"I'm sorry," Silent said, walking toward her, but he never grew nearer. "I'm sorry."
Crystal shook her head, running toward him, yet the distance between them remained the same. "It's okay! I forgive you!"
"I'm sorry," he kept saying over and over. His form became blurry. It was hard to see him clearly no matter how hard she tried.
"No!" she shouted as she jolted upright, the comforter falling to her lap. Sweat clung to her coat and she panted heavily. Her eyes darted back and forth in an attempt to find him before she realized he was gone. "No…"
A dream. No, a nightmare.
She looked over at the pillow beside hers, fresh and untouched. Just as sweat dripped from her forehead, tears started to fall down her cheeks.
Why wasn't reality the nightmare instead? Why couldn't she wake up from this and the war be an awful, awful figment of her imagination?
In a fit of anger, she cried out and pushed his pillow off the edge of the bed, flopped back down, and buried her face in her hooves.
She wanted to believe his words, that the conflict would be resolved without combat. She wanted to believe that the princesses would ensure that. But everything she had read about the gryphons told her otherwise.
Their history was riddled with battles, and they had betrayed the ponies once before already. Nothing was stopping them from doing it again.
The quiet air was disturbed by her soft sobs and sniffles. She tried to remind herself that crying would do no good. It wouldn't change reality. It wouldn't change a thing. Slowly, as she repeated the mantra in her head and transitioned into repeating it under her breath, she lulled herself into a numb, empty state.
Her hooves dropped from her face and she stared at the ceiling, feeling nothing for a while. She was too tired to stay awake, but at the same time, too tired to sleep.
Eventually, she slipped out from under the covers and turned to stare at the bed while her magic started to remake it. Small victory. Whatever that meant anymore.
It felt like somepony else was guiding her as she went through the motions of brushing her teeth and starting a shower. Her heart wasn't in doing anything at all, but she did it anyway. It was what she had to do. Keep moving. If she stopped, she might start to cry again, and she was done with crying. It didn't change a thing.
While she stood under the stream of hot water and scrubbed her face, she went over the to-do list. Shower first. Then hair and makeup. Then breakfast. Then writing.
Just because she wanted the world to stop didn't mean it would. She had deadlines to meet and they wouldn't wait for her to get things together.
When she finally sat down to work on the outline for Desert Rose, nothing happened. Her mind was a complete blank. The quill hovered above the empty page.
Words. She needed words. In order to get those words, she needed a direction. What was her direction?
Forward. Her direction was forward. She took a deep breath and slowly released it. It didn't matter if they were good ideas or ones she'd scrap. Just get something on the paper.
Leading Lady: Arabian horse. Name?
Crystal paused to levitate the Saddle Arabian guide book over and flipped through. How were Arabian horses named? She blinked at some of the examples. Oh, their names were quite long. A characteristic… Their mother's name… And their family's name?
She rubbed the bridge of her nose and kept reading. What characteristics were there about Velvet she could use? Ballerinas were graceful. Graceful, graceful… Jamilah! And mother's name? Sun… Junah. Jamilah bint Junah.
With a frown, she scratched out Jamilah. Too many J's.
It took a fair amount of trial and error, but she finally settled on her leading lady.
Leading Lady: Arabian horse. Name? Fatinah bint Junah al-Khibaz
What a mouthful! Did Arabian horses really have such long names? Crystal played with saying it aloud a few times when there was a frantic knock at the door.
Her heart started racing and she froze. There was no reason to panic. Silent hadn't even left Equestria yet. What trouble could he have possibly gotten into in less than twenty-four bells?
"Crystal!" Velvet's voice yelled from outside. "Crystal, open up!"
"What?" Crystal hopped off the couch and hurried over, her magic undoing the lock. She skidded to a halt as the door burst open. "Velvet?"
Velvet ran past her, head whipping back and forth to look around. "Where is he?" She pivoted on her right foreleg and gave Crystal a bone-chilling glare. "Where—is—he?"
Crystal just stared at her for a moment. "Velvet?" she repeated, somewhat dumbly. "What are you doing here?"
"You know exactly why I'm here." She closed the distance between them and shoved her face in Crystal's, determination in her tightly clenched jaw. "Did he leave you?"
Crystal averted her eyes. "He volunteered. That's what guards do."
Velvet stomped a hoof and snarled, "I knew it! As soon as they made the declaration, I knew it—I knew he was going to—" She shook her head, glaring at Crystal again. "I don't care if he's a guard! I don't care if Celestia herself asked him to go! Aren't you more important? Wasn't that the whole point of getting married?!"
"It's not that simple," Crystal said softly. "I knew what I was getting into." Her ear flicked as she recalled her vows, "I committed my heart to a pony whose life is not within his control. He swore oaths before me. I swore to respect that."
The muscles of Velvet's face twitched as her expression shifted through confusion, frustration, and anger. "I don't care about that! There's no reason for him to go! Are you seriously trying to tell me you're not upset?!"
A surge of emotion brought tears to Crystal's eyes and she shook her head. "Of course not! Of course I'm upset!" She choked on her words as she yelled, "I don't want him to go! I'm terrified of him going! But I can't stop him!"
"Why not?!"
Crystal thrust a hoof toward the newspaper still sitting on the dining table. "The Guard asked for thirty thousand volunteers. Thirty thousand, Velvet! If every wife and husband begged for their loved ones not to go, then who would go?"
Velvet stared at her, eyes wide, then scowled again. "There are lots of other guards! Somepony else would take his place. His place is here with you!"
"No…" Crystal dropped her head to look at the floor. "No, it's not. The job has to come first. It has to."
"Crabapples!"
Crystal shook her head. "Right now, thousands of wives, husbands… Mothers and fathers… Daughters and sons… They're saying goodbye and going off to volunteer. Do you really think they want to?"
Velvet started to pace, each hoof falling with an angry thump. "I don't—I don't know! I don't care about them. I care about you, and I care that you're crying, and I care that he's responsible!"
For a while, Crystal said nothing. She simply listened to the sound of Velvet pacing back and forth and tried to wade through her own feelings. No, her feelings weren't the issue. Silent was the one in question. "He couldn't stay," she said softly, closing her eyes. "He had to go."
Velvet stopped and glared at her. "Says who?"
"Says me." Crystal sighed. "He's not going there to fight, but I don't trust that it will stay that way. The gryphons are different from us. If he didn't go and news arrived that ponies were attacked and killed… the guilt would be too much. He'd hate himself for not going."
"The guilt? What guilt?" Velvet rolled her eyes. "Seriously? He can't take responsibility for every guard that ever gets injured doing anything!"
Crystal bit back a bitter laugh and just snorted instead. "It—It doesn't matter. He has to go. When… If things turn sour, they'll need a pony like him. Perhaps he's not a soldier, but he might as well be."
Velvet walked over and sat down in front of her. "But what about you?" She took Crystal's hooves in her own, giving them a tight squeeze. "I don't give a donkey's flank about what he has to do or what he thinks or anything. What about you?"
Crystal lifted her head to look at Velvet. "What about me?"
"He's left you in the Empire, away from your friends and family! How long is he going to be gone? How long are you going to have to be here alone?" Velvet's eyes were glossed over with tears that she kept from falling. "What if he never comes back? What if—"
"I get the point," Crystal interrupted in a sharp tone. "I don't know. Okay? I don't have the answers. Is that what you want to hear?"
"No," Velvet muttered, her ears pinning back. "I want to hear that you'll move back to Canterlot. I—Nightingale just moved into your old room, but I'll talk to her, she—"
Crystal blinked a few times in surprise, then shook her head. "No, that's not fair to her… And either way, I'm not moving back."
"So you're just going to stay here all alone?! That's a stupid idea!" Velvet squeezed Crystal's hooves tighter. "Silent may think it's okay to leave you, but I don't! If you won't move back, then I'll just move here, and—"
"Don't be silly." Crystal smiled and slipped her hooves out of Velvet's grasp to bop the mare on the nose. "You can't leave your job and your family behind. No, nopony is moving anywhere. I'll take the train when I'm lonely. But this is our home. When he comes home, this is where he'll go, and I want to be here when he does."
Velvet frowned and crossed her forelegs over her chest. "Just leave a note or write him a letter or something that you moved back. Problem solved."
It wasn't that simple. Well—yes, it was, yet at the same time, it wasn't. Crystal didn't want to abandon their home. They hadn't lived there long, but it would be waiting for him. That was where she should be. Where she would be.
Smiling, Crystal rose to her hooves and gestured to the couch. "Why don't I tell you what I've worked out so far for your story?"
Velvet eyed her with a furrowed brow. "Are you changing the subject? It sure sounds like you're changing the subject."
"That's because I am. Now, get off the floor and join me." Crystal sat down on one of the cushions, her magic lifting her notebook from where she had left it to answer the door. "I've picked a setting. How do you feel about Saddle Arabia?"
Velvet's ears twitched with piqued interest and, reluctantly, she went over to sit beside Crystal. "I don't have an opinion one way or the other. Why Saddle Arabia?"
"Why not?" Crystal's smile widened. "It seems exotic."
It was nice: talking. Talking about anything. Anything but Silent, anything but the war. If she just kept her focus on the story, then life seemed normal.
"So the book version of me is an Arabian horse with a really long name?" Velvet glanced up from Crystal's notes. "Are you sure this story is about me?"
Crystal waved a hoof. "Absolutely! Her name means Captivating, Daughter of the Sun, the Baker. Or, at least, I hope so. I'm afraid I'm butchering the language with this dictionary."
Velvet glanced between Crystal and the notes, then tilted her head. "Okay, so I kind of get it. But I'm not a baker."
"Oh, well, perhaps I'm not translating it quite right. That would, if I've understood their culture correctly, be a family name, of sorts. I just wanted to include your mother and father, really." Slowly, she frowned. "Except perhaps I should reconsider that, given that the family names are matrillineal…"
Velvet picked up the guidebook and started to flip through it, tilting her head the other way. "Nah, leave it. My mom sometimes wishes she could bake like my dad. And my dad sometimes wishes he was more like my mom. So, it's cool. Let them have that dream come true."
Crystal smiled, the quill floating over and making a few notes of this. "I still have a lot to figure out, of course."
"Like how you're going to make this work when you're a romance author and there's no romance." Velvet snorted and looked up. "Seriously, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Absolutely," Crystal said with a curt nod and without hesitation. "It speaks to me. That is what I need to write a novel. The rest are simply details!"
Velvet raised one brow. "Pretty important details, but whatever. So what else do you have?"
"What else?" Slowly, Crystal's ears drooped. "That is as far as I have gotten, aside from some notes about Saddle Arabian culture." She scooted closer to Velvet. "You haven't exactly been forthcoming with details of your private life for me to work with, after all."
Velvet frowned and shoved the book in Crystal's face to push her away. "Well, maybe I don't want to talk about it. Make up whatever you want, I don't care."
Crystal leaned around the book, returning the frown. "Why can't you talk to me about it?"
"Because." Velvet stretched her forelegs over her head, then stood up and shook out her coat. "Because I'm hungry, and you've been a terrible host and haven't offered me a thing to eat or drink. So now you owe me lunch!"
Crystal sighed as she slid off the couch to follow Velvet to the door. A smile quirked her lips upward. "You're beginning to sound like a cousin of mine."
Velvet glanced up at her. "What? Who?"
"Nevermind, nevermind." Crystal laughed softly and shook her head. "It doesn't…" She trailed off when they left the building and were standing on the base grounds, a chill running down her spine.
Everything was quiet. The noise and chaos of guards going everywhere from the day before was gone. There were a few ponies going to or from a building. It was like any other day before the declaration.
Velvet looked over her shoulder, frowned, and followed Crystal's gaze to one of the guards. Her ears flicked back and she muttered in a bitter voice, "Why isn't he going to volunteer, huh? He's a guard, isn't he?"
Crystal's eyes darted to look instead at the main gates. "Not every guard can go. We do need some to stay, after all."
"That's not what you said before!" Velvet practically snarled. "You said Silent has to go because guards have to go. Now you're saying not all guards have to go. So why couldn't Silent be one of those that stayed?!"
"I don't know!" Crystal's walking shifted to an irritated trot. Irritated at Velvet. Irritated at Silent. Irritated at herself. "What do you want me to do?!"
Velvet matched her quickened pace with ease. "What do you want to do?!"
The burning sting of tears coming back again only furthered her irritation. "I don't know! I really don't! I wish he weren't going, and I hate that I'm thinking like that. I promised to support him, and now that I have to, I don't want to!" She choked on a sob and came to a sudden halt, dropping her head and clenching her eyes shut.
Velvet was quiet while Crystal trembled and cried. She just stood there, not saying a word until Crystal finally looked up at her. Putting a hoof on Crystal's shoulder, she asked, "So, what are you going to do?"
Crystal shook her head, sighing. "I don't—I don't know. I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. I thought I was prepared for this, but… I'm not. I don't want him to leave, but I understand that he can't stay. How can I be for and against something at the same time?"
Velvet's nose scrunched up. After a moment of thought, she sighed. "If you think you've got it rough, then imagine how I feel. Somepony made my best friend cry. I want to kick him in the family jewels, but I can't because he's not here, so, yeah."
A short laugh escaped Crystal and she rubbed at her eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't stop to consider how this would affect you. I'll send word to him right away that he can't leave until you kick him."
"That'd be appreciated. Then at least I would feel better." Velvet leaned in to rest her forehead against Crystal's, lowering her voice. "Seriously, though… I don't get it. Not at all. He should have stayed."
Crystal sighed. "He swore his oaths, and I vowed to respect that. That's just the way it is. This is the life I've chosen. I have to accept that, and so do you."
"Nope." Velvet pulled back and started walking again. "I don't have to accept anything that makes you cry. When he gets back, I'm kicking him."
Crystal tried to smile as she followed behind her. "Please don't."
"Too late. My mind's made up." Velvet stuck her nose in the air and stomped a hoof on the ground. "Wham! Right in the pecker."
"Oh, in the face, not the jewels?" Crystal's ear flicked. "Well, I suppose I can accept that compromise."
Velvet tossed her mane to grin over her shoulder. "The pecker is part of the jewels, sweetie."
Crystal's brow furrowed, but she couldn't help a laugh. Velvet making lewd jokes, the two of them walking to lunch… it was like things were normal. Almost. There was a haze, a shadow in the back of her mind, but she would keep a smile on her face. She would just have to fake normalcy until it became real. Fake it until you make it—isn't that what they always say?
I wonder if the Royal Guard issues cups...
C'mon, Velvy, he's going to need those to make blue and pink babies.
Velvet, Silent will need those parts of his body to inject buns in Crystal's beautiful oven (no offense meant on her account).
Also, I expected Velvet to react as such with Silent's departure in the Trials side story.
I'm just saying...
Crystal x Velvet 5ever. (that's one more than forever)
7105634
See, that's my idea. If Crystal gets preggo, then SK can't leave. Problem solved. Story over. Wrap it up folks. Well, not Silent. You know what I mean.
Not gonna lie, when Velvet started talking I wanted to beat her head in with a tire iron. I doubt that was the intended reaction from the audience but it's the one I have. One of those knee-jerk reactions I sometimes have.
7105687 Actually, it's completely fucking irrelevant, because that's not how it works.
Wow, Velvet is a jerk. Silent goes off to war, which makes Crystal understandably upset. Then Vevlet comes in and yells at her for what her husband did!
I never liked Velvet all that much for her unrelentingly lewd, selfish and acerbic personality, but I really, really wanted to jump in the story and sock her in the muzzle for the stupid things she said. She doesn't know everything (AKA, the actual reason Silent volunteered), and she's acting like she does!
I would say that Crystal deserves a better friend than her, but Velvet is actually a pretty good friend most of the time. Velvet really needs to learn that there are things in the world that aren't about her and yet still matter.
I fear for Silent's family jewels.
7105703
Hey amigo, it was a joke. We both are fans of the story, obviously, so we're on the same team here. There's no need for any hostility.
7105742 Sorry, I was still feeling urges of violence at the time and it kind of bled over.
7105687 The only even vaguely similar thing I've ever heard of was the suicide missions being reserved for soldiers whose wives were already pregnant, since they'd had a chance to sire an heir.
7105705 You got one Thumbs Down from me for that remark.
And here I'd thought the guard had wised up after the whole balcony incident during the Sombra/Crystal Heart thing, and implemented a strict policy of couples training to fight together. After all, Equestria's greatest asset is its new wiflemen units.
Oh, wait, that's a different universe. This Equestria is doomed because Silent will never save the day by flinging Crystal at the Big Bad[TM].
7105703
7105705
I think she's still a great friend - she immediately dropped everything to rush to Crystal's side. I also think she has no idea what to say/do to make things better for Crystal, but she's trying anyway. It's not like the things people (ponies) say/do come out perfectly every time, all the time, y'know.
7105847 Doesn't mean she wasn't an ass who's head I would like to meet a brick at terminal velocity.
Ah... there's my fix!
I commend you, Crystal, for such an insightful writing about emotions. One can tell that you are really invested in your characters. It's praiseworthy.
Though I'm sincerely hoping you didn't have to write parts like these from personal experience.
Its a shame this ship was sunk... ooooor is it? -rubs hooves together- Jkjk
I have to say this was abit of a gut wrenching feels trip. But It is nice to see Velvets conviction to protect and support Crystal.. even if she is abit misguided and misinformed at the moment. Anyway I loved the chapter! I cant wait for the next one!
Yes, some Velvet is exactly what Crystal needs right now
7105831 "Wifeleman". You are terrible. An absolute hot mess and I love it
7105708 Yeah .... those things are powdered dust when he gets back. XD
7105562 "Dearest Silent Knight, Your presence is missed deep within my soul. I look forward to your return home. Also, Velvet wants to kick you in the groin. You might want to bring proper protection."
7105634 Velvet's not a good forward-thinking pony! What, jewel-kicking actions have consequences? Say it isn't so!
7105649 They are best friend ship.
7105703 7105705 Velvet doesn't understand anything about military life, and she was angry at Silent for hurting her friend. She's never been the best at handling strong emotions very well. Crystal was trying to argue in favor of Silent, which Velvet couldn't grasp, and just made her mad at Crystal for not being mad at Silent.
7105708 As you should!
7105831 Hahaha! Yep, that change in events will doom this universe. And that (7105847) is my exact sentiment. I would never call any of my characters perfect! Where's the fun in that? Velvet's heart is in the right place, but her mind is muddled.
7105907 Thank you! I am an overly emotional person, so I have lots of experience with them. I do not have personal experience with this particular situation. I've done a lot of reading of military spouse blogs and articles, so hopefully things will come off authentic even if it's not from my past.
7105974 They are living together, so maybe there's hope!
Glad you enjoyed it! Velvet is always an interesting character to write when she gets emotional, because she can be a bit of a wild card. Expressing herself genuinely is not always her strong suit.
7106145 The support of friends during hard times is always important!
7106308
I will freely admit to plagiarizing that term from another story on fimfiction. Somewhere out there is a story about Shining in boot camp(?) being taught the finer points of wife throwing by his drill instructor (and the drill instructor's wife).
This is my wife.
There are many like her, but she is mine...
Well, there goes the plans for a story involving SK's children.
Well then, somepony won't be having kids for a while
7106450
Ha, so that is where this feeling of "preparedness" was coming from! An actual writer's research on the topic! Oh, you've just scored more points with me.
Dear Velvet.
Dear Velvet we haven't always seen eye to eye since I feel some of your choices in your life were either rash or plainly stupid.
But today you gave me a reason to love you unconditionally, now go buck Silent Knight in the jewels, twice.
- love, Snowy
ps: You might remember me from Canterlot Prep
silly things aside, Crystal better prepare to adopt since Velvet is gonna wreck them pipes.
So did Silent ever admit to his "secret" mission? I thought he admitted something at least.
EDIT:OK, so new rule:No more opening multiple tabs for new chapters. Turns out I had clicked on the previous chapter along with some other updates, and didn't read it when it got lost in the shuffle.
Also, need less open tabs. Think I have 60ish?
That is a really great line.
I've been told it can make you feel better. Better out than in as an ogre once said.
Sounds like someone needs to go do some firsthand research. How convenient that the option of visiting the subject is available. Get ye to the Pink One and go see your friend.
Sensing a weakness, Velvet moves in to assist Crystal with character research.
A surprisingly poignant statement by Velvet. Silent Knight who has demonstrated a high level of guilt in the past for ponies under "his" command will be in an environment where if the mission does escalate virtually guarantees him being "responsible" for more ponies dying.
Crystal is such a hopeless romantic it hurts. Ouch ouch ouch.
Hmm, where is Rossby. I wonder if he got shanghaied into the war.
I have a foreboding feeling that this could be foreshadowing. If at least some of Equestria's bases are getting drastically emptied I fear for an attack to the pony home-front.
I'm unsure if Velvet has lost her innocence regarding certain things, she does just want to smack him around, or both...
Mango down! Mango down!
Okay. I refuse to believe this is anything other than foreshadowing for the evil magic smoke taking control of Dear Crystal and causing her to come into conflict with Silent Knight.
How the Chapter Could Have Gone:
Hearing the racket a sleepy looking Silent Knight stumbled out of the bedroom.
Yawning he asked, "Velvet, what're you doing here?"
With the most peculiar look on her face Velvet said, "Uh, celebratory Silent-Didn't-Make-Crystal-Cry threesome?"
Next to Velvet a rapidly reddening pony collapsed on the floor with a thump.
7106450 Alright. I guess that all makes sense. Not that I think she should have done differently either way. Ignorance is a poor excuse for being a jerk.
Yep, that settled it for me. I am now 100% convinced... that the word you're looking for is "matrilineal." In this case, at least.
Dat opening bit before Velvet arrives...
memesvault.com/wp-content/uploads/Sad-Meme-Face-Transparent-20.png
And then Velvet arrived...
images.boomsbeat.com/data/images/full/212100/like-a-boss.jpg
Anyway, nice chapter. I'd say I'm looking forward to the next, but that sounds mean for poor Crystal left wondering about Silent. I can only imagine what she's going to do when casualtie reports start coming in.
7105562
So... purple?
7107176 I'm uncertain if you mean a purple cup or purple babies.
In either case, yes.
Its nice to see Crystal trying to keep her mind off the negativity of Silent Knight's absence by writing her new story. This new story should be quite interesting.
Velvet doesn't understand the concept of a soldiers duty. Nor do I think she ever will. She can be quite thickheaded and have a severe case of tunnel vision when it comes to certain things.
7106450 Of course, Silent, being skilled in combat, could easily block any kicks aimed at his groin anyway.
I actually shed a tear!!!!! That's amazing! Crystal congratulations on the beginning if this chapter, It made me shed a tear and I'm happy abut that part. Nightmares are my Achilles Heel. Things can make my heart ache for sure, but only Nightmares can make me cry.
I used to be plagued by them as a child and Is how my Sleep Insomnia became the problem it is now. I still have a nightmare from time-to-time but they are not nearly as bad as they used to be.
Whenever a character in a book has a nightmare It makes me sympathize with them. And I'm with Velvet! Silent deserves a kick to the groin! However a punch in the face would be more appropriate.
All-in-all I love this chapter!
7106815
That would be a FANTASTIC development! Crystal would be a super-interesting villain, especially as we see her descent into darkness from multiple perspectives!
It's interesting that the smoke has been mentioned in, what? like 3 sentences in either story? Yet it's our closest thing to an over-arching plot featuring some sort of main antagonist that isn't purely emotional or situational.
My 2 cents on Velvet: I generally disagree with her life choices and the way she treats pretty much everyone in her life that isn't family. HOWEVER, I have never agreed with every word she has said as much as I did in this chapter. Protect and serve your country, absolutely. Nobody should ever say they don't support the troops, but if your spouse specifically says "DON'T GO" then as far as I'm concerned that's the end of the conversation. Poor Silent still needs some husband lessons.
I wonder if the sadness will continue or if Crystal will learn to deal with it?
I know exactly how Crystal feels having a younger brother who enlisted in the Marines. Every day, I'm afraid I'll hear something bad happened and that he's dead or worse. Even though I know he's in a relatively safe area with his posting, I still will worry until the day he is done and is back home.
C'mon, Luna, aren't you supposed to be on Nightmare duty? Well, I suppose she might be overworked given current events.
Not bad, I like the sound of Fatinah for Saddle Arabian Velvet.
Speak of the devil...
Oooo, angry Velvet is angry. It's probably a good thing that Silent was already gone, an argument between him and Velvet with Crystal caught in the middle would not have been good for anyone involved.
Yep. Really, even if Silent hadn't been up to his eyebrows in this mess already with what went down with Alistair, he still would have been compelled to go.
Now this on the other hand, I'm pretty solidly on Velvet's side. I understand Crystal's opinion, but aside from Cadance her entire support network is in Canterlot, and Cadance is a pretty new friendship as is. After all, if Crystal can write anywhere, that where can be Canterlot as easily as it can be the Empire.
Because life can be complicated.
Well, don't kick him too hard, Velvet, we do eventually want some little Silents and Crystals running around.
I do somewhat wonder what Tumble might be up to at the moment and whether it might have informed Velvet's reaction here. Even in just a friend's with benefits relationship, you're probably going to be upset if your friend goes off to war.
Hello Crystal!
Great chapter as ever, I love what you did with our novelist here, along with her balerina friend! We were missed her appearances here.
Sadly, Crystal Hopes is not as interesting to me as it was with Crystal Wishes. There's of course reason for that. Main conflict in your story is already resolved, Crystal found her love and it's now a full slice of life story. I don't say it's bad! No, I still love it. But story without goal, conflict or without character problems of deeper nature is a bit lacking to me. I don't know why? Maybe because I'm used to more classical literature where everything had it's purpose? I don't know.
I just hope that this new 'War' Arch (which is funny for me, really) won't overshadow Crystal whole life. But I like her inner demon, fear and hardly contained emotions associated with Silent Knight going to war.
Keep it up!
7115665
I think it could be because Hopes is only just now getting started. Yes, Wishes was about Crystal finding her love in Silent Knight and ended with the marriage, that story came to a close, but that's also why this isn't Wishes.
I think Hopes is a bit of a direct sequel in that regard; we see Crystal and Silent in their time of happiness as newlyweds, while they're adjusting to the new enviroment that is the Crystal Empire. Silent Knight is getting used to his new position with the protection of Cadence, and Crystal is trying to make herself feel at home. I think this lasted for a few chapter to ease people into the new setting and establishing the new daily life of the pair now that they've moved and are married.
The last three chapters is Hopes really getting started with the introduction of the main conflict: Silent is off to war, leaving Crystal alone worrying about him every day. This is where i think the bulk of the big conflicts and struggles Crystal is going to go through will originate from, going further.
In a sense, Wishes started off in a fairly similar manner; Crystal had her ordinary life, until two things happened that changed her status quo: 1) She got a cutiemark and set out to become a novelist. 2) She realised Silent Knight was her true love and got closer to him.
I understand what you mean that the story so far hasn't delved deep into any of these topics yet, but I think that's to ease people in, like I mentioned before. Now we're at a point where these problems can be done justice.
7105562
I think Velvet is actually worried about Thunder Tumble and won't tell Crystal. So she's redirecting her frustration to Silent.
Title is a reference to Beauty and the Beast's song "The Mob Song"
Light Your Torch!
Mount your horse!
Screw your courage to the sticking place!
We're counting on Gaston to lead the way!
Probably.
7106450
2 months later...
Velvet performs nut punt!
It has no effect!
Velvet performs run away!
... What? No offense intended, and please take this as mere curiousity of a knuckle dragging cis male, but is this one of dem dere girl tings I keep hearin' bout?
7106308
wiflemen
wiflemen
I died, right there. That is priceless.
7352514 You are moving fast through Crystal's stories! Glad you're enjoying it enough to read so quickly!
Velvet just makes it so hard to like her sometimes. I just can’t mesh with her personality at all. Admittedly, I’m much more of a Crystal.