SEP 20 Sunday.

I use the float spell to lift the heavy heartwood log off the ground and move it over to a pile with thirty-six other logs, all the heartwood from each tree that once stood in this now empty area.

It's early in the morning and I just decomposed the last tree that was in the way of my work, and now I have a six-hundred-foot area that is cleared for use. I removed all the tree stumps and roots except for the ones near the river, I left them untouched for now because I don't want the soil eroding into the river without roots to hold it in place.

I'll replace them with other plants over time but they're not in the way for now and that's enough for me. Moving on, while I was dragging those logs around I took some time to use them by rolling them around to help spread all the new soil I made, this place is now primed for planting.

I look around at the flat and clear ground with a smile, time to make things interesting. First things first I walk over to several boxes that I've had Entropy bring here over the last two days so she had time to rest. I bought these boxes for this and each has many small compartments that hold many types of seeds I've produced over the last few weeks.

They all have preservation spells to help and I'll have to keep them someplace dry, but when they're stored properly it should provide a good backup of all my plants somewhere safe. Now I just need a place to keep them, and that's where the heartwood logs that I kept become useful.

There were several types of trees, but the most common of them was a type of white oak with a pale wood, it's definitely interesting to look at and is sturdy enough for good building material. As I look around I start mentally planning how I want to do this.

The shield is designed to not stop rain or water flow, so the river that is partly inside the shield flows uninterrupted. The river is to the north, while my log pile is on the south side furthest away from the river, I would rather not build next to a river just to be safe so I'll build on the south side.

I started to think of a few designs before deciding on a hexagon shape, that way I can add new buildings off of the first much like bees do with their hives. I start by using my field to dig six shallow holes exactly five feet apart with the help of a ruler. Then I walk over to the logs I've organized and staked, I start with a log of White Oak.

An important thing I did while felling the trees was to keep them alive, I cast a powerful slow-fall spell on a foot-thick-eight-foot-long log. The spell negates most of its weight so it becomes relatively easy to move with my field, I stand up the log and place it in the hole before concentrating.

I use my life magic to have the log grow roots and root itself firmly into the ground, I give it a few good strong shoves to make sure it's stable before grabbing the next log. The logs aren't all the same length so I have to decompose some of each to make them all roughly the same height when stood up.

After a while I have to rest and practice Mana Mimicry to regain my magic, it's proved to be very useful in this entire project. As I work I let my mind wander to the meeting with Celestia I have near the end of today, specifically, I'm wondering if I should tell her about all this.

I'm a bit split. I don't think she'd prevent me from doing any of this, she knows I can take care of myself and stay safe, although she might scold me. And I don't like the idea of keeping more secrets after what happened recently, but I also don't really want to tell anypony about this place.

I'm building this place for two reasons. First is my plants and my want to explore. And second, is my want for someplace to call my own and be alone. Sure I have my apartment, but living in a busy city is not a great way to feel alone, to be blunt I want somewhere for myself and only myself.

And to be fair I'm not keeping a dangerous event or important information secret, just a private sanctuary for myself. And I think that's ok, plus if I ever do need to show this place for an important reason I can do so easily. But for now this will simply be my personal place to be away from it all when I need or want to be alone.

With my thoughts settled I refocus on my task as the last log is rooted firmly in place. I decided to start with some stairs. I can easily grow wood without bark so I grow a square beam in-between each log forming a hexagon, I start with the side pointing north towards the river and start to form some stairs three feet off the ground.

I'm not the best at building, but anything is possible with enough support beams. I start to fill in the floor with a single solid piece of white oak, the color is really starting to grow on me. The floor is suspended three feet off the ground and once the floor is done I test its strength by jumping on it repeatedly.

It's four inches thick so it doesn't budge in the slightest when I jump on it, good, next are the walls. I only make them two inches thick and make sure to include some windows in the two sections adjacent to the doorway I form at the stairs. Next is the door itself, again an easy thing to grow from the living building.

And once the walls, windows, and door are all done I finish with the roof. The top of the six logs grow into a single point at a forty-five-degree angle before merging, I fill in all the gaps with an inch-thick wooden plain and grow a thick layer of bark and leaves over the top.

And finally I have a complete building, and it only took eight hours. I had to rest a lot and Mana Mimicry is really pulling its weight speeding up this whole process, but by the time I'm finished with the new living building it's only an hour and a half before my meeting with Celestia.

I decided to just get the boxes inside and call it a day for now, I still need a shower because I do not smell great right now. After moving the boxes inside I quickly grow some shelves from the walls and I place everything away, before grabbing anything I need to bring back to my apartment and having Entropy take us home.

It's a quick trip and I have to grab Entropy before she can fly off when we arrive, she's confused as I hold her, but a second later she goes from confused to annoyed as I take off my saddlebags and walk into the bathroom. Entropy's a smart bird, so she knows it's bath time.

She's both vocal and less than happy about the prospect of a shower. "bad. BAD!" She caws and struggles a little as I start the shower.

As water rains on us both, I chuckle as she's drenched along with me. "I'll give you a nice meal later, but we need to be clean to see our friends," I say while soaping both of us. After a little more complaining and an annoyed bird flinging water everywhere to dry herself I'm nice and clean.

After drying off and feeding Entropy her promised meal we leave yet again to meet a princess. I appear inside the mailroom and like always a guard is waiting on the other side of the door to lead me. This time I'm led through the autumn colored gardens.

I'm led through an arch of yellow leaves and into an area without guards, the normal location we talk at when we are outside. I smile as the guard leaves and I walk over to Celestia before sitting at the table. "Celestia, how have you been? Well, I hope." I ask as a start while sitting down with her.

In response, I get a smile, like normal. "I'm well, and you?" As we start talking Philomena flies down from a tree and lands on my back, while Entropy leaves my shadow and sits next to her. I'm happy they have learned to get along so well, my thought is proven correct as Entropy starts preening Philomena.

"Well, as can be. Now, how have you been enjoying the gift." I ask while trying to act as innocent as possible. Over the past few weeks, I've made sure to mention my gift at least once every time we meet, and the reaction I get is always amazing. At first, it was excitement, then confusion.

And I watch as a slight look of annoyance crosses her face. "It's been..... an interesting challenge." I have to stop myself from laughing, it seems it's starting to get to her a little. "But I enjoy a challenge, how has progress on your new spell been?" She changes the subject.

While working on my Everfree camp I've used some of my free time to start work on the emotional magic gathering project, by magic that needs a better name. How about... E.M.G is a simple acronym but it works fine for now. I refocus and answer her, "I've started on a few things and formed a few ideas, but it will probably take a few weeks, maybe longer depending on how I decide to go about it." I answer honestly.

She smiles again. "Good to hear, please keep me updated and tell me if you need any more help." She's been very interested in this project, but that makes sense considering the situation. As she talks about it I remember a question I had for her.

"Now that you bring it up... Well, I was wondering what the plan is for the Changelings, is there a plan?" I've been curious for a while now and it's been a while.

Her smile falters a little but she still smiles, she drinks some tea and seems to think about it for a few moments. "It's complicated, there have been a few ideas thrown around but nothing solid yet. To be honest it's a tough situation to be in." I nod in agreement.

"The hives?" I guess while enjoying my tea as Philomena decides on top of my head is a great place to sit down and nap.

Celestia nods while smiling at the two birds using me as a perch. "Exactly. The unaffiliated Changelings can simply be contacted and introduced into society, not to say that it would be that simple, but with time ponies will come to accept them I believe."

I'm a little more skeptical about that, but she has much more experience so I'll trust her judgment on this. Celestia continues, "But the hives and this... shadow war, proves problematic. Having not one but two nations inside your nation is a mess waiting to happen and it could get worse considering they are in conflict with each other." She says with a contemplative and slightly concerned expression.

After a moment she seems to remember who she's talking to and puts up a less concerned expression for my sake. "Things will work themselves out though, it just takes time." She says with a calming smile.

I smile back. "If anypony can make it work it's you. And no need to sugar coat it, I'm more paranoid than most and trust me when I say I've thought about how things could go many times before." Her smile grows at my first words, but once again falters a little as I continue.

I can see she doesn't enjoy that fact. "I'm sorry that you were dragged into this, I know it's not the most pleasant situation to be in." I feel like she's talking from experience there, but I don't point it out.

I immediately speak up. "You of all ponies don't owe me any form of an apology, it's not your fault fate has it out for me." I joke a little to lighten the mood, and that gets a slight chuckle from her.

"At least your sense of humor can't be stopped. Speaking of jokes, you know you never did retaliate for the glitter, and I've been wondering what you have planned. Unless you've given up on me already?" I can tell she's goading me, it seems she hasn't realized my retaliation is already happening.

I just smile. "Don't worry I haven't. Now how about a game?" I ask while taking my chess set out and placing it on the table, she nods. "OH, and you know how I've been breeding the Blood Leaf Tea? Well, I've had some small improvements, not a lot but next time I send you some you'll probably notice a difference." I change the subject while setting up the board.

She moves the first pawn and hums. "That's good to hear, the tea has been a very pleasant and useful addition to my days." There's a lapse of silence. "Actually, now that you bring it up, I know you've been busy but I do have something I've been meaning to ask about." That catches my interest.

I raise a brow. "Something like the Rocky Wheat? I do still have time if you'd like me to work on something like that." I'm building my camp but that has no time limit so I'm a lot more free now that it's set up.

She shakes her head. "Nothing so large, my request is more.... personal." I stay silent for a few moments as she seems to think. "The Moon Glow you've bred, how hard would it be to turn it into a vine that has the same effects?" She asks softly, her mood seems a little more subdued.

Considering what plant she's talking about I can guess what she wants this for. I answer without hesitation, "Easily, I can even add other effects depending on what you need." I don't question why she needs it and just offer my unconditional help.

I see her mood lift some at my willingness. "I don't need anything beyond it being a vine, I'd like to plant it somewhere, important. As for a deadline, anytime before Nightmare Night is fine, if that's possible?" She's definitely talking about Luna, and my heart goes out to her as she says why she wants the plant.

I don't know why she wants it as a vine, but the request is easy and simple enough. My life magic has improved by leaps and bounds since I first bred the variations of moon glow. And moving such a large effect from one plant to another should be easy, especially because I have a better place to grow it.

I nod at her question. "Do you want me to change the glowing effect in any way? I can dim it or make it brighter, I could even change the place where it emits light from. However, that can take more time depending on how large the change is. " I offer a few changes to make the plant more like the moon's soft glow, the current Moon Glow is too bright to mimic the moon properly.

She smiles as I'm checkmated for the one hundredth and twelfth time, yes I keep count. "A bit dimmer maybe, something similar to the moon?" Called it, damn it's sad to see her this subdued. "And, maybe have it glow from the flowers more, if that's not too much on such short notice?" She asks gently.

I smile brightly at the slightly hopeful look she gives me. "Easy enough, it will take a few weeks but I can get it done. Do you need a lot of seeds or just some grown plants?" I ask while taking out a notebook and writing a few things down.

She stops for several moments. "I'll... decide later. For now, though, checkmate." I'm a little surprised as we just started a new game, but it seems I wasn't paying much attention to the game. She checkmated me in six moves, I just laughed at that and started resetting the board again.

One hundred and thirteenth.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :D

Also, nearly 300k, any idea what I should do to celebrate?

993