Aisede

Rose took a moment to appraise the new arrival, her true feelings on the matter hidden behind a neutral expression. "That is correct, Ms. Heart. We were actually just about to set off, so your timing is most fortuitous." Sighing internally, she very briefly summarized the plan she had concocted, then turned to address the entire crew once more. "Mares, and griffon, it would seem we got ourselves an extra set of hooves. Let's give her a proper welcome." "So, tell me Venture Heart, what kinds of skills do you possess that may assist us on our mission?" She asked, summoning a projection of a hydra on deck. Its many heads writhed and snapped at the air, that is, until a comically oversized syringe poked it and it fell like a sack of potatoes. Almost as an afterthought, she floated one of the needles over to Venture as well.

A worry free environment? That came as quite the surprise to the mare, considering her usual method involved putting the child through a series of tests to thicken their proverbial skin. Still, everything else she said made sense, even the part about being uncertain. She paused in her harvesting when she was done to swim over and give her a nuzzle-hug, speaking softly. "It brings me untold joy to hear you say that. For me, this will be a new beginning as well, a chance to be a real mother." Giving her a brief kiss, she smiled. "I admit, may need some guidance myself on how to properly raise a foal in a 'worry free' environment. In another life, they'd be raised to fend for themselves in an inhospitable world. I still beleive they should learn life-skills, but perhaps not with such intensity as my prior regimen entailed."

A little late to the punch here, but may I interest you in an interaction with my nice little medicine mare? Well, she's not a medicine mare, per say, she's an alchemist, but her primary goal is to preserve life to the best of her ability. Her social circle hasn't expanded much, and I'd like to see how she interacts with other ponies and creatures. You can find an expedition she started here And the potion shop she runs is also open, if any of your characters feel like color shifting coats or potions that make you speak backwards :)-

Twilight's explanation seemed to put the young queen at ease. It made sense, in a way. A high enough concentration of magic will, inevitably, have adverse effects on a creature's psyche. But then why wasn't Twilight being affected by it? Was she resistant to its affects, or simply too strong for it to affect her? She knew alicorns were phenomenally powerful beings, so that logic could checked out, but it didn't explain why it caused symptoms in Rose herself... Rose Compass, from the very first moment she gained any autonomy, was a researcher at heart. She studied, disected, and rationalized everything around her- specifically biology. Changeling queens were powerful entities in their own right, and with enough love, could theoretically possess unlimited power. She'd tested that theory out in her old life- which ironically nearly caused the death of her entire crew, and the creation of a legendary sea monster. ... Such was not the time for such ponderings, though. Twilight was eager and willing to understand an aspect of her culture, and she could respect that. "Well, Twilight, the ritual began as a way to comfort the citizens of Andalusia in war-times. The first Queen, Queen Moor I, would bless her knights before sending them off to battle, to keep them safe and ensure they return home to their waiting families. When the Great Plague of Seville swept through our fair country, many of our doctors perished before we could even identify the cause. By the time we realized what was happening, hundreds had succumbed to disease, and hundreds more were sick." "It was at this time that Queen Moor I approached a sick foal. The story goes that, with a few hushed words and her mere touch, the foal was cured. I'm certain there is more to it- probably an unreliable narrator and a generous amount of exaggeration- but I digress." "In Andalusia, we first invoke the name of Queen Moor- "In the name of The Queen"- to garner her attention. We then state our request- "may this foal experience unending joys in life, and never be alone". It is customary to wax poetic as well, "May the sirens sing your praise in the halls of Antemusia"." When she spoke that last part, she put a lot more emphasis into it, her voice almost seraphic. Raising her hoof out of the water, the magical surface swirled and glided up into the air in a graceful arc to land a meter above her hoof. It formed the shape of an egg, and similarly aquatic runes manifested around it, glowing a light blue. "This ritual may also include 'blessings' in a more literal sense, the sorts the Queen once placed upon her knights. Minor charms of protection and good luck to keep the foal safe, especially when they get into trouble." She smiled at this, a warm and tender expression as the runes engraved themselves in the glassy surface of the egg, causing the whole thing to light up a brighter blue. "Oftentimes a pony keeps these their entire life, or until they replace them with a stronger version to preserve magic. A normal cleric's charm will only last until they're about five years of age before it begins fading, but it is said that Queen Moor's blessings were not only more potent, but could be passed onto their next of kin as well. More fables, of course, but you understand the sentiment." Dropping the illusion, the egg and runes both collapsed back into the water, and she turned attention once again to the purple pony, swimming her way until they were just about nose to nose. She circled the mare once, briefly disappearing behind her- and then she would feel two hooves grip her shoulders and begin to softly knead them. Hopefully Aloe's teachings were not all for naught. "There is one last thing that may be bestowed upon the child, but it is an archaic practice even by Andalusia's standards. The bequeathement of a name. The parents have already chosen one by that point, but this is more akin to granting them a true name. When given by a particularly powerful cleric- or the monarch, obviously- it is believed to hold great power, much as my own cursed name which I shall not divulge, lest we attract unwanted attention."

Naturally, Kettle was similarly predisposed towards shirking school ettiquite, and wasted no time ditching her sister to follow a total stranger with questionable ethics and undead companions. "Wait for me, wait for meeeee!" She squealed in laughter as she followed on his heels. Naturally, a bucket of popcorn trailed close behind her, caught up in her buttery aura- that is, until she crashed face first into a solid wall. Or, wait, no, that was just Chipper. While her momentum was regrettably reduced to zero, the popcorn was less fortunate, racing along through the air, free at last- before crashing right into the Archchancellor's face at full speed, spraying popcorn and butter everywhere. "Ow..."

Again with the self-righteous prattling. She had to admit, she did raise several good points, but the overall vibe she gave off just... really put the mare off. Catching the lantern in her magic, she gave it one good look before whisking it away to a safe location, where the real Rose began to study it in earnest. "Only in the shattering can the rebuilding occur," the mare spoke, and the words carried such volume, such weight, that they resounded in the mind just as well as the body. "A wise mare once told me that, and I think I am beginning to understand the meaning behind it." She turned her attention back to Hou, her expression neutral. "Perhaps something of yours must be shattered before It can be rebuilt into its proper shape?" Shrugging, she let that little bit of advice go. "Scylla." She spoke next, and there was a tingle in the air when the word was spoken. "It is a cursed name, and the name of a tyrant. Speak it, and I will know exactly where you are. No border, spatial, temporal, or dimensional will impede it." She chuckled, then, looking around as if expecting her other self to appear at any moment and smite her. Yet, Rose Prime never did. "All Rose's know it, but hopefully I am the only one who will heed it." Dipping her head in a surprisingly formal curtsey, she grinned, as her spectral form begin to fade. "Until then, Miss Shuren, I bid thee fair tidings ~" In the next moment, the false mare was gone, the magic binding her form dissipating into the surrounding magic field.

Thoughts of Dorm Adventures vanished the instant the little filly witnessed Morning Glow's magic trick. "oh my gosh, oh my gosh I WANNA DO THAT!" standing up on candy's back, her face twisted in concentration, trying to pop like a kernel- only instead of just popping, she'd pop twice! Once there, and once... Somewhere else. Maybe a cornfield! Her horn glowed, and... POP! The basket of popcorn she'd left next to Glow appeared on top of Candy's head. She stared at it dumbly, as if surprised, even though she'd done exactly that only minutes ago. Trying again, her horn positively radiated hope and enthusiasm. POP! This time a new bucket of popcorn appeared, this one she recognized from... Someplace in Ponyville. The ponies could practically hear her frown as much as see it as she whined in frustration. "Waaaahhhh! I wanna do that too-hooooo!!!" Then, like a switch, she was up back to her chipper self, bouncing on her hooves with an energetic smile as she leveled a nigh manic-grin at Chipper. "Hey, hey, you're a horny-corn too! Do you know how to do that trick!? Do ya do ya!?"

He didn't know what drew him to the maze. He didn't know why the labarythine structure enthralled him so. He was confused, lost, and a little anxious, yet still he trod the verdant corridors with no aim or reason. How had he gotten there again? And where was there? He remembered a green mare, water, then... Then the rest was blank. He'd stepped off a boat- that may or may not have just been a mental metaphor- and now he was here, searching for something he couldn't even place a name on. His thougts spiraled. He passed by a hedge that he'd passed three times now, or was it four? One, two, three, four- yes, four. Four times he'd seen that particular arrangement of leaves, and four times more he'd revisit that spot before he finally found that darned exit. He paused when he heard... Voices? Were other ponies trapped in this maze? Well, 'trapped'. It was a maze, but... He should go greet them. Talk to them. Real ponies. Keeping his ears up and alert, he homed in on the... Group, miraculously breaking the loop he'd been trapped in as he ventured out to seek answers to a new question: who was out there? "Hello?" He called out in a meek voice, although it's unlikely he'd be heard that far out. Not yet, at least.

Kettle squeed as Caramel joined in the hug, beaming up at both of them with a buttery warmth in her heart. "I love you guys!" It was at that moment, shared between three sisters, that Chipper and Spearmint also appeared. More friends! Kettle enthusiastically waved at the more chipper of the two from her spot clinging to Candy's leg, raising her voice just high enough to only barely cause everyone in the room to go deaf. "Hi Chipper! Hi Spearmint!" Aaand there went Chipper! Morning was being a bit rude- so she'd get less popcorn- but that didn't matter so much because she still had Spearmint there too. "Hey Minty, why don't you join us! We can be BEST FRIENDS and make some kettle corn for orientation!"

Rose stood there for a long few seconds, staring at the alicorn as she strode into the pool. Something was naggling at her... And she wasn't sure what it could be. Subtly, she cast a self-diagnosis spell on herself as she slowly approached the lip of the pool, testing the waters with a hooftip. She wasn't sure what to make of what she found. Nothing seemed out of place... But she knew something had changed. Mentally pinging a simulacrum, she found a discrepancy, but decided not to make much of a fuss about it. Nothing had been removed, just... Altered. Or added? "Aloe..." Now that was a topic she could focus on. Smiling, she cast aside her fears and doubts and confidently strode into the waters, seamlessly shifting into her piscine form as she approached the terrestrial pony. (Or would it be celestial?) "She is doing well, last I checked. Healthy, happy- the egg, too ~" She giggled into a hoof, squinting at the mare with mirth as she stopped in front of her. Why had she so casually dropped that clue? She'd been wary of revealing too much before, but now... She felt they were a little closer. Hells, she transformed right in front of her, although that could be passed off as secretely being a seapony. "I was actually hoping you could bless it, when it comes out. Where I hail from, the blessing of a cleric or monarch brings fortune and favor upon the recipient, and I have great plans for her..." Trailing off, that naggling feeling in the back of her head came back, and she zoned out for a moment. Children... She was a child, once. A child of someone... had that ever come up? Unlikely, there wasn't any reason to. "Twilight," she started, furrowing her brows. She wanted to ask... But that'd kind of ruin the mood, and she was quite content as things were. Smiling, she fully relinquished her worries for the day- she could worry later. "Thank you for bringing me out here. It's a beautiful sight."

Well somepony was excitable today. Rose has to concede the mare's point: restoring sight wouldn't truly be all that bad... But it may be a good idea to do it little by little. She made a mental note to check up on this 'Mirror Pool' when she found the time. "I see your point. Then help me gather up some conetail and a few more specific reagents and we should be good. If we're changing priorities, we'll also be harvesting terrestrial plants from a few key locations, but that shouldn't be problematic." And so it was that she ported away the dog-ear plant and began sweeping the basin for conical foliage, her head only halfway into the game as she lost herself in thought. She thought about Solar Flare and her condition, and how she intended to fix it with Bevel's help. She thought about her encounter with Hou in the Saggalong Swamps, and what she had to say. She thought about her talks with Twilight, and how eye-opening they tended to be... And she thought about the day she met Aloe at that spa, haggard and hectic, stressed beyond her limits by her own lack of restraint. Oh how her life had changed so much since that day. For one, her love kept her calm and steady, something she hadn't realized she was lacking before. Second, she was absolutely stunning, which didn't need to be said. Third, the egg. "Aloe... I have an inquiry I wish to state, and it may seem a little unordinary, but I have to know." Looking over at the mare- the pregnant mare- she made an assessment. "Do you truly wish to be a mother? And if so, why?" Before Aloe could raise any questions of her own, she lifted a hoof and cut her off. Just as they encountered a patch of conestails, too- what fortuitous timing. She blindly began plucking some up from the stem as she continued to talk, the spiraling leaves above bobbing in the current. "For me and my... Kind, I have a certain predilection over motherhood. I am a gyne, a queen bee amongst my kind. I grow irate and irrational if I do not tend to my biological needs, something no amount of alchemy could ever change." "Ponies are not the same, however. You have the freedom of choice- outside of heat cycles, that is- and I have observed that many young ponies- and many ponies around your age- tend to avoid adding the responsibilities of parenthood to their pre-existing duties."

'What a rude pony' Rose thought, but decided not to make it an issue. Let the sorceress beleive what she wants if it makes her happy. "At this given moment?" She shook her head. "No. You are the one who intervened in my affairs, Ms. 'Shuren.' a productive intervention, but an intervention nonetheless." She made a show of inspecting her ghostly hoof, then. "Although you may find what remains of that fire hydra when I have concluded my research and acquired what I need." At this, sho looked up at the Condors again, studying them. Servants. In many ways, they were like a crew; loyal, probably talented, and they all more than likely serve a vital function. She couldn't help but draw the stark contrasts either, whereas her crew was distinct through personality quirks, these things didn't strike the changeling as much of anything special. Hmm... Actually... "'Hou Shuren'," the words came out like a command, even if they were a mere form of address. Her crimson eyes zeroed in on the pony with a smoldering intensity, her body gaining a little more definition. "If that's your real name. How would you feel about a trade of services? An... Apprentice, of sorts." "It's clear to me that, despite your great numbers, you lack what I would like to call distinction amongst your ranks. Would I be correct to assume the faces blend into each other?" She chuckled behind a hoof. "What would you say to this form joining you on your little misadventures? It can offer advice, knowledge, and tactical support when needed. All I ask is that I be able to call upon you every once in awhile, when I require something of you." "A fair trade, is it not? A powerful, self-sustaining ally and all I ask is a little of your time now and again." It would also allow Rose to track her movements and guage her knowledge. She may have made peace with Hou, and she doesn't intend to come into conflict with her, but knowing what she can do will prevent things like that powder from coming out of nowhere again. That could have been bad.

Kettle was about to explain that, no, the oblivious little corn cook hadn't the slightest clue where she was supposed to go so she stuck with her sister instead- because separating the two was an unthinkable crime against equinity that could never happen. And then her the less horny of her three sisters arrived. Now, the traditional greeting in Equestria would be a hug, or a friendly hoofbump. Kettle was not a traditional pony, as evidenced by her response to Glow's awakening and, not too long after, how she reacted to seeing Candy Corn show up. Thwump! Kettle glomped the tall pony's foreleg, nuzzling her enthusiastically as she radiated butter-colored joy. "Candy Corn is here, Candy Corn is here!" She announced, just incase anypony somehow missed that fact. "Big Sis Candy Corn! You're here!" She added one more time, just for good measure, peeling her face away from Candy Corn's coat to beam up at her, tail wagging. "Have you met Spearmint? Or Chipper Demise? Spear's kinda wonky and Chipper can be kinda creepy but in the good sort of way because if he was creepy in the bad sorta way he'd never make friends and then he'd be lonely but he has skeletons to keep him company so he may turn ponies into skeletons to keep him company- by the way this is Morning Glow!" Gesturing behind her with a hoof, she pointed at the perplexed unicorn, bouncing in place as she fully dislodged herself from Candy Corn's personal space. "She can be grumpy and kinda rude, but I'm sure she's just shy and she'd LOVE to be your friend!" It was at that moment that she gasped, squishing her cheeks for dramatic effect. Her horn shone- or it was more of a POP! Really- and a bucket of piping hot popcorn identical to the one that still occupied the space next to Morning materialized in her magic field- which was promptly thrust before Candy Corn's face, a single kernel taking that moment to making its daring escape. "Oh, oh! You HAVE to try my kettle corn! I'm working on a new recipe with blueberry and marshmallow I'm calling Kettle-Cream! It's going to be so delicious that all the colts and fillies at school will want to be my friend and learn my secrets and then we'll go on a montage where the student becomes the master and they create their own kettle corn and go on to form an entire CULT of corns and spread happiness and sugar WORLDWIDE! EEEEE!!!" The maniacal filly danced in place, the thought of creating a pop-pocalypse a delicious fantasy to indulge in for sure.

Ears perking up, Rose glances in the direction of the reception hall. "Pardon me, ladies." Turning back to the two, she bowed her head to one, then the other. "Miss Bevel, Miss Flare, we will most certainly meet again." And with that, the mysterious alchemist vanished from sight in a silent green blip. "Don't worry," her voice resonated within Bevel's skull with an amused and faintly musical tone. "We can still keep in contact if you wish, but certain matters demand my physical attendance." Rose had to admit, the event hadn't been very impactful for her. She'd neglected to really socialize and connect with the various ponies, although that was not for a lack of enthusiasm. Most simply happened to be otherwise occupied, and from the snippets of conversation she picked up all around the area, they were very meaningful conversations. So, in lieu of forging connections, she simply resumed her role as a sentinel, summoning and gulping down a sparkling purple potion to extend her senses so she may monitor the attendance in waiting. She didn't expect anything to go wrong, but one can never be too careful.

//So so so sorry, guys. This thread has been gathering dust for awhile, and I feel that the need to push it forward again has risen. Kaity, if/when you're available again, you can pick up from any point. Just give us some forewarning.// Tiger, Rose, Scarlet, Aloe, Compass, and whatever crew was on deck all gathered around as the alchemist extrapolated on her plan of action, complete with hoofgestures and appropriately dramatic expressions. "Alright, are all in attendance?" She looked around, although she didn't need to since she could sense everypony there already, as well as their unique signatures. "Good. I will give a brief summary of our plan of action first, then I would like for any of you with questions to please approach me. Teamwork here is vital. If we fail to execute any of these steps, we threaten to put the whole crew in jeopardy." "Now," she raised a hoof, then pointed it to a large 3D map of the Everfree that she conjured, large enough to give everyone a decent view. She tapped a place on the border, and it lit up bright blue. "We are here. Our target-" her hoof moved, and the map scrolled and expanded. She tapped another spot somewhere several miles in, a ring expanding around a red dot. "-Is here. It is a Lernaean Hydra, and highly aggressive, although it should be asleep around this time of day, either out in a clearing or huddled within a cave." "The objective is clear: harvest a blood sample. The way we shall be doing this, as suggested by Mr. Copper, will be non-lethal, and non-intrusive." She made sure to emphasize the latter part, eyeing Tiger and Scarlet specifically. "Amongst my tools, I have a means of tranquilizing the beast. If that somehow fails, we will find other means of subduing it with minimal danger to the crew. This," lighting up her horn, six sets of sarynges float over to the mare. "Is your means of collecting a blood sample." They were the biggest needles any of the ponies- and other creatures- had ever seen, more akin to a weapon than a medical device in sheer size. Needless to say, if a pony got poked with one, they'd be thuroughly exsanguinated. "It's enchanted to penetrate the thick hide of monsters, and you'll find a hoofgrip on the back that will allow you to draw blood. Handle them with care, and try not to get them dirty." With that said, each of the sarynges floated over to a designated pony- or other.

The very moment the unicorn so much as twitched, a certain set of honey-colored eyes settled on her. The very moment she spoke, those eyes got a lot closer. "Omigosh, you're awake you're awake!" It was as if her awakening was some grand event, fit for the greatest of fiestas and a holiday to boot as little Kettle bounded across the room in two energetic leaps to latch onto the unicorn's face like some sort of furry face-hugger, beaming all the while. "Did you try any of my kettle corn? Did you like it? Did you not like it? If you did like it what was your favorite part? Was it the caramel? Was it the corn? Was it the butter? Oh, oh! How can I make it better?" She inhaled, then, and downgraded to simply hugging the mare's neck instead. "I made a really big batch this morning because I didn't know how many ponies would be arriving but I did have a guess so I just made a WHOLE BUNCH and that's good because it means there's plenty for everypony including you although now that I think about it not much was eaten so I'll probably have to throw the batch but that's okay because I can always make more, LOTS MORE! I can make it in all kinds of different flavors too, what's your favorite flavor? Is it blueberry? I've never tried making blueberry popcorn before so I guess I'd be the first and that would be AMAZING-" Kettle went on to detail how great it'd be to invent blueberry popcorn before her words began to string together into white noise, a basket of popcorn magically appearing next to Morning Glow during the course of the conversation. It wasn't there at the beginning.

"A second spa this close to Ponyville?" Rose sounded incredulous at the prospect, drifting closer to the lakebed to get a good look at the selection. Junk, junk, junk- oh, there's some dog-ear. Swooping in to harvest some of the plant, of which there was quite a lot, she continued the conversation. "Not to mention running two spa's is statistically impossible unless I create a simulacrum of you..." She paused at that, adopting her 'I'm thinking of a terribly great idea' look. "Actually, I could do that, so long as you're comfortable having a magical copy of you trotting around town." She shook her head. "Anyway, expansion in general is possible, and I can help... But onto the subject of Solar Flare: in theory, yes. Blindness is a physical malady and, with enough... Alteration, can be cured. Fixing the cones is just one of many steps. The real issue is the moral and emotional implications of suddenly being exposed to experiences that may very well overwhelm you, and quickly." She stopped at that, turning to face Aloe properly. "If I blinded you, Aloe, I could fix that pretty easily. Hells, I can give you the sight of an eagle right now if you asked- but I'm getting ahead of myself." She shook her head. "Imagine, for a moment, that I did take your sight away, then gave it back. Not much of an impact, is it? Seeing the world in three-d and color is normal for us. We've 'seen' the world all our lives, and being deprived of such sight is inconvenient. Now imagine you've never been able to see at all, and suddenly you can. You can see the trees, and the sky, and the sun and moon. Ocean waves, birds, and the eye-stain that is the rainbow of colors all Equestrian ponies seem to come in for some goddess-awful reason- no offense, honey, I love your color scheme, I'm just not used to traipsing around ponies with literal rainbows in their mane. Natural rainbows."

Rose scoffed at that. Was she ready? Her entire world just got turned on its head- for the second time, no less- and now Twilight was essentially telling her this would all be a dream in a couple moments. She'd be back a slightly more informed, moping mess... Taking one last look at the doors, searching for something that she couldn't find quite yet, she sighed. There was nothing for it, nothing more she could gleam from this experience for now. "I am ready, Twilight." 'Swimming' over to her through the returning, slightly lighter dark, she grabbed the alicorn's hoof and braced herself for resurfacing. Heh, resurfacing into reality.

Roleplay Type: WoE Name: Shai Gender: Female Age: Old Species: Sphinxess Eye colour: Grey Coat: Coal Mane/Tail: Ink black Physique: Lean Residence: Transient Occupation: Defender against malevolent magic Unique Traits: Shai, in her time battling against the dark and supernatural, has attained a level of skill in dispelling curses and combating dark magic that could be considered expert. The sphinxess is capable of erecting anti-magic fields around herself, counter spelling, dispelling magic, and banishing demons. History: Long ago, In distant land, there was a mad king and his acolytes. They sought to resurrect their ill-willed ruler to subjugate her lands to a terrible fate. Back then, she was but a kitten, too afraid of her own shadow to stand up to the cult or do anything to impede upon their machinations. But in time, she learned that bravery and self-sacrifice were the only ways forward after the worse nearly came to pass. It was by a sheer stroke of luck that she was in the right place at the right time to throw her trembling body at the raving wizard and interrupt his spell, causing him- and his half-formed Eldritch daemon- to fall into oblivion. Fate had spoken, and she had listened. From that point on, she listened a lot more. She listened for ponies and camels and other such creatures crying for help against some dark creature, and learned how best to combat them and send them back from whence they came. For decades she has done this, and for centuries more she shall continue. Now, following a more recent lead, she finds herself in the pony lands, sniffing out clues and conspiracies as only a forger of riddles can. Character Personality: Impetuous to a fair degree, and prideful in her abilities. She takes joy in her job ridding the world of lingering evils, but tends to look down upon the mortal races, becoming irate when they impede on her work. Fortunately, she is not inflexible, and will at least see what these small creatures are capable of before writing them off. Character Summary: A wandering sphinxess who has tasked herself with protecting the world against dark forces.

Changelings Rose Compass bio Simulacrums: Simulacrums are magical constructs created through, and sustained by, Rose's own magic. They allow her to literally be in two (or more) places at once, and serve as her eyes, ears, and hooves in far-off places, such as Marais De Fue. Nautilus Location: Marais De Fue Bio: Purple coat, red mane & eyes. Fiesty persona. Unicorns Kettle Corn bio Earth Ponies John Dough bio Aerions Orange Cream bio Sphinxes Shai bio AU Characters Karakusa, The Adventurer Text color: #33cc99

Change along with it, huh? Ironic that this was something the changeling had overlooked. Even after everything that had been said- the jarring revelations- she still clung to the mare she used to be, trying to hammer a warped image into something beautiful. Rose sighed, and her form dimmed even more, now better resembling a ghost. "I will change," she murmured quietly, more to herself than her spectators. "I have to. I just... Don't know how." She looked down at her pale hooves, as if searching for answers. Frustration etched itself upon her muzzle as she clenched them, then released it with another labored exhale. How was she supposed to go about doing this? she was falling into the same trappings that made that madmare, despite her own efforts, but she can still fix this. She has time. Nothing but time, and ambition. She wasn't going to try and bring life eternal to this realm anymore- that was unreasonable, and not the solution here. All she could really do is improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, but... Was that enough? Healing the ailed, curing the sick? There's so much more she could do, so much she could... Teach. ... Yes, she could teach them. Although they could never rival her in depth and understanding, she could raise a new generation of learned alchemists who spread their teachings- and healing touch- across the land. She could have her own disciples. Looking back at Hou, she couldn't quite muster up a smile. Looking at her followers, she could. She stood up. "Perhaps you were onto something about the disciples," she said out loud, studying each and every face in attendance. "I have an idea..." Checks and balances. The original Rose went mad because her ambitions went unchecked, until she was too dangerous, and too strong, to do anything about. She didn't really feel she needed anybody watching her moves- especially the dark magic- but alchemists could still learn regardless. "We'll see each other again. In the meantime, this form will continue with her tasks in De Feu while I meditate..." She cast her eyes amonst the gathered creatures. "Unless, perhaps, one of your underlings would be interested in some tutelage?" "Perhaps the best way to help the world is to teach those already in it how to help each other. Luckily, I happen to be pretty savvy in that regard ~" she smirked.

"Disciples?" Rose echoed, blank-faced at first before breaking out into laughter. "Miss Jade," she said, after reigning in her wild mirth, "I may be one pony, but I can be- and am- in multiple places at once." Finally, she calmed down all the way, casting her gaze off to the swarm of creatures surrounding her without an inkling of fear. "And besides that, I have my children, or son-to-be brood." Lifting her hoof, a small, pale light like an ember sparked to life above it, causing the hoof to briefly becoming transparent. "Unlike Equestrian changelings, which I have heard form hives of exorbitant and unsustainable numbers, my kind produce a select few specialized spawn who's capabilities are applicable to the quote 'quality over quantity'." Twisting her hoof this way and that, the flame never left the top half, growing brighter and more defined. "When the time comes, they will aid me in my endeavors, and if I must, I will create my own vassals." Now the fire was a full blaze, turquoise edges snapping at the nonexistent wind in a fury. "Having Twilight supporting me is nice, and so is having a love to share my experiences with, but at the end of the day, it has been, and always will be me. It is by my hoof that this form exists, it is by my will that my former crew was established, and it was under my own power that I was transported here, to grace this world with a new dawn of prosperity." The flame suddenly guttered out as she snapped it, like breaking the neck of a phoenix and watching it turn to dust. "Neigh, Jade, my friend, I do not need disciples as you do, for I possess all the tools and power I will ever need."

Name: John DoughGender: maleAge: StallionSpecies: Earth PonyEye colour: Dark BrownCharacter colour: Brown Mane/Tail: blackPhysique: All around average.Residence: Transient Occupation: Baker Cutie Mark: A gingerbread mare, somewhat distorted.Unique Traits: John has a strange knowledge of merchandise pertaining to por trade, as well as skill maintaining seabourne vessels, albeit with limited experience. Asides from that, he possesses a strange aura that most ponies may simply disregard History: "You deserved so much more Than her stifling amour, and a body ashore..." John's past is... Murky, at best. He doesn't quite know how he got to Ponyville, or where from. He vaguely recalls who his family is, but not where they're from, and there's a conspicuous gap where... Somepony should be. These feelings degrade over time, unshackling him from a mental fatigue brought about by constant questions. In truth, he is a form of repentance for Rose. It's her fault he died in her world, his true love stripped away from him, and his own life soon after. He's not a clone so much as a... Fabrication of a memory given physical form, and a second chance. His real history is rather mundane: he was born in Port Malaga, and apprenticed under a baker after realizing he had a talent for making slightly above-average gingerbread treats. After a fateful encounter with a young and innocent Rose Compass (the original), he realized that something was missing in his life after her eventual departure, and found his true calling at sea with Soprana the sailor mare. From that point forward, until his untimely demise, he participated in the crew of a merchant vessel. Character Personality: As charming as your average stallion, with a decent grasp on baking and the sea, he's a kind soul who simply seeks his way in life. He wants for little, and has more than enough room in his heart for everypony he comes across. Character Summary: A generous but confused young stallion, unremarkable in almost any way. He was given a second chance at life by somepony he may never meet, to live a life he never knew had already been taken away.

"Huh..." Rose blinked, processing all of this. "Asides from you, I've never really known any ponies that utilized that practice. Kelp has always been something of a staple food in some maritime communities, and has some medicinal properties as well, depending on the type and the wound..." "It's good that your business is doing well, too! I'm wondering what would happen if we moved it out here... " She looked out into the somewhat murky waters. Distant. "Thoughts for another time, I suppose. Come, come! Let us begin the search!" Dragging Aloe along with a giddy giggle, she scanned the lakebed for... Something. "Alright, so there's hydrallia, a twenty-five foot long branch with small leaves on the them. I'd you cut it anywhere above the base, it'll grow two new stems. I shouldn't have to tell you what I intend to use it for. There's also the dog-eared pondweed, which is said to improve hearing and fix hearing loss. Conetail I intend to use in an expirement with the doctor, Solar Flare. It possesses proteins that specifically target the cones of the eyes. If I can hijack that protein and modify it, it can do a lot more. There's the Dryad weed, which grows in the roots of swamp trees and acts as excellent fertilizer... " She tapped her chin as she rambled on, but paused at the last one. "Conestails look like... Erm... Curly hayfries. Yes, green, underwater curly hayfries. Dryads look like flattened hooves, actually. Clinging to roots. We're not going to find those here."

Rose stifled a giggle at the energetic engineer's offer, lightly considering the options as she thought on what she had said. Levitating a startlingly small notebook from a flap on her bags, she offered it to the mare after giving it a decent skim over. "I'd offer to teach you how to make a horchata, such a delicious drink, but this isn't really the place for such things. Tea will do nicely, green if you have it." The notes, if Bevel went over them, were a very detailed graph of the equine eye, followed by formulas and theories- as well as the results of successful tests. One of them, a rather insignificant note, explained how to rid an eye of its pigment, causing it to become red. One taught the user how to make it shift through the colors of the spectrum. One of them enhanced visuals to allow for nocturnal vision, and another would protect the eye from damage via weather. There was more, but Bevel should get the gist as Rose turned to greet Solar Flare with a bright smile. "Miss Flare, we could not do this without you. I'm confident you will be a great help in making the future a brighter place for the visually impaired." Thinking on her hooves, her smile gained a somewhat impish tone as she released an invisible pulse from her horn, coating the entire deck in a thin layer of staticy magic- including herself, and her outstretched hoof. "In fact, I beleive this meeting alone has already given me some ideas. Tell me, can you 'see' your environment with any more clarity now?"