"Thank you all for your patience," Derelict Apathy said from her spot at the head of the long table. "I apologize for the delay. The warrant officer is ensuring there are no more ponies to bring in before we get started."
Crystal shifted in her seat. An emergency support group meeting had been called, and they all knew why. The discomfort slithering through the air kept all of them on edge, the tension too thick for conversation. Instead, they all merely sat and waited.
Verdant was sitting beside her and staring down at the table, an unreadable expression on his face. On her other side was Dawn Walker, the poor, sweet mare. She clutched both of her hooves around one of Crystal's and had just about squeezed the life out of it by the time Radiant Orchid finally walked in.
"It looks like everypony who is going to be here is here," Orchid said, a tinge of disappointment at the edge of her words. "I want to thank all of you for coming here on such short notice, but I know you understand why we're here."
The older mare stood beside Derelict, the two stark contrasts of one another. Orchid looked every bit like a loving mother in the way her sorrowful eyes sought them all out, while Derelict was merely observing. She had the eyes of a hawk that scanned for anything of note that might slip by. What that might be, Crystal couldn't quite fathom, but she was certain there was something Derelict was watching out for.
"I'm so sorry," Orchid started. Her voice was heavy with unabashed sorrow. "My heart, and the hearts of every pony across our kingdom, are with the fallen, the ones who had to witness the tragedy, the ones who now fight for their lives, and you brave, strong ponies here at home."
Derelict nodded idly. "As soon as we know any names, we will begin dispatching grief counselors, including myself. If you want or need one sooner, reach out to me and I will schedule an appointment for you."
"Don't be afraid to reach out to somepony, anypony," Orchid continued. "And on that note, you may see new faces here. Yesterday, Derelict and I sent a letter to every pony in Canterlot that has a loved one that went overseas. These new faces are here to join your support group and become involved in the weekly meetings."
Crystal's gaze wandered the room. There were seven ponies she didn't recognize. Only seven? Her ears drooped. How many ponies had been too scared, too bereft, or too stubborn to come? Surely there were more ponies than that in need of a community. Perhaps they already had one of their own. She certainly hoped that was the case.
"I recommend introducing yourself as a first step," Derelict suggested in her usual monotonous cadence.
After an awkward silence, Crystal piped up, "My name is Crystal Wishes."
"Dawn Walker," Dawn quietly chimed in.
"Toffee Stru—"
One of the doors opened with a loud, high-pitched whine. All heads turned to see a golden mare standing in the doorway, an almost horrified look on her face that snapped into a scowl when her eyes met Crystal's.
"You?!" the mare practically snarled.
Crystal felt her hackles raising, but the feeling of a whole room watching them kept her from lashing out on foalish instinct. "Au?"
With a huff, Au inclined her head to leer down her snout. "What a surprise that you're here."
Now it was Crystal's turn to squeeze Dawn's hoof and find strength from the gesture. "The same could be said to you, honestly."
Au started toward the small table set against one wall that held snacks and a punch bowl, all of which she eyed with clear disdain. "Did your little guard leave you all alone? You poor thing. I can't imagine why he'd do that."
That was it—she could hear the sound of her resolve snapping in that moment. She couldn't just sit idly by while Au marched in and all over her ponies, not when they were all at their weakest and most vulnerable. There was no way in Tartarus she was going to smile politely and bite her tongue like a civil little mare.
Her chair nearly toppled over from how quickly she stood up. She marched up to Au to put herself between the mare and her support group, almost protectively of them. "What are you doing here? Are you just here to laugh at us? Is this some kind of joke to you?!"
The simple question resulted in an awkward pause. Au's blue eyes darted away from Crystal and she huffed again. "You couldn't possibly begin to understand."
"I—" Crystal was cut off by a wall of magic sparking to life between her and Au, pushing them apart. She looked over to see Derelict Apathy approaching, horn glowing.
"Calm down," she said in an even tone. "What is the problem here?"
Au waved an absent hoof. "This little mare is the problem, of course."
"I'm the problem?" Crystal felt her temper flare like a burst of heat across her face. "I'm the problem?! You're the—" The magical barrier pushed her again.
Derelict looked up at Au. "If you're not here for the support group, then I'll have to ask you to leave."
"That won't be necessary," Radiant Orchid cut in, trotting over, a nervous smile on her face. "I remember sending her a letter given that she's, well, a notable pony. Miss Au is a welcome, invited guest."
Crystal blinked a few times. "What? Why?"
"Why else?" Derelict glanced at Crystal, then back at Au. "I apologize, in that case. Please, have a seat."
Why else? Why else?! There was only one good reason for a pony to be there, and that was if—
Crystal bit back the lifelong, blinding disdain to take another look at Au. The mare stood there and, despite her glimmering shawl, something was amiss. Her eyes were void of fire; instead, they were drowning in sorrow and pain.
"Au?" Crystal asked quietly.
She glared in response.
"What happened? Who is it?" Crystal reached out to put a hoof on the mare's shoulder, but it was slapped away.
"Oh, and I'm to believe you suddenly care?" Au rolled her eyes. "Please, don't bother. You and I know better."
Crystal's muscles tightened, but she held her tongue. "Golden—"
In one fluid motion, Au lunged forward, and Derelict's magic pushed her back. She snarled and spat, "What?! What, you want to be friends now that you've faced adversity for the first time in your precious, charmed little life?!"
"Excuse me?!" Crystal straightened up as tall as she could. "And just what do you know about my life?!"
"Ladies," Radiant Orchid tried to cut in, but neither paid her any mind at all.
"What do you know about mine?" Au's eyes narrowed. "I know that you are the beloved C.W. Step, that you have your fairytale prince, that you have had everything you've ever wanted and more"—the tears that had been hiding somewhere deep inside started to well up and fall down her cheeks—"while I've lost everything!"
The anger inside Crystal was extinguished all at once, and the room fell into stunned silence. All eyes were on them while Crystal just watched Au break down in front of her, like a proud castle that crumbled and dropped into the sea below. The grand structure of her image built over so many years was lost to the deep, dark depths of despair in a single moment.
"I've had to work—work so hard for everything that I've had, while you—you've just had it all given to you!" Au dropped down and raised a hoof to hide her face, but the tears still fell into view. "And now, the one thing I had, the one thing that mattered... He's gone!"
There were too many questions running through Crystal's mind for her to think straight. Both she and Au jumped when Dawn seemingly came out of nowhere to embrace the sobbing mare, followed by Toffee. One by one, several ponies in the room left their chairs to come over and add onto the growing group hug.
Crystal just stood there. Not because she didn't want to comfort Au, but because she wasn't certain if it would do any good.
"Golden Pants is the daughter of Lieutenant Pants," Orchid said, her soft voice cutting the silence as she read from a clipboard held in one hoof. "He volunteered, got his commission after training, and was assigned to the quartermaster corps."
Crystal's ears perked and she took a step toward Au. "Your father volunteered? But—" She quickly shook her head. "Did you hear that? He likely wasn't there, Au. He's fine. It's okay."
Au jerked her head up. "So what if he wasn't?!"
The ponies hugging her hesitated, then—just as slowly as they came—they slowly pulled back to give her space. She rose back onto all four hooves and glared down at Crystal, fire in her eyes once again.
"You don't know anything! You don't know my father! Even if he wasn't there, once he heard about it, he probably charged headfirst into the Sudramoar lines! You don't know what he's like!" She sniffled and trembled. "He'll... He volunteered without a second thought, a pony like him, who's never held a sword in his life! What was he thinking?!" Her head drooped and tears pattered against the floor beneath her hooves. "He left me... all alone... How can you possibly understand?"
"We all understand," Dawn said in a surprisingly firm voice, moving to stand by Crystal. "All of us are here because somepony we love is over there right now."
Au opened her mouth to speak, but Orchid reached out a hoof between them and waved it. "I think we've all said enough. We're here to help each other, not to hurt, so why doesn't everypony take their seat?"
Begrudgingly, Au walked past Crystal, avoiding eye contact with her. She took a seat at the far end of the table, an empty chair between her and Starlit Bastion, who was similarly avoiding Crystal's gaze.
Crystal sighed. A confusing mess of guilt and frustration boiled in her chest, but she kept her mouth shut and returned to her seat with Dawn sticking close to her. That small gesture of companionship calmed some of her nerves; it helped her to feel a little less like the group's villain.
Orchid cleared her throat and put on a calm smile. "The meetings scheduled and run by you all seem to be effective. Those of you who have been attending them already seem to be close. I'd like for the new ponies here to have the same support available to them, especially now more than ever."
"There has also been a lot of research conducted in the past few weeks," Derelict said, her magic distributing envelopes to each pony at the table. "Exercise is highly recommended. Time spent out of the house, as well. We recommend coordinating events together on the weekends. I've collected free vouchers from businesses in Canterlot and other cities that offer entertainment and distractions for group events."
"That is something to think about later, though," Orchid cut in. "We'd like to take this time, in this safe, non-judgmental space with ponies who understand, to do an informal group therapy. If anypony wants to talk, you are in a room full of listening, compassionate ears."
Uncomfortable shifting and glancing went around the room like a wave of tangible awkwardness. Finally, the voice of one of the newcomers piped up, "Does anypony else still feel lonely at night?"
There wasn't a head in the room that didn't, in some small or large way, nod in reply.
The mare stared down at the table, her ears pressed flat against her mane. "Just as I'm about to fall asleep, it's like a wave crashing over me. I... I just feel so incredibly lonely."
"It was worse last night for me than ever before," Crystal said, trying to keep a smile on her face. "I had this awful thought of, what if he was on the Harmony? What if he never comes home? What if I've lost him?"
A sniffling sob fell from Dawn, who buried her face against Crystal's neck. "M-Me, too."
"I felt that way the first night without my wife," Bastion said, his voice deep, a startling contrast to the delicate ones that had spoken before him. "And then I thought, 'I can either let this break me, or I can let it make me stronger.' So I bucked up." His ear twitched as he turned his head to look out at the room of eyes staring at him. "Buck up, fillies and colts. Letters are going to be arriving from our soldiers, and they're going to need us to be strong after what they went through. What they're going through."
Nopony said anything at first. It was harsh, but it was true, and Crystal knew it. She straightened up in her seat and nodded. "Bastion is right. We will take today to mend, and tomorrow, we'll prepare ourselves to reply to our loved ones with the strength they need us to give them. That is our job now."
Pink magic wrapped around the envelope in front of Crystal and she retrieved its contents. Warmth filled her at the voucher sitting, almost miraculously, at the top. "And I know just what we should do. How about dinner in Ponyville? A little trip away from Canterlot, some fresh air, and some free food. I think that will do wonders."
"Ponyville?" Dawn's ears perked as she turned her head to look at the papers in Crystal's magic. "Oh, if we go, I should see my family while we're there..."
"You've got family in Ponyville?" Bonnie asked, smiling.
Dawn rubbed her eyes and pulled away from Crystal to sit up straight on her own, then nodded. "Mmhm. My family owns a farm just outside of town."
"A farm! How wonderful." Bonnie clapped her hooves together. "I think this Ponyville trip could be exactly what we all need."
There was just one more thing Crystal needed to do now that she had regained some semblance of calm: extend an olive branch. Slowly, she leaned forward and looked down the table at Au. "Golden, do you think you could help me organize this?"
"Would you stop calling me that?" Au snapped, glaring. "And what do you need my help for?"
Crystal smiled despite her urge to frown. "You have connections here in Canterlot that I don't have. I was hoping you could help us get into the more comfortable seats in first class. I understand if—"
"Oh, is that all?" Au gave her mane a dignified toss. "That's a simple task. Honestly, you can't manage that yourself?" That perfectly practiced smile flashed its way across her face. "Don't worry. I can take care of that."
Crystal just kept smiling. It was easier said than done, but she managed it. "Thank you, Au. Now, how many of you will be coming, by a show of hooves? I'd like to go tonight, unless anypony has any plans already."
A few hooves raised, followed by a couple more, and even more until every hoof was in the air save for two: Bastion and Toffee.
"Toffee?" Dawn asked, blinking at him.
"O-Oh, don't get me wrong!" Toffee quickly waved his hooves. "I'd love to! But I don't do trains well." He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. "They just make me nervous. So, you all have fun. I'll be fine."
"Don't worry, brother," a stallion piped up, his wings flaring out. "I'm 'ere for you. I'll get you to Ponyville, no train needed."
Toffee's ears wiggled and his face lit up. "Oh, really? You don't mind?"
The stallion winked. "My honest pleasure. No pony left behind, an' all that." He looked over at Bastion, a crooked grin on his face. "Doubt I could carry the both of you, though."
Bastion snorted. "I'm not afraid of trains. I'm just not interested."
"Well, I'm afraid Mr..." Crystal glanced at the pegasus.
"Weather Front, ma'am."
"Mr. Front is right." Crystal smiled at Bastion, struggling to keep it from curling into a grin. "No pony left behind. It's a free dinner, Bastion." The grin finally won the battle and took over her expression. "Buck up and come along."
Though his ears flattened to the sides, Bastion didn't frown. Instead, he chuckled and shook his head. "Well played, filly."
"Then it's settled." Crystal nodded. "Au, if you'd please make arrangements with the train?"
Au rose from her seat and trotted to the door, her usual aura returned; her head was held high, her tail was perked, and her stride was long and graceful. "Yes, yes. You're lucky I decided to come... here." She paused at the doorway and lingered a moment. After a quick glance over her shoulder, she started forward again and disappeared from sight.
Dawn wasted no time in whispering, "So, um, you two know each other?"
Crystal snorted and nodded. "We've known each other since elementary school." The burst of amusement faded as her gaze slid over to the door, watching it slowly close. "And yet, I suppose, I know very little about her..."
"So," Bonnie started, clearing her throat to draw their attention, "where are we having dinner? I've been to a few good restaurants in Ponyville."
"Right! Yes." Crystal's magic picked her stack of papers back up. "Everypony, please make sure to bring your voucher for Haut-Savoir, though if you lose yours on the way, I'm sure the owners will trust that you're with us." She smiled. "More than sure, in fact."
amazing chapter, finally Au is getting something of a personality other than a bully and a snob
keep up the good work
Greetings once more, Derelict! You are doing well, I see... :smirks:
:squints his eyes: Miss Au, there is evil and there is immaturity. You have never learned anything, it seems...
:chuckles hysterically: Well done, Weather Front, well done...
Mmmmm.... typical Au...
And in the background the swishing of Tail can be heard.
Well, Crystal and Au are going to have a very awkward train ride
I need to learn how to read, it has been months since the war started.
Another interesting bit of information. I had no idea that even before the Harmony disaster the Guard was so desperate for ponypower. If the Guard already has fast-tracks opened for personal even before the scope of the war escalated I am quite intrigued. Does this point to the Guard always having such avenues open? Did some minister or general have the foresight to start heavily recruiting even before it was necessary? Was this general call for ponies sent out at the same time the Guard internally reassigned its members?Another thought is that he was specifically put into the quartermaster corps aka Logistics. Is this area a special case that the Guard started spinning up early as it's a non-combat roll and would need a large surge of personal to help support the gryphons even if ponies hadn't been pulled into the main conflict?Crown funded? Business donating to the cause?
Weather Front might be raring to go now, but the flight back, after a big meal, might make him rue his generosity.
Still don't like you Au. but you atleast get them good train tickets.
I may not be familiar with Au Golden, but this chapter should be the start them becoming better friends.
Oh wow I just finished reading this chapter and I saw it was featured on the main page! Good job, CW
This chapter put a great big goofy smile on my face.
The war just doesn't let up, not even for the ponies back home. I'm curious about more appearances from Au now. Keep your cool, Crystal. It's going to be tough around her, but she seems to be struggling, so help her out.
And, oh boy, Weather Front. His short appearance already has him competing against Midnight Poem for 'favorite obscure side-side-side character'. Dude's a total bro.
All the teasing; all the anticipation. I feel so... let down. But it's nothing you did or didn't do, Crystal. By the time this came around I'd worked myself into a tizzy and was definitely expecting way too much. ("Aull my dreams," huh? I've got some pretty expansive ones, y'know.)
Yay, Au's back! Awwww, she hasn't changed a bit. So little has changed even though she has taken a slap upside the head. (I guess she needs another.)
But, y'know, after what was said here, I'm thinking that the loss of Horsey had a huge impact on her life - more than she'd ever admit. I know that losing my own Elementary school friends when heading into Middleschool was a massive blow. Crystal was directly involved in that... But Au also talks like she hasn't any real friends left (kinda' understandable), and like her mom is a nonentity. (Wat...? ) I'm really curious to know what's happened.
I kinda' want to hug her, despite the pricklies, but I guess I'm not as strong as Dawn. But I also can't not side with Crystal, who has never gone after Au anywhere near the way Au has gone after Crystal.
Also, I expect one heck of a Q&A between Crystal and her friends (Dawn, etc.) concerning her history with Au. Actually, Orchid and Derelict probably want to nip that "little" conflict in the bud.
EDIT: Let's keep all this from Velvet for now. She might volunteer her slapping services.
So there's a chance Au is going to run into Horsey. Have they even spoken since they were foals?
7406717
Oh, sweetie... darling... *looks at her outline for coming chapters* We're not done yet.
Au is getting a big upgrade in her "background character" status, darling!
After being away for so long.
Luckily, she's come to the right place. I know that one of those friendly faces will be more than happy to...
Kiss her Au-wies.
7406774
You're really excited for my excitement. Though I kinda' figured; you were all kinds of it at Bronycon.
Well, I've got plenty of glomps at the ready in case of glomp emergency (Pinkie taught me well). Here's hoping the frost queen gets exactly what she deserves. (And not a gaeas from Discord to be unable to harm others*)
*Ice Queen Celestia was banned from being able to directly cause harm/death in Arad's world-building story Celestia.
i wanna see velvet's foal
how many more chapters do we have to wait until we catch up to Silent Knight's current place?
7406856 To quote Hamlet Act III, Scene iii, Line 92: “No.”
So now we see a new side of Golden Pants...It took a bit of a disturbing event for that wall to finally crack. Let's hope that wall can crumble and she become a better, more likable person. A train ride to Ponyville eh? Going to Horsey's restaurant aught to be interesting. A class reunion perhaps?
Horsey: Uh Savoir, we may have to fire up the second stove, looks like we've got incoming, En mass. Wait! Is that Crystal and Golden Pants!?
Oh the look on her face shall be priceless!
7406539 Oh, we will get much more of her personality here in Hopes!
7406545 Derelict is always doing well, even if she's busy pushing fighting mares apart.
That Weather Front, though! He seems like a right good chap.
7406548 Some parts typical, anyway!
7406584 Yes indeed!
7406592 I need to learn how to be more clear with the passage of time!
Businesses donating to the cause! Good-hearted business owners like some fine stallion down in Ponyville who donated vouchers to his restaurant.
Hahaha. He can handle it! He can totally handle it!
... or maybe they'll stay behind, rent a hotel room... hmm... this is sounding awfully familiar... I sure hope Weather Front is a gentlepony!
7406596 She'll get them the best! She is Au, after all.
7406615 Au is Golden Pants, if that rings any bells?
7406633 Haha, well, sort of featured! Every time I update, Hopes will end up in one of the bottom three slots of the front page box. The bottom three slots are "recent popular updates". So it's not nearly as impressive as getting into the top seven slots!
7406652 I'm glad to hear that!
7406683 We'll see if Crystal can overcome the past to help Au in the present... she is growing into her role as the group leader, after all.
Hahaha. Weather Front is a definite bro!
7406749
7406822 Whether she likes it or not, she's definitely come to the right place. Now she just needs time to mend some long-running, deep wounds!
7406840 AUGH. I mean! Here! *waves outline* This stuff! I've been holding onto this stuff since.. like... way back when I teased you on deviantArt!
Lord help me if you don't like what I have planned, because I'm so hyped for it.
7406856 I, uh... uh... "how many more chapters do we have to wait"? You make it sound like a chore! The war has only started just a few months ago, and as we know in Trials, it goes on for two years. So... yeah, it's going to be a while. You're just going to have to suffer through a bunch of boring stuff on the homefront, I guess. Sorry to disappoint!
7407001 Yes! It's going to be a pretty wild ride... or so I hope, anyway! I can never tell if my plans are as exciting to others as they are to me.
And, yeah. Sometimes those with the deepest wounds put up the toughest walls.
7407011 it counts anyway!
And she begins to lead for the sake of the others. Crystal is really starting to become awesome. Not that she wasn't already, but a helping hoof is always better, in my not so humble opinion.
7407011 no, i don't mind! it's just that it's like flipping to the last page of a book and seeing the epic boss battle and love confession and climax and everything, and then having to start from the beginning with that anticipation and impatience. i'm not good at waiting, sorry!
7407011
You're hyped? I'm hyped too! *flails arms overhead* I'm even more hyped because you're hyped! Don't think I'm not! Getting what she deserves could be all manner of things! She could win the spiritual lottery after having a change of heart and ascend to alicornhood to take her place as the alicorn of, ummmm... high fashion! Celestia's pretty fashionable, so maybe that would fall under the purview of the day.
I'm sure I'll love it. I said I'm a sucker for little snots making a turnaround, especially the pretty ones and I mean that. Au's about as snotty and pretty as they come.
P.S. Has anyone considered exposing Au to Red? I give her 13 seconds before she caves and develops a soft side.
Ohhh, this isn't gunna end well. Not when Golden Pants meets High Horse again, or when she see's she is happy with her life. I almost feel sorry for Au.
.
..
... almost
Au...I shall withhold judgement until I know more. Some jerks aren't jerks to the core, so I'm sure there's more that has been unsaid to explain the general jerky jerkiness.
Yay! Bastion continues to progress!
AHHHhhahahaha! This gonna be GOOOD! I'm just giddy with excitement of how this goes! AHHHhhahahaha!
...still picturing her hammerdancing.
Hoping that doesn't mean Fancy bit the dust though...
7407234 Upper Crust's training came in good for something! Just not what ol' Crusty intended, not exactly.
7407351 Ahhh, classic destination vs. journey. I'm a big journey person, myself. Like... when I find a rom-com to watch, of course I know they're going to get together and there's going to be sparks and fireworks. But I want to know how we got there. Or a superhero movie. Of course the villain's going to be defeated in a grand spectacle! But how do we get there?
Crystal has two years' worth of life to go through. There will be timeskips, obviously, but... I'm definitely not going to be glossing over that much just to race to catch up to Trials.
7407686 The reunion is definitely something that won't be easy peasy lemon squeezy.
7407746 There's definitely some things going on with Au behind the scenes! Her breakdown should hopefully be evident of that much.
Bastion progresses at his own pace... when little fillies keep poking at him.
7408012 I don't know if I should be concerned or not from all that laughter!
7408050 I hope not! Fancy Pants is one of the good guys!
Man, I don't care who Au has in the war or what the deal is with her behind the scenes, you walk into a safe place where EVERYONE is scared and grieving for the same reason and act like it's a stage with a spotlight to be stolen and you kinda deserve to get thrown the fuck out.
7406856
As many chapters as there are planned to be written between then and now, so you're just gonna have to wait 'til we get there. In the meantime, exercise some patience and courtesy while Crystal guides us from point A to point C without skipping B 'cause hot damn I wanna know what B is like for this story.
7408370 I agree with both statements. This is shaping up to be a good story, and Au is needing a reality check
Damn Au walkin in and stirring things up like a mad lady today it seems. Though I am surprised she didnt get thrown out. I would have for that meeting.. let her cool off and come back to the next one maybe. I actually find the Dynamic between Crystal and Bastion quiet... amusing for lack of a better term. I am curious to see who's of the group, besides the obvious ones, loved ones were involved with the harmony going down. A good chapter and I cant wait for the next one!
And here comes Au, just to remind folks that after dozens of chapters without her, you'd be better off if she hadn't shown up again.
I read the entirety of Crystal's Wishes in less than a week and it only makes me feel the feels more. I come back to these last two chapters and...
Why? WHY ARE YOU LITERALLY TRYING TO RIP MY HEART OUT OF MY CHEST?
Oh my god, the first support meeting immediately after the public address, are they announcing names already?
Ahh, okay, so not yet for that.
Geeze, Au, I just don't even.
Oh, interesting. Yeah, seems about right for Fancy.
Helpful Bastion, well there's a nice change.
Ahh, and there's the organizing by Crystal that must be what Dawn was talking about in Trials. Ponyville should be a nice little trip, could be interesting if we see any hint about who from there might have volunteered.
7408370 She's *extremely* lucky that Radiant Orchid stepped in, because Derelict was just about to throw her out. Orchid's mom instincts tell her that Au needs the help, though I don't think any of them are going to take her seriously if she starts being a bitter pony again, because it's clear she's a little crazy.
7409341 She probably should have been thrown out! But I think the Harmony tragedy is making it harder for them to know what to do, because they so don't want anypony to be alone, especially when, after her breakdown, it's clear she's suffering a great deal.
7409889 Ouch, poor Au! But I understand that sentiment, she kind of brings it on herself.
7411020 You really tore through the story, I'm super impressed!!
And... heh. BECAUSE I FEED ON THE TEARS OF READERS!
7411924 Yup, I imagine Fancy as the model rich elite. He believes (in my mind) that those who can help have the obligation to. Thus why he helped Sunbeam and Pepper get their bakery way back in the beginning of Wishes. He's just a genuinely nice guy, which is also why he's so powerful in social credit—he's not only fairly wealthy, but he's generous, so those that flock to him are usually rewarded. Can't even talk bad about him behind his back!
Bastion is helpful in his own way! His own strange, blunt, but not inaccurate way.
7411020 The Rose Princess can be a cruel mistress o.o
7414408 Good point
How about commissioning Pony Stark for some kick-ass airships?
That was bad.
It's been a while since I've left anything here, so I'll go ahead and leave this here.
I love it! The characters, the tension, the laughs, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!
Love it all! Keep going!
Also, thank you for the lovely cameos! You's da best!
7406539 I think she's always had more personality than that, but she was just covering it up for appearance's sake.
This gives away just how old I am, but I remember a friend of my fathers that was a gold star mother during the second world war. It didn't hit until much later what that meant. This story brought that forcible to mind. Well done, young lady Well done.