Blueblood

Gloomy tilted her head at the offer. "The chill outside, versus the chili inside. Which will win, will my heart be warmed?" Perhaps sensing that this might be a little too heavy of an implication to assign to a simple offer of hospitality, the mare broke her expression into a smile, deflating slightly. "Well, it's worth a try. I'll be happy to come." Getting back to her hooves, she made to follow Sugar Moonlight to her house.

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Most ponies didn't notice this, but grey skies and rain have an interesting affect on color. Dark and muted hues are washed out, while bright and saturated colors are if anything enhanced by the setting. The first thing, therefore, that Gloomy noticed was the bright red and sparkling parts of Sugar Moonlight's mane as she approached. She blinked, the comparatively muted rest of the mare coming into focus. "I have traveled so far in the footsteps of another, hoping to find what they found. And here you are, coming to my voice's sound." She, with effort, managed a smile. "I am Gloomy. Gloomy Sonnet is my name, and often my mood and muse." Best get that out of the way early; if this earth pony was yet another that didn't want her raining on their parade, neither should waste each other's time.

It was a cold wet breeze that brought overcast skies to Maretime Bay, obscuring the sun for the first time a few weeks. The breeze had not brought a downcast unicorn into town, nor had said unicorn brought the downcast weather, but both fitted each other to a T. Gloomy Sonnet was a long way from home by now. The damp air had by now pasted her dark purple mane over one eye, her hooves were sore from the walking, and her head was full of all the reasons this wouldn't work. After all, if the newly-brightened Bridlewood had little use for a poet of melancholy, how much more a bustling town, full of Earth Ponies who literally had names like "Sunny?" Still, it wasn't like things would get any better if she stayed at home, and Aphabittle had told her he wouldn't serve her any more tea until she at least tried, so she might as well get this whole "find a friend" thing a try. The town did not give an auspicious sign to her venture, the immanent rain sending ponies indoors, leaving the streets mostly empty. Coming into town, she brushed her mane back to uncover both eyes, looking around as she asked in a husky voice, "Hello, Hello? Are you there? Am I alone?" The grey-coated mare naturally fell into a poetic meter when she spoke, but it didn't always rhyme. Right now, though, she was making a picture more than a poem, center-framing a sighing unicorn drooping over empty streets, sky as grey as her hide.

It was always important to take time for family. Queen Haven often had to remind herself of that fact, even as she would acknowledge that it was the most important lesson a pony could learn. But the duties of rulership, and the trappings of celebrity, were all to eager to eat up all the waking time a mare could give, leaving one's daughters in the cold. Worst case scenario, this made them fight over the scraps, and having seen her two precious princesses do that once, she was resolved not to ever give them reason to do so again. Nonetheless, both often found themselves on their own, left to their own devices. In one respect, this was good, since it let them develop autonomy, to the point where they were able to become, in their own way, heroes! On the other hoof, it meant that Haven would sometimes feel herself increasingly distant from her daughters with each passing season... But now they all had something new that they had in common, working wings! And while Haven was by no means so speedy a flier as Zipp, nor so graceful a sky-dancer as Pipp, she found herself alight with joy every time she partook in the birthright of all pegasi, and this was something special she could share with them. Today, she was sharing it with Pipp, on a flight home from Maretime Bay where she'd come to pick her up from a party. "Did you have a good time with your friends?" Haven asked, brightly, for now not a queen, just a mother.

"Bao" nodded at Yanhua's adjustments, before returning to the last finishing touches on Rongyu's disguise. "Eyy, don't forget who we're going as! If it feels wrong, that means it'll look right!" The wink he gave after that sentence was pushing his luck with not getting clocked by his subordinate, and he knew it, but the adrenaline fizzing through his veins was too much for him to keep down! "We'll keep the pig sticker in a little bunker I know of down the road, which is on our way to the old rail line. No first class cars, but it will take us straight to Shenyang port, and we can catch a Sky Junk direct for the south." Feng beamed to see his officer so ready to train his friend. Such attention to duty! She'd have to be commended for that. "Alright, let's not burn any more daylight here, the bright light's are calling, and they're already pulling up the gold paving. Don't want to miss the rush!" ~***~ Felicitously, most of the trip down to Long Kong was uneventful, for the most part. Feng's commitment to stay in character had gotten himself slapped once or twice, to no lasting injury and, what was more important, no suspicion that he was anything other than what he presented as. They all had to book one cabin on the sky-junk down, but Feng had given Yanhua the bed. "Civilians won't be made to sleep on the floor, no like we haven't roughed it before, eh Rongyu?" Most of the time, he had a map of Long Kong out, marking likely spots of interest and memorizing places and routes. "Not that this covers all the side streets and alleys, but at least we won't look like gawping tourists. Sis works on the docks, but we'll have to likely pay a call at her apartment, since she works the outward-facing port, not the one that's riverside facing Long Guo."

"Oh, Silver Spoon is a friend of my daughter. One of the right sort." *Unlike certain other individuals.* But this filly would certainly be a good influence on those two, forging better connections... and it had to be said, that even Spoiled Rich could not stand the thought of a little filly growing up entirely without friends. "I'll have to introduce you to my daughter as well; consider yourself to have an open invitation to Rich Manor." High Bar would likely have as much trouble with the word 'play' as she did with the word 'friend', but both were necessities for little ones.

The conversation seemed to be moving on to more agreeable tones and subjects. Pipp had, of course, taken the time to painstakingly explain the concept of "memes" to her mother, though she repeatedly insisted that Queen Haven not embarrass herself by attempting to make any herself. Which might have been taken as impertinent by a lesser parent, but Queen Haven understood that she could not afford to put herself in public in a capacity she was lacking. That was why Zipp never was made to sing a duet with her sister. "I've rather been out of the loop in that respect." She relaxed a little, letting the crew show off a few memes. Oh, how charming! It reminded her of her own princess days, when hopeful suitors bid for her hoof... it was rather a pity she didn't select for endurance; widowhood is an experience that no royal comforts can soften. "Oh dear, I'm rather dismayed not to see that charmingly rugged stallion who ended up helping me find Pipp and Zipp. Alpha...beta? Bittle! Yes, Alphabittle. He's a little older than most on Klipklop, though." She giggled.

As her sandwich arrived, Spoiled took dainty but relishing bites, genuinely enjoying the food here, for what it was worth. Which was more than what she paid for it. Being married to Filthy had taught her the value of a bargain, at least. "Well, I think we've all concluded this deal fairly satisfactorily." She beamed at Rose and High Bar, pleased that things had turned out so nicely between them. She hadn't been sure how to best engage in dealings with the filly's family, but this seemed the... most defensible way, should anything get out. Who could blame a mare for wanting the cutting edge in medical alchemy to reach the Equestrian public? "So tell me, High Bar, how do you like school here? Have you made... any connections among your peers?" Spoiled could not *quite* bring herself to use the word "friends," Rose might notice.

Zappers was a pretty silly colt most of the time, but his remark on Rarity's mama suitability was, in her mind, sound. After all, mama showered good gifts on her, and Auntie Rarity showered good gifts on them, so yeah! The logic checked out! "Uh-huh! Why isn't she a mama then, though?" With both her mouth and her magic, Ambrosia pulled the dress with a princess' dainty care to the top of the wagon, before climbing on behind, to keep watch. Who knew if any bad guys wanted to steal it! Bad guys did that in every book she'd been read, and the princess could only have herself and her things rescued by a valiant knight... Of course, there would be no one more valiant than her momma, but if it all happened while she was busy with an errand, then she'd have to rely on Zap. A quick glance sideways and years of experience would show that hope for her to be... unreliable, at best. "All ready, mama!" She beamed, giving a scrunchy smile at the boop. The thought of school... it was scary, but exciting. It was frightening to be taken from loving house where her mama was, but on the other hoof... "Will I be able to wear my dress to school?" Her eyes were shining, she could show every filly and colt what a pretty princess she was.

To describe the look that Queen Haven was giving Flick Ray as "flat" would be an understatement. Both her eyelids were held at exactly the midpoint of her eyes, so completely even with each other as to have been set with a level. Her right eyebrow was precisely parallel, though her left deviated from the square plan, rising to a perfect arch within her brow. Political polarization hadn't really been much of a thing in Zephyr Heights; when you didn't elections, ponies had much less heated debates over policy. "As bad as all that, Mister Ray? I've been away for no longer than a month, and they have so much trouble talking to each other already..." She shook her head. "In my experience, ponies only get like that when they think they have something to fight for, power over a city in this case. Or, to put it slightly more sympathetically, they fear what will happen if somepony else wins power over them. That's why Monarchy exists; when ponies don't have things to fight over, they actually talk." She sighed. "But as long as something like that can be fought for, it's not really fair to expect nuance. Anypony pleading for that is either a chump about to get clocked, or a champ who has enough power to carve out a peaceful space, a miniature monarch, if you don't mind me applying that label to you, Mister Ray." Her expression softened a little, and she permitted herself a smile. That didn't last long when he brought up the convictions of her loyalists. "We have no evidence either way. I daresay we all did awful things to each other, by the end of... whatever it was that split the tribes. But we cannot move past by denying old wrongs, only by forgiving them. Which begs the question, if you cannot forgive ponies who live among among you, who did their best by you, even if they ended up doing wrong; how can you then be expected to forgive strangers with whom you have yet to build trust, or ancient grudges which clipped the wings of generations?"

Berry nodded. "Yup, my own hoofwork! The changelings say they can taste the love in it. I'll have to get one of them to pose for a label if I ever decide to bottle and sell it, but most of the ones around here are students, and a little young to contract with, you know?" She smiled at Granola, feeling the mare's awkwardness begin to grow, and decided to give her an out. "I'll have to come around by your place later, though; I have to put Ruby to bed now." Stowing away her gift, she gave the other mare one last hug. "Happy Heartswarming, Granola!"

For a moment, little Ambrosia was torn between whether she would believe her brother, or her own eyes. She might have gotten snow on her long lashes, after all. That made it hard to see shiny things clearly, and whatever their present was, it was certainly shiny! With difficulty, the entangled filly sat up, straining to reach a beribboned hoof to her eye to wipe it off. There, now give a good squint... "I see a ring, Zappers." It was confusing. He wouldn't have acted so enthusiastic if it wasn't a badge; badges seeming to be the only kind of jewelry colts cared about. But it was clearly a ring, which mean.... Her brother must want to look pretty! At that thought, her troubled expression broke into a wide grin. "OK, big brother! Put it on, wanna see how you look!" She giggled, as one did right before pulling a prank. Really, though, if she could get Zappers to understand how much a filly loved to look good, so that they could have something to talk about... it was worth giving up the ring.

A good deal indeed, but not an especially large one to start out with. Made sense, you didn't want to go all-in with a new supplier until you knew their inventory moved. Of course, if you were really good in your selection, you then had empty shelves with high demand... which was technically a better problem than full shelves with a low demand, but still made for unpleasant dealings with customers. Spoiled Rich was about as far away from the shop floor as you could get, but whenever Barnyard Bargains ran out of that year's supply of Zap Apple Jam, the complaints reached as far as her ears. "It might make sense for Rose to have another product on standby, just in case you have a spike in demand once word-of-mouth hits the streets. If you're not prepared for the best-case scenario, it might as well be the worst case scenario." She sipped her wine at that, pondering the filly's question as to why she cared. Could she tell High Bar the real reason? She didn't want to presume an intimacy that wasn't real; treating another pony's daughter as one's own could cause trouble. "Partly, it's because I dislike being left out of the loop of any important developments in this town. Some care for the details are essential..." Deep breath, "And also, I've rather come to like you. I want to see you succeed in life. Too many young fillies these days are not taking the proper steps, either through neglect by or rebellion against their parents. Given that you're here on your own... I want to just make sure things go alright for you."

An unknown varietal? That was certainly an intriguing gift! A rather long-term one, since it would take at least two harvest seasons for the vine to properly fruit, and who knows how long to judge the wine resulting. But, when combined with the offer of a trellis to grow them on, it made for a very good basis to start a real friendship! "As it so happens, my garden is rather full. So I think I'll take you up on that offer of a trellis, if you don't mind me coming around your place to look after the vine. I wouldn't want to suit you with a burden, after all!" Smiling with gratitude, she pulled Granola into a hug. "First day of the spring planting- well, second, after I tend to my own garden, I'll let you show me the trellises!"

Roleplay Type: MLP: A New Generation Name: Gloomy Sonnet Gender: Female Age: Young Mare Species: Unicorn Eye color: Magenta Coat: Grey Mane/Tail: Dark Purple, cut "emo flip" style with it covering one eye. Physique: Average Residence: Bridlewood Occupation: Poet/Coffee Shop entertainer Cutie Mark: Clouds covering a sheet of parchment (Subject to change if we get a better look in future movies/shows) Unique Traits: Never seen without her signature red scarf and beret. Her voice is lower than most mares, and thought extremely attractive by some History: Gloomy Sonnet was born into a Bridlewood in which laughter, joy, and songs with sparkle were long-forgotten memory. The unicorns around her lived in a town which had originally been built out of a pure sense of playful whimsy, a magical tree town for ponies with an affinity for colorful crystals, but the architecture of play was inhabited by unicorns who knew of magic as a thing that they had lost. An incredible sense of melancholy seemed to hang about all the inhabitants (with the notable exception of Izzy), and yet nopony was ever able to quite express to each other how it all made them feel. But when Gloomy started to come of age, her parents noticed that she seemed more... at peace, with the situation. As if the cloud of sadness was a familiar place, an old, not-quite-friend she knew well. She could express herself in turns of phrase that ponies recognized as expressing their own mood, and they would begin to visit the young filly, who would give readings that would make everypony around them feel, if not gladdened, at least no longer alone. It was during one such reading that her cutie mark appeared, an occasion marked by genuine, if muted, applause. Alphabittle was quick to hire her to work in his tea shop, providing a steady living for her while she worked on her poems and acted as MC for his bets, while attracting regular customers to him to hear her speak the words that resonated with their clouded souls. But then... they came to town. Izzy Moonbow had brought, of all things, earth ponies and pegasi to the town, unexpectedly outplayed Alphabittle for a gem from his collection, apparently in an attempt to bring magic back! Not that she took it all that seriously; even in her heart of hearts, she felt little hope that such an outcome would come about; and though she empathized with Sunny's sorrow, and even began writing a longer than usual poem about it, she could not say she was in any way expecting things to change. And yet... they did. Even before the ink was dry on her second stanza, those five ponies had managed to do the impossible, gathering the threads of Friendship and bringing magic back to the unicorns and flight back to the pegasi (what returned to the earth ponies was less obvious; but "common sense" was a likely answer). Bridlewood once more had unicorns with bright sparkles frolic through its playgrounds, craft with its crystals, and overall able to see the sunshine through the leaves. All but one. The return of her magic had done nothing to lift Gloomy's mood, her sparkle seeming dim as ever. What was worse, now that every unicorn was so much happier, they were no longer in a receptive mood to her poems, leaving her feeling more alone and miserable than ever. She moped for a good few weeks, just thinking how unfair it was that she was seemingly the only pony who could not be happy in Bridlewood. Noticing that his best assistant hadn't been showing up to work for weeks, Alphabittle visited her at home, and after hearing Gloomy Sonnet pour out her melancholy, suggested that she take some time off, and find some friends among the other towns. After all, one couldn't really experience the magic of friendship without friends, right? That was as good as any suggestion she'd heard, so she packed her bags, having little other than her clothes, voice, and pen, to try to follow in the footsteps of Izzy Moonbow, and find a special friend... Character Personality: It's not for nothing that the mare is named Gloomy Sonnet. She is not a very hopeful or optimistic pony, and will frequently sink into melancholy. About the only thing that will relieve her mood is writing, and sharing that with others who feel as she does. To be sad with others is almost a bittersweet kind of happiness, but to be sad alone is not a fate she wishes on anypony. If anypony she meets needs someone to share the burden of tears, she will take that half-empty cup for them. But loud joy and laughter leaves her confused, almost hurt and jealous. Anypony that tells her to "Just cheer up!" Is only likely going to make things worse for her. Character Summary: A melancholic poet pony, off to find a friend that might just kindle a sparkle that can light up and drive away the clouds around her soul.

Sent down by the falling walls, Ambrosia would find herself all tangled up in the ribbon! Though her limbs were wrapped up like an eagerly but inexpertly bound gift, she was able to get upright, and see with shining eyes the ring. It was everything the little pink princess prancing in the heard of every unicorn filly could possibly want! "Ooohhh!" She clapped her hooves giddily, before looking over to her brother. "I got a ring, I got a horn ring!" A quick look around at the shower of paper surrounding, however, failed to turn up anything else that looked like a present. Uh-oh, if there was only one gift, and it wasn't a gift that Zappers would even want or use... He might be upset. "You... see anything?" She tried to look around to see if anything got covered by the debris, but only ended up tripping over the ribbon and hopelessly entangling herself even further!

Well, at least the Mayor was right about one thing; Rose was certainly behind this kerfuffle, but at least it was nothing malicious. "Ah, I see." She said, with a sigh of relief, taking her seat once again. "Miss Rose, your attention and initiative are appreciated, but do please keep in mind that some ponies are not inclined to take surprises well, even pleasant ones." Her heart panged in sympathy with High Bar, honestly. Little fillies should be happy when the milk is sweeter than usual. Milk.... that brought back a memory she didn't want to think about right now. Spoiled's own order was an echo of High Bar's, as the recommended dish really was excellent. Once the waiter was gone, she continued, smoothing her mane back down and clearing her throat. "Well, with all that excitement over, I believe things were progressing towards quite a good deal?"

"If"? *IF?* Not an advisable word for an interviewer. Perhaps a risk too far with a mare who was still, in her own mind and in the minds of still a good portion of the ponies of Zephyr Heights Flick Ray's ruling sovereign. He certainly would have caught a rather sudden frost from Queen Haven's previously-warming expression, one that suggested... trouble, should anypony attempt to permanently bar her and her family from their home in the palace. "Some ponies, Mr. Ray? Ponies who lacked the past initiative to leave the city in the quest for the whole truth? Ponies who lack the present courage to publicly call for that under their own names? The fact of the matter is, that the only ponies who had either were my daughters. You may criticize me, and if it were a mere call for abdication, I would consider it harsh, but fair. But if truth be the test of rulership, there were only two pegasi in the whole of Zephyr Heights who went in search of the whole of it. Who else would you propose to trust to tell you the truth?"

Ambrosia had never in the exact cliché phrase ever asked for "upsies", though the likely reaction from orange-momma were she ever to do so would likely have proven sufficient encouragement to do so at high frequency. Not that Zap would be so easily touched, but at least he did indeed carry the little filly up on top of the box, where she quickly got a hold of the ribbon, ready to steadily pull and keep it intact. "Three!" She called out, joyfully smiling at her brother, as their simultaneous tug unraveled the knot, leaving only the paper to remove and reveal the gift within!

Scarlett tittered. "Oh, that takes me back. The hospital only allowed deliveries to mothers who just gave birth, so I asked for one of those party submarine sandwhiches. I almost finished off the whole thing!" She looked down at herself, shaking her head at the memory. "Didn't make getting rid of the baby-weight any faster, though I suppose you won't have much trouble with that, once you get back in shape for your work?" "No need to rush." Sky gently interposed, brushing the little mane of his daughter as she nursed. "I can support us for as long as we need." Not to mention Windy's own savings, but every stallion liked to think of himself as a provider under the circumstances. Once Glimmer was finished eating, and had drifted off, the doctor and nurse gently took the little filly to weigh and measure her. It didn't take long to give a clean bill of health, at which point the hungry grandmotherly hooves were satiated as Scarlett held and cooed softly, like a dove, over the tiny pony.

Little Amby was just so full of love that it would take Applejack coming in for Rarity to finally be released, free to take in the open air. "I'll wear it as soon as mama is done with her errands!" She didn't want to risk the dress getting torn or dusty during the day out, but she did want to get herself in it as soon as possible. "Thank you Auntie!" She gave a beaming wave to the gasping unicorn, before following mama AJ out.

"I can recommend the cucumber caprese," Spoiled pointed out the item on the menu. "It goes very well with a cup of the minestrone, though Prench Onion is also a safe bet." Of course, trying to impress a Manehattan foodie was probably a lost cause, but she could at least show her town in the best light- And then it all started to go wrong, the guard rushed in, she was spitting out the milk, and Spoiled was beginning to wonder how many of them were being surreptitiously sized for those concrete horseshoes. "Please, Miss High Bar, what is it? What did you taste?" She shot a glance over at Rose, suspecting that she must have had something to do with it, since Mayor Rich herself certainly didn't, and she couldn't suspect the wait staff here of slipping poison here, either.