Solaria

Thanks!

Changed to [Ready]. Also I realize that a fair portion of the history mentions Argent Bastion while the app is about Golden Zenith, but he plays such a large part in her making very influential decisions about her life that I felt he deserved as at least as much attention as he received.

Yes. Not sure why the edited by line hasn't worked the past few days, I've made edits each day.

Somewhat slowly, made a few changes yesterday. I have to say this is easier though, I've never used the 'edit by' line before to keep updates.

Cadence allowed herself a rather big grin at Rose's cousin's reaction, as no matter how many times she saw the surprise on new acquaintances' faces it was always unique to the particular pony. She hadn't really expected the stallion to decline, but the grace with which he'd accepted was still rather comforting. Her smile widened with the attention he gave to his cousin, to the point that Rose mentioned it and caused a small moment of embarrassment between the two.

"Oh, my apologies for assuming!" the princess said with a small laugh as she lowered the proffered glass. "I had always thought cousins shared palates. Perhaps it was siblings. Nieces and aunts? I'm not really sure..."

At that moment, a particular friend from Cadence's previous visit to Ponyland chose to make her presence known, levitating an impressively-mixed drink as usual.

"Martini!" the alicorn greeted warmly, returning the barsmare's smile. "I was hoping you'd be working again. They run short on staff rather conveniently, don't they?"

She put a gilded hoof to her chin for a moment in thought. Martini Paradise was a rather skilled mistress of the casks, but Cadence always seemed to be having wine. And that flaming drink from last time had been so much fun!

"Actually, why don't you surprise me for my drink?" the pony asked before turning to Staccato. "So Rose tells me you're in music. Do you have any particular inspirations for your art?"

I'll be on vacation until the 16th, but I'll resume work on this at that time.

Hey, look at all these responses lol. Rest assured I merely asked because while it won't be at all a focal point, I figured guards carried weapons like in the picture Phil provided and I wanted to cover my bases. As to the broadsword question, honestly it was just a bit of preference on my part. I figure she'll patrol more than actually standing, which would make a polearm a bit unwieldy and heavy after a while. I'll be adding more on this soon, entertaining company this weekend. Thanks for the support guys!

Hey Quickie. So I've asked SteelEagle and he said the way I was going about this should be alright, but I wanted to ask the RPHS assigned to my app as well:

I know weapons are a touchy topic, but if she only carries an issued broadsword whilst on duty, just like the other guards carry weapons such as pikes and halberds, is that alright? It's not something she carries around 24/7, only when in armor and doing her job, plus she was taught to only use it under extreme circumstances and as a last resort.

I know at that point the most obvious question is "why have a weapon at all then?" Well, hooves don't always suffice, just like hands pale in comparison during conflict in our world. I figure guards pledge their body and mind to their princesses, and need the tools to protect them when on the job. Was wondering if this was okay, was told that as long as she only had it while actively being a guard it shouldn't be a problem.

Roleplay Type: World of Equestria

Name: Golden Zenith, "Zen"

Sex: Female

Age: Mare

Species: Earth Pony

Eye colour: Sky Blue

Coat: Snow

Mane/Tail: Both bright gold in colour, kept in very simple styles. Her mane is of medium length with moderate bangs and kept close to her close to her neck in soft waves, while her tail is somewhat longer but is merely brushed straight every day.

Physique: Toned and fit, as she trains consistently to keep her body in peak condition. She stands about the average height for a mare.

Residence: Canterlot

Occupation: Guardsmare

Cutie Mark: A simple golden circle, signifying her strength of perseverance. As an older filly Zen's attitude toward her mark bordered on disappointment after seeing the more detailed and intricate marks her companions received, though in adulthood her appreciation for its simplicity and strong meaning grows every day.

Not exact, but close enough for a reference.

History: Golden Zenith was born during high noon to the heated touch of summer. A rather precocious foal, she would follow her parents everywhere as a duckling does its mother. Each of them would show Zen different things about the wonderful world of Equestria, from wheat fields to rare flowers to those special sunsets that only come once in a very long while.

As she grew a little older, Zen began to always look forward to the odd visit from her old grandsire Argent Bastion, who had been a royal soldier in his prime. "Argh," as she used to call him while stumbling over his name, would often retort with the nickname "Honey Hooves" to poke fun at her still-soft walking appendages before telling her long and grandiose tales from his time in service to Princess Celestia. Her favorite story was always about the time that Argent was selected for early morning guard duty, during which he was able to spy their princess raising the sun for the day. At the end of every story the old stallion would remind Zen how lucky she was to be under their leader's watchful eye. Afterwards he would sneak Zen a treat with a wink before leaving.

In between visits the filly would frolic about with her friends, playing at the park or trying to swim in the fountains. Grown-ups would attempt to scold her at times, but she would always escape to play another day before her ears were talked off! She would never get into serious trouble however, merely the pranks to which youths are prone.

Time passed, and it seemed like her parents allowed the aged warhorse to visit their daughter less and less. With growth came understanding, and Argent apparently thought that Zen was developed enough now to listen to his full views on the state of Equestria, and everypony's duty to the princess that had cared for it all these years. They would often discuss politics and honor, and on one special occacion the pair went into the city to attend a public appearance by their princess. The event struck a chord within Golden Zenith, and her heart seemed to thrum with pride.

Once or twice Argent Bastion was even caught showing his granddaughter rudimentary drills. The filly enjoyed the exercise, though her parents always wore stern faces when they would discover the activity. What they had feared from these visits was finally coming to pass. Eventually, they saw fit to sit Zen down and discuss the situation.

Argent Bastion, in his soldier days, had been top of his class. For both Equestria and crown, he trained day in and day out to make sure he would always protect Princess Celestia as she ruled over her subjects. For years he was this way: patrolling, standing guard, reading law books, waking before the dawn and sleeping just after dusk. In the beginning he was admired for his dedication, but as time wore on he lost friends and most emotional contact, all in pursuit of his self-imposed duties. It had taken him a long time to adjust after he was dismissed from service. Zen's mother and father didn't want the same thing to happen to her.

After several heated discussions on the matter, Zen assured her parents that she wouldn't become a slave to her beliefs like they assumed Argent Bastion had, but also that she did find great value in his dedication. There was nothing wrong with directing one's life toward returning some of the great favors Princess Celestia had bestowed upon ponykind. And though Equestria still enjoyed a golden age of peace and prosperity, an unfortunate fact of life is that paradise is safeguarded by its keepers. To be honest, being a guardian to the happy existence of her friends and family (as well as being somepony to look up to) appealed to Zenith.

In the end Zen's parents relented, if only for the value they saw in the responsibility and structure such activities would bring, and the pony began basic exercises and training with her grandsire. They were nothing too taxing, just some quick trots, jumps, and memory lessons. The filly took to them with great dedication, but it became quickly apparent that Argent's teasing nickname of Honey Hooves was a little more than just poking fun. The earth pony was mildly afflicted with chronically soft hooves, to the point that she would occasionally stumble either from surprise or discomfort on uneven, hard surfaces. It was something she had experienced every now and again whilst playing, but the condition seemed to occur more often with regular exercise.

Undeterred when Argent Bastion showed concern, and determined to keep the condition hidden from her parents lest they use it as leverage to end her training, Zen simply pushed on and accepted the obstacle as yet another hurdle to overcome. After all, it was a dull feeling most of the time and never truly a major problem.

After some time, Argent admitted that he had nothing left to teach his granddaughter at her level, and that she should continue training before applying to the REA when she was old enough if she was really sure that's what she wanted. In the meantime, there was even an REA Junior Fitness test going on for all young ponies of Canterlot! Desiring to prove how she'd progressed, young Zen entered without hesitation. This was her chance.

Everything went well, with Zen scoring first in several events such as pushups and long jumps. Her long periods of training were paying off. She would make tiny faces at coming in second or third, but was only frustrated in the spirit of competition and bore no ill will. It wasn't until the long-distance run that any problems became apparent.

Her hooves began bothering her again about halfway through the race, and though she tried to ignore them it became harder and harder for the filly to run well. Within sight of the finish line she finally stumbled and fell hard to the dirt, a cloud of dust leaving her coughing and sooty on the ground. To make matters worse, some other colts and fillies would either snicker or outright laugh at Zen as they galloped by to the end of the race.

Most of the young pony's mind wanted to just crawl off the track to her parents. She had already missed out on the top three anyway, what was the point of finishing? After all, she might injure her legs if she tried to go any further. It would be nice to let her tired body relax, have a drink of water...

Just as Zen was about to start sliding through the dirt, the memory of a shining golden sun behind her beloved monarch flitted through her mind. Seeing things through to the end was the mark of a devoted soldier. Finishing what one had started, that's why that white mark on the ground mattered. With her mouth setting into a determined line, the earth pony shakily rose to her hooves and walked slowly along the path, ignoring the other racers flying by. This is how she would live, how she would make a difference in Equestria. She would stand by her beliefs and hold strong.

She may not have won any awards that day, but that hardly compared to the feeling after crossing the finish line. The sense of pride, of accomplishment filled Golden Zenith as she took several gulps of cool water. It tasted all the sweeter than it would have after crawling off the track in defeat. And best of all, the resolution and determination which took root in the pony that day summoned her cutie mark into blossoming upon her flanks, a perfect circle of shining gold.

After the competition Zen took to training even harder each day so as to overcome the weakness in her hooves. She would run for longer periods, push past her limits as often as she could. In light of her accomplishment and understanding relative to her direction in life, ponies including her parents rarely questioned her affliction and simply allowed her to continue on her path. And after a few more years, she was ready when she joined the REA academy. She graduated in the higher end of her class, much to her pleasure, and joined the royal guard not long after.

Though a guardsmare, Zen is often sent on patrols about the city rather than standing guard at the castle grounds. As such she made a request to her superiors for allowance of a broadsword sheathed across her lower back, where the defensive tool would blend more easily with her flank armor and draw less attention than a large pike. After all, Argent Bastion had taught her that while she may carry a weapon, that by no means was an excuse to use it. Only the most extreme of circumstances would call for such an object. This also lightens the load on her hooves, as though she trains extensively so that her condition will not bother her, the earth pony tries not to stress them too much on long patrols.

Each day she holds to her dreams and her duties, proudly serving Equestria and those who inhabit it.

Character Summary:

Golden Zenith is a spirited mare in the prime of her life, and chooses to look on the bright side of things. Decidedly spunky and cheerful, she has a gung-ho attitude about situations and will normally charge in head-first and worry about the consequences later. She's loyal almost to a fault, and will normally provide mild humor to relax terse situations.

With an iconic smile gracing her lips, she'll trot about her duties with her head held high and her polished armor gleaming. Despite the fact that she seems less than serious most of the time, she takes her beliefs to heart and will fiercely defend them.

She greatly enjoys sticky riceballs in seaweed wrap, as well as potato soup and cranberry juice. In her free time she often trains, but can otherwise be found out and about either sharing stories, challenging other ponies to ludicrous contests, or snoozing in odd places. In the end she accepts who she is, and makes no excuses for it.

"The light of the Dawn shows us for what we really are. I will always stand tall in her warm embrace. Protect your honor and chase your dreams!"

[colour=#daa520]Master Guns, sir![/colour]

Cadence turned curiously at the tiny ruckus and heavy breathing that sounded behind her and Celestia, noting that her second aunt had chosen just that moment to skid around the hallway corner. It was funny, the younger princess didn't know the mare could move that fast without flying. The things you learned at morning meetings!

A small smile graced her lips, nothing more. No hint of the bubbling laughter that tremored her chest. Her eyes stayed neutral, betraying only the tiniest spark of mirth. Cadence knew that Luna took her pride and self-image somewhat seriously, and with good reason, so she did her best not to offend that sensibility. After all, with a glance at how she herself looked with papers orbiting her head and a momentarily-forgotten cup of hot chocolate hovering halfway to her muzzle, the rock from which the love princess could cast amiable stones was loose sand at best.

"[colour=#daa520]It's so nice to see you Aunt Luna[/colour]!" Cadence recovered with a modicum of grace, taking a second and a flash of magic to rearrange her paraphernalia neatly on the table once more. "[colour=#daa520]Isn't it fun to be receiving a piece of Equestrian history[/colour]?"

Of course, this probably wasn't anything new to the royal sisters. Cadence had been around for a while, but it was a tiny ripple in the pond of Time where her aunts were concerned. They had likely seen many artifacts come and go, each one just as important to some pinprick in the ever-written story that was the history of their land. Sadly she was still working on rediscovering lost ways of the Crystal Empire herself, but she was just as happy to help with her adoptive home.

Not sure if missed...

...or unloved.

[colour=#dda0dd]You speak nonsense! I know not why you think you're missed.[/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]Hello Canterlot! It's been quite a while since I've forayed anywhere but the roleplaying forums, though I'd say the current holiday is a pretty good excuse to make the visit. I can't explain it, it's almost like I was compelled to come here and wish you all a happy Hearts and Hooves Day. Either that or it's some inherent love princess duty. [/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]So anyway, have fun today/tonight/yesterday as the case may be! Share some candy, let those you love know you care, and bask in the warmth that comes from sharing your heart with others![/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]I'm not really sure what the point of this thread is beyond conveying that message, but I'll take a moment to mention those ponies whom I've met in the past year that make my own heart glow a little brighter:[/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]I know I've missed a few of you and I'm sorry, it's like trying to find some weird red-striped pony in an oddly-spaced crowd. Thank you all for the special moments, and know that a small piece of my heart is with each of you! Feel free to share your new friends if so inclined.[/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]

[/colour]

Mjölna smiled at the general good cheer of her companions. She'd half-expected most of them to grumble about the early hour or be freezing after a couple of minutes in the snow. It wasn't an unwelcome development, to be sure. Or perhaps they'd just gone crazy already. Either way it suited the earth pony. She nodded to Miasma's admittal of her true name, and turned her attention to Andromeda with an only mildly curious glance.

"The mountain is named not for the whims of a cartographer, milady. In days long past, the titles of lands told of their greatness and deeds in wondrous detail. Naskralar is a primal creature from times immemorial, and his lair shares his name. Many believe that the beast is naught but a myth, a legend, and that the flames that spout from the rocky peak have natural explanations. They fear to venture forth and verify their claims, preferring to stay within their protective cities and cozy lives. My people hold to the old tales, however, and one such story describes the dragon as possessing scales harder than any suit of armor, nigh impenetrable.

"I will test this claim, by strength of courage and will. If I am successful, I will have materials of which any armorsmith could only dream. If not, I will bring great glory and honor to my ancestors in the contest." She smiled. "Would you not enjoy seeing one of the most ancient creatures in our world, bard? It would make for quite an epic to share about your hearths."

**********************************************************************

Destiny had spent her evening in a light sleep, and awoken a short while before their decreed departure time. While many of the others were shouting their excitement to the dawn, she remained quiet and followed the group along down the steep hill, using her magic to secure her hoofing rather than sliding down like a lunatic. After all, despite the fact that her REA status oft required that she rose before the sun, she still wasn't a morning mare. Her hood did nothing to stop the rising sun from glaring directly into her eyes after all.

With no pony to talk to, aside from maybe Strider, she opted to listen to the various other conversations going on about her. It wasn't required that she make friends here by forcing conversation, though she wasn't opposed to it. They were adventurers with a common goal, not little ponies going to share a picnic. Their environment alone was enough of a reminder of how alone they would really be. She simultaneously summoned a translucent, lavender landscape of magic to hover in the air before her. The more they walked, the more detailed the image became. An arcane map, of sorts.

The unicorn didn't know how helpful such a thing would be in this featureless expanse of chilling white, but it never hurt to be prepared. She drew her hood closer, spared a grimace at the weak sun, and glided on.

[colour=#dda0dd]Are you implying that I DON'T already fill silly and don't have a grand old time troll... Alicorning around Steel? Are you?![/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]

That doesn't mean that their hearts are filled with a dark and sinister intent.

[colour=#dda0dd]>_>[/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]<_<[/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]v_v[/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]Mine is. I'm a corrupt lurve princess. [/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]Besides, the actual episode will be like when couples embrace after reconciling a spat. This is like the headliner, "War of the Bronies." All will be well, tears of joy and forgiveness will be shed, and I will steal Starry's beard in the confusion. Sunrise, sunset.[/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]Alright, alright. I can take a hint. When they move Twilight to the castle, I'll fake a visit from the Crystal Empire, steal her wings in the night, and blame Shining Armor. She'll expect me to understand godhood being thrust upon her, like we've had similar situations and whatnot. Blame will be easy to displace... After all, who doesn't trust this face?[/colour]

[colour=#dda0dd]

[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]Neat, congratulations![/colour]

Destiny sighed, forgetting that this wasn't one of her scholarly colleagues but a fiercely passionate creature who dwelled in the realm of metal and machines. It was hard to make the transition sometimes, being shut away from the social world for weeks at a time. It wasn't often that she got visitors after all. While letting Gerrard say as he pleased to dissipate his temper, the unicorn added a little chamomile to her tea and left it to steep for a few minutes while nodding silently in agreement.

"I enjoy the cold, it has a way of attracting the hardier residents. Canterlot is too prim and proper, too dominated by commercialism and politics. Here is Equestrian industry, one of the beating hearts of my land. I'd much rather prefer to be here with gruff neighbors rather than listen to passerby argue about which dress is in fashion. What's your favorite area in which to have work orders called?"

Cadence smiled innocently at Rose's reaction, tilting her head to steal a glance at the volume's title before returning her attention back to her friend. When she saw the other pony reach for a wine bottle that wasn't even there, her smile wavered only slightly as she used her magic to retrieve a rather popular blend from behind the bar. Before anything could be said, a nice pile of golden bits was left in its place while she poured a glass both for herself and Madder.

The princess could tell something was weighing on her companion's mind, but she opted to stay silent and sip at her glass while waiting for the revelation to come of its own accord. It didn't take long, for which the mare was grateful. Awkward silences were always... well, awkward. She did in fact remember Rose mentioning something about an opera on that day back in the fudge shop, and the full scope of the situation was rather interesting. Her cousin, and he'd asked for Miss Madder's help? Sounded like quite an honor to Cadence.

"[colour=#dda0dd]Well, some ponies are really passionate about their work. I've met a lot of artists like that[/colour]," the alicorn mentioned in an airy manner, hoping to draw some tension away from the atmosphere with her off-hoof attitude about it. "[colour=#dda0dd]In fact I'd say that's what lets them produce such amazing things. Art wouldn't be nearly as fun if it was completely boring, right? I[/colour]-"

Cadence stopped speaking as she heard the main door open and saw Rose react. That could only mean one thing. She swiveled her head and sure enough, there was a very artistic-looking stallion standing in the doorway dusting himself off. If anything, he looked like he belonged on display himself. When he caught sight of the two mares at their seats and made his way over, the royal pony inclined her head at his exclamation.

"[colour=#dda0dd]I assume you're Rose's cousin. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Princess Cadence[/colour]," she said in an amicable tone while forgoing the normal process of royalty being introduced by others. It was a tradition she disliked in relaxed settings. "[colour=#dda0dd]Please, have a seat with us. Do you enjoy wine[/colour]?"

As she spoke, Cadence levitated a third glass over and hovered it invitingly in the air before Staccato before winking subtly to Rose Madder. Of course she'd stay if her presence helped ease her friend's apprehension.

Cadence trotted happily along the halls of the Crystal Keep, a rather large lollipop shoved into her cheek while she hummed. After all, she was saving the cook from a possible cavity! He'd had far too many sweets as of late, and the princess would never wish a visit from Doctor Colgate on anypony. One never knew when that crazy dentist was watching...

The alicorn slowed, a haunted look crossing her features as echoes of drills and maniacal laughter played through her memories. She couldn't get here, right? There's no way she could even know where the Crystal Kingdom was out in the middle of all this snow! But she had been one of Cadence's bridesmares, she could find out.

"Crystal Heart protect me," she whispered, carefully removing the lollipop from her mouth as she approached her chambers.

As per usual she spared a glance to the small table outside the large, ornate doors that led to her bedroom, and almost continued on until she spied a tiny white corner of something peeking from the space between the furniture and the wall. Curious, the rose mare tugged at it with her magic until a slightly-dusty letter was pulled free and hovered in the air before her. Cadence sighed. It looked like a careless guard had tossed the letter onto the table where it had nearly slipped to the floor.

Mail was obviously a little harder to receive out here in the Crystal Kingdom, considering distance and the necessity that it be delivered by train due to hazardous flight conditions, but this looked like it had been there a while. How was she supposed to respond in a timely manner if she didn't know she had mail? Without further ado the princess took the letter into her greeting room and sat before her desk, moving a fresh scroll and quill before her.

Dear Willow Wisp,

My sincere apologies for the tardiness of this response. After reading your letter, I do have some words of advice for you! While everypony worries that spending time apart will slowly wash away everything they once had, true connections of the heart don't fade as easily. You say you and this stallion had a grand adventure together, and obviously you shared some feelings. If he truly cares for you and you informed him that you were leaving for the chance of a lifetime, he should understand even if you took a little longer than anticipated.

Have you ever had a close friend move far away? Most ponies assume that when they meet again the friends will have lost all that they had in common. Yet more often than not, they still share that which formed their bond in the first place. With relationships, that affection can be a little more fickle but the same principle applies. If anything you and your special somepony experienced more together than most! After all, opposites attract. Ponies who do all of the same things get bored a little more easily, whereas you bring the spice of variety into his life!

If nothing else, I would recommend going just to get closure on the situation. Whether he's involved or not, you'll know rather than wondering each day. If you tell him how you really feel, I personally am assured that he shouldn't have lost any of his candle for you! I hope this helps, but in the end only you and your special somepony can decide what's right for you. Best of luck to you both!

Segui il tuo cuore,

Princess Cadence

Far away in the town of Ponyville, a certain unicorn mare looked up from her current patient's twitching mouth and narrowed her eyes, an ear tilting as though she heard a far-off voice calling to her.

"Royal cavity," Colgate whispered, starting her drill once more.

"I'm not insulting you at all," Destiny said calmly, her eyes dark yet unmoved. "Unless you are your tools, and even then I'm just being objective. There's no reason to take offense, Gerrard."

As she spoke, she poured more tea for herself and sipped carefully at it while digesting his injured dialogue. Perhaps she hadn't accounted enough for his pride? It was unfortunate that pragmatism was often misunderstood.

"And while magic also has flaws, it's bound to its user. You can destroy a tool with no harm to the maker, and it's easily replaced. Manipulation of the arcane is inherent in the pony, so you would cause injury to sever the tie to the metaphysical flows." The unicorn took another swallow of tea. "You seem to be quite confident that any griffon can operate any tool within minutes of its properties being explained to them. Is that not a recipe for disaster? Your kind truly may be that quick on the uptake, personally I've not met many that can do so."

Her gaze followed her winged friend's movements, watching them closely. After all, he was speaking directly of bodily harm, and Destiny's military training did call for protection of oneself. As it was, she didn't make any movements yet.

"I suggest we move on to another topic however, as you seem too emotionally invested in this one. Unless you plan on proving your point, in which case I'll ask you to go into the snow and finish your project while setting a meeting for another time."

Cadence trotted whimsically down the familiar Canterlot boulevard, her hooves tapping out a delicate pace while her wings ruffled in expectation. She hadn't been to Ponyland since she last visited with her husband and met Martini Paradise, but she was pleased to be returning all the same. After all, Martini might be filling in again and the two mares could catch up! It was a happy thought, and she'd get a nice glass of vintage nonetheless.

The princess had her multi-hued mane tugged back in a loose tail, though it was brushed straight, and she wore a simple jacket. After all, even royalty was allowed to dress down on its own time. That, and the patrons of the bar didn't go there to be bowing and walking on eggshells around a princess. They went to relax, and Cadence was going to reinforce that atmosphere.

As she stepped into the dusky light of the establishment, the alicorn blinked for a few moments to allow her eyesight to adjust before looking around. The same mellow music, the same drawl and rowdy laughter of REA ponies. It was Ponyland alright. While she couldn't spot her unicorn bartender friend anywhere, Cadence did spot a familiar face: Rose Madder, whom she hadn't seen since the fudge shop sale. They hadn't really gotten acquainted at the time, but there was no better opportunity than the present right?

"[colour=#dda0dd]So, wine or liquor[/colour]?" the pink mare asked, sliding to a seat next to the other pony. "[colour=#dda0dd]It's always interesting to see what everypony picks. Judging by your book there, however, I'm guessing wine[/colour]!"

It seemed now that Mjölna had more enthusiasm in regards to her journey than she could have ever guessed. At this point the group was no longer a hardly-noticeable task force, it was something more... a fellowship? No, but that was close. The advantages and consequences of so many ponies mostly balanced themselves, as while they'd be more conspicuous they would also have more protection, not to mention a more variable skillset. As it stood, they were rather well-off: a pair of resolute and strong earth ponies, three unicorns who seemed capable of playing with reality itself, a gritty gryphon with the wind beneath her wings, and a pegasus who claimed navigational and medical skills. It was a well-balanced gathering, at least. The mare first addressed Darkest Dawn.

"Knowing where thy body lie is indeed an important skill, my friend. All the better that you know how best to fix something that is broken, though the will of a warrior can also be taken into account, aye?" she laughed. "Hold strong, and you are welcome among us."

"A bold claim you make, young one," Mjölna continued, turning to look unflinchingly into Bamboo Blade's blind eyes. "An earth pony always finds a way, it would seem. Testing thine limits is always a worthy venture, so long as one does not meet their end in doing so. There is no honor or glory attainable beyond your final breath, so you must ensure that your resting place is one worthy of song. I would have you, little mare, as I was no larger than yourself when I attained the materials for this." She shook her hammer from where it dangled over her flank, causing it to swing over its likeness emblazoned upon her side. "Keep your courage."

Now came the final addition to the entourage. This "Andromeda" had a presence similar to that of the unicorn from before, Destiny. Why did unicorns always have such a taste for the mysterious, and concealing cloaks? Perhaps it was a magical thing. After all, their height didn't intimidate Mjölna in the least, but the prickling of her neck hairs when around them did give her pause. She inclined her head and gave a confident grin anyway.

"Though I am not a native of these lands, your attention to their detail is impressive, milady," she complimented, her compulsion in the mare's presence causing her to use the honorific title. "I hail from the frozen crown of the world, a far harsher place than even this. Hopefully this journey proves a challenge even for myself. If all goes well, you shall not lack for tales to weave into your songs, bard. Perhaps your skills will even call the spirits to aid our passage through lands and caverns untold. We leave at dawn."

Her accomplices acknowledged and informed, the mare drained the rest of her stein and retreated upstairs for a hearty rest to prepare herself. No more needed to be said. Destiny watched the last bit of messy blonde tail disappear onto the upper landing before turning her cowled countenance back to Miasma. A small smile graced her lips in response to the gryphon's take on cutie marks.

"My destiny isn't foretold by the sigilus arcanum upon my flank," she explained patiently. "It merely exemplifies where my greatest talents lie. Many such marks are abstract and thus misleading, as an earth pony with a quill upon his sides could still easily move a boulder if desperate need arose. And as for names... I'll attribute that to cultural differences. I confess I do not know the inherent meaning in Miasma Vice beyond the obvious, after all." Her amusement dulled somewhat. "We should rest. And while you should have nothing to fear from the others, just be wary. It's good bodily advice."

Without another word, Destiny vanished.

********************************************

Just before the burgeoning winter sun threatened to break over the silver horizon, Mjölna stood ready at the edge of the inn's plateau, her warm cape whipping about her as her mane blew free. Below them lay the expanse of pure white snow, beautiful in its uniformity. And far, far in the distance, if one squinted their eyes to slits, lay the amorphous shadow of the giant Mt. Naskralar, its outline shifting with every flurry. Who knew what treacherous paths lie through the ice fields? There was only one way to find out.

"Let us begin!" the earth pony bellowed, leaping over the edge and sliding down the rather steep incline.

Trappings flaring open, pack rattling, hammer swinging as her hooves carved a billowing swath through the powder, Mjölna gave a mirthful laugh at the thought of adventure and challenge.

[colour=#daa520]tl;dr[/colour]

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