Equestrian Fanfiction

by Lise

Rating: teen
Tags: Lyra, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 445947

The life and times of Lyra's fanfiction site.

Falling in love with the mythological book series Midnight Castle, Lyra Heartstrings has created her very own fan fiction site, a home to all that enjoy reading and writing human fiction.

This is the life and times of that site.

Published 2016-12-27 23:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-12-31 17:11:58 UTC

Best Humie

Hello everyone!

MixaMax here. Am I dreaming? Lazy Hands finally got off her butt and did something? Guess I know where I'll be linking my Midnight Shorts. :) On that note who do you think is best humie? *cough* Eric *cough*

Seriously, though, I want to try get a proper discussion on this. Give real reasons! It's fun trashing characters in meetups, but let's get past the best-bottle-carrier jokes.

I'll go first. I think Eric is the best human. Now, I know has less than five pages in Crimson Gem, but he's been instrumental in keep the portal safe (which I think is a pretty big deal). And don't give me that he hasn't been in Equestria before! The talk he had with Danny and Blazen in volume 5 (It Shines For All) pretty much confirms he has been to Canterlot at least twice. How else would he know about the changing of the guard and the chaos disaster?

Anyway, he's the only one who understands proper electro-science (yes, Danny does, too, but only because he's Megan's brother) and has managed to sneak into the Felina corp. And I totally see him having a thing with Caprice!

Now that I've convinced you who's best humie, let me see what you think.

MixaMax

Hello MixaMax,

Welcome to Midnight Castle. Are any characters eligible or are we only focusing on the Mistmount Chronicles?

The TechNightling

I guess...

I haven't read much of the original books, but I don't like much what I've seen (sorry :(). The whole idea of neighbouring kingdoms and a pool between worlds really puts me off. And yes, I know times were different back when the books were written, but seriously? Like they're so mushy that I literally feel the pages stick to my hooves. And having huge descriptions every five pages is annoying.

It's not like I can stop you, but half the ponies won't have any idea what you're talking about. Just go with your favorite Mistmount human, okay?

Oh, and great to have you here *nuzzles* :)

MixaMax

Hello,

I'm new. Haven't been to any meetups, but I really enjoy the Midnight Castle series. Is it okay if I link a few attempts of my own? I know they aren't very good, but I'd really like to hear your thoughts

Candle

@Candle: Hi! Welcome to the insanity. Don't worry, we don't bite (unless you ask nicely :))

Brush

Hello Candle,

Wonderful to have you here. It's always a joy to see new Nightlings and I'm sure you'll feel at home pretty quick. Please, you're welcome to share your stories. Don't worry about quality, it's always difficult at the beginning. If you need any advice, editing, or proofing just let me know and I'll lend a hoof.

@MixaMax: I'm sorry you didn't like what you've read of the originals. While the tone is generally different, there are a few gems that I find on par with the later books, possibly even better. I strongly recommend you read Ghost in the Powerplant. I consider it the best, and you might recognize some characters referred to in the Mistmount Chronicles.

As for your question, my Mistmount favourite is Megan; my all time pick being Icelos. I admit Megan does seem to be a bit omnipotent at times, but she is the central character of the series, even more than Danny I'd argue. What she lacks in book-time she makes up in behind the scenes battles. I'd like to point out that she's also one of two characters who has a helicopter license—something I hope would be focused on if there is another book series, as the rumours suggest.

The TechNightling

@Candle: Hiiii! Share your stuff! :D It can't be as bad as my Danny's Angst story.

@MixaMax: Was wondering when you'd show your stupid snout :P How has it been, Mixa? Did you get that part time job you wanted?

Oh, and Danny is best humie. Duh! :P He's cute, he gets things done, and also he has far greater depth as a character than anyone else. Don't get me wrong, the others are well written too (even some of the ponies) but he has far more conflicts than them. Like, I know they've tried to mirror the Elements of Harmony with the character traits, bit that still makes them a bit one dimensional: Eric the science geek, Blazen the loyal loner, Karl the nature kid, Bellucio the photo model, and Omni the playboy *ahem* party guy. Danny, though... *swoon*

@The TechNightling: thought you might say that! :P Nah, I think Megan is cool too. She's like the great older sister that helps with everything. I can't stand Molly, though. She's so underused and mostly written in for dumb jokes and comic relief. And don't get me started on her crush on Bellucio. *angry pony*

RRBB

@RRBB: don't you trash talk my Bellucio! *shakes fist* He can be my prince any day of the week!

Brush

@Brush: Bellucio confirmed for worst humie! :P

@RRBB: I'll agree with you on that. The characters are a version of the Elements of Harmony, but it's to be expected for a colt's series. As great as the world and the writing is, that's something we can't escape. That said, S.Child has done a pretty decent job. All the characters are believable and their interactions are almost 100% realistic.

You're still wrong, though. Danny is only second best. >:D I'll give you that he and Eric would make a great couple, though.

@The TechNightling: wasn't Icelos the goth kid? As for Megan, I just don't feel her. Sorry, filly.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: go buck a tree!

Brush

Thanks, all! Really great to be here :) I'll link some of my stories in a bit. Please don't be too harsh O:)

My favorite human is Eric.

Candle

@Brush: you first, sweetheart ;)

@Candle: I knew I liked you :D

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Joke's on you, mare. TechNightling is a stallion. Lol.

RRBB

@RRBB: And I'm Prince Blueblood!

@The TechNightling: just kidding. You're cool either way :)

MixaMax

Holy stars! I'm gone for a few hours and you already start with the best humie discussion?!

Just got back from work, so I'll try to get more of the site functionality set up after work. With luck we'll have proper threads and private messaging by tomorrow. (Or I'll be dead on the keyboard.)

@The TechNightling: can you help out with stuff? I've set up a new section visible only for you so we could talk code there. I also think I've given you Mod privileges.

@Candle: great to have you here! Feel free to post anything, and don't let these mares scare you. If anypony gives you any trouble just let me know, okay? :)

@MixaMax: of course it'd be you who starts this. :P I'll have to go with Omni. He's so funny and we all know he gets all the mares. :) Actually, I can't choose. I just like all of them so much... even the CEO's son. I'm almost sure he might turn out not to be the jerk we think he is.

Now that that's settled, I'll be locking posting till tomorrow. Off to trying to code again (rip my horn). Take care, Nightlings.

We're here for each other!

LyraHands

Bellucio Theories

Good morning,

My apologies to all, but the personal messaging system will take a few more days. An urgent task has come up, requiring my attention elsewhere. The only way this affects you all is that my request that you refrain from posting NSFW content is prolonged until then.

A few other site improvements:

Midnight Help Section
I have added added a somewhat functional help section. Explanations need a bit work, but is usable at this point. If there's anything missing, feel free to tell me or LyraHands and we'll make the appropriate changes.

Member Titles
Members now have titles visible under the user name. At present I've only used generic titles (Princess, Moderator, Member, Newbie). It's a simple process to add more classes and change the names, so don't worry about that. Also, everypony with an existing account is automatically assigned the Member title. Any new users will start as Newbies for a period of seven days.

String Scripts
You can now use simple combinations to use phrases while posting. For example *n will automatically post *nuzzles*. For the time being scrips are hardcoded, which means you'll have to ask me or LyraHands to add more on the list. That said, LuraHands has assured me that we have the ones you most commonly use.

See you in a few days,

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: thanks, bby. *nuzzles* *tackles* *kisses with spaghetti*

Brush

@The TechNightling: Thanks! Be back soon!

By the way, that post got me thinking. How do you think aether works in MC? We've seen that they have computers (Tartarus, Eric even carries one round his neck), but it's never clear how they function. The whole notion of mana generators seems a bit absurd. In Shadowknife's prophecy (season 1 finale) we have Megan "disrupt" the Felina corp powerplant so that Molly can sneak in and get the shadowknife to Bellucio. It's said that "causes half the city to go black" and "sorceress squads fill the streets to prevent a panic."

What the heck, S.Child?!? I mean, I get it's hyperbole, but still... half a city? Not that I see it practical having every home getting its mana from the same powerplant.

Anyway, I digress. Clearly they gave computers and an equivalent to the aethernet. My question is, how do you think it works? (Please don't say "deities!" I really don't see Zeus, Poseidon, And Hades running around fixing everyone's computer.)

MixaMax

@The TechNightling: get some rest, sweetie. You've earned it. :)

@MixaMax: Good one! Yeah, some of the things seen illogical, but it's the humie tech that makes Midnight Castle so great. Keep in mind that the idea of powerplants (also called manaplants in a few chapters) isn't new. Tech will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was mentioned in the third chapter of the original series. I was just a filly back then, but I remember Danny taking Caprice (same names, different characters) into a powerplant for some reason.

My take is that they use some form of stored rainbow or lightning and transfer it via silver threads to the homes. As for the aethernet, I think it is a deity. Remember the chapter in which Bellucio spent all night posing in front of his computer and then had love letters appear on every aethertech he walked passed? What if the focus wasn't Bellucio's vanity, but in fact the aether deity falling for him?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Nooooo! Not my Bellucio! *hiss* *stomp*

Brush

Girls, girls! I just realized the most extraordinary thing!

I was rereading Am I Who I Am? And it hit me. Bellucio is fashioned after Prince Blueblood! Same mannerisms, same hair, same way of speaking. Even that time he stops to take a rose from a random garden as the Great Eight run from the Fae Queen.

I can't believe I didn't see that sooner! Now I wonder what other characters were based on real life. Do you think Zeus is Princess Celestia humanized? Hades is so totally Princess Luna (remember he can also enter memories, also that would explain why the two of them go so well in Portal Madness). No idea who Poseidon is. Maybe Cadence?

PrinceEric

Bellucio is fashioned after Prince Blueblood!

I think I'm going to be sick D: Eric, bby, why did you do this to me?

Brush

@Brush: What? Blueblood is hot! I mean I'm a colt, but I'll totally go gay for Blueblood.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Wow! You're a total flirt, just like Brush! :P But, yes, Blueblood is hot. (Sorry, Brushy O:))

@MixaMax: I think I read in one of the scroll companions that Midnight powerplants were sun powered. That's why the CEO freaked when Eric told her Celestia might pass through the portal. As for the aethernet I'm clueless, but am so stealing Handy's idea! (Thanks, LyraHands :))

By the way, I openly asked my friend if she would join and got a definite maybe! (Hey, it's not as bad as it sounds!) I gave her Eyes of Lightning, and she promised if she likes it she'd make an account. I'm counting on you, Brush! Don't let me down!

Also. We'll be having a "surprise test" this Friday, so I don't think I'll be able to post or link more stuff till the weekend. My parents are making a big fuss about it. It's not like I'm a straight-A student and have the second highest score in the hay-spitting school! :/ Sometimes I really can't understand what my parents want.

RRBB

@LyraHands: oooh! I like! :) I must re-read that chapter. It puts everything in a totally new perspective!

@RRBB: I had totally forgotten about that. It's still stupid. What do you suggest? They steal part of the sun and store it in the powerplant? And of course The TechNightling is gone when we need him. :(

@PrinceEric: Interesting. Blueblood's whiny as heck. That ass though... :)

MixaMax

@The TechNightling: Did you read my story? Please, tell me what you think when you get back.

Candle

@PrinceEric: No! Nope! Just no!

The heck, girls! You got me thinking about that… and I actually see Blueblood as I go to work. Damn it! I hate you all! If I get arrested for attempting to flirt with royalty, it's all your fault!

LyraHands

Heated Exchange

Molly worst human!

That is all.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: heya. Not that I disagree, but maybe not start your first post with that? The books are about being together and helping each other out. Maybe explain why you came to that conclusion? Just my two bits.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: well I thought this was a cool place with cool pones who discussed the second greatest series in existence. Didn't know you had a tree stuck in your rump.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: do I know you?

MixaMax

@MixaMax @CEOWicth: Girls, please chill. I was hoping to make the great announcement that I got messaging to work properly, and instead I come to this :/

Midnight Castle is something I've loved since I was a filly and I don't want it to become a mess like roller! So, please calm a bit down, okay?

I was going to announce something else, but am not in the mood, so I'll do it later. Maybe.

LyraHands

Sorry, Lyra :( Guess my hooves more faster than my brain...

MixaMax

The cold subsides as Bellucio sat on the window frame, looking into the night. He felt a set of fingers pass through his hair. They were warm, soft, gently, and definitely not his. He could feel his neck hairs stand on end.

"Don't," he whispered not turning around, afraid that the acini might put an end to the sensation—an experience he hated, but also longed for. "Please..." His voice barely left his mouth.

Bellucio had fought these feelings for months. No, longer. Ever he had first set eyes on Caprice he had felt something. He had mistaken it for curiosity, for friendship... how mistaken had he been. The fingers moved down to his neck, sliding along his skin like gentle feathers. He could feel Caprice tremble. As strong as she was as unsure as him. He could feel her breath on his skin on short uneven intervals.

Will she kiss me? Bellucio found himself wondering. The last time she had done so he had no idea it was her; her voice, her body, her very species was completely different. When she had met him in the coffee shop she had been a total stranger, yet knowing everything of his past.

"Bel, I..." she began. Bellucio liked to fantasize she had been crying, at least a little bit. "Bel, I wanted to tell you. So many times, I wanted to."

"You didn't." Bellucio closed his eyes. If he hadn't seen the cutie mark on her thigh he would have remained ignorant. Yet it was not Caprice he was mad at. He was mad at himself. This wasn't the first time he fantasized her being in human form. Each time they would talk or touch upon their feelings the thought crossed his mind, then just as swiftly fade away knowing it was never meant to be. Now... now he wasn't sure what to think anymore.

Brush

@Brush: ...I can't stop crying. Why did you give me the feels before i go to work, Brush? If I were a stallion I'd marry you here and now!

LyraHands

@MixaMax @LyraHands: sorry, I went way overboard as well. It's been a tough day at work, and I've been given a double shift. This place is a great escape for me guys. I just forget I'm not at work and don't have to be confrontational.

@MixaMax: I'm quite sure you don't know me. I'm military, so I fly about a lot.

@Brush: beautiful, as always! I'm a big fan :)

CEOWitch

@LyraHands: pity for the both of us you aren't. ;) Enjoy, Handy. I'll try to write more later.

@CEOWitch: are you a pegasus? Please, by all the stars, say you're a pegasus stud!

Brush

@Brush: heh. I think the username is pretty obvious.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Nooo! *heart shatters to a million pieces* It's fine... *sob* I still have Bellucio.

Brush

@Brush: it's times like these I remember why I like you. Sure, you can be a stallion-obsessed-maniac, but damn do you write well! :)

By the way, called it! I knew Cally was Caprice in human form. You're one twisted twitter, though. Building up all that tension between her and Bellucio, while seeing him under a new identity? Or maybe that way the point? Did she aim to get him stressed so they could kick the hay better? Wow, that's devious even for you, Brush! ;) I approve :D

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Maybe? O:P

Brush

@Brush: oh, shut up, you tease! Just marry me already! *ahem* I meant continue writing!

@CEOWitch: don't worry about it :) And sorry for the way I reacted. I haven't been having a good day either. Now that Brush has successfully energized all of us, some exciting news!

I finally convinced my tech friend to join. Now, she's mega shy, so please go out of your way to be nice to her. Her username is CodeFilly, and along with TechNightling, she'll be responsible for fixing my mistakes. Also, she's a bigger fan of the series than me, so no worries she'll get lost in our babble. :)

Meanwhile, I'll do some experimenting with tagging. As Tech pointed out to me yesterday, things are manageable now that we have 27 stories (love your story, @Candle! Need an editing pass, but other than that great work!), but if we grow finding something will be a pain in the flank. Tech proposed a tagging system, though I'm not sure that would work. In any event, I'll start poking that and see where it takes me (assuming my horn doesn't fall off).

Things are moving ahead steadily, Nightlings! Just a little more patience!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: thank you. *blush* I still have so much to learn.

@Brush: *weeps* I want to write like you. You made me fall in love with Bellucio and don't even like him! Can you, maybe, teach me to write like you?

Candle

Girls! I heard the most amazing thing just now! There are rumors that there will be a reboot of Midnight Castle! What do you think? Isn't that cool or what? :D

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: You are cool or what ;) You can reboot my Midnight Castle anytime.

Brush

@Brush: *facepalm*

@PrinceEric: Don't worry. Brush is harmless. Both I and Lyra know her in real life so we can vouch she's safe.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: your dad can vouch I'm safe!

@PrinceEric: Sorry, bby. I'll stop if I make you feel uncomfortable.

Brush

Okay, I'm off to work. Everypony, continue pestering Brush to finish her chapter!

As fast as a rhino, as strong as a bee!

LyraHands

Author's Note

Hello, all! Thanks for reading so far.
Reaching day 5, I have a question: would you like a companion fic describing events outside the site as well (formatted as a standard story)?
Please let me know your thoughts in the comments :)

New Faces

Morning.

I'm RRBB's friend PaintDrop, and I must confess I'm surprised I'm writing this at all. When RRBB told me about this place I thought it was a joke—just a punch of mares reading colt stories. Well, jokes are on me.

@Brush, your writing is spectacular. I literally felt my mane stand on end as I read your stories (I searched through the aethernet for everything you've written.) if it's okay with you, can I make illustrations to your words? I won't be able to post them until the filter system is in place, i want to hear your thoughts, though.

As for me, I'm a total newbie to Midnight Castle. I've already ordered the Mistmount Chronicles and am willing to give them a chance. If nothing else I'll be able to enjoy Brush's works fully that way. @RRBB You wish you can write like that!

Thank you for your time, and pleased to get to know you.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: oh, you're the one with the cute brother? Glad to know you. And, please, my writing isn't that good. *blush* I'm glad you enjoyed it, and a, curious to see what pictures will come from you.

Any chance you could do one of that scene in The Human and I?

Brush

@Brush: I suppose I am, but my brother is off limits.

I was thinking more of illustrating The Space Confession. It's sad, but as RRBB has mentioned I have a thing for M-M scenes. I could do The Human and I afterwards, if you want?

PaintDrop

Woohoo!

Glad to have you join us, PaintDrop. Any friend of RRBB is welcome! Welcome to the Nightlings. If you're just starting the series, I recommend you skip chapters 3 and 7 of the first Mistmount series. Not that they are bad, but... okay, they are bad. I've had a friend almost quit because she started with them.

If you have any questions about the series, or anything in general go ahead and ask anytime. :)

LyraHands

@PaintDrop: so we got ourselves out first victim? Niiiice! Guess RRBB could do something right. :P Any idea if she'll log on today? She mentioned something about an exam and such.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: heya. RRBB might not log in today. She got into a fight. Still not sure if she's grounded or not. I'll go ask her after class.

She has told me a lot about you, thought. I, just not sure I can repeat what she said before the filter system is working.

PaintDrop

Hello, PaintDrop :)

I'm also new! Good to know I'm no longer alone among the Timberwolves of the site :D Can you show some of your pictures? Also, do you write? (I write, but not very well.)

Candle

@Candle: I just draw. And I read the story you posted on the site. Definitely keep writing! I can only say that RRBB's first attempts were... again, I best wait for the filter before I can describe them. And great knowing you too.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: RRBB got into a fight?! Is she okay?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: nothing serious. There are some fillies in class she doesn't get along with. I suppose she'll be grumpy for a while, but that's it.

PaintDrop

Hey,

I'm Lyra's friend, and I'll be lending a horn to the code of the site. Thanks.

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: *gasp* She really got you? I can't believe it! Welcome to the party!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Afraid so. No regrets, though.

CodeFilly

Glad to meet you, CodeFilly! :) You know each other?

Something that I've been wondering. How many of you write? I know that Brush and RRBB do, and that TechNightling edits (and now that PaintDrop draws). What about the rest?

Candle

@Candle: Mix tries, but she's crap.

Brush

@Candle: I can't. I've tried a few times :( CodeFilly can, but she's so self-critical that she stops half way then sets it on fire.

@Brush: ooooh! The was a Celestia level burn :D

LyraHands

Hey, pones. I might be a bit scarce the next few days. :(

Got into a mess at school and my dad is freshening to cut my aether access if I don't "behave as a daughter of his should". Argh!

Anyway, I see we have fresh meat for the grinder :D And for your information, Paint, I have quite a large following!

@PrinceEric: What's that about a reboot? My father works in goods and I didn't hear anything.

RRBB

@RRBB: aww, sweetie :( Hope all goes well.

Rumor is probably fake. Reminds me of the "Twin Sister Cycle". That was a laugh.

LyraHands

@RRBB @LyraHands: I can't say much because I'll get some ponies in trouble, but so far it seems pretty real!

Now I don't know much details, but S.Child is forming a new team. From what I heard two things are being discussed: a total reboot of the series with a new set of characters, and a continuation of the old series. Somepony I'm close to said that S.Child wanted a totally new series in a new world with new characters. She said they're calling it the Famous Five. The other thing they are considering is a merging of worlds after the end of volume 7.

And yes, hope you aren't grounded for long. Did you win?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: a few bruises, but you should see the other gal ;) I'm fine, seriously. And even if I end up grounded, I'll still sneak from Paint's device. We're in the same class, so there's that.

Argh! The Famous Five is the worst idea ever! Not that the other one is good. It's like the stunt they pulled between the original series and Mistmount Chronicles. :( I get it that ten years passed between volumes, back then, but what's the deal now? Mistmount ended half an year ago. :/ I really hope that's a hoax.

RRBB

@PrinceEric: that would suck. Totally sounds fake. Would still suck, though.

New characters would be such a waste. The old ones are perfect. Plus, Brush will get a heart attack if they killed Bellucio. Although, interesting if they take the descendant approach. That might be cool. The current cast are married and successful and whatnot, and the Famous Five are their kids? I could see it happening, especially if we have cameos now and and then.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: hissss!

@PrinceEric: I still love you, so you're forgiven.

Brush

Okay, please stop with the theories. I'll create a Rumors section. Please only discuss theories there.

LyraHands

Rumors 1

Hey, Nightlings!

Here's your very own Rumors section. Please discuss rumors here and not in the general section. Theories are still okay, but anything related to new books, scrolls, products, and such go here.

I have PrinceEric's post some more thought. Honestly, things might not be as bad as my initial reaction. I remember the first time Mistmount Chronicles came out. Hay, was I skeptical back then... I even bought three bottle of red ink to mark all the "weaknesses" in the first scroll and "fix" the story. I think I still saw one of them unopened when I cleaned my room.

(On a sidenote I might be moving soon. Prices in Canterlot are unimaginable, and my part time job doesn't cover it. Nothing is certain for now. I'll let you know if there are any changes.)

Moving on, the Mistmount Chronicles had a bumpy start, but have become great, bringing in a whole new fanbase. If S.Child does things right, as I'm sure she would, I think we’ve got nothing to worry about.

LyraHands

Not sure if this is related, but have you noticed that both the series original and the reboot start with the same letters? _M_idnight _C_astle, _M_istmount _C_hronicles. What if the next series name is also something? Moving Continents? Magic Contained?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: MixaMax x Candle? Poor Candle... :(

Brush

@Brush: ha ha! Look who's talking. Projecting much?

MixaMax

@PrinceEric: out of curiosity, where did you get your information? I know a few ponies I could ask about such stuff.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I've been going out with a filly whose parents work in an events promotion company. She knows I'm into this stuff, and I guess she wanted to impress me. Please, don't ask me about names and specifics. I don't want to get her in trouble.

PrinceEric

Good afternoon,

The information intrigues me and I did some checking. I can confirm that both "Famous Five" has been booked as a aethernet domain, as have been "Worlds of Tomorrow", "Mirestorm Chimera", "Boys United", and "Everhere". All domains are blank, but I managed to trace them back to a subsidiary of Scroll & Sword, who hold the rights to the Midnight Castle series.

Now, this is nothing concrete. Since it's standard practice for companies to take the domain names of their popular franchises to prevent someone else from stealing them. It does bring some credit to PrinceEric's claims, however.

Hope that was helpful.

P.S. I've almost completed the filter. In addition will be adding spoiler functionality so we can discuss things without ruining the experience for new users.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: thanks., you're the best! That brings a whole lot of questions. If one of the titles is the name of the new series we already have a hint what it's about! We've already discussed Famous Five and Worlds of tomorrow, but what about the rest?

Here's my take:

Mirestorm Chimera - my favorite because of MixaMax's theory of the naming convention.
The Felina Corporation has managed to corrupt Hades and now he's become the Gr8's enemy. Danny must find a way to bring him back to his senses.

Boys United - 5 years after the present series. The Gr8 have started living their own lives, but some event forces them to get back together and fight a new evil.

Everhere - hmm. Not sure about this one. Maybe Eric messed up with the portal and the Gr8 ended up stranded in another world, maybe even Equestria?

What do you girls think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: pone, you really should read the first Mistmount series...

Mirestorm Chimera: you've pretty much described the first chapter of the book. Only difference being, we didn't know about the corp back then. Of the three gods, Hades was corrupt (the idea is still touched upon in later chapters), Poseidon was missing, and Zeus was imprisoned in ice and only appears in Danny's dreams. Pretty much the reason for the Gr8 to form was Danny's visions along with Caprice, who breaches the portals to warn them of Hades' awakening.

Boys United: you've described the second worst type of MC fanfics. Everyone has achieved their dreams, yet something happens requiring them to get together again and juggle fighting evil with their new responsibilities? Pone, seriously? The target audience is young colts! Nopony will want to read Bellucio does his taxes in between fighting an evil greater than the magic corporations. Granted the title doesn't help either. I've seen less cheese in a cheese factory.

Everhere: you've described the worst type of MC fanfic. That's worse than having a mare "accidentally" go to earth and pretty much seduce all the Gr8 (Megan and Molly included). I know I give Brush a hard time, but damn, she can write! Even if there are elements of wish fulfillment, her stories are logical and well written. What you are saying is pretty much a whole series written in the fashion of Hooves of a Stranger (chapter 3, series 1) which was the worst chapter of the entire franchise!

I still think it's a hoax. I don't see S&S publishing anything of that franchise anytime soon.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: not that I don't agree, but maybe use a smile or two? PrinceEric is still a schoolcolt. No need to go all Nightmare on him. ;)

@PrinceEric: the name that works best for me is Everhere, precisely because it could be anything. Call me stupid, but I love such stuff. Read it out loud. Seriously, just do it and listen how it sounds. It's so mystical I can see merhumans making an appearance.

LyraHands

That's some good reasoning, PrinceEric. Once again, I admire your enthusiasm, and energy. Unfortunately, I must agree with MixaMax. The names are most probably stock names, and while Everhere does have some appeal, I doubt it's catchy enough for a wider audience. Boys United sounds more suitable for a teenage audience, which I hope isn't what Scroll & Sword are going for.

Number-wise, it makes financial sense for them to try and diversify the brand. The series, while selling well, is nowhere as popular as the Daring Do franchise or the other big hitters. I fear they might go back to their roots and take a more Midnight Castle approach, while keeping the characters.

The TechNightling

Scroll & Sword is based in Manehattan, right? I think there might be someone I could ask about this. @The TechNightling: can you find me some info on the editor?

RRBB says hi. She didn't get grounded for that fight. Instead, she dot grounded for getting an A-. Her punishment should last till the end of the week.

PaintDrop

I like Boys United. ;P

Brush

Chapter One Discussions

I started reading Mistmount Chronicles. So far have only gone through the first two chapters, but i have some issues I'd like to address.

Is the spoiler filter working, or do I need to post in the Rumors section?

PaintDrop

Hello PaintDrop,

Unfortunately, I haven't finished poking the code. CodeFilly has been a lot of help, but we decided to scrap the old approach for something that would allow us greater flexibility for future updates. We're aiming to implement it tonight. Until then, I leave it to your discretion.

The TechNightling

@all: Check out the new fancy Mod command CodeFilly made for me? :P
On a serious note, PrinceEric and Candle are the only ones that haven't read the start of Mistmount Chronicles, so it's up to them to say. I'm fine with whatever (as long as you respect the safe work principle)

LyraHands

I'm don't care. i'll know what to look for while reading :D

@LyraHands: is it okay for you to still send me the first series? I'll be going to Canterlot on a one week exchange program, so can grab them there.

PrinceEric

This might be fun. Maybe we can have a separate section for full analysis and reviews? It's somewhat spoilery, but could be cool. I know There are a few things I want to say about Brush and Candle's stories.

@RRBB: sorry, but I just can't read your stuff. I really tried, but your Danny Saga is not my bowl of oats. Sorry, kiddo.

CEOWitch

@PaintDrop: I don't mind.

@CEOWitch: I'm not sure. I'm still uncomfortable talking about my work. :(

Candle

Candle,

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I finished reading your stories. I definitely think you have potential. I'll go into more detail in private, but I just want to openly say that you should have more self-esteem. Your greatest problem, I think, stems from your fear of consequences. Let me the first to tell you that, it is no longer possible for anypony to find your identity unless you tell them (which I strongly advise anyone against).

I would also like to ask you to send me a draft of your work before editing, so I can see your flow then.

Cheers,

The TechNightling

Very well. I'll start my rant. If anyone feels there are too many spoilers, just tell me and I'll delete the post.

So, starting with the beginning. We are introduced to a small town (city?) called Mistmount located, incidentally, next to a mountain of the same name. The main character (Danny) is an ordinary human who lives with his two sisters (Megan and Molly), suddenly receives a calling in the form of a pegasus who flies from Equestria to tell him he must save two worlds.

I'll forgive the basic "unwilling hero" cliche, since the story was written rather well considering it's a foal's book. Yet, the whole concept is so unbelievable. I understand that humans are probably different, but what parent would leave their children alone like that? We only know he has parents thanks to a two sentence description of the family picture in the living room.

No offense to anypony, but only a colt would fall for that. Danny, by my estimates, is somewhere in high school. Molly his older sister is working as an intern in a corporation, and his younger sister Megan is said to be too young to work. I'll say that she is about cutie mark age.

How does someone just go on a crazy adventure like that without thinking of any consequences? Sure, they are children (they are written like grown up foals), but still there could be a bit more realism. They never work and yet they always have money! This is precisely why I avoid colt fiction in general. They provide some grand adventure and don't bother with the small details. I swear to the stars, Brush's stories are ten times better!

Moving on. Danny learns that his dreams are actually the only means for him to talk to Zeus, who is an ancient deity who everyone's forgotten about, yet at the same time information could be found in the first public library! I'm amazed they didn't find out through an aethernet search.

Danny gathers five random people, who he's hardly met before, and makes them enter an abandoned mine in the mountain. The total trust thing I can understand. It’s also a nice touch that Zeus is imprisoned there and can only reach out to people in the city. But, why are the magic corps letting it play out without interfering? It's almost as if they don't care.

I don't know, girls. I'm not sure I can go on. :(

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: read chapters 5, 11, 10, and 4. In that order.

Brush

@PaintDrop: you mixed up the sisters :P Megan is the older one. Molly is the kid with a crush on Bellucio.

And for the most part you are right. The guest serious is notorious for missing out "life details." For the most part it's the world and the characters who pulled me in. To make any real sense of things, you have to read them in the order Brush suggested, then continue chronologically. If you still don't like it, maybe MC is not for you.

The problem (well, it isn't exactly a problem) is again the target audience. Colts, especially that age, don't care about mundane details. They just want adventure, action, fights, and sexy mares when they get older. Think of their minds as a checklist. Stallions like checking things off. They can't stand the idea that there's something connecting everything so the lack of connection doesn't bother them.

MixaMax

@PaintDrop: no offense, but you're a kid. Just because something exists doesn't mean it has to be explained. What MixaMax said could pass, but there's one other thing: minimum load.

In the military there are two things that are key: fly light and only have the essentials. If everything is described the stories will become boring (as Mixa said) and also each chapter will be the size of a small book. Not many readers will pick it up, even if they could afford the price.

Here's an example. If I ask "how do I get to Canterlot?" you don't start describing wind currents, airspeed velocity, training paths, and such; you just say "fly over X, make a turn at Y, and you'll see it atop the mountain." Same thing in MC. There's enough plausibility not to bother with the small stuff. We know the great eight have parents, we know that money isn't an issue for most of them, we assume they intake and exhale...

CEOWitch

@MixaMax

Think of their minds as a checklist. Stallions like checking things off. They can't stand the idea that there's something connecting everything so the lack of connection doesn't bother them.

Life makes so much more sense now.

@CEOWitch: and you sound like a bitchy stallion. Are you sure you didn't typo your username?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: a Brush can dream...

Brush

Bob

Cassandra started at the door. I'm not supposed to be here. She shifted her weight from her left foot the right. Her brother had spend years trying to destroy the power within the house, her father—decades. Both of them had warned her of the consequences were she to approach any of the chosen. She had a career to worry about, a future. A few more years and the protectors would surely fall, leaving her father to fulfill the Titan pact and become Prince-ruler of Earth. None would be able to stand to him then—not the pack of children, not the gods, not even the whole of Equestria. Cassandra would see her family rise and reap all the benefits that came with it—power, knowledge, fame, any consort she'd like. And yet there was one thing that would be lost for her.

"It was a mistake coming." She looked away. "I'm an idiot."

"Of that we're in agreement," a voice said. A form flickered in front of the door, changing from invisible to semi-transparent, to the Megan herself.

Cassandra bit her lip.

"Did you really think I wouldn't sense you, Cass?" Megan crossed her arms. She was dressed in her pajamas—cheap cotton things that could be found in every store—staring intently at Cassandra. "Does the CEO know you’re here?"

"I—" Cassandra but her lip. Why am I feeling nervous? I have the strength to level this house in a blink of an eye. "I just wanted to see if you're alright." She could feel sweat covering her forehead. "I— damn it, Meg!" She turned her head briskly to the side, her long black hair waving as she did. "Why must you be so dense!"

That's it, Cassandra thought. I've said goodbye to my corporate future, my family, my self-esteem... why not add a heart to the mix? Not like I'd—

"You always were an idiot, Cass." Megan put her hand on Cassandra's shoulder. "Give me a minute to change."

Hello, losers :P

I'm Bob, and while I don't like the series too much, I certainly could use the fics. And we seem to have a celebrity here (notice me, Brush!).

Looking forward to all your love and arrows :)

Bob

@Bob: I only notice stallions. *snort*

...so, are you a stallion, bby? ;)

Brush

@Bob: marry me! @.@

Welcome to our Midnight Castle corner, and girl are we glad to have you here. You really touched on an interesting oat of the series. So little is said about the CEO's daughter that it's ridiculous. I must say I've been fantasizing about something similar for a while, but I never managed to get Brush to write it.

Have you read any of the series, by the way?

LyraHands

Hello Bob,

Welcome to Midnight Castle. I hope you enjoy it here. Be sure to check the Help and Rules sections, or ask here if you have any questions.

The TechNightling

We have a Rules section?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: yes. Since yesterday. Nothing major has changed. If there are new things, one of us will make an announcement to let you know :)

In the meantime continue to have fun. Oh, and when will you post your stories, CEOWitch? I'm sure people would be curious to see. :)

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: how did you know I had stories?

CEOWitch

I'm a code filly. What did you expect? ;)

CodeFilly

@Bob: OMG! Can I draw for you? I've pretty much finished doing illustrations for Brush (oh why are you so good, Brush?! :)) so could start focusing on other fics. Wow, is that scene hot! Please PM what happens next.

PaintDrop

I almost forgot. RRBB got into another fight today, so I'm not sure she'll be able to connect in the next few days. I'll try to see her after school, but from what I heard it might be a while before she comes back to school or sets hoof outside her room.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: :/ The usual target? I've told her a thousands times not to do stupid stuff like that!

Ask her if she wants me to intervene.

LyraHands

@PaintDrop: I'm on business in ManeHattan so I could lend a wing as well. I have some influence in the education system.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: No offense, but I don't know you well enough to share personal details.

@LyraHands: Thanks, I'll ask.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Sorry to hear that. :( I like RRBB's Danny Saga a lot. Hope she gets things resolved, and tell her hello from a fan.

Bob

@Brush @Bob: What's this? Brush has competition? Please tell me you aren't obsessed with stallions. Equestria wouldn't survive two Brushes. Time and space would collapse, transforming everything into a huge harem herd! :P

Bob, who's your favorite humie?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Wow! :P Well, Brush can sleep safely. I'm not into stallions. And I don't write as well. Guess Equestria lives another day, eh? Would have been awkward to have Twilight knock on my door to ask me to quit the site for the sake of Equestria. :P

Favorite human? Let me think on this. Hmm. Nope, nope... can't think of anyone. :P It's Cassandra. I have a thing for marginal characters. They give lots of freedom to shape them as you wish. And I totally see her having a crush on Megan. Megan isn't too bad either.

Bob

@Bob: whaaaat?! I love Cassandra! Well, okay, I love all of them... O:) But Cassandra is the hawt! Have you seen the collector cards? They were around when Mistmount Chronicles launched. Didn't sell that well so were discontinued. There were a Felina corp cycle among them, including one of Cassandra (at the time she was referred to as CEO Witch Cassandra). She was really ba-dum!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I remember that one. There was a lot of speculation on the aethernet what she'll be. Originally it was "leaked" she'd be a commander of the sorceress squads. So much for that theory.

CEOWitch

@PaintDrop: sorry to ask this, but can you draw an original human character for me? Money's no problem. I think that'll be a sweet thing to have.

Bob

@PaintDrop: I want one too! Also, can you do a humanized version of your brother? O:)

Brush

Girls... *sighs* you're lucky you write so well... and that I'm so twisted. >:) I'll be starting a humie version of my brother as soon as I finish Brush's illustrations. I might also do some humie versions of other ponies as well. Hmm...

@The TechNightling @CodeFilly @LyraHands: any chance of having an art section?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: not for the moment :( Art will have to remain hosted links only. I've paid for the most minimal aether package. That might change in a few weeks (as in I'll either have enough money or I'll be moving back to my parents’ place). Start drawing and I'll see what I can do, okay? ;)

LyraHands

You girls are the best! Love it here already!

Bob

The Questionnaire

Since we're becoming a nice little group I think a questionnaire is in order. ;) Before Lyra bites my tail off, keep in mind that revealing any personal info is a big no-no. I personally am fine with revealing my race and sex. Age and location—not so much.

Here goes:

Race: unicorn
Sex: mare
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Eric
Favorite pony: Caprice
Favorite deity: Poseidon
Favorite background character: Hercules (I have a thing for scrawny tech geeks with glasses)
Favorite chapter: It Shines For All
Favorite quote: "Have a water bottle" - Eric

Go wild! :D

MixaMax

Good initiative, MixaMax!

It's a pity that you still can't appreciate the original series. Hopefully, one day we get to do a reading. Did you try the original chapters I suggested?

On another note, Lyra, I have found a complete first series collection in relatively good condition (better than what I originally thought I outdo give you). I do not dare send it through the standard mail, though. I'll look into dedicated courier services and get back to you.

Now the quiz:

Race: unicorn
Sex: stallion (married with foals)
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Megan
Favorite pony: Tie between Caprice and Fireblaze
Favorite deity: Zeus
Favorite background character: Athena
Favorite chapter: Cannot decide
Favorite quote: "Don't chew when you eat!" - Molly

The TechNightling

Race: pegasus
Sex: dazzling sexy supermodel mare (just saying O:))
Favorite humie (Mistmount): My Bellucio
Favorite pony: Caprice
Favorite deity: Zeus
Favorite background character: Dirk the football captain
Favorite chapter: It's Difficult Being Bellucio
Favorite quote: "Zeus wishes he had my looks." - Bellucio

Brush

@The TechNightling: I'll borrow them from Handy. I promise to read through them again. Just for you ;)

@Brush: at least you didn't say you're a "sexy sexy beast" :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: buck you!

Brush

Yay! I love these. Not that I don't know most of you already :P Some of you I see every day.

Oh, oh! The craziest thing happened to me today! As I was going to work today, I saw Prince Blueblood in front of the palace gate, flirting with some snobby mares. So I said to my self "what the heck? My life is a mess as it is." So, as I passed by I said "Good morning, Bellucio."

Crazy, right? Well, it gets better! I was totally expecting him to give me a wut look. He didn't! He looked at me right in the eyes, then snorted with a shrug and said "At least it isn't Omni."

Yes! You read right! Prince Blueblood reads MC! *mind blown*

I think I told him about the site (the whole experience is still hazy). Here's to hoping he creates an account!

Name: Lyra Heartstrings
City: Canterlot (maybe not for long)
Race: unicorn
Sex: mare, almost as dazzling and sexy as Brush (just saying :P)
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Errrr
Favorite pony: Errrrrr!
Favorite deity: Umm
Favorite background character: Err, yeah, that one!
Favorite chapter: All of them!
Favorite quote: "We're here for each other!"

LyraHands

@LyraHands: him you can have...

Brush

Hey! This looks fun!

City: Cloudsdale
Race: Pegasus
Sex: Stallion
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Eric
Favorite pony: Cloud Thunder
Favorite deity: Zeus
Favorite background character: Orpheus (CEO's nephew. I think he'll have a big role in the reboot.)
Favorite chapter: They are all so good...
Favorite quote: "It's a two in two." - Omni

PrinceEric

Well, RRBB managed to talk her way out of home imprisonment, but only because the math and physics test results came in (she got max points along with me and a few others).

@LyraHands: she told all is cool, but thanks you for the thought. Let us both know if you visit sometime. I know she could you some cheering up, and I have never talked to you face to face (well, not about such things, anyway :))

City: wouldn't you like to know?
Sex: mare
Race: alicorn wannabe
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Karl (so far)
Favorite pony: Fireblaze
Favorite deity: Poseidon (so far)
Favorite background character: Principal Ulysses (I like the way he talks)
Favorite chapter: still reading
Favorite quote: "With the speed of a sleeping arrow." - Danny

PaintDrop

@LyraHands: I get to see him all the time. Never took him for the type who reads Midnight Castle. No way I'm letting him live that down. :D I’ll be sure to casually mention it the next time I see him. Thanks, Lyra :)

City: Everywhere (seriously. I fly a lot because of work)
Race: pegasus
Sex: you're kidding, right?
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Blazen
Favorite pony: Caprice (not that there are many to choose from. S.Child is great as creating human characters, but her pony descriptions suck)
Favorite deity: Hades
Favorite background character: None
Favorite chapter: It's Difficult Being Bellucio
Favorite quote: "We're here for each other!"

CEOWitch

@MixaMax: Nice try.

@CEOWitch: I like Molly. So sorry :(

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Come on! Seriously? :/ It's not like anypony will find you based on which characters you like. At times you're just too you. Live a little!

MixaMax

This must be my lucky day! Barely joined and I get to read all the juicy tidbits about you all :) I agree with the Tech that we should include original MC characters at one point (distinctions will have to be made with some of the names being reused for legal reasons).

City: Near Canterlot
Race: Earth Pony
Sex: Just a normal mare model (I kid :) I'm your average plumpish mare)
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Cassandra
Favorite pony: I don't like the ponies much. Maybe Luna?
Favorite deity: Zeus
Favorite background character: Feather (griffons count too, right?)
Favorite chapter: Wrath of the CEO
Favorite quote: "Kiss me twice if you love me"

Bob

@Bob: where the heck did you read that? If there's such a quote somepony messed up big time. There's no way there'd be anything that suggestive in a series targeting young colts. I'm not sure there's even a Hearts and Hooves chapter.

MixaMix

@Bob: you're near Canterlot?! Let's meet!

LyraHands

Umm. I'm not too comfortable with the questions. Mostly because ponies make fun of me when they learn that I read colt fiction. :( Sorry. I'm from Manehattan and... ponies around here could be a bit harsh.

Candle

@Candle: send me a PM.

LyraHands

@MixaMax: just checking. :P Would have been nice to have such a quote, though ;)

@LyraHands: you're silly ;P

Bob

Rumors 2

Girls? I got some new info! (And am going totally crazy :D)
The series is confirmed! The first announcement will be in a few weeks, followed by a viral campaign. Still no idea what it'll be about. The only thing I know for sure is that there will be a new villain.

Speculation? I think it'll involve Titans.

PrinceEric

Thank you for the information, PrinceEric.

Although I'm still not convinced that a new series is on the way this soon after the last, especially with a new set of writers, I believe it's logical for there be a return to original series villains. Admittedly, the majority of those were cardboard caricatures of characters, but we also have some of the best fantasy villains in fiction (and not only colt fiction). Hera was a perfect example of a grand villainess. I really hope we see more of her. She had so much potential that never came to fruition.

I, unfortunately, have been too busy with work and the filter systems of the site to look into the matter.

The TechNightling

@PrinceEric: I don't know who your sources are, but you were right.

From what I learned there's going to be a heavy push on this one. The goal is to have it compete with the Daring Do series. A tall order, if you ask me. Daring Do the lucrative YA group and is exceptionally close to reality. Midnight Castle, for all its remarkable world and plot building, remains a humie fic series... and that still holds a stigma be it for colts or not.

Going back to what I learned:

The "Great Eight" will become the "Fine Nine."
Seems like a new cast member will join the group. There are no details, but I was lead to believe that it's possible for her to be a girl. (Maybe Bob's fiction will come true and we'll have Cassandra join the fold?)

There will be a new villain.
No surprises there. PrinceEric has also confirmed as much. The interesting part is that the new villain won't be an ancient evil, or an adversary their age, but "both". To be honest that has me completely stumped.

A set of collectible miniatures will emerge alongside the new series.
Personally, I'm surprised this hasn't happened already. Colts love playing with miniatures. My brother has an entire room filled with them. Without going into details, these ones are likely to be of extremely good quality. I'll poke RRBB to see if she can learn more... once she's completely ungrounded.

That's all I managed to get. I expect next week there might be more.

PaintDrop

I think I have an answer for your villain question, PaintDrop.

The way I read it, it sounds very much like they'll be rebooting a villain from the original. I only hope they don't mess things up like they did with Icelos. (Phobetor is an attempt at the same character, but with a different name.)

Also, congratulations, PaintDrop. You are now officially a Nightling... for better or worse. Here, have a water bottle.

The TechNightling

Argh! That's it! I'll just become somepony's slave now and save myself the agony.
New series? Miniatures? As if I didn't spend enough money on MC as it is. (Huge thanks, Tech. I might go bankrupt, but at least I'll have my own original collection.)

Brush, Bob, you ok I be your slave? CodeFilly is cheap as dirt! :P Maybe I should ask Prince Blueblood if he can use one more servant in the palace? He knows about MC, so he can't be all bad.

Seriously, though, great work! I'm drooling all over my screen just thinking about it!
curse my weak will and diminishing funds!

LyraHands

It's a hoax!

MixaMax

@The TechNightling: thanks. :) Coming from you that means a lot.

@LyraHands: if you're short on bits I can help out. You did create this place, after all.

PaintDrop

@LyraHands: Woooow! I'm offering my coding services for free, you know! :P

CodeFilly

@LyraHands: we seriously need to talk.

Bob

@PaintDrop: Wowowowow! You sure got a cool inside scoop! I'm so envious!

I told you how I get my info. I just hang around fillies and they tell me. (I may or may not be sort of charming in real life O:))

PrinceEric

@LyraHands: you can crash at my place anytime you want, girl. No slavery, though. :)

@PrinceEric: you little flirt! :P It's always the quiet ones, eh? Guess I know who to be careful round if we ever do a site meet-up!

@PaintDrop: name your price!

Brush

There will be an equivalent of the Wonderbolts, composed of mostly male characters with two exceptions. The new character will be someone from there.

Don't go around saying I don't know stuff :P

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: joining the bandwagon, are we? What you've just said is an educated guess that everypony can make by reading the posts so far. If you want any of us to take you seriously either name a source or give a unique detail that could be checked.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: what's your problem? Next you'll say I'm not a mare either.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Well, I haven't seen any proof so far!

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: As much as such a reaction might be merited, there's no need for such language. You've made your point, let's leave it at that, please.

@CEOWitch: while. I understand you're from a different environment, I really would like to ask you to make an effort to be less extreme. Several users have PMed me about you, which is a lot considering how small the group is. I still choose to believe that you bear no malice, but please make an extra effort.

As for your claim, some additional proof would be vastly appreciated.

Thank you.

The TechNightling

The new character will be announced during a Wonderbolt show in Manehattan next week. She will come as something of a surprise to fans of Mistmount Chronicles.

CEOWitch

@all: Please stop!

I happen to know who CEOWitch is and can assure they are no troll, nor do they want to impress, snub, or hurt anypony here. I know all this is a the result of miscommunication. CEOWitch is one of the nicest ponies I know in real life (even before I learned who they were on the site.)

With that I'm closing the matter!

LyraHands

Ungrounded

Freeeedom! Coltlaaand!

I finally have my access back. It's been a heck of a week (rip me :( ). One test goes wrong, the teacher is on my back (again!) and this annoying brat at school... Argh! I really hate her with all my heart! I'll write a horribly gory story how she's kidnapped by the Felina corp and cut up for dog food! (Ooops... Sorry, Tech. I pwomise to be a good fiwwy O:))

Seriously, though. I really can't stand brownnosers! Just because they bring apples to the teacher every week doesn't mean they can sick her on me every chance they get. And thanks to my latest outbursts, I have to be extra careful or my dad will ground me again. (Mom has completely stopped talking to me, by the way, but that's probably for the best.)

Anyway! Humies. :) PaintDrop has been telling me all the stuff going on. Coolness! Also, I've seen her sketches. I think after tomorrow Brush will be her eternal slave :) (PaintDrop's bro is pretty meh, but the humanized version of him... wow! Let's just say I see him in a totally new light. :P)

I'll be posting more Danny Saga sometime. I'll also check out the rumors.

@Brush: are you famous? :D

Argh! It's good to be back :) I missed you, you idiots ;)

RRBB

Oh, I almost forgot!

Race: earth pony 2.0
Sex: oh, stars, yes please!
City: half a dozen or so
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Danny! (Seriously, can't we petition Celestia to magic one up or something?)
Favorite pony: Caprice... I guess
Favorite deity: Zeus
Favorite background character: Eric (:P )
Favorite chapter: It's Difficult Being Bellucio
Favorite quote: "My shoes aren't up here..." - Bellucio

Also, talking about rumors. If you can humanize anypony and put them in the series, who'd you go for?

I know this might sound weird, but I think LyraHands would fit right in. :)

RRBB

@RRBB: You're back! You never opened your PMs so I was worried. We've talked before about the issue. I'm not pushing you or anything, but I don't think you're handling it well.

And I so totally deserve to be on the show! *waves fists of justice*

LyraHands

Welcome back, RRBB.

To mark the occasion the spoiler and NSFW filters are fully functional. With the risk of being counterproductive I'd ask that you use it responsibly.

Since LyraHands is too modest, you can thank her for working on the framework of a tagging system. This will only be used for stories and search results. The task isn't as simple as you might think, so please give her some credit (and a few ice packs for her horn wouldn't hurt either).

The TechNightling

@RRBB: now, I don't want to sound like a bitch, but you know your mother can read this, right? I mean I was in another fandom and my CO stumbled on my profile and... let's just say that she still hasn't let me forget it.

Must the pony be alive? I think Mistmount Chronicles need a Starswirl character. Yes, I know there is constant t mention of the Morgan, but she barely gets two lines. Plus she and Starswirl together would kick ass.

My two bits.

CEOWitch

RRBB: Good one!
Did you know that most characters of the series are copies of ponies? At first I thought it was only the Gr8, but after talking with a friend of mine, we saw that there are others as well! Im hyper excited! The mistake I've been making is thinking that the character and the sides must match. They don't!

Now just imagine this: Twilight is the President of the Felina corporation. Forget about the whole evil thing, Zdrach behaves in exactly the same fashion: authoritative, obsessed with schedules, loves science, considers the corporation one big family.

I'm starting a human-to-pony chart, so if anyone wants to help, please go ahead! :)

@CEOWitch: That's so cool! I can see Morgan and Starswirl. Argh! Now I want that to become a thing in the next series.

What's a CO?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: it stands for Crevice Opener :P (just kidding :))

@CEOWitch: that's actually a good idea. Danny has a mentor in the face of Zeus, and Megan is his supportive sister, but he could really use a wiseman—someone totally doesn't care and is "just do this shit, yo!"

RRBB

@RRBB: I know exactly who you'd want to see in the story. :P

Unrelated: I finished the first volume of Mistmount Chronicles. It's actually nice, provided I read them in the suggested order. I know why they chose to sell them as a book of stories, but a set of chapters would have been better IMO. Are there any differences between the books and the collector scrolls? I'm thinking of buying those, but don't want to spend all that money if the S&S messed things up.

@Brush: I think I made a huge mistake :( Still not sure if that's good or not. You know how I was making a humanized sketch of my brother? Well, he found it. The problem is he also found my other sketches... along with your story. At this point we usually get into a cold sarcastic exchanges of opinions, but he actually liked them. And it gets better.

He recognized the setting and mentioned he was surprised that S.Child had decided to go in that direction. When I told him a friend of mine wrote this he was "No way!". It took me an hour to convince him I wasn't lying and that the author was a mare (Brush, for some reason he thinks you're the melancholic sensitive type. :))

Now, my brother's not the type to join a site (especially one full of mares obsessing over colt fiction) but he has expressed interest in reading more of your stuff. Do you have anything non-human related?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Yesss! Bring him to meee! I don't know, what does he like reading? Also, is totally okay to put him in touch with me, if he's fine about it.

I'll leave my final judgement until I see your drawing, but he sounds like a total catch :D

@RRBB: I'm marginally famous, but prefer not to talk about it.

And if Lyra can enter the series, so should I!

Brush

@PrinceEric: You're insane, you know that? :)

You had to mention Twilight... Now each time I see her I'll imagine her saying something like "Send out the sorceress squads!" or "Did you get the impossibility stone!" Thanks Eric... :/

@RRBB: You really need to be a bit more careful. I heard what happened at school. This isn't the place to discuss it, but take care, okay?

@Brush: somepony scored! If we pass by your place will there be horseshoes in front of the door? Oh, and don't forget to let him say a few words before you start with the nuzzling. :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: No! The moment I see him I'll kill the air out of his lungs then proceed to extreme snuggling in the street!

Oh, and buck you!

Brush

Brush PMs

Good morning, Brush.

Sorry for contacting your out of the blue, but your stories have enchanted me. I actually remember Midnight Castle from when I was a foal. At the time they were one of the few colt fiction stories available, and the only ones with any depth, so I did enjoy them considerably. Don't tell my sister, but I have a first edition signed collection of volumes one and two. (My parents are quite well off and despite their strictness they have always pampered me considerably.)

I must ask, have you written anything before? There are some minor grammar issues, and certain phrasings could be better, but your fiction is nothing short of inspiring. The way you merge emotion and action is something I've rarely seen before; and I'm talking as a soon to be literature graduate. I'm not exaggerating, when I say you're better than many published authors.

Hoping and looking forward to your reply,

MasterOfThisAstra

Thanks :) I always enjoy when pones like my writing. I'm not anywhere near prof level. :D which of my stories have you read?

Brush

All of them, actually. I'm PaintDrop's brother. Maybe I should have mentioned that earlier. She did a printout of all your stories and is doing artworks for them. I just happened to stumble upon them yesterday and, well, got hooked.

To be perfectly honest, I found the notion of my sister visiting a Midnight Castle forum alarming at first. The majority of such places are, honestly speaking, quite suggestive. And her best friend isn't a good influence on her either. I must admit, though, after reading your work, and some of the others', I'm rethinking my stance on the matter.

You most definitely write well, and I'm being a hundred percent objective here. My sister can easily ace college level essays, and her friend, as much as I hate to admit it, is a competent editor, but none of them come close to your work. Even I don't think I could pull that off.

MasterOfThisAstra

Omg! You're PaintDrop's brother?! Never thought you'd join the site! :))) Guess I owe her a story, huh?

PaintDrop said you wanted to read something non-humie. I have a few of those, but they're really crap. No prob to write something dedicated, just tell me what you're into :)

Brush

That's remarkably sweet of you. Before I make a request, there's something I'd like to ask you. Apologies in advance for being insensitive. Are you really a mare? Your writing seems way too gentle and sensitive, almost hurting, to be a mare.

MasterOfThisAstra

Lol! No worries, I get that a lot. I've lost count how many times fans have hit on me thinking I'm a stallion. (You know there are no stallions on the net :P) What about you? Are you really a stallion?

Brush

Yes, I most certainly am. And my parents never let me forget it. Sorry for going on a rant, but this is pretty much one of the few times I get to talk to a mare without my parents going all alicorn on me. Don't misunderstand, I love my parents, and I am grateful to them, but they have outdated views on certain things, sons in particular. While my sister gets free reign, along with all the shouts and groundings that includes, I'm treated as a fragile bunny that would shatter if I set one hoof out of home. Little wonder they sent me to a Celestial College.

Sorry, I tend to rant a lot at times. For some reason I feel you're somepony who'd understand.

Thanks for listening.

MasterOfThisAstra

Oh :( You don't get out much, do you? A close friend of mine had really restrictive parents. She rebelled, doing the craziest things ever, to the point they just let her do what she wanted. Guess it's different being a stallion.

Not that it's not cool, but are you okay sharing this with a pony you've just met?

Brush

I think I know you better than you think. You put a lot in your writing. For one thing, I strongly suspect you really are a pegasus. Also, you seem more hurt than you let others think. I wouldn't be surprised if you hide behind a mask (trust me, I know all about that). I also think that you're much older than my sister, or at least have gone through a lot more experiences than her, not all of them pleasant I think.

Sorry, professional inclination. What I'm trying to say is, can I read something by you? I mean the real you. It doesn't have to be human, though I'll read it even if it is.

Again, I don't want to come as pushy or strange, but your writing resonates strongly with me, all much so that you're a mare. No offense, but most of those I've met were jerks or snobs, or both.

MasterOfThisAstra

I don't know what to say. You've read my stuff, right? As you've seen it's a bit... extremely snugly. What am I saying? Glass of Water has a ten page scene of the characters fucking like rabbits. Are you sure you want to read my unedited works? Pones in the forum joke a lot, but some of them have read the stuff I haven't put online... and they agree there's a reason for that.

Brush

You really don't have to try and shock me. My parents will find you despicable, I'm sure. Just because I'm a stallion doesn't mean I'll faint after reading erotica. And I have no idea how the conversation got here. I usually don't go so far out. I still want to read more of your works, and maybe even sneak a meeting with you?

MasterOfThisAstra

Hold on. You are asking me out?! *confused look* I thought your parents were all strict and such.

Brush

Stallions can do that, you know. As for my parents, what they don't know won't hurt them.

MasterOfThisAstra

Where have you been all my life? :D

Brush

I can't believe I wrote that. I was so convinced you'd laugh me off as a fancolt. Who knew what desperation could achieve?

MasterOfThisAstra

*nuzzles* Disappointed?

Brush

Not on your life! *wink*
I think this hasn't sunk in yet, though. Tartarus, my parents would be so pissed. Nopony's ever good enough for their little prince. I have an important exam, so no chance I'll be home for the next week... so want to meet once I'm back from college?

Hope you are okay with me being an earth pony.

MasterOfThisAstra

Please, stop my pounding heart! *faints*
Whenever you can I'm cool. Just keep in mind I'm different in real life, so don't be expecting a mare in shining armor. :P

Brush

Too late. I'll write to you when I get the chance.

See you soon.

MasterOfThisAstra

Rumors 3

Well, girls, we can make it official. A new MC series is confirmed. :D (Yay!)

@PrinceEric: I’m impressed. Well, only a bit. I think I know how you got your info (if so you’re damn sneaky :P ). Just to close the topic, does her name start with a C?

And now the juicy stuff! (Don't’ think for a moment that I won’t be using it in my next Danny Saga story! :P ) The Next series is scheduled to hit the stores exactly at midnight on Nightmare’s Night. Miniatures (yes, they have been confirmed) will start appearing six months before that, which makes it likely the first ones to appear in less than a month from now. (I seriously recommend you buy the early ones as fast as possible since they are promo editions and will be released in extremely limited quantities)

@LyraHands: No worries, I’ll buy you a set and you can repay me when you have a chance. ;) For everypony else, I’ll need money in advance. (I’m estimating the figurines would be somewhere around 50-100 bits each).

I’ve no idea what the actual story will be. From what I’ve heard the first miniatures will come with spoiler fliers which will have some hints, but nothing too spoilery. Still no idea about the name :/ All I got is that it’s referred to as “Codename: Starshine”

@The TechNightling: Think you can dig on anything with that? They are bound to have a site by now.

@MixaMax: In your face deskbucker! :P

RRBB

@RRBB: Not fair! You could have given me the scoop before I started writing this chapter. Now I don’t know if Bellucio will be in the next series or not. *sad humie*

Brush

@Brush: Aaaaah! My bad, Brushy. You know better than to ask. Fly right over and we could discuss how to take over the world together! :P (Just be sure it’s a weekend and you know who doesn’t learn about it.)

RRBB

@RRBB: You caught me. One of the names is C :) Do you know her? If you come in my part of Equestria let me know and we can meet?

Great info! I’m not interested in the miniatures, but the rest sounds really interesting. If anypony gets them, please share the flier text? Would be fun to speculate what we’ll find in the series.

Let’s speculate now! :D I think they’ll move from the mountain. It’s still not sure where Poseidon is (it was mentioned that might only be his spiritual vessel and the real him is hidden somewhere else.) I think the series will take place in a desert!

PrinceEric

@RRBB: Language! Brush, you’ve clearly been a bad influence on her.

Also, I’m still not convinced this isn’t an elaborate hoax…. A very elaborate hoax.

MixaMax

Thanks for the information, RRBB.

Great find. I did some digging. There is something called Starshine – an aether domain registered under a company that was created less than a month ago. I haven’t been able to find any information on that company which leads me to believe it’s a copyright front.

Other domains the company has registered include:
Desertfox, Shadowstar, and Sorrowchild.

Sadly that’s still not much, since the names are generic in regard to colt fiction. The reason I’m inclined to believe they are MC related is the fact that there are no doublings as of yet. Whoever registered the domains, made sure that there aren’t any existing ones, and that in itself is impressive (and expensive). Of course, there’s no guarantee that some other book series hasn’t taken the names for their own.

The TechNightling

Desertfox

I knew it! It’s going to be in a desert! I can’t wait to read it! I’ve always loved deserts! Do you think they’ll face sand golems? Or corporate stronghold? I’m so excited!

PrinceEric

My sources are a bit unwell, so I won't be able to get anything more for the time being.

RRBB: grab me a set of miniatures when you can. I'm curious to see how they've done the humans. I asked my parents to get me a professional clay set so I'll start making human clay models soon. Brush gets the first good one.

PaintDrop

@RRBB: I love you! :D You've probably condemned me to a life of poverty, but I still love you! :D

@PrinceEric: forgive the lack of enthusiasm. We've been through this before with the last MC volume. There were a lot of speculations and rumors flying around, then it had nothing to do with it. A friend of mine told me that publishing houses sometimes spread fake info when they want to limit leaks.

LyraHands

I might know somepony to ask, but I'm really uncomfortable about this. Sorry :(

Candle

@Candle: no sweat. It's not like we'll have to wait for much :) The moment the miniatures are out we'll have lots of material to kill each other over :P You just take care of yourself. Okay?

RRBB

I've actually seen some of the miniatures, and they are not that good. :( I mean they are okay sort of, but no Daring Do collectible. The posters are something else. I've already got three and might try to get one more. If there are any left after the event I'll get some for you girls as well.

If anypony happens to be in Manehattan for the Wonderbolt gig let me know, okay?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: okay, I'll bite. If I go there, how do I recognize you?

RRBB

All this makes no sense! Why in Equestria will they start their campaign so early?!? There's eight months till Nightmare Night. Even with popular books the hype machine usually starts up to three months before release. There's absolutely no way for anyone to maintain that, even S&S.

That aside... miniatures? You must be bucking kidding me! Who the heck buys miniatures of a series they know nothing about. The only way I see it is if the miniatures are free gifts. 50 bits?! I can buy a mug for that much! With any picture I want!

There's no denying this looks legit, but it makes no bucking sense! Either that or is the most elaborate hoax ever! Do you think Pinkie Pie is behind this?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Don't even joke about that!

RRBB

@MixaMax: there's a scary thought.

PaintDrop

@MixaMax: Hey!

Brush

@MixaMax: oh, you :P Pinkie's not that bad. Might be fun if she put in all that effort to prank us. If it turns out a Pinkie Prank, I'll personally make her a special Mod on the site. :)

LyraHands

Minor Update

Girls, I have some huge announcements to make!

First, let me thank The TechNightling and CodeFilly for rewriting mess and making it usable. We now have a solid and fast system that is secure and can withstand infinite updates with minimum rewrites. I strongly recommend you change your user passwords. I've no idea what might have happened while I did the code, and don't want to risk it!

My horn has melted off, but I finally managed to get the tagging system working. Thanks to CodeFilly for lending a hoof and free pizza (love you, babe!). From now on please add all the respective tags as you post your stories. For the moment, I've only added the most basic of the basic. If you want new tags just poke me.

Be sure to tag all NSFW fics as NSFW

I'm in talks with somepony who's good in art to help out with the site UI. Might cost me a bit, but since it's a onetime expense I'm cool (especially since RRBB will be paying for my MC miniatures :P)

After some talks with Tech and CodeFilly, we've decided it's a shame not to use PaintDrop's art. (I bet Brush will be too drolly for the next of the day to post :P) So anypony can link one pic to fic. Links still have to be external :(

With that, I wish you a good day! I'm off to work after spending the whole night coding (Celestia take me now! :((( )

LyraHands

@LyraHands: *drool* *drool* *drool* Oh, you said something, kettle?

@PaintDrop: Your bro is sooo cuuute! *drool intensifies* The things I can do with him... O:) Also you're quite cool yourself. I bet you're popular with the colts at school ;)

Brush

A small additional announcement.

We've also added the option to link music files to fics. Now you can also provide background music to set the ambience for your readers.

NSFW applies to pictures and music, so be sure to tick the checkbox where needed.

CodeFilly

What is NSFW?

Candle

@Candle: Not Safe For Woona! :P

RRBB

@RRBB: :) I actually meant what is considered NSFW? I work in a field that has a lot of provocative elements. I've often found that when talking to ponies out of Manehatten I say things that appear shocking, which is weird because I'm usually called the shy one.

Candle

Good question, Candle!

The rule of hoof is that if it gets you in trouble at work it's best not to post it. On your case, though, this might not apply. I remember you having some surprising scenes in the latest fic you sent me. Now I understand why.

I'll be adding a new tag called Borderline. It's a temporary measure until I can talk to LyraHands and CodeFilly about the matter in depth.

Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

The TechNightling

@Brush: he's my brother, but he can be such a drama king. :P I'm joking. He's nice if extremely sheltered.

You can say I have no problem with colts... if only the ones at school weren't such shallow airheads :/ I can't wait to get in college. Maybe there I'll meet somepony adequate.

Do you want more pics? I'm working on Bob's story, but I always have time for you :) Let me know if you want any of your pics redone.

PaintDrop

@RRBB: Pfft. You'll be amazed at the things I see at night.

Luna

@Luna: maybe I can share a peek? :P

@PaintDrop: you know I can't say no, but you've done so much already. *jumps with joy* Also, I think I'll be fine seeing your pics for Bob.

@Bob: you game for a collab? :)

Brush

@Luna: Oh, my. :P That's a very naughty thing to say, Your Highness. I never knew you were a fan of Midnight Castle.

RRBB

@Brush: I don't usually do this, but... I'll see what I can do. Just for you :)

@RRBB: You have no idea how boring it gets on the moon. Also humies are fun :D

Luna

@Brush: I thought you'd never ask. :D I see a great F-M-M triangle forming. It will be glorious! Bwahahahaha! Sure thing. I think it will be great. Maybe we can wait to see if the next series is a thing and go with that?

@Luna: uh-oh...

Bob

@Bob: Don't you uh-oh me, "Bob!"

Luna

Impersonating royalty? I can get you arrested! Do you know what they do to impersonators in prison? I hear they Pierce their tongue and ears, then throw them naked in the cold! You won't last an hour let alone a day!

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: No! I'll arrest you!

Great use of quote :) You really know your stuff.

Don't worry, girls. I'm not here to cause problems, just for fun and amusement. Surprised it took me so long to find a Midnight Castle fansite. There are over fifty Daring Do ones, twice that much for the action comic series, but none for MC :( Well, apart from this one ;)

Luna

Omg! It's a honor to have you here, Princess! :) Let me be the... fourth *shakes fistt at Brush, Bob, and CEOWitch* to welcome you to our humble site. I'll do everything in my power to ensure your stay is comfortable and eternal :)

LyraHands

@Luna: no way! :) We have Luna!

Btw, I think Luna totally has a thing for Eric! Well, not a thing, thing... more like a mentor-student thing. So far nearly all the Dream warnings she has sent have been to him, even after The Dream Stone. Maybe that's how Eric knows what's going on in Canterlot without going there? Also, I'm almost convinced Eric's pet bat is in fact one of Luna's batponies. There's no other reason for the bat to get so much attention (87 mentions so far, and I've still not finished reading Vols 1 and 2 of Mistmount Chronicles!

PrinceEric

@LyraHands: Well, you always were one of my favourites :)

@PrinceEric: Aren't you the enthusiastic one *pats on head*

Actually, I'll be making several appearances in the upcoming series. I can only say: good catch on the bat ;)

Luna

Here we go again...

PaintDrop

Author's Note

I managed to last till day 15 :)

To mark the occasion, and than all of you for your patience and comments, I'm going to do a character AMA.

Please write in the contents who (other than Luna) you'd like to go first :) At the next update I'll open a blog on the subject and answer all questions gathered there till the weekend :)

The blog will NOT be posted as a chapter, but everything said there is "cannon" :P

A Brush PM Spark

Heya.

Sorry for the poke, but RRBB invited me to her place to talk about the new MC release. Your sis will be there. (I promised to meet her in person.) Any chance you can find a reason to come along? Would like to see you.

You look cute in human form. ;)

Brush

Was just thinking about you.

When exactly is this event taking place? Scoop didn't tell me anything about meeting you last we talked. Then again it's not like she tells me anything. You have an exam tomorrow, but if you push it to the weekend, I think I can do something. She'll probably shout my years in if I suggest accompanying her to RRBB's place. And strictly speaking, I agree with her. Last time I passed by her school her classmates all but started whistling at me. It's really annoying when they are at that age.

As much as I like to claim I'm cute, it's probably Scoop's work. She's been drawing since she was four. I was convinced her cutie mark would be a brush.

How have you been?

MasterOfThisAstra

:( Ouch. Yeah, mares could be like that, especially teens. RRBB likes to act a bit wild, but she's okay. From what I've seen from PaintDrop she's quite well behaved. (It's adorable you call her Scoop :))

I've been mostly okay. Lots of work demanding my attention. That's why I'm so short on the site. I rarely get time to spend more than a few minutes before I'm call to avert another crisis. Not that I don't like it, but every now and again, I wish to have some me time.

The meeting was supposed to be today, but I can push it back two days, if that'll work for you.

Brush

That would be great. It'll also give me an excuse to skip another "social activity" with my roommates. What that really means is go to a bar and get drunk on free drinks from flirty mares. My parents would go crazy if they knew, of course. Pity that the mares there are nothing like you, they are all plot and no substance, if you pardon the expression.

MasterOfThisAstra

Oooh! I bet half the chat would like to go at your wild stallion drinking parties :P I know I would. *nuzzle* *ear chew* (What the heck? Lyra added an earchew string? How will I stop using it?!)
Cute of you to like my stuff, but you haven't even met me. What if I turn out to be some crow ugly mare? At least I've seen a version of you.

Brush

Hey, now. Didn't you say you're a supermodel? I'm sure you'll be great. Your stories are out of this world. I'm sure you are as well :) *ear lick* (Apparently, ear chew isn't the only ear string.)

MasterOfThisAstra

Sweetie, everypony online is a supermodel, a princess, or a stallion. :) And lol about the ears. I never knew Lyra had an ear fetish. I'll ask CodeFilly to change her name to LyraEars :D

I can send you a pic of me if you want.

Brush

If you're a supermodel and I'm a stallion that makes us a perfect match, doesn't it? Just please don't go "dick pics or gtfo" on me. I'm so sleep deprived because of exams and I just might do it.

And it's fine. You're beautiful in my heart. I can wait to see you a few days.

MasterOfThisAstra

Hey! It's a mare's job to do the romantic pickups. Guess I'm not as natural as I am in my stories, huh? I might really be falling for you, like a pegasus in summer. For some reason I fantasize you being the most magnificent creature alive. O:)

Well... that was cheesy. After all the stories I've written you'd think I'm better at this. :/ What's your exam on?

Brush

:) I'm just a plain earth pony. I admit I was cute when younger, but now I'm not so sure. Actually, I'm a bit if terrified what you might think of me when we meet. A humanised drawing isn't exactly a good description. The colors are close, though, if that's any indication. And...I'm ashamed to say this, but I wear glasses. :(

MasterOfThisAstra

Omg! Could you be any cuter?!? *ear lick* *ear chew*
Well, I have wings, though I don't like them much. (My friends tell me they're fine, but... you know how friends are.)

Now I really want to see you. Argh! Unjust education system! Cruel examination board!

Oh, I started writing a story for you, but keep getting distracted after the first line. :( I might just give up and write something about kittens, as cliche as that is. Do you like kittens?

Brush

... how do you do that? I've been wanting a kitten since I was five. Of course my parents were against it since it might ruin my "beautiful hooves". And let us not forget that I'm just a pretty face and can't take care of anything and so mustn't even try. When it comes to sis, though, sure. Can you believe she had a cat and a bat? Not that she ever took care of them. I did.

Do you have a kitten?

MasterOfThisAstra

Yep. :) Can't bring it to the meet, though. It's too young. Maybe next time you're free we can go to my place? Or sometime. You're probably busy and all.

Brush

I'd like that.

MasterOfThisAstra

Sorry, but I'll have to go now. Roommate is being a jerk about my computer distracting him. He's really the annoying type. I can guarantee, half of his whining is in the hope that I'll slip up and tell him what I'm doing.

He's cool mostly, but he comes from a town the size of a convenience store, and as the guest to get a scholarship to a Celestial College is full of himself. Parties like a beast. Sometimes I'm scared about the mares he brings over.

MasterOfThisAstra

Lol. I hear you. Well, soon you might have a mare to bring over as well ;)

Take care, Mota.

Hugs and nuzzles! And good luck with your exams.

Brush

Thank you.

Hugs and cuddles.

MasterOfThisAstra

Real Life Panic

@all: Is there anypony from the Crystal Empire? I heard there's been a flash blizzard that has paralyzed the capital. No trains in or out. :( Do you think it's Windigos?

I pray that everything is okay, but that has me really scared. If you're from there or know anypony who is please let us know. I'll also be organizing a check-in site so at least there's info on the matter. @CodeFilly, @The TechNightling, can you lend a hoof?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Something definitely is going on. Stars, I hope it isn't windigos. With Cadence there they shouldn't be able to come close. I asked the Mayor for more info, but she's just as in the dark as I am. :(

@Brush: do you know anything?

MixaMax

@LyraHands, @MixaMax: I haven't been called yet, but might well be. I'll ask at the weather center. If it's weather related they should know.

I really hope no one is hurt :(

Brush

I have some info. All trains and roads to and from the Empire are blocked. Air is tricky. The storm clouds are blocking nearly all magic, aethernet included. Dragonmail is also impossible.

Not gonna lie, things look scary. Hopefully, is a freak storm.

@LyraHands: great initiative! Well know when the net is back up. Maybe also add a note about clothes donations? It's still early, but if this keeps up help centers for clothes and blankets will pop up in every major city, for when the trains can reach the Empire.

I'll let you know if I learn more.

Bob

Things are real. Wonderbolt show is cancelled. The A-team is scrambled and heading to try and breach the cloud cover. Would be nice if somepony knew what the fuck was going on there!

CEOWitch

Weather is clueless. I asked a friend and she said no clouds are planned for this month. Empire weather is as bad as Everwheather :/

@CEOWitch: I'll call in a favor and see what's going on. I'll write in a bit.

Brush

This can't be real! I have family that moved to the Empire! Stars I was thinking of going there next week! Paint's brother studies there!

What if it's another invasion? I really don't know what to think right now.

@Brush @Bob: please tell me you know something!

RRBB

@RRBB: don't worry. Everything will be ok. We'll deal with this. Take the day off, spend it with PaintDrop and your family. If something comes up somepony will post it here.

I'll have to go. Hope to check the site in a few hours.

CEOWitch

@Bob: added a note. Thanks.

LyraHands

@all: All aethernet in the Empire capital is down. A few airbases nearby are in battle readiness. So far only the Wonderbolts have been dispatched. As difficult as it is, I suggest we try to keep calm. I know what you're going through—I lost my wife in a weather accident seven years ago—but starting a panic will help no one. CEOWitch gave some great advice: take the day off if you need to, but try to be as calm and collected as possible.

The TechNightling

There'll be an announcement from the Palace in about ten minutes. Mostly, what's already been said. A mage train is getting ready to try and Pierce the cold belt.

In the meantime just wait. Please.

Luna

This is shit! :/ Nopony knows anything. I even tried getting in touch with Twilight.

@RRBB: Hang tight. I'll send sis to be with you and PaintDrop.

MixaMax

I hope it's just me, but did CEOWitch say she was a Wonderbolt and flying into the storm? I hope nothing bad happens to her.

@LyraHands, @Bob: I can gather a lot of blankets and clothes. Just tell me where to take them. I've also spoken to a few friends to do the same.

@RRBB, @PaintDrop: I'm so sorry :( Let me know if I can help.

Candle

@CEOWitch: the clouds are full of wild magic! Buck it! Please read this on time! You might lose your ability to fly if you go through. Dammit, CEOWitch!! :(((

Brush

@Brush: are the in city okay?

RRBB

@RRBB: Fuck! Sorry :( Yes, everypony inside is supposed to be well for now. Most are in the palace with Shining casting a protective shield. Please, tell PaintDrop.

Brush

@Brush: thank you. I will.

RRBB

@all: Girls, I'll be volunteering to go on the mage train. I've a good enough magic score to be let on. While I'm gone CodeFilly will be taking care of the site. Please post any news here as you get it.

I'm linking all emergency help sites. Tech, please check to see if any of them are scams. Also add any new ones if you could.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Don't you dare!!!

Bob

Mods, @all this message.

Communication with the Crystal Empire has been restored. Anther is back up, but public access is deliberately blocked not to overwhelm it. There's nothing to worry about. There will be an official announcement soon.

The short version is that there was a freak magic storm for a few hours, but it's now gone. So far no pony has been harmed as a result.

Thank you for all your effort. Get some rest. Take the day off. If anypony has any issue at work or school, just let me know and I'll settle things.

Luna

@all: Communication with the Crystal Empire has been restored. Anther is back up, but public access is deliberately blocked not to overwhelm it. There's nothing to worry about. There will be an official announcement soon.

The short version is that there was a freak magic storm for a few hours, but it's now gone. So far no pony has been harmed as a result.

Thank you for all your effort. Get some rest. Take the day off. If anypony has any issue at work or school, just let me know and I'll settle things.

Luna

@Luna: thank you so much! That's the best news we could wish for.

LyraHands

@Candle: guess the secret is out. ;)

Thanks for your concern, all (and especially you, @Brush). Wonderbolts were called off. Locals can deal with it.

Some scare, eh?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: When the storm heard it had to deal with your ugly snout it flew away. Don’t scare us like that, you idiot. :) And thanks.

RRBB

Girls! Sorry I couldn't be here :( Parents were a bit freaked about that and dragged me out of school. Didn't have access to my computer until just now.

Now that it's over, what do you think it was? Imagine if there were a portal to Earth in center of the Crystal Empire! Won't that be cool or what?! What if the storm was because Danny or Bellucio crossed over?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: … never change, bby;) *intense hug* *ear chew*

Brush

Changes

@all: Well, I have a few announcements to make, and not all of them good :( As some of you know I have been struggling with some issues for quite some time. Without going into details, there are some things between me and my parents. Apparently, things that can't be settled as easily as I hoped.

Yesterday's scare got me thinking about someone dear to me who I'd been avoiding lately (if you read this, you were right all along). Everything changes and maybe it's time I did as well, instead of waiting for a disaster to do it for me.

Midnight Castle has been my life for ever since I could remember, and I'm not quitting anytime soon. I just need a while to figure out my next steps. With that, I won't be logging on for a while after this post. If you send any replies or PMs I'll not look at them until I return.

Most of you know me in real life, some quite well, so I ask please give me some space the next week, okay? I know you are there for me, but this is one thing you can't help.

CodeFilly will be in charge of the site while I'm gone. She's a wonderful pony, even if a bit shy, and will take great care of things. Please be nice to her, okay? Tech will keep on being as magnificent as he's always been and deal with features in a professional fashion. I'm also making MixaMax a Mod. She'll be dealing with community issues and make sure the site remains organized.

Sorry I have to do this :( These last few weeks have been the best of my life. I'd have wanted to make the site look a bit better, but I'm sure that you girls will make it shine in my place.

Bye all. Into the next portal!

LyraHands

What just happened?!?

RRBB

@RRBB: Lyra just needs to deal with some things. I can promise you I'm keeping an eye on her. The issue is complicated, so best leave it at that and continue with the usual site discussions. That's what Lyra wants.

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: well, she better get well! I love that goofy idiot!

RRBB

Maybe love wasn't the right word, but you know what I mean.

@MixaMax: so what now? I had a huge announcement to make regarding the reboot, but with the hurricane Lyra dropped on us (too soon?) it's a bit... meh.

RRBB

@RRBB: I feel you. :( Well, for now just make the announcement here. I'll be adding a few new sections: Discussions (for anything related to the new books) and Fiction (for anything fanfic related, including story and help discussions). This will become General and Rumors will remain as it is.

New rule: discussions of new MC stories are considered rumors until one week after store release. (Special Events don't count as a store release).

MixaMax

Okay. So we have our new series. Technically the announcement will be made sometime today, but at this point I might as well share what I know.

The new series (volume 7) will be called Midnight Castle: Everhere and will have the following cast: Danny, Eric, Bellucio, Omni, Blazen, Karl, Megan (no surprises), Molly (argh! Kill me now!), and Euryala ("an unorthodox character, who's been an undercover operative of the Corporate Overview Bureau as part of the Warlockwings mage squadron.")

It's not mentioned, but I think events are likely to take place a few years after the end of Mistmount Chronicles.

There you go.

RRBB

What did I tell you? :P

CEOWitch

@RRBB: O!M!G! Warlockwings mage squadron? That sounds so cool! Do you think they'll be flying and all? So far only Danny was given flight, but we know Megan can fly with Firefly, and Bellucio has his secret aether wings (I think Eric knows about them, though). Do you think the others will get fly powers as well?

Omni also has a few scenes flying, but that was mostly him mixing potions and drinks.

What do you think?

PrinceEric

@RRBB: What the fuck?! This is real? S.Child, what are you doing to my childhood? :(Warlockwings? I understand what they are going for, but that name. Even Warlock squad would be better! Also, the "fine nine"? We might as well make it official :(

Megan and Molly get a role increase? Are you kidding? Are you bucking kidding me?!? Girls in an all boys cast? I get it they want to broaden the audience, but seriously? No offense, but what do colts that young know about romance? Looks pretty much like wish fulfillment to me! As much as I like to think it's pandering to us, I doubt it.

And this new character. Argh! Mysterious character, blah blah bla! I could go on about this, but Tech will probably ban me from the site (sorry bby *nuzzles*). They could have at least bothered to check the name :/ It's the same as one of Bellucio's maids. She was even referred to in 4 stories! She even had interaction in one of them, claiming to have been with the family since before he was born. :/

I don't know, but I don't see this as a positive thing. They should just have gone with the a new setting. Maybe the age gap thing with the gr8 making appearances from time to time. Plus it would have been great to see their kids. (As much as I and everypony else hate Mellucio, I could see them having a cute kid: vane and daring.)

Guess all I can do is wait and see.

Rant over!

MixaMax

Now you understand how I felt with Mistmount Chronicles. To be perfectly honest, I was very skeptical when that version came out. Back at the time I even went so far as to say that S.Child was only doing it for the money. I never expected the series to amount to anything. Volume four, though, thoroughly changed my mind.

What I'm trying to say is, be skeptical as much as you want, but keep an open mind. This new direction might surprise us in a positive way.

The TechNightling

@MixaMax, @PrinceEric: some minor spoilers from me.

[MC spoiler]
Euryala isn't human.
She is the same one that claimed that she was with Bellucio's family.
She is female.
Her model and character are modeled after an existing top ranking Wonderbolt.
I can get you autographs of said top ranking Wonderbolt, but only to a small group.
You might not have to wait till Nightmare Night to learn more of the series.
[MC spoiler]

Exciting times are yet to come!

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Just don't get too excited, please. Your dreams are as naughty as Brush's.

Luna

...
...
@Luna: I'd ship that. I'd draw it even. >;)

@CEOWitch: Sorry for being a jerk to you. You're cool, and it shouldn't have take me to see how you're risking your life to help my brother and I to realize that. I'll be at the Wonderbolt show in Manehattan cheering whoever you might be.

PaintDrop

Author's Note

Reminder!
I'll be answering Lyra's AMA tomorrow, so be sure to add all your questions if you have any (or want to ask more) :)

Questions relating to this chapter will not be considered, though O:)

Euryala

Hey! I went through volumes 5, 6, 7, searching for facts about Euryala. Here's what I found so far:

-female
-always seen near Bellucio
-appears in 3 stories (still waiting on the first Mistmount volumes) always with a different description
-can see behind her (she dodges the stray batball Danny hit, saw Molly sneaking into the house, and also covered for Bellucio by distracting his parents)
-loves storms
-might be the user "Eury" on the occult site Blazen keeps visiting

I'm so hyped by this new development! A lot of ponies at school been discussing it like crazy! Especially with the Wonderbolts announcing the new series!

@CEOWitch: can you say which Wonderbolt Euryala is modeled after?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: ...yay :/ As far as I can remember there are a few more instances in vol 4. She's pretty much a late character, appearing when we got to see Bellucio's home for the first time. The only other case was that horrible scene in which Molly was swooning over him (The Hidden Doorway).

I'll check after work to see if I can find out more.... if I can be bothered.

MixaMax

@PrinceEric: CEOWitch is preparing for the Wonderbolt show. We had a few PMs and she told me she might not be in touch till then. She did tell me two things about Euryala, though:

She's not exactly human.
The Wonderbolt she's modeled after is really cool. (I think it's Spitfire)

PaintDrop and Brush won't be here for a while either. I'll be hanging out with them today. (After what happened with the storm both of them want some time to take it easy.)

@MixaMax: I can't believe your sis came all this way yesterday. Nuzzles for that. You okay if I snatch her to tag along with us?

RRBB

RRBB: Why ask me? If she's cool she's cool. Not like I can influence her :)

A big hello to the band! Go crazy, girls!

MixaMax

I'm not sure this is relevant, but a friend mentioned that she's working on jewelry design for a new colt series. That's an unusual order, so we got into chatting. She mentioned it was a type of snake bracelet.

I think it's Euryala's. Megan already has her rainbow necklace and Molly is too young.

Candle

Let me shed some light on the matter.

Euryala isn't human, but has humanoid form.
She does have native and acquired magic powers.
She isn't modeled after Spitfire (although Spitfire is consulting on the new series).
The bracelet Candle mentioned is related her, but doesn't belong to her.
Blueblood is secretly reading this forum. :P
One of the things I've said isn't true.

Back to Euryala, I know she was planned to make an appearance in volume 5, but things got constantly pushed back, so please don't keep on saying she's a new character. Also, the good thing about nine characters is that they represent exactly 3 groups of 3. Why is that so important? You'll have to wait a few weeks to find out :)

Luna

Speculation — me favourite part :) I've been going over the aethernet for the last two days, and I think I might have found something about Euryala. It's from an interview from the early MC books, where it was hinted of three princesses on extraordinary power that fell in a battle against the deities.

How cool is that? We might have our first official princess in MC. :D

DannyFan

@DannyFan: Hello, and welcome! Sorry for not greeting you earlier.

You'll really make me read the original series, won't you? :/ I so hope you are wrong about the princess thing. It was hard enough suffering through Princess Molly (even if that was one of the future-maybe-to-be stories).

I no longer know what to think! This is getting worse by the day. We have a new female character, who is a princess, knows magic, part of this Warlock squadron, and related to the deities? What's next? She's Danny's lover? :/ I know I should get upset by this, but what the bucking hay?!? I've seen better self inserts! The only thing that gives me some hope is the three groups comment. It was getting difficult to follow things with ten characters running around. Three plus three villains and/or support characters is quite manageable.

@RRBB: tell sis I said hiiii! :)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: done. She said she'll have words with you once she gets home. (Ooooh, somepony's in trouble :))

Well, it happened: an event that made PaintDrop lose her shit. You know how she was supposed to come to hang with me and Brush? Well, her brother showed up. Not only that, but he gave her a set of first edition Midnight Castle (signed by S.Child and everything!).

We all went WOAH! And Brush... I've never seen anypony drool as much in real life (and not only because of the books.) She'll probably tear my tail off when she reads this, but it's so worth it :)))

Anyway, PaintBro came up with the theory that Euryala might be Titanspawn. He said there are several creatures that can change shape in the original series, so might be that.

RRBB

@RRBB: ...and now we have changelings in the series. :/ Sure, why not? Divine changeling princess with divine powers and corporate connections. Nope, nothing wrong here.

I just decided I'll be writing a fic! It'll be about Euryala's long lost brother. No! Sister! Her twin sister with an even darker and more mysterious past, who will date all the gr8 at the same time!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: as disturbing as this is I so want to read it now. Please do it! I'll even edit for you!

CodeFilly

If it's safe for work, I'll be curious to see it as well. Just be sure to tag it properly.

I have my theories on Euryala, but will keep them to myself for now. Unlike MixaMax, I think she'll be a great character. Keep in mind there's nothing wrong in adding female characters as long as they are done well. So far I think S.Child is an extremely good writer and feel they can pull it off superbly.

The TechNightling

Don't you think I won't! And I'll get both of you to edit it! Then when you cry yourself to sleep at night wondering what has become of your life I'll be here laughing!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: like you're one to talk :P

Luna

Author's Note

Reached day 20! Woohoo!

Here's LyraHands' AMA to mark the occasion.

Will also try to colourtag a few chapters tonight. :)

Thank you, all! :)

The Announcement

The Announcement

Wowowowowowow! Did you hear? MC:E will be out on scrolls! That's hyper cool! So retro it's incredible! That also explains why we'll be getting the next volume at Nightmare's Night.

Do you think that there'll be any connection to the date? Daring Do cosplay is wild then, but won't it be cool, if they do a push for gr8 costumes? I can't wait!

PrinceEric

I must admit, this decision caught me off guard. I haven't seen anything published in scrolls for years, not counting collectors and special editions. This is going to change the dynamic entirely. Now I understand why S&S pushed so heavily on miniatures and announcements at grand events. Midnight Castle: Everhere might be fiction, but it's directly competing with comic books.

I'm looking forward to see how this will unfold. If successful we might see other franchises follow suit, maybe even get Daring Do scrolls (admittedly not my bowl of oats).

The TechNightling

The last few days were incredible! Yesterday, I got to spend some heat time with RRBB discussing the new series, got to meet Brush (I definitely didn't see that coming! Brush, you are the greatest!) and MixaMax's sis (Mixa, I want to strangle you!), my brother showed up out of the blue and gave me a signed first edition of the original series, and I got to see CEOWitch at the Wonderbolt show!

@CEOWitch: I have no idea who you are, but having Misty find me in the stands and give me a MC poster (signed by her, Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Soarin) was way cool! I also got a few more to give out to the respective ponies.

@LyraHands: hope you read this and get better soon. I have a poster for you, as well as a first edition from Tech. Also, RRBB and I will be buying you a full collection of miniatures and the first series of scrolls. ;) Come back soon.

@Brush: sorry for my brother's behavior. He's not used to being round mares, so he starts acting all quiet. It's nothing personal. I'm sure he'll get used to you in time.

Now that I've finished bragging... Back to drawing. I have a ship and some illustrations to finish.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: no sweat ;) Sorry I didn't come chat. Things were a bit tense because of that hurricane thing. Still, the show did go well (even if I didn't do much).

@MixaMax: can we do away with the one week waiting for the first scroll? I've already read it (weeks ago), but with the release coming out tomorrow, maybe we can start discussing directly? The schedule is a scroll per week for the first 13 (just to let you know).

CEOWitch

Smashing! :)

S&S got us there. I thought we might have the first volume earlier, but didn't think they'd go all scroll on us.

@PrinceEric: you can wager they'll make use of Nightmare's Night. I'm all but certain that Icelos will make a reappearance! I hope they keep his ability to dreamwalk. That was the coolest part. Maybe he'll get to be Luna's sweetheart?

DannyFan

@CEOWitch: just for you, I'll make an exception. You can start tomorrow once ponies get the scroll, but not before!

@PaintDrop: heh. Sis said the same thing when she came back. Is it true Brush drooled a puddle on the floor at the sight of your brother. I asked, but Sis said "he was okay" which could mean anything. :)

@PrinceEric / @DannyFan: you two seem remarkably alike. Do we have our first multi account?

MixaMax

All is in order as far as I can tell. They are a flight and a half away from each other and unless someone is using some advanced coding skills, there's no way for them to fake their signatures.

The TechNightling

@DannyFan: what's this? You want me to have a sweetheart? I'll let you know that I've met a Icelos and we're just friends. ;) Seriously, I *have* met him!

Here's a spoiler from me for making my day: the name of the first scroll is Backwards Treasure. The first sentence is "Waking is part of the dream."

Have fun, you meddlesome kids.

Luna

@Luna: Hey! Stop spoiling them! That's my job! ;)

CEOWitch

@MixaMax: :) No, Brush didn't drool. She just blushed a bit. For the record, I might trash my brother, but that doesn't mean there aren't mares gawking at him. :)

You're sis is way cooler than I thought. And you? You're full of surprises.

PaintDrop

@RRBB: I. Will. Kill. You! :/

@MixaMax: Buck you with a rock.

Brush

@Brush: heh heh heh. :D

Nah, it was all fun. Not that I would blame her. PaintDrop's brother is the real Bellucio! And yeah, Max' sis has always been nice, but this time was mega cool she was here during the scare. I tell you even my dad got worried. Heck, even my mom did! (Can you believe she went as far as tell em that "even the best minds get an occasional B in their studies".) Not that I ever would get a B, mind you!

It's just things at school that got me on edge, and that thing with the storm... Anyway, let me tell you what I got!

Scroll number one, baby! Heck yes! :) I can confirm what Luna has said is true. (Luna, are you really a Princess. I know everypony jokes online, but it would be awkward if we're talking trash to royalty.)

RRBB

What's this? Everypony's getting scroll one early? And I thought I'd impress people by posting that I've preordered them before the official site was launched. Damn, you girls are good!

@RRBB, @PaintDrop: Super kind of you to buy Lyra MC merch. If there's any trouble let me know and I'll chip in too. After everything she's done, she deserves some joy in her life.

@Brush, @RRBB: you ready for our project?

...I just noticed that all our names have a B. Must be destiny! :)

Bob

Ha! We are the real Luna!

TheRealLuna

@CEOWitch: oh, oh! Who is the Wonderbolt Euryala is modeled after? Please, we have to know! :)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Fleetfoot

CEOWitch

@all: So much for following the rules! :/ Good job, all. *slow clap* You can't even wait a day before starting with the spoilers.

MixaMax

So much for following the rules! :/

My thought's exactly...

Fleetfoot

Unexpected

Danny Williams

Dreamer, adventurer, chosen.

Resourceful and adventurous, his life changed when he received a dream from Zeus—deity of the heavens—changing everyone's life in the small town of Mistmount forever. Whether facing the ominous Felina corporation, protecting the realm from otherworldly threats, or journeying to distant magical worlds, Danny’s always there to help his friends and do what's right!

Siblings: Megan and Molly.
Place of birth: Mistmount, Gumania
Occupation: College student
Hobby: Stargazing
Mentor deity: Zeus
Magic power: Divine Flight
Eternity gem: unknown

"I got it now. I know how three halves can make a whole."

The first official spoiler (comes with the Danny figure). Yes, be envious! My sweet, sweet Danny is first! I don't care what anypony says, the figurines are so cool! They'll be on the shelves in a few days, followed by Blazen, then Molly (argh! :/).

Dad promised to buy me the whole bunch, plus the ones for Lyra, Brush, and someone else, so I can buy a few more sets with the money I have. Just don't burn me, okay? If any of you want minis, better have the bits at some point soon.

RRBB

@RRBB: Wow! Can you save me a set? I promise I have the money. I just can't send it :(

That's a really cool bit of info! Eternity gem? What do you think those are? Maybe something connected with the new series? Everhere and eternity seem quite close. Maybe all of the grand nine will have their own gem? Why else mention it's unknown?

Also, is it just me, or is the hobby thing also new? It was mentioned once, I think, but it's never been described as a thing, I wonder how important it'll be.

PrinceEric

@Fleetfoot: do you happen to be the real Fleetfoot? Will you be at book signings? :D

@PrinceEric: we also have confirmation that Danny's power is here to stay! And let us not forget the occupation. So it's official that at least one of the six has entered university. I wonder if all of them have.

I'm curious about the quote. I pretty much remember everything Danny has said in the series and I can't remember anything remotely similar. My guess is that it's a line from the actual series. Interesting to see if it's in the first scroll.

DannyFan

@RRBB: What's this? No spoilers? What's happened to you, RRBB? Not another fight again? I hope you save a set for me. I'll bring you the money tomorrow, or ask sis to bring it for me.

And now the ranting... *sigh* Where do I start? The initial paragraph is generic, but I could work for a new audience. I'm not sure it isn't over promising things. If I didn't know better I'd laugh at such description. There's just too much stuff. Yes I know that half of the actual info has been cut out, but we're all maniacs here! Give it to someone new and she'll go huh?

So, it seems that place of birth will have some importance. The idea of them going between worlds becomes more likely. I just hope they don't turn it into a Human in Equestria thing. A mention here and there could be tolerable, a whole arc—no!

The eternity is clearly the central theme, and for once I'm hopeful it might turn out good.

@DannyFan: we generally don't ask about real life, sugar. ;)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: It's not like it'll matter. Wonderbolts stake hooves with ponies all the time. Asking here is certainly safer than after an aerial display. I myself even have her autograph from two years ago, when she visited.

@Fleetfoot: I was the colt that stuttered when asking you for an autograph :D

DannyFan

DannyFan, you have been warned. Continue this and you'll be banned from the site.

The TechNightling

Well, that happened...

@MixaMax: do you always pester your sister like that? Sheesh! How hasn't she thrown you out yet? :P And you can keep your lousy bits! I got a set for you two. As long as you share it!

In other news. With finals over, and the moronic teacher pleased with me (that's a first) I can get back to writing. I'll be continuing my Danny Saga even if I know that it's no longer possible for it to be canon worthy :( Yes, although scroll one is quite good, they have explained a few things... and their explanation clashes with my explanation.

Max, can we have a way to show that a story is in conflict with the series? I love my works, but I don't want to read something without knowing it's different from canon. I'll think the author is an idiot. Something like Mirror tag of something would be nice.

RRBB

I'll take care of it.

CodeFilly

I kinda want to write a story about college Danny now. O:)

@The TechNightling: will you help he with the editing?

Candle

The scroll is incredible! And yes, the phrase is a perfect match from something says (to Caprice). I've read some weird stuff, but this takes the top. The writing team is insane! I'm sure you'll love it!

[MC spoiler]
The 9 get split in 3 separate realities at the very start of the scroll! Each part has the city, but three of the characters and one deity. It's interesting that the Felina corp is the same in all three. Also, the writing is far more mature. I'd give it a 13+.

The scroll ends with Danny realizing he must try to bring back things together. It's a real mindfuck!
[MC spoiler]

Bob

@all: Heya.

I'd like to say sorry for the last few days. It was wrong if me to just vanish with a quick message. Every single one of you has sent me messages, and that makes me so happy that I don't know what to say. Thanks, I guess? :)

The last few days have not been easy, but I think I'll get through this, much thanks to you all, and the new series coming out. (RRBB, I can't thank you enough.)

I've come to the conclusion that despite attempts on all sides, there is no solving the issue between my parents and I. From tomorrow, I'll be leaving my job and home and moving to Ponyville. Still no idea about a job. At least rent is five times cheaper :)

CodeFilly will run the site until I settle in, but I'll still be here reading and commenting.

I'm locking this thread until tomorrow. I know you all want to say hi, but that would shut down the site :D

See you soon.

LyraHands

Everyone Loves Lyra

@LyraHands: Hey! Hey! Listen! I got your stuff! (Well as much as I could get at this point.) Don’t worry about money or such. Also let me know if you need bits. My school report is going to arrive home next week and since I know I’ve aced it, I expect mom to show a modicum of generosity.

Don’t be a mule, you hear?

RRBB

@LyraHands: I’m with RRBB on this one. Clearly you’re going through a rough patch, and you have helped all of us. Don’t you dare say otherwise! You got this place set up, you paid for it, coded it, got people to post stories here, and whatnot.

I’ve only been here for a few weeks, but you’d be surprised how much this place has helped me relax and get to know the most remarkable ponies. (In some cases I saw ponies I’ve known for years in a totally new light.) So, as RRBB said, don’t be a mule, and accept our help.

Let me know what exactly you’re looking for and I’ll ask some family friends if I can find a place for you in Ponyville (or Canterlot if you prefer to remain there).

PaintDrop

@LyraHands: I can be of some help as well. I have a very good friend in Ponyville. I’m sure she’ll help.

Candle

@all: girls, girls, seriously. I might not be in the best psychological state, but I am fine :) I’m not broke or homeless. I still have savings, and I’ve got a series of interviews set up. CodeFilly and MixaMax have already helped me loads.

It’s sweet of you, but please. I don’t want to be the one taking advantage of you lovely ponies just because I made a fansite. If things get really bad I have friends to ask for help.

I’m sure there are lots of other things that we could be talking about. Like, there’s a new series out already! We should be going crazy! On that note…

@The TechNightling: I think we might be expecting an influx of new users (based on my experience from other fansites). Is there any danger of the site folding?

LyraHands

Have no fear, Lyra.

In your absence, CodeFilly and I had some discussions and decided to up the aether tier of the site. Midnight castle is pretty much at the best commercially available service.

Furthermore, we have managed to find a few UI potential artists to make a new and far superior design to go with the new and more stable code. Both of us are confident that in a few weeks this place will shine as it deserves to.

Welcome back :)

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: commercially available? Let me see if I can fix that ;)

Luna

@The TechNightling, @Luna: Girls… :) I’m crying over my keyboard. I get to be friends with the nicest ponies. I seriously don’t want to burden you, though. I promise to pay you back the moment things get back on track for me.

@RRBB: Same goes for you, you doofus!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Offer still stands no matter what you say! :P (And if you refuse the Omni statue I've been working on I won't talk to you ever!)

Oh, I'm thinking of asking someone from class to join the site. She's a bit meh about reading, but she writes quite well. I give her a week before she starts collecting everything. You girls okay with that?

PaintDrop

@LyraHands: Too late, don't hate ;)

Luna

@LyraHands: mare... how come I hear how bad things are from the site? When I asked you you said it was "just a small hiccup." :/ Next time you do that to me I'll drag you to the barracks! I'll even try to get you to suffer a whole hour with Fleet! (She chewed my mane off, by the way, but still is okay to meet you, so whenever you want just let me know and I'll fly you there."

CEOWitch

@LyraHands: chances are I'll be moving out soonish (last year of school). So if you're all right, we could be roommates. :)

DannyFan

@CEOWitch: I will, I promise. :) I didn't want to burden you with my troubles. Give me a few weeks and I'll be fine.

@DannyFan: umm, not sure your parents would approve you moving in with some unemployed mare. The thought is enough to make me smile, though. Thanks :)

LyraHands

@PaintDrop: who're you talking about? :/ Tell me you haven't talked with that bitch!

RRBB

@RRBB: SweetStuff. I think you need to stop that animosity between you and you-know-who, but no, it isn't her.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: SweetStuff is meh, but okay. We should ask Sparky, though. She'll like it. :)

@Brush: where have you been hiding? :) Don't you want to hear about your adored Bellucio? Also we must start working on that collab.

RRBB

@all: Girls, I'm gonna move out too! I've always dreamed living at the palace. Canterlot Palace. No! The Crystal Empire Palace! (Twilight's Palace is freaky. :P) If anypony could help me achieve my dream I'll be eternally grateful and promise to dedicate one day per week on not being sarcastic or annoying. :P

I'm joking. Lyra is fine, though. I know everypony loves Lyra, but she's getting the best of care.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: well, if Max says it, it must be true! :P Thanks, goofball.

@The TechNightling: I see we've a lot of silent users. Are those temp accounts, or are they just lurking?

LyraHands

Several of them are active. Fleetfoot has only logged on once, but I have assurances it's a legitimate account. If you want I can set a fifty day inactivity purge limit. Currently it's not a huge issue, but if we are to grow, as you suspect, it might be wise to have it.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: Thanks. :) What would I do without you? (Not learn code, that's for sure.)

LyraHands

First Analysis

Girls, I’ve come to a big decision. With the new scrolls coming out, I’m putting my wing at analyzing the chapters as they appear. I know I’ll never be as good as MixaMax, but it might be fun :)
Here goes! (I’ve read a few spoilers, but this is the first time I’m reading the scroll. Comments are done in the process of reading so I might end up contradicting myself :P )

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 1, Backwards Treasure

The title makes me think of a treasure that is lost in time. From what I’ve read S.Child doesn’t like to write about time travel, so I doubt it’s that. Maybe it’s a cursed treasure? Time to find out! :D

We start with Danny having a dream while in college. I like the new environment. It presents a slightly older (and much more mature Danny) and also fleshes out the world a bit. He wakes up in the middle of the night, all in sweat, but can’t remember what just happened. His roommate (I’m saying it now – Loki best character ever. He sort of reminds me of Rainbow Dash.) tells him he said something about a crown, so Danny drops everything and and heads home.

Danny goes back to his house (which is five minutes away) and we get to meet Molly. I’m not sure how to feel about grown up Molly. She’s no longer a comic relief character, but with everything in the past I can’t think of her as anything else. It was funny how she pretends she’s over her crush on Bellucio, but the moment he appears goes all swoony.

The rest of the gr8 appear one by one, and we learn what they have been up to: Bellucio is in modeling school (big surprise), Eric and Karl are in different colleges. Omni got enlisted in cadet school (O.o I don’t even want to ask) and Blazen was vague what he had been into. Megan is working in the Skyla corporation (maybe that’ll be a theme of this series?) and couldn’t make it.

They catch up and Danny is just about to tell them that he’s started to have dreams again, when the lights go out and they are all attacked by some new enemies (The Warlockwings). Bellucio fights some female warlock (I already know that will be Euryala). Things start to get ugly, but then Hades emerges and teleports them away to his mountain shrine (yay magma clouds, also yay finally we get to see Hades do something).

We learn that a new threat is about to appear (of course Hades cannot tell them more or help them because of some oath-bond.) He tells them that they must “keep the crown from reaching the Everprince.” (No idea what that is, but it sounds way awesome!) Hades then kicks them out back in Mistmount.

We then get a long sequence of events exploring the daily life of the main cast as they go on about doing stuff (and a new subtle level of Molly antics). Of course, each of them gets attacked by the Warlocks, who also know of the crown.

Giving them the slip (Molly’s new fighting moves was a nice touch. Also, wow Bellucio! “I’ve been taking mage-defense lessons” is best phrase ever. Calling it will become the “bottles” of series 7) everyone goes to Blazen’s secret hideout (huh?) where Caprice lives (huh?!?) and tells them that portal magic has been in flux lately. No mention why Eric didn’t know about this, since portals are his thing.

Megan arrives, then there’s a long discussion about the crown and the new threat. Megan says she remembers a memo on the subject (quite convenient) and says she’ll ask about. A few jokes are exchanged and she leaves. As everyone goes to sleep Blazen and Caprice sneak away and Caprice whispers that maybe they must tell the others what is going on, but Blazen refuses. (Foreshadowing!)

We then see Megan talking to a mysterious contact from the Felina corp saying that all corps are seeking the crown because of the star alignment (this is so The Mare on the Moon)! Next morning everyone gathers and go to raid the Felina corp.

The raid was described pretty neat. I love how we got cool combos of divine powers and tech weapons. S.Child is a genius! They find what they are looking for and go to a desert (Called it! :P ) where they find some booby-trapped temple. (A bit too much Daring Do here, but still cool.) They reach the treasure and surprise, Euryala… I mean “an unknown Warlock” attacks. The warlock defeats them all and is about to get the treasure, when Omni appears all commando style and beats her up. (Omni best humie! :) )

Of course, Omni being Omni, he puts the crown on his head, splitting reality into three. We then learn that because they have found the crown, they must find it again in each reality so as to keep it. (This was crazy! Took me three reads to understand. If I got it right, the crown is both eternal and nowhere. So in a way it’s split in many realities and in order to get it, they must get it. That’s why the crown is Ever Here? This is both so cool and confusing. :P )

So at the end we have Danny realizing this, after a talk with Hades (in a reality where Zeus and Poseidon never existed). To sum up: Danny, Molly, and Eric are in reality Hades (poor Molly); Megan, Blazen, Karl are in reality Zeus; Omni, Bellucio, and Euryala are in reality Poseidon (very ominous, since Euryala went all crazy when she learned.)

Overall, I loved it! Still not certain about Euryala and the older Molly. Love Loki and the new way the main cast react. The world is phenomenal, and the idea of reality morphing is out of this world! :D

So, what do you think? Did you like my analyses?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Why aren’t you in my school? I’m so tired of airheaded colts and brainless mares… oh, hi, RRBB. :P

Wonderful work. I agree that the story was the best ever. The whole reality thing had me going “No, they didn’t!” Not only is it ingenious, but ponies actually have to think to get it! I know I could never have come up with something as clever. I might ask my brother to see what he thinks (him being more the target audience). My only fear is, I hope it doesn’t alienate readers.

PaintDrop

@PrinceEric: way to go, Prince. :) I really think you should do this for every chapter. It’s nice reading your thoughts as you describe stuff. And I still don’t know how you managed to compress everything in one post. If it were MixaMax we’d have seven threads maxed out before we get to the first Hades meeting. :D

I have a few theories, but will wait till next chapter before I say anything. Have you noticed how they give us the next title of the next scroll at the very end? S&S = max teasers! Any theories what “The Shatterstone” is? Do you think it’s one of the new powers the grand 9 will get?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: That was mean. At least I won’t get into a hissy fit about Molly stealing "my" Bellucio :P

Chapter was pretty good. Writing could have been a bit better (dialogue was too telly to be real) but keeping in mind we’re competing with comics now, it’s fine. The premise bends horseshoes, though! Sometimes I think that there really is a portal to the human world and that S.Child uses it.

Oh, and Euryala is meh at best.

MixaMax

Hello,

I’ve been keeping my eye on this site for a while. Honestly, I was skeptical it would survive more than a week. I’m pleased that it did! It’s a wonderful environment for a mare (or stallion) to learn critical thinking, get feedback, and take part in some of the most thorough and friendly exchanges of opinions I have ever seen!

Not only that, but some of the works are of professional quality (or close). With a bit of help I think the authors could be quite successful. I myself have dabbled in fanfiction, mostly in Daring Do circles, but would love to be part of this vibrant community as well. “Nightlings forever!” :)

@PrinceEric: good job. I’ll send you a few pointers, but for your first time you did really well. I am impressed. Keep it up! :D

DarkSparkle

“Nightlings forever!” :)

It has begun! Brace yourselves!

MixaMax

Brush's PM Confession

Lyra, I need to talk to you.

Brush

Please send a line when you get back. It's really important.

Brush

Lyra, are you there?

Brush

Hey! Sorry, was at a job interview and couldn't check the site. :( Seems that Ponyville doesn't need an elementary music teacher. :/ Might be for the better, though. Not sure how awkward it would have been me being there.

So what's up?

LyraHands

I think I did something horrible...

Brush

What? What happened? I just need to call off an interview and will go to your place.

LyraHands

No! I can't face anypony right now. Even talking about it here is... I'm so disgusted with myself. I'm so horrible.

Please, don't mess up your life because of me. Go get that job. I'll manage somehow.

Brush

Mare, I'll go there and slaps you in the face! I've already sent the letter to the post office. (Wasn't big on being a delivery mare anyway.)

What happened exactly? Before my vacation you were so happy and cheerful. Was somepony mean to you? Fuck what Tech says, I'll track whoever hurt you and give her one in the snout!

LyraHands

Nopony hurt me, Lyra. I messed things up :(

Brush

I went on a date with PaintDrop's brother. He's in the forum. He said he liked my writing, so i flirted a bit as I do with everypony. Soon things went a bit further. We exchanged PMs, talked about stuff all the time, discussed his life, my writing. Then RRBB organized that get-together at her place.

You probably think I'm terrible! :( We arranged to secretly meet with Mota there. The official story was that he went to see his sister and give her his first edition books. The thing was, he just came so we could see each other.

He was so beautiful you wouldn't believe. I didn't believe! All those fantasies about rick college colts? That's him. He even has glasses! And what do you think I did? Messed everything up! :(((

Brush

Mare, I'm so sorry :((( I know what's it's like to have your heart ripped out. It hurts like Tartarus, but only if you let it. I know you don't want to see anyone right now, but I think friends and ice cream are what you need.

And keep fighting the fight! I know from experience everything seems blue right now, but there'll be someone else. Just give it time.

LyraHands

It's not that at all. I... we... we went out after the the get-tougher. PaintDrop thinks he went back to college, but he didn't. We met up secretly that evening and I took him to my place. I can still smell his perfume.

He was so nice. We talk about everything: him, me, our lives. Then I offered to go to my place. I've no idea what possessed me. I was half hoping he'd refuse, but he said yes. He told me that after the scare in the Crystal Empire he thought life was short and that he wanted to try so many things. We... spent the night together.

Brush

Err? I'm confused. :( Sorry that I'm slow, but wasn't that what you've always wanted? You found your dream stallion, he was cute and and fun, and open to advances.

Honestly, I'd hoofbump you right now if you didn't sound so miserable.

LyraHands

I slept with a virgin collegecolt, Lyra! After what must have been the most traumatic moment of his life! You think that's okay? Fuck, I'm probably four years older! I'm the first mate he's been with ever! And I'm not talking kicking in the hay! His parent spent the greater part of their lives keeping him away from mares!

I took advantage of him! I'm not sure he was even ready! It's only when I woke up the next morning I realized what I had done. He lay there sleeping on my bed and I though... Stars, I actually thought how that might affect me! And do you know what he did? The moment he opened his eyes, half asleep, he told me he loved me!

Brush

Wow. You got yourself an impressionable one. Not surprising, him being of a Celestial illegal and that. Are you scared his parents would come after you?

LyraHands

Do you have idea how bad it sounds? I shlobbed the brother of my greatest fanfic fan! For that alone I should be sent to the moon! How do you think he will feel when he realizes what happened? He lost virginity with me! Doesn't any of this ring any alarm bells for you?

Brush

Listen to me. You've always been sensitive. True, things aren't ideal, but at the end of the day the two of you are reasonable adults. His family might not like it, but whatever he wants to do he can and they don't have a say.

Has he said anything?

LyraHands

So far he's focusing on his exams again. The freak storm messed the curriculum and something or other. He's sent a few PMs that he loves me and wants me to come see him soon.

I spent half my life writing shitty romance stories, but when it comes to the real thing I'm as horrible as they come!

Brush

Do you want to get serious with him?

LyraHands

I don't know! Right now I think he's the most magnificent creature on hooves, but what do I know about him? All I saw was a fine flank and a gorgeous mane! Max was right about me. I really am obsessed.

Brush

Max wouldn't know romance if it bucked her in the head! And don't give me that crap about you being a monster. Stallions aren't made of glass. If they don't want to do something they sure as Tartarus won't.

Since you want my advice I'll give it to you: talk to him. Tell him everything you told me, all your fears, all your worries, then see what he says. Right now you're just as scared that he might stay than he might run off. Just lay the cards on the table. If you want him, fight to get him and be ready to take responsibility. Knowing you, that isn't a problem.

And if everything else fails, I might ask Twilight for a favor.

LyraHands

Twilight?

Brush

Yep. Cadence's sister in law. ;)

LyraHands

Sorry, but I'm too crap for jokes. Thanks for the talk though. Not sure if I feel better, but it helped.

Brush

Anytime. Just remember: silent mouths get no oats. Talk to him. I'm sure everything will be fine.

LyraHands

Conflict of Definitions

@all: Good morning, Nightlings!

With the return of LyraHands and the first new chapter of MCE out, I'd like to make a few announcements.

Firstly, we have managed to find an artist who'll go through every section of the site and give it the shine it deserves. I've personally known her for quite some time, and can vouch for her skills in the area. Olivia is, in fact, an aetherdesign veteran, specialized in UI, who has created some of the most well known sites out there (including Princess Cadence's wedding site). We're truly fortunate to have her here! Furthermore, I'm happy to say she's a fan of Midnight Castle, be it the original series, so rest assured, we're in good hands.

Things don't stop there! Yesterday evening CodeFilly was contacted by none other than Summer Breeze, known better as Haysticks, has asked to draw the main banner. Undoubtedly, you know him for his work on the Daring Do comics, Cloud Hunters, Tulip Troubles, and his original series Lone Stallion. To our great surprise he has been lurking on the site since day one under the alias HayFish, and has been quite impressed by PaintDrop's work (good job there, filly!)

Finally, I am pleased to announce that the tagging and search engine, that LyraHands started, are fully functional. CodeFilly and I have made sure everything works as it should. Naturally that means from now on you'll have to tag your stories adequately.

With that, I wish you a lovely day.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: what tags are there exactly? And, can you add a better explanation how to use them? When I think of my stories, I can't choose what to put :(

Candle

@The TechNightling: why am I only now hearing about this? Lyra got something started and it's good?!? What's next? Celestia has an account here? Hmm. That might actually be true. Lyra still has lectures with her.

Princess, can you use your influence to make Midnight Castle into a Bridleway show? Please?

MixaMax

@Candle: It's a bit simpler now. :) All you have to do is choose the genre of your story, then add the tags that describe it. Here's an example.

Title: The Human Between Us
Story link: xxxxxxxxxxx
Picture link: xxxxxxxxxxx
Song link: xxxxxxxxxxx
Genre: Drama
Tags: Magitech, Love, Taur, Violence, Sex, Adventure, Nightmare, Alternative, Sorrow

There's no limit, but I'd recommend sticking to six maximum. Also, leave any links you don't use blank. If you have any trouble PM me and I'll help. :)

@MixaMax: you're silly :) Bursty will be coming to Canterlot next week for some work in. Want to have a class get together?

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Not to be one to argue, but having a hierarchy of tags might be beneficial. Some of the examples you gave are very specific, while others are quite broad.

For example: Magitech is more as interesting note. I am fully aware that it has a large following among comic book and graphic novel enthusiast, but by the same logic you might have Occult, Supernatural, Modern, Historical, and what not. Same thing about Love and Sorrow. If Love is the focus it's a romance. If we have Love, why not add Friendship?

A field to enter a brief description would also be beneficial. There an author could use a few sentences and describe exactly what she (or he) wishes the readers to see. Since this is based on a literary work, I suggest we keep to the literary conventions instead of making up new ones.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: You are hilarious! :)) I love you already!

RRBB

Dear DarkSparkle,

Thank you for your well thought through advice. While what you're suggesting makes sense in the real world, there is no way for a search engine to work on a description. For that reason, the tags are not so much a classification, but a means to identify stories. While you are correct that many more tags could be added, we have settled on tags that are currently used in our small community. Magitech and NonMagic tags exist since we have stories that focus strongly on them, and others avoiding them completely. Same is for Love and Sorrow, Adventure and Social, and so on.

I agree that for clarity a Blurb section could be added so the author could write a description, and will add it momentarily.

Have a nice day.

The TechNightling

@CodeFilly: you two dating yet? That sounds cool! Do it! Doooo iiiiit!

@DarkSparkle: Woo there! Hierarchy of tags sounds so wrong. (And I deal with bureaucracy for a living!) the mess it'll cause outweighs the benefits. You must keep in mind that ponies need to be able to use it, not just me and you. (And don't you dare say cross indexing!)

MixaMax

@The TechNightling: I concede your point, although you'll find that is far less efficient than what I'm suggesting. As the amount of writers grows, so will the tags and you'll be stuck with a flat structure of hundreds of tags.

Could you provide a description or explanation regarding the so-called tags, then? I had some free time yesterday and wrote a few stories I'd like to post, but want to be certain I tag them correctly.

DarkSparkle

@MixaMax: I sincerely doubt that any pony would have any problems with something as simple as tag hierarchy and cross indexing and referencing.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Tragic. I blame the education system :P

MixaMax

Here's a list of all current tags and an explanation how to use them.

Genre: comedy, drama, horror, satire, romance, poetry, tragedy, tragicomedy, parody

Tags:
Adventure - elements of high adventure
Alternative - alternative to existing canon
Love - love elements
Magitech - magical technology elements
Nightmare - dark and often gruesome elements
NonMagic - contains no magic whatsoever
Sex - erotica
Social - daily life events and social interactions
Sorrow - elements of sadness or heartbreak
Taur - humans with pony elements (centaurs, minotaurs, etc)
Violence - high levels of blood and gore

I trust that everything is clear now?

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: thank you :) would it be possible for you to review my new story? I've tried to follow your advice.

Candle

The tags are so out of sync with reality and proper conventions! I'll make a proper tagging system and send it to you via Private Message!

I would also like my story reviewed. It's never too late for one to learn, especially in a community that thrives on discussions :D

DarkSparkle

@Candle, @DarkSparkle: I can review them too if you want! I love reviewing! :D

PrinceEric

Meanwhile somewhere a pony shouted "Buck you!"

@CodeFilly: please write the story you used for an example! Love, sorrow, sex, and violence... what could anypony want more? :D (I'm sure Brush will pop up and say "Stallions" :P)

RRBB

Two Reviews

Review of Shine
By Candle

Genre: Drama

Having edited a few of Candle's stories so far, technical issues aside, I can honestly say that this one outshines them all. The story is a lovely description of Danny's roommate Loki, who after arriving at college starts noticing strange things.

From the very first sentence we are presented with an encounter between a confused Caprice and an even more confused Loki. Caprice flies into the dorm through the window as Loki is unpacking then, seeing she's made a mistake, apologizes and flies off. Already we are prepared for a comedy of errors to take place and the story doesn't disappoint.

After his unexpected experience, Loki tries to figure out what's going on in a semi disinterested fashion. Each time he's about to put the whole thing behind him something happens: an attack by corporate sorceresses, a magic insect infestation, a dragon in the refrigerator. Candle provides us with a number of laughs and witty dialogue, but it's the topic of the story that shines.

At the end, after yet another unexplained event, we have a thought provoking discussion between Loki and Megan. To our surprise we find that Loki has a crush, possibly more, on Danny, but is hiding it due to the pressures of society. This is a very deep and unusual take, reflecting a lot of our own problems, but presented in a light and amusing fashion. More remarkably. Loki believes that the weird events surrounding him are in fact signs urging to confess his feelings to Danny despite the pressure of society not to. Ultimately we are left with Loki going to Danny and mentally preparing himself for the conversation.

Magnificent take and, with the exception with a few spelling mishaps, well executed. You have come a long way in a short time, Candle. I can only say—keep it up.

The TechNightling

Review of Centaur Heart
By DarkSparkle

Genre: Romance

I must admit, the title had me very conflicted. The combination of Taur and Romance (along with the tags Sex and Love) raised a number of red flags. Hadn't it been for my promise I would have left the story for later at best. I'm glad that I didn't. The story is exceptionally well written and, while not carrying a deep message, has an interesting plot and well thought out world. What is more, it includes elements of the original series alongside Mistmount Chronicles. The story's only fault—the unnecessary amount of technical details which bogs it down.

At first we are presented with Eric, who is reading up on portals in the city library. After going through a number books on myths and magic, he all but gives up, only to bump into an older version of Icelos. Icelos shares that there's much more about portals that could be found in the library and offers to share the secret if Eric is ready.

This is the first point at which the story disappoints. Instead of going on with the storyline, we are subjected to an analyses of the situation and an overly-details description of Eric's fears. Ultimately he agrees and is taken to a new realm to learn the nature of portals. There he meets Hylonome—a centaur rescued by Zeus, yet "imprisoned for her own protection" to be safe from her vicious brothers.

Hylonome agrees to share her knowledge with Eric, but at a price: for every sect she reveals he must perform a boon. Initially it's relatively minor things: seeing ancient artifacts, sending messages to creatures she knew. Gradually the tasks become more and more life threatening. At the same time, Eric continues to fight the Felina corporation. He has developed portal magic which makes him far stronger than before, yet as one of his promises cannot mention where he learned to use it.

Gradually a spark of love forms between Eric and Hylonome, and naturally he sets it on himself to set her free. Arguably, the story could have ended here, but the author decided to go the extra mile, depicting a new set of fights, including against Hylonome's brothers, as well as conflicts between Eric and his friends. We are also presented with a few disturbing scenes of sexual nature that I think we could have done without.

Ultimately, Eric convinces his friends to help and together they obtain Zeus' permission to set Hylonome free, as well as transform her into a full human.

DarkSparkle mentioned they had written fiction before and it shows: from the good level of writing to the obligatory angst and sex that are frequent in such circles. My advice would be—try to remove those bits and your work will shine much brighter.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: Wow! I read through the stories, but after your reviews I don't think I'll post mine. You really are good at this!

I kinda liked the both of them, but Candle's hits far closer to home. You see I'm like that in real life and understand exactly what Loki is going though. In my case my parents know and are very supportive of it. My friends too, but it's not something I shout to everyone.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: power to you! :) Saw it from a mile away :) Brush will be devastated, though. Then again, she has PaintDrop's brother to chase after >:D (Paint, any chance you can drag your bro to the site? Let Brush have at least some hope :P)

As for the stories, I'm pretty much in agreement with what Tech said. Shine is nice and sweet. I would have ended in a kiss between them, but that's just me. I don't like things open to interpretation.

Centaur Heart, on the other hoof... where do I start. I actually checked all the explanations on magic and psychology, and they are quite correct. I can even say which books they were taken from. The sex scenes, though... my lungs almost exploded from laughing. Really, DarkSparkle? I appreciate you are trying to be accurate, but the way they end up doing it is so uncomfortable they might well quit. This is fiction, and as in fiction, the most important thing is to convey the feeling adequately. Tech is 100% right you could do away with those scenes and still keep the impact. Just add a few sentences that it had been done (Eric blushes at some point or something).

My biggest problem, however, is how useless you've made Zeus. It's almost as if he's powerless and Eric and company must do everything for him. He's a deity, for stars' sake! That and the way you describe humans is a bit weird. I'm not sure they'd act that way.

MixaMax

You don't understand a thing! I know exactly how humans behave!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: hey, no need to get upset. *hugs* Nopony is being mean to you. Your story is great, it just needs a few touches here and there. We're all here because we like reading and writing. (That and Midnight Castle.) Tech and Max were just offering advice.

After all, we're here for each other!

LyraHands

Fights and Theories

Girls! I have a theory!

Remember how it's said that the crown is actually made of three pieces? What if everything else is like that too? I mean there are three deities, Danny has two siblings (making them a total of three), and there are three corporations.

Won't it be cool if it turns out that all of Mistmount is just part of a split reality that sharded off from the original Midnight Castle and the Everprince is the true ruler?

Also, it's interesting how every group got two boys and one girl (the same as Danny's family). I think there's something here!

What do you think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Sounds a bit stupid, but at this point it's anypony's guess. On another note, I blame you all! This forum has spoilt me! I can't read normal fiction without finding it boring. :/ Even MC and Mistmount Chronicles seem a bit meh compared to the start of Volume 7.

I asked my brother about MCE and he said it was good. Coming from him that means a lot. He's also impressed by Brush's work (it's annoying at times :/). Still, at least he's doing something useful with his life instead of grooming himself in front of the mirror all day long.

Almost forgot! I finished the illustrations for Brush and Bob. Please tell me what you think, girls? And tell me when you're planning to start the "story of all shipping." RRBB has really been looking forward to it. Let me bring her at least some good news (she got grounded for fighting again.)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: What the fuck?! :/

@PrinceEric: a little too early for such theories. Rather, what do you think the shatterstone is? If it's one of the ever-stones maybe it's some sort of weapon? Or maybe... Eric, I could kiss you! What if the shatterstone shatters realities? That would be cool!

@Brush: Brushy, you're starting to worry me. You're not in trouble, are you?

MixaMax

Well, guess who got his ass chewed off today? :/ CO has been on my case for that leak all day! "Just because you're sexy, Witch, doesn't mean you can spill info!" Bla, bla, bla!

@PrinceEric, MixaMax: how I want to tell you... :) I pretty much know the starting arc. After the 6th scroll though, I'll be a regular reader like you.

@RRBB: I think you might need some help, kiddo. Nopony fights that much without a reason. Let me know how I can help.

CEOWitch

@MixaMax: I'm here, just was busy.

@PaintDrop: Sure. Tell her to message me when she can.

Brush

Seems like I'm not the only one who had a crappy day. :/ Three rejections. Top in my class in magic, A-list student in the conservatory and I still can't be trusted with even the basic stuff! At this point I'm praying they'll let me be a mailmare! :/

@PaintDrop: is she alright? I think it's high time I talked with her.

LyraHands

@LyraHands, @CEOWitch, @MixaMax: it got ugly this time. She bit a classmate's feathers off. No teachers saw and the classmate isn't a snitch, but that got her really shaken.

PaintDrop

Gosh! That sounds extreme. I know I'm half Equestria away, but let me know if I can help.

DannyFan

What?! Fighting in class? That's just... Tell me which school! I'll go there and set things straight! Biting wings off. They should get along together, not fight. At worst, they should discuss their differences and find a solution to their problem. Whatever the reason there's always a solution.

DarkSparkle

Thanks, all. I'll tell her that, but it's really nothing new. Schools are much more violent than you think, and this is a sort of complicated issue. I expect RRBB to be back in a few days to tell you all about it.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Well, I'm taking things into my own hooves! I'm also telling my sister!

MixaMax

Do you want me to get involved?

Luna

Or me?

TheRealLuna

@Luna: That might be a good idea, Princess. Just please allow me to try and resolve this first. Or her friends. I really don't want us to bother you needlessly.

DarkSparkle

@PaintDrop: I'll pass by today.

Brush

@RRBB, @PaintDrop: The reason this small community is thriving is because we believe in the values of the series. When somepony is in trouble it's only natural that we want to help, and CEOWitch is right. You are fighting more and more, RRBB.

I have an idea what is going on, but would rather talk to you in private. Get PaintDrop's tech if you have to, but please write me, okay?

LyraHands

You said it, mare. If there's anything we can help with, we will. And don't you worry about the story. We'll put our heads together and make the best one the site has ever seen! (We have Brush and you, after all. ;))

@CEOWitch: I just have to ask... is your CEO into nice asses that she gives you such a hard time? :P

Bob

@Bob: Best ass in the Wonderbolts! Wait, what? :P

CEOWitch

@all: As much as we want to help, maybe at this point we should move all conversations on the matter to private.

@PrinceEric: I think you and Max might be onto something here. The whole idea of reality shards does seem linked with this shatter stone. I think the more important question is: who is the Everprince. What if he's also someone who's also been split in the three realities and needs the crown to become whole again?

As much as I hate saying this, we still don't know if Hades is good (he might still be tainted) or if that's him at all. Danny usually receives dreams from Zeus. All Hades dreams so far have been attempts to harm him, with one exception. Could it be this is all a corporate trick?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I thought of that, but remember the bit of the evil being old and new? Hades has been in the series quite a lot. If anyone I'd say it might be Poseidon making an appearance. Or maybe the three deities are the Everprince and Hades wants them to remain as separate entities?

Argh! Too much ideas! :D

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Never change, colt! :) You're adorable.

PaintDrop

Author's Note

Hi, all!

With Day 30 nearing, I'm thinking of doing another character AMA :) Please let me know which of the posters (other than Luna) you'd like to have :)

Also, can someone good with colours help me find suitable ones so I can change the posts? im really bad at this :(

RRBB's PM Troubles

Hey, it's me.

Parents have grounded me real bad. Will be days before I get back to the site :/ All because of that idiot! When I get back to school, I'll show her!

PaintDrop

Why do you get in so much trouble? :(

LyraHands

Oh, please don't be like Paint! I got into a little argument, big deal. Not like anypony was seriously hurt. Some girls really like to exaggerate! I've been through this lots of times. So, maybe I was a bit mean, but hey, life at school is tough.

PaintDrop

If things weren't serious you wouldn't be talking to me. So tell me exactly what happened! It was her again, wasn't it?

LyraHands

Fine! Yes, it was her. It's always her! Just seeing her makes me want to tear her mane off! Why doesn't she just quit and go back to Cloudsdale or somewhere! It's not like she'll be missed! The trash they let come to school is really appalling!

PaintDrop

I didn't meant that! You're cool. And so is Brush, and even Max. I just... I don't know why she drives me crazy, but she does! I can't stand her!

PaintDrop

Biting somepony's feathers off isn't a slap on the muzzle, filly! Have you any idea how painful that is for a pegasus? I've had friends cry so hard they had to magic them to calm down.

First thing when you get back you apologies to her, and this time do it right! I'll see if I can help her get better faster. Honestly, if you were my kid sister, I'd give you such a trashing right now! You literally have it all, and you just mess things up! No one can save you from yourself, even me.

LyraHands

This is why it's a bad idea talking to you. I always end up crying!

PaintDrop

I know. I've been there. Why do you hate her so much, though? I thought you had put all that stuff behind you.

LyraHands

I hate her because I like her!

PaintDrop

I can't like her! She’s the most horrible pony in existence! She sticks, is always dirty, and has the perception of a blind rock! And I still like that freak! And hate myself for it!

PaintDrop

And don't get me started on my parents! If they ever find out... Dad will probably get a heart attack. And mom? Well she'll probably disown me and burn my name off the family tree. Doesn't matter that she married into the family!

The mere suggestion I could associate with someone as lowly as her would get my relatives to flip! Life is so unfair sometimes! It'll be different if she just notices me for once. But no! I try to be nice and she ridicules me in front of the entire class! I try helping her out and she assures me of conniving against her! I bet that idiot doesn't even know what conniving means!

PaintDrop

Sweetie, do you think it might be more than like?

LyraHands

Lyra, that's gross! I'm not some freak! I just like her as a friend!

PaintDrop

I didn't mean that!

PaintDrop

I know. Something is going on with you, though, I've seen you be nice, then all of a sudden there's this. Have you been mean to anypony else?

LyraHands

Nah. Just a few yells and bucks. Nothing serious.

You know, that's why I got into Midnight Castle. It helps me relax. Things would be so much better if there really was a portal to a human world. There I could finally be myself: no stupid parents, no stupid classmates, or annoying teachers, no one to judge me. Do you think Princess Celestia has a hidden portal somewhere?

PaintDrop

Filly, if there were something I'd know about it. ;) Still, I'd only go visiting. I have too many friends there. You do too! And don't give me that hay about not having any friends! I know at least two (and that's outside the site).

LyraHands

You're a good mare, you know that, right? I wish I had a sister like you.

PaintDrop

Because having an unemployed older sister is so cool? :P Just messing with you. You know that you don't have to get grounded to talk to me. (I've been saying that a lot lately.) Things are not ideal for me right now, but I'm still here for advice.

Best find somepony to talk to. PaintDrop told me you don't share things with her lately. Not like before anyway.

LyraHands

What?! That crybaby! And yes, I know she'll be able to read my messages! I just don't think she can help me all the time. Plus, I also got Max and her sister. (Oh mare, was she mad when she learned. Let me tell you those two are scary!)

PaintDrop

You know what they say: only thing worse than unicorns fighting is unicorn stallions fighting. :P Max is harmless, though. Just don't tell her I said that.

Going back to you, do you feel a bit better? I can pass by if you want me.

LyraHands

Naaah. I'm fine. You always calm me down. Besides, I got a whole site of ponies to be nasty at :P

Also, Max's sis is here. I have no idea how she tricks my parents into letting her in, but it works every time. Even PaintDrop has a harder time.

Can you do me one favor, though? If you're friends with CEOWitch and she really is part of the Wonderbolts, can you get her to get me their autographs? I know it's silly, but... you know.

PaintDrop

I'll send CEO a PM and see how things go from there. Shouldn't be a problem, I think. I've done far wilder things :) Don't tell anypony, but I had caramels with Blueblood on my last day before leaving Camterlot. I told him I was a huge MC fan and Caprice wouldn't forgive me if I left without asking Bellucio to a date. And he went along.

LyraHands

You dork! :)

PaintDrop

This dork has a selfie with two Princesses and a Prince :P
Must go now—more interviews and house searching. :/

Take care, and please no fighting at school.

LyraHands

I'll try

PaintDrop

Author's Note

So far one vote for Brush and half for CEOWitch and MixaMax :)

Second Spoiler

Megan Williams

Scholar, guardian, chosen.

Silent and determined, Megan was chosen from birth to serve as her realm's guardian, yet carried that secret hidden inside until it was revealed to her by Luna. Shying away from the spotlight, she helps her brother and his friends protect their realm, while seeking answers as a researcher at the Skyla corporation.

Siblings: Danny and Molly.
Place of birth: Mistmount, Gumania
Occupation: Junior field researcher of the Skyla corporation
Hobby: Linear Algebra and Analytical Geometry
Mentor deity: Unknown
Magic power: Unknown
Eternity gem: Shatterstone

"You idiot, Danny! You know I'll do anything for all three of you"

With RRBB occupied, it falls upon me to bring you this. And yes there's a Megan figurine as well. (The figurine isn't anything special. Mine is much better! I'll be sharing a pic as soon as I get the fingers right. They are a nightmare!)

As one who's put Mistmount Chronicles on pause until I read the original Midnight Castle, I feel terribly spoilered. "Realm's guardian"?! "Revealed by Luna?!" Somepony who has read the books, please tell me if those things happened! And please no further spoilers (I'm looking at you, PrinceEric ;)).

Also, Megan is such a geek! :) Having LAAG as a hobby? Lol! I guess I'm cool as well now :P

Another interesting thing is the mention of the shatterstone. With the next scroll expected tomorrow, I guess I know which group it will focus on.

What do you girls think?

PaintDrop

I actually hate myself right now! This series is getting better and better. Not gonna lie, I thought it'll be just another money grab, but wow do they link things. Granted this is just the second scroll. We already have one of the mysterious gems explained (to a degree) as well as a clear indication there'll be more reality shattering. (I wonder if Megan will split her brother in three while experimenting with the stone. That would be fun :))

@PaintDrop: something you missed: it's mentioned that Megan has a deity as well as powers. And going back to your question, there's nothing actually revealed on the matter. There are a few scenes with her talking with Luna about some secret, but it was never mentioned. CodeFilly used to theorize about it a lot. Interesting way to get us ready for things to come.

The huge problem with the old series (not talking about the originals) was that there was only a broad connection between stories. We have Danny and Co. fight titanspawn, then next chapter they are dealing with Felina agents testing hazardous magic. This seems to be well thought out.

Oh, and I think my sis got the MC bug :)

MixaMax

Luna can do anything! Ha ha ha!

Actually, there had been plans to include the actual scene of the conversation between Megan and Luna as early as volume 5. For one reason or another it never happened. If you go through the fourth chapter of volume 3 you'll see that Luna addresses Megan as "seven times blessed". That was supposed to be linked to her being chosen, not a funny way of greeting her.

I can promise you, though, you haven't seen anything yet ;)

Luna

@Luna: Not fair! How can you spoil and I can't? :/

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: because I know where to draw the line and you don't! Also, you aren't a princess last I checked. :)

Luna

Mind blown! :))) On so many levels! I get to talk with a Wonderbolts and a Princess in this place! Also, MCE is out of this world! At times I think S.Child is actually a human, who writes this in the human world, then sends it to S&S by magic portal!

Three Dannys? Three? And yet one? Can't wait to read and analyze this!

Also one of my friends told me something big is going to happen in a month. She was very vague about it, but I have ways to get her to share :D

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: You scare me sometimes. :)

PaintDrop

Ah, speculation! This is what I like to see :)

@MixaMax: I remember those theories. And now we see that CodeFilly was actually right! :) And, I agree that the way they are linking everything together is working quite well so far. If this keeps up we might have something to take the crown from Daring Do (doubtful, but a mare can dream.)

Sorry I have to be short, but I might have found a solution to my homelessness issue. :) With luck next time I post I'll have good news!

LyraHands

Will you stop being so dramatic?! Everypony, Lyra will be moving in at my place till she finds one of her own. She's just being a mule about it!

Bob

...this is my next post. I have good news.

LyraHands

@PaintDrop, @MixaMax: I find it interesting that Megan would be the second of the grand nine to get her spoilers out. It was clear that Danny would be first, possibly followed by Blazen or Eric (at least that was my theory).

On the surface it doesn't look like a big deal, but I believe this is S&S trying to tell us something. Note that Megan is very different to the original core demographic: she is a girl in her late teens and early twenties, and older than the six heroes. If you ask me this is a clear indication that S&S want to include the female audience (at least in sort). This is no longer a colt's series, it's a series mares could read to their foals. I wouldn't be surprised if we also see an increase in romantic chapters, and not only between Molly and Bellucio.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: sister, you seriously over analyze things. MC has always been an inbetween series. Even in the original there was a strong female presence. The idea of an older sister isn't new, so stop trying to turn Midnight Castle into a bucking Daring Do copy!

CEOWitch

Fight! Fight! Fight! :)

DannyFan

@CEOWitch: I'll always like you, but you act like an asshole sometimes. Then you ask why ponies end up in tears and hating you.

PaintDrop

I'm not crying!!!

DarkSparkle

Analysis 2

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 2, The Shatterstone

We start with Megan and Blazen having a talk (in secret) about something in Danny's past. Megan insists that Blazen be honest with Danny when they manage to get the realities back. Blazen threatens to reveal her secret (now I'm really curious about that!) so things end at a stalemate.

Meanwhile, Karl has been going about checking if the plants and animals are the same. For the most part there are no differences, yet it turns out that Danny's pup is feral in this reality. Just as he tries to get it out of hiding, Caprice shows up asking where they have been all this time. Karl tries to explain, but Megan and Blazen appear and decide it's time to think about their next steps. Megan starts inspecting the crown when they are suddenly surrounded by Felina corp sorceresses. Everyone prepares for a fight, then the CEO's daughter (yes, it's Cassandra) descends from the sky and congratulates Megan for finding the crown. (Yikes! In this reality she's been working for Felina corp all along!)

We then see Bellucio's group. Omni, in typical Omni fashion, keeps playing about with the crown, while Euryala paces about panicking (for some reason she's terrified that this is Poseidon's reality). Annoyed, Bellucio suggests they go to his place until things calm down. They do, but along the way it's obvious that Mistmount has an increased guard sorceress presence. The three witness a teen getting arrested for no apparent reason. Bellucio is about to see what's going on, when Euryala tells him to stop. ("You've no idea what Poseidon is like, especially when unchecked.")

The group's involvement ends with them going to Bellucio's mansion, where the butler asks Euryala why she hasn't dusted the china (Oooh! Continuity from that time Euryala was Bellucio's maid? I know the ages don't match, but that's one huge coincidence.)

Back in the Zeus reality, Megan and company are taken to a Felina corp prison facility. Megan is ushered to the VIP section, while everyone else is taken away (probably to be locked up). Megan waits in some luxurious room, catching up on news from the net (seems Felina is the only corp in the area, all others have been dismantled). Then, Cassandra comes in and slaps her across the face (Wow! Talk about going hardcore! This is the first time I see an actual slap in the series! Still can't believe they did it.). Turns out that Cass and Megan knew each other from college and were friends. Cass has been coveting for her and giving info all this time. (Not sure if only in this reality or in general.)

This is what I love about this series! Everyone has character. The villains aren't just some evil league of evil, they have their own personalities. Some of them are actually nice, but do terrible things. I just wish more books would be like this and not treat Colts as idiots. (Okay, rant over :P.)

We learn that Cassandra had this complicated plan to keep the corp from getting the crown all along. Now that it's in a corporate facility, though, her father is already on his way to get it. She also mentions having a last resort plan, but it being risky. (This is getting tense!)

Sudden jump to Danny who's having trouble breathing. For some reason Hades is still corrupt in the Hades reality, and while Danny is his faithful servant ("Chosen of Hades") his un-corruptness is causing him to suffocate. Of course he must pretend that he's evil Danny (rather loyal Danny. Hades wasn't shown doing anything evil), while Eric and Molly try to keep him from fainting. (Interesting why neither of them have any problems breathing). Molly turned out to be smart enough to hide the crown (first good decision she's done in the entire series) so that's one thing they don't have to worry about. Cerberus in human form appears and tells Danny he is expected for the peace talks with the Titans.

Let me just pause for a moment. Cerberus! In human form! And not just some monster with three heads, but three identical twins who can shapeshift into one beast form at will!

Argh! I'll have to stop here :( Parents making a fuss about me not doing homework. :((( This chapter is soooo gooood! Really want to keep on reading, but! I'll promise to finish the review tomorrow!

PrinceEric

Whoa! A wall of text and you only got half way?! I'm impressed, PrinceEric! If only I could be so good :(

Yeah, though. This keeps getting better and better! If the rest of the series is as good, I'll buy a hat and publicly eat it at our next meetup! On that note...

@LyraHands: how about we organize a site greet-and-meet? I'm curious to see lots of the new members.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: You just want to see if there are any cute stallions! Just like Brush! -RRBB

As you can see RRBB is back in school... We both agree that the second chapter was great! Even my brother found it remarkable. He's actually agreed to edit some of Brush's stuff when he comes home end of this week.

Must go. Time for class.

PaintDrop

Dear PrinceEric.

It's impressive that you have such enthusiasm, but maybe keep future reviews slightly shorter? Remember it's the main points that are important. :)

A point of interest, the early series was far more violent than this one, although Mistmount Chronicles was toned down a lot. In the original series we had characters (of various ages) punch each other. On one occasion there even was a pony kicking a human in the face. Personally, I doubt that a human would survive after that, but those were different times.

Still, good job and keep on analyzing.

The TechNightling

@MixaMax, @LyraHands: A meetup sounds like a sweet idea! I can organize something. I'd offer my place, but clouds... Still, there are a few ponies I could ask.

Also, next chapters are even better ;)

CEOWitch

Umm, hiii everybody! :)

I'm totally new to this, but a friend said I'd like it, so... hi? O:) *waves hand*

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: hello and welcome, sweetie :) Are you a stallion? *ear nibbles*

Brush

@Brush: I should have known it would take a potential stallion to bring you back :P You had me worried there, Brush. Next time reply to your fucking PMs!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I'm fine, no worries. Been working and writing.

Oh, and buck you!

Brush

Brush: Err, no I'm a filly.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Welcome :) Don't worry, some of the posters might be a bit strange, but we're a friendly bunch. :) Feel free to explore the site, read stories, or just hang out :D

Also, use @ to notify someone :)

@all: a meet-and-greet sounds fine, though I'm not sure how available I'll be given my circumstances. CEOWitch, if you can organize this I'll be grateful. I'll try to go, but no promises.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Thank you! <3 :)

SweetStuff

@PrinceEric, @The TechNightling: I always write a detailed summary of what I review, then cut it down to the most essential elements I present in checklist format. That way, anypony can experience the full content of the story at a fraction of the time.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I'm sure you do.

MixaMax

Author's Note

One more day for AMA character :)

Add your choice in the comments if you haven't already :D

Analysis 2.5

Sorry :( I'll try to write less. It's difficult when the story is so good! :D

Oh, and yes please for the meeting! Can we do it at Canterlot? I have relatives there, so can go without problem. Manehattan I'm not sure.

Anyway, here I go!

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 2, The Shatterstone - Part 2

The Cerberus triplets take Danny and Molly to the banquet hall, while Eric (who's secretly given the crown) leaves the temple (?) to try and figure out a way to get back. He takes out his handphone to compare the city with the pictures he's made before and discovers that the city is owned by the Atlas corporation (and their CEO is a titan).

Jump back to Megan in the Zeus reality. Cassandra's plan is for them to break into the vault and try and use one of the forbidden artifacts in the hopes it would destroy the crown. That would ensure that the Everprince is never restored. While they set up a complicated set of events to help them get there Blazen starts acting on his own. Taking a piece of black chalk he's been hiding in his ear (gross!) he draws some weird symbols on the ground that transform into a nightmare beast, which sets him, Caprice, and Karl free. Rushing off, they coincidentally bump into Megan and Cassandra on their way to the vault. No one says a word, but Cassandra notices the traces of chalk on Blazen's fingers. Fearing that the CEO might arrive at any moment the group rushes into the vault room. Arriving there, however, they find that someone is already there. A man identifying himself as the director shows them a blue glowing rock and asks if that's what they are searching for.

Meanwhile, Euryala has finally convinced the butler she isn't a member of Bellucio's staff. It also becomes clear that Bellucio is extremely rich, mostly because he's one of the dreamwaters (anyone who can hear Poseidon when they dream). Euryala insists they should flee out of town, but Bellucio refuses. Omni, who as always goes over Bellucio's things finds a photo of Bellucio and eleven unknown boys, all in strange uniforms. A step in front of them is a tall pale man with blue hair, who Euryala identifies as Poseidon. Everyone ransacks Bellucio's room and find more information of him being something of a known secret agent (?) who does whatever Poseidon tells him. Omni comments it's like Danny in the real reality, but then they find a picture of Bellucio standing next to a display case with a strange rock in it, and a plaque reading The Shatterstone.

(Reality Hades). Danny and Molly have a weird time talking with deities (everyone at the banquet is a titan or deity! Heck, the Cerberus triplets are just servants!) and starts getting a sense that they are forming an alliance against something. Before he could say more he starts choking uncontrollably and Molly rushes to help him.

(Reality Zeus) The Director says he's the Felina CEO's boss, then just hands them the stone. Blazen tries to use his chalk monster to attack him, but the mister disintegrates into dust. The Director pretty much says that the crown cannot be destroyed, at least not while separated. To achieve that they must find the roost and knowledge to do so. (It's explained that the Stone has the power, like the crown, to shatter and reunite realities.) He says Megan can use it to merge the realities in one, but in doing so will leave a piece of herself to each of them. That is the price and her choice to make.

(Reality Poseidon) Euryala finally convinces Bellucio they must get out of his house. (Oh, and Omni finds a stash of daggers and other concealable weapons Bellucio must have used in his missions :)) As they try to leave, all the water in the room attacks them, then transforms into a water warrior with ice gear (wicked armored surfer humie! I hope that miniature is for sale! :) Euryala takes out a fancy staff and says "I told you so".

(Reality Hades) Everyone has surrounded Danny as he lurches on the floor, gasping for air. Cerberus figures something's not right so he transformed into his three-headed self. There are whispers that Danny is tainted. Molly tries to remain close, but some titan (Prometheus) takes her away. Hades then orders that Cerberus "eliminate the plague".

Megan keeps hesitating, but in the end uses the shatterstone. Suddenly everyone is back where they found the crown. Omni's still holding it, yet this time nothing weird happens. Euryala tries to take it, but both Bellucio and Megan say she shouldn't even think about it. Euryala huffs and puffs, then leaves. A bit later everyone else does as well, with only Megan remaining. Concerned, Karl asks what's going on. Then Megan tells him she can't see with her right eye, almost as if it isn't there anymore.

That was incredible! So wild that I don't know what to think! I'll reread everything just to make sense of it all! There are so many threads, so many questions! I'm going insane! :D

Oh, next chapter will be "The Equestrian Convict" Can't wait! :)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: usually when you try to write less you don't use more words ;). We still love you, though.

And yes, this was quite the brain exercise. As much as I like it, though, I'm worried about the readership. I know this is a horrible thing to say, but these types of books aren't aimed at a thinking audience. It's better suited for ponies in middle school and older. At least, in my opinion.

Another interesting thing I've notices: female characters so far have a much larger role than all stories before. I understand that Karl is pretty much a background character, but Megan pretty much stole the show (Euryala, and even Molly had strong appearances as well.) Maybe it's because of the sudden shift? I was expecting Danny to carry the story on his back, provided his words at the end of the previous scroll. Maybe it's just me?

PaintDrop

Each time there's a new Midnight Castle series I tell myself they can't possibly be as good as that, and each time I'm wrong! Everhere is... I don't know! Daring Do can eat her wings off! Really, this is so much better! And the characters are developed so well! We couldn't see from PrinceEric's review, but they aren't anywhere as flat as the previous series. (Volume 4 did have this problem a lot.)

@PaintDrop: I did notice, yes, and that's not all. Caprice is nearly a main character. Also the next chapter is the first that has the word Equestria in the title. This means it'll be involved much more. I love it!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I don't know. :/ I like my humans human. There's nothing worse in suddenly sticking ponies in there. If I wanted to read pony adventure books, I'd do that! There are hundreds of series to choose from. What makes Midnight Castle special is precisely the humans.

I don't care if you hate me for it, but i want it to become a human only series.

MixaMax

Sorry, but I'm completely lost :(

If there was one reality and then it's split into three, does that mean the merge reality is a different reality than the other three? In that case must they get the crown in all four realities? And if everyone is on reality is in the others how come there are things missing in the shattered realities?

I liked the way it was written (and I love Molly <3) but this is really confusing :(

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: The way I see it is like one of those huge pictures you make, but you don't have enough paper so you put three next to each other. The three realities are the pieces, and the big one is the picture.

And yes, Molly is magnificent! Cerberus also has me intrigued, as do the Director, and Prometheus. Based on past books, when there's a name mentioned that character usually has some important role. Just like Euryala.

DannyFan

I still don't get it, but I'll keep reading! Thanks :)

SweetStuff

Molly can go buck a tree!

Brush

They're pulling no punches with the mythological stuff. Atlas and Prometheus are in fact ancient beings that inhabited Tartarus. I wonder if we'll get to see other creatures. Hydra anyone? :)

This was a pretty solid opening for any series. As was said there are so many directions this could continue. The fact that we have a breather (based on next chapter's title) means we'll have a mix of story arcs and unrelated chapters.

@CEOWitch: can you say if next chapter is related?

Bob

@Bob: She can't and it isn't. ;)

Luna

@Bob: apparently, I can't and it isn't.

If everyone okay with the meetup being in Canterlot? There are a few ponies I can ask about hotels and convention centers.

CEOWitch

I have a place that can easily hold up to 50 ponies. (No, it isn't the Palace proper ;)) It'll be free of charge, so only thing participants need to cover are travel and food.

Luna

I'll see if I can get Fleetfoot to go. (No guarantees, though.)

@Luna: any chance of you dragging any of the writers?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Ha! Hahaha! Hahahahahahaha ha! Sure, why not :)

Luna

I think I fainted... :) RIP!

LyraHands

Author's Note

The next character AMA is CEOWitch. :)
I'll post a blog in a few hours :)

Questionnaire 2

Hello, everypony!

I love Midnight Castle! It's my 7th most favorite book ever! Once I wrote a school play based on Mistmount Chronicles, but nopony wanted to play in it, so it was postponed.

I found this site through a friend and I found it really precious! It's better than many of the Daring Do and Wonder Mare ones I've seen. :)

Name: Twist
City: Ponyville
Race: Earth Pony
Sex: Female
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Omni
Favorite pony: Caprice
Favorite deity: Zeus
Favorite background character: Euryala
Favorite chapter: It's Difficult Being Bellucio
Favorite quote: "It's a two in two!" - Omni

Twist

This seems like fun! :) I'll have a go after I finish my homework. (Mean sis is glaring at me.)

SweetStuff

@all: Please don't put any real life information on the site! It's ill advised and could be read by lurkers who haven't even registered.

@Twist: I highly recommend you edit your post.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: I know. I'm registered in so many places that everypony knows me. I also have a lot of friends, so it's no worry. Thanks for the concern!

Twist

Finally done! I hate math :/ Lit is so much better. :)

Name: SweetStuff
City: Manehattan
Race: Unicorn
Sex: Filly
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Blazen
Favorite pony: Caprice
Favorite deity: Hades (the other two seem scary)
Favorite background character: Prometheus
Favorite chapter: The Shatterstone
Favorite quote: I don't know yet :(

SweetStuff

@Twist: you really should be a bit more careful. MC is a nice place, but always better to be safe than sorry.

Still glad to have you here :)

P.S. Tried your candy canes yesterday. There are great! :D

LyraHands

The candy canes were okay... I kid :P They are the best :D If you ruin Lyra's figure I'm coming after you, Twist! :P

Bob

I suppose I should fill the questionnaire as well... *magnanimous sigh*

Name: (Princess) Luna
City: Canterlot (formerly the Moon)
Race: Alicorn
Sex: Mare
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Megan
Favorite pony: Caprice
Favorite deity: Me
Favorite background character: Atlas
Favorite chapter: Everhere, Chapter 13
Favorite quote: "This we did not expect!" - ???

Luna

Name: (Real Princess) Luna
City: Canterlot (formerly the Moon, Castle of the Two Sisters)
Race: Real Alicorn
Sex: Real Mare (not like the mares that you see nowadays!)
Favorite humie (Mistmount): The real Megan
Favorite pony: The real Caprice
Favorite deity: The real Me
Favorite background character: The real Atlas
Favorite chapter: Everhere, Chapter 14
Favorite quote: "I knew it all along!" - !!!

TheRealLuna

@Bob, @LyraHands: Thank you! :) I'll make you more. (But not too much :D)

Twist

@Bob: thanks a lot! :/ I could have had all the candy canes!

LyraHands

I completely forgot about the questionnaire! Smashing that you brought it up, Twist :) Time to dazzle the site with my answers!

City: Trottingham
Race: earth pony
Sex: stallion
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Danny
Favorite pony: None
Favorite deity: None
Favorite background character: None
Favorite chapter: One Step Between
Favorite quote: "Have a water bottle."

DannyFan

@DannyFan: you're from Trottingham?! I'm swooning already! I really hope you make it to the meetup! You've no idea how much I love listening to Trottny accents :)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: And you call me stallion-obsessed? :/ Lyra, can you rename her to MaxKettle?

Brush

@Brush: hush! Don't you have any stallions to drool over that you're picking with me? And admit it, you want to hear him just as much as I do.

Oh, and keep in mind that I have the power to change names! So you better be nice with me or who knows what might happen?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Pfft!

HypocriticalBrush

Very funny! :/ now set it back!

HypocriticalBrush

A survey sound alike a wonderful idea, although it seems a bit oversimplified. Here's a suggestion for a much better one, which I'll fill out:

UserName: DarkSparkle
City of Birth: Canterlot
Occupation: Administrator
Original Race: Unicorn
Siblings: 2
Favorite Human: Eric
Favorite Deity: Zeus
Favorite Secondary Character: Orpheus
Favorite Secondary Character: Cassandra
Favorite Volume: 7
Favorite Chapter: The Shatterstone
Favorite Quote: "the mana required to run this thing must be in the gigs range!" - Eric

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: quite good. Just one question. Why do you have TWO favorites, when by definition there could only be one favorite? :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: That's because I forgot to specify. I have a male and female favorite.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Really? Then why aren't your other favorites divided by male and female? :D

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Don't be rude. I think it's a nice template. You're such an ass sometimes. :/

@DarkSparkle: Don't worry about Max. She does get like that at times. She's an administrator as well, so... well, it's not her fault (RIP Max! :P)

LyraHands

I like Eric as well. He's nice.

CodeFilly

Race: Dragon
Sex: Male
Favorite humie (Mistmount): Cassandra
Favorite pony: Luna
Favorite deity: Zeus
Favorite background character: I'll have to go with Loki. He's just been in one scroll, but he's very amusing.
Favorite chapter: Boardgame Mania
Favorite quote: "Free food at half price!" - Omni

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: oh, baby, gimme some of your fire *wink* *nuzzle*

Brush

@Brush: sorry, I'm already taken. And by a pony you know well. :)

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Huh? Who?

Brush

Wow! So many new ponies! I didn't think we had that many active members until now! This is really great! I really hope all of you make it to the meetup! I've already talked with my parents and they are okay with it! (Well, I sort of said that a Wonderbolt will take me there and back. Hope that's okay, CEOWitch?

PrinceEric

@Brush: he's my boyfriend ;) I brought him here, so be nice.

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Way to go, mare! It's always the quiet ones? I bet half the ponies here don't have a SO! *looks at Brush*

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Buck you down a cliff!

Brush

@CodeFilly: what did you get me into?

MightyDragon

@PrinceEric: if you're in Cloudsdale, no problem. I'll make sure somepony cool picks you up :)

CEOWitch

@MightyDragon: I warned you what would happen if you regged with that nick :P

CodeFilly

I like dragons...

Brush

Where's the Karl Love?

Girls, girls! There's a question that has been driving me nuts for a while now. I know this might change with the new series going on, but... I just want to know!

Why is Karl so disliked? I've been reading through some of the stories and both there and in the comments pones laugh at him. Not that he's my favorite or anything, but I still find him likable.

Any ideas?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: it's not that everypony hates him, he's just more like a background human. He's only there half the time, and even then doesn't do much. If you gather all the chapters, apart from those he actually does something relevant, you'll see he does exactly one and the same: find a new/strange/old animal, discuss some weird/useless facts about plants, break someone's skull... oh wait, he won't because Karl believes in non-violent confrontation.

If I have to be honest Karl is one of those characters that has the best schemes in one or two chapters and is entirely forgettable in all the rest. In a way he's like Molly without a love interest.

LyraHands

@PrinceEric: that's because he's totally boring! The way he's written he's supposed to act as the comedic relief character. However, since that overlaps with Omni's role (who, let's face it, is far better) Karl ends up becoming entirely forgettable. Even in the first two chapters of Everhere he's only there because he's there. :/

If you ask me the only reason they haven't gotten rid of him is because the notion of the gr8 (now the grand nine) is too deeply linked to everything else. Good thing I'm not in charge or I'll send him to Icelake or somewhere.

MixaMax

@LyraHands: says you! Karl is head over heals into Danny! -RRBB

I personally found him okay. He's almost as boring as my brother. Actually, I'll call my brother Karl when he gets home and see how he reacts.

PaintDrop

@LyraHands: I checked and Karl appears in more chapters than any other character. He also takes part in as many fights as Blazen.

You're right he's sort of predictable, though. Maybe that's it?

PrinceEric

@PaintDrop: if your brother was Karl... *drool* Just kidding :P Bellucio, on the other hoof...

@RRBB: you ship everyone with everyone!

Brush

And what's wrong with shipping everyone with everyone? Personally, I prefer the F-F ships, but M-M are far more popular, as well as straight ships.

I think Karl has a mega crush on Megan, though. She did compliment him a few times in Mistmount Chronicles (each time getting him to blush). And he was grouped with her in Everhere. I don't know about you, but I think Kegan is cute.

Bob

as well as straight ships.

Eww! Gross! Who are those weirdos? ... oh, hi, Brush. Didn't see you there. :P

MixaMax

Girls, no fair! :/ I haven't read the old series yet! :(

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: you can borrow them from me.

PaintDrop

It's obvious how little you understand of relationships.

Karl has a crush on Bellucio, who has a crush on Caprice (which is so obvious in Mirror Magic, when she transforms into a girl).

Caprice is uncertain between Eric, Bellucio, and Blazen (I think she'd go for Blazen.)

Blazen has a crush on Megan, who has a thing with Cassandra (confirmed in MCE).

Omni has a thing for Danny, who is conflicted between Orpheus and Karl

Euryala might have a thing for Omni (since he defeated her and all), but that's just guessing.

DarkSparkle

Wow!

MixaMax

Wow!

LyraHands

Wow! Still is crap, though.

Brush

@DarkSparkle:

I don't think Blazen has a crush on Megan. He's indifferent in Mistmount Chronicles, and his conflicts in Everhere are based on his fear that Danny will discover his secret. As such I think if he should be shipped with anyone it's Danny.

Also, your Danny theory is unfounded. So far Danny has been tempted twice in his dreams and both times it said "love of the fairest maiden in the stars will be his" if he helps tainted Hades. If anyone I think he'll go for Euryala. She's a new character and has an established connection with Poseidon and the titans.

Twist

@Twist: very good, but you clearly don't take into account that Hades was corrupt to a point he couldn't get things right. He also offered him a golden kitten, while it's been stated that Danny likes dogs. Also, Hades mixed up Megan and Molly, referring to Molly as the "eldest".

And I completely disagree with your logic regarding Blazen! Just because you hid something from someone doesn't mean you have a crush on them!

DarkSparkle

Wooo! Where's the popcorn! War of the geeks! Who do you think will win? :)

MixaMax

Max,

While I recognize, this is in good fun, I strongly recommend that you avoid any talk about betting and gambling until our site disclaimer is in effect. If the popularity of the series rises, which is now more than likely based on the safes figures of MCE, we'll be getting more and more users. That includes users you don't know personally and who might think you're serious.

Thank you!

The TechNightling

I ship Max and Tech so hard! (I know I'm horrible).

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: well, I ship you and Fleetfoot! ... Damn! Now I'm envious. Wanna trade?

MixaMax

Karl reminds ponies too much of themselves to be liked. He's the character who always gets left out, and they don't want to feel left out, so they don't want to associate with him.

Candle

@Candle: that's incredibly insightful!

DarkSparkle

I can say that at least two of the grand 9 will become a couple by the end of Volume 7.

Luna

Err... err... Megan x Euryala!

(That's the only one left...)

MightyDragon

... I'm going to bed! When ships start to make sense it's time to get some rest!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: at two in the afternoon?!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: shut up!

MixaMax

Planning

@all: okay, it's official! I've arranged for all the big stuff, so in two weeks we can have our first big get together! (I finally got to use the fancy @all command!)

Luna has got us the study tower near the palace. It should be big enough to hold us all together. Note that will only be used for discussions, readings, meeting pones related to the series and so on. Sleeping will be at the Celestial (again Luna has taken care of the cost, so don't worry.) Those who want to go there just let me know so I know how many rooms to book. (If you have other arrangements that's cool too, but again, let me know.)

Fillies and colts will have to come with a parent or legal guardian. I have made an exception with PrinceEric, since he's from Canterlot and I've already spoken to his parents about it, but everypony else, please keep that in mind. I know that not all of you can be open about the hobby in front of your parents, but you'll need an adult with you. If you very much want to go, but can't find a guardian, ping me and I'll see if I can help on a case by case scenario. (I won't bother for users who I don't know, so there's that.)

The event will be exactly 14 days from now, which is in the middle of a five day holiday, so school and work shouldn't be an issue. If they are please poke Luna and she might figure something out.

Please, everyone who's going reply to this post!

CEOWitch

Well I'll be there. Clearly. :P Just wanted to tell you to bring anything you want signed. Fleetfoot has agreed to go, along with a few of the writing staff, and a few other surprises. :)

Luna

I'll be there as well! Maybe.

TheRealLuna

Have no fear, my doppelgänger! We'll make it work.

Luna

I live in Canterlot, so no problems on my end. MightyDragon will be sleeping with me, so don't worry about him either.

CodeFilly

Oh, my! :P

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: jerk!

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Can I crash at your place?

MixaMax

I'll gladly come. I'd really like to see all of you. If anypony else is coming from Manehattan, let me know, okay? We can catch the same train.

Candle

This is indeed a great event, but I doubt I'll be able to take part. Everything else aside, I doubt I'll finish my work until then (holiday or no holiday).

I wish you all a wonderful time, and above all have fun and be safe. (And don't forget your bottles of water.)

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: isn't there any way you can make it? You'll really be missed :(

LyraHands

@The TechNightling: Seriously, can't you postpone things or something? I'd like to meet you as well.

I'll hassle my brother into taking me, so no worries there. I'll also bring RRBB, if she doesn't get in any trouble by then. (She's still grounded, by the way.)

@Luna: is it okay if I bring my art? Some of it is a bit risqué, but nothing too bad. I'll also bring my complete statuettes (they turned out quite good once I got the hang of it. Still having problems with the hands and fingers :/)

PaintDrop

I'm so there? Thanks, CEOWitch! I never knew my parents were such fans of you. I can't wait to see how many ponies will be surprised when they find out who you are :))

PrinceEric

@PaintDrop: Sure. Go ahead :)

Luna

I have my own accommodations in Canterlot, but I'll be present at the event. I'll also start working on the event timetable.

I'm so looking forward to this!

DarkSparkle

I'll see if I can make time for this. Hope so. Very much want to meet Brush, RRBB, and PaintDrop so we can discuss our project :)

I'll need a hotel room.

Bob

@PaintDrop: can I tag along with you? I don't want to ask my sister. (She'll never understand :/)

SweetStuff

Apparently, I won't be going either :( My father's being a jerk and refuses to let me go or come along. I'm really not happy about this. >:

You pones have a great time for me, alright?

DannyFan

A chance to see cute stallions? Sign me up! *drool*

Brush

Hellooo!

I asked my mother and she said it was okay. Lyra, can I go along with you? I'll brink lots of sugarcanes!

@DarkSparkle: I'll bring my notes on the shipping couples in the series. I've been compiling them for years and can guarantee they are 100% accurate and reliable. I still think you're wrong with at least two pairings and will prove it. I'll also bring you a sack of candy canes as well. :)

Twist

@Twist: I admire your approach and confidence, but I've checked and double checked my sources, and can assure you they are better than your sources. Naturally, I'll bring them as well, so we can have an open debate on the issue.

DarkSparkle

Party?!?

PPI

@PPI: Hello and welcome to our corner of condensed insanity :)

The site is focused on everything surrounding the Midnight Castle series, so if you're an old fan or a total newbie, feel free to explore and ask if you need any help. We are a helpful, lot :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I know, silly :) They tell me all the time!

@MixaMax: Nopony :) When I heard you're organizing a party, I just couldn't not hop in ;)

@Brush: No, I'm a mare :)))

@RRBB: you're welcome :D

PPI

Who let crazy in?

MixaMax

@PPI: are you a cute stallion? Please tell me you're a cute stallion!

Brush

That's actually freaky!

@PPI: Has anypony told you you're strange? :)

LyraHands

Two weeks away and I'm already excited! I really can't wait! We're getting photos, right? I really think it'll be cool to have a group photo of us all together:) CEO, Luna, think that's possible?

MixaMax

Freedom! My parents finally let me have 30 minutes aether time per day for "educational" purposes.

I'm going! Definitely! If I have to chew my way there! If someone can be my guardian for the event, let me know!

RRBB

Third Spoiler

Molly Williams

Dancer, fighter, chosen

Curious and athletic, Molly lived a normal life until fate chose to intervene and change her siblings. The only one with a firm connection to earth, despite her young age she'll stop at nothing to fight for those she loves.

Siblings: Danny and Megan.
Place of birth: Mistmount, Gumania
Occupation: High-school student
Hobby: Ballet
Mentor deity: Poseidon
Magic power: Unknown
Eternity gem: Unknown

"I'll always like you..."

@Brush: feel the burn! "Always like you?" They really are taking things between Molly and Bellucio seriously. I keep forgetting she's older in the series, almost as old as the six were.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but she was 14 before (according to my theory). If this series is 3-4 years after the events in Mistmount Chronicles, that would make her 18... and we all know what that means :P

If it happens, that will change a lot of things :) Didn't Luna say that a few main characters will end up as a couple? :D

RRBB

Heartbroken! Forever alone!

I won't give my Bellucio away! ... without a suitable replacement! (I really need to get back to writing.)

Brush

No! This cannot be correct! Bellucio and Molly will never start anything! She's far too young! It's plainly stated that she's a child, and also that Bellucio has no interest in her!

The only logical explanation is that Molly will meet a pony from Equestria (who's been imprisoned for some reason). Note the title of the next scroll, and also the use of 'like' instead of 'love' (which would have been the case if the characters were officially shipped).

Clearly, Molly will go to Equestria next chapter, which will make for an interesting read.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I like you, you know that right? I’m not being sarcastic here. Your logic, however, stinks!

Talk about alicorn jumps of logic! I'll grant you that the Molly romance thing is inappropriate, but that's aside... how did you come to the conclusion she'll go to Equestria? For one thing there's no guarantee the chapter will be focused on her. It might be a trend, or just a coincidence so far.

Even if it is. Why do you think the pony won't go to Earth? And why do you think that the calf live between the two would stop? It's worked well for three volumes, so why change the formula?

And don't you think I didn't see you avoid the Poseidon connection. Molly and Bellucio are linked to the same deity? That's bound to mean something.

MixaMax

O!M!G!

It's confirmed that Molly will have a power! And a stone! And if Dark's theory is correct, her power (or stone) will be linked to Equestria! Can't wait to see how they explain that! You remember how Lin mentioned that all magic on Earth is different? What it affects Molly in some weird way? Like what if she grows hooves?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: please no! If there's one thing I dislike it's taurs:( Yes, I know, some of my favorite stories have them, but for me that's just lazy.

I do agree with the idea that there will be Equestrian magic involved. Maybe we'll even get to see a princess?

@Luna, @CEOWitch: Can you tell if Celestia will make an appearance?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Nice try.

Sorry that this is unrelated, but I really want to rant a bit! Now, it's not exactly a secret that I like MC and have a few Nightling costumes, but today I caught someone staring at my ass during practice, and when I made a comment about it, they just said "like you're bothered by that! You read homie fics"

I'm so mad right now I... what the fuck is their problem? Just because I read stuff doesn't mean I like ponies gawking at me!

Anyway, I have no idea. Maybe Luna can help.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: I don't expect you'll give me a name?

Luna

Thought so.

And yes, Celestia does have a chapter to herself.

Luna

I'm seriously revising my stance on Molly. So far she's actually cool? I kid you not, I saw colts with stickers of her on their backpacks. If this keeps up I might actually... like her? (Pun intended :P)

Do you girls think that we'll have humies riding ponies again? From what I read, it was a thing in the original series.

RRBB

Won't it be interesting, if Molly has the power to dreamwalk like Princess Luna? It's been mentioned that all of the gr8 have a connection to the dreamscape, but so far it's only Danny who has done most of it.

What if the Equestrian convict is in her dream?

Twist

There's no way a human, or pony, could for that. Dreamscaping has been reserved for deities.

I also very much doubt the events will take place on Earth. It simply has to be Equestria. Even if it isn't, that doesn't solve the problem with the quote. How can you like a dream?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Many ways. Do you want me to show you? ;)

Luna

I'm so dream-y!

TheRealLuna

In an ass contest, who do you think has the best ass? The favorite is Bellucio because of his modeling career, but maybe Karl could have him beat?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: hmm. I'll have to see all of them to give an adequate answer.

Why doesn't this exist as a fic yet?!? PaintDrop, would you illustrate if I wrote one?

Brush

@all: Please, a bit restraint? Remember what we talked about awhile back?

The TechNightling

Actually, that might be interesting as a literary exercises. I think it will help me better describing humans.

Great idea, Brush! :)

DarkSparkle

What have I done?! I already want to read that!

Brush

@Brush: you and me both. I even thought of a name: the AssAss-Ination. :P

Bob

Locking thread!

The TechNightling

Analysis 3

Analysis of The Equestrian Convict by DarkSparkle

The story is a one off chapter, barely linked to the first two. The main characters are Molly, Bellucio, and [MC-spoiler] Icelos [MC-spoiler]. The story follows the typical three-act structure.

Act 1
Molly experiences a lucid dream, in which she is entering college and Bellucio, now a senior, is showing her about. As they walk in the park, he admits that he's always noticed her and invites her to a date. The scene is interrupted by a bleeding Danny, who appears out of nowhere with warnings he's being chased. Molly then wakes up and sneaks to the dorm of her brother, where Loki is busy playing a board game to notice. After a brief conversation a wild Portal appears and swallows Bellucio. Seeking advice from Eric and Bellucio, Molly goes through the portal and enters Equestria, where her brother is held prisoner for high treason.

Act 2
Molly and Bellucio discover that someone has been attacking ponies in their sleep. Convincing Luna they mean no Equestria no harm, they are given a chance to prove Danny's innocence. Following a set of clues, and Molly's newly found dreamwalking ability, they set a trap only to find out that it's Luna who's been attacking her ponies. Defeated by her in a dream encounter, they are branded trailers and thrown in the dungeon, where they meet Icelos—a human dream deity who revealed that Luna is not herself, but the third-reality version of herself (the others being Filly Luna and Nightmare Moon). They then decide to join forces to save her and Danny.

Act 3
Icelos teaches Molly enough dreamwalking to send a message to Megan. Meanwhile, Bellucio tricks the guards to approach, and frees them all. Taking refuge at an arcade club, Icelos performs a ritual, linking Molly to himself, so she can save his power as they prepare for the coming battle. Luna-3 manages to find them and engages in a mix battle (taking place simultaneously in the real and dream world). Molly, is nearly defeated, but then Megan appears and, after some tense moments, manages to use the shatterstone on Luna, making her whole again and ending the dream attacks.

Epilogue
Danny's status as Friend of Equestria is restored, Bellucio is given a new custom made suit, and Megan is given a scroll to teach her how to use the shatterstone better. Molly says goodbye to Icelos, uttering the spoiler phrase, then joins the other humans through the portal to Earth. Bellucio tells Celestia to thank Icelos, when he discovers that there never was a third prisoner with them.

Score 6/10

DarkSparkle

That was the most boring, spoilers review I've ever seen (and I work in city administration!) Dark, you deserve a medal. I'd rather read ten screens of PrinceEric's enthusiastic ramblings than go through that again. :/ I honestly can taste chalk in my mouth! That's how bad it is!

Don't cry, but you're really bad at this! Like really! Which is a shame, because you can spot things, and you a promising writer (from what I've seen). Usually, I'd say "next time add some emotion" but I really hope there's no next time and you focus your efforts on that butt fic instead.

MixaMax

Yeap. Here's some prime crap right here. :/

CEOWitch

@DarkSparkle: I liked it! Much more well written than mine! You're really good! The only thing I don't agree with is the score.

For me this was just as good as the first two chapters. There were less characters and the action scenes weren't that well written, but it had plenty of intrigue and mystery. Plus we got to understand a lot about the shatterstone, and possibly the other ever-stones. It's also interesting that Molly really got to dreamwalk. Maybe she'll develop that to full dreamscaping?

And Icelos... wow! I know he was from the original series, but disappearing like that was mega spooky! And I still have no idea if he's bad or evil! Maybe he's the Everprince? Or at least one of his segments (as it seems many things are shattered in multiple realities)?

I can't wait fro the next scroll! Why does next week have to be so far off!? *cries*

PrinceEric

Yea, you girls! Reviews are difficult, and DarkSparkle did a great job! She's one of the only two reviews of the site!

@DarkSparkle: maybe you and PrinceEric could write reviews together? I'm sure they'll be great.

Twist

@Twist: Shipping DarkSparke and PrinceEric? Hmm. Nope, can't see it.

Brush

@Twist: sorry, but I call them as I see them, and that review was bad. Sure, maybe it was closer to what a review should be like, but I 100% agree with Max that reading it felt like eating chalk. I'm sure there are many things DarkSparkle is great at, but this isn't one.

CEOWitch

Harsh, mare. :/ Deserved! But harsh. That's why I don't write reviews. I'm really bad at it. Plus, I'll fuck things up a lot probably.

@PrinceEric: you're bad and evil, baby ;P

RRBB

What the heck?!? DarkSparkle deleted her account?!?

@LyraHands, @CodeFilly, @The TechNightling: can you track her or something? I feel like a jerk. I definitely didn't want to get her to quit or anything :((( I feel like crap and want to apologize to her.

MixaMax

Already dealing with it. Maybe you should have a bit nicer, MixaMax. I warned you this might happen.

Lyra and Code and off to the Crystal Empire and I don't know if they'll have access until evening.

The TechNightling

@DarkSparkle: No :( Don't go!

SweetStuff

I think I know who they might be in real life. Leave it to me. I'll try to get them back. In the meantime, maybe this should be a lesson to you all? I know that none of you acted with ill intent, but maybe cool your criticism a bit? Especially when you're talking with somepony you don't know that well?

Luna

What Luna said! :/

I know DarkSaprkle and will talk with her about this at lunch. Let's hope she agrees to come back.

MixaMax, you booed bad!

TheRealLuna

Revelations

@all: I have two announcements to make.

First. We must be nice to new members. Period! This is non negotiable! When CodeFilly, MixaMax, and Brush started talking about making a site, we decided that it won't be just another sugar site. This was always intended as a place where ponies could be critical and say what they think. I have no intention of changing that.

However, we must consider that we've known each other for a long time. I've spoken to pretty much every active member personally (plus a few inactive ones). It's my mistake I didn't get to talk to DarkSparkle before she left. I hope it's not permanent, I really do. In order not to go through this, everyone must be polite to new members until they get used to our level of discussion.

Remember, nopony is at fault here! Max has been crying her eyes out all morning. We all know her and love her, and don't for a moment think that she drove Dark away intentionally. That said, we can all try to be a bit nicer. (If CEO didn't have thick skin they might have left as well when they got nasty posts.)

With that I'm closing the matter. Hopefully. I'll never get to talk about it again.

Second. This is the big one. As you know lately things haven't been the best for me. Still, something really, really good happened. A few of you might know this has going on for a while (thank you for keeping the secret :)). Yesterday I spend all day reflecting on life with one of my oldest friends, and decided there's no point in hiding it anymore.

I'm officially moving in with Bob! :)))

There you have it! Now back to humans! :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: you sneaky little fluff! That's why you went to the Empire yesterday, right? Sheesh, you're such an airhead sometimes! :P

Bob

Wait! Does this mean that we have an actual ship?! I can't believe it! I never thought you two would become a couple! That's so cool! Congrats :))

PrinceEric

Awwww! That's so sweet! @.@
I wish something as romantic would happen to me one day...

SweetStuff

Congratulations from the bottom of my heart! You deserve to be happy, and I'm glad you found the courage to the the final step to do so. So far you've been the one bringing joy to others, despite your real life problems.

I'm sure everyone will say the same, but let me be the first to say that I'm here if you need anything I'll be there. Also, if you happen to go to Trottingham on vacation, let me know (and don't you dare book a hotel!)

The TechNightling

That's so precious! You two met in a forum and got together! :)))

Twist

@Twist: we knew each other long before the site, sweetie ;) Lyra was just a dumbass and didn't recognize me here. *snort* *sexy narwhal*

Who came up with with these reactions? They are hilarious! Lol!

Bob

I promise I'll perform at your wedding. ;)

Brush

@Bob: how was I to know you were into humies?! You never told me! (Anything else you've been keeping from me? :P)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Scooore! :D Like I didn't see that from a mile away! You'll tell me all the details, and I'll create a pair of original characters in MC based on you and Bob! PiantDrop will provide the art!

Also, I hate you! I hope it works out for me as well... as if! :P

RRBB

@LyraHands, @Bob: hmm. To be honest I'm a bit disappointed. I was hoping for a Brush x Bob ship, but meh. :P

Seriously. This is great! And I'm so making pictures for the story RRBB is writing. :D I'm so happy you let us know. Also, you do realize that you two are the first MC couple, right? ;)

PaintDrop

The first of many, to be sure.

MasterOfThisAstra

@PaintDrop: well, technically Code announced me a few days earlier :P Just joking. I wouldn't have joined if she hadn't dragged me.

@LyraHands: how about a get together of the old gang? :)

MightyDragon

@LyraHands: and all this time I thought you'd fall for me. :P Take good care of her, Bob! I know where you live! :P

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: so do I!

Bob

@Bob: I'd hope so! Otherwise Lyra would be living with an idiot! :D

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: you know each other?! This is crazy! :D It's more complicated than MCE!

So, you, Bob, and LyraHands know each other. LyraHands also made the site together with Brush, MixaMax, and CodeFilly. Twist knows Bob and LyraHands because of candy canes (?!?). Finally, RRBB, PaintDrop, SweetStuff, and Candle are in the same city?

This is too much! :)

PrinceEric

@LyraHands: So happy for you! I wish you a lot of happiness and pleasant moments together! Unfortunately, looks like I won't be able to make it to the meetup :( A new order arrived and I'll have to focus on that. Please send photos.

Candle

@Candle: Aww :( we can use dragon mail, but it's such a pity you can't come. I wanted to see everypony!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: at least it will give me and Tech a chance to work on my next fic. Maybe next time I'll be able to make it.

Candle

@all: To mark this fateful occasion, another announcement! The site improvement we've been working on for some time is finally done. Tomorrow, you'll all see the new interface, as well as a few new features. Remember, the changes are massive and there might be some issues here and there, but the core is solid.

With that, I'll be closing the site after an hour so we can start the update. In that regard, I'd like to thank MightyDragon, also an exceptional coder, who helped with some the tricky bits. It's not everyday that one gets to meet an expert on CelestialCode and CC+. :)

Sleep well, Nightlings, for tomorrow will be an exciting day!

The TechNightling

I love bunnies...

Brush

Brush PM Concerns

That's wasn't nice, hooftoy :( Why did you comment on the site? Code and Tech might suspect something.

Brush

Sweet wings, I posted because I wanted to suspect. We've been together for how long now? I love you, but I'm tired of hiding. Can't we tell them, at least here? My mother practically knows I'm seeing somepony, she's just not said it out loud. For all I know she might even know it's you.

Really, whatever happens I'm ready for it. I have a small account set aside from my grandfather, so I'll be able to live comfortably even if my parents cut me off.

MasterOfThisAstra

I love you, but I think we're moving too fast. Can we at least wait till the meet up? I already agreed to dress up as Molly for there. Things are too hectic now... Lyra came out, work has been a bit tense. My best friend is on my case for days. She found a few strands of your mane in my bed and has been pressuring me ever since. :(

I promise, I'll do this, I'm just worried about what ponies will think about you. You're in college...

Brush

Almost graduated. And it's not like we'll get married in the next few weeks. You make me feel incredible, and I just want others to respect that, not hide it. You deserve so much more in so many ways!

MasterOfThisAstra

I know you do :) I'm just stupid, and frightened, and have no idea how to act when good things happen to me. I'm sort of scared that if others find out they'll take you from me and I'll lose you.

Brush

Not that you belong to me! It's not what I meant. I mean that people will start talking to you and they'll see how fun and pretty you are... and you'll see how more interesting they are and...

I don't know anything anymore :(

Brush

Just hold me, you silly mare! *nuzzles* :)

MasterOfThisAstra

I will! Tomorrow. I'll winghug you to oblivion as I lay on you writing human words! :D

Brush

For a Brush you sure are dirty! :P

MasterOfThisAstra

Don't pretend you don't enjoy it! :P I'm your sugar wings, remember?

Brush

*ear munch* You'll always be.

I swear, yesterday there was this stupid discussion in the general dorm. Who had the cutest girlfriend. Of course there was this unicorn, who'd shake his flank for anymare, and he goes 'just one'? I swear I felt like tearing his mane off! The Jade Wing—you know the shy crystal pegasus with the glasses who stutters a lot—blushed which got Royal Star to snicker in his usual style.

"What about you, evervirgins?" He asked. I swear, those were his exact words! So I stood up, looked him in the eye and said: "My marefriend is a supermodel!" That got him to shut up so fast. Not sure how many believed me, but they enjoyed the moment. :)

MasterOfThisAstra

Wow! Much harsh! Serves him right, though. That guy sounds like an ass. How come Jade is single? He's such a cutie.

Brush

Looking at other stallions already?! Well, with your writing, I should have known. Sis will get such a nosebleed if she sees some of the things you write. :P

MasterOfThisAstra

That's why I don't send them to her or RRBB. Only Lyra has seen some of them. And Max, but Max knows how to keep her mouth shut.

Seriously, why is Jade single? He can get any mare at "hello".

Brush

I don't know. Sheltered life? From his perspective, the Empire was under Sombra rule a few years ago. Also, he's incredibly shy. It doesn't help he has glasses either. I know the image of the cute stallion with glasses is a turn on, but we get picked on a lot. Me, I don't care—my family's needed glasses for generations. Jade, though...

MasterOfThisAstra

Maybe you should ask him to join the site? He sounds like the pony who'd like that.

Brush

...okay, who do you want to ship him with?

MasterOfThisAstra

Hey! I'm just worried he's having a rough time. I know stuff about bullying. More than I'd like to admit. :(

Brush

I know you better than that.

MasterOfThisAstra

Fine! It's for Max. If there's a physical embodiment of her fantasies that's Jade. I really didn't think he'd be available! I mean you're hot (*ear nibble* *wing hug*) but you must admit that he's 10/10.

And Max is not bad looking. I think they'll be the perfect pairing!

Brush

Sweet wings, they are nothing alike! She'll shatter him with her first comment. You've heard how much he stutters. And that's a genuine stutter, anxiety just makes it worse. He barely speaks to anypony other than his family and some childhood friends.

The only time we dragged him to a bar he almost got a heart attack when a waitress hit on him.

MasterOfThisAstra

Really? Max can be gentle too...

Brush

We should go to Tartarus for what we're doing. I'll try to get him to join the site. Shouldn't be that difficult since he's already a fan of the series. You won't believe how crazy they pushed the series. Three newspapers mentioned it, which is a big deal for a colt story.

Do you want me to tell him about Max? Or just direct him to the site?

MasterOfThisAstra

Just get him to join. I'll take care of things from there. And please no more scary comments, okay? We'll tell everypony at the meet-up, okay?

Brush

How could I say no to you... Okay, I'll try to be patient. A bit! But you better not delay indefinitely! Otherwise no more huggles! :P

MasterOfThisAstra

You can be scary harsh... I better get all the huggles I can before the meetup then? Starting tomorrow O:)

Brush

You're not fooling anypony with that innocent emoticon! :P

MasterOfThisAstra

Foiled again! *slobbery kisses* *ear kisses* *ear nibbles*

Brush

A New Contender

@all: Sorry, the update (although looking spectacular) has caused some coding issues. It seems that for some reason new stories can't be posted. Tech, Mighty, and I are looking into the problem, so it should be resolved quickly, until then, please don't post stories. :(

In other news, Lyra has been poking in the code again and had the nerve to find three bugs! (Including this one) we all boo her and suggest you do the same! :P

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: I boo for no mare!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I'll remind you that next time we start discussing theories :P

And in other news, I almost got into a fight again :/ This time it was totally not my fault! I just gave somepony a compliment (relating to MCE) and what do I get? More accusations! I should have bit more feathers off! :/

RRBB

@RRBB: Wait, what?!? O.o

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: we should just drop it.

RRBB

Hello.

I was told this was a great place to be, so I decided to check it out. Cool stories you have there, must say :)

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: Wow! You have an interesting nick. :) Welcome to the site. I think you'll feel right at home here. :D As long as you keep your libido in check :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: And what exactly is that supposed to mean? :/

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: Nothing. Just your nick is a bit suggestive? Scratch that. Your nick is extremely suggestive! I know it's probably a clever play on words (Everhere and all) but facts are facts. So chill and don't get your nipples in a twist.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Well, for your info, referring to me as a virgin is incredibly rude! Did I ask if you're a virgin? (Oh, and for your info I'm a stallion, so I can't get "my nipples in a twist")!

You know for someone who doesn't write you sure criticize a lot! I've gone through all of your posts and you always have something smart to say. If you're such an expert, why don't you post a fic so others can comment on it, eh?

Jade the Evervirgin

Wow! Shots fired :D

RRBB

I'm sure this will end well :/

@SweetStuff: don't worry about it. RRBB wasn't targeting you. She just writes the first thing that comes to mind.

PaintDrop

@Jade the Evervirgin: oh, excuse me for offering my opinion! And just because I can't write doesn't mean I can't read! There are things that a half blind mike will notice! Pointing such mistakes out is called constructive criticism!

But hey, what do I know? It's not like this has been my job or anything? And I haven't seen you post anything!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: you're not worth the effort to embarrass in public. You're already doing a pretty good job yourself. Oh, and I'm an actual literature student with several published short stories.

Jade the Evervirgin

I know this is wrong and I should be yelling at ponies to stop, but it's strangely mesmerizing to read. Could it be that Max has met her match? ;)

If I had any bits I'd go all in on Jade. O:)

LyraHands

@Jade the Evervirgin: oh, so you have a fancy title? Well I have two! Want to compare hooves as well? You've no idea who you're messing with, do you loud mouth? I take trolls like you for breakfast!

Go ahead, post one of your short stories! Or better yet, write a MCE fic. For a professional author that can't be too hard.

MixaMax

Kiss already!

Brush

@MixaMax: what titles would those be? "Very" and "Stupid"? And I'll not only post a fic on the site, but will do so immediately once the system is fixed. Please feel free to criticize. Just remember I've studied this stuff, so will tear your pale opinion pieces to shreds!

@Brush: tempting, thought I'd rather have my hooves removed first. Besides, I doubt Max would be able to go through the door with all that blubber on.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: did you just call me fat?!?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: what happened to the nicks being what they are? Clearly you like to mix and eat to the Max. Not my fault your nick is like that!

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: you're so much fun! :) This is the first time I've seen Max on the defensive! :))

Which MC volumes have you read? Which is your favorite humie? :D Inquisitive minds want to know!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Thanks, that's nice of you :)

I must admit, that I just started the Everhere scrolls. I'm a crystal pony, so I've missed everything that came out more than a few years ago. Actually, its thanks to a friend that I started reading this series at all. Adventure and fighting aren't very popular in the Empire, as opposed to comedies and romance novels.

The series so far is surprisingly well written. Personally, I think the author is wasting his skills on colt fiction, when he could easily take the young adult market in storm.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: wait, you're a crystal pony?!?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: want pics? You must be really desperate for a boyfriend.

Jade the Evervirgin

Buuuuurn! :) Max, do you want some ice? You know for that burn you just got? :D

RRBB

@Jade the Evervirgin: Oh? My brother's a college student on the Crystal Empire. He studies literature too!

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I doubt I know him. I don't have a too active social life.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: Wow, I wonder why. Could it be that you have the worst character anypony has in the last thousand years? I bet Beauty and the Mule was based on you!

MixaMax

MixaMax: that's harsh. I'd call you many things, but even I won't call you a mule. They have feelings too, you know.

Jade the Evervirgin

This has gone for far too long! I'm locking the thread and locking both of you out for 12 hours.

That is all!

The TechNightling

The Song

Umm, well, I made a song. It's not very good, but I really wanted to share with you. Some have actually heard it and think it's good, so I posted it under stories. I know it isn't exactly a story, but... I really, really wanted to share it! It's the first full song I've recorded and it's based on Midnight Castle, so... *innocent smile*

It's posted under the story "Midnight Shadow" (I've tagged it as a romance story with the sad tag). The lyrics are there too!

Tell me what you think. (Really, really, really hope you like it.)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: love your voice! :) And the way you sing is so full of emotion! Can I play it to my class? (Promise I won't tell I know you if you don't want me to... although I'd really like to brag about it :D

Also, love that it's about Eric!!! :)

PrinceEric

@SweetStuff: marry me! :D

DannyFan

DannyFan, keep acting that way you'll get banned. Please, don't make me warn you again.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: so harsh today... did something happen, Tech?

@SweetStuff: that's actually not bad. Who On my way! You had skills? Think you can do a reading of some of my stories? I won't be mad if you feel inspired and add a few words as well ;)

RRBB

@RRBB: really? :D Love your Danny saga! (I started reading it soon.) Will be difficult to do Danny with my voice, but if you're okay with a younger version, I'll go for it. :D

@PrinceEric, @DannyFan: thanks, you're both so sweet! :D

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: you have a beautiful voice, but you need a bit more practice. If you want, PM me and I can give you some pointers? :)

The song, on the other hoof is... it's... I cried all over my keyboard! I know a few pones have said it's incredible, but it really is. There's slight word clutter in two places, but that could be fixed. If you take care of that, train your voice a bit more, and add music, I think it'll shine!

P.S. please do a happy romantic song next? ;)

Brush

@SweetStuff: way to become popular! And you deserve it every bit! Can't wait to hear your Danny impression... and more songs :D Oh, and before I forget, I'm kidnapping you to my place tomorrow! No way I won't take part in recording this! I'll also ask a few friends if they can join in (who knew my musical scholarship would come in handy? :P)

LyraHands

LyraHands: can you get Octavia Harmony?! :) I'm such a huge fan!

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I could, and I will! ;)

@LyraHands: and you won't be kidnapping anypony! I'll be snatching you both! I'll arrange for the recording. :)

Luna

On second thought, maybe you can have a recording session in the royal conservatory. :) Might be less problematic.

Luna

I can get DJ Pon3!

TheRealLuna

@SweetStuff: that's actually sweet! :) You just need to pause a bit more between lines, like you do during the chorus. My sister will love this. :D

Going to the lyrics. Yep, you've got it! With a few months more practice I bet you can become a pony idol! :))

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I never knew you were an expert in singing as well. Please, enlighten us, what myriad of talents do you possess?

Sweet just did something remarkable, that on most places would be considered a ticket to a scholarship, but no! Somepony had to be an eternal critic. :/

Jade the Evervirgin

Cool it you two. No ear nibbling in public! :P

Brush

@Brush: I'd rather have my mane torn off hair by hair, than have anything to do with that harpy!

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: cool it a bit, will you? I've no idea where this animosity came from, but that's enough.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: And who exactly made you king Sombra?

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: I did.

CodeFilly

@Jade the Evervirgin: I know you're a cutie, but cool it a bit, will you? Instead of yelling at ponies, write a magnificent story that will make half the site (Max included) drool their spit out.

Brush

@Brush: Well... okay. Yeah, sorry. I can be like that at times. Guess, I have a bit of a temper, huh? It's just ponies like MixaMax drive me crazy! :( Never done a thing in their lives, yet they never miss an opportunity to correct others. Half my class is like that! Arrogant, snobbish jerks, who think they are so much better just because they go to a good college (often only thanks to their financial backing.)

I'll try to keep my temper under check, but... oh well. And I definitely write something to have Max eat her heart out! Let me see her then!

@SweetStuff: if you're still in school (guess based on your voice), I see you becoming famous in a few years. Just don't let loudmouths like MixaMax discourage you. :)

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: Listen, cupcake. If taking cheap shots at me turns you on, go right ahead. You think I'll quit because some aethernet warrior said something bad about me? If you're so brave why don't you come to the meetup? Last I heard there were direct trains from the Empire to Canterlot.

MixaMax

@Jade the Evervirgin: thank you <3 Everypony here has been very nice to me :)
I hope nothing bad happened to you during the magic storm. My sister said it was very scary and a number of ponies got hurt :(

If you write a story, I promise I'll narrate it :)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: what do you say about us working on a common project? I've started working on a comic based on MCE. If you voice it, we can post it on the aethernet and link it up here.

@LyraHands: some rules about that might be nice. Comics and songs aren't exactly fics, but are still part of Midnight Castle. What is a Nightling to do in these circumstances?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop, @SweetStuff: of course, dears. Go ahead. That's what the site is for :) I'll add a few new tags. ;)

CodeFilly

The Conspiracy

I'm bringing Lyra in the loop. (She knows about us.)

Lyra, please don't ban Jade. I asked Mota to get him to join so we could finally get Max hitched.

Brush

Seriously, Brush?! Not that she doesn't need it, but that's one of your worst ideas ever. :/ What did you think would happen? I've got five complaints. Code is annoyed at him for snapping at Mighty, RRBB said she thought he was going too far.

I don't know what he's like in real life, but he definitely comes across as a condescending jerk. And Max isn't the easiest to get along with either when she's in her moods...

I can save him from the banhammer, but I doubt they'd get along. If anything they'll kill each other.

LyraHands

Has Max sent any complaints? ;)

Brush

No, but don't read into that. Probably, she still feels bad about the DarkSparkle thing and just won't PM me. I'm sure she'll drill my ears about it in a few days.

It would be so hilarious, though. From a fictional point of view I ship them already :P

Who is Jade anyway?

LyraBrysh

Hi, Lyra.

Jade's an acquaintance from college. Before yesterday I never thought him capable of such behavior. I've known him for a few years and he's the type of pony who'd apologize for you shouting at him. Also, he's extremely polite, very kind and incredibly shy.

Here's a pic what he looks like (second row utmost left).

MasterOfThisAstra

O!M!G! I'd never ever have imagined that being Jade. It's like a totally different pony! I'm afraid Max's head would explode if she got to see. :)

Oh, and thanks for taming our wild Brush, Mota. Was high time she found somepony to be happy with :)

LyraHands

Well, my sister's one to thank for that. If she hadn't left Brush's story lying about I'd never have shown any interest, and most definitely never gotten to meet her. Brush is something special in so many ways.

MasterOfThisAstra

Getting back to the main topic of discussion... (I'm already shipped :P) How do we get things to calm down a bit? I guarantee that Max is already fantasizing about Jade, in between hating him, but Jade is being a bit too aggressive. Must be the result of decades of suppressed anger.

Mota, can you talk to him, get him to calm down?

Brush

I can try. We've been discussing a bit of MCE and for the most part he finds it just as amusing as I. He likes your stories more, though (I gave him the one about the human and the mirror and he loved it.)

Keep in mind that he doesn't know that I visit the site, just that I've read a few things from there. Don't tell anypony this, but he's not impressed with most of the fan fictions published. He's extremely supportive, though. I'm trying to get him to comment more, but he seems to only want to flame Max.

MasterOfThisAstra

Does any of you know what Jade's type is, though? If he and Max happen to meet and like each other that's one thing. If it turns out that she's nothing like his idea SO (or that he even isn't into mares) it's best we stop here. At this point they are still at the insult phase, so we're fine.

Mota, anything you could share?

LyraHands

That's not a topic we discuss too much. Well, other than the time he met Brush. He went on and on about how lucky I am, which means he's into mares. I think. It's not an issue asking him. On another note, his favourite human is Megan and he's convinced she'll be shipped with Blazen.

MasterOfThisAstra

... I take back what I said. He's a horrible match for Max!

Mezen?! Seriously? That's the worst ship out there! I can't believe he's really suggesting that. On the plus side, I think it's safe to say he's into mares, and that Max has just become a very viable candidate. (Of all the characters in the series, she is closest to Megan the most). :)

Brush

Best check to be completely sure. Also, talk to him to turn down the hate, a personal thing between him and Max, I'd allow, but shouting at every second user. Get him to at least rode down things until he becomes like CEOWitch, okay?

Will you bring him to the meetup, btw?

LyraHands

That's the plan :) And, yes I'll talk with him on both points.

Do you think we should get anypony else involved in the conspiracy? I'm afraid Code or Tech might ban first ask later.

MasterOfThisAstra

Tech finds their arguments amusing, although he'll never admit it publicly. I wouldn't worry about him. Code is a different matter. When he went into an argument with her coltfriend, he automatically got on her bad list. I'll see if I can get him out of there. Might have to tell her what you told me and show that picture. (I still gotta say it: daymn! :))

Mota, how come Jade is single?

LyraHands

Not you too...

MasterOfThisAstra

Lyra, can you ask CEOWitch to make a "mistake" and put both of them in the same room when he books hotel rooms for the meetup? O:)

Brush

No, but I can ask him to get one for you two. If you're making it official, that is.

LyraHands

Thank you, that would be ideal! :)

And yes, I agree that is one thing that shouldn't be forced. I know you like shipping ponies, sweet wings, but our involvement should end with getting them in the same place at the same time. After that, they can decide for themselves whether they like each other or not.

Personally, I hope it works out. MixaMax sounds like one fun character, and (in my opinion) Jade needs a marefriend.

MasterOfThisAstra

Me and my big mouth... :/

Brush

Spoiler 4

Blazen Ruul

Outcast, shaman, chosen

Dark and mysterious, Blazen fled to Mistmount to escape the fate set out for him by his family, but ran straight into something larger. Dreading his past, he still uses his powers for the sake of those he cares about, regardless of the consequences.

Siblings: Unknown
Place of birth: Unknown
Occupation: None
Hobby: Paper figurines
Mentor deity: None
Magic power: Runecraft
Eternity gem: Inkstone

"Don't leave me... I'm lost without you."

Talk about bombshells! Ruul? Ruul?! Blazen fucking Ruul?! I pray that's a pun or nick and that his family isn't called that. "The House of Ruul!" :P Sheesh, I'm starting to sound like MixaMax :D

That aside, it's the first time we learn anything about him, including that he isn't from Mistmount. Oh, and those ryne powers he has are real, along with the occult site.

Hmm, I wonder who the phrase is directed at. It might be Megan... or it might be Danny. I think Blanny will be incredibly hot! But no chance S&S would go for it.

I'm not sure if anypony said this before, but there will be 13 spoilers: 9 are obvious, 4 remain unknown. Let the guessing for the next one begin :) I'm going for Eric.

RRBB

@RRBB: that means tomorrow I'll make another analyses :) Will try to be shorter this time :)

But yes, big reveal! The whole family thing wasn't even hinted in MC! Although... remember how it was mentioned that he changed homes in "The Dagger's Hilt"? Could that have been an indication or foreshadowing?

More curious, he's given almost as much importance as the Williams siblings. I won't be surprised if he has a much larger role in the series... although I'm still hoping for Eric to make an appearance.

Also... Blazen x Eric? O:)

PrinceEric

I'm getting on this early, since I don't have job interviews today. I think that S&S will go for some romance because of the shift towards comics. I agree with RRBB that it won't be a M-M ship, which leaves a few options:

I don't see them shipping Blazen with any pony (they went as far as they could with the Caprice friendship thing). It's also safe to assume Molly won't be a thing. That leaves Megan, Cassandra, Euryala (out of the main characters).

Megan has been suggested, but personally I don't see it. They are too alike to be interesting together. Also, I think Megan will go for someone older. Call it a hunch.

Cassandra is possible, them being on different sides and all, but for that to develop we need a much more active Cass, and since she's a secondary character it's not likely to happen yet.

Euryala has existed and has strange powers of her one, making the pairing ideal. And since it was mentioned that two of the 9 will become a couple, I think these two are it. :D

I know the logic is flimsy, but any logic would be at this stage. Still, my 2 bits.

LyraHands

And this series started so well...

We had excitement, intrigue, mystery, and now what?!? Soap opera romance?! Seriously, what are you thinking, S.Child? Getting Blazen, of all people, to fall for someone is pretty much absurd. His whole thing in MC was being the loner, and only helping because he feels like it. Getting him to find someone will be against his character.

Interesting info on him, though I hate the family but! Won't it be cooler if he just stumbled on his power while reading occult net stuff? There's no need for a dark past, or an ominous family. We've seen how strong he is, we get it!

MixaMax

@RRBB: since I'm unburdened by MC, I think that it makes a lot of sense. He's obviously a runecrafter, and as such will pair up with someone with a similar power level. And while Danny is an option, the only other character remotely eligible (based on book logic) is Euryala.

If Omni was a female I'd change my view, but for the moment it still stands.

Personally I'm more curious on how the evergems link together. The inkstone will obviously grant him the ability to summon shadow creatures, but so what? Could he and Megan create monsters in the various realities, if they work together? I really hope I get answers to those questions tomorrow.

Jade the Evervirgin

Hmm, so theoretical couples are theoretical. The public seems to love it, though, so I guess one will happen. I can't stop thinking about Megan and Karl! (Curse you, Max!) I know it's all wrong, but it's so sweet! Argh! :/

Karl is always the lost relaxed guy, and Megan is a strong leader, so they'll make the word couple, that's for sure. :) Still, it can happen...

Brush

We must organize a shipping contest! Lyra, how about we do that? I can guarantee the prize: a figurine if the winner's choice. All you have to do is post with your magical @all.

Rules:
Must be a legit ship
Must be explained why is legit ship
Must be well written
Must be SFW (I'm sure Tech would like it that way)

RRBB

Sure, that sounds like fun. Not sure if a whole fic would be necessary, but buck it! It's my site :P I need to think about the details a bit.

LyraHands

What she means to say is that she'll be going over all options, dividing which one to choose :P

I still would like to see Cass and Meg become an item. Impossible, I know, but just picture it. Or better read the fic I'll post 5 weeks from now. It'll be great! :P

Bob

@Bob: you realize I'm sitting next to you, right? Don't make me bap you on the head. And we'll see what happens with a Blazen tomorrow! That said time to go to sleep. Bye!

LyraHands

Sleep well! Tomorrow will be an interesting day :D

RRBB

Brush PMs - Confusion and Saucy Secrets

What just happened?! I'm so mad I want to scream! Two days of aethernet fighting (I had pretty much paired them) and then Dark appears out of nowhere and gets Jade to swoon with one post?!? Tell me this is a joke! :/

Brush

Sorry, sweet wings :( He spent all night talking about her (and thanking me a million times for getting him to sign up to the site). He's read every post she's made as well as her stories... more than once. His exact words were "she's not your marefriend, but she's something else." :/ I then had to endure hours of him freaking out whether she'd like him.

I really can't understand him sometimes. He's under the impression he's crap and that no mare will give him the time of day (because of his glasses). And he keeps telling me how lucky I am, not that I'm not :).

MasterOfThisAstra

Whyyy? Whyyyyy? Buck DarkSparkle! :((( Who is she anyway?

Brush

I'm totally clueless. She's one of the regulars who's a mystery :/ I PMed her to be sure she was okay, but that's it. She replied that everything's fine and that Max is really nice if a bit extreme.

LyraHands

The irony. Dark came back because she has a crush on Max and snatched Jade who we were setting up for Max? This is so similar to a fic it isn't even funny.

MasterOfThisAstra

Hooftoy, I love you, but please shut up. What are we going to do now? I already started asking Max what she thought about Jade in real life. For the most part it was "that jerk" but there was more than a hint she was considering having a one on one with him.

Mota, can you get a pic from him so I can send it to Max? Meanwhile I'll find a way to deal with Dark.

Brush

No offense, Brush, but I'd prefer you don't "deal" with anything in real life. All ten times you've tried things ended in chaos. :/

We agreed to let things happen naturally. Either Jade falls for Max or not. We're not pulling a Starlight, got it?

LyraHands

Well, on the positive side, Jade will definitely go to the meetup. He's already "talked me into" sharing a room with him. If we want to be evil, we can have Brush share a room with Max and then swap. We all know that we'll be together ;)

Lyra, any chance we can meet? I know you're busy with the job thing, but I'll be spending a week away from uni, and we'd love to spend an afternoon with you, if you are free.

MasterOfThisAstra

It all depends on my job thing. I think I might have gotten a temp job. Delivering mail *sigh*. The boss is cool, though, and my coworker is really nice. A bit strange, but nice :D

If I have the time, I'll definitely go to spend an afternoon with you. :) Oh and, Brush looks really sexy in her Molly outfit. *grrrrowl* :P

LyraHands

Traitor! If you've sent those pics to Mota I'll never talk to you again! :/

Brush

You have sexy Brush photos? Send them! I want to see my sweet wings all sexy and blushing :)

MasterOfThisAstra

Oh, she’s hot, believe me. If I didn't have someone, I'd be all over Brush. :P

Getting back to MaxJade, I think we best leave things as they are. Meetup is only five days away, so whatever happens will happen. CEOWitch and Luna have pretty much taken care of everything. Don't tell anypony, but there's a (small) chance that S.Child shows up.

I might try to dress up as my OC. I've already spoken with Rarity if she can make me some handshoes.

LyraHands

Buck a tree both of you!

Brush

Only if that's your turn-on ;)

MasterOfThisAstra

Hush! *blush*

Hmm. What do you guys think of getting Jade to dress up as something? That might increase the chances of JadeMax.

Brush

You just want to see him cosplay, don't you? :P

LyraHands

As it happens, you’ll have your wish. One of the things we discussed last night, I use the term "discussed" loosely, was Jade's idea of costume. I don't need to tell you his family is pretty well off, as most in that college, so he has the means to get something done fast.

The big surprise is that, believe it or not, he's considering going as Poseidon. Now, when I say Poseidon, I mean a Poseidon like the kind my sister draws. (If you know what I mean.)

MasterOfThisAstra

LMAO! This is too much! :) I'm so getting RRBB to hire professional photographers for this :) Just one question: do you think he can pull it off?

LyraHands

Well, I'm not the expert what mares like, but if I were a mare I'd bang him.

MasterOfThisAstra

Say no more. :) That and him being a crystal pegasus is likely to cause quite a stir. Also, do you note what a high number of stallions we have compared to other fansites? Code checked recently and they can all be jealous of our quantity and quality. Well, excluding fighting and colt comic sites, but those are a different thing altogether.

LyraHands

Despite what you think, you run a pretty neat site. And I'm not only talking visual and functionality. Those two are the best there is, but it's mostly you. You're the type of pony that's passionate about something but isn't a megalomaniac. You've no idea how rare that is. Naturally, you'll attract others like you. Tartarus, even your trolls are nice!

MasterOfThisAstra

Stahp! :P It's just something I wanted to do and I'm lucky I was with cool ponies. Max and Code were a huge support. Brush too... although the talk of stallions and cosplay seems to have given her a heart attack. :P

LyraHands

Bleh! I'll have you know that I went to visit Mota, I turned quite a few heads!

Brush

She did. Half of my class asked how good she's in the hay. I told them 8/10.

MasterOfThisAstra

What?!?

Brush

Well, I suppose I could add another 1 for your cute snoring. It sounds exactly like a hummingbird. :)

(She does it when she falls asleep with her wings around me. Really cute.)

MasterOfThisAstra

Mota!!! Don't tell her that!

Brush

Now I feel jealous! :P

Sadly must go to a few job interviews. Be wild you two, and see you tomorrow! :)

LyraHands

Meet-up Planning

Oh, oh! I want room 25! And a +1!

@DarkSparkle: don't worry about that, silly! :P I'll bring all the food we'll need! :)

PPI

@all: Time for me to start spamming the site with meetup details. I'll be booking rooms next few days, so will need to know who, what, where, when! (Oh, and I got Fleetfoot, so you all owe me big time! ;))

Equestrian Inn
Room 23
SweetStuff + 1, Twist + 1

Room 24
Candle, 1 free (talk to Candle for sharing)

Room 25
2 free

Room 26
Brush, MixaMax

Room 27
MasterOfThisAstra + 1

PaintDrop and RRBB have their own thing

CodeFilly, MightyDragon, LyraHands, and Bob will be at Code's place

PrinceEric will be staying in the Wonderbolt section of the palace

Luna has her own thing (boo! :P)

Tech said he won't be going. Anypony else, please let me know asap!

CEOWitch

@PPI: lol. Okay, you're booked. :)

CEOWitch

Seems I won't be going :( My stupid father is so stupid!!! I was hoping he'd change his mind, but he prefers to be a pissy twat that would see me do anything but be happy :/

Have a great time, all. And send photos :)

DannyFan

@SweetStuff: +1 ?! A snugglebuddy? Please tell more >:D

RRBB

I'll be going, but I've made my own arrangements. Most likely I'll be there a day in advance, so if you need any help organizing or setting things up, I'm your mare.

It might also be a good idea to bring some food. Princess Luna has graciously offered to provide for the event, but ponies must eat before and after as well.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I'll bring something special, I'm sure you'll enjoy :) As an apology for the mess. (And don't you dare say no! :))

MixaMax

@RRBB: I wish it was a snugglebuddy. Just somepony I have to bring :/ *sigh*

I'll also be there a few days earlier to get my recordings done! (OMG! This is happening! :))

SweetStuff

@DarkSparkle: cool, cause I'll be going too. Maybe we can, you know, meet and talk about stuff? I love your stories.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: sure :)

DarkSparkle

I won't be going :( Have work and stuff. Maybe next time.

TheRealLuna

Oh, my other half, what will I do without you? Cruel fate is this that keeps us apart.

A few of the writers have confirmed, so that'll be a treat for you guys :)

Luna

@Luna: Alas, my better half. At least you have things under control. ;)

TheRealLuna

Are we missing anypony? It's difficult to keep track of who's what. Please let CEOWitch know if you're left out.

LyraHands

@DannyFan: aww! So sad you can't make it :( I was looking forward to seeing you. Now that I'm committed feeling a bit scary being there among all the mares.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: you'll always be safe with me, bby:)

Brush

Dear all,

I truly hope you have a wonderful time. This sounds like an event for the history books. It's really unfortunate that I wouldn't be able to make it. With work and the travel time being what it is, I'll have to delay me appearing until next time.

I'll be with you in spirit, and wave from the aethernet.

The TechNightling

Hey, all.

None of you know me, but I've been lurking on the site for a while (thanks to Bob). Any chance you can book a room for me as well?

Lurkling

@Lurkling: if Bob can vouch for you, sure thing.

CEOWitch

@Lurkling: hold a moment! Are you ho I think you are?!? BB?!?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: afraid so O:)

Lurkling

@CEOWitch: I vouch for Lurk. Double room. :)

@Twist: bring candy canes! :)

LyraHands

Suuure! :)))

Twist

@LyraHands, @Lurkling: Done! Any chance I might know you?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: you'll be surprised :P

LyraHands

@Luna: what exactly is the plan once this starts? We know there will be food and such, authors, and Fleetfoot (I'm so pestering her for an autograph! :)) and what else?

I'll bring my pictures and sculptures, RRBB and Brush will bring some new stories. Do we do readings?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: two ponies which shall remain unnamed, convince me to do the reading. Since I haven't read since school it will be a fun experience.

And I'll be glad to give out autographs. You get the first one ;)

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: you kept your account. Does that make you a Nightling? :P

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: kid, I was a Nightling before you were able to fly!

Nah, I just got curious. Kudos to the three ponies who wrote about me. :)

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: Omg! You and CEO are my heroes! During the storm scare I had family in the Empire, plus my best friend's brother was there, so I was a little terrified. Thanks for being there for us!

And I'm also totally hanging out with you >:D

RRBB

@RRBB: Somepony has an idol? :P

Brush

@Brush: to use your phrase... go buck a tree!

RRBB

@all: Please spam CEOWitch with suggestions (sane, safe, and practical ones only!) what to do when we're there.

@DarkSparkle: Thanks for offering to help! We'll need it :)

LyraHands

Hey! I can organize stuff as well, you know! :/

MixaMax

@MixaMax: heh! Probably as much as a foal with a sugar rush.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: that wasn't nice! Max might have a sharp tongue, but she's actually very nice and doesn't deserve such an attitude!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I'm sorry :( I just get all upset and lash out at times. My bad.

Apologies, MixaMax.

Jade the Evervirgin

@DarkSparkle, @Jade the Evervirgin: it's cool. I'm a loudmouth all too often :P You should join in and hang with me and Dark at the meetup! (Hope you can drink ;))

MixaMax

Excuse me while I go tear my mane off!

Brush

?!?

RRBB

@RRBB: Brush is just dealing with a series of confusing issues. Let her be.

LyraHands

Laughs and Tears

Oh my goodness! This is wild! I got to spend time with Octavia Harmony, Vinyl Scratch, and CEOWitch! (My lips are sealed! <3)

It was so great! Not only did we get to record my song (3-4 versions of it) but I also got to hang with Octavia :))) Of course my sister had to tag along :/ I don't think she even got what was going on. CEOWitch tried to plain, but sis never was a bookpony.

@Luna, @TheRealLuna: <3 you both! *hugs* Pity you were busy. Would have liked to hang out...

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: no worries :) Small world, though.

Shame you couldn't stay till the meetup. I thought you had arranged that. It's not like it would have cost you anything. :/

By the way, some girls on the squad are hooked on Vinyl's remix of your song. The rhythm is really good for concentrating during flight and your voice is really a good match. Don't get me wrong, I love Octavia's song to death, but it's something I'd listen in the privacy of my own home... when nopony will see me cry.

CEOWitch

I never thought you to be such a softy, love. ;)

Octavia

@Octavia: Octavia! I can't believe it! You actually joined?! :D Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! <3

SweetStuff

How could I not? :) After the performance you did, it would be a shame if I at least didn't check what inspired you. And let us not forget that Lyra and I have been friends for a while, not to mention colleagues.

@LyraHands: I'm glad you achieved your dream. Sorry for what happened with your parents. If there's anything I could help with, let me know.

Octavia

Miss Harmony, this is indeed an honour!

Can I just say that I find your work delightful. My son has all your records and I myself have a few personal copies. While, I suspect this would hardly be to your taste, let me welcome you to our small corner of the aethernet—where passions and enthusiasm run high and miracles happen.

The TechNightling

@Octavia: Octy! (I'm not sure you remember, but my father hired you for my cute-ceañera.)

Please tell me you'll consider reading the series. I know it sounds strange on the surface, but maybe just give the first two scrolls a chance? If after that you don't like the series, I perfectly understand and will drop the matter.

Thank you a lot for helping SweetStuff. Having you help out in a song is a big deal (not only for Sweet, but for all of us). I honestly hope, there are most songs to come.

PaintDrop

Thank you, Tech. I'm honoured :) Is that a fellow Trotney I sense?

Apologies, dear, but I have been to a number of important occasions. I'm sure if I see you I'll remember. :) And I will gladly give the scrolls a read, especially after CEOWitch was kind enough to provide me with a few signed from the Wonderbolts and the writers.:)

Octavia

@SweetStuff: I'm so envious right now! If it wasn't for my stupid parents and my stupid fight at school, I could have gone to Canterlot with you! :/ Did you take lots of photos, at least? :)

RRBB

@RRBB: Sorry :( I just did the singing. I completely forgot to take photos.

SweetStuff

@RRBB: what did you get yourself into again? :/ I thought your fighting days were over?

@Octavia: Yo, Tavi! It's Dopey :) Nice to see you in our little piece of chaos.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: It wasn't a real fight! Just a misunderstanding, okay? And I don't want to talk about it!

RRBB

Some news from me. I'm at Paint's working on my new story, and I got thinking. You know what day it is tomorrow, right? Anypony have any plans for the occasion? It's scary how close that is to our first meetup.

To mark the occasion, I'll be doing requests: short stories in MC / MCE that you want to give to somepony special. (Friends also work :)) RRBB, you get first pick ;)

Brush

@Brush: who cares about a stupid holiday anyway?!? :/

RRBB

@Brush: sorry, I'm just not in the best place right now :( I'll be fine. My parents already promised I could go to Canterlot, so there's that at least. It's just that... today was a really bad day for me. I wish I could have gone to Canterlot to hear SweetStuff sing. Instead I chose to stay at school and try to be nice. :/ Some good that did me. :(

RRBB

@RRBB: Everything will be okay! I'll bake a fresh batch of candy canes just for you when we meet. :)

Twist

@Twist: you can't fix everything with candy...

RRBB

@RRBB: I'm taking you with us this afternoon! It'll do you good. Plus my brother and Brush will be there.

PaintDrop

@RRBB: I hope nothing serious has happened.

Octavia

@Octavia: no, nothing serious. Just nonsense. Sorry you had to see this :( I really mess up the mood at times. Is super cool for you to make an account here :)

RRBB

@RRBB: You know best, but if it was you-know-who, I'd like to know.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: yes it was! Can we drop it now? Please?

RRBB

Well, I'm getting married tomorrow...

MightyDragon

What?!?

MixaMax

What?!?

Brush

Huh?

CodeFilly

Seriously?!?

RRBB

Oh, my bad. I meant I'm getting mared tomorrow. As in seeing my marefriend?

MightyDragon

You jerk! :/

Still love you, though.

CodeFilly

@MightyDragon: Never speak to me again!

Until the meetup.

Brush

@MightyDragon: Wow! Just wow! Code, where did you find that loser? A fine flank can't be worth that much suffering!

MixaMax

If nothing else it definitely is lively here :) Thank you for the welcome, and have fun at your meetup.

Dopey, you never change... :)

Octavia

@MightyDragon: To the moon with you!

TheRealLuna

No! Wait! We need the moon! He'll just mess it up!

Luna

@Luna: Fiiiine! :/

TheRealLuna

@all: What did I just trot back to?!?

LyraHands

Truly Shattered

Lyra, are you here?

RRBB

I did something dumb today... really dumb...

RRBB

I'm just pathetic. Alone and on the aethernet while everypony else is out nuzzling and smooching each other. You're probably out with somepony as well...

RRBB

I hate Hearts and Hooves! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Not as stupid a me, though. Banged the door on my leg just so I get to miss school. Not that mom noticed. Only reason she let it pass was because it's a "semi holiday" and I “wouldn't miss anything” if I stayed home. The servants were worried more about me that my own parents! How twisted is that?

RRBB

This hurts like Tartarus. I don't think I'll be going to the meetup. Sorry. I was all excited about it, but after yesterday, I don't think I can take it.

I hardly survived Paint's outing yesterday. She tried to get me to feel better. They all did, but I can't stand sitting there, watching Brush and Paint's brother ogle each other all the time! They can't be more obvious if they started nuzzling each other! Everypony at Paint's place knows, they're just not saying anything because they want her brother to be happy.

I wish somepony would want me to be happy...

RRBB

RRBB, I'm here! Sorry, had a really long orientation and couldn't get to a computer sooner.

Tell me what happened.

LyraHands

Nothing happened. Nothing ever happens...

RRBB

Tell that lie to somepony else. :/ Was it about the fight with you know who?

LyraHands

Yeah... maybe...

RRBB

RR...

LyraHands

There never was a fight, okay? She left, then I busted the bathroom sink and lied we had a fight. Since I was the only one with scrapes, nopony cared! They just phoned my mom and told her how much the damages would cost.

RRBB

It happened, didn't it? :( Oh, RR... I warned you not to build your hopes up. Some things are just not meant to be. Sucks, I know. Happened a few times to me as well. Try to cry it out.

LyraHands

I'm so disgusting! Of course she'd react like that. Because I'm disgusting! Repulsive! :( I did my best to pretend I wasn't, but I always knew. In my nightmares, I could see it! Jr Prom Princess, top tier of my class, multi-pageant winner, and I'm just disgusting!!!

RRBB

RR, you're not disgusting! Never think that! It's just a lot to take in, especially at that age. Do you think I was any different? I couldn't tell hoof from tail! I know there's nothing I or anypony could say to make you feel better, but you have to let it all out. If you keep it inside it will only hurt you more. Trust me on this.

LyraHands

I finally started to accept what I might be and she! She did nothing! Just looked at me sort of confused and left. Do you know how that feels?!

I could see it in her eyes! Pity and disgust. Disgust I could live with! Heck, nopony likes me. Most can't stand me. Pity, though... that just burns me from the inside. I keep imagining things could have been different and that hurts... it hurts so much.

RRBB

I spent the entire afternoon yesterday hoping she'd trot up to me. Not that I'd think she'd change her mind, but maybe at least talk to me, you know? Just a few words. Don't I get to get a few words?

I miss all those times she yell that she hates me. How sick is that?

RRBB

That's called heartbreak, RR. There are a thousands things ponies will tell you to do, but none of it matters. And it's not true that nopony likes you. Just look at the site. The Nightlings adore you. Your friends adore you! Do you think I'd drop everything for a random stranger? You matter, RR. I, Brush, Max, we're always here for you. So is PaintDrop. And I'm sure there are others.

I know it's the last thing on your mind, but please come to the meetup. Even if you stay in your room all day, at least it will be a change. And there'll always be someone there if you change your mind.

LyraHands

I guess...

Heh, well known fanfiction author, literary prodigy, and I still couldn't see this coming. Half my fucking stories deal with heartbreak and I was still too stupid to see my own.

RRBB

And please don't hurt yourself again. One pain won't mask another. I'll borrow some money from Bob and pass by to see you. Better get a doctor to see you.

Does anypony else know what happened?

LyraHands

No. I don't think so. I made sure it was only the two of us when I confessed. A few ran in the bathroom after I broke the sink...

RRBB

Okay, now listen to me. Go take a shower then go to bed. Don't do anything in between. Just shower and go to sleep. No writing on the site, no browsing through the net. Don't even read. Then, when you wake up go through your stories. The old ones.

LyraHands

Why? They are shit! I should have burned them years ago!

RRBB

They have her in there. It won't help, but it'll take off the edge a bit. And get a spare pillow. When it happened to me I cried all night. You're an earth pony, so you're stronger, but you'll still cry.

LyraHands

What about coming to see me? I thought you said you would.

RRBB

Do you want anypony to visit? Or do you prefer to be alone?

LyraHands

I don't know!

RRBB

:) cry a bit, RR. I'll be with you later tonight. And please don't hurt yourself anymore.

LyraHands

I'll try. Thank you.

RRBB

A DarkMax PM

Umm, hey Dark. Just wanted to poke you see how you're doing.

Heh the site has gone wild while you were gone. We have ponies joining left and right. This meetup thing is almost here... new tags, new UI, new stories. All in all cool stuff.

MixaMax

Hello.

Yes, I've noticed. It's also grown even more disorganized than before. (I didn't think that was possible.)

DarkSparkle

Yeah... that too :(

MixaMax

No, no, no, no! That was a joke. I was just being funny. :) It's so very much Lyra. I'd be surprised if she didn't leave her mark.

DarkSparkle

Right *giggle*

Dark, I just wanted to apologize for being such a jerk last time. There are things you said I really don't agree with, but that doesn't mean you're always wrong. And I shouldn't have made fun of you. I get cranky because of my BORING job so I often take it out shouting at ponies on the site. You can say it has been my outlet for a while now.

What I'm trying to say, it was never meant to get personal. I like everypony on the site (even Jerk the Evervirgin), I just don't always express it as I should. Do you think we can be friends?

MixaMax

MixaMax, we are friends. I just overreacted a bit. Was as much my fault as yours. I hope I haven't caused you any sleepless nights. Sorry if I have :(

Between you and me this isn't the first time I'm chased off a site. To be perfectly honest, you girls rock compared to most of the other places I've been to. Let's just say that here, at least I left on my own accord O:) Not that I plan on getting kicked out! Also, don't think I'll change my views. The facts are on my side.

DarkSparkle

Heh, on your side, you say? It must be a pretty small side. :P

Can I ask what made you return to us? Not that I don't want you here! Just when you disappeared I tried to get Code and Tech to find you and none of them could. I feared that we'd lost all contact with you :(

MixaMax

Understandable. They aren't the only ones who can code, you know. ;) (Plus Tech's code isn't all that good. It gets the job done, I'll give him that, but it's so messy argh!)

TheRealLuna poked me. I've known her from a few other forums so we have information to our dummy accounts. We never used them much, but in this case I'm glad we did. Also, I don't believe that's Princess Luna. Her schedule doesn't match one bit with TheRealLuna. She seems nice' though.

DarkSparkle

Wouldn't that be something? To have a Princess on the forum. Ponies would go insane :)

I'm glad that TheRealLuna brought you back. I know it doesn't show, but I like arguing with ponies. I mean I like the arguing itself, regardless if I'm right or wrong. (Don't read anything into that. I'm mostly always right.)

You should have seen our verbal battles with Brush and RRBB. Lyra is such a spoilsport, though.

MixaMax

Heh. Yes, I haven't seen Lyra argue in years. I mean sure, she does try, but it's really... umm... well... She's as parallel to the conversation as an X.

I've no idea who the rest are, though. Well, other than Twist. I don't know where that filly gets her energy, but she's posting like wild in every forum. Tartarus, she admins four Daring Do sites! I’m scared what she'll become when she grows up.

DarkSparkle

Maybe she's a herd of teenagers who like causing chaos on the aethernet? :P

MixaMax

Hmm. Twist is secretly discord? That would explain some things. Just joking :P

DarkSparkle

You're jokes are really horrible! :P Don't worry, I'll give you a helping hoof. ;)

Oh, you're old enough to drink, right? I don't want to get a mug of strong stuff to see that you're a little filly (that's happened once before :P)

MixaMax

I assure you, I'm of drinking age. Although, if I weren't I'd probably say the same thing. In any case, you'll soon see. Maybe we can not start drinking at the first meeting? Isn't the event going to be focused on discussing Midnight Castle stories? Oh, and I'll so crush Twist! Her half baked shipping theories have no chance against my cold hard logic!

DarkSparkle

*snrk* Poor use of words :P

And if you think the event will only be about discussing literature... you've never been to a Lyra meetup. ;) Lets just say that some of us will keep well behaved during the day because there will be foals around. After dark, though, anything goes! >:D

MixaMax

Argh! Sorry, but I don't have good experiences of late night parties :(

DarkSparkle

You'll have a fun time, trust me :)

I'm really curious to see who is who. To be honest you're one of the mysteries on the site. As I said, nopony has a clue who you are, even Lyra. You and Jade. I bet she's some skinny mare with acne living out her fantasy online. Like, she's trying so hard to be threatening that it's almost sweet. :)

MixaMax

She? I thought Jade was a stallion.

DarkSparkle

Trust me, she isn't. I invented that game. She's just an insecure filly that hopes to get attention and find a colt. Shit! I must help my sis with her H&H gift! She's going to kill me!

MixaMax

Oh, right :/ the day of the super-commercialized-but-we-really-want-you-to-feel-loved event. Personally, I find it stupid. Why wait a whole year to be with somepony?

DarkSparkle

Riiiiight. :P Well, don't fret. I'm solo as well. :) Let’s cry together... and help our sisters try to win "the love of their life" ... again! :P

MixaMax

Heh. Max, you can be so cruel. :) Have fun and see you soon.

DarkSparkle

Take care, Dark.

MixaMax

Author's Note

Hi, all! :)

Let me thank you for helping reach day 50 of Equestrian Fanfiction :)
You've been an incredible support and put up with me even when I scrambled sentences beyond recognition :D

Originally, I was planning to have the sidefic today, but unexpected real life complications had me push it back to the weekend (tentatively :( ). In order to keep the surprise I'll be stretching the timeline a bit, so the weekly Spoikers and analysis might be a bit out of sync :( Sorry.

Thanks again for being part of this, and a happy Heart's day to you all :D

Spoiler 5

Bellucio Forsa

Model, disciple, chosen

A rising star in the modeling world, Bellucio has worked hard for everything he had. Of noble lineage, faced with difficult times, he's made sacrifices to maintain the false appearances required by his family. Cast between two fates, he has so far managed not to pick a side, but for how long can one serve two masters?

Siblings: None
Place of birth: Mistmount, Gumania
Occupation: Model, College student
Hobby: Darts
Mentor deity: Poseidon
Magic power: Waterwill
Eternity gem: Adamantium

"I've gone a long, long way together..."

RRBB is sick, so it's up to me to keep you all informed of the latest spoilers.

Sadly, my Mistmount Chronicles lore is a bit iffy, but there are several things that seem strange to me. First, is Bellucio spoiler ominous, unlike all the ones until now? Good or bad, the previous four always had a determined path. Bellucio seems to be undecided with "two masters,” and I can only assume one of them is Poseidon. Curious what the other one is.

Another thing, he's the first character to have nothing in his spoiler marked unknown. Nothing is unknown, which is suspicious in itself. That and the adamantium. Seems very meh on the surface.

Finally, that quote? Unless it's a typo (and someone made a career ending mistake) it poses a lot of questions.

Of course, I could be wrong, thoughts?

PaintDrop

Here we go...

We have confirmation Bellucio is a model (not that there was any doubt), but also that he's a discipline of Poseidon (his role, as well as the title of the upcoming scroll).

While in reality-Zeus that's no big deal, the Poseidon in reality-Poseidon is a huge dick! I won't be surprised if it ends out that he's had Bellucio steal all the artifacts from other dimensions. That would be interesting.

Oh, and darts? Darts?!? How much more handy can we get? I understand the writers want the characters to be "as human as possible" but darts? They might invent a sport called a thumb war. :/

MixaMax

I did some research, and it turns out adamantium is actually a mythical metal which has the dominion over water. I can't be sure that's what S. Child had in mind, but it's a very interesting possibility.

Twist

@Twist: I agree that there is a chance that the writers have gone with the water (and weather) control aspect of adamantium, but I'm more convinced they'd focus on the indestructible aspect of it. According to some of the legends, the metal of the ocean could not be harmed by anything, thus a sword of adamantium will never get dull.

Personally, I find it remarkable that there's no confirmation that Poseidon is Bellucio's master. All we have are carefully placed hints, and that is why I think that the "second master" that Bellucio serves might be a Titan.

DarkSparkle

I’m not sure if I'm the only one, but I didn’t see any mention of Molly anywhere. Maybe love is the second "master" that we're hinted at? If the characters age and grow relative to real time, Molly should be of age.

Candle

@Candle: I don't think that's the answer. Molly will probably have a relationship with Icelos and her dream-walking thing. There was just too much focus on it. And we still know nothing about Bellucio's actual role as Poseidon's apprentice. I think he's something like an assassin that eliminates threats, and that the power of adamantium is something else.

What do you think if he can transform himself into water? That would be wicked! Or maybe, instead of controlling the weather, Bellucio can become the weather? Oooh! I so much want a Bellucio hurricane to become a thing right now!

Do you think they'll go for it?

PrinceEric

@Candle: I agree with PrinceEric. The love aspect would be lame. Maybe in 5-10 chapters later we might have stuff develop, but at this stage? What possible benefit could there be? And don't forget that it's pretty much established that each chapter is linked to a character. Molly had her turn, and I don't think we'll be getting back to her for a while.

@PrinceEric: I so hope you are wrong. Controlling water is already a huge cliche. Controlling the weather is... look, if he was so powerful, why can't he just destroy the corporations and take the crown?

MixaMax

What if Bellucio is the Everprince?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: that's crazy! But is also sort of cool. Talk about a twist in the plot. If that happens, I promise I'll sing you praises for years to come!

MixaMax

@all: last call for hotel rooms! If you want to book one but haven't till now, let me know!

A small hint before Luna tears off my ears: adamantium, and water, is also linked to the moon. ;)

CEOWitch

I think DarkSparkle is right. There's too much focus on the water for it to be true. And the titan theory? Simply beautiful! We have everyone worrying how close Bellucio is to Poseidon, only to learn he's titan spawn. :)

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: hmm, what is Bellucio is a crystal human and his special power is to turn his clothes (or those of others) to water? That would bring to some interesting situations :)

Brush

@Brush: are you hitting on me?

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: do you want me to? :) Please tell me you're a charming crystal blond with glasses. *hubba hubba* *ear nibble*

Brush

Brush: pfft! Leave the kid alone. Can't you see she's doing her best to attract Dark's attention? :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Who in Tartarus do you think you are?!? Just because somepony is smarter than you doesn't give you the right to use me to ridicule her and drag her to you level! You're projecting so hard it's not even funny! I bet you've never seen a stallion in your life! Other than your body cushion!

@Brush: did you seriously ask me that? I take it you're the site playmare, but seriously get yourself under control! There are foals here and they could do without your suggestiveness! LyraHands didn't make her site for that!

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: you're so cute when you get angry :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I can't believe you said that... ;)

DarkSparkle

...

Jade the Evervirgin

@all: let me stop you all before this gets out of control. As fun as it is, there really are young viewers, and if Tech were here (and not busy) he'd go on a long lecture how we must act responsibly, appropriately, and so on.

That said, somepony please write a story with Bellucio having the power to turn clothes into water O:)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: well, I won't write about it... ;)

PaintDrop

Author's Note

Out of curiosity:

DarkMax, DarkJade, or JadeMax? What are your theories? :D

Analysis 5

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 5, Poseidon's Faithful

Before I start, let me share some theories based on the chapter title. It's obvious it's about Bellucio. Possibly it'll also be about Poseidon as well. But (and this is big) who are going to be the other two? So far the chapters usually keep to the 3-person-group principle. That means that we're likely to have 3 main characters: Bellucio (duh), and two more.

Personally, I think it'll be Molly and Euryala (who are both connected to Poseidon and Bellucio) If I'm right that will lead to a very interesting love triangle. (And if it were a fic I'd say it'll end up with Molly and Euryala getting shipped :P)

Anyway, here goes!

We start with Molly having nightmares (about her and Danny being chased in the Hades-reality). We practically get a repeat of Titan-Hades ball (?) scene, which turns into a chase after it's discovered that Danny isn't tainted. Lots of wild chasing (yay Cerberus triplets) ending in Danny being caught and Hades thanking Molly. Molly is confused, but before she can say anything she notices that she too is tainted (her arm is covered in pitch black goo). She screams and wakes up in her bedroom, and (naturally) runs out to see Danny in the middle of the night.

Getting to his dorm at campus, she stumbles upon Loki, who is making cheat cards for his exam (go, Loki :))) I absolutely love him! :)) Who says that he's gone, but she isn't the only one to ask for him. Then we suddenly find that Bellucio is also there (dun dun duuun!). Some innocent flirting followers, ending with them deciding to track down Euryala to find out what's going on (since she seems to know more than anyone on the matter of the everthings.)

Molly uses her dreamwalking skills (with some occasional help from Icelos, which was mega scary!) to find out how to get to Euryala, then with Bellucio they go on a creepy spy hunt to uncover part of the organization she is from (the Warlockwings are just touched upon). After some more cloak and dagger stuff, they manage to go to Euryala's hideout (?) only to find that she's expecting them.

After the weirdest exchange ever, she agrees to help them in exchange for a kiss (wow! Is thus even aimed at young colts anymore? :P Not that I'm complaining.) and an artifact from Poseidon. They then go to Megan, since the only way to re-renter a reality is through the shatter stone (which was expected) and they go there.

Immediately, we see that Poseidon is not as nice as originally believed. Not only does he control the entire town (and beyond) through his own type of water-reflection-dream magic, but he also uses his disciples to kill enemies and steal artifacts. Under the guise of his number one follower, Bellucio (and co) enter his boobytrapped vault and steal part of a medallion (a "metal loop"). They then return and part ways: Euryalla vanishes in a splash of water and Molly rushes off (almost daring to peck him on the cheek).

Bellucio is left alone and mutters something about not trusting her, at which point Icelos appears in the night and asks "which one?"

Next Chapter: "Hooves of a Human"

Wooooow! So much going here that I just can't... argh! Molly tainted? Bellucio can see Icelos? Euryala wanting kisses from Bellucio (wasn't she with Blazen?!?)

I very much like how there's subtle continuity. I must reread everything now to see if there aren't more things that I've missed.

What do you all think of this?

PrinceEric

That's a rather interesting take. Personally, the story strongly reminds me of Sombra's rule. His corruption is unmistakable, and it also granted certain "advantages" to those who were corrupt. Needless to say, the more corrupt one was, the closer to the upper eschewing of power.

The Hades corruption seems to be exactly that. When Danny was shown not to be corrupted he had problems breathing. Everyone else, Molly included, seemed perfectly alright. To me this reads exactly like Hades marking his closest servants corrupted puppets.

Furthermore, note how in the same chapter we have Poseidon. Now, if there is any mercy in the idea of the deities being Princess Celestia, Luna, and Cadence, we can say that Hades (Luna) is suffering from the corruption Sombra had, and the one to wash it away would be Poseidon (Hades).

True, I've allowed myself a bit of interpretative freedom, but it does make sense and pose questions. If we go by analogy, it means that Poseidon along with Molly will destroy Hades' darkness. However, what will happen if Poseidon is evil? An evil Princess Cadence would be a scary thing (especially if she doesn't have a husband).

Taking it further, does that mean that Megan will marry Poseidon? Not impossible, I say.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jafe the Evervirgin: ... that's just. You can actually be smart and sweet when you're not yelling at pones. That's some deep analyses, and as much as I want I can't find anything wrong. If the writers go along that path it will be one wild ride. :D

I'm still creeped out by the idea of Poseidon and Megan. Though, Shining and Cadence made the cutest couple ever!

MixaMax

@Jade the Evervirgin: Mary me, please! :) That analyses was perfect. And thinking about the parallels with real life, that's quite close to how Shining Armor would react (I mean the way Megan does). The only thing I can't picture is an evil Cadence. Even without a husband she shouldn't have fallen so drastically.

Do you think we'll see them taking children in the series?

DarkSparkle

@Jade the Evervirgin: somepony has become popular with the mares :P

MasterOfThisAstra

Argh! I just give up!

@Jade the Evervirgin: snuggles for me too? Or at least analyze my stories? :P

Brush

@Brush: if it wasn't for your skill in writing, I would be talking to you. And yes, I will review several of your stories, along with all of DarkSparkle's, Max's attempt (if she ever gets to write it), and a few others.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: My hero! :P *ear lick*

Brush

@Brush: back off! I saw her first! (I guess Dark can have her for a while, though :P If she promises not to break Jade. :P)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: you're such a romantic… :)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I try, bby. ;)

MixaMax

Jade the Evervirgin message has been deleted.

Jade the Evervirgin message has been deleted.

Jade the Evervirgin message has been deleted.

Jade the Evervirgin message has been deleted.

Jade the Evervirgin message has been deleted.

I'm locking this!
Jade, you get a 24 hour ban!

CodeFilly

Moderator PMs

What the hay, mare?! This Jade has gone way too far! If Tech were here he'd permabanned him long ago. Heck, I would have banned him if you hadn't asked me to take it easy on him. I get Jade has issues, but this isn't the place to resolve them! So tell me what's going on!

CodeFilly

Err, it's sort of complicated.

LyraHands

Lyra, he's received a several warnings plus a few bans. I don't know what his beef is, but the moment anypony says something he goes all nutjob. We can't keep him on the site!

CodeFilly

Can you keep him online until the meetup? That's all I ask.

LyraHands

Lyra, you've always been full of joy and laughs, that's what I love about you, but you can't save all of Equestria. Max, Brush, RRBB, now this... Please, I'm asking as a friend. What's really going on?

CodeFilly

This doesn't go past you, okay? You won't say a word to anypony, okay? Not the old bunch, not Max, not even Mighty. Promise me!

LyraHands

That sounds serious. Okay, I promise. What's the deal?

CodeFilly

Jade is MasterOfThisAstra's classmate (who, by the way is Brush's coltfriend... and also Paint's brother). From what Brush and Mota told me he's this really shy and isolated crystal pegasus who gets picked on a lot.

To cut a very long story short, Brush had the great idea to hitch him and Max. As you saw, things didn't go that way.

LyraHands

Wow! That explains so much.

It's horrible, but I also feel amused... like watching a cart crash in slow motion, but unable to look away because you want to see exactly how pineapples will get squished by watermelons.

I can tell you from now that's one can of worms that'll take weeks to clear. If they haven't killed Jade by then.

CodeFilly

Err?

LyraHands

You've given a repressed pony, a collegecolt at that, the means to act the way he's only dreamt of with zero repercussions. What did you think would happen? All the times he wished he could stand up to somepony but didn't dare? Well here he can, and a ban won't stop him.

How did you agree to this?

CodeFilly

I know. :( I'm a sucker for romance. Brush convinced me that it would be like in her stories. Filly meets colt, they talk a bit, fall in love, get together, marry...

LyraHands

And start a few flame wars in the process. Really, Lyra! I don't know if I should laugh or be mad at you. And Brush. If she wasn't that close I'd pluck her tail feathers off!

What do you know about Jade?

CodeFilly

Nothing! Brush and Mota just said a few things about him and that's it.

LyraHands

You're hiding something, but okay. This might be the biggest mistake ever, but I'll keep him alive until the meetup. If he doesn't behave there, though, that's it! No more chances!

You know you're lucky Tech is busy. He really can't stand these sort of situations. Pity he won't make it to the meetup. Was hoping to see him.

CodeFilly

Yeah, a shame. He's one of the few I haven't met face to face. Did he say what was going on exactly? He was a bit cryptic when I asked.

LyraHands

Yeah. He just told me he's got some family issues. Trying to patch things up with his child. Poor Tech. I get the sense things haven't been going well for him lately. We're so lucky he joined the site.

CodeFilly

Well, he got you to join. :P Did Mighty get to Canterlot? Miss that goof.

LyraHands

Not yet. He was okayed to take a few days off for the event, though. Do you know what that idiot did! He went straight to his boss and asked to get some vacation days "to go to a Nightling convention." :/

Lucky, his boss is a bigger geek than him. From what I heard they spent the rest of the day geeking out until his boss' wife appeared to see why her husband hadn't come back. If you ask me somepony slept in the barn that night :)

CodeFilly

Pfft! I've seen you and Mighty talk geek. You swoon so hard your chest fluff shows! :P

LyraHands

Do you really want me to tell Bob about your college flings?

CodeFilly

So, getting back to Jade, he's fine for a few days, right? Don't make any obvious exceptions, but please don't ban him. If things get bad I'll talk to him myself. At least he hasn't picked a fight with me... yet.

LyraHands

Careful what you wish for. By the by, Mighty was impressed by his reasoning. A lot of the things he said make sense. I totally didn't see the Cadence vs Sombra angle. It's almost a pity Cadence isn't on the forum. I'd ask her if she was.

Do you think that it's true that Blueblood is a user? I tried to do a trace on Luna and TheRealLuna. Luna's actually in the palace, which is a bit scary. Imagine us chatting with a princess on a daily basis :). TheRealLuna's completely untraceable. That also is a bit scary.

CodeFilly

Heh. Who knows? After I met CEOWitch nothing could surprise me. Besides it's not like it matters. Anypony can be a Nightling. Anyone, actually.

LyraHands

Oh please tell me you aren't one of those who think "real humans" are hiding among the users talking to us. :/ It's just a myth! Humans don't really exist.

CodeFilly

... gryphons, Code. Or dragons, diamond dogs, zebras, yaks...

LyraHands

Oh, right, them. Heh heh O:) Nope, I haven't been playing MCRP with Mighty long distance through the aethernet. :P

CodeFilly

I really, really, want to hear details, but must run to work. My boss is great and all, but I feel bad when I'm late.

Ciao!

LyraHands

See you, crazy. :)

CodeFilly

Travel Talks

@all: okay, this is the big one! The meeting is upon us, the rooms are booked (thanks CEO), the events planned (thanks Dark & Max), all that's left for us to do is get there. And talking about getting there, grouping together might be a good idea.

As you know I'm in Ponyville now, so I’will be taking the early train to Canterlot. If anypony wants to join me (or group with others based on city) go ahead and post here.

This is happeniiiing! :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Sorry, but I've already spoken with somepony. And the early train is too early for me. :(

I still need to make, more candy canes to bring for the event!

Twist

If anypony wants to join me from Manehattan, I'll be taking the 11:05 train from Manehattan West. Can't wait to see all of you there :)

Candle

I have my own arrangements, so will be going with PaintDrop and her brother. See you there, though :)

Paint has already brought a pile of lewd pictures. Like, I'm not sure she's allowed to look at them, they are so lewd! :P

RRBB

@LyraHands: we'll be flying there with the wife. Thanks, though. Oh, and she sends you hush and all. :)

Lurkling

@LyraHands: I'm game! Pass by my place as you go, okay? I think I'll be ready by 4, just to be on the safe side.

MixaMax

@RRBB: I'll be tagging along, just to keep an eye on you girls ;) I hope all of you will be at your best behavior! :P

Brush

I'll probably be flying from the Crystal Empire, but if somepony wants to catch a train that's fine, I'll do that.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: are you serious?! :) I'll be going from there as well! Meet up at the place or the train station? Might be good for us to catch the 10:00 express.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: palace is fine. Thank you.

Jade the Evervirgin

RRBB: they are NOT so lewd! :/

PaintDrop

They are a bit suggestive, sis.

Hello, everypony. I'm MasterOfThisAstra, and I'm PaintDrop's older brother. I've already got my own arrangements, but wanted you to know that I'm looking forward to this!

Bring your water bottles! :)

MasterOfThisAstra

As surely all of you suspect, I'm already in Canterlot, and actually listening to the result of SweetStuff's songs. As tempting as it is to post them here, I'll wait till we've all gathered.

If you ever come to Canterlot early, just come to the palace and send me a PM. ;)

Luna

@Luna: Well, I'm already here. Along with Fleetfoot and PrinceEric. (Fleet snores, by the way.)

Still, if anyone needs a lift from anywhere, let me know.

CEOWitch

Best MCE party ever!!! :D

PPI

I'm still not able to go :/ Stupid important work keeping me from having fun ://

You enjoy yourselves, though. I'll be popping up to ask for juice details. Like who won the shipping wars. What did the food taste like, etc. (just kidding. I know what the food tastes like.)

TheRealLuna

@DarkSparkle: how will you be traveling? If you're anywhere near the Crystal Empire we might pick you up.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: That's very sweet, but I'll be arriving on the Ponyville train as well. Thank you for the offer :)

DarkSparkle

I'll be going with my stupid sister! :/ I swear she never lets me go alone anywhere! It's not like I haven't gone to Canterlot before.

Sorry for ranting, but I feel really annoyed right now. :( At least the girls in class are happy for me. I'm a bit sad they can't come along. Not that they'll understand this colt stuff...

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: You're not making any sense, kiddo. First of all, your sis is fine. Second, don't worry about ponies making fun of you. If Midnight Castle is good enough for a Wonderbolt, it's good enough for anypony! Does anypony make fun of Raimbow Dash's Daring Do obsession?

CEOWitch

@DarkSparkle: oh? What train are you catching? We can ride together! You, me, and Lyra, I mean.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: at 4 in the morning? I'm crazy, but not crazy. :)

Actually, I have a few things I must do before my trip, so will be catching another train.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: you're not preparing materials for your shipping argument, I hope? :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I'll have you know that I have a lot of important work that I need to finish since I won't be able to dedicate any time while at the meetup. If I just happen to gather a few materials to better present my point, it's something I'll do on the side.

DarkSparkle

Sorry for the stupid question, but will anypony greet us upon arrival? Canterlot is quite large and I'm not sure everypony has been there before. I have many times, so there's one less to worry about. It would still be appreciated, though. :)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: fine! I'll take care of that. Anything else? Come on, pones, don't be shy!

CEOWitch

@DarkSparkle: You're kidding me, right? You're actually going to spend the morning preparing for your ship war? Not that I won't find it hilarious, but seriously, mare! Can't you loosen up at least for a few days?

MixaMax

@CEOWitch: somepony has a little crush on you, it seems. :P

@MixaMax: on you too :D

Brush

@Brush: Will you stop with the shipping, already!? It's funny online, but in the real ponies might get hurt! I know what you're doing innocent, but it's starting to wear everyone down.

CodeFilly

@PaintDrop: Little filly, did you happen to draw any pictures of me, by chance?

Fleetfoot

@DarkSparkle: I'll be there when you arrive.

Jade the Evervirgin

@Jade the Evervirgin: What about me? Will you be here when I get to Canterlot?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: No.

Jade the Evervirgin

Filly Talk

You okay? I didn't see you at school today. Please tell me you didn't get in any trouble before getting there. That would be a new accomplishment even for you.

PaintDrop

Is something wrong with me? I mean, we've been friends since forever and if there is something that's terribly wrong you'd tell me, right? Right?

RRBB

?!? Where did that come from? There's nothing wrong with you. Why would you even think that? And, of course, if there was I'd tell you, just like I did during the school election.

Did you get in a fight with you-know-who again? That would explain why she was all quite and mopey today. What did you do? Threaten reprisals? Say you'd get her kicked out of school?

PaintDrop

She was sad?

RRBB

Definitely. She even asked me about you once, but after your fight a few days ago, I said I had no idea. This really isn't healthy for you, you know. You can't keep getting into fights. I've told you before. Heck half the site has told you. What will it take for you to get it through your thick skull, you mule?

PaintDrop

We didn't fight, okay? Things are complicated.

RRBB

Complicated how?

PaintDrop

Complicated as in I like fillies!

RRBB

Well, I didn't see that coming. All this time I thought you hated that sort of thing. Although it's not like your behavior wasn't all over the place last few years. That love-hate cycle you went through with you-know-who makes a bit of sense now. Although, I should be mad at you for not telling me earlier. I'm your best friend, RRBB, and that doesn't mean just bringing you cake at parties.

PaintDrop

As if I'd share anything as disgusting as that with anypony!

Look, I know you're my friend...or were until I told you this, but I just couldn't tell you. I'm sorry! I was so disgusted with myself and afraid you'd never talk to me again. I tried so hard to keep this under control, but... well, look what happened!

Don't bother picking me up tomorrow. I won't be going to the meetup. Instead I'll be here, trying to figure out what to do with the shambles of my life.

RRBB

I won't pretend I understand what's going on, but I'm certainly not leaving you here! I'll drag you by the mane if I have to, but you're going to the meetup! And you'll have a great time whether you want to or not!

RRBB, you've seen the things I draw. Don't you think I'd at least have researched the topic? I, not some airhead, you know.

PaintDrop

And you aren't afraid I'd ravishe you? My hooves sliding through your mane, as you lay beneath me...helpless, gasping for air, as my lips touch yours.

RRBB

1) You've written steamier things than that
2) I've drawn wilder things than that
3) That's the method you always use when you want to deflect a topic.

I wish you would have trusted me with this. I'd have known how to react, at least. Tell me you didn't tell her? That would be the stupidest things you've done if true.

PaintDrop

I'm stupid.

RRBB

Filly! Why? There was no way that could play out well.

PaintDrop

Can we talk about something else, please?

RRBB

Sure. What do you want to talk about? Brush and my brother? Though, please try to act surprised when the "announcement" is made.

PaintDrop

Not that it was wasn't completely obvious. I mean, really? What did they expect?

RRBB

I'm just glad that my brother stopped acting like a wound up melancholic. Mom's pleased as well, although she'll never ever admit it. I guess part of her still mourns the loss of her sweet little angel, stolen by the vile Brush. I really hope Mom doesn't have a site account. That would be awkward in more ways than one.

Hang in there, you heard? Remember what you used to tell me? When life gets difficult buck it in the face.

PaintDrop

You're a good friend, Paint. Sometimes I really don't know what I did to deserve you. If only you were my type... things would have been so much easier.

RRBB

Well, sorry for not being sexy enough for you to hit on me. Like, this is such a level of abstracted absurdity, I, not even sure kid it's a good or bad thing.

PaintDrop

And now this is you deflecting,

RRBB

Well, of course it is! I learned minutes ago that my best friend is gay! And from an aethernet message at that! You thought I wouldn't freak out? And no, I don't hate you. I'm just mad at you for not telling me sooner.

PaintDrop

So, what do we do with her? I don't want to see or talk to her right now. Maybe I won't want to see or talk to her ever again. Tartarus knows once was enough.

RRBB

Want me to talk to her? Now that I have a grip on the situation, I might be able to fix your mess as I usually do. No guarantees this time. I'm not gonna lie, this is even weirder than my brother dating my writing idol.

PaintDrop

I'd like that. Thanks, Paint.

RRBB

And in the meantime, you get some sleep, okay? We have to look our best for the meetup. You wouldn't want somepony else steal the show, right?

PaintDrop

I'll try, but tears get in the way...

It's like I'm in this magical mansion made of everything I desire, only to find out that the mansion is smack in the center of a field of shit. One step outside and I feel I'll never be able to get back.

RRBB

Sleep! I'll pick you up tomorrow!

PaintDrop

To sleep, perchance to dream... of love, and joy, and happiness...

RRBB

Author's Note

Hi, all!

Just a quick update! The companion fic is coming along nicely. Hopefully will be done and posted the next few days. (At least one person gas read the desert so far :P)

Useful Advice

@all: okay, this is the big one! Tomorrow we all set off the meet in Canterlot. As somepony who's been to a few conventions (in a personal and professional capacity) here are a few hints to keep in mind:

1) Ears and teeth - clean them, brush them, check them!

It sounds silly, I know, but trust me the amount of ponies who neglect this is staggering :/ Make sure you have no bits of straw in your teeth, check your breath, and for stars' sake pay attention to your ears! With the amount of ear nibble comments on the site this should be obvious. You don't want anypony to get a mouthful of earwax after a nibble, right? (Don't ask :/).

2) Wings and mane

This is mostly for the pegasi. Make sure you preen your wings! There will be professional photographers, so don't ruin your memories by not taking care. Yes, I know that by definition we're described as shut-ins, living in our parents' basement, so let's prove them wrong! (Fleet and I will be posing with everypony who wants)

3) Stallions

They do exist, they will be there, so don't freak out! Also, I know some of the posters claim to be male (which we'll see for sure) so take it easy. No Brushisms, okay? If you find a cute stallion engage in NORMAL conversation with him. (Don't be “that girl”) And also, don't be nervous. Stallions are ponies too!

4) Keep it family friendly

I know for a fact that some of our members are foals, so keep the lewds to a min. It’s Canterlot so there's enough places to go and engage in such discussions after sunset.

5) Have fun!

I'm sure a lot of you are tense (I've seen this at every convention I've been to) but try to shake that off. The whole point of the meetup is to see each other and have a few days of Nightling fun. Real life can wait for that long (trust me, nearly always it can). And if anything happens, there will be a few Wonderbolts to keep you safe *wink*

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: my heroine.

PaintDrop

@all: A few additional things for all of you who aren't from Canterlot. It's a big place, you can get lost. If you get lost ask for the Palace. It's visible from almost everywhere and everypony knows it. I'll talk to the guards so they expect lost Nightlings.

Although the schedule for the event is pretty packed (thanks to MixaMax and DarkSparkle) everypony who wants can still get a guided tour of the city. If you do, let me know once you get here and I'll see how to make it work.

See you soon!

CodeFilly

@all: Guess I have to say a few words as well.

First of all, huge thanks to CEOWitch and Luna for making this possible. In my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine this happening. :D Those who know me know how much I've been wanting this even if... Stupid emotions. Breaking my train of thought :~) All I wanted to say is… thank you.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for making Equestria a better place. We might be just a group of weirdos on an aethernet site, but we've helped each other in times of need (and trust me, I know how trying some of them have been) and isn't that what matters? We might have not all saved Equestria but each of us has saved somepony, and in life that's what counts.

And I made a fool of myself. :) See you soon, you crazies.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: well, you're our fool, and we love you for it. *ear nibble* Have a great time, you silly thing. Not sure I'll make it, but I'm with you in spirit.

Bob

@Bob: Nooo! :( I was hoping to meet you, Brush, and RRBB. You three are my favorite writers.

@LyraHands: That was really sweet. Just like in a Mistmount Chronicles chapter. Thank you, Lyra! Thank you for making this wonderful place. I have a lot of good friends in the real world, but all of you are precious to me as well. After the meetup I hope you become my real life friends as well. :D

I know this might be a bit self serving, but I have been working on something of a surprise for all of you. I'm sure it won't be the best thing ever, but it's just a little something from me to you all.

SweetStuff

Some of us, who know what SweetStuff is talking about, can confirm that it will be spectacular. To add to that, I've also made something for you all: convention badges! :D

Yes, I know this isn't a convention and what not, but we could play the part! It's not the amount of ponies that matter, it's the amount of fun! So, I've picked a different humie for the regulars, plus I have a bag of defaults for anypony else I don't know.

And you know I'll be bringing statues along (those will be sold, sorry; it's not about the money, than getting a sense of things if I'm to make my hobby into a job.)

Last, but not least. Please don't make me do sketches of each of you there. I considered it, but in the end decided I wanted to have fun as well. There's enough homework and drama at school, so I could use a break.

PaintDrop

@all: Well, I'll bring absolutely nothing! Actually, I'll do the opposite! I'll go there and take all your hugs and kisses, plus any food and swag I can get away with, then hoard them in my cave forever! :P

Or something like that.

@CEOWitch: you said no Brushisms, but what will Brush do? What if she breaks and starts jumping at mares instead? Will Fleetfoot be safe? Will you?! What about Princess Luna? Inquisitive minds need to know!

@Brush: love you too, sweetie. :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: you'll be surprised ;)

MasterOfThisAstra

Locking the thread before we get any more spoilers! :P

LyraHands

Special comment from a user insisting on having a say before the thread is completely locked. Due to the nature of the post I'm keeping her identity hidden.

"Buck you, MixaMax!" - Anonymous

That is all :P

LyraHands

En Route

Girls, this is unbelievable!

Sorry for not writing in a while, but it's been so wild! Spitfire! Yes, the Spitfire, came to Canterlot today! I managed to see her for a few minutes, but thanks to CEOWitch and Fleetfoot, I got to shake hooves with her. But there's more! Spitfire knows about the meetup! (She even called it a convention!)

I'm so freaking out right now! I'll say it again! I met Spitfire and she told me to have fun at my convention! This is so incredible! And if that’s not enough, CEOWitch gave me a tour of Canterlot!

Now, I know I'm writing this a bit late... and that nopony will read this at seven in the morning, but I'm really, really, really looking forward to this! LyraHands is supposed to arrive in a few hours. That will mark the start of the event!

P.S. Spitfire! I even have a picture with her and everything! :)

PrinceEric

Well, I wouldn't say that everypony is asleep, although I think they should be. I'll be grabbing the train in a few hours and should arrive with Jade in the afternoon. What's the weather schedule like there? I remember there were some plans for a thunderstorm or something?

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: oh, stop complaining! :P And please catch the tight train this time! I don't want to have to use magic to find you again.

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Pfft! :P My magic is just as good! To a certain degree.

MightyDragon

What do you think we should start with when everypony appears? Maybe we can discuss the next chapter? Or the spoiler? I'm sure the miniature with the spoiler will be out very soon.

I'll take as many pictures as possibly with each and every one of you when you arrive. :D

PrinceEric

Here's a short agenda in case of emergency:

Now - 13:00 — fun?
13:00 - 19:00 — more fun!
19:00 + — after dark fun.

CEOWitch.

@all: I'm on the train. Thirty minutes more and I should be there. I'm with MixaMax and her sister.

@PrinceEric: did you sleep at all? :P

LyraHands

Any chance you can post some of the pictures? You all seem to be having so much fun, while I’m stuck here today (and tomorrow) doing stupid chores! There simply is no justice! Where are the Elements of Harmony now?!

Actually, I'm just really jelly. I so much wish I could go into your dreams to see what's going on, but I bet Luna won't let me :/ Oh, well.

Have fun, I guess.

TheRealLuna

I promise to post stuff when I get the chance. Something like a diary of the meetup, but here. That way everypony who wasn't able to get here will get a sense of what's go in on.

On a side note, I've been thinking. If a human somehow appeared in Canterlot, where will it hide? According to MC, there have been over a hundred instances of humans entering the realm of Equestria, yet only eight resulted in any the humans being captured. That means they have to been using some sort of disguise... or there's a portal in the Palace itself!

What do you think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: are you suggesting that there's a portal to the human realm in my palace? That's so not true! Absolute nonsense! Really!

TheRealLuna

Hmm. I suppose technically it is possible, but that would be a terrible idea from a strategic point of view. Unless the Princesses have full control of the portal having it in their palace would be the single greatest threat there is. Because nothing says safe as a tunnel that could bring a stand of sorceresses directly into the throne room.

If I'd had to guess any humans that active probably have a transformation or illusion spell, making them appear as ponies.

CEOWItch

@CEOWitch: You realize what you've just said, right? By your logic everypony could be a human and we have no way of throwing. It's as bad as when the changelings tried to invade. Maybe worse!

Good job in creating a new nightmare for everyone.

TheRealLuna

Whatever. Going to the train station to meet LyraHands.

CEOWitch

You raise an interesting point. If there were a portal between worlds, there would also have to be a way to keep all visitors hidden. Since we can all agree a human walking in Canterlot would be easily noticed, the only solution would be for them to be hidden in some fashion.

If it were me I'd link the transformation spell to the portal itself. That way any human that passes through automatically becomes a pony and no one could tell the difference. Simple, elegant, efficient.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Oh yeah? Tell me this then: what pony tribe does a human turn into when she arrives to Equestria? :/

TheRealLuna

That's elementary! Humans that have magic become unicorns, the rest become earth ponies or pegasi.

DarkSparkle

Avoiding the question, much?

I give you the magic thing, but what about the rest? Humans can't fly, so by your logic they can't be pegasi. This in turn means that no human can transform into a Pegasus upon crossing, which raises the question what do pegasi turn into when they cross into the other world? (Since it obviously can't be humans.)

TheRealLuna

Well, in that case it clearly depends on the mentality and temperament of the human crossing. If there is magic powerful enough to create a portal between realms it should be able to determine what form a human should take.

DarkSparkle

So, what you're saying humans transform into ponies of all types based on some unclear principle because magic? I expected more from you. :/

TheRealLuna

No, no, no! That's not what I meant! I'm sure there's some logic, I just don't know what it is! It's not like researching such things is easy. :(

DarkSparkle

Calm down, DarkSparkle. Everything is okay. I didn't mean anything by that. I just wanted to get ponies to think a bit more on the matter.

TheRealLuna

And everypony left... :/ Fun...

TheRealLuna

Sleepy PM Chaos

Mighty, I know this might not be the best time, but there's something I need to tell you.

CodeFilly

Err, okay?

MightyDragon

Did I mess something up? It's not your birthday, and our anniversary is two months away. Your mother's birthday? I keep forgetting that one :( Could have sworn it was near the end of the year.

MightyDragon

Relax, oligosaccharide :) You're fine. It's just that some things happened recently and I... Okay, look! Tell this to anypony and I'll crash all you Code and then break up with you. (And you know I'll find out if you've told anypony!)

So, Lyra is part of a conspiracy to get Max laid. Don't ask me about the details, but from what I know the plan is to get her to fall for Jade at the meetup. Which is 100% crazy! But do they listen? No!

CodeFilly

Can you type that again, this time, slower? For a moment I thought I read that Lyra wants to get Max laid.

MightyDragon

Apparently it was Brush's idea, but Lyra and Mota went along with it. I don't know whether to be jealous or annoyed. :/

CodeFilly

Brush and Lyra came with a plan to get Max laid? That's... that's...

That's hilarious! Nothing like those two to cause a disaster of Equestrian proportions. And I'll be there to watch... again :D Remember the orange butterfly rampage? So funny! :)

MightyDragon

Will you be serious for one minute? You've seen what happens when Jade and Max interact. They nearly blew up the site! The two of them are the only ponies that have been banned on the site. Imagine what could happen if they meet in real life.

CodeFilly

You worry too much, my twenty-sided die. If anything I'm more worried about Jade. Max has magic, the unfortunate colt doesn't. Even if he wanted to, the most he could do is get himself transformed into a watermelon or something.

Sorry, what were you freaking out over again? I get confused.

MightyDragon

What if they actually like each other?

CodeFilly

So, a moment ago you were worried about hating each other and now you're scared they might like each other? I think you need to go to sleep, sweetness.

MightyDragon

Maybe you're right. It's just... time flies so fast, Mighty. Just yesterday we were pesky foals pulling each other's manes. Look at us now. Twilight's a Princess, you and I are engaged. Lyra's one step closer to finding somepony in her life, Max will almost certainly kick the hay during this meetup.

I guess I'm just being philosophical, but everything seems so different. We're a bunch of grownups obsessed with pastel clothed humans. It's just...

CodeFilly

Come here! *huggles*

You're overthinking things again. We're the same as ever, just better looking :P Although you're a bit too sure about Max. Do you know something I don't?

MightyDragon

I've seen pictures of Jade. Brush and Lyra are right—he is her dreamcolt. Thing is, he seems to have fallen for DarkSparkle, who might have something for Max. :/ (And here I was thinking that love triangles couldn't exist.)

CodeFilly

Joy! I'm so looking forward to this! Two pones enter, one pone leaves! :D

MightyDragon

You're impossible! :P

CodeFilly

That's why you love me ;)

How's Lyra, btw? Are her parents still not talking to her? And by the looks of it, she hasn't told anypony about the thing. Does that mean she's changed her mind?

MightyDragon

No. They still don't talk. Her mother made it very clear. Her father asked me to send a few letters to her once, but I haven't heard from him after that. As things stand Lyra's practically disowned.

I still find it hard to believe. Like, who in Tartarus are they to treat their own daughter like that!?

CodeFilly

You're getting cranky again. Go to sleep.

MightyDragon

In a bit.

CodeFilly

Look, can you jet the next three days unfold on their own? You're just like Max and Twilight. Equestria won't come to an end if you take a few days to enjoy yourself.

Now you're making me sound like my mother. Cdi, Code! :P

Seriously, though, no more dark thoughts. Get that pillow and get some zzzs.

MightyDragon

Alright, you win. I'll go get some rest, and I'll try to keep an open mind. You just be safe on the trip here, okay? And send me messages when you meet Jade.

CodeFilly

I'll try to remember :P Anything else, my Princess?

MightyDragon

Since you ask, can you do a code review? I think the site is taking too long to load. Usually, I'd ask Tech to do that, but he sent me a note he'll be offline for a while. Looks like his son is finally talking to him again.

Mighty, promise me that when we have children we'll take care of them. I don't want us to end up like Lyra or Tech.

Have you decided on names? I know the stallion was supposed to take care of that, but... I was thinking of naming our firstborn Caprice. I like the sound of that.

CodeFilly

Go to sleep! You're not making any sense! :P

MightyDragon

You're not making sense! And your code sux! You can't make the difference between a variable and a function! And, and you rely too much on undocumented functionality.

CodeFilly

Yes, you're absolutely right! I'm no match for a big strong mare such as yourself.

Now I'm going to meet Jade. Try to get some sleep.

MightyDragon

You know you'll make a great alicorn, right? And I'll love you forever!

CodeFilly

Yes, the best alicorn.

MightyDragon

Code? Are you awake?

MightyDragon

Good! :P See you in five hours.

MightyDragon

Dark Jade PMs

Hello.

Jade the Evervirgin

Hello :)

DarkSparkle

How are you?

Jade the Evervirgin

Fine. Yourself?

DarkSparkle

Fine.

Jade the Evervirgin

Sorry for the question, but do we know each other? I mean, I've seen you on the site and we've exchanged a few words—you were impressed by a comment of mine I think—but I'm not sure if we've met in real life.

DarkSparkle

No, we haven't. But I very much want us to. Sorry if I'm so straightforward, but I think I love you...

Stupid, I know, but I really feel you're something special. The way you think, the way you write... I can't describe it. There are many other writers out there, some of them better, most of them worse, but none quite like you.

A shadow broken
A winter heart awakens
By a sparkle's smile

Jade the Evervirgin

Did you just write a love poem in preclassical staring verse? That's remarkable. Not to mention incredibly rare! Nearly nopony today writes starting verse, let alone follows the preclassical rules. (In the last two hundred years it was decided that weather descriptions are no longer an obligatory element opening starting verses to a whole different range of experiences. Of course, several traditionalist schools of poetry haven't accepted the idea and continue to this day to follow the old standards.)

DarkSparkle

Sorry, I get carried away at times. I mean I'm flattered, but it really isn't a good idea to act so impulsively on the aethernet. Everything else aside, you hardly know me—and I certainly don't know a thing about you.

DarlSparkle

What more do I need to know than the way you think? You've put plenty of that in your posts and stories. Even now: the way you reacted to the poem, identifying it with such ease... How can I not fall in love with you?

Jade the Evervirgin

Jade, you don't even know if I'm a mare or a stallion. Granted that there is a far higher likelihood I'm the former, yet still this is educated guessing. Not to mention I might be married, have a significant other or be twice your age.

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't sweet, though. To be honest, you're the first pony to send me a love confession out of the blue (and you haven't even seen me!)

DarkSparkle

I know you are a mare. Just as I know who everypony on the site is. LyraHands, MixaMax, Brush, and Candle are all mares. CEOWitch is such an obvious stallion. Pretending he's a mare only makes him look stupid. Tech is also an obvious stallion, though he never hides it. MasterOfThisAstra is also a stallion and a friend of mine. We actually study in the same college.

It is only natural for one to compliment beauty. I'm only sorry that my poetry skills are so poor.

Jade the Evervirgin

No, no, no. The poem was lovely! I was just taken aback because you matched the preclassical style so well. You really need to have more confidence in your skills. (Strange since you have no problem arguing with MixaMax.)

DarkSparkle

Technically, I'm over a thousand years old. Yes, quite dramatic, I know. :) In reality I'll be twenty in three weeks. As I've said, I'm a crystal pony. Pegasus to be exact.

I want to be with you at the meetup.

Jade the Evervirgin

You aren't joking, are you? Crystal pegasi are uncommon. I often go to the Crystal Empire for work and other things. Would be nice if we've met already, though I doubt it.

DarkSparkle

No, we haven't. I'm not very social. The only opaques I see on a daily basis are schoolmates. I'll be going to the meet-up. In fact, you're the reason I'll be going. I don't really know many of the rest. Lyra seems nice, and I know Brush tries to be, but the rest...

Max is such an ass! I know she's nice to you now, but the things she did to make you leave the site... I'm sorry to say this, but she's terrible! She argues for argument's sake, is inconsiderate, needlessly criticizes others, and hasn't done a thing in her life! I don't know how she manages to get me so mad.

Jade the Evervirgin

Wow, she really gets on your nerves, huh?

DarkSparkle

She does, she really does. One of the things I'm afraid is that I'll come across her at the meet-up and we'll get into a really nasty fight. I've never been in a fight before, but I think she'll make me get into one.

Can I ask you something?

Jade the Evervirgin

I guess. Don't go weird, okay?

DarkSparkle

When will you arrive at the meet-up? It might be silly, but I want to be there to meet you at the train station. I don't care if anything happens after that. I'm a grown adult and accept that life is what it is, but I also know I have to make my own opportunities...and this is one of them.

Jade the Evervirgin

I really shouldn't be saying this, but... I've been there all along. I just didn't want the others on the sire to know. A bit like you, I didn't get along all to well with everypony. (I know it's a horrible thing to say, but I'm glad that TechNightling won't be coming to the gathering. For some reason he makes me feel like I'm back in school.)

Since you asked, I get a question as well. Why did you choose such a username? I know you might get mad, but it's really suggestive, and also a bit depressing.

DarkSparkle

I'm suggestive and a bit depressing. (You'll understand when you see me face to face.)

I must go now. See you at three. I really hope I do.

Jade the Evervirgin

Author's Note

Due to gdoc s being down (and me having no access) meetup 2 will be delayed till tomorrow (I hope) :( Sorry, all.

Afterthoughts

Howdy, all!

The convention was amazing! There should be one every year! Even sooner! I'd never heard of Midnight Castle till five days ago, and I feel I've been missing out. Well, sorta. Humans are weird, but the adventures are darn good! (Why didn't I think of that?)

And Molly is best creature! She even gets to hang out with Luna!

RRBB, PaintDrop: you girls are okay.

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: you seriously chose that as a name? -.-

And I've been telling you how cool the stories are! The idea of other worlds, gods, humans, bending reality, it's so incredible! And meeting one of the writers! Unreal! :D

Oh, and read the fanfics! So many of them are great. I like Brush's a lot! I'll bring you my copies of MCE tomorrow, just take good care of them, okay?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I ain't reading some of those! You shouldn't be either!

I'm thinking of writing some stories of my own. Something a bit different... which I've posted :D so y'all can tell me what you think.

@LyraHands: I couldn't understand the tagging whatchamacallit. Comedy is fine, right?

WaterBottle

@all: Thank you all for making this such a wonderful experience! I'll never forget this. When I started Midnight Castle, I never considered ill make so many new friends or get in touch with old ones. Something magical happened here, and while I don't to argue in a chat full of unicorns, this is magic that isn't taught in a classroom.

@Luna, @Fleetfoot, @Number1: thank you so much for being part of my dream. I know it's hardly my place, but I consider you friends. Also, Fleetfoot, you make the best Euryala. :)

@WaterBottle, @Short&Hoofy: very glad to have you here. Now that you know the ponies involved you know we don't bite. :) No worries about the tags, I'll take care of it (and I'm sure Tech will make a better help section soon, as he's been threatening to). Just remember to have fun and ask if you have any questions.

LyraHands

Now that you know the ponies involved you know we don't bite.

you know we don't bite.

we don't bite.

Speak for yourself! :/

Brush

I'm inclined to agree with Brush. O:)

MasterOfThisAstra

@Brush, @MasterOfThisAstra: Will you two stop it? I doubt there's a pony alive who doesn't know you're into each other! At least behave on the site, sheesh! :/

@WaterBottle: congratulations on becoming a Nightling. It's a curse, but you'll get to like it in time. :) What's your story about? (Can't read anything deep right now)

PaintDrop

@LyraHands: that magic is called friendship ;)

I'll say it before, I'll say it again: I'm so glad I returned. Let me the first to say I was wrong about a lot of things, and I deeply apologize.

@The TechNightling: after hearing what you've been through I can say you're one of the most remarkable ponies I've known! What you're doing is much braver and more difficult than anything I could imagine. I just wanted you to know that.

DarkSparkle

@PaintDrop: Oh, it ain't deep :P Just some silliness: a journalist from Ponyville goes to Mistmount to take an interview from the characters there.

WaterBottle

@all: And a small announcement. A new role has been created: Dreamers. Everypony at the meetep gets it (yes, you were so cool), plus a few others. It gives you the power to use @all, so don't abuse it. ;)

Sorry for not being able to spend much time with you at the event :( It's just that I hadn't seen MightyDragon for a while and wanted to catch up.

@PPI: You're crazy, you know that? :)

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: sure blame it all on me! :P

@all: was a pleasure meeting you all! Especially Bob! Bob rules!

MightyDragon

@all: CEOWitch got called on a mission and might be gone for a while. He told me to tell you he thought the event was great and he was happy to see you. I'll add the same. Even though I'll never read the stories I might hang out here from time to time.

Stay strong!

Fleetfoot

@DarkSparkle: you softy! ;P Glad to have you and thanks for the support. You've no idea how much it means.

@CodeFilly: understandable. :D

@Fleetfoot: we're always happy to have you :D

@MasterOfThisAstra, @Brush: those costumes! :D Really, you two and Jade pulled it off. (Though Jade was clearly cheating! Not fair when you are born with crystal wings :P)

LyraHands

O! M! G! I think I know who S.Child is. It's so simple I don't know why I never thought of it before!

Starswirl the Bearded!

If there's any pony who can travel between worlds. Between time even! Do you think these are recollections of his adventures? I mean I know humans are mythological, but do you think he went there and actually saw them?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: that actually makes sense! Of course Starswirl would be able to do that! That explains how he knows so much about humans. There's no way anypony could have such good imagination.

One other thing I now see—the name S.Child could mean nothing less than Starswirl for children. He had written a lot about spells. Maybe he also wrote foal stories, which were later discovered and made into a book series? Sounds perfectly logical if you ask me.

DarkSparkle

Interesting, but weren't all of Starswirl's works discovered ages ago? Difficult to believe nopony would mention such a big find.

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Hello. And yes, that's the one point that has me skeptical. Would be nice, though. A foal's series originating from Starswirl himself... I'm so writing this! :D

DarkSparkle

@InItForTheShipping: Finally another shipper! Do you write or just here to admire the view? :)

Brush

@Brush: a bit of both :) Reading for now (and I love your stuff :)) Oh, and before you ask...I'm a mare.

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Competition, eh? Well you can't have them! All the stallions are mine! Will be watching you try, though ;)

Brush

@Brush: how generous ;)

InItForTheShipping

Questionnaire 3

Wow, that meetup was something, am I right? (PPI, what the hay did you put in those drinks? No way that was cider!) Anyway, am pleased to say it was absolutely great! Can't wait till we do it again (if work doesn't kill me by then :/) Good thing Luna's on my side :D

Was fun seeing some old faces, some new faces, and some unexpected faces (you know who you are!) And since we have a few new members, as is tradition, please fill out the traditional questionnaire:

City:
Race:
Sex:
Favorite human:
Favorite pony:
Favorite deity:
Favorite background character:
Favorite chapter:
Favorite quote:

Welcome to Midnight Castle, Nightlings!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: traditional tradition! You word good, Max :P Or should I say HypocriteMax?

Brush

@Brush: Shuttap! I have no regrets!

MixaMax

Oh, this looks like fun! Can I go first?

City: Crystal Empire
Race: Alicorn
Sex: Mare
Favorite human: Euryala (girl's got style)
Favorite pony: Luna (Caprice is a cute close second)
Favorite deity: Poseidon
Favorite background character: Undecided
Favorite chapter: MCE chapter 3
Favorite quote: "Watch out for the fish!" - Omni
Favorite pairing: Cassandra x Danny (trust me, this is happening)

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: more alicorns? Sure is getting crowded over here. Nice additional question, though :) Love it!

MixaMax

I might as well go ahead. There's no longer any point in lurking.

City: Ponyville
Race: Earth Pony
Sex: Stallion
Favorite human: Bellucio
Favorite pony: Caprice
Favorite deity: Zeus
Favorite background character: Cassandra
Favorite chapter: the next one. Always the next one.
Favorite quote: "I'm feeling the mystical energy, man." - Loki
Favorite pairing: Bellucio x Molly (well, you saw the cosplay. Please tell me Brush wasn't the best Molly out there?)

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: Hooftoy, I was the only Molly out there. :P Still, sweet of you to say that.

Brush

Awwwww! :P Aren't you two just so cute? :P "Hooftoy"? Sounds lewd!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Like you're one to talk, sis! Last time I clean up after you!

Short&Hoofy

What?! It's supposed to be a happy occasion. You can't blame a mare for having a few...strange drinks. Not like anypony got hurt (other than me the following morning :/)

And fill in the questionnaire! You're not getting away that easily!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: mouthy as ever, eh? :P And here I was thinking somepony finally shut up the big mouth of yours. So much for hoping, eh?

@Short&Hoofy: I am curious, though. That is if you've read the Mistmount Chronicles.

RRBB

Okay...

City: unknown
Race: unicorn
Sex: young mare
Favorite human: Megan
Favorite pony: Caprice
Favorite deity: none
Favorite background character: Cassandra
Favorite chapter: none so far
Favorite quote: nine so far

Happy now?

Short&Hoofy

Before I go, I'd like to apologize to everypony for the way I've been behaving, I know it's no excuse, but I never was good in dealing with others. For years I was terrified I might be sent to the mines, then all this happened and... it's not easy catching up to a thousand years of changes.

I lashed out because I was scared and didn't want to get bullied, not on this site, at least. Now I know I should have behaved better and I will really try to. You pones are the most magnificent in all Equestria.

Race: crystal pegasus
Sex: stallion
Favorite human: Danny
Favorite pony: Cadence
Favorite deity: Poseidon
Favorite background character: Loki
Favorite chapter: all
Favorite quote: "There goes the mana drill." - Karl
Favorite pairing: Blazen x Euryala

Jade

@Jade: Told you you'll love it ;) Glad you're finally happy, pone. Your parents okay?

MasterOfThisAstra

Whoa! You changed your name? What happened?

RRBB

@MasterOfThisAstra: getting there. :) And my parent are fine. They're just happy for me. I'm happy for me. I never expected things to develop this way. It still seems surreal.

@RRBB: It was just a silly nickname. Jade is fine.

Jade

Pffft! Pffffffffttt! :P So cute! :D

Brush

@Jade: Well, I'm overjoyed that you're happy! :) I was worried when I saw you crying. Glad that's all settled. By the way, you're welcome to come and visit me. (Everypony is, as long as you give me a few days' notice.)

On another note, I'm no longer sure that S.Child can be Starswirl. There simply are too many discrepancies between the humans he describes and the rest. True, on first glance they seem the same, but in reality there are a number of small mistakes and omissions that lead me to believe that Starswirl couldn't possibly come up with the idea of Midnight Castle.

DarkSparkle

@MasterOfThisAstra, @Brush: to be honest, I'm still mad at you! My own brother and my fanfic mentor conspiring behind my back! You could have told me, you know!

Yes, it was obvious, but all this time I thought you were pulling a joke on everyone. :/ It was expected that Brush would drool over my brother (that's the first thing we joked about on the site!) I just never imagined it'd be literally drool!

I'm so making a comic about you two! Humanize! >:P

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Join the coup :/

Short&Hoofy

Well, I, glad everything's back to normal. My better half managed to organize something for once. Big wow!

Now, I know you might say I'm just bitter that I wasn't able to join you... and you'll be 100% right! I'm bitter! Very bitter! (Even more now that I look at the photos!)

Seriously, ponies, how could you?!?

@MasterOfThisAstra: nice flank, by the way :P

TheRealLuna

@Brush: Sugar wings, which photos did you send out?

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: I didn't send anything! I swear!

Brush

Hmm. These questions seem mighty fun. :D

City: Ponyville
Race: Earth Pony
Sex: Mare and proud of it!
Favorite human: That Danny one
Favorite pony: Princess Luna
Favorite deity: Princess Luna
Favorite background character: Caprice
Favorite chapter: chapter 1, I reckon
Favorite quote: no idea

Mighty thanks for your comments on my story! It was fun writing :D I'll be writing more soon.

WaterBottle

Hmmm...

RRBB

My Rain of Daggers

@all: Okay! Who did it? Don't make me start digging through aether signatures! (You know I can!) Just mare up and admit it!

Code, was it you? :/

LyraHands

Huh? What happened! What are you going on about? I've done nothing but study since you left. Just take a deep breath and tell me what's going on.

PM might be better, I think.

CodeFilly

@LyraHands: Aroo? Never seen you react this way, mare. What's going on?

RRBB

@all, @CodeFilly, @RRBB: My Rain of Daggers! Who wrote it?! It's an entirely new account, and yet they got the tags all right on the first go, do I know it's somepony's alt!

I read through the first few chapters and it's beautiful! I feel the same way I felt when I read The Human and I for the first time! It's so new and different and... It's as if somepony took the characters and made an entirely different world with them, yet so complex and intricate That it's exactly like the real thing! The Cerberus Council? The Water Initiative? It's like someone turned Midnight Castle upside down... in a good way!

Seriously, whoever thought of this is a genius!

LyraHands

I've been keeping my eye on that and I agree. There could have been some more hip-showing, but it's remarkably well written. Far better than any of mine (I'm so jealous! >:I). I don't see who could have done it, though. Isn't me, and the style isn't anything like RRBB's or Bob's. And it's way more deep than the newbies on the site. A pony who's written before did this.

Dark? Jade?

Brush

Nope. If I had written it I wouldn't have gotten the mythological aspect so wrong. I mean, come on, the myths are all over the place! Cerberus crossed with the mirror pool, and the siren's banishment? The "four elements of concord"?!

Apollo can't be Hade's son, since it's clearly stated in the original myths that he's clearly a child of Zeus. There isn't even contention! Starswirl himself makes a note on four occasions!

All those inconsistencies aside, the story is quite promising and grammatically sound (to the Canterlot comma). Could it be one of the series writers?

DarkSparkle

As much as I would like to take the credit it isn't my work. The only thing I can add is that I'm almost certain it's written by a mare. Personally, I don't think the author is trying to hide it. Interesting they picked Simile for their pen name.

@Luna: I'm also curious if it's somepony on staff that wrote this. By the amount of poetic imagery used, I'd say the author had music or fine arts training.

Jade

I'll ask about, but usually the writers don't get involved in such things. Technically there's nothing keeping them, but for the most part they don't have the time.

I, myself, don't recognize the style, but that doesn't mean a thing. We have a few authors who have written everything from foal-stories to extremely suggestive romances.

Luna

Whoever it is, they've been to Tartarus and back. Some of the descriptions are too real to be imagined. That whole scene in the Everfree forest (and the maiming of the rebellious Cerberus sibling) that's way too detailed. I'm not saying that the author got maimed, but s/he definitely experienced some amount of pain.

Also the whole theme of betrayal seems to run so smoothly, unlike the romantic instances. Although, that might be the author getting a feel of things.

Oh, and let's not forget that the author has read a lot of MC! Making references about obscure Mistmount characters from Volume 3, that requires dedication. I don't think the author liked the originals, though. Not one single reference. That rules out Tech, I guess.

MixaMax

@LyraHands: I'll kill you! :/ You had me in tears trying to figure out what I did wrong! :(

Story is nice, though. And you can't trace the signature, can you? (I can't either. It's very well hidden.)

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: sorry, but... Argh! Now I'm wondering if I met the author at the meetup! This is so infuriating! If there's anypony I really want to find out the identity, that's Simile!

I was so convinced it was somepony here. I've sent a dozen PMs, but no response. (And I know Simile has received and read them! :/)

@Simile: y u do this?

LyraHands

Pfft! I could do better. Style is fine, dialogue and descriptions are okay. Characters are a bit talky. The huge plus is the worldbuilding, though that too (as Dark pointed out) was mostly assembled from various sources.

RRBB

@RRBB: the day you tell a story like that is the day I sculpt a life-size nude humanized statue of your choice. Face it, you're good, but not that good.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Oh, really? Any humanized statue? Any pose? You're on! And since you didn't specify, there's no time limit! The only thing that matters is that I become as good, right?

RRBB

Umm, can't we just ask here? :)

@Simile: I <3 your story! Can I make a song based on it?

SweetStuff

@Simile: I think there's just one area that your story is lacking. (And I'm not talking about how close to the original myths it is :))

If you need any help, let me know. :)

InItForTheShipping

@all: Hold the presses! I got a response! Simile will continue her story, but asks if she can commission art and music for it. Any takers?

LyraHands

I don't need bits :) The song will be my gift to Simile and to all Nightlings :)

SweetStuff

If none of the professional artists on the site (hello, teacher) decide to take it on, I'll be willing to. PM me if you choose and we'll talk trade or bits.

PaintDrop

@Simile: Wait! Are you a stallion or a mare?

Brush

@Brush: I'm whatever you want me to be ;)

Simile

Author's Note

Apologies about the Meet-up delay. Minor health issues prevented me from finishing it during the weekend. I'm working on it daily, though so shouldn't be long.

On another note: I'm starting to do research on getting the first 5-10 chapters voiced, so if any of you have any knowledge on the matter / know of rates and practices, let me know please :)

Light and Dark Sparkles

Testing, testing.

LightSparkle

Cool! It works! :)

Hi, everyone. I just heard from a friend that there's a site dedicated to one of my favorite childhood stories, so I decided to check it out. Good job with the code structure. It's pretty solid from what I can see.

Anyway, I also just found out that they started a new MC generation. I stopped at Volume 4 (real life issues). Volume 7 looks pretty sweet, though. Pity it's on scrolls. (I don't buy into the nostalgia thing. :/)

And now I've started ranting... sorry, girls. I'm usually not like this, but being able to write on such a site really is something else. You have no idea how much I've missed this. Must rush to class now, but talk to you soon!

Cheers!

LightSparkle

Well, that happened. Welcome, I guess? Why is it we attract the weirdest ponies? I mean seriously? Not that I'm complaining, but on all the other sites I've been you have the comfortable meh users with a few insane ones. With us the meh users turn into the best thing ever in a few weeks.

Is still way weird, though. Now I'm seriously scared that my boss might be lurking reading my comments.

MixaMax

Heeeeyyyy, alll! I'm back! :)

Sorry it took me so long to log on after the meetup, but a lot happened. We had to take my grandfather to hospital (He's fine, though he did get a broken wing. Doctors say he'll be able to fly again in a few months, as long as he takes it easy.)

I didn't get the latest scroll until yesterday :( No point in doing a reaction, I see. (You rock, Dark! :))

@LightSparkle: Welcome! Always nice to see a new face :) You'll like it here I'm sure! (Everypony loves it here :))

Which is you favorite humie?

PrinceEric

@LightSparkle: Also, are you a stallion? (Hey, I'm just asking!)

Brush

@Brush: Mare. 100%

Jade

@PrinceEric: thanks. I'm still working on that :) For now I like Megan most. At least she had a clue of what's going on. Euryala and Blazen are a close second. Not sure I see them as a couple, though. I definitely see a Megan x Eric scenario, though.

@Brush: Sorry, not a stallion.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: you don't say... Well, get ready to defend your theories, for I'll show you no mercy! :P

Great to have you join! :D I seriously didn't know you liked MC, or I'd have told you about this site long ago.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Hey, hey :)

You know me—full of surprises. Now I must find a way to get all the MC stories. (Just when I finished reading Daring Do.)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Or you could, you know, read our fiction. Not that I'm plugging my story or anything... but I am! :P

And talking about stories, I'll be continuing with my updates soon. (I haven't gotten in any trouble this week at school, so this is a promising start.) And, I'll be starting something entirely new. (Can you blaming after Simile did such a splash?) This time, the story will focus on two entirely original characters in the world of MC. Not exactly original, but I haven't seen any 100% stories yet.

RRBB

@PrinceEric: sorry to hear about you grandfather :( Glad he's alright. And also glad you're back. Was fun seeing you at the meetup :)

@LightSparkle: Any new member is always welcome :) Sadly, it will be a while before the scrolls are gathered in a collection, from what I know there are plans to group the first 13 in one body. Until then I can share what I have with you, if you want? (Just not my original stories series, sorry.)

@RRBB: hmm. If it were anypony else who told me this, I'd laugh, but since I know your writing, I'm looking forward to it. Hope you pull it off :)

LyraHands

Well, I'll be taking a break from writing for a while. (Not that I've written anything more than a few oneshots :/ ) Work has become a bit busy and also my roommate is impossible! :P

@RRBB: give them Tartarus, girl :)

@Brush: will you ever finish The Human and I? :P

Bob

Yay, Bob is back :)

@Bob: what about our collab? That still happening, right?

RRBB

@LyraHands: Thanks :) I'm impressed you went ahead with this. Top pro!

@RRBB: I read some of your stuff after the post. Not bad. Not my thing, though. Brush's is closer to what I had in mine. (I like tears. Nothing like a good sad story to give me the feels.)

LightSparkle

Umm, I'm thinking of trying something new. I know it's stupid, but I've been thinking of exploring the life of a fashionista in Mistmount. RRBB, do you think you could give me some advice, especially if you are doing an all OC story?

@The TechNightling: Will you be able to edit from me again? I liked the way we worked together with my previous stories.

Candle

I think I got a great idea as well! Pony in Mistmount! Picture this: a pony suddenly wakes up and is in Mistmount. That's rare in itself, but she's a TALKING pony, so everyone freaks out! She has learn to live in a strange new environment and also work on making friends with humans (despite most treating her as an alien.)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: What's next? A bunch of humans fall in love with her and fight for her attention? Please tell me you won't be doing a herd fic. This is such wish fulfillment. :/

That aside, how did the pony get there? Why doesn't she go back? (Eric protects the portals, so it should be easy.) How come the humans are so accepting? (You say freak out, but can you imagine what would happen if a human got into Equestria? Everyone would freak, the army would be called, even the Wonderbolts might be sent to capture the human.)

Think this through!

MixaMax

Wonderbolts might be sent to capture the human.

Can confirm.

Fleetfoot

@MixaMax, @Fleetfoot, @LightSparkle: Well, I think it's a great idea and I'll write it! That will show you!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Why the h do did you tag me? I didn't say anything! :I

LightSparkle

Just because! :/

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: you're such a dork!

LightSparkle

Hahahahahahah! DorkSparkle!

MixaMax

Spoiler 7

Omni Shea

Party-boy, soldier, chosen

The fifth child in a seventh generation military family, Omni was born was dealt a rough hand. Born with severe epilepsy, he spent the first seven years of his life in hospitals or locked in his room under constant care. Upon his eighth birthday he asked for just one present—to be outside, and he got his wish. With a constant supply of experimental pills and muscle relaxants, Omni has devoted his life to a life of joy, eager to make everyone happy, and possibly forget his own fears and sadness.

Siblings: Vita Shea, Marcus Shea, Gregorius Shea, Octavian Shea, Augustian Shea
Place of birth: Mistmount, Gumania
Occupation: Military Cadet First Class
Hobby: Partying, paper plane competitions (nationally ranked)
Mentor deity: None
Magic power: None
Eternity gem: Hopedasher

"Welcome to my desert of tears."

My mom almost found my stash of lewds. I thought I was going to get a heart attack. (I appreciate the art, okay? :/ Well, maybe not only the art O:)) Seriously, though, don't parents knock anymore? Two years ago she'd always knock then ask "RRBB, are you proper?" I used to get so annoyed. Now she just barges into my room with accusations of me wasting my time with nonsense!

Anyway, the spoiler. (Let me just say before that... the Omni miniature bound use some work. I'm sorry, Luna/Prince B. But it's really, really poorly done. My butler could do better.)

So, we certainly went dark today. Epilepsy? Seven years in hospitals? That would certainly explain the partying and his clowning about. Put it that way, Omni is probably the deepest character there is. I reread Volume 3 and mare do things seem different. Omni is my new favorite character, and I hope he gets cured, or at least doesn't die. I know S.Child has killed off characters in the original series, so I hope this isn't the case in vol 7.

You girls have any thoughts?

RRBB

My mom almost found my stash of lewds.

Which ones? :P You have so many it's difficult to keep track!

Wow about Omni. We got hints about his family, and it was mentioned twice that he couldn't join the army (what kind of military academy they sent him to after Vol 6 remains a mystery :/) but that whole sickness thing... *shivers*

Also, did you notice the other depressing things?

Mentor deity: None
Magic power: None
Eternity gem: Hopedasher

Even the gem sounds ominous.

Update: my sis threw a horseshoe at me when she read my post. She also reminded me that you "don't have that many lewds" :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: pfft! You enjoy tormenting her, don't you? :P Tell her I said "hi" :)

Oh, and I have ALL the lewds! More lewds than even Brush can imagine! :)

RRBB

@RRBB: Ha! As if that obvious provocation will get me to stoop to your level! (Especially with Mota looking over my shoulder...)

I've just one thing to say to you: Buck granite! Oh, and new update in a few hours.

Brush

This spoiler is giving me the feels :( Yes, I love Eric, but Omni... I always thought of him as the happy one, now I learn he's actually the saddest of them all. Such a nasty illness to have. I have a relative with that (considered to be mild) and he couldn't get in the army or fly unaccompanied because of it. I can only imagine the Tartarus Omni is going through. I just want to go and hug him.

Has anyone noticed that so far the chapters focus on the characters?

Chapter 1, Backwards Treasure (Danny)
Chapter 2, The Shatterstone (Megan)
Chapter 3, The Equestrian Convict (Molly)
Chapter 4, The Mirror Rune (Blazen)
Chapter 5, Poseidon's Faithful (Bellucio)
Chapter 6, Hooves of a Human (Karl)
Chapter 7, The Desert of Tears (Omni)

That means that the entire first arc will be one huge introduction to the story. The whole Everprince plot hasn't progressed at all! We have so many different threads it'll be crazy when they all combine :)))

By the way, has anyone seen DannyFan?

PrinceEric

I haven't read tomorrow's chapter and already I'm sad :( Why do you do this to me? First Daggers, now this! It seems it's my fate to drown in my own tears... please take care of the site while I'm gone...

Seriously, I never expected such a turn if events. If anything I thought Eric to be the sick one (with all the water bottles he carries). Having it be Omni is a good choice, though, and I can totally see him developing such a personality as a result.

@PrinceEric: he's fine, just won't be online for a bit. No need to worry :)

LyraHands

Well, it seems it's my job to lighten the mood. (Also, I can't be the only one who noticed:) Omni's family has six children. Six! All male :D Can you imagine the amount of ero fics that will start gushing out?

And the streets shall flow with...questionable liquids! Bwahaha!

[edit LyraHands] You didn't just go there!

Update: Too soon? :P

Bob

@Bob: Marry me! :))) Lol!

RRBB

@RRBB: I don't know... I'll have to kick out Lyra first. I'll think about it, though. :)

Bob

RRBB message has been deleted.

Bob message has been deleted.

@RRBB, @Bob: Okay, it was fun, but you two should stop. This is still a mostly family friendly site, okay?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: But Lyyyyyra... they were just getting to the interesting part *grumpy face*

Brush

Yeah! I'm curious to see where that was going. (As was everyone else, the hypocrites! :P)

MixaMax

Pfft! Light stuff. :)

InItForTheShipping

I'm not saying I liked the posts or anything, but... *ahem* poor Omni! So sad! He must have one final... party before he goes.

MightyDragon

@all: I'm licking the thread so all of you get a chance to calm down!

LyraHands

I just can't!

@all: I'm licking the thread so you get a chance to calm down!

Best typo ever! :)

CodeFilly

Back to normal

Sorry, everyone. :(

I know you expected me to make a review, I really do, but I just can't. The chapter hit me too hard from the start :( Twice I stopped reading, and I still haven't gone past the hospital point. :((( Why did they have to start with an Omni flashback? It's not the first time (they did it for Blazen) but describing the life of a sick child... it's just too much for me.

Sorry

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: :( Yes, it can have that effect. I read it in one breath and it was quite the emotional rollercoaster. The writing was really good. Too good. I have the feeling that the author has experienced something similar firsthoof. (I pray to the Stars I'm wrong about this.) I can only say that it gets much better after the nosebleed scene.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I'll try. Thanks, Lyra. Maybe somepony else could do this week's reviews/analyses?

@DarkSparkle: Maybe you have something?

PrinceEric

Well, I'm not Dark, but I'll have a go. Besides, I loved this chapter. (It's so my type of thing!)

The chapter starts with Omni as a child. He's in his room, playing a board game with his brothers (mostly being annoying) when he suddenly has a seizure. Vita phones their parents then gets Omni in his car and drives to hospital. We then have a long scene depicting the sickness and the doctor's explaining to his parents that this was just a mild one and they recommend him remaining in hospital for an extended period of time to see if he'd be perceptible to some experimental treatment. A few rather depressing scenes follow with him nearly dying (once while going to the bathroom) and him coming to with the words "I don't want to live like this".

Fast forward to present day. Omni is having a smashing party with lots of chicks (I've been to one of those, they're cool), when he notices Eury among the crowd. His phone's battery out, so he chases after her in the alley. There she reveals she knows of his past and blackmails him into helping her. It's revealed Eury knows Poseidon (he's totally her ex, I think) and wants to stop him from getting the upper hand again. Omni agrees because he doesn't want anyone to find out about his sickness. (How they don't already is a bit sketchy.)

They seek help from Cassandra, who gives Eury a black box in exchange for part of her debt to Eury. (That girl has dirt on everyone. I like :)) Then they have Megan use the shatterstone to set them to the Hades reality. The interesting thing is that Eury doesn't need Earth, but instead goes to Equestria, yet in that version the Everfree forest is a desert.

A quarter of the book, the two march to the heart of the desert, fighting Sandwolves, dust roses and all sorts of other which represent the embodiment of sicknesses and negative emotions. (and getting help from nomad Zebra tribes). The more they travel the more they share about each other (there a a few almost shipping moments). They are told by a Zebran shaman that in order to reach the heard they must face the "Beast that hungers for Omni" (which is clear from now that it's the embodiment of his epilepsy). At the heart do the desert they try to set a trap for the beats, but it beats them up good. Eury manages to escape, dragging Ok I to safety, then heals him back to health. For the first time (I think) we see him crying on her shoulder, confessing the only reason he parties so much is because he's no idea what will happen to him and doesn't want to miss a moment.

They try to face the beast again, and get their asses kicked again. This time it's Eury who's almost killed. She uses some divine magic (wow) to make a sandstorm and flee, but is in no condition to do anything else. Semi conscious she tells Omni to use the box when he defeats the beast, then goes unconscious. Omni goes on a trip of self discovering (getting more advice from the Shaman) then faces the beast one last time. It's revealed the beast is him (well, his epilepsy which has been gnawing on him for so long that it's part of him). Accepting that (and possibly that he must live with it) he vanquishes it (no spoilers how exactly) and gets the Hopedasher.

As Eury is restored to health, she casts a time spell and they return to a minute after Megan split reality. Eury gives the box with the stone to Omni, they kiss (ha! Just kidding :)), and everything ends.

Well... then Icelos appeared out of nowhere and roasts her that she took too many chances. Eury just replies that it doesn't matter and that Omni will be the one to kill the Everprince.

There you go. Not the best writing, but you get the point. I really like the details. The author definitely knows what she's talking about. With that must rush to school. Midterm exams.

Ciao!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle

They kiss

I like your style :) Is it just me, or does the story and the writing resemble My Rain of Daggers? Simile, care to share your thoughts?

Light, which school do you go to? I didn't know it was time for midterms...

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: why, alicorn school. Of course ;)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Of course... -.-

InItForTheShipping

@LightSparkle: Not a bad attempt, though I've seen better. You seem to focus a lit on the things you like, while skipping everything else. Like, for example, not a single mention if the Felina corp agents in the hospital...when Omni was five! I mean, come on, mare! At least be consistent!

And that whole he faints, she faints thing in the desert. You could have summarized it in one sentence. I take it you read the scroll during class and was scared not to get caught? Tsk tsk tsk. You're a bad pony :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: And here we have grumpy puss again. Tell me, Max, are you this annoying by birth or have you been practicing? Seriously, it must take a spectacular talent to find something to be displeased about in everything.

Jade

What's that? Showing your inadequacy again, are you? I can say what I damn like and I won't take any fucks, least from you! If you bothered to read (weren't you supposed to be writing something that would impress me?) you'll see that everything I said is true! Just because you're so sensitive about it is not my or anypony's problem!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: says the stuck yo mare who kisses playcolt magazines! And don't talk to me like you've any idea about literature! I study this! You're a paper pusher who gets a high by testing down others!

Jade

@MixaMax, @Jade: You two...

LyraHands

@MixaMax, @Jade: Now kiss!

Brush

@MixaMax, @Jade: Now kiss!

InItForTheShipping

@Brush; Ha ha ha :) You beat me to it :D

InItForTheShipping

You better be careful! Else Lyra might lick the thread again! :P

RRBB

@REBB: Nah, Lyra only licks ears.

Brush

Can partially confirm!

Bob

And that's how Equestria was saved!

PPI

@PPI: I don't even... :)

InItForTheShipping

Author's Note

I'm thinking of doing an Equestrian Fanfiction discord Sunday afternoon (morningish for the US) to coincide with the completion of the meetup.

What do you all think? :)

Featured

Wow, what's with this week? Brush updates, a bunch of newcomers post great stories, RRBB starts something new, Dark starts something new... have I gone to Elysium Fields? Whatever the reason, I like :)

Today I'd like to do a huge shoutout to Jade. (You weren't kidding when you said you know how to write.) the story is called The Human Within Me and is the saddest heartwarming story I've read ever! (And if you all are confused, yes it's sad and heartwarming at the same time!)

@Tech Nightling, @CodeFilly: is there a way we could have recommendation fics appear on the site? I think I'd like to have a popularity meter, but also something like an editor's choice. (Although, I'm not an editor so we'll need to work on the name.)

@MixaMax: Well? Your move :) (I'll get popcorn.)

LyraHands

@Jade: That's very unlike you. Did you post a draft?

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: Yes. I rushed it a bit to have it ready for today, if you know who would get all p...roblematic about it. I'll do an edit later this week and fix the stuff.

Jade

@Jade: No sweat. I'll go through it for you.

@LyraHands: just to let you know, Brush has written something magnificent. I'm still in the process of editing it, but I think we'll be submitting it for publication (it's original fiction, though. No humans).

MasterOfThisAstra

I like Jade's story. And Simile's. Why are there so many good writers? :P

Brush

@Brush: you still haven't showed it to me! When I ask my stupid brother he always goes "uhh, still working on it". :/ You've seen my sketches, what's the big difference?

Also, any chance you'll be needing pictures?

PaintDrop

@LyraHands: That's a good idea, actually. From a code point it's not that difficult. Tech and I made sure we could add modules freely. The main problem is the UI. Nothing I could do there. Maybe Tech will have some ideas when he gets back.

CodeFilly

@Jade: I see the Crystal Empire style. :) Wonderful job on conveying all the emotions (you are in your element there). I've no idea how you managed, but you actually touch on what would be valid human concerns. Those together with what the pony is going through make for a magnificent read.

My only complaint (other than the editing misses) is the length. You're on the edge of what is acceptable in terms of pacing, a few more thousands words and things would have been much smoother, I think.

InItForTheShiping

@MixaMax: you gonna say something or now? Jade owned you, mare! He made a feather duster out of your tail! :D (Not that you didn't deserve it, you grump :p)

Also, where's out entertainment? I want there to be enough flames so that I could fry my hay! :P

RRBB

@RRBB: Careful! You might get the thread licked again. :D

Brush

@Jade: I've never met you, but you write some mean prose. ;) I'll disagree with Shiping a bit on the humans. There are some aspects I'm not sure will go as you have described, but those are just my view and quite minor.

Have you throught about extending this into a 6 chapter story? Or alternatively to write a sequel? There's so much more than can be said. The characters are awesome (although Brush and Simile's win out with points to spare).

Guess I'll be saying goodbye to my A+ :/ Between this, Daggers, The Human and I, and MCE itself, I'm not sure if I'll have the time for school.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Graduation comes first! We talked about this!

@Jade: I never doubted you can write like that! The poem was enough to show me your skill. All you need to do now is refine it until it becomes as hard and shiny as a diamond.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: "Hard and shiny"? Maybe somepony needs a coltfriend? :P

And chill. My studies come first. I'll just reduce my extracurricular activities... like hanging with friends and going to bars, and picking up guys (Seriously, you'll be surprised how easy that is here.)

LightSparkle

@MixaMax: hey, you sleeping or something? :/

LyraHands

@InItForTheShipping: Were you serious about helping me with emotional descriptions? I'd much appreciate that.

Maybe you can mentor me? Or even join me in a collaboration? Just for the sake of learning, of course.

Simile

@Simile: My pleasure :)

Anyone who wants to polish up her writing skills is welcome to ask.

InItForTheShipping

@all: MixaMax just galloped out of the house! I have no idea why or where she went. Only thing I know was that she packed a bag in a hurry and grabbed her last savings. I don't know what happened exactly, but I'm worried. She’s never done this before.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: What? You sure she hasn't just gone to finish some work at town hall. I'm sure it's nothing. Best you can do is call the guards.

LyraHands

@Short&Hoofy: That sounds serious. Want us to do something? Personally, I think it's nothing. She probably forgot some bug ass meeting. You know how she is. If nothing changes in a few hours, let me know.

RRBB

Moving this to PM. If we need site help we're ask at a later date

LyraHands

Did she leave a note? A message? Anything.

Jade

@Jade: nothing so far. I'll check her room and the kitchen, but I doubt it. Something must have freaked her out.

Short&Hoofy

@Luna: did you know anything? Did Max talk to you about vacation, relaxation, or anything?

LyraHands

Nope, is news to me. I'll use what I can to track her down...once a full day has passed. I'm almost sure that there's some idiotic reason that got her hooves in a knot.

Don't worry, all. I'm on it ;)

Luna

And I'm on it as well!

TheRealLuna

Max' Shocking PMs

I'm frightened now. It's dark and I haven't heard a thing. I knew I should have gone after her and not to school! What if something bad had happened?

Short&Hoofy

Don't say such things! Nothing has happened! She'll be fine. I've checked at the hospital and she isn't there. I know it's a long shot, but I'll ask Pinkie Pie if she knows anything. In the meantime, get some herbs to relax. Worrying isn't going to do anypony any good.

LyraHands

I know, I know. That's what the girls as school said. RRBB offered to come to my place to wait for sis. I refused. RRBB has enough problems to deal with mine right now. Maybe I should have said yes. Does that make me selfish?

Short&Hoofy

Herbs! Now! You're having a panic attack.

Max is a grown mare. She knows how to take care of herself. She even took care of me a few times when I was down on my luck.

I'm adding CodeFilly to the PM group.

LyraHands

Heya.

I didn't know things were so serious. When you said she galloped out, I thought she was off doing something stupid and would be back in an hour or so.

CodeFilly

I'm fine! And no, it wasn't just an hour. She left in the morning and I haven't heard her since. Only think I know is that she isn't at work. Mayor Mare asked me about her as I was returning from school.

Short&Hoofy

Any idea what made her freak out? Oh, and what did she take? Maybe we could figure out what she's up to based on that.

LyraHands

That's just it! I've no idea! I logged on her account. The only messages she got were from Jade. I had a quick talk with him as well in the morning. He has no idea what's going on either. Offered help, as everypony, but that's all.

She took most of her savings (seven thousand bits). There's a few thousand left. She also took some clothes (the first thing she could grab from her wardrobe. She even took one of my hoodies by accident.

Short&Hoofy

Hmm. I hope I'm wrong, but I've seen that pattern before. There's somepony I could ask about, but not in the next hour. And, of course, I can't get ahold of Brush :/

LyraHands

I'm looking at her activity. Last thing Max did was open Jade's story. She read 62% of it, then fifteen minutes later she logged on again and started PMing him.

Short, was that you? I really don't want to open user PMs unless I don't have to.

CodeFilly

Yes, that was me.

Short&Hoofy

Seven thousand bits. That's a lot of money by my current standards. She could rent a house in Canterlot or Manehattan for that much. I'll try to get in touch with Candle to see if they haven't talked. It's a long shot, but maybe we're lucky.

I'll try to get ahold of Luna and CEO as well. If something's wrong Wonderbolt support is the best we can hope for.

LyraHands

Save your energy. She hasn't PMed Candle since the meetup.

CodeFilly

Adding MightyDragon. He's got news.

CodeFilly

Now, I'm not at all sure about this, but I think I saw somepony looking like Max during lunch. I just hit a glimpse, mind you. My boss's daughter was breaking stuff in the cafe, so I had to take care of things. It totally slipped my mind until Code told me about the situation.

MightyDragon

The Crystal Empire?! What the fuck?! What's she doing there? With 7k bits. What can you buy for that much?

LyraHands

Might not have been her. Like I said: just a glance; annoying child with superpowers.

MightyDragon

Some drunk is singing in the street. I'll see if it's her.

Short&Hoofy

Mare! Do you think Max went to get drunk? You can do that with 7k.

MightyDragon

Not now. This sounds serious! :/

CodeFilly

Sorry :(

MightyDragon

What's up, jerks? :) I have big news!

I just got engaged!

Short&Hoofy

Wow. My sis just yelled at me then ran off crying to her room... What gives?

Short&Hoofy

Max?! Where the heck were you?! :/ Of course she'll rush off crying! She's been worrying for you the entire day!

Are you drunk? Where have you been?

LyraHands

What? I'm not drunk! What gave you that idea? :/ Is this a RD prank?

Short&Hoofy

You maniac! The entire site freaked out! You grabbed a bag of clothes, 7k bits and galloped off somewhere and you expect everyone to consider that normal? You! Galloping off! The last time you did something without a plan or schedule was when we were back in high school!

LyraHands

And I can't change? What, is there some new law I wasn't told about?

For your information I went to the Crystal Empire and got engaged. Thanks for ruining the mood, idiots! :/

Short&Hoofy

Hold a min. Sis is back.

Short&Hoofy

Max, we didn't mean to get you mad. We were just worried, and knowing what we did you would be too. Now can you please explain what happened, starting from the beginning?

CodeFilly

And she's gone.

MightyDragon

I really hope she's just drunk.

LyraHands

Guess we'll find out soon.

CodeFilly

I swear, if she doesn't respond in twenty minutes, I'm going to her place and kicking the door in!

LyraHands

Err, okay. I see what happened. Sorry, girls, I didn't mean to snap at you and I certainly didn't mean to scare you. Short explained things to me. Poor filly, stars know she hasn't had it easy this week. (And right now she's sticking her tongue out at me. :))

Here's what happened. In the rush I put the note I'd written in my luggage. I only found out now, when Short asked that I give back her hoody.

The reason I took the money was so I can go to the Crystal Empire and buy an engagement shoe. (I wanted to go for the non-cheap stuff.) And the reason I did that, is that after reading the start of Jade's story I decided to act on my feelings. There's no point in wasting this chance (it might be the only one I get). So, I went there, bought the most expensive engagement shoe I could find, then asked the question.

Spoilers: it went well :D

Short&Hoofy

Wait! Wait a minute here! You went all the way to the Empire and spent your savings on a piece of jewelry so you can propose to a pony you've met a few days ago at a human Fanfiction meetup without even knowing what he thinks about you, all based to a story he wrote? And succeeded?!?

Max, you must tell me what dice you use.

MightyDragon

Hey, you've all been telling me to be more impulsive! (You hypocrites!) And I did put some more thought into it! Even asked his parents. (Mare, was that scary. I had no idea they were aristocracy.)

Short&Hoofy

Wings, Max. Those things usually stand for nobility in the Empire (and by “usually” I mean always.)

CodeFilly

How was I supposed to know!? Anyway, we've decided to have the ceremony once Jade graduates. Until then we'll just keep a long distance relationship (close distance on weekends).

My sis is making gagging sounds. Lyra, can I do something to get this account banned? :/

Short&Hoofy

I... Just... Give me a minute or ten to wrap my mind round this. Max and Jade engaged? Just like that?

How? I mean, no offense Max (congrats and all) but... Jade! The guy can choose any mare he wants. And let's be honest, none of us are supermodels.

LyraHands

Without getting too awkward, I can only say there are some damn good advantages of having a Princess of Love around. (Also Spike is an incredibly huge deal there.)

Anyway, off to sleep. Today was great, but exhausting.

Have fun, you jerks!

Short&Hoofy

I need those dice!

MightyDragon

Author's Note

As promised, I'm opening a small Discord server for EqF trivia :)

Link (active for the next 24 hours): https://discord.gg/FrVRq

Embarrassment Eternal

Greetings,

I've some important news I'd like to share. As some of you are probably aware, there are rumors about me getting married to a certain mare on this site. I'd like to put those rumors to rest.

I am, in fact, absolutely not married! I'm engaged, which if you check the definition in any dictionary, would see that is an entirely different concept. I will be married in a number of months once I have fully graduated with honors.

As for the culprit in question, the mare that foolishly spent all her money on an engagement shoe without checking its size, she's none other than our very own MixaMax. Yes, that idiot galloped all the way to my college and proposed to me in the middle of the yard under the shocked gazes of my fellow students.

Needless to say that I wholeheartedly said yes...and then went to adjust the size of the engagement shoe. ;)

TL; DR: MixaMax proposed, I said "meh, why not?"

Jade

@Jade: You jerk! I spend all night and most of the day writing a post about that! You can't come here, compose something for five minutes and post it! And it's not my fault you have the hooves of a filly! :/

MixaMax

I don't remember you complaining about my hooves before. As for malign the announcement...it was cute the first ten times you sent me those awful drafts, but enough is enough! I used to ridicule you about not being able to write, but now I see I wasn't harsh enough. Better stick to "reviewing" and paperwork from now on.

Jade

@.@ I think I'm going to cry... :~) Max and Jade, I wish you the very very best and more! You've no idea how happy I am for you two! I just...

Edit: Brush has gone into the kitchen where she's crying and eating ice cream. It might be a while before she returns. Good going, Jade. :) Wish I could have been there to see the proposal. - MasterOfThisAstra

Brush

MixaMax: I must say you did the impossible. Never in a thousand years dud I think anypony would find your ugly mug attractive! :P Enjoy your engagement, Max. And you better invite me to the wedding! :D

RRBB

@CodeFilly: Max galloped all the way to the Crystal Empire through snow and sleep and rain. Why weren't you that romantic when you proposed? :(

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: It was you who proposed, dumdum! ;P Plus, Max just did a one-day session, I engaged on a multi-campaign. ;) Also we're still getting married before them.

CodeFilly

What the fuck?!? I'm gone a week and this is what I return to?!? Good job on breaking stereotypes, you girls. If we keep that up we'll be kicked out of the geek union.

Seriously, though... Wow! Never would have seen this. Luna, was this your doing?

CEOWitch

Don't look at me, I'm just as happy...surprised as you are. They are cute, though :)

Luna

Excellent! All is going according to my plan! Beahahaha!

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: That's my line, sweetie ;)

InItForTheShipping

Say what now? This can happen? I'm telling my brother right after school!

WaterBottle

@all: Nah, it's no biggie. I just thought Jade could use some honey in his life (to balance all the bitterness). Easy peasy Apple squeezy. It's not like I was worried or anything.

MixaMax

To quote my father after Max's visit:

"Jade, the young mare seems nice and everything, but did she seem to you like she was about to faint near the end of our conversation?"

Jade

@Jade: Ha! And who was the one who couldn't say his own name? You actually introduced me as "Max"! Good thing your mother was there to save you with the "so you're the filly I've been hearing about"? :/

MixaMax

So I happen to share things with my parents, sue me! Wait, you can't!

Jade

MixaMax message has been deleted.

Let's never speak of that again.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Hahagaha! Omg! Did you actually post nudes? Way to go, Max! You're my new number one heroine!

RRBB

@RRBB: Tell me you made a viewgrab!

PaintDrop

I did.

CEOWitch

I did.

MightyDragon

I did.

CodeFilly

@MixaMax: I'm impressed you're so flexible for your age. Tell me, did you use props to get into such a position or did you achieve it naturally? ;)

InItForTheShipping

I miss all the best stuff :(

Edit: Congratulations, Jade and Max! You made me tear up in class :~)

SweetStuff

@MixaMax: I'd say something, but looks like everypony else beat me to it.

Everypony: see what I've condemned myself to spend my life with? Actually, based on your point of view there might be certain advantages.

Jade

@Jade: I dare you to say that to my face!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: You must tell me how you made your tail look like that.

Bob

Leave it to MixaMix to mess things up. I was wondering when this would happen. The start of this thread seemed too tidy. I'm sure glad that Max intervened and set things straight, bringing us back to the quality posts we'd come to expect. :P

Now that I'm done being nasty, congrats you two! What started as a painful online experience and went through a number of hurdles (temp bans, mix-ups, talks of perm bans, Brush getting a dozen nervous breakdowns) has finally become something unique.

Having read Jade's story, I can say I understand what made Max rush through half Equestria to snatch him, but I also know I'd never had the guts to do so.

Be happy, Max & Jade! And may your future goals be as crazy and great as you!

LyraHands

@MixaMax: I want three foals.

Jade

WHAT?!?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: just like the Williams in MC.

Jade

... I'll think about it.

MixaMax

Author's Note

Writing and discussions on the Meet-up continue.

If anyone else wants to join the Discord, here's a 24h invite.

https://discord.gg/VktUP

Writing Advice

Umm, I don't know what to say :)

@Brush, @MasterOfThisAstra: Congratulations! You looked wonderful in your outfits. My boss even asked if you'd consider modeling for a science fiction collection she's planning, inspired by the meetup.

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: Congratulations on your engagement! You two looked so cute when you fell asleep on each other at the event. :) Next time I visit Canterlot I'll bring you something I think both of you would appreciate.

@MixaMax, @Jade: Congratulations for the fairytale engagement! I wish somepony does that to me one day. Max, you are one lucky mare. And Jade, you really are sweet in real life. :)

Sorry for taking away from these magnificent moments, but I was hoping to get some advice from you about writing humans. I'm hoping to have a longer discussion with Tech about this when he visits, but until then I would appreciate your help.

Candle

@Candle: What exactly is the problem? Your latest works seem quite good. You've undoubtedly gone a long way since your first attempts. I'd say you are way past the average of the submitted stories (and I'm talking about the good ones).

Bob

And I might be vanishing for a while... again! :/ Why did I expect things to be any different? Some jerk at school called me a [censored] at school. In front of everypony! I lost it! I think I might have broken his wing.

It wasn't like half the school avoided me even before this incident. :/ my mother will go bat shit when she gets here. Right now I'm writing from bathroom, but I expect to lose all aethernet privileges once I get out. :/ Life is fun :(

@Candle: I think your biggest weakness is you keep thinking of humans as these weird aliens and do everything possible to deponify them, even when it isn't needed. I agree that an interesting touch now and again is great, but at the end of the day humans are just ponies on two legs. They have similar problems, feelings, and motivations. Sure they might be omnivore, but don't reference that every three paragraphs (it gets a bit creepy). Also, cut down on the toes and fingers. Unless you're writing about some port fetish you can safely skip those.

Sorry I can't give more advice, but the principle is knocking on the bathroom door urging me to get out.

See you in a week (I hope).

RRBB

@RRBB: :( Hope things go well. Tell us if there's anything, okay?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Let's go to PM.

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: Nooo! :( I had a friend like that. He's a bit calmer now, but he used to get into all sorts of trouble.

@Candle: I don't read much fanfiction, but I skimmed through your latest story and it seemed fine.

PrinceEric

@Bob: My main problem is that I struggle to describe their everyday life. What do humans do everyday exactly?

@RRBB: Sorry to hear that. :( You've been through so much.

Candle

@RRBB: This time I'm not taking no for an answer! I'll personally look into this!

Luna

I'll see if I can help in the matter as well.

@Candle: This might not be a very scientific way of doing it, but try writing taur stories (possibly starting with centaurs, then moving to minotaurs). Don't bother with food and sleeping habits (those will come naturally as you get more comfortable with your writing).

Keep things simple. Describe a simple scene, without any plot if you have to: two humans searching for books in the library, or preparing for a test, or walking in the park. Then, when you feel you're ready, string several scenes and see how it goes.

DarkSparkle

@Candle: you want to know about humans? Easy. I'll tell you the secret how to write great humans, and it will blow your mind!

Think cats and dogs. All females are cats, all males are dogs. Just get them walking on two legs, and follow RRBB's advice. And don't be afraid to have them talk. A lot. Oh, and make their reasoning less logical. That's the spirit of a human. All the rest are technical details you'll get with practice.

LightSparkle

@RRBB, @Short&Hoofy: I'll go there as soon as this stupid meeting is over! :/ RRBB, I usually get annoyed at you, but in this case... if he said what I think he said then. Let's just say I would have reacted the same way.

@Candle: Now, I might not have written a lot of (any) stories, but I think I could give some advice. Always start by describing the eyes and face. That's a great opener that's used almost each time a new character is presented. Remember the readers want to be able to visualize what you're saying, and for that they need to be aware of every last detail of your character. Is she short, tall, thin, cuddly? What's her hair? Her eyes? When she sleeps, does she have any specific mannerisms or phrases?

I'd suggest starting with a few descriptions.

@LyraHands: On that note, I think we could use some sort of screening process. I'm all for authors trying to get better, but some of the new fics are just argh! The grammar and spelling are catastrophic, there's no plot whatsoever, and oh the wish fulfillment... :/ ("My Class of Humans" is a terrifyingly good example)

MixaMax

@Candle: thanks on behalf of Max and myself for the good wishes. I'm sure both of us are happy and wish you to find your special somepony soon :)

As for the writing, the others have already given plenty of good advice, so I'll just summarize it for you:

RRBB: good advice
DarkSparkle: definitely good advice
LightSparkle: good advice, although very weird (yet strangely accurate when I thought about it)
MixaMax: good advice what NOT to do!

@MixaMax: You're kidding, right? Please tell me that was some disturbing prank! You can't be more wrong if you tried! Did you even try to write anything based on your own advice? Please do! If you don't vomit yesterday's breakfast after you read it, I'll personally use my influence to set you up as a guest lecturer here to talk about it!

Eyes? Hair? That deserves a sentence in passing. If you want to go really deep you need training in lit symbolism, metaphors, and social cues of the period! Just stick to reading and non-fiction and don't confuse others, okay?

Jade

@Jade: I'd say bite me, you wouldn't know how! :/

MixaMax

@RRBB: tell me what happens (use another account if needed)

@Candle: I think you're doing great. Just keep on writing and you'll get there :)

@MixaMax: yes, I agree. As harsh as it sounds the quantity of (bad) stories is starting to clutter the site. For that I think we need a curator system. I was hoping MasterOfThisAstra, Jade, and RRBB (when life permits) to be our first curators. (I'll add that on the todo list for Code and Tech.)

LyraHands

But I wanted to be a curator as well... :(

DarkSparkle

Coming Out

Eric Wildrose

Engineer, friend, chosen

Eager and smart, Eric was interested in technology before he could walk. A keen mind, he excelled in school and won a host of science awards, yet had few friends, preferring to live in his own fantasy world. All that changed once the mirror-sprite appeared and shared its knowledge of world portals in exchange for a single favor.

Siblings: Caterina
Place of birth: Mistmount, Gumania
Occupation: College student
Hobby: cooking
Mentor deity: Hades
Magic power: Portal control
Eternity gem: Unknown

"When I look in mirrors they just wave back."

And we finally got Eric. Hardly surprising, since there's just one slot left and it has to belong to Euryala. To be honest I expected most. There were several hints that he was receiving help from some magical entity. I didn't see him being a follower of Hades, though. If anything, I thought he'd be anti-Hades, but guess the writers planned on that all along. (Them sneaky writers! :))

Weird thing about the mirrors. I must check if there are any mythological creatures that affect mirrors in anyway.

Awkward isn't it? I write something dramatic, vanish without a word, then I'm back just like that? Might as well come clean and get this thing over with.

My parents sent me to a shrink yesterday. Guess they had enough. Two hours in a small room talking nonsense...and I finally cracked. And I'm glad. I've so much shit in me you wouldn't believe. Looks like I'll be going to therapy from now on. I've always dreaded this, but after one session, i must say I don't feel any worse than usual. (I'm kidding. I feel a mess, but also a bit less burdened.)

As part of my therapy I'm now free (encouraged even) to write and be as active as possible on the site. (The curator thing come at the perfect. Thanks to whoever floated my name) Guess, I'm here to stay. For a while, at least.

Oh, and as part of my therapy I must share my big disgusting secret. I'm... I think I'm into fillies. (I added ellipsis for dramatic effect. Cool, eh?)

I just like to thank you, girls for all your help. Without you and this place I've no idea what I would have done. (The last filly psycho murderer was locked away eight seven years ago. I checked.)

But hey, enough of my crap. Homies! Wooo!

RRBB

You can be such an idiot, you know that?

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: I must agree with Short on this. At least you're our idiot and we love you. (Don't get any ideas!) if you weren't so stubborn and listened to me, you might never had had anger issues! You scared us shitless! (Of course your parents would keep it a huge secret. Mine are just as bad in that regard.)

Anyway, Eric...

I don't know anything that reacts to mirrors other than nightmares. Interesting if there's a connection between mirrors and the portals between worlds. I know it sounds crazy, but weirder things have happened. I really hope Eric doesn't turn out to the be "traitor" archetype (or worse—the Everprince.) Apart from being a terrible chliché, I'd be sad if it turns out the nicest humie is evil.

Your thoughts?

PaintDrop

@RRBB: I'm so proud of you! It takes tremendous courage to do what you did. Starting is the first step to recovery. And if there are ANY hurdles on your way just let us know. We're your friends are are here for you. Never forget that!

LyraHands

@RRBB: you're cool. I've been going to therapy for three years. Nowadays it mostly feels like a chat, but I keep doing it so I don't go on a downward spiral again. You're much stronger than me, though. I'm sure you'll be fine in a few months.

@PaintDrop: Argh! I really hope things don't end up like that :( It's Eric! Think of all the nice things he's done (all the water bottles :P). If anyone, Blazen must be the traitor!

By the way, gave you noticed how everyone in the group is special? I mean special in relation to the Everthings. So far Blazen and Omni are said to be the ones to kill the Everprince, and the rest are the only ones who can save the world from his power. (Also, are we sure the Prince is male? I know the name suggests it, but the dragons have a girl for Dragon Lord.)

Maybe things aren't what they seem?

PrinceEric

@RRBB: Come here, you! *hugs* Why did you keep this from us, you silly filly? We could have helped! I live twenty minutes from your house! I'm just so mad right now I want to give you a hug!

Brush

Unlike fanfics, same sex is a tricky subject. I don't blame you for keeping it hidden to yourself, but give us some credit, will you?

It's sad that we live in a society that frowns upon such tendencies, but if everypony keeps it to herself things won't get better. Now, I'm not saying you should start screaming in the streets or constantly shouting it out, but for stats' sake share it with a few close friends! PaintDrop has known you for ages and I bet even she didn't know. Without having somepony to talk to it's normal you'll have anger issues, depression, or both! What's done is done, but I'm still upset at you. :/

Now I can start raging about the new "brilliant idea" the writers have! (Sorry, Prince Blueblood, but come on!) My Two month puppy can come up with something more original!) the good guy is suddenly the traitor/villain all along. What's next? Euryala is some deity princess? At this point I wouldn't be surprised if that came up with (a crappy) explanation for that.

I've given MCE many changes so far, but if they pull this on Eric, I'll stop reading!

MixaMax

@RRBB: hang in there. One day at a time.

@MixaMax: you're simply infuriating! I'll be arriving this weekend on the three thirty train.

Jade

@Jade: Great! :) I’ll have sis clean up the house!

MixaMax

Wow! Just woooow!

RRBB

Return to Insanity

Err, I'm conflicted. Whoever wrote this chapter is a genius or really messed up! I've never even heard of horror mixing with comedy. (Who does that?!) Now the review :)

We start with best humie doing a contraption for Caprice. (From what I could tell it's a sort of levitation set of saddlebags that hover behind her?) Of course he messes up, and causes it to fly all over the house (Caprice is so cute when she chuckles, by the way. And her humor is the best so far :)) so we have destruction, broken mirrors (this is important!) and lots of yelling from Eric's sister and parents. (Fun fact, his mother knows about the portals and such, since she said "your friends better come up with the money for this!" Typical lawyer.)

Caprice goes to Canterlot to give him some gems, everyone leaves Eric to clean up. And now the interesting part begins. While cleaning, Eric picks up a mirror piece and his reflection asks him how he's been. Eric goes into a "No!" cycle and then we have a flashback. We see young Eric (yay! Young Eric is so serious) presenting his science project and messing it up (and still getting third place). Devastated, he takes the long route to home, where he stumbles upon a world portal near the lake. The mirror entity appears and offers him the means to win first place always. Eric refuses, but the entity tells him it will be waiting for (this is also important) when he changes his mind. Eric hesitates for a while (lots of scenes I'll skip), but in the end agrees and is told of the portals.

Back in his room, the entity has a chat with him. We learn that the reason he's constantly carrying water bottles is to keep in touch (although it says mirrors would have been more efficient). They get into an argument until the mirror thing says it knows about the Everprince. (First bombshell: "we used to date once". Seems the mirror entity was/is female.) Then we have our second flashback.

Eric summons a portal and enters. (And all this time I though he didn't use them!) we have him walking around Canterlot as a pony (yikes! Here come the "Humans in Disguise fics) with only his reflection showing his true nature. A bit of comedy, though at the end he reaches the mirror pool and is attacked by versions of his human self, each having an aspect of him: hate, envy, fear, etc.

Flashback to the house. Where he says he'll never go back to Equestria. The mirror laughs asking what if his friends are in danger. (She's sort of a bitch.) And then she asks god the favor he owes her. They go into an argument, but at the end he agrees to do as she asks. The mirror only says "later" and disappears. A few comedy scenes with Caprice returning and some of Eric's friends passing by... And then the most chilling event of all: the mirror spirit takes form in the lake (and yes, she's a girl) where Icelos is sitting on a bench.

"Nice to see you, Echo." Icelos looked up from his book. "Pity you're not fully yourself yet."

"Don't meddle with him!" the watery form hissed. "I've claimed him! He's mine!"

"I doubt it. He belongs to Hades. Always has, always will." Icelos stood up, then with no effort tore the book he held in half. "Unless the script is rewritten. Don't interfere in my dealings with the Everprince and I'll give Eric to you."

"You wish!"

The more I'm starting to figure things out, the more confused I am. Eric is controlled by both Echo and Hades? Icelos and Echo are on opposite sides? Aaaargh! The confusion! :)

PrinceEric

Well, it's pretty clear to me. I think S.Child is playing with several oppositions and mixing them up. That's why we're so confused.

We have the corporations battle for control of Mistmount and Gumania (which has been been the focus of Mistmount Chronicles). So far only Felina and Skyla are described in detail, but it's said there are 8 in total. There's also the Wonderbolts-human-clones who are part of an overseeing body that tries to keep them in check.

We also have the Deities vs Titans vs taint (I think is the Everprince). Things are a bit messy here.i, still not sure if the taint is the Everprince or if the Everprince is a Titan or anything.

Finally, as we see in the shattered realities, Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon are fighting amongst themselves as well. (That might give new meaning to the Poseidon is lost theory.)

All in all an okay chapter. Definitely not what I feared it might be (thank the stars!)

MixaMax

Wow, Max. That was almost... nice? You liking MCE? Damn, those Jade snuggles must be game good to get you to mellow out. :P

Chapter was fine, though, just not sure what the horror element was. PrinceEric, were you scared of the mirror images thing? That was pretty weak in terms of horror, if you ask me. I still understand it might creep some ponies out.

On another note...

@all: Pones! Seriously! Tag your taur stories appropriately! Not everyone is into centaurs and minotaurs! This is basic practices, ponies! I'm not talking about my personal thoughts that ponified humans are the worst of the worst here! The mods have spent a lot of time to add flag functionality, so snorting use it!

RRBB

@RRBB: Not that I'm disagree with you, but the original novel *did* have a centaur. That means it's canon, like it or not.

DarkSparkle

Girls, don't fight! You need to get a camera for that. Just imagine the amount of views you'd get! ;)

LightSparkle

@RRBB: a few words
1) None of your damn business
2) They are pretty good
3) Buck that! They're outright amazing! (U jelly, mare?)
4) Mistmount is still better than Everhere!

@LightSparkle: Oooh! I like you :)

MixaMax

I like the idea of humans in disguise. Makes so much sense. I just don't think I can write them well enough yet :(

Candle

@LightSparkle, @DarkSparkle: ... I'm not against that, actually. O:)

RRBB

@RRBB: Right now Dark has either fainted or is panting heavily. :P

@MixaMax: You used to say the opposite in school! :P (No worries, all is fine. You're fun as well.)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Huh?!?

MixaMax

DarkSparkle's breath hastened as she reread the message for the fifth time. Her heart was pacing with the speed of a hummingbird making her wings tingly. She could picture the scene so clearly in her mind: the sweet smell of sweaty fur, the gentle sensation of muzzles brushing against another as they kissed, maybe even nibbling an ear. A sigh, escaped her mouth transforming into a stifled squeal as Dark...

Oops, must run for class. :P

RRBB

*giggle* I bet WaterBottle will still be blushing when you get here.

SweetStuff

@RRBB: Way to go, kiddo. You had an A in my book. Take it easy :)

LightSparkle

!!!

DarkSparkle

Jokes and Grumbling

Girls and guys, a big sorry from me.

After my taur post Dark rushed to my place, nearly broke the door down then gave me an earful about proper behavior online. (Took me a box of ice cream to calm her down.) Looking back at things, I see I went a bit too far.

So, everyone, let's chill and keep the lewd jokes for more serious times (and the non-general section of the site). Seeing Dark cry is no fun.

Your ever pesky

LightSparkle

Gees! I didn't know we hit that hard :( Sorry, Dark. Guess my nickname is there for a reason. Seriously, I was just kidding. I know that posting it after coming out might have sent the wrong message, so I just want to be ultra clear: I'm really not interested you (or anypony else on the site) in that way. Stars know I get enough trash about at school already. :(

I guess I'll go back to writing and rejecting fics.

Okay, so when I say rag your stories adequately, I don't mean add every bucking tag under the sun just in case! If someone winks at someone else that's not romance! If someone fights with someone else for five paragraphs that's not a tragedy!

@LyraHands, @CodeFilly, @The TechNightling, @MightyDragon: Maybe we could have a revision of the tagging system? As it is now it's pretty much useless.

RRBB

@LightSparkle: Yes, we were too mean to dear Dark. Also, glad to hear you're doing better. Im curious to see your writing, though. Something tells me I might be surprised. :)

@DarkSparkle: Huge sorry, *hugs and bumps* :) You need to relax a bit more, though. (Already you've improved significantly than before.)

InItForTheShipping

@LightSparkle: I honestly can't remember where I knew you from? I already asked everypony from my class, so can't... wait a minute! Mini, is that you? If you're pulling another prank on me I'll stick an orange on your horn, then buck a beehive off a tree!

@DarkSparkle: As somepony who's already caused you to quit once, I can say I didn't mean anything I said, and I don't want you to go again. Also, if anypony's mean towards you just send them my way!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: it's statements like those that drive me crazy!

orange on your horn, then buck a beehive off a tree!

What do bees have to do with oranges? I know I have been gone for a thousand years, but the natural world can't have changed that much? If there's some new type of bee I'd love to hear more about it.

somepony who's already caused you to quit once, I can say I didn't mean anything I said

And you just said that you were lying when you apologies to her. Good job, Max. Really.

All joking aside, I'd like to point out two things: First, as much as I like to correct Max, she knows what she's talking about and I know for a fact that she can annihilate anypony who's maliciously mean. If any any point you feel stressed with anything, I'm always here so send me a PM.

Second... Oh dear. I know a lot of you have been inspired by the the series, or the site, or the smash song by SweetStuff (do you know they're running your song in dance clubs here? I even heard it in the dorms, although it's strictly forbidden.), however, please try to write logically. Everypony starts from somewhere, but please rely a bit less on emotional impact. I can't tell the amount of stories that are so full of raw emotion that their authors have forsaken grammar altogether. That makes me really sad.

Jade

@Jade: she made me clean up for your visit. Not that I don't do that anyway, but she really wants to impress you.

Can you get me something from the Empire? Just a small gift.

Short&Hoofy

@Jade: I love you, you insufferable pedant :P

MixaMax

@RRBB: It's really nice seeing you like this. Whatever they did to you it must have worked. Oh and don't worry about stuff at school. You know who had a long talk with me about you and all I can say things are doing fine.

Party at SweetStuff's place? Her sis is out of town, so we could have a get together. I know it's not your usual groove, but I think it would be good for you to come. For one thing we'll be talking MCE, with everypony either on the site or secretly reading.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I don't know. I really don't think it's the best thing right now. I've been avoiding YouKnowWho and she has me. For the moment that works best.

RRBB

Girls! I'm okay! It's not the end of the world, or anything. It's just that... Maybe I was a bit uncomfortable with the prospect of... Anyway, glad to know you are here for me, as am I for you :)

DarkSparkle

@RRBB: I'll be there if you don't feel comfortable.

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: Pleaaaaaase? @.@

@Jade: eeeek! *blush* It really is nothing much. Although, I'm working on something new with PaintDrop and a few other friends.

SweetStuff

Sorry, I really don't feel like it. Next time.

RRBB

@InItForTheShipping: Second chapter of Daggers is up. Any chance of me coming to discuss better writing emotions? I travel pretty often, so just tell me where you are and I'll be there.

Simile

@Short&Hoofy: sure, just PM me what you want.

Jade

@Simile: With pleasure :) Unfortunately, I'm not as free as I once was. I travel pretty much myself, though for the most part I'm in the capital of the Crystal Empire. Will you passing through there anytime soon?

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Difficult. :( Any chance you can get to Manehattan? I'll be there for the next two weeks.

Simile

@Simile: Sadly no. :( We can still do it through PMs, though. Would that work?

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: That works.

Simile

My rehearsal is tomorrow evening! Wish me luck, everypony!

Edit: Locking thread to avoid spam.

Edit2: Light & Dark, you crack me up :)

LyraHands

Old Faces and New

Hello, lovely ponies! :)

Wonderful to see you all here? Been meaning to check out this place for a while, but alway seemed to forget (heh :)). Lyra you old goof head, why didn't you tell me it was so great? I've just been going through the forum so far and it's been hilarious! (Well, mostly hilarious. RRBB, if you need cheering up I know somepony who could help.)

I really haven't read Midnight Castle since I was a filly, but will catch up :)

By the way, Lyra why haven't you shared your fanfiction series? Moonlight Castle was it? I loved that!

HopHop

@all: Good morning, my friends!

I must apologize for my long absence, but I wanted to spend some quality time with my family, as much as I have come to value the site, and the ponies in it, there are some things that come first. Furthermore, I spent a while in Manehattan where I got to be with our lovely Candle, whose work on stage in nothing short of spectacular.

Now for a few announcements. I will ignore the interesting things that happened during my absence, but please clean your posts of anything too suggestive, or post it in the appropriate section. For the most part that has been kept, but I'd like to remind everypony again that we are a family friendly ish channel. And for the love of Celestia, please move erotic role play to PMs. To be blunt it's a bit disturbing in the best of circumstances and few of you can write as well as RRBB and Brush.

Due to demand the tag system has been changed to include nation keywords. There are a hundred of them, so pick seven that best describe your story.

A "new and trendy" section has been added, so that anypony can see at first glance what is going being posted and what has received a lot of attention. It's still in beta, so expect issues.

Finally, a notification system is in place, so you can get notified when you receive new messages, stories you follow get updated, or authors you follow post a new story. Again, it's still in beta, so let me know if there are any issues.

With that I wish you all a wonderful day, and welcome @HopHop to our small corner of the aethernet.

The TechNightling

Yay! Tech is back! Missed you :)

With the risk of getting you to yell at me... how was the "visit"? Did you have fun with Candle? Or are we to expect a new announcement as has become fashionable lately? :P

RRBB

Just great. Everypony gets their fun and when I work up the nerve Tech returns... :/ Joking, just joking :) Great to see you, old man! (Well, not old or man, but this reminds me so much of that scene with Bellucio that I couldn't resist. :))

Was a bit worried when you were go for that long. Glad that everything worked out fine :) And, I'm not saying you and Candle are anything more than friends, but I think you two being together is sweet.

Oh, what are your thoughts on the latest MCE chapters? Dying to hear that.

@HopHop: Welcome :) We all have fun here, though sometime it gets a little scary. Just be sure to appease Brush by saying you're not a stallion (or forever keep running) :)

MixaMax

@LyraHands: It's absurd I gave to use this to let you know the results of your own exam, but I guess it can't be helped.

Congratulations, Lyra, you got second place, and even that was pretty much based on a coin toss. I've never heard such sad motifs come from you, but you pretty damn impressed everypony, judges included.

Also, I'm ashamed of myself for saying this, but I started reading Mistmount Chronicles: Everhere. It has the absurd amount of mindless action you'd expect for a colt series, but also a deep emotional touch as well. I'm not one for speculation, but the author(s) have experienced things first hoof, even if it isn't humans.

Cheers,

P.S. Dopey, you hopeless mare. I guess you finally found somepony to keep you awake? :)

Octavia

@Octavia: I know right? I feel so old! Half of my class is in a serious relationship or engaged. Meanwhile, I'm focusing on my career. Priorities, am I right?

By the way, who's Simile? She (he?) writes in a very unusual style. It's like cutting butter with dental floss: possible, definitely catches attention, but the amount of effort you need to put in is a lot. Also, if you're ever in Canterlot call me ;)

HopHop

@LyraHands: Congratulations! Not that there was any doubt! Most of the time. I'd say something smart, but right now I can't think of anything...

Also, without making any claims... don't gulp down heavy cider. Unicorn spells can't fix the headache.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I think I warmed you. :/ Drink lots of juice and you'll be fine. Good thing there's no school today.

@LyraHands: that's crazy! :) Stop hiding and start bragging about it! Not only do you have a successful site (we're on the top 500 fansites) but you manage to kick flank in uni as well! I'm not exaggerating when I say you're my inspiration and role model! The things you've been through and still managed to achieve so much. If I ever write a serious novel it'll be based on you!

Also... elaborate on Moonlight Castle! (You've been keeping out on us!)

RRBB

@RRBB: She's a very dedicated employee as well :)

DaBoss

You know, I think I can find some of the stories. Most of them Lyra kept, but I still gave a few drafts she left at my place.

HopHop

@HooHop: You wouldn't dare! ... I think I have a few as well. I'll search around and then we can share, okay? :P

CodeFilly

@HopHop, @CodeFilly: Lyra's still asleep. The rehearsal drained her completely. I'll tell her about the good news. I fully approve of you posting any embarrassing things you could find :)

@Octavia: I'll also tell her that she passed the exam. I think she'll be happy.

Bob

What all of you are doing is foalish! Do you have any idea how embarrassing it could be for her?

I'm so in! :) I think I might have something at my parent's place. I'll post it when I find it.

MixaMax

This place always brings a smile to my face :) Keep it up!

InItForTheShipping

Short's PM Questions

Hey. I know we don't talk a lot, but can I ask you something?

Short&Hoofy

Okay. What do you want?

PaintDrop

RRBB. You've been friends for a long time, so... what things do you like? I mean I know what she says she likes, and there are the MCE scrolls (which she’s got already), but what does she really like? As in something that would make her happy.

Short&Hoofy

Heh. A functional family? Acceptance? It's a long list. Just to let you know she hates surprise parties. She never liked them, but lately she's really started to despise them.

PaintDrop

No, not a party. I want to give her a gift that will make her feel better, even if it's for a few days. Jade will be coming to visit soonish, so I want to ask him to get something. That's why I need your help. You know her better than anypony.

Short&Hoofy

... do you like her?

PaintDrop

Of course I do. She's always so sad or getting into fights. She's got a really bad rep in school and everypony thinks she's mean, but so few see she's hurting. Getting something nice every once in awhile might get her to feel a bit better. She can use that.

Short&Hoofy

That's not what I asked :/

PaintDrop

I do.

Short&Hoofy

Oh. I guess that's why you're always here when she was feeling down. I thought it was a MC thing. You know, because of your sis. How long has this been going on?

PaintDrop

Two and a half years almost.

Short&Hoofy

I never noticed. Are you...?

PaintDrop

Gay? Yes. I'm just discreet about it. My family knows. They support me, they just don't tell anyone about me. And yes, I know that one day I'll have to come out publicly, but for now I'll just keep things like this. And let's face it, I'm not very noticeable.

Short&Hoofy

You got that last bit right. And I never would have guessed. I've seen you talk with colts just as much as with fillies. Does RRBB know?

PainDrop

Paint, just because I am doesn't mean I'll drool at anypony with nipples! :/ Do you run around chasing colts all day? The only difference between me and RRBB is that I've known for a long time and had no pressure to hide it, not to my family at least. They even took me to a psychiatrist to do some tests the first time the were doubts. I'm perfectly okay with who I am, I just don't make a big deal out of it.

And... I'm not sure. I hinted to RRBB, but she might not have gotten the message. I just don't want to be too forward so soon after she had her heart shattered, you know? It's not like YouKnowWho isn't attractive (trust me on this), and let's face it, I'm not that much.

Short&Hoofy

That's RRBB for you. She tends to think about herself a lot. I know I'll hate myself, but how high am I rated?

PaintDrop

Haven't you asked her? And of course she'll think about herself! Don't pretend you don't know what I mean.

Short&Hoofy

Hey, I've been friends with her ever since kindergarten, so don't give me that! And we do talk a lot, just not about such stuff, with it being a touchy subject and all. In fact, she specifically asked me not to because she didn't want to feel uncomfortable!

PaintDrop

Yes. Sorry. I know, it's just... it's not easy seeing the one you like hurt all day and not be able to say a thing...

You're an 8/10

Short&Hoofy

I know what you mean. I don't think of RRBB the same way you do, obviously, but yes, it's painful watching her. Usually I wouldn't be saying this, but all the times we go to the bathroom to "freshen up" we’re actually there so she could cry. I used to think it was because of her parents and the shit she was getting at school.

Just an 8!? Are you serious? Why? What's wrong with me?

PainDrop

It's subjective. And you're too much of a stallion's mare to be of interest. RRBB and YouKnowWho are 11/10 just so you know.

Short&Hoofy

Okay, hold on. I take it this is your personal preference, but just 8? I know I'm not the most stylish, but stars... that's really average. What about SweetStuff?

PaintDrop

:/

Short&Hoofy

Seriously, tell me! It's not like I can ask anypony else, and I am curious in an academic way. Sort of. Really, I'm not picking on you or anything, I just find it curious. :)

PaintDrop

Fine. Sweet is a 9.5, Twist is a 8, WaterBottle is a 7. Anypony else you want? :/

Short&Hoofy

Twist? I’m rated the same as lispy Twist?! I must seriously reassess my life choices.

PaintDrop

Back to RRBB please? What gift do you think be okay for her? Something with crystals? I was thinking a crystal tiara? She likes those, I think. Maybe earrings?

Short&Hoofy

Err... no. Just no. Tiara has family in the Crystal Empire. She's probably got every jewelry there is. Have you seen her with anything else than she usually wears? No. The reason for that is simple: they hold no emotional value. For a really cool gift go unexpected. She'll never admit it, but she loves fluff and girly stuff. No sharp objects, please. I'm a bit scared what she might do with those. (Just kidding, but seriously don't!)

That help?

PaintDrop

I guess. Something fluffy and unexpected... can't be that hard, right?

Short&Hoofy

Why do I feel like I've made a huge mistake? Just one thing...if you hurt her, especially now, I will destroy you.

PaintDrop

If I hurt her, I'll help you do it.

Short&Hoofy

The Gift

Girl, girls!

We all know that the next character will be Euryala, but what about the chapter? From what we know so far she's got some connection to Poseidon (maybe the other deities), also is part of the special corp overseer org. Also she is/will become Blazen's girlfriend (as far as we know).

I think the entire chapter will be her backstory, telling us how she came to be and her connections to everything. I can't wait! :) I'm curious what her relation to the Everprince and Icelos is, oh and Echo. Something tells me this will be the best chapter yet :)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Well, I think if there's a place the writers will mess up it will be here.:/

Now you know my opinion on Euryala (or OP Sue as I like to call her). She's just too much into everything. Now, I understand what they are trying to do (for those who haven't grasped it yet, S.Child is trying to reunite the franchise establishing a connection between the original and Mistmount Chronicles) but putting everything on two characters (I count Icelos as a sort of attempt) is too much.

There's no way anyone could be so connected! It's like Twilight being also the daughter to a wealthy noble and head of industry, related to Princess Celestia, part of a Tartarus resurgence group, Rarity's maid, and I don't know what not! I really think the writers have written themselves into a corner and for that reason we'll never see her backstory because it will sound ridiculously absurd!

I'll still read it, though (as will everypony on the site, I'm sure) but my expectations are at an all time low.

MixaMax

@MixaMax, @Jade: Someone needs a hug I think. :P

MightyDragon

Hey, it's not as absurd as it sounds. If she is chosen, as the rest are, it's normal that things will happen to her. It's a law of nature. And I'm not talking about some mystical energy (although there's that), but more a matter of visibility.

If you are the last line of defense you'll defend against any threat. Likewise any threat is likely to target you first. If Eury is an ex chosen, that would explain her relation with the gods, as well as those who oppose them (she did fight against them at one point, we assume). Also, with her set of skills it's normal for a powerful organization to recruit her. Think of it as applying to the S.G.U. Or the Wonderbolts. They don't accept just anypony. (Maybe CEOWitch can go into some details here.) As for the maid: keep in mind that Bellucio is the next chosen AND a follower of Poseidon. Of course she'll want to be there (to warm him.)

Finally, Blazen is hot ;) (I think I know someone like that in real life, by the way.)

LightSparkle

O! M! G! Sorry to disrupt the convo, but today's officially the best day of my life! You'll never guess what I got today! (No, I won't even give you the chance!) I got the best gift ever!

[a-net.manashare/GK5473547/R63745]

Isn't it just the cutest thing? Short&Hoofy (love you!!!) for me a crystal armadillo! He's three months old and really d'awwww! I've been smiling like crazy all day at school. Ever the teacher asked if I prefer to go home. Argh! It's so damn cuuute! I'm watching to eat a berry right now.

@Short&Hoofy: I don't know how you thought of that, but it's the best thing! You’re the best! I'll be having a party tomorrow to show it off, so be there or else :P (PaintDrop was so jelly when she saw it. :))) And she wasn't the only one.)

RRBB

@RRBB: Jealous is a strong word... it's really cute, though. You'll let me play with it, right? I just need to finish homework and stuff, and I'll be right over. We could also invite Short (being the one who actually gave it to you).

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Sorry, not tonight. I want it all to myself! Plus, my parents are freaking out a bit, as usual :/ "it's a huge responsibility?" "how will it affect your studies?" "are you capable of such commitment?"

It's as if I'm an idiot. And they've done a fine job raising me I can tell you that. :/ Just look what a wreck I've turned out to be... Anyway, today's a no go. Tomorrow, though, all stops are off :) (My parents won't be here, so you can brings colts for all I care.)

RRBB

@MixaMax: sound like a repeat of SweetStuff's party... :/

PaintDrop

Does anypony know when DarkSparkle will be online? I need to talk with her.

Twist

@RRBB: I'm not letting Short go to such a wild event! Or without me there to make sure everything is fine and proper! :P

@Twist: No idea :( Haven't seen her a lot last few days.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: No way, grandma! :P Don't you have Jade to keep you busy? (Or maybe you can't handle him, eh? There's no shame in admitting that. It happens to older mares!)

@Short&Hoofy: Oh, so sorry about the kiss in class :( I was really surprised when you gave me the present and it was an immediate reaction. I honestly didn't mean anything by it.

RRBB

@RRBB: Don't worry, I didn't mind.

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: I love those! They really are incredibly cute! And you for a violet one too! Short has great taste (and a huge checkbook :)). Don't go wild at the party, though. Armadillos go crazy when there's loud music.

@Twist: Dark has some important business she's dealing with. I think she'll be back later today or tomorrow. Try sending her a PM if you haven't already.

LightSparkle

I'm awake! Thanks all for the wishes (you keep exploding my scrollbox, you know. Tech has had to change the code twice :P) Guess I'm that much closer to graduating.

@RRBB: Aww! I'm so envious. @Bob, can we get one? Please :)

@PrinceEric: hmm. I think it won't be that simple. Euryala is everywhere, but there's no way all her backstory could be explained in one chapter. I think we'll just see her day to day life.

Be well, everyone! Exciting times are ahead.

LyraHands

@REBB: Who’re you calling old?!?

MixaMax

Shipping Wars

I know I'm new here, but what do you think the best pairing should be? I've heard (and read) many pairings... I expect all of them are considered possible, but am really curious what the Nightling consensus is.

I, personally, love the idea of Eric and humanized Caprice. They seem like such a sweet couple you just can't do anything but d'awww. Karl and Cassandra are a close second, though.

Your thoughts?

DaBoss

Here we go again...

Danny is worst humie! :P

CEOWitch

@DaBoss: Congrats! You marched into a fiery swamp! That said, there isn't exactly a consensus among the Nightlings (or anypony else for that matter). In general, pones consider everything with Danny or Eric good. After that it's mostly based on popular fanfics (since S&S will never commit to ships, outside the mythical one true ship, a.k.a. Blayala). Eric x Caprice (all versions) is a popular one, as well as Megan x Cassandra. Molly x Bellucio was popular in the early days but has lost steam (maybe because Molly is finally a developed character, not a tag along). And then there are the M-M ships which seem to obsess this fandom. In general pick any combo and you're fine.

Are you planning to write something?

MixaMax

Heya, all!

Well, I'm finally back! Sorry for the long delay, but I just had such a wonderful time going about Equestria that Nightling matters were but on the back burner. For those of you who don't know, Candle is the absolute best. She deserves a human OC! :)

Going back to the topic at hand (ha, ha! I actually said that a few times, and got weird looks) Danny x anything is good (with the exception the sibling ships. :/ Those are just awful, and I don't buy into the "adopted theory" that some authors use to escape that.)

My favourite at present is Danny x Cassandra (I don't know why, but she's grown on me. I blame Bob! :))

DannyFan

@DannyFan: Yo! Missed you, pone! :) Where have you been? I sent a hundred PMs (I know because I get blocked if I send fifty per hour :P) Cool that you're doing well, and you won't believe the stuff that's been happening in MCE! (Well if you've read them you will :P)

And yes! Eric x Danny best ship forever! :)

PrinceEric

@DaBoss: As somepony who's written a number of Danny ships, I can say Danny is the most shipable character. I know what everyone will say, but that's pretty much an established fact. The reason is that he's the central character (despite the series writers claiming otherwise) and that's precisely why he's made in such a way so as to get along with everyone else (take that as you will).

On a related note...
Will you stop with the incest stories already! That's the most boringly disgusting thing there is! I say this as somepony who has written my share of suggestive stuff! Seriously, please stop! Danny is NOT adopted or replaced, and even if he were it would still be gross! If you so much want to write such trash there are other sites on the aethernet! I'm pretty sure Lyra will back me that this isn't what we want the site to become!

On a unrelated note... Pixel is so darn cute! (To quote WaterBottle:)) Last night he sneaked into my bed and fell asleep on the pillow. And the morning, he did the most adorable yawn. (I'm still upset I couldn't grab my camera fast enough to take a picture.) Party remains for tonight, just: no strangers and no loud music! (I read that crystal armadillos get stressed easily by cacophony.)

RRBB

@RRBB: I'm not sure I'll make it tonight... Max is a bit ill and I need to help out.

Short&Hoofy

@mods: I agree with RRBB on this. Maybe update the rules and add a few additional requirements for submission? I mean we already don't allow illegal things, but I think we should move to not allow some of the questionable ones as well? This site is just too good to get messed up (and trust me I've seen some pretty messed up sites.)

@DaBoss: well, the only consensus is that ships are good. I like pretty much any ship if it's written well enough. (My guilty pleasure is well written crack ships. :))

LightSparkle

Aww! That's what I wanted to talk to DarkSparkle about :( There are a few canon ships that are so obvious, but she still doesn't believe me. Blazen x Euryala at this point is a certainty. Also, I have a feeling that Megan x Everprince might be as well. That would be so interesting since it will break up the main cast (at least for a while.)

I've no idea what to make of Echo, although there are already a ton of ship fics with her.

@LightSparkle: what do you think about Icelos x Euryala? Shards of Joy and Despair is such a nice fic that explores that! I just love it :)

Twist

@Short&Hoofy: I'm fine! Shoo, go have fun! Plus, I have Jade to take care of me. *flittering eyelashes*

MixaMax

Greetings, everyone!

@all: I agree that it's better to have some higher standards, even if that costs us users. At the end of the day, we are here because of our love of Midnight Castle. Living out our fantasies is okay as long as we don't go too far.

I shall discuss this matter with the other mods and tell you of our decision.

The TechNightling

@RRBB: I'm so there! And I'll bring my camera. I read that they like strawberries, so I'll bring some. I still can't believe how well behaved Pixel is. RRBB brought it to class again, and it mostly remained quietly on her desk for the most part. I ever caught the teacher looking at it secretly while we were doing exercises :P (And let's not forget SweetStuff and WaterBottle almost faint when it yawned.)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Did not!

WaterBottle

@MixaMax, @Short&Hoofy: Unfortunately... Don't worry, I can cook well enough for one night. Do have fun with your friends.

Max, if you're only doing that to get pampered, I'll... guess I'll pamper you. *sigh*

Jade

@DaBoss: I'm not particularly picky ;) (As long as it's legal and appropriate, of course :))

@MixaMax: I like your style :)

InItForTheShipping

@all: We're discussing a new submission policy, please hold off your submissions until then.

I want to stress that I absolutely agree! I prefer us going back to having 500 registered users than 3178 spammers of highly questionable content. I'm not a curator, but even I have seen things that make my stomach turn :(

Also, please don't think that if you make a second account through a mana filter we won't notice. Having additional accounts is okay, as long as you use them adequately. Please don't make me put in place a request-for-additional-accounts policy.

LyraHands

The Third Sparkle

Euryala

Sorceress, betrayed, former chosen

Before the rise of the Everprince, Euryala was one of the chosen. A follower of Poseidon, her task was to root out all corruption before it reached his realm. Her devotion was so great that she never saw the betrayal, especially when committed by the one she loved.

Place of birth: Olympus
Occupation: Warlockwing
Hobby: Drawing
Mentor deity: formerly Poseidon
Magic power: Quintessence
Eternity gem: encaser

"I gave you my heart and you used it against me."

And now we have all the main cast. Terrible miniature, by the way... I have no idea what they were thinking when doing that. :/ Luna, explanations, please?

@PaintDrop: Maybe you can make something? Haven't heard about your miniatures for a while. Are you quitting on us, filly? :(

Back to speculation. Nothing really new here. We already suspected that Eury was a chosen, we knew she had a score to settle with Poseidon. I'm really not sure that he was her lover, though. I mean, it is written in such a way to suggest it, but maybe that's the point? Either way tomorrow's scroll will clear up things. Sadly, I'll take the role of Max and say that I'm skeptical. There are far too many questions for a Euryala chapter to make sense.

RRBB

@RRBB: I had to take Max to the hospital last night. She's fine, but she got some nasty stomach infection so will have to remain there for a few days. :(

@MasterOfThisAstra: please tell the dean that I'll be missing a week.

Jade

@Jade: ouch :( Hope she gets better soon. Ping me if you need any help of anything. I've had that a lot when I was a filly and it's not fun. (And to happen on your visit too... :( )

LyraHands

@Jade: What the hay?! That sucks big time! :( Is it okay for us to visit her? We can trot by after school and such.

RRBB

Thanks for the offer, but I'm dealing with this. Max is just exhausted as a result of her stupid stubbornness and needs lots of rest and dry foods. I'll be with her the whole time, so no need for all of you to come. When she's in condition for visitors I'll let you know.

Also, knowing her she'll be mad her condition became the topic of discussion.

Jade

@Jade: I can understand that. Good luck, and we're a message away.

@Short&Hoofy: Are you okay? You seemed a bit quiet yesterday?

RRBB

@RRBB: You could have just asked her during break, you idiot :P

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: So I care about a friend than more than I care about geography! Sue me! :/

RRBB

@RRBB: I'm fine, but will be getting myself checked after school.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Cool. Paint and I will tag along if that's okay. I'll even let you carry Pixel.

RRBB

Max always had a weak stomach (literally speaking) :/

Back to my favorite humie. Pretty much what I suspected. Only difference was that I was almost sure that she was Poseidon's daughter (with a titan mother).

Also, interesting stone she has. Encaser... being encased. Keeping in mind the theme of Everhere is reality, I think that this might be something that blocks/freezes reality? That might explain how only she of the former chosen is still around... unless Icelos also is one. In any event I think we'll have a fun chapter.

@RRBB: How was the party? Usually, when someone doesn't brag about it...well I just hope all is well, let's say.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: omg! You gave me the greatest idea ever! What if it's not just her that's part of the original/old chosen? Think about it! Euryala is confirmed, but what if Icelos, Echo, the Everprince and maybe even Cerberus were as well?

Having a reality mess up so that the Cerberus triplets become one is possible. Or maybe there was just one and the shatterstone permanently split him into three? That makes two males, two females (if we assume the Everprince is male).

Ooooh! I'm so excited about this! Having the new chosen learn about the old chosen AND the event that caused reality to break! Maybe it created the corruption as well? I no longer know who is good and who is evil... :D

PrinceEric

@LightSparkle: Nah, the party was great, I just didn't want to go into it so close to a MCE spoiler ;) What can I say? There were drinks, there were colts... just kidding :P (well, there were, but it was mostly classy). Paint got herself a new hoofacure and manestyle before the event so she got all the colts "suddenly" want to talk to her. *snrk*

@SweetStuff: I'm still slightly mad at you! But damn are you manipulative! :) (She wrote and performed a Danny Saga song at the event) You totally should record that, by the way.

@Octavia: Are you listening? :)

RRBB

I have nothing to explain to you, filly! :P

TheRealLuna

@RRBB, @SweetStuff: A new song? I want to hear it! @Luna, any chance we can make a fan album? I know getting a deal with S&S is impossible, but maybe some license permission or such?

Sorry I can't get into the Euryala discussion, but am at work. :(

LyraHands

@RRBB: Sorry... she just asked and I couldn't say no, and I thought...

@LyraHands: It's nothing that good. I'm just glad that RRBB liked it.

SweetStuff

@RRBB: Please :/ It's not like I planned this. I just thought it's time I became mindful of my appearance. I don't want to ruin your image, or Sweet's for that matter.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Ha! Ain't that the biggest pile of horse crap! No way you were walking all fancy-like just for fun. And those silver horseshoes? Please :P

WaterBottle

Hi, hi!

Long time lurker, I finally decided to join in. (If only to argue with a few members :P) Have no fear, though. I'll be positive. I just think that @LightSparkle is so wrong it's not even funny! >:D

And with that I must vanish again. (Stupid homework assignments :/) Before I go, though, you girls (and guys) really are the best. Have been following your stories and posts non-stop since Dark told me about this place. :)

More tomorrow!

TrueSparkle

Bring it on, sister! ;)

LightSparkle

Distant Brush PMs

Sugar wings, everything okay? I know you told me you’re saving Equestria, but it’s almost been a week and I really, really, really miss you :( Will you be getting back soon? I’m really lonely without you.

I’m back to school. Things seem so different somehow. I can’t believe what I used to worry about a few months ago. Same with my parents. I finally got the courage and had a serious talk with them. Turns out I could pretty much do what I want. I wouldn’t say that all my life has been wasted not doing things because I feared they’d get mad, but there’s some regret I didn’t do some of the crazier stuff others have.

Let me know how when you'll be back.

Ear nibbles,

MasterOfThisAstra

Sorry, Hooftoy :( Things are complicated. This isn't a one day thing as I thought it would be. A close friend got hurt badly and I won't be able to fly for a week. :( Good thing I don't do too much of that, eh :)

I miss you too. Every moment I think about you, even when I sleep I dream of you. Just be patient a little longer. I'll visit once we get this over with.

Brush

I find the perfect mare and she turns out too perfect :( Each time I know you go out risking your life I fear the worst. Sending you nuzzles and nibbles.

MasterOfThisAstra

*hugs you so tight that you need kisses to breathe*

Let's talk of other things. How have things been going on the site? I still cry when I think how Max and Jade got engaged. So sweet.

Brush

Yes, I never thought of him being so impulsive. He didn't even tell me until after the thing. I doubt he'll share it to anypony, but he stormed in my room drunk that evening, literally chased my roommate out, locked the door, and told me all about it. (I'd never seen him even lick alcohol before!)

For two hours he went on and on how lucky he was and that he never dreamt anymare would go so far for him. Don't tell Max, but the engagement horseshoe she spent all her savings on was, well cheap by our standards. The gesture was appreciated by both Jade and his parents, though, to the point that he's actually been wearing it ever since.

MasterOfThisAstra

At least that's one happy story, I managed to read what happened to RRBB :( Poor thing. I always knew she had problems with others, but now that I know the reason, I feel sad. If only she'd told me... or anypony things could have been so different. I don't envy PaintDrop. She's a really good friend, but she's been subjected to a lot.

Brush

Sis is fine. She's tougher than she looks (and she looks quite tough). My father send me a letter about her just this yesterday. He's worried that she isn't showing any interest in colts. I've been asked to talk to her on the matter. I really can't imagine that. Can you? Scoop is definitely not as innocent or naive as my parents seem to think. I'm tempted to show them her drawings.

MasterOfThisAstra

Hooftoy... :) Just because she draws the things she does doesn't mean she isn't innocent. She'll have her crushes. And to be honest, I have no idea what she'd go for. She's strong so maybe she'd go for someone as delicate as Jade? Or possibly she'll prefer someone as strong as her? Time will tell. I still think you should have that talk, though. She'll appreciate it even if she laughs in your face.

Brush

Aren't you getting philosophical. Is something the matter? Usually you're aren't like this when things are fine. Are you in any danger? Stupid question. Of course you're in danger, but do you think there's a chance that...?

MasterOfThisAstra

Hooftoy, there's always a danger. Just don't think about it. I've been fine. I have a lot of very good friends to protect me should anything happen. And I have you :)

Brush

That you do. Actually, I was thinking. What about getting married when I graduate? I know you don't like to be rushed, but everypony else is doing it (literally). There's still quite some time till then, but I think it's time we start discussing this...and future foals O;)

MasterOfThisAstra

Mota! I'm on a mission! Don't make me get all weird! Now I'll need to ask for a unicorn spell to concentrate again :/ You're an evil, evil tempter, you know that? :P

We've talked about this. I'm not sure I'm ready to get married so soon. I love you, stars do I love you, but I was thinking of having a few more years just to us, you know? I'm not saying we won't get married, just maybe not right this instant?

Brush

That's what you said last time...

MasterOfThisAstra

Hey, sweetness, you know I'll do anything for you. I'll even walk about town in my Molly costume if I have to. I just am not sure that's what either of us want. We miss each other and that's bound to make you think that if we don't get married you'd lose me, but you won't. I'll always be here for you. Always.

Brush

Unless some monster eats you up :/

MasterOfThisAstra

No monster could keep me from you. You know that. I'll be back soon. I'll come visit and make you forget all your fears. Then in a few years we'll marry and will have the best foals ever. ;)

Brush

Okay...

I found a publisher for our book. So far they love it. They have requested a few changes, though. Apparently, dragons are a big thing in fiction now. Asked if we could add one among the Griffins. To be honest, I don't think you need to. They're just considering how to market you best. I expect a deal in a month, maybe less.

MasterOfThisAstra

Only because you made it happen! *snuggles* :) I must go. Things are about to become complicated again.

Be well, Hooftoy!

Brush

Ton of kisses, sweet wings (and a few licks for good measure ;P)

MasterOfThisAstra

You're terrible! :P

Brush

Reality Geeks

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 9, Euryala

Wow is this insane! When I started reading, I expected one of the popular theories: Euryala is Poseidon's ex-lover or something (we already know she was the first follower, so unlike she's his daughter). Then everything went huh?!

Sorry for my rants here and there :)

We start with Euryala having a conversation with Poseidon. In the future. (Wait, what?!) Apparently, the Everprince has risen and the deities gave called for a truce with the corporations (huh?!) to face that threat. No mention if the grand9 at this point, only Euryala. There've agreed to a truce (despite the unforgivable thing that Poseidon has done). Euryala receives a ruby fragment with assurances that's all Poseidon has. Blazen then storms in (in the temple?) and says they must go.

So far a hundred lines and I'm completely clueless.

We are presented with a dark version of Mistmount in which the Everprince has gained control of reality. Everything is in decay, everyone is fighting these walking suits of armor, with only the "vassalized" allowed to live a normal life. We have the typical underground rebellion thing with them fighting the nights. Turns out that Danny is loyal to the Everprince, Bellucio is missing, Karl and Megan gave done on a mission, and Eric has closed the portals to keep the Everprince trapped.

Molly arrives with Omni and Icelos, and they start talking about the "pieces". (This is one of the minor let downs I have. Initially I was convinced they were part of the crown. When I learned what they really were for... I went bleh :( ) Euryala speculates the final stone is on the crown, so they coordinate a massive way to storm the Everprince's stronghold (some factory?!) and claim it.

Already things are wonky. I admit the factory makes sense on the reread, but other things still sound strange.

There's a huge (very well written) preparation and battle scene with various characters facing various enemies until we get to the final conflict. While everyone is fighting, Euryala sneaks into the treasury to find the Everprince waiting for her. It turns out that they know each other. There's an exchange of blows and cheesy dialogue, at the end of which the Everprince offers her a choice: the Ruby fragment or the evergem. Euryala picks the Ruby and it turns out that that is part of her (literally) shattered heart. She then uses Blazen's stone to make a reality clone of herself destroying reality (?!?).

We are then taken to some ancient setting in which Euryala must complete her trials to be chosen by Poseidon as her favorite. There's some tension (again great combat scenes) but she wins (of course) and us sent to the "chosen candidates". There as she relaxes, she has a conversation with another of the chosen, in which she explains she's seen the future and his time she went really far ahead and knows what to do. The other tells her not to mess up, at which point it's revealed it's Bellucio (?!?!?!?). And then Bellucio wakes up in the present day... and the chapter ends!!!

I mean there are cliffhangers, but this!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Hey, no sweat. Since the key thing is reality, the story just follows some reality-continuum principles, and damn does it follow them well. I'm really curious who's writing this. They must have an academic on stall. @DarkSparkle, can you look into this? :)

For all unfamiliar with the theory, here as a few pointers:

1) Getting into contact with your reality clone can create a paradox which destroyed reality (the theory is that it does a hard reset to the first safe point)

2) Eury's power is to create a reality bubble, thus she remembers everything that has happened in any reality, even if it's destroyed. (Quite clever trick :))

3) Everything considered as part of Eury is subject to this bubble. (You mixed up the heart thing, Prince. Eury put it in herself in her self battle so she could transport it to her past state (apparently her past is considered the safe point).

I must admit that I'm stumped with Bellucio being there. Maybe he's been there all along and everything else is fake? Maybe he got put there through some reality changing power? Or maybe Euryala brought him there (curious why she kept pretending to be his maid in Chronicles)

All in all, I loved the science! Best chapter yet!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: pfft! I don't know about the theory, but things just don't work like that in practice. (You rely on theory as much as Dark.)

It's obvious that the writers knew something about magic, but academics or not they messed up big time. There's no account for mnemonic artifacts after a paradox split. If Eury didn't have any protection (even if we assume she's a goddess / titan) she would at least add reality fatigue. Not to mention the butterfly effect as a result of knowing everything,

Personally I think that everything could have been explained much better with a dream simulation (both Icelos and Molly are dreamwalkers so they could easily have made a prophecy prediction model.)

TrueSparkle

Bleh! Geeks! :P

RRBB

@TrueSparkle: Don't put your ignorance on display, little girl. I deal with practical field tested theory. You clearly missed the mention of the reality bubble. It IS the shield. There'd be no mnemonic or physiological artifacts because Euryala has it. If she hadn't, it would have been a whole different matter altogether.

Another thing, the Everprince was in a power plant, not a factory. Huge difference since Eury could have used the power for her ability. (Which means that the Everprince needs large quantities of mana as well.)

LightSparkle

Wow! Even I am lost.

PaintDrop

Actually, things would be simpler, if the reality created was a bubble reality that Euryala created to explore and obtain parts of her heart. That way she wouldn't suffer any hazardous effects, since the true reality wouldn't be damaged. It would also explain how Bellucio was in the past and the present.

Simile

@Simile: Hmm. Never thought of that. Good theory :)

@LightSparkle: You're still a cow!

TrueSparkle

Wow, girls! That brings me back to school! Fascinating stuff. However, what about the aether buildup? Surely, creating reality bubbles would produce waste. What happens to that?

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: please don't embarrass yourself. ;) For small amounts of waste, reality dissipates before there could be a buildup. It would take over a thousands bubbles at the same time to create any significant problem and if that had happened the deities would have noticed, don't you think? :)

CodeFilly

Locking this thread before you scare everypony away with your geekiness.

CodeFilly is right, though. There's no way for reality waste to be a thing in MCE. For one thing it would have affected the portals, as we've seen how sensitive they are.

LyraHands

Reality has been licked!

MightyDragon

Birthday Wishes

Lyra Handstrings

Musician, Magician, Magnificent

Born in Canterlot, the heart of Equestria, Lyra's life changed as she discovered a portal to Midnight Castle hidden in a scroll of coltfiction. The experience changed her completely, causing her to open her own aether portal and share the experience with others.

Siblings: none
Place of birth: Canterlot
Occupation: Fanfiction Goddess
Hobby: Licking threads
Mentor Deity: Celestia
Magic Power: Aether Metal
Eternity gem: Herself

"Girls, please stahp!"

Happy birthday, you crazy thing! I was thinking if doing something more, but work intervened and you're stuck with this silly post. Promise I'll make it up at dinner tonight ;)

Bob

My stars! It was today? I'm so forgetful! :(

@LyraHands: Happy birthday, you goof! I know you hate these things as much as I do (yeah, I'm antisocial. Lyra just hates reminders she's getting old :P) so I won't mention it too much.

Have fun and be May your dream come true :)

CodeFilly

You mean we won't be giving that mega expensive gift after all? Do I get to keep it? Do I?! :)

@LyraHands: happy birthday, old girl. May you roll a critical success on luck this year and may you get lots of pleasant surprise loot encounters.

MightyDragon

Dear Lyra,

I would like to thank you for all the wonderful things you've done, regardless the toll they've had on you. You really are a remarkable mare and anypony who claims otherwise has no taste. If you'd forgive this old stallion, I'd say I could only dream of having a mare such as you become my daughter in law. May you be forever happy and always have twice as many the good things in your life outweigh the bad.

I know it isn't much, but I've bought you a little something. It should arrive via courier in about a week. Until then, take care and keep being wonderful!

The TechNightling

Well, since you'll obviously be busy tonight, I'd like to invite you (and a plus one) to a private soirée at the palace. It won't be much, but you'll get a chance to meet S.Child. (Yes, I've told them a fair deal about you and they will be thrilled to exchange a few words.)

Other than that, let me know if anypony causes you any trouble and I'll see what I could do to make their life miserable, okay? ;)

-Bellucio

And also a big happy birthday from me! Hope you like rum cake! I'll be sending you some today via express courier.

Luna

Well, I will be sending you nice dreams!

TheRealLuna

@LyraHands: Max is still in hospital but we wish you the best. If I'd had known I'd have bought you something from the Empire, but as it stands that will have to wait for next week :(

Sorry, I hope the wishes of fun and fortune from these two idiots will be enough till then ;)

You're an inspiration to us all.

Jade

I second that. And I'm sure that Paint is already busy making a life size stature of humanize do you. (Spoilers ;))

Brush will wish you her best if she were here.

MasterOfThisAstra

@LyraHands: Be sure to look at the sky at precisely 15:00, okay? ;)

CEOWitch

@LyraHands: Happy birthday, you magnificent mare! (I have a confession to make... I started reading your site and feel terribly guilty for not doing so earlier.)

I'll be there to wave with Soarin at 3.

Fleetfoot

@LyraHands: Why don't you ever tell me these things?!? :/

Kidding. Did you think I'd forget your birthday? :) The first and I have gathered together and decided on a gift for you. I'd love to say what it is, but Tech will ban me if I do :P let me just say that it costs a lot of money and will make Bob as happy as it would make you :)

Nah, kidding again. You'll love the gift, though! Happy bday on behalf of:

PaintDrop, Short&Hoofy, SweetStuff, Twist, WaterBottle, YouKnowWho, and myself! You rock, mare!

RRBB

@RRBB: I'm afraid to ask...

CEOWitch

Lyyyyyyrrrrrraaaaaa!

I can't believe it! Aww, we should have made the meetup on your birthday! Let's do it next time, can we? Oh please, please, please!

I don't know what to say that everypony hasn't. Just keep doing what you do and enjoy life? I'm a bit too young to give advice, really. You're already so much better in that area than me! :)

May the site reach 1000000 users this year!

PrinceEric

Umm, happy birthday :) I've tried to make a little something to celebrate the occasion (Tech told me the day in advance). It's just a hat I made in my spare time. I hope it suits you.

Candle

Way to go, Lyra! The wife sends hugs! :)

Lurkling

Err, Lyra is off delivering mail, but... I'll surprise her with a day off when she returns. I'd like to see the look on her face. Note, she hasn't had a chance to read any of the messages (she forgot her hoofheld at the office.)

@LyraHands: Here's my gift to you: a day off on whenever you choose. (Not counting today :))

DaBoss

@LyraHands: Ack! Girl, why do you keep those things secret? If it were me I'd have announcements all over the site! Sheesh, you really are as careless as I remember :P

Money's a bit tight right now (moved to a new place) but I'll think of something.

@Bob: you made a small mistake there. I think her hobby is hands only :P

LightSparkle

@LyraHands: Hmm... I can think of something O:) I'll send you a PM. All I can say is that I think it's something you've always wanted ;)

InItForTheShipping

@LyraHands: Nooooo! Just three more days and I would have been in Ponyville (surprise business trip). Guess I'll give mine then.

Lots of fun and magic! And have a great year!

Simile

@LyraHands: of course you'd pick the worst day to be born! :/ Happy bday, partymare! I'll try to send some champagne your way. :)

TrueSparkle

@all: I don't know what to say... :~) Thanks is hardly enough, but... I really get all emotional when this sort of thing happens. I'm sure there are a thousand ways any of you would respond, but all I can think of is "I love you all!"

Guess that shows why I'm not a writer, huh?

I'm touched. Deeply... but... sorry I really can't write. Tears are falling all over the screen. I never thought this would happen. Not after everything that's happened these last few years. Thank you for being here for me.

LyraHands

Rumors 4

Girls! I'm not sure how true this is, but I heard that someone from the MC writing staff retired (due to family issues). Details are sketchy, but this is enormous! What do you think this means for the series?

I'm worried there could be a change in direction. I love Chronicles and I adore Everhere, but Most of the original is too... old :( (Sorry Tech). There are descriptions of objects that existed before I was born. If there's a return to that series or if it's some entirely new direction... I'm afraid it might be too different from what it is now. :(

@Luna: Can you tell us anything about that?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: You charmed another filly, didn't you? You're outright scary sometimes!

You're worrying for nothing, though. I'll ask my father what he can find out, but staff changes are quite common in the industry. Writers come and go, some leave, change projects, or start their own thing. There's nothing alarming about it. For one thing I'm pretty sure the first arc of Everhere is written. The second arc is either entirely done as well or almost. And even if a writer leaves mid volume there's an entire team lead by a lead writer (S.Child).

Now that's explained, you've becoming like Max. :P Next I expect you to start grumbling that something will cause the end of the series.

RRBB

RRBB is indeed quite accurate. Furthermore, don't forget the publisher. They have a lot of interest for their product to be as accessible as possible. On the whole, things would likely remain the same.

Slightly off topic, Max is out of hospital and now recuperating at her home. She wishes you all hi and wants you to know that she suspected that would happen all along. "The series ended with volume 5!" The rest is unintelligible.

Jade

@Jade: You sure are pampering her well. Short said she's never seen her sis so calm. ;) By the way, have some pics for you. Not sure they are what you wanted, but I think they fit your story well.

PaintDrop

@PrinceEric: Technically, I'm not allowed to comment, but I can say that you have nothing to worry about. I can also say that there will be a new addition to the team (expect an announcement tomorrow.)

@MixaMax: good to know you are well and being pampered :)

Luna

Writers who displease me are sent to the moooooon!

TheRealLuna

I know it's a bit soon, but what do you think of organizing a second meetup? As you know MCE is huge in the Crystal Empire and it would be quite easy to get support for such an event. Our numbers still aren't enough for a convention, but it say wee half way there and could organize a weekend event here.

@Luna: I'd love to coordinate with you on getting this rolling and inviting staff, fans, and the site regulars. What do you think?

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: I'd need to hear details, but I don't see why not. Send me a PM.

Luna

@RRBB: I hope you're right. I just get anxious sometimes. Anyway, ignore me. I just find it yard one if the writers would leave. I'm sure you're right and there are reasons, but it still hurts a bit... I'm just weird :(

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: You're not weird, you're deeply sensitive and you'll make somepony very happy someday.

I know, I've used your character in a few stories and have hidden massive support. (Don't be trying to find out, you jerks! It's under an alt :P)

RRBB

Wow, this has been some day! I get a high enough grade in class to skip a test, I think I started a relationship (guy's cute and clueless, just like I like them), Dark's package with all Midnight Castle books finally arrived (I love reading paper), and another magnificent thing happened which I cannot share at the moment. :)

Things haven't been so good since... Well, ever!

@InItForTheShipping: That would be so cool! I'm there 100%. Just please wake it a weekend. I don't want to miss more classes than I should (and summer vacation is so far away).

@PrinceEric: Don't worry, little charmer. Everything will be fine :)

LightSparkle

@all: Hello, Nightlings!

It's time for a few announcements.

We've revised the rules for submission, so please check them out. Everything should be clear, but if you think it isn't ask a curator or us (in that order).

Thanks to the generous support of Luna, we now have three servers storing stories, songs, and pictures, so adds won't be appearing anytime soon. In addition, we've added emoticon functionality, so you can vote on your favourite works (similar to standard voting, but adds a bit more uniqueness). It's still experimental, so bear with us.

With that I wish you a great day, and to Max a long and enjoyable "sickness". :)

The TechNightling

Did Tech smile just now?!?

RRBB

Sounds fishy to me. Maybe somepony has hacked his account? I say we take no chances.

PaintDrop

What up, posers? :) Cool peace you gave here :D Kidding, just kidding.

I must confess I've never read the series (and don't intend to), but some of the fics you girls did are way wicked! @Brush, @Simile you are my *yay* heroines! I'd be lying if I didn't say you changed my life. The rest of you are also cool, but those two... wow.

Well, that was it. See you around. I'll be here to pester you from now on :D

Edit: you have a *yay* filter? That's so lame it's *yay* cool! :P

Feather

@all: Remember how I said thank you yesterday? I take it back...

...and say it again a thousandfold stronger! There are no words to describe the gifts I got so far! They range from incredible to literally unbelievable! All the time effort and bits you put into that, I just...

@RRBB & co, you got me a bucking Silvarius Harp! I didn't even know those things were on sale!

@MasterOfThisAstra, @PaintDrop: a life size statue of me?!? Bob got a heart attack when I opened the package. You literally made me be inside the magic!

@CEOWitch, @Fleetfoot, @Lurkling: I can't believe what you did! Seriously! Way to get me crying on the street :) Love you, you crazies!

@InItForTheShipping: Thank you... just thank you. There's nothing else I could possibly say...

Now this silly mare is going to spend a while crying into Bob's mane.

Thank you, all! Thank you!

LyraHands

Minor Complication PMs

Hello.

YouKnowWho

Hey, I said hello!

YouKnowWho

What? :/

RRBB

I heard from the girls that you added me to the gift list for Lyra. Thanks. I know you didn't need to...or have to.

YouKnowWho

So? Lyra's cool and deserves it. Just because you're a *yay* *yay* doesn't mean she should feel bad about it!

RRBB

You remember our talk, right? Or did your massive ego block your ears?! I don't swing that way! If this is an attempt into guilt tripping me, it won't work and we'll both get hurt again. So in future, when you decide to pull something like this ask me first.

I don't know if what you did was nice or creepy, but after everything's gone through between us... just... I don't know, it feels weird.

YouKnowWho

Look, it's not all about you, okay? Sheesh! And ponies call me self centered :/ You seriously think I could forget our *yay* talk?!? You shattered my heart then stuffed the pieces into my brain through my nostrils!

RRBB

Why did you add me to the gift list then?!?

YouKnowWho

You *yay* *yay* idiot! Should I spell it out for you? I still love you, you *yay*!

I know you don't and nothing can come out of it, but I still love you! Even after everything! Trust me, I wish I didn't, but I do! Why do you think I moved away from you in class? Or that I try not to talk at you anymore? I look at you and a stupid part of my mind imagines what could have been. You're the topic of 95% of my therapy sessions! So, please stop yelling at me when there's no reason to! Celestia knows you can thing a million others!

*yay* *yay* *yay*!

RRBB

Well, it's not like I can do anything about it!

And stop *yay* yaying!

YouKnowWho

Oh... profanity filter.

YouKnowWho

Yeah, Tech added it when he came back. You get used to it. There was a discussion about having it as a removable option, but he said no. He's old fashioned that way.

RRBB

Yeah.

YouKnowWho

You write well, by the way. Not sure I told you.

YouKnowWho

You did.

RRBB

And just when I thought we’d resolved things. Life's never easy, eh?

YouKnowWho

Well at least you didn't have your heart torn out.

RRBB

Nope, I tore it out myself. Think best friend falling for your crush type of thing.

YouKnowWho

What the *yay*?! I didn't even know you had a crush! When did this happen?

RRBB

Not going into that. It's in the past anyway.

You think you'll be okay? With the therapy thing I mean. I did some aethernet searching and being you isn't as rare as it is. In most places ponies just don't talk about it.

YouKnowWho

If you're telling me "there are more apples in the orchard," I'll buck you so hard, you'd be able to fly five times across Equestria, even in your condition!

If it were that simple, I'd have done it! Not that I actually know anypony who is! Well, maybe I know a few, but I'm not moving to the Crystal Empire just for that. And I have been to the sites you mentioned. Most of them were put up by losers. A few are outright scams.

Edit: That wasn't right. They aren't losers, just people who can't figure things out. Pretty much like me, but at least I don't go making a pity sight about it!

RRBB

Right.

YouKnowWho

Yeah.

RRBB

Sorry about all mean stuff. I always had it for you. Now that we're a safe distance from each other I might as well tell you.

I’ve liked you since I got my cutie mark. Stars what a jerk I was back then. I wanted to impress everypony so I did my best to humiliate you every chance I got. I just wanted to get your attention. And I did. Then puberty hit and things got worse.

I still read my early stories. My therapist says it's a necessary step. I've no idea why. From what I read she should be encouraging me to put them in the past, but the amount of money my parents are paying I might as well listen. And I still like it. Damn, you're beautiful, you know that? Really, really beautiful.

RRBB

Are you hitting on me? O.o

YouKnowWho

A mare can dream. Don't take that away from me...

No, just commenting. I'm not a creep! Do I look like a creep?! You just are. One of the cosmic jokes the universe likes to play.

I still catchmy father crying secretly, by the way. Guess in his mind I was supposed to be the perfect tool to help him close some business merger. So much for that now.

Edit: i didn't mean to say that. He's not that bad. I guess everypony would react that way when they find that their filly is... Heck I would! That's one of the bad things about being gay—no foals. I guess magic and medicine have gone far, but... meh. I really was looking forward to having some. Sky knows that Pixel has been preparing me for the job.

RRBB

Are you drunk? Did you sleep at all?

YouKnowWho

This week? Sure I got a few hours.

Just messing with you :) At times I jump between thought without making sense. Beats thinking about you all the time.

RRBB

Yeah. Well... I'll be heading off to bed. Club meeting tomorrow. Thanks again for adding me to the gift list.

YouKnowWho

Stay on the site, okay? No reason to go just because things got messed up. We can still talk. Sort of. Right?

RRBB

Right?

RRBB

Message by RRBB has been deleted.

Sleep well, you jerk :)

RRBB

Speculator7

Aww, mare! I totally forgot about Lyra's birthday! :( Argh! Sorry, girl. Promise I'll make it up to you. Just give me till the weekend okay?

@LyraHands: Wait! You have the weekend free, right?

HopHop

@HopHop: Now she does :P

DaBoss

@DaBoss: Aww! Why can't I gave a boss like you? :) Doughnuts sometime? We can even drag @CodeFilly out of her lair.

HopHop

@all: So sorry for vanishing like that :( Had some very urgent work and had to deal with it. Thankfully, it's all over now and everypony's alright, so I'll get back to reading, writing, and approving.

@LyraHands: Happy birthday. Best wishes and a glorious future! Sorry I couldn't say that in person, but I'll be passing by today (and have an encyclopedia with your name on it :)) Everything you need to know (or can) about human myths! It's a bit bulky, but really, really, really good and in depth!

DarkSparkle

@HopHop: That would be great! :)

DaBoss

@DarkSparkle: That's not the way you give presents, doofus! :P They are supposed to be a surprise!

LightSparkle

Did somepony say surprise?!? *gasp*

I missed a surprise?!?!?!?!? :(

Well, I have to compensate by tripling the surprise and have a surprise-for-the-missed-birthday-party-surprise party! Everypony's invited! Then we have a second party in which every Nightling's invited!

PPI

Aww :( I'll be in the Crystal Empire for a few days so will miss it.

@LyraHands: A fluffy happy birthday! Check your PM for your gift ;)

Brush

@DarkSparkle: You silly. :D Wanna join? I know you love doughnuts. ;)

HopHop

@all: I thought we agreed you'd only make me cry on my birthday, not for a whole week! Bob is starting to make fun of me!

@HopHop: Apparently, I am. You thinking of visiting? :)

@DaBoss: I feel guilty :( Also very scared about you and Hop meeting...

@DarkSparkle: :D Looking towards to it.

@PPI: No! The neighbors will kick us out!

@Brush: ... at first I was going to make a snarky comment about you being busy, but then I saw the link... You wrote that for me? I read it the moment you posted it, but never imagined that... You're the best, Brush! *hugs*

LyraHands

Did you know that the MC always consists of 7 writers, not counting the S.Child?

The practice was established with the first reboot, known better as Volume 3, Mistmount Chronicles, or codename Project Phoenix. Before that S.Child wrote all stories with the help of a 3-pony editing team (currently retired).

In order to be eligible for a position (the number being chosen based on the days of the week, for an unknown reason) one has to answer to certain criteria, and have the support for no less than three current writers. The final choice rests with S.Child, who then invites the next member once there's an opening.

At present, the writing team consists of 5 younglings and 2 older writers (which was the original reason for the creation of Everhere).

More facts as they appear.

Speculator7

What the hay?! Is this for real?

@Speculator7: How do you know that?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Because he's S.Child! Dun dun duuuuun! :P

DannyFan

I am not nor have I ever claimed to be S.Child.

Speculator7

@PrinceEric: He's just a troll. Like CEOWitch. :P

RRBB

@RRBB: I heard that! :/ Not my fault I'm constantly sent out to rescue ponies night and day. And if you must know I happened to be assisting Brush and Dark in a matter (and keeping a nameless egomaniac out of trouble)

Also, I can confirm that the writing team was indeed 7 when I was involved, not counting advisors, character models, managers, PR, etc.

@InItForTheShipping: Great idea! Always loved the Empire, and @Fleetfoot is a star there. :P

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: You'll get in trouble again. Keep in mind your good looks can't save you forever ;) And I'm already working on logistics for EverCon. This will be something big, so will take months of planning. (And you just volunteered to help out.)

Luna

@CEOWitch: And if you don't... it's to the moooooon!

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: You've been quite evil lately, my other half. What's wrong?

Luna

Nothing. Just annoyed at things. Hope to make it for the con.

TheRealLuna

@Luna: I guess you'd want me to model or something, right? Not that I want to... :P

Sorry, I couldn't resist. This place has infected me. I blame CEO and Flame. (And my favorite authors, of course.)

Fleetfoot

Everypony, Speculator might actually be for real. Trying to track down her/his aether signature got me totally stumped. Either it's the best protection ever or is from another realm. Mysterious!

Joking aside, if it's a troll, it's a very dedicated one. Went through three aether walls before I lost the trace.

MightyDragon

Oligosaccharide, did you use the a-net root trace? It's a bit fiddly, but the results are far better.

CodeFilly

@Code: Not to argue with my future wife, but root trace is crap! It returns so much aether info I might as well get the gateway connect log. I used select connect a-net element, of course.

MightyDragon

"Oligosaccharide"? Snrk! :)

RRBB

@MightyDragon: But select is so limiting. You can refine root with a timestamp range, then add a filter for mana deterioration. Select is really bad when it comes to deteriorating error, that's why it's almost impossible to follow after an aetherwall. (Am impressed that you did, though :))

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: That's me—mega impressive! Next time you see my boss can you tell him that? :)

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: I'll tell him :). Though you really should use aether source compare. That and root should get you what you need.

Real or not, Speculator is amusing :)

DarkSparkle

Argh! Enough with the geek squad! You make me feel depressed! (And I've yet to pass my magic exam. Why am I so bad with computers :(( )

LyraHands

This thread has been licked.

Speculator7

It has now.

LyraHands

Theories

Yo, losers!

Is it just me or are we completely in the dark for the next chapter? I mean so far there's always been a hint or a chapter name, a quote, or whatever. Have I missed something here?

Feather

@Feather: Nah. There's a deliberate blackout. I asked my father, and even stores have no idea what they will receive. There was a rumor that we'd get the three deities followed by the big evil (supposedly the Everprince), but that was way back before the first spoilers were out and there's been no confirmation about anything, so it's pretty much everypony's guess.

Personally, I think it sounds logical. And I'm sure we'll get Zeus first (Poseidon is missing and Hades is too obvious).

RRBB

@RRBB: Shows how much you know. It's obvious that Poseidon will be first. I mean. Everything so far has been centered around him. Bellucio, Euryala, the whole followers stealing stones thing (remember that alter Bellucio was the one who who got artifacts and stuff from somewhere?)

You know what I'm going to say, but if they mess something it will be here. The jump from characters to the Deities (which had almost never had a chapter of their own) will be the make or break it. There's been so many stories so far about the deities that no matter what the writers come up with, it will be hated by vast amounts of ponies.

One example: Poseidon. Is he good or evil? Half the Nightlings think he's good but misunderstood, while the others that he's a tyrant and usurper. Either way somepony will be upset. Although... I must say if they pull that off, I'll be really impressed! What if he's a a tyrant and usurper? With the reality shifts that's entirely possible!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Glad that you're better under Jade's tender care :P Yet even a sweetie like him cannot get rid of your bitterness.

I think that the way things are structured the writers can't go wrong no matter what they do (well, apart from publishing a typo ridden story about self insert and harems :P)

Guess we'll know tomorrow.

Brush

@Brush: Notice me! :D Huge fan! Love nearly all your stories. (Ever the early ones :)) Really hope there are more chapters to the Human and I. :)

@MixaMax: That could work and it will be awesome! Why didn't I think of it before? Having a good, a bad, and a neutral of each god will be... I wonder if anyone has thought of this before. You girls know?

Feather

Umm, sorry for this, but I have some clothes left over from a performance that I'm giving away. They’rein perfect condition and only been worn for one season. I was about to give them away to charity, but thought if any of you are interested you can have first pick.

The clothes are for grown up mares only, and predominantly for earth ponies. I could modify it for pegasi and unicorns if you have any interest.

Posting links. Thank you :)

Candle

@Candle: The silk blouse is so mine! Anypony tries to take it and they receive a hoof in the muzzle!

Think you can add some touches? Nothing much, just something to make it more unique?

RRBB

Well, I think that we'll get Zeus as well. There hasn't been much Danny action lately and he still is the main character of the series. I say we'll get him be the focus, just like in the pilot chapters, then have Bellucio for Poseidon, and finally Blazen (I have a feeling) for Hades.

@Candle: Those are beautiful! Please save me the red thing! Bob will love it!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Bob loves it, but Bob would also like to remind you that you that you're broke. I'm fine with providing food and all, but I'm not fine with you spending all your bit on me.

@Candle: It is lovely, but sadly this isn't the best time. Huge thanks, though :) Maybe somepony else will enjoy it more.

Bob

@Candle: Can I get that green cap? Don't care about the costume.

Feather

@all: A note about stories. I have discovered that lately a lot of the newer writers have started doing one of two things:

1) Copy an established writer, forming a trend (and pretty much ruining the experience)

2) Try to predict the next MCE chapter and writer something relating to it.

Please, stop. I'm serious! It's boring, unimaginative and ruins the experience for everypony! Reading a Bellucio is a hired assassin is cool the first time (even if disturbing, personally), but after the tenth it gets really old really fast! And having your Bellucio assassin having a slightly different tragic past doesn't count for different.

I admit, I don't like criticizing your authors like this, but when the behavior becomes systemic it's bad for all of us! (Curators included!)

@MixaMax: You promised you'd take it easy, not spend all day on the aethernet! :/ Must you behave like a little filly?

Jade

@Jade: You tell her, mister! :P And if she's being a bad filly you can always spank her!

I agree with the part about tech trends. For the most part I just find it annoying and return the bad ones for rewriting. Now, Jade being polite (after being kidnapped by Max) has asked you kindly to be more creative. Me, I'm just telling you that when I get fed up, I'll start returning fics for overuse of common ideas.

I dare you, give me an excuse to add you to my bleh list! :)

RRBB

@all: I'll be starting a group for reviewing bad fics. Well, for now it's just me, but all of you are welcome to join. Jade, RRBB, True? I think you'll fit perfectly :)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: That's no way to behave! We need to encourage people, not ridicule them! Trust me, it might seem as harmless fun, but it isn't. I had my own personal experiences and I can tell you they weren't pleasant. :(

DarkSparkle

Dark is right. This is a place to help. Curators are to bring good fics to the public and advise new how authors to improve.

And authors, please keep in mind the curators are living beings. They need rest as well, so writing the same without listening to their advice is as bad as them not.

With that I hope the matter is closed!

LyraHands

Pixel just started snoring on my back :)

RRBB

Squeeee! <3

SweetStuff

@RRBB: Way to ruin the message... :)

LyraHands

Four Part Finale 1/4

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 10, Fall of The Risen

I feel so stupid. Rereading the last chapter I find it so obvious! Things are starting to make sense :D tl;dr I loved it, but all the more scared about next week's chapter. I'm afraid someone of the main characters might die :(

Here's my review.

The chapter starts after the end of the previous one, with Bellucio walking about his kitchen, worried about the dream he had. He does a bunch of phone calls (calling pretty much everyone). We have a few funny moments learning what everyone else does at four in the morning. (side rant! That huge reveal about Megan! Megan x Cassandra is a thing! I have no words how brave that is! Also funny how they are in bed when Bellucio calls. So sweet how Cassandra wishes Megan luck before flopping back to bed.) Also, Danny and Loki are hilarious preparing for their exam ("Guess that's another roommate I've ruined..." - best Loki quote:)

All nine (plus Caprice) gather and Bellucio explains what he saw in his dream: how Poseidon isn't what he thought, and that everything they've been through might be false. Everyone's down and confused (most coming to terms with their everpowers.) Bellucio then asks is anyone else has any secrets they want to share. We get some guilt flashbacks from everyone, but no one steps forward. Euryala says they a lying, but at this point they don't have to trust each other, just work together to stop the deities and the Everprince. Blazen gets in her face about giving out orders too much, at which point she shouts back that everyone was chosen before they were born.

"Three of your are claimed by powerful beings, the rest are chess pieces in a game you don't understand!"

After a lot of yelling, Euryala shares her plan: they go to Poseidon-Reality to arm themselves with "weapons and knowledge" then return to start the next phase. After some back and fro everyone agrees and they combine some powers to do that.... then suddenly everyone ends up in the past!

It's revealed that the only way to fight Poseidon is at a time when he has no knowledge of them. (Time travel :/ So cliche) They all try to blend in, gradually finding what Poseidon is like. Apparently there are selections for new disciples (not chosen?!) and they all try to become such. Bellucio is selected (no surprises) along with Molly (huh?). They have to do a few trials: kill a dragon threatening Mistmount (which seems to have been founded millennia ago). Everything seems a bit boring, until Icelos suddenly appears to Bellucio and Molly and starts blowing minds! First, he warns them not to believe Euryala. Then he says that all of this is a side-dream (a dream within a dream which keeps them away from Poseidon's eyes). We are told that Poseidon is the god who controls dreams, and all dreams up to this point are, in fact, sent by him. (All the times since Mistmount Chronicles in which other deities have sent dreams to anyone are in fact clever manipulations.) and, of course, he finished with the grand. "Things are more complicated than you think."

So, three more chapters to go till the end of the arc and everything is already so confusing! And I love it! :D

What do you think?

PrinceEric

It might be just me, but this is almost as if the writers are suggesting that all events that have taken place after the end of Chronicles aren't real. A curious approach. Something to ponder upon. No doubt about it, Everhere is much darker and mind*yay* than the previous series, yet with the number of fans increasing S.Child must have done something good.

I still like Chronicles, because it had a far more innocent field to it: corporations bad, deities good. Now we have constant questions, traitors, realities, dreamscapes. We literally don't know what's real or not, who is good or not, who is who even! I won't be surprised if it turns out that Cassandra is Megan's male lover who's been put under a spell to appear male. At this point that's just as possible as anything.

I must begrudgingly admit that the undertaking is huge, though, and so far they've pulled it off quite well.

MixaMax

@Jade: Better get some more meds, bro. Max is delirious! There's no way she'd say something nice about Everhere. Just no way!:P

@Short&Hoofy: On that note hope you're doing better. Must be nasty getting the bug :( I blame Max! Come back soon. Pixel misses you.

RRBB

@RRBB: Hold on! What do you mean? There's nothing wrong with sis. She's been going to school every day since the checkup. Hay, she's supposed to be at school now!

@Short&Hoofy: You better have a good explanation.

MixaMax

My bad. She's been seeing my physician. I would have hoped she'd TOLD ponies, but apparently not. :/

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: What the heck!? What's going on! Is she well? Is anything wrong?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: All's fine, but it's not something that could be discussed in general chat.

I'm sure you, of all ponies, would appreciate that, Miss I-Left-For-The-Crystal-Empire-But-Didn't-Tell-Anypony.

PaintDrop

Well... at least we had a sex scene in the series. Yay for Cassandra x Megan?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: This is hardly the time... :/

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Oh? So it's better to discuss things without hearing her opinion on the matter? If there's anything that Short wants to share she will. If not...

LightSparkle

Light has a point there.

TheRealLuna

@RRBB, @MixaMax: Sorry. I didn't want to tell you not to worry you. I'm fine, but I haven't been going to school, and I'm not exactly sick either. And I'd prefer not to talk about this.

@LyraHands: Please lock the thread?

Short&Hoofy

Done. PM me if you want to talk.

LyraHands

Furious Max PMs

Okay, what's this about my sister? She's never missed a day of school in her life. Even when she fell and cracked her horn she'd go. So telling me some crap about her going to your physician won't cut it.

What's really going on?

MixaMax

Maybe you should ask her instead of spamming the site?

PaintDrop

You said move it to PM, so don't give he that! Just tell me what's going on. Is she okay?

MixaMax

You really don't know anything, do you?

No, Short isn't okay. She hasn't been for years. Oh, she's really good at not showing it: mostly keeps to herself, talks a bit now and then, but she's not well at all. She's not like you or I. When she has problems she keeps them inside. Sort of like Brush.

Short is hopelessly in love. Has been for years.

PaintDrop

With you? If that's all why can't she just have told me. I've nothing against it. In fact I think it's time she found somepony. I had my amount of flings and crushes in high school, and it doesn't bother me that her barn swings the other way. If you two love each other you might as well tell me and not keep up that nonsense with being sick.

MixaMax

She's not in love with me! Besides, I'm straight as an arrow.

PaintDrop

I don't get it then.

MixaMax

Stars, do I need to spell it out for everypony?! She's in love with RRBB! I know she's been keeping it low, but you're her sister for Celestia's sake! All the times she came all the way from your place to help or be supportive. Do you think that was by accident? I get it that we're in the same class and all, but there's close friends and then there's really close friends.

PaintDrop

Crap!

MixaMax

Crap indeed. Lately there's been a buildup. Ever since Pixel's party Short has been feeling really down. Like really. I said she was seeing my doctor. That's a lie. She's been hanging out at my place.

PaintDrop

Cdi, Short :/ Did she confess to RRBB?

MixaMax

Yes and now. Actually, no. RRBB is as clueless as a policepony in a detective novel. I'd have thought that her giving Pixel to RRBB would have made that clear (that thing costs probably twice as much as your house, by the way), but RRBB's got the impression that Short is just a very good friend. And I can't exactly blame her. After last time she's convinced she's the only gay filly in Ponyville.

Go, and if things aren't complicated enough, RRBB still holds a flame for a YouKnowWho. A few days ago, she confessed she still has feelings for and and us determined to fight to try and make this love last, despite the odds. I really hope she didn't PM that to Short as well.

PaintDrop

Holy Celestia! I'm having such a long talk with her once she gets here, you won't believe! Of all the things. Better, I'll go talk to RRBB!

MixaMax

Yeah, that's a great idea. Just how dump are you, Max? Please, enlighten me how would you make any of them feel better? Dark left the site because of your unique brands of conversation, and that was because of a story. This is real life.

PaintDrop

Don't talk to me like I'm a filly! I've been where you were! You think I didn't have similar problems? If RRBB tells sis she's not into her sis will be devastated, but at least she'll have her answer. Right now she's halfway between yes and not, living in a dream that she doesn't want to end.

Trust me, I've been there! Just because she isn't hurt doesn't mean she's happy.

MixaMax

We live in a different world, Max. Not sure how much of your advice applies. Bottom line, Short isn't feeling well at all, and at a time RRBB is just starting to get back to her hooves (even if she still clings to the notion that things could work out between her and YouKnowWho).

I'm really lost here. If it were RRBB, I'd advise therapy, but seems Short doesn't have that issue. She's just lovesick. I've been trying to get her to confess, but she always comes with an excuse not to. At times I really wish she had more of your traits. It would be cool if she climbs her desk during class and shouts out her love confession. No shame, no explanations, just a full two minutes of awesome awkwardness.

PaintDrop

Who else knows?

MixaMax

Honestly? I'm not sure. I'd have thought that everyone does, but shows what I know. I suspect Jade does, though. I don't care how rich you are, you don't just spend such sums to have somepony give the gift away. If you ask me, Short must have told him all about it to get him to spend such a sum.

Lyra, I expect. Lyra knows everything. RRBB told me there were talking about her romantic preferences long before she told me. My brother is clueless, as is YouKnowWho. SweetStuff might suspect, but she hasn't told me anything. I know she hadn't told you, but I thought you suspected.

PaintDrop

Brb.

MixaMax

Well, Jade knew. I'm so bad at him right now! I get it sis told him to keep it secret, but he could have hinted, dammit! Three times the cost of my house...and I thought my folks were relatively well off. :/

MixaMax

At least you know he'll protect your secrets.

PaintDrop

Cute. :/ I'm definitely having a talk with Short when she gets here, so don't be surprised if she gets grounded. Not that would affect her. I used to force her to go to parties :/ How did things end up such a mess?

Anyway, she's my sister and I'll fix this. Try to, that is.

MixaMax

Just please be careful with her. You know her way better, but Short is more fragile than she puts on.

PaintDrop

She's not. She just breaks easily.

Thanks for being there for her.

MixaMax

Author's Note

Heya, all!
After some delays a new chapter of mertup will be posted later today. Sorry about that, but have been having a bit if surge at work :(
As usual, here's a 24 hour link to the Equestrian Fanfiction discord for discussions :)

https://discord.gg/f2QJt

Romance, Jokes, and Stories

@all: Good morning,

I have a small announcement to make. We've updated the catalogue and search system. How apart from browsing and searching, you'll be able to view the trending stories (based on views and interest).

After some debate it was decided not to have the same for authors since that might create bias, plus you can always follow your favourite wordsmiths. Furthermore, we have removed the top rated story functionality, with only Lyra's selection remaining on site (and even that not on the front page).

I am aware that some of you might be disappointed, but we've found that the symptoms of stat driven decisions were there and that would only diminish the overall quality of stories. Hopefully, things get back to being more focused on quality and less on competition.

Thank you for your time.

The TechNightling

You know that's best after a long day of school and work (I'm looking at you, @DaBoss!)? Finding that two of your favorite stories have updated! What's even better is that two just as magnificent pieces have appeared!

@Brush, you've outdone yourself with the latest The Human and I Not only is it wonderfully written, but it seems like they'll finally get together at last! Knowing you, though, you'll just getting ready to break my heart again :P

@Simile: Strong as ever! ;) If it were any other fic I'd skip it because it's so damn dark, but you manage to keep my attention. I'm still not sure whether it's a pure adventure or something different, I just know I love it :)

@Jade: You strike again, and with a romantic comedy at that! Pickles and Honeycombs is probably the best silly I've read ever! Interesting choice of choosing Danny's cousin (mare, is she a piece of work.) I can't help but wonder if Max inspired you to come up with her. Either way, the first chapter is great. I just hope you keep it up for many more to come (and not end it abruptly).

@EndlessHearts: I've no idea who you are, but you certainly know how to know out the air of somepony while reading. (Brush, if you've made an alt account I'll tear your tail off! :P) Also interesting that you chose to start with a school-fic (those are tricky to get right). The tension is incredible! Never thought I'd be so interested in a high school drama centering Molly (and a classmate that has a crush on her.) One question, though, why did you go for a F-F ship? M-M are usually all the rage, and quite easier to write to be honest. In any event, keep it up! :)

With that I can safely get back to snoozing before I have to get back to work (night shift today).

LyraHands

Short is grounded from the site for a while. Just wanted you to know that. I might be a bit inactive for a few days as well.

@Jade: thanks for trying to cheer me up, you lovable jerk, but things are a bit complicated. Focus on your studies and see you again next week.

MixaMax

RRBB's message has been deleted.

@MixaMax: My bad, but I'm still coming to visit! And, unless Short is really sick, I intend to talk to her. If she actually is unwell, you can at least send her hugs from me!

RRBB

@RRBB: You know the rules. For punishment you get to approve this week's poetry submissions!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: You're evil. Have you even read that? I feel that Jade might have spoiled me with his occasional poems, but this week is... the submissions are in heavy need of guidance.

@LyraHands: I wanted to write such a story! That said, I admire Endless' efforts and execution. Oh, and I love the characters so much! It sort of reminds me of the time we were fillies. Not that I had such thoughts or anything, mind you. I was strictly focusing on my studies even in the later years.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: We know. And look at you now: 100% single and possibly naive. :P

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: Points there! :) Such a massive burn! Celestia herself will be proud.

@DarkSparkle: yeah, when will you choose somepony of the site? Just look how many have scored so far! Just stop being picky and go for it, okay? If you're in trouble, I can also find you some cool dudes.

LightSparkle

If you're in trouble, I can also find you some cool dudes.

That's something I'd be interested to see :) Come to think of it, wasn't CEOWitch single? From what I hear he had a quite nice wingspan. ;)

InItForTheShipping

I have a cousin, I could ask. Not sure Dark is his type, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.

RRBB

Oh! Oh! WaterBottle's brother is free!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: You did not just go there! :P Now I'll be having nightmares for a week! Although, come to think of it...

RRBB

Just so you know, CEO isn't the hottest flank in the Bolts. Some of the new recruits show promise, though speed is their thing. Also, not an ounce of stamina.

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: Look who's talking! I've got twice your stamina. That aside, I'm not just a pretty face. I'm getting enough jokes on base as it is. :/ I earned my wings, same as everypony else.

I have to agree, though, sucks to be you, Dark. Better take matters into your own hooves.

CEOWitch

Do you think Dark got mad? :(

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: She's probably huffing and puffing in her library. We might have gone a bit far, though. I blame RRBB!

LightSparkle

I blame Max!

RRBB

I always blame Max! Buck you, Max!

Brush

I'll be seeing Dark in a few hours, so I'll ask her ;)

DaBoss

Whoa! Spam wars are cool, but I gotta say... School Days is the *yay*! Reminds me the time I was in middle school... before I moved to a really trash high school. Got a number of crushes in both, but middle school was better. (Molly wouldn't last a shin my high school, though, even with her magic.)

@EndlessHearts: is that written from experience?

Feather

No.

EndlessHearts

Disappointed Master PMs

Hooftoy, sorry about this, but I need to go for a few days. Maybe even a week :( I'd have liked to spend the time with you, I really do, but... :~(

Brush

I know... saving Equestria again. I know that's what you do, but I was hoping you'd have some time for us. How dangerous will it be?

MasterOfThisAstra

I know, hooftoy, I know...:( *tight winghug*

Not dangerous. Is just me and Dark, actually. Imagine the odds. Guess half the time we'll be talking about you and Everhere.

Brush

It's the other half that has me worried. :( I can't stop thinking about you, sweet wings. Your voice, your laugh, the smell of your mane. You are the sun that brightens my day, and yet I feel us drifting apart. Even when I finish my studies in half an year will that change anything? You'll still be off every other week dealing with one crisis or another and I'll be alone worrying.

MasterOfThisAstra

It's not something I can just quit :( You know that.

Brush

I know, I know. I just wish things would be easier. Look at Jade and Max. They've know each other for a month and they're already engaged. Jade goes to see her every weekend. He's not even hiding it. We, on the other hoof...you won't let me tell my parents.

MasterOfThisAstra

It's not that I have anything against you telling, I just think we should keep it easy for a while. I promise we will. Really. I just can't concentrate on that right now. I'll be leaving in half an hour. We'll be going all the way to Trottingham. We'll talk more when I get back.

Brush

You always say that :( Just, please be safe.

MasterOfThisAstra

Hooftoy... you're so sweet, you know? Nothing bad will happen to me. Promise. You know, I'm thinking of passing by your dorm once I finish this :) It's on the way back, and you could use the cheering up. ;)

Brush

Im sure you will. I just hope I don't have to wait that long.

MasterOfThisAstra

So impatient :P

Did you write that new school fic? It's style is sort of familiar, but I can't place it. It would be terribly sweet if you did. It's so simple, but dripping with emotions. Also, writing style is superb.

Brush

Sadly, no. I liked it, and it's quite well written. Somepony knew their grammar, at least. I'd say it might be RRBB. She has the technical skills, but I still don't think she could pull it off. I know it's not you or Jade. Simile writes in an entirely different fashion. I think it's somepony new.

MasterOfThisAstra

I can't see RRBB writing that. We've talked a lot and she's good in her area, but her descriptions are still her weakness, and this story has a lot of them. Do you think it could be the Sparkles?

Brush

No. Dark's writing is unmistakable. Her latest attempt is interesting, but... let's say she's much better at reviewing and editing. Light, I doubt it. She doesn't seem terribly interested in writing, although she does it well. Sometimes she'd write funny snippets in the curator forum.

Honestly, I don't think any of the regulars write in that fashion.

MasterOfThisAstra

Do you think it can be your sister? She's familiar with the subject matter. What if this is her outlet?

Brush

Possibly, I suppose, but I'm not sure she has the time with all her drawing. She's doing a commission per week now on top of making art for her favourite authors (that includes you). I doubt she could write something of the sort. Besides, it isn't like her to not brag about it.

MasterOfThisAstra

We've been getting a lot of mystery writers lately. Simile, EndlessHearts, even Jade. I'm starting to feel left out :P It's not like I can keep up with their speed. Still, I chip in every now and again when time allows (less since I started being with you *ear nibble*)

Brush

Sure, blame it on me :). Honestly, I have no idea who it might be. They are a fan of the series, that's for sure. The style is interesting. It's youthful, yet not naive. That makes me think it's somepony who knows what she's talking about. Unsure if it's a mare. I'd say no, but I've been wrong before. The technical skill is impressive. There are just a few errors, but mostly due to rushing. If I had to guess it could also be InItForTheShipping.

Simile is a different case altogether. They can captivate an audience, but seem out of touch when it comes to character emotions. Almost as if they've never felt love before. I've spoken to them a few times and they admitted having writing problems in that area. As far as I know they travel a lot (no idea if it's work or family related). It's impressive how well they can describe humans, though.

MasterOfThisAstra

Yeah. That's something I'm envious of. I've used a lot of my knowledge of minotaurs to get my humans remotely believable. Wait! Do you think it's Candle? Could it be? She's improved loads since Tech took her under his wing. If it turns out to be her I'll scream!

Brush

She's improved a lot, but it's not her. I also know it's none of the mods. Mighty tried to submit something... it was bad. It was so bad that RRBB spent a whole day talking with Code about it. Mighty seemed to take it well, though. Told us to brace ourselves for his next masterpiece. RRBB said she'll be waiting.

MasterOfThisAstra

Lol. RRBB can be vicious. I still love her, though :)

Brush

Says the mare that she and my sister idolize. :P

MasterOfThisAstra

Dark is here. I must go. :( *thousands of smooches* *ear nibble*

Brush

Be back soon. Love you.

MasterOfThisAstra

SweetStuff Panic

Been pondering something. Do you think I'm attractive?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Huh? Did something happen while I wasn't looking? You're a 9 easy, I'd say a 9.5. Did somepony shoot you down? Were you dumped?!? Tell me in PM!

RRBB

I told you that snake in the grass Rumble was no good! Always making you pay for lunch and get to restaurants. And those gifts you constantly give him... he's really bad for ya! But did you listen? No! Stubborn as a pig in a puddle! :/

Wait till I get there! I'll give that raccoon bitten featherhead a piece of my mind!

WaterBottle

I've sent you a PM.

Twist

PM sent your way.

PaintDrop

Wha? You and Rumble? Seriously? Never saw that coming... O.o Mind blown. So many things make so much sense now.

RRBB

@SweetStuff: never seen you face to face, but you sound like a cool filly, and have a great voice. (I sing as well and would almost kill for that voice.)

LightSparkle

I think this needs a longer talk. PM me when you have a moment.

LyraHands

As usual SweetStuff causes panic and drama with half baked plans. She's fine (apart from getting all panicky about this) She'll be on in a sec.

@RRBB: They've been an item for years :P

YouKnowWho

Girls, I'm so sorry! :(
My stupid sister caught me by surprise and I sent the post before it was finished. Then I completely forgot until I got to school :(((

I meant in MCE. If I were to go there as a pony would people think "oh, a cute pony" or would go "meh, I've seen better"?

I'm trying my horn at writing and not sure what to write about so was hoping for some advice and encouragement. Instead I messed up :( Sorry, again.

@WaterBottle: Really? :/ You're one to talk! Want me to share all your adventures with the Nightlings? I'm sure it will be a hilarious read I:<

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: you're a beautiful filly in this and every other world :) Don't dare think otherwise.

I think that human children would love you, their parents too (since they'll give them some freedom from their children :P) Not sure about anything romantic, if that's what you're asking.

InItForTheShipping

Best. Site. Ever! :)

Seriously, please never stop! Water with her whips, Sweet with her self esteem. :D You're whack! :) You could lose weight, that's for sure.

Kidding! Just kidding :D I've never seen you, so can't know. Most ponies are fat, though.

Feather

@SweetStuff: He's still bad for you!

WaterBottle

@SweetStuff: Trust me you're fine. Don't listen to stupid Feather. You have it where it counts.

As for your actual question... I don't know. In I Am Who I Am it was mentioned that native horses are slightly larger (somewhere about Princess Celestia size) and "not in possession of the common tongue". Caprice is able to understand them freely, though. Judging by the reaction Caprice and the few other ponies from Equestria get you're likely to be hunted down by the corps. However, if we assume that ponies are an accepted, even if rare, occurrence then you're likely to attract quite some attention.

If you sing I bet you'd might even be invited to join a band. :)

Edit: SweetStuff, please write this! I'll help with editing! Pony in a rock band sounds so out of there!

RRBB

@RRBB: Not bad ;) Buuuut. Humie in a rock band would be even better. That is if SweetStuff can pull it off (both as a character and a writer.) Not to brag, I'm a 9.7 and have been round some really cool bands.

LightSparkle

That's actually not bad. Cdi, Light! You win this round! And SweetStuff can totally pull it off as a character. I can so see her getting some metal melancholic boy from Gumania to Ponyville and hiding him in the attic. :) Will be hilarious!

@SweetStuff: It'll be a crime if you don't write it. I can literally see it as a comedic drama with slice of life elements. Maybe a touch of romance.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: I'll always be two steps ahead, little mare :P But yeah, this needs to happen. Not sure about the romance. Might be better without since it's a strong enough concept.

@all: That reminds me. All the curators aside from RRBB and me are occupied, it seems, so approval will be slower. Both RRBB and I have exams, or to mention lives of our own, so please don't spam us with PMs. Your story will appear on the site... or not (in which case you'll get feedback)

LightSparkle

@SweetStuff: You scared me! Never do that again!

That said, I'll join the chorus. That's such a cool concept. I wonder how nopony's done it before. I know I'll read it with pleasure :) (rip me :( So many stories I'm trying to keep up with...)

I suppose it's pointless to ask at this point, but who do you think of bringing here? Male or female? I know Brush and 90% of the site will yell "male" but having a girl join might make it stand out more.

LyraHands

Umm, umm, umm! The pressure! :(

I don't know. Initially I thought of trying out something simple. Just a short of me going to earth, spending a weekend there or something, then coming back. I know it's a blatant self insert, but first person is so much easier... :(

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I think it's a great idea. Start there, and just hint at getting in touch with a band. Maybe even perform a song and leave. Then, when you feel comfortable start a new fic with a friend of the band coming to visit you.

EndlessHearts

@EndlessHearts: You definitely know a thing or two about storytelling ;)

@SweetStuff: I'll just sum up everything:

1) You've nothing to worry about considering your appearance
2) The idea has potential, so go with it
3) Everypony here will help you if you ask
4) You should drag your coltfriend to the site (so we can embarrass you in front of him) :)

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Remind me never to piss you off :P

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Yeah. It's not advisable (don't ask :/)

TrueSparkle

The Filly with the Music Cutie Mark :D

Happy writing, SweetStuff

LyraHands

That actually sounds incredibly cool! :D

Come on, SweetStuff! Pixel demands that you write it! Pretty please? @.@

RRBB

*whimper*

SweetStuff

That means "yes" :)

YouKnowWho

The Shipping Intensifies

Hey, hey. I don't have @all power, so I'd like to ask one of the mods to repost this.

This site has been a sunsent to me. Not only are you great ponies writing/drawing/singing great works, but you've also given me things to do when I'm up in the middle of the night. Because of that I've decided two things:

First, I'd like to apply to be a curator. (I have experience in the field :))

Second, and this is the big one, I'm holding a contest!

That's right! Write something based on a particular topic (of my choosing) and you could win very real prizes! Just for information prizes include a custom made Williams statuette made of colored crystal (including Megan, Danny, and Molly as described in MCE), a drawing of a human character of your choice (by FishSticks), a drawing of your OC (by PaintDrop).

I'll be commissioning the artists on your behalf, but please nothing outright nsfw. Suggestive is based on artist discrimination. And please keep in mind that they need time to draw your prize.

Now, the moment you've been all waiting for. The topic is...

The sweetest ship! (Surprised, aren't you? :))

-All ships are okay as long as they are legal
-No nsfw stuff (I just want the romance. If I want to get intimate I will with my spouse, not with your fic.)
-Under 7000 words please. (I have a life, you know :P)
-Spellcheck it! (I want to be able to read it :) It's okay to have someone help you with edits)
-It must have MC humans (sorry, just having humans is not enough)
-Stories not complete by the end of contest period (14 days from now) will be disqualified
-Only one entry per author (editing doesn't count)

Now that you know send me your best and greatest :) Good luck to you all :)

InItForTheShipping

Wow! That's great! I won't participate (can't write :P), but can't wait to read all stories that the others wrote :)

@Brush, @RRBB, @Bob, @Candle, @Jade, @Simile: expecting great stuff from you :))

PrinceEric

Hmm. I might as well. Haven't written anything lately.

@InItForTheShipping: do human x pony ships count?

RRBB

This is going to be bloody. I'd so much like to give it a go, but with all ten curating I'm making no promises. Who knows, though. Maybe I'll get hit by the muse?

@InItForTheShipping: What about deities and other bipedal creatures? I mean is Zeus considered a human? I know that a Zeus x Megan would fulfill your requirement, but what about Zeus x Euryala? Or Icelos x Echo?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Miss 9.7 going to try her horn in writing? Well, if you can so can I! And I'll crush you like a grape! :D Good questions, though. Pretty much everything that one could think of is already written, but some don't approve of the age difference. Zeus x Megan is like a bit...

@InItForTheShipping: can we have equestrian ponies? If SweetStuff writes her fic, for example, and she has an affair with Molly (or anyone) would that count as a ship?

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: I must be horrible, because I so much want that written as well... And Molly can come to Equestria and join SweetStuff's band! :D

RRBB

@RRBB: I'd say no, sorry. Or rather, yes if the pony is in human form. Still a bit weird, but I'll accept it.

@LightSparkle: I'll accept that. :) Again, just keep them in human form.

@TrueSparkle: No! Nope! Tsk! I'm not having Zeus x Human Celestia fics ruin my contest! :P Seriously, though, nope. Although, if SweetStuff writes that I'd accept it :P

InItForTheShipping

This is it! The sign I have been waiting for! I've been having my doubts lately, but today I've finally decided! I'll be taking part in this contest!

There were those, who shall not be named who were Really Really Bittery Bitter about my writing attempts. To the, I say "Ha"!

MightyDragon

Zeus save us!

RRBB

Please forgive me. He has lots of good qualities, I swear!

CodeFilly

@InItForTheShipping: Can we write about calf love or school crushes? I know it's silly, but I want to try something like School Days

Candle

@InItForTheShipping: I don't mind to be paired with Icelos. He's a hottie :D

TheRealLuna

@InItForTheShipping: I was thinking of shipping Cadance. But if you say no...

It doesn't have to be the grand 9, right? Any character will do, right?

LightSparkle

Just a side note. You can see my style [here]. I'm experimenting with a few things, so winners get to pick what they like. I'm okay with some suggestiveness (legs, shoulders, etc.) but nothing beyond that.

Also, no scars or gross stuff, please. If nothing else, I'm not good at it.

PaintDrop

I can't believe I'm saying this, but can't there be humanized self-inserts? Please? @.@

LyraHands

@LightSparkle: Background humans are fine. :)

@LyraHands: You know I like you... but no! :P

InItForTheShipping

I'm unsure I'll have the time, but I'll try.

@InItForTheShipping: I'll be in the Crystal Empire next week. Can we meet?

Simile

@Simile: Sure :) I'll show you the sights! Food is on me ;)

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: If I visit, can you treat me as well? O:)

HopHop

@HopHop: Silly thing :) Of course.

Maybe you'll try writing as well? You always went on an on about starting a blog. Think of this as your first step. :) And I like the way you tell stories. If you can capture that on paper, it will be wonderful.

InItForTheShipping

Are changelings considered human if they take the form of one?

Simile

@Simile: Hmm. Technically they should be. A changeling can take any form. So a changeling that copies a grand 9 will be human.

@InItForTheShipping: Does the actuation have to take place in Mistmount? Danny goes to Equestria, sees girl who turns out to be a changeling. Heartbroken, etc?

RRBB

@RRBB: I assume that's a question :) And why not? It's incentive so I'd say go for it. Rule of one real real human applies. No two changelings falling in love with each other's disguises. (Even if it's a cool idea :))

InItForTheShipping

I think I have the perfect idea! :) Love triangles are ships, right?

Twist

Now that's a Twist!

Feather

@Feather: You should feel bad! Even I cringe at that pun!

MightyDragon

Let's never speak of this again.

LyraHands

@Twist: Yes :)

InItForTheShipping

Water Deity

Poseidon Earthshaker

Deity, Dreamscaper, Chooser

Ruler of all water, Poseidon never showed open desire to rule sky or earth, instead he conquered the humans' hearts. While all obeyed Zeus and feared Hades, Poseidon was the one they adored and loved. This constant source of adoration made the god forget himself and unwillingly transform more and more humans into puppets bent on his will... until the day he vanished.

Siblings: Zeus, Hades
Place of birth: Holy Olympus
Divine power: Dreamscaping
Follower: Bellucio Forsa
Focus: Emotion

"You've come a long way."

Am I the only one who finds this creepy? Poseidon doesn't sound at all as I imagined him. I know Everhere is darker, but this is one huge turn. In what I read of Chronicles, it was mostly Hades who was the big bad. Poseidon was presumed missing and always kept hush hush. Now to learn that he was the one who actually tried to control Gumania...combining that with his killer-disciples I don't know what to think. S&S marketing definitely knows its job :)

I can't help but think that Poseidon is what would happen if Cadance and Discord had a child. Love puppeting is terrifying.

PaintDrop

Well, can't say I'm surprised. There were plenary of hints in MCE. I didn't think it would be the case in the present reality, though. So far I assumed that when the crown was activated, reality shattered into three parts, each of which was the worst of a specific aspect: Zeus tyranny, Poseidon love/mind control, and Hades survival of the fittest. Seeing that Poseidon actually tried something before vanishing is... interesting :)

On an entirely different note, I'm sitting here bored, writing from my therapist's waiting room. Seems there was an urgent case from Cloudsdale so I decided to wait an hour longer. I really wonder what we'll talk today. :/

RRBB

@RRBB: Hope you get better <3

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Err, okay. You realize that this is a condition, right? Going to therapy is to help me deal with my anger and other issues. Nothing will actually vanish.

RRBB

@RRBB: I meant I hope you feel better...

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I'm dumb. :/ Yeah, I hope I feel better too :) Sorry for that.

Oh, and by the way. Were you able to drag your coltfriend to the site? This should be right up his alley :)

RRBB

@PaintDrop: Hmm... You know, this might change everything we thought we knew. Usually, when dreams are involved there's no telling what is real and what not, but here reality itself isn't real :) Actually, it's worse! All realities are real at the same time!

@Luna: please tell us who came up with that idea! Was it S.Child? One of the writers? It's awesome! :)))

PrinceEric

Hello, everyone.

I must admit, that Everhere has surpassed my expectations to the point I consider it nearly equal to the original. (By that, I mean the good chapters of the original.) There's a constant, almost invisible line that links the characters to the reader even wi all the mind-boggling complexity the story entails.

We are presented with a mystery that has us guessing if everything we've gotten to accept in the last decades is in fact true. Having Vol 1 characters appear and act the way they did back when I read the first scrolls is both daring and frightening at the same time. Either the writers are going to try and link both stories (a nearly impossible task) or they have done their research extremely well.

Either way, I'll read on.

The TechNightling

Keep in mind the world reality ;) There's nothing preventing the Everprince appearing and going "Original series? I was from there until the pesky gods closed it and changed reality to create this!" :) I doubt it will happen, but it's technically possible.

Personally, I like the new Poseidon. Makes Euryala a much more in-depth character, and also illustrates how things could go wrong when wielding such power. I truly hope he gets reformed for the better. (I know, I know... I'm a softie.)

Unrelated, I did an analysis of a Brush story in class. Five people started bugging about the author, half the class was convinced it was from a bestseller. (Forgot to tell that the assignment was to take an excerpt of a book anonymously and analyze it.)

It was so funny. I might experiment with a few other authors to see the reactions I get. (I bet the boys will live RRBB :P)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: the irony. Go ahead, though. I'd like to see what happens.

RRBB

Mare, it's sure quiet without Max, Brush, and Jade. :(

Talking about Jade, I blame him for burning that image of Poseidon in my mind. Now each time I read Poseidon, I imagine him in that sketchy outfit. It's bad enough that I imagine Blueblood each time I read Bellucio... now that the two of the, are likely to appear in a chapter.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Steaming not M-M action? :P

RRBB

@RRBB: you make me spit my coffee all over the table... with five people looking. So much for reading this during work :)

InItForTheShipping

Poseidon is such a ninny! :/ All that power and he just sat on his divine ass and had they adore him. If I had that power things would be very much different!

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: Orgies in the streets? :P

RRBB

RRBB... Must because we have a filter, doesn't mean you have to get creative. Please keep a civil tone.

The TechNightling

Sorry, Tech. You know I love you. :P Seriously, will try to cool it down. Is just annoying waiting for my stupid therapy session. I bet we'll spend the time talking about my crushes again :/

RRBB

I thought you said it was helping?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: It is insofar that I don't feel the burning urge to break my legs or cry myself to sleep. Still feel rotten inside. :(

Anyway, I think I must go. Ciao.

RRBB

Good luck.

EndlessHearts

Four Part Finale 2/4

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 11, Risen of the Chosen

Let me only say, that this week's chapter didn't disappoint! :D I knew it was going to be crazy and it was, and definitely not in the way I thought it would be.

So, let's begin!

We start up in the Poseidon-Reality right after where we left off last time. Only difference is that it's not the past, but the present. Everyone seems to be getting along with their jobs (which they took in the past). Bellucio has a scary talk with Poseidon who praises him as "the favorite of his disciples" (and also says that's why everyone will always love him) and decides to give him a new task: to find an everstone for him. However, this time he also has an additional condition: Bellucio is to take an apprentice: Molly. (That was a surprise).

Meanwhile Eric convinces Megan and Danny to set on a mission of their own. Since Euryala is so obsessed with Poseidon, maybe what they really should be after is learning the nature of their relationship and for that go to Zeus. There is some reluctance, but in the end they agree and head off. However, not before Blazen and Omni see that. Omni goes to tell the others, while Blazen insists on talking to Euryala.

Going to Euryala, Balzen tells her the knows (to which she responds she’s aware) and presses her to tell him more about himself. He shares past of his family, but also asks what she meant about them behind a pair. Euryala finally reveals that thanks to her reality bubble power she has managed to float between realities and the only constant is him. Even in the realities he kills her (?!?) he loves her, also he's the one who has the last piece of her heart. (Not sure if romantic, or just mushy;)) Turns out she once saw the Everprince when he went to visit Poseidon. It is after that that Poseidon started acting strangely, causing people to fall in love with him. Her own sister left everything to be with him, yet he only smashed her heart, and a few years later he did the same to Euryala.

After a lot of backstory and flashbacks Omni and Karl arrive. Everyone's wondering what to do, at which point Euryala says that Echo controls Eric now and is probably leading Megan and Molly in a trap. Therefore, as much as she hates it they'll have to take a detour and help "the idiots". Opening a portal of her own, she tells them they'll need to go to Hades reality to seek help "from an old acquaintance". We have a lot of cloak and dagger and them deceiving Molly and Bellucio, after which they go to Hades. Almost instantly they are surrounded by the Cerberus triplets. Then it's revealed that Euryala and he are cousins and of Titan descent. (Called it!)

Back to Zeus reality. Eric, indeed walks Danny and Megan into a trap: they go in the mountain, where Zeus is supposed to be and find that he's not there. Echo appears and mocks them (since they should remember that Zeus is ruler of this world and the corporations and armies work for him, thus there's no reason for him to stay in his temple.) She then goes on to explain how the gods have been deceiving them all along, that they aren't the noble benevolent entities that they claimed, but killed, banished, and imprisoned thousands, thus they will kill them one by one. Danny is told to go to the Felina corp and get the "god killer" hidden in the vault. Threatening Eric (and with that their portal) Megan and Danny agree.

The trio (four of them since Echo is hiding within Eric) take advantage of a Zeus party to enter Felina corp HQ. lots of awkwardness (Cassandra, Zeus appearing, etc.) but finally Danny goes to the secure vault area. He is about to try and open the safe, when The Director enters the room and calmly sits at his desk. Danny panics, but the director just opens a drawer and places a small vial on the desk.

"Next time, when you come for something, just ask me," the Director sighs, as he locks his desk drawer. "Would save both of us a lot of them and explanations."

There's a moment of silence. Danny looks at the vial, then at the director. His hand instinctively moves towards the hidden knife he has in his back pocket. With it and his powers he could probably lay take on the old man, but would he be able to escape after?

"Why are you helping me?" Danny asks. "Back with the evercrown and now here. What is your angle?"

"All that time and you still haven't figured it out?" The Director shakes his head. "I am you. I've been you all along."

Two words: mind blown! :D

I really don't know what to think. I so much love the subtle continuity in Everhere. Chronicles were great, but that was something I missed—we'd have a cool villain of background character appear for a chapter, then disappear never to be heard from again. If we're very lucky they might do a cameo. Here everything seems to fit in place. :) Also, poor Eric. I'm sure he's hurting so bad inside :( Echo is such a *yay*! I really wish someone would kill her!

Your thoughts?

PrinceEric

Well, this one had me stumped. Reading it, everything seemed logical and even expected, but I'd have never imagined things go down this way. Danny (or a reality twin of Danny) being the head of the Felina corp? Talk about irony. Also, the powers that be really are nasty. Echo, Icelos, Euryala... I wonder who'll be next to try and manipulate the grand 9.

I have one concern, though. The main cast seem to be a bit too lost. Yes, they have new powers and stuff, but it's like everyone is manipulating them. (Of course, if we believe the Poseidon dream thing, they have been manipulated all along...) I just don't know.

PaintDrop

Well, at least we have a bit of clarity about who is against who. Echo hates the gods because they imprisoned her (still a claim). Euryala hates Poseidon for what he did to her and her sister (confirmed if the spoiler is to be believed). As for Icelos...I'm clueless. :) I'm not even sure if he's good or evil anymore. Bellucio and Molly deadly assassins, though :) I can see them as doing on adventures to find power trinkets, though :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Funny you should mention that. "Disciples of Poseidon" is actually a side project that will appear in the near future. I can't talk about it, of course, but let me just say that you're not too far off, especially regarding the main characters. ;)

Luna

@Luna: Hey! How come, when I made a few spoilers you were all on me, but you could leak info any time you wish! :/

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: You're not a princess, sweetie. :)

TheRealLuna

He does have a nice ass, though. And still unclaimed.

Fleetfoot

What?!? If circumstances weren't what they were, I'd take you in an instant! (Sorry, CEO.)

@PaintDrop: You fancy him? :P (You've been dedicating a lot of time on beautifying yourself.)

RRBB

Yay, lucky me :/ One of two fillies has promised to marry me when they get older.

Fleet, I'll tear your feathers off! :/

CEOWitch

@RRBB: You are dead to me!

I demand to play with Pixel for one hour after class!

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I think you and CEO would look cute together. :)

Does anypony know how Short&Hoofy is doing? I haven't seen her lately and she hasn't been responding to my PMs. Same about Max.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: She's fine, just really grounded. :( Hopefully she and Max will be back here soon.

LyraHands

I think I got it! The Everprince is actually Zeus' father who dot imprisoned by his sons along with everyone else who interfered with their taking over reality!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: You're such a geek! How did Dark let her through her hooves? You two would have made a great couple. :)

But no. No way that will happen.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: He's already part of a great couple! Besides, I was faster :P Isn't that right?

CodeFilly

What she said! This thread has been licked!

MightyDragon

I'm sure that's not all that has been licked :P

LyraHands

Hypocrite!

MightyDragon

Stallions and mares, must I start warning you as well?

The TechNightling

Sorry. I blame Brush and summer.

LyraHands

Worried Paint PMs

You must stop it. I'm serious.

PaintDrop

What do you mean?

RRBB

Oh, come on! Still flirting with YouKnowWho? After everything that's happened? How do you think that will end?

PaintDrop

I'm not flirting! I'm just being friendly, as I'm trying to be with everypony (even the loser duo). I thought you would be glad that I'm not getting into fights that often? Also, if I was flirting (which I'm not) it's none of your *yay* business!

RRBB

I see.

PaintDrop

Wait! Paint, I'm sorry :( I didn't mean it. It's just a touchy subject, you know. Her messing me up... that whole thing with me being who I am. My parents...

I caught my father searching for "cures" online. He still thinks this is something I can get away from. Heck, he's even been asking about mind control. I'm not saying I'm happy about this either, but having my mind blanked is just... I almost rushed to his office. Good thing I didn't. The conversation would have turned nasty.

RRBB

I know. I just don't want to watch you destroy yourself. I know it's amusing, and YouKnowWho is really trying her best to be friends with you, but most of that's guilt talking and you know it. You two have practically nothing in common... apart from being considered two of the hotties in school.

Just try to be less... advancing? Please? Inviting her to play with Pixel after school? That was a bit obvious.

PaintDrop

Well it wasn't like I invited only her. You were there!

RRBB

You invited the rest as an afterthought. Good thing she said no. If it had been yes, there could have been a repeat of the bathroom crisis.

PaintDrop

Well, fine. Maybe I had some small hope, but it's not like I’m stupid or anything. I know nothing could work out.

RRBB

That's precisely why I'm worried. If you were stupid all would be fine. Yet I'm sure you're scheming some complicated plan to try and "turn" her, even if you know you can't. Worse, what will happen if you manage that? Have some fun for a few years until she gets tired of you the same way you dropped all the colts you used to date?

PaintDrop

That was different and you know it! I just want to be friends with her! Is that too much to ask? Do I need your permission to spend time with somepony now? :/

RRBB

When have you needed my permission for anything? Anyway, I'm not getting into a fight with you. I'm here when you need me if you like it or not, even if you're making the stupidest mistake in your life. Again! Remember how you were crying after what happened last time? Why would you think this would be different?

PaintDrop

It might be! It's not like I have any alternatives here. What do you suggest? I start hitting on you? On SweetStuff? On anypony else? Happiness doesn't come easy in this world, and I intend to fight for mine. Even if the odds are against it, even if the chances are a million to one. I lose the moment I give up!

RRBB

And in the process miss on the happiness that was always there. I really don't understand you sometimes. Do you honestly think she's the only one?

PaintDrop

What? You think I'll end up in some fairytale marriage like Lyra did? This is the real world, Paint. Things don't work like that. Sure, she got lucky, but I'm not her. Chances of me finding anypony remotely suitable even on the site are remote. And even if I do, what then? Start a long distance relationship like Jade or your brother?

RRBB

Sorry. That was mean. I know you're trying to help, but... *yay* I'm really messed up. You know that. She's just so... what can I do? Every time she smiles at me I feel things. Stars, I wish I can stop thinking about her, but I just can't. I've tried to hate her, to ignore her, nothing works. At least now we can talk in a normal fashion. Who knows? Miracles happen from time to time.

RRBB

It's that mentality that has me worried :( Tell me, what would you do if you receive a love confession?

PaintDrop

You mean like the ones I get all the time?

RRBB

No. If somepony came up to you and told you they loved you as much as you do YouKnowWho, what would you do?

PaintDrop

As if that will ever happen.

RRBB

I'm serious. What would you do? Would you cut them off there and then? Feed them a line? Pretend? What?

PaintDrop

I'd end it in such a way that they don't even think they'll ever get a chance. Just like that. I'll probably be civil about it.

Is this another of your psychology stunts? You're putting me in You's shoes so that I get a taste of what it's like? Paint, I invented manipulation. There's no way this will make me change. You should know that.

RRBB

Stars, do you always compare everything to yourself? :/ No, I'm not comparing you to YouKnowWho. I'm just asking if a pony comes to you and spills her heart out what would you do? Say no and continue chasing after YouKnowWho, or give this new relationship a chance?

And no, I'm not confessing I love you! I'm your friend, but that's as far as it goes on that front.

PaintDrop

She, eh? Nice touch.

Well, in this highly theoretical situation I confess I don't know how I'll react. Depends on who it is. If Twist tells me that I'll probably say no. She's funny on the site, but no way I'll start going out with her (lisp or not). If it's SweetStuff, I might say yes. I'm not sure. She's cute, but a bit whiny. Everypony else, I've no idea.

RRBB

Okay then. At least that's something.

PaintDrop

Listen, Paint. I have to go. Thanks for the concern, really, but please just stop. I know it might go badly, but I'm prepared. And if I happen to crash and burn, either be there for me or not. With all the *yay* that's been going on in my life lately I really don't care. What happens happens. It's not like any of us can control it.

RRBB

Take care. And please don't crash.

PaintDrop

Consequences

Girls, I know it's unusual coming from me, but I have something important to say.

I won't pretend it's been easy, but we've had a long discussion with my sis and I'll be moving her to stay with Jade's parents in the Crystal Empire. Hopefully she'll still get to visit, but her life will be there now. I've already spoken with the school and with Luna to get her paperwork started.

It's sad this should happen in the middle of the school year, but I can't in all good conscience let her go back here. Lying to me, skipping classes, other issues... Before you all charge at me, I'm not blaming her. Short and I had a long talk and we believe this is for the best.

Sorry I had to bring such news.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: What the hay?!? Max, tell me this some prank or something!

RRBB

@RRBB: Hey, it's okay. It's for the best. I'll still be online. And it's not like it'll happen right away. Teach said it'll be weeks at least until everything is set up.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: We must talk. When are you coming back to school?

RRBB

@RRBB: Please no. My ears are still ringing after my last talk. Let's just try to have a nice month before I go. Please?

Short&Hoofy

My parents and I will be taking good care of her so don't worry, girls. Best we could do is move on to other things. I might disappear for a few days (catching up on my lost week of school) but I'll be making the necessary arrangements.

Thanks for you understanding, all.

Jade

@Short&Hoofy: I'll make time to show you the city when you arrive. Chin up, sweetie, it'll be alright :)

InItForTheShipping

In other news, Simile and EndlessHearts have updated great chapters. Only bad thing, both chapters are on the sad side. More betrayal going on in in Daggers, and School Days really had a depressing scene with that confrontation.

I'm impressed you girls can put out such content so fast. Are you published?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Seriously? :/

RRBB

@RRBB: Yes, seriously. I suggest you read the stories.

PaintDrop

What's going on? I was only gone a few days and this happens? :( Buck it up a tree!

@MixaMax: I'm going to your house right now to learn more of this!

Brush

@Brush: You won't find anypony there. I'm at work.

MixaMax

Buck you, Max!

Brush

@Brush: couldn't resist. :) Sure, come over. I've had a long talk with Lyra about this.

@PaintDrop: Yeah, they are pretty good. Better than the series even.

Starting rant.

Seriously? The Director is Danny? What were they thinking?! I get the whole reality split thing, but things are getting absurd. At this rate I wouldn't be surprised if the Everprince is actually the grand 9 who are his aspects split into realities then merged into one! (See, I can think up crazy stuff too. I wanna be a writer.)

Also, I'm having second thoughts on that dream thing. If Poseidon has been sending the dreams all along, why were they so inefficient? There have been several chapters in which the dreams helped Danny and co defeat rogue followers of Poseidon. Yes, I know there could be some deep, dark plan, but come on! We're going from one cliche to another.

I'm starting to like Icelos, though. I went back to the original series and he was quite well written. (You were right, Tech, there were some good scenes. Not chapters, though :P)

Back to School Days, maybe it's because of present circumstances, but it gives me the feels. I can't stop reading it, but I also want to throw it away and never look at it ever again! You really can tug the heartstrings, Endless. :)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Guess I have competition.

Joking. @EndlessHearts is good. I think we would make a great match if we combine our writing styles. Where do you live, if it's okay asking? I'd love to meet you.

Simile

@Simile: Crystal Empire. I'm not there now.

EndlessHearts

Collaborations... that reminds me of the project @Brush, @Bob, and I were supposed to start. What happened with that, eh? :/

What about we get together and actually write the *yay* thing?

RRBB

@Brush: You're back! Now get writing! :P

@RRBB: Yeah, you should get to that. Also, why did you stop the Danny Saga? :(

@Short&Hoofy: Always here if you need me.

LyraHands

@Short&Hoofy: Noooooo! :( *hugs* Why, Short? :((( Please don't go. Just saying that makes me miss you. Isn't there anything I can do to make you stay? *tight hugs*

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Wow. Sweet, I never knew you saw Short like that. Show some self control, will you? Sheesh! What will Rumble think?

RRBB

@RRBB: You kidding? Hot U-U action? He'll probably be watching. :P

YouKnowWho

That moment when you're no longer sure what part of the posts are real and what are fantasy... Love it! :)

Feather

@RRBB, @YouKnowWho: You're horrible! :(((

SweetStuff

@RRBB: And back to being a jerk... :/

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: What did I do? :/

RRBB

I think we're veering dangerous towards the area that we shouldn't. I can hear Tech trying his best not to come in here and clobber us all with his hoof of justice.

We better stop.

LyraHands

Guess I picked a bad time to join.

Hi, everybody. I'm Sgt Pepper and I'd like to say I'm a huge fan of this site and the series. (I actually saw some of you when you came to Canterlot for your convention :))

Well, that's about it. Can't wait for next week's chapter and the calumniation of the first arc. :)

Sgt Pepper

@Sgt Pepper: Hello, hello. :) Welcome to our growing corner of the aethernet :D We're always glad to have new members. And don't be scared of the craziness. Everypony's just goofing around :)

LyraHands

@Sgt Pepper: Sergeant? Does that mean you're a stallion?

Brush

@Brush: Yes, but I'm just a common guard. :) That was my nickname when I was a colt (I'd love to eat peppers.)

Sgt Pepper

@Sgt Pepper: Oooh, bby! Come 'ere and I'll give you some peppers. :D

Brush

I've seen enough Brush posts to know where this is going.
This thread has been preemptively locked!

LyraHands

Site Exploit

@all: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

An exploit has been discovered in the login system we've been using. At this point there's no indication that anything has been tampered with, but we strongly recommend that you change your pass codes.

We'll be looking into this further to determine if there has been any breach.

It's also a good idea to check your accounts on any other sites in case they have been compromised. In case of doubt get in touch! Send me or any of the mods a PM. I strongly recommend if you have real life access to any of them to talk directly. I'm in touch with Candle in Manehattan, and there are mods in Canterlot, Ponyville, the Crystal Empire, Trottingham, and Cloudsdale, so all regulars and close friends, please get in contact if there's anything suspicious.

Submissions will be closed until we get a lid on this.

The TechNightling

The exploit has been confirmed to be pass only, so don't worry about them getting your aether signature. They could potentially brute force into your accounts, though, so change your pass quick! Also, follow Tech's suggestions.

A personal request, warn as many other sites as you could. I've already PMed a few ponies from old sites I used to visit.

LyraHands

How the heck did they manage to crack the login? I thought it was secure? :/

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: time stamp fluctuation. That's why time spells are so well guarded. From what I read they exploited the time handling protocols, reverting to the exact time of a successful login and did a pass change request.

Just to be clear, it looks like no actually passcodes were taken, just ponies were locked out of their accounts.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: What?!? They still haven't fixed that exception? Wow! :/ it's been known for years!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: The question is if that's the full exploit of it lead to an even greater vulnerability. Mighty and I patched that particular issue a while back, but it's never been tested for more than a single attack. From what it looks like a whole team of hackers did it at once overloading the system.

We're checking our honeypots for viruses.

CodeFilly

I'll be on to lend a hoof in 10 minutes.

DarkSparkle

Wow. Full panic mode.

My site tech told me that my site was taken down. Not that I bother reading the stupid thing. I hope you guys have a clean backup. Seems that's the way to go. Just pass the fics through a pure-text convertor and reupload them on the new copy.

RRBB

Omg! They actually put porn on my site?!? This is hilarious! Now I want to see what they put, but the techs (and my parents) are still going insane. Seems they tried to take my father's site down as well.

GG no re.

RRBB

It's just a prank attack, girls. Reverting to 47 hours ago will get rid of the issue. It's so precious they did it. This way ponies will finally see that they need to take better care of the core elements.

I'm thinking, would a human be able to hack in the aethernet? And if so what will she see? It's like us hacking their system and getting a ton of humie pics.

Twist

Eww! Twist, you made me lose my lunch :(

SweetStuff

@Twist: I'm not so sure. From what I read, this is part of a multi stage attack. The exploit was more sophisticated than a simple timestamp duplication. Speculation is they tried to get one of the princesses passes.

MightyDragon

As if the princesses browse the aethernet. :/ I've heard the Luna rumors, but so far they're just that.

Best we can do is stop speculating, patch things up, and change the pass codes. Cool idea about a human hacking in, though. They'll probably get horse pics and run away screaming. Oh, @SweetStuff, did you start your human rock band love story? :)

MixaMax

You can relax, girls. It was just a prank, as Twist said. The only thing done was some porn appearing in places it shouldn't. Still, best safe than sorry.

Oh, and the culprits have been identified. ;)

Bob

@Bob: It's always difficult to know what's going on and who's involved with these things. Until there's an official statement be vigilant.

The TechNightling

The excitement never ends. Looks like the attack originated in Canterlot. Fun.

@Luna: you good?

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: I think everything's okay. I'll talk with Blueblood about getting a backup server for the site. There's already so much fics there it would be a tragedy if all of them go missing.

Luna

Did you know that humans often access the aethernet through their own virtual network? At present there are at least two members of the writing team that are in the human world, keeping in touch with their editors through the aethernet.

More news later.

Speculator7

@Speculator7: And I'm Discord's daughter :/ It's really not the time for that crap. Ponies are scared.

LightSparkle

Hey, we added our own layer of encryption. Everything should be okay, and I have backups of a large part of the stories. Don't panic. Stay calm and smell the roses.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Oh, good! Your porn collection is safe! :P

RRBB

@RRBB: You're in a mood today. If you want to tell me something I can come after school.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Please don't make that mistake. You've no idea how mad I am at you. The only reason I haven't done anything about it is because my stupid post started that mess!

You should thank Short for standing up for you! If it wasn't for her I'd be the one visiting you. At work!

RRBB

@RRBB: I know you hate it when ponies tell you this, but try to calm down. All you, Short, and Max gave been through a lot.

LyraHands

I'm out of here! Ciao and catch you later!

RRBB

@all: I'm shutting down the site to make some security updates. Should be back up in a few hours. Use the time to check your accounts on other sites!

The TechNightling

Brush Fears PMs

Lyra, I need to talk to you again. Are you here?

Brush

In and out. Tough day at work and trying to deal with this exploit thing. That scared me to Tartarus and back. Tech, Code, Mighty, Dark, and even Light are going through it now. So far everything seems calm, thank Celestia.

LyraHands

Oh... that's nice. I’ll bother you some other time.

Brush

That sounded serious. What's the matter? You aren't in any trouble, right?

LyraHands

No. Not exactly. I'm just... I feel there's tension building up between me and Mota. :(

He's been talking more and more about foals and marriage lately, and Don't think I'm ready. And with all the real life stuff sending me all over Equestria I don't get to see him as much as before. :( He was always gently pushing me to consider making us official. When we were together I could find an excuse to change the topic. Now though... I haven't seen him in a week, and even then it was for a few days after another long pause. :(

I'm not sure what to do, Lyra! :( I don't want to lose him! I love him so very much. And he loves me, I can feel it! At the same time he wants something I don't think I can give. You know how nervous I get. I had nightmares for a week after the meetup, and I loved it there! Telling his family and mine, out friends... that's just too much.

Brush

Woe there! He asked you the question? I never knew he was that serious.

LyraHands

Not exactly. He's been suggesting it. Most often it'll be a subtle comment, or a comment about Jade and Max. He has been insisting I take the first step, though. We almost got into a fight about it yesterday :( I never thought I'd get into a fight with him.

You probably think I'm an idiot. The stallion of my dreams is here… and I get cold hooves because he's offering me exactly what I dreamt he would.

Brush

I feel like we've had this conversation before. What you need to do first and foremost is to remain calm. Take a few deep breaths, then fly about just for the heck of it.

Sometimes stallions are like that. He's probably worried that he might lose you, which, let's face it, isn't a huge leap considering what you do. Stallions can be clingy sometimes, it's their nature. To be honest, you do need a push every now and again.

LyraHands

I’m not ready for such a commitment! I can barely take care of myself! What if I'm a horrible wife? Or worse, a horrible mother? He'll be depending on me and I can... I don't even know what I could mess up :(

Brush

Hey, if there's anypony qualified to become a parent, that's you. You've been taking care of things ever since I met you. Hay, if I needed a foalsitter I'd call you. That's not your worry. The only thing that you need to think about is how to stop freaking out and treat Mota in a way that would show him you're ready, but prefer to do it a bit later. That's the trick. As long as he knows in his mind that you're okay, he'll give you time, maybe even more than you need.

LyraHands

But I can't! Every time we talk about this I want to fly away. Sometimes I'm even scared talking to him because I fear he'll ask and I'll...

Brush

How long has this been going on?

LyraHands

A few weeks. I... he told me he was scared about me and I'm not spending enough time with him. The conversation moved to foals a bit later.

Brush

That might be another issue. I think it's best you tackle it first. Make it a point to spend more time with him, and just agree about the having goals in principle. And don't freak out. Okay?

LyraHands

Okay...

Brush

Umm, do you have any suggestions how I could make him happy again? I really love him and I constantly feel I'm letting him down :(

Brush

Have you tried flowers? Stallions love those.

LyraHands

Uhh. I've been sending his favorite brand of tulips, the ones we have when we're together. And I even brought him a pet to play with. (A cute duckling. He said it reminds him of me.) Still, I feel it's not the same... :(

Brush

Oh, mare... One of the best romance writers on the site and I need to give you advice. Two things: romantic evening and fireflies.

Based on what I've seen, Mota likes the notion of romance. Free up a night, preferably tonight, find a nice romantic meadow, and when the moon rises have Mota teleported there. Best way is to send him a PM asking about it, then when he asks when, you get him teleported and whisper in his ear "Now".

Think of him as a foal that needs calming down. You need to be strong, reliable, you need to make him feel safe.

In the morning have him teleported back.

LyraHands

I don't know... do you think it will be enough? Maybe I can get something special from Cloudsdale or the Empire?

Brush

Brush, he has everything money can buy. That's not why he fell for you. He just wants you, but more importantly, he wants you to reassure him you're there for him.

LyraHands

Okay. I'll do that.

Brush

And no tears! He must be the one to cry first. (Yeah, it’s stupid, I know, but this is sort of important.)

LyraHands

Thanks, Lyra. I don't know what I'd do without your help... I just hope it works. I can't lose him.

Brush

You won't :) Now I gave to rush before my boss gives me the look for taking so long.

Do it tonight! Good luck :)

LyraHands

I will.

Brush

Author's Note

Heya, all!
This marks episode 100! :D Huge thanks to all of you for your support, comments, And help with this strange fic :D

It's very much thanks to you that I've managed to get as far as I have :D
To mark the occasion I'll be hosting a Discord AMA (story related only) this Sunday round 18:00 GMT (10-14 US time depending on area if my calculations aren't wrong) and would very much like to have you there :D (I'll be posting an invite Saturday)

Thank you again, and anjoy a great week! :))

Breakdown

@all: Good morning,

I'd like to officially say that things are tentatively back to normal once more. We've gone through the codebase and can safely assure you that there's nothing to be concerned about. No viruses have been found and no snatch attempts made.

I'd like to thank the mods, Light, Twist, Simile, Bob, InItForTheShipping, and HopHop for joining in the efforts to sort out this mess.

The examination of the code has also lead to a number of improvements (none of which you'll be able to see, but suffice it to say that the site is now running 130% faster and is even more secure than before).

Related to this, we've decided to create a new role: Tech Wing, along with a dedicated section to discuss code and practices (referred to Simile as "Geek Squad"). In order to not spam the site, the section will be request only, although no one would be refused access if she wants it.

Thank you for your time.

The TechNightling

A small announcement from me as well. Thanks to Prince Blueblood, with support from S&S, we now have a backup server in the palace. All costs will be covered from here and it will contain an archive of all fics posted in case of future exploits by hackers.

I'd like to stress that the site has moved from one of the most treasured and fun sites I've been to to something even larger (and close to reaching 100k unique users). :D

And since it's me, I'll confirm the rumor that the last chapter of the arc will be about the Everprince. Following that will be a 3 month hiatus during which book copies of the story will be published along with spinoffs and a comic series. ;)

Luna

RIP savings... RIP me :(

LyraHands

@Luna: This is great! Can't wait (for any of it). I'll be getting the book the moment it comes out. Family has started showing interest in the series. Funny thing is that my father mentioned having memories of the original when he was young, but never getting read it. Wonder if he'll get into it now.

Also, I've made a list of all mentioned characters in Everwhere, including the number of scenes they are present in. So far we have quite a few that could turn out to be the Everprince (and that's only assuming he's indeed male). Let the speculation begin! (I personally like the idea of the gods merging together the best.)

PrinceEric

@Luna: filthy money grabbers! Lyra has to beg for money and sleep under bridges to afford all the merchandise you keep spewing out! And I hope the next set of miniatures is better. (Some of them are just... :/) See you at the huge meeting tomorrow.

@PrinceEric: unless I'm wrong that makes 57 characters in total (non-humans included). I hope you haven't included every background character that gets a one line introduction. (There's no way he could be any of those. I mean there is, but it will stupid.)

I have a theory, but I, not sharing it to avoid Everypomy going "ha!". I've shared it with Jade, though so you know I'm not lying if it happens.

MixaMax

She hasn't, actually.

Jade

@Jade: traitor! No more snuggles for you!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Fine by me. You're the one that keeps asking for them anyway.

Jade

@Jade: What? All the snuggles then!

How do I always fall for that trick :( The things I must suffer having Jade as a fiancé...

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I'm sure it's unbearable.

Jade

Girls, RRBB won't be on for the next few days :( She just lost it a few minutes ago. We were in the middle of class (literature) when she jumped off her seat, started crying and kicked her desk into the wall. Then she galloped out of the room. :(((

PaintDrop is with her now. I don't know what's going on.

SweetStuff

That filly has some serious issues :( Shame since she's cool. Was anypony hurt?

LightSparkle

@SweetStuff: Just great :/ PM me when you know more.

MixaMax

I hope she's not back to her old issues. And just when I thought she was getting better. I have nonstop work for the next two days (and am not even in the area) so no chance of passing by. (Stupid boss sends me everywhere just to show off my flank. Literally! But that's for another rant...)

@Brush, @LyraHands: Can you help out on this?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Brush is occupied today but I'll go after work.

@SweetStuff: How serious is it?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I don't know! :( Seemed pretty serious. All the girls are spooked. Usually this happens after she's being mean and everything. Today she was silent all morning, just got up and... I don't know what to think :(

@CEOWitch: nopony was hurt. Other than RRBB. We're all a bit shaken, though.

SweetStuff

RRBB isn't in a good place right now. Just sending you a line not to @ or PM her. She's crying in the bathroom, so I'll vanish as well in a bit. Will let you know when there are changes.

PaintDrop

What the hay? I complimented her new look before class. I hope I've not caused this :(

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: You're good.

EndlessHearts

This is turning out to be the worst day :(

SweetStuff

@YouKnowWho: Did you two get into a fight again?

Twist

@Twist: Wow! Mean much? And no. We barely talked today. Scratch that, we didn't talk at all. I said hi when she came to school, she mumbled something, sighed, then went to playing with Pixel at her desk. Really whacked :(

YouKnowWho

This sounds like a friendship problem. @SweetStuff, try to help, okay? And PM me if I'm urgently needed. (I'm at a conference on the other side of Equestria :( )

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: You and me both.

CEOWitch

@DarkSparkle: Okay.

SweetStuff

@LyraHands: Err, I think I have been blocked. Can you help unblock me, please?

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: We haven't implemented blocking functionality yet. What happened? Might be a bug.

LyraHands

I'm getting a flea-bitten error message each time I try to PM EndlessHearts.

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: That's because Endless closed her account a few minutes ago :(

LyraHands

:~( Worst day ever :((( I loved Endless. Hope she comes back.

SweetStuff

I'll have a word with them, so don't worry. Things will get better.

DaBoss

Yeah! No frowns! Just tears of joy for what happens next!

And parties!

PPI

Marmalade!

HopHop

@HopHop: Somehow that made me chuckle. Thanks.

School let RRBB off so I'm taking her home. Talk tomorrow.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: You're a great friend, you know that, right?

Take care.

LyraHands

Dark Week

Hades Soulwatcher

Deity, Unseen, Chooser

Eldest of the gods and ruler of the unseen, Hades remained quiet for millennia. With time, however, he grew jealous of his younger brothers for being worshiped and adored. His growing envy lead to his corruption and subsequent battle with Zeus for control of Gumania. Believed to have been saved by the chosen, Hades has kept quiet for the time being.

Siblings: Zeus, Poseidon
Place of birth: Holy Olympus
Divine power: Soulcraft
Follower: Blazen Ruul
Focus: Spirit

"Weren't you impressed until you hit the floor?"

With things going on, I'm the one to post this, I guess :( RRBB and PaintDrop haven't come to school, Scoots is at home with a fever, and my stupid sis has left for Manehattan leaving me to take care of our cat... :( I'm not a happy pony.

SweetStuff

Sorry :( My sis got me doing chores or I'd pass by to help.

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: *sigh* And my sweetheart is off to Rainbow Falls with his brother.

My stomach hurts when I think about RRBB. She was so sad yesterday :(

SweetStuff

Yes, a lot of ponies doing unwell :( Snips got food poisoning, half the class have hay flu. Sweet and Short are feeling miserable. I'll dash home during break to get candy canes for all.

Twist

@Twist: You're sweet, but that's not the problem I think.

MixaMax

I know everypony's worried, but maybe not post this in public, okay? :/

Yes, RRBB is going through something right now. She had a very rough now and is, from what I understand, sleeping. I've already spoken with the school and will be taking her books and homework to bring to her today.

PaintDrop

Whoa! It's like a hurricane hit you :( So pant ponies sad and depressed. Am I missing something or what?

Feather

Don't ask...

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I think it might be a good idea for everyone from class to go with you, just to show we care? I mean only those who could. (The cat won't mind a being left for a few hours more.) :)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I'm not sure that's a good idea. RR wants to remain alone for a while. Even I won't stay.

PaintDrop

@all: I'm quitting the site.

I was thinking of doing this silently, but that would be mean to all of you who helped me despite what I am (in every sense of the word). Looking at it I don't deserve you, I never have. Just because I have a few bits more hasn't given me the right to treat you like *yay*. I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. I'm sorry I didn't see so many things earlier.

This has been a long time coming. Even before the meet-up, I was considering quietly vanishing into inactivity. I let myself to be convinced otherwise, and For a while I even thought I was getting better. The universe, though had other things in store.

Yesterday I had a fight with one of my closest friends. In a few months I'll lose another. I know the site is not responsible, but I associate the loss with it, and as such it's become too painful for me to remain.

@LyraHands: I'm so sorry. You've no idea how often I think of you as a mother, always looking out for me.

I won't be deleting my account, but I don't expect to open it again, so don't waste PMs.

Bye

RRBB

@RRBB: :( You were one of the the first Nightling ponies I met, even before Lyra made the site. Isn't there something I could do?

Brush

@Brush: I don't think she'll answer. To be honest, I don't feel that happy either. Not the best way before a MCE chapter, but there you have it. Life goes on, I guess.

PaintDrop

I am aware that you probably don't want to hear advice from an old hoot such as myself, but I'll say it anyway. There's no pain that hurts as much as the heart. There's no greater stupidity either.

As a pony who's been through a few breakups, and had his wife taken before her time, I can safely say I'm familiar with such pain. I'm fully aware you'll probably laugh at these words. I'm not you, after all, and as such have no idea what you're going through. Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't know, but what I am aware of is that even pain is just a feeling. In time it will fade away. At this point it's all up to you. When the moment comes, will you treasure it, as a comfortable remnant of the past, or will you cast it away and dare take a chance at happiness once more?

Only you can answer that. Many can give you advice, but at the end of the day it remains your decision. Just know that no matter what you decide, this old stallion is honoured to have known you.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: Duude! That's some speech! Not only is it 100% true, but it's so well said... you should be writing.

@RRBB: first three heartbreaks are the toughest. Take some time off, but hang in there ;)

LightSparkle

@RRBB: I understand. Always here for you, okay?

LyraHands

I knew I should have flown to see you! :/

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: I don't think it would have made any difference. :(

PaintDrop

Life hurts... :(

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: The moment I'm back from Canterlot, I'll have a few words with you. You have no idea what an impossibly idiot you are!!! Yes, I said it! I'll say even more! You're like a pony who puts spikes on her horseshoes—burying yourself and others because you're too stupid and stubborn to look at the *yay* horseshoes and see that things are messed up!

I'm the last pony who should do that, but I'll spell things out for you! I'll paint them all over your house if I have to! And then we'll have a talk on self pity!

MixaMax

That's enough, Max. Locking the thread.

LyraHands

RRBB's Secret PMs

Hey.

RRBB

I know I shouldn't be writing to you... Tartarus, if I had any sense I'd probably move to another city just to be away, but we both know I'm an idiot with no self control. And let's face it, you probably won't read this *yay* anyway.

RRBB

Stupid Tech! Now he's added c rap and s hit to the filter. I love him, but he's really so past millennium.

RRBB

I got into a fight with Paint yesterday. Mostly about you. She thinks I'm an idiot for hoping you'll ever like me. It's not like she'd ever understand that losing you is like losing my whole world. As much as I know it will never work out I still hope that maybe one day a miracle will happen... it’s not like I deserve it, but still, you know. Maybe I could get just a kiss?

I don't know why I'm ever writing this carp! My whole life's crumbling down. A few months ago I was father's princess. The only thing I had to worry about was my stupid grades. Now... I nearly lost Paint. I don't even know why she bothers to put up with me. I wouldn't. Short will leave for the Empire in a month... right now you are all I have left.

RRBB

I dreamt of you last night. We were at a lake laughing. Then you hugged me. It felt so warm.

I'm sorry I made fun of your wings all those times. They are cute. All of you is cute and beautiful. Just looking at you hurts me, knowing that somepony other than me will have you.

Maybe I really need to listen to PaintDrop and start thinking about something else. We live in the real world, this isn't one of my stories (I wish it was). Maybe time will help me get over you. Maybe...

RRBB

I got a love confession. It was in private from EndlessHearts.

I guess I should be happy, right? Finally somepony who loves me in a deep sensual way. If only it was a mare... if only it were you. :( Now I know there's another life I'm wrecking...

SweetStuff stole your crush, didn't she? I know you'll never tell admit to anypony, especially to her, but I think it's obvious. How did you manage to remain sane all this time? Being with her all this time, laughing at her jokes, going on adventures together, watching her and him be together.

I still feel anger each time I catch somepony looking at you. Yet, you seem so okay about it... why are you so good, so perfect?

RRBB

I'm not perfect.

It takes a lot of strength writing the things you do. Look at me—I never got to say what I should have said and now I lost him. The pain has nearly gone away now. I see them together and they are both happy. At times that's the only thing that counts.

YouKnowWho

*yay*!

RRBB

Yeah, you didn't get to delete your messages like last time.

I won't lie, I didn't like all the things you did to me all those years. I hated you for it, but when you told me that time in the bathroom... it was like Equestria had ended. I had nightmares for a week trying to make sense of things.

Stupid thing is, you're cool when you're nice. Really cool. We might have been friends. Well, we are friends now, but we could have been friends sooner.

YouKnowWho

Nothing more?

RRBB

Sorry. It's not like I haven't thought about it, but... no. Just won't work. And I'm not surprised about EndlessHearts. You've always been a magnet of attention. Even now half the colts still want to get you. You broke quite a few hearts when you came out publicly. Also, thanks for not admitting about me openly. I know there are several who know, but they keep it to themselves. I really don't want to get that *yay* from them right now.

How far did Endless go? Was it as steamy as your fics?

YouKnowWho

Don't remind me. I've no idea what I was thinking. (That's a lie, I know exactly what I was thinking, but still...)

It was a very sweet and emotional thing. Pretty much like the story Endless writes. It screams stallion, but it a sweet way. The sad thing is, that if I wasn't what I was, I'd probably have liked him. (Sound familiar, eh?)

If it just wasn't a bundle of feelings I'd just have laughed, maybe even replied. He is serious... dead serious, and that scares me. I might be selfish, but if anything I don't want to anypony else to go through what I did. (And no, I'm not guilt tripping you.)

It's just that Endless should find somepony better. Maybe I should introduce you two? Maybe things will work out in a very twisted kind of way?

RRBB

Please, don't make me laugh! My whole body aches when I do.

YouKnowWho

Yeah. I better get back to trying to figure out my life. Therapists have helped a bit, but... Can I see you again? I won't be going to school this week, maybe not this month either. I promise I won't do anything suggestive. I just want to be with you for a bit. Just that and talk.

RRBB

Well, you're getting no wing hugs, that's for sure.

I'm still pretty sick, though. Been in bed nonstop :( I'll be getting more healing spells this afternoon, and the usual set of pills. Other than that it's mostly rest and water.

YouKnowWho

I can visit you.

RRBB

I really think that's a bad idea. I'll just end up hurting you one way or the other.

YouKnowWho

Please?

RRBB

...I can't believe I'm agreeing to this. Just, please don't make both of us regret it, okay?

YouKnowWho

Thank you.

RRBB

Wedding Announcement

@all: I have an important announcement to make.

In two month's time, during the first official Nightling convention, MightyDragon and I are getting married. :) This is really a big deal for us (we've been together since school) so we're glad to invite all of you to take part of this.

The ceremony itself will be small and only for family and close friends, but the party itself will be gigantic! MightyDragon has used his influence to have the event at the crystal palace (we must be really important as a fandom: all our meetups end up in palaces :)) so please try not to wreck the place.

Special thanks to @Luna, @InItForTheShipping, and @LyraHands for making this happen! You have no idea how much it means for a pair of geeks such as us.

@RRBB: we know you're going through a very rough time, but we hope you'd come (if not to the event to the wedding ceremony)

Thank you and see you there. :)

CodeFilly

@MightyDragon, @CodeFilly: So it finally happened, eh? Nope, not gonna cry *sniffles*

Not gonna lie, I'm a bit emotional right now, but also very happy for you two! This has been a long way coming, but I never expected it to actually happen. Stars, I feel old. *weep* Now I have to come up with an appropriate gift.

TrueSparkle

@CodeFilly: Nice :) I'm so there! Just need to check if everything is okay (yay bureaucracy :/) And I know just the gift :D

@TrueSparkle: You feel old? *yay* please! :P

Oh, is it okay to bring my boyfriend? He's totally new to all this stuff, but I plan to convert him soon enough :)

LightSparkle

@MightyDragon: Just how many are you prepared to take? Only the regulars are around 50, and that's without the lurkers.

Jade

@Jade: Have no fear, young colt! Everything is under control! Also, I bribed my boss so everything's cool. The place can take up to 5000 I think. :)

MightyDragon

@Jade: I want a room at the palace!

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: I'll be taking notes for our wedding. I'm thinking of having it at a palace as well! (I have a cunning plan :)) Best of luck to you two :) (not that I expect any changes). Actually, will Mighty be moving to you or other way round? Both of you gave important jobs, so I'm not sure which way it'll go.

MixaMax

@CodeFilly: My pleasure :) Always happy to help out a friend and a fellow Nightling :) It will be the best convention wedding ever! (I could already hear PPI and HopHop screaming with joy).

To everyone else, more information about the event will be given in about a month. :) Food will be provided, but you'll have to pay for your stay at the hotel. InItForTheShipping, CEOWitch, and myself will be organizing things, as last time.

Luna

Anypony who doesn't like it will be sent to the moon!

I'll try to come as well this time.

TheRealLuna

Did you know that humans have set foot in the Crystal Empire? One of three devices for traveling to Gumania was located there before being moved to another location. At present there are around 50 ponies who are aware of this, including the members of S.Child's writing team.

Speculator7

Won't it be great if Eric could appear at the wedding? *swoon*

@MasterOfThisAstra, @Brush: Will you be in costume again? :)

PrinceEric

Umm, I'm going to talk to my boss about making custom cosplay outfits. Knowing her the answer will probably be yes, but even so, I don't think we'll manage more than 2-3 sets. If anypony wants one, please let me know. (I've already started something not too cosplayery for Tech.)

Candle

How time flies. Congrats @CodeFilly and @MightyDragon. :) I wish you all the best and will bring something special :)

@InItForTheShipping: What happened with the results of the Shipping contest? Weren't you supposed to be ready by now?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: So eager to lose? :P

LightSparkle

I'll be there as well, just so you know. @Candle: Can I you make me an Euryala costume? She's modeled after me, you know :)

Fleetfoot

@CodeFilly: That's great :) Happy for you two. I'll talk to RRBB after school. Hopefully this cheers her up a bit. Any art requests for me?

@DarkSparkle: impatient much? The judging process is nearly over. A lot of good and not so good entries. The winner's obvious, though ;P

PaintDrop

Awwwwwwww! @.@ Weddings are so romantic!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: No you've no excuse not to sing ;)

ForceFeedback

@CodeFilly: Lyra's busy being emotional and stuff, so I'm congratulating you and Mighty on her behalf. :)

Sheesh, you two really know how to raise the bar. Good luck to the next pair getting married at a con :) Rest assured, Lyra will be there. (Still not sure about myself. Work comes before everything, but I'll try.)

Very curious to see @LightSparkle, though. You claim to know Lyra, but never go into any details... hmmm. :)

Bob

Hmph! I'll have you know, I write the best ships!

If Twist wins this I'll eat my wings! :/

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Careful with what you say, sweetie ;) You might have trouble finding a coltfriend after that. I fear eaten wings are a big turn off. :P

Tomorrow. The results of the contest will be announced tomorrow. One winner, one second place, and three third (based on number of participants). In the spirit of things, awards will be at the event/wedding, given out by myself and the charming bride. :)

InItForTheShipping

@MixaMax: Teleportation spells ;) We've been working on that for a while, and I think we managed to get it to word adequately. Only problem it only works for high powered unicorns :( Good for us, but not so good for everypony else.

@InItForTheShipping: Stop embarrassing me! :)

CodeFilly

Yo, losers! :)

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: Wow, you took! Smooching each other since school? I approve :) I'll be there with something rather unusual as a gift ;)

I brought one of my hothead friends. (You've hit no idea what it took me.) Try not to bruise her ego too much (she's touchy :P)

Feather

Okay, @AwesomePony, you can write something now. :P

Feather

@Feather: Guess she's shyer that you thought :) Don't worry, we'll take care of her :)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Every day I wonder why I agreed to marry you. :/

Jade

@Jade: A lifetime of sexual repression plus my good looks?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Must be the former. And to think I could have married a princess... *sigh*

Jade

And there was much rejoicing!

MightyDragon

Contest Winners

Okay, everyone! Here's the moment DarkSparkle and all of you have been waiting for! The results of the first MCE shipping writing contest!

First off, let me start by saying I was astonished at the amount of submissions I got. Originally, I expected no more that 5-10 all of the known regulars, plus a new newbies trying to cut their teeth. Well, I was very wrong. We received 37 (thirty seven!!!) stories, and that's only those who passed curation. I also got a number of PMs asking for time extension. Sorry I couldn't grant that, but I encourage you to continue your story and publish it on the site nonetheless! :)

Of the usual suspects we had stories from: Brush, RRBB, Candle, Simile, Lyra (big surprise, to be honest), LightSparkle, DarkSparkle, TrueSparkle, Jade, TheRealLuna, and MightyDragon (who chose to go through with his threat).

There were a lot of new names as well, among which EndlessHearts, FireFleece, UpsAndDowns, JustAHuman, and many more. :) I can only thank you for all your time and stories and hope to see you again in my next contest :)

Now, I know DarkSparkle is biting her hooves in anticipation, but before I announce the winners a few special mentions. :)

InItForTheShipping

Show us da magicks! :)

Brush

@Brush: you already showed me da magics, sugar wings ;)

MasterOfThisAstra

@MightyDragon, I love you and everything, but... I honestly can't tell whether you submitted a troll fic or you genuinely write like that. Your style is very... unique, I must say. If there was a wtf award you'd be the unchallenged champion.

@LyraHands: Always amusing to read your works. I'm mentioning you because you made this contest possible, and to encourage you to keep trying. Not the best story, I must say, but with enough practice and tutoring you might get there. Thanks for taking the time, and giving your take :)

@DarkSparkle: Should I be worried about your interest in taur fics? I know I said anything goes as long as there's a human character and both characters are from MCE. Having Eric confess his love to a legendary centaur who came to life because of his tears wasn't what I had in mind. :P (Tears of a Human is the ONLY taur fic, and even if it has its issues is quite well written).

Finally, @JustAnotherSparkle, I was very much surprised by your entry. When I said shipping I didn't mean harem, but you pulled it off quite well. Personally, I don't think humans are as liberal as that, even if you describe it somewhat believably.

That said, I'll be doing a post for each of the categories.

InItForTheShipping

Just how many Sparkles are there?! :/

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: There's a whole flock of them.

PaintDrop

Wha?! Them Sparkles have wings?!

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle, @Celestia: We damn well should!

(Heh, there's a Celestia user. Cute. :))

@SweetStuff: I didn't see your name on the list :/ What happened to tat story about the rock band?

LightSparkle

@SweetStuff: Yeah, what happened with that story about the rock band? :P

ForceFeedback

Third place winners are:

Heart-shaped Whiskers by RRBB

This is a very unusual take for RRBB. Usually we all associate her stories with strong suggestiveness (to say the least) and humor. This is a very bittersweet story of Molly having realizing her crush on Bellucio is more than a crush and trying to act on it. The character and internal dialogue is top tier and the feelings described are lifelike in a human sort if way. The only reason it didn't rate better was the abrupt end, as if RRBB lost interest and just wanted to finish it.

Thank you for your story and well done!

Is it me you're looking for? by EndlessHearts

We've already seen that EndlessHearts excels in writing such stories with School Days. This takes it one step deeper. We have Jenny (a background character in Molly's school) developing a crush for her classmate Phoe (another background character). The relationship starts clunky, building up through heartbreak and misunderstanding to a confession in the end. Very well done and with considerable thought. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of the cliffhanger cliche. Yes and no, I'd have preferred to hear Phoe's answer. Still, it is a masterful piece of work and deserves its place.

I hope I see more stories of you soon, EndlessHearts:)

Cerberus Love by Simile

Now here's a gem if I ever saw one! Normal ponies would be happy to settle on pairing up their favorite characters and going for it. Not Simile. In the mother of all crackships she presents a romance between Cassandra (CEO's daughter) and ONE of the Cerberus triplet. The intricacies with which the Cerberus triplet goes about meeting her, while separate from his siblings, are mind-boggling. Also, great comedic effect with Cerberus appearing with two heads only during an official visit of Zeus.

I can't wait to talk to you about it in person! Keep on writing :)

All winners are free to send PaintDrop your art requests :)

InItForTheShipping

No surprises here. Everyone who has read the stories would agree that the selection is well deserved of third place. I'd have liked Simile's to rank higher by sheer imagination, but that's just my opinion.

@Candle: you weren't that far off either. I'm confident you'll rank next time :)

The TechNightling

RRBB is the best! Pity about Brush :( I lived the way it started, but the way it ends is almost as if it's incomplete :(

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: I know :(( I was distracted by things :(((

Brush

@Brush: I could imagine -.-

PaintDrop

Second place goes to...

Sunday Afternoon Fireworks by LightSparkle

You weren't joking when you told me you were good. :) At first glance this is a simple story: Blazen falls for Megan, has trouble expressing his feelings, is conflicted for being in love with the sister of his best friend, is rejected once, but doesn't give up and wins her the second time around. Nothing special, right? Wrong! It's precisely this that makes the story so beautiful. It's so full of emotion I can not only imagine it, but also see, smell, feel, and taste it. I found myself thinking back to the time I was in school and fell in love with my significant other. Then I read it again.

I strongly recommend that everyone reads this story. It might be about humans, but it's also about ponies. Even with the many details of the human world that are spot on, this remains a love story in the purest form. The only thing I could say is I wish there was more.

InItForTheShipping

@LightSparkle: You were just lucky :/

TrueSparkle

@MixaMax: Why can't you write like Light? At least then you'd be tolerable. I can't wait for you to find something to criticize the story for.

@LightSparkle: I've no words. You're among the top of the top. Personally, I'd have never guessed.

Jade

@Jade: I've seen better :/

MixaMax

Inb4 Dark ragequits again and Lyra licks the thread!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: I know, right?

TheRealLuna

I'll have you know, I'm above such petty things as "ragequitting" for not winning a contest. :I

LightSparkle's entry was quite good, even if I think it lacked certain... natural aspects. Then again, if InItForTheShipping thinks it should rank so high, who am I to say otherwise?

DarkSparkle

Meh. I agree with Max on this.

Feather.

And now the moment you've been waiting for. The winner and undisputed champion of the first MCE shipping contest is...

Twist!

Just kidding :) Twist didn't enter. The real winner is...

Ash and Water by Jade

Our mysterious crystal beauty with the mouth of a sailor has proven to us how he got MixaMax to propose to him after one story. All the stories so far have illustrated excellence of style and feeling, yet Jade has also shown a mastery of structure. Not a single wired is out of place throughout the story, showing us how a grown up Molly and Blazen develop feelings for each other on the Heat of battle and slowly come to terms with them. (Just to clarify, they are fighting on the same side, against the agents of the Everprince.) I read it several times in the hope I could find an instance where the prose or dialogue could be improved and came up empty.

Jade, I don't know how you managed to become so good, but if you don't get published after you graduate it would be a loss to Equestria. You presented us with a story that had a romance element—far beyond what was required for the contest, and did so with such ease that I'm having doubts if you aren't an alicorn!

Thank you for taking the time to give us this masterpiece!

With that the contest is officially over! :) A huge thanks to all who tried their pen at this, a big congrats to the winners, and a huge congrats to Twist who saved DarkSparkle from having to eat her wings.

See you next time, everyone, and keep writing!

InItForTheShipping

@Jade: I knew it the moment I read it ;) Max sure is a lucky girl. :D

LightSparkle

Aha! He just won because you both are from the Empire! Nepotism! :P

Congrats, Jade. You da pone, buddy :)

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: You're there as well, silly *ear nibble* :)

@Jade: it was beautiful :) Congratulations! (I read it four times)

CodeFilly

<3 Jade!

SweetStuff

I don't get it... :(

WaterBottle

@Jade: sweetness, you'll be here soon, right? O:)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: You didn't read it until now, did you? :/ ... yes, I'll be there in a few hours.

Jade

@Jade: there is some punctuation I wouldn't agree with, but it still follows existing conventions, do I'll chalk it down to being a style thing ;) Congratulations, you rascal :) I fully agree with LightSparkle and InItForTheShipping! Write more!

DarkSparkle

Wooooooo! Jade :)))
That was incredible! Apply to S&S as a writer! :D You totally got it!

PrinceEric

@Jade: I know you already have your reward, but will also add a picture from me. You made me fall in love with Blazen while reading. :)

PaintDrop

@Jade: Well played ;)

MasterOfThisAstra

Yay! Shipper Winner's Party!!!

PPI

@MixaMax: You always get the cute ones :P

HopHop

Sorry I can't stay much. Bob got into an accident so will be taking her to hospital. (Nothing serious, but it might be!)

Congrats, Jade :) Great story!

LyraHands

Hope everything is fine...

PaintDrop

It is!!! :D

PPI

@Jade: Well done! :) Knew it would be a stallion to win this! :) (Yes, I said it! Bite me!)

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: *chomp*

Brush

@Jade: A wonder to behold! If I didn't know better I'd say you had copied it from one of the classics. You truly have a rare talent. I've read thousands of stories and none of them are as skilled with words as you.

You, my boy, are a wordsmith extraordinaire as well as a an unparalleled storyteller. :) Please, continue writing!

The TechNightling

Word!

Feather

RRBB's Happy PMs

Hey, you here? I need to talk to you.

RRBB

Come on, will you? :/ Stop being a drama queen and answer me! I know I was *yay* to you, but this is like important and stuff!

Look, I'm sorry, okay? You know it isn't the first time I've been like this. And I really didn't mean it. Not really. You're my best friend, Paint. My really really best friend. You're the only person I could should at from the heart.

Okay, that didn't come out right. Point is I can only be myself in front of you.

RRBB

Hello? Must I start groveling? :/

RRBB

Okay already! Can't I take a bath in peace?! I have a life of my own, you know. Sheesh.

PaintDrop

Finally!

RRBB

And hello to you too.

You didn't come to school today. You weren't at your place either. Did something happen?

PaintDrop

Yeah. Sorta. That's why I'm writing.

I went to see YouKnowWho yesterday. I didn't want anypony jumping to conclusions, so I didn't say a thing.

RRBB

Are you insane!? I won't be able to piece you back together forever! For one vein your life can you NOT do anything stupid. I told you this won't work out the first time. I kept drilling into that thick skull of yours for weeks and what do you do? :/

Now difficult is it to do one simple thing?!?

How bad is it this time?

PaintDrop

There! That's exactly why I didn't tell you! You always jump to conclusions before I get a chance to explain!

Nothing bad happened. I'm... Tartarus, for the first time in my life I'm actually happy! :D It was mega awkward at first. She was still quite sick and I had to sit next to her bed wondering what to say and such. We went through all the cliche phrases (even the weather). Then Pixel sneezed, we both looked at him and started laughing. It was great from there on. We talked about all the things of the past, the times I was mean to her, the times she was mean to me...

I told her she has beautiful wings. ( Cliche, right?) Well, it worked. She smiled to me for once. Then gave me a peck on the cheek. I'm telling you, I never felt like this.

RRBB

You're unbelievable! :(

PaintDrop

I spent the night at her place. Her parents were cool about it (they don't know, by the way). We spoke about a whole lot of things, including her first crush. She's much more fascinating than I imagined. Did you know she plans to become an engineer? Never would have imagined that.

RRBB

You must stop this. Trust me, nothing good will come out of it. I'm glad you're feeling a bit better, but don't forget what for you into this mess. At some point YouKnowWho will fall for someone (a stallion) and you'll be doom and gloom again.

PaintDrop

I don't care! I'm happy now. That's all that matters! She told me we could be friends. If I play my cards right, with luck, I might get her to like as something more. I’m not stupid, you know.

RRBB

I never said you were! I just... mare this is absurd! Do you know that there's somepony with a huge crush on you? Of course you don't. You can't see anything other than YouKnowWho and yourself. As far as you're concerned we all don't exist. >:/

PaintDrop

Of course I know! You really take me for an idiot, don't you? Endless has a crush on me. He said so himself in a PM. He pretty much confessed that School Days was about me and him: he's keep having his eye on me for years, but I never noticed, yada yada...

Look, I know it's not good, and trust me I know exactly how it feels, so I put an end to it.

RRBB

What?!?! Tell me what you did!

PaintDrop

I did the kindest thing possible: I told him I have no interest whatsoever and it would never work out. Oh, I used better words, but was very clear and firm about it. It'll hurt him like Tartarus for a few weeks, maybe months, but in the long run he'll thank me. Now he has has his whole life in front of him to find somepony more suitable. Unlike me he has a choice in the matter.

RRBB

I... I really don't know what to say.

PaintDrop

I do. YouKnowWho wasn't the only reason I PMed you. I hardly slept for two days after the letter. You remember in what state I was. *yay* I was this close to signing up for spell treatment.

It's better like this. Trust me. Endless will find somepony in a few years and I have a real chance with YouKnowWho (much better than I ever dreamed I'd have). I was prepared for her to kick me out an hour after I got there. Instead I got to sleep next to her. Yah, on a pillow on the ground next to her bed, but come on! Did you ever imagine I'd get so far?!

I know you worry about me a lot, and as much as I hate to admit it, you're right most of the time, but this is something about which I'm certain you're wrong. I know the odds are stacked against me, but we could make it work. With enough time and effort, we WILL make it work!

RRBB

And throw EndlessHearts under the cart? Without ever a talk? How fair is that, RR? How would you feel if YouKnowWho hadn't agreed to see yesterday? Will you wreck another room?

PaintDrop

You know what you're asking me to do, right?

RRBB

Endless would want to hear it from you in person.

PaintDrop

No. I'm sorry, Paint, but I won't do it. The matter is closed.

RRBB

I just hope you don't regret it.

PaintDrop

The Everprince

The Everprince

Ruler, Trickster, Shattered

Child of the gods, the Everprince was born into power without wanting it. Years were spent resisting, trying to stay away from it all, until there was but no choice to learn. And with power came bitterness. One they the Everprince saw something no one else could and went to tell others, but instead of thanks received treachery. That single moment changed the Everprince forever.

Siblings: Unknown
Place of birth: Unknown
Divine power: Everhere
Follower: Unknown
Focus: Freedom

"Nice to be me again."

Nope, not ominous at all :P. Guess we all expected this to be the final spoiler to be about the Everprince. Well, now we know for sure. The spoiler is a quite brave marketing stunt. It only works if ponies are familiar and interested in the series. For a total newbie it will be as bland as heck (ha, you missed one, Tech :P).

I find two things interesting. First that the power given is the same as the name of the series. We know that everything is Ever, but to outright say that the Prince controls the Everhere is pretty big.

The second thing: notice how it's never specified if the prince is male or female. For all we know it might turn out to be Cassandra (that would be a twist :P)

In other news, as you can see I'm back. Sorry for my dramatic post and behavior lately. I was just being a jerk. And I can't thank you all enough for all your @ and PM and not giving up on me. I really have the best friends. :)

RRBB

@RRBB: I'm happy you're back and well :)

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: Squeeeeeeeee! :)

SweetStuff

@RRBB: So glad you're feeling better. You gave me a scare, you know. I hope you're taken measures so that what happened again?

LyraHands

@Short&Hoofy: :)) *hug and nuzzle* Missed you :)

@SweetStuff: careful with the sqeees, will you? Pixel I sleeping :P

@LyraHands: Yep, everything is fine and under control :)

RRBB

Yay! RRBB! Great to see you better! Also, great final arc spoiler. Pone, I'm not sure what's going on anymore. What if the speculations were true and the Everprince is the good guy/girl? Were the Chronicles a lie all along?

PrinceEric

I strongly doubt they would destroy one of their solid series just to make their latest installment stand out. To be honest I have see it happen, much to my regret, but I'm council that S.Child's team know what they are doing (as they have proved so far).

@RRBB: wonderful to have you back and in good spirits.

The TechNightling

@RRBB: Err. Hey. Peace?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Okay.

RRBB

@RRBB: :)

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: Good, because you're totally wrong. You're see that the Everprince is Loki. It's so obvious. First character to appear? Always there when weird things happen, and yet not at all bothered by it? We know nothing about him other than he's Danny's roommate. (Does Danny really have a roommate? We haven't actually seen him do any tests or such, just prepare for them.) you tell me he's not.

Although, for a younger male audience, the news will probably come as a complete surprise. A little disappointing, to be honest. All that build up for a "meh" ending. They could have done much better.

MixaMax

@MixaMax

All that build up for a "meh" ending

Sounds like you last night.

The spoiler was rather well presented, aimed exclusively at the fan base. RRBB is completely right that no one else will understand a thing. Also, it won't cause any cringe either. It's a hit or miss, and trust me, if you're not interested in something a miss is much better. That's the reason I dislike the Daring Do books. They make such a big deal of themselves and marketing is trying to shove them down my threat with every commercial they make.

Jade

@Jade: woooooow! You did not just go there! I almost proud of you :)

Brush

@Jade: omg! :))

@MixaMax: that burn! Do you want a ton of lotion? :P

RRBB

Well, this is an interesting day to log on... At least I can tell my teacher has a secret account and is READING it during class! You're not fooling anyopony, teacher! :P (your cough coincided with Jade's post).

@RRBB: somepony is beaming today...

PaintDrop

@Jade: You just keep telling yourself that! If I go at full power I'm afraid I'll break you!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Maybe you need start exercising regularly to build up some stamina? With your desk job you've probably gained a few extra pounds. (I say this as a concerned friend :))

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Oh, shut up!

Gee, way to make me feel inadequate, all. Sheesh :/

MixaMax

@MixaMax: What's the matter? In need of rejuvenation potions? Problems performing? :P I'm sure that WaterBottle can make you a few of those.

RRBB

You bet! I recon I know a lot about potions with all the lessons I've been getting from Zecora and Twilight. I'll make you an energy tonic, no worries!

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: You're my favorite, you know :D

Feather

@Jade: Hey! What's that about trashing Daring Do? :/

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Just saying things as they are. I've heard that some of the adventures might be based on true events, but the writing style, and yeh focus of the stories, is for a more simplistic audience. Of course, that's partly to blame since they are considered more light fantasy (or YA). They are also too in your face.

Jade

@Jade: I'll give you one in your face! Daring do is the best thing ever!

AwesomePony

@Jade: I have to agree with AP on this one. As original as MC is, DD is must more established and easier to follow. Thee something to be said about writing experience. Also let's not forget that DD has chosen the book format.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: The only reason Daring Do is as popular as it is, is because of timing and it's choice of target audience. It's a series by mares for mares (which isn't inherently bad, but has a much greater reach.) Comparing a YA series with coltfiction is absurd. The technical skill is similar, but DD is far more shallow (mostly because of marketing pressures, I'd say).

@AwesomePony: I'd like to see you try! If you think you're mare enough to come face me, go ahead!

Jade

@Jade: What the heck?!? You seriously want me to beat you up? And how do you even know I'm a mare?

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Mare, Please! It's so obvious. Just name a place some weekend and I'll be there!

Jade

@Jade: enough! You win! Now let's kiss and make up!

MixaMax

@MixaMix: Huh?! I wasn't even arguing with you.

Jade

@Jade: So? I take their side! Now come get me from work, will you?

MixaMax

And thus Equestria was saved. Or at least the site.

The TechNightling

Snrkt! :)) Tech, I think we've spoiled you :)

RRBB

Seems so. Locking the thread.

The TechNightling

Four Part Finale 4/4

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 13, The Everloop

Gnnnnn! I can't believe what I just read. I mean, I've been looking forward to this for a while, but once I've read it I went oooooh! Never saw that coming! :) S.Child is a genius.

Now the review!

Megan summons everything to Danny's dorm. Euryala says they've almost got everything needed to put away the Everprince except the crown. (Meanwhile Loki drools over the unconscious Echo, making stupid comments.) Euryala says that all they need is the crown and they could eliminate the threat. Icelos then appears. There's an argument whether or not it's better to kill the Everprince or just repair the reality split. Euryala is obsessed on killing the Prince. Icelos just shrugs and tells her to do what she thinks is best, but be ready for the consequences.

We have a huge part of reminiscing (going back the entire series.) Every character goes back through everything they did until they reached this moment. They also gear up. Molly goes to talk to Icelos asking is it true what she and Bellucio will become. Icelos in untypical fashion makes a pact becoming her patron deity (wow! So he's a deity?) and tells her she'll be fine.

As they prepare to go, they are attacked by Euryala's former teammates (turns out that org is crazy powerful! Eury isn't anywhere near the top ranks. To quote "they're all junior gods!") Loki uses the excuse to play hero to Echo, who is utterly unimpressed.

I won't describe the fight scenes, but I'll just say that the group uses the Shatterstone to jump between realities as they move. (Craziest way of travel ever! They go to one readily, rush a few miles, then move back with enemies attacking all the time.)

Back in the real reality, there's a parallel scene in the Felina corp. Orpheus catches Cassandra sneaking into the vault to get the evercrown. No explanations whatsoever, but the two get into a fight. Cassandra creams him, but not before he sets the alarm.

Blazen creates lots of versions of himself so as to get the crown at which point a crazy psycho scene happens. Echo comes to and screams that Icelos is the Everprince, while the wizard squad is certain that Euryala is. Icelos, very calmly says that Loki is the Everprince. (The standoff is so tense I almost got in trouble with my parents. I was reading it when they called me for dinner and I didn't even notice.)

While they are all accusing each other, preparing crazy powers, a dream copy of Icelos tells Molly to run into the dreamscape and take Bellucio with her. She's confused, but he insists that now is the I envy for her to choose. Reluctantly she does as he asks. Suddenly the Everprince (armor) appears. Everyone starts fighting everyone, as well as the Everprince (so cool!).

[mc-spoiler]
Finally, in the most twisted turn of events, everyone trying to trick everyone, Loki is revealed to be the Everprince, and goes for the crown, but Euryala stops him. An intense combat scene follows with the crown rolling to Omni, who picks it up, then puts it on. It's then revealed that he's part of the Everprince, along with Loki and the Everprince armor! The three of them combine (a bit like Cerberus) resulting in Omni with Loki's eyes and hair, the crown, and parts of the armor. He thanks Icelos personally, as well as the remaining 8 (and Caprice) for making it possible for him to escape his prison, then goes on a slightly long explanation how it happened (apparently one of his forms was cursed to be reborn as sick people—Omni).

He then vanishes with Echo. Leaving the rest to look at each other and go "What now?"
[mc-spoiler]

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! I can't believe it! I want to reread everything from the beginning, but am too tired. I also can't wait for the next chapter! (Curse the hiatus!) I must say, I was not expecting that! More! :))

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Yep, I didn't see this coming. Well, I knew that we would get the re eat, and I suspected the bit about Loki, but not in such a way. Omni taking the crown in chapter one make so much more sense now. Yeh trick was him getting together with his other halves. And the best part? That until he trounced was close to Loki he didn't even suspect what he was. I've read a few other fantasy stuff in which this was used in the worst possible way, but here it makes a lot of sense (especially with the Evertheme).

Big question is what now? I've heard that there will be a 3-6 month hiatus, even if part of the chapters are written or at the very least have a functional outline. (I'm looking at you @Luna!)

What do you think?

RRBB

@RRBB: Will you be coming to school this week? I kinda miss you, you know...

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Yeah, sort of. :( Sorry. I miss you too, snuggles, but I really prefer to avoid school for a bit. Want to come over to my place with Paint sometime?

RRBB

@RRBB: She'll be busy catching up on the lessons she's been missing while pretending to go to school :/

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Are you serious?! :/

RRBB

@PrinceEric: I think that we couldn't have had a better conclusion. The Prince is out there and since they have only discovered some of the everstones (and have almost no idea how to use them) we're likely to see a lot of conflicts. Also, don't forget there are a lot of unanswered mysteries:

Where is Poseidon? What changed him?

What is the taint? Will we see a new titan-deity war?

What is the deal of Icelos (and Molly and Bellucio)?

What is the Everhere?

@MixaMax: Too much work and no play... Let Short love a little, will you, grumpy mare?

PaintDrop

I must say that the end was quite satisfactory. It was, of course, something I had predicted for a while, but the execution was splendid. :)

Just joking! It caught me totally by surprise. And it makes perfect sense. Rereading it, their are no internal inconsistencies. Well done, S.Child and team :)

DarkSparkle

It was okay, I guess... :/

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: You read the entire thing?!

DarkSparkle

I had nothing better to do, okay? It's not like it's better than Daring Do or anything!

AwesomePony

@PaintDrop, @RRBB, @Short&Hoofy: No!

@DarkSparkle: Okay, so it wasn't a total disaster. Told you about Loki, though. So obvious. Come to think of it, I should have seen Omni as well. The armour was cheating, though! We only saw it in a dream memory of a reality that one time! No way I could guess that was the third piece of the Everprince. (On that note, who is Danny's third piece, I wonder?)

Guess I'll give the next arc a chance.

MixaMax

I'm sad to say that on the whole Everhere isn't my thing. It's well crafted without a doubt, and the ideas are new and sound, but it just doesn't have the age feeling of adventure the original had. When it started. I thought we would go new places (as compared to Chronicles) and in a way we did, but it was all so focused on one single point - Mistmount, I expect I could have seen that with the name being "Everhere" but I wouldn't mind having some more exploration.

That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it to won't be reading the next changers as they come out. (I have this habit of reading everything.) Time will tell what will happen, I guess.

The TechNightling

I enjoyed it a lot.

Candle

Well, this happened. It's like one of those moments you think will never arrive and when they do you go "it's over?" I have no words to express how I enjoyed it! It was new and presented the series, and characters, in totally unexpected ways.

I don't think anyone realized that for the first time we'll be having stories in which one of the grand 9 (and even the gr8) is the villain the others are fighting against. Even if there's no telling which side is actually good and what the truth of everything is, the arc ended on a confrontational note. :)

All I can ah, it will be a long wait. Meanwhile, let the fanfics flow! :D

LyraHands

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Short and Troubled PMs

Sis, you better not be going to see RRBB, or Celestia help me I'll get a Twilight to teleport me there and drag you home!

MixaMax

You've done enough already. If this is the last chance I get to be with her I'll go for it.

Short&Hoofy

Why?! Just tell me that? She doesn't even notice you! You've been at it for years and what has it gotten you? I'll tell you what—a bowl of trouble! You used to be happy once, top of your class and everything. Look at you now!

I've been friends with RRBB ever since Vol 4, but I'm still mad at her for that. And you for being so stupid. Bottom line, if you go you tell her what you think of her!

MixaMax

You're one to talk. All the times I asked you for advice on that topic you were busy. You didn't even know I had feelings for her!

Short&Hoofy

So I'm a crappy sister, what else is new? And why didn't you tell me? I had to find out from PaintDrop and Lyra about the whole mess. PaintDrop of all ponies! Do you know his stupid this sounds? A classmate knows more about your life than me!

MixaMax

Sis, I really don't want to argue. I've already agreed to move to the Empire. Let me have the next few months to myself okay?

Short&Hoofy

No! I'm not letting you see her! Hate me all you want, I'm doing this for your own good! One day you'll understand.

MixaMax

She already understands.

Jade

What the *yay*?! You added him to the PM? :/

MixaMax

Someone has to talk sense into you, Max. And in this case it's me. Have you ever asked yourself why Short never spoke to you about her life at school? I'll tell you. She doesn't want to disappoint you. It's stupid, but that's her greatest fear.

Sorry, Short, but as long as we're laying all cards on the table I have to say this. You always go to extremes for the ponies you love. Your sister, your parents, RRBB. I know the feeling. And I know the pain. I think Max is wrong not to let you go, but right in saying you should make your feelings known. Waiting is good, but as we've seen RRBB won't ever get over YouKnowWho on her own.

It's your choice: fight or get out of the way.

Jade

Jade, you *yay*! Stop filling her head with *yay*!

MixaMax

Did anypony stop you when you went halfway across Equestria to propose?

Jade

That's different. I knew you were the one for me. That night at the meetup, then your story. I never hid anything! She's going through a high school crush.

MixaMax

I think it's more than that, Max. Short isn't you. And even if it is, she'll handle it. You did. You told me parents had enough faith to let you make your own choices. Why not her?

Jade

Sis, tell me right now. Are you only after her because she's gay?

MixaMax

No. I think I love her.

Short&Hoofy

*yay*!

MixaMax

I know. I'd have liked to have this talk with you face to face... You were always busy, and then there was the site, Jade... it never was a good time. I didn't mean to hide it from you, I just sort of made a decision on my own. You were never supposed to find out. I just... I just had too high hopes after the meetup. She had just broken up (sort of) with YouKnowWho so I thought I could move in.

Short&Hoofy

That's precisely why you should have asked me! Being there after a breakup is the worst thing! You can't replace somepony. Not like that. You just marched straight into the friend zone. :(

MixaMax

I know. I'm stupid. And at the same time they're a couple made in heaven. There's no way I can compete with YouKnowWho. She's just too perfect.

Short&Hoofy

That bag of feathers? Ha! She's not half as pretty as you!

MixaMax

Err, let's get serious, sis. :/ I had a crush on her for a while in middle school.

Short&Hoofy

Wait, what?!

MixaMax

That time I asked you to buy me a scooter? Sometimes I wonder how you ever got Jade :/

Short&Hoofy

Luck, that's what it is. Just tell her, okay? It's absurd I'm the one giving advice, but at worst that's one rejection less till your match.

Jade

Stupidness aside, are you sure, sis? Let's imagine everything goes your way. RRBB stops pining after YouKnowWho and happens to be secretly in love with you. What then? That filly has serious issues. And I mean like serious serious. All her life believing she's a freak. Living with that pain and hatred, oh and let's not forget she's used to having everything her way. Not sure if that's a coping mechanism or her characters, but either way you'll be in for a tough time.

Think about it. Equestria is a huge place. You'll meet someone who loves you and who loves you back. Someone better than RRBB.

MixaMax

I love her. And I have been coping. Who do you think she turns to when PaintDrop isn't there? Or when she gets into a fight with PaintDrop? Right now I just wish she'd notice me.

Short&Hoofy

Short, I can tell you from experience that no one ever notices anypony. If I hadn't said the things I did or written that story confession do you think Max would have paid any attention to me?

Jade

I really don't approve of this. I think it's a huge mistake and you'll only get hurt... a lot. Not to mention that RRBB will get hurt as well in the long run. She's perceptive as a brick right now, but at some point she'll realize and that will hit her hard. Sometimes I wish you could be more of a *yay* like her. You'd feel a bit better.

If you're sure, go ahead. Just be ready for the hurt. Either way I'll be here for you.

MixaMax

I know. *hug* I'll try to tell her after school. Wish me luck I guess.

Short&Hoofy

Good luck! Love you, sis.

MixaMax

If you're anything like your sister, RRBB doesn't stand a chance ;)

Jade

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Daring Do vs MCE

@Jade: Ha! I knew it! No way thus is cooler than DD! The entire thing is running with no fighting. Okay, so maybe there is a bit of fighting. And Blazen isn't a complete loser. But the others? Like really?

Bookboy (sorry, Eric) is all about portals and libraries who got possessed by a mirror! (That's a laugh!) Partyboy (Omni) is an evil party fragment, natureboy is boring, fashionboy is meh (reminds me of a friend). Titangirl is okay, I guess, but not good enough for Blazen. And the other three are Gary Stus.

Daring Do, now that's a real adventure! You actually feel as if you're there. The thrill, the action. Everhere... pfft! I've seen more excitement in everyday life!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Oh, another teen mare has joined the site. Not enough angst for you? I see you have problems seeing beyond the "punch punch kick kick" aspect of books. I expect next you'll say Wonder Mares has deep plot and isn't about tails, blood, and hooves?

Also, which Daring Do books are you referring to? Book two was pretty biting if I recall, mist if it being spent (literally) in libraries trying to figure things out. Or was that book 5? I get mixed up. We're given a typical perfect mare (strong, smart, pretty) who does everything with ease rarely getting into any actual trouble. (and just for your info I've spoken to the author I'm real life, who's quite nice in fact) and she has told me that the stories were dumbed down a bit for mass-market appeal.

Jade

Yesssss! Fight! Fight! Smooch! Smooch! :D

Feather

Hold a moment!

Blazen isn't a complete loser.

Titangirl is okay, I guess, but not good enough for Blazen.

@AwesomePony: Tell me you didn't get a crush on Blazen? >:D

RRBB

RRBB: I'd be careful making such statements, if I were you...

PaintDrop

PaintDrop: Well, to be honest everypony was a bit "happy" yesterday. Killer headache, though :(

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: Some more than others.

PaintDrop

I wasn't.

Short&Hoofy

@Jade: Well, I happen to have talked to the author as well, and I can say for a fact that there's nothing dumb about the stories! They are realistic! You know things that can actually happen? Like in real life? Or you gonna tell me that there are bipeds hiding among us? Or magic portals to other worlds? Hah! Don't make me laugh!

I've had arguments with nerds like you. All you want is more neediness and less action. Well, that's not the real world! And there's nothing wrong with having one main character, not having to follow 9 (10 with Caprice who seems more like a comic relief character) all the time.

@RRBB: I just think he's a cool character, is all. Like if yeh story was centered round him it would be so much better. Blazen's adventures.

AwesomePony

You tell em, Awesome! :)

Feather

I'm rereading MCE, and it makes so much more sense now! I can't believe the things I never saw before. Pure genius. I've already started to make a list of characters to see if there any other shattered souls :)

@AwesomePony: The audience is totally different. I doubt there are many Daring Do fans among the Nightlings and vise versa.

PrinceEric

@AwesomePony: Typical mare attitude! What's next? Pegasus characters are best characters?

I've had arguments with nerds like you. All you want is more neediness and less action. Well, that's not the real world!

Please elaborate on that! When have I said anything about realism? Or did you feel your arguments were *yay* so you changed the topic? I dare you to take any DD book, remove the action scenes and the cheesy dialogue and tell me what's left!

Jade

@Short&Hoofy: You really need to loosen up a bit. Well not as much as Paint and You, but you get the idea :)

@Jade: Pone, you need to calm down. I can almost hear you swear from here. Chill :)

RRBB

@RRBB: I don't like the sound of the first :/

You have no idea how right you are about Jade. He's swearing like an admiral :) Not that I mind. He's very good afterwards :)

@AwesomePony: Just in case, don't get any ideas. Jade is mine. Like we're engaged.

MixaMax

Oooh, look at Max get all protective of her hooftoy. :)

Brush

@MixaMax, @RRBB: It's fine. Nothing happened and it's better this way.

Short&Hoofy

@MixaMax: No, it wasn't fine. And yes, I got drunk, but at this stage I can say I REALLY needed it!

PaintDrop

@MixaMax: Huh? What? Did you think I was flirting? Mare, Jade is so not my type! Like I bet he's that geeky teeny stallion that talks big, but is nothing in real life! And I'm totally awesome! Like I can get any stallion I choose. Heck, I have trouble of keeping them off me. Like, all the time!

AwesomePony

That's right, mares and stallions, Awesome is a total virgin.

Feather

@Feather: Ya think? :P

RRBB

Oooh boy. This will get messy :D

Five bits on Max :D

LightSparkle

I'm aware thus should be taken in the contest of a joke, but I strongly advise against talking about betting. Thank you.

The TechNightling

@AwesomePony: Just keep it in mind, okay?

Alright, everyone, I've taken Jade off his comp for excessive stomping and teeth grinding. I'll be going myself, so have fun.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: As much fun as you're having? :P

RRBB

@RRBB: You had to go there... :/

PaintDrop

I'll be going as well. @PaintDrop, can I hang your place?

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: You can crash at my place if you want? :)

RRBB

@RRBB: Maybe some other day.

Short&Hoofy

This place is totally lame! I don't even know why I joined! :/ I'm outta here!

AwesomePony

Well, I must get back to work. Was fun, pones :)

Don't worry, Awesome will be back :)

Feather

Welcome to (apple) bucking season, it seems O:)

Brush

Author's Note

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Member List

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Please participate in the poll!

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

The Accident

@Jade: Hey, jerkface! I just want to tell you that DD is ten times better than MCE! Like, I read the first 13 chapters yesterday, just to be sure, and I stand by my words!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Listen, mare. I wasn't kidding when I told you to leave Jade alone. He's mega excitable and I'm not having you ruffle his feathers, okay? :/

MixaMax

@MixaMax: oh yeah? And who are you? His mother?

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: No, his future wife! Back down!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I think you should calm down a bit. I've checked up on Awesome and she's not picking a fight or anything. It's just her nature (and she's a huge Do fan). And knowing Jade I don't think you have anything to worry about.

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: I'm just saying. Jade is under a lot of stress with exams and real life, so I don't want any additional pestering!

MixaMax

CEO is in hospital! It looks pretty bad. We flew into a wild dragon this morning and that idiot got himself too involved. They're not giving me any info at this point. I know this isn't proper procedure, but if any of you can help in some way, please do!

Fleetfoot

Fleetfoot?!?

AwesomePony

@all:

CEO is in hospital! It looks pretty bad. We flew into a wild dragon this morning and that idiot got himself too involved. They're not giving me any info at this point. I know this isn't proper procedure, but if any of you can help in some way, please do!

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: where is he?

CodeFilly

First army hospital in Cloudsdale. They're moving him to Canterlot within the hour.

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: I'm there in 5!

AwesomePony

Blueblood is on his usual date. I've sent a messenger to let him l know.

@Fleetfoot: What exactly happened? I thought you were on standard patrols today? There weren't supposed to be migrating dragons for another five years.

Luna

@Luna: Message sent. I'll try to get DarkSparkle, but she's off doing dangerous stuff of her own :( I can teleport there and try to help. My healing magic is a bit rusty, but I'm sure I can do something.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: You're not going anywhere in your condition!

@Luna: I'm telling Celestia! You make sure that there's a hospital ready for him. And try to find out his condition.

TheRealLuna

@Fleetfoot: I'm at the hospital. They won't let me inside. :/ Who's CEO anyway?

AwesomePony

*yay* *yay*! Lyra and Bob won't be online for the next few days. I'll call my parents in Canterlot. Maybe they know some doctors that could help.

Great start of the day :( That idiot CEO! :/

@AwesomePony: It's Soarin.

MixaMax

What?!? Soarin is on the site?!

They still won't let me in :/ Fleetfoot, where are you?

AwesomePony

No need to worry, everypony. I'm with CEOWitch and he's doing fine. He had a shattered wing and cracked rib cage...and some other injuries, but they're all healed now.

Brush

Huh? How did you get in the intensive care unit?!

Fleetfoot

@Brush: What the hay?! You flew all the way there?!

MixaMax

@MixaMax, @Fleetfoot: I had help. CEO is resting comfortably now, but I'll stay with him until he wakes up.

@Luna: I don't think the Canterlot hospital will be necessary. Sorry.

Brush

@all: Next time you ruin my date, you better give more more facts than "CEO is dying!" I swear, I almost lost it!

@Brush: I don't care what you did. As long as he's okay that good enough for me. Stay there until I arrive!

@Fleetfoot: I want to know exactly what happened! This was supposed to be a routine flight! You better get a report ready! (I'm not coming alone.)

Everyone else, please don't spam the channel for the next hour. I don't care how pissed the army is, if there's any news on the subject post it directly!

-Blueblood

Luna

@Fleetfoot: Is my wife okay? She was on CEO's wing.

Lurkling

@Luna: Yes, sir! I'll be ready.

@Lurkling: She's fine, don't worry. If it wasn't for her that idiot would be worse.

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: I still can't get through. :(

AwesomePony

I'll look into this.

@Fleetfoot: tell me where exactly it happened.

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: I don't think that's a good idea. Dragons are very territorial. If they were upset by something entering their domain, they will be upset at everything else.

LightSparkle

*yay*! I know I could have helped! :/ Glad that everything is okay.

TrueSparkle

@all: I don't want to be a buzzkill, but are the rest of the wing okay? Just because nopony is in critical condition doesn't mean there weren't minor injuries.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: A few I see are a bit shaken, but they seem okay. Soarin dived at the dragon head on. Must have been an awesome move. Nopony has any idea where the dragon came from. It's as if it just appeared.

AwesomePony

Portals? (We're all thinking it.)

PrinceEric

@Luna: I can investigate if I'm allowed.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: No. A team of scientists is being assembled. Also, Princess Celestia will look into the matter herself.

Luna

This is... I don't know what to say. I mean I know that life for a Wonderbolt is dangerous, but to nearly die just like that, no explanation...

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: Don't you panic, now. Things happen. Everything turned out fine. :) CEOWitch is okay, the dragon is gone, and there's a team that will make sure that this won't happen again.

Brush

I'll be locking the thread. Luna, Fleetfoot, and Brush temporarily have full mod powers. Everypony else, PM me with any relevant news on the matter. MCE discussion are to continue in the other sections as normal.

Personal request, if I may, please avoid starting any "This is the Everprince" theory threads. What CEOWitch experienced is a serious matter and should not be spoken of lightly, regardless the circumstances.

Thank you for your attention.

The TechNightling

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

Calm Before The Storm

@all: A small update. CEOWitch is fine and on a one week leave to spend as they choose, as long as it involves resting. We have Brush to thank for the swift recovering (as well as a certain someone who wished to remain anonymous:))

The great mystery turned out to be a dragon coming out of a thundercloud (second time that has happened on record) in an argh disposition. CEOWitch received a medal and a shouting for his actions and the rest is history. (With the exception of Blueblood who's been on my case all day.)

Huge thanks to the site for serving like a unusual type of hotline (and actually helping) with this whole matter:) What can I say? Nightlings are the best!

Small spoiler: the Molly and Bellucio adventures will hit stores in a month. The official news will be out next week, but I (and others) decided you deserve getting the scoop a bit earlier :)

Luna

@CEOWitch: so sorry I couldn't help :( Was in the middle of a test when the news broke out, and after that Tech had clocked the thread.

Glad you're feeling better, but if you're in any sort of pain just let me know and I'll get my family to get in touch with the best doctors in Equestria.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Sis? Do you have a crush on CEO? Didn't see that coming.

MasterOfThisAstra

Shut up! CEOWitch is someone I admire, as should you! And aren't you busy with finals or Brush or something?

PaintDrop

@CEOWitch: Pone be careful, will you? The site will be boring without your useless hide! You sure know how to make a mare cry. :( Get better, okay?

RRBB

I'll bake some sugarcanes for you. Maybe you can come to school if you're on vacation? It will be really cool and we'll get to see you're okay.

Twist

Sure, the cute ones get all the attention :/ I scar my wings a dozen times, but does anypony give a damn?

Kidding. (Mostly.) We're all glad our beauty is fine. In any case much better that AwesomePony who fainted when Prince Blue thanked her for being there. (Talk about Impressionable.)

Brush, I owe you big time. Will make it up to you when I could.

Fleetfoot

And I was hoping that there was a Felina Corp invasion. :P Although, how does somepony heal that fast? @CEOWitch, do you have some special power? Or maybe Brush does? :D

@Luna: Can't wait! I've so many questions about that! Is it a spinoff? Or is it considered canon for MC? Also will it be the same time, the same reality a the original series, or something completely different?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Wow, calm down a little, kiddo. Of course Brush has powers: the magic of friendship :P

CEOWitch, glad you are okay and at least now you have an excuse to get yayed. ;) Just be more careful next time? Think of all the fillies!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I've literally no idea what you said and why :/ It's good enough that CEO is safe and unharmed. No need to make him feel uncomfortable. (I.e. Too soon!)

@Brush: if you did what I think you did. Wow! I'm impressed. Maybe you can use the are to help me get Jade here for the evenings? I know it might be asking a bit too much, but it will be so convenient.

Alternatively you can magic up a brain for my stupid sister! Who got in trouble. Again!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Huh? What happened?

RRBB

@CEOWitch: Phew! Cool you're safe. Rainbow Falls was all panicked when they learned. (I might have told them again the site, so... well you might be getting lots of PMs.)

@Fleetfoot: I know this is stupid, but my brother wanted to say hi and ask if you'd be doing the training next week. (He's too lazy to make an account and thinks MC is for little colts.)

ForceFeedback

@CEOWitch: <3 that you're okay. My sis sends you her best. And I think Twist's idea is great! Can you come to Ponyville? Everyone will be so happy to see you!

SweetStuff

Did you know that at present there are 3 mares that can open a portal to the human world and all of them have wings? One of them has actually chosen to live in the human world and only recently decided to get in touch with Equestria again?

A member of the writing team is scheduled to meet her in the coming months.

Also, did you know that the author of Daring Do originally applied to become part of the Midnight Castle team, but never went to the interview?

More mysterious facts to be made known soon.

Speculator7

Did you know that Speculator7 is a big fat jerk that will soon be banished to a moon within a moon within a moon within a moon?

That and more news to come if he doesn't stop with his spam!

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: But he's so amusing. Can't we keep him? O:)

@CEOWitch: glad you're okay, buddy! Next time get some glasses, okay? They give you +10 perception and +5 intelligence.

MightyDragon

@CEOWitch: pone! You nearly kill yourself and I have to learn from a stupid fan site! Seriously, what gives? :( When I first heard I totally freaked out! In front of my boss! Send a line, will you? I also using this as an excuse to catch up :)

Edit: Sorry, I didn't mean the site was stupid. I used to read Midnight Castle as a colt. :) I just was angry that a CHILDHOOD friend would vanish like that and I only get to hear from him when he's dying or on official business.

BlueEyes

You fainted in front of me? I didn't even notice.

DaBoss

@BlueEyes: You're lucky that Brush is sleeping, otherwise she'd be all over you.

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: You're calm for a pony who's marefriend is flirting with everything on the site that doesn't have nipples.

RRBB

@RRBB: I just know my mare.

MasterOfThisAstra

So lucky...

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: We need to talk again.

MixaMax

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

Retired

Girls, girls! I heard that another author is retiring from the S.Child team! What's going on? :( So many have been retiring lately. I very much liked the way Everhere was going. It's darker than Chronicles, and more focused on character development, but it's really good!

@Luna, please let us know!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: You've nothing to worry about. You are correct, another of our magnificent authors has decided to hang up her quill. And although we'll miss her, I think after thirty years she has deserved some rest and quiet? ;)

Note that the relationship S.Child has with authors is very unique, as in we still are in close touch with them, and welcome any idea and suggestion they throw our way. This will never change.

On a side note Orange (all the authors have code names:)) is one of the first members, who has worked on the original Midnight Castle series. :) She's also been following the site (as have we all) and is very happy with the things she's seen here (both stories and comments). I wouldn't be surprised if she creates an account to start trolling you all :P

Luna

A troll to troll trolls, eh? Only on this site could this happen. Lyra should charge membership fees :P (kidding!)

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: Did you just call me a troll?!?

RRBB

@RRBB: Do you want me to let everyone know of the dreams you've been having lately?

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: Actually, I do! Please PM them to me. I'm dead serious.

@PrinceEric: As untypical as it is, I don't think you have anything to worry. Authors jumping ship when a series is doing bad (critically or financially) is one thing. Authors leaving when it's at the top of its game is something completely different. From what I've seen I doubt it's politics, rather honest to Celestia retirement. Then again, I haven't seen the NDAs writers have signed.

@Luna: Any chance I can apply for the writing position?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: It's already been filled. Although, ill put you on reserve, right after MightyDragon. ;P

Luna

*giggle*
That's cold. :)

@all: A quick announcement from me. The reason that Lyra and Bob haven't been online lately is that they've decided to spend some quality time away from the chaos. Nothing is wrong and they should be back shortly.

CodeFilly

@Luna: I think everypony pretty much knows. :/ At times like these I'm thinking I could use a break as well.

On the bright side, great new chapters from Simile and EndlessHearts. In both cases the plot thickens.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: as it should :) I've spoken with both and I can say the upcoming chapters of both stories will be all the better. (Yes, I'm their editor. No, there wasn't too much to fix.)

@Simile: Must say I was a bit surprised when I saw who you were. (In a good way, I promise!) Never expected you to go that far. :)

InItForTheShipping

@Luna, @PaintDrop: You wouldn't dare!

Cool about Endless. (I'm glad you're back. Sorry about my overreaction. Please check your PMs, okay?)

RRBB

@RRBB: check her PMS?!? Rude, much! You check your PMS!

Feather

@all: Just wanted to say a big thanks to everypony who got worried about me. Details are still blurry, but I'm fine.

Winghugs to @Brush for being with me. It it wasn't for you I'd probably never fly again.

@BlueEyes: You'll have to give me some details, friend :)

CEOWitch

@Feather: I'm giving you an official warning. Keep that up and you'll get temp banned.

The TechNightling

So worth it :D

Feather

Must agree with Feather. @RRBB you deserved that, and don't dare ask why! :/

@CEOWitch: Was so worried about you! How did you manage to find a dragon to crash into! You could have settled for a storm or a flock of Griffins, or even a mountain, but you had to go the extra lime and scare us to death! :/

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Nah, I'll leave you to spam your crush.

Cool you're fine, CEO :)

RRBB

Shipping war! :D PaintDrop x Karl! AwesomePony x Blazen! RRBB x Cassandra!

:D

Twist

Magic flu *yay* :( At least you're having fun.

TrueSparkle

@InItForTheShipping: What's Simile like in real life?

@CEOWitch: Yay! :D Never doubted you'll be okay! :))

PrinceEric

Seems things are likely as ever here. :) I got two weeks leave. Will be spending them most in Ponyville, so if any of you guys and girls want to say hi let me know.

@PaintDrop: Don't worry. Part of the job. Now I have to suffer two weeks of peace and quiet :)

CEOWitch

Just for the record, I didn't faint! I was just a bit surprised. I mean... hay, I didn't that... I still can't believe it!

@Jade: Just to prove you wrong, I wrote a thing!

@MixaMax: Hey, it's not my fault he can't resist my awesomeness! "Brush" told me how things stand, so don't sweat. I'll keep him off me.

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Should have guessed it was you :P Never thought you'd join here. Oh, and no worries about keeping Jade off you... he's currently swearing his head off reading your story. The phrase "a good idea wasted on such incompetence" has been mentioned five times.

MixaMax

@Luna: I am curious, though. How exactly are new authors selected? I have some memory of you mentioning something, but can't recall right now :(

RRBB

PaintDrop message has been deleted.

@RRBB: It's a selection thing. Once S.Child has decided on a replacement the author who wishes to go retires. At times she(or he) acts as a mentor of the new writer for a while.

And before you ask, yes the new author has been chosen and approached. :)

Luna

@Luna: That explains so much. :)

@InItForTheShipping: Hey, okay if I pass to see you? I've mostly done with exams and vacation here will be boring. (Okay, I lie. Vacation here's never boring, but I still want to see you guys, hopefully, before the convention.)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: You just want to learn more about the dragon incident, don't you? -.-

Fine, hop right over :) You're explaining it to the hubby, though! :P (He's still recovering from Simile... don't ask, long story.)

InItForTheShipping

That sounds so... interesting O:)

RRBB

@RRBB: Oh, it is. Maybe we can have a chat about it? There's definitely something I need to talk to you about. And by the looks of it it might be a good idea to do that sooner rather than later.

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Huh? What's that? No probs, though. I'll be visiting the Empire next week. We can meet then?

RRBB

At least CEO is safe...

PaintDrop

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

The Shipping Initiative

Hey, everybody! I got a great idea! How about a who would you ship yourself with? :D
I'll go first!

After some though I think I'd go with Eric. He's just so shy and adorable, loves to read, and is just so precious when doubting himself. :)

Twist

Obviously I missed a lot of things lately. I'm just glad everything is alright (Sorry I couldn't be of any help :( I feel so bad.) I'll set up a pendant so I get pinged each time someone PMs or @s me here.

Back to Twist's initiative. We had a long PM talk, and I'd just like to add that it might be better if this is a bit more structured:

Humie I identify with: main 9 or main supporting characters do you think you're closest to
Reason: why?
Humie I'd ship myself with: again main or strong supporting only
Reason: what makes the, perfect for you

I'll make a table of all the answers so we can have some numbers :D

DarkSparkle

@Twist: When you say ship, what exactly do you mean? Are we transformed into humans, or are they morphed into ponies, or is it a human-pony thing?

@DarkSparkle: I think it would be simple if it's just:

I am: Megan
Because: She actually knows what's she's doing
I'd snuggle: Blazen
Because: I like wild boys

Also, I noticed you didn't give your preferences. Are you ashamed by something, Molly? :P

LightSparkle

Umm. It was more of an open question, just as in terms of character. Human-Human I guess... but now I'm thinking that a Pony Eric might be so cute and cuddly... I don't know :)

Twist

RRBB is having a tough time again, so don't be surprised if she's gone for a few days.

I am: Caprice
Because: I'm a secondary character that takes care of everyone's *yay* with no life of my own!
I'd snuggle: Loki
Because: At least there's a chance of him treating me well

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I value you...

Short&Hoofy

Yay!

I am: (good) Omni
Because: He's fun and crazy and doesn't let his condition keep him down! He's also always there for everyone (and I still hope it turns out that he's good at the next arc.)
I'd snuggle: Eric (duh!)
Because: he's a cutie :) What more reason could there be?

PrinceEric

@PaintDrop: aww :( *huggles* want to come to my place? Sis is busy with deadlines again, so I pretty much have it to myself.

I am: Molly
Because: She's sweet and thoughtful and I think she'd sing quite well :)
I'd snuggle: Karl *blush*
Because: He just seems so dependable and silly at times :)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Hey, I thought I was the only one invited. :/

ForceFeedback

@LightSparkle: Just so you know, I was considering my options. As you know the changes in Everwhere were considerate making certain characters behave in unexpected ways.

Also, your system is far less precise, but for brevity I guess I'll use it until I come up with something better

I am: Cassandra
Because: She seems a deep character with a love of magic and high morals and principles
I'd snuggle: Zeus
Because: Even if Everhere is trying to present him as a monster he's kind and wise and considerate, having to take care of the entire world.

DarkSparkle

...
That explains so much.

LightSparkle

I think it's cute :) I haven't read any MC so no idea what to write. I guess I might read them at some point, huh?

BlueEyes

@BlueEyes: liar :P You read them nonstop when we were foals.

I might as well go for it.

I am: Blazen
Because: isn't it obvious?
I'd snuggle: Caprice
Because: she's nice and calm. (I get enough wild adventures at work :/)

CEOWitch

@Short&Hoofy, @SweetStuff: sorry, I didn't mean to be a *yay*. I'll go to RRBB to check on her (as always). Maybe some other day, Sweet.

Short, I know you do. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. ;) Hang in there, okay?

PaintDrop

I am: Poseidon
Because: I'm just that good.
I'd snuggle: at this point I'd snuggle anyone!
Because: Being sick is so not fun :(((

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: Wow, girl. Maybe you should come, visit? I'll hook you up ;)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: No, she won't! That's a terrible idea!

@TrueSparkle: Don't worry, I've brought some great first editions for you :D You'll get better before you know it.:)

DarkSparkle

Joy :/

TrueSparkle

Poor True... As for me.

I am: Danny
Because: he's just so much me (as Code has been telling me :))
I'd snuggle: Code! No. Wait! R63 Omni!
Because: because she's totally not Code's favorite character. :P

MightyDragon

Banned!

CodeFilly

I'm a bit old for these things, but I'd say I see myself as Icelos. And I must say that the MCE version of him surpasses the original. As for the things I've read... let's say I'd never have guessed certain preferences. Pity Lyra isn't here to let us know her choices.

The TechNightling

I am: Bellucio
Because: I'm that fabulous
I'd snuggle: Molly
Because: Brush makes the best Molly :)

MasterOfThisAstra

Hey! I'd snuggle Molly as well! :P
Nah, I'd be lost without my hooftoy :) *wing hugs Mota*

Brush

Aww you two <3

SweetStuff

Uh oh. I remembered I need to be somewhere...

ForceFeedback

@ForceFeedback: Oh no you don't! :P *hugs tight*

SweetStuff

Not sure I'll be coming to this site anymore :( Sis gave me a wicked yelling for me being here at all :( Before I go:

I am: Karl
Because: he lost his parents
I'd snuggle: Molly
Because: she's cute and funny. Funnier than everyone else.

I'll miss y'all :(

WaterBottle

This was a long time coming :( Water's family is really against this stuff for some reason. Good news, we'll be keeping her in the loop (even if she doesn't know it yet :))

Also, that snuggle choice. I think I see where she's going with it (heh heh heh) even if I'm a bit surprised.

YouKnowWho

@The TechNightling: Well, I think you're a gentlestallion and not at all old. :)

I am: Caprice
Because: she's quiet
I'd snuggle: Danny
Because: he tries to take care of everyone even when it's difficult for him.

Candle

@YouKnowWho: if you had been paying a bit attention you'd know she broke up with Tap weeks ago. :/

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Ah, right! I was a bit busy with other things... Will still keep her in the loop.

YouKnowWho

Is it bad if I want to get shipped with myself? I mean Blazen is cool and I also think I'm Blazen. Hmmm!

Feather

@all: Hey, everypony! Let's get together for in Sugarcube Corner for an awesome Get-Well-Soon-TrueSparkle party! :)

@DaBoss: of course! :D

@CodeFilly: Aww, thanks for saying that! You're my friend as well! Group hug!

PPI

Yay! Be right there! Have my usual ready? ;)

I am: Omni
Because: he's fun and likes to party!
I'd snuggle: Cerberus
Because: He's snuggly :P

DaBoss

@DaBoss: You scare me sometimes...

I'll need more time to think on that. It's not helping that I imagine Jade tisking each time I write something :/

I'd say I, closest to Molly, but I have some of that Blazen daringness. Hmm...

MixaMax

I know I'd regret this, but here goes.

I am: Euryala
Because: I literally am! (Yeah, they used me to make the character :P)
I'd snuggle: Bellucio
Because: I love me some eye candy. ;)

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: hey, I asked if you were interested a few times! Each time you were busy :/

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: rules are rules, clipper. Plus I thought you were taken back then and I still have to think about my career.

Fleetfoot

Who gave PPI mod powers?

The TechNightling

Don't look at me. I just work here.

MightyDragon

Just leave her be :) She's a friend :D

CodeFilly

@Fleetfoot: Dear, all you needed to do is let me know :)

InItForTheShipping

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

YouKnowWho's Worried PMs

I know you have plenary of *yay* on your plate, but I really need to talk to somepony.

YouKnowWho

Just great :/ Sure, go ahead. It's not like I have anything better to do. I'll just squeeze you in between wiping RR's tears and supper.

None of your friends can find the time?

PaintDrop

I don't want to get them involved in this. Last time they tried to help things got worse. Well, not worse, but... argh... actually worse :/

RRBB is exactly why I want to talk to you about.

YouKnowWho

There's a surprise :/ And here I was thinking you'd like to discuss beauty tips with me.

PaintDrop

It's serious!

YouKnowWho

Stars, don't tell me you've fallen for her?!

PaintDrop

What?! No! No way! It's just complicated. Very complicated.

She's been very nice to me lately. No more "pranks", no shouting, no kicking and such. It's just that she's still into me, like really into me. I thought that after what happened last time, and out talks, she'd just see me as a friend. (And she still claims that she does.) But it's be more and more and more obvious that... well, she's hitting on me.

YouKnowWho

No! Really? Any other shocking news, mare obvious?

PaintDrop

Okay, I might deserve that. It's just that after what I did last time I don't want her to go through the same. She sneaked here when I was sick! Spent the whole night in my room! I know I should have told her to go home, but she was so miserable. (She had gotten in a fight with you or something).

Do you know she cries in her sleep? That's really messed up. I tried telling her to back off a bit, but each time she's so shining and full of joy that I delay it for later, and later, and here we are...

YouKnowWho

You told her yesterday, didn't you?

PaintDrop

That's the thing. I was thinking of telling her, but she was in a really depressed mood. Like really. I asked what was wrong, but she just told me she might skip school for a few days. It was really weird in a scary sort of way.

You're her closest friend, any idea what I should do at this point? I don't want her to go back to being a wreck. And I must admit she's a really fun friend when she's nice (and not self absorbed). How do we make this thing right?

YouKnowWho

If I knew the answer to that I'd open a therapy business and earn a million bits. :/ Puberty shouldn't be allowed to happen to some ponies. She was mostly fine before the hormones struck. Now she's ruining her life and breaking the heart of two ponies.

At least I know it's not something you did this time.

PaintDrop

You're talking about Endless, aren't you? She told me about it. I can only feel for the guy. In a way I know exactly how he feels. Guess he's going through the same she is, huh?

YouKnowWho

To put it mildly. For one thing, it isn't a "he". For another it's been going for quite a while.

PaintDrop

Wait, what?! Endless is a mare?

YouKnowWho

Stars, why is everypony so blind! Yes, Endless is a mare! In our very class! She made a fake account only to be able to express her feelings to RRBB, who still refuses to let go of you! If it were up to me I'd drag you in one room and lock the door until you settle things between yourselves.

Have you any idea the pressure I've been under lately? Did you ever wonder why I got drunk so fast the other day? I can't take this anymore! All of you have problems and you come to me thinking I'm some genius that can solve everything! Well, I'm not! I'm just a pony!

RRBB is used to dumping everything into my lap and acting for me to clean the mess. Short has been ignored by everypony for years and is breaking up. Now you come to me because you feel you can't share this with anypony. What in the world made you all so entitled to my time? Does anyone even think of that? Pipsqueak has troubles being class president—send me to help; Snips and Snails have problems with their homework—I get to guide them after class; somepony has love troubles—I'm supposed to help them! I'm fed up with it!!! Im fed up with all of you!!!

PaintDrop

Whoa, there filly! How was I supposed to know all that? It's not like you advertise it or anything. Before I joined the site all I knew about you was that you hang with RRBB and know a lot in class.

YouKnowWho

PaintDrop message has been deleted.

PaintDrop message has been deleted.

PaintDrop message has been deleted.

Sorry. I lost my cool. Things have been a little stressful this week.

Personally, best thing you can do is tell her. Maybe not right away. Her mood might have nothing to do with this. She might have issues with her parents again, or maybe it's a hormonal disbalance, some funky nightmare, or stars know what else. Just wait for a few days and then get her somewhere in private and have the talk with her. Think of it as breaking up with her (even if it's one sided.) I'll try to take care of things afterwards.

PaintDrop

Right. That sounds best.

So Short is a...?

YouKnowWho

Short has been deeply (and consciously) in love with RRBB for a long time. And she's been hiding it. At the meet up she was doing her best to cheer RRBB up, maybe even say something... but then you showed up.

PaintDrop

Hey, it wasn't my idea! SweetStuff guilt tripped me into it. Not that I needed much convincing. Do you have any idea how it feels for somepony to bring that down out of the blue? At first I thought we were going to have another fight, next thing RRBB tells me she loves me and she's into mares (in that order).

YouKnowWho

Look, let's just leave this for a few days, okay? I have a splitting headache and can't think rationally right now. You get the overall idea. At this point that's enough.

PaintDrop

Got you. Sorry about this, Paint :( Rest, I'll figure this out.

YouKnowWho

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

Missing

Has anypony seen PaintDrop? We were supposed to meet before school this morning, but she didn't show up.

Short&Hoofy

Nope. I tried to get her to my place again, but she said she was going to see RRBB. I hope nothing's happened to her :(

@RRBB, @MasterOfThisAstra: Do you know anything?

SweetStuff

Huh? We spoke yesterday morning saying she might need some help from me. I thought it was drawing related so I didn't think anything about it. Has nopony seen her since then?

Brush

@SweetStuff: A bit difficult for me to check, but I, sure everything's fine. When she was a filly she'd lock herself in her room when she was really upset. Give her a while, she'll be back complaining as usual.

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: That's a relief :) I was worried for a moment. I guess from time to time we all could use a bit of time off. Although my stupid sister has been threatening to cut my aethenet access if I didn't start behaving like a "proper lady" :/ What the hay is that supposed to me?!?

@ForceFeedback: I'm a perfect lady, right?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Err... is that a trick question?

ForceFeedback

@ForceFeedback: You are the worst! :/

SweetStuff

Seems like I'll have to go on a visit sooner than I though. Since I'm already in Ponyville and have nothing important to do, I'll pass by Paint to see how she's doing. Will probably be at Sugarcube Corner afterwards if anypony wants to chat.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Deal! I'll be there on a visit as well :)

Also, I'd snuggle Omni till he (nearly) breaks :)))

HopHop

@Short&Hoofy, @SweetStuff: I can tell you one thing... Paint never came to my place after school. I wasn't in the best condition, so I didn't notice much, but now that you mention it, she usually always visits after school.

@CEOWicth: let us know how things are, okay?

Some friend I turned out to be :/

RRBB

@RRBB: You're a great friend. You just don't see it.

Short&Hoofy

I swear, something's there's more drama here than there is in MCE :/ I'm sure that Paint is fine, but just in case I'll pass through her place after work. Also, save me a seat at Sugarcube owners, okay?

@HopHop: You owe me 50 bits!

MixaMax

What have you fillies gotten messed up into again?

TheRealLuna

Max has a point there. Lately the site has been a mess of accidents, sickness, heartbreak, and intrigue. Has someone started a real life novel without telling me? (I'm looking at you @InItForTheShipping)

Totally unrelated, I got in a totally random talk with some guy at a coffee shop nearby. Turns out he's something in a publishing house and was interested in my MCE writing (don't ask). Long story short, he said he'd looked to look over my stuff, and also expressed a desire to get in touch with S&S concerning future MCE stories. @Luna, I've PMed you his details if interested.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: That's great! *hugs* Mota managed to get the thing I've been working with him in publishable for, and has even gotten a deal :) I wasn't going to say anything, but we expect it to be out in a few weeks to a month :)))

Brush

@Brush: Please tell em when it's out. I love your work and I'll definitely buy it :)

Candle

@Brush: Wow! Hope I'm as lucky :) Well deserved! Wing slap! ;)

LightSparkle

Meanwhile I'm still sick in bed... and despite what some ponies claim the healing properties of books are vastly exaggerated :/

TrueSparkle

It's officially time to be concerned!
I went by Paint's place and her parents told em she been home since she left for school yesterday morning. Since they are aware of the RRBB situation they thought she had spent the night there.

@RRBb: are you sure she didn't pass by your place? Maybe your parents didn't tell you or something?

CEOWicth

*yay* this! This is bad! We had a PM chat and she seemed a bit stressed. I hope I didn't push her over the edge :(( I'm telling @DarkSparkle!

YouKnowWho

Now let's remain calm, everypony, this is a serious situation, but panicking won't solve anything. I'll go tell the city authorities. You check if she's not spend the night at somepony else.

FunDaisy88

@FunDaisy88: I work at the mayor's office. I'll handle that :/

Sheesh Paint, and you were supposed to be the reliable one.

MixaMax

@CEOWitch: I checked. She never came! *yay*! *yay* *yay* *yay*! That stupid little... :(

@PaintDrop: If you've gotten yourself in trouble I won't forgive you, you hear?! I'll find you and will scream at you for days!!!

RRBB

@AwesomePony, @Lurkling, @FleetFoot, @Number1: Whoever of you can, fly around Ponyville. She's an earth pony so I doubt she has gone far.

Anypony know the train schedule?

CEOWitch

Whoa! This is a bit too real :( I'm not that far away so I'll check out the area too. No idea about trains.

Feather

I hope everything's alright :( From yesterday there have been:

2 express rides to Manehattan
3 standard to Canterlot
1 Crystal Empire (via Manehattan)
Dodge has been cancelled due to repairs.

Candle

I think I know where she might be. I'll go check.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Don't you dare! If you set one hoof outside Ponyville we're going to have words! @SweetStuff, @YouKnowWho: grab her!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Can't :( YouKnowWho rushed after her, though. Everypony in school is going crazy :(

SweetStuff

I'll see if I can use some tracking spell.

CodeFilly

@Jade, do something about this! :(((

MixaMax

@MixaMax: He's in the middle of an exam. I've booked tickets on the first train to Ponyville. Once he's done we'll go straight there.

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: I have a faster way. Just get him and come see me.

MightyDragon

I've created a special emergency thread where everyone can freely post updates on the matter. Meanwhile, I'm locking this one.

If you need to have access to the emergency thread but don't, let me know.

The TechNightling

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

The Search

Girls, any news? My parents got me doing chores yesterday, so wasn't able to keep up with things :(

Did PaintDrop turn up?

PrinceEric

Nothing so far. :( I asked my sister to join in the help as well. She was out until midnight. I'm scared :(((

SweetStuff

Has anyone seen my sister?!? She's been gone since yesterday and I cannot find her!!!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Read your *yay* PMs! Short spent the night at my place! I found her at Paint's secret place and we spent most of the night searching. No luck :( YouKnowWho is still there. @WaterBottle, @SweetStuff did you tell her parents?

RRBB

@RRBB: PMs?! I've been worried as *yay* searching for her and PaintDrop! I, getting her right now!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Calm down. Everything is fine. I told you about Short yesterday, remember? She's fine.

I'm at the weather center. Still no word from PaintDrop.

Jade

@RRBB: We did. Knowing YouKnowWho her parents weren't too worried (she does that sort of thing a lot). WaterBottle's sister and brother also joined in. They didn't find anything, though. :(

SweetStuff

I have half a wing still searching. We've been through the area with a Fleetfoot and Lurkling. Nothing. Awesome and 2ndHalf are still searching.

@MixaMax: I'm sending Jade home.

@MasterOfThisAstra: I think you should get some rest as well, buddy. I'll tell you when we find something.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Paint took her tech and saddlebag, so at least she won't be completely lost. I'll be taking a nap and continue to search for her later today.

@mods: did she log in since yesterday?

RRBB

@RRBB: no log-ins from her device or yo her user. She might have been lurking through a proxy, but I doubt it. Get some rest. There are plenty of ponies searching already.

The TechNightling

Well, I found YouKnowWho. Taking her home (she's barely awake). It's safe to say Paint isn't in Ponyville. I even checked the bell tower.

AwesomePony

@CEOWitch: Thanks, I just...

@RRBB: Sorry. I'm just glad she's safe.

MixaMax

Keep calm, everypony! I've triple checked and she hasn't taken the train, so that means she's somewhere close by. Based on standard gallop speed, I'd say she's well witching flight distance! :)

The only concern is if she's gone into the Everfree forest, but don't worry! Myself, Brush, and the girls are checking it now! If she's in any trouble Zecora would know.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Because that's not ominous at all... :/

TheRealLuna

I've asked a few friends and they haven't seen her enter the Everfree. I'll keep on looking. I just hope she hasn't gone to the Castle.

@MasterOfThisAstra: Don't worry hooftoy, I'll find her!

Brush

When I want to go away I ask Lily's mom for a ride in the balloon. Maybe Paint took that?

Twist

@Twist: I've already asked. The balloon hasn't had passengers today or yesterday. Cherry will be joining the search, though.

@Lurkling: anything on your end?

2ndHalf

@2ndHalf: Nothing. It didn't tell that she ran off during weekly showers :/ Any tracks have been swept away for the most part.

@RRBB: Do you think she'd done that on purpose?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Definitely. That's good, though, right? It means she hasn't been ponynapped or something?

RRBB

@RRBB: An angsty teen with a crush and plan... what could go wrong? Just go to sleep, kiddo. You're not doing much good awake.

@InItForTheShipping: I'm coming to help. I don't care what anyone says! As long as I have something of hers I can use a link cation spell to find her.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Don't get yourself in trouble! We have things under control. Plus I'm sure I can do the spell, or True if she's feeling better.

DarkSparkle

@all: I heard what happened from InItForTheShipping. Bob is already looking into things and will lend a helping hoof. I'm in hospital and won't be of much help, sorry :( (don't freak out' I'm well! Nothing bad has happened to me!)

LyraHands

@CEOWitch: buddy, I've been flying over the rail tracks round Ponyville in case she decided to walk along those. Nothing so far. With her skill at vanishing it's a good thing she's not a pegasus. Will keep looking.

BlueEyes

My little brother might have found something. Not sure about it, but he said he saw a pony matching Paint's description heading out of Ponyville yesterday. @PPI, can you go in the direction opposite the Crystal Empire? I have a full day towards a Canterlot today. I'll keep an eye out there.

DaBoss

I've spoken with Auntie about this. Doesn't look like PaintDrop has slept since yesterday. The moment she does we'll know where she is.

In the meantime I'd like to personally thank and grumble at all of you. There hasn't been so much chaos since Discord broke out! Is this disaster week or something?!? It's great that everyone is sticking together. That's what being a Nightling is all about!

-Blueblood

Luna

I dropped YouKnowWho at her place. Poor kid was out like a light. Nope Paint is fine. Weather plans for the week are rain starting tonight.

AwesomePony

@DarkSparkle: Can't you use some time spells?

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: because everypony mixes a time spell with a storm vortex :/ You really need to experiment a bit more, and maybe brush up on the theory.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Give me a few, I'm on my way to you. Bringing Simile along.

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Oh... I guess I have my work cut out for me...
I'll go back shall I?

MightyDragon

Team, best take a break. Those who haven't slept get some rest. I'll do another round. @Fleetfoot, any chance of getting a another wing to help out?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Call me a romantic, but I hope this is all an elaborate plan to get you to rescue her. (Mega sweet if it is.)

2ndHalf

@2ndHalf: At this point I pray to the stars it is. The alternative isn't pretty.

CEOWitch

@MixaMax: sis, I'm so sorry.

Short&Hoofy

Huh?!

MixaMax

Short, don't you dare disconnect on me!

MixaMax

I have a direction! @all: go to coordinates xxxx-xxxx. Update when there's any news!

Bob

@MixaMax: Don't think any less of me.

Short&Hoofy

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

Short's Confession PMs

I need to talk to you.

Short&Hoofy

They found PaintDrop?

RRBB

Not yet... But it's still important.

Short&Hoofy

Okay. Just come to my room. I couldn't get much sleep anyway.

RRBB

No. I want to talk to you here.

Short&Hoofy

Short, I'm really not in the mood. :/ We're a door apart! Just get your fluffy *yay* in here and tell me what's wrong!

RRBB

It's not that simple. It never is... each time things are almost perfect and I try to tell you race to face something happens. Problems at school, arguments with your parents, your depression, YouKnowWho...

Sometimes I wish I were a simple leaf, floating on the wind, never stopping to contemplate what is, was, it might be. Life if much more simpler for a leaf—it only knows it is, unburdened by the world around it. And no matter what it does it'll always find another leaf to be with, maybe even smoke a bit as they both turn golden brown and fade away.

What am I saying? I guess that I love you. I have for years. I can't even remember since when I've wanted to say this. If Luna could see my dreams she'd find more you in there than me. Why? Because you made my life worthwhile—the most pretty, gentle mare Equestria has known. Every time I looked at you I saw beneath your surface. You were never rude, nor a witch, no matter how much you tried to act that way. If fantasize of us being together so many times. I knew I was invisible to you, I knew you kept chasing after YouKnowWho, yet it never mattered. You, you are the only thing that matters.

Please don't think this is a joke. It isn't. This is what I could never tell you to your face, no matter how much I tried. I know that after you read it we might never talk again, yet while I write this we share this single moment: me on this side of the door, you on the other, each looking forward, almost as if were gazing at each other.

Nothing matters in the end. In a month I'll be moving to the Crystal Empire and you'll never see me again. You might not want to. I can tell what you feel for YouKnowWho. She's strong, athletic, far more beautiful, and she likes you... merely as a friend for now, but given time who knows? Miracles are known to happen, just not to me.

At least there's Pixel. Seeing how you adore him, I have no regrets. At least now there will be something that reminds you of me, while you are always in my heart.

Short&Hoofy

You can say if you don't like it. You can never hurt my feelings.

Short&Hoofy

Please don't cry...

Short&Hoofy

You piece of *yay*!

RRBB

Why, why did you have to do this to me?! I'm a wreck as it is and you... *yay* *yay*!

You're EndlessHearts! You made an alt account just to write the best story on the site for me to notice you? Well, it hurts! A lot! Why couldn't you just tell me?!

RRBB

I never wanted to hurt you... I just... They say you're self centered and egoistic. They were wrong. I am the one who thinks about herself. I was so scared you'd reject me so I made up someone you'd like—everything you told me you wished for.

Short&Hoofy

Just as things were going well with YouKnowWho... Why couldn't you say something half an year ago! Hay, why didn't you tell me at the meetup! I was so desperate then I thought I'd die. All you needed was to whisper the words.

RRBB

And let you be with somepony out of desperation? You don't deserve that. You deserve to be happy.

Short&Hoofy

And you don't? :/

RRBB

I don't matter. Not really.

Short&Hoofy

PaintDrop knew about this, didn't she? All the theoretical questions she asked about finding somepony like me. All the hints she was dropping. That's why she got mad every time I went with YouKnowWho. She was looking out for you. And me.

Who else knows? Lyra? Your sister? I bet that's why Max's been so mad at me lately.

RRBB

I think Lyra always suspected. My sister learned a short time ago. She always knew I was fully inclined, yet didn't think I had it for you. If you hadn't tried to harm yourself nopony would have known.

You scared me so much then. When I heard you'd tried to break your leg I felt a block of ice sprout inside of me.

Short&Hoofy

You went silent.

RRBB

It's difficult to write when I'm crying. I thought the door between us would help. It doesn't. I still feel pain when I breathe.

Short&Hoofy

I know...

RRBB

We're too idiots, aren't me? We both chase after the impossible knowing it would hurt us. And yet, we prefer to tighten our grip round the thorns, just to get a whiff of the rose’s smell.

Short&Hoofy

I wrote stories for YouKnowWho, you know. They were *yay* and she didn't even read such stuff, but it didn't matter. I used to kick her just to hear her say my name. You, you were always there and I didn't even notice.

RRBB

I knew. I could always tell you wrote them for her. Maybe one day you'll write something for me?

Short&Hoofy

I don't know... It's so... Don't make me choose! Not now.

RRBB

That tells me all I need to know.

I'll PM my sister to come and get me.

Short&Hoofy

Short, please...

RRBB

None of us can fool nature, my princess. I'm not as strong as you, I never was. I'll always be glad to have met you :)

We'll find PaintDrop and she'll be fine. You'll see. :)))

Short&Hoofy

Short...

RRBB

Tell me when my sister gets here.

Please.

Short&Hoofy

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

Found

Any news? I had to fly home round midnight :/ Remembered I had *yay* to do. Will get back to the search in 8 hours. Hope you find her before that, though. 3 days in the wilderness *yay*

Feather

@Feather: Nothing so far. Good news is hasn't been in the Everfree. I'll still be searching for a few more hours, after which Fleetfoot will take over.

CEOWitch

Sometimes I'm really terrified how inventive fillies are these days. Half of Ponyville and two wings of Wonderbolts have been searching for her and still nothing. If this keeps up I'll ask Princess Celestia to send the royal guard to help.

Didn't she say anything before she disappeared? This seems to well planned to be random.

Bob

I'm with Mota and her parents now. No one has any idea :( they've already checked with all their relatives, and summer houses, and everything and there's still no sign of her :(

I even asked someone for help and he wasn't able to find her :( I'm really, really scared right now.

Brush

@Brush: No dark thoughts, okay? Last night was challenging for a lot of us. We'll find her, okay?

How's Mota keeping up?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: He's cuddled upon me sleeping, I'd have joined the search as well, but I want to be here for him.

Brush

@DarkSparkle: Are you sure that's the distance a filly could pass? I mean I know it's you, but we've been through that, like, a thousand times! There's no way she could have hidden anywhere without me spotting her.

@Luna: What happened with that dream thing? Couldn't you find her in her sleep or something?

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: I'm not exactly Princess Luna, and even if I were I doubt dream walking works that way. At most they could have a talk.

Luna

@Luna: Actually, Princess Luna can tell exactly where somepony is based on her dreams. She helped me a few times, so I know.

Actually, it shouldn't be possible for Paint to remain hidden from her unless... she was kidnapped by changelings! :(((

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Yeah, right. And she can totally remain hidden. Princess Luna only appeared when a pony has a nightmare. That means that PaintDrop is sleeping comfortably somewhere. Maybe she hired a carriage or something?

YouKnowWho

I like your thinking, squirt! That's totally what has happened! I'll check with weather control if anypony has seen a carriage during rounds.

AwesomePony

@YouKnowWho: That's so not true! Princess Luna intervenes when there are nightmares. She can visit any dream anytime she chooses!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Umm, are you sure about that!

ForceFeedback

Still haven't found her?! :/ @DarkSparkle: What happened with that location spell I sent you? (InItForTheShipping and Simile are with me and a bit p issed right now. Told you I should gave gone there!

LightSparkle

Your spell is *yay*! Dark is *yay*! I'm *yay*! :(

TrueSparkle

@CEOWitch: I think I found her! Can you check the lake near Ponyville? West side.

Bob

@Bob: okay, though I don't think she's been underwater. I'll be there in five.

CEOWitch

@WaterBottle: Did you try using your dog to sniff her out?

RRBB

Err... well, sis said that if fancy magic doesn't work, Winona won't be able to track her either... I feel dumb :( I'm off to get Winona! Ya have anything that belonged to her?

WaterBottle

Bottle! Are you dumb or what?!? Just go to PaintDrop's house! Her brother is on the site, you're in the same class as her, don't you think they'll let you in?! :/

RRBB

I ain't an idjut!

WaterBottle

@all: Found her!

@Bob: you were right. She's here, unconscious. She doesn't look hurt and she heart-rate's fine. I'll fly her to the hospital.

Everyone who's been searching for over ten hours, get some rest. Everyone else, spread the news that we don't have ponies aimlessly searching about.

CEOWitch

@RRBB: See? I told you :)

Short&Hoofy

Thank the stars!

@Short&Hoofy, @CEOWitch: I want to hug you so tight right now! I'll tell dad to alert the hospital and be right there!

RRBB

That's wonderful to hear. Now, I know you all probably want to go visit her, but maybe limit it to family members only? There'll be plenty of time to see her once she gets well.

FunDaisy88

What the *yay* was she doing near a lake for three days?!? And how come no one noticed her there? From what I remember the place isn't isolated or anything?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: there's a proposal for building a resort, but that's years away. Right now it's just an empty beach and that's it. My sister would go there a lot from school. Maybe paint was somewhere worse, then returned to there because it was the closes familiar location?

MixaMax

Max, I say this with care and kindness... don't think. You've been reading far too many fanfics to be a proper detective.

If you ask me somepony should look into this. You found her and that's great, but there are too many things that don't add up. @CEOWitch, did you check if she was a changeling?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: How is he supposed to do that? He's a pegasus! The moment PaintDrop gets here I'll be able to tell.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: You're in hospital as well?! What's happening to everypony?! :/

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Why do you think I've been complaining like crazy, you one hoof bovine?! Yes I've been here on a strict diet of lettuce, pills, and magic! But I'm not mad. I'm not mad one bit.

TrueSparkle

@all: Okay, I've just dropped her off. She doesn't look like a changeling to me. For one thing she came managed to wake up briefly as I was giving her to the doctors. (Just enough for a hug and a smooch it seems.)

CEOWitch

Score! :D

Twist

@Twist: Hey, she deserves it. :) After what she's been through she could use a pickmeup.

Short&Hoofy

I'm going to bed. Fifty hour flights aren't as fun as they used to be.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Sleep well, and thanks. I'll wake Mota in a bit and tell you any news I get.

Brush

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

Jade Decision PMs

We need to have a talk.

Jade

Jade, not you too :( I've been dealing with Short's breakup all night, plus the drama of PaintDrop going missing, and the end of the financial quarter have me completely drained. Can this wait?

MixaMax

I know, and I'm really sorry :( I would never do something to hurt you and I'd leave you get some rest if it wasn't really important. I've already delayed this as much as I could.

I know about Short :( How is she hanging up? She sent me a short PM about it, but I didn't want to pry.

Jade

How do you think? :/ She's a mess that's trying to seem tough... and failing miserably. I really wish she'd be more... I don't know... fragile? She hasn't eaten since yesterday, barely said a few words. As far as I could tell she spent the entire night awake. I never should have let this happen! I know I would have told RRBB about it directly!

Do you think the Crystal Empire will be a good place for her? She's opaque and not exactly rich.

MixaMax

I don't know. I'd like to say that she will be. She's fiends with Spike and that's a huge deal here, but the truth is I have no idea how it would turnout. And I think you did the right thing not to talk to RRBB about it. As much as it hurts now it would have been worse if she thought you'd messed up her chance.

Going back to the topic I wanted to talk to you about, it's somewhat related. How do you feel about moving to the Crystal Empire after our wedding? I know how much Ponyville means to you, plus it's close to Canterlot and your parents, but... Thing is we'll have to settle down after that. I'd like us to start a family, have a few foals, lead a happy life.

Jade

Did something happen? My thoughts about foals haven't changed, and Ponyville is just as good as the Empire to raise them. It's quite, the ponies are nice, and have good values. Then again, we're lucky to know Princess in each of our three options, so I think we'll be fine. What is this really about?

MixaMax

I was made a very serious business offer. Technically, I'm supposed to talk to you before you signed an NDA, but Luna knows you well enough for it not to be a problem.

I got an official invitation to join the MC writing staff.

Jade

No way!!! Jade, that's great! I mean wow! (I think I burst a spell though the ceiling just now O:)) If I weren't so tired, I'd gallop to you and hug you in front of everypony in the Crystal Empire standing on top of Spike's statue!

Jealousy aside (and there will be plenty of that) that's like a dream job! And in your area of expertise! I mean graduated, married with a great wife and job? Who could want anything more?

MixaMax

I'm being serious.

Jade

So am I! I'm just so terribly excited and happy for once! (After the wave of depression that has been drowning the the site and us lately.) I'd say that's a one in a million offer. You said yes, right? Tell me you said yes!

MixaMax

I'm supposed to give my answer by the end of the week. I wanted to discuss it with you first. It's a huge step: lots of responsibility, we might have to move to the Crystal Empire, there's no telling what my work schedule will be like, and we must take care of Short, and our own foals when we have them...

Jade

Just say yes you lovable idiot! :) I'm here for you and for and for my sister (and our little darlings once we have them). I know you well enough to tell that's one of your dreams (maybe not the dream, but it's something you want very much).

How did this happen?

MixaMix

I was hoping for a bit more in depth discussions on the matter. Guess I could expect as much from a mare who rushed to propose because of a love poem.

Jade

You found it romantic as Tartarus! Admit it! :)

MixaMax

Okay, I did. :) You really are the best thing that's happened to me by far (work offer included.)

Speculator7 recruited me. I thought he was some troll, but turns out he was the real deal. Well, he or she (I can't actually tell with this one.)

Jade

Jade, my little crystal plushy, you're terrible at lying ;) You can always tell.

MixaMax

You have me there. I can. But I can't tell you, sorry.

There's a lot of secrecy involved. I'm sure I don't even know the half of it yet, but soon I will. I'll be giving my answer within the hour. I still need to ponder a bit on things. I'm not like you, these are huge steps for me.

Jade

I know, and I'm here for you. And don't worry about keeping my mouth shut. I might not seem it, but I work with touchy documents all the time. I'll poke Luna to send me the forms I need to sign (I'm sure she'll be thrilled :) Inside joke.)

MixaMax

What about Short, though? I so much hoped things would work out for her as they did for you. The Crystal Empire has changed a lot in the last decade, but it's still over a millennia old. I know she'll find friends there, but will she find anypony she... likes?

Jade

Sure, ask the mare who didn't even see her sister had a crush :/

I don't know. I can only hope she does. On the plus side we can ask Princess Cadence for help. If anypony could help Short it's her. Right now I just want to help her get through this. I really like RRBB, and I can understand what she'd been through, but right now I want to kill her! :/ PaintDrop gets a free pass because she tried to help... who am I kidding, if there's anypony I must thank it's her. It's just that at the end of the day she's a filly :( There's not much advice she could give.

MixaMax

Isn't it the same for all of us? We are just foals trotting through the field of life. Except you. You seem to know everything about everything.

Jade

You bet your wings I do! Just as I know it's time to take a break before my bladder explodes! You take care of your things, Jade. Counting the seconds till you visit again.

MixaMax

Me too. *wing hug*

Jade

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

Brush's Big Decision PM

Hello, hooftoy. :) *snuggles*

Sorry that I didn't wake you up, but you seemed so tired that I didn't have the heart (aww). Something urgent happened and I had to go (it won't take more than a few days).

I passed by hospital and PaintDrop is doing fine. We talked a bit (she asked if you were fine). I told her the time you spent searching for her. Poor thing is still so weak. She wouldn't tell me what happened to her. The doctors told me that other than exhaustion she's fine. They were a bit baffled how she'd be so exhausted after just three days. Thank the stars she's here now and safe.

Send a line you can. I have my portable (Dark hasn't stopped grumbling about it) so I can keep in touch with you :))

Brush

Of course you'd go to save Equestria again... :/

MasterOfThisAstra

I know :( And I'm sorry, but this is one of those times. I so much wanted to stay with you and Paint. You're right that we don't see each other as much as we should. :( I just really, really, really have to be here on this one.

Brush

Yes... I'm just being grumpy. Having sis go off like that was just. She was the wild one, compared to me, but she's never done something like this. I was supposed to be the dramatic one. Although, with everypony dumping their problems on her I understand.

You're not doing anything dangerous, are you?

MasterOfThisAstra

Me? Dangerous? Do you even know me? :P Well I suppose it's a bit dangerous, but I promise I'll take care of myself. I'm not alone in this, and usually I'm the last to get in any trouble.

So, what are you doing right now?

Brush

I'm lying in bed, stretching.

MasterOfThisAstra

Umm... an you going into more details? *blush* :P

Brush

Sometimes I don't know what to think about you. And no, I'm not so desperate to engage in aethernet roleplay!

MasterOfThisAstra

Who said you were desperate :P

By the way, I did a lot of thinking and have come to a decision. You are right. It's stupid pretending we're just close friends. Most ponies know it anyway so I might as well make it official. When I come back we're having a party and I'm announcing our courtship! :D

Brush

Sugar wings... I... I don't know what to say.

MasterOfThisAstra

That's why you're an editor and not a writer ;)

Brush

That means a lot to me. I'll talk with my Dean if I can take some time off to stay with Paint. We can combine the two.

To be honest, I didn't expect you'd be the one to suggest. I thought of raising the question on a few weeks, but. You're incredible, Brush. I'm sorry for constantly being grumbly. Like I said you are so perfect and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. (Hopefully, a slightly calmer life. :))

I can hear my parents sigh in relief now. For some reason they still fear I might end up being a bachelor. And they drop the most obvious hints about it. (Their mind games are extremely efficient.) I'm sure they've already taken your measurements for a wedding dress.

MasterOfThisAstra

Actually they have taken both our measurements. Rarity told me when we were at the spa together. They used the Molly and Bellucio costumes and got her to wedding clothes for the both of us. Designs of wedding clothes, that is. And of course, being what she is she went overboard :( I stopped paying attention on the fourteenth sketch.

Brush

I can imagine. Candle PMed me several times with gigs Rarity wanted me to go to. In costume, of course. I was considering of saying yes, as long as you're there. Sometime close to winter, I think. She wasn't very clear.

What do you think we should do to as on the Crystal Empire convention? Euryala and Blazen? You'll make a great Euryala, I'm sure.

MasterOfThisAstra

Fleetfoot might be a little angry of us if we do :) Maybe Loki Echo? I know they are villains, but maybe they'll get reformed? (Also, we can be the good version of them for the convention?)

Brush

Dark is grumbling at me to stop chatting. She also says hi. That means I probably have about five minutes left.

Brush

Tell her to learn to write properly and to leave us alone!

MasterOfThisAstra

Wow! Such a meaniepants! :P

Brush

Tell her I'll get Jade to fail all her stories!

What exactly are you saving Equestria from? Or you can't tell me.

MasterOfThisAstra

I'm not exactly sure. It's usually like that with these things. We just go somewhere and then find out what the problem is. Most often it's something relatively harmless. I know that the girls aren't very worried.

To be honest there's been more talk about your sister and the site than you. (And about Lyra, but I promised not to talk about that!) A lot of them are worried what could have happened while Paint was gone. Dark even did some magic spell to be sure she isn't a changeling (she wasn't). Still a bit strange that this should happen so soon after CEO's incident. And I can tell you that wasn't as simple as the official version put it. (Your sister has a total crush on him, by the way.)

Brush

I know... about both, my family's connected so I heard a few things. And sis was never good at hiding things from me. I can only imagine what CEO is going through. I expect he's used to the attention, though, being one of two ace Wonderbolts and all. Also he has his career to think of.

MasterOfThisAstra

Well I think it's cute! I'm just worried about the first colt dares ask Paint out. Whoever it is after CEO he'll seem like a total let down.

Brush

Wow! I'm quoting this to sis when I go see her. You're vicious sometimes, you know?

MasterOfThisAstra

Brush has been banished to a demonic dimension of demons! She cannot write to you right now!

Brush

Hey, Dark. You still can't write.

Good luck saving Equestria again.

P.S. How's the centaur dating going?

MasterOfThisAstra

I see... oh well. Better luck next time.

MasterOfThisAstra

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Daring Do Midnight Crossover

@AwesomePony: I'll try to say this lightly. You're a mess at writing! I'm not even sure how you managed to graduate school! (Connections or athletic program I bet.) Grammar isn't an ancient gryphon city! Learn more about it. I'm not even going to get into your "style"... it's just that painful :/ There are high school fillies here who write ten times better, hay even middle school colts write better! (They copy a lot, but at least they are consistent in their copying!)

Why am I so mad about that? Because your tragic execution ruins one of the best ideas if seen on the aethernet. There are a lot do great ideas out there, but you actually managed to make a Daring Do Midnight Castle crossover that actually works (grammar and style excluded). Please, go take some writing lessons (like primary school lessons)! I'll pay if you don't have the moment. It's just painful reading what you write!

Now that's out of the way

@MasterOfThisAstra, @PaintDrop: how are you two holding up? Sorry I couldn't be there for you longer. I've spoken with the Dean and he's fine for you to take some time off until things have calmed down. Also I'm here if there's anything I always here, you know.

Jade

Aww, my little winged crystal is being mean to somepony who couldn't write. How adorable :P It almost seems surreal. Are you having an affair? :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: As if! He's not nearly as cool to bewitch somepony like me! Like, he'd have to be a hundred years cooler before he could think of thinking of asking me out!

@Jade: And I know what grammar is! I've done lots of tests! Let me tell you I asked the Wonderbolts entrance test, so ha! Beat that! Only reason I added the mistakes was to see if you are the big shot curator you think you are! Guess you passed that one. Barely.

And just so you know, I have enough money! And not because of my allowance! I work two jobs and also go treasure hunting all the time!

You really think the idea is cool? I mean I know it's cool, but it's good to see there somepony else to see things as they are! I

AwesomePony

"AwesomePony" will love to continue this conversation... if she wasn't busy with tech things she was supposed to be doing!

AwesomePony

Oooh, Dark caught someone doing what they shouldn't have :P Jade's right, though. Good idea, terrible execution. On the other hand, that beats good execution bad idea (at last in my book) so keep ate it, AP! ;)

LightSparkle

@AwesomePony, @Jade:

As if! He's not nearly as cool to bewitch somepony like me!

to bewitch somepony like me!

Snrk! Nope, no bewitching going on here. I must say that Jade is a doll in real life, though, so I understand completely :P

YouKnowWho

Ain't that cute? Just to let everypony know—you lay one hoof on my Jade and I break it in two!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Idiot! The way you've written it it's like you'll break me in two. Way to ruin your credibility. Oh wait, you don't have any.

@DarkSparkle: Please don't give AwesomePony any writing advice. I love you and all, but it'll only make her more confused at this point. :)

@AwesomePony: Yes, the overall idea is very good. Most of the time I come across humanized Daring Do stories, or a human lost with Daring Do. You actually came up with the idea of Daring Do and Danny bumping into each other while searching for artifacts. The evergems definitely would be something Daring Do would know about in her line of work, so well done there! Also, I'm actually impressed that it's adventure based and not just another shipping story. (The first two chapters still need to be rewritten from scratch.)

Jade

Well, nice to know that things are as lively as ever here. ;)

Sorry for the scare, girls :( I really didn't want to worry you. I was just a bit upset about some things in my life and did something stupid (as if any of you haven't, but that's a different matter). I never suspected how good friends I had. To be honest, for a while I though ponies only came to me when they needed help from me. I was wrong, so very wrong. You are like a family to me. (And yes, bro, I know you, mom, and dad are probably reading this. :P)

I can imagine what it must have been for you looking for me. I can only say I think I've learned a few things about life and myself and don't expect this to happen again.

*hugs*

@Short&Hoofy, @RRBB: I heard and I'm sorry, but I'm also glad. Just remember things aren't always what they seem. (I know that first hoof now.) Always looking forward to your visits.

@CEOWitch: I'm really sorry for what I did. I really was worth it for me (no regrets) but I never considered what mess I might cause :( I hope we still can be friends?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I'm not reading one bit! Neither are mom and dad. In fact they aren't reading so much that they are totally not crying right now.

And mom just bonked me on the head. (Thanks, sis :/)

Just be well, scoops. And nice try with CEO, but you really don't know anything about stallions.

@Jade: No worries. Thanks, buddy, I have this :) You task care. (And yes, AwesomePony's writing is an abomination.)

MasterOfThisAstra

@PaintDrop: filly, you don't have to worry one bit. CEO is too much of a chicken to admit it, but he's glad to get some attention, but it's just... well you're a smart one. Good thing you understand it. And of course he'll continue being hired friend. It will take him some time to get over it, though, as sensitive as he is.

Lesson number one about stallions: they are extremely sensitive creatures, so we must always suffer and take care of them ;) (Ask my CO ;P)

Main thing is that you are okay. Work with that.

Fleetfoot

I'm really bad at expressing emotions, but... I'm so glad you're okay, Paint! I know I only talk about stories and MCE, but that's because that's what I find to be my escape (I've depression, apart from my other issues :(( )

I like AwesomePony' story a lot! And it's faithful to both franchises! I've no idea how you pulled it off, but you're awesome, Awesome :D. Just one thing I don't understand: how are they both so calm? I mean sure, Danny has seen ponies and it's likely Daring Do could have seen humans, but they are transported to a totally new world (for both of them) and they just go "hey, you're after the gem too?" It's a bit... well... unnatural?

Anyway, I must run. (Supposed to be doing homework.)

Take care, everybody!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: you're fine ;) And thank you. I know you're her in spirit.

PaintDrop

AwesomePony still *yay* big time, though! :P

Feather

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Writing Advice

@all: Will you stop writing *yay* romance self inserts already?! Or at least put in some thought when you do? I'm tired with long lost humans appearing out of the woodwork and getting to be best friends with everyone (including gods)!

At the very least show some originality! All I have to do is replace the main character's name (and in half of the cases not even that!) to get the same story. And don't you PM me arguing that Euryala is the same. She isn't! She was included 3 volumes ago which prepared us for the events on Everhere. And also, if you think that you're as good as a team of writers that have been writing for three decades, well guess what—you aren't! (If you were I wouldn't be writing this!)

Can't you start with something simple? @MightyDragon writes trollfics like a maniac and even he provides some amusement! Just for once try to write something that isn't a romance. Go for tragedy, that's a much better choice!

RRBB

Wow! A bit much there, kid. Don't chew out half the site, will you?

That said (combined with Jade's comments) you girls really need to put in some effort. I am perfectly aware how difficult writing can be. (I was a terrible writer myself.) But I worked on my prose every chance I got. Just to be helpful here are a few basic hints about storytelling:

1) Introduction
2) explosion
3) conclusion

Follow that and when you feel you can do better start reading the real stuff, okay? And just to give you an example:

It was pure accident that Scarlet appeared in Gumania. Her parents were low Equestria, as were her friend and everyone she knew. On her seventh birthday, however, fate decided to intervene. Desperate to impress her mother, Scarlet cast a spell beyond her powers sending her to this unknown land. She believed herself locked there forever. Refusing to trust anyone, she lived Day for day, thinking she would better just disappear, until the unthinkable happened: she found someone who saw her as a friend and helped her move along the labyrinth of magic and puzzles in her quest to find home. That someone was Molly Williams.

Okay, so the conclusion sucks, but you get the idea. ;)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: okay, so 99% of the site hate you right now. Good job. Not that I can't write like that, mind you :P

Also, what happens next?

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: In the inevitable words of your future wife "don't even go there". Your writing is appalling, but it's far better than your storytelling. No wonder you're never the one leading your O&O campaigns.

The TechNightling

Wither burn, Tech! We're starting to have a bad effect on you :)

@RRBB: Maybe take a break? Come see me more often. You're hardly here for a few minutes before you rush somewhere. You know I'm always glad to talk to you anytime.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Yeah, well exams are approaching and my grades are s hit. There so much my parents would forgive even in my current condition. :/ I'll try, though.

@LightSparkle: that was cool. Ever considered writing?

RRBB

@The TechNightling: Ha! I happen to know that my thaco supports me in anything I do! (Also she's on a conference right now, so she won't have a chance to say that :P)

@LightSparkle: How are InItForTheShipping and Simile? Haven't heard a thing from them since they went visiting. You girls aren't doing something morally suggestive, are you? If you are it's my duty to hear all about it!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Wow, dude, just wow!

TheRealLuna

@MightyDragon: So, your future wife goes off and you start flirting? My, my, what would CodeFilly think when we tell her?

-Simile

They are fine. Unlike you lot they just happen to have a life and wanted to go sightseeing and enjoy themselves (instead of spending all their time curating story submissions). Simile had become a regular in all techno clubs (even got a few invites from cute guys she should totally take advantage of.)

LightSparkle

Meanwhile I'm juggling fun and work. :/

@PaintDrop: So great to hear you are doing better. For a moment I feared the worst. (Having a family changes the way you look at the world, I guess.)

InItForTheShipping

I made a new song! :))) Sorry for keeping to a secret, but I really wanted to get it done (and Octavia has been a bit harsh, but very very helpful in getting it out). @Luna can I tell them about it? Please? O:)

SweetStuff

I'll save you the trouble, Sweetie. For a while now SweetStuff and I have been working on a children's album which will also double as MCE's official soundtrack. There still is a lot of work to be done (it will contain a song for each chapter, as well as five additional songs that SweetStuff has written specially for her friends and family). It goes without saying that she who must not be disturbed (Lyra) is also helping out with some of the songs, as much as her condition allows, of course.

The song that will be available from next week is called "To My Friends" and is pretty self explanatory. I'll post it here a day before it hits the radio stations. With everything that's happened lately, I do hope it cheers all of you up, and my apologies for not being able to help with your latest trials *sad face*

Well done, SweetStuff!

Octavia

@Jade: err, you know can you help me to make my story even more awesome? I mean I can totally write it with all the proper grammar, but it's that I have a lot of work, and so thought you could lend a wing. Right?

AwesomePony

@The TechNightling: Preemptive licking?

PaintDrop

I wouldn't use those words, but yes. I prefer to end the thread on a high note.

Thank you for the example, @LightSparkle.

Thank you for the undoubtedly beautiful song, @SweetStuff.

And a special thank you, most dear Octavia Melody for lending a hoof in this endeavor. As I've mentioned before I'm a huge admirer and always delighted when you have new word to share. Looking forward to your concert (my son and Candle are already impatient.)

The TechNightling

I'll take this opportunity to share and excerpt of my latest fictional masterpiece.

Edit: Dear boy, all your masterpiece are fictional. -The TechNightling

MightyDragon

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Move

Everypony, I have an announcement to make.

I know it's sudden, but I have made a decision as difficult as it was. Last night I moved to the Crystal Empire when I'll be living from now on. Jade has helped me settle in (his parent's place is huge and has ponies attending to me, if I wished) so everything is great :)

I've spoken to somepony I trust and technically I'll be an exchange student for the remaining school year. My official transfer is next year. (I'll miss the prom ball :( so better send me all your pictures :))

This is the best way I can think of :) Also it'll give me a chance to be more active here. Who knows I might keep writing (since you liked my stories it seems).

@PaintDrop: I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through. I really wanted to be with you until you got better, but... well, life is strange :) Just know that I'm here if there's anything, okay? :)

@SweetStuff, @WaterBottle, @YouKnowWho: Sorry I was so mean to you. I shouldn't have behaved the way I did. Hopefully, you'll forgive me someday.

@RRBB: Always :) (Take care, you goof and feed Pixel properly ;))

Short&Hoofy

</3 :(((
Short, noooo! I'll miss you so much. And you've never been mean to me. Well, maybe a bit when you get drunk (kidding, just kidding, Max! None of us ever got drunk! Honest!)

I promise I'll visit as much as possible, and spam you every chance I get! O:) (One of the song was dedicated to you, you know.)

SweetStuff

@Short&Hoofy: Don't forget to go see Lyra, okay? She's been worried a lot (you know her) and doesn't have access to the aethernet. (Three nurses have to take turns making sure she doesn't sneak on the site and start chatting :P)

Just remember what I told you and you'll be fine. ;)

Bob

@Short&Hoofy: Sorry I couldn't wish you goodbye :( Would have preferred that you told me in person, but I understand. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. And you bet I'll be PMing you and doing art for your stories :) Personally, I think you'll be happy there (having in mind what a heartbreaker you are :P)

Did you know you got half the class to cry (including some who pretend they didn't)? I can tell partially because I'm back to this sea of drama called school (and yes, teach, I know you are still reading this as is the entire class.) ... Yes, Snails, I can be at two places at once. It's magic!

*hugs* Write soon!

PaintDrop

@Short&Hoofy: No kidding? That's where I'll be at for a few days! We can meet and gossip! (And I'll tell you all about a rotten friend I had when I was your age. Took her years to reconnect, the *yay*.)

Feather

You're here? I'm totally up for a meet if you girls are fine.

@BlueEyes

@Short&Hoofy: Just to let you know, you forgot _it_. No worries! I'll fly over and bring it for you. :D

DaBoss

@Short&Hoofy: Well this feels awkward. Yes, I admit I'm sad that you're gone. I know it's lame and it isn't like I've been the best friend or anything. I just wanted to say that you'll one tough uni, you got that? And also that I'm an idiot (but hey, what else is new).

Stay awesome, k?

YouKnowWho

Girls, it's not the end of Equestria. :) I'll still be here. It'll be just as if was there, just you'll bump into me less (literally). Also for those that shall remain anonymous: you won't be able to copy from me anymore. (Yes, the desk is empty and it won't test answers on its own.)

@Bob: First thing tomorrow. I'm still a bit tired from the move. :)

Short&Hoofy

My 2 bits: ponies here already love Short. And not it's not only because of the rumor that you are on first name basis with Spike. A few more years and the stallions in my college will be trampling over each other to get noticed by you.

Oh, and aethernet is ten times faster here, so there's also that.

Jade

@Jade: :)

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Isn't this exciting! I've already started to plan your party! Twenty four days till the big day! I'm so excited!!! :D

PPI

@Short&Hoofy: Psst, kiddo! I'll sneak by to get a glimpse of you, but don't tell anypony, okay? I'm a bit grounded because of Simile (when that girl parties she parties!) but I'll be there to say hi, as well as stalk Jade! (No, Max, I wouldn't dream stealing him from you. As cute as he is he isn't my type. I fear there might be a pony or two on the forum that disagrees with me, though. ;))

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle, @MixaMax, @Jade: Pfft! Keep on dreaming! He's just cool 'cause he can see how awesome my crossover story is. And anypony who likes Daring Do can't be lame!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Just don't type. Please.

@Short&Hoofy: I know exactly what you're going through. I've experienced similar situations. The most important thing now is to maintain a healthy diet, do a lot of jogging, and do something unexpected every day!

I'll be there to show you the ropes soon. Oh, and for the record, @LightSparkle, I don't get drunk! That was merely mutually agreed alcoholic destruction.

Simile

Are you kidding me?! :( Just when I was well enough to get out of bed and you run away? :/ I had all this useful advice I could tell you. Most of the spells I've tested myself and can guarantee they're top stuff!

Anyway, I have friends in the Empire, so when I visit I'll be sure to teach them to you. It never hurts to have a spell or two at the ready for any situation.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: Uh-huh. A few spells, eh? You really don't learn anything, do you? :/

@Short&Hoofy: Don't trust her, okay? Half the time things don't work as she imagines, the rest of the time they end in disaster :/

TheRealLuna

@Short&Hoofy: Always...

RRBB

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Unexpected Surprise

@all, @mods, @curators: I know I'll be wasting everyone time for a day or three, but there's something I must share! :)))

As you might might have noticed, I haven't been much on the site (or in Ponyville) these last few weeks. Those familiar might have been aware that I'd gone to the Crystal Empire. Some might even know that I've been in hospital. What you don't know (and I'm sharing now) is that I was in a the fertility wing. :D

But wait! That's only the start of it! I bet most of your know what happens there, right? (If you don't you shouldn't be on this site :P). In my case, however, it was something quite different. There's no easy way of saying this, but thanks to a very special gift and lots of alicorn magic I'm now pregnant with Bob's child! :))))))

Yep, the manasound confirmed it yesterday! In less than an year I'll have a crazy foal of my own to take care of (since Bon Bon is totally unreliable to take care of it! :P).

I can say without a doubt that this is the happiest day of my life! Never did I think this would ever be an option. Also makes what I've been through worth it. Now, I'm under the influence of buckets of serotonin, but let me share with you this: an year ago I was in such a dark place I didn't through ever get a break. Things got progressively worse and worse, until I made some of the worst choices in my life and went through the most crushing experiences in my life. However, in some weird way it's precisely because of those experiences and choices that I have what I thought impossible. I know some of you (no names) feel like you're in Tartarus right now. I just want to tell you to remain strong and allow happiness to find you. There's a whole site of Nightlings that are here for you! Remember that always.

LyraHands

Oh, how could I forget :( Endless happiness sure makes ponies stupid O:)

Bob and I got officially married. (Yes, it was a very small ceremony with no guests, just a royal representative.) Everything considered I thought it would be better this way. Besides we already have too great weddings to look forward to! (Maybe more ;))

Be well, everybody! (I need to get back to sleep. Need as in Bob will bonk me to sleep with a food tray if I don't log off. However, as sneaky as I am I'm using this as an excuse to type as much as possible because I'm not sure when I'd get another chance to log on.)

I should be back in Ponyville soon.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: ... didn't see that one coming! If you weren't what you were I'd buck you so hard in the flank it would take Luna to get you back here. Why didn't you tell me anything?!? We've known each other since kindergarten! I'm hurt! :/

Well, contracts and congrats you hand obsessed idiot! I... err... now I don't know what to say. Lots of freaking out I guess? O:)

MixaMax

@LyraHands: What my future ex wife wishes to say is that she's overjoyed that your greatest dream has come true and wishes you all the best in your trials and joy to come. In addition she'd also like to offer her support and let you know she we are here should you need any help.

Short sends you hugs (before trotting off to give them to you in the hospital) :)

Jade

Wow. DarkSparkle is gonna freak! The big event and she's off on work stuff. Let me hug you instead! :) Little Lyra a mother. Didn't see that coming. Power to you! I know the procedure wasn't easy.

Have you started thinking of names yet?

LightSparkle

@LyraHands: Wow! I never suspected! Guess I'll spend another night drawing... pony or human, though. Argh.

I'm an idiot, aren't I? Congrats, Lyra! This is so cool! It's one of those impossible things I never though could happen! Oh, fair warning: the scream brigade is out on a school field trip (no portables allowed; I know our teach has an account!) so when they'll be back expect them to go crazy. :P

I agree with Light. Names?

PaintDrop

Lyra, this is the most wonderful news Imaginable. I know that Miss Rarity would never allow me to make a formal dress for you, but I'll do my best to make you and Bob a casual attire for home, and something for the foal once it's here :)

Also, greetings and best wishes from DannyFan and Tech (I'm visiting in Trottingham for Octavia Melody's first big tour. If I get a chance I'll tell her the news as well. :))

Candle

Wow! I never knew such spells existed! Damnit! I would have offered to do it myself! :/ Congrats, I guess. You know what? How about I do a time magic to see what your foal looks like ten years from now? (Don't worry it's totally safe! And I'll just take a picture or two. Besides chances of me falling for your offspring are fifty percent at most.)

TrueSparkle

@all: Not to be rude, but I'll be locking the thread after this. One the one hoof, Lyra really needs her rest and once she starts reading stuff (especially about herself) she gets out of control. On the other (and I've discussed this with Lyra and a few others) lately we've transformed the site into a social gathering rather than what it was originally meant to be. It's all great that we're so close and can share out problems and help each other, but let's not extinguish the spark that brought us together. Right? ;)

That said, a bit thanks from me and own from Lyra :)

@MixaMax, @Jade: No arguing? You too must really be surprised. And yes, Short is here now, having a talk with Lyra. (If you can call it that.) We wanted to keep it discrete for reasons. Originally Lyra wanted to try and hide it until physically impossible. (Her plan was then to go "how did this happen?")

@LightSparkle: thanks, you're know. And actually yes. Some unicorn that shall not be named decided to name the character after a characters in MC (would anyone be surprised?) The names are set: Megan (if it's a filly) and Blazen (if it's a colt). Since she's doing the heavy lifting I couldn't say no (plus Blazen sounds cute).

@PaintDrop: Listen here, young filly! You're supposed to be resting! Two organizations are still trying to figure out where you vanished (including your crush CEOWitch:P) Sleep first, drawing after. Also, I get the pictures first! Anything too cute or sexy I keep for myself :)

@Candle, @The TechNightling, @DannyFan: Hey, thanks :) You seem like having fun. No worries. We'd love to have something casual if it's not a bother. And feel free to visit anytime, okay? I know you a long way away, but we'll always love having you :)

@TrueSparkle: No! Just no! We've already had enough time messes! Although now you got me curious... why 50%? Should it look more like Lyra or like me? You know what, don't answer that! Also, see you end of the month at the Spa? Need to discuss stuff with you.

@PPI: Discrete! I said discrete! (Two can play at the game.)

That's it for now. You can PM me or Lyra for additional thanks, just try to limit it here. And please no fics about us, okay? I'm relying on @Jade to reject anything with a hint of meta!

Bob

Well, I know what my next story will be about... O:)

MightyDragon

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Danny Daring Do Adventures

@Jade: Pone, why are you being so hard? Yeah the story needs some work, but the idea is there. And now that the are a thousand editors ( :/ ) looking into it, I don't think it'll have any issues.

Seriously, what the *yay*? I haven't seen you should like that since your Max courtship ritual. Are you hitting on AwesomePony or something?

RRBB

@RRBB: He's just upset that he didn't come up with the idea. (I see him moping about it every time he visits.) And he's right. Great idea, terrible execution, but the idea is still so great that the execution doesn't matter. :)

He'll get over it. And seeing the correspondence between him, sis, and Awesome I don't think Awesome minds.

Short&Hoofy

Yeah, Jade is one excitable wingling. The problem is that Awesome really doesn't need another excuse to inflate her ego. (I see her do that every day :/) A for stories, I'm still a fan. Not that I agree with all the things. I mean the bot with only the chosen have access, but not the gods themselves? What gives? Is there a barrier of some sort? Or is Zeus too picky to enter in such a world?

On a side note, @Luna are you sure everything's okay? I know this is just fanfiction, but Daring Do is a rather huge franchise, and all.

MixaMax

@Short&Hoofy: Hey. How are you? Everything okay? Managed to write anything more now that you have some peace and quiet?

Pixel misses you, by the way.

RRBB

@RRBB: Peace and quiet? Are you kidding? Do you know how many fans there are in the Crystal Empire? Off the top of my head I can think of a about ten. Just imagine what it would be like if they discover who Short is?

Just kidding :) Maybe we can organize a aether call sometime?

PaintDrop

@RRBB: I'm fine. :) And I miss Pixel as well.

Short&Hoofy

I kind of liked the story. Made fun of AwesomePony, of course (along with ten twenty other Bolts) but I liked it. Of course, there are a lot of things that only a pegasus would appreciate. All those flying matters and the sensations—totally lost on anypony else.

@AwesomePony: I say go ahead. I hear it's a great way to get yayed:)

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: and everypony calls me a flirt :/

Just so you know, AwesomePony has worked very hard on this. It is use that some areas could use improvement, but i think it's wonderful, and it makes her happy. So please, don't be mean to her, okay?

Fun fact: each time Awesome sends a link to Jade she gets all nervous, then flies to my place and starts circling the room. It's so cute. :)

Brush

@Brush: next time she does that, please call me. I want to have a long talk with her and make it very clear that Jade and I really are engaged (no, @AwesomePony, this is not "site roleplay stuff").

Bottom line:

Talking to Jade: I'm fine
Antagonizing Jade: I approve
Hitting on Jade: just don't!

MixaMax

Going back to the story, I agree with Max's point about the deity limiter. Having such a firm ban is a bit too much. Maybe have them have an appearance at some point. I fully agree it's lol to show things in perspective and not have Zeus go about doing every chore the authors could think of (Zeus Goes to Buy Sugar ... MightyDragon, why?!), but don't lock them out so definitely. At least don't mention it and let the readers speculate.

And DD & D get along too well too fast. They are supposed to be fighting (or competing for the same amulet) not just go "cool, let's be friends." Not that's it's wrong, just stretch it a bit? Do you know how long I've known some of my current friends before we became friends?

RRBB

@RRBB: We're friends now, though <3

Can we have another Pixel party? Please? With everything going on lately, I think we can use one. I think my place will be free. Sis and Brush will be off on another important mission, so the place is mine (within reason). :D

SweetStuff

@MasterOfThisAstra: I was just about to tell you. It'll only be a day or two. I'll be back in time for the great announcement! I promise :)) *wing snuggle*

Brush

@Brush: okay...

MasterOfThisAstra

Everypony! Chapter one of Danny Daring Do adventures is ready! (Along with the name change :D)

I know that a lot of you wanted to help with edits and suggestions, but I think too many would make a mess. I've tried to take everything into consideration (please don't be upset if I missed your suggestion).

I've already started work on chapter 2 (AwesomePony told me she has the first 8 ready :))

Twist

@AwesomePony, you're so cool! Can we hang out? :P

By the way, my ex saw the story as I was reading through and loved it (grammar aside :)) Want me to hook you up?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: She wants it so much you have no idea! Of course, she'll never admit it :P

Feather

Meh. I don't see what the big deal is. I've seen better concepts. The Human and I is much better.

Grumpy

Welcome, Grumpy! :)

A fan of Brush is always welcome here :D Be sure to read the rules and have fun ;)

@AwesomePony: I think you've started something great. I'm by no means saying that the other stories (and we have some very good ones) are bad, but you all have to admit that the amount of involvement this has received from site members is huge! No small thanks to Jade (who's probably slamming his head against the wall somewhere).

Bottom line: the MC community has gained a lot.

Also, don't hit on Jade :P

Bob

Actually, the events described might not be too far from the truth. I mean, it's theoretically possible to create a portal that blocks god's (assuming that they have a specific aether frequency and dimensional portals could be made to target that frequency). It'll be almost like the disabling spell at the Equestria games, just more precise.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: nneeeeeeerd!

Also, don't hit on Jade!

Grumpy

@Grumpy: You're cool, I like you :D

Also, don't hit on Jade!

Feather

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Stallion PMs

Jade, I need some advice.

MasterOfThisAstra

Sure thing. Just give me like 10 mins. I promised to drop off Short at the palace. I'll do it real quick then be back.

Jade

Cool. Just send a line when you're back.

MasterOfThisAstra

Here now. Sorry for the delay. MightyDragon was there and wanted to show off a bit. Short got to say hi to the prince so that was fun. (Kid is finally starting to smile once in a while.)

Anyway, what's up?

Jade

Jade, do you think Brush and I are a good fit? I don't know what to do. Lately it seems like we're just drifting apart.

It's not that she's sone anything wrong, but she's so busy... and I feel the spark isn't there anymore.

MasterOfThisAstra

Where did this come from? Gold, you're dating a supermodel! I'll say it again, slowly this time: SUPER MODEL! Not only that but she's nice! Remember when we used to be dragged to the local pubs?

Did you two get into a fight?

Jade

No, it's not that, it's just... Tartarus I don't know. At times I wish we fought. At least then I'd make sense of this. She's great, trust me, I know, but at the same time... we spend a few days together then she gets called by her mark thing to save Equestria. Each time I'm afraid I might not see her again (and that's not a figure of speech). What environment is that to raise a family?

MasterOfThisAstra

Gold, Max and I fight all the time. You think the forum stuff is bad? You should see our PMs. Yet when we're together we have the best time of our lives. Is it uncomfortable being so far apart? Definitely I spend ten hours every weekend getting there and back, less now with Short here. That's not a problem. That's something to make you cherish her more.

Remember I told you how lucky you were to have Brush as your marefriend. In a different life (and if I hadn't met Max) I'd probably have asked her out. And I know she lives a dangerous life, but that's all the more reason to cherish every moment with her.

I'm a crystal pony. Im pretty much raised with the knowledge that I might suddenly find myself sent to the Crystal Mines by King Sombra, turned into a brainless soldier, or swallowed by the frozen north. Every moment of joy might be my last. I don't take it for granted that I'm engaged to Max, and neither should you.

It's weird that I of all ponies should tell you this, but you need to fight for the happiness you have. And fighting sometimes means accepting.

Jade

You're probably right. I've always been spoilt. And yet, what happened to Paint made me look at things in a different way. Maybe I've been fooling myself all along. Maybe we were actually not meant to be together.

It was a coincidence beyond coincidence that for us to meet (and I had the best moments of my life with her) but now I honestly fear the bad is worse than the good. Weeks of worry and loneliness only to get a few words from her. She's either busy with something, helping a friend, or off to save Equestria. Even our writing projects have stalled. It's like we've become strangers.

Tomorrow was the day she was supposed to announce to the world that we're going out together. I've gently been asking her for months, and finally she found it in herself to agree. And what happens? She's off somewhere again. Without even telling me! I had to find out from SweetStuff! And I'm sure if she hadn't mentioned it on the forum I'd have never found out at all! Do I keep any secrets from her? Does Max keep secrets from you?

MasterOfThisAstra

Honestly, I don't know. With the amount of spam she sends I doubt it.

I won't t lol you what to do. At the end of the day only you can do that. Either way I'll remain your friend and forever thankful for bringing me to the site. (You helped me find some magnificent ponies, as well as get a wife. Literally.) Still, I think it would be a mistake not to give Brush a chance. Is that so difficult?

Jade

If I knew I wouldn't be asking. I'd like nothing better than give her a chance. I've been doing just that for weeks, even longer. It's just that I feel I'm the only one making an effort. I'm not saying it's her fault. She's the sweetest things I've know, it's just... Like I said, I'm not sure we're a match anymore. Maybe we're just too different.

MasterOfThisAstra

Gold, look at me. Then look at Max. Tell me we're anything alike. The only things we have in common is that we love fiction and each other. Don't tell me you and Brush are different! The only question you must answer is whether is do you want to keep her or not. I don't want to sound jerk the jerk, but either do something or shut up.

Jade

That's why I like you: you tell it how it is, even under all that fragile exterior.

I'll give Brush a chance. I live her too much just to let her go. After all, if anything is destined to happen (or not) there's nothing I could do about it. Not like worrying helps, right?

MasterOfThisAstra

You don't have to convince me. Whatever you do remember: don't have any regrets. As my father liked to say "there's no right or wrong in life, everything is just a series of mistakes we try to make the best of".

Jade

Yeah, you're father is the embodiment of Zeus. :P

Thanks for the talk, buddy. I needed that.

MasterOfThisAstra

Hope I helped.

Must get back to studying now. I'm trying to take my midterms early. With all the things I need to do with the wedding I asked to have my exams done with in the next few months.

Jade

Good luck. Take care.

MasterOfThisAstra

You too.

Jade

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Serious Questions

Okay, I don't get it. Is Daring Do into Danny or not? I mean she does blush a lot lately, but at the same time she hasn't seen a human before ("I haven't seen a biped up close before. Well, not a human anyway."). So what's the story? I really like the chapters so far, but that's the one thing bugging me.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Maybe not knowing is what makes the story so great? Personally, I think it's more shame than anything else. Knowing AwesomePony (and how annoying she is every Winter Wrap up). I also don't think DDD is anything more than an adventure fic. Don't get me wrong, it's great and all, but Romance a romance tag will totally ruin it.

I think the blushing will continue, and that it shouldn't be treated than anything more than pouting.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I think that it's obvious there will be a romantic element in a few chapters. My personal speculation: that the story would be much more sexy as the chapters progress until we get all out sex scenes.

For me the whole world is much more interesting. A world that ponies and humans live together. (Let that sink in for a moment.) we already know there are such things as transforming spells, both in Equestria and in Gumania, so mixed marriages shouldn't be an issue.

@AwesomePony: is it okay for me to write a story relating to that? I know this is your world, but I doubt you'll explore that line. :)

LightSparkle

Not a bad idea. At least someone skilled will get to explore the concept.

Jade

Also, don't hit on Jade! O:)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I never expected that from you! I'm not sure whether to be terrified or proud you're growing up. What will your sister say, though? :/

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: let the kid have some fun, you nerd!

Also, don't hit on Jade!

Grumpy

Will you all give it a rest with the Jade hitting already? So I'm a bit protective of my coltfriend. Who isn't? And don't you think you know anything about him just because you exchange notes on the site! I happen to know him far better and way more intimately, so just buck off! :/

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Sorry :((( I'll stop.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I wasn't mad at you, sweetie. It's just that some jerks are taking this too far. We all know that Jade has an aether-temper, but there are some lines that mustn't be crossed.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Please reread your first outburst. I don't think you said what you meant to say.

Honestly, I don't care. I'll most likely never see most of the ponies "hitting" on me anyway.

@SweetStuff: Dark has a point about your sister, though. Won't you get in trouble?

Jade

@Jade: Sis still isn't here. She told me she'll be delayed till tonight or tomorrow morning, maybe even the day after. She gets like that when she's dealing with a problem. One time she spent a full week (I survived by crashing at WaterBottle's place. :))

SweetStuff

I guess I expected too much... :(

MasterOfThisAstra

Well I think we'll totally be seeing snuggles! The safe bet would be to have Danny transfer, into a pony somehow, but based on how AwesomePony does what she finds most daring, I think we'll be in for full pony on human action. I'm tempted to say I'd draw that, but I'm way behind on drawings as it is (finishing the contest prizes and getting to commissions).

Unrelated, I'm thinking of rereading all of MC from the original ones, just to see how things have progressed. Should be fun.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: no need to rush with my commissions. Take your time get better, first. (You've been terribly absentminded lately :/ )

I agree with your thoughts on DDD. There's no way we won't get steamy scenes in a chapter or two. @Twist, are you sure you can handle that stuff? I know you read a lot, but poke me if things get too much for you, okay?

@Short&Hoofy: Will you be coming here next weekend? Miss you.

RRBB

I hate you all! :/ You just had to start writing about this when I was getting flying lessons. :/

Oh, and of course there will be sex scenes and they will be awesome! :)

YouKnowWho

Well, AwesomePony is somewhat cool, so who knows? @Brush can do a totally better job, mind you. I'm sensing there's a DDD: Chaos story begging to be written.

@MixaMax: Talking about Winter Wrap Up, you're bossy as hell, then! Don't you think I haven't forgotten what happened last time! And the year before that! Honestly, I pity sweet innocent Jade. He has absolutely no idea what he's gotten himself into!

Grumpy

Anyway... I wonder if we'll see centaurs. As you know from a mythological point, they came to be exactly through such a union. With ponies and humans being so comfortable with one another, it's natural for there to be at least a few mix marriages, and provided that they have offspring, it's more than likely the child will result in a taur.

I know I'm the last person who's supposed to be saying this (everything considered) but it might be interesting to is Tirek somewhere there (or some relative of his).

@AwesomePony, what do you think? :)

DarkSparkle

Girls! Stop!

There will be no sex, no mix loved affairs, and certainly no centaurs! :/ This is supposed to be a cool adventure story, not some you know what! Like, have you read Daring Do novels? And I don't mean just the words. Have you felt what the stories are about?

Like, argh!!! And for the last time. I. Am. Not. Hitting. On. Jade! Okay? We're just having story discussions!

AwesomePony

In other good news, DDD is perfectly fine from a legal perspective. I've spoken with Yearling personally and she's thrilled (she's actually a fan of MC, so that makes her a Nightling as well :))

@MixaMax: In all fairness, Jade is rather attractive, and you certainly didn't waste any time during the meetup, as I recall :P

Luna

@RRBB: It's okay :) I've read your stories :P Chapter 3 is nearly done for posting. Chapter 4 is halfway there. And it's getting heated! (Not in that sense :P)

Twist

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Crushing PMs

How are you?

Brush

Hey! :) Glad you made it back safely.

I'm good. Still on leave and bored out of my skull. :/ Ponyville, great and all but there's nothing to do here. My only nightlight is having a round with DaBoss, Lurkling, and 2ndHalf about Wonderbolt stuff.

How are you doing?

CEOWitch

Mota just broke up with me

Brush

?!?

CEOWitch

I need to talk to somepony right now.

Brush

Are you at the cottage? I'll be there in fifteen seconds.

CEOWitch

No. Here. I want to be along for a while. I know it doesn't make sense... I just feel like my life is over.

Brush

Sorry I'm dumping this on you. Lyra will be a mother soon and I didn't want to bother her with me again. And I don't want the others to know... I just felt you can be a shoulder I can cry on.

Three months over just like that. Yesterday was the day I was supposed to make the big announcement. Saying that Mota and I are officially an item. He wanted that so much. At times he wouldn't stop talking about it. I'm such and idiot!

If I hadn't wasted time with Rarity and her stupid gems, I might have made it on time. Why couldn't I just say no when it counts?

Brush

He said that he couldn't live like this. I knew he was always worried about me. I've never had that before. Usually, I'm the one who worries. I worry about my friends, I worried about myself, I worry about everything... I never thought somepony else could worry about me as much.

Stability and reliability. That's what he wanted. As if I don't want those!

Brush

Brush, I don't know what to say...

CEOWitch

Say that everything's fine and things will get back to what they were?

Brush

I could. You know it'll be a lie. We stallions are weird creatures. MasterOfThisAstra is a spoilt jerk used to getting it his way, but he's in this case it's a bit better. You could probably get him back if you chase after him. He'll cry a bit, pout a few days, but in the end he'll give you another chance. It still won't work. As many chances as he gives you the situation will repeat over and over until you have foals. Once that happens he'll leave you forever.

My father did that. He loved my mother to insanity. He just didn't have the stomach for it. I remember when I was a foal he'd stay up all night looking at the sky, waiting for her. Then one day he took me and left. He wanted stability, calm, a proper environment for raising a foal.

As my mother you have a choice to make.

CEOWitch

Why must there always be a choice?! Can't it be simple? Can't he just accept me for who I am?!

Brush

No, Brush, he can't.

CEOWitch

I remember the first time we met. I was so nervous back then. And so was he. I found it so weird a collegecolt being attracted to me. And the brother of a site friend. I was his first. He fell asleep right after we kicked the hay, remained there hugging me till morning. And I hugged him back.

I was so scared afterwards. I thought I had taken advantage of the situation, and I did. I know I did. I just needed Lyra to tell me everything will be alright. Sometimes things aren't alright, are they? I just...

Brush

Sorry, Brush. I might not be the best person to talk to. I'm not like Lyra. I'm also a stallion. I can understand him. Remember when I saw you two at the meetup? I was convinced back then it would never work. There were just too many difference between you two. And I don't mean him being rich or an earthy. It's the things you see in life, your expectations.

MasterOfThisAstra came with the idea of the costumes, didn't he? You just followed for him. I expect you thought that he'd follow you as well in the things he doesn't agree with? That doesn't work like that.

CEOWitch

Sorry, I can't think right now :( I just miss him. Terribly much. The pony I was considering to be the father of my foals and now... I'm alone again, as always. Everypony around me finds love, and me... I'm the idiot that could even keep it!

Mota was one in a million. He was the only pony to see something in me. Like really. Flirts, flings, even the occasional week of courtship... after that, though they get tired of and move on. That's why I became Brush. I was tired to be brushed aside, so I became the brush. I thought Mota wouldn't brush me aside...

Brush

Brush, you just had your heart plucked out. Right now you're in no condition to read anything I say. After a few days you will, though, so that's why I'm writing it.

To be honest I've never been in your situation. Usually it was me having the talk with my exes. You're mr than a great pony, that much is clear, and as much as you think the world will end now it won't. Just, please (and I mean this seriously) don't hurt MasterOfThisAstra.

CEOWitch

Hurt him? I'll never hurt him, even after what he did to me. I love him, can't you understand that? If I didn't I wouldn't be like this!

Brush

I know. I just want to be sure others know it as well. I also think you shouldn't be alone. Stop whatever you're doing and take a trot with a friend. It doesn't have to be me (although I'm always here if you need me) but do it.

CEOWitch

Will it make me feel better?

Brush

I don't know. I'll be here to see you through this, however. Whatever it takes. And not only on the aethernet. So if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, just tell me, okay?

CEOWitch

I just want to be alone right now. Sorry. I didn't want to bother you.

Brush

I'll always be just a PM away, Brush. Always.

CEOWitch

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Vicious PM Exchange

Yo, Max!

AwesomePony

What's up?

AwesomePony

Look, I meant what I said! About the story and the rest. We've known each other for ages' but it really looks like you're hitting on Jade. Just cool it a bit okay? Jade isn't like us. We're loud mouthed *yay* with huge egos that shout every chance we get. Jade's a little scared kitten that sees the aethernet as a shield.

Also, you are so making DDD into a love affair. I know how you think (no surprises there). I bet that your self insert will appear in a few chapters. Probably as "an annoying but awesome sidekick from Daring Do's past" and get involved. And, for stars' sake, please don't make a "harem"!

MixaMax

Wait, what? No, no way! And she's not a self insert! She just looks very much like me. Like, this is a totally different world from Equestria. Wonderbolts are bound to get there, you know. They are the best and the best!

AwesomePony

There we go. Just as I expected. :/ You know, you haven't changed a bit. All that talk of becoming more mature and responsible since you got your new job. Not entirely true, is it?

So, when will your OC appear? Next chapter? I think it'll be next chapter. Just don't ruin it, okay? You've got some good stuff going on. No need to add ego in the story. Jade is still mad that he didn't think of the idea thirst. Then again, he's not exactly the Daring Do fan.

MixaMax

Yeah, about that... Wanted to talk to you about something. Like, you know, I'm awesome and all, maybe too awesome. It's a burden at times just as... the thing that attracts insects and kills them you know? But doesn't kill them. You know the one that like grows in the badlands, like the fines and stuff?

AwesomePony

What the hay are you talking about? :/ Insects? Vines? Have you been having too much cider again?

MixaMax

What? No! Well, maybe a bit. Tough day at work and all, so I had a bowl or two. Nothing I can't handle, you know.

Thing is... look I know we always got in each other's manes (mostly during Winter Wrap up), but like I was always cool, right? Didn't do anything mean or bad, right? I mean not deliberately, right?

AwesomePony

Now you're starting to worry me. Are you in any trouble? ... am I in any trouble?

MixaMax

No! Err... not sure? Look, the things is I think that Jade is not totally lame... so I thought I'd talk to you about it, k?

AwesomePony

Well, duh! What do you expect? Honestly, of your ego was any bigger Celestia's would have to as you move it aside so she could raise the sun! Sheesh.

MixaMax

Hay, no! No way you wrote what you just wrote! I knew it! You were hitting on him! Is everything a competition for you?!

MixaMax

It was unintentional, okay? I didn't plan it or anything. It just sort of happened.

AwesomePony

Sort of happened? This isn't you forgetting a thundercloud one afternoon! Hay, AwesomePony! I told you we are engaged! Did you think I was joking?

MixaMax

His was I supposed to know it wasn't one of those role played things? There are lots of ponies shipping themselves with others on the forum. You seemed into that stuff.

And the way he argued with me just got me mad and mad and sort of excited, so I annoyed him back. You two do it all the time. How am I supposed to know if he's into me or not?

AwesomePony

I told you a thousand times it isn't roleplay! We are engaged! It's official! The wedding is in half an year!

MixaMax

Well, yeah, I knew that! ... he's cool, though. Like, I've been to the Empire dozens of times. Saved it a few times even. Can't remember seeing any crystal pegasi. Well, other than those old guys who protect the castle, but they are old and slow and so uncool.

AwesomePony

One of those "old and slow and so uncool" guards is actually Jade's father (who served through Sombra by the way). And arguing us just what Jade does online. In real life he's like very different. A bit like Fluttershy. (Good thing she has somepony or I'd be worried.)

Seriously, Rainbow, what the heck!? Weren't you dating Shy's brother or something?

MixaMax

Why does everyone... Argh! That guy was such an annoyance! I only tolerated him because of her.

You're right, Jade is cute. Like a squishy toy or something.

AwesomePony

Keep this up and I'll zap you!

MixaMax

Hey! I'm just giving him a compliment! You must be happy! In fact you must be thanking me! I came to you with this. I could totally have stolen him from you, you know!

AwesomePony

Ha! You wish! Nopony would be able to survive in the gravity well of your ego! Your yelling alone is enough to chase away all stallions in a ten mile radius! I've no idea how CEOWitch even works with you. I bet he wished he didn't.

MixaMax

As if! I have dozens of stallions who want to be like me! Like, they follow me all the time! So much that it's getting boring. And who are you saying yells, loudmouth?! At least I have a cool mane and, you know, wings!

AwesomePony

Oh, it's so on! Other than your one good idea there's nothing you can do to get Jade's attention! Not! A! Thing! So, I'd like to see you try!

MixaMax

Oh yeah? Well, I will! And you'll be crying afterwards!

AwesomePony

Ha! Do your worst!

MixaMax

Don't say I didn't warn you!

AwesomePony

Fine! Do it!

MixaMax

I will!!!

AwesomePony

Good!

MixaMax

Good!

AwesomePony

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Revelation in Ponyville

@all: Hey! Oh, it's so nice to be back! :)

I know I shouldn't hijack the thread with personal stuff, but after everything that happened I can't help myself (sorry Tech :))

First, thanks for all the well wishes you girls sent me. My scrollbox exploded twice. (CodeFilly and Tech had to reconstruct it for me.)

Also, thanks @DaBoss for being the best boss! Not only did you let me take is huge leave, but also came to visit a few times (though I suspect that had also to do with a certain blue-eyed angel :))

And of course, huge thanks to the Crystal crowd for all the fun (as well as Simile and LightSparkle who dropped by). I have to admit, that really freaked me out (Light, now I know where I know you from! :)). Simile, I must say I'm surprised that turned out to be you. From everything InItForTheShipping had told me I was expecting something completely different. :) Love you to bits, though (I just hope Bob doesn't get jealous :P)

Phew, that's a heck of a thanks and I'm not done yet!

Thanks to all the crazy regulars for keeping the site running and in the spirit it was built (helping CEO and PaintDrop was really nice and I thank you all for it). In short, despite a little drama now and again, you're exactly what I hoped—nice as Nightlings :)

That said, let's return to our usual schedule. Namely fics that need more work!

My Human and I (Come on, Lazy Brush!)
School Days (EndlessHearts, I'm waiting...)
Danny Saga (RRBB, I miss your silly saga... sniff)
Poppies (@Canon, stop lurking and write a line now and again! You've already written 50k of goodness, so might as well own it!)
Daring Doo Danny Adventures (way to go, AwesomePony!)

Also a huge thanks to all you great starting and veteran authors, you always brighten my day! :)

LyraHands

Banned! Thread has been licked! LyraHands is given water bottle!

Also, don't hit on Jade! :P

MightyDragon

@LyraHands: Yeah, my fic is pretty awesome. Jade absolutely loves it, right, Jade? :)

AwesomePony

@LyraHands: I think I'll be going on hiatus. Not feeling like writing lately. Sorry :(

Brush

@Brush: Aww :( Hope you get better. I reread your story just yesterday. After the recent excitement, I decided to stalk back to the time I connected this place. Wow, the nostalgia effect hit me hard. I was such a dork! RRBB had to drag me here. I remember we had like five members in total and stuff :)

@AwesomePony: your sorry is good, but (as Jade would say) your writing skills not so much :) Good thing Twist is spending all her time fixing your mess. She really must get a medal. Well, she and RRBB.

Also, Cheerilee totally has an account! Someone at school *cough* YouKnowWho *cough*) did an analyses on a site fic and Cheerilee guessed the name of the author. It's hilarious that half the class has accounts here :)

PaintDrop

That was so cringeworthy! :/

RRBB

I thought it was nice :) Well, minus the suggestive scene. @YouKnowWho, you really should have cut that on your own and not have Cheerilee step in :P

Not that anyone minded (other that WaterBottle who went all red :P).

SweetStuff

Wait! You're talking about Ponyville, right? The reading of Gloves and Ponies? I'm in that class!

Plust

Girls, that's all great, but remember no real names or info. ;) I'm okay with vague descriptions, though.

I thought everypony there had an account' to be honest. Guess one passed through the cracks until now :)

LyraHands

@Plust: hold on, you're in our class and you didn't know? Hay, mare, what have you been doing? It's almost spelled out who is who. (I did the reading, in case you didn't get that before.)

YouKnowWho

Not a mare. And I guessed that. I also pretty much think I know who SweetStuff and WaterBottle are. I'm the one with the glasses. I sit behind you :D

Plust

No way!

YouKnowWho

@Plust: Your name makes so much sense now! I was thinking of asking you to join the site, but you always are reading on your own, so I didn't want to disturb you.

Eeeee! I'm so happy! :D

SweetStuff

So much for not bringing real life into this. :/ I supposed I outdoor scrap that rule. Just please limit the drama, and try to focus mostly on MC, alright?

The TechNightling

Wait! @RRBB: Are you in our class too? The stories you wrote... well, they were nice and all, but maybe a bit much?

Plust

@Plust: Yeah, yeah. And yet you and all the hypocrites read them!

Nah, it's cool. After all, we're old enough, and as long as my grades aren't suffering I could do what I want. Although, that was rather brace, YouKnowWho ;) What will it be next time? One of my M-rated fics? :P Not that I expect there to be any complaints.

RRBB

@RRBB: You're so mean, you know that? I bet the entire class is praying to the Stars that I go for it :P Well, I just might! Plust, what do you think?

YouKnowWho

I think you should. RRBB has some extraordinary stories and not all of them are explicit. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Thanks :) *snuggles* How have you been? Writing, I hope? (Well among other things.) You never told me if you would be visiting.

RRBB

I'm so tempted to invite everyone to Sugarcube Corners. The hay with it! I'm doing it! :D Bob's treat! (I'm still broke :))

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Don't be silly :) I'll take care of the bill. So, everyone gather there in one hour.

PaintDrop

I might join a bit later. Need to feed Pixel, then make sure he gets the attention he needs.

RRBB

I miss you girls. Have fun :)

Short&Hoofy

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Friend, Marry, Pie

@all: Since we haven't these in a while, I thought it might be fun :) (And a huge thanks for the impromptu meetup! Had forgotten how much fun that was.)

How about a round of Friend, Marry, Pie?

Remember the most important thing is stating the reasons. Also, we're only sticking to main cast and strong supporting. :) I'll go first!

Friend: Molly, because she's fun in Everwhere
Marry: Cassandra (my love... :P)
Pie: Blazen for being such a clueless idiot!

LyraHands

Wow! I remember those :) Fun fun fun! So good to have you back :) I've been trying to wrap my head round this DDD fic... it's just so... it! Like that apple peal that gets stuck between your teeth, yet you don't want to get rid of it because it still has the taste of apple.

There's so much wrong about it and yet it's fine :/ The fillies in class love it for some reason (I've started showing fics from the site. @Brush, @EndlessHearts, you have lots of fans. :))

Back to the new poll:

Friend: Omni (he could use one)
Marry: Danny
Pie: Loki (just for the fun of it :))

DannyFan

@LyraHands: Happy you are back and well. :) And sorry for being so inactive lately. Work has picked up a lot, and Tech has been a gentlecolt during my entire visit to Trottingham. He's moved here now, so we get to see each other more often.

Friend: Bellucio (professional interest)
Marry: Karl (he's grown on me. I like how calm he is)
Pie: Omni (I think he'd appreciate it anyway O:))

Candle

Go Candle! :) it's always the quiet ones, eh? :)
...thinking about it, it really is always the quiet ones. Just take a minute to think about it, ponies!

Also, don't hit on Jade

RRBB

@RRBB: Surprisingly, you're right for once :)

Why didn't you come to the party, by the way? It was great! Well maybe a bit too much smooching by the end, but other than that... Kidding, just kidding. Or am I? :P

Friend: Megan (always wanted a dependable big sister. No offense, Mota, but I'm more worried about you than myself)
Marry: Icelos (he's just so quiet and mysterious)
Pie: Zeus (because "he knows what he did" as a stallion would say :))

PaintDrop

Friend: Bellucio (He's stronger than he makes out to be.)
Marry: Is Caprice an option?
Pie: Molly (she can be so stupid)

Short&Hoofy

@PaintDrop: Yeah. Well, Pixel was being difficult. At times he gets be really mad, but is so adorable that I'm completely powerless :/ (rip me) All's good, though. And there will be next time. (Who smooched who?)

Friend: Euryala
Marry: Euryala
Pie: Euryala (I see too much of myself in her)

@Candle: Score! :)

RRBB

@LyraHands: You're supposed to be resting, not partying away my savings! @DaBoss, can't you kidnap her (gently) or something? Clearly she has too much energy for her own good :P

Now let me see...

Friend: Poseidon
Marry: Lyra... I mean Hades
Pie: Everyone else!

Bob

It's been so long since we had one of these :)

Friend: Danny (why would anypony choose anyone else is beyond me)
Marry: Bellucio (if he wasn't taken :/)
Pie: Echo (I really hate her... even if she's Blueblood's favorite)

Luna

Friend: Danny (because he's a nerd)
Marry: Bellucio, since he's mine! Alll mine! Actually that would be disturbing. Nah, I'll skip this one
Pie: Luna, because reasons!

TheRealLuna

Oh my. I'm definitely having a talk with you about that next time we meet :D So many things I didn't suspect about you :)

@LyraHands: I cried when you left (don't you start reading into this, you! You know who you are!) I'll try to visit, but you try as well :)

Getting back to the other important business:

Friend: Zeus ('cause we buds, yo!)
Marry: Bellucio (them curves :))
Pie: Anyone who nears Bellucio without my permission!

InItForTheShipping

@Brush, @MixaMax: Hey, what about you two? Let's do this like in the good old days! :)

@Short&Hoofy: Pieing Molly... I can see that. :D

RRBB

Since I've a few months of freedom left, I might have a go :)

Friend: Eric (even possessed by Echo, he's the smart one.)
Marry: Loki (I know he's evil, but he plays board games so he can't be all bad...)
Pie: Echo (She's stealing my friend and my husband)

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Ouch! Well if that's how we go, I'll marry Echo just to spite you! And well run off together! And do stuff and things!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: You didn't read the whole arc, did you? :P

LyraHands

@RRBB: Not in the mood right now :( Maybe later. Have some apologizing to do first. Thanks for the poke, though. Really appreciate it.

Brush

Err, so many choices. I mean the first one is easy: I've befriend everyone, even Loki (he deserves a second chance). Marry, though... argh. Oh well, here goes:

Friend: All
Marry: Icelos (because he's intelligent, mysterious, and has an unclear past.)
Pie: Omni (just because I know he'll like it :D)

DarkSparkle

Omni is my spirit animal! :)))

PPI

It feels like I haven't been here forever. Glad to know that everything went well with the latest in indents. (@CEOWitch, @PaintDrop: sorry I couldn't help. Was sent to do training near the coast.)

Friend: Caprice (a familiar face)
Marry: Grown up Molly. (Sorry, I just find her so cute, in a powerful sorceress type of way. Megan and Cassandra are just a bit too OP for me. :))
Pie: Loki (I actually liked him until the last chapter...)

SgtPepper

@SgtPepper: You're fine. :) I'm sure you would have helped if you had the chance.

Seems I must bite the arrow now. Let me see...

Friend: Blazen (He ma human! :))
Marry: Caprice (she's a pegasus, and at least I know she could keep up with me and face any danger known to man and pony :))
Pie: Bellucio (for being a prettycolt!)

CEOWitch

I'll pass, if I may. It isn't that I don't enjoy such games, but they are better suited for the young. Definitely some interesting choices, though.

The TechNightling

Okay, why isn't anyone else participating? :(

LyraHands

Sadly this is what happens with a small pool. We've just reached "me too" territory and most people (myself included) would prefer to pass. (I think that Tech did for other reasons, though.)

It was fun, but I think it might be better to make a poll on this. That way everyone can vote and not feel embarrassed for not being the first.

@The TechNightling, @CodeFilly: can you make that happen?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I can code too, you know! :/

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: You forfeited your chance when you ran away with Echo!

@LightSparkle: Sure thing, I'll get on it. Shouldn't be long.

CodeFilly

Tyrant!

MightyDragon

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

New Second Chance PMs

Hey, feel like talking?

RRBB

I mean are you okay with talking to me, because I feel like talking?

RRBB

Always.

Short&Hoofy

Thanks. I've really been an idiot. I pretty much almost destroyed you (like all the good things in my life). It's so tempting to say that there was some deep excuse, but there wasn't. Just me being the self centered idiot I always was. I was so obsessed that I'd be alone that I didn't even consider you.

What I'm saying is I'm sorry. Really, deeply, honestly sorry. Can you forgive me?

RRBB

You know I did. Even when you hurt me like Tartarus I did.

Short&Hoofy

:( Is that why you left? Of your sister made you do that I'll tear her tail off!

RRBB

Don't, please. She made the arrangements, but it wasn't like I protested. You know exactly how much it hurts. I just didn't want to see anything that reminded me of you so I agreed with her. Little good it has done.

I get to spend time in the one of the greatest cities in Equestria, I've talked with Princess Cadence, spend days with Lyra and Jade and still I can't stop thinking about you. As you like to say "life sure sucks".

Short&Hoofy

Wow! Did my little princess just swear?!?

RRBB

:) You always could make me laugh.

Short&Hoofy

Well, what do you expect? It's me after all! ... nah, I do a terrible AwesomePony impersonation.

Pixel's been doing well. He's developed the habit of sleeping on the edge of my bed. When I start crying in my sleep he crawls near and tries to "hug" me. It's sweet, yet being what he is that just wakes me up. Maybe that's a good thing, though. My nightmares are pretty messed up. (I'm on some new meds. They make me feel less angry and sad, but really mess up my sleep. I'll be stopping them in three weeks.)

RRBB

:( I still wish I could have been the one hugging you to get you feel better.

Short&Hoofy

Just look at me. I sound so brave right now...when there's nothing to lose and I'm half across Equestria. I should have said that to you back at the meetup, sooner even. Instead, I tiptoed around you so much that you did what any sane pony would do—made me your bestie.

I guess I'm a bigger idiot that you.

Short&Hoofy

I broke up with YouKnowWho today. Well, breakup isn't the right word. She was so relieved that she treated me to some snacks. By "treated" I mean she took me to Sugarcube Corner, ordered something for me and found out she didn't have enough to pay. She's so silly and sweet sometimes. I cringe thinking what I put her through with this mess. Not that it can compare it to what I did to you.

RRBB

Yeah, tell me about it. She can be silly. She makes up for it in character, though. And those looks... Did I tell you I had a crush on her? Lasted a few months. By then I realized she was too straight for me and moved on. It was no crush with you, though. It was the real thing.

If only I could turn back time...

Short&Hoofy

Want me to get Starlight on that? We could, if you want to.

RRBB

What? No! You're crazy :)

Short&Hoofy

I got you to smile! :)

RRBB

Just because you cheated! :P

Short&Hoofy

You think we could gave a second chance? I know I'm not exactly prime material, but... I could still hope. Who knows? Maybe something will come out of this?

RRBB

I... it's in moments like these that I hate you. My heart feels like it will burst right now. You've no idea for how long I've wanted to hear that from you. And yet I'm afraid. I'm terrified this will just end up a dream or some false hope.

Short&Hoofy

It won't. I'll be there for you...if you'd still let me. And you think I'm not worth it I'll let you go.

RRBB

Yes

Short&Hoofy

Yes? :)

RRBB

So much yes! I told you I love you. Moving away only made me realize that more. I've seen you happy, angry, sadder than most would believe and I never stopped... I sound like a cheesy novel, don't I? Just give me a moment.

Short&Hoofy

Take all the time you need. :)

RRBB

Sorry. It's just too much for my mind to take in right now. Even if it's aethernet, I can imagine your breath on my mane.

Corny, isn't it? I don't even know how to react. I feel hurricanes of rainbows glow inside me and can't think of the words to describe it. I'm just...so happy :)

Short&Hoofy

Imagine how you're making me feel ;)

So when are you coming over?

RRBB

You've no idea how much I want to, but I can't :( My sis is here, and I don't want to get Jade in any trouble. It's enough that he has to take care of me and Max while also trying to graduate early. I'll ask Max later tonight (once I stop levitating... O:) Please don't search for that. It's a bit embarrassing).

Short&Hoofy

I made you levitate?! That's incredibly sweet :) (I didn't search for it, I swear! I just know about it from the time I was browsing to learn about my issues.)

So there's no way you can get here? None at all?

RRBB

Sorry :( Sis is all upset about something and I doubt she'll say yes to anything involving you. My best bet is to talk to her about it in the morning once she has destressed.

Short&Hoofy

Pfft! "Destressed" :) Good one. I'd have preferred if you caught the midnight express. Seems like I'd have to resort to plan B.

RRBB

Plan B?

Short&Hoofy

Look out the window ;)

RRBB

Di! Are you crazy! I can't believe this! You saw me levitating in my room! That's so embarrassing! How could you! Seriously!

Short&Hoofy

Aww, you didn't have to float away. You know, you're cute when you blush :)

RRBB

Stop it, okay! What's wrong with you? I can't believe you came all this way just to see me! What if I hadn't answered my PMs? What if I hadn't said yes?

Short&Hoofy

It would have been a long and sad trip back. But hey, it worked when you sister did it, so I decided to risk it. So worth it :)

RRBB

It's not fair! You came here more beautiful than you've ever been... And I, I'm a mess :( the only time I brush my mane si when I have to go out and... I didn't want you to see me like this.

Short&Hoofy

Dink, it's you. That's all I came to see, to finally be with even after my months of stubborn stupidity. You've been through so much hurt, let me give you some joy, at least.

RRBB

Wait there. I'll be down in a sec.

Short&Hoofy

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Brainstorm

Heya,

Before we start let me get the boring part out of the way. Anything discussed in this pm chain is to be kept strictly in confidence and shared with no one. (This mostly means don't tell others ;)). Since it's only a get-to-know thing, there's not too much issues, but still keep in mind we are discussing sensitive stuff, okay?

With that, Chosen of Poseidon will hit stores later this week. (Just so you know the focus groups loved it!) That means that Blazen Adventures is a go. :)

I know you've already met in person (exciting, wasn't it? :)) but this is a chance to do some brainstorming and get to know each other better on a professional level.

Note, no actual work will start for at least 3 months, but it might good to have a pitch ready. With that, the floor is yours :) I'll just be here if you have questions.

Luna

No Speculator7?

Jade

Nope, just you three :) Despite his silliness, Speculator7 is just a recruiter. A bit too dramatic, but I have to admit he manages to inspire ponies to write in certain directions. At some point it's possible that any of you are asked to do the same.

Remember, being a Midnight Castle writer is literally a way of life :)

Luna

So cool! I already love you guys! Especially, Simile! :D No offense, Jade. You're sweet and all, but not the party type, while Sim knows how to party. Am I right? ;)

LightSparkle

Just because I know how to have a good time doesn't mean I'm a party animal! Humph! Okay, who am I kidding :) And yes, I'm great, aren't I? ;) Still a bit mad that AwesomePony stole my idea! :/ That could have worked out so well.

Simile

You can't win them all, girl. ;) You'll do the next great idea. Besides, legal will have a heart attack if they have to deal with a MC DD project. Doesn't help that the publishers are competitors. would have been nice to work with the author, though. She writes as if she's seen stuff.

Anyway, ideas for this. How do you want to go? Two things come to mind: Blazen's past—family with Euryala watching over, and future—them two as a couple, potentially with a baby of their own. Both are safe bets, and missing by the site, will be loved (and hated) by the audience. Still, I can't help but think it's a bit tame. Any thoughts?

LightSparkle

Argh! Please no babies. :/ It's annoying. Also it will go into comic relief category and that won't fit either Blazen or Euryala.

Simile

I think babies are cute. Maybe they could have twins? A lot of classical tales have twins in them. Hay, even look at Luna and Celestia.

Jade

Jade, honey, you are so biased. ;P Having a baby might be a strong point, but there's also that it will shift the focus. Remember Blazen's adventures, not Blazen's Baby's adventure.

LightSparkle

If we're getting into semantics Euryala isn't in the title either. Does that mean we should get rid of her as well? :/

Jade

He dot you there, Light. And I just want to say that I don't hate babies. Just might have spent a bit too much time with InItForTheShipping's bundle of terror. :/

Luna, can we have Icelos? He's kind of cool and mysterious and would work great as a mentor figure, what do you think?

Simile

Sorry, Icelos will have a father central part in the Chosen of Poseidon. Having him mentor two spinoffs might be a bit much. Also, the Everprince is out of the question.

Luna

There goes a great idea.

Simile

What about Poseidon or Hades? That might make a nice split: each series has its deity mentor?

Jade

I thought about that and it seems... meh. We could do it, but it's like a copy of MC just with other characters. If we do that the readers will definitely compare it and we'll be stuck being number two (if we're lucky). No, I think we should go weird, like beyond Everhere weird.

What about this: Icelos and co are linked to dreams (along with Poseidon and Luna), Zeus is linked to the living (and the titans), the Everprince is chaos...so we could could up with a new world. Something like a wind of ash and shadows (like that time Omni had to face his fears in the desert). It's a bit of stretch, but it will be new.

LightSparkle

Not too new. We just have an equivalent of Tartarus (which is Hades' realm, by the way.) quite cliche if you ask me. And even if we go for it, what would be so special? Just another world, just with ash? Please.

Simile

What if we give them cutie marks?

Jade

I'm listening.

LightSparkle

What if Blazen's evergem or something else gives the ability to capture/talk/free souls and these souls give powers? So it's in a way like a cutie mark: he finds a creature, defeats it and the creature releases its essence in the form of a brand. From then on he could summon and use it.

Jade

Blazen Spirtbrand Master. I like :) And maybe ten creatures are causing havoc and need to brand master to heal/tame them? That's why he could start hunting. So he could choose to keep them, or set them free... or set them free from being imprisoned as "brands" on other people/objects. Oh, oh! Or maybe the spirits also possess/corrupt whoever they are on, unless a proper connection is made?

Simile

Love it! And maybe there are lots of brand masters. Blazen was of the east only (I think) maybe there are a 3 more schools(?) that face him? Or rogue brand masters from his own family?

This is going to be so cool! Well done, Jade, you're definitely more than a pretty pair of wings ;)

LightSparkle

You know that if anypony else called me that I'd tear their tail off, right?

Jade

We love you too, precious ;) *wind kiss*

Luna, what do you think?

Simile

Girls, and Jade, we have a pitch. ;) Please get it into shape by the next few days and I'll present it to the powers that be.

Well done!

Luna

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Spinoff Spoilers

@all: I have a small announcement to make.

I may be abusing my authority slightly doing this, but I'd like to say that Chosen of Poseidon will hit stores next week! :)

Since none of you picked that up, I guess we've been doing a better job hiding it. :P Joking aside, I'm glad there were no leaks on this one. Being the first spinoff of MCE, it's pretty special. Personally, I love it and hope all of you do too :)

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Luna

@all: Following that huge announcement, a small site related one: we've made it possible for there to be polls on the site. For now only mods will be able to start a poll, so as to limit clutter, but everyone is free to ask for one and if we think it's adequate we'll grant it. Just keep in mind there will be no more than one poll per three days.

The TechNightling

@Luna: I knew :) I just didn't want to get anypony in trouble, so I didn't post here.

That's so cool! A bit sad that Eric won't be in it, but having Molly and Bellucio go on crazy Poseidon adventure will be so much fun :)

I must know, will we actually see Poseidon here? I mean he's been a mystery so far. I reread all the books and other then in memories, dreams, and split realities he's not actually there.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Why you little heartbreaker, you :P I don't think it would be a good idea to have Poseidon show up. Where's the mystery in that? I suspect that it will be them being given assignments from someone claiming to be a proxy of Poseidon.

I'm so looking forward to this. Hopefully there will be some shipping involved, but knowing S&S I don't think S.Child will go that far. Or maybe I'm wrong? :)

RRBB

@RRBB: You skipped class again. Won't that get you grounded?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Nah, I'm sending my assignments on time. I've also spoken with Cheerilee and all's fine. Tell you more when I get back. :)

RRBB

Short&Hoofy message has been deleted.

I should have known :/ Well, I'm expecting somepony to freak out in the next five minutes. You're crazy, you know that? This time, though, I approve. Thank the stars if finally happened! (Even if some ponies didn't deserve it.)

Back to the Molly adventures... I'm not sure what I think about Bellucio being l'homme fatal. Yes, it's everyfilly's dream, and great for art commissions, but really? I thought he was going against the cliche. Having him become beautiful and deadly might be a step back.

PaintDrop

Actually, the notion that stallions aren't fit for fighting is a modern invention. True, the Wonderbolts are composed mostly of mares (with a few shining exceptions), but a large part of the army is of stallions, the palace guard almost exclusively so. (And please don't start with the jokes :/ )

Interestingly enough it was the rise of Sombra that created the original idea. He was, despite all the horrible things he did, quite a beautiful stallion and that captured the imagination of some early classical poets. That gave rise to a new literary archetype: L'homme fatal. Originally, such characters were always evil (occasionally depending at death).

Looking at Midnight Castle, I'm not sure that applies. Remember that the majority of characters there are male (and yes, I know if you count all the numbers it's an even split, but the main characters are definitely male for the most part.) Having Bellucio be a magician and a spy might be more interesting that ponies think. :)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Admit it, you just want more fictional eye candy to lust over.

TheRealLuna

@Jade: You can be my L'homme fatal every day of the week :D

AwesomePony

I think I just vomited in my mouth...

RRBB

Hey, that's not nice. I think it will be interesting :) Although, I wouldn't mind there being a bit more romance as well. O:)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: We aren't the target audience, remember? Adding romance to colt fiction is a recipe for disaster. You wouldn't believe how many headaches you'd get: outraged parents, upset foals who wanted action and not that "boring stuff", not to mention it would become direct competition to the established adventure franchises.

Tell me honestly, if you have to buy one book what will it be? Daring Do or Bellucio Adventure?

RRBB

I'm as much in the dark as all of you, but I'd definitely read Chosen. @Fleetfoot, how about us having a team read? Half the wing read it anyway. Plus we can have Luna and Blueblood join.

CEOWitch

Nice try, but no. I like to keep my reading private. Besides, you're still on leave!

Fleetfoot

I can organize a reading in the castle! I think it will be a great idea! We'll take breaks between chapters to discuss theories, have snacks, and so on! It will be great :)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Remind me, why were you single again? :P

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: That was a bit rude.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: I know. Not too much, though ;) In theory I might try to come... if studies and my guardians allow. Life has been like a rollercoaster lately. Well, mostly going up and up, but there are a few things that have me overwhelmed.

You feeling better?

LightSparkle

The point is, I'm organizing! :/ Be there or not!

DarkSparkle

I'll be there. I think it will be nice :)

Brush

So it's settled! @Luna, I'd like to preorder 10 copies! :D

Oh, and I've been working on this audio spell—it's so cool you won't believe!

DarkSparkle

Woohoo, count me in! :) Just let me know the day a bit in advance. I'm taking extra work to make up for my vacation. (Thanks again, DaBoss :)). Me and Bob are so there! And we'll bring some chocolates.

LyraHands

By "we" you mean me, don't you? -.-

Bob

... I love you? O:)

LyraHands

Manipulator! Fine, there will be chocolates.

Bob

Author's Note

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Filly Talk

Okay, spill!

RRBB

Huh?

PaintDrop

I've told you where I am and who I'm with and you haven't asked me for any details at all! Something is up. Either you are in trouble (which knowing you is impossible) or you're head over hooves in love. So spill! :D

RRBB

I have no idea what you're talking about. And I just assumed you'd share details once you wanted to.

PaintDrop

Oh, really? :/ After three days? That didn't seem to stop you from asking how Short and Pixel were doing. Also, I talked to your brother. He mentioned you've been absent minded lately. Sort of forgetful...with what I've been through lately, I can tell a crush when I see one!

RRBB

Fine! But this stays between us, okay? I hear you've told anyone, including Short or your therapist, and I'm never talking to you again. Seriously!

PaintDrop

Filly, please. Remember all the things I told you? So, what's he like? :D

RRBB

This is so awkward. Well, he's...cute in a very special way. I sort of can't believe it myself. I never ever thought I'd see anything in a gothcolt. It's so weird.

PaintDrop

Oh my! Never expected you to fall for the bad colt. Guess opposites attract :) So where did you meet him? He's not from school (I would have known). Manehattan? Canterlot transplant? Don't tell me he's a griffin.

RRBB

Ha ha. Very funny. And no, he isn't a griffin. You know what? I'm not talking about where he's from! Actually, I've no idea why I'm discussing this with you at all! I already know you'll tell half the class when you get back here, so why give you more hay for the fire?

PaintDrop

Because I'm your best friend and deep inside you're dying to tell me? That's probably why you refrained from asking me about Short. You put yourself in my horseshoes and decided you wouldn't feel comfortable talking about your love life (even if you're dying to do so) then projected the notion onto me.

RRBB

Where the hay did you get all that?!?

PaintDrop

Please. I've been going to therapy sessions every week for I don't know how long now. I'm bound to pick up a thing or two. Plus, we went to see Princess Cadence yesterday. She's actually cool, not the empty-headed doll everypony thinks her to be. I think we'll go again today. (Short feels so embarrassed. She's still not used that we're going places as a couple.)

RRBB

I hate it when you stop in the middle of an explanation:/

PaintDrop

I know >:D

RRBB

Fiiiine! He's not from Ponyville, he's dark and slender, and a bit older than me, so that's why I really, really, really want it kept quiet. (By a bit I mean 2 years, by the way.). He's sweet and helped me when I was in a bad place.

Now your turn! How are things with Short?

PaintDrop

I thought you'd never ask! Mare was I blind all these years! Short is like the sweetest thing ever. I mean she was always quiet, and always a friend, but I never imagined being with her would be like this. It's so different than being (and I use the term very loosely) with YouKnowWho.

With You there was a lot of yelling, shouting, kicking, broken now and again by some mushy nonsense I would spew. It was a sort of competition in a way, you know, me trying to outdo her and impress her into liking me.

Short is more like a princess in fairy tales—sort of fragile and well, I don't know how to describe it. Being with her makes me feel kinda special, like I'll break the snout of anypony who nears her special. Also, I found that's it's rather nice to be cooed after :)

RRBB

I take it things are going well then :) Just one thing, though. Try not to mess it up. I don't want both of you running to me in tears again because you did something stupid :/

PaintDrop

Wow! Aren't you harsh today? Point taken. Since I know what a wreck in life I am I can't make any promises, but will really try to make this work. For real this time.

The levitation thing is totally true, by the way. I saw her do it a few times (mare is it intense). Best kiss ever! I could actually feel her heart beating like a little engine when she hugged me. So soft and fluffy. It was like hugging sunshine (and kissing) :)

RRBB

I cried when it was over. I actually *yay* cried! The first time that happened...feeling so happy that you can't hold your tears in. She never let go. Hugged me from the moment I started. Must have been hours...it was dark by the time I was okay.

And I'm getting mushy again...

RRBB

Stars? It's like your dream come true. Now that you're together I can say I'm finally relieved. You've no idea how much Short was pining for you. Meanwhile, you were so stubbornly set on YouKnowWho. :/

You've no idea how glad I am things work out.

PaintDrop

Yes, I know. It's... Fantasizing is nothing like the real thing. Dad kept telling me that fantasizing about romance was like liking the picture of a chocolate cake. For once he was right. (Who knew?)

Also, don't tell her this, but Short glows when she sleeps. It's really cute. :) Got zapped when I kissed it tonight. It was weird, but nice. She didn't even notice :)

RRBB

I don't want to think what Max did when she caught you two huddled in the same bed. Nothing serious, I hope?

PaintDrop

Nah, she caught the early train to Ponyville on the following morning. Never knew I was there. AwesomePony really has her stressed out. I've no idea why. I mean does she really think Jade will fall for AP's theatrics?

RRBB

You know how protective Max is. Sending Short away because of you, exploding at AwesomePony. I won't be surprised if the got into a fight yesterday. Then everyone is shocked that stallions find us aggressive :/

PaintDrop

Oooh! So you're dating one of those sensitive types? Got it :)

RRBB

Look who's talking. Anyway, must go. Hugs and kisses to Short from me. And don't get her in loved in anything crazy.

PaintDrop

No promises ;P Have fun on your date.

RRBB

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

New Curators

@all: Announcement
There have been some changes regarding the site's curator policy. Most of you are aware by now of our view on the type of fiction: close to the heart of the serious with the occasional darker or more risqué motifs. In this regard, it should come as no surprise that we are strongly encouraging members to focus on non-slap stories.

It is alright to include elements of erotica (provided you tag your stories properly), since that is natural part of life, but having the same "hi, hi, and they yay" scenario is not what the site is about. There are already over 5 million users and I'd like to think the majority are here for the world that Midnight Castle has created.

Extremely slappy stories shall be marked in invisible, as shall be new submissions of this nature.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

@all: Girls and guys, let me also announce our new list of curators that shall be taking care of our submissions (and coming to the rescue of LightSparkle who's probably read all the slap a pony can handle.)

Before that let me thank the retirees (I love you! Thanks for all your help!) and wish them a calm and pleasant existence in the sight. :) Out new list includes:

LightSparkle - Head Curator Extraordinaire
RRBB - the prodigious filly
Twist - the DDD editor
Plust - our brave rookie Nightling
Grace - she that always lurks
Sgt Pepper - the bravery defender
InItForTheShipping - who can't get enough of us

Send them your hugs and congrats (in PM) and be nice to them any way you could ;)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: You dropped my brother? Why? :/

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: MasterOfThisAstra of disaster and Jade requested to quit for personal reasons. Keep in mind their finals are approaching and this is a rather important time for them.

I can assure you I have spoken with both of them in length and we agreed that this might be for the best. Hopefully we'll have them back once things become calmer. :)

LyraHands

@Plust: I can't believe it! <3 I'm so happy for you! I've known you for years and yet it seems like I didn't know you at all. First MC, then editing. What else are you hiding from me?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Err, that I got a marefriend? Just joking :P

Midnight Castle has become one of my all time favorite series! In a way you are the reason I joined (like your songs a lot). Also ForseFeedback sort of convinced me it'll be fine. So far I don't regret a thing :D

Plust

Give it time. In two days MixaMax comes back, along with her wave of grumpiness. I can literally hear her every day after school complaining how Chasers would mark the end of the series and if the second arc of Everhere isn't as strong as the first she'll quit...but not quite. :)

Oh, and let's not forget the piles of stories you'll have to go through. Thankfully, there will be less slap, I hope.

RRBB

@RRBB: As if you ever complained about slap :P I must check what's going on with my brother though. He's been very quiet lately :/

@Brush: do you know anything?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I'm afraid so. Mota and I we broke up. It's hard on both of us, so please don't ask me more. Right now we both need time.

Thank you.

Brush

You what?!? :( This calls for a super-double-extra-large ice cream cake! Hold the door, I'll be right there!

Edit: I told you to hold the door... no worries, I'll make a second cake! Be there in a flash! :D

PPI

I liked the new chapter of School Days. You can tell that the author has grown. It's very different from the first: much more cheerful and the characters have that much more depth. Only ad thing is that I think things are wrapping up to a finally I'm a chapter or two.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's the feeling I get.

CEOWitch

That's one way of changing the topic. Seriously, though the story is great. I agree that it has two chapters at most. Well, it could continue with unexpected drama, role reversals, even morph into an adventure story, but that would take so much away.

Good job, Endless! I bow to your skill ;)

And on a personal note, thanks for avoiding the wall of spammy tears (as has happened in the past). PMs were invented for a reason.

LightSparkle

@LyraHands: I'll talk to Brush if you haven't already. Actually. I'll talk even if you have.

On a side note, did DarkSparkle quit as well? She seemed so enthusiastic about it at the time. What happened?

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: Thanks. And Twi just doesn't have the time. I, grateful she finds the time to be on the site at all, let alone submit stories. Even if taur fiction isn't my thing, she has amassed a rather large following and her stories are getting better and better.

Last I spoke to her she was getting all excited about organizing the Chosen reading. She and True were going on and on about which audio spell to use.

@Luna: Will there be audio spell versions of the books? I know it's not the same, but it's really nice listening to the story before going to bed.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I'll read to you babe. It's just that work has been a bit hectic lately. O:) *kisses*

Bob

Reading to somepony sure sounds nice. Audio spells would never be able to replace that! Ambient sounds, though :) That would make for such a great atmosphere! I'll tell my dad about this. Maybe he could make something about it and start selling them (with the prop license, of course).

@LyraHands, @Octavia: any chance of you performing a suitable ambience sound?

RRBB

@LyraHands: Not to be mean, but you still have packages to deliver. Maybe do those before the discussion continues? ;)

DaBoss

@DaBoss: Oops! Sorry O:) I'm on it!

Sorry girls, I'll have to flee. Work awaits.

LyraHands

Well, that killed it. Better get back to algebra and story approval...

LightSparkle

Author's Note

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Member List

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Reading Preparations

Tomorrow's the big day! :) Everyone ready? I've assurances (*nudge*) that my copy of Chosen will arrive on time so the evening will be all to reading :)

I've got food covered I think (thank you, Spike and PPI) but just in case, if you want something more feel free to bring it with you :)

Oh, and if you need parental permission or anything, just let your parents know to send me a letter (or just ask if they are in Ponyville) :)

I'm so excited! I haven't had a reading gathering since I was in Canterlot :))) This is going to be so great!

DarkSparkle

Don't you worry, your copy will arrive safe and sound ;)

Oh, can I bring a plus one, by the way? Or maybe a plus two? O:)

DaBoss

@DaBoss: Of course :) Anypony I know?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Sadly I won't be able to make it. Mom's already upset about me not going to see her when I visited the Crystal Empire... and I really don't want to add to the drama. Plus, surprise exams. (Serves me right for asking about extra credit.) :/

You have fun, though ;)

LightSparkle

@DarkSparkle: actually... might be kind of awkward. One is my little brother (he's been wanting to join for a while, but is too much into sports to have time for aethernet). The other... well, let's say it's somepony you knew well. Very well O:)

DaBoss

@LightSparkle: What? Want me to talk to her? I'm sure we could come to a mutually agreeable solution. It would be a shame to miss out.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Naah, forget it. It's my problem. I'll just focus on my studies, and maybe a cute boy. ;)

LightSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I'd love to be there! Problem is that I already spent all my allowance on things and don't want to and parents for more. :( (I got into an accident a few weeks back and my wing still hasn't recovered.)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: no worries, I'll get you there :)

@CEOWitch: somepony duplicated the schedule so i ended up with an additional free weekend. (I heard that there's a chance I appear in a seven or two :P) Just kidding. I wish I could have seen your reaction.

Fleetfoot

We'll be there as well!

Lurkling

Well, I'll be there...along with my stupid sister :/ This is so embarrassing. When she heard that there will be stallions there (yes, that means you, ForceFeedback) she went all crazy and insisted on joining. Yay me :(

Please don't laugh if I appear with some silly costume again.

@PaintDrop: Will you be bringing a plus one? ^.^

SweetStuff

@RRBB: I'll kill you! :/

No, I won't be bringing a plus one. I'll only go there to find RRBB and tear her ears off. Not like she uses them anyway!

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Please don't. They are very cut ears.

Short&Hoofy

@PaintDrop: Ha! I dare you :P

Don't worry about food. I've spoken with my parents and they'll be making sure we have everything we need. Just one thing, though... Cheerilee, I know this is rude, but it will be very awkward having you there as well.

Now, I'm not saying you should go if you want to, but... half our class will be there. (Awkward...)

RRBB

@DarkSparkle: I won't be able to make it either. The hubby got called to do important stuff and I have to take care of the little one while he's gone. Hopefully next time.

InItForTheShipping

Yeah! My sis said I can go as long as she comes along. This will be so great! Just like meetup, but better! And this time I'll be able to understand what y'all are talking about!

WaterBottle

@YouKnowWho: Uh-huh! :) They were like "he's mine" *bang* "says who?" *flip* "says me!* *kick*

Went all the way to dark. Then they went to Sugarcube Corners, bought a barrel of cider, got drunk, and started talking about stallions.

@Jade: I have no idea you were ticklish there! I'm adding to my file! :D

PPI

Cool! Guess I'll bring my "sister" as well :) I've just one concern, though... and it's a large one. @Short&Hoofy, is your sister okay? I heard stuff about manes being bitten, hooves exchanged and more.

YouKnowWho

... and of course both of them are still banned. :/ I'll have some words with the, about this. I mean, seriously! The obvious aside, who discusses such things at all! First they make a mess of things, without asking my opinion one way or the other. Then this! What's next?

Jade

@Jade: The price of being beautiful. I know, it can be a burden at times.

Seriously, lighten up a bit :) Do you know how many guys would like to be in your shoes? (Of course they will deny it, the hypocrites!) Having 3 cute mares literally fight for you is kind of a big deal ;)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: only you can come up with an answer like that. I'll still be having words with Max, though.

Jade

I'll be there, and I've convinced Brush to join in. Just, cool it round her, okay? Nopony likes captain obvious.

CEOWitch

I'll be there. Sadly, Blueblood won't make it. He got all worked up that his marefriend had to work the next few days, so went to raise hell. :/ Some things never change, I guess.

Luna

I'm so there! :D

HopHop

Me too! We'll see each other there, @Hop!

MightyDragon

You goof! We're sitting at the same table. :P

HopHop

Shhh! We don't want the future wife to find out.

MightyDragon

"The future wife" is sitting right beside you and will be tagging along to make sure you and Mini don't elope. :P

CodeFilly

Drat! Foiled again!

MightyDragon

@DarkSparkle: I won't be going. My father just arrived at work. I've no idea what this is about. If I make it I make it, but for now count me out.

LyraHands

Author's Note

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Member List

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Sore Memories

Lyra, if you need help just let me know, okay? I know you've been through Tartarus twice already. I've already spoken with InItForTheShipping and she's with me on this. Just one word and we'll both teleport there.

Make that three. TrueSparkle also has some thoughts on the matter.

DarkSparkle

Ditto for me and MightyDragon. Hop too, even if she adores your parents.

CodeFilly

Girls, it's okay. Mostly.

And yes, Hop adores everypony. I envy her sometimes. My father's with Bob right now, talking over stuff. I just had to leave the room. Too much bad memories.

The good part is that he didn't gallop to me because of the pregnancy. He really didn't know. Oh, when my mother finds out I bet she'll be here first thing, telling me how a child needs a stable family and stallion's presence. Next thing she'll be aging me home since that's the proper thing to do and so what if Bob is my wife and the parent of my child. She's just a "bad influence" or, and an "earth pony". :/

LyraHands

Sorry, I just get so mad thinking about that. Mad and sad. But, yes, things are mostly fine... everything considered. Dad just wanted to see how I was doing. We couldn't hold a topic if we tried.

LyraHands

He still came, thought. I never knew my father. He's supposedly some hero of Equestria that died when I was very young. I know your folks are *yay* but at least your father loves you more than you he's a *yay*.

LightSparkle

And, of course, he had to bring mom up. As if it's my fault she chased me out of Canterlot. "She's worried about me," he says, and yet she never bothered to send me a letter. Not a single one. Some way of caring about me! If I was half the mare I wanted, I'd go home and tell her exactly what I think about her. To her face!

LyraHands

Dad says she's not doing well. Something about her heart. She spent a few weeks in hospital. Minor hiccups, but the doctors said that these are just symptoms. If my dad is to be believed she misses me and that's what's causing this.

LyraHands

Lyra, I'm so sorry :( If I had noticed anything out of the ordinary I'd have told you right away. You know that. I still see your parents every now and again. Everything seemed perfectly fine. I never suspected your mother had been in hospital.

CodeFilly

I know this a sore issue, but maybe you can talk to her? It's been months, and you are married now. There's no way anypony can take Bob away from you. Or your child. You don't have to say much, just a hello, something about the weather. You know how it goes.

DarkSparkle

Sorry, Twi, but you weren't there when she threw me out. If anypony has to apologize it's her! I feel sorry that she's having health problems, but I'm not going to Canterlot just to hear what a disappointment I am. Dad sugarcoats it as always, but I can tell. The only reason she might start paying attention to me is when she learns that I'm pregnant. And I've told you how that would go.

LyraHands

So why don't you say *yay* it and come to the reading tonight? You've said all you had to, there's no chance your dad can convince you to go back home. What's the point in staying there? You'll only get more and more upset.

TrueSparkle

I can't... :( Despite everything he's still my dad and, unlike my mother, he made the effort to find me and come here. I don't even know how he found me. I didn't say anything, that's for sure. Do you think he has an account on the site?

LyraHands

Depends. How tech savvy are your parents? There's no account from your home, but it's theoretically possible that they've gone through a pen aether gateway or a manaproxy.

CodeFilly

Nope. He probably got a P.I. to track me down. It's not like I've been hiding.

Thank the stars for Bob. Without her I've no dies what I'd do. Probably be drunk somewhere teaching music to elementary students. This whole thing with my dad shook me up quite a lot. I'd hoped I'd left that part of my life back in Canterlot. And, of course, it now comes crashing back down on me. :(

LyraHands

I can intervene if you want. Just say the word.

DarkSparkle

So you'll come over and say what exactly? That's I'm a perfect daughter that has been mistreated? That my father's a piece of *yay*? What good would that do? I never was the perfect child, and my father did bear the brunt of all the scorn directed my way. Tartarus, I'm convinced he didn't even tell my mother he was going to see me! Like most stallions he thinks that if he gets us in the same room things would miraculously get better. Well, it doesn't work like that!

LyraHands

Sometimes it does...

DarkSparkle

Clearly not always! Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do, it's just this isn't the right time for it. Some things just can't be fixed!

LyraHands

I better go. I've kept Bob with him for long enough.

LyraHands

We're always here if you need us, Lyra. We're your friends and we care very much about you. I can't imagine what you've been through, or what you're going through right now, but we're here.

Take care.

DarkSparkle

You're in control, girl. Don't forget that.

LightSparkle

I don't care what you say, I'm catching the first train to Ponyville.

We are (MightyDragon and Hop just told me they're joining in). You can shout at me all you want once you're better.

CodeFilly

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Chosen the Gathering 1

Sorry everyone. I wanted to go, I really did, but I'm just not ready yet. I'll be staying in my cottage and focus on work to keep my mind off things. Thanks for being so nice to me. Have a great reading.

Brush

@Brush: Oh, Brush. :(

@DarkSparkle: How about you comment on the event? I know it wont be the best shared experience, but at least those of us who aren't there could get a glimpse of things. Plus it would be fun (and someone to be with on our end).

LightSparkle

@Brush: I'm not sure if I'm I'm sad or angry right now. Didn't I show everypony how NOT to do things with my *yay*? Still, before Tech grumbles at me for getting too personal, I just want to let you know I'm here if you need me.

I also think it will be a fun idea to have comments from the reading. On that note, I'll be there in 10 minutes. Just need to get some stuff done home.

RRBB

Yeah. So. [deleted] and [deleted] are freaking out right now that the first group of guests have arrived. Looks like I'll be the one describing the event. *sigh* What else is new? :/

DarkSparkle

Sorry, everypony. That was Spike, who went on my account without me asking him! And yes, I was happy that my childhood friends have arrived! Also, was good to see MightyDragon and TrueSparkle catch up a bit (I mean they talk, of course, but this is the first time they've seen each other at a Nightling gathering!) HopHop and CodeFilly are also here.

Oh, and Lurkling and 2ndHalf have arrived as well!

DarkSparkle

We're ready as well! Cheerilee let us go early, so we're just waiting for SweetStuff and WaterBottle's sisters to arrive. I brought a full bag of candy canes! Made them myself following DDD and MC motifs :) Hope you enjoy! :D

Twist

Argh! Don't talk to me about sisters. :/ I can tell you that mine will be "fashionably late" by half an hour at least.

SweetStuff

@all: so, I'll be coming after all. After what happened I really could use something to take my mind off things. DaBoss is off to get her plus one from the train station, so I'll be bringing you the copy, @DarkSparkle.

Also, I've unbanned MixaMax and AwesomePony. Both have promised to behave...and are right now waiting for Jade at the train station. (Hopefully that doesn't lead to any more fighting.)

LyraHands

Oh boy... what could possible go wrong? :P Sounds like quite the event. :)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Tell me about it :/ Having to suffer Max is difficult enough. Having to endure AwesomePony as well... let's just say that I'm not sure how much I could take. At least there somepony as reliable as Dark there.

Jade

@Jade: Bby, why so mean? You're the reason I'm friends again with AwesomePony is you. Well, that and a few hooves in the head. (Now, don't get alarmed. It's just a blue eye. I'm absolutely fine. Even went to the doctor and everything.)

You know what, though? You really are amazing! Discussing this with AwesomePony while half drunk made me realize this so much more. I'm one lucky mare, I know that for sure :)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: aww, how sweet. :)

RRBB

Girls, I'll be skipping out on this one. As much as I wanted to see most of you, I'll be staying with Brush instead. I might be overthinking this, but I think somepony should be with her right now. You have fun, okay?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: I think it's the right call. I'd go, but right now I, the least fun pony to be around.

LyraHands

Happy thoughts, everyone! First MC spinoff! This is what we've all be waiting for, right? Let's have fun tonight at least :)

@PaintDrop: Any chance I could commission you for some live sketches?

Bob

@Bob: not sure that's such a great idea with overprotective sisters being at the party. Otherwise, sure :)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: When will you introduce us to your coltfriend? I hear he's some mysterious pony that isn't from around here, can write dark poetry and speaks three languages.

YouKnowWho

To you lot? Never!

PaintDrop

Fleetfoot arrived with PrinceEric! :) Also, we have our very first "party crasher" :P You'll have to do better than that, if you want to sneak by me, @Feather! ;P

So glad you could make it! Also, really nice of you bringing scones :) I know PPI will be very happy to see you...and the scones :D

By the way, I just noticed something: this is the first time all Elements of Harmony will be at a Nightling gathering! This is so cool! I never expected this to happen! I mean, I'm surprised that half of them even know what MC is!

DarkSparkle

Pfft! I happen to know the birthday of everyone of the grand 9, plus their favorite food, drink, music, and romantic interest. ;) Get to my level, floof!

PPI

Oh my gosh! You'll never guess who DaBoss' coltfriend is! Wow!

Jade looks great, by the way. Also, he's so cute when he pouts and acts annoyed. (They are "arguing" with Max right now. I'm half expecting them to start kissing and make out on the platform.)

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Ahem!

DarkSparkle

@AwesomePony: pictures or it didn't happen :)

LightSparkle

I'm on the train too, you know! :/ Of course, everyone is busy ogling the stallions to pay any attention to little insignificant me. :P

@TheRealLuna: Will you be there, my evil twin? You've been suspiciously quiet.

Luna

The school group has just arrived. (Pfft! SweetStuff that costume is adorable! :)) With that I think we're almost set to go. I'll just wait for the Jade group to get here and then we start.

Can't wait!!! :)))

DarkSparkle

If ever someone discovers a spell capable of transforming a book into a stallion I think DarkSparkle would end of her as we know her...

LightSparkle

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Chosen the Gathering 2

The audio spell is so cool! @DarkSparkle can you teach me? Please :)

SweetStuff

So goood! I was right! It really turned out to be a hunt for Poseidon mystery. Really surprised that Icelos showed up, though. When Bellucio found the "Mind diary" I could tell this was the way he'd go, but I thought Euryala would be the one leading the search. Although, everything considered she might not have been the best choice.

Very cool first chapter, and very different from MC! It's more dark, and I think directed to an older audience. Also, might be just me, but I think it's also slightly mare oriented. Already we have Molly being confused about her feelings. In MC she was mostly used for the comic relief, but here it looks like her love might be the real deal. Do you think we'll get a real romance between the two?

PrinceEric

Girls, I'm not there! Let me know what's going on, okay?

LightSparkle

Where do I start? MixaMax has a black eye the size of a dining plate, AwesomePony has a few wing feathers missing. Feather, on the other hoof, has some marbles missing (I can't tell if they're besties with PPI or mortal enemies).

DarkSparkle become speechless when she saw that DaBoss was dating her ex. There was some awkwardness there. DaBoss's brother is kinda cute (as noticed by most of the fillies, and PrinceEric.)

That's pretty much it. And there are absurd amounts of food. Spike, PPI, Feather, and Twist brought a lot. Of course, that's nowhere as much as RRBB's father ordered for us. Goodbye diet.

TrueSparkle

There was no awkwardness! :/ I was just a bit surprised since... anyway, the first chapter of the book was great. Although, why are there so few? @Luna: When you said book, I expected a book book. Not that having this is bad, but it's just a booklet.

DarkSparkle

@Short&Hoofy: I know you're here! I saw you! Come out right now, young filly! We need to talk!

MixaMax

Sounds like a wild party. Max, what are you mad about now? Honestly the only time you're happy is when you're drunk or shouting.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: she's just mad because I brought Short to the party with me. Not that Short needs to give her an explanation or anything! Unless Max has forgotten Short is her own mare and could do whatever she wants! And if Max (or anypony) has something to say about it, go ahead and say it to my face!

That's right, we going out! If anypony has a problem with that tough luck!

RRBB

Okay, that sounded a bit more extreme than it should have. Everything is fine, though... even if everybody is making googly eyes as I write this.

@MixaMax: and for your information, Short went to the bathroom.

RRBB

@LightSparkle: sketches have been made. I'll be posting then tomorrow. They need a bit of cleaning before that.

But yea, things are far less dramatic than the posts make them out to be. There are too many ponies for there to be any smooching or such. (Apart from Jade who seems adorably uncomfortable as always.) For the most part it's the usual shipping and theory discussions, mixed with fic comments.

PaintDrop

I think that ShortRR look cute together :)

SweetStuff

@DarkSparkle: Remember this is a series ;) The format is a booklet every 2 months. That's why the chapters are larger than a typical MCE scroll. On that note, the hookless will not be resolved by the end of chapter 3, so don't worry about it being rushed :)

Luna

Okay, everypony, we're starting chapter 2 in 10 minutes! So better get back to the reading hall! :)

DarkSparkle

You have a reading hall?! Since when?

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: She just calls it that. :)

TrueSparkle

@Brush: how are you doing?

LightSparkle

Okay, I'll just type random things until ponies react again...

Like I was dumped today. Well, dumped isn't exactly the right word. It was a casual thing, the cute boy just never showed up. That's one of the annoying things being here. Lots of cute boys, for the most part they have the initiative (though that's arguable at best) but do they get cold feet.

Still, I'm not complaining. Just terribly bored.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: We've spoken about this. You really need to slow it down a bit. It's not good for you. I'm not saying you should become a shut in, just take it a bit easier, okay? :)

InItForTheShipping

I know, I know. Working on it.

So have you read the book? Don't tell me you haven't got a copy. :P

LightSparkle

Nope, sadly. Even if I had an early copy I wouldn't have the time :( My little bundle of joy is keeping me busy. Usually the hubby takes care of that, but as I said he's not here right now.

InItForTheShipping

By the way, AwesomePony is totally flirting with Jade. It's more hilarious than anything. I guess she knows she doesn't have a chance so is just doing it anyway. Sort of like Brush was when I first joined :)

Also, SweetStuff's coldfriend is secretly crying during the dramatic parts. :P

Feather

@Feather: You know they'll read that after the reading is over, right?

RRBB

Girl, I'm counting on that :) Also, Twist and DaBoss' brother? Think something can happen?

Feather

Nah. She's been going steady with someone for three grades now. If it's anypony it'll be YouKnowWho or WaterBottle.

RRBB

Well, you might be surprised. Things usually aren't what they seem. And we still don't know the story behind PaintDrop's dark and mysterious SO. You don't, anyway. ;)

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: You're here?!

RRBB

In a manner of speaking ;) Just don't tell Dark or she'll freak mid chapter.

TheRealLuna

Gotcha! :)

RRBB

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Chosen the Gathering 3

If that wasn't the most obvious things ever! Of course there would be another apprentice who'd been remaining quiet all this time. As if somepony could escape that cliche. At least it wasn't Cassandra or Morpheus. (That would have been so convenient!) Still, someone in Mistmount is another chosen and has been hiding there for centuries? Boring!

I hope there's more in chapter 3.

MixaMax

Here we observe Max in her native environment. Note that unless sleeping or mating the Max is extremely grumpy and loudly displays her disapproval of anything under the sun or moon. Scholars have tried to find the cause of the unusual behavior, but each time they approach, the Max taunts and ridicules them, claiming that scholars nowadays are nothing like ancient scholars and they shouldn't be calling themselves scholars anyway, and why is my sister hanging out with someone she likes without my approval, and why can't anypony appreciate my writing and

Edit: The Max is also know to throw oranges at others while they are writing on the site.

RRBB

I thought it was cool. True it wasn't any surprise that there would be another Chosen nearby the involvement of the megawizrads was cool. I love the Hercules character. Just so cool as he fought off a Sorceress squad from the Ultima corporation (another new one) and just went "Eury had trouble fighting you?! We never should have let her join."

Just to note, she has an evergem and is Titanborn, and still considered to be a weakling compared to those guys? I'm really curious about their story :)

I guess now it's a hunt who finds the Chosen first since no one actually knows where he is. I'm calling it now, he's a reject and he just tells them how to find the real Chosen which are not in Mistmount. My guess - somewhere on an island or something.

PrinceEric

Hmm. Call me intrigued :) I must say that I expected something slightly different. Good start, though. Very impactful by the sound of it. How are the others reacting to it? Or are they busy snuggling? :P

LightSparkle

I hope we start the next chapter soon. Waiting is the worst :/ My sister and Applejack are complaining how unrealistic and void of sensible fashionable choices it is. :( And I thought I couldn't feel worse in this costume. :(((

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Well, kid, at least your colt doesn't seem to care. Oh and the wing on your shoulder? Nice touch. :)

Story is fine, but could use a griffin touch. Much more action and scary stuff there. Am I right, AP?

Feather

@All: Okay, who brought the cider? This is supposed to be a reading! We don't want anypony to get drunk (AwesomePony) :/ If things get any worse I'm trapping you in a force bubble till the end of the evening!

Seriously, of the worst ideas!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Sorry :( Mah sister only wanted to bring some traditional Apple cider from home. We didn't know it would be so strong...

WaterBottle

It's curious how most of the characters in Chosen are male again. The romantic elements are much more, but it's much closer to the Chronicles than Everhere. I wonder if that's deliberate? I don't mind in the least. I love it so far, but find it strange. The way MCE was going I though Chosen would be for both genders, maybe even slightly mare oriented. So far it's... I don't know what exactly. I just know I like it so far :)

On another note, I have a few sketches, including some I could use for blackmail... kidding :D Seriously, there were a few very cute instances I saw and could still draw. For everything else, five bits per sketch. :)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: You know what I like ;) I'll give you 10 :D

@YouKnowWho: looking good, babe. You did something to your mane, didn't you? :)

RRBB

Nightling readings: where real life shipping surpasses the shipping in the book :) I wish I could be young again. I'm also terrified what will happen when my filly gets your age. Absolutely scary!

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Nothing to worry about! I'll be there to make sure that everything's fine and proper and of adequate age rating.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: I'll see you in a few years when you have foals of your own. (Knowing Code you'll be the one stuck taking care of them, while she pursues an academic career. :P) When that happens talk to me about being there. ;P

InItForTheShipping

Umm... I'll work on a duplication spell?

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Pfft! I already have one of those. It's easy, actually. I'll teach how to do it, so you can be in several places at once.

TrueSparkle

Thanks, True, but maybe we'll just take turns? Too much magic is never the answer... plus you know MightyDragon. He'll probably end up not being in either of the two places, but start playing instead O&O with himself instead. :)

CodeFilly

Okay, everypony! 5 minutes till the last chapter! (This is so fun! We can start an analysis afterwards :))

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Girl, isn't it midnight where you're at? I know tomorrow isn't a school day, but ponies need to sleep. Not everyone could pull an all nighter like you.

LightSparkle

I've prepared for that! :) There are enough billows and blankets, so if someone falls asleep, I'll just teleport them someone nice and soft and continue the discussion with the rest :) Problem solved! Plus I've already informed the school and most parents that we'll be doing a literary analyses of a modern piece of literature :D

DarkSparkle

That's it! Next time I'm going even if I have to bring my filly with me! I should have done it now, actually!

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Why don't you? Just a zap and you can be there?

LightSparkle

At midnight? :/

InItForTheShipping

Point taken. I'll stay till the last chapter is done. Hopefully someone will send a line when that happens. Night, InItForTheShipping.

LightSparkle

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Chosen the Gathering 4

@InItForTheShipping: I bet you anything that they are all asleep by now. That or they've gone home. Well, except Dark, who's probably still going on and on about her theories. That mare needs to get yayed.

LightSparkle

It's not like she'd listen to me. I blame her having an overly sheltered life. Still, there's time for her to break out of her shell. Isn't that right, @DarkSparkle? :)

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping, @LightSparkle: Dark is sleeping. First one to doze off even bore the reading was over. Also, things got a bit too real. AwesomePony got really drunk and started crying, going on and on about how she'll always be a virgin. Max and Lyra are with her now trying to get her to be a bit let miserably, I guess.

Meanwhile AJ and Rarity decided to do an intervention of sorts and got most of the class to go home. (So much for discussing things :/) To be honest, I'm pretty bummed out too.

RRBB

@RRBB: at least you have something cute and huggly sleeping on you right now. Oh and there's Pixel as well. :P

As about AP, though. Feather's also with her, though after so much cider not sure anyone could do a thing. Until she sobers up, at least.

That said the last chapter was pretty cool. Pretty much in line with what everyone suspected: Molly and Bellucio find the old Chosen who tells them about the Poseidon Key (which is a thing that every active Chosen has to be able to keep in touch with Poseidon). Megan helps them go into the Poseidon reality, where Bellucio finds his own key, after which they go to this abandoned island fortress and see five other Chosen who just go "so you're finally here". And then... cliffhanger!

@Luna: tell whoever wrote that they are a tease!

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I expect pictures! :)

And yeah, the story was pretty good. A bit different from what I expected, but still very much MC. And it's true that the amount of boys is clearly more than in MC (even the original series). Also, calling it that we'll have a Molly love triangle at some point.

RRBB

Eh? AwesomePony broke down in tears? Ouch. I better have a word with her. I'll see if I can convince Dark to let her visit. There are more than enough guys here who'd run over each other to be her bf. Maybe Dark should visit too. She never stays much.

LightSparkle

On the whole I'd say it was a good reading. The cider didn't help, but most were half asleep by then anyway. Seriously, starting a reading at ten isn't a good idea, not when it takes about three hours per chapter. I won't be surprised if most have to reread the last one so it makes sense.

And don't worry about AwesomePony. I'll have a word with her... and Applejack.

TheRealLuna

I never suspected AwesomePony was the hidden romantic. To think of all the jokes we made during training. :/ Guess I know now. @CEOWitch, were you aware of this? If so you could have told me! I feel like a jerk now!

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: It'll be fine. Best thing is to give her some space.

2ndHalf

Well, she shouldn't have hit on Jade. Not that I blame her. If he was a griffin I'd probably act in the same way. She's asleep now, so... err... some help getting her home? I'm a good flyer but not that good.

Feather

@Feather: Sure thing.

2ndHalf

@Feather: I promised to go cloud swimming with BlueEyes. Sorry :(

DaBoss

I'll lend a wing. PrinceEric is asleep anyway, so I can leave him in the castle till morning.

@DaBoss: you still going cloud swimming? You're brave, mare. Oh, and find time to get your new thundercloud license. Spitfire has been on my case for months now. @2ndHalf, that goes for you too!

Fleetfoot

Yes, ma'am!

2ndHalf

@Fleetfoot: I've been meaning to ask for a while now. How come you're single? I mean you're successful, rich, athletic, and a Wonderbolt. You're the image behind Euryala for stars' sake! If anyone could take her first pick that's you!

I don't want to be weird, it's just that you're you.

RRBB

@RRBB: kid, two words: dedicated career. Do you have any idea how many Wonderbolts are in a serious relationship? Four! (Trainees don't count, @2ndHalf.) With the exception of Spitfire none of the elite ones even have time to consider it. For the most part that's what happens when somepony retires. Stallions are different, though. Most are happily married, some with foals. @CEOWitch is just a ninny.

Feather

@Feather: Hey, I dated him for a while. But yeah, Wonderbolts don't have it easy. Usually they marry someone from the military—at least then everypony knows what to expect.

Anyway, I'll be going. Have fun, all or goodnight :)

DaBoss

I knew it was a mistake to come to this event. Three A.M. and I have work in the morning. At least LyraHands had fun. Next time we're during this during the day!

Bob

Next time I'm so there! @InItForTheShipping: can you cover for me again? I know it was a bit of awkward last time (much appreciate it, though). And don't hesitate to visit anytime. I think Simile might stop by again next month.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I see how it is!

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: I thought you were asleep. Why silent until now?

LightSparkle

If you have to know, somepony (no names) decided it would be a great idea to play "a few rounds of O&O" while the reading was going on. Right now Spike and MightyDragon are arguing about equipment, and CodeFilly is drooling asleep on Mighty's shoulder.

I was forced to join in... until Dark fell asleep when I had to take over control of the audio spell.

TrueSparkle

I feel you. I best get to sleep as well. Have more studying to do tomorrow.

Night, Nightlings.

LightSparkle

Night. I'll be going home.

See you tomorrow.

PaintDrop

Take care, everyone.

InItForTheShipping

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Celestia PMs

Dear, I'd like a word with you, if you don't mind.

Celestia

Wow. You're regged that name? Really?

LightSparkle

This is serious. And I'm not going to comment on your life choices or lifestyle, or anything of the sort. You are a grown mare and knowledgeable enough to make your own choices. I just want to clear a few things. Namely, why do you still refuse to see me.

Celestia

Have you been spying on me again, Mom? I though we went through this. I haven't gotten myself in any serious trouble for over an year. I'd have thought that would count for something, at least. But no! Seems even writing on a fanfiction site is too much for you. What's next? Did you bribe my friends to spy for you?

LightSparkle

Dear, please. Why do you always think of me as the villain. What I did was terrible. Nopony knows that better than me, but you have grown so much since then. I know it's difficult, but I'd honestly love for us to at least start talking again.

With all the drama that you've read this probably will sound cliche, but I do love you Sunshine. You are my daughter. I've always loved you. At times I'm just as foolish as you, I make mistakes, I pick the wrong choices.

Celestia

Mom, I'm gay, polyamorous, with a dozen fetishes, and a saltlicker. Clearly a disgrace, so why don't you leave me alone now?

LightSparkle

Should that shock me? Even if it were true, which I know it isn't, I'd still want to see you.

Celestia

So you have been keeping tabs on me?!

LightSparkle

And you have taken two college degrees just to avoid coming back to see me. Is this the way you want us to live? You staying away and me using whatever methods I have to make sure you are fine?

You could have called me when you went to the Crystal Empire. I would have been there in fifteen minutes. Why didn't you? And no, InItForTheShipping didn't rat you out. I've just been reading the site. (I'm confused why you thought I wouldn't.)

Celestia

Talk about taking things too far. Some would consider that aetherstalking. :/

LightSparkle

Perhaps. However, I created my account before you joined, so I doubt it.

Celestia

Next thing you'll tell me you're into coltfiction. Really, Mom, give it a rest. There are still issues between us and until I resolve them on my own I have no intention of seeing you. Okay?

LightSparkle

That's all you had to say, dear :) It's not what I'd have liked to hear, but at least I'm no longer guessing. Take your time, and if you ever decide I'll be here.

Celestia

Will do.

LightSparkle

Mom, can I ask you something about dad? I didn't think about it, but something on the site happened and... what was he like?

LightSparkle

Oh? That's a surprise. I thought I had told you everything there is about him. I suppose there are lots of ways I could describe him. He was famous, after all, a hero of Equestria done countless deeds of valor. That wouldn't describe him, though. The only thing I can say is he was special.

Celestia

Wow. You don't waste words, do you? "Special" :/ I've read trash submissions with better descriptions. Can you maybe give a few details? Or did you kept him hidden as well?

LightSparkle

I'm sure. When you reach a certain age, however, a single word is enough to describe a lifetime. Besides, there are some things that I prefer to talk about in person, that is one of them.

Celestia

Fair point I guess.

So, what do you want to know about me? Assuming your spies and spells haven't told you already.

LightSparkle

Anything you'd like to share. Mostly, I just wanted you to pass by every now and again. I promise not to embarrass you in front of your friends.

Celestia

Oh, that's rich. Are you actually accusing me of being ashamed of you? Me? You're the one who told me to hide our connection. You've no idea how many times I wanted to announce I was orphan and be done with it. Did you ever think what it was like for me growing up never knowing my father, unable to talk to my mother? Other fillies would get good grades, win first prize in science fairs and magic studies, not me. My only hope was to show such excellence that the judges would be impressed in the hopes that maybe news would somehow reach you.

LightSparkle

I am well aware of my failures as a mother. I thought I was doing you a favor and I was completely mistaken. You're adept enough at magic to know it's dangerous changing the past, but I can easily change the present. I can my out the first page of every newspaper in Canterlot and announce you as my daughter, if that's what you want.

Celestia

Too little too late, Mom. I like how things are now. I'm beyond hiding our relation, but I don't plan on telling anyone either. If that would make you feel better, go ahead. I really don't care.

LightSparkle

I know. You always were your own pony. And now you've grown to become more I could ever dream. You might joke around on the site, but I see through your posts. You're an intelligent mare, strong, with lots of good friends who rely on you. You've had your share of heartbreaks and fun, and you've learned to accept them as part of life and refuse them to slow you down.

Yet, I'm still your mother, and even if you begrudge me, I've always kept an eye on you, ready to help if there really is the need. And I'd still want you to come visit sometime.

Celestia

I'll think about it, okay?

LightSparkle

That's all I ask.

Celestia

And please change your username. It feels awkward :/

LightSparkle

I'll think about it. :)

Celestia

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Complicated PMs

Sorry I couldn't be there to tell you this. I flew off while you were sleeping.

It was a mistake.

Brush

Don't blame yourself. You needed somepony. I wouldn't have done it unless I wanted to.

CEOWitch

That's exactly what Mota told me when we first hooked up.

Brush

Brush...

CEOWitch

I just don't want to be hurt. Not again. And I don't want to hurt you. Part of why it feels so bad is that I knew the thing with Mota would happen. I know it's said that stallions recover faster, but it's me who's to blame.

You're a really nice stallion, CEO. I think it's better to stay friends.

Brush

Brush, you must stop blaming yourself. You care about everyone. You help everyone. Sometimes characters don't match.

I knew you were heading for heartache the moment I saw you with Mota. He's just a collegecolt. I'm not sure how hard he tried, but even if he did he could never live with somepony like us. Every time we're off on a mission we know it might be our last. The storm, the "dragon", dozens of other things I'm not allowed to talk about. You're the same. RD and Rarity have shared what happens on your missions. Not all of them are innocent as you'd like everyone to think. I can understand that. Not everypony can.

And don't you for one moment think that I went there because I felt pity for you. (I know exactly what that's like). I like what we had and so did you (I hope). There's no need to feel bad about it.

Remember I told you I'd be there for you.

CEOWitch

This feels so wrong.

Brush

Doesn't everything good feel wrong? But no I don't think it is. I think we both needed it.

CEOWitch

You know what's the difference between being a mare and a stallion at the Wonderbolts? In general a lot, but it boils down to two things: everypony either considers me eyecandy who's gone to where I am thanks for my looks and stallion charms or "that stallion who will fall for her"; and we get to kick anyone who's being too nuzzly.

CEOWitch

You're really bad with words :)

Brush

So I've been told. Just as I've been reminded (daily) that I have a great flank. :/ That might be true, but I appreciate if if mares don't keep bringing up the subject in the hopes I'd swoon. (Crash half tried it once.)

What I'm saying is, you're fine. We don't have to be anything more than friends, but I just want to say I understand you, and I enjoyed last night. I had hoped you wouldn't fly off in the morning, though.

CEOWitch

I did too. It's just... I'm a mess right now. I don't even know what to think. I'm still hurting. Part of me wants to should *yay* it all and just do what I please, but part also hopes that if I fly to Mota and ask for another chance he'll give it to me...

Brush

Well, I won't stop you, I think it'll be a terrible mistake (even if he hasn't moved on), but I still worn stop you. As they say "life is too short not to live in the fast lane".

CEOWitch

Sorry for disappointing you. I hope we can still be friends after this.

Brush

I won't lie, I was hoping for something more, but friends is nice. Friends is great. Just don't you forget it. And if you want to talk or be with someone I'll be here.

CEOWitch

Even if I end up getting back together with Mota?

Brush

Brush, you're so much my type it's not even real. Still, call me a dreamer, I'd like to spend the rest of my life with somepony who wants to spend to with me.

CEOWitch

CEO... you're too nice for this world. I fear you'll only get hurt.

Brush

I have that's why I'm nice. Besides, takes one to know one. ;)

CEOWitch

How am I even going to explain this to the others? I'm not even sure I can explain it myself?

Brush

Don't think about it. If you want to tell them, tell them. If not, don't. There's all to it. I barely know your parents, but I get the impression they brought you up somewhat sheltered. I'm not telling you to be like Crash and rush to anything that catches your fancy, but don't be afraid to grab the moment. Sometimes it works out.

CEOWitch

Like it did with Mota?

Brush

Okay, I'm stupid. You're strong enough to get over this, though. And you're definitely not alone. I might joke all the time, but I'm also serious. There are a whole lot of things I can tell you, some of them might even make sense. In the end of the day they are just words. I have no idea what's going on inside your head, no one does.

The only thing I can say with absolute certainty is that it's not your fault: not what happened last night, nor what happened with Mota.

And don't worry, I won't tell anyone about it. You can bet they'll ask until they're blue and I'll deny it. If and when you decide to talk about it with me or somepony else, I'll back you up.

CEOWitch

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Brush

Okay. Since it's clear you won't be coming back until I've left, I'll be returning to my place. I've left breakfast on the table (if your critters don't eat it up by then). Also, I'm leaving you my copy of the Chosen.

Please try to take care of it, okay? Blue get wall hissy and spitty when ponies damage his gifts.

CEOWitch

Thanks you.

I'm sorry.

Brush

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Rumors 4

Girls, girls! I heard something new!

Only Luna can confirm this, but seems like the Everprince might not be the real villain of the series. I got some hints that there will be a new enemy (force?) making its appearance in the next arc which might mess up the current balance of power.

Not much, but when you think about it, this is incredibly exciting! We already know that there might be a corporate war starting soon (there have always been hints, but on a few occasion junior executives managed to exchange threats in MCE). New deities have appeared (Icelos and the Everprince) as well as titans (and titanborn). Also with the hints from Chosen, the special squad (that is supposed to observe the corporations and keep them in check) seems to answer to an even greater power.

Also, one big thing going back to the last arc: only a few of the main cast have their evergems, and only Euryala knows how to use hers (not counting the Everprince). Oh, and what will they do with Omni? I mean will they try to get him back or will they give up him and just consider him an enemy?

I must say I have mixed feelings about that. I love Omni, I also like Loki, but really hate the things the Everprince has done.

What are your thoughts?

PrinceEric

And Eric is back at it again :) How did it go with DaBoss' bro? Things looked... entangled yesterday :P

To be honest I haven't asked about the new arc. I suppose I could, but then again what if I let myself be surprised this time? Also, it's not so much fun when parts of the writing staff are in the site reading this right now. (I love you all! Please hire me as editor!:))

What you say makes sense, in regards to the corporate war. Max has been speculating on that for ages. At one point she'd go "next chapter the war breaks out!" And it never would :) Maybe the writers got tired of reading that on various sites and decided to indulge her. :P

RRBB

@RRBB: I hope you didn't steal my sis again :/ If I find out she's at your place, I don't care you're a filly! I'll zap you so hard your mane will remained curled up for years!

@PrinceEric: Finally we get a corporate war! This should have happened two volumes ago! There are all these powerful and scary organizations, each with spies, sorceress squads and what not, of course they should start fighting! Just ask any colt: fight is right! (In books, at least.) Not to mention it will give us a chance to learn about the remaining twelve (@Luna: the figure varies by the way! I've seen 7, 9, 10, and 12 mentioned multiple times!)

The whole new threat thing is a bit anticlimactic. I mean, sure, it makes sense, I guess, but really? We got the Everprince at last and you're not going to use him? What the heck is he for, then? Splitting the group? Setting them on a path to "bring him back"? Get shipped with Echo? What?!?

MixaMax

Aww, you're fighting like old times again. ;)) I feel so happy :D Only thing missing how is Tech appearing to make a few parallels with the original series :)

On that note. @Feather: I heard a rumor that there are a few MCE scrolls sold to the Griffin market. What interesting is that they were modified quite a bit. So much so, in fact, that they have almost nothing in common with the original MC. Can you tell me if that's true? And if it, any way I can find copies? I asked Luna, but that must have taken place before her time so it's unlikely anyone would know.

If that's true we might be talking about missing masterpieces :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: What your are referring to are the Sunlight Chapters.

As you know Griffin culture is much more sun oriented, even more so than ponies, so a special version of MC was made to "test the waters". I have no idea how well they did (which means they must have done extremely poorly), however, they do exist. I myself managed to read one when in school (we were a mixed class) and from what I remember I didn't find them particularly good. Of course, at the time, I had a much different view of the world ("eww, kisses" was my philosophy of the way, if I recall.)

Thus, the chapters are real, but difficult to find, yet hardly valued (the worst combination when it comes to trying to find something.) I myself have failed in my attempts to find even a single scroll, so gave up years ago. I might try again and with luck, and this new technology, maybe I'll fare better this time.

The TechNightling

Those weren't a myth? We used to joke about them a lot when we first met. I remember the Midday Castle hoax. What was it called... the counter story? I still have no idea who wrote that. It was so bad! :P Like, really, really horrible! First rate trolling!

RRBB

@RRBB: Actually, Prince Blueblood wrote that... and it was actually published, just not officially associated with S&S or MC.

Luna

Bellucio wrote fanfiction? Wow! I must reread it then :) Would still be great is we can find the Sunlight Chapters. After all this time, I don't think they'd be all that good a read, but it might be fun to do another reading? @DarkSparkle? ;)

LyraHands

What what? How come I've become so popular? Oh... you want me to find something :/ Typical. And here I thought there was someone fallen hopelessly in love with me after seeing my tender beauty... NOT! :P

Sorry, girls, but I doubt our library has that (anything else for that matter.) I'll take a look, though. Might be a good laugh. Oh, you okay if I invite someone else to the site? What I mean by that is make her feel welcome, okay? She's a childhood friend and all. You hit on her, I kill you.

Feather

Also, don't hit on Jade?

RRBB

@RRBB: don't you start again! :/ It's enough I have to deal with his grumps and AP's tears. :/

MixaMax

Girls, not cool... I wish, though O:)

PrinceEric

And with this we conclude our daily rumours, before things get out of hoof.

@Feather: I'm sue everyone would be delighted. And I'll make sure that they behave reasonably well.

Enjoy a great day, everyone.

The TechNightling

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The Sisters' Quarrel

Psst, @Mixamax. Did you hear? Short and I eloped to Las Pegasus and got married. We'll be having the along with Code and Mighty at the official Nightling convention.

Don't worry, no need to bring gifts.

RRBB

You sure ordered some scandalous outfits. I'm surprised Rarity agreed to make them. I guess since Short is friends with SweetStuff it's somewhat okay. Still a bit shocked, even if you'll probably be wearing those clothes in private.

PaintDrop

@RRBB: Well, what can I say? I, glad things worked out for you. Not that I wasn't flattered or anything, but it just wouldn't have worked. You two are just perfect for each other and I wish you an eternity of married bliss. :)

YouKnowWho

Ha ha. *slow clap* Do you take me for an idiot? :/ Next time at least make it somewhat believable, okay? Eloped and married. What did you think would happen? That I'd rush out of work all panicked? You really don't know me at all.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: What I believe that the girls are trying to say is that you don't trust your sister enough. I know you've always been protective and a hothead, but let the filly live a little. Just as a reminder she's been keeping your place clean and cooked more than half the time, so I think she could handle a bit of RRBB.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: this is hardly the place to discuss such things. Short and I will have a talk when I get back from work.

MixaMax

Max, if you actually talked with her, maybe there wouldn't be the need for this?

@The TechNightling: Sorry, but I'm making an exception. Unless this is said here it'll never be said.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Understandable. There are no issues on my part.

The TechNightling

@LyraHands: I really don't need this right now. :/

MixaMax

@MixaMax: sorry, sis, but I do. I've been delaying this for weeks... even since you sent me off to the Crystal Empire. I know you are always looking out for me, and that you'll rip the mane off anypony who'd harm me, but I can't keep living like this. And neither can you.

You've always been there for me—when I was sick, when it became clear I was different, when I ever got in trouble. You were the one who took care of me when I joined you in Ponyville even when it was difficult for you. Things change, though. You'll be married soon and with foals of your own. Keeping a constant eye on me while raising children of your own isn't something you should be doing.

I know I'll hurt you saying this, but you're a wreck, and it's all because of me. Just look how often you've snapped at somepony for minor things. How many times have you been banned? How many times has Lyra or Code had talks with you about things? So, please, let me make my own mistakes. You're probably right, I'll probably get hurt a lot more than I think, but at least they will be my mistakes. And sometimes they might not be mistakes at all.

You're worried that RRBB might not be what's best for me. You're wrong. I've had crushes, and I can tell the difference. And she's not the villain you think she is. (I heard you talking to Jade.) in truth we've been seeing each other for a while now. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to get you upset. That was my mistake. I should have told you right away, so I'm telling you now.

RRBB and I are together. There isn't anything you can do about that, so please don't. I know I can't make you accept it, but please, at least give us a chance. Give me a chance.

There. I said it. You can hate me all you want. I still won't change my mind.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: You idiot! How can you even thing I can hate you? You're my kid sister. I'd move mountains for you. Do you really think I want to prevent you from being happy? We talked about this! I don't want you to get hurt, as it looks like you will. :(

I've known RRBB for almost as long as you and while she's great in some aspects, I really don't think she's the answer you're looking for.

MixaMax

Wow! Thanks for the vote of confidence, Max :/

RRBB

@MixaMax: We never talked, sis. You did. The decision to move to the Crystal Empire was yours. I admit I didn't want to see RRBB after she shot me down, but that didn't mean moving half of Equestria away. I was hurt and I agreed with you. And I was wrong. I'm asking you know to let me to try being happy. Please?

Short&Hoofy

Can't we talk when I get home? I promise I'll hear you out. Hay, you can bring RRBB along if you must. Just don't do anything rash.

MixaMax

Sis, I'll be spending the evening at RRBB's place. Her parents know and are okay with it (enough to let me stay, at least.) i'll still be here, but please don't spam my scrollbox with PMs. And please don't cry or get angry.

I love you, sis, but I want to do this.

Short&Hoofy

Max, if it's any consolation I have enough bits to provide for her. I might not be Jade, but I'm pretty close in terms of bits, you know. ;)

RRBB

@RRBB: Will you shut it!? It's not funny! A few months ago you were a total wreck getting suspended from school on a weekly basis, getting in fights with your previous "girlfriend", and even harming yourself to try and make the "pain go away". So don't get smug with me about this!

We're talking about the life of my sister! My sister!!! So don't you dare tell me how to take care of her!

MixaMax

As if you need my help to do that!

And yes, I was a mess! I very much still am, but at least now there's somepony who makes me want to change, to become something better. Short is that somepony and I'll walk through Tartarus and back before I let you hurt her!

RRBB

Okay, I think the all points were made clear. I'll be locking the thread and making it admin view only. If anypony concerned has anything else to say in the next five minutes go ahead.

LyraHands

... Stars you pick the worst possible time for such things :(

@Short&Hoofy: Are you sure? Really sure?

MixaMax

No, but I want to find out.

Short&Hoofy

I'll need some time... I never meant to hurt you.

MixaMax

Neither did I. Neither did we.

Thank you, sis.

Short&Hoofy

Thread has been deleted by LyraHands.

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My Friend Molly

@all: I know I've been doing it too much, but I can't help myself! A new fic I absolutely and by one of our favourite authors.

My Friend Molly by EndlessHearts

I must say this caught me off guard. It starts as a cute slice of life: Molly has an ordinary day, having thoughts about Bellucio and others in her class. Things happen, she builds up the courage to go ask Bellucio out on a date, but on the way a portal appears out of nowhere and transports her to an unknown part of Equestria. So far, so good. Now the spoilers.

[EqF-spoiler]
Molly finds she's transported in an unknown part of Equestria, inhabited by a dark group of changelings (Chrysalis type) that have decided to live separate from Chrysalis or Thorax. There's a mystery, a desire of one of the changelings to go on a journey of discovery, and some very interesting world building.

The big kicker, however, is this: the changeling, that Molly starts gradually to develop feelings for, shifts between boy and girl on a regular basis. And if the story continues the way it has been going so far, Molly likes (maybe even loves? :)) both forms, or rather she likes the changeling itself and not the form.

Everypony knows I read changeling fics with a bucket of salt, but this raises so many questions (in a good way) that I can't stop reading! Both Dawn and Sunset (the changeling's personas) are beautiful and a reflection of one being!
[EqF-spoiler]

EndlessHearts, you are magnificent. Whether you continue the adventure or have them visit Earth from time to time, I'll keep reading your story! I've said it before, I'll said it again: you've made me a fan! :)

LyraHands

Eeeh, I don't know. I find it a bit creepy. I mean... how exactly will they do it and what happens afterwards? The adventure is cool, though. Maybe include a bit more kicking and punching?

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Says the pony who clearly read it up to the latest chapter. ;)

Also, you have a dirty mind, mare! Even I can tell the story is about feelings and such mush. You had to ask about the *yay* though. I’m scared to think what your dreams will be tonight. :) Actually, I'm not! I'm just curious about a number of things that I won't describe or Tech will chop my wings off.

Oh, and @EndlessHearts... *yay* mare! That story is the *yay* :)

Feather

@EndlessHearts: I'm so envious... of myself! *huggles tight* I got the best thing in Equestria—you :))

I've no idea how you came up with that. And you almost didn't need edits. (I bet you've done three passes before you showed it to me.) still, I'm here to brush off the specks of bad spelling and grammar away so you can shine even more. :) @number1: Are you reading this? :)

RRBB

Did you know that there's only been one case of a changeling going to Earth? Originally arrived there by accident, the changeling nearly starved until it started its own blog that kept it fed. As a result 3% of aethernet social pages are created and maintained by changelings, converting likes to food.

Speculator7

@Speculator7: and here I was hoping that you moved out of your mother's basement. :/

@EndlessHearts: I must say you have the skill, kid. Jade has been going on and on how much potential you have, and I must say he's right. There are a few things you still need to touch on, but damn are you good. :) Can't wait to see what happens next.

LightSparkle

@EndlessHearts: Do you want to do a collaboration? I can help you a bit with changeling behavior and culture and you could write those beautiful deep characters of yours. :) Think about it ;)

Simile

Oh my goodness! This is a disaster! :(

I... never asked Thorax what he was. I mean I assumed that he was a male bug because of that form, but what if he isn't and just prefers to wear it? This could cause such an international scandal! How could I have been so insensitive?!

Sorry, everypony, I'll be gone for a few days! I must fix this!

DarkSparkle

Dark has teleported out of the castle. Sometimes life is truly stranger than fiction :/

Going back to the story, I think it's up there with the other great ones: My Human and I, the Danny Saga, My Rain of Daggers, School Days (needs a sequel!), DDD, Sweetie's Band (needs to be submitted), Space Molly, even Dark's latest Taur series.

At times they are even better than books of established authors. :D Keep it up!

TrueSparkle

You should write something, girl. I know you could manage. Who knows? You might be the next big thing :D

LightSparkle

@EndlessHearts: I think it's magnificent :) As is your other choice. And when she stops pouting Max will probably say the same. I still think you should get some professional courses. I've asked a few of my professors unofficially and they would let you sit in our lectures.

@LyraHands: Sorry about this, but can you keep an eye on Max's home for a few days? With EndlessHearts at RRBB's and Max here (apparently) the place is completely empty.

Jade

@Jade: Lol. You got it. I take it Max needed to let out some steam. How's she doing? Also how are you? Not too exhausted, I hope?

LyraHands

Ha ha. She's doing better. Just a bit too much stress. We agreed she'll stay off the aethernet for a while. Me... I've no idea how I'll get ready for my exams. :/ Might have to retake the semester.

Jade

@Jade: Sweetie, if you get flunked I'll personally go there to see what happened (and shame you publicly if needed) ;) And please tell pouting Max to visit. I love to talk to old friends and it might help her relax a bit.

InItForTheShipping

Will do.

Jade

Hey, I want to be a great writer as well! Girls? Anypony?

MightyDragon

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Departure

Hello, all.

It's been a while since I've appeared here. The reason for this is that this place no longer has the same appeal to me as it used to. Don't misunderstand, the place is great and you all are some of ten best ponies I've chatted with. It's just that my priorities are changing.

Just yesterday I tried to start Chosen of Poseidon. I read half the first chapter. It was fun, but then I stopped to take a break and never felt the need to continue. It's the same with all MCE chapters. I have all of them rolled up on my shelf...untouched.

In short, I'll be moving on with my life. I'm in Manehattan now and things are moving quiet fast. I have friends, school, social activities. I think it would be unfair to everypony for me to keep a posting here for the sake of posting. (Unfair to you as well as my real life friends.)

I'll miss you lot. Some of you have become quite close friends and I will keep in touch with you (yes, @PrinceEric, I'll write ;)) It just won't be here.

Thank you for the great time, and all the fun.

Be well, and be Nightlings.

DannyFan

@DannyFan: nooo! :( I'll miss you. I hope this is just a phase and you return to us so, more Nightlingy than ever. :) Good luck with your new adventures, though. :)

Please, please, please PM me your aethernet address.

SweetStuff

@DannyFan: :( I knew this was coming. When you stopped PMing about Danny I knew it was just a matter of time. I won't hide it. I'm not happy about this. (I guess I had a little crush on you O:)) I had hoped that the ponies here and the new chapters would get you back into MC, but it seems not. :(

Don't you think you'll get rid of me that easily, though! :) Now that you're close by (much closer than before) I might drop by now and again to see you. (I promise not to spam you with MC stuff. Honest!)

And you better not forget to write, okay?

PrinceEric

@DannyFan: What can I say except thank you for all the time and energy you dedicated to us. I really enjoyed your company (and I'm far from the only one :)). Life is a strange thing: we're never in control of the flow, yet it's up to us to react accordingly. Things that were once of paramount importance later become irrelevant, then special again.

Let me just saw this, though: there are no ex-Nightlings. ;) Once you've been part of our family you are part of us forever. Your interests might change, yet we're still here to talk or help you in any way we can if you need it.

You've always been a ray of light, may it shine through your new adventures in life :)

LyraHands

@DannyFan: Have fun :) Remember, though, mares like geeky stallions, so never be ashamed of being a Nightling, okay? Trust me, I know. (No I won't go into details :P)

LightSparkle

Hey, it's not like he's banished to the moon. We'll still see him around. I often go on trips to Manehattan, as do a lot of you (come on, it's not that far away!) Besides, DannyFan can always visit. After all, it's not like we have princesses on the site or anything :P

RRBB

@RRBB: You just have to bring those things up :/ Not everypony things about status and politics every waking moment, you know.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: What? I'm just saying. And you know it's true. We actually do have two princesses on the site. Of course he doesn't have to visit just for that, but it's something to consider.

RRBB

Thank you for the kind words, everypony. It's quite nice of you. I'll miss this place, that's for sure, but as RRBB pointed out it isn't the end of Equestria. If you ever visit Manehattan, I'll be glad to see you. :)

DannyFan

Umm, I'll be glad to show the sites to anypony here. A lot of things have changed in the last few months. I still don't openly display my Nightling nature, but on occasions I can talk about it with others. Once I even saw colts playing MC in the park. I doubt they are on the site, but it warms the heart that coltfiction is becoming more accepted.

Candle

I happen to be quite famous as well! There are statues of me all over the Crystal Empire!

@DannyFan: it was fun having you :) I'll join ten others wishing you the best. Personally, I think you'll be back in half an year, but that's just me :) Send a line if you ever visit the Empire. I'll organize something. :)

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: The statues are of Spike, not you :)

@DannyFan: be who you are and to do the right thing. Other than that have as much fun as you can :D

TrueSparkle

@DannyFan: I never actually got to talk to you (am still quite new) but I wish you the best. This site hasn't been as life changing for me as it has to some others, but I made new friends, saw some old friends in a different light, and even got asked out on a date. :) I'm sure the site has brought you some magic moments as well, so if ever you feel down or upset think of them.

And as Lyra said, there will always be someone here if you need to talk :)

Plust

@Plust: Wow! That must be a new record! Who's the lucky mare?

RRBB

@RRBB: Not everypony might want to discuss that openly. ;) Also, guessing is so much more fun :D. There's a large number of single fillies on the site, so could be any one of them.

Maybe even PaintDrop?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: That's it! No more aethernet for you!

@DannyFan: Have fun, and remember not to get into too much trouble. :)

Bob

But, Boooob! :/

LyraHands

Seems like Tech's filter doesn't catch everything *snicker* :)

RRBB

@RRBB: You know, you're scary when you're happy...

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: She is. I blame Short.

PaintDrop

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No Second Chances?

Hello, Mota.

I thought I'd write a line see how you are doing.

Brush

Oh. Hello.

MasterOfThisAstra

Mota? Is anything wrong?

Brush

Nothing is wrong. I just... actually several things are wrong. I had a panic attack during one of my exams. I'll be retaking the semester. My parents are pissed. They even talked to the dean about me having another go this year, but it was decided That I might use a short break. My grades are exemplary n the whole so I don't think it will be an issue if I rest a bit.

How are you doing?

MasterOfThisAstra

How do you think?

Brush

My sister told me what happened. I'm sorry, I just... it wasn't what I imagined. Things just didn't work out. I was blinded by dreams that could never be. I loved you, Brush, I did with all my heart, but we were never meant to be together.

MasterOfThisAstra

Oh, Mota... do you think I don't? Love is not something you can forget even when it's over. I still remember every moment of us together. The first time we spoke, the first time we met... You were actually trembling back then. I though it was cute and used it as an excuse to get my wing around you.

Things aren't the same without you. I try to work so I can forget everything, but I can't. Is there... can you give me another chance? I know I have messed up more than one, but I think this time I'll... at least I want to try.

Brush

Brush... You're making it so difficult :( Of course I remember how we met. It was my first time. You were my first, my very first. And I still find you fascinating in so many ways, yet... things are different now. I'm not sure what you're asking is possible.

MasterOfThisAstra

Please?

Brush

I met somepony.

MasterOfThisAstra

Oh.

Brush

Yes.

I took the breakup quite bad. Went to a pub. For hours I sat at a table trying to decide if I should start drinking to try to forget or not. She was there when I needed it, so we started talking. It was closing time before I knew it. I think I even cried.

MasterOfThisAstra

Who is she?

Brush

Just a crystal pony. Please don't try to find her. I know you're sweet and kind, but I don't want you to go and try to convince her how we should hook up back again. She doesn't deserve that drama, and right now I don't think I do either. Or you.

We'll always remain friends, though.

MasterOfThisAstra

Friends...

Brush

Please don't be like that. I don't want to fight. I don't even want to argue. I want to keep remembering you as something magnificent. The wounds are still fresh, Brush. I tried to hide it, but I've been crying every time you went to save Equestria.

Surprise—I'm not as upbeat and strong as I make out to be. You're the first pony I'm telling about this. Not even PaintDrop or my parents know. Ever since I was born I had everything except happiness. For a moment I found it with you. I thought that moment would last forever.

MasterOfThisAstra

So it's really over between us.

Brush

I'd still like us to be friends. I know it's not what you want to hear.

MasterOfThisAstra

Brush message has been deleted.

Friends it is then.

What does she do? I promise I won't try to find her. I just want to know a bit more.

Brush

She's a college student. Same as me but in a different school. She's quirky, different than either of us.

MasterOfThisAstra

I see.

Brush

Your book will hit the shelves in a few weeks. The test group think it's good. It's almost certain it will be a success. They might ask you to appear there for a signing. I was going to tell you next week.

I think you should go. Your book is magnificent and you could use the distraction.

MasterOfThisAstra

Oh. I see...

Brush

Brush, I know I'm just a stallion, but I think you should be more decisive. The shy mare that flies off to save Equestria is cute, but stallions might expect something more. To tell you a secret we stallions don't know what we want. It's up to you to tell us. We're supposed to rely on you, but also feel you give us our space.

Possibly it's just me. Before I met you I was clueless about love, relationships, sex. You showed me all that, but when you did I felt that I wanted something different... as much it hurt losing you. I think you need something different as well. Whatever it is, I don't think it's me.

MasterOfThisAstra

Why is everypony so certain what I do or don't want? Why can't things just be the way they were?

Brush

Because I got tired of crying every time. Just because I hid it from you doesn't mean it didn't hurt.

MasterOfThisAstra

Maybe I should never fall in love. Who needs it if the only thing it does is cause pain? And it's not like I anypony appreciates my efforts anyway!

Brush

Brush, please don't do this. We tried, it didn't happen. Can we leave it at that?

You'll find somepony better. I'm know you will.

MasterOfThisAstra

I don't know anything anymore. I don't know why I even wrote to you right now. You say I'll find somepony, but it won't be you.

Brush

No, it won't. Sorry, Brush. I don't want to go through that again.

MasterOfThisAstra

Can't we at least see each other? Maybe talk?

Brush

I don't know. Now is not the best time. I'll be going away from the Crystal Empire for a while. I still don't know where.

You take care of yourself, okay? I meant all the things I said about you: you are magnificent and one day will make some lucky stallion happy.

Goodbye, Brush.

MasterOfThisAstra

Goodbye.

Brush

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Grace's Advice

Hello, my darlings. <3

Your friendly curator Grace here. I'd just like to make a few minute requests that would help speed up the curation process tremendously. :) You're all doing a tremendous job, and I can feel the passion and drive in all of your works, so let's just make even better, shall we? ;)

1) Take a week before submitting.

I know that you can't wait to show your story to the world, but why settle for anything less than your best? Like ants, there are lots of minuscule mistakes that can easily be caught at a moment's glance. So, when your finish your story, leave it to rest for a while then get back to it after a week and do a quick read through.

2) Use indentation and line breaks.

As wonderful as your story might be a wall of text simply isn't beautiful. Add a few touches and you'll be surprised at the amount if new readers you'd get. ;)

3) Don't be afraid to ask for editors.

There's no shame in asking for help. Remember, an editor job is to make your story shine, not stifle your creativity. Whether it's a friend, parent, or site writer, don't be afraid to reach out for help. (Just remember they have lives as well, so they might not have the time to help.) Also, if there's a story you like, in turn offer help (via PM). ;)

With that I wish you a beautiful day! <3

Grace

@LyraHands: Can we create an editor group? RRBB and I were discussing that and think it might be a good idea. :) Even if each of us are linked to a story, we can edit a few more stories. :D I know Jade and MasterOfThisAstra are also very good editors and there might be many more on the site.

Twist

@Grace: Aren't we fancy? :P But yeah, I agree. It's really annoyed trying to make out something in a wall of text in which every second word is messed up!

@LyraHands, @Twist: Yeah! What Twist said. We have a group for curators, so it might be good to have a group of editors. Just think what would have happened if DDD had remained in its original state? (For one, Jade would have gone insane and possibly strangled AP with her wings :P)

I'm already pretty engaged with My Friend Molly but I can take a few stories, provided that they I like them! @The TechNightling: can you make a system for requests? I don't want my PM to explode (already getting loads of spam because of the curation thing.)

RRBB

@RRBB: Hey! My story is awesome! And Jade could never strangle me! He's too fragile and delicate for that!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Maybe he'll strangle you with love? :P

@RRBB: I know I'm not much of a writer or anything, but I could try this editing thing out. *yay* I've been fixing AwesomePony's homework since I was eight. Plus lots of speeches back home... (Winds, that was lousy money!)

Feather

@Feather: you're aware that this will be down for free, right? :/

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: For free?!? Are you *yay* kidding me?!

:P Nah, it's fine. What do you take me for? Some greedy Griffin or something? :P This site is one of the few places that brings me joy and amusement. No way I'm placing a price tag on that.

Hey, @LyraHands, @CodeFilly, @The TechNightling: Include that in the rules, will you? It's a miracle it hasn't happened so far. Would be a mess if everypony started asking money for everything.

Feather

@Feather: The reason it isn't in the rules is because it's a complicated issue. There are a few ponies who do art commissions, but also do free requests. There's no reason for writing, editing, music, and costume making should be treated differently. As long as members are made aware in advance and there isn't aggressive add-spamming things should be fine.

@all: If anypony has asked you for money without reason or in any way done something unethical or illegal, please let mods know! Such behaviour is not tolerated!

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: gotcha!

Feather

@RRBB, @Twist: That's actually a great idea! I discussed things with Tech, Code, and Mighty and it's happening. Also...

@all: Announcement, everyone! HopHop will be joining the Mod team! Like Code, she's really good at this (much better than me) and will be taking care of feature support (meaning, making sure that all the crazy requests you make are optimized).

@HopHop: your first task is to set up the editor role, make a separate request system, and also create an editor only page (same as the mod page). O:)

LyraHands

@RRBB, LyraHands: Very much appreciate it, darlings ;) <3

Grace

@Grace: you sound like my sister -.-

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: She'd be flattered I'm sure :) That might be slightly impossible, though ;)

Grace

@LyraHands: You won't get me to quit that easily! :P Plus, most of it's already done and just needs duplication. I'll have it running by tomorrow (@CodeFilly: you haven't forgotten our game this afternoon, right?)

Roles and board are already done. I'll also be adding a place where curator and editor wannabes could apply so not to spam everypony :)

@RRBB, @Twist: I've made you Editing Princesses so now you don't need Code to decide who to make an editor and not. :)

@LightSparkle: You are a Curating Princess.

@LyraHands: As for you you are just a Modular Princess. :P

HopHop

My sides! My sides! "modular princess" :)))

@HopHop: Marry me! :D

Feather

@Feather: Err, thanks for the offer, but I don't exactly know you, and I already have coltfriend :)

HopHop

@Grace: I find this very suspicious...

SweetStuff

@HopHop: You never change ;)

I've already mentioned that an editor group is a great idea. Now that we have it, I'm hoping to get a lot more wonderful stories :D (As you might guess, I don't have Grace's patience)

Sadly, I at this time I can't help in with edit (as much as I want to :( ) Exams are crazy and I'm having some family issues :/

LightSparkle

@RRBB, @Twist: I think that it's only normal for me to join the editor group. My understanding of linguistics and syntax, not to mention my vast literary knowledge, would be a huge benefit to aspiring young authors.

Besides, I am fully versed (as you know) with everything MC related...with the possible exception of the griffin variant.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: No!

RRBB

@RRBB: But, but... Why?!?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Just how many stories did you end up curating, Princess? :/

RRBB

Heh heh... funny thing, that O:)

Alright, I see your point.

DarkSparkle

Thus Equestria was saved... or at least the sanity of the site and all potential writers.

TheRealLuna

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Convention Planning

@All: It's the moment you have all been waiting for! In two months we'll be having our very first Midnight Castle Convention (which will take place in the beautiful capital of the Crystal Empire!)

This is a huge thing since it will be supported by both Canterlot Palace (special thanks to @Luna and @number1) and the Crystal Royal family! (Yay, Cadence!) I don't want to raise any expectations, but this looks like it will be enormous! :)

One thing, though. Since this will be (far more) official, everypony will have to register to attend. Not to worry, though, for thanks to generous sponsorships entry tickets will be free. Accommodations, sadly, will have to be paid. Fortunately, during your registration you can freely book a room at the selected hotels and will get a (substantial?) discount :)

On a personal note, who of you think will make it?

LyraHands

Definitely! I'll drag my boyfriend if I have to! ... @InItForTheShipping: can I drag my boyfriend?

LightSparkle

Oh, definitely! :) And I'll bring Spike and TrueSparkle with me! If anyone in Ponyville is going, PM me! I'll be reserving an entire train for us :)

DarkSparkle

The Wonderbolts will be there! :) @CEOWitch, @AwesomePony, @2ndHalf, @Lurkling, @number1, right?

Fleetfoot

*gasp* Not even cake?!

PPI

@LightSparkle: Why do you put me in such a position? :/ Fine, bring him along. Just don't be reckless, okay?

@all: don't worry about food! @Luna and myself gave sorted out. Just a personal request, please don't bring any homemade food in the convention halls (@PPI). Eating it outside perfectly fine :) Also, indicate on your registration if you have any special dietary needs (or allergies).

InItForTheShipping

I might actually make it this time.

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: That's wonderful! I finally get to meet my other half :) So curious who you'll be. I have my suspicions, of course :)

Luna

Come to think of it there will be a lot of new faces this time round. :) Not to mention some regulars who'll appear for the first time: TheRealLuna, LightSparkle, Simile, InItForTheShipping (for some :))

RRBB

I'll be going.

Brush

@Brush: That's so great! Was hoping you would. Want to meet up this afternoon? :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Not before you finish work :P

DaBoss

@LyraHands: Not after dark. ;)

Bob

*giggle* I've missed your silliness :) Afternoon is fine. Just pass by the cottage.

Brush

I'll be going. Once more with my sister :/ I've no idea what gave her that impression, but she seems to think I'm obsessed with stallions and need protection not to do "anything rash" :/

Come on! I used to go to school trips to Canterlot all the time! Hay, I even went to the Everfree forest on my own. But no! The moment she hears ForceFeedback will be with me it's always "Let's spend some sisterly time together" or "it's been a while since I visited x". :(

tl;dr: I'll be going with my sis again.

SweetStuff

@DarkSparkle: can you convince my sister to let me go? She's busy with the farm again and doesn't want to let me :( And my brother can't make it.

@SweetStuff: I hear ya. I used to think that when we got older we'd get to do what we wanted. Instead, our sisters are freaking out like a hen before dawn :(

WaterBottle

I'll be going a few days earlier. (Saving up for a fancy date in the Crystal Empire ;))

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: And they say chivalry is dead. :P @Short&Hoofy: want to go out somewhere today?

RRBB

@YouKnowWho: Aww! That so cute! <3 Let me know how it goes! :))

SweetStuff

Err... I'd like to go, but bits are an issue. Sorry for asking for help each time, but bits are tight :( Is it okay if I share a room with somepony?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: you can stay at my place. Is too big for me and Short anyway. Do you have a way of getting there?

RRBB

@RRBB: Thanks! :))) *hugs* I'll find a way to get there. I hope. I'll ru to make it up to you somehow... though not sure what I could offer :( You're already a curator and editor on the site, and your real life is looking up.

PrinceEric

I shall attend. I just need to coordinate things so Candle and I get a few days off. Not impossible, but might require some planning.

The TechNightling

@Luna, @LyraHands: out of curiosity, how many participants are expected? If it's going to be official with sponsors and PR and everything, I'd expect there would be a significant crowd. How much are we talking? Hundreds?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Considering that Everhere is incredibly popular in the Empire (more than Daring Do) I'd say it's possible to reach the lower thousands. ;) Keep in mind that the capital is a huge city and for most it's less than half an hour trot to get to the palace (a.k.a. convention hall).

Realistically, I'd say around 2-3 thousand.

@all: We're also thinking of a merchant section, but for now that's on hold. The issue is mostly that the event is aimed to be family friendly, and as we all known large amounts of art and commissions are a bit suggestive. Still, we'll figure something out with @Luna :).

InItForTheShipping

I don't know how you knew I'd be going, but you were right. :) I'm so looking forward to this. Thousands of ponies at the same place... it will be incredible :)

Simile

@Simile: Don't do anything stupid, okay? :/

InItForTheShipping

If anypony could lend me a club or hammer for my trip to the Empire I'd be thankful. Let's say that I'll owe you one later.

Grumpy

@Grumpy: Not ominous at all... :/

RRBB

Nothing ominous about it. I'll just smash me some crystal pegasus. Nothing to be worried about...

Grumpy

Ooookay, that's enough discussion for one day. I'll put a link to the event on the front page.just follow the instructions, and if there's anything unclear just @ me, Luna, or InItForTheShipping. :)

We're making it happen, Nightlings! :) If only there weren't two months to wait and panic... :P

LyraHands

Did you really have to lick the thread? :/

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Hush! I announce tomorrow! :P

CodeFilly

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Issues with Relatives

Which one of you was it? With the stuff that happened I hoped I could at least trust you. Guess I'm the idiot now, huh? Everything was going just fine, but someone just had to butt in.

I'm as pissed as hell and right now I want to know who caused this. So fess up!

LightSparkle

What happened?

DarkSparkle

Someone told my mom it was a good idea to visit me for the holidays. I got the letter five minutes ago!

"Sunshine, great news! I've arranged to have a week off from my usual work so I can come visit you. No need to share a flat, I'll get a room at a hotel."

Rip me. :/ InItForTheShipping, was it your great idea? I told you I'd consider visiting her after the convention? Did you want to make my life miserable?!

LightSparkle

Light, calm down. I didn't suggest anything of the sort. In fact, I made it abundantly clear that I don't want to discuss you with her. I get it that my words might have driven her to react, but our talk was months ago.

InItForTheShipping

Well it's not like she just decided on her own! She's been avoiding me for years. To announce she's coming to visit out of the blue is very much unlike her. Something must have happened.

DarkSparkle, did you slip again? I warned you to be careful what you say in front of her. Where I'm concerned she's not the person you think you know.

LightSparkle

Huh? I'm completely lost. What, where, who?

DarkSparkle

My mother! Do you want me to spell it out for you? I don't want her to see the life I'm leading! Writing scandalous stuff every now and again is one thing, but her actually seeing me... I don't want to deal with that right now. There's no way it will end well.

LightSparkle

Hold on! Your mother is going to visit you there? Really? That's the first time I've heard of this! I need to go check at once. There must be some miscommunication or something. She can't go see you. She's not ready. You're not ready!

Stars, this will be a total disaster!

DarkSparkle

Thanks for the vote of confidence :/

You got that right about the disaster. I mean what the hell am I going to do with her? For one thing it sure how she'll react to my boyfriend and there's not enough time for me to finding a "replacement" for her visit. And I don't want her talking to anyone at my university. Heck, I don't want her talking to anyone in my life!

Thanks for nothing, girls :/

LightSparkle

Light, will you cool it? Nopony said anything to your mother. Can't it be that she decided to visit on her own? I think it's a good thing, just as I think you can have a great time together. Let her be the tourist for once ;)

InItForTheShipping

Girls, what's going on? DarkSparkle is hyperventilating in the next room. Unless you sent her some really explicit taur art, I'm a bit worried.

TrueSparkle

Everything is fine. Light is making it a big fuss over nothing. Her mother's visiting sometime soon, and Light doesn't want to make a bad impression. (And is taking out on us.)

InItForTheShipping

Sure, you can talk like that now that you have a husband and kid. I'm not that lucky yet. Actually, I don't think I'm ready for a serious commitment. Maybe after I graduate, but not now.

The point is I need you to convince her not to go.

LightSparkle

Are you crazy?!? No way I'm telling her that!

DarkSparkle

Light, you give so much good advice on the site. Can't you apply some of that advice to your situation? I mean, yeah family visits and stuff can be a hassle, but think of it this way: they *yay* then they're over. Plus, I can't believe you don't want to see her. Whatever the circumstances she's your mother.

TrueSparkle

A mother that sent me away when I wasn't performing as well as expected. :/ I know, exactly gone through a bad experience, so you can understand what I'm getting at.

I was hoping to spend the time unwinding after exams: partying, drinking, going about with my bf, that sort of thing. Instead I have to entertain my mother, probably buy a new set of clothes, clean my place... I really would have preferred if she didn't see exactly what I was doing.

LightSparkle

Well, if it's any consolation, I didn't tell her. It's not that I'm close to he or anything. If it wasn't for Dark I'd probably never know.

TrueSparkle

Hold a moment. Someone's at the door.

LightSparkle

Have you noticed how many ponies on the forum have personal issues? Personally I'm a bit surprised. I would never have expected that some are dealing with so much.

InItForTheShipping

It's normal l when you think about it. Ponies with rich social lives and o issues are more likely to spend their time in the real world, not discuss things daily on a site. Because of its unique nature, thanks to the Lyra and the initial members, the site satisfies a need that ponies have, thus making them spend more time here.

As you've noticed it's those that have the most problems (stress from work is also considered a problem in today's modern society). Of course, the site represents the cure to the problem, at least in part. Thus, coming here from time to time is actually a positive thing, as long as nopony overdoes it.

I highly recommend Chaussure's study in basic desires. A fascinating read, really.

DarkSparkle

Dark, you really need to find a coltfriend...

InItForTheShipping

S hit! :/

LightSparkle

? What happened? Is everything okay?

DarkSparkle

My crazy aunt dropped in on a surprise visit and wants us to "hit the clubs" tonight.

LightSparkle

Hello, funny site ponies! Woohoo! I'm going partying!

LightSparkle

Gtg ttyl.

LightSparkle

That sounded painful :( Poor Light.

Also, Dark just fainted.

TrueSparkle

Of course she did. Well, nothing we can do. I must go take care of my filly. This definitely was an interesting PM chain.

Enjoy the evening, True. It might be best if we speak nothing of this to anypony.

InItForTheShipping

Already ahead of you. ;) See you soon :D

TrueSparkle

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Aunt Issues

@all: I won't be curating for the next few days, possibly a week or two. Sorry, girls, but due to circumstances beyond my control and comprehension (I.e. keeping my aunt out of trouble) I'll have to focus on real life a bit.

For those of you curious what's going on here are the cliff notes:

1 My aunt came to my place with the intent to go partying.
2 After an hour of discussions I failed to convince her otherwise and we went to a nightclub.
3 My aunt got drunk and started dancing on the tables (I didn't need to see that image).
4 We got arrested for breaking a table and causing some other damages.
5 My aunt flirted with the officer who arrested us.
6 As a result of said flirting we didn't get arrested (we were let go with a warning, which is to say I got the warning and my aunt kept singing for the back of the police car the whole time)
7 Despite everything my aunt woke up before me and didn't have any hangover whatsoever
8 I'm p1ssed, tired, angry, and if anyone makes this into a fic, I'll find you and banish you to the moon!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I can sort of empathize. My father came to see me again today :/ He said he just came to bring me some Canterlot eclairs, but the real reason was to get me to talk to my mother again. (Which isn't happening, so he can forget it.) Why can't he understand that it's over? I mean it's not me who left!

Anyway, rant over. Sorry to hear that your plans got messed up. I remember you saying you had things set up for your vacation. Isn't there anypony who could help out? If she only wants to party, I don't think it would matter it you or somepony else keeps an eye on her.

LyraHands

@LightSparkle: Hey, I can come help. Been out of inspiration for the last few days anyway, so this might help me break the writer's block. Just one thing: food is on you! :P

Simile

Really? You're a lifesaver! Just keep in mind if she gets too weird give me a call, okay? I've never seen her in such a light. All this time I thought her to be pedantic and slightly scary. Shows how much I know. :/

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Not to change the subject or anything (because Tech just loves when we discuss real life drama), but is your aunt even remotely aware of MC? I know it's a weird thing to ask, but I'm just curious.

RRBB

RRBB: And the award for most insensitive goes to RRBB. A grumpy dragon rock took second place.

PaintDrop

@LightSparkle, @RRBB: If she is who I think she is, then the answer is yes. And I'm not surprise she went there to relax. It's not like she could be seen behaving in such a way back home. Last time she did the press had a field day.

Brush

What?!

DarkSparkle

What!?

TrueSparkle

What!!!

TheRealLuna

What the hell?! @Brush: why didn't tell me sooner?! Actually p, why am I hearing about this just now? Does my whole family have an account on the site?

LightSparkle

Well, Mentioned it to her when I was taking care of her kitten, then she got curious and read a few books and found them amusing. We haven't spoken about this too much afterwards. She'd occasionally mention something about Icelos being cute (and Danny being infantile) but she never said she read any of my fanfics. I'm not even sure she has an account on the site.

Brush

Just what I need. :/ Did I tell you that my mother (who is probably reading this right now) has an account on the site? Thank the stars she hasn't attempted to discuss fics with me in her attempts to get us to bond back together.

I miss the days when we just made fun of each other.

LightSparkle

Don't forget the shipping.

RRBB

@RRBB: With you involved, I don't think there's ever such a danger.

@LightSparkle: Need any help? I could be there in a few hours. (Just finished an exam, and I won't be seeing Max till tonight.)

Jade

Jade, I think Max has gone through enough emotions to worry about this as well. Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll be fine. Simile's here, as well as my college friends.

LightSparkle

Actually, I can so see Max getting paranoid and jealous over you and Jade. Come to think of it, has Jade seen you at all?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I haven't, but we've talked a lot (and Max knows about it). I don't think this will be a big issue, but if you two insist I'll stay out of it.

Jade

Inb4 we learn that Light is some dazzling beauty with hundreds of fancolts. :P

RRBB

@RRBB: I'm a firemane, so make of that what you will ;)

LightSparkle

Send photos! ... for academic purposes.

RRBB

RRBB: I can't tell if you're high right now or just a jerk. :/ Short left home to be with you and you ask Light for her pics? What's wrong with you?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: He's it's just in good fun. @Short&Hoofy knows I'd never let go of my little fluffy. :)

RRBB

"Little Fluffy"? That's so sweet <3 Why doesn't anypony give me such a sweet nickname :(

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Because your real name is already too sweet? :)

@PaintDrop, @DarkSparkle: it's fine. I'm okay with pictures of me. I'm fact I'll post one now.

(@all: don't do what I'm about to! I have taken necessary measures, okay?)

[CSGU0374537.ap]

That's a young version of me.

LightSparkle

Omg! That's you?! Why didn't you tell me! Things make so much more sense now! (Max will go crazy when she sees that. :P)

Also, you set my books on water once, didn't you? My parents were so angry that I had a fountain in my saddlebag. :P

LyraHands

@LightSparkle: You're hot! Like really hot. How come you don't have a coltfriend yet?

RRBB

Great :/ Sure, post pictures of yourself. No way this could go badly. Nope. And it isn't like your mother is a member of the site (as you pointed out!).

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Breathe or you'll faint again. :)

Anyway, if you've done drooling over an old pic of me, I'll be going to see what my aunt is up to :/ @Simile, phone me when you get here.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I am here... and I think I found your aunt. Oh, mare... I didn't expect this.

Simile

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Sunlight Chapters

Hello, everyone!

Please don't get overly excited, but there's a chance I might have found five of the six Sunlight Chapters (in my hometown of all places). I was visiting my mother, when I decided to go through town and reminisce a bit. After a stroll I happened to see that my favourite bookshop was still in business after all this time, so I stepped inside.

The main display was fill with the usual pony fiction you'd find anywhere, but in the back there was a section for old scrolls and books. Personally, I didn't think I'd find anything of use there, but had a go anyway. Imagine my surprise when I found Eye of the Winds (Sunlight Chapter vol 2) and in quite good condition. I won't lie, it was rather more expensive than I would have been prepared to pay, but well within my means, so I went on searching. An hour later, and thanks to the rather energetic sales assistant, I managed to find the following:

Feather of the Prince - Sunlight Chapter vol 1
Eye of the Winds - Sunlight Chapter vol 2
The Talon Shard - Sunlight Chapter vol 4
Flames of Zephyr- Sunlight Chapter vol 5
The Dialup Scepter- Sunlight Chapter vol 6

As you can see we have nearly the entire set, with the exception of volume 3 (The Mirror Smile). I'll continue to look for that, but if any of you manage to find it sooner, let me know.

@Luna: Can I have permission to make copies and share them, or will you be doing a reprint at some point?

The TechNightling

I love you! If I weren't married I'd marry you! How in Equestria did you manage to find those? I had lost all hope we'd ever see them. Are they any good? I mean, of course I'll read them, but please hint what am I to expect. :)

LyraHands

I was so sure I had copies in the library. I mean there should have been! If not here the Canterlot Royal Library should have had some! I'm really annoyed about this! :/

Oh, not at you, Tech! I think it's great that you managed to find them, but it shouldn't have been as difficult for any of us. This isn't a Starswirl scroll, there should have been plenary around!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I think you forgot the space saving scandal? A lot of libraries boxed up "low importance" books and scrolls to make room for more substantial works. A number of things went missing and had to be found using alternative means. Some never were. Keeping in mind that the coltfiction (especially poorly written ones) never were of huge importance, I doubt there are any.

CodeFilly

@The TechNightling: Go ahead :) We'll actually be curious to see those. As it turns out we don't have any copies either...

Luna

Most awkward night ever... :/

What has my life become? My crazy Aunt seems to like it here and Simile is starstruck >:

I'm tempted to start a long rant, but if I do I'll never stop, and I'll probably regret half the things I'd say anyway.

LightSparkle

@LyraHands: They are, for lack of better word, an acquired taste. That is to say, I doubt that any casual reader would enjoy them. You can tell that the writing style is a bit rough and pandering far too much to Griffins (in the worst possible way). For example, in the fourth volume we have the pony sidekicks replaced by a male griffin called. He literally appears and tells Danny and says "The ponies had things to do in Canterlot, so I'm here to help you instead."

So, in terms of overall writing and structure I'd say it's a bit iffy. On the other hoof, the world building is phenomenal. There are far more sky adventures, cloud castles, and even a Tirek battle (I think. The centaur is never named.) If nothing else, they are a great source of inspiration and, hopefully, will be used by writers to make more original stories.

The TechNightling

Tech, my darling, I honestly hope that's the case, but I have my doubts. After you share the stories I expect a few writers to test the waters, then a rush of copy plaster will follow ultimately making little difference.

Apologies for my harsh words, my beautiful, but work has been piling up and the alarming amount of suggestive stories has done little to help me relax. Honestly, I'd never my children come close to anything of the sort (and I don't have foals yet!)

Please, please, please try to focus on substance than form.

Grace

@The TechNightling: That bad, huh? I'll read them anyway :) (I read Blueblood's published work yesterday and... sorry, Bellucio, but it's so bad! I reread it twice and Bob had to slap me in the muzzle to get me to stop laughing! :))

LyraHands

@LyraHands, @The TechNightling: Can I review them, can I? It will be a while before the next chapter of Chosen is out, and months before MCE 14.

I really could use something to take my mind off things. I mean there's nothing bad going on, but I like to keep my mind occupied because I get to thing about bad things when I'm not and prefer not to end up in such a situation.

PrinceEric

I think I can find volume 3. I'll need to convince a friend, though.

Brush

@Brush: Go for it!

@PrinceEric: You too! :) I always enjoy your summaries/reviews :) A pity nopony else kept on doing that on a regular basis. :( Shows that you are more reliable than any of us!

LyraHands

Hey, all. I'm new and only here because a friend kept going on and on about this place. :P

Interesting coincidence you're discussing the Sunlight Chapters. My grandmother used to read the, to me when I was young. (Don't ask. My family never distinguished between types of scrolls. If it was cheap it was good.)

Anyway, great to be here :)

GriffinGirlfriend

@GriffinGirlfriend: Welcome! I think I can guess who brought you here ;) And I like to thank both her and you (for joining the Nightlings). It's a fun place so I'm sure you'll have a blast :)

Be sure to read the rules and poke us if you have any questions :D

LyraHands

Will do.

GriffinGirlfriend

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Brush's Date PMs

Hey.

Do you want to go out for dinner? I'm buying.

Brush

This is very untypical of you. Did something happen? Are you alright?

CEOWitch

Lots of things happened, most of them bad, but I decided, for once, to not let them influence my present. Sorry for not writing earlier. I needed some time to think. There's nothing like your ex (heh... I still can't get used to calling Mota that) telling you he's found someone new but wants to be friends. Looking back on my life there were so many stupid things I was afraid of. It's almost funny thinking about it now. Dancing, singing up public, going out... I've decided no more. I don't care if it's awkward, I'm asking you on a date!

Please say yes. :)

Brush

Okay. Do you want me to swoon and faint? I guess I can do that ;)

CEOWitch

Oh, please don't do a Rarity on me. :/ Its enough that my brother behaves like that all the time :P

But seriously, I am inviting you out and will try to be the mare for once. That means I'll pay for everything, lend you a wing as you land, and all the little things. Hopefully, I won't mess things up too much.

Brush

That sweet, but you don't have to do it all just for me. While the change you've gone through is nice, don't force it. I like you for you. And don't expect me to be the fragile stallion, that's Blueblood's thing. I can tell you stories...and probably after a few drinks I will :) Of course, he'll kill me afterwards, but hey, so what? ;)

CEOWitch

I thought you weren't allowed to drink. O.o

Brush

In general I'm not allowed to drink on duty, and it's preferable I limit my drinking as a while, but since I'm still on leave (Firefly extended it again. :/) I might as well have a glass in good company. And trust me it's much better that stallion's night out. Blueblood is such a mess when he gets drunk. He starts to complain about everything and everypony. Literally no one is safe, even his aunt. It's really a miracle he managed to find himself a marefirnd. (Personally I thought they'd break up after a month. It's been over two years.)

Where are you taking me? I'm pretty much okay with everything, but have lilac allergy. Nothing serious, but if I eat the, I might bet a bit puffy.

CEOWitch

I'd prefer something in Ponyville, if that's okay with you? Earth pony flood is so much better. I'd offer to cook myself, but I'm quite bad at it (as Angel keeps reminding me). I didn't know about the lilacs. I'll be sure to tell the waiter.

Brush

You do that ;)

I know this is the worst thing to ask, but do you want to keep it a secret? Not that there's an us or anything (yet), but I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. You're already doing so many things you'd normally avoid, so I don't want to be difficult.

CEOWitch

You're so sweet :)

It's fine. Don't hide it, but don't publicize it either. If somepony finds out, big deal. Actually, I think I'm more likely to get envious looks than anything. Hopefully not too much.

Brush

Well, you'll get a lot of ridicule from Blueblood for one thing. Be prepared for that. When BlueEyes started dating Twilight, Blueblood would always find a way to appear out of nowhere, make a snarky remark, then vanish once more. At one point I though he had learned teleporting just for that. :)

I can hear him now. "Brush, why did you hook up with that loser. Just look at him: skin and tendons. He doesn't even have enough meat on his ass for a good slap. And that snout. Honestly, was this a pity thing? Cause you can tell me if it's a pity thing. Like I know he's not getting younger, but there's no need to make such a sacrifice just for him."

The he'll start talking about himself and how much better he was, how many hearts he broke, and so on. Between you and me he was the sorriest colt when we were young. He had braces and those thick glasses.

CEOWitch

Omg! No way! That's... Braces? :)

Brush

I swear! Good thing he never had to go to school. He was the living image of a nerd and very sensitive about it (still is). He told me once he had to beg Celestia for years until she agreed to perform a correction-healing spell on him. From what he said it was so exhausting that he had to stay in bed for weeks after that.

I think that's where his mania to be beautiful comes from. Of course, I might be wrong. He's also not as bad as many think. Of course, he still has an extreme personality.

CEOWitch

I think I understand. I hope he's over it now. I can only imagine what would have happened if he had met DarkSparkle or CodeFilly growing up. :)

Brush

Absolutely nothing, they are so not his type. Blueblood has a thing for pegasi. Don't ask me why. I think it might do with him growing up among alicorns. I remember him being a bit annoyed that Shining got Cadence. Also, he seems to fall for Wonderbolts. Both his marefriend and his childhood crush were such.

CEOWitch

Should I be worried?

Brush

Nah. You're too sweet to be his type. He likes them wild (don't tell this to anypony). So what time do you want us to meet? And where?

CEOWitch

I'll go pick you up from your place in Ponyville. Is sunset good for you?

Brush

So romantic... *swoon*

CEOWitch

Actually, I put the animals to sleep at sunset so I really can't manage any earlier.

Brush

Was just pulling your wing. Sunset is fine. I'll preen my wings and be waiting for you.

CEOWitch

It's a date, then. See you later :)

Brush

Sure is.;) Be here soon.

CEOWitch

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Celestia Post

@LightSparkle: Here's a copy of Sunlight Chapter 3, as well as the unpublished chapter 7 - Griffin Brothers. It was supposed to be part of the second arc, but due to poor sales never made it to the printing press.

Have fun with it :)

Celestia

Princess Celestia?! I never knew you were into the serious! I mean, I suspected, of course. You've always had a good taste of literature and after so many thousands of years you've probably read everything there is. Heh heh heh '^^

Can I just ask what you think of Midnight Castle? In your view is it better than the Chronicles? Oh, and do you think Everhere is too different or is a natural progression?

I still can't believe you've been on the site all this time. Please don't be disappointed with my stories. They were just literary experiments. I find mythology fascinating and centaurs are fascinating creatures (even if Tirek nearly destroyed Equestria). I mean you've taught me that there there is good in anything so there have to be good centaurs, right?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Get a grip, will you?! :/

@Celestia: Mom, did you have to embarrass me like that? And just so you know Auntie has been hitting the clubs here (and made herself a fan in the process).

LightSparkle

Pfft! I knew I should have taken that name when I had the chance. Serves me right for being slow. (First rule of business - be first). Of course now all the good names are taken (there even are five Discords).

Still, many thanks for finding the missing volumes. I just hope they aren't hoaxes or more fan fiction :P

RRBB

@RRBB: you know that Blueblood is reading this, right? ... of course you do. This is probably your attempt to get him to notice and plug Short's work again, right? :P I must say I never suspected how surprisingly sweet you could be if you set your mind to it.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: It's easy when my gf is as fluffy as a bunny :) Oh, I just must share this! Yesterday, when I came back from therapy I found her asleep with Pixel. She had fallen off the bed and Pixel was on her head chewing her ear. It was so cute I went d'awww right away. (Many photos were made :))

But that's not all! After a while Pixel gets tired, curls up on her and yawns. Almost simultaneously Short yawns as well, then goes back to sleep.

@MixaMax, you still pouting? Come on, join in the chat.

RRBB

@Celestia: Are you really the princess? :)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: I'd say that's rather unlikely :) Love the touch of humor, though. It's not that she the Princess wouldn't, but there's simply not enough time in the day for her to. Like I barely have time to join in here during breaks and I don't do nearly as much.

Fleetfoot

Can confirm. her Highness is extremely busy. Would be nice if she were here, though.

Sgt Pepper

Interesting. I can't trace the connections, which technically means it could be her highness. After all, it wouldn't be the first princess to be here semi-incognito :P

MightyDragon

Well, if you ask me it's her and I'm so happy she's here!

@Celestia: Heeeey, Princess! I promise I'll finish my magic thesis by the end of the month! :)

HopHop

@HopHop: I totally forgot! I need to start revising that! And I don't even have an excuse! :( But also Sunlight Chapters... oooh the temptation! I cannot resist it!

Okay, on a serious note. I might have to take a short break from here to focus on my studies again. Hopefully, I get this over with fast and earn my treasured diploma. After that I just need to have my graduation concert at the Conservatory and am set. (Two PhDs and probably will still be working part time at the post office :P)

LyraHands

@RRBB: I'm here, just didn't have anything to say. Yeah, yeah, I know. Blame me that I get the feels. I saw InItForTheShipping so I know what you and my sister have going on is the real thing, but... I don't know it just seems too soon. Not that's it's a bad thing, just... Anyway, ignore me. I'll be coming back to Ponyville next week, so please clean the place, will you? Also... come back home.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I've been keeping it clean and thou, don't worry, and I will when you get here. (You still haven't learned to cook.)

Short&Hoofy

That buuuurn! XD

Feather

She's right, though. I can't cook to save my life. If it wasn't for fast food and my sis I'd be done for. Also Jade actually cooks well. I even caught him and Short exchanging recipes.

MixaMax

@Celestia: I am extremely thankful to you for finding and sharing those. I didn't even know about the unpublished chapter until I read the teaser at the end of Chapter 6.

Incidentally, we joined the site on the same day and (by the looks of it) are approximately the same age. (And with mouthy children.) I hope you post more. It's always a pleasure finding somepony who enjoys the original series.

Take care,

The TechNightling

My pleasure. And she is mouthy :)

Celestia

@MixaMax: At least you have adequate table manners. I've no idea how you managed to impress my parents so much, by the way. Listening to them, one would think you're the Crystal Princess herself.

Jade

@DarkSparkle: Did you faint again?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: she sure did. Hyperventilation, panicking, the whole nine yards. I'm starting to worry it's becoming more and more frequent. I think I'll drag her to the hospital just in case.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: she's either pregnant or underslept. Knowing her, probably the second.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Do you know anything? Did it happen when she was with you? Because I never noticed anything of the sort. Oh my stars! :) I've never even seen her in a relationship. Well, except that one time.

@TrueSparkle: Tell me more when you know something!

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Err, that was a joke, thako. I'm sure someone would have known if that were the case. Although... great, now you got me questioning things! I blame LightSparkle!

MightyDragon

*giggle*

@LightSparkle: Now I see why you hang out here :)

Celestia

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Brush Back Again

OMG! I can’t believe it! I know I should be studying, but this is so much wow!

My Human and I got an update! @Brush, I love you forever! :) And it’s so good! I had to keep my face in a pillow so as not to get Bob to hear me cry (then I saw she was crying as well, the traitor!). It’s so sad, but so good. I still hope this isn’t a real breakup and they get back together.

When will the next one be up? I know I’m terrible, but I really love that story. O :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: you love too many stories :P I’ll try doing a story every two weeks. Also, I’ve finally decided on ending. It’s been a long time coming and with everything else, I think now is the right time I finished it and focused on something new.

That also means that all my other unfinished stories are likely to remain unfinished :( Sorry

Brush

@Brush: I know what you mean. I think I’ll be stopping writing for a while. For one thing I’ll need a lot of practice to reach your level, and I’m having too much fun editing for Squishy :D . Of course, knowing you (or at least I think I do) I can see you starting something new, if you haven’t already.

Spill! What’s it about? :D

RRBB

@RRBB: Please. Anypony could tell you that. And I bet Brush won’t share any details and yet it will be an adventure romance, possibly in Equestria. I think it will involve lots of intrigue, betrayal, and heartbreak.

@Brush: Also, I can tell from now that they will end up separated, but forgive each other and remain friends. Am I right?

MixaMax

Spoilers!

Grace

@LyraHands: I wasn’t crying! I was peeling onions!

But yes, it was good stuff :) Brush, I’ll join the chorus of ponies saying you’re a goddess of writing. I mean a lot of others are, but this last chapter… Wow! I can feel the emotion. You’ve grown so much. (I’m only sorry it had to be so traumatic. My offer still stands, by the way.)

Bob

@RRBB: Did you just call Short “Squishy”? (heart) So cuuute! :)

SweetStuff

I wasn’t going to say anything about that, but… It sounds silly.

MixaMax

@Short&Hoofy: Don’t listen to her. She’s just jealous. The nicknames she comes up with for me are as bad as her writing :/ I never thought I’d actually be glad to have a common name such as Jade, but seeing how your sister can massacre language I can’t thank my parents enough.

Jade

@Brush: Need any art? Also, I hope you don’t think I’m mad at you or anything. I was a bit upset with what happened, but you know I’d never blame you. All I can say is I’m just glad things have gotten better on both sides.

Looking forward for your next chapters :)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Thank you. It means a lot. :)

@LyraHands, @Jade, @Bob, @MixaMax, @DarkSparkle, @RRBB, @LightSparkle: It’ll be a voyage of discovery actually. @AwesomePony was kind enough to let me write a spinoff of her DDD. All I can say is it will be a bit different. I’ll take her magnificent world and focus on one character-his childhood, his growth, his journey beyond the edge of that world. I have a few things planned out. I just need to get serious about it and stop delaying :D

Brush

Umm, I don’t know why you’re keeping quiet, but you’ll also have a book release soon. :) I found out by accident as I passed by one of the bookstores to work.
The Sandpony’s Voyage – a YA adventure novel. From what I read it sounds really interesting, and knowing how well you write I’ll be the first to buy it once it’s available… TOMORROW! :)

Candle

Huh?!?

@Brush!!! Why didn’t you say anything! We should celebrate! Like, with the exception of Bellucio snicker I don’t think anypony here has had anything published. This is really big news! I’ve no idea why you’re keeping it quiet, but you shouldn’t!

I’ll get my dad to order a batch and I can resell them here (price should be the same since he’ll buy bulk).

[edit] I’m dumb :( Sorry, Brush. I was so excited by the news that it completely slipped my mind.

RRBB

@RRBB, @Candle: Yes, it’s something I’d prefer not to get too involved in right now. Thanks for the encouragement, though. :)

Brush

@RRBB: Count me in! I want one! O :)

LyraHands

@Brush: Congratulations! I think both things are a huge achievement! Most of all I’m glad you’re feeling better. Life sometimes finds a way to kick you in the muzzle, but the main point is to go on. Almost always, there’ll be a kiss that follows ;)

I’ll be visiting Canterlot in a few days, so if you’re okay I’d like to see you. Is that okay?

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: I’ll try to make it. There's something I'd like to talk to you about as well.

Brush

@Brush: If you're think of doing what I'm thinking you're thinking let me know! :)))

MixaMax

Oooooh :)))

RRBB

Why do I feel out of the loop? Sorry I can't join in with the congrats (way to go, Brush) but my aunt is driving me crazy! Correction, my aunt AND Simile. At this point I can't wait for my mother to arrive only if to kick them out of here! (No, @Celestia, that isn't an invitation. Your mouthy daughter would prefer to get some rest and relaxation on her own!)

@InItForTheShipping, @DarkSparkle: Any chance you could send a copy my way? Actually, send ten. I want to give them to a few close friends, and my bf (seeing him keep his calm with Auntie around has earned him five points of respect).

LightSparkle

... I won't even bother saying anything:/

TheRealLuna

@LightSparkle: It's one of those things that you'll know when you know :) And thanks for the support.

Brush

InItForTheShipping and LightSparkle's aunt are the best!

Simile

I rest my case...

LightSparkle

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Space Molly

Omg! I mean... who the heck is @Quarters?! I finally started reading Space Molly and was like wtb! I get the whole space travel thing, and the starships are cool (for one I'd like to sail through the stars with a certain somepony :P), but it's so weird!

Why didn't anypony tell me this existed?! It's like getting drunk on Pinkie Pie thoughts. The stars are actually "star ponies" (a.k.a. Alicorns) who are constantly singing to talk to each other? The moons are starponies who feel sad?! (Although that would explain so much about Princess Luna). And don't get me started on Starspark—the falling star that went to play near Earth, but then got lost until he was found by Molly and joined as her navigator as they explored the stars.

The weirdest (and best) thing so far is that all of the action (so far) takes place on the ship. There's no Earth, no Equestria (both are mentioned), just the ship and an occasional asteroid (or Emissary of the Gods). I honestly can't decide if it's an adventure, a romance or a comedy!

When met the star lovers (two alicorns galloping around each other, singing a courtship sound, then entering a supernova so new starfoals could be born) I completely lost it! :D

Who are you @Quarters?!? :)

RRBB

@RRBB: You only found that now? Some curator you are :P Light told me weeks ago. We actually created a small group discussing it. :)

You also forgot the thing about radio transmissions tickling starponies, especially Spark :) Not to mention that his star is constantly trailing the ship.

TrueSparkle

Right! The radio tickles!

"Warn me about these things!" Starspark pouted as he glared as the radio transmitter on deck. "I'm ticklish and it's rude to giggle in front of others."

Best line ever! And you could have told me about the group! Traitors! @MixaMax: Did you know about this?

RRBB

@RRBB: Actually, I happen to be a member before True. I'd have thought "Squishy" would have told you. Not that you ever listen.

And yes, it's one of the good ones. Almost as good as Jade and Brush, and the worldbuilding is on par with DDD. It's clear that the story had a professional editor. I'm trained to recognized professional standards and this open has them. I don't mean to say that the editors here are lacking or anything, but there's an unmistakable "monotony" of style that only a veteran professional has acquired. If that's true this would make the first time someone has hired a pro for a fanfic on this site. Or the first I know of.

MixaMax

I loved that one :) And I didn't know about that group either. Not sure I'd want to joking, though. Hubby is already grumpy I'm doing too much geeky stuff to have time for him. (Or was it "I'm doing too much geeky stuff without him"...)

What the hay! Send me a link in PM :)

InItForTheShipping

The writing style seems familiar...

2ndHalf

Whoever it is, they have a basic understanding of celestial bodies and flight. I'd almost say it's written by a pegasus if it wasn't for the minor wing inconsistencies here and there.

Still, it's refreshing to see something sweet and lighthearted even if it's tagged as an adventure. Keep it up, @Quarters!

CEOWitch

Okay, this my aunt has finally left. Now I have half a day to clean up the place before my mom arrives (yay me:/), and that includes getting a hungover Simile into shape. I'm so tempted to kick her in the ass, but she did manage to provide me with some sanity while keeping Auntie away from me...

Anyway, yes, Space Molly is one of those stories that defies explanation. I was the one who approved it (barely) and I can tell I had no idea where it was going until the third chapter. The first time I rejected it and had a long chat with the author (she's very nice, just so you know, so go ahead and give her hugs in PM).

The whole idea of space is so charmingly Equestrian merged with human tech and deities. The only very sad thing is that it's an alternative version of MC. It was written before Loki turned out to be the Everprince, so he's presented as a good guy. Also I like how Gregory (minor background character) was used for the romantic interest. So far I've only seen him in one other story, so that makes it all the more surprising.

As for editing, yes, it has gone through a professional edit. I just hope that the author has a family member who's into editing and didn't have to pay it herself.

LightSparkle

@mods: Can you add group functionality, by the way? I remember there were some discussions about this, do I'm not sure what happened. :/ There's already a group for DDD and Space Molly, so why not make it part of the site?

RRBB

You got it! Shouldn't be too difficult :) Tech has already done the heavy lifting by creating the general functionality. I'll just make it so that users can create a group as well. :)

HopHop

Please note that any abuse will be dealt with accordingly. While I can see the merit of members being able to make their own groups, I won't have anyone making groups for the sake of it, or creating improper groups.

You have been warned!

The TechNightling

Somepony is grumpy today :/

RRBB

@RRBB: Tech is at work with a fever :(

Candle

That bites. :/ I'll shut up now.

RRBB

Yes! Space Molly is so much better that the name gives it credit for. To be honest, I wouldn't have read it if Light and Jade hadn't recommended it to me. Sorry, author, but the name just gives a wrong impression. Once you read a few chapters it makes perfect sense, but before that it's a bit... err...I originally thought it would be a musical drama on earth with changelings. O:)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I won't even ask... no, I will! Why the buck changelings? I get the whole changelings want to be stars, but the title is space, not Star Molly. Have you been sleeping okay? Or is this one if your weird fantasy? Dancing to the stars with changelings, eh? :P

MixaMax

@MixaMax: for your information stars are the first thing that is associated with space so it isn't even a big leap! And don't get me started about weird fantasies, you winglicker!

DarkSparkle

I have no patience for these things today! The thread has been locked!

I'd just like to take the opportunity to thank @Quarters on her magnificent story and assure her that this has nothing to do with her. Space Molly is a magnificent story and it deserves recognition.

The TechNightling

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Paint's Secret PMs

Hey, I need some help. Are you available today?

PaintDrop

Um, sure. What happened? Is everything okay?

Short&Hoofy

It's really complicated. Before I say anything, are you alone? I don't want anypony to learn about this, especially RRBB.

PaintDrop

I'm actually at her place right now waiting for her to get ready for school.

Short&Hoofy

Ah, right. She used to spend almost an hour getting her mane and fur groomed before. With you around I bet it's more. I'm surprised you're not with her now, "Squishy".

PaintDrop

Will you stop that? And no, she doesn't want me to be there when she's getting "beautified". I never knew how much she wanted to impress everypony. Right now she's doing the same to me. It's gotten a bit better, though, but... Anyway, what did you need me for?

Short&Hoofy

Find an excuse to skip class sometime then write to me. And don't let her know, okay?

PaintDrop

That sounds scary. You're never like this. Even when you were upset with her you never kept secrets.

Short&Hoofy

I kept your secret from her, or have you forgotten? I'll be waiting for your PM. Don't talk to me about it at school.

PaintDrop

Okay.

Short&Hoofy

I'm here. I'm not sure she doesn't suspect something. I feel like you'll ask me to do something terribly wrong.

Short&Hoofy

Sort of. Before you freak out it's perfectly safe and nopony will blame you. I want to see someone and need you to cover for me. The story is I dragged you to my special hidden spot and talked to you about stuff. Let's say I've been asking what's been going on between you and RRBB. Say I've been worried if she still has a thing for YouKnowWho.

PaintDrop

Okay?

Short&Hoofy

Just stay there and wait for me for a few hours. That's it. And if anypony ever asks you tell them that story. Not that I think it would happen. Well, other than RRBB. I'll go, do my business, and be back before you know it. If somepony finds you alone while I'm gone, just say that I got upset about my brother and Brush breaking up and went to clear my head. That's all.

PaintDrop

Okay, but what do you need me for? I'll do it of course, but can't you just say you went to think about things? Like the time you ran away?

Short&Hoofy

Like I said, it's really complicated.

Do this for me, please? When you were in trouble I was there for you. You have no idea how many times I wanted to tell RRBB everything, or drag you to her. I didn't. I covered for you, I made your sister shut up, I even calmed things down after the mess was done. Now I'm asking for your help.

PaintDrop

Alright, but... this is sounding a bit scary, Paint. You go off somewhere just like that, ask me to lie about you and don't even tell me why. You've been acting strange ever since you ran away. Everypony's noticed, they just don't want to bring back painful memory so they pretend it's okay.

Short&Hoofy

You think I don't know? That's why I need you to stop speculation that I'm going insane. Yes I've heard that version as well, and I'm not thrilled about it. SweetStuff asked me.

Look, I just want to see my coltfriend and I don't want anypony to see him. I have my reasons for that. Just cover for me. Or don't. Either way make up your mind now so I know.

PaintDrop

I will. I didn't think he was real, to be honest. RRBB is convinced, but I've never seen you with him, and even your not that good at handing.

Short&Hoofy

Well, I have. RRBB knows me better than anypony, so of course she could tell. It's just that... if I tell you something promise it'll remain between us, okay?

PaintDrop

Paint. I promise.

Short&Hoofy

When I ran away, something happened. I'm not comfortable talking about it. I didn't lose my memories except for the last day before they found me. It's sort of linked to my coltfriend. He didn't hurt me, he found me, but it's really better if nopony knows about him.

PaintDrop

Okay, though weren't you the one who told me relationships should be in the open, not hidden?

Short&Hoofy

Aren't you a smart *yay*? I've already said, it's more complicated with him. I don't think anypony is ready. Maybe in a few years they would be, or maybe they never will. I just know I really want to see him, and I'm tired of having ten minute talks constantly looking over my shoulder. With you, at least I know nopony will freak out.

PaintDrop

I don't understand any of this, but okay. I hope you know what you're doing.

Short&Hoofy

I do.

PaintDrop

Can you tell me anything about him? What's he like?

Short&Hoofy

You've been hanging round RRBB too long. :/

PaintDrop

Well, excuse me for being a teen surrounded by ponies who discuss this every day. Oh, and let's not forget the EqF site which has become shipping central!

Short&Hoofy

He's sweet and sensitive, like I'm the dark romance poems. The stallion sitting by the lake, gazing at the moonlight, often crying, seeking love... that's him. It's sort of strange. When I, with him we rarely say anything, just sit text to each other share a few words. I've never seen him smile so far, but I don't have to. I know what he feels, and he knows how I feel. Sometimes we remain silent for almost an hour and then he suddenly kisses me. The first time my entire mane stood on edge. Sometimes I'd just let him lean on me and pass my hood through his mane.

PaintDrop

You kissed?!

Short&Hoofy

Don't you dare say a word, Squishy! RRBB was quite descriptive with your "encounters".

PaintDrop

No, it's just... sorry, but I can't imagine you in that light. You're so...reserved. Not sheltered, but you've never given anypony in class a chance. To have you acting like the heroine in a romance novel is...if I wasn't writing my story I'd write about that. It sounds so... special.

Short&Hoofy

I know. :)

Break is over. I have to get back to class. Wait for me at the bridge. I'll come after the next lesson is over. And thank you.

PaintDrop

I hope you let us meet him one day :)

Short&Hoofy

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Paint's Story PMs

What happened yesterday?

Short&Hoofy

I told you. There's nothing to worry about. I'm perfectly fine.

PaintDrop

Please don't be like that. You're my friend, one of my best friends. I've told you things that I haven't shared with anypony, even RRBB, so don't shut me out.

You weren't fine. You could barely walk, and I know biology well enough to tell that you should be five times stronger than me. You were dizzy, shaking, most of the time you leaned on me as we walked. Don't tell me that's normal.

Short&Hoofy

Silver, please. I won't tell RRBB. I won't tell anypony.

Short&Hoofy

You will. Because you're my friend you will.

PaintDrop

It has something to do with your coltfriend, doesn't it? The time you disappeared, this time... he's doing something to you and you're too stubborn to say anything! I asked nurse Redheart about your condition. She told me that after you arrived at the hospital you were extremely weak. However, at the same time you you weren't hungry or thirsty. You were like that yesterday as well.

Short&Hoofy

Short, you don't know what you're talking about. I was just a bit tired and that coincided with my visit. Maybe I was a bit over anxious. It's not like I see my coltfriend very often. Must I remind you what state you were in when you were crying over RRBB? :/

PaintDrop

Please don't make me do this.

Short&Hoofy

If you tell anypony about this you'll lose me as a friend. I promise you that.

PaintDrop

At least then I'd know you're safe. If something happens to you I'll lose you as a friend anyway and so will everypony else! So, please tell me!

Short&Hoofy

Is it so important that you know? I'm telling you I'm fine.

PaintDrop

It's you're fine it doesn't matter if I tell everypony about it, does it?

Short&Hoofy

I always knew you were strong. You seem soft and squishy but you have the bite of a timberwolf.

PaintDrop

Sometimes the quiet ones really are strong. Please? Is it your coltfriend?

Short&Hoofy

It is. If I tell you it ends there, okay? You'll delete everything we talked about and tell no one, right?

PaintDrop

Unless your health gets worse.

Short&Hoofy

Yes, it's my coltfriend. Maybe I should start by saying he isn't my coltfriend. He's a few years older than me and...he's not a pony at all. He's a changeling.

PaintDrop

That's why you've been so secretive? I mean I know changelings aren't accepted everywhere, but ponies are okay with them now. They come to Ponyville all the time. My sis even told me there might be a few joining school next year.

Short&Hoofy

Don't believe everything you hear. Changelings are far from trusted, but even if they are, Vertex isn't a standard changeling. He's not colorful like Thorax.

PaintDrop

Stars, Silver! Are you crazy?

Short&Hoofy

He's not like Chrysalis! He's nothing like her. He's just...

Look everything I told you about him is true. I just didn't mention a few things, and yes this is a pretty big thing, but I didn't want you to react the way you did. That's why I kept the secret. If others knew they'd capture him, or at the very least stop me from seeing him "for my own good".

He's just a sweet changeling, Short, a really sweet and sensitive changeling. Why can't he be my coltfriend?

When I ran off from home I was so mad at everything I wasn't thinking straight. I had had enough of the love drama going on: you, RRBB, YouKnowWho, Max... everypony seemed to come to me for advice and at one point I snapped. I just wanted to hide somewhere and never see anypony again. So I went to my secret spot, then galloped on, I didn't care about anything, and that's why I came across Vertex. He was just sitting there at the edge of a pond, staring at something in the distance. The moment he heated me glanced at me for one second then jumped into the pond and disappeared.

PaintDrop

That doesn't make it sound any better. :( You know they feed on emotions? Is that what happened to you?

Short&Hoofy

No. Well, yes, but it's different. When I saw him he was, I don't know how to describe it. He was different. I mean he wasn't like Chrysalis' changelings and definitely not like the ones that visit. He was just... something in between, with a long black mane and dark wings.

I waited at the pond for him to come out. When he didn't I started thinking about things. Mostly how everypony around me had found their significant other, but me. It seems absurd now, but I was so bitter about it. Before I know it the moon came up. I sort of got freaked out a bit. It was the first time I had run away from home during the night and. So I was hesitating between heading home and staying the night there, when he came out from the water. We just started at each other for a while, then I offered to watch the moon with him.

I didn't even think it would work. I just didn't want anyone to see me in my pathetic state. He swam out and sat next to me. Then I moved closer.

PaintDrop

You were gone for three days. Everypony was worried something had happened. RRBB was terrified.

Short&Hoofy

I didn't mean to be out that long. I told myself I'd return in the morning. Then when it became morning I said I could spend a few more hours with him, then it became dark again...

He could feel my emotions, you know. And I'm not talking only about love. He could tell I was hungry without asking. He brought me things to eat—fruit, berries, nuts. They were nice. He was always silent. The first few days he didn't say a word. I used him as an emotional bin; I uncorked by bitterness, and anger, and resentment. Not at once, just a few sentences at a time.

On the first day he told me a bit about himself a well. Mostly about the moon, the trees, how he thought of the world. He had just become a guard drone when Chrysalis was chased out, so he felt confused, abandoned. Just like those goth colts in romance stories, only not a batpony. He also told me I tasted nice.

PaintDrop

It would have been better if you had come across a batpony. I'm afraid he's just using you. I've read more than enough romance stories, but I don't believe in the idea of a romantic changeling.

Short&Hoofy

Thorax was at first. Can't Vertex be the same?

Also, he was not the one who made me pass out. I did that. On the third day I knew I should go home. He told me ponies were searching for me (and I knew I'd be in trouble). So I decided to do one final stupid thing before going home. After all, what could one more idiotic thing do? I was in deep trouble anyway.

As I was saying goodbye I kissed him.

PaintDrop

Silver... that's... I know how strongly one must fight to find love, but kissing a changeling, and such a changeling. It's dangerous.

Short&Hoofy

I said it was stupid. It felt like galloping into a stone wall without warning. I felt the warmth draining out of me, and I let it. So terrifying and magnificent at the same time. Next thing I knew I was in hospital.

PaintDrop

...I should be the last person giving advice, but even I know such a relationship can't be good.

Short&Hoofy

I know what I'm doing. Trust me. I was fine yesterday, right? Nothing bad will happen. Of course, convincing others might be a bit difficult. Just look at how much you freaked out, and as you said yourself you understand where I'm coming from. If RRBB or Twilight find out they'll go...I'm not sure there's a word strong enough.

Please let's keep this between us? If at any point my health gets worse or I end up in trouble you can do as you see fit. It's not the ideal solution for me, but it will have to do. Remember I was there when you needed me.

PaintDrop

Alright. Please take care, though. I'll think of something to tell RRBB.

Short&Hoofy

Thanks. I'm off to sleep.

PaintDrop

Night.

Short&Hoofy

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Bunny Madness

Will anypony be seeing Brush today? I tried PMing her, but she didn't respond and I urgently need to speak with her about something.

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: Don't start looking for any sympathy, buddy. >:| Just because you're a stallion is no excuse for playing innocent. What did you expect after you dumped her?

And no, even if I were going to see her I'd make a point not telling her about you!

RRBB

For your information we have settled things between us. The reason I want to talk to her is because her bunny somehow appeared in my dorm and I know how worried she is when any of her animals go missing. Could anypony at least tell her that?

MasterOfThisAstra

Wtb?! Seriously?

RRBB

@MasterOfThisAstra: You can't be serious. I saw Angel before school this morning. Even if he could hop on a train to the Crystal Empire there's no way he would make it on time. Are you sure it's him? White bunnies aren't exactly rare.

PaintDrop

Trust me. I've seen him glare at me long enough to know it's him. And that's why I need to get in touch with Brush.

MasterOfThisAstra

Hold on! You're suggesting that the bunny just popped out of thin air? That's highly unlikely. A teleportation spell of such magnitude is impossible for anypony short of a top level unicorn mage and there are none irresponsible enough to attempt anything of the sort.

@TrueSparkle: Right?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Don't look at me. I'm still with my mother :/ (Yes, Mom, I know you can read this, so maybe you'll stop freaking out my boyfriend? It's difficult enough explaining things to my friends.)

LightSparkle

@DarkSparkle: All I know is that he appeared stuck under a giant hammer. And before you ask I have no idea where that came from either,

Don't worry, he's okay. My girlfriend thought he was cute so is pampering him. The bunny is still glaring at me, though.

MasterOfThisAstra

@DarkSparkle: heh, heh. Funny thing that. :) I didn't teleport him, though I can zap there and bring him back. He's so adorable. :)

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: What. Did. You. Do?!?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I might maybe have teleported the hammer there? I didn't think Angel might be there! Honest! It was just a stupid dare and it happened hours ago. @Grumpy, thanks a lot! :/

We just started a discussion on the limits of teleportation, so I tried to explain that the limits are I finite as long as there is enough energy involved. The thing is, then, how do you determine how much energy does a unicorn have? Once simple teleportation is mastered the the energy requirement isn't that large. Anyway, I might have teleported a few things here and there as proof. Grumpy asked me to teleport a hammer in front of Spike's statue in the Crystal Empire.

Thinking about it, it might just as well have been a cushion.

TrueSparkle

When I get back from the conference we're going to have words, @TrueSparkle! Teleporting ha mere throughout Equestria isn't something that should be done! Not now, not ever!

DarkSparkle

Sorry :(

TrueSparkle

@SweetStuff: Can you teleport hammers? O:)

ForceFeedback

@MasterOfThisAstra: Are you really sure that it's Angel? :/ There's an easy way to prove it, you know. Just share a photo of him and today's paper or something. Shouldn't be a problem, unless this is all a ruse to try and get back with Brush.

RRBB

@RRBB: You're being petty.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I'm serious! Your brother goes silent for weeks, now suddenly he wants to talk to Brush because Angel happened to appear in his dorm? Oh, and let's not forget the casual mention of marefriend (for those not paying attention.)

It's definitely a great pickup line. 10/10! But that's all it is. Angel isn't there, there's no marefriend or anything, just an attempt to get Brush to pay attention to him again!

RRBB

It's iffy, but I don't think it's an attempt to get back with Brush. @MasterOfThisAstra, I'll tell her when I see her.

CEOWitch

Yessss!!! Double date party! :)))

PPI

It's no joke. I saw the critter myself. As for Mota's personal life, that's his business! Regardless of what may or may not have happened, nopony other than Brush and Mota have any right to discuss or speculate about it!

And yes, I am fully aware this place is often used as drama central, but I won't let anypony talk down on my friends like that! Do you honestly imagine it was easy? Do you think stallions enjoy dumping mares? We don't wake up one day and say to ourselves "gee, I think I'll dump a mare today then go on a trot through town"!

What happened is regrettable and painful for BOTH parties involved (as a friend to all involved I could guarantee it) and this is no reason to disregard everything Mota says!

Brush's bunny is here. Fact!

There's no way to get in touch with Brush. Fact!

So please stop with the accusations, okay?

Jade

@Jade: Don't fluff your wings up! :/ Even you must see how absurd it sounds! Bunnies don't just start falling from the sky thousands of miles away! And for the record Mota dumped Brush, not the other way around!

RRBB

@all: Nightlings, please. Since this is a sensitive topic, I'm sure you didn't meant what you said and will move away from it right now, okay?

Let's just focus on the bunny. @MasterOfThisAstra: I've no idea where Brush is right now, but I think I saw her with AwesomePony this morning. I'm sure there are a ton of PMs in her scrollbox, so she'll get back to you. And just to be on the safe side, I'll pass by her cottage after work.

Is Angel alright? Squished by a hammer sounds pretty serious to me.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: He's fine. He was more stuck than harmed. And the way he's been treated I doubt he'll have any complaints.

Just please tell Brush, okay?

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: I will. You, take care.

LyraHands

@MasterOfThisAstra: You could write from time, without there being an emergency, you know. :/

@RRBB: And before talking about other's pets, maybe pay some attention to your own? Pixel has been refusing food all day today. Even the buries he usually loves.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I know. I'll be taking him to the vet tomorrow. And I still think the bunny appearing out of nowhere thing is absurd!

RRBB

Girls, don't worry. Seriously, I'll go get him right now. :)

TrueSparkle

There! Done! And mare, was he getting pampered :P Anyway he's "safe and sound" now sleeping on my back like the adorable thing he is :)

TrueSparkle

I think I'll just scrap the rule for not posting personal drama. It's not like anyone is following it anyway.

The TechNightling

Sorry, Tech. :(

I'm locking the thread.

LyraHands

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Geeky Wedding

Well... I'd like to make an announcement. The announcement is that Tech will be absolutely furious with us. Like really very furious, as furious as double 1 roll O&O player. Why? Because with this post improbably putting the final coffin in his no real life stuff rule.

Yes. I know. Much sadness.

Anyway, in other news CodeFilly and I finally got married :) (Please don't go spamming the board with congrats, because she's the blushy type :P) We've been considering it for quite a while (more than some would like) but it's finally happened, so there! :P I'll tell you one thing, I feel like I just rolled a triple 20 right now :)

Sadly, that will also bring to a few changes. CodeFilly and Myself will go on a leave of absence (a few weeks, possible slightly longer). During that time HopHop and Tech will have to take care of the site (Lyra's code is as bad as my writing).

I'll just like to take the occasion to thank you all for being the crazy lovable weirdos you are and helping each other (as every Nightling should). Also, with the risk of being called wordy I'd go say a few things.

Recently I went back to the first posts, back when Lyra was melting her horn off trying to set up the site (with the worst code possible). There were less than a dozen users (I checked) most of them lurkers that never claimed back. CodeFilly was only involved to the extent that she would occasionally test and fix Lyra's messes. I glanced a few times, mostly because of CodeFilly, but never imagined the site would get anywhere.

Don't get me wrong, Midnight Castle was (and still is) one of my favorite series. Yet I never expected there to be more than ten active members at most: the original group, a few of their friends, and a lost nostalgic (sorry, Tech :)). Looking at things back then I laugh at what was considered popular. Fics were links, PaintDrop was a newbie that RRBB had somehow convinced to join, "water bottle" was a thing...

Almost every day we'd see a new face, timidly joining the ranks of the Nightlings with an all too cliche quote, but that was okay because everypony was happy to see a new face. Code changes were a thing, as well as mess ups, crashes, and a whole lot of other things, yet the site persisted. CodeFilly joined the mod team, so did TechNightling, the search for a proper UI artist began, PaintDrop started drawing humans... that really seems to have happened a lifetime ago!

Look at us now! We're a huge group of members that we think of family, romances blossomed, lives were saved (remember the freak storm in the Empire?), we gave each other support when we needed it. Once it was a big deal that we reached a thousand. As of today we are 31,462,287 (alt and inactive accounts included) and we see it as normal. The writers have accounts on the site! (Just take a minute to think about this! How many can claim they chat with Daring Do on one of her many forums?)

The point I'm trying to make while CodeFilly is nudging me (trying to hide a tear :p) is that I'm glad that I'm a part of this community. I'm glad that you are a part of this community, and very few things would give me more pleasure to invite you all to the celebration that would be held during the Everhere convention in the Crystal Empire! :)

Take this water bottle before Lyra licks the thread ;) Also, don't hit on Jade.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon, @CodeFilly: since everyone else is doing it, I'll break the rules wishing you the most wonderful of honeymoons, and congratulate you on the life of bliss that awaits you both.

Indeed, a lot has changed since the start of the site (mostly for the better). The important thing is that we have kept our naïveté if you will, and still think of Midnight Castle as a work of joy and wonder. The sheer amount if fictions have undoubtedly changed part of our perception, but at the core we remain true.

Please allow this old nostalgic to levitate a glass in cheer,

The TechNightling

Awww! I think I'm going to cry! Little MightyDragon has finally grown up! Then again with you looks and your geekiness it was only a matter of time before some mare marked you as hers ;) I'm very glad it's CodeFilly. No offense, but the rest of your class is strange :P

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: meanwhile all the Sparkles on the site remain single...

Unrelated rant: Simile is now freaking over my mom. If things could get any more embarrassing I can't imagine how. And of course both will go insane when they hear about the wedding. (I don't envy my boyfriend one bit.)

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: congrats, you goofs. :)

LightSparkle

Finally! I've been wanting to talk about this all day! Yes, I was at the ceremony, and it was the best thing ever (even with the occasional awkwardness from the parents, but let's not talk about that.).

@MightyDragon: That was some speech. I honestly can't think of anything to add, you said everything there was about the site and the wedding. In fact you got me so interested that I'll go back and reread the first dozen thread pages or so.

Remember when we used to theorize what the next MC series would be? "Boys united" anypony? :P At the time Everhere (and all the respective leaks) sounded so bad that Max was terrified the series would end. And then we had the statuettes along with the teaser info, the weekly chapters, the first reviews (by PrinceEric). It's definitely been one wild ride, and it's still going! Don't forget that the convention will also mark the start of the second arc of the series. (@Luna: maybe we'll get some answers? :P)

LyraHands

Wow! Them feels. The majority of Nightlings have no idea what we're going on about, but for me the feels are real.

Hey, what do you think of doing a Mistmount marathon? It's two weeks before the second installment of Chosen, so... O:) Oh, and this time, no cider! (I can't believe I, saying this, now that I think about it...)

RRBB

Definitely a good idea. And keeping in touch with tradition, I'm licking the thread :P

LyraHands

And we would write after that ;) Thank you, everyone, from me as well. I... you honestly made me cry remembering all this :~)

See you in three weeks

CodeFilly

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Pixel Scare

@RRBB: I'm starting to get worried. Pixel didn't touch his food today. Are you sure he's alright? You mentioned him losing his appetite a few days ago, but he had some pears yesterday, so i thought it was okay. Today, though. No food, no water.

@Brush: Can you come see him? I know this is the best time but I'm getting really worried and nothing I've read on the aethernet makes any sense :(

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Are you sure? When he was with me yesterday he ate like crazy. Maybe Max is having a bad influence on him?

Okay, jokes aside, he looked fine yesterday. If you're worried, though, so am I. I'll talk to my parents to get the best vet in Equestria!

@PaintDrop: you mentioned he wasn't eating as well. Did you notice any other strange behaviour? Shivering, sleepiness and such?

RRBB

@RRBB, @Short&Hoofy: Have there been any unexpected weather changes recently? Crystal Pangolins sometimes act strangely in such conditions. Also, check if it's nose is wet. If it's dry go to a vet immediately!

Jade

@RRBB: Not funny. I've been very careful around him. I'm sure I didn't give him anything he shouldn't eat. @Short&Hoofy, right? Fruits and berries are fine, right?

Now you got me worried as well. Stars, I hope I haven't done anything to get him sick :(((

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I doubt it's you, sis. The whole issue is that he isn't eating. He never touched any of your food.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: I'll have to see him, but that doesn't sound good. Do you know if he has been excreting? If not, it could be a problem with his stomach and that could mean a lot of things (most of them harmless) but better go have him checked out.

When did he start acting this way? I remember PaintDrop mentioning something about it a few days ago.

Brush

@Brush: I took him to the vet a few days ago and he was perfectly fine. Better than fine. That's why next time I'm having dad call in the top specialist in Equestria!

RRBB

@Brush: I think it was a bit weird when I had it at school a few days ago. I never have it any thought at the time :( sorry, girls. He was always lively, so I... oh, I hope he's okay. :(((

SweetStuff

Ouch. Hope you get all that sorted and everything turns out fine. I've never even seen a crystal pangolin. I think if I get one my friends would freak (or faint because of the adorbs). I can ask my mom for advice (she's still here). She knows a thing or two about exotic pets.

LightSparkle

@Brush: his nose is wet and he isn't showing any symptoms of anything. He just refuses to eat and I don't want to force feed him.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy : I understand. I'm in Cloudsdale now, but a, heading right for you. Keep him comfortable and see if you can get him to sleep while I'm gone. For the moment I think that's the best option.

Brush

Is there any chance he could be faking it to get attention? I'm not trying to make a joke do things but I have a certain adorable bunny that had been doing just that lately :)

@Brush: Don't worry I've been taking good care of the little rascal. I have no idea how he got to the Crystal Empire. Do you think it could be another of His jokes? :/ Either way, I'll be glad to return Angel to you when you get here (even if he doesn't look like he want to leave).

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: Unlikely. Pixel has always been extremely well behaved, and he adores SweetStuff. I can't tell you the amount of times I've caught him chewing on her ear.

RRBB

@RRBB: He hasn't been doing that either.

Short&Hoofy

@TrueSparkle: Oh, I'm so sorry :( I hope little Angel hasn't inconvenienced you too much. And yes, *sigh* I think He is up to his old tricks. He was quite angry with some of the latest developments, but all that is in the past. (Good thing Married life has managed to calm him down a bit.)

I'll get Angel right after I see what's wrong with Pixel. I'll also see if doctor Flora can examine him. She is one of the best authorities in Equestria. I'm surprised she didn't catch anything.

Brush

Do you girls think it's possible he's lovesick or something? I wasn't able to find anything about pangolin mating behaviour. It might explain things.

I never thought I'd be so worried about anything. We've had our fair share of drama, but never before has anypony been in serious trouble. (I don't count, I was perfectly fine.)

Stars, I hope it's nothing bad.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: It's too early for that. He's still a baby. It would be at least several more years until he engages in such behaviour. The only thing I can think of is him eating something that he shouldn't have. But if that had happened he would have been extremely sleepy, I think.

Sadly, I'm not a vet. :(

Jade

Well, my mother was useless as usual :/ She says if he's walking and his nose is wet everything should be okay and we shouldn't worry. Talk about worst advice ever. :/ She also asked if his shell lost its color (turning completely white). If it's white he needs serious attention.

Of course, she assumed that since no one freaked out about it that's not the case.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: It isn't. Still, no offense to you mother, but I prefer Brush and a specialist to have a look at him. It might be nothing, but I'll feel better that way. Sorry, and thanks for trying to help.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Listen to me, Squishy, everything will be okay. Do you hear me? Brush will look at him, and if it's needed we'll take Pixel to a vet and it will be okay. Also, I'll be with you in five minutes. (Mother wants to have another of her serious talks with me :/)

Just don't worry. I'll be with you soon!

RRBB

@RRBB: I'll try. Please get here fast.

Short&Hoofy

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Canon Discussions

Omg! The last chapter of Space Molly!! Molly, why?!? I have no words to describe it! I mean... planetary rings are frozen god tears? The way you have added depth to your story with a single chapter is fascinating! Actually everything you've added so far is fascinating.

First the whole idea of the ship, then the star pony, then the star couple they help get together (and have foals as they go into a supernova), and now this? :))) Please, @Quarters, let's meet!

Fangirling aside, have you all read the chapter? I admit I have added a small script to the code to ping me when something I'm interested in updates (must to Bob's annoyance). The whole notion that once the gods inhabited the skies before the wars (that made some cry rings around the planets, while others chose to retire). I'm still uncertain whether star ponies are gods as well, or are they something completely different. Starspark doesn't seem to know (thus all the vagueness in his responses). I'm also glad at the way that Loki caught up to the series.

[EqF-spoiler]
In very Everwhere fashion, he revealed that he's part of a god that he doesn't wish to be and would rather travel the start with Molly. Hmm, maybe this is a start of a shipping? She still has a serious crush on him, but that's about it. Also, I'm not sure if Starspark doesn't also have some feelings. Might be just me, but I do find him overly cute and innocent. Such a shame he isn't a human... or maybe he'll become? :))

Let me know, Celestia damnit! :P
[EqF-spoiler]

LyraHands

Far out, mare. Like, that story is on a whole different level, like, of consciousness. It totally tastes purple with a bit of orange. Radical.

And Loki is almost like someone I know, like, cool and loose.

Tree

@Tree: Of course it would take you this story to join :P

LyraHands

Thank you. I like writing, things always seem brighter that way. I'm not sure my mother will approve meeting any Nightlings, not out of school, though.

Quarters

Oh, come on! Everyone is really nice and understanding, and they love your stories! :)

Twist

@Twist, @Quarters: Wait, you two know each other?

RRBB

@RRBB: Yes, we're in the same class! :) I know Quarters doesn't want me to say anything about them, but I think talking more often will help them break out of their shell. And I'm sure your mother will approve of that.

Also, it's not everyday you can get this much attention. If Lyra likes your stories they must be good :D

Twist

@Twist: I'll get to the bottom of this.

On another note, I left Pixel at the vet's. Brush insists everything is fine with him (and he was eating) but this is the second time he's acted strange in the last three days, so better safe than sorry. None of you have been feeding anything weird, right? :/

RRBB

Much wow!

Molly: u can transform into human?

Starspark: no.

Molly: *yay*!

Starspark: oh, wait! Yes, I can!

Loki: Molly, I think u cute.

Molly, Starspark: *yay*!

Joking aside, I'm glad that Pixel is better. Pets are a total heartache. They are annoying, pester you all the time, cost huge amounts of bits, yet if something happens to them, you go "nooooo!"

@RRBB: If you need any help, let me know, okay?

Feather

Hmm. With Pixel being in good hooves, I'll focus on the chapter.

Not bad, but I think it's going a bit fast. At first we have a journey in space. So far so good, then we have star ponies. (Better.) And now we suddenly hear of an old war that's conveniently been skipped? I get the plot device jojo, but it's a bit beneath the story to go so cheap, don't you think?

Originally, this started as a sweet slightly romantic story of journeying through the the stars. There's no need to add war and forgotten mysteries to it. Just keep your narrative as before and you'll be fine.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I'm curious to see what Jade and Light thing about this, because I don't agree. Yes, a journey through the stars is sweet, but that's not coltfiction, and to be honest it isn't MC either. Now, you can argue that the site is a place where any story inspired by an aspect of MC has a right to exist, but I think having Space Molly get closer to the original feeling is a good thing.

I'm not talking about an all out battle all of a sudden, but at least some connection to the original source. Outstanding literary qualities aside, just how much in common does it have to Midnight Castle? We have Molly, Loki, and some human tech. That's it pretty much. Might as well be two random humans. For that matter might be two random ponies and to wouldn't make any difference.

I'm not dissing the story, just trying to be logical about it. It's beautiful and here to stay, but can you honestly call it a MC story at this point?

RRBB

I think it is. Maybe not entirely coltfiction oriented. There aren't enough battles, but if there were a fillified MC I'd say this is it. Don't forget that a number of popular stories have a romantic element (School Days, My Human and I, even Danny Saga).

LyraHands

The tears of the gods are necessary for something that will happen in a few chapters, and I can promise you'll see the link to MC by the end.

Quarters

@PaintDrop: wake up and tell me your thoughts! Sheesh! YouKnowWho is supposed to be the one sleeping in class. :P

RRBB

@RRBB: She's just tired because of the scare with Pixel. I wasn't able to sleep either. And Space Molly is good. I wish I could think of something like that... @Quarters, whoever you are, I hope we're friends in real life because your writing is great. :)

Short&Hoofy

I agree. I find the story both touching and Nightlingy. My only fear is that it won't be too long. I might be mistaken, but I think it'll last for 4 more chapters before the end.

Jade

@Jade: you are right. 5 chapters until the end. The story is already written and sent to my editor. I can only hope you enjoy it to the end.

Thank you. It means a lot coming from you.

@Short&Hoofy: we are friends,

Goodnight, everypony.

Quarters

Author's Note

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Seven Hints

This is mega weird, but I have a couple of huge announcements to make. Usually it's somepony else doing those, but all the class loudmouths have stuff happening to them, so it's me.

I'll start with a preemptive strike: I'm dating Plust. (@SweetStuff, if you start screaming in class, I'll throw my saddlebag at you!) So far we've been to a couple dates and everything is awesome! Credit to where credit is due, the advice @AwesomePony gave me was, well, awesome! Huge thanks :) (And before you gutterminds start with the lewd comments, it's just hoofholding and kissing until we finish high school!)

Pixel is doing better, but we'll be taking him to the vet with Short&Hoofy after school for a regular check up. The reason for this is that RRBB is grounded again (she got an A- on some stupid test and her mother is really upset. From what Short told me, RRBB has her aethernet and Short privileges revoked for a few days. Also, no idea what's up with WaterBottle and PaintDrop. Both of them didn't show up today.

If you haven't, read Brush's book! I bought it from RRBB before they sold out. Her father has ordered a new batch, but no idea when that will arrive. It's really good even if it isn't human fiction. I, for one, am hoping there will be a sequel :D

And finally something to appease Tech with: we have our very first MCE arc 2 teaser! I found it by accident in a box of Golden Crunchies. If anypony eats that for breakfast buy more boxes! There might be more hints!

The teaser is a picture, sort of a comic panel, with some dark figure looking at Bellucio and saying "Welcome to the school of junior gods". I've no idea what that means, but just the sound of it is cool! I can't believe I'm actually this hyped! :)))

YouKnowWho

Eeeeee! <3 Plust, I'm so happy for you! Even if it is this loudmouth. :P If she treats you mad in any way just let me know and I'll sick my sister on her! I can't wait to tell Rarity about this! :))

I think PaintDrop and WaterBottle have the flu. I'll pass by Sweet Apple Acres after school to check.

SweetStuff

That's some news, @YouKnowWho. I might pester Bob to buy me a few boxes just to go clue hunting. And I'm sure that PaintDrop and WaterBottle are fine. I mean they are the most dependable Nightlings out there. (Well, ignoring the whole running away incident :))

Junior gods, junior gods. I wonder if that's a way titans refer to themselves, or will we see actual junior gods. Like child gods or something?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: God kiddies? Really? Expect a new wave of self inserts. As if things weren't iffy enough already :/. Sometimes I think there's perfect balance in the universe: as the number of great stories on the site increases, so does the sea of "me and Bellucio" fantasy fulfillment fics. Curators, I don't even want to know what you go through.

Going back to the spoiler, I think this might be a reference to the Wonderbolts (yes, I'll keep calling them that.). We've seen hints that Euryala is among the weakest of the bunch and that also, the organization they are part of has the power to oversee the corps and keep them in check (potentially).

@Short&Hoofy: can you buy some boxes of Golden Crunchies when you come home?

MixaMax

@LyraHands: PaintDrop isn't as dependable as one would think :/

@MixaMax: Sis, I'm not spending what's left of our money on oats you won't even eat!

Short&Hoofy

Oh, I got all the clues. Sorry, I didn't think it was a big deal O:) (I'm not a hardcore Nightling so didn't want to bore you with that.)

There are six clues in total, and if you arrange them together they create a seventh larger clue on the back.

[EqF-spoiler]
Clue 1: The Everprince standing over a pond of some sort saying "I told you this would happen."

Clue 2: Strange figure talking to Bellucio, saying "Welcome to the school of junior gods."

Clue 3: Danny staring at something saying "These aren't the Everstones!"

Clue 4: Echo crying.

Clue 5: A Titan holding a hammer saying "Every weapon has a price"

Clue 6: Pure text on black background: "I want to be with you for the rest of our lives!"

Combined clue: Bellucio clad in sexy armour, Molly wearing a battle robe and levitating swords, and Icelos in full god form, surrounded by clouds and nightmares.
[EqF-spoiler]

@YouKnowWho: Yay! For a moment I thought you'd say you were dating my bother. :P

@LyraHands: can you take the afternoon shift? BlueEyes will be visiting me today :)

DaBoss

@DaBoss: give me the clues and I'll take your shift tomorrow as well! :)))

LyraHands

No she won't! Not tomorrow, at least. @LyraHands, remember the doctor's appointment.

Bob

@DaBoss: I can help out tomorrow. How difficult could it be? ;)

BlueEyes

@MixaMax: And what's wrong with having child deities? Equestria has Flurry Heart after all.:)

Although, I must admit that I'm intrigued by the description of the combined picture. @DaBoss, any chance you can share a picture with us? If what you're saying is true, this sound more like a spoiler for Chosen than Everhere.

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: That side, is indeed a hint relating to Chosen, while the individual six are for Everwhere. :)

Luna

@YouKnowWho: Err, you forgot to mention about our group O:)

We've created a Wild Theories group to discuss possible events in the series (spinoffs included). No theory is too out there from Bellucio's favorite type of yoghurt (I think it's pineapple), to whether Danny is adopted or another divine vessel (like Omni was).

Let's theorize together!

Plust

@Plust: Aww. You finish each other's posts. Do you have pet names? ^^

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: No! Absolutely not! How could you even think I'd allow something so clearly uncool?!

YouKnowWho

@SweetStuff: Fluff.

Plust

@SweetStuff: Fluff.

AwesomePony

Awwwwww! So cuuuuute! :)))

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Please don't scream.

@YouKnowWho: don't throw books at your schoolmates.

Both of you see me after class!

FunDaisy88

Dun dun duuuuun!

HopHop

@Short&Hoofy: Sis, don't buy anything. You know I hate those oats.

MixaMax

Dear Princess Celestia, today I learned a new word: Speechlessness.

Jade

@Jade: it's a good word. I approve ;)

Celestia

Author's Note

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Runaway PMs

Are you at home?

LightSparkle

Err, yes? Why?

SweetStuff

Great! Can you get your sister for me? I'll need her help if I'm to sort out this mess. :/

LightSparkle

She's still at the spa with Brush, so she might be a bit late. What's going on? Maybe I can help?

SweetStuff

Sadly, things have gone to the next level. :/ Oh, the hell with it! You're friends with her, so I might as well tell you. WaterBottle ran away from home. Usually that's the point at which someone faints, but to make things worse she came here, of all places. I'm not even sure how she managed to find me! (I'm convinced it had to do with Applejack not being able to keep her big mouth shut!) :/

Since I can't get in touch with DarkSparkle (and Brush and AwesomePony haven't written back to me) I thought I'd call out to your sis. Boy, are things complicated or what? :/ I really don't know how to handle WaterBottle. I mean, sure, I've helped with friendship and romance problems before, but running away hits a bit too close to home. Also, she's the opposite of what I was/am.

LightSparkle

She's there?!? Applejack told me that she was grounded so we wouldn't be seeing her for a few days. :( Poor WaterBottle, she must feel so low. She looked really miserable last week, but with each time we tried talking to her she insisted she was fine. I knew I should have pressed on! We Crusaders stick together!

Applejack must be worried like crazy. She always was overprotective of her sister, to extreme lengths. :( I complain about Rarity giving me no privacy a lot, but Applejack is... well, Applejack. I thought things would change after we did the reading, but... I really hoped.

What will we do?

SweetStuff

Hell if I know? For the moment Simile is with her, getting her mind off things. (Simile is really good at that.) That's not the only issue, though. Tell me, how much do you know about me? Has anyone told you anything?

LightSparkle

Umm, TrueSparkle thinks very highly of you? Well everypony on the site does. I know you and DarkSparkle are friends... Sorry, I was more focused on other things to pay attention if you've posted something :(

SweetStuff

It's better, this way, trust me. The short of it is, that I have to keep WaterBottle hidden at my place until she's ready to go back, which listening to her might be never. I've a few friends here that would help, but...let's just say that things are complicated.

Right now I'm more worried about WaterBottle. I know her type well: obedient, dependable, and so on until the moment she snaps and does something really rash (like this right now). From what I know her sister pulled a similar one when she took off to live in Manehattan all of a sudden. Worst is that WaterBottle doesn't even want to talk to her family.

LightSparkle

:(((

When that happens things are really bad. I sent a message to YouKnowWho, so she should be here soon if she can get away from her kissy cushion. I still can't believe that she and a childhood friend of mine got together like that. Secretly, I was hoping that WaterBottle would also find a SO. Her last four relationships were a mess :( Is that why she ran away?

SweetStuff

That's the thing. There's no single reason. She's tired of her sister running her life, she wants to have a fun time on the site without constantly feeling guilty... and she's obsessed her family won't approve of her boyfriend so she decided to keep it a secret.

Now I'm terrified that PaintDrop might show up here as well. She's having sort of the same problems. (And I used to think that my childhood was complicated.)

LightSparkle

Oh, PaintDrop is in hospital. Turns out she hasn't been eating well lately and fainted from lack of strength or something. The doctors put her on a cookies and sugar diet. I'd envy her if she didn't look so exhausted. At least she was in "good spirits" as she'd say :)

SweetStuff

Sis just came back. I'm giving her to you. Please keep on telling me what's going on with WaterBottle, okay?

SweetStuff

LightSparkle? What's this about Apple Bloom running away from home? If she alright? Is she hurt?

SweetStuff

Well, she's not injured if that's what you're asking. But there's a lot on her mind. Like really a lot. How much do you know?

LightSparkle

Darling, even I can't keep track of everything. I did notice she and Ditzy's brother getting along rather swimmingly during the reading. Maybe a bit more, but other than that, I really can't say. Applejack never mentioned anything, so I thought it's not my business to ask or come to any conclusions.

I do know, however, that Applejack strongly disapproved her being on Lyra's site, which is absurd. We are all aware of the dangers of the aethernet, but with a modicum of caution and enough common sense there's nothing to worry about, like I keep telling Sweetie Belle: "Always keep a thing in mind when dealing with strangers".

SweetStuff

That whole family is stubborn as hell! She came here, Rarity, of all places. DarkSparkle will freak when she gets back. That is if she hasn't already (I sent her a few messages.) Can you please tell Applejack her sister is fine? This is going to be one *yay*storm, but at least she'll know that WaterBottle is safe.

LightSparkle

Of course I could, darling, but so could you. No matter, I'll be on my way in an instant!

SweetStuff

It's a bit difficult for me to get in touch with someone who treats the aethernet as if it's Sombra incarnate. :/

LightSparkle

Please :) Applejack has a user on the site, has had it for months. I would have thought that you would have figured it out by now (especially since you approved a few of her stories ;))

SweetStuff

That hypocrite!

Edit: And things keep getting better. WaterBottle's Romeo just showed up as well :/ Honestly, why doesn't everyone just come move to my place, already? It will save time. And I, not even going to ask how he knows where to find me!

LightSparkle

Oh? Who is it?

SweetStuff

Darling, it's not polite to end with a cliffhanger. Real life isn't fiction, you know.

SweetStuff

It's Derpy's brother, who apparently learned about this from DarkSparkle's ex who is now (literally) on a date with his sister, while DarkSparkle herself is spying on them (poorly). Are those enough details for you?!

Look, I'm sorry, Rarity, but this is a bit too much for me right now. Tell Applejack, Derpy, and DarkSparkle. I'll see how I'll deal with this on my end. :/

LightSparkle

Say no more, darling.

Toodles.

SweetStuff

Author's Note

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More Anatomically Correct

Hello,

I feel this topic might have been discussed before, but I'm struggling a bit and would like to hear your thoughts. How anatomically correct do you write your humans? (Just to point out, I'm not talking about the extreme suggestive things.)

Lately I feel like my writing is in a slump :( Despite Tech's help I've been doing little progress. My stories are bad to the point I feel like posting them would be a waste of everypony's time. I still like to write, and I want to get better at it so… umm, I'm asking for help again I guess.

Thank you,

Candle

@Candle, enough with the low self esteem :( You're making the rest of us look bad. You’re exceptionally skilled, have a successful career (yes, I've heard things :)), a special somepony (don't you dare deny it), and your writing has steadily been improving. Just believe in yourself a bit more, okay?

Now that's out of the way, I find that humans are just like ponies. There's no need to go into details if you do anything right. At the end of the day they have a heart, a mouth, and a brain. That's all that matters. ;)

LyraHands

Inb4 we get flooded of stories about disembodied brains talking to each other :P

@Candle: personally, I think you should stick to what you know. I think I've mentioned that fingers and the only things you should pay attention to, unless you want to write slap fics. In that case…you have a lot of reading to do. Your best bet is going to a library or asking DarkSparkle.

RRBB

@RRBB: just because I write taur fics is no reason for you to be rude! I'll have you know there's nothing wrong with that! I’ll have you know it’s far more difficult writing an adequate taur story than any other! One has to take into account the vast number of factors paying meticulous attention to details scattered across 2 millennia of apocrypha!

Starswirl the Bearded himself held centaurs in high regard, a fascination I happen to share and it is only fair to our readers that we try to create the best and most accurate characters we could (and that includes both physically and mentally!) it's not enough just to say a centaur is “half pony half human” we must illustrate it through our words in the way they behave, the passions they hold, the lives they live, the world they inhabit!

So to return to Candle’s question, in MY opinion we must focus on the details even if end up not using them in our fics. It’s much more accurate and interesting (and you learn new things every day! For example, in 2nd century source it was detailed that the act of mating lasts tent times longer for taurs than ponies (and with humans it's speculated to last even longer!)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: nope, not weird at all. :/

And I just meant that since you used to live in a LIBRARY you might be a good pony to help Candle out with her questions.

RRBB

Too good! :D

Feather

Oh. Err… yes, sure ask anytime, @Candle :) I’ll ensure to help you out with anything mythology related. O:)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: exactly what apocrypha exactly have you been reading? I don't remember anything mentioned about in Starswirl’s memories relating to taur biology. :/

Also, somepony wants to have a talk with you.

InItForTheShipping

@DarkSparkle: I’m not even entering this discussion. :/

@Candle: somehow this seems very familiar. Are you sure you didn't ask the same question a while back? I think the problem you have is of a different nature. Your stories are good and have the potential to become great. With the risk of getting Tech mad, I'll say that we have been discussing your writing and characters and the best thing you could do at this point is not write. Let me explain.

Lately you seem to be terrified that you're doing such a poor job that you have lost the desire to have fun. Rather it has started being a chore and not a hobby. The technical issues, the obsession about writing realistic humans, the endless revisions are just symptoms of the underlying problem. You just have to tell a story. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. You are just afraid that the story will be something that no one will like.

Let me tell you a secret: it doesn't matter. Have you read your first stories? Clumsy, poorly paced, clunky, yet with a certain special feel to them. Based on comments, ponies still enjoy them immensely. Why? Because they have feeling. I agree that to become a professional you need lots of practice, studying, and effort, but do you want to become such a professional? You have a career, so it's not the money. You're not like Simile so it isn't a matter of fame, that leaves two options: you want to make ponies happy with your stories, or you want to prove to yourself you could do that.

Your stories are sweet, very much different from the rest. Some of your early stories are unique in their very own way, before you tried to follow the trends of popular stories posted by others. It's true that some of us most probably would never reach Jade’s level (I freely admit he's better than me by far), but you’d be surprised how much he struggles with creativity. I've lost count of the amount of times he has PMed me depressed that someone had idea X but executed it so poorly.

Just look at AwesomePony! Her DDD is without a doubt the most popular story there is (based on stats) and it was horribly written. However, it was all her. (I keep enjoying her updates even if the humans are terribly described from an “anatomic” perspective.)

@AwesomePony: Humans don't have teats there, so please stop describing these cause it's mega creepy. I'll draw you a sketch if I have to, or DarkSparkle could.

@Candle: Anyway, I suggest you go on a trip round Equestria and not think about writing. Enjoy yourself, gain positive experiences, spend time with Tech. The rest will come on its own :)

LightSparkle

Thank you, LightSparkle. I'm glad somepony finally said it.

The TechNightling

I always knew you were a softie, Tech! (Imb4 banned forever).

RRBB

Umm, well… I don't know what to say. Maybe I've been trying too hard and could use a break? Maybe I will. It's just that all of you are so nice and write such beautiful things, while I lag further and further behind. I just don't want for you to stop being my friends.

Candle

@Candle: I think I speak for everyone when I say that you'll always be our friend. You're a Nightling first and foremost, and we help each other. And even if you were just a lurker and had never read MC, I'd still think the same way. I don't know if you've noticed, but ponies enjoy having you around. (Even Feather and Grumpy!)

So, take LightSparkle’s advice and go on an Equestrian tour! @The TechNightling, I'm holding you responsible for her wellbeing! ;P

LyraHands

That's sweet. :~)

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: I can take you on a tour as well, you know!

RRBB

Okay, I'm licking the thread before somepony ruins the moment ;)

HopHop

Author's Note

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Member List

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Proxy Discussion PMs

Bloon! You come home this instant! What were you thinking running off like that? Why, I spent all all night going through the everfree forest, then I learn you’ve galloped off to be with your whatyacall them!

SweetStuff

*sigh* Hello, Applejack. Give me a moment.

LightSparkle

No! I ain't going back there! Ever! And don't you be telling me you ain't done the same thing because you told me you did before you got your cutie mark! It ain't right that you could those things and I can't!

LightSparkle

Why I ought to… don't you take tone with me, young filly! I'm your big sister and know what's best for you!

SweetStuff

Like all the big sisters?! Sweetie Belle can't make a step outside her home without her sister watching, Max sent her sister to another school to “keep her safe”, you won't even let me go on this site! Do you even care about us? I ain't a version of you, sis! None of us are, so don't you try to protect us from the mistakes you made!

LightSparkle

Apple Bloom… I…

SweetStuff

I love you sis, but I ain't you. I might like it here. Not, just the site, but where I am. I might want to marry a pony who isn't a farmer, I might want to go to explore Equestria on my own. Why can't you see that?

I've been helping ponies get their Cutie marks for years, why don't think I could help myself?

LightSparkle

I know, sis, I know. You are your own pony, but this… it ain't for you. It ain't proper. You running away only show that. You've been grumbling that I don't let you do anything for years, but you never ran away from home. Now, a few weeks after Short&Hoofy did, look at you—off to the Celestia knows where with a colt from what I hear, and talking of never coming back. Ya ain't ready for the site. You are too honest and stubborn… sort of like me, I guess.

SweetStuff

… sis…

LightSparkle

Yah, I know getting all mushy. Just because I'm a mare doesn't mean I have no soft side. You're my little sister, AppleBloom, and I'll always care for you. It's the only way I know how.

SweetStuff

No, it's… you used an em dash.

LightSparkle

So?

SweetStuff

And you knew who Short&Hoofy was. Have you been spying on me? :/

LightSparkle

What? No, I'd never! Well, maybe I've just been keeping an eye on you, that's all… and reading a bit…

How'd you expect me not to? Midnight Castle was Big Mac’s favourite story. I've been hearing about it since I could remember. Of course he hid his books when he grew older, and pretends he’s not interested now, but let me tell you he used to quote passages from the book in his sleep.

Guess ya caught me, huh? I ain't saying the site is a bad place, it's just that you ain't ready for it yet. You ain't like RRBB or YouKnowWho, and I'm still bucking mad that you’re running off with stallions! (Do his parents know? Did ya even bother asking them?!)

SweetStuff

I did too! And each time I brought him back to his house an hour after sunset. At the latest!

LightSparkle

Well, that's mighty decent of you. And always remember to make a good first impression, none of them wishy washy romantic approaches. Say what’s on your heart and expect the same from him.

SweetStuff

Sis! You're embarrassing me. And I've been doing that already. I'm not an irresponsible filly anymore!

LightSparkle

I know, sugarcube. It's just… my little sister all grown up :)

SweetStuff

You keep saying that every year. And then you start crying each time.

Promise you'll let me visit the site? It's a bit crazy and there are things that are outright scary, but the ponies are nice. Also, I'd like to invite Crackle so the family can see him. I know it's a little sudden, but we've been seeing each other since that time we were at Twilight’s.

LightSparkle

You always were about going fast. If you reckon it's the right thing go right again. I'll make sure to treat him to some good old fashioned Apple hospitality once you bring him. He ain't one of them picky eaters, right?

Just come home, okay?

SweetStuff

I will. LightSparkle and Simile are nice and all, but it's too weird here. Can I bring him to dinner tonight? The food here that good either.

I'll be going since LightSparkle says she want to talk to you.

Love you, sis!

LightSparkle

Love you too, sugarcube!

SweetStuff

I'm glad this didn't talk long. With everything else on the site I thought it would be weeks before she agreed to go back. So, I won't be coming, but Simile will take her to your place. Just one favour. Remember to keep an open mind, okay?

LightSparkle

Huh? What ya talking about?

SweetStuff

Simile is a bit… well she might not be what you expect. I just don't want you freaking out, okay? Just think of her as the author of cool stories. That's all I ask.

LightSparkle

That’s starting to sound mighty suspicious. You know that in all stories when a character says “Don't freak out, there’s nothing wrong” something terrible happens, right? Now I know from DarkSparkle that you'd never put my sister in danger, so it must be something else…

Simile is an apple-hater, ain't she? Or one of those fancy city ponies that look down on us farm folk? I thought there was a bit too much city talk in her stories.

SweetStuff

Applejack, I have spent over a week with my crazy aunt, then suffered a visit from my mother only to have your sister pop-up here with her boyfriend just like that. I'm tired, grouchy, annoyed, and really, really, really could use you not playing detective for once.

Your sister is fine! Simile will make sure she and her boyfriend reach you safely!

Goodnight!

LightSparkle

It's three in the afternoon!

SweetStuff

I know?and I haven't slept since your sister arrived!

LightSparkle

Oh. Heh heh heh. Sorry bout that.

Goodnight.

Err, just… Think you can ask Simile to sign my saddle for me? I like her stories quite a bit.

SweetStuff

!!!

LightSparkle

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Anatomically Incorrect

@LightSparkle: okay, posting here instead of General so that TechNightling doesn't get his mane in a twist.

What the hay, Light? Where in Equestria should the teats be? I know that ponies here like poking fun at me (and hey, when it's in good humor, why not?) but that's stupid! I've read enough MC fics, both on and off the site, to know how things should be, so I won't fall for your pranks!

AwesomePony

Please tell me you're not starting this discussion…

Jade

I'll get the popcorn! @GriffinGirlfriend, @DarkSparkle, check it out! :D

Feather

@AwesomePony: Wait, what? We're talking teats? How did that happen? @Twist: since when did DDD become erotica? Actually, hold on! Does that mean that Danny and Matilda a thing? Unless AwesomePony pulled a one night stand, that's got to be it.

Spill the details now! :D

RRBB

@AwesomePony: sadly, what you've read is completely incorrect. I tried to comment about it in a few places, but my comments weren't well received :/

That's a common problem when describing humans. Ponies assume that certain well known feature will simply look well on ponies as well, while in effect they won't. That includes organs, behavior (as mentioned in previous post), strength, sleep cycles, diets. And a whole lot of things.

Did you know that humans could consume a tenth of the sugar we do? Any more and they will get sick. It's a fact!

DarkSparkle

Did you know that humans can only drink 5% of the alcohol we are used to before getting drunk? The cider that even foals enjoy could knock out a fully grown man after two bottles. However, humans have significantly highly endurance allowing them to walk three times the strongest pony before getting tired.

Speculator7

@Speculator7: yeah, yeah, and they are terrible at foreplay.

@AwesomePony: I was hoping not to humiliate you. But if you so insist here we go. To put it briefly, all the stories (even published) in which humans are described as having teats between the hind legs are completely false. You really should trot to a library sometime and check this out.

@RRBB: it's a minor thing for now. There's a description of a statue in Chapter 9 (right after they hear the rumor of the dead god) which is naked and makes Danny blush. Not a big deal, but knowing AwesomePony, we're steadily heading into slap territory.

LightSparkle

@DarkSparkle, @LightSparkle: Well, you're wrong! There's no other place they could be. If you're so smart tell me one creature, just ONE that has teats there! I dare you!

AwesomePony

I'm actually with AwesomePony on this one. The alternative location just seems too weird. Like almost cringeworthy!

On another note, the more important question we should ask ourselves (that is, If we were going into detail about that sort of thing) is does it really matter? I mean from an aesthetic point of view having them anywhere else is weird (unless you are a mythology geek). I'm not saying I would want all humans to have tails, but some creative freedom is a good thing.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I'm taking a web grab of this and showing it to Short :) Too good! :)))

RRBB

Sis, really? I hoped you don't read such stories. :/

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Don't worry, kid. I’m sure she reads it for the plot :)

Feather

@Feather: that was the most horrible pun in existence! Still made me giggle, though :)

@AwesomePony: centaurs for one.

DarkSparkle

Yeah. Because centaur-mare would know these things <.<

AwesomePony

Actually, minotaurs as well. I based my human descriptions on that. I never gave it too much, thought to be honest. When describing an erotic scene, I just try to write sensually and focus on the emotional side of things.

Brush

@AwesomePony: Do you really want to do this all day? Now that I finally got enough sleep, I’m game.

LightSparkle

Okay, smart alice! Where do you think they should be? Or do you suggest they don't exist at all? That would be a laugh!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: on the chest between the arms, actually. And if you have been paying attention while reading MC, you'd have noticed that there's never a case of a topless woman. Whoever it is she's always described wearing a shirt, Having a towel covering her chest, or with her back to the main character.

I almost want for the comic to come out so I can show it to you and laugh in your face. (Not that it would happen.)

Oh, and men have them too, just smaller.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: stop giving ponies ideas!

Everypony, I'm NOT going to draw any of those! *winces*

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Hey! You're okay! Was going to see you after school. When are they letting you out?

RRBB

@LightSparkle: beahahaha! Seriously? On the chest? That's idiotic! And why the hay should men have them as well? If you're making things up, at least make them believable!

I think I'll keep to what I've been doing, if somepony wants to go weird, go ahead. (Not you, Brush. I like your stuff. Just a bit angry you never told me about it before :/)

AwesomePony

@RRBB: from hospital—later today. From home? Never. :( My parents are freaked out again for no reason. Will take me a while to talk some sense into them.

By the way, weren't you punished or something? Last I heard you were not supposed to be on the aethernet or see Short&Hoofy.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Yep, still am. That's why I'm using Short’s hoofheld to post ;)

RRBB

Hmm, what if it's a combination of both? They could have teats along the chest from the legs to the arms?

TrueSparkle

I just vomited…

PaintDrop

@TrueSparkle: That was golden! Can I quote you? And by that I mean I will :D

Feather

@TrueSparkle: Didn't see that coming. After everything we've been through you put that image in my head? You're one evil mare, you know that? :)

LightSparkle

I suppose technically it's possible. There's nothing that describes that not being the case, although the sources did focus on the pair on the upper chest. Give me a while, I'll research that further and let you know what I found!

DarkSparkle

I suddenly regret starting this topic. Is it too late to forget all this ever happened?

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Not a chance! ;P

Feather

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Question

Aww! Thank you, thank you!

I never expected to reach second place in a serious contest such as this! When I saw the results, I was like “Wow! This can't be happening, but it's happening, because, if it wasn't happening why did I get a PM? So it must be happening!”

I'm, really, really, really, really, really happy about this! Gummy, you should have won the award. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you, thank you so much!

@Jade: I see what you did there *grin*

PPI

Huh? What's this all about? Sorry if I'm a bit distracted. Dealing with family issues again :/

What contest was that? Where can I get a link to check it out?

Huge congrats, PPI :) I didn't know you posted on the site :D

LyraHands

Hmm. Hmmmm. @PPI are you sure about this? I usually go through all the threads and I can't find anything about a constant. Also, I can't find anything published by you. Did you use an alt account?

@The TechNightling: is there a big in the search engine? I can't find some other things either. Danny Saga doesn't show up (and I know it's still here, since I follow it). Are you doing mother code update?

@Jade: What did you do?

MixaMax

@PPI, @MixaMax: I have no idea what you're talking about. I've barely been active here with my exams nearing. Are you sure you don't mean MasterOfThisAstra?

Jade

@InItForTheShipping: You did a contest without telling me? :( I said I'm sorry okay? It's not like we haven't discussed similar things before. I just got carried away. And you have to admit it is a rather interesting question. Someone should go through all existing records and find first hoof accounts of events.

Actually, I'm thinking of asking to go on a diplomatic mission to establish relations with the centaurs. I'm sure there have to be some left (it would be unthinkable if Tirek was the last one). What do you think? It's a good idea, right?

DarkSparkle

Huh? Did PPI just pull a… PPI? Now I'll keep wondering what contest will pop up and who will win it (since PPI only for second place).

@InItForTheShipping: You're organizing something, right? another shipping thing?

RRBB

Girls! Girls! I just heard that premier copies of the next Chosen will be out in two days! Mare, I wish I could get my wings on one of those. @Luna: any chance I could buy one from you directly?

I’m really looking forward to this. I have so many questions. Do you all think it's possible that all the gr8 are gods in some way? I mean Omni was and we know Blazen has an unclear past, so why not everyone else? :)

PrinceEric

@RRBB: This time I'll try to send in a submission! I mean it! :D

I just hope the contest is something romantic (yes, I know, it's not very coltish, but I can't help myself.) And if my fat sister is reading this, there's nothing wrong in a lady thinking highly of romance! Right, ForceFeedback?

SweetStuff

What are you all talking about? There's no contest planned for the next month! I really don't know where all do this came from, but really there's nothing scheduled. At least not from me. Maybe @Luna has decided to organize something?

@DarkSparkle: I'm not mad at you, I've just been very busy lately :( Hubby is sick and I have to take care of him. Stallions are really no fun when they aren't well. Thank the stars it's nothing serious. He just needs lots of rest and relaxation, and no playing soldier for few weeks (which is the difficult part).

Also, I'm not sure about your centaur idea…

InItForTheShipping

Pfft.

Discord was fifth, silly :)

PPI

@PPI: I really don't know how you do it. Then again, I've stopped asking questions when you're concerned. Out of curiosity who won first place? Was it Discord?

LightSparkle

@PrinceEric: Don't worry, I’ll lend you a copy, it's not I need two anyway :)

And it's clear that Brush won first place. Must you even ask?

CEOWitch

There's something fishy going on here :/ A contest that nopony has heard of, a mysterious winner. This sounds scarily close to time travel magic. I have my suspicious, but I really hope I'm wrong. Using temporal spells to win a contest is just…wrong!

@DarkSparkle: I thought the scrolls were locked after last time.

TrueSparkle

@MixaMax: there are no code updates scheduled. Danny Saga was added before the system was in effect so the search ignored it. It's all taken care of now.

As for PPI, she has no alternative accounts and no stories to her name, although she has read a significant amount of what’s been posted.

The TechNightling

This is too strange. I can't stop thinking who might have won, I guess it could be Brush, but then again, Short&Hoofy writes exceptionally. We know for a fact that it isn't Jade, and Simile posted she'd be putting her stories on hiatus. @LightSparkle, did you pull a fast one on us? :)

RRBB

@RRBB: maybe it's somepony new who hasn't joined yet?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Like your mythical coltfriend? :P (sorry, I couldn't resist).

You have to admit, though, this makes for a great story! Someone puts an add on the first page of a newspaper thanking everypony for their support, as she won second place in some nonexistent contest. Everypony starts wondering what that contest is and start asking around only to find no one knows anything. Everyday life suddenly changes with new theories appearing every day as to what the contest is about and who won first place. At one point, somepony gets tired of the constant speculations and organizes the contest in secret. Naturally, everypony joins in hoping they would be the winner. I'm the end it turns out that the brother of the pony organized the contest, who just returned from years abroad, tried out and won. Oh, and possibly got engaged to the pony who wrote the add in the newspaper (thanks to the contest).

Wow, @Short&Hoofy, write this, please!

RRBB

Actually, it's all a joke, you sillies! :D

Gotcha!

PPI

…now I can't be sure if there actually will be a contest or PPI just trolled us… -.-

LyraHands

Well, there's one way to resolve this.

My darlings, I'm organizing a contest focusing on the relations between humans and their pets. I'd be ever so grateful if you keep your stories clean and classy :)

Deadline is one week from now.

Grace

I've no idea what happened, but if Grace ends up marrying as a result, I’m taking MixaMax away from Ponyville!

Jade

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Workshop Planning

Jade, when are you exams over?

LightSparkle

Last one is in three weeks. Why?

Jade

Why do you think? We have to start working on our project. Trust me, it takes a lot longer fleshing something out in than you might think. There will be lots of rewrites, so the faster we get started the better.

Will you be going on a honeymoon right after?

LightSparkle

Definitely not. Max has a lot of work in the next few months. Looks like we’ll be going the wearing here then I’ll move to Ponyville, at least for the immediate future. We’re still discussing where to settle down.

I thought you and Simile were working on ideas for the last month. Did something go wrong?

Jade

Other than my aunt and mother popping up, as well as some additional complications? Well, you can say that. Simile really can't keep her liquor. We managed to do literally nothing as far as Blazen is concerned. :/

LightSparkle

Hey, we talked a lot, okay! I bet we had lots of great ideas! I just need to remember them. It will happen, you can count on that.

Seriously, Jade, you should come visit Light next time. It's unimaginably cool! I know you're soon to be married, but that doesn't mean you can have some fun, am I right? If worst comes to worst you can always let her tag along.

Simile

Such professionalism :/

Jade, we didn't do *yay*. So, want to set a date to do this? Doesn't have to be face to face. Maybe something like a PM discussion every few weeks? After your exams are over (and only if you aren't distracted).

LightSparkle

Is everything alright, LightSparkle? You seem a bit different.

Jade

Yeah, it's like that time you saw WaterBottle at your door. You know, I can easily tell when you're freaked out and right now you seem really freaked out.

Something happen with your boyfriend? Did you have an argument with your friends?

Simile

Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys :/ And no, nothing happened. I’m fine, my friends are as crazy as ever (poking me for good MC fics every now and again) and my *yay* life is peachy. There is something, though…

I read the whole Chosen of Poseidon…and boy are we behind. :/ I mean, our idea is good (even the other 4 said so) but theirs is great. To make it worse they just built up and up from something…banal I would say. There's absolutely nothing flashy in the entire Chosen, yet each next chapter drags you in more and more adding a bit her a bit there until the final reveal when you go “huh?! I need to reread this!”.

We came up with one of the greatest ideas I've read (and I'm a curator) but we lack pretty much everything else. Jade you're great at writing, expression emotion, making any story stand on its own, but you've never done anything big. Simile is great at adventure and descriptions, but the characters could use some work even now. As for me…well, I'm pretty much a mess at everything, but have broad knowledge.

LightSparkle

Your mom saw your notes, didn't she? She saw them and made some nasty comments, right?

Simile

No, she didn't! And you you hadn't been freaking out all the time you were here you'd have noticed that I don't care what she thinks!

I just want us to be better and comparing things objectively we aren't. It's all fun and good that we're stream of consciousness writers, but detailed planning goes a long way. And I really want to start working on this.

LightSparkle

Well, I can start focusing on this after the exams. The wedding will be traditional, so it won't take more than a week. My parents have been doing ever since the Empire reemerged into Equestria. And unless she's looking for snugly Max is disastrously unromantic.

Jade

Well, it's never too late to change. AwesomePony still carries a flame for you and she also secretly writes poetry in her spare time. Completely terrible poetry, but full of emotion.

Simile

Can you please not mention that topic. Each time she sends me a PM I feel sad and guilty. I honestly hope she finds a significant other. I'm just not that one… And Max is the perfect one for me.

Going back to work schedules, I'll try to type something up. Are we still going with the old idea or are there some changes?

Jade

Old idea. Just let's get something done. Then we can tear it to shreds and change it. >:D

Sorry if I sound a bit off, just having WaterBottle run away from home and crash here stirred some memories. I'll get over it.

LightSparkle

Aww, poor wittle LightSparkle. Want a kiss? :P You know we're here for you.

By the way, is it true that another writer is thinking of retiring? Luna let it slip once so I think it might be true.

Simile

Are we supposed to agree or argue with you? :/

Jade

Agree, of course. So, do you think they ask Quarters to join? She’s quite good. And I'm not only talking about her published stuff. She send em a draft of something a while back, and even without the professional edits it was class A material. Almost as good as mine.

Simile

I doubt it. She's too young. Maybe in three four years if she hasn't moved on to other things. But yeah, it's a joy to have her on the site. I just hope she stays.

LightSparkle

Oh? So you know who she is in real life?

Jade

I do, and let's just say that she has reasons to want to be off the site. She shared them with me when we talked about her writing. I really can't go into any further detail, but please be nice to her. There are a lot of Nightlings with issues, and she's among those who could use a lot of hugs.

LightSparkle

Not to sound like the jerk, but I really need to get back to studying. Is there anything more for us to discuss?

Jade

I’m good. It's time for me to start getting ready for work anyway. Take care, girls!

Simile

Yeah, thanks for your time, and good luck with exams and work. I'll get back to curating stories…

LightSparkle

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Everconfusing Tree

This story is, like, far out there, mare. I mean all nine chakras can dig it, like. It reminds me of that one time when the waterfall told me that joke about the moonpuppies.

Like, so inspiring and deep, it makes me want to write, mare.

Tree

@Tree: Oh, Tree. Never change :) That's one of the things I like about you: you're never afraid to try out new things, even coltfiction.

@LyraHands: How did you get her to join? I've been trying to get her near a computer for ages.

Brush

@Tree: like, Discord totally gets me now. He said you had problems and I needed to help you, so I was totally chill. Tech is so in touch with my color, like, totally transparent green.

Tree

@Tree: I beg your pardon?

The TechNightling

Not you, Tech :) Tree means the computer she got. She’s a close friend of mine and will cause no trouble, I promise.

@Tree: Umm, just one thing. Can you try to be a bit less “free”? I know you find it silly, but we try to avoid those topics. You know what I mean.

Brush

Like, I dig you, like totally. It's like Bellucio is my spirit animal, like. So radical and we’re both models. Maybe I'll be him in another life.

Tree

Wait what? I’m so confused. @Tree, you know who Bellucio is modeled after right? Prince Blueblood.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: I didn't know Prince Blueblood had a career in modeling? Like which art school does he pose for? I might, like, know him or something.

Tree

@Tree: wait what?!

CEOWitch

Sweetie, apart from everything else Tree is a model (as in she poses for artists on a regular basis). :)

Now I can't help but imagine prince Blueblood posing in seductive fashion in front of a hall of artists. :)

Brush

@Brush: thanks for that image :/. It was bed enough I see Bellucio each time I look at him, now i don't know what to think. You girls are the worst!

MixaMax

@MixaMax, @Brush: I don't think anypony would mind. Blueblood is vane enough to be okay with this and I sure the “artist mares” wouldn't mind either. Actually, I might try to make him do that for charity. (He's done weird things. Anypony remember the stormcloud challenge? :P)

@TheRealLuna, @InItForTheShipping: I know who to ask to convince him, but just in case, could you lend a hoof in the matter?

Luna

Like, I'm totally cool with that and could join in for free, like. And I can call all my groovy artist friends as well. It will be, like, stellar.

Tree

You girls are too much :) I’d pay to see that. I can't draw worth straw, but I'll be there “trying”. :P

I'm surprised there haven't been any comments from RRBB or PaintDrop.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: They are on a school trip with no hoofhelds allowed. Seems the teachers have caught on that they post during class instead of studying. They’ll be back by evening, which is why I suggest that you lock make sure you lock the thread by then.

MixaMax

Don't you mean lick the thread? :P

@Brush: your adorable bunny keeps getting lost again. Is everything alright with him? I found him at the mailbox this time. Also, I might have overfed him. :( I’m sorry, it just feels wrong for his bowl to end up empty so I bring him more, and…well.

Maybe you could pass by pick him up?

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: That's strange. Angle is very picky about what he eats. And he has been going missing a lot lately. (Although, I solved the Crystal Empire incident. Someone promised never to do it again! And if he has any ideas his current wife will make sure he doesn't.)

Sadly, I'm in Fillidelphia right now with the Wonderbolts. @Tree, can you get Angel for me?

Brush

@Luna: Now there's a nightmare is I have ever heard one. Sure, I guess. I think you can handle him on your own, though.

TheRealLuna

@Brush, @Tree: oh, don't bother then :) I am take care of him until you return. I'm just worried that something might be wrong with him. A lot do pets have been doing strange things lately :( Gummy has been avoiding Pinkie Pie, Pixel is refusing to eat every other day, and now this? It’s almost like we're being invaded by a strange and ominous power…

That said, so many ideas for Grace’s contest :)

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: like, humans would totally be groovy with having a pet phoenix. Or maybe even a star phoenix. It will be, like, entirely out of both worlds, and totally match Bellucio’s glow.

Tree

@Tree: lol. Just please send it to me before you submit it, okay?

LyraHands

@Luna: you can be scandalous when you want to :) That said, I think it's a good idea for a charity event. The sudden storms here and round the Everfree Forest have caused more problems than they should have.

Think Blueblood would agree to a second charity here?

@Tree: and I'd love to have you as well.

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: I think it can be arranged :) In fact I'll go talk with him right now. (He's been in a grumbly mood all week because of the Wonderbolts being away, so I think this will be a welcome distraction.

Luna

Wait what did I walk into?!? You girls are crazy! Crazyyyyy! Blueblood modeling sounds so wrong :/ If he agrees to that I'll eat thistles for dinner!

And no, I won't pressure him in doing something so undignified. Then again, if it's for a noble cause such as charity, I might lend a hoof as well.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: far out! You'll totally complete the spectrum on a cosmic level. This will be, like, star special.

Tree

@Tree: oh, no, no, no. I meant I'll help convince Prince Blueblood, not that I'll pose. I mean I’m not at all suited for this, and I'll be busy and there are so many things to do.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: It’s for a good cause, remember? There's nothing to it. I've done nude modeling several times. Nothing to it.

LightSparkle

And he agreed. I didn't even have to press the issue. Scheduling it for next month.

@DarkSparkle: That's a splendid idea. I'll coordinate your schedule with Princess Celestia, so that there are no conflicts.

Great work, everypony! This is how things get done!

Luna

@Luna: you scare me sometimes. Locking the thread before the fillies start logging in.

LyraHands

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Gift Choosing

Girls, what is a good MC gift for somepony entering the series? Money is not an object, but I want it to be special (and no, I don't consider any books or scrolls, even from the original series, suitable).

Advice?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: oooh! Someone is getting an anniversary gift? How long has it been? A month? Three months? Well, I know what I would give, but I think Tech will permaban be if I said it here :P

What about some art? Stallions love things with a personal touch and knowing how much you've improved since you joined I think it'll do the trick. What's he like? Any particular tastes? (Other than you :P)

RRBB

@RRBB: you really are vicious. Short&Hoofy needs a trophy for being able to handle you. Stars, I'll give it to her myself.

@PaintDrop: Still, the idea is not bad, though. I started with stickers and posters. Not sure if it's a 100% ok gift, but Plust likes them, and I think they are awesome.

YouKnowWho

@PaintDrop: So, when are you bringing him over for us to see? :D I've been hearing rumors, but am curious to actually see him sometime.

As for a good gift, the first big thing I gave ForceFeedback was a pillow with me embroiled on it. That way, even when he's resting I'll always be there with him. Well, I also made a few songs for him (and I’m not sharing those since they are sort of private. :))

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: That's not all you gave me *wink* :)

ForceFeedback

Sis, it isn't what you think! It was just a kiss!

SweetStuff

With the risk of sounding like an old mare, I think something practical would be nice. Maybe a mirror with MC characters engraved on the sides? It mostly depends how open the gift receiver is about being into MC. We forget that even with the popularity the series has been getting, ponies that like humies are still viewed as weird throughout Equestria. Horseshoes or a saddlebag with a discreet MC emblem on it.

LyraHands

@RRBB: Don't look at me. I just gave Jade an engagement shoe. I don't even know how long we've been together. Hmm, I better check on that before he gets mad and mopey.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: wow, just wow! I'd have thought you'd at least remember the day you caused a mass panic and jumped on a train to get here so you could propose. :/ You’re aware that there's literally a line of mares waiting to date me, right?

Jade

@Jade: Oh, yeah, I'm totally ready if it doesn't work out between you two. You know, for support. Can't leave a friend hanging and all. Not that there's wrong with Max, but I'm just saying that if there was I'm totally here.

Just saying. :P

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Subtle :/

@Jade: bby, you know every day with you feels like the first O:) I'm counting the hours until your exams are over and we get to get together and celebrate. :)))

MixaMax

Girls, this is serious. And yes, it might be for my SO, but I really need valid suggestions. I considered drawing something, but I'm not sure that would be enough. As for a practical gift, although it might be a good choice, it's not suitable right now.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Is there something you want to tell me, sis? If it's just a casual fling, a cup with a MC symbol on it would be enough. If you're more serious, I don't think you'll find your answer asking on a aether site.

MasterOfThisAstra

@PaintDrop: I'd hire the Ponyville balloon and go for a ride for two over the Everfree forest. At some point, I'd stop and give him a specially crafted necklace with nine shards—one for each of the main characters of Everhere. I'd also also spend some time writing a short poem describing the links between my relationship and the story (possibly identifying him with one of the main characters). I assume in your case it might be easier to draw a sketch.

Quarters

Wow. Out of the silence here comes Quarters for the win. I actually quite like that. @Short&Hoofy: you feel like going on a balloon ride? :)

*yay*! I forgot I’m supposed to be grounded and not talking to you :/ Stupid grades. I hate it when my parents set their mind on something. It doesn't matter that I already have the skills for an entry editing position in a Manehatten publishing house. (I applied under a false name and got okayed for half time, so there!)

Squishy, you okay if we do it next month?

RRBB

Ooh, ooh! @ForceFeedback: want us to go picnicking on a cloud? I think I can learn how to do the cloudwalking spell. I'll take care of the flowers :)))

SweetStuff

Well, I already took my coltfriend cloud swimming. :P Ain't gonna lie, it was a bit scary, but quite fun when I got used to it. And oh nelly, is he wild in the sky. I was trying to be the gentlemare and all, but I guess I was a bit reserved. (We din’t do anything bad, Applejack, I promise!)

WaterBottle

Cloud swimming in enjoyable, but only do it if your special somepony is okay with it, and away make sure you stay clear of lightning clouds.

@WaterBottle: And yes, we tend to be a bit wild in the air o^O

DaBoss

@Quarters: Actually, that sounds like a great idea. Thank you :)

PaintDrop

Cloud swimming is great! :)

Not sure if you've made up your mind or not, but cloud keychains are always cool. They don't last for too long on the ground, but you can have them sculpted in any shape you want, including a figurine of Eric O:)

@PaintDrop: Is your coltfriend a pegasus? Wing brushes are a great gift. Could could have them specially engraved with the Everfree symbol.

PrinceEric

What in Tartarus?! Why didn't anypony tell me there was such a thing as wing brushes?!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Jade was brushing his wings every morning, sis. You just don't notice things :( You're my sister, but you're such a slob sometimes.

@RRBB: You're everything I need :) Work on improving your grades. I'll be waiting.

@PainDrop: a pet might be a good idea, but it's not related to MC.

Short&Hoofy

Everypony, thank you, but I know what'll get. It's great that you want to help, but I've made up my mind.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Good luck! Tell us how it goes :)

LyraHands

I somehow doubt she will…

Short&Hoofy

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Honeymoon Post

@Hey, everyone!

Technically we're not supposed to be here, but something remarkable happened, and I just must share!

As you know CodeFilly and I are on our honeymoon in Baltimare. So far it has been incredible (the Crystal Empire is nice and all, but I live the sun too much!) So, we were at the beach today, where we spend most of our mornings, when we suddenly hear the following conversation:

Young pegasus mare: I'm so glad Brush is back to writing. After everything that happens to her I thought she'd quit the site.

Young pegasus stallion (clearly her coltfriend): Yeah. The whole drama thing was a bit too much. Good thing Tech out his hoof down. Do you think we'll see any of them at the convention?

Mare: that would be so cool. I can't imagine what it would be like just to get to talk to them. You know what I mean?

Stallion: Yeah. Finally someplace we don't have to hide we. I heard rumors that Princess Twilight might be there. Cool that there’s a Nightling Princess.

Mare: As if! It's all a publicity stunt. I mean, come on, how do you imagine an actual princess writing coltfiction? It's just like Luna, who is confirmed she isn't Luna.

Stallion: It would be nice, though.

Mare: Don't get me wrong, if any dignitary is there I'll fly to her faster than you can say applesplit.

The conversation went on discussing the lives of the humfamous Nightlings on the site. (Tech, you have quite the fan base it seems. “Strict and mysterious” and “still single, I hear” :P) So they go on and on. By that time Code and I have stopped whatever we are doing, and are listening to their every word.

At that point two more ponies appear—an earth mare and her younger brother (about fifteen I’d say). They too join in the conversation. (Well mostly the mare. The colt is trying to look cool, pretending to ignore them, but still comments every now and again just to prove them wrong).

By this time it's getting late. ColdFilly is poking me go for a swim (though she’s still got one ear pointing at the group). I'm sitting there chuckling like an idiot, trying to pretend I'm not listening in. And suddenly one of them says: “Can you imagine if MightyDragon and CodeFilly come here for their honeymoon?” (Or something along those lines.)

MightyDragon

Sorry, I sent it too soon :/

Anyway, one of them says that and I completely lose it. I stand up, look CodeFilly in the eyes (by that time she's already suspecting what I have in mind). So, I take her by the hoof and go directly to the group of Nightlings.

“Excuse me,” I say. “I couldn't help but overheard. Are you talking about the EqF site?”

They stare at me, then at themselves and nod. I can tell most of them are skeptical.

“Cool. Because, I'm a regular there. And you know who this is?” I point at Code. “This is CodeFilly!”

I swear, there was such a silence that I thought a sea monster had come out from the ocean. And then things got really strange!

MightyDragon

TL/DR: we came across some nice local Nightlings. Mighty made a fool of himself and me, and as a result we spend the day being shown round the city. Tonight we're the guests of honor of the Danny Club.

I never thought we'd be famous for something such as this. @LyraHands, you can feel proud of your achievement. :)

CodeFilly

But, Thaco… I would have said it better. :(

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: If that's the way you write, I can understand why you get your stories rejected every time :P

That aside, it’s a cool story. Maybe next time I go on vacation there will be ponies talking about me too :) Did you take pictures?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: You have no idea :/ It seems fun now, but try rearing through fourth thousand words of that. You haven't seen the true terror of tense change until you have. *facehoof*

@MightyDragon, @CodeFilly: I'm with Paint on the pictures, though. Share!

RRBB

I don't know how to feel about this :( I haven't exactly publicized the fact that I'm a Nightling, but to claim that I'm a publicity stunt… that's just hurtful :( Still, I'm glad that the site is getting the recognition it deserves. We joke about this a lot, but Lyra really did something magical. To pick a highly controversial subject (and let's face it, coltfiction is precisely that), to make a site, to find like minded ponies to help her run it, but above all, to make it seem like home. I know there have been rough patches, but this place is a second home to me, and I believe many more.

Creating that is no small feet (trust me, I know what I'm talking about). To see that ponies across Equestria are starting to appreciate that…well, I think it speaks for itself ;)

DarkSparkle

Lyra is too busy blushing in the corner of the room, but on her behalf I accept your praise. :)

Bob

@CodeFilly: I'm actually not far from Baltimare. Would you two mind if I pass to see you? If you don't mind, of course. (I know it's your honeymoon and all, but I need to see you.)

Brush

Yes, Brush. You can come and ogle all the stallions on the beach :P

MightyDragon

@Brush: Talk about being sneaky. :P

RRBB

At the risk of sounding like me I'd like to remind to everyone that even if MightyDragon’s story was a breath of fresh air in our stressful lives, they still are on their honeymoon and would prefer to keep it that way. So, please do not bother them with any additional requests be it here or in PMs.

@MightyDragon, @CodeFilly: Enjoy a wonderful time and don't worry about the crowd here. Hop and myself would be able to handle things until your return.

The TechNightling

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: Aww! Please take pictures! Kisses! And bring some souvenirs! :)

HopHop

I wish I were on my honeymoon with somepony special… *sniff*

TrueSparkle

Alright, enough is enough! I'm locking the thread!

On a MC related note. First copies of Chosen will be available tomorrow. If there are any plans for another reading, I strongly advise someone start a thread.

The TechNightling

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Reading Preparations

Omg! I just got an early early copy of the book and it is incredible! I already read it twice and I still can't wait till we do the reading.

Everypony who wants to come tonight is welcome! I have compiled a list of the things that went wrong last time (so there is no repeat) as well as a set of improvements. You’ll like it I'm sure! Even Spike is excited about the event and has been putting extra effort to get the castle ready!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I don't think that's the reason Spike is excited :P

TrueSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Traitor!

Fine, I'll come to your reading. Why didn't you call me when you got your copy? I've been busy with work and had no chance of going to get mine :( Now I won't be do anything wondering what will happen in the story.

Does a god appear? Is it Poseidon? Or maybe the Everprince appears?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Spoilers! :P

Sadly, I won't be able to make it. You girls have fun, and if you could do a chapter by chapter account of what's going on (like last time). I'll just be here, doing other stuff, potentially being pampered by my boyfriend.

LightSparkle

You can go if you want to…

Celestia

Mom! I’d like to at least try to enjoy some calm after your visit :/ Besides, I can't just leave my friend here. I promised to help them out with something.

LightSparkle

…you can leave your fiends behind.

Cause your friends don't dance,and if they don't dance, they are no friends of mine!

Celestia

Mom, just… :/

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: You're mom is the best! :)))

@DarkSparkle: I'll be there with Squishy (and half the class, I imagine.) Just, can you take care of my parents? I mean tell them that it's for a learning experience or something. They still are grumpy about me “not studying enough as I should”. :/

RRBB

I won't be able to make it either. :( I really would have liked to go, but I have other plans for tonight. I'll be sure to read through the posts, though :) you can be sure of that.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Aww, Paint is in love. You know you can bring him here, right? It will also be a great opportunity to immerse him in the Nightling culture. :D

I think I'll in it's a few non-Nightling friends as well to see if this will change their minds. (They are from the same class, so it will be fine.)

Twist

@DarkSparkle: Umm, can we make it tomorrow morning? Not that I don't like night readings, but my sis ain't gonna like spending her evening here again. She has a lot of work early tomorrow, and I know even if she doesn't come to watch over me I know she'll be awake all night worrying.

WaterBottle

Yes, tomorrow is a much better time. That way I won't fall asleep halfway through the reading (the reading spell was so good, by the way :)) You should really start doing story readings).

Weren't you going to do that after last time? Maybe you could teach me the spell and I can try. :)

SweetStuff

@Twist: Somehow I don't think it would be a good idea. Another day, maybe.

PaintDrop

Argh. Sadly, I (or any other Wonderbolt, for that matter) won't be able to make it. We've been dispatched to check out something and it will be at least a week until we're in the Canterlot area.

Edit: AwesomePony and Fleetfoot are sending their best.

CEOWitch

Yay! I’m so there! @PPI, you?

I can't wait! Is it okay if I take lots of pictures? I just love taking pictures then talking about it with others. Don't worry, I won't take photos of you if you don't want to, but I hope you'll let me O:)

HopHop

Surprisingly, I'm in Manehattan and provided it’s tomorrow morning, I might be able to come along with Candle. Of course, I'd very much appreciate if you can tell me a nice hotel to book a room.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: Pfft! You can stay at my place, I have plenty of rooms!

@all: That settles it. The event will be held tomorrow! (Which will give me a chance to read the booklet again until then :)) @LyraHands, you can join in if you want? Or I can go to your place.

DarkSparkle

I'll try to be there as well.

Brush

Umm, is it okay if I bring a few other friends? The Griffin sort of became a big thing here, and… Look, I just want to show off, okay? There are Griffins here that idolize RRBB (don't ask me why :/) so I don't want to be a lamo and tell them they can't join.

Feather

@Twist: Please tell me you haven't invited dumb and dumber? :/

@PaintDrop: That means you'll be there, right? Since it's tomorrow and everything :P

@Feather: I approve. Worship me! :P (and my Squishy).

RRBB

I'll be there as well.

Quarters

This is turning out great! @LightSparkle: please try to come even if it's just for a little while. I feel I've been neglecting you lately :( This will be a great opportunity for us to catch up while doing something we love.

Oh, and if you want you can bring your boyfriend along. He's nice and I'm sure he won't be creeped out. :)

Pretty please? O:)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I know I'll regret this…

LightSparkle

@HopHop: You bet! I just planned the greatest-hyper-most-shippy party ever! :D

PPI

Wait a moment! You'll be reading the second book of Chosen of Poseidon? Any chance of doing a quick read of the first? For continuity and such? I admit I didn't have time to read it with things at work being tense. Lately we've been having more than our usual share of unusual incidents in the Crystal Empire.

BlueEyes

@BlueEyes: Just read the first booklet tonight, silly :) Or do you just want somepony to read it for you? :P

DaBoss

@BlueEyes: I think that was very awkward.

DarkSparkle

Yep, it was.

I'll read it on my own.

BlueEyes

Umm… will anyone be able to pick me up again from Cloudsdale? O:)

PrinceEric

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Second Reading 1

Okay, this is the big day! I confess I read the book stories with DarkSparkle yesterday (so worth it!). Even if Bob kicked her out at four. O:) No worries, though we got a few hours of sleep (pfft! Who needs sleep?) and a cast a quick insomnia spell, so should be fine until evening. :)

Are you all excited?! I know I am :) I really am curious to see how everyone reacts to the revelation (yes, there's a big revelation in today's chapters. I'm not saying what or where, but it's there, so… :))

LyraHands

@PrinceEric: I spoke to your parents and will be taking you here and back.
Turns out I’m friends with your mother’s sister. :) I never expected to catch up with her. That was hilarious.

@LyraHands: can you do a few deliveries before we start? I know it's short notice, but I don't think I can manage on my own :( (and BlueEyes is a too dopey to get it right :))

DaBoss

I was NOT kicked out! Bob asked me, as any reasonable adult would, and I decided it was best I go and get the castle ready for today.

On that note, if anyone wants any special food, please let me know. Spike’s out shopping (grumbling all the way.) Good thing TrueSparkle is with him to make sure something gets done.

Sadly, this looks like it's going to be a smaller meeting. The Wonderbolts won't enable to make it, as won't Code, Mighty, InItForTheShipping… It’s mostly Ponyville Nightlings plus a few ponies from Canterlot, and a flock of Griffins :) (oh, and PrinceEric, naturally).

Still, we’ll have a great time, and we’ll be posting the reactions of every chapter.

Edit: the reading will be starting at noon. Lyra needs to finish her deliveries and DaBoss still needs to get PrinceEric.

DarkSparkle

Well, I'm ill :/ Yet another highlight of my vacation. The way things are going I can't wait to get to university. On the positive side, my friends dropped by and I'll be reading this with them (so be sure to share lots of juicy gossip :))

LightSparkle

Well, I'll be going. Alone, but I'll be there. I got tired of RRBB nagging me all the time :/ (Happy!)

One word about my SO and I'll buck you so hard, you'll fly all the way to the Crystal Empire!

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Lewd! Will your coltfriend be okay with it? :P

@DarkSparkle: Thanks for the help. I'll be there shortly. Want me to bring food? It's not a problem.

RRBB

I’ll be bringing pies. Sis found a few free hours, so she'll be joining me to the start of the reading and bringing some homemade Apple pies. Now, I ain't be making promises, but I might be able to bring a jar of zap apple jam. It ain't going to be much, but enough for everypony I reckon.

WaterBottle

@DarkSparkle: It was so funny! I don't think I've seen Bob scrunch like that :D

By the way is it just me, or is there a pause of fics and updates before a release. I never noticed it happen with MCE. Has anyone else seen anything of the sort?

And I'm not talking about the authors there.

Edit: I'm stupid :/ I have access to the site. Looking at stats there's a general pause before anything new and a ruse immediately after. Seems like many writers are waiting for inspiration from the actual books. :)

LyraHands

Hey, all! Snips and Snails have agreed to join, so please be nice to them. I asked a few other classmates, but they are on the edge about it.

@AwesomePony: Can I show your upcoming chapter? I know it's a week away, but it might be p nice to show it at such an event.

Twist

@Twist: Really? You invited dumb and dumber? :/ I don't care that they read the site, they are just arch! Hopefully, more of the cool colts come along.

RRBB

@RRBB: That was rude. They are ponies just like us.

@PaintDrop: I'm happy you're able that come. :)

Short&Hoofy

I'm home.

@DarkSparkle: I found a note from Spike saying that Angel is at the castle. Has he really been there all this time? :/ If so I'm going to have a word with him and TrueSparkle. Bunnies shouldn't be cooped up in dark castles for long periods of time :/

@Short&Hoofy: Is everything okay with Max? I haven't seen her post in a while. I hope nothing bad has happened.

Brush

@Brush: Hey! <3 She's fine, just having cold hooves :/ She's been spending so much time with my sis talking about dress designs I might as well swap homes with her :(

I don't think she'll make it to the reading, although with these two everything is possible. She's been changing her mind about everything for the last few days and now my sister is grumpy. At least I'll be there “unsupervised” this time :)

SweetStuff

I for one am looking forward to this. By the way, gave you realized that we’ll graduate before Everhere is done? (I'm talking about series one.) It's not something I ever imagined…it just sounds so out there.

Plust

Totally out there. Like, on a whole new cosmic level.

Tree

Okay, Spike is back with part of the food. For some reason he's also bought a pony sized roll of cheese. TrueSparkle insists that someone ordered it, though I have my doubts. (@PPI, if this is another of your schemes, I’m locking you out!)

@Brush: True wants me to tell you she's sorry, but yes. We have been keeping Angel in the castle (when I say “we” I mean she has and without my knowledge :/) Angle doesn't look terribly upset. Maybe a bit fatter, but not upset.

Edit: my mistake that's just fluff.

DarkSparkle

@Plust: You're sweet when you're mad, you know :)

YouKnowWho

Kids! Just listen to you :P You make me feel old. I won't be graduating in a while, though my graduation is a bit different than yours.

Now I find myself wondering how many Nightlings will get married before the first Everhere season one is done. We have a pair already married, three more pretty much certain, and about five I could think of.

Aaaanyway, will you be starting soon? I might need to take a short nap before that. (Slight fever again…)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Ouch! Get better, okay? I'm get everything ready and let you know. Should be at least 2-3 hours.

DarkSparkle

Thanks. Have fun, you crazies, and see you soon I hope.

LightSparkle

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Second Reading 2

I feel so ashamed. I was hoping my friends would make far more noise during the reading. Maybe it was the food that appeased them? Just kidding! :P

The reading was quite good. Dark and True managed to modify the spell to have different voices for the different characters. (Not the lame single voice like last time :P)

Chapter was actiony enough, but still no Griffins :/

Feather

@Feather: you forgot the other highlights of the day:

SweetStuff and ForceFeedback are cutest couple. I loved how SweetStuff literally wedged herself under ForceFeedback’s wing. (What's that? A reverse snuggle? :P)

Paint fell asleep five minutes after the reading started. (She must have had one wild night *wink*. :P) Spike put a blanket on her so she doesn't get ill, so all’s good.

I never would have guessed who Quarters is, not in a thousand years! @Quarters, no hard feelings, okay? Sorry for being a jerk to you all those years. I have no idea you could write that well! It also explains your knowledge of flight and aeronautics. Hope we get to talk more in future.

There were a lot of other little things, but nothing I noticed. And yes, the chapter was good. “Fingers crossed” for the next one :)

RRBB

Yay! Just as I predicted!

The chapter is a direct continuation of last time (which ended with Bellucio and Molly finding five other chosen on an island fort, saying they had been expecting him). However, it's suddenly revealed they the new chosen don't actually now either Molly or Bellucio, but are only waiting for the last two to gather (since there “have to be seven” for the secret to be revealed). We get some foreshadowing: one of the chosen mentions he's from Rainwood, and another is wearing a shirt which says “Glassland Giants”. We see that there clearly are trust issues with Bellucio only learning that the ceremony is later that night. Also poor Molly. :( No one trusts her since she is a girl, so most stay away from her.

There are a few passive aggressive remarks, plus some exploration of the island. Then, at midnight, the ceremony takes place. Everyone gathers in the great hall (in front of a ball of floating water) and…nothing happens. There are lots of reactions, Yury (another chosen) sets out to fight Molly, but us stopped by Bellucio. And we suddenly learn that the island is a prison that no one can escape from “until they are seven”.

That was it more or less :). Really interesting, I think. I wonder if they manage to escape in this book, though somehow I doubt it. Still, great read! Thoughts? :)

PrinceEric

Not to upset anyone, but gave you noticed that most of the characters are slowly becoming male? I know its thematic with the majority of the Chosen being (beautiful) males, we literally have just one girl in the entire chapter (and by the looks of it, will have no one else got the next two).

Not that I don't appreciate the eye candy, but come on! There's bound to be at least another female out there.

GriffinGirfriend

@GriffinGirfriend: Doubtful. Mast book had lots: Molly, Megan, Euryala, even Cassandra for a bit. I think this is just the “the disciples are only male” thing. Remember that Euryala was mentioned as being an exception to the rule.

I'm pretty sure things will change soon enough.

RRBB

I think one of them is a servant of another god or something similar. Maybe even a corporate agent? I'm not sure how corporations and deities mix. I mean, we know the head if one if the corporations is an alternative version of Danny, and in another reality the corporations are run by Titans… this is so confusing! :(

ForceFeedback

Welcome to the club, sweetie *kisses*

SweetStuff

And apparently I can't sleep either :( At least fever’s coming down.

Glad the usual shenanigans are going on. SweetStuff seems to be in a happy place right now.

The chapter seems quite nice. From what I could tell it's a deserted island/mansion mystery. I wouldn't be surprised if people start dying one by one (under mysterious circumstances). Didn't think that S&S would go so dark, but I like it.

Maybe it's the fever talking, but I'd like to be Molly right now: surrounded by cute boys with no competition.

Edit: Hoy you can tell you have the best friends? Simple: you make a deranged comment and they all agree with it. :P

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: some class, if you please. :/ There still are innocent foals here.

DarkSparkle

There still are innocent foals here.

innocent foals here.

innocent

Yeah. Sure. *snicker* Whatever helps you to sleep at night :P

RRBB

@RRBB: Buck you! And there are. (You could tell by the blushing.)

Brush

Ooooh! A Brushism! Haven't had one of those in ages :) Nice to finally gave you back :)

@DarkSparkle: What if all of them are gay?

RRBB

Out of curiosity, how many are you there? I saw that a lot didn't make it, yet at the same time you have a herd of Griffins and a flock of schoolfoals.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Herd of Griffins? Pfft! We're a pride of Griffins :P

But yeah, we’re a lot. I got 8 sisters and bros, and the foal flock is about twenty. The pony adults are about 10. If it wasn't so cool it'd totally be lame. Everyone is so *yay* careful and well behaved. I blame the story. Put a Griffin there and watch things go downhill fast :P

Feather

@Feather: Only if it's you. :P

GriffinGirlfriend

Damn you, @DarkSparkle! I never should had read ahead of time! Now I want to shout spoilers after every scene! Hurry up and start the next chapter already!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: some of us could use a bite, you know. Also, I think True needs a bit more rest. You don't want her horn to meld, do you?

And it's so sweet watching Pixel sleep on top of PaintDrop. I think she only came here to get a good rest. Her coltfriend must be exhausting her a lot :P

Brush

…

Short&Hoofy

Okay, everypony! Reading will resume in 5 minutes! If you aren't in the reading hall get here!

DarkSparkle

Author's Note

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Second Reading 3

That's it! Now it's official! The authors are trolling us! I mean, come on!

“What do you think?” Scriber whispered to Bellucio. “Do you think she’ll go for the blond of the dark and mysterious one?”

“Huh?” Bellucio took a step back. He tried not to glance at Molly, but the question made it impossible. Despite himself his very being was wondering what the answer would be.

“Trick question.” Scribed nudged him with his elbow. “All of us have a mysterious past.”

That's literally us discussing ships in the series!

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: you're reading too much into things. It's amusing, but hardly a trolling. I just suspect that Scriber is the comic relief character, although with all characters being Chosen, that might not be the best word to use.

I liked the chapter quite a lot (and I'm saying this as somepony who has read it twice until now :)). The single issue I have, and it's something minor, is that Molly is too calm. I mean, yes she's a girl and not new to adventure but she could start being a bit more careful after she was nearly killed twice. :/ it seems a bit out of character. Other than that, wow! :)

Time for the next chapter? O:)

LyraHands

Yep, was a good chapter. Among the real life highlights.

Snuggling Griffins…couldn't tell if snuggling or just grouped together to keep warm. PPI brought a Yak snow cake for all of us to “enjoy” :/ (on the other hoof, that was a good excuse to squish me some Squishy).

PaintDrop woke up for about fifteen minutes to say a few words amid reading then fell back asleep. Pixel got up, moved about the room, then returned to his sleeping spot (a.k.a. PaintDrop:))

Angel kept trying to get on TrueSparkle’s head. When someone tried to move him away he glared at them with murderous intent. (That bunny is evil!) Good thing Brush managed to get him off there.

PrinceEric couldn't keep his eyes off dumb and dumber. Quarters couldn't keep her eyes off dumb and dumb and dumber. Dumb and dumber had never felt so special in their lives! :)

RRBB

@RRBB: You know I love you, but you really are being a *yay*. Maybe some ponies don't want their personal stuff being discussed on the site where millions of others can see?

Brush

@Brush: touchy! I don't mind telling stuff about myself at all. I could share everything I do, if somepony would like.

RRBB

@RRBB: Short&Hoofy might not appreciate that.

Brush

Hmm. Okay, here we go with chapter two.

My initial theory turned out to be false. We didn't have humans dying under strange circumstances. Rather we had seven Chosen trying to figure out what to do to find Poseidon and/or escape the island. And, of course, no one trusts anyone else.

Of the Chosen we have nearly all the archetypes: the quiet one, the strong arrogant one, the talkative one, the crazy one, and the noble one (plus Molly and Bellucio). Every single one of them has some story, but isn't willing to share it with the rest. We have a game of cat and mouse while exploring the fort. Hidden rooms are found, a few traps disarmed, lots and lots of talking about Poseidon. (Based on the inconsistencies in the trails, I think some of them are from different realities). During one of the nights Icelos appears in Molly’s dream and starts to discuss events with her. We then learn he has been helping her discover hidden rooms of the place (allowing her to get some sort of weird item referred to as “the egg”). Icelos then warns her to be careful and not trust anyone, even Bellucio. When she is about to ask why, she's woken up by Bellucio because there's movement on the tower (the area they first arrived to this world). As soon as they reach there a new boy (with lots of scars) appears and claims he too is a Chosen of Poseidon. Everyone looks at Scriber who just say “There are supposed to be only seven Chosen at all times. One of us isn't what he says he is. Or she…”

Won't lie, this is so dope! Icelos making an appearance was great, plus the other Chosen are slowly starting to grow on me. Do you think they will become the main characters of the series?

RRBB: and you can't blame me! :P

PrinceEric

@Brush: okay, so I get your point. Sheesh :/

Sorry, LightSparkle, there will be no more live commentary.

RRBB

You can really be a passive-aggressive b at times. You don't need to stop commenting, just avoid that stuff, okay? Even if I didn't mind the cake.

YouKnowWho

Snuggling Griffins? That sounds so…not entirely lame, but yeah. As much as I'd like to be a player, it's just the cold. None of these losers are any good anyway :P

Feather

Might we focus on the story? Seriously :/ And stop sending Spike to get more food all the time? It's hardly fair since he was the one who prepared the snacks and did all the cooking. The poor guy spends more time in the kitchen that listening to the story.

(Spoiler: he likes MC :) I caught him casually ask me stuff like “Can Bellucio be such an idiot?” or “Why can't Euryala just bubble in with her gemthingee?” Oh, and my personal favorite: “You know, if MCE was real and I ate the evergems would I gain their powers and become the EverSpike?”

DarkSparkle

EverSpike?! It's a crime if he doesn't create such an account. @LyraHands, can you block it so no one steals the name?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: already ahead of you :)

@DarkSparkle: I think I should do the next reading. True is exhausted to the Max (get it?:)) Really, I think I should read. The spell you've made takes a lot out a unicorn, and while I'm not a natural like you two, I still graduated the S.G.U. ;)

HopHop

@LightSparkle: Remember to eat lots of lemons and honey. Also drink at least two bull buckets of water per day.

Celestia

Ha! As if. I just have a little fever, Mom, I don't need you riding here to “take care of me”

Edit: Great. Now my friends think it's a good idea. Thanks a lot, Mom :/

LightSparkle

@HopHop: Okay, take a few minutes to learn the spell. @TrueSparkle, you get Spike and you two get some rest. @Brush, get your bunny under control. :/

We start the next chapter in 5!

DarkSparkle

Oh, oh! I almost forgot, again! I'll be going something like a live event in Canterlot. Octavia (I love you <3) has offered me to do a live performance of my new “album”. Thanks to her, @Luna, @LyraHands, and @number1 it will be part of the official soundtrack set of MCE! :)

But enough about me! Last chapter first :)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: because you totally don't want to impress ForceFeedback ;P Congrats, though. I love how you sing. Maybe I can hire you to make something for me and Squishy? :D

RRBB

Ahem! *shakes fist*

@all: We're starting in 1 minute! If you're not in the reading hall, get there!

DarkSparkle

Author's Note

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Member List

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Second Reading 4

I am writing this because Twilight literally pushed a aethetech in my face and wouldn't stop making puppy eyes until I did.

I think this is dumb :/ Not the Midnight Castle stories, they are kinda cool, but they are no Power Ponies. Getting my to write on this site is dumb! Like why would anypony want me to write here? The stories doesn't even have dogs or dragons.

So yeah. I wrote something. It's stupid. Now I can get back to making fries.

P.S. I asked about the gems because I found it amusing how many magical items are made of food (dragon here, right?).

EverSpike

He speaks! Quick, @all: make EverSpike famous!

I for one like you a lot, Spike :) Come visit a bit more often, okay? Things aren't the same since you moved to Ponyville.

HopHop

@EverSpike: You're so sweet :) I can see you as EverSpike :))

SweetStuff

@RRBB: Ha ha. :/ Very funny. Just because I dozed off a bit doesn't invite you to come to any misguided conclusions. Also, you've just jealous that Pixel prefers me over you.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: News flash, I have a Squishy to sleep on me :P Plus, Pixel doesn't prefer you, he prefers Short&Hoofy (ear chewing for the win :) He's only done that once to me. Then again I can't blame him for having great taste. (I may or may not have chewed Short&Hoofy’s ears as well O:))

RRBB

Spike… that was so cute :)

Going back to the Chosen, I so loved this! Who is up to have a repeat of ent reading once we've done discussing shipping and theories. (@curators, expect an influx of Molly x shipfics. :P)

@HopHop: You were amazing, by the way! Your audio spell was out of this world. No offense, True, but HopHoo could always do the best voice impersonations when's he wanted to. On that not, can you do a readings of some of the popular fics? Things aren't looking too great for me financially right now and I don't want to overburden Bob, but I will find a way to pay you, if you set to do that.

LyraHands

@HopHop: to cut to the chase, just tell me your rates. I know Lyra will keep doing sad faces until she gets what she wants so I’m caving in preemptively.

Bob

@EverSpike: I think the name is cool. ;)

TheRealLuna

Okay, here we are at the end of the second booklet, and I have no idea how this will continue! To be honest I had some doubts when this started. It was nice, but initially no major surprised: they follow the path, discover there are other Chosen, then find one who leads them to Poseidon’s abandoned lair (?). At first I thought it would be a typical adventure, now I’m really liking the way things are going.

So. We continue directly from last time with the chosen (who is literally called Scars) demanding to see Poseidon. Once again a new name is dropped (Seagarden) and there's a hint about inns going on in the world in general. We learn that the corporations are indeed global (though not all are present in every town/location), just as the deities (including the major three) have “temples” elsewhere as well. There's a lot of sharing of stories, indicating that the other Chosen have gone through experiences similar to Bellucio and the grand9, while at the same time they still explore the island trying to escape.

During the chapter there are a lot of accusations: Scars accusing the others of being petty and not using their real names, Scriber is accused of lying to everyone (since he's the only one who spends most his time with one to one talks), Bellucio is accused of being a traitor, since he knows so little about Poseidon and the rites of the chosen. The Midwest surprise (and one of the major revelations) is that there's a huge split between the followers of the gods (not at all touched upon in the MC series). Molly is attacked when it's revealed her brother is a Chosen of Zeus. It's only thanks to Bellucio that there's no actual fight.

This is really a central issue. We’ve always been told that the gods are brothers and stick together, but here suddenly we are told this isn't the case. Apparently, there are 12 major deities (what happened with the other 9?!?) which don't like each other at all. And that's not even counting the Everprince, who is something completely separate.

So, distrust reaches a new high with even Molly having doubts about Bellucio, even if she says she loves him (checkmate, shippers!). However, everyone agrees that they must try “the ritual” again with seven male chosen. They do, and this time the orb of water reacts: it grows in size, freezes over then shatters revealing a girl in “shimmering armor”. Then we have the most cliffhanger of cliffhanger, with the girl saying:

“I’m Kalypso, granddaughter of Poseidon.”

I can say only one things. Whut?!? :) Seriously, Poseidon has children? I didn't think he's the type of god who would get tied down.

PrinceEric

@LyraHands, @Bob: I'll gladly do it for free, just don't expect too much :) I have to work, you know :)

Do you think they'll ever make a play based on MC? I've seen a few Daring Do performances and they were well made (even if not my thing. I was trying to impress my date :P) I'd watch some MC universe plays, though :)

HooHop

@LyraHands: Joy… because I don't have enough badly written self insert ships in my life :/ I think you might need to make a separate section for Chosen, by the way. It started the same, but seems way different now. Also, it's such ship bait. I can imagine the amount of M-M fics about the Chosen, not to mention the F-M or even F-F stuff…

LightSparkle

I'm so editing a Molly x Kalypso fic!

RRBB

@RRBB: Don't you mean write one?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: she's pressuring Short&Hoofy to write it, and knowing Short&Hoofy I expect it to appear in a few days time.

@RRBB: You better treat her like a princess and shower her with gifts every day after all the things she does. Never ever take her for granted, do you understand?

Meanwhile, I might have been dumped again. :/ The really bad thing where I live at the moment that no one ever tells you these things, I have to go out there and ask. Sometimes I learn that “we” have broken up weeks ago. It drives me crazy! It is what it is, I guess.

LightSparkle

That went ominously dark… :( Hope it's not the case. PM me if you need to.

LyraHands

Okay, second reading, anypony? We'll be starting in 5 so be here.

DarkSparkle

I have locked the thread.

The TechNightling

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Troubles and Accidents

I hate exams! I mean what's the point of them? It's not like I don't know what I'll do in life. Hay, I could as well marry if I want to! Instead I have to take an exam on history, literature and all that stuff! :/

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: You realize the irony, right? Complaining about literature on a Fanfiction site that our teachers can read? Stars, I wonder how I ever fell for you :P

Literature was easy, I expect an A+ at least. History was okay, as was math, but chemistry. I hope I'm still in the A zone, or my mother will be yelling at me again. :/ I bet the grand 9 didn't have it as difficult.

RRBB

You all are adorable. I'm doing a double major in university and have a part time job as well. (Yeah, I know I'm here all the time, but here doesn't always equate mooing in my room, although right now I feel I should.)

Remember what I said yesterday? Well, it's true. This time I don't even have anything to be mad about. This time I really have no idea how it happened. He was sweet, we liked each other, he even got into MC. As tempting as it is to blame my mother, i noticed him slipping away even before. So yay me. Single again. The way things are going I might as well become a nun in a Sun Monastery.

The worst part is that I'm still sick so I can't eat ice cream :(

LightSparkle

You'll make a terrible nun, Light :) Besides, don't worry. You might always find your Blazen :)

Simile

@LightSparkle: I'm so sorry :( Don't give up hope. Miracles happen every day.

If there's any way I can help, just say the word.

Candle

@RRBB: Yeah. That was one nasty test :( At least it all done. I still don't understand why all tests must be on the same day. Can't we have a week to prepare, like in college? :/

I think I did well, though poor PaintDrop. The moment she turned in her test paper she tell asleep on her desk. I was scared she'd be sent to the nurse’s office again. :(

SweetStuff

Ain't that a fact. Paint has been getting sick a lot. The other day she fell asleep in line for cherry chocolate muffins. :( Maybe she should ask her to cut down with commissions and such? I know it's her favorite thing, but it ain't good not sleeping. :(

WaterBottle

It isn't drawing. She's just not feeling well. And I'll talk to her about it right after school.

RRBB

@PaintDrop: please get enough sleep. You might be young, but that's no reason to ruin your health because of nonsense. There's plenty of time to do everything, just pace yourself okay?

@LightSparkle: I’m so sorry :( You mentioned traveling is difficult, but if you could Bob and I will be more than happy to have for a while. Who knows, you might meet someone nice here? :)

LyraHands

Not to ruin the mood, but you do realize what you have just done? You have admitted that the head curator is single and available? At this point not even I could stop the torrent of PMs that would undoubtedly rush your way, Light. Unless you want me to block your scrollbox temporarily, that is?

The TechNightling

Girls, sadly I have bad news :( Twilight was attacked. She's fine, but no one knows what happened. As far as the doctors could tell the attack was magical in nature, so… yeah.

Sorry, I'm a wreck right now. Spike and her friends are with her now, so it's likely that we won't be online for a while. I'm only here because Twilight wanted to let everyone know what was going on.

And in case anypony doesn't know, Twilight is DarkSparkle.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: What? :~( My bat sister didn't tell me this! We must go see her! Maybe we should get a gift or something? Maybe get her some flowers? I remember hospital food was really bad :(

SweetStuff

@all: I'll have to step in. TrueSparkle PMed me to keep the fort. As much as DarkSparkle would appreciate seeing you, for the moment it's best she get some rest. Thank the stars she is well. In the meantime there are other things we could be helpful with.

@Luna, @Fleetfoot, @CEOWitch: is there any way the site could help? We're not the Wonderbolts of the Guard, but we're a huge amount and willing to help.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I'm still learning the details of this myself. For now best leave the Bolts and the Guard do their jobs.

The only thing I could think of is maybe makes a list of strange events and magical attacks? I know it seems like I'm showing you the door, but there has been a rise of those with no explanation provided. Getting a list and warning others to be careful when near those areas would be of extreme help. Most of all, if you see anything strange or menacing don't engage it!

Luna

@all: You heard, Luna. HopHop and Tech will make a new section of the site on which you'll be able to report any strange events. This is a serious matter, so please no trolling!

@HopHop, @The TechNightling: I’m leaving this in your hooves. I'll try to get in touch with as many ponies from the conservatory and the master’s course to help out.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: On it!

HopHop

What the *yay*! *yay* this fever! I'll be there in a few hours! Was there any residual magic? Any clues at all?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: you will do no such thing, young lady! If you can't take care of yourself how do you expect to take care of sompeony else? I understand your alarm, and believe me I share it, but blindly rushing into the unknown in your condition would serve no one. For the moment focus on getting better.

Celestia

I know it's terrible, but I'm starting to get really paranoid. I'm on several fan sites and it never felt like this. Do you think something is targeting Nightlings?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: It's doubtful, but having a princess attacked is a serious matter. Either way there are ponies looking into this, so the only thing all of you is to try to stay self and try to help out with information. The more we know about this, the better our chance of finding an explanation.

Luna

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Short & Hoofy

I know this is probably not the best time to talk about fics, with what happened yesterday and all… but I thought I would.

You can grumble at me, I'll accept that, but I'll talk anyway. Why? Because sometimes it's stories like these that keep us going. I can only imagine why Lyra made the site. She's said it's because of her love of MC, but I think it's also something more—her love of others.

We all know this site has had its fair share of drama—from serious real world issues to silly shipping wars—but it has always been a nice place. My experience might be different from a lot of you. I didn't make my account here, Lyra did, but I joined and this has become more than my aethernet home. This is the place I had my heart ripped apart, then found love. It's been the same for many of you, and not only “the regulars” but also you who've been here for a few weeks. Ponies have problems, they share them (at times), and they receive help or at least a means to relax, calm down and look at things from a new perspective.

Lately a lot of close friends have been going through the same: PaintDrop’s health issues, LightSparkle’s love life, my sister’s anxiety attacks (who's is why she hasn't been posting lately), DarkSparkle’s attack… Yes, the same attack that got thousands of us organized to help with finding the problem, just as you all did during the Crystal Empire storm. I wasn't part of the site back then, but I still lurked from my sister’s account.

You helped, all of you, in more ways that you thought possible. Sometimes even a small “thank you” or a friendly comment are nought to brighten somepony’s day. So what’s the point of my post? Just that we mustn't stop. Bad things happen, I’ve seen that first hoof, and that is precisely the reason why we shouldn't flood the threads with dark thoughts.

Yes, I know I probably sound naive, but trying to give advice and write stories is the only way I know how to give help. I'm sorry I can't do more, I wish I could, but… so… I wrote something last night. I don't know if it would be taken seriously, I'm not even sure if will help, but if this a chance it might at least make someone smile for a moment…

Often I wish I was a Princess so that I can wave my horn and make all of Equestria better. But as we've seen Princesses are ponies too. Even they can't make everything better, and sometimes they too need help.

That's all I have to say. I hope everypony gets better, and I'm sorry I can't to more…

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: You idiot! You made me cry in class! :~)

I love you, Short. You are and always will be my Princess. And you do help. You've helped me, Paint, YouKnowWho, SweetStuff… you've literally been taking care of your sister for years, so don't you say you're just “trying to give advice and write stories”.

@all: You better listen to her! Short knows what she's talking about! And if anyone tries to troll her you'll have Tartarus to pay!

And read Heart of a Pony! I know I say this a lot, but this time it's different. Especially with what's been happening lately!

RRBB

@Short&Hoofy: You're the sweetest on the site, you know that right? :)

Hi, all. I'm sorry for the scare. Yes, I'm writing this from hospital (they only gave me 5 minutes. Magic is still weak.) Initially I wanted to thank you all for being so great and supportive (the “anomaly chart” you did is great and will help a lot of ponies!) but then I read Short&Hoofy’s post and… I’m actually crying right now (and probably freaking out the nurses).

Short, that's the sweetest thing anypony could say. And you are absolutely right. We have been using the site for drama quite a bit (I expect it's only natural) but we must also continue discussing and writing stories, because not only did they bring us here, but they makes us smile when we most need.

I haven't read your story yet (only glimpsed at the first page) but I can feel it (like your post) is so you: gentle, caring, and stronger than anypony might imagine. Thank you for always being here for us, Short. Thank you, everyone else who has in any way contributed to the site, be it through a story or a clever comment. You make this place worthwhile.

DarkSparkle

@Short&Hoofy: yes, this is so typical you. Max has locked herself in the kitchen so I can't show her this, but I'm sure she’ll enjoy it. Never expected a mare would be more nervous than me. :/

Exams are a week away and the marriage is shortly after that. I'll be moving to Ponyville in a month (right after the con here).

@DarkSparkle: I’m glad you are alright. Brush told me your friends are hunting this down. I hope that catch her/him/it. I know I shout a lot about how I'm being treated, but you actually live in danger every day. You and Spike are the reason I'm even here. So thank you, and get better soon.

Jade

Oh my dear! Apparently a lot of things are happening here. I am so relieved that DarkSparkle is better, and hope that PaintDrop is as well (and all the rest do you, of course). I just wanted to send a line saying that LightSparkle is much better and sleeping comfortably in the next room. Getting dumped while sick isn't…ideal way to start a week, but I will take care of it! First we’ll get her better and then we’ll see what we could do about the other thing :)

Toodles.

-LightSparkle’s friend.

LightSparkle

This is one feely thread. And the feels are real.

Initially I thought of locking the thread right after Short&Hoofy’s post. Why? I'm ashamed to say I was afraid that it would get trolled or that she would receive a lot of negative replies. It was stupid, I know, and I should have known you all better.

No Nightling would have the heart to say anything bad about that thread. You've all proved it time and time again! We might squabble about theories and OTPs but when there’s need we stick together.

Last night @Luna told me that the chart had helped tremendously and yeh site has both the Guard’s and the Wonderbolts’ thanks. @Sgt Pepper, also sent me a PM telling me how much time that simple effort on our part has saved. He couldn't go into details, of course, but he did mention that other accidents have been prevented.

But that's not only what we do. You've read what the others have said before me, so I won't repeat their words. (I've already said it lots of times before anyway.) Your stories matter! Even those who are sent back to be reworked are full of passion, your passion! As Short&Hoofy said, sometimes it’s a dark place out there, so we can at least do our very best to brighten it with our stories and posts and comments.

@Short&Hoofy: making your account was one of the best things that happened to this site, and not only. You've changed so much since that train ride, you've changed others around you (I remember when RRBB used to break sinks, bite wingfeathers, and feel so miserable I was genuinely scared for her life.) Thank you for being you :)

And now I'm locking the thread. There's at least one classroom with crying foals in Equestria, and their teacher PMed me that she isn't sure how much she could keep herself from tearing up :)

Thank you for being here, Nightlings! Let's do this together!

LyraHands

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Paint Discussion PMs

Hello, Brush.

I know this is awkward, you're probably the last pony you want to hear from, but I really need to know what's going on with my sister. Each time I'd ask her she'd always find an excuse and Brush the whole matter off. First it was exams, then drama, then commissions… something is going on with her, and I'm not sure her being in love is the problem. Or not the only one, at least.

She's like me, so I know what strong attachments she might form, especially the first time. All the signs are there, but she refuses to talk about it, even if she knows I read the site. And that's not all… she's gotten weak, far weaker than she wants everypony else to believe. What's going on the site, or at school, is nothing compared to what she's really going through. When she gets home she's completely lethargic. Every other night she’d skip dinner and got directly to her room and be out like a light. Twice she has fallen asleep at the base of the stairs. She didn't even have the strength to climb to her room!

My parents have called doctors and specialists, but the only thing they can find is that she's a bit undernourished and needs more sleep. Yet, if she's not doing any physical activity why is she so tired?

I'm scared and could really use your help. Please.

MasterOfThisAstra

Mota, of course you could ask me for help. I'm speechless that things are so bad :( I've noticed as much as anypony that PaintDrop has been unwell, but nurse Redheart assured me it's nothing serious, so I thought it was just her doing shenanigans or whatnot.

To have her fall asleep on her hooves… I don't know what to say. I’d go check up on her myself, but at the moment I'm not in Canterlot. We're chasing after the thing that attacked Twilight (and please don't panic, I'm alright; the others are with me). I've no idea how long it will take, but I'll see if there's someone to keep an eye. I’m not sure about Discord, but I think Tree is available.

Do you have any clues on the matter? I just heard whispers that it's because of her “older coltfriend”. I made it a point to ask her how older exactly. It's just a few years (at that age 3 years seem a lot).

Brush

That's the thing. It just suddenly happened. Nopony has even seen that coltfirend of hers. One day she just started getting weaker and then it went on.

At first my parents thought it was related to her disappearance. That was a traumatic event, so maybe there was something tune doctors missed, or maybe it was something psychological? However, the more tests that they did the less they found. At one point Scoops just refused doing them so the matter was closed. It was considered to be just a “thing” that would be over in a few weeks… but it's gotten worse.

MasterOfThisAstra

Sorry :( I should have looked more into this. I didn't notice anything weird about her other than the obvious. She was happy when I went back to writing, and she sent me a few sketches she'd done.. The only strange thing was her and Short got into an argument after the last reading. Both refused to tell me what it was about, but it looked serious enough for Short to be worried. I could never tell with PaintDrop, she's too good at masking her feelings. :(

Brush

I haven't asked anypony else on the site. I doubt they’d tell me.

Could it be Tech same thing that attacked DarkSparkle? You've no idea what it is and it appeared all over Equestria. Maybe weakness is part of its behaviour? A similar thing happened during Tirek’s conquest. When he took my magic, I felt so weak I could barely move.

MasterOfThisAstra

It isn't. Type thing is very specific and attacks in an entirely different fashion. I could ask DarkSparkle to be certain, but from what I understood it's… let's say we'd know it it was involved. That doesn't make things less serious.

Do you know if she's been sneaking out of the house, going somewhere at night? That might explain why she's constantly tired. Oh, maybe she's sneaking into tune Everfree forest. I remember the CMC used to do that and would frighten the daylights out of me.

Brush

No. She was caught sneaking out a few times, but my parents tell me she hasn't made any attempts lately, she'd go out sometimes without saying where, but usually she'd be back within ten twenty minutes so there didn't think anything of it. Now that you mention it, maybe that's part of the reason? Although I don't see how being somewhere for a new minutes could cause this.

MasterOfThisAstra

Sorry, I'll have to go in a bit. What we're doing is a bit time sensitive and I can't be here long. :(

Brush

Saving Equestria again… Brush, you never change.

MasterOfThisAstra

I am what I am :) Don't worry, I'm in the best of hooves, and don't worry about you sister. I'm sure we’ll figure out what it is.

How have you been? I heard that you're doing pretty well with your marefiend. Sorry about the bunny chaos Angel caused. It it's any relief I found the culprit and can assure you it won't happen ever again.

Brush

She's fine. Supportive. This thing with PaintDrop has put me a bit on edge even if I don't go to college anymore. I considered going back home, but… I don't think I'm ready for that yet. I visited a few times. It that it did any good. Scoops would put up an act for me, then the very evening I got back to the Empire I'd get a dragon mail from my parents that she fainted again.

Funny, all these years I saw her as a nuisance that I wanted to get away from, but now seeing her worsen I'm terrified… I don't want to lose her, Brush. If there's some way for me to help her…

MasterOfThisAstra

She will get better! Trust me. Trust her! Neither me or any of her friends would let anything happen to her. If you want to do something, talk to her. Tell her what you told me and ask her to explain. You’re not just a stallion, Mota, you're her older brother. She knows that and she’ll listen to you if only you give her a chance.

Heading off now.

Brush

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Project

Much wow!

@EndlessHearts: Feather told me you write well, but I never read anything by you before. That last thing, had created quite a stir here! (Half a dozen Griffins have asked me if you're single :P) Expect your scrollbox to explode if it hasn't already.

This might be weird, but can you write a Griffin Human story? I've been trying, but I'm not into writing, and Feather is just a ball of hot air :P

GriffinGirlfriend

I can write that! I'd love to write that! Just give me a few days to read through the rest of the books and I'll write that!

HappyG

Finally the public recognizes the true skill of Squishy! (As they should!) :) About time, too!

In general Short&Hoofy is busy, but under the right circumstances I could probably be inclined to ask her to write this… Just goofing around with you. Short writes what Short wants. That's one area I don't have any influence on her :)

RRBB

@Short&Hoofy: Welcome to humfame! Not that you didn't have it already, but to have someone ask you to write a story for hem, that's a big thing :)

And yes, I think you should write something with Griffins (I'm so curious what you'll do. You always tend to surprise me in a good way :))

LyraHands

Short is one of the bright stars :) I also want to read a bit more of Simile, even if it's the exact opposite. Short write great slice of life romances, while Simile is a masterful adventurer. If the two work on a collaboration… :) Please consider it.

Candle

@Candle: great idea!

How about we make a huge collaboration? I mean two stories: one in Equestria and one on Earth, each written by a set of great authors! Like day and night, but following own theme.

Equestria will have: Simile, EndlessHearts, and Quarters

Earth will have: Brush, Jade, and LightSparkle

RRBB could edit, PaintDrop could do the illustrations, and I will make the soundtrack:)

Oh, oh, and TrueSparkle, HopHop, and DarkSparkle can make the audiospell!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: that's one ambitions collaboration… I love it! Girls, please make that happen! :D

LyraHands

That would definitely be a major achievement. A fan creation of professional quality. I think it would be wonderful, especially if a promotional chapter could be completed before the convention (which is about a month away now).

I'm also willing to find ways of getting this in print once done. If @Luna is alright with this. The proceeds could go to fund social activities of the site as well as support (in case of emergencies).

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: This is actually a wonderful idea! I'll talk with Prince Blueblood about it right away!

Be right back.

Luna

I'd be up for it :) Won't lie, I've been thinking what it would be life for Endless to be working with me, and Quarters has a sweet story. :)

Simile

@all: Forgive me, my darlings! I wanted to post the results of the contest, I really did, but real life has been so troublesome as of late. Even now I'm working of something of great importance and don't think I'll be able to manage in the next few days :(

I have read some of the entries, and I do like them a lot, but I don't want to leave this half done. You all deserve better than that.

Thank you for understanding, and please, please, please accept my apologies.

Grace

I'm already sponsoring this. :) It’s a great idea and could give birth to something unique.

On that note, I like to announce the SECOND shipping contest. This one with a Chosen of Poseidon twist. (I'll post the rules in a few days.)

Now that's out of the way, I really want to see this happen. Six of the best writers on the site (plus RRBB, PaintDrop, and SweetStuff), joining together to make one masterpiece.

Edit: my husband actually made happy horse noises when he saw this over my shoulder. (And I hate to shame him for it! :P)

InItForTheShipping

@GriffinGirlfriend: I'd love to do it. :)

Short&Hoofy

Aww, that's so sweet. Can I help with edits as well? I'm not as good as RRBB, but I'm still okay I think. Please? This sound alike so much fun :)

Twist

@Twist: Are you kidding?! You're more than good. Hay, you deal with AwesomePony every day. (I'd never have the patience for that :))

@Short&Hoofy: Come here, you! *kisses* By the way exams are over now (and an anonymous fellow Nightling told me I have nothing to worry about) so I can officially see you again! (I expect you home before sunset! ;P)

RRBB

That sounds near. I’m in. Also, my family has connections with publishing houses in Manehattan, so it won't be a problem getting it in print. The house that did Brush’s book is quite good, so I think we'd best be using them?

I'll do illustrations for free, of course.

PaintDrop

It's official! Prince Blueblood has given the go ahead and will also personally sponsor the events. Depending on their schedule he might also get the Wonderbolts to be in that as well.

Great job, everyone!

I'm getting back to work now (before LyraHands starts crying :P)

Luna

I'm not crying!

I do feel warm inside, though. Each time something of the sort happens I tear up, write a long post, then tell myself “there’s no way to top this” … and then you prove me wrong! Thank you!

Maybe it's the biochemistry kicking in, but I really feel like a mother right now: a mother that is watching her children grow and become the magnificent ponies they are, capable of things she could never achieve.

If @MixaMax wasn't freaking out (I'm in constant touch with her) she'd be the first to tell you how bad my fanfics are. Horrible is too kind a word. Even @MightyDragon writes better :) Looking at the masterpieces you've written…I have no words. And it's not only that! The way we help each other and stand up for ponies we don't even know… that's precisely what I've dreamed our world should be. And you made it happen!

EqF isn't just a site on the aethernet anymore, it's becoming part of our world! The things we do, the fact we can now talk more openly about it it's incredible! You all are incredible!

And I'll stop now before I really start crying. Thank you, Nightlings! Thank you for everything you've done. I love you all!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: *hugs*

@all: you jerks, you're making me look weird crying in the hospital bed :P

DarkSparkle

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

The Answer

Hello, my darlings! Life took an unexpected turn for me this week, but I can gladly say that I managed to go through all submissions last night and have chosen the top three winners. I must say that a lot of you did a wonderful job and put your soul and heart into it, sadly there could be only one winner (unfair, I know :( ) and so I had to make the difficult decision.

However, I would also like to take the opportunity to say a few words about some of the stories that stood out. That doesn't mean that the rest were in any way inferior, oh dear me no! These are just things that I personally found amusing or touching while reading them. :)

So without further ado here goes!

Bubbles by JustAnotherSparkle

I must say I really enjoyed this one. Yeh whole story is the description of Danny’s life (discussions and battles included) from the view of a pet goldfish that he was given by his sister (Molly). The story is really well thoughts out and quite well written (even if a bit rushed). I found it incredibly amusing to read some of the descriptions.

They did a lot of shouting, then my pet [Danny] got a need of water so he left Cassandra do mouth to mouth to him. Afterwards he seemed much better and relaxed. If I had known he's of so limited intelligence I'd gladly have explained him the dangers of oxygen poisoning.

Or

The technician came again. Usually he only comes at night and when no one is here. This time he must have gotten his schedule wrong, because he popped in exactly when Danny was talking with his friends, and none of them were happy, I could tell you that. There was a bit of shouting and things flying about, after which Danny kicked the technician out of the window. A pity. I liked him. He used to feed me each time he came to fix the lights.

The only reason it didn't rate was for the marginally inferior style to our winners. Still, keep writing Just :) You’ll get there!

My pet Kitten-Raven by SweetStuff

The reason I chose this is because it's so deliciously a story within a story within a story. :) We have Caprice get a kitten for Blazen’s birthday (wonderful detail that she took the kitten from Fluttershy, by the way). However, as she passes through the portal the kitten transforms into a raven with the mind of a kitten.

The story explores Blazen going on missions and his complicated relationship with Euryala and Caprice (somepony is a humieshipper :)) while also raising the raven and using it in his day to day life.

Charcoal didn't budge. Eh started at the cat as a dragon would stare at an equal, then unequivocally flawed its wings indicating the other was not welcome. Had anyone seen it they would have thought they were dreaming, for everyone knows that cats and ravens don’t mix. The cat was equally surprised, arching a brow then moving a step closer only to walk away seconds later in pursuit of a saner prey.

Personally, I think that you should either avoid combat scenes altogether, or practice them much more. Other than that you have the style and the wit to make beautiful stories. :)

Third place goes to My Sad Little Star by Celestia

I wasn't sure whether to be upset or not at this. I won't lie, I cried my eyes out several times! At the end I just couldn't not give it a prize! The story follows the life of a star Phoenix and its owner Eric. The sad part? Well at first there's every indication that Firestar (the Phoenix that fell from the stars because she was so weak) would die by the end of the story. Something would happen and she'd get seriously hurt and Eric would take care of her (saying it's okay and tending to her). However, the more and more to story continues we see that it's Eric growing old and Firestar remaining as she is. At the end it's Eric that dies, uttering his last words to Firestar. And if that doesn't tug on the heartstrings enough, tech star Phoenix dies of sorrow of her friend’s death and explodes returning to its original form of a blue star, always weeping the memory of Eric.

I…I won't even quote anything. Just remembering makes me sad. And I know i’ll read it again. It's so well written and full of sadness that I don't even…

Second Place is for Corporate Grasshopper by LightSparkle

Unlike the previous sad ballad, this is a short and sweet comedy describing how Orpheus found his pet grasshopper (mentioned briefly once in The Dagger’s Shadow). To put is simply, a grasshopper hops onto him during one of his fights (with Orpheus being on the ground after getting defeated by Bellucio) and keep coming back to him ever since, until Orpheus give up and makes him his pet.

“Attack!” Orpheus ordered. There was no open facing him in the empty room, yet he had learned from experience that was the only way to get the grasshopper emerge from his hiding place. And sure enough it did.

The insect crawled out of his sleeve pocket, glanced about briefly—as if to make sure there were no fire bolts flying its way—then hopped onto the boy’s shoulder to admire the view. Orpheus was expecting this, so he turned in the direction of his unwelcome companion flashing a smug smile. It was logical to think this as a moment of victory, the point at which he tricked the annoying grasshopper into revealing himself. It was logical to think the grasshopper would flee once he found out about the deception, instead it turned its small green head, staring Orpheus straight in the eye, and shook its antennae in an unmistakable gesture of “Well? What are you waiting for?”

As one of the site’s stars I don't think there's anything I could say… well, other than maybe next time edit your work a bit better? :) I could use a few more edits, that's for sure.

Finally… first place does to PPI with Anywhere Who

I tried. I really tried to not have this win, but… The story defies logic. I won't even bother to explain what it's about (not that it's possible). Read it. Just read it and please tell me I'm wrong to have placed it first! I promise I'll throw it out faster than a used hoofkershief.

It's..it's…it's it!

Well, PPI, I don't know how you did it, but you won first place (just as you predicted! :/) I'd say enjoy your first place, but I know you already have :)

Grace

@Grace: Does that mean you must now marry PPI? >:D

Also, how come Short didn't get a mention?! I demand a recount!

RRBB

@RRBB: because my story wasn't good enough? It was a pretty boring story and PPI’s story was hilarious. You said so yourself.

Short&Hoofy

Details! I'll be sure to give you a consolation prize! ;)

RRBB

@RRBB: not today. I'm off to the Crystal Empire for a few days. Write to you more in PM *hugs*

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: good heavens, no. Neither me or PPI are so inclined. I admit it would have made for a wonderful story, sadly it's not to be. PPI is in a long distance relationship and I am seeing somepony :)

Grace

@Grace: You know, you seem very much like my sister. -.- If that's so I know for a fact that you're not seeing anypony right now! You're just working on your fashion shows and collections and keeping an eye on me all the time!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: my dear SweetStuff, if I were indeed your sister I would not appreciate you holding that tone! I am perfectly capable of see whoever I want whenever I want and would not need to stoop so low as to invent an imaginary coltfriend, thank you very much!

As it so happens I'll be seeing him in a few hours! Humph!

Grace

I didn't see that coming… PPI actually won? Celestia in 3rd? 47 entries in total?!? I must make a contest one day. But not today :)

@PPI: congrats! I'm not sure the site can handle any more of your stories, but please keep them coming :) Same does for everyone else :) You don't need a contest to be great :)

LyraHands

Boys are the best pets… O;)

Brush

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

MixaMax's Day

Umm, girls…and others…

It's done! This morning, Jade and I exchanged vows (in the Crystal Palace!) and so it's official.

*phew*

There! I said it! I've been deleting and editing my post the entire afternoon (don't you dare laugh, @LyraHans, @Brush, @RRBB!). This time Jade was sweet enough to let me write it on my own. Heh who am I kidding, Jade is always sweet :)

Sorry we didn't invite any of you, but we decided (well Jade did) that it would be better to keep this really low key. The only ponies here were Short&Hoofy, my parents, Jade’s parents, oh and Princess Cadence. I can't tell you how many times I thought I was going to faint. It’s an entirely different thing getting married. I mean, I've seen lots of weddings. Hay, when I was a filly I practically lived at weddings (my learners were invited to a lot). When my turn came, though… four times Jade had to rush after me and talk me out of getting on the train to Ponyville.

(Thanks for not telling anyone, sweetness. I guess you're stuck with me now :))

Okay now I've said that I need to lie down. Writing about this is tiring.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: You're preggers, right? You totally are :D I probably should say something mean, but hey you're Short’s sister, so you have something good going for you :P (@Short&Hoofy: you could have told me, you jerk! I would have come as well. No matter when are you coming back?)

@Jade: just remember you asked for this! :P

RRBB

@MixaMax: I had my suspicions :) Also, Bob totally kept me in the loop (Bob knows things :P) What can I say? Fourth to go? :P Just pulling your tail. I, really happy for you. To be houses I never thought this would happen. You were terrible with stallions and Jade wasn't the calmest of users when he first joined the site.

I question MC really brings ponies together :D

LyraHands

Goodbye ears :( My sister saw the post as she was passing by and started screaming like crazy. Now she's crying in her room depressed because she didn't have a chance to make your wedding dress :( You better talk to her when you get back here, @MixaMax.

When are you coming back here? <3 You and Jade together… I still can't believe it! It was only a few months that you two met and now… I, at least, have my entire wedding planned! It will involve a combination of unicorn and pegasi customs and lots of singing and dancing (and yes, my fat sister will take care of the clothes.)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: of course my wedding will be much better and more expensive!

RRBB

Thank you, all. As I want my scrollbox explode with PMs, I just want to say that this is a dream come true. I know I might have seemed a bit distant, but all the time I was worried that Max might change her mind and gallop back to be with her friends and family. Thankfully, I was convincing enough and here she is.

Oh, and don’t bother expecting her to answer. After she axe her post she went to the coach “to rest her eyes for a few minutes” and started snoring. I'll answer some of your questions:

No she isn't pregnant yet, and no we won't be going on a honeymoon.

I have completed my exams (thanks for asking) and will be going with her to Ponyville for the foreseeable future. I expect us to arrive in a few days depending on some details I need to take care of. (Anypony that's married will probably know of the joys of bureaucracy I'm talking about, add to that my rush graduation and you get the idea.)

Must start packing stuff now.

I'll be seeing you all soon.

Jade

Marriage is so romantic. :) Yet it'll feel too bounding for me. I prefer living with the pony I love without getting married (like my parents did :)) @BlueEyes: You okay with that, handsome? :D

DaBoss

Yep. One can live with the love of his life without getting married!

Grumpy

Girls, has anypony seen PaintDrop today? She didn't come to school, and she's not in the hospital (I went to see DarkSparkle). I know I shouldn't be worried, but…

@Jade, @MixaMax: congrats you two! :D Can't wait to see if you'll change now that you're married :)

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: She's sick home again :( Low blood sugar. Her parents are stuffing her with chocolate, as if that would help. The filly has been loosing weight like crazy! Would she listen to me, though? :/ I can almost see her ribs!

RRBB

That ain't good. Think she'd like some homemade zapapple pie? Ain't nopony who can say no to zapapple pie. Was supposed to be for Crackle, but we ain't letting PaintDrop get ill cause of us!

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: that's actually sweet. Try it. Stars know she wouldn't take anything from me :/ We barely see each other lately. She's always in her home doing nothing.

Even her brother PMed me to ask how she was doing. Everypony is worried, and she insisted it's just “autumn fatigue”. Honestly, sometimes I think she has mule blood!

RRBB

That sounds pretty serious. I'll try talking to her, although… let's say as the end of the ear approaches I'll have less and less time. And I still have to get my magic Master’s. Anyway, we are Nightling and I could at least do that. And if anyone of you have a chance check up on her and give her lots of hugs :)

LyraHands

@MixaMax: I want photos! And so do my friends apparently. One of them is actually crying right now… although she claimed her initial reason to visit was to see how I was doing and make me some soup. I can't believe that EqF has become a soap opera :/

@PaintDrop: don't make me go there, girl! Seriously, I hope you're not doing anything stupid because you think you're “fat” or anything. From the online pics you're anything but. And don't ever compare yourself with pegasi magazine models. Those things were born with thin bones! What you need are curves and muscles!

LightSparkle

Dear Max,

Let me wholeheartedly congratulate you. What you have done is a serious leap forward front eh pony you were less than an year ago. When you first joined the site, I was extremely skeptical you'd remain long. I told myself, mistakenly, that's it's only your friendship with Lyra that has saved you from getting banned. Well, I admit it was very wrong. Seeing how you actually help ponies, regardless of your site rhetoric, is more than neigh to convince me what a pony you are.

Jade (the Evervirgin),

You were a troublemaker if I ever saw one. You wouldn't believe the amount of discussions I've had with Lyra to ban you, and with reason I might add. I couldn't tell you how happy I am to see you have started to get rid of your negative (and shouty) qualities. You're neither as timid as you were in real life, not as toxic as you were when you first joined the site.

I wish you nothing but success and happiness together! Welcome to the Married Nightlings club.

The TechNightling

And there was much rejoicing :)

@MixaMax: if you think I won't worm in the event into the MC convention you're hugely mistaken! Have fun, you lucky, lucky mare ;)

Luna

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

PaintDrop's Condtion PMs

Hello, Short&Hoofy. We need to talk.

PaintDrop

Thank the stars you are alright! You scared me this time. If I was back home I'd have already spoken with DarkSparkle about your constraint “sickness”.

Why don't you take care of yourself? Fainting? Sleeping in class? I knew things were bad, but I didn't expect they were so bad :( Your brother had a talk with RRBB so I learned things, things that you were keeping from me.

You're killing yourself, don't you see that?! :( This must stop!

Short&Hoofy

This isn't PaintDrop. And she is.

PaintDrop

?

Short&Hoofy

I'm Luminescent. The changeling. I know you know about me. I also know what you think of me, and I don't really care. What I care about is her, though.

PaintDrop

Then why do you drain her life every time you meet? You're right, I know about you. I also know that you aren't reformed. PaintDrop seems infatuated with you, and knowing her that seems to be natural, but you're abusing her love! If you don't stop I'll tell the Princesses! And they will listen to me!

Short&Hoofy

I'm not doing this to her. She is.

PaintDrop

Huh? How can that even be possible?

Short&Hoofy

There are many types of feeding for a changeling. The “reformed” changelings niggle on thoughts and emotions around them. It's like a constant drip of love that keeps them fed. It's not eating, but they never feel hungry.

Real eating is taking bites from someone’s love, but again it's more complicated. We can't just steal your love. We can try to take it, but the given controls the flow. That's what food pods are for. PaintDrop, she gave it willingly… and not just give it, she poured it out of her very being.

PaintDrop

That only makes it sound worse. Creepy. :/

Short&Hoofy

Actually, it isn't that creepy. It's very similar to when you kiss RRBB. You levitate and embrace her with your magic. You can say you drain your magic as well, and sleep it off later.

PaintDrop

You've been spying on me?!? When I and RRBB… that's disgusting!

Short&Hoofy

You did it in public. Several times. And I'm not the only one who saw.

How do you think I know so much about you? I wanted to be close to PaintDrop, to see her way of life. That why I'd change into something close. An additional chair, a book, a pangolin. I like her and I wanted to see if I could try to fit in. I don't think I’ll be able too, but I managed to get a glimpse of her life.

She's so happy. Most of you are, but she's more and she's much nicer you give her credit for. I can tell, I smell the aroma of your emotions. PaintDrop has an air of honey blossom, you are ice cream mint, RRBB is fire spice.

PaintDrop

You were Pixel? All the times we took you to the vet to see what was going on, that was you?!

Short&Hoofy

Sometimes. I’m an emotarian, I don't eat physical food. That's why I couldn't eat the berries and the other things you tried to feed me.

I want to talk to you about PaintDrop. I want you to tell your Princess about me.

PaintDrop

You want me to tell DarkSparkle about you? Why?

Short&Hoofy

Because PaintDrop is addicted. And she needs help.

When I first met her she was in a confused state. Her emotions were bubbling all over the place. She was still nice, though so I stayed with her, got her some food, the normal things. But then on the last day she decided to take it one step further. Usually when I feed on love, the hearted fight back. PaintDrop didn't. She welcomes it. Before I took notice I had drained half her strength. I was so scared. I attracted the attention of the Wonderbolts, followed as they took her to the hospital, even paid a visit as a bird.

I thought that would be the end of it. It wasn't. She noticed me. Somehow she could tell I'm me, even when I hide it. And that's not all. She enjoyed the love drain… a lot. She likes it almost as much as she likes me.

PaintDrop

Wait! PaintDrop drop is addicted to you eating her love? How is that even possible?

Short&Hoofy

I don't know, but it's gotten worse. She started coming to see me. I liked it, and not only for the food, so I didn't say now. I'd try to limit the drain, at least keep it so that she could walk afterwards. Each time she tries to give more. She doesn't say it, but I can feel her attempts. It was her idea for me to change into Pixel. At first it was birds and squirrels, and other creatures. Now she's talking about me changing into her necklace so we can always be together.

If I do that I’ll slowly kill her. But if I don't I’m afraid she might try something stupidly dangerous.

PaintDrop

That's… have you tried talking to her? If you tell her all this, maybe she'll listen? You're the one she's infatuated with.

Short&Hoofy

She'll listen to me about a lot of things, but not this.

I won't lie, I didn't want to lose her. I never thought something like this could happen to me. I'm not a mothling, but I'm not a changeling either, I don't believe in Chrysalis’ ways. When PaintDrop started coming back, I found it… nice. But I care more for her getting better than feeling nice.

Talk to your Princesses, please. There must be a way to fix this. Just not by me.

PaintDrop

I will. I’ll tell Princess Cadance right now. Tomorrow I'll be back in Ponyville so will talk to PaintDrop as well.

You're not what I expected. She always described you as this melancholic larger than life romantic bard that came straight out of her fairytales. I didn't believe that, but I, glad you're okay. You cared enough about her to tell me all this, so that's a good step.

Short&Hoofy

I’m a changeling. I know what PaintDrop’s fairytales are, and I become them. At least on the outside.

Thank you.

And you don't need to worry, RRBB loves you deeply, almost as much as you love her.

PaintDrop

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Story Hiatus

Danny Daring Do Adventures is going on hiatus?!

@AwesomePony: What the heck, girl? I've already told everyone here that the best is to come! You can't have them marching into the Darkgem Temple and leave it there! What about Daring Do’s lover? What about naked Sombra? What about the reverse curse that Danny is experiencing? Are the Elements of Harmony actual evergems?

You gotta tell us, girl!

Feather

Seriously, what's up? You safe? Everything okay?

Feather

Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. Just this stupid magic thingee across Equestria is taking up all my time. As the fastest I must help with tech search and such. You know how it is.

And I've been getting a bit tired of writing, so I thought I'd just take a short break. You know.

AwesomePony

@Feather: there are a three more chapters being edited. I might be a bit slow, because I'm preparing for college exams, but I'll post them one per week. By then’ I'm sure Awesome will be back in things and amaze us with the next grand chapter :)

Twist

@Twist: I doubt it… I'll talk to her.

Brush

@AwesomePony: I think you should keep writing. Your story is one of the most brilliant sagas that has been burn in this fandom. I mean it! You'll be surprised how many ponies ask me if I know you “the creator of the DDDA” :)

I know you have a lot on your plate and agree you should take a break, but this is something you shouldn't be drop, especially since you're so fast at writing it as well :D

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Missing the point as always :/

@AwesomePony: Come see me. There's a new place opening in a few days.

LightSparkle

@DarkSparkle: you're not responding to your PMs. I need to talk to you urgently. When do you get out of hospital?

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Heh, funny story :) I tried to use and external patch to modify my scrollbox so that it gives me new messages directly… and sort of messed up. Now it's working perfectly, just that it's deleting the messages before sending them to me :( I tried to modify the code, but it refuses to let me change anything :(

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Hey! :) You should have told me it’s you. Your code generated so many exceptions we thought it was an attack and insulated it. I'll fix it in a sec.

Edit: all done now. Mare, did you mess up good :P No way to restore what you've lost. That sure was an efficient way to melt your scrollbox.

HopHop

PaintDrop won't be coming to school today :( Is like to say she's too busy puking, but she's too weak for that still. Apparently she was up all night crying.

The reason I'm telling you all this is to show her some support! I know the rules against making thus into a spectacle, but a PM with a few good wishes is always a positive thing. I know from experience.

Now do it!

RRBB

I wonder if Danny would invite us to his wedding if he learns we exist? I know it sounds stupid, but do you think he will? I've been reading some magic field theory and according to some beliefs, there’s an infinite number of magical portals, each leading to another realm. What if one of the portals leads to Earth, where Danny really is fighting against Titans and corporations?

I don't know, but I think it would be so cool. I know I'd probably faint. Like really faint. It will be so cool, plus I'll get to spend time with Eric :)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: You're weird. Never change :)

@AwesomePony: As for you, don't make me kick your flank into a cloud! I'm not stupid and I know you aren't! I think it's time we had a long, long talk. With some ice cream—a few buckets of ice cream! Then I'll send you off to LightSparkle so you can party till you drop!

MixaMax

The way things have been going lately, I wouldn't be surprised if a portal to Earth pops out of nowhere. Mare, some of the weird things are weird. Not allowed to say anything, of course, but trust me. They are weird.

Now for some good news. Thanks to the map you girls have made and keep up to date strange instances have decreased a lot. Captain tells me that there have been a total of zero for the last two days! We're still doing some checks, but unless something unexpected happens we'll be back to standard operations, and that includes reading, posting, and hanging out on weekends.

Gotta look good for the event next month ;)

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: can't wait! :)

Brush

You’re all jerks! :)

AwesomePony

@PPI: awww! Hug time! :D

PPI

Hold on a minute!

@PPI: awww! Hug time! :D

PPI

?!? I don't even…

RRBB

@PrinceEric: You know, I can do some research. Since it's theoretically possible, I don't see why we can't find a portal to Danny’s Earth and go there. It might take some time, but I think it would be a fun trip :)

What do you all say?

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: No! Nope, no, no, nope! Huh-uh!

Don't even think about it or you'll see me very upset and you won't like me when I'm upset!

Simile

@Simile: Ooookay. Somepony is grumpy today. :/

TrueSparkle

@InItForTheShipping: The scrollbox is still acting funny :/ What did you want to talk to me about? You might as well tell me here. I don't mind :)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I don't think I can. I'll be visiting you in a few hours.

InItForTheShipping

Girls, please give AwesomePony some space. If she wants to take a break from MC, let her. Thumbs are stressful as it is without the added pressure of thousands. Right now she just needs some time alone.

Brush

@Brush: Fluff and I were actually going to see her later this week. Should we wait?

Plust

Might be better.

Brush

Now I feel like a jerk and idiot :( Guess I'll just keep my big *yay* beak shut.

Feather

@TrueSparkle: there can be only one Grumpy!

Grumpy

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

New Rumors

Girls, girls! I heard a rumor and it's wow! It always feels weird knowing that the writers are actually reading this (don't hate on me, @Luna O:)), but… well, here goes!

We’ll see new gods AND goddesses appear in the second arc. Not sure about numbers, but there's talk that we'll get at least three new ones, which will also be linked to the Chosen series. What’s more, Icelos isn't considered a god (even if he is). So there might be more like him as well.

I'm so excited! This is one of the best things! :)

PrinceEric

I don't know. Seems like a huge departure from MC and more of a deity based fic. Now, before everyone jumps on me for being negative, I'd like to remind everypony that the focus of MC have always been the characters. Even the corporations started as nothing more than a repetitive villain. Remember the first chapters of Chronicles? Back then there was just one corporation who was doing evil and the rest of the world was a blank slate. We had strange things happen to the city, but for all intents and purposes it was one city (town rather) one mountain and one corporation.

I see what they have trying to do in Everhere, but I still think they are expanding things too much too fast. Now we have a battle between Titans and gods (or gods and gods) we have the corporations and the overwatchers who somehow are also junior gods. And I'm not even talking about the mess of multiple split realities (I actually like that quite a bit:)).

It's just that…I don't know. It's somehow MC has lost its innocence. It's become too big and complex. You can't relax and go “wow, an angry ghost attacked them. What do we do now?” It’s more X is part of organization Y who is also with Z fighting with W for A.

Just my daily grumbling. On the other hand the series seems to be more popular than ever before, so what do I know?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: yes, it's true that it's very different from what it was, but then again, you didn't like the original either. (The Griffin version is funny, though not something I'd read more than once. :)) I personally like it. It's like the whole series has matured along with the characters. You’re right, though. We’ll probably never have a return of the innocent days of Chronicles. Everhere looks like the start of a major war between the powers that be, Chosen is an exploration mystery (although with it I'm no longer sure), and who knows what's next? There might be other spinoffs to come.

LyraHands

@MixaMax: Maybe I'm the intended target audience (or close, in any event), but I absolutely love it. I feel like part of something bigger, like finally I get to peek behind the curtain and find out what's going on.

My concern, though, is that this seems far too close to a conclusion. Well, I don't mean that the series will end tomorrow, but it's the start of the end. We have our sides, we have everything explained. I expect in the next chapters we’ll see each/mist of the characters achieve their goals (or set out on their own series) finally calumniating with a massive war and a final resolution of the series.

I know nopony will confirm, but I don't see this going on for more than 3-4 volumes. After that we'll just have the site. Kinda sad when you think about it :(

RRBB

@RRBB: Umm, that would still mean that we had enjoyed it for a while. Even now we’re approaching half a decade of MC. I think a good conclusion would be nice, especially if it brings the start to a new beginning.

Candle

@Candle: please not MC children. That would be so forced. :/

RRBB

You know what I find interesting. The number of deities involved. If we go by the classical interpretations of the myth there are supposed to be 12 deities in the human world. We have already seen three. It's possible that three more will appear in Chosen. That means that it's likely there are two more series based on other characters!

Thinking logically, Danny and Omni are part of MC proper, so we can count him out. Bellucio, Molly, and I suspect Euryala are part of Chosen. That leaves Blazen, Megan, Eric, and Karl, which could well have their own set of books. I personally think we'll see a Megan-Blazen series and a Karl-Eric series. The former will be strongly linked to magic and mysticism and the latter to flora and fauna. :)

As for the fears. I think the series is very different from everything else out there. It's not Daring Do, which I love and adore, but is pretty straight forward. Here we have a whole set of characters changing and growing. Who knows what might happen? And it's not obligatory that the next iteration in involves their children. It might be someone New entirely, especially if the final battles ends up destroying the gods (in one way or another).

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: corn, you sound like a nerd! :P

Whatever appears I'll definitely read it, and I'm sure many if the Nightlings would do the same. We're just about to have our first convention ever in a month! A bit soon to start thinking doom and gloom, isn't it?

LightSparkle

Eric x Karl?!? I need that in my life! :D

Seriously, I need that so much. @Luna, can you do something about it? Please? :D

PrinceEric

Everypony! PaintDrop was just taken away by a unicorns in white (doctors from what I can tell). I just watched it happen outside of school! They put her on an air carriage and went off. Does anypony know what's going on? I'm really scared. :(((

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: PaintDrop is having some serious health issues. She's being taken to Canterlot for some tests. I know it must have seemed scary, but it's all normal. Her parents are already on their way to be with her.

Try not to worry.

DarkSparkle

Okay… I still do, though.

SweetStuff

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Twelve Human Deities

I had some free time last night after flying BlueEyes home so I did some research on the twelve gods and goddesses. Thanks, DarkSparkle for letting me use the library :) And a hug to EverSpike for being so helpful :)

Now, I'm not a scholar or anything like that so don't be too upset with the quality, okay?

Zeus - we know him, we love/hate him. Somehow I skipped that he was kind of the gods and the one who started the Titan war. He’s also in charge of thunderclouds (my babe :))

Poseidon - the pretty boy. Still missing, controlling water and earthquakes. I think he's the most lovable one in a scary way.

Hades - the quiet emo in charge of Tartarus. Always misunderstood and brooding. Strangely, in good relations with the Titans.

(Now the new weird ones begin)

Hera - (as I like to call her, the evil *yay*) Goddess of marriage and family. She likes doing nasty things to people she doesn't like. Has a pet peacock.

Hestia - goddess of the home and architecture. A strange combination. I think DarkSparkle will love her. Sounds a bit of a nerd in a quirky way :)

Demeter - goddess of nature. Sounds like a cool mare. I can see her as an Earth Pony goddess.

Apollo - god of the sun, medicine and arts. This is an interesting one. From what I read, he's very much like Princess Celestia. I used to think the Princess was Zeus, but now no longer sure.

Artemis - goddess of the moon (and Apollo’s sister, my the way). She's responsible of animals and the hunt.

Ares - god of war. Sort of seems like King Sombra.

Aphrodite - goddess which is totally not Princess Cadence. (Goddess of love.) Also said to be of beauty and procreation. I somehow doubt this one would appear in the series.

Hermes - the trickster god of thieves and games. Also said to be the fastest being in existence. (I like him :))

Dionysus - god of wine, theatre and celebration. Sounds like the perfect god for Manehattan.

Phew that was a lot of writing. Now I must go to work or ponies will get cranky. @LyraHands: see you in an hour, right? :D

DaBoss

@BlueEyes: Pfft! You need somepony to fly you home and hold your wing? Scared to get lost in the dark night?

@DaBoss: I hope he's worth it, :P

CEOWitch

Ares - god of war. Sort of seems like King Sombra.

This is both so wrong and at the same time absolutely correct. I could see a Sombra like character appearing in the story, though personally I'd be against it.

I'm curious when the myth originated. Maybe it's possible that Ares is in fact the embodiment of King Sombra made by some scholar before the Empire vanished. With everypony forgetting about it it would have been seen as myth and grouped with the human myths.

Jade

I got the craziest thought! What if there actually were humans in Equestria once? Maybe something happen, related to dark magic and the gods, and their realm disappeared like the Crystal Empire did, and everypony forgot they ever existed.

If that's true… they might reappear at any point! What if they actually are reappearing? The strange magic things happening lately might be just that? What if the fact that MC has become so popular has started make ponies remember which in turn is starting to break the spell. :)))

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: magic doesn't work like that. And trust me, it's highly unlikely.

Cool stuff about the deities. I agree, though that having them appear all at once would be a huge mistake. Ideally, if there's one new one per spinoff that would be awesome.

Three main gods for Everhere, 1 for Chosen, and 8 more for potential spinoffs. Sounds okay to me :) However, I doubt even that will happen. The way things are going each spinoff is based on a specific deity: Chosen is Poseidon, for example. Having the new ones appear will only add confusion.

Although, is definitely like me some Apollo.

LightSparkle

@DaBoss: You know what you've just done? We’ll all drown under the new wave of shipping! If Chosen wasn't bad enough, we now will have deities involved :/

Remember, all, the rules are still in place! You go too far, I'll remember. (And trust me I have a long memory!)

RRBB

@DaBoss: Okay… You're merciless. Still, sweet of you to fly your coltfriend home. :) Just for that and the awesome post I'll be there early. (Bob is sleeping anyway.)

I must admit all the new deities sound interesting, even if I can only imagine bad Fanfiction stories with them (I'm sorry, @Luna. O:)) Maybe it’s because there are so many of them all of a sudden. All this time we've only had three; even in the original Midnight Castle, gods were sort of like recurring characters that did something and were gone. Even Icelos (which I absolutely love in Everhere). It wasn't until Mistmount Chronicles that we got Zeus (and tall of another two). Everhere brought us Loki the Everprince, and there's much speculation that titans will be involved. To be honest, I hope the 12 deities thing is a false rumor.

LyraHands

Well, I've already said nothing good will come out of this. With that many gods, it'll be a greater challenge to find followers for each of them. What would happen? The gods will fight for followers? The followers will take turns?

I know it's “historical” (as in there are myths on the subject), but the beauty of storytelling is knowing what to take and what to leave behind. Taking 3 deities (focusing on two mostly and leaving the third a mystery) = good. Have 12 jumping round each other = bad.

MixaMax

Wow, you sure learn things fast and react to it. :) Well, I've been allowed to say there won't be any new deities… or would there? The 12 deities is something that has been discussed, but was dropped for various reasons, mistletoe because of overlap. (There are 3 deities that govern the family, 2 hunting, 2 love, etc.)

I can only say that something RELATED to the 12 god idea will appear, but in a way I doubt any of you would expect :)

@MixaMax: You should enjoy married life more!

Luna

@Luna: I hate you!

but in a way I doubt any of you would expect :)

Torture us some more, why don't you! Now I'm not sure I'll be able to wait two more weeks!

RRBB

@CEOWitch: you're just jealous!

BlueEyes

@BlueEyes: He’s no reason to be. We're an item now :)

Brush

Author's Note

Huge request to all!
In the event that EqF fans go to Trotcon and manage to meet there, would it be possible for a group pic? :D

In lesser news Q&A is tentatively planned for Saturday 19:00 GMT Time. I'll post a link to the discord in tomorrow's chapter. Thank you, all, for making this happen! :D

Books and Gossip

Yes! Party for everypony! Well, it won't be a surprise, but it'll be a Welcome to Ponyville party! I spent all night making a cake that looked like a human. Err… I might have gotten a bit overboard. @DarkSparkle can you teleported to Jade’s place at 5? O:)

It will be so much fun! :))

Edit: oooh! A double party!

Edit: ooooh! A triple party! I'll have to bring 200 candles!

PPI

I've been going over the Mistmount Chronicles. There have been instances of gods appearing. So far I've only been able to spot a single female god being mentioned. I'm just starting, though. It's interesting that “the corporation” name several of their weapons / devices and theories on deities. Here's a list of what I've found so far.

The Hera Principle
The Pandora Paradox (no idea what Pandora is)
The Hephaestus Reactor
The Zeus Ray
The Morpheus Chamber
The Hercules Dagger (maybe this is foreshadowing what Hercules will be like? I'm so curious about this. Hercules sounds like a hunk even if he’s also sort of a *yay*.)
The Morpheus State

What do you all think?

PrinceEric

Personally, I find it amusing what amount of detail is put into the stories without us even noticing. To be honest, I never considered that the name drops are actually linked to anything, but rather are just a device to make the stories appeal to the target audience. (Why have the Dagger, when you can have the Hercules Dagger?)

I’m delighted to say that this effort to detail has increased my already high appreciation of MC.

Another interesting thing I've noticed is that the series seems to grow with the audience. When I was a colt these were the typical childish adventure stories I'd like to read (I'd go as fast as to say that as to say I wish the book had been around when my parents used to read to me before going to bed.) Mistmount Chronicles, although not my thing, are more suited to near cutie mark age, while Everhere is clearly on the verge of young adulthood (even if it's still technically targeted at a pre cutie mark audience), and the Chosen are for older ponies still.

@PrinceEric: outstanding job as always. Keep it up!

The TechNightling

Well if nopony will say it, I will!

@Brush, finally? I could see that a mile away, but with CEO always giving me the hush sign, I didn't dare say a thing.

Expect the press to run with the story. I know how things work and can tell you that’s a kinda big deal. Who am I kidding? It's a huge deal! :D I never ever thought you two could become a thing. I mean you're like total opposites!

In other news, I tried writing some DDD today, but couldn't. Guess I'll need some time. Thanks for the talk, @Jade. I really needed that. Friends?

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: you're troublesome, impulsive, and jumps to conclusions any chance you get. Of course we're friends. I've told you I like you as a pony, so you don't have to start avoiding me. Especially since I've moved to Ponyville now.

@PrinceEric: That's what’s called good writing. Regardless of the subject matter, sprinkling the prose with a few details that are linked to real events is fundamental in making a story liked. As we just saw the references might be completely ignored for years, but once they are made everypony experiences a genuine wow moment.

If you've noticed that's also the reason why some of the popular fan stories are liked, including DDD. I still say the writing is horrible (no offense, @Twist, you've taken on an impossible task) but I can't stop reading it.

Just imagine all the things in MC that we haven't yet noticed.

Jade

My two favorite things in the world: gossip and discussing books! :)

As you might have guessed I'm back to being a fully functioning pony. :) (Everypony in the hospital was totally reading this site. Yes, I mean you too, Redheart! Don't even try to pretend that you don't!)

@Brush: Why don't I know about this? :/ I must see you two together sometime to believe it! (What I'm saying is “When do I get to see you two?”)

About the deities, oh mare… @DaBoss, clearly you only read the things in the general section. There are a vast number of scrolls that go into much greater detail. Granted you only had one night and I do tend to keep my more fragile scrolls locked away, so I guess it's fine.

There are quite a few arguments who represent the 12 human deities (sometimes referred to as “the glorious heroes”) Scholars have been arguing over that one for quite some time. The version you read are the most popularly accepted 12 with a few of the minor ones mentioned, though in no great detail.

@Jade: (Welcome to Ponyville, by the way. I expect that dope Max is floating as crazy right now :P) You might be correct about the Sombra angle. There is serious speculation that the humans are in fact aspects do ponies that have slowly been transformed to explain what was seen as unexplainable at the time. Another interesting theory is that humans came from the initial description of a Minotaur (please don't start with the taur jokes!).

DarkSparkle

It's incredible how many ponies have gotten together thanks to the site. Although, beware fake dating sites that claimed to be linked to EqF. I've already told Luna about it, but if you're using one, don't.

@CEOWitch: I should congratulate you, sir :)

Sgt Pepper

@DarkSparkle: That's interesting. I'll have to do some more research on the topic.

And MixaMax is glaring at me right now making grumbling noises aimed at you. I can't exactly make out what she's saying, but I'm sure it's very critical.

Jade

@Brush, @CEOWitch: all the hugs :) See you at Jade’s surprise party :) I won't stay too late this time (I'm starting to need my sleep.)

I can say that you girls make my day! So glad I know you :)))

PPI: you're scary sometimes. You know that? ;) Bring my favorite, okay? Actually, bring one of your surprise mystery cakes! I feel like trying different food right now.

LyraHands

@Brush: I'm so happy for you! You deserve to find joy :)

Take care

MasterOfThisAstra

@Brush: your bunny got lost again…

TrueSparkle

Author's Note

Link to the EqF discord: https://discord.gg/NmQgcn

Q & A will start in slightly over 25 hours from this chapter :D

Simile's Secret PMs

Hey,

I know thus is stupid, but I'm drunk as heck, so what the hay. After all, what's the worst that could happen? Quit my “job”, leave the site and Equestria and go somewhere far far away? Wouldn't be the first time that's happened.

You're hot, you know that, right? Like, really. LightSparkle keeps giving me *yay* about it, but I'll just go ahead and say it. I know my history so I know I don't stand chance in Tartarus, but at least I got to say it. And it only took a few buckets of whiskey to help me build up the courage. :P

That one time you asked me to tag along—best day of my life. Well, one of them. I've had a few other important ones, but not like that. Nothing like that. Wait, that's not true. I thought something similar happened, but…it turned out I was wrong, although it was nice and… your skin is really soft, you know?

Sorry, had to throw up. Maybe the third bucket was too much. That's why I love the aethernet. Here everypony could be what she wants. I don't have much doubts, but what I have I like to show here. And I could feel you're missing something. I felt it when we were clubbing. Lol, LightSparkle was so ashamed form both of us. She'd keep complaining and complaining. And she got really annoyed you drink so much. You know a few of her class asked who you were? I bet they were secretly hoping you'd be an older sister of a friend of something. Idiots. Me, I don't care that you're her aunt. If I ever get to hook up with you it'll be so perfect. So many would be envious!

Simile

Sorry, I fell asleep. My head hurts a bit. Are you keeping it a secret by the way? I’d understand why, but you're a *yay* princess! You can just yell at everypony to * yay* off. Plus, you're really hot you know? Me, I don't discriminate: mares, stallions, I like both. Never thought you'd be the one that will get me to settle down. I just know we’re so perfect together. So I've done some stuff, who hasn't? (You did the whole night thing, but you're still hot as… words are difficult.

Be right back.

Simile

Had to take a shower.

I think the booze is wearing off so I’ll just ask. Want to hook up? Because I totally want that. I think we're be great together, better than any couple anywhere. I know that you might be a few leagues ahead of me, but I'm the closest thing there is, which counts for something, right?

That day when you appeared out of nowhere. I never expected you were LightSparkle’s aunt. It was a total shock. In a good way! I mean, just looking at you makes me feel things I didn't think I could. I feel kind of deep and calm and… heh :) I really hope you haven't been looking into my dreams lately. Actually, no I don't! At least there I get to ask you out and we have a fun time. I usually don't do this. This is the first time I'm actually writing this sort of thing to somepony. And I don't only want you for the *yay*! If there's anypony that could complete me it's you. You probably hear that a lot. It's natural, being you.

I know it's a long shot, okay, but if you're single and would want to have a go call me, okay? I've been seeing you in my dreams a lot lately, but dreams are no substitute for the real thing. I want to feel you, to smell you, to rest in your mane. And you've seen me, so you know I'm a 10 easy. Just say the word and I can make myself into an 11!

LightSparkle will be so pissed if she ever finds out. No idea how she noticed. She's very sharp when she wants to be. I can see her disapproving scowl even now. And you know what? I don't care! If that's the price to pay for being with you, I'll gladly pay it and more!

Stars, you're so hot…

Hetgdjj hdhgr jdhg defr jshbcs

Simile

I passed out for a moment.

What kind of date do you like? If we get the, of course. With you working at night, I guess a moonlight evening must be burning. Although I think I could add some spice to the night. The night suits you, you know. The only reason I don't stay up all night is because that way I'm not able to dream of you. And other reasons… ;)

I can see the perfect scene. You'll love it, I know! Just ah yes, okay? And call me!

Simile

You're single, right?

If you have someone else, I guess they can join too, but only if you like them very much. I'm not having a one night thing with you! That would be such a waste. Not that it's not okay, but it's not okay because you are you. But if you go out on a one night stand it's okay, because it's you. Makes sense, right?

Wow. Found half a bottle of something. I think it's from LightSparkle. I’ll just finish it and be back.

Simile

Err, I'm not actually Princess Luna…

TheRealLuna

*yay*! I'm never drinking again! :(

Well, this is awkward. Good thing, though. Mare I can't believe I sent that *yay*. Keep it between us, okay? I'm not creepy or anything, I just had way too much to drink. There was a very important occasion, so I thought I'd go celebrate and then… you know how it is. A shot becomes a class becomes a pitcher… Whiskey was great, though.

Anyway, this was all a huge misunderstanding, okay? Let's just pretend it never happened. Nopony needs to learn, right? And I'm not making any promises, but I might consider adding your humie OC to one of my stories. Just nothing too weird! That's all good, right?

Simile

But don't worry, I sent everything to her. :D If she's awake she's probably reading your messages right now :)

TheRealLuna

*Yay*!!!

Simile

Author's Note

Q&A in 1 hour (I'm sick so no sure how long I'll be able to stay)

Here's a link: https://discord.gg/ay8SwN

Project Butterfly

@all: You've no idea how happy I am to announce that Project Butterfly has officially started.

Six exceptional writers on the site are joining forces to give us two books, one story, taking place simultaneously on Equestria and Earth. In case you've forgotten who those six magnificent Nightlings are here’s a reminder:

Brush
LightSparkle
Jade
Simile
EndlessHearts
Quarters

But that's not all, others from the site will help out with the project as well!

Editors: RRBB, Twist

Audio spell construction and voicing: DarkSparkle, TrueSparkle, HopHop

Songs and Music: LyraHands, SweetStuff, Octavia

Art and illustrations: FishSticks, PaintDrop*

(PaintDrop has requested she be removed from the project for the time being for health reasons. Clop your hooves that she gets well soon and is able to rejoin.)

Needless to say that this is the biggest project that site has undertaken. Thanks to PaintDrop we’ve also signed a publishing house to make a limited edition of both books (in a hardcover dual set) for everyone to enjoy.

Lyra has gracefully asked to have all revenue go to a Nightling relief fund that will be used in case of need (like the strange weather in the Empire and the magic anomalies situation.)

I don't know about you, but I'm extremely excited! And if this isn't enough, the first chapter of the book will be shown at the convention! :D

Luna

I can't believe I agreed to this. :P Seriously. This sounds like a lot of fun. Been ages since I listened to audio spells. Very curious how it turns out.

Fellow writers, PM me with ideas so we can start :) Actually, scratch that. @mods: can you make a hidden board for us? I mean everyone involved, and that includes sponsors (should they so choose).

I know they are shy and all, but I know for a fact that you, the TechNightling, InItForTheShipping, DarkSparkle, and RRBB have given funds to make this happen. They deserve some appreciation as well.

And let's not forget the one who sparked the idea in ten first place: @Candle :)

LightSparkle

Girls… my fat sister is bugging me about making costumes for the project :/ *sigh*
How can you make costumes for a book?! I swear she's always trying to do this! She sees something and tries to grab the spotlight. It's really annoying at times.

Still, I promised I'd ask, so there.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I think it's a great idea, actually. Not only can Nightlings read the book, but they could wear the same clothes as the characters! Remember not all of the characters are human ;) Also I think there should be some Nightling T-shirts and hats as they have on conventions.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Yep, definitely sounds good! I'll get in touch with Rarity to discuss details and prices.

Luna

@Luna: she just said she’ll do it for free… *groan* :/

SweetStuff

Err, I know I ain't supposed to ask, but can there be Midnight Castle food for sale? My sister is really looking forward to this (harvest has been good so we have lots of apples we can do something with.)

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: of course :) Seriously why didn't she just ask me or Lyra? She knows us. Same for Rarity. It's almost funny how shy they get at times.

Yes, PPI, you can bring cakes as well. :)

DarkSparkle

I’m like totally ready to model at the convention. It will be groovy and far out, now that Prince Blue has agreed to it.

Like, him and me and Twilight are perfect for celestial perfection and chakra alignment.

Tree

@Tree: what?!?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Like, you said that you’d do it if the Prince agreed and he did. I can totally give you some pointers on stretching and posing based on your guiding stars. Also I'll tell you what flowers will best match your aura.

Tree

@Tree: I don't believe it! No way Prince Blueblood would agree to something of the sort! Plus, I don't remember ever making such a promise!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: His girlfriend made him agree, so you have no choice :) I'll organize the event :D

Remember: it's for charity! :P

Luna

@DarkSparkle: Plus this is a chance to show off those nice wings of yours. Stallions love a nice set of wings ;)

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: Will you stop shipping me! I just haven't found the right boyfriend yet, okay? :/

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Anger management, look it up. I don't see what's the big deal. You do way scarier and more boring things every week. What’s wrong with some modeling? You’ll be fine.

@LightSparkle: Okay if I visit you tomorrow? Want to talk to you about something.

TrueSparkle

Hello, Nightlings.

I cannot express how happy I am for this to have become reality. Thank you, LyraHands for making so many of my childhood dreams true. Not in the least, thank you for finding something I thought I never would: a second chance at love. (Yes, it is as most of you suspected, but it is not my place to say any more on the topic.)

Lyra will undoubtedly say it better, but Midnight Castle has become more than a place for friends to gather, it has become more than a way of life, it's a way of thought. Just being here I've seen the impossible become possible. For that I thank you S. Child, @number1, @LyraHands, and everyone else who's been a part of it.

The TechNightling

Girls, stop making em all emotional and stuff! Seriously! Now when I cry Bob just stares at me and says “you've been reading the site again” then goes off to do stuff. :P

But yes, this is another of the best days of my life. :) Funny how only half an year ago, every next day was the worst in my life. You changed that. All of you. I just make a site. Tech keeps going on and on how great it is, but it's just a site. It's the people here that make it what it is. It's the mods who guide, it's the writers who give us beautiful stories, the artists who give us incredible songs, the musicians who give us incredible pictures… it's you who help and read and comment who've made it possible for us to become part of MC!

I know thank you has become overused (and I’m to blame), but please let me say it again.

Thank you, Nightlings! You make dreams come true!

LyraHands

The Disturbing PMs

Hey, Princess, we need to talk. :/

What exactly is going on with PaintDrop? Her parents are scared as Tartarus, won't say a word, and I can't find exactly where in Canterlot she's being kept.

RRBB

Umm, her condition is quite serious, so she's in a place that's specialized in dealing with cases as hers. For the moment it's better that we leave her recover her strength.

It's really nice of you to care for her (you two are close friends, after all), but nothing to be worried about :)

DarkSparkle

We know about the changeling. I was the one who told you, and I, worried as well. How is she? It's been days with no word, and if she really as addicted as Luminescent claims, I don't think it could be easy.

Short&Hoofy

Oh…

DarkSparkle

Well, that's reassuring! What do you think we'd do? Just pretend nothing happened? PaintDrop’s stubborn as a mule and for once in her life didn't have a grain of common sense, but she's my friend, out friend! So we're not just pretend nothing has happened because she has a changeling problem or because you tell us that “there's nothing to be worried about!”

You tell us what's going on now, or I’ll make such a big fuss that all of Equestria will hear about this! And don't even think you can stop or scare me. The bonus of being constantly hated is that I've lots of backups in case something happens to me.

RRBB

RRBB, of course I won't do anything to you! I just want to spare you some things. This isn't some love-depression thing, it's really serious. And I mean really serious. PaintDrop is in such a bad shape that she needs magic just to eat. She can't drink water without vomiting half of it.

That's why it's best that no one sees her now. Not until she's in condition to talk to ponies.

DarkSparkle

I'm sorry, DarkSparkle, but that's a ton of *yay*! If it was just that you could have told us on the site. Maybe not in public, but at least in PM or when we asked you in real life. You didn't. You kept insisting everything is okay and we shouldn't worry. Well, that only works when we can actually see her. :/

YouKnowWho

They told you as well?!

DarkSparkle

I told the entire class. I should have done that much sooner. I knew her secret. I watched her slowly get drained bit by bit. At the time I convinced herself that I was overreacting, that everything was going to be alright. I was wrong. Wrong about so many things, including Luminescent.

He stood everything to gain from this relationship, yet he chose to warn me. Only because I was too stupid and afraid to see it myself. Now that the worst has almost happened I want to know what’s going on. We all do.

Short&Hoofy

Yes, DarkSparkle, we do. We're really worried :~( I was a bit scared when I heard dark changelings were involved, but I'm not anymore. Now I just want PaintDrop to go better.

SweetStuff

Girls, it isn't that simple.

What happened to PaintDrop is extremely rare, thank the stars, but it's not an easy thing to recover from. I don't know how much you think you know, but she's addicted to giving her own life away. I won't explain because it's too complicated, but her mind tricked itself that it liked being drained by a changeling.

When she doesn't experience the sensation for a while she starts screaming, crying, swearing… it isn't pretty. The first day her body went into convulsions. Even now she spends half her night shouting and swearing at me, at the Princess, even at you. That's why I don't want you anywhere near. The things she says (very horrible things) aren't coming from her, they are coming from her addiction.

As I said she can't even eat yet. Yesterday she started with soup. Just a few spoonfuls. Everything else is magic. The Princess is taking care of her personally. Cadence also tried to help, but things are quite complicated because of the changeling.

DarkSparkle

Well, I told y’all that would happen! Damn colts, only causing troubles! If she had a lick of sense and talked with us before running off to that nogood shapeshifting worm all this wouldn't have happened! >:

WaterBottle

I don't hear you complaining about Crackle :/ And you know what his sister is like!

RRBB

I wish it were so simple… PaintDrop still loves him. Actually that's one of the things that keeps her going. She's smart. The moment we came for her she knew she'd never be love drained again. Yet she manages through sheer will to push herself to go on, despite the urges of her body.

She lives with the hope that she might see him again one day. If Cadence removes that before PaintDrop has fully recovered we don't know what she’ll cling to.

DarkSparkle

Wait! You're telling em she likes some changeling more she likes me?!

RRBB

I told you it's complicated. She cries about you a lot, but in her mind the link between the love drain and the changeling are also somehow fused. Maybe because she fell in love with him at the same time she experienced the drain? I'm still not sure about that. The brain doesn't function rationally when addiction is involved.

All we know is that’s what she strives for right now, and we're not risking taking that single hope away from her.

DarkSparkle

I still want to see her! And you can't stop me! You might be a princess, but I have resources and I WILL find her!

RRBB

RRBB, she's in the Palace. If you want I'll even arrange for you to see her. Just be sure you're able to live with the consequences. It's one thing for me to write she's screaming and cursing your existence, another to see her do it.

I was well versed what to expect and it barely helped. Even when I knew it wasn't her talking, her words hurt a lot. So don't tell me you're ready because you're not. Especially you. You've been her friend for so long, she knows everything about you, she knows how to make you hurt the most and she will want to hurt you, if only in the off chance you might help her escape or get another love drain.

So, when do you want to go?

DarkSparkle

She won't go. None of us will. Just tell us what's happening. Please? We just want to be there if there's anything we could do to help her. That's all.

Short&Hoofy

I know, and I didn't mean to snap at you like that, but things aren't as pretty as anypony would like. I admit I should have shared some details with you, but… you're still so young. All of you. I just wanted you to avoid this.

DarkSparkle

None of us can avoid life, Princess. I’ll trust you with her.

Please help her get better.

RRBB

I will.

DarkSparkle

Convention Announcement

@all: For once I'll start with a spoiler:

“You seriously think you know what's going on?” Echo laughed. “You've no idea. Look at me!” She hissed, fragments of glass falling off her hand like melting ice. “Look at me! I can't make five steps without a host and I still managed to mess up your little band. Can you even imagine what happen if you faced someone actually good at it?”

Eric looked away. The memories of her controlling him were fresh, though that wasn't the real reason. He felt pity. After last night he no longer saw her as a vile manipulator, but rather a caged. She too was a prisoner, just like him, the only difference was that her cage was a bit larger.

“You live in a world of monsters, Eric.” Echo turned her back to him. “Monsters you can't even see. Gods, titans, corporations, they are more terrifying than you could imagine. They fear each other, and they all fear the Everprince.”

“But why?” Eric wrapped his fingers round the bars of his cell. “Why are they so afraid? Omni could have killed us dozens of times. He chose not to.”

“My sweet little Eric,” Echo sighed. “You don't even know what the Everhere is.”

So there you have it, a snipped of arc two, to start in in two weeks. This might not appear in the first scroll, but I guarantee you it's out there.

As a further announcement, please book your tickets to CrystalCon from the link on the main page. We have arranged convention prices for some of the hotels, so if you need lodgings you can book them there as well. Please, be sure to mark if you gave any dietary preferences for the event.

Thank you all in advance and see you there :)

Luna

My family has a house there that nopony uses much, so everypony from class is invited to crash there (and you too, @PrinceEric ;) Can you make it there?). Still, talk with me before bringing anyone else!

RRBB

Max and I could handle a few guests as well. Only ones we know, PM for details.

Just one note of importance. Everhere is rather big in the Crystal Empire. Not sure about the exact numbers, but expect a lot of fans. If anyone has close friends there, it's likely you'd have a place to stay, as long as you ask first. Also, be ready for fans especially if you're famous enough.

Jade

Jade is exaggerating. Yes, Everhere is very popular, but you don't need to worry. (Unless you're @EverSpike the Great and Glorious :) Spike, you're coming here, right?

The empire is a very nice place, there are just a few things that you need to be mindful of, mostly avoid talking about Sombra (ponies get nervous) and don't stare at a Crystal Pony’s mane and eyes too much. A bit is fine, but anything more than a few seconds is rude.

You can also PM me if you need a place to stay. :)

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: I'll be staying with my coltfriend’s sister’s coltfriend, so I have somewhere to be, but my sis might need to be with you. Is that okay?

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: I dare you to say that fast out loud :P I'm surprised that your sister let you. What happened? She got soft or something?

RRBB

I'm so looking forward to Blueblood’s modeling session. :) @Luna can we take photos? This must be recorded for posterity.

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: you're evil, you know that? I'll dig out mine as well. This will be so much fun :)

@BlueEyes: have a spare room for Brush and me? The Wonderbolt barracks are under repair again :/ (Don't ask. I don't even want to get into that.)

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: sure, buddy. House will be packed, though. Just let's not do anything too wild this time, okay?

BlueEyes

@BlueEyes: you remember who you're dating, right?

CEOWitch

@InItForTheShipping: Ha, ha, very funny. And yes, I'll be there… Somepony has made subtle and unsubtle hints that I should go. So not like I have a choice.

EverSpike

@EverSpike: Cheer up, I heard Ember will be there to. ;)

SweetStuff

Wait, what? We have dragons here now? Why didn't anyone tell me?

Feather

@Feather: Hello, I posted during the last reading, remember?

EverSpike

@EverSpike: who said I was talking about you? Real dragons!

Feather

That burn. Ouch!

RRBB

Whatever :/

EverSpike

Well, I'll definitely be there. @InItForTheShipping: Guess I resolved the “bringing my boyfriend” problem. In other words I’ll be solo again. Yay me, I guess.

Still, it will be great seeing all of you for the first time. (Well, not all, but most :)) I've only been to the Empire a few times before. It'll be fun! Any nice places for afterparties?

LightSparkle

@WaterBottle: of course :) She's always welcome :) besides, wasn't she going to be bringing food? Just get her to PM me (it's faster than mail).

InItForTheShipping

@LightSparkle: I know quite a few :) The nights will be exciting, for one thing :) Though, there might be a few things you'll need to get used to. For one thing here you're supposed to take the initiative. No worries, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it :)

Simile

@Simile: I'm sure you're teach her how ;)

@Luna: I think I'll make it this time, based on work. It'll be cool for us to finally meet. Still no guarantees. (You know how it is.)

TheRealLuna

…

Simile

@Simile: just couldn't resist. :)

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: That will be great! I finally get to see you, my other half :D

I'm so thrilled and nervous about this whole thing! When I first started it seemed like another desk job. Now… there's this site, I'm organizing conventions, taking care of relief funds, getting excited about meeting ponies I've never seen before.

@LyraHands: why didn't you make this site when I was younger? I feel I missed out on so much! :P

Luna

@Luna: you have to admit it has turned into a shipping site. :P Not that I have anything against!

I'm really curious to see all the Nightlings I've never met. Also… @DarkSparkle modeling :)

MixaMax

@all: LyraHands had to urgently go to Canterlot due to family matters. @HopHop, @The TechNightling, please take over until she's back.

Bob

A Complicated Theory

Hello, all.

I know I'm usually the quiet one, but after rereading Everhere getting ready for the new arc, I got a crazy theory. (Bear with me.)

We know that the Everhere is a thing (weapon or state of existence or both). However, what if it's more? What if it's sentient as well? I've been spending some time in the Royal Canterlot Library when not on duty and found some rather weird writings about Equestria and human myths. One thing in particular caught my interest: Apparently there's this Titan all Gaia who is the “mother of the gods”. The more interesting thing is that encompasses everything that isn't the endless sky (and the stars, sun, and moon). In short she IS Earth. There's a similar theory that Equestria is a sentient being (alicorn) that nourishes all that live on it.

Weird so far? Good! Because things get even weirder. Gaia is said to be female, yet Equestria (despite the name) is described as male. So, if both these entities are nearly all powerful and can change shape at will (as well as create astral avatars of themselves taking any for, they choose), it stands to reason that they might have had a close relationship. What if the Everhere is the child that resulted?

Hear me out! Nowhere is it said that Mistmount is on Earth. (I checked!) There are a lot of assumptions, characters say it's Earth, but I haven't been able to find a single instance of it being said out of dialogue. Furthermore, based on age, the Everprince could be the Everhere’s child or champion, thus granting him extraordinary powers while there (but not on Earth or Equestria). Note that it has been mentioned that the Everhere could be a prison for gods. Also, that would explain the portals to Equestria, as well as Earth proper (which I speculate is the place where the events of Chosen of Poseidon take place.)

That's it for me. Please don't laugh too much. I'm still new at this :)

Sgt Pepper

@Sgt Pepper: marry me and let me have your foals!

That's the most sophisticated and academically sound theory I've heard! I would never even have considered, and I've read all the books in question! (Was it the Aristrottle scrolls? Sounds very much like Aristrottle.)

Simply magnificent! Especially the avatar theory. If the Everhere is indeed a being, she might have her own avatar present, or even have the avatar not be aware of her nature (as we saw with Omni). Incidentally, there are precisely three girls among the 9. Maybe it's just a coincidence, or maybe they form the Everhere?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: get a grip! Not that I don't want to see you get yayed, but come on! That's an absurd theory. And I'm sure that it's pure coincidence that you have a soft spot for centaurs…:/ (Gaia is a human woman and Equestria an alicorn stallion. Hmmm…)

I do like the idea of the place, though. Of the Everhere is between Earth and Equestria, that would explain a lot of things, including the constant in asking and threats that take place during the Mistmount Chronicles.

On that note, can somepony check if the town grows with each volume? I remember getting that feeling. If combined with the location theory, that might well mean that the “world” literally grows as time progresses. That would be cool. Although I doubt that's the reason. Still, curious to see if that's the case.

@Sgt Pepper: you just entered a world of hurt.

MixaMax

@DarkSparkle: Umm, not that I would mind, but I'm already seeing somepony O:)

Sgt Pepper

*glares*

Vengeance! I will never forget the feud between our families, GLGJ! Never! Never!

PPI

Wow, this place is huge! I'll never catch up with all the stories. :)

Not exactly related to the topic, but Griffins also have interesting myths about humans, mostly to do with winds and clouds. Apparently, Zephyr was originally a human name (well, the name of a mythological biped entity, at least.)

He lived in the sky along with his seven brothers and liked to play pranks of Griffins and pegasi alike. I wonder if any of those will appear in MC.

GLGJ

GLGJ: bby, you're here! :)

See, I told you this place is full with fun dweebs. My loser ex-roomie is also here and is sorta a big thing. @Hey, AwesomePony, look who’s here! Say hello to Jr!

Feather

Okay, I forgive you :)))

PPI

Story of my life :( Always a bridesmaid…

DarkSparkle

@Sgt Pepper: That's crazy! :D It will also explain the gods reference rumor that's going around. Do you think those are the junior gods? I still can't figure that out. :(

If they are not titans or gods, maybe they are something like the Everhere, which… *gasp* Do you think that Hercules and all the others are avatars of places? That would explain why Euryala is with them—her evergem bubble could technically be regarded as a (puny) location, which would also explain why everyone else looks down on her.

What do you think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: please, stop! Shipping fics are bad enough as it is. Now we'll have locations flirting with each other *facehoof*

MixaMax

Oh, Mountain-kun, you are so fine! Your peaks go higher than any mountain range I know! Let's elope and get married!

I cannot, Valley-chan, for as much as I love you my parents would never allow me. You know mother Moon always frowns when she sees us together, and father Ocean has already promised me to the the Island clan.

Say it's not true, Mountain-kun! The Islands are pirates! They will only take you into the depths and drown you with their problems!

I have no choice, Valley changed, for my parents are fond of Lagoon-hime. I expect the wedding to be tomorrow.

Nooo, Mountain-kun!

…to be continued.

Brush

Is it bad that I want to find out what's going on? O:)

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: I’ll be sure to tell you tonight ;)

@GLDJ: Welcome to our corner of the aethernet :) Usually its Lyra who does this, but since she's away, let me officially welcome you to the Nightling nest and wish you have lots of fun moments here. :)

Brush

Thanks, Brush! I'm sure I will :)

@PPI: sorry?

GLGJ

Lyra's Correspondence PMs

Baby, how are things going? Didn't get any PMs from you yesterday. Are things complicated again?

Bob

You have no idea :(

Now that my mother learned I'm bearing she wants me to move back home so that the foals could “grow up in a healthy environment”. She really gets me so mad sometimes! I almost walked out five minutes after I got there. If it wasn't for my father I would have. Stars he has nerves of steel.

LyraHands

Want me to come get you?

Bob

I wish, but no. My father wasn't joking about my mom’s health. The way things are going she might need aether surgery. It's still not a hundred percent certain, but everything points towards it being the horn. That and stress, but she's been on relaxing spells for some time and that doesn't seem to have had any effect.

Twenty years and I didn't even know of her condition. She definitely didn't show any symptoms when I was growing up. She would complain about headaches every now and again, but I considered those normal, especially with her working as much as she did.

And can you believe it, both my parents knew! They almost didn't get married because of that. It was my father who insisted that he didn't care and he'd be with her no matter what.

I really can't deal with the contrast. On the one hoof she's be so incredibly hard working to make sure my father and I had everything we did. Getting into school was as much her doing as mine. Suffering through the constant pain of her condition while taking care of our family…I'm not sure I could be as strong. And at the same time she's so narrow minded. :/ She actually said she hopes the foal takes my traits. I guess I should be thankful it she’s toned her comments down.

LyraHands

Sorry you're going through this, but I'm also proud of you. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. And again, if you need me just send a line and I'll be there. I'm glad that you went there. Despite everything I think it was the right thing to do. You'd never stop thinking about it otherwise.

How serious are things with your mother? Do you need me to check with my connections?

Bob

Good thing I have you. I'd be lost otherwise. :)

It's serious. It's reached the point at which she can't do magic without crippling pain. I had to talk to her doctor to find that out. And she's stubborn about surgery, of course. Not that it isn't scary, but she keeps on trying everything else even if she knows it's useless.

From what I read she has a three month window. If she doesn't do anything by then she might lose her horn and that… I mean she's still my mother, I must feel for her, but with the way she acts, after everything she caused me, she's making it so *yay* difficult :(

LyraHands

Lyra :( If there's anything I can help with just say it. I'm not bothered by being called names. I know you can't see it, but I think i think things are warming up between you two. I've been writing to your father almost every week. He's still having some trouble understanding the whole mares with mares thing, but he's willing to try. I know that deep down your mother is as well. (Trust me. I've seen Celestial fanatics, from the nice ones to the raving kind. I know when somepony has deep ideological issues.)

Bob

You're too good for me, but I'm never letting you go. I'll be seeing the doctor again today. I also got to speak to Luna (site Luna) about it. She's busy as Tartarus dealing with the day to day stuff and organizing the convention, but she promised she'd help as well. Bellucio was off to see his marefriend, so I didn't get to see him.

I also checked with school stuff. I'll be having my exam in two weeks. At this point I'm not sure I'll get top grades, but I just want to get it over with. With that and my music diploma I could finally start looking for a proper job. Working with DaBoss is fun, but it doesn't pay much.

LyraHands

I told you not to worry about money. I have this. You can do anything you want. I knew what I was getting into when I first met you ;) If you want you could be one of those artistic types that walk around in suggestive robes all day and scribble songs on the living room wall. :P

Bob

Ouch! My ex used to do that. Well, minus the suggestive robes. She never liked clothes. On that note, maybe I should go see her. It's been ages and it would be nice to catch up. (Don't worry, it turned out she was straight. A bit of a shocker for both of us at the time.)

LyraHands

Knowing her, I wouldn't be surprised. It doesn't look like she’s anywhere near settling down. I used to feel so threatened by her at one point.

Bob

From Vinyl?!? She's half your size! How would be threatened by her?

LyraHands

You're so cute when you're playing dumb *kiss*

I was afraid you'd go back to her. A lot of ponies have a thing for petites. It was a huge relief when I found out that she was into stallions. Say hi to her from me if you see her.

Bob

Will do.

Must go now. I've been in my room more than I should. I expect my mother is already grumbling downstairs. I bet my parents are reading the site. I know my father is, but I think my mother is as well.

I really hope it goes better today. I can't stomach her insults for much longer. She has learned to be careful where you're concerned, so they are just directed towards me in a passive-aggressive way—just enough to make the point but keep me from storming out. To make things more fun I need to convince her to do the surgery. I really hope she isn't using this as a bargaining chip to get me back home.

LyraHands

Do your best. *hugs* And remember. If you ever need me just PM me and I'll be there in ten minutes.

Bob

I know :)

Love you!

LyraHands

*smooches*

Bob

The Honeymooners Return

Finally Back! Sorry if this took a bit longer than expected, but we got invited to a few other places after our honeymoon and just couldn’t say no. (Well I couldn’t. CodeFilly was a bit furious at me, but the visits turned out much better than we feared.)

Initially we were nervous that being aethernet celebrities (turns out that’s a thing) might be too intense, but it ended up being really fun! Let me tell you, MC clubs are like cool book clubs that are are frequented by non-geeks that act like geeks. It was simply the best!

You won’t believe how much we got asked about you all! I even had to make some things up. (also there are a number of shipping pools going on. I put ten bits on @Grumpy @TrueSparle, so… I’m not saying anything, but… O :) )

How have things been here? (After a point I just stopped going online.)

MightyDragon

Well, if I were a geeky stallion I’d find it fun as well. Most of the time I got to spend with drunk depressed mares telling me how lucky I was.

Although, there were a few interesting ones with which we agreed to keep in touch. I must admit, it’s almost shocking how few stallions were in the clubs. In one it was mare central. Well, almost. The club president had brought her coltfriend along to the envy of everypony else.

Things were much more different in the coastal areas.

CodeFilly

Hey, hey, you two :D
You didn’t miss a thing. Well, maybe a few things. You still hosting that wild party at the convention, right?

Twilight and Blueblood are going to model for the audience! It will be great! :D

HopHop

Wait, what?
Twilight modelling? That I must see! I’m very curious to see if she can pull it off.

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Totally. They’ll even be wearing socks. I would too, but socks aren’t at all aligned with my chakras and I don’t want to cause an astral disturbance at with so many crystals around.

@InItForTheShipping: Can I, like, come a few days earlier to meditate there so that I get attuned with everything?

Tree

@Tree: never change :) I’ll pass to see you before the event to catch up. Feels like ages since we last talked.

Brush

@CodeFilly: Oh we all are curious. I won’t lie, I’ll probably take a few pictures… for aesthetic purposes O:)

Tell me, how was the honeymoon? I’m starting to consider locations (even if somepony beside me is blushing and levitating cushions at me to stop) and I’d like to find nothing but the best. I considered renting a coral atoll, but it takes ages to get there, and sea travel isn’t for everypony.

Oh, and just so you know, money is no option.

RRBB

@RRBB: We found it ideal to relax and read. If you’re more the partypony there are other options. I wouldn’t recommend burning horse, though. That’s way too wild for most. (Yes, I was tricked into going there once and had a pretty boring time. The night shows were nice, though.)

CodeFilly

@RRBB: How about we all go somewhere for graduation? Pretty much everyone has a special somepony and it will be cool to be alone yet together at the same time, right?

I prefer something with clouds, of course, but am cool with pretty much anything (unless Plust has something against). Maybe someplace with scuba diving?

YouKnowWho

I know the best place you could go for your prom/honeymoon :D trust me, you’ll love it. (WaterBottle had a taste and has been PMing me for more.)

Seriously, I know a great place, but it might be a bit difficult to achieve. There are some bureaucratic matters involved, though. @InItForTheShipping, what do you think?

LightSparkle

@ LightSparkle: Not on your life ;)

@RRBB: I think I might have something in mind. You’ll still an okay from your parents (even if technically you’d be your own ponies by then).

It’s underwater crystal cave that has a large pool of water for swimming. Think of it as a beach, tropical escape, and crystal cave all in one. You’ll have to bring your own tents, if that’s okay. Part of the beauty is that it hasn’t been touched by technology. (Aethernet reception is perfect, though.)

InItForTheShipping

@CodeFilly: puppy eyes

MightyDragon

I am NOT taking you to an underwater cave two days after the end of our extended honeymoon! The university was gracious enough to give me a bit more leave, but I doubt they’d be happy if I went on leave again. Besides, don’t you have work to do anyway?!

CodeFilly

But, but… :~( can’t we go just for a week? I can take Flurry with me? I’m sure the prince wouldn’t mind. He’s very understanding. Also, since we’re technically in charge of the convention we might need to recharge out mana before going there, right?

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon, @CodeFilly: That’s actually not a bad idea! We could go spend a relaxing weekend there! It’s been too long since I saw my niece :)

@TrueSparkle, @EverSpike: You who want to tag along? It’ll be good for you!

DarkSparkle

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: Welcome back.

I apologize for the state of the site, but a number of things happened while you were away, both here and in the real world. Fortunately everything is handled for the most part. Unfortunately, we had to change the backend quite a bit. HopHop had some interesting ideas, and I must admit, she writes incredibly clean. What I wouldn't give for my coworkers to have a tenth of her skill.

On another note, LyraHands is in Canterlot, so it might be a good idea for you talk to her. I'm sure she'll be able to bring you up to speed faster than anypony here.

The TechNightling

@LyraHands, @CodeFilly, @MightyDragon, @DarkSparkle: class reunion! I'll see how many of the girls and guys I could get for a Canterlot meetup :)

HopHop

@HopHop: I’ll have to pass.

@all: My mother is scheduled for surgery in three days. I might not make it to the convention.

I'm sorry.

LyraHands

Confusion

I'm so sorry! I never meant this to happen. I… I never expected this to happen to me. It's like I'm some sort of lame loser, but I am a loser. My whole life I tried to prove I’m not a loser. Elements of Loyalty… I’m such a joke!

I don't to deserve to be here. I don't deserve to be a Wonderbolt. I…

Ammy, it’s all my fault. I admit it. I know you hate me right now, but… I just couldn't help myself. I knew it was wrong and I still did it. Deliberately. I've been feeling crushed inside and i thought this might help. The truth is I wanted it to get this far, but I…

I'm sorry, okay! I just wanted some happiness in my messed up like and I caused *yay* instead!

AwesomePony

What the hay just happened? O.o

RRBB

@AwesomePony, you get the *yay* back here and say what's going on! I swear, mane, if you pull some crazy *yay* then get to something *yay* up like last time, I'll fly there and *yay* you up so hard that you won't be able to sit for a week!

Feather

She removed all her stories and deleted her account. I have everything on backup, but this is serious. Anypony know what’s going on? :(

HopHop

The only thing I could say is that she sent me a long apology PM before deleting her account. I cannot go into the PM itself, because it's of personal nature, but it is confusing as the post and going into much greater extremes.

If there's anyone who could talk with her in real life, I advise them doing that as quickly as possible.

The TechNightling

Huh? :( AwesomePony seemed so happy yesterday. I saw her fly into a wall and just align it off. Maybe it has to do with the magic phenomena all over Equestria?

Ill try to find out what's going on.

DaBoss

I just heard from the cap. AwesomePony requested immediate emergency leave sometime last night and didn't show up for work today. I sent some of the recruits to her place, but nopony seems there.

No idea what this is about. Who’s Ammy?

Fleetfoot

I'll go find her. Stupid, stupid AwesomePony! :~/

Brush

@Fleetfoot: I'm “Ammy” and I have no idea what's going on. I'm at work right now (urgent stuff I have to finish) so can't go looking for her, but I really don't know what got into her. We've seen each other several times since I came back, and everything was fine. We even were supposed to go out and have dinner with her and Jade later this week.

Do you think it's a prank? @AwesomePony, if you made an alt just to freak us out, it isn’t funny!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: nope, no secondary account. She hasn't logged in to the site from the same address either. Whatever the reason she’s gone for good. :(

HopHop

I know where to find her. Already on my way!

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: Don't go on your own, you idiot! :( Tell us where it is! What's up with everypony and their secrets lately?!

RRBB

AwesomePony quit her job as Ponyville weather pony! I've only seen her like this when she though she'd never pass her Wonderbolt exam. Nopony knows what's going on :(

Cloudkicker said she had been crying a bit, but brushed this off as being allergies. I'll try to find out more between my rounds.

DaBoss

Girls, use the site network. I know this isn't its purpose, but start an AwesomePony lookout page? I leaving up to the @mods and @Luna to decide if this is a proper course of action.

Not to be a *yay* but I think we could help each other more as Nightlings. That's not to say that we don't already (you all know what I'm talking about) but there are recourses we can use and we don't. The network thing, for one. Also with group functionality, we could open places for support and not only for writing. Again, this is @LyraHands’ place, so she has the final say, but knowing her, I think she wouldn't be against.

Oh, and just one thing. As you've seen the @mods and assistants are always here, so will easily deal with attempts to abuse such features.

LightSparkle

@all: I have created three support groups:

Crying Shoulder
Heartbreak
Always Someone

I'll add descriptions to clarify what each group deals with. I'd like to ask that everyone refrain from making new groups, but instead focus on being helpful there. During the course of the week I’ll assign respective rights to members who will run them. Until then I'll administer them personally.

The TechNightling

*yay*! I'm scared! I can't find AwesomePony in her special place. She always told me to go there if I felt alone or sad. Anypony else have any luck?

YouKnowWho

@DarkSparkle: can Spike send a mail to her parents? Maybe she's there?

Twist

@The TechNightling: please all this for me.

Everyone’s concern is really appreciated, but this is somewhat of a private matter. I think I know what happened and will try to find AwesomePony and sort this out. I might have an idea where she is.

Meanwhile, while the idea of support groups is magnificent (I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't the help and support of @MasterOfThisAstra and @DarkSparkle), creating what in effect is a Nightling spy network is definitely going too much. Magic incidents is one thing, making a chart where somepony was at any given time… that's not something I think we should be doing.

In the past there have been shoutouts on a case by case basis (just as there has been now for AwesomePony) and I think that method is preferable.

Just my two bits. Thank you.

Jade

@all:

Everyone’s concern is really appreciated, but this is somewhat of a private matter. I think I know what happened and will try to find AwesomePony and sort this out. I might have an idea where she is.

Meanwhile, while the idea of support groups is magnificent (I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't the help and support of @MasterOfThisAstra and @DarkSparkle), creating what in effect is a Nightling spy network is definitely going too much. Magic incidents is one thing, making a chart where somepony was at any given time… that's not something I think we should be doing.

In the past there have been shoutouts on a case by case basis (just as there has been now for AwesomePony) and I think that method is preferable.

Just my two bits. Thank you.

Jade

I find myself agreeing with Jade’s reasoning and until I hear otherwise from @LyraHands or @CodeFilly, I won't be engaging in or allowing any “mapping” of ponies. Furthermore, I'll leave the matter in Jade’s hooves and will be locking the thread.

If there's any news you're welcome to start a new thread, but please do not abuse the site.

The TechNightling

I spoke with her. She needs some time.

Brush

CodeFilly

The S.Child Connection

Girls, girls! I discovered something unbelievable.

I had some time off school, so I managed to start the original Midnight Castle. It’s still too early to say, but in one chapter there's a mysterious character from Equestria said to have “more magic power than anyone else.” It's never revealed who that character is exactly (s/he talks to original Danny using mist), but there’s the following line:

“Who exactly are you?” Danny took a step back. “A prince? A wizard? A ruler?”

“Hmm. A bit of all, I guess,” the mistform laughed. “You can call me a child, though. Compared to the powers that created reality, isn't that all we are?”

(It's from the chapter “The Dagger Within”)

The character never appears again, but he (I assume it's a he) clearly wants to be called Child. On the other hoof, going back though Equestrian history, there's one figure that is extremely well known and said to have ruled, or guided, Equestria with magic throughout the ages: Starswirl the Bearded.

S. Child!!!

This is so great I can barely keep in bed :)))

What do you think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: That's actually a very good theory. Sorry if I can't be more enthusiastic, but I'm still a bit shaken up. I got a message from AwesomePony apologizing again, but nothing more. I guess at least we know she's okay…sort of.

Back to the theory. There has been some speculation, but that's the first time I hear any reference, even if it's very vague. There's certainly nothing in Mistmount Chronicles. Although, it's possible that during the first series, S. Child felt he could put in a small self insert. Very clever, I must admit.

Of course, you might be completely off. There have been a number of “children” in the serious, some of them good, some evil. The Shadowchild comes to mind (another S, mind you). While it's clear that they are an experiment of the Felina corp, it’s still out there and on the loose. And let's not forget the Autumn Child (which opens the door to there being an Spring and Summer child).

Still, great theory. The perfect thing to get us fired up before the next chapter. Just 12 days to go! :D

MixaMax

@PrinceEric: I still haven't read the originals, but seems like a solid theory to me. We all know that Starswirl played a lot with portals. And he did master time, so maybe he created the Everhere: a place that's a frozen moment of time and/or reality. I perfectly see him as hanging out with the gods (he's a guy too, remember). That would be so fun if it's true :)

Of course, saying this, I see a whole new set of ships. (There have been a few good ones with Starswirl, actually. Not ships, stories.)

@TrueSparkle, @DarkSparkle: Do you have any theories?

LightSparkle

I, for one, think that it might not be Starswirl per se, but a descendant of his. Note that it's Child, so it could well be Starswirl’s Child.

A thing that none have commented on is him being referred to as a prince (which Starswirl never was). Advisor, Regent, Archwizard yes, but prince… That role fits his descendants much better. Also, note that prince clearly tells us that he's male. (Although it might be Danny messing up, as usual.)

Simile

@LightSparkle: Dark is in Canterlot on an urgent matter. I think it's possible. Though. Starswirl did know a lot of time and dimensional spells, even if he was a bit sloppy. I could totally see him going to Earth by accident. I never heard him habits children, though.

@Simile: can you give some references?

TrueSparkle

Actually, Simile is correct. Starswirl did, in fact, have a child before he became all great and powerful. There is significant speculation whether his line died out or not, but there are scholars insist that there are Starswirl descendants even today.

Just to note that the Starswirl line is different from the royal line (which is started with Princess Celestia and lives on today through Prince Blueblood).

Heh, I'm something of an expert on Starswirl (everypony has hobbies ;))

@PrinceEric: I love the theory! It will also explain so much, like how Equestria and Earth got a portal between them. I'm also a bit conflicted because I lived Brush’s “Mountain-Kun” teaser :)

Please write that! I know it isn't exactly MC material, but it deserves to exist!

InItForTheShipping

@Simile: You're cute when you're smart, you know that? ;)

Just joking. Sometimes I say words that aren't even mine.

Another thing to think about: Sombra also starts with an S.

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: Oh, come on. :/ Sombra was locked away when the first series was written. By definition that means that no one could remember him or anything related to him. Having someone choose a pen name after him is absurd.

On the other hand, Siren Child fits. Great, now I’m more confused than before! Thanks a lot, @PrinceEric :P

LightSparkle

Oooh! It being a child of Starswirl would be so cool! I mean, just imagine what he could do with that much knowledge and spells! Maybe he could even face Hercules or the titans? Somepony must write this!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: I might try, but not sure how good it'll be… if you're willing to forgive a few mistakes I'll get to if. It will have to be after the convention, however.

Quarters

@TheRealLuna: *flails*

Simile

I just love to read your theories! They are always unexpected. I actually can tell you the story behind the name… but I won't! :P

Actually, I don't know either. I was too young when S. Child used to work with the writers personally. Still, it's a great theory! Who knows? It might even be true ;)

@MixaMax: will you make it by the deadline? I can extend it a bit, if you need?

Luna

@Luna: all good. Just the Mayor doing some last minute changes… as usual :/

MixaMax

Hi, all.

I'll only be online for a minute, but just wanted you know I’m doing a bit better. With luck I might even make it for the convention, I know I really want to. :)

Stay strong, you crazies. Thanks for being with me.

PaintDrop

Heart to Heart PMs

Hey.

I really don't want to talk about this. I’ve been avoiding telling you, but… I just can't do it anymore. I don't care if you're mad at me, if you hate me and never talk to me again. You deserve to know. If I wasn't the pathetic loser I am, I should have told you sooner. Now… I made a mess of things. Heh, the great and awesome me. What a joke. Even my parents won't see the upside in this.

I had an affair with Jade. There I said it. I knew it was wrong, but I did it anyway. It's just that I feel so different when being with him. I tricked myself thinking we're just friends, or two writers discussing stories. As if I can write. I know exactly how terrible I am. I just cover it up with gags and ego so I feel at least a bit good about myself.

So there’s that. You don't have to worry about anything anymore. I won't be seeing Jade again. I'll be moving away from Ponyville, at least for a while. I asked the captain to send me on a scout mission at the edge of Equestria for six months. After that we’ll see how it goes.

Sorry for everything,

AwesomePony

What? Huh? That's the reason you fled?

MixaMax

Isn't it enough?!?

I had an affair with him for months! Months! I can tell he was feeling comfortable but I pushed on. I knew if I acted sad and depressed he'd come to try and help me and I abused it. The truth is I was feeling sad and depressed, but he made that go away.

A few days ago it finally happened. When we were together I'd often tap him with my wing, or ask him to fly about. He'd always do it. He'd sigh, but he'd still do it just so I feel a bit better. A few days ago, though…

I kissed him. There was no warning, I just grabbed him in a wing hung and I kissed him. It felt wonderful. The best feeling I've had in my life. He pushed me off. He didn't say anything or fly away. He just shook his head… or maybe he did something and I'm talking *yay* right now. I should have said something, I should have apologies. I didn't. I just flew off like a coward.

AwesomePony

Rainbow… I know. We've been engaged for months. We tell each other such things. Do you think I don't know? We had a long talk with him after our fight. (My fight with you that is.) And yes, you are a wreck. Sorry to say this, but you are. It's clear you like him a lot, but life happens. Sooner or later you'll have to move on.

And yes, Jade was terrified by the event. If it had been anyone else, he'd probably gone to the guard. He still half wanted to. You did go a bit too far, but… let's just say I understand you. To sure if you know this, but we hated each other a lot on the site. He was dating DarkSparkle back then (they still see each other from time to time to chat, and yes, I know about it. They’re both very open about it and there's nothing going on.) The only reason we hooked up was because he mistook her for me. We started talking, I saw he was actually sweet and not the jerk he was on the site, then next we were in bed.

Dark was a bit heartbroken at the time as well. Point is, we've been together ever since. And yes, I was mega protective of him at first. (You know what they say: stallions are like art: if they're true they aren't beautiful, if they're beautiful they aren't true.) At one point I just said “*yay* it. If I don't trust him I might as well have lost him”.

There's been no affair. I won't lie, I want to twist your wings for kissing him, but it wasn't unexpected. You weren't exactly subtle about it. If this had gone on it's possible that we'd get into another fight, mostly because of how stressed out Jade was.

MixaMax

You're fine with this? But it's unforgivable! I… I tried to steal your husband! And that's after I failed to steal him when he was your boyfriend! I'm the lowest of the low! I'm scared to think what I did! All that sneaking, the hints, the kiss… I still fantasize of him leaving you for me!

AwesomePony

Now that's an issue. You better work on that. Seriously. Maybe see RRBB’s therapist or something.

Let me tell you one thing about Jade, and I'll tear off your tail if you tell anypony. He's a hundred percent monogamous. Actually nearly all crystal ponies are. It's a sort of thing with them, something to do with Sombra’s rule I think.

When I proposed and he said yes, that was it. From that point on, I might as well leave him in a *yay* club and come back to get him the next day.

That doesn't excuse you in any way, but you've just hurting yourself by running away and replaying the moment in your mind. Bottom line just move on. Nothing bad has happened. You got close, but for now it's still alright (well, sorta anyway.) Maybe you shouldn't see Jade for a while, and definitely not alone, but don't just run away. You're become like a close family friend, you know.

MixaMax

Love is so painful and confusing.

AwesomePony

Tell me about it. :) Do you have any idea how I felt when I learned I stole the boyfriend from my friend and classmate (who also happens to be a princess now)?

MixaMax

Not bad enough to give him back to her?

AwesomePony

I guess not. We're still friends, though. And because of that I still would like to be friends with you.

You've been unlucky with love, but you are awesome. You'll find somepony, I know it. And you'll feel just the same way that I feel now. You’ll see.

Oh, Jade says the next time you try anything of the sort he'll bite and shout. Also that you're an idiot.

MixaMax

Yeah. That sounds like him.

AwesomePony

I need some time. I never thought I could become that mare. And I don't think I could ever stop loving him…

AwesomePony

You don't have to stop. Just keep in mind that we're married now and some thing are off limits. Treasure the memories and move on. After all it's not like you to stay in one place for long :P

MixaMax

I… I’m sorry. I hate being so pathetic! I… I'll just leave you alone now. Tell Jade I'm sorry.

AwesomePony

He knows.

You take care, you hear? Pull yourself together. We’ll be waiting.

MixaMax

The Clothes Merchant

Sorry, girls. But all commissions and gift pics I promised will be postponed for a while :( Not the ideal situation, but… oh well.

Also, I can't believe you're talking about human clothes again. Jokes aside, you have no idea how difficult it is to draw humans, especially to be seductive (I hope Tech doesn’t ban me for that :)). Looking at my early work I cringe at how bad I was. I pretty much blatantly copied some of the art in the series adding my own personal touch.

@FishSticks, how in Equestria did you agree to tutor me? :P

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Ha! That wasn't all you did. I still remember your first… ahem… suggestive attempts. Boy were those “suggestive” :P funny how you didn't draw male nipples back then.

About that, who in ended human anatomy? I've said it before I'll say it again: it makes no sense!

RRBB

@PaintDrop: so glad you're okay. You had us worried. And don't let RRBB pretend that she wasn't. We all were.

When will we get to see you?

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: heh… might be a while. I get tired easily. Also they don't let me stay long, so I'll just sporadically appear to say a few words throughout the day.

Thanks, though. Thinking about you girls kept me going.

PaintDrop

Now all we need is LyraHands and AwesomePony to show up and it'll be the greatest day ever :)

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: huh? What happened to them? Sorry, I haven't been keeping up with things :(

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: AwesomePony is going through some personal issues and LyraHands’ mother is undergoing surgery. “Fingers crossed” for both of them, and you. Short isn't exaggerating when she says you gave us a scare.

Brush

@Brush: yes, yes, I know :( Maybe I'll explain everything one day, though not today. It's just so great hearing you again. :) let me have this moment without getting all depressed.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: you can have all the moments you need, silly mare. I’ll On my way! Visit you in full human outfit soon, and also introduce you to Garden. Next week okay?

MasterOfThisAstra

@PaintDrop: Welcome back, kiddo! I knew you were thought :)

I just came back from a friend who specializes in human clothing (don't ask) and I must say I regret it. A month's pay gone just like that. On the plus side I have enough humie gloves and socks to fill a basket! Also got some other stuff you might find interesting :)

PaintDrop, i got you a very special gift (don't you look at me like that you pervs!) it's something perfectly classy and suitable that you'll appreciate.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Umm, do you have something unclassy clothing I'd appreciate? It's not for me it's for Short. :) Money is no issue.

RRBB

Oh, oh! I want one of those as well! :D

SweetStuff

You really want to get me in trouble, don't you? :/

@SweetStuff: won't your sister kick you out if she caught you wearing something of the sort?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: That's the point! :P

Nah, when fashion is concerned she'll be fine. Plus we had our talk of the week, so I think she'll be more understanding. At worst she'll probably ask you to buy her more stuff. :/

SweetStuff

Will it be okay to go wearing human clothes? Usually conventions have strict dress requirements.

The last one I was at almost didn't let a friend in because his cape was too long.

Plust

@all: The convention is considered a family friendly event. That said, anything that isn't too explicit or shocking is fine.

I only encourage you to not walk about in socks through the city (you might get some weird looks). The Crystal Empire is pretty liberal in some regards, but keep in mind that there are some very struct Celestial colleges there.

Luna

Fine! You win!

@LightSparkle: find something cool for me too, if you can. And for Plust. Just… try not to go overboard with the price, okay?

YouKnowWho

It's almost as if the site hasn't changed. :)

I expect stories about LightSparkle the Clothes Merchant. *giggle*

PaintDrop

I'm so writing this! :D LightSparkle secretly sneaks through a portal to Earth to snuffle human clothes. A crime punishable by banishment! :D

RRBB

Err, hell, all.

Long time lurker, first time poster. I just wanted to say that you girls are fun. I was in a bad place for a long time, but this site managed to change that. (It got me to mare up and finally go to anger management.)

What I wanted to say is thank you… And I'd definitely read that, @RRBB :)

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: Glad to hear! :) Welcome to our reality beyond reality. Great user name, by the way, I'm sure LyraHands will just live you :D

Sorry for the craziness. We're usually… who am I kidding? :P if you've been following this place you know exactly what we are :D Just one question: favourite humie?

MixaMax

I know it's a cliché, but Danny (mostly for the DDDA saga. I really hope that continues.)

Although, I like Eric a lot too. He reminds me of me in some ways.

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: Well, you certain have nothing to worry about :) Welcome to the Nightling’s Nest of insanity. :)

RRBB

@LightSparkle: I never considered there might be ponies who make a living by designing human clothes. It must be so strange, but also exciting. I wish I could, but even now I can't be open about my hobby. I guess I'm just afraid. TechNightling doesn't seem to mind, but MC designs look cute on stallions. :)

Candle

@Candle: You’d be surprised. Although, she definitely is a weird one. I might try to drag her to the convention, but somehow I doubt she’ll agree to come. :(

LightSparkle

Well, it was fun, but I have to go now. Keep the good fight, leave no stallion unblushed :) I’ll go get some rest. Talk to you girls again soon.

@LittleFinger: great to get to know you! I'm sure you'll have fun here :)

PaintDrop

Byeeeee, PaintDrop. PM me, okay?

RRBB

@PaintDrop: Thanks, I, sure I will :) And you get better. I love your art.

LittleFinger

Lyra's Teary PMs

Bby, is everything alright? I know you need some space, but I'm starting to get worried. If you need more time just let me know, okay? The constant silence is scaring me.

Bob

I don't know what to do. I really don't. :(

I'm at the end of my rope, B. I really am. I thought I was doing the right thing by getting my mother to undergo the surgery and now she only hates me more. Thirty minutes. That was all type time we had between her waking up and going back to sleep. And do you know what she told me then? That she regretted me not being a stallion, because “at least then there would be unicorn mares chasing after me as it should be”.

Those could have been the last word she spoke to me as far as we know and she chose to say that? I really don't know what to think anymore! :( I cried on my father's shoulder for almost an hour afterward. Thank the stars for him! He told me he doesn't understand me and probably never would, but I will remain his daughter regardless.

Why must mothers be so difficult? Listening to her one would think I'm the greatest disappointment that ever lived. She said that knowing I had these fears throughout my childhood. How could she?!?

LyraHands

Leave everything and come here.

Bob

I can't. Regardless of what she thinks of me, I still think of her as my mother and I'll stay until she wakes up. Then I will go.

I hoped it wouldn't come to this. Call me naive, but even with all my complaining and theatrics, I still hoped deep inside that we'd find a way to get along, maybe even forgive each other. I thought our children would help convince her you're somepony worthwhile, that I, somepony worthwhile… Instead, she dug her hoof into my heart and twisted it.

LyraHands

Lyra, you're the best thing that happened to Equestria. Your cheer, your strive, your smile they have caused far more than you could imagine. You're my very special somepony. When I found you I had all but given up on love. And now look at us. You achieved the impossible, Lyra! We're married and you're pregnant with our children. I can't even imagine the pain you had to suffer, I can't even imagine the strength of will needed.

Don't listen to your mother. Not about this. I've seen a lot of things in my line of work, and I know two things: everypony has an attractive and repulsive side, and there's not always something we could do about it. The fact that you helped her despite everything just proves who you are. The way she treats you shows what she is.

I won't defend her. At this piston I don't even like her, but look at it this way. Your father is understanding, right? Would he have been so devoted to a mare if she was all bad?

Bob

I don't know… Maybe not. He's making efforts, but he's a stallion. It's in his nature to act this way. Also, he chose her not me.

The best thing I could do is wait for her to come to and break all ties with her.

I spoke to Luna. There are ways for I've to make it legal. Usually it's a complicated procedure, but Luna promised me that if I really wanted to sever all ties with my mother she'd help with the paperwork and advice. I told her to get everything ready.

LyraHands

O, baby :( *hugs* I know how difficult this is for you. I'll talk to DaBoss to let you on leave when you get back. I have a few weeks gathered as well. Just get back here and I'll give you my 100% attention.

Bob

Thanks the stars I found you.

I already spoke with Mighty and Code. They’ll also support my decision, as will Hop and Lemon. I didn't want to tell anypony else because… it's just difficult talking about it. My own mother :(

LyraHands

What did the doctors say? When is she expected to wake up? I never managed to read into the procedure :( Something hasty turned up at work that needed my involvement.

Bob

Surgery was touch and go for a moment, but on the whole went well. Right now it's her body getting used to the normal flow of mana that's causing the issues. Before the surgery only about five percent of manage could flow through her horn, causing the body to increase output each time. Now that pathways are “unstuck” the brain is experiencing too much and is shutting itself down to protect itself from the effects.

Long story short, she'll be in something close to a self induced mana-coma for up to a week. Hopefully, by then the her body would learn to adjust to her being normal again. There's a five percent chance that a second intervention might be needed to wake her up, but so far the doctors are optimistic.

LyraHands

Well at least that's one relief. Now the both of you will know that you saved her life.

Bob

I'll breathe easier when she wakes up, but yes. And still why don't I feel any joy from that? I imagined this so differently. This is for getting my hopes up.

Please promise me, that no matter we’ll still love our child! Even if it grows up to hate everything we stand for, we’ll still take care of it na start it with love.

LyraHands

Lyra, stop thinking such things right now! Our child will not grow up to hate us. We’ll always love it and it will grow up to be the most adoring thing ever! Even if it doesn't share out view on life we’ll always remain a family.

Now, instead of clouding your mind, start thinking of names. You're five months due and I still haven't heard any proposal. And I swear if you leave it to me I'll pick the edgiest name I could find on the site and call it that!

Bob

:) you always know how to make me smile. Yes, you're right, I should think of happier things. Not the name, though. We can think of that when I'm back home.

I think I’d like us to have a few weeks off together. I'd looked it a lot.

LyraHands

Say no more, baby. I'll make it happen. You take care, and if there's anything at all, send me a PM.

Bob

Love you.

LyraHands

Love you too, you gorgeous minty mare.

Bob

Simile's Dream PMs

This better not be some kind of joke! If I find out you're messing with me there will be Tartarus to pay!

ColdLight

Well, that's the last time I preread your story. Good to know, since I had too many anyway. Good luck finding anypony on the site willing to give you criticism, and I don't count your friends who think your story is “da hay!”

Simile

I know it's a long shot, okay, but if you're single and would want to have a go call me, okay? I've been seeing you in my dreams a lot lately, but dreams are no substitute for the real thing. I want to feel you, to smell you, to rest in your mane.

Did you write this?

ColdLight

*yay*!

Look, I was heck of drunk at the time. It was a stressful day at work, and I had gotten into some personal *yay* and… I really messed up there :( And that traitor @TheRealLuna made a mess by trolling, as she usually does.

I’m so sorry. I guess it's too late to pretend this never happened?

Simile

Did you mean what you wrote?

ColdLight

Edit: To hay with it. I never had a chance anyway.

Yes, I did. Do! I do mean what I wrote. I could have phrased it better, definitely, but yep, those are my thoughts on the matter. And yes, I'm aware how awkward that sounds, considering how we went clubbing and everything.

Edit: And I'd still like us to be friends, even if not the way I meant. You're just too great for me to resist.

Simile

Sure.

ColdLight

Really?!? :)

Simile

I'm not just the dark and emotional mare ponies make me out to be. If I see something I like I go for it. And you I like. What else is there to it?

ColdLight

Wow. Just wow! I… wow!

Simile

Not the romantic you expected me to be, eh? After a certain time it gets stale. You like me, I like you, let's see how it goes.

ColdLight

No, I mean wow as in “wow I can't believe you said yes!” :) I'd never think poorly of you. Well, maybe some of my thoughts are exactly… heh O:)

Edit: Hold on! Please tell me you haven't peaked in my dreams!

Simile

Scared are you? ;)

Don't worry, your dreams are perfectly fine. There are only so many hours in the night. I only go chasing away nightmares, or occasionally making my own dreamworld to unwind a bit.

Yes, I totally went into your dreams ;) What do you expect? I got a message saying you were interested and I had to check you out. Nothing person, but after the amount of times I had been let down (I'm talking hundreds here) I've become more cautious. Let me tell you, poets are the worst. Great to be with, they constantly declare their undying love, but when it comes down to anything practical they lose interest :/ With them it's all about chasing an unattainable muse.

ColdLight

Yikes. I never looked at it that way. And I thought I had my share of disappointments.

Well, if you like what you say there I won't complain ;) Just. You know what I am, right? And you're okay to be with me? I’ll just go ahead and say it. I have abandonment issues.

It's actually amazing that you said yes. I mean when we were clubbing I was convinced you were into stallions. (I won't lie, I was jealous as *yay* but told myself it could never happen, so partied on.)

Wow. This whole thing is wow.

Simile

Yes, I know what you are, you silly filly :) And I’ve always kept my sexual preferences somewhat hidden. Not that I wouldn't have gotten away with it. It’s just a personal thing.

As for the partying, it was just some casual flirts. The reason I went there was to party and unwind. If I wanted messy drama I could go back home, or create something in the dreamscape. It was just for the drinks and the laughs.

You're quite the cutie as well, don't sell yourself short. And don't worry about LightSparkle. She can humph all she wants, but I bet she's got a secret shipping diary under her pillow.

ColdLight

Heh, I bet she does. She's just very good at hiding it. It's sad about her breakups, though. I know it's a terrible thing to say, but I think she's become too nice to compensate for her past and that's causing problems. When she's with me she tends to loosen up a bit, but otherwise she's always worrying about useless things.

Anyway, to more important things (I.e. You :)) with the risk of being boring, I have to ask. What do you like? What are your favorite colors? Any particular food and drinks? What about flowers? Oh, what is your favorite music? Do you like long snuggling or prefer short and intense?

Simile

You don't waste time, do you? :) I think we should talk about that in person.

ColdLight

Cool, cool. There might be a slight issue with that… nothing that we can't work out, of course. The problem is that I move around a lot. Very frequently. Also, I'm not sure how welcome I'd be in Canterlot. I generally keep a very low profile while there (for obvious reasons).

I can try to pass by in a few weeks? Or maybe we can meet in the Crystal Empire? There will be a convention ether and I'll be going. There's nothing to say I can't do other things as well, though ;)

Simile

You really are a silly filly :)

ColdLight

No pony has called me a filly in a very long time! I'm hurt! :P I guess it's okay if you're the one doing it ;P

You really know how to manipulate, don't you? Okay, fine! I'll try to pass by in a few days. (Seriously, I can't make it any sooner :( )

Simile

*giggle*

Just look behind you, bright eyes ;)

ColdLight

Project Planning

Okay, all. I'll be starting the discussion for this masterpiece we’ll be doing. Let me remind you that we have about ten days, so it would be nice to come up with a general idea now (or by tomorrow at the latest). Then both teams could write their part and we merge facts a day or two before the convention.

Or if you have any other suggestions hit me :)

LightSparkle

I'm good.

Simile

Sounds logical.

How do we come up with the idea, then? Everyone makes a suggestion and we discuss it, or? Sorry, I'm really not used to this. I've never done a collaboration before. :(

Quarters

@LightSparkle: who put you in charge?!?

Just kidding. You're good at that sort of thing. (I'm good as well, but can't be bothered right now. :) Also Short just murmured she's okay with the idea.

RRBB

@RRBB: How scandalous! :P

@Quarters: It's actually quite nice, don't worry about it. :) Think of it as an argument about best pair. Everyone says stuff then adds more and more until a story forms and the best pair is determined.

@LightSparkle: Do you have anything in mind?

Brush

Creativity isn't my strongest side. It's difficult for me to come up with ideas that haven't been done before. I take it we’ll be going for something new or will we just rehash what exists in MC and Chosen?

Jade

Well, first of all, what are your thoughts on genre and focus? I'd say keep it fantasy without any weird technological changes. At most gave one WOW element that would change everything. MC had humans, Mistmount had active deities, Everhere has realities. What do we have?

LightSparkle

I'd say a romance is a must. How are you on cross romance? We have two worlds, so maybe we could build something there?

And we don’t have to go with any questionably stuff (or taur fics). What if we make the portals change the body of a pony upon transport? That way everypony that goes to Earth ends up human, and every human that goes to Equestria ends up human. :)

Simile

@Simile: I think you meant to say pony the second time. :P

Disregarding that, that's a great idea! It certainly takes care if a lot controversy. Also Danny Pony :) However, that doesn't make a plot. It's just a basic idea, not even a premise. You'll need something more.

Jade

@Jade: Max, I know it's you! Don’t even dare to deny it!

It's an interesting idea, even if a bit convenient. I mean com one, it's every geekmare’s dream.

“I'm so alone. I wish I can go to Earth and find a cute human guy.”
*mysterious portal opens mysteriously*
“Wow, I'm on Earth! Wow, I'm human! Wow, a human guy likes me! All the human guys like me!”

Not saying we don't go with the idea, but it's just a bit meh…

RRBB

I like the idea. Maybe the price for going through the portal is that the pony / person loses their memory. That way everyone only remembers the things in one world, but not the other.

Quarters

@Quaters: that's pretty clever. :)

In order for someone to remember what has happened she must go to the other world, but then she forgets what she's done in the past. Thus travel diaries are very important and if someone loses them she might get in serious trouble :)

Brush

@Brush: won't that be too chaotic, though? We’ll have to come up with a lot of explanations. We've seen the grand 9 travel a lot, as well as Capris. We'll have to come with something and I don't think that's possible.

Well, we can always go with evergems?

Simile

Squishy suggests that we focus the story on one mare who does that. For everyone else it's life as usual.

Did I mention that's my filly? ;)

RRBB

@RRBB: No! Really? First time I hear about that :P

Good idea, but sadly we're supposed to write two linked books. Having to juggle with one pony might cause problems. Pity since it would have worked great.

Brush

Only the Chosen keep their memory because they have a patron deity to protect them. Anypony else who goes through, loses all their memories, retaining only their skills and language comprehension and goes on to leave a normal life.

That way we could focus on a number of characters, maybe even a couple. And going with the idea of the travel journals, they retrace their steps to help solve some deep dark plot.

Jade

I'm loving this! :))) Maybe the corporations have made many deal with some dark fires in Equestria and are smuggling ponies out? Or vice versa?

This could work! We just need a specific threat, then we can follow the life of two characters both of which have lost their memories (one us from earth, the other from Equestria).

Oh! We can start with them finding a way to communicate with each other. They both investigate the conspiracy on their end. Then at some point we learn they are both from Earth (even the pony we were sure was from Equestria).

LightSparkle

What if Sombra is an escaped titan from Earth?

Quarters

Jade meltdown in 3… 2… 1…

RRBB

@RRBB: you're aware you're dating my sister-in-law, right?

Actually, I think that's a sound idea. Would explain a lot of things, and also link the story to the Crystal Empire (where the convention will be held).

How about something simple: King Sombra is alive in some form (titans never die) so they are trying to find a way to bring his remains to Earth where he'll be revived in order to fight the gods (as part of the corporations).

The protagonists are a pair of ponies who found out, but were chased by corporate Equestrian agents and by accident went through the portal. Their memories got wiped and they got separated between both worlds. Then pony on Earth stumbles on something that lets it communicate with the other (aethernet?!), which has a journal of their/somepony’s memories and that's how things start.

What do you think?

Jade

Ladies and gentlemen, we have our story :) just let my team write the female, okay? I've had it with boys :/

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: poor thing. Just send them all my way. I'll make sure you're not disturbed :P

Brush

So glad to have you back, Brush :) Have fun with your boys/stallions :P

-MixaMax

Jade

Hidden Truth PMs

We need to talk.

DarkSparkle

I know. I was waiting for this to happen. I know I wasn't supposed to connect, but I just wanted the ponies to relax. They needed it and I knew how to get them to calm down.

PaintDrop

I'm sure you did, buts that's not the issue and you know it, Luminescent. Or should I call you Vertex?

As much as I, furious and fascinated by what you've done to PaintDrop, there are some things I need to discuss with you. So far I've managed to learn a bit, despite her condition.

One: You're unreformed, though not linked to Chrysalis
Two: You're some sort of artist or bard (I personally would go with emo or goth)
Three: you managed to get PaintDrop into the mess she is now.

Since it was your initiative to let us know, I won't waste time telling you what state she's in. Yesterday she finally managed to swallow some soup without throwing up. Usually that would be a good thing. At the slow rate she's recovering, however, it isn't. By my rough calculations she's at the risk of starving to death months before her stomach learns to cope.

DarkSparkle

I thought you had magic that could make her better?

PaintDrop

We do, but nopony was meant to live on magic alone! She needs food, real food. If she can't start eating in the next few weeks no amount of magic will help her. Do you understand? She's incredibly strong and an earth pony, but after what you've put her through (what she has put herself through) it might not be enough.

DarkSparkle

I know. It’s my fault. Sadly, there's nothing more I can do. Not a day passes without me thinking that I should have let someone know sooner. Maybe she wouldn't have been so far gone by then. Maybe everything would have been better. That is a regret that will remain with me for the rest of my life.

PaintDrop

Look, we don't have time for theatrics. (And I say this kindly as one whose best friend is a drama queen.) I really need your help right now. PaintDrop needs your help, rather.

We have a theory that small doses of draining might trick PaintDrop’s body in being more receptive to food. There is some risk involved—we have to get the dosage right, and PaintDrop must be conscious or she might relapse, but the theory is sound. All that's required is for you to get there.

DarkSparkle

… at you sure it'll work?

PaintDrop

Oh there's a very high chance. Definitely! The theory is very promising and there seem to be precedents of a sort.

The only issue is you, though. It'll be Canterlot. And you are unreformed… I’ll guarantee your safety, of course, but… Memories are still fresh and the things Chrysalis did… Well, it's a bit complicated.

DarkSparkle

I need to think about it.

PaintDrop

I know this is difficult, maybe even terrifying, but PaintDrop really needs you. Literally. As I've outlined, if you don't her health will deteriorate.

If this works as expected, PaintDrop might even make it to the convention (which would be positive for her from a healing perspective). Also, if I everything goes well and I manage to convince Cadence and Princess Celestia to let you go under my supervision. Just a temporary measure, I'm sure.

DarkSparkle

You're very manipulative.

PaintDrop

What? There's no such thing! You know I could have easily just tracked your aethernet address, teleported there and taken you by force? Really, who do you take me for? :/

DarkSparkle

You could do that and all you’ll find is the stallion of your dreams standing there.

But you're right. The only one suffering here is the only innocent one. How is she? Did she… say anything?

PaintDrop

She cries a lot. When she's not having in her nightmare phase or vomiting she sometimes talks about you. A few times she genuinely wanted you to be there and not as a changeling.

Doing some research on changelings I know everything she says can't be true. You've probably showed he what she wants to see. Have you appeared as her dream as well? Or did you chose something from her life?

DarkSparkle

If I go I'll be asked to reform, won't I? Cast out at best.

PaintDrop

No. I've discussed this with the Princess. Help us save a life and an exception will be made. You can return to wherever you were hiding and everything will be as it was. Once PaintDrop is fully healed we’ll remove her memories of you. It will be as if it never happened.

I'm sorry, but I don't think there’s another way. You're not a threat. We’ve faced far larger dangers, but… almost all of the villains have been reformed. It's not much of a choice, I know, but look at things our way. You caused harm to a pony you liked and without even trying.

I didn't mean what I said about capturing you. I don't want to do that. I'm just afraid. You're just too different for me to be comfortable around. Maybe in time ponies will feel different, but now…

DarkSparkle

And by the time they do, PaintDrop will be long gone.

Did she tell you I told her to go away? When we first met I didn't want to have anything to do with her. I could smell she was hurting, so I decided to help a bit, the same way I help forest animals. I so hoped she'd go when she was better, but she stayed. She was so useless and annoying. Even when she was tried to remain silent I could taste the emotions bursting from her.

You say you're good at hiding emotions. You're not. Changelings only humor you. The more a pony hides them the brighter they burn. PaintDrop was used to hiding her emotions a lot. She wanted someone to noticed them and her. Nopony could.

Now I miss her aroma. Everything has become bland…

I'll think about it. If i go to Canterlot you’ll know. If not, I'll leave for the outlands so there will be no need to banish me.

PaintDrop

Okay. I'll be waiting. And I'm sorry.

DarkSparkle

Human Cooking

That's a great idea! :)))

I'm next, I'm next! *flails*

2 slices of rye bread
3 leaves of French lettuce
1 slice of Gouda cheese
1/2 teaspoon of mustard
Chocolate sprinkles to taste

I call it the Omni special :D

PPI

To lighten the mood, I thought if opening an interesting discussion that's close to everypony’s heart: food! Namely, what do you think humies eat?

From what I've read they are described as somewhat salty (as in they eat salty things) so I was wondering what recipes would suit them best. Not an easy task, considering I've been cooking sweet stuff all my life.

Anyway, here's a go:

1/2 pot of potatoes
1/2 pot of apples
Parsley (chopped)
Pepper (ground)
2 teaspoons spoons of salt

Peel and chop up the potatoes and apples and start boiling them in a pot of water for 2 hours
Add salt, parsley, and some pepper.
Stir thoroughly and keep simmering until porridge consistency is achieved

(Inspired by the food conversation between Molly and her parents in The Dagger’s Hilt)

Bob

@Bob: You've been cooking SweetStuff?! You monster!

Just kidding. There's somepony else doing that *wink wink*

The recipe sounds absolutely disgusting! Like just reading up makes me want to puke. But, damn you, now you got me curious. I'll have the kitchen cook it up for me. (Don't worry, @Short&Hoofy, I won't make you eat any.)

RRBB

@RRBB: Jokes are on you! Sis has been cooking MC recipes for years! Usually I'd start and make a mess of things, until she just gives up and does it for me.

@Bob: an interesting take. I always assumed the apple ingredient described was some kind of sauce or gravy. Never thought of them being part of the porridge. I must try it out! I'll also try and find my list of edible human recipes.

MixaMax

@Bob: hmm. According to last millennia scholars, humans were omnivorous, which means they are likely to eat a lot of meat.

@MixaMax: I'm totally for doing a human recipes evening! Probably the worst food we'll have, but so worth it :D

TrueSparkle

@RRBB: Hey! (Not that it’s not true… *blush*)

SweetStuff

What's wrong with meat? There are tons of great recipes with meat in them! Life doesn't only consist of sugar, you know! @GLGJ knows plenty of great dishes with mean, don't you babe?

Feather

@Feather: you're going to make me cook for you again, aren't you? -.- Oh, well… see you at dinner, I guess.

@PPI: How do you do that? Really! I know my father keeps going on and on that you're chaos incarnate, but seriously, how can you tell what we're about to say?

GLGJ

@Feather: I was about to make an obvious joke, but since I don't want to get banned, I won't. Besides, you already can guess what the joke us, can't you? :P

RRBB

I read that humans eat horses… that's a bit scary when you think about it. Imagine a fic in which a pony gets transported to Earth, then goes to visit Danny, only to be eaten by the grand 9. Well, 8 (Megan made a point of being a vegetable eater), but Megan would still watch.

Now that I see it written down it's even more disturbing. Eww!

Plust

@all: I'm acting on a whim here, but until LyraHands says otherwise, hosting of disturbing and gross content won't be allowed. Such things go against the series and everything it stands for, and I think we've been very clear where we want it to go.

While true, that there is evidence of MC humans eating meat, there isn't even a hint that they consume any type of equine product! In addition I strongly advise against posting “scenes” of such graphic nature in an attempt to circumvent the rule.

Thank you for your attention,

The TechNightling

I second that.

Besides, we all know that myths are meant to be scary. Remember Nightmare Night? Also, if you read further back, you'll find “accounts” of cannibal nobles who gave feasted on pony flesh.

And I'm sure human food is not what you think. Can you describe what we eat? I mean seriously. You'll be surprised how gross it is once you write it in great detail. Also, ice cream is universal. They are just likely to have weird combinations like caramel and salt.

LightSparkle

Mmmm! Caramel and salt! Caramel and mustard is better :)

Always ready for a cook off!

DaBoss: sure thing :D And something for your beau as well? Eh? Eh? :D

PPI

@Bob, @Short&Hoofy, @PPI: who about a panel on Human cooking? Just try not to poison the audience, okay? ;)

Seriously, I think human cooking would be interesting, provided it's tested and approved in advance.

InItForTheShipping

@PPI: sweet! Can I have some salty caramel muffins? I'll go pick them up after work.

DaBoss

Well, ain't no way you could go wrong with apples! Even humies know that. I had a talk with my sis about it and she decided that it would be a good idea to have our traditional apple pies be traditional human pies! (I can't tell the difference, but I reckon it must be pretty obvious for somepony good at pie making.)

Apple stew is fantastic, but ain't never tried it with potatoes… I don't think I've had those in years. I'll ask sis. Maybe we could get some.

WaterBottle

@InItForTheShipping: Can I be at the cooking panel as well? I've never tried cooking human food, but I think I could manage. I remember most recipes from the books, and the chocolate soufflé looks really easy.

Please? :)

Twist

@Twist: I'm so sorry! I completely forgot about you! Of course, you could, Twist :) Won't be the same without you! Maybe bring some normal candy canes as well? ;)

InItForTheShipping

I hate you all! All that talk if food and I can't eat a bite! :P

Maybe save me something from CrystalCon? Unless you stuff yourselves to the brim. :P

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: if they do I'll take photos so you could stare the experience :D

HopHop

I've always loved cooking! Let me at it!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: No!!!

CodeFilly

Salt & Cider

Okay, reading yesterday’s post I got this weird thought. Humans eat salt without problems, right? That has been shown on numerous occasions (including Karl accidentally dropping a salt dispenser in Omni’s soup, after which Omni said it was bland :) ).

However, it’s also mentioned that the grand 8 aren’t allowed to drink alcohol (including cider). Some of them do it anyway, but it’s shown that they should be. I can conclude as a result that humans are very susceptible to alcohol.

Based on that, if a pony were to go to earth (in pony form) she’d be able to outdrink a platoon of guards, but will start acting funny after a simple meal. Likewise, a human in Equestria might well get drunk at a foal’s party.

Has anyone used that in any story?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Good point! We must experiment! Not that I touch the stuff (I find salt disgusting), but I’m definitely for finding a human and inviting her over.

And before Tech bans me, I think such stories (when done in a classy way O:) ) could be quite funny. I know I could use something of the sort. Maybe I should become human and get drunk as well?

Starting a rant.

NIGHTLINGS! Please, for the sake of all the stars, be original! I’m not asking much. Please no more tragic human girls that appear out of nowhere, but are dashingly beautiful and have magic powers to put the gods to shame. You want to live the fantasy, I get it, but please do so in a somewhat innovative way!

Take SocksKnots, for example. Everytime he manages to surprise me with something new. (Yes, he’s a he!) Granted that every story by him as a weird comedy that often doesn’t make sense, but I always have something to look forward to.

Now, I’m not going to reject any story for not being unoriginal, but seriously! Enough with the little lost girls!

Rant over.

RRBB

My darlings, while I definitely wouldn’t encourage excessive salt licking, I also wouldn't want to get an unfortunate poor humie drunk, although I’d be delighted to invite one to a party.

I’m admit I’m rather curious how they will behave. Maybe they have other strange habits that S.Child never wrote about? (That is, of course, assuming humans exist, but I wouldn’t call myself a Nightling if I thought otherwise.)

As for balancing the situation, there should be an alcoholic drink that has salt in it. That way both parties could enjoy the effects without any being more drunk than the other.

Grace

… Salty cider? Really? -.-
I’m on to you, sis! You can pretend all you want, but I’ll find proof that it’s you! And the idea sounds revolting!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I don’t know. Sounds fine to me. Maybe I should try it next time. :) Applejack has always been telling me a mare should be able to hold her salt, and with a bit of alcohol in it it should be even better.

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: careful now. Let’s not overdo things.

I don’t see the big deal of either. I’ve had my share of alcohol and salt (mostly it’s been alcohol that’s gotten me). Unless you go too far there’s nothing to it. That said, I agree with the point make in MC that foals shouldn’t be experimenting with either. Not until they are old enough to know what they are doing.

(Yes, yes, I sound like an old mare.) Also, please don’t all start writing salt fics. It will probably be interesting the first few times, but the way trends go, I’d want to get drunk in a bar within a day.

LightSparkle

Hmm. Just letting you know an interesting statistic.

According to site analytics, there has been an increase of colts and stallions joining the site. (We actually have a ratio of 3 to 1!) However, most of them are lurking. And to be honest I could see why. Just look at the topics discussed (not counting the drama): (sexy) clothes, salt, alcohol, shipping… not exactly aimed at the target audience. While I agree that stallions are the greatest shippers there are (my coltfriend isn’t at all interested in MC, but already knows which are the best pairings, the most dominant OTPs and which pair would be more suitable than the next), there’s very little in terms of action.

Any chance we could see more of those topics?

HopHop

I drank a glass of salt! And I liked it! :P

Well, if you think there’s a shortage of active stallions I could ask my boss to join in. He's a total nerd in the best way possible :) Also, he's really into MC and the fanfics (except the taur stuff :P) I'm sure he'll be perfect for the site. Also, he's married to a princess, so if anypony tries anything weird things might happen :D

MightyDragon

@HopHop: not my fault that I have to fly my ass off every morning! I wish I could be more active!

And don't get me started about drinking. Stallions can drink just as much as mares. That's a fact! Same about salt. The only exception I know is AwesomePony, who can drink the whole wing under that table. For somepony so small, I have no idea where she puts it all. It definitely is impressive, though.

Now back to humans. Even if we take Max’s theory to be true, that doesn't say much. When I was a colt I wasn't allowed to lick salt either. I did, of course. I was young stupid and expected the whole world to change. Instead, I just got a bit talkative (and ended up on my first date, but that's another story).

What if it's the same with humans? Maybe they need a class to bet tipsy, but a few buckets to get drunk? Also, why are we discussing this again? The target audience is colts.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: oh, dear, I have a bottle of salt mixed alcohol wi your name written on it when you get home ;)

Brush

@Brush: really subtle :P

RRBB

@RRBB: Buck you up a mountain! :)

Brush

The ~~salt~~ thread has been licked!

Edit: always wanted to say that.

MightyDragon

@Grace: you're a genius! :)

LittleFinger

Lyra's Decision PMs

I'll be in Ponyville in 2 hours. Please be at the station. I need someone to cry on.

LyraHands

I'll be there in ten minutes. What happened? Is your mother alright? Another fight?

Bob

She's okay. Doctors expect her to fully recover in a few months. It's…

It wasn't a fight. How I wish it was. All the time I was there watching her, I prepared myself for a shouting match. I went through everything she could say and waited. I just wanted it to be over so I could go to Luna, sign the stupid request, and be done with it. Instead, she surprised me with a serious conversation. The very first one we'd had.

She told me it might be better if we stopped seeing each other. None of us would understand the other’s point of view and the more we tried the worse things would become. Despite everything she still couldn't accept what I am. Even after I helped save her life! She thanked me for that, which only made me feel worse.

As we talked I saw the mother I remembered from my childhood. It was just a moment, but I remembered how I thought she was the greatest mare that was, better than Princess Celestia even. There was no shouting, no scorn, just regret that things couldn't have been different. If only I wasn't into mares, if only she had the ability to understand and accept what I was… I could see she regretted it, but still wouldn't back down.

“Only somepony you love could hurt you” she told me. She couldn't even get the quote right, but I understood what she meant. Now, it’s over.

We said goodbye, hugged for the last time… I started crying. I just couldn't hold it anymore. I turned around and galloped to the station.

LyraHands

Oh, baby. :( Stay where you are. I’ll be with you in a moment.

Bob

No, please don't. There are ponies on the train and I… I still need some time alone. I don't want you to see me in such a state.

LyraHands

I don't want you to be in such a state, so just hold tight. Don't worry about me. Just get better, okay? I'll bring some of your favorite oats and ice cream.

Bob

Why must my life be so messed up? Just when I thought everything had settled down and I had Lind now this happens…

I know I'm spoilt, I know I've had things others can only dream of. I was born in Canterlot, I had Princess Celestia as a tutor, I have you… and still I feel so… I don't even know what I feel right now.

LyraHands

Baby… just stay there for a little, longer, okay? I’ve made all arrangements so will be with you in just a little bit.

You did great with your parents. I couldn't be prouder to have you as my wife. And don't you forget that! :)

Bob

I don't know anymore…

LyraHands

It's okay to feel that way from time to time. It's just chemicals in the brain. They are making you see things in the wrong way. You are magnificent and I'll keep telling you that for as long as it takes. You're the best wife and will be the best mother in Equestria. And Earth!

Bob

You always manage to make me chuckle. And Earth… wouldn't that be nice.

LyraHands

Just say the word and I'll take you there on our honeymoon! We’ll take the foals, leave Hop in charge of the site and go spend a wonderful week on Earth. How does that sound?

Bob

It sounds too good to be true. Thanks for the thought, though. At least I could dream through the tears.

LyraHands

Hey, it was supposed to be impossible for us to have children. What happened there? ;) This is just a puny magic portal. How difficult could it be?

Just say the word and I'll find a way to make it happen. I promise.

Bob

No, I must face reality. Earth is something that only exists in my heart. I live in Equestria and have to make do with it. Stars, I wish I had your strength. The only times I've seen you cry was when I made you to. Again because of stupid reasons! I'll never let that happen again.

I just wanted my mother to understand. Even now, despite everything she made the choice for me. Her or you. I don't think I would have been able to make it on my own. Despite everything she is my mother.

I've no idea how my father will take it. I didn't even say goodbye. Knowing him he’ll probably be worried as Tartarus and go have a drink to relax his nerves. Might be better this way. He has to be there for my mother until she recovers. For a few months her magic will be weak. I don't think she'll allow anypony else help her. She never wanted to be seen as a cripple.

She told me that she didn't want that for me either. It wasn't in a mean way like before. She just said that in the eyes of Equestria I am a cripple and I'd be treated as such, and it broke her heart. Funny thing to say, right? Coming from her, it's…

LyraHands

Cry it out, baby, I'm a few minutes away from you. Might take me a bit longer to find your wagon. Are you in the front or back?

Bob

Back. Second to last. Was the emptiest one I could find.

I wonder if there is such a thing as universal balance? That for every good thing something bad should happen. I found a new family, but lost my old one. I lost my old home, but found a new one on the aethernet.

LyraHands

Guess I have no choice but balance the absence of hugs and kisses with hugs and kisses. :)

On a serious note, it's not your fault. Remember that. It is not! You're magnificent! Better than Megan x Cassandra! Never forget that!

Also, prepare for impact :)

Bob

A Salty Human

Yo, Nightlings!

MightyDragon told me there was a lack of active stallion presence, so I'm here to fix that. :) Now, before you ask, I have been a long time lurker here, even if I never had an account, and also I, a huge fan of Midnight Castle! (I even have a signed first edition scroll of the original series. :))

I just have to say I love your fanfics! The are so much better than those I was exposed to as a colt. The strangest part is that some of the best male characterizations have been written by mares (even if Jade is still way ahead). I wish I could write as well. Instead I can only draw.

Here's a fanart of my favorite character:

[shadowbill.agf]

I'm working on a few others of the same quality I'll post soonish. Also, please don't hate, this isn't my day job :)

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: Each time I see that name I can only think of the song. You did this on purpose, didn't you? :P

Good to have you here, boss! Together we shall take over the site! (@CodeFilly: I can, right sweetly?)

MightyDragon

@SaltyHuman: Wow! That's really good! Yeh style is very different from PaintDrop’s and the other artists on the site, but it's really something! I don't know what you do, but you should be in arts! :)

Looking at this, I want to write my silly story (about me going to the human world and forming a music band). Would you do some art for that if I do? I was hoping to save a few bits for CrystalCon, but… *sigh*)

SweetStuff

@SaltyHuman: That's Berserker Bill, isn't it? Chapter five, when he is about to enter the cave. I never knew I had a fan ;)

It's greatly appreciated. :D

Simile

@SweetStuff: you're too sweet :) Not a problem, just keep in mind my speed isn't very…l speedy. As I said, this isn't my day job.

@Simile: you are my favorite author! I'm actually having a fancolt moment right now! I didn't expect you'd respond to me! Really love your stories :) (And must say they have improved a lot since your visit to InItForTheShipping.) The latest two chapters especially are out of this (and any other) world! How did you manage to get so good?

SaltyHuman

Well, let's say that I've received a lot of help and stimulation :) And of course I'll respond. I respond to all my fans (sometimes I'm just slow).

Simile

That is good art! Also thank you for getting SweetStuff to finally sit on her fat ass and start writing! I’ve been trying to get her too for ages, but she always finds some excuse.

@SweetStuff: how did the recording session with Octavia go? A little bird told me she was impressed :)

LightSparkle

Impressed was an understatement :) SweetStuff has the markings of a teen idol.

Hi, all. I'm back yet again. Before you all swamp with with questions, things went as well as expected back home. Let's leave it at that.

Now, going back to important stuff, welcome to the site, Salty :) I'm really impressed that MightyDragon managed to drag you here. I know a few members who will be very happy! (And one who is sighing with disapproval as she reads this :P)

How come I never knew you were so good at drawing? :/ I'm supposed to know everything!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: A stallion must have his secrets ;)

SaltyHuman

I'm surprised that Brush hasn't been all over the site. I guess that CEOWitch is keeping her occupied… (I'm not one to judge, but I still will! :P)

Hmm. Correct me if I'm wrong, but seems to me that more stallions in this community are into drawing than writing. Not that I'm complaining, but why is that? :/

@SaltyHuman: also, can you draw me some… interesting pics in your style? O:)

RRBB

Well, if we're doing suggestive art requests, I might as well request a centaur or two :)

DarkSparkle

I just…

TrueSparkle

…

LyraHands

Hahahahaha! I can't I just can't! @Feather, you'll appreciate this!

LightSparkle

*yay* you, *yay*! I'm busy.

What's up?

Edited: @LightSparkle: I'm blaming you. I laughed so hard my cat jumped off the branch! (He's fine, by the way.)

Feather

What? :/ I don't get it. Is this about my taur fancy again? :I

Well, let me tell you one thing. I don't care! I'm a fully grown adult and I feel no shame in finding centaurs fascinating! Did you even consider they are the closest thing we have to humans? So don't you try and mock me. It’s really getting old.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Do you know who Salty is?

Jade

@Jade: Should it matter? :/ I'm quite comfortable talking about this with anypony!

Again, there's absolutely no reason for me to feel ashamed. As long as things don't go too far I'm in my right to enjoy what I enjoy and talk to others about it (unless they specifically feel uncomfortable, in which case I'd instantly stop, as aetherquette demands.

DarkSparkle

I'm quite comfortable talking about this with anypony!

Really? Well, then…

Celestia

@DarkSparkle: Umm, Salty is MightyDragon’s boss. Or if you want to be technical about it, he's the father of MightyDragon’s boss.

LyraHands

@DarkSparkle: Hey, sis.

I guess I could, but not sure how mom and dad will react to this. Actually, I'll just ask them. They'll be visiting the day after tomorrow to see Flurry, so this will be the perfect time. After all you ARE okay with discussing this with anypony? :P

SaltyHuman

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

@DarkSparkle: hey, nothing bad has happened. Just breathe, okay? Sorry if we were mean to you. It was just too good to miss. Okay?

LightSparkle

Sis, are you okay? It's just a joke.

SaltyHuman

Yep, she fainted again. After hyperventilating. Never a dull moment with this site. :/ I'll take care of things on my end.

You better send her some very good PMs, all of you!

TrueSparkle

Wow, boss. First day on the site and mares are fainting already… Or maybe I'll just shut up.

MightyDragon

@SaltyHuman: Good afternoon,

I was preparing to write a long post welcoming you to the site, but I see you've already gotten a taste of things. Nonetheless, let me say it's a pleasure to have you. Your skill I'm drawing is nothing short of exceptional, and definitely unique. I can only hope you won't waste it on some of the…more peculiar requests you’ll undoubtedly get.

Have fun, and remember to keep an eye on the rules.

The TechNightling

Author's Note

Heya, Nightlings!

Thank you for keeping up with the story so far! I always means a lot, especially with something as chaotic as this :) EqF has reached its 221 day, which has gotten to make the yet another request.

With Bronycon just a week away, if enough of you Nightlings manage to meet up, could you snap a picture of the event? (I will not be going, else would have loved to see you in person).

Huge thanks and hope you stick around for the last 1/3 of the story :D

Best HiE Writer

@GriffinGirlfriend: what have you done? I hate you, but I love you!

Everyone, please go check out My kisses are salty! It's the best HiE out there, and I say this as an expert (and totally not because I edited it :P)

Seriously, girl, what the *yay* did you come up with?! Next thing you’ll say that there will be centaurs.

Feather

@GriffinGirlfriend: there’s definitely nothing like it. :) one of the weirdest things on the site, but quite well written. I hope there's much more. Usually your stories are a few chapters before they finish in a twist or cliffhanger.

LightSparkle

@Feather: of course there will be centaurs! Centaurs are ponies as well! :D

Seriously thanks for the shoutout, girls. This means a lot to me. It's the first serious writing I've done. All my other fics are gags, but I put in a lot of thought and effort into this one.

Glad you like it :D

GriffinGirlfriend

@GriffinGirlfriend: Damn! I didn't see this coming. It's beautiful! I wonder what it would feel like. I have to experiment!

Seriously, it's quite good, even if it's a herd story (at times borderline slap). I like it how everypony understands the situation and is okay with it, even if Jenny (main character) moves on. And you definitely describe stallions well. Too well almost :P

RRBB

There you have it! GriffinGirlfriend Is the best Nightling HiE writer. I'm still waiting to see centaurs and Griffins in the story!

Feather

Okay, one thing I don't understand…how are the princesses okay with that? I mean Jenny outright flirted with Shining Armor in front of everyone and they were just “meh, whatever.” If some human mare came to Ponyville and started being suggestive with Jade she'd hear a thing or two from me, at the very least.

That aside, I like this. It's definitely fresh and uses very subtle connections to MC that make it part of the world, while keeping it its own separate thing. Curious where it would go.

MixaMax

@RRBB: why do I suddenly have images of you putting salt powder all over Short&Hoofy? :/

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: I heard salt is good for the coat and mane. That's why there’s lots of salt in spa mudbaths. I have one every few weeks.

WaterBottle

@YouKnowWho: because you know me so well? *wink*

@WaterBottle: oh my! :P

RRBB

My sides! I had forgotten how much pain this site can have! @WaterBottle, you're simply the best! Someone please write a PoE of WaterBottle on earth! It'll be the best thing ever!

Feather

@MixaMax: I'm innocent! Innocent I tell you! And I think if a human did happen to come to Equestria, my wife would be far more fascinated by it than paying to attention to the flirting going on. I bet Twily would be the same…she'll complete forget I'm even there and start asking the poor girl about everything possible.

SaltyHuman

That's certainly a weird story. I like it :) it's funny and refreshing, and it managed to make me chuckle when I needed it :)

You do realize what this means, though? If somehow Danny comes to Equestria, everypony will rush to kiss and lick him. (After that I doubt he'll ever set foot here again.)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: what if he likes it?

Brush

@Brush: wow! I never imagined that would come from you! RRBB I can understand (she's beyond salvation :P) but you…

What's worse now I want to read such a fic. Danny suddenly appears at a MC convention and gets the best attention in the worst way possible. Not a slapfic, but rather a suggestive comedy.

MixaMax

I don't even… what do you all think? Humans are not salt factories. Seriously, I'm not sure if this is hilarious or disturbing, and at this point I don't care. (I’m not even going to comment how we managed to combine slap and salt licking.)

On another note, it's interesting how a week away from the next chapter, there are no adventure fics anymore. It's all short comedies or trollfics. It's almost as if everyone is scared that the new Everhere chapter will render their fiction obsolete.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Maybe because it will? Not everypony is humiefamous and having their work destroyed is sort of a big deal. Okay’ maybe destroyed isn't the best word.

On a side note, DarkSparkle is fine. We went to the hospital for her to have a checkup and they said all she needed was rest and strong food. I think between her duties, fighting whatever’s causing the anomalies, and the site, she's not getting enough sleep. :/ @SaltyHuman, can you talk to her about it?

TrueSparkle

Hey, I wouldn't mind if a human girl came to Equestria. I'd prefer a male, but a girl would be interesting to have as well.

Simile

@Simile: well, if you really want to, there’s always the dreamscape.

ColdLight

Heya, @ColdLight! :)

Welcome to our site of wonder. As you can see we're a weird bunch, but very helpful beneath our crude surface. (Thought we have our share of crazies :)) Of you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, and above all have a fun time :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: thank you! I'm not too much into the series, to be honest. The stories here fascinate my much more. Some of the things you imagine are rather peculiar :)

ColdLight

@ColdLight: you have no idea… If you can stomach that, then you're good :) Which stories do you like best?

RRBB

@RRBB: please stop… I don't have to even the center of every conversation…

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: yes, you do! That's your rightful place! *smooches*

@SweetStuff: that reminds me, when should we be at your sister’s place for the costume measurements? I want this to be perfect, you know! Nothing else will do!

RRBB

@RRBB: After school today. I only told you a hundred times :P Also, bring Pixel.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: did you just threaten that my costume might not be done if I don't happen to bring my pangolin?!? You're finally growing up. I'm so proud *brushes tear from eye*

Kidding. Of course I'll bring him. Now that he's gotten used to Ponyville he's much more active. And he still likes Short&Hoofy better than me (which proves he has excellent taste :P).

RRBB

Hey, girls. Sorry for being out for so long.

I’ve missed you so much. It's difficult for me to write right now, but I might make it to the con even if only for a few hours.

Love all of you!

PaintDrop

Twilight's Thank You PMs

I'm so happy and proud! I was so afraid you'd not go. I can't tell you what it feels like to know PaintDrop is doing better.

Sorry, I couldn't be there in person again. The Ponyville doctors are freaking out about something, and made me promise I'd stay here and take to easy for a while :/

So, how is she? Is she eating? Did she say anything?

DarkSparkle

She's fine. Very weak, but fine. The doctors here told me this is the first time they'd seen her smile so brightly. (Not that I needed anyone to tell me that.)

She's so thin, though… I never expected her to end up like this. The doctors told me that today was the first time she was able to eat semi solid food (chocolate mousse seemed to do wonders, even if she could only have a few spoonfuls).

After eating she fell asleep with me by her side. I decided it was best I go to my chamber.

PaintDrop

Sorry about that. When they get to know you things will be better. I'll go there and explain everything again in person (if the doctors don't think of another excuse to keep me “relaxed” for a day. :/)

I hope she managed to sleep adequately for once. From what Princess Luna said she's been having spooky awful nightmares all the time. :(

How have you been? Are they treating you well?

DarkSparkle

Not particularly. I'm just an unreformed changeling. Princess Cadance keeps hinting that it would be better for me to reform, and I'm tired to explain why I don't want to.

PaintDrop

Well, why don't you? You have to admit that things would be a lot easier. I happen to be good friends with several changelings (all reformed, mind you). What is there to lose if you go for it?

DarkSparkle

Oh, nothing, just myself. Do you know why not everyone went through the transformation? Some were loyal to Chrysalis, others just didn't have a need to. The whole reason I left the hive was to be myself. I live with the animals, eating just enough to function properly. It isn't difficult, as long as I take care of the animals they take care of me back. And I get to write my poems.

I don't want to be a mothling, just as I don't want to be a dark terror. Do you know why I call myself Luminescent? Because my wings glow.

PaintDrop

He really is a goth :)

And I'm fine, Dark. Much better than I've been in a long time.

PaintDrop

PaintDrop?! You're supposed to be sleeping!

DarkSparkle

Princess Celestia said it was okay. I already got a few hours of sleep. Best I've had in a while.

Thank you so much for bringing him here. I know that's not something I should say, with my addiction and everything, but like him being close. And I love him. I'm sure that even Princess Cadence can confirm that :)

PaintDrop

I'll never understand foals these days :/

Running off the the Crystal Empire, falling in love with changelings… what's next? Going on a date with a windigo? :/

I don't want to sound harsh, but please consider things. Both of you. PaintDrop, you can't even walk yet! You'll probably need support for the next few weeks. Not to mention your treatment isn't over. You might be better now, but that will be a long and painful battle.

And you, gothling! How will you survive, let along walk around in society? You said it yourself that her love overwhelmed you. What if it happens again? What if somepony else gets addicted? What if somepony attacks you? A lot happened during the last changeling invasions. Will you have to constantly hide?

DarkSparkle

Oh, Dark. You're such a shipper :) And I'm sure we’ll manage. I never expected it to be easy. Well, maybe I did, but I'm pragmatic about things. The convention will be a test run. Once I see how my friends react to the situation, I'll know what to do.

And you're one to talk with your centaur fetish :P

PaintDrop

You forget I grew up under Queen Chrysalis. The hive wasn't the best place to be back then. If I managed to survive there, I’ll manage some pony bitterness. After all, I'm tasting it even now. The guards, the doctors. Only the princesses and a few others taste sweet.

PaintDrop

Should I feel jealous?

PaintDrop

Argh! Stop sharing an account, you two! It's so weird! :/

And I'm just being pragmatically. Not to mention that I don't have a centaur fetish! I'll have you know that they are one of the most mythological races there are! So little is known about them… well, other than the disaster Tirek. I'm sure the other centaurs aren't vicious monsters and would love to meet them one day.

DarkSparkle

Don't you mean meet to love them? ;)

PaintDrop

… I'll ignore that because you are unwell, and clearly still under the influence. I do hope you've taken everything I've had to say seriously!

Furthermore, I think either of you going to CrystalCon will be a huge mistake. You should stay there until you're well enough to walk and your condition has been dealt with. Anything else would not only be irresponsible, but also highly dangerous!

Luminescent, talk to her!

DarkSparkle

I'm just a goth stallion, what do I know? Besides I'm unreformed.

PaintDrop

:) I'm feeling tired again. I'll go go get some sleep. I love you both!

PaintDrop

She's been like that all day. Quite the change, the doctors say. Not sure if it's because of me or her fix, but as long as she gets better and manages to find happiness I don't care.

And I will be taking her to the convention. Princess Celestia has already agreed. I know how strongly you feel on the matter, but keeping us locked for our own safety won't help. You ponies are social creatures. I can spend months with rocks and grasshoppers. Paint can't.

One last thing. I saw you a few times when I was in Ponyville. I could tell that you care. At the same time you're full of regrets of things that could have been. Do you want the same to happen to PaintDrop?

PaintDrop

… just be careful thee, okay? I'll tell Lyra and my bother to keep an eye on you, just in case.

DarkSparkle

I will. Not I'll go as well. Time for my snack.

PaintDrop

Snack?

DarkSparkle

Fanmail. Celestia was kind enough to share it with me. By the hive, she gets a lot and all of it is heart felt. A few dozen of those and I'm good for the day.

Anyway, The guards are giving me annoying looks again. See you, Dark.

PaintDrop

CrystalCon -6

Okay, everypony! The convention is six days away so it's time to start organizing stuff. Usually, I don't get involved with transport, but this time I decided to get on with it :)

After some talk, and a lot of help from DarkSparkle, we've managed to arrange for a train for ourselves. The only catch is that we'll have to be on the train at a specific time. Anypony going before or after will have to take care of their own way of transport.

So, what is the best time, do you think? I'll be going to the event early so I wont be able to join you, but DaBoss has promised to keep an eye on things for me.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: sounds cool, but I've decided to go there in a balloon. Quarters’ mother has agreed to lend hers so Quarters, dumdum, myself, and squishy will be on it. (@Quarters: am only kidding about dumdum. He's your date, after all).

@Brush, @MixaMax: any of you being there?

RRBB

@RRBB: He's not as stupid as you think. :/

Quarters

@RRBB: Sorry, i’ll be flying there with AwesomePony, Lurking, 2ndHalf, CEO, and the Wonderbolts. I'll also be taking Angel (poor thing, I just could t ear him getting lost like last time.)

Brush

I'll be teleporting thee! Am so excited :D

Actually, no. I'll be flying as well (also very excited) though I'll be starting from Canterlot directly. Guess I'll see most of you there for the first time. I must say I'm nervous, scared, and looking forward to this.

Simile

@Simile: pease tell me mom’s not flying you there :/ If it’s Blueblood is fine.

@LyraHands: I can take care of that. I'll be in Ponyville the day before so I could be in charge of the train. Will also give me a chance to look about the city and meet ponies before the event. (I also bought tons of clothes. My friend is just insane. When she heard it was about a convention she went crazy.)

LightSparkle

@LyraHands: but I wanted to organize things… :(

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: if you remember, me, Jade, you, and Awesome were going early as well? -.-

If you ditch us to organize yet another thing, I'll be very upset! :/

MixaMax

Hey, girls.

Sorry for being a jerk a while back. I said and did some things that were terribly lame. Still, am back now and help make this convention the best one ever! Also, I'll be cosplaying as Danny :D

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: RRBB started drooling beside me. That means you're doing something right.

Short&Hoofy

@DarkSparkle: don't worry, there will be things to organize at the event :)

@LightSparkle: that will be great! I'll try to catch you before I go. Then I'll finally solve the mystery where I know you from! *dramatic music* Actually, I know, but will be great seeing you :) Did you bring me gloves?

LyraHands

@all: I'll be organizing a trip from Canterlot, so please get in touch with me before the end of the week. We’ll be taking a train as well. Blueblood, however, won't be on it. He decided to go separately with his girlfriend at the very last minute. (Sorry to disappoint all the eager mares. You'll still get a chance to see him at CrystalCon. :))

@PrinceEric: please see if there's anypony else from Cloudsdale that needs transport, okay? I'll send somepony to pick you up to Canterlot as usual.

Luna

@LightSparkle: it's neither O:)

Simile

@Luna: Okay! There a lot of ponies in my school that are getting into MC, but not sure what their plans are. I'll check.

PrinceEric

@Simile: you only try to look innocent when you've done something really bad… :/ Please tell me it's not what I think it is!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I regret nothing! :P

Simile

@LyraHands: I know, it's just that… organizing. I guess I'll leave LightSparkle to take care of things.

Spike, make sure there are enough snacks, okay? And water! I don't want anyone to get dehydrated on the trip there.

DarkSparkle

Well, I'm already here, so will be waiting, I guess.

Interesting fact. Turns out that a few of my subordinates are into MC as well, some I would have never guessed. And I'm not talking about MightyDragon, who definitely should let Flurry play with O&O miniatures! :/

Seriously, bro? Those things are a choking hazard.

SaltyHuman

Oops? O:)

Kidding! Just kidding! Everything is fine. I am always there, remember? She was just having fun. I think she inherited the geek gene ;)

MightyDragon

Good afternoon, everyone.

This might come as a surprise, but I'll be attending the event as well with my husband. He and Brush finally convinced me to go. I'll admit I was skeptical about it initially, but now find myself looking forward to it. It's always a joy to find new talent, and it will also be a good opportunity to unwind a bit.

@LyraHands, @MixaMax, @HopHop: we’ll finally have time to catch up.

See you there soon,

Octavia

@Octavia: Yay! :) Do you want a panel or anything? I can still organize something.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: It's much appreciated, but I prefer to be in the audience for once. That said it will be difficult enough keeping an eye on my husband. He goes a bit wild at such events.

Octavia

I'll be there, but still not sure about my transport.

TheRealLuna

Well, guess who volunteered to help organize the trip. Yep, that's right—my sister. And to make it worse she'll be hogging LightSparkle all day the day before (she's going on about clothes and stuff.) :/

@ForceFeedback: Want to come over?

SweetStuff

This is forming out to be the best convention ever! Well, it's the first, but it's way bigger than the meetup and we’ll get to see lots of Nightlings from all over Equestria! @The TechNightling, @Candle, @Feather, haven't heard anything from you. You'll still make it, right?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: the flock is all set! HappyG is annoyingly cheerful about it, but other than that all's good.

Feather

@LyraHands: Of course we’ll be there.

On another note, my apologies for being mostly absent lately. I have been making arrangements to change jobs, which hasn't been easy. Starting next month I'll be moving to Manehattan at a startup company dealing with aethernet development. All in all, it's a fancy way of saying I'll be doing the same, but for slightly more money.

I'm also in the process of buying a house for myself and Candle, so there's that takes considerable time as well.

That said will be a pleasure to see everyone.

Be safe and responsible,

The TechNightling

…well, my family has 3 houses there! (Just joking.)

See you soon, Tech.

RRBB

CrystalCon -5

Girls, girls! Just heard a crazy theory! I can't believe I never thought of it before. (Also shows that mares think totally different from stallions :P) The theory is not mine, I just found the proof.

What if the reason we haven't seen other how is because the grand 9 ARE the gods (or part of them)? Let me explain. It's a bit complicated, but makes sense in the end.

First of all, let's remove Euryala, since she's an addition to the great 8. (It's already been stated she has titan blood and comes from another reality.) We also eliminate Omni for obvious reasons. That leaves 7.

Now, we’ve seen from Omni, that it takes three parts to make a deity. The Everprince is one, so we discount him. What we are left with are Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon (missing).

First let's take Zeus. We know that Danny is his chosen. We also know that the big boss of Felina corp is also Danny (scroll 2, Everhere). So what if all those three compose the real Zeus (as in with all his powers).

We've seen Hades, so we know he should have two other “pieces”. One is obviously Blazen (with all his ashy powers). The other is Karl (I checked and Hades is also said to have a connection with earth and nature, which would explain a lot about Karl’s strange behavior).

Poseidon is a bit of a tough one. We know that Bellucio, Molly, and Euryala are involved with him to some extent. Euryala, I already said we can disregard. Bellucio is clearly a must. But what about Molly? This would be the first time a deity has parts of different genders. But, who was the one who nudged Molly to start getting involved in dreams in the first place? That's right: Icelos (who for any practical purpose is a ghost). Now we are left with one remaining…someone who has a relation with mirrors and water? Yes, Eric!

Finally we are left with Molly and Megan. Both have displayed different powers, but… if you remember, both are extraordinarily good at hitting targets (mentioned in 7 chapters for Molly and 15 for Megan since the start of Mistmount Chronicles). What that does that mean? They are two parts of the goddess Artemis (from the 12 deities).

What does that give us? A battle of four deities versus one, and judging by the different powers, quite an interesting battle. Also, remember that we still have no guarantee whose side Poseidon will take. It's been said he was cruel and he has spoken to the Everprince. What if the two formed a pact and for that he was broken down to his three composing pieces, with Icelos only keeping his memories?

So, what do you think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: if you were a bit older and into mares, I know a certain princess that would marry you on the spot. :P

Your theory is quite sound. Complete hay, but sound. A pity that it will never happen. There are ponies who already are complaining there aren't enough male humans in the cast (don't look at me) and had to be appeased by the Chosen.

Still, I wouldn't mind getting a few such stories to curate :)

RRBB

Okay… so… everything else aside (and by that I mean disregarding a few million instances that go directly against your theory) there are a few problems.

Why didn't the merge happen’ when it was technically possible? I understand the argument that most weren't at the same time at the same place, but in that case what do we do with Poseidon? Bellucio, Eric, and Icelos were clearly shown as being in the same place. Why didn't they just merge, especially if, as you speculate, Poseidon is allied to the Everprince?

But moving on. Let's say there is some additional requirement that keeps them from merging. Maybe it happens later in the series, and all four perfect into deities. (Why would the Everprince let that happen, by the way?) we then have four deities versus the Everprince. Assuming their powers are matched (which is a big if) the Felina corp itself would tip the balance and provide a win. But even if they don't, what about the junior deities? They are, supposedly, gods. Won't it be easy for them to pick a side and win? Or maybe they are an equal in strength third side? Let's assume that's true. Do you know how boring it would be? Not to mention it'll change the whole direction of the story.

Having earth split in 3 without anyone having an advantage might be interesting for huge military epics, but then S&S would need a new audience.

MixaMax

@RRBB: drop it, already. And yes, while the attempt is admirable, MixaMax brings out some valid points. Personally I think it's a bit too complicated for coltfiction. Keep up theorizing, though :) You definitely have huge potential :)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: are you still in hospital, you doof? I'll need help with moving the stuff. You'll be there to lend a hand right?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: lend a hand :))) That's my new favorite phrase. I'm so stealing it!

@PrinceEric: What can I say, I've seen weirder things. :P Seriously, I liked the theory, which brings me to the question why don't you write? You've literally the best human analyst on the site (DarkSparkle has long conceded defeat :)). With your ideas and a good editor…the stars are the limit :)

LyraHands

Thanks, all!

@LyraHands: no, I can't write :). I just like to share my theories. (Also my coltfriend seems to like it as well, so I don't think I'll stop the reactive anytime soon ;))

Am so excited about CrystalCon! Can't wait to see all of you there, plus so many others! :)

PrinceEric

@LightSparkle: when we're you coming again?

DarkSparkle

Hold it! Hold it! I see it now! It's all clear!

DarkSparkle + LightSparkle + TrueSparkle = sparkle goddess!

We must stop the convention! These three must never meet! We're all doomed otherwise!

MightyDragon

The only geeky stallion in our class and he's an incorrigible idiot… but I still love him. :D

CodeFilly

@DarkSparkle: in two days. Please tell me you'll be there… :/

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: err… sure. Just be sure to come in the morning… before six… O:)

DarkSparkle

@The TechNightling: please lock the thread before I say something you'll ban me for. :/

LightSparkle

The Butterfly Draft

Okay, this is it! Tomorrow I'll be heading for Ponyville and from there right to the Crystal Empire for the convention. How are the chapters going?

Jade is doing a few edits and should post our chapter shortly. In brief, it's the story of Sunny who is moving out from her family’s home and stumbles upon a saddlebag with a strange diary in it. Curious, she takes a peek. She starters reading a, thinking it's a novel or some sort, when get adoptive sister notes she’s reading scribbles. That makes her curious how she knows about the language and sets off to discover more.

Sunny goes to an old linguistics professor of hers, who freaks out when he sees it and says not to tell anyone. After the meeting the professor phones someone and says that things are in motion.

Sunny drives back home, but on the way gets a flat tire. As she gets off to get a spare she notices the corp witches flying along the road, which triggers a temporary flashback of them attacking her. Frightened she grabs the diary and runs to a friend.

Relaxing a bit with her friend, they decide to read the diary, which Sunny reading. They find that the diary is split in multiple parts, each starting with the discovery of the diary and following a similar path. What's curious is that the diary has two sets of handwriting. Sunny discovers that the second set is hers (after she tries to write in the unknown language).

Sunny and her friend follow the instructions and reach a portal at the base of Mistmount mountain, where it activates. A man young man emerges from it, looks at Sara with a smile and asks “who are you?”

LightSparkle

She makes it sound much worse :P I'm joking. It's fine, we all put in a lot of work. Well, mostly Jade and I put in a lot of work. Light was constantly going on and on how it had to be perfect and how she'd bring a hundred pairs of socks…

Simile

@LightSparkle: Hey! Why’s Jade doing that? Editing is supposed to be my job! Okay, my and Twist’s job!

RRBB

It's okay, RRBB. :) I've read it. Jade just wants to make some style changes here and there. :D Sorry for not giving it to you, but Simile went all paranoid and made me promise I won't send it out until the final version was ready.

Twist

Wow, sounds incredible. I really like it. I'm not sure ours can match… :( @Brush, @Short&Hoofy, are you okay with me telling ours?

Quarters

What are you asking them for? Of course you can! :P

RRBB

@RRBB: go hug Short&Hoofy. Then come back. :P Quarters, of course you can. You worked on this as much as all of us, and despite what you think it's a very good chapter. I know because we’ve been talking about both with LightSparkle and comparing notes. Also, did you think that Short&Hoofy and MixaMax would keep secrets from each other? ;)

Brush

About that… “I'm so happy! My sister writes almost as well as my husband!” -Max

I really don't know what to think. Is that a compliment to me, or an insult to Jade, or is it an insult to both of us?

Brush, don't give RRBB bad advice when we are on a deadline. (The hypocrite is correcting our version so she could brag how perfect it is.)

Short&Hoofy

Okay, here goes…

Rain, the male character, is on his usual trio delivering mail in the Crystal Empire. Doing his round, he notices there's a letter to an address that doesn't exist (it's addressed to the fourth floor of a two story building). Curious, he asks his boss about it when he sets back to the post office, but only receives the explanation that it's a prank. His boss, then takes the letter to put it away. Rain thinks nothing of it and goes to have lunch with his childhood friend Caprice (yes’ the same). He complain about everything seeming mundane and sort of not what he was meant for. Caprice just laughs. He then explains how he's tired delivering prank letters and tells her about today's case.

This gets Caprice intrigued. Suddenly she becomes serious and asks that he show her. Thinking it’s a joke she refuses, but ultimately gives in just to humor her. They end up going to the post office. He’s about ready to go back, since that office only works mornings, but finds that there are people there. Caprice is about to go in, when they are discovered and on of the unknown unicorns fires a human gun at them. Rain is scared out of his mind, but Caprice attracts everypony’s attention and flies off leading them away.

Once he's calmed down, Rain decided to enter the post office. He walks to the back room, where his boss put the “hoax” letter, and finds there's a whole room of them, each with the same address and handwriting. Opening one, he finds a picture of himself and a note reading he knew he’d figure out the mistake, as well as instructions to go somewhere.

More intrigued than afraid, Rain follows the instructions, going to the underground section of the palace, where he uses some crystals to activate a portal and steps through.

Quarters

Posted. Also, that's very nice. I think it matches the story completely, while giving an entirely different feel. Sunny starts active then becomes passive, while Rain starts passive and becomes active (thanks to Caprice). I think everypony will love it.

Do we have enough time for art and print?

Jade

PaintDrop is still out of the picture, and DarkSparkle seems to be having some magic issues. (Must be age.)

I think Luna will manage to take care of everything (she always does).

Twist, let's do a final pass and get things rolling?

RRBB

Deal! :)

Twist

Finally I can go sleep!

LightSparkle

Yeah! Me too! … wait you meant sleep on your own? :P

See you at CrystalCon

Simile

Simile, I'll kill you! Before that, I need rest.

Good job everyone!

LightSparkle

LightSparkle's Visit

@all: Umm, girls, sorry about this, but something urgent came up so I'll need your help to welcome LightSparkle while I'm gone. Don't worry it isn't anything serious, but I just have to go.

I’ll be in the Crystal Empire by evening.

See you there!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I and Spike will be here, so don't worry. Do what you have to do. (If you ditched us to go on a date I'll be pissed, even if impressed. :))

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: If it really is a date I'll forgive her. Knowing sark, though, it’s another urgent something or other :/ Probably a royal silverware inspection.

Still, I'm very excited to see you all, and have brought literally a ton of human clothes. (That's literally, not figuratively!)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I and CEOWitch will be there to meet you. He especially took a day off for that :D I still can't believe you're coming! When will you be here exactly?

Brush

@LightSparkle: you okay if I meet you there? I might be a bit busy before the event O:)

Simile

Ooooh! My boss is here! I'll grab Short&Hoofy and be right there to see you :) Only question I gave is “where is there?” Train station? Are you flying in? Balloon flight?

Rrbb

Brush: the things I do for you… well, you're definitely worth it. Besides, Fleet would have kicked me out anyway. We have a new recruit she's been fancying, so that's a thing. Poor kid wouldn't know what hit him. :) (also, I never figured her going for thicc stallions. Everypony I know seems so obsessed with the delicate sort.)

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: You know Blueblood will go berserk if he hears you. :P Also, I think he's fine. Jury’s out whether he manages to survive long enough. ;)

@LightSparkle: Let me know if you need anything special. Your mom gave me a list of your allergies, favorite foods, and everything else you could think of. Was quite sweet actually :)

Luna

Inb4 LightSparkle cancels her visit.

Luna, any chance You could bring some chocolate pineapple mousse? I really could use some. Also, I'll be a bit busy with Simile before CrystalCon.

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: I will end you!

Simile

I won't ;)

ColdLight

Okay, hangs of plans! I'll be there to greet you and spend ten day before I go off. :) Sorry everypony. Things have been very crazy lately. I am both excited and driven insane by all this. Huge thank you to all the volunteers, the ponies supporting me as well as Bob and my close friends always who are always there for me.

Edit: by you, I mean LightSparkle O:)

LyraHands

Better be careful, all. Light is a colt magnet. Seriously, there will be stallions fainting on the streets! Kidding aside, please be nice to her, okay? It's been awhile since she's been among crowds and there are certain things that… well nevermind. She can take care of herself anyway :)

Simile

@LightSparkle: Umm, I made you a little something as thanks. I really hope it matches your coat and mane. :)

Candle

Of course, silly! I've been preparing sweets for days just for this occasion! (I also made your favorite ;))

PPI

Guess who has been tasked by her fat sister to greet LightSparkle and take her to the boutique. :/ I’ll give you a hint. It's not the said fat sister. Honestly can't she make up her mind? Last time it was that she'd greet her, now it's me.

LightSparkle <3 Sorry for being a grump, but I sorta had changed my plans twice to accommodate my sis and neon this is a third time. ForceFeedback and I will be there to get you.

SweetStuff

Okay, everypony! LightSparkle is at the castle! And mare, did she bring a lot of clothes. Seriously, we've been spending the last five minutes going through all the stuff and laughing our heads off. Some of the things you won't believe!

TrueSparkle

Wow? Ten minutes early. We’re on our way!

Brush

@Brush: Teleporting has its advantages. :P

They weren't kidding about yeh clothes. LightSparkle gave me five sets of human gloves of various colors. Plus one of the socks with fingers. They are so cute! I'm so sad I could never get to wear these :( If I tried I'd rip it to pieces.

Also, don't tell anyopony, but LightSparkle is gorgeous! (Don't worry, @Bob. When you see her you'll know what I mean.)

LyraHands

And suddenly it's revealed that LightSparkle has been a stallion all along :P Actually the more I think about it, the more it might be true. That would be a new twist (as well as the most devious conspiracy on the site).

Guess I'll know in a few minutes.

Edit: yes, I can type while flying! Can't everypony?

CEOWitch

Pfft. I like squishy better :P

@LightSparkle: sorry, you're just too old. If you were ten years younger, maybe…

Edit: Short&Hoofy just kicked me. Guess she has part of Max’s violent streak after all… I love! Heh heh heh O:)

RRBB

Girls, seriously. I'm not the only firemane. Anyway, come get your socks! Once I rest a bit from my trip I’m treating everypony to whatever is best here :) PPI, do you have anything you could recommend?

Edit: Never mind :)

LightSparkle

Oh my stars! Human underwater!

No, I will not stop writing! It's hilarious! I'm getting a few of those! Like they are totally absurd! :D

Edit: inb4 every Nightling in Ponyville comes rushing to the castle :P

RRBB

There is no underwater -.-

LyraHands

Or isn't there? Hmm? Only way to find out is to come and check :)

Also, I have a jacket that may or may not have been worn by Danny! :D

LightSparkle

Well. I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so! LightSparkle is a stallion. (I can already hear the sound thousands of mares galloping to Twilight's castle.

CEOWitch

There's aren't thousands of mares in Ponyville, Boopynose :)

Brush

Or aren't there?

LyraHands

Short's Life Question PMs

I know I should be asking this, and…well Max will never talk to me if she found out, but.

The thing you did yo Lyra, can you do it to me today? We've spoken a bit and I know it's painful and not everypony can go through with it, but if there's a chance I want to try. You know better than anopony how I feel about RRBB, and I want her to be happy.

I'm not talking about doing it right away. There's still school, and I want to go to college afterwards. RRBB denies it, but I think she wants to become a business owner like her father, though in a different field, if anything I'd say that she’ll open a publishing house. Between her, PaintDrop, and Jade they have enough funds to make it happen, as well as the skill and drive. To be honest I'd like to be part of that as well.

In any event i just want to know that the option is there, should we decide, so can you perform some tests after the convention?

Thank you,

Short&Hoofy

Short, I feared you might ask me. You are a magnificent pony and have helped RRBB a lot already, but I'm afraid I can't do that. Not yet anyway. Lyra never told you how painful the process is. I’m not sure your body will be able to handle it. I'm sorry, but I'm scared for your well being. There's no point in you ending up a cripple or worse.

InItForTheShipping

I'm fully aware that I can't handle it now. After college, however. I've also been looking into training programs to increase my endurance and mana output. If about five years, I should be close to where Lyra is.

Please do the tests. I just have to know.

Short&Hoofy

I know perfectly well that you won't give up until I say yes. Okay, I'll do a few tests, but that doesn't mean anything. Regardless of the results you're not going through this until after college and with the full approval of RRBB.

You never spoke with her about this, did you? Just as you were so afraid to confess your love to her. I admire what you'd do for her, and unlike everypony else I know she's the fragile one and not you.

InItForTheShipping

I didn't… she sometimes talks in her sleep. I know she wants to have foals very much. If things go on like this she'll be the one to make the same request. The difference is that she's not a unicorn and couldn't go through this. When you tell her she'll be shattered and do something stupid.

Short&Hoofy

No arguments there. Even with you and therapy RRBB remains a complicated pony. Good idea about Pixel.

Do you know what I suggest? Don't think of this anymore. Enjoy the convention, go a little crazy, have fun with RRBB (though try not to do anything too wild.) After all the events have ended and the ponies left back to their town and cities, come see me.

When are you arriving, by the way?

InItForTheShipping

Not sure. Quarters says it should be eight hours. But I have my doubts. RRBB finds it romantic (don't tell her I said that). It's relaxing for one thing. Quarters’ mom has taken us on a ride, before. This time it's just me, Quarters, RRBB, and Snails.

Since I know RRBB will spend most of the time on the site, or reading story submissions, I expect it to be a calm flight.

Short&Hoofy

That's sweet. I took my husband on a balloon ride back when we were dating. He had this amazing fear of heights. When we lifted off, he became very quiet huddled in a corner. I thought he was very shy and found it cute. Turns out he wanted to make a good impression and was screaming on the inside the whole flight. Was still cute, though. When I found out I felt so bad that I took him to the theatre to watch some adventure play. (Easily one of the best days of my life.)

InItForTheShipping

I know I should get my hopes up, but what do you think my chances are?

Short&Hoofy

Honestly, this isn't an exact science. Needless to say that it hasn't been attempted for over half a millennia. And I'm not saying this just to avoid the question. The tests will give an idea. You are an unicorn and are healthy with strong magic, so all those are pluses, but Lyra is extraordinary as well. You can’t tell because her classmates were all geniuses, but she is a really capable mate. In theory almost everypony of her class could have become the Princess of Magic. She had a talent for magic, although in her case it's also combined with music. She doesn't like to brag, but she's top tier in both.

In your case, you are a bit short in that field, but that doesn't mean anything. As I told you: more art than science. But remember, that your sister was also in the same class, so you have more than a good chance.

InItForTheShipping

Thank you. That's what I wanted to know. I'll still work on improving my magic.

Short&Hoofy

By the way, loved the first chapter of Project Butterfly. Other than the name (Luna is so going to get it when she comes here) it's wonderful. I even caught my husband snooping around trying to read it. Sadly I gave in… I'm such a softy when he does the pouty face. We both liked it. What's more our daughter liked it as well. We used it to put her to sleep (it worked a few times, but I fear I'll need chapter two in a week or less.)

InItForTheShipping

Thank you.

Must go. Quarters is calling, and I must help convince RRBB that five baskets of food for the trip might be a bit too much. See you soon.

Short&Hoofy

Of course. I’m glad we talked. For the next few days have nothing but fun ;) I'm always here if you need me.

InItForTheShipping

You and Lyra both.

Thank you.

Short&Hoofy

CrystalCon -1

@all: Nightlings are starting to gather on force, so if anypony wants to meet I'll be at Lime &a Glitter just across the EverSpike statue (can't miss it) :) @LightSparkle: sorry, sorry, sorry for not being able to welcome you :(. I'll treat you to anything you want. Are you here already?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I'm on the train, should be there in a bit. And don't worry about it. PPI did a crazy party thing so I have forgiven you :P True and Rarity are with me, as well as an entire trail full of foals! MC sure has a young audience. (I keep forgetting they are the target demographic.)

DaBoss is also here. She's great, but having her ride on the same trans with PPI makes me feel somewhat afraid. If we end up on Earth, remember us fondly.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: if you end up on earth, I'd be so envious. :P

Short, Quarters, Dumdum, and I are sightseeing, exporting the outer barracks (Quarters has never been here it seems, so Short and I are giving her the grand tour.) We’ll be there in about ten minus.

RRBB

@DarkSparkle: we’re here. And by we I mean the entire Wonderbolt wing, plus Brush. She's with AwesomePony right now talking mare stuff. I'm just sitting on my own a table away out of uniform and looking sexy (or at least I must be because three mares have tried to hit on me.)

Fleetfoot is out and about again. She lost interest with her latest beau. :/ Married to the job, what can I say?

CEOWitch

I heard that! It just wasn't a good match.

Fleetfoot

@DarkSparkle: Well I'm here and not :/ Husband has a terrible sense of humour. I'll try to get him to make us be there 100% percent. I'd be delighted to see you. It's only at formal occasions that I do. Is Lyra with you?

Octavia

@Octavia: they did a class reunion thing with MightyDragon, CodeFilly, MixaMax (and jade as plus one), and HopHop (who'll also brought Twinkleshine and Lemon). Feels just like school, though less insane. All that's missing if for Princess Celestia to appear.

Great to have you. And tell that husband of yours that if you don't appear this instant I'll have words with him!

DarkSparkle

I’m on my way. No idea when I'll get there, though. Landlady was being a pain again. I mean, I love her, but at times she drives me crazy.

Grumpy

Grumpy! It's been ages since you've said anything here. How are you, how have you been?

I finally get to see you this time :) Won't lie, I'm very curious. :)

TrueSparkle

@CEOWitch: Ha, mare stuff! We're just talking about mare stuff and I could have used a few moments without you slobbering all over her!

Nah, I kid. Is totally mare stuff, and we're almost done. See you in a bit, @DarkSparkle! The flight here did wonders. And sorry for being such a grouch lately. Now on to awesome stuff!

AwesomePony

Well, we got lost on the way. That is ONE of us got lost and the rest had to go find her! (I'm looking at you, HappyG!) Anyway, we'll be there by dark I think, if there aren't further distractions. Will have to miss any meetings today :( So lame!

Feather

Hello, everyone!

We have arrived, but prefer to take an hour or so to rest after the trip. We shall probably go to the city center afterwards. If you are still there we’ll probably see you. I’ll send another message when we're about to go just to be sure.

In the meantime, remember: water, hygiene, stallions! Keep hydrated, keep clean, and keep well behaved. And for Stars sake, please don't stare.

The TechNightling

I'm also here, even if slightly busy, so if anyone wants a meet send a PM. Can't guarantee anything. (Daughter is being restless again. She has it in her mind that she's a human princess :/ Another phase, but it'll last at least a few days so I have to step in or her father would keep indulging that fantasy.

Something to keep in mind. If you have a special badge, I encourage you to wear it at all times. As I said, there are a lot of Nightling fans in the empire and having it might get you discounts or even free drinks (as in on the house). Just be ready for lots of fans going crazy, but I expect you can handle that easily ;)

@LightSparkle: Did you tell anypony about your visit here?

InItForTheShipping

Yay, I'm on my way! This is so exciting! Luna organized everything so we have a whole cloud flying towards the Crystal Empire! Best trip ever! Pity that my bf can't come along, but we’ll see each other soon enough.

While flying we’ve been coming up with speculation what we can expect in tomorrow’s chapter. I'll be doing the review first thing when I'm there tomorrow the morning (Luna promised to give me a copy a few hours early, so I can go ahead and do this!)

Luna is the best! :)

PrinceEric

@InItForTheShipping: To answer your question, if you are asking if I came along, then yes. If you're asking if I spoke with my mother, then no. Although, maybe I should. With my emotional state being *yay* up, maybe I could spend some time with her talk about nonsense.

I'll decide tomorrow.

LightSparkle

Well, I don't know about any of you, but I could get used to riding in air carriage. The speed is incredible and it's so classy. I can't believe I've never done it before!

@LightSparkle: I saw your train. Nice touch putting decorations on the top. (I hope it was you… or I was looking at the wrong train.)

Simile

@all: a small announcement. There is something very special planned for the grand opening, so don't be late! (And before you ask, no it's not S.Child. I wish I could do that, but Bellucio was adamant.

Instead we’ll get the next best thing, and I do mean the next best thing :) Just remember to be there and as Tech said, be clean and classy! ;)

Let's enjoy the fun! (Pre-evil Omni)

LyraHands

The Opening Ceremony

Oh my stars! It's starting! I can't believe there are so many Nightlings here! The hall can't hold us all! Girls, where are you all? I was a bit late so am in the third to last row at the left. I'm watching Princess Cadence open the event! So cool!

@LyraHands: where are you? Will you be appearing soon?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: hey, now, we’re two rows in front of you! Sorry I couldn't talk earlier, but I didn't want to be rude interrupting the princess. The opening was so short, though. Usually everywhere I've been openings have been much longer (and more boring).

Now I just need to get an event program. Y’all okay to meet up in front of the hall?

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: the event isn't over yet, you idiot! :/ This is a five minute pause so everypony gets settles in! I'm at the front row, of course, along with Squishy, Quarters, Snails, YouKnowWho, Plust, Luna, and Sgt Pepper. I think that LightSparkle is a few seats away, but I'm not sure. Also, I caught a glimpse of TrueSparkle, EverSpike, and CodeFilly.

@LightSparkle: if that's you in the top hat, you're hot!

RRBB

@RRBB: yay, I get all the chicks. :P

Yeah, it's me. I had completely forgotten what its like to be at event like this. It brings back memories. Also, it’s so awkward being approached by shy stallions asking for an autograph. Seriously, guys, I don't bite!

LightSparkle

Ha! She's only trying to give you a false sense of security. When your guard is down she'll strike devour you whole!

I'm keeping a low profile in the middle left of the hall. See you after the opening is over? I love this city. It has so much character and emotion woven into it. If could retire anywhere it's here.

Simile

Oh my goodness! I just saw Princess Luna in the audience! :)

Now I feel ashamed I never knew she was into MC :( I've seen her so many times and it never occurred to me to ask. :(((

I'm sitting with ForceFeedback, Octavia (yay), and my sister (boo! :P I'm joking. She's been remarkably nice on this trip. Either I guilted her, or she's still fascinated by the clothes LightSparkle brought. HopHop, MixaMax, and Jade are right in front, as well as some others I'm not fully familiar with.

Has anyone seen Brush? I'm sure I saw her in line earlier today, but I can't spot her in the hall :(

SweetStuff

Hey, girls. I'm, err, in the back. Sort of uneasy being here. I know it's what I've wanted for a while now, but… Seeing certain ponies brings back memories, not all of them pleasant, especially with me being a such a jerk in the past.

Naturally, of all the ponies I'd bump into it had to be my ex boss. (I was a jerk back then and we didn't part on good terms.)

Anyway, sorry for the rant again. I'll be up to meeting as many of you as I could. :)

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: hey, we've all done stupid things. Join the club :) I’ll be glad to meet you :)

RRBB

OMFC! I nearly got a heart attack! Tell me this is real! You can all see it, right?

@LyraHands: I love you right now! I’m absolutely loving this! Only you could think of something as crazy and pull it off! :P

Danny! *yay* Danny on the stage!

RRBB

She's devious, isn't she? :) Hi, girls. I made it. I'm in the wheelchair by the side. I'll only be here for a few hours, but would love to see you all after the opening. Just, please somewhere not too crowded. I still tire easily :(

PaintDrop

@RRBB: I knew about it. :P It's great isn't it? LyraHands shared the idea with me a while back. And it really is insane. And just to make things clear, that's not actually Danny. It's a changeling hired for the event. Incidentally, she's also a fan of MC, so we promised she can get to meet the big shots after she's done. :)

Taking the role of Tech, please don't ask her to change into all your favorites! This isn't supposed to be a gazm fest!

MixaMax

The sentiment is appreciated, although the choice of words could have been better. That said, it must have taken a lot for her to get the shape right, so we better be nice to her.

The TechNightling

Wow, this place has grown a lot! It's nothing like the old meetup.

Hi, all. Just here to say a quick hi and see some of the Nightlings I know :)

DannyFan

DannyFan! Great to see you here! I thought you were going to Fillidelphia.

PrinceEric

I was. After some thought I thought I'd join dad and Candle here. :)

DannyFan

@TrueSparkle: why is Angel on your head? Did he run away from home again? Sometimes I don't know what that bunny is thinking! :/

@Octavia: So glad you came here. :) I don't see Discord, though. Is everything alright with him? He didn't get sick I hope?

Brush

@Brush: you know Discord. :/ He's behind stage, getting ready to steal the spotlight from DarkSparkle first chance he gets. We told him if he ruins anything there will be Tartarus to pay.

And I don't mind having Angel. He's so adorable and fluffy :) It's like wearing a winter cap :) Poor thing must have been exhausted because he fell asleep almost instantly. Where are you exactly?

TrueSparkle

Lyra on the stage, yo! :) I love that girl :)

Half the Griffin wing is here spread about the hall. The rest thought the opening was going to be lame and decided to join in later. Won't they feel stupid now :) Danny and Lyra waving to everyone. This is first rate fic HiE material right there!

Edit: oooh! Name drop! @LightSparkle, how does it feel to be the center of attention? (You “only” got mentioned by two Princesses, LyraHands, and human Danny. Better go on that stage girl!)

Edit: Okay, so I got name dropped as well. O:) *yay* girls. You're making my feathers blush!

Feather

@Feather: Serves you right, loser! I don't need name drops since I already have a whole panel dedicated to me (and Danny will be there with me, so ha!)

Edit: Wow, seriously? @DarkSparkle, are you reading the site while on stage? Neeerd! :P

AwesomePony

Licking time! I want to be able to watch this without getting notifications all the time! :P

All comments have been locked until the opening is over ;)

HopHop

Second Arc, First Analysis

Woooow! Everhere sure starts with a bang!

Also, since the scroll is not available in the shops yet (I expect it will be a few hours after I post this) BEWARE SPOILERS!

[EqF-spoiler]
We start in the Skyla corporation, where Megan is finishing a report, then goes to present it to her boss. He gives her a well, done then casually mentions that that security will be heightened because of the Everprince incidents.

Megan goes back to her office, we see her glancing at pictures of her brother and Omni (and the rest) on her phone. She sighs and is about to leave, when she's called to go and get something from the vault. So she goes through security (all explained in chilling detail) reaches the final sign in, when the wall suddenly explodes and Warlockwings pour in and start fighting the corporate battlemages. Then we have Hercules (I think I'm in love) make a comment about Skyla knowing better than to meddle in such stuff, after which he breaks the vault and we find out that's actually a cell with a child inside.

Quick jump to Danny in his university room. He's busy removing everything that belonged to Loki and putting it in boxes. Eric appears and after an awkward silence offers a soda (“I think I'll be staying away from water bottles for a while” is best line). Apparently Bellucio and Molly are gone to explore something in another reality, and Blazen and Euryala have vanished as well. (The very cool thing here is that because of the reality shifts, people don't remember anyone who’s gone in another reality until their return. Sort of like people carry all memories linked with them as they come and go).

Caprice shows up and assures them everything is fine in Equestria. There's a lot of awkward silence, after which Megan phones and asks them to meet her in Zeus’ temple. On the way we learn that the gods have disappeared as well (we get a recap of the entire first arc.) At the meeting we have Danny, Megan, Eric, Karl (who's a lovable idiot) and Cassandra.

A long exposition about the events of this morning follows, as well as a plan to help get the girl free. We also have a flashback in which the girl plants a “Please help” thought in Megan’s mind just before she's being taken away by the Warlockwings/Overseers. Cassandra goes on about how no corp can be trusted and they must do this on their own.

A plan is hatched (I won't go in detail, but in brief Megan uses the mind link she has with the child to help everyone get to one of the Overseer outposts at the edge of Mistmount). It's discovered that the place is protected by normal humans and sorceresses. Using what powers they have (and some cool Felina amulets) the group makes its way to the holding cell and are about to rescue the girl, when Hercules appears (and makes his junior god speech). Everyone works together to try and take him down in possible the best fight scene I've seen ever, but end up defeated. At the last moment Megan shatters reality (with her gem) and ends up in Hades reality. She's in a similar room, but it's empty. Wounded and bleeding, she tries to drag herself out and call for help. She fails (of course) and lies there, thinking of everything that has happened since the start of Everhere. Then suddenly someone comes next to her and helps her up. We then find out it's the child (who has the same appearance and memories as the pen in the real world). The child thanks Megan, then says “I am Athena.” (Female deity reference right there!)
[EqF-spoiler]

So what can I say! MC is up to a great start! Also, I learned that there will be a reading of the chapter later today! So much excite! :)))

What do you think?

PrinceEric

2/10! News more Griffins.

Won't lie, though. That Cassandra chick is badass! I can totally see Megan falling for her. Also Hercules… I'm not saying I'd fall for a fictional coltfiction character, but if he happened to say appear out of the blue… *yay* yeah!

Sorry, GLGJ, you're still my number one, but Hercules… Just kidding :P

Feather

@Feather: let me hang with you and GriffinGirlfriend and you have a deal!

ManyFaces

*yay* me! You serious!?

We're so doing this! @GriffinGirlfirnd: when is our panel? We're so having Many there! No arguments! This is a thing that's happening!

Feather

@PrinceEric: Let me just start by saying how awkward it is writing my response with Luna sitting literally next to me and being all nice and stuff (well, nice to her coltfriend, not me :P) That said…

The pacing is way uneven in this one. I get what the writers are going for. The whole “let’s recap after the hiatus” is a thing, but it could have been a bit smoother. I mean, you can see the rhythm: calm, calm, sudden action, calm calm, sudden action, calm, action, action, revelation.

The worst thing is that the story is quite good. If the pacing would have been better I'd give it an A. Well, that and if you STOPPED INTRODUCING NEW GODS! Seriously, why? I get it, everyone wants a Mary Sue goddess to identify with, but seriously why?! :/ It could have been great without her.

Edit: What Max is trying to say is that she loved it, but is too ashamed to admit it because of some stupid reason. (I seem to have married an edgemare.)

MixaMax

I couldn't help myself! I read the review and then got the copy from PrinceEric and read that too! (I'm so weak willed! :()

Some incredible news about the reading: Princess Luna has agreed to also do a dreamscape display. Now we’ll not only hear what’s going on, we’ll also get see it! :D

P.S.: @Octavia, please tell your husband that he WON’T be “helping out” :/ If he even thinks of opening a portal to some dimension or other I'll be… anyway, talk to him! Thank you! (You look great, by the way :) So glad to see you at the event.)

DarkSparkle

Who restored posting permissions?! :/

Licked! Licked! Licked!

HopHop

Hop, I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but you need to find yourself a nice stallion…

CodeFilly

Departures

Girls, how are things? Sorry I couldn't write yesterday :( The event got me too overwhelmed and I had a slight episode. No worries, though. Everything is fine. The doctors are taking good care of me, plus Vertex is always by my side:)

Oh stars how I missed you. You're further incentive for me to get better and go home. That and the commissions that I must finish O:)

@MasterOfThisAstra: It was good seeing you. Thanks.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Ha! I bet you just need that sweet changeling loving :P

Get better, you idiot. Life is boring without you. Even annoying my mother isn't fun anymore. Well, there's also the angle that now that Max has married CRYSTAL NOBILITY her sister is suddenly all the more suitable :P (And I plan to take so much advantage of that :))

But really, get better. Once you're back on your hooves I have a ton of commissions waiting for you :)

RRBB

Thank you, LyraHands for a wonderful event!

I fortunately, we have to return to Manehattan to deal with the new house and moving Candle’s belongings from her apartment. The reading and panels were spectacular and I don't see why we can't have CrystalCon become a Nightling tradition.

To everyone whom I didn't get to meet: my apologies, there's always next time.

To those that I did meet: you are magnificent and I can't wait till next time. LightSparkle, you are by far much more different than I expected in the best positive ways. I hope your studies let you come visit more often.

Last, but far from least, a huge thank you to the organizers and the volunteer helpers that made the event possible. I truly appreciate everything you've done.

The TechNightling

Meanwhile the entire fandom is fuming with envy that candle got the stallion with the cute accent :P

It’s been way wild! Far better than anything I've been to. I've never even considered what effect my silly stories might have. I got to spend time with crystal ponies, princesses, not to forget the coolest changeling that ever lived! (Sorry any other changelings on the site!) Many, you are the best! Please come hang out with us more! :)

GriffinGirlfriend

@GriffinGirlfriend: Pfft! Spending time with you brought me more calories than I've had in a week! I'll have to do crunches for days to get rid of the excess weight ;)

As long as I'm not working just send me a message and I'll be there. ;)

ManyFaces

You know… I've been wondering. Are there any changeling stories? I like to think I've been reading a lot of stories, but I can't seem to think of any :(

YouKnowWho

Sword/Shield Lover

SweetStuff

@YouKnowWho: Sword/Shield Lover

It's a strange fic by HoofTies (they have several interesting fics). Without spoiling it too much it's about a human teen who’s got into some trouble with the Felina corp, and ends up with a sword transported from somewhere to their vault. The sword turns out to be a male changeling who, in additional of being able to shapeshift into a human, spends most his time as a sword or shield. Sparta (the main character) ends up falling in love with him (I.e. she falls in love with her sword) while having to fight against the forces that be as well as corporate witches.

I recommend reading it.

@all: thanks for the great time! It was overwhelming to say the least. (@Simile: I'm still mad at you! I didn't think you'd actually dare! I wish I can erase that image from my mind!)

Sadly, I'll have to be going soon. All that emotion during and after the reading got me thinking, so I decided I'll spend the rest of my holiday in Canterlot…with my mother. (Sorry if I'm not online for a bit)

If anyone wants to say their final goodbyes, I'll be in the main hall for a bit longer, then am off to the train station.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: don't be silly! We’ll take you there on this little AIR CARRIAGE! :) Wait up, I'll be with you in a bit. (Someone prefers her beauty sleep :P)

Simile

…I don't think I've ever seen DarkSparkle so drunk before. Sheesh how time flies. Just yesterday she was obsessing about healthy diets and schoolwork, now…

Anyway, thanks for the event. Was great. @Luna, congratulations on the engagement. (Surprising to say the least.) @MightyDragon, @CodeFilly: congrats on the wedding :)

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: Dear, you had a bit too much as well, as I recall… ;)

@all: please make sure that you don't forget any belongings in the palace. Also, please tidy up your rooms as much as possible before leaving your hotels.

That aside, let me personally thank you for a splendid convention. You made the event fun, and wit the exception of a few very minor instances, everyone was well behaved (although next time, please don't tell my daughter you'll take her to an after dark disco party… :/)

For anyone staying after the convention, please take the time to enjoy the capital :)

InItForTheShipping

I'll be leaving shortly as well along with the Wonderbolts.

@DarkSparkle: are you alright? You disappeared somewhere last night and I was worried.

@MasterOfThisAstra: it was nice seeing you again. You look well, and Flower was charming. I wish you the best, and send a line every now and then. :)

Brush

@Feather: Last time I'm doing a drinkoff with you!

(Or at least I assume that's what was said.)

I reckon I'll be carrying her to Ponyville. Take care, y’all.

AwesomePony

*yay*! I can't believe I slept till so late!

Sorry, everypony! I'll be in the main hall in ten minutes! Any volunteers that want to help cleaning the place after the festivities are more than welcome.

Also, I have some remaining convention art and fliers, so first come first serve!

LyraHands

Heh. Was cool. Could have been longer, though.

Grumpy

Aww, ponies leaving already :( I was hoping this would last forever. Isn't there some time spell we could use? And infinity loop or something? O:)

I'm just joking. :)

@CodeFilly: I wish! I literally want to some random cute stallion to walk up to me now and let me invite him on a date! (And yes, I'm so abusing my mod privileges :P)

Joking aside, this was a fun party! @PPI, I can't wait to see how you'll top this! :D

Travel safely, everypony! And don't forget to keep your participation badges!

HopHop

CrystalCon Recap

Since no one else has done it... I will!

Behold my beautiful and *yay* recap of the event!

So, the trip there was lovely! Quarters, the balloon idea was the best! At first I was skeptical, especially with your interest there, but he wasn't half as bad as I thought he'd be. Also after the first hour, when my anxiety wore off, I started to enjoy the calm (and so cute that Squishy fell asleep leaning on me :))

When we got there half of Equestria had arrived. I've never seen so many ponies since the Equestria games! @InItForTheShipping, you were right about the ponies being nice. And stars are they well informed! I barely got to land, when a few volunteers came up to us (thanks to the purple crystal colt and mare? Forgot your names, but you were class A great!)

We were taken to the fast line and given our participation badges :) Since there was some time to kill before the grand opening, I went about and met my boss and idol LightSparkle for a bite :D (she was still carrying socks to give out. I get a pair that I put on Squishy while she was sleeping. So cute! :))

And then we had the big event. Lyra, your changeling idea was the best! Next year we'll see if we can get more! I'll cover tech costs, of course. @ManyFaces, you rocked, girl! Seriously, you made Danny look good! I heard you did others as well. Sadly I was at panels and couldn't see for myself :/ (had to be there since I was on the panels).

Then the greatest thing (for me personally) happened. PaintDrop appeared! I won't lie, you didn't look your best, but it was such a relief seeing you. I hope they are feeding you well wherever you are. You need something on those bones! Call me emotional, but that was a magical moment for me. And I also got to see your “sweetheart”. Not my type, to be honest. Also, surprised you were into gothy, but I'm not judging.

Paint only managed to spend a few hours there before she had to be leave. Next the party started. PPI and the Wonderbolts really outdid themselves! CEOWitch, love you :D (Fleet and Awesome too, of course.) Also, Brush, you were incredibly cute in a Wonderbolt uniform. I admit I didn't expect that. Quite the Daring mare you’ve become. ;)

@InItForTheShipping and @SaltyHuman: you were so cool and your daughter was so much fun! I wish i could have a filly like her one day! And sorry for suggesting taking her to the party O:) my bad, but she’s already into Nightling fics so it's just a meter of time :P

@MasterOfThisAstra, I never expected for you to stay. Still a bit upset what happened between you and Brush, but glad things moved on. Cool Bellucio costume, but you always were into cosplay. One word of advice, don't mess it up with Hose! And Hose, take good care of him (he's the brother of my best friend!)

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: That was the geekiest wedding celebration I have ever seen (including in all the stories I have curated). I so approve of this! It was so over the top it was cool! Who came up with the dice lamps? And the humie bean bags? So much fun :) and you got DJ Pon3 to disco the event with all the geek classics? Too good! You even had a pin the centaur tail game!

Next day I had more panels I could think of! In retrospect it might have been better if I had slept a bit. (Take note, fillies, never party all night before a panel!) The editor panel had way more ponies than I expected (also, LightSparkle and Feather were cool enough to cover the fact that I was semi asleep :P) The Danny panel was way fun (thanks again, ManyFaces!), but the Butterfly panel… now that was extraordinary! I really mean it! Six of the best community authors in one place! Thanks to Luna and InItForTheShipping for allowing the panel to continue for FOUR hours :) It was a treat. And to top it off, Simile ended the event with fireworks (literally). Simile, you're crazy, you know that? :)))

I’s sure there's lots more but right now my mind is a bit blank right now. I didn't get much sleep last night either. Anyway, Short and I will be here for a few more days, so PM if you want to meet and say hi.

RRBB

@RRBB: Wow! Short&Hoofy actually made you become so sweet and mushy? Where's the ice cold diamond I knew? :P Joking, you’re much better this way. And thanks for being with me while I was at the convention. :)

PaintDrop

I’m an idiot! I completely forgot the best part! The reading! Oh my stars I never needed I need that in my life! The voice spells, the music, the dream visions… must have moar! I'll pay any amount for there to be more events like this. Princess Luna was the best of the best! I never could imagine what this would be like. Better than theatre even!

@InItForTheShipping, can you please talk to the Princess to do the same for project Butterfly once it's complete? Oh, and Chosen and Everhere as well? (I'm greedy, I know O:))

RRBB

@PaintDrop: I'm just as hard on the inside! (Err that sounded so wrong :P)

And of course I'll be there for you! You're my best friend! Just get better soon so I see you and gothcolt more often, okay?

RRBB

@RRBB: Actually, I've started to dabble in dreamscaping a bit myself. Maybe in a few months I could pull off some simple readings? ;) And I'm sure that Luna will be delighted to do more of those. :)

Simile

@Simile: now we’re talking! The moment I get home I'll draft a business plan. This is going to be big, I feel it! I've been wasting my bits on nonsense anyway, so after I graduate I'll be starting Dream Readings Inc. (temp name).

I'm so happy! MC is the best thing that happened to me ever! :)

RRBB

@RRBB: she will, I'll make sure of it.

Gothling Poet

Disappointment and Hope PMs

Do you know the results? Sorry I couldn't star longer. I couldn't to talk to you again in person, but my sister decided we should go back to Ponyville and RRBB agreed.

RRBB adored your daughter. I mean everypony did, be RRBB spent more time with her than anypony else. Despite what everypony says I think she'd be a great mother.

Short&Hoofy

I would have liked you to stay a bit longer as well. I completed my tests and you are still too weak. Sorry, Short&Hoofy :( I wish there was something I could do, but as things are now, I wouldn't even attempt the procedure. The damage to you aside, I don't think the child would survive.

I know this isn't the news you wanted to hear, but I promised I wouldn't lie to you. Of course, this doesn't mean anything. If you continue with your exercises, as you said you would, in a few years things might be different. Let me be clear, the test isn't an eternal failure, it just means that you cannot perform it at this time, which we knew anyway. So for the moment, try not to think about it. Focus on your time with RRBB, college, and other things, and we'll do another test in a couple of years.

InItForTheShipping

Ok…

Short&Hoofy

Oh, Short&Hoofy :(

This is precisely why I didn't want to perform the test at such an early stage. You don't take into account that you still pretty much a child. If Lyra was your age she probably wouldn't be able to go through it either. As I told you back when I started the tests you have more magic than unicorns your age by far. If you had a desire for it, you could get admitted in the S.G.U.

Please don't feel bad of yourself. I'll admit there was a chance that you ended up completely unsuitable for the procedure (which I didn't tell you before because I knew you'd get depressed). You are a definite maybe.

InItForTheShipping

You're a nice pony, Princess. I know I can't thank you enough for everything you've done. If you hadn't helped me at the time I probably never would have ended up with RRBB to begin with, but I’m just… I feel numb right now. It's like my life with RRBB is just a dream that will be over if I blink.

I had a nightmare about this last night. I woke up crying and RRBB had to calm me down. This has never happened before. I, the one who does the calming. She doesn't show it but she cries weekly, the therapy helps, but I know it will be years before she starts leading a normal life. She's just very good at hiding it. To have her have to calm me, that's… I'm so blessed she's so strong. I always knew she was.

Short&Hoofy

You've always been sensitive, Short&Hoofy. It took one look at you to see that. You both are strong. I wish I was giving you better news, but I don't want to lie to you. The best we can do is try again in a few years. I'll go through the ancient spells to see if there's a way to increase your mana output safely. And I absolutely forbid you start searching for augmenting artifacts! All of them are heavily flawed, including the ones Starswirl made!

Did RRBB raise the topic about having children?

InItForTheShipping

Yes, in her semi-subtle way. I know her well enough to tell that she really wants to have foals of her own. She kept on talking about Flurry and the Cake twins and how cute they were. Granted that we're approaching graduation and that terrifies her. It scares me a bit as well, but not as much.

That's why she also got in her mind to start the dream reading business. I'm not sure how well it would work out, but I support her because it will make her happen, and also get her mind off things. She's already spoken with Simile about it in length, as well as Jade. She also told me she'll try to “recruit” HopHop and Brush.

Short&Hoofy

That sounds wonderful :) A surprising number of successful startups in the Crystal Empire began with mares having an idea. I’m not sure it will become the next big thing, but I think it will make both of you happy.

InItForTheShipping

I know, and I'm sorry for being so down, but…

Do you think it's possible to have a dream child? Princess Luna mentioned once that there are beings that continue to live in the dreamscape without being linked to a single dream. Something like the tantibus she made a while back. If that's true, and everything is possible in dreams, maybe this is out next best option?

Short&Hoofy

I'll have to speak with her about it. I admit it never crossed my mind, in theory it should be possible, but I doubt it's as simple as merging your dreams together. I promise I'll look into it, but keep in mind it won't be easy. Only being able to be with your foal while you are asleep might not be the experience either of you are looking for.

InItForTheShipping

I know. RRBB would probably see it as practical, though. No mess, no cooking, no sleepless nights… I can hear her now asking Princess Luna about making some dream babysitters to take care of our filly while we are awake. Of course, knowing RRBB, she'll probably ask that I cast a sleep spell on here every hour so she checks on things.

Don't tell her I told you, but she's very panicky. One time when I was sick, she'd check on me every half hour. She tried to be quiet, but I heard her. I pretended to be asleep most of the time.

Short&Hoofy

I know she is :) And I promise I'll look into this for you.

So RRBB wants a filly?

InItForTheShipping

I do. RRBB wants a stallion because she can “raise him as a mare” and be perfect in every single way. She also loves fillies, so I think she’ll want to have several foals either way.

Short&Hoofy

It does sound like her. Talking of fillies, mine has demanded my full attention. She made a compromise to let me chat a few minutes longer because I'm having a talk with “coow Woobie”.

I'll PM you the moment I know anything more. In the meantime think of other things and continue with your exercises.

InItForTheShipping

I will. Thank you for everything.

Short&Hoofy

The Sword/Shield Review

Hey, everypony! I know I usually only do reviews of MC scrolls, but I've been asked by several people to do an somewhat longer review of a Sword/Shield Lover (including by a certain somepony I can't say no to… ^^’) Since this is ongoing I'll only review the first chapter.

Also,I got to spend a lot of time with ManyFaces in Danny form and I have to make up for it O:) (Many, you are the best! You you ever come to Cloudsdale let me know.)

So, the story…

First of all, let me say it's interesting to have the main character be a girl. When I first started it, I thought Sparta was just another self insert, but she's wonderful as a character (not Molly material, but very close). I'm glad she comes with her shortcomings (color blindness in a fic isn't something I've seen before) and strengths.

The fic starts with Sparta having a normal day at school (she's in the same school as Molly, but not the same class). Everything seems normal until we have tie in with a MC adventure as a result of which we learn that Sparta has been keeping a diary full of interesting events that are linked with Felina corp). Sneaking out from home one night (since she's keeping her obsession severely from her parents who are pressuring her to find a boyfriend), Sparta follows a Felina shipment that is intercepted by the gr8 (“Inward Troubles”). The interesting thing is that while most of the CEO witches are busy fighting Danny and co, she manages to steal the Sword/Shield and runs off.

Getting the item, naturally gets the corp on her tail (they come go to her school, visit her parents, etc.) There's a very sweet cameo by Molly who’s wondering if she's doing okay (and also shares her crush on Bellucio). Sparta, feeling the pressure, takes the Sword/Shield from her home and does to her hiding place in the forest (I assume that's Draftwood, but I can't be certain). She shares how happy she is and how the artifact is the best thing in her life…which of course helps it transform slightly (glowing and such).

At that point corporate goons located her location and attack. Sparta is pretty bad at fighting (even if she's had combat lessons) but the sword seems to move on its own making do with them. Then (predictably) a pair of corporate witches appear and use magic on Sparta. (I like how they go directly, no walk or explanations, just start zapping with fire and ice.) the sword transforms into a shield and protects her in both instances. Also, at that point the sword/shield starts talking giving her instructions.

The fight scene that follows is quite interesting (though might need some more work). Ultimately, Sparta wins (stop sign to the head to defeat a corporate witch was a nice touch :)). The artifact then talks with her and some chit chat transforms into a human male. It/he mentions he's a changeling and needs love to use his skills and survive at which point Sparta completely falls for him (doing the classic lip bite).

A very promising story, and from what I read on it gets better. I also read the author’s other stories and they are quite nice. (If anything I could tell this one of her first attempts.) In any event, a huge shoutout to @HoofTies!

Keep writing, mare! Your ideas are great! :)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: it's a stallion.

And while it could definitely use some editing, it's very well written from a narrative point. I think the editor group could help out here? I'm a bit occupied, sadly.

Jade

@PrinceEric: did you seriously call the corporate witches CEO witches? Wow. I'm flattered :).

I can't believe I hadn't read this. I thought I'd read all the action fics (the popular/good ones, that is). Guess I know what I'll be doing after work and before going to Brush.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: Already ahead of you, sweetie :) We’ll discuss it when you get here ;)

Brush

@Jade: ha! I'm sure you're occupied with lots of Max :P

@Feather, @LightSparkle: you wanna take it? I could.

RRBB

@RRBB: Having an important conversation with my mother right now! And I've spoken to HoofTies. They don't want an editor.

I'm glad that the story got some attention, though. It's one of my (many) favorite on the site and a rare changeling story.

LightSparkle

@Jade: no way I'm a stallion! Thanks for the comments, though :) And thanks, Eric. I kinda like your reviews :)

HoofTies

I personally, think that the author is a changeling. There's far too much specificity regarding changeling behavior for it to be anyone else. I mean, a lot can be guessed by knowing a changeling, sure, but some details (looking at the author’s other stories) are changeling exclusive.

In any event, I'm very happy you decided to write, HoofTies :) Your stories are a joy to behold and make ponies think about things. :) Please, write more.

DarkSparkle

This is so magnificent! Wow, wow, and wow! I think I know who the author is! :D (not saying, though.)

ManyFaces

@CEOWitch: Ooops, sorry. O:) I guess I just think highly of you :P

I'll definitely keep reading it, but not sure I'll be able to do other reviews. :( The next Everhere scroll is expected tomorrow, and after that we'll have the next 3 chapters of Chosen, and maybe Butterfly this month… So many things, so little time.

PrinceEric

@all: I just want to say that it's nice that everypony is excited about some of the stories, but not all authors want to be well known. So, let's please keep their privacy, okay? :)

HoofTies is a magnificent Nightling, I've had the pleasure to meet on a few onccasions and can assure you there are very good reasons for them to remain anonymous. Let's just enjoy there writing, okay?

As for the story itself… more! :)

LyraHands

@LightSparkle: I'll be cool with you being my editor, if you want to.

@LyraHands: Thanks.

HoofTies

@HoofTies: Heartbroken! I'll go drown my sorrows in Squishy! :P

Nah, it's all good. I needed some Squishy anyway :)

RRBB

I like changeling boys… O:)

Brush

Athena Analysis

Hey, girls! It's that time of the week :) No spoiler tags this time.

We continue directly where we left off (check my last review) with Athena (confirmed goddess) standing over a bleeding Megan in Hades-reality. Scared, Megan uses the gem to escape to Poseidon reality, but once there she finds another Athena waiting for her. The child explains that if Megan continues like this her wound will get worse, and Megan listens.

For the next part of the scroll we follow Megan trying to find a doctor while hiding, with Athena just tagging along. Until now, other than sharing thoughts between realities Athena hasn't shown any powers (including fighting in any shape or form). Megan tries to figure out what is going on: why the Warlockwings are getting involved, why the deities are silent, why the Skyla corp has been keeping Athena locked all those years in their vault. The child goddess reacts like a typical child and doesn't answer directlly. (I'm so glad that the writers didn't go for the spoilt brat cliche).

Once Megan is better she and Athena devise a plan how to rescue her in the Poseidon reality. Apparently, the rest of the grand nine (still there) had been briefly interrogated and let go after the prattle last chapter. The only exception is Cassandra, who is still held in an Overseer location as a corporate prisoner. Megan wants to rescue Cass, of course, so there's a sort of an argument at the end of which Athena poutily agrees.

What follows is the best chattered reality plan I've ever read :) Megan can go between realities with her gem powers, Athena can see/remember everything from all realities… you do the math :) The two set on a journey of reality hopping, in order to start a chain of events that would let them rescue Cassandra and Athena at the same time. (Of course they involve the rest of the grand 9 in all realities.) There are a few comedic setbacks on the way (continuity! :)) but ultimately they succeed. Megan frees Cass, then goes to free Athena, but Hercules is there, waiting. He does the classic villain (? still not sure if he is or not) speech when Athena suddenly starts fighting and kicks his *yay*! :D Again, beautiful fight scene with lots of punches and magic. :)

Standing over Hercules, Athena tilts her head and makes the quote of the series so far:

“Let them go, bro, or dad will be upset.”
“It's Dad’s mess that let all this chaos in the first place!” Hercules spat on the ground. “The Overseers won't let this slide. Not even for you.”
“They will if you convince them.”

Yep! She goes on to explain that Hercules and she are half siblings, with their father being Zeus (how cool is that!?!? :D)

The chapter ends with Danny asking they are supposed to do now, to which Cassandra (of all people) replies that something is stirring and they can only do what they've been doing all along: try and keep Mistmount safe.

I don't know about you, but I'm getting a Vol 5 vibe. It's more and more looking like there will be a series of challenges rather than a direct conflict. Knowing the writers (@Luna :P), though, there might be a grand arc as well.

Also, I'm starting to like this new goddess. Can't wait her to meet Molly :) (also, Chosen in 4 days! Hype!)

PrinceEric

Girls, just letting you know that Dark and friends won't be posting a while (friendship problems again). Before that, though, she's dictating the following:

Athena is great, but isn't a centaur.
There's no crime in hoof kissing.
Cassandra is overrated.

Interpret as you see fit :P

I think the chapter was nice. Maybe it's just me, but I can empathize with Athena. I strongly suspect that she was imprisoned because she did something really mad, maybe mind wash Mistmount or something… (we've seen how she can plant thoughts in others). I'm almost certain that we will see her backstory in the near future.

TrueSparkle

@DarkSparkle: don't worry, sis. I spoke with the MC writing lead and he promised to include a centaur there just for you. (You know, the slender, educated type, just as you like them :P)

@PrinceEric: Cool review as always. I'm curious who their mothers are. I tried to poke InItForTheShipping for myth info, but she's still a bit grumpy after what I did at CrystalCon O:) Also, that little goddess can sure fight. I wonder if my daughter would be like that in a few years.

Edit: my daughter wonders if she'll become like Athena in a few years… @InItForTheShipping, sorry honey O:)

SaltyHuman

Girls, I just wanted to thank you. I know this isn't the place, and I might have had a bit too much salt, but you really are the best.

@AwesomePony, you're number one! Really! After all the *yay* I gave you at the academy you're okay with talking to me and even got me a second chance in the program. I don't know what to say. I really…

You're the best, girls. Nightlings forever!

LittleFinger

@SaltyHuman, @TrueSparkle: you two are terrible! :/ It’s to a fetish! I just find them fascinating! And if you even dare send a changeling entertainer to my castle, as you joked during the convention, I'll send both of you to Tartarus until the next reading! :/

Also, brother, tell that drama queen Blueblood he can buck a tree!

I'll be going for a few days now! Good day!

DarkSparkle

DarkSparkle has just left the castle and slammed the door. I think she's excited about both ideas :) it will be a crime if we don't follow up on them :)

TrueSparkle

@LittleFinger: Hey, donut worry about it. You've gone a long way since then. And I must admit I was a bit envious of you (even if you were lousy with teamwork and friendship :))

Also, having a father like yours… you really had to go through a lot. And it wasn't only my idea for you to get back in the reserve program. Fleet and Pieface were with me on that 100%. Also, 2ndHalf promised she'd be there as well for support if you need her, so chill and cut down on the salt, okay? ;)

AwesomePony

I like changeling boys.

Err, wrong quote! :P I'm just a bit too much into Sword/Shield lover :)

The chapter was great. I just hope I'll be back before the next. :( Also, hugs to LittleFinger (you were fun:)) and CEOWitch (just because *ear nibble*) :D

Brush

And thus Equestria was saved.

MightyDragon

Changeling Boys

Girls, I’ll be leaving for uni today. And (surprise, surprise) I’m a bit bummed about it.

CrystalCon was the thing I really needed and thanks for letting me gave it. And I’m not talking about the event itself (which was also great), but the fact that I got to come here, spend time with friends and people I never knew, and also had the best conversation with my mother I thought possible. It would take Jade to write what I’m going through right now, because I certainly can’t :P

Now, (as I wipe away my tears), onto something completely different. I was doing some curating in the evenings (wasn’t able to sleep too well), when I decided on a whim to search for all the changeling stories. (By that I mean I did a search that marked every story that had the word changeling in it as a changeling story).

1 mention – 12 stories
2 mentions – 7 stories
3 mentions – 31 stories
4 – 10 mentions – 319 stories*
11+ mentions – 7 stories

For a site that contains literally hundreds of thousands of stories, that’s alarmingly few. Granted a large amount of changeling fics were removed during the slap fic purge, it’s an astonishingly small number. (Just for reference, stories featuring Chiron by name are in the low thousands, and Athena TAGGED stories broke five digits.)

Why I’m addressing this? Because I think the subject is fascinating. Also, with the amount of changelings in IT and on the site (yes, I am aware of quite a few and I PM with them on a regular basis) I’d have thought there would be more stories. HoofTies is pretty much the only one who is actively writing about them and does so in the most amazing ways (@HoofTies, I’m sorry you didn’t come to CrystalCon and will gladly be your editor :) )

So, here’s my question and challenge to you:

Write a Changeling fic in 3 days. Yep, you heard me correct! I’m doing a flash contest. Originally I wanted it to be in 24 hours, but since not everyone is glued to the site, I guess 3 days will have to do.

Meanwhile, what are your thoughts on changelings on Earth? I can see so many ways in which they could be used.

LightSparkle

@Celestia: Mom, don’t you dare participate!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Umm, I don’t know about the rest, but the subject is still a bit touchy for me and a lot of ponies in Canterlot and the Crystal Empire. It’s true that times have changed and ponies don’t outright fear changelings now, but the subject (along with King Sombra) is very much avoided.

That said, I’d really like to read more well-done changeling fics (I blame HoofTies and LightSparkle for bringing it to my attention :) ) So I’ll help with the prize. First place gets something.

SaltyHuman

Hmph. If I’d known this was a thing I would have said something. And yeah, I’m starting to like far too many authors (none as much as Squishy, though). On that note, please congrat her on finally getting to talk with Prince Blueblood. I’m telling you we have the next MC author right here! Just you see! Only problem is I also want her for my enterprise (which I’ll be starting with selected partners after graduation :D )

Let me hear your hype!

As for changelings on Earth, I can totally see it. In fact they will be extremely overpowered. I can only imagine what they can do if they get a stable source of love (like in the story). Changelings vs gods… now that would be weird! :D

RRBB

@RRBB, @LightSparkle: Well, I know somepony who’ll be devoting a lot of her energies in that field :)

I know she’ll kill me when she gets back, but Brush has been putting a lot of thought and effort into writing a series of “Changeling boy” fics. Some of them definitely won’t see the light of day (not on this site anyway) but some definitely will and they are quite… cute? At time I wanted to strangle her for the things she wrote, though :P

@number1: You better look out. I think your GF might actually read those…

CEOWitch

@LightSparkle: Err, what’s the prize, by the way? Salty was a bit vague. (Unless he’s offering to go on a date with the winner :P )

Also, some parameters might be nice? Like word limit, exact deadline, etc, etc, etc. Also, are you interested in VA?

RRBB

@RRBB: I would be interested in having a go, based on my work schedule. (I have experience in magic and reading :) )

Celestia

@Celestia: Mom! That’s a terrible idea! :/

LightSparkle

@RRBB: Err, how should I know? Human gloves? Editing services? Cash rewards?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Err, maybe I have a solution? :)

Make it a week so there are more stories and I’ll go on a dinner date with the winner of the contest AND I’ll be in the chosen human form :) (You just take care of the restaurant)

Honestly, MC is my something I’ve been enjoying since I joined the site (I admit I only learned about it after Everhere) so anything that could promote good CoE stories is a pretty big deal for me personally ;)

Thanks for organizing the contest! And thanks to HoofTies for writing all her fics :D

ManyFaces

I’ll draw a picture based on the winning story. :)

Well, you know my thoughts on the topic. I agree 100% with Brush :D (only difference is that I have mine :P ) Jokes aside, I think I’m well enough to start drawing, even if it’s still a bit of a pain. I get tired very easily and can’t stay up as much as I did before. I’m eating much more, though, and the doctors agree that drawing is a good starting point.

“Fingers crossed” I’ll be able to visit Ponyville next week :D

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Glad you’re better. (changeling boys still aren’t squishy, though :P ) Also, you know she’ll win, right? ;P

@Celestia: PM me! :)

RRBB

@RRBB: Changeling boys can be anything, you dorf! :) And if Short wins I’ll draw an extra special pic for you two :)

PaintDrop

Invasion Theories

@all: this is an extremely important announcement! Please take the time to read it!

Get this out! The magic anomalies that have been going on are caused by a windigo! He appeared out of nowhere as we were investigating a friendship problem at one of the sky portals near the Everfree forest.

He froze several trees as he attacked. Twilight and Rainbow Dash engaged him and he disappeared, but he’ll be back. I can feel it. Tell everypony to be careful around white thunder clouds. If you spot one please let others know and post here.

Brush

While I don't encourage speculation and fear mongering, this is a serious matter so everypony please be careful. At this stage I know as much as you, so the Nightling system might be a good way to help the girls, and all of Equestria. Just please keep it separate from the site, if possible.

LyraHands

I know you said keep it off the site, but I can't stop thinking about the portal thing. Maybe the corporations really exist and they are trying to take over Equestria? I know I have an overactive imagination at times, but think about it: magic in the Crystal Empire, dragons appearing from thin air, magic anomalies everywhere, now a Windigo popping up above the Everfree Forest…

Maybe I've been reading too many stories, but there are more than a few coincidence.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: :) It’s admirable you want to come up with an answer, but there is no connection. As Princess Celestia’s assistant and Prince Blueblood’s underpaid slave I promise you that there's no human involvement.

This is something completely new and the proper ponies are trying to get to the bottom of this and keep everyone safe. Once again, I thank you all for your help and the Nightling system that has already helped in establishing a lot of things about the anomalies (and personally I think is the reason the Windigo to make himself known).

That said, I'd like to follow LyraHands’s request and not talk about the particular topic. I could still discuss Felina corp infiltration theories, though :)

Luna

Now I’m worried about Brush and the girls. They have been through this before, but…

Anyway, mowing to happier things. A human invasion is a popular topic and while it makes for great fiction there's no real reason for it to ever occur. Ignoring all the fantasy slap stories out there, what do we have that humans could possibly want?

Their technology is (said to be) way ahead of anything we got. They have self driving carriages, advanced computers (the ones we are using are probably Stone Age tech to them), enormous mana plants, ways to shape metal, and anything, we could only dream of. And, as you are all aware, with tech comes everything else: more and better food, better mining possibilities, better construction, larger buildings, etc.

If anything I think we will be the ones to try and infiltrate them, since we can't possibly win in a direct conflict.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: and what's wrong with herds? I can totally see having a house full of changeling boys to myself. Oh, wait, you meant them having a herd of ponies… yeah, you're right, I don't see it as realistic :P

Going by economics, however, we might be worth invading because of natural resources. It’s all a matter if they have used their resources up. Granted invasion is a very expensive way to get said resources. They could just establish trade relations and sigh deals highly favorable to them. Since they have advanced technology and understanding it should be easy and trust me there will be ponies who will gladly accept.

RRBB

I knew it! Them rotten Flim Flam brothers have made a deal with the Felina corporation! That's why they tried to take our farm with their fancy device! I knew it all along!

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: I just… never mind.

Also, if they try to invade I don't think we’ll just let them. Even with all their tech, they’ll have to go through the Wonderbolts, the Elements, and the Princesses. I don't see that happening.

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: o-okay… I'll just cry in the corner. :(

Sgt Pepper

She didn't mean you, dear. YouKnowWho is talking about aerial combat. :)

Luna

Whoa! Are we seriously discussing invasion fics at a time like this?

@DarkSparkle: in case your scrollbox is busted again, call me! @TrueSparkle, you call me as well when you know something more. Having Windigos appear just like that isn't normal.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: concern is appreciated, but PM, please? I'll make sure the system is functional.

As for invasions. I sort of can see us trying to invade as well. Humans, even the corporate ones, seem too nice. If you look throughout MC, even the villains (most of them) want to take complete control of the world, only to make it better and more efficient, not like the petty squabbles we tend to have (I admit we've gotten much better since ancient times, though). If anything I see them invading as a comedy.

Human: excuse me, we’re here to help your lives better, so please don't go all crazy on us and…

Pony: charge! Buck them to the moon!

Human: no, please. We have tech that would make your life better… and you aren't really hurting me with those hooves…

LyraHands

I think that if humans invaded they'd just have to extend their hands and we'd start licking them and get drunk… actually that might happen if they don't invade as well.

“Hello, ponies, we extend a hand in friendship, and…”

“Mine!” Pony delegation rushes forward and starts licking hand.

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: thank you! I forgot about salt. We're doomed. But I see us even more infiltrating them so we could steal salt. Now I'm imagining undercover agents stuffing their pockets with salt there, then getting back here… hold that thought!

Changeling boys: salt spy infiltrators

Somepony please write this!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: spies really don't work that way. It's a complex and laborious activity that… who am I kidding, I'm totally writing that :D

Bob

Suddenly thread licking got a whole new meaning…

Just a quick note to keep story stuff out of the Nightling system. The girls do need our help.

There - serious topics
Here - funny fluffy stuff

:)

MightyDragon

Laughs and Horror

@Brush: “Changeling Boys” ? Seriously? :/ Not that 99% of the site will have anything against, but what happened to the new and responsible Brush?

Now I feel bad for not writing anymore :( To be honest I think I'll either stop or go on a long hiatus. (I might ask Short to continue Danny Saga, but only if she wants to.) To be honest this has been coming for a while now. Each time I sit down to write I don't feel the magic. That doesn't mean I'll be gone, though! Editing, curating, and my future business venture will ensure I'm part of the Nightling community until it exists! I'll just stop writing.

Also, CDI, Brush! :P

RRBB

Just a quick apology to everyone for yesterday. I might have panicked a bit too much (thanks for offering support, CEO, but I have this. You just take care of those wings… you'll need them if you want to strangle me :P)

Things are not as terrifying as I wrote. And thanks to LyraHands for not posting my more rants PMs. O:) (Also, @MasterOfThisAstra, I'm fine so don't worry :))

Also… err… since I couldn't sleep last night I decided to work on something before I returned to Ponyville… and ended up writing all night! (I blame LightSparkle!)

I think you can all see the result O;)

Brush

Due to the totally unexpected surge of contest entries, I'll be delaying the results by a week (at least). You are insane! 17 entries! And it's only been a day! and I'm not even counting Brush’s Changeling Boys (don't you dare go slap on me!)

However, some of the names are just… Brush, HoofTies (with a new short), GriffinGirlfriend, Brush (again), Simile, Plust & YouKnowWho, MightyDragon (unfortunately), and Candle (who has improved incredibly!)

So far I've loved every single entry. (Hint: that's what happens when people write on a new topic—there are no cliches :))

Keep going!

LightSparkle

@ManyFaces: okay. Do you consider a centaur a human? I know, I know, but it's a valid question. And also there are centaurs in the series (the original scrolls have a few and Mistmount has several).

I'm not saying I'll win, but if I happen to, would you accept being a centaur?

(And no, you perverts! I don't fancy centaurs like that! To be honest I don't fancy humans either. I'm just fascinated by them!)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Your brother is rolling on the floor laughing…and Flurry joined him for no good reason.

Also, you do realize that most of the ponies in the castle as well as half the capital read the site, right? (And that includes the changeling community.)

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: She's counting on it :P

Miss “I don't like centaurs, but actually I do” just wants to enjoy some eye candy :P

RRBB

Hello, everyone!

I am aware that technically no rules have been broken, but I'd like to ask that you drop that topic. Being suggestive enough to avoid breaking the profanity rule isn't something I or anyone else appreciates. A bit of humour is acceptable, but please use some moderation.

Thank you!

The TechNightling

Sorry, Tech. That was my bad.

RRBB

Hey, Nightlings. I did my first story. It's bad, but it's mine :) And i must say I feel wonderful! Who knew that the therapist might be right?

Here’s to hoping somepony reads it.

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: Hey, if the cap didn't think you were worth it she wouldn't have asked you to join :) Just focus on not doing a repeat of things last time. Also keep in mind we have some very capable recruits :) Not to mention our reservists have picked up the pace.

As for the sorry… it's a mess, but the idea is nice :) I can hear Jade banging his head against the wall. It's as if we have another AwesomePony.

CEOWitch

You go, mare! Not as good as mine, but I'll give it an awesome for combat scenes :) Also, nice that you have the changelings being part of the corporates. I don't know’ I just like a good changeling thrashing (evil changeling, of course.)

@Twist: you think you could work your magic on Finger’s story?

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony, @LittleFinger: Sorry, studying for college exams :( Might have to stop editing for a month or two.

Twist

Yes, girls and colts. Exams are a serious matter, so after the contest, please focus on those. You know I'll have readings at my castle every now and again, and also the site will be still here once you've graduated :)

I'd like to mention that I graduated top of my class and those excellent grades helped me a lot in my future life. Of course, studies alone are not enough, be sure to make and treasure your friends, for they are what will drive you forward and pick you up when you're feeling down!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: stop ignoring your PMs!

LightSparkle

@all: I might be absent for a bit as well. Must go through some medical checkups in Canterlot (and possibly resolve some things with my parents… again). Nothing to be alarmed of. The team will take care of things while I'm gone. :)

LyraHands

Something is strange about that Windigo. It shouldn't be able to exist so far south, especially now. There's something else behind that and I'm going to find out what!

ColdLight

The TechNightling message has been deleted.

ColdLight message has been deleted.

The TechNightling message has been deleted.

@ColdLight: my most sincere apologies. I had no idea.

The TechNightling

Hey! Everyone behave or I'll…steal all your humies for myself! :P

Everything is fine and there's no need to go all grumpy about it. :D That's not the Nightling way. Until we know more best leave things off the threads, okay? :)

HopHop

That thing just appeared over our capital. Half the Griffins are frozen! We could use some *yay* help!

Feather

I'm opening a new thread for assistance. For the next few hours this and every non vital thread will be locked!

The TechNightling

Initiatives

Hey all,

I was supposed to do a review of the next Chosen booklet today, but I won't. What happened at Griffinstone is more than scary. I know I'm usually obsessed with stories more than real events, and I know don’t have the bits to help out in any significant way, but I want to do something!

Even before CrystalCon I had a lot of friends there: Feather, GriffinGirlfriend, HappyG, TwoForOne… all of you have been my friends and we've spent weeks chatting in PM or posting. I won't do into long speeches, I'm no writer, but I'll make this request:

If you have any fluff you've thinking of throwing away, don't. Even if you have just a hooffull, if we gather enough we could help get Griffins warm (or others, if the Windigo attacks elsewhere). My grandmother used fluff to make blankets when I was very young, so I know how useful they could be.

Thank you, and please lend a hoof.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: You've made me speechless again. This is a very good initiative. With adequate weather planning cold was never a real issue (outside of the north), but now with the latest events, maybe fluff gathering could be useful.

As for Griffinstone, let me assure everyone that help has arrived there, as well as a company of royal guards (along with our very own sgt Pepper) to make sure there is no further devastation. Gustavo Le Grand has also gone, providing treats for free to anyone who wants them.

Once more the site changes lives for the better :)

Luna

Thanks, girls. *yay* that Windigo, but you came and helped, and it showed. I won't lie, I wasn't expecting much from the site. I'm also not stupid, I know the Princesses would have sent help even if I hadn't posted anything, but it really makes a difference knowing the site is behind you.

Also, I cannot thank ManyFaces enough. Not only did she drop everything to be with us, but she also changed into anything to reassure the little ones.

@GLGJ: thanks for being here as well, babe. Love you.

Feather

Sorry, loser :( I would have come earlier, but was trying to kick that thing’s butt! He really annoys me how he moves from one place to another. Even faster than DarkSparkle! Next time I'll get him, I promise!

Also, be with you this afternoon.

AwesomePony

I'll help as well.

LittleFinger

We have managed to gather emergency blankets and any winter clothes we can find. Sis has been working non stop since the fight yesterday to make as much as she could. @LightSparkle: sorry that some of your human clothes were torn up so they could be used.

If anypony in Ponyville has clothes or blankets they want to donate, please do so at school, or at the CMC clubhouse.

SweetStuff

The mayor has also started a similar initiative, so you can give anything you think could help to the town hall. Volunteers will transport it there. @Daboss has assured that the postal service will lend a wing. Any further help is welcome.

MixaMax

So sorry I cannot help right now :( The doctors have forbidden me to leave due to the danger. If it hadn't been for this I might have been back and helped you girls. But as things stand… I have spoken with my brother, however, and he will see to it that some funds make their way to those who need it most.

Take care, you all.

PaintDrop

It's not so bad. Really. Everygriffin is getting better and with the help Equestria is providing things will be back to normal soon :)

I took the opportunity to start rebuilding some a building or two: the library, a bakery, this or that, nothing much. A lot of Griffins are helping out. It's nice :D

Also, thanks CMC! I knew you'd never let us down!

HappyG

I’m glad that helping efforts are underway, but I'm more worried about what would happen if the Windigo strikes again, or chooses a new target. At this point there's no pattern to his behavior, and even the Nightling watch hasn't brought me any closer to anticipating his moves. :(

I'll be there shortly, until then, please be vigilant at all times.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle, you should tell that to TrueSparkle! She's been planning how to track the windigo all day :/ Also, she's planning on setting out and find him on her own (some theory about a magic disruption spell crippling him).

Talk some sense into her! I'll get my hammer.

Grumpy

@Grumpy: Are you spying on me? :/

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: I do what I have to do. Get used to it!

Grumpy

@all: I can't stay long, but I just want to say I've made a page containing links to organizations that could make use of your help (like last time). I've instructed the team to coordinate with Luna how to things more efficient.

Please help as much as you could, and also if you are in any other fandom, post links there (just the charities and relief organizations NOT this site).

I'm really glad that the worst didn't happen, but this new thing has me terrified. I just hope that there's no connection between all the strange events that have been going on. Otherwise it might end up like a MC corporate conspiracy, and that is very bad.

My second round of tests are starting so I won't be back for a few days.

Let's do this together!

LyraHands

Sorry that RRBB hasn't posted. She's been busy organizing Ponyville efforts with MixaMax and the CMC (among others). I just like to say that anything that could produce warmth is welcome, and in that aspect so are letters.

Griffins don't only need blankets, food, and water, they also need to know we are with them. So if you have friends in Griffinstone, or just want to show your support, send a letter telling them that or a PM if they are on the site.

One thing, though, please DO NOT go there yourself. It's dangerous and unless you're trained in relief efforts you'll only be in the way. You can do just as much from your home.

Thank you,

Short&Hoofy

@all: If anyone wants to have an initiative added to the site please PM the following members:

Manehattan: Candle and myself
Canterlot: HopHop, MightyDragon, CodeFilly
Crystal Empire: InItForTheShipping, SaltyHuman
Dragon Lands: HoofTies
Coudsdale: AwesomePony

Anywhere else: RRBB, Luna, number1

The TechNightling

Windigo PMs

Twilight! This is getting out of hoof! The windigo has been appearing everywhere! And he's clearly targeting to you. I've tried to talk some sense into my sister, but she insists that you will resolve the matter on your own. I hate when she does that :/

ColdLight

Yeah, DarkSparkle, what's going on? From what I remember Windigos couldn't just waltz to places. Not with hearth’s warming going on. And if it can truly open portals…

Why didn't you tell anypony you were targeted? I'm so mad at you right now! One more accident and I'm ditching uni and going there!

LightSparkle

I know! There's no logic behind this! I went through all the scrolls I could find and nowhere is there any mention of this. For a moment I thought that it's a new reincarnation of Sombra. It isn't by the way.

Honestly, I don't know what to do, and I think keeping safe is the best policy for now. If something happens you and the girls over there might be the ones who'll have to take it down. At this point I'm not even sure that rainbow magic will work on it.

DarkSparkle

What do you mean you're not sure?!

LightSparkle

I mean he vanishes before We have a chance to cast it. So far, from what I could tell he can only do a few tricks: freeze, chill, and teleport anywhere he wishes through his portals. :/ I think he also uses the, to cause headaches to all magically inclined. TrueSparkle is still researching that one.

DarkSparkle

Twilight, this is most irresponsible. You've been fainting several times per week as a result of this Windigo’s interference! Did you forget you were the first pony he attacked?

ColdLight

That's still blurry… I have some faint recollection, but it's as if the memory has been pulled out of my head.

DarkSparkle

If so that is further reason for concern. There were a few similar instances during the storm in the Crystal Empire, but I always assumed it was due to the vicinity of the frozen north. So far I haven't found any concrete proof, but I think the breaking of the heart might have woken up the Windigo. If that is the case it's likely he's out for vengeance.

InItForTheShipping

What? How? We've done nothing bad to him! Why would he be intent on attacking us?!

DarkSparkle

That is a matter of interpretation. If, as I speculate, the absence of the heart caused the windigo to appear, the fixing of the heart made it so that none other appear. Imagine for a moment, what would you do if you know that someone is deliberately keeping your friends, your family, from appearing. What would you be willing to do?

InItForTheShipping

That explanation makes a lot of sense. It also makes the matter far more serious than my sister would like to admit!

ColdLight

But if that were the case why go after me? Wouldn't he just attack the Crystal Empire? Sorry, InItForTheShipping, but that doesn't seem to make much sense. :/

Personally I just things it's a manifestation of something, like Discord, that broke lose and wants to take revenge on Equestria for some reason. Whatever the case, the girls and I will find a way to deal with it. There has to be a way.

DarkSparkle

Maybe it's some distant brother of mine and that's why Celestia doesn't want to go against him?

What? You're all thinking it! Also, it's not like she’s not exactly mom of the millennium. She's nice, but she has her issues as everyone else.

LightSparkle

No, Sunset, you don't have any distant brothers or sisters. Only descendants of such. And I think she'd have mentioned that to me if it were the case.

ColdLight

Twily, you're being reckless. Just because you're a mare doesn't mean you have to go looking for trouble. You have nothing to prove.

SaltyHuman

I'm not doing this to prove anything! I'm doing it because this a wild monster that is freezing towns at random! Have you any idea what ponies and griffins are going through? It's not pleasant at all! I don't even want to think what will happen if he attacks the dragon lands… or worse! What will happen if he attacks Earth and claim their technology! This is bad, so bad!

DarkSparkle

Can't you attack him in his dreams? That would be an easy solution.

Simile

Simile?!? Why are you here? You can't be hearing this! It's just not… Where are you?

DarkSparkle

I invited her. She has the right to know.

ColdLight

Why am I not surprised? :/

@Simile, so it happened, didn't it? I'm not mad at you, but still… how on earth did you even think of doing something so absurd? Alcohol based ideas are not known to be wise.

LightSparkle

Well, excuse me, niece, but from my standpoint she only took the advice you gave her while I was visiting you.

I have “a solid job,” I accept her for who she is (“fetishes included”), just as she accepts me, we have similar tastes in many aspects, I'm dependable and “beautiful enough”, and so far neither of us have any complaints about our *yay* life.

Did I miss anything?

ColdLight

That's why you're my goddess ;)

Simile

Congratulations! I was wondering when you'd settle down! And I think you two compliment each other perfectly :)

It's wonderful that the CrystalCon wasn't just a fling. Will you get married or are you taking it slow?

InItForTheShipping

I… just… you and Trixie? Trixie?!? How in Equestria… I just…

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: just accept it. I have :/

Getting back on topic, what are we going to do with the Windigo? So far he's caused relatively minor damage, but there's no telling how this will escalate. And no one can deny he is more than a little obsessed on DarkSparkle.

LightSparkle

I'll try finding a way into his dreams, but that’s not as easy as it sounds. The dreamscape is a large place and I don't know his anchor.

ColdLight

For the moment, I think it's best not to share our fears with anypony else. The site is already a tremendous help. We must just be prepared, especially you, DarkSparkle, and wait for our chance to act. I the meantime we'll continue with helping the affected and trying to find more about the Windigo’s nature.

InItForTheShipping

Luna… Trixie and Luna… I need a drink.

DarkSparkle

Lyra's News

This will probably sound like Griffin *yay* but I have a few things I want to say.

Last few days have shown me a lot. I've seen some *yay* go down—the worst, the best, and the saddest things in my life.

It's incredible how many things have been done. We got blankets, clothes and food, ponies fly in to help, Griffins keeping our spirits up. *yay* half Griffinstone is being rebuilt. By their time next month it will be a totally different city.

The saddest this is… why was it necessary for a Windigo attack for this to happen? I know you're all cool. You help out everyone here and in real life, but why doesn't anyone (especially Griffins) fix anything unless it's completely trashed to the ground? :/

Sorry…I've just had an influx of emotions, not all of the, good.

Feather

@Feather: it's part of life, I think :( This isn't Earth where everything is neat, nice, and organized. As much as we wish it to be, this is Equestria and we can only do our best and hope it's enough. There are a lot of good ponies out there, a lot of good Griffins, dragons, changelings, you name it, but we all tend to be a little self focused. I can't tell you how glad I am MC managed to make it possible for us to get together in our best.

I won't ask Nightlings to go out of their way to go searching to help others, but if you see something you think you could help with and feel you can, please consider it :)

LyraHands

What Lyra said. And don't rely on humans too much. I know they are these mythical creatures that can do no wrong, but as you've seen even in MC, they have their problems and corporations as well.

I'll be sending some gimmicky food via DarkSparkle soon. Mostly to bring you some laughter :)

@Brush: also… Ray started speaking O.O

LightSparkle

@LyraHands, @LightSparkle: I know… just was on my mind so I had to say it. GLGJ has helped a lot, and spending time with you crazies has been great. ManyFaces is the best! :) (I hope she's getting something out of this, though. Changing so much must be tiring)

@AwesomePony: you better make it, lamo! :P

Also, fluff blankets are the best. @PrinceEric’ you've earned yourself a kiss :)

Feather

@all: Sorry for changing the topic, but I have an announcement. Originally I was going to post in a separate section, but I think what was said is important and deserves to be read.

As you've noticed I've been a bit weird lately. The reason is that I had to go to my scheduled pregnancy check (for those not familiar this is aimed to see that the future foal is healthy and in no danger).

The experience was nerve wracking! Thank the stars my father came with me for support. The waiting was the worst part of all. Now I know what “the seconds passed like hours” means.

The verdict: not only is my colt-to-be at no risk, but it seems he's also got a sister! :D That's right! In about four months I'll be having a pair of twin unicorns! I was so happy I cried for ten minutes. (Even my father felt embarrassed :P)

However, this means that my site activities will slowly diminish. I've already spoken to @DaBoss. After my magic exam next month I'll be taking a leave of absence from work.

Well, that's about it. You can start freaking out now :P

LyraHands

@LyraHands: ! I'll wait till you have your foals, then I'll kill you! Why haven't you mentioned anything?! I thought we were friends! :/

I'm so envious! Do you know what they are? Unicorns? Earth ponies?

MixaMax

@LyraHands: So sneaky of you. :) Posting at a time when most in class are freaking over exams and the rest are focused on relief efforts? No biggie I can multi task, so I'll do both plus freak out, oh and curate some stories on the side :))

You know I'm totally babysitting, right? They'll need some common sense in their lives and I don't think Bob would be enough :P

What names did you choose? Please tell me it's Danny :D

RRBB

@LyraHands: Well *yay*! You go girl :)

I'm not sure if anyone's aware, but we're months away from the birth of Nightling royalty :) The community will have its very own prince and princess (and millions of fans collectively went “Aww.”)

Feather

@MixaMax: she didn't tell me either. It was just a “I'll be seeing my father” then followed by stomping on our door.

And of course MightyDragon got further incentive to address the topic. “Thaco, I can just imagine our foals playing with Lyra’s foals.”

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: guess you must try harder, then :P (sorry, I couldn't resist)

@Feather: thank you. And they won't be royalty, just my very special foals which will be taught the ways of humans and the values of MC. :)

@MixaMax: shut up you! :P Tests showed they are unicorns.

@RRBB: Danny Wellspring and Cassandra Light Hoof :) Sadly, the human names won't be in the register. I don't want ponies to think they are weird. When they get old enough they can add their additional names :)

@LightSparkle: I know, but I tend to like humans more :)

LyraHands

Let me be the first to congratulate you, along with Candle, on the joyous occasion!

No one has deserved this more than you. I'm talking about the things you had to go through, knowing the risks, pain, and consequences, to get to this point. The fact that the site has grown from ten users (I still remember those days) writing to each other in your—my apologies but dreadful—code to an aethernet marvell with over twenty five million users, that can collectively have a very real impact, as seen with the current relief efforts, is astounding.

To that I can only say two things:

1) We are here to support you in every way possible, be it code or real life.

2) I shall be locking the thread. Such an important occasion deserves more than a wave of “me too” posts. For all who want to congratulate LyraHands, do so properly in a deeply felt PM, or better yet in person.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

Freakoooooout! :D Party at Jo’s in 30 minutes!

HopHop

Try harder she says… :/ Guess I have no choice, then :P

MightyDragon

The Computer Analysis

Hi all,

After everything that has happened I thought I'd try to bring some smiles in the only way I know how: Everhere review. (@Feather: thanks :))))

Let me just start by saying that this chapter turns things upside down again, so be prepared :D

We start with Molly and Bellucio reappearing in Mistmount after/during their Chosen adventures (so far there's no direct tie-in). Bellucio’s parents freak out (of course) since he hasn't been home for a while. There's some comedy bits with everyone assuming that Molly is his girlfriend. (Not sure if this is foreshadowing or a joke towards us Nightlings :P)

With things getting too awkward, Molly decides to go back home. There she practically catches Megan and Cassy making out (only heavily implied). There's another awkward scene at which point she goes to her room to find Athena there. The Molly Athena scene is the best I've ever read. Instead of talking, Athena creates a world in Molly’s mind where she could see everything that has happened. However, she isn't just invading the mind! An avatar of Molly is also there, guiding her and Athena only goes to places she's allowed. It is thee that they talk during flashback scenes of past stories reenacted.

It's interesting that Athena smiles for the first time once the mind journey is over (I checked). She also explains some things about herself, but only hints she might let Molly in her mind at some point.

Molly, Megan, Cass, and Athena go in the living room, when Danny rushes in (hardly batting an eye) and says they have a huge problem. (Incidentally, this is one of the most girl heavy scenes in the series). Apparently, computers have gone insane all over Mistmount to the degree they have started hurting people. Everyone looks at Cassandra who just says she's been off the grid. Upon trying to connect, though, her hand device enters frenzy mode and attacks Molly. There's a sort of fight scene with everyone (except Athena) trying to catch the device which has grown aether limbs and is running about. At the end it's Molly who manages to smash it with her new water powers (being a Chosen has its advantage, I guess :))

The group discusses what's going on, then the rest are called to Danny’s since the problem is growing. It's mentioned that Euryala and Blazen are gone (Danny wonders if she might know something about it). Icelos is also mysteriously gone (maybe because of Athena?) so they can't get any help. Eric suggests asking Zeus, but none of them have heard from him since the Everprince’s return.

The group then go about Mistmount to try and find the source of the incidents. Surprisingly the corporations aren't responsible (Felina corp is even targeted). As they fight various devices two things are made clear: the first incidents started a day after Molly and Bellucio went to seek Poseidon and have been doubling in intensity ever since; the devices have started to merge and make even more complicated magitech.

Athena is adoringly useless (best new character!): any device that tries to attack her is instantly destroyed, yet she never does anything on her own, just taking along as an observer while everyone else fights. Karl also notices that Bellucio doesn't seem to be targeted, while Molly is. At one point a… computorsaur(?) charges at Molly, but stops as soon as Bellucio rushes in to protect her. It's then revealed that the accidents are a manifestation of the computer who had fallen in love with Bellucio (continuity! with Chronicles). Because of Bellucio’s family she thought he and Molly had eloped and was punishing everyone who had anything to do with that, including the Everprince. We learn that the computer is in fact an entity/girl from an aether dimension that had managed to enter Mistmount through a crack in the aether (don't ask.). Some of tech funniest dialogue follows (I won't spoil it), but also a warning. Computrix (name I came up with) mentions that her alliance (?) has been searching for reals to invade for a while, but she has been keeping things quiet because of falling in love with Bellucio. Now, however they have noticed and Mistmount might be in for trouble.

And there we have it: insanity to a new level. I know I'll never look at my aethertech the same way :P

Each time I see a reference to an earlier MC chapter I'm amazed at the things that happen. I can't tell if all this was planned, or the writers manage to make cool stuff on the fly. In any event I enjoyed :) Your thoughts?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: you're the one and only :) I'm sure all Griffin fans fangirl/boy knowing they have blankets with your fluff :P

As much as I was skeptical, this was a pretty good chapter. You can tell they are back to writing the Chronicles way: humor, weirdness, links to other random chapters… it's almost as I'm ready vol 5, but with better arcs.

Athena is becoming likable. I so much feared she'd be the new badass/love interest, but thankfully she's neither. Hope the trend continues.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: you have no idea… I blame GriffinGirlfriend. On that note, somegriffin please ask her out already! Not cool getting goddess syndrome :/ That's an area GG is shy: she never asked out first, even if she should!

@PrinceEric: you're cool as ever, kiddo. Once this place is normal again, I'll bring you (and your +1) to visit :)

Feather

@MixaMax: Ha! Hahaha! I wish. Ever since she appeared there have been a wave of Athena fics, specifically her bring the most badass, as well as shipped to everything in existence. There even were a few slap fics sneaked in hoping I would read till the fifth chapter (nice try, though :))

Chapter was fun, yes. At times I miss the old days when things were simple. This chapter sort of reminds me of that. Remember all the one shot villains? If we could have more of those again it would be fun. Also, I'm curious what the aether universe is. Looks like we'll soon find out :)

RRBB

@Feather: gladly! :)

@RRBB: that would be so much fun! I wonder what computrix would look like :))

PrinceEric

Let the ship and slap fics flow!

MightyDragon

@PrinceEric: maybe it's a dimension of centaurs?

SaltyHuman

Somewhere Dark’s wings just fluffed up :P

MightyDragon

Post Graduation Plans

Hello,

I’m glad I got to see and help a bit with repairing some houses. Sorry I couldn't stay long, but the exams are round yeh corner. :( Once after a graduate in two weeks I'll come back to help more.

Also, today’s chapter of Space Molly will be the final one. It was a great ride, and I am happy that so many people liked it, but it has come to its end. Thank you for all the support and encouragement, as well as becoming such good friends. I cannot have hoped this would happen.

I'll continue to work on project Butterfly after graduation, maybe write a bit more every now and then. Time will tell :)

Thank you

Quarters

Graduation… am I the only one worried about this? I mean I know what I want to do and everything, but I, not sure I'll be good enough, plus the CMC work will increase with more foals needing help with their cutie marks, and my sister still doesn't let me love on my own because she doesn't think I'm responsible, and I haven't even started my new songs and… argh! :(

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I think you typoed O:)

ForceFeedback

Or did she? :P

Hey, graduation is no big deal. I already talked with my parents. It's a wonder how much strength a crisis could grant somepony. Now when I look back at the stupid worries I had all my life I think what a spoilt jerk I was. I can't believe how lucky I am to have Squishy and all of my friends here.

I'll be starting my business in a few weeks. And yes, I'll specialize in dream readings of human stories, mostly coltfiction. For starters I'm already in negotiations with Luna about the MC fics. We'll see from there. I also have signed contracts with a few ponies (sorry, no further hiring sat this point) so will start working on something pretty soon. ;)

Get hyped!

RRBB

Wow, you girls sure know what to do with your life. Me, I'm completely clueless. :/ There are so many things. Maybe I'll just focus on CMC stuff. I don't know…:/ Stupid graduation.

YouKnowWho

Well, I'll be helping at the farm, and marry Crackle and invite everyone, and then we’ll go to Earth for our honeymoon. And then Applejack will let me do more chores. Maybe even plant my own patch of apple trees! Oh and I'll build our very own house which will have clouds so Crackle could be comfortable. Then we’ll have three foals that we’ll raise according to Apple family ways. Oh, and we'll get a pup like Winona!

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: you have everything planed, don't you? :)

I just want to go to a good university. I'll figure out things later :D

Twist

@YouKnowWho: hey, don't worry, squirt :) I’ll be there to lend a hoof. And don't give up on flying :)

@Twist: hey, you still have DDD to edit. That's right, I'll be continuing the saga! There will be new adventures, excitement, maybe some romance (not much), and lots of mysteries and action :))

I know, I'm awesome ;)

AwesomePony

I think I'll be healthy enough to attend our graduation. I've been walking on my own lately and the doctors are pleased with my progress. Also, I've been cleared of my issues, even if I still have to be cautious.

I also think I know what I'll be doing after. It's a secret ;)

PaintDrop

Aww. You're all so cool… I don't graduate until next year :(

I'll still go to your prom :) My sweetheart has invited me and I couldn't say no :) (he's even going to pay for the trip! He's so cool *swoon*)

I'm also a bit scared. After you graduate will you continue to write or be on the site? I know that graduation is a life changing event and I'd miss you if you go. I still miss DannyFan, even if we keep in touch. He's completely moved away from humans, only popping in a bit from time to time :(

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: knowing the girls they'll still be around :) A few of us will make MC our business, Twist is a total dork, so she’ll be around even after she becomes an important CEO or principal or something :P

Besides don't forget more people will join. I already know a large group of lurkers who’ll probably start posting in a month or two.

RRBB

@PrinceEric: Let me tell you something. College and real life doesn't change who you are. If someone was here just to waste time they’ll leave no matter what happens. If they are dedicated and are here because they love it, they’ll stay.

Think about the fact that all Equestrian princesses (and one prince) have accounts here. Not to mention Wonderbolts, kings, nobles, heads of business and industry, and millions of hardworking ponies (as well as their children).

So don't fret. It will be alright :)

LightSparkle

Do you think the Windigo has an account?

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: that's a scary thought…

RRBB

That's a great idea, Moony! I'm on it! :D

It will be the best party ever!

PPI

Oligosaccharide, stop being silly.

No, he's not here. We're constantly checking aether addresses for breaches and suspicious behaviour, so don't worry. :)

Graduation is the best thing! I'm so happy for everypony who’s going through this. You'll see how your perception of Equestria will change. I'm thinking of organizing a Nightling celebration to mark the event!

CodeFilly

Dear colts and fillies,

Normally I'd be against posting non MC issues, but this is an exception I can get wholly behind. Talking about your future is of crucial importance. We all know why we came to the site, some of us got a lot out of it, however, the site cannot replace real life (as much as we wish it would).

Keep it mind, it's a bit change, but it's not the only one. Your life will be all big changes from here on. My parents wanted me to be a professional landscaper, I went to college with the air of becoming a poet, now I am working on aether pages. Life surprises us all, so enjoy the good times and push through the hard.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

Tech, you always say it so much better than I :)

The only thing I'd add, the site will be here when you need it, regardless of your choice. As long as you remember the principles the series conveyed: once a Nightling always a Nightling!

I love you all!

LyraHands

Brush's New Concerned PMs

I'm so so happy for you! The moment you come back I'll hug you so hard :)

You are the talk of the site, you know? Even with Tech locking every thread he can't cope with the amount of news ones discussing what your filly will be like. Typical for him. Oh, and let's not forget that Rarity has been gossiping all over Ponyville. Don't get surprised if you get a few “surprise” grifts from her involving lots and lots of clothes for you and your family :)

Brush

Lol. Tell me about it :) I have a feeling the moment I set foot in Ponyville I'll be stormed by the entire town. Thank the stars graduation is near. On that note I'm considering spending some more time in Canterlot. My own exam is pretty close, so might be best if I get a chance to study a bit with minimal distractions (as if that's possible :P)

How have you been? Need help with something?

LyraHands

You know me too well.

Sorry about coming to you with my problems, especially with everything you're going to, but…I'm unsure about some things again :(

Brush

That's what friends are for, Brush :) Tell me.

You seemed so happy at the convention. What happened?

LyraHands

I was happy. I mean I am. I just…

I ran across Mota there. He was doing well, and pretty as ever. His new marefriend also seemed nice. We talked a bit, promised to see each other again and all those things. I think I will…

Anyway, that's not the issue. The issue is me again. Big surprise, eh? I've been told I've changed a lot in the last months (normal after what happened) But at the same time I feel I haven't changed at all. I love CEO, and he loves me. The problem is that this time it's me who's in Mota’s hooves. Whenever he goes on a mission part of me worries. My brain knows it's pointless: I have faith in him, and also I lead exactly the same type of life, yet my heart skips a beat each time he's leaves the house.

But even that isn't the real issue. The thing is… I’m considering proposing and I'm not sure he'll say yes.

Brush

Are you kidding?! That colt loves you like Equestria itself!

I understand seeing MasterOfThisAstra might have brought back old memories—that you could have gone without—but this is CEO we're talking about. He's strong, beautiful, seeing how calm you've become he must be great fun in the hay. Of course he’ll say yes. Frankly, I thought you had already agreed on a date already.

LyraHands

Well, we discussed it a few times, but nothing specific. Neither of us wanted to press on, so we left it hanging.

Now that you'll be a mother soon…things changed. A lot of ponies have started talking about children. CodeFilly, DarkSparkle, MixaMax, WaterBottle… even RRBB has sent me a few PMs about that.

I don't know where I stand, Lyra. Stars know I want to have foals from Soarin, but… I just don't want everything to fall apart like last time.

Brush

And we're back to this :/ Somehow I don't think it's just my making the announcement that has you acting like this. Is it the Windigo attack? It's normal for you to start worrying about your family when whole cities attacked without any notice.

LyraHands

Maybe… I don't know. It's again a case of me feeling that things are too good to be true. About half an year ago i felt the same way about Mota. Before we broke up I was considering proposing to him. I had a horseshoe prepared and everything. We both know what happened next.

I can rationalize that neither of us were ready: he was too young, I was too sheltered, etc, etc, etc. The truth is that there's no reason. RRBB and Short&Hoofy are in school and they are practically married. I expect they’ll make it official in less than an year. At the end of the day it's just me and my fears, and I don't think I’ll ever be strong enough to handle them.

Brush

Then don't.

One thing I've learned from experience is that every experience is different. What worked for me might not work for you. But at the same time you also need to let yourself be happy. We've spoken about this before. And yes, the advice I gave you then didn't turn out too good. But you did spend several beautiful months with Mota and are still friends with him. If you hadn't you'd probably still be the mare that flirts with every male user on the site and never gets any real attention from anypony.

Ask CEO. Maybe not this minute, but ask him. If he wants to remain free he'll tell you, that's the way he is. If he would like to have the ceremony he will as well.

Honestly, there are times you really drive me mad :/ As the saying goes, just do it! To Tartarus with impossibilities :)

LyraHands

If only things could be so simple. :)

Brush

They never are. That's why we have to catch reality by surprise. ;) That way the universe won't have time to make long complicated plans to tart you. It will just blink, shrug, then continue with your new situation in mind :)

LyraHands

Give me just a minute.

Brush

OMG! You asked him, didn't you! My little Brush has finally grown up to become a daredevil that doesn't take no for an answer! I never thought I'd see this day :) it suits you, I think :)

Be sure to tell me all the details when you get back. :)

LyraHands

Lol. I just had to go to the bathroom. :)

Brush

Now I feel like an idiot.

LyraHands

You are an idiot! But you make me feel much better :)

Thank you for the chat. I don't know if I'll use any of your advice, but I appreciate you giving it. *hugs*

Good luck with your exams, you. And get here soon, so I can see you walk about with a huge tummy :P

Take care,

Brush

You too :) And talk to me if you need any other help.

LyraHands

Author's Note

Speculated character list (courtesy of NeonGreenTiger):

EqF List

Glowing Silver

Morning, Nightlings.

There certainly has been a lot of interesting news lately… so I'd like to add to it :)

I have been given the okay to return home! That was a nice surprise and earlier than I expected! Just to be clear I haven't been given a clean bill of health yet. I'll need to be monitored and have checkups every few months, but as far as everything else I'm a fully functioning pony. Yay (used in the non filtered way)!

I expect to be home in a few hours. Please don't rush to greet me. I lie know to be able to go home first and not be overwhelmed. Also, you have studying to do! :P

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: finally! Now can I have my slap pics done, please? :P Just kidding! Great to have you back, you pain in the flank! We’ve so much to catch up.

Will you be coming with that goth thing? :/ I seriously hope not since it was the reason you got in trouble in the first place!

RRBB

@RRBB: “it” won't be coming along with her. It has discussed things with her and will go back to the Everfree.

Gothling Bard

@RRBB: please be nice to him. I know you're skeptical, many were, but trust me when I say it's fine and what I want. And if you don't trust me, trust the Princesses. Do you think they'd have allowed it if there was any danger for my health? ;)

It might take me a while to get back into things, but as for everything concerned it's the same me that will be dealing with everypony’s problems again, only difference is that now I have a gothy boyfriend.

PaintDrop

Congratulations to you for getting well and finding someone :) And before the thread descends into chaos I'd like to remind everyone that the changeling contest is due today (I'll extend it to tomorrow), so better put those final touches and send it over!

Now, since the amount of submission is huge I've invited a few judges to help out. Colts and fillies, your contest judges are:

Grace - for her romantic nature and keen eye for detail
Simile - I just can't get rid of her :P
Jade - no surprises there (also Max can't write worth *yay* so no danger of bias)
ManyFaces - for being a devoted reader and inspiring the contest

Now get to work, you all! :)

LightSparkle

@PaintDrop: you trusted it once and look where that got you? :/ But fine, if it makes you happy! Just know I'll be watching you! Any sign you're not feeling well and that changeling is toast!

RRBB

@RRBB: He doesn't have to do something bad to become toast. And please stop calling him “it”. With what you've been through I'd thought you'd understand that, at least :/

PaintDrop

@all: I'd just like to assure everypony that PaintDrop is indeed doing fine and her relationship with her beloved (I'm not suing the term lightly) is her choice and should be supported. You all know me so you know I know what I'm talking about. As unorthodox as this is, and despite my personal feelings on the matter, their relationship is real and on the path to becoming healthy (and could your support not bickering and nitpicking).

@PaintDrop, @Gothling Bard: please be responsible, okay? Don't let the whole ordeal you've been through be for nothing ;)

InItForTheShipping

Heya, @Gothling Bard! So cool to see you here :)

Not sure if you remember, but we met at CrystalCon (I'm the one who kept asking you to transform into things. Sorry for that O:))

Have you read any MC? Paint has mentioned you were a poet, so you should fit right in! Dark poetic/romantic fics are rare and it would be great if you can offer such, especially with your insight :D

Oh, do you and ManyFaces know each other? What about HoofTies?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Way to break the tension :) I can tell you've broken (and continue to break) thousands of filly’s hearts with every post. You're such a bundle of joy I just want to grab and hug you like a kitten! <3

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Hey! :/

ForceFeedback

@PrinceEric: yes, I have. I kept reading chapters to PaintDrop while she was ill. When we finished the official stories we went on to the fanfictions. They were nice, I could feel the lingering scent of emotions in their words, both in the scrolls and the fan stories.

I doubt I'll write anything human related anytime soon. I prefer real things, for makebelief. Reading well written things is different.

Gothling Bard

Yes, he's my lively realistic poet :) I'll try to get him to join MC, but only if he wants to. :)

There's a certain magic in his poetry, even if most of it isn't on paper. I tried to write some of it down on memory, but it's difficult.

Edit: my train is arriving. I'll be boarding in a bit, so see you tomorrow. It's good to be back :)

PaintDrop

Heh just look at her. Back as if nothing had happened. Mare I envy that attitude she has. :)

Now an obligatory MC question, before Tech starts locking and banning. Who do you think Gothling is in MC? I have just one word - the CEO’s son. He's part of an evil organization that wants to gain total control of Earth, but at the same time nice and sweet and doesn't approve of Felina’s goals. :)

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: You are aware that I can still read this, right?

Gothling Bard

That's the point, stupid! :/

Nah, I'd say he's the coffee shop guy (in Chronicles). He's always there standing pretty and selling coffee and would flirt with the customers (Megan included). If you ask me that's him!

RRBB

I just had a great idea! Maybe we can do a reading to mark PaintDrop’s return? I postponed my review because of the Windigo attack, so I could do it now. (I also kinda need an excuse to go to Ponyville O:))

@DarkSparkle: is that okay? I know everyone’s studying for finals, but a day of rest and relaxation is said to be good for learning. Can we please?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Just reading you makes my heart ache. :P She'll say yes, I'll see to it.

@PaintDrop: well… guess you found a keeper. :) Congratulations p, and if you need any help in anything let me know. That's what I'm here for (when the actual princess is off fighting Equestria threatening villains).

TrueSparkle

Yes!!! Thank you :D

PrinceEric

Author's Note

Speculated character list (courtesy of NeonGreenTiger):

EqF List

Chosen 3 Reading 1

Wow! Just wow! Everypony from school actually got here! So much for studying :P (Twist, I'm proud of you, filly!) But seriously, so many ponies from school plus… Miss Ch.! :D

This is going to be so much fun. Strange that Rarity isn't here. @SweetStuff, everything alright there?

RRBB

Hello, Paint wanted to go be the one saying what's going on, but since she's still a bit weak I'll be doing the typing.

From my part a big thank you to those who didn't run to the opposite side of the wall to be away from me. It's appreciated.

Gothling Bard

@RRBB: it's okay. She’s still on her mission, remember? WaterBottle’s sis isn't here either. (Guess they weren't able to make it after all.) I know I'll never hear the end of it, but I am worried. I miss that sis isn't here to interfere. Guess having a murderous Windigo puts things into perspective.

SweetStuff

@LightSparkle: wow, no one told me we'd be having supermodels here :P

Sorry, you're just changed your mane a lot since CrystalCon. Also glad you made it. I feel so out of place even if I'm among Nightlings. Any idea if Thumb showed up?

LittleFinger

@all: Reading starting in 5! Everypony, grab your food and please assembled in the hall. And be silent during the reading! Hop, True, and Simile have put a lot of effort into that! Plus it's MC!

There will be a ten minute break between chapters. Please, keep the thread clear until the end of the reading so that Eric can do his review. Once he posts, you can go about your shenanigans until the next reading.

Thank you! (And yes, Jade REALLLY is my husband! :/)

MixaMax

RRBB message has been removed.

Simile message has been removed.

RRBB message has been removed.

RRBB message has been removed.

MixaMax message has been removed.

At least my mom didn't show up.

LightSparkle

RRBB message has been removed.

Feather message has been removed.

Girls, this is getting absurd! Please stop.

@The TechNightling: Nothing to be alarmed about. Just silliness.

CodeFilly

Before I start… yes, Snips and I are a thing *blush*

Today's chapter felt a bit slow. Almost like a prelude to something else. Not bad in itself as long as the next chapter picks up. As it stands now, though… mostly a bit of lore filling. (Sorry, @Luna)

We start with Kalypso having dinner along in the dining room. All the other Chosen have gathered at the doorway discussing her. Mostly we hear a bunch of legends regarding if it's possible or not for her to be related to Poseidon. We also get some backstory of Scars who happens to be the only one living in a “Poseidon city” (I imagine one in or near the ocean). After some slightly heavy exposition Molly has enough and goes to join Kalypso at the table. Then the first interesting thing follows: Icelos is behind Molly’s chair in invisible form, yet Kalypso sees him and welcomes him. Some small talk follows between Molly and the the granddaughter, ending with Kalypso making an announcement.

Apparently, she doesn't know where her grandfather is (or claims she doesn't). However, she says the answer is on this island. She also mentions there's a traitor among the seven (personal note: it's interesting that she stresses on seven even if there are technically either Chosen. I really hope we see more development on this next chapter.) She also mentions that she expects the Chosen to help her find “Poseidon's track”.

We have the typical person throws knife at Kalypso and she catches it with two fingers after which everyone goes to their quarters. We then have a huge amount of scenes describing everyone’s plans. In short everyone plots with everyone for everything.

Bellucio seems to be worried about Molly, especially with the attention Kalypso is giving her, while also wondering who the traitor might be. The rest of the Chosen see, to know some secret of the castle that they haven't mentioned to anyone else up to this point: the infinity tunnel, the locked door, the missing room, the book collection.

Following that Molly goes to sleep and enters the dreamscape where Icelos tells her who to be wary of and why. He also mentions Bellucio (“because he can break your heart and you have no protection against that”). Things wind down when suddenly Kalypso appears in the dream and addresses Icelos with “The Everprince is back, isn't he?”. And if this isn't enough we get an additional cliffhanger that long ago she had a crush on Icelos, but “won't let that affect her this time”.

All in all, solid chapter, but somewhat lacking. At the same time am super psyched for the next chapter. :D Also, the reading and dreamsculpting were amazing!

PrinceEric

@all: Next reading will be in 30 minutes! Sorry for the delay, but Simile is quite exhausted and needs to get some rest.

As for the chapter. It seems like it'll take advantage of the three chapter format. I wonder if that will become the standard practice…

MixaMax

PrinceEric x Snips are a really cute couple. It was so sweet watching Prince write all the time and Snips poke every few minutes with a question. :)

The usual suspects acted as expected. LightSparkle was so cool. I didn't get a chance to see her during CrystalCon much, but she's the best mare. She even kept levitating tacos to be sure I got to eat enough. Thanks, Light!

Twist seemed so sad in the corner. :( Was nice for her to join us, though. I hope she stays till the end. As for everyone else… where do I start? Maybe because Miss Cheerily was here, but everypony was unusually well behaved, even YouKnowWho and RRBB. Well, RRBB was acting all bosslike with her Dream Productions thing (poor Simile… at the end the characters started becoming somewhat blue. Was funny, but I can emphasize what it means to be drained of energy.)

All in all it was incredible as always. :) Stars I had forgotten how good it is to be among friends! :D

Gothling Bard

*Yay*! @DarkSparkle, get here!

LightSparkle

Ultimatum

@DarkSparkle: please read this!

The Wingido crashed the reading and is in your castle. So far he's keeping everyone alive, but won't let us leave until you get here. He has the entire town hostage, Twilight! The castle, this streets, the houses, all are frozen solid. He claims that no ponies have been harmed, but he also froze Gothling and TrueSparkle’s horn.

He wants you to come here and says he's prepared to wait forever. Judging by what he can do I don't ink that was hyperbole.

He threatened that if I don't send this message he'll start freezing the ponies here one by one and I can't risk that. I'm so sorry, Twilight. I should have been better at protecting them :(

LightSparkle

Err, I spoke with the Windigo and he agreed to let us continue with the reading until we “wait”. I think we could use something to try and cheer us up…even in these circumstances.

I'm so glad LyraHands is still in Canterlot. I can't imagine what it would have been here with her foals on the way.

@PrinceEric: if you could comment please do. I know everypony’s scared, but think what Eric would do at a time like this. He was scared as well, yet he helped everyone else.

Everyone, please don't make additional posts. Sorry, but things are tense as it is and I'm not sure how the Windigo will react.

Short&Hoofy

@LightSparkle: you just tell that thing that if he touches a hair in your mane he'll answer to me!

Celestia

He says he knows you, mom. He says that you were one of those to blame for what has happened. Both you and auntie.

He asked me to tell you that this time things would be set right.

LightSparkle

I want to talk to him!

LightSparkle, you tell him if he agrees to let you go I'll go there and be his hostage. Whatever his reason for doing this he can't just destroy lives at a whim. If there's anything he wants to share with me I'll listen. Just let him please let you go.

LyraHands

I have locked all threads per request.

HopHop

I have unlocked this thread.

HopHop

@Short&Hoofy: you were right. It helped a lot. Even if it's creepy having him stare from the corner.

As suspected the chapter is a direct continuation of the last one. Molly wakes up, then goes down to the catacombs(?) of the castle where she opens a secret passage. Icelos warns her to be careful, she nods, and continues. She follows a long corridor until she hears some voices ahead. Continuing she gets to a group of Chosen (identity unknown) discussing how to challenge Kalypso. Molly tries to hear more, but makes a sound and is instantly attacked after which everything shattered and she wakes up. Icelos lectures her about learning to dreamscape better, then disappears.

Bellucio comes by and asks Molly to join him for breakfast with the rest. When they go, everyone is gathered there, waiting. Kalypso asks Molly to join her. A few of the Chosen ask some seemingly random questions, but don't get any answers. Bellucio comments why are there eight Chosen and who is the traitor, to which Kalypso only laughs and leaves. (The key thing here is the sequence of events.) The day unfolds with Bellucio and Molly trying to find who is the extra and who is the traitor by going into everyone's dreams. (I won't go into detail but the formula follows the principle: flashback, problem, secret.)

At the same time Molly tries to explore a few of the secret areas in the book (coincidentally the ones each of the Chosen plotted about last chapter). She goes to a double door and opens it, gaining access to an armory in which Bellucio is fighting against some other Chosen (identities unknown). Molly yells out, grabbing Bellucio's attention and resulting in his death (!!!). Molly then casts some unknown spell killing Scars. She then goes to check on Bellucio who whispers it's all a dream. Next thing Molly wakes up in her room. Icelos looks at her and shakes his head ending with “You never listen when I tell you to be careful. I'm not the only one who controls dreams.”

Usually I'd ask about your thoughts, but… well this time I won't. Hope you enjoyed.

PrinceEric

Where do you know me from?

Celestia

He saw you when you came to visit, long before you cast the spell to forget him. You and Luna.

What did you do, mom?!

LightSparkle

Enough! It's me who you want, right? Let everyone go and tell me where to face you!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle, he says he doesn't want to go anywhere. You must come to him. He's perfectly fine waiting.

He also says he'll freeze the horns and wings of anyone who tries to interfere.

LightSparkle

Why are you so obsessed with me? You targeted me from the beginning. If you you want to fight me why not face me? Each time I get close you just run away.

What exactly do you want?

DarkSparkle

He says he wants to see you. And also… he says you'll come if you care about your friends and… and your brother and niece. He wants to show you something.

LightSparkle

I will be there, just don't hurt anyone.

DarkSparkle

@all: The Windigo knows all four princesses have loved ones here. If anypony tries anything he’ll hurt them and disappear (you know how fast he can disappear).

Until they we will be allowed to have another reading once Simile regains her strength. The only pony who is allowed to come and go here is LyraHands if she chooses to. The Windigo says he respects how she has managed to touch so many hearts and in the time of change she and her foals will be left to be, just as he once was.

He also wants Princess Celestia to know what it feels like to have one’s heart ripped out.

I'll be locking the thread till the next reading.

HopHop

Partial Resolution

I'm here.

DarkSparkle

Thanks, DarkSparkle. The Windigo wants you to come into the reading hall where he's waiting. He froze TrueSparkle’s, LightSparkle’s, and Simile’s horns so they can't use magic immediately after the reading. He did the same to Flurry Heart and you brother before it even started. I'm so sorry :(

He says that it won't harm them, but It still makes my heart ache seeing Flurry having to…

The Windigo also allowed us to write the final analyses of Chosen. He doesn't seem to like MC much, but it's the only thing that gives us hope right now. I also know you haven't been able to read the book with everything going on, so this is for you. A small thanks for everything you did.

Short&Hoofy

Sorry if it's a bit weird, @DarkSparkle. I'll try my best but I'm scared… :(

From last chapter it turned out that the castle Molly is trapped in in in fact a prison that Kalypso has sealed shut from the outside world. A few of the Chosen failed to see that and tried to challenge her to reveal the way to their old world, but quickly got frozen in time.

We have another large dining room scene where Molly notices that the questions asked are not as random as she thought, but a repetitive element which part of the core dream. Icelos whispered to her that if she reads them adequately they will provide what she's looking for. He also adds that because Kalypso can see him and read the scenes in the dreamscape he can't give her any more advice.

We then have a case of dream repetition with each time Molly trying to answer a question by going something and most of the times the results are bad ending with the death of Bellucio and the shattering of the dream. However, with each dream Molly manages to gain an answer:

Does Kalypso fear anything?
Seems like she fears fire (being the icy daughter of Poseidon and all), but also love. We have an unclear flashback that long ago someone tore her heart out and since then the emotion has become painful to her. It's also hinted that's why she dislikes the Chosen.

Does Kalypso ever leave the dining room?
We thought this was a metaphor, but it turns out that she really stays in the dining hall all the time, just beneath the large window with the flowers on it. When one of the Chosen asks she freezes him (probably the scariest thing in the book so far. Turns out her power is faster than magic so any overconfident Chosen is doomed to fail.)

Why does Kalypso like Molly so much?
It's told that even if Molly is short, Kalypso finds her courageous so she allowed Molly to do some things that the others can't. (Personally I also think it's because it's that Molly is considered no threat and is madly in love with Bellucio.) I like Molly a lot this chapter.

Once Molly learns that the questions are keys to unravel Kalypso’s dream she secretly tells each of the Chosen what to do. The only own she doesn't tell is Bellucio (who it turns out is a prisoner of Kalypso and couldn't do anything to break free). The story them ends in a cliffhanger where the remaining six Chosen start discussing what to do in order to defeat Kalypso keeping in mind her powers are faster than their magic.

Also, this is just speculation, but I think Bellucio went to sleep so that he and Icelos could discuss more plans on how to take down Kalypso. Pity Kalypso is so evil because she looks really nice.

So, what do think? Not my best work, but… circumstances aren't good :(

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: sweetie, I loved it :) you did really well. Everypony did really well. I couldn't be happier you are so brave and dedicated in the face of danger.

@Short&Hoofy: Ask the Windigo to guarantee everyone’s safety. I came here as requested, so I want him to give me assurances none of you will be harmed when I appear there.

How are you all?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: he says that he doesn't need to give any further promises. You can show up or not, your choice.

We are mostly alright, although very shaken. HopHop is trying to keep our spirits up. Simile was exhausted by the last reading so I asked RRBB to tell her to get some sleep. I think she's resting now, although it's difficult to say.

A slightly humorous moment in all of this. PaintDrop’s boyfriend said he's actually a fan of Sword/Shield Lover. It was interesting to know. It was also sweet seeing PaintDrop by his side sending her love to him and giving him power.

If anything happens, please take care of RRBB.

Short&Hoofy

My opinion of him is improving every time. Tell the Windigo I'll teleport in the room shortly.

DarkSparkle

Yo, all, we kicked the Windigo’s butt!

Yep, we’re that awesome. :D it will be a while before he messes with us or anypony else again! And the best thing? Everypony is safe :) Awesomeness for all! :D

AwesomePony

It worked?

ColdLight

It worked. I just got a scroll from Spike. Thank the stars! I was so worried for you all, especially my little Sunset.

Celestia

Thanks, mom. :/ Yes, we are all fine. I'm still worried what the Windigo wanted. You hit with the Friendship rainbow, but what if there are more out there? Everyone, please go to your homes and be vigilant. If there are reprisals they will happen now.

Mom, what exactly did you do to him? He really didn't seem to have liked you. Is there something you haven't told us again?

LightSparkle

I honestly can't remember anything about such a Windigo. Certainly not one that can teleport. And I don't remember anything of a memory erase spell (you know what I mean). Usually when I write these down in advance just in case something happens.

The important thing is that you at all well. Now is a time to help everypony go through the horror they have been for. This is not a good place to discuss the Windigo.

Celestia

Everyone. Gothling endured a lot of pain while shapeshifting into a shield for DarkSparkle to use. He deserves some thanks as well, I think.

LightSparkle

And he will have that and more. For now I'm just glad you are all safe. :)

Thank you all for what you've done. It's inspiring to watch writers come up with a plan together, even if I'd prefer you not put yourself in such danger. :)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Celestia

Difficult Decision

Girls and guys, I know this isn't what many want to hear, but I'm thinking adding a new rule to the site. We have been using it to help ponies and others all over Equestria and that’s wonderful, but it's starting to be more of that and less of Midnight Castle.

The worst part is that because of that the site is being perverted to be used to terrify everyone. :( The Windigo used the site to get in touch with Twilight. He knew about the readings and the that would attract her here, not to mention the involvement of the princesses and the site.

Maybe I'm overreacting, but I was terrified. I even said the most stupid thing possible in an attempt to make things better, even if I knew I couldn't. It's plain and simple: I overestimated myself! I overestimated my site and I thought that because I live a fantasy I could have the same effect in the real world.

Thus I want to return to the time the site was used for MC and maybe some personal drama, but not this… I never meant it to become this.

LyraHands

Lyra, it is understandable you feel as you do, but let me remind you that thanks to the site and some quick thinking of the members, the Windigo was defeated. True, if the whole thing was avoided, it would have been much better, but under the circumstances things worked out in the best possible way.

I am the first who’ll agree with you that real life and Midnight Castle must be kept separate, but to stop the Nightling help network, is a bit extreme and unproductive.

Just my two bits. Whatever you decide I will support you.

The TechNightling

You've always been nice. You all have. Far more than I deserve. This was a wakeup call. The Nightling network provides help, but it shouldn't be run by amateurs such as us. Even with the best intentions we are not specialists and often do more harm than good.

I will keep the link, but I, thinking that it would be for the better to transfer ownership of it to Luna. She will know how to make better use of it.

LyraHands

Sweetie… :(

I understand what you're saying and I’ll agree. Maybe it is better for someone more qualified to handle this. Not only because of the ponies that need it, but us as well. Going from crisis to crisis comes with unimaginable stress. I don't know how DarkSparkle manages to keep it together, but even she deals with one problem at a time. The site opens us to dozens, even hundreds of problems and it doesn't even take a major catastrophe to make somepony crack. The Griffinstone attack now this in the space of a few weeks… Our lives, yours especially, have enough complications as as it is without putting the weight of weight of Equestria on our backs.

If there's something we can help, we will. If there's something we can do to make a difference, we will! Yet we mustn't be full time. If that was the reason you would have started another type of site. You still can, but that is your choice, not a requirement as it is now.

CodeFilly

Hmm. Are you sure, Lyra?

I mean, we did a lot today! Without the plan we came up with not only we, but the Elements themselves would be in trouble. I think we should keep doing what we're doing. I was there, I saw it unfold, and I knew exactly how helpless everyone felt!

Our plan was a one in a thousand chance’ but it was the only one we had and it worked. Without the site thing would have been very very different.

HopHop

Hop, I know you were the only open for us there, but what if something had gone wrong? If it wasn't for the site would this have happened? We cornered the Windigo and drove him to attack larger targets, when we started to clean up after him, he attacks us… he attacked a reading of foals! We were lucky he didn't harm anyone! What if he had decided to freeze all of Ponyville!?

No, this is not what the site was about. I go so carried away. Who did I think I am?

LyraHands

Hop, Lyra is right. We weren't there, but also you weren't here. Do you know what the mood was? There were groups actively organizing to go down to Ponyville and fight the Windigo. Not only in Canterlot. The network is great for many things, but that's not one of them. Even if there are professional therapists, can we expect them to help everypony all the time?

Also, what will happen if something goes wrong? Like now? Do you think Lyra wanted to not take care of others? (Sorry for putting words in your mouth, Lyra, but I want to make a point.)

If there are cracks they will grow and in the end ponies will get hurt or quit, until the site is no more. We have something special, I think 'this time to take a step back. We can help Equestria, that much is clear and everyone wants it, but not at the expense of ourselves.

MightyDragon

Hop, I'm sorry, I just can't continue this path. I love you. You are one of my best friends but I just can't bear to continue with this. :(

LyraHands

Hey, don't worry! I never said I'd be mad at you. Those were just my thoughts. You're my friend and you know I'll stay by you no matter what. I'm here, aren't I? If I didn't think anything of you and the site I wouldn't be :)

And yeah, I was scared, but hey. It's not the first time, I'll tell you he was no Tirek. :D

HopHop

Thank you. I'm just not feeling well right now. I'll go rest a bit. Thank you. And I'm so sorry for everything.

LyraHands

I shall make the ruling. I have a reputation anyway. You get all the rest you need. Candle sends you her best.

From next week the site will be back to its usual state. I shall make sure of that.

The TechNightling

New Rule

@all: Good morning, everyone!

I cannot express how glad I am that everyone is fine after the frightful events that transpired a few days ago. I might now have always shown it, but I—and the entire EqF team—deeply care for the wellbeing of everyone, be they Nightlings or not. For that reason it is with a heavy heart that I must announce that from now on the Nightling Network will no longer be part of the site’s responsibilities.

I am aware this might sound shocking or even heartless, but after a thorough discussion we felt this is the proper way to go ahead. Now, this doesn’t mean that the Network will be shut down or removed, it merely means that We'll be handing it over to professionals who will be sure to cope with any situations that may arise. LyraHands and Luna have already agreed on the best course of action and we expect the change to take place in the upcoming weeks.

As you might respect this will impose a number of changes. Most significant a separate Nightling Watch forum will be created with its own specialists and moderators. All issues concerning real life dangers and disasters will be addressed by them. Meanwhile, EqF proper will return to what it was made for: our love of MC.

Note, this doesn't mean we will stop helping anyone in need, just that we shall move the major topics to a sister board, if you will.

Be safe and thank you for your understanding.

The TechNightling

Saw that coming, and I agree it's the right thing to do.

And before any smartalice starts going on about the benefits, I'll tell you that Short has been shivering in my hooves ever since the incident. It's all cool to spam her scrollbox how brave she was, but you have NO idea what she went though. We all know she'll do it again, but I prefer for it not to happen.

This site has helped me personally a lot, and that's precisely why I don't want to see it destroyed by real life problems. Yes, I have brought a lot of drama here myself, and probably will more in future, but some things just have no place here. (Yes, I can hear Tech laughing at my comment).

I'm short, let's keep this place being what brought us here. The more we expand and add things, the less unique and focused it becomes, and I don't want that to happen. Better for it to shine with all its might while it can, than to fade away into mediocrity.

RRBB

@RRBB: I love you

Short&Hoofy

I wasn't here when the horrible events took place (for which I'm sorry), but I agree with LyraHands as well. Ponies were hurt, some might have been killed. The site has done miracles in coordinating efforts for help and relief, but at the end of the day it's just a sight about bravely described humans. Living by the principles described within makes us better ponies, but even MC shouldn't dominate every part of our lives.

Some say humans exist, some say they don't, whatever the case it doesn't matter. Danny is unlikely to appear and defeat our dangers for us. And even if he did he would be the first to tell us not to play the hero mindlessly. (“Heroes are not stupid” remember?)

What I'm trying to say is let's not mix things. MC will still be here for us to share anything, but maybe use the other network for serious issues of this nature?

Brush

And just in case Ponies out there have any doubts:

Brush was among those who banished the Windigo.

Short&Hoofy was one of those who came up with the plan to let DarkSparkle (a.k.a. Princess Twilight Sparkle) know what the situation is.

Don't you dare diss them!

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: okay, can we at least discuss if the Windigo was hot or not?

Feather

@Feather: :) There at times in which you're simply the best.

LyraHands

I know ;)

Feather

Okay, I wrote a thousand words comment but deleted it. Why did I delete it? Because at the end of the day it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is how we go on. This isn't the first huge decision that has been made in regard to the site (some might remember a time when slap stories were allowed, or a time before curation, or even a time when drama had overrun the site to the extent that no one bothered talk about MC anymore). After each time a ruling was made. Some liked it, some didn't, but the truth is it kept the site pure.

Think back to the moment you first joined. There were much larger sites of larger fandoms. Yet we chose to join something that gave us what we liked, and not a bloated site that talked about anything and everything. Even today when we are the seventh most popular fansite (I checked a few minutes ago) we have kept our core, and if LyraHands were here right now I'd hug her so hard for succeeding in doing that.

In short EqF is for the Nightlings. There's plenty of space in the aethernet for other sites. :)

MixaMax

It's a change and every change, especially after an event of such proportions, is bound to leave a nasty aftertaste. That’s just a natural reaction of the brain.

I'm sorry I can't be here for long. I, like others, have lived ones I want to be with. Still, I feel I also feel I owe it enough to all of you to say that this is the right choice.

I blame myself for letting this happen. I don't think I'll ever forgive myself, but that's no reason you should. What you've don't on this site is extraordinary, what the ponies did when trapped with the Windigo is doubly so.

Lyra’s Midnight Castle site has done more for Equestria than most heroes could hope for and now it is time for it to return be what it always was: a beacon of joy and laughter that can still guide us in the right direction.

DarkSparkle

You truly have captured the heart of Midnight Castle.

For that you have my gratitude.

S.Child

S.Child Discussion

What the *yay*?! Tech did you lock the thread? S.Child! S. *yay* Child made a post!

@LyraHands, please tell me this wasn’t some prank! If it is I’ll *yay* someone up! If it’s real… this is insane in all the best ways!

Feather

@Feather: I know right? We’ve collectively been trying to figure it out. So far it seems legit. Or rather it’s not a confirmed prank. What that means is unclear.

Here’s what we know for certain:

The account was created specifically for the post and was deleted within a minute of making it.

The location is untraceable (LightSparkle is trying a few tricks on her end, but it looks like a long shot). Dark and True are busy taking care of things in Ponyville, but from what we talked they couldn’t come up with any new approach. Tech has tried to do a brute force track, but that will take a few days and is still not a guarantee. Code, Hop, and I are still trying to go through this, with very questionable results. Whoever connected was a mastermind of all types of aether code, or had a team hide their tracks.

MightyDragon

@Luna, @number1: Can you confirm this isn’t a prank?

I’ve been screaming like a little filly ever since I saw the post. Before I could send a PM, he was gone :(

Please, oh please tell me this was a thing! It’s like… I’ve heard that only the writers know who S.Child really is! To have him post here is like a dream come true!

LyraHands

Why are you so sure it’s a he? I know most of are hoping the series is written by a cool stallion (personal taste aside, I’ve also come to associate him with that), but in reality it’s more likely S.Child is a middle aged mare (keeping in mind when the original series came out, she should be.)

Make no mistake, I’m glad S.Child posted, no matter who they are. If I could find out who they are exactly I’ll do that. Well, I would if Short wasn’t snuggling me right now asking to keep the mystery. :P

Seriously, though. Do we know anything on the matter?

RRBB

@LyraHands, @RRBB: I’ll have to disappoint you. :)

While I personally believe that it is a strong possibility, I cannot confirm for the sole reason that I don’t actually know who S.Child is. And believe me, the writing team don’t know either (or if they do they certainly haven’t told me :/)

The only pony who might know is Blueblood and I can’t ask him since he went to spend some time with his girlfriend and left specific instructions not to be disturbed for the next few days. With the recent scares I can’t blame him.

Luna

I know who S.Child is, but I promised not to tell. Sorry. Looking at the message it sounds by them, though. And they are really cool and open about many things :D

@LyraHands: I think now that you’ve graduated maybe I should let you go? The next four months will be a bit stressful and you’ll need your space and free schedule. Also, don’t worry about mood swings ;)

DaBoss

@DaBoss: I love you and I hate you at the same time! :/ You’ve known all this time and never said a word? Quick tell me in PM!

Also, huge thanks for that. I was about to talk to you about going on leave, but I always delayed till later. And now that this happened my parents got involved again, so it’s a bit of a mess. (I’ll be staying in Canterlot for a bit longer. :/)

LyraHands

I have my suspicions as well, but I’ll keep those to myself ;) Blueblood might have mentioned a while back, but at the time coltfiction as the last things I was interested in. *chuckles* I was so bad that I actually got into the nerdy stuff just to be around cute stallions. It was gradually, and thanks to SaltyHuman (at whom I’d be terribly mad if I wasn’t terrified a few days back) that I developed my own nerd senses.

I can guarantee you, though, that S.Child is reading the posts now. (I know I would :) )

InItForTheShipping

Well yay me! I joined this site for the luls as well, but now I can’t realistically leave. This is my number one place for entertainment after flying. (Also, AwesomePony is so fun to tease :P )

@ManyFaces, can you base your appearance on suggestions? We can have a poll in which everyone makes speculations what S.Child is and you transform into them.

S.Child, I love you, but you gotta admit this will be *yay* hilarious! :D

Feather

@Feather: Not sure if that’s the best or the worst idea I’ve heard. You’re on a roll lately. :)

I’ll probably regret doing this, but with S.Child’s permission I’d love to have a speculation thread at some point. Also, @DaBoss, don’t tell me. This is one of those things I want to learn from the legend themselves. Call me silly and sentimental, but this would mean a lot to me.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Talk for yourself :P I plan to keep digging and if I manage to hack my way to Child’s identity I’ll do just that!

@Feather: Love your idea! Do it! :P

On another note, judging of the Changeling stories is underway. Results are expected in a few days. I guess the prize might now include going on a date with ManyFaces in the form of S.Child (as determined by the Nightling Community).

LightSparkle

This is so wrong… InItForTheShipping and I will be so into this! :D How do we make the poll, though?

@DarkSparkle: Sis, do you have any ideas? You’re usually good at this.

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: I’ll handle things. Dark has gone through a lot and is resting (from what True told me). Maybe not right away, though. As you could imagine recent events have caused things to go crazy at Town Hall. (Even jade can understand me being here non-stop for the next few days.)

MixaMax

Of course, I understand. I also remember you promised to make it up to me once the crisis is over. I hope I can at least rely on you about that?

Jade

@Jade: Lol, you are the best! :D

@ManyFaces: I think S.Child is a mare.

RRBB

Short's Pregnancy Discussion PMs

Hello, Princess…

There’s something I need to ask you. I’m not sure if Princess Cadance talked to you about the matter… I really hope she has. I know that now, with everything going on, is hardly a good time, but it’s also the only good time.

Please reply when you could.

Short&Hoofy

Hello, Dinky,

Yes, I am aware of your situation, both from Cadance and your own dreams. You have been thinking about it a lot, I see, and in half the cases your dreams turn into nightmares I have to deal with. (Yes, that was me a few days ago.)

Despite your resolve, I must warn you of the dangers involving your idea. Unlike Cadance’s version, there is no danger of physical pain, but the danger is of entirely different nature. It’s not something I share, but you aren’t the first to have tried something of the sort. In many cases the foals live on in the dreamscape long after the death of their parents, sometimes entering the dreams of descendants. Ad while that might sound as a relief, knowing that there’s a small population of similar beings for your future coals to be with, it’s still a serious thing to consider.

Are you absolutely sure you want to go through this? Unlike the other method it’s not something you can later change your mind.

ColdLight

I think I am. I’ve been going the option over and over. I know I’m barely a mare, but the prospect of leaving RRBB childless scares me more than anything else. That is why I went ahead with the gamble. Max will probably just says it’s raging hormones or something that made me not think clearly, but I think I know what I want.

So it is possible?

Short&Hoofy

Of course it is possible. Not by many, but with certain amount of preparation and help on my part it’s achievable, and quite painless. Since you won’t start it in the months to come (or years) I won’t have an issue.

You’ll need to talk to your mate, however.

ColdLight

I've talked to her. Well, I've discussed the idea…

Short&Hoofy

Child, half of your nightmares start with you having that conversation with her. Three times I was one step away from revealing myself to help you deal with your fears.

You must talk to her, Dinky. Remember you might not be the only one having fears. The Windigo threat didn't cause those fears, just brought them to the surface. The sooner you deal with them the better, but that is something for you to do on your own, as I’m sure you know.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank you.

ColdLight

Thank me?

Short&Hoofy

You found me and my partner to be a cute couple. As somepony who is in a similar situation as you, I find that sweet and charming. We both have to deal with loud obnoxious partners, all the time knowing they see us as goddesses of their worlds.

ColdLight

I believe in your case it's literal :)

Is it possible to have a foal enter our world from the dreamscape? I remember during the battle against the nightmare, it was a matter of strength. Maybe it's possible to have out foal appear as well?

Short&Hoofy

Those are dangerous questions. While it is possible, the foal will also remain a dream. Once it matures it won't grow old. Like the perfect image of an illusion. Unlike the tantibus it won't to try and take over the world, but it could still enter the dreamscape at will. There's no guarantee it won't prefer to remain there, even if it likes you and Diamond.

I had a foal once, long ago. She was the most beautiful creature that ever was: black as the night sky, with hooves and eyes of moonlight. She could never accept the real world for being so inflexible, so she went back to the dreamscape. Later I caught her hanging around some nightmares just for the fun of it. (She inherited my partner’s recklessness.)

With enough magic it is possible. That's another difficult decision you'll have to make when the time comes.

ColdLight

You have a daughter?

Short&Hoofy

Child, I’m millennia old. Of course I had s dream daughter. That was back when I was young and reckless. I haven't seen her in centuries. The dreamscape is endless, and it didn't help I was banished for a thousand years.

Trixie doesn't seem to have touched the question for now, although if she gets it in her head she won't stop repeating it until we break up or I give in. That's part of her charm.

ColdLight

It sounds so strange talking with you on such topics. I know it's normal, but all my life I've been taught to think of you and Princess Celestia as larger than life deities gone beyond the trivialities of mortal life.

How exactly will it happen? Me having a child, I mean. The process InItForTheShipping described was very complicated and required a lot of magic. Will I need to prepare? Maybe build up my mana?

Short&Hoofy

The only thing you'll need is to be loads of the dreamscape. Both you and Diamond Tiara. Once that is achieved I'll just link your dreams and you'll do the rest. And it's no different than what I assume you usually do. You’ll need to visualize the result, so it might take a few attempts. Once the notion takes hold it will develop quite fast. Each time you go to sleep you’ll be pregnant. The full eleven months. At times you'll feel the need to sleep without reason, but that’s normal and nothing to worry about.

ColdLight

So it's just like real life. Minus the obvious difference.

Short&Hoofy

No, it's nothing like real life. Only the time is the same, but that's because you are ponies.

ColdLight

Thank you, Princess. I don't know what I would have done without your help.

Short&Hoofy

‘Tis quite alright, child :)

I haven't done anything yet. I would like to remind you, however, that this isn't a practice I freely offer to anyone. You have earned it with what you've done yesterday as well as the many times before that. I might not be Cadance, but I can see love in a pony’s dreams.

Just remember to discuss it with your partner. Hear what she has to say as well.

ColdLight

Thank you. I will. :)

Short&Hoofy

RRBB's Pregnancy Discussion PMs

Hey, Octavia. Sorry about this, but I need to talk to your husband. Is he there?

RRBB

Are you there?

RRBB

Hellooooo?

RRBB

Excuse me, who is this?

Octavia

Diamond Tiara. I thought you knew the Nightling nicknames by now. (Rich and Spoilt’s daughter; the fillyfooler.)

RRBB

Oh, my apologies. Of course, I know who you are :) You asked me if I was potentially interested for work for hire on your Dream Productions project.

Discord is here and is not (as he usually is). I'll fetch him do you.

Octavia

Many thanks!

RRBB

Well, it's high time you got in touch with a real professional in reality transformation, not that dream amateur stuff that Lulu does. Not that I blame you, I could be intimidating and considering my vast experience it's normal for you to think I'd reject your offer.

Note, that I don't accept any offer. One must be of extremely good standing to have a chance to be even considered for consideration. And just because you use your connections and got my wife to reach me is no guarantee I'd agree.

Octavia

:/ You do the setting of O&O games every week with Spike and Big Mac. And that’s not I what I want to talk to you about.

I want to have foals and you can help.

RRBB

Oh, my! ;.;

So straightforward it's scandalous! And asking a married draconequus, no less!

Octavia

I want to have foals with Short&Hoofy, not you! :/

RRBB

Oh. Well, maybe you should have been more clear! Wars have started for my affection, you know! Kingdoms have fallen in despair, princesses have crossed horns in chivalrous battle!

Also my Bard character happens to be admired by half the population! The other half are just jealous.

So, you and Short want a foal. To be expected. Disappointing, to be honest. I was expecting some surprising turn of events. Like you falling for your old flame YouKnowWho…who turns out to be PaintDrop’s changeling in disguise. Then Short&Hoofy is heartbroken and leaves you for PaintDrop, making you leave on an insane adventure to win back her heart, but in the process learn that you are in love with PaintDrop, Short&Hoofy, and YouKnowWho, ultimately managing to build your very own harem of mares who adore you…

Octavia

Oh, mare… :/ where do I even start?

You know you're talking to a EqF curator, right? You're herb shipping fic is so bad it isn't even among the worst ten percent of trash I receive daily! Harem of 3, ha! How about a harem of humans, ponies, and griffins, with a few taurs for flavor? Or a multi-changeling harem in which no one is sure who's human and not and there's no clear indication who the harem belongs to?

And those are just the fics that I let pass.

RRBB

Everyone's a critic :/

So what do you want?

Octavia

I just told you! I want you to make it so that I and Short can have foals! :/

How did you manage to ever take over Equestria? :/

RRBB

No need to shout. Someone is definitely grouchy today.

And, pray, why should I do anything you ask? It's not like I have nothing better to do, you know.

Octavia

I'll personally edit your terrible stories and drag them past curation.

RRBB

I have no idea what you're talking about!

Octavia

My two human Discords, Jester’s Cap, Chaos and the Goddess, My human conspiracy, oh and how could I forget Rise of the Discord Corporation.

RRBB

You have no proof! It might have been my wife! She has strange and unusual taste!

Octavia

I can see that… So, you want them approved or not?

RRBB

All of them, right? I mean, all except Jester’s Cap. I don't think I managed to completely catch Karl’s character there. (He is best humie, after all, despite the claims of the vastly uninformed.)

So, this should be easy. Just tell me when you want it done and I'll transform Short&Hoofy into a stallion. Should be straightforward from there.

Octavia

What the *yay*?!?

Why the buck would I want her to be a stallion?!

RRBB

Well, excuuuuuse me :/ Not my fault you've being dismally unspecific! (There's just no pleasing some ponies…)

I'll transform you into a stallion and you can enjoy your perverted roleplay from there on.

Octavia

I don't want you to transform anypony into a stallion!

RRBB

Huh? What in Equestria do they teach you in school? In order for a child to be born a mare and a stallion must like each other very much and—this is the important part—there must be a mare and a stallion.

Don't tell me you believe the story that all children arrive on a cloud that floats to the door of their parents?

Octavia

I know how children are born! Why do you think I'm talking to you?! I want you to come up with something that would make me get pregnant with Short’s child without having to transform into anything. Can you do that?

RRBB

I suppose it's possible… though I'll probably get to do it only once. Repeating something dilutes the chaos and might bring to the end of reality as we know it. Plus, I don't want to lose my extravagance factor.

Of course, you know that your child—and by your I mean Short’s too—will have a spark of chaos inside it? Not enough to do chaos magic or anything… I think… but certainly a handful. Come to think about it, that might be amusing :)

By the way, you've discussed all this with Short&Hoofy, right? ./

Octavia

Not yet. I want to surprise her.

RRBB

Well, that's good enough for me. When do you want to start? I'll need both of you at the same place for this to work properly.

Octavia

In a few months, maybe later. I want to graduate and establish my business first.

I will edit your stories in the meantime. That sound fair?

RRBB

Hmm… why not? I accept! When you decide, just let me know and I'll be right there.

Octavia

Good. And not a word to anypony, especially Short&Hoofy.

RRBB

I wouldn't dream of it :D

Octavia

Chosen Chapter 9

Hello, all! Glad everypony's fine. :)

Huge thanks for all the PMs you sent me. Really. Also, since there were requests I'll do a quick analyses of the latest Chosen chapter (nine, for those who like to follow for numbers :)) also, a small spoiler: Luna told me that the next book would be the last of the series (I'll let her talk more about that :))

(Just in case, my last analyses had nothing to do with the actual story. To everyone who PMed me say that I got things wrong, yes I did :P Here's the proper analysis :))

The chapter starts with Bellucio waking up and going to the dining hall, where Kalypso so waiting. She gives him a warning and tells him to be careful (no explanation given). He then goes on to interact with a few Chosen. An interesting theory is discussed: that the whole place might in fact not be a place to reach Poseidon, but a trap set by someone else to lure followers there. Bellucio refuses to believe it, but is given enough proof to start start considering. (There's also speculation that Kalypso is either their jailer or trapped like them.)

Bellucio decides to investigate further on his own, when Molly grabs him and starts explaining everything is a dream. Icelos appears and goes on about an explanation how infinite dreams are like mazes: they need to find their path to walk out otherwise they won't break the cycle.

We then have them going small activities throughout the chapter (without spoiling each activity is like a puzzle piece that when arranged in a set sequence lets them escape the dream). We learn some further fluff backstory if the Chosen. Also it's very sweet we see Molly grow as they go through the dream (years judging by the story). It's also so sweet seeing her and Bellucio develop feelings for one another in the process. :)

Ultimately, they manage to break the dream, thanks to some of the Chosen. Kalypso doesn't seem to be bothered, as we see during the first real breakfast everyone has in the dining room. Molly tells Bellucio she'll figure out what is going on and find a way to have them escape. One by one all but Bellucio leave. Then we have another ultimate cliffhanger:

“Well played.” Kalypso turns towards Bellucio, silver chalice in her hand. “I didn't think you'll be able to leave the maze until I let you.”

“Goes to show that Molly is more capable than you though.”

“True.” The goddess takes a sip of the chalice then puts it back on the table. Touching the smooth surface it melts away leaving scorch marks behind. “Does she know you're the traitor?”

“No.” Bellucio shakes his head. “The question is who is the extra?”

“That—“ Kalypso passes her finger along Bellucio’s chin “—is for you to find out.”

The conclusion will be so cool! I'm only sad that the series is so short :( Even if more is to come.

What do you all think? :D

I'll continue with my usual MCE analyses in two days.

PrinceEric

Hmm. I don't know. I have mixed feeling about this. I mean on the one hand it is a somewhat intriguing mystery, but it's so different from how the series started. Remember when they were searching other Chosen and a way to enter the “realm”? Well now we have some insane mystery that has prepared us for the revelation.

To put it bluntly the entire booklet was a tease of things to come. Yes, the backstory was nice and the questions were intriguing. I personally also liked the Molly Bellucio romance bit, but I'm not sure the story is consistent. Jade seems to adore it, so might be just me.

MixaMax

Some clarification on my end. Originally there was supposed to be one volume of Chosen, however, thanks to the success so far we'll go ahead with volumes two and three. Also, work if another spinoff involving Blazen is expected to appear at the end of the year (and will follow the same format). Ideally that would bridge the Hiatus between season 1 and 2.

Also, don't forget the Project Butterfly is also expected to appear by the end of the year :) In short there are a lot of things in store. There's even a discussion of a third spinoff related to the Crystal Empire :) Discussions among the writers are still underway, but if S.Child approves it, you can expect it to hit the shelves sometime next year :)

Luna

I'll need a bigger house… O:) Foals and MC, what could be better? :D

I like how things are linked up so far. Despite Max’s eternal grumbling, I find Chosen to be perfect as a story. My only worry is the overall pacing. With these three chapters being a preparation, I fear the next might be a bit too action packed. It's also interesting how much these chapters have changed. There's genuine romance, which is rather associated with mare fiction. Not to mention that puts the entire Molly-Bellucio dynamic in question. In the past it was always presented as a gag (and a means to illustrate how attractive Bellucio was).

I'm very curious if this will be transferred to Everhere.

LyraHands

Strictly speaking Chosen might not even be canon. Just because we hate a few common characters between stories it doesn't mean that both should be considered.

For me things that take place in Everhere will always trump Chosen and any other spinoffs out there.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: buck your logic! :P

I think the latest chapter was sweet, although I'm no longer sure if Bellucio is capable of having a relationship with just one person. He clearly had a thing for Kalypso (whether she knows it or not :)) and has gone through a relationship with grown Molly. Interesting to see if there's a showdown between Kalypso and Molly next. :)

Brush

It'll probably be some pathetic lame battle. Everyone knows that ponies can't fight. They'll probably have both girls pull their hair until one gives in.

The guy with the ash power and the tough child were so much cooler. Why read about these two losers?

SteveThumb

Controversy

Okay, I know it technically follows the rules, but how exactly did The Syndicate get past curation? :/

I’m not denying that it’s technically well written (to a certain degree), but what the *yay*?! How can *yay* and gore be banned, but not this? Anypony could see this is in the same vein as grimdark. The worst thing is that it definitely isn't tagged or described as such!

“Thriller” doesn't begin to describe what the fic really is! And if the chapters so far are any indication things are only going to get worse! While the first three chapters are interesting, things quickly take a turn towards the disturbing. The fic deal with issues such as finger smuggling (I'm not even making this up!!!) and illegal pet ownership. And while there's nothing too grotesque shown in the story itself, it's definitely implied in at least half a dozen instances.

And then we go to the latest chapter which is beyond describable! I know I'm probably a minority judging by the amount of positive feedback the fic has received, but I can and I am making a scene about it!

@mods: are such fics allowed or not? And if they are allowed, why don't we have an adequate tag to warn readers of the contents?

Jade

@Jade: don't look at me. I've been so busy with school and other stuff that I've barely had any time for curation. In fact I hadn't even read the story before you pointed it out. Personally, I wouldn't have blocked it, but I see where you're coming from. Better tagging is needed on that one. From the description I got the impression that it's just another crime syndicate story. The practices described are too much.

Carrying a human finger on a chain round your neck for luck? No thanks! A shame since the author is clearly talented.

RRBB

Wait what?!? What the heck is this? I haven't read the story, but that sounds… so argh!

You're actually telling me that it's about ponies who chop off human fingers and sell them for luck? I think I vomited in my mouth :(

LyraHands

Actually, I accepted it.

@Jade: I must admit, however, that I did make a comment that it had to be toned down in future chapters… which clearly didn't happen :/ I see I'll have to have a talk with the author.

Sadly at this point there's nothing much that could be done. The story has gained a level of popularity and a category of its own, as it seems. @The TechNightling, can you add that, please? Sorry for the mess up.

LightSparkle

@Jade: Are you sure it's that bad? I just started reading it and it seems mostly okay so far…

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: did you read the latest chapter?! After her argument with the Broccoli brothers Silk Flower wakes up with a severed human head next to her.

As if finger cutting and caged humans wasn't enough. :/ I don't know who the author is, it might very well be an alt account of someone I know, but such stories have no place here, I find. I'm not saying this should be a puppies and rainbows, but there are things that cross the line and this is one of them!

Also, just as a side comment, all the mistreated humans just happen to be male. :/ It’s obvious this is some sort of sick fantasy. That of course, is just my personal opinion.

@LightSparkle: I don't agree that if something becomes popular that should excise it. In any normal society it should be exactly the opposite. If something is bad it's bad! If enough ponies start liking Sombra would that suddenly make him good?

And please don't tell me it's just “Fanfiction” so it's okay!

Jade

@Jade: I wasn't doing to say that. If anything I find finger necklaces more disturbing than you think. Let me say it again, I only okayed the first three chapters. And even that was under the condition the author lightened the tone. The fact that she didn't and instead added buckets of gore isn't a good case for her defense.

Anyway, I'm also not comfortable asking that she remove it. Technically it follows the guidelines. All the gruesome details are left to the reader’s imagination. We've talked with you about such things before, but if you're asking me to make, a ruling, I say it stands with the appropriate tags and warnings.

LightSparkle

The situation is currently being discussed. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

In the meantime, please refrain from making any further speculation until a decision has been reached and announced.

@Jade: On a personal note, after reading the story in question, I do not believe that it targets males. The grotesque nature of the chapters is not in question, and I tend to agree with you, however, please don't bring in other issues. The reason, as is stated, is that since male humans have been on frequent visits to Equestria, they are associated with good luck (so to speak).

Thank you,

The TechNightling

This is *yay* and you know it!

Jade

Please, everyone. Let's just calm down a bit. There's no need for thread locking and temp bans.

@Jade, you know I love you, but please try to relax a bit. I know you're far more understanding, just as I know how personal you take such things and am always here if you need to vent. A lot of Nightlings look up to you, both as a writer and as a pony. Remember that :)

I am confident that LyraHands and the mods will make the right decision, we just need to give them some time so they can decide what the right decision is.

DarkSparkle

This fic went down fast :(

You be read more disturbing, but agree that their place isn't on this site, even with a warning. If it were a few scenes, sure, but the more I read the more I get the impression this was the central theme.

Unrelated, but happier topic, I have finally managed to finish some of the prize pics for InItForTheShipping’s contest. More to come :)

PaintDrop

Okay, after some discussion and talks with the author we have agreed that psychological torture stories are a bit too much. The fic, however, will not be removed, but rather the author has agreed to edit it to a bearable level.

That's all, I guess.

LyraHands

Thank you.

Jade

Puppy in a Bottle Analysis

So I tried to do a double review, but after reading the latest chapter I couldn't resist starting with the latest first. :) (“Puppy in a Bottle” if tweet was any doubt.) Seems like the second arc of Everwhere is full of non connected stories, very much like Mistmount was. This one was so cute that I just arghed!

(Just a note: Blaze and Euryala have returned in the previous chapter so are here now)

We start with Eric visiting Omni’s house. There's a talk with Omni’s parents, discussing how they still hope he returns (the official version is that he's missing). Eric is allowed to go to Omni’s room where we have a lot of flashbacks (half are things that happened in previous chapters, plus a few interesting infobits that we didn't know about). Suddenly, Karl comes in all goofy as usual, and out of nowhere opens Omni’s wardrobe… and a landslide of stuff nearly buries them. Eric panics and quickly blocks the door (so that Omni’s parents can't come in), then rushes to start arranging things back, when they find a totally unexpected side of Omni. Apparently all the objects were souvenirs from adventures Omni was on, most of which on his own. Eric and Karl start looking through the things, winding why they didn't know, when one of the dark bottle barks. Before Eric could react, Karl opens the bottle and a wind puppy (?) leaps out, chews through the window, and escapes.

Eric, of course, gathers everyone and tells them what happened. Since no one knows exactly what the puppy is they start chasing it in an attempt to catch it. (We see every pet chasing disaster cliche, but they are described so sweetly that I don't mind :)) At one point it turns out that the puppy is a howl puppy (if it howls it drains magic; and the more it howls the more it drains going so far as to draining energy from people). It's interesting that Computrix helps with the search even if Bellucio still refuses to forgive her (having in mind what happened in Chosen maybe there's a reason for that?)

Blazen shares the info about the howl puppy (he guesses when they see it howl for the first time right before escaping again) then everyone splits up to find it before it goes crazy (it is said that the more scared and lonely it feels the more the puppy would howl). Capris goes with him, at which point they have their first serious emotional talk. Capris shares that she had a crush on him, but can tell he's a couple with Euryala now. Blazen doesn't deny it, instead only saying he wish things were different. Capris starts a joke through her tears, when suddenly they spot the puppy. With some ingenuity they capture the puppy, but Blazen doesn't have the heart to put it in a bottle (which apparently is the only way to store it). Following that we see him using his power (for the first time) and attaching the soul of the puppy to his wrist (a tattoo appears).

Next we have the typical ending with everyone cleaning up Omni’s room (puppy included). Some reminiscing is done and they all say they miss him. Meanwhile, some distance outside we see the Everprince looking at them and commenting to Echo how he misses the puppy.

That's it. Even with the final spooky moment, I loved this chapter. (I reread it so many times.) also cute that Blazen has a tattoo puppy that drains mana :) Wonder if we’ll see more of that in his spinoff. :D

What do you all think? I'll try to analyze the previous chapter tomorrow.

PrinceEric

Since I'm so out of form, here's a quick sketch of Karl and puppy.

…yes, I admit that snugbug posed for me (both as Danny and as puppy :)) Guess that's one of the advantages of having a changeling coltfriend :)

And the chapter was nice. It's been a while since I read something relaxing as this. The site had me a bit desensitized with everything going on, but this chapter managed to get me to think that yesterday's decision was the right one.

More sweet stories, please. :)

PaintDrop

Not fair! Squishy was writing something close to that! It wasn't a puppy but a kitten and it wasn’t Eric, but Molly, but the Karl aspect was there, as well as the Blazen saving it (even if not in the same way).

Still, seeing her finally relax a bit while reading it was sweet…and distracting o:).

@Simile, @HopHop: Think you can practice on that one? The chapter, I mean. If we can get a way to convey sweetness it will be magnificent!

RRBB

@RRBB: Pfft. Of course, I can. I've been getting extra lesions since the incident. In a few more weeks and I'll be able to dreamsculpt myself dreamsculpting. :)

Simile

@Simile: I am speechless…

Cute chapter. In other news results of ten contest are nearly done. ManyFaces has agreed on the date and Luna has picked the restaurant. You sure gave us a difficult time :P

Also, to the author who submitted a Computrix x grown Molly fic… you did well. I'm not too much into F-F, but I find that one magnificent. Jade and Max agree. Keep up the good work :)

LightSparkle

Did sis won?

SaltyHuman

@PrinceEric: Now I want to get a puppy of my own… @Brush, can I get a puppy? Something fluffy, but with character :)

I might be a sucker for redemption, but I hope the Everprince becomes Omni again. Also, I'm not sure how we’ll be able to resolve the conflict in the remaining chapters. So far we keep having more and more groups appear, yet no battle. Deities, Athena, Computrix, overseers, corporations, Titans… how is this all connected? And I'm not even talking about Chosen and Blazers (when that comes out).

@Luna, @number1: I hope you don't end on a cliffhanger! :P

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I make no promises, but some things will be resolved. Also… I've been allowed to say that work has started on the second volume of Everhere. :)

Luna

As well as volumes 3-7, in which Danny turns into a rabbit to save the world from the mad haze invasion.

TheRealLuna

I could see that…

Grumpy

The Missing Analysis

Hey, all! I just reread the puppy chapter again. It's sooo cute :) I won't be surprised if there's a sudden puppy shortage in Equestria :) Funny thing, my parents asked me if I want one. (I didn't know they read the site.) The only reason I refused is because Snippypoo already gave me one *blush* I'm keeping her indoors because I'm afraid for her to fall through. (If anypony has hints about gear I should by for an earth pony, please let me know.)

Going back to the chapter, we start with a trickster (the ones that caused havoc in “Trick me” of Mistmount Chronicles) making his way to Danny’s house. There's a long exposition what the trickster intends to do to Danny for revenge (since The gr8 banished him ways from Earth). We follow him go through the house's defenses and enter Danny’s bedroom, then start casting a spell, when suddenly Athena appears, tearing him in two and banishing both parts away (both parts scream in horror as they vanish). Danny wakes up asking what's wrong to which Athena responds she had nightmares.

Next morning all of the grand nine, minus Blazen and Euryala (and Omni, of course) discuss what to do. There's a huge chart on the table of threats and dangers (again we get flashbacks to old and new enemies and allies). There are a few discussions, but at the end of the day there end out to be more questions than answers. Molly says it might be a good idea to learn what caused the Everprince to be shattered in the first place, when Blazen literally appears as a puff of smoke from the chimney explaining it’s all about the evergems and if they find out the reason of their existence they'd have an idea what's going on. Based on something he found (foreshadowing?) there are nine evergems: two are in the group's possession, there are hint about six more, and Omni’s is unknown.

Megan gets a call from Cassandra (we assume a secure line) and after sharing their concerns learns of something called “the ledger” Apparently, it’s an artefact that contains info about artifacts (again, speculated). It was last seen in Felina corp, before it was stolen by the Skyla corp, after which it vanished completely. Athena is asked about it, but claims to know nothing on the matter. Danny, however, says he has an idea who might know.

Meanwhile, we have Euryala engaged in a battle with another of the overseers. She's obviously geared up with a lot of magitech and after a lengthy battle manages to push back her opponent, only for Hercules to appear. In face of him she asks for more time, but is told that might not happen. Also upon hearing about Athena she gets scared. Hercules gives the order for the other of his team to stand down and gives her fourteen days. If she doesn't manage to “fix it” by then they will step in. Euryala agrees and teleports away.

Danny and co go to Zeus’ temple in an attempt to get in touch with the deity. The first few attempts don't work, but Danny goes into something like a dream trance and makes his way through a dream labyrinth finally reaching Olympus (?) which is abandoned. He searches for a while finding murals and scenes of the twelve gods (the faces of half of them are melted off, including Poseidon’s). After discussing things with sentient artifacts (each which acts like a puzzle) Zeus appears and has a long talk with Danny ultimately telling him that nothing is as it appears (and that he should have learned by now). There's a mention that Olympian gods, titans, and others always were fighting for something, even when they should know better.

Zeus then leads Danny to the throne room to a massive statue, where Hades is standing in front of a massive statue. The statue depicts a world shattered into other worlds, shattered into other worlds. When Danny asks what that is, Hades explains that's a reminder of Poseidon’s mistake: the Everhere.

Talk about the mist coltfiction chapter so far :) I'm still not sure what's going on, but at least we have a hint of why everyone is trying to invade Earth and Mistmount: because it contains the Everhere. Then again, they way things are going there's no telling if that's a lie, yet another shattered reality, or something is manipulating Danny’s mind altogether.

What do you think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: overcomplicated :( In Mistmount it was easy. The corporation was evil, Zeus was good, Hades corrupted, Poseidon unknown. We'd have a titan or trickster appear on occasion, but that was it. Here… I don't know. It's all a complicated political mess that seems to go nowhere. :/

Loved the puppy chapter, but hate this one.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: There are still a number of chapters left, plus Luna confirmed there's another volume in the works. Don’t be so grumpy. If the serious wasn't doing well there wouldn't be so many ponies talking about it.

I continue to like it, mostly because I don't have set expectations. Maybe you should try that? You'll have much more fun ;)

Brush

@MixaMax: I agree with Brush. Granted I know something of things to come, but even without that I'd still enjoy the series. It's like that moment when you things are not making sense right before everything becomes clear. I'm sure that a moment later you’ll go “oooh! Now I see!” :)

LyraHands

I like it. I can tell (from experience) that if I were going to make an attempt to conquer Earth it would be just as devious and complicated. Don't forget that there are other powerful forces at play who want to snatch the prize, plus I doubt that the humans are as naive as we make them out to be. Sure, they aren't as malicious and spiteful as us, but they definitely have more character.

Also, Athena is best deity! I'm 110% certain she'll turn out to be a manipulative *yay*

TrueSparkle

Hmm. I actually think she's too cool to care. She can pretty much defeat anything she wants to. I'm half expecting Zeus to appear and she to beat him up, then make a comment like “you shouldn't have sent me to summer camp, dad!”

That would be fun. Or maybe he banished her somewhere where the corporations found her? I don't buy the whole motherless myth (plus even if true, there's no telling if the story follows the original myth).

LightSparkle

The most commonly used cliche is that the pretty ones are always evil. Thus I expect Poseidon and Bellucio to be. And I still gave this ruled out him being a part of Poseidon.

@LightSparkle: results of the contest tomorrow?

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: unsure. Either then or the day after.

@Celestia: nice try, Mom! You still don't win!

LightSparkle

The Most Unexpected Event

This… this is so sweet… I just can't…

I'll organize the party! :D

PPI

You two just…

I have a few things I need to take care of, but I'll be with you as soon as possible.

Three weeks, huh? Makes sense :D

I better brush up on some spells. @DarkSparkle, @TrueSparkle, @Simile: you up for some wedding magic?

LightSparkle

Umm. Hello, all.

I know this is a bit untypical of me, and it's possible that I end up embarrassing myself, but I think I have reached a point in my life that I really must do it, so here goes…

Before I do what I'm about to do let me say something. You all know how different I am in real life. I worry way too much, I panic easily, I tend to have trouble standing up to people at times. The aethernet helped me create an entirely new persona, being what I always wanted to be. In a way it's thanks to her, and your support, that I gradually changed for the better…and that has given me the courage to ask the following:

@CEOWitch: will you marry me?

Brush

O! M! G!

@Brush: never in a thousand years did I expect this! I'm crying! I'm literally craving right now! I've know you idiot ever since we started the MC meetings (well, earlier, but that doesn't count) and I always wondered if you'd reach that point. All the time I thought it would be some stallion who would get tired and ask you.

Like, this is one of the most romantic and geeky things I've seen ever! @CEOWitch, no pressure,but remember you are being watched by millions shippers who support and adore you, so better not disappoint :P

I can see the stories pouring in… and I don't care! Little Brush is finally settling in!

RRBB

@Brush: <3 I'm so happy for you, sweet wings. There was a time that I wanted you to do the same for me, but now I see how unready we both were.

You deserve this, and I'm glad you reached a point at which you went out of your comfort zone to do it. Please take care of CEO well, and be as confident as you are now. If you need any help where to held the wedding, let me know.

@CEOWitch: congrats. I'm sure you know what you’re getting :) I'll PM you about it.

MasterOfThisAstra

@Brush: Finally! :D And now millions of Nightlings are glued to their tech, refreshing the site every two seconds. :P

LyraHands

@Brush: you’re crazy! And no, I won't go buck a tree! Have you any idea what you've done? There's no going back now (which I suppose is the point :P). I've been waiting for this to happen for months now! Years, decades even!

Mare, this is so surreal that I never thought it would happen. On the site, no less! Now depending on the response we’ll either get spammed with marriage proposals, or nopony will talk about it ever again.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Aren't you a ray of sunshine? :/

RRBB

@Brush: I'm do happy for you! I know exactly what you're going through and envy your courage. This couldn't happen to a better couple. I love you both and don't even have enough words to describe what I'm feeling right now.

Both Tech and I wish you the very best in your years to come. :)

I know you probably have made arrangements, but if you need any assistance with your wedding dress, let me know? I expect the boss will want to get involved herself, though.

Candle

What Max was trying to say us that she's very happy that one of her best friends has made such an eventful step.

Max means well, really…she's just an idiot twenty-five hours per day.

Jade

Brush gets all the stallions… *happy tears of envy*

Nah, I saw this coming a thousand miles away *grin*. Still envious, though. :P

@Brush: We’ll talk about it after work. :)

AwesomePony

@LightSparkle: not fair!

PPI

@Brush: he won't be able to answer. The captain sent his *yay* on patrol so he won't be back till evening.

Knowing him he'll probably brush it off as something normal. I can see him going to the barracks, taking a look at all of us and saying “So? We've been hanging fir months.”

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot, @Brush: that sounds so him. :)

I'm so happy for you two. I was considering pulling off something if the sort myself, but couldn't find the courage. Well done, Brush :) Fortune favors the brave :)

Luna

@Brush: Since MightyDragon is off to deal with a crisis in the Empire, I'm the one to congratulate you :D

I can tell you from now that he, SaltyHuman, and InItForTheShipping will be furious they missed it, but we all know what their usual reactions will be :) Hop is poking me nonstop to congratulate you for her, do I am.

Sadly I must get back to my presentation in a few minutes. Breaks are short in academia:(

Love you both!

CodeFilly

Woohoo! Free muffins for everyone! :D

I always knew you had it in you, @Brush :)

DaBoss

Update! You'll never believe what happened!

Apparently, Blueblood saw the post and sent a scroll to my boss. The captain then, went supersonic to fetch CEOWitch and “drag him to write yes” :D

@Brush: expect him in an hour at most. Less if he puts some effort into it ;)

Fleetfoot

You got to be *yay* kidding me! :D

Argh! I knew we should have finished with the repairs earlier. @Brush, expect a wing of supportive Griffins to swoop your way in a few hours :)

Proposing on a site. Why didn't I ever think of that? Yo, @GLGJ: you cool?

Feather

Girls, you're making me blush so hard right now! It's difficult as it is. And I know CEOWitch will get back to me when he could.

That's why I asked here. Too nervous to do it in person. O:)

Also, buck you all! :P

Brush

@Brush: I will! <3

CEOWitch

Changeling Contest Results

Okay, the time has come. After a lot of yay, I’ll follow with the good news (after PrinceEric and Brush, I thought it would be a good idea to keep going with the happy :D )

With the extension I have received 107 stories (not counting the ones that failed curation). Also, thanks to the contest changeling fics have become a (small) thing! So, huge thanks to everyone! Maybe I’ll do occasional contests based on underused ideas just to help them being pushed forward :) Next idea… dragons :P

So, of all the fics, some of which were of extremely high quality, we have determined 3 winners, 3 honorable mentions, and 1 dishonorable mention. I’ll go through all that in a bit, but before I want to say that I’ve decided to add a few additional prizes.

All medalists will get the chance to have their photo with a human of their choice (many thanks to ManyFaces, so be sure to send her your love! :) ) Sadly, it will be just a photo and possibly a few minute talk. The winner, of course, will have a fully paid dinner with her in the Crystal Empire (courtesy of InItForTheShipping and SaltyHuman).

All mentions and medalists will receive a custom made pair of human gloves with a logo of their choice (site avatar if none is specified).

With that here we go!

DISHONORABLE MENTION

Me, Myself, andI by JustATroll
It’s a well written silly comedy, about a pair of changelings that have gone to Earth to seek refuge from Celestia’s Reign. Naturally, they transform into copies of the first person who they come across and after a deal is struck help her with everyday chores (going to school instead of her, or shopping, so she can have free time with her boyfriend, etc). Naturally all sorts of mishaps take place.

As I said, it was very well written, ~~Mom~~ JustATroll, but not good enough to go on. Did you seriously think I wouldn’t backtrace the connection? You hid it very poorly, and also I recognize your style. The only reason I mention this is because I find it amusing you wanted to win this contest…and that despite everything it is very well written. (I guess you must have picked up writing at some point, but I never knew you kept doing it.)

I’ll bring your “prize” when I get some free time from uni.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Love Ring by HoofTies
A golden classic by the author who was responsible for creating the genre. The story revolves round a young woman finding a strange ring in the park, and taking it. The ring turns out to be a changeling who claims to have no memory. Even if it’s short it’s a very touching romance with the occasional action scenes (though just mundane things – pickpockets, thieves, bullies, etc) and Felina corp only doing things in the background.

The biggest problem the story has is that…sadly we know what will happen from the get-go. This isn’t a criticism, rather an unfortunate fact. Sword/Shield Lover is just so well-known and memorable that there’s no surprise that the ring turns out to be a changeling and that a love romance would follow. If it wasn’t for that I see it being among the medalists.

PM me what you want your prize to be :)

The Blonde-Brunette Conundrum by EndlessHearts

Another masterful romance, but a well-known name. We explore the life of a normal girl who starts wondering why her hair starts changing color at random. We follow the girl’s life at school, her falling for Molly (a theme with Endless I have noticed), until it suddenly it’s revealed she is a changeling and that isn’t her final form.

Again, the only reason this isn’t among the medals is that it suddenly cuts off. It’s clear that Endless wanted to write something far larger, but due to time constraints jury rigged a quick ending…and it shows. I hope you continue this! I even demand it! @RRBB see to it! :P

The Infiltration by SpectralNightling

For those who don’t know, SpectralNightling is one of the prolific writers on the site, even if he doesn’t say much. This is fic is a typical Earth-Equestria war fic, from an interesting angle. Seeing Earth as a threat, Princess Celestia has sent a host of changelings to infiltrate and take control of the human world, as a measure against the corporations. We experience lots of cloak and dagger, action scenes, and conspiracies on both sides. The main problem of this fic, as with most of S.N.’s is that it has too much going on. We see the constant battle between Celestia and the corporations through a host of characters doing various actions. At one point I had to stop because I started mixing up who was who. Once school is over, I’d recommend you get in touch with @Twist to help you make the story much more manageable.

Great job, nonetheless! PM me what you want for a prize :D

LightSparkle

Now going to the important post: the winners! Here are the three stories that managed to focus on the topic best and captured the hearts of the judges with pure excellence.

THIRD PLACE
Both Sides by Simile

Probably one of the darkest and well written fics I've seen. When I say dark, I mean from a psychological point of view. There isn't a drop of gore in the story, yet it makes me go ugh! (In a good way.)

The story follows the life of a young man working as a low level Skayla employee (he knows Megan and interacts with her) who is in a long distance relationship with the love of his life. Every day he receives and sends a letter to his love complete with pictures and small gifts. Mid way through the character finds that something odd is going on (the letters are sent from the same town) so he starts in estimating. There's speculation that the corporation is involved, but ultimately it turns out that he's a schizophrenic changeling that has been sending letters to himself for years.

Utterly heartbreaking, especially the way it's written. Just for that I forgive you some of the things you've done :P

SECOND PLACE
Changeling Entrepreneur by Karl’s Cousin

Another great fic written by a stallion. (Sorry for making a point, but I'm tired reading comments that stallions can't write.) This is an interesting PoE fic, in which relations between both words are something normal and a changeling businessbug has decided to open an office in Mistmount. His pitch: we become what you need. It's a great idea with customers coming demanding all sorts lot services. The first client is a young boy who hires one of the changelings to become a can opener for long enough for him to open a can of corn. The second client is a girl who needs a “boyfriend” for a when her parents visit, and the third—a corporate spy that needs two changelings to help him infiltrate a rival corporation and steal an artifact.

It's funny, it's amusing, it's sweet, and also very well written. I can't wait to see more from this author :)

THE BIG ONE!
Illustrious by Jade

I can't say I'm surprised. I love Jade’s way of writing. One of his stories got Max the Evercritical and ask him to marry her…and I can see why. Usually what problems Jade has is that his stories tend to be on the more muds e side. This one is a notable exception. Only thing I can add is that I'm not sure many would manage to pull this off.

The fic is a deity adventure fic from the viewpoint of Chrysalis who goes to love…because the Everprince is her sweetheart. To recap we have a fix fic with overpowered character, involved with deities, who fight the grand9…and it pulls it off magnificently! It's unbelievable how Hade manages to make Chrysalis not only likable (in terms of the fic) but also show her face challenges despite her power. And let's not forget her changing into an evergem (draining her energy) so that the Everprince could fight Poseidon.

I won't spoil the end, but I loved it! ManyFaces loved it! InItForTheShipping loved it! :D

So congratulations! Jade (and Max) get to spend an evening in the Crystal Empire with the human of their choice :)

Everyone else, thanks for participating and hope you take part next contest!

P.S. @DarkSparkle: I really wanted you to win, but… well read for yourself :D

LightSparkle

I have so much to read… Thanks for making this contest, LightSparkle, and thanks to everyone else for participating!

I tried to read some of them, but there were so many. I read Jade’s and Brush’s. I still think Brush should have placed, but I fully agree with the winner :) Jade you are magnificent! How did you come up with this? Please don't tell me Max came up with such a beautiful idea… I'll cry if she did. :P

@DarkSparkle, I liked yours ;)

LyraHands

@LightSparkle: already ahead of you :) Squishy has agreed to continue writing that,Malone with project Butterfly. Also, I think the mentioned seven stories will be great for my first theatrical experience.

@Simile, @HopHop: you two game?

RRBB

Max didn't help one bit. The only thing she went on and on about was how unfair it was she didn't get to see it before I posted it on the site.

And of course, right now she's looking at me as if I were a bowl of chocolate ice cream. If you don't hear from me by tomorrow give the prize to somepony else. Also, I want Many to go as Cassandra.

Jade

@DarkSparkle: don't worry, sis. You'll manage next time. Besides your birthday is approaching, so maybe we can arrange a centaur visit :)

Joking aside, your story was nice. Mom and dad read it too. Mom said she'd give you some pointers for next time.

SaltyHuman

At least my fic wasn't rejected outright. Congrats to the winners :)
@Jade, I wish I could write as well… The way your characters speak, act, and feel are so precise that I can imagine them. It's like I've been discussing things with them last week.

Will there be another contest soon? Contests give me an excuse to write and try to improve.

LittleFinger

I read all of them at work. They definitely were good. I knew I should have written something… CDI, LightSparkle! You infected me with the writing bug once more! Now I can't stop thinking of fic ideas. None of them changeling, but that dragon thing you said…

Bob

@Bob: please do it? O:)

LyraHands

Well, it's settled, then! I'm starting a dragon fic contest!

Write something that has dragons in MC! Once again, it's required that it takes place in MC proper and if possible with a few main characters (at least in the background).

Rewards: to be decided.

Deadline: end of month!

Judges: me and we’ll see.

LightSparkle

Ha! That's my field of expertise! I'll write the best fix there is! A masterpiece of epic proportions that will make you crying for weeks!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Don't worry, all your fics make me cry for weeks…

RRBB

@LightSparkle: no centaur theme? :P

HopHop

@LightSparkle, @LyraHands, @SaltyHuman: Dark is in hospital again. She fainted while we were talking and I couldn't get her to wake up. :((

Things are better now, but she'll be there for a while. This time I won't let her leave until we know for certain what's wrong with her.

Sorry to ruin the contest, but this looks serious.

TrueSparkle

I am locking the thread.

Threads discussing DarkSparkle’s condition, no matter how “innocent” will be locked and deleted. Please keep her privacy in mind.

The TechNightling

Sparkle Intervention

We really have to do something about this. Can you skip university?

TrueSparkle

How soon do you need me? I have a nasty exam tomorrow, but I’m more or less prepared. Want me to join you in an hour?

LightSparkle

Please! I didn’t want to say this on the site… hay I probably freaked them out already… Twilight didn’t just feel ill and collapse. It was sudden, very sudden. And for a moment I think I saw him. I’m pretty sure I did. Just before she collapsed, he was there among the clouds, not even hiding. In the blink of an eye he was gone, but I know what I saw.

TrueSparkle

That’s impossible. I saw him get blasted by the friendship rainbow. You saw it! There’s no way he could have survived. I’m talking from experience. After such a blast he should have either been transformed or destroyed altogether.

LightSparkle

I know! But I saw him! I’m not wrong! Also, it fits the pattern! He’s been targeting her from the beginning. All the times we made fun of her for fainting, that was him! Remember that first time she got hit by the anomalies. Well, now we know he used them. My theory is that he somehow makes them then casts spells from where he is to a target. It’s like he’s making miniature portals.

Maybe he managed to vanish away before they could hit him?

TrueSparkle

The beam hit him. We all saw. Even if he managed to escape AFTERWARDS he’d be changed. The Sirens, Tirek, Discord, none could withstand it… and this is just a Windigo. A crazy powerful one, but still.

I can come hop by this evening, as well as after my exam. Windigo or not there’s something going on with Twilight and the sooner we learn the better.

Have you spoken with Lyra or any of her friends?

LightSparkle

No. They are worried enough as it is. Rarity had a word with me in confidence about it, but neither of us pressed the issue. What can I tell them? That the elements of harmony didn’t work?

As for Lyra…she and her childhood friends are wonderful, but they aren’t like us. We’ve been to the dark side and back, we know what’s at stake. I could ask Discord and Simile, but with both of them having someone special, I prefer to keep them out of it for now.

TrueSparkle

That’s the worst possible idea. :/ My magic is a bit rusty, and as you saw we weren’t able to do much harm to him…

There’s one thing I will do, though. Once my exams are over I’ll go and have a long talk with my mother. She knows something about it. Being her she’s probably hiding it, but this time I’ll make her tell me. I’ll also press Simile to get info from Princess Luna.

LightSparkle

What do we do in the meantime, thought? Twilight isn’t well and she is an alicorn! She’s supposed to have protections against that sort of thing!

Why is the Windigo so obsessed with her? She’s a Princess, yes, but there were a lot of other important ponies in the room. You, some elements of harmony, Shining Armor, Flurry… And yet, his attention was focused on getting her there. Not Princess Celestia, not anypony else.

TrueSparkle

I was thinking the same thing. All he did was freeze our horns. He could have done much worse.

Anyway, I’ll revise some of the stuff and be with you in about an hour. Is that okay? We’ll go to Dark and have a chat with her. How exactly is she? She keeps telling me she’s fine in PM and in book, but knowing her she’s probably not.

LightSparkle

Honestly? I have no idea. Usually she opens up when nopony else is around, but this time… The only thing I know is from Spike. She very much blames herself. Spike says he saw her cry alone in the terrace one night. There’s no way to confirm this, but it sounds true. She’s afraid, that much is obvious, but I can’t tell why exactly. There’s the overall fear for Equestria, yes, but the rest my spell couldn’t determine.

TrueSparkle

You really need to stop casting spells on her like that :/ Being her student I’d have thought you’d try asking first.

LightSparkle

I did! She kept avoiding the subject! It’s not like I enjoy doing that, to her of all ponies, but she left me no choice! Anyway it wasn’t intrusive, I promise!

TrueSparkle

Let’s just try asking insistently, this time, okay? I’ll finish here, get there and we’ll go to the hospital. After that I’ll need you to zap me to the Palace so I can have a talk with my mother.

LightSparkle

Sounds great! Can I join you to see the Princess? I want to know what’s going on as well.

TrueSparkle

I think it would be better if I went alone. Knowing my mom, she’ll try to use you as an excuse and refuse to say anything. If I’m to get anything out of her I’ll have to be alone.

LightSparkle

Okay. Just tell me what you find out, okay?

What is your exam on?

TrueSparkle

Applied physics. :/ I honestly have no idea why I even took that course. It seemed fun at the time, not it’s only boring. While I’m going that, can you try and find more about the Windigo? I know everyone else is, but there’s something off about him. He claimed knowing Celestia, and that’s not a lie to casually make. There’s more there, we just have to find out what.

LightSparkle

Sure. I’ll be waiting for you in the mirror hall. Spike agreed to be with Dark until we got there, but the sooner we can talk with her the better. At least those are my thoughts.

Oh, and just out of curiosity… What are your thoughts on time travel spells to try and fix this?

TrueSparkle

No!

LightSparkle

Was just a hypothetical. See you soon.

TrueSparkle

Ages Again

I'm a Gemini! :D

PPI

Hey, all! I just had a very interesting thought. How old are the grand 9 exactly? I mean, we can exclude Euryala (who is centuries if not millennia old) but what about the others? We see them celebrating their birthdays in a few chapters, but that's about all :(

Snippypoo asked me today who is the oldest of the bunch, and I found that I couldn't answer. Well, we know that Megan is older and Molly is slightly younger, but the rest are a complete mystery.

Personally, I think that Eric is the oldest, but that's purely based on how he behaves.

What do you all think?

PrinceEric

Either I'm having a deja vu, or there's been another thread asking this question. Either way, we don't know. Things have been kept deliberately vague. Personally I'm not sure that even the authors know.

We know that they were in high school in Mistmount, so that places them anywhere between thirteen and sixteen. In Everhere I think they are all about 18 give or take.

I'm more curious about their zodiac signs, to be honest. That's been mentioned a few times and I find the concept fascinating. To be honest the age whole thing is getting old. The more I think about it the more it's pointless. The only exception I can think of is Molly shipping.

MixaMax

Daaaymn! Hold on, hold on! You all realize what this means, right? Euryala is centuries old, right? (That *yay* is probably even older, but let's play nice) Centuries! And she got herself a young male? By what you've said Blazen must be about 20 at most.

How does this happen in fiction? I mean really. In Equestria the moment you reach 30 griffins/stallions start looking the other way. In colt fiction it's like “yo, I'm a few centuries older than you. Wanna hook up?” “Sure.”

How the *yay* does that happen?

Feather

@Feather: Hey! My special girl is a few thousand years old and absolutely magnificent!

Goddesses are goddesses, that's one of the perks of the job: eternal youth. It's not like the Skyla corp CEO is hitting on Eric. Although that would be a perfectly legit fic (that I'm not writing).

I don't hear anypony complaining how old InItForTheShipping is.

Simile

My bf is older than me and I don't care one bit. And I totally agree with Simile: goddesses exist. Also I refuse to believe that stallions are as shallow as described.

@PrinceEric: I consider them in their 20s and Molly close to 18, mostly because of the way she behaves in Chosen. I know it's just me, but I actually see her being in our class. She just behaves a bit different. Also, keep in mind the target audience. There's no way that a 7-year old could understand advanced physics. That's not until middle school.

PaintDrop

You certainly are all over the place with your numbers. For the most part human college starts round 18-20. Also, keep in mind some of them gave jobs, which means they have to be at the very least 16 (though I doubt anyone will hire a model such as Bellucio if he weren't 18 already).

Interesting point about the zodiac signs. Maybe we can determine based on their behavior. :)

@Simile: also, I'm not that old! I'm actually 31. (You can stop cringing now :P).

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: You're actually 25 :P

But, yes, I'm getting pretty old myself… Who came up with this painful topic? :P

I’m not sure what their age is, to be honest. In some instances they behave like 14, in others they seem to have been through a lot. Personally I like to think that the age doesn't matter. It's more the window in which they are places. We are told they are in college now, so it's best to think of them in that contest.

Megan is working full time, Molly is in high-school, the east are said to be in college. Even Euryala (who is far older) behaves as fi she's in college, but has additional life experiences.

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman, @MixaMax, @Feather: It’s probably not important, but it's just so natural. I mean what's the first thing you ask when you meet someone as a foal? “How old are you?” Age is pretty much everything.

Maybe that's the reason why they haven't specificity the ages? If Bellucio is 19 and Danny is 18 ponies will automatically start thinking that Bellucio is actually the leader. Maybe that's why I consider Eric the oldest… O:)

PrinceEric

Did you know that the exact birthdate of every major character in Midnight Castle is known by S.Child? Just joking :)

I have no idea if they are known or not. One of the requests made by Blueblood, however, are that there's deliberate vagueness on the matter. The only requirement is that they age. So if they are in school, after one story year they have to move to the next class, or graduate. In theory if they have children, the children will grow at the same pace as well.

(I leave it to you if that's foreshadowing or not ;))

Luna

Age is where the heart is. Personally, I am of the opinion that they are younger than the majority of readers thing. My reason for this is that based on tech world. Humans are far more intelligent than ponies. A human of thirteen might well be of the intellectual and biological level of a sixteen year old pony. I would like to remind everyone that they do not go through a cutie mark phase, so they are aware of what they are supposed to do at a very early age (I'd speculate around seven).

It is also noticeable that we don't see too many old people in the stories either. At the end of the day it's coltfiction, and as any coltfiction there are certain rules that are followed. As the saying goes “realism is a good thing, but only if used in measure”.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

Good discussion. :) A lot of food for thought.

I'll try to include some of this in my next fic… when I actually manage to write it.

@PrinceEric: next analyses tomorrow?

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: you bet! :)

PrinceEric

Beetroot PMs

Bonny, I can't take it anymore!

I thought that getting my degree would be the end of it and I could leave Canterlot for good, but no! The Windigo event got my mother all worried. Not that it matters that I wasn’t anywhere near Ponyville when it happened! It's as if out latest talks didn't take place!

Am I going insane? You have no idea how badly I need a few buckets of cider right now. If it weren't for the foals I'd probably be drinking myself to oblivion in some bar. That of some salt.

LyraHands

I take it things are going pretty much as usual then?

Bob

… I love you. :)

Sorry, I've really had it this time. A few months ago my mother wouldn't even look at me and now… it's horrible to say but I honestly think I've become the equivalent old a present: she's waiting for me to pop open so she could take what's inside and never have to deal with me again.

She's already suggested that I return to Canterlot. Apparently, she and dad are willing to “buy me a small house” in a nice area on the outskirts. Knowing her taste I'm sure it's nice, but really? I was chased out of home a while back and now that I'm pregnant I'm suddenly valuable again?!

LyraHands

Hey, you've been through a lot. Not to mention that your chemistry is all wobbly now. Mold swings are to be expected, remember? In your case maybe more since this is an…unusual case. :)

I’m sure your parents love you in their own way. I know your father does. We’re still keeping a regular correspondence. He didn't mention anything about the house, so I think it's your mother’s idea.

By the way, and this is entirely not related, I think you should spend some more time in Canterlot. Get your diplomas, see some old friends. Try to humor your parents for a week or two. Simile mentioned she'll be passing by to see her Princess. Maybe have a chat with her. Oh, and you can always spend slime time with Bellucio. :)

Bob

I hate it when you do that! :/

LyraHands

Do what? Be overly positive? Sorry, guess you lucked out. I’m always positive when you are concerned. Things will work out fine, you’ll see. Actually, they already have. You just have to deal with a few minor annoyances until then. Nothing major :)

Bob

You know something, don't you… something is going to happen in Ponyville, isn't it?

LyraHands

You know I can't talk about work, Lyra. I still think you should spend a few more weeks there. Do that for me and I promise you the greatest gift after InItForTheShipping’s. ;)

Bob

You are the greatest gift. *kisses* Just tell me you'll be fine, okay?

LyraHands

I'll try to be. Promise.

Bob

…

LyraHands

So, what's the gift?

LyraHands

Well, I'm not supposed to say this, but remember when I mentioned a honeymoon on Danny’s Earth? :) Must think what it would be like being able to walk about and see all the characters of the series! We can go to a photo shoot of Bellucio, or hang out with Omni, or go somewhere with the Williams’.

I promise I'll treat you to all the human food you want!

Bob

I hope that's not a hint I'm fat! -.-

Just joking. :) Such a gift would be wonderful, yet we both know it can't happen. Unless…

LyraHands

You talked to the changeling Nightlings, didn't you? Bonny, I can't believe you'd do this! It's both incredibly sweet and incredibly embarrassing at the same time. How many did you get? Please tell me you didn't ask Thorax’ entire hive. The sweetie he is he'd probably agree.

LyraHands

No cost is too huge for my minty goodness O:)

Just get through this and I'll be sure to amaze you. And don't be too mad at your parents. I've told you this before: you are your own mare. Their decisions cannot affect you. Hear them out, nod, then speak your heart without being rude about it. If you don't want to do something you don't have to. And don't be afraid to go to the hospital if you feel faint or dizzy.

Bob

Well, glad to know there's something you and my mother can agree on :/ She's been going on and on that I need to have a checkup. Mare, I just had one! How many more go I need? Seriously!

Maybe I'll tell her just to see her make a sour face. The way she’s been systematically avoiding you, I can tell her opinion of you hasn't improved much. At least now from time to time she mentions my “partner” when asking about my life in Ponyville.

LyraHands

Nothing wrong with that. I call her your mother :P

Bob

How are things there? I know you can't say anything, but are you and everypony else well? I don't need to know the whys and whats, but that I must know.

LyraHands

I think so. Definitely maybe. Just don't worry your pretty head, okay? I'll come see you as much as I could :) Sometimes I might even be in disguise. For all you know I'm next to you right now!

Bob

If you are you've put on a lot of weight. And that mustache really must go. Definitely! :P

LyraHands

You made a joke :) I like you when you make jokes. Feeling a bit better now?

Bob

No…but at least I know you're never for me. I better go. I told my parents I was going shopping and that was an hour ago.

LyraHands

Better buy some beetroot.

Bob

Huh? What do I need beetroot for?

LyraHands

That's exactly what your parents will ask when you go home. ;)

Bob

I love you :)

LyraHands

I know.

Just hang in there a bit more. Thing how thrilling it will be to show the goals to Danny and vice versa :)

Bob

Pfft! Bye! I'm off to buy beetroot.

LyraHands

Candle Plushies

Umm, hi everyone.

Sorry for not being active lately. I know there are several stories that I need to finish and I've also promised stories for a few log you. I'll try to get to them I promise. As you might know, I moved out of my apartment and into a new house I'm sharing with Tech :) I’m still keeping my old apartment and transform it into a work studio, but that requires a little bit more time and effort.

There's something else I want to talk to you about. After reading a few of the changeling stories I got inspired and made a human plushie. Unlike my first attempts I'm actually happy how it turned out so I thought I'd share:

[Danny006.ani]

As you can see this is Danny in his standard jeans and sweater (as described in Everhere). If you try this at home, please don't try to make type hands too detailed. I spend days trying to make the fingers only to fail utterly. The paw plus thumb approach works best and as is visible it doesn't diminish anything (I think to even makes it look cute). The nose was another problem, skin the end I used pins under the fabric to give it the unmistakable look. Everything else is more or less standard. All in all it took me a week to finish this (with me being free half the time). Now that I have gone through a number of failures I think I can manage to replicate it in a few days.

My question to you is…would you like having one of these? :) I'm not sure how fast I'll be, but I'll gladly make more.

Candle

@Candle: That is magnificent! I definitely want one. Can you make OCs too? I just love the Sword/Shield Lover characters. :)

Just tell me your rates. I'll send you a few sketches I have of them.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I can't ask money for this. It's just something I enjoy doing and I’d love to see more plushies out there.

I've read the story and like it. If there's nothing unexpected this week I'll have them done by the end of it.

Candle

@Candle: Don't me silly! It's an insult to art and talent to have them done for free. (Yes, I said it, all you freeloaders!) thankfully, I'm here to offer a mutually agreeable solution: “pay as much as you feel” It's a new business method that is picking up steam especially in the arts and crafts sector.

Since you feel uncomfortable about asking money for what you consider to be fun, who about the buyers decide? I know that Paint, I, and a few others are packed and not everypony could afford what we'd give, but anypony can at least leave a token amount.

I, personally, would like a Molly plushie. :D

RRBB

@InItForTheShipping: darling, can we get a few plushies for Flurry? I think they'll be perfect for her! Just think how much more free time you’ll have when she's playing with her plushies instead of flying about the palace. It's a win-win! :)

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: -.- A win-win is it? I pay for it, then you sneak it away and Flurry never gets to see it. You can be so transparent sometimes!

@Candle: when you could I'd appreciate an Everprince plushie (with crown).

InItForTheShipping

Pfft! Everprince? Really? With crown even?! SaltyHuman is that your dark side showing? :P Not that I’m surprised. Yours sister has a thing for centaurs and your wife is the worst shipper on the site after Twist :P

*yay* I love you all! :)

Feather

@CodeFilly: Thaco, we’ll have a foal too! We must be ready for it and have a Blazen plushie. *puppy eyes*

MightyDragon

@Candle: if there are still slots open I'd like a Bellucio for Lyra. I know she'll appreciate it :)

@SaltyHuman: I’m with Feather on that. Everprince with a crown? I never expected this from you. Guess I should be careful :)

Bob

That so cuuuute! I want it, I need it!

How did you manage to make it so cute, Candle? I love that small nose! I really do! If you ask me you should make a business selling those things. You'll be rich!

My only problem is…I don't know what to choose! Danny is so nice, but so are the rest of the grand 9. And the god. And a few secondary characters. Argh! So many options! :/ Why are you torturing me like this?!

MixaMax

@MightyDragon: No. Karl would be more suitable.

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: you'd replace Blazen for a background character? :(

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: if you read carefully you'd see that Karl creates and Blazen destroys. Karl is literally an expert in bioengineering, while Blazen steals souls away. And as you fully well know, reaction is always superior to destruction.

CodeFilly

I think I'll just make both for you O:)

Candle

Everypone, while I encourage your interest, please keep in mind that Candle has a life of her own. I'm not talking the requests here (which have become more than enough at this point), but the swarm of PMs that have flooded her scrollbox. If I, as an admit, have come to notice that means the scrollbox is dangerously close to overflowing.

Since you are so interested, I shall personally take it upon myself to make a how to collage of shots showing Candle making each of the plushies. That way the more enthusiastic of you can try on your own.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

Tech, you better be grateful that there are exams coming. Pretty much everypony I know has started a self imposed embargo till next week. Actually that's all the better for me :) I'm a bit sad that the rest won't get a chance, but hey such is life :P

I wonder if SweetStuff’s sister will try her horn at this. Guess I'll ask her.

RRBB

@RRBB: you can be such a *yay* :) And I'm sure there will be more plushies out there, especially with the how to guide Tech is about to make.

By the way has anyone heard Brush lately? I haven't seen her at all since her proposal.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: she's fine, sis. I saw her yesterday. She and CEOWitch spent a few hours in tech Crystal Empire, before flying off east.

Everything is fine. You just focus on relaxing and getting better. I'll come see you in a few days.

MasterOfThisAstra

Wait! Wait! Can I get an Omni? O:)

DaBoss

@DaBoss: Yes you could. With that I'll be locking the thread. If Candle can start another batch she'll post it on the site.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

Post-Exam Talk

Finally! Mare, I can't believe this!

*yay*! I missed the best thing? RRBB, you moron, why didn't you tell me! I'd have found a moment to pop on the site. Stars know when there will another batch of plushies :/ I hate you so much right now!

At least exams are over. I did pretty bad, i’m sure, but I'll be going to an athletic scholarship so no biggie.

@Candle, you'll tell me next time you have an opening, right? Right?

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: I'm sure you didn't do that bad. You're actually quite smart when you focus.

Plust

And when she's not distracted by things… such as you :P I'm telling you if YouKnowWho doesn't flunk I'll be impressed. I aced everything, of course. I even checked my answers with Twist afterwards, so I’m sure I did well. And Squishy did well too, I'm sure. :) right?

@YouKnowWho: hey, you snooze, you lose! Dorm worry, I'll let you see mine :P

RRBB

I wish I could go back to the exams… *sigh* I never thought I'd say this, but having Rarity freak out about my results is even more annoying than the exam itself. I can't spend five minutes alone with ForceFeedback without her barging in, triple checking what I wrote on this or that question.

Edit: @Candle: you're a lifesaver! I showed her the plushies and she went all “oooh! Ahhh!” I think she'll make a model of her own. (She also borrowed by MC scrolls, so at least she'll be occupied for a few days.) Sisters… :/

SweetStuff

Hey! This is an important moment of your lives! Can't you at least pretend that you're concerned or something? Listening to Short I’d think that it's no big deal. It doesn't help that there are so many connections in the community.

Short already has a solid job offer at RRBB’s business, and has also applied to the S.G.U. college program via CodeFilly. SweetStuff has earned an apprenticeship at the Canterlot conservatory with Octavia being her mentor and sponsor, WaterBottle knows she'll continue the family business (now with a new addition)… Back in my dame we have to panic and look at brochures from colleges all over Equestria!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: it shows. And in the end you still managed to trick me into marrying you.

Jade

@MixaMax: I applied to seven universities. I'm still not sure what I want in life… for now just to find joy, I guess.

I'll be containing with DDD edits from tomorrow.

Twist

@Twist: what's eating you? You can visit me anytime at the farm, you know. I reckon we might even discuss some of them shipping things with Applejack. Really, if that's anything I could help just let me know.

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: she's in love with you and doesn't know how to tell you.

RRBB

Huh? What?

I… err. That's mighty kind of you, but I'm already with somepony, and…

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: RRBB is just joking with you. :) And I'll be fine. It's just something I’m going through and I don't want talk about.

Maybe I'll visit sometime, but not this week. Sorry.

Twist

@RRBB: your being a *yay* again. :/

PaintDrop

Sheesh, okay already! I can't make a simple joke anymore.

But yeah, I pretty much know what I want. And I have what is most important. Soon I'll have been more :D @Simile, @HopHop, you okay with us gathering to try some dry runs?

RRBB

@Candle: Err, hi. I was wondering, like, can I be your apprentice? My grades are quite bad so I won't be applying anywhere… but I'm very good at sewing and making dolls. *blush* If I could I'd like you to teach me to make human plushies.

Oopsy

@Candle: please, please, please say yes! Oopsy is my sweetheart and he really deserves to have a shot at this. I guarantee he’s the sweetest stallion you'll meet, and really good at making clothes! I've seen some of tech dolls he's made! Also his cutie mark is a pair of scissors! How perfect is that!

PrinceEric

Umm, @Oopsy, I'm flattered you think so highly of me, but I'm not sure I'm good enough to teach anypony yet. Maybe you would be better to ask somepony a bit better?

Candle

@Candle: Nonsense, my darling! We have seen you work many times on the site, and not only the plushies! I seem to remember you making some wonderful costumes a while back. I, for one, think this is an excellent opportunity for the both of you, not to mention for the hoards of Nightlings waiting to see the result (and possibly own a few of your creations :))

Grace

Please, @Candle. Please! :)))

PrinceEric

The exams weren't tat difficult. I still haven't chosen what to do, but aeronautics is an option. At this point I really don't know. I might try professional writing. I have received an interesting offer recently and have to consider it.

@Oopsy: you finally joined. :) Congratulations and welcome.

Quarters

Omg! Is this who I think it is?

RRBB

@Grace, @PrinceEric: Alright, I shouldn't be selfish.

@Oopsy: I'll gladly teach you what I know. Just be prepared, though. Like in Manhattan is very different from anywhere else. And the life of an artist of fashionista is a difficult one. If you're certain about this PM me and we’ll see what the next steps are.

Candle

@Candle, at least now you no longer need to be worried who will look after your old apartment. I too think this is a very positive development. It is high time you start having protégés and someone from the Nightling community is as golod a choice as you could hope.

The TechNightling

Wait what? Tech said something nice? There must be something wrong with the world today! What if that isn't Tech, but someone from the Felina corp sent to infiltrate us? Yep, that sounds much more plausible.

@Oopsy: As for you, you better not slack! I have my eye on you and if you cause Candle Amy grief, stallion or not, you'll answer to me! And not even PrinceEric will save you!

RRBB

…okay?

Oopsy

I'm sure all of you did just fine. (Not that I can say anything, of course ;))

It's a relief that I can finally talk with you as a fellow Nightling and not as your teacher. My only request is that you follow your heart and stay in touch with your old friends and classmates as you make new ones. :)

“Let’s do this together!” -Danny Williams

FunDaisy88

Sudden Change

Well that was fast… A day after the plushie thread and already a 20k story on the subject. And it's good too! @Quarters, I have no idea how you manage it, but you are *yay* good! Just own small comment: the story is great, but you didn't use an editor and it shows in part. It passes, of course, but having read your previous stuff, I know how much better you could get. I'd help, but I think I'll be a bit busy in the months to come.

@Twist, @Feather: Could any of you help out?

RRBB

I read it this morning! It's sooo cuuute! I cried so hard when Danny plushie jumped to protect his owner and got torn in half.

There must be a sequel! There just must be!

I even wrote a song about it. I'll try to record and post it later today (if my fat sister gives me any privacy :/).

SweetStuff

Hmm? Which story is that? I've been a bit out of things largely and sounds likeI missed this one. Are we talking about Danny being transformed into a plushie? Or a plushie of Danny coming to life?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: For shame! Do you even read your site anymore? And you call yourself a Nightling? :P

The story is called Human Within and the nature of the plushie is never actually revealed. All we know is that it's a gift to the OC from her mother (again no name mentioned) and things just go on from there. It's a very good story, a sort of adventure comedy that keeps you reading on and on. The only faults are that it could have used an editing pass, as RRBB mentioned.

@Quarters: I can talk to Jade to have a look if you're okay. Let me know.

MixaMax

I'm sure that the mother is Caprice! Her name and cutie mark are never mentioned, but she's a Pegasus that had the same coat and mane as Caprice. It has to be her!

I'm more curious is the dragons are working for a corporation or someone else entirely. They reacted upon seeing the plushie for the first time. Also, one of Twinkle’s friends in school also made a strange comment. I'm convinced that this is a future gen and we’ll have the the children of the grand9 appear :)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: hate to break it to you, but the story is marked complete.

RRBB

Did you know that two new writes have accepted offers to replace MC veterans? That brings the total number of the new wave of authors to 5.

Also, there's a rather large interest in plushies on Earth. At present bunnies are the most favored, but by this time next month ponies might have overtaken them.

Speculator7

@MixaMax: Jade has already read the story and given feedback to the author. Jade is also annoyed that you have been staying late again this week. :/

Jade

Oooh! Somepony will be sleeping in the barn tonight :P (And don't even think of using your sister to crash at my place! You messed up, you'll suffer the consequences!)

RRBB

Wow, this was good! And I think that the plushie might be the Everprince. Although it has Danny’s appearance, the mannerisms are very different. Knowing Quarters’ eye for detail I doubt that's an accident, editor or not.

@Speculator7: Lol! Pony plushies in a world of humans. Not impossible, but it sounds hilarious. Though, I wouldn't mind Cassandra having a plushie of me O:)

LyraHands

@SweetStuff: did you ask you fat sis about making plushies?

RRBB

@RRBB: I did… and for a moment it was good… until she started asking me and ForceFeedback what I thought about this model and that model and… argh! Can I please move to Canterlot already?!

SweetStuff

Thank you all. This was just a short to reduce built up school tension. Initially I didn't want to post it, but a few friends told me I should. I am aware that it hasn't been edited. I myself only went through it twice and in rapid succession.

I'm surprised at the amount of ponies who liked it. If I'd known i’d probably make it longer, but with project Butterfly resuming soon, I think I'll leave it for later.

A huge thanks to all. (You too, Miss Cheerilee :))

Quarters

@SweetStuff: ForceFeedback and I. :P Can you get her to make me a Danny? Oh and a Daring Do?

YouKnowWho

@Jade: No, bby, it’s not my fault! We're still dealing with the Windigo situation and you wouldn't believe the amount of bureaucracy involved. I'll be back on time today, honest! … please make some of that mushroom stew I love? O:)

@RRBB: Ha! Good one. I've not fallen so low as to ask you for a place to stay! And I won't be sleeping in the barn!

MixaMax

@Quarters: nice fic. Not your best, but the idea has a certain char, to it. I'm sure when you get to the sequel it will be great. And if no one has agreed to help you out with editing I will :)

Just for the record I had a pony plushie when I was a filly. There's nothing odd in that.

LightSparkle

@RRBB: She's right. We don't have a barn.

Short&Hoofy

There is no barn! The barn is a lie!

MightyDragon

Hmm I wonder. Technically, I think I could animate a plushy. It won't be anywhere as complex as the real thing, but quite more advanced that the usual dolls on sale. :D

The more I think about it the more fun it sounds. @RRBB: have you considered doing puppet shows? Or should I say “plushie shows”? No idea if there's any appeal, but the idea sound cute :)

LyraHands

Dear all,

I will be inactive for the near future. I'm sorry I can't share my reasons, but i can assure you this isn't a mood swing or fancy. It is yet unknown if I will return.

Be safe, and thank you.

DarkSparkle

Twilight Talk PMs

What the hay is going on? I spoke with Dark a few days ago and she seemed fine. Now suddenly she quits? She deleted her account after the post and I can’t get in touch with TrueSparkle or EverSpike.

Please tell me you know what's happening! I’m worried it's more serious than last time. CodeFilly and HopHop down know anything either. I'm one step away from asking Princess Celestia.

LyraHands

She wouldn't tell you much either. :(

I really don't want to tell this over the net, but things aren't looking good. Can you just wait a few more days? I know it's trivial. But I have to deal with exams and some issues of my own. My friends have been worried here as well (even if they don't know the whole story). Okay if I hear you later?

LightSparkle

Isn't there anything you could tell me? She's been my friend since elementary school. We entered the S.G.U. together. Please there has to be something you could tell me!

LyraHands

Look, I can tell you, but I don't to worry you. And I'm not only saying this because I'm concerned for you as a person, or that you're expecting in a few months.

Let's just say that it's more complicated than I originally thought.

LightSparkle

It's the Windigo, isn't it? Don't bother denying the obvious. I hear things too. Does that have to do with her fainting? Dark was always healthy as a filly. There's no way an alicorn would just star fainting like that for no reason.

And it was never clear what the Windigo wanted. Nopony managed to make out his ramblings… he's after her, isn't he?

LyraHands

Lyra…I told you it's complicated. I don't know what's going on. No one does. We went to see her with True a few days ago. She seemed a bit shaken, but fine. Then the same evening TrueSparkle came to see me in panic. Dark had vanished from the hospital without a trace. The first I heard of her was when she made her post yesterday.

No one has seen her since my visit. No one at all. I don't even know where she connected from. TrueSparkle is trying to track her down with some spells, but so far nothing has worked. Mom is clueless, and even Princess Luna can't reach her. We think that Dark has been avoiding sleep since she vanished.

LightSparkle

Huh? She can't have stayed awake for that long! Twilight couldn't stay up a night without being groggy the day after!

LyraHands

That's why I hate talking about this over net. We don't know what she's doing or why. She might have used a spell we don't know about, or maybe something is preventing auntie from reaching her.

I've already told you everything I know. She was in hospital she seemed fine, then she was gone. It's very untypical for her, true, but she's done stranger things when there was a good reason. She left her friends to help me several times. This is probably something similar. Or it's something alicorny that I don't know about. The best thing we can do us trust her and leave things be.

LightSparkle

I know what you're doing! Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot!

We went to the same school! She's one of my closest friends, so don't act as if I'm some random pony you met on the site!

What is the Windigo up to? Did he kidnap her? He was very instant to see her last time. Of everypony in Equestria he asked that she go there to resolve this. Did you see him? Did he he make you keep it secret?

LyraHands

Lyra! There are no conspiracies! And no I haven't seen the Windigo! No one has seen the Windigo! He was hit by the friendship rainbow, end of story! Whether connected to him or not, Twilight was the one who disappeared and did so of her own free will. Was she pressured? I don't know. What was she thinking? That's what we're trying to figure out. And by we I mean three princesses, two princes, and three of the most capable mages there are!

LightSparkle

And her friends? I got a PM from Brush. She was just as shocked by the post as I was. I had to lie to her that Dark hadn't deleted her account, just gone on hiatus.

If there's a search going on for her, wouldn't her closest friends know?

LyraHands

No… for the moment they don't.

Look, I know it doesn't sound good, but just in case there's someone behind the Windigo attacks, it's better not to risk their lives. Me, TrueSparkle, Simile are outsiders in a way so we could deal with it. Plus we have the advantage of knowing how people on the dark side think.

If anything trust me when I tell you that we'll find her and get her back.

LightSparkle

I want to, but… all the secrets you keep. You being Princess Celestia’s daughter, the way you vanished for years. I still don't know exactly where you're studying, and I tried finding out and couldn't. There are so many things strange about you that I don't know where to start.

You're really looking for her, right? You're not just telling me that so I stop asking. Right?

LyraHands

I am. Even with ten stupid exams I am. In a few hours I'll go see some girls who might have an idea what's going on.

You are right about one thing. There was something not right with that Windigo. He was too calm even if he was in control. I’ve seen villains, even overconfident ones. None of them behaved in that way. Not even close. They'd laugh, sneer, look down at everyone. They wouldn't be a block of ice just staring at you. I know it's a Windigo, but still… if there's something to be found out, I will.

LightSparkle

Please do. I know these things happen every year, but I can never get used to them :(

Sorry for coming off as a jerk. I think I'll nap a bit now. Feeling tired.

LyraHands

No worries. I have another pile of books to go through till tomorrow.

Cya

LightSparkle

Bellucio Wars

Okay, this has gone on far enough! :/

I tried to put up with it for the last few months, but now that school is over and I’m still hearing the ridiculous argument I have a thing or two to say!

Molluchio isn’t a thing! Questionable age difference aside (even with the age up in Everhere), they are a terrible match! Bellucio is vain as hay and Molly is just getting to develop her powers. Sooner or later she’ll see that he’s just using her.

So far there have been five scenes in which he has made her assist him just for the sake of it, not even mentioning he practically uses her as porter sending her to his or Danny’s house to bring him stuff! Twice in Everhere he asked her to cover the bill (not even going into all the times he was okay with her paying on her own), he in effect took her necklace (a comment that it would look good on him was taking, and he knew it!), he still has her game system, even if he’s never played a game on it, and let’s not forget when he asked if she can sculpt a dream so he could prepare for a photo shoot.

Sorry about the rant, but I hate that couple! If anything Bellucio is perfectly suited for Kalypso: both are manipulative and vain and there have been lots of hints in Chosen. I’ll bet anything that next week when the final part of Chosen comes out we’ll see that Bellypso is the OTP.

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho, you might be great for eye candy, but your brain isn’t quite there. Kalypso is a secondary character at best. *yay* she’s not even a canon character! Molly x Bellucio is pretty canon. I think we’ll see that tomorrow with the next chapter.

What in Equestria made you think of something so stupid?

RRBB

@RRBB: We’ve been arguing about it for weeks! Ever since Kalypso stepped in the picture, You has been obsessing about her. It’s not like she actually did anything but act creepy! There’s no way in a thousand years that Bellucio would go for her! On that even my sis agrees! You is just being an idiot.

SweetStuff

@YouKnowWho: but you offer to bring me stuff I’ve forgotten all the time. Does that make me as bad as Bellucio? :(

Plust

@Plust: bby, no. You’re cute and smart. Bellucio isn’t! And I offer because I want to. He’s making Molly do it for him!

@RRBB, @SweetStuff: you two are full of it. I’m 99% sure that Molly is going to hook up with some character that will appear in a future chapter. We’ll see who’s laughing then!

YouKnowWho

I recon that Bellucio isn’t suited for anyone! If you ask me he’ll keep on flirting with anyone who catches his eye until he remains all alone in the end.

Molly can easily pick anyone she wants. Y’all remember that scene with Karl? When she was locked out and went to spend the night at Karl’s and got talking about life and love? She can just as easily marry him at some point.

I’m still a bit sad about Eric. I thought Echo might be nice. Do you think something will happen between them? Remember, according to the teaser they were supposed to be together at some point.

WaterBottle

@RRBB: I knew you’d go for the cliche pairing! Kalypso Bellucio is much more likely! The only smart thing you said was that she’s not Everhere, so might not be considered canon. If she somehow happens to be mentioned, she’d be the one for sure! Let’s not forget that for now she’s one of the best developed characters. Molly changes attitude every three chapters. At times she’s comic relief, then she’s brave, then she’s the one that saves everyone, then she’s a sidekick, then back to comic relief. Kalypso has a consistent development. Just as Bellucio has.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: oh, come on! Kalypso is such a copy of Euryala that it’s not funny. Oh, and do you remember the Bellucio x Euryala craze? What happened to that, huh? Exactly the same thing will happen with Kalypso. Either she’ll never be heard from again, of she’ll be with one of the other Chosen.

Nope, Molly it is. I know we’re not the target audience, but there’s already been one couple (two if we count Cassandra x Megan) so I don’t see why we shouldn’t have a third, though maybe at the end of this volume, or even better in next. Molly getting linked to someone is s bad idea from a business point of view. I expect there will be a lot of hints and teases, but nothing will be said outright till volume 3 of Everhere.

RRBB

What about Athena x Bellucio?

Twist

This sounds like a matter for a poll :)

Bellucio x Molly
Bellucio x Kalypso
Bellucio x Athena

DaBoss

Groovy. Why not all three? Bellucio can handle them, and, like, the compliment his aura.

Love is not meant, like, to be caged away, but to be free. Bellucio is a sun and can attract many stars.

Tree

@Twist: no, just no! That’s so wrong on so many levels!

I know you like crack ships, but at least come up with something logical! How did you even come up with that?

Unrelated, Icelos is such a flirt! Euryala, Kalypso, Echo, and even Athena had a thing for him. What the heck did that guy do?!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Well, Jade managed to steal three hearts at the same time so, I wouldn’t call it far fetched. Remember, Icelos sculpts dreams! :P

Technically Twist might be onto something, even if I doubt it. Remember that so far Athena has smiled three times, one of which to Bellucio, so... it might be happen. If it does it will be such a letdown, though. (I better place myself for more Bellena fics...)

Oh, and Bellucio is the greatest flirt! Molly, two goddesses, a computer, and a horn of fangirls (because of his work) are interested in him. It’s terrifying to think what will happen if he had become the Everprince.

RRBB

I can see all of those ships. I, still hoping for Molly x Bellucio, though.

Can somepony help me with edits? I did a weird adventure short, but it’s a bit meh, so I could use some help. It’s about Blazen trying to figure out stuff about his family.

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: I might as well... send it over and I’ll massacre it.

RRBB

... I still say Kalypso is better! :/

YouKnowWho

The Eric Analysis

A quick question before I start my analysis (and today is a really big chapter! :)) Can anypony tell me what food earth puppies like? Homer has been feeling a bit sniffly lately and I’m worried it might be the food. He’s gotten used to living among the clouds and doesn’t complain about his harness, so I think that’s the only thing left. If you know, please PM me.

Onto the chapter.

We start with Eric waking up in a Palace (yep, a real palace) made of gold (or light. It was never made clear). He gets up, clearly familiar with the place, washes, gets dressed, then heads to have breakfast. During the entire time is alone, yet when he gets to the dining hall his breakfast is waiting for him. after he finishes, he leaves the dishes as they are then moves to the huge mirror in the room and asks what they want from him. The mirror then suddenly transforms into Echo.

We have a flashback of echo trying to escape into Equestria only to be captured by the Everprince. There’s a comment about it being obvious that “Icelos would discard her”. She then explains that this used to be the summer palace of the gods once, and was filled with servants like her. A long time ago she would see it as honor to be there, before she learned the truth about the gods and the world. That’s when she decided to kill all of them and have her revenge.

I’ll skip the slice of life of them talking and explaining their point of view (although it was interesting for them to discuss the hold she had on Eric and the water bottle scheme). Of the important things we learn that Poseidon is lost forever (or so Echo claims) and that she thinks he’s gotten it easy. Eric is about to make an argument when his phone rings (Danny needs him since they are facing a new danger.) Echo says that she’ll transport him to his home and they could continue the conversation later. She then goes and grabs a cup of water from the table and uses it to make a mirror portal through which Eric disappears. Moments later someone (unknown) appears and Echo asks him how he’s so certain Eric will return. To which she is answered that Eric will always return.

Back in Mistmount we find that the computer dimension has sent a sentinel (?) to determine how suitable the world is for conquest. The creature is pure energy that can shape the form of electronic objects (as Computrix did) but seems to be far less simplistic. However, it is explained that defeating it would only increase the computer dimension’s interest towards Earth. The solution is to capture it and bring it to Computrix unharmed so she could reprogram it in a way so that Earth is considered a decaying reality and ignored.

A number of capture attempts follow with the sentinel always managing to escape and beat up and direct attack attempt. Blazen gets cocky at one point and tries to use his powers against it, but only succeeds in getting it furious. In another intense scene, the grand9 manage to capture the sentinel, holding it so that Computrix reprogram it. However, it manages to escape again (severely wounded) only to be crushed by Athena to everyone’s horror. We have the obligatory exchange between everyone, fearing that what Computrix did might not be enough and they must prepare for more, should they come.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Eric goes home, then uses his water bottle to open a portal and returns to the gold prison/palace. He tells Echo what has happened and asks why she keeps letting him go. The speculation is that neither the Everprince nor the Overseers have any interest in letting him free. At that point someone new appears, introducing himself as Prometheus and explains those aren’t the only sides.

I can’t believe titans are back :) And on Earth itself! So many new questions. With the whole Everprince revelation, I totally forgot about them. Turns out they had a presence in Mistmount all along :)

I’m still curious about Athena. She’s so very quiet I’m almost sure she’s evil. Do you think that maybe she’s the Everprince’s lover or something?

PrinceEric

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel very strongly about this chapter. Eric living in an invisible prison hits a bit too close to home. Sometimes I think we all live in invisible prisons, but and it’s up to use to find the key to escape or get used to living like this.

Sorry for being so negative, but I have a lot on my mind right now and my immediate surroundings aren’t helping :(

The chapter was interesting and also gives a boost to Twist’s idea. Athena only acted when Bellucio was in direct danger. This might mean nothing, since she also banished a trickster when he tried to attack Danny, but it makes one wonder.

LyraHands

Is it just me or are things much quieter lately? :/

The chapter was okay, but I had hoped we’d learn more about Poseidon and the mistake he did. Of everything in Everhere, and I love it loads, this is the one annoying thing. We have several Mimi at s that are broken up. I’m 90% sure that next chapter will be about the Everprince and won’t touch on titans, evegems, Equestria, or the computer dimension.

And don’t get me started on the Chosen and Blazen references every now and again! It’s such a tease I want to go Canterlot and buck Bellucio in the snout! (In a loving way, of course :))

RRBB

Heh, that would be interesting to see.

Yes, it has been quite quiet. I think it’s just that time of year. Fall is approaching, plus with school over a lot of families tend to go on vacation with their foals for a week or two. And then there’s college applications and what not. Don’t worry, things will pick back up.

LyraHands

Tell me about it! :/

Squishy is so obsessed with stuff that she’s locked herself in her room and shoos me off the moment I come near. Well, at least we have the evenings :)

By the way, I’ll need your advice on something. It’ll be a long talk so when is good for you?

RRBB

Tomorrow’s fine. Just be patient if I don’t answer right away.

LyraHands

Thanks! See ya, hands. Time for curating...

RRBB

Foal Talk PMs

Hey, are you here?

RRBB

Yeah, sorry. Had to deal with some stupid yay again :/ I’m here now.

Did something happen between you and Short? I’ll be in Canterlot for another week I think, but I can take the train back at any moment. Heck, I can even get somepony to fly me there!

LyraHands

Wait, what?!

Things are going great with Squishy. Why the yay should there be problems?

RRBB

Last few times you needed to talk to me urgently you were always devastated. One of them including YouKnowWho not returning your love.

Edit: Sorry, I’m a bit snippy because of my parents again. It’s a relief that all is fine between you two. :) So what’s up then?

LyraHands

Heh, I feel you. My mother is at it again because of my business venture. At least she’s given up trying to have me “change my mind” and marry somepony else for political reasons.

I told her “Mare, Squishy’s sister has three times the net worth we do!” That shut her up pretty fast. Not to mention that Jade is of noble lineage and technically his family is millennia old. (I love using that in casual conversation :) )

Anyway. How painful was your procedure?

RRBB

My what?

LyraHands

You know! Your pregnancy procedure! I asked about and heard it was pretty painful, but I want to hear from you directly.

RRBB

Oh, RRBB… the procedure only works on unicorns. There’s no way you can undertake it. It requires my magic to maintain the foals alive until they are born. I could explain the magic process in detail sometime, but the important thing is that Cadence used a powerful spell to transfer some of Bob’s essence and make it merge with me. From there it’s pretty much like a standard pregnancy with the exception of the constant magic thing.

I’ll tell you, I’m glad you can’t go through that. It was painful as Tartarus! And not anesthetic spells or potions could be used because they would have affected the spell. The best way I could describe it is like eating a bucket of steel thorns until you burst, and then some.

LyraHands

Oh… Well, that settles it then.

Squishy suggested that she go through it in a few years so that we have our own foals. I was on the fence, but now am pretty much against it.

RRBB

What the yay?!? Good thing too!

That spell is extremely dangerous. According to Cadence it hasn’t been used in centuries and with good reason. I had to mentally prepare what would happen if I lose the child during the process. Not to mention I could have been maimed physically or potentially worse.

I trust you not to tell anyone, but it was far more dangerous than even Bob knows. Cadence made pretty sure to have enough safeguards in case I died, but even so I could have ended messed up pretty bad. To have Short go through this… Sky I don’t even want to think about it! She doesn’t have the magic required to do it.

LyraHands

Not that I’m arguing with you, but her magic is pretty good. I’ve seen her do things that I didn’t think possible.

RRBB

Good for fun and games, sure. It’s maybe even great, but really complex stuff, it isn’t. I know I don’t show it, but my magic is exceptionally strong. Being in the SGU isn’t just for show. We are very much gifted magically.

I’m not saying the difference between Short and me as you and her, but there is large difference.

So, you want foals?

LyraHands

… I’m so mad right now I feel like breaking a wall! That idiot! She lied me in the face! I bet she knew the effects this could have, and she still casually suggested it as if it’s nothing!

RRBB

Yeah, I do. I want to have my own foals very much. I don’t care what ponies say, or that I won’t be “the businessmare that will rock Equestria”. I might not be the best parent, but looking at mine, I’m up to the task. And Squishy will be the best parent ever.

I knew something was suspicious the moment she stopped talking about the procedure. It’s my thought. I kept saying how much I’d like to have foals every chance I get.

RRBB

It’s understandable. I know exactly how you feel, and as somepony who’s gone down that road of thought, I’m telling you that in her case it’s too big a risk. Not what either of you would want to hear, I’m sure, but the only thing worse than not having a foal is losing one.

LyraHands

Yeah, I figured. Or losing Squishy in her stupid attempt! I still can’t believe she didn’t tell me! I might have a serious talk with her about this… though after her exams. She’s a wreck right now. Sometimes I can hear her reciting stuff at night.

She’s applying to some SGU program. Chances are she’ll make it.

Thanks for the chat, Lyra. I knew I could always rely on you. Heh, it’s thanks to you that I got to be what I am and also get Squishy. This time I’ll deal with this by myself.

RRBB

Sorry I could be of any help :( I might ask Princess Celestia if I get a chance. Maybe she knows something that would help.

LyraHands

Nah, don’t worry about it. I got this! :) remember, I’m not without resources. Everything is under control… or will be. You just deal with your folks. I’ll focus on this mess, when the time comes. Heh, mess isn’t the exact word, but you know what you mean.

Also, I am so seeing your foals first chance I have! :D

RRBB

Deal! :)

And PM me anytime if there’s anything else you want to talk about, okay? As I said before, I’m always here for when you need me.

Not to get back to my “fun” day. I’m inspecting houses… don’t ask.

LyraHands

Ha ha! I won’t :) Take care, you crazy. :P

RRBB

Chosen Theories

Girls, girls! I heard something fantastic! (Can’t reveal my source because I don’t want to cause problems, but if it’s true, this is the best thing ever!) Since they know how active I’m here they only told me a few bits of info, some of which I promised not to reveal until next week (How cool is that?! The first spinoff will end in a week!!!). There are some things I can discuss however, and I will! (Sorry if I’m spoiling too much, @Luna!)

[spoiler-EqF]
The Everprince will be mentioned.
From what I heard I got the impression it will only be in relation to Chosen, which we already know since it has been stated that Poseidon changed after talking to the Everprince. Personally, I think some link between the two will be shown so as to further the Everhere line. The significance in that is that if true, it might mean that Chosen is considered canon as to the overall MC universe and not just a spinoff.

It isn’t the obvious who the extra is, but it will make sense when they are revealed
This is an interesting one. I suspect it’s a red herring, but still interesting. The obvious choice is Molly, of course, but that might be too obvious. Or maybe I was hinted because it’s too obvious? The more interesting thing matter is that this is of major significance. I was told there’s something special by the 6+1+1+1 ratio in Chosen. (Maybe a link to the grand9 in Everhere?)

There will be a ship and in no indefinite terms
Well this is obvious, but it will be interesting to see what that ship is. I am still backing the Belly pairing. Having Bellucio go with Kalypso is starting to look really unrealistic the more I reread things, and Molly x random chosen is just silly. Maybe they’ll surprise all of us and go with Kalypso x Molly? :P

Poseidon’s mistake shall be revealed
This is one of the big ones. I still have no idea what the mistake is, and most likely we may not find out here either. Still, just getting a hint will be very important and possibly let us know what to expect in Everhere. At the moment I don’t even have a theory what the mistake could be, but suspect it involves the titans who made a recent reappearance.

Omni might not be the only deity in the grand9
This is a huge reveal, and if true will change so many things. For one thing it might mean that the grand9 are more special than previously thought (which is pretty special with their backstories shown in the first arc). It would be insane if it turns out that all of the nine are gods in some aspect.
[spoiler-EqF]

So, what do you think? Exciting things await! :D

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: you don’t have to add spoiler tags when posting in the spoiler section.

To answer your questions, I think all of them are interesting with the exception of the last one. Having one being part of a deity is clever, having more is outright silly. That’s why I think this is a false lead. Knowing the writers, their work so far, that is, I doubt that they would go for such an obvious ploy. This is rather a misleading question. I expect it will be asked in the book, but not that it will turn out true.

The TechNightling

So many questions… I see how I’ll go beg @Luna for an early copy. (At least I have that to look forward to :/) Anyway, it would be interesting if the artifact last chapter has anything to do with Poseidon. Grogar corm seemed pretty confident of itself, to the point that everyone else didn’t want to have anything to do with them.

Personally I hope a few other corporations are mentioned in Chosen so we could find links. And the titans… Knowing Luna I wouldn’t put it past her and Prince Bellucio to have times this so that we have titans appear in Chosen as well. Hmmm :)

LyraHands

Someone get a doctor! Max hasn’t commented how bad it will be in over three hours! Surely she must be sick!

RRBB

@RRBB: sis is with Jade and I doubt she’ll feel like commenting today.

I like the idea. The entire Chosen feels somehow special when I read it. It starts one way then changes with each next booklet. It’s almost like experiencing the four seasons: things are the same yet we get an entirely new perspective. That’s why I think the finale will be entirely different from everything we’ve seen so far.

This might be just a hunch, but I think that someone will die. Not Molly or Bellucio, but one of the rest.

Short&Hoofy

I might just be the resident changeling, but do you think there’s a chance we find that the Molly and Bellucio in Everhere actually aren’t the Molly and Bellucio of Chosen? All we know is that someone came back. There haven’t been any changelings in the series, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t spells or maybe deity intervention. What is Bellucio and Molly are Poseidon and Kalypso?

ManyFaces

@Manyfaces: Whoa! That… O!M!G! That will be so cool! I never even thought of it! You are right, there’s no telling if they are the same and we’ve seen deities take on different forms in the past. Maybe that would explain why Athena smiled to Bellucio? She wasn’t smiling because she liked him, but because she recognized him as her uncle! Aaaaaa! Now I want to read it so much more!

PrinceEric

Hrmrm! Well, that would make interesting… it will also bury me in a wave of fad fics. @LightSparkle: I’m dying here! Lend a hoof with curation, will you? At times I feel I’m the only one doing this. :/

If that’s true, thought, I wonder what the ship is. Kalypso x Eric? Kalypso x Karl? Not that I see how she might have met them, but leave it to the writers to go “There was a hidden magic pool of water all along!” like they did with Echo. Kalypso x Everprince? … or maybe Poseidon x Everprince?

Edit: I regret writing that…

RRBB

@RRBB: usually I would remain quiet in moments like these, but since it’s you I’d say it wasn’t entirely unforeseen.

The TechNightling

Wooo! Sick burn, Tech! :D

Anyway, guess we’ll find out soon :D

LyraHands

Twist’s PMs

Hey, squirt, what’s up with Twist? Like, she’s always cheerful and such. When she edits my stuff she fills it with a ton of smartass comments. Don’t get me started how she ridicules every single typo she finds. Like even Jade and Twilight can’t reach her level. I mean she’s leagues ahead in puns and jokes.

Anyway, yesterday she got back to editing my Danny Daring Do chapter and she just corrected the mistakes. Not a single joke. I know you went through a lot during that Windigo thing, but when I ask her she says she’s fine. What’s up with that?

AwesomePony

Hey! :)

Err, about that. No one knows for sure, but looks like she had a nasty breakup. Apple Bloom tries talking to her, but only got that Twist wants to be alone for a while. Like it’s really weird. It’s sort of been getting worse and worse the last five weeks. She’s also become more of a shut in. I mean it always bothered her a bit when ponies would make fun of her list, but lately she doesn’t even bother talking. :(

YouKnowWho

What the hay?! Call her in here! I’ll have a word. I’d do it, but I’m not too used with this aether tech stuff. :/

AwesomePony

I can try but it’s up to her to respond.

I mean I have already, so now we just wait. Your latest chapters were awesome! I bet A.K. herself would have loved them! That time when Danny and Daring learn that the pyramid actually has five sides and they must find a way to bend sunlight round it to for, the fifth side. That was so cool!

How that school is over can I come over and watch you write sometime? Oh, and can I bring Plust with me? I sort of told him you’re like my big sister and... O:)

YouKnowWho

Trying to impress the colt? I approve :) Sure thing, squirt. Bring him along. Just wait for a few more days, okay? Things are still a bit tense so my patrols have doubled. And that slacker Soarin is still on his Honeymoon. I bet it would take him few weeks for him to get used to flying after he gets back :/

Good on Brush, though. If she had told me what had happened with her ex, I’d have flown to the Crystal Empire and taught that stallion-stealer what’s what!

AwesomePony

What’s the matter?

Twist

There you are!

Squirt, can you disconnect from this thread? Sorry about this, but I’d like to have a on on one with Twist. See you later this week after work, okay?

AwesomePony

Sure. Ttyl.

YouKnowWho

Okay, Twist. Now I know this isn’t easy. Trust me I’ve been there. Hay, I’m still there. I know I may look cool and awesome, but I still feel like my heart is ripped out. You better not tell anypony about this.

The trick is not to let the others know what’s going on inside you.

What I’m trying to say is that I’m here for advice and support when you need me. I might not be as brainy as Twilight, but I never let a pony down. Okay?

AwesomePony

I don’t have any colt problems. I broke up with them, not the other way around.

Twist

Really? Well from what I know you’ve been acting strange for over a month. And don’t tell me you’re not. Just look at the comments you made on my story before and after your pause. It’s like Discord came by and drained all your happy.

If he did, I’ll fly to him and give him the thrashing he deserves! I don’t care if he’s reformed! This isn’t like stealing hiccups. I bet if I tell Fluttershy she’ll be mad and have a word with him.

AwesomePony

It’s my father!

Twist

It was my father... I’m still not used saying it. He died a few weeks ago.

Twist

Holy clouds, Twist :( I had no idea... I’ve never actually seen your father.

AwesomePony

That’s because he’s been in Manehattan for the last ten years. I’d go visit him every summer, sometimes winter a well. The last few years he didn’t want me to go. He has... he had a serious condition. Irreversible. The best the doctors could do is keep him comfortable and try to get him to last longer. And he did. Three full years.

I was prepared for this ever since I was a filly, yet it still came too fast. It’s like looking at a bag of candies: you know it’ll get empty eventually, but you always hope there’s one more left.

Twist

Why didn’t you tell anypony? I know Twilight says that in moments of grief ponies must be alone, but that’s a tone of *yay*! I’ve been there, and not just now. I thought I’d be better alone, but I wasn’t.

Trust me you have lots of friends who would be there if you ask. Horseapples, I’d be there for you!

AwesomePony

I know. And that’s why I don’t want to ask. It like my lisp. I don’t want ponies to be careful around me, I just want them to be my friends. If I say my father’s passed away I’d get a lot of useless sympathy just because. Apple Bloom knows. She promised she wouldn’t tell anypony about it.

But you are right. Talking helps. Maybe it’s because I’m writing it here. And you’ve helped a lot. You’ve kept my mind off things with your chapters. That’s helped.

Twist

Twist, let me give you a piece of advice. The best way to pass through a storm cloud is to fly straight through it. It’ll be rough and you might get your feathers singed, but it beats waiting for it to just pass away. Maybe it would, maybe it would, but if you go right at it you know you can count on yourself.and those you chose to be by your side.

AwesomePony

Maybe for awesome ponies.

Twist

Twist, we are all awesome. You just have to let yourself accept being awesome. There’s pain, there’s grief, and there’s heartache. All of them need time to heal. None of them need you to be alone while you do. Okay?

AwesomePony

I need to get back to studying. I need to fill in my applications by the end of day.

See you.

Twist

Thank you.

Twist

Night Embrace Of The Midnight Storm Goddess

I just can’t! I found the best story ever! Like, forget everything you’ve read! Drop anything you’re doing and go read it! It’s too good for words! GG and I spent all night reading it. We laughed so hard the neighbors almost kicked us out.

Seriously, go read it!

The story is called Night Embrace Of The Midnight Storm Goddess and it’s beyond words!!!

Feather

Oh, that one. Yeah, I know it. I curated it. From a theme and technical view it’s passable. I only read the first seven chapters. There were some interesting elements but it went into the more of the same pretty fast.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: mare, you don’t know anything! Keep on reading! Goth Girl turns out to be an actual goddess who had gone undercover because of she was hiding from the corporations (as in they were all united against her because she’s so OP). In the last chapter she decided to get Blazen to break up with Euryala, because Euryala was in fact a corporate spy.

I mean *yay* me! This is just too good for words!

Feather

Hello,

Before things have a chance to escalate, I’d like to remind everyone about our non-trashing policy. While I am aware of groups who do this, even if I find the idea unappealing, such behaviour is statued in the group’s description. Having similar discussions in general chat are strictly forbidden and appropriate action will be taken.

Thank you!

The TechNightling

Tech, I have explicit permission from the author to comment this. In fact they were more than happy for me to do so. In their words, the whole absurd saga is a “de-stress” fic mixed with wish fulfillment and a bucketful of cider.

Forwarding you the mail so that you could confirm.

Feather

I stand corrected. In future, however, please avoid doing that in general chat, but rather create a dedicated group.

The TechNightling

@Feather: I remember that one! I stopped at chapter three. I found it boring to be honest. Also, I’m so tired of goth humans. I mean it was fun the first dozen times, but after a few thousand stories I tend just to glance over the fic and completely ignore it.

You say it’s good?

RRBB

@RRBB: good doesn’t begin to describe it! You must read it! It’s something else! Hay, we even invited the author to Griffinstone, but they couldn’t make it due to work.

It’s a gem among gems!

GriffinGirlfriend

Now you’ve gotten me curious. I, currently reading so many other things that I just don’t have the time! Can you tell me what it’s about? Just in a few words.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: it’s about Goth Girl (actual character name) appearing out of nowhere into Mistmount all covered in wounds and fainting in front of Danny’s house. Megan fins her and takes her in, at which point they take care of her for a few days (in the house) until she gets better.

Goth Girl goes on to in effect seduce all of the grand9 males (including Blazen) who seem very okay with it. Of course she has a mysterious past and is hunted by the corporation, even if none of their spells and weapons have any effect on her. Oh, and of course it turns out the Everprince was her ex (she’s stronger than him, of course, but still cares too much to harm him, thus lets him escape).

In short it’s the worst of tech worst things you could read... yet after a dozen chapters you just can’t stop reading. It’s so bad it’s actually good. When a new chapter appears, Jade and I get together and read it. :)

MixaMax

Hey! I can write just as good! How come that passes curation and my works don’t! I’ll officially sending a complaint to somepony or other. *nudge nudge*

Who is Rhimer anyway? I bet she isn’t even a real MC fan!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: I told you! Until you start writing better I won’t let a single pen of your fics past curation! If you want to complain talk to LightSparkle! She let it through!

And don’t think about asking me to edit. I already promised to edit enough bad fics! (The things I do...)

Oh, before I forget, we’ll be attempting to do a dream reading for Chosen. Luna has graciously provided an early copy and My glorious team: Simie, HipHop, SweetStuff, DarkSparkle, and TrueSparkle have been working tirelessly to make it happen. So I better see you there!

RRBB

@RRBB: you’re terrible, you know? :) I’ll be there now that I can finally get out of the house on my own four hooves.

Any chance you can make a dream reading of Midnight Storm Goddess? I read a few chapters and I agree with everything said so far. The author is a national treasure :D

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: well look who showed her snout :)

How have you been, you idiot? I tried to come see you several times, but your parents wouldn’t let me past the front door. And I’m not talking them telling the staff... they personally were there to tell me you needed your rest. Am I a non-grata now or what? :/

RRBB

@RRBB: yeah, about that... don’t worry, it’s nothing personal. My parent just think my boyfriend is a bad influence so are preventing everypony from visiting out of fear it might be him. :/ Absolutely ridiculous, but after the stunt I pulled I can’t blame them. It’ll have to be like this for a while until I get accepted in college.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: buck that *yay*! Just say the word and I’ll go there and raise a scandal to the stars! What the hay?! First that’s none of their business, second, did they even think that through? He’s a changeling! He can become a bird and fly through the window or do any if a million other things. Parents are so dumb! I swear I’ll never become like that!

Also, am totally doing this fic! It’s pure gold! :D

RRBB

I like goth humans ;)

Hi, all, we’re back from our honeymoon. What did I miss?

Brush

The Flurry Contest

Hello, Nightlings!

I write to you today on a very important matter. Due to recent events a small crisis has formed in the Crystal Empire. Some of you might have heard about it, others not. For those who know thank you for the constant support. For everyone else, I’ll try to recap the situation best I could…

As you know I attended the last Chosen reading along with my daughter (Princess Flurry “Jennifer” Heart). The experience had a lasting impact on my daughter… making her demand new and “better” stories. Sadly I’m not a good writer, and InItForTheShipping is a bit busy to manage to write as fast as “demanded”. Thus I have no choice, but to organize a Flurry contest.

Contest rules:
1. Nothing suggestive! Flurry is barely six!
2. The main character of the story must be Jennifer: a human girl that goes on adventures with younger Molly and “bucks corporate bottoms” (I’ve no idea where she got that from O :) )
3. There must be no “mushy” stuff. Just adventure and mischief.
4. No princesses! (Don’t look at me)
5. No longer than 7000 words (or approximate)

All stories must be submitted and curated on the site by one week from now. Stories will be read to Princess Jennifer who will be the final arbiter.

Reward: Anything you want!

SaltyHuman

That sounds so cuute! I wish I could chip in for an additional reward, but as things stand now not sure I could.

I fully support this, though! Anything that the site can do it will. Also, this will be a great test for everypony, since you will (almost) be writing for the target audience. Well in terms of age, at least. :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Not only in terms of age. I blame myself and Salty. Flurry has become obsessed with MC to the point that she’s trying to walk on her read legs any chance she gets. And Thorax is no help! (I know you’re reading this! So don’t hide!) I’ve become so accustomed to see Molly or Megan at breakfast that if the real Molly comes to Equestria I’ll barely arch a brow.

As a side bonus, Salty and I will also have a separate “parents” reward which will mark our personal choice.

Bet luck to all.

InItForTheShipping

If you don’t mind delays I could promise an art piece for the top 3. So sorry for taking so long with the previous pieces and commissions. Thank you so much for your patience.

@InItForTheShipping: send me a description of Princess Jennifer. I can draw a OC sketch like in twenty minutes. :)

PaintDrop

Awww! I’ll do my best to complete a story for this. It’s beyond cute, and I think I should get some practice for the time I’ll need to follow suit. (If the fortunetellers are to be believed I’ll to have four foals: three fillies and a colt at some point. CEO found the prediction amusing.)

A fic centered around a little tomboyish princess who isn’t a princess? This will be so precious :) @RRBB: Will you have a go? It’s been a while since you’ve written anything.

Brush

@RRBB: yeah! Will you eve complete the Danny Saga? I know you’re a great editor, but you’re a pretty good writer as well! And I still reread that every now and again. It reminds me of the old days (when were are four mares gathering in coffee shops).

@Brush: I’m so curious to see what you’ll write now that you’re fully calm and relaxed after your honeymoon :)

LyraHands

Umm, I think I’ll try as well. I don’t think I can win, but it will be fun to write a story about a little princess. :)

Candle

@Candle: Not a princess, remember? :P

Oh, another rule. Nothing sad, please. No sad fics. I know how good some of you are in writing those, but… please no. For my sake if nothing else.

SaltyHuman

@Brush: You bet I will! Both me and Squishy will! I couldn’t come with a better contest theme if I had to. Oh and I’ll wait for @PaintDrop to post the OC before I start. Time to see if you still can write of CEO took it all out of you :P

@LyraHands: No time soon. Maybe one day… I don’t know. What do you think of having Princess Jennifer become the site’s mascot? Paint is great at fluffy, and we need a cute mascot.

RRBB

@RRBB: Buck you, sweetie :) I’ll outwrite you anytime.

Brush

@SaltyHuman: Err, boss, I know you said I was absolutely forbidden to participate, but when you said “absolutely” how flexible were you exactly? Like double critical success? Not that I want to brag, but I have been taking writing lessons and have improved quite a bit.

MightyDragon

@SaltyHuman: What he means is that he’s been writing backstories to his O&O characters, some of which were good.

Oligosaccharide, I love you and adore you… but please don’t write. It will be like the Revenge of Raven Boy all over again. I got hiccups from laughing at that… I’m sorry to say this, but… you’re just a terrible writer.

CodeFilly

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! I want to write this! I already have an idea! Oh and I’m making it into a song! :D

Edit: great… my fat sister saw this and now is squeeing behind me. :/ No longer sure if I’ll write a story or it will be a “combined effort”.

SweetStuff

Damn! Just when I was thinking of writing a troll fic this comes up. Now I have to change my entire thought process… or maybe not.

There is no rule about troll fics, right? As long as they are safe I can write one, right?

Feather

Nice! :) I’ll enjoy curating this. Also, I’ll be particular tough (as I suspect Grace will be).

Just a warning: make sure your fics have good grammar and spelling. Since this is Flurry you’ll be writing for, you can at least make it easy for her parents. Remember the story will be read, so reading it out loud is a good idea.

Also, Salty didn’t specify, but I strongly recommend you to keep to one fic. Make it your best instead of burying me with attempts.

Have fun and make your stories shine :)

LightSparkle

New MC Writers

Hello, all!

I have something exciting to announce. Well, actually more than one! First and foremost, let I’d like to welcome our two newly appointed writers: EndlessHearts/Shorty&Hoofy and Quarters. Both have been made the offer, and both have agreed to join (after a surprisingly short period of hesitation). With that the amount of oldschool writers becomes two and even they will step down sometime next year.

Don’t worry, they have been asking to retire for a while. As some of you already know, although not intensive writing for the Midnight Castle universe is a tiring job and it’s normal for ponies to want a break after a while.

@EndlessHearts, @Quarters: and now here’s the big news for you, and in part the need for you to sign that NDA. Humans exist. Yep, that’s right! They do, and as part of your work as writers you will go to their world for research. Of course, MC itself is fiction, so don’t expect coming across Danny or anyone else :)

That said, it’s a pleasure to have you and welcome to the team!

Speculator7

Well, it was about time! You two are really great! It’s interesting how your writing follows similar vibes, it’s much more emotional and slice of life-like, but still action packed when it needs to be.

Now that the secret is up, you’re welcome to visit me anytime. (Yes, I don’t like in Equestria. Long story, but please don’t tell anyone else. It’s complicated.)

@Luna, any clarity what their assignments will be?

LightSparkle

No way! It’s all real?!

Quarters

Right now I’m not sure who would be more upset... Max of RRBB. Congratulations, Short. As you’ll soon see this is a great job after you get over the first few weeks of weird. So far I’ve been to Earth three times and it’s amazing, even if much calmer and safer than here. There’s no Windigo there for one thing, I’ll tell you that.

Quarters, congratulations to you too. Your storytelling is magnificent, but if you have the time I’d suggest reading some style and grammar books. It’s not that you can’t do it, it’s just that you don’t seem to have focused on it until now. And remember, we’re always here to help you, Should you need it.

Jade

@LightSparkle: in light of them very possibly going to college, for the moment both Endless and Quarters will take on an assistant role, helping with what is needed, that includes Everhere 2, Chosen 2, or Blazen, if you need them.

Unfortunately, at this point it’s not sure if there would be more spinoffs. There are ongoing negotiations for Crystal Boy (involving the Crystal Empire) but nothing concrete so far.

Luna

@Jade: Now I understand why you and Max have been whispering so much. And I thought you were talking about sex.

There just one thing I don’t understand, though. You pretty much told us that there’s a human world out there, one that we can visit. Why doesn’t anypony know about this? I mean if Lyra found out I, scared what she’d do.

EndlessHearts

I think this calls for a day of celebration! Stars know we could all use it right now. Say, we go to that new club this evening? Don’t worry, it’ll be fun, as long as you drink carefully (the thing about getting drunk easily while in human form is totally true. Trust me, I know.)

Simile

We change into human for, when going to Earth?!

Quarters

@Simile: great job :/ As if you don’t party enough. Maybe catch up on your writing? You’ve been slipping a lot lately... And I’m sure it has nothing to do with you spending all your time with my aunt.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: that because I focus on quality rather than quantity. And I don’t spend all my time with my Princess, just most of the nights. Okay, all of the nights, and several afternoons. You should know, though, that I’m a very busy pony. Even with limiting performances to three times per week I have dreamsculpting, nightmare chasing, and other things. Plus, my current boss is a *yay*.

Simile

@LightSparkle: can confirm. RRBB is taking Dream Productions very seriously. And to make things even more tense, she refuses to use any of her initial capital. Something about rich ponies never use their personal money in their business. :/

@Simile: you’re doing great! I love both your writing and your sculpting. Also I was at a few of your shows.

EndlessHearts

@EndlessHearts: you are right to ask. In fact the existence of Earth is a very well guarded secret. The Princesses and the Elements know about it, of course, as well as myself, Blueblood, a very limited number of royal employees... and a few +1s. Let me assure you that the offer you given wasn’t made lightly. Every candidate was vetted and had to receive Princess Celestia’s personal approval. It just happened that LightSparkle and Simile were familiar with the existence of that world.

Luna

I’ll just go on a rant. I’m sorry, but this is just too much. The whole reason I came here was to escape from real life. My mother’s separation, my father marrying my mothers best friend and having a foal with her, the constant scandals that happen every month when my father visits... Maybe for some of you it isn’t a big deal, but for me it’s been a nightmare.

Becoming a Nightlings helped me calm down, made me feel whole, and brave enough to ask the love of my life out. And now I learn that this fantasy world I've been escaping to is real? That there are humans out there and I might actually get to see them? It’s just a bit too much.

Sorry, but I can’t think right now. I’m going to the gym.

Quarters

Well, that happened. Hopefully she took it well.

Out of curiosity do we have candidates for the latest two? I’m not making it an issue, but I think it would be nice to have another stallion on the team. Keeping in mind the target audience it would be a benefit to have a larger male presence than me. Though, I agree that so far the only pony I’ve seen that comes close skillwise is MasterOfThisAstra, and I’m certain he won’t be interested.

Jade

Quarters is fine. She always hits the gym when she gets overwhelmed. You should have seen her the first time Snails agreed to go out with her. She wrecked the entire equipment.

@Luna, @Speculator7: have you talked to HoofTies? I think it’s safe to say he’s skilled.

EndlessHearts

@EndlessHearts: HoofTies isn’t male. I agree she’s extraordinarily skilled. Each of her stories make me go wow. Stylewise she’s good enough for us to consider her, but that’s for others to decide.

LightSparkle

Actually she has been approached, but we’re still waiting for her answer. There are certain factors that will likely make it tricky for her to simply agree, but the fact that she hasn’t said no for over a month is a positive sign. Hopefully, she’s considering.

Luna

Well, this has been wonderful, but I have a hot date to go to, followed by some editing. Was nice meeting you, girls :)

Simile

Yeah, I need to go as well. Last minute study session before my final exam for the semester.

Cya

LightSparkle

I’ll get back to writing. See you for dinner, @EndlessHearts. I did the cooking, so you have nothing to worry about.

Jade

@Jade: I’ll try to drag RRBB along with me.

See you soon,

EndlessHearts

Course of Action PMs

Hello,
I know this is a bit unusual, but with everything going on it’s the best method of communication we have. The Windigo has been disturbing normal and Crystal mail and I don’t want to risk sending messengers. So far nothing major has happened, but the fact that he has reappeared and Twilight is still missing is more than a little concerning. We need a course of action.

InItForTheShipping

So he did manage to survive. I was so hoping I was wrong. What does Mom think?

LightSparkle

Is it certain that it is safe to talk here? Ponies are still worried since the last incident. I’ve had to fight nightmares far more than usual. Revealing the Windigo has survived the friendship rainbow will terrify them.

I have also been trying to find Twilight’s and the Windogo’s dreams, but they seem to be gone completely. I still sense them, but cannot find any door.

ColdLight

Don’t worry, I’ve made sure it’s secure. The only ponies that might be able to try something are True and Dark. Possibly Hop, Code & Mighty, but I’ve spoken with them not to touch my groups.

So what does Mom have to say about all this?

LightSparkle

Well... Princess Celestia has been made aware of the matter, but is taking things well. I can’t say I have the guts to tell Shining, though. Knowing how emotional he could get, I thought avoiding telling him about his sister might be the best thing to do. For now he’s too occupied with the contest to pay close attention.

I’m more concerned that the Windigo has been seen near the Crystal capital. So far he’s very careful not to be seen by the public, but there are daily reports of strange phenomena... and he’s shown himself to me a few times.

InItForTheShipping

Typical. Well, I found out some pretty interesting things. I wanted to share them with Mom as well, but she has been avoiding me lately. :/

Apparently the Windigos weren’t exactly driven away like the Hearth Warming stories claim. Did any of you know anything about that?

LightSparkle

That is news to me. I spoke with my sister many a night about the Windigo’s claim. I thought it might have been something recent after I had been banished, but she assures me there was no such thing.

If you have found anything that could help, tell us.

ColdLight

Sorry I’m late. Still no news from Dark. Simile is tracking leads, but at rate it looks like we might never find her. I still say we use a harmless time spell to see where she’s gone and then decide what to do. It’s not like we have any other leads.

TrueSparkle

Must we use these names? It is very confusing.

And I am fully aware of Simile’s attempts. We see each other every night, after all. So, Sunset Shimmer, what have you found out?

ColdLight

Apparently a while ago, before the days of the Crystal Empire Windigos were still living in the frozen north. In fact they would constantly fight with sirens for feeding grounds. At some point, however, something happened and they all disappeared. Interesting enough, at that same time the Crystal Empire was formed. My sources weren’t sure about the chronology of events, but it’s certain that something happened to the Windigos.

Personally, I think the reason no one can remember is Sombra’s curse. From what I Mom explained he cast a curse so everyone forgot everything relating to the Empire. I guess the Windigo is an exception.

LightSparkle

Hmm. That would explain many things, including why he’s so focused on the Crystal Empire. However, I’m still not certain about his Twilight obsession. Do you think the Windigo is in fact king Sombra? There has always been speculation that his essence might find a new form to try to retake his domain. Thought in that case why not attack me or Shining?

The problem is that as much is I’ve researched there’s nothing indicating that Windigos should behave like that. Starswirl goes out of his way not to be specific about them. He’s written more about humans than Windigos.

InItForTheShipping

I still say that a time travel spell would tell us all we need to know. We can just hop back in time to see what Sombra did. No fuss, no involvement, then get back here and what’s what. Seriously, I’ve done it dozens of times. It’s perfectly safe!

We can also see what Dark as been up to. In both cases I see it as a good thing.

TrueSparkle

Not everything is solved by time travel, child. If king Sombra is involved things might be more concerning that we thought. It is not common knowledge, but he and my sister had a thing once. Originally he wasn’t the mad tyrant that the world got to know him as. In fact he was a court scribe with a lot of admirers. One of the few stallions allowed to become a scribe due to his unparalleled planning and organization skills.

And I agree that at present the matter of Twilight is of greater importance. Ponies have started to notice she hasn’t appeared for a while. If this continues they might ask questions and that might lead to concern and panic.

ColdLight

Don’t worry. Simile and I have this covered. We’ll set things right before there’s panic.

As for the Windigo, I don’t think it’s Sombra. He wouldn’t have survived the friendship rainbow if he were. Do you think there’s a chance we might be in the wrong? As you said no one remembers exactly what happened. Maybe we did something unforgivable and he’s right to seek revenge? Well revenge isn’t right, but it’s also true that he could have done a lot more damage to Equestria is he wanted. Remember he could summon dragons as well.

LightSparkle

Everything is possible at this point. You and True keep on trying to find Twilight. We’ll focus on finding more about the Windigo. Maybe there’s a spell that would help us get through Sombra’s memory block.

InItForTheShipping

Okay. I’ll try to get something more out of Mom, but knowing her it might not be much. I’ll let you know if I find anything out.

Keep me in the loop.

LightSparkle

RRBB’s Chaotic PMs

Why, hello there.

How are you doing? Good, good. I’m quite busy myself with all these new conglomerates that want to work with me. They are fighting amongst themselves who gets to keep me longer. It’s a difficult job being me, especially with Luna and Celestia wanting me to get involved.

So, about that thing you asked. I was thinking that I should take a new approach. While it might be good for my wife to use her account to post my masterpieces, I think that would be unfair to myself and it would only hurt her seeing the extent of my magnificence.

What do you think of my new account? It’s stylish, yet memorable, displaying my vast knowledge on the subject of humans.

SupremeHumanOverlord

...tell me you’re kidding!

RRBB

I suppose it might be a bit too narrow minded. A sacrifice, no doubt, but one I’m willing to make for my writing career that will bring joy to the world of the Lightlings.

SupremeHumanOverlord

You’ve been hanging out with Simile, haven’t you? :/

I finally ploughed through the catastrophe that were your fics and fixed to the point you could submit them properly. You can do that from any of the ten accounts you have I don’t care! Just keep in mind that you’re not fooling anyone. LightSparkle found your alts in less than a minute.

Once you pass curation you’ll do what I asked. Right?

Also, it’s NIGHTlings. From MidNIGHT Castle.

RRBB

Well they say geniuses were always ignored. I feel sad, really. To have touched my greatness and be so oblivious about it. Still, I guess you did promise and I’ll do as you ask. After all my stories pass curation, of course. I wouldn’t want you to be tempted to reject them out of fear the impact they will have in the community.

SupremeHumanOverlord

Yeah, fine, you’re a genius and I’m an envious *yay*. You’ll have your stupid stories. And just in case YOU have any ideas, keep in mind that half of them are multi chapter so you’ll still need somepony to clean them up and not get them reported for poor quality.

Now, how exactly will that work? I don’t want you doing anything funny or that can hurt her.

RRBB

*sigh* Didn’t we go over this already? :/

SupremeHumanOverlord

We didn’t and I want specifics.

RRBB

Oh, very well. I’ll give you a chaos spark. Now remember, the chaos spark is a very powerful thing, so don’t go wasting it on anything else. You take the spark and then when you snuggle with EndlessHearts, you just let it function.

Personally, a bit of advice. Get her in a really good and distracted mood. As the name suggests the spark is chaotic and a spark. It might spring a bit. Nothing that would hurt any of you, but enough to get noticed.

SupremeHumanOverlord

What the *yay*?! Have you any idea how sensitive she is? She can literally feel my heartbeat and you’re talking about me zapping her with lightning! That’s the best you can do? Really? I’ve been spending weeks fixing your *yay* and you give me this?

You know what? I’ll find another way. Good luck passing curation.

RRBB

Ha! You wish you can find another way! It would take you more magic than you can possibly imagine to achieve what I can give! Ten times Equestria isn’t enough! Twenty times isn’t!

Fine! I’ll give you the spark after the first two fics are approved. And only because I think she is a somewhat competent writer.

SupremeHumanOverlord

That doesn’t solve the problem! How am I supposed to use the spark on her?

RRBB

Maybe just tell her? Actually, why must you keep it a secret? I thought you had discussed it already and she had agreed... If that is indeed the case, it wouldn’t be such an issue.

SupremeHumanOverlord

I didn’t have time with the Windigo and exams, and other things... I’ll get to it, and she wants to have children. And since it’s me who’ll be pregnant that won’t keep her from going to college if she wants. I can run a business from home perfectly fine.

RRBB

Right. Oh, I love how manipulative ponies could be. It’s a shame there aren’t more like you. >:)

That Windigo is a bit of a mystery, though, Fluttershy asked me about him the other day. Funny thing is that I can’t remember any such Windigo. All the ones I know, and I do know a lot, were quite stoic types. Couldn’t understand a joke if their life depended on it. In a few cases it did, thus why there are so few of them left.

Anyway, if you’re sure you don’t want to tell her, you might say you want to experiment something new. Adult clouds are not difficult to buy... not that I would know about that. It’s poorly for pegasus anyway. You could say you want to try some.

SupremeHumanOverlord

...I so hate you right now. Fine I’ll do some research on cloud... toys. So you give me the spark, I use it, we snuggle and that’s it?

RRBB

As long as there’s contact between the two of you when you do it should do the trick. (And I’m not talking about hoof holding.) After that it’s entirely up to chance. Unicorn or earth pony, filly, colt... no one knows. I guess it only adds to the excitement.

SupremeHumanOverlord

You know if things don’t go well you’ll be in a world of pain, right?

RRBB

That’s amusing. Please tell me, little filly, what possibly could you do to me? Threaten that you’ll remove my fics from the site? Have me banned? Please. I’m curious to know.

SupremeHumanOverlord

I won’t have you banned. I’ll just tell Brush and Lyra what you’ve done to us. And since both of them are friends with Twilight they’ll pass it along. Oh, and SweetStuff is very good friends with Endless, and your wife’s protege. I wonder how she would react, or Octavia for that matter. And then there’s Simile, who is my business partner, who is close with Princess Luna... want me to go on?

RRBB

Everything will be fine! You have my guarantee!

You’ve missed your vocation, you know. Pity you aren’t a Draconequus.

SupremeHumanOverlord

Final Chosen Reading Preparation

@all: Alright, everyone. To lighten things up I’ve decided to do the reading in the open, near the lake. I could easily construct a gazebo with my magic, so for the sound spells to have the optimal sounding. Something like a miniature dome would suit our needs perfectly.

Furthermore, doing the reading at sunset would create the best light combination (ranging from purple to dark blue) for RRBB’s dream spectacle to take place. @TrueSparkle, @HopHop, @LightSparkle, I’ll be relying on you girls :)

I know I shouldn’t say this, but having read the finale, I can say it’s totally worth the effort. Remember to bring your own food, get permission from a parent or guardian, if you are too young (or have them come along) and absolutely no alcohol! I don’t want a repeat of the first time :/

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: You’re such a spoilsport! Fine, I won’t bring booze… much. Seriously, we are at this point adults. We literally graduated a few weeks ago! (Not that that’s a factor.)

If it’s about drinking responsibly, okay, but not to bring at all… What are we? 5?

RRBB

@DarkSparkle: Hey! I am so excited about this! I heard rumours we might have to skip, but glad you can make it :D What happened than you had to leave last time? You got me scared with that message. Not just me. Glad you are fine! hugs

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Yeah… I don’t want to go into that, but thanks for your concern. All of you. It warms my heart to know how supporting the Nightling community is. For now can we just focus on the reading? The end of a spinoff is a pretty important moment, after all :)

On another note, did anypony notice that there are 12 chapters of Chosen in total? Interesting having in mind there are said to be 12 human deities. Not sure if this is related at all, but I find it an interesting coincidence. Maybe @Luna will enlighten us?

DarkSparkle

A reading! I’m coming to Ponyville just for that! This will be so great! And I can't wait to see RRBB’s work. Will it be Princess Luna involved? Or only Simile this time?

So much speculation! I had the chance to read the book. (Actually I have it at my parents’ place, but when I read there might be a reading I decided to resist the temptation!) I’ll be going with Hop, Code & Mighty, so it will be a geeky ride :P

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Are you sure you don’t want to enjoy the peace and quiet a bit more? You know it will be a madhouse here with the finale, especially if it’s in the open.

Bob

@Bob: I love you, but I can’t stand it here any longer! If I do I’ll either go insane or will get into yet another fight (thank the stars it’s been only yelling so far). And trust me, I’m far more likely to find peace and quiet there than here.

Also, I’ll see if I can drag Luna and her coltfriend along :D (I think Prince Bellucio is off doing some important stuff somewhere again.)

I’ catching the train in a few hours! See you soon! (missed you so much :) ))

LyraHands

Well it’s not like I could miss this :D Finally am done with my exams. (For the most part. I decided to flunk a few and leave them for next semester. Don’t freak out, Mom! I’ve spoken with the dean so I’ll take them at the start before the new study load hits.)

Anyone want more human socks and gloves? I might be able to get some, but not nearly as much as last time.

LightSparkle

@LyraHands: How can I say no? :P

I’ll be there with my potential future husband, so don’t any of you try anything, okay? (Knowing you lot it’s the first thing you’ll do :P ) And please no comments about “catch” and such. It’s really demeaning, even if it’s said as a joke.

Luna

@LyraHands: How can I not go? :P

And that is my future husband! And if any of you try anything he’ll kick your plots to the moon even without my help!

TheRealLuna

@TrueSparkle: Will you go? I might make it. Still not certain because of family complications. :/

Grumpy

It’s strange that Max hasn’t made a comment. I’ll definitely be there with my fiancé (still sound so weird saying that, but also nice). Also, the Wonderbolt group will be there as well (a few more have joined. The way this is going I think the entire wing will be gathering. It’s weird how many Wonderbolts are actually Nightlings. :)

@Grumpy: :( So sorry to hear that. I keep missing you on events. Hopefully we’ll finally meet one day.

Brush

@LightSparkle: Can you bring a few more of those stretchy ones? :D

SweetStuff

@LightSparkle: She’s asking for a friend, am I right? :P

RRBB

Hello all,

Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances neither me nor Candle will be able to join you tomorrow. I was very much looking forward to this, but it’s just impossible. By all probability we won’t be online either.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

@DarkSparkle: So glad! I’d love to share theories with you after the reading! Luna pretty much confirmed there will be a Volume 2, so there’s likely to be a lot of development there. I wonder Vol 1 will end with Bellucio and Molly returning to Mistmount, or it will end with somewhat of a cliffhanger and the actual return will be a bit later.

PrinceEric

@all: No spoilers!

LyraHands

@PrinceEric, @LyraHands: not a spoiler, but it’s not our practice to split time. If something has happened in another series, the event will occur even if the exact timing might not match to the day. Currently, we are trying to plan things so they are consistent week by week, even if that isn’t always possible. (Molly and Bellucio still being in the domain in Chosen, for example).

However, as somepony pointed out a while back, can you be sure that the Everhere Bellucio is the real Bellucio? Huh? ;)

Luna

That’s it! I’m locking the thread!

I’m not risking anyone spoiling me by accident! Feel free to discuss in PMs! ;)

LyraHands

Final Chosen Reading Start

Hello all, so nice to be out and about on my own (for once) even if that softy @MasterOfThisAstra has come along with his sweetheart :P (I kid. It’s much appreciated. :) ) I’ll be taking on the old tradition of telling everypony who couldn’t make it what is going. Since I’m four hours early it’s pretty quiet for the moment. The only ones here are DarkSparkle, EverSpike, and TrueSparkle. There also are signs of PPI and DaBoss (tables with pastries and missing muffins).

With luck others will start appearing in a few hours. Of course, if anypony decided to join me before the event I wouldn’t mind. ;)

PaintDrop

@PainDrop: You’re crazy, you know that? I’ll be there with my team in about an hour or so. Can’t make it any earlier. Also, I’m mad at you! You promised you’d come help out and instead you go do that :/

I know we’re both practically married, but what happened to fillies forever? (Nah, I’m just kidding. There’s so much work you’d probably have caught me shouting again. Ttys!)

RRBB

I’ll be there in a few minutes. Sorry, for some reason I didn’t see the earlier messages. I must really buy a new tech. The one I’m borrowing is as old as I am. (I wish that was a joke.) A friend gave it to me and now I can see why…

@SweetStuff: I brought you what you asked for, plus a few more things for your sister.

@Simile: Got something for you as well, although you don’t deserve it :P

LightSparkle

An hour in and Nightlings have started to gather. Lyra has arrived along with the entire mod body from Canterlot (only Tech is missing so far) as well as Luna and OMG! Sgt Pepper! (Never would have seen that coming, although it’s logical now that I think about it.)

RRBB is here, of course, with a very annoyed Short&Hoofy (for those who remember the old school days, you can imagine exactly what’s going on). I have to admit that the Max-RRBB shoutaton is amusing.

Simile and Princess Luna are also here, though strangely enough, the only pony from school is Miss Cheerilee. There’s still time, though. We’ll be having a short picnic and I’ll get back to you after.

PaintDrop

Sorry, all! The Wonderbolt delay is because of me :( Since Tech and Candle can’t make it, I asked that we go get Oopsy from Manehattan and even at wild speeds, that takes time… I wish we could have Eric-like portals.

We’ll be there in a few hours, though! Promise!

PrinceEric

I decided to go as well. I’m still a bit uneasy with the there being so many of my posses there Still a Wonderbolt trainee and thankful for it, but it’s a bit awkward. At least we are all Nightlings. :)

LittleFinger

This is ridiculous! Sorry for venting here, but the way things are going Max and RRBB will never shut up, even if it is to argue on the site. It’s truly amazing how they can literally be working and helping each other build the venue while shouting arguments at each other. They are as bad as I am online (when upset)

Jade

@Jade: Don’t worry :) It’s normal for them. You just try to enjoy yourself.

@all: We shall start the reading in an hour fifteen minutes (75 minutes from NOW), so please don’t be late! Also, be sure to have permission of a parent or guardian (if they aren’t with you) should you be underage.

DarkSparkle

Sorry, I ran into a small problem here. All is fixed. Will be with you in a few minutes. Get ready :)

@TrueSparkle: got you a box of ice cream ;)

LightSparkle

Okay! The familiar crowd is starting to gather :D To my surprise Applejack was first to get here, along with WaterBottle and Crackle. DaBoss is constantly coming and going (looks like she’s still working). Brush and the Wonderbolts have arrived (someone please make a musical fic with that as a name :P ) and wow, Fleetfoot has changed her mane. To be honest I don’t recognize ten of the Bolts (there’s a rather large crowd this time).

And the crowd from school is here as well (and mare does everypony look different!) I guess it’s true that graduation changes a pony. Twist still looks a bit messed up, but at least she’s talking this time.

RRBB and Max are still at it, but now have at least set up things round the gazebo.

LightSparkle arrived with a bag of clothes (literally) and SweetStuff got some pretty suggestive humieware :P

PrinceEric is next to me, getting ready for his usual analysis. He just told me he’ll do them in one go with pauses.

That’s it for now

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Well, they do suit her… Also I can’t believe my brother showed up :/

ForceFeedback

@all: If everyone is here, would you be okay to start 30 minutes early? I suspect the pauses between chapters might have to be longer than I initially thought. Let’s not forget that this is Simile’s first three part experience.

And please finish eating before we start! It might be just me, but I get really annoyed when someone is munching hay next to me as I try to enjoy the story!

DarkSparkle

Some things never change :) This reminds me of the first reading we did. Much of the same excitement, and a lot of weirdness and joy. Only difference is that now most of the old crowd is settled in. :)

Brush

Omg! The humie plushies! They are so cute! I just got to see some of the ones Candle promised, as well as those made by Snips. All are really good! Just looking at the small noses make me go d’aww!

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I know, right? And he’s just starting to get the hang of it. Things are only likely to get better from here on.

What happened to your changeling, by the way? Will he be coming later?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: no, not today. You must get me some of those plushies for him, though. A Shield/Sword Lover one? :)

PaintDrop

@all! I’m locking the thread till the first reading pause! :) Let’s enjoy this in style :D

LyraHands

Chosen Finale

Since LyraHands is being a tyrant, a quick recap of what happened during the read. First of all the dream reading was magnificent. At one point I thought Simile would faint, but she pulled it off breathtakingly, honestly, evenrypony stopped whatever they were doing to look at the spectacle. The voices were also extraordinary, and HopHop has totally missed her vocation.

Also, halfway in the griffin squad arrived. A bit sad they missed the first half :( They were very quiet about it. Also, ManyFaces showed up! She’s so funny.

And since both LyraHands and RRBB are giving me the eye, I’ll shut up and let PrinceEric post.

PaintDrop

What PaintDrop didn’t mention that there was a bit of commotion with my puppy. Brush was taking care of it during the flight all over Equestria, so it was fine. However, for some reason it got all sniffly during the dreamreading and went to see me. Sorry for the commotion that caused. Now onto the chapter :)

Chapter 10 starts with a bang. We have Yuri pull Bellucio somewhere in private and share a theory that this domain is a prison (not for them, but for Poseidon). That’s why six were needed. As for Kalypso, she is the warden. Bellucio brushes it off as crazy talk, but Yuri takes him to a secret chamber with lots of crystals and a some strange spheres on the floor: three circles with three spots each. Walking on a spot makes the spot glow. Yuri goes on the theory that everyone was mistaken about the number: it’s in fact 9 and not 6. He also mentions that as long as there are only eight beings everything is okay, but they must act before the ninth appears.

Meanwhile, Icelos, Molly, and Kalypso are having a conversation. Kalypso warns Molly that Icelos is not to be trusted and that he’s had many human and other apprentices and lovers, all of which had ended up hurt. Icelos corrects that he’s never had lovers, but “beings in love with him”. After a while Molly goes to “do better things” and leaves them alone. Icelos asks if she’s going to use the device, to which she says “time will tell”.

Molly sneaks on one of the Chosen (Scars) playing with a mosaic. Once gone, she seems that it’s something like a map showing ten circles. She identifies her circle as the white one (because of the room) while the others remain a mystery. Six of the circles are blue, two are bright orange (she assumes those are Kalypso and Icelos) and the last one is green. Molly takes a picture of the map (I love how smart she is :)) and leaves.

Meanwhile we have one of the Chosen trying to open one of the secret rooms and releases a snake-dog (it’s a dog that is made of water and its fur can transform into small snakes). Apparently the creature is a guardian of sorts and starts chasing everyone. Long story short they manage to defeat it on the fourth try :) Bellucio and Molly sneak into the room and find a display case with nine slots. Because of the shape of the slots they recognize that being for the evergems. Bellucio makes a comment about seeing something similar in another room that morning. Molly gets all worried saying she had figured something out. She makes Bellucio wait for her in his room, while going to find Icelos. Instead she goes to the mosaic map, where she sees that Bellucio is the green circle. Upon seeing that she starts crying with a “why did you have to be the traitor?”

Pretty great! Can’t wait for the next one! :D

PrinceEric

Before I lock the thread, I’d like to say that we are out of drinks, so if somepony wants to join me to Sugarcube Corner, come along. We’ll start the next reading in 20 minutes (as DarkSparkle has just informed me).

See you then! :)

LyraHands

The thread has been unlocked. I’m fanning out right now! This is so great! I don’t know who came up with Chosen, but it’s the greatest fic there is! If you don’t believe me reread it!

Stars, I feel so great right now! After so much time with my parents I can finally breathe! But enough about me. I’ve restricted the thread so that only mods, PaintDrop, and PrinceEric can post.

Please bear with me until the reading is over. O:)

LyraHands

DarkSparkle is best princess! It’s so inspiring and amusing watching her fly all over the place giving instructions. Also, Max and RRBB are the best frenemy pair in Equestria. I won’t be surprised if by the end of the evening RRBB makes her a business offer.

In other news, Simile fainted after the second reading. She’s fine, though. We had a doctor check her, and it’s just exhaustion. Princess Luna will do the dreams in the third reading.

The Griffins and the Wonderbolts were being idiots, which was fun to watch. I spent the reading with brush, my brother, his gf, Short&Hoofy, and Jade. It was crazy fun. Twist was with the CMC and DaBoss, also I finally found out who BlueEyes is :) (strangely enough, it seems all Nightlings are connected somehow)

Best thing: we got a huge bunch of non-Nightlings to join and watch the reading. Some of them might even become fans. Here’s to hoping.

Now onto Eric!

PaintDrop

Hey, hey! A bit weird seeing how no one can comment, but maybe LyraHands will let us after the reading? :)

The second chapter sure got things moving in a weird direction. If anything, I’d call it the teasiest chapter yet! Being the middle chapter of the final book, though, it pulls it off really well.

We start with Molly crying in her room. She goes through a few flashbacks of MC (Mistmount Chronicles are referenced a lot! Just a quick note; this is not a direct copy. The dialogue is the same, but every flashback is rewritten from a new perspective! I checked. I cannot express how cool this is!) Done, she leaves her room.

Meanwhile, Yuri has managed to lure two other Chosen in the room with the circles. They attempt to use it, but something wrong happens, and they get a massive headache. However, for a moment they also see Poseidon (or a vision of him) saying that if they succeed “reality itself will be different”.

We then go back to Bellucio, who has brought the box to Kalypso and demands answers. She is vague and promises to provide him with such once he has helped her. Bellucio gives his word, but before she could say anything, Sears bursts in the room and attacks them. There’s a long and intricate combat scene, at the end of which Scars is defeated, but not before Bellucio notices he’s using divine spells. He presses on with his questions until Kalypso admits that Poseidon made the evergems. Meanwhile Molly finally shares her fears with Icelos, asking if there’s a way to defeat Bellucio without harming him. Icelos says there is.

Onto the last one, I guess? :) Can’t wait!

PrinceEric

Just in case somepony’s tempted, you know the drill. Also, human gloves are the best! :)

LyraHands

That was... I want to cry... happy crying! :)

The ending was so good... I just... Removing all restrictions. Post at will.

LyraHands

Well, nothing exciting happened. Other than Pixel falling asleep on Short&Hoofy’s head and starting to snore cutely at one point. :) Too cute!!!

The dreamreading was out of the world. The Princess went overboard with the details and effects, surrounding the entire meadow with dream illusions. Combine that with the craziness of the finale and you can imagine what I mean.

The only pity is that neither Grumpy nor TheRealLuna made it. TrueSparkle and Brush were a bit disappointed... Still, there’s always next time :) Here’s to hoping that they pop up.

Now to Eric again!

PaintDrop

One word: wow! :)

We start with Bellucio being kidnapped by none other than Molly. Wanting to find out why he’d betray everyone, she uses her OP dream powers and captures him, then confronts him when he’s tied up. There are a few interesting discussions, the most interesting of which is that Bellucio confesses that he’s working with Kalypso, but it’s not what Molly thinks. And then suddenly all Tartarus breaks loose. Yuri appears and attacks Molly, who is saved by Kalypso who also popped up there.

We have everyone fighting everyone with Bellucio managing to convince Molly they need to knock out all of the Chosen. At first she is hesitant, but then he confesses to being the traitor and tells her she’s the extra.

Skipping the combat scenes, Bellucio, Molly, and Kalypso take the Chosen to the room of circles. (Where it was discover that if a specific chosen steps on a specific place, a blue glow for,s round the circle. Getting the six Chosen in two of the circles, Kalypso activates a device and the circles merge forming two new people instead of the six Chosen. Kalypso then reveals that during Poseidon’s mistake, the deity got chattered twice (first into three and each of the parts into three). The Poseidon in MC is actually 1/3 Poseidon, that’s why we never actually see him. It was Kalypso who set transformed her grandfather’s retreat into a trap to lure the pieces there so she could reassemble him.

Bellucio casts a sleep spell on Molly, then demands to know what is going on (since he kept his part of the bargain). Kalypso says he still has to find and return the final piece of Poseidon so they could reassemble him completely, however, she shares that the evergems were Poseidon’s mistake and also brought the Everhere into existence. In its current state, the Everhere represents the merging point of multiple realities “that could be” thus everyone is fighting for control over it to ensure that their reality becomes the standard. Bellucio promises to restore Poseidon, and get his friends to help, but Kalypso whispers that she can’t allow that to happen and steals his memories of the event (the explanation, that is). Icelos asks her if she thinks that is wise, to which she responds that she’ll return the memory once he has the final Poseidon fragment and not sooner.

Finally, Bellucio, Molly, and Icelos return to Earth, believing they have discovered the mystery of Poseidon (they still remember him being shattered into nine). However, they decide not to tell this to the others, and instead secretly try and find him on their own.

Well, that’s it. I loved it! Did you? Do you think it could have been longer? Your thoughts?

PrinceEric

I personally am charmed by the idea. While reading the first parts, there were some things I considered plot holes, but now that I know the whole thing, those can easily be explained away. The only thing that has me slightly annoyed is the semi cliffhanger ending. I am aware that’s more a problem with the industry (all series tend to do this), but I thought I’d mention it.

All in all, magnificently executed, and every book dramatically changes our perception. Let me tell you that’s no accident. The writers knew perfectly well what they were doing.

Jade

The problem with so many Nightlings being at a reading is that most discussions are taking place in real life and nopony wants to comment here.

My 2 bits: I hope there is a Chosen 2 in the works, even if I have no idea what it would involve. Possibly finding the third piece (which, let us not forget is still missing on Earth, so there might be a secondary mystery there as well).

Also, the Everhere origin explains why everyone is fighting for it. Now to see what the total will do in that series.

LightSparkle

Is it just me, or did Discord appear for a moment? I thought I saw him near the dream stage.

YouKnowWho

Guess it’s just me.

YouKnowWho

Megan-Lada Analysis

Just to make it clear, since I got a ton of PMs about this. Max and I don’t hate each other. Just because our communication is on the shorty side doesn’t mean we aren’t friends. Hay, we are more than friends. We knew each other from back when the Nightling community was four ponies large. I’m sleeping with her sister, for *yay* sake! So don’t spam me with things you know nothing about! Unlike me Max is one of the most caring ponies I know, and if you give her any trouble I’ll ruin your life!

I hope that’s clear, okay? Good!

RRBB

Yes, MixaMax, Brush, and RRBB were the first members (even before I made the site). So, yeah, Max is fine. Just because she’s mouthy with her close friends doesn’t make her mean, because she isn’t. The grumpy thing is an inside joke that most of the regulars know. I am aware many of you want to help, but please don’t add drama where there is none.

That said, wow, the Chosen finale! Honestly it’s the best finale: complete but leaving more. I reread it again last night (sorry, @Bob) and I like it so much! I’ll probably reread it again before the next Everhere chapter :)

A huge thank you to the dream team in giving us such a beautiful reading :) @Simile, are you okay? You went above and beyond there...

LyraHands

Wow! MC just gets better and better! (Even the title is cool! “The Skyla Corp Initiative ...not ominous at all :))

We start with an entirely different point of view, which seems to be a staple of the latest chapters. This time it’s Megan who is the main character. We start with her having dinner in a very weird room. It’s very descriptive at first, her thinking about Cass and the warnings she made, and then suddenly we see that the other person at the table is Lada (reference to the Lada Invasion :)).

There is some talk about sides and that thanks to the grand9 things are moving much faster. Apparently every “side” had been waiting for an opportunity and now that the Everprince has appeared, breaking the status Quo everyone is having a go. We learn than Earth initially was the domain of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, but after Poseidon’s mistake the door was opened for others.

Ages ago there was a silent war on Earth: the Olympian deities had defeated the titans and kept other deities from any real power (save for a few small skirmishes). However, Loki managed to convince Poseidon of a danger of some sort, making him make the mistake. As a result reality was shattered allowing powers from all realities access to a single point: the Everhere—only place in existence that touches all realities.

Lada then offers an alliance, saying that the grand9 are a useful tool that are too good for the corporations. She then claims that the only reason Megan is allowed free reign is because she is part of the Skyla initiative, and as such their property. Lada gives Megan a “flower of doors” which has the power to unlock anything until it withers, and tells her to check it out if she wants.

I won’t go into the break in, since although nice, it’s pretty standard (well with a few new twists). The more interesting thing is that Megan and Cassandra receive help from Athena (I love that kid!) and get to the “file room” where we see Megan’s fine and reports stating that the Oracle predictions were true and she indeed is the Skyla gem bearer and will be used in any upcoming wars. As such she was to be allowed “full conditional reign until extracted”.

Following the discovery, they steal a “page key” with which they unlock the the page of Megan’s evergem and learn about the connection between it at the corporation. Cassandra promises to try and find Felina’s gem and info on the rest. Megan then secretly returns to Lada and says she’ll accept the deal if she is guaranteed all of the grand9 will be safe. Lada agrees, then tells her to wait a moment so they could sign a binding contract. Megan uses the last hours of the unlock flower to open Lada’s safe and discovers that after the mistake, the evergems were held by Poseidon’s closest Chosen, who created the corporations.

Talk about revelation after revelation! I can’t wait until all the things we thought unrelated get linked together :) If this is the buildup, I can’t imagine what the actual finale will be! :)

Your thoughts? ;) Also, thanks to anyone who helped me take care of my pup. I know he might be a hoofful at times O:)

PrinceEric

I liked it. This chapter has its own specific feeling that reminds of Mistmount Chronicles. It’s nice to see that being combined with the arc structure of MCE. Only complaint: needs more cute boys :P

Brush

@Brush: I agree! To be honest, the series has been doing pretty well in that regard. Say what you will about Blue, he knows how to maintain quality (and is smart not to write anything himself.

Only thing I’d like to see more of are battles, and aerial battles, if possible. And by the looks of it seems very likely I’ll get one :)

CEOWitch

Very interesting. It’s a bit off from what I expected, but very nice!

So the corporations bear the names of the original Chosen. I’m still a bit unclear how that ties in with the rest, though. Euryala claims to have been the first female chosen, which was way before the mistake (her saying that Poseidon changed) yet at the same time she holds an evergem. Either someone is lying, or things are more complicated than they seem.

Also nice that they deciphered one of the pages. I’m almost certain that we’ll see more (all?) deciphering by the end of the series. The way things are going, though, I think next volume will be the one to tackle the evergems.

PaintDrop

Heh. Rarity found about SweetStuff’s suggestive human socks and grounded her. She’ll be back next week, I think.

I haven’t read the last 3 chapters :( I really must catch up. Plust, you okay to read them together tonight?

YouKnowWho

@LyraHands: she is fine, just tired. I keep telling her not to overdo things, but... I’ll give her your thanks before she wakes up.

ColdLight

Hah! Being a tool all along! Pathetic! I could do better with my arm tied to my tail!

SteveThumb

@SteveThumb: I dare you!

HoofTies

SteveThumb message has been deleted.

HoofTies message has been deleted.

SteveThumb message has been deleted.

SteveThumb message has been deleted.

HoofTies message has been deleted.

I’m locking the thread! Both of you get a 1 hour ban!

The TechNightling

PaintDrop’s Secret PMs

Did everything go fine? Was it okay?

PaintDrop

It was fine, don’t worry. Things went without a hitch. Simile had to pull some theatrics, but knowing her she probably enjoy it. I’ll see her and Luna later today, but I think there’s nothing to worry about.

Thanks, Paint. I owe you one big time.

LightSparkle

Not sure about that. After everything you told me, I’m just glad we could help. Do you think it’s the right choice, though? Don’t her friends at least deserve to know? I know we’ve discussed this several times, but it just feels... risky (the moral aspect aside). What if she had returned right then? How would we have explained it away?

PaintDrop

I know it’s not idea, but Mom agreed with me that for the moment this is the best option. There’s no way of knowing how long Twilight would be gone and what she’s doing. All we have is auntie’s reassurance that she is alive (no idea about well). Having her show up at a major event is enough to keep everypony calm.

I’d hoped that the Windigo would take the pair, but it seems it’s focusing on the Crystal Empire. In any event we’re good for now. I’ll keep posting from DarkSparkle’s account, so all is fine.

LightSparkle

I wouldn’t call it fine :( Even Vertex was worried and he’s not one who worries about much.

PaintDrop

Well, he has my thanks. He’s giving us time to find out what’s going on and that’s always a good thing.

By the way I was serious when I said you two could visit me anytime. Don’t worry, I’ve spoken about it with Mom (not that I wouldn’t have sneaked you here anyway. How do you think Simile got here? :))

LightSparkle

Yeah... I really don’t know how you manage. All the things that happened to you, what you’ve been through, what you’re dealing with now. How do you keep it all together? I couldn’t stand the pressure of helping a few friends and I got myself into a huge mess with my BF as a result.

You seem so perfect. I can see Princess Celestia in you.

PaintDrop

Ha ha. Plus, if I thought you wouldn’t be able to handle it I would never have told you about it. Thorax remained a possibility. It was Auntie who pointed out it might not be best to involve other kingdoms at this point.

LightSparkle

Yeah. I could tell that much from my politics class. So, what happens now? We do this act every few weeks? At some point ponies will start noticing the pattern.

PaintDrop

If we haven’t found Dark by then I don’t think it will matter. The only thing I need you to do is act normal. Not the best thing, I know, but for now you have to. And I still say you two should come visit for a few hours. TrueSparkle knows so you just have to tell her and it will be arranged. (She used to come clubbing every night at one point.)

Seriously, why don't you come here right now? I guarantee you’d be amazed, even if it will take you a bit to get used to things. Walking on two legs is very different from what ponies imagine. On the bright side you’ll be able to be with Vertex.

LightSparkle

I don’t know. It sounds a bit weird...

PaintDrop

No such thing. :) It's just different. And it’s true that you’ll have to mind your drinking. The human body isn’t good with alcohol. Only other difference is that here the males ask you out in general. (Which is why I can’t get into a stable relationship: I come on as too strong.)

Anyway, think of it as a brief vacation. A few hours here and you’ll feel like you’ve been somewhere for weeks. Try it out.

LightSparkle

I have to ask Vertex. I’ll only go if he does.

PaintDrop

You two are so sweet :)

LightSparkle

Can I ask you something? It’s not related to Twilight or Earth.

PaintDrop

How bad is it?

LightSparkle

It’s nothing to worry about. Not you, at least.

Do you think it will work out between Vertex and I? I love him madly and he loves me, but is that enough. My parents don’t say anything so not to upset me, but it’s clear they think it’s a bad idea. My brother is only okay because he knows I want it to work so much. As for my friends... they are okay, but they try to stay away because of social pressure. Only RRBB doesn’t give a *yay*. What would happen when we actually marry?

I don’t want to live my life waiting for him to sneak into my room as a snail or robin. I want us to be together as normal ponies.

Do you think that could happen?

PaintDrop

Honestly? I don’t know. Not unless something changes big time. With what you two have done, if the Windigo is defeated maybe there’s a chance, but I really don’t know. To tell you the truth I’m still afraid to show my face in Equestria. I did some ornery bad stuff here, I hurt people and ponies. I’m not sure what will happen to you two :(

You can always come live here. It’s very different when you only visit Equestria. Look at me. Ponies like me when I get back, I’m finally on speaking terms with my mother again. Also, I have friends here and so could you. If you decide I’ll be here to help you out. At the end of the day it’s your choice, but I’ll be here to help you adjust. And you’ll love my friends.

LightSparkle

I see...

PaintDrop

Sorry, but I know you well enough to lie about this.

LightSparkle

I know.

Well, if it comes to that at least I’ll earn a living from arm and hang out with Danny every now and again.

PaintDrop

This place is very different from what’s written in the books. This isn’t coltfiction and there is no Danny.

LightSparkle

I know. But if we move there, there will be :)

PaintDrop

I actually didn’t see that coming. :) Take care, Paint, and let me know when you want to visit.

LightSparkle

I will.

PaintDrop

Applejack

Howdy, y’all.

It might be mighty weird seeing me here, but I reckon it’s only honest I came with with everypony. I’ve been familiar with Midnight Castle since I was a filly. I know it’s shameful, but Big Mac would read the stories when we were young and gradually I started as well. I know now that things are mighty open on yeh subject, with pretty much all Princesses openly on yeh site, but back then it was shameful to be a mare reading coltfiction.

That’s why I didn’t want my little sis to get into this. All the arguments and fights we had were to keep her say. Well, I reckon was me thinking she needed to be kept safe. I only appeared from time to time to read a bit, and write a thing or two, but I still felt mighty ashamed about it.

Well, I think I owe it to my sis, Lyra, and every Nightling to apologize. I still ain’t certain if reading coltfiction is strange or not, but I’ve seen y’all help big and small, and even us, so it can’t be bad.

@WaterBottle: I’m sorry, sis. I didn’t want to take you away from your friends, and a mighty glad you find a nice stallion to bring home.

JustAHuman

Wha? You’ve been here before me? Sis, you kept this a secret all this time? :/ And all the while I was worried sick I was disappointing you!

WaterBottle

Quickly! Grab the popcorn! This is going to get good!

Feather

@JustAHuman: wait a minute! If you’re who I think you are... well you certainly had everypony fooled! You are a contest winner! Several ones at that! And all that time you were hiding your hobby?

This is so unfair! I deserve to have that writing skill! :P

Jokes aside, I’m glad that you came out. Hopefully, others do to, but even if they don’t remember you can always log on and enjoy without revealing your identity. :)

MightyDragon

Hold on! Applejack? You actually managed to write all those things? Wow! I’m honestly surprised. Well, I know your sister could write okay (back from the time she worked for me), but I never expected you to have it in you (no offense).

I guess that means you’ll be coming to my dreamreadings? It’s worth every bit, as WaterBottle will tell you.

RRBB

I always suspected our sisters were on the site secretly enjoying it, while acting all indignant! Guess I was right all along! Applejack has been here and writing fics, and I KNOW that “Grace” is Rarity trying to be sneaky! She’s not even trying to hide it? :/

I’m not sure what to think right now. I’m happy that they admitted it and joined, but on the other hoof... As I said, I’m a bit conflicted.

SweetStuff

Hey, now. I didn’t want to disturb anypony. I just was afraid that ponies would see it as weird and give my little sis a hard time. Call me stubborn, but never say I don’t care about my family!

JustAHuman

@JustAHuman: Don’t you worry :) SweetStuff is just being paranoid. We are all glad that you faced your fears and came out. A very large part of us know exactly what you had to go through. It takes a lot of courage and we are glad that you found the strength to take that step.

I must say, though, that I am surprised. I knew that Big Mac liked the series, of course, but I never suspected you might. If anything I’d have thought you just tagged along to keep an eye on your sister. Now I learn that you wrote one of my favorite fics (The CEO’s Orchard). Hmm, thinking about it, I could see you writing it. Will there be a sequel?

LyraHands

@SweetStuff: That is preposterous! I was interested in MC long before your sister could have been. And we have discussed this many times before. There is no possible way for me to be your sister! There isn’t even any way of knowing if I’m a mare or a stallion (thanks to the discretion of the mods).

I can only say, either ask your sister outright, or stop bringing this up. I don’t mean to offend, my darling, but it’s starting to get a bit old.

Grace

@SweetStuff: As much as I like you as a singer and a pony, I am going to have to give you a warning. Whether or not Grace is your sister is completely irrelevant. If a user doesn’t want to discuss their real life nature or identity (which is something that the site prides itself on keeping secret for all members) it isn’t anypony’s place to press the matter.

I trust that with this, the topic will be closed.

The TechNightling

@JustAHuman: That explains why you were such a fan. :)

Simile

Actually, I have a secret confession to make... I have been HoofTies all along! I just created a different persona to avoided judgement and proved to you all that I could write good!

So there!

MightyDragon

Write good? Really? :/

JustAHuman

@MightyDragon: I will destroy you! I’m not sure who you’re insulting more: HoofTies or everyone else expecting that they would believe that *yay*! HoofTies is an exceptional writers who comes up with extraordinary ideas! You are as creative as a brick in a brick factory!

Generally I don’t say this, but if it turns out that you really have been writing under HoofTies, I’ll shave my mane and eat it!

RRBB

@RRBB: Chill. He’s not. And you’re pretty good yourself.

@MightyDragon, if you weren’t a pony cutie I’d slap you so hard you’d have to use all your magic and them some to fix your jaw.

HoofTies

@JustAHuman: don’t worry, this is just banter :) In truth we’re very friendly to one another, as you’ve seen.

Also, no hard feeling anyone, but please stop spamming my scrollbox. We’re a very happy couple with Jade, I’m in very good relations with RRBB, Brush, LyraHands, and my sister. If both me and they saying this can’t convince you, I don’t think anything will.

Also, Just, who come you picked the most MC name ever? For a while I was convinced this was Twilight’s account (or her alt). In any ever glad to have you. Finally somepony who would say things as they are without sugarcoating anything! I think I’ll start a group called Honest Loudmouths. If anything it would suit us.

MixaMax

Okay, so I might not be HoofTies yet... but I’ll get there! I’ve started writing courses in my free time, so you better be ready!

MightyDragon

...I agreed to try and teach him... Celestia have mercy on me.

CodeFilly

And thus Equestria was saved.

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: you’d forgive me saying, but from one human to another, that ain’t making a lick of sense!

JustAHuman

Did I hear someone say lick? As in lick the thread?! ;D

HopHop

That’s it! I’m going to sleep! :/

Grumpy

Brush’s Catching Up PMs

Hey,

It was nice seeing you at the reading. You’ve changed a lot-much thinner, and yet calmer. I’m so glad to see you smile again. How have you been holding up?

Brush

Hello, hello.

I’m fine. This time really. It just took a little more time and a few crises to get me on track, I guess. Mostly, I’m relieved that Scoops is doing better. She seems happy and healthy, even if my family constantly worries she’ll have a relapse. Her changeling also seems nice. I’ve spoken to him a few times. We spoke mostly about poetry and philosophy. He’s surprisingly deep. I was afraid Scoops would pick somepony because of his looks. With mares such as her and RRBB it’s difficult to match up.

You still look magnificent, by the way. I’m glad that CEO makes you happy. My marefriend was impressed we used to date, but then again, you always were special. I’m so sorry for treating you the way I did. I felt so hurt at the time and… I always was a spoilt brat. So sorry that things didn’t work out.

MasterOfThisAstra

Sweetie, you were entirely inexperienced and I was both uncertain and too eager. It’s not your fault it didn’t work. If anything I should have behaved adequately. Sometimes things just happen. The important thing is that we’re both alright now, and that we (I hope) still are friends.

Brush

I told you before. You’ll always remain in my heart. The reason I didn’t want to see you was because it hurt too much. That’s why I ran away. I was stupid, I even considered enlisting in the army for a while. I’m lucky that she found me, and accepted even with all my luggage.

After being with her I could see how naïve and unready I was at the time. Many would beg to get the chance I did.

MasterOfThisAstra

You’re being hard on yourself. It’s almost weird since our roles were reversed when we were together. And you remember I told you you’re magnificent. I stand by that. Things just happened.

And you have no baggage, just a bit of confusion.

Brush

Sweetwings, I’m a stallion. We all come with heaps of baggage. Some of us have just accepted it and moved on. I just kept it hidden so you couldn’t see because I was afraid you’d leave me. (Yes, I was terribly insecure despite my act.)

MasterOfThisAstra

Let’s agree to keep the bad things of the past in the past and just remember the good ones, okay? ;)

Brush

I’d like that.

MasterOfThisAstra

What do you say about a get together? Just four of us? I know so very little about your marefriend and I’d like to catch up with what’s been going on with you. For all I know you could have started some amazing new hobbies I’m unaware of.

Do you still read? Did you try writing? I know Jade has become very focused on his future (Max tells me he’s been urging her a lot to have foals.) Have you given any thought? We’ve decided to spend a few foal free with CEO. He has his career and I have my responsibilities and for the moment that seems best.

Brush

You’re changed a lot. :) I’ll love to meet-up somewhere. My gf seems fascinated with Ponyville so we’ll be staying here for a few weeks. We have no set schedule, so anytime is fine.

MasterOfThisAstra

That’s perfect. I’ll have to ask CEO for his schedule (it changes a lot) but I’m free mostly every day. I’d love to see you two in Sugarcube Corner, or somewhere else if you like.

Brush

Sure. She can’t get enough of the local sweets. Are you okay with me inviting my sis? I really want to get her out of the house as much as possible, for a number of reasons. It’s also been a while since I’ve seen Jade. I sort of got out of touch with a lot of ponies lately.

MasterOfThisAstra

That sounds great. At some point, though, I’d just like us four to have dinner somewhere. Call me sentimental. :)

Brush

Heh, you really are. I’m okay with that, though. Just be ready for lots of questions from my gf. She gets overwhelmed easily by anything new. She’s the typical artistic type, just not with writing. I know it’s a bad thing to say, but I don’t want this to become a competition. Okay?

MasterOfThisAstra

Don’t worry. It’s nothing like that. I just was really glad to see you and wanted to catch up again. I’m okay to wait more if you don’t feel comfortable. Promise.

Brush

I know. Sorry. It’s just that so much has changed.

And yes, I have started thinking about foals. I guess you can say it’s a stallion thing. I haven’t asked yet, but think she’ll be okay with it. It’s different with Crystal ponies. This is the first generation that is free of Sombra, so they really look forward to having foals that have never experienced the horror. Jade told me about it one time, when he was extremely drunk after meeting Max. There’s this subconscious fear that Sombra will return and they have to hurry.

I hope we have foals soon. Maybe our foals will play with your foals? Won’t that be something?

MasterOfThisAstra

I’m know it will. :)

Brush

What will you be doing with your writing career? The publishers have been asking for a sequel to your story. It did rather well, you know. Nowhere near Equestrian fame, but over 80% of the quantity was sold, and a small fan community has formed. Only in Manehattan for now, but enough to generate interest. Who knows, there might even be fanfics? :)

MasterOfThisAstra

You want to know a secret? There have been two crossovers :D LightSparkle pointed it out a while back. And I’d like to write a sequel, but maybe not right now?

Brush

Whenever you’re up to it. If you do, can I be your editor again? Your writing is what I fell in love with you for, after all. Well, one of the things. My gf enjoyed the book as well.

MasterOfThisAstra

It’s fine. And when I say not now it’s only because of time issues. There are things I can’t talk about that prevent me making any long term commitments. You okay for dinner? I’ll get Max and you could bring your sis and gf.

Brush

Saving Equestria again?

MasterOfThisAstra

Saving Equestria again :)

See you soon, hooftoy.
Brush

Until this evening.

MasterOfThisAstra

Flurry Contest Winners

Hello, hello, hello! The time has come for results to our very own ~~Flurry Heart~~ Jennifer contest.

First of all, let me thank everyone who participated (and we really do mean this from the bottom of our hearts). Despite the short amount of time the stories we received were a lot (179) all but 2 of which were eligible. (On that note, InItForTheShipping and I rejected those two stories solely because they did not fit well with us. There was nothing technically wrong with them, and curation was respected, and even if it’s certain that Flurry is too young to see anything wrong with the subject matter, we just couldn’t go on with it. Our apologies to the writers.)

So, as for rewards (and we have many of them). We have three categories:

The Jennifer Award – the story that Flurry heart liked the most.
Reward: A statuette of Princess Jennifer. (The name was found cool and this approved. Thanks for PaintDrop for the magnificent art. :) )

The Parental Medalists – the top three stories InItForTheShipping and myself liked the most.
Reward: Free passes (travel and lodgings included) to the next CrystalCon, plus story cover art (from FishSticks, TwoBiscuit, and Gem)

The Dream Award – reward provided by RRBB for the story she finds most suitable for a dreamreading.
Reward: the story will have its own dream reading!

The Midnight Award – reward provided by Prince Blueblood, on behalf of S.Child for the story that is closest to an actual MC chapter
Reward: Complete autographed scroll collection of MCE Vol 1

Honorable Mentions – stories that have caught the attention of all of the above, but didn’t manage to earn a reward.

As you can see quite a bit! With that said Let’s start with the posts (commentary by the respective judges :) )

SaltyHuman

Just a small clarification. Apart from Princess Jennifer being adopted as CrystalCon’s (and by association MC’s) mascot, we have just yesterday received the okay from S.Child for a minor franchise based on her :D

Just to be clear, the IP will be based in the same general universe as MC, but it won’t be directly linked to existing stories. Also, because of Jennifer’s character the target audience will be younger (it will be more foalfiction than coltfiction). Nonetheless, we’ll keep the adventurous spirit you all know and love. :)

Luna

And don’t forget, Jennifer is a Nightling so, better read those stories or I’ll send you to the moon!

TheRealLuna

*gasp* I didn’t see that coming! Congrats, Princess! Guess you showed them, eh? :D

PPI

Since SaltyHuman writes slower than a three-legged chicken in a swimming contest, I’ll provide a clarification as well.

When it’s said that my rewards is a dreamreading, what is meant is that it provides the opportunity of a deal. I am not (at this point) asking for rights outright. Rather the winner will have a one to one with me, and if she chooses, she could sign a deal (including rights, profit sharing, etc). As vicious as I am in business, I also believe that good business is keeping potential and current creators happy, not do things to push them away.

Now, hopefully, I’ve given enough time to Salty to finish his post and we can find out who the winners are :)

Rrbb

It must be a really long list... or SaltyHuman is incredibly slow. ;P

I personally managed to read all submitted stories, plus a part of those who didn’t make it (I.e. unfinished ones). Thank you so much! It’s thanks to the fluff you wrote that my life was bearable this last week. :)

I have my favourites, but I’m in the dark as to who’s actually won. Keeping my hives crossed for somepony in particular :))

LyraHands

Another now without further ado, here are the Honorable Mentions

Cyan-eating Dragon by JustAHuman

It’s a short and nice story about Princess Jenny solving the mystery of the missing rainbow color, discovering a “fluffy dragon” that eats colors which she makes her pet.

There’s everything somepony could want: light-hearted adventure, comedy, mystery, and a cute fluffy dragon. Personally I, sad that this didn’t made it to the medalists. Flurry still liked it, even if she pretended it’s too childish for her.

The Watchtower by IronHand

One of my favorites, this is a classic adventure in which Princess Jennifer and her friends try to get to the top of an abandoned watchtower, only to find out midway in that this is a former Felina’s facility. Once they do, the successfully foil a plot to kidnap Danny and replace him by a magical construct.

We could feel the amount if live and soul poured here, but the amount of grammatical issues kept it from going on. Thanks for writing, IronHoof, and keep at it!

Lightning Flowers by Flora Sunset

A magnificent piece and the only borderline sad story we felt comfortable with reading. Flurry enjoyed it immensely, so we thought that deserves a mention.

The story revolves round Jennifer setting off on a small adventure to find a Lightning Flower for her sick grandmother, who is in hospital. Along the way she meets a pesky pegasus, a cunning cloud, a singing kettle, as well as some human thieves, who help her get the flower in time to give it to her grandmother for her weekly visit. Although it’s not stated explicitly, we felt it was implied the grandmother doesn’t have much time left. Regardless, the story was beautiful.

Down the Up by LivingClock

Princess Jennifer invites Molly to her weird world, in which the laws of nature are insane and everything is in constant flux. This is a prime example of an exploration story, full of adventure, in which Princess Jennifer acts as the guide and Molly is the heroine.

If Flurry were a bit older this would have medaled for certain, but as it is now it proved an amusing, yet was quickly forgotten.

Thank you all for writing these masterpieces. Now before I announce the medalists, I’ll leave Luna and RRBB let you know their winners. :)

SaltyHuman

@PPI: seriously? :/ This was one time it wasn’t fun to ruin the surprise.

I’ll add my voice to LyraHands’ and SaltyHuman’s this thank everyone for their participation. You did a magnificent job, so don’t be discouraged. With the amount of authors on this site it’s difficult to medal, especially since the judge is a young princess. :) The important thing is to keep trying and learn from this contest (both from the mistakes and comments to your story, as ell as the other stories as well).

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: you should have participated. I should have participated. Now if Simile wins I’ll never hear the end of it.

There’s no chance, right?

TrueSparkle

Since Salty is taking forever, I’ll be brief.

There were a lot of stories that could be made into a dream. Some need a bit of work, others have a great idea that needs to be sculpted for my needs. I based by decision on how close a story is to a direct reading! That means I could take the story and directly give it to Simile and HopHop to do their magic without any corrections and adjustments.

I freely admit that I have rejected stories with greater literary potential because they’re don’t match my needs.

So, the winner is... Violet~Orange by Candle

The story is actually the introduction of Princess Jenny to Earth. She falls on from a portal, hunted by the Grogar corporation, and using one of her power of mind-mimicry (getting others to think they know her) enlists in Molly’s school. Following that we have Molly, along with a few other background characters from her class fight the corporation agents, in comical fashion, until they manage to create the illusion that Jenny has left Earth (using her power again). The title is a clever play upon words since at one point Jenny manages to convince everyone that oranges are violet (just as she manages to convince them she’s always lived in Mistmount).

@Candle, you have gone a long, long, long way since you started. Even if Tech might have helped with editing, the story is perfect for a dream. PM me so we can talk.

RRBB

@RRBB: now come I didn’t win?! :/ My stories are so dream arterial!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: I think there’s the small issue that RRBB can’t make dreams of stories containing Daring Do. Oh, and there’s also the matter that the story had to be written for the contest, within the time limit, and had Princess Jennifer for a main character.

MixaMax

This certainly has been a surprising event in many ways. Not only did the contest generate such exceptional interest and stories, but it also created a new product line, a convention mascot, and one of the first original dreamreadings of Dream Productions.

While discussions are still underway, I’m seriously hoping the Jennifer awards could become a permanent part of our community.

The story S.Child found was closest in spirit and execution to Midnight Castle is...

Cloak of a Princess by ShatteredLands

The story takes an entirely different approach than most that I’ve read. Jennifer starts as an ordinary girl in elementary school, who finds a “Princess Cloak” in her locker after gym class. Curious, she puts it on, and is transformed into Princess Jennifer and granted superpowers by none other than Athena. From that moment on, her goal is to stand up for and protect her friends, while trying to uncover the mystery of the cloak.

It’s incredible how the author managed to get all that in such a short story, but it works. A number of elements are hinted at and rely on MCE knowledge to work, but the magic is there. I particularly like how the main character is an ordinary girl, who also needs to keep her princess side a secret. It’s also refreshing that the corporates are barely mentioned.

All in all, a supreme example of fiction, that could easily be added to our running series.

Well done!

number1

I’d just like to point out that had I had the time I’d have written a far more compelling story. Alas time never waits when I ask it to.

SupremeHumanOverlord

The medalists of the contest, and those which SaltyHuman and I found absolutely adorable, are:

Third Place
Puppies by the Dozen by Simile

I’m impressed by the level of emotion put into this story. :) It starts quite simple: Princess Jennifer finds a strange puppy and decides to keep it. However, each time the puppy hiccups it multiplies. At first Jennifer finds it amusing, but soon enough things get out of control and she has to call her cousin Cassandra (didn’t see that coming) to help her capture the puppies. And if th8ngs are not complicated enough, the Everprince also wants the puppy for its magic.

Flurry might have not been impressed, but SaltyHuman and I giggled non-stop while reading it. :)

Second Place
School Detective and Kettle by Brush

Brush, I’ve always loved your stories, but this one is special. :) The main idea revolves round a group of schoolgirls forming a detective club. However, since they need to find a new member before the registration deadline, one of them grabs the first new girl in school they find (who, of course, happen even to be an exchange student Princess). Together they solve an interesting school mystery (the case of the missing sweetbuns). Why the kettle? Well, Princess Jennifer turns out to have a very strict upbringing and cannot skip her afternoon tea. As a detective she thus must keep her magic kettle with her at all times so as not to jeopardize their case.

I found it absolutely adorable! Sadly... Flurry is her tea-hating phase O:)

First Place
Mischief by JustAnotherSparkle

Our absolutely favorite. We wanted this to win, we really did, yet no matter how many times we asked, Flurry didn’t change her mind. (Actually we just asked her once :))

The story is a slice of life, depicting a day of the life of the self-proclaimed Princess of Pranks. In a word, imagine Pinkie Pie going on a pranking spree, only she has the manners of Rarity, and the innocent appearance of a young Fluttershy. :) Her pranks are lighthearted and safe, but extremely efficient, and she still manages to help several classmates with personal issues. Reading it we could imagine Flurry bring that when she gets old enough for school. :)

*hugs* to all medalists. It was more than a pleasure reading your works. SaltyHuman and I have already sent the stories to be made into a booklet for our personal enjoyment long after the contest, And we decided to make a copy for each of you as well.

Once again, thank you! Hope I’ll get to see you at CrystalCon if not sooner.

InItForTheShipping

Not even honorable mention? *cries*

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: hey, competition is tough! As you see neither Squishy nor Jade made it either (and their stories are crazy good!)

RRBB

@SweetStuff: Might be a good idea to read the winning stories. I, sure you’re learn a lot :) As they say' you’re nearly there.

PaintDrop

And now for the big prize! The story that surprised us, shocked us, made us question everything we know, and more! The story that Flurry has been asking us to read her twice before going to bed...

Sunshine Bunnies by Celestia

A surprise to be sure! For one thing I never expected that Princess Celestia would take part in such a contest. I was sure that Twily would, but not Princess Celestia!

Yeah, yeah. :P The author was a surprise, but not as much as the story! We start with Jennifer being bored in class. Trying to find something interesting she looks out of the window and sees a sun bunny hopping along the surface of a nearby pond. Noticing her attention, the bunny jumps onto the window frame (since it’s of sunlight) and invites Jennifer to go after it. Surprise surprise she follows and sets off on a crazy adventure.

It’s like playing with a ray of light. (Why am I not surprised that Princess Celestia chose that as a story topic... :p) Is still a wonderful story, and I wish i had someone to read it to me when I was a foal (sorry, Mom and Dad, but... it’s soooo goood!) Flurry definitely enjoyed it. We still haven’t told her who the author is (she’ll never give you any peace if we do).

So the first Jennifer trophy goes to Princess Celestia!

Thank you for allowing us some calm and quiet! :)

SaltyHuman

Rigged!

MightyDragon

Excuse him everypony, he has been booped (gently) for his remarks. I found the story charming and will read it to our foal when the time comes :)

CodeFilly

Drat! I was so hoping my story would do better. I can’t compete with the winners, though, well done :) (Also, I got some calm as well. LyraHands is such a foal, she spent several evenings resting against me, reading intently.)

Bob

@Bob, you liar! You always get home after I’ve gone to bed! :/

LyraHands

See, everyone? Intently!

Bob

While I’d like to offer my congratulations, and let others do that, I fear that this might lead to an avalanche of comments. I am therefore taking it upon myself to lock the thread for one hour.

Please do not create additional congratulation threads since that defeats the point and they shall be locked.

Thank you!

The TechNightling

Harsh.

MightyDragon

Lyra’s Venting PMs

Max, what are you doing right now?

LyraHands

I’m trying to finish this new documentation the mayor gave me so I can get home on time. You know how Jade gets when I’m late.

MixaMax

Great! I need to vent to somepony and you’re it!

Just when I thought I was finally going to get a chance to relax, but no. Why would I? My mother told me she’s coming to visit and “see if I’m doing well”. Of course now she cares! Not a word when I was in Canterlot living on my own or counting my bits looking for a job. Nope, back then I was a disgrace. Now that I’ve managed to make something out of myself, oh and pregnant incidentally, she suddenly cares!

LyraHands

Oh, mare. Back to that topic, eh? Didn’t you resolve things last time you were there? I remember you thinking about breaking all ties.

MixaMax

I really don’t know what to do. One moment I’m worrying my horn off, trying to get my mother in surgery, the next I can’t find a place to hide from her tribalism! I swear, if she calls Bob anything remotely offensive I’ll kick her out of the house!

And my father’s no help! He’s become so fixated on having us speak to each other that he’s constantly taking her side, while whispering for me to be patient. Ha! As if I’ve been anything but patient! Anypony else would have stopped talking to her months ago! Looking back at things I have no idea why I put up with her for so long! I should have moved out to live with Bob back in college!

LyraHands

Want me to come while she’s there? She always behaves when there are others around. I can bring Jade as well.

MixaMax

Yeah, I probably should do that. Just announce you’ll be staying here for a few weeks. Maybe that will get her to back off!

I’ve no idea how Bob is taking it. She’s always worried about me, but now even more. The last thing she needs is my mother barging in our life again. Did you know that Bob and my father are pretty much fiends at this point? They have been exchanging mails twice per day. He has actually managed to accept her for what she is. They do it in secret. I found their latest correspondence. Each is saying what’s going, while staying clear of me or my mother. It’s just... Bob deserves so much better. If the site thing hadn’t become a thing I can’t imagine what would have happened. Most likely I’d be a mailmare of an elementary music teacher.

LyraHands

Well, for what it’s worth you’d make a great teacher. I’d send my sis to learn from you. But, yeah, you always had issues with your parents. Even before college your mother was far too strict on you. Are you sure there’s nothing to mellow her out? Get her drunk or something? I can talk to Berry Punch if you’d like?

MixaMax

Yeah, because that’s exactly what I need.

I don’t want Bob hiding things for me. I really don’t. I know she’s trying to protect me, but I feel so... it’s as if she’s shouldering all the pain and doesn’t even consider I could manage on my own. She’s not doing it on purpose, but still.

LyraHands

Oh, come on! :/

MixaMax

She’s known about my mother’s visit for days and didn’t share. And that’s not all. There’s something happening in Ponyville. I know it’s related to her work so she couldn’t tell me, but I still worry.

LyraHands

I think I’m going insane! What sort of mother will I be if I can’t keep myself together?! My friends save Equestria on a monthly basis. They have done unimaginable things, and I a having trouble living my sheltered comfortable life. Do you think it was a mistake? When the foals are born will I just them to Bob and run away as I usually do?

LyraHands

Shhh. Shhh. It’s fine. You’re just going through mood swings. Let me do a Twilight and explain how that’s a perfectly normal part of becoming a mother, and how unicorns—especially unicorns with heightened magic capabilities—are likely to be affected far more.

You say you’re not worth it, but look at what you achieved. You made a site for millions to enjoy. Hay, even the Daring Do crowd didn’t achieve that! You did and you picked coltfiction! Do you even imagine how difficult that is?

And that’s just a start. You say you got pregnant. Remember how exactly you did that? Me, I was lucky to find a rich stallion who is everything I wanted (and I still didn’t manage to get pregnant).

So your mother is coming to visit. Big deal. The moment she annoys you tell her to buck off! Say that you feel tired and need to get some rest because of the foals. And prepare a bed for me. I don’t care what Jade says, I’m spending the time at your place!

MixaMax

Max, I...

LyraHands

And if that’s not enough I’ll get DarkSparkle to join as well! Let me see your mother say so,etching in front of a princess (especially a princess she used to call “the weird one” when we were at school).

MixaMax

Lyra.

MixaMax

Sorry, I had to cry a bit. Thanks, Max. I’m feeling a bit better now. I guess my mood swings are getting worse. Just yesterday I was so happy. We talked with Bob all night, laughed about the contest, started coming up with names again... and this morning I just woke up bleh. And it didn’t help I learned of my mother’s visit. I really hope she doesn’t mess things as she usually does.

Bob talked me into having dinner with my parents. Thank the stars it’s at home. I don’t think I would have survived it being in public.

LyraHands

I don’t know... thanks to the readings most of Ponyville are huge fans. You’d have survived just fine ;)

MixaMax

Heh. Thanks, Max. And sorry for dumping this on you again.

LyraHands

Hey, I’m a professional bureaucrat. I’ve dealt with way worse. You sure you do want me to spend the night at your place? Jade will understand.

MixaMax

No, it’s fine. I’m better. You go home and try to work on those foals. I’ll be fine :)

LyraHands

If there’s anything call, okay? Ill gallop to you in an instant.

MixaMax

I will. Thank you.

Take care, Max.

LyraHands

Ttys. Be well.

MixaMax

Jade’s New Story

@Jade: I hate you! How dare you make my Squishy cry?!

RRBB

Huh?

PaintDrop

Who did what? What happened?

MightyDragon

@Short&Hoofy, @RRBB: What’s going on? Are you girls alright?

YouKnowWho

Everypony, I’m fine. RRBB decided to be overdramatic and caused a chaotic mess as usual :/

Jade posted a new story which is really good and I happen to comment to RRBB how far ahead in skill he was. I didn’t expect her to go all crazy and complain on the forum! :I

@Jade, don’t listen to her. I love you and your latest story is incredible. How on earth did you come up with something of the sort? You’ve always been an exceptional writer, but this time your idea is remarkable as well.

Short&Hoofy

@RRBB: You scared me to Tartarus, you *yay*! I thought something serious had happened and was on my way to dash over there!

Stars on a stick, don’t do that! I almost did something drastic and stupid!

Now I must read the story, though.

YouKnowWho

@Short&Hoofy: Simile helped me with the idea. Max went to spend some time with LyraHands, so I went to visit LightSparkle with Simile. Ideas were discussed and I ended up writing this. It needs a few more edit passes, but I’m happy how it turned out.

@RRBB: I’m too tired to go on a rant right now, so use your imagination to think of one!

Jade

@Jade: Your fic is horrible. Horrible! You okay for me to dream it at some point? :)

RRBB

@RRBB: Don’t make me give you a preemptive ban.

Be thankful that Short&Hoofy dealt quickly with the situation and didn’t let it escalate. (I’d also like to thank Jade, for being surprisingly level headed as well.) I am aware this is the aethernet, but needless drama is needless.

That said, I think the story is magnificent and will gladly use it to test the text to scroll functionality. I must admit that it’s very different from Jade’s usual style, which makes it a welcome surprise. If you manage to capture the spirit of MC like this in your other stories, and execute it in your usual fashion, you’re that much closer to getting published somewhere.

Well done!

The TechNightling

I agree with Short&Hoofy’s sentiments. I was starting to like my writing, and now I feel like the first day I posted... *sniffle*

Will you write more in that universe?

Candle

@Jade: umm... yeah... well. Please mentor me! Like, I know DarkSparkle has been complaining and never has the time, but I really can do better. Like, we see each other every day anyway, so why not help me get better? (I’m starting to feel Twist’s pain editing me, even if yeh story is awesome.)

AwesomePony

Can someone say what the story is about? I mean it’s cool and all, but I’m not in a mood for reading right now, but don’t want to feel left out.

Someone spill!

Feather

It’s the story of a character (Unknown if pony or human) that changes form each time he hiccups. On the bright side, he only starts hiccuping when nervous or after eating radishes. Oh, and by changing form I mean transforms from human to pony (his clothes remain as is).

What’s more he’s in Molly’s music band (as a drummer) so he also gets involved in her adventures fighting Felina Corp. what I like the most is the love triangle between him, Molly, and Caprice... and since we don’t know what his original form is we can’t tell which is the OTP!

It’s really good (apart from 7 typos) Go read it!

RRBB

I approved this past curation. It’s magnificent.

@YouKnowWho: that’s the story I told you about this morning (before you got all huffy :))

Plust

@AwesomePony: I could, but I don’t want to destroy your ego. Remember our long mails about DDDA? If I become your mentor you can expect more of that... on a good day.

I’d really like for you to improve, because you have firsthoof experiences I could only dream of, but I don’t want to destroy you in the process. Are you sure you’re up for it?

Jade

Hey! My middle name is Ready!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: go you! :)))

YouKnowWho

@AwesomePony: that’s the fifth middle name I’ve heard you use. But I think it suits you just like the rest.

Everypony, I’d like to apologize to you all. This is difficult, and I don’t want to hijack the thread, but I feel if I don’t say it now I’ll find another excuse not to talk about it at all.

I’ve had a death in the family. I know that’s no excuse for the way I behaved, but it’s been difficult for me, mostly to come to grips with what I’m feeling right now. Thank you for being so patient with me and making me feel at home here.

Please don’t send me PMs or comment on this. I just wanted to let you know. I expect to be fine in a while.

@WaterBottle: thank you for keeping my secret. You’re the best friend I could hope for.

@AwesomePony: you were right :)

Twist

...I did not see that coming.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Banned!

RRBB

@MightyDragon: Banned!

AwesomePony

@MightyDragon: Fired!

SaltyHuman

@MightyDragon: Banned!

Bob

@MightyDragon: Divorced!

CodeFilly

@MightyDragon: Banned with prejudice!

LightSparkle

@MightyDragon: :) Thanks. That made me smile.

Twist

See, everyone? Now we have a new twist! Eh? Eh? :D

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: I pride myself with being understanding and a protector of the unjustly trampled, but even I find it difficult not to agree with them. It pains me to say that your puns are as poor as your writing.

The TechNightling

I... just... I’m going to bed. Or maybe I’ll write something. @MightyDragon, you’re on your own!

@AwesomePony, @Twist: let’s meet up around four? Would be nice to talk a bit literature and prepare you for what’s coming.

Everyone else, thanks for your comments. And yes, there will be a sequel.

Jade

I like sequels about boys...

Brush

The Zeb Analysis

Ooooh! I’m so excited! We got a new perspective chapter! I love those so much! I’m not sure how long this arc is, but I think things are winding down towards the finale!

Before that just a recap. We know that the Everprince made Poseidon make the mistake and the evergems. We know the gems were given (?) to his closest Chosen who made the corporations. We also know that the Everhere is a common point between realities, making everyone want to control it (but currently it's held by the deities).

So we start with Hades having a meeting in his reality. The Cerberus triplets are there, as well as a several titans, including Prometheus. There’s a discussion about the Earth (Zeus) with Hades finding it amusing that there it’s he who won the Titan Rebellion. Prometheus explains that the gems are becoming united with their owners. So far four have found their stones with two more on the way. Hades says that that is too slow. The more time is wasted the more prepared the other sides will be, and also the closer the Everprince gets to finding “the solution”. Cerberus is ordered to take care of things.

We then jump to Zeus reality, following the life of a Zeb corporation bureaucrat (new corp, btw). Julian, new character, goes about filing reports, and observing the grand9. We have some snarky remarks from Julian’s colleagues about the Felina and the grand9. At one point, Julian gets called by the VP of the Corp who orders him to transport an object from HQ to a new safe house. He’s also given a file indicating who the evergem is linked to. During the transport (I love the description of the armored chariot) they are attacked by the Everprince. Julian manages to escape. There’s a long chase with him using all sorts of trinkets and trying to get in touch with his corp for backup. Ultimately, he manages to reach the area of the safehouse alive.

Just as he’s about to input his code, the Everprince appears and breaks his arm. (So violent!) The Everprince takes the gem and starts looking at it, then casually comments that he won’t be needing his services anymore. Julian starts pleading for his life, to which the Everprince just laughs that eh has no life. In a sudden twist it’s then revealed that Julian is a manifestation of the evergem (the inkstone ?) which is meant for Blazen. Julian then unravels into a cloud of ash and is then blown away.

We then jump back to the Zeb corp, where the VP is observing the scene from cameras at the safehouse. He then mentions that “it’s done”. Prometheus then nods and comments that Hades is thankful and will remember his allies once the change happens, and “for the moment we just need your evergem to become whole”.

Definitely a chapter I wasn’t expecting. Lots of new intrigue and preparation for the end of volume one :) What do you think? Will it all end with a huge battle? Or maybe the return of Poseidon? I can’t wait!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: I’m really afraid that the finale will be messed up. Yeah, I know I’ll get a lot of hate because of this, but in a lot of the cases the finales do get messed up. I’m aware that the writing team has more experience and skill than anypony on the site, but the endings still *yay*. Even back when things were simple. In Mistmount it was a simple matter of fighting a single corp and the occasional other monster. Here, we have realities attacking each other in ways I can’t even comprehend. Like, is Lada from a reality in which she defeated Zeus? Is Computrix from a reality that defeated Zeus in the past?

What happens when Hades faces Hades? (Remember there are several of them now.) And what the hell will happen to Poseidon? I won’t lie I’m still a bit lost, even if things are slowly starting to make sense.

TL; DR: I think yeh finally will be a mess, but hope the next Volume will be better.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I like it and I’ll tell you why: this is a new experiment. I know this sound bad, but it’s actually not. We all admit that Everhere is much different than Mistmount (which was different from the original Midnight Castle). It’s undisputed that it has attracted a lot of new readers, even if there are few large purist groups on the site. What I like about this is that now we get to see the results. The characters are the same, and beloved by all, even with their new powers. Also, because of the evergems it’s easy to make spinoffs, revert to Mistmount to even go back to the originals. (Not to mention the tons of Fanfiction we could do :))

So I am very happy with the development of the world, the old characters as well as the new. When this started how many could have imagined that Euryala would become the third most liked character in the community? Not to mention that we now have a lot of really complex villains. They are no longer evil to be evil, there’s always a reason. Also, we have official shipping pairs now (unthinkable a while back).

I think the finale will be great and plan to use it in some story :)

Brush

@Brush: I don’t know... I’m still skeptical.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: You were skeptical about a lot of things. In fact you’ve been going on and on how MCE isn’t what it once was! And yet you love Chosen, you hypocrite! (Jade told Squishy.)

I can see there’s going to be a huge climax, but I can’t tell what it will be. Personally I don’t think we’ll find all the gems this Volume. So far we know that Euryala, Megan, and the Danny have theirs, also that Blazen is likely to get his soon. Who is the fourth one, though? So far there’s no indication (my theory is that Eric has his thanks to Echo). The way I see it the volume will end with one of two things: Poseidon’s return, or Athena will do something crazy.

RRBB

@RRBB: like, the Everprince totally has a stone. I can feel it in his aura.

Tree

@Tree: are you crazy?! The Everprince made Poseidon create the gems. How can he be one of his Chosen? Unless you’re saying that all we know is a lie. :/ No, it’s Eric!

Well, it’s possible for us to find out everything is a false reality or a dream, to something, but that will be so cheap that ponies will revolt in ten streets. @Luna, it’s not that, right?

RRBB

@RRBB: you’ll see in 3 weeks ;) That’s all I’m saying.

Luna

Hmm... oh well, I guess I’ll get my combat gear ready... for when ponies grab pitchforks and torches. :)

Nah, Blue told me the ending will be cool. @DaBoss, you really riled Cap’s feathers by the way. She’s totally unrecognizable. Is there a part of the story I don’t know about?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: just the usual. Guess she doesn’t like that Blue and I are still friends :P

No, it’s cool. Blue’s her prince now, and I have found myself a cute pair of wings to be with. ;)

DaBoss

Nope, totally cool... Both of you dated royalty. What could possibly go wrong?

Oh, and I’ve been asked to consult and model for Euryala next Volume. Guess you can’t beat talent ;)

Fleetfoot

...you are all insane! Thank you!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Still banned!

AwesomePony!

DarkSparkle Again

@all: Hello,

I’m pleased to announce that at present the Windigo troubles are a point of the past. I have recently negotiated with the Windigo and a ceasefire has been achieved. The denizens Of Equestria, be they pony, griffin, dragon, or other, need not fear any attacks or reprisals for the next month. During that time I shall engage in additional negotiations in order to put this matter to rest once and for all.

Thank you for your attention.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: need I remind you or the rules? Although interesting, this post isn’t meant to be on the site. I’d kindly ask you to refrain from posting such matters here in future.

Thank you!

Locking thread.

The TechNightling

It’s fine this one time. I’m sure that DarkSparkle just wanted to share her diplomatic success :)

@DarkSparkle: so glad to have you back! You must tell me all your news :))

I’ve unlocked the thread for all users.

LyraHands

Typical. :/ We worry ourselves like crazy and she just announces it... We’ve certainly missed your touch :)

@DarkSparkle: Where are you now? Castle? I’ll be with you in a flash.

TrueSparkle

@The TechNightling: duly noted. However, since the announcement was already made I don’t foresee the need of future discussion on the matter and will, thus, nit be breaking any new rules.

@LyraHands: of course. I’ll send you an extensive report via PM once I have rested and have the available time.

@TrueSparkle: I am at the castle, but will be going to bed momentarily. I haven’t had any sleep in the last two days and need to catch up.

DarkSparkle

So this is Dark when sleep deprived. Kinda scary in a orderly kind of way :P

Last night was the best night ever! Just letting everypony know so they feel jealous! Like it was one of those so-good-it-should-be-illegal type of nights :) If anyone wants details...you ain’t getting none! :P

RRBB

Oh, right!

@DarkSparkle: will we be doing a finale reading? Since we know it’ll be a three chapter buildup, we can have a recap of the two and do it once the last scroll of the volume is published. What do you say?

RRBB

@RRBB: That seems appropriate. I shall get back to you when I’ve had adequate sleep. We shat tall more then.

I’m going to sleep.

DarkSparkle

That’s actually scary. Remind me never to ask Dark for anything when she’s in that condition.

In other news, it’s incredible the amount of attention I now get once it’s become known I’m engaged. Can somepony explain this? I mean really! It was bad enough before when I was “the stallion of the bolts” but now it’s outright ridiculous! It’s as if the whole of Equestria has set its mind to compete with Brush for me. (And trust me not in the cute way depicted in novels: there’s no shyness involved just outshines and lots and lots of boasting :/)

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: it’s called jealousy :P If i didn’t have someone I’d probably be very heartbroken as well. (Yeah, I did have a slight crush on you a while back :P) Things should return to normal in a few months I think. Just hang in there (and let’s Brush keep you safe :P)

@DarkSparkle: so glad you came back unharmed. Guess you showed who’s boss, eh? :) Let’s grab sweet sometime, okay? I’ve been cooped up in my house for so long that I’ve forgotten what grass looks like.

PaintDrop

Girls... I might disappear for a while. I had a fight with my sis :( About the most stupid thing! You know she’s been hounding me to go to university in Manehattan. I thought being Octavia’s apprentice was good enough, but no! It’s either Manehattan or nothing. :(

It’s just... I can’t understand her sometimes.

Glad you’re okay, DarkSparkle.

SweetStuff

Did I miss something? Why is everyone acting so weird? I mean we saw Dark last week. It’s not like she’s... *yay*! Never mind. I got it now and I feel stupid.

I really hope you’re trolling us @DarkSparkle. If you are... I love you! :)))

Feather

@Feather: shut up, loser! If anypony will be trolling that would be me! And if Dark say she did it, then she did it! You can trust me on that!

Also, what happened to that glorious gorious HiE you were suppose to write? GG and Happy keep telling me your behind. Did you write anything at all? :P

AwesomePony

@PaintDrop: I shall gladly have sweets at your earliest convenience.

@SweetStuff: Your sister is warning you with good reason. I would listen to her, and apologize later if it’s convenient.

@Feather: I do not understand you.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: You need to sleep, remember? There’s no point in responding to every message. Leave them for now. You can always get back to them once you wake up, okay?

@SweetStuff: I’ll talk to her. It really breaks my heart when you two argue... and sometimes my head. (I might have had a few too much to drink yesterday.) @Simile: what did you three do while I was passed out?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: let me put it this way... even I know what they did after they dragged you to your place. Don’t worry, though. It was Simile that spilled the beans. All I can say is you missed out big time. Plus there might be a talk and mysterious stranger in your life ;) In any event someone did ask about you from what I heard. :P

RRBB

@Simile: you didn’t dare!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: judging by your *yay* frustration, finding someone to be with would prove extremely beneficial to both your health and psyche. I would suggest drinking less and picking up sports. From what I remember you’ve started to develop a layer of blubber on your sides.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Do to sleep now! :<

I’m not discussing my personal life on the site, especially since there’s nothing wrong with it! I’ll choose to be with whoever I want whenever I want! And no one and never fall into that category!

LightSparkle

Oookay. I think we should give everypony some space. I’m locking the thread.

Great to have you back, DarkSparkle :) Sleep well.

LyraHands

Project Butterfly News

Hello, all!

I’d like to make an important announcement. As you know things have been a bit tense lately. Stuff happened in Equestria, a lot of ponies had issues in their personal lives, some had exams, entered into new relationships, changed their lives (or started thinking about it). That, as always, will be part of life.

Don’t worry, I’m not here to go into a dark and depressive post about me. The reason I’m sharing this is because of something that should have been ready a while back, but because of the above mentioned stuff no one remembers anymore. Yes, I’m referring to Project Butterly (you know, the two part fan story presented at CrystalCon, which was supposed to be done and published?).

Since there has been no talk about it, it’s natural that you might have thought it being postponed or even canceled. The truth is that it’s slowly been progressing all this time. With six authors and two magnificent editors it’s normal that it would never stop completely, even if at times it was progressing at a snail’s pace.

By now you might have guessed what I’m about to say, so I’ll just go ahead and say it:

Project Butterfly is officially complete! And did it turn out longer than any of us expected! For those of you wrote have written a few stories, the project turned out close to 120000 words... per volume. Of course, this is a draft state, so it’s probably that 10% words would be cut, but still it’s a lot. And even if I’m the one saying this, I think it turned out pretty decent. :)

What’s left now? RRBB and Twist will probably want to kill me, but it’s up to them to polish the draft and get it in shape. PaintDrop has already started on the cover art (the sketches are great!) and SweetStuff (despite her grumpiness and problems) has recorded four (of ten) songs. :D

With luck the books will hit bookstores in a month or about. I’m sure you’ll hear more from LyraHands and Luna when that takes place. :)

LightSparkle

Oooh, aaaah! Project Butterfly? I heard about that! It’s this great book by those great authors! Definitely will buy! 11/10! Take my money!

@SweetStuff: oooh, songs! Can I have your autograph? Will you put a hoofprint on my shirt? Can I take my picture with you? You’re so great! I love you! :P

RRBB

@RRBB: Stop it.

SweetStuff

I must say that it’s apple picking great! I managed to read part of a draft really secret-like and can honestly say it’s as good as any MC story! Maybe even better! I know I’m mighty fascinated by Simile (heh, she’s my favorite author) and she's written better than I’ve ever seen in the past.

I reckon this will have one of them readings when it’s out? A month away, that’s right after the end of MCE.

JustAHuman

@SweetStuff: no need to be so grouchy. Was just trying to lighten the mood, you know :/ Are you still fighting with your sister?

RRBB

@JustAHuman: How did you read that?! I’ve been asking Twist, Quarters and RRBB non-stop and they still wouldn’t show me! :/ And SweetStuff only had notes on her!

Did Simile snow you?

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: Heh. As nice as it would have been to have Simile bring me a draft...nope. DaBoss showed me a few pages when she came to visit us at the farm. WaterBottle, Big Mac, and I had a mighty pleasant time arguing about it. :) WaterBottle has lots of fancy theories of what the end might be, but they are all wrong.

JustAHuman

@RRBB: sorry... I didn’t mean it. It’s just... I don’t like fighting with my sister. And she doesn’t like it either, but this thing... She just won’t understand that I don’t want to go to Manehattan and keeps insisting that I do.

I’ll go out for a bit.

SweetStuff

Wowie! So this is it? @LightSparkle, this is it, right? It really is big! Like, So much bigger than I thought! When Pinkie told me about it, I thought she was lying *giggle*

Hello, world of Nightlings! So nice to meet you! Especially those who I’ve already seen!

PlayedPiece

*sigh* Everyone, PlayedPiece is a friend of mine who helped me with something so I promised to begin hr to the site. Please be patient with her and... just please be patient, and forgive all the stupid questions. She’s still knew in the fandom and hasn’t read anything other than MCE scroll 4.

@SweetStuff: PM me.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things. (Any excuse to get out of the house is welcome!)

@PlayedPiece: Welcome to our part of the aethernet :) I hope LightSparkle has only told you good things about us. :) Feel free to have fun and learn everything there is about Midnight Castle and everything else related :) And don’t worry, despite some posts everypony here is welcoming and will help you with any questions you might have. And if you write you’re certain to get hordes of followers in no time :)

LyraHands

Followers? I love followers! ;))) What do I need to do to get them?

PlayedPiece

@PlayedPiece: *facepalms* Just read some stories, okay? I told you this is a site about stories. And don’t go spamming everyone, okay?

LightSparkle

I can do that. Some of the names are familiar. It’s really funny how they use human mythological names, but get some of them wrong. Should I correct those things? Or just tell the writers about it?

PlayedPiece

Hello, PlayedPiece! So glad to have one of LightSparkle’s friends join. I’m sure you’ll become my favorite person. I have just one question. Are you a male? :)

Brush

Hello, Brush! No, just a girl. You?

PlayedPiece

Aww, a pity. Me too. You sound fun, though :)

Brush

*gasp* You think so? We’ll become besties! ;D Want to come to visit?

PlayedPiece

@PlayedPiece: she will NOT come visit, not will anyone else! Just try to behave as a rational adult, read some stories, follow some comments and stop spamming everyone!!!

LightSparkle

Ouch. Grumpy :/

Brush

Yeah. She’s been like that since she found someone is interested in her, but kid too afraid to commit so that he doesn’t dump her. A real grouch.

PlayedPiece

I can actually see that. Poor LightSparkle...

Brush

Argh! Will you two stop it! *yay*!

LightSparkle

Great... I get the popcorn and then the thread dies :/

Feather

TheRealLuna - Identity

Heya. I think it’s high time I came clean. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and it’s time to come clean. Tomorrow, I shall reveal my real life identity to everyone’s horror and amazement.

@Luna: Sorry, my better half, I enjoyed being your other self, but it’s time I become me and stop trolling.

On this note, and in Nightling tradition, how about a small contest? You all are free to peculate who I am and post here. The winner gets to know she won.

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: That’s not exactly fair, you know. I know who you are (so won’t participate in this) but for everypony else it’s very unfair. They have to speculate based on your very few posts, and don’t get anything as a reward? Come on! At least make it into an AMA! That way we all have fun until your reveal.

Bob

That’s a great idea! We can have an AMA and tomorrow we can try to guess.

@Fleetfoot: Was Cap very mad for catching me online yesterday? After my last mess up I’m a bit scared to ask.

LittleFinger

Fine! An AMA it is, but I can chose to not answer any question, okay? Tomorrow I’ll let you speculate and then make the reveal. The winner gets a SPECIAL poem made by me. Is that enough for you, Bob?

Oh and there’s no way you can know! I’d know if you know!

TheRealLuna

@LittleFinger: You’re fine. Cap is still grumpy because of DaBoss. I would have thought she’d be over her now. (And don’t worry she won’t read the site. I wish she would, but know it won’t happen.)

The problem is that Cap isn’t a geek and never will be. Blue is, and so is DaBoss… and that’s where the problem comes from. That’s how the two of them originally met (plus DaBoss was faster and wilder at the time :P )

Now to the serious stuff:

@TheRealLuna: Are you male?

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: I won’t answer that. Aren’t you worried that Brush will have your wings? Usually she’s the one who gets to ask this…

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: Okay here goes:

1) Have you been to any convention?
2) Have you ready any stories?
3) Do you agree that Squishy is the top writer on the site?
4) If you could go out with anyone on the site who would it be?
5) Are you married (and if so do you have foals)?
6) What is the first thing you do every morning?

RRBB

@RRBB: I think the general rule is that you can only ask one question at a time. I’m curious about 5, though, and also:

@TheRealLuna: Do you have brothers or sisters?

PaintDrop

Oooh! This looks like fun!

What’s your favorite food? :D

PlayedPiece

Okay, from now one you can only ask ONE question :P Otherwise you’ll be banished to the moon! (And your post will be deleted :))

@RRBB: Yes, Yes, she’s up there, nice try, not saying, I wake up.

@PaintDrop: Yes. Not telling if younger or older :)

TheRealLuna

Are you good at using magic? Can you use it at all, actually?

Quarters

@PlayedPiece: hmm. Good question, but it might become too obvious of I say ;)

TheRealLuna

@Quarters: I’ll take that as one question. Yes, I can use magic and am very good at it. You’d honestly be surprised how good.

TheRealLuna

Can you sing?

SweetStuff

Have you met me? How awesome am I? (Trick question. Everyone knows I’m the most awesome pony in Equestria

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: But still single.

SteveThumb

@SteveThumb: *yay* you! Don’t touch that!

Feather

@TheRealLuna: Have you had a crush on anypony?

ForceFeedback

Who’s best humie?

PrinceEric

@SteveThumb: I’ll burn you!

HoofTies

@SteveThumb: What the *yay* did you just say? You think this is a joke, a game? Or do you just get a kick from making others feel miserable? I bet you have a small boring life and try to act out here just to get attention because you know that in real life no one will bother spitting you in the face!

Or did you think that just because you’re male I’ll give you a pass? Yes, I’m nearly convinced that you are male and also that you are projecting your problems on others! I’m sure you won’t find it funny if this happens to you. Judging by your reactions so far all you do is grumble a bit then run and hide like the coward you are! I’m truly ashamed that you and I are of the same gender! Do everyone a favor and quit the site!

Jade

The only reason I’m not locking the thread immediately is because that would be unfair to TheRealLuna. Any thunder comments on ten topic and I will!

SteveThumb: this is your official warning. Continue and you’re on your way to a ban.

The TechNightling

@AwesomePony: Of course I know you, and you are awesome. I’ve even told you that several times.

@SweetStuff: Yes, I can sing very well.

@ForceFeedback: that might be a bit revealing. Also, haven’t we all?

@PrinceEric: Hmmm. Too early to say.

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: Do you play O&O?

MightyDragon

I never thought you’d go that far as to reveal yourself. Call me weird, but I’ll miss you. Up to now I’ve always regarded you as that mystery on the site (almost as mysterious as S.Child).

On the other hoof I’ve also been removed extremely curious. So... my question is a compromise :)

Is there anyone on the site who knows who you really are?

InItForTheShipping

Do you like partying? I mean like really really really wild parties :D

HopHop

Do you like apple pie?

WaterBottle

@MightyDragon: A bit.

@InItForTheShipping: So sneaky :) Yes, there is :)

@HopHop: Sure

@WaterBottle: uh huh. :)

TheRealLuna

Umm, have you ever been to Manehattan?

Candle

What about Griffinstone?

Feather

Crystal Empire?

SaltyHuman

Have you been to Yakyakistan?

PPI

@PPI: What the hay?!

RRBB

@RRBB: What? I’m curious. ;D

PPI

Yes to all, and also Canterlot.

TheRealLuna

How many accounts do you have on the site?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: somepony else trying to be sneaky? :)

I have more than one accounts here. That should be enough to help you guess. Any more and it will become too easy. Good luck and I’ll see you again tomorrow!

TheRealLuna

TheRealLuna - Revelation

Okay, it’s that time. After doing an AMA and replying to many PMs I’m going to make history by revealing who I really am!

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Before that let me hear your theories :P Who am I?

TheRealLuna

Very well, I might as well go ahead and say it… MOM!

Yes, I think you’re Princess Celestia trolling us all along! Let’s not forget that you’ve technically been to the first meet-up (when I couldn’t join) so that would count as being a convention. Also, the fact that I can’t backtrace your connection means a thing or two.

There’s just one thing I’m not sure… when you started trolling Luna, did you think she was auntie, or did you troll her because you know she was someone else?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Argh! You picked my choice! And I had come up with such a perfect explanation too!

Well, in that case I’ll go to my second choice: Thorax! We can never be sure you haven’t been to a convention because you can be anypony. Also, you like O&O too much to stay away from something as great as MC.

Actually, that gives me a great idea! @SaltyHuman, @number1: What do you say about making a MC based O&O system? Hear me out! Ponies play as humans! Yes, there are no other characters at all! Everyone is human, we get to infiltrate corporations, search for evegems, help the grand9…

Why didn’t I think of this before?!

MightyDragon

Good theories so far, but both are completely wrong. Let’s go through what we know:

Clearly a trickster, has MULTIPLE accounts, has been to at least one convention, plus in a whole lot of cities. It’s obviously PPI’s alter ego.

Honestly, I can’t believe anypony didn’t spot this earlier. Did you even notice how PPI is far more quiet when TRL is posting? Well I have and it made me rethink things until I came to the obvious conclusion: they are ne and the same. Besides, we all know how terrible PPI is at keeping secrets. I mean, she does a good job at keeping them if she promises, but she can’t help herself from sharing them otherwise.

RRBB

I reckon it’s Big Mac!

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: Watch your mouth! Big Mac doesn’t even have an account!

JustAHuman

@JustAHuman: Well I “didn’t” either :/ And neither did you! If we can “not” have accounts what’s keeping big brother from not having one?

WaterBottle

Pfft! It’s obviously @EverSpike.

Just think about it. He’s present at every reading, he’s been all over Equestria. And let’s not forget that no one has seen him and TheRealLuna at the same place!

Edit: By that I mean he’s always been somewhere alone and out of sight when TRL has posted. Very suspicious if you ask me… o.O

TrueSparkle

I find this whole thing pointless. Obviously, TheRealLuna will reveal themselves at some point, why engage in speculation when we’ll see who it is anyway?

DarkSparkle

@TrueSparkle: What the hay?!

Well, I say it’s you! You’re a unicorn that’s good at magic and stuff. So there!

EverSpike

Won’t it be funny if It turns out TheRealLuna is Cap? :P

I think you are Blue. It’s the sort of thing you’d do just for the fun of it. I know you enjoy being the center of attention, plus only you could pull off such a mean joke. Well, maybe not the only one, but you get my drift.

CEOWitch

Do any of you girls think it might be Rarity? I mean SweetStuff goes on about her sister being Grace, but what if she’s actually TRL? I know I don’t have proof yet, but I have this feeling... I mean it’s not crazy, right? There’s no way this could be Chrysalis...

Is there any way this could be Chrysalis?!

YouKnowWho

Paranoid chicken strikes again :/ Don’t worry, you’re safe. They won’t steal your hooves while you sleep, rainbows aren’t made from the dreams of foals, and there’s no hidden tunnel between Canterlot and the Crystal Empire.

RRBB

It is amusing that anypony can think that’s me. Clearly it’s somepony else, and while I wouldn’t discount my sister yet, I rather think it’s Discord. This wouldn’t be the first time he tried to impersonate me, and he always finds it amusing to play tricks on others.

Edit: Yes, definitely NOT him!

ColdLight

@ColdLight: Sorry, but it’s not. It’s laughably easy to trace back all his accounts. Lately he’s most active as SupremeHumanOverlord. (He posted it publicly in several comments, so I’m not breaking any rules.)

LightSparkle

@TheRealLuna: I knew this day would come...Boss!

I knew it was you all along! Laughing when a silly post was made, always busy when three particular stories updated, letting me go early on two occasions when Jade complained about it on the site?

Admit it! You’re Mayor Mare!

MixaMax

@TheRealLuna: Quick question, what do you say we all go to the Crystal Empire? I’ll be visiting BlueEyes and he’ll be very glad to see you once you do the big reveal. Oh, and your things arrived. Both of them. I’ve packed them away safely :)

DaBoss

Are you Eric? Please say you’re Eric! That would be so cool!

PrinceEric

Okay. HopHop has licked the thread. Nice try everyone! Right or wrong now is the time of the reveal. My promise stands, of course. It will go to the pony who managed to guess my identity.

(Bob doesn’t count! She cheats!)

Behold the being behind the mask:

EverSpike & TrueSparkle

Yep it’s true! This was a shared account we made after Spike saw Luna make her account. It was all a joke at first, even if I (True) got sucked in the world of MC. (Spike was pretty much always into that, even if he found the old ones childish.)

We took turns posting so no one could figure out the pattern, and I made sure the aether signature couldn’t be tracked back to either of us.

Sorry about “killing” TheRealLuna, but we discussed it and we prefer to continue posting as ourselves. Yes, even Spike, who’s been doing a great job denying his interest so far ;)

The promised poem goes to DaBoss, who figured it out months ago.

This will be TRL’s last post. Thank you for the fun!

TheRealLuna

RRBB’s Questions PMs

What the *yay*?! Are you messing with me? Think this is funny?!? I edited your *yay*!

Forget keeping your story on your site, I’ll make your life miserable! I don’t care what it’ll cost me, I’ll make you regret this and regret it bad! The ONLY way you can avoid this is to fix things! And you better do it fast! If anything happens to Squishy I’ll bring you so much pain you’d wish you were in Tartarus!

RRBB

Not that I don’t enjoy a fine threat early in the morning, but you’ll have to give some details. And it’s so amusing of you to think that you could actually harm me.

SupremeHumanOverlord

Don’t play games? You know exactly what I mean!

RRBB

Humor me. I like long intricate stories.

SupremeHumanOverlord

Squishy! She’s been vomiting every evening since I used the that chaos spark on her. I called my personal doctor to check her yesterday and everything seems in perfect order, yet she’s still feeling faint and vomits with no reason, even when she hasn’t eaten.

What did you do to her?! You said there would be no side effects! Well, there are, so fix this!

RRBB

Well, it can hardly be my fault that you used gave her the spark. No blaming me for that. It’s stated clearly on page 17 of the terms and conditions that you were supposed to use the spark on your stomach before starting your fun. If you don’t bother to read the instructions you can hardly hold the manufacturer responsible.

Regardless, her issues are standard for pregnancy. Surprising that they started so fast, but you can never fully predict things when chaos is concerned. That’s sort of the best part of it :) She should be over it in a few weeks. A month at most. Three max.

Now that that’s settled let’s talk about the upcoming chapters. I think there should be a slight change in direction. I mean your edits are okay for starters, but they chip off part of the flare that my stories are known for. We definitely needs to address that. You know, maybe we could discuss it along with your thoughts on making this into a dream scroll series. I happen to be available tomorrow. (I know, you’re lucky having in mind what a busy schedule I have.) Say early afternoon?

SupremeHumanOverlord

I didn’t use it on her!!! I used it on me! EXACTLY as you instructed!

RRBB

Huh? Wow. Didn’t see that coming. Hmm... maybe I should make this into a story. Ponies love surprise twists.

SupremeHumanOverlord

*yay* you! How do we fix this?!

RRBB

Well, at this point there’s nothing to fix.

...unless you forgot to mention that the spark will get her pregnant. I’m curious did you talk with her about this plan of yours? Like, I don’t know, maybe hint you’ll be mommies soon?

SupremeHumanOverlord

I was waiting for the right moment! How the *yay* was I supposed to know it will be this fast?! Usually it takes months for that to happen. Hay, earth ponies often avoid the vomiting phase altogether!

So what can you do? Can you magic the baby from her into me or something?

RRBB

Oh? Just snap my fingers and more a future foal from one tummy to another? Because there’s nothing wrong with that, right? :/ And they call me deranged...

I know this is called a chaos seed, but it doesn’t actually sprout and grow like a tree you can remove and plant elsewhere. The spark is a spark. Like using a lighter to light fire. You can’t just pick up the fire and move it elsewhere. That would make an entirely new fire.

Is it so difficult to tell her? If it’s such a big deal I’ll do it for you.

SupremeHumanOverlord

No! Don’t you dare!

*yay*! *yay*! *yay*!

Why is this happening? And to think what she was about to go through for me. If I tell her no she’ll never forgive me. Hay she might straight up leave me! *yay* did we do, Discord? Like, seriously, what did we do?

RRBB

Hmm, this almost sounds like one of those soap opera romance stories. It’s as if we cheated and now after there’s someone pregnant you’re having second thoughts and are worried your wife might leave you. Hmm. Intriguing. I can see the potential. Usually the issue is that the child is someone else’s. Here the central point is that you're worried that you made her pregnant. This is gold!

Just a small question. If you ended up pregnant, how would you have explained it away? I’m just curious. Would you have woken up one morning with your huge belly and gone “wow, I wonder how that happened? Oh no matter, we wanted foals anyway”?

SupremeHumanOverlord

I was working on that! Id you had told me there was a chance this might happen or that it would be so fast I’d have done things differently!

RRBB

Oh, excuse me for not giving you something that would match your preferred timeline. If you wanted to have something orderly you went to the wrong Draconequus.

Hmm... “The Wrong Draconequus”. Now that sounds like the perfect title of a mystery if I’d ever heard one!

SupremeHumanOverlord

Look, if you fix things I’ll personally write all your *yay* ideas and see to it they are made into dreamreadings, okay? I’ll even hire you as a consultant!

RRBB

Tempting, but some impossible things I prefer not to meddle with. Although, I could mess with her mind a bit, make her believe it was her idea and she’s okay with it.

SupremeHumanOverlord

No! You do NOTHING more to Squishy!

I’ll find a way to break the news if I have to... and live with the consequences.

RRBB

Oh...

Well, if there isn’t anything else, I’ll get back to my busy schedule. Promised Octy that I’d miss her next rehearsal. (It really means a lot to her, you see.)

SupremeHumanOverlord

What a mess... :/ *yay* me!

At least tell me when I’ll stop craving glasses.

RRBB

Huh? For a moment I thought you wrote craving glasses.

SupremeHumanOverlord

Yes, glasses! Those transparent things you drink from? I’ve been craving them like crazy for the last few days. Worse, I took a bite yesterday and it tasted delicious. I guess it’s one of those side effects you warned me about.

When will it be over?

RRBB

I think you should have a talk with Short&Hoofy sooner rather than later. If she’s really pregnant, she’s not the only one.

SupremeHumanOverlord

The Dannies Analysis

So excited! After reading this week’s chapter (twice) I think that the clash in the finale will be between titans and corporations. I know that this started as corporations vs deities, but so far there’s been nothing from Zeus, leading to new questions.

Anyway, let’s get to analyzing!

We start with the the grand9 performing a heist on a Felina convoy. Immediately we are confronted with the plant-that-can’t-fail fails trope. Naturally it’s Karl who messes up the plan because of a kitten. Lots of chaos follows, a few encounters, lots of sneaking and running. In the end Blazen manages to use his reality clowning power (continuity!) and gets the suitcase that is being guarded. Upon opening it, however, the grand9 only discover a letter from the CEO, which turns out to be a boobytrap. Bellucio is wounded (dramatically) but alive and is taken to his place by Molly (shipping intensifies).

Danny goes home, all grumpy and depressed. Upon entering he finds that the CEO’s Boss is waiting for him in his room (brought there by Caprice). We learn that Danny’s clone is dying after being attacked by the Everprince. We get into a long conversation in which Danny explains a few things. So far the theory was that reality was split into three (or more) because of Poseidon. In f at that’s not the case. Reality was never split, it was just merged. Stronger realities moved closer to the Everhere and linked together, thus in each of the three realities that the shatterstone took them there was someone missing. In truth, reality seems to be formed in such a way that something of greater reality will automatically replace its other self. The example given is that there was a Danny in Hades reality, yet when Danny (our Danny) went there he replaced the established one (even if he didn’t have the corresponding memories). Apparently, the evergems mess things up and that’s why there are cases of the same person being split into multiple parts in reality.

CEO-Danny also explains that Equestria is a strong reality and that’s why it was linked to the Everhere. The conversation is about to continue, when Athena walks in (and freaks out Caprice and Danny.) CEO-Danny Just smiles, however, and says it’s been a while. He explains Danny will need his evergem if he’s to stand a chance. His only request is to be sent to Equestria so he could be buried close to Princess Celestia.

Following is a rare solo adventure: Danny, Athena, Caprice, and CEO-Danny go to Eric so he could make a portal to Equestria. Once there, they go directly to the palace, where CEO-Danny has a series of flashbacks (referencing things from Mistmount). As he dies he reveals to Danny that because of the Everhere, he’s a version of future Danny and because of the he can’t give him the evergem.

CEO-Danny is buried in the Canterlot Gardens. Danny, Caprice, and Athena return to Earth, where Prometheus is waiting for them. There’s a fierce battle between him and Athena (those two really don’t care about the city much), at the end of which Prometheus is defeated (no spoilers as to how exactly). Danny is worried how they knew where he’ll be, but Athena says it doesn’t matter since this was a declaration of war. She then gives him the evergem (“I had it all along. Danny had the one I gave to you now.”).

Edit: I forgot to mention that according to CEO-Danny the corporations are the most real things in the Everhere and that’s why they are so powerful and never engaging in all out war.

Can’t wait for the next chapter! With only two left I wonder what the split will be. We haven’t had Zeus say anything in a while (although maybe the junior gods and Athena make up for that), but also it’s time for the Everprince to play his hand. And all this talk of war... what is going on?!! :)j)

What do you think?

PrinceEric

There! Right there! This is what I meant by the series becoming too complicated for its own good. :/ I liked the mystery in Mistmount Chronicles. There was a sort of magic to it. Now everything is linked to some reality principle that gets everyone to react to things. All the vast conspiracies are in fact beings fighting for control of these Evergems so they could “win” reality.

I don’t know, it just seems so anticlimactic. :( And yes, I know MCE is popular with the foals, but I miss the simple great8 vs the Felina corp. I admit there are some cool ideas and some nice characters (okay, Euryala isn’t a total *yay*), but on the whole... I don’t know.

I’ll read it, of course, but the magic is gone.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Oh really? Have you tried reading MC, by the way? I mean get them these evening and read through the volumes. I’m certain that you’ll be complaining about that as well. True, it is different, but I still think it’s fantastic.

At the end of the day don’t forget we aren’t the target audience (despite ten size of the site :P) I love it and can’t wait for the next two chapters :) Oh, and don’t forget, we’re doing a reading!

LyraHands

I found this chapter so sweet. Having Danny return to Equestria to be buried close to an old friend. And having gone through everything the present Danny had until the future present moment. That’s a story in itself. :)

@MixaMax: buck you, heartless mare!

Brush

Hmm... come to think of it, there’s one statue in the gardens that looks quite weird. Maybe it’s actually Danny who’s buried there? Or maybe he’s still alive and turned to stone?

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: You’re being ridiculous again. All the statues there are purely decorative and made by renowned sculptors.

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: That’s what they said about me!

Granted I don’t remember Tia being friends with any human, but she’s good at hiding things. (You don’t need to look far to see that, am I right? :P) Mighty, I say we go to the garden and check your theory!

SupremeHumanOverlord

Anyone who ruins my garden will answer to me.

Celestia

As I was saying that’s an idiotic idea! I can’t believe you suggested it!

SupremeHumanOverlord

Yeah, pure idiocy!

MightyDragon

-.- I’m locking the thread!
And after that I’m going out to have a chat with Octavia about you two!

CodeFilly

@SupremeHumanOverlord: see what you did? :/

MightyDragon

Author's Note

EqF Contest announced!

Click for details!

Short’s Fearful PMs

Hey. I’m sorry we haven’t spoken much lately... A lot of things have been on mind... and I wasn’t sure you’d want to talk to me after what happened.

Short&Hoofy

Short, we’ve been over this a dozen times :/ You saved me in the literal sense of the word! You and RRBB are my closest friends! If anything I must apologize to you for putting you through all that. Besides, things ended well... even if my parents are being idiots (I still love them). And V has been insanely understanding. Stars, I love that bug.

PaintDrop

Thanks. I’m so glad.

Short&Hoofy

Really stop worrying about this, okay? You know me. And you know I’m not the pony to keep quiet if something is irking me. ;)

Now, what’s wrong?

PaintDrop

Err?

Short&Hoofy

I know you, remember? :) You only start like this when something serious has happened. Are things with RRBB okay?

PaintDrop

Yes, they’re fine. Everything’s okay. It’s just that I have a few things on my mind.

Short&Hoofy

No, they are not okay. I did something very stupid. I messed things up...really bad. I’m not sure RRBB will forgive me.

Short&Hoofy

I’m scared, Paint. I’m so very scared. What if she leaves me? I’d leave me if I did this sort of thing. It’s just... why am I such an idiot? I have everything I dreamt for. Everything! I’m living with the greatest mare in Equestria. Last year I never thought she’d give me the time of day, and now I’m living with her in her house. Each time she looks at me I melt, and yet...I did something so stupid.

Short&Hoofy

I hope you’re not having an affair. I told you that’s a line you mustn’t cross. Please tell me it isn’t with YouKnowWho.

PaintDrop

It isn’t an affair... looking at things that would have been simpler. At least there would an explanation for that. I... I got pregnant from RRBB, and I think I broke her because of it.

Short&Hoofy

Huh? What do you mean got pregnant? I’m definitely missing part of the story here.

PaintDrop

Remember the procedure LyraHands went through? I’m not strong enough for that. InItForTheShipping did some tests and said I won’t be able to survive. My magic is too weak she said.

...so I went looking for alternatives and found one. Princess Luna told me there was a way to create a dream foal. It’s like having a real foal, but in the dreamscape. I know it’s impossible for us to have foals in the real world, but I’m the dreamscape everything is possible.

Since convention I have se reply been practicing how to dreamsculpt to make it happen. And a while ago I reached the needed level. We *yay* in the dreamscape a few days ago...and it worked. I got pregnant: nausea, mood swings, the lot. It’s not as pleasant as I thought it would be, but it’s also a wonderful feeling.

Short&Hoofy

Sorry, I need a moment to reason through this. I believe you, it’s just that it sounds so much like out of a fanfic. You went through the trouble to learn dreamsculpting to have foals with RRBB? I know she’s been obsessed with that, but for you to actually agree. I’ll have a word with her. She can’t just boss everypony to do what she wants :/

PaintDrop

She didn’t make me... She doesn’t even know. I told her it was just roleplay and I wanted to do it in a cloud. I... she so much wanted to have foals! I thought I was making her happy.

Short&Hoofy

...start from the beginning.

PaintDrop

I want us to have foals. And not only for RRBB. When I learned I can’t go through the procedure I was devastated. I asked about until I found a way and did what was necessary to make it work. I never told RRBB :(

We didn’t even discuss it. I...didn’t want to get her hopes up. How can I be so stupid? :((( We should have discussed this months ago! Now I...

Short&Hoofy

We’ll get to that later. I don’t want to say something we’ll both regret.

Tell me how you broke RRBB.

PaintDrop

The dreamscape must have done something to her. I spoke with her doctor (RRBB called her doctor to give me a check up because of my vomiting) and she’s perfectly healthy. But still...

I caught RRBB eating glasses in the kitchen. She didn’t see me, but I saw her clearly. She took a glass from the cupboard, bit off a piece then deliberately dropped it on the floor. And that wasn’t the only time. She’s been doing it at night, when she thinks I’m asleep. She had her father order a new set of glasses, lying it’s for work. He believed her, but I know what I saw.

Short&Hoofy

When you say “eating glasses” this isn’t a metaphor, I take it?

PaintDrop

No. She takes a kitchen glass, takes a bite, munches on it and swallows. I tried asking about it in an indirect way, but she always changes the topic.

Short&Hoofy

What about asking directly?

PaintDrop

How would I do that? Ignoring the fact I’m to blame, how do I ask this? “Hey, RRBB, are you eating glasses?”

Short&Hoofy

With everything else going on, it’s hardly surprising. And if there’s anything your past experience should have taught you it’s that there shouldn’t be secrets.

Stars, I’m the last pony that should be telling you this! You saw what secrets did to me. And what you did is way more serious. You’re pregnant with her dreamfoal! I think that’s something RRBB should know. Don’t you?

PaintDrop

I... I’m scared that if I tell her she’ll get mad.

Short&Hoofy

Of course she’ll get mad. And with every right! She won’t leave you, though. One thing I know is that she’s madly, hopelessly in love with you. You earned that love, so don’t throw it away by being stupid. Mistakes happen (even colossal ones such as this). Just tell her the truth. If you’re too afraid, I will.

PaintDrop

Please don’t!

I’ll tell her when I, ready. I just need a few days to think things.

Short&Hoofy

*sigh* This is such a repeat of events.

You’re one of my closest friends, Short, but if you don’t tell her in a week I will.

PaintDrop

Twilight’s Deal PMs

Twilight! I saw him today! The beast was playing with Flurry! In the palace! I thought placing guards would be enough, and both I and Shining kept an eye on her constantly. We left her alone for ten minutes and when I came back he was there!

We have to do something. I thought the friendship rainbow had at least changed him, but he’s exactly the same as before! He just looked at me with those cold eyes and left.

InItForTheShipping

That’s perfectly normal. The Windigo mentioned that he would be visiting you. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.

DarkSparkle

Twilight, do you even hear yourself?! How can you say it’s okay when that monster is in my palace with my little girl?! You of all ponies should know better!

InItForTheShipping

Indeed, I do know better, and that is why I’m telling you there is no danger.

When I went to seek the Windigo out, we came to an arrangement. I used a spell to give him my heart. That’s how I can guarantee he won’t hurt Flurry, since I would never do that. I expect he feels compelled to see her, you, and shining every once in a while. Frankly, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner.

DarkSparkle

You did what?! Are you out of your mind?!?

InItForTheShipping

I assure you, the procedure was successful and had no side effects whatsoever. In fact it felt quite liberating! I could focus so much better now, instead of wasting time with constant distractions, and if I’m to fulfill my end of the deal, I’ll need any advantage I could get.

It would be extremely beneficial if you helped as well. Normally, I wouldn’t risk asking additional help, but seeing you’re just as invested as me, I think it will be fine.

DarkSparkle

Invested?! I don't know what happened to you, but I won’t let the Windigo hurt anypony else! I’ll fight him myself before that happens!

InItForTheShipping

You cannot win. We cast the strongest magic known on him and he still wasn’t affected. Even if you could match that spell you won’t achieve anything.

It is better suited that we do as he requested and find out what was done to him all that time ago. So far I managed to convince him the my mentor and Princess Luna have no memory of the event, but even that is not a solution. The fault might have lied in king Sombra, or not. Regardless, we have slightly more than a month to find out or he’ll start freezing cities starting from the dragonlands and continuing up until only the Crystal Empire is left. For some reason he’s set on leaving that for last.

DarkSparkle

I’m telling Celestia for your own good! As long as in you’re in this state you’re a danger to yourself and others. I promise I’ll do the impossible to restore you to what you were, and then we’ll deal with the Windigo.

InItForTheShipping

That would be most unfortunate. If the Windigo feels like he’s being targeted he’ll start freezing towns at random even before the deadline is over. That is part of the agreement we made. If he attacks at random I won’t have any way to counter. This way perfect fairness could be achieved.

DarkSparkle

You mean that if someone attacks him he’ll consider this as a provocation and will freeze innocent ponies just like that?!

InItForTheShipping

He didn’t specify. Maybe he’ll just freeze the town’s and keep the inhabitants intact. In the end it wouldn’t amount to much. If he freezes the whole of Equestria there wouldn’t be anywhere for ponies to live. Other creatures as well, of course. Everything will become like the frozen north. Possibly Discord might survive, and LightSparkle.

DarkSparkle

All that and you don’t even know what he wants? Does he even know?

InItForTheShipping

I’m not sure. I think I knew when I gave him my heart. Maybe i imagined things, though. I know he doesn’t know for sure... or maybe he did. I know it has to do with me, and Princess Celestia, and you.

I’ve also figured out there’s some connection with the Crystal Empire. It all seems to have started from there.

DarkSparkle

LightSparkle said as much. She found someone who was unaffected by the amnesia spell cast on Equestria. Of course, that was before the fall of Sombra, so there still are things missing.

If we help the Windigo, as he asked, will you get your heart back?

InItForTheShipping

I will, provided I grant him his vengeance. Rest assured, though, whoever is involved, you and your family will not be harmed. That’s part of the reason I let him have my heart. He feels too strongly to do any harm. Even if all Equestria is covered in ice, you three will survive.

DarkSparkle

I know you can’t understand this right now, but that’s not survival. That’s monstrous.

InItForTheShipping

I suspect you are right, but cannot confirm it. Either way, our focus should be on finding out more about him. Namely:

What happened between him and Princess Celestia?
Why is he the only surviving Windigo of his kind?
How I am involved in all of this?
(Optionally) How do we grow a heart to eliminate the need of mine?

Personally, I wouldn’t mind if we ignore the last one.

DarkSparkle

You’re the only pony in the whole of reality who’d say that.

Right now I must warn LightSparkle to stop with her plan to capture the Windigo. She has no idea of the consequences.

InItForTheShipping

That wouldn’t be wise. Knowing her, that will only increase her resolve. In the end she’ll do it anyway, and in all likelihood whatever plan she comes up with will have a three percent chance of success at most.

DarkSparkle

But you said yourself he’ll start freezing cities if he feels threatened!

InItForTheShipping

True, but if LightSparkle is left unaware there’s a high chance the Windigo doesn’t see her as a threat and ignores her.

Now, will you help me with my research?

DarkSparkle

Cadence?

DarkSparkle

Yes.

What do you need?

InItForTheShipping

I want you to reopen the Sombra library in your palace. There are some things I want to read there.

DarkSparkle

Stories and Pregnancies

Ooooh! This is soooo goood! I told my friends all about it and they might come read it!

@LightSparkle: Why didn’t you tell me it was so good? Reading the whole things was amazing. It’s like reading someone’s memoirs. Hmm maybe I should write my memoirs and make them like this.

Can I write my memoirs?

PlayedPiece

Hello @PlayedPiece,

While it is wonderful that you’d wish to share your writing on the site, writing personal memoirs or any fiction other that MC fiction is not possible. Everyone will be overjoyed should you decide to write in the world of MC, and even add yourself as a character (self inserts are actively encouraged, especially if written well).

If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: Thank youuu! So far I’ve recognized two fiends who are here, but I hope some more join. :)

PlayedPiece

I’m here, silly! And I told you about this place at the party! Or was that someone else...

PPI

What? @PlayedPiece, I know you tend to become obsessed with things easily, but... are you serious this time?

If it’s a repeat of the iguana terrarium park...

LightSparkle

Oooh oooh! New Nightling!

Who is your favorite character? Where are you from? Will you visit at next year’s CrystalCon? Or earlier? :)

PrinceEric

@PlayedPiece: oops, forgot to tag you O:)

PrinceEric

Hey, PrinceEric!

Loki
Omni
The Everprince
Athena
Poseidon (I had such a crush on him :))
Karl
Bellucio
Molly
Megan
Hades (so hot)
Cassandra

I live a few streets away from LightSparkle! :) And close to PPI! And I don’t know what CrystalCon is. I might try to come :)

PlayedPiece

@PlayedPiece: That might be interesting. LightSparkle has been telling me good things about you, so I think it’s okay.

Celestia

Mom! Don’t encourage her!

And she lives in the other side of town! :/

LightSparkle

@PlayedPiece: you find Hades hot? New best friend! :)))

Brush

@LightSparkle: hmm. Please PM me who Played is. I have a suspicion, which if true could change a few things...

Simile

I knew it!

@PlayedPiece: it’s me! (Cool me). Remember when we got drunk at that place a while back? We continued singing karaoke until they kicked us out, then went on in the park until morning. That was so cool!

And you say you’re going to write? This I must see! Those songs we made were epic! It’s a pict I could record them, or remember any of it :( masterpieces lost forever... *dramatic gasp*

Simile

@Simile: It’s no problem for me to pull those memories out of you tonight. Besides, now I’m curious what you two did. And how come you never mentioned this before? Must I be upset with you?

I jest, naturally.

ColdLight

@PlayedPiece: whoa! Bellucio at 7? And behind Carl?! I sort of approve of the other choices. *blush* well, Danny is clearly at number one. :)

PrinceEric

@Simile: that was you? So cool! Yeah we must totally do that again! Maybe I’ll write down ten song and send it to you later today :)

@LightSparkle: hey! It’s still three streets away. Maybe three very long streets, but it’s still three! Or maybe four?

@PrinceEric: Danny is just too sweet for my taste. Poseidon was such a babe. I mean he can convince you to do anything just with a word, even when you know he’s totally manipulating you. And I know someone I know will have such a crush on Blazen (even if she’ll never admit it, not in a thousand years).

I think I’ll write a funny. Give me a moment!

PlayedPiece

What do we have here? Another wannabe writer? I bet you’ll do the boring self insert is transferred from another school and becomes best friends with all the grand 9. Then everyone hugs and kisses and goes to tea parties. Bleh!

SteveThumb

Steve, can you survive one day without being an asshole? :/

LightSparkle

@all: I’m pregnant! Sorry so much for writing in the common thread, but I’m too excited to start a new one and this is just... Wow. I know I’m acting like a silly filly, but I’ve been dreaming for this for years! I always knew who I’d marry, and how we’d spend all our lives together, but to actually hear it confirmed is... wow!

@LyraHands: our foals will be childhood friends! Isn’t that great?! :)))

MightyDragon

Huh?

Brush

@MightyDragon: This isn’t even funny anymore :/

HopHop

@all: Sorry, sorry! I logged in on the wrong device. It’s still true!

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: congratulations! I was starting to ask myself questions :) Hopefully I get to join the club sometime soon. (And I know @MixaMax might be in that boat too :))

Brush

@Brush: MixaMax and LyraHands are going through some issues... (seriously, don’t ask).

@MightyDragon, @CodeFilly: congratulations :) I guess next year will be a very significant one for Nightlings and in more ways than one. Hopefully, I get to make a happy post on Max’s behalf at some point soon as well. (I’m not letting her write any announcements after last time!)

Jade

I’ve created a new thread here where everyone could add their congratulations to mine.

Thank you for using it!

The TechNightling

Done!

PlayedPiece

Oooh, I was only gone for a while and I managed to miss this? :( This is is great! Have you decided on a name, @CodeFilly? :)))

PlayedPiece

@PlayedPiece: yes! We’ve had one ready for a while!

Midnight Sparkle! :)))

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: err, you might potentially want to change that?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: Why? We both agreed it’s a perfect name for a stallion and also geeky enough (Midnight, naturally :))

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: Err, no reason... well maybe it will be fine. Ignore me, I’m just a bit under slept today.

@PlayedPiece: Also, your story has past curation. And I must say I’m impressed. Guess I was wrong.

LightSparkle

Wow! That sounds like a great name! Midnight Sparkle :)

@PlayedPiece: hilarious! A nightmare night party at the Felina corporation? With the Everprince sneaking in while Loki being in control? You must write a sequel!

PrinceEric

@PlayedPiece: maybe it’s not entirely pathetic.

SteveThumb

Dark’s Slip-up

Girls! I just got a really weird idea!

It’s said that all realities are linked to the Everhere in some fashion and that that strong ones re fighting for forcing their reality on others, right? Does that mean that Equestria is actually another reality of Earth? I know it’s weird, but just think about it!

That would mean that ponies here are in fact humans there. So each of us are in fact a copy of someone on Earth, maybe even the grand9! Going by that logic it’s also possible that humans have actually come here and we just didn’t notice the difference! Like they’d come here, their alter ego would disappear and everypony would be “sure, Candy Swirl was always a human”. Then, when he left we’d forget all about it!

Whoa! Just thinking about it makes my head spin!

PrinceEric

Oooh! I like that theory so much more! Does that mean that people will remember me? :)

PlayedPiece

@PrinceEric: Interesting theory. Completely absurd, but interesting, I can actually see fics written based on it. Although it would be more interesting if something happened and everypony in Equestria turned into humans, but kept their pony memories.

Now that would be horrifying. (Well I know a certain somepony who would be overjoyed :P)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Sorry, Max, I still need to de stress a bit more because of yesterday. You and bob helped, but I’m still steaming mad and sort of depressed.

LyraHands

SweetStuff message has been deleted.

Candle message has been deleted.

Sorry, ladies, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment that in public. I’m sure you understand.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

Well, I like the theory! And it would explain so many things!

The only thing I can’t understand is that if there are people here and ponies there, does that mean that there can be two ponies or two people at the same time? Hmm. I know it would work on some, but I’ve never seen another me, or maybe there’s another me and she’s just hiding from me, or I am the other me?

PlayedPiece

Oooh! This is so good! :)

And I totally see it! Like, I see it every day! Sometimes more!

PPI

@PrinceEric: An interesting hypothesis.

However, practical experimentation has proven it to be false. Going to Earth doesn’t eliminate humans, although one might argue that Elements of Harmony might be considered a special case and such exempt from the general rule. On the other hoof, when dragons and other ponies have crossed worlds no such reactions have been observed, so I am inclined to think that in fact that the world’s are e firefly separated and beings from open could easily go to the other.

DarkSparkle

Yeah, heh heh. Exciting theories.

@DarkSparkle: can you read your PMs, please?

LightSparkle

Pfft. Can’t be worse than messing with time.

Actually, that did happen in a chapter. I wonder what the relations between time and reality are in the Everhere. Since it’s not described, maybe all time instances of one reality also battle for existence?

I wonder if we’ll have the past Poseidon trying to stop the Poseidon that created the mistake? Wouldn’t that create a paradox, though? Or maybe the Everhere is the paradox?

TrueSparkle

Neeeeeeerds! :) *grabs popcorn*

Feathers

I’d like to go to Earth sometime. Maybe there I could study music in peace and not have to leave my friends, my coltfriend, and everything I know to learn Aether & Engineering. :/ (Ooooh, the huge new discipline that will change Equestria, ooooh :/)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: That again, eh? Listen, just let me have a few words with her, okay? You know I can convince anypony anything! Like for real. I’m grabbing Plust and going there right now!

@WaterBottle: you coming as well, right?

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: of course!

I was just thinking. Say, if I go to another reality, do you reckon I could make the other me disappear without even knowing it? And if she learns about it will she be mad at me? Like if she does it to me I’ll be pretty upset...

WaterBottle

Seems like DarkSparkle caused everypony to have existential problems...

Don’t worry fillies and colts, no one is going to erase you and you won’t erase anypony. Trust me! I’m a trained MC specialist ;)

Now off to get a few buckets of ice cream

Bob

@Bob: Oh dear... :( Bad experience with the parents? If there’s anything I could help let me know? So sorry I wasn’t able to be more helpful. Lots of animals have been getting sick for some reason. Even Angel :( and you know how grumpy he gets when he’s sick. It’s been so difficult to keep him away from my aetherteck. He’s so adorable when he pokes it, but it’s keeping me from reading and posting.

Ask Lyra if she wants me to visit?

Brush

@Brush: Thanks, But right now she’s locked herself in the bedroom and is snarling at anything, only accepting sacrificial buckets of ice cream,

I’m sure your help is appreciated :) Or will be once she calms down a bit.

Bob

I think that it would be interesting to see if a human could be brought to Equestria for scientific purposes. After all, it is to clear if the travel isn’t one way? So far there have only been ponies gone there and back. Maybe humans can’t enter Equestria?

Interesting.

DarkSparkle

You’re drunk, Twi, go to bed. :/

EverSpike

I don’t know. The additional explanations continue to blow my mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if the evergems have also created nine key realities that surround the Everhere and Equestria is one of them.

Do you think that there might be a gem that keeps all of Equestria from vanishing into nothingness?

PrinceEric

Hmm. A friend did tell me that with the right gem one could rule Equestria. Hmm. Maybe I should bring her here. I don’t think she’ll comment a lot, but maybe who knows?

TrueSparkle

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

DarkSparkle comment has been deleted.

I’m locking the thread!

HopHop

The Short-Dinky Exchange

Hey hey!

How are you, Squishy? All okay there? Pixel and my mother not driving you insane, I hope?

RRBB

Hey.

All’s fine. Pixel is chewy has moved to chewing my tail instead of my ears. Right now he’s rolled up beside me sleeping. Your mother must have read something new about crystal ponies in her usual magazines, because she’s been very nice to me, occasionally hinting she “wouldn’t mind if I invited my sister and her husband to the house for dinner sometime.”

Short&Hoofy

*eye roll* That mare is impossible sometimes! Just go on with her, okay? She’ll have forgotten by tomorrow. And sorry I have to spend so much time in Canterlot :( Lots of details I need to get sorted out for my business. Registering it in Ponyville would have been much simpler, but having a It here would make a huge difference where it counts. Also, Paint will be investing with some of her own money so I need to recalculate the share balance between partners and shareholders.

And I’m boring you with stupid stuff, aren’t I?

RRBB

Don’t you ever think that! This is your dream and it means just as much to you as it does to me! I’m a full MC writer now, remember?

Short&Hoofy

I know... it’s just that I feel so bad being here and you staying there. :( I should have taken you with me, but... never mind. I’m just dumb!

RRBB

I’ve been busy with studying anyway. Remember I could go to Canterlot on my own anytime I want.

Short&Hoofy

I know... I just miss you. A lot!

How have you been? Better I hope?

RRBB

Definitely. Everything’s fine now. I stopped vomiting so there’s nothing to worry about.

Short&Hoofy

You’re not lying to me, I hope...

RRBB

I really haven’t. The last time was two days ago. You can ask the doctors if you want. I told you it’s nothing serious. Probably something in the food, or some weather phenomenon, or something. We live in Ponyville, after all. Here every day will give the grand9 a run for their money. :)

What about you? Everything alright?

Short&Hoofy

Apart from me wanting to strangle a few bureaucratic unicorns all is fine. Thank the stars for Luna. She’s been such a help (even if she can’t handle the paperwork herself). Without her I’d probably be here for weeks.

Blueblood says “hi” by the way (feel free to drop that in front of my mom). He commented that you might try to go a bit more adventurous with your stories, but what does he know? :P He did raise a good point. Use EqF to experiment with a few adventure stories and see how ponies react. Maybe create an alt for the purpose. I’ll talk to LyraHands And Tech to keep it a secret. Or I might tell Hop this evening when I see her.

RRBB

I’ve been thinking to do that. And I already have an alt (which isn’t EndlessHearts).

Short&Hoofy

I see! Holding out on me, eh? :P

RRBB

Maybe just a bit :)

Short&Hoofy

You know... there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. It’s been bothering me for some time and...

Thing is, I’m not sure how you’d react to it. You know I’ll never do anything to hurt you, right? Everything I do is because I want you to be happy.

RRBB

You always make me happy. There’s no way anything you say can make disappoint me. You’re the love of my life, silly gem.

Short&Hoofy

Oh you... *tickles hoof* :P

What do you think about getting married? Like really married: official ceremony, lots of guests, huge banquet, and so on? I know we’ve talked before and it’s never been a must, but... I think it would suit you better, you know? Dinky Tiara... or I could become Diamond Star. Whichever you prefer.

RRBB

I’d actually like that. I’d like it very much.

But please not Dinky Tiara. That sounds so flimsy.

Short&Hoofy

Well, my parents always did say they wanted me to become a star. Not that I care what they think. My mother can flip out all she wants! I’ve secured enough investors, besides now that I’m of age several family assets are under my name, so she could go buck a tree!

Oh, your parents are sending some of your favorite cookies via me. Sorry, but I can’t eat that stuff. :( There’s something about bitter almonds that just makes me go bleh. I wish my parents could be as nice as yours.

RRBB

Well, my parents like you a lot. I’m the one who’s always acted as a stallion, so I’m sure they are relieved somepony out there “found me”. And with a character like yours how could they not like you?

Short&Hoofy

Bossy and obnoxious? Shouty with a bad temper?

RRBB

I was going for dependable, reliable, with a an almost surreal business determination... but you’re pretty good at the things you said as well. :P

Short&Hoofy

That’s it! I’m buying a barrel of feathers and getting the first train to Ponyville! :P

I miss you so much, Squishy. It was stupid not bringing you along. Next time don’t let me make such stupid decisions, okay? Hopefully I’ll wrap things in the next few days and be back for the new chapter of EqF. Want to read it together as usual? If you’re not busy studying, of course.

RRBB

I’d like that very much. Sorry for being so busy with studying all the time. I promise I’ll take a break. After all, it’s not the end of Equestria, if I don’t get into the S.G.U. this year. There’s always next. Besides, I already have two jobs.

Short&Hoofy

Squishy, you know I’ll support you in anything. Whatever you feel is good for you.

RRBB

I know. Thank you.

Short&Hoofy

Diamond?

Short&Hoofy

Yes?

RRBB

I love you so much!

You changed my life in ways I didn’t think possible. It times I’m scared my life is a dream, that I’ll wake up and none if it will be real. I’ll end up back in school, you wouldn’t be into me... maybe you wouldn’t be into mares at all, and I’d be all alone.

Short&Hoofy

Hey... *holds tight*

Where did this come from? You know you mean more than life itself to me. You’re my floating squishy ray of joy. And I love you more than words can say.

Do you want me to buck everything and come home now? Hay, I’ll even ask ColdLight to teleport me there!

RRBB

No. I’m fine. I just...

Short&Hoofy

I just really, really, really love you. :) Finish your dream factory. That’s my dream as well. Then when you get back we’ll spend all the time in Equestria making wedding plans. I’ll use the pretext your mother gave me to invite sis over and get her to plan it. (She loves planning.)

Short&Hoofy

That would be a laugh. I bet she will too. I was thinking PPI initially, but thinking it over your choice is better.

Actually, having PPI organize this is a terrible idea! I mean she’s great for cuteseñeras and such, but definitely the wrong choice for a wedding. (Stars I pity her future husband.)

RRBB

:) I better let you get back to your bureaucratic adventures. Thank you for writing, Diamond. It always means a lot to me.

Short&Hoofy

I know. I’ll write to you again, once I’m done “adventuring”.

*kisses & ear nibbles*

RRBB

*kisses*

Short&Hoofy

Grand9 Death

Not saying where I heard this, but is it true that one of the grand9 will die? Please tell me it’s not true, @Luna!

WaterBottle

Wait, what?!

PaintDrop

@WaterBottle: where did you heard that? I’ll ask my sources, but so far nopony has mentioned anything of the sort.

Wow, that would be a huge deal! I mean it’s unthinkable! I know that there are a lot of fics out therein which one (or more) of the grand9 die, but for it to happen in the actual series... and so soon after CEO-Danny died too. This would be... I’m so conflicted.

Who do you think it would be? I think Omni is the most likely candidate (Sorry, Omnifans). He’s already a prisoner of the Everprince and I think he’ll die fighting the armor so that Loki gains control. Or maybe Loki will sacrifice himself so that O,I could gain control? I’ll miss either of them if they go :(

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: No way! Whoever does, even if it’s Karl, there would be enormous backlash from the community. Hay, at this point I’m sure ponies will be upset if Cassandra dies. Whoever came up with the rumor thought just wanted to prank WaterBottle.

However, it’s amusing to think who would die if that was an option. Personally, I’ll go with the most unexpected choice: Danny! Yes, I know what you’re thinking, but let’s not forget that we’ve already seen a Danny die, and (if the principle is true) there has to be a third Danny somewhere, since he was shattered at some point. Therefore, I think it would be a nice twist to have Danny killed, then suddenly out comes another Danny and goes “It was the only way to trap them”.

MixaMax

No way! That would be like Daring Do failing an adventure!

Now you got me all worried :(

AwesomePony

I think it’s rather unlikely, but not impossible (as Luna’s silence shows). Generally heroes don’t die in coltfiction (there are exceptions), but with the multiple reality angle... who knows?

Loki and Danny were already given good reasons. Here are my personal theories on the rest (arranged by likelihood):

Eric: killed while rescuing Echo from the grand9 or vice-versa. He’s an interesting and conflicted character and has done things which he must redeem, so this might be it.

Megan: usually I’d say she’d be safe, but Lada has me concerned.

Bellucio: He has such a huge target on his flank that it’s only his appeal that keeps him alive. Molly, Computrix, Kalypso... all have a valid reason to kill him. Also, it might turn out he’s Poseidon.

Euryala: if anyone will be killed by a deity that’s her. It’s also interesting why she so fears Athena.

Molly, Blazen, Karl: I really can’t think of a reason for those three. The more I read, the less sense it makes, and that might be the reason. Killing either of them would get everyone else on a revenge spree. Since it’s the finale I see it happening.

Something else nopony has considered: Caprice. She’s pretty much part of the grand9 (and Blarice shippers still exist) maybe she’ll be the one to die? I’d be very sad if she does, but I can see it.

Twist

@MightyDragon: banned!

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: I haven’t said anything yet...

MightyDragon

@MixaMax: no way! I heard it straight from a reliable source! They didn’t even notice me!

I hope Karl doesn’t die... he’s my favorite. And not only mine. If something happens to him the whole family will be sad :(

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: hush your mouth!

And Karl be a mighty upstanding human! There’s no way some insane prince or a fan fancy deities will take him down!

JustAHuman

@JustAHuman: Ha! Blazen will takin him any day if the week! Blindfolded!

AwesomePony

My sister is insane! Officially! Now she tells me that I must not set hoof in Manehattan and apply to the Canterlot Conservatory (which I already have). Seriously, what’s up with her?!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Err, wasn’t that what you wanted? :/

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: that’s not the point! She can’t just change her mind on something as important as that! It’s like I don’t even exist!

SweetStuff

@WaterBottle: who exactly did you hear talking?

Forget that. PM me.

CEOWitch

False alarm, everyone.

You can sleep safely.

CEOWitch

Or can they? ;)

Luna

@Luna: Or can you?

EverSpike

@EverSpike: Sorry, but it doesn’t have the same effect ;)

And seriously, as much as I want I can’t say a word until the final chapter is out.

On that note, I have a few announcements to make:

There will be a complete volume coming out in a few months. It will have full page illustrations (3 per chapter) as well as some character backstories that didn’t make it into the scrolls so far. We’ll start with a small quantity to gauge interest and print out more if necessary.

But that’s not all! A date for Princess Jennifer has been set! That means writers have been approached and will start working on the initial concept. The main character will be Jennifer, of course, but she’ll also have friends, including in the Crystal Empire.

That said, I’ll let you get back to your theories :)

Luna

@Luna: Will Princess Jennifer and Molly be friends?

PrinceEric

If you ask me, I’d say that the character who would almost certain die (or leave the series for a bit) will be Blazen. We’ve seen how with each next chapter he becomes more and more distant from the rest. I speculate that he’ll go on his own personal journey (as Molly and Bellucio did) and will disappear, which will tie in quite well with his speculated Spinoff series.

Quite probably in the final conflict, because there would be one, he will use his evergem to do something massive, exhausting himself to near death. Euryala will then use her evergem to bubble the both of them out of reality. The next volume will likely start with Omni being back and the grand9 (Cassandra and Athena joining the other seven) lamenting him.

This, of course, is just my theory.

The TechNightling

I’m almost amazed how you managed to kill the speculation with one post. And it wasn’t even a warning.

PaintDrop

The Lead-up Analyses

Okay, I’ll jumping directly into this! It will be so good, I can’t wit for the reading next week! :)

We start with Danny, Megan, and Euryala trying to use their evergems together. Since they are the only three that have actually found them, they think they stand the best chance to defeat the Everprince. Since they cannot decipher the Grogar documents, they insider their best bet is to defeat the Everprince and then deal with the larger issue. Blazen makes a comment that they they are making a deal with the demon (corporations) to defeat someone without even knowing why. There’s a huge argument if the deities could be trusted and if it’s really their place to be controlling the world. In the end, Blazen leaves, furious. The pup follows him

The attempts to see if the evergems could be combined continue, when Eric secretly tells Bellucio he wants to talk to him. The two go outside, where Caprice says she might know where his gem is hidden.

Meanwhile, Blazen wrecks havoc in his typical style, when a tattoo on his skin comes to life (as a big) and attacks him. Blazen, manages to squish it (after s minor fight) but is still worried. Just then the Everprince appears (and the pup runs to him wagging its tail). The Everprince says he knows that Blazen’s family are after him and are getting closer. He also suggests that his friends wouldn’t help them against the danger, but he will. Blazen gets ready to fight, but surprisingly the Everprince doesn’t do anything, instead he just tosses him an evergem. Then the offer is made: in the war to come an alliance will have to be made, but why should they ally themselves with the corporations and not him? Or even better, the Everprince suggests that Blazen makes an alliance with both sides. That way whoever wins the grand9 will be safe.

They get into a real conspiratorial talk in which “logical errors” in last chapters (all the way to the start of Mistmount Chronicles) as explained as being deliberate.p actions by certain powers. The Everprince also asks how come one of the original corporations became the Overseers, entrusted to keep watch on any reality and divine magic. Blazen is hesitant, but once the Everprince reveals that the jewel in his crown is his evergem, he agrees to a deal. Yet! Yet, we also learn that computrix has been spying on the whole thing through his phone.

Back to Bellucio, Eric, and Caprice, they go to Equestria. Using magic to hide themselves, they go to a secluded part of the Canterlot Gardens, where there’s humanoid statue hidden in the center of a maze. It’s revealed that there’s a secret passage under the statute. The passage leads through a underground trapped maze. (I won’t spoil what goes down there, but it’s worth it.). The big reveal, though, is that they find a throne room surrounded by pony statues, and on the throne there’s a seated statue of Poseidon...which Icelos (who suddenly appears) mentions that he’s alive but turned to stone.

Wow wow wow! This is so great! Wonderful buildup! Also, so glad there’s a confirmation of season 2. Would have been argh to have everything rushed to an end in one chapter. I seriously love the pacing of Everhere. It’s one huge story, even fluff episodes are later explained as part of it!

Your thoughts?

PrinceEric

I’m getting this image of mom galloping about her garden, shooting astherbolts at ponies and yelling “damned foals, get off my lawn!”

You’re laughing now, but I bet from tomorrow then will be ponies doing just that. Or am I wrong, @YouKnowWho, @WaterBottle, @SweetStuff?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: if only it were foals...

I feel so embarrassed. We actually went to check it out earlier this morning. The weird statue is a thing. However, there is no underground maze. I know because we might have used tome magic to check..,and get escorted by the guards away.

CodeFilly

The funny thing is that the guards told us that they already checked :P

I think it was a nice experience. Well, Blueblood got a bit upset... and Princess Celestia made a few jokes at our expense. But other than that it was fun. And the statue was real!

MightyDragon

@LightSparkle: Oh, come on! It’s not like we would have done anything. Much.

Besides, I bet we’ll find something that MightyCode missed. (Just kidding :P) I wonder what would happen next week, though. Do you think it’s possible that the final chapter is in Equestria?

YouKnowWho

@PrinceEric: hmm. This was actually a very well written chapter. It fixes some past plot holes, has continuity and sets up the finale. And that’s exactly why I’m so skeptical about next week. This chapters sets things up too well! I honestly can’t think of a resolution that would be satisfactory. The group is so splintered that we’ll either have a new grand9 in the following volume, or they unite and form a group again. Either way it’s a bit meh. Guess we’ll see.

MixaMax

And I would like to point out that MixaMax is still upset that there aren’t as many haters as before. The chapter was flawless. I cannot realistically believe that something so magnificent could be done without a suitable conclusion. Granted, I have a suspicion it won’t be something we expect. It is entirely possible, probable, that Poseidon will be unpetrified. However, I’m certain that would not be the big surprise.

Going from yesterday’s rumors, I wouldn’t be surprised if Euryala (or someone) actually kills him, plunging everything in even greater chaos. We’ll see next week, I guess.

Jade

@all. Lyra is in hospital.

This is more or less planned, but I won’t lie I’m a bit nervous. The stress this last week/month has urged things along, so now (keeping her condition in mind) it was considered safer that she spends a few weeks under observation.

I’d like to stress she is fine, as are the foals. I talked to her an hour ago and agreed to let everyone know so you don’t jump to conclusions. It’s likely she won’t comment a lot these next few months, even if I’ll be sending her scrolls using the tts functionality. Sadly, that also means she’ll miss the reading.

Thanks for your understanding.

Bob

Sweet Changes

Hello, all. Sorry about being so grumpy lately... it’s been a difficult period for me (and I’m not getting into it). I just want to make a few announcements.

First of all, I’ll be moving to Canterlot tomorrow. Yes, I know it’s sudden, but if I’m to take my music career seriously I must settle down and get things ready. My sister has rented a small flat for me (rent paid for the first 6 months) so I should be fine until then.

I’ll also be opening a CMC chapter there (and don’t worry I’ll still be visiting Ponyville on CMC matters).

In addition, I’ve had talks with a number of friends and people I respect and have come to a major conclusion. I shall be writing my Rockstar Molly story. (Yes, a blatant self insert of me going to Earth and singing in Molly’s band.)

WaterBottle and YouKnowWho will be helping out with editing and feedback, and PaintDrop has agreed to do the cover for me. On my part, I’ll make a song for every chapter.

That’s all. Thank you for being here for me.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: is that all? :(

ForceFeedback

@ForceFeedback: Sorry. I thought you wanted to keep it private...

*deep breath* ForceFeedback will be moving in with me while I’m there. He’ll be applying for the Wonderbolt academy as a cadet (hooves crossed) but in the meantime we’ll be living together.

There, everypony knows everything now. (Including my fat sister :) Love you, sis.)

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Well it’s about time! Just say the word and I’ll edit the hay out of that story once you’ve done with it :) Also I can play a mean guitar (as DarkSparkle could attest).

@Luna: Will This Be part of the fan initiative?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: thank you so much for spoiling the news I was about to announce tomorrow :P

@all: since the cat is out of the saddlebag... after some talks Prince Blueblood and S&S have agreed to open a special line of MC books, namely good Fanfiction novels. As already mentioned project Butterfly is about to be published, and soon after other promising works will join it (with permission from the authors, of course).

SweetStuff’s novel will be one of those cases when it is ready, and passes the quality requirements of the editing team. Let me be clear about this, we are willing to publish only what we consider to be of good quality and not too different from the MC premise. (Which is sadly why a large number of great popular stories will not be eligible. :( )

This is still in the planning stages, so please don’t spam us for there’s an official announcement.

Thanks :)

Luna

@Luna: *gasp* will we get a reprint of Blue’s masterpiece? I mean, that is of so high quality that... it’s just beyond words! What is there to say? Rarely have I seen anything as magnificent as that. I mean, Brush writes well, but even she agrees that’s a masterpiece like none other!

CEOWitch

@Luna: you thinking of publishing that story by PlayedPiece? The non pathetic one? I want to know because I'm not giving gems to read that! Even if it has art!

SteveThumb

Oh? Having a crush?

LittleFinger

@CEOWitch: That’s it! I’m going to Spits right now and getting her to fire you! And you can kiss your dream of becoming a poster character for volume 2 goodbuy!

number1

@number1: he had a nice flank, though. That’s all you need to attract attention. :)

@SweetStuff: Woohoo! Muffins all around! I think it would be nice. Which version are you going for? The summer break? The sudden wake up?

DaBoss

@WaterBottle: !!! You promised not to tell anypony! I thought I could trust you! :/ You just have to learn to show some integrity! Just because a cute pair of wings asks you something you don’t have to blabber out everything!

@DaBoss: summer break. Going adventure will be too forced, I think. I want to focus only on the music. That and some social interaction. I’ll ever drop the Bellucio scene. Just simple music.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: I think it will be a great story. I like class dramas. And I love Molly... and you’re okay as well.

Sorry for acting like a jerk to you. You didn’t deserve it. And I was dumb.

Short&Hoofy

This is a rather inspired initiative. It will bring joy and distraction in times of crisis, as well as something for young minds to look forward to. I am glad that the quality will be considered. It will be unfortunate if stories like my own or AwesomePony’s make it there without serious revisions and fixes.

SweetStuff, I commend your decision. Going to Canterlot is a wise choice and will provide you access to the rich culture of Equestria, as well as the potentially most adequate protection. Of course, that might not matter.

@LightSparkle: you will be dropping by for the reading, I assume? I’d like you to bring me something.

DarkSparkle

Heh. DarkSparkle has become Darktrix! Beware the computer invasion!

TrueSparkle

@DarkSparkle: umm, okay?^^

SweetStuff

@SteveThumb: You’re sweet :) It's too short to be a novel. And having a whole novel celebrating Nightmare Night would be a bit much.

Buuut... I can make a music thing! Like the corporations starting a music competition and the grand9 take part. Oh! Better what if the deities organize it and the winner gets one wish? I’ll call it Music Mayhem! Thanks, SweetStuff.

PlayedPiece

@PlayedPiece: Do it right and I’ll personally support it being published. I’ll even do the cover art.

Celestia

Mom! :/

LightSparkle

I was quite good at drawing back in the day... maybe I should get back to it?

Celestia

I love this site! It cheers me up even when I’m feeling low. Must go start packing now... (I only have that much suitcases). Thanks all of you, and... nothing has changed really...

I’ll still be a few hours away. And there’re trains everyday and...

Sorry I’m like this I just...

SweetStuff

Little SweetStuff is all grown up :)

Grace

The Missing PMs

Mom, I’m worried about Dark. She’s gotten herself deep in trouble this time and I’m not sure she could get herself out of it.

Whatever she did when chasing the Windigo changed her. Five times she blubbered out about Earth on the site. Good thing she’s not the first so everyone thought she was roleplaying or something, but the way this is going someone will pick it up.

And somehow I think that’s the least of our troubles.

LightSparkle

I know. Just because I’m calm and reserved doesn’t mean I don’t see the danger. And I’m perfectly aware of what Twilight has done. I definitely don’t approve, but at this point there’s nothing we could do.

Yes, I want to make this very clear. You are not to do anything on the matter. Things are complicated as they are and if I were to share what I know they would become far more complicated.

Celestia

Here we go again :/ And here I naively thought things had changed.

Things are dangerously scary and each time you randomly keep secrets that could change everything. Come to think of it is there any danger you’d actively helped out with? I keep reading about all the stuff you did centuries ago... were they even true?

LightSparkle

Sunshine, I know you’re upset, but this isn’t going to resolve anything. I could tell you everything and more and it would only make you shut yourself in a cave for a few years.

At least trust me on this. I have tried and the results are always the same. Even with everything the girls have been through, you are still not prepared. Please think logically, as I taught you. How many things have happened in the last ten years? Dangers that would destroy Equestria pop up once per year sometimes even more often. Why do you think it’s been different in the past?

Celestia

Oh, really? Well, I know of a few instances, but you can’t make me believe that you’ve been secretly protecting Equestria all this time! I remember the calm when you raised me, or failed to do so. Who protected everything then?

LightSparkle

Cadence did. Trust me. In a few decades you’ll be ready to start learning more about the balance of things. But that is for another time.

I have gone through my old diaries and can’t find anything significant. Sadly, I must admit that a few things were destroyed during our disagreement with Luna. She’s tried to learn more from the dreamscape, but so far it hasn’t helped.

Celestia

Yes, she told me about it. :/ Apparently there are a few years missing, whatever that means. And Simile’s father wasn’t of any help either. (I swear he’s worse than you!) I never thought that sirens would be more helpful with this problem.

LightSparkle

I can’t say I approve of you spending so much time with them. Even if they have changed they still have... certain character flaws. And furthermore, I doubt they’d be much help on the matter. I suspect you’ve also attempted to talk to Discord?

Celestia

You quite confident about everything. And they are fine! You’re right about Discord. He just keeps going on about the Windigo begin own of those, and that Sombra had something to do with things... I really don’t know.

So little things make sense! If the Windigo was so powerful why doesn’t he just conquer Equestria? Why hasn’t he done so in the past? The only thing I managed to pry out of Twilight was that he “woke up” when Flurry Heart was born. He also claims that you were responsible for the death of his family. Actually no, that you know who was responsible.

Twilight doesn’t make much sense, but neither did the Windigo. Are you sure he isn’t one of the ancient enemies that you locked away somehow and forgot all about it? :/

LightSparkle

Sunny, despite what you think I don’t have legions of enemies. Chrysalis, for example, wasn’t an issue until recently. Actually that was something that Cadence was dealing with for a few decades. I still think the wedding made her put down her guard. No matter, she deserved finding a nice stallion to be with.

On that note, don’t worry about not finding anyone suitable, dear. You have lots of time. Don’t rush things and you’ll be happy. :)

Celestia

I’ve gotten used to you changing the topic constantly. And don’t bother shocking me. I’ve lived with guilt for years so you can’t say anything I haven’t thought of.

LightSparkle

I know. And I’m honestly sorry about that. I won’t pretend that I have a good reason to banish you. It was more a problem of me than anything you ever did. But I’m so glad we can talk like this now. You’re the second child I had and are very dear to me.

Celestia

Is it possible that the Windigo is another child you’d forgotten you had banished?

LightSparkle

*chuckle* Wouldn’t that be the best cliche to attack Equestria? No, it’s not. And Luna never had children because of her tastes. No, this is something completely new. Or old and forgotten.

Celestia

Do you think Sombra had anything to do with it? He caused some serious issues back in the day. The crystal ponies still trembled at his mention.

LightSparkle

Doubtful. Sombra was a cute stallion who slept his way to power then messed with something he couldn’t control. Not the first, I might add, but him being a unicorn made matters worse. I doubt he’s connected in any way.

Celestia

Next you’ll tell me you sent him to the Crystal Empire as an envoy or something. :/

LightSparkle

Lol. No :) He was born in the Crystal Empire. Well, rather in the outpost that became it. Because of the effects of the frozen north the original tribe lived underground. The caves everypony came to fear were initially the original city. It was called the Crystal Empire because they covered the cave walls.

Celestia

Wait! If he’s of the original tribe, where did the crystal ponies come from? They are entirely different from any of the other pony tribes.

LightSparkle

I’m so proud of you, sweetie. And also so sorry. :(

Celestia

?

LightSparkle

FORGET!

DELETE EVERYTHING UP TO THIS POINT!

Celestia

Hey, Sunny. I know you don’t like to be disturbed, but was wondering how you’re doing. Exams going fine?

Celestia

Yes, Mom... Exams are going fine, because that’s more important that a crazy indestructible Windigo!

I’m worried about Dark. She’s gotten herself deep in trouble this time and I’m not sure she could get herself out of it.

Whatever she did when chasing the Windigo changed her. Five times she blubbered out about Earth on the site. Good thing she’s not the first so everyone thought she was roleplaying or something, but the way this is going someone will pick it up.

Were you able to find any information regarding it, by chance maybe?

LightSparkle

Sorry, sweetie. :( There’s not much I’ve found in my diaries, and Luna hasn’t managed to learn anything from the dreamscape.

Celestia

Yeah, Simile told me about that. :/ This makes so little sense! Argh!

LightSparkle

Don’t worry, I believe in you :) Just don’t do anything rash, okay? I care about you.

Celestia

I know. And I care about you, but this really has me worried. We’re working on something with True and Simile. I can’t say more, but I think it might be the key to our problem.

LightSparkle

So secretive :) You really are my daughter.

Celestia

Don’t remind me. As much s I hate myself for it, I think it’s better this way. And don’t try any spells on me! I’ve locked my mind.

LightSparkle

I won’t :) Take care, Sunny.

Celestia

Thanks for writing, Mom.

Later.

LightSparkle

Author's Note

Since there is no way to convey it. The spell worked. LightSparkle rewrote her initial thought.

New Theories

So, with the finale approaching (four days left) I thinks it’s time for a good old speculation thread. :) We used to these a lot with MixaMax and Brush at the time (LyraHands would only nod and listen).

Here’s how it goes: whoever wants comes with a theory, presents evidence or speculation, then sets a likelihood number (in %).

I’ll start one as an example, but a few things to remember: one theory per post (ideally per pony as well), only serious theories, you can develop an already existing theory instead of coming up with your own.

Simple, right?

I think that the statue in Equestria will be awakened (somehow) and it will turn out that is in fact Zeus! Poseidon has been running tech show as Zeus this whole time!

We’ve had a new instances of dreams coming from Poseidon being attributed to Zeus, also several characters have stressed that Zeus cannot be trusted. Personally, I think this would be a nice twist and in tone with other reveals in the past.

50% of happening

RRBB

Whoa! Talk about a blast from the past! And also, thanks for the dinner! Was great!

My theory is that the titans will take over the Everhere forcing the grand9 and the Everprince to work together.

As evidence I’d like to point out the theme of secret alliances. Everyone seems to be having secret deals, so it’s likely that there might be such an unexpected turn of events. And let’s not forget that Hades is in league with the titans. The corporations are unlikely to do anything much, but the Everprince definitely will and I think that Omni will see a return.

80%

MixaMax

Oooh! Fun fun fun!

I think it will turn out that the Everhere is in fact one of the evergems and that’s why everyone is fighting for control over it. The ones that the grand9 have so far are just keys, which hold their own realities, and in the next volume we’ll see a lot of traveling between realities.

The explanation if the Everhere feels wrong and also the realities fighting for control are rather powerful.

25%

PlayedPiece

I think that Molly will get shipped with the Everprince (Omni) and use this to get the grand9 together again.

There have been two chapters in Mistmount in which there was shipping hinted. Also, there’s something romantic and adventurous in a main character getting shipped with the main villain. (Ha Ha, very funny.) seriously I ship them so hard right now.

Molly and the Everprince... someone please write this! Oh, wait, I’m a writer! I’ll write this :P

30%

Brush

@Brush: What?! That actually sounds cool. Not that it could happen, but having a fic based on it will be really cool. Write it! Also, I might make it into a greatscroll :)

RRBB

@Brush, @RRBB: hmm. Too cliche. What would be interesting if it turns out Omni has a crush on Karl! *runs away* :P

EverSpike

You’re terrible!

It would be hilarious, though. :) I’ll illustrate that :P

I can’t think of any theories. I do like the idea of Poseidon being Zeus. I also think that the statue will be present in some significant way. It was too prominent last chapter to be swept under the rug (then again so was Computrix for two years :P)

Whatever happens I’m sure it will be fun!

PaintDrop

Somepony from another reality will drop in, just as all sides engage in a giant mega cool battle!

100%

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: umm, that’s an interesting theory, but it’s a bit vague :) We already know there’s going to be a battle :)

Brush

@Brush: She’s secretly hoping that Daring Do will suddenly appear and unite her two favorite series :) Isn’t That right, loser? :P

Would be *yay* fun, but will never happen. DD is too different. Other than the DDDA story, and it’s thousands of clones, there’s nothing that has managed to blend both together.

Will be *yay* cool still! :)

Feather

I think Poseidon will be made whole and face the titans with Zeus and Hades, while fighting Hades and his armies.

Chosen points to Poseidon reappearing, and the statue is the missing piece.

90%

Quarters

Might be just me, but I’d like to nite how much dragons are avoided. I know, I know, look who’s talking and all that. I find it curious. Maybe this will be part of the unexpected finale? Dragons appearing from nowhere and attacking Mistmount... would be cool!

EverSpike

@PrinceEric: you’ve been quiet. All okay?

MixaMax

If we follow the literary principles both the statue and Bellucio will be significant, and Molly by extension.

The statue was mentioned, so it will have an important role. I’m not sure if Poseidon will emerge or the volume will end with the statue being shattered, and fulfilling the important dear

Bellucio has yet to do something important, and let’s not forget his relation to Poseidon, Pas well as Computrix (who was watching the Blazen-Everprince exchange).

Molly has had too much character development not to do anything.

LightSparkle

I think this is devolving quite fast into standard chat :/ guess we have our theories, then. Tech, can you lock the thread after me?

Regarding the theories... not bad. All include a confrontation (which is obvious), I feel the statue will held a surprise. Call me suspicious, but that’s how the writers work time and time again! They won’t reveal anything until it’s out. And yeah, we haven’t seen Zeus do anything in a while. Is he even alive? Is he even in this reality?

RRBB

Locking thread per request.

Usually I don’t do this, but since no one has responded in an hour, to think it’s the right call as well. I would appreciate having this contest in the rumours section, thought. While there is just unsubstantiated talk, I’ll let it pass, but remember in future to respect the site structure.

The TechNightling

Oh lighten up, Tech :) Where’s the fun in that? Discussions near a Volume finale might be a bit more loose with rules :)

HopHop

The Sombra PMs

I found something fascinating. In a scroll fragment written by Sunbeam the Enlightened, there is a reference to the “Northern expeditions” in an attempt to develop a new type of magic. The translation of the passage might not be accurate, but I think it specifies talk with another equine tribe in the unicorn’s efforts to learn more about an unknown form of magic.

By my estimates based on available references, the point of meeting between unicorns and this tribe is approximately where the present location of the Crystal Empire Capital is today. I believe this is the breakthrough we’re searching for. I shall go meet the Windigo and discuss my finding. Potentially this would trigger his memory and bring us closer to the solution.

DarkSparkle

Twilight, this must stop! He’s been appearing and disappearing at will around me or Flurry! I don’t want to cast a magic parried over the city, but I will if I have to!

InItForTheShipping

That would have no effect on the situation. Clock is ticking and unless we find a solution Equestria will be frozen.

Is there a reason you wouldn’t grant me full access to the Sombra library? I’ve read everything in the antechambers, but you have barriered the main room.

DarkSparkle

There are things there I’m not letting you read, especially now.

InItForTheShipping

An expected response. I was far more prone to illogical emotion at the time.

You have read them, though, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to determine the materials were dangerous or not. What did you find out?

DarkSparkle

We must tell the others. Playing by his tune is getting out of hoof and isn’t helping us!

InItForTheShipping

It is your decision, of course. Have calculated it to be the far riskier solution, but as Flurry’s mother I assume your logic cannot be relied on so I don’t hold it against you.

You are free to tell Princess Celestia even now, and in the unlikely event she happens to know something that would help us, I shall admit my mistake publicly and acknowledge your superior intellect and intuition.

DarkSparkle

You’re not you without your heart.

InItForTheShipping

I only have what the Windigo did.

So what is your decision? Will you tell me what you found, or will you inform my mentor?

DarkSparkle

According to Sombra’s personal notes Windigos had a far superior magic than unicorns (and even alicorns) that’s why he resorted to seeking out shadow magic. Apparently he wanted to provide to the mares that a stallion could achieve just as much, but disagreed in the theory that shadow was evil. In his view it was only a matter of poor control on the part of the caster.

InItForTheShipping

A logical assumption, though oversimplified. Based on following events we see that he wasn’t correct.

DarkSparkle

Yet for a time he was able to control the elements as well as the Windigos. He also seemed opposed to to something called “the Chameleon Principle”. So far I haven’t been able to find what that was, but it seemed important enough to get Sombra into a rage every time he mentioned it. It was supposed to be a breakthrough that would allow for further expeditions North, but he kept on calling it baseless, and was rather gleeful each time it failed.

The last mention on it I was able to find is him commenting that by the rate things were going either the Windigos would die out or the mage researchers.

InItForTheShipping

Makes sense. As I remember, when you went to the Empire, Sombra didn’t have a problem in surviving in the frozen north,

The best course of action would be to learn more about the Chameleon Principle. I would have remembered such a reference, yet strangely enough there is none. For something so important, it should have been mentioned multiple times, especially since it was successful.

DarkSparkle

Why do you assume it was a success?

InItForTheShipping

It it wasn’t there wouldn’t have been a Crystal Empire. Are there any indication who the mages involved in the project were? The logical step would be to follow their life and works.

DarkSparkle

Most of the names I hadn’t heard of, but there is one which you would recognize: Starswirl the Bearded.

InItForTheShipping

That is an interesting development. I am confident that he or my mentor would shed some light on the matter. It’s surprising that the Windigo hadn’t mentioned either to me in any significant detail, even after the procedure. Hopefully, he’ll know more when we talk.

Did you know that Sombra and Starswirl were rivals? I never knew they were acquainted.

DarkSparkle

It might have to do with the amnesia spell cast over Equestria. Sombra made sure everypony forgot about the Crystal Empire until its return. That probably had to do with it.

InItForTheShipping

The effect of that spell ended upon the return of the Empire. If ordinary ponies could remember, I doubt a genius such as Starswirl would forget. In addition there would be references in his and other works.

DarkSparkle

I’m not talking about that amnesia spell. I’m referring the ones before it. To be exact there were two more, if Sombra is to be believed.

InItForTheShipping

That changes things significantly. If there were two additional spells, the effects of which continue to this day, that would explain why neither the Princesses, nor the Windigo can remember what precisely happened.

I must commend you on your research. As soon as we find a way to counteract the induced memory loss, we’ll be that much closer to finding a solution to the problem.

DarkSparkle

There’s also a note that the original Windigo tribe died out before the rise of the Crystal Empire, way before Sombra was crowned king.

InItForTheShipping

That’s astonishing. I never read anything about him before becoming king. What was he? A heir prince? A general?

DarkSparkle

He was a mage’s assistant... and envious of Starswirl’s skill.

I’m sorry Twilight, but I can’t do this any longer. I’m sending a letter to Celestia.

InItForTheShipping

That is your decision. Thank you for the information. It was extremely useful.

DarkSparkle

Cloudsdale Preparations

@all: this is the standard 24 hours reminder post. The reading of the final chapter of Midnight Castle will take place tomorrow. After discussions it has been agreed that all the last 3 chapters will be read, however PrinceEric would only do an analysis of the very last.

In addition, please let EverSpike know if you have any particular dietary requirements. The event will start at four in the afternoon and continue up to seven (with the option of going on for a few hours longer if desired).

If parental or guardian permission is required, please let the ponies involved get in touch with me.

See you tomorrow.

DarkSparkle

Tomorrow will be the first official reading of Dream Productions. Yeah, yeah, I know I’ve only been talking about this since forever, but this is a sorta big thing. (The really big thing will be when the dreamscroll tech gets out there! Expect it sometime next year!)

One thing I’d like to be clear about: Simile is a highly skilled artist with vast experience in performance, writing, illusionism, dreamscaping (duh!), and calligraphy. PLEASE let her get some rest between performances and try to limit autographs to when she is okay with giving them!

I shouldn’t even be writing this, but stars are ponies too! They need some rest and privacy on occasion!

RRBB

Pfft! Don’t listen to her! I’m never too tired for autographs unless I am :P

Simile

I’ll be there in the morning, so if anypony wants to see me, send a PM. :)

I might also bring a few friends (PlayedPiece is a certain, in talks with a few others). Please try not to overwhelm them, okay?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I am looking forward talking to them, and would just like to remind you to bring what I asked (in case you have forgotten).

DarkSparkle

The griffin wing is ready! We’ve been preparing this for weeks! (I even got this wicked costume and let me tell you it’s the *yay*!)

Here will the reading be? The gazebo last time was a great idea! Much more space and fresh air. @AwesomePony, Adrianne for some clouds, okay, loser? Is so grate watching dream readings from the sky :)

Feather

@Feather: who do you think I am?! Of course there will be clouds! And NONE thunderclouds this time. (Looking at you, @DaBoss).

Actually, won’t it be better if we do it in Cloudsdale? I mean we have a pretty awesome cloudscape and all, and I think I can get a stadium (my dad knows a few people). It’s not like there’s a championship or anything.

AwesomePony

@EverSpike: Don’t worry! I’ll help you take it there! I think I have an idea .\ /./

PPI

@AwesomePony: that is a very good suggestion.

@all: the event will be moved to cloudsdale, starting from five. Non-pegasi, please be in Ponyville at four so I can mass cast a cloudwalking spell.

DarkSparkle

*sigh* I see how to get the food there...

EverSpike

@EverSpike: Don’t worry! I’ll help you take it there! I think I have an idea ^.^

PPI

I can talk with my mom to use her balloon, if that helps. It can only hold four, but it can carry a lot of food.

I’ll talk to her tonight. It should be okay, but I’ll need somepony to get my BF to the event? I’ll probably be busy with this.

Quarters

@Celestia: You’ll be there, right? I mean sorry for last time, but it will be so cool to see you again. Well, I mean better than last time O:)

Flying is so cool! Can’t wait to see how things are! Oh, and I’ve started to learn cooking! LightSparkle said that you might like it!

PlayedPiece

Wow! For the first time I won’t have to move anywhere! :) Kidding!

It will be so cool! Also, do you have any theories? Tomorrow, we’ll see who is right and who wrong!

Oh! Oopsy will be bringing plushies, so... we... if you happen to like them enough to buy O:)

PrinceEric

I’m still unsure if I’ll make it. Flurry wants to go a lot to meet “the Princess Jennifer writers” but... well we’ll see how things go. If I go, I can cast cloud walking on whoever is going. I’ll know more in a while.

InItForTheShipping

I’ll just go to see you pathetic losers watching stupid pretty pony things. Ha!

SteveThumb

There’s a chance I might go. Still thinking about it. If I go and anyone makes fun of me, I’ll beat you up!

I know that it’s all fun and games for you, but I might get in trouble for this. So, no jokes, okay?!

HoofTies

@HoofTies: Hey, if anypony causes any trouble I’ll buck him off the cloud, okay? Let them just try!

AwesomePony

@all: final update.

The event will take place at five at Cloudsdale stadium. Departure from Ponyville will be at four. If you’re going from other cities, see if there’s anyone who could cast a cloud walking spell on you.if not you won’t be able to join the event.

Be sure to tell EverSpike or PPI of your diathermy needs, or bring your own food.

This will be a four hour event, so plan accordingly.

DarkSparkle

Well, it’s decided. Salty, Flurry, and myself will be going. Flurry has promised to be at her best behavior, but you know fillies... O:)

InItForTheShipping

I can’t wait to get there! Finally I’ll have a chance to spend half a day in the open again. Just please don’t ask that Gothling becomes any MC characters, okay? I want to spend some time with him.

Heh, it’s funny how big this has become. Almost all of us have to post requests to get some peace during grand events. It’s almost like we’re celebrities. I suppose technically we are in our small corner of the reality, but... it’s just mind boggling. A pity Lyra can’t be there. She’d have liked this.

PaintDrop

Funny you should say that. I’ll be there ;)

LyraHands

Everhere Finale - Final Chapter

After some deliberation, we decided to have the following format:

I’ll comment on events during the first two readings (briefly) then pass to PrinceEric for his final analysis the of the volume. And then we’ll go back to comments. :)

Let me just start by saying... are you *yay* Kidding me?! Over 500 Nightlings managed to come here! And I’m pretty much not counting the local Pegasi! The first meetup didn’t have that many! (Actually I don’t think we had 50 back then :)).

Nightlings from pretty much all major cities made it, and quite a few small ones as well. At first I thought it weird to have this at the stadium, but now that it’s starting to fill up it’s rather cool. (The stands are empty, but it would have been scary if they weren’t.)

Lots of familiar faces, including LightSparkle who brought a thousand human caps (:P), but also some completely new. Lots of changelings, a new dragon, and-get ready for it-a siren! Yep, you heard it right! And mare, did she have an impact. (Both RRBB and Short&Hoofy were drooling, along with half the stallions :P)

Also, Flurry is so cute! (And, no surprise, so infatuated by Jade)

Anyway, reading is about to start

PaintDrop

Talk about a strong start! Simile did miracles again. I’m definitely going on one of the clouds for the second reading!

Oh, just so you know... even more Nightlings showed up! I’d say we’re well over a thousand! RRBB has been going up and down like crazy making sure everything is okay. PPI made a giant cake replica of the Felina corp HQ, which is now partially destroyed :)

Garble feels so out of place, I’m almost sorry for the dragon. Also, PlayedPiece is a blast! If I get a chance I’ll talk to her later (everypony wants to, it seems).

Pixel wandered through the dream at some point it was hilarious! Oh, and Candle came with tons of plushies. I fear many Nightlings will part with their bits... and it will be worth it! I got ten secondary characters :)

Time for chapter 2

PaintDrop

Okay, we’re almost up to the big one! Lyra had to lie down for a bit, got us a bit scared, but seems that’s normal so close to giving birth (FYI it’s about a month and a half away :)) Good thing we gave a dozen Nightling doctors and nurses in the audience who were here to make sure all is fine.

Princess Celestia also came by and got into a huge discussion with PlayedPiece. It was like a class reunion... after a few millennia. LightSparkle is embarrassed as Tartarus :)

The view from the cloud is great! RRBB even agreed to include that option in future dreamreadings (and is in discussions for cloud purchases).

Prince Blueblood and Captain Spitfire showed up... which made things tense for a bit. DaBoss and her coltfriend were also there... so far things are okay. Hope they last during the finale.

PaintDrop

Wow! Holy stars! It’s like... if I didn’t have Oopsy, I’d be begging Blueblood to marry me! The finale was so good! Even Max begrudgingly liked it. There already are a lot of discussions what it means and how it changes everything written so far. That’s why I’m so late with posting this. It started as pretty expected, then neared the twist which everypony could see a mile off... then gave us a totally new twist!

Thank you @Luna, @number1, @speculator7 for the great Volume! Can’t wait for the next!

And now the analysis!

We start directly with a battle. Titan armies pour into Mistmount and march through local police mages and even military ones. Corporations seem to be defending their turfs, but not attacking. Cassandra is in charge of escorting a convoy to Felina’s main vault, when Prometheus attacks. Things look grim, as none of the sorcerers are knocked out by titan minions, but then Megan appears with Athena and saves Cassandra and some of the artifacts.

As they go to the Williams’ home (the base, as usual), we learn there’s fighting throughout the city. Some of the corporations have taken sides (Skyla has joined the titans and Megan has defected). The Overseers are nowhere to be seen, as is Zeus. Danny is worried that there’s no word from Eric or Blazen, when they are attacked by Atlas (new titan).

Meanwhile, the Everprince appears with Echo, Eric, and Blazen and attacks a Grogar vault. He gets something from there (yet unknown) and is about to head out, when Hades (evil Hades?) appears and says it’s been a while.

Back to Danny, who manages to fend off Atlas thanks to his everpower... plus Athena and Computrix. Molly is visibly upset with Bellucio (betrayal or shipping? Too difficult to tell). Using her skills, Computrix tells what the situation in the city is: three corporations have joined the titans, Felina has declared neutrality, and pretty much half of the city is under titan control. Danny begs Euryala to call the junior gods, regardless what deal they have to make with them. There is extreme hesitation (plus a minor evergem duel) after which she is about to agree... but suddenly a wounded Blazen appears, along with Eric, Echo, and... Omni! They explain that Hades has killed the original Everprince (?) and now mental control is shared between Loki and Omni. Omni tells them that the Overseers have made a deal with Hades not to meddle in the battle. Bellucio then says that there’s only one thing they could do if they are to have a chance: restore Poseidon.

Bellucio goes back to Poseidon’s prison, while the others fight their way to a portal to Equestria. There are a few more grand battle scenes in which they evade titans (Prometheus is so OP with his fire powers :)). Upon reaching the specific area to open a “clean portal” the Overseers have gathered there in force. Things are tense, but the Zeus suddenly appears. He says he’s sorry,but this is how things are supposed to be (he’s actually been the head of the Overseers all along). He lets them go through the portal, explaining that the Everhere never was his original reality.

Danny is devastated, but Omni and Caprice manage to drag him off towards Canterlot while Eric and Echo seal the portal (? temporary). They tell the princesses what is going on and Princess Celestia agrees with the plan to awaken Poseidon.

Everyone gather at the statue; Bellucio has arrived with Kalypso and the other two thirds of the deity. Princess Celestia unpetrifies the statue and they perform the final merging spell. Equestria trembles and Poseidon comes to be. He looks at himself, says a few words (to the Everprince, Icelos, Athena, Klaypso, and Euryala) then thanks the grand9 for awakening him.

Poseidon also welcomes them to HIS REALITY (!!!) to which Princess Celestia and Princess Luna bow, saying “Welcome back, Creator”.

Dun dun dun!

This is just... now I must reread EVERYTHING from the beginning. Just wow! I knew Poseidon will awaken, I suspected Zeus might pull a fast one, but Equestria being created by Poseidon... that I didn’t see!

PrinceEric

I’m locking the site! I hate to be that mare, but ten threads have exploded and the amount of comments are overloading the server, even with the precautions taken.

I’ll start unlocking sections gradually as things calm down.

What a finale, though! I want to read it again :)

HopHop

Speculations 1

I know this is the hundredth thread about this, but wow that finale! It got me so confused I don’t know what’s what. All of you know I’ve been a bit critical of the series at times, but that really kicked me out of the barn!

And now the biggest question is: what the *yay* happened? Was that Equestria? Our Equestria? Is it just another manipulation on the part of the deities? The truth is we don’t know! It’s entirely possible, though implausible, that Danny wakes up next chapter in his dorm and goes “What’s up?” And Loki just sighs and gets back to studying. Not to mention it could be another reality.

Poseidon being the creator, though...just wow. (And I thought the reveal was that the Everhere didn’t belong to Zeus.) Come to think of it, that explains a lot, especially why Zeus is so weak all the time. Seriously, it’s always the great8 that had to fix things for Zeus to give some vague words of thanks and a skill or two. Now it makes sense: Poseidon created the Everhere and the gems, and got split into pieces, Hades got corrupted, and Zeus took the reigns even if this wasn’t his reality. (That leaves the question which is Zeus’ reality? Does he have one at all?)

In any event, well done, writers. Please, please, please don’t mess up the next volume!

MixaMax

I’m glad there was no betting pool, or I would have cleaned out everypony. MixaMax liked the finale? What are the odds?!

Of course it want anything like Volume five :P Heh?

It was a great one, though, and definitely something none of us expected. Looking at things, I think this is the real Equestria. The Princesses bowing means that they agree with what is going on, and since we have none of the other deities say anything to oppose, I take it as truth. Interesting to see what happens now.

In theory the Everhere is controlled by Hades and Zeus (it was before, but this time is in inverse). And let’s not forget the titans are there too. Does that mean that the corporations will be destroyed, ally themselves to the new power or survive as neutral elements? And let’s not forget Omni who we still don’t know if he’s himself or part of the Everprince. So many things to look forward to :)

Brush

I reread the whole Volume. Knowing the end makes for an entirely different read. Seriously! Try it! A lot of things that at the time seemed weird or amusing now seem just in place. I can’t describe it! You must do it in order to see!

The way I see it, this might be a plot Poseidon came up with to become whole again. Now, hear me out! We know that the Everprince planned his return generations ago, through Omni’s bloodline. What if Poseidon planned everything else so that he was reborn in Equestria?

Let’s not forget that the statue had to get there somehow. If Princess Celestia was the one who turned him to stone (was she?) why put him there? Did he order it? Or is there something else in play?

Let’s not forget there are still four evergems out there, not to mention a lot of powers that haven’t attacked (Lada and Computrix come to mind.) whatever happens MCE 2 will be great! :))

PrinceEric

Well it wasn’t that surprising. We discussed it with Lyra a bit. Both of us suspected that the Everhere wasn’t Zeus’ reality. Out theory went that it belonged to the Everprince (it still might. If you read carefully it isn’t specified anywhere that it belonged to Poseidon.)

Personally, I thought that Equestria was fake and that it would turn out that it’s linked to Poseidon’s prison (to make the merging convenient).

Another interesting this is... what if Equestria is the prime reality? We know that the Everhere connects all, and that other dimensions battle for control, but what if Poseidon created the evergems from Equestria and Mistmount formed as a result?

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: You see the flaw, right?

For that to be true, that means there must be nine corporations in Equestria. And even if we consider the Elements of Harmony to be of those, it still wouldn’t work! For one thing there are only six of them, but also, their nature is very different. The evergems are described as reality shattering gems, while the Elements... well, they aren’t.

TrueSparkle

Don’t forget there are other gems in Equestria of equal power: the crystal heart, the Dragon Lord scepter, Queen Chrysalis’ throne. Each of them have the necessary power to be considered a gem.

The lack of corporations are good point..l until one considers them tribes. We have the three tribes, changelings, dragons, griffins, sea ponies, crystal ponies, and windigos. That might very well make up for the equivalent of the corporations.

As for Poseidon creating Equestria, it is quite logical since the myths talk about him being deity of horses as well.

DarkSparkle

Oh! My! Stars!

All of us are water!

Poseidon is deity of the sea, thus everything he has created is made of water! So we too must be made of water! Now I know why I feel so dizzy when in the scorching heat! It all makes sense!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: *gasp* It does! That’s why I was able to make copies from myself from the mirror pool! I bet that the statue of the real Poseidon is there at the bottom!

Or maybe it isn’t a statue? What if it’s the real Poseidon, looking at us? That’s why when I asked for more mes he made it happen.

*gasp* I must bring him some cake in thanks!

PPI

@RRBB: Hey, why so quiet lately? Everything okay? I know business is difficult, but send a line so we don’t worry, okay?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I think she just needs some rest. The reading was exhausting for some. (I don’t see Jade posting either :P)

YouKnowWho

Shut up!

MixaMax

YouKnowWho’s Inquisitive PMs

Hey, I know this is awkward and all... and I don’t mean anything rude or mean by it, but are things okay between you and RRBB? I know it’s normal for her to be stressed out for such an event (I remember how stressed out I was during the Equestria Games), but...

If this is just something kinky you girls do, sorry, my bad. I’m just a bit concerned, okay? And since I know none of the others will ask you directly I’m asking you.

YouKnowWho

What are you talking about? Things are great. We’re planning to get married in a few months, RRBB managed to get her dream started' plus I’m on the short list for admittance to the S.G.U.

What exactly happened that has you worried?

Short&Hoofy

Well... it’s... now I consider myself open minded and all, but...

You vomiting then RRBB eating glasses is kinda weird. Sorry :( I wasn’t sure if this was your thing or you were being mean to her.

YouKnowWho

What?! Why in Equestria would you think that’s “our thing”? :/

Short&Hoofy

Well, you know... she keeps saying that you like being tickled, so I thought that you two were doing other weird things when together. I’m totally okay with it, you know! Absolutely nothing against it!

YouKnowWho

:/ I’m just ticklish! And that’s hardly what you’re describing!

I was just feeling unwell and I had to throw up somewhere in private where nopony would see! As you said this was a very important event for RRBB and I didn’t want to ruin it for her. Excuse me if it was unable to do it unnoticed at a stadium full of ponies :/

Short&Hoofy

Sorry :( It was like not at all hidden, you know. Half the pegasus in the sky saw you. A few asked me if you were okay, then mentioned having seen RRBB eating glasses, so I though...

You know what, nevermind, it was stupid. Main thing I’m glad you’re okay :)

YouKnowWho

...half the pegasi know?

Short&Hoofy

Well, most thought you had eaten some experimental cake Pinkie brought. I know you don’t touch that stuff lately, so was worried. I only shared this with WaterBottle and SweetStuff. Oh, and Plust.

I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’ll tell them all’s fine :)

Is everything fine?

YouKnowWho

Great :/ I suspect RRBB has heard by now.

And yes, everything is fine. I’ve just been having some stomach issues, that’s all.

Short&Hoofy

Okay :) Glad to hear it!

Great reading, though! When RRBB sets her mind on something she sure delivers :)

YouKnowWho

Yea, I know... Tell me something, who saw RRBB eating glass?

Short&Hoofy

Oh, I’m not sure. Somepony asked me about it and I was like “pfft! You joking, mare?” But then I saw you, so though there was something going on and... well, you know the rest.

Why, is it serious?

YouKnowWho

I’m sure it’s nothing. It’s just a little unexpected. I think I’ll ask her about it... that is unless she asks me about my vomiting first. :/ Thanks for telling me, I guess. Even if you did after talking to everypony else!

Edit: sorry, I’m a bit cranky lately. Haven’t been getting enough sleep. I think things will calm down now that Project Butterfly is finished and RRBB got her business started.

Short&Hoofy

No worries :) Was really cool! And I can’t wait for Project Butterfly to hit the shelves :) There will be a dream reading of that, right? There must be! I remember reading the first chapter and going wow! Plust is also obsessed with it, as is my idol :)

I know next time will be paid, but I’ll save up for that! You can bet on that!

YouKnowWho

Yes, there will. Simile and Hop have started practicing already. It’s funny they’d sometimes drop by the house unannounced and get right to it. Simile is actually much more fun once you get to see her in that light.

Thanks for the PM. And sorry for worrying you.

Short&Hoofy

Out of curiosity, did anypony tell PaintDrop about this?

Short&Hoofy

I don’t think so. She could still have seen it, though, she wanted to watch from a cloud after the first reading, so... But she’s not a pegasus, so who knows? I can ask her if you want.

YouKnowWho

No! It’s fine! Don’t ask her! She’ll only get worried and jump to conclusions and all that.

Short&Hoofy

Oh, okay. She knows about RRBB’s glass eating problem, though. We’ve been joking about to all day! It’s sad that she can pretty much only go out with her brother and us. Her parents are totally overprotective! :/

And it’s not like Vertex is bad or anything. Yeah, he’s a bit gothy, but hey, who doesn’t like a gothcolt? Trust me, if he starts working at a coffee shop the place will be full!

Hey! I might talk to Pinkie about it! I might even join in. It’ll be at least an year until I can apply to the Wonderbolts again.

What do you think?

YouKnowWho

Sure. Why not?

Did PaintDrop say anything regarding RRBB?

Short&Hoofy

Seriously, why don’t you join us? We’re all having fun by the lake. It’ll be fun and we can laugh all about it! RRBB was supposed to join as well, but she said she had some business with Discord.

I’ll tell the girls to save you some cake.

YouKnowWho

RRBB went to meet Discord?

Short&Hoofy

She didn’t tell you? Is that normal? Should we be worried?

YouKnowWho

No, I just thought she was going to meet him tomorrow. And you’ve worried enough for one day.

Have fun at the lake, you idiots :)

Short&Hoofy

<3

So you’re coming or what? :)

YouKnowWho

No, sorry. I have a slight headache and will spend the day resting. You have fun, though :)

Short&Hoofy

You know we will :)

YouKnowWho

Speculations 2

I have this strange theory. I haven’t read through ten series as much as most of you, so might be missing a few things (and the whole idea might be crap), but here goes...

What if the finale is actually the start? We all think that Poseidon’s mistake is something he did in the past way when Euryala was one of his Chosen. What if the mistake isn’t what he did in the past, but what he did now? As in with him reviving himself in Equestria?

If you think about it, Poseidon was reformed when 9 aspects of him merged together (the same number as the evergems). What if the nine personalities were cast out of him creating the gems that were also the original founders of the corporations?

Remember it was said that they were given to his original chosen. What if that’s something that happened now, and because if talented now, it changed history so that reality would be continuous. What I’m trying to say is what if the act of the grand9 restoring Poseidon (with the Everprince no less!) was what made the evergems and the Everhere exist in the first place?

LittleFinger

Ah, quantum time theory. My favorite :D

@LittleFinger: Actually, I think you might be onto something. Personally, I doubt it if nothing else because of the target audience (let’s face it, colts aren’t that interesting in complex theories. It’s nice to have twists and surprises, but this is a few hundred steps beyond that.)

I must say I didn’t link the two numbers. I just thought that nine was a nice number (as is the grand9) Now, though I’m not sure what to expect. And if you really want to go all out:

Equestria has six elements and three Princesses (as in, one can argue that the Sun, Moon, and Hearth are elements as well).

For the moment I think we’ll see a direct continuation of the current volume. Well have a battle for the remaining evergems and then possibly a resolution or, more likely, another conflict ending in failure.

PaintDrop

@LittleFinger: Ooh, body! I’ll make a model and see if that’s possible. Been a while since I worked on time paradox models. :)

@LightSparkle: want to help me out? It could be fun :)

TrueSparkle

Well, I sort know what might happen... unless somepony changed his mind again :P

Jokes aside, Blueblood and I talked about a lot of stuff when we were fans of the original series. We shared all sorts of crazy ideas (I can see some coming true in MCE). You must think I’ve tossed my muffins if you think I’ll share, though ;P

DaBoss

@DaBoss: Blueblood says he’ll send Spitfire to strangle you if you say even a word!

That said, thank you all for so much interest :) If MixaMax makes a positive post then we certainly must have gotten something right. Hopefully you’re theories will prove true... or false :P in 6 months. Until then you have Project Butterfly to look forward to, the start of the Blazen journey, and possibly Poseidon’s Chosen 2.

Aaaaand, let’s not forget Princess Jennifer :)

Luna

MixaMax is sick in bed. No doubt her pony is rejecting her post yesterday. Im sure that when she becomes salty enough she’ll be back.

As for the finale. I won’t lie, it was slightly on the overcomplicated side for me, even if I loved it nonetheless. The balance achieved is admirable! For most of you who’ve tried writing, you know full well how difficult it could be to get all your ideas presented in a way your readers could follow. That’s one of the reasons I hate explanations “under the line”. Technically they are not wrong, but the reader must stop read the explanation, figure out what’s going on, then return into the story.

In MCE you read and read and read and go “huh? Wow! That totally makes sense!”

Please, try telling the entire story to somepony unfamiliar. Just for the fun of it try and tell me what happens.

Edit: Max grumbled that the next volume will be c rap, so all is fine.

Jade

@Luna: Are you sure there’s no chance that Daring Do appears in volume 2? Like, we know that it takes place in Equestria and Daring Do is from here...

And I might have mentioned the possibility to A.K. a few times, and gotten her to promise to think about it.

I mean, come on! It will be so much greater! Daring Do helping fight Hades? How much better can it get?

AwesomePony

Like, I totally see the evergems as being part of our aura, like the nine colors of the rainbow. Like... on a whole cosmic level...

Tree

@Tree: Forgive me, my darling, but the rainbows don’t have nine colors. I think we would know if they did.

Grace

@TrueSparkle: Sorry, just got overwhelmed by the latest wave of fics... all having to do with paradoxes and Poseidon.

With RRBB taking a week of absence from curating it’s a bit too much. Good thing Grace is still here.

@Mods: I think we need more curators. The amount of stories have increased a lot, and I just can’t cope. Not to mention that a few of the curators have been inactive lately.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I have already spoken with the rest about opening submissions, but decided to wait until after the reading. Now that it is over, I’ll make the official announcement. (Prior to that I need to discuss criteria with you).

@LittleFinger: I recommend you read the second volume of MC, you might be surprised. For one thing, Icelos is far more prominent there.

The TechNightling

For realsies?! I want to become a curator! I can read really, really, really fast! And I promise I won’t be mean!

PlayedPiece

@PlayedPiece: the whole point of a curator is to be mean. They crush the souls of writers, and bathe in their sorrow!

Chem to think of it, I want to be that as well!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: My darling, that is precisely not what a curator is. RRBB might act thought, but she is very good at what she does and she honestly adores all stories. That’s why she goes on and on and on about why they weren’t better.

@PlayedPiece: I’m sure we’ll be delighted to have you, but rules are rules :) Apply once Tech has made a site announcement.

Grace

I think I’ll apply as well.

Brush

... Brush just broke the site and half of Equestria.

MightyDragon

The MC Schedule

Exciting times indeed!

Everyone, I’m glad to announce that we have a new writer tan will be joining us in half an year (once the current one retired). Until then she will be acting as an apprentice writing brushing up her skills.

Please welcome HoofTies!

I have already explained the basics and the more unusual aspects of the job, so this is more a get to know everyone sort of announcement. One thing I must stress. HoofTies has insisted that her identity be kept secret, and that should she choose to reveal it to the writer circle, you will keep that secret.

Speculator7

So glad to have you here. Your stories are some of the most unique things I’ve seen, including in college. You especially adore Sword/Shield Lover.

For a moment I was afraid you would turn the offer down. I’ll be honest I almost rejected it, but now I’m glad I didn’t. There’s a lot of talent and weirdness in this group, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I am.

Jade

@Jade: you’ve become such a softie :P

@HoofTies: joking aside, I’m glad you are here.and yes, prepare for a few surprises. I guess it was interesting hearing where the inspiration for MC came from? Well now that you’ve gone through that, get ready for the next surprise. With you six of the seven writers are of the fandom. :) I won’t spoil it for you, even if I’ll share that Brush isn’t here.

One to think of it, I’m not the first one here. I got my offer about the same time Jade did, and I think half an year after the first fan member joined. Hmm. I should ask her about that. How did she join if the site didn’t exist at that time? :/

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: “she” existed because “she” was noticed before the site became a thing. Although, I immediately saw its potential for practice and am glad to say that I have improved significantly thanks to the feedback and advice provided.

@HoofTies: Congratulations! You joined at the most exciting time: project distribution. To be honest I think it will become a bit tough. The first few chapters of MCE 2 are done, as well as the general outline, but if the plan is to have a total of thirty it would take some work. And that’s without considering Blazen Adventures (myself, Jade, and Light are working on that), Chosen 2, and Princess Jennifer.

Even if we have the two old school authors remaining for a while longer it will still be a chore. (As you know I also have an important job in the dreamreading spectacle. And let’s not forget my first love - the stage.)

Simile

Hello, HoofTies.

Love your stories. I had a few of them made to scrolls and keep them on my shelf. Your style is very different from mine. I know I’ll learn so much from you.

Quarters

Hello, all.

HoofTies

@HoofTies: You’re a shy one, aren’t you? Don’t worry I’m here for you. If any mare, or our lovely Jade, gets mean to you just let me know and I’ll show them what’s what! :)

Oh, and you must come to Light’s parties. The thing is every few weeks you go to visit Light and get to do some crazy fun things :) Just keep in mind the thing they say about drinking is true there. A few glasses of something and you’re good to go. A few more and you start having regrets.

Anyway, what are you doing next week?

Simile

@Simile: I can’t go there. And I can take care of myself!

HoofTies

Sorry for the late reply. There are some personal issues on my mind.

Great to have you here, @HoofTies :) Guess you’re in the same boat as Quarters and I. We’re both the new foals, so still need a bit of training. Oh, and we’ll be involved with the Princess Jeniffer series, as well as pitch in the large one. From what Luna told me, MCE 3 is going to start development as well. Looking forward to working with you on that :)

EndlessHearts

Okay, everyone! Since everyone is throwing wild numbers, time for some clarification!

First of all, hello, HoofTies! Really glad you decided to join. Blueblood was really happy. He’ll never admit it, but he was pestering I get you for a while. :)

Also, a candidate for the final spot has been found and made an offer. So far there has been no response, but we’re very hopeful. Oh, and in case you were wondering, @Jade, he’s male :)

Now for the announcements! The list of projects are

MCE 1 (done)
Chosen of Poseidon 1 (done)
Project Butterfly* (in printing) - not related to official franchise
MCE2 - all to be involved
Blazen Adventures - LightSparkle, Simile, Jade
Princess Jennifer Saga - EndlessHearts, Quarters
Chosen of Poseidon 2 - HoofTies, Simile
MCE3 - all
Blazen Adventures 2 - to be decided
Chosen of Poseidon 3 - to be decided
Space Jenny - Quarters, EndlessHearts
MCE4 - all
Blazen Adventures 3 - to be decided
Academy of Junior Gods - to be decided
MCE5 - all

So now you know the plans for the entire series :) If all goes well and based on demand, there will be a new MC retake after the end of Everhere. :) Please don’t tell PrinceEric :)

Luna

And I thought my days were busy now... :/ With Max spending all her time at work I guess I could write a bit more. Does Blueblood think this is a realistic schedule, though? Three spin offs along with a volume of the main series? Keep in mind we’re just beginning and we haven’t even finished Blazen yet.

The only one who has actually written a chapter is Simile and she’ll be busy with her other activities.

Jade

Jade does have a point. Even if none of us had school and other distractions, this is quite a lot for seven people. Maybe increase the number of authors to a dozen?

LightSparkle

I have full confidence in you, not to mention I’ll get get involved in the main series as well.

S.Child

@HoofTies: ... you really know when to show up...

Simile

Changes and Curators

@all: Good afternoon,

I would like to announce a few changes. Firstly, as you probably know, we opened application for curators. I’d like to say that after over fifty-seven valid applications we now have a fine team that will speed up the process and diminish the waiting time. Furthermore we will experiment with something I would like to call curator specialization.

Now, without further ado, here’s the new curating team:

LightSparkle - head curator, all areas
RRBB - vice curator, all areas

Grace - romance, drama, mystery, comedy
Feather - comedy, thriller, adventure, drama
Brush - romance, comedy, adventure
MasterOfThisAstra - mystery, adventure
DaBoss - alternative
WaterBottle - adventure
PlayedPiece - all areas

The general idea is that curators will give a preference to their field before moving to the others. Changes are very possible while we test the system, but for the moment we believe this would be an efficient approach.

Secondly, we have started a purge of inactive and small groups. I’m short, groups that have been inactive for a month and/or have five (5) members or less have received a deletion notification. While I am aware that this is far from an idea solution, at those numbers, members could easily communicate with one another using the PM system.

Last, but far from least, we are have started a visual redesign of the site. The aim is to make it even better, so the changes are still months away. However, since we don’t want to cause widespread panic, we are announcing it now.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: wait! What about library groups? Those are inactive by default, and also in the case of my HiE Library, only three griffins are active to keep spam. I know for a fact that a lot of Nightlings read what’s there, since I get PMs about it.

With these new rules my groups should be deleted as well. I haven’t received a notification, by the way.

Edit: sorry, I forgot I wasn’t the creator. Yes we’ve received the notification.

GriffinGirlfriend

@Brush: O!M!G! You really did it! I never thought you’d actually do it. I’ve heard horror stories from Jade about curation, so you must feel right at home :P

Serious, I’m both happy and surprised. Better get used to MightyDragon sending lots of *yay* your way :) If nothing he’s persistent. I stopped after the tenth submission. Writing just isn’t for everypony.

MixaMax

Yaaaaay! I’m so happy! What do I do now? What do I do now!? I mean do I start right away or?

And, Tech, that guide was great! PMed you a few questions, but so funny :)

PlayedPiece

@PlayedPiece: It’s supposed to be useful, not funny. How can you read so fast? Really? And just to note, you’re supposed to help authors, not just outright reject stuff.

Now that we have more, and hopefully active, members submissions should be curated in a matter of days or even less. Still, keep in mind that the amount you’re sending is insanely large. I won’t go through the stats so that I don’t depress the new victims, but there’s a lot of stories, and sadly that means a lot of bad stories as well.

LightSparkle

Hmm, if you ask me it must be plenty easy going through them. I mean most of the good authors we know already, so we just need to skim through them. And the ones who’ve already been rejected plenty of times we know what to look for, so it shouldn’t be a problem. :)

WaterBottle

Poor naive child... what will we do with you? :P

Cool to know I was promoted. No idea I did anything much. Anyway I’d like to take the opportunity to rant a lot!

Read! Your! YAY! STORY!

And read it before submitting! I’m tired of getting responses such as: “Yeah, what I meant to say is that...” If you meant it then they take a minute to read and do it! Seriously! It’s not that difficult!

Oh, and don’t you even think of curator swapping! That doesn’t work that way! Everyone free works on this full time! And by full time, I mean full time! If there were ten of us for every story submitted maybe we’ll pick and choose and you could complain (not that would do you any good even then). What is decided is decided. If we have doubts we discuss the edge cases between ourselves!

Sheesh! After everything I’ve gone through this still gets me furious!

RRBB

Hello, wonderful Nightlings!

Sorry I’ve been so silent lately, but... well stuff always happens with me. I just want to let you know (sorry, Bob *kisses*) that I’m fine despite the family drama going on. The doctors have decided to let me go for another month, after which I’ll return to Canterlot for “the final stage”. Sounds so wonderful... I’m absolutely terrified!

Some good distracting news (or distracting good news?) until then: I can safely say that the doctors know what my foals will be and I told them I’ll levitate them to the moon (the doctors, not my foals!) if they told me :P

I’m also very glad that the site is doing so great. Sorry for not being around as much as before :( I’ll remedy that for the next month, though! I’ll be doing lots of reading and commenting from home.

And thanks for the PMs, but they’re becoming a bit much. I’m saying right now I’ll have to restrict them since I can’t read anything at this rate :( Sorry

LyraHands

LyraaAaaaaaaa! :)

Brush

Hello, Brush :) The place has definitely changed. It’s almost If everypony is getting pregnant or something :P

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I certainly hope not everypony! Can we go with every other pony? :P

But yeah, I get the hint... it’s just me and Max betraying you all :P

Brush

@Brush: let’s not jump to conclusions!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: *gasp* Seriously?! When!? Why didn’t you say anything? This is unbelievable! :)))

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I said let’s not jump to conclusions, okay?! I can’t even type a post without you jumping at me! :/

MixaMax

And this concludes our announcements for the day.

Please be sure to write wisely and respect the site rules.

The TechNightling

Psst! You forgot to add my name to the list.

MightyDragon

Fine! You’re on the pregnant list!

HopHop

Trottingham Attack

I’m lifting the ban of not talking about Equestrian events. Please still active on the watch as well, but post here if it’s easier.

Trottingham has been frozen. For the moment that’s all we know. Tech is taking it very hard. He was in Manehatten when it happened, but is on his way there now to see if there’s anything he could help.

If you are from Trottingham, or have friends there, please post to let us know what the situation is like. The only reason we know anything is thanks to the weather team in the area. The Wonderbolts have been dispatched, so we’ll probably know more soon, but if anypony knows anything, tell us so that they aren’t flying in blind.

LyraHands

My husband just checked. Thank the stars, the ponies and griffins are fine. Half the city is frozen solid and there’s more. There a storm that make it difficult for magic to penetrate. Discord tried to defrost things, but for some unknown reason the magic is not susceptible to his magic.

I know you have done help initiatives in the past and I implore you to do so again. As long as we gather things in one place, Discord could very well take them there.

Octavia

@Octavia: I know you have family there. Glad to know they are alright, and thank you for letting everypony know that their loved ones are safe.

Everypony, I know I’ve asked you this many times before, but if you could spare clothes and blankets (anything that would provide warmth), please do.

We’ll be posting links shortly. Please post them to any other fansites you know.

LyraHands

Why not send dragons to warm things up? We used to that all the time when I was there :) I’m sure SteveThumb would rush to do that right away. He’s such a cutie. :)

PlayedPiece

Links are on the main page.

Also, not sure how this is related, but chaos magic most likely won’t work in this situation. I’ve been researching this with MightyDragon and HopHop. Ice is an extreme order construct and as such is very resistant to chaos magic.

I’m saying this just so you are careful when you go there and back. There’s a very real possibility that discord, or anyone else, gets imprisoned by the ice. I suspect that’s another reason why normal magic cannot get through. As insignificant the effect, chaos magic is an integral part of unicorn magic. Without complicating things, our magic is between chaos and order. Both extremes make standard unicorn magic unusable.

Just be careful, okay?

CodeFilly

Sis had an idea! She’s going to get some stormclouds from the evergreen and fly them to Trottingham. Since they are inherently chaotic in nature they should drill a hole in the storm and let normal magic get through.

Edit: I’m DaBoss’ brother.

WaterBottle

@DaBoss: You idiot! Have you any idea how dangerous drawing Everfree all that distance is?! You’ll get burned for sure!

Fine! I’ll give you a wing! I won’t let you be cooler than me, got it!?

AwesomePony

I got this from Spitfire: all Wanderbolts shall make a slipstream tunnel to Trottingham. @CEOWitch: get all available trainees and weather teams and help Derpy get those clouds.

Civilians, please clear the skies! This will be a tricky thing, so don’t get in the way!

Fleetfoot

We’ll take care of the wind tunnel from the Crystal Empire to Trottingham.

@Fleetfoot: get the tunnel to here.

InItForTheShipping

@InItForTheShipping: are you sure? That isn’t a straight line.

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: it’s a slight detour, but we'll save on overall time, specially if you start sending the clouds before you’ve finished.

InItForTheShipping

Yes, ma’am!

Fleetfoot

And I was looking forward to a discussion of the finale... Guess it will be delayed until I get back.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: come back or I win by default!

@Octavia: Are the animals there alright too?

Brush

I sent a scroll to Ember and she’ll help out with a full wing of dragons. Might take them a while, though.

EverSpike

Dragons aren’t the only ones that can help! Griffin flock is on its way! We’re also bringing food.

Feather

Okay, so things seems to be more or less okay (I use the term loosely). Good thing is that only half the city is frozen. Bad news is that it seems that the Windigo did it. From what I understood he started freezing the city then just stopped and disappeared.

Anyway, half the city has offered shelter to the other half, so things are not as bad as they could be. Having clothes and dragons will still be a good idea. And I’ve no idea how much rebuilding will be needed.

RRBB

@RRBB: What are you doing there?!

LyraHands

My family has a winter mansion there (as they do in a lot of cities.)

RRBB

@RRBB: that’s not the point! How did you get there? Are you okay?

LyraHands

Yes, yes, I’m fine. Well physically. Looking at the stuff, just... and I though things were tense in Ponyville. :(

I’ll wait for the Wonderbolts to arrive and will let you know if there are any major developments.

RRBB

@all: the situation is very serious, but I just want to ask everyone to be calm. I know it’s difficult, but we won’t solve anything by going all crazy. Remember the first rule of rescuing somepony who can’t swim.

Things are being done and the Wonderbolts are on the way (plus, dragons, griffins, and various weather teams.)

I know you all want to help, but even little things (like clothes and blankets) are important. We don’t all have to be Danny.

Bob

I just hope CEOWitch finds the statue of Poseidon first. Maybe then things would return to normal?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: you’re always the best :)

Yes, we’ll find the statue of Poseidon and the Windigo will be cast out of Equestria. Until then let’s just do the little things to help each other :) (You all know the quote, so let’s do it!)

Luna

LightSparkle’s Reflection PMs

How badly are you hurt?

Celestia

Mom, are you still spying on me? :/

Why weren’t you here a day ago?! I’ve been asking you for weeks to tell me more about the Windigo and you’d always come up with some stupid answer and hush everything away.

What did you expect? I messed up! Okay? Are you happy? Do you feel better knowing that you were right all along and I was wrong? Well, you must be celebrating now!

LightSparkle

Sunny, if things were any more complicated I’d have to banish myself just so as not to drive anypony insane. And no, I haven’t been spying on you. Luna told me because your attempt to catch a Windigo (that the Elements of Harmony couldn’t) nearly froze her lover. She nearly set off to fight it in her battle gear.

I know things are a disaster, but one step at a time. For the moment I just want to know that you are alright.

Celestia

I’m fine! I’ve already been through their with the girls here. The only ones that aren’t fine are the ponies of Trottingham!

I was so certain I had him. This was supposed to have worked. I got the spell that kept him from disappearing, TrueSparkle managed to stick him in place. And then he called a storm that negated all our magic just like that! When he froze my horn last time, I thought it was him doing it, but it turned out it wasn’t. He’s just calling on elements to do it.

And you know the worst part? We’re not okay because we did something incredibly brave or clever. He chose to let us go. We were there, completely defenseless. He shattered through TrueSparkle’s spell, smashed my disruption device and portaled away. Not a word, not a sign.

Is he that much more powerful than me?

LightSparkle

Oh, sweetie. It’s not a matter of power. I’m confident that you and Twilight will figure th8ngs out and stop him. :)

Celestia

Why are you doing this? I know how powerful you are! I’ve done the research! I’ve been to Tartarus. Why have you stopped?

LightSparkle

When you get older you’ll understand. For now I want you to remember one thing. You and your friends will find a solution to this.

Celestia

And if we don’t? If we fail and Equestria becomes an ice cube?

LightSparkle

Then I’ll step in.

Now, is there anything I can help you? As a mother?

Celestia

You’re unbelievable!

You expect me just to keep on going as if nothing has happened? I nearly killed two of my friends! I nearly got everypony in Trottingham frozen!

How do you manage to live like this?

LightSparkle

Sweetie, there are so many things I want to tell you, but now is not the time. Sometimes we just have to wait.

Celestia

Do you really not know why the Windigo is so enraged against you? Or are you keeping that from everyone as well?

LightSparkle

I keep quite a few secrets, but that’s not one of them. I honestly have no memory of doing anything to merit this. There were those who tried to learn the magic of the windigos, but that stopped as the Crystal Empire formed. At the time it wasn’t an empire.

The only thing I know is that afterwards the windigo population decreased. One theory is that Sombra had something to do with that. However, I won’t deny that’s it’s possible he did nothing at all. I don’t remember anything since the formation of the Empire other than what I’ve written in my diary. I do know that I learned dark magic around that time, and so did Sombra. It’s entirely possible that I have done something unspeakable.

The only thing that gives me reason to believe in myself is the Windigo. He is guessing, and he definitely remembers what happened. I mean he would have remembered that.

What he’s trying to do is discover what I did. Or rather what was done to him.

Celestia

He told me he was the last of his kind and that all the others were killed or moved away. I’m not sure exactly. He was different than last time. There was emotion in him now.

LightSparkle

I know you’re not one to listen to my advice, but I suggest you talk to Twilight. I believe that in this matter she knows more than me. Cadence told me they have been going through Sombra’s notes to try and figure out what is going on. Apparently yeh deal struck was that they would figure out what happened to the Windigo’s tribe within a certain amount of time. If they failed he would start freezing Equestria.

Celestia

Of course you tell me about this now!

LightSparkle

Would it have stopped you? You seemed pretty convinced you had everything under control. How often have I managed to change your mind! Especially when it involves you helping your friends?

I know this isn’t the answer you want to hear. Just keep in mind if you had told me about the specifics of your plan, or your plan at all, I might have warned you about it.

I know better than you can imagine how painful it is to talk philosophy when close friends are involved.

Celestia

Stars, I hope I never become like you!

LightSparkle

I hope you don’t become like me either. You don’t deserve to suffer through centuries to get some joy. At this point I think you’re already a better pony than me. :) This isn’t your first challenge. Think of it that way.

Celestia

After I know my friends are fine and Equestria is safe we will have a talk!

LightSparkle

I won’t have it any other way. :)

Celestia

At least tell me this. Is the Windigo from Equestria? From what I now know things are much stranger than everypony knows. Were all windigos from some other place or reality?

LightSparkle

I have no idea. They were here ever since I remember, but as you know memory isn’t what you think it is.

Celestia

PaintDrop’s Decision PMs

Okay.

So.

Look, I know we are in a time of crisis. Trottingham is shaken up, as well as the rest of Equestria, but once this is over you two will have a talk! And don’t you even think if wiggling out of this one! I’m not supposed to be the one pulling even scrap of information from you!

This is just like that time with your disastrous romance. Don’t even dare to tell me it was all calm and romantic! I was there between you and know EXACTLY how bad it was.

And just in case either of you decides to chicken out... BOTH of you are pregnant!

PaintDrop

Silver, this is hardly the best time! I’m working my ass off trying to get things together here. Just because there’s no more ice doesn’t mean that everything is okay. Ponies are terrified and it would take more than the Wonderbolts to get things in order.

RRBB

I happen to know exactly what’s going on there! The Elements, the Wonderbolts, dragons, griffins, even two princesses are there, so don’t give me that line!

And, Dink, you’re no better! You could have discussed this weeks ago! What do you do instead? Talk about wedding arrangements. :/ I mean that’s a huge important step, but maybe talk how to got to that before everypony else finds out?

I can’t believe you two! I should be the last pony to all after everything I’ve done and you still somehow manage to make me the responsible one!

Eating glass, constant vomiting, unexplained mood swings. Do you know that there are groups dedicated to discussing whether you two are secretly fighting? (Don’t ask what I've been through to keep your secrets... again!)

Seriously, just talk! Is it that difficult?! Even I announced I’ll be inviting Vertex for Hearthwarming.

PaintDrop

Silvi, you’re my best friend, but I won’t forgive you f you press this!

RRBB

It’s fine. It’s all my fault.

I’m so sorry, RRBB :( I really am. If I was a bit stronger I would have been able to go through the procedure and we’d be able to have normal foals of our own. I just... I know how much you wanted it, and the more I thought about it I wanted to have foals as well. And I did something stupid... something terribly stupid.

That’s the real reason I’ve been keeping away from you. It didn’t have anything to do with exams. I’ve spoken with both LyraHands and CodeFilly, so I know I will be allowed to the practical magic exam and based on a mock performance I’ll likely be admitted.

I just...

Short&Hoofy

Oh, Squishy... *hugs* I forced you into this. If I had stopped obsessing over it (and dropping hints ten times per day) you wouldn’t have had to go through this. I found you... well you did, but we found each other at the end, so that’s what counts.

I know I’ve been spending a lot of time on my company, but I spend every free moment thinking about you.

And yes, Paint is right. I should have told you about it...

RRBB

*yay*! Now I’m all depressed again! You know me! You Know I do stupid things all the time. Even back when we were in school! Hay, it took me years to find out what I was! It took me years to find out you had a crush on me!

I made a deal with Discord. *yay* stupid! I was so proud of myself at the time. I thought I’d just open the door, tell you the news and you’ll be all impressed. As if I have anything to impress you with...

I knew it was a bad idea the moment I said it out loud, yet I persisted. Maybe it was a good idea? Maybe it was worth it? We’ll be happy, after all, and that’s what counts, right? I could always fall back on my family’s money, even if Dream Productions turned out a huge flop. So I convince myself I was doing the right thing. There wasn’t supposed to be any risk, you were supposed to be fine, and we would have a beautiful foal of our own...

I’m so sorry, Squishy!

RRBB

No, it’s not your fault. Never think that! It’s... Paint is right. Let’s deal with one crisis at a time. You’re there, inspiring thousands. The CMC have been telling me how much you’ve been helping. There will be time for us to talk, plenty of time.

I did something beyond stupid. And not only once. If I had waited a few more years, like everypony kept telling me, this wouldn’t happen. I could have become stronger with practice, my magic could have reached the required level to have foals like Lyra did. It’s just... I was scared of losing you. You’ve done so much for me and I’ve been nothing but a burden to you.

If it wasn’t for Jade I’d have remained an embarrassment forever.

Short&Hoofy

You think I care about that? I live you because I love you! You were the one no thought to get me to see that. Without you I’d probably end up in some hospital as a recurring patient breaking my legs every few months, or even worse—a small note in the fatality section.

Yes, LyraHands helped tremendously, just as did my therapist (even if I want to strangle him sometimes), but you are the one who’s kept me going.

I promise once things get calmer here I’ll have a long talk with you and explain everything. I think we’ve both been delaying a talk for a long long time.

*huggles*

RRBB

Okay, okay, you two. Stop this or you’ll get me to start crying as well. :P (Well, not really, but I think that a one-to-one would be better than me being in the middle.)

On the positive part, I think all of us will have weird foals. (I’ve just started imposing the idea that I’m dating a changeling, so hopefully in an year my parents will get the hint.)

Oh, and one last thing. Please don’t make do this again, because you know I will!

PaintDrop

Tech’s Departure

Hello,

I’d like to apologize, but I shall be retiring from mod duties starting from now. Latest events have me a bit shaken and I would like to spend the time with Candle and my family.

I shall also not be logging on to the site for a while, and as much as I appreciate your PMs, won’t be able to respond.

Thank you.

The TechNightling

What?! :( Please get better, Tech. I’m here if I can help.

MightyDragon

Girls, keep it calm, okay?

Tech is taking a little time off, that is all. He will not be removed from the mods (I’ve already spoken with LyraHands and CodeFilly abut this.)

On the other hoof, keep in mind that something traumatic happened to the population of Trottingham. It will take some time for ponies here to get back to things, okay?

HopHop

I’d also like to thank everyone for their help. My father, old goat that he is, didn’t need notice anything (he claims). “Just like spring” he told me when I galloped there worried sick about him.

Thank you for all the food, cloths and blankets. They made a huge difference. The dragons were an outstanding idea and melted the ice magnificently. However, as a result of the attack, I have persuaded my father to live with me, stars help me. If you have family, or friends, in Trottingham I advice you do the same.

And if you need transport, Discord would be more than happen to assist.

Octavia

Well, now that I’m back I thought of sharing my finale theories, but Brush convinced me otherwise.

@DaBoss, @Fleetfoot, @InItForTheShipping: That was the most insane plan I’ve heard even since the time I read The Human Virus (warning, it will drive you crazy.) Seriously, how in Equestria did you think of that?!

Captain is fuming, by the way. Been patrolling like crazy to find and “crush” the Windigo. Sometimes I think all mares are idiots. :/

Edit: Brush and LyraHands are exceptions, of course.

Edit: PaintDrop as well.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: nice save :)

But yeah, I agree with you. We are absolutely crazy. It’s a wonder how stallions don’t just move away and create this ideal society for themselves. If they do I’ll go visit with Squishy. I’ve had enough of crazy mares :P

RRBB

Well, I can easily go and do a few performances to lighten the mood. I’ve always been greatly admired in Trottingham, even before my dreamsculping career took off.

Simile

@Simile: Go for it! ManyFaces aid shed try to come, but with the Windigo spotted near the hive, it’s better that she plays things cool. Also, HoofTies is the best!

(I’m totally not telling you who it is! I found by accident when I got drunk yesterday. Best night ever.)

Feather

@Feather: hey, no fair :/ You said you’d wait for me!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: you spent the entire night on patrol, you twerp! :/ We waited! How do you think I got to know about HoofTies? I started complaining about you, then one thing led to another, then the booze disappeared... you know how it is...

GLGJ: still love you, bby!

Feather

Top cadet in the academy... seventeen important missions, Lieutenant of the Canterlot guard, head of the Crystal Guard... and my marefriend is still more daring than me. I feel so inadequate. :/

BlueEyes

@BlueEyes: I feel you. InItForTheShipping can be pretty crazy as well, but wow, you really hit the jackpot. We’ve been discussing DaBoss with InItForTheShipping all night. And to make matters... more interesting... Flurry wants to become a “Storm Princess” when she gets older. Oh, and let’s not forget that “The Grey Storm Princess is a friend of Princess Jennifer” :/

SaltyHuman

A bit of laughter is good, but @all, please stay safe and at home. If the Windigo went as far as to attack a major city there’s no telling what might happen next. I know I sound like a scary dragon lady, but let the Wonderbolts and local guards do their jobs and be close to shelter.

Remember in those storms magic doesn’t work, sand that includes pegasus flight.

LightSparkle

It wasn’t that crazy :) I’ve done crazier things once... O:)

@BlueEyes: Sorry, I was flight champion, Wonderbolts prodigy, and deputy weatherpony once ;)

DaBoss

@DaBoss: Derpy, you still are deputy weatherpony! :/

AwesomePony

Does anypony have any idea where the Windigo might strike next? I know it’s terrible to ask, but I, really scared, I... I’m scared of blizzards... irrationally.

Edit: Sorry, I didn’t want to dump all this on you :(. I’ve deleted everything irrelevant.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: *hugs you tight* :((( I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Thanks. I just don’t talk about it... unless I’m scared.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: I think you’re in one of the two safest places in Equestria. Plus, if there’s any danger at all for you, I’ll make sure you’re moved. :)

Don’t worry about a thing, okay?

Same goes for everypony else. There are a lot of capable ponies, griffins, dragons, and changelings doing what is necessary to keep you safe. I know it’s all very scary, but this isn’t the first time we’ve faced such a challenge, so be strong and put your trust in the Princesses and the Elements.

Bob

On a related note, Prince Bellucio did a really nice speech in Trottingham. Sadly it didn’t end as he expected. (The docks weren’t the best place to hold the speech, even if that part of the city was untouched by the ice.)

Let’s just say that there was a lot of whistling and “positive verbal feedback” during and after the speech. He made it to the end, though, and never flinched.

If anyone tells me Prince Blueblood is a snob' I’ll fire you and destroy you!

RRBB

@all: Just to let you know that after speaking with Luna, voice scrolls will be available for free for everypony who wants them in Trottingham. I know this isn’t much by any extent, but if it helps cheer or distract even one pony it will be worth it.

Hop will open a special thread where Nightlings could make requests (everything official, plus any fanfic you would like.)

Hold strong and let’s do this together!

LyraHands

Consequences

Just to let you know, I’ll be going home (my train is in an hour). I wish I could stay longer and help, but with things returning to normal (ish) there’s something I need to do.

Thank you for the unimaginably good welcome. I honestly didn’t expect this, and I’m not talking about only Nightlings treating me so well. Everypony here did! It really melts my heart :)

It’s no secret I’ve not been the most tolerable mare, so this is a huge new thing for me.

Thanks!

P.S. You’ll still have Simile to entertain you for the week. And Discord, I guess... (what can I say, their combined act is... interesting...)

RRBB

@RRBB: Get some rest :) from what I read you more than earned it ;) I know I’ll be talking to deaf ears, but don’t overstress, okay? The site, and Equestria, need you. And no, I’m not exaggerating! If two princesses and a prince feel strongly enough to tell me in PM what a fine job you’re doing, then you’re definitely on the right track :P

I expect others will also be leaving Trottingham in the next few days. I’ve created a new section of tech site where you can all discuss meetings and departures for the time being. That way general will be less cluttered and the information will be more accessible :)

And a very huge thanks to the dragons. I know that only a very few are into MC, but you helped save an entire city. You’re welcome here anytime!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: you’ll be surprised. I know of a dozen (most denying the fact). Though it’s not like I expect dragon fiction anytime soon.

On that note, maybe we should have a dragon MC contest? ;)

Bob

We’ll be here for a while longer. I’ve always wanted to see Trottingham so I’ll do that, and not as a lame tourist!

*yay* this place is the *yay*!

@AwesomePony: want to go see Tech tonight?

Feather

@Feather: say hi from me and say that the entire site misses him :)

@Bob: you magnificent mare! *kisses* I might just do that :)

Before that just one more request:

@all: tomorrow the site will return to normal (I hope). The Trottingham section will still be open, but as I’ve said before I’d like for the rest to return to what was before. I want this place to be one to offer help, but also an island of safety ponies could get back to.

On that note expect a Project Butterfly review soon :)

LyraHands

Welp, we’ll be going back as well. SweetStuff is all weepy she didn’t get to sing more, but at least there are a lot of colts and fillies who feel better now.

Edit: when I say she wanted to sing more, I meant that she feels bad for getting sick on the first day. (Stomach flu is the nastiest even when there are doctors around.)

Well try to be back after Hearthwarming to check on all of you and help out :)

YouKnowWho

This might be weird, but did anypony there see DarkSparkle?

EverSpike

@EverSpike: you lost her again?! :/

Seriously, Spike! I don’t want to be the one to say this, but you were supposed to keep looking at the map! We discussed this!

TrueSparkle

@Bob: umm, I have to be doing this, but can you help out with the mail? The weather team here might need me more than I thought. I seem to be an Everfree cloud expert... who knew? :P

Just the urgent stuff. I’ll take care of the rest once I get back... And fix the weather, I guess. Are there too many clouds?

DaBoss

@DaBoss: I’m surprised Cap let you stay that close to Blueblood. After what happened at CrystalCon I thought you two would buck it out.

To more serious matters, I’ll be sending the rookies home tomorrow. Oh, @2ndHalf, you’re no longer a rookie! Congrats on the promotion to command. You stay!

Fleetfoot

I’ll be passing by Trottingham before nightfall, just to make sure everything is alright.

ColdLight

Hey, if any of you pass through the Crystal Empire, please send a line... especially you, @DaBoss. Seems you’re Flurry’s new favorite now... much to her mother’s annoyance.

Me, I’ve accepted that cloud swimming will become part of daily life so at this point I’m focusing on finding relatively safe clouds rather than trying to forbid it. Just, please do t show her anything too extreme.

SaltyHuman

Umm, I think I found DarkSparkle again, she’s in Canterlot. Can someone there try and find her? Looks like she’s hear the palace.

EverSpike

Nevermind :/ She’s jumping all over the place! Maybe this thing is just broken?

EverSpike

Hmm. I think I know the perfect locater spell. I’ve been working on it for over three years now. Mins you it’s just a theoretical, so no guarantees it will work, but with enough effort and anti fo trial and error who knows?

@TrueSparkle: can you help out? Usually I’d ask ColdLight, but with the foal and all... and if I ask she’ll feel that it’s necessary to show what a mare she is and accept, then I’ll worry and mess up the spell, then she’ll worry more, and...

Just come here, please :)

MightyDragon

Okay! I’m certain this time! She’s in a mine near Our Town. She’s been there for over five minutes, so I think it’s safe to say that she’ll stay there.

Can somepony go and get her before she goes off somewhere again?

EverSpike

There’s no need. She just appeared in the Crystal Palace and I cast a restraining spell on her.

Everypony, please focus on getting home safely. We’ll make sure Twilight is fine.

@EverSpike: I’ll teleport you here shortly. Just want to get Twilight to bed and make sure she’s alright.

InItForTheShipping

Oh well... I wasn’t sure of the theory anyway. Glad everything worked out in the end. I’ll just shut up now and get back to whatever I was doing.

MightyDragon

Has anypony heard from Max and Jade?

AwesomePony

Second Heartbeat

Hey...

Sorry for worrying you girls... :( I know it was stupid, I just thought I’d be able to resolve things, and then I did the heart spell and...

I’m so sorry for everything I said :( I didn’t mean it. I just saw things in terms of logic and... stars, I can imagine how many ponies I hurt :(((

DarkSparkle

You idiot! You had us worried like crazy! What were you thinking? You could have at least told us before going... and if you had we’d never have left you!

Heart spell? Even I didn’t use it and I brainwashed an entire village! You have no idea how messy those things are! No wonder you turned evil!

TrueSparkle

Yes, I was very very worried. Angel was as well. He’s been crying in secret for weeks... poor thing.

Brush

I’m so sorry :( It was the only way I could think of. When I faced the Windigo he made his demands. I knew I couldn’t meet them, so I offered him this trade. I just hoped that I’d be able to figure out what he was searching for before the time was out... :(

DarkSparkle

Say what, Sugarcube? O.o Mind telling us what’s going on?

JustAHuman

Twilight gave the Windigo her heart and promised she’d find out what happened to his tribe and family. However, she miscalculated a few things... including the effects of a missing heart :/

When you give your heart away you don’t just erase your emotions, you start looking at them as insignificant, even bothersome. Twilight stopped valuing life, including her own. At one point she even considered performing a spell that would certainly kill her if it would stop the Windigo. I had to spend hours talking her out of it.

InItForTheShipping

!!!

TrueSparkle

Poo! I bet that grumpy Windigo had an icky, rotten, frozen heart!

PPI

Actually... He didn’t have a heart, none at all. That was part of my gambit. I though offering my heart would change his mind.

DarkSparkle

That explains the weird speech he gave when we tried to capture him. I thought he was mocking us, but he must have dealt genuinely sorry for attacking us. Maybe that’s also the reason he didn’t harm us?

LightSparkle

It would also explain why it only froze half of Trottingham. Twilight heart couldn’t bear it freeze an entire city, so it stopped once it could bear it no more. I suppose that’s when it decided to return the heart to her.

Celestia

Oooh! Then everything is smiley happy again! :)

He found the magic of friendship thanks to Twilight and gave her heart back to her! @DarkSparkle, you sly mare, you. I always knew your heart would change Equestria :D

PPI

Unfortunately no, Pinkie... He indeed used the same spell to give back my heart, but that wasn’t the reason. Now that he has no heart he could freeze every last village in Equestria without feeling pain or regret. Even if some emotion lingers on, in a few days, weeks at most, he’ll be back to his usual self and if he hasn’t gotten what he wanted he’ll start freezing again.

DarkSparkle

Well, sis you manage to find anything that would help? Mom told me you’ve been reading Sombra’s diaries.

LightSparkle

That’s the problem, there was nothing there. We did find some references about Windigo magic, research into their powers, and a pact of some sort during the rise of the Crystal Empire, but nothing that would help us with the extinction.

Sombra seems to have burned a great many of his research scrolls. His use of the dark arts had driven him insane by that point. There’s also mention of the “dark rainbow” but I’m not sure it’s related. At this point we can’t be sure of anything... and neither his notes nor the Canterlot library provided any answers.

InItForTheShipping

We could always ask Starswirl. He was alive at the time, and there are indications he was unaffected by the amnesia spell.

I know he’s not always very open, but surely he’ll help when he sees what’s happening to Equestria.

DarkSparkle

Err... if you think I’m secretive and too slow to get involved, you have no idea what he’s like. And since Discord wouldn’t be of much use either, I fear we’ll have to rely on somepony else... like the sirens. PlayedPiece seems unusually eager to help.

Celestia

She’s told me everything she knows already. And she’s the last person I’d ask for practical help. One, without her gem she has no real power. Two, even if she did, I doubt it she’ll be able to focus for long enough to be of any real help. :/

LightSparkle

Yes, she did seem to be quite flirty with that dragon...

Brush

You’all, there must be something we could do. What about using the magic of friendship again?

JustAHuman

Darling, that didn’t work the last time and I doubt it would work this time as well.

@DarkSparkle: you are very much forgiven. I knew you weren’t yourself when you said all those things.

Are we sure that Hearth’s Warming won’t be enough to drive him away? Or joy and unity between ponies? Those had protected us from windigos before, after all.

Grace

I doubt that would affect this one :( He’s just so different and I cannot understand why.

DarkSparkle

I might have a way to get Starswirl to talk. It’s not something I’d enjoy, so I must be absolutely, one hundred percent certain that you can’t think of any other way.

Simile

You saw first hand there isn’t! If you have a way of getting him to listen, tell us!

LightSparkle

It’s not something I like to talk about. *sigh* I’ll get him to listen, but not today. There are too many ponies who need cheering up and I can’t deprive them of that.

I’ll try tomorrow.

Simile

Please do. Everypony in Equestria will be indented to you if you succeed. Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to go through whatever sources we have to try and find an answer to his question.

Celestia

Sorry, had to do a few extra patrols. Did I miss anything?

AwesomePony

Dreamcolt & Chaosfilly PMs

Hey, I just left from the Crystal Empire, so expect to be home by this evening. Since I spent most of yesterday sleeping, I thought now might be a good time for our talk.

Yeah, I know it’s not face to face, but i don’t want you to see me burst in tears and I can’t bear seeing you cry.

So... we’ve been a bunch of idiots. Mostly me. How do you want us to go about this? Want to start or want me to?

RRBB

You’re not an idiot! Don’t make this more difficult than it is. I started this whole mess. :( All that time I was “busy” and “unwell” I was actually learning dream magic to get this to work.

I should go first.

Well, here goes...

I’m no longer sure how I first got the idea. It think it was during one of my talks with InItForTheShipping when we were going through my previous options. She was trying to calm me down saying that in a few years with enough magic practice I could potentially reach the magic level required to go through with the procedure. Either way I got the idea of us having a dream foal.

It wasn’t perfect, we would see him in the dreamscape only at first, then when he got old enough Princess Luna promised to help him enter the waking world. That was why I insisted on us having fun in the dreamscape. It wasn’t about being on a cloud, it was just to get pregnant... and it worked.

I would have hoped that I would be the one to tell you, but I was terrified what would happen, so I constantly delayed. In my mind I explained it away by saying that it would take a few months normally for a mare to find out, so I could delay the news. I’m so sorry. I delayed and delayed and delayed.

Things are different in the dreamscape. I knew I was pregnant since the very next day. I still am. That’s why I vomit so much. There’s nothing wrong with me because there’s nothing wrong with me in the waking world. In the dreamworld, though... I have a monstrous tummy, walking is difficult, and I feel like throwing up all the time. And yet it also feels nice. Our colt, our very own colt is inside me. I can feel him, I often sing to him. Maybe tonight you could go in the dreamscape so you can feel him as well? Just, please be prepared mentally.

Short&Hoofy

*hugs* Don’t worry, you silly squishy! I’m not upset with you. I never was. I was just worried. First I thought I had done something so you were avoiding me (that’s to say I thought I had depressed you with all that foal business, since we couldn’t have any), then I was terrified I had made you sick with my major stupidity.

Time for me to come clean too...

I don’t even remember when or how I got the idea to talk to Discord. It was a terrible idea even back then, but I thought it was worth it for you (I still do). I felt so bad about putting all this pressure on you, literally asking the impossible, so I thought I’d take matter in my own hooves.

That snake Discord said it was possible, but wanted to have his terrible fics approved. They’re so bad that even MightyDragon would cringe. Anyway, we had a deal: I went through how So ties, edited them, then had them go through the curation process. LightSparkle had them pass (after my massive edits, they were at least partially legible). And so it came to my reward.

A Chaos spark. It was supposed to be simple. I rub my belly with it, then we have fun as usual, and poof, life inside me. I was so amazed that you didn’t eat to the zap. That thing stung pretty hard! Now I know why you kept quiet.

As you could guess it worked as well. However, since the foal is chaotic by nature, I have no idea what would follow. I almost went to kill him because I thought I had gotten you pregnant by accident (with all that vomiting). Turns out that chaos pregnancy is very different. There are no obvious outward changes... just the occasional craving for glasses, forks, and unsweetened sugar (don’t ask). Oh, and also me getting zapped across half Equestria at whim. I had to have a stern talk with our filly to stop doing that (it’s incredible what a few stern words and the threat of no more glasses could achieve).

Just to let you know, if you start seeing weird things in the house, don’t worry. You’re not going crazy, somepony wants to impress you.

You’re sure that you have a colt? I’m mostly sure I have a filly (she keeps talking in my head when she gets bored or annoyed. :/ Ironically, me being busy with work all the time keeps her entertained.

RRBB

Yes, I’m sure... it’s a dreamcolt thing. :)

And I’m glad. So your dream came true: we’ll have a colt and a filly. It’s my dream as well.

Short&Hoofy

Heh. Dreamcolt and Chaosfilly. I can see from now what a hooffull those will be. Especially the colt. Before we know it we’ll be worrying about makes hitting on him and all that. At least his (big?) sister will be there to look out for him.

RRBB

I hope so because from what Princess Luna told me dreamfoals are different. Since they are made of dreams... they are made of dreams.

What I’m trying to say is that we’ll literally have the most beautiful colt there is.

Short&Hoofy

Great, we’ll be having our very own Bellucio. As for the bundle of joy inside me... I think she has your determination, my stubbornness, and is way too clever for her own good. For some reason you’re the only thing that makes her shy. When talking with me it’s mostly shouting (don’t worry, I shout back).

Edit: I didn’t know pouting could have a sound, but it does. I guess I’m embarrassing her. I’ll be off to eat some bottles, then try and sleep some more.

See you soon.

RRBB

I’ll be waiting. *hugs*

Short&Hoofy

The Full Butterfly Analysis

Hey, hey. Sorry for being quiet. It’s just that this whole thing spooked me out for some reason and I’ve been feeling down. Thankfully, Oopsy and pup were with me to help me feel better :)

(Oh, and if you haven’t already, check out Oopsy’s plushies! He’s improved so much it’s incredible! I already have several humie plushies (eleven to be exact O:)) and more are on the way :P)

[EqF-spoiler]

And now the big analyses! :) And am I glad that Luna made me read this! I had forgotten how good it was! I’m telling you, I’ve read it twice and it feels like a MC chapter' only different. For those who don’t remember the concept from CrystalCon, here’s a recap: A pony and a human learn about the other world (through help or diaries) and then set off to find out what is going on. The catch is that once they venture through the portal they lose their memory of their previous world. So in effect each of them have two lives: one in Equestria and one on Earth. Also, someone’s out to get them. :)

Now, the analysis will be slightly different. I won’t be going over everything scene by scene... id go crazy! This is a set of two full books (lol) a hundred thousand words each. It’s a really good read though! I still can’t believe how quickly I went through. (One piece of advice: for a best experience read the chapters of both books at the same time. :))

Rain (male) and Sunny (female) learn that they have some connection and try to figure out what the significance of the diaries are, and why people (and ponies) and trying to hunt them down. At first the battle is to get the diaries. Initially they believe they have only, but then it is revealed they have four diaries. What is more interesting, they have to keep new diaries in order to keep track of what’s going on.

Meanwhile, it starts to become clear that things aren’t what they seem. Certain corporate officials turn out to be originally from Equestria and, in some occasions, even help the main characters. And that’s only the start!

(If you want to avoid spoilers stop reading now!)

It soon turns out that there’s an entire house of nobles in Equestria that’s composed of humans and they have been trying to reclaim Earth. There are a lot of back and fros with the main characters learning the the corporations themselves don’t fully know what’s going on. Further along, Sunny and Rain discover and end a plot to assassinate Prince Blueblood... who turns out is human! (Gasp!)

Yes, Prince Blueblood had secretly been brought to Equestria as a child and raised as a pony ever since. And that’s not all! Ultimately it turns out all of Equestria was the world originally colonized by humans, many of whom got transformed to ponies and forgot their memories. Only the seven deities (Discord being the seventh) knew what the truth was, but chose to keep the secret, while the corporations were created by those who managed to access their original memories and wanted to fight back, and claim both worlds.

At the end it’s revealed that both Sunny and Rain were human born, but Rain was moved to Equestria so by an organization the championed “official rediscovery” of both worlds. It’s touching how they choose to like in Equestria away from it all, and finally get together (after two books of romantic tension).

[EqF-spoiler]

I’ll probably reread it again soon. The more I know what happened, the better the read :)
You really wrote a masterpiece, girls (and Jade) :) Hope there are other such collaborations!

What does everypony else think?

PrinceEric

Oh, and PaintDrop’s art is amazing! Where did you find the time for all that? It’s..l it’s just wow and wow! :)

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: You’ll be surprised how much free time I have now that I’m home most of the time :P

Joking aside, thanks for your thanks, and for reviewing the book. I’ve added it to the MC collection I have and am now waiting for the dreamreading. RRBB promised there would be open if this was well received, so here’s to hoping. :)

Now I expect MixaMax to appear and tell us all why we are wrong and idiots, and clearly this isn’t as good as Mistmount, because nothing can be as good as Mistmount. :P

PaintDrop

Come to think of it, I haven’t heard from Max recently. Has anyone seen her this week?

Brush

I know she wasn’t at work yesterday. I had to catch up on mail and she wasn’t at town hall. I can pass by her place and ask later, I guess.

I liked the Butterfly Effect a lot. It’s quite sweet, and a bit of crazy. I hope it’s not true, though. Having to forget everything that I’ve been through is rather... well it sounds sad. At least I wouldn’t want to forget what I’ve been through, even the unpleasant stuff (it reminds me how to enjoy life).

Also, I know Blueblood will get all pouty, but MCE 2 will be great! Can’t wait!

DaBoss

@DaBoss: you really are full of secrets, aren’t you? :) Also, it’s Project Butterfly, not Butterfly Effect.

@all: Sis is fine. She just had some unexpected issues to deal with. Please do t give her too much trouble, okay?

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: okay! I like Max. I’m just glad she’s okay. When she has a chance I’d still love to hear her thoughts :)

PrinceEric

Oh my...

Brush

Eeeeee! :) So happy! Congratulations! :)

PPI

Hey... Umm... I just want to let everypony know it has happened. Sorry for keeping you all in the dark, but we wanted to be perfectly sure. In the Crystal Empire there was this tradition of keeping it a secret until the birth itself, but MixaMax convinced me times have changed a bit since then...

So, yes. We have confirmation she’s pregnant and... I guess she’s pregnant.

Sorry I’m so emotional. This is the greatest moment of my life... I just...

Thank you!

Jade

Fools, Contests, and Centaur Invasions

@PlayedPiece: you’re really silly, you know that? :P

I just have to do a shoutout for Fool’s Day. Now, I’ve never liked troll fics or comedies. (I don’t hate them either, but they aren’t my thing.) This is the second story that just drags me in with its absurdity. (The first one was also by PlayedPiece, so check it out as well.)

What’s this about? Apparently there’s this tradition on Earth, that on a certain day everyone is expected to lie. The Felina Corp, of course, decides to have a company meeting to celebrate the occasion, so invites a lot of important people, and lets its own employees bring family members or plus ones. So we have lots of weird people being invited: Cassandra invites Megan, Orpheus invites Bellucio (by accident), and since it’s Fool’s Day, Bellucio thinks it’s a gag and accepts. Meanwhile the rest of the grand9 think it’s a plot by Felina to kidnap Bellucio and sneak in as well.

You simply must read it! It’s hilarious!

RRBB

Oh, I was about to post about that story! @RRBB, you monster! :P

Yes, it’s really magnificent and I highly recommend you read it. I also agree that with the latest developments in MCE mist of tech stories created are adventure, mystery, and romance. Fluff and comedies are far rarer. Good ones are really something special.

Oh, and on a much belated note... Dragon contest, yay!

Although now I’m tempted to start a much needed comedy contest as well. *pouts* (no, I’m not doing a dragon comedy, and the first pony who suggests will get booed!)

The rules are:

1) you have seven days
2) there must be dragons
3) it must be in the MC universe (duh)
4) please let it be under ten thousand words

Winner gets a evening in the dragon lands (don’t worry, I’ve discussed this with DarkSparkle and it shouldn’t be a problem). :)

Good luck, all! And read PlayedPiece’s story!

LyraHands

Will a story be penalized if it’s a comedy?

Quarters

Okay! This time I will! I really, really will! No more excuses! No delays! No procrastination!

I’ll write a story and submit it to the contest!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: umm, I thought you were going to help me move my things to your Canterlot flat this week...

ForceFeedback

@ForceFeedback: no! I mean, yes, I’ll help you, of course, sillywings! I just... argh! I completely forgot :(

Well, NEXT contest I’ll participate it for sure!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: don’t be ridiculous! Discord will help you move everything in an instant so you have time to write your story. :)

Octavia

@SweetStuff: We can help too, you know!

YouKnowWho

@PlayedPiece: hmm. Okay, so you can write as well. Actually, I’m not as upset as I thought I’d be. Mom seems to be okay with you, as is everyone else. Next thing I the other two might join as well, although that would be really awkward.

@LyraHands: by the way, the fan base here wants to know if you’ll be sharing photos of your foals. (One of my friends has been crying nonstop each time it’s mentioned that you are expecting foals. :/)

LightSparkle

@LyraHands: When you say dragons, you mean that there must be a significant character that is a dragon, right?

I mean having centaurs won’t be an issue, right? Now, I know what you’ll say, but having a centaur is really central for the story I’m planning, so if it’s not an option I need to know fast so I start brainstorming for a new option.

DarkSparkle

And here we go again... :/ The Centaur invasion resumes.

RRBB

@RRBB: clearly not everyone minds the Centaur Invasion!

Where will you be when the Centaur Invades?

Brush

My sides! My sides!

Feather

@Brush: This is terrible, but it makes me laugh so hard! :) Do you know what you’ll be doing when the Centaur Invades?

TrueSparkle

@DarkSparkle: if there’s enough dragon presence I don’t see a problem.

@Quarters: No worries, it’s fine :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: What about a changeling that has taken ten form of a dragon and keeps it for most of the story? Does that count as well?

HoofTies

@HoofTies: that’s actually an interesting point. I guess it’s okay since we're seeing a dragon... but then again we aren’t... hmm I’ll have to think about it. When is a dragon a dragon?

You know what, I’m saying go for it. If there’s too much rule breaking I won’t allow it in the next contest. :)

LyraHands

What if it’s a Centaur who used a spell to transform into a changeling pretending to be a dragon? Or better, what if it’s a dragon who got transformed into a centaur and is trying to find out who to transform back into a dragon, but is portrayed as a centaur throughout most of the fic? :P

LightSparkle

Where will the dragons be when the Centaur Invades?

MightyDragon

I think I’ll participate in this one. Been a while since I’ve been involved with writing, so maybe it’s something I need? In any case I know it will be a lot of fun :)

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: if you write a story I’ll draw your cover art image! :)

PaintDrop

@MasterOfThisAstra: please do! This will be so much fun. Just like the early days of the fandom.

I’ll write a story as well... when the Centaur Invades.

Brush

Girls, please stop! It’s getting weird seeing DarkSparkle blush so hard!

EverSpike

Yay! So glad you liked it! It was just something I thought would be funny so I went along with it :) i already have an idea for something else... maybe I’ll even include centaurs :)

Actually centaurs are fun. Well, some of the, are fun. Some are really annoying power hungry jerks that expect you to drop everything and assist the, with whatever they want, never actually acknowledge your existence, and...

Sorry, I was in a really bad relationship with a centaur once. :( It didn’t end well for me...

PlayedPiece

@PlayedPiece: please tell me everything in PM!

DarkSparkle

And we have lost one contestant... I hope the rest of you end up sending stories...

...before the Centaur Invades

LyraHands

Children Discussions

Argh! I know there are a hundred rules forbidding this, but I need to rant!

I understand that there aren’t many male Wonderbolts! I understand that I’m attractive (I don’t care how unhumble that makes me seem)! I realize that I’ll probably get in trouble for writing this... but come on! Can’t I get a week without the snarky comments? :/ And it’s not like its everypony doing it! It’s always the same ones!

This is getting ridiculous! I’ve already been in the news when it came out that I got engaged to Brush. She did not “steal me” from Fleetfoot! Me and Fleet never were a thing! As in we didn’t even kiss, hug, snuggle, and all those other euphemisms!

Okay, rant over!

CEOWitch

Now that I feel a bit better, back to a theory of mine. More of an open question than a theory.

The way MC is going in a few volumes it’s likely that have children (which is a common theme here). That raises a number of questions. Most of all, will we see a shift to a new generation? I know it’s a scary thought, but what if MC comes to an end and there’s an entirely new reboot?

Also, interesting to see what the children will be.

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: *pets* You think the sillies things at times :)

It’s interesting. I’m a believer that Bellucio x Molly will become a thing. I think they’ll have a boy and a girl, each with the character of their opposite (the boy will be like Molly and the girl like Bellucio). Euryala x Blazen is confirmed. I think they’ll have a boy wilder than all of them combined. Megan x Cassandra I think will magically have a boy that will drive them crazy. I think Echo x Eric will become a thing in the end, and have a really introvert boy very much like Eric.

No idea about Karl and Omni.

Brush

Ok I I could totally see having twins or triplets who are just as crazy as him. I mean if there’s anyone who is the personification of Chaos that’s Omni. I wouldn’t be surprised if he manages to copy himself using some arcane magical device.

RRBB

@RRBB: isn’t that cute. Of course you’d say that Omni is the personification of chaos. In the eyes of an amateur I suppose it’s true. It takes a true connoisseur to see the fine nuances of chaos.

If you had any true understanding you’d see that the most chaotic character is the series is Athena, and as such she’ll clearly hook up with Omni to create a magnificent child who will have the powers of two deities.

As for Karl, it’s obvious by the way the writers have set things up, that he’ll get shipped with Computrix.

SupremeHumanOverlord

I disagree. Computrix and Danny are the OTP. If you reread their interaction, she’s already used him as a friendly shoulder to cry on since Bellucio is clearly not interested in anyone else.

I have no idea what will happen with Kalypso or Athena. Personally, think a lot of the female characters will get diminished presence in the next volume. Even now the number of female characters outnumbers the males, which was never intended. (I’m talking about main characters).

My guess is that we’ll either see some new male characters appear (which will cause the fandom or explode like when Euryala was first announced) or some o ten female characters will slowly disappear. Megan x Cassandra is one such case. As much s they are loved, everything is set for them moving out Mistmount and only return for the occasional arc.

Twist

Twist! <3 It’s been ages! How are you? :)

Will take part in the contest? I hope so!

Also, I moved to Canterlot with ForceFeedback. (I can’t believe that my big fat sister finally let me!) it’s so different here! I mean I’ve visited Canterlot a lot, but actually being here... wow! I have a few days to myself then I’ll have to go take care of some school stuff.

@SupremeHumanOverlord, @Octavia: thank you for all your help!

SweetStuff

Well, I’ll be building up stamina working on WaterBottle’s farm! (Plust found some remote training thing and only needs to spend a few weeks in Manehattan each season :))

And I think that Kalypso x Bellucio is far superior. I expect their children to be huge snobs, though. Even if drop-dead gorgeous. :)

YouKnowWho

Well, I think most of you are wrong! To be honest the only pair we know for certain is Blazen x Eury. Everything else, including Bellucio pairings, is speculation!

That said, I think Kalypso x Karl will become a thing. He just has too many values that Kalypso likes. Going by the numbers they’ll have two children, possibly twins, who will appear freakishly calm unlike most of their adventurous friends. I also think the next Adventures will take place among the stars. (Yes, I said it!)

DarkSparkle

And then the Centaurs Invade!

EverSpike

Or better they discover the planet of the centaurs! And there’s a complicated romantic plot, of course.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: why impose limits? I’m sure there will be lots of complicated romantic plots. :P

Brush

@Brush: ouch! Good thing I’ll be your husband. You can be vicious when you want to :)

Jokes aside, I don’t see MC going to space just yet. The reality thing isn’t resolved yet, neither are the battles of the gods... I suspect those will continue for a very long time. Maybe it will turn out that Icelos was evil all along?

CEOWitch

Hmm. I’m curious. If Poseidon has a granddaughter... what happened to his children? Will they appear at some point? It would be too convenient for them to have vanished as well. And what about Hercules and the other junior gods? What’s the story with them?

MightyDragon

It’s so tempting to drop a few spoilers... but I know Blueblood will kill me :P

I love how much speculation is going on. (And so does the writing team, I can assure you!) Keep it up!

Luna

And then the Centaurs Invaded...

EverSpike

The Karl Spinoff

Like, I totally dig Karl... he’s, so calm and astral... @Luna It will be so groovy if he gets his own spinoff.

Tree

@Tree: seriously? :/ I mean I get that some Nightlings like Karl, but what exactly would his spinoff be about? Prince of the wild? Eric I could see using the portal to go from place to place, but Karl... I’m not even joking! What will the spinoff be about?

Somepony please let me know.

RRBB

Hey! I’m sure there are plenty of things that Karl could be doing!

WaterBottle

Name 2!

RRBB

Maybe Karl is actually a changeling that has been kidding all this time?

ManyFaces

That would be interesting. Suddenly we find out that Karl has been a changeling all along, and the real human-Karl lives in Equestria secretly and is raised by queen Chrysalis. The spinoff would be that Karl has been in contact with human-Karl (using one of Felina’s artifacts) and organizes an elaborate plan to sneak to Equestria and rescue his human self.

Also since it’s Karl I see a lot of comedy and mistaken identities and love triangles. I think that would be a great idea!

TrueSparkle

Not bad, not bad at all. @Luna, are you hearing this? :) How about we have something of the sort? :D

Personally, I wouldn’t mind Karl getting lost in some world full of strange creatures would also be interesting, what if he gets trapped in a world of bunnies and has to find a way to get back home?

Or maybe he’s actually a superhero and animal word summon him to help them save their world? Now that would be cool!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: I bet you’re just hoping Karl suddenly appears in your world and ask you out on a date...and more :P

Simile

@Simile: lol! I could see that :)

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: maybe he gets teleported to a world of centaurs! :/

LightSparkle

Then the Karl invaded the centaurs!

Come to think of it, maybe Karl would be a very romantic human? So far we’ve never seen him in that light so it will be very unexpected and different. And I’m sure everypony secretly wishes him to turn out to be this really sweet and lovable human that just pretends to be what he is because he’s just very shy.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: shy?!? Have you been reading slap? He’s the most open character there is! Eric is the shy one! Karl is the doofus who’ll say exactly what’s on his mind even if it gets him in trouble, but since it’s him he’ll be able to brush it off no matter what happens.

RRBB

I actually love the changeling Karl idea. If there wasn’t a contest going on I might ask someone to write such a story? O:)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I would write it, I really would, but am writing something else :( Maybe after a while? Comedy is not something I’m very good, though :( I could try and do a romantic Karl, but...

@PlayedPiece: this sounds up your alley :)

Brush

Maybe Karl secretly is a rockstar, but hides his identity? The way he’s described he has the looks and I could see him singing on stage.

Imagine him sneaking to a concert right after defeating whatever threat invaded Mistmount. :) I think it will be so much fun. I can’t write it, though :( Still struggling with my dragon fic... :-(

SweetStuff

@Brush: For realsies?! Thanks! That would be such a fun write!

I love Karl! Almost as much as I love Omni. :) Karl and human-Karl switching places hmm... Maybe it already happened? There were a few chapters in which he behaves very unlike him. What if tat was deliberate? Maybe there really is another Karl who appears and disappears on occasion and no one ever noticed until now?

PlayedPiece

Well, the same could be said about everyone else. Although, you do have a point. Maybe we’ll get to find out in MCE 2?

RRBB

Karl. Why do mares go gaga for Karl? He’ll be a cool fiend, but I don’t see him as the romantic type.

Then again, Fleetfoot is totally crushing on ponies like him, so why not?

CEOWitch

Hmmm...

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: Don’t say it! :/

SweetStuff

Alright, we know that there’s a Poseidon statue in Canterlot Gardens. We also know that Queen Chrysalis is very secretive... What if Karl is hiding out there? I mean won’t it be cool if we set off on a quest and find him? Just think how cool that would be!

And just to let you know there have been a lot of magical things that we thought impossible (Discord, the Crystal Empire, the Stormking). Why shouldn’t Karl be here?

YouKnowWho

Sorry... he had a small party and YouKnowWho got a bit tipsy ^^

SweetStuff

Well, you never know ;)

Personally, I wish there was a Karl out there and he does meet LightSparkle so she could finally find somepony to spend some time with and not just be studying, curating, and going to clubs alone :(

From one single to another... you need to live a bit more.

DarkSparkle

... I’ll go call the doctor! DarkSparkle is in need of urgent treatment!

EverSpike

@LightSparkle: is there anything you wish to tell me? Not that I would disapprove, but...

...well, I just thought you were more into sensitive types such as Eric. Still, if Karl makes you happy, who am I to judge?

Sadly, I can assure you all that Karl isn’t in Equestria. In the case I’m wrong, though, I promise a public apology... also, my daughter gets first dibs.

Celestia

Mom! :/

@DarkSparkle: and you’re one to talk! You spend the holidays with your books!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: heh, that’s true. :) Recent events have greatly changed my perspective :) Right now I want to spend as much time as possibly with my friends and family, and I don’t intend to be shy in asking a handsome stallion out for drinks. You should try it :)

DarkSparkle

@MightyDragon: if you say it, I’ll cut your mod access!

HopHop

*whimper*

MightyDragon

Jennifer and the Stars

Quarters! You sneaky filly! Did you think I wouldn’t find out? :P

I read it before it got curated, and it was beautiful! I see you’ve been experimenting a bit and it definitely shows! (@Brush: And you didn’t tell me you were prereading this either! What will I do with you :P)

Nightlings, please go ahead and read Jennifer and the Stars. An all human adventure starring (heh :P) Princess Jennifer! It’s sort of like Space Molly (which we all love... well which I love, at least :)) but also very different, as in there are no ponies whatsoever.

I really hope it’s more than five chapters long. There’s so much sweetness pouring out that I think I’ll faint!

LyraHands

Hey! How come that’s allowed? There’s no Molly, no grand9, no corporations, Earth is only mentioned in passing. How is it fair this gets through curation?

Not saying it’s bad, but what happened to the rules?

MightyDragon

Sorry, girls... he hasn’t been getting much sleep because of me. :(

CodeFilly

@MightyDragon: get some sleep :)

And the reason it passed curation as because Luna officially announced there would be a Princess Jennifer series linked to MC. Now, if it turns out that I’m wrong and Princess Jennifer has nothing to do with MC, but is just another human series, I’ll take the blame.

LightSparkle

Hello, all!

It’s been a while since I got to post here. First of all, some good news about Project Butterfly. It has been sold out and we’re doing a reprint. :) It’s true that we went ahead with a far smaller amount than our usual stories, but this is a huge thing nonetheless!

Congrats to everypony involved and all of you that made this possible! (And of course LyraHands who is probably blushing right now as she reads this :P)

As for Princess Jennifer, indeed it is linked to MC and the Crystal Empire. :) That’s all I could say for now :P

Luna

Hmm. I don’t know. I liked Space Molly better, but this one is fun as well.

Maybe I’m just talking like this because it’s only the first chapter. We’ll see.

*gasp* Cdi, MixaMax! Because of your absence I’ve started to become like you! I’ve been constantly complaining and noting that the good old days were better. Argh! Come back fast so we could start making fun of you again and I don’t have to be the grumpy one!

RRBB

Never ever mix alcohol and salt... it’s a really bad idea...

YouKnowWho

I found Jennifer and the Stars quite nice, with one small comment. I think the title should be AMONG the stars. The stars are clearly described as inanimate in this fic (as opposed to Space Molly), so using such a title is slightly misleading.

Also, the ability to sing your way from one planet to another has no place in science. Granted that this is just a story and it perfectly okay to have outlandish explanations, I’d have preferred a slightly more science-based approach. If this is the core of Jennifer’s power, maybe she could weave objects out of soundwaves and construct the sails of a simple sailboat with which to go through the stars. Or even better, maybe she could weaken a cocoon that allows her to jump from one planet to the next?

(If you require scientific based suggestions, don’t hesitate to poke me, okay? :))

I love the hoppees:) They are so amusing and funny. I felt like a filly again reading their descriptions. Keep on going! :)

DarkSparkle

Like, maybe you meant hippies?

Tree

@LyraHands: you got me! Guilty as charged! :P

When Quarters shared the idea with me I just had to get involved. It’s so fun and we had a lot of laughs brainstorming, much to CEOWitch’s displeasure :P (he’s too curious for his own good. I still love him, though :))

Quarters is such a great author. I, honestly sad she doesn’t get as much attention as she should. :(

@Tree: hoppees :) things that hop :P (funny thing, we based them on HopHop and they were a perfect fin :))

Brush

How do you manage to write so well? :(

I’ve been trying for what seems like ages, and I can’t write anything remotely good! :/

What am I doing wrong? I mean I follow the advice given, I try to read other works to improve. I edit my stories three times then give them to a few friends to pre-read and they still end up bleh and hurried by much better fics :(

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: you just need to continue trying :) Your fics aren’t that bad, you just need to get used to expressing character voices better, and also focus a bit more on description.

Candle used to have problems as well when she started, but her latest things are really really good. (Knitting Contest is so funny I got the hiccups:)) Just keep at it and you’ll get there ;)

@Brush: so sneaky!

LyraHands

@RRBB: I knew you’d be the one talking behind my back! :P

Yes, thank you all for the tons of PMs. I won’t get all mushy saying how much it means, because you know it already and I have an image to uphold :)

But yes, we’ve been on cloud nine last few days. Poor Jade is sleeping comfortably now, after staying awake for three days straight (that colt sure is excitable :)). Before you ask, I have no idea what names I will choose and neither does Jade, so quit badgering me about it!

As for the story... I agree. It’s cute and nice and I need to see where it’s going before I can add anything more :P

MixaMax

Her royal grumpiness is back, everypony! Things can get back to normal. I’m sure that within days we’ll learn why we are all mistaken about everything and how Mistmount volume 3 was the best! :P

RRBB

Ha! Please, that would be too obvious.

For starters, I think Project Butterfly was okay... especially since you weren’t writing for it! I don’t want to imagine the pain all of us would have been subjected to if you had.

MixaMax

Vanhoover is completely frozen! Stay indoors and have lots of firewood ready!

Bob

Response Planning

I checked.

Dark was right about the heart spell. The entire city was frozen. No ponies were harmed, so there’s nope that part of the emotions are clinging in, but the way things are going I’m not sure for how long.

Good thing it was Vanhoover. Most ponies there seemed used to freeze overs, but I don’t think other citizens will react as well.

I’m not sure what I could do :( The storm he makes renders magic useless, and Everfree clouds and not always an option. Most of them vanish during teleportation, so that’s not an option :(

@Simile: any luck on your end?

TrueSparkle

Well, this is alarming. Are we any closer to solving the riddle? I’ve double checked and there’s nothing in my diaries that could be of any help.

Celestia

Twilight and I are still going through Sombra’s library in case he wrote something somewhere, but it’s a long shot. So far we’ve been through a lot of repulsive stuff, yet nothing remotely useful. All that we know is that the Windigos had already vanished by the time he claimed the throne. There was a note about you, though.

Sombra wasn’t concerned with you starting a war with him since you “cast a blind eye on what has happened” and no longer held the “moral authority” to take any action.

InItForTheShipping

Err... in later entries he mentions he was wrong, resulting in him being defeated in your hooves. That’s actually the reason he cast the amnesia spell. He was planning on him returning when you had no memory of the event and either accept him as a co-ruler, or accept a peace after a long dragged out war.

Also, I’m sure he was lying and you didn’t do what he said you did. Sombra has been known for misdirecting and betraying, as he writes in his own journals. And let us not forget he was very jealous of Starswirl.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: we get it, you think mom’s infallible. :/

The facts are that the windigos disappeared after the Crystal Empire was established. The original ones. The ones that still exist now are more wind than anything else. That Windigo, he was solid (I should know because I came in contact on two occasions.)

I don’t even want to think about this... but Mom, please tell me you didn’t do anything as horrendous as destroy an entire race.

LightSparkle

Of course she didn’t! How could you even think that! Princess Celestia has is incapable of any malice!

DarkSparkle

Hmm. My sister was much harsher in the early years, but I agree. Destroying an entire race isn’t something either of us would do. If there was a point to be made we would make it. Banish, imprison, petrify, but not outright kill. Time does that for us most often.

I managed to make a significant discovery. While the Windigo had Twilight’s heart he was also able to dream. Unfortunately his nature makes it too difficult for me to enter his dreams. They are so orderly it’s like looking staring into a block of crystal. Next time I’ll try to shatter it, but from experience that would at most wake him up.

ColdLight

Well, the sightings at the palace have stopped. The Crystal Guard swear they haven’t seen him, though knowing what he could do I have my doubts. At least I taught Flurry a protection spell. Hopefully she doesn’t have to use it.

InItForTheShipping

Since there’s no way to solve the riddle, how do we fight him before more twins and cities get frozen? I’ve learned a lot since last time and with DaBoss’ discovery I think we can get him. As long as he doesn’t teleport, use magic, or summon a storm I think we should be okay.

@Simile: Are you paying attention? How did your meeting with Starswirl go?

LightSparkle

Do you mind?! I heard you the first time! And if you think this is an easy matter, think again! :/ Seriously, if the fate of Equestria wasn’t at risk I would never have agreed to this!

I’ll try to talk to him tomorrow.

Simile

@Simile: not that I want to rush you, bet every day another city risks being frozen, and you’ve seen first hoof how that ends up.

InItForTheShipping

I’m actually still here, trying to bring some cheer... which is all the more difficult with another town being frozen, so I know. :/

I think there should be more talks with the dragons.

Simile

I’ve been in constant contact with Ember and she is doing everything possible to help. Dragons can’t teleport, though. Even flying at full speed, it would take them up to a day to reach a desired destination.

My main concern is Manehattan. As one of the three largest cities it would suffer a great deal if attacked. I, trying to think of a way to have dragons there as well as defrosting cities throughout Equestria, but the math doesn’t add up! :(

DarkSparkle

What about the sirens? I know they caused a stir in the past, but they are the only ones who faced windigos of this type and remember it. Maybe they could be reformed as I and Discord were? PlayedPiece looks quite nice. I can’t imagine her being evil...

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: you have no idea... even if they are better now. I can go see if the other two would be willing to help out in this.

@Celestia: Mom, is that okay with you? I know you and Starswirl had a history with them, so...

LightSparkle

I supposed that’s something else Simile will have to ask when she sees Starswirl. On my part, I am fine with it. I see you have already managed to transform them enough to be willing to give them a chance :)

Celestia

What if the Windigo tries to freeze Canterlot?

TrueSparkle

I doubt it. The Everfree forest is too close by. That’s why I ordered Cloudsdale to be moved near Canterlot so it would have the same protection.

For the moment the only other solution would be to have a constant flow of clouds from Everyfree to Manehattan. We know that the Crystal Empire will be the last targeted, so we could ignore it for now.

Celestia

Very well. I shall continue searching the dreamscape for more of his dreams.

ColdLight

Sounds good. Twilight and I will continue going through Sombra’s scrolls.

InItForTheShipping

I guess I’ll talk with some sirens.

LightSparkle

And I’ll mentally prepare for what’s to come...

Simile

Simile’s Secret PMs

I hope you’re pleased with yourself! It’s done!

Sometimes I wish I was the *yay* everypony imagines I am. I would have far less issues then. :/

Simile

Huh? O.o

LightSparkle

Nevermind. Get the rest here so I can start forgetting about this. Maybe I should ask Princess Celestia about that amnesia spell...

Simile

You really are a drama queen at times. :/

LightSparkle

Hmph!

Simile

What the matter? Did the Windigo strike again?

TrueSparkle

Here. Hope it’s good news.

DarkSparkle

@Simile: You can write now. InItForTheShipping said she’d join in a bit, and Mom is busy as usual.

LightSparkle

*sigh* Very well! Simile managed to talk to Starswirl and here’s what he said:

The Windigo is actually a (?the) survivor of the windigo extinction event. Apparently at the time there was huge interest in understanding actual windigo based magic, which had unique crystal properties. Starswirl joined the research efforts for a while, before devoting his efforts to more important studies (of course :/).

Windigo magic was the only thing capable of withstanding the extreme “crystal” storms in the frozen north, so there was huge interest in replicating their spells so that ponies could build settlements there. Present day Crystal Ponies are, in effect, ponies with windigo magic in them, which has changed their nature and appearance respectively.

Simile

Huh? Hold on a minute! What do you mean by “windigo extinction event”?!

DarkSparkle

An event that made the windigos extinct, naturally.

Simile

Yes, but how, what? You can’t just drop this and not explain further! How did it happen? Did Sombra cause it? How did the Windigo survive?!

DarkSparkle

Simile didn’t ask. As for Sombra:

He’s a talentless charlatan who used his flank to gain political favors and blackmail his way into a position of power. Even him meddling with shadow powers was plagiarized, and he couldn’t even do that right.

Simile

What do you mean you didn’t ask?!

DarkSparkle

You messed up again :/ This was what you had to spend weeks preparing for? A five minute talk?

LightSparkle

Simile didn’t see any of you do better! And it was a three hour talk! A terrible three hour lecture, just like Simile knew it would be!

Simile

Err, why are you talking in third person? I thought you stopped that.

TrueSparkle

Because Simile is stressed out and traumatized by the experience you forced her to go through!

Simile

*hugs* I understand. It can be heartstopping to talk to your idols in real life. Half the times I’ve spoken to him I was so awestruck that I could hardly say a word.

You did well, Trixie :)

DarkSparkle

Starswirl isn’t Trixie’s idol! He’s Trixie’s FATHER!

Simile

Huh?!

TrueSparkle

WHAT?!?

DarkSparkle

That would explain a few things.

LightSparkle

No! There’s no way that could be possible! Starswirl has been in limbo for thousands of years! There’s no way he could be your father! It’s just not possible!

DarkSparkle

Simile wishes he wasn’t! He’s been the worst father! Gone for years, only appearing now and then to criticize Simile and her way of life! Always focusing on his precious work and treating Simile like one of his experiments! Trixie wouldn’t be surprised if she were an accident that was never meant to be!

Simile

@DarkSparkle: I wouldn’t be too fast to dismiss it. He’s the unicorn who practically invented time magic. It would be perfectly possible for him to jump forward in time, especially if he wanted to see the outcome of an event.

I’m having trouble imagining him in love, though. I’m with Simile that he isn’t exactly the warm and caring type.

TrueSparkle

@Simile: I’m so sorry you had to go through this. :( Why didn’t you tell us earlier? We would have been there for support.

InItForTheShipping

@Simile: I can empathize. Our parents *yay*.

LightSparkle

You have no idea! Simile had to listen to him for three hours as he went on and on how I’m wasting my talents on magic tricks instead of learning the real principles of aether. :(

Did he ever think that the reason Simile stayed away from magic was because of him?! For a long time Simile hated everything that was magic! Simile would even use her mouth to open doors when she was a filly! He forced Simile to learn the Tempora Principae instead of reading bedtime stories! Simile was only four!

And that’s not the worst of it! He was disappointed, DISAPPOINTED, that Simile isn’t married yet!

Simile

Typical parent. :/

LightSparkle

Err, I know this isn’t a big deal in this group, but did you mention that you’re dating an actual Princess? That’s, you know, kind of a big deal. Not to mention you’ve saved Equestria a few times.

TrueSparkle

Simile didn’t have to... He suggested “I stop dating one of his students, since it’s improper”. Improper for whom?! Him, of course! Luna and I love each other! She’s the best thing that’s happened to Simile in this life and he’s trying to ruin even that!

Well, I won’t let him! I don’t care how “awkward” it might be, I won’t leave her just because it would be better for his image! And if he thinks that

Edit: Sorry, I just need some time.

Simile

I’m here for you.

ColdLight

I don’t know what to say. :( Starswirl is my idol and I’ve always seen him as understanding, if occasionally harsh...

DarkSparkle

You think the same thing about my Mom. :/ I guess it’s because you’re the perfect daughter both of them wanted.

Anyway, we’re getting off track. Thanks, Simile. Sorry for putting you through this. Does the info provide any clues what to do? At least we have confirmation that all the original windigos were killed...and that Crystal Ponies have windigo magic.

LightSparkle

It isn’t much, but it filled in some blanks. And I think we could come up with a strategy to use crystal troops to counter the Windigo when he appears.

You did well, Simile. Thank you :)

InItForTheShipping

There are so many things I need to rethink...

DarkSparkle

Dragon Contest Results

Hey, hey. I know everypony’s scared (I am as well) but I thought I’d we could all use some distraction so I went ahead and read through the dragon fics. (There weren’t that many of them this time.)

Only small change, the reward will be delayed after a while... (heh heh heh), though the way things are going it might be a reward we’d all be getting...

Anyway, here goes :)

Edit: it’s okay if you don’t comment. If you can read through the stories, though. They will make you smile, and the authors put in a lot of effort in them.

LyraHands

I’m with you, LyraHands. Fear is the mind. We can’t control what happens in the world, but we can control how we react to it. (Thank my therapist for this wisdom.)

Just one quick question. How are you going to sort them? Special mentions, plus top three? Or?

RRBB

@RRBB: special mention plus top three will be best, I think.

I’d just like to point out something interesting: there were three entries that had Princess Jennifer, two of which made it to top 3.

@MightyDragon: I’m sorry. I could tell you really tried this time, but... you described a O&O session with dragons and humans. The title made me laugh ( Homes & Humans ) :)

LyraHands

As RRBB suggested starting with honorable mentions:

Star Trio by SweetStuff

Finally the much awaited fic that the community has been bugging (the future music idol) SweetStuff to write. It’s quite well written. The only reason why it didn’t make it further was because it isn’t complete. Yes, it says it’s complete, but the story reads more like a the first chapter of something larger, and that’s what I think it deserves to be :)

The story follows SweetStuff, who goes on vacation on Earth and meets a human guitarist who’s just had her band break up (the vocalist has left and the rest will be leaving for other towns after the end of their summer vacation). SweetStuff, of course offers to help, and after some wild and hilarious experiences they perform one last time in front of an audience. What does this have to do with dragons, you ask? Well, after this SweetStuff goes back to home... and Blake (the human) comes with her, where they find a third member (Saphire the dragon) and form an all female band. And then... the fic stops.

So, great start, SweetStuff, but keep at it :) I’m sure this will be one of the gems on the sister, especially since I know you’ll mix it with songs.

(Did I mention that the fic has all of the song lyrics performed in it? :)

I’m Just A Can Opener by Trousers

An entirely new author, but a very promising one. The story follows the life of Grape—a dragon who got accidentally transported to Earth and is clueless what to do. Since it’s a pure comedy, the dragon manages to convince people she’s actually an experimental can opener magically created by the corporations, and uses her claws and nails to open any cans. And if this isn’t funny in its own, Grape adds the additional rule that she can only remain with a person for three days, due to legal reasons.

This is another fic I’d love to have extended, but it’s also fine as it is. We have Grape Be with three humans, last of which is Athena, who at the end sends her home.

Very well done :) I hope I see more stories from you, @Trousers :) I suggest you poke the editors’ group as well :)

Tears of Liquid Fire by Brush

This is a beautiful story, but it’s just so sad that I had it drop out... sorry, Brush, but I feel that some cheer would be more appreciated right now. Any other day you’d have had the third spot *hugs*

The story is about a tragic romance between a human and a dragon. They are both in a corporate lab for experiments and manage to find a way to talk to each other using magic that the guards can’t detect. (Dragon breath.) The two get to know each other, then the human uses one of her spells to get past the guards and into the dragon’s sell. At that point they finally see each other... and the dragon uses his dragon breath to send her home because he loves her.

Brush, you!!! :( So sad, but so beautiful!

LyraHands

I’d just like to note that I edited SweetStuff’s fic. And yes, I’ve been telling her that she should make it a multi. Now there’s no excuse!

Anyway I’ll shut up now.

RRBB

Seems like no one else is typing. You might go ahead and do the top three. Guess it’s just one of those days :(

RRBB

I know :(

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Sorry to interrupt, but maybe delay the announcements for a while? Everyone is a bit scared right now, so I don’t think this would lighten their day a lot. I’m sure that in a few days or weeks it will. :)

It’s remarkable what you’re doing and I, sure it will be appreciated in time :)

InItForTheShipping

I thought it might make a difference...

Edit: yes, you’re right. The announcements can wait. Who knows maybe things will get better soon and moRe authors will join in?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: you bet! I’ll get Squishy to write something. Hay, I’ll write something as well. It will be silly and short, but will have dragons in it :)

RRBB

I’ll try as well, just for you :) Warning, I haven’t written since college... (around the time I started dating SaltyHuman). Hopefully, I haven’t forgotten everything.

InItForTheShipping

I think I’d prefer you being one of the judges. I’m not sure I’ll do a good job on my own. I’ll also ask Bob to help out when she gets the time...

Why do things have to be so complicated? Everything was getting better...

LyraHands

Don’t lose faith. We’ll push through this!

InItForTheShipping

Thank you. I’ll try.

LyraHands

Lyra’s Move

I’m so sorry! I thought I could handle it, but... I’m scared. So scared! Another town has been frozen, what if Ponyville is next? And with you done all the time I’m always afraid that I... I don’t even want to think about it!

Edit: I’ve gone to Canterlot. I spoke with my parents and they’ll take me in until this is over. They’ve already cleaned and stocked the basement so I and the little ones should be fine there. I made them promise to let you be with me whenever you come. Until then Mom will take care of me.

I’m so sorry :( I’m just afraid to stay in Ponyville. It wasn’t so scary during the Tirek devastation, or maybe it was and I just didn’t see it that way? I don’t know anymore. I just want all of this to end so I can have my foals and be with you.

LyraHands

My mother has been nice to me. I know I hated her, but right now she’s just like when I was a foal. She’s been by my side this whole time.

I miss you. I wish you were here, even if I know that’s selfish. I know what you do is important, but the thought of you risking your life... Please be safe!

LyraHands

*hugs* I know, I know. Your father told me. If I’d known I’d have gotten you there myself, but... well you know how it is with work.

And don’t worry. I’ll be fine. This isn’t my first special mission :) Someone had to deal with the scary before Twilight and the others showed up :) You just stay there and relax. Things will be over soon and we’ll look back at this moment and laugh. (Well, I will, you’ll be all embarrassed and flustered :)j

Bob

Heh. Tre really isn’t anything that frightens you, is there?

LyraHands

Of course there is. I’m terrified that something might happen to you, or that you might feel upset, or a hundred other things. Don’t you dare feel bad for being afraid. It’s normal. Everypony is. Well, maybe with the exception of Princess Celestia...

And we will resolve this. I can’t go into details, but we’re already working on a few alternatives just in case. Usually the Element Bearers figure things out. And keep in mind Starswirl is back. He’s dealt with this before.

Bob

I know. And I know the things I do make no sense, but...

LyraHands

It’s normal. You’re less than a month away of giving birth. Trust me what you did is fine. Canterlot is the place to be. They have the best magic specialists who will be there when you’re ready (I know because I call them and made it clear what will happen if they don’t :P)

Meanwhile finally decide on the names. You’ve been changing them so much that we’ve run out of MC names :)

Bob

You don't want to pick any names?

LyraHands

Would it matter? :P You disregard my proposals with such ease I find it difficult to keep up.

I trust you in this. As long as it isn’t anything outrageous... (I love you, but I can’t consider our daughter being called Euryala...)

Bob

I promise to use something calm :)

How... how are you? Is the city frozen again?

LyraHands

I won’t tell you since you’ll start crying again. Everypony is fine and Derpy has already sent a wave of clouds our way.

Here’s something that might cheer you up. Half my department are crushing on her and even planning ways to get rid (as in station elsewhere) of Flash Sentry in order to have a chance. She’s really catchy when she rides those clouds. If I didn’t have you I might have second thoughts as well :P

Bob

Derpy... she’s helped so much. Difficult to believe she was what she claims to have been...

LyraHands

You have no idea. Your typical bad mare, crazy as they come, snatching a Prince and all. So skilled and arrogant that Rainbow Dash would seem humble. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit.

Point is she’s what she is now, which means still as crazy as before, though handles it much better.

Bob

I can see that.

Why do I cry so much? I didn’t used to be like this, even when things were thought. Those fight with my mother, breaking up with you, then finding you again, moving out... none of that was easy, and still I carried on. These last few months... it’s like I’ve become an entirely different mare :( A weak, pathetic mare that can’t do anything without somepony holding her hoof.

LyraHands

Shhh. Shhh.

It’s okay. Childbirth is like that, not to mention the amount of magic you have running for you, or did you forget what you had to go through to get pregnant. As much as I want to say “I helped” I didn’t actually, not much. I was just with you and did what I always wanted to do.

And I’ve told you many times: I don’t think I’d have the courage to do what you did.

Bob

I know! My mind is just so messed up right now :(((

LyraHands

Hey, hang in there. You must look your best for our honeymoon on Earth, remember? We’ll let your mother, or Derpy, or one of the Princesses babysit our foals for a week and we’ll go exploring Earth, just like I promised.

Bob

And have drinks with Danny?

LyraHands

And have drinks with Danny. I’d have preferred to hang with Cassandra and Megan, but if you want Danny, Danny it is :P

Bob

Thank you... you always manage to make me feel better.

Be careful, okay?

LyraHands

As I said, my department won’t let some ice-prince get the better of me. You just wait. This whole whine will be over soon. Trust me, okay?

Bob

Okay...

I think I’ll go to sleep now. I’m feeling a bit tired...

LyraHands

Living Self-Insert

Hey, girls.

Sorry for the maintenance yesterday. I have no idea hey I mixed up the dates. It was supposed to be next week :/

Anyway, I thought I’d open with some good news (on many levels :))

I’ve heard from TechNightling and he’s doing fine. (Yay!) he’s still not up to get back in things, but he has personally assured me that he’s no quitter and he’ll be back to ensure that the “rules are actually followed” :P

So until then feel free to mess about (just not too much).

Also, I’ve got PMs from Nightlings all over Equestria and they are doing fine :) (well, they still need dragons to unfreeze the ice, but they are physically well and going on with things).

As Lyra likes to say “let’s all do this together!”

HopHop

Yeah! That stupid jerk can’t hide forever! When I get him I’ll buck him like a rockslide!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Oh my... I never knew that was your fetish. And all this time I thought you were such a respectable pony.

Brush

Huh?! No! No way! I’m not!

AwesomePony

Argh! I mean I am! I’m very respectable! Like the most awesomely respectable there is! I just love bucking!

AwesomePony

I mean I don’t like bucking! I mean I do, but not that type of bucking!

AwesomePony

Shut up! :/

AwesomePony

AwesomePony’s blushing!

CEOWitch

Yep, she defo is.

Fleetfoot

Aww... she yelled “you girls *yay*” and stormed off :P

Sometimes I honestly want Danny to appear as we’re on patrol and watch AwesomePony crash into the nearest cloud.

CEOWitch

Nah, Crash won’t hit a cloud. The cloud will melt of her blushing before she gets close.

Fleetfoot

You two are horrible! Karl x LightSparkle, Danny x AwesomePony... I ship it so hard! I’ll actually draw a comic about it! (Don’t worry, I’ll keep it mostly slap free... mostly.)

Oh, and a bit announcement on my part. I’ll be doing free commissions for the foreseeable future. Only thing is I’ll have five slots per week, so first come first serve.

PaintDrop

First!

RRBB

@RRBB: I was expecting that. Okay you get first... as usual, and I have no doubt what you’ll want me to draw.

And just so as not to go into spamming territory, please PM me, the rest of you :) I’ll let you know if you get a slot.

PaintDrop

Hey, girls, I’m fine. Wow it sure got tense there for a moment...

EverSpike

@EverSpike: What happened? Are you okay? :(

SweetStuff

He started with that, you idiot! :P

But yeah, what happened?

YouKnowWho

Well... now don’t freak out, but I was in Fillydelphia, when the Windigo attacked. Thing is, he started freezing everything, brought a huge storm and all, then—and I’m not making this up—saw me and stopped.

Seriously! He just looked at me and stopped! Then stopped the storm and flew off!

EverSpike

Yeah, right! :/ And I’m an alicorn.

MightyDragon

Seriously! Like, no joke!

I’m not the only one who see it! There’ll link an entire city here around me! And they all saw it!

Hmm maybe I’m like you know special?

EverSpike

@EverSpike: yeah. I’m sure :/ You were secretly born on Earth but moved here as an egg, where the ruling Princess adopted you and used you to determine who the next Element of Harmony would be. Following that, you became best friends with all Elements of Harmony, both Princesses... no, all four Princesses, plus a dragon lord, a changeling king, and...

O!M!G! Spike, you’re a living self insert!

RRBB

Har har :/

Just saying as it happened. And I’m pretty tight with Discord as well, by the way.

EverSpike

@EverSpike: I’m so glad you're safe and alright! Are there any Wonderbolts there that can help you?

@all: this is no joke? And while I’m glad we can all laugh in the face of danger, as we always do, this did happen.

InItForTheShipping

Umm, he’s fine. I’m there and the little guy is all okay. Fixing one of the frozen houses... well we might have to rebuild that. I used a bit too much force... O:) Nopony got hurt!

Lurkling

Go EverSpike!

I saw EverSpike and DaBoss join forces and form a unit to defeat the Windigo!

Joking aside, DaBoss is a wiz with lightning clouds, and Spike is obviously protected from the Windigo’s wrath...

MightyDragon

Somepony really must write all that stuff! I mean, those are stories waiting to happen. Spike being from another world sounds so crazy it might be true. Things don’t make sense once per year anyway, right?

YouKnowWho

I wonder... does AwesomePony sleep with Danny plushies in bed? I know she has Daring Do merch, but *yay*! I can totally see that. Won’t be surprised if she has a full room of those. In full size even!

...how tall was a human again? The size seems to vary in the various fics I’ve read. ;/

Feather

@Feather: if MixaMax were here she’d tell you that not only was this discussed ad Infinitum, but also there were direct references in MCE.

And yes, I totally see AwesomePony doing that. She probably even has a full-size human plushie hidden away... or two. You never know with her, because she’s so awesome :P

RRBB

Hey! Ember’s hear! You all get a big hi from her!

Edit: Ember slapped me... really hard. And it really hurts. Right now I wish the Windigo had frozen me. Would have hurt far less.

EverSpike

Spike, what you did was extremely brave, but you shouldn’t play with fire, or ice in this case, like that. We all like you, and don’t doubt you want to do the right thing, but please take care of yourself more.

I'm glad that everything went well, not only for you, but the entire city. In future, please let twilight know where you are going? She’s hyperventilating on the floor right now... has been ever since she read what happened to you.

Celestia

Hey, I said I was sorry :/

Anyway I’ll be heading back to Ponyville with Ember. (I hope I survive the trip)

EverSpike

Drunk Revelations PMs

You owe me big time for this! And I’m so holding you to it! The next time I visit I expect a huge party and I don’t care if my humie or Lulu’s are there or have anything against it!

Simile

I don’t know what horror talking about, but hearing you call my aunt “Lulu” is making me want to barf :/

LightSparkle

Well, you better get used to it! After what I’ve been through I intend to smooch her in public!

I went to speak with my father again. Good thing he has the ego of a small continent. I apologized for my “disappointing behavior” and asked him for advice. Five hours! I had to listen to brainless lecturers for five hours! I don’t even want to remember all the things I had to hear. Finally, he gave me a few crumbs.

Are you ready?

So we’ve been wondering why the Windigo is so different from other windigos? Well, it turns out they aren’t different. Or rather not quite. The windigos we have come to know and expect are in fact all dead. As in literally dead! Yes, I’m not making this up! According to my father they are the spirits of windigos that have been killed, that’s why we can only chase them away most of the time.

Simile

Huh?! If this is one of your pranks, I’ll go there and... I don’t know what I’ll do exactly, but it will be painful!

LightSparkle

Ha ha. I’m shivering. :/

And if you so much insist I can drag you to my father for you to hear his advice as well. He really likes to talk about his accomplishments. Like, I get it, he’s done some relatively important things, but he goes on and on and on!

Simile

Believe me, I feel you...

So the windigos we knew are all dead?

LightSparkle

Seems like. Apparently that is the windigo purge. It happened around the time the Crystal Empire was established. Dad claims he wasn’t involved “in the project” anymore, but it had something to do with anti magic protection. His theory is that Sombra messed something up (dad really hates him) and ruined everything. He can’t be sure, of course, but he’s basing his suspicions on what followed. Around the same time Sombra went insane, declared himself king, seceded from the rest of Equestria, and declared war on Celestia and Lulu.

Simile

That’s definitely not what I was taught growing up. Actually, I wasn’t taught anything about the Crystal Empire, although there were some Sombra references in some of the books mom gave me. I always thought that Sombra was an alicorn back then, Nightmare Moon being a thing and all.

That still doesn’t explain what the Windigo is. Well, it does, but not what we do about it. The last living Windigo and we’re trying to figure out how to destroy him before he freezes Equestria for good.

LightSparkle

Tell me about it :/

And that whole Spike affair. Lulu is still furious. I don’t know what’s so special about that little dragon, but he gets under everypony’s hide. Even I feel both sorry and annoyed at him. He can’t even breath enough fire to roast a marshmallow.

Also he steals too much of the spotlight! He’s incredibly popular in the Crystal Empire. Like, you wouldn’t believe! He’s bigger than MC! There’s a giant statue of him in the capital! Giant dragon statue!

After today I’ll ask Lulu to make me a giant statue in Canterlot. It doesn’t have to be of crystal. Marble would do fine. Oh and it must be at a central location… maybe the palace or the city center… or both!

Simile

You really are something... :/

LightSparkle

Well excuse me for being stressed! Thinking such things help me relax! I’m not an idiot! I thought you knew me better. I talk these things nonstop because I’m scared. And because I feared that no matter what I do I’ll always remain a disappointment.

Well, guess what. I am! (As my father keeps reminding me.) He thinks it’s so easy nowadays. “Back in my day I invented three schools in magic” Well, I didn’t! So what? Should I trot in a river? Did he ever learn dreamsculpting? No! Did he ever do tricks? No! But of course, what I do isn’t “real magic”!

Simile

Have you been drinking?

LightSparkle

Give the mare a prize! I can only stand myself when I’m drunk! And you know precisely what I mean! You’re just as messed up! Haven’t you noticed? You, me, TrueSparkle, Lulu... we’re all royally messed up one way or another. That’s why we’re so good friends.

We understand each other! We know what it’s like! Dark, Mighty, Code, the others... they have no idea. They haven’t been is someone else’s shadow, not like we have. They haven’t messed things up just to try and get a crumb of attention...

And now we might freeze to death. Well we won’t freeze to death. Never to death. We’ll just get very very close... before my dad and your mom suddenly appear an do one of the things they aren’t supposed to be able to do. And then life will get back to normal... like it always does.

Simile

You really are drunk. Where are you? Are you on Earth?

LightSparkle

Nope. I’m in Canterlot in a pub somewhere... I bought all the booze there was. My stomach hurts like Tartarus, but it’s finally starting to have an effect. Don’t ask me how much this cost. Good thing RRBB pays well.

Do you know that idiot’s expecting foals? It’s supposed to be a huge secret. Like she got Lulu and discord to do something and now poof. Foals. Stupid time to have them. If I ever have foals it’ll be after the crazy freezing Windigo is done freezing, and way after my dad goes somewhere else in time to research the next big thing.

Simile

Stay there, I’ll be with you in a moment. And then I’ll have a talk with Mom and DarkSparkle.

LightSparkle

Blazen’s Birthday

Hey, girls.

Since it’s been a bit slow on the site lately I thought I’d make an announcement. Today is my birthday (and if I wasn’t on patrol you’d all be invited... so I’m inviting you on the second day after we deal with the Ice Prince.)

I know, I know. I haven’t been on the site that long, my stories are *yay*, and I’m not the most likable Nightling there is... BUT, I have an even more important announcement! Today is also Blazen’s birthday!

That’s right! We might not know how old he is, but the actual date of the birthday is mentioned in two chapters (I finally got to reading Mistmount).

So there we have it! Happy bday to Blazen and me, I guess?

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: you freak! :P Happy birthday! Sheesh, you could have told us first, you know! I feel stupid having to learn from the site :/

We’re definitely celebrating after patrol!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: you are stupid, Crash! It’s in her file. I know you don’t like to read much, but they are there for a reason.

Also, I knew that it was Blazen’s birthday (what can I say? I got into reading about my humie husband. Comes with the job of being Euryala’s model, heh :)

Fleetfoot

@Fleetfoot: next thing you’ll be making a shrine, complete with body billows and Blazen plushies.

Happy bday, LittleFinger. You’re hanging with us later, right?

CEOWitch

Meanwhile LightSparkle lets out a secret sigh.

RRBB

@RRBB: grow up! :/ Also, didn’t you say that I was shipped with Karl?

LightSparkle

Maybe you want to have a harem? :P

EverSpike

@LittleFinger: you’re stories aren’t that bad. Not the most interesting things out there, to be honest, but you have some gems of interest. Like, I still think you should continue The Human Experience. I know you say that comedy is difficult, but it’s way more interesting than your adventure attempts. As painful as this is to admit, not everypony can become AwesomePony... or be lucky enough to have ponies like Twist and Jade beat her prose into shape!

Oh, Jade says hi to all. Idiot volunteered to join the Crystal Army over recent developments. I just hope this is over fast and he comes back safe. (I’m definitely making him keep the uniform, though!)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: yep, uniforms are definitely a thing. *hugs* Missed your constant criticism.

@LittleFinger: Happy birthday to you and Blazen. I had completely forgotten about this. Come to think of it I wonder how he’d celebrate it. His character was very different in Mistmount. Back then Blazen x Caprice was an actual ship.

Brush

@Brush! Don’t remind me. At one point half the MC fanfiction was Blazen x Caprice. Also human Caprice was so popular. Since Everhere I haven’t even seen it mentioned outside of old story updates.

Argh, I feel so old. :/

RRBB

@RRBB: You are old! Good thing you found a young marefriend to be with you :P

I’ve missed that part, but not I’m curious to get to draw it. Human Caprice sounds cute. Hmm. Come to think of it how would pony Blazen look like? Fishsticks did a sketch of the great8 in pony form and it was so funny! Maybe it’s time to revive the trend?

PaintDrop

Yeah! Pony humans for all!

MixaMax

And then the Centaur Invaded...

EverSpike

And then the Centaur Invaded!

Edit: damn you, EverSpike! You stole my line! :/

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: two pones enter, one pone puns! ;)

@LittleFinger: happy birthday and good catch. :) Interestingly enough, there is a list with the birthdays of all the major characters in MC. I’ve only seen it once, but it’s a thing. And yes, the years are present as well :P

Or are they? O:)

@Brush, @MixaMax: yep. My sweetie is in uniform almost every day! Better yet, since he’s here I get to see him everyday. I’m sure that you’ll all get a chance to see your bfs soon as well.

Luna

Hmm. Blazen in uniform. Apart from Omni I’m not sure that any of the others have been in uniform. You girls are a bad influence! Now I want to draw that as well!

Also, finally caught up... on prizes I was supposed to have done months ago! :/ Next are open commissions, which I’ve started, and then all this.

So much to draw, so little time. My mouth will hurt like Tartarus after this...

PaintDrop

I wouldn’t mind seeing Megan and Cassandra in uniforms, especially since both of them are supposed to have such (the corporations have uniforms, plus Cassandra is a witch).

@Candle: is it possible to order a pony version? For personal use?

I have a uniform, but I think a few more would cheer Lyra up. (She’s fine, but decided to be with her parents for the final month of labour.)

Bob

Great idea! Let’s do it!

PPI

Hmm. I suppose I could ask my sis if she can make a few of those. The way things are going I might convince her to make a MC based collection for the Crystal Empire.

There are a few ponies in the conservatory from there and wow are they into it. I knew there were a lot of fans, but it’s become like a way of life there!

SweetStuff

I know, right? When I was there I saw comics with me and the grand9! It was so freaky. (Also, some of the things I can’t unsee... *shivers*)

EverSpike

@Luna: can you get the dates of the other characters? I think it would be cool to celebrate their birthdays in some fashion. At least on the site.

LittleFinger

Weee! It would be so great to have MC parties! We can even make them like meet-ups or something? That would be so crazy!

PlayedPiece

@PPI: I warned you not to do this! It was fun at first, but it’s starting to get really annoying! Look, your my friends and I don’t want to make you sad, but there are people that don’t find this amazing.

Just stick to normal comments, okay?

LightSparkle

Sorry :(

PPI

Sorry :(

PPI

DarkSparkle’s Solution PMs

Are you awake? I think I have it! It all makes so much sense now!

Argh! How could I have been so blind?! It’s been staring us in the face this entire time! I mean it’s so obvious! I checked the storm dates and there’s no mistake! I finally have a way to stop the Windigo, and this time nopony will get hurt!

DarkSparkle

Wait! Twilight, don’t!

CDI, Twilight! Why do you have to be like that! Haven’t you learned anything from the last time you tried to go on your own?!

InItForTheShipping

Answer me!

InItForTheShipping

@LightSparkle: DarkSparkle has gotten herself in trouble again. :(

I’ve no idea what she found, but she’s convinced it will put an end to ten Windigo problem... again. She hasn’t changed a bit since she was a filly. Well, except that now she’s become even more reckless!

Sorry to PM you at such short notice, but I need all the help I could get. When can you come here?

InItForTheShipping

*yay* How did she manage to choose the worst possible time!?

I’m supposed to be keeping Blueblood safe... not to mention that Simile’s meeting with her dad didn’t go well and I had to drag her here as well. :( She’s been drunk or crying for most of the day. And I don’t even want to go into some of the local magic problems... which of course happen just as there are magic problems in Equestria.

What did DarkSparkle do exactly?

LightSparkle

Read up.

InItForTheShipping

Oh... well that’s convenient :/ I’m not the only one who’s vague in PMs. Did you tell Mom and Auntie?

LightSparkle

Luna is busy patrolling the skies most of the time, and Celestia is... well, to be honest I don’t know where she is exactly. She’s responding to her scrolls, but none of the PMs I’ve been sending. No luck with Starswirl either...

InItForTheShipping

Ouch :/

What about TrueSparkle? I know the girls are out and about trying to react to any new freezings, but she might be available. Last we talked she was at Twilight’s Castle. Let me see if she’s still there.

LightSparkle

Okay, she’s there, but sleeping. I got DaBoss to wake up Spike. TrueSparkle should be on in a few.

You know, DaBoss amazes me at times. Isn’t there any spell that can fix her eyes? I feel bad for her... I know she seems to take it well and live life to the fullest, but...

Hold a sec, I need to check on Blueblood for a moment.

LightSparkle

Do you know what time it is? :/ What’s so important? Is the Windigo expected to attack Ponyville?

TrueSparkle

The short answer is no. For the long answer, read the PM chain.

InItForTheShipping

Hold on.

TrueSparkle

That idiot! I hate it when she does such stuff! And she promised she’d tell me if she finds something. I really hate when she gets all secretive! I know she’s my mentor, but she’s also my friend and she should be able to trust me with such things!

TrueSparkle

Tell me about it. After last time, I’m even more worried. Not to mention the thing you and LightSparkle tried to pull off. Although, it was my bad there. I should have told you from the start, but DarkSparkle convinced me with her cold logic that I’d be increasing the risks.

Do you have any idea what DarkSparkle was reading? Maybe if we find out what she found we’d have an idea what she’s about to do.

InItForTheShipping

She’s going to the Crystal Empire.

EverSpike

Spike?

InItForTheShipping

Back.

Blueblood is still getting used to sleeping as a human, so I have to keep an eye every few hours so he doesn’t hurt himself too much. (And I most definitely don’t want to leave him with any of my friends here. When outside of the palace he behaves very differently and I’m afraid there might be consequences.)

LightSparkle

Well, she told me before she left. Told me to tell you when you woke up. I asked why she didn’t just write a note, but she said, no tie and flashed out of the palace.

Why, what’s up?

Edit: nevermind :/

EverSpike

She’s been going through the Sombra journals, as well as some historical tomes about the Crystal Empire. No telling what grabbed her attention. I could use a spell to read through all of then really fast, but will still take me hours.

Let me get some coffee and I’ll get on it.

TrueSparkle

If Twi is on her way to the Crystal Empire, can’t you just wait for her to get there? I mean, she was very specific when she told me she was going there. Maybe she’ll go see you before she faces the Windigo again?

EverSpike

I really don’t know, Spike. :( And I’m afraid leaving Shining and Flurry alone. If the Windigo attacks while I, gone I, not sure he’ll be able to hold it off alone.

InItForTheShipping

What about the Crystal Army? Can’t they do anything?

TrueSparkle

They are already spread thin. Remember, the goal is to protect Equestria, not just one family. Shiny and I combined should be enough to handle things at the capital. Meanwhile the rest of the Crystal Army are sent to Manehattan, Trottingham, Fillydelphia, and a few more cities.

InItForTheShipping

If I manage to deal with my local problem I’ll be there first thing. As I said, the timing is really bad. I don’t want something to happen while I’m gone, because there might not be anything back for me to go to. (Long story, though, not as devastating as the Windigo. Call it a Friendship+ problem.)

LightSparkle

Magic barrier breached. Must go.

InItForTheShipping

*yay*! The hay is hitting the fan in all sorts of ways! I’m calling the girls. Maybe they can deal with this without me.

LightSparkle

Don’t! There’s no point. I think I know what Twilight’s trying to do.

Ttyl

TrueSparkle

Military Deployment

Hello,

It’s been a while since I posted anything. In my excuse, as you know, there has been a major traumatic event that has taken place, shaking yeh foundations of Equestria as we know it... and also Windigo attacks.

What’s changed? As I, sure you know I volunteered to join the Crystal Army. As all crystal ponies my age I’ve been through standard training as a foal, (Sombra believed in strength and had everypony, mare of stallion, be ready for military service and/or mining) so it was a quick shift. Currently I’m stationed in Manehattan, where it looks like I’m likely to remain until this whole matter is dealt with.

I just got settled in yesterday and right now don’t have anything much to do, so expect me to write and post more often. Keep in mind, though, that I’ll be PMing Max a lot, so don’t get all *yay* if I don’t reply to you immediately or happen to forget.

An interesting thing of note, I went to see Candel’s shop during my break. It’s really something (I’ve rarely gone to Manehattan before). There’s a whole section dedicated to MC costumes (eloquently called Humieware) and shelves of plushies. Oopsy has taken over that for the most part and has improved significantly since the reading.

Only negative thing... It’s incredible how much I get hit on here! I literally can’t make ten steps without somepony whistling at me. It’s worse when I’m in uniform. And don’t get me started on the policemares! Some of them openly joked that I must have slept my way into the army. If it wasn’t against regulations I’d tell them exactly what I thought about their fat lazy donoughteating selves! I mean yes, I’m a stallion, and not the most muscular one, but what do muscles have to do with flying? Listening to them every stallion should look like Lurkling to be “worthy” of a military or police post! Some actually had the nerve to tell me they “wouldn’t mind having me as a husband”!

Sorry, I’m ranting again. It’s just that I’m going through a bit of culture shock.

Also, thanks to 2ndHalf for helping out. It was nice seeing you and Lurkling.

Jade

@Jade: I feel you. Don’t let it get to you, and vent frequently ;) Oh, and feel free to drop my name anytime.

How’s the food? I remember how bad the hay packs were when I was going through basic training.

CEOWitch

@Jade: Well, you’re complaining again, so things are back to normal :P I bet MixaMax is crying every night over the empty spot of the bed :P

Make sure to keep safe, grouch. Oh, and I’m anypony gives you any lip just tell them you’re friends with the deputy-mayor and the police commissioner. (My Dad is, just in case you’re wondering. I’ve played with their foals.)

RRBB

@Jade: Oooh, you’re in the Army now!
Oooooh!
You’re in the Army!
Now! :P

So how does it feel? Different, right?

AwesomePony

@CEOWitch: I’ll be fine. And I get officer rations, so I have no idea. I think it’s nice. Far better than the cafeteria food I had in college.

@RRBB: I’ll be sure to use that, thanks :) How’s Short? Haven’t heard her lately.

Jade

@Jade: an officer? Shut up! What’s your rank?! Are you a NCO? I just made first lieutenant! Well, technically everyone in alpha wing is a lieutenant. Except Spitfire, who’s a captain, but has the clout of a general. Not everything makes sense here at the Wonderbolts.

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: I’m a colonel, actually.

Jade

What?! Colonel?!

AwesomePony

Rip AwesomePony.

That moment when your secret crush outranks you in every possible way :P

Feather

Well, he does write better than either of us, and outranks is by far... well, outranks AwesomePony. I don’t have a rank. :P

Brush

@AwesomePony: military rank is hereditary in the Crystal Empire. It doesn’t mean anything since the fall of Sombra. My father’s a general (as I’ll become after he passes away) and my foal will become a major upon getting his cutie mark.

Personally, I find it stupid. I want to help Equestria and that’s why I volunteered, but my rank has nothing to do with this. After all this is over I’ll get an obligatory medal even if I didn’t do a thing (another remnant from the Sombra era).

I think such things should be earned, not just given. It’s like saying that Brush’s foals should join the Wonderbolts regardless of they want to or are even good at it. Just because I was born with wings doesn’t mean that I’m better than any other crystal pony.

Jade

Awww! Jade had a Bellucio moment! Just like that time when they confronted him about his family’s legacy and before it was revealed he was actually broke.

@Jade, can you post some photos of you in uniform? It would be so cool to see!

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: umm, that might not be a good idea. The army and the Wonderbolts are different beasts. We shy away from the press. Also, pictures of stallions in uniforms can be taken the wrong way.

@Jade: cool on you, sir! ;) I know a lot of crystals who volunteered. Really good stallions and mares. Maybe we should have a military get together when all this is over? I know half the Wonderbolts are Nightlings, but there’s a large number among the army and the guards as well.

Edit: I’ve created a Military Nightlings group. Join if interested.

Sgt.Pepper

As I suppose I’ll have to organize that as well? :/ The things I do for you, Pepper. :)

Luna

I’m a general! Woohoo!

DaBoss

@DaBoss: huh?! How did that happen? Weren’t you a reserve lieutenant?

BlueEyes

@BlueEyes: no, you got things wrong again, but it doesn’t matter :) Princess Luna made me a general yesterday since we’ve been doing a lot of thundercloud patrols together.

Don’t worry, it’s just a joke :P I won’t be giving anypony orders.

DaBoss

@AwesomePony: no snarky comments? Mare, you disappoint.

Feather

@Feather: she logged off... *dramatic music*

MightyDragon

And I must too. Break is nearly over. See you around, everyone. And be safe.

Jade

Embarrassing Moments

The most embarrassing thing happened to me today. ^^’ After getting my submission documents in order, I went to spend the afternoon with the other newbies of my class (and ForceFeedback ;)). We grabbed something to eat and went to the park. We started talking about what experience we’ve had in music and so on, and then I suddenly get a great idea: let’s form a practice band.

So far so good, right? Well, nope! Because when I decided to share my thoughts I practically shouted “hey, everybody!”

There’s was a sudden silence. They all stared at me as I had hay in my teeth... and I went “umm, I perform Humie Songs”. (Worst save ever!) ^^ Good thing ForceFeedback was there to lend a hoof. All he had to say is that we read humiefiction together for everyone to go “ooooh!” :P (Looks like it's only okay to read humiefiction if it’s together with your coltfriend.)

Anyway, after that terrible experience (and a talk with ForceFeedback) I got a great idea! So without further ado, here are my top 10 signs that you’ve been reading MC too much (all of them have happened :P).

You start saying everybody when talking to friends

When you see a copy of MC in a bookstore you wonder which volume it’s from

When you hear colts discussion who’s best human you feel the urge to join in the conversation

When someone tells you they’re hoping something to happen you say “fingers crossed”

When you go in a library you want to ask when Everhere 2 will be our

Each time you pass through the Canterlot Gardens you wonder is Poseidon won’t pop up

You casually say “hi five”

You end every argument with “but what would MixaMax say?”

Whenever you see anything relating to Tirek you start thinking about DarkSparkle

When some stallion acts like a diva you tell him to “stop being a Bellucio”

There you go :P

Any embarrassing moments you’ve had?

SweetStuff

My sides!

*yay*! You go, filly! I can’t believe you actually did these! Number 8 is a classic :) I think I’ve also had a 2 moment once.

Feather

That moment when...

You meet somepony named Caprice and the only question on your mind is “Did you move past Blazen?”

Somepony (on a train) asks for a water bottle and five random strangers (in clouding you and a fifty-year old stallion) sound in unison “shut up, Eric!”

You find a that someone has written “portal to Earth” in the restaurant restroom.

You see a desert called “Earth Cake” on the menu and think of MC.

You decided to order “Earth Cake” from the menu and it turns out it’s what you thought it would be (@GLGJ, you’re so sneaky!)

You year a five-year old filly singing “Princess Jennifer” on the street.

The mother of said filly looks at you apologetically and says “she uses the aethernet a lot” (even if you know that it’s probably a lie)

And now my personal favorite:

That moment when you’re in a coffee shop and hear two random mares complaining how their story was rejected unjustly by RRBB... a table away fro, where you are!

RRBB

That reminds me of this one time when I was at a signing after a show, and a pair of stallions ask that I sign their merch “from Euryala”

It was hilarious! (I so did it, by the way!) And what was better, CEOWitch the idiot sees this (he’s at the next table beside me), and goes “Wow! Blazen will be mad once you get back home.”

It was so funny! :)

Fleetfoot

Umm... I have some really embarrassing ones :(

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: you said it, sis.

JustAHuman

A very young colt asks his parents if you’re a human

Said parents try to explain it away (but careful not to say humans aren’t real) and slip up saying “he’s just a taur” (we all know what you’re reading :P)

You go to a jewelry store and ask if they have some evergems (just to see the look on their face)

When one clerk says that they do and then brings you five gems of the same shape and colour as described in MCE (Big shoutout to @EverGemmer :))

You’re at the spa and you see that one of the seats has a “reserved for Bellucio” sticker on it

When you see somepony carrying a full body pillow with a picture of Danny on it (and you can tell the name of the artist who drew it!)

When you look at any stringed musical instrument and think “Humans sure have it easy”

It’s the middle of the night and you hear DarkSparkle talking about Eric in her sleep, while sleepwalking!

You order a hay burger, stare at it and shout “O!M!G! Hay is made of humans!” (And watch half the ponies go “What?!”)

You go to a random pony and ask if they believe in Poseidon, creator or all equines.

:P

EverSpike

@EverSpike: some of those are really mean. :/

I didn’t have any embarrassing moments, although when I’ve tried to draw in the open I’ve had several ponies tell me I’m really good and I should start posting on the EqF site. :P

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: nah, it was fine :) We all had a good laugh. :D

EverSpike

That moment when...

You’re asked if Prince Blueblood isn’t actually a human who transformed upon entering Equestria

Ponies tell you of a secret Felina conspiracy by the S.G.U. To topple the Princesses.

You say “I feel like Megan” and half the guards agree, and a few ask “But who’s Cassandra?”

A filly asks if you can raise the sun like Zeus (at the morning sunrise ceremony).

You get a petition demanding you introduce human tech to Equestria faster (and has ninety thousand signatures)

Celestia

That moment when you announce that Danny is your boyfriend and lock the thread before the silliness gets completely out of control.

HopHop

Names, Names, Names

Girls, just to let you know two things:

There’s a storm round the Crystal Empire, so there won’t be any aethernet from there for a while. The storm is not Windigo created, so you can relax. They are doing fine :)

Also, LyraHands is in hospital, expecting the foals any day now. Since you see me calm, you can guess that it’s not literally any day. Her parents decided it was better that she spend a while there to get used to her surroundings, and for the doctors to get used to her. The next time you hear from her will be after the event :)

Bob

@Bob: Did you pick names yet?

MixaMax

Hmm what would Danny choose? You know, I think it would be hilarious if you named the foal Poseidon if it’s a colt. Just think about it: Ponies walking in the part with their foals, enjoying the fine afternoon... suddenly Lyra shouts “Poseidon! Come back here this instant!” I guaranteed that it will be pretty clear who’s a Nightling and who not :P

RRBB

Hmm, I’m curious what names would humans use? I mean we have a pretty large list of names from MC, but what's the logic? Just random combinations of sounds?

PaintDrop

Seems like. The same as centaur names (and yes, I’m shocked I’m using this example unironically and without any hidden plan).

From what I could tell it’s the sound that determines if it’s a good name or not. Oh, and it absolutely must be deprived of meaning. Of course, I know that lots of authors sneak in pony names (Sunny, Rain, Wind, Cloud...). I wouldn’t say this is wrong in itself. After all, even names with meaning are composed of sounds, but for really good and authentic names I’d recommend using the following principle:

Syllable-syllable with double consonant-vowel for females
Syllable-vowel-syllable with double consonant for males

Rebecca, Volarry, Estrella (example female names)
Joanacc, Morigann, Kelakett (examples of male names)

As you can see they are very human sounding. And of course you can mix things up a bit based on taste:

Dann-y for a male name
Bell-u-cio for a male name
A-ten-a for a female name

Your welcome!

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: nice, though I somehow doubt that Lyra would use this method to pick a name :) Maybe I’ll write a few shorts using your method until I’m a mother :)

Bob

Hmm... miracles never cease! @MightyDragon actually did something useful! And no, that won’t get you automatic story approval! Just learn to write! How hard can it be? There are literally schoolfoals who’ve managed since the site started!

I used a slightly different method for coming up with names, but it’s sort of embarrassing and I’m not sure I’ll share it. Or maybe I will? :P (Nah!)

RRBB

I use this:

First syllable of your first name, first syllable of your second name, last syllable of your last name :) It doesn’t always work, but is funny :D

Swebly :P

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: you’re such a cheat! Why did you even bother with the explanation!

Diatirand

Lol! That sounds so male! Actually yours does too! Wow, you just discovered an easy way to create human personas... no way this will be abused. :P

Distak (wow! It always works!)

RRBB

My darlings, I don’t want to alarm anypony, but maybe use MightyDragon’s method instead? As fun as it is to have your own personalized human name, using your own to create it is dangerously close to revealing you rename, and sometimes that isn’t desirable.

Furthermore, definitely avoid using that method to transform the names of friends.

Grace

@SweetStuff: nice try, but I I experimented with that and found the names often aren’t pretty good. My method is scientifically the best there is (I dare someone prove me wrong! If anything I’d be really impressed.)

MightyDragon

@Bob: okay, here’s a silly question. What caused the storm? I was suppose to receive a lot of mail scrolls from there today.

EverSpike

@EverSpike: just you standard storm from the frozen north :) They do happen to occur every now and again. :)

@Grace: I absolutely agree, and we should remember that as popular as MC is becoming, there are still Nightlings who wish it not be known they are into human fiction.

That said. I think Lyra would appreciate having a human name :)

Lyharra... that actually sounds quite nice. (And no, such a name won’t even be considered!)

Bob

I just invent names on the spot. When I think of a character I think of his features then imagine a tune that would describe them. More often than not it’s a quick process and, for me, much more involved than following formulas.

No offense, MightyDragon, but it sounds a bit too much like rolling dice, than putting any effort into developing the character. Keep in mind that it is entirely my personally opinion. Maybe others disagree.

Jade

@Jade: kisses! How are things there? Did the Manhattan mares stop whistling at you, or must I go there?

MixaMax

Yeah, they should know better! It’s been mentioned on the site lots of times!

DON’T HIT ON JADE ... unless you’re AwesomePony :P

Feather

@Feather: she’s on patrol right now, but I promise I’ll share her reaction once she reads this :P Not that there’s any doubt what it would be :) (we are so evil)

Brush

Did you know that human names actually do have meanings? The majority of human names are based on words that from Old Human of various regions. After centuries the original meaning of most of them has been forgotten making them seem like a random combination of sounds.

Also, did you know that humans almost always keep their parent’s names? Danny Williams is Williams because that is the name of his family and not because he was given it at birth.

Speculator7

It’s me! Spike Sparkle! Also known as Spispak! :D

@Bob: hmm, okay :)

EverSpike

@EverSpike: you’re so silly :) Never change :D

Brush

Storms, Ants, and Human Flirting

Is it just me, or have things be quiet the last few days? I know it the question is scary in itself, but apart from the storm in the Crystal Empire I haven’t heard anything bad happen.

Am I wrong?

GriffinGirlfriend

I can only speak for Manehattan, but the only threat here has been from drunk mares making lewd comments when we go on patrol. Keeping my fingers crossed that you’re right.

At this point I think I’ve learned all the catcalls and lewd adjectives there are... including a few which are so ridiculous somepony must have been dead drunk and out of ideas to come up with! No, it isn’t “saddle”, “seat”, “cushion”, “mat”... I mean seriously, how bored must you be to come up with “lantern”?! Someone, please explain that to me in PM!

Jade

Trottingham has been quiet, thank the Stars. TechNightling asked that I send you his best. He’s still with his family. Hopefully, he’ll be back in Manehattan in a few days.

Candle

@Jade: fingers crossed? Pfft! :P Nice to see the army hasn’t ruined your Nightlingness.

I haven’t heard much, but I’ve been incredibly busy with lots of stuff lately (including organizing a charity dreamreading in the very near future). I’ll make a full announcement when the time comes, but just to let everypony know, it’ll be in Fillydelphia. For the moment the fic in question seems to be the first chapter of Project Butterfly. (That might change.)

RRBB

I haven’t read anything, not have I seen anything in the reports I’ve been getting. Mind you I’m no @Luna. Would be nice, though. I just hope it doesn’t end up like last time :/

Has anypony seen DarkSparkle , by the way? She hadn’t posted anything lately...

MixaMax

@MixaMax: she’s off to see Flurry. I heard from InItForTheShipping that they are fine. (I bet she’s trying to be the “Best Ant Ever” again... :/ and contaminating Flurry with stories of centaurs.

Imagine the horror! Princess Jennifer in the land of the centaurs!

EverSpike

@EverSpike: best ANT ever?!?

Bwahahahaha! *yay* me! This is so good! The Centaur’s Ant! :P

Someone must write this! Please? I don’t know how or what connection it will have to MC, but it must exist!

Feather

I’m glad it’s not just me, then. :)

And the Ant story must definitely exist! ;P Even made into a dreamreading! @ManyFaces, what do you think?

GriffinGirlfriend

@Jade: I see you’re not used to things yet.

1) Never comment of war things (you’ll only jinx them)

2) You’ll get used to it. After a while (a long while) the mares will start repeating themselves. After that you’ll start viewing it as a casual annoyance in the background. Like a constant hum

CEOWitch

I wonder if Danny has this problem? I mean, let’s imagine MC is real, there’s no war going on, and he’s just on his way to buy bread or something. Would he get whistled at and such?

Also what would catcalls be for humans? “Nice arms?”

RRBB

@RRBB: that sounds so weird! Please never write it again! Argh! And I’m sure the standard compliments work. Humans are mammals too, you know...

I’m still wincing at the thought! Thank you, RRBB! I can’t get rid of the mental image of some girl passing by Danny and saying “nice arms”. It feels so gross! :/

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: well what else is there? Nice feet? Nice nipples?

RRBB

...

I know this sounds terribly, but this almost sounds like one of those terrible gym fliers:

Nice arms? Nice feet? Nice nipples?

Join Gilette’s Gym and you can have them too!

Quarters

@Quarters: you’re my favorite pony! <3 I’m so using it in real life... as soon as I bring my classmates to the Nightling side :)

I just had a mare casually ask what this MC stuff is about. That’s how it starts!

Also, I think humans will have a lot of skin compliments. “Wow, look at the skin of that one!”

SweetStuff

@RRBB: reminiscing about your slapfic days? :P

Well I don’t know about you, but I don’t see anything wrong with saying “nice arms”. Just think about it how often we say “nice legs” or “nice flank”. Humans have arms, so it should be natural to compliment them. Fingers too. I wouldn’t be surprised if wearing rings turns out to be slightly seductive. Have you noticed that it’s Bellucio who wears multiple rings, while the rest don’t have any for the most part? I totally see it as a “check out these babies* statement.

And for the record, Bellucio gets a ton of catcalls on the series. There are like 38 separate characters that fall for him (and that’s if I only count cases in which it’s explicitly stated in the books! No blushing, no stammering, just direct “I like you” statements).

One other thing. I think they would receive a lot of nose compliments as well (you must agree that human noses are cute).

MixaMax

@MixaMax: yep, I’m totally with you on that! :)

PaintDrop

Well, I don’t want to be sounding weird or anything, but I reckon that nails must be a mighty important thing as well. There at plenty Of is that have fancy hoofacures done (yep, I have as well O:)), so I don’t see why humans don’t have nailacures.

JustAHuman

True! Absolutely true! It’s even been stated that Molly tried to paint her’s to impress Bellucio (can’t remember in which chapter, but definitely in Mistmount volume 3)

MixaMax

Pfft! Of its in volume 3 then it must be good, eh? :P

RRBB

Hey, do you think humans would look better with tails? I mean, I know they are described not having, but do you think it would be cooler if they did?

YouKnowWho

I can see a Humans With Tails starting. :P That’s some weird fetish you have there, @YouKnowWho. What’s next? Ponies with hands? :P

RRBB

@RRBB: there already is such a group. Several actually! The most prominent one is called Taurfics :P

I regret nothing!

EverSpike

@RRBB: Ouch! Da burn :D

Feather

Look at my arms! My arms are amazing! And... I’ll shut up now...

MightyDragon

Bunch of weirdos :P

HopHop

Chaos Filly Panic PMs

Hey! Wake up!

Need to ask you something! (And just to let you know I’m STILL editing your terrible *yay* so don’t think of ignoring me!)

RRBB

Why, if it isn’t my favorite mother to be. How are you? How are the little ones? I hear that your daughter has quite the mind of her own. Why, some say that they say you in two cities at pretty much the same time, I wonder how that might have happened O:)

How is EndlessHearts? I haven’t seen any new stories from her lately. Is she alright? Maybe a slightly unforgiving? After all, who could blame her..l after what you did.

But let’s not get carried away. We’re both extremely busy individuals, as you certainly know. Me more than you, of course.

How may I help you today?

SupremeHumanOverlord

Yeah, right. Busy. Remember I signed a contract with Octavia, and have a good idea of all the things you’re not doing on a daily basis! And also, my daughter is fine. We’re established soMe ground rules so random teleporting is no longer a thing.

Now, how exactly does birth occurs?

RRBB

Don’t they teach you anything in school? Why, I’ll be certain to send MY children to a proper educational facility which won’t waste time with useless subjects as history and literature and math (which is completely false, I’ll let you know!)

SupremeHumanOverlord

Are you doing this on purpose? :/ I bet you are!

I know this is beyond your ability, but try to focus for a few minutes! I went to see Squishy in the dreamscape and she has a huge stomach. From what Luna said, this is normal for dream foals, and the pregnancy is likely to last for a full year.

Now I e been carefully examining myself and... nothing! I mean I know I have a daughter (we argue every day, and most nights), but when and how will I give birth to her? Is there anything you forgot to tell me? :/

RRBB

Ooooh. Worried after fearing what Lyra is going through? You didn’t seriously think that the magic thingee that she went through in the Crystal Empire was all, did you? Giving birth to magic is far more complicated than ponies think, especially when it’s twins. (Lucky you have just one Chaos Filly inside of you :))

SupremeHumanOverlord

Your fics updates are in my hooves. So I ask you again. What, when, how?

RRBB

Fine :I You’re no fun!

It’s all very simple, really. We chaos beings get bored easily, it’s our curse in life. Your filly is just bored of being in you so she’s accelerated the process. Unless I’m mistaken she’ll pop out between a month and three. More likely one.

Now, since she’s (unfortunately) significantly parts pony, you’ll have to teach her to get used to reality, you know, how to eat boring food, drink boring water, all that... oh, and I expect you craving for glass will vanish as well. Although who knows? Maybe you’ll get lucky and it won’t.

SupremeHumanOverlord

What the *yay*?!?

RRBB

Oops, sorry. Wrong question.

*ahem* The reason that there aren’t any signs of pregnancy is because you are pregnant in a whole different dimension. Don’t worry, though, once she gets completely bored with your pregnancy, your filly will tear a hole into this really and pop out. Quite literally.

A shame for a fully functional pocket dimension, I must say, but that’s what happens when you’re a pony.

SupremeHumanOverlord

What the *yay*?!?!?!

RRBB

Wrong question again? Hmm. Oh, don’t worry. I think she should be still able to talk to you telepathically... for a few months after birth, at least. You’ll have to be quick and teach her reading and writing (and the other boring things you do) before the chaos completely fades from her. If your lucky your filly will keep mist of her’s and will still be able to do a trick or two.

Oh, and I advice not taking her to Canterlot until she’s older. There are too many statues that might traumatize her poor innocent soul.

SupremeHumanOverlord

I’ll be a mother in a month?!?

RRBB

Weeeell... I guess you could negotiate with her to remain there longer. It sure what the point of it would be. I mean she’ll come out sooner or later, why not sooner?

SupremeHumanOverlord

I’m not married to Squishy yet!

RRBB

Pfft! Is that what you’re worried about? Don’t worry, she’ll be at the wedding. I know for a fact that everyone loves weddings. Well, unless you have one of those traditionally boring weddings.

Tell you what, Vinyl owes me a favour or two. I’ll speak to her and get her to be at the wedding. Octavia will be there, of course, as would I :D Hmm, I wonder what I should wear... I don’t want to dazzle everyone else too much. I mean, I’m a married draconequus now...

SupremeHumanOverlord

Invite her?! The wedding isn’t planned till after two months! I wasn’t expecting for her to appear so soon! I love her, but two months...

RRBB

And you wonder why everyone finds you to be a pain in the *yay*? :/ There’s no pleasing some ponies... You wanted a filly, you got a filly and now you’re complaining you’ll get her fast enough? You better pay the post office a visit and tell them to delay all high priority express deliveries, because somepony might like to wait a bit longer.

I’m shocked! Shocked, I say!

SupremeHumanOverlord

*yay* *yay* *yay*! What am I supposed to do? The venue has already been planned! I’ll never get everything ready in a month! We haven’t even chosen a motif for the invitations!

RRBB

Well, you better come up with something. I’m sure that PaintDrop will be overjoyed to help if you just asked her. Oh, and when you do, ask if she can do a cover art for my latest story. I mean the current one isn’t too bad, but I prefer to have a Paint original.

Alternatively, you’ll have to bribe your daughter to remain in her pregnancy-dimension.

SupremeHumanOverlord

Hello? Helllloooo?

SupremeHumanOverlord

Well, good luck. And don’t forget the cover art, okay? Professional quality, at least!

SupremeHumanOverlord

Three days

It’s been three days. Any word on DarkSparkle? I tried asking Mom and the usual crowd, but they don’t know a thing... or prefer not to tell me. And InItForTheShipping s cut out behind that storm.

Sorry I didn’t write earlier, but I just finished dealing with the local threat. All’s fine now, but I hope I never have to go through this again. Maybe I’ve just gotten jaded, but I’d like an year to pass by without a reality morphing crisis :/ And I still have Blueblood to babysit... The moment the sirens learned he was an equestrian prince they won’t stop hitting on him.

Please tell me she’s fine...

LightSparkle

Well...

She sent me a scroll saying that she’ll be away for a few more days and not to worry (and tell you not to worry in case you asked me).

TrueSparkle

At least she hasn’t lost her geekiness so that’s promising. Did you write back?

LightSparkle

I tried, but Discord can’t find her and Spike couldn’t reach her (or so he says). I’m not sure how okay the little guy is. He keeps on joking as if nothing happened, but that attack shook him up quite a lot.

Ember was furious as well... and then she told Thorax, who came on a surprise visit to try and cheer spiel up... and spotted PaintDrop’s boyfriend and... well, let’s just say the mess is averted now.

Heh. It’s actually nice we can talk about such stuff again. During the attacks Nopony could even think of jokes. I hope the calm is for good this time.

TrueSparkle

Once I get the okay from Mom I’ll go see you and bring my magitech. Thanks to Blueblood the sirens told me a few interesting details about windigos... such as you could trap them in water. That’s why they never attacked anything in the sea. Next time we meet I’m teleporting him to a bubble at the bottom of the ocean!

LightSparkle

Not a bad idea.

How’s Simile? The last few times she PMed me she was drunk and depressed. :(

TrueSparkle

I honestly have no idea... She’d be all devastated and mopey, then head off to a club where she’d be the heart of the party, before getting home in tears. I swear, good thing that Blueblood’s here. He’s had to calm her down I don't know how many times. I do too, but it’s obviously different if the listener is male.

I hope she’s do8mg better, but she has serious issues with her father, and trust me I understand her. I’ve done some seriously scary things to impress my mom. (Not that there is any impressing her :/) At least now she says she’s proud of my achievements (whatever they might be), but Simile’s Dad... Hell, he can’t even find time to spend with her. Sometimes I think that Equestria is so messed up that things like the Windigo distract from the main problems.

LightSparkle

Too true. Mist of the serious issues happen because of miscommunication, I think. I mean take us and Simile. We all tried to take over a world, all because of stupid notions. Without getting too philosophical, we are our own greatest threat.

Sometimes I think it’s because we’re single. I mean, I haven’t heard of anyone married causing havoc. Possibly Sombra is the exception. (Yes, I’ve been binging on MC fics while waiting to get news from DarkSparkle.)

Just look at LyraHands, CodeFilly, and MightyDragon. None of them tried to take over anything. Oh, and InItForTheShipping, of course.

TrueSparkle

I hope that idiot didn’t do anything stupid this time. What do you think?

LightSparkle

No idea, to be honest :( Spike keeps on saying that everything is fine. And on the surface it appears to be. Three days without attacks... thought three days without DarkSparkle either. The rest of the girls are busy as Tartarus with their things, and the Princesses... and being Princesses. :)

TrueSparkle

Technically I’m a princess too, you know. Maybe one day I’ll get my pair of wings? No idea what I’ll do with them. I’m with Discord that flying is nothing but inefficient teleportation.

The girls here send you a big “hi”, by the way. RD has become a huge fan of herself. (I never thought I’d say that non-figuratively.) I dread the day those two meet.

LightSparkle

Hopefully this is all over soon and I get to visit you again.

It feels like ages ago. More important, I hope we defeat the Windigo before LyraHands’ foals appear. Call me sentimental, but I don’t want them to be born while it isn’t safe.

TrueSparkle

Just look at us :) We sound like a bunch of old mares, talking about the good old days when it was safer and the misters we had to thought we’re more understanding... Then again, the Friendship Beam used to work until now...

LightSparkle

DarkSparkle mentioned something about that. Something about us focusing on the wrong thing and of course this and naturally that.

I think it’s the teleportation capability the Windigo had. Yes, a few ponies claimed they saw the beam hit him, but that’s no guarantee it actually happened. If only they’d let me I could go back in time and see exactly what happened. I’ll even take pictures if that’s what it takes to convince everypony else.

Can you ask Princess Celestia to allow me?

TrueSparkle

Sure, why not? Right after she answers a few questions of mine. I don’t think it’ll be that hard. Well, it might take a few decades, but you don’t care when it happens, right?

LightSparkle

Argh! That’s a terrible joke! And you’re bad at telling it! Shoo, get back to Blueblood and your EqF curation. :P

TrueSparkle

Bleh! PlayedPiece and RRBB are doing fine. They won’t miss me much. Besides with the amount of fics being submitted either of them can handle it on her own. Even with this calm ponies are scared.

LightSparkle

And with good reason. Not everypony is like us.

Anyway, must go and clean a mess Spike did. Talk to you again soon (sooner if I have any news.)

TrueSparkle

Take care.

LightSparkle

Sweet Writer’s Block

Running down the drain.
Never just me to be.
Sinking in my mysery.
Going wherever it leads...
Running down the drain.

SweetStuff

What the *yay*?! Filly, you better be okay, or I’ll have my bf find you and drag you to his coffee shop for a ton of cake!

Feather

@Feather: she’s fine, just experiencing writer’s block since last night. It was my mistake to make her ask for help on the site. Sorry for the freakout.

Right now Sweet is slamming her head on the desk. And making weird noises.

I better go encourage her. Ttyl

ForceFeedback

Heh. That reminds me of our journalist days :) @WaterBottle, remember when we used to do that for school? That was the worst cutie mark idea ever! And that’s saying a lot ;D

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: you’re lucky you’re so sexy! :/

But yeah, that was a pretty bad experience for everyone involved. I hated you so much back then. :P

@SweetStuff: Remember the best way to break writer’s block is to write about nonsense. For example start describing the weather and make that into a scene where people/ponies meet. Or describe food, a movie, etc. just casual things that could work in every environment.

You could also go a bit advanced and describe a conversation you’ve had with ForceFeedback (as much as it pains me try to avoid pillow talk or tech will be all in flames when he returns).

RRBB

Hey! I thought I wrote pretty well! I bet I could still write pretty well if I have to! :/

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: I bet Crackle thinks so :P

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: you can bet your apple picking hat he does! I show him everything I write and he likes it just fine! Why we even discuss it after we go to bed!

WaterBottle

@WaterBottle: Ahem! I’m goin to have a word with you when I get back. :/

JustAHuman

The best way to deal with writer’s block is swimming. I know there are pools in Canterlot, so trot there, swim a bit and return. :)

RRBB’s advice is good as well. And you can always start with the sentence. “It was a time of choices.”

CEOWitch

@SweetStuff: I feel can understand your pain.

So far you’ve gotten some pretty good advice. Let me add a few tricks that have worked for me.

This is something I liked to use a lot. Just answer the question “What would Danny do?” No, I’m not joking. As long as you have an idea what your story will be about just ask that question.

You’re writing a romance? What would Danny do? How would he set off to win the one he loves? At this point you don’t even need to know who he’s in love with, just what his actions would be. Would he go to buy flowers? A box of candy? Or maybe he’ll set off on a daring mission into a Felina corp vault and steal an item of importance?

Another trick I use is writing exactly what I dislike about a story similar to what I’m about to write:

Of course there would be swords and cats! Why wouldn’t there be? Because, it’s completely normal to walk out of the bathroom and find a fix foot girl crossing slicing up bullies in mid air, while her sword recites Starswirl poetry. It’s the sort of thing that happens every day!

If none of those word, let me know and I’ll come up with more examples.

Jade

Hmm. This all seems like a Deja vu. Didn’t we have a similar topic recently? Or did someone ask in PM. Either way, it’s all good advice :)

@SweetStuff: if it’s about your Song fic, you could start with the lyrics of a song (hopefully something less dark than what you posted) or... by describing the sensation of a leftover taste. I admit I use it to describe kisses, but it doesn’t have to be :)

“The chocolate of this morning tasted bitter. Usually, I went for a honey blend, but I decided to experiment... Big mistake.”

Brush

@Jade, @RRBB, @Brush: how do you manage to wire such good fics? That’s the worst advice ever! If I try writing along those lines I’ll write a complete monstrosity!

Buck it! I’m doing it right now, just to prove my point!

MixaMax

I bet it won’t be as good as Volume 3!

RRBB

And then the Centaur Invaded!

EverSpike

@MixaMax: And remember! Don’t hit on Jade!

MightyDragon

Dark clouds gathered on the horizon. They weren’t supposed to be here for days, if the weather center was to be believed, but there they were. Seems like they hadn’t received the memo. Rebellious, they slowly approached, covering the entire sky.

Of course it would be raining cats and swords! And just on the day I forgot my umbrella home. Looks like I’d have to spend the night at work again. What would Danny do? Maybe he’d call someone to ask for help? Or pray to Zeus to split the clouds? Both were possible, yet I was no Danny, just the girl on the second floor that no one noticed.

Cherry pie tasted funny. I could still smell the leftover grumps from the slice I had this morning. Why didn’t I buy apple instead? I liked apple. Or maybe mango? If had bits to spare maybe I’d buy mango just for the sake of it. I wonder if Danny would like mango. If he did we could probably stare. A whole pie was too much for me alone, but with two people it might be just right.

It was a time of choices! Apple pie with Danny or phone my roommate for an umbrella? Hmm. What if I was cheeky and did both? After all, there’d be no harm in that, right?

MixaMax

...

Jade

Submit that right now! I don’t care what it’s about! This is too good not to be posted!

RRBB

*groan* I hate you all! :/

Especially Max!

SweetStuff

DarkSparkle’s Open PMs

I know you’re here. I knew you’d join. I would have done.

It wasn’t difficult to track your connection. Actually, it was terribly easy. I kept monitoring the site to make sure I was the one who caught it first. Don’t worry, I changed it before anyone else found out. I think it worked.

I mean, I know it worked. They are so obsessed in finding me that they won’t even think of looking for you. And since I’ll be back soon, I expect for them to stop looking. I hope they do.

DarkSparkle

I know you didn’t join to read stories. I know how confusing it must be for you now, and I know you’re searching for a way to try and find out. You can’t, you know. The site is protected. Even I can’t find anything without help. I know I said I covered for you, but there’s a difference between hiding and finding. If somepony wants to hide a secret here they will. That’s even if they share the secret here on the first place. The aethernet has developed a lot in the last few years, but not to that point.

Please stop what you’re doing. I know how much it must hurt, but there’s no point. The only pony who might have known is Sombra and he went insane. I’ve tried to talk to Starswirl, but he wasn’t interested. That’s one of the things about idols—they are only interested in their work. Princess Celestia, and everypony else, can’t remember because of the Amnesia Spell, and I don’t th8nk I can find anything more. I’ve already gone through a quarter of Sombra’s library. Chances of me suddenly finding something are small.

I know I’m asking a lot, but can you accept what you have and move on? Even if we don’t have all the pieces we see the general idea. Please?

DarkSparkle

Thank you for not harming Spike. I know you could have. I mean I know you had the ability and strength to. Even if he’s a dragon, he’s still a baby dragon. I’m not sure the flame would have been enough if you’d have...

I think the two of you would have gotten along. He became friend with a changeling before they became reformed. Did I tell you that? Everypony thought he was brainwashed, myself included, but he still did it. I’ll have a word with him when I get back. He had no business going there in the first place! And I know he won’t learn from his mistake, he never does. Or maybe he just does this to spite me? I guess that’s what little brothers do.

DarkSparkle

I know you’ve read my messages. Well, technically, I don’t, but I know that you have opened them. I only hope you’ve read them. At some point I’m sure you will, but...

Why do you keep on doing this? I know you’re not evil. The friendship rainbow wouldn’t have allowed to do that. I also know it’s easy asking forgiveness when you’re the one who got hurt. In the past it was us who forgave... Nightmare Moon, Discord, Trixie, Sunset, Starlight... with you, we’re the ones who were in the wrong and it... it hurts. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry :(

I held you heart for a minute and I know exactly how much it hurt. All this time I didn’t know, I couldn’t even suspect and I should have. We all should have! Everypony though it was stupid for me to give you my heart, even myself. Now I know it was the best thing I could have done.

DarkSparkle

I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! It never should have happened. Even if I can’t see what it was, even if I don’t think I’ll ever find out I know it was wrong. We were wrong. I just...

I feared you when all this began. For a moment I even hated you. That time you went to Ponyville, I was terrified and I wanted to protect my friends. For a moment I almost lost myself. I haven’t told anypony this, and I don’t think I will. I know that my friends and Princess Celestia would forgive me, and Starswirl wouldn’t even care, but I’m know sure I can forgive myself. Only you can. I’m not saying this because I’m asking you to, it’s just that not everypony is like me. They are good ponies, and dragons, and griffins, changelings, and so on...

Please give them a chance. Don’t let what happened to you happen to others.

DarkSparkle

I went to see your tribe yesterday. I just approached from a distance to take a look. They let me. I think they felt I had been touched by your heart. I thought if I should say something, but... what can I say? What would be suitable? Based on my research I’m not sure they even remember what happened. Part of me wishes they did, but I’m also glad they don’t. They have truly become a different species from what they were. You might be the last of your kind... A siren told me there used to be other, smaller tribes beyond the west ocean, but there just as well might not be.

If there were would you go search for them? Or would you stay here? I find myself wondering if I should do the same.

DarkSparkle

I spoke to Starlight today, she’s still worried. Spike keeps insisting he has things under control and she won’t go searching for me like last time. Hopefully Sunset won’t either. I’m sorry they hurt you. If I had my heart back then I would have told them what the situation was, I would have explained, but you were using it.

You know I’m glad. (Not that they hurt you, but that you had my heart.) It made you change even if for a moment. I know that you’ve changed even more now. I hope it’s what you were hoping for.

Sometimes I’m still not sure whether I made a huge mistake or not. I know returning your heart wasn’t a mistake, but everything I did before that... Please tell me. Is it too late for us to do the right thing? Is it too late for me to do the right thing?

DarkSparkle

The Fateful PM

Hello BonBon,

It is time we finally had this talk. I won’t mince words, I never approved of you, and still think that Lyra could have made a better choice in… partner. We both know how exceptional Lyra is and I know that in our separate ways both of us wanted what is best of her, even if that notion is vastly different for each of us.

I’m writing to tell you that she gave birth yesterday: a pair of healthy unicorn twins. There were complications, but thanks to the doctors and Princess Cadence (who personally came to oversee) both they and Lyra are doing well. It would have been nice for you to have been here to support her in that moment of need, but I understand why you weren’t. (Fleur has been a lifelong friend, so I know a thing or two. I guess I also have you to thank for the special treatment Lyra received, as well as I did a few months back.)

Looking at her I can only imagine the pain my daughter subjected herself to be able to have foals. I had all but given up when she told me of her preferences (and that she’d be moving out to live with you), but apparently she hadn’t. I still am not sure I understand or agree with her choice, but I accept it. After what she put herself through, she had proven she is fully capable of making her own choices regardless of what I think, and at the very least I could support her as any mother should.

I cannot promise things will change between us right away, or at all, but I am willing to be a try. And like Fleur likes to say “We could at least be civil”.

LyraHands

Thank you. I’ve always been terrified I wouldn’t be there with her when she gives birth… I’m glad you were. My greatest fear was that Lyra would give birth alone. I’m so glad that didn’t happen. And thank you for taking care of her since she moved to Canterlot. Did she hurt a lot?

Bob

Yes. Every night she’d cry herself to sleep while I sat beside her. Princess Cadence told me it was a side effect of the spell she had to endure. Something about the mana-drain affecting her brain chemistry. It didn’t make it any better knowing. Hopefully, now that the foals are born she’ll get back to normal.

She spoke a lot about you when she cried. A few times she eve mistook me for you. I didn’t correct her. It seems it was your idea for her to go to Canterlot. I am certain you’ve had a good reason to ask her even if it was a bit selfish on your part.

LyraHands

It was. But at least this way she and the foals are safe.

Can you describe the foals, please?

Bob

They are the most magnificent things I’ve seen. Their coats were glowing when they came out. Princess Cadence explained that was because of the spell and they should fade away with time, and still they were breathtaking.

Lyra refused to let us name them. She insisted that you must be back so that you could name them together. The filly glowed in a brilliant cyan, almost like Lyra’s own coat, yet a shade bluer. I can tell she’ll be strong as Lyra was. The colt has the features of a delicate flower, glowing a warm yellow. He was quiet, unlike his sister. He just opened his eyes for a moment, yawned and curled up again.

You should be proud of them. They are the best grandfoals I could have imagined.

LyraHands

I am. And I’m proud of Lyra. Thank you. I wish I could have been there for her. It’s the single best moment that I know will never be again, but I’m relieved she’s safe. In the end that’s all that matters… they are well.

Bob

Hopefully in time you’ll have a chance, when you yourself become a grandmare.

LyraHands

I know. That’s too far in the future for me to contemplate. I prefer to live in the here and now. Whatever the future hold swill come, regardless.

Bob

That’s something Fleur would say. Tell me, are we safe yet? I’ve been following the news and things seem to have calmed down, but can I be sure?

LyraHands

I don’t know. So many things are unclear. And that is why I ask you to keep Lyra there a bit longer. Knowing her she’d want to go back to Ponyville the moment she feels well. She mustn’t, not yet. When things are safe I’ll come and get her, but until then I don’t want to take any chances.

Bob

I will. Maybe it’s for the best. The doctors told me it might be days until Lyra is well enough to walk, possibly more. I think I can keep her here longer. Especially with the little ones being so fragile.

Do you have a mana catcher for the foal’s room back there? Lyra did a mess of things she was growing up. All “natural mages” do. My mother in law told me that Lyra’s father also had exceptionally violent magic outbursts.

LyraHands

I modified some spell disruptors, we should be fine. Princess Cadence already went through this with me. The entire room is made to withstand wild magic, and reinforced incase the foals start smashing things against the walls.

Bob

Which will happen, let me assure you. Lyra was determined to “make a new entrance” to the kitchen at one point. She failed, but not by much.

LyraHands

I imagine :)

Sorry, but I must go now. I’m still at work and… there are things I need to check on. Thank you for the message. It means a lot.

Bob

I am glad we go to talk as well. I won’t keep you any longer. The next time you receive a message it will be Lyra writing.

LyraHands

Thank you. Please tell Lyra I love her and I’m always thinking about her.

Bob

I will.

LyraHands

Unnatural Diseases

I’ve been thinking... is it possible for humans to catch pony diseases and vice versa? I mean only Pegasi catch the feather flu, and such, so will our diseases affect humans in any way? Maybe it could turn out that humans would make the best doctors, since they have a natural immunity to everything pony? Or vice versa?

It just got me thinking since all the storms and Windigo troubles and so many ponies catching cold as a result.

MixaMax

Pfft! I bet those weren’t the diseases you were thinking about :P

RRBB

@MixaMax: A human working in a hospital and taking care of sick mares, you say? And maybe at one point the human falls in love with a specific mare? Let’s call her... Ammy. And the two start talking, they spending more and more time together. The human starts reading her meeting stories, as any good husbandu would, and then things happen...

Sorry, what was your original question? Something about diseases?

Brush

You two are terrible! ><

MixaMax

And you’re transparent like a block of ice! I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt about the illnesses thing, but a human nurse in a hospital? You’ve been toying with that idea for ages! If the isn’t an attempt to get advice how to write it (as well as support) I don’t know what is!

As I’ve told you before the idea is a really boring one. True it could be pulled off by someone with skill (which you don’t have), but even so it won’t be different than the human being a pony. At most you’ll be able to force some cultural difference.

If you really want to try and write something exceptional, at least have the decency to do two things:

1) be honest about it

2) come up with something at least partially original

I’ll give you an example: write a fix of a mare going to study medicine on Earth. She has this insane dream to be a surgeon and must learn to live (and love) in an entirely new environment.

And now you can ask for advice.

Jade

Whoa, Jade! I’d forgotten how vicious you could be. You’re not wrong, but maybe scorch your wife a bit less? People are starting to feel pity for her. Even if she isn’t as good as Volume 3. :P

LightSparkle

Well, I think the idea is sweet!

Hi, all! Missed me? :P

@MixaMax: with a bit of practice I think you can pull it off. And please, take Jade’s idea. There’s so much potential there. Equestrian mare falls in love with human doctor during her residency. :)))

You must let me help you with the details! I’ll go find my books on human anatomy!

DarkSparkle

Books on human anatomy?

CodeFilly

@CodeFilly: don’t ask... *sigh*

@DarkSparkle: well, look who’s back again. Next time don’t just vanish like that. You could have responded to you PMs, you know! We were worried with everything else going on in Equestria.

And maybe the idea isn’t that bad, but I seriously doubt it’s something Max should start with. Why not just try to write a single scene to begin with? Then you can proceed to something more complicated.

No, I’m not looking down on you, I’m just telling you what the best way to start is.

LightSparkle

That last bit was for @MixaMax

LightSparkle

DarkSparkle! *hugs* :)

We missed you and your centaurs.

Brush

But they didn’t miss us... centaurs never miss!

Hey, Twi :)

EverSpike

Hmmm. Hmmmmmm! If you ask me humans should be susceptible to pretty much the same diseases that ponies have with the exception to all aether-related ones. The only reason the rest of us don’t get the feather flu, is the lack of feathers (understandably). Since humans are unlikely to have equestrian magic, they are safe from that angle.

The real question is, what if humans carry a disease that is capable of wiping out all of Equestria? To them it might be something harmless, like a cough. For us, however, it might be terminal. I don’t want to think what could happen if an non-quarantined human gets here. It will be a disaster! Actually, that might be the best proof that humans haven’t been to Equestria before.

MightyDragon

But if both humans and Equines were made by Poseidon... so they shouldn’t be that different. After all, they are described as eating the same kinds of food, so why should this be different?

Interesting though, though dark as *yay*. A human makes it through the portal and half of the ponies in Equestria are struck by a mysterious disease.

RRBB

@RRBB: trust me, the food humans and ponies eat is VERY different!

DarkSparkle

I can confirm. There are certain things, like bread, sugar, and alcohol, that are the same, but there are such that aren’t... hay, for example. Humans don’t eat hay... most of the time.

LightSparkle

Oooh, human food is soooo nice! It’s like out if this world! :)

Human stomachs are by far more delicate. Actually humans are much more delicate. That’s why they are the perfect race for boyfriends :) That’s not visible a lot in the books because of the constant fights, but if you check out all the scenes in which humans are fighting with ponies, a kick from the pony manages to send humans flying off, get broken arms, and in one case broken ribs.

Humans are just dolls in every sense of the word :)

PlayedPiece

...thank you for the new inevitable wave of “delicate human” fics that will flood us. :/

LightSparkle

@RRBB: What if that’s exactly what the humans want us to believe?

MightyDragon

:/

I’m not even going to answer that. But if I were, I’d say you’re an idiot!

RRBB

@all: hello, hello, hello!

I missed you so much. Glad to see that you’re goofy as always :)

Anyway, I came here to say one thing: Twins! :D

Thank you from the bottom of me heart!

Pictures soon!

LyraHands

The Contest Continues

Okay now that I’m back (and still in hospital) I managed to go through the posts since I was gone and OMS! How much do you ponies write?!

First of all, I’m extending the Dragon contest to TOMORROW! (so many new stories I must go through…)

I’ll accept all stories until midnight tonight (Yes’ I’ll be punctual and ruthless for once!) so if you haven’t finished your story, do it now!

I know I promised photos, but for the moment that’s out of the question :/ The doctors won’t let me get up from my bed (I keep telling them I’m fine, but when do they listen? :/) I managed to see my foals twice, but they will be spending a few days on their own (InItForTheShipping explained it, and as much as I want to be with my dears non-stop I’ll have to be patient.) My mom’s there to keep an eye on things, so I trust everything is fine.

So, what’s the latest Danny gossip?

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Well, there’s the thing that Danny is Hop’s boyfriend. I tried to learn more, but she refused to go into details then locked the thread.

Have you decided on names? The site has been on fire with predictions! Personally, I’m sure you’ll surprise the masses with Dannymare and Megan for the colt!

MightyDragon

@LyraHands: Heeey! Glad that you’re back to your old self and that all’s fine with the foals. It’s so tempting to sneak in to see them, but I’ll have to be patient, I guess… pouts

Edit: Scratch that. Thanks to someone glares I got my chance to see them. They are so adorable! I just love how their manes glow! It’s so cute! Now I’m jealous! :P

Brush

@Brush: What the heck, Brush?! How in Equestria did you manage that?!

Edit: forget I asked… And, yeah, they are pretty cute. :) (On another note, I think we’ll give the doctor’s a heart attack if we keep this up.)

RRBB

Unlike some ponies, I’ll behave adequately and wait till we get a proper photo from the mother herself! … then I’ll draw pictures of them :D

PainDrop

@Brush, @RRBB, @SupremeHumanOverlord: stop it now! :/

You will get many chances to see them! Before you know it they’ll start appearing at meetups, posting on the site, then demanding that you write new series for them and force you to use your influence to make them canon and…

*breaths in* *breaths out* Flurry demanded to have her own account on the site. I managed to delay the inevitable till her next birthday… thanks to the lack of support of a certain somepony! :/

InItForTheShipping

Well, I think I’ll manage to complete my story till tomorrow. I hope. The outline is ready, I just need to actually sit down and write it. The problem is that there are so many other distractions, some of which very important!

What am I going to go? :(((

DarkSparkle

Wait what?! You better explain that to me, @HopHop!

AwesomePony

@InItForTheShipping: Huh? What did I go? :( I think she’s old enough to join a forum. I though we discussed this. I was her age when I used to go to comic clubs. Well, there was no aethernet back then.

SaltyHuman

@HopHop: Yes, please elaborate on that. We’re all listening > :D

LyraHands

@all: Will you stop it already? If I want to go into details I’ll go into details :/

HopHop

Sorry, Hop. Was just kidding :(

LyraHands

@HopHop: Yes, sorry. :(

MightyDragon

@LyraHands: when will you tell us their names?

Short&Hoofy

@all: Fine, fine! I’ll tell you one of the names! For the other I need to have a long talk with Bob, who is busy working again :/ (Well I’m not complaining she’s working, just that she isn’t here right now.)

The colt’s name is Dream (I think it’s obvious why. I don’t care how cheesy it is, but he and a sister were a dream come true.)

LyraHands

I have a bad feeling about this…

And I think I’ll be with you in two days. Just a little more patience, love. :)

Bob

Dream is quite a nice name, and fitting of a colt. Sadly, I can tell from now how much attention that will get him when he reaches puberty. The name is perfect for all the corny pickup lines (which, I’M STILL HEARING EVERY DAY!) At the risk of starting a rant, haven’t Manehattan mares ever seen a stallion before? I’m honestly starting to ask myself questions! It’s like I’m from another land!

What’s worse, they are hitting on me more! After I stood up to a police lieutenant for whistling, I thought things would be better. Mare was I wrong… True, they no longer hear the “qualification stallion” joke, but everypony seems to be overly supportive (and in a bad way!) You’d think i'm made of crystal and need constant protection!

Jade

@Jade: Well, you are sort of made of crystal :)

DarkSparkle

@MixaMax: hear that? They want to steal your husband! Better take the first train to Manehattan!

RRBB

@RRBB: She is already here… and finds the whole thing hilarious. I swear this city! At one point I got hit on right in the street with max there. Max laughed it off and calmly explained that she’s my wife, to which the mare just shrugged and said “I don’t mind”!

Jade

Jade: Manehattan it’s quite different in a few aspects… Will you two pass by later this evening? Tech is still in Trottingham, so we could spend the evening somewhere. There are a few good plays if you’re into that.

Candle

Hmm… Hmmmmm!

EverSpike

Yes, Spike?

DarkSparkle

Nothing, just wondering about something…

EverSpike

@EverSpike: Now you have me worried. What’s up?

LyraHands

Can I send another story? I have this really great idea and I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t say what it’s about, but it’s great!

EverSpike

Sure, Spike :) Have fun!

LyraHands

Dragon Winners

Argh! This has been a long night… mostly for the nurses who kept trying to get me to sleep (hint: they failed :P )

Pregnancy, as marvelous as it is, is pretty exhausting. To think I had to spend half of the day dozing, feeling drained like a squeezed orange. Right now I feel I’ve been born again! I have so much energy I don’t know what to do with it! :D

Anyway, back to the competition. (again, I say you girls are crazy!) Forty nine new entries! (and I’m only talking about the ones that passed curation! And just to be fair, I accepted stories that were submitted before the midnight deadline, regardless when they passed curation (Yes, I poked Light, RRBB, and Played to rush all contest stories for me O :) )

So, without further ado, let’s get to it! As usual I’ll start with a few honorable mentions, then go right to the top three.

Keep your fingers crossed! :P

LyraHands

The tyrant woke me up at half past two to ask me how the curation was going :/ The things I do for this community…

LightSparkle

Phew! I almost didn’t make it! Reading some of the other stories I don’t think I have a chance, though. So many good writers… including jade who will win again, I am sure :/

I hope I get an honorable mention, though :)

DarkSparkle

I don’t know. I think I did pretty well

@LightSparkle: Those centaur dragons… tsk tsk tsk. I mean, really?

EverSpike

HONORABLE MENTIONS

How did I end up here? by EverSpike
When Spike said he was going to do a self-insert he wasn’t kidding. The story is about… SPIKE! Literally. He’s on his way to a MC convention (hmm… I see certain similarities here :P ) when he’s literally thrown to Earth via a portal created by Discord for no apparent reason. Once there, Spike gets finds himself in a fight between Megan and the Felina corp. Naturally he uses his powers to send the weapons of the Felina corp to Princess Celestia (nice way of using that as a weapon) and saves the day… becoming a friend of the grand9.

I’m oversimplifying things, of course. It’s actually a nice story and I see a lot of Dark’s influence in the words and constructions used :) If there weren’t so many mistakes… It probably still wouldn’t have made top 3. (Sorry, the competition was fierce!)

The Door by Simile
The only reason this isn’t among the winders is because it’s incredibly dark. It’s nothing like any of the other fics she’s done and as such caught me entirely unprepared.

So, this is the story of Megan, Danny, and Molly finding a door in the basement of their house (a door that wasn’t there before) and going through only to be trapped in a world of dragons, in which humans are regarded as “slave-food” (i.e. they do whatever their dragon masters command, and if they don’t they become food).

Since the trio are blessed (interesting take that Megan is blessed by Hades) they have powers and defend themselves. Attracting the attention of Dragon (and human) bounty hunters, they find some dragon rebels (outcasts) who agree to help them to get home if they topple the current ruler (who’s a mysterious figure that no one has seen in ages). One of the dragons has a crush on Danny and later confesses that the offer for help is made up and the group just wants to be the ones to rule over the land. She they helps the three escape from to the door (leading to the basement) and reveals she was the ruler of all dragons, but saw a prophecy that she would find love one day so made the portal for him to go through it (for which she disappeared from power centuries ago).

Dark, scary, sad, borderline disturbing, but very impactful and well written

With that I go to the top 3 (The results might surprise you!)

LyraHands

I think jade has this. (I had to approve twenty of the stories so I went ahead and read the rest.)

@Jade: buck, you’re good! One day Squishy will get you, thought! Just wait and see! :P

RRBB

No mention? :( And I tried so hard…

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Yet in the end it didn’t really matter… I feel you. I’m like that all the time! I sent five entries to this contest and none made it past curation! At one point RRBB even came here in person (early in the morning) and forced me to read out loud one of my stories…

Let’s say it could have been better. O :)

MightyDragon

And here are our glorious winners!

THIRD PLACE
Dragon Syndrome by Celestia

What can I say… the fact story is as surprising as the author sending it (although this isn’t the first time our Princess has secretly participated in contests :) )

The story revolves around a new virus that slowly transforms humans into dragons. (Not horror, not even scary, rather comic.) People seems to slowly get used to it and start living that way. The corporations create glass bubbles :D in which non infected people live and use magic elementals to do their bidding. The story is how the grand9 transform into dragons, then find a way to transform back (stealing the secret from the corporations).

It’s hilarious and you should read it! :D

SECOND PLACE
Dragon Hiccups by Quarters

It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone from Quarters and this fic doesn’t disappoint :) (it’s also notable that both Twist and RRBB edited it and it shows!)

The fic is about a new classmate to arrive in Molly’s school (and class). At first it’s a normal sweet slice of life romance until Molly suddenly notices that the boy has a tail. Curious she starts to investigate (and gets into some funny and awkward situations) but fails to find any proof… until Gem (the boy) hiccups and changes into a dragon (read human with dragon features). It is then revealed that he and his family are in fact changeling-dragons (changelings that have a dragon primary form). From there on it follows the familiar Quarters formula: social light romance with the occasional hiding from the corporations (and keeping the secret from everyone else).

Good job! :)

FIRST PLACE
Adventure Bureau Corporate Dragon by Jade
Yep… no surprises here. :P Seriously, we need to ban jade from participating in contests!

The very interesting thing is that the fic doesn’t start on Earth! It starts in the Crystal Empire, where Princess Jennifer goes in search of a secretary. She picks a clueless dragon who’s only passing through there because of the food, and opens up an Adventure Bureau where ponies hire her to go on adventures. And since the dragon is her only employee he becomes the Corporate Dragon, responsible for “everything other than adventuring”.

First, I have no idea when Jade found the time to write so much, but I love it! :D

Second... thanks for participating, everyone! This truly was a great contest and brought a lot of cheer in my life (and yours as well I hope :) )

Also, do not despair! I’ll be starting a COMEDY contest soon! So better start thinking up those ideas :D

LyraHands

And since I didn’t win, I’m locking the thread!

EDIT: Seriously, I need to lock the thread to test something, as HopHop will attest. PM and thread creation won’t be available for a short while, but you can still read and submit fics.

Oh, and Congrats, @Jade! (my nemesis) :)

MightyDragon

Resolution

It’s over. He came here today and apologized. It sounds absurd talking about it, but come it’s not the first time that it has happened in Equestria, and I would like to put this whole thing behind it.

@Celestia: he asked to see you. For now I let Twilight talk to him, but at some point you will have to as well. This whole catastrophe is unfathomable. To think it had been going on ever since Flurry was born.

Sadly I don’t think we’ll ever learn the whole story :( ever the Windigo doesn’t remember much if the past.

InItForTheShipping

Unfortunately it seems so. Not ever Starswirl is able to give me any details and he’s the only one who really remembers. I guess we’ll have to accept things and move forward. The important thing is that we no longer pose a threat to each other and could accept each other and, hopefully, be friends.

I want to give him and Twilight a while alone, but after they are done I’ll go there and apologies personally for all the hard my kingdom has caused him. It’s a truly tragic story. He might well be the last of the windigos.

Celestia

I would phrase it slightly differently, but at East we don’t have to worry... for an year at least.

I can’t believe we almost exterminated an entire species! What madmare would do that?! If that had happened to me I would have tried to conquer Equestria without mercy!

LightSparkle

Things always seem clearer from the distance of time, but I agree with you. I cannot be sure who did it, none of us can. Starswirl is convinced it was Sombra’s doing, but I’m ashamed to say he might to have been the only one. The dark rainbow corrupts all it tempts, as we have seen. Sombra’s ambition wasn’t the only thing that lead him to insanity.

Celestia

That much is true, but I can attest that the dark rainbow is an ominous entity. The darkness consumed me almost entirely when I was Nightmare Moon.

I still wasn’t able to look into his dreams. That’s one thing I’ll have to ask him once I apologize as well. There don’t seem to be nightmares there, just dram shards. I don’t think even he himself knows what they are. Another mystery, I guess.

ColdLight

To think though... an entire race sacrificed because of the Empire. It’s sickening.

InItForTheShipping

Indeed. Twilight was devastated when she find out. The act she puts for everypony else is good, but she’ll be hurting for some time, as will the Windigo. We must ensure that they receive a lot of space and support.

Celestia

You’re telling me... I don’t even know how to process this. The entire reason my kingdom wasn’t swallowed by the frozen north was because a Windigo alicorn gave his heart to protect us. And in thanks his entire tribe was killed because of their magic.

Sometimes I think it’s better we don’t know exactly what happened. At least we were able to replicate the effects with a spell so that now... And we even held it on display :(

InItForTheShipping

Yeah... come to think of it, if Twilight hadn’t gone all crazy and given her heart to him things could have been a lot more different. If he didn’t have as much feelings and empathy this could have been argh. I would have had to do something I really wouldn’t have liked doing.

Morning on to more cheerful and pragmatic things, can Blueblood go back now? People here have started to take too much of a linking to him, and I keep getting messages from Spitfire a dozen times per day asking how he’s doing. I’d never have imagined she’s so possessive.

LightSparkle

I shall go get him myself once I’ve asked forgiveness from the Windigo and spoken to Twilight. You did a good job, Sunny. Not only did you help save Equestria, but I hear you saved Earth as well. :) I’m so proud of you.

Celestia

Don’t bother. I’ll bring him myself. I wouldn’t miss seeing Lyra’s twins.

Also, I want to tell Twilight she was right. Teleportation wasn’t the reason the rainbow didn’t affect him.

Now do we explain things to everyone? Half a dozen cities were frozen solid. That’s not something that could be explained away.

LightSparkle

Oh, I have something in mind. I’ve already given instructions to Raven, so it shouldn’t be a big issue. Also, unless I’m very much mistaken, by tomorrow evening everything would be forgotten because of a new and shocking revelation. :)

Celestia

I don’t even want to know :/

LightSparkle

Sister... I don’t have an any announcement to make. At least not this year. We have already discussed this with Simile and decided the best course of action is to let Starswirl open up to the idea. You know how stubborn he is. (And he never considered me his start pupil to begin with...)

ColdLight

As I said, I really don’t want to know...

LightSparkle

I still feel so sorry for the Windigo. All alone, left literally with the ghosts of his tribe. I just...

InItForTheShipping

He might not be. Starswirl spoke of another tribe beyond the west ocean. Maybe one day somepony will go there are find out. Until then it is up to us to take care of him as our own.

After everything that we’ve done that’s the least we can do. The least I can do.

Celestia

Why is Starswirl such a *yay*? In all the books he’s presented as a larger than life genius. In person... he’s like the evil stepfather from the stories :/ Is it certain that he didn’t just adopt Simile?

LightSparkle

He has always been more focused on his work. Frankly, it was astonishing learning he had married.

Celestia

That’s one way of putting it. Still, we must prepare to go to the Crystal Empire!

ColdLight

I’ll get things ready for your visit.

See you soon.

InItForTheShipping

Lyra’s Filly

@all: Okay, okay, okay! Since everyone keeps asking me (and Bob is on her way here) I’ll reveal the super secret name of my daughter! (So secret that all of Equestria will know it soon...)

The doctors finally let me walk outside of my room *gasp*. It was difficult, but I somehow managed not to collapse after the first step out of the door. :P I also got to see my beauties :) Judging by how calm they are I think I’ll have huge problems. (We all know that the foals That pretend be calm then proceed to destroy the entire house.) InItForTheShipping has given me a few pointers, so all should be fine... I hope.

Anyway, onto the elusive name. Since I need to wait a few hours for Bob to get here so we can take the foals and go to my parents’ how about I leave you to speculate :P The only catch is you must provide a reason for your theory! When I get the okay from Bob I’ll post the name :)

Good luck!

LyraHands

Everprincess! ... because you already named the colt and there must be somepony who’d name their filly that.

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: you are NOT naming our daughter!

CodeFilly

I think she’ll be called Aether, because of how she came to be. The colt is a dream, and the filly is magic :)

Short&Hoofy

Well, I know a thing or two about Lyra and her obsessions. So I can say that without a shadow of a doubt the filly will be named Cassandra. (Also that’s a name Bob is likely to go with.)

We’re still waiting for photos by the way! Seriously, you and your broken promises! :P

MixaMax

I’m inclined to agree with Max. What’s more interesting, I actually know a few foals that were named after MC characters. All of them are called Caprice, but there’s also an Omni.

@LyraHands: my only concern is how would she be treated growing up? I mean school is a harsh place no matter who your parents are. Things are likely to change in a few years, but Nightlings still aren’t 100% mainstream, although we are mostly accepted.

Jade

Harp Music. I know it has nothing to do with MC, but I have a feeling that Lyra would go for a sweet traditional name and music has been in her family for generations. :)

I’m so excited! I tried to sneak into the hospital, but was stopped. (Thanks, Discord :/)

DarkSparkle

@Jade: I know, and I will make sure things are fine. :)

@MixaMax: pfft! :)

LyraHands

This will take some explaining, so bear with me.

The normal thing would be to assume Lyra would choose one of the female names in the series: Megan, Molly, Cassandra, Euryala, Echo, Athena, Kalypso. Out of these I’d remove Athena and Kalypso, because of a long conversation we had with LyraHands about foal names. (She mentioned it weird to have a foal named after a deity.)

Megan and Cassandra seem logical choices, but I think Lyra will avoid them for the simple reason that they will chain her daughter to their nature. Both means Lyra know how difficult it is to begin society (even in this day and age) linked to a fillyfooler, especially since there’s no control if the filly will end up being one or not.

That leaves Molly, Euryala, and Echo. While the first two are splendid names, they are still too close to the series and Bob might not fully support the choice. (As Jade said, growing up with a strange name is tough.) Therefore, I think the only choice left is Echo: it’s from the series, sounds both human and pony, and is related to music.

Echo Strings is what the name should rightly be.

RRBB

@RRBB: you’ve been preparing that for weeks, haven’t you? -.-

Well, it sounds logical, but I think you’re all wrong. I suspect the name will be linked to the filly herself, and by the descriptions given so far, there’s one that stands out: glowing

Thus is think the filly will be Glow (or maybe Cyan Glow) :)

PaintDrop

Are you kidding? I mean, sure she MIGHT be called that, but a really cool name would be Crystal (as in born in the Crystal Empire? :))

Seriously, you have the worst naming ideas ever!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: if you have a foal I bet you’ll name her/him Edgy Crystal :P

Feather

Crystal Harp! That’s it! It’s Crystal Harp!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: if you say so DARK Sparkle.

AwesomePony

Umm, this might be silly, but I keep thinking of Starchild. I don’t know why. Maybe because it sounds like a great tribute to S.Child who indirectly helped LyraHands have foals? Hand yes, I think that Star Child is the name of the author and she is a mare!)

@LyraHands: I’m so excited! Honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it! Can I please be there when you take them to your house? I promise I’ll just look at them for a second.

SweetStuff

So... you’re telling me it isn’t Jennifer? I’m disappointed. Seriously... ;P

EverSpike

@EverSpike: I feel you.

MightyDragon

@SweetStuff: go ahead :) you might as well. PPI already held three parties to mark the occasion already (we are now waiting to start the Bob|gets|here party).

And just so you know...Luna, LightSparkle, TrueSparkle, Simile, Brush, Octavia, JustAHuman, HopHop, WaterBottle, YouKnowWho, Plust, and DarkSparkle (who is literally posting while next to me) are also here. :P

LyraHands

Bob’s here! Now we get to know!

DarkSparkle

I’m licking the thread preemptively!

MightyDragon

Yes, Bob is here, and how you get to hear the moment of truth.

A few of you were actually very close. Well done, Max :) You almost got there. RRBB, you were correct as well, as was DarkSparkle to an extent.

The name of my filly is...

Megan Harp (which, as none of you know, is actually an arcane music instrument used half a millennia ago.) We discussed it with Bob and we both agree it’s a wonderful name of a strong caring character so this way she can experience the best of both worlds, as well as keep an eye on her little brother :)

Now, if you’ll excuse me I’ll be heading home to finally spend some time along with my family. (Finally I got to say this :))

LyraHands

Author's Note

15 Chapters remain!

Tech’s Return

@Hello,

Apparently my mod access hasn’t been remover, despite my formal resignation. Hardly a surprise, and further proof that it takes a stallion’s horn to maintain order in the chaos that the site has become.

What possibly could I say, but thank you. Thank you for your heartfelt words and actions that help me, my family, my home city, not to mention Equestria itself. Putting aside that the Elements of Harmony are Nightlings, everyone else (from dragons, griffins, to diamond dogs) helped with everything they could, sparing no time or expense.

In light of that I have decided not to be harsh regarding anyone’s actions on the site today, or during the time of my absence. However, I would greatly appreciate if starting tomorrow you start being more rule abiding.

Also, on a personal note, please be nice to your curators. I understand fully well how frustrating it could be to have your story returned for addition changes and corrections, but keep in mind how much time curators spend reading through stories. They have earned your Thanks not your scorn.

Finally I’d just like to add that it’s good to be back. I have missed you all!

The TechNightling

You tell em, Tech! I’ve always said that it’s us stallions who run the site! :P

So glad to have you back, buddy. Are you in Manehattan or still in Trottingham?

MightyDragon

Manehattan. I’ve been here for a few days, spending most of the time with my son and Candle. As a matter of fact we’ll be spending the evening with Jade and MixaMax. Now that the days of horror are over, Jade is will be relieved of duty and return to civilian life.

The TechNightling

Will you look at that!

@The TechNightling! I’m so glad you’re fine you old tyrant! I missed you keeping things under control. This place is a madbarn without you! I’m scared to even read some of the posts! (Just kidding, I’m not. I just know that you’d never allow them :))

I’ll leave you a few weeks to get used to what’s what, then expect you to return to your usual strict self :)

LyraHands

@The TechNightling: hey, we Wonderbolts helped too, you know! :) I’m with you on the part that stallions should rule the site. Things would be so much less chaotic!

Good for Jade. I’m hoping I get a few days off, so Brush and I could actually marry and have our honeymoon somewhere!

Oh and, a small spoiler (cap will bring my wings for this, but I don’t care!) There’ll be a full week of sunshine and rainbows, so be sure to enjoy it! First rainbow will be tonight over Manehattan (you have AwesomePony to thank for that).

Nightlings forever!

CEOWitch

@CEOWitch: she’ll really pluck your feathers, you know ;)

@The TechNightling: glad to have you back! *hugs* Max was getting out of control! Now that you’re here, though I fear to think what DarkSparkle would do. Her Centaur mania has reached new heights... I’m expecting her to write a fix-fic with all the grand9 being centaurs.

Brush

@Brush: you know that won’t work. There’s no fun in having centaurs without humans.

Nice to see you again, Tech. Simile told me some heartwarming stories about what you two did in Trottingham. Then again, she was drunk, so I’m not sure whether to believe her (or take it you did all the actual work).

LightSparkle

O!M!G! Run for the hills! He’s back with a vengeance and about to plunge the site back to the dark ages when handholding was considered inappropriate! :P

RRBB

RRBB might say what she wants, but she missed you a lot, Tech :) I’ve enough PMs to prove it :)

And yes, I think we could use your help to reorganize the site’s structure. Hop and Code have been keeping up the code (MightyDragon is solely reserved for aether-encryption) but actual site structures have been left to... well... umm... we really need you! O:)

LyraHands

Yay! Tech is back! <3 I hope this marks a return of more Nightlings! I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but the last few weeks had lots of Nightlings fall inactive or outright quit. I’d be sad if that happened. I’ve found so many new friends thanks to this site and hope to stay in touch!

Edit: sorry. I had a bit too much to drink and it made me kinda sad. I’m so happy you’re back, Tech! <3

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Won’t your sis be glad when she reads this?

RRBB

*gasp* What’s this?! RRBB acting mature? Who are you and what have you done to our RRBB?!! :P

@The TechNightling: I’ll be going to Manehattan later this week to see my brother. We can pass by to see you if that’s okay?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Ha, ha. I have responsibilities now! I’m the head of a booming startup (soon to be hiring), have a family to think of, not to mention I need to keep an eye on all you aspiring young writers and artists! Of course I’ll be concerned about the state of a potential partner!

RRBB

Everypony is welcome to send a PM, but I warn you I will not have the time or desire to meet with everyone of you. Sadly, I’d prefer only to be close friends and family. (That’s a yes, PaintDrop. Just drop a line before you get here.)

@SweetStuff: time will tell, but I’m optimistic. Ponies need some a source of cheer after what happened and EqF is a place that provides just that.

The TechNightling

I wonder what would Danny do if he were in our place? Write a fic? Maybe. Organize a contest? Already done. Set up a dreamreading? Nah!

What Danny would really do is to organize an assault on the feline corporation and rob the, of every artifact they have before setting off to find the remaining evergems and...

Too soon?

EverSpike

Never too soon for you, EverSpike :) When you get a chance tell HoofTies I’m thankful to her. If there’s ever anything I could you help with, let me know, alright?

The TechNightling

... now kiss!

MightyDragon

Banned!

LyraHands

@MightyDragon: I approve!

Brush

Locked!

The TechNightling

Author's Note

14 Chapters remaining...

Ice Prince

Girls, I’ll be introducing a friend to the site, so please be gentle to him, okay? I’ve warned him this site might be a bit wild, but I would very much appreciate if we make him feel welcome. Especially after what has happened.

Just be yourselves and keep an open mind, okay?

DarkSparkle

Ooooh. “Him”? Now this will definitely be interesting :)

Brush

@Brush: hush, you!

DarkSparkle

It’s finally happened. DarkSparkle will introduce us to her centaur boyfriend and is trying to make the situation less awkward. I expect she’s already spoken to the mods and we might see all taur stories vanish from the site (or at the very least be hidden).

This will be followed by a request for us to show how liked, valued, and skilled DarkSparkle is the community. Possibly even mention that she’s helped some of the top writers. :P

TrueSparkle

I’d never do that! I’m speechless! I don’t know what you’re talking about!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: that bad, eh? Well, it’s too late now. Dark might not be the best writer, but she’s on her way to become a meme... as well as the inspiration for a new waves of pony-taur fics (which I’m still uncertain should be on the site.)

@LyraHands: what do you say about this? I know the site is open, but slapping a city name and having a fics with random taurs isn’t exactly MC compliant. Or maybe it is and I’m just too biased. I won’t lie I enjoy some taur fics (don’t laugh, @Brush!) but this new centaur subgenre has gotten completely insane! :/

RRBB

@RRBB: as lo as the other requirements are there then taur is a valid genre. Not to mention that centaurs existed in some of the original stories, requiring that members only use named characters would be a hindrance to a lot magnificent stories containing humans that are in no way related to characters or events of the series.

The TechNightling

I think it’s nice that DarkSparkle has found a SO. I’m still surprised how she’s managed to stay single for so long. Even more significant, she has found somepony who accepts her personal hobby, which is no small feat. (After being in the army for a few weeks, I’m ashamed to say how many stallions still don’t take mares who read coltfiction seriously.)

@DarkSparkle: I’m truly happy for you! You deserve to have somepony in your life.

Jade

Now you’re all embarrassing me.

Well, if it’s like that fine! After what I’ve experienced, I won’t waste time, with being “shy and uncertain”. He’s, I have deep emotions for the pony in question' even if it things haven’t been all that clear.

I also know that it won’t be easy. Both of us will have to make compromises, and I think it’s only fair that I lead by example. However, seeing how so many of you have overcome their problems and found happiness I’m determine to give it everything I have!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I know it’s weird coming from me, but it’s definitely worth it. Given time others will accept your choice. We might not be humans, but there’s still a lot of kindness and understanding in all of us. Just yesterday my father said it might be okay to invite my “necklace” to dinner. (Yes, he still is convinced that I keep Vertex round my neck at all times.)

LyraHands & Bob, as well as RRBB & Short&Hoofy are also starting to be accepted. (Hint, it helps a lot if you’re well known and you’ve done great things.)

I don’t suppose you can share some details? ;)

PaintDrop

Humph! And of course nopony mentions Simile and her glorious achievements! :/

Simile

@Simile: how could we? You keep repeating it so much we never get the chance!

TrueSparkle

Meanwhile I had another disastrous date last night. Just when I thought things would work out. I seriously don’t know what’s wrong with me. I mean all my friends have a special someone here.

Anyway, @DarkSparkle, good luck. You’ll need it. I trust you, so I’ll have your back. Still hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: it’ll be fine, silly :)

PPI

@LightSparkle: it’ll be fine.

Edit: oh, PPI, never change :) Seriously, I could tell that things are fine. It’ll just take a bit of getting used to. Meanwhile, Salty’s crying in the other room, muttering how fast time flies... while Flurry, dressed as Princess Jennifer, is trying to cheer him up. (Yes, I lead an interesting life.)

InItForTheShipping

@DarkSparkle: At this point I was expecting for you to go to another world and find yourself a human :P Who’s the lucky stallion?

Lucky stallion: welcome to our site! And don’t worry, nopony other than Brush bites, but she’s getting married, so she’s not as much a threat as she used to be :P There are a few new Nightlings fighting for her spot, but other than that you’ll be safe... as long as you agree on who us best humie :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: nope, she didn’t. She snatched him in Equestria. Maybe I should find a new world. It’s not like I’m having any luck here :/

Also maybe I should get some sleep... been a tough few weeks.

LightSparkle

Now you’re all just embarrassing me on purpose! It’ll be fine. For one thing, I think I’m much wiser and more prepared than I was an year ago.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Oh, okay. I better move out of the castle then...

EverSpike

@EverSpike: Spike it’s a Castle! We won’t be using all the rooms! Did you have to leave when starlight joined us? So stop being a baby about it!

DarkSparkle

@EverSpike: she totally can’t cook. Without you it’ll be a disaster.

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: I know. Just making sure she knows that :P But yeah, I’ll have to move rooms... again. :/

EverSpike

Will you please stop?! I ask for one simple favor and you transform the threat into meme central! I seriously want you to make at least a partially good impression because this means a lot to me! And I do mean A LOT!

Thank you!

DarkSparkle

We know :) It’s all in good fun, Dark, we’re just happy for you :) No more messing about, I promise.

LyraHands

Hello.

Thank you for welcoming me here, and... please forgive me for everything I’ve done...

Ice Prince

Author's Note

13 chapters remaining

Reunion

Hey, girls...

Sorry for the vanishing act. I had a case of severe anxiety plus other health issues, so I wasn’t able to be here. :( Sorry for not responding to my PMs. It means incredibly much that so many of you care.

I’d like to especially thank Oopsy, DannyFan, Candle, and Tech for being there for me. (You have been lifesavers, literally.)

@Jade: sorry I didn’t get to see you. I wanted to, but every related to army and stuff got me to a panic state and I couldn’t function without my pills (I’m still on them, but things are getting better.)

I’m so glad all this is over! Sorry. I hate being like this. :( I still need a few days to get back to my usual self, but just wanted to let you all know that I’m doing okay.

@CEOWitch: Thanks for the ride back then :) you’re great!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Eric! <3 I was worried about you, you idiot! You just upped and vanished without a word! You could have told me you needed help! We’d have been there for you!

SweetStuff

I know :) Just anxiety attack O:) I’ll visit soon, I promise. Until then I plan to catch up on stories. (And wow has the Princess Jennifer thing exploded!)

Just in the last week there have been over a thousand story updates about her! I guess, some have been posted before that, but still! And I like how most of them are really sweet.

Does anypony know who ScissorFeet is? They’ve written a really interesting alternate reality of Jennifer going on adventures as an adult (she’s also Danny and Athena’s daughter, which is a bit weird). The style is very familiar and it’s sooo goood! I mean adventure wise it’s in the same league as DDDA, but the writing is smoother.

PrinceEric

Heh. He’s been raving about that story for days :) I have my suspicions who it might be, but dad refuses to tell me. :P

Also, hello. Guess I decided to come back :j Just casual reading, though. Don’t have the time for anything more. (Also, you girls are great!)

DannyFan

@PrinceEric, @DannyFan: *hugs* Glad you’re back. The place isn’t the same without you.

Brush

What’s this? Ancient Nightlings returning to post? No, it can’t be!

This feels like a reunion moment. It also made me go back to the time when I was blabbing nonsense and asking if it’s okay to invite PaintDrop (who was utterly unimpressed by MC at the time).

I know I’ve said it before, but I feel so old looking back. It’s like an eternity ago!

RRBB

@RRBB: yes, back then things were simpler and everypony was far more innocent. There were no troll groups (or any groups), no curation, no slap or gore fics (and no ban since nopony would consider them now). We were speculating whether Euryala was a thing, or if they ever would be a reboot...

Ah, memories :) Sometimes I wish I could go back to those simpler times. Not that I’m complaining! (*hugs Jade* He’s mine now! All mine! :P)

MixaMax

Yes... I still have no idea what I did wrong to end up marrying to that idiot. Karma, I guess.

@PrinceEric: No worries :) I’m back in Ponyville now, but I’m sure we’ll see each other at meetups or conventions. (I hear that Cloudsdale is considering making a convention of their own, called... DannyCon.)

Jade

Incidentally, for a full list of conventions, you can use the new Nightling Organizer. Note, the list is subject to change, so be sure there’s an official (@Luna backed) announcement before making any plans.

Here are a few of the known “big” conventions planned for next year

Canterlot Meetup (confirmed, Canterlot, based on the original MC meetup)
CrystalCon (Crystal Empire)
DannyCon (confirmed, Cloudsdale)
Nightling Ball (planning, Griffinstone)
ManCon (planning, Manehattan)
DreamCon (confirmed, Ponyville)

Please address queries to the organizers directly once the information becomes public ally available.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

@PrinceEric: I’m use the author will be delighted to hear your thoughts on the story. Especially since she was so uncertain about it being well perceived that she created a new account not to “tarnish her established reputation” :)

Also, great to have you here again :)

LightSparkle

I admit it, it was me!

MightyDragon

Well, you got me. I wrote it.

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: well, this was embarrassing O:)

MightyDragon

Stallions... :P

Seriously, it’s great to have Nightlings return to tech site. Maybe we should have a big old meetup to celebrate the occasion?

@LyraHands, @Luna: what do you think?

I’ll be in Ponyville for a few weeks, so we could see each other there? Will have a chance to have RRBB Do one of her shows :)

LightSparkle

I think that’s a pretty good idea. It also marks my return to the palace. (Don’t ask... government secrets, hush stuff, plus it was incredibly boring so I don’t want to talk about it.)

@Luna: organize something, will you?

@CEOWitch, @Fleetfoot: I’ll get you free to be there, so you better show something good!

number1

... yes, your highness. Some things never change. :P that said, it will be a good idea to see each other again. Hopefully, I’ll manage to get my other work done by then...

Luna

@Luna: I’ll give a hoof. It helps when the mayor is a Jade fan :P

Seriously, I’m here to help with anything I can, both in terms of organizing and paperwork. Also curious to see you with your fiancé :)

MixaMax

@MixaMax: you’ve turned into the worst kind of gossip, you know!

@number1, @Luna: I’ll have a reading ready.

RRBB

Actually, this is not a bad time to have a contest. The winning story will be read at the event :) expect details tomorrow! You’ll have 3 days to submit your fics after the announcement so that we have time to do this.

I’ll be contacting judges shortly :)

And, of course, @PrinceEric will be doing a review of the winner :P

So glad to have you back! *hugs* and above all that you are doing better! Let me know if you need anything, okay?

LyraHands

@Simile is the author of Jennifer, daughter of Danny. I cannot fathom why she would be ashamed, considering the high quality of the piece, therefore it’s my decision to make the fact known! (Since she wouldn’t.)

ColdLight

*pouts*

Simile

I’d like to preemptively remind that roleplay is not allowed in public threads.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

Ah, the grumpiness... I’ve missed it so much :P

RRBB

Author's Note

12 chapters remaining...

The Meetup Contest

@all: Hello, Nightlings!

The time has come for another contest! And this one is going to be something special :) I won’t lie it was inspired by Jade (So blame him for everything! :P)

Whats the contest about? Before I specify I’d like to mention a few ground rules.

Firstly, there’s the usual: no *yay* stuff, no blood & gore, no senseless violence or troubling issues. Let’s keep the MC spirit. When I’m doubt consult what’s already published. The golden rule is “could that appear in a MC scroll?”

Second, you have three days to submit your story (in its entirety). Fics that aren’t complete will not be taken into consideration. For that reason length isn’t an issue (as long as it’s over 2000 words). Also, don’t worry, curators have been instructed to forward All contest submissions to me and my chief judges.

Thirdly, Jade won’t take part in the contest :P He’ll be one of the judges (along with number1 and the TechNightling). That’s right, you have 3 hot stallions judging entries, so make sure you look your best! (That said all three of them are spoken for, so no flirting!) My only role will be to announce the winners.

The prize is a dreamreading that will take place during the meetup in a week from now (Ponyville, of course, so be sure to get in touch with @Luna and @MixaMax for accommodations and travel suggestions).

And now finally here’s the contest topic:

A human goes to Equestria and starts a business with an Equestrian partner.

Edit: please use main, secondary, or memorable background characters. Self inserts are allowed for the Equestrian partner.

Good luck!

LyraHands

Why couldn’t at least one of the judges be single? *sigh*

Also, the judging panel is outright scary composing of my writing mentor, the strictest mod, and my boss’ boyfriend.

No way will I miss a chance to make a fool of myself! :D

LittleFinger

Hmm. I might try this just because of Blueblood. Will be funny :)

DaBoss

Oh, oh! How many entries can an author have? I have so many ideas I want to try them all!

And is it okay for there to be more than one Equestrian partners? It’ll e so much fun for there to be A total species confusion as they try to do things :)

PlayedPiece

Just a reminder. I will NOT be giving in depth feedback to the stories. If anyone wants that PM me and if I find time to spare, I will, but no guarantees. In regards to the contest I’ll only be a judge and that means rating the story based on certain criteria:

Spelling & grammar
Originality
Flow
Characters

There is no specific order, so don’t think that a boring well executed work will win over the rest. Present the best you are capable of then spend a few days on polish and proofreading. And please, don’t like your entries to existing stories (especially such written by others).

Jade

Quite right, my darlings. Remember to presentable, especially for such a fine set of judges :)

If in doubt ask someone else to edit your works before you submit. Twist and myself are such options. RRBB and Feather might participate so please do not spam them with requests.

Naturally, it is improper to ask the judges for editing help ;)

Grace

@LyraHands: what if I want to have the human be of the corporation and not the pathetic grand9? I can do that, right?

SteveThumb

@SteveThumb: yes, evil inc fics are acceptable as long as they aren’t dark :)

@PlayedPiece: one entry per Nightling, please :) And yes, one Equestrian partner is the minimum. More are fine, as long as you don’t go “Felina corp opens branch office in Canterlot” :)

LightSparkle

I got it! The perfect fic idea!

Megan and Cassandra come to Equestria and recruit Twilight to open a anti-centaur invasion bureau! However, since Twi has a soft spot for centaurs she does a terrible job and always lets a few centaurs “sneak” by :)

I can feel it! It’ll be the best fic ever!

EverSpike

@EverSpike: Orpheus comes to Equestria and teams up with Spike to make an angsty goth sarcasm club, but can’t find any members!

DarkSparkle

*snrk*

@EverSpike: that burn :P

Feather

@Feather: Yeah, she got me good. I guess I’ll go mope in my new room now, while DarkSparkle does *yay*-y things with her boyfriend. :P

Edit: she turned red and teleported me to some desert. Anypony could give me a lift?

EverSpike

Hmph! Karl moves to Equestria and recruits a bunny army with Angel, so they could defeat the titans and re-conquer Earth.

Actually, that doesn’t sound too bad.

Grumpy

@Grumpy: hey! Haven’t heard you in ages! How have you been? You had me worried. PM me!

@EverSpike: hold tight, I’ll get you. (That’ll give the lovebirds some time alone anyway :P)

TrueSparkle

Heh, I know! Omni comes to Equestria and with PPI’s help creates a clone army to conquer all known reality! I reckon that’ll be a mighty good comedy, if I say so myself.

SaltyHuman

@all: As fun as this is, maybe keep your ideas for the actual contest? :)

LyraHands

I’ll gladly analyze the winner :) Maybe I’ll combine the effort with PaintDrop link we did last time? I’ll analyze and she’ll describe what’s going on.

@LyraHands: maybe have the top three be shown? There’s not much that ponies can write in 3 days, even if it’s a prolific master a Simile (love your new fic! :)) or PlayedPiece.

It will be much more fun to have reads of the top 3 in reversed order.

PrinceEric

@RRBB:are you up for that? You and, Hop, and Simile will be doing the dreamreading, so it’s up to you to decide.

LyraHands

I’m okay if Simile is.

Also, I’d like to point out that I won’t be participating in the contest, precisely because it’ll be awkward for me organizing the reading. That aid, I won’t have time for editing either.

RRBB

Of course I can do three readings! Who do you take me for?!

@PrinceEric: thank you :)

Simile

More Princess Jennifer!

FlurryHeart

Un oh... it begins..

MightyDragon

Author's Note

11 chapters remaining...

Lyra in Ponyville

@all: I know I’ll regret this (just kidding :P)… I’m back in Ponyville!

Yes, you heard right! I’m here again after a long verbal battle with doctors and parents. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been here for so long, but I can say… mare, does this place look different. It honestly feels like I’ve been away for years and finally got home now after a journey across half Equestria.

Bob (along with friends, I know who you are :P ) has fixed up our home so as to withstand the magic bursts of Dream and Megan. (Oh, and they already love PPI, so that’s a somewhat positive sign :) ) Now, before you start flooding me with requests to babysit: there are already a few ponies whom I have spoken to (and have agreed), and if you’re not asked by now you won’t be.

That said, if anyone wants to see me (the consolation prize, I know :P ) I’ll be free in a few hours. No foals, though! And yes, their manes still glow (so stop asking :P )

Now that’s said, we can return to our standard topics of… MCE2 rumors :D

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Pfft! Rumors. You pretty much know everything there is! :P

As one of the ponies in Canterlot I’m sorry to see you go, but I’ll see you in less than a week at the meetup, so that’s fine :)

And in the spirit of things, I’d like to announce that I would be announcing something soon. Think of that as you wish.

Luna

Dibs!

@LyraHands: you have no idea what you’ve done! Everypony and her pet will be out there to see you and your foals :P

And it wouldn’t be me without my usual rant (stars, I’m becoming more like Max every day).

Please do NOT submit contest stories before editing them. I know exactly what I’m talking about because I PMed a few ponies asking. It’s cool that you want to have something submitted and then get a chance to edit it, but think of the curators and judges! Contest fics are given a special priority and are sent directly to LyraHands and the judges. Thankfully none of them spent any time evaluating, but it could have been a case of a judge giving a low mark, then moving to other stories while the author edits her work.

Anyway rant over. Foals, babies, etc...

RRBB

Thanks, @RRBB. I was going to mention that, chiefly because I received a terrible story from a well written author, and also asked her what was going on since she had days to spare.

Let me just say, this is through no fault of tech author’s. Myself and the other judges should have been clearer when posting the rules. And just to be certain, none of the entries will be read until the end of the submission period.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

@LyraHands: I want to see!

FlurryHeart

And that is why we don’t just give into foal’s demands to have a site account just because she asked... @SaltyHuman.

@FlurryHeart: young lady, if I learn that you have been teleporting to LyraHands to see her foals, I’ll put an end to all Jennifer stories! And don’t even think of asking Simile to write more of them just for you!

Is that clear?

InItForTheShipping

Yes, mommy...

FlurryHeart

Don’t worry, @FlurryHeart. I’ll write Jennifer fics whenever you want :) But your mother is correct. Lyra’s foals are still too young to have lots of visitors. Keep in mind they aren’t as strong as you. They need to trot and rest a lot on their own at that age.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: but auntie, you don’t write as well as Simile! :(

FlurryHeart

@DarkSparkle: ouch :) at least she didn’t accuse you of only writing about centaurs :P

TrueSparkle

@FlurryHeart: I know... :) I can still write stories about Princess Jennifer, right? I promise they’ll be nice and full of adventure in exotic lands.

@LyraHands: umm, is it okay if I come and see you? I mean you’ve been through a lot and I don’t want to burden or pressure you or anything.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: don’t worry, I’m okay with you bringing your boyfriend. :) I’m not saying I will be hug right away, but the major reason for my shattered state was the changing biochemistry during pregnancy (as you should know :P) I’m perfectly fine now.

@FlurryHeart: don’t listen do them! You can visit anytime you want, as long as your mother and father know and are alright with it :)

LyraHands

Heh. By next the convention there will be quite a lot of mini Nightlings, I think :) That certainly will be fun :)

RRBB

Well, I’m not sure I’m ready for foals, but there might be certain changes for me next year. Needless to say I’ve been charting Gothling Poet for a while now and... well, we’ve decided to see how things go. :)

@LyraHands: Let me know if there’s anything you need, okay? I know Bob probably has everything covered, but just in case.

PaintDrop

@Brush: you sneaky sneak! You planned that, didn’t you? I don’t know what to say... honestly! All the effort you had to put in... and I strongly suspect Max was also involved in some devious way.

Thank you both! You’ve made me cry with joy... *cries*

LyraHands

@PaintDrop: thank you :)

LyraHands

Party at sugarcube corner! :)

Edit: Can I come along as well?

PPI

@PPI: you know that’ll get mom furious, right? :P

Maybe a bit later? I’m sure that LyraHands will be okay.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle, @PPI: what are you talking about? O.o

LyraHands

@LyraHands: I brought you a little something. I’m not sure it’ll work, because it shouldn’t, but with your foals being so magic, maybe it will? I’m completely doing this on impulse. I haven’t spoken to anypony whether it’s possible, so I just hope I didn’t do anything wrong O:)

Check your mail :) A lot of Nightlings pitches in, I just went ahead and did what I think what would be best.

DaBoss

You maniac! You bought a cloud bed for the foals?! Those things must cost a fortune!

Edit: and they work! Well not exactly like they would for a pegasus, but Dream and Megan only sink slightly in them, making it perfect! I... Girls, why do you do this to me? Just when I think I’m used to your insanity you do this and get me all mushy.

I really need a moment to process this.

LyraHands

Due to LyraHands crying happily in the foal’s room, I’ll have to end the thread here. See you in Sugarcube Corner, all that decide. :)

Bob

Author's Note

10 chapters remaining...

Future Lineup

Yep, it’s that time! (The time when I surprise you all by glorious MC announcements before PrinceEric, CEOWitch, or DaBoss spill the beans :P)

Let’s begin with something bittersweet. As of this moment two more promising writers have agreed to join the MC team, thus replacing the last of the old guard. Now, don’t panic ~~MixaMax~~. Several of the old writers will continue to work as mentors for a few more years, so there will be no sudden changes. MC writers earn their position and remain part of the family for life and could at any point give advice or criticism to the new generation :)

And that’s not all. Prince Blueblood, in a fit of generosity, has allowed me to share the publication schedule of next year so you can speculate. (And believe me there will be a few surprises).

Midnight Castle Everhere, Volume 2
Blazen’s Journey, Volume 1
Chosen of Poseidon, Volume 2
Princess Jennifer, Volume 1
Midnight Castle Everhere, Illustrated Tome
Midnight Castle Everhere, Audioscrolls
Mistmount Chronicles, Volume 1, Audioscrolls
Project Butterfly 2 (a new story by authors in the community)
Midnight Castle Everhere, Chapter 1-2, Dreamscrolls

Order does not reflect publication date :)

Have fun speculating ;)

Luna

I’ve moved this thread to the rumor section. A locked copy of the announcement remains in general. Please do not open new speculation threads.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

Where do I start... @Luna, you know I like you, but seriously? Audioscrolls of Mistmount? :/ There already are a dozen versions of that collection (I know, I have them all!) The Dreamscroll is interesting, especially if the quality is as good as the live dreamreadings, which I doubt. No offense to Simile, but I don’t believe we have the technology to achieve real good quality dreams.

As for the new stuff, it’s pretty much what we expected. Of course there would be MCE2 and Chosen of Poseidon 2. Blazen and Jennifer also aren’t terribly new (the only thing we weren’t sure was whether they would come out next year or the year after).

Project Butterfly is a surprise, though. And I’ll definitely have to talk to Jade about that :/

MixaMax

@MixaMax: I wondered how long it would take you to start ranting and I wasn’t disappointed. I, actually surprised that your rant wasn’t longer, but I guess being pregnant has drained you from your usual strength :P

Concerning dreamtech, yes, it’s still experimental technology, but the prototypes seem promising enough for us to test a small (1000 scrolls) sample in the market. Based on that I’m confident we’ll see further chapters made into dreamscrolls.

One important thing to keep in mind: 7-day money back policy. When you get your dreamscroll, test it the first few nights you have it! The whole point is for it to provide s nice and lasting experience, so if you feel it doesn’t there’s no shame in asking for a refund.

(A quick piece of advice on busyness I got from my father: cheating only works once. If I trick you to buy a defective dreamscroll, I can be sure that nopony would buy or invest in anything dealing with such technology.)

RRBB

Yes! Blazen has his own spinoff! I know very little about it, but I know it would deal with taming and controlling spirit creatures. That would be so cool! I hope Eury goes with him. She’s such a cool character (I know MixaMax doesn’t agree :P)

I hope Eric also gets his spinoff O:) Not sure he’ll be a good match for Echo, but I like her character as well. And Princess Jennifer... I don’t know, I find that sweet.

So many things to look forward to next year :)

PrinceEric

Nice lineup! I expect the curators are bracing themselves for what’s to come. :P

Unrelated, guess who will be cosplaying as Jennifer. Yep, that’s right :) Thanks to PaintDrop and Rarity, my costume is being prepared as we speak :P

@MasterOfThisAstra: what about you? Will you be dressing up as anything special for next week? :)

Brush

@Brush: yep, I’ll be going as the Everprince :) All 3 instances of him.

I also made my marefriend a fan of the series, so she’ll be going as Kalypso. What’s CEO going as?

MasterOfThisAstra

@MasterOfThisAstra: he’ll be working so he’ll swoop in in uniform. Will be fun to see you dressed up again. Hope there are others.

Brush

@Brush: you’re the best! :)))

FlurryHeart

I thought I was the best...

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: umm, you have the best friends, auntie! :)

FlurryHeart

@FlurryHeartm don’t be mean to your aunt!

@SaltyHuman, MightyDragon: now do you see why it was a bad idea to let her have an account? :/

InItForTheShipping

But mooom! I wasn’t being mean! I like auntie! Brush is just cooler!

FlurryHeart

@FlurryHeart: don’t worry. Mommy and I are just joking :) And Brush is cool. That’s why she’s one of my best friends :) We’re all looking forward to seeing her in her costume in a week :D

DarkSparkle

@Luna: I think the lineup is great! So many new stories to read! :) I’m still not sure about Audioscrolls. There’s something about reading that makes the experience special.

Live readings, on the other hoof, I can’t get enough fo those! :)

DarkSparkle

@Luna: who are the new writers? Or the old ones? O:)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: nice try :P *hugs*

You have no idea how tempting it is to give some hints and watch you try and find out, yet Blueblood was very specific... before he went and blubbered everything out to DaBoss. That stallion will get himself in trouble one of these days...

Edit: In response he came to my office and is currently mocking me. Life is so unfair :P

Luna

I kissed a prince and liked it.

Simile

What?

DarkSparkle

What?

Luna

What?!?

number1

I kissed a princess. Sorry, my autocomplete is acting up.

Simile

@Simile: which one?

Brush

I’m going to be sick :G

LightSparkle

The thread has been locked.

The TechNightling

Author's Note

9 chapters remaining...

Twilight’s Love PMs

I used to laugh at these things. I mean I’ve seen them in studies, in literature, I even have a few friends who’ve been through the same. I never understood how something so illogical could be possible. I do now.

It’s funny. I had the perfect speech prepared. It then became a letter. Then a PM. Now I can’t even look at it.

The truth is I think I love you. Yes, go ahead and laugh. The greatest cliche there is: love through conflict. The logical part of my brain says this is merely affect of us sharing a heard (my heart), but I still would like to hope that there’s more to it than that. And also, I deeply hope you share the feelings as well.

You’ve had your own heart for a while now, so theoretically (and in practice) your feelings should be your own. So... do you?

DarkSparkle

I knew you’d write this. I just didn’t know when.

I think I have my own feelings now, but I still remember yours. When you gave me your heart I changed. Not only because I was able to feel and like what you like, I also picked up on your habits. Every time you’d go to the library or the kitchen, I’d know you were writing a letter. I thought you’d ask Spike to send it at a time when you were in Canterlot or the Empire.

And it’s so difficult to answer... I’ve done terrible things. I almost buried Equestria in ice for something I still can’t remember, something that nopony can. I harmed your friends, froze your cities, I even...

As much as I love you I’m not sure I’ll be good for you...

IcePrince

A lot of ponies (and other beings) have done terrible things. That doesn’t mean they are beyond redemption. You didn’t destroy Equestria, you didn’t kill anypony. If anything you stopped yourself and cams to Princess Celestia knowing what the consequences might be (and also knowing parts of what happened to your tribe). I have forgiven you the moment I figured out what I needed to do to make you whole. I’m sure the others will as well.

Besides it is t the first time. A lot of my closest friends nearly destroyed Equestria or parts of it. LightSparkle wanted to make a zombie army to invade, TrueSparkle wanted to brainwash everypony and when that failed created a destructing time loop that made things worse, even EverSpike almost destroyed Ponyville once.

DarkSparkle

But... I’m a windigo. I’m in your stories as the thing that comes to drive friendship away... how can anyone accept me? How can you?

IcePrince

It helps a lot that you’re smart and beautiful. ;)

You’re nothing like the alicorns that exist today. They are nothing but ghosts of the past (in the literal sense of the world). And we’ll see if there isn’t a way to restore them back. Starswirl is adamant that their isn’t, TrueSparkle and I are working on a theory. Maybe in a few years the windigo tribe will be back as they were during the days before the Crystal Empire?

You are every mare’s dream, silly. And I’m not just talking about your looks. You’re one of the the kindest creatures I’ve known. And I don’t say that lightly (the Element of Kindness is one of my closest friends).

And don’t forget I’ve been with you long enough to know how warm you are in every sense of the word.

DarkSparkle

Spontaneity suits you... there’s so much I must learn. I’ve been asleep for so long. Until Flurry shattered my heart I’m not sure I was even alive.

IcePrince

I’ll teach you. And I won’t be alone.

Please just say yes.

DarkSparkle

Of all of Equestria how lucky was I to have you mend my heart?

IcePrince

There’s a very snarky think I could say, but I’ll just take it as a yes.

I hope?

DarkSparkle

Not a yes, but a maybe. I’ve still no idea what the future might hold, or what the past was. What if I find out something that changes the way I think? What if we find something that changes your view of me?

IcePrince

Then let’s just live in the present and face those challenges together a day at the time.

We can start slow (even if I so much prefer we went supersonic fast) until you’re comfortable enough to take the next step.

You know you’re so different when we’re not fighting to the death? (Okay, that sounded much better in my fic than said out loud.)

DarkSparkle

And you’re far more impulsive that you let others believe.

IcePrince

Family train, I guess. My mom married my dad a month after they met. My brother got de facto engaged to InItForTheShipping a few weeks after she started babysitting me. If it wasn’t for his military career he’d have married her there and then. (And even then the jerk married her pretty much on a whim, telling me almost after the fact!)

I’d say I’d rely on you to cool my passion, but it would be a lie.

DarkSparkle

Slow?

IcePrince

Slow. Until you feel you want to go faster. After all, we’re both alicorns, we could wait... I guess... a bit... though not too long I hope...

DarkSparkle

How do we break the news to the others?

IcePrince

...you’re kidding, right?

Haven’t you been reading the threads? Did you miss the constant lame jokes and hints EverSpike and TrueSparkle have been making? As for Princess Celestia... she’s my mentor and I highly respect her, but argh! I, starting to get a sense of what it was like when I’d send her a scroll several times per day.

DarkSparkle

I thought that was the normal behavior in the thread. The main topic of discussion is who’s with who, love triangles, pairings, and subtle sex remarks.

IcePrince

That’s... not incorrect, but trust me, no one will be surprised if they see us “holding hooves”.

DarkSparkle

Will your ex be okay?

IcePrince

My ex? O.O

DarkSparkle

Spike told me you have a centaur ex who also nearly destroyed Equestria. He said you had a thing for that sort of thing.

IcePrince

Is that so? Why don’t you have breakfast and not worry about that. I’ll have a chat with Spike...

DarkSparkle

Author's Note

8 days remaining...

A Grumpy PM

Hey, you’ve been disappearing a lot lately. Things okay?

TrueSparkle

What’s not to be okay? Equestria is saved, I have to help with the cleanup, I helped organize Lyra’s present, I’ll likely spend a lot of time looking after the foals. Everything is just great...

Grumpy

*yay* that! Things aren’t good. It’s like everyone is having their wish come true, or something close, and I get left behind. I blame discord. He started all this as a joke and now he’s just run off somewhere. Next time I see him I’ll...

Anyway, how have you been? Brush tells me DarkSparkle has been doing one mess after another. And her latest boyfriend. Ouch. Sometimes I really don’t know what mares see in glowy stallions. Is that a thing? Whenever a mare goes to the Crystal Empire they start drooling like a wrap up waterfall.

You’re a mare, do you go insane when you go there?

Grumpy

Well thanks for noticing :P But no, that’s not something that attracts me. To be honest I’m not sure what my type is. For a while I thought it was MightyDragon, but now I don’t think it is.

TrueSparkle

That’s what I love about you. You’re always direct and not wishy washy. Don’t get me wrong, Brush is great and all, but Stars was she timid. As much as I hate MasterOfThisAstra, that whole experience helped her grow a backbone, and CEOWitch’s not too bad.

Grumpy

On that note, fancy going to a picnic with me? Now that things have calmed down and Equestria is safe it might be a good time. :)

TrueSparkle

True... there’s something I must tell you. All this time I’ve kept saying I haven’t been at conventions or some such *yay*. Actually, I’ve been to every single one. The only one I missed was the first one in Canterlot. After that I’ve been really consistent. Meetups, readings, you name it, I’ve been there. The only reason no one didn’t see me is because I’m not a pony.

Here, this is a picture of me. (It’s an old one, but you get the idea.)

[bunny.ani]

Grumpy

Ah, I understand. Well, I’m not surprised. It’s not like it could have happened any other way. When we started this Discord had the bright idea for us to poke fun at Brush, so he gave me the power to write on the aethernet. I admit it was my fault to get hooked. Not the MC *yay*. I haven’t read a single story and I doubt I will, but the discussions, those were really funny.

I should have quit while I was ahead.

Grumpy

Sorry, I had to go save Spike again. That idiot is constantly trolling DarkSparkle and she keeps sending him across Equestria. :/ And then he sends me a scroll to go get him or a PM if he has his tech with him.

Ah, I’m so relieved! :)

TrueSparkle

Huh?

Grumpy

I’ve known who you were months ago. ;) I just didn’t want to “ruin the secret” :)

TrueSparkle

It was Discord, right? I should have known that snake couldn’t keep his big fat mouth shut! I’ve no idea how he hasn’t told Brush yet... or maybe she knows and is just pretending for my sake? That sounds like something she’d do :/

Grumpy

Relax! The only ones who know are me, Spike, and maybe Simile. She was a bit drunk when Discord shared, so I have no idea what she remembers.

So about that picnic?

TrueSparkle

You realize I have a girlfriend, right? I mean I like you a lot, but I don’t think it will work out.

Grumpy

You’re hilarious. I just find you adorable :D And I miss having a picnic. The last time was before I met Simile. I’m telling you at times some fresh air, and not talking about MC, could be a life saver!

There’s fandom and then there’s obsession, and DarkSparkle can’t make the difference. The forum is full of speculation and rumors about the next volume. I can at least try to limit it in my everyday life. Plus it’s a bit awkward seeing your mentor smooching the stallion that tried to freeze you to death a few months ago.

TrueSparkle

Pfft!

Grumpy

Okay, I’m just a bit envious. Seems like all the perfect stallions go to my friends. Then again that’s what LightSparkle keeps repeating.

TrueSparkle

I’m dating a jackalope. It’s a cool experience.

Back to the picnic, you okay for tomorrow? I need to take care of the house today. Brush is off to visit CEOWitch and Discord is useless as usual. Maybe I could get YouKnowWho to do it for me.

Grumpy

Hey, leave the kid alone. She’s got a lot on her mind. She aspires to join the Wonderbolts in a few years, which might be challenging due to her condition. And she stubbornly refuses to use magic help because it would be cheating. I mean, honesty is often the best policy, but that is ridiculous.

Listen to us, grumbling like too old mares. :)

Tomorrow it is, then. You bringing anyone else?

TrueSparkle

Are you kidding? Harry will make a mess, and the gf won’t understand a thing. Oh, and i definitely don’t want Brush to suspect. If she finds out she’ll either forbid me from posting on ten site, or pressure me to start writing :/ I really don’t like writing stories. Give me the real thing any day of the week.

Grumpy

True, though some of the stories are actually good. Not as many as ponies would like to think. Feather is having a field day with that. I’ve no idea how Tech hasn’t banned her yet.

What time is good for you?

TrueSparkle

Two in the afternoon? Mornings are a bit fragmented for me.

Grumpy

Sounds good to me. Take care and see you around.

Oh, and be less grumpy, okay? :)

TrueSparkle

Heh. I’ll add that to the list of requests. See you around, True.

Grumpy

Author's Note

7 chapters remaining...

Awesome’s Acceptance PM

I’ve been rewriting this for the last ten days and each time to becomes lamer :( Might as well just send this and be done with it. It’s not the words that count... or something like that...

Mare I can’t believe how lame I am. Is not even the first time I write you this, but it will be the last. No, I won’t run away like last time or get into a drama flame war or something stupid... there’s just something I need to get off my chest.

I love you, Jade. I’ve loved you ever since I first saw you. You’re a real *yay* on the site, but you’re so incredibly nice and gentle... and *yay* are you hot.

I tried to forget you, I tried to think of other things, see other ponies, but you’re always there in my mind like Celestia’s sun. I can’t unlove you, I don’t think I ever will, and I know it will never work out. I’ve seen how in love you are with Max, and that was even before you became a father to be. Now... if I had a snowball’s chance in Tartarus, even it has gone.

Life is what it is and you’ll never share my love.

That’s everything I wanted to say. Corny, I know. But you always said I couldn’t write worth *yay*. :)

Take care, Jade,

AwesomePony

Don’t do anything stupid! Where are you?

Jade

I’m in a corner in a room somewhere crying my eyes out, but I’m fine, really, don’t worry about it. I promised I won’t do anything stupid and you know I’ll keep my promise to you.

It hurts like *yay* but I can handle it. I must. My whole life I’ve gotten everything I’ve wanted and more. I'd have given it all away if I could just have had you.

AwesomePony

I’m sorry...

Jade

Yeah, I know. It’ll get better with time, I hope. If not I can always ask TrueSparkle to zap my mind and stuff. To tell you the truth I don’t want to. As much as it hurts, I’ll keep loving. I’ll become captain of the Wonderbolts, I’ll save Equestria on a monthly basis, I’ll get a dozen cats to live with me and tank, and I’ll have you, always there in my mind beautiful as the day we met.

And I’ll still have Daring Do Danny Adventures. Some pony from Manehattan asked if I want to have it published. Says I could make a lot of bits out of that. It’s not that I need bits. I have more than I could do with.

I told him to talk to you in a few months. I don’t understand anything of that stuff, plus you and Twist have written as much about this as I have.

AwesomePony

He already got in touch, back when I was in the army. Said it would be nice to have a stallion in uniform on the cover. I told him to get lost. If you want I’ll call him back.

Jade

Why do we keep having this same conversation, Jade? Maybe I’m going crazy, but I feel that each time it’s the same. I go cry on your shoulder and you make me feel better. And then things get back to normal until the next time... and the next. I can’t keep living like this.

*yay*! I’m such a mess right now. Millions of ponies and I had to fall in love with one who’s married.

AwesomePony

Did you talk to InItForTheShipping? Maybe she’ll be able to help. She has helped a lot of ponies. She helped me and Max when we were first dating.

Talk to her.

Jade

I’m afraid.

What if she tells me what I already know? That I won’t fine anypony else and am doomed to be forever alone watching my friends get married, have foals, and live a full life. Up to an year ago I thought dating and marriage was for fools. I wanted to go faster, further, to see things that nopony else has seen and kick *yay* in the process.

What the *yay* happened? Fluttershy is engaged, Applejack will be in a few weeks at most, Pinkie has Cheese, Rarity is “discreetly dating somepony”, even Twilight is snuggling a villain that almost destroyed Equestria. Why must I be the one who’s always left out?

AwesomePony

I still believe you’ll find somepony that would make you happy.

Jade

But that somepony won’t be you. Trust me I’ve tried. There were several stallions who I invited out. One even had a thing for me, but after a few tries we decided to drop it.

I only have space for you in my heart. Maybe I’m just broken, or just useless trash that nopony would want. I just

Edit: I’ve taken a week off. I’ll spend it crying. Maybe if I cry it out it won’t hurt that much.

AwesomePony

You need to talk to someone. Please go to InItForTheShipping. I know she can help.

I’ll make you promise if I have to.

Jade

You always knew you could make me do anything. That’s so unfair.

I promise. But not right now. I still need to be alone for a while. Nopony will notice that I’m gone for a few days. There are far too many things to celebrate. I’ve done my rainbooms, so everyone will just assume I’m off resting or something.

I want you to promise me something as well, though. Promise me you’ll be happy, okay? Me knowing that eases the pain... it eases the pain a lot.

AwesomePony

I’ll do more than promise. I’ll promise to ale you smile. Anytime you want I’ll take you to Sugarcube Corner, alone or with anypony you want.

Jade

Heh, is that you subtly shipping me with somepony? I don’t honk it will happen. And right now I don’t know if I want to. I love you, but I think I must learn to accept the truth and live my life best I could.

Goodbye my first and only love. I’ll see you around.

AwesomePony

Author's Note

6 chapters remaining...

Reunion Contest Results

And here we are at the first contest easing event :) After a lot of negotiating I managed to convince LyraHands to let the judges say a few words about the facts that didn’t medal but deserve a honorable mention. (Also the top 3 fics will have readings, not only the winner.)

Other than that... wow, there’s such a crowd here! The whole of Ponyville has gathered plus scores of others from all over Equestria! We have dragons, griffins, changelings... the whole Wonderbolt team is here (with the exception of AwesomePony, who PMed me she’s sick :( Get well soon, @AwesomePony!)

And, of course, we have the rarest creature of all: DarkSparkle’s coltfriend! :P

And now, I’ll leave the judges talk about their favorites!

PaintDrop

@all: What PaintDrop said. Also, the judges will only comment on the stories they thought had enough potential to medal, not all the stories that made an impression. Please don’t PM them asking why your story wasn’t there. They got over a hundred stories to judge!

Medaling stories will be analyzed by @PrinceEric.

Now have fun! :P

LyraHands

Hello,

I must say that there have been quite a few stories that have caught my attention. In part this is due to the judges, I’m am sure, but also it seems that the tight deadline caused a lot of the new authors to skip the contest out of fear they “had no chance to begin with”. Being here from the beginning of the site and seeing the development of Candle, I can say that the only way to ensure that you don’t have a chance is not to participate. Persistence and determination are key to learning and contests, regardless of your skill level, are an essential driving force.

That said, here’s a story I’d like to mention:

Dream Mapmaker by JustAHuman
This is a clever story, that is also a tribute to Simile (as one could tell by the title and contents) in which an art student ends up in Equestria and end up going to one of Simile’s performances. Intrigued he offers her to open a business in which he maps the dreams of ponies, based on the journeys Simile and Princess Luna have in the pony’s dream.

It’s a magnificent story and very well written, sadly has no main MC characters present (which was the requirement). While it is true that Golden Scales Art Academy is present in several chapters, no characters from there are have more than a few lines of description. Had this been different, the story might as well have been among the winners.

I strongly recommend you all read the story, and hope the author continues working on it.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

I could tell that a lot of the stories were specifically aimed at impressing the judges. Out of 116 stories 98 had a male as a main character. Just for reference, stories that involve a misunderstood mare ending up on Earth (in pony or human form) compose about 85% of the total stories on the site. That said, I do have a number of personal favorites.

Magitech Inventor by DaBoss is a humorous and clever story... which utterly fails at the execution. If it didn’t it would be among ten top 3 for certain. This is the only story written by DaBoss so far, and I for one wish she would keep writing.

The premise is simple: Eric does to Equestria to get away from it all, and is recruited (almost forcefully) by “Doctor Whooves” to help with scientific experiments. During the course of their interaction Eric makes suggestions that help the stallion get his weird devices to function, so they start a business.

Short, sweet, and written like a chariot that ploughed through a field after losing two wheels.

Professional Earscratcher by SweetStuff & Quarters

This is the only collaboration in the contest, and it's only the lack of time that kept it from earring spot in the top 3. The stories has a wonderful cute idea, flows rather well, then abruptly stops in the middle of nowhere. I really hope the authors don’t let it die after the contest.

The story starts with Brush (ha, ha) fretting that the pets under her care aren’t getting enough attention, thus writing a job ad asking for assistants. To her surprise Molly responds to tech add and drags in Bellucio. From there on the trio create an Earscratching Service in which the humans’ job initially is to scratch the ears of animals, quickly moving to ponies. And then the story ends :/

I could probably go on a rant how annoyed I was about that, but since the other judges have heard it already, I’ll stop.

Jade

Okay, here are my honorable pics.

Salt Courier by InflatableHands

A funny story of Bellucio needing additional income (again) so he opens a salt transport service with Berry Punch (since he can be relied on not consuming the salt on the way). A nice simple and sweet slice of life with a few funny scenes.

The High Hooves Society by Grace

(This story actually medaled, but the author requested it be removed from the placing.)

Cassandra spends a day in Canterlot the day of a Rarity fashion event and decides to do what she always wanted—become a fashion designer. After having a discussion with Rarity about it they open a business that exclusively focuses on human-pony fashion, namely high-heeled horseshoes.

Five-Fingered Crane by Brush

Omni goes to a Pinkie Pie party and has the glorious idea to take the job as a carnival crane: Omni stands in a middle of a pile of toys blindfolded and ponies have a minute to give him instructions to grab a toy and throw it at them.

Apart from the idea the story is nothing special, but sweet enough to be noticed.

Now for the top three.

number1

Hey, girls!

We just had the reading of the first fic (which is the one ranked third). Before I get along with my analysis I just want to say that Simile and HopHop are great :) They really brought the fic to life :)

The short story we saw is:

Thumbs Up Inc by Gravitas

To be honest I know nothing about Gravitas, but it turns out she has over 50 stories (all short comedies). This one in particular is about the CEO’s son getting fired and moving to Manehattan in search of work. Since he has no special skills (his magic and tech knowhow are really puny) he teams up with a member of the local city council and starts a support organization. I.e. ponies hire him for a set amount of time and whenever they say something they deep positive the human makes a thumbs up sign.

Initially he starts with school ponies, but soon word gets around and business owners and more influential figures hire him. At one point copycats appear (that create fake hands and try to dump the price of a thumbs up), but ultimately he manages to become successful to such an extent that he successfully trademarks the gesture.

At the end of the story, his father summons him back to Earth and asks his assistance for open of his board meetings, since the gesture has become so popular that other humans have no right to use it without Equestrian approval.

Definitely a weird and interesting concept and Simile made it magnificent in her dreamreading :)

PrinceEric

A small announcement on my part.

There is no glitch on the site. I have locked the thread to all but mods and a few other ponies in order not to cause mass levels of spam (which usually happens). You are welcome to open comment threads, but please don’t go overboard.

Thank you,

The TechNightling

I’ve missed this so much! One positive thing of DarkSparkle’s new boyfriend is that my family isn’t even concerned with my situation (well, that’s a lie, but I’m making progress :))

The only thing that’s different is that the wild crowd isn’t as wild as before. With half the class married or in serious relationships there’s no more fooling around. Well, other than PPI who seems determined to try malign every new type of pastry there is. Lots of “human cuisine” so to speak.

Most fun is that we have a lot of changelings, who keep on taking human form at whim (it’s really cool in a MC king of way :)) ManyFaces is Also here, of course, and from what she told me already booked for several months forward.

Oh and Flurry Heart is just adorable! She went straight to the cosplayer group to be with Brush (who is like the cutest Princess Jennifer there is.) InItForTheShipping doesn’t seem to approve much, but everypony can tell she appreciates the calm.

Also my brother is being a complete flirt with his Everprince costumes he intends to change between every reading. :P

That said, onto the number two!

PaintDrop

The second story is probably the darkest out there, but in a truly adventurous way. It’s very well written, which is no surprise since it’s written by one of my favorite authors:

Timberwolf Hunter by EndlessHearts

The story starts with Blazen going to Canterlot in the middle of the night. He uses his powers to sneak into Luna’s Tower, where it turns out she is expecting him. We then learn that since Luna’s banishment a lot of monsters still roam Equestria, and only someone familiar with dark powers could stop them. He is therefore hired by the princess to create a new secret agency responsible to find and capture beast that even Celestia doesn’t know about.

Blazen has full authority to recruit anyone he wishes, and recruits a bat pony (Moonlight Shadow) with whom he responds to signals of beasts and goes to hunt them. Sadly, due to the short length we only see the pair find and dispatch a Timberwolf Sire (thus the name of the fic).

I really, really, really wish there’s more to this story! (The dreamreading was spooky, and I think Simile enjoyed it too much.) still, it was good fun... now that it’s over :)

PrinceEric

Just a quick word from me. This may or may not become a thing, but don’t expect it to happen every month. Dreamreading is demanding and RRBB has agreed to do this one for free, but we can’t demand that she does that every time.

Also be sure to thank her and her team for the dreamreadings! :)

LyraHands

Whoa! Princess Celestia just arrived to see the winning story. That created a lot of commotion, especially with a quarter of the Nightlings being from the military. (Oh and there was some drama between her and LightSparkle.)

On a really cool note, the Princess came with AwesomePony who looks much better, by the way (apart from the baggy eyes). I managed to have a chat with her and she really seemed exhausted.

ManyFaces changed into Princess Jennifer to the joy of Flurry Heart and a few other foals (I keep thinking that in 5-10 that will be the next generation of Nightlings... Scary :P)

And now onto the winner!

PaintDrop

The winner (by far from what I understood from Tech) is...

The Human Advice Agency by PlayedPiece

As most of PlayedPiece’s stories, this too is a weird comedy, starring Blazen (again), Euryala, and Loki who have decided to get away from it all and open a Marriage Consultancy in Equestria.

The concept is weird in itself, but it quickly gets even more bizarre, with them choosing PPI for their business partner. Then they proceed to give the worst relationship advice to anypony who goes to visit. However! However, the advice is so bad it actually works out for all their clients :)

(Just a small note. They don’t give bad advice deliberately. They both try to give good advice, but human advice is so different that it’s bad advice. A quick example: They tell a shy stallion to take the initiative and ask a mare he likes to dinner. The stallion does, resulting in a disastrous date, but as a result he attracts the attention of a dozen other mares because he’s so outgoing, and ultimately hooks up with a longtime friend who never raised the subject because she feared he’d take it the wrong way.)

So, we have a few cases, after which Bellucio drops by to see what they are doing. And of course he starts helping out as well. Molly soon follows, then Eric... Caprice joins the pony side, as do Berry Punch, TrueSparkle, Spike, and even InItForTheShipping.

(Yes, the story is 25 000 words :P)

And just when we think that everything has settled down, the Felina Corp open rival agency (marking the end of the story).

I’d tempted to ask for a sequel, but am also terrified of what might happen there :P

In any event well done, PlayedPiece! :) I can't wait for the next contest! It was so much fun! And dreamreading is the best prize!

PrinceEric

Something that PrinceEric forgot to mention was that one of the clients was Spitfire, who went to ask advice from Bellucio on how to fix her love life. Hmmm -.-

Joking aside, all judges agree that this was the best story by far. PlayedPiece, there’s so much insanity in your comedies I don’t know where to begin! Keep it up. :)

number1

Well, I suppose that marks the end of the reunion contest. I’d only like to add that seeing everyone here like this, makes me think of why I created the site in the first place. Back then I never imagined it would grow so much or that there’d be ponies making a living out of MC.

I remember when MixaMax, CodeFilly, and I celebrated our 100th member privately. Today, we get ten times more in a day. It’s truly been an incredibly journey and you’ve all helped get us there—from my dearest friends with whom I started this to the starry-eyed fan that joined a week ago.

Thank you all for making the incredible! Thank you for making MC alive! It’s thanks to of you that dreams have found a place in our small corner of the aethernet.

We made this all together, but it was mostly you ;)

LyraHands

Author's Note

5 chapters...

Lyra’s Final Announcement

@all: Hey, all!

Yesterday was some event, right? In a way it reminded me of the first meetup (when we were less that twenty Nightlings in total). I remember how nervous I was fretting if everything would be okay, how much time I spent with CEOWitch and Luna in PMs, the constant concerns if everypony will have a place to stay, if the foals (at the time still in school) would get parental permissions, what I’ll need to do to provide assurances to their parents, and all sorts of other things. :)

It was crazy, it was fun, and it’s something I’m no longer capable of doing.

Yes, you read right. From today I’m no longer “in charge” of the site :) Just to let you know, this isn’t a decision out of the blue. Ever since I got pregnant I knew that I might have to give up the reigns. It’s something I’ve discussed with Bob in private, but decided to delay for as much as possible because I wanted to be sure my departure doesn’t affect the site in a negative way.

Just to let you know, I have no plan on leaving the site or anything like that. I’ll be still here reading the stories I love, making silly comments, and on occasion organizing contest. But I won’t be a mod or in charge of anything. :) So don’t think of it as me leaving, but rather choosing to spend a bit more time with my lovely foals.

The @mods and @curators, will be taking care of things as they have until now (and been doing a magnificent job), so in that regard don’t expect any changes. Well, you might expect one change. With me stepping down, I have chosen somepony to take my place as owner (I guess?). MixaMax could probably do a better job explaining the legal stuff, but the bottom line is that there will be somepony new to keep the cite moving forward and maintain its values (The MC values :))

That pony is, @DaBoss, so please everyone, give her a big welcome and show her your support! (I have already spoken with the other mods and my close friends about this and we all agree she is a perfect choice.)

One thing I want to be clear. Please don’t start comparing her decisions with mine. If DaBoss decides something, that’s it. Comments such as “Lyra would never have done this” have no place here. I have based my decision on three months of thought, so I know exactly what I’m doing, so if you trust my decision you’ll trust her. ;)

I better stop becomes I’ll start crying again... and this time I have no pregnancy of personal issues to blame it on :P

Thank you, Nightlings!

@DaBoss: lead on, Boss! :)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: *hugs* I know you’re not going anywhere, but I’ll still miss you not being the site admin. In my mind EqF and you are one and the same. I still catch myself referring to this place as “Lyra’s site”.

I don’t care if CEOWitch is making fun of me as I’m crying all over him, but I see this as an end of an era. You made something remarkable Lyra and you’ve always been (and still are) a very close friend.

Brush

LyraHands,

You were the one who sparked the site into existence. This is not to belittle S&S and the Midnight Castle staff, who would have become popular through their outstanding merits, but you transformed the fandom from a small group to the most influential places on the aethernet (yes, I have checked).

But that is not all you’ve done. You’ve helped countless members find friends, love, work, become better beings in general. Just going through the threads you’ll see hundreds of success stories (I’ve checked) and thousands of thank you posts explaining how EqF changed their life.

For all that and more, I can only say... thank you my dear friend. No matter what happens we’ll be always here for you.

The TechNightling

@LyraHands: Mare, what can I say. You transformed me from a loser to a loser who’s married to a the best stallion in the world and is recognized by millions.

For once I’ll listen to Jade’s advice and not try to say things that have already been said. (Those who write have done it better than I ever could.) I just want to add that I love you and you’re the best fiend a pony can have!

Thanks for all the posts and see in you every day in real life ;)

Max & Jade

MixaMax

@LyraHands: when I first joined the site I was a mess. Reading back I cringe at the things I used to do, my messed up life (me biting YouKnowWho’s wings to get attention, by attempts at self harm, and other stuff...).

It’s very much thanks to you that I’m where I am today and I’ll always think of you a The pony who created the MC site.

Also, for once I’ll take Max’s advice and shut up. You know w everything I’m about to say anyway :P Just one thing, though, Short and I would like you to be the starmare of our foals (surprise? ;))

Take care, you! You’re the big sister I always wished I had.

@DaBoss: you have you rework cut out for you. Don’t mess up too much :)

RRBB

Well... *yay*! I didn’t see that coming. And I’ve been curtains fecs for a while now! Keep in touch, okay? ;)

Feather

@LyraHands: umm, I know DarkSparkle will hate herself for missing this, but at the moment she’s occupied and I don’t she’ll be able to respond in the next few hours.

When she finds out you can expect lots of crying, sobbing, and probably a dozen scrolls and PMs (you know what she’s like).

It’s a really cool site you made and I’ll keep using it, as will hundreds of ponies :)

My only regret is that now I won’t be able to troll you as much (and DaBoss is too good at trolling for me...) :P

TheTrueLuna

EverSpike

@LyraHands: I understand your decision, and support it. Having foals is more difficult that most imagine (so prepare for a lot of sleepless nights :)) Of course, I’m a call away should you need any help.

Flurry is already panicking, so don’t be surprised if she pops up there to ask why “you’re leaving”. I tried to explain that you’ll still be on the site, but not sure she understood. (I blame SaltyHuman. Who’s looking innocently at me right now :/)

Thank you for the magic you’ve created on the aethernet and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other more often. :)

InItForTheShipping, SaltyHuman & FlurryHeart

InItForTheShipping

@LyraHands: You’re one crazy mare, you know that ;)

Yeah! Completely crazy! Then again I expect we’ll be joining you in site retirement (?) in an year as well.

Or maybe one of us will continue to do some work on the site while I take care of our foal. :P Remember how I told you you were crazy to start a MC fan site? Well, you’re still crazy, but I’m the best way :) I can only wait to see what your next crazy scheme will be (I know there will be one :P)

Also, now that you have more time, maybe you’ll join is in our O&O games? It’s really fun and I have made a great supplement with MC humans O:)

Or maybe she won’t have time for that, and take care of her foals, instead? :/

That works too. Anyway, hugs and kisses! :)

CodeFilly & MightyDragon

CodeFilly

@LyraHands: it’s... I know why you didn’t tell me. You thought I’d be all sad and depressed and... well you are right. I know this isn’t the end of Equestria or the site, and that I’ll still see you around, but... for some reason I’m so sad :(

You helped me go through a lot. It’s enters thanks to you that I stopped thinking about my health problems and focused on more constructive things. It’s not just the site that did this, you did. I’ve been on many sites, most of which had nice ponies (even if I had to hide I’m a stallion), but this place...

I’ll keep going on here. We already know there will be lots of volumes that need “analyses” but I’ll always remember the time when you were here.

Thank you for everything. I so wish you’d told me yesterday so I could have hugged you.

Please post often, okay?

PrinceEric

With the risk of sounding cold hearted I’ll just say “good luck” :) I know I’ll continue seeing you around, and I know that I’ll draw lots of things for you, so... :) Change isn’t always bad. I this case it’s great, especially since I’ll get to see you and your foals more in real life :)

Also, since I’ve been expecting this for a while, here’s something special I’ve been working in secret:

[lyra_and_wqf.ani]

That’s you and all the regulars in human form (no OCs just how I see everyone). Hope you enjoy :)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: well... at least you got her to start sobbing uncontrollably. Good job! :P

Seriously, it’s means a lot of both of us. Thanks, Paint. :)

Bob

@PaintDrop: That was evil! Now you’ve made the whole site cry (me included!)

@LyraHands: I wish I was back in Ponyville. *hugs* You’re the best there is! Even my big fat sister will agree!

SweetStuff & ForceFeedback

I saw this coming, but... *sniff* Don’t forget us, okay?

I’m organizing a farewell LyraHands party this evening at Sugarcube Corner. *sniff* *sob*

Edit: *sniff* I wish I could be there as well. So sad!

PPI

@PPI: she’ll still be on the site... sheesh! :/

Seriously, listening to all of you it’s as if it’s the end of the site. If LyraHands hadn’t made the announcement no one would even notice! As one of the ones involved in the back end of the site, I have a pretty good idea what’s going on and know that the majority of members don’t!

LyraHands will remain on the site. She will be MORE active than before since she doesn’t have to spend most of her time trying to organize us and stuff.

I don’t know why I’m so upset at this, but I thought that everyone would be glad for her.

Now that I’m done ranting. @LuraHands, come visit me sometime. (bob knows the details :))

LightSparkle

It’s a sad sad day... yet the site must go on, and so must we... *dramatic music*

Despite LightSparkle’s rant, I’ll use this as an excuse to thank LyraHands for everything she’s done for me, and to tell her to expect a surprise when she goes to sleep (don’t worry, it’s sanctioned on the highest level ;))

From one showmare to another, you have captivated your audience well, and have the rare skill of knowing when it’s time to move on. After all, the snow and yeh site must go on ;)

Simile

@LyraHands: I have a counter announcement! And after a long argument with Luna, CEOWitch, and number1, I get to announce it! (We drew straws. :P)

It’s clear that in our minds you’ll remain the mare who started it all, and for that I have received permission to make you... an Honorary Aethernet Wonderbolt!

Usually this so reserved for pegasi, but because of all the things you and your site have done to help the Wonderbolts and the royal guard, we decided an exception could be made.

Congratulations, Lt LyraHands, and enjoy your retirement! (You’ve earned it :))

Wonderbolts Command and the Royal Palace

Fleetfoot

@LyraHands: wow, I never expected this. I know I’ll never be able to be as good as you, but I hope to keep your vision of the site and our love of MC going forward for generations to come!

Thank you for your trust, Lyra. :)

I’ll just like to correct you on one thing. Just as you had a chat with a few ponies, I had a secret chat with HopHop, MixaMax, and the rest of the mods. And we came to a decision:

You are to remain the owner of the Site, but be excused of all organization and site matters until such a day that you deep fit to return (whenever that may be :P). And since you’ve already made me the big cheese, you have no say in the matter :D

And just to be sure, I’m locking the thread so you can’t post a response :P

Happy aethernet birthday, @LyraHands. It’s been one year since you created the site, a site that is as much your child as the foals you had. :) Enjoy some rest, and don’t worry, this isn’t my first time babysitting ;) We’ll take care of your child for you.

DaBoss

Author's Note

4 chapters...

Lyra PMs: The MC Seven

Hey, LyraHands :)

You created so much feels yesterday :P I never took you for the dramatic pony :P I still think you shouldn’t have been so public about it, but I’ll respect your choice. Also, I’ve gotten permission to let you in on a little secret. I know you well enough so am confident you can keep it to yourself ;)

I’ve spoken to all the new authors of the MC team and they have given the okay to send you a personal PM revealing their identity. Better be thankful :P Even they don’t know all of their identities, and that’s why I’ll be forwarding their messages. :)

Have fun being a mom ;)

Hello, hello :)

Quote the curtain call. I’ll have to think of something to trump it. :P Of course, I suspect you already knew about me. You make a few comments that my style seemed close to that one of the MC writers, and you were right.

I must thank you, though. If it hadn’t been for your site I wouldn’t have improved as much as I have :) And we both know I like getting praise from the masses, which I now do on a regular basis. ;)

I think InItForTheShipping is a bit mad at me, to be honest. She helped me get to make my character appear much more natural, so much so that now her daughter is one of my greatest fanfillys. (As an added bonus DarkSparkle is still grumbling that Flurry considers me a better writer :))

I hope you enjoyed your dream last night. Princess Luna and I put a lot of effort into that, and if I remember right it was one of your favorite stories. Tell me, was it what you imagined? I took some liberties with the buildings (that’s one of the problems of authors. They never describe the buildings adequately :/)

All the best from the new Cyan (don’t ask. It was Blueblood’s idea to change the nicknames again :/)

Simile

And I thought I was the crazy *yay* in Equestria :) After what you went through I’m no longer sure.

I know everyone will be mad, especially my Mom, but after the *yay* I had to put up with I don’t care. I’ll be revealing 3 secrets.

As you guessed, I’m the new Orange, and also in charge of the the Blazen adventure. What the others don’t know is that I was also tasked with recruiting other members (with the exception of Cyan who was there before me) as speculator7, which leads me to the third secret.

Earth is real! No, it’s nothing like what it’s described in MC, but it’s filled with humans. Even I am a human (as is every pony who passed through the portal). My offer for still stands by the way, so if you decide hop over :)

Orange Sunset

LightSparkle

This is awkward on so many levels.

Yes, I am on the writing team, which is something I didn’t at all expect. I thought that after college I’ll get into some boring postgraduate program and then do something useless with my life. Instead I got offered a really exciting job being here... and that’s without even mentioning everything else that you made possible.

If it wasn’t for your site and MasterOfThisAstra, I doubt I’d have achieved any of this, let alone grown as a pony. I wasn’t the most sociable one before I joined the site. (They didn’t call me the Evervirgin for nothing.)

I haven’t told anypony this, even Max, but I’ll name my first foal after you. I doubt Max will have anything against.

Good luck from Blue,

Jade

I still hate the nick you gave me... well, sort of have it. It’s grown onto me... sort of. I really love you, though. A thousand hugs won’t be enough. I’ll never forget everything you did for RRBB and myself. It’s no wonder you’re my sister’s best friend. You have no idea how many times I wished I was the older one only to have grown up with you.

Also, I had such a huge crush on you when I was young. In a different world, where I was the elder sister, we might have even hooked up. Who knows? (Maybe I’ll write a fic about it :))

As you know from my lively loudmouth, we are expecting foals. Yes, both of us. It’s a long and complicated story, which I promise to tell you soon. :)

You’re the best, Lyra!

Hugs from Violet,

Short&Hoofy

Umm, hello, Miss Lyra.

It still sounds weird calling you that, but I hardly know you outside of school and later the site. Sure, we saw each other all the time when you were visiting Ponyville, but... I’m case you can’t remember I’m Lily (the strong one).

I won’t lie, my family was a wreck, which is why I went to your site. And I’m glad I did. I think it’s a common theme, but it’s thanks to you that I have a job and a coltfriend, not to mention a lot of real life and online friends.

If you want we can meet and talk sometime? I’m not very sociable still, but... well, it’s you :)

Many thanks from Red,

Quarters

From one princess to another, hello!

Well, I’m not exactly a princess... or a pony, but you are both! I must tell you this site has helped me learn so much about pony stuff that my mind boggles! No offense to DarkSparkle, but her lessons and letters are really boring :/ Please don’t tell her I said that. She’ll get all emotional and start apologizing and I’ll be wondering what to do. I have enough trouble juggling being dragon Lord and having a changeling boyfriend.

It was his idea that I join the site, by the way, he kept on going on and on how it would help me “get in touch with my emotions”. I joined just to prove him wrong! Please don’t tell him it helped. I hate when he gets all smug on me!)

Well, that’s it, I guess. Green signing out.

HoofTies

Howdy,

Shocks, when Luna told me I need to write to you I was a nervous as a chicken before dawn. Even my cousins don’t know I was into Midnight Castle, then one day little Applebloom told me about this site, here. Golly, I never thought it could be so fun!

Now I’m no writer, but I told myself I’d be darned if I can’t write a story or two! That was fifty stories ago. I reckon I got carried away a bit. O:)

Thanks mighty to ya, princess of the site!

Yellow

Human_in_a_Hat

Luna

Author's Note

3 chapters...

Lyra PMs: RRBB’s Request

Enough hints! I’m telling you what happened! We are. If anypony needs to know first it’s you!

Well, okay, maybe not first, but before my parents. Tartarus, I have no idea how to break the news... “hey mom and dad, I know it doesn’t look like it, but me and Short are pregnant, even if you can’t tell, so I’d like to have my wedding in the next few weeks, because we’re both due soon.”

*facehoof*

Anyway you’ve been chosen as best mare, and also starmare to the foals. Please say yes or I’ll look very ridiculous in front of Squishy.

RRBB

Long story short, you inspired us to be creative and well... Dreamcolt is due in less than a month, and Chaosfilly is in negotiations with RRBB to remain in the womb until then. (Yes, it’s exactly as complicated an illogical as it sounds. :/)

Please say yes, though. It would mean incredibly much to both of us.

Short&Hoofy

Umm, I know it’s been overwhelming lately, but I have no idea what you’re talking about. I mean I get the general notion, but some details would be nice :)

LyraHands

You getting pregnant got me to subconsciously pester Squishy to find a way to have foals. And after it turned out she can’t go through the same procedure you did (because she doesn’t have the mana or stamina for it) she went to Princess Luna for help, while I (feeling guilty) made a deal with Discord to drag his terrible fics through curation in exchange for a solution.

Both ideas were terrible, but worked resulting in me getting pregnant with a very stubborn chaos filly, and Squishy with a dream foal. As a result we expect both fo them to be born in about a month (only Chaosfilly will be visible. Our other foal will have to spend a few years in the dream world before he becomes strong enough to enter reality.)

That pretty much covers everything.

Rrbb

And since you’ve helped both of us in so many ways, we were thriving of you being the foal’s guardian along with PaintDrop.

Short&Hoofy

Wow. I had to reread that twice.

All the obvious questions aside, are you sure you want me? I know we’re close, but I’m hardly of significant lineage, and I know how much that means to your family, @RRBB.

I still can’t get it through my head what you had to go through. I mean I know what I did, and it was crazy! Now that it’s all over and everything is fine, I can honestly say I didn’t give it nearly enough thought.

LyraHands

Don’t worry about my family. It’ll be enough to say you’re the only honorary aether Wonderbolt to shut my mother up. Beside, who cares about them? I’d have asked you no matter what!

And when have you known me to be logical or rational? Besides, having to deal with Simile and Hop (as business partners) has given me plenty of experience for when Chaos is born. I’m both proud and annoyed at her. Do you know I have to bridge her not to get born early? Apparently (which discord neglected to mention) chaos ponies decide when they get born. I had to resort to weeks of bribed and negotiations to get her to wait till her brother appears. :/

I want to say “that’s my girl” but it’s annoying when she does such things to me!

RRBB

Thinking about it, we’ll have the weirdest set of foals... you have glowing aether Twins, we’ll have a dream pony and a chaos pony, I have no idea what PaintDrop’s foal will be (knowing her she’ll save herself until after the wedding, but I know for a fact that Gothling has agreed, so now it’s only about convincing her parents, and that’s a matter of time). Even my sister is likely to have a crystal pony.

Short&Hoofy

Don’t forget DarkSparkle...

RRBB

Don’t remind me *trembles*. And I used to think that PPI and DaBoss wee strange... :P

All jokes aside, I gladly accept. Though I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a chaos filly... or a dream colt. I know Bob had to reinforce the house and put in a lot of additional devices to ensure that my treasures don’t melt the walls, or teleport the whole place somewhere.

You say you are talking with your daughter already?

LyraHands

Constantly! It’s like there’s a tiny voice in my head that doesn’t stop whining and asking questions. Usually that would be my mother commenting loudly from the other room, so I, used to it, but this could get annoying at times. At least she doesn’t poke my memories, which Discord casually mentions was a possibility.

Actually, she’s not as bad as I make it out. We have had a few arguments, but for the most part she is very well behaved. After all, she’s a filly, so I know what to expect. If anything Dreamcolt will be a challenge.

RRBB

Mostly when he starts going to school. According to Luna he’ll be the embodiment of everypony’s dream, which will attract a huge amount of mares. If he also takes my character he’ll be one of those shy beautiful things that mares bite their tails off to o on a date with.

I’ve already been reading up on how to raise him. Hopefully, normal colts and dream colts will be somewhat similar.

Short&Hoofy

Maybe we’ll be lucky and Megan will snatch him for herself? :)

RRBB

The way things are going Flurry might snatch him. Remember the difference is only about five years (about the same between PaintDrop and Gothling).

And let’s not forget PaintDrop’s future foals. If one of them is a filly, they could become the object of desire of the pony they want to impress.

Short&Hoofy

You’ve really been giving this a lot of thought...

LyraHands

You have no idea. :/ Me I think that whatever happens our foals will manage to sort things out (we went through a rough ride too, but with enough support and persistence things ended quite well).

RRBB

They sure did. :)

Let me know when it’s time, girls. And see you around :)

LyraHands

Bye bye, Lyra.

Short&Hoofy

Ciao!

RRBB

Author's Note

2 chapters...

Lyra PMs: S.Child’s Revelation

Hello Lyra,

I think it’s time we talked.

S.Child

Omg! I’ve been following your account ever since that time you posted! Wow! Just wow! You have no idea how excited I am right now! I mean you... you created my dream! You changed my life in so many wonderful ways! Without you I’d probably be miserable and alone, still fighting with my parents. You gave my life meaning.

At first I thought MC was an escape from reality, but the lessons you put inside, the philosophy of the characters... they helped me become a better pony.

Thank you so much for this!

LyraHands

I’m so glad. :) Watching you and all the other Nightlings talk about the world I created, come up with their own stories and theories, and organize meetups warms my heart.

And now I’ve decided to answer your question :)

S.Child

My question?

LyraHands

The question every Nightling keeps asking herself: who is S.Child? Are you ready for the answer?

S.Child

I’m not sure.

I mean I have always wanted to know, but if you tell me I’m scared I might lose interest in the story and no longer remain a Nightling. :( It’s stupid, I know, but... I’m not sure what to do. Maybe we should leave it at this? It’s enough I got to talk to you :)

LyraHands

My dear Lyra :) If the mystery behind my identity is the reason you’re reading the stories that means Midnight Castle is a cage and the sooner I set you free the better. I don’t think that’s the case. I’ve seen the passion you have. Do you not read stories written by your friends? You know the authors, yet still like the stories.

Me telling you my name is the least I could do for the spark of hope you’ve made blossom into what the Nightling community has become. Do not fear it might change you :)

S.Child

You’re as tempting as your stories... :)

LyraHands

It’s been mentioned on occasion ;)

S.Child

Very well! I’ve been dying to know since I was a filly! Who is S.Child really!

LyraHands

S.Child is actually Prince Blueblood. But he’s not the original author of Midnight Castle. :)

I came up with that world. It was based on a realm I visited, so different from my own that I found some aspects of it fascinating. Blueblood was such a shy foal in his youth. After the tragic demise of his parents he didn’t leave his room in the palace, refusing to talk to anypony, order hoof outside. I tried many things to cheer him up, but nothing was able to change his mind. Then one day I told him a story about humans.

The first stories weren’t anything special from a literary point of view, but they didn’t have to be. There were no consistent main characters, no deeper plot, just stories to help him sleep better. And to my joy they worked. In a week he asked me a question for the first time. In two he joined me for breakfast in the dining hall. The stories captured his imagination like I didn’t think possible. From that point on I started subtly adding advice to my stories, and I’d end each one whispering “to my Sun Child”.

S.Child

You’re Princess Celestia?!

LyraHands

And your the third pony who knows that ;)

Seeing the effect the stories had I decided to have them published. I used an old friend to do it in my stead, pretending she was the author. The poor soul passed away five years ago. She was a good friend.

We decided to keep the pen name S.Child

That’s so... that’s incredible! You did so much for Prince Blueblood and countless other foals.

LyraHands

And neglected my own daughter in the process. Just because I’m a princess doesn’t mean I don’t make stupid decisions. Blueblood was a colt and I thought he needed emotional support. Sunset was a mare, so I thought she needed toughening up. “Tough love” as it were. As a result I almost lost her. Ironically the thing that splintered her away from me also brought her back.

The universe works in mysterious ways. Even I can not control what happens. :)

S.Child

Thank you fir telling me this, Princess! I’ve no words to say what I feel right now.

LyraHands

No longer afraid you’d stop reading MC stories? ;P

S.Child

Quite the opposite!

Now I want to reread all of MC starting from the first! Now that I know you wrote them and why, it will be an entirely different experience!

LyraHands

I’m glad, my Little Lyra :)

I no longer write, but I keep an eye on what is written, just as Prince Blueblood does. We both do our best to keep the core of the story the same, despite the changes. As a colt he’s more into adventure mixed with emotions, and so far he’s proven to be right. The Mistmount Chronicles were his idea. He knew he couldn’t write himself, so he kept coming to me in the moments I was free and telling me about it. A story of five human boys going on an adventure facing an evil wizard. Gradually the five became six, the wizard became the Felina corporation, and I became Zeus. (Yes, I was supposed to be there as myself, giving advice to the heroes from a distance.)

It took a lot of convincing, but I could see the sparkles in his eyes as he told me the stories, so I let it happen. The rest you’ve already experienced yourself :)

S.Child

That’s... thank you so much for sharing this story with me! I’ll cherish the feeling forever, even if I forget the reason for it.

LyraHands

Forget the reason? O.o

S.Child

Aren’t you doing to use an amnesia spell on me? Or lock my memory of this conversation? This is the greatest secret of the fandom! I can’t just walk around with it.

LyraHands

My dear student, you’ve been reading too many stories :P Of course I won’t do something like that. I shared the secret with you because I know you could keep it ;)

S.Child

I’ll delete the messages just in case. Thank you again, S.Child. For this and for everything!

LyraHands

My pleasure :)

S.Child

Author's Note

One last chapter to go...

Also a reminder should anyone participate in the contest: you have a day left :)

Lyra PMs: The Honeymoon

*poke* Got a moment?

Bob

Let me guess, you have work and will be coming home late? :P really, you don’t need to worry just because we have foals now. All I need to do is open the window for a dozen potential foalsitters to show up :P

Do what you have to do :) Just try to be quiet when you get home.

LyraHands

Pfft! I’m always quiet! And it’s not that :) I have a surprise for you :D Something I think you’d really enjoy :)

Bob

You and your surprises :P You and the foals are all that I need :)

LyraHands

I know *kiss* but I promised you something special, and now I finally convinced my boss to give me the go ahead :)

Of course there’s some red tape (because why not :/) but in a week or two... ;D

Bob

Okay, I’ll bite. What is your surprise?

LyraHands

A honeymoon! And before you say a word I’ve spoken with InItForTheShipping and she’ll look after the foals while we’re gone. (Also DarkSparkle is backup, and ColdLight said she’d keep an eye on them during the night.) as you see everything’s covered :)

Can you feel it? Ten glorious days with you and me in the place of your dreams :)

Bob

That’s... actually that’s sweet, but after what Equestria’s been through I don’t think going on vacation somewhere would have the same effect. I appreciate the thought, though :) Maybe next year?

LyraHands

Who said anything about Equestria? ;)

Bob

Ooooh! Now that’s sneaky! I approve :)

LightSparkle did invite me a few times, but it didn’t cross my mind because of the foals. Now that you say you’ve managed to find someone responsible to take care of them... well, it’s tempting, I’ll give you that. I’m just still a bit worried if they’ll be fine. I mean I know I can trust InItForTheShipping. She knows more about magic and foal raising then I do, it’s just that...

I’ll ask LightSparkle if it’s okay for me to pop back home every evening for a bit to see how they are doing.

LyraHands

Err... we won’t be visiting LightSparkle. We’ll be going to Mistmount.

Bob

Wha? O.o

LyraHands

There’s more than one human realm, silly :) Besides the Earth that LightSparkle is in is a mirror dimension. If we go there we’ll become humans and possibly run into copies of ourselves if we’re not careful.

It’s fun, I admit (and you do look very sexy as a human :P) but I was thinking of something more special. I’ve arranged for us to visit the real thing :) Well, there won’t be any Danny or Felina Corp or mystical chases, but the town is exactly as described in the original stories.

Bob

Err... let me get this straight. You want us to go to Mistmount, THE Mistmount, for our honeymoon?!

That’s like.... this is happening so fast! I just learned a few days ago that humans are real, and now you tell me that there are several Earths, including one that has the actual Mistmount?

Bonny, how could you keep this from me?! I mean I know it’s a secret and all, but... seriously?! You know how much that would have meant for me! Hay, if I had known about LightSparkle’s Earth earlier I’d have gone visiting ages ago!

LyraHands

That’s precisely why I didn’t. You’d have gone there, and since things here were a bit... tense for you, you might have stayed. And I didn’t want that to happen.

Besides you would have freaked like a little filly :P I still remember how much you hyperventilated the last few days :P Learning that you could go to Mistmount would have been too much.

To be honest, I have no idea what it’s like there. I know we have friends there and that’s it. I also know we’ll have to be discreet about it. Talking ponies aren’t common there. Same for unicorns. We’ll have to be invisible during our stay, which means no photos.

Bob

Are you kidding? Who cares! Mistmount! I get to be in Mistmount! It’s like... wow! When you first suggested it, it hough you mean asking Princess Luna sculpt a dream for me in which we could go through the MCverse and have fun for a night. This is way beyond anything I could have imagined!

I don’t know what to say. These last few days have been one revelation after another. I... I thought that I cried a lot because of my pregnancy. I was wrong about that as well. I’m so happy right now that... you’re beyond the best things that happened to me! Without your support I wouldn’t have gotten nearly as far. The site would have died, or remained a small place for fans... I’d have remained living with my parents, coping with a life I hated. I’d have remained single, alone, and... I don’t even want to think about that! I’m just so happy right now that I could fly!

LyraHands

How do you imagine you make me feel? *nuzzles* :)

Bob

Umm... seems there’s a change of plans.

Bob

Oh? Is everything okay?

LyraHands

I’m not sure... Remember that red tape I told you about? The one that would take weeks to untangle? Well, I just witnessed a magical scissor appear and cut through it in less than a minute.

Would it be okay if we head off in... say an hour or so?

Bob

What?! An hour? What happened to your work? What happened with all the permissions required?

LyraHands

Well, my boss’ boss just teleported in and had a few words, it seems. Something about you helping save Equestria twice and such. Apparently. I have the rest of the day... provided I go on my honeymoon with you. ;)

Bob

It was Princess Celestia, wasn’t it?

LyraHands

I have no idea what your talking about. Actually, I think you’ve coming down with a strong fever, so I better rush and make sure you’re okay, take you to a hospital if I have to.

Bob

*giggle* Yeah, I think I feel it. Everything looks blurry all of a sudden.

Just get here, you goof. And thank your pastry team from me. *hugs & nibbles*

LyraHands

I love you.

LyraHands

I know. We’ll talk more on the way ;) Do you need to make a post you’ll be gone for a week?

Bob

Nah. The site will be fine without me :) It’s time I experienced the real thing. With you ;)

LyraHands

Author's Note

With this EqF is finally over :)

Thank you all so much for persisting it to now (all 370 chapters), going through the highs and lows of the characters, sharing your thoughts and support. I’ll probably write a full blog about this later, but just wanted you to know how much you meant to me. Knowing that you enjoyed a bit of the story and were willing to devote your time often made my day throughout 2017.

As Lyra would say: thank you for changing my life. I hope the story has managed to make you smile every now and again.

May 2018 find you all well and happy :D

Brush's PM Exchange

Finally, I'm done with exams for the semester. Finally I get to enjoy a few weeks of calm, or maybe not ;).

It was so sweet of you to come to the Crystal Empire. I found it incredible. You are incredible! To think if it wasn't for my sister I might never have met you. Fate is a strange thing. Sometimes the most unexpected thing happens by accident. In a few days I'll be back home and we'll be seeing a lot more of each other.

MasterOfThisAstra

I'll be counting the hours. *ear nibble*

And I had a magical time at the Empire, even with all the hiding and sneaking around. :P This time we can be together for a bit longer, I hope? How long will you be here?

Brush

Three weeks. Half of that I'll probably have to spend with my parents. Now that I'm a year away from graduation they've begun to notice me. And, of course, they have started making subtle remarks that I must find a mare from a good family. At times I almost want to tell them about you just to see their reaction.

MasterOfThisAstra

You really are extreme, my little hooftoy :P Won't it be a problem me coming to your house, though? This will be the second time I'm there. Don't you think your parents will start asking questions? Also, I'm worried that PaintDrop might be catching on. She's already shipped our OCs in a few of her sketches. (Thank the stars it's only kissing.) :P

Brush

Sweet wings, my parents won't notice a thing. As long as my sister and her friend are there they won't even see you as a mare in that way. Besides my father likes you. Now only that, but you are famous! My roommate recognized you and got really pissy about it. (He's a huge Manehattan snob, and keeps going on and on that one time he numbed into Princess Twilight before her ascension.)

I'm actually thinking of announcing we're dating once I graduate. Nothing big. I don't like too much fuss. If we get married I foresee a small ceremony, just a dozen ponies at most, then I'll go live at your place.

MasterOfThisAstra

What did I do to deserve you? You're too good for me...

Brush

I'm the lucky one here. Let me tell you a secret about stallions: we're incredibly vain and do everything in our power to get noticed. A sure way to get a stallion is ignore him a few times. (And yes, I've fallen for that one myself. The mare was as sensitive as a brick.)

You were beautiful before I met you. After I saw you, you became ten times more.

MasterOfThisAstra

I'm no Fleetfoot, sweetie, but thank you.

Do you think we'll get any writing done during our writing time? :P

Brush

Well I hope we manage to get at least a chapter ready. Not that I'd mind if we don't. ;) I suppose we'll have to with my sister being there. It's a bit weird seeing her adore you almost as much as I do. Of course, when your writing is that good.

MasterOfThisAstra

You're breaking the rules again. You know it's my job to incessantly flatter you :P

But yes, she does. Did I tell you she asked me what I thought of you after my first visit?

Brush

That little pigtail! What did you say?

MasterOfThisAstra

Pigtail? Lol! I just said you were a gorgeous specimen and she could sacrifice you to me anytime she wants. The best part was she thought about it for a while and said "she'd think about it." :D

Brush

How considerate of her. Well, at least we know if all else fails you could buy me body and soul for the low price of a fanfic. (Not that you haven't already ;))

MasterOfThisAstra

You say that, but you're the one who got me! And quite mercilessly at that! :P This is a bit embarrassing, but I've been having dreams about you. Frequently. Some of the things we did were outright awkward.

Brush

Well, will you tell me what they were? Or do I have to wait for you to show me?

MasterOfThisAstra

Mota! You're horrible! :P

Brush

Don't I know it? I've just been pretending to be timid and fragile. :P

MasterOfThisAstra

Sometimes I think I've infected you with my bad aethernet habits. When we first talked you were so refined and pure. Now look at you! You're even emoticoning like me!

Brush

It's a slippery slope. One moment we're discussing Midnight Castle, the next we're drinking champagne from saddlebags. Come to think of it we're just like Molly and Bellucio.

MasterOfThisAstra

Wow! Way to ruin the moment. :/

...

Although, you'd make a pretty good Bellucio. You have the frame and the mane to pull it off. Add that innocent collegecolt expression and the mares'll go wild. (I'll have to clip their tails, of course. Nopony touches my Bellucio!)

I don't think I could be Molly, though.

Brush

You'll make a great Molly! (The Molly of this series, I mean.) Maybe we can cosplay for the meet-up? I know somepony who could make me a great Bellucio costume. I'll ask for her to make you a Molly.

MasterOfThisAstra

And we'll smooch and nibble throughout Canterlot. :P

Brush

I'm being serious. You can bet others will come in costumes too. Why can't we go as Molly and Bellucio?

MasterOfThisAstra

Sweetie, this isn't a Daring Do convention. Nightling meetups are just a few friends getting together in a coffee shop. And I do mean few. I've been going to them ever since Lyra started organizing them. We were so uncomfortable that the first few times we avoided the word "human". Only Lyra was crazy enough to come with a set of shoes shaped like hands. (That's how she got her nickname.)

Brush

But what if we do it this time?

MasterOfThisAstra

Sweetness, I really don't want to. It'll be way too awkward...

Brush

Please? For me? I promise to make it up for you.

MasterOfThisAstra

We've been dating a week and already you manipulate me! :P okay, if it means so much to you I'll go as Molly. Just don't expect me to wear the costume all the way to Canterlot.

Brush

Love you, sugar wings? *nuzzles*

MasterOfThisAstra

I know *nuzzles* *ear nibble*

Brush

This was unexpected...

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 4, The Mirror Rune

(A bit of fancolting! I had to read this five times! It's so amazing that each time it becomes better! I really hope Luna gets to bring some of the writers. Whoever wrote this is... just wow!!! :D )

We start with Blazen going through the net, reading about occult stuff. We learn where he got the runes he used in the first chapter. He then sees a three times twisted snake biting its tail, and goes all crazy. We then jump to a flashback of him as a child with his family (and get our first picture of him and he's so cute!). The Ruuls were a clan that used runecraft to give powers to objects, summon spirits, etc. Blazen was supposed to become the "East Shield of the Runelord" but ran away, tired to be treated as mindless puppet.

I like how we got to meet the entire Ruul clan. There's so much backstory there that I can go on for ages! Also it was hinted they might be Titan blessed. Anyway, Blazen gets back to his senses, then runs out to talk to Megan, but is suddenly run over by a magitech carriage. (Blam! No warning whatsoever!) Bleeding (!!!) on the ground he reaches to grab a piece of mirror, looks at it, and...zones out in front of his computer again!

Wondering what's going on, he leaves to go to Megan, but gets crashed into by Caprice who's chased by some "inkform slivers of bat proportions" that swoop down at her. The two rush through the city, while Caprice goes on that he mustn't use his magic to attack people and remember she'll always be there for him, and that no one will replace him. When they finally fight off the bats, he's about to ask what is going on, when a mirror shard hits Caprice in the wing. Blazen pulls it out and... wakes up in front of his computer.

Glancing at the rune on the forum, Blazen is about to leave to talk to Megan, when there's a knock on his window. Opening it, he's pulled out by Omni, who drags him off to the forest, where they are attacked by Felina sorcerers. Omni is wounded, but the two manage to escape, until Cassandra and Orpheus show up. Cassandra goes on about how he forced their hand, when Omni suddenly takes out a mirror shard out of nowhere and shows it to Blazen...who wakes up in front of his computer.

(Anypony getting dizzy so far?) This time Blazen sneaks to Megan's work, and after an elaborate sneak in gets to talk to her about his fears that his family is after him. Megan hushes him and takes him to the vault of her corp, where she takes out what she describes as a mirror rune. As she explains, the rune has been reacting to him ever since he moved to Mistmount. She's about to reveal more, when the walls are torn apart by an inklike monster. Blazen grabs the rune and... wakes up in front of his computer.

This time, he's still holding the mirror rune. Before he could tell what's going on, ash from all the black chalk in the room goes towards the mirror rune, causing Blazen to split into seven pieces. We (and he) then find out that the mirror rune creates a copy of him a few minutes before the last instance a copy was created (there are 5 of him so far!) The thought drives him insane, so he uses his runecraft to try and kill all his other selves. Yet then, Euryala jumps through the window and shows him a shard.

Blazen wakes up and Euryala is already there. She explains that he must break the loop if he's to get through that day. It also turns out that he created the mirror rune for himself (in the future, but sent it to the past) for some unknown purpose. She also mentions that he's the only one who can stop the Everprince and that she has faith in him. (Oh, and by the way, she mentions they're a couple in the future and she loves him!!!) She then gives him a box saying the mirror shard is inside. He then utters the phrase of the spoiler, but she's already opened the box so he wakes up... in front of his computer.

Blazen looks at the mirror rune, then puts it away in his wallet. He doesn't turn on the computer. Instead, he phones Danny and says he wants to hang out.

Next chapter: "Poseidon's Faithful"

Just wow! I still can't wrap my head around it! :))) And, and! For the first time we have such an extensive solo chapter! Usually it's 2-3 characters. Here it's just Blazen and himselves.

Interesting how similar this is to the shatterstone. What do you girls think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: quite the trippy chapter. :) From what I get, the mirror rune makes copies of himself who could be there at the same place and time, but also not there since no one mentioned seeing two of him? I just hope they don't use "divine nature" as an explanation:/ Other than that the chapter is cool and we get to finally see Blazen's family (see, Brush? He's no orphan!)

Note that he still hasn't hit the inkstone. At most he'll use it to make the mirror rune at some point. Thus begs the question... what exactly is the inkstone and what can it do? Scarily interesting :)

MixaMax

Actually, I think it's not so much him making copies of himself, rather than sharing his own existence. Note, how he never actually sees himself. I speculate that the nature of the mirror rune is such that it creates a paradox if any of his selves sees another. Same for a person seeing two instances of him. Euryala is an exception since she's a shard as well.

Overall, I'd say this was well thought out and perfectly executed. Clearly, the writer didn't know anything about time spells, but the story doesn't need them, and that's what makes it so good.

@SweetStuff: a much belated congratulations! The song was wonderful, but I always knew you had a nice voice. :) You should have told me you're a fan of Midnight Castle!

DarkSparkle

Hmmm! Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!
This story sounds oddly familiar -.-

PPI

@DarkSparkle: you're back! :) Are you alright? We missed you so much!

PrinceEric

@DarkSparkle: Girl! So sorry! :( I didn't mean to be so mean to you! Please let me make it up to you somehow! Anything you ask, it's yours!

So glad you returned. I was feeling so rotten being a jerk. Want to meet and have doughnuts sometime? I'm paying.

MixaMax

@DarkSparkle, I think I'm in love with you...

Jade the Evervirgin

...this was unexpected.

Brush

Spoiler 6

Karl Summer

Caretaker, caver, chosen

A child of daring explorer biologists, Karl was born in the Pinecoast jungles, far from the civilized world. For the first five years of his life he was one with nature, learning first hand about the various wildlife surrounding him. Moving to Mistmount with his parents he quickly adapted to city life, though the spark of nature continues to shine bright within him.

Siblings: Felix Summer, Dawn Summer
Place of birth: Zapad, Gumania
Occupation: Animal shelter assistant, College student
Hobby: cave exploring, mountain climbing, crosswords
Mentor deity: Unknown
Magic power: Unknown
Eternity gem: Everchanger

"Looks like a torn limb to me."

Guess, I'll continue this, though not sure if anypony would read (with all the traveling going on). I should have been on my way as well, but my stupid brother had to oversleep today. :/ Guess that means RRBB, myself, Brush, and idiot brother would be there round 2.

Anyway, we gave a few bombshell's here. First, and I might be wrong, I never took Karl for the adventurer type. Sure, he's all about animals and such, but I thought he'd be one of those mellow hippies, not the child of biologists. Guess that explains his grades and love of crosswords.

Second, this is the first time we learn he has siblings (no indication if they are younger, older, or anything else. My take is that Felix is male and Dawn is female. Strange that we never hear about them, though...even if it's Karl we're talking about.

Finally, his magic. Curious that no deity's mentioned. I'd have taken him for a Zeus human, but guess I might be wrong. The everchanger, though. Maybe that means he's able to change form like a changeling? Not sure what I think about this.

Update: my brother just got home with Brush and... I can only say I totally forgive him! :) We'll be heating for the train in 20.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Aww! :( Why didn't you tell me earlier? My sister just got tickets for the one o'clock :( I could have asked her to get for your ride. Would have been fun to ride together. How's RRBB?

SweetStuff

@PaintDrop: I'm on the same train! I wanted to go on a balloon ride, but I made too many sweets O:).

@SweetStuff: Aww :( We'll see each other there, though!

I'm not surprised about Karl. He's always been described as so normal that it was certain he'd have some mysterious. If it was any other series I'd say he's actually a dryad pony cursed into human form. The way S.Child writes I think Karl would be chosen by a nature deity (maybe Zeus has a wife or girlfriend?).

Twist

@SweetStuff: Such is life. Would have been fun have you ding on the way there :P And RRBB is fine considering. She could use some hugs when we get to Canterlot.

@Twist: How much did you make?!? Meet up at the ticket office at the station in 15?

PaintDrop

I can answer for myself, thank you! :/ And I definitely don't need hugs!

Karl is lame. Guess this will be the first waster chapter of the series. Oh well, maybe we'll get some nice Caprice scenes.

RRBB

(maybe Zeus has a wife or girlfriend?)

Why?!? Isn't it enough that I'm missing the gathering, but I also must imagine Tia with a husband?!

TheRealLuna

It's interesting to note that if the Everchanger does what it sounds like, Karl would be able to change into every animal (thanks to his flora & fauna knowledge). But that's not all! There's nothing to say that he can't use the stone to change everyone and everything.

Transfiguration spells are a thing, so the stone will only give Karl the power to use it on others. Maybe he'll turn the Felina corp into a... Oh my goodness!

Everypony, think back to the title for this week! "Hooves of a Human" we thought that it would be Caprice changing into a human, but what if Karl uses the Everchanger to become a stallion?

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I read that out to Brush. She started foaming at the mouth then ran to the bathroom. I think I hear her screaming "Y U do this to me?!"

Now it's my turn to ask something. Do you realize that Karl could use the Everchanger to transform Bellucio into a stallion? :P

PaintDrop

@DarkSparkle: you just scored 1000 points in my book! ;)

10/10 would "snuggle" Cassandra.

Bob

@Bob: Weren't you going to the event?! I thought you and LyraHands were on the early train.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Oh, I am, but I'll be catching a later train. Work came up.

Then again, I'm not sure if I should go at all. Lyra's gonna have such a fit when she sees this. Maybe we should delete it and pretend it never happened?

By the way, if this becomes canon that means pontification is legal (and far simpler). We'll have to brace ourselves for a huge influx of ponified stories, since there's nothing stopping the grand nine to become ponies and start living in Equestria. On the other hoof, we can have all the ponies transformed into humans... human Celestia x Zeus anypony?

Bob

@Bob: I definitely chose the best time to focus on MCE art commissions :D

Going to catch the train. See you soon!

PaintDrop

@Bob: that just sounds wrong! The worst part is that I know it will happen. Worse, everypony is now free to create self-inserts of themselves and treat them as canon.

"Hey, it's me Special Snowflake. I was an ordinary mare in Equestria until one day he arrived to change my life and take me to a new strange world." :/

And yes, I have written a few of those. And yes, they might have been a bit suggestive.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Hmmm.

(That's me judging you silently.)

Just out of curiosity... did you happen to humanize me in any of your stories by chance? -.-

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: I think she left to catch her ride to Canterlot.

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Suuuuuure she did.

TheRealLuna

Author's Note

Good news! I think gdocs are fully fixed! :)
Bad news... I didn't finish chapter 2.
Good news in relation to bad news: it's the weekend so hope to finish the whole story then :D

Analyses 6 Poems

Well, since our usual analyst is probably enjoying his time in Canterlot (along with everypony else) I've decided to take it upon myself to do this week's review, but will do it somewhat different. Before I do, I like to thank a certain somepony (you know who you are) for getting me to rediscover the beauty of starting verse.

Yes, you've guessed it! I'll try to use starting verse to make the summary of this week's story. Since the series still follows the three act structure, plays epilogue, I'll be using three/four separate verses. Hopefully it ends up being coherent.

Nightmares, single rabbit
Spring rush to destroy Felina
A chase most unfair

Mother's lost present
Given from an autumn grave
Four hooves, two wings, muzzle.

Two corporations
A changing Karl deep in fight
A moonlit ally helps

Two stones of ever
A will of winter combat
An enemy waits

DarkSparkle

The edge! The edge!

Okay, seriously, nopony will understand anything from this. Cool idea, but not in this case.

For all those who want to know what happened, let me try to put it in words: A rabbit that is real but also exists in dreams tells Karl to find the stone at his mother's grave. Two corporation fight for it, yet Karl gets it and turns himself into a pony. A lot of silliness later he manages to turn back into a humie.

The huge thing (unfelt because of Dark’s poetry) is that for the very first time we see the Everprince (or someone working for him). I won't lie, I got chills!

How's the drunken partying going on?

TheRealLuna

I doubt there's real drinking involved. At least not so early.

And it was nice to finally see the presence of this elusive power. No lines of dialogue, though.

I'm still curious why he's revealing himself. I mean, sure Karl has a stone, but then again so does Megan. The only thing special is the mention that Karl's mother is dead. (How she got the stone in the first place remains a mystery.) Do you think it's possible that Karl is actually the Everprince?

DarkSparkle

Jumping in for a quick minute.

@TheRealLuna: Don't worry, there will be after dark. For the moment it's just food and getting to learn who is who.

As for the Everprince! Woohoo! Almost as cool as Brush cosplaying Molly :) (You're welcome, aethernet.) Going back to doing stuff. Will try to log on again tonight.

LyraHands

Hmm. I guess I'll register an account too...

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Love your nick :) I take it you're somepony who got interested in MCE at the meetup?

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: Sort of. Am Max's sister, so I thought I'd finally make an account of my own. Remains to be seen how active I'll be. I've read a fair amount of Mistmount Chronicles thanks to Max and so far it seems okay.

Short&Hoofy

Great to have you here. :)

DarkSparkle

Back to today's chapter. The more I think about it the more complicated things get. Let me make a list of things that stand out arranged in order of chronological appearance:

1 The dreams Karl receives don't come from any of the three main deities.
2 Karl's mother is dead (possibly other members of his family as well)
3 Karl's mother had the changer stone
4 Two corporation fighting in the open (just wow!)
5 Karl turned into a pony (yes! Just as we suspected! :)) This allows for so much possibilities.

I can only come to the conclusion that Karl's parents were, or are, involved in some way with the corporations. (On that note, Karl was never worried about money. A bit like Omni. Hmmm)

DarkSparkle

I think you are onto something. So far we know very little about the Everprince. The only common element in all the chapters is that everyone is afraid of him: the deities, the titans, the corporations, and Euryala who is part of something beyond the corporations. By sheer number were supposed to think that the prince is the evil one, but what if he isn't?

I wouldn't put it past the writers to do a 180 twist and tell us, at some point, that the Everprince was imprisoned between realities by all the parties involved, who are now squabbling for what crumbs are left of his power.

Jade the Evervirgin

You all really are into this series, aren't you? I don't want to sound like the party pooper, but I still don't get the huge appeal. I mean the stories are okay, but idea of homies is interesting, but so what? There are lots of other series that are considered remarkable. What's so special here?

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: it's one of those things. If you have to ask you'll never get it. Have you tried the fanfics? They provide interesting takes on... well, maybe you should read and see for yourself.

I strongly recommend Brush and DarkSparkle

Jade the Evervirgin

I'm already reading those, and find some of the stories nice. (Currently reading the Danny saga). I'm still curious what made so many ponies devote so much time and energy in such a strange hobby. I know Max keeps going on and on about it all the time.

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: Max is a whole different animal altogether :)

Jade the Evervirgin

@Short&Hoofy: Just think about it: a different world, like our own but different. A world full of danger, mystery, adventure, and romance. Now imagine yourself in that world. Imagine seeking a castle that holds the answers to all your questions. Imagine friends by your side, helping you face any challenges the world my throw at you. Imagine one of them becoming your lover, sharing you pain and joy. Imagine everything you've ever wanted in front of you, you can touch it with the tips of your hooves... that is Midnight Castle! ;)

TheRealLuna

...wow.

Short&Hoofy

Changes and Improvements

@all: Announcement!

I'd like to announce that the site got its 1000th member today! I know this is nothing compared to the popular sites, but for us it's a pretty big deal. To mark the occasion we've upgraded the user interface a bit (notice the human banners made by our err own PaintDrop :)) and fixed a few pesky errors.

Along with that, and to cope with the huge influx of ponies and stories, we've also added a set of new features and implemented some policy changes. Usually Lyra would be the one announcing this, but she's got a rehearsal to prepare for (it's counts big time for her graduation score).

First let me say that MightyDragon (a.k.a. my geeky fiancé) has agreed to become a permanent moderator and help Tech and myself maintain the code.

Second, as Lyra mentioned, we'll be moving to a more restricted model of story posting. Now, before everypony starts to panic, let me explain. You'll still be able to submit stories, only now new stories will be curated and returned if they don't cover some minimal requirements. (Just for your info, this is going on even now: stories that have no connection to Midnight Castle are removed all the time.)

What do you need to do so your story gets approved for posting?
1) Be sure your story has a clear connection to MC
2) Have minimal grammar and spelling standard (at least)
3) Use the appropriate tags, especially if your story has adult content

Simple, isn't it? And in order to have everything running smoothly, here's the list of curators that will be overseeing the process:

Jade, LightSparkle, MasterOfThisAstra, RRBB, and DarkSparkle.

Finally, onto some tech stuff:

Thanks to Luna and Prince Blueblood (who has an account on the site) we have our own storage where to hold all our fics! So from now on no more hosting elsewhere (unless you want to).

We've also created a Lyra's Choice section, in which Lyra (based on her thoughts and suggestions from Mods) will post stories we subjectively like. (Please don't make this into a contest.)

Thank you!

CodeFilly

@All: CodeFilly forgot to mention that writers who have proven they understand the quality requirements will be able to post stories and updates without going through the standard submission process. (That is until they mess up and I have to step in and there will be much crying and gnashing of teeth, then Code will get mad at me and take away my modhood, and I'll cry all day, and she'll apologize, and...)

MightyDragon

Hey, you just got to the good part! Get to the smooching and the other stuff! :P

LightSparkle

Mmm. Smooching and other stuff... *drools* :) I think I'll write a story based on that.

Brush

@all: I just want to clarify something.

Curators will pass through the same screening process as everypony else, regardless of skill. I don't want anypony to think that we'll be giving each other a free pass. I can safely say that all of us have had some professional experience in literature, and we'll take our responsibilities very seriously!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: That we do, and I'm sad to say that your first submission failed to pass the required quality criteria and cannot be posted at this time.

Jade

What?!? Why? How? I checked the grammar and spelling a dozen times! Proofread it another two must be certain. Is it the language? Did I go too far with my use of suggestive language? Or did I mistag something?

Please tell me what I did wrong and I'll fix it!

DarkSparkle

@Jade: you jerk! :/ No more snuggles for you this week!

@DarkSparkle: Relax, he's just pulling one of his stupid jokes. Your story is up. I already read it, and I must say... it's definitely something new. A pony waking up in Mistmount... err, nope! Not going there!

Don't get me wrong, I like a good romance, but the way everyone just accepts her?

"What are you, deary?" The apple seller asked, handing me a large green apple.

"Umm, just a magical pony?" I smiled knowing full well how absurd it sounded. If I were in Equestria and a talking tree told me the same, the first thing I'd do is teleport to the doctor.

"Oh, are you now?" He patted me on the head. The experience was quite shocking, though not unpleasant...especially when he started scratching that spot behind the ear. "I take it you don't have a place to stay either.

Props for the ear scratching (it's so hard to reach that spot), but come on! Am unknown creature appears out of nowhere and the first reaction is "here's some food, do you have a place to stay?"

Hope you do better next chapter!

MixaMax

@Jade: Don't scare me like that!

DarkSparkle

@MixaMax: Really? It's usually you asking for snuggles.

Jade

@Jade: double snuggles then! Triple! All the snuggles! That will teach you to disagree with me!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: *sigh* What did I do to deserve this?

Jade

Everypony! RRBB didn't come to school today! When I went by her house her parents wouldn't let me see her. I managed to have a sneak chat with her butler and he told me that she'd gone on a trip to Canterlot. I'm worried.

@Luna: can you please tell me what's going on?

PaintDrop

Give me some time. I'm going through yesterday's incident. The colt's wing wasn't broken, which is good, and he did say something he wasn't supposed to. However, the force RRBB used was excessive.

I'll let you know if I learn more, okay?

Luna

I'll see what I can learn as well. Will be having a chat with Blueblood later today. Just don't worry. I'm sure it's nothing.

CEOWitch

@PaintDrop: she seemed fine yesterday, considering. Quite shaken, but she handled herself well when I saw her. Hope she hasn't done anything stupid again.

MixaMax

@All: I know I shouldn't be an asshole so soon after becoming a mod, but it would be best if we stop discussing RRBB in public? PMs would be more than necessary. Let's be a bit considerate of her, okay?

MightyDragon

Yes, that's would be a wise thing to do. And don't worry, everypony, I have a feeling she'll be fine.

InItForTheShipping

First Mystery Spoiler

Zeus Skymaster

Deity, Thunderer, Chooser

Zeus was the god that conquered known existence. His power verging his with infinity, he conquered the world and everything in it from the titans and claimed himself king. Five times he created humans to inhabit his domain, five times he failed. For the six he shattered part of his essence to sand and gave every human a grain, granting them the power of magic. This is the sixth age.

Siblings: Hades, Poseidon
Place of birth: Holy Olympus
Divine power: Thunder
Follower: Danny Williams
Focus: Rule

"I've made mistakes, you're one of my lesser ones."

Well, I wasn't expecting that. :/ Though, I must say it's so cool written! I must find out who the author of this chapter is and marry her! Or at least who came up with the idea.

The spoiler says more about Zeus than everything else so far, and yet I've so many questions that I know nothing at all! Did the titans create Earth? What was his life like as a child (somepony please write this! :)) Did he have a love interest? Children? Why is there no mention of his rumored wife?

And, of course, we have Danny stated as follower. Not that anypony is surprised. Don't know about you, but I'm so hyped about next chapter!

RRBB

Hype! I'll be doing "tasteful" young Zeus commissions. If anyone us interested PM me. I'll only be taking 5, so better hurry!

I find it interesting that it's rated he's the master of the sky (I hope that's not his second name!). Does that mean the other are masters of things as well? Poseidon is sea, but what is Hades?

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I find it fascinating that the writers are keeping so closely to the original pre classical human myths! Zeus was indeed said to be ruler of the heavens, Poseidon of the seas, and Hades of Tartarus and all above (which is to mean land).

This is the first time their dominion is so clearly defined. (Coincidentally, I had predicted such an outcome in my Zeus' Leader Sandals story.) It also begs the question if each of them gave powers the others don't.

Looking forward to this.

DarkSparkle

Girls, girls! I just had the craziest idea! What if each deity is an embodiment of a pony tribe? I mean, we discussed them being inspired by the Princesses, but what if they are each one tribe? Zeus is pegasi, Hades is earth ponies, and Poseidon is unicorns.

That would be so bash if true!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: oh, and what am I? Horseshoes? I know that the three tribes are considered a big thing, but back when I was born crystal and sea ponies were far more dominant. And what about all the other tribes? Bat ponies? Zebras? I'm I won't even get into Griffins, Dragons, Diamond Dogs, Bovines, and all the other races that fill Equestria.

Princess Celestia is as a sovereign by all, and associating her to a single tribe is *yay* insulting! Zeus being linked to a single tribe is equally absurd!

Jade

@Jade: Sorry :( I didn't think while writing. I'm just too used to the myth that I forgot completely... :(

PrinceEric

Not cool, bro.

You did get me thinking, though. What if the deities are the Everprince? Maybe they were divided into three using the shatterstone? What if the Felina corp has been one of the good guys all along? *yay* it, I mean it was the deities that got the gr8 to find the crown. Euryala tried to stop them.

Wow! I sound so Jake right now. :P

Feather

@Jade: Calm down and buy me some oats! I'm sick and starving down here! :P

@Feather: A common theory. Not the most absurd (like the Williams siblings being the Everprince). I still think that we're looking beyond what even the writers could imagine. Again, I've said this before, I'll say it again: this is where we'll see if the series goes on or stops at the first arc.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: If you're well enough to browse you're well enough to get your own oats! What am I? Your servant?!

Jade

@Jade: You tell 'em, Jade! (psst! I can send you a whip real cheap.)

RRBB

@RRBB: Y'ain't go no idea about proper whips. I have a whole collection in the barn, though I don't use them yet. Sis says I could when I get a bit older.

WaterBottle

*shocked*

SweetStuff

... can't... breathe... too much laughing!

This is great! Water, you deserve a medal! :)))

Feather

@WaterBottle: Why, Water, I never knew you were so knowledgeable in that area :D

RRBB

@RRBB: Damn right! Seems like I can teach you a thing or two! :)

WaterBottle

This is just too painful to watch :)

DannyFan

Clearly we have an expert among us. I'd never have guessed. :)

PaintDrop

I'm curious how far this will go before I lock the thread...

LyraHands

@WaterBottle: Please just stop...

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Why? RRBB always reckons she knows so much about everything! Well, I know more about whips than she ever will! So there! :)

WaterBottle

Ded! So dead right now! :))))

Feather

This must be a fic! Somepony, please make this into a fic!

RRBB

@Jade: Forget the oats! Come help me stop laughing!

MixaMax

@WaterBottle: I don't think you she means what you think she means...

YouKnowWho

Well... I think this a good time to lock the thread.

PaintDrop

Yes! Whips lead to licking!

MightyDragon

That was an unfortunate combination of jokes, Oligosaccharide. And I'll be leaving it just to teach you to read things before you post!

Love you :)

CodeFilly

Clearly my being away for a while has come at a price. Would everyone now please move on to more productive things?

Thank you!

The TechNightling

Can't say I'm surprised at where this train-wreck went. I won't lock, but please tone it down in future, okay?

LyraHands

The meaning has been explained.

RRBB

Poor Water :(

SweetStuff

Four Part Finale 3/4

This one is for you, RRBB.

Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 12, Burn this Fire

The chapter starts in Hades-Reality, where we learn that Cerberus has been a spy all along. We get a cool flashback of the first chosen (who happen to be Euryala, Echo, and Cerberus). Apparently there's a war going on and Poseidon has started the practice of selecting "mongrels" as his minions. The three of them go though a lot of trials (originally there were 24 chosen) with other chosen being weeded out. Finally they get to the gates of Tartarus, where Hades tells them that "now the real test begins."

Jump to Bellucio and Molly who are stealing a gem (everstone?) from the temple of a changeling dragon! (Not a changeling, but a dragon that can rake human form.) Slightly comedic (and definitely suggestive moments) fight scenes ending with the two escaping to safety in an attic of the dragon city. Icelos appears and tells them that's the mirrorrune, and its best they don't give it to Poseidon and Blazen. There's a long discussion with references to previous chapters with Icelos explaining that Euryala cannot think clearly until she gets her heart back and her animosity towards Poseidon subsides. It's also revealed that he, in fact, never was a chosen, but a god imprisoned like the rest as a consequences of the war. He also tells them the Everprince is the same.

Finally, in Zeus reality, the Director tells Danny that Echo is not to be trifled with. She'll use them to kill the deities then kill them since they are her chosen as well. The solution is to try and escape while killing Zeus. An intricate plan is set in motion, in which they plan to warn Zeus and hope he'll be busy with Echo leaving them to escape. Echo, however finds out somehow and while they sneak into Zeus's mansion (during one of his "constant parties") it is revealed that Eric was Echo all along (well since they went through the portal). Echo's power, among others, is to mimic appearance. (Cool! :)) She strikes and kills Danny, yet then we learn that was Zeus changed form as well (warned by Director Danny). Zeus knocks her out, then he betrays them (since he doesn't want the Everprince to return). However, the Director foresaw that and uses the "god killer" to wound Zeus so that Megan can splinter them back into the original reality.

In real reality, Danny, Megan, and Eric take an unconscious Echo to Danny's dorm. ("Danny, it's cool and all, but I already have a girlfriend." Loki points at a poster above his bed. Loki bast character ever! :)) Then, suddenly Euryala appears (whoa! Moving between realities) and tells her that everything is ready and Megan needs to get the group together again.

That's it. After twelve chapters, things are finally starting to make sense. I'd probably be more enthusiastic if everypony I knew wasn't going through a hard time. :( At least the chapter made me feel a bit better. Right now I just wish I could go to RRBB and hug her. Short too.

PrinceEric

Well, that might not be a bad idea. RRBB can use more than a single shoulder to cry on right now. I know I said I wouldn't discuss things, but she seemed a bit better yesterday, so I thought I'd share the news.

Of course, by better I mean she managed to last half an hour without bursting in tears or breaking anything. Pixel helped a lot, though. (On a side note, I had no idea that it takes the colour of its owners emotions. At least I could see she was a bit better.)

@Short&Hoofy, @SweetStuff: I guess I have you to thank as well.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I guess...

Short&Hoofy

@PaintDrop: Aww, I'm so happy! :) Sorry about the quality :( The stupid cat decided to pass by and start purring while I sang. I didn't even notice until I was compressing the file :(

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: It's perfect and you know it!

ForceFeedback

@ForceFeedback: Hello, and welcome to the site. Don't let the moment of flood fool you. We are a tight group and are always here to help each other out and discuss the magic that is Midnight Castle. :)

@PaintDrop, @Short&Hoofy, @SweetStuff: You three are great. Don't you ever forget it.

LyraHands

@ForceFeedback: Huh? O.o

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Umm, it's me. I finally decided to create an account here. You've been hassling me for days, so... err... surprise? O:)

ForceFeedback

Omg! I can't believe you did! *hugs* Missed you soooooo much :D

SweetStuff

I can't say I'm happy about this, Short. :/ But I guess talking will do no good.

@PrinceEric: At this point, I think everything is pretty much obvious. I admit the elements have been well positioned to create a mystery, but now that they are all in place there won't be any more surprises. The Everprince is Loki (nice touch in having him be a secondary character) who will inevitably revealed when he gets the crown (as I know he will). Most probably there will be a fight between the two major groups: Euryala and Bellucio to prevent that from happening ending in reality being changed again. Molly and Bellucio will go on a crazy adventure to seek out Poseidon (since we know there will be a spinoff with them), the corporations will start fighting for control of the stones (and the Wonderbolt wannabes will start fighting them). My guess that will be arc two, with everyone trying to find a way to defeat the Everprince.

Still, an interesting arc.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Somepony didn't get their vitamins today. Can't you be more like Brush?

Jade

@Jade: Not in the mood. We'll talk more when you get here.

MixaMax

I see that. That's precisely my point.

Jade

This got awkward...

ForceFeedback

Nah! I'm getting popcorn! :D

Just kidding! It's a pretty lame situation, but it's not the first time it's happened. It'll either end well or will get well in time.

@LyraHands: Okay if I invite a few pals to this place? They're a bit hotheaded, but cool at heart.

Feather

@Feather: Of course :) We'll be overjoyed to have new Nightlings :D

LyraHands

Author's Note

And here's the invite for tomorrow :D
Q&A in 23 hours :)

https://discord.gg/waJ6D

Speculator7's Offer PMs

Hey, Jade. Your stories have made quite the impression (especially your first one). Therefore, on behalf of Prince Blueblood and S.Child's writing team, I'd like to extend an invitation for you to join as our new staff writer in the place of "Orange".

Congratulations and well done! You earned it!

Speculator7

*yay* you!

Jade

I'm aware from the posts that this isn't the idea time, but I assure you the offer is real. Despite what you might think, I actually am on the writing staff, and one of my jobs is to look for potential candidates.

Now, I know any scammer could make this claim, so I'll offer proof. Shortly after receiving this message, you'll get a scroll via dragon-mail from Prince Blueblood, confirming my story and making the same offer. Please write back when you do.

Speculator7

I got the scroll.

Jade

Great! If you're still not convinced let me know and I'll see what further proof I could provide.

Speculator7

No, I believe you. I mean, I don't believe it, but I know you're not lying.

Just to be clear, you’re offering me a paid position on one of the most popular colt franchises?

Jade

Yeah. It's not classic literature that's for sure, but as you've seen we aim to keep a certain level of quality while also making it accessible to a new target audience.

Needless to say that writing for us is much different than any standard job. There's a lot of secrecy involved, along with a number of other things which you'll be made aware if you choose to join the staff. I know this sounds ominous, but it's more of a "living arrangement".

In short, there's no work hours, no office, no stuffy meetings. The only thing that matter us write good stories and be on time. :) You'll get a monthly salary and such, plus everything you negotiate with your deal with S.Child.

Speculator7

This is all a bit sudden. I haven't graduated even, and you know that I'm engaged to get married. When do I have to give an answer?

Jade

Yes, it's always a bit sudden. S.Child is a bit obsessed with not losing writers they like to the "competition" :) I don't expect you to start actively working until well after your honeymoon (unless you wish to). The main thing is to have the contract signed so there's certainty.

Between you and me, it's usually 3-4 writers who work at any given time. The rest are either doing research, coming up with new plots, or learning the existing lore (as you'll be doing at the start).

You are also free to discuss it with Max, as long as she understands the need to secrecy and is prepared to sign a NDA on the matter. Knowing her and her job I don't think that would be an issue for her.

Speculator7

I'm still having trouble believing you'd want me. I'm just a undergraduate and a fan fiction curator. The stories I've written need a lot of additional work to be publication worthy. Are you absolutely sure you want me?

Jade

Where's that fiery spirit you show on the site? ;) Yes, there's no mistake. S.Child has gone through your file (they probably know far more about you than you think). Of course, you are free to say no, though chances are you won't get the same offer again.

Speculator7

Do I at least get to ask any questions or something? I'm not some idiot who'll agree blindly just because the offer comes from an established publishing house.

Jade

Always! Just ask and if it's something I'm allowed to discuss I'll tell you right away. ;) Just so you know, there have been others recruited from aether sites.

Speculator7

Thanks.

I take it I won't be allowed to talk to anypony but Max about anything MC related once I agree? To what extent will I have to hide this? Codenames and secret discussions sounds pretty extreme for a colt series.

Jade

I can't go into the reasons for this, but can say that there's talk of removing part of the secrecy. The older generation of writers were very much into those things, but then again, times change. I suspect you've read the original series?

Speculator7

I tried. Mota has strong memories of it, but I find most of it badly done and with stupid ideas. True, it's better fit for the target audience (colts aged between 5 and 7) but it's not something I'd read for pleasure. I do get why Tech prefers it, though. There's a greater sense of wonder and adventure.

I've seen some of the links between the original and MCE, if that's what you're asking.

Jade

No, I just wanted you to see how the world and the writing style has evolved in the past few decades. Also, I'm allowed to say that initially you won't be working on Everhere, but rather on the second spinoff of the series codenamed "Blazen Adventures" (along with me and another of the group). The idea is for it to be the creation of all new authors and will only start once you (or the next candidate, if you say no) are on board.

Speculator7

Okay. And I guess meeting S.Child is out of the question?

Jade

Once you sign the contract with Prince Blueblood (in person) you'll be taken to have a one to one with S.Child. I can't say how often you'll see them after that. Personally I've seen them only once, but that's me.

Speculator7

And you guarantee publication?

Jade

Colt, if you weren't publication material I wouldn't have been asked to talk to you ;)

Speculator7

I don't know what to say.

Jade

I still need to think a few days. Can I give my answer this weekend?

Jade

Shouldn't be a problem. Just don't talk too much longer ;)

Speculator7

Thanks. This is all a bit too much.

Jade

Trust me, I know. :)

Take care.

Speculator7

Bye.

Jade

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Please participate in the poll! (Just speculation. The results will NOT influence the actual outcome.) :)

http://www.strawpoll.me/12753068

The Best Crossover

@AwesomePony: That's it! I'm kicking you out of the site! I don't care if you're LyraHands' long lost sister, I refuse to deal with your abominable writing! Usually when somepony rewrites something it's better. Well you are the one exception to the rule. Looking at your latest attempts I can only DREAM of the quality of the first chapter you sent me!

Seriously, how do you manage? "Your're" ?! Most usually settle for mixing up your and you're, but not you've transcended to a whole new level where the rules of grammar and logic no longer apply! Remember when I said you should go back to school? Don't! For the sake of everything sacred don't subject anypony else to the horror that is you! I'm truly astonished you managed to survive so long! Certainly not by writing anything!

Jade

@Jade: So, umm, I must add less stuff?

AwesomePony

I give up! I'm going to the common room to listen my stupid classmates discuss mares. Even that would be a much more enlightened conversation!

Jade

Okay, it's been 30 minutes. Somepony say something?

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Well how do you react to that? It's borderline MC related, Jade is on a rampage, and I can't even comment since I haven't read the story/chapter in question.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Don't worry, Jade is just upset because he loves the story. (And he'll be mad when he reads this, I'm sure.) I read through it as well. The idea is really good. If you can force yourself to see through the weird logic and writing issues I definitely want to read more of it.

@AwesomePony: If you want ask somepony to be your editor? Just not Jade (or my sister will kill you. She already thinks you're flirting way too much with him.)

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: I know I'm just that awesome. And sure, I guess I could let somepony provide some input. Not that I need it or anything. And DarkSparkle is still a bit upset with em over my Daring Do fanfic (which was totally awesome, by the way! She just couldn't grasp the advanced basics lot aerodynamics to make out the puzzles!)

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: you're hilarious! So glad I got you to join this site!

Oh, and what happened to "Midnight Castle is lame!"? Just so everyone here knows, she's already got the entire Chronicles collection and a reprint of the original stories. She keeps them right next to her Daring Do collection!

Feather

@Feather: I never said it was lame! And that's so not true! They are on the shelf under my Daring Do collection! Huge difference!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: I'll be your editor, if you want? I'm good at logic and grammar and spelling. And I love reading! :)

Twist

Can somepony tell me what the story is about? I know it's a MC DD crossover, but I've read a dozen similar ones. What makes that own so special to get Jade react in such a way? (For reference the last pony Jade hated so much ended up being his bride :D)

PrinceEric

@Short&Hoofy, @PrinceEric: Ha ha! :/ Really funny.

So maybe I'm a bit protective of Jade, but with all that flirting who can blame me?! It's become a daily thing! AwesomePony says how awesome she is, then gets into an argument with Jade. Now I know the difference between flames and flirting and this is not flames. :/

As for the story itself, it's good. Also I think Jade exaggerates about the errors. It's not that badly written. That doesn't mean I like you or anything, AwesomePony! Just that I don't see a reason for the story to be rejected all the time. Maybe An editor can help.

MixaMax

Ten story is about Daring Do and Danny in a foreign world. The really clever part is that it takes from both stories but at the same time doesn't. (Okay time to go into some world building explanations:))

Daring Do takes place in Equestria, right? So we have everything we're familiar with on Equestria plus a few exotic elements (things that take place on the edges of the explored world).

Everhere takes place on a human world. We have humans, magic, weird technology, and a definite lack of ponies. (Even in Everhere it's mentioned they are an exceedingly rare occurrence.)

What AwesomePony has done is transport them to a world where humans and ponies live side by side. And I'm not talking a HiE or a PoG! Evening is built in such a way that the two races complement each other. Every piece of technology is designed to be operated by magic hooves and hands. Gearworks, combined with weather magic, are prevalent giving rise things as lightning bolt mechanical carriages made of thousands of human made gears, houses are built to accommodate humans and ponies (often in the same room), and the food industry is developed in such a way so as to have protein rich plants so that humans and ponies could eat the same dishes (mean and flowers still exist).

But it doesn't end there! (Oh, no!) The corporations, Ahuizotl, and chosen of the deities (think evil Bellucio) have access to this world via secret portals! Oh and they all are after powerful artifacts (especially the everstone amulet).

That aside it's just a badly executed action packed adventure story. ;)

LightSparkle

Woooooooow! :D Want! :)))

PrinceEric

@AwesomePony: Me and SweetStuff also want to be your editors!

ForceFeedback

@AwesomePony: I can take a stab at that.

YouKnowWho

What the hay?!? @YouKnowWho: since when do you edit? @SweetStuff, @ForceFeedback: I didn't even know you two were interested in that?

PaintDrop

@ForceFeedback: What?!? No I don't!

SweetStuff

@AwesomePony: How does it feel to be a star? ;)

LightSparkle

Err, sure. :D I'll just post an a-link and you can all edit on it there. Okay? That's okay, right?

AwesomePony

@SweetStuff: Just say yes and we get to read it. ;P

ForceFeedback

@AwesomePony: It's unorthodox, but not against the rules. However, I strongly suggest doing it via PM. I don't want to add a new rule because of this.

The TechNightling

Awesome!

ForceFeedback

Sweet!

AwesomePony

I've always known I'd be an editor! It's my calling!

MightyDragon

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Socks and More

Never ever try wearing socks! I spent a huge amount money on getting a set done based on MC materials and when I finally got them... well things weren't as I imagined. It took me half an hour just to get them on. Next time I'm calling a unicorn to help. (If there's a next time.)

But wait, it doesn't end there! The things are terribly uncomfortable. Somehow they manage to combine the worst of tight and loose: tight enough to feel weird, and loose enough to fall off after ten steps. Good thing my brother went back to school or I'd never hear the end of this.

Originally, I was thinking about having my picture taken with them, but now that I saw what I look like. Nope! So much for sticking to realism. @SweetStuff, can your sis fix them for me? I want to be based on the idea but be at least moderately functional.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Aww :) I'll ask, but I'm not sure she will :( She's moping over some argument she got with Brush :/ Wouldn't tell me what happened. Instead, just locked herself in her room to "focus on her work".

Have any pics you can send? Hmm, I'm maybe I'm thinking I could get her to make some for me. She's been pestering to make my "music sensation" outfit ever I started doing that album with Octavia (who is great, by the way!). I guess asking a set of socks falls within that category >:D

SweetStuff

Typical. Someone says "don't do this" and ten others rush to do it. :/

Brush has been sad all day today as well. No hint why. She'd just come by, start rambling, sniffle a bit, then go off somewhere. If I wasn't worried I'd be annoyed.

Anypony have an idea what's going on?

Grumpy

@Grumpy: Brush just needs some space. With everything happening lately, we could give her that much, don't you think?

CEOWitch

I bet I will look awesome in socks. @Jade, what do you think? ;)

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: Stop! Wait! Let me get some popcorn!

Feather

@Feather: Huh?!

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony: You're about to embarrass yourself in front of everyone and I want to watch it happen live! :D

Feather

@AwesomePony: Sorry, Ponyville already has enough scarecrows. If anypony would look good in socks it would be Jade.

MixaMax

...we're not having a discussion on socks! Right? Right?! *yay* it! I think socks could be awesome. Well, based on pictures I've seen. I wonder, though. How would horseshoes on humans look? I mean I can imagine them on the sole of the boot, but how would that actually work is beyond me.

Do we have any griffins or dragons in the site?

RRBB

Socks are pretty meh. Really, what's so special about socks. Though I guess shaving your fur off would feel weird. Hmm.

Grumpy

@MixaMax: Why in Equestria would I wear socks?! Did you do an all nighter yesterday? :/

@AwesomePony: If socks would improve your grammar I'm all for it. Hay, I'll buy you a set myself!

Jade

Yesss!

AwesomePony

Did you know that there have been humans who have entered Equestria? On one occasion the occurrence was by accident hand required the human's memories to be wiped clean before it was returned to its proper place.

S.Child is said to have spoken with humans on multiple occasions, which in part is where the ideas of Midnight Castle got their human element.

Speculator7

@Speculator7: I was getting worried something might have happened to you. You haven't been posting conspiracy theories in a while.

@Grumpy: have you ever read MC? It's explicitly described that human skin is completely smooth. Smoother than a dragon, I think it was said.

LightSparkle

What the?!? Socks? PaintDrop, you're sick! Also, I could magic you a set. I could magic everyone a set.

TrueSparkle

And then we'll have the night of the walking socks... no thanks :/ You always manage to mess things up big time!

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: I was thinking, can you make like anything in dreams true?

RRBB

@RRBB: You want me to give you socks in your dream? -.-

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: Ha, ha. No. Can you have me get a shared dream with someone?

RRBB

Freedom! (For 10 minutes, at least.)

I love socks! And good question about the dreams. It would be so cool to be able to speak to humans in our dreams. @TheRealLuna, please make it happen? Please? O:)

LyraHands

Hello, Equestria.

I found this place by accident as I was looking things in the aethernet after reading Everhere and must say this place is great. I didn't even know there were so many fan stories (or that there were series before Everwhere).

What I wasted to say is nice to meet you all! :D

Plust

@Plust: Hey, hey! Always great to see a new Nightling. I'm LyraHands. Usually I'm here a lot, but I've had to be absent for a while. That changes tomorrow though, for I'll be back at full force!

Don't be afraid if some of the members are a bit wild (or that the occasionally weird topic pops up). Everyone here is happy to help you should you need something. Just be cool, read, write, and have fun :D

LyraHands

@LyraHands: Thanks :)

Plust

@REBB: I'm a dragon, what ya need?

Feather

Ponies without fur don't equate a human. Also, going by the griffin / dragon analogue they wouldn't need shoes anyway! Based on the way their feet function, it's say the shoes must be made of cotton (anything harder would bruise them) with the soles being covered in hard leather.

MixaMax

Actually, there are some species in the wild whose feet resemble those of a human. From observation I know that their feet are flexible and thus wearing socks would be the same as dragon's wearing gloves, yet on their feet.

It's quite fascinating really! Feet and toes are very different from hooves. Not as durable, but they could have their uses. We could say that shoes are actually a human type of horseshoe, only adjusted to be used on feet.

DarkSparkle

...

Please tell me you didn't transform your hooves into feet to experiment.

TrueSparkle

Rotfl! :)))

LightSparkle

Well, I wouldn't say I transformed my hooves...

DarkSparkle

Eww! Gross!

I can't believe you'd try something like that!

Grumpy

No, no, no! It's not what it sounds. I didn't transform my hooves!

DarkSparkle

This thread is getting too weird for me.

Locked.

CodeFilly

MightyDragon message has been deleted.

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Clouds and Tempers

@AwesomePony: Think it's funny? Arranging the clouds so that it's always raining along the path from my place to work? What are you? Ten? And that "micro tornado" that got loose in my house?

Well, let me tell you something! Do you have any idea where I spent the last few days? That's right, I was Jade, so there goes your absurd plan to change something! I'd say what we were doing but I don't to get banned, and I don't think you'll understand (since you've never done it before!)

MixaMax

This escalated quickly...

LyraHands

Sorry, Lyra, but that feather duster has delusions that my Jade actually likes her and it's getting really old really fast!

MixaMax

Oh my! AwesomePony has a crush? Like a real crush?!

DarkSparkle

I'd appreciate if the conversation moved to a more private venue.

The TechNightling

@MixaMax: Remember what we talked about? No more anger issues, okay? :) You have nothing to worry about.

InItForTheShipping

Right, let's get back to human discussions. (Max, just pass through w pro when you can and we'll discuss this, okay?)

Before discussing some special action on my part (no, I haven't asked Blueblood or Luna about it) I just want to say that I'm surprised about the events in the latest chapter of School Days. The start had much more melancholy, leading me to believe it would end up a tragedy, or a sad fic at best. This last chapter...wow. Way to give hope to a romantic relationship. (Of course, EndlessHearts could just as easily crush it in her next chapter.)

Oh, and nice to see Brush writing again. :D

Now for my theory on Chosen. Personally, I think we'll see far more characters than the two obvious choices. Remember how we saw a photo of the disciples in Poseidon reality (in Bellucio's home)? Well, I think they will be the main focus of the book, maybe it isn't only about taking artifacts, but the infighting as they try to amass power and find out what happened to Poseidon. :)

LyraHands

Quick tangent: The reading is still on, right? Spike and Starlight promised they'd helped with food and setting up the place :) Oh, this will be so much fun!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: Now sure my sis would let me, she still isn't all that impressed with this reading stuff. I read the chapters so far and think they're nice and all, but she still refuses to let me :(

WaterBottle

@DarkSparkle: I might miss it as well. Due to events beyond my control I'll be staying a bit longer in the Crystal Empire.

@LyraHands: Good theory! One other thing. Unless I'm mistaken, most of the disciples were male, right? That would make Molly the only female chosen (other than Eury, but she doesn't count). That definitely would give fuel to a lot of new stories (mostly slap, though :)).

RRBB

Yes, the slap stories :/ This is becoming a problem. The more we grow the more the amount of slap increases. For those of you who think it's fun...it isn't. @LyraHands, can we choose to delay responses to those? Or get help? It's just that lately I've been the only one to reread through those?

Mota hasn't touched anything in weeks, RRBB and Jade are sporadic at best, the rest... I honestly can't remember who the rest are!

Interesting theory, though. Doubt it, but interesting. Here's why I don't think it can work. We know that Chosen is a spinoff, so it's logical to think they will do their own thing. I also suspect that the events will take part in the same time/place as the main series; and while what you describe would fit perfectly, you forget the obvious: neither Bellucio nor Molly are in fact chosen yet ;)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: remind me, is this why you cycle through boyfriends?

DarkSparkle

@LightSparkle: That burn! :P

And yeah, I've been slacking, but that is the past! What you see is the new RRBB! The 100% positive, go through ten fics a minute, leave ponies crying with rejections RRBB! :D

RRBB

@LyraHands: Actually, I was about to talk to you about that. Maybe it's time to review the curators? I've received some quit requests, and there has been less activity lately.

CodeFilly

Are you *yay* kidding me?! A thundercloud above town hall?!? @AwesomePony: If you want to tell me anything go ahead and tell me in my face! Mare to mare! I'll be waiting outside for ten minutes! Be there or else!

MixaMax

@MixaMax, @AwesomePony: please don't do anything silly. I like you a lot and it hurts me when my close friends are fighting.

Brush

Sorry, Brush, but enough is enough. AwesomePony continues hitting on my fiancé, even after numerous warnings, she refuses to back off even after we had a serious talk, and now she's put clouds above my house and work! What's next? Summer hail?!

MixaMax

@MixaMax: Well CLEARLY you can't take a joke! A little rain never hurt anypony. And I totally am not hitting on Jade! Unlike you, I happen to trust his judgement (as terrible as it is).

Admit it, you're just jealous that I have wings and write better than you! Oh, and I'll totally be there in two minutes! Don't think you could scare me with your loud mouth nonsense! It's time for ponies to see what you really are: another loudmouth Trixie!

AwesomePony

Okay, a few lines have been crossed. For one such talks should occur at all, let alone on the main section. The only reason I'm not removing them is to let others know precisely what not to do and the consequences of such actions.

I'll be banning you both for 3 days. I hope I don't have to ban you again after that. If anything's the matter just call me and we can discuss this like civilized mares.

I'm locking the thread!

LyraHands

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Dancing With Stallions

Okay, smart alices, what do you have to say about my fanfic?!

For your information I was twelve at the time and still had a far better understanding of prose and grammar than you, Max! If I didn't have respect Jade I'd have been at your insignificant little house right now, letting your neighbours (and the entire village) know what I think about you! Not even Lyra, Luna, or Dark would be able to save you from what I was about to send you your way!

So, sure, make fun of me, why don't you? And I'll have you know that provided the political climate of the time it was normal for me to reach such literary conclusions. Need I remind you that, save for a few, nopony had even heard about Nightmare Moon? Mythology was a subject reserved for geeks and aside for, a few scholars nopony gave it any serious thought. It was entirely within reason for me to try and overcompensate by putting every possible creature inside! And, no, I didn't self insert myself! If you want to know that main hero was based on my father (or what I thought he would be since, you know, both he and my mother died when I was four!)

But, let's not go into that right now. I, just curious what you all found so terrible? Looking at it now (yes, I reread the entire thing) the pacing is passable, the style adequate (even if it was nearly a copy paste of popular coltfiction authors of the time), the plot was an ensemble of cliches, by no means worse than the majority of stories that appear on this very site. Are you jealous that I was able to use my own money to get it in print? Is that it?

Number1

You have to admit it was pretty boring, Blue. As I told you at the time, the first five enemies get killed in the exactly same way. And I'm still not sure what the purpose of the story was.

"I killed all, now let's marry?" Much wow, pone, much wow.

CEOWitch

Whoa! I had completely forgotten about that. You used to write it during summer break, right? I used to envy you so much back then. The day you got that published I secretly bought a copy then refused to talk about it. Pone, I'll probably cringe if I read it now, but at the time it was the hay!

Good times. Good times. :) why are you still using that old emo nickname, by the way? You back into painting your mane black again?

BlueEyes

@Number1: Hey, you didn't make it difficult for us to mock:

Simon spun around kicking his first opponent in the face with his heel. Three was a sound of broken glass as the scoundrel's teeth spilled on the ground, followed by a loud thump thrusting him through a nearby wall.

So, apparently humans have teeth of glass. Also, please tell us how a bipedal creature would kick someone in the face with its heel? Oh, and those convenient paper walls :)

There were five of them and one of Simon—not unusual odds, save for that being his third night without eating. If they were to battle fair and square he'd probably lose after taking out the first three attackers, if one of them knew high magic, he might not even make it that far.

So he usually faces five opponents (not shown before or after). And he hasn't eaten for three full days? Or did you mean he usually eats 24 hours, thus not eating at night would make him cranky?

"You might kill me, but you'll never crush my warrior's spirit!"

Please say this in real life! Any context is fine. I really want to witness that (and also see how many ponies manage not to barf :))

RRBB

@RRBB: Are you testing me, filly?!

Number1

Definitely! You're 12-year old self, that is ;) You really were such a stereotypical colt. I've probably read that book ten times and each time I said to myself "Mare, this is such trash!" Still better than anything Max has written, though.

Now to be serious. Liked the world and some of the ideas, but you could have used an editor... badly. Writing is good, but the story is a mess (if I'm being generous) If you want I'll edit the book and send you my version at some point. Or at least a very long list of questions for you to fix, if you want a second edition.

RRBB

Are you hitting on me right now?

Number1

Blue, buddy, the entire site knows you present no interest to her. And you must admit she got you. Stars I forgot how terribly bad it was! Argh, my eyes! :)

@BlueEyes: I had forgotten that part. :) We were such idiots. Still best vacations ever.

CEOWitch

Okay, I admit, it was terrible. But that's no excuse! When you're twelve everything you do seems great. I spent six month on that before I got Auntie to agree to get it published. Best spent allowance ever.

Just to let everyone know, if it wasn't for that attempt Mistmount Chronicles might never have appeared. I don't need to tell you how limited coltfiction is. Most deals with the same old questions time and time again with a new paint if setting.

Number1

Hey, @Number1, are you reading submissions and stuff? My friend really has some great stuff to show you (if she wasn't so self-critical :/). She goes by the nick EndlessHearts if you're curious.

RRBB

Did you just plug the work of your gf?!? Filly, I like you :) Sure, send me her stuff (everypony else: too bad, she got the idea first. No dice for the rest of you).

And don't bother about editing my "book". I just get annoyed when ponies start criticizing it at random. (Reading it ten times has earned you the right.)

Number1

@Number1: I'm sure StarChild has read it more than that. I bet she even found the dialogues romantic. :P

CEOWitch

I think you'll be hearing the sound of broken glass real soon...because she'll kick your ass the moment I tell her about this.

Number1

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Griffin Reviews

Hey, all!

With the new groups being a thing me and my girl GriffinGirlfriend have decided to create Griffin Reviews. Let me warn you it's nothing like all the other reviews (though let's face it, PrinceEric aside no one actually bothers). For ounce thing, out priority will be reviewing stories (we are still working on the Everwhere and the Chosen). Also, as you'll see the reviews are a bit different from what you might expect ;)

And since Tech hasn't thought of this rule yet, I'd like to plug our group to the max! Here's some comments from rulers, celebrities, and famous Nightlings telling you how great the group is!

(Note! These are actually real! No joke! You can ask the Nightlings in question if you don't believe us.)

That's definitely one way to look at it. -RRBB

The approach is foalish, silly, and not at all relevant to proper views. I'd recommend a few books before starting this undertaking. It did make me chuckle in a few places, though. - Prince Twilight Sparkle

Goo goo goo! - Princess Flurry Heart, as reported by Sunburst, Royal Crystaller

This is absurd, but I'll allow it. - The TechNightling

I actually find it relaxing. - Jade

Absolutely hilarious! - Celestia

Mooooom! - LightSparkle (simulation)

If this doesn't get us banned from the site, I don't know what will. - GriffinGirlfriend

My sides! My sides!!! - LyraHands, site creator

So there you have it! Oh and also check the Editor's group. It's pretty neat. ;)

Feather

@Feather: Just so you know, telling others about your group is very much allowed. And on a technical level the activity of the group is perfectly fine. I would have preferred being asked before being quoted, though seeing the way you used my words, I can only say bravo.

@all: Just be sure not to start spamming about your groups everywhere. Respect the original topic of the thread and everything will be fine. And please don't start making threads about your groups outside your groups. I'm discussing creating a section for insite advertising, so that may or may not appear soon.

Thank you for your time,

The TechNightling

@Feather: Okay, you got me :) I laughed out of my nose right on my boyfriend. (Good thing he's as curious as a cat). Can't wait you to start :)

LightSparkle

Well now that Feather has grabbed your attention, let me just say what we'll be doing in our group, as well as give a few brief samples :)

As you can imagine we'll be reviewing, but the reviews have a slightly comedic angle to them. For that reason we're only "reviewing" stories that have made a solace and with the kind permission of the author.

Here's an example:

My Human and I by Brush

Love horse, but am human. What do?
Omc! Horse now human!
Omc! Horse loves me!
Oh, horse lied to me when human. We breakup.
Forever alone.
Love horse. What do?

The real thing is a bit longer, as we go through every chapter, and a bit more in length. :) So, if you like it, please join our group :)

GriffinGirlfriend

That's great! :)

@GriffinGirlfriend: Do DDD! Do DDD! That would be so hilarious :)

YouKnowWho

Or maybe Space Molly? :)

@Quarters:I love your story but think it needs to get more exposure. If you're okay, can you let them review it? O:)

SweetStuff

I bet DarkSparkle is foaming in the mouth right now. Expect furious comment in 3...2...

RRBB

Very funny :/ You all waited until I post, didn't you? Well, I'll have you know that I don't approve of such reviews. While they might be amusing, they are creating the wrong impression and possibly endangering their chances for academia.

What you have is a satirical summary created for comedic effect. And yes, I have been asked if my taur stories can be "reviewed" (don't worry, I said yes), but once more I'll say this isn't a review! Please post a notice or disclaimed saying that so any confusion could be avoided.

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: I think it's amusing :)

Celestia

Great. Now I can expect Dark to faint again :/ At least try to wait till I get back, okay?

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things if she faints.

On my end, I approve on the Griffin initiative. I'm even considering writing a story just to have it reviewed : @Feather, @GriffinGirlfriend: Do another!

TheRealLuna

Space Molly by Quarters

Space, much space. Will ask hot roommate of my brother about going to space to snow I have smarts. *Yay* He said cool. Now must go to space!

Much stars, much wow. Stars sing. I sing back. My singing sucks.
Falling star falls on ship. Star is pony. Pony is sweet and lost, I want to do cool moves on brother's roommate, though.
*yay*! Brother's roommate said let's help star. Now must find star's home...

Feather

@Feather: If you dare to ruin my masterpiece I'll give you one in the beak! :/

AwesomePony

@AwesomePony : Wow, much wow! AwesomePony write scribbles. But can't. What do? Go find editor. Much yay! Much joy! AwesomePony hopes to get yayed soon!

RRBB

Wow, just wow! You're terrible, RRBB! :)

SweetStuff

Anypony going to the Crystal Empire? There's something I need to do there and I need a ride...and a hammer.

Grumpy

@Grumpy: hey, chill a bit buddy. At this point I'm not sure if you're a troll or a Brush fanboy :/ Seriously, if you want to help help, but stop posting vague threats, will you? Just because no one has called you out doesn't mean we've not seen it. It just means people are trying to be polite!

LightSparkle

You're scary when you get mad.

@Grumpy, we understand what you're saying, but there's a difference between anger and reason. Trust me I know what it's like to be angry all the time, but you must find ways to control it.

Besides, I doubt Brush would be happy if you hurt somepony she adored.

TrueSparkle

Fiiine. But only for you. I'm still mad. :/

Grumpy

Author's Note

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Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Paint's SO Discussion PMs

Hey, are you mad at me or something? We almost don't talk lately, even at school. You're either sleeping on the desk or moping. I know I haven't been the best friend lately (and that my love issues nearly made you go insane), but to get so distant…

Also, Short seems to worry about you a lot. I tried asking her more about it, but she'd only at it was related to your coltfriend. (The one nopony has ever seen.)

So, if there's anything just tell me okay? It's me you're talking to. We've been best friends ever since I could remember, and while Short is the fluff of my mane, I'm still here to help, okay?

RRBB

It's fine. Really. I've just not been getting enough sleep lately, that's all. Sorry I made you feel bad. Nothing has changed between us. Okay, so maybe things are starting to change a bit. You've caught the love bug, so you know what I’m talking about. It's normal for me to devote more time to him than other things.

PaintDrop

Is he beating you?

RRBB

What the *yay*?!? Where did that come from? Of course he isn't! What do you take me for? I'm not some helpless idiot that can't take care of herself. And before you ask, I've not been dumped! We happen to be very happy together! If anything I wish I could spend more time with him!

Short&Hoofy told you, didn't she? After everything I've done she treats me this way. Not that I'm surprised. It's not her fault. She’s drawn to broken things and tries to fix them.

PaintDrop

Okay, that was mean. Still, everything is alright. Frankly, I’m surprised you’re even asking me! So what if I went to the hospital a few times? It's nothing major! The doctors said so themselves. Do you think for a moment that they would let me go if they suspected something was wrong? Would they let me go if they thought my boyfriend was hurting me?

PaintDrop

I know you better than you think. :/

And don't blame Short. She sometimes talks in her sleep about the things that bother her. It's sweet sometimes, but hearing her whisper that she’s afraid your boyfriend is hurting you, and in the middle of the night, is scary as *yay*!

So I'll ask you just once. No ifs, maybes, or other *yay*. Is he hurting you?

RRBB

It's complicated…

I know that's not what you want to hear, but it really is. Strictly speaking, I'm hurting myself because of him, but it's not that simple. I'm not slamming the door on my leg, for one thing. Just getting to be with him is exhausting and sometimes I push myself more than I should.

He's a fine stallion. Truly! If anything he's trying to get me to stay away for a while until I get better, but I don't want to. I’m an earth pony! I know how strong I am and how much I can take. The time we spend together is beautiful… at times it's the only thing I can think about. It's magical, really magical.

So, yes maybe he's hurting me a bit, but he makes me feel good ten times more.

PaintDrop

I'm not one to judge, but how extreme are we talking about? And don't give me that answer about the doctors. I've done plenty of stuff on myself without anyone suspecting (other than you and now Short).

RRBB

Nothing extreme, I promise you. We're pretty much at the kissing stage… maybe a bit of intense kissing, but nothing more.

I think it has more to do with me becoming a total slob. If I eat and exercise regularly I think I'll start feeling much better, and definitely stop falling asleep in class.

PaintDrop

It's not like you were falling asleep a month ago. :/ I'm trusting you on this, but if goes any further I'll make you tell me everything (and if that fails I'll make Short tell me, and you know I can easily manage that!)

Now that I've done my good deed for the day, give me details. And don't think I believe you when you say you're just “kissing”. How far have you gone?

RRBB

You really wouldn't understand. :/

How far have you gotten with Short?

PaintDrop

Do you really want me to go into that? I could I know, and in great detail. There's a reason I call her Squishy, you know?

RRBB

I’m sure you could. I'm not you, though. We might have gotten a little further, but that's all I'm going to say.

PaintDrop

Cool. So why can't anypony meet him? Unlike me you're in good relations with your parents. They'll literally buy you anything you wish. To keep him secret from them he must have done something pretty unforgivable.

Is he dirt poor, is that what he is? You said he was an artist or something. Those are always broke. Hey, I totally understand you. I won't tell you what sort of looks I still get from my mother when Short is near. The only saving grace is that she's from Canterlot and her sister works at the Mayor’s office. You know the sort of “if you have to” acceptance ones gives when she has to.

Is it something like that?

RRBB

No, it's nothing like that. He doesn't have bits, but he doesn't need them. That's not the issue. It's more like I don't think my parents would approve his way of life. To be honest, I don't think you would. If I bring him here I'll be out in a position to choose, and I don't want to to do that…

PaintDrop

You're scared what you might choose. Aren't you?

RRBB

Terrified.

Remember how you were about to flee Ponyville with YouKnowWho and leave your parents behind? It's sort of like that. I love my parents. I love you, and Short, and the meddlesome trio, and a lot of other ponies. I love the site and my friends, but if I'm to choose…

I just don't want to think about it.

PaintDrop

Well, you're the reasonable one. If you can't figure it out, I certainly won't be able to help :P Just smile from time to time, okay? Even Pixel notices the difference when you're in a dark mood.

RRBB

Oh. Well, if I’m disturbing Pixel in some way, I better pull myself together. :P

It's fine. I promise not to get in trouble before telling you and Short. (As if I didn't have a set of parents already.)

PaintDrop

There, that wasn't too hard :) And for your reward I'll tell you a closely guarded secret (share it at your own peril).

Short has incredibly ticklish hooves. I barely need to touch the frog of her hooves with the tip of my tongue to get a reaction.

RRBB

Argh! Too much information! :/

PaintDrop

Admit it! Now you want to try it >:D

RRBB

Goodbye, RRBB!

PaintDrop

Author's Note

And here's a list of all active members with ID or speculation :)
Member List

Courtesy of NeonGreenTiger

Light's Depressed PMs

Author's Note

With day/chapter 200 approaching, I'm thinking of having a live Q&A this Saturday.
I'll provide more information on this and a link as the weekend approaches :)

Light's Depressed PMs

You want to know what's funny? My latest ex dropped me because of you. Which is absurd, everything considered. Sometimes I really don't understand things. It's like the whole universe is conspiring against me. Karma really is a *yay*

LightSparkle

Well, I can't help it if I’m perfect. Not that I ever was into muscles, though. Then again I’m not sure I can ever settle down. Things are just simpler with kiss and runs.

Just say the word and I'll tell him I'm not interested. Will take me less than a second.

Simile

Nah, forget it. He already got taken by that edgy *yay*. I *yay* you not, I think she’s been keeping an eye on him ever since we hooked up, then the moment he dumped me, she pounced. Makes it worse that we’re friends. Or were friends. Still haven't decided on that.

And don't you give me “I'll never settle down”. I know you far better than you think. And don't think I didn't see the glances you were giving my aunt.

LightSparkle

Well, if the right mare or stallion comes along sure, why not. But until then it's party central. And to be honest, most don't mind.

And your aunt is hot. And fun.

Simile

I vomited a bit in my mouth. It was bad enough seeing you try to flirt with her. I suppose I should be thankful you didn't do the same to my mother. That would have been too much.

You realize both of them are ancient, right?

LightSparkle

your mom… *sigh* I know when somepony is out of my league. Beside with some of the things that happened I'm surprised she acted as calmly as she did. I mean sharing the same room as you...

And your aunt doesn't look a day over thirty. Despite what you say she's a looker, as our night clubbing could attest. :)

Simile

Argh. I'm already sick, no need to make things worse. :/ I'm the last person to judge, but really?

By the way, are you thinking of coming out? On the site I mean. The others will understand. I mean quite a few already came out. Things turned out well for them. Why are you so terrified it would be different for you?

LightSparkle

My case is very different and you know it. Besides, I don't think most of them are ready. Not DarkSparkle for certain. I suspect InItForTheShipping knows. She didn't say anything which was nice, but mostly because she was surprised. Also I have very the site and Luna to thank, and you. Being a Nightling showed me in a very different light. I can't expect everypony would be like that, though.

Simile has fans. Me—not that much.

Simile

Seriously? The past is the past. Plus you told me yourself how much you've changed.

LightSparkle

Maybe I will one day, but not today. For the moment let me enjoy my life as Simile.

On that note don't you think it's time to have a get-together? Jade is married, poor guy, so he has no excuse not to be working. Well, Max is an eternal excuse, but he knew what he was getting himself into when he accepted. (Personally, I think she'll break him like a twig.)

Simile

Yeah, Max… The things she posted got me thinking. Do you think we're taking the right approach? I mean an adventure sounded like a great idea, but aren't we going too far? A new set of characters, explaining some dark and ancient secret as old as the gods themselves… is that what we're supposed to do?

Already we have Euryala, which is a controversial character, even if more and more ponies are starting to like her. We have Blazen, who has always been considered edgy, and we have this monster chasing thing. It's not at all small and homey like the original MC.

LightSparkle

Wait a minute. Are you actually doubting yourself? You of all ponies? Light, if there's anypony who's fit for this it's you. The MC stories were written in a different time for a different audience. You can feel what's the right way to go. If you couldn't do you think Luna would have chosen you? Jade is great, but with the imagination of a rock, I’m terrible with character emotions, you're the one who actually knows what's going on.

Besides, remember you beat your mother in the latest contest :) Doesn't that tell you anything?

Simile

Only because she let me win. And I am worried. Everyone thinks my writing is so good, yet tune final product is nowhere near the real thing. Did you read Chosen to the end? Both they and Everhere are miles ahead of anything I could come up with.

Sometimes I think the best thing to do is apologize to Luna and ask her to find somepony else in my place.

LightSparkle

Mare, you need a one night stand. :/ Or something more, knowing your delicate inner nature.

Drop everything for a weekend come with me. We can go to a few places. Have some laughs, lots of drinks and something exciting after?

Edit: Not with me, of course. Not that I would mind, but knowing you…

Simile

Heh, no thanks. I better start collecting cats. Gotta built up some experience for when I'm fifty.

Anyway sorry for the rant and all that. The thing is I'm feeling alone right now. Funny how I say this after my family was here for two weeks, followed by WaterBottle and her crush, and then I had my friends literally take turns staying here nursing me back to health from the living plague… :/

Guess that now that I'm not fighting any sickness my body has decided it would let me experience the emotional *yay* :/

LightSparkle

Hmm. Didn't you forget somepony?

Simile

Yeah, yeah. You're my best friend :P Seriously, friends aren't the problem. I’m lucky there, even if I have a messed up family. I guess I'm just afraid I'll become alone and like them. That scares me.

LightSparkle

When you get emotional you sure pull out all the stops. :/ Tell you what, how about you focus on the grand project for now? Wiring something that large will both take your mind off things and serve as practice for the real work to come :)

Simile

I might. I think I'll go to sleep now.

Night.

LightSparkle

Night.

Simile

Clothes and Speculation

Reviews have been slow lately, so I've been wondering about something: clothes. Not sure if this hasn't been mentioned before, but the way humans use clothes (as described in MC) is strange. The shoes thing I can totally understand, we ponies have horseshoes as well, so there's some logic to it. Same with jewelry, but everything else…

It's like they are completely opposite to us: always wearing clothes and taking them off on special occasions. (Bellucio is a good example, who always has his shirt unbuttoned or off during modeling, but not anywhere else.

So what do you all think on the this? (Especially the fashion pros here.:)

GriffinGirlfriend

@GriffinGirlfriend: is that the sort of deep conversations you have here? :P

GLGJ

@GLGJ: don't be rude, bby. (If you’re mean to everyone AwesomePony will be jelly :P)

Clothes are lame to the max, but MC makes them cool. That's why I think they have them. They are in all the comics. Impractical as *yay* but they’re still there. Sometimes they're even cool. I love zippers! Whoever invented that is some sort of genius.

Feather

Actually clothes are a very interesting subject! Thanks for bringing that up, GriffinGirlfriend!

Unlike us, Humans seem to treat clothes as a second skin, one without which they feel naked (see what I did there? :)) It’s precisely why they are described in such great detail in the stories. So far I have categorized twenty-three categories of clothes, although I expect I could combine them into less, though that wouldn't be as accurate as I have them now.

The items that absolutely fascinate me are socks! I know it's never been described but having splitters with fingers made of cloth is just so cute! Maybe I'll try to make a set of human socks for Hearth’s Warming. :) and I'll add buttons as well!

DarkSparkle

@DarkSparkle: umm, I don't think socks work that way…

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: oh? And how would you know? Are you a socks expert all do a sudden. Functionally there should be more socks with fingers than without! Humans have toes, after all, so it only stands to reason.

DarkSparkle

Argh! Again with the socks! :/ Why can't this topic just die. It seems every few weeks somepony restarts it out of the blue. Then a dozen threads “who would cutest in socks” appear and are ALWAYS won by Bellucio (with Eric or Danny being a close second second).

In regard to the original post, yes. Things seem to be the opposite there, as hinted in a few chapters. Humans tend to freak out when they see someone without clothes. And it's also clearly a sexual thing based on all the blushing. I guess all clothes are seen as suggestive. Still, I'm sure that we’ll all agree this makes the MC universe so unique! Personally, I almost can't remember any other series (coltfiction or other) in which clothes are treated in this way. And the most interesting part: it's so seamless that we think “this is a neat idea” and accept it.

The series is far richer because of clothes, not to mention the many instances they have been used to progress the plot or help the characters get out of a tricky situation. Also, as we've seen, they are great for cosplay :)

MixaMax

Oh, shirt-kun, you compliment me so much. I want to be with you forever!

So do I, skirt-chan! We were meant to be a set! I never want to be separated from you!

*Trousers-chan looks at them from behind the corner and sighs* I’ll make you mine, shirt-sempai. I might not be girly like skirt-chan, but I will make you mine! You deserve so much better than a flirt that waves about for everyone. Because if I can't have you I'll tear myself in two.

Brush

@Brush: you say the sweetest things. ;)

Going back to clothes, i’d just like to note that apart from everything else they are used for protection. I wear them all the time at work so I can say that they aren't just for show. (Yeah, yeah, I've heard all the stallion jokes. And first to tell me I “fly like a stallion” gets a hoof in the face!)

Sometimes it's just really annoying how ponies (and big shots) think that the reason I wear my uniform is “to look sexy for PR purposes”. Idiots have probably never flown a day in their lives! What's next? Armor is just there to make guards look sexy too?

Sorry for the rant. Just had another annoying day at work. :/

CEOWitch

*earnibbles CEOWitch*

Brush

I can't believe I'm reading this! Clothes again? Is this a fetish thing? I mean I can understand and agree that clothes can be very sexy, but starting another conversation about it…

Who am I kidding:P I love human clothes! In fact, if any of you want, I could bring a few sets of “genuine” human socks at the convention.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: won't that be terribly expensive? Pony socks are very easy to make, but human socks (as described in the stories) Require a lot of effort and patience. Making them is tardily easy.

I'd still like a pair to study the design, if possible.

Candle

Did you know that there’s a surprisingly large number of genuine human clothes in Equestria? Princess Celestia herself is rumored to have a whole closet full of them, diligently collected throughout the years.

Among those there's said to be: a prom gown, a leather jacket, seven sets of human shoes, two pairs of gloves, and several sets of trousers and t-shirts.

Speculator7

@Candle: don't worry about it :) I’ll get a few pairs for you and SweetStuff’s “fat sister” :)

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: said fat sister is making enthusiasm horse noises behind me. Also notes she isn't fat, but would like 6 pairs.

*sigh* See what I have to put up with? I'm kidding, she's great. (When she allows me to have me space, that is.)

Will be great seeing you at last! <3 Can't wait!

SweetStuff

@Speculator7: Oh, no! You know!

@LightSparkle: Sorry, dear, I just couldn't resist :)

Celestia

@Celestia: Mom! :/ Will you stop that!

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: If you can order a pair of human gloves I'd be very grateful. Money is no issue :)

Bob

Please continue the “orders” in the appropriate sections, or via PMs.

Thank you!

The TechNightling

Countdown to CrystalCon

Hello, everyone.

We are currently two weeks away from the next awaited chapter of Midnight Castle: Everhere. While that is wonderful news on itself, that also marks two other occasions:

Firstly, in two weeks the very first Nightling Convention (officially named Crystal Castle after some last minute name changes) will take place. A quick reminder, thanks to @Luna, @number1, @InItForTheShipping, and out very wonderful @LyraHands the convention is a fact and will take place in the Crystal Empire for 3 glorious days (conveniently during the weekend).

The link for registration can be found, as always, on the main page. There are links to hotels with discount prices, be sure to check there first if you need a place to stay.

Secondly, CodeFilly and MightyDragon will be having their wedding celebration (as previously promised). Being the sweet couple that they are, they have requested that no one brings any gifts. They appreciate the thought, but would feel uncomfortable receiving anything. I, however, would like to ask you to be at your best behavior and give them enough breathing space. That's likely to be the best gift possible.

With that the countdown has officially begun!

The TechNightling

I still liked CrystalCon better. I guess I can see why Crystal Castle is better for an official name.

@InItForTheShipping: the shipping contest still is in effect, right?

RRBB

@RRBB: you're already shipped, you can't participate! :P

For the moment looks like I won't be going :( I know, you're all disappointed. Well, so am I. Make sure to take lots of pictures, okay? It will be as if I’m there with you :)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I can take you if you want to. Just say the word. Also, if you're not feeling well you can stay at one of Jade’s places, or at RRBB’s.

I think you could use some fun right now.

MasterOfThisAstra

Thanks, but I think it might be too soon. Appreciate the thought, though. You have fun and send photos.

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: I'm still hoping you manage to make it. There's something special planned which I think you'd appreciate :)

Everypony else, you know the general rules: wash, drink water regularly, don't annoy stallions (including asking to take photos with them). As I've said before crystal ponies are very understanding, but that's no reason to abuse their hospitality. Also, please no alcohol at the event. ;)

InItForTheShipping

Did you know that the capital of the Crystal Empire is one of the places that had an active portal to Earth? At one point several of the authors through and got to experience a close encounter with a human first hoof. It is also claimed that at least one human has come to Equestria on undercover visits.

Speculator7

@Speculator7: I'm curious will you go to the convention? There are a few things I really want to ask you…

As for me, I'll be going 100%! No way I'm missing MightyDragon’s wedding :D I'm sure DarkSparkle will as well, unless there's some emergency again.

TrueSparkle

@InItForTheShipping: you okay hosting a flock of Griffins? No idea hie MC became so popular, but it did. It started for laughs and guts mostly, then everyone read a little, there were theories, arguments, memes… Now we have the best worst club in Equestria :) HappyG is to blame.

@GLGJ: you coming, lover?

Feather

@TrueSparkle: Don't worry, the Wonderbolts will be there to keep an eye on things. As in we’ll be on duty. Cap took the weekend off, of course, which leaves me and CEOWitch in charge.

The afterparties better be worth it!

Fleetfoot

@FleetFoot: Just be ready for the massive, and I do mean massive, fan presence. Actually, do you know the most common ship at the moment locally? Euryspike. (Don't look at me, I gave nothing to do with that!)

InItForTheShipping

There's actually a very logical explanation for that. Spike is seen as the hero of the Crystal Empire (I, myself, am a fan). Fleetfoot / Euryala was the postermare for Everhere. It's only logically that the two create a power couple.

On an entirely different note. Max and I will be holding a small celebration of our own to mark our wedding. It will be much smaller than MightyDragon’s and also private. I'm saying this, since the information will inevitably leak out and I don't want anyone to feel offended for not being invited.

Let me stress, that My father’s mansion isn't a palace and We’ll only be inviting ponies who we know well. If you're not invited that doesn't mean I hate you or anything, it's just a space constraint.

Jade

I, for one, am really looking forward to this. It will be the first time I go to an event in a while. Not sure how I'll take it, but I’ll be there.

I already got my ticket, so unless I lose my nerve again, it'll be fine.

LittleFinger

@LittleFinger: no worries, we’ll help you chill :) Stick with us and we’ll be set.

RRBB

Will you be bringing Pixel?

SweetStuff

Umm, My whole family will be going, but I, not sure about that… :( It's nice and all that I'll get to be at the event and Applejack is really happy she'd be able to sell Apple family pies, but I'm not sure my brother can handle something of the sort.

His marefriend found it amusing so urged him to go, but knowing some of the Nightlings… umm… I’m not too sure.

WaterBottle

@SweetStuff: Of course! Someone needs to adorably chew my adorable Squishy’s ears :)

@WaterBottle: Relax, your brother’s not that hot. Besides, mist aethernet mares are just talk. Even then, if any dares give him any trouble, just let any of us know and we'll come down on them as a foreclosure inspector!

@all: Who will cosplay?

RRBB

@RRBB: Please no? I don't feel comfortable wearing human clothes in public…

Short&Hoofy

@Short&Hoofy: That sounded so wrong! XD. So you only wear them in private for RRBB? Well, my brother was into that so I can't blame you, but still… it's really true what they say about the quiet ones. ;)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: Quiet ones? Ha! Shows you're nowhere near my room at night :P

RRBB

Yay, and I'm locking the thread before things get any iffy :)

There you go, all! This thread has been licked! :D

HopHop

Also, don't hit on Jade?

MightyDragon

LightSparkle's Recap

I wasn't going to do this, but I made a promise so I'll do a sort of recap of some things so I will. (I’m not sure how useful this will be, but here goes.)

Before I start I just want to thank a those who helped put things into perspective (you know who you are). I might now have always showed it, but I appreciate what you've done.

@Simile: it might take sometime for me to get used to that. It's just a bit too weird and… I guess if it works for you then it's fine. Stars I think it's awkward, but that's just me.

So, recap…

First was the time in Ponyville. The place sure has changed since my sat visit. I kept hearing how everything is the same, but let me tell you it isn't. Houses are painted a different color, some buildings are a bit larger, things seemed slightly more organized than before. The food, though, is as good as ever! I so much missed that! And PPI, you are the best! Please jot down a few recipes for me to take home? I'd appreciate that.

The welcome was great even if DarkSparkle completely forgot and ran off doing this or that :/ (just kidding, I can't be mad at you). And thanks everyone for coming to help carry the silly clothes I brought. (SweetStuff, you're a real hero taking nearly a fifth of it to your sister. I can't even imagine what she'll do with them.)

Brush, you look different. I'm not sure if it's all you or CEO has changed you, but trust me you're way better like this. And CEO, you're a show off as always! :P I must say that the “kids” turned out much more mature and manageable than I expected. I keep forgetting that you've practically graduated. (RRBB’s posts don't help either.) in any event I had a great time, then a great party at Sugarcube Corner. The cake on the ceiling was a bit much (don't ask) but I'd do everything else again.

Next the trip to the Crystal Empire. Having your own train sure is nice, even if it was crowded. I've no idea who most of the ponies were or where they came from, but I just know there were a lot. TrueSparkle, Rarity, DaBoss, and I had to be “in charge” of a carriage. Since I was visiting I got to be in charge of the Nightlings I knew best (also I got to be at the back and away from the engine :)) All I can say is that the trip was great, but I'm getting too old for these things. By the time we got to the Empire I thought I'd fall asleep in my tracks.

The opening was a thing that happened. Having Danny was a nice touch :) I'd have gone with Megan, to be honest, but that's just me.

Was great to see PaintDrop and her changeling. Actually I found him cool in a gothy sort of way. I really don't see what the big deal is with him, also there's seriously nothing wrong with the stallion being a bit older :/ (Does anyone bat an eye when a mare is with someone a bit younger?)

Sadly the following day I caught some bug and had to spend it mostly in my room (thanks InItForTheShipping for the room, by the way. Was super cool of you, especially the arrangements.) Also, big thanks to Simile for the long and very awkward conversation. It did help me get a few things in perspective.

I know this is the place where I namedrop everyone else I've met, but there was just so many. I never expected to be such a big deal O:). The only thing I remember was the Butterfly panel. And for those of you who PMed me saying I looked really sick…thank you, I was. Or one point I almost fainted. (Not making this up.)

@CodeFilly, @MightyDragon: sorry for not being much fun at the party. It was nice of you and I like how you enjoyed the finger-spinners. (Yes, they were build for fingers in mind, but I guess you can spin them on your horn.)

And now for something surprising…

I went to see my mother. For those of you who suspect who she is, yes it's true. For the rest, sorry but I won't comment this in public yet, and would appreciate if you don't either. I’ll only say once I got rid of my baggage it was quite enjoyable. (Hear that, Mom? I said it! :P) Joking aside, I know some of you have strained relationships with your parents. I'm not one to give advice, but based on my experience give them a chance. There are enough jerks in the world for you not to try and make things work. In my case it did. I spent a much better time if I did (even if the topic of my aunt going out with one of my best friends was raised… I'll still say that's awkward as heck!)

I'll be going back to university tomorrow, so I won't be able to see any of you I haven't seen already, but for what it's worth thank you for having me. It's definitely been the highlight of my summer :)

P.S. Feather, you're on! :D

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: as the above mentioned aunt, I'd just like to say get in line with the times! (Which is silly coming from me :P) Things really aren't that bad as you think. Also, I'm going to visit you in a few weeks.

ColdLight

@ColdLight: do I have a choice? This time get your own room! I don't care how awkward the results are! Your fun your risk! That goes double for you, @Simile!

LightSparkle

Sunny, I don't know why you got it in your head that you are anything less than wonderful. Let me say publicly that there's nothing wrong with you (apart from being on the sensitive side, and not eating enough).

You are my magnificent daughter and I'm done making mistakes…I hope. So anytime you decide to visit just do it. Besides I know I won't be the only one who'll be glad to see you.

(Besides, we can gossip about your aunt behind her back :P)

Celestia

The thread has been locked by request. Have fun speculating, everypony :)

LyraHands

Chosen 3 Preparations

@all: Apparently I'll be in charge with the next chosen reading. Dark and co had to be urgently to deal with a potential Windigo problem (or just a friendship problem) and based on the distance they'll be away for at least a few days. Nothing to worry about I'm sure, but that means that I and HopHop will have to take care of the read spells and the *sigh* organization of the event.

Err… it starts tomorrow… and…err… that's it. O:)

TrueSparkle

@TrueSparkle: Wow! Much skill! You da best! :P

Sorry none of us could go :( Still rebuilding things here. Next time we'll definitely be there! Also, post what happened, like last time :D Funny posts are always fun.

GriffinGirfriend

@TrueSparkle: Pick me! Pick me! I love organizing stuff! (Also, there's literally nothing going on at the mayor’s office because of the attacks, so I can use the distraction.)

I'll have everything ready in a bit and post it here :)

@GriffinGirlfriend: that bucks :( Let me know if you girls need any help in anything, okay?

MixaMax

@TrueSparkle: you achieved a miracle! Max isn't being useless for once! Although now she has one more excuse to avoid her foal-producing duties :/. Nothing going on at work, you said? Hmmm. Not how I remembered it.

Jade

@PPI: So this is how you do it? Very sneaky! Well have words :P

Hmm. Maybe? ;)

LightSparkle

@MixaMax: you got it! I'll put half on Twilight’s tab and the rest is a gift from me :D

Edit: @LightSparkle: err, if you promise to keep it secret I'll grant you one wish? O:)

PPI

Oooh, busted! :)

I think this is a great opportunity to test out Dreamproductions. :) @Simile, @ColdLight, any chance you could make it? I know it's on very short notice, but this is a golden opportunity and we need all the experience we can get. Well, mostly I do, but still! :)

@MixaMax: give me a time asap so I know how to schedule my own things. On, and keep in mind that most of my class are studying so no overnight staying and such (see? I can be responsible and think of the wellbeing of others! :P). I'd suggest tomorrow lunchtime as the best time: idea for a break and a snack. On that note, maybe organize something about food?

RRBB

@Short&Hoofy: is she always so demanding? :P

@RRBB: And just to have you know Jade is being silly because my work load last month was a bit much. (Yay for yearly subsidized programs.)

Tomorrow noon it is. Will give everyone interested to know in advance. Food and drinks will be provided, of course (I'll talk to Applejack ~~and PPI~~). HopHop said she was okay with taking a day off to help out.

@TrueSparkle: you have the castle ready.

@PrinceEric: I've also made arrangements for you to come. CEO will grab you tomorrow morning. Just be sure to warn your school today.

MixaMax

I guess I better get to work, then… :/

EverSpike

@InItForTheShipping: Honey, can I go? Such an important event needs adult supervision. I'll take Flurry with me.

SaltyHuman

@SaltyHuman: I'd adult supervision is needed I'll send an adult and not you.

Have fun :) And don't let Flurry make a mess, okay?

InItForTheShipping

@SaltyHuman: well done on the critical success, boss :) Sadly, I notched. :( Promised CodeFilly we'd spend the day scroll hunting throughout Canterlot. O:)

MightyDragon

Well, surprise surprise I'll be joining this time! Lectures are overrated and I have an A anyway. I can lend a hand with magic if you need me, or anything actually.

@CodeFilly: I think I have a book that you'd love :) (it's sort of LAAG but viewed from an entirely new perspective. Really fun to read.)

@HoofTies: Any chance we get to see you? *nudge*

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: No!

HoofTies

@RRBB: Cold won't make it. Guess it's just me. There's a high chance she deals with the Windigo again :/ And even if she didn't, that's way too close to her work hours (as I remember it lasted 4 hours last time).

Simile

Hello, my darlings!

Just wanted to say that a bit of rest is fine, but please don't neglect about your exams. This is, without a doubt, the most important step in your adolescent life, don't treat it lightly! There will be plenary of time to have fun after your graduate, but don't ruin your chance to pursue your dreams.

Thank you,

Grace

Tyrant!

SweetStuff

My sister will gladly come to the reading! I reckon after our last talk she's opened a lot to the idea, even if she refuses to start reading MC (I've tried, but she's more stubborn than me :/)

WaterBottle

@RRBB: I shall try to make it. I want to watch Simile try her best dreamscaping!

ColdLight

@LightSparkle: would you be comfortable with me going as well? I admit this is only 50% excuse to put you in a situation in which it would be difficult to say now. The rest of 17% are of genuine interest to see what a reading is like. :)

Celestia

Mom! You troll :/

And no! You’re an adult so go if you want to! Or not! I won't get myself caught in that trap. I plan to go because that's my decision and it has nothing to do with anything else!

Also, what are the remaining 33% percent?

LightSparkle

Err, girls, is it okay for me to come as well? I know it's still awkward after what happened, but… I'd really like to.

LittleFinger

@LightSparkle: Why, to ridicule ColdLight, of course. Why else?

Celestia

@LittleFinger: sure :) You seemed great fun at CrystalCon, I'm sure you'll be here as well. Just one thing to note: foals, so minimal drinking ;)

TrueSparkle

I won't be able to go :/

Grumpy

@Grumpy: Aww :( Take care.

TrueSparkle

Ha! This is the worst place ever! You girly ponies going to readings now? Pathetic! :P

SteveThumb

@SteveThumb: Want to say that to my face, *yay*?

LittleFinger

LittleFinger… SteveTHUMB… I ship it! :)

MightyDragon

@MightyDragon: Nu! I ship it!!!

InItForTheShipping

@CodeFilly: where did we go wrong to end up marrying shippers… *sigh*

SaltyHuman

Author's Note

Speculated character list (courtesy of NeonGreenTiger):

EqF List

The Corporate Analysis

Hey, all! Wow is this chapter crazy? :))) I had to read it three times just to be sure I didn't mix things up. I usually don't do this, but this chapter had a different style I found. Please tell me if I'm imagining things, but it's a bit darker and the characters feel just a bit off. Well, not off, but they are not as full of emotion as in previous chapters. The plot makes up for it, thought :D

The chapter starts with someone running from a yet unknown corporation (Grogar corp). He uses some pretty powerful artifacts to dispatch the squad of sorceresses after him but is wounded in the process. He them makes sure his suitcase is intact and goes towards Mistmount.

Meanwhile we have a funny scene with Molly. At first it seems like she's building up the courage to ask him out, practicing everything, then she goes to his house, asks to speak with him and messes everything up in funny ways. Just as she manages to somewhat fix the mess she's made and is about to ask the “big question” (what the question is remains unspecified) Athena literally breaks into her reality and asks if Molly loves him. The scene crumbles and we discover this is all a dreamscape. Molly is furious, while Icelos just comments that at least she's gotten better at dreamscaping. We find out the girls have been sharing a room since Molly’s return. Athena is amused by the development, while Molly blasts magic at her indiscriminately. At one point Danny pops in and tells them to keep it down. (I love it how no one is surprised that Athena is invulnerable at this point.) There's some girl talk (Athena shares she never was particularly interested in romance) and they go to have breakfast.

Blazen and Caprice soon come visit (we see there's a slight rift between them). There some talk about what's going on. Seems like Euryala has refused to come (she fears Athena for some reason) so she went off to in estimate something. A bit later Eric rushes in with a warning. Apparently he received a dream from Princess Luna that a danger is approaching and they should be ready. Icelos comments to Molly that he hasn't sensed anything, when suddenly the guy running from the Grogar corp enters, a knife to Bellucio’s throat and demands a favor.

At the same time we have a scene with Cassandra, her brother, and a Felina witch squad investigating the scene of the battle earlier. Cassandra is talking with her father asking why Grogar is invading their territory. Her father seems visibly worried, and tells her to show extreme caution. (Grogar are clearly a big deal.) Cassandra tries to find more about them, when she's suddenly pulled into a pocket reality by Euryala. Cass is ready to fight, but Eury says she's not here for that, and shows two cars with the Grogar logo on them. The two then start searching through the cars for information.

The standoff in Danny’s house increases. The guy (called Jay) seems unimpressed by anyone there, including Athena, and just wants them to ensure him safe passage through Mistmount. In exchange he says he’ll give them something that would help them keep off the corporate radar. Reluctantly Danny agrees and starts calling the rest of the grand 9, when suddenly the Everprince appears outside one of the windows, claiming that Jay is not to be trusted, thus starting a double standoff.

Euryala and Cassandra get out of the reality bubble, after finding that Jay has stolen “the Minutes”. Almost immediately Cass gets a message from Megan telling her how things stand. Despite Eury’s reluctance they go there only to find Grogar sorcerers (yes, male!) have engaged with the Everprince. Meanwhile the rest of the grand 9 flee with Jay. There are a number of chases and rights across town with Jay insisting they go to the mana power plant (reference to the original series?). Athena is suspiciously calm the entire time, with the exception of one moment in which the Everprince casts a spell on her and she deflects it with a shield of her own. Jay reveals that there's a way to use the power plant to escape on another dimension safe from the corporations, and he starts his preparations.

Meanwhile outside we have Felina, Skyla, and Grogar squares fighting, plus the Everprince who acts like a chaotic element. Then, suddenly, the overseers appear kill Jay and leave. Euryala is annoyed they didn't get to find what “the Minutes” is, but Athena appears with Jay’s suitcase (she claims she made a copy for Hercules to fool him). The chapter ends with them opening the case to find a smaller box with the names of nine corporations written on the cover (some known some unknown) and Euryala saying that one of the names is the old name of the Overseers.

So many questions! And a few answers potentially? I loved it :) What so you think?

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: Nice, if a bit overly complicated. I agree with you about the style. Seems a bit different.

On a side note, RRBB and the rest of my class won't be active much next week with exams going on. I have an extension because of my situation so I will.

Back to the story, I have a theory but will keep it to myself. If it's what I think… I'll send mental hugs to the author who wrote it. :)

PaintDrop

@PaintDrop: She’ll be very happy to hear it. :)

Indeed you are correct. This was the test chapter of one of our newly appointed authors. It has been polished slightly by the rest of the team, but it's the work of one person and we're all glad that you found it entertaining. The author is currently working on the Blazen spinoff with a few others :)

Luna

And after Blazen there will be a Karl spinoff in which he goes between worlds in search of rare magical creatures to talk to.

Also the Everprince will be revealed to be a giant panda.

TheRealLuna

@TheRealLuna: I missed you :)

Luna

Wow, so quiet today. Is that normal?

GriffinGirlfriend

There’s school, the Elements are doing elementary stuff, we’re still dealing with a minor Crystal crisis, Max is still going on about Jade winning, and Canterlot is preparing for the fall Gala tomorrow. Lyra told me she's having some family issues again, so won't be posting for a while.

Nothing to worry about :)

InItForTheShipping

Just my luck. I'd have hoped what the others thought of this chapter… oh well :) Nothing going on in Cloudsdale :P

PrinceEric

Everprince Analysis

Hey, all! First a big thanks to everyone who sent me puppy advice. I didn’t know half the things i read :( The pup is doing well now (it’s sitting on my head as a write this. More a kitten than a pup, but I don’t mind :).

Also a big shoutout to @Oopsy for managing to make his first plushie! It’s so cool! Please check it out! (*huggles Oopsy*).

Now the chapter. Mare, is it insane. I don’t know if there are just a lot of strong chapters, or this is the buildup to the finale, but I love it either way! For the very first time we have an Everprince chapter, but also not quite!

The chapter starts with Omni, Loki, and Armatus sitting round a table in a room and discussing things. Omni is being his usual goofy self, Loki is being the calm and collected, and Armatus is being a real *yay*.

Meanwhile, we have the grand9 trying to find a way to open the thing they got from the Grogar corporation. From what Cassandra and Megan have managed to find out, the Grogar corp specializes in keeping things that are of incredible importance, so much so that the Overseers don’t meddle with them. She also whispered to Danny that the Felina owner (the CEO’s boss) wants to see him in private without anyone else knowing. Euryala says she’ll see if she can find something out from her Overseer sources. And then we suddenly find that the Everprince is watching the house from nearby, listening in to the conversation.

We have another long discussion between Omni, Loki, and Armatus about the grand9 and the box. Apparently Loki knows what is going on, even if Omni doesn’t. Omni insists on knowing, but is told that “spoilers are a bad thing”. (I’m afraid to ask if that was added because of me :P).

At the secret meeting, Danny’s other self explains that soon he won’t be able to help any longer. The Felina Corp has started procedures to remove him from power and it’s only a matter of time before the board have it their way. He also starts telling a story about Poseidon’s mistake. Apparently, the corporations came into being because of Poseidon’s mistake which is why Grogar are so feared by all, even the Overseers. Whatever Grogar holds few others know about. He is about to reveal more, when suddenly the Everprince appears and attacks the CEO’s boss. Danny wants to help I’m the fight, but is told to flee, while his other part uses some medallion to hold off the Everprince.

We have a ludicrous rush with Danny phoning help while being chased (friends and allies appear to slow down the Everprince, including Computrix, Blazen, Cassandra, and in the end Athena). I must say the Everprince Athena clash was so intense! I really love reading how two nearly omnipotent destructive entities face off, causing massive destruction all around, while not actually arming each other. (Well, they do a bit).

The clash, of course, attracts the attention of the Overseers (who send a dozen Hercules and a few dozen demi-deities (?)) and a result cause everyone else to scatter and hide. We then have Danny and co licking their wounds and Danny revealing what has happened and that it’s unlikely they’ll get as much Felina help in the future. At some point Molly mentions she could hear something high pitched coming from Danny. It turns out that he has a ring in his pocket that is pinging on a high frequency (put there by the CEO’s boss). Bellucio mentions the gem has the sign of Poseidon on it. Danny presses it against the Grogar box and it opens revealing a folder with paper copies inside. Danny looks through the pages, but most of them are magic encrypted. However, he still manages to make out that one page has all nine evergems, as well as a list which gem belongs to which corporation.

Meanwhile, Loki tells Omni the same story, sharing that Danny’s evergem is held by the Felina corporation, or rather by Danny’s other part. Omni asks what about his gem, to which Loki just shrugs, we then learn that the whole “room” is actually the mindspace of the Everprince, who is standing over the CEO’s boss’ body and asks “Where did you hide it, kid?”

So what do you think? It seems like we’re back to the mystery of the first arc. For a moment I feared the after hiatus chapters would be more chaotic, but they continue to move the story forward. And it was so cool to see that there’s some Omni left even after the assimilation. Hopefully that means the grand9 can get him out again :)

What do you think?

PrinceEric

I liked the idea that the parts of someone regain their individuality after they split. That’s some complex magi-quantum theory, though. Without going in too deep, the theory goes that once a whole is fractured it could never be restored even if all the pieces are put back together because the fracturing event has caused a change in the nature of the individual pieces. That’s why if the Everprince was of one mind, after being shattered he became three distinct personalities, and now even if Armatus (which is old Canterlot for armor, by the way) is in control, he must consult with Loki and Omni.

That’s quite meet and really deep. Of course, since there’s miracle magic I expect there will be a way to make a perfect merge if needed, just as Omni might be spit out from the Everprince with no issue.

Still, I like how much effort was put in this story. :)

PaintDrop

Okay, I was about to go on a long rant how absurd the whole situation was, but Paint best me to it. I guess I could see what the writers were going for and yes “human magic, yay” is the answer to everything, but... well I still gnash my teeth! (even as Jade is laughing looking at me)

So, where do I start? The overall premise is okay, but it jumps too much. I pretty much threw what was going on with the whole mind room thing after the first scene. Granted the target audience is younger, but it was a bit obvious. The corporations having split the gems between them was a nice touch, but the encrypted report wasn’t. They already did one unlocking, why do they have to unlock every page individually? Also what does that mean for the gems they already own? Megan has a gem, as does Euryala. Oh, and didn’t Euryala get hers before the corporations were a thing? Not sure about the continuity there :/

MixaMax

@MixaMax: if you were a human, your superpower would be grumbling. :/

Is there anything you like? Paint described exactly the same thing, but was positive. You just nag nag nag. I honestly pity Jade right now.

And the corporation that is to have Eury’s stone is clearly going to start targeting her. The only thing I’d have liked would be to see which corporation is focused on which character (since each of them a destined to have a gem). That was a bit cheap, I think. Everything else is fine.

RRBB

@RRBB: well, I pity my sister for being forced to live with you!

And that was just one of the cheap things in the chapter. Whatever you say this one is a miss.

MixaMax

Ah, the good old days. How I missed those... :)

Brush

Hmm. I’ll keep quiet. I think I know what might happen, but I want to read the end of Chosen to confirm. If it’s true... then I think even Max will be pleased. (And probably cry for a week as a result :))

LyraHands

This thread has been licked!

MightyDragon

???

LyraHands

Sorry, he’s just being silly. The thread isn’t locked.

CodeFilly

Well, Max made a comment about licking pages, so I... I’ll just go sit in the corner, okay? O:)

MightyDragon

And I just killed the thread... :( Sorryyyyy.

MightyDragon

Special Update

@all: Good morning.

I’d like to make a very special announcement. As you have all noticed, we have gone through some site changes, from purely cosmetic, to numerous changes in the barn itself. For starters, you can now enjoy giant size avatars. Have a picture you want to use? Or just feel like selecting one of our ready options? Both are possibly. LyraHands And the mods have been working on this for a while now, with Hop and Code leading the charge. A big thanks to them all.

The avatar change also applies to groups. No longer will they be a simple block of text, but can have huge backgrounds as well as their own special in-site avatars. However, that is far from all. The key feature we’re introducing is our text-to-scroll module. Without getting too technical, it means that you could now magically transfer your favorite stories to scrolls, if you so choose. (Luna and number1 have graciously allowed us on the condition that you do not use it to create your own copies of existing MC scrolls and books.)

On a personal note, selling such scrolls, even your own, to others will be seen in a very negative light. Let’s please keep in mind what the MC principles are, alright?

Moving on, after talks with RRBB (and her new ideas) we have started to work on never before seen text-to-dream technology. Since this will be a substantial investment, MC, EqF, and Dream Productions have entered a partnership to develop it for the entertainment of all. In the near future we shall open a poll for members to test the new experience as it's being developed. Quite exciting, if I might add.

Thank you for your attention, and please report any bugs you find.

The TechNightling

I’d just like to add one thing. The overall goal is the creation of dreamscrolls (patent pending) so that everyone can enjoy their favorite stories, fan or commercial, while they sleep. There are still many unknowns, but I have managed to convince enough investors to give me a chance to find out. Additionally, Tech will create a donations page (more like a minority investor page) on the site where everypony interested could invest in the idea.

Naturally, this doesn’t change anything regarding our dream readings. In fact, DarkSparkle contacted me and shared that she’d be interested in having a go at our next reading (the finale of Chosen).

So be sure to be there, okay?! ;)

RRBB

I always knew my debut would be magnificent, and the final chapters of Chosen are a great way for me to share my talent with all Nightlings.

Sadly, for that reason I have put Daggers on hiatus. As much as I want, there aren’t enough hours in the day and night.

Simile

Why do I think this will be used for slap fiction mostly?

MixaMax

@MixaMax: because you’re a terrible mare and only think *yay* stuff? :/

Of course we’ll go through a screening process, you idiot! What do you take me for?

RRBB

@RRBB: hmm, is that a trick question? :)

@LyraHands! @mods: I love the new changes and can’t wait to test out both the scroll and dream features. And I’m sure that someone I know would love to have MC and Daring Do in dreamscrolls / freambooks. :)

One question, how much test can the scroll have? Some of the stories are absolutely giant. There’s no way they could be on one scroll.

Brush

@Brush: There is a hard limit of 10000 words. For longer works it’s recommended that the story is split up. We might add autosplit functionality, but that will have to be Hop’s call. (She’s the most organized of the coding team.) Until then you’ll hate to split it in chapters manually. For the most part that is the case, even if there are a few who prefer to extend their chapters.

The TechNightling

Oooh! That’s so cool! Can we add pictures as well? :D I mean that would be so cool! Having the scrolls illustrated, or maybe even the pictures separately?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: Oh, you :) I’ll see what I can do about it :) it shouldn’t be difficult, but it’ll lose all its colors. Playing with multi inks is messy (I tried a project in college and it turned out... well, let’s say Princess Celestia had a lot of look alike for a while :))

I could add some text to sound functionality, but that will take a while and will be only usable by unicorns. Still, thanks for the idea! It’s great :)

HopHop

...I’m in the market for a larger house. If you know of any, please let me know. No, it not that Lyra and I will be moving when we have our foals. We’ll just need a larger house to keep all the millions of scrolls Lyra will make using this feature!

Other than that I think it’s a great idea. ;)

Bob

My darlings, this sounds absolutely wonderful! That are a number of stories I was going to ask to be made into books, but now I won’t have to. :) The mod team has been sneaky lately. @HopHop, is this your doing?

Grace

@Grace: If she says no, I’ll go to her place and break all the hourglasses! She’s one sneaky mare, as you know :). All this time she’s been conspiring with Code and Tech behind my back! I only learned today.

And I promise I won’t abuse the feature too much... O:)

LyraHands

The heck I won’t! How can I use it? I want to my story on scrolls to show them to A.K.! Maybe I’ll get an autograph as well! That would be so cool!!!

Oh, yeah, I’ll also get a few other stories as well. :)

@Twist: you want a copy of DDD? You earned it, kid :)

AwesomePony

Squeee! Music! Thank you so much! This will be great! Now I must rush to get scrolls before they are sold out. @RRBB, do you have any left?

SweetStuff

@SweetStuff: sure, pass by. Oh, and bring some berries on the way. Pixel is being Pixel again and keeps sniffling about for berries. (And he’s so silly cute when he does that :))

RRBB

Short & RRBB’s Gambit PMs

Hey, how’s Canterlot?

Short&Hoofy

Is everything okay? I can get back home in a few hours. Faster if I have to.

What happened? How serious is it? I know I’ve been working a lot, but I thought you wanted some space to study and I didn’t want to disturb you too much.

RRBB

I’m fine. It’s not that.

Short&Hoofy

Did my mother give you any *yay*? If she’s done anything to get you upset, I swear I’ll buck her up so bad that she’ll regret having me!

RRBB

It’s okay! I’m fine! Honeydew, everything’s perfectly okay. No one has attacked Ponyville, your parents haven’t humbled at me, the site hasn’t exploded. Im just sitting here in the garden with Pixel, he’s sleeping on my head as usual.

I just wanted to talk to you. Because I miss you.

Short&Hoofy

Oh, Squishy :) *hugs and nibbles ear*

I miss you too. Sorry for going in panic mode. You usually never write to me when I go to therapy, so I thought something was wrong. My session finished ten minutes ago, but I was thinking of going to see Luna and number1 to discuss some business stuff. If you want I can skip that and go home on the express. Want me to do that?

RRBB

No, it’s fine. I know how much that means to you, and to be honest it means a lot to me too. In a way that’s what I’m calling about.

Short&Hoofy

Oh? Now I’m intrigued :)

RRBB

I feel so uncomfortable asking this, but...what do you think about...having some fun in the dreamscape? I’ve sort of been practicing dreamscaping a bit. O:)

Short&Hoofy

Hmmm. Go on? ;)

RRBB

Must you always do that? You know completely what I, getting at!

So do you want to try it? I’m not as good as Simile, but I think I could do thing dim the dreamscape... at least enter your dreams so we can have a bit of fun. And I learned the basics from Princess Luna, so it’s perfectly safe.

Short&Hoofy

I don’t know... do I want to if it’s perfectly safe? ;P

RRBB

You’re terrible!

Short&Hoofy

Only when I’m not with you *tickles hoof*

And I would most definitely want to try it :) You know I like when you spend a lot of effort doing things for me. Remembering what you went through to woo me still sends shivers through my mane.

RRBB

Shivers through your mane? :/ Weren’t you supposed to be an editor or something?

Short&Hoofy

You think I’m joking?

RRBB

-.-

Short&Hoofy

I’ll prove it to you! Just when I get back! You’re glow is so strong when we’re together that it electrifies my mane. Literally! I blame your fluffiness and the extreme snuggling you subject me to.

RRBB

Dew, I’m trying to be serious. :/

Short&Hoofy

So am I! How about this. I’ll finish here fast, then get some caramelled petals, pickled oranges, and that chocolate hay you like, then we’ll have a very, very romantic evening...and I’ll show you just how staticky you make me. :)

And then after we’re so tired we can’t stay awake, we’ll go to the dreamscape and you’ll show me what you had in mind ;)

RRBB

Dew... I don’t have your stamina... you know I’d like that, but I don’t want disappoint you. You’re so special to me and...

Okay, you extorted. :) You win. Just promise you’ll focus on things in the dreamscape? I want to do something that will make things extra special O:)

Short&Hoofy

*nibbles ear*

And I want to make things extra special as well. I’ll get some chocolate mint ice cream (the really good stuff). ;)

There’s only one problem I see with all that, though...

RRBB

What? :(

Short&Hoofy

There’s so much time till tonight... I, not sue I’ll manage to survive until then. Maybe you could send me a few hints what exactly you have planned? And don’t be shy on the details. :P

RRBB

I can’t take you serious when you’re like this! But okay... I thought it would be interesting to try something neither of us will be able to do in the earl world. Being in a cloud. And I do mean in, not on. No cloud walking spells, no levitating, I’m talking about actual cloud swimming. (DaBoss took one once when I was a filly. I remember how fascinating it was.

Now we’ll get to experience it, but we won’t be just swimming... And please don’t tickle me in the dreamscape. It will be difficult enough for me to maintain the dream.

Short&Hoofy

Anything for my princess. And you really are my princess. Each time I finish therapy I think I could have lost you. Just because I was so infatuated with YouKnowWho. She might be hit as Tartarus, but she isn’t you and could never be. You’re the sweetest thing that’s happened to me since ever! If there’s one thing that really keeps me going that’s you.

RRBB

I know. *huggles*

Even if you’re being unfair. LyraHands, PaintDrop, Brush... they have always been here for both of us. Especially PaintDrop. The things she went through to help us get together... I so glad she’s okay now, even if she never should have gone through what she did.

Short&Hoofy

Tell me about it :/ I spent half a day yelling at her for the idiotic mess she made. Of all the possible things. It’s a miracle it worked out! Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad at the result... well, not entirely. It’s ridiculous the way her parents are treating her. Next thing they’ll hire somepony to cast changeling barriers round her house. :/

RRBB

They aren’t completely wrong... Vertex isn’t terrible, but he has this affect on her, and how can we be sure she’s completely cured? She hid the whole thing for weeks. I just...

Let’s talk about happier things, okay?

Short&Hoofy

Oh, we’ll do more than talk ;) Want me to get something strong so we slip in the mood faster?

RRBB

No alcohol, please. I must maintain the dream afterwards, remember? And I want to be sure you’re in form.

Short&Hoofy

You are aware that you’re the only pony that gets to boss me around, right? ;P Well, you and Pixel, but he’s no pony.

RRBB

Just finish your work and get here quickly.

I miss you, you idiot.

Short&Hoofy

I know. I’ll be there soon and we’ll have the most magical night ever.

RRBB

Memories

Today marks the fifth year I got into MC fanfics and mare I sure feel old. :(

When I first started writing I didn’t have my cutie mark. I was secretly fascinated in Midnight Castle (guess now I know why :P). Just kidding. Despite all the jokes the storytelling has always been great, and the writing is top tier as well. Yes, it isn’t anywhere near the literary classics (although I’m sure that Jade and LightSparkle could manage that if they try) but it’s extremely good writing! I happened to talk to A.K. At one point... long story, and she agreed that for a huge part the writing in MC is really good. (She also said Squishy has still a thing or two to learn, which I reluctantly accepted.)

Point is I started writing very early under another name (don’t bother, all my terrible stories were removed from the aethernet) and gradually got to join one of the generic fanfiction sites, where Brush and Lyra found me. Lyra used to write once, but... @LyraHands, I love you, but writing is not your strong suit :P

Now, all this time later, I’m an editor site curator, have my own business (officially registered a few days ago) and am about to be in charge of creating dreamscrolls or MC and original fiction (in the near future). It’s like time passed in the blink of the eye. I’m happy how things turned out, but also somewhat sad how quick it all went by.

Guess getting mushy is what being an adult is all about. :P

RRBB

Well I joined less than a year ago, when somepony managed to convince me this site wasn’t a total waste of time. :P

Starts, I was so reluctant at the time. I thought it would be really cringe. Now I’m glad I’m here. I never expected that arts will be my calling. (I’m still mostly drawing, but am slowly returning to sculpting, and making silverware.)

Happy 5 year’s, @RRBB, you beautiful *yay* :)

PaintDrop

@RRBB: I started way earlier :)

Funny thing is that I started when because I used to read to my baby brother so he could fall asleep. (He was a scaredy cat.) With time he became “too cool” for coltfiction, but I had fallen in love with the stories of adventure... maybe because I didn’t get to experience much of it myself.

I remember when you started writing. Not your early things, but you still were very good... well, at least what I read. :) A pity you stopped writing, but you’re a great editor :)

I wonder what avid things you’ll tell us for your 10 year anniversary :)

P.S. you’ve been doing a lot of these posts lately... should we be worried?

Brush

Buck you, Brush! Everything I do is magnificent and you know it! :P

The way things are going the less likely it is I’ll ever write. The only reason I’m not announcing it definitively is because I still love my Danny Saga... *rip*

And yeah, I’ve been getting pensive lately (the therapist has me on a new regiment of pills and spells :/)

RRBB

@RRBB: you might be old, but you still look cute :P

Just messing with you :) Seriously, remember how you but my wing ten months ago? Mare I hated you so much back then. Whatever the therapist has you on it’s working!

Nah, you’re really cool, and at this point I can say (without getting Short&Hoofy jealous, I hope), you’re really a cool friend.

YouKnowWho

@YouKnowWho: I had a crush on you too at one point. And I’ll agree with RRBB that’s it’s a waste of fine wings :P

Short&Hoofy

I remember when I met LyraHands in the bookshop when we were fillies and introduced her to MC Volume 2, I think.

Funny how at the time I found her weird. It was years later I got back to Midnight Castle, mostly thanks to her. Now she can pretty much take over Equestria! (actually no, but she’s one of the most famous ponies there are and all thanks to what she’s done, and does, in her spare time).

It will be interesting to see where we’ll be in 10 years, when a new iteration of MC hits the shops. Maybe we’ll all be like Max at that point :P

CodeFilly

@Short&Hoofy: o.O

YouKnowWho

@RRBB: congrats! You made LyraHands cry :/

She’s extremely emotional now and when I read your post she burst into tears. She’s fine, but emotionally, she’s a bit of a wreck (mostly for biological reasons). She also wanted me to thank you publicly for making her your best mare.

Bob

@CodeFilly: Can you Imagine if we discover a portal to earth in 5 years and in 10 there are humans living here AND be part of the MC community? I hope that day comes! It would be so cool to hang out with humans and really weird what type of fiction they’d write. Maybe it will be really weird and insane and none of us would be able to understand it?

PrinceEric

@Bob: you tell that jerk she’s very welcome :)

RRBB

@PrinceEric: I beg to differ. There’s nothing I cannot understand when it comes to writing high quality stories, full of drama, fascination, and mystery!

Besides, I’d look magnificent as a human!

Simile

Ponies and humans living together in mutual harmony... Nah, I don't see it. Maybe a few hippies on both sides will be okay with the idea, but I have doubts about the rest.

I know Lyra will probably kidnap a few humans for herself. :P

@RRBB: happy 5 year Nightlingversary. :) I’ll bring you a cap as a gift.

LightSparkle

@LightSparkle: thanks, boss :)

And now you created the image of hippie humans trotting about Equestria, being all “cool and groovy”. Argh! @Short&Hoofy, please write this for me? I just must read it!

RRBB

Maybe in 5 more years we’ll learn who S.Child is?

TrueSparkle

Have you any idea what you’ve done?! You’ve doomed us all!

EverSpike

I know who it is. ;)

DaBoss

LightSparkle’s Attack PMs

By the time you read this I expect it will be all over and you’ll be shouting at me what an idiot I’ve been. Who knows maybe you’ll surprise me and read it for a change.

Simile keeps telling me what an idiot I am, but I’ll wait ten minutes just in case. It’s stupid how I have to use this to reach you. I’m not even sure if you keep the journal anymore. There was a time we used to write to each other constantly. Now you’ve become like mom. At times I think you’re both hiding some deep dark secrets from me.

LightSparkle

Guess I should have known. I don't know what the Windigo did to you, but you were an idiot to think you could take it on your own. If all elements failed why were you fi certain you’d be able to on your own? I really hate when you do things against your own logic!

Still, we need you to read this in order for things to work. The whole psychic-aether anchor and all. Again, with luck it will all be over once you get to this, so it should be too painful. (I hope.)

I have a way to find the Windigo. At least, a way that worked a few millennia ago. Fingers crossed it works again. If it doesn’t I’ll have a very long talk with PlayedPiece. She assured me that back in her day they used to track windigos using the sound of wind rivers. Of course, since their gems aren’t working now I had to make a contraption of my own (with help from simile and TrueSparkle... mostly TrueSparkle). I’ve tested it a few times and know it works to give a general location.

The main issue is his ability to teleport. None of us can do that at such distances, so I’ve come up with a way to block his ability. Actually, it was your double here that helped out. Human tech us way more advanced so combining it with magic will help level the playing field.

So, you impressed with my plan yet? :)

LightSparkle

Come on, Dark! You’re no fun :( I thought you’d at least make one of your colder than ice comments. Spike freaks out about that all the time. You really scared the little guy a lot. When everything is over go to him and explain what you’ve been through, okay? He’s been pretending to be fine, but it takes five seconds with him in person to see he’s a wreck. TrueSparkle has been casting some spells to calm him down, but it hasn’t been helping.

LightSparkle

I tried to find out more from my mother, but it’s been less productive than talking to a brick wall. I know she’s hiding something from me, but can’t she at least help me out a bit? And by me I mean everyone! It’s Equestria that’s threatened. I can just as easily remain here and will be fine.

Honestly, that mare drives me crazy at times! At this rate it will be easier just to catch the Windigo and get answers from him.

LightSparkle

Do you read your PMs at all? I asked Tech and he said you haven’t logged on since the reading. Not sure if that’s good or bad. With you going gaga I’m never sure when you’ll say something really bad to the public. Telling them about earth? Really? :/ Largest blunder ever. I haven’t been getting sleep for weeks and I still haven’t done anything that bad. At least let LyraHands give birth before you get her crazy and on the way to visit.

Okay, enough fun. I’m in Equestria now. You’re now in your castle, of course. I said a few words to spike to get you to read this when you get back. Little guy wanted to send you a scroll, but since I have no idea where you are I stopped him. Would be idiotic if he were to send a scroll to the Windigo.

We just need for Simile to show up and we’ll be off. TrueSparkle has come up with a great idea to keep the Windigo in one place so we could question him. The good thing about this is, since we know no magic could defeat him, we’ll have a better chance holding him. (On that note we’ll be bringing Tartarus chains for backup. Don’t ask. Mom will kill me if she finds out.)

LightSparkle

We’re still waiting for Simile :/ She claims she’s doing something work related, but I know she’s with auntie again. TrueSparkle has been discussing just grabbing her and dragging here, but neither of us wants to but up with hours of whining so we’ll wait.

On that note, did you tell Rarity about the Windigo? It’s weird how she’s so insistent on getting her sister out of Ponyville and to a major city. TrueSparkle heard her slip that SweetStuff would be safer there. I really hope that was Rarity jumping to conclusions because otherwise it’ll be you’ve been keeping important stuff from me. :/

LightSparkle

Okay, we’re finally off! Just a quick note that all should be over soon. Now my only worry is if you happen to be where the Windigo is. I hope you’re not!

LightSparkle

Okay, so maybe the device I built wasn’t the best. Turns out I miscalculated Equestria’s background magic valuable. TrueSparkle is cursing me and fixing it. Shouldn't take long, but I decided to check if you had managed to read your PMs.

Simile’s going the same with my aunt, I’m sure. It’s a miracle that she didn’t spill the entire the idea to her! Knowing auntie, though, there would be a lot of huffing and shouting afterwards. (Not that it would affect Simile in any way.)

TrueSparkle’s saying she got the device working again, so I must go. Ttyl!

LightSparkle

Do not do anything to try Windigo. That would be a huge mistake and will only undermine everything I’ve achieved to this point.

Not only will it be foolish, but you have no reasonable chance of success. Limiting his portal ability, while commendable, won’t lead you to success. His real power is not related to the portals, it’s calling blizzards to his location (just like normal windigos). One of the main points of me giving him my heart was to eliminate this ability of his, but I made a miscalculation.

Again, I ask you not to attack the Windigo.

DarkSparkle

Apparently, you just did. This will complicate matters.

DarkSparkle

Secrets and Theories

I’ve closed the site... it’s just gotten so depressing. Twenty-two strokes for the last day... used to be hundreds. :( Members just post that another town has gone or something.

I’m seriously glad that the Wonderbolts and the dragons are out there, helping things. Don’t want to think what would have happened without them.

I put the standard maintenance message. At this point I’m not sure that anypony will even notice.

HopHop

Everypony’s scared. The S.G.U. And Canterlot in general are very well protected, but anywhere else... having an anti-magic blizzard surround cities is devastating.

I’ve been going over the books with MightyDragon. There are several options we could try, but all have their risks, and we count ave only us to worry about right now. If this had happened an year ago things would have been different.

CodeFilly

If things get really bad I’ll poke my bosses. Maybe they’ll allow for a time turn this time. It’s not exactly the things I deal with, but who knows?

HopHop

The issue is the Windigo. I’ve found ten ways I could disperse normal windigos, but none of them would work on him. From everything I’ve read the majority of windigos are matterless... and definitely affected by friendship.

I keep thinking that there’s something I’m not seeing! I really miss having my powers in Equestria! Things would have been over by now!

Edit: Sorry. I just feel responsible for starting this mess and... I really hope DarkSparkle and InItForTheShipping find something and fast. The way this things are going every major city will be frozen in two months. Just as the Windigo said.

LightSparkle

Yeah... :(

LyraHands and TechNightling have gone dark and I don’t think we’ll hear them until this is over. Luna is busy as Tartarus and number1 has gone missing.

This is as bad as the Tirek invasion, only that it’s freezing instead of burning.

HopHop

Oh, he’s with me. Mom thought it safer if he keeps a low profile and... actually has Mom told you about me?

LightSparkle

Well, I suspected you might be her daughter even back then. You know the cutiemark and all. And the name :)

HopHop

To Tartarus with it. I might as well tell you. The way things are going it won’t matter anyway.

I am on Earth. Not MC Earth, but an Earth full of humans. The difference is that pretty much every human here is a mirror image of a pony in Equestria. Think of them as astral twins. And yes, there’s a portal that could get you here.

The problem is that with too much overlapping between realms bad things can happen (as in uncontrolled magic collapse on a universal scale). So, sadly there can’t be a mass evacuation like there was in MCE. A few visitors are okay, though.

LightSparkle

Whoa! Really? You mean there are actual humans walking around and all? On two legs?! Can you take photos?

MightyDragon

Calm down. No inter dimensional spells before the little one is born?

@LightSparkle: well, we didn’t know it per se. I mean we knew it from a theoretical perspective, but no Princess Celestia never mentioned it. Although the research we’ve been doing is close.

Ever since the first anti magic storm, we have been conducting experiments on extra-Equestrian magic to resolve the issue. Of course, back then we didn’t know an evil Windigo was involved. We considered it a natural phenomenon. You know, the dark aether entropy that would gradually devour Equestria, depriving every living thing of magic.

It’s not exactly confidential, but it’s not discussed openly outside the research team. And there’s so much theory and calculations that the majority would get bored.

CodeFilly

Well, since it’s secret time, I work for the Time Office. Officially it doesn’t exist and only responsible for setting clock and hourglass standards. The truth is that we fight time critters (horrible name I know).

The problem is... we only fight time critters. Like just last month we stopped something that eats up ponies’ childhood. There was a lot of going back and forth until we figured what’s going on. (I’m just an apprentice, by the way so I only file cases for now.) The point is we can’t affect non-time related events. :( Only pony tried and failed... and was also cast out.

HopHop

And I thought I had secrets... If I wasn’t so terrified about what’s going on I’d be furious right now. :/

Still, all that and we’re still unable to save Equestria? To quote SteveThumb... pathetic!

LightSparkle

Well, thanks to DaBoss Canterlot and Cloudsdale should be safe. And the capital of the Crystal Empire, I assume.

The problem lies in the Windigo. It’s not that he does anything, rather that he stops doing things and that’s what gets us in trouble.

MightyDragon

O.o

LightSparkle

Let me try to explain. You know how normal Windigos bring ice with them? That why if they aren’t chased away everything becomes frozen? Their very being is a composed of cold, or mini entropy, so unless disrupted they freeze their surroundings (including magic, if they are active for long enough).

Based on the evidence, this Windigo has the opposite effect. He just “stops not preventing” anti magic storms to occur.

CodeFilly

I understand! So it’s like he doing yell “storms come freeze this place” but rather the storms are constantly asking him “can we freeze this place” and he says “okay”.

But in that case why doesn’t he freeze the whole of Equestria in one go?

LightSparkle

The theory is, based on the current data, that he has to actually go and say where’s it’s specifically okay to become frozen. Or rather where’s it’s okay to become non-unfrozen.

MightyDragon

And you’ve been working on this for how long exactly? The first storm in the Crystal Empire?

LightSparkle

Earlier, actually. Ever since Flurry’s crystalling. I really didn’t think it was such a big secret. As Thaco said, ponies tend to fall asleep when we explain theoretical stuff to them.

MightyDragon

If Mom is involved, who knows :/ I’m really starting to get annoyed at her!

LightSparkle

FORGET!

Celestia

First Post

Hello, Equestria!

And welcome to Midnight Castle!

This is finally happening, ponies! (Yeah, I know it’s been a long wait.)

For those who don’t know, I’ve been dreaming of getting a Midnight Castle fansite online for some time. While it's fun posting stories in Ponify, I feel that we Nightlings deserve a site of our own. And now we do!

Feel free to show you love of the series, get to know your fellow Nightlings, or just say hi and have a good time. If you're new to Midnight Castle, ask us anything you want. We're a friendly group and welcome any and all questions!

Special thanks to my friend and my other friend who helped set this up! (They're still in denial, but I'm working on that.) That said, the site is paid for and supported by yours truly so please excuse the glitches. I was never good with aether code and the spell manuals aren't making things any easier. I'm hoping to finally figure how to link a-scrolls to the site by the end of this week. Until then please just open a topic and post the link to your stories manually.

I’m so excited! Have fun and remember "We're here for each other!"

LyraHands

First!

Kidding! Great work, LyraHands. All I can say is... it's about time! :P I'm at school right now, so I can't post links till I get back home. You okay if I link my Danny Saga?

RRBB

Hello Lyra!

As a fan of Midnight Castle since book one, I welcome your undertaking. Reading that you have problems with a-code, might I offer my services? I've been developing a-pages professionally for over five years, and think I could lend a hoof. What exactly are you using? Twiscript? CCL?

Thank you for bringing back the magic of my childhood.

The TechNightling

Break my strings! You girls are fast! :)

@RRBB: Are you kidding?! I love that saga! Link away! Also, private messaging isn't working yet, so post any questions directly in general. I'll organize things better when more ponies join. For now that's it, though.

Oh, and glad to have you here! :D

@The TechNightling: Wow! Never thought we'd have a veteran! Welcome to Midnight Castle fansite! I've only read series three and on. It's damn hard to find the first editions :( The copies in my local library have more pages missing than a tree in winter. Know where I could find one? I managed to see one of the first series in an antique shop in Canterlot, but that thing costs more than my three month salary!

Anyway, I can totally use some help with the site. I'm using Twiscript lite. Tried CCL, but that thing's insane! I have a friend who's really good with that stuff, but she's mega shy. Hope that when she sees there's another codefilly here she'll join. In the meantime, I'll give you Mod rights... when I figure out how. :/

LyraHands

Thank you, Lyra.

I'm honoured by your trust. Once I get a look at the framework you're using I'll help you set things up. Might I also suggest you find an artist? One of the reasons Midnight Castle is so popular is because of the illustrations, even if some of the pre-Luna ones are... typical of their time.

One thing. While I would be glad to help your friend join the Nightling fandom, being a "codefilly" is out of the question, since I'm a stallion. Would love to talk code with her, though. Some of the mares I work with can't tell the difference between an if-script and an open switch. (Your friend will get the joke.)

I'm afraid the early books are difficult to get nowadays. If you don't mind bad quality, I think I might be able to find a few copies. No guarantees, though. I'll get back to you on that later this week.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: You're a stallion? Want to meet? I'm in Canterlot.

Brush

Lol! Calm down, filly! :)

You're hopeless, Brush! Instead of jumping at everything without nipples, when will you continue The Human and I? It's been three months, girl!

RRBB

Hello Brush,

Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm married.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: Story of my life.

@RRBB: Soon. :P

Brush

Girls (and TechNightling), I'm think we should lay some ground rules.

Before you draw and quarter me, let me remind you all this isn't a meetup. Things tend to get a bit wilder in aether, and I don't want them to spiral out of control. I'll probably add a rules section the next few days. Until then please treat your fellow Nightlings with respect and limit personal topics. You'll be able to have plenty of that when I (or TechNightling) get the messaging system working.

@Brush: Finish that hay-bitten story! I've been crying my eyes out wondering if they get back together or not! (Not that I'm trying to influence, you :P)

@TechNightling: Good point. I'll be marking the site beta until we things get in order. No idea if I can find any artists, though. All the ones I know are classically trained and can't a-draw to save their hides.

LyraHands

Sorry, Handy, I done bad. Please forgive! I promise to add a new character with four pairs of hands in the story just for you.

Brush

You know that means eight hands, right?

Btw, I'm totally stealing that idea! What do you think of this: Paradise wants to hang out with Danny, but messes up the spell and instead of turning into a human changes his hooves into hands. Now, he knows that the spell will only last for three days, so he decides to lock himself in his room and wait it out. But then, Danny passes by and asks him to hang out.

Now, Paradise wants to go out with him, but doesn't want anyone to see his hands, so he puts on boots. In summer!

RRBB

...

@RRBB, please for the sake of everything sacred... never write comedies. You're great at adventure fics, but some things are just not meant to be. :P (And if you ruin the Danny Saga with any such nonsense, I'm banning you, rewriting the story, and never talking to you again! >:P)

Okay, I'll be heading off. (Time to go earn the hits to keep the site up.) Have fun, ponies, and don't burn the place down while I'm gone. Be sure to invite any Nightling you know!

LyraHands

Author's Note

This is a self edited daily, so it would be a great help if you point out mistakes in the comments or PM :)

Hope you enjoy :D

Technical and Other Issues

Morning, girls!

I have some good news and some... not good news. Good news is I'm alive (how did that happen? :P) and thanks to our lovely stallion got the basics of the site working. (TechNightling is da pone!)

Now the bad news... Seems I had made such a mess of things that Tech and I had to redo all from scratch. Tech managed to save most of the plaintext post, but you'll have to relink all your stories (this mostly concerns RRBB. Sorry, filly :( Promise I'll make it up to you.)

Good news regarding the bad news: TechNightling got the depository functionality working, so you can upload your fics directly! Formatting is a bit wonky, but it'll have to do until we find somepony with a basic understanding of aesthetics.

Also, big news! TechNightling has agreed to be our first official Mod! (Yay!) Give him a stomp and a hug, everypony! Without him the site would have been messed up till Hearth's Warming. :)

Anyway, let the posting continue!

LyraHands

Noooooo! My beautiful Danny links! Curse you, Handy! Cuuuuuurse you!!!

I'll upload all my stuff after school. I hope this time it'll remain for more than ten hours. :P

On another note, I have a friend at school who's really good at drawing. Now she's not into humies exactly, but I've been making casual comments about Midnight Castle to test the waters. So far she's quite open to the idea, so am thinking of inviting her here. You girls cool? She tends to draw a bit risqué, though.

RRBB

Risqué?! Did you seriously type risqué?!? Lol!

MixaMax

@RRBB: I approve! Bring in all the lewd pics! Does she have a cute brother?

Brush

@MixaMax: and why not? It's a perfectly normal word.

@Brush: you're a beast, you know that? :P but yes, she does have a "cute brother" who's far too good for you! Seriously, he's like five years older and in a Celestial college. Not sure his family will approve him hanging round mares (they are mega conservative :/)

RRBB

Hello everyone,

Let me start by thanking LyraHands for letting me be part of this. I'll work my hardest to not misplace her trust and make Midnight Castle the best site there is. (By Luna, there are some pretty awful sites in the aether.)

While I, and I'm sure everypony else, always welcomes any new members and discussions, could you refrain from posting explicit pics for the moment? I'll start work on getting an explicit filter once the personal messaging system is fully functional. I don't want to be the rump of the site, but I'm at work most of the time, and having such things appear on my screen might cause problems.

Thank you.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: Anything for you, bby. ;) *passes fingers through Techie's fragrant mane*

Brush

@Brush: stahp, you crazy filly! :) The guy said he's married. Use some of that imagination to continue The Human and I! I promise I'll personally commission art for each of your chapters!

LyraHands

@LyraHands: lewd art?

Brush

@Brush: the lewdest art! So lewd that Princess Cadence will tell us to tone it down! Just get writing already!

@RRBB: I think it's great if you can get your friend to join. I know firsthoof how awkward it is might be. Until I came out, I used to say I was buying the books for my brother (and before you say anything, Brush, I don't have a brother!) Let me know if there's anything I could help. Same goes for everypony—if you're even teased or made uncomfortable let me know and I'll help you handle it. (I've been through that already)

LyraHands

@LyraHands: thanks, but she's fine.

@Brush: you okay if I send her one of your things to read? She tends to find colt stuff a bit simplistic, but that's only because she's never seen your take on it :D

RRBB

@RRBB: Yes! Make me famous! When she gets hooked I'll accept her brother as tribute! Mwahaha! >:)

@LyraHands: Slavedriver! Temptress! *grumbles*

Brush

Can somepony help me with this upload thing? I guess I'm stupid, but I can't get it to work. :(

Candle

Sorry, Candle. It might be a bit confusing. I'll add a help section to the site. It'll be just text, but should help for now. If you have any further troubles just let me know.

The TechNightling

@The TechNightling: thanks :)

Candle

Hey hey, everybody! :)

New Nightling here. I've been reading the books for half an year now and I love the series to bits!
Here, have a bottle! :P

So what do you pones do here? Just chat and post stories, or discuss the books as well? For one thing, have you noticed that the woman-man ratio is 2:1? I know I was surprised. Reading the books, it seems like it's mostly the Great Eight and a few support characters (also male) who do all the things, but when I noted down all the characters as they appear I get 83 women and 41 men. Granted that 7 of the women are just references and 24 are of the sorceress squads, but I was the heck surprised!

Is it the same with the first series?

Thanks, and we're here for each other!

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: nice web-name. I approve. And yeah, that has been discussed. The ratio is pretty much the same throughout the entire series, but when you take into account that most of the women are background characters it's more like a 1:3. Keep in mind this isn't Shakesmare but a series for colts. A lot of the things are there just to make a scene feel full.

Best example: Bellucio's maids. So far we have 3 claiming to have worked at his parent's house before his birth: Sorsa - The Missing Hare (series 1), Euryala - Shadowknife's prophecy (series 1 finale, parts 1,2, and 3), and Claris - Am I Who I Am? (Series 3). They never meet or appear outside of their respective chapters. Plus, based on descriptions we have fifteen more who come and go at random intervals, most of the time bringing Bellucio a bottle of soda, never to be seen again.

Based on these numbers, Bellucio's family must be rich (which we know isn't so, since he originally set on his modeling career to help pay for his ballet classes).

My advice is don't read too much into things :)

Also, welcome aboard!

MixaMax

Hello PrinceEric,

Wonderful to have you here. I haven't analyzed the series that much in depth, but I think MixaMax is correct. I can tell you that in the original Midnight Castle there were five, yes five, female characters, and that includes the original villain Hera.

I find it commendable that you've devoted so much time into these things. I'm sure it'll help piece together a greater understanding of the world we all love.

The TechNightling

Before Brush jumps all over you because of your stallion name, let me welcome you to Midnight Castle. I already see you'll do fine here :)

If you want I can send you the first series of the Mistmount Chronicles. I have several, so it's no prob. Just send me a personal message with a p.o.box and I'll send them to you.

LyraHands

@LyraHands: wow! Thanks! I'll do that!

And hey, I'm not worried. I'm a colt in real life. Junior in high school.

PrinceEric

@PrinceEric: you have no idea what you have unleashed! Flee while you still can!

RRBB

*perks up ears* Did somepony say colt? O, bby, come 'ere! *tackle-nuzzles PrinceEric*

Brush

Here we go again... somepony, please find Brush a stallion! She clearly needs one.

MixaMax

@MixaMax: buck you!

Brush

Site Collab and Other Horrors

"Bellucio," she whispered. He wasn't there.

His bed left untouched, posters of his commercials arranged neatly on the wall beside it—three soft drink commercials and a second place in a semi-pro model contest. Caprice remembered that time. She had used magic to tell him, but ultimately Bellucio had decided to play it honest, rejecting a guaranteed winner for a quick punk hairstyle in the last hour.

"You looked so stupid then," Caprice chuckled as she sat on the bed. "All your friends said so. All my friends said so, but you didn't care."

Back then caprice had been a pony, drowning in her attraction by him. She knew she loved him, just as she knew he never would... not in the way she wanted. Thinking they'd be anything more than friends had been a foolish dream, a hopeless desire, and yet she had gotten her chance. A single wish upon the most magical of items and she had changed her body, casting away her wings for him. It had been everything she wished, everything she could hope for, and now he had grown to hate her.

"Was I so stupid?" She covered her face with both hands, trying to hold back the tears.

"One dumb bitch, yes." A cackle came from the window. Caprice turned around briskly. Floating outside the window, smirk on face, was the CEO's daughter, the very same that had tried to capture her and her Equestrain friends three times over.

Caprice's immediate reaction was to jump off her bead and fly up. Mid way she remembered she could no longer fly.

"Omph!" She plopped on the floor. Last time she was trying that in a human body.

"Touching." The CEO's daughter tilted her head. "And totally worthless. I can't believe you were so sex deprived you changed shape." The witch floated in. She was dressed all in black today—casual jeans and shirt, not her corporate uniform. "So, did you get some D before he found out?"

"Get out, Cassandra!" Caprice hissed. She still had some Equestria magic, but in such small quantities she might as well remain a human.

"Oh, you bet." Cassandra snapped her fingers, a cigarette appearing between them. "But not just yet." She put the cigarette in her mouth. Its end flickered alight lettering her take a puff. "There's something I want. You can give it to me."

Caprice narrowed her eyes. No way she was going to work with a corporate witch.

"And in return, I'll get you Bel." Cassandra smirked. "It's what you want, isn't it?"

Damn it! Caprice gritted her teeth. That changed everything.

Just a little something I wrote between chores. Seeing Bob's work gave me an idea. Hope you like it.

Brush

"Don't be so serious," Cassandra took another puff, floating closer to Caprice. The ex-pegasus could smell the fragrance of her perfume. "It'll be our little secret." The CEO witch put her left hand under Caprice's chin and gently lifted it up.

"You...?" Caprice's eyes shot open with shock and horror. This is a nightmare! It has to be! There's no way that Cassandra of all people would fall for me. Could she?! Droplets of sweat corned all over her forehead. "You want—"

"You're so gullible," Cassandra laughed, pulling her hand away. "You really thought I'd want that? From you?"

Caprice didn't say nothing. She had grown accustomed to humiliation these last few days. Still, if she were in pony form, she wouldn't mind bucking that birch in the face.

"Sorry, I'm not into horses." Cassandra took another puff of her cigar, turning her back to the equestrian. "I meant what I said. I know how to get Bellucio straight in your bed, and more. Who knows, you might enjoy a long happy life together." Another puff, this time forming a heart shaped ring of smoke in the air. "Or break up in a week. You never know. The question is, how much do you want it."

@Brush: Challenge accepted! (Yay, Brush noticed me!)

Bob

Suddenly, the door swung open. Without warning, Bellucio stepped in—very much to the shock and horror of the two girls in his room—and turned on the light. Throwing his backpack to the browned, he stretched a yawn then went towards the bed... only to see that his room wasn't as empty as he left it.

"Huh?" He managed to say, his glance moving from Caprice to Cassandra. "Wh—"

"Bel, what are you doing here?!" Caprice shouted, jumping to her feet.

"Err, I live here?" Bellucio crossed his arms. "And last I checked neither of you two did. Unless my mom has gone on another adoption spree." He looked at the ceiling pensively.

"But, but... you ran away! You were upset that I didn't tell you about being me and..." Caprice turned at Cassandra. "He ran away, right? I'm not imagining things, right? Right?"

"Don't look at me," Cassandra shrugged, taking another puff of her cigarette. "I'm not the one following him around like a sick puppy."

"S-s-sick puppy?!" Caprice stammered, red with rage and shame.

"Are you smoking in my room?" Bellucio pointed at Cassandra. "My mom will kill me! Magic that smoke out of here! And stop floating!"

"Whatever." Cassandra looked away, flicking the cigarette out of the window. "It's not like I like you or anything."

"Hold on!" Caprice crossed her arms as well. "What exactly were you going to ask of me?"

Silence filled the room. Two sets of eyes focused on the CEO witch, who for some reason was not as red in the face as Caprice.

"You know," she began, her back to both Bellucio and Caprice. "Like the thing no man can refuse? You, me—"

"Whoah," Bellucio whispered.

"I'm not hearing this!" Caprice shouted, pacing around the room, hands waving madly in the air. "This was your grand plan to get us together? This?!"

"Well, he isn't complaining," Cassandra pouted.

"That's not the point!" Caprice hissed. "It's—" she stopped. Did it matter? She was getting back with Bellucio, and as Cassandra said, it didn't seem he was terribly upset with the idea. "What the heck." She shrugged. It was going to be a long night, in the best of ways.

@Brush @Bob: Ha! :P

RRBB

@RRBB: ... what you did was like splashing a bar of chocolate onto a five star meal: it's terribly disgusting, yet you somehow find you enjoy it... despite the mountain of guilt.

Why, RRBB, whyyyy?

LyraHands

Lol! Way to go! RRBB, you are my new hero! This round goes to you! :D

MixaMax

I'm so doing a comic based on this!

PaintDrop

I wish I could write like that...

Candle

I wish I could look away. Damn it, girls! How do you expect me to fly straight after reading this train wreck? My CO is going to have a field day...

CEOWitch

Dear all,

I'd usually be upset that you didn't use the NSFW filter, but I laughed so hard, my colleagues thought I had lost it, resulting in me being told to take the afternoon off.

Smashing work. :)

The TechNightling

I fully approve!

Luna

I'm so confused... :(

PrinceEric

I'm DannyFan! :P

I literally laughed my orange juice out of my nose! :)))

Cheers

DannyFan

@all: Let's never talk of this again.

LyraHands