MAY 30 Tuesday.

I look through my notes again and start to carve another rune into the floating green spell matrix in the air in front of me.

I've spent some time over the past week slowly and methodically ripping apart and remaking the lung-scanning spell I learned a while back. I did fully learn it but never had much use for it, so it's just been sitting in my mental library of spells and I never really got around to improving it, so I finally decided to work on it.

Recently a few big things have happened, The first is that both versions of the Heat Retention spell have been released fully. From the letter Celestia sent me about the release it took a long time to release the spells because several laws needed to be reworked or in some cases remade entirely to prevent any problems.

It's proven to be a success, and surprisingly one of the first industries I've seen implement it widely has been the food industry. It's still early but an advertisement for a restaurant in the newspaper offers to cast the spell on any food you take home with you.

It's safe to say this should help a great many, even if not everypony is happy about it. Turns out a lot of the ponies who produce fuel for many industries aren't pleased with having to drop their prices in the face of reduced demand because of the new spells, that's just what the newspaper says so I'm not sure how accurate it is.

It's not the best feeling to be the cause of others' struggles, but progress is also important and many unicorns will probably be hired to cast the spell for others. Like many things in life it's neither black nor white and nopony will even know all the answers or repercussions, so all I can really do is march on.

Past the Heat Retention spell the newspaper last week announced something even bigger, the new prosthetic limbs have been released to the public. It didn't take too long for them to test everything and after that several businesses started preproduction preparations, things like logistics, materials, and crafters, they started taking orders and announced the new invention under the name Gentle Feather.

I chuckle a little at the idea of Avalon's face when he finds out. It was released a few days ago. It's even more impactful than the Heat Retention spell, it's no small thing and I'm happy it's so celebrated. As for the Lung Scanning spell I'm working on? Well, I've been going a little overboard with it.

I could have just improved and optimized it, but I have so much more free time now that I thought I'd go even further. The last time I remade a spell this much was the Blood Loss Prevention spell, that particular spell is more complex than this one but they have both been remade from the ground up.

That spell took around six months, mostly due to my work and the fact I took things slow. With a few more years of improved knowledge under my belt and with more experience with higher level spells I've been able to work on the Lung Scanning spells with a blistering speed.

I spent most of the last week focused on this one task, and in that week I've nearly completed it. Again it's not on the same level as the B.L.P spell but it's still a complex spell that I've been remaking. The good news is there was a lot of room for improvement so I was able to vastly improve the spell with all the uninterrupted time I have.

I do think I'll be taking a week-long break from spell-making after this, I'm starting to get tired of spending most of my day locked in my workroom fiddling with runes and metatheatrical sequences. I can endure a lot of tedious work but even I have some limits and a week seems to be the limit.

I sigh after finishing another part of the spell. "Fuck this, I need some air." I decided to take my own damn advice and not push things even more. This spell only needs another few days of work at most and a break sounds nice right now. Maybe a trip to the park? It has been a while since me and Entropy went there to just relax.

I walk out into the main room and look over to Entropy. "Hey Girl?" She looks at me with that adorable head tilt. "We're going to the park, pick a toy out to bring. Not the magical one." I add as she looks at it immediately. She caws in slight indignation but still finds a toy and excitedly brings it over to hop around while I put on my saddlebags.

I cast an illusion over her and left my apartment. I take a slight detour in the lobby and check my mail like I do every day since I volunteered. On that topic I decided against going back to volunteer for another day, I simply didn't enjoy the work even if I liked helping others.

In the meantime though I've been waiting for a letter from them. And as I open my little mailbox with my apartment key I notice a single letter sitting inside and quickly take it. I look at the sending address and see it's for the hospital, and I rip it open with a large smile.

Inside are three papers filled with information. One is my test results, another seems like a small information packet, and the final one reminds me to bring ten bits to be paid when I first attended. I found it odd when I heard that I'd need to pay them, but my sense of wealth is just fucked. And after reading through the information packet quickly I quickly find out why I need to pay them.

Apparently, at some point, a few ponies did something to try and cheat their way into the program, it doesn't mention how though, that's probably for the best. It doesn't say why they had to do it like this, but to stop it they added a one-time fee for taking the test to join the program, which is only paid if you actually do join the program.

I'd guess they added the payment because they couldn't stop them in a more reasonable way, this has some political bullshit vibes to it. Either way, it's not really that big of a deal, ten bits is not a lot for any pony so it's not hard to pay even for those less privileged, plus there are several exemptions for different circumstances.

Anyway, if I don't show up at the first meeting I won't need to pay anything but I can't take the test again for two weeks. The ten are put to good use at least, they help maintain the program itself. Honestly, this seems like something Celestia would set up.

After reading the information packet I look at my test results. An eighty-eight out of one hundred with a passing grade of seventy, a really good result for being self-taught and the fact I didn't study for it in advance. It was an easy test but I'm still pretty proud and happy I did so well on the test and all my work paid off.

The last thing of note was the meeting date for joining the program, it's for the first Monday of next month, the fifth of June. It's a little soon, but it's also exciting to see it won't be all that long until I can start. The rest of the information packet just describes the assistant program with a bit more detail.

I'll be going through some practical training on what not to do and other rules of working in a hospital for the first week before I get to do literally anything else, and there are a few other small things to keep in mind. I put away the mail with a pep in my step and exit my apartment building, only to quickly move out of the way as someone quickly swoops down from the sky and lands where I was while Entropy clings to my back.

The landing isn't too hard, but the ruffled Griffon that looks around snaps their head over to me and quickly closes the gap between us. I nearly draw my dagger, but it only takes me a moment to recognize a very excited-looking Avalon. "Shade! Need, to, talk!" He demands while holding up some papers.

He holds a few slightly crumpled papers in his talon and I can't make anything out from the angle. He's out of breath and looks both excited and a little panicked. It takes me a second to realize what is happening, and despite my friend's demands for answers, I can't help but laugh right in his face.

He looks confused but also very impatient, even while catching his breath he's shuffling from one limb to another and his eyes keep darting around as I laugh. "You-" I try but his face is just too much, I eventually recover. "Enjoying the pay bump?" I joke, by this point, he's not breathing hard and it seems to have clicked.

He gets a look of realization and slight shock. "Y-You knew? You knew?!" He demands and I smile without a hint of shame. "H-Hey, Entropy?" Entropy decides to take it upon herself to help her feathered friend. She hops onto his back and settles in silently.

I smirk. "Come on, we're going to the park, we can talk while walking." I encourage and start to walk, he catches up quickly and gives me a look demanding answers. I cast a silence spell around us in clear view so he sees it. "No one can hear us now. I saw the newspapers talking about it, congrats, you're famous." I use an exaggeratedly positive tone.

He gives me a slight glare while passing me the papers. "How-?" He says with some exasperation and just seems to give up. I smooth out and look over the papers and it's what I expected, a letter from Celestia giving him a copy of the contract he signed, thanking and congratulating him on his work, and informing him a bank account has been opened in his name.

I pass them back and he's still clearly excited about everything. "Yes, I knew, well actually no, I didn't know. But I thought It would be pretty likely." I cover my ass with a lie. "Have to keep a new inventor happy after all, so congrats on never needing to work again." I make a joke out of it.

He looks a bit bashful at being called an inventor. "W-Well, thanks I just- W-wait, you are ok with, this?" He holds the papers up to emphasize. "I... Well, h-half of it is yours, right?" My friend seems lost and really out of his depth here, not that I blame him, it's not every day you become rich so suddenly.

We enter the park and I stay silent for a minute until we sit down on a bench, which only makes him more impatient. I give him a reassuring look and shrug, "First, deep breath." I probably don't need to say it but I thought it might help him relax a little and not be so jittery.

He takes a few deep breaths even though he's already already winding down from his excitement. "Second, keep it all, I don't need it." I try to take a light tone but it is apparently a little too light.

He looks a bit shocked and interrupts me. "B-But, you. Y-You did more work than me! I can't just... T-Take it all." He insists but I just wave him off. His feathers press back a bit, "I-I know you have money, b-but..." He trails off after that, not finding the right words.

I give him a large smile and use a more firm tone. "I have more than you'd think, a lot more. Look, I really don't need it, plain and simple, it would do nothing for me." He looks reluctant. "And, you need it more, I don't know what you want to do with it, but it's yours." I insist more but again he looks reluctant about my choice.

He looks a bit thoughtful before gaining a small smile and a bit of determination. "I-I. Your g-getting half." His tone is way more firm than I'm used to and I raise a brow while giving him an amused smile. "Y-You don't get to refuse, as your f-friend I, I won't let you." He builds up his courage and insists despite my words.

I'm kind of proud, he straight up said no. I could insist, I know he'd back down eventually if I tried, but this seems like a principle of his and I don't want to dash his bit of newfound confidence. I smile at him and chuckle a bit while he almost deflates. "Fine, I'll take it." I chuckle more as he perks right back up. "But only because you stood up to me, I'm so proud." I hope to lighten the mood again.

He looks embarrassed but also smiles at getting his way. "But, if you ever need bits you have to come to me, no complaints." I use a very firm but happy tone. "But enough about the money. Did you do anything to celebrate yet? It's certainly an achievement, you even got a letter from Princess Celestia herself." I tease him a little.

He looks embarrassed but also genuinely happy about it. "T-Thanks?" He thanks me for letting him win. "Umm, I cooked dinner?" He offers up shyly and I give him a deadpan look. "R-Right, are you, busy?" I shake my head. "Ok, I- I'll... Buy us lunch, s-somewhere nice." He suggests with a renewed smile, I notice he completely ignores the part about Celestia.

I nod after a moment. "Sounds good to me, but I also insist you spend your newfound riches on something fancy. You never answered me though, how does it feel to be famous?" I fully move past the topic of money to try and not let it drag the conversation down.

He pauses for a moment and gives me an odd look. "You- YOU are asking me to buy something, fancy?" He asks with some humor and I just roll my eyes at his humored smile. "And... I- I don't know?" He answers uncertainty. He looks at the small pond in front of the bench. "It's really, odd?"

I remember the weird feelings I had about having fame, even if nopony else knew about who I actually was. "Happy? Worried? Nervous? Does anything come to mind? Because if you say no I will straight up prank you." I ask with a lighter tone while keeping the humor going.

He seems to think for a moment as the last of the excitement leaves his expression, he's finally settling down. "I... I'm definitely happy, a-amazed actually. I- WE, did this, helped so many others, it feels... Unreal." He takes a more emotional tone than I expected, but I don't mind. Entropy just flies off to play a little after I wave her off.

He looks down at his wooden arm with an odd smile. "You know, I. I spent so many years wanting something like this." His tone grows more steady as he talks even as he seems a bit lost in his emotions. He opens and closes his talons, "I do this a lot, it's like reminding myself it's real."

I don't want to interrupt him by spilling his proverbial guts, but I feel as if I should say something. "I get that, it's in a... Very, different way, but I understand." My mind flickers to the far past of my old life and the feeling of wonder this world still gives me. "It's like pinching yourself to make sure you're not dreaming. But reality is often crazier than any fiction." I remember a saying that goes something like that.

He looks at me and nods slowly. "A dream? Ya. Funnily enough, this was a dream for myself long ago, b-before..." He cuts himself off and looks uncertain. He sighs after a moment and I think I see what is going through his mind, my old friend never liked talking about losing his limb.

I just turn to him and smile. "So, lunch right?" I offer to change things up some, but he shakes his head and continues to stare out across the small pond as ducks and fish swim around inside. "You know you don't have to tell me anything, right?" I reassure him.

But he turns to me with that flicker of determination in his eyes, along with a very trusting expression. "I-I know, but I want to." His tone is quieter now and he takes a deep breath. "You've done, so much for me, I. I don't think I could ever express what this all means to m-me." His tone is pretty emotional, but not distressingly so.

I give him a single nod and he takes a deep breath. "My f-family never really lived anywhere. They were traders and never stayed anywhere for all that long." I do remember him saying that before, just not as bluntly. "Sometimes we also did trips to the eastern continent." He has a bittersweet look when mentioning that.

"When I was a really young chick, six or so, we were in a caravan to Griffonstone and back, through land that is, sailors we are not." He chuckles a bit despite the lower mood. "But, that continent can be... Less stable. Nothing really bad for us, but m-monsters can be a problem." His tone is far more steady than I thought it would be.

I nod in silent agreement. I've never had problems because I mostly moved by train on my two trips there, but monster attacks aren't unheard of and do happen. The city-states can be inefficient in guarding roads and the occasional conflicts doesn't help with that.

"We were traveling with some, sad Griffon noble, tagging along for safety in numbers. I-I don't even remember who they were." He has some disdain in his tone. "At some point, a monster, a Manticore, crept up on us, I don't remember much, but... T-That noble ran, the bastard didn't even t-try to, help us! And he had guards!" He says with some clear anger.

He takes a deep breath and calms himself again. "S-Sorry." I wave it off and give him an understanding and reassuring look. "I. I don't remember much, it was, c-chaos, and I was h-hiding. But at some point, the M-Manticore." He holds up his arm again. "I-It Crashed into a tent I was, inside."

I pat him on the shoulder for a second time. "Was... Well, did you lose anyone?" I ask with a little morbid curiosity, I also try to use a gentle tone.

He shakes his head tiredly. "N-No. A, a few others, but my family was ok. Thank Faust. After that, I, r-recovered from... T-That." He finishes with a long exhale as we both sit in silence for almost a full minute. "T-Thank you, for listening, It. Well, it means, a lot." He looks back up at me and seems a little drained.

I nod with a sad smile. "No, thank you for sharing. Honestly, I can't imagine..." I don't really know what to say after hearing all of that so I just stand up and give him a larger smile. "Come on, we're going to get some ice cream, we need it." I change the topic abruptly not knowing what else to say or do.

He blinks but smiles back thinly seeing that I'm trying to cheer him up. "I... Y-Yes, I would like that a lot." He stands up and starts to walk with me in silence for a few moments. "Thanks, Shade. For being my f-friend." I raise a brow a little.

I chuckle and he looks bashful at my reaction. "And thank you for being mine." I change my smile to something more mischievous. "Now, you never did tell me what it was like meeting the princess. Were you nervous?" I chuckle more at his reaction as we walk off with Entropy joining us as we leave the park.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :D
Current year is 995

And now you know. Also, do you think Shade is the type of pony to get revenge for his friends? Because some Griffon is now very much on Shade's shit list.

PS. I didn't know what to do for hitting 600k, so I compiled a list of every OC in this story. It will be in a blog so of you want to see it go there.