"Here you are," Willowy said as she set a silver tray on the coffee table that separated Crystal and Luna. She removed the plate of little triangle-shaped sandwiches, then set about pouring two cups of tea. "Two lumps of sugar and a honey-laden stirrer for you, Mrs. Crystal."
Crystal laughed softly. "You may just call me Crystal, you know." She winked. "I did take you on a date once. Doesn't that put us on a first name basis?"
The tips of Willow's ears turned red and she huffed lightly. "I-It wasn't a date!"
Crystal couldn't help laughing again. "I'm sorry, no, of course it wasn't." Her magic accepted the teacup offered to her and she smiled. "I'm impressed you still remember what I like."
"It's my job," Willow muttered, her wings still showing her agitation in the way their feathers were ruffled. "I know the tea and coffee preferences of every important guest the princess receives."
"Oh, really?" Luna made a playfully poor attempt at concealing her grin behind a hoof. "You can remember all of that, but you neglected to remember my sister's favorite flavor of cake?"
The flush spread to the whole of Willow's face, showing easily through her light brown coat. "I-I—Well, Princess, she's not my princess to remember these things about!"
Luna just laughed and took her own cup of tea in her magic, though she brought it to her hooves and held it.
"What is Princess Celestia's favorite flavor?" Crystal asked before she took a quiet sip of tea.
Willow huffed and muttered, "It was a trick question, apparently. No matter what answer I gave, the princesses were going to laugh."
At first, Luna's expression was relaxed by the smile on her face, but the corners of her lips slowly fell and the sparkle left her eyes. "It is good, I think, to find any reason to laugh during these times. I do apologize that it was at your expense, Willow, but you can be so serious all the time. My sister and I thought you would take the joke better."
Crystal stared down at her watery reflection in the cup, her own mood growing somber. Slowly, she stirred the tea, watching the honey as it was warmed and melted away from the spoon. "I went to the support group meeting," she blurted out, blinking a few times at how loudly she had spoken into the silence.
"Oh?" Luna smiled. "That's wonderful to hear. How was it?"
Crystal scrunched up her nose. "I suppose it went better and, at the same time, worse than I expected. I don't quite know what I had in mind, but that was not it." She waved a hoof. "But that's neither here nor there. Next week, I'll meet up with the other ponies at Toffee Strudel's home. He's a spouse, like myself. Very sweet.
"That does remind me, though." Crystal set her teacup down onto the table and straightened up to prepare herself for an impending wave of guilt. "I think it might be fun to put the group back together for game night."
At first, Luna's expression lit up with excitement—and then she must have had the same thought that struck Crystal the other day when Velvet brought up the idea. What about Silent? Could they really have a game night without him? A look of regret and reluctance crossed Luna's face as she almost recoiled into the couch and averted her gaze.
Crystal just waited patiently, holding the smile in place. Their lives simply couldn't stop just because Silent was overseas. That was what she kept telling herself, anyway.
"I think," Luna finally said, hesitated, and then finished, "that sounds like a wonderful idea. We should send word to Runic, Miley, Winterspear, and Iridescence to coordinate schedules as soon as possible. I assume you will talk to Velvet." She turned her head to look at Willow. "Will you coordinate that, please?"
Willow nodded, her planner already out and open. "Yes, Princess. I—" She snapped her mouth shut and ducked her head.
Luna's brow raised. "Yes, Willowy?"
A light flush returning to her cheeks, Willow mumbled, "I would like to join in this game night, if it wouldn't be intruding."
"Oh, certainly not!" Crystal clapped her hooves together. "The more the merrier! It's always fun with more ponies."
The flush darkened to a deeper shade of red as Willow shifted almost uncomfortably. "And, perhaps... I could invite somepony? Depending on when the game night is?"
Luna gasped and stared at her with wide eyes. "Somepony? Willowy, surely you are not suggesting—"
"—your special somepony?" Crystal finished, an excited squeak in her voice.
Willow raised the planner to hide her face, but her reddened ears were still exposed. "Y-Yes, Frank is coming to visit next week. Hopefully."
Luna tossed her regal mane and declared, "Then the game night shall not commence until the elusive Frank may attend. Willowy, make it so!"
"Yes, Princess," Willow mumbled, keeping the planner in front of her face as she flipped through it. "I shall draw up invitations for Runic Phial... Miley Hooves... Winterspear... Iridescence..." She paused, then peered over the top of the planner. "Princess?"
"Yes?" Luna looked over at her.
There was a moment of hesitation that filled the air with trepidation until Willow finally asked, "Should we invite Lieutenant Snow?"
Midnight Snow. Silent's replacement. The silence in the room was deafening. What business did she have intruding on their time together? She was a guard—just a guard. She couldn't replace Silent. She wouldn't. It was petty and foalish, but Crystal refused to look at Willow. If she just didn't acknowledge her, she wouldn't have to voice her awful feelings.
"Perhaps," Luna finally said, "another time."
"Yes, Princess." Willow took a step back, her gaze falling. "I..." Her ears fell as well. There was a moment where her chin quivered before she finally said in a quiet, trembling voice, "I never wanted this. I just wanted him to take his duty to you more seriously, but this isn't how I wanted it. Not at all." She lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Princess." With those words, she retreated to the secretary's desk that stood near the door and disappeared into her work, leaving the two in a moment of awkward silence.
Crystal shifted uncomfortably. Luna sipped from her tea. Willow made no sound at all. A grandmother clock made of deep-hued mahogany ticked from its post against one wall. The merriment had been drained from the atmosphere. Somepony needed to put things back in order.
"It's interesting," Crystal said, a smile forming on her lips. "To me, at least. Isn't the joke that a wife doesn't get along with her mother-in-law?"
Luna blinked a few times, then bobbed her head in a small nod. "That is the common story told, I believe. Are you and Silent's mother having trouble?"
Crystal shook her head. "Quite the contrary! I get along fine with her. It's her home that has it out for me."
"Her home?" After a moment of thought, Luna burst into a chime of laughter. "Of course! She lives in Cloudsdale! Yes, that would complicate matters, wouldn't it?"
"I have heard that some mares fear their mother-in-law, but in my case, it's my mother-in-law's home I fear." She giggled, waving a hoof. "But it's nice to have her. She understands me."
Luna's demeanor shifted, the smile fading and her posture straightening. "Then perhaps you should make it a habit to see her. A pony of your means could afford a cloudwalking enchantment, after all."
Crystal leaned back in surprise. "A cloudwalking enchantment?"
"Of course. An amulet of some sort, enchanted with a cloudwalking spell." Luna blinked. "Were you not aware of such things? They're primarily made here in Canterlot, I would think—"
"W-Well," Crystal sputtered, her cheeks heating up with a light blush, "yes, I'm aware of them! I've just never had a reason to need one before, so the idea didn't cross my mind... And they're so awfully expensive, aren't they?"
Luna waved a dismissive hoof. "It depends on the spell and how much of a charge it holds. As long as you don't mind having to recharge it more often, the price can be quite affordable for a pony with your income. Of course, if it is too much of a burden, I wouldn't mind—"
Crystal quickly shook her head. "There's no need! I'm sure it won't be a burden at all. After all, it will allow me to more comfortably visit Wallflower, so it's worth whatever price."
After a moment, Luna arched a brow. "Do you interrupt Cadence the way you keep interrupting me? Are you picking up this bad habit from her?"
"What?" The blush returned in full force. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't intend to, I just—"
Luna's eyes narrowed, trapping Crystal's breath in her throat. Then, just before the tension grew too thick, Luna broke the silence with laughter. "Oh, I missed you! Few ponies are as much fun to have tea with as you." Her laughter bubbled up again before she settled into a somber smile. "I'm glad you have not changed."
"It's hardly been two months since I left," Crystal said, a light sulk seeping into her voice as she tried to keep her ears from folding back in embarrassment. "A pony doesn't change that suddenly."
"No, I suppose not. Not if they were a normal two months." Luna's gaze drifted the room, her eyes and voice growing distant. "And this past month has been anything but."
Crystal could only nod, her head rising and falling in a slow motion of its own accord. The tea had already cooled to a lukewarm temperature, but she idly sipped from it nonetheless. "Quite," was all her mind came up with in response.
"But enough of such topics." Luna returned her gaze to Crystal, playful expression back in its rightful place. "What is next for you? Your interview mentioned nothing of what your next work shall be."
A fluttering sensation filled Crystal's chest with warmth as her lips curled into a smile. "Oh! It's still somewhat of a secret, as the details aren't finalized yet. I've sent in the pitch to Reindom House in hopes of an advance. This one will be special, so I'm hoping they'll like it."
Luna drummed her hooves against the couch cushion. "Special! Was your previous work not special enough, telling your own story? What could be more special than that?"
Crystal winked. "I don't want to spoil too much, but this one won't be a typical love story."
"Not a typical love story? Well, consider me intrigued!" Luna smiled as her magic raised her teacup. "To your continued success."
Giggling, Crystal levitated her own cup over and gently clinked them together. "To my continued success."
"I hate to interrupt," Willow said as they drank to complete the toast, "but, Princess, you have a meeting with Princess Celestia soon." She walked over and held out a piece of paper to Crystal. "I've taken the liberty of writing down the address to a nearby shop where you can find a cloudwalking amulet." Her ears flattened to the sides. "Please remember to charge it."
Crystal laughed softly, accepting the paper and glancing it over. "Of course! I would hate for it to stop working mid-step."
Willow stared at her with an intense, serious gaze.
Crystal waved a hoof. "I understand! I understand. I won't forget, I promise."
"Mm..." Willow sighed. "Just to be safe, try to ensure you have a pegasus nearby at all times. All right?"
"I will, don't worry about me. I will only be going to visit my mother-in-law, not to sightsee." She stood, stepped forward, and wrapped a foreleg around Willow's neck. In a soft whisper, she added, "And you have no reason to apologize. Nothing is your fault."
Willow said nothing. She tensed at first, but the tightness of her muscles eased as, for a moment, she slumped her weight against Crystal. Just as quickly as she relaxed, she recoiled and straightened up. "We should be on our way, Princess."
"Yes." Luna nodded her head for Crystal to follow her out. "I hope we can have tea again soon."
Crystal smiled, having to maintain a slightly quicker pace to keep up with Luna's longer stride. "Absolutely! It's my pleasure. And thank you for the advice about the amulet."
"Of course, just remember to—"
Crystal laughed. "Yes, yes, I'll remember to charge it!"
Luna's ear flicked. "You continue to interrupt me..."
Heat coursed through her veins as she reddened all the way from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. "S-Sorry, Luna!"
"We'll have to curb that habit." At an intersection, Luna stopped to put a hoof on Crystal's shoulder. "I am glad, however, that you have somepony you can relate to." She smiled softly, almost motherly. "You should cherish that bond with your mother-in-law."
Crystal bobbed her head in a light nod. "I do. Thank you... for convincing me to come here. I cherish my bond with you, as well."
After a brief pause, Luna's smile brightened. "As do I. Good day, Crystal." She turned and took the hall that joined the one they had walked, Willow at her side, Harvest Moon two paces back and one to the left.
♡
The Woven Spell was a store like no other that Crystal had ever visited. The closest comparison she could come up with was an antique jewelry store, except all the trinkets had auras. Some of them were powerful auras that pulled at her, called for her, whispered through the aether to her. Others merely sparked with glimmers of magic.
All along the shelves, each amulet was kept safe inside a glass container. They came in all shapes, sizes, and styles—there were simple necklaces, large pendants, delicate anklets, ornate hornlets, and exquisite winglets, all ranging from gold to silver with gems of every type.
It was almost intoxicating. Magic was all around her. The air was practically buzzing with it. Was this what it felt like to be a powerful unicorn that was more in tune with the aether? Her spells merely scratched the surface of magic's potential.
"Hello!" a voice called from somewhere in the labyrinth of shelves. Light flashed from behind one of them, and after a pop, another flash of light appeared in front of her. When it receded and she blinked a few times to clear her vision, she found herself face-to-face with a purple-coated stallion. "I'm Spell Weaver. May I help you?"
Crystal was still blinking rapidly. "I-I, oh." Teleportation. She didn't see that very often, and certainly not so close! "I'm looking for a cloudwalking amulet."
"You, too?" He smiled and she felt the sensation of magic being pulled in from the air around them. "Right this way!"
Light filled her vision. Her head spun, throbbed, ached. The ground disappeared and her stomach did a flip when she touched down again. Her surroundings came back into view, different from before. Had he just—
"Here you are. This row here"—he gestured to his left—"has all of our cloudwalking amulets. The ones labeled with a cloud symbol. Let me know if you have any questions!" With a small wave, he disappeared in another flash.
Crystal nodded dumbly. She needed to sit down, and her hindlegs complied. Her rump hit the ground a little hard, but she was just grateful to feel how solid it was. "Uh-huh." Still a little shaken, her head lolled to the side to look at the options contained in glass.
"Have you never teleported before?" a mare's voice asked, and Crystal turned to look in its direction at the light green unicorn standing there. "It's overwhelming, isn't it? I can't believe he just does it so casually. I don't think he even remembers how it feels to be unaccustomed to it."
"O-Oh, it's fine." Crystal stood despite how her legs wobbled. "I just wasn't expecting it, is all." She smiled lopsidedly. "I suppose when he said 'you, too', he was referring to you? Are you shopping for a cloudwalking amulet as well?"
The mare nodded. "Yup! I have some research to do in Cloudsdale, myself. What about you?"
"Visiting my mother-in-law." She held out a hoof. "Crystal Wishes, by the way."
"Ley Lines. Nice to meet you!" After they shook, Ley Lines levitated two of the glass cases into the air between them. "I'm having trouble deciding between these two. This one"—the right one bobbled—"is so much prettier, but more expensive. What do you think?"
Crystal glanced at the cases. The right one contained a silver, coiled hornlet with a teardrop sapphire suspended on a chain at the tip. The left was an amethyst pendant that hung from a silver choker.
"Oh, they're both lovely," Crystal murmured, her gaze returning to the blue gemstone. Blue...
"You think so? Well, I guess that means I should save the bits and just get the necklace." Ley started to return the right case to its spot on the shelf, pausing when she noted Crystal's eyes following it. The case changed course and made its way closer to Crystal. "This would look really pretty on you, though."
Crystal flushed, though she did take the case over in her magic. "Was I staring that much? I'm sorry! I just... I'm just rather fond of the color blue."
Ley smiled. "Don't worry about it!" She started walking down the aisle and Crystal followed alongside her under the assumption she was heading to the register. "Have you ever used an amulet before?"
Crystal shook her head. "This is my first one. I've never really had a need for one before."
"They're really useful, as long as you remember to charge them. Especially with ones like these!"
"Yes, so I've been told," Crystal said with a somewhat strained laugh that faded with realization. "How do you charge them, exactly?"
Ley's eyes widened. "I'm glad you asked! That's the most important part! It's easy, though. You just pour energy into them."
Crystal tried not to frown as she glanced at the hornlet. "What do you mean, 'pour energy into them'?"
"Uh... Here, Spell will show you." Ley set her case on the counter as they approached it. "Crystal's never used an amulet before, so make sure you show her how."
Spell Weaver smiled. "My pleasure! Let me just check you both out, then I'll give you a small demonstration."
"Thank you," Crystal said, though a bit of trepidation filled her. Ley had said this one was more expensive, but she had neglected to even look at the price. How much was she going to regret that mistake?
Putting the necklace in a bag, Spell said, "That will be a hundred and twenty bits, please!"
While Crystal gawked, Ley simply retrieved the gold and silver bits from her saddlebags. "Thanks again!" She turned and smiled at Crystal. "Have fun visiting your in-law! Don't forget to charge it!"
"Yeah..." Crystal watched her go, then slowly slid her gaze back to the shop owner. He smiled, and she smiled back.
"Yours will be—" He paused to look it over. "Oh, normally two-hundred bits. But also since it's your first, I'll give you a discount and drop it down to a hundred and sixty bits."
She could only imagine Silent's face in the back of her mind as she counted out the coins from her bitpurse. A hundred and sixty bits. Oh, he would faint from shock over such a frivolous purchase! But she would hopefully be getting her advance from Reindom House for The Desert Rose soon, so it would be all right. She would be all right.
"Thanks!" Spell put the bits in the register and lifted the lid off the case to retrieve the amulet. "Here you are. Try it on and I'll show you how to use it."
Pink magic overtook the green aura and she carefully slid it on, nerves fluttering in her chest. The flexible coil expanded and contracted to fit over the smooth ridges and settled along the natural spiral that curled along her horn. It was so lightweight that she could hardly tell it was there, save for the swaying motion of the gem as she moved her head.
"There. Now you can walk on clouds!" Spell beamed at her. "And all you have to do to keep the spell going is to give the gem energy. Since it's a hornlet, that will be easy! Just put magic into your horn."
Crystal's brow furrowed. Put magic into her horn? How did she do that, specifically? Her nose scrunched up and she did her best to focus on her horn, on the focal point where aether gathered. After a bit of effort and strain, she finally felt the pull of magic and gasped when she could see a blue glow emanating from just above her vision.
Spell held out a bag for her to take. "Perfect! And there you have it. Enjoy your amulet, and whatever you do, don't forget to—"
"Charge it, I know!" Crystal said with a huff, snatching the bag. "Thank you very much!"
As she made her way to the exit, she carefully levitated the hornlet off and put it away. It was certainly more expensive than she had prepared herself for... but it was fine. Everything was moving forward. She just had to keep moving forward, too.
So, who's got odds on her forgetting to charge it? :P
And the take away from this chapter... Don't forget to charge it!
When on the clouds, ponies with cloudwalking enchantments should never neglect to keep the spell charged.
Just like fish should never neglect to pay the water bill.
Now how does a non-teleporting unicorn get up, or down from there?
Surely they don't rely on the kindness of Pegasi?
Hasn't Rossby Waves proven that to be quite unreliable?
7346811 I'll take that bet for 150 bits
7346811 50/50
Willow huffed and muttered, "It was a trick question, apparently. No matter what my answer had been it would have lead to the same outcome."
Her curiosity peaked, Crystal gently prompted, "Which was?"
"All of them, Princess Celestia's answer was 'All of them'," Willow said with a slight shudder while Princess Luna did her best to stifle a laugh.
That may not be the best assumption any longer.
Hmm. 80% chance Frank is unexpectedly called away on business. 10% chance a family emergency. 7% chance Frank actually does show up, but zero information is gleaned from his appearance other than he does in fact exist. 2% chance it's Rossby. 1/2% chance it's someone Crystal already knows by pseudonym and Frank is their real name. 1/4% chance it's one of Runic's experiments that escaped. 1/4% chance Frank is a real something and that something is revealed.
What? No really, what? This is the pony who spent 25 bits on a box of chocolate. I'm pretty sure a reusable safety device that will help protect Crystal and allow her to visit with her new family safely is about as far from a frivolous purchase as you can get.
Another great chapter Crystal. :3 I always enjoy the play between Luna and Crystal, and Willowy's apologetic demeanor was quite interesting as well. The store scene was an added bonus. I feel like I may have to make this charge it joke transcend universes. x3
Ohhhhhh, poor Midnight Snow, friendship blocked! Relegated to the 'Guard Zone'.
This caused me to laugh my head off. Oh, Celly and Lulu
We finally get to meet Frank? You'd better not disappoint, Crystal (not that you have yet)
"Charge it! Charge it!" has a very meaning in Canterlot than it does here....
I often reread a fanfic while I'm waiting for new chapters to pop up - I happened to reach the same chapter Willowy was introduced in in Wishes right as I noticed this was up.
What an unbelievable coincidence.
"Hello, my name is 'Too Much Magic' and I'm going to do things to you with it without your permission. 'Kay, thanks-" *cast*
...
Hello, Runic, can you make me something that reflects and inverts teleport spells? That way, every time I run into a yoink-you-around-happy teleporticorn, he/she sends themselves into the same spot they were just occupying, but upside down. If you could make it into a hoof polish shade that compliments my eyes, that would be amazing!
(Seriously, is there no rule against doing that without prior permission?)
7346901
For some reason, I really, really want this to be the truth of it now. It's been a while, so he's of age by this point, right? Right?
7346811 I do as well
I have to say there is alot of foreshadowing in the chapter lol. But its good that Game night is coming back. And no I dont blame luna for holding off on inviting her new captain of the guard to the games. It would be too awkward. And I think i can relate to Silent about spending that much. but considering -Beeps out spoiler- I suppose it is a good investment. Cant wait for the next chapter!
Ley Lines....has she shown up in Q&B before? The name sounds familiar.
Ha, I can practically see her coming in next to an empty space and telling everypony that the void is Frank...
You are setting us up for something. Or it is a distraction. Let me intensify my distrust. :smirks:
Well, in comparison to what happened in the Trials lately, this was strangely calming. Good. It allows me to savor that last, dark meal.
10 bucks says crystal forgets to charge it
7347524
Ley Lines / Female / Unicorn / First Mention – Preparations – Secrets / Canterlot University Research Library, In Sunny's Sex Ed class
The real question here is what is she going to be researching in Cloudsdale?
7347677
Thank you
And Yeah, I'd like to know too.
7347416
Ha! Yes, Yes I am. Something to do with the fact that quite a few of them were barely out of Highschool and had found a new outlet for their practiced behaviour probably had something to do with it. Even some of the older girls. It was both confronting and a little disappointing to be quite honest. But support groups are a direct reflection of those who attend, take the time to organise and exert their personality on the whole. Like any group, really...
I'm thinking she's going to forget to charge it. My headcanon version pulls energy from the wearer to sustain the enchantment.
Out of curiosity, is the value of the bit based on a real currency or is it completely made up?
Putting the talk about bits up here at the top! 7347818 7346901
So as Posted reminded me in a PM, Crystal once had a 300 bit scarf (back on her date with Midnight Poem). And as he mentioned here, she spent 25 bits on a box of chocolates. But then she balks at a price tag of 200 -> 160 bits for the amulet.
First and foremost, Crystal's perception of the amulet may be different. She's buying it under a logical mindset, whereas the chocolates were bought when she was in high spirits and for fun and spur of the moment and oh it's expensive but it won't hurt just this once! This is premeditated and logical. She also doesn't see the amulet is a necessary, life-saving purchase. It's a convenience, once-in-a-while purchase. Her visits to Wallflower aren't going to be every day or exceptionally frequent, and the amulet doesn't save her life. It means she can roam from the furniture/rug safely. If she forgot to charge it, or if she didn't have it, Wallflower and/or Winterspear would save her. The amulet isn't a vital, necessary thing. Were it, she wouldn't balk at the price tag at all. But she doesn't think of it that way, so she balks.
Now, that 300 bit scarf—that was a younger Crystal and was bought with her parents' money, so her perception of that is obviously going to not match up with current-day Crystal. Also, folks in our world spend thousands of dollars on handbags and shoes... fashion can just be really stupidly expensive for no good reason, and that's just considered okay.
So, how do the bits translate? Well, Anzel and I work roughly on a 1960s economy. It's not a 100% direct parallel, but that's sort of the mindset we work with, because it keeps bit numbers lower for expensive things so we don't have to imagine them lugging around a ton of bits all the time. Crystal also has higher-class, expensive tastes (even if she's not consciously aware of it) so things are just going to be more expensive in her life.
That 300 bit scarf would, roughly, be a $2,500 scarf. Obviously, she isn't wearing a real fur shawl, but in my head she was wearing a super luxuriously soft equivalent of a mink shawl. https://www.lyst.com/accessories/monique-lhuillier-mink-fur-pull-through-wrap-white/
The 25 bit box of chocolates would be about $200. This one is a little trickier. She got herself a little bit swindled by the shopkeep, and it's in the Crystal Empire, whose economy is still trying to recover from being gone for ~1000 years and is focused on tourism, so things are just going to be more expensive there. Especially if she looks like a tourist. And, again, she was in great spirits, off to see her husband. They were also really fancy, gourmet chocolates, which can be expensive. http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/lunar_club_haut_chocolat_3 http://www.bottegalouie.com/chocolate-gift-box
And lastly, her purchase in this chapter would equate to (again, roughly) $1,300. With her mindset and perception of its necessity (or, in her opinion, lack thereof), that can be quite a lot.
In the first chapter, Crystal spent 20 bits ($160) on lunch with the journalist—again, Crystal Empire, tourist economy, and she treated herself since she thought they were free bits from Silent for fun, and to impress the journalist. She considers 40 bits ($320) to be "a paltry sum" to buy furniture with. She grew up with Upper Crust and Jet Set as her parents, and her grandfather is exceptionally wealthy. Her perception of money is pretty skewed for sure.
7346811 Apparently, folks have no faith in her! Jeeze!
7346833 The kindness of a pegasus (Winterspear, in this case), or pay for a balloon ride up to Cloudsdale are her two main options! She does, of course, have a good relationship with a grandfather who has a personal airship...
7346851 No faith!
7346869 No faith!!
7346996 Thanks! I've been waiting on showing that scene with Willow for a while. She's got a lot of complex emotions going on when it comes to Silent, and seeing Crystal just bubbles them all to the surface.
7347047 Relegated to the Guard Zone with contempt! And she didn't even do anything wrong! Except be a smarty pants know-it-all in Sunny's Days...
7347076 I love the idea of Celly and Lulu being playful little pranksters in their time off together. It's just how I see their relationship.
I... um... I'll try... though y'all have come up with some pretty wild ideas that I think expectations are preeeetty high!
7347100 Hahahaha. It probably has both meanings, considering, well, Canterlot...
7347141 Hah! That is kind of an awesome coincidence. I really like Willow... She's an interesting, somewhat complex character.
7347162 Hahah. It was more meant to be a somewhat comical moment with the archetypal "absent-minded mage" who is so used to magic that it's second nature. It definitely wasn't intended to be malicious or cruel. The effects were very brief and were just because Crystal's not very magically adept, whereas a pony like Ley Lines wouldn't have felt much effect at all, if any. I see it as kind of a more physical manifestation of when a salesperson comes up to you and has an extremely ... charismatic personality, a little pushy, a little strong, that you feel overwhelmed. Except instead of feeling overwhelmed, you literally feel dizzy. There really isn't a good human analogy for it, though.
Anyway, I imagine the effects differ from pony to pony but they're not harmful or permanent or anything. I imagine there are some "no-nos" when it comes to teleporting complete strangers, but from Spell's point of view, he was taking a customer to what they wanted as quickly and efficiently as possible!
Considering people ship Spike with Rarity and other adults, I don't know if being "of age" is a thing people care about in this fandom...
7347281 I wanted a nice, calm chapter with Crystal and Luna having tea. I also wanted to keep things moving! Sounds like I succeeded.
7347540 This is Hopes, after all! Calming and hopeful and silver linings will be available... but it won't always be that way, of course. Especially not with upcoming events.
7347607 No faith!!!
I somehow love Willowy Tempest now, and I love the idea that Crystal is doing well. and Ley Lines cameo? and the elusive Frank.
7348106 You're thinking of it wrong, we all have plenty of faith in her.
Faith that she's a silly pony and prone to silly pony mistakes. :P
7348106
(Bonus points if he really was the 'mare' from the end of the last Velveteen Mask chapter.)
Willowy: "..and everyone, this... is Frank."
Crystal: "Rossby?!"
Rossby: "Yeah, my full name is Franklin Rossbinus Wavenar III, Esq., but that's really dumb, so I go by Rossby Waves. If you tell anypony, I'll put a personal storm cloud on you for the next year."
Crystal: "O... kay... And the dress?"
Rossby: "Fan service."
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I have faith in Crystal. I also have full faith in Velvet seeing the little dangly bit as a perfect cat toy. With Velvet playing the cat. Bat-bat-bat...
Oh Hopes, how I've missed you. I see you brought back that potential issue with money, I wonder where you're going with that.
Also the promise of finally revealing the identity of the mysterious 'Frank' (if that is his real name), I can't wait to see about that.
There was something about this chapter that felt... different. I think it's the way it showed us a bit more about how magic works, and the way 'hornlets' were handled in a totally in-world way. I liked it. Very much so.
7348106 Complex emotions huh? Perhaps we will discuss these.... in 9 days. ;)
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You do know that I am hoping for those moments to arrive, oh Rose Princess... Anzel's tale might have those more grandiose, savory meals, but I am always fervently looking forward to your... delicious, dreamy desserts of drama, despair and despondency that do delight the dark debauchery and desire disguised in the dismal depths of my deranged daylights.
Do diligently deliver, dear...
7347540 Between you and me, I am honestly hoping to see something like from Anger management where everyone intentionally calls him diffrent names that are similar than frank, but not frank just to tease him abit, resulting in someone yelling HIS NAME IS FRANK!, But I digress. And I agree with you, I do feel shes setting up something.
7348106 That you did, and response to your response to me last chapter that I may or may not have just now seen due to being from the comp for a few days, Yes, you may have to try ramping it up, But I do have to say you do come close to making my heart thaw. Granted your story always does make me smile atleast.
7348106 thanks, that's exactly what I read looking for.
yay! new chapter! lol loved it btw
lol... 'keep moving forward' hah! meet the robinsons
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Ley Lines has appeared a few times. She's my OC :)
Also Great chapter, loving the way this story is heading. I expect Crystal to have at least one breakdown before the end.
Hah!
Great idea to relaunching the game night gatherings. Life goes on, and you can either go with it or wallow in whatever it is that ponies wallow in.
Omgfrank. INB4 dragon, gryphon, magical space rock, or some combination of the above.
Ouch, poor Lieutenant Snow. Poor Willowy too, for that matter.
Oooooooo. Grandmother Clockerson?
I have faith that Crystal will not forget to charge her new trinket. It is a fall to your death if you forget, after all.
Oooooo x2, a magic shop. *Buffy flashbacks*
On one hand, it always feels a little odd when someone capable of magic doesn't do much with it. But on the other hand, lots of people with legs don't use them for running. The exotic and amazing isn't so much when it so everyday familiar.
Ah, Crystal sounds like she is just starting the healing process of her loneliness. She has high spirits about moving forward so that's a good thing. Now let's hope she doesn't forget to charge that gat dang amulet.
That was a nice chapter. Always moving forward.
Now to go plug my phone in, 'cause I forgot to charge it...
Why do I feel as if she is going to forget about charging it?
Im guessing she isn't going to get that advance, or she will and the pressure of now essentially having a loan will bear down on her
7349203 Glad you're enjoying it! Oh, I think she'll have at least one more breakdown before the show's over...
7349431 I think they wallow in ice cream, if Rarity is any indication of normal pony behavior.
To be fair, I didn't really put Crystal in a lot of situations for magic to come up in more depth like this chapter, so it felt different to write, much less to imagine being read. Crystal's just not very magically adept, and her life has been fairly within the norm, but when I work on the Wishes revamp I'll probably find some opportunities for her to note magic in a "felt" way like in the shop.
7349578 No faith!!!!
7349601 Hahaha. Happy to help remind you!
7349708 NO FAITH!
7351937 Oh, well, it's not really a loan in the traditional sense. At least not from what I've researched (someone correct me if I'm wrong).
She sends a pitch to her publisher, with whom she's published three successful novels already. Since she has a good track record, she's more likely than a first-time writer to get the publisher to agree to an advance. An advance is exactly that—an advanced paycheck, under the assumption that the publisher will make that money back in sales. So, say if you get a $10,000 advance, you will end up not getting the first $10,000 in royalties, because the publisher will keep that because they already advanced that money to you. Royalties beyond that are as normal.
So the only pressure is having a book successful enough that the publisher gets their money back from the sales, otherwise that hurts the relationship with them. There is definitely still pressure, but not in the sense of paying back a loan in a traditional sense!
Oh hey, that's my OC's mum's name! As a scientist she would most likely go to a pegasus city to research and compare as many of their internal arcane networks as possible to get the most accurate results she could. Hmm...... might have to tuck this into my notes for later........ You don't mind do you? I'm sorely lacking in details for my character's parents and this gave me an idea for what i could do as part of his mother's past.