POTENTIAL CHAPTER 2 FOR Ever on the Edge
Stepping Off
(first scene only - more may be possible if there is both interest and inspiration)
Path stood in the middle of the office—her office—and slowly turned in a circle. Every object here was saturated with memories, and as her gaze touched each one, she remembered.
She remembered visiting her grandmother as a foal—of being afraid of the carved spirit masks and enthralled by the rare minerals collection. She remembered working with her grandmother on school projects, using her small but unique library to do research. She remembered approaching her grandmother to ask for her backing in—
A misguided attempt to "make a difference" in Equestrian politics. A small half-smile lifted the corner of Path's mouth as she remembered how obvious it was to her that the veto was a good idea—until she came to speak with her grandmother.
I knew so little back then—and I thought I knew it all.
She walked across the room towards the large, cluttered desk. Now I know how much I don't know. Path wasn't sure when the change in her thinking had taken place, but her outlook had gone from simplistic confidence to complex anxiety. She learned that really knowing what was going on in the world was a great way to keep yourself up at night.
Path sat down on the stool behind the desk. My stool. My desk. It's going to take me a long time to get my head to accept those facts.
She again looked around the cluttered office, with its cabinets of curios and collections, its tall shelves of rare books and scrolls from every land and kingdom known, and the myriad paintings and carvings and art of all kinds decorating every bit of wall and ceiling—and some of the floor. My mind is going to balk at claiming Grandmother's possessions. I'm going to have to struggle to "own" each and every item separately—despite what the will said.
For now, Path was resigned to work here, but she thought that most of the room's contents would forever belong to her grandmother, Kindred Path.
Why did you have to leave me so soon, Grandmother? I know these last few weeks you kept saying that there was nothing more for you to teach me, but I still learned amazing things from you nonetheless. How much more did you have to teach that is now forever lost?
And how much more will I have to figure out for myself before I can be the advisor that Celestia needs? That she deserves?
Path looked down at the unfurled scroll she had tossed onto the desk earlier.
Especially since you made me Celestia's advisor already, whether I think I can do the job or not.
She picked up the scroll and gazed at the royal seal that adorned it, frozen in red wax.
If I had known what I was getting myself into, I never would have agreed to be your apprentice.
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