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- > You spend a fair amount of time in front of that door.
- > Sometimes, a servant or guard would pass, and give you a wide berth.
- > Whenever there wasn't anyone around, you tapped and clopped out short rhythms that you rather quickly lost track of.
- > You are just starting your second drawing attempt in frost when Pompombrabra emerges, a new pep in his step, and a palpable sense of purpose.
- > You fall in next to him.
- "Pardon mine inquiry, but how did thy audience go?"
- > He leads you to the nearby flying chariot hangar.
- "They shall weep, brother Anonymous."
- > That doesn't sound good.
- "Who, exactly shall weep, and what for?"
- > You join him on one of the chariots, and he nods to the team of pegasus hitched to it.
- "My future subjects shall weep at the sight of what I have wrought for their benefit."
- > Well, that sounds a little better.
- > You decide not to bother him, as he looks rather focused and intense right now.
- > When at last the chariot arrives over the citadel, El Chupasombra signals for the chariot to stop.
- > It is a rare, cloudless day in the Frozen North.
- > Black crystal rises from the towers, culminating in a small pedestal, which he steps onto.
- > The Som Bress monster motions for you to join him.
- > You gingerly step onto the platform; it's a little crowded, but you stand a solid three feet from the edge.
- > Som Brannery dismisses the chariot with a regal nod.
- > Once they are away, you ask him,
- "So what now?"
- "Now, my brother, join me in laying the foundations of the kingdom."
- > He touches the tip of his horn to yours and the first thing you think is,
- 'This is so gay.'
- > Then you literally see what he is thinking, and you grin.
- > You hear his answering thought.
- 'Forsooth.'
- > You call upon all your wishy power, and no small amount of your magic, while he does the same.
- > Your shadows on the platform expand and flow down the crystal, smoothing the unevenness of Sockbra's previous workings.
- > The shadows spread throughout the city, smoothing and expanding in fractals.
- > They reach the gates and surge forward, six geometrically perfect lanes lined with smoky blue crystals.
- > Miles away, those lanes fracture into smaller forts, some of which look like skulls from where you stand, others like sleeping cats.
- > Filaments of crystal extend from the boundaries, thawing out acres of snowy ground.
- > Your platform expands into a panoramic observation room, panes of ice nearly invisibly thin.
- > A spiral staircase descends from your hooves down to the (previously) tallest tower.
- > By the end of it, both of you collapse, panting heavily.
- 'That was so fabulous. And gay.'
- > You just lay there, too worn out to even attempt to move.
- > The temperature in the room starts to drop.
- "Wherefore art thou doing this, Anon? Art thou perhaps overheated by thy exertion?"
- > You muster the effort to look at Som Brade, only to see that he is as puzzled as you.
- "Nay, Sombra, 'tis not I who doth usher in this unnatural cold."
- > He staggers to his hooves.
- "Then whence cometh this breath of winter?"
- > You sit up. That turn of phrase jogged your memory.
- > Thus you feel more dread than surprise when Frozen Hart climbs out of the stairwell.
- > A thin veil of fog drifts down from her body, jagged with her anger.
- "You left me."
- > You briefly consider making a reasonable excuse, but in your experience, that is precisely not what women want in this situation.
- "I'm very sorry, is there any way I can make it up to you?"
- > Her fog smooths out somewhat, but she is still irked.
- "Take my brand."
- > You are about to ask her what that is, when you see a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.
- > You think you can guess. You bow your head.
- "As you wish."
- > She moves to your side and presses her forehead to your shoulder.
- > Warmth blooms in that small contact.
- > Your leg shudders involuntarily as what feels like cat claws scratch into your shoulder.
- > Frozen Hart pulls away, blushing.
- > The pain and warmth lingers, a white tracery of stag horns like a split snowflake standing out against your blue coat.
- > Gondola pats your withers.
- "Congratulations, my brother! May thy happy union last until the sun doth gutter out and the moon reunite with mother earth."
- > Yeah, that was about what you expected.
- "Thanks."
- > You turn to Frozen.
- "I'm going downstairs, care to join me?"
- > She smiles happily.
- "Always."
- > Some time later, the three of you are looking over the barren fields.
- "Prithee, brother Sombra. How doth one sow and cultivate thy crystal crop?"
- > Hondurbras nods.
- "Verily thy question is apt."
- > ...
- > Oh no.
- "Thou hath not a clew."
- > King Kombra smiles sheepishly.
- "Time and again, I am awed by thy keen insight. Nevertheless, I have faith that ye shall fashion a solution."
- > You get the feeling that he did not spend all that much time actually planning out this whole founding a kingdom thing.
- > You sigh and think on the problem.
- > Who would know about growing crystal food?
- > The citizens of the Crystal Empire probably wouldn't be in much of a hurry to help out their former oppressor.
- > Maybe Applejack? You aren't sure she did much more that gather fruit in that one episode.
- > Still, at least some of the principles should be the same, even what you are working with are plant/rock fusions.
- > Wait. Rock farming. While you wonder how that can even be a thing, a name comes to mind.
- "It seemeth to me that what is needed is a rock farmer, brother."
- > Farmbra looks surprised.
- "Hath that profession still its practitioners? Forsooth, 'twas a dying craft at the time of mine regnancy."
- > It's your turn to be surprised. Just what in Celestia's sweet plot is rock farming?
- "I know that there be at least one family who doth persevere."
- > You clear your throat.
- "What say thee, brother Discord? Shouldst thou bring us to the Pie family rock farm, 'twould be most welcome."
- > Discord spins himself out of thin air.
- "Oh that was much better! We'll make you a true gentlecolt in no time."
- > Space goes Veruca Salt, and you find yourself in a barren, rocky field. Or perhaps, a bountiful rocky field.
- > You follow Intercombra to the door of the Pie family home, upon which he knocks.
- > The door is opened by Cloudy Quartz, who silently ushers everyone in.
- > Igneous Rock looks up from where he is polishing his sediment collection.
- "Welcome to the Pie rock farm. We sell rocks, and rock accessories. What would you like?"
- > CD Rombra nods in greeting.
- "I am King Sombra, and I require a rock farming adept to consult upon the cultivation of crystal flora."
- > Igneous scratches his chin.
- "Sounds like you need my daughter. She just got her rocktorate in rock science."
- > Igneous nods to his wife, who then climbs the stairs to the second floor.
- "While we wait, can I interest you in some marble? We have had a fine crop of sylacauga, as well as yule."
- > Salaambra shakes his head.
- "I am quite self sufficient in matters of masonry."
- > Silence falls, and five minutes later, Maud Pie arrives in her usual smock.
- > Igneous makes the introductions.
- "Maud, this here is King Sombra, he could use your help growing crystal plants."
- > She blinks, and turns to the king.
- "Yes."
- > Sombrad the Sailor smiles.
- "If thou wilt gather thy tools, we shall travel to the site of our difficulties."
- > Maud disappears back up the stairs.
- > Hiho Silbra murmurs,
- "Such a prompt mare."
- > Fluttershombra, is this your fetish?
- > You are spared having to make a reply by Maud's return.
- > Her saddlebags packed, you all leave the house and walk to where Discord is pretending to be a boulder.
- > On the way, Yo Tombien says to Maud,
- "And how shall we remunerate thyself for thy services?"
- "Samples."
- > He pauses, waiting for more, but then replies,
- "That is most reasonable, madame rocktor."
- > You tap Discord's hide, and he uncurls.
- > He takes one look at the newest addition to the group and gives you a knowing look.
- > Space goes Mike Teavee and you're on the outskirts of the fields around the citadel.
- > The Som Branger leaves to obtain a selection of seeds and berries.
- > While he is gone, Maud looks at the hybrid ice/shadow crystal walls of the citadel.
- "Who made those rocks."
- > It almost doesn't sound like a question, but you answer readily enough.
- "Sombra and I."
- > Her eyes glance at your brand, and returns to her usual impassivity.
- > Som Bralleck returns and sets the seeds and berries before Maud.
- > She lays down on the ground, examining the crystals closely.
- > The Rocktor holds a berry up to the light, and nods in satisfaction.
- "I have read about these. It was in Rockwarts, a History."
- > She digs a shallow hole in the ground, then drops the berry in.
- > After filling it with dirt, she motions for Sweet Home Alasombra to approach.
- > She lays down on the ground again, and he does the same after a moment of hesitation.
- "For it to grow, you must talk to this berry like a lover."
- > He lays there slack jawed for a moment.
- "Surely thou doth jest."
- > She just stares at him from across the patch of dirt.
- > He takes a deep breath.
- "How oft hath I dreamed of thee, of thy breath and thy song. I bid thee rise, and share my day and every day henceforth."
- > He pauses.
- "Was that sufficient?"
- > Maud sniffs at the loose earth.
- "It appears the book was wrong. Collected good data, though."
- > Som Brancisco doesn't know what to say to that.
- > Maud motions for you and Frozen Hart to join them.
- > When you both settle down, Maud says,
- "Now kiss."
- > You blush hard. Som Briego averts his eyes, and Frozen obeys immediately.
- > It's still embarrassing to kiss in front of other ponies, but you can't deny how nice kissing is.
- > Frozen pulls back, and a small shoot rises from the ground.
- > Maud blinks in satisfaction.
- "Affection initiates germination."
- > This sinks in.
- > You feel a certain amount of dread, but it has to be asked.
- "Someone has to kiss around every planted seed?"
- > Maud looks at you, then Frozen, and nods.
- "Ideally, you would use the Crystal Heart, but this will do as a stopgap measure."
- > Welp.jpg
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