open Ambition for Ascension

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

Limbo's distress melted into a steely determination at the mention of the princess's wrath. A daring challenge.

When Fuchsia offers her service, Silver's eyes gleam like a freshly minted coin. "We'll be in touch, but you can start with the candles. Diligent work is the best screening process, I always say."

Limbo slinks over to the interrupted podium, and her horns once again light up.

Around the pulpit was a magic Fuchsia had never seen before. Ethereal purple threads ensnared the thing and stitched themselves to it. Then with a yank of her head, the pulpit rises proportionately. With a crane of her neck, the pulpit is returned to its place.

"I suppose I can read over our new texts while you watch over her," Limbo says dismissively.

"Indeed, now where did she leave that snuffing tool?"

Octavia waited for a few moments outside. Perhaps she wanted to meet her back at the house. Not wanting to risk either possibility, she huddled down just outside the door and waited patiently for her escort.

[Fuchsia]

@Loud Opinion

Fuchsia heart is in her mouth as the eldritch duo contemplate her offer. Her manticore purrs with pleasure at the thought of investigating these two. Who would have thought that a village in the pony heartlands would contain more adventure than the frigid North or the Stormlands!

When Limbo accepts she practically skitter-hooves with excitement… or dread… Fuchsia is never entirely sure which emotion she feels when she commits herself to adventure. Now she can find out what eldritch schemes they are up to. Also didn’t they talk about Octavia being two ponies or something before? What had that been about? In fact, there were a load of things they had been babbling about that sounded fantastical and important. Hopefully Fuchsia could use her new position to learn how to stop these two before they did any more damage. Lost in thought about the mystery of the temple, she only half hears Mr Tongue mention the snuffer. “Right-o.” Fuchsia agrees absently.

But she has not forgotten about Octavia in her lust for adventure and she can hear the poor mare shuffling about outside the entrance. “I’ll just send Octavia home.” She says and ducks outside without waiting for an answer.

On finding Octavia she whispers into one of her large grey furry-pony ears, “You’re in the clear for now I think. I’m gonna find out what they’re up to and put a stop to it if I can. If anything else happens to you, find this pony.” She scribbles down the address of the curse specialist who has her nail file on a notepad – trying to do so discretely so that Mr Tongue and Limbo Dreams cannot see. “And explain to them that I sent you and let them know what the problem is… they may be able to help. And if you don’t hear from me for over a week then contact this pony.” She adds Mr Phantom’s address. “And tell him Fuchsia needs his help.” She rips off the notepaper and shoves it into Octavia’s hooves.

Then she pats Octavia on the back and then in a louder voice says for the benefit of Silver and Limbo, “So everything is alright now Ms Octavia. You go get some rest.”

If Octavia has the snuffer Fuchsia will take it and duck back inside without waiting for a response from Octavia while if Octavia doesn’t have the snuffer she will duck back inside and look about for it and go about snuffing candles. As she does so, she will mull over what Mr Tongue and Limbo Dreams said earlier and cast about for any clues as to what nefarious schemes they are up to…

[Starlight Glimmer]

@Starforce

“You may be surviving without a support group, but you are not thriving. You are forcing yourself to live in fear, paranoid of the dangers around you. You have nopony to protect you if you were to suddenly drop your guard.” Starlight responded, saying her last sentence in a hintful tone.

Magnolia may think she has it all together, but Starlight knew, especially now, that the mare’s weaknesses could easily get the best of her. Starlight could sense that even though the majority of the unicorn’s emotions were a front, there was a little part of her that was genuinely vulnerable. A part of her that perhaps wanted a true friendship. Starlight needed to take hold of this part of Magnolia and never let it go, for it was the only way to earn her trust.

She was surprised to see Magnolia act rather…normal as they continued to walk. She magically brushed some hair out of her face and surprisingly didn’t get frustrated or annoyed when she did so. She then began to look around for sandwich places and didn’t make any rude remarks in the process. Starlight was almost stunned into silence, but she forced herself to speak regardless. She had to speak before Magnolia decided to revert to her crueler side.

“I can eat wherever you would like. I am not picky about my food, I can eat almost anything. I see food as something to survive on rather than something to think in detail about.” she told Magnolia.

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

Seeing Fuchsia return reinvigorated Octavia. She nodded diligently at Fuchsia's instructions despite the rapidly accumulating fatigue of an interrupted night's rest catching up to her.

With notepad in hoof, Octavia wastes no time and scampers off into the night.

When Fuchsia returns, she is greeted by the very tool she sought. Within Silver's hoof was the snuffer. No words were exchanged. Silver simply smiled and gestured for her to take it.

Once the snuffer was in Fuchsia's hooves though, Silver spoke up, "You're doing a great job pretending to be on board. I'd hate to stop your performance, but it is unnecessary. I understand you have your grievances and hope that someday you'll come to support us in earnest. I just want you to know that your true feelings are safe here."

Before Fuchsia could roll her eyes, Silver continued, "Before you get to work, Limbo had something to say to you."

@Starforce @ExplosionMare

Eventually, the path led to a homely outdoor restaurant. Toadstool chairs surrounded a mushroom table. Other such natural aesthetics complimented the natural function.

The sign read, 'Jabber's Sandwiches.

"May I take your order," announced a tanish mare with a notepad.

[Fuchsia]

@Loud Opinion

Fuchsia hands out her hoof for the snuffer, but pauses and does not take it right away. She did not like the way this much older stallion saw through her – and her sunny flanks shivered a warning at her that misfortune followed this pony like a plague.

 

Trying to ignore her disquiet, Fuchsia raised her eyes to look the older pony levelly in the face – trying to demonstrate, as she tended to have to fairly regularly, that she was a mare to respect. “Sorry about the knife – I hope I didn’t shock you old-timer?” Fuchsia says sweetly, not sorry at all of course. She would never forgive this pony for what he did to Octavia and she was also very glad that she had shocked him – her knife had drawn out a wealth of information. If it hadn’t been for Octavia she would have kept it there a lot longer. An added bonus to the encounter was that she had proved already that she wasn’t a silly wasn’t a silly naïve pink earth pony, contrary to appearances.

 

She continues on in response to his point, “I have seen many things Mr Tongue. Sometimes evil means justify a good outcome. Sometimes what seems evil at first turns out to be good. Regardless, I think what is happening here is important, and I want to be part of it. That’s why I never told the authorities about you and why I followed Octavia here.” She grants the insightful elder-pony the respect of not bothering to fully deceive him and opts instead for a half-truth. It was true that she wanted to be part of the mystery. It was true that she didn’t want some half-flanked slow Royal investigation into what was happening here – this mystery was hers and she wanted to pursue on her terms. (Fuchsia dimly realises that innocent ponies might be hurt that way if she fails, but she’s not a mare to dwell on consequences.) However, she was lying about believing that any good could come of what Mr Tongue and Limbo Dreams was doing and that she wasn’t implacably opposed to allowing Mr Tongue to do what he did to Octavia to anypony else. If she could convince this pony to change his ways then she would… but if he wouldn’t then she would have to coerce him – by any means necessary >:3

 

Finally she takes the snuffer. “I’m ready Miss Dreams.” She calls out in a sing song voice like a school filly, and trots past Mr Tongue with her head held high, giving a little prancy show-trot and a quick cheeky flick of her tail against his flank as she trotted past him. She chides herself for overdoing it – she was meant to be acting like his equal and not a bitchy filly on her prom night – but it had been a long day so she forgave herself for being a little off-colour.

 

She heads over to the strange horned pony trying desperately to keep her bravado up as she faces what she knows is a much more serious and powerful proposition than the elderly stallion. She feels just a little like she was heading to the head-mare’s room for being naughty at school

 

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

Silver smiled at Fuchsia's actions. In the process of trying to undermine him, she had proved him right. Besides, the stallion had a soft spot for assertive mares.

At Fuchsia's approach, Miss. Dreams looked up from her book and closed her eyes. "Normally, when I look at a pony, their life story is laid bare --except for you. When I look at you, I only see your childhood and some of your adolescence. Have you done anything bizarre since you left for that buffalo tribe?"

"I only ask for your own good. I don't expect you to do me any favors yet. If I can't see your past, then it's entirely possible that the princesses can't either. Such ponies are usually labeled as a threat to Equestria."

She paused to open her unnatural eyes before concluding in a chipper tone, "With that being said, I wanted to ask if you've done anything to help the poor today?"

[Starlight Glimmer]

@Starforce

Starlight looked at Magnolia wide-eyed, not expecting her confess such a thing. If she was suggesting what Starlight thought she was, then Magnolia was even more vicious than she thought. Even if hunting was for survival purposes, what would drive a pony to hunt? It is not in their nature unless they’ve been driven mad.

“You mean to say you have hunted like an animal out in the wild?” she said, her voice trembling slightly. To be honest, Starlight was more scared of Magnolia’s hunting capabilities in terms of what she could do now as opposed to what she did when she was nineteen. She didn’t want Magnolia…reverting back to those ways. Starlight stepped back a couple of paces.

She frowned sympathetically when Magnolia revealed a rather garish scar underneath her belly and right forearm. That must have been a tough battle to fight. Starlight silently wished she could have been there to help and prevent that scar. As much as she feared Magnolia, she did not want to see her get hurt. She did not admit this either. Instead, she said,

“If you had fought with a friend, perhaps that scar could have been avoided or you could have escaped altogether.”

Magnolia went on to talk about survival instincts and how they supposedly saved her. Starlight was beside herself. How could anypony truly live this way? Sure, Magnolia survived, but she did not live. She spent so much time worrying about the basic necessities that she never got a moment to enjoy herself or the company of others. She never got to have a single moment where she wasn’t living in fear. She never had anypony to count on or trust. Starlight almost knew what that felt like, feeling isolated herself for many years. She didn’t want Magnolia to feel isolated any longer.

@Loud Opinion

These things she was about to admit, but before she could, the two mares arrived at the sandwich shop. It was an adorable little place with mushroom seats. Starlight had never seen anything like it, not that she got out a lot anyways.

When the pony with the notepad asked for their orders, Starlight hesitated. She had not had a sandwich in years. She had been on a strict vegetable and wheat diet for so long, she forgot what a normal sandwich was like. Turning towards Magnolia, she whispered,

“Uh, why don’t you go first?”

[Fuchsia]

Fuchsia’s eyes open wide in surprise and gasps out a little “How could you know-“ in fear as Limbo Dreams effortlessly reads her past. She knew that such divining magic was high-level unicorn stuff. Despite her front cracking for a second, she gathers her wits and manages to respond: “Nothing that would prevent a clever temple sheep reading my past like an open book, but – other than encountering your good self today – I did receive a letter two weeks ago from my good friend Mr Phantom about a relative of the Silver family who held my nail file, that was pretty bizarre.”

Fuchsia is even more bemused by the next question. What sort of evil cult-leader asks a question like that? She wonders to herself. This must have to do with the Glovers and Mr Tongue she thinks. “Well, I saved a poor grey mare called Octavia from being brain-washed by an evil cult, but I guess you already knew that.” she says challengingly, hoping vainly to ruffle Limbo a little. “Of course I’m not a rich philanthropist like the Glovers, so I can only do so much.”

 Having responded, in her own way, to Limbo's cryptic queries, Fuchsia offers a few more concrete questions to the mysterious creature: “I have a couple of questions for you, if you don’t mind. What were you doing with Octavia? Are there more ponies being brain-washed like her? Why is a pony like Mr Tongue working for you? What do you hope to achieve?”

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

"How odd that you would leave something as trivial as a nail file with someone you don't know directly. Did it happen to be cursed?"

Limbo's mood and expression both soured when Fuchsia tried to throw her second question back in her face. "So that's a 'no' on both accounts," Limbo said sternly. Part of her didn't want to engage the catty back and forth. She knew perfectly well she meant impoverished when she said 'poor'. The rest knew Fuchsia was entitled to it after all that's happened.

"You don't need a lot of money to help the poor. This isn't about looking good or even helping others. It's about building your character. You'll see. When you wash the grime off those too unfortunate to afford their own bath, you'll feel your soul uplifted."

"You see I was going to ask tomorrow, but I happen to be reading one of Princess Twilight's letters to Celestia. It talks about how Twilight showed Saint Dash that charity is its own reward. So, I found it fitting to ask now."

At Fuchsia's follow-up inquiries, Limbo sighed. She really didn't trust them after all. "Mr. Tongue already told you we were trying to reverse the personality binding he put on Miss. Scratch. It may be best if you continue to call her Octavia when you're around her, but I won't tolerate you disrespecting her memory in my presence." 

Limbo noticed that she was raising her voice and caught herself, but neglected to quell her indignation, "Her name is Vinal Scratch when I'm in ear-shot. Do I make myself clear?"

The majority of her anger melted away when she changed topics, "Mr. Tongue saved me from my old life in the Crystal Empire. I was cursed and at the end of my rope. Then, he showed up at my door and worked a miracle. We've been traveling ever since." Toward the end of her reminiscence, Limbo's tone was dripping with honey as she fluttered her eyelashes.

When Fuchsia asked about their purpose, Limbo only softened more. "We are The Order of New Equestria, -- or 'Tone' -- and we uplift ponies to the status of alicorn. When all is said and done, we hope everypony will have the chance to watch the sunset a second time from a cloud perch and manipulate the world with magic."

[Fuchsia]

Fuchsia pouts in relation to the nail file. “Ok clever-mane, what’s the curse on it?” she tries to goad her to revealing its nail filey secrets. She had given the nail file to Phantom to help her identify the curse – but what was going on here with Mrs Horns was much more important. Her hooves could do with a file though… and a general work-over. Mom would be so angry at her if she saw the state of her poor filly’s keratin right now. She’d gouged out the occasional fungus and parasite when her pad hurt, but her general hoof care was very poor. Anyway that isn’t important Fuchsia thought to herself. Also I need to sleep so badly she moaned internally. She was so easily distracted when tired

Fuchsia is gladdened, and slightly terrified, that she got to Limbo Dreams over the helping the poor comment. She notes the scary utopian tone of the sheep when she talks about wiping the grime off those too unfortunate. It tallied with comments she’d heard about Octavia and she wondered who that pony really was.

When Fuchsia heard about the personality binding and Octavia she shook her head sceptically. “I will call her whatever you want me to, Miss Dreams, but I have never heard of that kind of magic. Who would do that? And, saying I believe you, what do you do with the Octavia personality? Does she die? Also why do you need her to snuff candles in your lame temple?” Fuchsia kicked herself for the use of ‘lame’ as an insult. For ponies, it was pretty profane.

 Fuchsia was a little startled by the abrupt change of tone, and the seeming reliance of the intimidating Miss Dreams upon Silvertongue – she had assumed he was more of a minion.

As regards the motive Fuchsia exclaimed: “You want to make ponies into alicorns!?" Shortly followed by questions: "Who have you made into an alicorn so far?” and “Do the Princesses know?”

[Starlight Glimmer]

@Starforce

Starlight frowned at Magnolia. She didn’t understand why anypony would want a reminder of their failures plastered onto their body. If Starlight were to have a scar, she would feel sick having to look at it each day. In Starlight’s eyes, failure wasn’t supposed to help you learn, it only held you back. Successes were much more rewarding, like her equal sign Cutie Mark, as it is a reminder of what she has accomplished thus far.

Starlight noticed Magnolia’s expression has gotten softer. This made Starlight’s go soft as well. She felt a strange sense of calm around the unicorn, which almost made her drop her guard. She mentally shook her head, pulling herself together. No, she would not lose her guard around Magnolia! She couldn’t trust her just yet.

“Your real name is Moonlight Sparkle?” Starlight asked with surprise. She was immediately pulled from her worried thoughts and was instead feeling a sense of confusion. Why would Magnolia, or Moonlight, lie about her own name? Starlight put a hoof to her chin in thought. After thinking about it for a moment, she realized the last name sounded…familiar. “That is the same last name as Princess Twilight Sparkle.” She quirked an eyebrow, curious to see if Moonlight knew what she was even talking about.

When Moonlight placed her order, Starlight couldn’t help but feel like the sandwiches sounded unusual, even for somepony who hadn’t had a sandwich in a long time. They smelled funny too, but oh well, this is what she gets for not ordering something herself. Once it comes time to pay, Moonlight makes Starlight use her money for both sandwiches. Starlight looks at her with slight annoyance, but pays anyways in order to not hold up the line. As they exit, Starlight finds a place to eat and picks up her sandwich slowly.

Alright, here it goes… she thought hesitantly as she drew it closer to her mouth.

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

"Oh, my," Limbo's ears lower then flinch slightly when they meet her horns, "We did get a cursed key. I think I see why you would mistake it for a nail file. I suppose nothing's stopping you from using it as a nail file if you want. Just don't open any doors with it, or you'll unlock a cage in Tartarus. Mr. Tongue tried to remove the curse, but it's linked to Elysium, and we haven't figured out how to get there."

Limbo snorts at the 'lame' comment. She hadn't built it, nor was it her property, but she always admired the architecture. "We-" Limbo starts before correcting herself, "I was hoping to undo the binding before Octavia developed as a personality at all. Now that she has been 'born,' so to speak, I can't bring myself to put an end to it. I will miss Vinal and her music, but," She sighs, "her life is better as Octavia. Vinal never had friends, let alone ones that would risk their lives for her. You see, Vinal was troubled. I don't know much about Equestrian schooling, but it didn't resonate with Vinal. She was too alien. She had her strange music, and that was it. No subject gripped her, and no pony, her age or otherwise, could relate to her."

"It didn't take long for her to start lashing out. Vandalism, arson, -she even mugged Mr. Tongue before I had met him. If only I could be there. I could have shown her a better way. I'm sorry for my rude outburst. Her music comforted me at the peak of my misery, and I just..." Limbo cradles the side of her crown in her hoof, "need some time to process this. You may call her whatever you want. You're a better friend to her than I was."

Limbo looks like she's about to dismiss Fuchsia but remembers she hadn't answered one of her questions.

"If we used Celestia's method of ascension, then it would take at least three years per pony. Even then, only one in six would be given a mantel" Limbo said, still cradling her forehead, "We have found an alternative that allows us to uplift everypony at once. It needs time and careful set up though. Have patience, Fuchsia. You will sore through the sky yet."

As Limbo finished, she gestured to some still-lit candles.

[Starlight Glimmer]

@Starforce

Starlight sat in silence with Moonlight as she did not have much to say either. Despite social interactions normally being easy for her, she found herself struggling to enjoy this one like she wanted. She was still convinced that something was off, but to be fair, that was not much of a surprise. What she was really worried about was the fact that she could not get a read on Moonlight. She could not tell if the mare was truly opening up to her or just trying to get something out of this whole interaction. It was a difficult situation, but Starlight convinced herself that no matter what, she would not break. She couldn’t afford to.

The appearance and smell of the sandwiches suddenly made Starlight feel disgusted. Moonlight’s snarky face did nothing to help this. It was like she chose such a repulsive flavor just to mess with Starlight.

Well, Starlight, it can’t be as bad as the muffins back home, right? she asked herself as she slowly picked up the sandwich in her magical aura.

Before she bit into the sandwich herself, she watched as Moonlight ate hers in a rather odd manner. She took her sweet time with it, savoring every bite, but not going so slow that it would take all day for her to eat. Starlight wasn’t sure if Magnolia really liked such a weird sandwich or if she was just being dramatic to tease Starlight further. Grumbling under her breath, she put the sandwich to her mouth and prepared herself for a bite. She wrinkled her nose as it inched closer to her.

Chew.

Starlight’s cheeks grew puffy, then she stuck a hoof over her mouth. The smells were so strong coming from the sandwich that they were beginning to overwhelm her. The taste was so sour on her tongue that it felt like her tastebuds would fall right off. Hurriedly, she grabbed a napkin and spit the chewed up sandwich inside. She did so as quietly as possible. She reached for a drink, then realized she never bought any. With a hoof over her mouth to hide the redness in her face, she sat up quickly and said,

“I am going to find a restroom, if you will excuse me.”

She needed to clean her mouth out as soon as possible!

[Fuchsia]

Fuchsia commits the strange sheep's responses to memory. 

She is shocked and intrigued to learn that the nail file is a key, "Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you. I'll have it back then. I promise I won't use it." she says innocently  and hands out her hoof for it. Fuchsia will ask what Elysium is, if she does not already know. Incidentally, it is not entirely a lie to say she won't use it - Fichsoa does not believe Limbo's warning about Tartarus but she does imagine that using without proper guidance could cause trouble.

She digests the story about Vinyl and Octavia - if it were true, its implications were dire. Octavia existed now, but they had effectively killed Vinyl. Magic would be needed to separate the two - magic beyond any pony she had ever encountered other than, perhaps, the magic of the ascended.

The distortion of a pony's identity speaks to Fuchsia of a reckless use of powerful magic which has had very poor results - and does not bode well for Limbo's, in her view, hair-brained scheme to alicornify ponies. Whatever dark magic that Limbo Dreams has used on Octavia, Fuchsia is determined to unravel it. As a 'justification', if that is what Limbo was attempting, the lanky mare's ideas are unpersuasive. Fuchsia wonders about other ponies drawn to this misguided mare's agenda and is determined to identify any subjects for alicornification that Limbo Dreams has already experimented upon, and will endeavour to disrupt the process.

Fuchsia will begin snuffing candles once she has her 'nail file' key back.

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

At Fuchsia's outstretched hoof, Limbo snaps out of her self-indulgence and lifts her head with an incredulous scowl. "That was a joke! Why, in the name of Celestia's polka-dot throwers, would I give you a key that unleashes the underworld's most heinous villains?!"

"I-" Limbo gasped, still trying to grapple with Fuchsia's request, "No! In fact, you've made me realize how dangerous that key is. Silver and I will destroy the key the first chance we get."

Silver Tongue gave off a laugh too hearty for his age, "Oh, Miss Dreams, cut the filly some slack. It has been a long night, after all. Besides, the young are attracted to power, no matter how impractical."

"Tell you what, Fuchsia," Mr. Tongue continued, "why don't you go home early. We'll finish up so you can get a good night's rest". Silver's laughter and tone made it seem like a request, but the fact that he opened the door for her told a different story.

[Fuchsia]

Fuchsia withdraws her hoof reluctantly. Part of her was glad to see some edge to the mysterious pony, but mostly she wanted her item back - all the more so if it was important. "If you're going to destroy my nail-file key then I want to be the one to do it. I don't mind if you come along and help. That thing always gave me the heeby-jeebies. That's the only reason I gave it away to be examined." Fuchsia proposed - heavily emphasising her genuine feeling of finders-keepers ownership of the key, which she had given to Mr Phantom.

She suppresses a small smile as Silver Tongue supports her. Perhaps he wasn't so bad after all? :3 "Thank you Mr Tongue. Are there temple quarters I could go to rest?" Fuchsia said, in a friendlier tone to Mr Tongue. She definitely needed to sleep, but she didn't want to leave the temple. Also she didn't have anywhere to stay and didn't want to bother Octavia. "If not then if there's any fresh hay... or I can sleep standing." she added - Fuchsia had lost count of the times she had rough-slept - she had a horse-like ability to sleep anywhere, which had served her well on her travels.

 

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

Silver Tongue was mildly surprised. Limbo Dreams, on the other hoof, was positively befuddled.

"Ahem," Silver Tongue cleared his through, "We weren't expecting you to trust us enough to share a sleeping quarter."

Limbo gave Mr. Tongue a pleading look, only for Silver to nod.

"Forgive Miss. Dreams. She's not used to having unfamiliar company. You wouldn't believe how long it took for me to get her out of her shell."

"Well," Limbo says with a stomp of her hoof, "you two can spend the night together. I have work to do."

As if fate itself had taken Limbo's side, Silver collapses with all the grace of a cadaver. Perhaps fate was a little too enthusiastic tonight.

Limbo quickly rushed to his side but did not look concerned. "Our living quarters are at the top of the tower. You should make yourself at home, and we'll be with you eventually."

[Fuchsia]

"Thanks." Fuchsia responds to Limbo sleepily, swaying on her hooves.

When Silver collapses, Fuchsia rushes with Limbo to Silver's side and reaches down to pick him up, expecting Limbo to do the same. When she does not, Fuchsia gives her an odd look, but lifts the elder unicorn anyway - who is a little heavier than she expected - and carries him up the stairs.

As she ascends the stairs, she sees the large church bell and wonders at its foreignness, never having seen one of that size. She also sees numerous papers and her nail-file key! Her hooves tingle with relief as she sights the file - nothing quite gouged out a rotten piece of keratin like it. She notes it, glad that at least Limbo and Mr Phantom had not been lying about its presence; however, she makes no move towards it, and simply keeps helping the elderly unicorn to his bed.

Once Silver is tucked up in bed and seems content, she gives one look round the room, eyes lingering on the key, before settling down on the other bed. She pulls the covers over her pink pony body and hangs her wind-chime over the side of the bed. She doesn't recognise the significance of its silence at the moment, though, as she falls into slumber. 

 

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

Eventually, Fuchsia awakens to a surprisingly calm sight. The bell still hangs overhead, but Silver is not in his bed. That's not the only thing that's missing, though.

The dream catcher is no longer in it's pride of place but instead, laying upon the ground.

Most peculiarly, though, is a subtle tremor coming from the dream catcher.

Now, it was evident that the noon sun hadn't waked her up. It was clearly the ethereal shouting coming from Fuchsia's trusted companion. The voice was oddly familiar. Uptite and motherly. Hark, it was Limbo Dream's voice coming from dream catcher.

The weaving was also disturbed. It had been refashioned to look like Limbo's head.

If that wouldn't wake the adventurous pony, then nothing would.

Besides that, the smell of rain persisted, despite the cloudless sky. 

[Starlight Glimmer]

@Starforce

“I-I can eat the sandwich, I-“ Starlight stammered, despite the opposite being true. In truth, once the sandwich were to hit her stomach, she’d be running for the stalls. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like she had much choice in the matter. It was either way this, or have nothing at all.

Uggghhh! Starlight pouted, letting out an infuriated and elongated groan. A small blush formed on her cheeks, embarrassed she would have to continue eating this horrid sandwich. What was even more embarrassing was that Moonlight was clearly enjoying this. Sighing, Starlight grasped the sandwich in her magic and prepared to bite down again.

Wait…she isn’t wearing that coy grin of hers! Starlight observed. She looks…genuinely happy. She looks like she’s laughing around a friend. Is she staging this, to get me to trust her? No, she would not fake her emotions this way. But…why is she acting like this? Has she finally accepted the truth and seen the light, or something else?

Starlight couldn’t comprehend why Moonlight was suddenly so nice, so friendly. Even that delusional, friendship-ideal brain of hers could not understand why such a cold and stubborn mare would suddenly turn so pleasant and cheerful. It just didn’t make any sense. She thought to observe the mare some more, but if she did that, then Moonlight would start to ask some questions. With a resolved sigh, Starlight forced herself to bite into the sandwich again. She hastily grabbed Moonlight’s beverage and gulped it down.

“Gasp! This is still awful, but at least the drink helps!” she exclaimed, trying her best not to choke on the garlicky nightmare.

[Fuchsia]

 

On 2021-07-30 at 1:51 AM, Loud Opinion said:

@abrony-mouse

Eventually, Fuchsia awakens to a surprisingly calm sight. The bell still hangs overhead, but Silver is not in his bed. That's not the only thing that's missing, though.

The dream catcher is no longer in it's pride of place but instead, laying upon the ground.

Most peculiarly, though, is a subtle tremor coming from the dream catcher.

Now, it was evident that the noon sun hadn't waked her up. It was clearly the ethereal shouting coming from Fuchsia's trusted companion. The voice was oddly familiar. Uptite and motherly. Hark, it was Limbo Dream's voice coming from dream catcher.

The weaving was also disturbed. It had been refashioned to look like Limbo's head.

If that wouldn't wake the adventurous pony, then nothing would.

Besides that, the smell of rain persisted, despite the cloudless sky. 

Fuchsia groans and shuffles about under the covers, trying, vainly to resist the apathetic impulse to return to sleep - the cherry brandy she consumed the day before was playing tricks on her mind. This wasn't the first time she had woken up in a strange bed, with a feeling of dread. The previous evening comes back to her gradually, in flashes and her ears droop. "Oh my sunny flanks, what the Tartarus did I get into last night." Memories of Octavia, the flowers, the monster and the temple rear up before her and flood her mind. She remembers putting a knife to Mr Tongue and she winces at the recollection. Her blood runs cold as she looks around the room. But her feelings pale to nothing next to the mystery that is Limbo Dreams.

As she is processing the night's events, she receives a horrible shock. She rears up in the bed, as the sound of the mare occupying her thoughts manifests itself by her large pink fluffy pony ear. Like a scene from a horror poem, the dream-catcher, the thing she had regarded as a source of safety on so many nights in the wilds of Equestria and beyond, begins to talk with the voice of the mysterious mare. The voice sounded strangely like her head-teacher in primary school - this did nothing to allay her terror  Fuchsia backs all the way off the bed and lands on her soft pony rump on the other side of the bed, with the duvet on top of her.

She takes a deep breath and thrusts her fear away - she knows that she is now committed to whatever hair-brained scheme she has gotten herself into. She hopes that Limbo Dreams did not see that and, arranging her mane under the blanket, proudly thrusts it away. She was not going to let these strange ponies get to her, or get away with their schemes . Alicornification was pony heresy in her view, and so was pony-possession.

Fuchsia glances around the room, noticing the 'nail file', which she pockets and puts in her saddlebag. She then prances with mock confidence down the stairs and into the temple. "Don't you take control of my stuff!" she shouts angrily into the temple as she trots through the door.

 

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

Fuchsia vainly throws her vigor into the emptiness of the temple. The soulless temple only throws her own voice back at her.

The emptiness of the temple emphasis a rustle of paper in Fuchsia's hooves. A note was comically stuck to her other for-hoof.

The thing was signed by Silver Tongue.

'Miss Dreams,

'I'll be away to Golden Oaks. I want you to do some investigating into this Phantom fellow. I've finished a commission from him, but haven't heard from him since. He was acting quite zoned. Your expertise on the subject may be what this needs. I also would appreciate it if you could look into our newest sister, I'd like to know her intentions. She claims that the key is hers, so she has a reason to make Phantom disappear. She is the prime suspect.

'The townsfolk are superstitious enough without linking actual crims to our professions. I'm counting on you.

'One more thing. I know you are aware of my condition. You are very polite in dancing around the subject. I just want you to know that if I don't make it back from Golden Oaks, I have full confidence that you can see this through to the end.

'Live well,
'Silver Tongue.'

[Fuchsia]

Fuchsia notices the note and reads it incredulously  

She understands that both Limbo and Silver are away from the temple. What are they up to? She gathers that they are investigating her friend!? She realises that it was strange not to have heard from My Phantom in a while. They said he was 'zoned out' - what had happened to him? She gathers the commission is the 'nail-file' - in fact key. She thinks about what Limbo and Silver had said to her last night - that the nail file was the key to Tartarus - presumably that was why she was a suspect. But a suspect for doing what? Making her friend disappear? 

She thinks about the eldritch and remote location she found the key in. It was one of the most terrifying, yet strangely anti-climactic experiences of her pony years. Following a trail fraught with danger and treachery, through the prancing planes - where she touched base with the buffalo tribe of which she was an honorary buffalo - and past the dangerous Stormlands, she arrived at Port Noon. She had been seeking lands beyond those which ponies had explored and cultures long-forgotten or obscure - as well as their artefacts >:3 She had had a tip off from Mr Phantom that there would be something 'big' in the dungeon. She had been disappointed by the ravaged state of the ship-wreck, assuming that her long trek had been in vain. She had felt betrayed by her friend, her flank and her gut instinct - manifested in the form of a manticore, which had so rarely been wrong. However, her disappointment had turned to joy when she saw that the treasures of the wreck were in-tact; in the captain's quarters, alongside the single skeleton of a pony wearing a magnificent tricorne, was the 'nail file' key around the pony's bony neck. Like any good adventure pony she swiped it.   

She remembers the frailty of My Phantom last night and assumes that the condition refers to that. Had she misjudged these strange ponies?

Fuchsia stores the note away in her notepad in her saddlebag.

The first thing she does is push her chin up because her mouth is open with shock. The second thing is to trot back up the stairs of the temple, looking for further evidence relating to the motives of Limbo Dreams and Silver Tongue. She wanted to know specifically how alicornification fitted into their plans. The key burns in her saddle-bag pocket - could it really be evil and be what they said it was - a gate to Elysium? She also wanted to know what they knew about the key.

After she has investigated, she will try to find Limbo Dreams. Fuchsia is not on board with the alicornification idea, but her mind is not closed and, now she has got over the initial shock of the weirdness of the ponies, she is genuinely ready to commit to them.

[Loud Opinion 602]

@abrony-mouse

When Fuchsia returns up the bussy tower and started her investigation, she was assaulted by the sheer volume of texts to go through. As she delved, the authors began to seem more detached from reality.

The texts that were dated first describe 'mysteries behind the skin of the earth,' 'seven histories' and 'dreams being linked to the foundations of reality.'

Immortals were more common than Fuchsia was led to believe -if this text is to be taken seriously. Though, the secrets behind their unnaturally long life have been closely guarded secrets.

Then, Twilight had ascended. A 'Long' --as they put it-- had made their finding public. Silver and Limbo had taken this very seriously. Twilight herself is described as a prophet, and her friends were her saints.

One particularly disturbing passage laments Twilight's immortality as a curse. She alone is gifted with life long enough to see her dearest kin leave her behind. A grim solution was posited by Limbo Dreams: She would ascend herself before Twilight realizes the bleakness of her situation, and have her pass on. Twilight would not face eternity alone. Instead, Twilight would be the first to cross the finish line, and she will await her friends there.

Her rummaging was interrupted when a lost-sounding Limbo spoke up, "Is that you?" Came a slightly shrill inquiry, "I heard somepony coming, but I can't see you at this angle."

Again, Fuchsia was alone in the room. The voice came from her bed, though.

Edited July 31, 2021 by Loud Opinion

[Fuchsia]

Fuchsia's large lilac pony eyes grow even larger as she digested the impossible information: the Princesses were not alone and nor was their protege. The texts lacked details on the who and what of these unknown historical alicorns... the fevered nature of the texts could explain for that - however, a long time ago, prior to Luna's disappearance, it seemed many of these alicorns disappeared. The ponies who had written these texts had not necessarily intimately followed the practical operation of the Palace, but were rather theorising from afar, with perhaps a couple of historical inside sources. However, the story fitted Fuchsia's preconceptions of the dark sister of the sunny pony ruler Celestia, with whose flanks her own sun-flower mark had kinship - if any royal pony would so misuse the office, it would be the Dark Mistress of the Moon, who for so long had darkened the her sun-sister's skies.  

Fuchsia frowns as she reads about Limbo Deams' 'grim solution'. It raised many questions for her, such as - why Limbo Dreams had not reached out to Twilight. After all, hadn't Twilight resided in Ponyville? Nevertheless, it was clear that Limbo was not the straightforward villain that she had initially thought. Perhaps even Octavia fitted in somehow? 

Fuchsia looks up at the voice. She puffs her chest and narrows her eyes, "You have a lot of explaining to do, lady." she says. "But maybe you aren't the monster I thought you were." Fuchsia pauses. "Let me help you with Mr Phantom. I promise I will clear my name with you." she brandishes the note. "I swear I didn't kill him. I didn't know anything more than you about the key I found at Port Noon - I used it as a nail file for pony's sake!"