534.  
  1535. “Wouldn't it be best if we all slept together? Just in case something happens and one of those things gets to sneak up on us.”
  1536. >Luna cocked her head and arched a brow.
  1537. >”Why the concern? There's nothing that can threaten us here in this tower. Or are you concerned about something happening to... our protector?”
  1538. >You nodded.
  1539. >The princess' lips curled into a mellow smile as she shook her head.
  1540. >”Worry not. The powers at play, those of the sun and daytime, are the very antithesis of our threats. No fiend or nightmare can approach while she draws breath. And were even that to fail, remember that I do not sleep quite the same way as you do and would notice and wake up.”
  1541. >You...
  1542. >Really had no reason to doubt her, you figured.
  1543. “I see. I suppose it is fine then. Though, one more thing?”
  1544. >You drew breath and flashed a smile at Luna.
  1545. “Is there a spare toothbrush for me?”
  1546. >The princess had no immediate answer.
  1547. >Fleur, however, let out a chuckle.
  1548. >”But of course. I gathered a few from guest rooms when I realized it may not be just the three of us for long.”
  1549.  
  1550. >Luna's bed was large indeed.
  1551. >Princess sized.
  1552. >You could lay in the middle of it and stretch out your hooves as far as you could reach and still wouldn't reach an edge.
  1553. >Right now, however, you were already under the covers on one side of the bed.
  1554. >Princess Luna, with a smile on her lips, sat at her desk, scribbling in what had to be her journal.
  1555. “I thought you said you were tired.”
  1556. >She waved a hoof at you in a dismissive motion.
  1557. >”I best document the day before I forget. This mix of two worlds is new to everypony. That, and I should say good night to sister. Do not delay your sleep for me.”
  1558. >You'd kinda hoped to have her next to you and weren't that tired yet.
  1559. >On the other hoof, the bed was luxurious in every way, soft and smooth and supported you just right no matter your how you laid.
  1560.  
  1561. >You only realized you'd fallen asleep when you woke up.
  1562. >Your head rested on something firm and warm.
  1563. >As you cracked open your eyelids, you saw that the something was the flank of an alicorn with a coat as dark as the blackest night, a mane of billowing purple mist, and slit pupils in her cyan eyes.
  1564. >She leaned in to nuzzle your cheek as soon as she noticed you were awake.
  1565. >”Welcome, dearest. It has been so lonely without you here.”
  1566.  
  1567. [] A boop should be the first order of business. Second is asking what she thinks is going on.
  1568. [] First things first, we need to greet our Dark Lady.
  1569.  
  1570. >You reached up and pressed a hoof on her snooter.
  1571. >Her eyes went wide and she gasped for breath, but then let out a chuckle.
  1572. >Which revealed her sharp fangs.
  1573. >You shuddered as she leaned in closer and nuzzled your cheek.
  1574. >”I am too used to ponies being afraid.”
  1575. >She pulled back for a moment as you felt her shift beneath you.
  1576. >You soon found yourself pinned to her chest as she pressed her muzzle into your mane.
  1577. >Her grip was so tight it was hard to breathe.
  1578. >You wheezed and squirmed.
  1579. >She let go, scooted to the opposite side of the bed you were on, and faced away from you.
  1580. >”Sorry.”
  1581.  
  1582. [] Hug her from behind and say it's okay. Then after, ask about what we're going to be doing today.
  1583.  
  1584. >The mattress gave under your weight, making you bob as you shuffled across it.
  1585. >It wasn't a very dignified approach at all.
  1586. >Fortunately, she wasn't looking.
  1587. >You pounced her as you reached her, wrapping your hooves around her and pressing your floofy chest into her back.
  1588. “It's okay. Nothing bad happened.”
  1589. >You couldn't reach up to her head, so you settled with nuzzling the side of her neck.
  1590. >She said nothing, but you felt the tension in her back ease.
  1591. >For a short moment, you glanced around the room.
  1592. >It was the same one you fell asleep in, with just one difference: the curtains were drawn so you couldn't see out to the balcony.
  1593. “Do you have anything planned for today?”
  1594. >The question had her shift in place.
  1595. >She spun in place and let herself fall onto her back, then pulled you onto her belly and chest.
  1596. >You were just large enough that, when she looked down at you, the tip of her snout grazed yours.
  1597. >”Well, there is not much I can do with the situation being what it is. Why don't you take a peek outside and familiarize yourself with the surroundings?”
  1598. >Her horn lit up before she floated you off of herself and dropped you onto your hooves next to the bed.
  1599. >You glanced back at her to see her giving you a half-lidded look with her biting her lower lip.
  1600. >Gulping down a bit of saliva and sticking your tail between your legs, you trotted to the window.
  1601. >You stuck your head into a gap between the curtains – and were blinded.
  1602. >Midday sunlight burned your used to dark eyes.
  1603. >You took a staggering step back and fell onto your behind as yellow and blue afterimages filled your vision.
  1604. >”Unlike you, who'd get used to it in a few minutes, I am a creature of the night.”
  1605. >The bed creaked and sheets shuffled.
  1606. >Four hooves clicked on the stone floor.
  1607. >Something brushed the side of your neck floof.
  1608. >”I wish for nothing more than to make the sun set. Unfortunately, I have not the power to do so and know of only one being who does.”
  1609. >Your vision had recovered just enough to see an alicorn shaped blob next to you.
  1610. >”I'll have to either acquire this power for myself, or, failing that, convince her to use it for me.”
  1611. >She stopped behind you and pressed her snout into your mane.
  1612. >The air flow tickled your scalp as she breathed in.
  1613. >”I feel that you are not long for this world. Would you care to join me for breakfast before you return to whence you came? Or, did you have something else in mind?”
  1614.  
  1615. [] I want to ask her about Luna.
  1616. [] Ask her how to defeat the shadows!
  1617. [] Ask if there's anypony else stuck in this realm with her. And how come we're the only one who can seemingly travel between both.
  1618. [] I want to ask her a few questions, but first, let's humor her by eating breakfast with her.
  1619.  
  1620. “Breakfast sounds nice. What'd you have in mind? Toast?”
  1621. >She tousled your mane before heading to the kitchen.
  1622. >”I will see what I have. My stocks are quite depleted as I loathe to leave this tower and its lovely thick curtains that turn day into night.”
  1623. >You still didn't see well, but you saw enough to stumble behind her without bumping into anything.
  1624. “Are you alone in here? Or are there others in this world with you?”
  1625. >Her horn flashed and you heard various clinks and thumps as some items flew around.
  1626. >”There are others, and at least one who resides in the castle with me. I have kept my distance since she'll no doubt be afraid of me. I do not know her name, but she is a unicorn and is a fair bit taller than you are.”
  1627. >You heard the telltale sound of a can getting opened, then the sizzle of something getting poured on a hot pan.
  1628. >The scent of beans in tomato sauce filled the air.
  1629. “Huh.”
  1630. >Another tall unicorn?
  1631. >You thought pony mares were supposed to be your size.
  1632. “Are they stuck here like you are, or do they travel between realms like I do?”
  1633. >She glanced your way as another pan whizzed past her head and onto the stove.
  1634. >”I know of no other who has seen both worlds in the flesh. We all see glimpses of the other side while we sleep, but there's something unusual about you.”
  1635. >Something round and brown floated to her.
  1636. >You heard cracks and a loud hissing noise.
  1637. >”Weird. I've never been anything special.”
  1638. >”Pish-posh! Of course you are!”
  1639. >She trotted over, with a pan floating beside her, and leaned in to touch the tip of your snoot with hers.
  1640. >It felt as warm and soft as you could imagine.
  1641. >But, something about how her fangs peeked out from between her lips as she smiled gave you the creeps.
  1642. “Are there those shadow pony things here, by the way? I've already had an unpleasant experience with one and would like to know if it's safe here.”
  1643. >Her horn flashed once more as a cupboard flew open and plates, forks, and knives floated out of it.
  1644. >”The in-betweens? Yes, they're here too. But worry not; I will keep you safe. They are easy to get rid of – for me, at least.”
  1645. >A jug sloshing with water soon followed.
  1646. >”But, we're all done here. I would've loved to make something better, but this is what I have. Perhaps you can help me restock on your next visit, hm?”
  1647. >Her lips curled into a smile as the pans, one with fried eggs and the other with beans in it, floated to the table.
  1648. “Do you mind one last question?”
  1649. >Wood scraped on stone tile as both you and her pulled back chairs for yourselves.
  1650. >”Anything for you, dear.”
  1651. >You hesitated for a second, but decided to go for it in the end.
  1652. “How do you feel about Luna? Do you think she can solve this issue and return the world to normal?”
  1653. >Her smile melted away in an instant.
  1654. >For a split-second, she glared at you like you were some low-life scum.
  1655. >Then she forced another smile onto her lips.
  1656. >”She is too afraid of her own power to accomplish much. Humor her while you're there, but remember she's weak.”
  1657. >She made a sweeping motion at the table and everything on it as she sat down.
  1658. >”Now, shall we? I believe you have just enough time to eat before you'll get pulled back.”
  1659.  
  1660. [] Sit down and start enjoying our meal. Also, compliment the chef.
  1661. [] Why does our time here have to be so short?
  1662.  
  1663. >You flashed a smile at her and shoved a forkful of beans into your mouth.
  1664. >They tasted like beans in tomato sauce.
  1665. >Not your favorite, but you weren't about to complain.
  1666. “This is nice.”
  1667. >”It is indeed, after being alone for so long.”
  1668. >You meant to compliment the food, but close enough.
  1669. “How long, exactly, if you don't mind me asking?”
  1670. >She cut off a piece of her egg, popped it in her mouth, nodded in approval as she chewed on it, and gulped it down.
  1671. >”It has been about a month, I believe, since I the world was torn asunder and I was pulled out of her and ended up here on my own.”
  1672. >No wonder she was lonely.
  1673. >You followed her example and tried the egg.
  1674. >It had a touch of salt and pepper on it, but otherwise was just a fried egg.
  1675. >You would've petted her mane, but were out of reach and getting up to do so felt too out of place.
  1676. “Has it really been just you for that long?”
  1677. >She waved a hoof in the air as she chewed on some beans.
  1678. >”I did seek a few others early on, but they either ran away or swore to rid this world of me and then ran away. So, I stopped. I've been mostly reading since, with a trip to see what's out there when I got too bored.”
  1679. >You hopped off your chair and trotted to her to wrap a hoof around her midsection, then pressed your cheek onto her.
  1680. >She tensed up for a second, then relaxed.
  1681. >A hoof stroked your mane.
  1682. >”You appear shocked. Why?”
  1683. >You felt her move and heard the clink of metal on porcelain.
  1684. >She then began chewing on something.
  1685. >Nuzzling her for a short while longer, you finally pulled back.
  1686. “Being on your own for that long isn't good for you.”
  1687. >She waved a hoof in the air again as she shook her head.
  1688. >”Pish-posh. Some time for introspection is good for you.”
  1689. >You didn't feel prepared to tackle the topic any further.
  1690.  
  1691. ”Anyhow, how do you know how long I have? And why is it only such a short while?”
  1692. >You hopped back onto your seat.
  1693. >”I am the one who pulled you here when you drifted away from the other realm as you fell asleep. Your time here is short since even I cannot hold the rift between worlds open for very long – despite your peculiar connection to both worlds at once. Your time would not be limited should you come here through some other means.”
  1694. >She reached out with a leg far longer than yours and stroked your cheek with a forehoof.
  1695. >The corners of her mouth curled into a soft smile.
  1696. >”Then we'd have as long as we want.”
  1697. >She stared at you for a few seconds.
  1698. >You studied her slit pupils, wondering if they made her see any different.
  1699. >”We will meet again, dearest.”
  1700.  
  1701. >You drew breath and were about to answer when you realized you were in bed again.
  1702. >In a plush, luxurious bed with a moon theme.
  1703. >And staring into a pair of cyan eyes – with friendly, round pupils and a curious look to them.
  1704. >”Welcome back. How is it out there? Did you find out anything about the other side while there?”
  1705.  
  1706. [] Its very bright on the other side.
  1707. [] Tell her about NMM and ask why Nightmare is nice to us (without mentioning the kisses, hugs etc.). If she's trying to use us, what could she need us for?
  1708.  
  1709. “It's very bright. I got blinded by the sun when I peeked outside.”
  1710. >You wiggled a little, feeling the sheets as you did so.
  1711. >They were of the softest cloth you'd ever felt.
  1712. “Apart that, I found out there's ponies trapped there just as there are here. There's at least Nightmare Moon and one other.”
  1713. >Silence.
  1714. >”Yes. I was aware of her being there. What of her?”
  1715. >Her voice was cold when she finally spoke up.
  1716. >You wiggled again, this time out of discomfort under her icy gaze.
  1717. “She was very nice and made me food even if she was low on it because the sunlight pains her and she avoids going out to get more. Why would she of all ponies be nice to me and share her supplies with me?”
  1718. >Luna stared at you for a while longer, then rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh.
  1719. >”You gave the answer to your own question. She wants you to get supplies for her. That's why she's nice to you; because you can get her something she wants.”
  1720. >She shuffled and rolled out of bed and onto her hooves.
  1721. >The bed almost, but not quite, dampened the movement enough for you to not even feel it.
  1722. >”Which, coincidentally, is what I'd like you to do for me today. We're running low on eggs and I'm still hoping to get my hooves on some cream.”
  1723. >She balanced on one rear and one front hoof as she pushed the other two legs as far back and forward as she could to stretch herself out.
  1724. >”Mmmn. Now unlike her, I'm not going to just pretend I'm your friend. Here, I made this before going to sleep.”
  1725. >A dreamcatcher of dark blue feathers and twinkling thread, almost identical to the one you saw on Fleur, floated out of her desk drawer and to you.
  1726. >”That'll keep you anchored to me and will ensure you can return to the castle from wherever – as long as you don't get lost.”
  1727. >You held out a hoof and the amulet floated onto it.
  1728. “Thanks!”
  1729. >Luna's lips curled into a tiniest hint of a smile, though she still looked like she'd just eaten an entire lemon.
  1730.  
  1731. [] Give her a hug too, it's only fair and we shouldn't pay favorites.
  1732. [] Anything happened while we were on the Sunny side?
  1733.  
  1734. >You stuck the amulet beneath your floof and tied it around your neck, then pushed yourself onto your hooves and hopped off the bed.
  1735. >As your hooves thumped on the stone floor, you realized there were ponies sleeping on the floor below.
  1736. >You hoped you hadn't woken them up, but it felt like morning so it probably wasn't a big deal even if you had.
  1737. “Did anything happen while I was gone?”
  1738. >Luna switched legs and repeated her stretch.
  1739. >”Mmmn. The nightmare that stalked us last night is gone – for now. I know not where it lurks, but lurk somewhere it does.”
  1740. >She returned her hooves to the floor, then lifted each in turn to shake each leg.
  1741. >She had a tiny bit of jiggle to her, especially around and above her thighs.
  1742. >That she had a very nice pair of, that showed hints of the musculature beneath her skin, especially around where her dark blue coat turned into the black of her mark.
  1743.  
  1744. >You glued your eyes to the window instead to not get caught staring.
  1745. >The darkness was gone and you could once more see the jungle and the high-rise, along with the cottage in the light of the full moon.
  1746. >”That is all I know of happening. It was a quiet night.”
  1747. >Wood scraped on wood as a drawer got pulled open.
  1748. >That was soon followed by the sound of something getting brushed.
  1749. >You turned around to see Luna running a very fancy, bejeweled silver brush along her mane.
  1750. >It left the mane just as flowy and twinkly as it was before, as far as you could tell.
  1751. “Are they usually not as quiet?”
  1752. >You kept your steps light as you tread towards her.
  1753. >”There's usually some minor happenstances, such as spontaneous tiny magic bursts as the void fiends move about and disrupt its flow. Nothing worth mentioning, but this night was particularly quiet.”
  1754. >You tapped a hoof on the floor as you reached her.
  1755. >She craned her neck to look at you.
  1756. >You snuck a hoof around her withers and pulled yourself into a hug.
  1757. >A sudden, sharp breath wheezed into her lungs before she let it out slow.
  1758. >”Ah. What's the occasion?”
  1759.  
  1760. [] Just wanted to thank you again for the dreamcatcher, and everything else you've done for us.
  1761. [] Thank you for keeping us together.
  1762. [] Thank her for the amulet.
  1763.  
  1764. >”I just wanted to say thanks. For keeping us together, and for the amulet.”
  1765. >You pressed your cheek against her warm neck and felt her shift one way, then another.
  1766. >She wrapped a hoof around your neck and back.
  1767. >”But of course. 'tis what a princess of Equestria has to do: ensure the security of ponies and the nation. I am very grateful for your help, too.”
  1768. >She stroked your scales a few times before letting go.
  1769. >You too let go.
  1770. >Your front hooves thumped back onto the floor.
  1771. “So, what exactly did you have planned for today? Hunting for supplies, but where exactly? And will it be just me?”
  1772. >Luna cast a glance at you before returning her focus to running the brush along her mane.
  1773. >”We'll decide on what else to do once I see what you can find. Either Fleur or Tempest will join you; I need one of the two here helping me with... well, you'll see when you return. As for where?”
  1774. >She pointed a hoof at the window, and at the three distinct places you could see out of it: the cottage, the high-rise, and the jungle.
  1775. >”Somewhere there is your best shot. I trust your judgment. But, for right now, would you mind making us some breakfast? Or would you prefer to go wake up the sleeping beauties first and let me do breakfast?”
  1776.  
  1777. [] Finally, our chance to flex our culinary expertise.
  1778. [] Cook. Kirins have an innate ability to cook. Homemade bread, baby.
  1779.  
  1780. “I'll make us some breakfast. There's something I want to try and I bet you're going to like it.”
  1781. >Sure, it would be 'just bread' but not exactly as ponies knew it.
  1782. >You wheeled around, both your neck floof and the tip of your tail grazing Luna's chest.
  1783. >”The kitchen is all yours, my friend. I will finish tidying up my mane, go wake up the duo, and then we shall come see what you have made. So, no rush. I believe miss Fleur will need some time to take care of her bedhead before she wants to be seen.”
  1784. >Something brushed your barrel.
  1785. >You opted not to glance back to see what it was as you trotted into the kitchen.
  1786.  
  1787. >The door to the stairwell swung open and thumped into the wall.
  1788. >Somepony sniffed at the air.
  1789. >”Fresh bread is always a welcome surprise.”
  1790. >The very corners of Tempest's mouth were curled into a smirk as she trotted into the kitchen to see you in front of the oven.
  1791. >She stopped in her tracks a step from you, stuck her snout in the air, and took a few sniffs again.
  1792. >”And not just any bread. You put something in it. What's in it?”
  1793. >Her shod hooves beat the floor's stone tiling as she trotted to you and poked your side.
  1794. “You'll find out soon enough. It's almost done.”
  1795. >You, too, sniffed at the air and at the scent of fresh bread coming from the oven.
  1796. >It'd have just the right scent any minute now.
  1797. >Tempest trod around the kitchen, looking at the doughy bowl and spoon you'd left in the sink.
  1798. >”Something from your village, I take it?”
  1799. >You nodded and sniffed at the air again.
  1800. >Your tail twitched with your snout.
  1801.  
  1802. “What's taking them so long?”
  1803. >There was a large, fragrant, and steaming hot loaf of bread on the table.
  1804. >It wouldn't stay warm for long and Luna and Fleur were nowhere to be seen.
  1805. >Tempest let out a chuckle as her lips curled into a smirk.
  1806. >”Miss de Lis needs her morning care routine done. She'll be done when she's done and no sooner.”
  1807. >You let out a sigh and looked down at your own hooves.
  1808. >Your tail drooped until it hit the floor.
  1809. “Oh. I'd hoped they'd get to taste it when it's warm and at its best.”
  1810. >It wouldn't go bad for a day or two, but it wouldn't be the same.
  1811. >Maybe you could take some to them?
  1812. >Tempest probably wouldn't be too thrilled about that, though.
  1813.  
  1814. [] Mares will get bread!
  1815. [] Their care-taking can take a break. There's bread to be eaten. Bread!
  1816. [] We can prod Tempest for information about our potential exploration targets.
  1817.  
  1818. >You stared at the bread for a moment in silence as your ears drooped.
  1819. “This won't do!”
  1820. >Your horn lit up and your ears perked up as you floated a knife to the table.
  1821. “How much do you want? I'll take the rest to them. No morning care is that important!”
  1822. >Tempest blinked at your newfound determination.
  1823. >”You really care about bread, don't you? And cut me a quarter of it. Anything but an even split causes fights in the mess hall.”
  1824. >She let out a chuckle.
  1825. >”I could get away with it here, but this does look very tasty and I want them to enjoy no less of it than I do.”
  1826. >You stuck the knife deep into the loaf and sliced it into four almost equal chunks.
  1827. >Cutting through the crust released a wave of bread scent.
  1828. >It had you lick your lips in anticipation.
  1829. “Here you go. Enjoy it however you like.”
  1830. >One of the quarters, wreathed in your magic, floated out of the pan and onto a plate in front of Tempest.
  1831. >She stared at her piece in silence as you cut the rest of the bread into thirds.
  1832. >As you were done, you glanced at her to notice a bit of a frown on her face.
  1833. >Her ears were drooping as well.
  1834. >She forced a smile as soon as she noticed you looking and shooed you away with her hoof.
  1835. >”Off you go then. It's not getting any warmer. I'll be fine on my own.”
  1836. “Well, okay then. Enjoy the bread. I'll be back in a minute.”
  1837. >You flashed a smile at her, took the bread in your magic grasp along with three plates, and trotted out.
  1838.  
  1839. >You thumped your hoof on the door to Fleur and Tempest's room.
  1840. >”Come on in.”
  1841. >Luna was the one who answered as the door got pulled open by a flash of blue magic.
  1842. >Fleur laid on her bed with her mane fanned out behind her, with Luna working a bejeweled silver brush through it.
  1843. >”Why, hello there. Eager to see us, hm?”
  1844. >You trotted in and swung the door closed behind you.
  1845. “I didn't want you to miss out on fresh bread.”
  1846. >The bread floated towards them.
  1847. “Have some while it's still warm!”
  1848. >Fleur and Luna glanced at each other and nodded.
  1849. >The bed squeaked as the unicorn pushed herself off of it.
  1850. >She stuck a hoof under her mane and flipped it to one side as she got onto her hooves.
  1851. >Her mane looked so silky smooth that you wanted to run a hoof through it.
  1852. >Both she and Luna sniffed at the air.
  1853. >”A most wonderful scent. What say you, Princess? Shall we take a break to eat?”
  1854. >The alicorn nodded.
  1855. >”Even I cannot say no to an offer like that.”
  1856. >Luna tossed the brush onto Fleur's bed.
  1857. >It bounced once before settling with a soft thud.
  1858. >You float a plate and a third of the remaining bread to you and both mares.
  1859. >The effort of levitating and manipulating that many objects at once made your head spin and swim.
  1860. >You said nothing, but the mares picking their pieces of bread into their own magical auras was quite the relief to you.
  1861. “I hope you like it.”
  1862. >Both mares floated their loaves up to their snouts to sniff at them before nibbling on it to get a taste.
  1863. >”Mmm! I can't remember the last time I had bread this good.”
  1864. >Luna's compliment spread warmth inside you, but there was a feeling that something was wrong in the back of your mind.
  1865. >Like you'd forgotten something.
  1866.  
  1867. [] Go back to Tempest
  1868.  
  1869. “I'm glad you like it! I'll bake another loaf some other day if you'd like.”
  1870. >You glanced at your own piece.
  1871. >It reminded you of how Tempest looked at hers as you left her.
  1872. “But for now, I'll let you get back to your mane care.”
  1873. >”Huh?”
  1874. >Luna and Fleur glanced at each other.
  1875. >The unicorn arched a brow, set her piece of bread on her plate, and looked at you.
  1876. >”Well I suppose that is... a fine decision.”
  1877. >She stared at you as you reversed out of the room and pulled the door closed behind you.
  1878.  
  1879. >Tempest had torn her bread in half and was munching on a piece of it as you trotted back into the kitchen.
  1880. >She waved a hoof at you and nodded at the seat opposite to her.
  1881. >You hopped onto the chair and finally had a chance to bite into your hoofiwork.
  1882. >It tasted just as brilliant as the scent suggested – but, you knew it wasn't perfect since a few spices weren't available.
  1883. >”You're pretty good at getting mares bread. What's your secret?”
  1884. >Tempest let out a chuckle as you felt a mild heat rise to your cheeks thanks to her choice of words.
  1885. “It's the exact right ratio of flour and water. Along with a few herbs, and making sure it's in the oven for precisely as long as it needs to be.”
  1886. >It was something the Kirin took seriously and even you'd practiced from a very young age.
  1887. >”That's something the bakers I've dealt with so far could've used plenty of lessons in. The bread – and the rest of the food – in Storm King's army was...”
  1888. >The corners of her mouth curled downwards into a frown as she looked down at her bread.
  1889. >”Well, it kept you going. That's the best praise I can give it.”
  1890. >She blew a blast of air out of her nose as her frown turned upside down.
  1891. >”Good thing I don't have to go back.”
  1892. >Both of you took the moment to dig into your pieces of bread.
  1893.  
  1894. >Tempest rested her chin on a foreleg as she watched and waited for you to be done.
  1895. >Her brow was furrowed and you were certain she was swinging one of her rear legs back and forth beneath the table.
  1896. >You squirmed under her gaze, but managed to hold back the urge to ask what she was thinking about.
  1897. >Until you gulped down the last bit of bread, at least.
  1898. “You look like you have something on your mind.”
  1899. >You weren't sure you liked the smile her lips curled into.
  1900. >”You could say that.”
  1901. >She hopped off her chair and trotted towards the door, then paused and beckoned you to follow her.
  1902. >”Now come on. We have some eggs to get to.”
  1903. >She arched a brow and cocked her head.
  1904. >”Or would you rather go with Fleur?”
  1905.  
  1906. [] Follow Tempest
  1907.  
  1908. >Your hooves clopped onto the stone floor as you hopped off the chair.
  1909. “Let's go.”
  1910. >You thought you saw a smirk forming on her face as she wheeled around.
  1911. >It was gone when she stopped to pull the door to the stairwell open – if it ever existed in the first place.
  1912. >”I look forward to an expedition without somepony constantly bickering about how I have the wrong approach to everything.”
  1913. >You slipped by her as she held the door open.
  1914. “Is she really that bad? I found her very helpful on our short trip.”
  1915. >She followed you into the stairwell.
  1916. >Magic sparked from her horn and the door closed behind her with a quiet thud.
  1917. >”No, not really. She's very competent and capable, but we have very different approaches to a few things.”
  1918. >The steps of her shod hooves echoed in the stairwell as she started down the stairs.
  1919. >”The way she never says things straight irks me. But, we do get along well enough to get things done.”
  1920. >As you reached the floor below, Tempest glanced at the door to her and Fleur's room.
  1921. >”Just a moment.”
  1922. >She trotted to the door, pulled it open, and slipped in before closing the door behind her.
  1923. >You heard the muffled voices of all three mares talking.
  1924. >Tempest came back out a minute later with two pairs of saddlebags on her.
  1925. >She offered one pair to you.
  1926. >”It's Fleur's, but she won't need it today so you can use it.”
  1927. >You lit up your horn and floated it onto your back.
  1928. >It wasn't your size, but would do.
  1929.  
  1930. >The castle was just as quiet as it'd been the night before.
  1931. >Dead silent.
  1932. >It felt like pillows pushed onto your ears every time you and Tempest stopped to listen for anything threatening.
  1933. >You felt uneasy the whole way through, but you reached the main gate without running into anything.
  1934. >Tempest stuck a hoof in your way to stop you just as you were about to head out of the gatehouse and onto the drawbridge.
  1935. >”Hold. It's best not rush out there headlong. We'll leave... her protection fully as soon as we leave the castle grounds so it's a bit different out there.”
  1936. >You turned to look at her and saw her peering out at what lay ahead: a road into a jungle, a lone cottage, and a high-rise apartment complex.
  1937. >”It's just the shadows in the castle. But out there, there's no telling what we can run into. Giant monsters, grues in the dark, sudden pitfalls into nothingness. Weirdest thing I've run into was a door leading into an infinity of darkness full of glowing eyes staring at me. Left my head spinning after Fleur pulled me out, that one.”
  1938. >Taking a few steps in reverse, you pinned yourself to the wall behind her.
  1939. “There's also my nightmare out there somewhere.”
  1940. >Tempest craned her neck as much as she could to get a sideways look at you, then nodded.
  1941. >”Yes, that is also a thing. But, where do you think we should head to find eggs and other supplies?”
  1942. >She pointed a hoof at each of the three options in turn.
  1943.  
  1944. [] Cttge
  1945.  
  1946. >You pointed a hoof at the cottage.
  1947. “That's probably our best bet, if somepony hasn't been there already. It should also be easy to get into.”
  1948. >Tempest nodded.
  1949. >”Uh-huh. I can see where you're coming from. Let's go check it out.”
  1950. >She beckoned you to follow with a wave of her hoof and trotted off towards the cottage in the distance.
  1951. >”Now bear in mind that things around here are rarely as simple as they look. I'm not sure what we'll find in there, but we'll definitely find something in there – that's not just eggs and sugar.”
  1952. >Her ears swiveled backwards so she could hear your hooves thump on the grassy ground.
  1953. >Your surroundings shifted and twisted and changed as you left the gatehouse behind.
  1954. >The manicured lawn of castle gardens turned into a field of blooming flowers and grasses long enough to tickle your belly as you trotted through them.
  1955. >Glancing behind yourself, you were confused to see the castle in the distance, like you'd been going for at least fifteen minutes.
  1956. “Is that supposed to happen? There's no way we got this far already.”
  1957. >Tempest slowed her steps to wait for you, but didn't bother looking back.
  1958. >”Yeah. Don't worry about it. Distance works a bit different here, more like it would in a dream. Why and how? Ask the princess, not me.”
  1959.  
  1960. >Despite the expedited travel, it was still a bit of a trip to your destination.
  1961. >A sudden rustle made your heart jump into your throat a few minutes later.
  1962. >You stood frozen, balancing on three hooves with your ears perked upright to listen.
  1963. >Tempest's ears twitched and she swung herself around.
  1964. >Her eyes were narrowed and she dropped herself into a wider stance.
  1965. >But, after a few seconds of looking around, she stood upright again, arched a brow, and cocked her head.
  1966. >”What is it?”
  1967. >You drew breath just as another rustle came from somewhere to your left.
  1968. >Your head jerked to that side as your gaze searched for the source.
  1969. >The mare in front of you let out a chuckle.
  1970. >”Oh. That makes sense.”
  1971. >She trod over to your frozen in spot form, reached up to you, and pressed a shod, grassy hoof onto your snoot.
  1972. >”Relax. Not everything out here is hostile.”
  1973. >As if to confirm her words, a magpie hopped into view.
  1974. >It stared at you with its beady eyes for a moment, wagged its shiny black tail feathers, and spread its wings before hopping into the air and flapping off towards the horizon.
  1975. “Oh. Well that's not an unwelcome surprise.”
  1976. >You weren't sure why you'd thought there'd be no wildlife – or anything at all apart the shadows and nightmares for you to run into.
  1977.  
  1978. >It only took you a few more minutes to get to the cottage.
  1979. >It was a cozy place, with a thatched roof and white walls that had black highlights.
  1980. >There was either a second floor or at least an attic as there was an open window way above ground level.
  1981. >But, that was the only thing open.
  1982. >All the curtains were pulled so you couldn't see inside.
  1983. >The two of you trotted to the front door.
  1984. >You tried pushing and pulling and twisting the handle, but the door didn't budge.
  1985. “That's far more locked than I thought it'd be. How do we get in?”
  1986. >Tempest trod to the door, banged her hoof on it, and pressed her ear against it.
  1987. >”Nopony home.”
  1988. >She took her ear off the door and turned to look at you.
  1989. >”I'm not sure. I noticed something that looked like an entrance to the basement on the other side. I don't think it had a lock on it; we could try that. Or we could look for a key. Or, we could try getting in through that open window.”
  1990.  
  1991. [x] Try getting into the basement [95%, d20, roll over 1, result: 2, Success]
  1992.  
  1993. “The basement sounds like it's the easiest to get in through. I think we should try that first.”
  1994. >You turned to look at Tempest, who had a sly smile on her lips.
  1995. >”Uh-huh. It's right on the other side of the house.”
  1996. >She pointed a hoof at a corner, then trotted that way.
  1997. >You followed behind her.
  1998. >On the way, you slowed your steps at each window and looked in to see if the curtains were fully drawn in each one of them.
  1999. >They were and you couldn't get even the slightest peek of what was inside.
  2000. >They all swayed in and out a bit, though.
  2001. >But that was probably just air flowing through the house.
  2002.  
  2003. >”Well, there it is.”
  2004. >Tempest stood next to a wooden hatch on the ground.
  2005. >It was set in a stone frame and was right next to the wall.
  2006. >It, as she'd mentioned, had no lock on it.
  2007. “Well, nothing to it I guess.”
  2008. >You lit up your horn as your magical aura wreathed the hatch cover.
  2009. >It made a grating sound as it rose, and turned out to be heavier and thicker than it looked from the outside.
  2010. >But, it swung upwards nevertheless and revealed a set of solid, steep wooden stairs down into the earth.
  2011. >Not very deep into it, though.
  2012. >The floor looked like rough concrete and the space beneath looked just high enough for a large pony to stand in.
  2013. “I'll go in first if that's OK.”
  2014. >Glancing at Tempest, you got a nod in response.
  2015.  
  2016. >The concrete floor felt rough and cool under your hooves as you hopped off the stair-ladder – steep enough to be used like either.
  2017. >The basement wasn't large.
  2018. >On one wall was a shelf with jars of what looked like jam on it, and sacks of potatoes, carrots, onions, and such next to it.
  2019. >On the opposite wall was a desk with two drawers under it and nothing on it.
  2020. >Apart that, there were the stairs you just came down, and a ladder leading up to a hatch in the ceiling.
  2021. >Tempest's hooves thumped on the solid wooden steps of the ladder behind you.
  2022. >Glancing back, you saw her come down rear first like you had.
  2023. >She, you had to admit, had a very nice rear.
  2024. >The armor and her tight suit did nothing to hide it, on the contrary.
  2025. >Not wanting to get caught staring, you hopped onto the ladder and scaled up it.
  2026. >You pressed a hoof onto the hatch that had to lead into the house proper and pushed.
  2027. >It didn't budge.
  2028. >You tried again, with more force.
  2029. >It rose the tiniest bit and then fell back down.
  2030. >It felt like there was something heavy on top of it.
  2031. >”How is it?”
  2032. >Tempest, having reached the floor, looked up at you.
  2033. >You glanced back at her and shook your head.
  2034. “There's something heavy blocking this hatch from opening. I can't get enough force into it while hanging on to this.”
  2035. >You tapped the ladder you were on with a hoof.
  2036. >The mare beneath you drew breath, only to remain silent as a loud thump carried from somewhere above.
  2037. >It was followed by another, then another, and then even more to form a very heavy and slow set of hoofsteps.
  2038. >You suddenly weren't sure if opening the hatch was a good idea.
  2039. “What's that?”
  2040. >You kept your voice down.
  2041. >”I have no idea.”
  2042. >As did Tempest.
  2043.  
  2044. [] Stay quiet and wait it out.
  2045. >You remained very still and very quiet.
  2046. >Thump. Thump. THUMP.
  2047. >It got closer and louder.
  2048. >Your tail tucked itself between your rear legs.
  2049. >Being halfway up the ladder felt like a very bad idea.
  2050. >You began reversing off of it, landing each hoof on the rung below as soft as you could to keep quiet.
  2051. >Whatever was above fell quiet.
  2052. >You kept backing down, thankful that your cloven hooves were a touch quieter than those of a pony would be.
  2053. >Reaching the floor, you had one rear hoof on the rough concrete when-
  2054. >WHAM!
  2055. >-you fell over.
  2056. >The very loud slam came from directly above.
  2057. >You laid still for three heartbeats, waiting for the hatch to get pulled open.
  2058. >You then rolled onto your hooves and took a step back, still hearing the grating sound of the hatch above opening in your head.
  2059. >But, it was quiet.
  2060. >The nigh inaudible thups of your cloven hooves on concrete were the only sound.
  2061. >Your rear bumped into something soft, making you let out the breath you were holding.
  2062. >Tempest stood stock still, staring at the ladder you'd just clung to.
  2063. >It was quiet.
  2064. >Very, very quiet.
  2065. >Seconds turned into minutes as the two of you stood there, staring up and waiting for the sound of wood grating on wood.
  2066. >Which never came.
  2067. >It had to have been at least ten minutes before you dared to open your mouth – or at least your heart had settled at a rate close to its normal.
  2068. “So, what do we do here?”
  2069. >It was just a whisper, but felt like it echoed forever in the small basement.
  2070. >Tempest glanced at you, then at your tail that finally fell back to its normal spot from between your legs.
  2071. >”What do you think we should do?”
  2072. >She cast a look at the shelf and its jars and bags, the desk and its drawers, and finally a longer one at the hatch in the ceiling.
  2073.  
  2074. [] Do all the things.
  2075.  
  2076. “Let's see if there's anything here first.”
  2077. >You trod to the desk, keeping you steps slow and deliberate to stay quiet.
  2078. >It wasn't in any way special: simple wood that was painted white, with two drawers beneath it: one with a lock, one without.
  2079. >You lit up your horn and yanked open the drawer without a lock to reveal a stack of blank papers, a set of quills, and a bottle of ink.
  2080. >The other drawer, with a lock on it, refused to open.
  2081. >You tried with both your magic and your hoof, but it didn't budge.
  2082. >Leaning in to get a closer look at the keyhole, you noticed it was a simple design, quite small, and with tiny sun symbols engraved on the metal covering its edges.
  2083. >The key would likely be similar.
  2084. “Do you see a key anywhere? This thing's locked.”
  2085. >Quiet clops of shod hooves on concrete were followed by a soft push on your side.
  2086. >You hopped out of the way to let Tempest have a look.
  2087. >”Hm. Up there somewhere, no doubt.”
  2088. >She pointed a hoof at the hatch above.
  2089. >”But there's no telling what's in here. Could be a wallet or something equally useless.”
  2090. >Her tail brushed your side as she swung around to face the ladder to the hatch.
  2091. >You trod to the shelf loaded with jam.
  2092. >Strawberry, apple, raspberry, apricot.
  2093. >You would've preferred passion, mango, or papaya.
  2094. >But, it'd do.
  2095. >A jar of apricot jam, wreathed in your magic, floated into your saddlebag.
  2096. >You were about to grab another when your ears twitched and perked up at the telltale sound of wood grating on wood.
  2097. >Glancing backwards, you saw Tempest at the top of the ladder, pushing the hatch with her hoof – and that it was cracked open.
  2098. >The mare craned her neck to look down at you, then let her hoof and the hatch fall back in place.
  2099.  
  2100. [] Get up there.
  2101.  
  2102. “So, time to head up then?”
  2103. >You shoved a jar of strawberry jam into the other side of your saddlebag for balance.
  2104. >”Yes. It's time to advance.”
  2105. >She beckoned you forth with a wag of her hoof.
  2106. >You glanced at the stairs out of the basement.
  2107. >There was nothing between you and them.
  2108. “Let's see what's there, then.”
  2109. >Tempest beamed a smile down at you as you trotted to the base of the ladder below her.
  2110. >She turned to the hatch, glanced down at you one more time as she set a hoof on it again, then pushed.
  2111. >You gulped down a bit of saliva as your stomach swirled.
  2112. >The grating sound didn't make it any better.
  2113.  
  2114. >Whump.
  2115. >The hatch fell open as Tempest pushed it past its tipping point.
  2116. >She stuck her head out of the hole and looked around, with her ears swiveling in every direction to catch any sound.
  2117. >”All quiet. Come on.”
  2118. >She climbed into whatever room was above.
  2119. >You could just barely hear her shod hooves on the wooden floor while you scaled the ladder yourself.
  2120.  
  2121. >A living room was what you found above the basement.
  2122. >A fireplace on one wall, elliptic carpet on the floor, two recliners, a couch, a tea table.
  2123. >And windows on one wall, all with the lace-bottomed, white curtains drawn so tight you couldn't see outside at all.
  2124. >Nothing that struck you as out of the ordinary.
  2125. >Apart the bone chilling breeze that always blew from behind, no matter which way you faced, that tickled your neck and sent shivers down your spine.
  2126. “I don't like this place.”
  2127. >Tempest's ears and gaze scanned the room before she glanced back at you.
  2128. >”There's definitely something in here with us. I think we best not overstay our welcome. Where to first?”
  2129. >She pointed a hoof at an open door that led into the kitchen, a closed door, and a set of stairs leading up.
  2130.  
  2131. [x] Kitchen [High] [75%, d4, roll over 1, result: 2, success]
  2132. [] Upstairs [Medium]
  2133. [] Closed door [Medium]
  2134. [] Leave through the basement [High]
  2135.  
  2136. “The kitchen. That's where we'll find eggs if we're to find some. Let's start there.”
  2137. >You stood still for just long enough for another shiver to pass down your spine before heading to the kitchen.
  2138. >Your hoofsteps were soft and quiet, Tempest's not quite as, but you were very silent nevertheless.
  2139. >The only noise was a rattle from far above that sounded like claws or nails on a metal roof.
  2140. >After a second or staring at the ceiling, you and Tempest cast long glances at each other.
  2141. >No words were said, but it was clear that neither of you two were comfortable.
  2142. >Your hooves tread the floor a bit faster as you continued.
  2143.  
  2144. >The kitchen was in no way spectacular.
  2145. >Old, slightly yellowed fridge, shelves and cupboards that looked like they'd been repainted a few times, and a stove that had just been replaced.
  2146. >And, of course, neat white curtains drawn so tight you couldn't even take a guess at what was outside.
  2147. >”Such a charming little place. Equestria really is a well off place.”
  2148. >Tempest trod to a shelf to get a closer look at the bird themed porcelain cups and platters on it.
  2149. >”A matter of leadership, I suppose. I both helped and helped depose some who didn't care for their populace in the slightest.”
  2150. >She pulled open a cupboard and peeked inside to see plates, bowls, and two teapots that all had various birds painted on them.
  2151. >Your hooves made soft thuds on the wooden floor as you headed for the fridge.
  2152. >Yanking it open, you found only some butter and a heap of lettuce in it.
  2153. >But, who'd keep eggs in the fridge anyways?
  2154. >The cupboard next to the fridge was a jackpot.
  2155. >There was a full carton of 12 eggs on a shelf.
  2156. “A-ha.”
  2157. >Your magic tingled in the air as you floated the carton off the shelf.
  2158. >A hint of a smile visited Tempest's lips as she glanced at your finding.
  2159. >”Luna will be pleased. Let's see if there's anything else in here.”
  2160. >You passed over the rest of the kitchen to find little in the way of edibles.
  2161. >A loaf of bread, some flour, a bit of sugar, and a jar of honey.
  2162. >Tempest bagged the honey but left the rest.
  2163.  
  2164. >The curtains in the living room were swaying as the two of you left the kitchen.
  2165. >The chilly breeze was now outright icy.
  2166. >You could've sworn your breaths left behind tiny puffs of silvery mist.
  2167. >It was silent, apart the occasional quiet rapping of nails on metal roofing from somewhere far above.
  2168. >Tempest kept glancing around herself.
  2169. >”Are we done here?”
  2170.  
  2171. [x] See what's behind the closed door [60%, d10, roll over 4, result: 9, Success]
  2172.  
  2173. “How about we find the front door and leave that way?”
  2174. >You pointed a hoof at the closed door.
  2175. >It wasn't in the front door, but the cottage wasn't very large.
  2176. >The room you were in along with the kitchen covered most of it already.
  2177. >Tempest glanced at you, then stared at the door for a second.
  2178. >”...OK, let's have a look.”
  2179. >The floorboards creaked as she passed by the hatch to the basement and trod to the door.
  2180. >Her hips swayed from side to side as she walked and her armor certainly didn't hide her skinsuit clad behind.
  2181. >You found the sight quite pleasant, but it really wasn't the time to gawk at such things, however tempting the thought.
  2182. >Instead, you scanned the room for any noise by swiveling your ears all around.
  2183. >It was quiet, apart the soft thuds of Tempest's hooves.
  2184. >Figuring it safe, you followed her.
  2185.  
  2186. >Tempest set a hoof on the knob as she reached the door, then glanced back at you.
  2187. >She had a brow arched.
  2188. >You nodded at her.
  2189. >She tugged at the knob, and the door swung open with the hinges letting out a quiet groan.
  2190. >Behind it was a corridor.
  2191. >A very long corridor.
  2192. >It was at least a hundred strides to the other end, with a multitude of doors and other corridors branching off on both sides.
  2193. >On the very far end was a door that was sturdier than the others and had a lock on it.
  2194. “How's that...?”
  2195. >Your mouth was left agape as you stared at the sight, trying to make sense of it.
  2196. >You'd walked around the cottage and it was at most half the length of the corridor on the longer side.
  2197. >Something hard jabbed at your flank.
  2198. >”Don't think too hard about it. Dreams don't always make sense, and neither does this world.”
  2199. >You shook your head and glanced at Tempest.
  2200. >She had a sly smile on her lips.
  2201. >”Now come on. It's getting too cold in here for me.”
  2202. >To demonstrate, she opened her mouth and let out a breath.
  2203. >It formed a puff of silvery mist.
  2204. >You hadn't paid attention to the temperature for a little while.
  2205. “I noticed it getting colder after finding the eggs, but when did it get that cold?”
  2206. >You tried to focus your thoughts, but couldn't get the nonsensical dimensions of the interior out of your head.
  2207. >Tempest, meanwhile, trod behind you.
  2208. >As you shook your head, she lowered hers and pressed her forehead onto your behind.
  2209. >And then, with far more force than you were expecting, pushed you through the door and into the corridor.
  2210. >She slammed the door shut behind you with a swing of her rear hoof.
  2211. >”Get your head back on. There's-”
  2212. >She couldn't finish before you heard a loud thump coming from behind the door she just closed.
  2213. >Then another.
  2214. >Something scratched the door all of a sudden.
  2215. >Your heart jumped into your throat.
  2216. >An icy wind howled on the other side of the door.
  2217. >Streams of frost mist emanated from the gaps between the door and its frame.
  2218. >You were just about to break into a run when it got quiet.
  2219. >It got warm enough for the rime that'd formed on the wood of the doorframe to melt.
  2220.  
  2221. >It took some time – you had no idea how long – before Tempest's shod hooves thumping on the floorboards had you realize the danger had passed.
  2222. >You heard a click and a groan of hinges.
  2223. >As you turned to look, you saw that she'd pulled open one of the doors.
  2224. >It led into a small and simple bedroom.
  2225. >”Huh. Not what I expected. Not that having your expectations defied is all that uncommon here.”
  2226. >You trotted to the closest door on the other side of the corridor.
  2227. >It swung open with a light tug of magic.
  2228. >It was another bedroom.
  2229. >Which, on closer inspection, was exactly identical to the other one.
  2230. >You weren't sure what to make of it.
  2231.  
  2232. [x] Search the rooms. There has to be something to them. [87.5%, d8, roll over 1, result: 1, Failure]
  2233.  
  2234. “There's got to be something to these rooms. I think we should search them to find what it is.”
  2235. >You trod through the door you were holding open and looked around the room.
  2236. >The bed had blue quilted covers on it, there was a small nightstand next to it, and a cabinet and a desk in the little space there was aside it.
  2237. >And a stool that was pushed under the desk.
  2238. >You pulled the cabinet open.
  2239. >There was a raincoat, a thick padded winter jacket, and matching sets of boots for both in it.
  2240. >They were your size, fit for an average pony mare.
  2241. >But, not useful at the moment so you let them be.
  2242. >”Find anything?”
  2243. >Tempest trotted through the doorway.
  2244. >You shook your head.
  2245. “Nothing at all.”
  2246. >You even ducked and took a peek under the bed to make sure you didn't miss anything.
  2247. >It was not only empty, but also clean under there.
  2248. >You pretended not to notice Tempest steal a glance at your behind.
  2249. “Let's look in another room. Are they all the same?”
  2250.  
  2251. >At least the second one was, as it turned out.
  2252. >The quilted covers on the bed were green, but apart that the room was exactly as the one before.
  2253. >Even the clothes in the cabinet were the same: raincoat, winter jacket, two sets of boots.
  2254. >You were about to peek under the bed when you heard a click and the groan of hinges from the corridor.
  2255. >A sudden gust howled down the hallway.
  2256. >A bit of it reached into the room you were in, tickling the fluff on your neck and making you shiver.
  2257. >It was as cold as ice.
  2258. >You glanced back at Tempest.
  2259. >She'd already sneaked to the door and was pushing it closed with a hoof.
  2260. >You heard a set of heavy thumps approaching that had the rhythm of hoofsteps.
  2261. >Along with nails or claws rapping on floorboards.
  2262. >You gulped down a bit of saliva and glanced around the room.
  2263. >There were no windows and the only door was the one that just clicked shut as Tempest pushed it closed.
  2264. >The mare turned to look at you as the thumps kept getting closer.
  2265.  
  2266. [] Hide
  2267.  
  2268. “Nowhere to run so I guess we hide.”
  2269. >Only, there wasn't much to hide in.
  2270. >You stared at the closet for a moment.
  2271. >Memories of the previous time you hid in one flooded your mind.
  2272. >You'd rather not repeat that since Luna wasn't around to bail you out now.
  2273. >But, apart that the room had just the bed and the desk in it.
  2274. >That only left one option.
  2275. >You ducked and peeked under the bed as a chilling breeze tickled your neck and the thumps from the corridor kept getting closer.
  2276. >You were just about to squeeze in as you heard a set of quiet thuds and one of Tempest's shod hooves thumped onto the floor just in front of your face.
  2277. >”You don't hide from bad dreams under the bed.”
  2278. >She threw back the covers on the bed with one sweep of her hoof and nodded at the now revealed sheets.
  2279. >”In there. Quick.”
  2280. >You glanced up at her, not sure if what she was saying made any sense, but clambered into bed anyways.
  2281. >She slipped in just as you'd had enough time to roll over and face her.
  2282. >Her chest pressed onto your face as she pulled the covers back up to fully cover you.
  2283. >You were left in the muffled and warm darkness.
  2284.  
  2285. >Tempest's heartbeats got more intense as you heard something claw at the door.
  2286. >She grabbed a hold of your head and squeezed it tighter against her warm chest as there was a quiet click followed by a groan of hinges.
  2287. >You dared not make any noise or even flick your tail.
  2288. >All you did was lay stock still, pressed against Tempest as whatever was out there sniffed at the air.
  2289. >You held your breath for the second of silence that followed.
  2290. >Tempest's heart hammered in her chest at a pace so rapid the beats melded to one another.
  2291.  
  2292. >Whatever was out there let out a grunt.
  2293. >Nails rapped on wooden floor and something bumped into a wall.
  2294. >You then heard a set of receding thumps.
  2295. >As they faded, Tempest's heart slowed to a more normal pace.
  2296. >Her iron grip on your head loosened and, as the thumps faded out completely, she finally let go and threw back the covers.
  2297. >She gasped for air.
  2298. >”I can't believe that worked.”
  2299.  
  2300. [] Make sure it's gone.
  2301.  
  2302. >You laid still for a moment, listening to the silence and the chilly air wheezing into your lungs as you drew deep breaths.
  2303. >The mattress bobbed as Tempest's weight shifted.
  2304. >She pushed herself to a sitting position.
  2305. >You watched her ears swivel so she could listen to whatever sound came from the door.
  2306. >There was nothing to hear.
  2307. “Dream logic, huh.”
  2308. >She craned her neck to look at you, then let out a giggle and shook her head.
  2309. >”You never know which kind of logic you need around these parts. I was prepared to leap out and smack its face, but I'm glad I didn't have to.”
  2310. >She reached out and ruffled your mane, then hopped out of bed.
  2311. >You, too, shuffled out of bed and got back onto your hooves.
  2312. >Heading for the door, you noticed tiny droplets of water on the walls alongside tiny patches of rapidly melting rime and frost.
  2313. >The air was still a bit chilly but you thought it was getting warmer by the minute.
  2314.  
  2315. >You peeked into the corridor.
  2316. >There was nothing out of the ordinary on the longer side that led to the heavy door.
  2317. >On the other side, the door that led back to where you'd come from was covered in a layer of silvery frost.
  2318. >But that too had darker areas on it, suggesting it was starting to melt.
  2319.  
  2320. [] Keep exploring the rooms. [12.5%, d8, roll over 7, result: 6, failure]
  2321.  
  2322. >You wheeled around to see Tempest looking at you with an arched brow and her head cocked to one side.
  2323. >”You look like you have a plan. What is it?”
  2324. >Beckoning her over with a wave of your hoof, you reversed back into the corridor.
  2325. “Well, I'd rather not go back the way we came with that thing in there and that-”
  2326. >You pointed a hoof at the heavy, locked door at the far end of the hallway.
  2327. “-looks locked. I believe the key is in one of these rooms and that we should keep looking for it.”
  2328. >Tempest's arched brow rose a tiny bit further as she stared at you for a second.
  2329. >She then let out a single chuckle as he lips curled into a smile.
  2330. >”Well OK then. Let us keep looking.”
  2331. >She trod out of the room and pulled the door closed behind her.
  2332. >Then, just before taking her hoof off of it, pushed it open again.
  2333. >”I think we best keep track of where we've been already.”
  2334. >She glanced down the corridor and at the multitude of doors and other corridors branching off on both sides of it.
  2335. >Her smile turned into a smirk as she trotted by you, swatting your flank with her tail as she went by.
  2336. >”Well come on then. Let's get started.”
  2337.  
  2338. >You weren't sure when you lost count.
  2339. >At some point, after pushing open yet another door to reveal yet another room that was identical to all the others apart the color of the covers on the bed, you just realized you'd lost track of both time and number of rooms.
  2340. >The one you were in right now had green covers and the one before had red.
  2341. >Tempest, instead of checking rooms on her own, was now following you to check the cabinet in each room.
  2342. >You peeked under the bed, then checked the nightstand and the desk before leaving for the next room.
  2343. >So you trotted out of the room, back into the corridor, and to the next door.
  2344. >You pushed it open to reveal...
  2345. >...another room that was exactly the same.
  2346. >Only, the covers were yellow this time.
  2347. >You let out a sigh, rolled your eyes, and went in.
  2348.  
  2349. >”There's something in here.”
  2350. >Tempest's voice was so unexpected it made you hop in place.
  2351. >You'd already been to countless rooms and all you remembered that this one was purple and the one before was orange.
  2352. >She scooped said something out of the cabinet and turned around to show it to you.
  2353. >It was a small key with tiny sun symbols engraved on it.
  2354. “Great find!”
  2355. >You slipped a hoof around her withers and pulled her in for a hug.
  2356. >Or meant to, at least.
  2357. >She was taller and heavier than you so you pulled yourself to her instead.
  2358. >She looked surprised as you leaned in and nuzzled her cheek before letting go.
  2359. “Come on. Let's see if this gets us out of here.”
  2360. >You swooped the key from her shod hoof, then rushed out of the room, to the main corridor, and finally to the heavy door at the end of it.
  2361. >The heavy door had a large and heavy lock on it.
  2362. >You stuck the small, engraved key into the keyhole anyways and tried it.
  2363. >It didn't fit in the slightest and was way too small.
  2364. >Setting a hoof on the knob, you tried both pushing and pulling, but the door was, in fact, locked and didn't budge.
  2365. >”So much for that. What's the next step of your master plan?”
  2366. >Tempest's shod hooves thumped on the floor as the caught up with you.
  2367.  
  2368. [] Well, fuck. I don't suppose Tempest knows how to pick lock?
  2369.  
  2370. “You don't happen to know how to pick locks?”
  2371. >Tempest shook her head.
  2372. >”Nope. That's more miss de Lis' area of expertise.”
  2373. >She lifted a shod hoof off the floor and tapped the door.
  2374. >Her ears were perked upright as she listened to the thumps.
  2375. >”I might be able to buck it in, but that'd risk attracting unwanted attention.”
  2376. >She coiled one of her rear legs and prepared to buck.
  2377. >Her tight suit emphasized some of the very trained muscles in her rear and leg flexing.
  2378. “Yyyeah. Buck that. Idea.”
  2379. >Her cyan eyes narrowed as she glanced backwards and very much caught you staring.
  2380. >Her lips curled into a satisfied smirk as she let the raised rear leg unwind.
  2381. >She did it slow and made sure to stare at you as you couldn't help stealing glances at the tiny shifts beneath her skin as her musculature relaxed and her behind returned to its usual, shapely self.
  2382.  
  2383. >You finally tore your gaze off of her and nailed it back at the door.
  2384. “I think it's best if we just head back the way we came. Is there even any guarantee that that'll take us outside?”
  2385. >It looked like it'd lead outside, but now you weren't even sure about that.
  2386. >”It probably does, but there is indeed a chance it doesn't. I'd agree that the best way out of here is the way we came in.”
  2387. >Tempest's hooves thumped on the floorboards as she wheeled around.
  2388. >Something smooth and hard grazed your flank.
  2389. >You looked back just in time to see her flick her tail so its tip brushed your flank as well.
  2390. >Her armored hips swayed as she trod down the corridor.
  2391. >”Come on.”
  2392. >She cast a sideways glance at you and nodded at the long since melted and dried door at the end of it.
  2393.  
  2394. >”It's quiet in there.”
  2395. >Tempest took her ear off the door leading back to the living room and glanced back at you.
  2396. >Your tail swished back and forth as you held your lower lip between your teeth.
  2397. >You nodded at her and gulped down a bit of saliva as she pulled the door open.
  2398. >There was nothing new to see in the living room.
  2399. >The hatch to the basement was still open and the curtains still swayed back and forth.
  2400. >Tempest peeked into the room.
  2401. >Her ears swiveled around for a few seconds before she glanced back at you.
  2402. >”Looks safe enough. Come on.”
  2403. >Her hooves made soft thuds on the floorboards as she headed for the hatch.
  2404. >You followed behind her.
  2405. >A cold breeze tickled your neck the instant you stepped into the room.
  2406. >But, you neither saw nor heard anything as you made your way to the ladder.
  2407.  
  2408. >The rough, bare concrete under your hooves as you got to the bottom of the ladder felt reassuring.
  2409. >You glanced backwards at the stairs leading outside and at the tiny patch of starry sky visible through the still open hatch.
  2410. >You then had to hop to the side to make room for Tempest coming down.
  2411. >Her hooves thumped on the floor as she hopped off.
  2412. >”Well, we made it here safe and sound. Was there something you still want to do or should we just get back? I think Fleur and Luna are starting to get a bit concerned.”
  2413. >She glanced around the basement, pausing a moment to stare at both the shelf stocked with jams and the desk with writing supplies in it.
  2414.  
  2415. [] See if the key works here
  2416. [] Leave
  2417.  
  2418. “Just a second. I'll try one more thing.”
  2419. >You pulled out the small key you found and trod to the desk and the locked drawer underneath it.
  2420. >Both the lock and key were small and had sun themed engravings on them.
  2421. >Sticking the key into the keyhole, you gave it a twist.
  2422. >It turned with a quiet clicking sound.
  2423. >You pulled the drawer open to reveal a pair of shades.
  2424. >Or were they normal specs?
  2425. >There was something odd about the lenses so you couldn't tell.
  2426. >They were shifting between clear and dark like there were blobs of shadow dancing in them.
  2427. >”What's in there?”
  2428. >Tempest's shod hooves thudded the concrete floor as she got closer.
  2429. >You were just about to scoop up the pair of shades and show it as you heard a loud thump and something solid hit your side hard.
  2430. >You staggered to the side to stay upright.
  2431. “What was that for?”
  2432. >The mare who'd just hip checked you stuck a hoof into the drawer and pulled out the shades to look at them.
  2433. >”Sorry about that, but I think it's best you don't touch this.”
  2434. >Her eyes crossed themselves as she stared at the swirling darkness in the lenses.
  2435. >She shook her head and stuck them into her saddlebag.
  2436. >”I was told what happened last time and was asked to look out for these things.”
  2437. >She then reached towards you, snuck a hoof behind your head, and pulled you in to bump her forehead into yours.
  2438. >”We wouldn't want that happening to that pretty head of yours, now would we?”
  2439. >Letting go of you, she wheeled around and headed for the stairs leading outside.
  2440. >You followed behind her.
  2441.  
  2442. >You heard something sharp rapping on the metal roof as you finally got your hooves back on the grassy ground outside.
  2443. >Glancing up, you saw a magpie looking down at you.
  2444. >It wagged its tail feathers at you, then hopped back from the edge and out of sight.
  2445. >Its claws rapped on the metal roofing for a bit until you heard a rustle of feathers and saw it flying off into the distance.
  2446. >Figuring it no cause for concern, you dashed off to catch up with Tempest.
  2447.  
  2448. >Tempest peeked into the Great Hall.
  2449. >You'd reached the castle in almost no time at all and the gatehouse along with courtyard you were in were deserted and quiet.
  2450. >”Nothing. Come on.”
  2451. >She pushed the dual doors open so you could fit through with your saddlebags.
  2452. >You dashed through the deserted fancy hall, over the plush red carpet and past the fancy statues.
  2453. >The only sounds were your hooves clopping on the polished granite floor.
  2454. >She stopped once again to peek into the corridor leading to Luna's tower.
  2455. >”Huh. I guess they aren't back yet. So.”
  2456. >Turning back to look at you, she hopped to the side and reversed into the corridor.
  2457. >”Come on. We'll pick a bed for you and haul it up while we're here.”
  2458. >She spun around again as you reached her side.
  2459. >”How do you like your beds? There's simple ones in the common guest rooms and luxurious ones a floor up. Or we can share one tonight if you want more time to think about it.”
  2460.  
  2461. [] Drop off the supplies first.
  2462.  
  2463. “I think carrying a bed along with the supplies we have would be too much. How about we unload and check if Fleur and Luna got one first?”
  2464. >Tempest arched a brow and stared at you for a moment.
  2465. >She then nodded.
  2466. >”OK, let us offload first, then.”
  2467. >You thought you heard her let out a sigh as you turned around and headed down the corridor, but it was quiet enough that you weren't sure about it.
  2468. >The sound of her shod hooves on stone followed right behind you.
  2469.  
  2470. >The door to Luna's room swung open before you even reached the top of the stairs leading to it.
  2471. >Nopony came out.
  2472. >You peeked in as soon as you reached it to see Luna sitting at her desk, scribbling in her diary.
  2473. >”You took a while. How'd it go?”
  2474. >She set her quill down and turned to look at you.
  2475. “We found what you wanted and Tempest has something else, too.”
  2476. >You trod into the room and levitated the carton of eggs out of your saddlebags to show it to Luna.
  2477. >”Excellent. I'll make something out of those tomorrow. But, for now, store them with the rest of the food.”
  2478. >She waved a hoof towards the kitchen.
  2479. >You headed that way just as Tempest came in behind you.
  2480. >”Something watched us. I'm not sure what or if it'll be trouble down the line.”
  2481. >You stopped halfway into the kitchen and swiveled your ears around to listen.
  2482. >”Hm? Why would that make you concerned? 'tis not unusual.”
  2483. >”They don't usually follow us all the way to the gates. Either way, here. We found these.”
  2484. >Glancing back, you saw Tempest reach into her saddlebag and pull out the pair of shades.
  2485. >She dropped them on the desk in front of Luna.
  2486. >The princess stared at them for a moment.
  2487. >”Most interesting. I will have to study these later. But, for now, I believe it is time to eat. Do you not agree?”
  2488. >She hopped off her stool and pointed a hoof at you and the kitchen.
  2489. >”Fleur has everything ready. It just needs to be warmed up. Would you mind getting her from downstairs? She must've been too absorbed in her book to hear you.”
  2490.  
  2491. [] Fetch Fleur and ask about the shades.
  2492.  
  2493. “Sure, I'll go get her, but could anypony bother explaining what those shades are supposed to signify?”
  2494. >The chevron on your horn lit up and the eggs and your saddlebags rose off your back and floated onto the kitchen table.
  2495. >Luna blinked a few times as she stared at you.
  2496. >”Why, 'tis the same as the seal we found in the day minister's apartment. Though, perhaps not as potent. If it is less potent, then your reaction to it should be less potent as well – but that is food for thought for a later date. Right now we need a different kind of food.”
  2497. >She nodded at the door to the stairwell and flashed a smile.
  2498.  
  2499. >You pushed the door with a rear hoof until it clicked shut.
  2500. >You weren't quite sure what to make of the shades.
  2501. >They were definitely important, but would they whisk you off to the day realm?
  2502. >Would that even be such a bad thing?
  2503. >There was-
  2504. >”I'll store these here should you need them for something. Do not tell him where they are.”
  2505. >Luna's voice was muffled by the door between you.
  2506. >”Why not? Do you not trust him?”
  2507. >As was Tempest's.
  2508. >”I know he harbors no ill intent, but has some sympathy for the Nightmare. It is best we do not provide a possible means of communication.”
  2509. >You heard shod hooves treading on stone and thought it better head down before they realized you'd overheard them.
  2510.  
  2511. >You set a hoof on the door to Fleur and Tempest's room and pushed it open just enough for you to slip through.
  2512. >You then stood still for a second, swiveling your ears backwards to listen for any indication of Luna or Tempest.
  2513. >Fleur, on her bed with a book floating in front of her face, arched a brow as she looked at you.
  2514. >She kept her mouth shut until you shoved the door closed.
  2515. >”That was certainly some entrance. Who are you hiding from? And don't worry, I know how to keep secrets.”
  2516.  
  2517. [] I overheard something I wasn't supposed to hear. Now I'm trying not to make the situation even more awkward.
  2518. [] Maybe we can ask Fleur if she knows anything about these artifacts that seems to be linked to both worlds and whether she also came across them before?
  2519.  
  2520. “Well I happened to overhear something I wasn't supposed to.”
  2521. >You kept your voice down and glanced at the ceiling.
  2522. “And I don't want to make it even worse by letting them know.”
  2523. >Fleur stared at you as a green bookmark floated to her book and lodged itself between the pages before said book slammed shut.
  2524. >”You have not satisfied my curiosity in the slightest. I suggest you talk to the Princess about it. She must've had her reasons to keep a secret, but will no doubt explain herself if you ask about it.”
  2525. >She rolled onto her side and slid her rear legs on top of each other.
  2526. >Her lips curled into a faint smile as she fluttered her eyelashes.
  2527. >”But, you did not come here to just hide. Were you perhaps eager to see me again?”
  2528. >...she had very nice hips, you had to admit.
  2529. >Just that tiny bit of softness in all the right places.
  2530. “Mmnot exactly. Luna said it's time to eat.”
  2531. >Fleur's tongue peeked from between her lips, sliding from left to right, as she stared at you with half-lidded eyes.
  2532. >”I was getting a bit hungry.”
  2533. >She rolled off the bed.
  2534. >Her hooves thumped on the floor as she stood up and looked down at you.
  2535. >”Right. I do have everything prepared. Won't be but a minute.”
  2536. >Her horn flashed and the door behind you swung open.
  2537. >She trotted past you, flicking her tail so it swatted your flank as she went.
  2538. “One more thing.”
  2539. >The mare, halfway through the door, stopped and turned to look at you.
  2540. >”Hm?”
  2541. “We found another one of those artifacts that seem to be linked to both worlds. Do you know anything about them? Or have you found one?”
  2542. >Fleur arched a brow and drew in a breath.
  2543. >She held it in for a few seconds, then nodded.
  2544. >”I only know the little the Princess told me, and now that I think of it I might just have seen one. Tempest and I once explored a snowy alpine village on the slopes of a tall mountain. There was a teacup in one of the houses we searched that looked like it was filled with shadows. We left it behind since we didn't think it could be important.”
  2545. >You glanced down at the floor and stroked your chin with a cloven hoof.
  2546. >It was a shame that same mountain would probably never show up again.
  2547.  
  2548. >You followed Fleur into the kitchen.
  2549. >Luna set the four plates she was floating onto the table and flashed a smile at you.
  2550. >”Ah, de Lis. You'll be pleased to hear that our adventuring duo found us some eggs and a few jars of jam. Perfect for what we have planned, is it not?”
  2551. >Fleur's horn flashed and the doors of a few cupboards and the fridge swung open.
  2552. >”It is, Princess. Now we only need cream.”
  2553. >Tempest, having no doubt heard you come back, trod out of the wardrobe holding a bottle.
  2554. >”How about some wine?”
  2555.  
  2556. >All that, however, barely registered in your brain.
  2557. >Fleur suggested you tell Luna that you'd overheard her.
  2558. >But, should you?
  2559. >And what would you say anyways?
  2560.  
  2561. [] Long-term plans?
  2562.  
  2563. “Sure, I'll... have some wine with you.”
  2564. >You shook your head to push out the thoughts.
  2565. >There'd be time to talk with Luna later.
  2566. >Said princess craned her neck to look at you.
  2567. >She arched a brow and remained silent for just a tiny bit longer than you'd thought she would.
  2568. >”Excellent. Do you have a preference? My personal stores are meager compared to the castle cellar, but I'm certain there's something you'd like.”
  2569. >You... really had no idea.
  2570. >You'd tried a few when you'd gone to see the rest of the world, but grapes didn't like the climate around the Village.
  2571. >”How about something sweet and tropical? A taste of home, perhaps?”
  2572. >You nodded at Luna.
  2573. >The few wines you'd tasted were all very sour, but you'd also heard there were more sorts than one could count.
  2574. >”Most excellent. I believe I have just the thing.”
  2575. >The princess hopped off her chair and trod into the pantry.
  2576. >”A solid choice, Commander, but perhaps not something our newest friend would enjoy the best.”
  2577. >The broken-horned unicorn shrugged and let a blue magic aura envelop the bottle was holding.
  2578.  
  2579. >Your stomach grumbled louder than you would've liked as Fleur placed a large bell pepper, stuffed with cheese, rice, mushrooms, and herbs, in front of you.
  2580. >That was followed by a few minutes of everyone stuffing their faces to sate the worst of their hunger.
  2581.  
  2582. “So.”
  2583. >The wine was sour with a slight bit of sweetness under it, but it did warm your insides and made your head feel light.
  2584. >It'd gone well with the food, but you were now done eating.
  2585. >You nodded at Luna.
  2586. “Do you have a plan for fixing all this? Returning the world to normal? So far we've been just surviving, gathering food.”
  2587. >The princess glanced at you, then swirled her glass and watched the wine circle in it before taking a sip.
  2588. >She smacked her lips.
  2589. >”Ah. Such excellent stuff, this. But yes, I do have a plan.”
  2590. >The corners of her mouth curled into a melancholic smile.
  2591. >”I will find a way to wake my sister. She will then raise the sun which will banish the abominations. Then, we will figure out a way to save the world – like we always have.”
  2592. >She swirled her glass again, waited for the deep red wine to settle, and took another sip.
  2593. >”That's why I want you to find eggs and cream for me. There's one thing I want to try: sister's morning pancakes. Those, and the artifacts you found. I'll have to study their reaction to her more.”
  2594. >With a single gulp, she downed the rest of her wine.
  2595. >Her horn lit up and the cork popped off the half full bottle that was on the table.
  2596. >She glanced at your almost empty glass.
  2597. >”Would you like some more?”
  2598.  
  2599. [] Just one glass is enough for us, thanks. So, pancakes and artifacts, it's that straightforward huh? I like this plan.
  2600.  
  2601. “One glass is enough, thanks.”
  2602. >The princess arched a brow, then shrugged and poured herself a glass.
  2603. “Pancakes and artifacts to save the world, huh? Straightforward. I like it.”
  2604. >She glanced at her wine, then at you.
  2605. >Her chair creaked as she leaned back onto it.
  2606. >”The first part is, at least. But, I've learned that these things rarely go to plan.”
  2607. >She let out a deep sigh, let her shoulders slump, and looked down into her glass.
  2608. >”For the most part I just want my sister back.”
  2609. >The words came out quiet.
  2610. >For a few seconds, she stared at the wine as her lower lip got sucked between her teeth.
  2611. >Then she took a deep swig.
  2612.  
  2613. >A thump ended the silence.
  2614. >It was Fleur hopping off her chair.
  2615. >”Have you all had enough to eat? Did you like it?”
  2616. >You nodded, as did Tempest.
  2617. >Luna kept staring into her glass.
  2618. >Fleur glanced at the princess, then lit up her horn and floated your plates and cutlery to the sink.
  2619. >She cranked the tap to full blast, put the plug in, and started rinsing off the worst.
  2620. >Tempest stared at you for a little while.
  2621. >She downed the rest of her wine and hopped off her chair.
  2622. >”If we're done here, how about we go take care of the thing you opted not to on the way back? You still need some... thing to sleep on.”
  2623. >A sly smile caressed her lips.
  2624. >Fleur glanced back at you and rolled her eyes.
  2625. >Luna kept staring into her glass with her lower lip sucked in between her teeth.
  2626.  
  2627. [] I think Luna needs attention first.
  2628.  
  2629. “Just a moment.”
  2630. >You stuck a hoof out at Tempest with the underside towards her.
  2631. >You then trod to Luna.
  2632. >The princess still stared at her drink.
  2633. “Hey. You'll have your sister back in no time. I promise.”
  2634. >Leaning in, you pushed your face close to hers and nuzzled her soft cheek.
  2635. >”Hmmh.”
  2636. >She turned to look at you and made a noise.
  2637. >Strong hooves wrapped around your barrel and pulled you up.
  2638. “Eep.”
  2639. >Your back scales got squeezed to her chest so tight it was tough to breathe.
  2640. >She sunk her muzzle into your mane.
  2641. >Warm puffs of air from her nostrils tickled your scalp.
  2642. >”I truly hope you are right. She is the only one in Equestria who treated me as an equal. Now I don't even know where she is.”
  2643. >Her hooves' grip on you got even tighter, so you couldn't even draw breath.
  2644. >She loosened it after a moment while letting her head rest on top of yours.
  2645. >You drew a deep, wheezing breath to fill your air-starved lungs.
  2646. “We'll get you some cream the first thing in the morning.”
  2647. >A shod hoof stroked your chest.
  2648. >A tingle of magic filled the air as a night blue aura enveloped your glass.
  2649. >The cork came off the wine bottle with a pop, and the same magic floated the bottle to your glass and poured it full.
  2650. >”I dearly hope you can find some. But, why not tell me of how life was in your village? I love hearing tales from faraway places where our influence doesn't reach.”
  2651. >Your glass floated back onto the table next to Luna's, well within reach.
  2652. >Tempest still waited at the door with her head cocked and a brow arched.
  2653. >The sound of sloshing water and a brush scrubbing on something suggested that Fleur wasn't about to help you out of your bind, either.
  2654.  
  2655. [] The bed can wait, there is a mare that needs attention.
  2656.  
  2657. >You let out a sigh and wagged a hoof to shoo Tempest off.
  2658. >The gesture made Luna give you an extra squeeze and a nuzzle.
  2659. “You wanted to hear about life in the village? Well, for the most part it was quiet.”
  2660. >Figuring you might as well, you lit up the chevron on your horn and floated your glass to you for a sip.
  2661. >No tastier than before.
  2662. “It took a long while before we learned to properly use our voices once we got them back.”
  2663. >Luna's hooves released their grip on you, letting you hop off.
  2664. >”Do go on.”
  2665. >You glanced back at her and her chest.
  2666. >It was very soft and warm and you didn't mind being pinned to it in the slightest.
  2667. “It really wasn't that different from a pony village of similar size – expect we didn't really have metal to work with. So most everything was made of wood, clay, or stone.”
  2668. >Rounding the table, you hopped onto the seat opposite of Luna.
  2669. “We did have a smithy and treasured every bit of steel we could get our hooves on. Still, we spent most our time gathering fruit from the forests, making crafts, or baking bread.”
  2670.  
  2671. >Luna covered her mouth with a shod hoof and let out a giggle.
  2672. >She was well into her fourth glass of wine.
  2673. >”My problem with clothes is that I got gifted way too many of them. You made yours and I could only use most of mine once to have a chance to use them at all.”
  2674. >The princess swirled her glass around.
  2675. >”And I had to use them all lest I risked offending whoever gifted them.”
  2676. >You felt a little dizzy and very warm after almost finishing your second glass.
  2677. “Well we barely used clothes at all. They were just for bad weather when you had to go out. A single sap treated coat would last for years.”
  2678. >You made a sweeping motion with your hoof to emphasize the last word.
  2679. >Properly treated cloth would remain waterproof for a decade.
  2680.  
  2681. >Luna was beaming a wide smile at you as she emptied what was left in the bottle into her glass.
  2682. >”I suppose 'tis not so different in your village, then. I do wish I could visit.”
  2683. >She covered her mouth again and let out yet another giggle.
  2684. >Her ears flicked as she did so.
  2685. >”Although, I do have to admit I'm surprised how little the scarcity of good steel bothered you. The degree of mastery your kin has over flora helped, hm?”
  2686. >You were dizzy and your eyelids felt heavy from the combination of wine and tiredness.
  2687. “Yes, a lot that is metal here was wood or stone back home.”
  2688. >A big yawn made its way out of your mouth, despite your efforts to hold it back.
  2689. “I don't think I can keep you company for much longer. Even if I'd like to.”
  2690. >You slid off your chair and trod to the sink.
  2691. >Fleur had left long since so you stuck your glass under the tap and twisted it on.
  2692. >Cool water felt refreshing in your mouth, but it didn't make you any less tired.
  2693. >”Plenty of space in my bed. Go sleep if thou must. I shall join you shortly.”
  2694. >Giggle.
  2695. >Luna's horn flashed and the door out of the kitchen flew open.
  2696.  
  2697. >You weren't sure when you fell asleep.
  2698. >At some point, you just noticed that your head was resting on something firm, warm, and very dark instead of Luna's blue pillow.
  2699. >A hoof as dark as night stroked your cheek, then pulled on your chin to make you look upwards.
  2700. >You found yourself staring into a pair of cyan eyes with slit pupils.
  2701. >”I have been waiting for you, dear. There is much to do – but we can enjoy each other for a while if you wish.”
  2702. >She leaned in, pushed her snoot right to yours, and placed a quick peck of a kiss on your lips.
  2703.  
  2704. [] Nope.
  2705.  
  2706. >You reached up to stroke the soft underside of her chin.
  2707. “I'd love to see more of this world. Last time you said you were low on supplies. I could help you restock.”
  2708. >Sheets shuffled and the mattress most of you lied on bobbed as she rolled onto her back.
  2709. >A strong hoof and a bit of magic pulled you onto her.
  2710. >She stared down at you as your chin rested on the bit of fluff she had on her chest and your hip laid just a bit behind hers.
  2711. >”Would you rather not see more of me?”
  2712. >Her eyelids drooped down about halfway as her tongue peeked out from between her lips and licked her fangs.
  2713. >You felt a shiver in your groin out of both fear and arousal as you realized you were perfectly positioned to plunge all the way into her.
  2714. >But, before you could even think of acting, you heard a quiet poof and were staring at a cloud of dark mist that slithered out from under you.
  2715. >The mist crept out of bed and onto the floor next to it, taking the solid shape of a an alicorn as dark as midnight, with her rear end towards you.
  2716. >She set her rear hooves apart with a pair of thumps and whisked her billowing, foggy tail out of the way.
  2717. >She then winked and dripped at you.
  2718. >You rolled off the bed and took a steady five-legged stance.
  2719. >She looked a bit too tall for you to reach, but you'd worry about that when you'd get there.
  2720. >As you took the first step, she lifted a rear hoof off the floor.
  2721. >And reached back to boop you on the snoot.
  2722. >You heard a quiet poof and realized you were staring at a cloud of dark mist again.
  2723. >It slipped under you through your legs.
  2724. >You heard a thump from behind and turned around to find yourself facing her.
  2725. >She had a fangy grin on her lips.
  2726. >”But, I shall honor your wish to explore this world. I believe we have just the time to see something in the castle. Would you like to raid the kitchen for what little is left there, or perhaps attempt to convince the tall unicorn living in the – bleh!”
  2727. >She stuck her tongue out and gagged.
  2728. >”– Tower of the Day to join our cause?”
  2729.  
  2730. [] Tower of Pone
  2731.  
  2732. >You stared at the faintly glowing moon on her rear end.
  2733. >What little you could see of it, anyways, as she was facing you.
  2734. >A part of you, the one located between your rear legs, wanted to round her to get another look.
  2735. >Her lips curled into a satisfied smile as you shook your head.
  2736. “Let's go see this unicorn. I'll talk to her and try to get her to agree to at least a truce.”
  2737. >Her tail swished from side to side.
  2738. >You couldn't help but imagine the sights.
  2739. >You shook your head again to banish the thought.
  2740. >”But of course. Follow me. I'll lead the way.”
  2741. >She had an outright smug look on her as she swung around and lit up her horn to make the door swing open.
  2742. >Sadly, she kept her tail in check and centered so you couldn't see a thing.
  2743. >Apart her dark and toned rear and thighs, of course.
  2744. >Which was a stellar sight, though not quite what you wished for.
  2745.  
  2746. >White and gold were the dominant colors as you walked through the corridors.
  2747. >Steps of Nightmare's shod hooves echoed all around you as you marveled at the intricate details of the carvings on each pillar you passed.
  2748. >They depicted ponies of all three kinds traveling, laboring, celebrating – you name it – together.
  2749. >No two were the same, and you hadn't paid attention to the carvings at all in the dark.
  2750. >You also remembered the castle being dominated by blue and silver during the night.
  2751. >You wagered there was no magic to that, just some clever design.
  2752.  
  2753. >The alicorn in front of you stuck a hoof out to the side to stop you as you were just about to reach the Great Hall.
  2754. >”Hold.”
  2755. >Hoofsteps and a faint jingle of chain armor carried from the Hall ahead.
  2756. >A shade.
  2757. >”It's alone. I will terminate it; you stay back.”
  2758. >She trotted on ahead with her head held high.
  2759. >You followed behind her, stepping soft to keep quiet on the stone tiling.
  2760. >Nightmare trod just past the doorway into the Hall itself, slammed a hoof onto the floor, and spread out her wings.
  2761. >”Your end has arrived, creature!”
  2762. >It stood on the red carpet running through the middle of the hall.
  2763. >It looked a lot smaller and transparent, like a normal shadow, in broad daylight.
  2764. >Still, your stomach lurched and you felt an urge to turn tail and run as it turned to look at Nightmare and you.
  2765. >The moment only lasted for an instant.
  2766. >Her horn flashed and an arc of deep purple shot out, piercing the shade and slashing it two.
  2767. >A wailing sound, somewhere between wind around a corner and a pony crying out, filled the room.
  2768. >The creature then faded out of existence, leaving no reminder of its existence.
  2769. >Silence took over for a moment.
  2770. >Then the alicorn in front of you glanced back at you and beckoned you to her with her hoof.
  2771. >”Come. We are not far now.”
  2772.  
  2773. >You were led into a courtyard that looked exactly like the one in front of Luna's tower, except the flowers were planted in the shape of the suns on Celestia's behind.
  2774. >Apart those it was the same, with a tiled, covered walkway all around it, a door to what was likely the night minister's apartment on one side, and a short corridor leading to a stairway on another.
  2775. >”There.”
  2776. >Nightmare kept her voice down as she pointed at the stairway.
  2777. >”I will stay back. It's best I'm not seen. Yet, at least.”
  2778. >You gulped down a bit of saliva and glanced at her as you trotted by.
  2779. “I hope she's not too stubborn.”
  2780. >Something cool and hard patted your behind.
  2781. >”I believe her quite sensible, but I do not expect much. Should you exceed that, though...”
  2782. >She stared at you with narrowed eyes as she licked her lips and fangs.
  2783. >Her tail swished from side to side again.
  2784. >“...I will come up with a suitable reward. Now go.”
  2785. >She shooed you onwards.
  2786.  
  2787. >You thumped your hooves onto the stone steps harder than you had to as you scaled upwards.
  2788. >The resulting clops echoed up and down the stairwell.
  2789. >You weren't sure if you should call out as well, but opted not to as it was likely for the best to not announce you knew the unicorn was there.
  2790. >The tower itself, you noticed as you scaled it, was identical to Luna's.
  2791. >Perhaps a bit taller, but that could've been just your mind playing tricks on you.
  2792. >You reached the first two rooms a moment later than you felt like you should have.
  2793. >Hearing nothing from either door, you kept on going upwards.
  2794. >Your hooves reached the highest landing just as the door on it slammed open.
  2795. >At least a dozen sharp steel needles shot towards you and your eyes.
  2796. >They stopped just short of you, held in place by a bright yellow magical aura.
  2797. >The source was a tall, blue unicorn mare with faint orange eyes and mane of the same colors.
  2798. >She wore a black dress and had a saddle on her back.
  2799. >”You're not one of them.”
  2800. >The sewing needles around you floated back to her.
  2801. >”Who are you, then? And what brought you here?”
  2802.  
  2803. [] Introduce you're self.
  2804.  
  2805. “I'm Anon. Nice to meet you!”
  2806. >You stuck a hoof out towards her, remembering it was a pony thing.
  2807. >The unicorn in front of you stared at you and your hoof for a second.
  2808. >She bumped it with hers.
  2809. >”Sassy Saddles. A pleasure to meet you. Now, would you mind explaining how you found your way here? I was aware of another pony in the castle but it definitely wasn't you. You're too small.”
  2810. >She narrowed her eyes and glared at you.
  2811. >The needles around her started spinning out of sync instead of all being pointed at you.
  2812. “That's quite the long story. It starts out in the world of eternal night where Princess Luna with me and a few others are working to undo the spell that-”
  2813. >Sassy stuck a hoof out while shaking her head.
  2814. >”How about you slow down for a bit there? Princess Luna in a world of eternal night? Does that mean...?”
  2815. >She planted the hoof on her face for a moment and let out a sigh.
  2816. >”Would you mind explaining it all over a cup of tea? I feel like it'll take a few minutes.”
  2817. >She took a few steps back to let you in.
  2818. >You glanced back down the stairs.
  2819. >Nightmare wasn't expecting immediate results, right?
  2820.  
  2821. >Celestia's private quarters were very much like Luna's.
  2822. >Only, the dominant colors were white and gold instead of blue and silver, and the curtains were thin and sheer to let in sunlight through them instead of very thick and dark to block all of it.
  2823. >”So, am I getting this right?”
  2824. >Sassy stared down into the half empty teacup on the table in front of her as she leaned back against the backrest of her chair.
  2825. >”A failed spell split the world into a night half and a day half, but at the same time both halves are also half dream?”
  2826. >She glanced up at you.
  2827. >You floated your teacup to your lips, took a sip, and nodded at her.
  2828. >”And you spend most of your time in the night world where you help Princess Luna find a way to undo the spell and mend the world?”
  2829. >You flashed a smile and nodded again.
  2830. “Yep. That's about how it is.”
  2831. >The unicorn pursed her lips and stared at you for a moment.
  2832. >She then looked down at the table between you for almost a full minute.
  2833. >You dared not break the silence.
  2834. >”Well. Can I help you in any way? Is there a way for me to travel to this other world? I do miss company.”
  2835.  
  2836. [] Do a lotta talking.
  2837.  
  2838. “I don't know of any way for you to travel between the worlds, unfortunately. There is one possible thing that Luna is currently researching, but whether something comes of that or not is too early to say for now.”
  2839. >Sassy nodded at you as you paused to sip at your tea.
  2840. “That thing is items that belong to both worlds. Try to gather any you see, just in case. They feel a bit off when you touch them and they look like they're wreathed in shifting shadows.”
  2841. >The unicorn stared at you for a second, then shook her head.
  2842. >”Can't say I've seen anything like that, but I'll keep my eyes open. What should I do if I find one?”
  2843. “Uh.”
  2844. >You stared at the empty air between you.
  2845. “Just hold on to it for now and store it somewhere safe. We haven't yet found out much about them. But that aside, you mentioned you've seen another pony.”
  2846. >Your ears felt a bit hot as you realized how little you knew about the artifacts and decided to change subjects.
  2847. “You also said you'd like some company. Why not seek her out?”
  2848. >Sassy let out what little air was in her lungs.
  2849. >She tilted her head to the side and arched a brow before drawing a breath.
  2850. >”I have some reservations because she is Nightmare Moon. I doubt she's up to any good.”
  2851. >The warmth drained from her voice.
  2852. >”Why, are you suggesting I meet her?”
  2853. >The heat from your ears spread to your face.
  2854. >You gulped down a bit of saliva.
  2855. “She would like to meet you, yes. What I've seen in the other world has proven that working together is a lot safer and more effective than going alone.”
  2856. >The unicorn narrowed her eyes and studied your face.
  2857. >”Tell me one thing first: what is she trying to accomplish? I hope to return the world to normal, not get stuck in an eternal night.”
  2858.  
  2859. [] Tell what little you know.
  2860.  
  2861. “She's not all too thrilled about being stuck on the side of eternal day, I can tell you that much. Apart that I don't really know too much. She talks about 'our cause' but it never goes anywhere. I think it's a gimmick, though.”
  2862. >You paused to draw breath.
  2863. >Sassy kept staring at you and gestured you to keep going.
  2864. “She hasn't talked about any plans, but she has complained about being lonely and low on food. And that's all I really know.”
  2865. >You spread out your hooves and shrugged.
  2866. >The mare stared at you for another second, then leaned back against the backrest of her seat.
  2867. >”Hmm.”
  2868. >She looked down at the contents of her cup and pursed her lips.
  2869. >”Well she's kept her distance so far despite knowing I'm here. I thought it was because she thought she could find a way to use me, but if she's lonely...”
  2870. >Her voice trailed off.
  2871. >She sucked her lower lip in and bit on it.
  2872. >”I suppose I can give her the benefit of the doubt, given the circumstances.”
  2873. >Her horn flashed and her cup floated to her mouth.
  2874. >She downed what was left of her tea in one go, set the cup down, and hopped off her chair.
  2875. >”Lead the way, would you?”
  2876. >You nodded and chugged down the rest of your tea as well.
  2877.  
  2878. >Your heart beat like a drum in your chest and you felt tingly all over as you and Sassy scaled down the stairs.
  2879. >Two sets of hooves beating on stone echoed in the stairwell.
  2880. >You kept telling yourself it'd go just fine.
  2881. >Nightmare wanted to meet who you now knew was Sassy and she'd agreed.
  2882. >Then again, you had a distinct feeling that the alicorn could blow the both of you to bits should she feel like it.
  2883. >The stories did tell of her ruthlessness and Luna had warned you of her.
  2884. >But, she was nothing like the stories.
  2885. >She was instead quite affectionate.
  2886. >Luna wasn't the kind of pony to give heedless warning, though, and-
  2887. >You shook your head to clear it of thoughts as you reached the bottom of the stairs.
  2888.  
  2889. “Hello? Where'd you go?”
  2890. >You stood in the middle of the sun-themed courtyard as you called out.
  2891. >Sassy stood beside you, glancing around herself as you waited for a response.
  2892. >”Could you come over into the shade? It's to bright out in the sun.”
  2893. >Nightmare peeked out from the darkest corner of the corridor leading away from the courtyard.
  2894. >She had a hoof covering her eyes and only took an occasional peek at you.
  2895. >The unicorn glanced at you, rolled her eyes, and trotted towards Nightmare.
  2896. >”A pleasure to meet you. I am Sassy Saddles, designer extraordinaire. Perhaps you've heard of the shop I run in Canterlot?”
  2897. >You followed behind her.
  2898. >The alicorn let her hoof fall onto the tiling as you passed from light to shadow.
  2899. >”I am-”
  2900. >”No, no!”
  2901. >Sassy stuck a hoof out and shook her head.
  2902. >”One of your renown need not introduce herself. Stories of your achievements have reached everypony's ears.”
  2903. >Her lips curled into a satisfied smirk as Nightmare's brows rose and she took half a step back.
  2904. >“Why, you-”
  2905. >She let out the air in her lungs and drew a deep breath.
  2906. >“-are certainly a refined mare if you have heard of me. I wished to meet you to suggest mutually beneficial co-operation. I have reason to believe you struggle with the shadowy creatures but have no trouble with the sun. I am the opposite. We can a -ah. A second, if you would.”
  2907. >The alicorn leaped towards you.
  2908. >Both you and Sassy flinched away from her.
  2909. >”I wish we had more time, dearest. Do find a more permanent way to separate yourself from that other world.”
  2910. >Nightmare's horn lit up and a tingle of magic filled the air.
  2911. >A magical force pulled on your neck as she leaned in towards you.
  2912. >She pressed her lips onto yours.
  2913. >You-
  2914.  
  2915. >-stared at the ceiling of a dimly lit room.
  2916. >Silvery moonlight streamed in through a window and left everything looking pale.
  2917. >Including the the alicorn with round, cyan eyes on the bed next to you.
  2918. >”How was it out there?”
  2919.  
  2920. [] Tell her what happened.
  2921. [] Check for boner.
  2922. [] NMM has very full and plush lips, perfect for kissing.
  2923.  
  2924. “We met a new pony, Sassy Saddles. I hope I set her up to teach some manners and friendship to Nightmare Moon.”
  2925. >You wiggled a bit.
  2926. >The sheets were exquisitely soft and you definitely weren't pitching a tent.
  2927. “I hope that goes well.”
  2928. >Luna rolled her eyes and blew a blast of air out of her nostrils.
  2929. >”Surely. It'll be as easy as teaching a black cat to become white. I will say this again: keep your distance from her. She is at best using you to further her own agenda.”
  2930. >She stared at you in silence for a second before shuffling out of bed.
  2931. >Her magic tingled in the air as she placed her shoes on the floor and stepped into them.
  2932. “She hasn't done anything of the sort. But, aside that, I've started to wonder why I always wake up at her place. That happened even on the very first time. She somehow knows when I'm about to enter that world, and also when I'm about to leave.”
  2933. >Luna glanced back at you as she floated a silver brush to her mane.
  2934. >”'tis not surprising. You make quite the ruckus when you pass through the barrier between worlds. Dreamwalkers such as I, or her since she wields stolen and corrupted versions of my powers, are plenty capable of foreseeing your arrivals or departures.”
  2935. >She stroked her mane a few times, to no visible difference.
  2936. >”It also takes a few minutes for your body to wake up after your spirit arrives, which gives plenty of time to prepare whatever kind of welcome one desires.”
  2937. >You shuffled to the edge of the bed.
  2938. “You keep warning me of her, but she has such tempting full, dark lips.”
  2939. >You kept your voice low as you muttered more to yourself.
  2940. >Luna's ear twitched and swiveled your way.
  2941. >”I keep warning you because she is a honey trap, a carnivorous plant: by the time you realize something is wrong, you're in too deep to get out.”
  2942.  
  2943. >The buns were a little burnt and the fried carrots were a touch undercooked.
  2944. >But, the carrot dogs were still decent enough that complaining about it didn't even cross your mind.
  2945. >Not when the cook, Tempest, sat across the table and stared at hers with a blank look on her.
  2946. >Just getting her awake and out of bed, Luna said, had been hard enough.
  2947. >You'd taken the opportunity to take a much needed shower.
  2948. >Fleur had scarfed down her dog and was now 'tidying up' in the bathroom.
  2949. >She'd had a red tint to her face when she trotted in with a messy mane.
  2950. >Luna nibbled at her bun as she glanced at you and Tempest.
  2951. >”There's a lot to do today. I will stay here and research the artifacts; does either one of you have a burning desire to assist me instead of scouring the outside for what we need?”
  2952. >The broken-horned unicorn kept staring at her breakfast for a few seconds.
  2953. >She then snapped into focus and craned her neck to look at the princess.
  2954. >”Huh? Oh, no. I'll go out.”
  2955.  
  2956. [] Make sure to thoroughly cream Luna, as promised.
  2957.  
  2958. “I promised to get you cream the first thing this morning, didn't I? I'll keep that promise and go find some.”
  2959. >Luna nodded and flashed you a smile.
  2960. >”You did indeed. It would be cruel for me to deny you the chance to fulfill such a heartfelt promise. Which means...”
  2961. >She turned to look at Tempest.
  2962. >”...that you and miss de Lis must decide which one of you two goes with him.”
  2963. >The broken-horned unicorn stared at Luna for a short moment.
  2964. >”Mmh. Yeah. I guess I can't just assume she's fine with staying here again. I'll go ask her.”
  2965. >She stared at the floor in front of her with a blank look on her before trotting out.
  2966. “What's up with her? She kept staring into nothing.”
  2967. >Luna glanced at the doorway where Tempest's tail had disappeared into, then at you.
  2968. >”But of course. She is sleep deprived, for 'tis difficult to sleep during the Earthshift. Take a look outside if you wish to know what that is.”
  2969. >She pointed a hoof at the nearest window.
  2970. >All you could see through it was a patch of starry sky.
  2971. >Glancing at the princess, you hopped off your chair and trod to the window and took a look outside.
  2972.  
  2973. >It took a while before you understood what you saw.
  2974. >The entire landscape outside the castle ground was blanketed in a thick layer of snow – something you hadn't seen before.
  2975. >The freshfallen snow glimmered and glowed in silvery moonlight.
  2976. >There was a spruce forest in a deep valley, every single branch drooping with a heavy load of snow, that had a few cottages dotting it.
  2977. >Next to the valley was a tall mountain.
  2978. >On it slopes, close to the valley, was a quaint alpine village with little houses lining a road that serpentined upwards.
  2979. >And finally, somewhere you couldn't see from the window was the peak itself.
  2980. >All you could tell was that it had to be way higher than the tower you were in.
  2981. >But, the road going through the village looked like it led somewhere higher and out of sight.
  2982.  
  2983. >”'tis fortunate our surroundings changed into what they did.”
  2984. >You flinched as you realized Luna stood right next to you.
  2985. >You'd been too absorbed in the landscape to hear her move.
  2986. >”The snow should make it possible to find something that I believe will help with our studies with those artifacts you've found. A star lens. They are pieces of dark glass that sometimes fall out of the skies. One should help me focus both my power and that of the artifacts.”
  2987. >She stared off into the distance.
  2988. >”If you find one, it will be sitting on top of the snow. They never disturb the ground they fall on, but they do get lost in the foliage.”
  2989. “So bring back any weird pieces of glass found on top of the snow, got it.”
  2990. >The sound of two sets of hooves approaching made you turn around.
  2991. >Fleur, her mane and coat once again immaculate, trotted in.
  2992. >”I heard you were about to go explore the new sights and would not at all mind joining you.”
  2993. >Tempest followed behind her.
  2994. >She looked more awake than before.
  2995. >”We couldn't agree on it.”
  2996. >Luna rolled her eyes.
  2997. >”I wish that was unexpected.”
  2998. >She turned to look at you.
  2999. >”Would you break their deadlock for me? I've done it one time too many already.”
  3000.  
  3001. [] Fleur
  3002.  
  3003. “Tempest, I think it's best you stay back and get some rest. You look like you really need it.”
  3004. >The broken-horned unicorn glared at you for a second, then let out a sigh and looked down at her own front hooves.
  3005. >”Fine. I'll stay. And take a nap.”
  3006. >Fleur beamed a smile at you and did a sweeping motion towards the door to the stairs with a hoof.
  3007. >”Well then. Shall we?”
  3008. >You glanced at her, then at Tempest.
  3009. “Just a moment.”
  3010. >Trotting over to the darker unicorn, you nudged her cheek with your forehead.
  3011. “Don't look so down. We'll be back before you know it.”
  3012. >You slung a foreleg around her withers and pulled yourself up to her, then pressed the tip of your snoot onto hers.
  3013. >She was warm and soft, and gave you a confused look as you let go.
  3014. >She kept her eyes on you as you trotted out of the room.
  3015.  
  3016. >”You are a true empath, are you not?”
  3017. >Fleur's hoofsteps echoed in the stairwell as she followed behind you.
  3018. >”Commendable, but there is a tough choice ahead of you where you must crush somepony's heart – one where trying to play both sides will earn you the ire of everypony.”
  3019. >You stopped for half a second to glance back at her.
  3020. >She looked... sad?
  3021. “What do you mean? I just want you all to be happy.”
  3022. >Her lips curled into a melancholic smile.
  3023. >”And I commend you for that, but there's already trouble brewing. I'm talking about your... affair with Nightmare Moon. Luna will never accept it and Tempest will consider you a traitor if you help her too much.”
  3024. >Silence took over the stairwell as both you and her stopped.
  3025. >You stared down at your own cloven hooves.
  3026. “I know.”
  3027. >Your voice was meek and quiet.
  3028. “It's just... she's all alone and so eager to be with me. I can't just leave her all on her own again.”
  3029. >A hoof stroked your lower back and hip.
  3030. >”I understand. It's not an easy decision. But, you have some time yet. Give it some thought.”
  3031.  
  3032. >You poked at the snow and left behind a hoofprint.
  3033. >It was a steep bank at the very spot where the castle grounds gave way to the varying terrain.
  3034. >The snow felt wet and cold and stuck to your hoof.
  3035. >You shook your hoof to get the water and slush off.
  3036. >Fleur let out a chuckle as she watched you.
  3037. >”It looks like it's colder further out so we shouldn't get too wet. But looks like it's best I go first and you follow suit. You'd no doubt plow a path through and exhaust yourself before getting anywhere.”
  3038. >She trotted to the snowbank, then lifted a hoof up above it and sunk it down into it.
  3039. >And repeated the same procedure with all four of her hooves.
  3040. >She went on for a few steps, sinking her hooves into the snow from above and leaving behind hoof-shaped holes.
  3041. >Looking back at you, she waved a hoof to beckon you forth.
  3042. >”Come on. Let's get going.”
  3043. >You glanced at your hoof, then at the holes Fleur left behind.
  3044. >You slipped in from above, like she had, then followed suit with your other hooves.
  3045. >The unicorn flashed a smile at you before heading onwards.
  3046. >It felt weird and was definitely tougher than walking through grass.
  3047.  
  3048. >Tiny flashes of light surrounded you in every direction as you went on towards the base of the mountain.
  3049. >It was moonlight reflecting off individual snowflakes, creating a scene mirroring the starry sky all around you.
  3050. >Making your way through the snow was tough enough that you left behind a thick puff of silvery mist with every breath.
  3051. >Fleur, on the other hoof, seemed to have an easier time.
  3052. >She kept glancing back every now and then to realize she'd pulled ahead and had to slow down.
  3053. >Then, for no reason you could tell, she stopped to peer ahead.
  3054. >”The road's up ahead. We're past the worst.”
  3055. >You looked in the same direction as her, but all you could see was a featureless plain of snow that stretched on until it turned into a forested valley in one direction and the slopes of a mountain in another.
  3056. “Where? I can't see it.”
  3057. >She glanced back once again, but this time kept going instead of waiting for you to catch up.
  3058. >”Right there. See how the snow isn't quite as deep?”
  3059. >After a bit of searching, you thought you saw what she meant.
  3060. >There was a continuous, if shallow, dip in the snow.
  3061. “That's it? Well, I guess every bit helps.”
  3062. >Both you and Fleur made your way to it.
  3063. >It was more helpful than you first thought.
  3064. >There was something hard below a relatively thin layer of pristine snow.
  3065. >While what was beneath wasn't strictly solid and sometimes gave to make you slip, it was a lot easier to move overall.
  3066. >”See? Told ya. Either way, there's a crossroad up ahead. Which way should we go?”
  3067. >She pointed ahead.
  3068. >After some looking, you found the spot where the road forked into two: one that led into the forested valley that had some cottages in it, and one that led up the mountain towards and through the village on its slopes.
  3069.  
  3070. [] Head to the village.
  3071.  
  3072. “I think we're more likely to find what we're looking for in the village.”
  3073. >You looked up at the village and its steep-roofed houses lining the single road passing through it.
  3074. >What little level ground there was was on small terraced yards.
  3075. >”Onwards and upwards, then!”
  3076. >Fleur took to a light trot – the best she could manage with how treacherous the path was.
  3077. >You tried to follow her, but whatever passed for ground gave under your hoof.
  3078. >You slipped and fell onto your side with a mighty whump that sent a cloud of fluffy snow into the air.
  3079. >A second later, as the snow started settling on and around you, you realized that you weren't in any pain at all.
  3080. >Scrambling back onto your hooves, you shook the worst of the snow out of your floof.
  3081. >”Are you OK? Did you sprain your leg?”
  3082. >You stuck out the leg that'd slipped and bent your ankle in all directions you could.
  3083. >It felt just fine.
  3084. “No. I think I'm okay.”
  3085. >A tingle of magic filled the air as Fleur's aura enveloped your hoof and pulled it closer to her.
  3086. >She hopped closer and leaned in for a better look.
  3087. >”It does look just fine. But, we'll slow down to make sure it doesn't happen again.”
  3088. >Sticking a hoof out, she batted at your chest fluff to get the snow still on it to fall off.
  3089. >And then did the same with your mane.
  3090. >”There we go. All clean and fluffy again!”
  3091. >She poked at your chest floof one more time before swinging around and heading down the snowy road.
  3092.  
  3093. >The temperature fell as you climbed towards the village.
  3094. >At first you'd been warm, almost hot as you made your way through the snow.
  3095. >Now about three quarters the way there, you were a bit chilly despite staying on the move.
  3096. >But, the temperature was barely on your mind at all.
  3097. “Say, Fleur. Did you happen to speak out of experience when you talked about making choices on time earlier? About me and Nightmare Moon?”
  3098. >The unicorn remained quiet, but her steps grew slower and slower.
  3099. >She came to a standstill as she stared dead ahead with a blank look on her.
  3100. >After a few seconds she turned to look at you.
  3101. >Her brow was furrowed and her lips had curled into a hint of a frown.
  3102. >”Princess Celestia, in her endless leniency, granted me the second chance I did not deserve. Let's leave it at that.”
  3103. >Her voice was quiet and full of sorrow.
  3104. >She glanced down at the ground between you, let out a sigh, and for a moment looked very tired.
  3105. >Then she wheeled around and continued up the road.
  3106.  
  3107. >The village appeared deserted as you got there.
  3108. >There was a layer of pristine snow covering everything.
  3109. >Well, pristine apart some bird-sized clawprints.
  3110. >But, no pony had been there since it last snowed, however long ago that was.
  3111. >You peeked into a few as you wandered between the houses.
  3112. >They looked as cozy on the inside as they did on the outside.
  3113. >Thick carpets, large recliners, fancy fireplaces, and cuckoo clocks stood out compared to what you'd seen in pony homes.
  3114. >”There's a mostly flat stretch of road near the town center. Any popular buildings like stores and the village hall should be there.”
  3115. >Fleur beckoned you to follow her.
  3116. >”We should find more of what we're looking for in there.”
  3117. >Looking upwards, you saw the spot she meant.
  3118. >One back and forth of the road above you was a spot where the buildings were larger than elsewhere and one end of the stretch of road wasn't above the other.
  3119.  
  3120. >”Hush.”
  3121. >Fleur, walking by your side, stuck a hoof out into your path.
  3122. >You bumped into it and froze in spot.
  3123. >She held her breath as her ears swiveled all around.
  3124. >”Up above.”
  3125. >You looked up at the roof she pointed a hoof at.
  3126. >There was nothing to see.
  3127. >Perking up your ears, you heard a faint shuffle.
  3128. >A magpie hopped over the crest and started down at you with beady eyes.
  3129. >”Oh.”
  3130. >Fleur dropped into a far more relaxed stance.
  3131. >”Well then. Where should we look?”
  3132. >She swung a hoof in a wide arc.
  3133. >There were some larger than average houses around, along with the largest building in town that had a sign saying town hall in front of it, and one building with a display window that had various groceries on show.
  3134. >A shuffle of feathers had both of you look up at the magpie as it took into the air and flew up towards whatever the road through the village led to.
  3135.  
  3136. [] Shoppe
  3137.  
  3138. >You pointed at the grocer.
  3139. “If there's cream to be found, it'll be there.”
  3140. >Fleur stared over the roof the magpie had disappeared behind.
  3141. >“Hmm.”
  3142. >She tapped her chin with a hoof, then shrugged and glanced at what you were pointing at.
  3143. >”The logical choice, and the one I was hoping you'd make. I really could use a break, a snack, and something to drink.”
  3144. >Her springy steps left perfectly hoof-shaped holes in the layer of fresh snow on the road as she headed towards the shop.
  3145. >”Maybe some apple juice and croissants? It's a tiny shop so we'll have to make do with what they have.”
  3146. >You took to a trot to keep up with her.
  3147. “Why even ask me if you had such strong preference?”
  3148. >She slowed her steps as soon as she heard your rush.
  3149. >Glancing back at you, she flashed a smile.
  3150. >”Why, I wish to test you to find out if you're as smart as you are cute.”
  3151. >A mild heat rose to your cheeks as you looked down at the carrots and potatoes for show behind the display window next to you.
  3152.  
  3153. >Clank!
  3154. >”Ah. It's locked.”
  3155. >Fleur tread right to the store's door and leaned in to get a better look at the lock.
  3156. >”This won't take but a second.”
  3157. >She floated two weird metal sticks out of her mane and stuck them into the keyhole.
  3158. >She twisted and jiggled them for a while, then twisted both at the same time.
  3159. >Click!
  3160. >The door swung open.
  3161. >The unicorn bowed her head and swept a hoof to point inside.
  3162. >”Right this way, good sir.”
  3163.  
  3164. >Cool air and the hum of countless refrigerators greeted you the instant you stepped in.
  3165. >Countless rows of shelves, from freezers with pizzas to plain old shelves with bags and jars, filled the vast hypermarket.
  3166. >There were signs with numbers hanging from the ceiling, but the numbering made little sense – 42 was right in front of you, but to its left was 7 and to its right 141.
  3167. “Uhh I don't think this is-”
  3168. >Fleur let out a deep, disappointed sigh as she trotted past you.
  3169. >She rolled her eyes as she glared to the left, then again as she glared to the right.
  3170. >”But of course it's this place. Come on. Let's get this done with as quick as we can.”
  3171. >Heading down a corridor between rows of shelves, she stopped just short of trotting out of sight to beckon you to follow her.
  3172. “Wait, what do you mean this place? Do you know where we are?”
  3173. >You glanced both ways at the nigh endless rows filled with anything you could imaginable before trotting over to her.
  3174. >”But of course.”
  3175. >She took to a light trot the instant you caught up.
  3176. >Something muffled the sound of her hooves so it was just barely audible over the hum of refrigerators and air conditioning.
  3177. >”This is the nightmare version of the store my family used to go to when I was young. I... have few pleasant memories of this place or those times.”
  3178. >As if on cue, the shelves on one side gave way to a bunch of pallets filled with cans.
  3179. >Cans of a very cheap kind of beer.
  3180. >Fleur made sure to look the other way as you passed by.
  3181. >”I was born to neither wealth nor status.”
  3182. >You weren't sure what to say, so you chose to follow her without saying anything.
  3183.  
  3184. >Just a few minutes later you heard a rhythmic tapping coming from your left.
  3185. >It sounded like something hard tapping on glass.
  3186. >It lasted for a few seconds before stopping.
  3187. “Did you hear that?”
  3188. >Fleur nodded just as the tapping started again.
  3189. >Tap, tap, tap, tap – tap.
  3190. >Pause.
  3191. >”Curious. I'm always alone here in my dreams.”
  3192. >Tap, tap, tap, tap – tap.
  3193. >Pause.
  3194. >”The dairy section is dead ahead and not far. That's coming from...”
  3195. >She stretched out her neck to peer over the shelves blocking the view, but even she wasn't tall enough.
  3196. >”...I'm not actually sure. Do you want to go check it out?”
  3197. >Tap, tap, tap, tap – tap.
  3198. >Pause.
  3199.  
  3200. [] Check out the noise. [Hidden roll: failure]
  3201.  
  3202. “Let's go see what it is. I hope it's just the bird.”
  3203. >You set a hoof on the shelf next to you and shifted some weight onto it.
  3204. >It felt stable, but not quite stable enough to climb.
  3205. >If only you could fly.
  3206. >Fleur arched a brow and shrugged.
  3207. >”If that is what you believe is for the best, then I shall follow.”
  3208. >Looking in both directions, you saw a gap between shelves leading roughly towards the sound not far from where you were.
  3209. >You headed straight for it.
  3210. “Maybe we could snag some of those frozen pizzas on our way out. One of the houses outside will no doubt have an oven to heat 'em with.”
  3211. >Tap, tap, tap, tap – tap.
  3212. >”Pizza? ...I suppose that is possible, yes.”
  3213. >You flinched at the louder than expected sound and glanced backwards to see Fleur right behind you.
  3214. >Though she had her usual spring to her steps, you couldn't hear her hooves at all over the hum of refrigeration.
  3215. >Tap, tap, tap, tap – tap.
  3216. >In contrast, the tapping was crystal clear and there was no mistaking which direction it came from.
  3217.  
  3218. “I think it's just over here.”
  3219. >You peeked around the end of a shelf to see a dual row of freezers with glass lids in the middle of a wide corridor.
  3220. >What you couldn't see, however, was any apparent source for the tapping.
  3221. >Treading closer, you peeked into the freezers to see an assortment of frozen foods ranging from diced carrots to wok vegetables.
  3222. >Fleur walked down the other side of the dual row.
  3223. >”I only see ice cream here. Are you having any better luck?”
  3224. >The vegetables turned into frozen fries a bit down the corridor.
  3225. >You shook your head.
  3226. “Nope. Nothing here, unless you're hungry for some frozen foodstuffs.”
  3227. >Looking closer, you wondered just how many different kids of fries ponies needed.
  3228. >Especially when they were all so much worse than what you'd get from a fresh potato.
  3229. >Ponies had some excellent cuisine, even exceeding what you had back in the village, but they also had some questionable options like what you saw now.
  3230. >You'd asked about it and the answer was convenience.
  3231.  
  3232. >”Found something.”
  3233. >Fleur came to a sudden halt and pointed a hoof at one of the freezers.
  3234. >”Come have a look.”
  3235. >Looking both ways, you saw no nearby point through the very long row of frozen goods containers, so you took a few steps back and sprung into a gallop.
  3236. >And leaped over it.
  3237. >You hooves made muffled thumps as you landed and skid into a stop just before hitting the shelves on the other side.
  3238. >Fleur clapped her hooves at you as her lips curled into an amused smile.
  3239. >”Bravo! I did not think you had that much of a jump in you!”
  3240. >She reached out and patted the scales on your back.
  3241. >”But, look at that. There's something in there. I think it's a hole of some sort.”
  3242. “Thanks! You learn to jump and climb when you grow up in a village that's half up in trees like I did.”
  3243. >You looked into the freezer she pointed at.
  3244. >It was full of meals for one, but they had something dark sticking to them and were covering something.
  3245. >You lit up your horn and pulled the glass lid to the side.
  3246. >The insides frosted up as a bit of warm air got in.
  3247. >Pulling out a few of the premade meals, you saw that it wasn't a hole, but the mouth of a tunnel down into the darkness.
  3248. >It was just wide enough for a single pony to fit through.
  3249. >It was so dark inside that you couldn't see where it lead or how deep it went – just that there was a ladder leading down into the unknown.
  3250. >The dark stuff sticking to the sadness meals was some kind of a goop that looked like liquid darkness.
  3251. >A black void, but with an occasional glint of a reflection.
  3252.  
  3253. [] Explore the tunnel [High]
  3254. [x] Forget about it, just get what you came for [High, d20, roll over 3, result: 9, success]
  3255. [] Something else (What?) [Varies]
  3256.  
  3257. “That doesn't look like the best place to be. How about we just let it be there and go find the dairy section?”
  3258. >Fleur glanced at you, then back behind herself at the double row of freezers stretching into the distance.
  3259. >”What, not interested in exploring tight holes?”
  3260. >She let out a chuckle and glanced up at the number sign hanging over you.
  3261. >58, somehow, made sense to her and she pointed down the corridor – not the way you'd come.
  3262. >”This way. I'll lead you there.”
  3263. >You took to a trot behind her.
  3264. >It was her dream so she knew the way.
  3265. >Probably. Hopefully.
  3266.  
  3267. >This time, the trip through the endless shelves stocked with everything imaginable felt a bit different, but you couldn't quite put your hoof on it.
  3268. >Something was missing.
  3269. >You stared at Fleur's tail swinging in front of you as you followed her and racked your brain trying to figure out the missing piece.
  3270. >The first thing you figured out was that she had a remarkably nice behind – round and shapely, with a tiny bit of softness in all the right places, further perked by her springy steps.
  3271. >Your gaze glided down her smooth thighs down to her hooves.
  3272. >Flawless, manicured hooves beating the floor.
  3273. >It finally clicked.
  3274. >It was deathly quiet.
  3275. “Wait. Something's wrong.”
  3276. >Fleur's hooves came to a halt as she looked back at you with her head cocked and brow arched.
  3277. “The noise is gone. I still can't hear your hooves, but the noise of fridges that used to drown it out is gone.”
  3278. >The unicorn's ears perked up and swiveled all around.
  3279. >Her brow furrowed and the hoof she was holding mid air slowly descended to the floor.
  3280. >”No. It's worse. Listen closely.”
  3281. >You perked up your ears and focused on what you heard.
  3282. >Somewhere very far, almost too silent to hear, was something skittering and slithering.
  3283. >It made the hair on your neck stand up.
  3284. “Oh. What is that?”
  3285. >Fleur sucked her lower lip between her teeth and gnawed on it for a second.
  3286. >”I do not know and would rather not find out. Let's keep moving.”
  3287. >She took to a trot again, swinging her hooves faster than before.
  3288.  
  3289. >You were short of breath form keeping up with Fleur's longer stride when she finally rounded a corner into a corridor lined with refrigerated shelves on both sides.
  3290. >”Here we are.”
  3291. >The glass door fridges were filled with all kinds of dairy products from dozens of kinds of milk to a similar amount of butters.
  3292. >But, most of all, there were hundreds of different kinds of cheeses ranging from soft bries to rock solid (aged for three years!) gouda.
  3293. >You would've been itching to sample some or just take a few kinds with you if not for one thing: some spots on the shelves were filled with the same black goop you'd seen in the tunnel.
  3294. >There were some spatters of it all around, and even more dripped from the ceiling.
  3295. >Even some of the packages were full of that same liquid darkness even though they were still airtight.
  3296. >”I don't remember anything like this ever happening.”
  3297. >Fleur took a few steps down the corridor to a shelf filled with different kinds of cream, from light cooking cream to heavy cream.
  3298. >”There's what we need, but I'm not sure if any of it is good.”
  3299.  
  3300. [] Grab several good looking ones
  3301. [] Ask Fleur how her dream usually goes.
  3302.  
  3303. “Let's grab several of those. That way we should get some good ones no matter what.”
  3304. >The unicorn nodded as her horn lit up.
  3305. >A flash of magic pulled the glass door open and sealed cartons of heavy cream floated out.
  3306. >”Far from the worst idea you've had today.”
  3307. >You pulled open the flaps on your saddlebags and offered your side to her.
  3308. >She guided a few packs into the bag, then an equal number to the other side as you wheeled around.
  3309. >The latches clicked closed as you flipped the flaps back in place.
  3310. >You both then paused for a few seconds to perk up your ears and listen.
  3311. >The slithering and skittering things were a bit closer, but still distant enough to be barely audible.
  3312. >”We shouldn't tarry.”
  3313. >Fleur guided the rest of the cream into her own bags.
  3314. >She lifted her hoof off the floor and looked at its sole to find it stained black by the floor.
  3315. >You tapped your hoof on the plastic covering and found it now had a bit of give to it like it had something soft under it.
  3316. “Yeah. It's time to go.”
  3317. >Glancing up at the ceiling and the signs hanging off of it, you saw that there was black goop dripping all over now, not just where you stood.
  3318. “I hope it isn't too late.”
  3319. >”It shouldn't be. We'll find out soon anyways.”
  3320. >She trotted past you in skittering silence.
  3321.  
  3322. >The floor felt like it should've made wet squishing sounds as you trotted past countless shelves that were made of rotting wood slick and shiny with black goop.
  3323. >You remembered them being painted metal before.
  3324. >The air also felt and smelled stagnant, like you were underground.
  3325. “So uh, how does your dream usually go?”
  3326. >You glanced backwards down the corridor and thought you saw something move.
  3327. >Stopping for a split second, you realized it was just a drop of darkness falling from the ceiling.
  3328. >Fleur's gaze scanned what lie ahead as she kept going in silence for a moment.
  3329. >”I wander around for a while and then hear a young me call out. My parents then show up to explain we can't afford what I want.”
  3330. >A bright, young voice called from the distance.
  3331. >'Mom, can we get some oranges?'
  3332. >Fleur's tail flicked and the tips of her ears gained a hint of red.
  3333. >”The same repeats a few times with me a bit older each time. Then I wake up.”
  3334. >The pace of her hoofsteps quickened as she headed on without even as much as a glance back at you.
  3335.  
  3336. >Fleur stuck a hoof out to the side to stop you all of a sudden.
  3337. >”Looks like we were too slow. Hm.”
  3338. >She swung the hoof in your way back in and rubber her chin with it as she peered ahead at something very dark.
  3339. >You took a few squishy steps towards it to get a better look.
  3340. >It was a river of black goo running across the corridor.
  3341. >You had no idea how deep it was, but it was wider than even you could leap across.
  3342. >The rows of shelves flanking you did cross it like bridges, but you were pretty sure they were so rotten now that they'd collapse if you tried climbing them.
  3343. >All the ripples and eddies on the surface of the goop traveled in one direction at about walking pace so you figured it had some flow to it.
  3344. >Where it was coming from or going to you had no idea.
  3345. >”The way out is on the other side. I think. I'm not sure logic applies here any longer so it could be that we check the next aisle over and there's nothing there.”
  3346. >Silence took over.
  3347. >Almost.
  3348. >There was something skittering and slithering in the distance, no longer at the edge of hearing.
  3349.  
  3350. [] Wade across. (Moderate)
  3351. [] Climb the shelves (Low)
  3352. [x] Look for an alternate route (High, 87.5%, d8, roll over 1, result: 6, success)
  3353.  
  3354. “Do you have anything long at hoof? I'd like to check how deep it is.”
  3355. >”Hm. Not really.”
  3356. >Fleur glanced around, then fixed her gaze on one of the shelves.
  3357. >”But we can try this.”
  3358. >She hopped over to it and delivered a swift kick to one of the long boards that made up its side.
  3359. >The impact produced a soft thump and left behind a deep gouge in the wood.
  3360. >She stared at it for a moment, shaking her head.
  3361. >”As I thought. It's rotten to the core.”
  3362. >Her horn lit up as her magic enveloped the whole board.
  3363. >She swung her head back as she ripped the entire thing off, leaving the nails that held it in place sticking out of the side of the shelf that now teetered on the remaining board on one side.
  3364. >The board floated over to the middle of the river.
  3365. >Fleur then dunked it down into the goo.
  3366. >About a quarter of its length went in before the entire thing snapped in half, leaving one piece levitating just above the surface and another floating up to it.
  3367. “Let's go find another route.”
  3368. >The unicorn let the other half of the plank fall onto the goo.
  3369. >It floated off with the flow and disappeared under the shelves.
  3370. >You spun around and headed back the way you'd come.
  3371.  
  3372. >Your heart hammered in your chest and your ears constantly swiveled all around as you and Fleur trod further back down the aisle.
  3373. >It wasn't somewhere far out now, but all around you and just out of sight: you heard something skitter or slither just to your left, but as you glanced that way, there was nothing to see.
  3374. “I don't like this.”
  3375. >Fleur flinched and drew a sharp breath as you spoke.
  3376. >”Just stay calm and we'll be fine. All we have to do is get out.”
  3377. >She spoke faster and her voice had a higher pitch than usual.
  3378. >”I think there's a way to the next aisle just over there.”
  3379. >There was a hint of relief to her voice as she pointed a hoof at something ahead.
  3380. >It was a narrow gap between shelves, just wide enough for you to squeeze through.
  3381. >You glanced at each other and rushed towards it.
  3382.  
  3383. >You found yourself in an aisle much like the previous one, but not as decayed.
  3384. >The floor felt almost but not quite solid, the wood of the shelves was dry with some dark spots, and the ceiling had black splotches that looked like they might start leaking soon.
  3385. “Is the change a good thing or a bad thing?”
  3386. >The only answer was silence.
  3387. >You glanced back to see Fleur with her ears put back staring at the cans on the shelves, frozen in place.
  3388. >”We must hurry.”
  3389. “Huh?”
  3390. >As you took a closer look at what had her acting weird, you realized that every item around you was of the same brand.
  3391. >Everything from cans to jars to paper bags were the same brand as a certain very cheap Equestrian beer.
  3392. >You felt something pull on your leg.
  3393. >”Come on. This way.”
  3394. >It was Fleur's magic as she took to a brisk trot.
  3395. >The tone of her voice was higher pitched than usual.
  3396. “What's the rush? It looks like we have a bit of time here. It's quiet again and doesn't look as decayed.”
  3397. >Her hooves clicked on the floor as she spun around to look at you.
  3398. >Moving backwards slowed her to a walk, but she didn't stop.
  3399. >”You don't want to know. Just get MOVING!”
  3400. >Her horn lit up and something pulled at your behind.
  3401. >You figured there'd be time for questions later.
  3402.  
  3403. “Wait stop!”
  3404. >Your hooves screeched on the floor as you slammed on the brakes and lit up the chevron on your horn.
  3405. >You felt the plastic mat give and tear beneath your hooves as you pulled back on Fleur to stop her.
  3406. >The two of you skidded into a stop right on the edge of what you saw just in time: a ravine so steep and deep it was just a sudden drop down into darkness.
  3407. >Just like with the river before, the rows of shelves crossed it on both sides like it wasn't even there.
  3408. >Fleur sat at the edge of it for a few seconds, breathing shallow and fast as she stared down.
  3409. >”We have to get across. Now.”
  3410. >She whacked a hoof at the shelves.
  3411. >It made a hollow crunch and left behind a small dip.
  3412. >You peered down into the ravine.
  3413. >It was a sheer drop, but it wasn't that wide.
  3414. >It was right on the edge of what you might be able to leap over.
  3415. >The shelves didn't look as thoroughly rotten as near the river, either.
  3416.  
  3417. [x] Leap of Faith [Moderate, 60%, d10, roll over 4. Result: 1, failure]
  3418. [] Shelf climbing [Moderate]
  3419. [] Find an alternate route [High]
  3420.  
  3421. “I think it's just narrow enough to leap over.”
  3422. >You shook your saddlebags off, lit up the chevron on your horn, and floated them to the other side.
  3423. >Drawing a deep breath, you gulped down a bit of saliva and glanced back at Fleur.
  3424. >She was staring at the ravine with glazed-over eyes.
  3425. >”Go ahead. I'll be right behind you.”
  3426. >She didn't avert her eyes as you took a few steps back and coiled up your rear legs for an initial burst of speed.
  3427. >You thought you saw her suck her lower lip in between her teeth.
  3428. >But, there was no time for another glance to confirm it.
  3429. >Your hooves beat the floor and your heart hammered in your chest as you took to a gallop.
  3430. >The edge of darkness came closer at as rapid a pace as you could push yourself to.
  3431. >With a mighty push from your rear hooves you were sent soaring over the void.
  3432. >Your heart skipped a beat at the sight of nothing beneath you.
  3433. >Then your front hooves thumped onto solid ground on the other side and the rest of you followed in a tumbling mess.
  3434. >You drew a deep breath while on your side and tapped the floor with a hoof before pushing yourself back onto your hooves.
  3435. >Sure enough, you'd made it across safe and sound.
  3436.  
  3437. >You floated your saddlebags back on just as you heard Fleur's hooves thump the floor.
  3438. >She'd dropper her bags and was rushing towards you.
  3439. >A massive leap sent her flying over the chasm.
  3440. >She fell short.
  3441. >Her front hooves landed on the very edge, but didn't have enough grip to hold her there as the rest of her crashed into the edge of the chasm.
  3442. >”Ah!”
  3443. >She let out a yelp as her hooves slipped and she started falling back and down into the darkness.
  3444. >You had just enough time to light up your horn and try to grab on to her.
  3445. >It wasn't enough.
  3446. >She slipped out of your grasp and fell.
  3447.  
  3448. >For a second, nothing happened.
  3449. >Then the lights went out as a loud click echoed all around you.
  3450. >You were left in total darkness.
  3451. >Some time passed.
  3452. >It was probably more than a minute but less than five.
  3453. >At some point you noticed a glimmer of light somewhere in the distance.
  3454. >There wasn't anything else around so you headed towards it.
  3455.  
  3456. >It was a little filly.
  3457. >She had a white coat, pink mane, and a horn aglow with magic.
  3458. >She sat on whatever solid darkness passed for floor and was doodling on a piece of paper with a crayon.
  3459. >Her flank was still blank, lacking any symbols of royalty or otherwise.
  3460. >Her ears perked up and swiveled your way as you tread closer.
  3461. >Despite that, she finished her doodle before before scooting around to face you.
  3462. >”Hi! Wanna draw with me?”
  3463. >She beamed a wide smile at you.
  3464. >”Daddy got me these kraa-yons yesterday and said he wants to teach me to draw better today. He gets home soon but maybe you can show me something now?”
  3465. >Four little hooves thudded on the floor as she rushed over to you and batted at and then hugged your floofy chest.
  3466. >”Soff!”
  3467. >She shoved her face into the floof and let out a muffled giggle.
  3468. >You couldn't help but pat the adorable little thing as your lips curled into a mellow smile.
  3469. >But, as cute as she was, you needed to figure out a way to get her back to normal.
  3470.  
  3471. >As you were trying to figure out how, an expanding ring of Fleur's signature pink pulsed from the little filly's hooves.
  3472. >It turned the darkness you stood on into a warm wooden floor, formed pastel pink walls around you on three sides, with a filly-sized bed under a window on one wall, a little desk and a chair along with a toy basket on another, and a door on the third one.
  3473. >The final “wall” remained as it was, as a way back into the darkness.
  3474. >”So, mister. Wanna draw with me?”
  3475. >She looked up at you with a wide smile on her lips and eyes full of hope.
  3476. >You glanced down at the paper full of doodles.
  3477. >In the middle of it was a very skillful pencil drawing of a unicorn stallion holding aloft the filly now in front of you.
  3478. >The stallion looked content while the filly was giggling.
  3479. >Everything you saw right now drew a stark contrast to the feeling you got in the hypermarket earlier.
  3480.  
  3481. [] Drag the filly into the darkness and back into the waking world.
  3482. [x] Draw with the filly and hope she shows more of her story.
  3483. [] Go through the door to see what, if anything, is wrong.
  3484.  
  3485. “Sure, I'll draw with you.”
  3486. >You flicked your tail out of the way and sat down.
  3487. >”Yay!”
  3488. >The little filly let out a happy giggle, did a little hop, and trotted to her desk.
  3489. >She pulled a piece of paper and another crayon off it.
  3490. >”These are for you!”
  3491. >After shoving the paper and the crayon onto the floor in front of you, she sat down next to her doodles.
  3492. >”I'm going to draw you next. You have a long tail and lots of soff.”
  3493. >She scribbled a crude stick pony with an elongated tail and poofy clouds on it.
  3494. >You stared at her.
  3495. >You were definitely in Fleur's dream and that meant she wasn't gone.
  3496. >You just somehow had to turn her back to normal and then get back to what you were doing.
  3497. >An idea sprung up in your head.
  3498. “I'm going to draw somepony who we're both familiar with.”
  3499. >The crayon you had was yellow, but you pressed it onto the paper and sketched out some lines and curves.
  3500. >Tall, elegant body of an alicorn, wings and horn, mane and tail of twinkling stars, and a little crown on her head.
  3501. >You were by no means good at drawing, but your depiction of Luna was recognizable enough.
  3502. >”Pwincess Woona! Daddy has told tales of her!”
  3503. >A moment of intense doodling followed, resulting in an image of Luna drawn in crude lines of varying thicknesses.
  3504. >”Did ya know Pwincess Woona will return one day? Daddy said Pwincess Cewestia said so and Pwincess Cewestia is always right.”
  3505. >Well, you tried.
  3506. >You'd hoped seeing Luna would nudge something in Fleur and make her real self return.
  3507.  
  3508. >You were sketching Tempest in the last empty spot on your paper as you heard the apartment's front door open.
  3509. >”Took you long enough!”
  3510. >A female voice spoke out in a demanding tone.
  3511. >”What do you mean? I clocked out, visited the store, and then came straight home.”
  3512. >A tired male voice responded.
  3513. >His words were followed by something heavy thumping on a table or counter.
  3514. >”Could you be a dear and sort these out? I'll go see Fleur. Did you two have fun today?”
  3515. >The female voice never responded.
  3516. >A set of hoofsteps approached the room you were in.
  3517.  
  3518. >The door swung open and the unicorn stallion drawn in the middle of Fleur's doodles trod in.
  3519. >”Hey! How's my little filly?”
  3520. >He scooped her up and gave her a hug.
  3521. >It made her giggle.
  3522. >”Hehe! I'm okay. I've been drawing with Mr. Soff and that's fun!”
  3523. >As the stallion let her down, she scurried to point at her paper.
  3524. >”Oho! Those are some amazing drawings. Have you been in here all day?”
  3525. >The filly nodded.
  3526. >”Ya! I started after ma made lunch.”
  3527. >He stuck his hoof onto his face and let out a low, quiet groan.
  3528. >”Tell you what. How about we go to the park?”
  3529. >”The park?”
  3530. >Her lips pursed as she stared at her drawings for a short moment.
  3531. >”Ya! Can you take me to the park?”
  3532.  
  3533. >You tried to follow them through the door, but somehow found yourself walking back into the very same room you tried to leave.
  3534. >The difference being that it was now darker as a lamp was on instead of sunlight filtering in through the curtains.
  3535. >That, and the filly was in bed, getting tucked in by the stallion.
  3536. >”Will you be fine until morning now?”
  3537. >The filly, covered up to her neck, shook her head.
  3538. >”Naw. One more thing.”
  3539. >She lifted her head off the pillow, pushed her snoot against the stallion's, and let out a chuckle.
  3540. >”Now is good. Good night!”
  3541. >She fell back down with a soft whump.
  3542. >”Good night, dear.”
  3543. >Leaning in, he planted a smooch on her cheek and pat her head before leaving.
  3544. >The lights went out as he flipped the switch on his way out.
  3545. >Him pulling the door closed behind him left you in total darkness.
  3546. >”Good night Mr. Soff.”
  3547. >You heard the crack of a can getting opened just as she wiggled a bit to sink further into her bed.
  3548.  
  3549. >”Well? Have you seen enough?”
  3550. >Your ears perked up at the sudden voice that was both familiar and welcome.
  3551. >Fleur, all grown up and precisely as you remembered, stood in the void next to the room.
  3552. >Glancing back at the filly, you saw she was now asleep and several years older.
  3553. >”I obviously didn't understand what was going on at the time and pieced it together much later. But, I have no need to dwell on it.”
  3554. >The mare stuck a hoof out towards you and beckoned you into the void.
  3555.  
  3556. [x] Follow her
  3557.  
  3558. “Fleur, you're alright! I thought you got turned into a filly!”
  3559. >The unicorn blinked a few times as she stared at you with her mouth left hanging open.
  3560. >”Why... would you think that of all things?”
  3561. >She glanced at the room you stood in and at the little filly sleeping in her bed.
  3562. >”I do suppose it is understandable given your lack of experience with this world. Tell me, what happens when you fall in a dream?”
  3563. >You headed to the real Fleur, but kept your hoofsteps soft and slow to not disturb the little one.
  3564. “Well, at least I wake up.”
  3565. >A good part of your home village was in the treetops and despite you being a marvelous climber, you'd had your fair share of nightmares about falling.
  3566. “Falls are rare but dreams about them are not in the village. Some of us have built their homes in and on the trees and there's a network of bridges linking the treetop homes to one another.”
  3567. >You were getting a little homesick, you had to admit.
  3568. >Or not homesick, really, but you would've loved some peace and quiet somewhere safe.
  3569. >”Correct. There is no waking up in here, so it's a bit different. I fell for a bit and then realized I was-”
  3570. >She turned her side to you and made a sweeping motion at the vast void behind her.
  3571. >”-here. It's been similar before, both for me and Tempest: whatever passes for reality around us would morph into a nightmare or dream of whoever fell. Or 'died', for that matter.”
  3572. >She pranced another quarter of a turn to face, you assumed, back the way she'd come.
  3573. >”Try not to let that happen, though. These places often come with... those things. Shadows.”
  3574. >You noticed her shiver at the word.
  3575. >”Now come. I already found a way out.”
  3576. >She glanced back at you, flashing a smile.
  3577. ”I'll... just take your word for it and try not to think too much about it if that's okay. Let's try not fall from now on.”
  3578. >You set your hoof on the void and gave it a push.
  3579. >It didn't feel like anything, but held your weight.
  3580.  
  3581. ”You know, your dad was adorable.”
  3582. >You glanced back at the room you were walking away from.
  3583. >”Yeah.”
  3584. >Fleur let out a sigh as her head slumped and she looked down at her hooves.
  3585. >”He was.”
  3586. >Her voice was low and quiet.
  3587. >The foremost thought in your head was asking more about it, but you got the feeling it wasn't the kind of thing to ask about.
  3588. >So you kept going, until...
  3589. “What is it?”
  3590. >...Fleur stopped in her tracks and looked back at the room.
  3591. >She had a mellow smile on her lips and a hint of dampness in the corners of her eyes.
  3592. >”Nothing. Let's keep going. The way out is not far.”
  3593. >She squeezed her eyelids shut and let out another sigh before continuing towards wherever she was headed.
  3594.  
  3595. >There was a faint glimmer off in the distance directly ahead.
  3596. >It got brighter very fast as you approached and soon turned into a glowing doorway.
  3597. >”There we go. Let's get back to where we were.”
  3598. >She strode right on through the doorway.
  3599. >It flashed as she passed.
  3600. >You took one last look back at the room far behind, then followed Fleur into the light.
  3601.  
  3602. >As the stinging in your eyes faded and your vision returned, you saw that you were in a small, quaint village store.
  3603. >Low shelves stocked with bread, flour, canned fruit, most everything you could need for your daily meal filled the center.
  3604. >Two walls had fresh fruit and vegetables on them and one was lined with refrigerators and freezes while the last one was a display window.
  3605. >There was only one cashier right next to the entrance.
  3606. >Everything apart the merchandise looked old and worn but well cared for.
  3607.  
  3608. >The glowing doorway shrunk into nothingness right in front of your eyes.
  3609. >”That's that dealt with, at least for now. I'm sure it'll be back another day.”
  3610. >You stared at the spot where the dreamway used to be, then glanced back at Fleur.
  3611. “That's what dealt with?”
  3612. >The unicorn bapped you on the snoot.
  3613. >You did a scrunch.
  3614. >”The Nightmare. What else did you think would cause something like this?”
  3615. >She flashed a smile and stroked your cheek with the underside of her hoof.
  3616. >”Either way. Looks like our violent exit has removed what we were after from our possession.”
  3617. >She poked at your side through your empty saddlebag, then spun around and headed for the refrigerated section.
  3618. >It took her about five strides to reach it.
  3619. >You followed behind her.
  3620. >”Not much to choose from here, but at least it'll all be good. Though...”
  3621. >A quiet rattling sound came from the display window.
  3622. >Both of you looked at it to see a magpie hopping in the snow just outside.
  3623. >It stared at you with beady eyes, then hopped towards the door and out of sight.
  3624. >”...it'll wait for us here and stay cool if we want to take a break. At least I feel like I could use some coffee. There should be an apartment with a kitchen upstairs.”
  3625. >She glanced at the ceiling above you, then at the stairs leading up behind the cashier.
  3626. >”Then again we can also rest back in the castle.”
  3627.  
  3628. [] Coffee break.
  3629.  
  3630. “Sure, let's go for some coffee now that it's peaceful.”
  3631. >You spun a full circle in place, looking for a baked goods section.
  3632. >There wasn't one, but something caught your eye where the bread was.
  3633. >Bagged croissants.
  3634. >They weren't fresh but would do.
  3635. “How about a little something to go with the coffee?”
  3636. >The air tingled with magic as you lit up the chevron on your horn and floated up the baked treats along with a pack of cookies that you also spotted.
  3637. “You said you wanted some earlier, didn't you?”
  3638. >Fleur stared at the snacks for a bit, then at you.
  3639. >”I did indeed. I wouldn't mind some.”
  3640. >Her hooves beat the floor as she took to a trot.
  3641. >She nudged your cheek with the tip of her snoot as she squeezed by.
  3642. >”I'll go take a look upstairs. Bring whatever you like, but don't tarry too long! Nightmares aren't the only thing haunting this realm.”
  3643. “Speaking of, is whatever was after us in the mall gone?”
  3644. >The mare's hooves stopped for a moment as she glanced back at you.
  3645. >”It was a part of the nightmare and is gone for now. We shouldn't run into it again until tomorrow at the earliest. But, you never know what else is out there.”
  3646. >She flashed a smile and kept going.
  3647. >You gave the shop one more quick look and, after floating a pair of oranges to you, followed the unicorn to the stairs.
  3648.  
  3649. >The room upstairs was, with a word, cozy.
  3650. >There was a plush carpet on the floor, tapestries depicting birds and forests on the walls, and thick red curtains with gold thread woven in covering the windows.
  3651. >It was a combined living room and a kitchen, with a stove, fridge, sink, and some cupboards on one wall and a fireplace with two large recliners in front of it on the other.
  3652. >In the middle was a dining table, covered in an embroidered tablecloth, and four chairs.
  3653. >Finally, there was a door close to the fireplace that no doubt led to a bedroom.
  3654. >Fleur let out a satisfied sigh, trotted to one of the recliners, and hopped in.
  3655. >”Would you be a dear and get the coffee started?”
  3656. >She let herself slump against the soft backrest.
  3657. “Of course.”
  3658. >You had to pull open a few cupboards to find what you needed.
  3659. >The room soon filled with the scent of coffee and hiss of boiling water.
  3660.  
  3661. >You set a silver tray down on a small table between the recliners.
  3662. “There we go.”
  3663. >Besides the coffee in neat hoof-painted porcelain cups, there was a pile of orange slices, an assortment of cookies, and two croissants on the tray.
  3664. >It would've been better to leave the oranges unpeeled and whole, but you figured a flower arrangement out of orange slices would be nice – and then ran out of space on the tray.
  3665. >Fleur, who'd curled up and sunk into her recliner, lifted her head onto the armrest, lit up her horn, and floated a cup to her.
  3666. >”Thank you.”
  3667. >She stuck her muzzle over the cup and took a few sniffs.
  3668. >”A dark roast. Unusual; I would've expected a light one in a mountain village like this. It's something about the cold, I think, that makes ponies prefer lighter ones.”
  3669. >You hopped into the free seat, floated your cup over to you, and took a sip.
  3670. >It was indeed dark.
  3671. “Oh. We didn't have much in the way of coffee back home. Tea grew well, coffee didn't. And we were so far away from anything really that I guess it wasn't worth hauling too many sorts over.”
  3672. >It was, if you were honest, too bitter for you.
  3673. >You looked back to the kitchen and made a bowl of sugar float over.
  3674. “I just made it the way I'm used to without thinking about it. Sorry.”
  3675. >Fleur let out a chuckle as her lips curled into a hint of a smile.
  3676. >She shook her head before taking a sip.
  3677. >”It is perfectly fine. I've had some truly terrible drinks in my time.”
  3678. >Her magic guided a small pile of sugar into her cup.
  3679. >She put a hoof over her mouth and let out a chuckle.
  3680. >The hint of a smile on her lips turned into an amused grin.
  3681. >”You know, there are certain more uptight individuals in Canterlot who would have me hanged if they saw me put sugar in coffee.”
  3682. >She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
  3683. >”With them it's either their way or no way. Never hearing the word no does one no good.”
  3684. >You drew breath to answer, but were interrupted by a sudden howling noise and the whole building creaking.
  3685. >Instead of saying anything, you hopped up and trotted to a window.
  3686. >Pulling back the curtain revealed white powdery snow falling down and getting blown sideways by strong winds.
  3687. >It was too dark to see anything beyond the street below since the moon was covered in clouds.
  3688. >”A blizzard. Not uncommon in the mountains, but it does present a dilemma. What do we do now?”
  3689. >The unicorn glanced at the cold and empty hearth.
  3690.  
  3691. [] Wait it out.
  3692.  
  3693. “Not much we can do except sit back and wait.”
  3694. >Fleur took a sip of her coffee and sunk deeper into her chair.
  3695. >”They're not always that bad. But sure, we'll wait it out. At least it's more comfortable in here than out there.”
  3696. >You too took a sip of bitter coffee.
  3697. >It was OK now that the worst of it was cut by sugar.
  3698. >You then turned to look at the cold hearth.
  3699. “Where do you think we could find some firewood?”
  3700. >You heard a shuffle and saw two ears perk up somewhere from the depths of the chair.
  3701. >”Oh? Well, I certainly wouldn't mind a fire.”
  3702. >Her voice was a bit muffled.
  3703. >”There should be enough to get one going around here somewhere. Probably in the bedroom. And then more in the basement to keep it going.”
  3704. >You hopped onto your hooves and headed to the one door you hadn't checked yet.
  3705. >Glancing back, you were rather amazed to see Fleur curled up tight enough to fit fully between the armrests of her chair.
  3706. >One flexible mare, she was.
  3707.  
  3708. >It was indeed a bedroom.
  3709. >The double bed had thick covers in it and, as you found out poking it, a spring mattress.
  3710. >Beyond that, there were two dressers with a small lamp on each and a tall but narrow door leading to a dressing room full of warm clothes.
  3711. >And crate of firewood in a corner.
  3712. >You grabbed as much as you could carry and headed back to the fireplace.
  3713.  
  3714. >”Oh, you found some. Magnificent.”
  3715. >Fleur was all but purring as she nibbled at her croissant and watched you trot to the hearth.
  3716. >”I'm glad we're in here and not out there.”
  3717. >She pointed at the window you'd pulled the curtains of.
  3718. >All you could see was thin streaks of white as heavy winds blew snow sideways.
  3719. “I hope it doesn't last too long. Luna and Tempest must be getting worried.”
  3720. >You set some of the smaller pieces of wood into a nice, loose pile in the back of the soot-blackened grate and set the rest aside.
  3721. >”They'll be fine. Me and Tempest have been out overnight before. Besides, they can see the weather's bad.”
  3722. >She stretched her hooves out and wiggled them, then tucked them back in under herself.
  3723. >The building creaked as the wind howled all around you.
  3724. >You stuck your head into the fireplace and spewed a small jet of fire at the wood.
  3725. >The flame took and started to spread to the thinnest sticks, then to the thicker ones.
  3726. >”Nifty.”
  3727. >A quiet hum of fire filled the room.
  3728. >”I could get used to this. Nice and quiet.”
  3729. >As if in response, a massive gust of wind howled so loud it drowned out anything else she said.
  3730. >You both glanced around with your ears swiveling all around.
  3731. >It was just a blizzard.
  3732. >...right?
  3733. >The hum of fire took over again.
  3734. >”Right. At least here there's nopony asking me to be in three places all around town in an afternoon.”
  3735. >She rolled her eyes and tossed the rest of her croissant into her mouth.
  3736. “Was that bad?”
  3737. >”It was when I was just a seat filler to make the occasion appear more important. Not everypony appreciated me since I just sprung up from nowhere thanks to Princess Celestia thrusting me into high society.”
  3738. >Staring down into her cup, you could see dark bags under her eyes.
  3739. >They were gone when she looked up and at you again.
  3740. >”At other times, I met interesting ponies like the then upshot Rarity. She brought a welcome breath of fresh air with her.”
  3741.  
  3742. >The house creaked and groaned as the wind whined on the corners and whipped snow all around.
  3743. >It was nice and toasty inside, at least near the fireplace where you sat.
  3744. >Your coffee cups were long empty, the croissants and oranges were long eaten, and you'd had to haul wood from the basement – there was a hatch under a rug in the shop – several times.
  3745. >Fleur was still curled up deep in her chair.
  3746. >The fire reflected off her eyes as she stared at it.
  3747. >Her eyelids drooped.
  3748. >She drew a sudden, sharp breath and shook her head.
  3749. >Covering her mouth, she let out a long yawn.
  3750. >”Mmh. I don't think the storm's letting up any time soon. How was the bed?”
  3751.  
  3752. [] The bed is very nice.
  3753.  
  3754. “You said Celestia thrust you into high society. Why did she want you there?”
  3755. >”Oh.”
  3756. >She covered her mouth with a hoof to stifle another yawn.
  3757. >”Some of the more established ponies holding certain... positions were feeling like the Princess was not fit to wield as much power as she did and wished to transfer more of it to themselves.”
  3758. >Sticking her hooves up in the air, she stretched them out before giving them a bit of a shake.
  3759. >”I was to be the Princess' eyes and ears where she couldn't be to make sure they wouldn't do anything stupid.”
  3760. “Huh.”
  3761. >You turned to look at the fire that was still burning hot.
  3762. >It'd have to go out before you could sleep.
  3763. “I don't remember ever hearing a bad word about Rain Shine back home. Well that's not entirely true, she wasn't perfect, but no Kirin thought themselves more suitable to lead. That I knew of.”
  3764. >Fleur glanced at the door to the bedroom.
  3765. >Her ear flicked as she arched a brow while looking at you.
  3766. >You blinked twice.
  3767. “Oh, the bed. It's very comfortable. Go ahead and get some sleep. I'll keep watch, at least until the fire goes out.”
  3768. >She flashed a smile at you as she trotted to you.
  3769. >”Thank you.”
  3770. >Leaning in, she smooched your cheek – and then chuckled as you drew a sharp breath and your ears perked upright.
  3771. >”Now don't stay too long. I'd rather not have us in separate rooms when – not if – something shows up.”
  3772. >You nodded at her as she wheeled around, pulled the door open, and trod in.
  3773. >She bumped the door closed with her rear which, as you noticed, was nice and shapely with a bit of softness to it.
  3774.  
  3775. >It got quiet as soon as she was gone.
  3776. >Relatively quiet anyways: the storm still buffeted the house, howling all around.
  3777. >You rested your chin on the armrest and stared at the fire.
  3778. >It was warm, the chair was comfortable, and your mind had ceased to care about the wind.
  3779. >You let out a deep breath and wiggled to settle in.
  3780. >The fire wouldn't last for long without more fuel added to it.
  3781. >It was very warm and your eyelids started feeling heavy.
  3782.  
  3783. >A sudden tap-tap-tap from a window had you twitch awake.
  3784. >The fire had turned into glowing embers and the storm was still raging.
  3785. >You hopped off the chair and stretched your legs out.
  3786. >A sudden rush of blood made them all tingly.
  3787. >Tap-tap-tap.
  3788. >Right, that.
  3789. >You felt a bit bad about falling asleep despite promising not to as you trod to the window.
  3790. >A thump carried from downstairs just as you were about to pull back the curtain.
  3791. >It was followed by another.
  3792. >The door leading to the stairs was shut, but didn't have a lock on it.
  3793. >The bottom of your stomach tingled as you gulped down a bit of saliva.
  3794. >Pushing the curtain out of the way revealed a magpie sitting on the windowsill.
  3795. >Its feathers were all ruffled up and some were pointing the wrong way.
  3796. >It tap-tap-tapped on the glass with its beak as it saw you.
  3797.  
  3798. [] Let it in, block the door, wake her up.
  3799.  
  3800. >You stared at the bird for another second as another gust blew its feathers even further out of order.
  3801. >It wobbled and spread out its wings to maintain balance.
  3802. >Poor little thing.
  3803. >You twisted the handle next to the window and pulled it open.
  3804. >The wind almost blew it out of your magic grasp as the bird hopped in, but you managed to hold on and push it closed again.
  3805. >The magpie collapsed into a panting, shivering pile on the floor.
  3806. >You lit up your horn and carried it closer to the fireplace.
  3807. >Finding a nice spot close to it warmed by the soft heat radiating off it, you set it down.
  3808. >It let out a soft caw and spread out its wings to absorb more heat.
  3809. “I'll get you something to drink so just wait right there for a second, OK?”
  3810. >It obviously couldn't understand you, but vocalizing your thoughts made you feel better about leaving it unattended.
  3811. >Grabbing your coffee cup, you went to the tap to first rinse it and then fill it with water before returning to set it down next to the bird.
  3812. >That got no response at first.
  3813. >Then, after a minute or so, it pushed itself back onto its feet, hopped to the cup, and dipped its beak into it.
  3814. >After a few beakfuls it turned to look at you with its head tilted to the side.
  3815. >”Caw.”
  3816. >It appeared content.
  3817.  
  3818. >A thump from below drew your attention off the bird.
  3819. >The door to the stairs had no lock on it, but a quick glance around the room helped form a plan in your head.
  3820. >The chairs were heavy enough to at least slow whatever was there should it try to come up.
  3821. >Magic tingled in the air as you lit up your chevron and lifted one of them.
  3822. >Or tried to, at least.
  3823. >Three legs rose off the ground as the heavier than it looked chair teetered on the fourth.
  3824. >The bird hopped further away from it as your tongue peeked out from between your lips.
  3825. >Focusing your mind, you managed to get the chair off the floor and staggered towards the door.
  3826. >You managed to set it down right in front of the door without too much of a thump.
  3827. >Not so quiet that whatever was down there wouldn't hear, though.
  3828. >Well, what was done was done.
  3829.  
  3830. >The magpie stared at you with its beady eyes as you trotted back towards the fireplace.
  3831. “What, you want to come too?”
  3832. >You nodded at the bedroom door.
  3833. >It tilted its head and flicked its long tail feathers.
  3834. >Shrugging, you pushed the door open.
  3835.  
  3836. >All you could see of Fleur was the tip of her horn poking out from under the covers.
  3837. >You kept your steps light as you strode to her.
  3838. >The thick, worn smooth wood of the floor remained quiet under your hooves.
  3839. >Sticking a hoof out, you gave the heap a gentle poke.
  3840. “Hey. Wake up.”
  3841. >A sudden rustle of feathers made you flinch as something black and white fell onto the bed.
  3842. >”Caw.”
  3843. >The magpie landed on the corner of the bed and stuck its beak into the fluff on its chest.
  3844. >It started to realign its feathers.
  3845. >”Where did that thing come from?”
  3846. >A bleary-eyed Fleur had got her head free of the covers and looked at the bird.
  3847. “It knocked on the window and looked absolutely miserable out there so I let it in. More importantly, there's something downstairs.”
  3848. >As if on cue, you heard another thump from below.
  3849. >The unicorn stared at you for a second, then rolled her eyes.
  3850. >And yanked you in.
  3851. >”We'll figure it out in the morning. It won't do anything to us while we're here.”
  3852. >She pulled you in deeper and then tossed the covers onto the both of you.
  3853. >Muttering something, she pushed her face into your floof and fell silent.
  3854. >It was quiet for about a minute.
  3855. >The silence was broken by a rhythmic thumping of a quadruped scaling up a flight of stairs.
  3856. >Which was then followed by more silence.
  3857. >That lasted for at least a few minutes.
  3858. >Long enough for your pulse to steady and slow down.
  3859. >You were quite comfortable as you were, you realized, in a soft bed and with Fleur's face in your floof.
  3860.  
  3861. [] Slepe
  3862.  
  3863. >Fleur didn't care and neither did the bird.
  3864. >That, you figured, meant there was no cause for concern.
  3865. >You snaked a hoof under the unicorn and another one over her.
  3866. >It made her wiggle and mutter something unintelligible.
  3867. >She was soft and warm and though you could tell she'd been out and about all day, she still had a scent of lilies and vanilla clinging to her.
  3868. >You let out a quiet sigh, listened to creaks and muffled thumps coming from the living room, and drifted off to sleep.
  3869.  
  3870. >The bed was different.
  3871. >It was still soft and comfortable, but the covers were light and airy instead of thick and warm.
  3872. >Magic sparkled in the air and made your floof all frizzy.
  3873. >”There. I managed to pull him in.”
  3874. >A harsh and demanding voice of a mare, but one that was out of breath.
  3875. >Somepony large and heavy slumped onto the bed with you, making the mattress bob up and down as her weight settled.
  3876. >”He looks... off.”
  3877. >Sassy Saddles was nearby and sounded concerned.
  3878. >You lifted your head off the pillow and found that you couldn't.
  3879. >Your body was completely limp.
  3880. >The best you could do was part your eyelids and look straight ahead.
  3881. >Sassy stood in front of you with her brow furrowed and one front hoof off the floor.
  3882. >With considerable effort, you managed to draw breath.
  3883. “Hi. I feel off too. Can't move.”
  3884. >And managed to whisper.
  3885. >”Something's interfering with his presence. I can neither keep him here for much longer nor correct the instability. Not while in my diminished state.”
  3886. >A hoof's soft inner part stroked the scales on your back.
  3887. >”Which is a shame. We found... something and need your help getting it.”
  3888. >Strong hooves wrapped around your torso and pulled you in for a tight hug.
  3889. >”I'll let go of you now. Come back as soon as you can. It'll be worth your while. Trust me.”
  3890. >A pair of plush lips pressed onto the back of your neck.
  3891. >Sassy flashed a smile and waved a hoof at you.
  3892. >”See you soon!”
  3893.  
  3894. >Something light hopped on you.
  3895. >”Caw.”
  3896. >It pulled the covers off of your head.
  3897. >A flutter of feathers preceded a rush of cool air brushing your cheek.
  3898. “What is it?”
  3899. >Fleur moaned shifted next to you.
  3900. >She pulled her face out of your floof and looked up at the bird.
  3901. >”Mmh. I think it's time to get up.”
  3902. >Tossing the covers off entirely, she hopped out of bed.
  3903. >Her mane was a mess as she trod to the door and peeked out.
  3904. >The magpie cawed and hopped off you as you rolled off bed and onto your hooves.
  3905. >”Oh. That's...”
  3906. >The unicorn slipped past the door.
  3907. >Her hooves thumped on the wooden floor as she headed for something.
  3908. “What is it?”
  3909. >As you looked out of the bedroom, you saw her floating a piece of paper in front of her.
  3910. >”'I wish we could meet, but the one you see while you sleep, is one I best not greet. Should you desire aid from me, then without telling her you must be. If you want to find my hollow, the bird you should follow.'”
  3911. >A rustle of feathers from behind made you flinch.
  3912. >Claws clattered on your scales as the magpie landed on your back.
  3913. >”Caw.”
  3914. >Fleur stared at the bird with her lips pursed.
  3915. >”So. What should we do? Head back to the castle? Or keep looking for something? I remember the Princess wanted more than just the cream we already found.”
  3916.  
  3917. [x] Ask the bird if it's willing to guide us the next time we head out. The others might be starting to worry about us.
  3918.  
  3919. “I think it's best if we head back. The others might be starting to worry about us.”
  3920. >”Sure.”
  3921. >She folded the note in half and stuck it in her saddlebag.
  3922. >”I will bring this to the Princess. She'll be pleased to know we have more friends out here.”
  3923. >Stopping for a moment to glance at the bird, she headed for the stairs.
  3924. >The chair you'd barricaded the door with the previous night(?) was still there, precisely as you'd left it.
  3925. >”That aside, what would you like for breakfast?”
  3926. “Anything you can find. We can get a proper meal back at the castle. They'll have prepared one for us, most likely.”
  3927. >Fleur shrugged.
  3928. >”Okay.”
  3929. >She lit up her horn, pulled the chair off the door, and slipped through.
  3930.  
  3931. >You turned to the bird.
  3932. >It cocked its head and blinked at you.
  3933. “Hi there.”
  3934. >It cocked its head the other way blinked again.
  3935. “We have to go see some friends who are worried about us right now, so could you please lead us where you were trying to lead us the next time we head out?”
  3936. >It flicked its tail feathers.
  3937. >You had no idea whether it understood anything you said or not.
  3938. >It kept staring at you in silence – which, you now realized, felt off after the wind's constant howling last night(?).
  3939. >All you could hear was the muffled thumping of Fleur's hooves from the floor below.
  3940. >After a moment of thought, you strode to the closest window and pulled back the curtain.
  3941. >The air outside was crystal clear and, as far as you could tell, perfectly still.
  3942. >Countless stars shone bright in the sky, oddly still without twinkling.
  3943. >A very thick blanket of fresh snow covered the ground.
  3944. >Just standing close to the glass made you feel the chill.
  3945. >You pulled back and let the curtain fall into place.
  3946.  
  3947. >Two croissants, two cups of coffee, an orange, and an apple later, you and Fleur were ready at the door.
  3948. >Your saddlebags were packed with all the heavy cream the store had.
  3949. >The magpie sat on your head, half buried in your mane and quite content while poking your horn with its beak.
  3950. “Is this everything?”
  3951. >Looking back at Fleur, you placed a hoof on the ice cold doorknob.
  3952. >The mare patted her saddlebags, then nodded.
  3953. >You gave the door a push.
  3954. >It swung open and a blast of frigid air assaulted you and made you shiver.
  3955. “Brr. Let's make this quick. I'm not made for this weather.”
  3956. >You hopped onto the fresh snow.
  3957. >There was a layer of heavier stuff beneath, but most of it was extremely light and fluffy.
  3958. >”Hold on just one moment.”
  3959. >You flinched as something red and glowing flew at you, but relaxed as soon as you realized it was a woolen scarf.
  3960. >Fleur's magic tied it around your neck.
  3961. >The unicorn herself had a pink one on her.
  3962. >”There we go. It looks good on you and helps stay warm.”
  3963. >She hopped onto the snow herself and bapped you on the snoot as she strode past.
  3964. >”Now come on. We'll freeze if we don't stay on the move.”
  3965.  
  3966. >Any hints of the tracks you'd left earlier were nowhere to be seen.
  3967. >Fortunately, the village was built around the one road passing through it, so all you had to do was follow the canyon of buildings downwards.
  3968. >Fleur kept a brisk pace.
  3969. >Keeping up with her while belly deep in snow was hard enough work to leave you feeling hot despite the freezing weather.
  3970. >Hot for the most part, at least.
  3971. >Your tail and ears were going numb, despite your best efforts to shove your ears into your mane and keep your tail as close to your behind as you could.
  3972.  
  3973. >As soon as the houses ended, so did the road.
  3974. >As far as you could tell, at least.
  3975. >There was just a blanket of smooth, featureless fresh snow, glimmering with the light of the moon and stars, without any way to tell where the path you followed to the village was.
  3976. >Yet, somehow, you knew exactly which way to go to get back to the castle.
  3977. >Apparently so did Fleur as, after stopping for a few seconds, she headed in that exact direction.
  3978.  
  3979. >The wind picked up as you got down the mountain.
  3980. >It sent strands of loose snow flowing across the vast snowy expanse in front of you, and chilled you to the bone.
  3981. >Fleur glanced back at you just as you shivered.
  3982. >”Come on, you're doing great. We're almost there.”
  3983. >She had a serious look on her as she picked up the pace.
  3984. >You struggled to keep up.
  3985. >The bird shifted on your head, sinking deeper into your mane.
  3986.  
  3987. >The further you went, the heavier the wind blew.
  3988. >Just a few minutes later the air was full of so much flying powdery snow you could barely see Fleur's tail bobbing in front of you.
  3989. >The cold air rushing past felt like a knife slashing at your left side and cheek.
  3990. >Every step felt heavier than the last.
  3991. >Your eyes started playing tricks on you and the tail you followed started melding into the white void ahead and got hard to see.
  3992. >Then it ended.
  3993. >The wind vanished, and you bumped into something soft and hairy.
  3994.  
  3995. >It was Fleur's tail.
  3996. >”What in Equestria?”
  3997. >You staggered off to the side and took a look ahead.
  3998. >There was a curved wall of swirling white some twenty steps ahead of you.
  3999. >It ran all the way around and you'd just stumbled through the other side, leaving you in a circular calm spot.
  4000. >It wasn't even cold in there.
  4001. >Sure, the snow on the ground wasn't showing any signs of melting, but compared to the winds out there?
  4002. >You glanced at your left side to find out it was covered in caked snow.
  4003. >You brushed it off and found out you couldn't feel anything.
  4004. >”Are you holding up fine? We can't be more than a few minutes from the castle n-”
  4005. >Fleur bent her legs and dropped down to your level, ready to leap away, as her head snapped to the side.
  4006. >Looking the same way, you saw the shadowy silhouette of a large creature hidden somewhere in the whirling snow.
  4007. >It faded away the instant you realized it was there.
  4008. >”On your guard. We're not alone.”
  4009. >Her horn lit up and pulled you towards the center of the calm area.
  4010. >She followed behind you.
  4011. “Are we stuck here?”
  4012. >”Unless you've thought of something.”
  4013.  
  4014. [] The castle's close. Make a run for it. [Moderate, d10, roll over 4]
  4015. [x] Stay in the ring and let it come for you. [Moderate, d8, roll over 4, result: 2, failure]
  4016. [] Something else, what? [Varies]
  4017.  
  4018. “I think we best stay here where we can see.”
  4019. >Fleur's tail brushed your side as you reached the center of the eye.
  4020. >”If you say so.”
  4021. >You scanned one half of the swirling wall ahead and she kept watch on the other.
  4022. >There was nothing to see.
  4023. >Apart the shapes and shadows formed by the ever shifting snow getting whisked by heavy wind.
  4024. >One second you thought you saw an alicorn, the next a tiny earth pony, and then a massive bird of prey.
  4025. >It had to be just your mind playing tricks on you, right?
  4026.  
  4027. >”Anything?”
  4028. >A minotaur, no, a wagon, a... lamb?
  4029. “Nope.”
  4030. >The wind howled somewhere in the distance.
  4031. >Fleur tensed up and her tail brushed your side again.
  4032. >”I have a feeling we'll be here for a while.”
  4033. >You gulped down a bit of saliva.
  4034. “I hope not.”
  4035.  
  4036. >Your eyes were starting to ache from staring into the white void for too long.
  4037. >You'd long since lost track of what you thought you'd seen.
  4038. >Standing still for so long left your legs aching and let the cold start creeping in.
  4039. >The first shiver was when it struck.
  4040. >Four paws tread light on the snow.
  4041. >You had just enough time to crane your neck and see it before it got to you.
  4042. >A huge rime covered wolf with shining bright blue eyes dashed to you from the whirling whiteness.
  4043. >Fleur rolled out of the way, but you were too slow to stop its sharp fangs from snagging onto your neck.
  4044. >It... didn't hurt?
  4045. >Until an instant later when you were dragged along with it by your neck fluff.
  4046. >By the time you realized what what was going on, the unicorn was a shrinking, blurry figure in the distance and you were once again buffeted by frigid winds as loose snow swirled all around you.
  4047.  
  4048. >You skidded on your side as you were pulled deeper into the storm.
  4049. >Any attempt to right yourself was met with a strong yank on your neck that sent you tumbling again.
  4050. >You lit up your chevron and yanked at the only part of the beast you could see: the rear paws.
  4051. >It slowed down for one step, let out a loud growl that sent shivers down your spine, then flung you with enough force to send you flying.
  4052. >The snow dampened your fall, but it still sent a spark of pain from your shoulder and left you feeling dizzy.
  4053. “Nngh.”
  4054. >An icy breath brushed your neck.
  4055. >You rolled onto your other side and breathed a small jet of flame at the jaws about to snap around your neck.
  4056. >The beast hissed and slinked away, then dashed into the whiteness.
  4057. >You groaned and winced and tried out the hurt shoulder.
  4058. >It hurt, but the leg moved just fine.
  4059.  
  4060. >The tracks led you back for about a minute until you had to admit that the heavy winds had wiped them completely.
  4061. >Had the beast run in a straight line?
  4062. >You assumed it had and galloped on towards what you assumed was where Fleur was.
  4063. >The snow stung in your eyes and the icy wind sapped heat from you, but you kept going.
  4064.  
  4065. >A growl followed by Fleur shouting something carried from somewhere to your side.
  4066. >You skidded to a stop and took off in the sound's direction.
  4067. >You legs felt on fire as you pushed them to and beyond their limit.
  4068. >The wind vanished and the air cleared about a minute later as you once again emerged into the clear.
  4069. >Fleur and the beast circled each other near the middle.
  4070. >The beast had a nasty hoof-shaped bruise on its side, while Fleur had a scratch oozing blood running the entire length of her rear thigh.
  4071. >The wolf lunged, and the unicorn's horn flashed with a bright light.
  4072. >It bought her just enough time to roll away.
  4073. >Neither had noticed you.
  4074.  
  4075. [] Snag Fleur and run. [Moderate]
  4076. [] Back attack. [Low]
  4077. [] Something else, what? [Varies]
  4078. [x] Pull my devil trigger [Guaranteed Success?]
  4079.  
  4080. >Fleur de Lis stared straight into the beast's bright blue eyes.
  4081. >It was several times her size, just being too close to it chilled her to the bone, and even a full force kick to its side had little effect – despite the most satisfying thwack it'd made.
  4082. >But, she was faster than it.
  4083. >Despite the stinging pain in her thigh, she could outrun it.
  4084. >But, it'd dragged the Kirin off and she couldn't abandon her companion.
  4085. >What choice was there, though?
  4086. >Finding him in the blinding blizzard while avoiding the beast that created it would be a fool's affair.
  4087. >She spared a single glance at what he'd left behind: his saddlebags, which fell off when the beast yanked him, and a magpie now sitting on them.
  4088. >A low growl alerted her to the beast's impending lunge.
  4089. >She snapped her gaze back to it and focused her mind as magic tingled in the air.
  4090. >Just as it pounced, her horn flashed bright and she dived for a roll.
  4091. >There was no impact as the beast missed.
  4092. >A wave of frigid air buffeted her.
  4093.  
  4094. >An unearthly wail pierced the air.
  4095. >The combatants stared at each other for half a second, then turned to look at the source of the sound.
  4096. >A fiend of shadow and flame rocketed towards them.
  4097. >It looked very familiar to Fleur.
  4098. >It was the size and shape of the Kirin, but looked full of rage and hatred.
  4099. >The snow around it melted and turned into steam with a constant hiss as it approached.
  4100. >A faint smell of smoke came with it, along with a faint crackle as the uncovered grass at its hooves burnt and crumbled into ash.
  4101.  
  4102. >It was upon the beast before it could as much as flinch.
  4103. >Fleur dived away as the two collided with a loud thump and a hiss.
  4104. >Those were followed by a whining yelp and a swipe of the beast's massive paw.
  4105. >That sent the fiend tumbling.
  4106. >But only for a short moment.
  4107. >With another wail, it shot at the beast again and slammed into it.
  4108. >This time there was a sizzling sound followed by the stench of singed fur.
  4109. >The beast whined and yelped again, louder than before, and swiped at the fiend.
  4110. >But, the fiend did not care.
  4111. >It bared its sharp fangs and flared up with shadowy flames.
  4112. >Even Fleur, several steps away, felt like she was burnt by the radiating heat.
  4113. >The fiend hissed and sank its fangs into the beast's side.
  4114. >Dark blood gushed out of the wound as a piece of its side was torn off with a sickening ripping noise.
  4115. >It yelped and thrashed and tried to bend itself so it could close its massive jaws around the fiend, but to no avail.
  4116. >The air was filled with the stench of burnt fur and frying flesh as the fiend tore off another piece of flesh.
  4117. >Fleur felt sick as she realized the long pieces of white were the beast's ribs.
  4118. >It wasn't even trying to hurt the fiend now, but whined and thrashed in panic as it tried to get away.
  4119. >But couldn't.
  4120. >A wet crunch marked two of its ribs getting bit through and torn out to reveal its guts.
  4121. >The combination of ripping and tearing and and rapidly waning whining forced Fleur to look away.
  4122. >It was the stench of guts getting out in the open that finally made her hurl.
  4123.  
  4124. >An angry wail drew her back to it.
  4125. >Looking back, she saw nothing but a purple glow inside a cloud of dark smoke.
  4126. >A pair of glowing eyes stared at her.
  4127. >Soon, the fiend emerged.
  4128. >Its tongue licked at its long and razor sharp canines as it approached.
  4129. >There was no way that was the well meaning, soft and silly Kirin she'd grown fond of over the past few days.
  4130. >That was a fiend from the Beyond looking for prey.
  4131. >Her legs trembled as she took a step back for each step it took towards her.
  4132.  
  4133. [] Stand your ground.
  4134.  
  4135. >A flurry of feathers and tiny sharp claws in your face brought you back.
  4136. “Well hello there! What's got you so upset?”
  4137. >You stuck out a hoof for the magpie to land on.
  4138. >Its wing feathers brushed your leg as it set its weight on you, letting out a soft caw.
  4139. >The smell of smoke, crackle of smoldering embers, and the stench of bile and vomit caught up to you.
  4140. >Memories of the past few minutes rushed into you.
  4141. >The pure rage of seeing Fleur bleeding.
  4142. >How cold the beast felt even through its fur.
  4143. >The feeling of crunching through its bones and how sweet its flesh was.
  4144. >You remembered your own wail of disappointment as it turned into black smoke before you could feast on it.
  4145. >And then...
  4146. >You shuddered.
  4147. >She lay in the snow a few paces in front of you, her mane and tail a sprawled mess all around her.
  4148. >Drawing a sharp breath, you held it in as you waddled closer on three hooves.
  4149. >The bird cocked its head and stared at you.
  4150.  
  4151. “Hey.”
  4152. >You poked the mare.
  4153. >She twitched and let out a groan.
  4154. “Are you okay?”
  4155. >Parts of her mane were charred and she had a stink of singed fur to her.
  4156. >”No.”
  4157. >She spat out a bit of bright red mix of blood and saliva.
  4158. >”But I don't think you broke anything too important.”
  4159. >She winced as she pushed herself back onto her hooves.
  4160. >”Nngh.”
  4161. >Her eyelids were squeezed shut and her face twisted in pain as she turned around.
  4162. >”Ow.”
  4163. >Drawing a wheezing breath, she shook her head and stomped a hoof on the ground.
  4164. >”Okay. Let's get back. I need some rest. And I think you do, too.”
  4165. >You stared at the ground behind her as she took some limping steps towards the castle.
  4166. >You did that to her.
  4167. >She was hurt before, but you really went to town on her.
  4168. >It would've been better to just grab her and run.
  4169.  
  4170. >You had both sets of saddlebags on you, but Fleur was still the slower one of you two.
  4171. >And not by just a little.
  4172. >She groaned with near every step and gasped for breath despite a pace so slow you had to stop every once in a while to not pass by her.
  4173. >A little sting of pain hit your hip each time she set weight on her left rear leg.
  4174. >It couldn't bear the strain and both made her limp and her eye twitch on each step.
  4175. >At least the castle was in sight now and approaching far faster than you moved.
  4176. >And the sky was now crystal clear and full of countless twinkling stars so you didn't have to brave the winds and snow.
  4177.  
  4178. >Fleur stopped at the gatehouse to lean against one of its stone walls.
  4179. >She drew heavy, wheezing breaths, held a rear leg in the air, and muttered something.
  4180. >You glanced down at your own hooves, shook your head, and trotted to her.
  4181. >A flash of magic pulled her off the wall and onto you.
  4182. “Let me help. We're almost there, I'll be fine.”
  4183. >You felt her chest expand as she drew her lungs full of air.
  4184. >But, she just held it in for a few seconds.
  4185. >”Fine. Let's get going.”
  4186.  
  4187. >It was slow going, but it was going.
  4188. >You were fortunate that, apart the mismatched and uneven thumps of your hooves, the castle was quiet.
  4189. >You slipped into the Great Hall, hopped onto the plush red carpet, and made your way past the statues.
  4190. >Fleur put most of her weight on you as you moved, leaving her breathing easier but left you more and more tired as you went on until you too, felt out of breath.
  4191.  
  4192. >It was in the corridor connecting the Hall and the courtyard beneath Luna's tower that you heard something.
  4193. >A cold shiver passed down your spine as a faint jingle of chain armor and clicking of hooves on stone tiles reached your ears.
  4194. “Do you hear that?”
  4195. >The mare leaning onto you shifted most of her weight back to her own hooves, winced, and perked up her ears.
  4196. >She nodded and let herself slump against you.
  4197. >”Yeah. Let's go take a look. I'll figure something out.”
  4198. “Right.”
  4199. >You pushed yourself onwards despite your legs wanting to give up.
  4200.  
  4201. >Silvery moonlight filled the square courtyard and made the crescent shaped patch of flowers look like it glowed with faint light.
  4202. >Peeking in from the shadowy corridor, you weren't far from the doorway to the stairs leading up to Luna's chambers.
  4203. >It would've been an easy trip if there wasn't a pony-shaped shadow treading back and forth in front of the door on the opposite side of the yard.
  4204. >You could dash past it no problem, but the unicorn slumped on your back?
  4205. >”Just one? I... don't think I can take it out right now. I need to rest a little.”
  4206. >She drew a wheezing breath.
  4207. >”There's this core in them. Looks like a marble. Darker than the rest. Smash that.”
  4208. >With another wince, she pushed herself off of you and leaned against the wall instead.
  4209. >”Get it on the first try. Or you'll fade away.”
  4210. >You glanced back at her and the scorch marks on her coat, the singed strands of mane, and the scratch on her thigh that had formed a streak of dark red on her pure white body.
  4211. >In front of you, in the courtyard, there was a covered walkway surrounding it, with one door and two corridors – one you came through, the other leading to Luna's tower – and a grassy area with flower patches in the middle.
  4212. >A low stone wall separated the tiled pathway from the garden proper.
  4213. >It wasn't a large area, just twenty or so paces a side.
  4214. >You remembered that whatever magic kept the tower safe extended a bit out from the mouth of the corridor.
  4215. >That's where you had to get, somehow.
  4216.  
  4217. [] Go for the kill.
  4218.  
  4219. >You gulped down a bit of saliva and nodded.
  4220. “Right. I'll be fine, right? I'll be fine. Right.”
  4221. >The shade kept pacing back and forth, oblivious to your presence.
  4222. >If it had a darker spot the size of a marble on it somewhere, you could not for the life of you tell where.
  4223. >”Easier to see. If it's in light.”
  4224. >Fleur drew a deep breath, squeezed her eyelids shut, and slid down onto the floor.
  4225. >You winced at the sight.
  4226. >Why'd you have to go and hurt her like that?
  4227. >Not that it mattered.
  4228. >She – and you, by extension – was running out of time.
  4229. >You had to believe that Luna would make everything right.
  4230. >She was the Princess, and a Princess could do anything.
  4231.  
  4232. >You had to get it onto the grass somehow.
  4233. >Crawling to the stone wall separating the tiled and covered walkway from the garden, you counted yourself fortunate that those thing were not very attentive at all.
  4234. >Despite you being hidden in plain sight, it kept on patrolling.
  4235. >Peeking through the rather wide gaps between smooth stone pillars holding the railing, you tried to come up with a way.
  4236. >There were the flowers, some small bushes between the flowers and the stone wall on the other side, and very well mowed grass.
  4237. >And some pebbles.
  4238. >You scooped one up, emptied your lungs to calm your hammering heart, and chucked it into the bushes.
  4239. >It landed with a rustle.
  4240.  
  4241. >The reaction was immediate.
  4242. >The shade's ears perked up and it ceased its pacing, instead standing still with one hoof in the air.
  4243. >It turned to look at the bushes and took a step towards them.
  4244. >Not the brightest thing, in more ways than one.
  4245. >As the clip-clop of its hooves on stone tiles turned into thumps on grass, you slipped out of hiding.
  4246. >It shrank as it stepped into the moonlight.
  4247. >As you sneaked closer, you thought you saw a slightly darker spot in its hips.
  4248. >Your target.
  4249.  
  4250. >It...
  4251. >Flickered?
  4252. >And froze?
  4253. >As it stepped into the patch of flowers.
  4254. >You took your chance and pounced.
  4255. >Springing into a gallop, you leaped at it and swung a leg at the darker spot.
  4256. >Your leg passed right through it and felt like it got dunked in a bucket of ice water.
  4257. >You hit nothing.
  4258. >There was no crack and nothing got flung out.
  4259. >Landing right next to the void, you felt the white, glowing flowers tickle your belly as you stared down at your hoof.
  4260. >It had a patch of darkness on it.
  4261. >Thinking about it no more, you swung at the still frozen in place shade again.
  4262. >Your entire leg went numb from the cold.
  4263. >A quiet crack was a most welcome sound.
  4264. >The shadow's reaction was immediate.
  4265. >Its head bent backwards, it opened its mouth to scream, and all its legs bent in impossible angles before cracks spread all over it and it shattered into tiny shards.
  4266. >The shards fell into a pile on the ground and faded away as streams of dark smoke billowed out of them.
  4267. “Well that was-”
  4268. >A sudden wave of dizziness hit you.
  4269. >Glancing at your hoof, you saw the darkness was starting to spread.
  4270. >You fell into the faint silvery glow of the flowers.
  4271.  
  4272. >You were laying on something soft and pillowy.
  4273. >”Well now.”
  4274. >An alicorn as black as the darkest night lifted her gaze from the book in front of her, pulled down her glasses, and turned to look at you.
  4275. >”Always pleasant to see you here, however short the visit.”
  4276. >Her lips curled into a smile that revealed the sharp fangs in her mouth.
  4277. >She pushed her specs back into place to cover her cyan eyes with slit pupils.
  4278. >”Next time, if you wish to stay longer, try not to be so close to her when you breach through.”
  4279.  
  4280. >You found yourself staring at the full moon, laying on polished stone tiles just outside an open door leading to Luna's lavish bedroom.
  4281. >Shaking your head, you rolled onto your hooves.
  4282. >You failed to stifle a yawn as your stomach grumbled.
  4283. >The bedroom with its moon-embroidered covers was deserted as you strode in, but a scent of fried tomatoes and the sizzle of something on a hot pan carried from the kitchen.
  4284. >Inside was Tempest, with a pile of fried just about everything on a plate next to the stove and another pile of not-yet-fried just about everything on the other side.
  4285. >”Hey, you're finally awake.”
  4286. >She flicked the pan and made all the pieces on it flip around.
  4287. >”Luna's tending to Fleur. She'll be out of action for a while.”
  4288. >Her ears flipped around as she turned to face you and left the pan on the stove.
  4289. >”What in Equestria happened to her? How'd she end up in that bad shape?”
  4290.  
  4291. [] Tell her.
  4292.  
  4293. “Have you heard the legend of the Nirik?”
  4294. >Tempest glanced back at the tomato slices hissing on the pan, then turned back to you.
  4295. >”I have, yes.”
  4296. >She rubbed her chin and pursed her lips.
  4297. >”It left me wanting to try one out. Would not be the first beast I beat that's 'totally out of my league' and I should run from.”
  4298. >Her lips curled into a smirk as she let out a chuckle.
  4299. “Well that's what happened to Fleur. We ran into something and I let the beast loose.”
  4300. >Staring down at your hooves, you felt your ears droop down.
  4301. >It wasn't the going nirik part that hurt.
  4302. >It was how exhilarating it felt to beat up your friend.
  4303. >Well, not really her, but rather anything that happened to be around – which included her.
  4304. >Just driving your hooves or horn into something and breaking it, or watching it get engulfed in dark flames and turn into ash left you feeling a perverse pleasure that you knew was all wrong but still felt so good.
  4305.  
  4306. >Something warm and firm bumping into your hip snapped you back to the present.
  4307. >It was Tempest's behind.
  4308. >She stood beside you, with her cheek so close to yours you flinched when you realized it.
  4309. >”Still...”
  4310. >She pressed her muscular side against yours and nibbled at your ear.
  4311. >”...you'll do it again just for me, won't you?”
  4312. >Her voice was a sultry whisper as her tail swatted at your behind.
  4313. >The motion made her rear bump against yours.
  4314. >She had neither her armor nor her suit on, you noticed.
  4315. >”It'd make me most... pleased with you.”
  4316. >Letting out a soft chuckle, she nuzzled your cheek before peeling herself off your side and returning her focus to the pan that now had much higher pitched hissing coming from it.
  4317. >But, she made sure to drag her leg along your thigh as she pulled away.
  4318. >It left you shivering as you watched her stick a spatula under the tomato slices and peel them off the pan to flip them.
  4319. >Her tail swayed from side to side, never quite far enough to reveal anything, as she hummed some song you couldn't recognize.
  4320.  
  4321. [] Refuse
  4322.  
  4323. “I...”
  4324. >You stared at her behind and the well defined and large muscles on it.
  4325. >The tail swishing back and forth, revealing how each side curved back in towards the spot where they met and giving just the slightest hint of what hid there.
  4326. >She wasn't a bodybuilder or a gym rat who was all looks – on the contrary.
  4327. >Her core had to be pure steel, in top shape.
  4328. >The things she could do...
  4329. >A mere stray thought made your nethers tingle.
  4330. >And not because she was more than capable of beating you into pulp, nirik or not.
  4331. “...I can't. You'll beat me up bad or I'll beat you up bad or, or – do you even know what the Nirik are?”
  4332. >Tempest's ears perked up and swiveled towards you.
  4333. >”Hm?”
  4334. >She tilted her left rear hoof so only its sharp tip touched the floor while keeping the leg straight.
  4335. >As a result, her hips tilted and parts of her behind tensed up and other parts relaxed.
  4336. >It was quite the sight and you realized you'd sucked your lower lip between your teeth watching it.
  4337. >”But of course I do. I'm very... thorough. And not just when studying something.”
  4338. >The tone of her voice dropped for the last sentence as she turned to look at you.
  4339. >Her lips curled into a sly smile as she let her eyelids droop.
  4340. >”That would be you, taken over by negative emotions.”
  4341. >She reached out and booped you on the snoot.
  4342. >”But, since you're not interested... Off with you. Miss de Lis has been worried sick about you.”
  4343. >She did a shooing motion with her outstretched hoof.
  4344.  
  4345. >The clops of your hooves echoed in the stairwell as you scaled down to the room you, Fleur, and Tempest shared.
  4346. >Reaching the door, you tapped your hoof on it a few times before pushing it open.
  4347. >”Ah, good timing. We were just about done here.”
  4348. >Princess Luna greeted you with a wave of a goop-covered hoof.
  4349. >She floated a jar of that same white goop above Fleur, who laid in her bed and had a lot of it slathered on her side.
  4350. >The unicorn's lips curled into a smile as she saw you.
  4351. >”Hi. I see you ended up fine.”
  4352. >Her voice was weak and quiet.
  4353. >”Shush-shush. I can't get the salve everywhere if you keep moving like that.”
  4354. >Luna dipped her hoof in the jar and then spread some more on Fleur's side.
  4355. >The white mare winced and let out a squeak.
  4356. >”Next time-”
  4357. >The princess glanced back at you.
  4358. >”-try not to burn her so bad. I understand you did what you had to, but still.”
  4359. >She repeated the process a few more times until all of the scorched fur was coated in salve.
  4360. “I'll never do it again. Don't worry about it.”
  4361. >The alicorn twisted the lid back onto the jar and turned to face you.
  4362. >She cocked her head and arched a brow.
  4363. >”I know it is confusing coming from me of all ponies, but do not be too quick turning down a power like that. There may come a time when such a thing is required. Raw anger and rage will eventually cool and you will return to your senses, unlike...”
  4364. >She reached out with her salve-covered hoof and tapped your snout, leaving some of the white cream on it.
  4365. >”...unlike her. Now if you'll excuse me for a second. I need to go clean up.”
  4366. >Waving the same hoof in the air, she headed for the bathroom.
  4367.  
  4368. “Um, sorry.”
  4369. >You strode closer to Fleur.
  4370. >”Sorry for what?”
  4371. >She shifted a little to get a better look at you and winced again.
  4372. >”Nngh. That stuff stings.”
  4373. “Sorry for hurting you. I didn't mean to.”
  4374. >The unicorn chuckled – which very quickly turned into a grimace.
  4375. >”Ow. I know you didn't mean to and that you did what you had to. You should forgive yourself.”
  4376. “Hmmh.”
  4377. >You stared down at your own hooves and the stone tiles of the floor.
  4378. “You're right. I'm being too harsh.”
  4379. >Forcing a smile onto your face, you looked back up and at her.
  4380. >She was right.
  4381. >You didn't do it on purpose and there was no changing the past.
  4382.  
  4383. >Luna slapped the tap shut in the bathroom and pushed the door open a few seconds later.
  4384. >She slipped her now clean hoof into its silver shoe.
  4385. >”Now, despite the situation you ended up in, I must congratulate you for a job well done.”
  4386. >Bowing her head, she bent her front legs to lower her entire front half.
  4387. >”And thank thee for doing mine bidding.”
  4388. >The tips of Fleur's ears turned red as you stood still, unsure what to do.
  4389. >”Princess! But, but, I just did what you told me to.”
  4390. >Luna stood up.
  4391. >Her shod hooves clicked on the stone floor as the strode to the unicorn, lifted a hoof out of its shoe, and pressed it on her lips.
  4392. >”Hush. You both went above and beyond, risking both life and limb, to fetch something I asked without questioning. You deserve more than just my thanks.”
  4393. >The princess' lips curled into a smile as she pulled her hoof back and stuck it back in its shoe.
  4394. >”It is all I have to give right now, however.”
  4395. >She took on a stern expression, pulled her head up and back, and hooked a front hoof off the floor.
  4396. >”That, and a decision. You have brought me everything I require, though there is one more thing I believe would be helpful. You-”
  4397. >She straightened out the hooked hoof and pointed it at you.
  4398. >”-are uniquely connected to both worlds. Do you believe we have a chance worth taking at awakening our greatest treasure?”
  4399. >Princess Luna looked most regal as she stood tall in front of you, with a stern look on her and a black crown on her head.
  4400.  
  4401. [] Yes [Low]
  4402. [x] No.
  4403.  
  4404. “I... don't think we do.”
  4405. >The princess cocked her head and arched a brow.
  4406. >After staring at you for a second, she let out a sigh and bowed her head.
  4407. >”I see.”
  4408. >She was quiet as she stared down at her silver shoes.
  4409. >”Then we shall wait rather than wasting limited resources on a futile attempt. But, no matter.”
  4410. >Her voice filled with confidence for the final part.
  4411. >”Our bodies require sustenance. We shall eat and plan what we do tomorrow.”
  4412. >Fleur groaned and shuffled in bed until Luna set her shod hoof on the unicorn's shoulder.
  4413. >”You need rest, de Lis. We shall dine here with you.”
  4414. >The princess turned to you, her lips curling into a polite and practiced smile.
  4415. >”Would you be kind enough to fetch the commander along with our dinner and the required utensils?”
  4416. >You nodded and headed out.
  4417.  
  4418. >It was a tight fit with all four of you squeezed in the bedroom.
  4419. >Fleur, with her plate still half full of fried tomato, eggplant, and most everything else you'd had around slices, was the only one who still hadn't finished.
  4420. >She had to lay on her side and float her food to her from her plate on the nightstand next to the bed.
  4421. >The rest of you sat around a low table that Luna flashed in from parts unknown.
  4422. >The food was passable, but not what you'd call tasty.
  4423. >Tempest had sprinkled it with salt and pepper, but that left something to be desired.
  4424. >Such as a few drops of soy sauce or just more oil on the pan.
  4425. “Thanks for the food. It was tasty.”
  4426. >You set your fork down on your now empty plate and flashed a smile at the cook.
  4427. >She rolled her eyes.
  4428. >”Hmph. Don't bother buttering me up like that. I know I'm a terrible cook and was only chosen as a last resort since nopony else was available.”
  4429. >Her lips curled into a hint of a smile despite her words as she glanced first at you and then at Fleur.
  4430.  
  4431. >”Ahem.”
  4432. >Luna cleared her throat as she glared at Tempest.
  4433. >”Now that you three have gathered the strictly necessary items, we can move on to the likely useful ones.”
  4434. >Her horn flashed.
  4435. >A crack and a bright flash filled the room for a fraction of a second.
  4436. >A notepad and a pencil that weren't there before now floated in front of the princess' face, wreathed in her night blue magic.
  4437. >”There are two things I am certain will increase the odds of accomplishing our objective. The first is more artifacts that breach the veil between worlds, such as the one you already found.”
  4438. >The pencil scribbled on paper as Luna sketched an image of the day minister's seal that you now realized you hadn't seen since giving it up.
  4439. >”The second is a star lens. Those occasionally fall out of the skies, both dream and real.”
  4440. >She scribbled a tetrahedron with rounded edges and corners with a large swirl inside it.
  4441. >Flipping the notepad around, she made sure to give Fleur a good look at what was drawn on it.
  4442. >”I cannot say where you should look for more artifacts, but star lenses are easiest found in snowy areas or sand deserts as they are dark and stand out against the whiteness of snow and lightness of sand. There may of course be other things that could help us, but I am not currently aware of anything such.”
  4443. >Tempest cocked her head and arched a brow.
  4444. >”So we'll just keep doing exactly what we've been doing so far, just for different things?”
  4445. >The alicorn nodded.
  4446. >”That is indeed how it is. But, all that is for tomorrow.”
  4447. >The notepad and pencil both disappeared with a crack and a flash.
  4448. >”You-”
  4449. >She pointed a shod hoof at you.
  4450. >”-are sleeping with me. Or did you have something else in mind? Perhaps something you still wished to accomplish tonight?”
  4451. >Arching a brow, she cast a glance at Tempest, then at you.
  4452.  
  4453. [] Agree and mention the bird and the note.
  4454.  
  4455. “No, that's fine by me. There's just one thing.”
  4456. >You turned to look at Fleur.
  4457. >She had her mouth full of food and was busy spearing another bit of eggplant with her fork.
  4458. “Fleur, do you still have the letter we found?”
  4459. >”Mmh?”
  4460. >Glancing at you, she chewed for another second before gulping down what she had in her mouth.
  4461. >”It should be in my saddlebag. Probably crumpled somewhere on the bottom. We're lucky the cream didn't get smashed.”
  4462. >She set her fork and the bit of food on it down on her plate.
  4463. >Her saddlebags, wreathed in her magic, floated to you from the corner of the room.
  4464. “You didn't need to do that, but thanks!”
  4465. >You stuck out a hoof and let her hang the bags on it.
  4466. >Flipping the flaps open, you indeed found a crumpled piece of paper on the bottom of one of the bags.
  4467. >Fortunately, it wasn't torn.
  4468. >You placed it on the floor and smoothed it out with a hoof the best you could.
  4469. “Ah. Excellent! It's still readable.”
  4470. >The corners of your mouth curled into a smile as you presented the letter to Luna.
  4471. “Here. We found this while out there. That, and a magpie that definitely wasn't a wild one.”
  4472. >The princess stared at you for a second and blinked twice.
  4473. >”Oh? You ran into somepony else?”
  4474. >She fell quiet for a few seconds as her pupils whizzed from left to right while reading the letter.
  4475. >”'If you want to find my hollow, the bird you should follow.'”
  4476. >Pursing her lips, she tapped her chin with a hoof.
  4477. >”A rhyming enchantress living in a hollow? I might know who this... pony? is. And if it is indeed who I believe it is, 'tis imperative you recruit her for our cause. I heard she is wise far beyond her years.”
  4478. >She stood up and stuck a hoof out as she stated her declaration.
  4479. >For a split second, she stood there like she'd made some grand decision, then blinked and let her hoof fall back to the floor.
  4480. >”Ahem. But all that is for tomorrow. I believe it is time we retire for the night now.”
  4481.  
  4482. >Some time later, after you'd had time to clean and tidy up everything the admittedly very rough day had left on you, you trotted into Luna's bedroom.
  4483. >The mare herself scooped her crown off her head and placed it on her desk just as you came in.
  4484. >”Ah, you are done?”
  4485. >Her horn flashed and you heard a click.
  4486. >Her chestplate made a metallic clunk as it fell onto the floor.
  4487. >She lifted it onto her desk as she stepped out of her shoes.
  4488. >You nodded as you ran a comb through your still damp floof.
  4489. >”Do go ahead. I will join you shortly.”
  4490. >Luna's horn flashed again as the covers on her bed were pulled back.
  4491. >”Um. Okay?”
  4492. >You got the feeling you'd just seen something very few had.
  4493. >But, as the princess strode out of the room and towards the bathroom, you were left with little to do apart what she said.
  4494.  
  4495. >The bed was just as exquisite as you remembered it being.
  4496. >Like sleeping on a cloud, if you had to guess.
  4497. >The whoosh of a shower getting turned on suggested that Luna would be a while.
  4498. >You were starting to feel tired, but wanted to wait for her since she seemed like she had something to say.
  4499. >But, just as soon as you finished the thought, your eyelids got droopy and you had to shake your head to stay awake.
  4500. >That was unusual.
  4501. >It wasn't quite yet the time yet.
  4502.  
  4503. >Shod hooves clicked on stone as somepony approached.
  4504. >They stopped right next to you for a second before the mattress you lay on deformed by a heavy weight.
  4505. >Something soft and warm brushed against your cheek.
  4506. >”I can smell her on you.”
  4507. >A harsh voice.
  4508. >”How is she? What have you been so busy with you haven't had time for me?”
  4509. >You cracked open your eyelids and rolled onto your other side to face the source of the voice.
  4510. >A night black mare with slit pupils stared at you.
  4511.  
  4512. [] Say many things!
  4513.  
  4514. “Luna? She's the same as always: trying to fix this whole thing and return the world to normal.”
  4515. >Nightmare rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out with a quiet 'bleh'.
  4516. >You spread your legs out wide and beckoned her in.
  4517. >She sniffed at you, scrumched her snoot, but then leaned in anyways.
  4518. >You wrapped your hooves around her and pulled her in.
  4519. >Well, more pulled yourself to her.
  4520.  
  4521. >She was warm and soft.
  4522. >Relatively soft.
  4523. >On a scale from de Lis to commander Tempest, Nightmare was somewhere in between but definitely closer to Tempest.
  4524. “Overall she's doing fine given the circumstances.”
  4525. >Reaching back with a hoof, you stroked the alicorn's neck.
  4526. “No need to worry about her. She and our group are trying to fix this mess, but I don't think we have a solid plan yet.”
  4527. >The alicorn remained both tense and quiet for a second.
  4528. >She then relaxed and leaned onto you, her weight pressing you onto the mattress you laid on.
  4529. >”That is good news. Perhaps we have enough time to complete my plan, then.”
  4530. >She nuzzled your cheek before pulling herself off of you.
  4531. >”But, we should proceed with all haste.”
  4532. >Her horn lit up as you were lifted off the bed and plopped onto your hooves.
  4533. >She had a sly smile on her lips as she swung around and beckoned you to follow her.
  4534. >”Come. We shall eat and get you caught up.”
  4535.  
  4536. >”Hey! Nice to see you again!”
  4537. >Sassy, with a clean white apron on, waved a hoof at you as you trotted into the kitchen.
  4538. >”How have you been?”
  4539. >She had a large pot on the stove in front of her.
  4540. >Steam rose from the pot and the room was filled with a scent of tomato sauce.
  4541. >You really didn't feel hungry at all since you ate not long ago in the other world.
  4542. “I've been better. I kinda went berserk and turned into a monster and nearly killed Fleur. But apart that bit I've been good.”
  4543. >The unicorn blinked twice and cocked her head.
  4544. >”Fleur... de Lis?”
  4545. >You nodded as you hopped onto a chair next to the dining table.
  4546. >”Ah. I'm... not sure how to feel about that. She’ll be fine, right?”
  4547. >You nodded again.
  4548. >Sassy patted her chest with a hoof and let out a sigh.
  4549. >”She is perhaps not quite a friend, but a regular customer and a most welcome face whose visits I enjoy.”
  4550. >Sassy's eyes twitched as Nightmare trotted in behind you.
  4551. >”An acquaintance of yours? What is she like?”
  4552. >The unicorn stared at the alicorn as the latter pulled back the chair next to you.
  4553. >Sassy's lips then curled into a very practiced customer service kind of a smile.
  4554. >”She is a model and a most pleasant individual to be around. Buys a lot of dresses, both for modeling and because she likes them.”
  4555. >Nightmare hopped onto the chair she'd pulled back and reached out to stroke your cheek with a hoof.
  4556. >”More good news, then. We'll have more time if she's not good for much apart looking good.”
  4557.  
  4558. >You had a small portion of very basic tomato sauce and spaghetti on a plate in front of you since you’d thought it too rude to decline entirely.
  4559. >Nightmare twirled her fork on her plate to gather up a bunch of pasta and sauce, then shoved it in her mouth.
  4560. >”Mmh.”
  4561. >She nodded in approval as she chewed and swallowed.
  4562. >”Much better. But.”
  4563. >Her fork, wreathed in her magic, spun in the air and pointed at you.
  4564. >”We got so engrossed in getting food on the table that you never had time to tell what had you so occupied you didn’t have time to visit.”
  4565. >You set down the little bit of pasta you’d been nibbling on and turned to look at her.
  4566. >She didn’t look quite as intimidating as she usually did with a faint ring of red sauce stains around her plush night black lips.
  4567. “Oh, that? We were busy… exploring dreams. It wasn’t the most interesting one about a weird and twisted supermarket, but then Fleur fell into a bottomless void and it turned into a nightmare of a memory. I think.”
  4568. >Rubbing your chin with a hoof, you thought back to yesterday.
  4569. >It felt like it’d been much longer with how much had happened since.
  4570. >”You, exploring nightmares?”
  4571. >She covered her mouth with a shod hoof and let out a chuckle, then glanced at Sassy.
  4572. >”I wish I were there to see it. Was that all you did?”
  4573. >You shook your head.
  4574. ”I wish it was. We ran into trouble on our way back and one thing led to another and I kinda turned into a monster and hurt her real bad.”
  4575. >Nightmare’s ears twitched as she stared at you in silence for a second.
  4576. >”Oh. I… ‘m glad you turned out fine in the end.”
  4577. >She stuck her fork into the pile of pasta on her plate.
  4578.  
  4579. >Water sloshed around and metal clinked against porcelain as Sassy washed the dishes in the sink.
  4580. >Nightmare still sat on her seat with a beaming smile on her lips.
  4581. >”That was truly excellent. Thank you ever so much, miss Saddles.”
  4582. >Sassy glanced back with a brow arched.
  4583. >”That was extremely simple and not much of anything at all, but thank you.”
  4584. >The alicorn waved a shod hoof at the unicorn.
  4585. >”I haven’t ever had time to enjoy culinary delights of any kind. Anyways…”
  4586. >Her shoes clopped on the floor as she hopped off her chair.
  4587. >”…as to today’s plan. As I just had time to say on your remarkably brief visit last night, we have found something. Namely, a sealed vault in the caverns beneath the castle. Are you aware of how this world and the other came to be?”
  4588. >She nodded at you.
  4589. >You thought back to Luna’s explanation about a spell that was meant to turn the world into a dream going horribly wrong and nodded back at her.
  4590. >”Most excellent. The reason why this vault is so important is that, I believe, this vault holds the spell scroll – or at least a copy of it, likely thought to be the only one in existence – of the spell responsible for the situation Equestria is currently in.”
  4591. >She spun around and took a few steps towards the door leading to the stairs.
  4592. >”I would like to acquire this scroll and enough power to cast the spell to undo it. However-”
  4593. >Whack!
  4594. >One of her shod hooves stomped on the floor.
  4595. >”-a certain individual has cast protective spells around the vault. I managed to dispel the first one, but there are however many more that I cannot get past for the time being.”
  4596. >Turning around, she had a hint of a smile on her lips.
  4597. >”And that is where you two come in. Neither of you were specifically named when the magic wards were created and should have a much easier time.”
  4598. >You and Sassy glanced at each other.
  4599. >The unicorn had her ears put back and her well practiced smile on her lips.
  4600. >”So, what do you say? Would you be willing to help me?”
  4601.  
  4602. [] Ask if she has enough power and what she’ll do after.
  4603.  
  4604. “Do you know where to find enough power to cast the spell? What if it fails another time?”
  4605. >Nightmare shook her head and did a sweeping motion at the door with her hoof.
  4606. >”I have a hunch, but no definite knowledge since I doubt you would aid me in draining your precious princesses. As for what will happen if I were to fail?”
  4607. >Her shod hooves clopped on the stone tiling as she turned to face you and strode closer, keeping her eyes locked with yours.
  4608. >”I am not going to fail.”
  4609. >Her voice was icy cold.
  4610. >With a flash of her magic, the world fell deathly quiet apart the clops of her hooves.
  4611. >She kept her steps slow and each clip sent a shiver down your spine as she kept getting closer.
  4612. >Your gaze shot to Sassy, then to the door as you squirmed on your seat.
  4613. >”Why would you think I’m going to fail?”
  4614. >Whack!
  4615. >She slammed her shod hoof onto the floor right next to you.
  4616. >You flinched at the sudden noise and turned to look at her.
  4617. >Her lips curled into a soft smile as she cocked her head and cupped your chin with a hoof.
  4618. >”You needn’t worry about my failure. It will not happen. I care about you, about us-”
  4619. >Casting a short glance at Sassy, Nightmare let go of your chin for a second to point a hoof at the unicorn.
  4620. >”-enough to never fail something as critical.”
  4621. >Her cheek brushed against yours as she leaned in for a nuzzle.
  4622. >You gulped down a bit of saliva as she pulled away, causing her to let out a soft chuckle.
  4623.  
  4624. “S-so.”
  4625. >You let out and then drew a breath, still uncertain how to feel.
  4626. “What do you intend to do when you’re successful? Where do you see yourself after you undo the spell? Will you still be at odds with Luna? Will you perhaps work with her? I think it’d be a lot easier if you worked together.”
  4627. >Whack!
  4628. >Nightmare lunged at you.
  4629. >You just had time to lift your front hooves to cover your head before…
  4630. >...before she stopped just short of you and let out a low hiss with her sharp fangs bared.
  4631. >She drew a deep breath while glaring at you.
  4632. >”There can be only one. Once the worlds merge, so will our bodies. One of us will be reduced to a mere thought, something with no sense of time or self. And it will not. Will, NOT, be me again.”
  4633. >A few droplets of spittle flew onto you as she shouted the last bit.
  4634. >She snarled at you as she drew a few rapid breaths before pulling away from you and turning around.
  4635. >”Ahem. So, will you assist me?”
  4636. >Sticking her snoot up in the air, she craned her neck just enough to see you out of the corner of an eye.
  4637. >You hopped off your chair and wobbled for a few steps since you’d got so tense.
  4638. “I will. Just uh, what kind of resistance should we expect? What kind of a spell did you dispel already?”
  4639. >A sudden creak and a thump drew both your and Nightmare’s attention.
  4640. >It was Sassy sliding off her chair and onto her hooves.
  4641. >”If you think her plan is sound, then so do I. But, I am also interested in what kind of obstacles we’ll be facing.”
  4642. >The unicorn still had her polite, practiced smile on her face along with a similarly practiced chippy tone of voice.
  4643. >All you could tell was that there was something she didn’t let show.
  4644. >Like thinking you were stupid for bringing up the subject you did just now.
  4645. >Nightmare’s lips curled into happy smile.
  4646. >”Excellent. I will explain what to expect on the way there. Follow me, if you would. And Sassy, would you be kind and fetch the rope?”
  4647. >Her horn flashed as the door swung open and she beckoned you to follow with a wag of her hoof.
  4648.  
  4649. >”The first thing you will notice is a feeling that you’ve taken the wrong turn or that you’ve forgotten something and should go get it. That’s the lingering effects of the first protective ward I dispelled.”
  4650. >Nightmare’s metal shoes’ rhythmic clops accompanied her words, along with the softer and quieter sound of your and Sassy’s hooves.
  4651. >”Beyond that, there’s the second ward. To me, it is a solid, impregnable barrier. To you, it will be little more than a tingling sensation – as Sassy here already found out when we first ran into it.”
  4652. >You were led deep into the oldest part of the castle and down ever narrower and darker corridors.
  4653. >Soon enough you felt like you got a nagging feeling that you should go back and make sure you didn’t forget anything.
  4654. >”I personally haven’t gone any further, but Sassy said the third ward is a physical one: the entrance is a hatch in the ceiling with nothing below it. Which is why…”
  4655. >Nightmare’s horn lit up and one end of the coil of rope around Sassy’s neck floated up.
  4656. >”...we’re bringing this.”
  4657. >Bonk!
  4658. >”Oof!”
  4659. >The alicorn ran into something invisible.
  4660. >She tapped it with her hoof a few times.
  4661. >”Ah. Here we are. You’re on your own from here. The hatch is just up ahead.”
  4662. >Sassy trotted ahead before you could.
  4663. >She shuddered as she passed the spot where Nightmare stood.
  4664. >”Bleh. Still doesn’t feel nice. But, how will we know we’ve found what we’re looking for?”
  4665. >You followed the unicorn.
  4666. >Passing by Nightmare and through the invisible barrier felt like something stirred at your insides.
  4667. >You took a staggering step and leaned against the nearest wall for a few seconds.
  4668. >”That, I cannot tell you. It could be a part of a grand tome of forbidden spells. Or, it could be a nondescript scroll tucked in some forgotten corner. Expect magic illusions attempting to lead you astray and perhaps a few… slightly fatal traps around the most powerful items.”
  4669. >You and Sassy glanced at each other, then headed further down the corridor.
  4670.  
  4671. >The hatch was just out of sight from where Nightmare stood.
  4672. >Sassy pulled it open.
  4673. >It fell onto the floor with a loud thump and a puff of dust.
  4674. >Beneath it was a long fall – several times your height – onto a stone floor.
  4675. >Survivable, perhaps, but not without broken bones.
  4676. >Down there were bookshelves loaded with scrolls and tomes, statues of unknown age, glowing gems, crystalline sculptures in space defying shapes, along with closed chests and coffers.
  4677. >”So how do we get down there?”
  4678. >Sassy scanned the area around you for anything to tie the rope to, but the pickings were scant.
  4679. >You pulled the hatch off the floor and checked the other side to confirm it did indeed have a hoop on it.
  4680. >Apart that there was a hook on the wall that looked like it’d once held a torch.
  4681. “I guess we tie the rope to something. And hope it holds and we don’t pull it closed on our way down.”
  4682.  
  4683. [x] Tie it to the hook. [High, 1d6, roll over 1, result: 5, success]
  4684. [] Tie it to the hatch. [High, 1d6, roll over 1]
  4685.  
  4686. >You stared at the hatch for a few seconds, then lifted it upright onto its hinges.
  4687. >It was solid wood, but not at all thick and quite light for its size.
  4688. >You gave it a poke as you let your magic dissipate and it fell back onto the floor with a thump as you hopped over to the hook on the wall.
  4689. >Sticking your hoof into it, you yanked it as hard as you could.
  4690. >It didn’t budge.
  4691. >You stuck a rear hoof against the wall beneath the hook, hung your entire weight on it, and strained your leg to push away as hard as you could.
  4692. >The hook didn’t budge.
  4693. >Letting go, you shook the hoof you held it with to get the blood flowing again and turned to look at Sassy.
  4694. “I think that’s the best we have. Do you want to go first or should I?”
  4695. >A faint tingle of magic filled the air as the unicorn lit up her horn and lifted the coil of rope off of herself.
  4696. >She tossed one end of it to you.
  4697. >”Tie yourself to it. I’ll lower you and then climb down myself.”
  4698. >Taking the other end, she slung it around the hook and took a firm hold of it.
  4699. >You tied your end into a loop as Sassy pulled the loose rope to her side of the hook.
  4700. “Ready?”
  4701. >She nodded.
  4702. >You sat in the loop of rope and shimmied off the edge.
  4703.  
  4704. >The rope chafed and yanked on your behind as you sat on the loop while Sassy lowered you a hoof’s length at a time.
  4705. >You did your best to stay still despite the discomfort to make it easier for her.
  4706. >Despite that, you couldn’t complain about the view.
  4707. >Colorful, glowing crystals lined the walls of what had to be a natural cavern.
  4708. >The floor was full of shelves, chests, coffers, and pedestals, all full of treasures.
  4709. >Though very little gold or jewels.
  4710.  
  4711. >Your rear hooves scraped the stone floor as you swung gently on the rope.
  4712. >Sassy gave a little bit more, and you fell onto your side with a soft thump.
  4713. >A dull pain pulsed in your shoulder.
  4714. >You laid still for a while, then rolled onto your hooves.
  4715. >And winced in pain.
  4716. >”I see you have found my vault.”
  4717. >The sudden, soft voice from behind made you hop into the air.
  4718. >Behind you stood a majestic, tall white alicorn of immense beauty.
  4719. >Well, a flickering image of one, at least.
  4720. >It made a sweeping motion towards the treasures around you.
  4721. >”I sincerely hope you know what you’re doing and what you’re looking for. Many items here hold enough power to end not only your life, but most of Equestria as well.”
  4722. >Turning to look at you again – well, at a spot right next to you – it cocked its head and arched a brow.
  4723. >”Please seek me as soon as you can and tell me what calamity has you seek such power. If I’m no longer present…”
  4724. >The image’s face turned downwards as it looked at its own, shod hooves.
  4725. >It heaved a sigh as the corners of its mouth drooped.
  4726. >”...tell my sister I’ve missed her. More than anything.”
  4727. >A sudden zap echoed in the cavern as ‘Celestia’ vanished.
  4728.  
  4729. >Sassy was all slick with sweat and panting when she let go off the rope to stand on the floor with her own four hooves.
  4730. >”So…”
  4731. >Huff.
  4732. >”A warning?”
  4733. >She wiped her forehead with a fetlock as she plopped her behind onto the floor while gasping for air.
  4734. “You heard it too?”
  4735. >Nod.
  4736. “Well I already chose to trust her-”
  4737. >You pointed a hoof at the hatch above you.
  4738. “-but I can’t say that made me feel more certain. The opposite, really.”
  4739. >Still, you’d made your choice.
  4740. >Wheeling around, you strode to the closest shelf and pulled out a tome at random.
  4741. >’Secrets of Ancient Ponytopia’
  4742. >It was very heavy and the pages were yellowed.
  4743. >You flipped the front cover open to see a beautiful, hoof-drawn illustration of some city of many stone arches and orange clay brick roofs.
  4744. >”Are you sure…”
  4745. >Huff.
  4746. >”...we’re doing the right thing?”
  4747.  
  4748. [x] No.
  4749.  
  4750. >You slammed the book shut, shoved in back onto the shelf, and shook your head.
  4751. “No. We’re not.”
  4752. >Glancing at the shelf, you read the titles of the other books on it.
  4753. >’Sunken Kingdom’, ‘Annals of the Crystal Empire’, ‘History of the Three Tribes Era’
  4754. >Intriguing, but not relevant.
  4755. >”Yeah. That’s how I feel too.”
  4756. >Her hoofsteps approached as you heard her gulp down some saliva.
  4757. >”I’m just not sure what to do about it. Surviving on my own was so draining that I don’t want to do it again.”
  4758. >Wheeling around, you found her biting her lip and looking down at the ground between you.
  4759. “I guess now that we have a moment to ourselves… How are you getting on with her? She’s not giving you a hard time, is she?”
  4760. >Sassy drew a deep breath and held it for a few seconds, still staring at the smoothed stone floor.
  4761. >”...Not exactly. She’s… very eager to have company and either doesn’t or doesn’t want to see I have my doubts about her.”
  4762. >She shook her head.
  4763. >”I don’t agree with what she’s doing, but I also don’t want to risk making her angry or turn her into an enemy. I’ve seen her lash out at the… things, shadows, that wander the hallways.”
  4764. >A shudder passed through her as she lifted her head and looked at you.
  4765. >You stared back at her, drawing a breath and holding it as your head swam with conflicting thoughts.
  4766. >”I haven’t dared to talk with her about it. Maybe I should. Maybe what she’s doing is the way to fix things and we have to help her.”
  4767. >She lifted a hoof off the floor and tapped her temple with it while biting her lip.
  4768. >”So. What do you think we should do? I don’t think we can find what we’re looking for right now – and I’m not sure we should even if we could. On the slightly longer term, what do we do with her?”
  4769. >She pointed up at the hatch.
  4770.  
  4771. [x] We have to save her.
  4772.  
  4773. >You stared at the square hole in the ceiling and the rope coming down from it.
  4774. “So. From what I know, it’s either her or Luna who has to go when the worlds merge. And I don’t want to see either outcome.”
  4775. >Sucking your lower lip in between your teeth, you paused for a second to gather your thoughts.
  4776. “We’ll have to figure out some way to let both of them stay. But, before that can happen, she’ll have to learn how to be friends. That’s where you can help.”
  4777. >You turned to look at Sassy.
  4778. >Her brow furrowed as she stared at you for a second.
  4779. >”So… you want to save her? Redeem her? How?”
  4780. >She drew in a breath like she was about to continue, but held it in for a few seconds.
  4781. >”And wouldn’t redeeming her turn her into Luna?”
  4782. >It was your turn to draw a breath and hold it.
  4783. >You had not thought of that.
  4784. >Were they truly separate beings or, like you and the beast within, just two sides of one coin?
  4785. “I’m not sure. We’ll find out, somehow.”
  4786. >Sassy cocked her head and arched a brow.
  4787. >”Sure. I’ll give her a chance to be friends.”
  4788. >She tapped your side as she strode past to look at the bookshelf.
  4789. >”Anyhow. I’ll trust you know what you’re doing and go with your plan. But, for right now, we need something more than…”
  4790. >Leaning in, she read a few titles.
  4791. >”...books about forgotten history.”
  4792.  
  4793. >The problem with finding something in the vault wasn’t that there was nothing to find.
  4794. >It was that there was too much to find.
  4795. >You stared at one of the few gold items in there, a gold amulet in the shape of an alicorn bust with a red gemstone in the middle.
  4796. >It was on a pedestal under a glass cover.
  4797. >But, valuables weren’t what you were looking for so you headed further from the hatch and the rope hanging from it.
  4798.  
  4799. >”Hey, come take a look at this.”
  4800. >Sassy called for you from the other side of a very tall pile of armor.
  4801. >Chain, plate, leather, with and without holes for wings or horns, in all sizes – but, as far as you could tell, entirely mundane, if spotless and well kept.
  4802. >You trotted around it to find your unicorn friend pointing at a staff.
  4803. >It was a black, crooked branch, about as tall as you, with a light blue crystal for an endpiece.
  4804. >A very simple looking thing, if not for the fact it was floating in the air with neither support nor magic holding it aloft.
  4805. “What do you think that is?”
  4806. >Sassy glanced at you and shook her head.
  4807. >”I have no idea.”
  4808. >A shiver passed down your spine as you rounded the staff and it followed you: no matter which direction you looked at it from, it looked exactly the same.
  4809. “Uh, I don’t think this is a good thing. It’s giving me the creeps.”
  4810. >Sassy stared at it as well.
  4811. >She leaned away from it and lifted a front hoof off the ground to cover her chest.
  4812. >”Ehh, yeah. The longer I look at it the less I like it.”
  4813. >Still, creepy or not, it had to be an item of great power and would no doubt please Nightmare Moon.
  4814. “I’ll keep looking.”
  4815. >That didn’t mean you wanted to stay close to it.
  4816.  
  4817. >A few minutes later, close to an – as far as you could tell – entirely mundane painting of Princess Celestia, you ran into a tall standing mirror that caught your attention.
  4818. >It didn’t reflect anything.
  4819. >It was just a deep, deep pool of pure silver, even when you trotted in front of it to look into it.
  4820. >The frame was solid, brown wood carved with intricate images of prancing pegasi on it.
  4821. >There was nothing behind it apart a plain marble pillar supporting it.
  4822. >Rounding back to the front, you stared deep into it.
  4823. >There was, you thought, a hint of blue mixed in with the silver.
  4824. >Lifting a hoof, you stuck it to the mirror.
  4825. >And stopped just short of touching the surface.
  4826. >You wanted to find out what that thing was, but thought it best to not risk anything.
  4827.  
  4828. “Find anything?”
  4829. >You strode out from between two racks stocked with swords, spears, halberds, and bows, of which none stood out in any way.
  4830. >Sassy stood in a small clearing, staring at a glass display case that had Luna’s crown in it.
  4831. >”I found this.”
  4832. >She pointed at the display.
  4833. >”But as far as I can tell, there’s no magic to it. There’s none to either princess’ regalia. They’re purely ornamental – unless Celestia and Luna have held a secret for all these years.”
  4834. >After a few more seconds of staring at it, she turned to face you.
  4835. >”So. I haven’t seen anything even resembling a spellbook or a scroll and we’ve been at this for a while. Should we keep looking or just pick something and get back up?”
  4836. >Both of you glanced at the rope dangling from the ceiling, now quite a ways from where you stood.
  4837.  
  4838. [x] Go back to check on things.
  4839.  
  4840. “I ran into a few things I think should be looked at in a bit more detail. I’ll show you.”
  4841. >You spun around and beckoned her to follow with a wave of your hoof.
  4842. >Passing by the weapon racks again, you snagged a spear as you want by.
  4843. >It had a shaft of smooth wood, a sharp tip of shiny steel, and looked exactly like the spears you’d seen guardsponies use.
  4844. >”What’s that for?”
  4845. >You glanced at Sassy, then at the spear.
  4846. “For poking something I don’t want to touch myself. You’ll see; it isn’t far.”
  4847. >She shrugged.
  4848. >The sound of her hooves thumping on the stone floor soon followed.
  4849.  
  4850. >The mirror was precisely as you remembered it: a bottomless pool of pure silver, with something in your brain suggesting there was some blue mixed in somewhere deep within.
  4851. >”Well that’s definitely magical.”
  4852. >Sassy’s hoofsteps stopped as soon as she rounded a shelf full of small pony statuettes and caught sight of it.
  4853. >”I can feel it all the way from here and I’m not sensitive to that stuff in the slightest.”
  4854. >As you glanced back at her, you saw her hold her hoof in the air for a second before shaking her head.
  4855. “Huh. I don’t feel anything.”
  4856. >You trotted right to the mirror and stared into it, but didn’t feel any different from usual.
  4857. “Do you think it’s a bad thing and we should get away from it?”
  4858. >Sassy looked hesitant as she approached and didn’t get as close as you.
  4859. >”I don’t think it’s evil. Just powerful – but that doesn’t mean it can’t be just as dangerous.”
  4860. >She stopped in front of the mirror and stared into it for a few seconds before moving on to study the frame.
  4861. >”Is it related to pegasi somehow or what’s the carvings about?”
  4862. >You, no more knowledgeable than her, said nothing.
  4863. >Shaking her head, she let out a short sigh.
  4864. >”There’s probably a catalog of this place somewhere, likely hidden somewhere known only by a few of the Princess’ most trusted. That’s my guess anyways since she did leave a message in case of her absence.”
  4865. >She mad a wide sweeping motion with a hoof at the stuff all around you.
  4866. >”There’s no way even the Princess could remember what all this is. I haven’t seen a single label or even a numbering system!”
  4867.  
  4868. >Half of Sassy’s outburst was lost to you as you stared at the spear you’d brought with you.
  4869. >Poking the mirror couldn’t hurt, right?
  4870. >A faint tingle of magic filled the air as you lifted the weapon and moved the blunt end right to the silvery surface.
  4871. >And gave it a gentle tap.
  4872. >The end of the solid wooden shaft passed right through the surface like there was nothing there – and then got stuck.
  4873. >Try as you might, you couldn’t pull it back out.
  4874. >You let go of it as it began to slide deeper in.
  4875. “Umm.”
  4876. >Sassy stared at it, but remained quiet as you glanced back at her.
  4877. >Both of you watched as the sharp steel tip of the spear disappeared into the mirror, leaving behind a flawless glass surface.
  4878. “I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t touch it.
  4879. >The unicorn nodded.
  4880.  
  4881. [x] Don’t touch it and go get the tiara.
  4882.  
  4883. >You stared at the silver void for a few seconds, then shook your head.
  4884. “How about we take the tiara and go tell we found too much stuff to find anything?”
  4885. >Sassy, still keeping her distance to the mirror, glanced back the way you came.
  4886. >”I have no objections. We’ve overstayed our welcome, I feel.”
  4887. >You arched a brow and looked at her.
  4888. “You feel? What do you mean?”
  4889. >She sucked her lower lip between her teeth, lifted a hoof off the floor, and glanced behind herself.
  4890. >”It’s just… a feeling.”
  4891. >With a solid clop, she drove her hoof to the floor and trotted off towards the tiara.
  4892. >Glancing in the same direction she had, you saw nothing.
  4893. >You perked up your ears, but only heard the unicorn’s hooves on stone.
  4894. >Well, she had a sense you didn’t, so you wheeled around and took off after her.
  4895. >But not without stopping to pat one of the pony statuettes on the shelf.
  4896. >It felt and looked like a painted clay figurine.
  4897.  
  4898. >”Well. I hope nothing happens when I open this thing.”
  4899. >Sassy had a hoof on the glass case over the crown and didn’t bother even looking at you as she heard your steps get closer.
  4900. >She gulped down a bit of saliva and lit up her horn.
  4901. >Magic tingled in the air as the case rose up just enough for her to snag the black metal tiara.
  4902. >Her ears perked up and swiveled all around, but there was nothing to hear
  4903. >She let out a sigh and let the case fall back to its place.
  4904. >”Right. Let’s get out of here.”
  4905. >She stood still for another second, staring at the crown.
  4906. >And lifted it onto her head.
  4907. >”...nothing. It really is just a status symbol and nothing more.”
  4908. >You cocked your head and arched a brow as she glanced back at you.
  4909. >”I was curious, okay? It’s not every day I get to try on something like this.”
  4910. >The corners of your mouth curled into a smile as you rolled your eyes.
  4911. “OK.”
  4912. >Her cheeks and the tips of her ears gained a slight red tint.
  4913.  
  4914. >The vault, thankfully, remained dead silent apart the sound of your muffled hoofsteps as you made your way towards the hatch.
  4915. >You felt nothing, but Sassy kept glancing around and stopping to listen.
  4916. >Eventually, you did reach the rope.
  4917. >It was precisely as you’d left it, with a few loops on the floor and the rest swaying back and forth in the air.
  4918. “Do you want to go first?”
  4919. >You nodded at the rope.
  4920. >”Sure. I’ll pull you up once there.”
  4921. >Her horn lit up with magic as she lifted the crown off her head.
  4922. >”Hold on to this. I can’t while climbing.”
  4923. >She tossed it to you.
  4924. >Your aura enveloped the tiara before it hit the floor and placed it on your hoof.
  4925. >It had tiny scratches on it and the parts that weren’t dark blue could’ve used some polishing.
  4926. >But, just as Sassy said, it felt perfectly normal.
  4927. >You plopped it on your head.
  4928. >It made you feel a bit silly.
  4929. >The unicorn arched a brow as her lips curled into a sly smile.
  4930. >She let out a chuckle as she took a hold of the rope.
  4931.  
  4932. >It took a lot of sweating, swearing, and you pushing her with your magic for her to get up.
  4933. >But get up she did – and collapsed into a panting pile of spent pony as soon as she dragged herself through.
  4934. >”Okay. Gimme. A moment.”
  4935. >You looked up at the hole in the ceiling, but saw no trace of her.
  4936. “Sure. But don’t leave me down here for too long!”
  4937. >Your ears swiveled around to listen for any changes.
  4938. >There was a faint thump in the direction you’d come from, somewhere far away.
  4939. >It made your stomach lurch.
  4940. >Was that what’d made Sassy feel so uneasy and eager to get out?
  4941. >Not that it mattered at the moment.
  4942. >You took the end of the rope and tied it to a loop, then sat on it.
  4943. “Whenever you’re ready!”
  4944. >The unicorn peeked down through the hole and nodded.
  4945. >”Right. Don’t drop the crown!”
  4946. >The rope tightened after a second and dug into your behind.
  4947. >You wrapped your front hooves around it and hung on as another tug pulled you off the floor.
  4948.  
  4949. >The first thing you shoved through the hole and into the corridor above was the crown.
  4950. >It was followed by your front hooves, and then the rest of you clambering out and rolling onto the floor.
  4951. >You rubbed your butt where the rope had left a nasty welt – you’d feel that one for a while.
  4952. “Ow. We made it, though. Safe and mostly sound.”
  4953. >Sassy, standing next to you, let the rope fall onto the floor as she wiped sweat off her forehead.
  4954. >”Yeah.”
  4955. >She pulled the last bit of rope out and lifted the hatch cover.
  4956. >It fell back into place with a heavy thump.
  4957. >”We’ll no doubt be back. I just hope she comes up with a better way to get in and out.
  4958. >Rolling her eyes, she coiled the rope around her neck as you got back onto your hooves.
  4959.  
  4960. >”You’re back! About time.”
  4961. >Nightmare’s voice welcomed you before you even rounded the final corner to see her.
  4962. >”So? Did you find it?”
  4963. >She sounded excited and, as you caught sight of her, was trotting in place with a beaming smile on her lips.
  4964. >Which turned into a frown as you shook your head.
  4965. “No. The vault is enormous and full of stuff. It’d take weeks if not months to go through all of it to find anything specific.”
  4966. >”Ah.”
  4967. >Her hooves stopped as she looked down at them.
  4968. >She didn’t even glance at Sassy as she strode past you.
  4969. “We did find something, though. Here.”
  4970. >You dug the tiara out from the depths of your floof and stuck it out towards her.
  4971. >Nightmare’s eyes lit up and her lips curled upwards again as she looked up at you-
  4972. >-and then she froze.
  4973. >She didn’t even breathe as she stared at the crown for a few seconds.
  4974. >”Hmph.”
  4975. >Sticking her snout up in the air, she swung around.
  4976. >Her shod hooves beat the floor as she headed away.
  4977. >”Is that what you want me to wear? Perhaps you’re hoping it’ll turn me into her?”
  4978.  
  4979. [] Smooch the kot!
  4980.  
  4981. >You rubbed your chin as you glanced at the floor.
  4982. “I’ll admit I didn’t consider that. Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it.”
  4983. >Taking to a trot, you filled the hallway with the noise of steps that were rapid and short compared to Nightmare’s long gait.
  4984. >All to catch up to her.
  4985. “But we didn’t want to return empty hooved and didn’t want to risk bringing one of the other weird things we found like the empty mirror that ate a spear or the eerie floating staff or the tiny painted clay pony figurines. Do you think you could use the figurines for anything, by the way? Maybe as scouts?”
  4986. >You rushed up to her side before slowing your pace.
  4987. “Oh and I heard something move in there just before getting lifted out.”
  4988. >The alicorn glanced down at you, rolled her eyes, and shook her head.
  4989. >She reached out mid-step and patted your head.
  4990. >”You’re impossible. But the answer is no. No part of me may enter and that includes my spells.”
  4991. >She let out a deep sigh.
  4992. >“Believe me, I tried. As for the noise?”
  4993. >Nudging your side, slowed her steps enough that you didn’t have to strain yourself.
  4994. >”You probably activated a defense mechanism by taking something. Keep your eyes open the next time. It may or may not deactivate on its own.”
  4995.  
  4996. >Your trio remained silent for about a minute as you headed up the slight incline of the corridor.
  4997. >Sassy drew a deep breath, but let it out without as much as opening her mouth.
  4998. >Something kept bothering you.
  4999. “Wait. The next time? We’re going back in there? It’ll take at least weeks to make any sense of the place, not to mention finding anything specific.”
  5000. >Nightmare pat your head again as she nodded.
  5001. >”’tis imperative we find the spell. It is our absolute highest priority as there may not be any other way to correct this situation we are in.”
  5002. >”He’s right, though.”
  5003. >Sassy, following a few steps behind you, spoke up.
  5004. >”We’ll need some kind of a catalog of the vault’s contents or it’ll take ages to find anything.”
  5005. >The alicorn’s brow furrowed for a second as she glanced back.
  5006. >She wrapped a leg around your shoulders and pulled you to her.
  5007. >”In that case-”
  5008. >Balancing on her rear hooves for a short while, she bapped you on the snoot.
  5009. >”-you are going to play an important part. ‘tis far more likely you’ll find something out on the other side that’ll help us find what we’re looking for than that we’ll find it here.”
  5010. >Your legs trembled under the strain as she put a part of her weight on you.
  5011. “W-what do you want me to do there?”
  5012. >You rolled your shoulders as her hooves hit the floor with a solid clop.
  5013. >”Why, gather information, of course! Who’d know the princess better than her sister. Get what we need out of her and come back!”
  5014. >She finished her proclamation by pointing a hoof at the door at the end of the corridor.
  5015. >You glanced back at Sassy and saw she had her lower lip held between her teeth and was looking down at the floor.
  5016.  
  5017. >”Well. Not the most useful trip, but a necessary one.”
  5018. >Nightmare pushed open the door to the suite she’d appropriated.
  5019. >”Now, I believe I stashed a little something in here…”
  5020. >She rushed in, leaving the door open behind her.
  5021. >You heard her rummage around some cabinet as you and Sassy stepped in.
  5022. >”...Ah, there we go.”
  5023. >The alicorn strode out of the kitchen with a wide smile on her lips, her horn aglow and a bottle of wine floating beside her.
  5024. >”Would this be to your liking?”
  5025. >She stuck the bottle next to your face.
  5026. >It had a fancy label with an even fancier name in extremely fancy gilded cursive written on it.
  5027. >All of which meant absolutely nothing to you.
  5028. “Umm.”
  5029. >You glanced back at Sassy, nodding at the bottle.
  5030. >”Let me have a look”
  5031. >She trotted up to you and the bottle.
  5032. >”Fancy. Very fancy. This would cost a fortune, if you could get one at all. I’m looking forward to it.”
  5033. >Nightmare covered her mouth with a hoof and let out a chuckle.
  5034. >”I found a few things in the first few days and this is one of them. The other bottle is for celebrating our ultimate success. Now, there’s just one thing…”
  5035. >She turned to you and raised a hoof high up in the air, then swung it down.
  5036. >You had just enough time to cover your head.
  5037. >But, the hit never came.
  5038. >A light weight disappeared off your head and soon after you heard a metallic clink from the corner of the room.
  5039. >”Why did you hold on to that thing anyways?”
  5040. >Peeking at her from under your hoof, you saw she had a brow arched.
  5041. “Uhh, well I thought it went well with my eyes. I mean, my mane!”
  5042. >It’d made you feel pretty and you kind of liked that – but there was no way you could say that, not to her.
  5043. >A suitable distraction came to mind.
  5044. >You reached up and wrapped a hoof around her head to pull it down.
  5045. >And planted your lips on hers.
  5046. >She twitched and drew a sharp breath.
  5047.  
  5048. >”Would you mind giving my crown back?”
  5049. >You twitched awake and found yourself staring at a pair of friendly cyan eyes.
  5050. >The Princess has a bemused smile on her lips.
  5051. “Hwuh?”
  5052. >Tapping your own head, you indeed found out you had a crown on.
  5053. >”How was it, by the way? You were there for quite a while. Did something happen?”
  5054.  
  5055. [] Friendship may be happening! Also how much did we miss? Also also what happens to us when we travel between worlds?
  5056.  
  5057. >You stared at Princess Luna for a second as your still mostly asleep mind gathered itself.
  5058. >Then you shook your head to clear it.
  5059. >The crown slipped off your head and fell next to you with a quiet thump.
  5060. “Not a whole lot. We found somepony named Sassy Saddles and the two mares are maybe starting to become friends! A little.”
  5061. >Luna cocked her head while staring at you.
  5062. >She scooped up her crown, placed it on her head where it belonged, and gestured you to continue.
  5063. “Sassy was holed up alone in another part of the castle but but I managed to convince her to work together and she’s also going to give friendship a chance. Yes, friendship with her. Sassy isn’t really convinced of her intentions and is on her guard, but hey, it’s something.”
  5064. >You forced your lips into a twitchy smile.
  5065. >The princess arched a brow stuck her snout up just the tiniest bit and stared down at you.
  5066. >”Really?”
  5067. >You glanced at the door.
  5068. “Yeah! Anyhow, what happens to me when I’m over there? Do I just fall asleep? And how’d I end up with your crown on?”
  5069. >Luna drew breath, then stared at you for another second.
  5070. >”You sleep. And have some most interesting dreams – unlike anypony else in this realm. As for the crown?”
  5071. >She shrugged.
  5072. >”That question I cannot answer. I checked on our injured companion and you had it on when I came back.”
  5073. >Rolling off the bed, you finally got onto your hooves with four quiet clops.
  5074. “How is she? Fleur?”
  5075. >You remained completely still as Luna wheeled around and took a step towards the door.
  5076. >”Her night was far from pleasant, but she is recovering fast. I expect her to be back on her hooves by the end of the day and back in action by tomorrow.”
  5077. >Her horn flashed as the door swung open.
  5078. >”Now come. I made breakfast.”
  5079.  
  5080. >”Good morning.”
  5081. >Tempest sat at the dining table with a sandwich – cucumber, mayonnaise, cheese, and tomato – on a plate in front of her.
  5082. >There were three other similar sandwiches on separate plates on the table as well.
  5083. “Mornin’.”
  5084. >You stopped at the door to stare at her for a second.
  5085. “I feel like it’s been quite a while, but to you it really hasn’t, has it?”
  5086. >The broken-horned unicorn drew breath, then her brow furrowed as she glanced at you.
  5087. >She held the breath for half a second.
  5088. >”Oh, right. Your nighttime adventures. No, not it really hasn’t, despite de Lis waking me up a few times.”
  5089. >Pushing one of the sandwiches towards the seat opposite of her, she flashed a smile at you.
  5090. >”How’s it going over there? Are you doing fine without any... help?”
  5091. >She rolled her shoulders for two quiet cracks.
  5092. >”I’m more than eager to try her out.”
  5093. >You flinched as a blue spark arced from the stump of her horn to her forehead.
  5094. >A door clicked shut behind you.
  5095. >Both of you glanced that way and saw nopony; Luna had to have gone down to see Fleur.
  5096. >Tempest had a wide grin on her face as she leaned well onto the table to get closer to you.
  5097. >”Find a way to get me there-”
  5098. >She kept her voice low.
  5099. >”-and I’ll… convince her that our cause is superior.”
  5100. >Glancing at the door, she let herself slump back onto her seat.
  5101. “Uh, sure. I’ll… tell you if I figure out a way.”
  5102. >A sudden crack and a flash of blue magic made both of you flinch as one of the sandwiches vanished.
  5103. >You rubbed the back of your neck with a hoof.
  5104. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
  5105.  
  5106. >The sound of shod hooves on stone stairs preceded Luna’s return.
  5107. >She strode into the room without saying a word, but with a hint of a smile on her lips, sat on the closest chair, and pulled the last sandwich to her.
  5108. >You watched her while munching on what was left of yours.
  5109. >”Commander. Make preparations for today’s expedition. Your goal is to return with either a star lens or a void artifact.”
  5110. >Tempest nodded.
  5111. >”Right away, Princess.”
  5112. >She tossed what little was left of her bread into her mouth, hopped off her chair, and headed downstairs.
  5113.  
  5114. >Luna floated her sandwich up to her mouth and bit into it.
  5115. >She glanced at you from under her brows and pointed a hoof at you.
  5116. >But, she remained quiet until she’d gulped everything down.
  5117. >”As for you?”
  5118. >The princess shook her head and let out a sigh.
  5119. >”I would prefer you do not keep secrets from me. Your visits to the other side aren’t quite as private as you believe. While I am entirely unable to affect your or anypony else’s actions, I do see and hear some things.”
  5120. >She turned to stare at you.
  5121. >Her large, cyan eyes, while friendly, left you feeling uncomfortable.
  5122. >Like she saw into your head.
  5123. >”The cavern under the castle you visited is rather unique and contains items of untold power my sister was foolish enough to not destroy. Did you not think something that small not worth mentioning?”
  5124.  
  5125. [] Tell her
  5126.  
  5127. “Well…”
  5128. >You shifted in your seat and glanced down at your lap.
  5129. >You didn’t want to tell her, but at the same time you couldn’t really keep things a secret.
  5130. >Not from from someone like her who’d seen and experienced more than you could imagine.
  5131. “...I’m sorry for keeping things secret from you. I wasn’t sure how you’d react to it.”
  5132. >Letting out a deep breath, you steeled your mind.
  5133. >She wouldn’t get mad, would she?
  5134. “I agreed to go into the vault both because it presented an opportunity to talk to Sassy in private, without her listening in. And because there’s no way to know how she’d react to a refusal and I’d rather not find out.”
  5135. >Luna nodded.
  5136. >That was it.
  5137. >Her lips didn’t twitch nor did draw a sharp breath; nothing that even hinted at how she felt.
  5138. “What she wants out of the vault is the very same spell that created these two worlds. She believes there is a scroll or tome containing it. I don’t really want her to find it since I’m trying to find a way to let both of you exist in a fixed world.”
  5139. >The princess arched a brow as she stared at you.
  5140. >”Is that all?”
  5141. >You gulped down a bit of saliva and glanced at the door.
  5142. “Um, that’s the important parts.”
  5143. >She wasn’t making you tell about how Nightmare treated you, right?
  5144. >Right?
  5145. >Luna, thankfully, nodded as her lips curled into a hint of a smile.
  5146. >”I appreciate your honesty. Delay her as long as you can. Our immediate goal remains unchanged, but we will have to discuss what you brought up about the vault’s possible contents once said plan has been put in place.”
  5147. >There was no hint of anger in her voice.
  5148. >If anything, she sounded relieved.
  5149. >”Commander Tempest awaits you downstairs. You are to accompany her and aid her the best you can.”
  5150. >She lifted her sandwich back up and was about to bite into it.
  5151. >”Ah. Do you have any questions?”
  5152.  
  5153. [] Yes.
  5154.  
  5155. “So, if you can see some of what’s going on there, can she see some of what’s going on here?”
  5156. >The princess’ lips curled into a smile.
  5157. >”She could, theoretically. But, I believe her too arrogant to consider me a threat worth observing.”
  5158. >Luna shook her head and rolled her eyes.
  5159. >”She’s her own worst enemy, really.”
  5160. >You watched her lift her sandwich to her mouth and take a big bite out of it.
  5161. >”Mmh.”
  5162. “Soo…”
  5163. >Looking down at your lap, you twiddled your hooves.
  5164. “Aren’t you mad about what I’m trying to do?”
  5165. >She chuckled and continued chewing before gulping it all down.
  5166. >”Not in the slightest. For what you’re trying to do, both of us existing at once, is impossible. We share a body, and a body can only have one mind be dominant so the other must be dormant. But, delaying her is good for us, so please keep doing that.”
  5167. >You felt a little silly and twiddled your hooves some more as the princess took another bite.
  5168. “One more thing. The rhymer who left a note. Should we try and find her?”
  5169. >”Mmh.”
  5170. >Gulp.
  5171. >”That is secondary to your objectives. If you have time after finding either or both, do try. More friends and allies is always better.”
  5172. >You ribbed your chin, then slid off your chair and onto your hooves.
  5173. “Right. Thanks.”
  5174. >Something at the back of your mind kept bothering you.
  5175. >It hit you about halfway across the room.
  5176. “Oh. About the vault. Is there one in this world, too?”
  5177. >Luna, just about to bite into her sandwich again, glanced at you and nodded.
  5178. >”We shall explore it later. For now, focus on the task at hoof. It is of utmost importance.”
  5179.  
  5180. >You shod hooves thumped on the stone steps as you scaled down a floor.
  5181. >The door to Fleur and Tempest’s room was open.
  5182. >Trotting in, you were greeted by Tempest stuffing a thick winter coat into your saddlebags.
  5183. >”Ah, there you are. Catch!”
  5184. >She flipped the lid closed and tossed the bags at you.
  5185. >You lit up your horn and made them float onto your back.
  5186. “Still cold out there?”
  5187. >She nodded.
  5188. >Shaking your body to make the bags settle better, you strode past Tempest to Fleur.
  5189. “How are you doing?”
  5190. >She peeked at you from under the covers, with just her head sticking out.
  5191. >”Been better.”
  5192. >There were bald spots on her cheeks and snoot where bare, still healing skin showed.
  5193. >”I hardly got any sleep, but as the Princess said, the healing process is very fast for some reason or another. Something to do with dreams. So, it’s not as bad as it could be. Not anymore.”
  5194. >You glanced down at your hooves as your ears drooped.
  5195. “I still feel awful for all that.”
  5196. >The unicorn shifted and groaned.
  5197. >From pain, you hoped.
  5198. >”We’re both here and we’re both alive and I will recover. Just, a little less fire next time, OK?”
  5199. >She grinned and stuck a patchy hoof out at you.
  5200. >You bumped it and nodded.
  5201. “I’ll try to keep that in mind while out of my mind.”
  5202.  
  5203. >A while later, you and Tempest trotted up a snowy field towards the same mountain and valley as the day before.
  5204. >The sky was clear and full of twinkling stars, though the glare of the full moon drowned out the river of the galaxy.
  5205. >It was cold, but the cold was missing its worst edge.
  5206. >At least down here.
  5207. >How it would be up the mountain at the village on its slopes, you couldn’t guess.
  5208. >You were following a hint of a path and soon arrived at a crossroads.
  5209. >One fork led towards the forested valley, another up the mountain towards and through the village.
  5210. >There was no sign of anypony or anything.
  5211. >Tempest, with her breath steaming in the air, waded through the ankle deep snow to the fork.
  5212. >She spun around to face you with a hint of a smile on her lips.
  5213. >”Well. Which way should we go, hot fluff?”
  5214.  
  5215. [] Up the mountain.
  5216.  
  5217. >You pointed a hoof up at the mountain where the treeline was.
  5218. “Luna said that what we’re looking for does get lost in foliage, so we should go up the mountain.”
  5219. >Tempest tapped her chin, then nodded.
  5220. >”Sound reasoning. Upwards it is.”
  5221. >She swung herself around and, with a flick of her tail, headed towards the village on the slopes of the mountain.
  5222. >Only to slow her steps to let you catch up almost immediately.
  5223. >”It’ll get colder the higher we go, so now is the time for…”
  5224. >She wrapped a hoof around you, pulled you to her, and rummaged around in your saddlebags.
  5225. >A second later, she pulled out two thick winter coats and tossed one to you.
  5226. >”...these.”
  5227. >You put the coat on, but left it unzipped since, at least for the time being, it wasn’t cold enough to need it.
  5228. “I remember you packing these when we were with Fleur. Did you predict us going up instead of into the valley?”
  5229. >Tempest let out a chuckle as her lips curled into an amused smile.
  5230. >”What can I say? I prepared for the mission appropriately. The princess briefed me before you woke up.”
  5231.  
  5232. >It was dead silent in the village.
  5233. >There was no sign of your visit yesterday – no tracks in the pristine white snow, no marks on the doors, nothing.
  5234. >As you trotted along the sole road snaking through the village, you got the feeling that something was watching you.
  5235. >Looking up, you scanned all the rooftops you could see.
  5236. >Only to find nothing.
  5237. >Seeing Tempests ears swiveling around as she also tried to find something left a tingling feeling in your spine.
  5238. “So you’re feeling it too?”
  5239. >She nodded, turned to look at what was behind you, and drew breath, only to hold it in as she froze in place.
  5240. >You were about to ask about it when you heard – no, felt – something.
  5241. >A very deep rumbling thump.
  5242. >Then another, and more.
  5243. >Like the footsteps of something truly enormous.
  5244. >It was coming from down the mountain and up towards you.
  5245.  
  5246. >You were peeking past the buildings around you to see it when something fizzy yanked you to the side.
  5247. >”In.”
  5248. >Tempest, having pulled you to her, held open a door to one of the houses.
  5249. >”Now.”
  5250. >She all but shoved you in, then followed after you and pulled the door closed behind her.
  5251. >”Close the curtains.”
  5252. >You found yourself in a small apartment and its combined kitchen and living room, with two windows to the street.
  5253. >Magic sparked from what was left of Tempest’s horn to pull closed the curtains on the window close to the fireplace, couch, and bookshelves.
  5254. >You lit up yours to do the same on the kitchen side.
  5255. >It was silent for a short moment.
  5256. >Then a tremor shook the floor.
  5257. >”Quiet. Let’s hope it doesn’t find us.”
  5258. >Her voice was hushed as she kept looking around.
  5259. “What is it?”
  5260. >She cast a single glance at you.
  5261. >”All I know is I don’t want to find out.”
  5262. >There was a narrow gap between the couch and the wall.
  5263. >You pointed a hoof at it.
  5264. >Tempest looked at it and shrugged as the stump of her horn sparked to life.
  5265. >A fizzy, rough, but extremely strong force pushed you to the gap and shoved you in by your rear.
  5266. >She squeezed in behind you.
  5267. >Another thump shook the house.
  5268. >The unicorn’s shoulder dug into your rear as she forced you in even deeper.
  5269. >The sudden shove made you lose your balance as the sole front hoof you could fit on the floor slipped.
  5270. >You fell onto your face.
  5271. >Fortunately, all that happened is you found the floor quite clean with just a little bit of dust on it.
  5272. >And that your tail got wrapped around some part of Tempest – you couldn’t see which – and that you could see most of the room’s floor from under the couch.
  5273. >Thump.
  5274. >This time, it was strong enough to make plates and cups jingle somewhere in the kitchen.
  5275. >What little light illuminated the floor vanished.
  5276. >Something rattled the door.
  5277. >But, didn’t open it.
  5278. >It was quiet for a while.
  5279. >For a long while.
  5280. >Then a thump, a little quieter and more distant than the previous, made the floor shake.
  5281. >It was followed by another, and even more, each quake weaker than the last as the steps receded.
  5282.  
  5283. >After a long few minutes, when the steps were barely audible and coming from somewhere above, you heard Tempest let out a long sigh.
  5284. >”A closer encounter than I would’ve liked. Now would you mind letting go of me?”
  5285. >Sticking the now aching slipped front hoof under you, you pushed your face off the floor and managed to get a peek at what was behind you.
  5286. >You tail was wrapped around her neck.
  5287. >”Not that I mind too much, but we are on a mission.”
  5288. >A heat flushed to your ears as you lifted your tail off of her and watched her reverse back to the room proper.
  5289. >You followed suit, then stretched out your limbs.
  5290. “Ow. Ow.”
  5291. >Most of you was all pins and needles once the blood got flowing again after being stuck in a tight crevice in an unnatural position for too long.
  5292.  
  5293. >The rumbling was completely out of earshot when you dared to peek through a gap between the curtains.
  5294. >There was no sign of anything at all having passed by outside.
  5295. >Even yours and Tempest's hoofprints were gone.
  5296. >Thousands of weirdly still stars shone from a cloudless sky, with the full moon somewhere behind you making the pristine snow glow with pale silver.
  5297. >”So. Where now? It’s up there somewhere.”
  5298. >She pointed a hoof up towards the peak of the mountain, where the road snaking through the village led to.
  5299.  
  5300. [] Keep going.
  5301.  
  5302. “I say we keep going. We’re here to find a lens and that’s what we’ll do.”
  5303. >Tempest’s lips twisted into a grin as she strode to you and slapped your rear.
  5304. >”That’s a good lad! On we go!”
  5305. >You stared at her, holding a rear hoof in the air, as she pushed the door open and beckoned you to follow.
  5306. >”Now come on. No time to waste.”
  5307. >She was something, all right.
  5308. >You rolled your eyes and trotted through the door into the fresh snow.
  5309.  
  5310. >At first, it was just hoof-shaped holes in the snow.
  5311. >But the higher you got, the deeper the snow became.
  5312. >Now you were plowing a trail in belly deep snow.
  5313. >It was extremely light and airy snow, but deep snow nevertheless.
  5314. “I think I need…”
  5315. >You stopped to wipe the sweat off your brow.
  5316. ”...a short break.”
  5317. >Tempest paused as well, looked to the side, and swiveled her ears all around.
  5318. >It was totally quiet, apart your heavy breathing.
  5319. >”Fine. Take a couple of minutes. I’ll take point from here.”
  5320. >She stuck a hoof into her saddlebag, pulled out a bottle of water, and tossed it to you.
  5321. >As you caught it, you saw it had icy slush on top of it, but wasn’t fully frozen.
  5322. >Unscrewing the cork, you took a sip – and shuddered at how icy cold it was.
  5323. >It made your tongue go numb.
  5324. >Still, better than nothing.
  5325.  
  5326. >The wind started picking up as you got even higher.
  5327. >It was just a light breeze, but the effect was bone chilling.
  5328. >You shuddered and zipped your coat all the way to your chin as another gust blew by.
  5329. >Following Tempest in the trail she plowed was a lot lighter than going first, but even she was now breathing heavy and couldn’t keep the same pace as at the base of the mountain.
  5330. >The trees around you were short and stunted, but still numerous.
  5331.  
  5332. >”What’s that over there?”
  5333. >The unicorn stopped to point at something up ahead.
  5334. >It was a small wooden hut or shack of some sort.
  5335. “A run down hut I think.”
  5336. >The silence was as deep as ever as you waded through the snow towards the thing ahead.
  5337.  
  5338. >It was indeed a hut.
  5339. >It looked long abandoned, with peeling paint and rusted hinges, but the window was still intact.
  5340. >And there was no snow inside when you pulled the creaky door open.
  5341. >There was a small bed, an equally small table, a fireplace, and a wide staircase leading down inside.
  5342. >How deep down, you couldn’t tell.
  5343. >It went on into the darkness – but, if a rope and pulley system along with narrow tracks was of any suggestion, it went on very deep.
  5344. “It’s a mine of some sort.”
  5345. >You pulled your head back out and pushed the door back closed.
  5346. >”Huh. I wonder what they were after all the way up here.”
  5347. >Tempest, standing on the path that ended at the hut, glanced up at the peak still looming above.
  5348. “There was nothing in there so we’d have to go down to find out.”
  5349. >Glancing up at the peak as well, you stared at the whiteness of snow interrupted by streaks of dark rock.
  5350. >It wouldn’t be easy to get up there, but you thought you saw a way that wasn’t too steep.
  5351. >There was also a glacier beside the peak that ran down the other side of the mountain.
  5352. >”Do you think what’s down there is something worth looking at?”
  5353.  
  5354. [] Mine (High)
  5355. [x] Peak (High, 80%, d10, roll over 2, result: 4, success)
  5356. [] Glacier (High)
  5357.  
  5358. “Nah. It’s probably gems or gold or something equally pretty but worthless.”
  5359. >You stared up at the path to the peak.
  5360. >Yeah, there definitely was a way.
  5361. “We can get up to the peak. See there-”
  5362. >Pointing a hoof up at the path you saw, you nudged Tempest.
  5363. “-we’ll follow that ridge. It’s the least steep path.”
  5364. The mare’s eyes narrowed as she glared at your suggested path.
  5365. >”Mmh. That might work, but we’ll have to be careful since it’ll be treacherous with loose rocks buried in snow.”
  5366. >She shook her head.
  5367. >”But, I don’t have any better ideas.”
  5368. >Pulling the zipper of her coat all the way up, she waved a hoof to motion you to follow before heading off.
  5369.  
  5370. >The first thing you noticed up on the ridge was the wind.
  5371. >It wasn’t a chilly breeze, but a frigid gale that blew right through the tiniest gaps in your clothing and threatened to freeze you solid.
  5372. >You pulled your coat’s collar as high as it would go before glancing back at Tempest.
  5373. >She’d stuffed her steel shoes into her saddlebags and sunk one bare hoof into the snow to feel around and make sure the ground was solid before taking a step.
  5374. >Your cloven hooves were much better at finding a solid hold on the steep and rocky terrain.
  5375. >”How do you- oop!”
  5376. >She slid backwards for half a step before sticking all four hooves back down.
  5377. >Staring at her legs, she remained quiet – and still, thankfully – for a second before looking back up at you.
  5378. >”How do you keep doing that? You part mountain goat or something?”
  5379. “Umm.”
  5380. >You lifted a hoof out of the snow and wiggled its two toes.
  5381. >Tempest rolled her eyes.
  5382. >”Of course you are.”
  5383. >She stuck a hoof in her bag and rummaged around.
  5384. >”I suppose I must admit your superiority in this particular matter.”
  5385. >And dug out a coil of rope, then tossed one end to you.
  5386. >”And have you take point. Well?”
  5387. >Levitating the end to yourself, you stared at it for a second.
  5388. >”What are you waiting for? Tie it around yourself.”
  5389. >She was already tightening a knot around her waist.
  5390. “Oh. Sure.”
  5391.  
  5392. >You felt the rope pull taut.
  5393. >Tempest had stopped for breath once again.
  5394. >The higher you got, the thinner the air and the slower your progress got.
  5395. >You only needed a breather every few minutes, no doubt thanks to growing up in the Peaks of Peril.
  5396. >In a valley, maybe, but still quite high up compared to the lowlands of Equestria.
  5397. “You all right?”
  5398. >You had to yell to be heard over the howling wind all around you as you took the few steps back needed to reach her.
  5399. >”Yeah. I just didn’t…”
  5400. >She gasped for air.
  5401. >”...think it was quite this high up.”
  5402. >Reaching out, you gave her a pat on the withers and pointed ahead.
  5403. “We’re almost there. See, that’s the summit. Won’t be more than five minutes until we’re there.”
  5404. >Her eyes lit up as she saw the small flat area up ahead where the three ridges forming the mountain met.
  5405. >Drawing a deep breath, she took a shaky step towards it.
  5406.  
  5407. >Tempest took the final step and pulled herself onto the tiny level area of the summit.
  5408. >She took a staggering, shaky step towards you.
  5409. >You zipped to her side, wrapped a hoof around her withers, and pinned her to you to hold her upright.
  5410. “There! We made it!”
  5411. >You were freezing, exhausted, and on a mission, but you still wheeled you and her around to look at the view.
  5412. >Far beneath, surrounded by lush green fields and a moat, was a tiny castle.
  5413. >Closer, there was a path leading up and through a quaint little village.
  5414. >And a forested valley with a frozen river snaking along the bottom of it.
  5415. >There was a lone hut with a plume of smoke rising out of its chimney near the river.
  5416. >You thought you saw a faint glimmer of light from the hut, but that could've been just your imagination.
  5417. “All worth it, right?”
  5418. >You nudged Tempest.
  5419. >She kept looking the other way, at the undefined nothingness of dreamscape beyond the mountain.
  5420. >”What’s that over there?”
  5421. >Stretching out a hoof, she pointed at something much closer.
  5422. >On a rather deep slope a bit below you was something dark and too regularly shaped.
  5423. >You lit up your chevron and floated it to you.
  5424. >It was a tetrahedron with rounded corners and edges, made of black glass.
  5425. >Holding it in your magical grip made your head spin and filled your ears with almost understood whispers.
  5426. >You set it on top of the snow next to Tempest and shook your head.
  5427. “That has to be what we’re looking for. I feel weird just holding it.”
  5428. >”Well…”
  5429. >Tempest flipped open one side of her saddlebag and showed it was full of supplies and two shoes, then flipped open the other side to show it equally full of supplies and shoes.
  5430. >She then leaned towards you and pulled open one of yours – which had room to spare.
  5431. >”...tell me if it gets too bad and we’ll figure something out.”
  5432. >She stuffed the dark tetrahedron into your bag and redid the buckle.
  5433. >You…
  5434. >...felt OK.
  5435. >It wasn’t heavy and didn’t seem to affect you through the bag and the thick coat you wore.
  5436.  
  5437. >It was then when you felt the first rumble.
  5438. >Which was followed by another.
  5439. >Despite the howling wind and the thick layer of snow between your hooves and the actual ground, you felt and heard a set of enormous bipedal footsteps approaching.
  5440. >”I was wondering where it went.”
  5441. >Tempest looked down the ridge you’d come up – the easiest way back down.
  5442. >A giant shadow was moving towards you.
  5443. “Um.”
  5444. >A quick look left you with four possible ways down.
  5445. >One was the way you’d come: the least steep of the three ridges.
  5446. >Easiest to climb, but you were guaranteed to run into whatever it was coming at you.
  5447. >The second was the second steepest ridge: not that much harder to climb down, but it led into the undefined dreamscape and whatever awaited there.
  5448. >The steepest of the three ridges led relatively close to the village at one point, but looked quite a bit more difficult to climb than the other two.
  5449. >Finally, there was the slope itself.
  5450. >Much steeper and rougher than the ridges, but it was the shortest way.
  5451.  
  5452. [] Down the way you came (Low)
  5453. [] Into the unknown (High)
  5454. [x] Steepest ridge (Medium, d20, 65%, roll over 6, result: 18, success)
  5455. [] Slope (Medium)
  5456.  
  5457. “This ridge leads close to the village.”
  5458. >You pointed at the steepest ridge.
  5459. >”Good enough for me!”
  5460. >Tempest waded through the snow towards is.
  5461. >You first took a few quick steps to get ahead of her, but then paused to let her pass until the rope was pulled taut.
  5462. >That way, she wouldn’t fall as far before you could stop her.
  5463.  
  5464. >Tempest sunk her hoof into the snow and felt around for a proper hold.
  5465. >Again.
  5466. >You wanted to yell at her to get moving and remind her of the tremors approaching from behind.
  5467. >But, you saw he struggle to just stay still on the steepest part of the steepest slope.
  5468. >She slid downwards ever so slightly every time she stuck her hoof to the ground.
  5469. >Until she found somewhere that held and she came to a stop.
  5470. >She drew a sharp breath before lifting one of her other hooves and-
  5471. >Clack!
  5472. >Stone hit rock as she slipped and fell.
  5473. >And slid down.
  5474. “Hold on!”
  5475. >You leaned backwards and braced for the sudden yank of the rope pulling tight.
  5476. >Not daring to move a hoof, you watched her tumble down until-
  5477. “Nngh!”
  5478. >You winced in pain as the rope dug deep into your waist.
  5479. >Your hooves slipped on whatever rocks or stones they were on and you, too, slid downwards.
  5480. “Oh, no, no, no-!”
  5481. >Until your hooves hit something solid.
  5482. >Your joints and waist screamed in agony as you forced yourself into a stop.
  5483. >But stop you did.
  5484. >Despite the long grooves in the snow behind you.
  5485.  
  5486. >You drew a shaky breath before looking down at Tempest.
  5487. >She was on her back, flailing her hooves about and trying to get herself upright, held in place only by the rope.
  5488. >There was a wide skid mark on the snow above her where she’d slid down.
  5489. “You okay?”
  5490. >”Depends.”
  5491. >She managed to flip onto her belly and got onto her hooves, but she kept slipping as soon as she shifted a bit of weight off the rope.
  5492. >”Can you pull me back up?”
  5493. >You tugged on the rope.
  5494. >Whatever you stood on didn’t budge.
  5495. “Sure. I think.”
  5496. >Lighting up your chevron, you started pulling.
  5497. >”You thiii-?”
  5498. >Enough of her weight was on the slope that the first proper yank got her moving.
  5499. “Nope. I definitely can.”
  5500. >She shot you an angry glance as you dragged her to you, rear first.
  5501. >Armored, toned rear first.
  5502. >Very nice to look at.
  5503. >But, you had more pressing issues at hoof.
  5504. >Like pulling her onto the mostly flat bit of rock you stood on.
  5505. “There. How do you feel?”
  5506. >You wanted to say she could take a moment, but a rumble from behind reminded that she really couldn’t.
  5507. >”I’ve been better, but…”
  5508. >She scrambled onto her hooves and stretched out one limb at a time to test them out.
  5509. >”...I don’t think I broke anything. Let’s keep going.”
  5510.  
  5511. >Your lungs screamed for air.
  5512. >Acid burned in your legs.
  5513. >”Come on, FASTER!”
  5514. >Tempest galloped ahead of you.
  5515. >Deep, rumbling thumps followed behind you.
  5516. >You wanted to tell her it wasn’t catching up.
  5517. >But couldn’t speak while gasping for air.
  5518. >That mare was made of something else.
  5519. >She was plowing a path in the snow towards the village, now just ahead.
  5520. >You couldn’t even keep up with her despite staying in her trail.
  5521. >All you wanted was let your legs give and collapse so you could get a few breaths of delicious, fresh, oxygen rich air.
  5522. >”We’re almost there! Just a little bit to go!”
  5523. >She wasn’t wrong.
  5524. >You sped past the first house of the village.
  5525.  
  5526. >”Well, we made it. What’s the plan now?”
  5527. >Tempest slowed down to a trot and craned her neck to look around the main square of the village.
  5528. >You finally caught up to her.
  5529. “I-”
  5530. >You felt like suffocating and gasped for breath.
  5531. >What was your plan, anyways?
  5532. >You were right next to the largest buildings in town – which wasn’t saying much in such a tiny town.
  5533. >There was the town hall, the store you spent the night the previous time, and a couple of houses that looked like they belonged to some rich families.
  5534. >You could go into one of those, or keep running.
  5535. >The rumbling thumps were still behind you and now catching up, but you figured you had a bit more than a minute.
  5536.  
  5537. [x] Hide in a rich family’s house.
  5538.  
  5539. “We should-”
  5540. >You drew a rapid, wheezing breath.
  5541. “-hide somewhere-”
  5542. >And another.
  5543. >Sweat dribbled down your neck and legs.
  5544. “-like there.”
  5545. >Pointing a hoof at the closest of the fancy houses, you turned to look at Tempest.
  5546. >She glanced back the way you came as her ears perked up.
  5547. >The massive steps were just that bit closer now.
  5548. >”Good enough. In we go!”
  5549. “Wait! Let’s-”
  5550. >You glanced around as you gasped for breath, looking for the tracks from your previous visit.
  5551. >But there was only pristine snow, apart the path you’d plowed just now.
  5552. “-hide our tracks?”
  5553. >Tempest cocked her head and arched a brow as she glanced back at you.
  5554. >You wished you had time to figure it out, but had to dash after her towards the door she’d chosen.
  5555. >The rumbling was getting too close for comfort.
  5556.  
  5557. >Your heart hammered in your chest as Tempest reached for the doorknob.
  5558. >And not just because you were so worn out.
  5559. >What if it was locked?
  5560. >She set her hoof on the knob and glanced back at you.
  5561. >And twisted.
  5562. >Your hear skipped a beat.
  5563. >It made a quiet click and swung open.
  5564. >”Come on in.”
  5565. >Her voice was remarkably calm, despite her ears swiveling around, searching for any unusual sounds.
  5566.  
  5567. >You didn’t have to be told twice before rushing past her and through the door.
  5568. >Inside, you found a very comfortable looking room with large recliners, a luxurious couch, full to the brim bookshelves, and a fireplace in it.
  5569. >A dedicated reading room?
  5570. >Some ponies had some, you’d heard.
  5571. >”Fancy.”
  5572. >Tempest pulled the door closed behind her before heading further in.
  5573. >The clicking steps of her shod hooves were dampened by a plush knit carpet.
  5574. >Her horn sparked and lit up the room in flickering, uneven bluish light.
  5575. >”Here. Hop on the couch.”
  5576. >She pulled a blanket off one of the recliners.
  5577. >You hadn’t even noticed it since it was the exact same color.
  5578. “We’re hiding under it? I hope it works.”
  5579. >The last time you hid in bed did, so why would now be different?
  5580. >It was a couch and not a bed, but…
  5581. >A loud thrum that shook the floor helped you decide and hop onto the couch.
  5582. >Tempest followed suit immediately after, squeezing herself to your side, then tossed the blanket onto the both of you.
  5583.  
  5584. >It was dark.
  5585. >Tempest was pressed against your side.
  5586. >She was all stiff and still.
  5587. >You felt the ear that was pressed against your neck try to wiggle.
  5588. >There was one more floor rumbling thump before it got quiet.
  5589. >You counted four heartbeats before the entire house shook and creaked as a heavy gust of wind howled around it.
  5590. >Then it got quiet.
  5591. >Quieter, that is.
  5592. >The wind still blew, but it didn’t turn into a howling gale again.
  5593.  
  5594. >Tempest was hot.
  5595. >She was radiating into your side despite having caught her breath by now.
  5596. >You were even hotter.
  5597. >Both of you were wet enough with sweat that both the blanket and the couch got damp.
  5598. >That gave them an odor, and not the most pleasant one.
  5599. >”It’s been almost quiet for a while now.”
  5600. >She kept her voice to a whisper.
  5601. >”Take a peek and see if there’s anything out there. I think it’s safe enough now.”
  5602. “Sure.”
  5603. >You bundled up some of the blanket into with your hooves and pulled it over your head.
  5604. >Repeating that a few times led to you finding an edge.
  5605. >It’d been long enough that you didn’t really feel terrified, but you drew a deep breath and held it in anyways as you took a peek.
  5606. >There…
  5607. >...was nothing to see.
  5608. >The room was dark and quiet and devoid of movement.
  5609. >Almost devoid of movement.
  5610. >A dim light shone on the drawn curtains from the outside and shadowy patterns danced a mystical dance on them.
  5611. >Apart that, you saw a stairway leading upwards, a doorway to the kitchen, and a large crate full of firewood not too far from the fireplace.
  5612. “There’s something out there but nothing in here.”
  5613. >You pulled the blanket further up and over Tempest’s head.
  5614. >She shook her head as her ears were pressed down, and perked them up the instant the blanket fell down her neck.
  5615. >For a moment, she stared at the dance of light and shadow on the curtains.
  5616. >”Hmm. I’ve never seen anything like that before. But I think we’ll be fine as long as we keep quiet and wait it out.”
  5617. >You set your hooves down on the carpet, as quiet as you could, as she wiggled free of the blanket and splayed herself out.
  5618. >Glancing back, you saw her fanning herself with a hoof.
  5619. >A cool shower would do the both of you a lot of good, but that was the kind of noise you probably best avoid.
  5620.  
  5621. [x] Explore the building.
  5622.  
  5623. >You stared at the dance of light and shadow on the curtains for a moment.
  5624. “Let’s take a quick look around. How about I go upstairs and you see if there’s anything down here?”
  5625. >Tempest kept fanning herself as she craned her neck to scan the room.
  5626. >”Sure.”
  5627. >She pulled on the neck of her underarmor suit and fanned some air under it, then glanced at you and rolled her eyes.
  5628. >”This thing stops the chafing, but it does get hot if you run around and then suddenly stop like we did.”
  5629. >Not only did it stop the chafing, but also brought out how in shape she was.
  5630. >You let yourself stare for a second before wheeling around and heading for the stairs.
  5631. “I’ll be right back.”
  5632.  
  5633. >There were three rooms upstairs.
  5634. >Four if you counted the small landing the stairs led to.
  5635. >The first proper room was the master bedroom with a double bed, fancy wooden cabinets and dressers; all carved wood.
  5636. >The second was a study with a fireplace and a large desk full of half finished paperwork on it, along with filing cabinets and a few bookshelves with large, boring law books on them.
  5637. >The last one was a dusty guest bedroom, as far as you could tell.
  5638. >It had a single bed in it, along with a cabinet and an empty desk.
  5639. >None of the rooms had anything that stood out in them.
  5640. >Gold necklaces and silver letter openers along with valuable art, sure, but nothing you were looking for.
  5641. >No weird artifacts wreathed in roiling shadows.
  5642.  
  5643. >You set one hoof on the step below you and gave it a light push.
  5644. >It didn’t creak.
  5645. >Only then did you shift your weight down onto the step.
  5646. >The whole stairs were the same kind of deal.
  5647. >A quiet fizz and crackle – that of Tempest’s magic – along with some faint clinks carried into your ears as you approached the bottom.
  5648. >You found the mare in the kitchen, with a pot of water steaming on the stove and two cups along with a bag of loose leaf tea next to it.
  5649. “Oh, nice. You found us some tea.”
  5650. >She nodded and glanced back to the living room where shadows still danced on the curtains.
  5651. >”Anything up there? I’m guessing not.”
  5652. >You shook your head.
  5653. “Just two bedrooms and a study. Nothing interesting in either of them, unless you’re into legalese and paperwork.”
  5654. >Tempest rolled her eyes and glared at you.
  5655. >”Do I of all ponies look like that to you?”
  5656. >She shook her head and let out a chuckle.
  5657. “Hey, you never know.”
  5658.  
  5659. >You’d finished the tea hours ago Tempest strode to the couch where you sat with a book.
  5660. >It was a history of the town you’d found in the bookshelf.
  5661. >Oddly enough, despite it being too dark to see colors, you had no trouble reading it.
  5662. >”Hear anything odd?”
  5663. >You glanced at her and perked up your ears.
  5664. >And swiveled them around.
  5665. >It was quiet.
  5666. “Nope.”
  5667. >She hopped onto the couch next to you.
  5668. >”Notice anything else weird?”
  5669. >...it was true that the wind had died down.
  5670. >You glanced around the room.
  5671. >The weird lights at the windows were gone.
  5672. “Huh. I guess whatever was outside left.”
  5673. >Slamming the book shut, you hopped off the couch and strode to the window to take a peek outside.
  5674. >The village was as you’d first seen it, covered in a blanket of pristine untouched snow.
  5675. >Your tracks were gone, as were any signs of a storm or even heavy winds.
  5676. “Nothing out there. It’s looks exactly as it did when I first saw this place. Our tracks are gone and there’s no snowbanks gathered by the wind.”
  5677. >Tempest, lounging on the couch, let out a big, wide yawn.
  5678. >”I suppose we can head back, then. Or stay the night. This feels as safe place as any we’re going to find outside the castle. We could raid the kitchen and get some sleep.”
  5679. >She glanced back at the kitchen where there was bread, canned foods, and some apples, among other stuff.
  5680. >You were getting a bit tired since it’d been a long day and the trip back wasn’t short, but at the same time it was risky sleeping outside the safety of Luna’s tower.
  5681.  
  5682. [x] Stay the night.
  5683.  
  5684. “I like the sound of raiding the kitchen and getting some sleep. It’s been a long day so I really could use some rest.”
  5685. >Tempest glanced at you, then rolled onto her hooves and shook herself.
  5686. >Her armor clinked and jingled as she did so.
  5687. >”Right. I’ll go make us something to eat – or do you have something in mind? I’d just toss anything I find on a pan and fry it.”
  5688. >You thought back to the time she made you food in the castle.
  5689. >It wasn’t bad, but…
  5690. “I’ll go take a look and see what I can do.”
  5691. >You’d at least add some spices to it, and maybe chop it up first, and perhaps roll some of the things in oil and flour first.
  5692. >”What, don’t trust my cooking?”
  5693. >Her lips curled into a cheeky smirk.
  5694. >”But sure. I’ll go take a look upstairs and see if I find a shower.”
  5695.  
  5696. >You’d only just had time to crank the stove on and empty a few cans of tomatoes into a pot when Tempest came back down.
  5697. ”Couldn’t find a bathroom?”
  5698. >She sucked her lower lip between her teeth and looked up at the ceiling.
  5699. >”No, I did. It’s just…”
  5700. >She kept staring at the wood above you for a few seconds.
  5701. >”It’s nothing, I think. But we better stay together, just in case.”
  5702. >You arched a brow as you glanced at her, then perked up your ears to listen.
  5703. >It was probably just your imagination, but you thought you heard the quietest thump and a creak coming from above.
  5704. >”What are you making?”
  5705.  
  5706. >She shoveled another forkful of your tomato-bean-potato stew into her mouth.
  5707. >”This is pretty nice. I wouldn’t even have thought of something like this.”
  5708. >It was a bit dull, at least in your opinion.
  5709. “Aw, thanks! I did what I could with what was available.”
  5710. >Still, the lone onion you found, along with a bit of white pepper, gave it some taste.
  5711. “So, what got you worried up there? Something happened?”
  5712. >”Ah.”
  5713. >Tempest set her fork down.
  5714. >”I just… thought I heard somepony whisper to me. But I couldn’t see or hear anything else after it so it was probably just my mind playing tricks on me.”
  5715. “Huh.”
  5716. >You pursed your lips as you stared at your mostly-eaten stew.
  5717. “Odd. I didn’t notice anything weird when I was up there.”
  5718. >She shoveled the last bit of food into her mouth and chewed on it for a few seconds before gulping it down.
  5719. >”Yeah. I don’t think it was anything. But let’s stay together anyways, just in case.”
  5720. >Setting her fork down, she hopped off her seat to drop her plate in the sink before hopping back on her chair.
  5721.  
  5722. >”Ready?”
  5723. >You nodded and set your hoof on the first step of the stairs.
  5724. “Yep. I expect nothing, but you’ve got me spooked.”
  5725. >”Hah.”
  5726. >She rolled her eyes, then let out a deep sigh.
  5727. >”I wish I could just dismiss it like that. But, knowing how things are, I can’t. Come on.”
  5728. >Waving her hoof to invite you to follow, she thumped up the stairs.
  5729. >Her solid metal hoof shoes were far louder than you liked, but there was a certain reassurance to their steady rhythm.
  5730. >You gulped down a bit of saliva and headed after her.
  5731. >There was nothing to be afraid of.
  5732. >Just some noises that you probably imagined.
  5733.  
  5734. >You set your hoof onto the topmost step and lifted yourself onto the landing connecting all three upstairs rooms.
  5735. >Tempest thumped around in the smaller bedroom, so you pushed open the door to the study and peeked in.
  5736. >It was exactly as you remembered.
  5737. >Desk littered with half-written letters and official looking documents, curtains by the window swaying in the airflow, and an empty, soot-stained fireplace.
  5738. >Nothing out of the ordinary.
  5739. >Wheeling around, you strode back to the landing.
  5740. >”Well?”
  5741. >Tempest had her hoof on the door to the larger bedroom, ready to push it open.
  5742. “Nothing.”
  5743. >”You stole my line. Come on.”
  5744. >She gave the door a shove, making it swing in.
  5745. >And reveal the master bedroom, exactly as you remembered it.
  5746. >Tempest’s shod hooves thumped on the floor as she headed in and hopped on the double bed.
  5747. >Springs creaked under her weight as she bobbed up and down.
  5748. >”Not bad. I haven’t had a bed this nice for ages.”
  5749. >You slipped through the door behind her and gave the mattress a push.
  5750. >It was surprisingly firm.
  5751. “Huh. I thought it’d be softer.”
  5752. >”Firm is better.”
  5753. >The mare rolled onto her back and reached under her armor with a hoof.
  5754. >You heard a few clinks before her armor fell off, piece by piece.
  5755. >”If it’s too soft, you make a hole for yourself and wake up with a sore back since it doesn’t give enough support.”
  5756. >The pieces of armor clattered as she pushed them towards the edge of the bed before letting out a deep breath and resting her head on the pillow.
  5757. >She let her hooves fall on the bedcovers, each pointing in a different direction, and squeezed her eyelids shut.
  5758. >She looked… different with just her underarmor suit on and splayed out.
  5759. >Despite the low light, you could see the slight grooves in her skin where the larger muscles in her legs joined.
  5760. >Especially in her thighs and flank.
  5761. >”Well? Find anything weird in here?”
  5762. >A sudden heat flushed your face as you realized she’d opened her eyes at some point and was watching you stare at her.

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