MAY 30 Sunday.

My nerves still feel numb and this is all overwhelming for me.

The small panic attack didn't help either, but by this point, my mind had gotten enough of a hold on itself to calm down somewhat. First and foremost is the simple fact that something like this was bound to happen eventually, no matter how I hid this part of my life they would notice anomalies.

They already have in fact, but they are good friends and were kind enough to not demand answers or pry into my life. This entire day is fucked already, and it's not even done yet. Why the hell did this have to happen? The chances alone of this happening are stupid.

My reaction to them was also not the best, it never is when I feel like things are slipping out of control. With a clear enemy or problem, I can handle it, but this? Having my lies exposed by my own overreaction? It's something else altogether.

When Philomena appeared I wasn't thinking clearly, I was panicking and scared. I also think some part of me just wants to stop, stop all this lying and secrets. That's not to say I'll shout it from the rooftops, but, a friend knowing might not be so bad, right?

I think... I think this should happen, because if not now then when? I could just walk away, but would that really solve this? No. It would just make an ever bigger web of lies and deceit, and that won't help me.

Daisy showed me trust, maybe not to the same level as this but she still did it. And, I'm reminded of the times I've trusted Celestia, it can get rocky, but we always end up closer in the end. So, even as I fight myself over this I feel as if I'm doing the right thing, no matter how much my mind disagrees.

I try to get my thoughts in order as Daisy walks into my workroom while looking around curiously. "No, I'm not joking. Don't touch anything." My tone is still on edge, but I try to relax more and just commit to my choice. To be blunt, I'm scared. I don't want to lose a friend, but I also try to remind myself of Daisy's words. I have to have some faith and trust that she will keep to her word, and that even if this changes things we'll still be friends.

I snap out of my thoughts as Daisy finishes looking around the room curiously. "What is all of this? Gems? Wooden blocks? Is that, a feather?" She stops and takes a moment to stare at the feather I got from Entropy a while back.

I take a breath to steady myself once again and mentally prepare for a long conversation. "Welcome to my little workshop. It's where I invent and build anything I need." I answer her while placing the letter from Celestia on my desk before moving over to a neatly bound stack of letters.

I plan to tell her about my other identity, and for that, I need proof, a stack of thank-you letters will have to do. "Invent? You invent things? For who? Why?" Her tone is not demanding but does point out that I'm not exactly being clear.

I nearly chuckle a little as I realize the trap I've fallen into. I give her an apologetic look, "Sorry... Vague statements and comments are just how I normally... Dodge things like this." I try to keep a light tone despite my words. "We should probably start at the beginning, come on, sit down, and get comfortable. You want some more tea?" I slowly ask while reaching out with my field and spatial senses to bring our tea into my workroom.

She looks around and just sits on the floor, "Sure. Although, I think you need it more than me though." She again tries to joke around, I can tell she's trying to get me to relax more, and I appreciate that. "If I can ask though, what does this have to do with the phoenix, or that letter for that matter?" She's very curious at this point and I can't blame her for that,

I sit down with her and pour more tea. "I'll get to that, but like I said let's start at the beginning." I take a moment to organize my thoughts and what I'm going to tell her. I think I'll tell her I invented things and who I am, but for the most part not how or why, I'm also going to try and keep my life affinity out of this.

Daisy just waits patiently as I start. "I've always been good at math, and you know how I want to make spells. You know, become a rune scribe?" She nods and keeps silent. "Well, I already am one." She just looks more confused and I force myself to stay on one track. "It all started when I first started working at the library."

"For the first time, I was on my own and could do a lot more with my newfound freedom. Before that at the orphanage, I studied all the magical texts it had on spellcraft. so needless to say I basically immediately started trying to modify spells." I can't help but huff out a bit as she looks shocked again.

"You what! Why? Do you know how dangerous that can be?" She tries to scold me and it's not undeserved, so I just try to explain calmly.

I nod back. "I am fully aware. But that's only for high level stuff, simple things can't really hurt you and before you ask yes I took precautions." She stops at that and goes silent again, but she looks a little peeved at being predicted while trying to scold me.

I would normally smile but I'm not there yet. "It turns out, I am very good at spellcraft, and I'm going to prove that." I drain the last of my tea and drag over a small ruby from a shelve. I've made an entire new spell under a time crunch before, modifying a basic light spell would only take me minutes.

Daisy watches in stunned silence with a look of slight concern as I instantly form the matrix for a basic light spell and hold it there instead of casting it. I move a few numbers around and two minutes later I'm done with a very simple modification that just changes the color.

I cast it again to form a small ball of white light next to me. "This is the widely used basic light spell, and it's the same spell you just saw me start with, right?." She still looks a little concerned, but it's now outweighed by her curiosity.

She nods. "Yes, what did you do?" I quickly enchant the ruby with the modified spell I just made, this will let it stay longer, or maybe I'm just making this more complicated to distract my mind. I tap the gem a second later and she flinches in surprise when I activate it immediately. "Shade what ar-!!" Her next scolding stops short as she watches with shock, a small green light forms right above the gem.

I nearly laugh at her face, but hold it in again, I am able to show a small smile this time. "Like I said, I'm very good at spellcraft. I more than know the risks, but I also know how to do things properly to minimize those risks. So calm down a little, you're starting to sound like a worried mother hen." I try to joke back as she moves a hoof through the light with disbelief.

"H- ... Shade, I've met some skilled rune scribes, but this. How?" She's more baffled than ever now and I can't stop myself from at least chuckling. I wonder who she's talking about though, maybe something for a new day.

My small smile remains and I try to keep in a more positive mood. "It's just what I'm good at, my cutie mark also helps to an extent. But I still have a story to finish." I add the cutie mark part as while it doesn't help me a lot it does help me, and it's probably easier for her to accept things if I add that in.

She is still confused but nods a moment later, I'm oddly kind of enjoying her reaction to all of this, just a bit at least. "The first spell I started to modify was the basic light spell, I disliked using candles and wanted something... Simpler to use." As I talk I start to pick out a few letters from the stack I brought to show Daisy.

"I tried my best to make it as efficient and easy to use as possible. In the end, I finish the spell." I form the matrix that I'm talking about next to me. "This spell, the same light spell so many now use in the magical light, is the finished combination of my work." I try to sound serious so she actually believes me.

She glances in between the green light and the matrix I have in mid-air and I practically see the gears turning in her mind. "So, you're saying you made that." I nod. :I think she's getting it: "But it's claimed to be an invention of Veil Winter." :Yes: "Then that would mean you." :Yeeesss:

"They stole your invention?!!" She nearly shouts with a little anger. :YEES- wait ... No. Hell no!: "I can't believe they would do th-!!" I have to place a hoof on her muzzle to force her to stop and try to get my thoughts right. I wasn't sure she'd believe me at all, but this might actually be worse.

"No, no no no no! NO!" I rapidly try to correct her. "First, why believe me so easily," I ask a little more assertively and try to steer things back to the point I'm trying to make.

She stops at that. "Well, you just remade a spell in front of me, so..." She seems to think again for a moment. "Also... OH! You helped them make it then?!! That's amazing Shad-" I have to stop her again by grabbing her muzzle as she again tries to guess and misses my point.

This is clearly not working so I go to a more blunt approach. "NO! I... I am... By magic, just... Just read these." I nearly shouted over her before forcing a few letters in her face. She seems startled and once again bewildered at my answer, but holds it in long enough to read a few of the letters.

The letters I picked out are shorter letters that are thanking me for a few different inventions, a notable one is from Hoity Toity asking about me making more beauty products. I watch as her face shifts from confused and shocked mixed with a little disbelief, to a slowly dawning realization.

I can't blame her for the disbelief, I am just me after all. She's a fast reader so less than a minute later she drops the letters and looks at me. At this point, she just looks shell shocked, "You..."

I nod. "I'm Veil Winter." I just say it bluntly to prevent more of this mess from unfolding.

She is silent for a moment and gives me back the letters. "I... How? I mean I believe you, but..." I hear a slightly hurt tone in her voice, and even if it hurts to hear it I don't hold in against her. I did feel the same thing earlier today, it's only natural that she would feel the same.

I decided to talk about our friendship later and just focus on answering her. "I'll skip over the specifics as they are complicated. After I finished the light spell I realized it could be immensely helpful to other ponies."

She's still shocked and confused but looks a little proud at that and I take it as a win. "But I didn't really have a good way to share it, or maximize the help it could provide. So, I just gave it to the Princess?" I trail off a bit as the logic isn't really that sound for most ponies who don't know Celestia personally.

Mentioning the Princess seems to snap her out of her thoughts a little. "You what? I mean... I guess that works. Did it work?" She's more relaxed than I thought she would be, but she also has a building look of excitement as I explain.

I nod and try to get back in a positive mood. "Yes actually. It wasn't really that hard, I just sent a letter with the spell and said she could do whatever she wanted with it, and some instructions on how best to use the actual spell."

Daisy gives me an odd look. "I think I remember something about the crown doing all of the work to implement it, never knew it was the Princess herself though." She's lost in her memories for a moment before focusing on me again. "Wait. Is that why you're so rich?! That makes so much more sense!!"

I'm happy she's taking this so well. "Kinda? I didn't really ask to be paid, she just sent me a letter back saying I'm going to get royalties from my invention, it was just as much of a surprise for me. I actually never asked to be paid for anything I've made. Wait, no, I did get paid for the Blood Loss Prevention spell." I correct myself.

Daisy gives me a deadpan look for several moments before laughing as her excitement boils over, it's now my turn to be confused as she just keeps laughing at me. "That is so... YOU!! You invent a spell, give it away for free and then get surprised when they pay you!!" She laughs more and I have to agree there is some humor in that.

I wait for her to stop before continuing my story. "Anyway, after that, I just sort of kept going. I'd make something useful, send it to the princess, and... Well that's it actually. As for Veil Winter."

Daisy gave me a knowing smile before cutting me off. "That I can guess myself. You barely like talking to new ponies, I know you'd hate being famous. Even then, Veil Winter..." She says with some wonder and looks at me while drinking some tea. "I can also see why you never told anypony, it's... Well, it's certainly a big secret." She's still more calm than I thought she'd be.

I nod slowly, I could also mention I make things for Celestia herself, but it's best I don't. "Beyond that, it's about safety. I'm good at what I do and others would never leave me alone if they knew who I was, along with those that have less than friendly intentions." I take a more serious tone.

She nods slowly after a moment as it seems like I just doused her in cold water. "Oh, that..." She looks a little concerned again but moves past it a moment later. "I won't tell anypony, I promise. Still, you're Veil Winter? It's... Honestly, it's a lot to take in that my friend is famous." I feel a little bad at hearing that.

"I'm sorry, I don't like keeping things from you all, but..." I trail off not really finding a good way to explain it.

She smiles wider and gives me another reassuring look. "No need, the safety concern is enough on its own. You literally work for the Princess! I'm surprised you told me any of this." She takes an oddly happy tone despite the topic and her excitement shows again a moment later. "Also. I'm friends with the Veil Winter!!!" She almost squeals a bit.

I give her a horrified look as I realize a possibility. "Noooo, no, not you too! Please no, I can't handle you being a fanmare." I half-joke half-pleaded with her.

She just laughs at me again. "Well too bad, because I waited three weeks to get a comb you made and I'm not letting you live it down so easily." I can't help but smile as she just jokes around and takes it in stride. I can never thank her enough for being my friend.

I try to move past all the bad thoughts and once again try to lighten the mood. "I'll tell you what, you never fanmare around me again, and I will personally make you a comb." I offer her and I see her eyes light up at the idea.

"Deal!! Do I need to give you a comb or..." She tails off while looking at me impatiently for an answer.

I nod and give my first real smile at her reaction. "Sure, or I can just buy one. I could even enchant a comb you already have, as long as it's made from metal." I smile back as she gets even more excited.

"Perfect! Thank you!!" She seems happy with it all, but I have to bring that mood down a bit sadly.

"Also... Look... I... Are you ok with, all of this?" I wave around the room. "It's not exactly an amazing thing to keep secret as a friend, by magic, I even accepted an apology from you for the same thing today. It... Well, it makes me a pretty big hypocrite doesn't it?" I ask trying to not fall down a rabbit hole of negativity again and fail.

She can see where this is going and shows a soft expression. "Maybe, but like I said we all have secrets, and honestly it's reasonable for you to keep this one hidden. I know you and I know you would be miserable if your life was all fame and recognition." She tries to reassure me again with a few points we already went over.

"As for me? Well, I won't lie, much like you earlier I am a little hurt. But I'll get past that, and by Celestia, I am not going ANYWHERE! You're my friend and this will not change that!" She's both encouraging and very certain in her words to me. "Plus, I kind of like the idea of being friends with a celebrity." She tries to distract me with a joke again.

I somehow keep my smile and nod before standing up to stretch my legs. "Thank you... It really means a lot to me, and just so you know I would have missed you." She chuckles and I realize it's getting late, plus I've gotten through most of what I'm willing to tell her. I don't hide that fact either. "Well, I've explained what I wanted to, any other burning questions before I kick you out and reclaim my peace?" I say as she also stands up.

I lead her out of my workroom as she takes one last look around, when I close the door Daisy looks over to see a disguised Entropy and Philomena sleeping peacefully. "Yes, two actually. When should I bring over my comb? And what's the deal with the Phoenix? We kind of missed that one." She motions with her head to them.

I nod. "Next Monday, I have things I still need to do. As for her, that's Philomena, the Princess's pet phoenix." I chuckle as Daisy once again gets a bewildered look.

She looks at the letter I still have with me. "So, the letter?"

I nod again. "We use Philomena as a secure form of communication, this." I hold up the still-unopened letter. "Is directly from her, I'll be reading it when you leave," I explained bluntly.

She looks at the letter with a slight concern. "Oh. I... Should probably hurry then, that could be very important... Did I just break the law?" I nearly laugh but settle for shaking my head. "Good... Thanks for trusting me Shade, and don't worry this isn't the first secret I've kept, make sure to try and get some sleep." She smiles brightly and oddly her mood has flipped since she arrived.

I do something I rarely do, I reach out and give her a quick hug. "I don't care if you hold this over me, you deserve a hug." I show a cheeky smile as my mood recovers more, I back up again before pushing her lightly to my door. "Good night to you too, and... Thanks for leaving it at this."

She huffs and rolls her eyes, but keeps the bright smile. "Fine, go deal with your secret Princess friend..." She walks out of the door but stops to look back at me. "Wait a minute, no, that game score you meant-" Before she can finish that thought I close the door quickly and activate my shield.

Nope. I am not dealing with that today.

As I go to read the letter I keep my smile, despite all the stress, I feel oddly ok with this all happening. Maybe it's not so bad for others to know? This may have all been caused by a stupid call on my part, but I think it worked out in the end.

I opened the letter after that thought and started to read it.

Shade.

Our meeting is delayed until after the Summer Sun Celebration due to some diplomatic functions I must attend and timing issues.

Signed your friend Celestia.

I smile wider at the short letter. I wonder what I should get her.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :}
Current year is 994

I tried to make this more upbeat like I planed, I think it came out ok overall.

Also, any ideas for Celestia's gift?