A New Year's Toast of Teaby Witching HourChaptersChapter 2 - I Gotta Feeling (Tonight’s Gonna Be A Good Night)Chapter 3 - Poker FaceChapter 4 - For Whom The Bell TollsChapter 1 - It's Just Another New Year's Eve/BirthdayChapter 2 - I Gotta Feeling (Tonight’s Gonna Be A Good Night)Witch isn’t sure whether to be grateful or annoyed that, upon discovering her invitation to the infamous House Star New Years’ party, Cinna had insisted on overseeing her preparations. The ~~secretary~~ administrative assistant had promptly dragged a bewildered and protesting Witch bodily from the tea shop (without finishing their tea) and hauled her back to the house she shared with Monkey, with Midnight trailing along and laughing. The following hours (and Cinna lamented about the ‘lack’ of time until Witch was sure she’d turn blue in the face) were filled with flying makeup applicators, styling brushes and oh so many dresses until the assistant finally settled on Witch’s auxiliary dress uniform. “Has no pony touched this mess since I did your mane for the Gala, Witchy?!” Cinna demands crossly as she attempts to get the blue tresses to curl in the way she wants them to. “I got a trim before my leave,” Witch grunts and winces as Cinna’s magic-held curling iron pulls her mane painfully on one side. “And I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of this! It’s not even a garden party!” “Witching Hour Grey, I know that you know that House Star doesn’t invite just anypony to their New Years’ party. Not even close friends get invitations!” Cinna retorts, still irate and pulling at Witch’s mane. “Which means that they don’t want formality, Cinnabelle!” Witch counters with another wince before shoving the excitable assistant away. “Sweet Gods, where’s Flash when I need her?” “Already over at Fleetfoot’s for the Wonderbolts’ New Year Party,” Midnight replies with a broad grin under the guise of helpfulness. Witch sighs and gives the pegasus a half-glare that makes Midnight quickly turn her chuckle into a cough. “The question was clearly rhetorical, Midnight,” Witch responds irritably, keeping Cinna at bay by one hoof against the tip of her horn. “And why aren’t you there right now anyways?” “Because this is the best entertainment I’ve had since Tide swapped the sparring partners around to punish Sky for going out with Moonbow until four-thirty in the morning!” Midnight replies with a smile and a shrug. Cinna gives up trying to get at Witch and turns to face the Ensign of Squad Six. “And because she wants me to style her mane so she might finally get a certain captain to look beyond her uniform for once?” Cinna suggests with a cheshire-like grin. Midnight turns a rather dark shade of purple as she blushes and stutters incoherently, causing Witch to smirk at her over her shoulder. The underside of her muzzle rubs against the stiff collar of her uniform and her expression quickly changes to a grimace as the collar tab pin scratches unpleasantly at her chin. “Do I seriously have to wear this Cinna? I haven’t even worn it for anything official with the Auxiliaries yet… Don’t you think I’ll be slightly out of place like this?” “Nonsense!” Cinna quickly retorts even as Midnight nods in agreement. “Don’t forget that Lieutenant Star from Squad Twelve will be there too, and I’ll bet a cart of tea that she’ll be wearing her dress blues!” Midnight adds, making Witch groan. “So you’re saying that not only do I have to be around nobles higher ranked than my grandparents, to say nothing of also outranking me by miles by military standards since exactly none of them are non-comms, but I have to spend the evening with a Troll?!” Witch moans in dismay. “Oh relax, Witchy. Azzy’s not that bad,” Midnight consoles Witch even as the unicorn levels a skeptical glare at her. A thought brings a smirk to Midnight’s face and she adds, “And you’ll have that handsome Navy pony to fend her off.” Witch groans again. “Not you too, Midnight… Stars above, it’s bad enough to have my mom saying things like that! He’s just being nice-” “Well if I had somepony being that nice to me, I wouldn’t be staying home with Tricks tonight,” Monkey retorts, making Cinna snort and Midnight giggle and wringing another groan from Witch. “MONKEY!” Witch cries in protest. “You know better than these two here that I just don’t work like that! How about I drag you along and use you to distract her!?” “Well, she is a beaut of a mare…” Monkey muses, and Cinna snorts her opinion of the Squad Twelve Lieutenant, but shakes her head. “But no. You were the one that taught me how ‘all important’ this noble protocol is, so no uninvited guests crashing the party. Besides, you wouldn’t want Tricks to wake up in the middle of the night and find both of us gone.” Witch glowers and growls at her roommate, mentally cursing herself even as she agrees with Monkey’s reasons for staying home. “At ease, Chief,” Midnight says, smiling kindly. “Bronze Star is handsome, and a Navy pony… I never said anything about him being your handsome Navy pony… And he seems the sort that would run interference to keep you from situations that would really upset you. I mean… He did go out of his way to find something for you to do for your birthday.” “By inviting her to possibly the most exclusive event he could…” Monkey mutters sotto voce, earning another glare from Witch. “Which just so happens to be the same day as her birthday,” Midnight quickly counters. “Which he is able to invite her to… So let’s all just hope Witch has a good time and let her get going,” she suggests, leveling a pointed look at both Cinna and Monkey. “Oh fine,” Monkey sighs with a half-sulky expression. “Wait! I have one more thing!” Cinna protests, almost diving back into her bag of supplies. Both Monkey and Midnight stare as nearly half the unicorn’s body disappears into the bag, making Witch snort in amusement. “You’ve never seen an expansion spell before?” Witch asks the two pegasi, humor clear in her question. “But… Why on a bag?” Monkey retorts, baffled. “I kept running out of room,” Cinna replies, finally surfacing. “I call it my bag of ever-holding,” she declares proudly, holding up a jeweled hair-comb. Witch groans at the sight of the Wonderbolts emblem in diamonds and sapphires set in yellow gold. “Really Cinna? That isn’t regulation by any stretch of the imagination,” Witch complains, even as Cinna starts pulling at her mane again. “Just hold still for- a- WITCHY!” Cinna cries in exasperation as Witch gets away from her. “One way or another, this hair comb is going in. It’s up to you if it draws blood!” “You’ve been working with Bliss too long,” Witch grumbles, even as Cinna’s umber magic is finally able to pull her mane back into place and uses the comb to pin the curls up. “There!” Cinna announces smuggly. “Alright Midnight, let’s get you spruced up for your own shindig.” Witch sighs heavily in relief as the unicorn and pegasus depart, leaving her with only Monkey in her living room. “I guess I’ll go join Tricks upstairs… It’s about time for him to go to bed anyhow.” “She says, knowing full-well that she’ll let him stay up as long as he can in hopes of seeing midnight anyways…” Witch quips, and Monkey laughs. “True enough, Twitchy, but you’d better get going… Weren’t you also the one who told me it’s rude to be late?” Monkey asks pointedly, gesturing with her wing to the grandsire clock in the corner. “You know full well why I’m anxious about -” “Going… Yes… I know… but it’s never going to get any better if you just sit like a lump. Go! Do something for yourself for a change instead of always worrying about everyone else!” Monkey cuts her off and starts pushing the unicorn bodily towards the front door. “And don’t make me start repeating your words back at you… I’m sick enough of hearing them already without having to say them myself!” With that, and somehow managing to get the door open with her roommate in front of her, Monkey shoves Witch out onto their front porch and closes the door before Witch could turn around and force her way back in. An audible click also tells the doctor that she’d been locked out of her own home. Not that Witch couldn’t get in if she really needed to, what with being able to teleport herself, but Monkey also knew that Witch is prone to doing things as those without magic could in deference to her patients and non-unicorn family members, so the locking of the door was more of a not-so-subtle hint that if Witch turned tail and ran back in now, she’d be in for all sorts of unpleasant harangue from Monkey. Stepping out onto the street in front of Fancy Pants’ manse, Witch wonders if this appearance at a family gathering would be such a wise idea for herself. Was it really a good plan to show up at such an intimate affair when she’d only been invited in the whimsy of a moment? Sighing, she sets off down the road to take her out of the Belle Maire neighborhood of Coltden and south towards the Kensington district, knowing that canceling at such a late hour would be an even worse offense than attending a family event when not related or involved with any of the family. “I was going to pick you up, you know?” Witch jumps sideways away from the new voice that breaks her from her thoughts, twisting mid-air to face none other than the reason she was walking to Kensington on New Year’s Eve. “I had to get away from my coworker before she decided that she wasn’t done ‘preparing’ me,” Witch explains to Bronze Star. Only then does she notice that he is wearing his dress blacks, moonlight glinting off of the several medals pinned to his chest. “It sounds like she was preparing you for the slaughter rather than a party,” Bronze comments with a smirk. “I’d almost wish for the slaughter with how she was going on about it… I haven’t been so tormented since my grandmother put me through my paces for my Debutante Ball ten years ago,” Witch complains petulantly as she starts walking again. “Well, at least with my family, you won’t feel like a bargaining chip or a piece of meat to be bought,” Bronze offers as he falls into step beside her. “No, I’ll just feel awkward the entire time because I’ve never worn this uniform before,” Witch grumbles, pulling at the collar of her jacket and wincing as the collar tab scratches her neck yet again. “To say nothing about the awkwardness of being invited at the last minute for a family event that not even close friends get invited to, or the fact that you all outrank me by miles.” “We’re not that much higher,” Bronze starts but Witch cuts him off with a skeptical noise. “Okay, maybe not by nobility standards, but I suspect you’re more concerned about the military rank difference. All of us who have gone military are officers, while you’re a non-comm. More so, since I know the Wonderbolts don’t stress rank outside of the Elite tiers, and it’s even less significant for the Auxiliary Corps, so it’s little better than simply adding letters to the front of your name.” Witch feels a keen sense of relief that he understood her trepidation, then wonders that he had. Few who had just met her could. Twilight Sparkle had been an extraordinary exception, to Witch’s mind, given how similar they were, but now here is this stallion who had managed to see her thoughts from one expression. It makes her feel a little vulnerable, but also comforted to know that she isn’t as incomprehensible as she’d thought. “Well, if it’s any consolation, you won’t be the only one with a doctorate present this evening,” Bronze offers tentatively. “My mother was certainly delighted to learn you were attending. I think she gets bored with our endless military prattle, and she’s keen to have someone with whom she can… I believe her words were ‘have a sensible conversation for once’.” “That is… Some reassurance at least…” Witch grants cautiously. She tries to silence the voice that screams for her to run away, that this stallion has some design on her that she had no intention of fulfilling. Anything more than friendship was simply not in her capacity, and she already knew that from painful experience. She decides that she’ll have to find a time to tell him at some point and nip this in the bud early, before it could hurt either of them. Bronze Star frowns briefly, as if he can sense Witch’s discomfort, before calming his expression into a lopsided grin. “I’m guessing that ‘inadequate’ counts as ‘some’ in this case, doesn’t it?” asks Bronze. Despite her nervousness, and anxiety over her escort’s intentions, Witch manages a laugh. “I’m just… I don’t go out much, and even then it’s usually with just friends. I don’t do this dating thing. It’s never worked before and-” “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!” Bronze exclaims, eyes wide despite the smile on his face. “Who said anything about ‘dating things’?! This was a ‘friend’ sort of invitation to begin with! I honestly just wanted to get to know you better… The fact that it also happens to be something nice I could do for your birthday is simply icing on the cake.” Witch lets out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Oh thank heavens…” she sighs in relief. “In that case, I’ll be glad to give your mother some sane conversation… But what about you? You said you needed me for defense against your father and cousins?” she asks, now able to return his smile honestly. “… Yes… About that…” Bronze coughs apprehensively. “You’re an Auxiliary, so you’d already know my cousin, Azure, and my father’s reputation precedes him, for better or worse, but are you at all familiar with… Quark Star?” “No, not really,” Witch answers, confused. “Which cousin is he?” “Oh dear…” frowns Bronze. “Well, you know how shady individuals always say that they ‘know a guy’? Well… Quark is… that ‘guy’... if you know what I mean...” “I… think I do…” Witch responds, clearly hesitant. “I take it that’s a warning I shouldn’t say anything I would mind being universally known?” “Don’t eat or drink anything he offers for you, politely decline any help he offers, and for the love of Celestia and Luna, do not ask him about his work…” Bronze deadpans. “Avoid if possible; be polite if not…” Witch clarifies. “In short, treat him like I would my grandparents?” “Oh, you don’t need to be that careful…” Bronze chuckles. “Believe it or not, he doesn’t actually mean you harm.” “My grandparents don’t think they mean me harm either,” Witch grumbles, half under her breath, but still clearly audible to her companion, who laughs outright. “You’ll be fine… And I think you might even, dare I say, enjoy yourself!” Bronze teases her with a grin. “Tell me, my dear doctor… Do you play poker at all?” he asks. Author's Note And Cinna strikes again... Why hasn't she gotten cut off from coffee yet? And won't this evening be... Interesting... Bronze Star is inspired by Cmdr. William T. Riker from Star Trek: The Next Generation. All pony characters inspired by any Star Trek franchise are jointly curated by The Troll Squad of the Virtue-Verse. No. We are not ashamed. Chapter 3 - Poker FaceStrangely enough, Witch had enjoyed her evening so far. Doctor Hale Root had been very nice to talk with, as her field primarily focused on horticulture. They’d spent at least an hour over the late dinner speaking about plants and their uses, along with varying misadventures in said uses, primarily provided by accounts from Witch’s brother. She’d managed to avoid any extended conversation with Quark, and even successfully dodged Azure. Privately, Witch thought that she might even like Azure. Among her family, the blue pegasus seemed less… Troll-ish. However, Witch considers the probability of her speaking to Azure Star without the rest of her squad crashing the conversation as near to zero as probability could go. Witch had already met Shadow Star, the youngest of the Star family, from supervising the Cutie Mark Crusader meetings Trick Step hosted each week. Shadow’s older brother, Warden, had firmly declared his intent to not go into the military, despite the strong family tradition of such, and had already written some short stories that seemed charming on the quick perusal she’d been able to give them before Bronze had hauled her away to teach her how to play Badlands Hold ‘Em… Which is where Witch now finds herself, staring at the two cards in her magic and the circle of unmarried ponies around her table. Not far away, the married couples were playing at their own table, the accusations of bluffing almost drowned out by the abstaining spouses’ complaints of their partner’s penchant for a ridiculous game. “Doctor Hour? It’s your bet,” Shadow Star says, peering up at Witch from under a visor of transparent green plastic. “Oh… Um…” Witch glances hastily at her cards then levitates a few chips into the pile. “Raise twenty.” “Hey, cousin! Did you wear that thing to make Cousin Bronzy feel more at home, or did you lose a bet with Warden?” Quark snorts as he tosses in a couple of chips. “Call, by the way.” “Q, I’ll have you know that this is a visor that is traditionally worn by dealers in the casinos,” Shadow says stiffly with a disdainful sniff. “I simply thought it was appropriate since I always have to deal… The bet was over which table we’d deal for. I leave it to you to decide if I won or lost that bet.” “So you aren’t giving silent approval of my idea to start a chain of casinos referencing our House Name?” Quark grins almost ferally. “I’m almost hurt…” “But bro, there’s already a casino called ‘Shiro’s Palace’...” Cherry Bomb interjects, tossing her cards face down on the table. “Folding.” Quark turns to stare at his sister blankly before addressing the rest of the table. “Well crap… That’s four months down the toilet with a class action lawsuit for the franchise that I’ll need to wheedle out for, but at least the time building the first location makes up for it…” “I’m sure you know a guy who can make it happen,” Witch comments dryly. “He technically is a guy who can make it happen,” Bronze smirks lightly before tossing in his chips. “Problem is he’s too lazy to do something that tedious himself. I raise thirty, in case that wasn’t clear.” “Ballsy, Cous,” Azure smirks. “Let’s see how much this is worth to you. I’ll call fifty.” “Sure,” Witch agrees, tossing in the required additional chips. “Call.” “Calling, of course,” Quark smirks as he picks up two chips with his eyebrows and tosses them neatly into the pot with a well-practiced mane-flip. “You really don’t care if you lose, do you, bro?” Cherry asks. “You realize I still haven’t spent all the money I won off of you at Hearth’s Warming, right? And that was with me immediately going out and buying new art supplies…” “It’s only been two weeks, dear sister mine,” Quark responds, waving a hoof dismissively at her. “I’m sure you’ll find some wall that needs more graffiti.” “Preferably not in the palace this time though,” Azure amends, a slight frown creasing her brow as she levels her gaze at her younger cousin. “But Princess Celestia loved the new mural in her bathroom!” Cherry protests. “To be fair, the Princess seems to love anything that breaks up the monotony of Royal Life,” Bronze chuckles before nodding to Shadow. “Whenever you’re ready, Dealer.” Shadow simply shakes her head and burns a card before dealing the turn card, and a king of spades joins the jack, three and six of hearts on the table. “Doctor Hour?” “Thirty,” Witch says, levitating the three chips into the now fairly large pile of ten-bit markers. “Trying to get rid of me, dear Doctor?” Quark laughs. “You’ll find it quite difficult to do so. I call!” “If I wanted to get rid of you, I’d offer what I always offer to Commander Lightning Streak,” Witch retorts, dryly enigmatic. “And what would that be?” Quark asks, waggling his eyebrows at her. “That if he doesn’t want to see a hoof stuck up a rectum on their own x-rays, he should quit now,” Witch answers, making Quark wince and lean conspicuously away from the doctor. “Well, I always thought Commander Lightning Streak’s hoof entered through the other end when he spoke…” Bronze tosses thirty in chips onto the table before tossing an additional thirty. “I raise thirty.” “I believe she meant someone else’s hoof up his plot, cous,” Azure corrects with a small chortle and tossing in two twenty-five chips and a ten beside them. “I’ll call,” she adds blandly. Witch considers the four cards on the table and the two levitating before her for a long moment, the table banter fading in her hearing as she considers her options. She didn’t really have anything, and no real chance of getting anything with the next card either. She’d started high on the flop betting because with a three and a six on the table, she’d at least had a glimmer of a hope for a straight, but with her two and seven, and now a king on the board, that had vanished. Some thought niggled at her though, that maybe she could bluff them all. “I’ll see that, and raise forty,” Witch says, with some confidence she didn’t actually feel. Cherry lets out a low whistle. “Whoa there, Doc… It’s only the first round of the night! Don’t wanna go broke early!” “Can someone answer the door?” Quark asks the table with a grin. “Because I’ve come a’calling!” “Quark, that pun was terrible,” Bronze tosses in forty more. “I’ll call that.” “That should be punishable by law, shouldn’t it, Bronzy?” Quark leans back in his chair, pulling out a giant pretzel rod and pretending to light the end of it like a cigar. Azure rolls her eyes and hurls a small blueberry muffin that she’d had… somewhere… at Quark’s head, causing the chair to dump the stallion out the back of it. “Just wait, Quacky. You and I are up next on Grandmother’s training schedule.” Then she tosses in forty to the pot. “Call. Deal the river, dearest niece.” “I’m your only niece, Aunt Azzy,” Shadow retorts, her tone one of resigned patience, as she burns the top card and deals the last card, the ten of spades. “That doesn’t make it less true, Shady,” Azure quips back. “Well… In for a bit, in for a bale…” Witch thinks with a quick glance at her cards. “One hundred,” she announces, tossing in four of the twenty-five bit chips. “Oh sweet Luna’s Blue Moon!” Quark exclaims as he tosses in a hundred. “Those have to be some cards!” “Yes, they sure are…” Bronze muses quietly with a knowing grin. “I call.” “I’ll give your regards to the ferry pony on the River Styx, Doc,” Azure says, tossing her cards on the table. “Fold.” “All right you lot, show your cards,” Shadow says with another heavy sigh of resignation. “Dos tres!” Quark grins as he slams down a three of spades and a five of clubs. Cherry sighs heavily herself as she puts her face in her hooves. “Of course he throws away two hundred and seventy bits on a pair of threes…” “Two pair, jacks over sixes,” Bronze lays down a six of clubs and a jack of spades. “And you, dear Doctor? What was it you were bluffing with?” Witch sighs heavily, letting her two and seven drop to the table as she glances over at the couples’ table because Ruby Star starts shouting at Gold Star again. “A whole lot of nothing…” she replies, shrugging. The profound silence at her own table finally draws her attention back to the circle of ponies that were staring at her. “What?” she asks, confused. “You truly thought you were bluffing the whole time?” Bronze asks in a dumbfounded stupor. “Um... Yes?” Witch responds hesitantly, causing Quark to begin a howl of laughter that trails off into wheezes as not enough air reaches his lungs while he writhes on the floor in hysterics. Shadow simply puts her head to the table with a resounding thump, thoroughly dislodging her dealer’s visor, followed closely by Cherry doing the same. “Doc… Look at the suits,” Cherry groans, her voice muffled by the felt table top and her arms. Witch blinks a couple times, realizing finally that she’d had five heart cards since the flop. “Oh!” she exclaims, surprised. “I thought they had to be consecutive cards for a flush!” “That’s called a straight flush and it’d beat a plain flush,” Shadow explains, again sounding like a patiently suffering pony explaining something for the hundredth time. “Better watch out for this one… She'll bluff you out of your uniform, cousin,” Azure grins knowingly at Bronze Star, to which the stallion responds by scratching beneath his chin with a subtly extended middle feather. “… He wishes…” Quark wheezes as he struggles to pull himself into his chair before falling back to the floor, laughing again. “I'm sure he'll be relieved to know that I have no interest whatsoever in his uniform,” Witch responds, straightening in her chair with an air of primness as her magic neatly piles her newly acquired chips in front of her. “That’s not what they-” Cherry starts but then sighs heavily, putting her head back in her arms on the table. “Never mind…” Author's Note No. She really did think she had nothing. I swear. This situation is sorta taken from personal history. Don't ask. Quark Star was originally inspired by a person of our former acquaintance which many in the Wonderverse may love to hate... or just hate. He was a rather extreme troll/shit-posting memelord. Regardless, I give credit where credit is due. Azure Star is from Zoljen. Cherry Bomb Star & Shadow Star are courtesy of the darling and beloved Inis Ealga. Ruby Star is courtesy of Sylvian Gold Star is inspired by Cpt. James T. Kirk from Star Trek: The Original Series. Bronze Star is inspired by Cmdr. William T. Riker rom Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Hale Root is inspired by Dr. Carol Marcus from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan All pony characters inspired by any Star Trek franchise are jointly curated by The Troll Squad of the Virtue-Verse. No. We are not ashamed. Chapter 4 - For Whom The Bell Tolls“And that was Marina Caballo and Tono Cejilla with ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’. Coming to you live from Coltafeller Center off Moons Square for WCAN FM 128.0, Radio Ohz, this is Sticks Freeland minutes away from the ball drop and the start of a new year!” Witch sits near the radio, sipping her tea and listening as the various ponies around her converse, killing time until midnight. No one near her was trying to include her in their conversation, nor had they addressed her directly since she’d sat down here after the poker games had broken up beyond the occasional solicitous query about needing a refill on her tea, and she was immensely grateful for that mercy, since her nerves were starting to get the better of her. In spite of the fun she’d had that evening, Witch finds herself wondering how much longer she would need to stay. It wasn’t because of anything done or said at the party, but because her ritualistic schedule had been thrown out the window nearly sixteen hours earlier, and sudden changes in routine upset her. Even if it were a good change, which this evening decidedly had been, the upheaval of her daily habits takes an exacting toll on her, and she finds herself wishing again that she’d not left her home. “Hm, I haven’t seen a face that grumpy since last time I saw my grandfather,” a new voice chimed in, “or the last time I looked in the mirror after being forced to attend a ‘party’ of a fellow Peer.” Witch shakes her head quickly, denying the accusation as she looks up from her teacup to see Duchess Diamond Star. “Not grumpy, your grace. It’s just been a stressful day. I… I don’t deal well with changes in routine on short or no notice.” “Too much routine is bad for you,” the duchess retorts, smiling kindly. “I work with your granddaughter and her squad at the Compound. How much routine do you think I have?” Witch replies dryly, making Diamond Star chuckle. “Far more than that would imply, I’m sure,” she responds with equal dryness. “Bronze told me that you had the day off from your superiors, but you spent your day working for your mother instead. You should let yourself relax once in a while, young lady. There are plenty of reasons you should take care of yourself. As a doctor, you should know all of them, and probably several more that haven’t been published in a medical journal yet. ” “I like my job, and I like my coworkers. There’s nothing wrong with wanting my routine even on my birthday,” Witch states defensively. “Oh dear…” Diamond Star shakes her head ruefully. “The rate you’re working, you’ll wind up either burned out or in charge…” She eyes Witch thoughtfully for a long moment. “I’ll have to put a word in with my bookie. You look like one who’ll wind up in charge…” “Dear gods, please no…” Witch protests. “That’s the last thing I want!” “My dear young mare, life often takes you by the fetlock and hauls you towards your just rewards,” Diamond offers with a dark chuckle. “Cosmos knows if my grandfather were here he would lecture you on how useless it is to fight fate, and that those who work the hardest often end up held above everyone else. Look at that young Princess Twilight, if you want to see a good example of that in action.” “Would everyone please stop reminding me about how Twilight turned out?” Trying to maintain her composure begins to take a large toll on the unicorn, and her eyes cast quickly around the room, looking desperately for an opportune exit that wouldn’t involve more than one or two hasty excuses. “Grandmother, don’t you have family to torment?” Bronze Star asks sharply, appearing from nowhere. “Are you volunteering?” Diamond retorts, raising an eyebrow at her grandson. “If that’s what it’ll take for you to stop making my guest uncomfortable, then yes,” Bronze says firmly, staring levelly at the family matriarch. “Honestly, Grandmother, where’s your vaunted ability to read a room that you can’t tell you’re terrorizing the poor mare!” Bronze then turns to Witch, his attention fully on her with a kind smile and offers his arm to her. “Come, Doctor. You look like you could use some fresh air. Please allow me to escort you to the balcony.” Witch smiles shakily at Bronze, taking his proffered limb with what appears to be a calm gesture, but through the contact, he can tell she’s trembling. As they walk towards the glazed doors, Bronze casts one more disapproving glance over his shoulder at his grandmother, only to see the old duchess looking rather satisfied with herself as she ensconced herself in a chair to enjoy her tea. “I swear the old nag did that on purpose,” Bronze mutters to himself, then quickly looks to see if Witch had heard him. Though she remains looking forward as the door to the balcony swings open for them, a nearly imperceptible jerk of her arm on his tells him that his sotto voce comment was not as quiet as he would’ve liked. “What gives you that idea, Commander?” Witch asks him after taking a long, deep breath of the cold Silver Moon air. Bronze chuckles sheepishly, having hoped she wouldn’t ask. “It seems that despite, or perhaps because I told my family that you were just a friend who appeared in need of a night away from her responsibilities, they’ve decided I’m turning in my bachelor’s card,” he sighs. “My grandmother is just as much a match-making mama as the next member of the peerage, though she’d throw herself on her sword before she admitted it.” In spite of her nerves, Witch manages to laugh too. “Sounds like my friends and family whenever I spend time with anyone new. You should’ve seen what happened two months ago, when I came back from a month’s leave and found a new friend to bond with over tea varieties. Everyone immediately thought I was flirting with the poor stallion, even though I was only telling him how he could get a decent cuppa.” She sighed heavily then, the anxious look coming back with a vengeance. “I wish it didn’t seem so extraordinary to extend a little kindness to anyone…” Bronze frowns for a moment before an easy smile returns to his face. “It really isn’t that unusual, unless you consider the Peerage, where everyone assumes that any favor must be repaid, quickly and in full measure.” His smile turns slightly self-deprecating. “If you don’t think it’d inspire your friends’ active imaginations further, I’d like to know you better when your routine has not been shredded and tossed to the winds, if you can find time for such an attempt?” Turning to look out over Canterlot from the railing, Witch manages another short laugh. “I think I can fit that into my schedule.” She pauses briefly before turning a dry smile at him. “Metalsday, seven-thirty p.m. good for you?” “What’s this?” Bronze asks, over-dramatizing his astonishment. “The Honorable Doctor setting aside time in her very busy schedule of mother and trainer to humor me? Are you playing a joke on me?” His words could’ve been taken as sarcasm, but Witch somehow, instinctively, recognized that he’s using wry wit to cover his surprise and - yes, Witch could hear pleasure in his tone too. “One thing you should learn quickly about me, Commander Star,” Witch pauses significantly as she turns slightly to meet Bronze’s gaze, “is that I never joke about my schedule.” Her expression remains solemn for a split second before she grins at him, the slight mischievous glint in her eyes winning over her attempt to remain serious. The cheers from inside momentarily distract Witch, drawing her attention to the scene on the other side of the elegant Prench doors where, among other shenanigans, Gold Star had apparently danced briefly with his wife and was now kissing her soundly, and Bronze’s younger brother, Proton, was enduring a tongue lashing from his hippogriff wife, presumably from attempting the same maneuver. Chortling at the sight before them, Bronze again offers his arm to Witch. “Now, my dear doctor, I believe your schedule has been disrupted quite enough for one day, even if you did enjoy some of it. Shall I return you to Coltden?” Witch’s smile turns almost bashful as she accepts the proffered limb. “Thank you, Bronze.” Author's Note Fin And here we have me finally settling on the actual ship for Witching Hour... Prepare yourselves for the slowest of Slow-Burn romances. Marina Caballo is ganked from Sweet Harmony, with an honorable mention to Jim Hoxworth. Duchess Diamond Star and Ruby Star are courtesy of Sylvian. Gold Star is inspired by Cpt. James T. Kirk from Star Trek: The Original Series. Bronze Star is inspired by Cmdr. William T. Riker rom Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Hale Root is inspired by Dr. Carol Marcus from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Proton Star is inspired by Lt. jg Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager. No prizes for guessing where his hippogriff wife came from. All pony characters inspired by any Star Trek franchise are jointly curated by The Troll Squad of the Virtue-Verse. No. We are not ashamed. Alright folks... That's it until I can finally get one of the boys to help me work on finishing Monkey's story, and then the Sequel of DoOoM (which remains under the working title of On A Wing & A Hope)! Hope you've enjoyed this! Chapter 1 - It's Just Another New Year's Eve/BirthdayWitch looks up as the bell over the door jingles, letting a gust of blustery winter air and a russet colored stallion through the door. As the door swings closed behind him, he removes his cloak and hangs it by the door on a hook for that purpose, revealing him to be a pegasus. “Lady Brew, would you- Oh… If it isn’t the Honorable Doctor minding the counter today? What brought this about this holiday season, if I may ask?” he asks with a charming smile for Witch, making her roll her eyes even as she smiles. “Senior Chief Treble kicked me out of the sound lab when I got to work this morning, and Master Chief Bliss wouldn’t hear anything of me working in the Trainer Room either. It’s like they’ve never heard of someone who doesn’t want their routine disrupted… So I offered to take over counter duty while my mother helps my father next door,” Witch explains, chuckling. “Now, if I may ask, what brings you to this humble establishment, Lord Star, as I happen to know you don’t partake of my mother’s wares unless under duress…” she adds, her eyes twinkling with mirth over the rims of her glasses. “Ah, well now… You know how it is,” Lord Star explains with a dismissive wave of his hoof. “When General Grandmother gives an order, it’s best to follow it without question, and it seems that her supply of her favorite blend, which only your lovely mother can provide, has run low… So I, a Commander in the Royal Equestrian Navy, Executive Officer of Her Majesty’s Ship, the Enterprise D,” he continues, puffing up his chest and holding his head high as he waved an arm expansively, “have been ordered, like a common commissary sergeant, to rectify the situation,” he finishes, deflating dramatically. The flat and defeated expression on the stallion’s face makes Witch quickly smother a laugh. “So I gather then you were going to ask if Her Grace’s tea order was ready to be picked up?” Witch queries, unable to keep her amusement from her voice. At the commander’s resigned sigh and nod, she rummages under the counter and levitates a small parcel to sit atop the counter. “It appears as though it is, so Her Grace will not need to court martial you for disobeying her orders.” “And for that reprieve, my dear doctor, you have my deepest gratitude,” he responds, bowing gratefully to her. As he leans against the counter, Witch looks away briefly to smile and wave as a pair of older mares leave, wishing her a happy birthday as they depart before she turns back to Commander Star. “You have kind superiors that they refuse to let you work on your birthday, Doctor; why work on a day you could have to yourself or that you could spend with friends?” Witch smiles dryly at him. “And you would know what to do with yourself if your captain suddenly relieved you of duty for a day? When all your friends still have work to do?” she retorts. “No… As I said before, Commander, I don’t like my routine being disrupted. In an hour or two, I’ll go back to the compound and do my usual workout, and then I’ll be back here with friends from work for tea. After that, I make sure my son finishes his homework before having dinner here with my parents and then going home.” “Ah yes, Grandmother did mention something about you announcing the adoption in the Canterlot Times. My congratulations,” smiles the stallion warmly, his voice carrying genuine warmth in spite of the formal tone of his words before his eyes took on a hint of mischief. “Or perhaps I should offer my sympathies, if he’s anything like my younger brother or myself at that age. I’m sure he must be quite the hoof full.” Witch laughs. “As long as he’s nothing like his new uncle, I think I can survive a few kitchen mishaps… Though they did get into quite a bit of trouble with your cousin, Ebony. Something about damaged practice swords in your family armory, I believe?” “Captain Emissary was slightly peeved before returning to the Glory Defiant,” chuckles Commander Star. “Given how Ebony was ranting about it, I can’t say I’m too surprised. Honestly, I want to know how they managed to get a claymore caught in the chandelier, but I suppose there are some questions that shall remain unanswered.” “I’ll wager that was my Tricks, trying levitation again… I doubt Magenta could’ve done that stunt…” Witch chuckles as well. “An unfair wager for anypony betting against him, I’d think,” Commander Star muses before looking to Witch again with an infectious smirk. “So, besides all of the stuff you listed earlier, do you have any plans for New Years, or your birthday?” “Nothing more than any other Metalsday,” Witch answers with a shrug. “I haven’t done anything for my birthday since I moved into my first apartment.” “Then I think it’s time we changed that,” Star says, his smile remaining. “Come over to House Star’s manor later, and we can host a proper celebration for your birthday, and for New Years.” He coughs and looks away, sighing. “Also, I’d love to have more sane company to help combat my father’s… unorthodox personality.” “And the rest of your family as well, I’m sure,” Witch retorts, smirking. “I mean, one of the members of the infamous ‘Troll Squad’ of Wonderbolt Squad Twelve is a Star, isn't she?” “An unfortunate family relation..." Bronze grumbles sourly. “How Azzy hasn't brought the press and tabloids pounding at our door every hour, I have no idea…” “Her Captain and Second do tend to steal the spotlight, and Lieutenant Bear Claw is classified as ‘Unnatural Disaster, First Class’...” sighs Witch as she massages her right temple with a hoof. “I should know, since I work in the same building as them.” “Oh now I must insist you accept,” Commander Star states firmly. “I’ll even buy whatever tea you have in stock you want to have on hoof at the party; my present, and apology, to you.” A violet aura of magic places a small bag labeled as the House Blend Black Tea before him, and Fine Brew steps behind the counter to join Witch. “Will that be all, Bronze? Or does the General need anything else?” the tea-maker asks, smiling slyly at her daughter’s surprised and mildly scandalized expression. The pegasus shakes his head. “If she does, I’ll bring the note over myself before I go back to the Enterprise,” Bronze Star replies, though his eyes don’t leave Witch but for a brief glance to Fine. “My thanks Lady Grey, Doctor Hour,” he adds, tucking the additional package under his wing as he pulls his cloak back on and departs. “Close your mouth before you start catching flies, dear,” Fine taunts her daughter with a smirk. “And you could do much worse, you know… House Star’s a respectable enough family, and they care more about individual accomplishments over bloodlines. You’ll-” “MOTHER!” Witch exclaims, finally giving voice to her abject horror. “What?” Fine retorts, innocently. “I was just going to say that you’d technically outrank your grandparents if it were to come to pass…” Witch grumbles sour incoherencies, disliking her mother’s matchmaking thoughts but also rather liking the prospect of no longer having to play nice with the Earl and Countess Grey. Author's Note And here we have what happens when Witching Hour's schedule is, much to her irritation and bemusement, upended by her bosses... assuming they're doing her a favor... When in fact, it really just stresses her TF out... She winds up with a date to a very exclusive party... But don't call it a date. Bronze Star is inspired by Cmdr. William T. Riker from Star Trek: The Next Generation. All pony characters inspired by any Star Trek franchise are jointly curated by The Troll Squad of the Virtue-Verse. No. We are not ashamed.
Chapter 2 - I Gotta Feeling (Tonight’s Gonna Be A Good Night)Witch isn’t sure whether to be grateful or annoyed that, upon discovering her invitation to the infamous House Star New Years’ party, Cinna had insisted on overseeing her preparations. The ~~secretary~~ administrative assistant had promptly dragged a bewildered and protesting Witch bodily from the tea shop (without finishing their tea) and hauled her back to the house she shared with Monkey, with Midnight trailing along and laughing. The following hours (and Cinna lamented about the ‘lack’ of time until Witch was sure she’d turn blue in the face) were filled with flying makeup applicators, styling brushes and oh so many dresses until the assistant finally settled on Witch’s auxiliary dress uniform. “Has no pony touched this mess since I did your mane for the Gala, Witchy?!” Cinna demands crossly as she attempts to get the blue tresses to curl in the way she wants them to. “I got a trim before my leave,” Witch grunts and winces as Cinna’s magic-held curling iron pulls her mane painfully on one side. “And I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of this! It’s not even a garden party!” “Witching Hour Grey, I know that you know that House Star doesn’t invite just anypony to their New Years’ party. Not even close friends get invitations!” Cinna retorts, still irate and pulling at Witch’s mane. “Which means that they don’t want formality, Cinnabelle!” Witch counters with another wince before shoving the excitable assistant away. “Sweet Gods, where’s Flash when I need her?” “Already over at Fleetfoot’s for the Wonderbolts’ New Year Party,” Midnight replies with a broad grin under the guise of helpfulness. Witch sighs and gives the pegasus a half-glare that makes Midnight quickly turn her chuckle into a cough. “The question was clearly rhetorical, Midnight,” Witch responds irritably, keeping Cinna at bay by one hoof against the tip of her horn. “And why aren’t you there right now anyways?” “Because this is the best entertainment I’ve had since Tide swapped the sparring partners around to punish Sky for going out with Moonbow until four-thirty in the morning!” Midnight replies with a smile and a shrug. Cinna gives up trying to get at Witch and turns to face the Ensign of Squad Six. “And because she wants me to style her mane so she might finally get a certain captain to look beyond her uniform for once?” Cinna suggests with a cheshire-like grin. Midnight turns a rather dark shade of purple as she blushes and stutters incoherently, causing Witch to smirk at her over her shoulder. The underside of her muzzle rubs against the stiff collar of her uniform and her expression quickly changes to a grimace as the collar tab pin scratches unpleasantly at her chin. “Do I seriously have to wear this Cinna? I haven’t even worn it for anything official with the Auxiliaries yet… Don’t you think I’ll be slightly out of place like this?” “Nonsense!” Cinna quickly retorts even as Midnight nods in agreement. “Don’t forget that Lieutenant Star from Squad Twelve will be there too, and I’ll bet a cart of tea that she’ll be wearing her dress blues!” Midnight adds, making Witch groan. “So you’re saying that not only do I have to be around nobles higher ranked than my grandparents, to say nothing of also outranking me by miles by military standards since exactly none of them are non-comms, but I have to spend the evening with a Troll?!” Witch moans in dismay. “Oh relax, Witchy. Azzy’s not that bad,” Midnight consoles Witch even as the unicorn levels a skeptical glare at her. A thought brings a smirk to Midnight’s face and she adds, “And you’ll have that handsome Navy pony to fend her off.” Witch groans again. “Not you too, Midnight… Stars above, it’s bad enough to have my mom saying things like that! He’s just being nice-” “Well if I had somepony being that nice to me, I wouldn’t be staying home with Tricks tonight,” Monkey retorts, making Cinna snort and Midnight giggle and wringing another groan from Witch. “MONKEY!” Witch cries in protest. “You know better than these two here that I just don’t work like that! How about I drag you along and use you to distract her!?” “Well, she is a beaut of a mare…” Monkey muses, and Cinna snorts her opinion of the Squad Twelve Lieutenant, but shakes her head. “But no. You were the one that taught me how ‘all important’ this noble protocol is, so no uninvited guests crashing the party. Besides, you wouldn’t want Tricks to wake up in the middle of the night and find both of us gone.” Witch glowers and growls at her roommate, mentally cursing herself even as she agrees with Monkey’s reasons for staying home. “At ease, Chief,” Midnight says, smiling kindly. “Bronze Star is handsome, and a Navy pony… I never said anything about him being your handsome Navy pony… And he seems the sort that would run interference to keep you from situations that would really upset you. I mean… He did go out of his way to find something for you to do for your birthday.” “By inviting her to possibly the most exclusive event he could…” Monkey mutters sotto voce, earning another glare from Witch. “Which just so happens to be the same day as her birthday,” Midnight quickly counters. “Which he is able to invite her to… So let’s all just hope Witch has a good time and let her get going,” she suggests, leveling a pointed look at both Cinna and Monkey. “Oh fine,” Monkey sighs with a half-sulky expression. “Wait! I have one more thing!” Cinna protests, almost diving back into her bag of supplies. Both Monkey and Midnight stare as nearly half the unicorn’s body disappears into the bag, making Witch snort in amusement. “You’ve never seen an expansion spell before?” Witch asks the two pegasi, humor clear in her question. “But… Why on a bag?” Monkey retorts, baffled. “I kept running out of room,” Cinna replies, finally surfacing. “I call it my bag of ever-holding,” she declares proudly, holding up a jeweled hair-comb. Witch groans at the sight of the Wonderbolts emblem in diamonds and sapphires set in yellow gold. “Really Cinna? That isn’t regulation by any stretch of the imagination,” Witch complains, even as Cinna starts pulling at her mane again. “Just hold still for- a- WITCHY!” Cinna cries in exasperation as Witch gets away from her. “One way or another, this hair comb is going in. It’s up to you if it draws blood!” “You’ve been working with Bliss too long,” Witch grumbles, even as Cinna’s umber magic is finally able to pull her mane back into place and uses the comb to pin the curls up. “There!” Cinna announces smuggly. “Alright Midnight, let’s get you spruced up for your own shindig.” Witch sighs heavily in relief as the unicorn and pegasus depart, leaving her with only Monkey in her living room. “I guess I’ll go join Tricks upstairs… It’s about time for him to go to bed anyhow.” “She says, knowing full-well that she’ll let him stay up as long as he can in hopes of seeing midnight anyways…” Witch quips, and Monkey laughs. “True enough, Twitchy, but you’d better get going… Weren’t you also the one who told me it’s rude to be late?” Monkey asks pointedly, gesturing with her wing to the grandsire clock in the corner. “You know full well why I’m anxious about -” “Going… Yes… I know… but it’s never going to get any better if you just sit like a lump. Go! Do something for yourself for a change instead of always worrying about everyone else!” Monkey cuts her off and starts pushing the unicorn bodily towards the front door. “And don’t make me start repeating your words back at you… I’m sick enough of hearing them already without having to say them myself!” With that, and somehow managing to get the door open with her roommate in front of her, Monkey shoves Witch out onto their front porch and closes the door before Witch could turn around and force her way back in. An audible click also tells the doctor that she’d been locked out of her own home. Not that Witch couldn’t get in if she really needed to, what with being able to teleport herself, but Monkey also knew that Witch is prone to doing things as those without magic could in deference to her patients and non-unicorn family members, so the locking of the door was more of a not-so-subtle hint that if Witch turned tail and ran back in now, she’d be in for all sorts of unpleasant harangue from Monkey. Stepping out onto the street in front of Fancy Pants’ manse, Witch wonders if this appearance at a family gathering would be such a wise idea for herself. Was it really a good plan to show up at such an intimate affair when she’d only been invited in the whimsy of a moment? Sighing, she sets off down the road to take her out of the Belle Maire neighborhood of Coltden and south towards the Kensington district, knowing that canceling at such a late hour would be an even worse offense than attending a family event when not related or involved with any of the family. “I was going to pick you up, you know?” Witch jumps sideways away from the new voice that breaks her from her thoughts, twisting mid-air to face none other than the reason she was walking to Kensington on New Year’s Eve. “I had to get away from my coworker before she decided that she wasn’t done ‘preparing’ me,” Witch explains to Bronze Star. Only then does she notice that he is wearing his dress blacks, moonlight glinting off of the several medals pinned to his chest. “It sounds like she was preparing you for the slaughter rather than a party,” Bronze comments with a smirk. “I’d almost wish for the slaughter with how she was going on about it… I haven’t been so tormented since my grandmother put me through my paces for my Debutante Ball ten years ago,” Witch complains petulantly as she starts walking again. “Well, at least with my family, you won’t feel like a bargaining chip or a piece of meat to be bought,” Bronze offers as he falls into step beside her. “No, I’ll just feel awkward the entire time because I’ve never worn this uniform before,” Witch grumbles, pulling at the collar of her jacket and wincing as the collar tab scratches her neck yet again. “To say nothing about the awkwardness of being invited at the last minute for a family event that not even close friends get invited to, or the fact that you all outrank me by miles.” “We’re not that much higher,” Bronze starts but Witch cuts him off with a skeptical noise. “Okay, maybe not by nobility standards, but I suspect you’re more concerned about the military rank difference. All of us who have gone military are officers, while you’re a non-comm. More so, since I know the Wonderbolts don’t stress rank outside of the Elite tiers, and it’s even less significant for the Auxiliary Corps, so it’s little better than simply adding letters to the front of your name.” Witch feels a keen sense of relief that he understood her trepidation, then wonders that he had. Few who had just met her could. Twilight Sparkle had been an extraordinary exception, to Witch’s mind, given how similar they were, but now here is this stallion who had managed to see her thoughts from one expression. It makes her feel a little vulnerable, but also comforted to know that she isn’t as incomprehensible as she’d thought. “Well, if it’s any consolation, you won’t be the only one with a doctorate present this evening,” Bronze offers tentatively. “My mother was certainly delighted to learn you were attending. I think she gets bored with our endless military prattle, and she’s keen to have someone with whom she can… I believe her words were ‘have a sensible conversation for once’.” “That is… Some reassurance at least…” Witch grants cautiously. She tries to silence the voice that screams for her to run away, that this stallion has some design on her that she had no intention of fulfilling. Anything more than friendship was simply not in her capacity, and she already knew that from painful experience. She decides that she’ll have to find a time to tell him at some point and nip this in the bud early, before it could hurt either of them. Bronze Star frowns briefly, as if he can sense Witch’s discomfort, before calming his expression into a lopsided grin. “I’m guessing that ‘inadequate’ counts as ‘some’ in this case, doesn’t it?” asks Bronze. Despite her nervousness, and anxiety over her escort’s intentions, Witch manages a laugh. “I’m just… I don’t go out much, and even then it’s usually with just friends. I don’t do this dating thing. It’s never worked before and-” “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!” Bronze exclaims, eyes wide despite the smile on his face. “Who said anything about ‘dating things’?! This was a ‘friend’ sort of invitation to begin with! I honestly just wanted to get to know you better… The fact that it also happens to be something nice I could do for your birthday is simply icing on the cake.” Witch lets out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Oh thank heavens…” she sighs in relief. “In that case, I’ll be glad to give your mother some sane conversation… But what about you? You said you needed me for defense against your father and cousins?” she asks, now able to return his smile honestly. “… Yes… About that…” Bronze coughs apprehensively. “You’re an Auxiliary, so you’d already know my cousin, Azure, and my father’s reputation precedes him, for better or worse, but are you at all familiar with… Quark Star?” “No, not really,” Witch answers, confused. “Which cousin is he?” “Oh dear…” frowns Bronze. “Well, you know how shady individuals always say that they ‘know a guy’? Well… Quark is… that ‘guy’... if you know what I mean...” “I… think I do…” Witch responds, clearly hesitant. “I take it that’s a warning I shouldn’t say anything I would mind being universally known?” “Don’t eat or drink anything he offers for you, politely decline any help he offers, and for the love of Celestia and Luna, do not ask him about his work…” Bronze deadpans. “Avoid if possible; be polite if not…” Witch clarifies. “In short, treat him like I would my grandparents?” “Oh, you don’t need to be that careful…” Bronze chuckles. “Believe it or not, he doesn’t actually mean you harm.” “My grandparents don’t think they mean me harm either,” Witch grumbles, half under her breath, but still clearly audible to her companion, who laughs outright. “You’ll be fine… And I think you might even, dare I say, enjoy yourself!” Bronze teases her with a grin. “Tell me, my dear doctor… Do you play poker at all?” he asks. Author's Note And Cinna strikes again... Why hasn't she gotten cut off from coffee yet? And won't this evening be... Interesting... Bronze Star is inspired by Cmdr. William T. Riker from Star Trek: The Next Generation. All pony characters inspired by any Star Trek franchise are jointly curated by The Troll Squad of the Virtue-Verse. No. We are not ashamed.
Chapter 3 - Poker FaceStrangely enough, Witch had enjoyed her evening so far. Doctor Hale Root had been very nice to talk with, as her field primarily focused on horticulture. They’d spent at least an hour over the late dinner speaking about plants and their uses, along with varying misadventures in said uses, primarily provided by accounts from Witch’s brother. She’d managed to avoid any extended conversation with Quark, and even successfully dodged Azure. Privately, Witch thought that she might even like Azure. Among her family, the blue pegasus seemed less… Troll-ish. However, Witch considers the probability of her speaking to Azure Star without the rest of her squad crashing the conversation as near to zero as probability could go. Witch had already met Shadow Star, the youngest of the Star family, from supervising the Cutie Mark Crusader meetings Trick Step hosted each week. Shadow’s older brother, Warden, had firmly declared his intent to not go into the military, despite the strong family tradition of such, and had already written some short stories that seemed charming on the quick perusal she’d been able to give them before Bronze had hauled her away to teach her how to play Badlands Hold ‘Em… Which is where Witch now finds herself, staring at the two cards in her magic and the circle of unmarried ponies around her table. Not far away, the married couples were playing at their own table, the accusations of bluffing almost drowned out by the abstaining spouses’ complaints of their partner’s penchant for a ridiculous game. “Doctor Hour? It’s your bet,” Shadow Star says, peering up at Witch from under a visor of transparent green plastic. “Oh… Um…” Witch glances hastily at her cards then levitates a few chips into the pile. “Raise twenty.” “Hey, cousin! Did you wear that thing to make Cousin Bronzy feel more at home, or did you lose a bet with Warden?” Quark snorts as he tosses in a couple of chips. “Call, by the way.” “Q, I’ll have you know that this is a visor that is traditionally worn by dealers in the casinos,” Shadow says stiffly with a disdainful sniff. “I simply thought it was appropriate since I always have to deal… The bet was over which table we’d deal for. I leave it to you to decide if I won or lost that bet.” “So you aren’t giving silent approval of my idea to start a chain of casinos referencing our House Name?” Quark grins almost ferally. “I’m almost hurt…” “But bro, there’s already a casino called ‘Shiro’s Palace’...” Cherry Bomb interjects, tossing her cards face down on the table. “Folding.” Quark turns to stare at his sister blankly before addressing the rest of the table. “Well crap… That’s four months down the toilet with a class action lawsuit for the franchise that I’ll need to wheedle out for, but at least the time building the first location makes up for it…” “I’m sure you know a guy who can make it happen,” Witch comments dryly. “He technically is a guy who can make it happen,” Bronze smirks lightly before tossing in his chips. “Problem is he’s too lazy to do something that tedious himself. I raise thirty, in case that wasn’t clear.” “Ballsy, Cous,” Azure smirks. “Let’s see how much this is worth to you. I’ll call fifty.” “Sure,” Witch agrees, tossing in the required additional chips. “Call.” “Calling, of course,” Quark smirks as he picks up two chips with his eyebrows and tosses them neatly into the pot with a well-practiced mane-flip. “You really don’t care if you lose, do you, bro?” Cherry asks. “You realize I still haven’t spent all the money I won off of you at Hearth’s Warming, right? And that was with me immediately going out and buying new art supplies…” “It’s only been two weeks, dear sister mine,” Quark responds, waving a hoof dismissively at her. “I’m sure you’ll find some wall that needs more graffiti.” “Preferably not in the palace this time though,” Azure amends, a slight frown creasing her brow as she levels her gaze at her younger cousin. “But Princess Celestia loved the new mural in her bathroom!” Cherry protests. “To be fair, the Princess seems to love anything that breaks up the monotony of Royal Life,” Bronze chuckles before nodding to Shadow. “Whenever you’re ready, Dealer.” Shadow simply shakes her head and burns a card before dealing the turn card, and a king of spades joins the jack, three and six of hearts on the table. “Doctor Hour?” “Thirty,” Witch says, levitating the three chips into the now fairly large pile of ten-bit markers. “Trying to get rid of me, dear Doctor?” Quark laughs. “You’ll find it quite difficult to do so. I call!” “If I wanted to get rid of you, I’d offer what I always offer to Commander Lightning Streak,” Witch retorts, dryly enigmatic. “And what would that be?” Quark asks, waggling his eyebrows at her. “That if he doesn’t want to see a hoof stuck up a rectum on their own x-rays, he should quit now,” Witch answers, making Quark wince and lean conspicuously away from the doctor. “Well, I always thought Commander Lightning Streak’s hoof entered through the other end when he spoke…” Bronze tosses thirty in chips onto the table before tossing an additional thirty. “I raise thirty.” “I believe she meant someone else’s hoof up his plot, cous,” Azure corrects with a small chortle and tossing in two twenty-five chips and a ten beside them. “I’ll call,” she adds blandly. Witch considers the four cards on the table and the two levitating before her for a long moment, the table banter fading in her hearing as she considers her options. She didn’t really have anything, and no real chance of getting anything with the next card either. She’d started high on the flop betting because with a three and a six on the table, she’d at least had a glimmer of a hope for a straight, but with her two and seven, and now a king on the board, that had vanished. Some thought niggled at her though, that maybe she could bluff them all. “I’ll see that, and raise forty,” Witch says, with some confidence she didn’t actually feel. Cherry lets out a low whistle. “Whoa there, Doc… It’s only the first round of the night! Don’t wanna go broke early!” “Can someone answer the door?” Quark asks the table with a grin. “Because I’ve come a’calling!” “Quark, that pun was terrible,” Bronze tosses in forty more. “I’ll call that.” “That should be punishable by law, shouldn’t it, Bronzy?” Quark leans back in his chair, pulling out a giant pretzel rod and pretending to light the end of it like a cigar. Azure rolls her eyes and hurls a small blueberry muffin that she’d had… somewhere… at Quark’s head, causing the chair to dump the stallion out the back of it. “Just wait, Quacky. You and I are up next on Grandmother’s training schedule.” Then she tosses in forty to the pot. “Call. Deal the river, dearest niece.” “I’m your only niece, Aunt Azzy,” Shadow retorts, her tone one of resigned patience, as she burns the top card and deals the last card, the ten of spades. “That doesn’t make it less true, Shady,” Azure quips back. “Well… In for a bit, in for a bale…” Witch thinks with a quick glance at her cards. “One hundred,” she announces, tossing in four of the twenty-five bit chips. “Oh sweet Luna’s Blue Moon!” Quark exclaims as he tosses in a hundred. “Those have to be some cards!” “Yes, they sure are…” Bronze muses quietly with a knowing grin. “I call.” “I’ll give your regards to the ferry pony on the River Styx, Doc,” Azure says, tossing her cards on the table. “Fold.” “All right you lot, show your cards,” Shadow says with another heavy sigh of resignation. “Dos tres!” Quark grins as he slams down a three of spades and a five of clubs. Cherry sighs heavily herself as she puts her face in her hooves. “Of course he throws away two hundred and seventy bits on a pair of threes…” “Two pair, jacks over sixes,” Bronze lays down a six of clubs and a jack of spades. “And you, dear Doctor? What was it you were bluffing with?” Witch sighs heavily, letting her two and seven drop to the table as she glances over at the couples’ table because Ruby Star starts shouting at Gold Star again. “A whole lot of nothing…” she replies, shrugging. The profound silence at her own table finally draws her attention back to the circle of ponies that were staring at her. “What?” she asks, confused. “You truly thought you were bluffing the whole time?” Bronze asks in a dumbfounded stupor. “Um... Yes?” Witch responds hesitantly, causing Quark to begin a howl of laughter that trails off into wheezes as not enough air reaches his lungs while he writhes on the floor in hysterics. Shadow simply puts her head to the table with a resounding thump, thoroughly dislodging her dealer’s visor, followed closely by Cherry doing the same. “Doc… Look at the suits,” Cherry groans, her voice muffled by the felt table top and her arms. Witch blinks a couple times, realizing finally that she’d had five heart cards since the flop. “Oh!” she exclaims, surprised. “I thought they had to be consecutive cards for a flush!” “That’s called a straight flush and it’d beat a plain flush,” Shadow explains, again sounding like a patiently suffering pony explaining something for the hundredth time. “Better watch out for this one… She'll bluff you out of your uniform, cousin,” Azure grins knowingly at Bronze Star, to which the stallion responds by scratching beneath his chin with a subtly extended middle feather. “… He wishes…” Quark wheezes as he struggles to pull himself into his chair before falling back to the floor, laughing again. “I'm sure he'll be relieved to know that I have no interest whatsoever in his uniform,” Witch responds, straightening in her chair with an air of primness as her magic neatly piles her newly acquired chips in front of her. “That’s not what they-” Cherry starts but then sighs heavily, putting her head back in her arms on the table. “Never mind…” Author's Note No. She really did think she had nothing. I swear. This situation is sorta taken from personal history. Don't ask. Quark Star was originally inspired by a person of our former acquaintance which many in the Wonderverse may love to hate... or just hate. He was a rather extreme troll/shit-posting memelord. Regardless, I give credit where credit is due. Azure Star is from Zoljen. Cherry Bomb Star & Shadow Star are courtesy of the darling and beloved Inis Ealga. Ruby Star is courtesy of Sylvian Gold Star is inspired by Cpt. James T. Kirk from Star Trek: The Original Series. Bronze Star is inspired by Cmdr. William T. Riker rom Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Hale Root is inspired by Dr. Carol Marcus from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan All pony characters inspired by any Star Trek franchise are jointly curated by The Troll Squad of the Virtue-Verse. No. We are not ashamed.
Chapter 4 - For Whom The Bell Tolls“And that was Marina Caballo and Tono Cejilla with ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’. Coming to you live from Coltafeller Center off Moons Square for WCAN FM 128.0, Radio Ohz, this is Sticks Freeland minutes away from the ball drop and the start of a new year!” Witch sits near the radio, sipping her tea and listening as the various ponies around her converse, killing time until midnight. No one near her was trying to include her in their conversation, nor had they addressed her directly since she’d sat down here after the poker games had broken up beyond the occasional solicitous query about needing a refill on her tea, and she was immensely grateful for that mercy, since her nerves were starting to get the better of her. In spite of the fun she’d had that evening, Witch finds herself wondering how much longer she would need to stay. It wasn’t because of anything done or said at the party, but because her ritualistic schedule had been thrown out the window nearly sixteen hours earlier, and sudden changes in routine upset her. Even if it were a good change, which this evening decidedly had been, the upheaval of her daily habits takes an exacting toll on her, and she finds herself wishing again that she’d not left her home. “Hm, I haven’t seen a face that grumpy since last time I saw my grandfather,” a new voice chimed in, “or the last time I looked in the mirror after being forced to attend a ‘party’ of a fellow Peer.” Witch shakes her head quickly, denying the accusation as she looks up from her teacup to see Duchess Diamond Star. “Not grumpy, your grace. It’s just been a stressful day. I… I don’t deal well with changes in routine on short or no notice.” “Too much routine is bad for you,” the duchess retorts, smiling kindly. “I work with your granddaughter and her squad at the Compound. How much routine do you think I have?” Witch replies dryly, making Diamond Star chuckle. “Far more than that would imply, I’m sure,” she responds with equal dryness. “Bronze told me that you had the day off from your superiors, but you spent your day working for your mother instead. You should let yourself relax once in a while, young lady. There are plenty of reasons you should take care of yourself. As a doctor, you should know all of them, and probably several more that haven’t been published in a medical journal yet. ” “I like my job, and I like my coworkers. There’s nothing wrong with wanting my routine even on my birthday,” Witch states defensively. “Oh dear…” Diamond Star shakes her head ruefully. “The rate you’re working, you’ll wind up either burned out or in charge…” She eyes Witch thoughtfully for a long moment. “I’ll have to put a word in with my bookie. You look like one who’ll wind up in charge…” “Dear gods, please no…” Witch protests. “That’s the last thing I want!” “My dear young mare, life often takes you by the fetlock and hauls you towards your just rewards,” Diamond offers with a dark chuckle. “Cosmos knows if my grandfather were here he would lecture you on how useless it is to fight fate, and that those who work the hardest often end up held above everyone else. Look at that young Princess Twilight, if you want to see a good example of that in action.” “Would everyone please stop reminding me about how Twilight turned out?” Trying to maintain her composure begins to take a large toll on the unicorn, and her eyes cast quickly around the room, looking desperately for an opportune exit that wouldn’t involve more than one or two hasty excuses. “Grandmother, don’t you have family to torment?” Bronze Star asks sharply, appearing from nowhere. “Are you volunteering?” Diamond retorts, raising an eyebrow at her grandson. “If that’s what it’ll take for you to stop making my guest uncomfortable, then yes,” Bronze says firmly, staring levelly at the family matriarch. “Honestly, Grandmother, where’s your vaunted ability to read a room that you can’t tell you’re terrorizing the poor mare!” Bronze then turns to Witch, his attention fully on her with a kind smile and offers his arm to her. “Come, Doctor. You look like you could use some fresh air. Please allow me to escort you to the balcony.” Witch smiles shakily at Bronze, taking his proffered limb with what appears to be a calm gesture, but through the contact, he can tell she’s trembling. As they walk towards the glazed doors, Bronze casts one more disapproving glance over his shoulder at his grandmother, only to see the old duchess looking rather satisfied with herself as she ensconced herself in a chair to enjoy her tea. “I swear the old nag did that on purpose,” Bronze mutters to himself, then quickly looks to see if Witch had heard him. Though she remains looking forward as the door to the balcony swings open for them, a nearly imperceptible jerk of her arm on his tells him that his sotto voce comment was not as quiet as he would’ve liked. “What gives you that idea, Commander?” Witch asks him after taking a long, deep breath of the cold Silver Moon air. Bronze chuckles sheepishly, having hoped she wouldn’t ask. “It seems that despite, or perhaps because I told my family that you were just a friend who appeared in need of a night away from her responsibilities, they’ve decided I’m turning in my bachelor’s card,” he sighs. “My grandmother is just as much a match-making mama as the next member of the peerage, though she’d throw herself on her sword before she admitted it.” In spite of her nerves, Witch manages to laugh too. “Sounds like my friends and family whenever I spend time with anyone new. You should’ve seen what happened two months ago, when I came back from a month’s leave and found a new friend to bond with over tea varieties. Everyone immediately thought I was flirting with the poor stallion, even though I was only telling him how he could get a decent cuppa.” She sighed heavily then, the anxious look coming back with a vengeance. “I wish it didn’t seem so extraordinary to extend a little kindness to anyone…” Bronze frowns for a moment before an easy smile returns to his face. “It really isn’t that unusual, unless you consider the Peerage, where everyone assumes that any favor must be repaid, quickly and in full measure.” His smile turns slightly self-deprecating. “If you don’t think it’d inspire your friends’ active imaginations further, I’d like to know you better when your routine has not been shredded and tossed to the winds, if you can find time for such an attempt?” Turning to look out over Canterlot from the railing, Witch manages another short laugh. “I think I can fit that into my schedule.” She pauses briefly before turning a dry smile at him. “Metalsday, seven-thirty p.m. good for you?” “What’s this?” Bronze asks, over-dramatizing his astonishment. “The Honorable Doctor setting aside time in her very busy schedule of mother and trainer to humor me? Are you playing a joke on me?” His words could’ve been taken as sarcasm, but Witch somehow, instinctively, recognized that he’s using wry wit to cover his surprise and - yes, Witch could hear pleasure in his tone too. “One thing you should learn quickly about me, Commander Star,” Witch pauses significantly as she turns slightly to meet Bronze’s gaze, “is that I never joke about my schedule.” Her expression remains solemn for a split second before she grins at him, the slight mischievous glint in her eyes winning over her attempt to remain serious. The cheers from inside momentarily distract Witch, drawing her attention to the scene on the other side of the elegant Prench doors where, among other shenanigans, Gold Star had apparently danced briefly with his wife and was now kissing her soundly, and Bronze’s younger brother, Proton, was enduring a tongue lashing from his hippogriff wife, presumably from attempting the same maneuver. Chortling at the sight before them, Bronze again offers his arm to Witch. “Now, my dear doctor, I believe your schedule has been disrupted quite enough for one day, even if you did enjoy some of it. Shall I return you to Coltden?” Witch’s smile turns almost bashful as she accepts the proffered limb. “Thank you, Bronze.” Author's Note Fin And here we have me finally settling on the actual ship for Witching Hour... Prepare yourselves for the slowest of Slow-Burn romances. Marina Caballo is ganked from Sweet Harmony, with an honorable mention to Jim Hoxworth. Duchess Diamond Star and Ruby Star are courtesy of Sylvian. Gold Star is inspired by Cpt. James T. Kirk from Star Trek: The Original Series. Bronze Star is inspired by Cmdr. William T. Riker rom Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Hale Root is inspired by Dr. Carol Marcus from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Proton Star is inspired by Lt. jg Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager. No prizes for guessing where his hippogriff wife came from. All pony characters inspired by any Star Trek franchise are jointly curated by The Troll Squad of the Virtue-Verse. No. We are not ashamed. Alright folks... That's it until I can finally get one of the boys to help me work on finishing Monkey's story, and then the Sequel of DoOoM (which remains under the working title of On A Wing & A Hope)! Hope you've enjoyed this!
Chapter 1 - It's Just Another New Year's Eve/BirthdayWitch looks up as the bell over the door jingles, letting a gust of blustery winter air and a russet colored stallion through the door. As the door swings closed behind him, he removes his cloak and hangs it by the door on a hook for that purpose, revealing him to be a pegasus. “Lady Brew, would you- Oh… If it isn’t the Honorable Doctor minding the counter today? What brought this about this holiday season, if I may ask?” he asks with a charming smile for Witch, making her roll her eyes even as she smiles. “Senior Chief Treble kicked me out of the sound lab when I got to work this morning, and Master Chief Bliss wouldn’t hear anything of me working in the Trainer Room either. It’s like they’ve never heard of someone who doesn’t want their routine disrupted… So I offered to take over counter duty while my mother helps my father next door,” Witch explains, chuckling. “Now, if I may ask, what brings you to this humble establishment, Lord Star, as I happen to know you don’t partake of my mother’s wares unless under duress…” she adds, her eyes twinkling with mirth over the rims of her glasses. “Ah, well now… You know how it is,” Lord Star explains with a dismissive wave of his hoof. “When General Grandmother gives an order, it’s best to follow it without question, and it seems that her supply of her favorite blend, which only your lovely mother can provide, has run low… So I, a Commander in the Royal Equestrian Navy, Executive Officer of Her Majesty’s Ship, the Enterprise D,” he continues, puffing up his chest and holding his head high as he waved an arm expansively, “have been ordered, like a common commissary sergeant, to rectify the situation,” he finishes, deflating dramatically. The flat and defeated expression on the stallion’s face makes Witch quickly smother a laugh. “So I gather then you were going to ask if Her Grace’s tea order was ready to be picked up?” Witch queries, unable to keep her amusement from her voice. At the commander’s resigned sigh and nod, she rummages under the counter and levitates a small parcel to sit atop the counter. “It appears as though it is, so Her Grace will not need to court martial you for disobeying her orders.” “And for that reprieve, my dear doctor, you have my deepest gratitude,” he responds, bowing gratefully to her. As he leans against the counter, Witch looks away briefly to smile and wave as a pair of older mares leave, wishing her a happy birthday as they depart before she turns back to Commander Star. “You have kind superiors that they refuse to let you work on your birthday, Doctor; why work on a day you could have to yourself or that you could spend with friends?” Witch smiles dryly at him. “And you would know what to do with yourself if your captain suddenly relieved you of duty for a day? When all your friends still have work to do?” she retorts. “No… As I said before, Commander, I don’t like my routine being disrupted. In an hour or two, I’ll go back to the compound and do my usual workout, and then I’ll be back here with friends from work for tea. After that, I make sure my son finishes his homework before having dinner here with my parents and then going home.” “Ah yes, Grandmother did mention something about you announcing the adoption in the Canterlot Times. My congratulations,” smiles the stallion warmly, his voice carrying genuine warmth in spite of the formal tone of his words before his eyes took on a hint of mischief. “Or perhaps I should offer my sympathies, if he’s anything like my younger brother or myself at that age. I’m sure he must be quite the hoof full.” Witch laughs. “As long as he’s nothing like his new uncle, I think I can survive a few kitchen mishaps… Though they did get into quite a bit of trouble with your cousin, Ebony. Something about damaged practice swords in your family armory, I believe?” “Captain Emissary was slightly peeved before returning to the Glory Defiant,” chuckles Commander Star. “Given how Ebony was ranting about it, I can’t say I’m too surprised. Honestly, I want to know how they managed to get a claymore caught in the chandelier, but I suppose there are some questions that shall remain unanswered.” “I’ll wager that was my Tricks, trying levitation again… I doubt Magenta could’ve done that stunt…” Witch chuckles as well. “An unfair wager for anypony betting against him, I’d think,” Commander Star muses before looking to Witch again with an infectious smirk. “So, besides all of the stuff you listed earlier, do you have any plans for New Years, or your birthday?” “Nothing more than any other Metalsday,” Witch answers with a shrug. “I haven’t done anything for my birthday since I moved into my first apartment.” “Then I think it’s time we changed that,” Star says, his smile remaining. “Come over to House Star’s manor later, and we can host a proper celebration for your birthday, and for New Years.” He coughs and looks away, sighing. “Also, I’d love to have more sane company to help combat my father’s… unorthodox personality.” “And the rest of your family as well, I’m sure,” Witch retorts, smirking. “I mean, one of the members of the infamous ‘Troll Squad’ of Wonderbolt Squad Twelve is a Star, isn't she?” “An unfortunate family relation..." Bronze grumbles sourly. “How Azzy hasn't brought the press and tabloids pounding at our door every hour, I have no idea…” “Her Captain and Second do tend to steal the spotlight, and Lieutenant Bear Claw is classified as ‘Unnatural Disaster, First Class’...” sighs Witch as she massages her right temple with a hoof. “I should know, since I work in the same building as them.” “Oh now I must insist you accept,” Commander Star states firmly. “I’ll even buy whatever tea you have in stock you want to have on hoof at the party; my present, and apology, to you.” A violet aura of magic places a small bag labeled as the House Blend Black Tea before him, and Fine Brew steps behind the counter to join Witch. “Will that be all, Bronze? Or does the General need anything else?” the tea-maker asks, smiling slyly at her daughter’s surprised and mildly scandalized expression. The pegasus shakes his head. “If she does, I’ll bring the note over myself before I go back to the Enterprise,” Bronze Star replies, though his eyes don’t leave Witch but for a brief glance to Fine. “My thanks Lady Grey, Doctor Hour,” he adds, tucking the additional package under his wing as he pulls his cloak back on and departs. “Close your mouth before you start catching flies, dear,” Fine taunts her daughter with a smirk. “And you could do much worse, you know… House Star’s a respectable enough family, and they care more about individual accomplishments over bloodlines. You’ll-” “MOTHER!” Witch exclaims, finally giving voice to her abject horror. “What?” Fine retorts, innocently. “I was just going to say that you’d technically outrank your grandparents if it were to come to pass…” Witch grumbles sour incoherencies, disliking her mother’s matchmaking thoughts but also rather liking the prospect of no longer having to play nice with the Earl and Countess Grey. Author's Note And here we have what happens when Witching Hour's schedule is, much to her irritation and bemusement, upended by her bosses... assuming they're doing her a favor... When in fact, it really just stresses her TF out... She winds up with a date to a very exclusive party... But don't call it a date. Bronze Star is inspired by Cmdr. William T. Riker from Star Trek: The Next Generation. All pony characters inspired by any Star Trek franchise are jointly curated by The Troll Squad of the Virtue-Verse. No. We are not ashamed.
