"Just sign here, ma'am."
Crystal glanced between the sheet and the stallion sitting at the desk. He wore a uniform, rather than armor, and a gentle smile, which she returned. "Thank you."
Her magic guided the pen across the fields to fill in the information: her name, Silent's name and rank, where they lived, and the like. It was a little strange—it felt like she was back at the Academy, about to take a final exam.
"Thank you very much, ma'am," the stallion said, gesturing to the door beside him. "Go on inside."
Crystal's heart fluttered with nerves as she took a step forward. What were support groups like? Would this be group therapy, where they all sat in a circle and talked about their problems? Or would somepony stand in front of them and give lectures about how to be strong and have some magic answers for surviving this war?
When she crossed the threshold, she found herself in an ordinary conference room. A long wooden table dominated the space, lined with chairs pushed in as far as they could go. An assortment of refreshments were set out on one end of it, the other overflowing with stacks of papers. There were a few ponies waiting inside, and two mares stood by the door and at the ready with pamphlets.
"Welcome," one said, a crystal unicorn mare with a glimmering onyx coat. "Thank you for coming."
"Crystal?" the other inquired in a surprised tone.
Crystal's brow furrowed as her attention shifted to the pink-coated, older mare standing to her right. After a brief moment of mental searching, the lightbulb clicked: Radiant Orchid, Silent's first sergeant that had retired.
Orchid's weary eyes widened with realization. "Oh, no." She set her hoofful of pamphlets on the table and stepped toward her. "He volunteered?" She winced. "Of course he did…"
Crystal ducked her head. "Y-Yes, he did."
Orchid embraced her much like a mother would a foal, gave a tight squeeze, then held her at foreleg's length. "I'm so glad you've come, then. Good for you. If you ever need anything, my door is always open." She smiled. "That's true for everypony attending, but doubly so for you."
Crystal just gazed up at her for a moment. The mare's braided red mane had highlights of grey, and the creases at the corners of her eyes told of a lifetime spent with love. They had never spent much time together, but she knew Orchid was important to Silent, which made her important to Crystal as well.
Finally, she returned the smile. "Thank you, Orchid. I appreciate it."
Orchid nodded and stepped back, retrieving her pamphlets and offering one to Crystal. "Here is the general information about the services available to you. Derelict and I will be covering everything in more detail and can answer any specific questions you might have, but this is a good start."
The crystal unicorn's ear flicked. "Oh, you remembered me. Thank you." She offered a hoof to Crystal. "Derelict Apathy. I'm studying under Radiant Orchid. I apologize for the lack of formality. This situation is new and unfamiliar to all of us."
Orchid laughed softly. "I'm still just a pony, you know. A lack of formality can be forgiven once in a while."
"But where is the line drawn?" Derelict turned her gaze to Orchid. "If you're not formal with this mare, but you are with the next, what does that mean? Favoritism leads to discrepancies and differences, which lead to separation. The point of bringing these spouses and loved ones together is to build a community, is it not?"
Crystal quickly took the hoof that still hovered in the air before Orchid could respond. "It's nice to meet you, Derelict. Thank you for your time."
Derelict blinked at her. "And thank you for your service."
Service? She wasn't the guard; Silent was. Nonetheless, she just kept smiling. "I suppose I'll get out of the way and leave you two to greeting." She waved the pamphlet in her magic. "And I'll start looking through this, thank you."
Orchid nodded. "We'll cover it once everypony is here. Feel free to mingle with the other ponies. Oh, and enjoy the refreshments."
As Crystal walked further into the room, she heard Orchid say to Derelict, "You really need to learn to lighten up, Derry."
"Derelict," she corrected. "And I'm simply trying to do my job."
Crystal tried to smile to cover her nerves as she shifted her attention to the two stallions and mare huddled by the refreshments. Nopony was talking, instead opting to stand near-but-not-too-near to one another and looking at anything but each other. To be fair, sticking strangers in a room together during trying times didn't seem like the most comfortable situation to be in.
"Hello," Crystal offered as she approached.
One of the stallions smiled, though his blue eyes looked to be on the verge of tears. "Hi."
"I'm Crystal Wishes," she said, stopping to stand where she could engage the three of them, even if the other two didn't seem keen on making eye contact.
"Toffee Strudel." He shifted from one hoof to the other.
Crystal waited for the second stallion and the mare to chime in, but the former was staring off at nothing and the latter just looked down at her cup of juice. An awkward tension filled the air like the buzzing of gnats. "S-So…"
The other stallion jerked his head toward her and snapped, "Army, Navy, or Guard?"
Crystal blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Are you Army, Navy, or Guard?" His steel grey eyes bored into hers as if weighing her soul. Perhaps he was. But what for?
"G-Guard, I suppose." She felt like wilting under the weight of his gaze but did her best to hold her ground. "At least, my husband is."
"You suppose?" He frowned. "Either you're part of the military, or you're a civilian. Which is it?"
Irritation sparked in her chest and she countered his frown by squaring her shoulders and standing tall. "I married into the Guard, so I do believe that makes me a part of it."
Silence held the group of ponies until the stallion cracked a smile. "Good." He thrust his hoof out to her. "Starlit Bastion. You may call me Bastion. Navy through my wife. Nice to meet a spouse who's got a backbone, unlike these two."
"Hey," Toffee mumbled, but took a step back when Bastion stared him down.
Crystal glanced at the offered hoof, one brow raised. "Backbone or not, we're all here for the same reason." Her eyes narrowed. "Sir."
Slowly, Bastion's hoof lowered back to the ground. "Beg to differ, ma'am. I'm here because we were requested to attend, and I follow orders. They're here because the vows they made are too tough for them to uphold." His eyes grew cold once again. "Why are you here?"
"Because these are trying times nopony could have prepared for, and I'm not strong enough to handle them on my own." Although she was much shorter than the large earth stallion, she angled her head in just the right way to give the impression of looking down her nose at him. "But I am strong enough to admit that."
Though she was certain she meant the words, her heart was racing. What exactly was she doing? She was here to mingle, not to start a fight!
Toffee swelled with newfound courage. "She's right. I-I support my wife, sir, but that doesn't mean that it's not hard to."
Bastion snorted and looked over at the silent, light grey mare. "And you?"
She winced and her ears flicked back, but her gaze remained focused on her juice cup. Determined to stay out of the conversation, she just gave a small shrug in reply.
"I see." He glanced between them all. "Well. Perhaps I misjudged some of you." He shrugged, picked up a little triangle sandwich, and didn't seem inclined to say anything more.
Crystal stared at him a while longer before she turned her attention to Toffee, smiling. "Don't worry. I'm certain there will be more supportive spouses attending."
"I hope so," Toffee mumbled. "This isn't what I expected."
"I don't think any of this is what any of us expected," a familiar voice said from behind Crystal.
Her heart racing again, she slowly turned to face the owner. A large, stocky, yellow earth stallion stood there, his expression a mix of a half-hearted smile and nervous eyes. She knew his face. She knew him: Verdant Wellspring, husband of Painted Wave.
"Hi, Crystal," he said.
"Verd, what are you—" She couldn't finish the question. Her heart had already jumped into her throat and then sunk to the pit of her stomach. She knew the answer. "Why did she—"
Verdant rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "You know how she is," he replied in a soft voice. "Once she makes up her mind…"
"There's no changing it." A short, breathless laugh escaped her, but it died out like a snuffed flame. Her ears folded back and she quickly said, "I'll get the crystal for you when I go back to the Empire. She gave it to me, but—"
"There's no but." He shook his head. "She gave it to you, which means it's yours. Besides… she wanted you to have it."
"But I—" Tears jumped to Crystal's eyes and her chin trembled. "But she—"
Verdant raised a hoof and set it on her shoulder. "Don't worry about her." He offered a light smile. "That's what I'm here for. You have your Silent to worry about, don't you?"
Crystal swallowed, smiled, and shook her head. "We can worry about them together. That's why we're all here, after all."
A hoof clapped against the floor, drawing all attention to Radiant Orchid. "It looks like just about everypony we're expecting to have is here. First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for coming. I know taking a step like this couldn't have been easy."
It was right then when Crystal noticed how many ponies had arrived during her conversations with Bastion and Verdant. Stallions and mares—old, young, and everywhere in between—were crammed into the space that wasn't occupied by the large table. Even with all the chairs pushed in, it was still a tight fit.
"Derelict and I are here to go over the resources you have at your disposal. For example, free foal and elderly care is available to military spouses." Orchid tapped a hoof to a stack of papers sitting on the conference table. "The forms for applying for that aid are right here. There's one less caretaker in your household now, so don't be shy to ask for help if you need it."
After a pause, Orchid continued, "There are also cards on the table for counselors, including mine. Sometimes it can just help to talk to somepony. Sometimes you may need specific help. We are here for you, so reach out to us if you need anything. None of you have to schedule appointments; we will fit you in if you show up. We would appreciate it if it were scheduled, of course."
Orchid worked on down the row of papers, gesturing at the next few. "Here are volunteer programs that are focused on military families, the most important of which is Helping Hooves. Normally, they are a volunteer group for the elderly, but they've stepped up to offer their services to you."
She turned her head to look at a silver-coated unicorn mare standing to attention off to the side. "Lieutenant Melodic Ward is here as the liaison for the local Helping Hooves chapter. Lieutenant?"
Melodic Ward bobbed her head. "Thank you, Warrant Officer." She took a moment to make eye contact with all of the ponies that were huddled in the room. Finally, she smiled. "You are all brave ponies, braver than I think most will give you credit for. Because of that, Helping Hooves is here to help you all stay on your hooves."
A light chuckle circulated the room.
With an appreciative nod, Melodic Ward continued, "What our volunteers typically do is yard work, household chores, grocery shopping, and things of that nature. If your spouse or loved one was the one who fixed the leaky faucet, then a Helping Hooves volunteer will take care of it. Let us do what we can for you so you don't get overwhelmed. Don't be afraid to reach out to us for anything. Thank you for your service."
There it was again. Was that a normal thing to say? Crystal tried not to make a face, but her nose did twitch. What service was she being thanked for?
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Derelict Apathy said, her half-lidded eyes belying nothing of how she may have felt at that moment. "The main reason we have arranged this time is for all of you to meet each other. There are no other ponies in Equestria that will understand what you are going through better than the ponies in this room.
"While we cannot force you to do anything, research shows that building a community of peers in similar circumstances promotes a feeling of belonging and negates loneliness. I highly recommend that you take this time to get to know your peers and work together to build a rotating schedule to have informal meetings at each others' homes."
After a few moments that were filled with confused murmurs, Orchid explained, "What Derelict is trying to say is that it's good to have a support group, and while we could establish facilitated meetings to gather you all together, it would feel more natural and comfortable if you were all in charge of when you met up."
Derelict blinked. "That's one way to put it, I suppose."
Orchid patted her on the shoulder before smiling at the crowd of mares and stallions. "Lastly, if you need help staying busy or putting your focus elsewhere, there are forms at the end for groups looking for more volunteers, including Helping Hooves."
"In the meantime," Derelict said, "please enjoy the free refreshments, mingle, and form your support group before you leave today."
Orchid nudged her in the side and corrected, "And consider forming a support group. It's absolutely optional, but highly recommended."
Derelict's brow furrowed as she looked at Orchid. "But research shows—"
Orchid clamped a hoof over the mare's mouth and smiled brightly at everypony else. "Enjoy, mingle, and thank you for your service!"
The ponies in the room had varied reactions to all the information that had been thrown their way. A few wandered over to the stacks of papers to find what seemed useful to them. Some just continued to stand by themselves, glancing around awkwardly. Others struck up idle conversations. And the rest waited for somepony to get things going.
Crystal sucked in a breath. Well, it was time to find some use for the training she'd been trying to escape her whole life. When the room has no star, shine the brightest, her mother's voice said in the back of her mind.
"Well, I love the idea Derelict put forth about a rotating schedule for getting together," Crystal said, putting on her best smile as all eyes turned on her. "Would anypony else like to join me?"
Verdant smiled. "I would."
"I'd like to," Toffee said in a quiet voice that carried in the quiet room.
A reddish-purple mare approached Crystal. Her face was somewhat contorted in a pucker, as though her eyes and her lips were all trying to reach her nose. "L-Lemon," she stammered out.
Crystal blinked. "Beg your pardon?"
The mare sucked in a breath. "Bit a lemon." She screwed up her nose, let out a heavy groan, then smiled once her face had relaxed. "What I was going to say before I bit into a lemon was, that sounds like a good idea."
"Oh, great!" Crystal looked around the room. "Does anypony have some paper and a writing utensil so we can start coordinating?"
Orchid raised a hoof, then pointed at the table. "There are some right there."
Crystal flashed her a smile. "Oh... Thank you!" Once she spotted them, her magic grabbed one of the pens and a few sheets of paper. "So we have myself, Verdant Wellspring, and Toffee Strudel." She wrote that down and looked up at the mare in front of her. "And your name?"
"Passionfruit," she replied, bobbing her head.
Crystal wrote that down, then glanced at the nearby faces. "Anypony else?"
One by one, ponies stepped up to have their names written down. There were some hesitant and avoidant faces that kept quiet, but the list grew to a sizable length. Crystal smiled as they started to work on coordinating addresses into a schedule. This felt right. It felt like she belonged.
Ah this is so nice, Crystal you lead pony you.
Great chapter, loving the fact that Crystal is taking initiative with how to deal with all of this.
Woo hoo! New chapter! I love it!
:smirks and cleans his monocle: Why, hello there...
Oh Rose Princess, considering that the group is slowly forming, would it be permissible to take bets on whose spouse shall die first? And just how badly they shall take it?
Really good chapter. I noticed you seperate the army/navy and the royal guard ( which I do as well). What exactly is the role of the guard in this continuity?
The heck's the deal with this Bastion guy? Bit of a dick. Perhaps that's how he's dealing with the worry of his wife being away. Although it's still dickish.
I'm glad to see she's seeking help, nobody/nopony can truly handle this on their own
This is what I was expecting Crystal to start doing. While her passion and talent may be in writing, I've been getting the impression that bringing ponies together is more what she was born to do. Personal opinion, of course. I'm sure Crystal has a better idea of what Crystal is and is not.
Also, Crystal, I have one gripe about this chapter that makes no sense to me, given the technology of this universe that I've seen.
They don't have phones, or any other kind of phone-like device, do they? I don't recall seeing anything regarding telegraph services either. How would they come up with a phrase without the technology to back it? Wouldn't it make more sense to ask that they "schedule" ahead?
I'm not saying you're wrong to use "call" ahead. My brain just hit a hard stop with it, as I don't see how that phrase would have developed in their society.
Oh good on Crystal there! This whole support group thing is quite accurate when it comes to military spouses coming together as a support group. I remember there was also aid for the family when the deployed member returned. Sometimes when that deployed military member returns, its's not all sunshine and roses.
7235475 Whoops, yes, I meant schedule!
Oh hey, Melody. Wasn't really expecting characters who first appeared in Sunny's Days to show up here for some reason
Hahaha. I love this nickname. Considering the pony it is being applied to would likely be the one calling someone "deary", it tickles my fancy. Whooo, go Derry!
"Verd, I don't understand." Crystal said hesitantly. "I can accept Silent's reasons, but why did Painted feel compelled to volunteer?"
Shuffling his hooves awkwardly, Verdant Wellspring met Crystal's eyes.
Meanwhile in Manehattan at the Royal Guard Staging Area
The hustle and bustle of hundreds perhaps thousands of ponies filled the air with a relentless cacophony of sounds. Mostly the ponies working managed to tune out the ambient noise after a few minutes and go about their business. However, one fresh arrival looking for a bit of escape wandered off to the northernmost warehouse which was being used by the 501st Unicorn Corps. At first entering the large building was a relief. Nearly all of the sounds was blocked by what looked to be thick, reinforced walls. Actually now that he had a chance to look around, he noticed that he had passed through a warning stenciled on the ground directing ponies to keep clear of the area.
Shrugging, the stallion walked further into the vast building to find a spot to lay down. After all, the Equestrian Army controlled the area now, not whichever company had donated the space to the war effort. Gradually as he walked farther in his ears perked up. Some sound that he could hear at a nearly subconscious level was emanating from near the back of the building. Abandoning thoughts of a quick nap he went in search of the sound. Soon he could feel the hairs of his coat standing on end and his horn began to tingle.
Just ahead was another small, squat structure within the larger warehouse. It looked rough and hastily assembled, not matching the general look of the warehouse at all. Actually, taking a closer look, he could see that it wasn't even finished, lacking windows or even a door that he could see. Why would a somepony put what amounted to a large stone box in the center of a warehouse in the Army's staging area?
Every foot closer to the box he came increased the intensity of the ghostly song thrumming through the air, plucking at his heartstrings. Licking his lips, he leaned forward carefully placing an ear against the unfinished wall. Whatever it was, was definitely coming from within. Leaning in closer he strained, trying to hear more clearly. That was a mistake. A bolt of lightning raced down his horn upon making contact with the wall scrambling his vision and dropping him to the floor.
Shaking his head, he slowly stepped away from the box. Before he could turn away, however, he saw something which made no sense. The previously gray wall had dots of color on it. Squinting he shook his head unless he was mistaken, those dots were moving.
Suddenly the ethereal song reached a crescendo. Sympathetic sparks flew from his horn showering the area around him in blue light.
Shuffling backward on the bare floor caused a percussion section of crackles and pops of electricity to play on his coat. Even his tail and mane were no longer bound by gravity, seeming to drift about in an unseen breeze.
His eyes widened, the song's tempo had doubled then doubled again in the space of a single verse. Color bloomed in concentric circles across the no longer drab walls. The painted waves of colors raced towards each other with the fury of warring trumpets.
With a sound more heard than felt the walls of the box detonated blasting color and sound outwards in all directions. Unable to react in time the stallion could only look on as death reached out to embrace him. A moment before everything went dark, the stallion thought he saw a unicorn mare whose horn was connected by a tether of magic to a floating crystal that sparkled and glowed with all the colors of the rainbow.
Don't worry, he was only knocked out.
This is super good for Crystal. Not only is she now in a place to help her cope, but she feels like she has a purpose again. That by itself is huge, it gives her back a sense of agency instead of being rudderless.
Orchid clamped a hoof over the mare's mouth and smiled brightly at everypony else. "Enjoy, mingle, and thank you for your service!"
I love it when that sort of thing happens. Never fails to bring out a chuckle.
Either way, the support group angle looks like it will be very interesting. I can't wait to see what you do with it. Also, yay, more Radiant!
Now the true healing process can begin.
7235438 The guard is what we'd commonly call "Security forces." That is a combination of local police, kingdom-wide police, their version of the "national guard," and physical security forces.
The Royal Guard's primary function is to protect the ponies of Equestria from things like natural disasters, encroaching critters (Dragons, Manticores, Cockatrices, etc.), and in the less likely realm, an invasion.
They also do the day to day police work and public safety.
Interesting.
This seems like the most hooves-off support group ever. Now I'm no expert into support groups, but I'd expect a little more than "here's the brochures, hope you'll find what you're looking for." Even if the goal is for the members to have a great deal of autonomy, at the beginning I'd expect more intervention to determine how best to get that while keeping each members' head above water. I'm glad Crystal is stepping up to do what it feels like the organizers' jobs should be: get some input from the members on their situation/status and then coordinate with them to get the help and support they need.
So, um, on that note...
Crystal for next Princess!
...waaaaait a minute...
Nooooooo! Lolololololol
7235368 Her mother would be so proud!
7235416 Thanks! Yeah, I think Crystal needs to take initiative more for herself than for others.
7235420 Thank you!!
7235435 Heheheh. See something you like, hmmm? Maybe somepony?
Oh, like I could stop you from making your evil, evil bets, even if I wanted to...
7235438 Anzel covered the guard stuff, so I'll just say thanks for reading and enjoying!
7235463 Everyone copes in different ways... some good, some not so good. Or maybe that's just how he normally is!
7235474 Absolutely! That is definitely one of the main things I have in mind while writing this. It's okay to get help; sometimes it's necessary.
7235479 That is very much the case from what I've heard and read, on all accounts.
7235489 Aaaactually... Melody first appeared in Secrets, if you're going by chapter post date. Timeline-wise, though, yes, Sunny's Days was her first appearance!
7235515 I am always delighted to tickle your fancy, especially when you write such things to tickle mine in return. And, YES. It's such a struggle to write... well... a struggling character. Her finding her stride means I can find my stride, too!
7235533 Same here, regarding chuckles!
I can't wait to see how you all react to what I do with it! And everything else that is to come! I am much excite.
7235555 Indeed!
7235790 That is a word! A word that can be used to describe things!
7235883 Well, to be fair:
1 - There hasn't been a war in recent history that necessitated support groups on this scale for ponies. Like Derelict said, it's new to everyone, so they're figuring things out as they're going along.
2 - The meeting wasn't a support group; it was a facilitator of a potential support group. They can't drag these ponies who are complete strangers into anything they don't want to do. They can't decide for them how to handle it. Derelict has opinions, but all they can do is recommend that they do what Crystal decided to do. Things may or may not have gone differently if Crystal hadn't stepped up. Derelict may have intervened, or Orchid may have gently guided them, but Crystal stepped up before they had the opportunity to need to.
Does that make sense?
7235944 YES. Ahahahaha.
Thank you for all your help in learning about how to handle writing these support groups. This was your reward. I hope you laughed as much as I did.
7235883
The issue with defence forces is that they are BIG bureaucracies. What that means is that they have a whole bunch of support agencies that are in place, but don't necessarily work for the same department. And when you times that by 4 for the different services, you have a whole bunch of people that can provide very specific types of help, that is sometimes duplicated in other areas (but not really), multiple times, with little to no coordination.
This is the opposite of helpful to a anxious spouse. As Chrystal pointed out, Equestria hasn't had to bring these sorts of support services together on this scale before or in a long time, so co-ordination and coalface delivery is going to be lacking.
7235949
Truly, truly evil
I love it!!!
7235646 makes sense. My version is a bit more like the Secret Service in the U.S. mostly personal protection and honor guard for the princesses. Cities would have their own city guard/police/sheriff what have you.
Just a thought; you may want to put in the description that this is more of a depiction/tribute to military families than a strict romance story. I came to that realization a few chapters ago (as you had clarified,) and I think with that state of mind going INTO this fic....it shines all the brighter.
Well done.
-RB
7235946
I was just going to leave it at "the facilitators don't yet fully know what they need to do" is an explanation but my point that it's a very hooves-off still stands. Buuuuuuuut...
The support groups seem to already exist. Maybe not on so grand a scale as is now necessary, but some amount of experience sounds available to the facilitators. Would that give them even basic insight into how to present things so that ponies will come out of their shells to accept help? I'd like to think so. (But there's huge difference between me thinking so, and an organization being so.) Though, as you said, Radiant and Derelict themselves could be new, and would be figuring out applicable approaches now that it's necessary.
Still... it came across as very hooves-off, so yay Crystal!
Yey!
Ah, thanks for writing, Crystal. This put a smile on my face!
7235946
Well, a cold, professional exterior often hides passion and intensity. And even if it doesn't, characters that can appreciate calmness, order and stability without senseless merriment are worthy of attention.
Oh, you could try to change my ways, sway me with your compassion, Rose Princess. Fell free to try, it shall be amusing! Just, please, abandon the labelling. The distinction between "good" and "evil" is nothing short of a simplistic, arbitrary divide... :smiles smugly:
Derelict Apathy is really living up to her name.
Someone need to get on to that before she receives hoof boots to the face.
7236377 Buuuutttt...
Well, of course they exist.
It's been a couple weeks since the war was declared, and there are thousands upon thousands of military ponies going, which means there are likely thousands upon thousands upon thousands of ponies who would be affected by them going to war and in need of something. The group of ponies crammed in that room are not the first group of ponies coming together for support.
But Orchid and Derelict aren't the ponies who have put together every single group across all of Equestria. The way they ran things wouldn't be how every other counselor decided to handle it. This is not an example of how every support group was put together.
And, again, we don't know what they would have done had Crystal not stepped up to the plate. Orchid is a motherly type, so she's not going to force ponies into things if she doesn't have to. Derelict is an analytical type, so to her it's completely obvious that they should form the group and why would she have to intervene? But that isn't to say they would just let the ponies walk out without speaking to each other.
War was declared, something foreign to these ponies. Conflicts had been entered in the past that at the time may have been called "wars" but this is entirely new and frightening. Taking ponies frightened by this and forcing them into something immediately without giving them a chance to mingle and at least get each others' names didn't seem, to Orchid, like the best strategy.
Support groups also existed in other capacities prior. Much more casual ones. Groups of military spouses and loved ones who struggle with the military life. My husband works late hours... Sometimes I feel like my wife loves the Army more than me... Even outside of war, it's a different lifestyle, so there have been support groups before, just on smaller scales.
Wallflower would have referred to the support groups being stood up across Equestria in response to the war. She herself is part of a pre-existing one in Cloudsdale, which is a more militaristic city, that consists of older mares and stallions whose spouses had seen battle as part of prior conflicts and needed contact with the few ponies who understood what they and their spouses had gone through.
Remember! Crystal's experiences aren't the totality of the universe. What one pony goes through isn't the summation of every ponies' lives. I get told "but if we don't see it, how can we know that" or "well if you show it you're showing the universe" and I have no good answer to that other than that is not the mindset with which I write.
Weaponized Painted Wave. How interesting. Anothe great chapter Crystal. I was almost in tears seeing the support she desperately needs. Maybe this will inspire her writing. I wonder if she will move back to Canterlot.
7236223 Oh, dear. I guess I felt like the description ("[...] until she discovers why ponies treat military spouses with so much respect. Life after the happily ever after isn't as easy as she hoped it would be when married to a royal guard.") and the cover art (the empty spot on the bed, the glint emphasizing the medal) covered that, myself. Sorry for the initial confusion on the mental image of what to expect!
7236518 Ahh, so glad! I actually super enjoy writing Derelict. Especially now that I've paired her with Orchid. I think they'll make a fun pair in Hopes, just as Lovey and (older) Derelict are a fun pair in Lovey's story.
7236547 Awww. I think having Orchid there will temper her. I'm also biased, because I find her endearingly analytical.
7236851 Thank you! I'm happy to be writing a happy Crystal again.
Something tells me that they'll probably start talking about things they like or have in common before they start on subjects that a bit more touchy.
7237167 I hear support groups do that, yes.
7236677
Wow... So many words just 'cause I was surprised at Orchid's and Derelict's approach.
Woah! I wasn't thinking they would go that far. Just, y'know, was expecting a little more proactivity. (That's a word? Huh. Learn something new...)
I would never expect that, so I do realize that other ponies in other places get a different method of group support. Just... surprised, like I said.
True, we never got to see what would happen had the silent standoff continued right into the heart of Awkwardsville.
7237281 Hah! Well, that's what happens when I wake up in the middle of the night and decide to respond then instead of until I'm fully awake.
To be fair, I wasn't responding to your surprise so much as the previous comment's (perhaps misinterpreted) insinuation that what Wallflower said was disproving/undermining what I had said in my comment. Either way, I think we're all on the same page!
7237426
Well... it kinda' was. You said this was new to everypony, but Wallflower mentioned that such things exist. Yeah, there are nuances to it... like whether the available ponies actually have said experience, but...
*carefully folds nitpickiness and places it on a high shelf*
Let's just call it a day. Orchid and Derelict are doing what they're doing - riddled with comedic personality clashes, of course - and Crystal is doing what everypony really needs to be done, herself included. I can see her becoming overmare- um, I mean, head organizer and having an absolute herd of supportive friends when Silent supposedly eventually gets back.
Please tell me I'm not the only one who thought of Midnite Bastion from the Austraeoh series.
I see Skirts references everywhere, I'm sorry.
7238170 Not familiar, sorry! Only tangentially aware of the story, but no idea who the character is. This Bastion is wholly and completely unrelated.
Ah, Crystal Wishes, doing what Crystal Wisheses do best.
Distracting me from writing this story. Greater than-colon-hyphen-left parenthesis
7238170 You're not alone, I thought of him too. :P
7235646 Basically Army and Feds here in Mexico, with a touch of state / municipality Polices
7236526 oh hi again... Still trying to resist the Quill and Blade I see... well, it'll be as exciting as the stories themselves to see you go from cold and stoic to fanponying about them,,,
I love this. I love everything about this chapter, basically. c: Except for Bastion. He's a little dickish. And Derelict Apathy... sure living up to the name.
But an armed Painted Wave? Oh lordy, this is gonna be interesting. >inb4 side story
Oh hey, Radiant Orchid. Makes sense to see her here.
Wow. If this mare wants to help anyone, she really needs to unclench.
Man, I have a bad feeling about all of these spouses. Given what is coming, someone here is going to have a bad time when news of the Harmony rolls in. Possibly multiple someones.
Oh my, Painted's husband? Makes sense given what we last saw of her, I suppose.
Ooo, Melody.
And suddenly Crystal's mother is helpful.
You know, I was just a tiny bit wondering if Velvet was going to be here, or alternatively, whoever Tumble's mare back in Equestria is. Then again, in the latter case she might have been.
craaaaaap. I started reading memoirs of a royal guard and realized these two stories are interlocked pieces. orchid hadn't retired yet where i'm at and I spoiled that for myself....
which am I supposed to read first!? crystal's story arch, or silents?
7241787 I have read them both at the same time as they were being written personally. they never really do super huge spoilers. Id read the first 2 of silents story before this story though
Yay a wild Orchid appered! I missed seeing her in the stories, and im surprised about painted running off to the military, then again she seems the type to be taken by a muse and go with it. And so many other cross over characters, but its nice! anyway this was a good chapter and its good to see Crystal taking advantage of some of her mother's.... better advice to help others.
7242278 okay, thanks!
7243166 Np!
7236961
Oh the description is perfect; it's just that it's MUCH more a tribute/life experience than a romance (since crystal's other stories have been romance-heavy. If that makes sense.