Of Princesses and Ponies

[Thanqol]

Eyes of Water was suddenly two ponies.

The pony wearing the mask flawlessly bowed, waved, and walked the final few steps in the dance as she fell into step alongside Heart. Perfect confidence. The mask slammed into place like a portcullis and held in every storming reaction.

The other pony was in a conversion with her bird.

"Huh, what are the odds?" said Texi, tapping the gemstone with his beak. "I mean, not minutes after you lie your tail off to some monk, take all his money, and then attempt to cut in line and turn this entire sacred ceremony into an advertisement for your crappy masks this gaudy rock goes and decides that you're the chosen one?"
"..." said Eyes of Water.
"So we can rule out the idea that it chooses ponies based on virtue," said Tokolis smugly. "Which leads me to the conclusion that there's some unicorn standing backstage there eying up candidates and making the rocks glow when she sees ones she likes. And hey! Guess who's putting on a really cool illusion show right when it's decision time? And who's unusually large and strong looking? Sounds like a great potential secret agent to me. Case closed. I dunno about these jokers, though, but like ninety percent of them are nobles so it was all probably arranged in advance."
"..." said Eyes of Water.
"Anyway, pretty sweet deal, I reckon. You're going to be a secret agent, which means fame, fortune and fillies. And you already voluntarily head directly into unnecessarily dangerous places to find weird things to stick on your face so you're halfway there. And all you have to do is presumably endure years of grueling boot camp and military training and the fate of the world'll be resting on your withers in no time!"
"..." said Eyes of Water.
"Can't wait to tell your sisters," smirked Texi.
"...!" said Eyes of Water.

[igordragonian]

Wish Sight

"Come now, each of you," the Abbot says, clearing his throat. "That includes you, Wish Sight." Several Guardians move toward Wish, and Heart looks over to the fleeing monk. "It'll be over in no time," the Commander offers, motioning to the Guardians to bring Wish forward.

Spoiler: Wish

Show

If you still want to flee, it'll be a Body check to escape the Guardians nearby.

Everypony Else

The monks wait for the five of you to be up near the altar, shrugging when Wish seems to be reluctant. They look to Hope, who nods and motions to the gorgets. One at a time, the cold silver metal is wrapped around your neck, and as the clasp on the ornament is closed, you feel a weight on your chest as the sapphire comes to rest. For a moment, nothing happens; and then, each of your gems flashes to life at once, casting a chilly blue glow on the monks' faces. While Fancy rolls his eyes, his gaze is locked on your gems, each glowing much brighter than his own did.

For a moment, you feel a presence beside you, as if someone were standing nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with you, but the feeling dissipates as suddenly as it came on.

"Superb! Simply fantastic." Abbot Hope cries, holding the scroll high. "Six new Guardians so far! Wish Sight, join us so that we might see if you are so blessed, as well." The monks wait to take off your gorgets, as Heart trots down to your side. "Welcome to the Guardians, then. I'll brief all of you on what happens next once the ceremony concludes," he says, his stern face softened by a warm smile. He looks pointedly at Wish Sight, still smiling.

"Nononononononononono!!!" Wish Sight felt, cornered getting histerical.

"DON'T SAY MY NAME ALOUD!!!" He yelled, with horror.
"This is a big mistake! I am not a warrior! Take somepony else! Somepony who deserve it!" he begged, trying to gallop away, with his scrawny body.
"I am just a monk!, I am not a warrior, or somepony important!" he tried to "reason" with them.

Spoiler: Nonononononono: Meta:

Show

(2d6+1)[3]

[Forum Explorer]

"Heh heh," Cloudy Dreams chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Looks like somepony has a really twisted sense of humor," he says, before glancing over to Wish Sight. He sighed and walked over to him.

"Calm down, buddy," he says, grabbing ahold of Wish Sight. "You said it yourself, you're a monk. You swore to serve Lady Atria, and now it looks like she's calling for your service in a new way. Will you violate your oath now? Do you really think that she'd send you a task you couldn't handle? Have faith in that the Lady knows what she's doing, and that she'll look after you. And if she sends you to the Guardians, I promise I'll have your back. So come on buddy, let's just get this ceremony over with, and you can rest afterwards, alright?" he adds, trying to escort Wish Sight to the alter.

Spoiler: Body Check?

Show

Not sure if I need this, but if necessary

(2d6)[6] (I'm guessing the Lazy flaw would kick in if he has to force Wish Sight to the alter.)

[DigoDragon]

Emmy was in shock. She was picked! It did the glow! The thing! with the gorget! EEEEEeeeeee...!

She pulled herself back to reality, and noticed that the monk was not wishing to come up for the ceremony. Was he shy?

"Aye, listen to the wise pegasus. Think of this as a great honor!" she adds.


[OOC~ acting in harmony with Cloudy, so that's +1, and +2 for using her Stat, and another +1 for Lead Pony. Should bring that 6 up to a 10? ;) ]

[igordragonian]

Wish Sight has been caught easily.
Of course. Did this Pony actually expected to escape his fate? No.
This pony has readen the signs- it was marked by the stars. But Wish Sight couldn't let go of his hopes easily. And also... If Brave Archer, was here- Wish Sight wanted his brother to see, that he didn't meant to steal his glory.

Strangely, when Wish Sight finally gave up on hope, he felt a little bit better- not good, but most defintly better.
The worst thing that could happen, is already happening. Nothing much to fear now..
He stopped struggling, wearing a weary and defeated smile on his muzzle.
"Th..thank you, Clo..Cloudy. B.. But I am... the kind of monk who use his m..m..monastery as she..shelter."
He blushed at the attention of another pony toward him- a mare, not less! And such a big one!
"Y..y...eah... Honor..." he chuckled nervously.
"Which I tried to escape for years..." he grumbled.

But who know? Maybe Lady Atria would mercy him in change of the last moment?

[gmoyes]

Hail Typhoon

All of Hail's attention was on his own gem. As it started to shine, the pegasus gave a heavy sigh. "So this is how it is, huh?" He visibly slumped, but perked back up again as he realized that it wasn't just his gem that glowed. His jaw dropped as everypony else in the group was also chosen. "Five ponies chosen at the same time, six in a row including Fancy. Great Crista and Atria." He slowly shook his head in awe.

However his wonder was interrupted by the struggles of the last person of their group, a Unicorn named Wish Sight. He gave a sigh and called towards him. "The five of us chosen at the exact same time. You're kinda ruining a dramatic moment here." Well, one way or another, this would be a certainly memorable Blooming of the Heart ceremony.

[igordragonian]

Hail Typhoon

All of Hail's attention was on his own gem. As it started to shine, the pegasus gave a heavy sigh. "So this is how it is, huh?" He visibly slumped, but perked back up again as he realized that it wasn't just his gem that glowed. His jaw dropped as everypony else in the group was also chosen. "Five ponies chosen at the same time, six in a row including Fancy. Great Crista and Atria." He slowly shook his head in awe.

However his wonder was interrupted by the struggles of the last person of their group, a Unicorn named Wish Sight. He gave a sigh and called towards him. "The five of us chosen at the exact same time. You're kinda ruining a dramatic moment here." Well, one way or another, this would be a certainly memorable Blooming of the Heart ceremony.

Wish Sight's face turned red with shame.
"I...I...am sorry, I.. Did.. Didnt meant to..." he mambled with folded eara.

[Theoboldi]

Zircon Facet

For the longest time, Zircon remains in shock upon the revelation that he has been chosen. "What?" is all he manages to mutter, this development being just about the last thing he expected.....and wanted.

He mostly just watches speechlessly as that strange monk fellow tries to escape, doing what he himself should have done earlier. "Too late for that now. Dear Atria. I've been chosen."

"I've been chosen." he repeats breathlessly to himself, unintentionally mirroring Emmy's words. "Y-Yeah. I-It's a g-great honor. Flying feather....." Honestly, what's making him even more nervous is that other pegasus, still masked and just having performed that weird dance onto the stage. That Fancy fellow seemed like an utter show-off, but at least he was kinda cute and was open about his thoughts.

Right now, Zircon would vastly prefer standing next to him instead of this weird, inscrutable individual. "...Uh, pardon me, but whatever reason did you perform that dance for?" he eventually forces himself to say. "It was quite....impressive, but also a rather strange way to start off the ceremony. Not that it's the only unique thing about this particular ceremony, but, you know....."

[Thanqol]

Zircon Facet

For the longest time, Zircon remains in shock upon the revelation that he has been chosen. "What?" is all he manages to mutter, this development being just about the last thing he expected.....and wanted.

He mostly just watches speechlessly as that strange monk fellow tries to escape, doing what he himself should have done earlier. "Too late for that now. Dear Atria. I've been chosen."

"I've been chosen." he repeats breathlessly to himself, unintentionally mirroring Emmy's words. "Y-Yeah. I-It's a g-great honor. Flying feather....." Honestly, what's making him even more nervous is that other pegasus, still masked and just having performed that weird dance onto the stage. That Fancy fellow seemed like an utter show-off, but at least he was kinda cute and was open about his thoughts.

Right now, Zircon would vastly prefer standing next to him instead of this weird, inscrutable individual. "...Uh, pardon me, but whatever reason did you perform that dance for?" he eventually forces himself to say. "It was quite....impressive, but also a rather strange way to start off the ceremony. Not that it's the only unique thing about this particular ceremony, but, you know....."

"This guy's been eyeballing you since we got here," chipped in Texitokolis helpfully (it was not helpful).

Eyes of Water pounced on the opportunity to escape her thoughts. She flicked her head backwards, ran a hoof through her mane, and turned to face the unicorn. Her current mask was a black leather domino mask, hard and aristocratic, with dangling straps that looked like an unlocked muzzle. A streak of black paint ran through her mane, giving her a dark and gothic appearance. Like a cathedral run by vampires.

"Did you like the dance?" she said with a bubbly eagerness that was deliberately dissonant with her dark décor. "You really thought it was impressive? I mean, I thought for sure everypony was going to notice that I messed up on the initial approach and I almost dropped the Mask of the Velvet Stag - which was your favourite mask?"

While Eyes' body language very much reflected the dizzy giddiness - that admittedly part of her felt - her mind was running cool and her gaze was steady, just like the mask implied. The question made her wary. The pony who asked it didn't seem like he liked her. She wanted to know what she was really dealing with before she answered.

[Theoboldi]

"Did you like the dance?" she said with a bubbly eagerness that was deliberately dissonant with her dark décor. "You really thought it was impressive? I mean, I thought for sure everypony was going to notice that I messed up on the initial approach and I almost dropped the Mask of the Velvet Stag - which was your favourite mask?"

While Eyes' body language very much reflected the dizzy giddiness - that admittedly part of her felt - her mind was running cool and her gaze was steady, just like the mask implied. The question made her wary. The pony who asked it didn't seem like he liked her. She wanted to know what she was really dealing with before she answered.

Zircon Facet

A shiver runs down Zircon's spine as he talks to Eyes. Something about her just doesn't sit right with him. She's just so....dissonant. With all those weird masks she's been wearing the whole time, the dance she just performed, and the way that bubbly personality just sprang up out of nowhere. It all seems a little off to him. He doesn't expect her to be dangerous or anything like that, but still cannot help but be slightly on edge.

Still, all that doesn't make him hesitate with his answer. "Well, I did not notice you screwing up.....Eyes of Water, right?" The way she danced onto the stage as her name was called out was still carved into the stallion's memory. It did stand out after all. Her movements seemed a little strange at the very start of it, before got onto the stairs, but that was about the extent of her 'screwing up'. "At least, I don't think so. I've never seen anything like it (performed in public, at least), so I could not tell either way.

Although, I must admit I'm not a big fan of the masks. When I see a dance, I prefer to see the dancer's face. It gives the performance a far more personal touch." he hesitantly adds, waiting a moment to judge her reaction. Hopefully he has not just insulted some strange religious ritual he does not know about.

For now, he just raises a hoof to his chin and asks "Come to think of it, why keep that mask on still? I've never met anypony who's disguised themselves in public."

[Thanqol]

Zircon Facet

A shiver runs down Zircon's spine as he talks to Eyes. Something about her just doesn't sit right with him. She's just so....dissonant. With all those weird masks she's been wearing the whole time, the dance she just performed, and the way that bubbly personality just sprang up out of nowhere. It all seems a little off to him. He doesn't expect her to be dangerous or anything like that, but still cannot help but be slightly on edge.

Still, all that doesn't make him hesitate with his answer. "Well, I did not notice you screwing up.....Eyes of Water, right?" The way she danced onto the stage as her name was called out was still carved into the stallion's memory. It did stand out after all. Her movements seemed a little strange at the very start of it, before got onto the stairs, but that was about the extent of her 'screwing up'. "At least, I don't think so. I've never seen anything like it (performed in public, at least), so I could not tell either way.

Although, I must admit I'm not a big fan of the masks. When I see a dance, I prefer to see the dancer's face. It gives the performance a far more personal touch." he hesitantly adds, waiting a moment to judge her reaction. Hopefully he has not just insulted some strange religious ritual he does not know about.

For now, he just raises a hoof to his chin and asks "Come to think of it, why keep that mask on still? I've never met anypony who's disguised themselves in public."

"Do you really think this is a disguise?" said Eyes of Water, letting her eyes widen in mock-surprise. "If I were to take it off before you now, you would not recognize me? I would vanish into the crowd, a stranger?"

He didn't like the masks? Like, any of them? Eyes of Water kept the upbeat tone to her voice but her somber mask was more appropriate than ever and she began to turn over the problem in her head. There had been too many, in too different styles, for her to pick out an easily fixable problem. More personal touch!? As though a design she'd spent weeks working with her own hooves was insufficiently personal? Perhaps she had focused too much on observation of the world - maybe instead she should design a line based on her own emotions...

[Theoboldi]

"Do you really think this is a disguise?" said Eyes of Water, letting her eyes widen in mock-surprise. "If I were to take it off before you now, you would not recognize me? I would vanish into the crowd, a stranger?"

Zircon Facet

"....Well, yeah." Zircon answers, not entirely sure where this is going. "I only know your name, after all, not the pony beneath that mask." He gives a weak, but amused smile. "Though I doubt that I would be the target of such a deception. Unless your real name is Green Eyes. That mare was pretty crazy. If you're ever in Cannerly, don't ask her out."

The rather strange tangent over, Zircon shakes his head a little, trying to refocus on the actual pony he is talking with. "But I'm not trying to accuse you of anything, really. I just wish to figure out what that dance was all about. And why you are still wearing those masks. Surely there must be a lovely face hidden beneath them?"

[Thanqol]

Zircon Facet

"....Well, yeah." Zircon answers, not entirely sure where this is going. "I only know your name, after all, not the pony beneath that mask." He gives a weak, but amused smile. "Though I doubt that I would be the target of such a deception. Unless your real name is Green Eyes. That mare was pretty crazy. If you're ever in Cannerly, don't ask her out."

The rather strange tangent over, Zircon shakes his head a little, trying to refocus on the actual pony he is talking with. "But I'm not trying to accuse you of anything, really. I just wish to figure out what that dance was all about. And why you are still wearing those masks. Surely there must be a lovely face hidden beneath them?"

He dated Green Eyes too? thought Eyes of Water, privately shocked. Is he the reason why - ohhh, awkward.

She played it off smoothly with a slight laugh and an errant wing-flap knocking Texitokolis - who was tearing up with laughter - off her back. "You know my mane colour, my coat, my cutie mark, my size, my shape, even the colour of my eyes and the name that goes with them," said Eyes. "You know what I have spent the past year working on, you know the dance I have spent months practicing, you know I possess the courage to perform that dance, you know my pet bird, you know the things I can make, you know what I think is beautiful, and with a little thought you can know the places I have been and the artists who have influenced me."

She stepped closer, suddenly looming over Zircon - her size abruptly coming into focus, tall and dark and bright-eyed. "And I can see your face as clear as daylight and I do not know a single thing about you."

She let the loom and the statement linger for a moment, then she elided away and said, "Well, other than the fact that you have taste in mares precisely as terrible as mine."

[Theoboldi]

Zircon Facet

"That bird is your pet?" Zircon quips, a sudden, strange rush of adrenaline flowing through him as Eyes towers more than half a head over him. "By the way you've been treating him, he looked more like a nuisance." As he says this, an impish grin rests on his face.

With a flick of his tragically short hair, he stays right in Eye's face, not even really wanting to give her ground now. "Spot on about my taste, though. Another victim of that madpony's charms? It's too bad. She had quite the technique." Laughter escapes his lips for a moment, short but genuine.

"If you know that much already, though, I think you can figure me out. I'm not exactly a tough riddle to crack. Too bad you won't tell me about that dance. Of all the things I know about you already, that's one of the pieces I am sorely missing."

[Thanqol]

Zircon Facet

"That bird is your pet?" Zircon quips, a sudden, strange rush of adrenaline flowing through him as Eyes towers more than half a head over him. "By the way you've been treating him, he looked more like a nuisance." As he says this, an impish grin rests on his face.

With a flick of his tragically short hair, he stays right in Eye's face, not even really wanting to give her ground now. "Spot on about my taste, though. Another victim of that madpony's charms? It's too bad. She had quite the technique." Laughter escapes his lips for a moment, short but genuine.

"If you know that much already, though, I think you can figure me out. I'm not exactly a tough riddle to crack. Too bad you won't tell me about that dance. Of all the things I know about you already, that's one of the pieces I am sorely missing."

Eyes fell back into step with the Guardian. Damn, he's persistent. Every attempt to change the topic was falling through. Even the loom! The loom always worked! And she wasn't about to go confessing that she was stagejacking a sacred ritual to drive up sales for her mask business so her options were limited to deflecting harder.

"It would be like explaining a joke," said Eyes with a sideways glance. "Even if explaining helps you get it you won't laugh because the moment has passed." Texitokolis landed on her back again, batted her on the back of the head with his wing, and then grumblingly started tending to every single one of his feathers.

"If they don't laugh at your jokes it means you told it wrong," grumbled Texi.

"I know," said Eyes softly.

Turning back to Zircon: "Regardless, I disagree with your assessment of your own simplicity. I suspect you have been dishonest with me since your first words - which is intriguing but also intimidating."

[Theoboldi]

Zircon Facet

"You think I've been lying about finding your dance impressive and just wanting to know more about you?" At this, Zircon tilts his head a little and raises an eyebrow. "I mean, with anypony else that question would have just been an effort to flirt. But if that was my motive in your case, you'd have heard a lot more flattery." Even he himself seems a little confused that he did not want to flirt with this tall, mysterious lady. Just what is keeping him from doing so?

"Really, I'm just curious. But if you really don't wish to answer, you don't have to. A stallion should take 'no' for an answer, after all." A wary, but gentle smile rests on his face for now. Zircon seems ready to let the issue rest, at least for now. He still is a little put off by Eyes, but for now he cannot pursue this issue any further.

[Thanqol]

Zircon Facet

"You think I've been lying about finding your dance impressive and just wanting to know more about you?" At this, Zircon tilts his head a little and raises an eyebrow. "I mean, with anypony else that question would have just been an effort to flirt. But if that was my motive in your case, you'd have heard a lot more flattery." Even he himself seems a little confused that he did not want to flirt with this tall, mysterious lady. Just what is keeping him from doing so?

"Really, I'm just curious. But if you really don't wish to answer, you don't have to. A stallion should take 'no' for an answer, after all." A wary, but gentle smile rests on his face for now. Zircon seems ready to let the issue rest, at least for now. He still is a little put off by Eyes, but for now he cannot pursue this issue any further.

"I didn't say you were lying," said Eyes, pausing for a moment to try and figure out the right words, "I suspect you... are not expressing your real feelings. Perhaps you don't know what those are, but your voice and body language has been persistently hesitant, tense and standoffish." Her private conclusion was that he obviously didn't like her but she had no idea why. "Perhaps you have noticed a clash between my mask and my attitude - the sensation is very similar from my perspective."

[Derjuin]

Wish Sight

"Get the gorget on his neck, quickly," Hope mutters to one of the monks, who scrambles forward with the sixth sparkling accessory. "Will you join these other blessed ponies in ascension?" He asks - rhetorically, most likely - before the monk finally snaps the jewelry onto your neck. Not even a moment later, the sapphire flares to life, and a blinding blue light emanates from it.

"Wow! Look at the light on him!"

"Blessed of Lady Atria, indeed!"

"That's the brightest I've ever seen a gemstone gleam...!"

The crowd starts to shuffle about, the rest of the ponies awed at the sight of Wish Sight and his charm. Hope flashes you a wide grin, while Heart offers a warm smile before moving to your side.

Everypony

"Alright everypony, let's assemble over here." Commander Heart nods toward Fancy Frock, who clicks his tongue and rolls his eyes. "Really, commander? You would lump these lowbloods in with me?" He scoffs, his eyes locked on the Commander's.

"You are all apprentices, are you not?" Heart responds in a stern manner, leaving no room for further complaint. As soon as you are all un-gorgeted and standing aside from the altar, Hope begins calling more names, and the ritual completes faster than it started. Only one more pony - an earth pony mare with a bowl-cut bob mane and a straight-cut tail - passes the rite, and she joins you shortly. You overhear Hope finishing the last announcements of the ritual, though it seems he interjects quite a lot of "yada yada" as it doesn't seem like anypony left in the square is even listening.

"Welcome, then, apprentice Guardians. Congratulations are extended to each of you, but we have little time for pleasantries. As I said earlier, I am Commander Heart, and as such I'll be in charge of both your training, and your missions. Come with me, and I'll show you to your quarters as well as induct you fully into the Guardians." He begins trotting off toward a long, flat building of grey bricks and a slanted thatched roof, previously obscured by a stage's backdrop.

[igordragonian]

Before The Sparklation

"Lady Atria.... Do what you think is the best for me- but please, be merciful. You are supposed to know me." Wish Sight prayed in his heart, still hopefull.
Hopefull for what? He wasn't sure anymore. He had a feelings that rejection will sadden him as well,
And then, he have been asked if he will join the others.
Heart beat.
Wish Sight was about to answer.
Heart beat.
His eyes fixated on the jewelry getting closer to him.
Heart beat.
The jewelry closed on his neck. It... glowed.
Wish Sight knew, he supposed to feel terrified- but he actually felt excited. At some place in his heart, so deep that despite his self awarness and intellegence, he always denied.
Wish Sight WANTED to be important and helpful. But he was filled of fears to dissapoint expectations and making other jealuse- he couldn't handle it, and preffered preffering grey solitude.

A little smile creeped on his muzzle under the mask. It's probably was the mask's doing...
For a very short moment he looked at the others, happy to be part of something bigger.
And then he has heard the voices... praising the light of the gem. Making it sound.. Special.
"That's the brightest I've ever seen a gemstone gleam...!" echoed inside of him.
He felt the jewel gaining a ton, almost breaking his neck and shoulders with a new burden, heaviest from anything he has ever carried.

He struggled to keep his neck streched, and then another image:
Of Brave Archer. His brother.
Wish Sight felt ashamed, like a thief. He bowed his head defeated.
All the happiness and pride pushed deep back down, giving the room for guilt and fear.
"I hum...humbly, surr...surrender myself to --the w-ill of the g-godess." he said with shaking voice.
And just like that, the saphire was taken from him.
Heart beat.
Wish Sight looked nervously at the crowd, looking for the furiouse stare of his brother.

During the ceremony, he putted off the mask, and took the lanses fixing the glasses.
The Spirit Of Mouse, done what it could... Now time to accept...the change.

Wish Sight knew, he would burden the others- despite being "noble" which seemed to be an important fact for fancy.
He was filled with technical questions- what about astrological maps? His books and studies? Who will help the monastry's libaririan to organize the astronomical and astrological sections?
And what about his petunias, under the window of his room? Who will water them?!
Heart beat.
The real question was: what will happen to his previouse convinent life?
Wish Sight didn't dared to ask. He wasn't prepared to hear the answer.

"I.. I am so..sor.. sorry..." he apologized to his companions.
"I.. rea...real...really hope, not to be TOO mu.. Much of a burden..." he said nervously, on the way to the grey building.

He smiled to Cloudy. Wish Sight looked very.
"I am afraid your theory was wrong. You can't change the future.."

He hurried to add an apology.
"Sorry.. It's probably not the time for that."

[Forum Explorer]

He smiled to Cloudy. Wish Sight looked very.
"I am afraid your theory was wrong. You can't change the future.."

He hurried to add an apology.
"Sorry.. It's probably not the time for that."

Cloudy Dreams looked startled. "Wait, what? That was the dark fate you were dreading?" Cloudy Dreams shook his head in exasperation. "Geeze, buddy, talk about some need to know information. If that was the problem I could've teleported you far enough away that you'd of missed the ceremony." he sighed. "Oh, well. That would probably ruin your life more then being in the Guardians could, so it's for the best really." Cloudy Dreams said, shrugging and following the Commander.

[igordragonian]

Wish Sight sighed. "I doubt that,your teleportation would have worked... I guess, that in theo...theory I could have teleported myself... But I never dared to practicly attempting to do so.." his glasses attempted escaping his muzzle again, maybe hurt for being replaced with a mask for a while.

"And yes. That was my gr..greatest fear, si..since I have turned into.. a monk." he said with a weak smile,

[Forum Explorer]

Wish Sight sighed. "I doubt that,your teleportation would have worked... I guess, that in theo...theory I could have teleported myself... But I never dared to practicly attempting to do so.." his glasses attempted escaping his muzzle again, maybe hurt for being replaced with a mask for a while.

"And yes. That was my gr..greatest fear, si..since I have turned into.. a monk." he said with a weak smile,

Cloudy Dreams glanced at Wish Sight and shrugged. "So what's so bad about being a Guardian?" he asked.

[DigoDragon]

"So what's so bad about being a Guardian?" he asked.

Emmy was rather curious about this answer as well. "Yeah, something you know that we probably should too?"

[igordragonian]

Wish Sight's glasses fell, when Emerald talked to him. He blushed and levitated the glasses back to place.
There were so many rules, how to correctly speak to a lady, and so.kany ways to embaress himself MORE.

"Ughh..." he said dumbly.
"Right..." he shaked his head, to conetrate, as his glasses slided again.
"When you trusted with such important and respected duty- you bound to hurt others." he said, looking at the floor.
"Your failure will dissapoint expectations of the ponies who.trusted you. Succes would make others envy..." he sighed
"The monastry was a safe place..." he said, already missing his old oofe.

[DigoDragon]

Emmy pondered this for a moment before she replied. "I work in the mines, and it's never about whether you succeed or fail to dig out the gemstones. See, you have to work as a team. Working together you succeed as a team. You use each pony's strength to help another's weakness. A team, is greater than the sum of its parts."

"And if anyone is envious over the hard work you did for success, you ignore 'em," she adds.

[Theoboldi]

Zircon Facet

"I didn't say you were lying," said Eyes, pausing for a moment to try and figure out the right words, "I suspect you... are not expressing your real feelings. Perhaps you don't know what those are, but your voice and body language has been persistently hesitant, tense and standoffish." Her private conclusion was that he obviously didn't like her but she had no idea why. "Perhaps you have noticed a clash between my mask and my attitude - the sensation is very similar from my perspective."

"Well, I didn't want to be rude...." Zircon says a little sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "But you're right. You hiding your face and doing that strange dance has put me a little on edge. I'm not quite sure myself why, though.

As for your attitude..." At this point, he too pauses a bit, thinking about how to say this. "...well, I wouldn't say it doesn't fit your mask. For all that cheerfulness, you have been pretty evasive. And then turned my questions right back on me. That was some pretty good technique." This time, there is a genuinely friendly and encouraging smile on his face, his reprehension forgotten for a moment.

After a moment, he quietly adds "What? I've got some experience socialising. I know some tricks of the trade."

Hearing the commander call out for the recruits, he looks over his shoulder, realizing that the straggler has been caught and he too managed to somehow pass the ritual. Deep down, Zircon wonders just how many drinks the goddesses had in today's festivities.

"Well, looks we'll have to go. Sorry for bothering you."

Emmy pondered this for a moment before she replied. "I work in the mines, and it's never about whether you succeed or fail to dig out the gemstones. See, you have to work as a team. Working together you succeed as a team. You use each pony's strength to help another's weakness. A team, is greater than the sum of its parts."

"And if anyone is envious over the hard work you did for success, you ignore 'em," she adds.

Arriving pretty late to the conversation, Zircon walks up to Emmy. He nods along with what she is saying, if only because it actually sounds pretty insightful. Whatever it is supposed to be applied to.

"Hey, Emmy. Congratulations on making it into the guardians. Even if I cannot believe we both did it. Can you?"

[DigoDragon]

"Hey, Emmy. Congratulations on making it into the guardians. Even if I cannot believe we both did it. Can you?"

"Thanks! And it's really neat we both made it. Congrats to you too! I mean, I know you were a bit wavering on it, but I think it's destiny calling for you!"

She glances over to where he was earlier, then gives Zircon an evil smirk. "So who's that tall drink of water you were with? Seems mysterious."

[gmoyes]

Hail Typhoon

As the last unicorn, Star Sight, was judged Hail's eyes turned skyward as the gem shined brightest of all. "Well that's certainly a sign. This must be some sort of fate all of us together or something. Now how am I gonna explain all of this to dad?" He muttered to himself.

As they waited for the ceremony to be over, the pegasus listened to Star Sight explain himself.

"When you trusted with such important and respected duty- you bound to hurt others." he said, looking at the floor.
"Your failure will disappoint expectations of the ponies who trusted you. Success would make others envy..." he sighed

Hail gave a laugh. "Then I'd guess you'd hate to be in my hooves. I'm a Typhoon storm maker, if we aren't getting complaints then we aren't doing our job well enough." He gave a sigh. "And now I'm a guardian." He shook his head. "If the gods chose you then you'll do fine."

As the ritual came to a close with one more pony joining their ranks, Commander Heart said that he'd be taking them straight to their barracks. "Immediately?" Hail asked. "My father and sister were waiting for me after the ceremony."

[Thanqol]

Zircon Facet


"Well, I didn't want to be rude...." Zircon says a little sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "But you're right. You hiding your face and doing that strange dance has put me a little on edge. I'm not quite sure myself why, though.

As for your attitude..." At this point, he too pauses a bit, thinking about how to say this. "...well, I wouldn't say it doesn't fit your mask. For all that cheerfulness, you have been pretty evasive. And then turned my questions right back on me. That was some pretty good technique." This time, there is a genuinely friendly and encouraging smile on his face, his reprehension forgotten for a moment.

After a moment, he quietly adds "What? I've got some experience socialising. I know some tricks of the trade."

Hearing the commander call out for the recruits, he looks over his shoulder, realizing that the straggler has been caught and he too managed to somehow pass the ritual. Deep down, Zircon wonders just how many drinks the goddesses had in today's festivities.

"Well, looks we'll have to go. Sorry for bothering you."

"Well, he's got your number," said Texitokolis.

Eyes of Water watched him go, then took off her mask and shook her mane clean. She tucked it back into her saddlebag, stretched her neck, and let the tension soak away from her shoulders. She let herself go quiet and the energy drain from her movements, fading into a wallflower. She had spent far too much time in the spotlight today, now was the time to start categorizing the full extent of her screw-ups.

"Welcome, then, apprentice Guardians. Congratulations are extended to each of you, but we have little time for pleasantries. As I said earlier, I am Commander Heart, and as such I'll be in charge of both your training, and your missions. Come with me, and I'll show you to your quarters as well as induct you fully into the Guardians." He begins trotting off toward a long, flat building of grey bricks and a slanted thatched roof, previously obscured by a stage's backdrop.

So she quietly nodded and followed behind the Commander.

[Forum Explorer]

Wish Sight's glasses fell, when Emerald talked to him. He blushed and levitated the glasses back to place.
There were so many rules, how to correctly speak to a lady, and so.kany ways to embaress himself MORE.

"Ughh..." he said dumbly.
"Right..." he shaked his head, to conetrate, as his glasses slided again.
"When you trusted with such important and respected duty- you bound to hurt others." he said, looking at the floor.
"Your failure will dissapoint expectations of the ponies who.trusted you. Succes would make others envy..." he sighed
"The monastry was a safe place..." he said, already missing his old oofe.

"Success brings gratitude not envy. As for failures, well feel free to blame them on me. It won't be a bother." Cloudy Dreams said, eye returning to their half-closed almost asleep state.

Emmy pondered this for a moment before she replied. "I work in the mines, and it's never about whether you succeed or fail to dig out the gemstones. See, you have to work as a team. Working together you succeed as a team. You use each pony's strength to help another's weakness. A team, is greater than the sum of its parts."

"And if anyone is envious over the hard work you did for success, you ignore 'em," she adds.

"That's some rock solid advice. Don't take us for granite, buddy, and we'll make sure you don't get buried under your new responsibilities." Cloudy Dreams joked.