SEP 15 Friday.

I look over the medium ruby with a critical eye making sure everything looks stable from the outside.

This is the first finished Love Gatherer, as I've named it, and yes I know the name is not the best. But it should work for now, even if it is far from flawless. First and foremost is the fact that the spell takes too much magic and needs a medium gem instead of a small one.

It's a little inconvenient to carry around with you, but it does its job properly. The shield gathers love magic from ten feet around it and while it does suck to carry it, if you place it in a spot with high hoof traffic it would work amazingly, which is the intended way to use it. The implementation is something for Cadance and Celestia to deal with though.

I finished it yesterday and spent most of my time lugging this thing around with me all the time to fill it, I even played with Entropy a lot to try and improve the process. But that caused a different problem, how do I tell if the love magic is actually being gathered? It's not visible with the naked eye so I had to get a bit creative.

First, let me actually describe what this thing does. It is turned on and off with three taps, and when activated it forms a small slightly pink-tinted shield above it. The shield starts out tiny and expands to be a foot wide, this is done to create a vacuum with minimal other types of emotional magic besides love magic inside.

Then the gem will pull any ambient love magic around it into the shield over time, I added a protection rune to that part just to be safe and not drain a pony by accident, if that's even possible. Then you tap the gem two times and the shield shrinks into a marble-sized ball while turning solid so nothing can move through it and disrupt the gathered love.

If you tap it four times the shield will expand again and become intangible but not gather love, I mostly did this in case colleting love while they feed it interferes with their feeding process in some way. After entering this mode a Changeling should be able to stick a limb into it to feed, that's the idea at least.

This leads back to the problem of how to tell if it is actually gathering love magic. I enchanted a small piece of Steel Wood to glow at one end when it detects love magic, it's a small spell that I made when we were testing the Love rune. It works though, and the more love magic is present the more it glows.

I pack the gem into my saddlebags and also grab a thick stack of papers that should have everything Celestia and Cadance will need. I make sure the shield floats an inch over the ruby's surface, while in my saddlebags it seems to stay stable and solid. I stretch out and move away from my desk leaving my workroom and walking into the main room of my apartment.

I turn to Entropy and whistle at her. "Time to go Girl." She turns to me and flies over and almost lands on me. "Wait!" A thought strikes me and she stops abruptly. I didn't factor in if teleporting would do anything to the love I'd gathered, it didn't last time I tried something like this, is it worth the risk?

I go back and forth a little before deciding to just go for it, if it does lose the gathered love Cadance can gather some up for this easily. I turn to Entropy and nod, "False alarm. Go for it." She tilts her head confused but does as asked and jumps on my back before the Void greets us.

A moment later we're inside the mailroom of the palace. I pull out the medium ruby and the small stick, I tap the gem twice and move the stick inside, it glows brightly and it seems things are fine. I put everything away and Entropy shifts into my shadow as I move towards the door, when I open it I'm greeted by a smiling Shining.

I stare at him for a moment so he looks a bit smug. "Shining. How bad is it? Because I can just skip Cadance and only do the other stuff I came for, right? It is more important." I ask, noticing the amused look he already has. He turns and I hesitantly follow him down the hallway, not like I have much of a choice. "So, is that a yes?"

He chuckles and shakes his head a bit. "Nope. She's one step ahead of you, she decided that as the alicorn of love, it would be a good idea to oversee any testing, but she would not tell me what that meant. But she'll be waiting for you, no point in running now." His smile is far too smug for my liking and then his horn glows as he casts a spell.

I don't see any effect so I presume it's a privacy spell. His words make me deflate a little as I'm now resigned to my fate, "I blame you for leading me there." He raises a brow and I just glare a bit. "I've been dealing with random ponies walking up to talk to me for two weeks, don't test me," I warn him with a level tone.

The past week has been a bit better than the first, with fewer ponies looking and trying to talk to me. It's dying down pretty quickly, but a few other things have caught the average ponies attention in the news, more gossip to no ponies surprise, so things are improving.

Shining just smiles at me as a maid passes us with a subtle curious look thrown my direction. "Oh, that's just the start. Turns out the castle staff remember what you look like, this visit will not help." He teases me and I nearly throw a spell at him. "Also, really? You get to dance with THE Princess and you're complaining?" He holds an amused tone as we continue walking.

At least I know it's a privacy spell, he wouldn't have said that otherwise. "No, I'm not complaining about that, I'm complaining about the consequences of my actions, completely different." I joke to try and feel better about having to deal with Cadance. "So, how did Twilight react?" I ask curiously.

He huffs out a laugh and smiles fondly. "Fair enough. As for my sis? Well, she's not really one for reading the news, she doesn't know, I even tried to show her but she brushed me off because she was studying." I chuckle at that as Twilight has a tendency to miss the obvious sometimes. "So, you and the Princess?"

My humor is cut short as I groan softly. "Hey, I'm the last stallion you're going to get judged by. Actually, I'm a bit happy to no longer be alone." He defends himself and drops the teasing tone.

I shake my head a little. "There is nothing there, officially. I feel, I honestly don't know how I feel. As for her? Who knows." I say honestly as we approach the door. He's probably the only pony who can understand my position here, or at least something close enough. "Also, about the Gala."

He nods slowly. "She can update you, we'll talk later. I know better than to get in her way." He gives me a sympathetic and understanding look and nods. "As for you two? I've been there and done that. Just take your time." He advises with a reassuring tone and turns. "Nice seeing you, Shade. Good luck, you'll need it." He laughs a little while leaving me alone at the large double doors.

I stand there for a moment and take a deep breath while ignoring the guard at the door, she glances at my flank when I open the door and walk through. Inside I notice Cadance sitting down with some paperwork and drinking tea like normal, "Hello, Shade." Her tone nearly puts me on edge.

I sigh a little and lug myself over to the table to join her, Entropy emerges from my shadow and hops over to sit on the tabletop while I take out her band and give it to her. "Hello, Cadance, I don't suppose I could derail your questions with my new amazing invention that's taken us more than a year?" I ask already knowing the answer.

She shakes her head with that same smile. "Nope, you can't run from me." Her tone is happy and sweet. "But I guess we do need to actually get that done. Aunty and I have enlisted Miss. Cicada to help with our testing, but she'll join us in a bit." She moves over a cup of tea.

I nod thoughtfully. "You know. I never did find out what happened to them, mind filling me in before I'm thoroughly embarrassed or given more world-shattering questions." I drink some tea, mint with a hint of ginger, a good combination.

She just nods. "Well, Miss. Cicada and Cricket have actually stayed on as staff members for the palace, both for their insights into their kind and for their safety." That seems about right, they got involved in the war in some way so just leaving them unsupervised is a bad idea. "Then Mr. Slither still resides within the palace as a guest under watch."

I vaguely remember him, a bit of a dick, but at least he's doing ok. "The others who were with him are still uncooperative and are imprisoned. Finally, we have the Changeling you found at the Gala." Her tone has some heat to it that stands out. "That one is... Complicated, I believe it's best you wait for Aunty to talk about them more."

So it was a Changeling, at least that was a good call then. "Shining has been, miffed about that one, he is really not going easy on his guard." She giggles a bit and I smile at the thought. "Now, did you enjoy the dance? Because you certainly seemed to." She levels my mood as she changes the topic.

I just decide to get this over with and nod slowly after a long moment. "I did, but honestly? It also made me uncertain and confused in a few ways." I pause but she doesn't interrupt me. "I. I'm really not one for attention, but at that moment, the dance seemed, worth dealing with it all. Not that I thought I'd end up in the newspaper because I really didn't. I blame both of you for eroding my paranoia." I slip a joke to try and at least keep things lighter and not purely emotional.

She chuckles a little and nods. "We try our best, but considering all that amounted to is a single dance, we still have work to do." She moves her work to the side and reaches out to pet Entropy a bit. "What causes you the most uncertainty? Your feelings? The possibility itself?" She questions softly while noticing the small band on Entropy's leg.

I smile and take the opportunity to have more time to think. "That is a special something I got her. Entropy, why don't you show her your dress?" I ask and Entropy nods rapidly before standing up and turning to face Cadance before pecking her band, a moment later the illusion covers her up.

Cadance looks at the adorable crow. "Dress! pretty!" Entropy caws out as Cadance pets her again, Entropy melts into them and coos.

She smiles wider. "Awww, you're just adorable." I let Cadance pet her and retreat into my thoughts for a moment. Mostly Cadance's question, what uncertainty affects me the most in all this?

I take a deep breath and drink more tea. "I think it is the uncertainty of how she feels, or rather how she might feel. I just don't know, and honestly, I don't trust myself to notice. I don't like not knowing." Cadance looks back up at me and lapse into silence for a few moments.

"Many, many, MANY ponies have that problem. But the simple fact is there is only one way to find out, to ask. Do you feel ready to ask her something like that?" Again her tone is understanding and kind, lacking much of the teasing I was expecting her to have.

I think about that for a moment going back and forth. "I'm not sure, but I don't think so. Or maybe that's just my uncertainty about uncertainty. Feelings are hard, who could have guessed." I sigh and she chuckles at me again. "Do you think that's even possible? I mean..." I trail off not really knowing how to ask this.

She smiles widely. "Shade, if there is one thing I truly know about love, it's that it's always possible, no matter the circumstances." She's serious before that smile comes back again. "But enough of the serious questions, I haven't teased you enough. You two were, SO CUTE. I got so many pictures!" All that seriousness breaks away very quickly.

I feel a blush win over my control and I sigh at her antics. "Yes I'm aware, I have one. But I really don't need another friend doing this to me, I already have a mini you who interrogated me last week." I fill my voice with sarcasm and roll my eyes, her eyes just sparkle.

"She gave you a picture didn't she?" I blush more at that. "OH! I bet she did! Was it at your little secret getaway? That's so cute. And that suit, I'm curious who you got to make something like that, it was certainly unique." I feel my blush consume my face as she talks and I bury my muzzle in my forelegs.

"I hate you," I grumble out at her far too accurate guesses.

"No, you don't." She pokes me with a hoof still smiling. "It's not my fault you two have a storybook romance, I mean COME ON!! A spontaneous dance at the Gala with a princess is straight out of a novel." She brings up a good point that I can't really refute. "Don't even get me involved on the effect you've had on her."

I drain my tea and deflate a little while giving up on trying to hide my blush at all. "It's not my fault, she brought it up. And what effect? I try to make her happier, but that's not exactly special." I try to defend myself in some way, mostly for the small remainder of my pride that is left.

She keeps that damned smile though. "She has gushed to me three times over getting to play piano so much. Yes that is what you did, and you did it masterfully, she's been consistently happier than the years before meeting you. Did you know she had that big smile after the Gala?" She changes abruptly and smiles wickedly as my blush comes back with a vengeance.

I take a deep breath and glare at her for a minute while she laughs. "Ok, that's enough. I'm shutting you down, and we do actually need to test things." I take the medium ruby and place it down on the table. "Can you feel any love magic coming from this?" I rapidly change the topic to try and stop her relentless onslaught.

She laughs at my demand but mercifully agrees with a nod before focusing on the gem I put in front of her. She tilts her ears a bit, "Somewhat? I can but it is very muted, it is there though." Ok, if the alicorn of love can only somewhat sense it then Changelings probably won't be able to, good to know. "I'll go retrieve Miss. Cicada then, you just focus on your blushing." She stands up and walks to the doors giving me time to get control of myself and stop blushing.

It is nice to know Celestia enjoyed the night as well, but those thoughts can wait, we have testing to do. "Best to get in my shadow, Girl," I tell Entropy and she does just that, and I put away her band right after. Cadance comes back into the room a few minutes later with a small Changeling walking behind her. I notice the guards don't seem all that surprised, I guess they are used to it? Maybe. A trial run like that seems like something Celestia would do.

I nod in greeting while slipping on my professional mask. "Miss. Cicada. It has been a long time, thank you for agreeing to this." I greet them calmly and she stops to look me over for a few moments. Cicada is the same as I remember, a small being, even by Changeling standards, with black chitin and light green coloration.

She blinks after a moment and smiles. "Oh! Your that one pony, asked all the interesting questions." She recognizes me before moving over to the table. She seems to be a little on edge from Cadance's presence, but not overly so. "You also got really tall. huh." She remarks while looking up at me.

I ignore the look Cadance gives me when Cicada can't see. "Yes. Now, are you aware of what you are doing here?"

She nods happily but keeps her voice more reserved. "Yup, the Princes of fo- Love, said I was helping test something, is it like last time? Because if it is, I hoped you improved the taste a little, it can get really, REALLY bland." I enjoy the mostly relaxed tone she uses but keep my professionalism. I also have to hold in a laugh at her slip-up.

I move over the medium ruby and take out some notes to remind myself of a few things. "Well, I have two things I want to test, but one is strictly voluntary, I stress that fact heavily." I did get permission to try the spell I made to disrupt Changelings senses from Celestia in the letter I got from her.

I was told it was very strictly voluntary though, which is why I'm being so clear here. She tilts her head a bit. "Hm, is it dangerous?" I shake my head as I can't see a way it would be. "Why not then? The last time I was tested on we got a new FOOD source, so worth it." I notice she puts some extreme emphasis on that part.

I nod and look at her. "Thank you, but to be clear, if anything feels painful tell us immediately, ok?" She nods but I decide to clarify more. "This spell is designed to block all emotional magic from around you, we're trying to see if this would affect your senses," I state the spell effects plainly.

That gives her some pause, but only for a moment, after that, she gains what I think in a curious look, I still don't have the best read on Changeling expressions. "Huh, good question. What would that feel like? Ok, you've got me curious now, go for it. Uuu, if that's fine with Her Highness?" She asks turning to Cadance, seemingly forgetting she was there for a moment.

Cadance just nods while bringing over some paper and ink. "I'm just here to observe because of the nature of the other test, I do thank you for the assistance you have provided, Miss. Cicada." Her tone is far more formal than I'm used to, but Cicada turns back to me and nods again.

I cast the spell while waiting for a reaction. She blinks for a moment and then does it several more times while moving a foreleg to hold the table as she wobbles a bit. "Wooow, ok, standing, yes. That is, weird. Ya, ok, turn it off, please?" I quickly do so and she recovers for a moment. "Ok, I'm ok, that felt, SO off."

I took several notes as she reacted and her words. "Do you still feel well?" She nods. "Good, I apologize if that was uncomfortable." I make several more notes before pondering for a moment and moving over the ruby to get it ready for the next test.

Cicada bounces back quickly and shakes her head a little. "Wow, I didn't think you'd all think of something like that. I can't believe we never thought of that actually, cutting off the emotional magic to disorientate a Changeling. Not a bad combat spell." I tense a little hearing her words.

But she doesn't seem mad in any way, just genuinely curious and thoughtful. She sees my look and smiles a bit showing her teeth, "It's kind of obvious, not that I really care. It's not like it's bad, it makes it easier to capture instead of... Well, you know." She reasons and I nod slowly.

I find it odd she'd be so accepting about something like that, then again she came from a society that's been at war for years she's probably used to things like this, something to ask about later. "Thank you again. Now, onto the second test. Do you see this shield? I'll be expanding it in a moment, I want you to try and absorb the emotion inside." I move the gem closer to her and tap it four times.

She looks very curious and a bit confused but places a forelimb inside the shield, that confusion quickly deepens as she retracts her limb a moment later. Seeing her confusion I explained, "This is our first test of an automated love collection spell, were you able to absorb any love magic from inside?" I ask, ready to make more notes.

Her face goes stiff for a moment as she looks at me completely confused. My words seem to register a moment later and she looks completely shell-shocked, to the point of being unresponsive for several long moments. "W-What?" Her tone sounds a bit weak as she looks at me.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :]
Current year is 995

I wanted to get this meeting done in one chapter, but I'm 3.4k in without editing, witch normally adds a few hundred words, so you know how it is. The entire two meetings will probably take two more chapters at least, so buckle up.

Also, 666 words, neat.

Also also I'm taking tomorrow off, see you all soon.