City of Guilds

Babs Seed woke up, her sleep disturbed by the sounds coming from outside. Soon after waking up she looked out the window. The crowd was flanking what looked like some sort of parade. Babs Seed looked around and noticed Midnight Edge was still asleep on the other side of the bed they shared.

“Wake up! There is something cool going on the street!” The filly elicited a reaction from Midnight Edge.

The stallion responded with a tired groan. “I don't feel like waking up yet. Ask them to keep it quiet.”

“Come on! It looks really cool.”

“Cool as in an Izzet engineer blew something up or as in some rich Orzhov is throwing alms-coins at the crowd?” The stallion responded with his eyes still closed.

“I think it looks like the rich guy thing.” Babs Seed responded, mildly confused by the question.

“Alright, I am up. Want to see something so decadent it will make you feel glad you are not rich?”

The coupled walked down the stairs and out to the street, followed by Sunflower, who was mildly confused by the situation. They were met by the sight of a lavish parade. Gilded knights walked on both sides keeping the crowd away from the rest of the parade. Groups of strange half dead masked creatures playing different instruments and guiding the path of a large creature with a carriage on it's back, robed men threw coins to the crowd from the carriage. In the distance a well guarded litter held by a group of masked creatures moved forward.

“Look at that. They think they could buy everything with their stupid coins, they even refuse to die.” Yevgeny spoke in anger looking at the parade. He was already out before the rest, waiting for the parade to end and the crowd to disperse before moving on with his daily life.

“I am taking some of those coins anyway. I could use trade them for something useful later.” Midnight Edge lifted a small pile of coins with his magic before they could reach the eager crowd.

“Diamond Tiara would feel at home with these guys.” Babs Seed spoke looking at the armored guards, one of which noticed the presence of the foreign creatures, whispering something to his companion as they moved on.

“Maybe. But they are rather villainous in comparison. That does not make them bad business partners though.” Midnight edge responded with a wide smile as he stored the coins in a purse.

“I would avoid them if I were you. I don't know how you manage to avoid their trickery.” The Devkarin elf spoke, displaying distrust at the parade as the litter approached.

The litter was carried by creatures similar to those playing instruments. They were in better state than the rest, wearing decorations and ceremonial robes, their golden masks had detailed decoration which obscured their grotesque facial features, and two of the creatures which were on the litter spoke directions at their own kin.

Inside the litter was a young vampire woman, her appearance almost resembled that of a child thanks to her extended youth result of many questionable sacrifices and bargains. Another of the subservient creatures stood close to her obeying her whims and listening to her. The lady looked at the crowd with disdain. “Look at them. They are disgusting. So desperate to grab whatever we throw as charity. Yet they are always reluctant to give any form of contribution. Of course they will confess their sins to us because we are the only ones to ever make them believe they could be absolved.”

“Master Sveta, is there anything I could do to ease your discomfort?”

The young vampire looked around and noticed three unusual faces. One was that of a creature she had seen before, a strange being from distant lands which sometimes made deals with her guild. The other two faces were similar, clearly of the same species, but they looked more feminine, probably females or children of the same species. “Febah, stop the parade! I saw something worth saving among this disgusting crowd.”

The servant gave a command to one of it's own, which sounded a large trumpet, halting the parade and spreading awe among the crowd.

“Great! They want to mess with us again.” Yevgeny placed his hand on the hild of a concealed bone dagger, ready to fight if needed.

The litter opened, revealing a beautiful maiden inside. She was dressed in a fancy white and burgundy dress with golden accents, two black sun symbols decorated the lower part of her dress, her jet black hair flowed with every motion she made, and her crimson eyes felt cold and merciless. Babs Seed recognized the symbol on her dress as the signet of one of the ten guilds, one which should be avoided under most circumstances. A horrible voice yelled a command. “Make way for lady Sveta!” The crowd moved aside where the guards ordered, leaving an opening toward the ponies.

“No... No... No! Fuck! This is bad. Stay behind me. Both of you now!” Midnight Edge commanded, afraid of the attention they managed to draw. He was torn between casting a spell or bribing the guards to betray their own, both were possible.

The vampire walked toward the ponies and looked at them, once she got close enough she spoke. “You! The small one. Come closer.

“Stay away from her!” The stallion responded, ready to kill if needed. He was outnumbered, yet he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect Babs Seed and her sister.

“Silence equine! You are inconsequential!” The Orzhov vampire spoke in a threatening tone. “I ordered you to come closer.”

Babs Seed refused to comply, instead she looked at the vampire and responded in a defiant tone. “I won't unless Midnight says it's safe.”

“Midnight... Is that your name equine?” The vampire asked to the purple stallion who was prepared to fight.

“Yes. And depending on your explanation might be the name of your executioner.” The stallion responded full of anger.

“Your insolence offends me. I will tolerate it for the sake of satisfying my curiosity.”

“Then answer. What do you want with her?”

“No harm will come to her. I do not intend to buy her or enslave her either. I... I understand why you commoners feel distrust toward us, but I just intend to know you better.” Her last sentence did not sound as confident as her previous words. In fact it was as if she displayed a vulnerability in her mind to earn the trust of those around her.

“To hell with that! I am not buying your nonsense!”

“Fine. Let's strike a deal. I will only speak to her, no more no less. If I touch her... My own guards shall kill me.”

“Are you kidding me! And what is my part of the bargain then? What should I pay? My soul? You are not the first Orzhov to ask for that, nor the last to be greeted by my right hoof!”

“No... All I expect in exchange is your trust.”

“Sounds like a deal to me.” Babs Seed responded, actually feeling pity for the undying woman. She noticed there was one thing which the maiden couldn't find in her life, something no coin could buy, something her guild kept away from her. “But if you want to be our friend your guards must go. All this thing must go. Come back when you are done with this parade thing.”

“Your terms seem... Acceptable. We shall meet again little one.” Sveta walked back to her litter with a sad expression on her face. She was actually surprised, in all her life she never felt sad, she never felt defeated, yet still she was not as uncomfortable with that as she imagined.

She was frustrated, but after a long time she was excited, she was full of expectation. She made few friends, and most of her friends were actually bought by her family or her guild, this time she could make a new friend on her own, she had the chance to build a friendship so valuable no coin could pay for it.. “Febah. I think those three are worth more than all the coffers in Vizkopa.”

“What do you mean my lady?” The thrull servant failed to understand the words of his master. Not only he was not intelligent enough, but also was unfamiliar with friendship, the closest thing to friendship he could understand was his devotion for his master.

“You are my friend because you were made for that purpose. Those equines... The only way we could become friends is through my own merits. I must earn this. I rarely earn things. Most of the time I just inherit them or take them from others. And there was something else, something I saw only once in my whole life.”

“What was it? I am to ask and understand your needs.”

“Love. The male, and the filly. I have no idea of what kind of bond they have, but he was willing to kill every single one of our guards, and us, to protect her. It was love, the same love my parents felt for each other, the same love they showed to me. Willing to kill for someone, willing to die for someone, and not just because you were made for that purpose. I shall converse with them. I shall befriend them and know what made their bonds so powerful.”

“Wouldn't it be loyalty? Isn't that the greatest bond there is?” The only form of affection Febah truly understood was loyalty. His mind was built by necromancy with loyalty as its most important command.

“For subordinates, but not for equals. Love seems to be more profitable than I used to think. Mother was right, there are things we can't buy with coin or contracts, we must buy those things by giving some of our essence to the involved parties. I thought she talked about offering our lives into eternal debt. I realize now that she spoke of a very different form of profit.” Sveta was yet to remember true affection, growing among the Orzhov made her cold toward anyone outside of her own, and among her guild she knew little about love. It was not that the Orzhov were devoid of love, if that was the case they would never breed new members. She distanced from love, and most emotion, to cover her weaknesses and insecurities.

As the litter moved away the groups looked at the parade with an unpleasant feeling. The crowd remained in awe, some feeling envy for the ponies, others feeling sorry for them. Midnight Edge looked at Babs Seed with uncertainty in his eyes. “We got into something big. Remember those keys I gave you? Keep them ready, just in case.”

...

The group sat at a table waiting for the arrival of their less than welcome guest. None of them knew what the Orzhov vampire intended to do, all they knew was that she could pose a threat to the peace at the outpost. Midnight Edge was deeply concerned with the possibilities, he could not imagine how things could end well. For all they knew, that rich undying noble would attempt to keep Babs Seed for her own amusement.

“I think she needs a friend.” Babs Seed uttered feeling pity for the mysterious lady.

“I don't think Orzhov vampires know what friends are. They don't even understand the value of life. How could they? They refuse to die.” Yevgeny felt a deep seated disdain for the Orzhov, most Golgari disliked the lavish syndicate due to their contrasting views on death.

“I would rather believe Babs is right. She is quite good at reading others. I prefer that to the alternative of becoming some rich girl's pet.” Midnight Edge broke his silence still fearful of the future.

“How can you stay so calm! This is wrong! All wrong!” Sunflower was notably stressed, ever since she saw those crimson eyes she felt a deep primal fear in her heart. She recognized the eyes of a predator, the fangs confirmed her fear. After she yelled at everyone a knock was heard on the door, the mare screamed in terror imagining what it could mean.

Yevgeny opened the door preparing his bone dagger for a possible skirmish. He was quite reluctant to allow an Orzhov in his place. If she was going in, it would be under his terms. Before him stood the same black haired vampire they met earlier. She was surounded by gilded guards and followed by her servant.

“Let me in scavenger.” The vampire threatened Yevgeny with her look.

“Not until your guards leave. I am already making an exception for you.”

“What do you say little one? I agreed to meet under your terms, not his.”

“If the guards stay there's no deal. You won't need them. I promise.” Babs Seed responded to the question. Everyone was shocked, a guildless child, a foreigner, had the bravery to issue commands to an Orzhov noble. She displayed such bravery because she was completely oblivious of Ravnica's system, but that was their greatest advantage.

“Insolent!” A guard yelled in anger, preparing his sword.

Before he could walk forward Sveta extended her arm to obstruct his advance. “Leave. I intend to stay for the night. Come for me at noon.”

“But master!” Everyone was shocked, especially the guards, in fact they were terrified, the idea of a small equine issuing commands to their master. The mere idea of their superior obeying the command of a complete stranger was horrible, it made the order of their pious world collapse.

“I commanded you to leave. You shall comply.” The Orzhov noble would not tolerate any form of insubordination. She might be following the command of a complete stranger, but it was in the form of an investment, her guards were still bellow her. Her tone calmed as she directed her voice to the filly. “My guards are leaving, but my personal servant stays. I need his assistance during my stay.”

“The ugly guy, right? Fine, he doesn't look dangerous. I bet I could beat him without dropping a sweat.”

Sveta commanded her guards to leave one last time, this time with a nod. The guards followed her command, still upset by the situation. “Understood. We shall take you back to your residence at noon. If something happens to our mistress there will be consequences.”

“Enough! If any of you threatens that filly again yo will stay for diner.” The vampire spoke, spreading fear among her guards. They knew her words meant she would kill them on site at the next provocation. Without much to do they left.

The maiden walked into the building, followed by her servant who spoke once they were inside. “Allow me to introduce my master. Lady...”

Sveta interrupted her servant raising her hand, commanding him to stay silent. “Febah, this is a personal matter, I shall introduce myself. I am Lady Sveta Morozova. The honor is all yours.”

“Name's Babs Seed. Nice to meet you!” The filly responded to Sveta's introduction with a smile. “That one is Midnight Edge, my coltfriend. And the mare hiding in the corner is my sister, Sunflower.” Babs Seed pointed at her sister, who squealed in terror after noticing the vampire's eyes focused on her.

“I am Yev-”

Sveta interrupted the rot farmer before he could complete his name “Silence scavenger. Your name is inconsequential.”

“Hey! He's our friend too!” Babs Seed reacted to Sveta's disrespect toward their host.

“I see. Continue then scavenger.” Sveta was unwilling to engage in any form of conflict with the creatures she was interested in. She would do anything, even interacting with a man from a rival guild.

“As I was about to say, I am Yevgeny, my wife and I are in charge of this outpost. You better behave while you are here.”

“Enough Yevgeny. We are not picking a fight with her unless it is necessary. Let Babs handle her.” Midnight Edge spoke, hoping there would be no need for conflict. He knew they were ready to endure a confrontation with the Orzhov, but preferred to solve things peacefully. “Lady Morozova, could you please explain your intentions?”

“The truth is I am curious about the female ones. They are adorable, the little one in particular. I think... I think I want to be friends with them.”

“I am in charge of ensuring their safety. You are not allowed to touch them.” The stallion uttered in an almost martial tone.

“Come on Midnight. Give her a chance. I don't think she's lying.” Babs Seed spoke as she walked toward her sister. “It's O.K. sis. She won't hurt us.” Sunflower stood, still nervous, but believing in her sister. Then she sat next to her on the table.

“Make way stallion. I want to sit next to the little one and her sister.” Sveta commanded Midnight Edge, expecting him to comply.

“He won't move. Look Lady Morozova...”

The vampire noble interrupted Babs Seed with a smile on her face. “You are free to call me Sveta, and so is your sister.”

“Fine. Sveta, I want him to be next to me, my sister too. You'll have to find somewhere else to sit.” Babs Seed was still in charge of the whole situation, she noticed everyone else was extremely stressed, and knew she would be the only one wiling to treat the Orzhov noble with kindness.

“I see. Do you have something comfortable to sit in?”

“What you see it's all. We do not cater to nobles here.” Yevgeny responded to her question in a bitter tone.

“Fine. Febah, could you please do something about these seats?” Upon hearing her command, the thrull took a piece of cloth from the bag he carried. The piece of cloth looked only slightly less expensive than the fabric on Sveta's dress. The masked creature placed the piece of cloth on one of the stools, where Sveta sat, facing Babs Seed.

“So. You wanted to talk right?” Babs Seed spoke, expecting Sveta to fully explain her intentions. Unknown to the others was that she was ready to attack if needed, in fact she had the upper hand since Sveta willingly lowered her guard before her.

“Well. I want to be your friend. You seem interesting, and your bond with that stallion is fascinating. I think I could understand it better by becoming your friend. Of course you could reap the benefits of our friendship too. I get to understand love and friendship, and in exchange you will have access to many useful resources and earn the respect and fear of those around you.” Sveta spoke with naive confidence. She believed friendship could work as a form of formal contract where both parties would earn material gain of some sort. If there was a lesson she failed to learn from her family was the value of friendship.

“You have no idea how friendship works. Right?” Babs Seed asked, wondering how could a noble be so dense about real life. Even Diamond Tiara seemed an expert in friendship compared to that vampire.

“The truth is... I don't remember having a single friend.” Sveta admitted, she felt ashamed of the fact. “I dedicated my life to pious devotion and profit. Gold was my friend and faith my only love. Until the maze was completed. Then I began to feel something was missing. Something made the strongest unable to complete the maze, yet weaker ones seemed more successful. I realized something was missing. And you... You were the first to speak to me from your heart, without caring about my status, without fear, but also without disdain.”

“Well. At least you get the honesty part. One down, five to go.” Midnight Edge spoke in a mocking tone, he was lowering his guard too, starting to realize Sveta was not so different from his own sister. Isolated, focused on her interests, ignoring friendship or love. But just like her sister, this one was still on time to be saved.

“You... Are right. I found her honesty interesting.” Sveta began to warm up toward the stallion. She felt he could be her friend too. In that moment her only enemy in that room was herself. She had no idea how to make friends, and she refused to admit she was weak. Weakness was something she was not allowed to show. The reason her parents' lessons on bonding and interaction failed to reach her was because she followed their other lessons, those of strength. She refused to show any sign of weakness, any wound, any vulnerability should never be exposed, but that also meant her heart was locked, safe from the cold touch of enemies and the greedy reach of her own.

“You are hiding something.” Babs Seed looked at her in the eye. Those merciless crimson eyes no longer carried the sight of a predator, but that of a wounded animal. The youth she preserved on the outside was a reflection of the childish personality hidden behind acts of severity and constant prayer. “Spill the beans now.”

“You deserve the same honesty you offer me. I never had friends because I didn't want to. Those who get too close to you could hurt you. Those who don't seem loyal would never betray you. But after a few hundreds of years, things get boring.” Sveta began to open her heart. It was not easy for her, but maybe that was what friendship was about.

“What about your servant. Isn't he like a friend?”

“Febah. He is meant to be loyal, he is meant to care about me. But I don't know how much of it is because he was born that way and how much of it is because of true affection. I never earned his friendship, he wouldn't even see me as a friend. He won't see beyond ranks.”

“Well. I think we could be friends. But no dirty tricks.”

“I... I promise I will not squander your friendship” The Orzhov noble had no idea how things would work. But now she had a chance to make a true friend. She was no longer expecting to gain something from that friendship, friendship itself was the reward, now she was worried she might have nothing to offer to her friends.”

...

Sveta spent the night at the outpost, and even enjoyed breakfast in company of her new friends. Of course her Orzhov manners did not fade overnight, and so her meal was provided by Febah, who carried a bottle of blood. Sveta was fortunate enough the blood she drank required no death to obtain it, since that fact reduced the shock everyone felt at her diet. She revealed with pride how some of her debtors offered an amount of their blood as payment. She preferred to draw enough blood to feed her without killing them, otherwise they could not return to pay the rest, either in blood or coin, and they would never contract another debt.

At noon her guards arrived to take her back to her residence. Upon arriving she realized she no longer felt at home within those empty halls. And so she came up with an idea. It would take her time, but she would set in motion a plan to open her heart to her new friends the only way she knew, the lavish Orzhov way.

...