The Game: Aether and Mind

Nearly a whole week... I thought with a quiet sigh, looking out of a window, the peaceful and happy scenery invoked an alien sensation inside of me, and what it was? It's the feeling of content in ways my old self could've only dreamed about. This world, even if this was perhaps just a thin oil-film-like layer on top of the ocean that I was seeing, it was beautiful. There was no smoke rising into the sky, no building stealing sight away from the world or sky, plants actually grew on the side of the road and people, that sounded absurd, they smiled and talked with one another. I hated to say this, but I liked this place, not my position, but if I had the chance, I might attempt to bring Amber here, she'd kill for a sight that was not made by her or one of her colleagues.

My gaze slowly swayed from the glass panel between me and the rest of this world. I was still debating whether or not I was sleeping in a hospital or in a lunatic home and that all of this was just a dream, one where ponies talked, and magic was a thing.

Gentle Touch.

My eyes stopped at the sight of the mare eating a sandwich, a bunch of grass and a few dandelions between two sliced of bread, how this tasted good was beyond me, but then again, so was much of what was happening to me at this point.

I closed my eyes as I leaned my head back. The rush, the sweet scents of clean air in combination of fresh grass, fruit, and a humble whiff of lavender flared the life in my chest to new heights. This sensation of feeling mother nature's wind flow through my fur and empowering me with her beauty.

I soft ring broke my concentration, forcing me out of my zen-like state, my limbs twitched out of reflex to open the door, only to be remembered that the rest of the body was stuck in a toddler chair.

Gentle giggled, crumbs of break falling out of her mouth. "That's just the doorbell." She said before swallowing her food before putting her breakfast on her plate and walking towards the door.

Gentle Touch was an intriguing being, she was also lonely, either that or she thought nothing weird about holding so many conversations with a week old baby. Other than the previously mentioned flaw, she was rather lovely. Because of that very reason, I would never tell her about my endeavors or the fact that her child is a thirty-year-old naked ape who possessed a toddler corpse, of course, I wasn't going to tell it, anyone, either way, but she deserved to be a happy mother, a good one of a dream child. Why I liked her was even unknown to me, perhaps she just reminded me of my mom? Nah.

The soft clicking of the door signalized that she closed the door, though the sound of her hooves sounded off like she would speed up or slow at random. What? I was young once too, so of course, I knew how to listen to footsteps. She eventually did return with a letter in her aura, a golden seal in its middle.

Gentle stared at the piece of paper for a moment, taking a deep breath, before opening it, the crack of the broken seal caused her to nearly jump. The Paper was swiftly pulled out and opened. "Dear Gentle Touch-" She read out loud, a pause was made shortly after. "Your adoptive child's magical measurements have been acknowledged by the magic tower as well as the government of Equestria, and thus we'd like to invite you to come to Canterlot Castle as soon as possible to test if there is anything else noteworthy about Star Touch to allow him to grow up healthy. The Guards at the gate will show you to the right room, simply show them the letter, and they will bring you to the right room. Singed by... Iron Grace..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes did in ways that made me wonder if this name had any meaning in this place.

'At least this name didn't sound all too absurd.' I thought with a mental roll of the eyes. I honestly had enough of shitty names, especially after getting a skill that was literally named after my mother... adoptive mother is what I wanted to say.

Gentle Touch froze, still staring at the piece of paper, only to be brought back to reality a moment later... The mare impressed me yet again by inhaling a whole sandwich with such speed I thought for a moment she deleted it. After Gentle had swallowed down so much food that could see her throat bulge, she levitated me out of my toddler prison and back her back. Not even bothering to get the stroller. rude.

I was starting to think that going to the castle by summoning was equally as unnerving as being called to the mayor's office with no explanation. Either that or my mother was going insane if there was anything to say about her fast walking pace, unnerving mumbling, or her shaking.

"Everything's going to be alright, it's just a check-up for your incredibly talented foal, nothing else..." Gentle Touch mumbled to herself as the corners of her mouth twitched with each syllabus spoken.

If I may say something. The Game spoke calmly, suggesting that-

'Where have you been? I've started to miss you, you've been gone the whole morning.' I asked within my mind with confusion and worry.

My apologies, young host. I've been spending the better part after our victory with rerouting the gained power to ensure that nothing would sweep over our capacities. It would be a shame if our time window for power growth would be shortened due to a leak, wouldn't you agree?

"I have no idea how any of that is supposed to work, but I am grateful that I have you to do the paperwork, so to say. Damn, all those people in online stories make the stuff seem so easy." I thought with a sigh before I pursed my pips and blowing away a lock of hair that impeded my vision.

Everything that exists is based on uncountable of incredibly hard to explain rules and laws. We just try to make sense of it. Now, the origin of entity Gentle Touch's worries might be the fear of having you taken away. The Game guessed, though how it came to that conclusion was very much so beyond me.

'Why would she be scared of that? I'm a half-rotten pile of bones with skin. Sure I have a lot more magic than the average foal, but that's it.' I thought with a snort, I was only ever special in the regard that I never wanted to be unique or well known.

That is what they see in you now, but what you could become one day is what could make her fear become real. If the government decides that you would be better off living in a castle with proper teachers and personal to raise you than a lonely mare working in a cheap hospital, then there would be little for Gentle to interfere with. The Game's reply made me wonder if he had not tapped into the memories I had of reading conspiracy theories on the wall in dark alleys.

'If you say so...' I thought calmly, there was little for me to change about anything happening anyway, so why bother at this point. Just as my head leaned forward, the gates of the Canterlot came in sight, a golden wall of bars keeping away the dirty peasants from the pristine towers of marble. In between our destination and us laid yet another obstacle, a guard wearing golden horse armor that looked more like plates of butter iron strapped onto their bodies. Why did they look exactly the same?

Their armor is enchanted, most likely to keep their identity hidden. The Game answered my question faster than I could've ever googled it.

Ahh...

"Halt, who goes there?!" asked Guard #1 with a stern voice. His fur was white while his mane was that of blue though which a pristine horn poked out.

Gentle twitched vigorously, before shakingly pulling out the letter, holding it out for the Guards to see. Guard #2 grabbed the letter with his magic and looked over it, the magic around the piece of paper intensified momentarily as he cast some sort of spell on it.

Guard #2 spoke calmly and professionally. "Everything seems to be in order, ma'am." The Guard then turned to his companion and nodded, signalizing the opening of the gate as both horns ignited, enveloping the entrance with their blue aura and opening the barrier between royalty and commoner. The Guard who checked the letter turned towards us, replying only shortly with a "Follow me." before leading us towards the castle.

Gentle slowly nodded, albeit filled with uncertainty before following the Stallion with quite some distance between them.

As soon as we traversed the gate, the sight on the castle seemed to shift ever so slightly. From afar, the structure looked nothing like a piece of plastic, but now its details were revealed. Where there previously was just plain grass before the walls now stood works of art, marble, clay, and metal alike, some spewed water like a fountain, other allowed plants to be grown on professionally while a few exceptions held plaques holding names and titles, few deeds were listed as well. While Pony made creations equaled with no doubt the work of humans in the renaissance if not overcame perhaps due to the use of magic, the gardens made me almost tear up. As cold-hearted as I was, spending countless hours in flower shops, despite having a crimson red thumb, made my worries melt away. The scent of lavender, the fragrance I felt so far away came from this very place and now in combination with other flowers created a symphony, one that was underlined with the noon sun warming me. There were many I knew, even if the lack of roses was a surprise, but what shocked me, let dread seep into my bones, was the sight of mystic blooms.

As much as this sight was beautiful and the opportunity to have some familiarity from home, I could not take it and diverted my eyes until the gardens were out of sight.

...

"Woah..." My ears twitched and perked upon the voice of Gentle breaking the silence. I sighed heavily, bevor looking up and pausing my somber mood. The halls were incredibly long while the ceiling was more than three times as high as the Guard, and the entire space was decorated. For just a moment, I caught a glimpse of the welcoming area, though my means of transportation turned away too fast for me to see what was there though what my vision was replaced with was, without a doubt, even more breathtaking. A ruby carpet that went on for what seemed to be miles covered our path, highlighting the sunshine that shone through the large windows and perfect landing onto the pictures of various ponies and creatures alike.

My mouth opened slightly, leaving a little gap between my lips to let out a quiet 'wow.' This world had its own celebrities, kings, and cultures, just like earth, but different. There were rulers, landscapes, abstract works of art and... and...

'Damn perverts...' I thought with a shake of my head at the sight of a giant marble statue of a female horse with a huge butt, looking thoughtfully upwards.

"We're here, ma'am," the Guard spoke, making both me and my adoptive parent look at the door he was pointing at. A large spruce door that was decorated with but a single name tag nailed onto it, reading 'Iron Grace - head administrator.'

"Thank you," Gentle said shortly to which the Guard nodded before bidding his goodbyes and leaving us alone. Her eyes stared after the Guard a few moments longer than was acceptable, making me wonder if she expected to see something that wasn't there. Finally, after a long pause, her eyes slowly turned back towards the door, though only a deep breath prolonged the waiting before the door was opened by hoof before Gentle enter with me into.

"Ahh, miss Touch, good to see you again. Please, take a seat." Spoke the one other being in the room, a stern and cold voice attempting to seem warm and welcoming. An iron-colored short coat enveloped her thin form that appeared to be trying to hide well-defined muscles while a short mane with the color of snow covering her head. Iron Grace's ears peeked through hair and stood like two towers while her long and seemingly spiral horn joined as player three, forming nearly a majestic crown. The only flaw in her appearance were the three large scars running across the left side of her face and over her left eye, though surprisingly she was one lucky horse as her eyes seemed to still be working, a shame if those vibrant green eyes were damaged.

The room itself looked precisely how you would expect an office to look like. A large wooden desk, several shelves, a large carpet, a couple of cushions instead of chairs, a few maps and flags of the country, which was a minimalistic white horse with horn and wings flying around the sun, and surprisingly another table, one you'd expect at the doctor alongside various tools which meaning I did not know.

'Again?' I wondered with a confused look and a tilted head. Of course, miss Grace probably thought of my doing as an attempt to better see her as this shifting of my legal guardian obscured my vision.

As Gentle sat down onto the cushion on the ground, the lack of chairs appearing somewhat worrisome, she levitated me up momentarily and playing me between her legs, my face pointing forwards.

"Hello... Iron. It has been a while, has it not?" Gentle asked with a cold look at the mare wishing to see us, or more precisely, me.

Iron slowly nodded her while one of her hoofs ran over her large scar, both mares sank into their positions slightly after her act. "I see you have gotten better after the incident," Grace said slowly, to which Gentle nodded weakly. "You know that I am not made for such talk, so just let us get this over with," Grace answered with a sigh, momentarily before another pony entered the room.

'I am unsure if their common past is an advantage or just another obstacle...'

Agreed.

A beige colored mare, short of statue though physically fit in nature, wore a doctor's coat and a stereoscope on her grey mane. There was also a crossed stereoscope and a syringe on her arse. "Sorry for the wait, but doctor Horsenpfeffer was sadly needed, so I was called up at the last minute. I'm Doctor Greymare, bye the way, heh."

'Let this world burn for all its sins.' I thought darkly while keeping the happy-foal-mask on.

"Greetings, miss Greymare. You are to inspect the foal by the name of Star Touch." Iron Grace announced and commanded with a calm voice. "Gentle, if you would put the colt on the table, please?" She instructed as she pointed her hoof at the table in the middle of the room to which Gentle obliged by lifting me with her magic and placing me on the aforementioned furniture.

Doctor Greymare trotted towards me with great anticipation, if it was a for the love of foals or the pure joy of her job was not known to me. "Well, hello there little colt, I'm miss Greymare, and I'm gonna have a really close look on you to see if you're healthy." Greymare crept closer with a soft smile while talking to me with a kind baby voice. I tried to stay in my role and just act cute, but I couldn't handle this voice, my heart began to pump strangely, and my head began to hurt while an alien pressure began to build up in my throat and behind my eyes, all while my jaw began to clench on its own, the only relief I found was when I slowly inched away from her. "Oh, no no no, everything is fine, you don't have to be scared. Don't cry, please?" She begged as she reached forward with her hoof, though leaving more than enough space between me and her stretched out hoof.

Although the souls of this body had long left this body, the way it should supposedly work and act will be strong until our control and imprint have been more significant than that of the soul before. The Game spoke as the worry, fear, and anxiety that was softly chocking me listened gradually

"Everything is alright, she isn't like that mean old Goodwill." Gentle spoke as she held my back with one hoof and stroked my chair with another. The accursed discomfort leaving me slowly, though its imprint, would haunt my sleepless nights for long. I slowly looked up to see her face, in the corner of my vision I could make out Iron Grace with a little smile on her face, though that vanished shortly later when she began to look at a clipboard.

"Is there anything I should know before we continue?" Greymare asked, to which my adoptive mother shook her head. "Good, now please hold still while I put this on your horn, we don't want to hurt ourselves here." Her voice was perhaps soothing for a newborn, but the urge to vomit rose ever higher with each word spoken, and although she seemed to care for the young, the urgency to finish this visibly forced away the want to give the foal she believed me to be a break.

Horn-based magic use has been restricted. Find the origins and deactivate it to retrieve the ability to channel mana through your horn.

My eyes darted up instantly upon hearing a well-known ping in my skull, which meaning I understood instantaneously. Although my eyes could not see the ring, I knew that it was there, though it did make me wonder why the ring was able to block my magic when I was able to use it from my hands just fine in the dungeon. Even if there was some explanation, couldn't I just unequip the ring?

In the dungeon, you were a manifestation of your being, but when channeling mana through your body, it is unadvised to transport it through your flesh as you have designated mana lines for that of which most lead to your horn. Your horn is a natural catalyst for spells, which allows for more precise casting and safer use. Yes, you could de-equip the ring, but that would spark many uneasy questions for the creatures around us. The Game advised with a cautious voice, seemingly whispering for some unknown reason.

"Now we'll have a look at your magic score in a few minutes with a bit more precise measuring device that what Mist Path used," Greymare spoke with a smile before plugging her stereoscope in her ears and pressed the cold metal against the left side of my chest with her magic. Her magic was red, and it made me wonder how the whole color system worked. "Hmmm, your heart rate seems good. And... so are your eyes." Grey said as she put away her stereoscope and pointed a stick with a gem at its tip at my eyes, the beam of the construction barely blinded me, despite its illumination power. A ping that did not originate from my thought broke away the doctor from her work.

"Ahh, the ring has finalized the scan, now let's see what it reads," Grey spoke joyfully as she pulled the ring off my horn, a sound notifying me of the removal of the horn chastity. Her face froze upon the moment her eyes met with the stone on the ring. Tapping on the gem seemingly did nothing to change what is displayed.

Iron Grace seemingly had enough of Grey's tomfoolery and barked. "Miss Greymare, the results if you must."

"Y-yes, but the ring must be broken," Grey said, though Iron's disapproving look spoke more than a thousand words. "The measuring device says that the colt's magical power is equivalent to that of a teenager, but matching both the high mana capacity of stallion, as well as the arcane strength of a mare."

"I see, now, please proceed with the examination." Iron spoke, her pencil feather scribbling away on the sheet of paper.

"Wait, Mist Path said that his magic was barely equivalent to that of five four-year-old foals; does that mean the ring measured more or less?" Gentle with a raised eyebrow, concerned if her wonder child was more or less wonderous. At least, that was what I assumed.

"Ehm... if we go by the numbers on average magical power across foals of the age of four with the gender not taken into the equation, then Star's magical power should be about seven times higher than that of a four-year-old," Grey spoke nervously. Gentle's jaw dropped a little and raised her hoof in a questioning manner, though she was shut down before even being able to ask by Iron herself.

"We are sadly on a tight time plan, so please let us finish the procedure." Iron Grace urged through the mentioning of the word 'procedure' made me twitch.

"Ye-yes." She stammered before taking a few steps closer to me and pulled a magnifying glass from the tray of tools and looked at my skin, at least, that was what I assumed she was doing. "This is worrisome."

"W-what is it? Is something wrong with him?" Gentle asked with worry and pulled me closer to her, she almost reminded me of my human mother when I broke my leg when the floor under my room broke in with me above. Damn termites.

"If I am honest, I can only guess what is wrong, but it is by no means healthy," Grey spoke as she enveloped me in her red aura and lifted me a meter into the air before pushing away the fur on my chest, Gentle gasped in shock while Iron could only wince slightly. "His skin looks like it was the victim a painful mana burn, but the flesh and fur are intact. Another option could be skin cancer that spread too fast and in the process killed itself off, though his fur is too healthy for that, I will scan him just in case. I advise you to step away from your son, miss Gentle, the spell could fail if your mana was were to be mixed with that of the spell." Once her words were spoken, she let me down onto the table again.

Well, I would've touched the furniture if it wasn't for the tight and robust hug of Gentle Touch. "No matter what is the answer, you'll continue being my foal." Her words left me weirded out for a moment, not in a disgusted or spiteful manner, I just could not make out anything with her words or what those words made me feel.

"Here goes nothing..." Grey mumbled under her breath, yet I could still clearly hear what she was saying, and it worried me a lot. I have been through too much to end up as a stain on the wall. A red aura intensified around Grey's horn, glowing like a crimson flame around her natural catalyst and my silhouette, though her actions only achieved a mild discomfort. My hair rose from the slightly electric touch, and the feeling just made me want to pop all my bones at once.

"I. I-uh... Just... give me a second." Grey's magic ebbed away after a few faithful and uncomfortable minutes, leaving the horse out-breath. "I-I got nothing." She forced out as she took another breather, she must've dumped all her mana in this one spell.

For mortal beings to attempt to understand Aether would be like to put a monkey in front of a spaceship. The only difference here was that entity Greymare was smart enough to use a spell that dwelled not too deep to keep her sanity, though it did leave her with barely any mana left. The Game's voice was just hardly hearable, but now it was like someone was whispering in a cave.

'What's up with you all of a sudden?' I asked curiously, though no answer came. A bottomless pit of dread formed in my stomach, the Game only ever went silent when I was either doing something according to plan or if I was in deep, uncalculated shit.

"What do you mean you've found nothing?! He's right there, you should've at least been able to sense that he's alive." Iron pushed herself up with her front hooves on her table, barking at the doctor with a glare. "Didn't they tell you that you've got to be able to cast a simple scanning spell, or are you just unable to do so?" Ouch, I had no idea what that was about, but it felt insulting.

"He-hey, it's not my fault! It's like his entire body is soaked to the bones with pure magic that my spell get lost in like a drop of water in the ocean!" Greymare protested and slapped the ground in front of her.

'Finaly! This world just got ten times more interesting!' I thought mischievously with an evil grin hidden within my mind. A deep, dark, and evil place from which nothing ever escaped. Not that my roommate was able to leave me anyways. Still, the sight of two people arguing was always such a sour-sweet sight, not that I encouraged it, but being a bystander was never a sin, was it?

"I hope I am not interrupting anything." Asked a voice as smooth as silk, sweet as honey and warm as the sunlight. Our eyes were all drawn towards the door, but who stood there was by no means planned, but upon her arrival, I felt the presence of the Game leave me entirely. A giant of a pony stood at the door, her head was shortly pulled down just for her to cross the doorframe although the rest of her slender figure fit perfectly through. The pony had pristine white fur, short and clean of any speck of dirt or lint while a massive chest piece of gold with a large magenta gem graced her chest. On her back was a pair of giant wings that were perfectly folded. Her long legs ended with golden shoes and let only the very top of her fetlocks show. Atop her long neck was her head, a sleek and petite face underlined her short and form perfect muzzle. Her eyes were that of magenta, though one was hidden behind her voluptuous mane, one that shone like a rainbow and flown in the wind despite the lack of the moving air in question. Through the water like hair poked a long, spiral horn. A crown, which's engraving I could not see, sat perfectly on her head.

In tow of the regal mare was another pony, a short earth pony whose color scheme fit that of the one she was following. An earth pony with a coat of white and brown mane that was formed into a large bun, her tail shared this style of hair too, and both were tied by a similar red thread. A large pair of glasses was placed on her long muzzle, and the white-collar alongside the red tie finished off her professional look if the clipboard and feather in her hooves or the butt tattoo of a feather and glass of ink weren't enough.

"Princess Celestia." Shouted a chorus you never expected to see in real life or at least outside boring sitcoms, though the ponies seemingly took it very seriously as they all bowed down only a moment later.

"There is no need for such courtesy." The pony who now was undeniably confirmed as Princess Celestia dismissed their publication of loyalty gently, but her attention was drawn away from the adults upon her eyes catching a glimpse of my feeble form. "And you must be Star Touch." Celestia smiled as she walked towards me, the tipping of her hooves on the marble floor felt like a countdown, one which's end I did not wish to meet.

'Okay, you can do this, just act cute and lovely without the celestial being that fucking left you with the only other creature that could possibly look past my facade!' My worries soon broke out in anger, though physically, I changed not and attempted to win her heart.

My previously somber mood was replaced with one of happiness and joy that I displayed with happy baby noises, or whatever you wished to call it while smiling widely and reaching my forehoof towards the princess. I honestly had no idea what to do, but I had great encouragement with the absence of the Game and the smell of Aether on the pony I was currently waving at.

'please don't kill me!?' I begged in my mind as the power in front of me felt like I was standing in front of an artificial sun.

Princess Celestia stopped her advance only a short distance away from me before a gentle smile spread across her face and leaned forward, her long neck allowing her to inch much closer than it was comfortable for me, with that being so close that her magenta eyes were all I saw.

"Hello little Star Touch, I heard much about you from Mist Path. You seem to be an exceptional colt." Celestia said softly and encouraged my ego but ultimately invoking only more discomfort.

If it was not for both [Gamer's Mind] and [Gamer's Body], then I'd be salivating, sweating, and filling my diaper in both ways this very second. The sweet Aether sang to me like a death metal band, and I believe my brain had a short circuit as I lost all control over my next action. I gave Celestia a lick on her muzzle.

Celestia stopped for a moment as if she froze, a feeling dread or just overwhelming cuteness washed over her, so much so that she completely ignored the shocked expression of those around her. Her response to this most treacherous act to coat the Princess of the sun with saliva? A lick of her own across the entire right side of the foal in front of her.

I had no idea what came over me, but a wave of giggling escaped me, jiggling and wiggling my entire form to my very own sound. My action only made the Princess smile more.

"I-a I'm sorry Princess, I'll make sure it won't happen again!" Gentle rushed to my side and pulled me a few inches away from the princess if it was out of respect or fear was unknown to me.

"Nonsense, let foals be foals as long as they can, but as enjoyable as this was I came for a different purpose," Celestia said as she enveloped me with a vibrant golden aura, one that warm and soothing to the touch, yet I knew that she could crush me like a grape if someone were to drop a whiff of pepper on her nose. "I heard that difficulties were surrounding the evaluation of young Star Touch, and I believe in having found them, for that reason, I believe I would be the best choice to finish the examination. Are there any objections?"

'Golden heart or she's damn good at pretending... Of course, she is fucking good at acting, she's immortal and has been ruling for god how long, she probably has a different persona for each weekday!' I thought with pride knowing that the ruler of this country would not be such a pushover as the 'president' or as he was unofficially known, 'Foot Licker' of mega-corporations.

"No-no, Princess, do as you like." Greymare injected as she took of the magic horn blocker before taking a few steps backward, presumably not to screw up the spell she previously urged was so unstable. "I'm just going to leave now." Although she attempted to leave with dignity by walking calmly towards the door and closing it slowly, the barrage of click and clacks, as well as the loud crash and hail of family-friendly curses, soured her plan.

'And now one had left the insane asylum. You won't be missed the doctor horse'.

The Princess nodded towards the adult before looking at her companion. "Miss Inkwell, please write down what I'm about to list off."

"Of course, your highness."

"Now, this may tingle a bit." Princess Celestia warned me, before the glow on her horn, from bottom to tip, began to radiate with enough power to make wonder if I would go blind if it would continue to brighten. The light, it felt like water that went through a sieve; on the one hand, I felt like my very being was being cleaned from the inside out by the warmth that shone through my very being, but on the other, I couldn't banish the feeling of violation.

"Superior Mana capacity and output, grand regeneration, grand magic regeneration, great mind, high body, infinite potential and growth, elemental control, superb strength, leather hide, spiritual force, and Divine power." With each word she spoke, I felt the warmth shover deeper into my very being, the presence of the game appeared shortly again, though only when it entered the very deepest layer of my being. "13 blessings..." The Princess slowly opened her eyes as she whispered out, her gaze pointed towards the ceiling, though her body was like stone, her eyes slowly rolled down and landed onto me. "You really are something special."

I fucking did not like that smile. I cannot put in words, but even being kidnapped across time and space and being beaten to the brink of death never let so much dread course down my entire skeleton. It was the look of someone who was searching for something for a very long time and had now found it. Me.

"Ehm, I may sound a bit dumb here, but what is a blessing?" Gentle asked sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head with one of her hooves. How she was actually achieving anything was beyond me, given that there was nothing to scratch with.

"You don't have to feel embarrassed unless you searched up the term in a dictionary; no pony would be aware of it. A Blessing is when a creature is born with a gift that allows him or her to either do things other members of their race can't, or do something better than even one with a cutie mark for it. Having one is incredibly rare; only a few in all of history had two, and only one creature, that being Starswirl, had three. Then there is also to mention that in the last eight-hundred years, although there were a few talented stallions, no other colt was born with a blessing." Celestia's face then lowered itself as she smiled once again at me. "Up until now."

"W-What exactly does that mean for Star and me?" Gentle asked meagerly, presumably in an attempt to muster up a few shreds of courage as she stepped forward.

Princess Celestia's smile faded slightly as she looked towards Iron. "Miss Grace, would you mind leaving us for the time being? You will, of course, be informed of all you need to know about this situation."

Iron Grace's mouth opened and closed twice, before she jumped into a salute and walked past Gentle, a soft 'good luck' left her lips before she vanished behind the wooden door.

'Now there are only four people left, three are adults, and two of them, with one being completely overpowered, are on the other team. Yup, the perfect scene to dispose of witnesses.' I thought darkly while attempting not to act indicated by the fact that I suddenly became worth killing over or reveal the chance that I very much so aware of the direness of this very situation.

"Miss Gentle, are you aware of how few beings are able to control spiritual, or even divine power?" Princess Celestia asked slowly, to which Gentle shook her head. "There are less than a hundred who bear spiritual power, barely any of those can even control this ability. If we talk about divine energy, it is entirely reserved for the highest of immortal beings, so far the only ponies who were ever able to hold Divine energy, with or without the addition of Spiritual power, were alicorns. A mortal pony would not be able to withstand so much power, which visualizes itself on the appearance of Star's surprisingly meager looking form despite being healthy, but he should take on a healthier appearance once he has grown into his powers, but until then his magic might cause harm before he can control it."

"Ehm..." Gentle attempted to come up with some kind of reply, answer, or anything alike, just a single sentence no matter how dumb would've been enough, but she could not force out anything other.

Princess Celestia took a few steps closer towards Gentle, the mortal mare's legs began to quiver with her ruler's form towering the unicorn. "Do you know what is even more unique about this colt?" Celestia asked, to which Gentle shakingly shook her head. "Please be at ease, I have no ill intentions," Celestia said, to which Gentle shakingly nodded her head. "Although he is still a unicorn, his regenerative ability outpaced the drain of age, adding now his ability to grow indefinitely and here might as well be sitting an alicorn without wings. In fact, if you said that he was an alicorn foal who lost his wings in an accident, even I might've believed it."

"W-What are you im-implying y-your highness?" Gentle asked, her quivering dimming slightly, though still not enough to allow her to not to appear like a coward. I did not judge her, cowards live, and I take a beating heart over a cold lionheart.

"If I may explain it to miss Gentle?" The pony with the name of Inkwell asked, to which the Princess merely nodded. "At this very moment, perhaps the most important foal in all of Equestria is sitting right here. I believe I do not have to further elaborate just how valuable he is to the country and how much he will achieve once he is of age. Based on his potential, it is not unlikely that ponies or other creatures who become aware of his distinctive traits might wish to get their hooves on him. I believe I speak for everypony when I say that everything possible should be done to ensure Star Touch to stay safe and reach his full potential at all costs. "

"I-eh-I... I don't know what to say, but I will try the best I can and more to raise him better than any other mare." Gentle swallowed, before promising sincerely.

"I agree that a foal should stay with their family, locking him up in the castle, and separating him would yield a pony most foul." The Princess said theatrically, though her choice of words disturbed Gentle and me substantially if I were to be observed around the clock, then I'd never been able to physically enter the nightmare realm and gain enough strength in time before Amber would be space dust.

"While I do agree on the Princesses statement, I do have to point out one striving detail that has to be spoken about, and that is your income, miss Gentle." Inkwell read off her clipboard through which's papers she searched. "It is too meager to raise a foal."

"What is that supposed to mean? I am more than able to raise a foal!" Gentle growled, her hoof storing on the floor while glaring on the secretary.

'Yeesh, never say a woman with children is anything but a good mother, or you'll lose some squishy parts.' I thought while the muscles of my face tightened.

Inkwell gave her a bored look before speaking coldly. "You are making 284 bits a month while your rent in 400 bits. The only reason you are not homeless as of this moment is because of your deceased husband's achievements in the royal guard and the currency your receive for raising a foal, but those will sooner or later dry out, and what then?"

'UH! Burn! I don't care from what universe you're from, but that gotta hurt!' I think I actually took damage from hearing that, and it took a lot of strength to not let out any sound after this comment.

"I-I uh... I-but." Gentle lost her steam and fell onto her rump dramatically with a sigh and a shaking head. A sorrowful and sorry sight and state of being in. It was one of hopelessness. How many times have I been in money troubles and fear of landing on the street?

'Now I feel like an ass for thinking that.' I thought while looking at the ground, or rather, the table on which I sat. I may be able to ignore the poor and those in need, but you never step on someone who was already down. 'Ah screw this, I can't take this.' I thought before gradually pushing myself onto all of my four hooves and wobble my way towards Gentle, her head now laying on the table, perhaps pondering about times more simple? I reached her shortly after, her eyes had only a moment to see me, she, on the other hand, had no time to notice me, before the head was caught in a full-body hug, even if my short limbs only reached halfway.

"Thank you, I needed that." Gentle smiled before she pulled me off the table with her own hooves and returned the hug. Her face buried itself into my hair on the backside of my skull. My heart hurt, it really did, and I do not know why, though the moment lasted short it felt like an eternity, before the loud clipping, and the sudden thud caused Gentle to jerk up and softly put me down.

"Do not mind me, I just wished to make a proposal." The very Princess sat on the ground next to Gentle, and her behavior turned from regal to comforting. "Inkwell, would you please give me the paper." Not a moment later did Inkwell pull out a large piece of parchment, one that was teleported towards the Princess a second later. "I believe this might soothe your worries and turn this most unfortunate situation in everypony's favour.."

I turned around, albeit a bit forcefully, and stared at what was presented to my legal guardian. It was a contract, one that promised a lot of money each month, though before I could make out the fine prints, it was pulled away, and without the game, I could not review the document.

"If you sign this paper, you will receive enough money for the rest of your life and more to not only live comfortably but raise as many foals as you could ever be able to. All you have to do is to change your working location to the castle infirmary and Star with you. Of course, no direct information on his 'extraordinary situation' is allowed to be spilled to public ears, friends, or family. At least one guard will be near you at all times, and any decision concerning Star will be made with me personally."

"I cannot-" Gentle blurted out, though was silenced by a shush of the Princess.

"Shhh, there is no reason to act prideful; there is nothing wrong with accepting help, and I promise that this way, Star will have the brightest future possible." The Princess promised as her voice became softer and more trustworthy by the moment, or perhaps it was just the excessive amount of Aether messing with my head.

"Is it really okay for me to get so much help. Is it okay for you to spend so much time in this situation?" Gentle asked quietly, her worries and anxiety from earlier became more like the insecurity of a child talking to her mother about an awkward topic.

"I usually try to not spend too much of my time on the private life of other ponies as saying goodbye once their time has come is always painful, but this time, with a foal that will not be left to dust by the tooth of time, I believe I might be able to make eternity a bit less lonely and this country permanently a little more granter than it already is." Celestia said kindly as she lifted the paper and a quill already dipped in ink in front of Gentle.

'Yeah sure! You're just doing this to make a friend. I've met your kind before, and your talk about me being worth a lot was just for show, hmm, yeah, no... You prepared the contract before we even came, this is all but a spiel! Gentle! Horse! Whatever the fuck you're supposed to be, don't listen to her!' My eyes widened as I puzzled the pieces together into one picture. My form wiggled and attempted to steal away her gaze from the paper, though her half-closed eyelids dip not sway or waver.

The mare looked at the piece of paper, then at the Celestia, who gave her a reassuring smile, and then back at the document before signing it, holding the parchment in her hooves while writing with her horn. With each letter written, my heart sank lower, I knew not what this was about, but no one did anything out of kindness, and most certainly not out of friendship for free.

The contract flew out of Gentle's hooves and into Celestia's vision, her eyes drifting over the paper and each individual line with pinpoint precision, before smiling gravely and giving it to Inkwell, who put it in her clipboard and swiftly left the room.

Empty, that was how I felt now.

My emptiness was still far more comforting than the golden aura that enveloped me yet again, and my vision was once more filled with Princess. "We are going to spend a lot of time from now on." The Princess smiled, this time more naturally, while I could only stare blankly.

"You hear that you're going to get to know the Princess. Many ponies would give everything for that." Gentle said with a smile as she leaned closer, her side almost touching the coat of the Princess, but I am pretty sure she wouldn't have minded it anyways at this moment.

The moon hung high in the middle of the sky, the night was in its full glory, and I believe the celestial bodies with their heavenly realms shone brighter and more beautiful than the days before. The sky was mesmerizing as ever, the stars showed themselves with all pride, yet this ocean of colors that swayed me every time before left me now untouched.

I apologize for leaving you... again, but it seemed like the alicorn had a better understanding of the most fundamental basics of Aether, even if some terms and bits of knowledge are false, than I originally anticipated. Had entity, Celestia, rank Princess, found out about me, then she might've tried to remove me, which would've spelled the demise for both of us. The Game spoke with a somber and apologetic voice, but his absent angered me not in the slightest, he always had good reasons for everything

'No, I just can't get my head around this. What is the Princess trying to achieve? I don't understand why she is wasting so much time and resources on me.' I pondered angrily with a scowl while my face did not move away from the moon.

'Perhaps Entity Celestia really does just wish for company. You heard her, she usually avoids friendship with mortals as she dislikes seeing them die. You, a foal who is immortal, due to the 'Blessing' as Entity Inkwell called them, would be able to seal the hole of isolation. This fact becomes more prominent given that she never bore a foal, at least, as far as I can tell based on the emotions she felt while being near you.' The Game offered a possibility.

'Wait, what do you mean with immortal!?' My head shot up, my reaction having nearly woken Gentle as she squirmed under the cover. 'Explain yourself.' I glared at the night sky while my upset feelings were directed at the disco ball in my head.

What did you think I meant when I said that the physical changes of the stat 'Wisdom,' which would've slowed down your physical aging once you reached maturity, was obsolete? I also mentioned that you could regenerate from any injury, you have even experienced this. Growing old is just the damage, wear and tear you take throughout your life and can't heal until the machine you call a body breaks down. Unless something kills you, we will live forever, and suicide, I won't let you commit as this goes against my programming. The Game slowly said something which made my heart dropped; the intensity and pronunciation burned itself into my skull.

'I'm... immortal...' I thought as I gazed at the stars, mixed emotions, some positive and other I could not make out bubbled in my stomach.

"Yes, but please don't neglect sleep as your body is still depending on it." The Game said, his presence leaving back into the deepest part of my mind, perhaps even soul.

My eyes were fixated onto the figure, the shadowy silhouette on the moon's surface as I let my thought wander around, some about the future, others about the past, though no thoughts on the present were ever formed. For just a moment, I felt like the shadow moved, and a voice began to sing, but perhaps it was just my mind playing a trick on me. I slowly shook my head, my hair, and my fur bending from side to side before my head sank slowly onto the comfortable cotton, and my eyelids became heavy. Despite everything, nightmares, monsters, Princesses and even celestial beings, I felt not burdened or scared, only anticipation and expectations greeted my future, while I would smile at the following days of being a simple colt in a new world, perhaps, a better one.