Post by Luna on Nov 24, 2013 23:17:00 GMT -5
Palace of the Moon(#262RL)
Here, on a hill in the depths of Everfree Forest, a great city died. Now it stirs in its grave, answering the call of Princess of the Night and her unnatural servant. Amid that pile of rocks scaffoldings and tools and work benches are scattered. Many of the walls of the ancient Palace of Canterlot are back in place, although they're still grey and dusty and severe. The old throne room even has a ceiling, although it only covers the long stretch leading up to the throne and hasn't reached the throne itself. The rest of the ruins are still choked with suspiciously mobile plants, perhaps escapees from the brooding sharp-peaked shape of the Lunarium that sits at the bottom of the hill, right at the end of the road the workponies use to retreat to Ponyville at night.
Diamond_Dancer enters the Palace of the Moon's ruins from the forest.
Night Court. The old palace is starting to look like a palace again, if a badly wrecked one. Whole wings have roofs, and intact stained glass windows fill two or three of the frames in the Great Hall. There is still no roof at the end of the hall, seating the remaining stone throne directly in the open moonlight and the bitter winter breeze, but the Princess of the Night looks quite comfortable on it, leaning against one arm of the chair and floating a head-sized pumpkin in front of her, spinning it very slowly in a field of shimmering blue. Occasionally, needles of blue light will spike into - or out of - the gourd.
Diamond_Dancer pokes her head around one corner of the castle's very roomy, very airy halls, and presents herself in view of the princess with a quiet cough. The little filly makes her way towards the throne quietly, before seating herself down and giving a salute. "Diamond Dancah, you'se darkness, Night Errant! Princess Luna, da WHOLE Forest went totally CRAZY-GO-NUTS a few days ago! I'm sure you'se hoyd all about it! I've been doin my best ta git rid of da extra weeds n' stuff around here. I know you'se didn't tell me to, but I figured it would help. I was wonderin' maybe if you'se disappear like dat again, who, um, who should I take my orders from? F, Fiyahfly? Princess Twilight? I was, I was soopah worried about you'se." The girl squeaks quietly.
Autumn_Breeze tumbles out of the pumpkin, and shakes herself off.
Luna blinks, spins the pumpkin floating in front of her throne around, and peers into its now empty, open halves. Her horn glows brighter, and blue symbols light up the air around the shell, while spinny black star-speckled voids open up at either end. Still, while not looking at Diamond Dancer directly, she smiles at the end of the tiny filly's address. "First, thou are the Night's Errant, not a Knight Errant. The positions are quite different, and it is best to give no pony a chance to mistake them. Thy place is both less lofty in rank and far grander in importance than a mere knight's. Second, thy princess is pleased that thou would step forward so in an emergency. Even if thou are but one pinion of her wing, that wing serves the ponies of Equestria. Third, if I am to disappear or... become unreliable again, apply thyself first to Twilight Sparkle, second to our sister Celestia, and third to Cadence to see if they desire thy comission. If none do, tell whoever remains to give thee a generous pension on our behalf."
Diamond_Dancer nods immediately, her cheeks twisting into a dorky, bright little smile, and she salutes yet again. "Ok! Undastood! Um, I know, you'se ain't gots no sunguard, or nuffin like dat, Princess. "The filly squeaks, taking a nervous step forward. "And I ain't no 'knight' or nuffin, but I'm really glad you'se is safe. I will give what little life I've got ta protect you'se if it evah comes down to it! I won't run away! I promise!" She exclaims. "I was scared I wouldn't get to see da 'bejeweled sky' again. I promised myself I'd nevah let da happen. I hope dats ok. "She says softly.
Luna raises a hoof, and starlight lances out of the swirling voids to form a mesh cage around the split pumpkin. Each bar slides into place with the matallic clatter of a closing lock, and with a loud thump the cage solidifies... into a larger pumpkin that completely encloses the now-invisible broken pumpkin. The big pumpkin floats over and is set on the seat of the mangled remnants of Celestia's chair. Luna's aquamarine eyes finally turn to Diamond Dancer, and she gives a gentle head shake to accompany her affectionate smile. "Do not give thy life for ours, Star Seeker. Thy bravery and loyalty please us, but that is not the role we desire for thee. We have found for thee a place suited to thy peculiar talents, and do not intend to exchange it for a mere soldier. Now, report! Have thou finished thy census of Equestria's pleasure houses?"
Autumn_Breeze returns from a lengthy visit to the possibly nonexistent royal kitchens, rolling another pumpkin. She nestles it snugly up against Dimaond Dancer's side, and looks pleased. Conceivably Luina is unable to dinstinguish them.
Diamond_Dancer doesn't notice Autumn with her current attention focused on Luna's pumpkin anticsm but she gives a little squeak when the pumpkin is pressed up against her side and she turns towards Autumn with a 'what-in-tartarus' look. She turns back towards the princess with a nod and smiles quietly. "I did! Bardigan helped me with it, since a lot of dose places said I wasn't allowed inside. Even if I DID tell dem I was undah royal ordahs. I didn't bring my list, but of all da fun places in Equestria, "Six Shoes" Amusement parks rate the top of my list, along with Red Velvet Productions, which is now called Da Crown Jewel, and dis place in Canterlot called da "Leather Bit" Everypony dare says it's da best time dey evah had. Dare was a line, and den da guy at da door said I couldn't go in. "She says quietly. "But dose are my top three! Really, anyding you'se do wif ponies you'se like ta spend time wif can be a lot of fun!"
<OOC> Nightshade makes a note to set the Leather Bit on fire
"Many ponies have an all-too expansive definition of 'fun'," says Nightshade, appearing, of course, in the shadow of the giant pumpkin. She steps forward and bows formally to Luna before continuing on. "I am assuming that her Majesty intends to apply the appropriate methods of...regulation?"
Luna raises a regally fine eyebrow at Nightshade, although the smile does not budge. "Regulation? Neigh, good Overseer, we were considering a vacation, or at least a series of outings. We are woefully ignorant of current methods of relaxation and... 'fun'. We shall make a point of visiting this 'Six Shoes' with Celestia, as we have not seen a six legged pony in some time. Perhaps the Crown Jewel as well." Tapping a hoof impatiently on the arm of her throne with the tinkling of silver on rock, she suddenly frowns. "We are more concerned that ponies are not giving thee thy due. That is a difficulty we must put careful thought to."
Diamond_Dancer settles herself to one side, still beaming brightly. She's done a good job these past few days and it's making her feel giddy. She gives the floor to the overseer, or, perhaps Autumn, and waits quietly for her next assignment!!
"Then, your Majesty, I am disclined to recommend 'Leather Bits' in any form, for reasons I'd prefer not to disclose," Nightshade says, and that is quite that. She glances at the giant gourd. "Ah...if you'll forgive for asking, what is /this/ for?"
Luna looks blandly from the Overseer to the pumpkin next to her. It is a very large pumpkin, making stairsteps between tiny Diamond Dancer and adult pony sized Nightshade. Her voice regally calm, she answers, "It is a pumpkin, Royal Overseer. They are useful for many things. This is their season, with the winter about to spring. They are symbols of the power of the Night, and we find them everywhere we go lately. They may even be connected to our next task for the Night's Errant." Luna rises up straight in her throne, face settling into a stony frown. Huge blue princess wings unfurl on either side of her, and a silver-tipped foreleg extends to point down at the groveling Diamond Dancer. "STAR SEEKER. SEEK THEE NOW THE MOTHER OF WISPS. OUR ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE THESE MOST VALUABLE SERVENTS OF PONYDOM GO ILL, AND SHE MUST BE FOUND THAT THE WISPS MAY BREED ONCE MORE. WHETHER SHE NEED RESCUE FROM CAPTIVITY OR CAPTURE TO BE BROUGHT IN TO PONY CARE, SEE TO IT THAT SHE RETURNS TO BREEDING WILL-O-WISPS AND PONIES ARE NEVERMORE LOST IN THE NIGHT."
Diamond_Dancer immediately gives a salute, going from dorky grin to straight faced military mode. "YES YOU'SE HIGHNESS! MUDDAH OF WISPS! Retrieve da soyvents! Rescue or reverse rescue! I will not fail you'se!" She announces, already planning to head to the library to find out what a wisp is.
Nettleglum is quietly hollowing out the pumpkin from inside. There's a muted sawing noise and the occasional gout of small, slimy seeds.
Nightshade is content to silently observe the proceedings for now, but she does learn a number of interesting facts. Her notebook appears as she scribbles and scribbles.
Luna steps forward off of her throne, walking out of the open moonlight that engulfs it and under the cover of the half-finished roof. Silver horseshoes clink as she walks up in front of Diamond Dancer, staring solemnly down into the tiny filly's eyes and continuing her instructions. "Pumpkins may be of some use to thee. In many centuries gone by, rather than celebrating terror of ourself, fillies and colts would search the pumpkin patches for the Mother of Wisps at this time of year. What foals thought they could accomplish seeking her changed over time, but it was the only time and place mortal ponies were ever likely to see her." Her wing reaches out, brushing fondly over Diamond Dancer's mane, and then gives the Demonstration Pumpkin a twirl - Nettie and all.
Autumn_Breeze sees the meeting is breaking up, and the Demonstration Pumpkins will no longer be needed. She patiently rolls the smallest one out of the throne room, smiling and humming to herself.
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Ok, I'll start soychin' pumpkin patches and lookin around in da Evahfree forest! Hmmm, pumpkin patches. I bet Nettleglum will have some helpful advice! Or Fluttahshy! I'll ask dem, too! "She exclaims, shivering at the gentle fuzzle of her mane.
Nettleglum is tightly mummified by the stringy tendrils of pumpkin guts inside the gourd. This will slightly delay her adding a mouth and eyes. On the other hoof, what mare doesn't enjoy being cocooned in acrid-smelling gloop?
Luna gives Diamond a deep, serious nod. "We would not second guess thee. Despite all odds, thine is the power to accomplish marvels. Continue to do so in our name." Her head turns suddenly, looking back at the seat of Celestia's broken throne - now pumpkinless. Luna frowns suspiciously, and in a much vaguer, more distracted tone adds, "And we must be off on our own purposes. The Night calls. Discord's two-millenia-old prank has left time badly in need of repair." With that she turns and walks... into nothing. Gone.
Here, on a hill in the depths of Everfree Forest, a great city died. Now it stirs in its grave, answering the call of Princess of the Night and her unnatural servant. Amid that pile of rocks scaffoldings and tools and work benches are scattered. Many of the walls of the ancient Palace of Canterlot are back in place, although they're still grey and dusty and severe. The old throne room even has a ceiling, although it only covers the long stretch leading up to the throne and hasn't reached the throne itself. The rest of the ruins are still choked with suspiciously mobile plants, perhaps escapees from the brooding sharp-peaked shape of the Lunarium that sits at the bottom of the hill, right at the end of the road the workponies use to retreat to Ponyville at night.
Diamond_Dancer enters the Palace of the Moon's ruins from the forest.
Night Court. The old palace is starting to look like a palace again, if a badly wrecked one. Whole wings have roofs, and intact stained glass windows fill two or three of the frames in the Great Hall. There is still no roof at the end of the hall, seating the remaining stone throne directly in the open moonlight and the bitter winter breeze, but the Princess of the Night looks quite comfortable on it, leaning against one arm of the chair and floating a head-sized pumpkin in front of her, spinning it very slowly in a field of shimmering blue. Occasionally, needles of blue light will spike into - or out of - the gourd.
Diamond_Dancer pokes her head around one corner of the castle's very roomy, very airy halls, and presents herself in view of the princess with a quiet cough. The little filly makes her way towards the throne quietly, before seating herself down and giving a salute. "Diamond Dancah, you'se darkness, Night Errant! Princess Luna, da WHOLE Forest went totally CRAZY-GO-NUTS a few days ago! I'm sure you'se hoyd all about it! I've been doin my best ta git rid of da extra weeds n' stuff around here. I know you'se didn't tell me to, but I figured it would help. I was wonderin' maybe if you'se disappear like dat again, who, um, who should I take my orders from? F, Fiyahfly? Princess Twilight? I was, I was soopah worried about you'se." The girl squeaks quietly.
Autumn_Breeze tumbles out of the pumpkin, and shakes herself off.
Luna blinks, spins the pumpkin floating in front of her throne around, and peers into its now empty, open halves. Her horn glows brighter, and blue symbols light up the air around the shell, while spinny black star-speckled voids open up at either end. Still, while not looking at Diamond Dancer directly, she smiles at the end of the tiny filly's address. "First, thou are the Night's Errant, not a Knight Errant. The positions are quite different, and it is best to give no pony a chance to mistake them. Thy place is both less lofty in rank and far grander in importance than a mere knight's. Second, thy princess is pleased that thou would step forward so in an emergency. Even if thou are but one pinion of her wing, that wing serves the ponies of Equestria. Third, if I am to disappear or... become unreliable again, apply thyself first to Twilight Sparkle, second to our sister Celestia, and third to Cadence to see if they desire thy comission. If none do, tell whoever remains to give thee a generous pension on our behalf."
Diamond_Dancer nods immediately, her cheeks twisting into a dorky, bright little smile, and she salutes yet again. "Ok! Undastood! Um, I know, you'se ain't gots no sunguard, or nuffin like dat, Princess. "The filly squeaks, taking a nervous step forward. "And I ain't no 'knight' or nuffin, but I'm really glad you'se is safe. I will give what little life I've got ta protect you'se if it evah comes down to it! I won't run away! I promise!" She exclaims. "I was scared I wouldn't get to see da 'bejeweled sky' again. I promised myself I'd nevah let da happen. I hope dats ok. "She says softly.
Luna raises a hoof, and starlight lances out of the swirling voids to form a mesh cage around the split pumpkin. Each bar slides into place with the matallic clatter of a closing lock, and with a loud thump the cage solidifies... into a larger pumpkin that completely encloses the now-invisible broken pumpkin. The big pumpkin floats over and is set on the seat of the mangled remnants of Celestia's chair. Luna's aquamarine eyes finally turn to Diamond Dancer, and she gives a gentle head shake to accompany her affectionate smile. "Do not give thy life for ours, Star Seeker. Thy bravery and loyalty please us, but that is not the role we desire for thee. We have found for thee a place suited to thy peculiar talents, and do not intend to exchange it for a mere soldier. Now, report! Have thou finished thy census of Equestria's pleasure houses?"
Autumn_Breeze returns from a lengthy visit to the possibly nonexistent royal kitchens, rolling another pumpkin. She nestles it snugly up against Dimaond Dancer's side, and looks pleased. Conceivably Luina is unable to dinstinguish them.
Diamond_Dancer doesn't notice Autumn with her current attention focused on Luna's pumpkin anticsm but she gives a little squeak when the pumpkin is pressed up against her side and she turns towards Autumn with a 'what-in-tartarus' look. She turns back towards the princess with a nod and smiles quietly. "I did! Bardigan helped me with it, since a lot of dose places said I wasn't allowed inside. Even if I DID tell dem I was undah royal ordahs. I didn't bring my list, but of all da fun places in Equestria, "Six Shoes" Amusement parks rate the top of my list, along with Red Velvet Productions, which is now called Da Crown Jewel, and dis place in Canterlot called da "Leather Bit" Everypony dare says it's da best time dey evah had. Dare was a line, and den da guy at da door said I couldn't go in. "She says quietly. "But dose are my top three! Really, anyding you'se do wif ponies you'se like ta spend time wif can be a lot of fun!"
<OOC> Nightshade makes a note to set the Leather Bit on fire
"Many ponies have an all-too expansive definition of 'fun'," says Nightshade, appearing, of course, in the shadow of the giant pumpkin. She steps forward and bows formally to Luna before continuing on. "I am assuming that her Majesty intends to apply the appropriate methods of...regulation?"
Luna raises a regally fine eyebrow at Nightshade, although the smile does not budge. "Regulation? Neigh, good Overseer, we were considering a vacation, or at least a series of outings. We are woefully ignorant of current methods of relaxation and... 'fun'. We shall make a point of visiting this 'Six Shoes' with Celestia, as we have not seen a six legged pony in some time. Perhaps the Crown Jewel as well." Tapping a hoof impatiently on the arm of her throne with the tinkling of silver on rock, she suddenly frowns. "We are more concerned that ponies are not giving thee thy due. That is a difficulty we must put careful thought to."
Diamond_Dancer settles herself to one side, still beaming brightly. She's done a good job these past few days and it's making her feel giddy. She gives the floor to the overseer, or, perhaps Autumn, and waits quietly for her next assignment!!
"Then, your Majesty, I am disclined to recommend 'Leather Bits' in any form, for reasons I'd prefer not to disclose," Nightshade says, and that is quite that. She glances at the giant gourd. "Ah...if you'll forgive for asking, what is /this/ for?"
Luna looks blandly from the Overseer to the pumpkin next to her. It is a very large pumpkin, making stairsteps between tiny Diamond Dancer and adult pony sized Nightshade. Her voice regally calm, she answers, "It is a pumpkin, Royal Overseer. They are useful for many things. This is their season, with the winter about to spring. They are symbols of the power of the Night, and we find them everywhere we go lately. They may even be connected to our next task for the Night's Errant." Luna rises up straight in her throne, face settling into a stony frown. Huge blue princess wings unfurl on either side of her, and a silver-tipped foreleg extends to point down at the groveling Diamond Dancer. "STAR SEEKER. SEEK THEE NOW THE MOTHER OF WISPS. OUR ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE THESE MOST VALUABLE SERVENTS OF PONYDOM GO ILL, AND SHE MUST BE FOUND THAT THE WISPS MAY BREED ONCE MORE. WHETHER SHE NEED RESCUE FROM CAPTIVITY OR CAPTURE TO BE BROUGHT IN TO PONY CARE, SEE TO IT THAT SHE RETURNS TO BREEDING WILL-O-WISPS AND PONIES ARE NEVERMORE LOST IN THE NIGHT."
Diamond_Dancer immediately gives a salute, going from dorky grin to straight faced military mode. "YES YOU'SE HIGHNESS! MUDDAH OF WISPS! Retrieve da soyvents! Rescue or reverse rescue! I will not fail you'se!" She announces, already planning to head to the library to find out what a wisp is.
Nettleglum is quietly hollowing out the pumpkin from inside. There's a muted sawing noise and the occasional gout of small, slimy seeds.
Nightshade is content to silently observe the proceedings for now, but she does learn a number of interesting facts. Her notebook appears as she scribbles and scribbles.
Luna steps forward off of her throne, walking out of the open moonlight that engulfs it and under the cover of the half-finished roof. Silver horseshoes clink as she walks up in front of Diamond Dancer, staring solemnly down into the tiny filly's eyes and continuing her instructions. "Pumpkins may be of some use to thee. In many centuries gone by, rather than celebrating terror of ourself, fillies and colts would search the pumpkin patches for the Mother of Wisps at this time of year. What foals thought they could accomplish seeking her changed over time, but it was the only time and place mortal ponies were ever likely to see her." Her wing reaches out, brushing fondly over Diamond Dancer's mane, and then gives the Demonstration Pumpkin a twirl - Nettie and all.
Autumn_Breeze sees the meeting is breaking up, and the Demonstration Pumpkins will no longer be needed. She patiently rolls the smallest one out of the throne room, smiling and humming to herself.
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Ok, I'll start soychin' pumpkin patches and lookin around in da Evahfree forest! Hmmm, pumpkin patches. I bet Nettleglum will have some helpful advice! Or Fluttahshy! I'll ask dem, too! "She exclaims, shivering at the gentle fuzzle of her mane.
Nettleglum is tightly mummified by the stringy tendrils of pumpkin guts inside the gourd. This will slightly delay her adding a mouth and eyes. On the other hoof, what mare doesn't enjoy being cocooned in acrid-smelling gloop?
Luna gives Diamond a deep, serious nod. "We would not second guess thee. Despite all odds, thine is the power to accomplish marvels. Continue to do so in our name." Her head turns suddenly, looking back at the seat of Celestia's broken throne - now pumpkinless. Luna frowns suspiciously, and in a much vaguer, more distracted tone adds, "And we must be off on our own purposes. The Night calls. Discord's two-millenia-old prank has left time badly in need of repair." With that she turns and walks... into nothing. Gone.
