I'm frightened now. It's dark and I haven't heard a thing. I knew I should have gone after her and not to school! What if something bad had happened?
Short&Hoofy
Don't say such things! Nothing has happened! She'll be fine. I've checked at the hospital and she isn't there. I know it's a long shot, but I'll ask Pinkie Pie if she knows anything. In the meantime, get some herbs to relax. Worrying isn't going to do anypony any good.
LyraHands
I know, I know. That's what the girls as school said. RRBB offered to come to my place to wait for sis. I refused. RRBB has enough problems to deal with mine right now. Maybe I should have said yes. Does that make me selfish?
Short&Hoofy
Herbs! Now! You're having a panic attack.
Max is a grown mare. She knows how to take care of herself. She even took care of me a few times when I was down on my luck.
I'm adding CodeFilly to the PM group.
LyraHands
Heya.
I didn't know things were so serious. When you said she galloped out, I thought she was off doing something stupid and would be back in an hour or so.
CodeFilly
I'm fine! And no, it wasn't just an hour. She left in the morning and I haven't heard her since. Only think I know is that she isn't at work. Mayor Mare asked me about her as I was returning from school.
Short&Hoofy
Any idea what made her freak out? Oh, and what did she take? Maybe we could figure out what she's up to based on that.
LyraHands
That's just it! I've no idea! I logged on her account. The only messages she got were from Jade. I had a quick talk with him as well in the morning. He has no idea what's going on either. Offered help, as everypony, but that's all.
She took most of her savings (seven thousand bits). There's a few thousand left. She also took some clothes (the first thing she could grab from her wardrobe. She even took one of my hoodies by accident.
Short&Hoofy
Hmm. I hope I'm wrong, but I've seen that pattern before. There's somepony I could ask about, but not in the next hour. And, of course, I can't get ahold of Brush :/
LyraHands
I'm looking at her activity. Last thing Max did was open Jade's story. She read 62% of it, then fifteen minutes later she logged on again and started PMing him.
Short, was that you? I really don't want to open user PMs unless I don't have to.
CodeFilly
Yes, that was me.
Short&Hoofy
Seven thousand bits. That's a lot of money by my current standards. She could rent a house in Canterlot or Manehattan for that much. I'll try to get in touch with Candle to see if they haven't talked. It's a long shot, but maybe we're lucky.
I'll try to get ahold of Luna and CEO as well. If something's wrong Wonderbolt support is the best we can hope for.
LyraHands
Save your energy. She hasn't PMed Candle since the meetup.
CodeFilly
Adding MightyDragon. He's got news.
CodeFilly
Now, I'm not at all sure about this, but I think I saw somepony looking like Max during lunch. I just hit a glimpse, mind you. My boss's daughter was breaking stuff in the cafe, so I had to take care of things. It totally slipped my mind until Code told me about the situation.
MightyDragon
The Crystal Empire?! What the fuck?! What's she doing there? With 7k bits. What can you buy for that much?
LyraHands
Might not have been her. Like I said: just a glance; annoying child with superpowers.
MightyDragon
Some drunk is singing in the street. I'll see if it's her.
Short&Hoofy
Mare! Do you think Max went to get drunk? You can do that with 7k.
MightyDragon
Not now. This sounds serious! :/
CodeFilly
Sorry :(
MightyDragon
What's up, jerks? :) I have big news!
I just got engaged!
Short&Hoofy
Wow. My sis just yelled at me then ran off crying to her room... What gives?
Short&Hoofy
Max?! Where the heck were you?! :/ Of course she'll rush off crying! She's been worrying for you the entire day!
Are you drunk? Where have you been?
LyraHands
What? I'm not drunk! What gave you that idea? :/ Is this a RD prank?
Short&Hoofy
You maniac! The entire site freaked out! You grabbed a bag of clothes, 7k bits and galloped off somewhere and you expect everyone to consider that normal? You! Galloping off! The last time you did something without a plan or schedule was when we were back in high school!
LyraHands
And I can't change? What, is there some new law I wasn't told about?
For your information I went to the Crystal Empire and got engaged. Thanks for ruining the mood, idiots! :/
Short&Hoofy
Hold a min. Sis is back.
Short&Hoofy
Max, we didn't mean to get you mad. We were just worried, and knowing what we did you would be too. Now can you please explain what happened, starting from the beginning?
CodeFilly
And she's gone.
MightyDragon
I really hope she's just drunk.
LyraHands
Guess we'll find out soon.
CodeFilly
I swear, if she doesn't respond in twenty minutes, I'm going to her place and kicking the door in!
LyraHands
Err, okay. I see what happened. Sorry, girls, I didn't mean to snap at you and I certainly didn't mean to scare you. Short explained things to me. Poor filly, stars know she hasn't had it easy this week. (And right now she's sticking her tongue out at me. :))
Here's what happened. In the rush I put the note I'd written in my luggage. I only found out now, when Short asked that I give back her hoody.
The reason I took the money was so I can go to the Crystal Empire and buy an engagement shoe. (I wanted to go for the non-cheap stuff.) And the reason I did that, is that after reading the start of Jade's story I decided to act on my feelings. There's no point in wasting this chance (it might be the only one I get). So, I went there, bought the most expensive engagement shoe I could find, then asked the question.
Spoilers: it went well :D
Short&Hoofy
Wait! Wait a minute here! You went all the way to the Empire and spent your savings on a piece of jewelry so you can propose to a pony you've met a few days ago at a human Fanfiction meetup without even knowing what he thinks about you, all based to a story he wrote? And succeeded?!?
Max, you must tell me what dice you use.
MightyDragon
Hey, you've all been telling me to be more impulsive! (You hypocrites!) And I did put some more thought into it! Even asked his parents. (Mare, was that scary. I had no idea they were aristocracy.)
Short&Hoofy
Wings, Max. Those things usually stand for nobility in the Empire (and by “usually” I mean always.)
CodeFilly
How was I supposed to know!? Anyway, we've decided to have the ceremony once Jade graduates. Until then we'll just keep a long distance relationship (close distance on weekends).
My sis is making gagging sounds. Lyra, can I do something to get this account banned? :/
Short&Hoofy
I... Just... Give me a minute or ten to wrap my mind round this. Max and Jade engaged? Just like that?
How? I mean, no offense Max (congrats and all) but... Jade! The guy can choose any mare he wants. And let's be honest, none of us are supermodels.
LyraHands
Without getting too awkward, I can only say there are some damn good advantages of having a Princess of Love around. (Also Spike is an incredibly huge deal there.)
Anyway, off to sleep. Today was great, but exhausting.
Have fun, you jerks!
Short&Hoofy
I need those dice!
MightyDragon
7998810 In the author notes :) just in case, here it is again:
https://discord.gg/FrVRq
Okay, this didn't surprise me, I was expecting she was going to do something weird like that, my first shot it was she went to someplace to by some toy or T-shirt of this serie.
That was pretty dang sudden! Must have been a hell of a meetup!
is in the air <3
7998899 "I have never clicked on an invite so fast"
So... at the end there, Max and Short are both using the same computer (currently logged into Short's account) and taking turns sending messages?
7999072 It was PMs while they were trying to help Shorty, and Max's account wasn't part of it>
Now that her hoody is back, her name is Shirt!
I feel bad for the poor stallion who'll end up named "Wife Beater"...
Some of them are even in the guard force.
derpicdn.net/img/view/2014/1/25/533830__safe_twilight+sparkle_rarity_screencap_princess+twilight_animated_pegasus_princess+cadance_hub+logo_flash+sentry.gif
Flash must be pretty high in the chain too. Gets to announce noble visitors, accompanies Cadance on visits...
I'm shocked. Were there a bunch of PMs between Jade and Max we never saw? As far as I knew, Max was kind of grumpy, Jade was a jerk to her, and then eventually Jade stopped picking on Max. I knew they had that bet, and apparently Jade is also a great writer, but that doesn't mean he isn't also a jerk. And Jade also seemed to despise Max, and only tolerate him to avoid getting booted from the site. Why would Jade suddenly accept a marriage proposal from a mare he barely knows and mostly despises?
I feel like there has to be a whole lot more going on than we know, with a lot of PMs we never saw.
...and now I want to see what went on between them at the meetup. Must've been pretty big...
Well. That happened. Can't say I was expecting it, but... congratulations to the happy couple, I guess? I just hope they don't swing back to wanting to tear each others' throats out.
7999072
Pretty sure it was all Max from "What's up, jerks?" on.
7999333 I suspect that the next chapter of "The Meetup" will shed some light on this. My theory at the moment is that Jade and Max had a bit of reconciliation and soul-bearing when they saw each other IRL—so their post-meetup arguments on the site were more bantering than actual anger at each other.
7999601
Oh, I see it now.
Well um... Congratulations Max.
7999876 That's the most likely explanation.
7998916 7998931 7998947 7999601 7999940
Oh, come on! As if you've never jumped on a train to go to a neighboring town and buy an engagement ring!
...wait, what?! :P
7999056 Heh heh heh :)
7999072
When Max returned she went on Short's account :)
7999328 Short Shirts and Implosions! :P
8000974 :) That info can be found in the Meet-Up
8001146 Pfft, yeah, no biggie. Happens to me at least once a week
8001187 you and your harems...
8001146
That actually isn't too far off from how my dad proposed to my mom. Dad was in the Navy at the time, and met my mom during shore leave. Hung out with her for just a few days. She made a big enough impression that, next available opportunity, he bought a ring, drove halfway across the US to see her again, and proposed.
They’re still married.
8001266 That's incredibly sweet :)))