Cadence's gaze followed Shining and Silent as they excused themselves to a private discussion. Once they were out of earshot, she turned her head to look at Crystal.
"I'm happy for you," Cadence said, a soft smile on her lips. "Do you remember what we talked about when we first met?"
Crystal pursed her lips while she thought for a moment, then nodded. "Love all of him, for better or for worse. You can't change a pony"—she smiled as she raised a hoof to her chest to feel her fluttering heartbeat—"and you can't change your heart."
Cadence giggled. "That sounds about right!" Her expression sobered and a distant look glossed over her eyes. "I remember when Shining proposed. I was so happy... and so scared at the same time."
"Scared?" Crystal repeated in a quiet voice, the fluttering ceasing rather suddenly.
"Yes, scared." She nodded. "Shining is a soldier first and foremost. He always has been and always will be. I was scared because I didn't know what that meant for me."
Crystal swallowed. "And?"
"We fight sometimes. We don't agree on everything. I think he should work less and he thinks he should work more." The smile returned to Cadence's face. "But at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade away even a minute for the ease of a simpler, safer stallion. His dedication to the guard is who he is, and I love him more than anything."
Crystal's brow furrowed. Her gaze darted about before returning to the mare in front of her and, finally, she smiled. "I think I understand."
"So... ?"
Crystal blinked. "So?"
Cadence giggled and reached over to set a hoof on Crystal's. "So, silly, when's the wedding?"
"The—" Heat rose from Crystal's neck to the tips of her ears and she jerked her hooves away. "Lady Cadence, we just got engaged!"
"Oh, come on!" Cadence stuck out her bottom lip. "You're saying you haven't thought about your wedding day before he even proposed? I know I had a scrapbook full of ideas while Shining and I were just dating!"
Crystal waved both hooves, shaking her head. "No, no, no. The closest would be some ideas I saw in wedding magazines while planning my friends' weddings. I mean, yes, I kept the magazines, but not because—I didn't—"
A chime of delicate, bubbling laughter interrupted her. "At least give me something before you go back to Canterlot!" The quivering pout returned. "After all, I gave you such wonderful advice... for free... out of the kindness of my heart..."
"Okay!" Crystal hid her face, grumbling for a moment, then mumbled, "I've always wanted to be married in a rose garden." She swallowed. "Roses are awfully cliche, I know, but they're my favorite flower nonetheless!"
"A rose garden, huh?" Cadence steepled her hooves. "This can happen."
Crystal stood and took a small step backwards. "We just got engaged. It's too soon!" Her ear twitched. "And I think I hear Silent coming this way! We have a train to catch, you know."
Cadence tossed her mane, inclined her head, and bellowed, "On my honor, Crystal Wishes, you shall have your rose garden wedding, whether Silent Knight wants it or not!" When Crystal blanched, Cadence burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh, you're just too much fun!"
"Crystal?" Silent's voice called as his head poked out around the corner. "We should leave if we don't want to miss the train."
"Okay!" Crystal chirped. She turned her head back toward Cadence and bobbed it politely. "Thank you for lunch, Lady Cadence."
Cadence giggled, shooing her with one hoof. "It was my pleasure. Now run along and send me an invitation as soon as you decide on a stationery."
"A—" Crystal tilted her head, pursing her lips and furrowing her brow, and then smiled. "Yes, of course. I promise." She bowed her head once more and turned to hurry after Silent. "Coming, dear!"
Silent smiled when she came into his view. "Ready to go home?"
"Ready? Most certainly not." She sighed, looking around at their glimmering surroundings. "But willing. I have so much to do!"
His ears flicked and he glanced at her. "Oh? Like what?"
She trotted on the tips of her hooves with a happy little giggle. "Obviously, I have to tell Velvet the news! To be honest, she saw it coming. The moment I told her you were taking me to Glimmer World, she said you were going to propose."
"Is that so?" Briefly, his ears folded back. "Then why were you so surprised?"
"Well! I, that is, you see," she sputtered, then glared up at him. "That's a trick question!"
He laughed and held open one of the front doors for her. "I guess it is. I'm just glad you eventually said yes. I got a little nervous there when you just stared at me with big eyes."
"I'm sorry about that. I just..." Her gaze rose to the brilliant blue sky above them and she smiled. "I just had to process the situation first, but I'm all in." She shifted her gaze to him.
He tilted his head. "All in?"
She laughed, pushing herself up to place a quick kiss on his cheek. "It makes more sense if you were there. Come on, let's not miss our train by dallying."
---
Standing outside the condo door and with a nervous flutter in her chest, Crystal looked up at Silent. "How do I look?"
Silent blinked. "Fine?"
Crystal scrunched up her nose and returned her attention to the door. "Maybe she's not even home."
"Maybe she's not," he repeated, one brow raising curiously. "Are you all right?"
She took a deep breath in, then nodded as she released it through her nose. "Yes, of course. I just don't know how she'll react. She's been a little hot and cold about you and me."
The curious look turned into confusion when the other brow raised. "What?"
"No, no, don't worry." She waved a dismissive hoof. "It's not like that! She's just worried that I'll leave her all by herself if I run off and get married."
"Oh. Is that all?" He snorted. "I mean this in the nicest way to myself as possible but I don't think I'm enough to break you two up."
She shot him a playful grin. "Exactly what I told her." She giggled when he faked an offended huff. "Well, she'll find out eventually." Her horn lit up and the lock clicked into place. "I'm home!" she called as she pushed the door open.
Velvet looked up from the little dining table with a bowl of cereal in front of her and an exaggerated look of surprise on her face. "Oh, wow, I had no idea you were home, I definitely didn't hear noise outside the door or—" She blinked once, twice, then a third time and stiffened to attention. "I knew it!" she half-shrieked, half-squealed while both forehooves pointed at Crystal. "He proposed!"
Silent cleared his throat and slipped the luggage off his back. "I'll just leave so you two can be alone."
"Oh, no you don't!" Velvet sprung from the chair toward him and wrapped one foreleg around his neck in a headlock. "You never asked for my blessing!"
Crystal covered her mouth to hide her grin at the look on Silent's face. One brow was raised and his eyes were angled toward her almost as if he wanted to challenge the much smaller mare for dominance, but he finally shrugged and kept his head where it was. "I'm sorry."
Velvet huffed. "Sorry won't cut it. I'm hurt, Silent. Did you think you couldn't trust me with the knowledge?"
"I'm sorry," he repeated.
"Still doesn't cut it! I'm great at keeping secrets!" She ruffled his mane with her free hoof. "I'll remember this next time I'm going to surprise Crystal with something. I won't even give you a hint."
Silent chuckled. "Okay. I'm still sorry. I just figured since you live with her, well. I'm sorry." He rose to his full height, lifting Velvet off the ground a few inches. "Anyway, I actually do have to go." When Velvet dropped down, he hugged her, placed a kiss on Crystal's cheek, then turned toward the door. "Have fun, you two."
"Bye, Siley," Crystal purred more than said.
Once the door shut behind him, Velvet looked at Crystal with a wicked grin. "Siley?"
Crystal felt her face grow hot and she cleared her throat. "It's a couple thing. Couples use nicknames."
"You never gave me a nickname," Velvet teased, the grin falling into a pout. "Why don't I get a nickname?"
"Fine." Crystal snubbed her nose and levitated her luggage into the air, carrying them into her bedroom. "You are now Giftless."
Velvet bounded after her, grin back in place. "Giftless? Aww, you brought me gifts?"
"Not anymore!" One of the suitcases was unzipped and a small, mauve-colored package raised into view. "And to think, I broke the rule and spent more than I should have to bring you back something nice."
Velvet draped herself over Crystal's back like a saddlebag and whined, "Crystaaal, come on, don't be that way! I was only teasing! Come on, what did you get me?"
The package danced through the air as it bobbed over toward a waste bin. "It is this darling little accessory. I had to bribe somepony to go stand in line to get them."
"Aww..." Velvet wriggled from side to side. "That's so sweet! You care about me that much that you'd lower your moral standards and defame yourself with base bribery?" She blinked. "Wait, stand in line?" After another bit of wriggling, she slipped off Crystal's back and walked over to the hovering gift. "What is it, really?"
Crystal smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I suppose you'll have to open it to find out."
With a small cheer, Velvet snatched it out of the air and tore the wrapping away to reveal a small white box. She gasped when she raised the lid and, delicately, lifted one of the earrings that rested inside on a white satin pillow. Like Crystal's, they had two parts: a white gold silhouette and an aquamarine gemstone that hung in the center, both in the elegant shape of teardrops.
"Oh, Crystal, they're beautiful!"
"And quite expensive, so don't go wearing them while you run ab—oof!" She was interrupted by a tight squeeze of a hug, which she returned once she caught her breath.
"I'm serious, they're totally, really beautiful!" Velvet pulled back to frown at her. "And super expensive! These are glimmer earrings, aren't they?"
Crystal raised a hoof between them to gently press against Velvet's lips. "Shh, now, it's all right. I sold the sulky." When Velvet's eyes widened, Crystal laughed. "It was too pretentious! And the upkeep of tipping drivers to take me back and forth... It's better this way. My mother doesn't have one and she's still well-respected among the socialites, so that's good enough for me."
Velvet rolled her eyes and pushed the hoof away. "Can we please not get on that topic just yet and go back a few?"
Crystal blinked. "Back a few to... ?"
Velvet, with one brow raised, just pointed at the ring sitting around Crystal's horn. Crystal stared back, doing her very best to keep a straight face, but cracked into a smile first.
"You're engaged!" Velvet squealed, grabbing Crystal's hooves and squeezing them. "How are you able to stay in an audible range?! You should be shattering glass right now!"
Crystal laughed and squeezed back. "I've had days to calm down and stop speaking in high notes."
"Oh." There was a pause before Velvet frowned. "Well, fine. That means it's time to start an ideabook!"
"An ideabook?" Crystal furrowed her brow. "But we just got engaged! Don't you think it's too soon?"
Velvet scoffed. "I'm frankly shocked and appalled that you don't already have one."
Crystal withdrew her hooves to tap them together, her ears folding back flat against her mane. "Weeell, you see, perhaps I don't have a formal ideabook, but..." She swallowed, then slid off the bed and walked over to her dresser. Her magic tugged it open and lifted an issue of Bridal Bridle. "I did keep all of—"
"Perfect!" Velvet cheered, flopping onto the bed. "Let's get started!"
"Not yet!" Crystal dropped the magazine and slammed the drawer shut. "Not yet. Let me just catch my breath first, all right?" She laughed, turning back toward Velvet. "I saw a pile of mail that likely has a word back from Sunset, I have so much writing I want to do after that wonderful trip, and there's an opera I need to attend the day after tomorrow. Then we can get started, all right?"
Velvet eyed her with clear disdain before she finally shrugged. "All right, but on one condition."
Crystal returned to the bed and sat down beside her. "And what is that?"
"While you write about the wonderful trip, you tell me about it." Velvet beamed at her, sitting upright. "I want to know everything!"
Crystal blinked, then smiled softly. "I accept your condition."
---
Everything was perfect. Velvet was away at practice, steam was rising from a freshly brewed cup of tea, and music was drifting out of the record player. Crystal hummed along with the singer while she scanned all the papers strewn in front of her, including a few letters and some hastily scrawled notes.
"Let's see," she mumbled, raising the cup to take a quick sip. "Where to start..."
Her gaze landed on the letter from Sunset Coffee first and mumbled the words aloud. "Hi Crystal, we're all good to go. Just get a cover to Reindom House sooner rather than later. Once they sign off on it, the real fun begins. Sunset. P.S., we had a great harvest of blueberries this year. If you're in Manehattan anytime soon, you should drop by and try my wife's homemade jam!"
There was yet another picture of his family in the park, this time having a picnic. She smiled. Every time he included a picture, they all just seemed to be so happy.
She took another sip of tea while her magic retrieved a fresh sheet of paper. Of course, the letter had arrived just a few days after she left, so she had to be quick.
Painted,
I am in need of your wonderful services once again. Please let me know as soon as possible if you have time to meet about my most recent work so that we can discuss the cover. Thank you.
Appreciatively Yours,
Crystal Wishes
She folded the paper, tucked it into an envelope, and set it on the table by the door to take out later. One down, several more tasks to go. The letter from Sunset was pushed aside as she turned her attention to the others.
To her surprise, there were two separate invitations: one for a small art exhibit and the other, much more importantly, to an advanced showing of Fancy Pants's fall line. Her ears stood straight up while she quickly filled out the RSVP and set it on top of the letter to Painted. To receive an invitation alone was two weeks' worth of bragging rights; to actually attend was several more.
Finally, all that was left were her own notes for Mares Monthly and Cosmarepolitan shorts. So many ideas were swimming around in her head. So many more had cropped up as she wrote the others down. Then, of course, there was still her serial based—albeit very loosely—on Rickety and Riley, which was tentatively titled Autumn Leaves.
She rubbed at her already tired eyes. Where should she spend her time? Which was the most interesting idea? What did ponies want to read? If she could just sit down with Sunset and talk about all of her ideas, then perhaps she'd have some sort of direction.
After a pause, she slowly turned her head to look at the letter from the stallion in question. Just as slowly, she retrieved a sheet of paper and smiled while she started to write what she was thinking. "Brilliant," she muttered after signing her name, then reread what had been written.
Sunset,
Actually, I would love to take you up on that offer. When would be convenient for me to visit you and yours?
Looking forward,
Crystal
Liar liar mane on fire.
Velvet sniffs out all your secrets whether you know you have them or not.
Maya recruited me, I'll be the close surveillance.
My new assignment is to the Crystal Empire. :crystal: eeeeeeeeeeee
Awkward plot twist. Velvet is Maya.
Crystal has leveled up while on vacation and added +1 to trolling.
V is for Velvet, confirmed.
:crystal: About that, don't pay any attention to news regarding a disaster coming out of the Crystal Empire for the next few weeks.
One counter, 2 beds, a chair, and one not particularly sturdy railing.
_____, counterpoint. Nice.
Confession notarized.
* * *
So many new plot threads added in this chapter. I look forward to the many upcoming shenanigans.
Finally caught up. Whew!
Pack your bags again Crystal, Cadance is taking on a guilt trip.
That makes no sense! You can't hear Silent!
Haha lol just kidding!
Do it SK, I want to laugh when you get your butt kicked.
Another fun one, I liked her interactions with Cadance. Also I can't wait for potential awkward situations for Silent Knight that involve Crystal, we all see those coming (even if they haven't been posted in any of the companion stories yet).
Awww I love when Crystal finally gets to troll velvet for once. its so amusing. Seems things piled up while she was gone. I think Cadance's talk to her in private may be very helpful for her -hides spoilers in my head- Especially with some of the things that could happen in the near future. Anyway its a good chapter and I didnt see any typos or anything. Cant wait for more next week.
She lies! And I've got a "brand new" sulky! It even has that brand new sulky smell.
Wait... That's just some clods of dirt in the corner, probably from when the salespony showed me the inside.
But I found an old sock in it!
Wait... again... Ew.
At least I have a sulky.
EDIT: That makes me a pretty pony in a sulky! Eat your heart out, Au. I bet you don't have one of these!
Why, Crystal, I had no idea you'd gotten into designing ladies' swimwear! For contemporary ladies' magazines. I'd bet that none of us knew that, because you didn't tell us.
*LIGHT SHINE*
What else haven't you told us, Crystal Wishes? If that is your real name.
Cut the crud!
I've aeen through you since day one. Admit it!
You're the reason there's a 'no climbing on tables' policy at Mare Contraire!
A-freaking-men.
You know, now I'm wondering if Silent is going to try and break up with Crystal on account of the soldier issue, and she's going to refuse on sheer force of romantic, persistent willpower.
It's true!
Hahaha!
Giftless, ouch.
Ooooooo, Crystal did get a fifth pair of earrings. Clever! Edit: And now I'm wondering if a sixth was purchased for good measure. All customers could buy two pairs, after all.
An ideabook? For some reason that word sends shivers down my bachelor spine.
6435481
I'm also willing to bet that's going to come into play. Silent doesn't know about her talk with Cadence(at least I don't recall him ever finding out), and doesn't know Crystal has already thought about this issue and chosen to stay with him anyways.
If he does manage to end it, we all know Luna is going to get to the bottom of it. Wouldn't be surprised if Luna or Celestia already know something about his little covert operation.
6435123 First of all, I enjoyed your quips. Second of all, I look forward, too! I have a fair amount of things planned that I think y'all are going to like!
6435163 Whew indeed! Glad you have you back on the frontlines!
6435190 I knowww I felt so bad, I'm sorry, Axel! But don't worry, the other thing he made has a very bright future that I'm excited to share, eventually. And I'm sure Crystal sold her sulky to a good home! She wouldn't give it away haphazardly!
6435210 Velvet Step vs. Silent Knight, round 1, FIGHT!!
6435251 I've been looking forward to touching base again with Cadence after their first talk back in the hospital. I don't know about awkward moments? But there will be, err, moments? Things will happen! And stuff!
6435291 It's about time the troll get trolled!
6435302 As far as we know, Au doesn't have one... you are really trying to make enemies with her, aren't you?
6435389 You'll get nothin' outta me, coppa! Nothin'!
6435481 Hmm... Regarding your spoiler tagged note... You are a clever pony! I didn't intend for the direct parallels going on but I've been planning this second talk with Cadence since pretty much their first one. Just to bring things back full circle. What we have here between Crystal and Silent is a failure to communicate... Let's just hope that doesn't stay a failure for long. And... Okay, I'll just come out and say Crystal only bought one pair of earrings. Velvet would probably murder her if she bought two with how often they've talked about finances. I think they argue about finances more than anything else lately...
6435527 More clever ponies! Crystal made up her mind way back at the hospital... too bad he was in a coma at the time and couldn't hear, eh?
Hello! Crystal Wishes, my friend is new to the brony fandom and writing fanfiction- or in this case, 'fimfiction', and has recently been introduced to your lovely story! Since she's still technically new, and a little anti-social, she was hoping that I could ask you if she could use the terms 'Prance' and 'Prench', due to her recent story that she's writing involves spies, travel, and the occasional romantic scene! Though she has found quite a bit of inspiration from your stories in general, (her favorite is the one with Lovey Dovey and the Business Pony), she promises that she will not steal any material in your stories and really hopes that give her permission.
If you don't, that's fine.
She's just really annoying on occasion.
319,800 words total
incomplete
that's incredible
6435651
Weeeeeelllllll...
(Isn't she kind of everyone's enemy?)
Also, I'm kinda' like Azurite and really bad with confrontation. If, um, if it'll make a good peace offering then I can sell her the sulky. Y'know, if she'd consent to buying it instead of hurting me...
6435822
"Prench" and "Prance" have been around a lot longer in the fandom than Crystal's Wishes. I'm sure everything's just fine if you want to use those two. (They're probably the two most common "foreign" terms in MLP:FiM)
I don't know about anybody else, but when the OC tag shows up by itself on the character bar, it almost always seems like an omen of decent writing. I'll have to read this later. *thumbs up*
6435651 Yes very true.
And so it begins.
Crystal Wishes finally got her Wish, I guess you could say.
6435822 Aww, well first and foremost thank her for me! I appreciate all of my readers very, very much, shy or otherwise. Now, on to the matter at hand... I'm afraid I can't give "my blessing", per se, because as Shachza pointed out, neither ponifications "belong" to me! They are totally free-for-all words. I can't think of much in the story, other than the original characters themselves, that I'd require "permission" for, so she is free to
stealabscondtakeuse anything she'd like.6435838 Thank you! Yet there's still more to go!
6435861 Oh, she would never hurt you. She would never deign to sully her good name or dirty her dainty hooves with such brutish actions.
That doesn't mean her money (and any pony she hires) is, though.
6435878 Eep! I hope I live up to such expectations!
That said, not regarding my own story in particular, there is certainly merit to your logic. If a story features canon characters and has a fair amount of upvotes, the writing can be poor but there are folks who will love it to pieces because of the ship. And there's totally nothing wrong with that. That is what fanfiction is for, more often than not: to see a non-canon pairing you like interact in a way they don't in the show. However, if a story features few to no canon characters and has the same amount of upvotes, the only merits it has to stand on are the writing (characterization, storytelling, etc.).
... *ahem* Anyway, I hope I live up to such expectations.
6436403 Indubitably!
6436615 Double indubitably, and yet the story isn't over yet...
Hmm, I can't recall, did she ever finish her book or is she still editing it? Either way, I am happy I got my does of Crystal today with some Velvet wackiness as well. Huzzah!
6437201 She'd nearly finished it, dragged her hooves because she was flitting all over the place, then settled down, finished it entirely, then sent it off for editing. The last we heard prior to this, it was going through its second round of editing. Hope that clears that up!
Hah! Finally back and caught up on one of the stories I've been missing. Only a mountain's worth more to go...
This right here is true love. Crystal should just dump Silent already and get back together with Velvet. It's obvious that they're made for each other.
And what's with everyone trying to rush her into the wedding? They've barely been dating for what, a couple months? My wife and I were engaged for more than two years before we finally got married. Taking a bit to actually spend some real time together will help them in the long run. She's swooning over these perfectly choreographed dates he keeps taking her on, but unless I'm way wrong about where things are heading, she's going to be finding out pretty soon that real life doesn't follow a script, no matter how much you may want it to. Real life doesn't stop once you get to the happily ever after.
Seriously, there are some songs I really don't want to have to add to this story's sound track, no matter how much I may like them, and if you make me, we're gonna have words.
6437738 It's kind of a small, spiteful joke, the rushing into marriage thing. They've been officially dating ~6 months, orbiting each other longer, but nonetheless, engaged =/= married. Thus why Silent and Crystal both point out "We're just engaged" more than once.
And, don't worry, you're not alone. I have some songs waiting in the wings.
6437765
I dunno, I don't think Cadance was joking. I'm pretty sure she would have held the ceremony right then and there if Crystal hadn't been able to use the train to escape. And sometimes Velvet makes me wonder where the line between her jokes and reality really is. If her friends have their way, it'll only be another couple months before the wedding really does happen unless something gets in the way (and no, that was not foreshadowing, nothing is going to go wrong, everything is fine. Yes, everything is... everything is perfectly fine...).
Seriously, though. I'm not caught up on Secrets, so I don't know how bad it'll actually be, but there are some things that have been said that worry me.
Actually... There is one song you could make me use that I would be ok with, even if only because it would mean some interesting character development from Crystal.
6437803 Oh, no, Cadence is serious. I meant a ... "meta joke" ... I the author am joking. Cadence is totally, very serious.
But, yes, there is still a road ahead of arguable rockiness. No more spoilers beyond that.
... And what song is that?
6435487 You betcha!
6437812
i.imgur.com/1TRpJyt.jpg
It really is a good joke at Crystal's expense.
As for the song:
A while back, there was that comment about Crystal just being "Silent's girl", and falling into that sort of shadow role where she's entirely defined by her place with her boyfriend. And she always has been a sort of passive character when it comes to her own love life, always hesitating and waiting on Silent to make the first move.
She's the princess, waiting for her knight in shining armor to come to her.
But there are paths the story could take from here on out that would require her to not just pine after her love, but to actively pursue him. It would certainly be an interesting development for Crystal, as a character, to go through. Granted, that particular song has some... bittersweet connotations (especially if you've played the game it came from), but I'd be ok with it being added to the sound track just to see how you would handle Crystal's character development.
6437812
You devious monster. I'll have to live with Silent Knight stealing away Crystal from Velvet. But having Runic break up with Miley and abscond with Crystal is crossing a line.
6438234
Really? I thought she was hinting at Velvet's plan to win back Crystal's heart (and body) by tempting her with her every author's favorite ice cream flavor: rocky road.
6436744
She'd really be so dirty as to hire ponies to hurt someone? Fine, she can just have the sulky. I'm gonna' go and sulk. Without a sulky.
*grumblegrumble* ...something something Meanie Pants... *grumblegrumble*
6438234 6438311 Either you're both right, or neither of you are right... I'm not sure which!
6438314 Don't worry... I have a feeling she'll make it up to you... someday.
6438595
Well I now have a wonderful mental image of Crystal and Velvet doing naughty things with a pint of ice cream, so even if I'm wrong I think I'll be alright.
It took me months to start to read this, after putting it off again and again... now after 2 or three days of devouring this story I've caught up.
I'm a 22 year old male... and I'm giggling like a tiny child with glee as i read these chapters.
Thank you for this generous gift, it is a work of excellence that I could never hope to have earned.
--- One Psychopathic Maniacal Fox
6438947 Eeei—thank you for the generous compliment! I am thrilled to bring a man to giggles! I don't mind at all being pushed aside for months, especially with the rather imposing word count and whatnot, as long as in the end you enjoy yourself and I'm glad that you did!
6438658
Fudge Ribbon ice cream seems more Velvet's speed.
6438028 Obviously, to avoid spoilers, I can't say too much on your second paragraph, but...
First of all, I've not played the game but that is a bittersweet song (in a good way) and I do like it. Second of all, I like even more that you pointed out Crystal has been passive in pursuing Silent in the past.
She's passive in general when it comes to making decisions and following through on them. Velvet is the one to push her to do things (and Horsey on occasion), she waits for Silent to make moves in their relationship, and she talks herself out of things she wants (romantic, personal, and professional). This chapter was, I think (or at least I intended), one of the rare times where she makes an active decision on her own (to go visit Sunset instead of just wallowing in uncertainty).
... That was a lot of parentheticals. Whoo!
6439957
If you have any sort of interest in video games, that's one you should absolutely play. The game itself is really good, but the story it tells is incredible.
There are some big things that will be coming up soon and I'm very much looking forward to what you have in store for Crystal from here on out.
6438601 Ah the desired effect has been achieved.
But in all seriousness, I was looking for a good profile picture for this site that nobody has used yet and that picture fit. It's funny how I have had quite a few people comment before how creepy it is. I simply tell them it is an image from the creepy pasta "The Russian Sleep Experiment".
OK time to read the next chapter! scrolls down Hmm the page seems different then usual...OH NO IM AT THE END now i have to wait
6444398
Let's face it finding any better quality is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
On that note, I recommend "Anzel"
6444398 6444417 Awww, shucks. Thanks, you two. Them's mighty flattering words!
Yes, I would absolutely recommend my writing partner and universe collaborator, Anzel. fistfire, you'll start seeing links in the author's notes for the companion chapters in Memoirs of a Royal Guard. At your leisure, please check out that story, too!
Cute chapter. No surprise there. Good luck, Crystal!
four am, reading close
archives long. never stop
quasar love love like lovey
quasar love love writer, crystal
story make quasar happy
No, I'm not really that incoherent. But I am tired enough that I think it's really funny, so I'm doing it. (...And with that sentence, I think I understand the Internet a little more.) Seriously though, I do love your story. It's pretty great.
6446612 I don't know if understanding the internet is a good thing or not, so I don't know whether to say you're welcome or I'm sorry.
However, I will say thank you for reading, enjoying, and commenting on my story. I'm thrilled to have you as a reader and greatly appreciate that you like it!
6451743 Hmm. I guess you are right.
It's funny, because it's actually true. When it matters, of course.
That's also funny 'cause Swan Song is an actual user of fimfiction and a King Of All The Ships That Sailed, Are Sailing And Will Sail on this site. Also, can't stop imagining him(or was it 'her'?) as a walking and talking trimaran. Don't ask.
New vocabulary added: dallying
6572930 Ah, I didn't know that. Swan Song is the name of one of Fancy Pants's regular entourage!
6572930 6572938
A delightful chapter