Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

"Mommy, can I stay here with you?"

It was a sudden request. Your daughter simply appeared in your office, way after her bed time you might add, and asked if she could stay with you. You asked her if she had a bad dream, or if she would like you to read her a bedtime story or anything. But her answer was straightforward in a way that only a child's request can be.

"No, just wanna stay here with you, if it's ok."

That had been a few hours ago.

Silky Stream is still worried about you, that much is clear, and you can't blame her for it. Saying that you lost your composure on the day you witnessed Princess Luna's dreams doesn't even begin to describe how you were.

In hindsight, you know it could have been a lot worse. At least you were just quiet, at least you "only" wanted to stay alone, you didn't break down or let any stronger emotion take over you.

You would like to say that you also didn't react nearly as bad as the Princess, but even thinking about such comparison feels outright insensitive to you.

However, as much as your reaction was one of silence, it still did not stop your family from worrying, of course. Stormchaser subtly (well, subtly by his standards that is) hid from you that he had been called for an obviously urgent trip, after the explosion in the royal castle, just to stay with you for the next few days. He and your daughter practically hounded you during that time, until Stormchaser was content and convinced that you were feeling better.

But your husband is a grown stallion, he has the maturity of an adult, and a worrying situation like that is something he can handle. Your daughter, on the other hoof, is just a filly.

She wasn't just worried, she was scared. She still is.

So, you can understand why she is still feeling like this, why she is still coming to you more frequently, with that poorly hidden trepidation caused by something that is out of her control. That is why she is sleeping on the cushioned sofa you have on your office, wanting to be in your company simply because she has no idea of what else she can do.

"But still, as much as mommy enjoys being with you, it really is time for little fillies to go to bed," you whisper in her direction, not really wanting to wake her up, and get up from your chair.

You could float her with magic, of course, but for some reason another whim catches your fancy, accompanied by a mixture of nostalgia combined with the slight sadness that the day will soon come when you will no longer be able to do this.

"Let's see if I can still…" but that day is not today, and with the gentlest of touches you slowly lift your daughter with your hoofs and put her on your back.

Of course you are proud that you managed to do it without her waking up, but when did your little filly get so heavy?!

Your leg protests slightly at the added weight, but you couldn't care less. With gentle hoofsteps you make your way down the corridor, and head into your daughter's room.

You cheat a bit on this last part, using the slightest nudge of magic just to get her to a better position so you can put her to bed. But soon enough you have your daughter peacefully tucked in, her little face resting on her pillow, breathing softly.

You let out a small sigh. There are several things going on through your head, several thoughts from which you can pick right now, some of them good, many of them bad.

But the only thing that really comes to mind is that your daughter is growing. Slowly, quickly, steadily, into a pony that right now is totally different from the little foal you would carry not long ago. And although you adore her to pieces as she is right now, you can't help but think that watching her grow even more will be a change that you know will be for the best.

Changes can be good, after all. Of course you knew that, but having somepony remind you about it is always good.

"So thank you for reminding me of this, sweetie," you give her a light kiss on the forehead, with a smile on your face, and you write a mental note that you ought to be extra cheerful tomorrow to put her at ease.

You take one last look at her peaceful expression, feeling your mind go into the usual rounds of thinking about how cute your daughter is, and then you move to turn off the lamp. She really needs to sleep after all, and you need to let her.

You turn to the lamp.

And you realize that it is off, the candlelight within it dead and cold.

You tilt your head in surprise. Well then, you just need to close the curtains and leav-

The curtains are also closed shut.

You feel your heart beating just a little bit faster, not exactly with worry or fright, but instead accompanying the rhythm of your mind as it slowly reaches the realization that something is very, very wrong.

You look around, searching for the source of light, your mind trying to make sense of the fact that you can see your daughter clearly, you can see everything clearly, and yet there is not a single candle or open window in sight. You even make sure to even check your horn, as much as that sort of magical misfiring would be beyond weird from a mare your age.

Until you finally realize something.

Your eyes are closed. They have been closed this entire time.

A slight chill runs down your spine as you slowly open your eyes, only to be greeted by the total darkness of your daughter's room, the soft sound of her breathing and the pounding of your heart being the only things keeping you company.

And you finally understand what has happened to you.

You wonder what this change means. You wonder if it could ever possibly mean something good.

You have reached the third level of MOTH Lore and have come to a "realization", learning a secret that comes with it. Velvet Covers no longer needs light to operate, at least while in mundane darkness.

You have learned that the third level of a Lore will always entail "a subtle change of mind and body", although you do not know if that is good or bad.

You believe that the next level of knowledge can be achieved once you reach a "confident certainty" pertaining the Lore.