Budding Talent
Oh gosh, I'm so anxious. I sent Cadance away on a mission to help ponies resolve their relationship problems, like I said I would. She went to do it this morning and hasn't come back yet, though I did give her the entire day off...
Still, I'm just wondering if she'll get her cutie mark by doing this. If she does...
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I asked Fancy to get coat dye so if she gets her canon cutie mark, we'll be able to hide it. It wouldn't do for Celestia to know that the rightful ruler of the Crystal Empire is my slave. Fortunately, the dresses I gave her so she could blend in with the Castle's staff will also serve the additional purpose of hiding her cutie mark, should she get it in public.
I'm actually trying to have all three of my companions earn their cutie marks, but their acquisition is so fickle. The Cutie Mark Crusaders did have some talents, building, singing and dancing, but none of them got them their cutie marks. Who is to say Cady will get the same cutie mark? Shiny won't be too bad, considering his special talent has something to do with protection and considering he's my knight, he'll get plenty of opportunities to try his hoof at it. Mac, though, that's something else. His cutie mark most certainly had something to do with apple farming, but he won't be doing anything related to agriculture in this life. Will he get a different mark, or will he be mark-less until I get him to plow a field? I hope not. Considering that cutie marks seem to be an intrinsic part of ponykind, its absence might have negative consequence on Mac's magic, or even his psyche. If we consider how the Equal Ponies were affected...
I shake my head.
It doesn't matter right now, I have to focus on the present.
The door to my office (yes, my office. Though I mostly use it as place where I do my homework.) opens and Cadance walks in. Yes! I won't have to wait anymore!
I walk up to her and smile.
"So, Cadance, did you manage to help anypony?"
She beams, hopping on the spot.
"I did! And guess what?"
"No way! Did you...?", I say, filled with excitement.
"I got my emblem!", she shouts, much like the CMC did in the show. She's literally vibrating in place by now.
I hug her, lifting her up and standing on my hind legs, before I spin us around, eliciting pearls of laughter from Cadance.
"I knew you'd get it! Congratulation, Cady!"
I set her down, felling woozy. Note to self: doing this as a horse is a bad idea.
Cady smiles softly, much more calm, and nuzzle me.
"Thank you, Solus. I couldn't have done it without your support."
"It was nothing. It's your special talent, after all. Can I see it?", I ask.
"Oh! Sure! I'll just go undress myself, it won't take long!", she says, before hurrying out of the room.
Ah! She got it! That's perfect! At least I know I'm doing something right...
Oh, shut it, self-flagellating part of my brain!
It's too bad that Mac and Shiny aren't here. Maybe I should have given them the day off too. Hmm, probably not. I don't think I could have gotten away with doing that, but it's still unfortunate they are not here.
Cady comes back in, free of her clothes and...
"So? What do you think?", she asks with an excited voice,
I think I'd rather you did not shake your rump at me and also THAT'S THE MOTHERBUCKING CRYSTAL HEART! YES!
"It's...it's perfect. A heart pure as crystal. It's exactly you."
She blushes and smiles widely.
"Thanks! It means a lot, you saying that."
I smile back.
"Anytime, Cady. So, how did you get it?", I ask, curious.
"Oh! Well, it's quite the tale actually. See it all began when..."
(Cadance P.O.V)
Help ponies with their relationship, help ponies with their relationship...
Ugh, how do I do that? I can't just walk up to somepony and...
Slap!
"You dare!? I deigned accept your proposal! Without me, you'd be a nopony, a shadow in the Court! Stripped of your heritage! Is that how you repay me? How you repay my sacrifice and effort?", a mare screams angrily.
"N-no I-I-", a stallion stutters fearfully.
"Stop stuttering! What a wreck you are! What would you be without me? Go away! Only come back when you're really sorry!", the mare shrieks, slamming the door to her (their?) apartment.
The young stallion jumps back, startled by the closing door, before slumping against the wall opposite the door. He grabs his head as he begins sobbing.
"W-what am, sniff, am I going to do? She h-hates me, now...", he says softly.
He continues sobbing silently before he notices me.
"What do you want?", he hisses at me. "Come laugh at the poor fool?"
"What?", I reply, genuinely shocked. "Of course not! I'm just...sorry for you..."
"I don't need your pity!", He spats out.
"It's not pity, it's...empathy. No one should have to feel like this. Do you want to talk about it?", I ask, stepping closer, smiling reassuringly.
I'm not sure that's what Solus had in mind, but I can't just let that be, right?
"Talk? With you?", he asks, disbelief apparent on his face.
"Talking helps. I would know. I had plenty of ponies talk with me, including adults, and feel better afterwards."
"You? You're just a filly! What would you know about what I'm going through?"
"Nothing, but sometime a child's innocent point of view might give you a new perspective on your problems. It won't hurt to try, will it?", I say, placing a hoof on his wither.
He hangs his head.
"I...I guess not", he mumbles.
I sit beside him.
"So, who was that?", I begin.
"That was my fiancee, Upper Crust."
"Your fiancee?"
"Yes, my beloved fiancee", he says, his tone heavy with sarcasm, shaking his head. "See, I'm not a noble, I'm a burgher, son of an important merchant. My father told me I had to find a suitable bride if I wanted my inheritance, so I set forth to court a Lady, for who else would be more suitable?"
"That doesn't seem to be a good foundation for a relationship", I point out.
He snorts disdainfully.
"I guess not. But I still had to do this, so I searched for an impoverished noble family, and enter Upper Crust. Her father is a baron of a little castle which brings little revenue. So, to increase his wealth, he dabbled in investments by taking loans. As you'd imagine, investments are a risky venture, and sure enough, he lost it all when the caravan he had funded was ambushed. So when I came asking for his daughter's hoof, he jumped at the opportunity to have someone deal with his debts."
"Is that why she was so angry?"
"No, well, yes, indirectly. She's very reluctant about the whole thing, she thinks she's debasing herself by marrying a commoner. Thus, she makes sure to remind me that she's a noble and that's she's better than me at every opportunity she gets."
"Can't you find somepony else?"
He sighs.
"No, there is nopony else. The nobility is loathe to open its rank to the plebeian. I'm stuck with her."
"Did you try to talk with her about how you feel?"
"I did. That's why she gave me this", he says, pointing to his cheek.
I rub my chin, thinking hard. What could I do? Maybe...
"Maybe I could go talk to her?", I propose.
"What?", he says, boggling at what he heard. "Out of the question, you'll only make things worse!"
"Master Solus always says there's two sides to a conflict. I should at least try."
"'Master Solus'? You mean the Prince?", he asks.
"Uh-huh."
"You are a confidant of the Prince?", he says, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes", I say, nodding.
"Maybe she will listen to you...", he mumbles. "Fine, you can try it your way."
Yes! I knew that would work!
["Wait, wait, wait, wait...you used my name to get him to agree?"
"Yeah? What's the problem?"
"I...I'm sure there is one, just-"
"Shush, let me continue."]
I get up and go to the door, hesitating a bit before knocking. It doesn't take long before the door opens.
"Who are you? What do you want?", Upper Crust asks harshly.
"I am Cadance, a companion of His Serene Highness."
Her eyebrows crease.
"His...", she starts, before her eyebrows go in the opposite direction. "The Prince!? Is there something he wants from me?", she says frantically.
I wave my hoof.
"No, no! Don't worry, though I am here on a errand he assigned to me."
"An errand?"
"Yes! In order for me to become more skilled at interacting with the Court, he asked me to go around the Castle and help ponies with their relationship problems."
"Relationship problems? I don't-"
She stops short when she sees the stallion, who cringes before waving and smiling weakly.
"The only problem I have with him is the fact that does not appreciate my contribution to our relationship.", she says, turning her nose up.
"Does he really?"
"Of course!", she snaps.
"Did you ever talk to him about it?"
"Of course I did! I made it very clear what I expect from him!"
"Did you let him do the same?"
"Wha-obviously not!"
"Why not?"
"I'm already giving myself to him, isn't that enough?", she declares, glaring daggers at the stallion.
"And he's giving himself to you.", I reply.
"What is he giving, uh?", she spats out disdainfully.
What was the word Solus used...ah, yes! Don't snark, don't snark...
"His wealth, for one."
That make her stop and stare, before she turns to the stallion, murder written in her eyes.
"You told her!?", she shrieks.
"I-"
I step in between them.
"He did. So, let's recap, he needs you for his inheritance and you need him to expunge your father's debts, right?"
She grinds her teeth before answering.
"Yes", she grounds out.
"So, you are giving each other something of equal value, yes?"
She stays silent, her lips pursed.
"Yes?", I repeat more intently.
"Yes, we do", she lets out, her voice as cold as ice.
"So, by that logic, the only way for one side to add value to this arrangement his with their own self, correct?"
Her face lose of its hardness, replaced by confusion.
"I...suppose?", she says slowly.
"So, the only way for you to be better than him would be to make him happy, no?"
Now she looks positively lost.
"I...what? I...I...I imagine..."
"Can I ask you a question?"
She turns away and mumble something that sounds awfully like "it's not liked it stopped you before", before looking back at me.
"Ask away."
"I know you don't have your status in common, but did you ever try to find if you had something in common beside that?"
She scrapes the floor with her hoof, looking embarrassed.
"Well, not...exactly."
"Maybe you'd get along well with if you tried to understand him. Any relationship, romantic or nor, needs both side to understand each other. The better you understand, the better the relationship is."
"I...and who said that, uh? What would a filly would know about love?"
"The Prince said it, and he learned it from his mother."
["What?! No I didn't!"
"Shush, it's a white lie.]
"H-he did? Ah, well-"
I interrupt her.
"Also, before you try to do this just to please the Empress, wouldn't you rather do this for yourself? Wouldn't you rather have a friend for the rest of your life instead of an enemy?"
"I suppose I would...", she trails off, looking at her fiance from the corner of her eye. "Fine, I'll try to...understand him."
I smile.
"That's all anypony can ask of you." I turn to the stallion. "And you, are you willing to do the same thing?"
He looks up at his fiancee, before standing up and walking up to her.
"I am. Upper, I...you're, beautiful, smart and elegant", he says, before kneeling and taking her hoof and holding it tenderly. "You don't deserve the situation your father placed you in, but I'll try my best to make your life the best I can, I swear."
"Cruise...", She says, her eyes watering. "You really mean it? After everything I put you through?"
He smiles.
"Of course. Others might see a frigid mare, but I see a flower that only need a little care to bloom."
"Oh, Cruise!", she exclaim dramatically. "You are so kind and noble, how could I treat you so horribly?"
Cruise stands up, caressing her cheek with his hoof.
"You are forgiven, my love", he whispers tenderly.
"Cruise..."
She leans in slowly, and they kiss. Awww. They're so cute!
Uh, what's that light in the corner of-
Is my flank...shining?
"Oh dear! Did you...did you get your emblem? Thank to us?" Upper Crust asks.
"I-I think so! That's awesome!"
Cruise smiles.
"You deserve it, for helping us get closer to each other.", he says, nuzzling his fiancee.
"That you do", she concur, nuzzling back.
I've got my emblem!
"I've got to show this to Solus!" I exclaim, beginning to run toward the Royal Wing, before I stop myself and turn back. "Oh! I completely forgot to ask! What's your name?"
"My name is Lavish Cruise, of Genua, milady."
"Milady? I'm not-"
"You are as noble as one.", he says smiling, with Upper Crust nodding her approval.
"Th-thank you! I...I've got to go! I hope I see you again."
"So do we.", Upper says.
They wave at me as I run down the hall. Wait until I tell Solus!
"So, that's my story."
I smile.
"Exactly what I came to expect from my future assistant. Well done, Cady."
"Do you think I could see them again?", she asks, with hopeful eyes.
"I guess you could, but do be aware that they didn't know you are a slave."
Her smile dies a painful and abrupt death.
"Oh, right..."
I place my hoof over hers.
"But, you might be able to change their opinion."
She gives me a small smile.
"You...you think so?"
"Why not? You brought them together, so why not that?"
Her smiles grow and she nods.
"Yeah! I've got to try! Maybe they'll even help us!"
Well I sincerely doubt that will happen, but I suppose if we don't try we'll never know.
"Anyway, it's close to midday, I'm sure you're hungry, let's go get some grub!", I say as I walk to the door.
She giggles and follows behind me.
"Master Solus?"
"Fancy, why did you cast a privacy spell?"
"I found it. It will be delivered in a few days."
"Are you certain it's what I asked for?"
"Positive."
"Thank you, Fancy. I don't know what I would do without you."
He bows.
"It is my pleasure to serve, Master Solus. I shall take my leave now. I have to make Sir Armour takes his bath."
I giggle.
"Good luck with that."
He rolls his eyes and leaves.
I've got it! With it...
I can't wait to have the Exaggero Invida Amulet.
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One down, two more to go.
Hopefully the Exaggero Invida Amulet, isn't the Alicorn Amulet, that thing is trouble and I don't know what he wants with it. But maybe it's something else.
And I think a Cutie Mark isn't something cast in stone, because then Big Mac would never gain his Cutie Mark before he plows apple trees. So I'm sure he gets his at one point. They can be adapted to the life style of a Pony. Otherwise this whole chipper Cutie Mark business sounds more like predestined "you are fate's slave" kind of business. If a Pony is simply born with the "destiny" to gain one and only one single Cutie Mark whose shape and form is already "destined" to happen at one point... well, that's wrong on some levels.
There would be no free will in such a case and would turn one of the most important parts of Pony society very fast into something very dark.
A good chapter, but you seem to have forgotten that they call them Emblems in the Imperium, not Cutie Marks
8348555
That I did. Whoops.
"Exaggero Invidia" translates from Latin as "Accumulate Envy", so I think it is the Alicorn Amulet, just under a different name.
Depending on how Big Mac and Shining get their emblems, it could show if cutie marks are decided by fate or by chance events and developed talents. I wonder which?
It might be the Alicorn Amulet. Solus could be planning to recreate Cadance Ascension story by using it.
Alternate version of the alicorn amulet that dosnt drive the user mad?
hey now whats that sound?
chekov's gun detected.
so, she is not become an alicorn?
I'm sort of dissapointed
I prefer the Amulet of Encyclopedia Dramatica
Google Translate: [Increase Jealous/Envious] Amulet ? 🤔
Not sure how Celestia would dealt with Cadence just because she had supposedly has the symbol of the Crystal Empire's Crystal Heart on her rump. Killing her wouldn't necessarily be the first go to solution that is available on the table, especially sense Cadence is about six of seven years old she could still be mailable her age to be a useful pawn that could be loyal to her alone and his it could be determined clearly that she is indeed a legitimate air to the the Crystal Ponie's former empire she could become Celestia's puppet and would get extra unwanted attention and influence on to her that Solus wouldn't be able to protect her from bad influences for her or to get grinned down to just be an other noble mare or she could be subsumed by the extra privileges she would get or be take away for Solus influence.
I wonder I Celestia suppressed all the information about the Crystal Empire like for previous mentioned before it would show that Celestia is fallible and doesn't fit the image she has been crafting for herself in that thousand. If she did that then I think she might get rid of Cadence for that reason. I wonder if the out come was different.
I wonder who are the bandits that attacked carven, were they all ponies, were they a mix of all three tribes?
I am guessing that Stallion Lavish Cruise is Jetset, I wouldn't call what they did actual love, more like an marriage go convenience that they are trying get along to make it work between them, might very normal in this story setting with all the social and political maneuvers they have to go thought to get ahead in life so it might be as close as it get to actually love in this society can get. I am guessing that Cadence found be more about reconsideration between ponies. One thing that wonder about is if Upper Crust is of an impoverished noble family I wonder what she was doing there in the first place in the imperial castle? Was She representing her father in the imperial court while her father rule his territory?
Can't wait to see what Solus think he he can do with the Alicorn Amulet, i think he is well aware that he can't actually use it without being corrupted so I am guessing he is going to study it to see how it works for fabricate his own magical object.
8348812
Well, a squabble between nobles isn't exactly on the same level as defeating a curse-wielding love-witch.
This is some American revolution stuff, I love it,
8349059
I think she got her alicornhood from defeating the witch if she got her mark at the same time it miiiiight not be a big thing.
for some reason I feel like
I just have to say something
Why the hell would anyone want the alicorn amulet?
It makes you evil. It's not worth the power boost. Well . . . unless he intends to use it as fuel for Cadance's ascension. That would make sense as I recall that's how she ascended in the show, broke a magic item and used it as fuel.
Dunno.
Genua, eh? A rival of ankh-morpork maybe?
8348973
1st, Celestia knowing Cadance is the heir of the C.E.: do you really think she'd let a pegasus ascend to the throne? It would thoroughly disprove the notion that unicorns are meant to rule.
2nd, about Upper Crust being in the Castle: Think Versailles, where all the nobles are gathered. Only the Archdukes and the Marquis don't spend the majority of the year in the capital.
3rd, who said anything about the Alicorn Amulet?
8349153
More like a rival of Venice and Pisa; it's the Latin version of the name Genoa.
8349237
Aww... I was all geared up for Pony!Vetinari to be lurking in the background quietly engineering the downfall of Celestia through politics rather than magic artefact. He and Fancy would have been a tag team of idealism and brutal pragmatism working for he betterment of all!
Oh well. Though you did forget to throw in a pony-pun in that case.
8349276
I don't have pony pun in place names, for two reasons: One, Celestia stunted the evolution of the Equestrian language, mostly by favouring Unicornian (Latin) over Pegasian (Greek) and Earthen (Germanic/Celtic), hence why Solus said it sounded like a mix of Latin and Italian. Two, it's to show this Equestria is much less light-hearted.
8349328
huh. Fair 'nuff. Continue on, amazing writer-creature!
Nice chapter, even if there doesn't seem to be much foreshadowing from chapter to chapter in this story of where the plot is going next.
8348517
Three to go - he needs his own emblem, too
I See No More,
I Hear No More,
I Speak No more,
I Am What's coming,
I Am the End,
And You Solus... Will bring me To the Light...
For the Amulet comes
T O B R I N G Y O U T O T H E L I G H T
**I have no Idea, it just popped up in my head >~>**
continue.
8348736
Well it means exaggerated envey ruffly
Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match............had that song in my head after reading this chapter.
Cadence: serial shipper.
8349328
The Alicorn Amulet will probably work a lot better if Solus willing empowers it with some of his own alicorn magic, sort of like how to thwart Tirek the three princesses transferred their power to Twilight Sparkle.
BTW, will Solus ever encounter griffins? I want to see the prince "squee" over finally getting to eat meat again. Bonus points if Celestia either (A)is squicked out by Solus eating meat or (B)confides in Solus that meat is her guilty pleasure and enjoys seeing she has something in common with her son.
Steelclaw:
"It's nice to see a pony who appreciates the finer things in life."
Solus: (meat-binge) *on nom nom nom BURRRRPPP!!!*
Celestia:
8350679
the griffon or celestia?
8349624
*finger drifts slowly towards the Like button*
8349237
I put the name of the amulet through google translate, and the words
showed up, is that intentional or, what???😐😐😐
8349115 AMERICA!!
8349126 SPEAK YOUR MIND!!!!
8348590 i do say, a curious situation.😯😯
8351183
IN GOD WE TRUST
8351185
FUCK YEAH!!!!!
8350793
Ikr
8351191
I hope this turns out like that Mel Gibson movie the patriot.
I can alright see the troops dropping from volleys,
8351160
Ah, A Fellow Reader I see,
Fear not- I mean you no Harm... Yet.
I'll be watching for your speakings... (Comments)
Huzzah for Cady! ( dirty Solus.
)
Ooh! This is good!
but....
I NEED MORE!!
I ran this through a translator and got "INCREASE lad".
8352282
Only amulet I can think of is the Alicorn Amulet
8357871
Well according to a Latin translator it could be interpreted as a hate enlarger (or amplifier)
Uh oh. Is that what I think it might be???
The alicorn amulet?
8426899
Maybe. But isnt that a BIT dangerous, it DOES corrupt whomever puts it on, please dont go down that path, it's a lost cause, TRUST ME, I KNOW!!!