Blueblood

On seeing the box, Gloomy knew at once how special it was. It wasn't the sort of thing that would look precious to anypony who didn't know the heart and the love that went into it, a lingering memory that an ignorant pony wouldn't buy at a garage sale for more than a bit or two. "Memory is the only barrier that keeps us from the great garbage heap of oblivion. Keep true to your love and heart, lest time sweep you away anon." She reached a hoof out to tenderly received the box, testing the weight, before setting it down on the coffee table in front of her, as if she was somewhat scared to handle so great a treasure. "I think... I would like for you to visit sometime." And she managed a much more effortless smile this time.

Gloomy nodded. "I didn't have much time with her, but she left her tea set and journals with me, and that's where I learned a lot of poetic forms from." Rubbing her forelegs together, she brought her one uncovered eye back up to look into Sugar's. "The teapot and cups have a gold dusting all around the outside, with a long dragon going all around the outer edge. I don't know if he's supposed to be regal or silly; he manages to be both, somehow... Funny thing, I don't know where that design came from. Apparently my grandmother got it from her grandmother, too."

Star shot out a wing to catch Firey as the message shot through his head, coming out loud and clear. She wasted little time in rapping out an incohate but clear response on the prisoner's noggin, shutting any attempt at transmission back down. "Well, if that wasn't a wake-up message to sleeper cells, then I'm a hippogriff. I think the anti-magic padding on the cell walls kept it from getting out, but I'm not taking chances. Let's get out, we have to get the word out."

Stoic as she always was, Star Crusader's expression grew more serious upon these considerations. "We mobilize what forces we can in response to the threat. I will have to stay in town, but I don't mind putting together a posse; there's several capable ponies in this town I'd have at my back in a pinch. If it spreads to other cities, we'll have to spread word through channels both official and unofficial. As well as notifying King Thorax as well; I'll leave the diplomacy to my husband, though."

"Ah, in the future, it might be advisable to be more clear and precise in whom you are referring to before you just say 'they.' Ambiguities are the death of communication." Star replaced her flared wing against her side, preening one of the feathers back into place before rustling them a bit. "And I am not his fiancee, I am his wife. We had our herd-forming ceremony last year. I don't intend to stand down to a mere advisory role, but I rather suspect my family will keep me at home more." She nodded back towards their prisoner. "Trouble comes to me enough, it seems, so I'm not staying idle either way."

Gloomy sniffed, looking back up at Sugar. She was still a little hurt, but she could recognize the effort at restitution. In some respects, she valued such efforts more than apologies, as mere apologies were easy to fake. "Yeah, we are pretty good at making stuff. But part of it also is that you need to coat the inside, like an iron cooking pan. You don't scrub the inside, you let it build up. They're meant to last, you know. Mine belonged to my grandmother." She tried to smile, but it was harder than before. The effort was still being made, though, as she too did not want an incipient friendship to falter at the first hurdle. It would still be some time before she felt confident enough to invite Sugar to her house for tea, though.

Star shrugged. "It wasn't so much that I didn't want to follow in my family's hoofsteps; my mother never made that an issue of conflict." Hearing his story in return, though, did cause her expression to tilt downward ever so slightly. "I am afraid I do not quite follow. Did they love you because you led a revolt against stupid orders?" She hoped that was the case. Because if not, Firey had just expressed an unreserved delight at a memory of forced love extraction, which Star would call an evil act. Not the smartest of things to do in front of a pony who was literally a Crusader for Justice. In any case, she continued the story. "Well, I became Prince Blueblood's bodyguard at what might be called a pivotal point in his life. He was starting his efforts to promote international peace and economic cooperation, at the same time dealing with some personal issues regarding magic and gender identity. We grew close as I helped him through both of those. Quite close, as a matter of fact." She raised a wing, showing a golden band around the base that signified marriage among pegasi.

"Well, the only correct answer is porcelain. Cast Iron tea sets are for ponies that either lack taste, or enjoy the taste of metal in their tea. Porcelain all the way!" Gloomy's ears visibly drooped on hearing that. She was prepared, and even somewhat excited, to talk about her own personal tea set, a golden cast-iron pot with a cute dragon pattern all around! And honestly, if it added any taste of metal in her tea, she never noticed. But to hear it all be so casually dismissed was... a little dismaying. "Oh..." She replied softly, looking to the floor again. "They have advantages. They do not break when dropped, unlike a heart." Cast once again into moroseness, she took a seat on the couch, neither noticing nor caring about the glitter.

Star tilted her head a bit, thinking over things. "Well, I suppose they would want to know that I am the firstborn to the Duchess of Fet Loch, though I was largely kept out of noble affairs in the capital. Mother isn't... refined, and quite proud to stand out. She left me and my younger brother to choose our own paths, and I wanted to be an upholder of justice. To this end, I joined the REA as soon as I could. I don't regret it... but as an organization, I don't think it always works. I wanted a posting that would give me a little more leeway to go after evildoers without getting bogged down in paperwork. So, I was transferred out of the official chain of command, and into a posting as part of House Platinum's Honor Guard, while being on call for special operations missions. Which generally meant, that while I wasn't being sent on missions, I acted as Prince Blueblood's Bodyguard." That wasn't the whole story, but she waited to see what Firey's reaction was to the first part. That was usually telling about how well they would receive part two...

Star Crusader snorted a bit at the blow. "Were I here in official capacity as an REA officer, I'd have to reprimand you for abuse of a captive. As it is, I will only advise that restraint within a cell like this should be sufficient. Even if you need to be on the spot for the translation spell, I'm more than capable of restraining the prisoner myself." She took a seat on the floor of the cell, making a visible dent in the padded flooring. "Well, what would you like to know? I'm not usually given to small talk when on duty."

It was of no small comfort to Gloomy to know that she was not alone in her feelings of out-of-placeness with her employment. And Sugar's compliments did nothing to stop the unicorn from blushing! "I... understand. At least for me, I'd be quite glad to work for Alphabittle again, but he's the one who sent me out here. He said it would do me good to find a friend." A deep, quick breath to muster courage. "And he was right, in the end. I'm glad I found you, Sugar. I think you'll be a good friend." Once the pair arrived at Sugar's House, Gloomy had to admit she was somewhat relieved at the plainness of the surroundings. Izzy made cute art, but her abode was far too glittery for her tastes. "Do... you have a tea set somewhere? Is it porcelain or cast iron?"

Star gave the whole exchange the raised eyebrow. "Psionics? I suppose that makes sense, but I've never a reformed changeling use the technique; I had thought that you lost it along with your original hive connection." She wasn't complaining, made the whole thing a lot simpler. "There's quite a few ponies who'd be more than happy to have you on their team, I can tell you that much."

A semi-impressed huff of breath was Star's acknowledgement of Firey's brief resume. A quite significant gesture, for her, though its possible that he himself wouldn't realize that... unless he has a changeling's natural sense for the emotions of others. "Good. I can recommend you some places to bring you in, and make a few introductions myself. For now..." Clumping down the stairs, the amazonian pegasus found one of the more secure-looking rooms, not exactly a classic dungeon look, more like a padded dormitory, but the padding was all magic-proof. Wouldn't hold an alicorn, by her estimation, but it wouldn't have to. "This will be as good a spot as any to hold her. Hopefully get some answers out of her."

Her grey cheeks colored pink from her blush, Gloomy bashfully glanced towards the floor. "Th-thanks, must be because of where I spend- spent most of my time. I sometimes wonder if I should find something else to do. Nopony seems to enjoy my poems much anymore..." She tried to shake her morose thoughts out of her head. That didn't help too much, but she followed Sugar out; hopefully spending some time in her home would do so. Wrapping her scarf a little more tightly around herself to ward the chill, Gloomy followed Sugar closely, keeping her eyes on the bright sparkling mane and tail to guide the way.

Star gave a firm nod. In her opinion, most ponies could use some personal knowledge of physical security. "Good on you. You work as a freelancer; have you considered enlisting in one of our auxiliary corps?" Once Firey pointed out the message, she nodded. "Technically, war hostiles are accorded less legal protection than criminals, for obvious reasons. That said, I am not technically part of the REA, so I have a little more leeway even than that. Go ahead." They were coming up on a side entrance to Twilight's castle, which opened automatically at her knock. "Third door to the left leads down. Mind your hooves, the crystal is slippery."

Star Crusader spared a glance towards Pinkie, and her stoic expression briefly twitched into something like a smile. "She does say things like that. This town has rather gotten used to emergencies; it's a bit like home, only the sheep run run around like sheep." Her accent was so plain at this moment, that it was hard to tell just where she *was* from. "In any case, as I said before, your assistance is very appreciated. I'll definitely schedule a seminar for you to teach. I understand you were here to teach a lecture on self defense?" She didn't seem to notice the weight as she hauled the unconscious prisoner through the town.

Mothers sometimes pick up on things that their daughter's didn't necessarily intend to communicate. 'Working Hard', now that was a telling phrase, in a world where most ponies would say Pipp got to where she was by the luck of birth. They wouldn't have seen the literal straight days of practice in her singing and dancing, the long climb she took to be a public figure in her own right. Of course, whether that level of effort would have given that level of results had she been born to a different mother, or with a sister more envious that Zipp, well. Probably not, in all honesty. "You've done well with what fortune gave you." Queen Haven replied, diplomatically, not wanting to denigrate her daughter, but if recent events taught anything, it was maybe a good idea to check up on their pride once in a while. But that wasn't the real issue. Pipp had dealt with some degree of insecurity all her life, and the recent, hopefully temporary dethroning they'd all gone through had not helped in the least. "Pipp..." She sighed, not knowing how to say this delicately. Weaker things than wings seemed to be keeping her spirits airborne. "Just as we had to put on a show for our ponies... so did they. Believe me, things would have turned out much uglier had all the pegasi in Zephyr Heights felt that everypony in the castle played a mean trick on them, if it looked as if no one cared about their feelings." She slowed to hover right beside her daughter. "The peasants felt betrayed too, you know."

Given that the mare was wearing armor on her back, the blade only glanced off as the "alicorn" seized hold of the now-exposed changeling. "Oh, one of these these?" She didn't seem surprised, and simply gave a rap on the unreformed changeling's chitin skull, with a force that looked casual, but with her size and strength knocked the prisoner out cold. "Appreciate your assistance." Relieving the other of his burden, she slung the unreformed changeling over he shoulder, sparing a glance to where the well-practiced Ponyville emergency services were putting out the bakery fire. "Right, you'd best come with me. I don't trust the regular jail here to hold this one, so we'll have to use the small dungeon in the Castle at the center of town." She stuck out a wing for Firey to Shake. "Captain Star Crusader, of House Platinum's Honor guard."

"Glad to hear it, and I can assure you that she is." Spoiled beamed at High Bar, delicately passing over the question of whether Diamond was any *smarter* than one-fifth of the Mayor's own intelligence. Some of her little one's recent decisions had put her much in doubt in that one respect. But to her daughter's credit, she never sprung surprises like Rose did at the meal table. After the whole business with the strawberry milk, this only confirmed Rose with the label of 'eccentric' in Spoiled's mind. No worse, the alchemist changeling was undoubtedly competent in her domain, but perhaps heedlessly enthusiastic in her social one. "My, my, you're full of surprises, Rose. It is rather a pity you missed on the joys of foalhood, but perhaps we may not be the best to be remedial with that experience? Diamond is rather close to growing up, you know."

To Gloomy, the sudden, gentle hug obviated anything she negatively said about Earth Ponies. Did Sugar have any idea how long unicorns went without hugging each other, or showing affection? Or how unfamiliar it was to Gloomy still? Unfamiliar, perhaps, but quite nice. Ponies in the old days must have been very tactile with each other, with how natural it felt. "Oh, yeah, I guess it is ironic. Life itself is the original poet, after all." Not wanting her new friend to put her own kind too down, the unicorn felt the need to reciprocate. "And it works both ways. We always thought earth ponies stank, but you smell nicer than anypony I've met." Was that too much? She wasn't sure; it sounded a little to intimate, but she'd have to judge the reaction Sugar had as they walked out the door.

There was little to no time for Wordsworth to process what was happening. One moment, all was calm as he regarded his new changeling comrade, kindly easing him towards the idea of therapy. Next thing he knew, he was being defenestrated seconds ahead of a conflagration. "Ahech, ahoof, HEM! As much of a reputation as this town has gotten for its destructive events, this really seems a little much, what?" The unicorn was calm under the circumstances, but keenly aware that he would be of little use in a fight. He would have to leave that to professionals, and seek to keep the civilians from panicking... Speaking of professionals, one such was just coming down from a patrol overhead, a large, solidly muscled pegasus mare standing about as tall as a Clydesdale horse to normal ponies. Sky-blue in color, scarlet in mane, she came in for an earth-shaking landing with a rattle of armor, right in front of pursuer and pursued alike. "Halt and explain, both of you, if you know what's good for you."

There was something of an air of confession about Sugar Moonlight's tone. Gloomy had hears such things before, many a unicorn had burst forth the dammed gates of their soul over a fourth cup of tea in Alphabittle's lounge, though it was a little unusual to hear such in the middle of a shop floor. Still, the unicorn would treat this mare with the seriousness she felt all such deserved, and comment not until she could think of a way to rhyme it. "Darker things in the heart than sorrow/ you seek to leave for a bright tomorrow." That about said it. More than that... well. It wasn't as if she was guiltless of believing unflattering untruths about Sugar's own tribe. Best such nonsense was left in the past, where it belonged. She reached out a hoof, touching under the other mare's chin to push her head back up. "But happier times are in your view/ I just hope you'd take me there too." It felt a little... forced to her. Positive emotion didn't come naturally to her, and everything said in that vein just sounded like doggerel to her.

Watching this display, Psmith could only sit silently, and shake his head sadly. Those who knew him well would know that, under such circumstances, a lack of words indicated deep feelings, for he was only truly communicative when frivolous. It was with great gravity that he finished his tea and buns, sighing before unloading his burdened soul in words of one syllable. "You are... not well. And I can not do much to make you so." The young stallion was most unsatisfied with this answer, pushing a few remaining crumbs around his plate, before continuing. "I don't suppose you have searched for means of assistance with your dark, unruly imagination? Such professionals exist to provide such services."

With a slowing flap of her wings, Haven drew even with Pipp. Her two daughters both lived and flew at different paces, and it was important for their mother to match them where they were. That was why one-on-one time was important, as much as time all together. Low and slow, that was how Pipp liked it. It suited her, not even just from a lack of confidence, but because she was more visible from the ground, an audience could see more than a speck against the blue. Not that such thoughts were in the front of her mind at the moment, Queen Haven noticed. "You think you had a good time?" She echoed, curious and somewhat concerned. Uncertainty in such answers usually meant that some part of the visit was definitely not enjoyable. Pipp, like most in the public eye, was jealous of what private space she could preserve, and took violations of it much less casually than the common pony. But one had to be diplomatic, in matters of foreign cultures, and though they were all ponies, Queen Haven had noticed a rather more... egalitarian attitude among the earth ponies, at least when they acted among themselves. "Well, for many no doubt you are the first pegasus they've ever seen, let alone with such wings as yours. Don't be afraid to tell them they are sensitive, and only close friends may touch." That was common etiquette among the pegasi, and it was a little much to expect that everypony else would know it already. Still, if it wasn't as bad as the most rabid of the "Pippsqueaks", then there must me something more there. Her maternal senses were tingling. "Is that all, Pipp?"

Pmsith chuckled. "Well, you can't believe everything you hear. Really, the confidence one has in the intel of a, if I may say so without causing offense, defeated regime should be rather low, all things considered. One's brain, we may say Comrade Firey, is only as functional as the information it is fed; a Wonderbolt fed like a pig will soon cease to be a-" And he was quite capable of going on like that, pontificating over the pastries, when a sudden outburst from his opposite number induced Wordsworth to pause, direct a monocled gaze to what was, upon examination, a harmless shadow. After clearing his throat somewhat, he brought his monocle down to his jacket lapel, polishing it before returning it to his eye, words flowing with greater care and delicacy, "If assurances of victory and statues in the Canterlot gardens are insufficient to soothe your reactions beforehand, Comrade, is it... altogether wise for you to be armed among civilians?"