"I haven't the faintest recollection what I've been doing for the past year, it's like I was in a fog where I couldn't tell my hoof from my horn." Stated the familiar wisteria mare, her eyes locked on... View More"I haven't the faintest recollection what I've been doing for the past year, it's like I was in a fog where I couldn't tell my hoof from my horn." Stated the familiar wisteria mare, her eyes locked onto the ceiling as she listened to the quill of the castle doctor scratch across his clipboard. She was robed in white, silver regalia holding the flowing fabric in place around her body. Simple bands at first glance, but with intricate carvings of spells and seals meant to limit the effect she had on those around her.
"Well miss Dreamer, if you don't mind me being casual with your highness," spoke the doctor in a matter-of-fact tone. Rapid Recovery was not a stallion of pleasantries and he preferred to be curt and efficient in these sessions, as Ink had come to know over the past few days. "Truthfully, we are unsure of what occurred to you in that comatose state either. Her majesty, Princess Luna was able to hold back the flow of your magic outside that room, but even she was not able to pull you back from the dream realm. We were hoping that you would have regained some memory of yourself within the dreams by now, and could explain to us what you experienced. But..." He paused as he looked at the mare lying across the entirety of the couch which normally fit two. Her mane and tail spilled across the floor of his office like water, encroaching on every spot it could. He hesitated to move off his own chair to retrieve his glass of water- an oversight on his part as an earth pony.
"I don't think we're going to be making any progress in the near future. In light of this, I'm recommending the castle release you from the medical wing, and instead have you escorted within the west wing to be looked after by the Lunar Guard and the other night staff. They have some resistance to dream and sleep magic as retainers of Princess Luna so they should be able to better assist you in your recovery." He scribbled a note on his clipboard before tearing it off and watching in vanish in a flash of green fire. In all his years he would never get used to that.
"I really do appreciate you trying to help, doctor. But if even Luna is lacking information, then perhaps it's best to hope that time will heal all." Ink said with a sigh as she stood up from the couch, her mane moving with magic to avoid her hooves as she stood. The stallion's water levitated over from his desk to the table between them as Ink stretched her back in a cat-like manner. "I don't suppose you know how long it takes for them to prepare a room these days, would you?"
"Once they receive my notice, they should have your room prepared before nightfall. There's still a few hours left before the kitchen will have dinner ready. Feel free to roam the castle, but be aware that you cannot leave unless you're accompanied by a guard detail, an officer, or the princesses themselves." He added as almost an afterthought. He'd seen Ink a few times now and had gone through the general rules she was to follow the first day. No need to make any significant note of it now.
"I'll head to the gardens then, please inform the guard to send my escorts there once they've been decided. If I leave before they arrive, I'll let the castle cleaning staff know to pass the information on." With a pop and a flash, the large purple mare vanished from the doctor's sight, leaving nothing but a few flower petals and a sense of drowsiness. The stallion sighed to himself as he struggle to keep on his hooves. They weren't kidding when they said her magic was potent. Even suppressed as she was, the aftereffect of her spellcasting was enough to make an earth pony waver. He managed to send another note to the guard before ambling over to his couch and getting what he felt was a well deserved-nap. #rp
//attempting to get back in to a lot of my hobbies again. this is on my docket and I've begun to set up some other characters. hope you've all been well, I hope this motivates me back into making more... View More//attempting to get back in to a lot of my hobbies again. this is on my docket and I've begun to set up some other characters. hope you've all been well, I hope this motivates me back into making more art as well.
//I promise i will reply to the replies i have pending soon. I just got busy. My bad
Ink shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the carriage she was riding passed over a particular rough patch of road. She had spent the past few days on a train coming from Canterlot into the deep south ... View MoreInk shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the carriage she was riding passed over a particular rough patch of road. She had spent the past few days on a train coming from Canterlot into the deep south of Equestria, to the lands that were once called the badlands. Decades ago they had been deserts, but thanks to the reclamation done by the changelings they had been revitalized into prosperous farmlands. Much of her closest confidant, Golden Wheat's, family had been moving here as time went on. Overseeing many of the large wheat and corn fields they had become the leading mercantile family in the area. She was coming to visit, partially on business and more so to see her friend and her fiancé, as their wedding was not even a full year away. Unluckily for Ink though, the region had not had train tracks run to some of its more remote areas yet. So she had to suffer through a less than pleasant carriage ride.
At least she had been provided with her own carriage as part of her benefits as an archmage, and hers had been custom made with her new personal insignia, a shield with two unicorns back to back, and a crescent moon over top. It even came with a pair of strong stallions in silver plate, matching her circlet, pendant, and hoof cuffs. Along with the caravan of guards and supplies following along behind her, it still felt vaguely like she wasn't being trusted, but it was the least she would accept as an apology for being doubted when she had been reborn as a mara. True, historically the mara had been known to be the source of nightmares, but they were the source of all dreams as well. A distinction that the alicorn who ruled over the night itself should have been well aware of, but conveniently forgot out of fear. The trust and faith she'd lost in her teacher would take a long time to be rebuilt, on both sides. She hoped this short vacation would help to further clear her mind.
However her arrival would have to wait as the carriage came to a rolling halt as the caravan came to a commotion ahead. It appeared to Ink, who had stuck her head out of the window of the carriage to see around the front, that another carriage had broken a wheel, and a second had stopped to help them. One of the guards from the caravan galloped ahead of her own carriage to go and examine the situation in better detail. Knowing that it would likely be some time before they would continue on, Ink was eager to step out and stretch her legs. She used her magic to open her door before two maids stepped out, pulling a set of stairs down to allow her to walk out. As she stepped out, she pulled a silver veil down over her eyes, a light purple and blue parasol held over her head to keep the sun off. A small table and chair had been retrieved for her by some guards as they began to break for a midday meal. She sat down as one of her maids cast a spell to fill a glass with ice and water for her, before glancing back to the group being interviewed by that earnest young guardspony. She thought she saw a familiar face mixed in but couldn't tell. She'd soon find out though as they were following the guard back at a lax pace, something you'd only see a guard do in an area as rural as this. #rp
//fwiw, I only write long starters, I'm fine with shorter replies. I just like to set the scene.
Ink sat quietly, staring at her reflection in the mirror as several ponies swarmed around her, a whirlwind of preparation as they worked to turn her into the best she could be. Today was the day to an... View MoreInk sat quietly, staring at her reflection in the mirror as several ponies swarmed around her, a whirlwind of preparation as they worked to turn her into the best she could be. Today was the day to announce her official status as an archmage, a prestige rarely awarded to somepony so young, and of which only one other had earned in recent memory. Twilight's student, now advisor, Starlight had been given the honor for her proven capabilities and mastery over magic that could fundamentally shape the world. She was hailed as the second coming of Starswirl, with how quickly she learned and even created spells. Growing up, Ink had heard a great deal about her, popular among the nobles despite her commoner status. To be put in the same class as the greatest unicorn she'd ever heard of was nerve-wracking, and the heavy jewelry and adornments that were being woven into her mane and laid over her body did little to distract her.
She sighed, her breath coming out shakily as she rolled her shoulders, trying to loosen up. The ponies dressing her didnt seem to pay it any mind as they continued weaving her mane with silver threads and gems that matched the color of her magic. A circlet made of the same silver sat off to the side, placed in a velveteen box engraved with the icon of the moon and sun. It was not a decoration like the rest though, it would help her to have finer control over her magic so that she wouldn't leak any and cause a panic.
"We're almost done duchess," said a mare who was fastening shoes to her hooves. Also silver. With how much silver they were using Ink had half a mind to ask them if they thought she was some sort of monster, and these were her restraints. She though better of it, and decided she was aready stressed enough. The remaining prep seemed to breeze by, as she was rushed from her chambers to the main celebration hall of the castle, and ushered to a balcony that overlooked the entire gathering.
Ink could feel her magic trying to escape as she gave her greeting, the practiced façade she was so used to threatening to crumble. After a short list of her capabilities, and addressing Ink's loyalties to the crown, the princesses each confirmed her being granted the title of archmage. It was less dramatic than she'd expected, no grandiose ceremony, no ritual to follow... for a gathering of the nobility it was quite serendipitous that she hardly had to participate. She'd been offered every noble's hoof in marriage more often as of late, and she was happy to avoid talking to them in pony. As soon as she'd managed to break off from the procession in the ballroom she sought out one of the many balconies overlooking the castle gardens, hoping to find a place to relax. Most were already occupied but after checking the fifth one she found it was as of yet unused. Sighing in relief she made her way over to the couch and table, followed only by two newly appointed mare's maids. Her usual keeper, Golden Wheat, had been charged with overseeing the kitchen servants for the night, and so Ink had to make do without her biggest supporter.
One of the maids poured her a glass of wine before hurrying off to find other refreshments. The other was fixing Ink's mane with her hooves while her magic fanned her with a palm frond. Ink called out to the guard in a plain collar, no armor for this formal event, standing by the curtain that muffled the voices from the hall and gave her some privacy.
"Audiences of one only," she started, listing off stipulations since she knew she couldn't avoid the guests for long. "No stallions unless they are either business partners or prior acquaintances... or guardsponies, retired or active." She said after a pause, a gruff companion of hers coming to mind. "And no mares of my mother's age. They're only here to push their sons in my direction."
With a stiff salute the guardspony turned and stepped to the outside of the curtain, acting as a doorkeeper. 'And now we wait,' Ink thought, already planning how to spend her newly appointed freedoms. #rp
//do you ever randomly get ideas for a character while you're in the middle of writing something for another character?
"You know it's rare she gives you a night off, my lady." Golden Wheat said softly as she brushed out a particularly tangled knot from the violet mare's oversized mane, eliciting a wince and a hiss of... View More"You know it's rare she gives you a night off, my lady." Golden Wheat said softly as she brushed out a particularly tangled knot from the violet mare's oversized mane, eliciting a wince and a hiss of breath from the equally larger than life mare. Ink Dreamer didn't bother to respond as to elaborate would have been a waste of breath. She was one of three that had been successful in learning dream magic, and the only one who gained the regal appearance of a pseudo-alicorn. No wings, no all encompassing power to bend the world to her will, but the sheer presence she brought to a room was enough to all but guarantee she was worthy of reverence. Things had of course gotten much better since the start- no longer was she leaking magic; something that had been a shock once she had stabilized. It wasn't common but unicorns with excessively large energy stores had been known to cause localized effects without intention. In her case for the first several months of her time in the castle she would cause those within shouting distance to fall unconscious. For most, a minor inconvenience, but for pegasi it was not so benign. The sounds of broken wings on her first day serving the crown still echoed in her ears when she saw the royal guard.
"So what have you planned for me, Wheatie?" Ink cooed as she sank deeper into the soft cushions of her couch. It really was a shame that she couldn't fly, the cloudsmiths that made the furniture in the royal castle deserved to be praised in pony. "Another day of visiting the gardens? Shall we traipse through the kitchens and 'acquire' a cake?" Her words carried a sense of resignment. While it was the public statement that she worked for the crown, it was honestly little more than a way to keep her under watch without declaring her a threat. Sure, she did assist inn royal duties and even filled in for Luna in the higher courts at times- she even got all the privileges to use the various royal facilities in the castle. But she was little more than a bird in a cage.
"Cheer up. You may not be able to see that stallion you liked," Wheat joked at her lady's expense, hooves working through the thick curls of her mane. Ink for her part scoffed incredulously, though who she was trying to fool with her ears turning rosy was another mystery. "But that doesn't mean you have to mope around all day and tend dreams all night. I was thinking we could visit the public pavilion in the hedge maze. Maybe have some tea, talk to some of the commoners and magistrates from the day court on their lunch breaks?"
"Oh please, anything but the magistrates. I swear the last time I stood in for Luna they treated me like some sort of savior. If I start talking to them outside too, they might stage a coup."
"What's wrong with that? I think you would do a better job as princess than the lovestruck one in the north."
"While I don't disagree with you, I don't have the compatibility to keep their relic functioning. Let the north be run by the northerners. And I can't outshine her majesty of dusk, nor would I want to after all she's done for me."
"Then you shouldn't worry about it." Wheat assured, clapping her hooves together as she set aside her brush. "Now, let's go down to the pavilion. I'm sure there's something more interesting than another day spent in your quarters."
"Fiiiine," Ink sighed as she stretch, magicking her broach and jewelry- a necklace and a horn band both engraved with imagery of the moon and stars. With a begrudging lady in tow, Golden Wheat led the way to the hedge garden, it's central pavilion her goal. #rp
Petals from a blue flower float on the wind, carried away during their cascading dance from the rope like branches of the treees they once called home. Spring had arrived in this hazy place, gone were... View MorePetals from a blue flower float on the wind, carried away during their cascading dance from the rope like branches of the treees they once called home. Spring had arrived in this hazy place, gone were the frozen drifts and dreary skies. Gone were the somber silence and dreadful thoughts. It was like the world had begun to breathe again, awakening from its untimely death. Alongside the world another had begun to stir; her seemingly comatose body, sprawled beneath a lone wisteria tree nestled within this blue forest, shuddered lightly as a layer of shimmering magic seemed to fall away like sand.
Her eyelids fluttered lightly as she let out a shaky breath, catching in her throat. With a roll of her shoulders she lifted herself from between the ancient roots; leaning herself against the tree, she adjusted the translucent white cloth draped over herself. As she opened her eyes, drowsiness only letting her go so far, a faint flicker of teal and rose washed over her deep purple irises. The world fell away for a moment, its peaceful hues replaced by an empty void before it flickered back into existence around her. She didn't seem to notice as she continued rising to her hooves slowly, her movements relaxed, intentional and full of grace. Her lilac coat, wisteria purple mane, and translucent white attire made her look like some sort of seasonal specter, almost like the dryads of old.
As she made her way out from beneath the wisteria tree, the world rippling with her steps, a slight movement from just out of sight made her turn her head, snapping to attention as her ears perked up from beneath her lavish curls. A broken twig had alerted her to the presence of another, lost among this dream-like place. A wanderer. She sighed as she stopped in place, her eyes rolling as she cursed under her breath at the ‘lazy moon.’ As she addressed her observer her voice rang out in a more matured, almost motherly tone.
“Most ponies stay in their own dreams you know, was I so memorable that you couldn't stay out of mine?”
#rp
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