Aisede

What a passionate young mare! It reminded her of herself when she was still on the Force. Naïve, but so full of energy. None of them understood her brilliance, though. None of them could see the logic behind her actions, and preferred to keep the wool over their eyes. But not her. This conversation has the potential to evolve into something much greater. All it would take is one push, one inkling of an idea, and she just knew it would happen. Probably. She'd been wrong before, but those occasions were few and far between "I actually happen to be a fan of history." With her mind made, she pulled aside the curtains and took stage, equipping a somewhat nervous smile as she approached the mares as if overhearing them in passing, folding up the brochure to give them her full attention. "Um... Books, and stuff. I may not have a horn, but magic is just so fascinating!" Then she paused, eyes widening. "Oh! Excuse me! Sorry, I just... I'm easily excited..."

It'd been awhile since Rose was this excited for a day at the spa. In the beginning, working alongside Aloe was all the excitement she needed. Then it was the experience- although... Lingering memories of unpleasant times occasionally clawed their way to the forefront of her mind, she was always able to focus on the present and enjoy the moment. She learned a lot, and got to advertise some of her own solutions in the process. A lot of the novelty had faded over repeated cycles, but that didn't mean she enjoyed the work any less. Today, however, wasn't one of those days. Today, they were getting a special customer, of a species she couldn't recall encountering in either of her lifetimes: they were being visited by a kelpie. Coltic lore painted them as bewitching beauties with carnal appetites, akin to a changeling crossed with a siren, but other sources made them out to be the spawn of a leviathan and chaos. She wasn't sure which held more water, other than the proven fact that this creature was evidently made of the substance. To those ends, she had prepared a few things. Run a few... Covert tests, while of course enduring her patrons comfort to the best of her ability. When this patron arrived, she'd still be busy making some minor final preparations. Hopefully Aloe could handle reception. She was good at that.

Subtly, the disguised bat's ears twitched towards the conversation happening just across from her. A book? She still couldn't be sure if this was the makings of an elicit event, or if this was like the coffee case. Or the janitor case. Or the waitress case. Or the pizza case. No, that pizza delivery cold had definitely snuck something onto her pizza. She needs to track him down one of these days... She could drop it- it could be nothing, and just the musings of an overactive mind, but Orange Cream never left things to chance! They could be plotting something nefarious! ... Or they could be normal tourists. Wandering from the stand with a brochure in-hoof, she circled around to get a little closer, nose stuck in the admittedly enticing images. Ooh, was that a bathhouse? How would that work...?

Albedo looked up at the sudden movement, a good third of the heart devoured by then, and trilled in delight as she pressed her body up against the hoof. "Oh, indeed ~" Rose purred, nuzzling into Aloe's neck. But she dropped that act quick enough. "Still, the urges will come and go as she matures. My older self would have let her feed off of whatever hapless creature I captured to nourish her, but she didn't have you around to do the feeding for her." When Albedo had received enough affection from her parents, and her curiosity was sated for the moment, she began to drift off to explore the boundaries of their aquatic bubble. Belatedly, she noted the third pony in the room, but didn't pay her much mind. "Hopefully she's able to make friends outside the two of us when she's old enough to walk on land." Although the real trouble will begin when her magic starts to develop. She may be small now, but even as a guppy she shines with untapped potential to rival most unicorns. She'd need that power later, but for now...

Finally, she had time to settle down and have herself a day off. That's not to say she couldn't take some time to herself anytime she wanted- she could easily task one of her copies with managing her little shop, or tinker with that prototype spell to think for her- but even then she couldn't help worrying about little Albedo. She'd installed every security measure she could think of. A kraken empowered by an angry lich could not so much as graze her construction without considerable effort, and yet, still she worried. But worried no more, as her little guppy finally got her chance to greet the world, and her two sisters still remain in the womb, safe and sound. That's why she was out exploring again, just herself, in the flesh. She'd left Albedo with Aloe for the day, trusting in her love to care for their foal with instructions on what to do. It wasn't too complicated- just love her, and make sure she has plenty of space to roam. Best to leave her in the lake, then, and utilize one of her potions. Adventuring wasn't quite her mood at the moment. She'd went into the heart of Tenochtitlan not long ago, encountered a powerful mage in Mareais, and one if her imitations was currently weathering blistering cold on her way to this crystal city that has been mentioned a few times in passing. But none of that was truly important right then- what was was her first, true friend (besides Aloe) Twilight. It wasn't difficult to pinpoint her location and transport herself nearby, taking on the form of a chameleon before scurrying her way further into whatever locale she was currently occupying. No, what she intended to do for the day was a simple matter of spending time with someone special to her. She smiled at the thought, and the warmth it brought to her diminutive reptile body. "Hello, Twilight," she thought at the mare. No reason to startle her, although she doubted that mare could miss her arrival.

This thread is a good one, methinks. In it, Rose Compass, my confused and displaced changeling queen has a talk with Twilight about the nature of monsters, and her place in the world. It's a very deep and emotional moment for her, but it helps her to understand better who and what she is.

Unbeknownst to the 'stealthy' stallion, a pair of eyes had been following him as well, keen eyes expertly picking out the faint traces of invisibility through decades of experience with such tricks. She'd caught him filching from a local stand and decided to tail him. See if he was worth her while, or if he was just another two-bit theif hiding under the guise of a noble. It turns out her intuition, as usual, was spot on: it would appear he had lead her to yet another potential case. Her shifty demeanor and withdrawn behaviour spoke to her on a personal level. She'd need to get closer to investigate if this was real criminal activity or simply coincadence. To those ends, she chose to bide her time for the perfect moment to introduce herself, blending into the background as she kept her ears trained towards the two (to three) ponies, pretending to peruse some wares.

Roleplay Type: WoEName: Orange Cream Alias: Orange ScreamGender: FemaleAge: Young mareSpecies: Aerion (Appears to be an earth pony)Eye colour: lime greenCoat: Light orangeMane/Tail: White with a red stripe running down the middlePhysique: LitheResidence: ManehattanOccupation: Vigilante/DetectiveCutie Mark: A simple magnifying glassUnique Traits: Deception. Orange Cream has always beleived that the best way to catch a criminal is to think like a criminal. In her case, it's to be a criminal, join gangs and criminal organizations, and then work to bring them down from the inside. History: Formerly a renowned detective working for the Manehattan Police, Orange Cream's radical idealism and criminal mentality quickly found her on the wrong side of the law. After she was discovered by a fellow police officer within a mafia, trust in her rapidly dwindled, even when she provided vital Intel in taking it down. Things only escalated from there, and before anyone knew it, Orange Cream had become "Orange Scream", a terror of the night and a dangerously friendly face. To maintain her public identity, she had some clothing enchanted to give her the appearance of a regular earth pony, masking her slit pupils and obscuring her leathery wings under a tight-fitting green vest. Character Personality: Observant and critical thinking, Orange Cream is always actively on the lookout for opportunities to insert herself within the ranks of the scum of ponykind, approaching with friendly innocence and an often oblivious attitude regarding criminal activities. Don't be fooled, however, as behind that pleasant smile and wide, green eyes are a relentless predator, thirsting to sink its fangs into another of countless cases. Not all of them end happily. Character Summary: A detective fallen from grace and driven mad by a desire to bring down crime by becoming a criminal herself. She's very talented in deception, and is very a very capable mare.

"You're right... Our little seedling ~" she watched, radiating warmth and love as the newly born Albedo curiously inspected the mare that laid her egg. Wide, unblinking eyes scrutinized her closely, and every couple inches, she'd pause, back up, and observe her from another angle. She didn't cry, or kick, or do any of those other things a pony foal would do. By and large, she was remarkably calm, although that may have been a biproduct of her design. Taking Aloe's hoof in her own, she raised it, frog up, towards the little tadpole, and a tiny glowing heart manifested just above it. Immediately, Albedo homed in on it and hovered just above her hoof as she nipped and nibbled at the object. And then she did so with enthusiasm. "Healthy appetite ~" Rose noted with joy, watching the little thing eat. "I thought I'd make a little treat for her. It'll help her grow up healthy and strong, but too much will be bad for her." She gained a thoughtful expression after a moment, her eyes on the foal but her mind clearly elsewhere. "I wonder... " Snapping back-to, she returned to the present. "Remind me to talk to you about diet later, Aloe dear." "So what do you think?" The question was directed at Aloe.

That night, little reflection had a dream. It was, by all means, a rather ordinary dream- as mundane as one gets, in fact. Nothing. Her dream was nothing, extending to every non-existent corner, and equally absent horizon. Nothing but a black void that extended from beyond her hotel bed.

Kara wasn't so sure about that- with a god of chaos running amok, anything was possible- but she chose not to comment on her debby downery, instead hopping up onto Reflection's bed to snuggle with her as if they'd known each other their wholes lives. "You know... if you really want a powerful magical item, there's always the coal golems. Hehe..." That cheekiness rose back to the surface as they brushed cheeks. "Once upon a Crystal Fare... there was set upon a dragon's lair," she yawned, pulling Reflection closer because she was a frail little thing and she was an awesome earth pony. "The knight's or yore, the devil's roar, yet the ponies went on withou... with nary a care..." Kara must have been plum tuckered out, because she sounded half asleep by the next verse. "Mmm... but struck upon the silver eve, a mithril blade she did conceive... mmm... cleaves..." Another yawn, and Kara was pretty much out. "Nigh' 'Flection..."

"What a nice stallion," Kara mused as she pranced by Reflection's side, humming a merry (victory) tune as she let her eyes roam over anything of even tangential value with a primal hunger in her eyes. "Sooo how long we staying here? Ooh, do you think we'll randomly stumble upon a disgruntled reptile that'll become out unwitting travelling companion due to sheer coincadence and coinciding interests!?" Her eyes lit up with stars as she got up in her fellow filly's face. Because what the heck are boundaries? "That'd be so cool! Maybe he'd be a bard who has lost his muse and must travel beyond the Nettle's Lair to reach her!" The pony swooned, then, with appropriate drama. "And it'd be so tragic when he finds that she was caught by the sinister queen- BUT, then through sheer heroics, he'd best the spider, save his fline and win the day!" Hopping up into the air, she thrust a hoof out with an excited exclamation. "That'd be so cool! And he'd get lost of loot, too ~ eheh..." Aaand there came the drool and dreamy look.

"Um... 'Flection?" Kara raised a hoof as the filly began to make her exit, a single brow inquisitively raised. "Isn't this where the beds are? It is a tavern." Silly pony, she must have gotten so caught up in all the excitement that she forgot where she was. But that was okay, Karakusa was there to correct her path! Smiling wide, she trotted over to Reflection's side, threw a foreleg over her withers, and turned her around, guiding her towards the nice pony that told them not to gamble their bits right before they gambled their bits. And won! Oh wait, will he be more mad or less mad when he realizes they broke his rules but came out with more money? More silver . Shiny... Precious... Oh they have to get back on the road soon so they can grab them some treasure and LOOT

Rose suspected an event like this may occur, but yet the moment still managed to catch her off-guard. Sitting very still, she watched with baited breath as a the vague outline of a wriggling creature imprinted itself upon the outer shell. Albedo was most certainly awake and active, and she wanted out. It took awhile, and she got turned around a couple times- but, eventually, she came upon a weak point at the top of the ovoid capsule. Bumping it, the top of the egg bulged like a lid sealed right. Albedo bumped it again, with more force this time- and she was free! Or her head was, at least. Unlike Equestrian changeling larvae, Andalusian changelings begin their life as something akin to a tadpole. The newborn changeling wiggled and writhed as she tried to squeeze the rest of her body out and, eventually, out she came! Two spindly little forelegs furiously paddled in the glob of water surrounding the egg, and Rose's horn ignited as more volume was added to it. Now with sufficient space to swim around, the little thing paddled her large lateral tail. She didn't seem to have any clear direction, she just wanted to explore the outside... Or what of it she could interact with. Asides from a large head not unlike classic changeling larvae, she also sported a pair of clearly visible gills. Her wide, searching eyes were pink instead of blue, and her body was a stark white. Albedo was, unironically, albino. Rose smiled, enlarging the aquasphere to encompass half the chamber- and conveniently leaving Twilight dry- as she dove in and adopted her own piscene form. Aloe was also transformed. "Ah... Little one, my little seed of purity..." It didn't take long for Albedo to recognize one of her mothers and approach her, albeit in the lazy and aimless way of something that didn't really understand what was going on around it. She'd approach Aloe, too, if she came in.

Kara, meanwhile, shared in her joy, although she didn't cheat or anything and look at her cards (too much.) Her hand was a bust, but that was okay. She had fun, and that's all that mattered! Well, that and keeping their bits. Keeping their bits mattered quite a lot, and it sounded like they were going to get even more bits! "Yay!" She cheered, beaming at 'Flection. "Did we win!?"

Ignorant of the monetary perils she just put her and her friend in, she practically vibrated in her seat, swiping up her cards with a grin that absolutely did not mask any of her excitement. A 7 of Hearts and a 6 of... Shovels? Upsidedown Heart? She knew it had something to do with gardening. So that added up to a whopping 13 right off the bat! The only way she could lose is if she got an 8 or above, so... "Hit me!" She simply won't lose, as easy as that! No way her luck is so bad she'd draw the wrong cards. For good measure, she elbowed her friend with a wink. "Hey, 'Flection! Don't look so down. Have some fun!"

Not quite how Rose would have done it in her position, but she acknowledged that Equestrians had their own culture and customs, and this was still more than she could ever ask for. A light burning sensation made itself known in her chest as she watched the proceedings, and a spike of adrenaline shot through her when Twilight levitated the egg. Taking a deep breath, she calmly repeated the ancient words under her breath, before ending with an equally resonant- but no less quiet- "Aétheria." Bowing her head, she let a moment of silence pass to commemorate the moment, then lifted it with a smile. "Thank you, Princess." Lifting a hoof near the egg, palm up, a stream of water rose up from below them to coalesce into a small sphere, roughly the size of a pearl. Aloe may recognize it was smaller streams of green flowed from Rose herself, tinting the sphere a cool aquamarine. Twilight would also feel a tugging herself, and a question communicated beyond words- before the sphere floated off her frog to suspend itself directly above the egg. The crowning jewel. "Blessings upon you, little one."

"My dwellings are a place most grave, A site for those whom ponies could not save. Head not the siren calls, For demons forever will 'tempt to break your walls. Come now, choose not the loitering befuddlement if a knave." Shai failed to explain just where, exactly, she seemed to have made her dwellings, but it was easy enough to parse her words. That just left directions, for she gave none. It shouldn't be too hard to find a grave in a city, though.

Either luck or misfortune ensured that nothing impeded his path, nor stalled his swift retreat. No guards pursued him, no ponies gawked and pointed- except for the one right outside the stood when he left- and, most importantly, no ghostly voices taunted him. He was utterly alone, with just his thoughts and candles for company. Even Shai was oddly quiet, although he could feel her eyes on him all the while, silently judging his every thought and action.

In one blink, his little sister watched him with tearful, wide eyes. In the next... Oh shit, that was the shopcolt. He trembled like a leaf, holding a box of candles in his hoof. Or he had been. The poor thing was shaking so much that he had dropped it, along with his flank. "Please, I was just trying to help!" He pleased, covering his face as he curled up on the floor, tail tucked between his legs. "I- I don't know about your sister! I'm sorry!" It would seem she had played another trick on his perceptions, and he'd just yelled at the poor colt instead. A soft sigh sounded in his ear as he contemplated just how close behind the guard must be. "It's not a trick, Sundown. You will see your sister... And you will be thankful for it."

Just as his hoof touched it, another one was placed over his. A tiny hoof. A bloodstained hoof. Aurora was there, staring him in the eye with a look that was decidedly searching. Not so much accusatory as it was curious, as if this was a plain social visit and she was there to check on him. "What are you doing, brother?" She asked in that accursed voice of hers. "Are you really going to trust her? Sell me out to a demon?" She shook her head, and he couldn't help but feel she was disappointed in him. "Please, stop. Come find me. She promised. We can be together again... Just put down the candles and follow Her."

"O-o-okay! Okay! I'll get your candles just please don't hurt me!" The colt looked on the verge of tears as he trembled in Sundown's grip, terrified eyes staring back at him. A quiet giggle sounded off through the store, but this time it didn't come from the worker. As soon as Sundown would let him go, he'd scamper off towards the back of the store, and quickly out of sight. Whether or not he was actually grabbing candles or calling the local authorities was anyone's guess.

The poor colt was startled out of his damned mind, raising his hooves defensively with a whimper. "Please! Um... " Eyes flicking about the corridor, he couldn't find anything within reach that would get him out of that position. So, instead, he slapped on a shaky smile and just decided to report him when he was in a safe place. "C-candles? Oh! Right, candles! Eheh... Just... Let me go and I'll go get some." He gulped, and tried to free himself from the mad bat's grip. "What kind of candles are you looking for, sir?" "... And shouldn't you be looking for something else?"

"Of course." Indeed she did not, as Rose was all too eager to position herself to the right of the egg, fighting her own nerves to maintain a calm facade, although the occasional glance towards Albedo kind of ruined it. She wondered what kind of changeling she'd grow up to be. Would she embrace ponydom, or reject her old ways? How would she treat her sisters, and her pony sister? Her thoughts snagged on that detail- for some reason, she frequently forgot about it disregarded that fact: there were four of them, but the pony of them just didn't seem to... Register with her. Oh well, then wasn't the time to deliberate on such things.

"Excuse me, sir, are you alright?" Came a voice from right behind him. It was one of the staff, dressed in a smart blue vest and neat blue cap. Concerned red eyes watched him with a dizzying intensity, threatening to absorb what remained of his sanity if he neglected his duties any longe- "Um... You're not unwell, are you?" Suddenly he was a normal colt again, owlish blue eyes blinking at him as he took a cautious step towards the detective. The isle was otherwise empty, and no sign of Aurora could be seen. Shai was also oddly silent, although what shadows he could spot writhed like a den of angry snakes.