That the Realm may Flourish

[Solar Solstice]

Herein shall be a series of RP logs concerning Nightshade and her rise to power. Further exploits can be read in Virga's plotline "To Serve Celestia".


Table of Contents:

1) A Duty to Conceal
2) Nightshade becomes Overseer *missing, see note*
3) Requisite Authority
4) Voltage and Resistance
5) Well Played
6) Obedience
7) Darkest Magic
8) Taking Account *new*

((Unfortunately, I seem to be missing the RP where Firefly appoints Nightshade to Overseer! If anypony can dig that up for me I would greatly appreciate it. It happened sometime between June 29, 2012 and July 9, 2012))

[Solar Solstice]

OOC Date: June 29, 2012
Characters: Firefly, Solar Eclipse, Nightshade
Setting: Firefly receives Nightshade's royal warrant, but tensions rise when she demands the reason why.


Firefly walks slowly to and fro before the Great Throne. It was not yet night, so she could not assume position before the throne for Night Court in Luna's stead, BUT...this was day still. She grins, flicking her wings, speaking to the throne. "Oh, you know you want some of this, don't you?" squeezing her flanks at it. "Admit it, a light dainty derriere for a change, sleek and graceful...." Firefly hovers, then does a double flip and lands on the Throne, Rarity-like, settling in. "Ahhh...silk, meet rump." With a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder that shakes the stones of the palace themselves. Firefly appears standing on the entry rug. She folds her wings closed and walks up the steps of the throne ramp, turning to sit before the throne, lifting a wing. "NIGHT COURT IS NOW IN SESSION!" as she takes Luna's place, as her Squire, in Court.

Nightshade is a little tired from the long train ride to Canterlot. She never really liked trains; too bumpy, and there was an appalling lack of privacy. Still, as a new technology, it's bound to improve over time. Presently, however, she has business with the Dual Crown, and so she finds herself lined up in front of the guard, very noticeably the only pony there so far.

The prince peeks in the throne room. His ears lay back, probably sad his grandmother isn't sitting upon the throne. He sighs and steps just in the door, to the side, and has himself a seat. A hoof rubs into the ground a few long moments, tapping against the stone floor

Firefly is sitting not on, but before the throne, at the top of the steps, in all likelihood just realizing her position makes her an auntie as well. She was not informed of anypony coming to Court this night, so was not really expecting any pony to walk in. She does however hear Solar and look over that way. "Troubles upon thy mind, Prince?"

Nightshade waits very patiently from her spot, glancing occasionally at the guard in her way. After some time she peers around him to see Firefly, who is very obviously not Princess Luna. That was probably her steward, she surmises.

Solar_Eclipse shrugs. "I miss my grandma," he explains. "I keep wandering over, hoping to see she's back." His hooves tap the ground a few times. "It's probably silly." He looks about, "Don't...let me stop you from holding court."

Firefly says "Nonsense. There is very little to do in Court at night, and you know this. Besides...Luna is all right. We are bonded, remember?" then pauses, lifting her head as only now can she see somepony on the other side of a guard, peeking around. "But I DO know if the guard impeding one of the locals does not removes himself from her path IMMEDIATELY...he will be guarding a latrine at the Lunarium for a century!" as said guard suddenly decides it would be wise to move aside and let the visitor pass."

Nightshade blinks, wondering what /that/ is about, but she proceeds calmly nonetheless in a highly formal walk. As she arrives at Firefly's position she bows down respectfully; the Princess' representative is like the Princess herself. "My lady," she says. "I have been commanded to present my credentials for your approval." She magicks two scrolls out of her little saddle-pouch and brings it to Firefly. The first scroll is a letter from somepony named Gearshaft delegating, in much flowery language, the bearer of the letter, that is, his daughter Nightshade, the full and immediate use of his Royal Grant. The second scroll is the Grant itself, sealed twice by both Princesses and adorned with such decoration that it could only mean that its bearer was about Very Important Business (which is likely the case given that Nightshade is being given full access to the palace's research facilities). Nightshade takes a step back and lets Firefly digest it all.

Solar_Eclipse looks over a few moments, brows both quirking up a little. He goes and gives the guard a gentle pat-patting saying, "It's OK, I'm sure she didn't mean it too much," He comforts, while the pair do their business

Firefly wing-waves for the Prince to come on in as Nightshade makes her approach. He would need to learn how to do this sometime. She nods in respect to Nightshade as she speaks, then grins a little at the Prince's comment. "Oh, I never bluff. It is common knowledge Princess Luna decreed her Court open to all ponies whom wished to seek audience. It was disrespectful of him to block this mare's entry." looking over the scrolls, then looking to Nightshade. "Now, in thy own words, please detail this grant and its purpose to me."

Nightshade nods. "Very well, my lady. This Grant allows me full and immediate access to the palace library and laboratories for the purposes of research and development. Although it is meant to be for my father, he has made arrangements so that I may stand in his place here in Canterlot." She bows again and continues. "I am confident that you will find these documents sufficient."

Solar_Eclipse wanders back over. "Oh, I know, but he looked a bit shaken. I don't know that a shaken guard is a good guard so I was trying to offer comfort. Plus I hate to see ponies worry." He looks over to Nightshade, "We have laboratories?"

Firefly watches Nightshade carefully as she summarizes the paperwork, then lightly taps a wing tip on one of them. "Please state the purpose of the transition of Rights of Research and the purpose of the intended research." she says in a quiet tone, looking to Solar. "I did not shake him. I threatened him. If he wishes to not be re-posted to the stated location, tell him to be more mindful of his duties and to act upon them properly. Luna would have already thrown him out of the tower window." looking back to Nightshade, waiting patiently.

Nightshade blinks and gazes right at Firefly. "I have not been granted leave to speak of this matter to anypony other than the Princesses or any research associates they may assign to oversee my work." At the back of her mind she also begins to kindle thoughts of frustration towards the unicorn noble, remembering how she disdained ponies who thought that they were entitled to respect because of good breeding. Not that her calm, cold facial expression gave any hint of such thoughts.

Solar_Eclipse blinks a little bit, "Oh, no, I know you didn't...physically shake him but...um...well, oh never mind." The foal smiles a bit. He looks to Nightshade, but the pony didn't assure him one way or the other about the labs, so he assumes there actually are labs somewhere. Neat. Maybe he'll check them out one day, he does so love exploring places. Seeings how the other pony doesn't speak to him, though, he looks back to Firefly, "Ah, should I wander and let you handle this? I don't want to be under hoof."

<OOC> You say, "Ah...perhaps I should have answered Solar in my previous pose"
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "Ahh, well not if your character wouldn't just ignore a foal that is standing about in the throne room. Might not care or know he's a princeling."
<OOC> You say, "Oh, um"
<OOC> You say, "I was not aware of your character's age <.< >.>"
Solar_Eclipse has just looked at you!
<OOC> You say, "I am slightly embarassed now"
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse is just a lil' guy. Blank flank.

Solar_Eclipse [Male Unicorn]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Eclipse comes from a proud noble family that boasts its noble bloodline linked to Celestia and Luna themselves. Of course, they more closely wanted to be associated with Celestia, which is why even though the family's 'seer' predicted a powerful, magician pony to be born next, when Eclipse was born he was instantly swept under the rug! A royal family with a luna-colored pony? No, no no.

Solar Eclipse is now a few years older, a proud little foal, well past his baby years, and nearing the point he'd get his mark, but still remains a "Blank Flank." He's a little pony, thin, a little lanky with a very, very silly sort of smile. His coat is that dark blue-purple color with a blue mane to match, and of course a horn poking from his forehead. His eyes are a blue color, nearing the green end of that spectrum.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<OOC> Nightshade replaces her bad assessment of Solar with something much nicer

Firefly doesn't falter, but replies in a soft tone. "Then I, Firefly, so grant it." nodding her head a bit to Nightshade. "Please do continue." then lifts an ear smiling. "Fear not, my words are as Luna's, in full authority in this Court of the Night and all matters else." then looks to Solar. "You know that Court is open to anypony, you included, and to be held in confidence. Unless, of course, the pony in attendance requests a private hearing."

Nightshade bows in gratitude to Firefly. "I thank, my Lady, for your courtesy." She takes another close look at the little unicorn princeling. Hmm...a Luna-colored foal, and he might grow into some sense yet. "My Lady, if I may speak freely."

Solar_Eclipse looks up to Firefly. "Oh, I know, but, mm, Well I don't have any business, 'scept hoping Grandma comes back today. She didn't even say goodbye. Guess it was an important errand." He sits down nearby and smiles a little, to Firefly, and to Nightshade even, being polite.

Firefly nods to Nightshade. "Of course." then follows her gaze. "That is Prince Solar Eclipse. He..just appeared here one day. The Princess assures me he is indeed of the royal line." then angles an ear.

"I am also glad to make the acquaintance of the Prince," Nightshade replies. 'Just appeared'? There is a story behind that, for certain. "As for what I have to say: I only wish that you will relay the sincere and thorough well-wishes of a loyal subject to Her Majesty, the Princess of the Night, from a humble scholar who prays for the welfare of the Dual Monarchy. May they always reign...together."

"I didn't just appear, my mom sent me. I came by chariot." Eclipse seems confused, "Aunt Celestia met me at the gate. She's super nice. Her and Grandma Luna." His tail swish-swishes a bit and he smiles. "I think mom even wrote a letter before shipping me out."

Firefly says "Consider it relayed in full." smiling. "Now, as to the two questions I have asked?" lifting an ear. "As to purpose of the transition of Rights of Research and the purpose of the intended research?" tilting her head a bit, then grinning to Solar. "To me you just appeared. Not here one day, then here. I was told how was not important so no further thought was given to it."

<OOC> You say, "Hmm...Nightshade kinda answered her question above, I think?"
<OOC> Firefly missed it. Got a message to relay, but it did not answer either question.
<OOC> Firefly says, "Last I saw, she said she didn't have the liberty to speak of it, and firefly granted her that liberty....but then we started talking about the Prince here. lol,"
<OOC> You say, "Ah"
<OOC> Firefly blames hte Prince for being to cute and distracting.
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse is adoristracting.

"As I have said before," Nightshade says, "I am not at liberty to discuss this matter with anypony other than the Princesses or any research associates they may appoint to oversee my work."

<OOC> Firefly says, "Yes, that. Is not even going to try typing that. LOL"

Solar_Eclipse looks over to Nightshade, "Um, she's technically the princess while the princess is gone," he notes, blinking a few times. "Or...are you hinting I should take a trot somewhere else? I mean, I could if you wanted."

Firefly says "As the Prince stated, my word IS the word of Princess Luna, and I have granted you the right to speak of it." then looks from the Prince to Nightshade. "If that were so, young Prince, she would have requested a private hearing. That she has not leads me to believe it is myself she has issue with."

Nightshade's cold demeanour grows a mite colder yet, a definite frown manifesting at the corners of her mouth. "I was told that the Royal Squires and Stewards would be told if they had a 'need to know'...and as far as I know, you do not need to know, my Lady."

The Prince blinks a few times. He looks to Firefly, then back to Nightshade, "Well... that's just plain not nice," he says. "After she's letting you use all the labs and whatnot. You should be nicer. Maybe apologize." He's a bit of a stickler for niceness.

Firefly thinks about the tone of the visitor, then calmly states "If you choose to disrespect the Princess Luna, then I can not help you." shifting a wing to offer back the documents and turning to retake her position before the Throne. "My words are hers, your actions towards me are your actions towards Luna. My questions, are Luna's questions." she says softly.

Nightshade seems to grow more defiant with every passing moment. "I will take your words into consideration, my /lady/," she says coolly. "There is nothing concerning this project that either of the Princesses don't already know. Perhaps you should consider that there are matters that even a Princess's squire is not a party to." She refuses the documents, repulsing them gently. "You should keep those...that way you won't get in trouble on my account." And with that she turns and starts to leave, having had well enough of Firefly and her questions.

"Uh...wow. That just happened," Eclipse says, mostly to Firefly. He does call out, "You know, my Grandmother probably won't be....helpful now that you have yelled, insulted and tried to put her squire 'in her place.' And, you know, it pays to be nice."

Firefly lifts her wings and the doors all slam shut, a cold wind picks up as she steps slowly down the stairs, dark clouds spiral in along the ceiling, a black mist forming around Firefly's ankles and wingtips as there is a crackle of static electricity felt in the now sealed chamber. Her ears lay down and her eyes....change. taking on the very eyes of Luna herself. "AND WHO ARE THOU TO DARE TELL-ME- HOW TO HOLD MY OWN COURT!!?" she says flatly, still walking down the steps, lifting her head up.

For a short moment something like fear roars behind Nightshade's deep purple eyes. Yet...she stands defiant to the very end. "A loyal subject of the Princesses...and only the Princesses," she asserts. Her horn glows a little as she magicks the scrolls back into her pack. "I made a mistake in coming here tonight, my lady. Good evening." She bows low, lower and more ostentatious than before, and then promptly turns around and heads for the door. Well, they will probably throw her in the dungeon now, but it would have been worth it, in her mind, if only to conceal her family's greatest secret from even the squire of Princess Luna herself.

<OOC> Firefly giggles. "You know, if Nightshade only mentioned her family also has Family Privelege.....Firefly would have to unseal the doors.

Solar_Eclipse just watches. Oddly, he doesn't seem phased much by Firefly's change, though perhaps simply because it's not directed at him. He just makes a low, groan sound and shakes his head. "Grandma Luna's not going to like the report on this one," he tells Firefly.

Firefly keeps walking to the main floor, a soft green flicker of light seen around all the doors and windows as she stops and raises her wings, taking an extra measure to calm down, sending Luna a few details of the current situation as she speaks. "In the Absence of the Princess Luna, I have FULL Authority in her stead. This includes any and ALL Royal affairs. I can enact or order ANYTHING that Princess Luna herself could order. As We stand here, I AM Princess Luna to you." shifting a wing, the entire room now glowing the soft green of Luna's magic, her voice a bit lower "Give me one good reason why I should not vaporize you where you stand for such insolence and insult. I have that authority as well."

<OOC> Firefly blames Luna's teachings.

Nightshade stops in her tracks, a sudden rush of intricate thought meticulously working its way through her mind. She was to tell nopony, /nopony/ except the Princesses and their direct agents. Firefly may be Luna's apprentice, but she was not privy to this secret, to the awesome power that could alter the political balance of the world forever. For a moment she considered relenting, to submit to the mercy of Firefly and hope that this gesture, however facile, would restore right order. Yet, a stronger impulse drove her still. She had been thought never to submit. he turns around and looks straight at Firefly's eyes without any hint of fear. "If you strike me down you will endanger the welfare of the entire Realm. My father will never share his secrets with the Crown ever again, and when your guards pry them from his dead body then all of Equestria will know that they are ruled by a tyrant." With astounding stubbornness she begins to walk straight towards Firefly. "You are a faithful student of Her Majesty, my Lady, but Her Majesty is a thousand years behind. We have learned how to lead ourselves, how to /govern/ ourselves, without the ever-watchful eye of Canterlot, and by the will of the stars we will continue to do so. Birth and prestige and title have little meaning in the farmer's fields or the lonely clouds of weather workers, but what they do understand is honour, law, and duty, and I cannot fulfill my duty if I were to spill every secret that the Crown has bound me to conceal, even from itself." She magicks the scrolls out of her pouch and right towards Firefly again. "Now, my Lady, are you going to accept these, or shall I return another night?"

<OOC> You say, "RIP Nightshade <.<"
<OOC> Firefly says, "Nah. LOL"
## Solar_Eclipse changes his status to OOC (Out Of Character).
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "I may crash out. Sleepy"
Solar_Eclipse has disconnected.

Firefly stands there as Nightshade turns around. She listens carefully, and quietly. When she finishes Firefly says in a calmer voice, a respectful tone and voice when one is given straightforwardly like this. "I am not a student of the Princess Luna." she says. "I am her sword, her voice. Her eyes, her ears. what I know, she knows." then starts to say something more, pausing, looking to one side slightly, almost whispering "Of course, as you requested my Princess." then looks back to Nightshade. "The Princess Luna and I are joined. What I know and feel, she knows and feels." then smiles. "And what she knows and feels..." smiling a bit. "I know and feel. It is far deeper than the meaningless title of 'Squire' infers." Firefly lifts her head as her eyes shift back to normal, the clouds flitter away and the greenish glow fades away, accepting the papers. "This is....an interesting endeavor you pursue. A project unlike any other." She waves a wing and the doors blow open slowly. "Your grant is accepted in its entirely, with a caveat. In addition to the grant, you are to be afforded any resources not so covered in this grant, by your direct request." giving a soft nod, sweeping her ears forward. "I also apologize. I had mistaken your Oath as an insult to my Princess. She has cleared that up." walking past her towards the door. "I am no politician, I am an elite fighter. I take down demons and dragons, I am not well learned in matters of the Courts. I do however, like you." she grins. "The willingness to honor an oath to the death is an honorable thing, and THAT I understand most fully."

Nightshade gives Firefly an unbending gaze for a long, tense moment. Then, somehow, she betrays the faint hint of a smile. "Your admiration is wholly expected, my Lady; I only do what I must." She bows deeply, without tension or repulsion, simply respectful. "I thank you for your generosity, for the Princess's generosity. Farewell...Firefly." With that, her business is concluded. She turns around and, as it seems she's done a thousand times already, she heads towards the door.

Firefly folds her wings closed as Nightshade takes her leave, waving a wing so the Guards don't so much as look at her as she goes. She asides to the Prince. "Oh, Auntie is quite all right."

[Solar Solstice]

OOC Date: July 9, 2012
Characters: Marble Memory, Nightshade
Setting: At Ponyville, Nightshade breaks the news that she's now Marble's new boss


((The first part of the log is missing! Basically Nightshade uses her new clout to make the Ponyville town hall work faster for some request of Marble's. Marble is, however, upset.))

"Apparently," Nightshade responds. "Now, I understand that you have been reporting to the Economist before this. Rest assured that you will still do so when it comes to financial matters. I am certain, however, that he has matters of import to worry about which take precedence over, ah, your concerns."

Marble lowers his hoof, no longer offering it for a shake, instead offering a frown. "This is like a demotion!" Marble says, upset. "It is! But instead of being put in a lower rung, they just *add* one over me! Do you have any idea how *insulted* I feel?" Marble says, almost as if blaming Nightshade. "Was I not diligent enough in my work?"

Nightshade sighs...she /could/ be diplomatic about this, she supposes. A little. "You didn't exactly give a good impression a few days ago," she observes. "And I would dispute your description of it: the office of Overseer has always existed, but had been in abeyance until now. Also, the royal offices have more of a...tree structure than a ladder." She watches as the now highly-compliant clerk is fetching Marble's papers. Satisfied, she takes a tax form and starts filling it out with her details, referencing her royal warrant as she does so. "You shouldn't stress yourself about it; your office maintains the same dignity and importance as it did before." Which is to say, in her estimation, not very much.

In Marble's estimation: VERY important. He believes himself to be one of those ponies between Equestria and utter ruination. And here this newcomer comes along and... "What impression did I leave a few days ago? Did I not dot enough Is in my paperwork?" Marble takes the packets and gets them in his saddlebag. "I've done this job for a long time. I take pride in my work. Immaculate records, artifacts under control..."

"There was a lot of honey involved, if you care to remember," Nightshade reminds him. "I am also not one to question the will of the Princesses. They could, I wager, create new offices with new officials for any reason, or even for no reason." Which was, she deduced, the main problem. The clerk returns from the back with a stack of papers carefully tied in an elegant ribbon. He bows obsequiously as he takes Nightshade's form and scurries away to process it. "Our business here, it seems, is done. Shall we walk?"

"Oh, the honey... the honey..." Great. Bluefeather more or less got the poor pegasus bureaucrat punished. "Yes, we'll walk. And no, far be it from me to question or blame the princesses." He serves them quite loyally. It's not like he *needs* this job, being as wealthy as he is. "It still feels as if I am being unjustly punished for my bad luck, however. How long have you even worked in the government?"

Nightshade swallows silently. Here goes. "I, admittedly, have little formal experience in government, and certainly I will defer to the greater knowledge of others. I did, however, receive a fairly comprehensive liberal education, and I learned a number of fascinating aspects regarding the theory of governance and administration." She can still remember the long hours she spent studying, trying to memorize all the Great Officers of State and their functions. "I presume that you, too, have been fashioned in such a way, perhaps even more thoroughly given the greater, ah, resources available to you."

"Graduated from the University of Canterlot School of Bureaucratic Sciences. I *invented* the reverse double alphanumeric filing system the government uses." Marble says, "Plus I'm the pony who keeps all those ancient artifacts in the registry from running amok." The pegasus' feathers are ruffled, in a metaphorical sense. "So, they put an inexperienced pony over me. Did you go to a good school at all? Or was it some clown college?" Wow, Marble is *angry.*

Nightshade is, in fact, a little insulted by Marble's haranging, but she decides to let it pass. Subordinate or not, Marble still had powerful friends in the Canterlot court that she would be loathe to offend. "My education was certified by the requisite authorities, I can assure you. I have co-written several papers in The Proceedings of the Equestrian Society and other journals of note in magical scholarship. You could say that magic is my specialty." She wiggles her flank, with its corresponding cutie mark, just a bit so that he gets the message. "Of course, I understand that your work is something with which you have an intimate acquaintance, and for that I owe you respect."

Marble stops walking a moment, then looks over at Nightshade. "Just tell me honestly... madame." Marble has to call her that if she's his boss. It's his way. "When you came out of that school of yours, were you aiming for *my* job?"

Nightshade is tempted to say 'Why would I want /your/ job?', but she's much wiser than that. Instead, she says, "We all have our different abilities, good sir." Nightshade also has her own idea of etiquette, persisting on showing deference to Marble for his noble title if not his occupation. "You are perfectly suited to your job, and apparently the Crown believes I am particularly suited in mine. That is how it is, sometimes."

"Fine, then, madame." Marble says, continuing to walk once more. "I just hope you do well enough in your job. You seem well educated enough." Marble says, trying not to let his irritation ruin a fine day. "How about we have some coffee and just... settle this difference. Shall we?"

"Of course," says Nightshade. "I happen to know just one such establishment, if you find it to your tastes." She takes a turn and starts heading towards the Cafe Tobiano.

<OOC> You say, "Shall we move?"
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Sure!"
Marble_Memory has left.

Cafe Tobiano

This simple coffee house appears to come from humble beginnings. From the outside it looks like an old grey stone house with a small covered porch and one bay window among with a few smaller ones scattered across the first and second floors. The shutters are painted a crisp, cheery lavender and the woodwork for the covered porch and Victorian-gingerbread styling is bright white. A hand-painted wooden sign set out in the short front lawn among the purple, orange, and white flowers during the blooming season reads 'Cafe Tobiano' with the image of an elegantly curved coffee mug and curls of steam.

Inside, the first floor is converted to a proper, cozy coffee shop. The old wooden-walled library, done in deep green and bright golden oak, retains the old musty odor of books that line the shelves. Several tables and chairs are set up for patrons in there as well as in the converted living and dining areas. Cushy low couches are interspersed for other ponies to lounge on. What furniture is there is piecemeal, lending to that homey eclectic feel. The kitchen is closed off to the public by a large wooden display unit and countertop adorned with a wide array of equipment. More importantly, though, is the space not taken up by machinery is adorned with a dazzling array of sweet and savory goodies from tiny cookies and pastries to fresh fruits and salads right up to larger treats like breads and sandwiches. Specials are on every day, so come back soon!

Upstairs is kept closed to the general public as well, but to the curious there is a small office, restroom, and two bedrooms that remain from the original building. They are done up in soft, welcoming country style and may even serve as a place to crash for the few staff members who need to catch a quick quiet moment throughout the day.

--------

The Cafe Tobiano is quiet tonight, no crazy shenanigans or possessed pegasi or anything, just a handful of patrons enjoying tonight's selection of slow music and evening treats. Nightshade steps in, leaving the door open for Marble Memory as she glances around for her favourite seat, the one near the window. "I hope this at least suits your minimum. A more elegant place would, I have no doubt, have been a little less intimate."

"You'd be surprised, madame." Marble says, trotting into the cafe behind her. "My favorite pub in Canterlot isn't what you'd expect, either." Surroundings aren't as important as the drinks and the help, so to speak. "Not that I'm looking for intimacy."

Nightshade notes that very well. "I see. Then, let us begin." She takes the seat closest to the door and orders an espresso; she'll probably need the stimulation for later. "You will have to show me this pub sometime. I find that I need to be better acquainted with the city." Especially since she's about to practically live there now.

"I might, but... personal circumstances may have me move my department here to Ponyville." Marble says, then orders himself a decaf. "Heart health. I don't know if it was in your personnel files, but I have a certain mark in there."

"I haven't had the time to review the records yet, but thank you for informing me." Now that's problematic, certainly. Nightshade will have to be a bit more circumspect. "How interesting...you are coming here to Ponyville, whereas I will likely be stuck in the capital for the foreseeable future. Ironic."

Marble is at least pleased that she didn't inquire further. It'd be right there in the record: One confirmed heart attack. "Ponyville isn't my ideal choice. I prefer Canterlot. But... as I said, personal developments." Marble fidgets nervously.

Nightshade nods solemnly as she sips her now-arrived espresso. "So...how is this going to work out between us, then?" she says, rather more informally than before. "I have my own understanding of it, but...let's hear you first."

"Well, generally Economist didn't need to come down to my department that often. I've been largely autonomous. Keeping records up to date and maintaining the artifacts." Marble says, taking his decaf. "He's your boss now, I take it?"

<OOC> You say, "It's funny how this RP suddenly became very serious"
<OOC> Marble_Memory meeps. Is that a problem? D:
<OOC> You say, "Not at all! Just weird how the mood 'suddenly' changed"

"He would be, yes," Nightshade says. "And also not. There is apparently only minimal overlap between our duties, but he has precedence just the same." Another sip. "I can respect autonomy, certainly. I think for now I will be content to maintain a leg's length distance from your office, the occasional audit notwithstanding. Also..." She looks at Marble quizzically. "What exactly is 'Late Study Paper' supposed to be?"

<OOC> Marble_Memory will try to nudge it back for humorous, but might not succeed. XD
<OOC> You say, "Heh"

"Oh, the Late Studies!" Marble says, taking an excited sip from his coffee. He can definitely talk about this. It's what he initially got into when becoming a bureaucrat, "It's an interesting field, to say the least. You see, the Late Studies are--" And a big crash drowns out Marble's no doubt eloquent, and very precise description. "--and that, in a nutshell, is the Late Studies." Marble turns to the poor waiter, as if oblivious to his accident with dirty dishes. "Three bran muffins, please. No butter."

<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "It's a bit of a running gag. Marble knows what the Late Studies is, but nopony else will be allowed to know. XD"
<OOC> You say, "Nightshade will really hate that!"
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "XD"
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Another gag is MArble can't have his bran muffins."

Nightshade blinks as the loud commotion suddenly blocks out Marble's explanation. "Is there...somewhere where I can learn more about these...Late Studies?"

"Oh yes. At the university! Absolutely, absolutely!" Marble says, seeming to have cheered up a bit from his little disagreement with Nightshade earlier. "Though... when I was a student they may have been phasing out their Late Studies in favor of their Early Experimentation Project. I have no idea what those crazy ponies in THAT field are up to."

By now Nightshade has decided that all of these 'studies' have something to do with the nature of time. Some kind of esoteric study of metaphysics that she hasn't heard about? Now /that/ is interesting. "I will have to look into these matters later when I have time, so to speak" she says, "but for now...have you encountered any, ah, issues regarding your work? Any problems that irk you?"

<OOC> You say, "Methinks we should start wrapping this up"
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Okay."
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Also, XD at Nightshade's conclusion. XD"
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Want me to end it on my next pose?"
<OOC> You say, "Whatever you think is best"
<OOC> Marble_Memory works on a good way to end.

Marble listens to this question. And, for whatever mysterious reason, he busts out laughing. Belly laughs. Happy *happy* belly laughs! And he stands up, thanks the waiter for the muffins, paying for his meal, and trots his way out of the buffet, laughing. Laughing laughing laughing. More laughter. And he's gone. He'll give Nightshade a few more days and she'll learn exactly why.

<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Ahem. Blueblood. Plus Sky Blue's been hanging around the palace trying to be a guard. XD"
<OOC> Marble_Memory tells you OOCly now so you won't be confused by MArble OOCly. XD

Nightshade is left hanging. "Wait...wh-" But he's gone...and he didn't even pay the bill! The nerve of him. She sighs and settles into a slow sip of her cup, preparing herself for the inevitable hassle of trying to solve this problem he's left in her hooves.

((Oops! Turns out he /did/ pay his bill! herpderp))

[Solar Solstice]

OOC Date: July 10, 2012
Characters: Nightshade, Celestia
Setting: Nightshade and Celestia discuss Nightshade's research, and Celestia leaves intriguing hints about her hidden works.


Even as the angles of the shadows grow steeper with every passing hour, the bright splendor of the Palace of Canterlot maintains its fullness. Nightshade, however, prefers the dusk, when the hidden mysteries of the world dare to peek out from behind the curtain of the stars. Still, there is something to be said about how the sunlight gleams through the stained-glass windows. The unicorn mare is striding through the palace on a brief inspection, the regalia of her new office in full display as a sash around her neck and barding over her sides. At least being the Overseer gave her the authority to order her research associates to take up some of the more menial tasks and free her up for this duty. Presently she finds herself drawing close to the court chamber, wondering if the Sun Princess is still doing business.

The luminescence of the palace's great halls is certainly helped by the fact that Celestia, Princess of Equestria and one who raises the son every day is currently holding court. The sun seems to shine a little brighter, even as it sets, the brilliant red and orange beams of light causing striking displays through the stained glass windows. And the Princess - as always, she sits in brillant state on her great golden throne, reading carefully through one scroll after another. Guards stand at the doorway, turning immediately to Nightshade as she enters.

Nightshade steps in front of the guards, where the audience line is supposed to begin, and coughs a little. "The Royal Chamberlain wishes to see the Princess," she observes. Well, she might as well get some use out of her new title. ((This was before I decided to stick with the 'Overseer' title Firefly originally dubbed upon her))

"Please, Nightshade," Celestia's soft, tender voice suddenly breaks the silence following Nightshade's request. "What do you need, Royal Chamberlain?" she asks with that loving smile so familiar on her face.

"Only your time, your Majesty," Nightshade replies, bowing deeply and reverently. "I have completed my introductions to and inspections of my charges, and have ordered that a comprehensive audit of royal assets be completed. The report on palace assets should arrive within the month; the one of holdings within the Realm by the end of the summer. I have also sent requests to all royal officials for an accounting, as it is long overdue. Also..." She magicks a scroll out from her ceremonial saddlebag. "This is a report on the progress of my...research." Which, as it relates, is going well.

"Of course," Celestia responds before floating the scrolls back into a little stack of them. "Have you spoken to Pareto about this?" the Princess asks softly, before giggling ever-so-subtly. "I mean, have you spoken to EB about this? May I ask whom you have tasked to head up the audit?" At the next statement, the Princess actually gets up from her throne and makes her way down towards Nightshade. "Oh? Please, do tell."

Nightshade's ears flicker. Pareto, is it? So that's his real name...an odd name, too. She isn't too comfortable with how well, casual Celestia is acting. She's much more suited to dealing Luna or Luna's followers; she can understand formalism and ritual very well. This? This is like trying to do business with your mother. It's very unnerving. "I...I have consulted the requisite statutes and learned that my authority is to be exercised through the seneschals scattered across the Realm." What few seneschals have survived into the modern day, anyway. "I have therefore proceeded with the task myself, since there is separation between the management of the finances and the stewardship of resources...if that is good for you, your Majesty." She swallows to clear her throat as she continues. "My research is continuing at a steady pace, especially given the vast resources of the Royal Library. Nothing more notable than that as of yet."

Oddly, Celestia would almost prefer ponies think that it's like doing business with your mother. "Excellent," the Princess responds while stepping before the Chamberlain. "That would be excellent for me, yes. I believe that your thoughts are very consistent with the proper order of things." She pauses, glances at the scroll, then nods. "Nothing particularly insightful?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Nightshade says. "Nothing particularly un-insightful, either," she observes. "We are..." She glances around suspiciously. "We have already devised most of the theory and the basic engineering. The problem is that the Device only works on a small scale; any larger than the demonstration model we showed Your Majesty and there would be severe harmonic instability. Only the Lightning Lord knew the secret of the technology, but it died with him during the coup. We are, essentially, attempting to rediscover lost arts."

"I see. Would you care to discuss this in a more private area, Nightshade?" the Princess asks upon seeing her look around suspiciously. "What is the theory you have derived thus far? I admit that I am intrigued at what you have derived, since I have done some of my own in my spare time."

Nightshade nods. "As you say," Nightshade says, following Celestia to wherever she deems suitable. When they have arrived she continues. "As you know, the Device's operating principle is based on the manipulation of telluric flux, which provides the matter-energy interface that makes magic work. Unfortunately, this flux can only be stabilized when conducted through bioplasm, that is, living beings. Any device that is supposed to generate large amounts of energy is bound to simply disintegrate...but not the Lightning Lord's devices. He knew something, and it seems he died for it as well."

Celestia turns and makes her way from the throne room, walking over towards her private office set a short distance away. "Intriguing. Is there any theory why is disintegrates so readily with any other sort of conductive medium?" she asks quietly.

Nightshade relaxes a bit as they enter the security of Celestia's chambers. "That's what we've been trying to discover. If we could figure that out we would be much closer to developing practical models. So far the only 'solution' is to hook up cables to the nearest alicorn, and I doubt that either you or Princess Luna would be happy to experience such an indignity." She sighs a little, fixing her mane a bit which has gotten out of hoof lately. "Such is my burden, I suppose."

"It would be an intriguing prospect, and an idea I had as well," Celestia says quietly, sitting down on a cushion. "But one I would need to talk to Luna about first. She may disagree about how far we should go for the advancement of science."

Nightshade blinks and gazes at Celestia incredulously. "You are...open to the idea?" That's absurd. "There are risks to this kind of operation. Surely you would prefer if I continue my current research." As much as she would like to discover the secrets of alicorns, Nightshade has certain boundaries she will not cross.

"There are always risks to any sort of scientific advancement, Nightshade. And I would far rather it be embraced by myself or my sister than our subjects." Celestia hovers over two cups of tea - one for herself, and another for Nightshade.

Nightshade blinks. "I...disagree," she says boldly. "I do not believe that this is an acceptable risk, especially given how important both your Majesties are to the welfare of all Equestria. I know about Tartarus, your Majesty, and all Equestria knows about how you fell before the might of the Changeling Queen. If this is enough to defeat you, then consider what could happen if we begin to play around with the very source of your power. No, I cannot do it."

"I never said it was an acceptable risk. Merely a risk. I hadn't yet agreed to do it, after all, Miss Nightshade," Princess Celestia says with a little smile. "I assure you it would not be done unless the risk was acceptable. Hence why I must consult my sister and do further thought on theory and run other experiments, if at all possible."

Nightshade shakes her head and sighs, partly from relief and partly from trying to make sense of it all. "I understand, Princess. Perhaps I was too hasty in my assumption." She sits down and has a long sip of the tea to calm herself. "...Experiments? What kind of experiments?" That part intrigued her. Even given her vast access to the palace there were still several sections to which even she was not privy, including, she supposes, even more secret labs.

Celestia takes a slow sip of the tea hovering in front of her. "I cannot reveal that to you just yet, Miss Nightshade. I will let you in on more details once I've done some more work," Princess Celestia says with an almost enigmatic little smile. "But I don't mean to tease your intellectual curiosity. Tell me, do you have equations for me, particularly with regards to the voltage and resistance expectations?"

Nightshade sips her tea some more, glancing out the window to ponder the streets below. That smile of the Princess's makes her nervous. She doesn't really feel comfortable being so casual and intimate with her Sovereign, and she's already feeling rather discomfited by being in here in her most personal chamber. It strikes her as...needy. "That topic alone requires a lengthy summary," says Nightshade, and so she begins on a notably comprehensive overview of her theory, focusing, as Celestia has asked, on the actual math involved. It is, in many ways, totally radical, a complete break from the standard schools of magic and metaphysics present today. Or, perhaps, it is really a renewal, a risorganimento of traditional thought long forgotten. In any case, it is a totally complete and exhaustive approach, and that's only from the precis. "...Thus, it is evident that we cannot simply substitute one for the other, because they are actually the same thing," she concludes, taking a deep breath at the end.

Celestia is hardly needy. Far more that she wants to respect Nightshade's privacy. "Then it would be best for you to begin," the Princess says with a little smile before hovering over some of the scrolls Nightshade had written upon. She listens silently, making a few notes here and there, but mostly simply listening in a way that seems to indicate a knowledge of the subject beyond one would expect. "Intriguing. You have done very well, Nightshade."

Nightshade is not the kind of pony who responds to affection very easily. It had taken her years just to properly open up to her own parents, so having the Princess talk to her like a beloved relative is quite disturbing for her, and it shows from the subtle tics in her composure and speech. "T...thank you, your Majesty, I do my best," she says, bowing in reverence and gratitude. "I wasn't the one who first developed the theory, however...it was my father's work. I am merely helping him continue it."

And Princess Celestia is the sort of pony who radiates affection like a warm summer sun. Some ponies need more sunscreen than others. "You're very welcome. You truly do excellent work - you do many ponies, including myself, proud."

Nightshade doesn't like the warm summer sun, either. Perhaps it has something to do with her name and cutie mark. "I will appreciate the gratitude better when I come up with something substantial, your Majesty." And another thing she doesn't like is not meeting resistance or gravitas in her superiors. "Do you have anything else for me?"

And that is why there are two Princesses - one of the sun, one of the moon. Each a Princess to rule over and represent the parts of the day that everypony can love. "Not right now, Nightshade. I know that I will have something for you in due time, however," the Princess muses quietly. "Sadly, my attention has recently been diverted to other areas of the realm." )

Nightshade can understand this a little now that she has so many duties to juggle herself. "Like...what kind of areas, your Majesty?"

((Sadly, Celestia had to go at this point. I'm sure Nightshade can probe her more thoroughly later!))

[Solar Solstice]

OOC Time: November 12, 2012
Characters: Solar Eclipse, Shutterbug, Virga, Celestia, Nightshade, Fluttershy, Firefly
Setting: Eclipse and Shutterbug continue their hijinks, Nightshade tries to probe Celestia about her plans for the Crystal Empire, Virga tries to escape the ponyrazzi, Celestia tries to distract everyone with food and alcohol


Ok so how long were they in there for? Let's just say that direction isn't Eclipse's strong suit and he should probably stay out of the hedgemaze lest he eat his way out next time. He and his friend are now just wandering back toward the castle, "Oh hey, are you staying over? At least for dinner, right? I can show you my room and stuff."

Shutterbug is eying his supply of film. It's hard not to treat a visit to the palace as a once-in-a-lifetime event, even if, given his friendship with the prince, it probably isn't. He looks up. "Well, I guess, I mean, Dreamy said so long as I wasn't being any bother or anything..."

Well, at least the Prince /could/ eat his way out of the hedgemaze, if it really came down to it. At least his eating habits will come in handy sometime! Princess Celestia watches the Prince and his friend from the comfort of her balcony, gaining a little smile as she watches them interact. "Solar! SOLAR! PRINCE SOLAR!" she calls down to her great-etc.-nephew before waving her hoof around, attempting to embarass him as much as humanly possible. "Does your friend want dinner? Ask him if he wants dinner! Does he want a guest room in the palace? Ask him if he wants a guest room for the night!"

Nightshade has rested well, having obtained temporary leave from her duties ever since the events of Nightmare Night. She can barely remember what really happened, but she knows that she greatly appreciates having a break after all of it. It's given her time to gather her thoughts and, after some reflection, put together a new understanding of the situation in the Realm and the mysterious plans of her monarch. "Good afternoon, Your Majesty," she says, having appeared right at the back of the room, in the shadows.

Hearing his Aunt's voice bellowing from the balcony, Eclipse looks up. He grins and waves to her, "I WAS JUST ASKING HIM!" He calls back, looking over to Shutterbug, "Ah so yeah I think you're ok to go to dinner and stay the evening. If you want. Wanna meet my aunt?"

Shutterbug homina. Homina, homina. He sways a little in his place, staring up at Celestia, eyes as wide as dinner plates and the whites showing. The penitent pony is... he awkwardly falls to his forelegs, kneeling and throwing his face to the ground, camera under him. Eeep, don't eat him, sun goddess. The awe-struck little foal presents the smallest target he can.

Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe...Virga didn't sleep the night, kept awake by tea and little else. He had taken his place at the side of Celestia's throne, but today he didn't quite look too...good. The pegasus was tired, dreadfully tired, but desired to stay within eye sight of his Princess. Ever since the Bloom Doll, he felt every more protective of her. Not overprotective, just a little more comfortable not flying about to the ends of Equestria. Currently, he sipped tea and stared at a mirror, trying to figure out the change in his eyes. So...gem like. For now, he just listened to the others. A nice quiet day.

The current pose order is: {Celestia Nightshade Solar_Eclipse Shutterbug Virga}.

<OOC> Rainbow_Dash says, "Virga is changing :v"
<OOC> Virga says, "it's prometheus pony. *shuts up*"
<OOC> Shutterbug says, "It's Pegasus menopause."
<OOC> Rainbow_Dash says, "As long as he doesn't give birth to an evil space squid"
<OOC> Virga is a male pegasus, Shutter.
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "...again"
<OOC> Shutterbug stands by his statement.

"GOOD! DOES HE NEED CLEAN BLANKETS? WHAT ABOUT CLEAN CLOTHES? DOES HE NEED CLEAN UNDERWEAR? WE CAN FETCH HIM CLEAN UNDERWEAR! DON'T FORGET YOUR NEW PAJAMAS, PRINCE! THEY'VE GOT BUNNIES ON THEM! AND BUNNY FEET! AND A LITTLE FLUFFY TAIL!" she continues for a while before watching his friend suddenly go all swoonypony. Oh! She sweeps out her wings and shoots off the balcony, gliding down to land in front of Shutterbug. "Good evening, and welcome. I hope your stay here will be restful and invigorating." The Princess tips her head politely to Shutterbug before remembering that Nightshade had done her creepy shadow-appearance thing in her chambers. "Now, if you will excuse me." She flaps her wings and flies right back up to her balcony, making her way back into her chambers. "Good afternoon, Overseer. Something on your mind?" she asks as she makes her way back towards the throne room, gesturing for Nightshade to follow as they talk.

<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "I like that she's concerned about a /naked pony/ needing underwear."
<OOC> Celestia says, "Exactly."

The current pose order is: {Nightshade Solar_Eclipse Shutterbug Virga Celestia}.

Nightshade waits patiently as Celestia deals with her nephew. She doesn't have anything /urgent/ to say, after all, but in terms of importance... "Nothing much, Princess. I have simply been reflecting on...recent events." She walks alongside Celestia as she goes, trailing on her right. "It was...well played, Princess, very well played."

In what is probably not his proudest moment, Eclipse turns his head to look at his own, somewhat long, ponytail, and tries to figure out how it would fit into bunny pajamas with a fluffy tail. He finally does figure it out with a soft 'oooooh'. "I don't think I have any of those things," he whispers to Shutterbug before realizing his friend's swooned out. Why do ponies keep doing that? He props his friend up a bit in time for his Aunt to float down. "We'll be up in a sec," he tells her as she zooms back off.

Shutterbug peeks as Celestia leaves. Only then does he remember he's got a camera and a big sister who would /die/ if she saw photos of him meeting the princess, but of course, it's no good remembering that in hindsight. He watches her go, and gradually lets Eclipse shove him to his hooves. "That was-- that's-- princess-- glowy, bright-- rainbow... wait, Bunny Pajamas?" Ok, if there's one thing that'll snap a foal out of reverie, it's the idea of his best friend being hilariously embarrassed. Now this, he's got to see.

Here now, a closer look at his eyes in the mirror. The silver had polished itself; he'd have nightmarish eyes in the dark with the slightest hint of light, frightening ponies who came across his path if he wasn't careful. Few things were scarier than a shadow-dark pony with reflective eyes in the dead of night. He kept to himself for now, no threats and what not. Listening to others for once was nice and being in the throne room kept him out of sight. No reporters here! Then again..one scroll did suddenly poof in front of him, not unlike Spike's. But it wasn't from the dragon. It was yet another reporter who magicked their voice through paper. "CRYSTAL PRESS HERE! Our records show your native citizenship somehow avoided King Sombra's curse, along with your entire province of Equephel You were once one of the Empire's greatest flyers, the last Crystalbolt! I'd like to set up an inte--" CLOP, the letter continued mumbling under Virga's hoof. Crystalbolt? Is that what they called his old wonder bolt team now? Next thing he knew, they'd beg him to Captain a new team. His eyes shifted to Celestia, Nightshade...then to his tea. yes. Tea was calming.

All ponies ought to have a set of bunny pajamas with a fluffy tail. Both for the creation of delicious zap-apple jam and for paying homage to their almighty leader and master Angel Bunny, when he brings doom to all of Equestria (and then the world). "Is there any other way to play, Nightshade?" the Princess asks Nightshade in return to her reflective comments, gaining an even further smile. As they reenter the throne room, Celestia's eyes turn towards Virga. "Virga! Would you like something further to eat or drink? We have a new tea in stock from a travelling rum salespony that you might enjoy."

It is now your pose.
The current pose order is: {Nightshade Solar_Eclipse Shutterbug Virga Celestia}.

Did somepony say...bunny? Because, um, if there were a bunny here, that would just make Fluttershy's day the most perfect day ever. You can already hear her singing about it - her gentle voice wafts in, winding around the trees like garden vines and drifting into the palace. When Fluttershy appears at the gate and sees that there are other ponies about, she cuts her song short and settles to the ground.

Nightshade's eyes gain an uncanny quality, like physicalized perspicacity, as Celestia answers back in her vague, royal manner. The appearance of Virga distracts her, and she affords a few moments to look at his eyes. Hmm. "I met an old unicorn who used to work at the Royal Archives, around the time I was appointed Overseer. He had some very interesting insights to share with me." She glances at the throne, at the large banners hanging aloft along the sides. "I don't think it would have occurred to anypony to hide the heir of what was once Equestria's most dangerous rival in their own household as their favoured student's foalsitter."

As Fluttershy makes her appearance, Eclipse does what any sweet, kind, thoughtful prince in need of distraction would do, he waves to her and calls out, "Hey! Miss Fluttershy!" and wanders over, "We're about to go in and talk to my Aunt some then have dinner. Want to come with us?" He grins brightly to her, not seeming to realize that the Shy in Fluttershy stands for...shy.

((Virga)) New tea? Yes, yes he'd like new tea as he was almost empty. The pleasant ceylon mango that Twilight and he shared during his interview--the only pony he permitted this for the fascination of history instead of selling papers--was delicious. "Yes," he said. "Some...Fire Rum, straight. I need it after last night, the last week." Poor Virga, so tired looking, and almost mopey yet in good spirits. As he approached Celestia, that reporter's letter started up again. "I MEAN STUPENDOUS, Mr. de Glacial, you hold speed records, height records, breaking the Boom Barrier with your wings closed for Princess sake! No Pegasi just flies out and does that. Please, won't you, interview?" Yes, this is what he had to put up with since that story broke in the Press. He grumbled with a very, pitiful angry llama face. "And the way you rammed other pegasi out of the sky. Nobody slew as many." SNAP, Virga took that letter...and ate it. Omnomnomnom. Like Sandvich. Too and he didn't notice Fluttershy yet.

Shutterbug's neck is craned back, staring up, up, up, at the high balcony where Celestia vanished, as if she could swoop down on him at any moment. Gradually, he relaxes and his head tilts down to spy with his little eye, Flutter-shy. Blink. He waves, almost as shyly. No doubt she's come here on tremendously important business, Element of Kindness business, critical to the fate of Equestria.

<OOC> Solar_Eclipse puts on his little bowtie and asks Fluttershy out for dinner apparently. Quick Shutterbug, get me some flowers!
<OOC> Luna says, "Our little grandson likes older mares, it seems!"
<OOC> Virga says, "OH MY"
<OOC> Fluttershy is a year older than you. All of you.
<OOC> Celestia says, "Even me!"
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "We grow up so fast! Faster if you'd teach me that spell!"
<OOC> Shutterbug only has eyes for a certain griffon. o.o
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "And Scootaloo."
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "And Sweetie Belle."
<OOC> Shutterbug says, "Crushes! Nothing but foalish crushes!"
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "Maybe Dinky too? Did you eye Dinky?"
<OOC> Shutterbug has not seen Dinky. She's probably too scary.
<OOC> Luna says, "Just as well. We might have to violently defend Dinky's purity, so that she is untouched for Solar Eclipse on their wedding night."

Celestia smiles cryptically to the Overseer, yet doesn't respond to her at all. Instea,d she looks back over to Virga and nods her head once. "Yes indee- rum? Well, most certainly," the Princess says before hovering over a few shots of the Fire Rum. One for her, of course. And one for Nightshade. Two for Virga. She holds them out in a small toast before smiling, not yet seeing Fluttershy's arrival, either. "... I was going to offer to get rid of that for you, Virga. Although I suppose you need fiber in your diet."

<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "Hooray! I think? Actually not sure how to feel aout that.."
<OOC> Luna says, "We are not sure either, but there was SO much fuss about that with our last son's wife, we just threw up our wings and decided to accept that our ponies are weird about the monarchy."

Nightshade doesn't smile back. She can see the game that Celestia is playing, the long, opportunistic ploys. She cannot yet hope to stand as an equal to it, let alone a rival, so she must make do and accommodate, let the situation fall as it may in the absence of initiative. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she says, accepting the shot and taking a little sip. Ah, now this is it. She looks up at Virga, irked by the magical letter following him around until he decides to destroy it. Just as well. "You seem to be worse for wear, Virga," she observes, letting him fill in the rest.

"Um. H-hello," squeaks the yellow mare from way across the room. Yes, FLuttershy's gotten much bolder since meetin gher dearest friends. "I, um--dinner? Well, I guess if you really think it's okay...um, oh dear. Is it pot luck? Should I bring something? Should Angel get dressed up?"

"Uhh, I don't know, usually the cooks bring it out. It's tasty." Eclipse hops on his hooves in a little dance, "Oh but you're probably here to see aunt Celestia," he says, starting to make his way up to the throneroom with the other two, "Let's go say hi. I think Shutterbug wants to get a picture with her, maybe? If he can, y'know, stay awake." He boldly walks into the throne room, figuring the guards won't stop him or his guests.

Chew, chew, chew, the devil's ink and brand, Virga tiredly eyed Celestia with a warm glimmer of comfort. He appreciated the sentiment that she would get rid of that horrendous letter. It was true. He did hold those records, he did break the Boom Barrier without wing power, and he did slay other pegasi by ramming into them. Virga was, and currently had the look of a pony killer though his eyes said otherwise, and his demeanor...likewise. He 'had' to do that, not because he wanted to. "This letter is a mite...tart...this rum will go well with it, Princess." Was that a smile? Yes it was. "Everything in that letter is true. They really should stop digging. It only grows uglier...I've used the dark magic before." He paused, hearing that lovely faint voice of Fluttershy. "Flutts?" he said. "That...really you? I'm not too...well right now..." He even swayed, as he downed the rum.

<OOC> Luna says, "'Flutts'? Is there something Firefly shouldn't know?"
<OOC> Virga says, "Shorthand name for the moment since he's kind of out of whack."

Shutterbug eyes the guards with some trepidation, intimidated by anypony bigger than him, especially if they're wearing armour and have the legal right to stomp on him repeatedly, and then yell at him a lot. So he trails Eclipse politely, timidly... in mortal terror. No, he didn't just look at that guard. Augh, he can't stop not looking at that guard. Making a low squeak in his throat, he scurries so closely after Eclipse he might be mistaken for the prince's missing shadow.

Celestia promptly downs the shot of rum and looks none the worse for it. She /is/ the Princess, after all. She breaks the shot glass on her forehead (whoops) before swiveling around to look at Fluttershy as she squeaks at hte entrance. "Ah, Fluttershy! How kind of you to arrive in time for cocktails. Would you like some rum before joining us for dinner?" she asks, pouring the yellow mare a shot.

Nightshade peers at Fluttershy from afar as she appears. "Do make yourself at home, Miss Fluttershy. After all...you are always welcome here." She seems peculiarly interested in all this.

"Oh, well, I don't really...oh." Her voice falls as the rum meets the glass. She doesn't drink, no, but how do you turn down the *princess*? So Fluttershy grins her sweetest grin, lifts the shotglass to her lips, and takes probably her first drink of rum ever. Her eyes may have just entered the class of legal sport discus. "...t-thank you," she says, rum dripping between her teeth.

That's that Rum stuff they were talking about last night. Eclipse eyes it a moment, pondering trying to sneak a glass. Still, probably not a good idea for someone so young and not overly controlled of his magic at times. He grins, looking about and sits down nearby. "See, everypony's having fun," He tells his friend. "Oh, you know, It'd be awesome if my Grandma came to visit, I bet you want to meet her too!" Maybe not the right thing to say to such a timid pony, but Eclipse is the Pony with Very Little Fear, right? He then magically lifts up Shutterbug and floats him a little closer to the throne. "Hi Aunt Celestia. This is Shutterbug. He's my friend and sometimes apprentice."

((Virga)) Blink, and blink. The rum was good, so too was that letter. Though now he stood there, eyeing the Overseer, Fluttershy, the Princess. He needed rest now, certainly. "I think I'm...going to finally sleep," he said, swaying just a little more. "All this...these things have overwhelmed me. Princess." He nearly stumbled as he set off, not really aware of where he was aside from the throne room. Poor guard needed his rest.

Shutterbug wriggles in midair like a fish on the hook. HELLO! He's awake now. "Hey! Down! 'Clipse! Quit it! DOWN! Or, or, or! You want the butterfly photos in the school paper!? Put me down!!"

Simple, you don't turn down the Princess! As Fluttershy partakes of the earth-shatteringly strong and potent rum brought by Rumbastion, the Princess consdiers for a moment what she's done. Last time Fluttershy got slightly unstable, the masses of animals in her garden broke through the Gala. ... Well, should bea fun night. "You're certainly welcome, Fluttershy. There's more if you desire it," she gestures to her servants before they promptly begin setting up dinner service in a nearby dining room. "Now, I do believe it's dinnertime, if you fine ponies will follow me," the Princess says before looking over towards Shutterbug as Solar floats him closer to her. "Hello, Shutterbug! A pleasure. I hope that dear Prince Solar has been treating you exceptionally ewll. Besides levitating you in the air."

The current pose order is: {Nightshade Fluttershy Solar_Eclipse Shutterbug Celestia}.

Nightshade eyes Virga as he departs, looking even more exhausted than he did before. Making a note to speak to him later, she proceeds as the Princess directs, again taking up position trailing her right flank, as protocol demands. She regards Solar Eclipse and Shutterbug. "Ah, so the Prince /is/ maknig friends outside the Palace after all," she states.

Oh for the love of Celestia. This stupid town hall is a real maze! It's been four hours now and the Chancellor could *really* use a drink now, dying of thirst. Panting, he suddenly erupts from behind the throne, sees where he is... and screams! "Where is the *bathroom?!* The Chancellor turns around and re-enters the door. He turned left past the mayor's office... got lost... and now he's *here?* He wanders back.

Oh dear. Fluttershy follows Virga with her eyes as he stumbles away. "I-is he okay?" she whispers, although it comes out a little more loudly than usual. She sits there for an extra beat after the other ponies start to make their way toward dinner, and her pupils have begun to lose their focus. "Oh! Y-yes. It's nice to meet you. I-I mean, dinner would be wonderful, thank you."

Solar_Eclipse keeps floating his friend for a moment longer. He's not got the whole 'Hold them steady' trick down yet, so as Shutterbug moves, he spins around in various directions until Eclipse puts him down after his threat. "Heeeeey, why would you do that? I invited you to dinner and everything." He huffs and trots after the group, belly rumbling a bit from the adventure in the hedge-maze earlier with the pony-eating butterflies, SHUT UP THEY WERE TOTALLY TRYING TO EAT HIM.

Shutterbug's horn was sputtering a little, bits of photo-negative aura trailing it. He was going to totally to something if Eclipse hadn't let him down, he was. He sways on his hooves and shoots Eclipse a slightly dark look, two foals having a minor grumbling match, before he scurries to try and keep up with his friend.

Firefly glides in through one of the large open windows, looking all the world like she just got ran over by that long train to Canterlot. Twice. Except she was grinning. "Now THAT is a fight!" shaking water and soot and sand and twigs from her pelt.

The current pose order is: {Celestia Nightshade Fluttershy Solar_Eclipse Shutterbug Firefly}.

Celestia eyes Virga as well as he departs, looking worried for a moment before turning back over to Nightshade. And then to Marble? She's about to say something before he wanders off again. ... How odd. Oh well. At least it wasn't APple Bloom stealing the rum. She assigns two guards to the bottle of rum currently out. "Wonderful, Fluttershy," she says before making her way into the dining room, taking her place at the head of the table. "Firefly! You're just in time for dinner," the Princess says as water, soot, sand, and twigs get scattered all across the table, much to the horror of the palace servants who just prepared the table setting. Celestia assists in cleaning the table off, sweeping all sorts of unmentionable refuse into the corner of the room (was that Nettie in there?).

Nightshade raises an eyebrow as Marble Memory, of all ponies, appears and then disappears. He was a slippery one, that bureaucrat. There are other matters at hoof, however. She is about to take her place at Celestia's right when Firefly appears; Nightshade politely backs away and settles for Celestia's left. "A pleasure to see you today, Firefly," she greets, using her magic to repel the dust and water that gets scattered in her direction.

"Oh, Flierfly!" blurts Fluttershy as she takes a slightly wobbly seat. "Oh, my, this is shuch a gigantic spread you have here, Princess. Thank you *so* *much*. A-and you too. Everypony is doing such a wonderful job."

Firefly looks at the table. That wasn't there last night but OH duh, maaagic. She laughs and widens her eyes. "Dinner. Most excellent Princess..." eeping a bit at Hearing Fluttershy's voice. "Hello Element of Kindess," moving to a seat beside her, then nodding a disheveled hello to Nightshade, Solar, and the camera pony. She takes a seat beside Fluttershy and resumes looking at food. "SO what is the occassion? Dinner is not usually so grande." looking over all the goodies once more. She folds her wings closes. "Nothing like poonding a roc into the rocks to work up an appetite."

The current pose order is: {Celestia Nightshade Fluttershy Firefly}.

Celestia watches as the meal promptly gets set out in front of them. Nothing too fancy - just great delicacies only prepared by the greatest of chefs in Equestria. And a fine turnip soup. "How do you enjoy the meal, Miss Fluttershy?" she asks the pale yellow (and gradually intoxicated) mare before looking back over to Firefly. "Yes, dinner. And, well, I was feeling a bit peckish," the Princess says before delicately nippling from a dandelion salad.

Nightshade follows suit and also begins with the dandelion, though she does prefer to start with some bread. She peers at Fluttershy with some concern, wondering if the yellow pegasus can even handle /half/ a drink. "Miss Firefly, you said that you were involved in...a fight?" she asks gracefully, the tone of her voice suggesting aloof intrigue.

Fluttershy can she handle half a drink! She can hand- she can handle- she kicked that drink's *plot*, yes she *did*. "I-it's *really* *good*," says the pegasus to the Princess, and takes a big, slightly unsteady sip of her soup.

Firefly perks her ears and nods to the Princess. "Hey, I never argue food." scooping up a few things, some of this, some of that, a lot of this one here, and a bit of those frilly looking things and piling them on her plate until it looked like a miniature mount Vesuvius made of vegetables and such, pouring salad dressing over it. "Hmm?" looking over to the OVerseer, setting the dressing bottle aside. "Oh, more of a training run...some Roc got upset I was doing flight practice in its territory...so we talked about it." nodding matter of factly. "I won the discussion. After all, I am fluent in violentese."

((Another premature end due to Celly having to leave. Was fun though!))

[Solar Solstice]

OOC Date: November 16, 2012
Characters: Virga, Nightshade, Firefly, Luna, Solar Eclipse
Setting: Politics at the Palace grows tense when the Princess challenges Nightshade

(Check this log: equestriamuck.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=logs&action=display&thread=377 )

[Solar Solstice]

OOC Time: November 17, 2012
Characters: Nightshade, Firefly
Setting: Nightshade becomes more familiar with the dark power at Firefly's disposal


Nightshade, as always, is making her rounds of the palace. It is even less eventful than yesterday, though she /did/ read that report about Miss Pinkie Pie duplicating herself. /That/ problem has been dealt with immediately: a royal ordinance here, a few officials dispatched to there, and that wretched pond is now officially a State Secret and a restricted area to boot. Once more, she finds herself passing by - and through - the throne room, looking up at the familiar face of Firefly. "Just another evening, it would seem," she says, a little bored but content nevertheless.

Firefly angles an ear and nods as the Overseer walks through. "True, but this is how most evenings are. Quiet." stretching her wings. "I trust the issue with the Element of Laughter to the fifth power has been resolved?" tilting her head a bit. "I was not about to go into town with THAT going on. One is sufficient for me."

"It is already dealt with, my Lady," Nightshade says. "And the source of the problem as well. I am quite happy with how quickly we were able to respond to that." It's all likely to do with the careful re-organization she's done with the Palace servants, of course. By now she's accumulated influence in every branch of government except finance and war, and /those/ spheres will be within her grasp fairly soon. "As usual, Manehattan is requesting more coal as the weather grows cooler, but apart from that all is...routine." That's just how she likes it, though. More time for research and whatnot. In fact, she's made an astonishing breakthrough lately, but of course Firefly isn't really privy to that information yet.

Firefly is only privy, of course, to Luna's realm of knowledge, as the two share a bond that allows this, but it wouldn't be likely the Squire would find it interesting unless it meant fighting some strong something in defense of the ponies of the land. Even the elections in Ponyville did not catch her attention. For now, it is just Night Court as usual. "That is good. I could not imagine a pony of even lesser...bounciness....finding it. Say, Trixie the Flamboyant."

Nightshade's eyes furrow. "Ah yes, Miss Trixie. We received a Missing Pony report about her some months ago; it concerns me somewhat. That is here or there, however." She walks over to the throne and sits on the cushion reserved for royal officials. "What is it that you do when there are no petitions?"

Firefly says "I await instruction to perform an act, to defend somepony, or destroy a monster." flicking an ear. "And how goes your plans to eliminate Royal control of Equestria?" looking back over her shoulder, grinning a bit. "A arduous task at best, but it had been accomplished elsewhere. In my land the Royals were carriers of the wands, but not the magic within."

Nightshade looks at Firefly with an airy gaze. "You are quite perceptive, Lady Firefly. No, I have no intention of abolishing the /monarchy/, of all things. In fact, I consider my work to be that of restoration, the re-establishment of former institutions that, sadly, have fallen into abeyance. Have you ever heard of the Diet of Equestria?"

Firefly says "I am not of these lands, and know little of its history aside from what I have read in Luna's private library. Most of what I am learning is from a thousand years past, and not current. It is part of why I have not learned my three new abilities from my Luna's gifts." extending a wing. "I am unfamiliar with ancient magic, or how to properly trigger and control it. It is one of my lessons."

"I suggest you acquaint yourself with the newer libraries, then," says Nightshade pedantically, in the tone a teacher would give a student. Really, these military types needed all the assistance they could get. "The Diet of Equestria was the ancient legislative body of this Realm, where ponies of importance gathered to discuss matters of concern for the whole Realm. Sadly, it was suppressed by Princess Celestia centuries ago as part of her effort to combat the Neo-Lunarist faction." She magics a book out of Shadow, laying it open in front of her. On the pages is a wood imprint of Diet, with seats arranged in rows and the coat of arms of each noble Estate hanging aloft. "As for ancient magic...I may be able to help with that as well." The light around the book bends, and shivers, and suddenly is swallowed by darkness. Then, the darkness fades away...and the book is gone.

Firefly says "Oh, then Luna would have a more first hoof account of it..after all, in her words, it was like stepping into a darkness and then out again to be here. So her memories are much more current. As for my ancient magics...I must repeat as I have told others, I am forbidden to research them or use help to learn of them. For them to work, I must find this out myself. From within." nodding. "Though I do appreciate the offer."

"I see," says Nightshade, nodding. This seems to be a common method of teaching for the Princesses. Risky, but potentially very effective; she appreciates such pedagogy. There is one thing, however, that concerns her. "How does it feel to have your essence transferred to the metal automaton?" she broaches.

Firefly says "That...was one of the most awesome and interesting things I have ever felt. Nothing can compare to it." cupping her ears up. "It has....unusual benefits, and side effects. It was used not as an experiment...but to help me. After a particularly nasty conflict with an evil clown, my body was pretty bad off. Healing would take moons, even accelerated, Luna could sense my longing for the skies, no matter how I hid it, so she enabled the transfer. It allowed me to get out and still serve, while my body healed. The first time, I felt I was dying. I could not breathe...that was the hardest to get used to. The machine needs no air, feels nothing. Not heat, not cold, and can not get tired. Downside, Luna must be awake for me to effect the transfer."

"That is what the books say as well about others who have experienced such transfers," Nightshade says. "It is also dark magic, very dark magic. In ancient times, necromancers would transfer the souls of their servants into automatons to create thinking golems. But...the link between the soul and body can never be totally severed. When the original body is destroyed...the golem loses its sense of self. What is left is an abomination, a living suit of steel without identity, without remorse; the perfect soldier." She looks at Firefly darkly, as if to scour her own soul for signs of atrophy. "Of course, I am sure that Princess Luna would never resort to such measures." Of course.

Firefly says "Indeed. In my link with the machine, I control the transfer....but it my body dies...I am removed from the machine as well." nodding. "Luna made me aware of the risks before we tried it. And I LOVE it. I can move to the machine at will so long as Luna is awake to allow me to draw her power."

"Fascinating," Nightshade says, tapping the side of her muzzle. "You must let me know when this magic is used again. I am very curious about...a demonstration." She's very disturbed by Firefly's attitude towards the whole thing, how she so willingly embraces this terrible power. She knew the limits of power; she experienced the risks every time she delved into the Shadow. For her, the full and willing exposure of one's self to the greatest darkness was a sign of worse things to come.

Firefly says "Oh, that I can do most anytime. It comes in hoofdy aiding ponies when it may be dangerous to proceed on the wing." nodding. "I can bring it in now if you like."

A dark glimmer awakens in the depths of Nightshade's deep purple eyes. "...Yes, I would like it, yes." Ah, now here is an opportunity.

Firefly grins, her own violet eyes shimmering. She lies down, her eyes shifting to a more draconic sort, glowing a soft greenish purple, mist rolling from her wings for a moment. Then she closes her eyes and the mists fade, as if she was asleep.

Firefly_Moon whirs in from the upper floor, from Luna's den to be exact, and lands with a clank beside the sleeping Firefly. It whrrr clicks. "Is this."

Nightshade watches, and gazes, her eyes unusually animate. In fact, if one looks closely they might see the Shadow swirling excitedly as the unicorn absorbs every line and colour of what she's seeing. She looms over Firefly as she falls asleep, as her eyes change and she slumps down, unconscious. She turns and peers at the robotic Firefly that emerges from the Princess's chambers, taking in every detail of the machine. "Ah...Lady Firefly, it /is/ you in there, I presume?"

Firefly_Moon [Female Alicorn Figure]
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Before you is something likely not seen in Equestria for a few thousand years or longer. A large finely crafted and detailed mechanized construct, seemingly brought to life. It looks to be all metal, as large as Spike, easily standing eye to eye with him. The glossy black paint still gleams, a copy of Nightmare Moon in every way. Apple sized bright green emeralds for eyes. A thick silk black breast plate adorns its chest with a metal black disc centered upon the front of it, bearing a crescent moon made of inlaid ivory, matching the ivory crescent moon cutie mark set into its flanks. Deep violet silk strands comprise the matching tail and mane, silvery blue glitter sparkling in both to represent the stars. Finally, a horn of spun twisted crystal, a dark transparent grey that also glows now and then.

Clearly this 'figurine' or 'action figure' is not a toy nor is it cheap by any means. It looks to be very old and very expensive, perhaps a custom creation called to being at a grand artificer's hoof. The body is heavy, after all, brass and bronze gearing and fine articulation is not light. The hind legs are triple jointed, a hinge at the hip, knee and ankle, yet only able to move forward or backwards. The front legs are more detailed, also triple jointed, but every joint is on a universal hinge, able to swing and move like a real leg might. All of its ankles sport silver hooflets.

The wings upon this mechanical toy are also articulated, hinged as true wings are hinged, allowing a full range of movement and positioning. The feathers are beautiful in themselves, each one hoof made of find thin metal, cut and notched like real feathers, set into the wings in full rows, attached by the stems one by one, while not really movable they are slightly lose, allowing them to shift slightly over and under one another and lie smoothly as the wings are moved.

The neck of this magnificent object is multi-hinged from the shoulder blades to the head, much like a snake, the metal plates of each section sliding over one another to allow the movements. Its head is on a larger rotating pivot joint that connects the base of the skull to the top of the neck, allowing the head to look up, down or rotate to either side quite freely.

The head itself has about as many small moving parts as the entire body combined. The eyes are emeralds, shining brightly, cut to look like Nightmare Moon's draconic slitted eyes, very detailed, but they do not move. Thin metal eyelids can be closed over them however, adding to the realism of the toy. The ears are on a rotating pivot much like the head, allowing them to turn any which way and raise and lower. The mouth is also posable, the lower jaw having a dual hinge in itself.

It is a finely crafted machine from days long forgotten, pulled from its shelf to perform a task for its owner, Princess Luna. It carries the soft scent of brass, copper, steel and hints of lubricating materials...not liquids, but thin powders like graphite to keep it moving freely. It can also speak, its mechanical voice sounds very much like a Speak-and-Spell, speaking in an odd broken structure as its occupant learns how to use it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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Firefly_Moon's ears click forward, rotating slightly to and fro. "That...is correct." the greenly lit slitted emerald eyes tracking Nightshade. It opens its metal wings....finely crafted feathers shift and slide against one another. "Is good."

Hopefully for Nightshade the mechanical Firefly can't tell that she's using some very sinister magic of her own as she speaks. "And...how does it feel?" the unicorn asks, walking around the machine, admiring it, but also fearing.

Firefly_Moon just...stands there. "It...can not. Feel." making its head tilt to keep tracking Nightshade. It even swivels a full 360 degrees, kind of creepy in itself to some. With a click its wings snap outward and whirr as it hovers, its legs folding up beneath it. "It sees. It hears. It sees magic. Like curtain. And strong. Luna power. Full."

Nightshade narrows her eyes as the machine Firefly speaks. The automaton /did/ look very familiar. "Luna's power...you have Luna's power while you're in there? And...if you don't /feel/ anything, then what did you mean earlier?"

Firefly_Moon rotates as it hovers, to always face the Overseer. "I...always....have Luna. Power." it notes, angling an ear up with a click. "Explain. Query. Not feel? Same. Sensations, some. Not feel. No heat. No cold. No touch. Touch feel gone." then the eyelids close some. "You. Magic use. Seek what?"

So, she noticed. That's not too big a problem. "I am only trying to better appreciate this form," Nightshade says, which is perfectly true though, perhaps, not the /whole/ truth. "I think I can understand. You can experienced the raw power of the Night more fully once you are divested of all other sensations...is that correct?"

Firefly_Moon whirr clicks, "No." moving to hover at eye level. "Have power. In normal body. But this one. Breaks not." and to demonstrate, the wings lock upwards, it clanks loudly to the floor and one wing sweeps in a blinding display of speed, and proceeds to knife into the floor like it was butter, blasting stone bits everywhere. "Stronger. I strong. Machine, stronger." snapping its wing back up, leaving that gash in the floor as it hovers back to eye level. "Unicorn. Crew. Fix. Worry not."

Nightshade nods in understanding, casting a barrier of wispy shadow to block the bits of dust and stone. So, the 'feeling' of amazement seems to be more of an intellectual comprehension of the strength of the machine. I strong. Machine, stronger. "I have a feeling I'll get more...coherent answers from your regular self," she continues, having a bit of trouble parsing the robot's strange speech patterns. "What kind of...power do you have?"

Firefly_Moon hovers and instantly the crystal horn alights, flaring with a surge of violet flickers highlighted in black and deep hues of blue. "Luna's." it replies, then the horn darkens, it turns, and the metal wings rev up like a jet engine and with a blast of air it launches up towards Luna's den, a ring of black mist forming on the wall, through which the machine seems to merely fly into and vanish, leaving a bare stone wall as the mist fades.

Firefly lifts an eyebrow and then her ear. "Yes...the speaking ability of the machine leaves much to be desired."
It is now your pose.

Nightshade gazes with dark fascination as 'Firefly Moon' returns to her lair. Luna's power. So. She looks down at Firefly as she stirs, helping her to her feet as necessary with a helping hoof and a bit of magic. "I am guessing that it took you much practice to learn how to speak at all," the unicorn states, the Shadow behind her eyes fading, but not going out. "Is it just...yourself who can be put into the machine?"

Firefly says "You are correct. Ponyville was terrified the first time I went there in that machination." shaking her head out. "Always a bit loopy on returning to my proper self. But to clarify your earlier question, Luna and I are bonded in a way of the ancients. We share sensations, thoughts, at any distance, all the time. I can tap into her full power anytime I wish, but almost never do. I can not control the strength properly. Ask my Liason in Ponyville. I went to shoo a fly and tore half the wall our of Sugarcube. And Fluttershy revived the fly and put it outside."

"That is...intriguing, very intriguing," says Nightshade, the Shadow building in her eyes momentarily before dying down again. "Your...liaison?" Now /this/ she hasn't heard about, and that greatly concerns her.

Firefly nods and shakes off, flicking her wings. "Thou know her as the Element of Kindness. Fluttershy. Everypony knows her, while they might fear myself or Luna. They voice concerns to her, she to me, and thus to Luna. Less strain on the locals. Besides, Fluttershy is a very good friend, and I enjoy tea at her cottage when we visit. You should also meet her darling bunny, Angel."

"I am familiar with Fluttershy, yes," says Nightshade, making a careful note of these facts. So, she has yet another avenue of influence to pursue. "Sadly, my duties make it more difficult to return to Ponyville at times, so I may not be able to do as you suggest." Again, perfectly true, but that doesn't mean that /somehow/ she might find /some time/ to visit Fluttershy and /somehow/ gain enough of her trust to begin influencing her behind Firefly's back...but that will come when it comes. "Still, I shall take it under advisement. Does Her Majesty have other liaisons about?"

<OOC> You say, "Hee hee I'm such a badmare n.n"

Firefly nods. "I have three. My Princess may have more, but I am not aware of them. My job does not require me to know." smoothing her feathers a bit. "As things are, the Princess and her sister are here as a backup, should the Elements fail to defend the land. Beyond this, they are mostly status, having lavish parties for the townsponies. I kind of avoid those myself. Far to frilly for me."

"I am quite familiar with this state of affairs," Nightshade states. "So, what do you enjoy, then, apart from your duty?" Now here's the rub.

Firefly says "What do I enjoy?" she asks back, thinking. "Fighting, flying in lightning mode, stirring up monster storms. And lemon cupcakes and cookies. And lemon tea."

Nightshade nods and, impossibility of impossibilities, smiles. "You do seem to like your lemon very much," she says, suddenly gaining great respect for Firefly over and above her impression of her as, well, a jarhead. The mundane pleasures of life made a pony normal and balanced. "I prefer passionfruit myself, and sometimes persimmon, though that is very hard to come by in Equestria. Ah, and herbal tea." Nightshade does like her herbal tea.

Firefly nods. "I have always been fond of lemon flavored foods and tea, though I do enjoy most teas. I often supply Fluttershy with exotic types gathered in various travels." lifting an ear. "I do not think I have ever seen thee smile." snickering lightly. "Perhaps the lack of the Recordkeeper has made things much more efficient?"

Nightshade quickly goes back to being stoic and unreadable. Smiles are best reserved for very /special/ occasions. "The Recordkeeper was not so much inefficient as overworked by the multitude of responsibilities he had accrued to himself. Naturally one of my first acts upon his retirement was to split his original office into several. It is, as they say, all part of the routine."

Firefly nods and tilts her head. "So of this ancient Council, how did it protect the lands?" as her own curiosity surfaced slightly. "I mean, a council of Pegasi, Unicorns and Earth Ponies could no doubt make good decisions on running things...but what happens when Discord returns?"

Nightshade holds her head up as Firefly returns to their original topic of conversation. "The Diet of the Realm was primarily a consultative body, drawing from the legislative traditions of each race, but based mostly on the earth pony councils of the ancient past. In times of peace, they discussed more mundane issues such as trade and inheritance. There were no central institutions such as today, so matters of federal importance were dealt with in a collaborative manner amongst at the parties involved. In times of war, however, the Estates of the Realm would pool their resources together against their common foe, and those resources, of course, came under direct control of the Crown." She steps towards the nearest window, the one which featured Discord being defeated by the Elements. "Yet, sadly, there are some things that even the collective will of the Realm is unable to effect."

Firefly says "That makes sense." nodding. "Among my own fighters back home, we used such a system, in conjunction with the Locket which could channel all six of the magics together as a weapon. A last resort, but often needed. And often sought after by less than benign types, such as the Overlord. He turned ponies into dragons to pull his chariot." making a face. "Thankfully, he was vanquished, but then too, faded the need for those like myself."

"I see," says Nightshade, reminding herself to dig up more history on Firefly's homeland. "I can understand how you might have felt. Virga, as you are no doubt well aware, seems to have similar feelings. To that, I only have an ancient proverb to share: 'The perfect warrior is one whose weapon disappears'."

Firefly says "Well spoken." nodding. "I prefer to be at the ready and never needed, than to be caught off guard and weak."

Nightshade nods. "An interesting interpretation," she notes. "I would offer to fly with you, as a matter of courtesy, but I am not exactly equipped for that activity." She knew of spells that gave temporary wings, of course, but those were never as manoeuverable or flexible as real wing, and she gets the feeling that flying with Firefly requires a substantial amount of both. "Perhaps...tea time together, when you are off-duty?"

Firefly smiles. "Tea is always welcome." nodding. "For now however, I must begin Everfree patrol. If I am lucky, I will find another cranky roc to deal with." then spreads her wings and glides up, banking towards the far wall, then around towards a window, and with a blinding crack of light and a stone shaking boom of thunder, a lightning bolt shoots out of the window, Firefly riding it's nose.

Nightshade bows. "Farewell, Lady Firefly." She looks onward as Firefly hurtles into the sky on the back of lightning, awed and, in some way, inspired by Firefly's ability, skill, and prowess. She was truly an exceptional pony, but that was precisely the problem; there may not be another like her for a long time to come. No matter. In the world Nightshade wanted to build, there would be less need of mystical, powerful servitors of the Night like Firefly.

[Solar Solstice]

OOC Time: December 2, 2012
Characters: EconomistBrony, Power Ballad, Nightshade, Firefly
Setting: Nightshade speak to the Economist about the defense of the Realm and ends up getting more than she bargained for.


EconomistBrony is, as per usual, working late in the office. Most of the paperwork has gone to other offices, leaving the economist, finance minister, and chief accountant to think and plan and plot in his office. Well, at least, he was able to until he had an unexpected yet certainly welcome guest. EB converses quietly with Power Ballad in his office, the door open enough for anyone to look in and, if really wanted, eavesdrop. But that probably wouldn't happen, given how boring the economist generally is. "So what's your next tour schedule look like, darling?" he asks, attempting to find a calendar (though a large desk-sized one sits on his... well, desk).

"Well, my loving husband. I will begin in Manehatten, then swing over to Fillydelphia, and then at some point make my way to the Golden Coast for a three concert stop." Power Ballad says with a hum in her throat as she trots back and forth in front of the large desk. Her multicolored mane is tossed over her shoulder as she moves, wearing a beautiful white and gold dress with a simple necklace that dangles about her chest. Her 'evening' wear so to speak, nothing as flashy as when she is on tour. "I trust that you will come with me to my Manehatten show, yes? I have some very important ponies to introduce to you."

Nightshade is, as per usual, lurking in the halls during one of her rounds of the palace. She usually does them earlier, but a certain meeting concerning a certain show-unicorn and the amulet she discovered has occupied much of her time recently. Thankfully, the matter seems to have mostly resolved itself, leaving her time to persue her more mundane tasks. Roundskeeping, administration, plotting her rise in influence; all in an evening's work. She arrives at the Economist's door and gives a few knocks with her hooves, expecting that he'll be around as he always is.

"Fiance," EconoistBrony corrects Power Ballad, with a little tap of her nose with his hoof. "We can't be getting ahead of ourselves, after all. Even if it is really a formality," the economist says with a little smile before jotting down her schedule onto his desk calendar. "Hmmm... when is that? In a week? Two weeks?" he asks before framtically pulling out another binder. "I... /believe/... so. But I have this sneaking suspicion that I need to do something that week. Maybe. I'm not sure. Probably." He stares at the binder he just pulled out for a long while before realizing it's a collection of shopping lists. Whoops. He jots down 'milk' at the bottom of the most recent one before pausing for a long moment and then scratching it out again. And then writing it again. "Yes? Come in."

"Husband. I am getting used to the word rolling off of my tongue darling." Power Ballad's voice practically sings over towards him as she gives him a wink. "Two weeks, and you better make time for it. I hope I do not have to threaten your secretary again to spend some quality time with you. This is my big come back show and I /need/ you there for support. If I fall flat on my face the first night it will set the tone or the rest of my tour. Having you there will give me confidence." Leaning over the table, she gives him a peck as her head tilts to one side while he shuffles through his paperwork, looking to calm him down. Ears twitch at the knock and she eases back, fluttering long dark lashes a few times as she waits their guest.

Nightshade gently opens the door with her magic. "Ah, good evening, Economist, and...ah." She glances at Power Ballad curiously, not having expected her to be here. Her otherwise stoic expression falters imperceptibly as her brow furrows by a millimeter. "A pleasure to meet you as well this evening, Power Ballad," she says politely. "I do hope I don't bore you; I just realized recently that I have yet to converse with the Economist about matters of state."

EconomistBrony perks slightly at the peck to his head. "Oh dear. I may have to get a new secretery if you keep threatening this one." He leans over to plant a kiss on Power Ballad's cheek in return. for the peck to his head. "Like you need any confidence. You're the best, and you know it. I have confidence in you, darling." His attention rises towards the door as Nightshade enters. "Ah, Nightshade! Er, yes, good evening. Please, meet my finacee, Power Ballad," he introduces before nodding once towards the... oh, he always forgets that title of hers. Even in internal monologue. "... I suppose you're right, Miss Nightshade. We really should chat. Please, come take a seat," he says, hovering over a cushion across from him at his desk.

"Good evening darling." The world renowned pop star says with a smile upon her face. With a toss of her gold, white and pink streaked mane over her shoulder, she smiles at the kiss to her cheek. "Oh, the current secretary you have is fine, dear. Let's just say that we have an understanding." Giggling, she steps away from the desk and then ambles for the door with her slow gait. "I will let you two enjoy each other's company then. Darling, I will see you at home tonight, yes?" She practically purrs out to him in her voice of silk. "I'll make some white hot chocolate for you."

Nightshade decides that it would be in her own self-interest not to be open about her impressions of the Economist's mare-love. "You are gracious for allowing us this time, Ms. Ballad. Good night." She bows politely before taking a seat on the proffered cushion.

EconomistBrony nods to Power Ballad. "Most certainly. I shouldn't be too late. ... And if I am, send a bird or something after me with a rock. It means I probably fell asleep here again." He leans over and gives her a little kiss before returning his gaze to Nightshade. "So, what's on your mind, Nightshade?"

"I am far used to you coming home late at night covered in ink and paperwork." Power Ballad says with a grin once the kiss is returned. "It was nice to meet you Nightshade." She says with a nod of her head, then heads out the door, letting it slowly swing shut behind her as she ambles down the hallways, giving a salutations to a guard or two as she passes along the way.

Nightshade watches carefully as Power Ballad drifts away before speaking again. "Ah, yes, I was wanting to speak to you about some important pecuniary matters that have come to my attention recently. For example...I am rather concerned by the low level of funding we have allocated to matters of war and defence."
EconomistBrony stares at Nightshade for a long moment. "Funding for war and defence?" the Economist asks blankfaced back to her. "Well, Miss Nightshade, those line items are dictated to me by the Princesses. I get discretion in other areas, but... well, that sort of thing is given to me."

Nightshade sighs through her nostrils. Of course, that's /exactly/ how things work around here, which is why she has an alternate plan in hoof. "I do remember that some time ago we were subsidizing the townships and cities for them to organize their own local defence and militia. Is that program still in effect?"

Firefly comes walking down the stairs from Luna's chambers, blinking and flicking her ears. Teasing dash the other day was fun, but she didn't feel like heading back to Ponyville to continue it. And she had the night off, so was just waking up from her nap. Did squires really ever have nights off? ... Well, apparently so. Maybe Luna's more lenient on her direct servants and guards than Celestia is. Or not. Or maybe Firefly's planning on spending the night hiding from Luna at all costs. "Well, yes. That's the way it's been for a while, except for areas placed directly under the Princess's protection, of course. Cloudsdale provides general aerial support for all of the provinces, though."

"Very general aerial support, of course," Nightshade comments. "Unless, per impossibile, the Executive declares a state of emergency and reconstitutes the Theme system." Fat chance. "I have already spoken with key members of the Ponyville Council. The mayor herself is...reticent, but a certain number of the others have expressed interest in reviving the Militia, particularly after the recent changeling incursion." Ah, yes, she still remembers all the meetings about that. "Have the Princesses made any plans to summon the full Privy Council?"

Firefly hops over the railing and spreads her wings, gliding down to the main floor proper, then folds her wings, offering a nod to both ponies, then continues walking across the room, and past the throne, towards a far door.

"Reviving the militia?" the Economist asks with an even further furrow of his brow. "Well, that's rather beyond what I'm typically... well, what I typically do," the unicorn says simply, placing a quill into an inkwell. "I don't typically involve myself in... politics... Ms. Nightshade," the economist tilts his nose down a bit, staring at the fellow unicorn. "I am a finance minister and an economist. I know the Princesses have greater judgement than me in such matters."

"Your position is pre-eminently political, Economist," Nightshade responds firmly. "You are tasked with the care of the finances of the Realm, and therefore you have the right to advise the Crown about how to best make use of them. The Princesses appointed you.../because/ of your judgement, your exemplary aptitude towards monetary matters. With the departure of Shining Armor, you are also the most senior Crown official left in Equestria." She pauses and leans back, letting it sink in. "Consider this: the Princesses must keep abreast of matters that concern the entire Realm, so they cannot concern themselves with such regulatory matters...but you and I can. In fact, that is the reason why we are in these positions."

Firefly walks between the two, having already nodded to them, and neither were saying anything about needed to go beat something up, so she keeps walking. The kitchen had the tea.

"Yes. But," the Economist says simply before hovering over two cups of tea. One for himself, one for Nightshade here. "I have been in this position for long enough to also know when the Princesses' judgement is superior. It is a key factor in my sustained presence in this 'most senior Crown office'." He takes a sip from the rather strong cup of tea. "The funding is available for whatever projects, domestic or foreign, the Princesses deem necessary. I suggest you bring it to them if the towns are requesting greater security. I will simply bankroll it."

Nightshade peers at Firefly as she suddenly walks through their conversation, literally. "...That would seem like a sound plan," she tells the Economist, "but lately I have gotten the impression that the Princesses would rather see to the defence of the towns through their own power, significant as it is. Isn't that correct...Firefly?" In a smooth motion she turns her head towards the pegasus and brings the tea cup to her mouth with her magic.

Firefly pauses and angles an ear. Dang, not gonna make it to the kitchen. She turns around and lifts her head a bit. "I honestly do not know their plan. I go where I am needed when I am needed, and defend ponies to the best of my ability. I would say at times....the sisters are at odds in this, or more acurately, they are agreed on what to do, but are at odds as to how to carry it out."

EconomistBrony nods once to nightshade upon her statement that it is a sound plan. "I do not know their plans either, honestly. But my chats with the Princess rarely are about the defense of the towns, as I've said before. My job is ensuring fiscal and economic growth with sufficient stability. Warfare is a great deal additional number of variables to be concerned with that are... difficult to encorporate."

Nightshade betrays emotion when her brow furrows a tiny bit more than previously. Of course, Firefly would know even less about the Princesses' policies, but she seems to know much more about their personal politics. "What do you mean by 'at odds', exactly?" she queries. Turning back to Economist, she nods perfunctorily, starting to lose patience but scarce showing it. Did even Shining Armor have trouble getting through to the Princesses? "It would, ah, behoove you, nevertheless, to have some interest in its funding, I would think," she expresses. "Especially given how much such programs would tie into our very existence as a sovereign state."

Firefly says "At odds in that my Luna has a more direct logical approach and Celestia has a more relaxed and lenient approach. Kirk pony kicks the alien's tail, Picard pony talks it to death." sweeping her ears. "As a warrior, I tend to favor the direct methods, but an honorbound to effect any I am directed to employ." then thinks. "Speaking of funding...." flipping her saddle bag open and walking back, dropping a bar of gold beside Economist. "This needs recounted into the treasury."

The feeling is certainly mutual with regards to this... young politician. He takes another sip from his cup of tea. "Yes, I am very interested in its funding, Miss Nightshade," he responds rather directly to her, his eyes narrowing a little bit. "But I do not believe our sovereignty is currently under threat. Do you believe that, Miss?" he asks rather directly. He also glances over at the bar of gold plopped beside him, and he promptly marks something down on a scroll and inventories it to be returned to the treasury. "Thank you, Firefly."

((Firefly leaves here))

Nightshade somehow understands Firefly's reference perfectly, for some reason. Ah, yes, she did notice that about the Princesses. She peers at the gold bar, wondering about its provenance, but when the Economist speaks next she does something very dangerous. She shows emotion. Her brow furrows visibly. "Within the past year we have been invaded by the changelings twice, the first because the sole instrument of major defence in the entire capital happened to be under a charm spell. Princess Celestia was struck down. I am certain Princess Luna would have been more than able to assist...except she was asleep at the time. And, of course, the solution that arose, rather felicitously, to /that/ problem is currently hundreds of miles away to the north. So...please forgive me if I am not confident about our present security."

Because all universes know the Kirk/Picard dichotomy. The economist settles the gold bar away before returning to his cup of tea. "And do you believe that the Princesses are unable to properly defend us? Meaning you and must act beyond them?" he asks with an even further furrowed brow. Really, much more and it'll fall right off into his tea.

Nightshade can see where this is going. She blinks and rubs her temple with the tip of her hoof, looking very frustrated. "I am...sorry, Economist, but I have been beset by many worries lately, perhaps far more than I should be having." She sips her tea for a long while in silence before speaking again. "I would be more confident in our state if the Princesses would share their knowledge with us once in a while. Their power is not limitless, and neither can be their secrecy."

"I understand, Nightshade," the Economist says with a little smile as he refills her cup of tea. "I understand that it is frustrating, having bosses who are... well, they are nigh-limitless, in both their wisdom and their power. I would trust and have faith in them. And I would simply approach Celestia with your concerns - I am sure she will address them."

Nightshade can't hope to share the Economist's optimism; she's seen certain things that have kept her on guard for many years already. "I was hoping to avoid that, personally," she replies, sipping more tea to calm herself. "I fear that the Princess has her own peculiar way of... demuring without providing any answers. I find it overly...maternalistic." Her eyes seem heavy with something resembling anxiety.

EconomistBrony, for his part, has been working for the Princesses for far more years than she could ever imagine. "Do it, Nightshade. As the 'highest ranking official' in Canterlot, I am advising you to talk with her about your concerns. I am sure she will tell you as much as she can, and feels comfortable talking about.

As the Economist speaks, Nightshade does something even stranger. She smiles a little. So much for trying to get EB on board her way of thinking! "You are probably correct about this," she admits. "It's not like she has any grounds to refuse me." Though, sometimes she wonders... She sips her tea daintily, trying not to gulp it down and be rude. "Your...fiancee is doing quite well, it seems."

"Nor would she really have any reason to," the economist says with a smile. "Yes, she is recovering well from her... recent illness. I admit, I owe her life to Princess Celestia. Without her healing powers I know my fiancee would be dead by now."

Nightshade noddles. "That was quite a crisis, from what I here," she says, leaning her foreleg against the Economist's desk. Hmm...fine grain, well crafted. "Economist, what do you do when you have...leisure time?"

"Rather so. It was a shame... but she is doing well, now. She is certainly recovering well enough," the economist says with a little smile. "... Leisure time? You think that I have leisure time?" the economist can't help but gain a little chuckle. "Well, I do enjoy trips down to ponyville, when I can. Especially when I can manage to do work in the process."

"I always try to have leisure time, even if I have to schedule it," Nightshade states. "Ah, Ponyville... I reside there, if you recall. Perhaps you can visit our estate outside of town someday? I am certain that Father and Mother would be more than happy to accommodate you." She is quite earnest about this; it would be good to know all the Crown officials as best she can, especiall given her current projects. Furthermore, the Economist seems to be a pony of good taste. Maybe they'll even become friends (!)

"Yes, that would be quite lovely. Perhaps I"ll have to schedule a visit sometime soon..." the economist says with a smile. "And, naturally, I'll have to arrange for you to come over for dinner sometime. Or at least for tea. It would be quite nice to get to know you a bit better, since we'll be working more or less together for the near and distant future."

"An excellent plan," Nightshade says, setting down her empty tea cup. "I would very much appreciate some time to interact with you on a more regular basis. Perhaps we may even discuss something other than work." Perhaps! Right now, though... "What are you working on, exactly?" she asks, peering at his many papers.

EconomistBrony smiles. "Indeed. That would be pleasant." The economist perks slightly at the mention of his work. "Right now? Oh, goodness. Too much to even know where to begin. Every day work, short-term projects, long-term projects..." he muses. "One interesting one is working on a better optimization algorithm for the money supply. Efficiency increases could be small in the short-term, but big in the long-term, particularly if it improves our forecasting."

Nightshade has a number of interesting opinions about this matter. "Some scholars believe that currency should be determined entirely by market forces, rather than the state. I am...uncertain about how effectual such a notion can be, but I do find it intriguing, at the very least."

"Oh, don't get me wrong - market forces do determine how much currency is determined, through market demand for the currency," the unicorn responds with a little smile. "But we, as the state, have a monopoly on the supply of currency. The reason we don't allow for market supply is because of the fact that currency, overall, is most similar to a public good, in that others benefit from its existence beyond those that 'purchase' it. The market supply would be pareto inefficient. You can see the proof in my... I mean, my ancestor's paper on the topic."

"Ah, of course, externalities," says Nightshade, apparently having read about this subject not too long ago. "Far be it for me, of course, to attempt to contribute to a field in which I have but a basic comprehension. I shall leave such esoteric matters to you. Though, of course, if the Princesses decide to do something about certain policy matters that affect the Treasury..." She cuts off as she waves her hoof around in a rhetorical gesture, the meaning clear.

EconomistBrony smiles. "Very well. But for now, I must be back to work. I wish you a good night, Nightshade," he says with a tip of his head before pulling out a few scrolls.

Nightshade stands and bows solemnly. "Fare you well, Economist," she says, walking over to the door and magicking it open. "It was a pleasure. Let us persist in this mode." With that, she departs, closing the door and returning to her business with new thoughts. That certainly wasn't quite what she expected, but what did occur was something rather more interesting. Now, she just has to make it to Day Court very soon...