Elderflower

It's convention time. My productivity has slowed and will pretty much be at a standstill this weekend as I'm  helping my friend with her vendor stuff.

App has been updated and is ready for evaluation!

Heck, if you changed Rainbow Dash from a pony to a human then its the story of a man keeping a child isolated her entire life. It would be a horrifying tale of child abuse

That is why I can't stomach this story (aside from being a weak, manipulative piece of fiction as Steely mentioned). It's extremely unsettling and creepy. I get that the guy's trying to "protect" RBD but the way he tries to control every aspect of her life and the way he talks about her feels more like I'm reading from the perspective of a guy who's keeping a little girl trapped and raising her, being very careful she would never get caught in order to keep her "safe" with him forever. The way he talks about Rainbow Dash as a daughter, calling her "mine" is grody, and the way he plays "dad" makes the moments when he comments on her beauty unsettling because the writing simply doesn't capture the perspective of a father. It's not "Oh, I'm proud of who she became," it's just "wow she is sopretty."

There is nothing in the narration that convinces me the narrator is a dad - instead his comments have the tone of an admirer, which makes it really grody. This is especially true when you realize the "exercise" he brings her out for isn't enough and he recognizes that her life with him isn't as healthy as it should be since she can't get proper flying time in. He recognizes that her living with him is damaging for her, but instead of actually seeking out a solution he just keeps her trapped under that roof with him selfishly. That's not a father's actions. A father would be more concerned for the well-being of his child. Gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Not to mention he has her for years without telling her who she is, which is wrong. It's gross. If he told her, she might have been able to remember who she was (through the magic of FRIENDSHIP! :3) and could plan a way to make it home. But he doesn't, because he wants her all to himself...blegh. It's extremely unsettling, it's an unhealthy relationship, it's not a father/daughter relationship is and the fact that he treats it that way is discomforting, and I couldn't finish the story for a long time because of the sour taste it left in my mouth. It was just a creepy and and uncomfortable experience all around.

Anyways, that's my two cents. I could go on but I won't just because I'm getting the heebie-jeebies just writing this much. I could probably present my case better with direct examples too, but honestly I have no desire to go back and read the story again just for argument's sake. Normally I don't like criticizing without using direct examples from the text, but...MLD gets to be an exception.

*Shiver*

If it's about the forrest fires, I hope you and your family well Flower~

We are no longer in a state of emergency, actually. Fire has been reduced to hot spots and even though we haven't gotten the downpour we really need, the scattered showers and cooler temperatures have been helping a lot. I think it's pretty well safe to say the danger has passed - we had a lovely summer day today that was totally free of smoke today and everything.

I have been putting off making this official or communicating it for a while (mostly because I really didn't want this to be the case and certainly didn't want it to be official) but I will be leaving Canterlot indefinitely. Figured I should post in this thread since I've gotten some PMs about my recent disappearance/the cast characters I played being made available. Real life is kicking my butt and unfortunately I have to turn away from my activity on Canterlot and online in general. I'm very sorry about the impact this has on various threads, and would like to apologize once more to staff since I will be taking my leave after so recently being made a helpstaffer - before I could even really get into the swing of things.

I'll still be around on skype every now and again so I won't be completely out of touch, mind - and I will definitely want to return when/if I'm able. I want to use this post, too, to say that you folks on Canterlot are pretty darn phenomenal, and I'm glad I've gotten to know so many of you! As a creature raised on the internet, I've been a part of many different communities and this is the first one I've ever felt really connected to. It's a warm, fun environment and it's all thanks to you fine fans of ponydom!

EDIT: I'm aware I still owe people art, and that will come in time! Sorry for the wait.

Roleplay Type

World of Equestria.

Name

Kingsley. Nicknamed King, known as “The Iron Mare” by coworkers and peers.

Sex

Female.

Age

Older Mare.

Species

Pegasus.

Eye colour

Light steel.

Coat

King’s coat is coarse, stiff, and thick – every bit as bristly as one might think she is upon first seeing her trademark frown! The fur is a light papaya whip in colour and fades to white at her feathery fetlocks, to match the white tips of her wing feathers.

Mane/Tail

King’s white mane is a little on the long side, though it’s often hard to tell. She constantly keeps it styled in a very tight, pristine bun with not a single strand of hair out of place. She enjoys keeping her mane long to maintain a sense of femininity, but sees it as nothing but a hassle when she’s working…and she rarely stops working. Following the same mindset, her pale tail is always braided tightly in a fishtail.

Physique

Though tall, thick-framed, and muscular, King’s figure is still very curvy! She’s tough as nails from a very rigid exercise routine (and a fondness for visiting her parents to help her mother around the forge), but still knows how to play up her feminine looks!

Residence

Stalliongrad.

Occupation

Treasurer for the City of Stalliongrad and member of its council, former secretary.

Cutie Mark

A smart, black nib pen.

King’s life growing up in Stalliongrad was very tough – quite literally! Hard work defined her foalhood, as her pegasus parents always kept themselves too busy and overworked and were eager for a helping hoof from their daughter the moment she was old enough to assist them. Once they deemed it safe for her to help around the ovens, she started helping her father in his bakery. Building fires for wood-burning ovens, kneading dough, balancing large pans of breads and sweets – it was real muscle-building activity, and it always felt like there wasn’t enough time in the day to finish the orders that piled in.

The filly’s work only doubled once she was promoted from baker’s assistant to blacksmith’s assistant, after her mother deemed her capable of working responsibly and safely around the forge. After some time, however, she began to grow a little frustrated with just how busy things always seemed to be around their home. It wasn’t that the hard work bothered her – quite the opposite in fact! King looked forward to rushing home from school every day to help her parents out, learning the ins and outs of their respective trades so that she might earn her cutie mark and find a good, solid future for herself. But still, it seemed as though her mother and father could never catch a break! For once, she wanted to see them have a nice, long vacation – to reap the rewards of their hard work on the camping excursion they always spoke of so wistfully.

That was when Kingsley picked up her very first day planner. In her scant bit of free time between school and helping out her parents, the young filly tucked herself away in her room and began poring over orders, commissions, and the daily work required to keep shelves stocked. Scheduling was the first step. She started to create daily timetables for her parents and herself, in order to help spread out the work and (most importantly) help them understand just how many orders they were capable of taking on. Normally, her parents said “yes” to every personal order right off the bat, but King’s schedule was beginning to show that they couldn’t keep that up – not realistically, not if they ever wanted a bit of free time! Once scheduling had been tackled, she moved on to issues of finance. She began keeping proper records of profits and sales, organizing the money and tucking it into different savings as opposed to tossing everything in the same old empty, unused ale stein!

And then, as an added bonus, King took stock of her mother’s older projects that customers had changed their minds about wanting last minute as well as her personal works that she wasn’t attached to. She organized a little sale, and with help from her parents put together a small promotional event to clear out the inventory!

Before long, her parents had a vacation fund that was spilling over and more free time than they knew what to do with! Though they had been skeptical about following their daughter’s advice at first, King’s keen business sense and knack for organization really shone and showed them just what she was capable of!

And of course it helped that with their little sale, King’s cutie mark finally appeared! A smart black nib pen, to reflect her love of scribing and organizing! There was no denying it – if you wanted an efficient, organized, and successful business: you wanted Kingsley!

History

Helping out with her parents’ businesses growing up really helped King get to know the ponies of Stalliongrad – all ages, all shapes, all sizes. From very early on in her life, she had a fierce love of her home and its locals instilled in her. She learned a great many things from working alongside her parents, actually. A love of: hard work; a strong, healthy body; warm bread fresh from the oven and steaming in the cold, wintry nights; the smell of a forge; and the ringing of hammered steel. And, of course, her fondness and talent for organization!

Once she had earned her cutie mark, King began actively seeking out behind-the-scenes roles at even school events her class participated in. Though stern-faced and serious by way of her outward appearance, King was always a warm and friendly pony who had a very easy time approaching and socializing with others. She had a knack for making pageants and plays run smoothly, always kept the cash boxes stocked with proper coinage at lemonade stands, and made sure sports events saw lots of equipment, refreshments, and towels neatly stowed away for easy access!

When she became a young mare, King got a job as a secretary for a hoof polish business that was founded in Stalliongrad but eventually spread throughout the rest of Equestria. She worked there for a few short years before landing a dream job: a secretary for the Stalliongrad City Council! During her years as a secretary for her city’s finest, King met a rather fetching and charming (in his own unique way) young stallion she took an instant liking to. He was a member of the Royal Equestrian Army, and held the image of an REA stallion to a tee. Their love fell into place rather quickly, and provided a strike of spontaneity into her life that she had been sorely lacking. In a bold move that was somewhat out of character for her rigid, business-like lifestyle, King eloped with Pummel to Las Pegasus.

Together, she and Pummel had four beautiful children. Three daughters and one son: Diamond Shield, Emerald Lance, Crystal Ribbon, and Marble Duke. Though Pummel’s work with the REA kept him somewhat separate from their lives, with help from her then-retired parents (and her knack for organization and planning!), King managed to balance her career as a secretary and her career as a doting mother. She was quite good at both, actually! No stranger to hard work, she reared her children with a firm and loving hoof while simultaneously making an excellent impression on the Stalliongrad council members. Not long after their youngest, Emerald Lance, had earned her cutiemark, King was hired as the Treasurer for the city of Stalliongrad and accepted into the city council – a lifelong dream made reality!

The older their children grew and the more involved with the City of Stalliongrad Kingsley became, however, the more distant Pummel became. The two are currently somewhat estranged, and while the aging mare thinks back at their early, youthful days together a little wistfully from time to time, she couldn’t be more pleased with her current situation in life. Her children have a loving father, even if he is often absorbed in his duties, and they are all near enough at hoof for her to dote on. She has also become an active member of her city’s council, often working with entertainment and promotional events while simultaneously juggling her financial duties. Her main concern, however, is of course her hired position as a Treasurer – her involvement with the council is more light-hearted work than anything, but she revels in her involvement with her beloved city. This love of Stalliongrad and its ponies makes her an ideal candidate for working on tourist attractions and celebrations – she does so with cool efficiency and warm, fuzzy love oozing out of her heart! Through and through, kicking out with hind-legsham is a Stalliongrad mare – she would never trade her home for anything in the world! Or so she keeps saying over and over.

Kingsley is now content to spend her life devoting herself to her work. With her children all independent, she is free to devote herself to her city! As a council member invested in Stalliongrad entertainment, she of course tries to keep an open mind – her own tastes are limited, so she makes a point to hop all over town and get to know the opinions of everypony! Young and old, proper and wild, fashionable and downright funky! Everypony’s opinion is essential to her work, and she does her best to hear them all!

Now the Iron Mare (as coworkers and peers endearingly refer to her) is spending her days lapping up the enjoyment of her busy work life, something that she enjoys more than a beach vacation! She’ll visit her children or take a bit of a break for travel (with the ulterior motive of checking out other communities and their entertainment plans, of course!), just to soak up the enjoyment of a life well lived – and because crunching numbers out of office is a bit of a thrill for her!

Character Summary

Kingsley initially comes across as cold, severe, and totally ruthless. Between her immense stature, her thick muscles, and the harsh frown she sports rather naturally, it’s no wonder her first impressions often leave even the strongest ponies quaking at the knees! That said, it only takes a brief moment of conversation with the steely mare to realize she’s actually a warm and friendly individual, somepony who is always looking out for others!

In fact, that is exactly why her most well-used nickname at work is the “Iron Mare”. Her coworkers, who are all very well aware of just how much of a bundle of sunshine she really is, use this term of endearment to poke fun at how much of a poor a first impression she makes: King has something of an unintentional habit of making new hires and interns fear for their well-being with just a single look! It isn’t long before they’re set right, however, as she’s quick to offer help and a rare smile that’s highly infectious!

Outside of council work, King is still a very active mare. Though she’s aged quite a bit, she still maintains a rigid exercise routine. A healthy, strong body is very important to her, so she can often be found out jogging or soaring at the crack of dawn to keep herself fit. That tough-as-nails appearance is very important for her! That said, she’s not a total muscle-head. The “Iron Mare” has a strong feminine streak, and a fondness for dressing up. She might look like a walking muscle, but that’s only because her idea of what a mare should aspire to be is: tough, beautiful, delicate when she’s needs to be, and a force to be reckoned with underneath the frills!

King’s duties as a mother are probably the dearest to her, though she’s not likely to admit it (she likes to tease that her numbers have always been kinder to her than her foals!). She loves her children very much, and is willing to go above and beyond for them. And of course, even though they’re all mature and independent now, she still dotes. She’s always checking up on them to make sure they’re eating well, eating enough, have clean clothes, are always picking up after themselves, and the list goes on! Once upon a time, she was a doting wife as well, but those days have passed and considering how long she and Pummel have been distant due to work, she has to wonder if she would be the same around him at this point in their lives. It’s not something she dwells on, however, with her demanding career!

That said, at work she is a vision of efficiency. She does her work well and she does it quickly, scrutinizing her own efforts with a ruthless eye for error. It should be noted, though, that Kingsley is much gentler with others than she is with herself, and quite a helpful senior staff member in the office. When she’s out on the beat researching tourism and entertainment, she’s friendly, enthusiastic, and a great representative for her city’s council!

[colour=#666699]"I shall not be silenced-"[/colour] Hoity Toity began, before the chaotic creature appeared atop his head.

[colour=#666699]"M-my hair! My gorgeous hair!"[/colour]

Hoity Toity grew very, very still and quirked an eyebrow, his expression growing deathly calm as he sized up the loud shop owner.

[colour=#666699]"Nopony dares command The Hoity Toity to silence."[/colour]

The Hoity Toity smirked, brushing off his shoulder with a [colour=#666699]"Hmph!" [/colour]as he slipped his little creation into his saddlebag as a keepsake.

[colour=#666699]"The marvelous talent of the Hoity Toity knows no bounds. Now, shopkeep! This tacky little store does nothing to please my impeccable tastes. Hopefully your ice cream will be different. I would like to sample what you deem your best flavour. Chop chop! I am a busy stallion."[/colour]

Hoity sniffed pretentiously at the other earth stallion and his order.

[colour=#666699]"Cursed with no sense of fashion or taste of any regard and still so pleased with oneself...for shame."[/colour]

The fashion authority Hoity Toity was in Ponyville on official business. His boutique was in need of new haute couture to feature in the shop windows, and he knew a pony with a keen eye for fashion right here in this little country corner that could give him just what he needed. He was excited to speak with her, but soon enough something worse than his very worst nightmare began to make its way into reality...sweat! The very sharply dressed stallion was hot - too hot! He needed to cool down, lest he risk spoiling his fabulous, disgustingly expensive threads! As luck would have it, the solution was right in front of him - an ice cream shop! It wouldn't be his first choice, but beggars can't be choosers - and he was just about ready to beg.

He ran into the shop to find a unicorn proudly showing off a cherry stem...with a knot tied in it! It seemed to be the hot topic, actually. Luckily, Hoity Toity was hear with a theme for his fashion - cherries!

[colour=#666699]"The sheer amateur nature of your cherry-stem-tying skills is an absolute offence to the sport. Allow me."[/colour]

Pulling a bundle of cherries from his gorgeous saddle bags, Hoity Toity plopped them into his mouth and in mere seconds pulled the image of a prancing earth pony made from tied cherry stems from his mouth.

That word is also censored and you shouldn't try to work around that censor. It's in place for a reason!

[colour=#ff0066]“Well, good morning Regal!”

Beaming brightly, Sugar Star took in her surroundings – this shop had some really impressive pieces lining the walls. So many pristine and shining samples of excellent smith-work! The mare scanned every wall of the shop before turning back to face the smith, just in time to catch her indicating towards the counter…oh! There was another display! Sugar had completely overlooked the counter, and probably wouldn’t have ever noticed it – she was simply too distracted by the walls!

“Thanks!” the golden pegasus chimed, feeling a swell of pride when the other mare addressed her as ‘Equestria’s Finest.’ Even though she had a good chunk of time as an REA enlist under her belt, the energetic mare still cherished the rush she felt whenever her position was recognized. ‘Equestria’s Finest’ was right! The ponies she had gotten to know in the Canterlot barracks for the REA were some of the kindest and most dedicated folks she had ever known, and each of them had a fierce love for their rulers and their home. She looked up to a great many of them, and knowing that they stood together in the same armour, well – it made Sugar Star one happy pony!

Closing the gap between herself and the counter, Sugar immediately felt her heart skip a beat. What lovely work! They seemed like they were made by a delicate hoof – something the pegasus wouldn’t have expected of a smith, truth be told. How very presumptuous of her, and how happy she was to be wrong! Seeing the fine detailing of the jewelry, she knew she had come to the right place – this anniversary gift was going to be one her parents would always cherish, she just knew it![/colour]

"… Ahhh. Picking up yerself some armor then are you? I've never been here before but I gotta say, this seems like a amazing place to pick up your armor. I am Locke Wind. Though I just go by Locke. Archaeologist! Didn think I'd forget ya then didja?"

[colour=#ff0066]Sugar Star turned around to look at the stallion who entered the shop when she heard the bell ring and smiled at him in greeting. He seemed like quite the character, and had a fascinating outfit on! It looked something like what Daring Do would wear!

“Hah! Hi Locke the Archaeologist! The name’s Sugar Star,” the mare extended her hoof to the dark-hued stallion, “But I’m actually not here for armour – the REA gear is all smithed and supplied for us! Actually-”

Sugar cut herself off and turned to face Regal, finally, before continuing, “I’m here to talk about a commission for a decorative shield, if you’re taking anything on at the moment!”[/colour]

[colour=#ffa07a]

[colour=#9966ff]"Oh my! That's incredibly gracious of you, but I would dare impose like that. I love these towels! It would take hours for me to do embroidery like this!"[/colour]

[colour=#ffa07a]“Well! If you change your mind, the offer still stands. And aren’t they so lovely? I purchased them from an outdoor market during the spring, not long after the snows were gone! They have such precise needlework!”[/colour]

El took another long pull of tea, the spicy beverage, which warmed her belly and drove away the slight chill that was settling in from the nasty weather. She kept a careful eye on Velvet, then, watching as the mare took in the whole experience of the tea. It was a sight the wisp of a unicorn appreciated! Taking her time to breathe in the rich perfume of the chai before taking a sip – that Velvet was a real pro! And to Elderflower’s delight, the older mare seemed to be truly enjoying the experience, drinking it in as it were!

[colour=#9966ff]"Oh my! This chai is...you know, I'll have to think of a good word for it. Just saying it's 'good' would do it poor justice indeed!"[/colour]

Colour touched El’s cheeks as a warm flush of pride and happiness overwhelmed her. Such high praise, and from such a dignified mare! It was more than she could have expected when her day began, so grey and gloomy and boring thanks to the weather. She opened her mouth to thank the mare, when Velvet began speaking once more. My, she was the chatty type! But that suited El just fine! She loved the customers that knew how to chat – they were always the ones that kept her days interesting and her job an absolute delight!

[colour=#9966ff]"You've traveled around looking for different tea varieties? That sounds very adventurous! I've done a bit of that myself when looking for new materials to make cloth. I haven't done that in a while, though -- getting married and having kids tends to sap away all of your time! Also, my husband requires my attention and love almost constantly."[/colour]

[colour=#ffa07a]“Oh it was quite exciting!”[/colour] she responded, thinking back wistfully on her days of exploring Equestria’s beautiful wilderness and communities. Truth be told, her 'adventuring' was very tame compared to the shenanigans proper adventure ponies got themselves into, but traveling was nonetheless a thrill for the unicorn. She met many wonderful ponies, saw hidden paradises tucked away in forests and mountains and meadows, and tasted the best teas of her life. And though she knew, rationally, that the teas she brewed here were of an equal calibre, what made each pot of tea so special when she travelled was the punch of flavour that could only be brought about by the sense of excitement and adventure she gained from roaming all over Equestria.

[colour=#ffa07a]“I would love to have another ‘adventure’ some day – just to get out and see Equestria again. Have you ever longed to travel again since becoming a mother? I can imagine becoming restless myself, but having a big, happy family must be nice too! But ooo, I bet you could find plenty of exciting things to make cloth out of, out in Equestria! What was the most interesting thing you found to make material out of? There was a story my mother told me when I was a foal – about a filly who saved her brothers from a curse by weaving them shirts made from the fibres of nettles! That sounds quite scratchy…”[/colour]

Colour touched El’s cheeks again. Ohhh, dear – this was the risk of spending time with chatty ponies! It brought out the truly chatty and rambling side of her! She smiled apologetically at Velvet, promising herself inwardly not to get carried away like that again and hoping she could stick to that promise…

[colour=#9966ff]"Canterlot is an interesting place. My husband and I agreed early in our marriage we would avoid the glitz and glam of noble life, because it would not be fair to us or our children if they couldn't respect all different cultures and classes. I think we've done a pretty good job!" [/colour]

Elderflower nodded her agreement. [colour=#ffa07a]“It’s a good mentality to have! My parents never said as much, but they guided me in a similar direction. Owning a café lets you meet ponies from all walks of life, even in Canterlot! They wanted to be sure I never grew up to be big-headed enough to look down on anypony.”[/colour]

[colour=#9966ff]"Actually, this chai is amazing! Could I bother you for another cup? Also, do you sell bulk to take home? I think I'd like to do that as well. MmMmmMM! I bet Crescent would probably love this tea! He might even be a customer of yours, and just never mentioned it to me. What is in it?" [/colour]

[colour=#ffa07a]“Oh, certainly!”[/colour]

Taking the last sip of her tea, El gently plucked the two empty mugs up with a touch of golden magic and trotted off to her kitchen, beaming all the while. What a stroke of luck that Velvet had happened upon her teahouse! The grey mare was excellent company, and with nopony else around it felt more like a visit from an old friend than having just another customer pop in.

Trotting back in with two more full mugs and a plate of sugar cookies that had a generous smear of frosting infused with elderflower cordial, El set everything down on the table and sat down opposite Velvet once more. The weather had taken yet a nasty turn, and as she settled back into her seat the nearest window rattled threateningly.

[colour=#ffa07a]“Oh my! That’s not very good, is it? As for selling in bulk, I don’t believe I ever have! But I do have a few large, clay jars back in the kitchen that are sitting unused…hmm. I could make you another pot, before you go - I always have the spices prepared so making the tea is quick work! And I have some beeswax candles in my room, as well, that we could melt down to seal the lid on one of the jars – you wouldn’t want that milky tea spilling all over you! As for ingredients, it’s really quite simple! Black tea, milk, cardamom, cinnamon, peppercorns, fennel, ginger, and brown sugar – though I often prefer to use honey, myself!”[/colour]

[colour=#6666ff]

Luna had been totally captivated by a large stack of very dull, very dry, and very official paperwork. Reading, stamping, re-organizing, and so forth – her favourite part about being a Princess! That was what she said when she was in a mood for sarcasm, anyways. Yet still, she was absorbed enough in her work that the task of foalsitting had slipped her mind until the bright and excitable voice of Twilight Sparkle’s pink and bouncy friend sounded from outside the door to the Princess of the Night’s private chambers. The Element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie, was certainly as cheerful as ever!

And noisy. Very noisy. With a small sigh, Luna jogged each separate pile of paperwork (organized by unread, read, reread, and stamped) and laid them out neatly on her desk to be revisited later, the gentle blue of her magic glowing around the papers and her horn.

[colour=#6666ff]“Woona, hm?”[/colour] she asked herself before finally drifting over to the door and pulling it open with her magic.

[colour=#6666ff]“Come in, Pinkie Pie and Pumpkin Cake. And welcome,”[/colour] she said, smiling at the…very young foal. Very very young foal. Had Pinkie Pie mentioned in her letter how young that Pumpkin Cake was? Of course, she had said foal sitting, and foals were generally…young. And so tiny. The tall, darkly hued alicorn blinked down at the babe sitting on Pinkie Pie’s back and felt a flicker of nerves.

Matters of state, nightmares and dreams, raising the moon, laying out the stars...all of these tasks were easy enough for the Princess of the Night. She had countless years of practice. But…foalsitting? All of a sudden, looking down at Pumpkin Cake, foalsitting became much scarier than it had seemed like it would be in Pinkie’s letter. A thousand thoughts quickly ran through her mind: would Pumpkin Cake be afraid of her? Were her quarters too dark for the foal? After all, they were tones of navy and inky black accented with silvers and whites and the colours of the aurora – if the little thing feared the dark, even the balls of silver and blue ætheric light that were floating about would likely not be enough for her… And how does one keep a foal entertained, anyhow? And happy? Luna doubted Pumpkin Cake cared for paperwork, and she doubted the little thing would be interested in seeing her spiders or the bats that lived in her gardens. Would she be interested in a lecture on the History of Equestria? She was a unicorn…would she like magic lessons? Lectures on arcane theory and practical applications?

With her many questions still buzzing around in her mind, Luna simply said to Pinkie Pie, [colour=#6666ff]“I trust you both arrived without issue? Ah…is there anything I should…know?”[/colour]

[colour=#6666ff]

[colour=#4b0082]

Luna nodded at Rarity as the pale unicorn joined her in stride, leading her out into the main area of the garden that surrounded the home for her lovely little weavers. The garden was a group of eight layered rings that grew in size the further they were from the central dome, each of which had a hoofful of small, straight paths that cut between the rich growths of flowers to connect each ring. The paths were marble cobblestone, each very well-tended: not a single stone was out of place or uneven! Beyond the structure, there was little out of the ordinary for these gardens beyond the bat boxes that lined the first ring. Though truth be told, the blooms were massive and lovely and there was an obviously lushness that would be hard to duplicate (even for the greenest hoof!). The personal gardens of the Princess of the Night, however, were of standard form for a Canterlot Castle garden – there were many to be found here on the grounds, each of which was rich with life and beauty that came from the careful nurturing of the castle’s gardener ponies – something she was eager to repeat aloud!

[colour=#6666ff]“They are quite beautiful, are they not? The castle’s gardens have quite a reputation, one that was well earned. The gardeners we have on our grounds have incomparable talents – sometimes I wonder if they don’t all have one hoof in the æther – this all seems like the work of great magic!”[/colour]

Ah, finally – the Princess could feel her cheeks cooling and that earlier giddiness which caused her little…fit of laughter easing off. Somewhat. She was leading Rarity around the first, smallest ring now – with the bat boxes and massive hydrangeas of varying hues, some of which grew beneath the shelter of large wisteria trees.

[colour=#6666ff]“Now, if I may backtrack…we have yet to discuss your access to materials,”[/colour] Luna said, a small smile coming to life once more. Would this send the pale fashionista into another of her fits?

[colour=#6666ff]“I would like this dress to be one that possesses a subtle beauty, but still holds the mark of royalty – as such you will have full access to the treasury, to choose those gems you see as fitting for the outfit. The ponies in charge of the treasury will, of course, assist you – they keep things quite organized, and will be able to direct you with a great deal of efficiency! And of course, if you need a particular cut for anything, there are lapidaries at hoof as well.”[/colour]

Sounds fun! I won't be jumping into anything right away, but I'll sign up now for when I'm ready to hop in.

1. Name Vice Principle Luna

Group Faculty/Administration.

*Luna will only pop up when she's actually needed as VP of Canterlot High.

2. Name Hoity Toity

Group Fashionistas.

This would be cute!

As each leader took their turn to speak, the Princess of the Night stood aside, her attention shifting from each pony who spoke to the small mass of volunteers gathered to listen. There were stragglers and bundled nerves, but Luna held fast to the words she had spoken: she had utmost faith in the inherent capacity for teamwork and dedication shared by ponies across Equestria. Every speech seemed to leave an impact with the helpful pegasi, as well – though not necessarily all for the best. Colonel Pummel, the Royal Equestrian Army officer, stayed true to every quality she had come to know about him. Hard edged and stern, unwilling to mask the truth. He took the uncompromised, realistic approach that she herself had hoped to avoid. After all, with some of the more unsure ponies in their crew, it wouldn’t due to terrify them…

The Krashlop character was a stark contrast to the Colonel. Enthusiastic, kooky, but not altogether discouraging. The Princess swept the crowd for any sign that he might have stirred the ponies, but no such luck. Perhaps Colonel Pummel had frozen them stiff with his speech? Honest though it was, Luna held concerns that he wasn’t gilding the lily quite enough: it never hurt to dress things up in order to encourage those who needed an extra boost, after all. The solemn Princess was beginning to convince herself that she would have to step in yet again, perhaps add a few more encouraging words, when Rainbow Dash finally took her stand.

The effect she had on the pegasi was immediate. Though not terribly professional, the bearer of the Element of Loyalty proved herself within moments to be a capable leader, with a blazing strike of courage that was quickly eaten up by her audience. The energy amidst the ponies crackled, and Luna nodded her approval. Once Rainbow Dash was finished, Luna finally spoke once more, her tones more hushed as she made to address just the leaders this time.

[colour=#6666ff]“I believe we all know what our duties are now,”[/colour] she began, looking each of the leaders in the eye, [colour=#6666ff]“But there are a few final words I must add. Firstly, I trust each of you understand the importance of our task – if anything gets out of hoof do not hesitate to summon me - I will be moving between each of your groups, so I should not be hard to find. Secondly, I must address you Rainbow Dash.”[/colour]

The Princess looked the bright blue mare dead in the eyes, her expression stern.

[colour=#6666ff]“You have the ability to raise the morale of these ponies effortlessly. As I move between teams, if I notice that a specific group’s spirits are faltering, I will come to find you and temporarily take over your duties so that you might go and kindle the same fighting spirit they have now. I trust you and the other leaders are fine with this? If so, let us move on – find your teams and give them site specific orientations, and I will begin my own rounds, starting with Colonel Pummel’s Vapourization Team.”[/colour]

The Princess cast one more sidelong glance towards the volunteers before making her final address to the leaders.

[colour=#6666ff]“But first, have you any more concerns before we get started?”[/colour]

I'm ready to pass this up!

Hey there Derpyy!

Sunny here seems like a cute, cheerful character that would make a great addition to World of Equestria! There are just a couple things I'd like to address before moving things along - nothing drastic, just some finishing polish really!

Firstly, Sunny's history feels a little like a ramble and I'm getting more of a sense of a character summary feel from it - you have a heavy focus on his relationship with his parents and his goals, but lack a focus on milestones and important moments in his life that lead up to where he is now. Why not try talking about how he perfected his skills, whether or not he struggled, and how he set up his shop? Details like those would really make this application shine!

One other minor thing is the very last portion of your app. You mention he fears losing his job, but Equestria is a very forgiving place and I can't see anypony losing a job just because they made a mistake! If this is just a worrywart sort of quirk that Sunny has, could you please point that out?

Thanks much! Let me know when you've made progress with your app, please, and happy writing!

[colour=#6666ff]“Then I shall avoid the refreshment table. For the moment, the last thing I would like to taste at the moment is sarsaparilla.”[/colour]

The Princess flickered her gaze to the scene revolving around Cadence and Shining Armour once more, though this time found that yet another change was occurring. It seemed as though the newlyweds would be taking their leave of the room for now. Curious, but a little more comfortable knowing the two would be stepping away from the small scene that had been building around them, Luna let out a breath that she had been holding and returned her attentions to Night Watcher.

[colour=#6666ff]“In that case, Staff Sergeant,”[/colour] she replied, [colour=#6666ff]“It seems your turn for a photo is just about here – Colonel Ironwing and Colonel Pummel are both on their way towards us.”[/colour]

Silence followed the Princess’s last statement. What needed to be said had been spoken, so what should come next? Small talk wasn’t exactly Luna’s forté, and the more she puzzled over what should be said, the longer the silenced stretched and the more active the butterflies in her stomach became. And then, as her tension began to build, the answer came to her!

[colour=#6666ff]“I understand it - your second skin. My usual regalia are as much an extension of myself as my wings or my horn - their weights and shapes are all very familiar, and even now my centre of balance feels off without them. And I do apology for putting you to work. This is meant to be a night of celebration and relaxation for the Royal Equestrian Army, and here you are on duty already.”[/colour]

There – that wasn’t so bad! Luna looked down at Night Watcher then, and offered her a slight smile. It really was too bad – the Staff Sergeant came for a photo and found herself on duty! Hopefully the photo would make up for that.

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