This story is a sequel to Politics by Many Means

Hollow Shades, home to the tombs and shades of countless Nocturnes.

Sugar Belle, haunted by her failures and the shades of those who fell to them.

As midnight calls, the boundaries between these two shall blur, and more shades shall enter their shared realm.

Continuity: The Song of the Spheres
Branch: The Seekers of the Stars

This story is a sequel to On The Transience Of Adelasters

Every original character has a background story, and you’re about to read mine. For years and years I’ve tried to postpone writing this tale, for fear of diving up traumatic experiences and unpleasant memories. Yet one cold winter day, my brother enters my little cabin in the woods, and soon enough I find myself sitting behind my typewriter writing down what happened to me and him from beginning till end. I still don’t believe how I did that.

Indeed, my story is not a happy fairy tale where everything is bathed in sunshine and unicorns dance on the proverbial rainbows. In the beginning it does look like that, with my brother and I, our mother, the great herd of elks, deer, and reindeer, and the guarding of the Shimmering Eye making up the happiest part of my life. But very soon a game of predator and prey is played on a snowy and dark winter plain. After that, I end up in a very peculiar village, where I discover my true talent thanks to a very special somepony. Then love somehow wriggles itself into my life, followed closely by deceit. Believe me when I say the two go hoof in hoof. Next, I find myself abducted to another village, even stranger than the first, where I am forced to use my talents for a dictator’s regime. And what happens next…? You’ll have to discover that as you read.

Every story has a sliver of the writer’s soul in it, and in this story, I practically poured all of my soul. I hope it will help you to get to know me and my brother better. And if that is not your goal, then I hope it will teach you something. And if that too, is not your goal, then let me and my brother’s (mis)adventures at least entertain you from beginning till end. Read on, and discover a story about brothers and antlers.

Thanks to Caroline Cottrell for prereading. I know I can always count on you!

Big Macintosh is bringing Sugar Belle over to Sweet Apple Acres for a visit. So, a visitor prepares a picnic for them.