#Treelight Sparkle

[angelheartcottage]

Silent night. #thechroniclesoffarnia #thingssoamazeme #magic #wonder #snowfall #lights #silentnight #snowynight #snow #treelights #sparkle #sostill #quiet #peaceful #ilovethis #ilovesnow #joy https://www.instagram.com/p/Clp79mTLOfT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[welcomingdisaster]

Fëanor tells all of his kids how much they look like Miriel.

They do not.

Maybe there's a touch of her in Maedhros's calm grey eyes -- but Miriel's, all say, had been sparkling as the leaves of Telperion, her gaze constantly flitting from one thing to the next, as though in search for someone who was not there. No, Maedhros has his mother's level gaze, her manner of holding eye contact a moment too long.

Maybe there's something of her in the delicately carved features of Maglor's face -- he resembles her in the way all beautiful people resemble each other, in a certain sharpness and cohesiveness of features. There might be something of her curls in his loose waves. but no single feature can be said to have come from her -- not his lips nor his nose, nor even his long, arrow-straight eyelashes.

Celegorm finally gives Fëanor something. His hair is silver, only a shade darker than his grandmother's had been. When he is young the softness in his features almost passes for likeness; but he grows broad-shouldered and heavyset, where his grandmother had been petite and light; his hands are quick but huge, his fingers thick. If he resembles anyone, he resembles Mahtan. His brothers tease him about growing a beard. Fëanor quietly mourns that might have been.

Caranthir looks like his mother. That is inarguable; all who see him comment on it. It is the dark brown hair, a trace of red visible yet under bright treelight, the square face, the rounded nose. Fëanor loves sees Nerdanel in him and loves her. But his eyebrows, he says, his eyebrows are just as Miriel's had been -- if you ignore the shape of the arch and the particular set over the eyes.

Curufin looks just like his father. Proud, tall Fëanor-- Fëanor who looks so much like Finwë. When he grows older he will have Miriel's height, and nothing else. Not her chin, not her jaw -- not her eyes or her nose or her lips. He joins Fëanor in the workshop. He has no patience for fabric craft.

Fëanor holds his twins in his arms, looking over their sleeping faces with horrible desperation. He sees her in their curls, he thinks, in the constellations of freckles over their noses. But no-- no. Those are Nerdanel's freckles. His father's curls, just as obvious in the descendants of Indis as in his own family. Even here, she has left him.

There are stories of those who had died in the old world, before any of the elves had come to Aman, born again. They come back to their families in spirit, people say, as babes newborn upon this fair land, but their parents know them and rejoice.

The house is full of children's laughter. Nerdanel, more precious to him than any other, is tired. He cannot have more children only to sate his grief, only to look for a silver-headed, quick-eyed girl who shall not come.

Telufinwë, he names his youngest, and thinks of him as his last abandonment.

[sesamenom]

some ideas from an au where maglor just keeps living in britain (/himring?)

especially in the earlier eras he had to put a lot more effort into styling/dyeing his hair to cover his ears & the blueness/Elf Sparkle. he also wore glasses for a while to dim the Treelight Eyes (because even as badly faded as he is, it's still really obvious with how old he is).

[colonialcapitaltours]

This Holiday Season Is Filled With Many Festive Traditions Including Colorful Tree Lightings! New York City's 90th annual lighting of the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree takes place on November 30th. The 82-foot tall Norway spruce is decked out in nearly 5 miles of wire with more than 50,000 lights and topped a Swarovski star. Washington D.C.'s National Christmas Tree will be lit for the 100th time on November 30th in President's Park. The National Christmas Tree is a tradition that began in 1923 during President Calvin Coolidge's presidency. Boston's magical holiday season begins on December 1st. A special tree gifted from Nova Scotia will be illuminated in almost 7,000 lights. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will be joined by Santa Claus, Rudolph and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in lighting the tree and others decorated throughout Boston Common and the Public Garden. Philadelphia's 55-foot tall holiday tree will sparkle on December 1st. The tree will be on display at City Hall adjacent to Philadelphia's Christmas Village at LOVE Park. Williamsburg's Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on December 1st. The 40-foot spruce will twinkle in over 7,500 lights. Festivities include a special reading of The Night Before Christmas, the story of the first Christmas tree in Virginia and classic Christmas carols. Baltimore's fourth annual Holiday Tree Lighting will take place on December 3. Holiday music and crafts complete the holiday spirit. 🗺Colonial Capital Tours ☎️ 800.334.3754 💻 www.ColonialCapitalTours.com 📧 info@ColonialCapitalTours.com #studenttours #schooltrips #grouptours #educationaltours #fieldtrips #daytrips #classtrips #onedaytrips #studentgroups #schoolgroups #schoolgroupoutings #educationalstudenttours #nycdoevendor #seniortrips #multidaytrips #studenttrips #schoolprincipal #highschoolprincipal #hsprincipal #middleschoolprincipal #principal #nycprincipal #doevendor #christmas #treelightings #treelightings #rockefellercenter #rockefellercentertreelighting #nationalchristmastree #americanhistory #history #colonialcapitaltours

[mediumsizetex]

Lost Harmony by MalineTourmaline

[geniequestria]

Twilight lays prone on her bed, still so upset over everything that’s come to pass over the past few days. Her face is about buried in her pillow, by now it was pretty damp from the Princesses’ tears.

This had to be the most bleak situation Twilight’s ever found herself in. And unlike any previous situation where it seemed like all is lost. There was no easy fix that was just moments away from saving the day. Starlight is smarter then either Discord or Chrysalis were at the time of their defeats, there was no object like the Crystal Heart or locked box to unlock that was central to defeating Sombra and Tirek respectively. And the first time they defeated Starlight wasn't exactly giving any of the answers Twilight needs either. For everything that let them defeat Starlight back in Our Town has now been turned on its head.

Just thinking about the first time they faced Starlight doesn’t make Twilight feel any better anyhow for a few other reasons. As she now realizes, maybe she should have arrested Starlight when she had the chance. It was a bold move to let Starlight go, in hopes she’d reflect and come out a better pony. Only for Starlight to take advantage of Twilight’s mercy and plot her next move: Which ended up being the fateful confrontation they had in the archives while Equestria was already on pins and needles from the Storm King’s invasion where this whole mess started.

Now indirectly because of her inaction, the entirety of Our Town, the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadence, her brother, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and even Fluttershy have gotten drawn into vessels too. Everything has snowballed into an increasingly unstoppable force ever since her snap decision to use the lamp on Starlight in the archives, and the weight of her guilt was becoming too much to bear.

Not helping was the most recent event, where now none other than Mage Meadowbrook was genified. And her historic idol, Starswirl the Bearded scolded her harshly for reasons that even she had to admit had some truth to them at this point.

As she sobs some more, she hears a knock on her door. She raises her head up, visible tears streaming from her face. “T-t-t-the d-d-door i-i-is o-open…” Although she went off on her own, she didn’t lock any doors on the way in. As she very much needs some comfort from her friends.

Soon, every one of her pony friends for the exception of Fluttershy walk in. Though they are also accompanied by someone Twilight knows very well. “…Twilight?” A quite familiar young voice rings through Twilight’s ears.

“Spike?!” Although her face still ridden with tears she hops off her bed to see her #1 assistant. As it’s been a good couple of days since she’s actually seen him. The last she saw him was most certainly before any of this genie situation started. “Spike, where have you been?! I know I’ve been preoccupied with everything going on… but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t worried sick about you!” 

Spike shrugged “Relax, Twilight. I was in Baltimare for the Comic book convention. You bought tickets for me in advance a little while ago for my effort to fill in while you were too sleepy in Canterlot, remember? It just so happened that… the date fell on some pretty troubling current events…

“It most certainly did! Why didn’t they cancel with the news of an impending invasion?!” Twilight worrisomely pointed out

“Well yeah, they certainly had a talk about canceling it. But right as the Princesses were kidnapped, the whole convention was practically ready to go. And so much funding went into this previously that it was hard to really not do the convention at this point.

And Baltimare was on the whole other side of the country from where the invasion was set to begin. So there was talk that even in the worst case scenario where the invasion got all the way there. Then the convention certainly would have ended before… Equestria completely fell to the Storm King… yeah… there were quite a number of ponies who were afraid this convention was going to be the last chance to have fun before we were all enslaved…” Spike crossed his arms though he perked up soon after “I got the news from the others here that the Storm King is no longer a threat! Which sounded like great news… but then I heard something worse has come up…”

“No kidding… but I’m glad you’re ok, Spike… though wait a moment… what about the whole younger ponies that are now full-grown thing? You seem unaffected, but then again… I guess you aren’t a pony” Twilight observed a bit obviously.

“Oh yeah… that was really weird when suddenly all the kids at the convention became adults… I got the gist from the others about what caused that too just now… but back at the convention where no pony knew what happened it was enough to pretty much abruptly end the convention. And that’s why I’m back here now, I still had fun though. There was enough time to at least see the Power Ponies creators for instance!” Spike put his hands on his hip and smiled.

“Well… I’m relieved that you’ve at least had some good days… it’s been nothing like that on my end…” Twilight lowered her head and sniffed.

“So I’ve heard, Starlight Glimmer has returned and now she’s an all-powerful genie, and she’s been transforming ponies into genies that for the most part follow her orders now… correct?” Spike telling the core of it all

“Yeah… that’s all true, Spike… but…” Twilight sits down and turns her back, as her eyes fill with tears again “It’s also all my fault!” She starts sobbing heavily again, as her friends and Spike quickly gather around her to comfort her.

“Now, now Twi… ya shouldn’t put all the blame on ya shoulders like that… not only ain’t it healthy, but it ain’t true. Y’all are not the one forcing ponies into bottles against their will…” Applejack tried to assure the Princess.

Twilight shakes her head “Unfortunately… that’s not entirely true, Applejack… for I pretty much did that to Starlight in the first place…”

Rainbow assists “But you didn’t do that on purpose! You shouldn’t let that bearded jerk get to you! You thought it’d do something else then it actually did, if you had known beforehand tha-“

Twilight interrupts “That’s just it, Rainbow Dash! Starswirl wasn’t entirely wrong about me… I should have not bothered touching any of the artifacts in there at all! There’s a reason items like Catrina’s Lamp were in the archives in the first place… they were never intended to be used again! Yet, I still went for it… Starlight really made her move at the absolute worst time… all of Equestria was depending on me after the Storm King kidnapped Princess Celestia and Luna… 

I really didn’t want to have to try to deal with both the Storm King and Starlight at the same time… so I used the lamp in hopes of at least quickly shutting her up and/or make her powerless… but I didn’t realize I was creating a threat more dangerous than the Storm King ever could have been!

And now because of my failure to take Starlight to justice before her return, and rushing for a solution at the archives… Trixie… my brother… Cadence and the rest of the Crystal Empire… Princesses Celestia and Luna… and who knows how many more have been transformed by now… what if my parents have already been turned… or Moondancer… or any pony the rest of you really care about!

Starlight mentioned that aside from her move on Ponyville, she sent some of her genies to Manehattan, Cloudsdale, and Canterlot… Applejack, Rainbow, and Rarity… there’s a real possibility  that Rara, Babs Seed, the Orange family, Coco Pommel, Sassy Saddles, Spitfire, and many more may have already been transformed!”

Applejack and Rarity both gasp, definitely now worried about all of the names mentioned, whereas Rainbow reacts in surprise but quickly challenges the idea. “There’s no way the genies got Spitfire or any other member of the Bolts… those vessels won’t be fast enough to catch any of them, not even in 100 years!”

Twilight sighed “I would do anything to share your optimism, Rainbow Dash. But if even Celestia, Luna, and Cadence were captured and transformed. I’m not sure there’s any pony that’s truly safe…”

“But darling, aren’t WE technically safe? As well as the Pillars? Aside from Meadowbrook, of course…” Rarity pointed out

“For now maybe… there’s a reason Starlight is putting us through this game… she’s toying with us, she’s so confident she’s going to win… and… I can’t exactly say her confidence isn’t unfounded…

Starlight isn’t dumb, she made sure that we could only get our “unlimited” wishes from her, and no matter how much our genified friends like Fluttershy say they aren’t totally subservient to Starlight. They could still inform her of a wish they hear from us, and bring Starlight here to grant that wish because they want to see us become genies too. From this game’s point of view, every genie is against us. 

Starlight either wants us to make a mistake, give in to temptation, and/or surrender. She wants us to reach a low point, where almost every pony we know are genies until we feel there’s no way out both literally and figuratively from us finding our way into a genie vessel…” Twilight lowers her head again

Rainbow Dash puts an assuring hoof on Twilight’s shoulder “Well if you just sit there, you’re not exactly going to be able to fly out of that low point! It’s way too early for this! Come on Twilight, we’ve faced a number of moments where all seemed lost before. And the tougher the problem, the stronger we’ll be when we’re out of it!”

“Rainbow is right, Twi. Just because ya don’t have the solution right now, doesn’t mean y’all won’t find it later. Think about it, Starlight is so confident that she thinks she’s already won. We gotta try t’ prove her wrong!” Applejack tips her hat with a confident smirk

“Yeah, Twilight! Just think of it as if you’re Bat Mare, the big bad is making the mistake of giving you the prep time to save the day! KA-POW!” Spike punches the air, it makes Twilight giggle a little. Obviously it’s Spike still having the convention he went to on his mind. But she’s certainly needed some levity, the support from Applejack and Rainbow Dash helps her feel closer to a better mood. The thought of things getting worse and worse the longer it takes for them to find a solution still weighs on her mind. But her friends are right that trying to find a solution fast is not going to work…

After all, it was rushing to solve a problem that started this mess in the first place…

“T-t-thank you… all of you… I’ll try my best to think or discover something over time… Group hug? I could really use one right now…” Twilight’s friends waste no time obliging to her request.

“We love you, Twilight!” Pinkie manages to say. She’s been abnormally quiet, but Twilight knows this situation has also dawned pretty hard on Pinkie Pie. “I love you all too… thanks for coming to see me in my time of need”

“We’ll always be there for you, darling! That’ll never change, regardless of what happens.” A part of Twilight wanted to point out that Fluttershy currently wasn’t here for her. But she decided this was no time to ruin the moment.

As the group hug ends, Rainbow asks a question. “So what do we do for now until you come up with a new idea, Twilight?”

“I think we should probably just return the Elements to the Tree of Harmony, then we’ll return back here. It hurts me that we won’t have any power to stop any more of the spread of the genifications, but we’ll have to grin and bear that reality until we find a solution.” The rest of the elements nod their heads. “Spike, do you mind staying here until we get back? We won’t be gone long, I promise”

Spike nods as well “Of course, I’ll wait here at the castle until you get back”

“And one more thing, Spike. Try not to interact with any genies you may see, even if they’re some pony you normally trust… I don’t want to return and see that they’ve genified you…” Twilight warns her #1 assistant

Spike nods once more “Of course, Twilight. If I see any genies approach, I’ll go hide”

“Thank you, Spike. Be back soon!”

Twilight and the 4 non-genified elements leave the castle to make the trek to the cave where the Tree of Harmony is rooted. The Elements are currently useless to them now, so they best put it back in the tree so that it can maintain its power.

Rarity and Twilight use levitation to put their respective Elements back on the upper right branch and middle trunk of the tree.

Rainbow Dash places her element on the tallest branch.

And all of them help Applejack and Pinkie Pie climb up by making a tower for them in order for them to put their own elements back in the tree.

The last one, Fluttershy’s element of Kindness is given to Twilight to fly up and put back in. Before she does, she takes a longing look at the butterfly-shaped gem of the Element of Kindness.

Twilight sighs, she's still not sure what to make of Fluttershy as a genie. She stood up to Starlight, which would indicate that genies aren’t totally subservient to Starlight’s will. Though at the same time, she’ll still be an active force that they can’t completely trust to not turn more ponies into genies as they saw with Mage Meadowbrook. And it especially hurts to know that if it had not been Fluttershy that was the first of them genified, they might have defeated Starlight by now thanks to Discord. 

Not helped by the fact that Starlight herself wasn’t even aware of that, the musical chairs game they were forced through just happened to land on the worst possible scenario for Twilight’s hopes of bringing everything back to normal.

Even if she herself had been the first genified and had become a willing pawn on Starlight’s side. The others might have still been able to rally around Discord assuming Starlight would have still set up the game. She even thinks that Discord actually may have been compelled more heavily then for some of the others to get things back to norma,l if it had been her instead of Fluttershy. Cause he may think a genified Twilight would be a thorn in his side.

Twilight does remember that something had gotten in her way in the game, almost like something rigged the game against her. Perhaps Starlight was awa- No, that would be forgetting that she got worried on the subject of Discord the moment his name was mentioned. Discord wasn’t a factor in her decision to do the musical chairs. Which only begged the question as to why Starlight might have spared her from potentially being the first one of her six friends after she’s already gotten 3 of the 4 Alicorn Princesses of Equestria on her side. 

Twilight does have a suspicion that Starlight’s probably waiting for the right moment to genify her, whenever that is. Perhaps she’s saving her for last, that said Starlight certainly hasn’t made that entirely clear. For all Twilight knew, Starlight may be plotting to entrap her next in this game. Whatever makes her more nervous and gives her more anxiety is what she imagines Starlight intends to do next.

Twilight then puts the Element of Kindness on the lower left most branch. The Tree of Harmony at full power once again as a glow shimmers from the tree. The rest of Twilight’s friends then start walking out, Twilight stays behind for a little while longer as she flies down closer to the base of the tree. She sits down and looks at her reflection on the Tree of Harmony’s crystal trunk, she closes her eyes and lowers her head with another drawn out sigh.

She pulled her head back up, and when she opened her eyes…

Her reflection was suddenly staring right back at her, the reflection’s eyes were smaller. Twilight’s own eyes shrink small as she gasps in fright. Her reflection was not doing the same action she was anymore. “W-w-w-what?! That’s not my reflection…!” 

What Twilight thought was her reflection continues to stare straight at Twilight’s eyes. It was frowning gravely, and besides the oddity of it not following Twilight’s movement. Its tail was waving in a similar manner to Celestia and Luna’s tail.

“Har…

.......mon… y…

is…

at…

a…

cross…

roads…”

Twilight gasps and shrieks again as it seems to speak, echoing, and sounds much like her own voice. She looks away and breathes heavily, and wonders if she’s going insane.

She then looks back one more time. “Who… or what are you? What do you mean that harmony is at a crossroa-“ But then Twilight notices that her reflection is back to what it was. Twilight puts a hoof on her forehead and shakes her head. “Ugh, just what is with today… or this past week for that matter…”

Twilight finally turns away from the tree to follow her friends. She has some thought about telling her friends about what she just saw. But she’s afraid if they come to see, then what she saw won’t just appear for her. And they’ll think she’s hallucinating. The fate of Equestria is depending on her, perhaps more than ever before now. it won’t inspire much confidence if a number of ponies thinks Twilight mentally isn’t there.

She finally walks away from the tree, though she certainly doesn’t forget the sight she saw. It might be important for later, and hopefully it shows up again at a time where she can prove it without making herself look crazy in front of her friends. It said Harmony was at a crossroads. that was sort of obvious already to Twilight. As she imagines the harmony of Equestria was in danger of being disrupted by this genie threat. But she wonders if by crossroads, if there’s more paths aside from Starlight’s Genie utopia or returning things back to normal. Though she doesn’t know for absolute certainty if that wasn’t just some odd fever dream she had suddenly or not. She shakes her head one more time and moves on. Finally catching up with her friends as they return to Ponyville.

They return to Twilight’s castle, and go to Twilight’s bedroom where Spike was. He was sitting on the floor with his back turned towards them.  Twilight can see him from the back, thankful that the genies haven’t done anything to him while they were gone. “We’re back, Spike!” 

The little dragon turns his head and smiles “Hiya, girls! Say check what I found!” He picks up something currently out of view from the girls and turns around. Holding something in his arms. It seems to be a fully grown pale yellow female cat with green eyes, and pink stripes along its back and its tail.

The cat purrs and lets out a quiet meow. “D’awwwwwww!” expressed Rarity and Pinkie as their hearts just about melted out of it’s cuteness. 

Rainbow flies up closer to the cat. The cat then boops Rainbow Dash on the nose. Rainbow giggles and smiles “Oh no! Even the fastest pony in Equestria couldn’t avoid that! She’s pretty cute! Where did you find her, Spike?”

“I peeked out the windows in case any genies were coming in, when I found her lying at the front door of the castle, she seemed hungry so I let her in and baked the same cat treat recipe that I normally do for Opal for her” Spike then lets the cat down on the floor. 

She approaches Rarity and Pinkie, rubbing against them as a show of affection for the both of them. Especially for the rather depressed Pinkie. Both of them pet the cat as it meows and purrs some more.

“She’s adorable, Spike! But er… did ya check fo’ ah collar o’ some sort? Ah gotta feelin’ this cat ain’t no stray from its behavior right now…” Applejack observing.

“But you’re more of a dog-pony, Applejack. Some stray cats can get quite comfortable with ponies if they’ve been treated nicely enough. What if it’s sort of like a town alley cat that goes around for temporary shelter and food from the nearest pony?” Spike notes, while Rarity the resident cat owner, nods.

The cat then heads back near Spike. She curls up on the ground, and lays her head against Spike’s feet. Beginning to get some sleep. Once again just about the whole room’s heart goes aflutter for the adorable animal.

Twilight figures the presence of a cute animal was great for every pony here as at least a brief distraction from the current state of the world. “That was nice of you to help her out, did you come up with a name for her?”

Spike puts a claw under her chin “Well, I don’t know if maybe some other ponies in town have already given their own names for her. For all I know she could have multiple names she goes by if I’m correct she’s a sort of town domesticated cat. But I do have something of an idea for a name we can all give her…”

“And that would be?” Rainbow inquired

“I… admit it might be at risk of reminding you of recent events. But it’s almost too obvious not to do, if you notice she has quite a bit of Fluttershy’s colors. Down to being yellow, those green eyes, and the light pink on her back and tail. But I won’t go as far as actually naming her Fluttershy… but how about something close like… Flowersly! Or something like that at least.” Spike suggests.

Twilight does frown a bit about being reminded about Fluttershy, though she does see that Spike’s observations isn’t wr- 

Suddenly, a realization takes over her. “SPIKE! GET AWAY FROM THAT CAT!” She charges up her horn and teleports Spike to the other side of the room.

“Huh?! What?! Why?!” Spike incredulously asks.

“Spike… that cat doesn’t just coincidentally share Fluttershy’s colors… this cat IS Fluttershy!” She grimaced, while every pony else gasped.

The cat then opens up one eye, and seems to smirk. The cat is then obscured in sight by a pink magic cloud that gets bigger. When it dissipates, the cat is gone. But in its place, was Fluttershy who giggles having fooled her friends for a short while.

(Vector credit: cyanlightning)

“Hehe, that was fun! How’d I do? I was a pretty convincing kitty, wasn’t I~. Meooooowwww!”

“GAH! You were Fluttershy the whole time?!” Spike’s absolutely flabbergasted.

“What are you doing here, Fluttershy? I hope you’re not here to genify Spike… otherwise… our friendship really is over…” Twilight growls, Spike is very special to Twilight. If Fluttershy genifies him, she’ll know that her talk of not entirely being on Starlight’s side was a lie.

Fluttershy frowns, and waves her hooves. “Oh no no no no, I promise I wasn’t going to do anything of the sort! I was just having a little fun with all of you…”

Applejack raises an eyebrow “Ah don’t hear ah hint o’ lying from ya… though ya do know we remember what ya pulled on Meadowbrook when ya were ah flash bee fo’ ah brief time…”

Fluttershy taps her hooves “Yeah… I suppose that first time did leave you suspicious if I was planning on sneaking another genification in… but I promise I’m not shapeshifting just for the sake to be stealthy prior to a genification of mine…”

“That’s not exactly denying that you won’t exactly do something like that again…” Rainbow retorted.

Fluttershy does an admitting shrug and smile “Of course it isn’t, not like I could deceive you girls with Applejack here and all. I fully intend on doing that again for a fair share of my genifications. But I repeat, that’s not what I came here to do”

“Then what are you here for? And on a side note… what became of your conversation with Meadowbrook inside her vessel?” Twilight asked.

Fluttershy answers the latter first “I managed to cheer her up just fine, she’s back in a decently good mood and is now roaming through town…”

“Please tell me she’s not…” Twilight’s ears droop

“…She’s probably genifying the doctors and nurses at the Ponyville hospital right about now.” Fluttershy bluntly said

“Ugggghhhh, of course she is… that’s just great… now if any pony in town suffers an injury or gets sick… their ‘prescription’ is going to be not any kind of medicine, surgery, or therapy… it’s going to be ‘genification solves everything’…” Twilight looks away in frustration.

“Not even Starlight would go to such lengths as purposefully hurting some pony or making them sick just to get them genified though…” Fluttershy replies

“Maybe not, but it’s certainly going to be a thing that any hospital taken over by the genies are going to do something of that sort… for just about any ailment known to pony kind! The excuse being that genification is the “ultimate cure” for everything” Twilight points out

Spike blinks “…I mean, is that not wrong? Genies are supposed to be immortal, even if they can still get sick. It can’t kill them”

Twilight is a bit surprised by Spike’s answer “Well… in a technical sense no… but Spike! You haven’t seen what happens when we tried ungenifying some pony when we got the elements! We blasted Sugar Belle with the elements, and it was successful at turning her back to normal… but then she freaked out and proceeded to just wish to be a genie again! That has to mean there’s some form of troubling effect on the mind from this that may take so much time to heal!”

“Hmmm… that does sound troubling… but this all depends on whether some pony is truly changed in a way they would never do normally. It could just be as possible that Sugar Belle simply found her life to be so much easier as a genie then as a normal pony. You have to admit that ponies suddenly gaining all that power gives a significant improvement to their life. I mean… imagine if some pony suddenly took your horn away, Twilight” As if on instinct, Twilight puts a hoof on her horn and frowns. Almost every unicorn feared losing their horn. Twilight and Rarity remember when Discord took theirs, they instantly freaked as well.

“If I may say, Spike, darling… While we did freak out immediately… I don’t think we reacted anywhere near like Sugar Belle did. During that whole time we were in that goose chase Discord put us through in the hedge maze we didn’t have our horn…” Rarity recalled.

Spike nods “Yes, but think about just how much of an improvement being a genie is compared to being a regular ol’ unicorn magic-wise. Perhaps at the very least there’s a power corrupts sort of thing that Sugar Belle did not want to let go of. But there’s a possibility that even if there’s a fair bit of legitimate addiction to this power, we have to factor in that there are real reasons every pony would suddenly like being a genie.” That leaves the others in some contemplation.

“I… guess you have something of a point, Spike… but even if you’re entirely correct… It's not helping that Starlight is forcing this on ponies. Her very methods are a huge factor in why I doubt Starlight is doing this for the betterment of Equestria” Twilight explained her position

Fluttershy chimes in “Mmhmm, both can be true at the same time. Starlight’s execution of her plan can be bad at the same time that we can have legitimate reasons for liking being a genie. You girls saw me when I was transformed, I feared the worst was happening and it was because of Starlight’s methods that I thought I was no longer going to be me. Though once I felt the transformation overwhelm me, I… started to understand what this truly meant for me. Starlight just needs to eventually approach this in a better way than she is currently. Even if is working out for her so far, she wouldn’t have to have so much hassle if she’d just be more kinder to her genies-to-be from the start”

Rainbow Dash deadpans “Yeah… but I’m not so sure she would really be Starlight Glimmer if she was nicer to us… it’d ironically be solid proof that it IS brainwashing ponies if suddenly Starlight had become kinder…”

Applejack nods in agreement “Starlight held ah grudge against us befo' all this happened. So her targeting us with this game o’ hers isn’t exactly out o’ character.”

Twilight sighs “I’d mention that Starlight wouldn’t have done the whole turn every pony into a genie thing. But I’ve already told you girls that wasn’t what the lamp told her to do, that was the Crystal of Corruption’s doing. Still, it’s a bit odd that every pony just goes along with a plan that wouldn’t have come about if Starlight had only been genified by the lamp and not combined with the crystal. Fluttershy, if you’re not corrupted like Starlight is. Why do you still want geniequality to come into fruition?”

Fluttershy pauses to think over an answer, before smiling as she’s got a possible explanation. “Think back to when Starswirl told us about Catrina. Her big mistake was being selfish, and convinced her power could never be taken away from her. If she had been more like Starlight, where genifying her assistant and spreading that wide to all Abyssinians. It’s very possible the world would still be ruled under an Abyssinian genie empire. When you empower the more good-hearted citizens of the world. They want to be able to share that joy with others. Equestria has a very friendly culture, and while we may have some of our own citizens that could very well be as greedy as Catrina was. By the time they’re genified, there will be too many good-hearted genies for them to do much about.

And while the meaner and/or greedier may be disappointed that they can’t lord over others like they used to. I have to imagine being a genie does at the very least give such greedier characters the means of satisfying themselves in other ways. Most that are greedy is because they love hoarding all the money. But what happens when money essentially becomes worthless… but only because any pony on their own has the ability to make any material possessions they’ve ever wanted. Or travel anywhere they want to go in an instant.

But my point is, I don’t want every pony to be a genie for the exact same reasons Starlight does. 

For Starlight, it’s her desire to see ponies equal and putting you girls through a slow one-by-one “game” as revenge for foiling her original plan. 

For me on the other hoof and probably a good majority of regular civilians and others we know, we want ponies that they know like our friends, our family, and more to share in our joy. I know Starlight’s making it look like a general takeover of Equestria, and by the end of today… Just about the entire northern half of the nation will likely be Geniequestria territory…

But I assure you it’s not because we’re in total agreement with Starlight’s views. But while she is offering this, we still want to take advantage of it for good purposes. Most of us aren’t compelled to be loyal to Starlight to a fault, but if it lines up with sharing what we love about being genies with others. That’s when we’ll still be willing to follow an order from her. It just turns out that for the most part until she genified me, her steps in her plan have done that for every pony genifying ponies with her. Almost every pony that helped her genify any pony in Our Town, The Crystal Empire, Manehattan, Cloudsdale, and now Ponyville is doing it for the benefit of their friends and family. 

When you combine the allure of immortality, eternal youth, and the magic power being a genie gives you with the ability to give the same perks to those we know, never having to worry about the inevitabilities of a mortal life for ourselves and others… and the absolute pleasure just being genies give us… it’s hard for us to want to go back to the way things were. That’s all I feel you need to understand things from our point of view.” As Fluttershy’s answer finishes, the room is left quiet. Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Applejack look down in a rather conflicted manner. 

Rarity’s mouth is slightly agape, as Fluttershy’s words on the matter are giving her a better understanding. And maybe even a bit of dispelling some of her own fears. She almost feels like clapping for Fluttershy, but she doesn’t want her friends to think she’s becoming a genie sympathizer. 

“I… uh…” Twilight’s initially struggles with how to respond. It takes some thinking, but she finally gives one more angle. “I… just don’t know… still… Starlight’s lamp had to have been in the archives for a reason. And before that, it was in an ancient temple guarded by all kinds of deadly traps before Catrina found it. There had to have been a reason it was kept out of any one’s grasp for so long. Because otherwise, if it was really this amazing power that all sentient life can receive and live peacefully together… why didn’t the ancients spread that power between them in the first place? The real origins of the lamp are so mysterious it comes before any sort of recorded history. We can’t be sure yet if there isn’t some catch to all this, maybe in the short term it looks perfect. But what if there’s an issue in the long term? I feel like ponies should get a full understanding of the magic they’re receiving. Literally no pony, including Starlight, and not even those who were around more than 1000 years ago like Celestia, Luna, or the Pillars know exactly how this magic came to be. And before Equestria falls completely to “Geniequality”, I feel like we need to make sure every pony, both genies and non-genies alike are well-informed of any potential consequences.

Cause as is, it almost seems too perfect for all of this to be true. It’s literally only been a few days since Starlight was genified. There’s no way anyone currently genified has considered just how much we don’t know about all this.

Fluttershy… Can you at least understand why I’m so concerned about the potential unknowns of this? Most society changing revolutions that promise to be for the benefit of all tend to have an underlying cost even if initially it seems like there’s nothing but pros, and no cons whatsoever. If anything the great power given by becoming a genie only makes me MORE concerned at the idea of what could be the consequences. I know the cons won’t be anything like Aladdin where ponies end up in caves for thousands of years. But just like how genie life is actually much better for real genies compared to the fictional ones, what if there comes a time where we finally learn the negatives about being a genie... and it’s even WORSE then fictional genies in some way?

I’m not sure what a worse fate would entail… but I almost don’t want to try to imagine it… I’d rather Starlight at least briefly stop her conquest and give us time to figure things out before she proceeds to genify more ponies. But she’s not going to listen to us, she’s determined this is the solution she’s longed for and isn’t open to contrary opinions on the matter. She’ll just guilt trip us as if we preferred the inequalities of our normal society, especially now that the genies are compelled to prefer their new lives over their old ones.

I… just don’t want to see you get caught up in something that you’ll regret, Fluttershy… I feel there’s more to this than what we know so far… and whatever we find will shine a light on the truth of the matter…” Twilight finishes her response, as Rainbow, Applejack, and Pinkie nod with Twilight’s view on the matter.

Rarity on the other hoof felt half-conflicted now. The nuance that confused even Discord when he was here reared its head again as Rarity was back to square one. Not sure what she should believe in any more.

Fluttershy meanwhile has a neutral face as she listens to Twilight’s views. She frowns a little late into Twilight’s speech. But she closes her eyes, sighs. Before smiling again with an understanding face. “Well said, Twilight. I may disagree on some level, but you are right we don’t understand everything yet. I feel whatever cons there could be, there will be some kind of clever workaround we as a collective and powerful genie society could figure out. I respect your thoughts on the matter, and maybe I’ll try to see if I discover something out one of these days. I can see if I can be your girls’ informant for any new information we learn about myself and the other genies.”

Rainbow Dash lifts an eyebrow “An informant that still plans on adding more genies to the world, despite Twilight’s warnings of the unknown?” 

Fluttershy smiles sheepishly “…Yeah, pretty much. But if I do discover a significant flaw in all this, I’ll stop and get in touch with you all. But in the meantime, I think we got really sidetracked from what Twilight asked me first… you all wanted to know why I’m here, right?”

Everyone else in the room nods. “To put it simply, Twilight. I’m still thinking about how upset you were when you ran away. I want to take this opportunity to give you something that will put a smile back on your face at least for a little while. You deserve something good to happen today.”

Twilight smiles softly “Oh… you’re always so thoughtful, Fluttershy… and that’s why I’ve always valued our friendship. But you don’t need to do anything for me… it’s true that the past few days have been the absolute worst… and there isn’t much hope for things to get better. But that’s just how it is being a leader of Equestria when the toughest villains to crack appear, it makes me wonder just how Celestia remained relatively sane in her long reign.”

Fluttershy nods “I get that, but I still insist. I promise what I’m offering will make you the happiest you’ve been in a long time…”

“Well, I guess can you tell me what it is then? …Though it better not be a genie vessel…” Twilight narrows her eyes at Fluttershy. She knows ‘happiest you’ve been in a long time’ could very much entail a transformation into a genie, given the instant gratification part of the process.

Fluttershy again waves her fore hooves “No no no, I promise it isn’t anything like that… remember, you’re off limits from any pony other than Starlight due to her game anyway. You’d have to make a wish to make that happen…”

“I guess you are right about that, ok… I’ll repeat… what is it then?” Twilight inquired once more.

Fluttershy nodded and gently smiled “Twilight… I’d like to offer to return the Golden Oaks Library to its former glory!”

Twilight’s eyes widened and gasped “Bring back Golden Oaks?! Y… y-you… you could really do that?!”

Fluttershy nodded her head “It should actually be pretty trivial to recreate. It may have been a little while since Tirek’s attack on Equestria. But I still very much remember the layout of your old home. I should be able to return it exactly as you remembered it!”

Twilight’s grin goes so wide “Oh my gosh! Fluttershy… you have no idea how much I would love that! I was really touched with your girls’ idea to make the roots a chandelier in the castle… but if you can really bring it back… it’d mean so much to me…”

Spike spoke up “But wait, will this require taking down the chandelier and reforming the tree? Or could Twilight keep the chandelier that’s left of the old Golden Oaks while Fluttershy creates a totally new one?”

“I could probably do either/or. I’ll leave that decision to you, Twilight” Fluttershy answered.

“Hm… well… on one hoof if the chandelier was rerooted then at least part of the tree will certainly be what it was, though we’d have to take down those beautiful jewels of memories… 

And on the other… the tree would technically not be the original tree, but at the same time I think the chandelier added something to that room and it’d look so bare again if we removed it…:” Twilight takes some time to think it all over. She debates it with herself internally of how she’d approach the return of her old home. 

She then looks in Fluttershy’s eyes to indicate she’s made a decision. “I think I’ll go with the latter, even if this new tree won’t technically be the real one. I don’t want to waste the effort you girls did making the chandelier. And if you can really make it as accurate as you say, then eventually it won’t matter that it isn’t the original”

Spike’s a little nervous about asking this knowing how much Twilight misses Golden Oaks but he goes for it. “Say… we’re not going to completely abandon the castle with Golden Oaks back are we? I… don’t exactly want to go back to sleeping in a basket… I like having my own bed and room in the castle…”

Twilight smiles “Don’t worry, Spike. We’ll still have both, it’s just uh… I might be rooming in there for a while until I get used enough to it being back… aheh heh heh…”

Rainbow Dash chuckles “Knowing you, Twilight. That’ll probably be 10 years… at the absolute earliest!”

The whole room including Twilight herself giggles at Rainbow’s joke, who rubs a hoof behind her back sheepishly. “Hehe, who knows! That may just happen!”

Fluttershy walks toward the door of Twilight’s bedroom before turning around “So, shall we step outside to where Golden Oaks once stood, and soon will again? I doubt you want the entire tree right here inside your castle’s bedroom.” Fluttershy giggles as Twilight nods, and every pony follows her to exactly where the tree stood.

“So uh… are you able to just make it as you are now? I don’t need to do anything do I?” Twilight asked

Fluttershy looks in Twilight’s eyes “Actually, you do have to do something for me, Twilight. I may be able to do many things on a whim. But specific stuff like this needs a worded enchantment of some sort. In other words… you need to wish for it.” 

Twilight initially nods and sets out to do just that “I…” But then something dawns on her. “Wait… no…” She then looks Fluttershy very sternly. “How… DARE you…! This is a trap isn’t it?!”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “What?! What do you mean a trap?!”

“I’M NOT DUMB, FLUTTERSHY! Genies interpret any wish how they want it, if I say I want Golden Oaks back… you know what you could interpret that to? Making a small model or snow globe version of Golden Oaks AS MY GENIE VESSEL! And then you could tattletale to Starlight!” Twilight stares down Fluttershy with angry eyes.

“No! I promise that’s not what I was going to do! I’m your friend! I wouldn’t betray you like that…” Fluttershy waves her hooves once more.

Twilight shakes her head “Why would that even matter for long! If you changed me, the magic would make it so my genie self forgives such a betrayal! You said earlier you’d need a wish in order for you to bring Starlight here to use a genie vessel on me… is messing with my emotions with the loss of my old house your way of baiting me to make that wish?! Just like how Starlight baited you with your dreams for your own animal sanctuary?!”

“Twilight, if I were to do that. I’d still be haunted by your inevitable reaction as I betrayed our friendship in the early part of the transformation!” Fluttershy defends herself

“Again, why would that matter? The genie me would forgive you, and you’d have me as your genie friend for all eternity and end up only remembering betraying my trust as a brief blip in time!” Twilight grinds her teeth, still on the offense in the argument.

“Twilight! You’re being completely irrational! If I was planning to get you genified, why did I agree to being your girls’ informant for if I discover any new facts about myself and the genies?! I'm the closest you have to an inside scoop on what's going on!”

“You could just say the best way for me to find out is to 'feel it for yourself!'” Twilight was not budging, this was more difficult then Fluttershy was expecting it to be.

Fluttershy sits down and lowers her head. Her eyes welled up a little bit with tears “I… guess I understand why you can’t trust me in that case… I’ll just leave it be, then… but... I truly was only trying to make you feel better, honest…”

As much as Twilight needed to tell her how she felt. The look in Fluttershy’s eyes compels her to sigh and apologize “I’m… sorry I had to argue with you… with this whole situation I really need to be on point whenever it comes to wishes, though it’s even better to try not to wish at all. 

There’s actually a lot of wishes that can become genification wishes under the right interpretation. Heck, Starlight probably could have genified me with my 2nd wish earlier… by making a figure of Discord as my vessel… I have to think the reason she didn’t was because she was suddenly fearing her plans were about to be foiled by him. So she granted it legitimately to get that confrontation out of the way.

Equestria is counting on me, I can’t risk it all with wanton wishes. Even for something as dear to me as Golden Oaks…” Twilight turns her back.

Everyone else that was watching the argument just frowned, what was seeming to be a grand moment for Twilight, seems to have become a moment of some strife between two of their friends. The genie being the interpreter of a wish is a huge deterrent from granting the wishes if they’re trying to avoid genification. And even for genies that insist they won’t interpret it that way, who knows if maybe another genie will have been eavesdropping and did the genification interpretation anyway.

Suddenly though, Spike gets a determined look on his face and approaches Fluttershy. “Huh? Spike? What are you doing?” The pegasus genie wonders.

“Fluttershy… I wish the Golden Oaks Library was returned!” At that Twilight screamed. “SPIKE, NOOOOOOOOOO!” Spike has already fully worded it. A gasp from every pony else watching including Fluttershy herself.

“What have you done, Spike! You’ve left an opening to be genified by Fluttershy… or if some other genie was nearby!” Twilight sternly turns toward Fluttershy “Again, I repeat what I said earlier… if you dare genify Spike… our friendship is over! You may be a good friend, but Spike has been with me longer than all of you! Any pony who dares to bottle him up… I could never call them a friend!”

“Twilight… I said the wish so that I could test for myself where Fluttershy stands on such interpretations… if I get genified, then that’s on me as much as it is Fluttershy for being fooled. I have no role in this game of Starlight’s, it’s not a big deal if I’m transformed. But I also made the wish… because I think I trust Fluttershy won’t do it.” Spike’s determined face shines through.

“How can you be so sure?!” Twilight worriedly asks.

“Cause I know Fluttershy… she would not dare deceive you like that after the kind of days you’ve had. Heck, she didn’t even try to deny that she still wanted to genify more ponies. Fluttershy has not lied to us the whole time. And I don’t believe she will now” 

Twilight gasps “Are you implying… that I don’t know Fluttershy as much as you do?!”

Spike shakes his head “Of course not, I think you know in your heart that Fluttershy wouldn’t do that. You just still aren’t completely sure that the genie Fluttershy is 100% the same Fluttershy you know!”

“But… but… she did kind of deceive you… pretending to be a hungry stray cat to let her in…” Twilight points out.

Spike crosses his arms “Maybe a little, but that was no more of a deception than a Pinkie Pie & Rainbow Dash prank. She meant no harm, and until I see anything of Fluttershy betraying us in a way that feels like something Starlight would do rather than Fluttershy. Then I don’t see any reason not to trust her. 

And even if she does genify me now, then I’ll have done something in proving she truly isn’t the Fluttershy we knew anymore. Again, I’m not part of Starlight’s game... which actually puts me in a position to prove something. Fluttershy has the option to transform me if and when ever she wants, but that will mean she will have proper consequences of none of you girls trusting her word ever again.”

“Spike… you’re saying that within earshot of Fluttershy! What if hearing that… she does grant the wish legitimately… but only because she knows she’ll be caught! And she deceives us later!” Twilight incredulously worries about such a possibility.

“C’mon Twilight! Snap out of it and listen to yourself! Fluttershy wasn’t some deceptive mastermind before she was a genie. And I don’t think she suddenly become one either! I get these past few days have been stressful, but that’s no excuse to distrust our friends when they’re trying to do something nice for you!” Spike sternly stares up. There was a similar time where Spike tried to snap her out of a rather bad day when she was trying to find a friendship lesson to send to Princess Celestia. It didn’t exactly stop Twilight’s more regrettable actions that day, like trying to create a friendship problem. But Spike still expressed worry and supported Twilight that day. He’s doing the same thing here, and Spike’s matured by a few more years since.

And so has Twilight, as Spike’s words get to her this time. She’s finally left with not much left to say. Tears in her eyes, as she lowers her head. “Y-y-you’re right, Spike… I think I’ve really lost my touch… First, I had the chance to make Starlight face justice but chose to let her go, then I created our very problem when I used Catrina’s Lamp, I failed to protect all those already genified… and the next I can’t trust my own friend just because of my own failure… I’m starting to wonder if I was crowned a Princess too early… because besides getting supremely lucky against Tirek… what have I really done…?”

Fluttershy chimed in “Don’t think like that Twilight, it may have seemed like luck with how fast things turned around. But those keys that unlocked the power necessary to beat him were earned by all six of us. Our friendship beat Tirek, a clear indication that you really are the Princess of Friendship. And that’s not even counting your feats when you were still a unicorn! I think you just need to find a solution outside of the box.”

Something about the final words of Fluttershy’s statement gets to Twilight in some way. She doesn’t know if Fluttershy meant it that way, but Twilight nonetheless was glad to hear that from her. Fluttershy suggested a solution as specifically being outside of the box rather than being inside of it. Which would imply something as a genie. She finally looks into Fluttershy's eyes again “Alright… Fluttershy, go ahead and grant Spike’s wish… I really, really, really want to fully trust you again. But I don’t know what that’d take without stopping you from genifying more ponies… when I know that's not going to happen”

“Please, say no more. Trust has to be earned, and I fully understand that even if we’ve been friends for years. This whole genie situation has you confused if you can still trust me. I understand why you don’t like the idea of genifying everypony without first learning what we can about the magic we’re empowered with. But at the very least, you should be able to see for yourself the things we can do that’ll make you feel better. So just stand where you are, and I’ll bring your beloved library back… ” Twilight nods, then Fluttershy walks a few feet forward to give herself some space.

She closes her eyes, as she uses her many memories of her friendship with Twilight to remember just about every detail she can remember of the Golden Oaks library from the high up balcony where Twilight would stargaze from. All the way to the underground basement where Twilight would perform all her experiments whenever she needed a little more heavy duty science. Once she believes she’s got a good handle of the recreation. She flaps her wings and lifts herself off the ground. Her eyes are still closed as she moves upward. 

It’s not long before she opens them up again and smiles as she lifts up one hoof. The hoof emits a pink magic aura before a seed is created in Fluttershy’s hoof. Fluttershy then chucks the seed into the soil where Golden Oaks once stood The seed lands on the ground and immediately starts to bury itself into the soil. Fluttershy then uses her hooves to levitate several clouds together until it creates a gray rain cloud. Using her own pegasus-born magic as opposed to genie magic to push it toward where the seed fell.

When Fluttershy believes it’s gotten enough water, she makes the cloud disappear. And then flies back down to where the group was watching her.

Rainbow scratched her head “Um, no offense Fluttershy. But it’s going to be a while before the tree grows back to what it once was if this is going to take as long as a tree naturally does to get that size…”

Fluttershy giggled “Just watch, Rainbow Dash. This was a specialized seed, only possible with genie magic~”

Just seconds later the ground where the seed bury itself begins to emit a pink glow, and soon a sprout pops out. that quickly grows into a sapling, and continues growing at a rapid pace until it reaches the exact size the Golden Oaks Library was. The magic only grew the tree, but that’s when Fluttershy started working some more magic. With multiple magic waves sent to the tree, the balcony, the front door, the windows, magic to make the tree hollow inside so she could enter it. Where she then uses more magic to recreate the entire interior of Golden Oaks. The bookcases, Twilight’s starry bed, the stairs, Owlowisicous’s old perch, and even Spike’s little basket even though Spike himself prefers his bed in the castle. Just about absolutely everything that Fluttershy remembers of Twilight’s old home was brought back, as good as new.

Outside, Twilight just had her mouth agape for the entire time that gradually becomes a very happy smile.

(Vector credit: sketchmcreations [Twilight], daafroman (Golden Oaks)

Golden Oaks was being formed, she puts a hoof on her chest, or perhaps rather over her heart as she watches her old home she missed so much be brought back to her by Fluttershy’s magic. Spike and the other ponies are amazed by the magic as well. But for the most part, they’re just happy for Twilight that she gets to have this moment.

Soon, Fluttershy has finished. And she opens the door, gesturing to Twilight and the others to come on in. Twilight wastes no time, she runs as fast she can with excited glee.

(Vector credit: itv-canterlot [Twilight], oxinfree [Golden Oaks Interior])

She looks at every little nook and cranny of the recreated Golden Oaks. Seeing that it is very much what Fluttershy promised it would be, everything was accurate. Not even one book, plant, vase, and general aesthetic was out of place. Twilight goes up the stairs and jumps up onto her bed. The more simple bed design resulted in a harder landing than expected. Her bed in the castle is much more high quality and the mattress is of a softer material. But that didn’t mean Twilight wasn’t happy to see her old bed back anyway.

Twilight’s friends didn’t say a word. They simply watched as Twilight was still in a frenzy driven by nostalgia. “I… I can’t believe it! It’s real… It's all real! My first home in ponyville… so many precious memories flooding back… You even remembered how I organized the books, Fluttershy! I… I… I… can’t thank you enough!” Twilight’s eyes filled with tears again, but for once it was all tears of joy.

Fluttershy gently smiles and shakes her head. “You don’t need to thank me, you needed this pick-me-up. And as your friend, I’m happy to use my new power to cheer you up!”

Twilight flies back down to the ground in front of Fluttershy “Even so, I bet I still… owe you an apology…”

Fluttershy shakes her head “That’s not entirely necessary either. Starlight is the whole reason you have a hard time trusting us genies. And because we want to help her achieve her ultimate goal, you have understandable reasons to be skeptical.

But I did want to at least show you that no matter what, we can still be your friends. While Starswirl is the legendary wizard. You are already a better friend then he’ll ever be, you still gave me a chance while he threw away his friendship with Meadowbrook just about immediately. That’s why you were able to complete his spell when he couldn’t, before you became an alicorn.”

Twilight’s tears continue dropping as she just goes ahead and hugs Fluttershy.

(Vector credit: Cloudyglow [Twi hugging Fluttershy], oxinfree [Golden Oaks Interior])

“I’m still so sorry for mistrusting you at all… but I thank you very much for returning Golden Oaks… and being as supportive as you’ve ever been…”

Fluttershy charges her magic around herself and she shrinks and transforms. She’s suddenly back in her cat form from earlier, or perhaps rather she’d become “Flowersly” once again. She leaped up on Twilight’s back, purring and rubbing on the back of Twilight’s neck. Twilight uses levitation to lift Fluttershy off, but only to sit down and hug the cat form of her friend with her fore hooves. 

Twilight then lets Fluttershy out of her grasp, the yellow genie  changes back to a pony, winking at every pony behind her. “I must be going, soon I’ll be visiting my family and maybe a few friends here and there too!”

“…And genify them I presume?” Rainbow asked even if she already knows what Fluttershy’s going to say

As expected, Fluttershy says “Of course!”

At this point though their friends shrug, it’s not like they could stop her anyway. But the gesture she did for Twilight was so touching, they let it slide for now. “Heh… well… at least ya’ll are honest…” Applejack comments.

Fluttershy then waves before teleporting away. Leaving Twilight and her friends just outside of the renewed Golden Oaks Library. Twilight turns around to look at her old home once again, managing one more smile. A real act of kindness, to help her get through the rough days ahead…

MAIN STORY

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SIDE STORIES

FOLLOW FLUTTERSHY AS SHE VISITS HER FAMILY

[thatfeanorian]

@last-capy-hupping​ who ask for Maedhros/Fingon + “I’ve always wanted to do that.” from this prompt list, feel free to send me a pairing and a prompt in an ask, I’ll be leaving them open for the next couple days so get yours in!

“Russo?” Findekáno tries to make his voice confident as he gazes up at Russandol’s face, but it comes out scared instead, making Russandol’s brow furrow as he meets Findekáno’s eyes, his worry clear.

“Is everything alright?” It is a much harder question to answer than it should be, for everything will always be alright as long as Russandol is there with him. Still, alright is no longer enough. He has longed for more than alright for decades, brushing his fingers against Russandol’s and watching his face light up with that secret, lovely smile he saves for Findekáno alone. He has wanted more since his friend first undid his own braids, giving Findekáno the ribbons from his hair, his fingers gentle as he worked them into Findekáno’s braids before proclaiming that,

“They look much better on you than they ever have on me,” His eyes sparkling with an emotion that Findekáno couldn’t quite name. 

Yes, alright had not been enough for many years now.

“I suppose,” He replied, and Russandol reached out to touch his shoulder, fingers feather light.

“You can tell me anything, Finno, you know that.” Findekáno does know that. That is why he is here, building up what courage he has –foolish they all were, naming him Astaldo– to close the distance left between them.

“I want to kiss you.” The words escape his mouth before he can think of any subtle way to express this sentiment. He has always been blunt where Russandol is as sharp as any blade, managing to convince anyone thoroughly of anything without them even realizing that he was doing so. Findekáno does not have that skill, nor a thousand others that Russandol keeps with grace and modesty, but he has himself. He has a boundless supply of love for his friend threatening to explode from his chest every moment Russandol is near him. 

His friend is so quiet for so long that Findekáno almost loses his nerve. Almost laughs his own statement off as a joke, almost runs back to his chambers to cry and curse his own stupidity. 

And then Russandol’s lips are on his and he is not quite sure who closed the distance between them. All he knows is the gentle questioning kisses Russandol is pressing against his lips.

Findekáno pulls away, his eyes wide, and Russandol gives him a small smile, the one that makes his eyes sparkle in the treelight.

“I’ve always wanted to do that.” Russandol whispers and Findekáno’s heart soars as he hurriedly moves forwards to kiss his friend –no his lover– again.

“I have too.” He admits in a whisper, his breath ghosting over Russandol’s lips and he laughs, giddy with joy and love, “I always have.”

[bronyinabottle]

Pardon if it's been a while since I've done one of these. There was a sudden time 15.ai went down for about 2-3 weeks and I hadn't finished getting all the scenes from Secrets of the Dragon's Tear finished. I decided to wait until it was back up to start doing these again. Now I have everything I wanted split into a video for each chapter.

Today's a real short one. It's just mainly the scene Pinkie and Maud are talking to Treelight (AKA the Tree of Harmony's spirit that debuted in Season 8) in Chapter 8 of SOTDT. But I think on Saturday, I'll start speeding things up by putting up two vids in the same post. And then repeating that for every Tuesday and Saturday until everything is up. Which would mean all the 15.ai vids I currently have planned should be going on til' early-to-mid January.

(Though depending if I have a post in mind for Christmas. I could end up moving the vids that would be on Christmas for Christmas Eve or the Day after Christmas)

Once I have all the SOTDT vids are up that shouldn't be the end of the use of 15.ai as I definitely plan to also sort of do voiced comics from the past year. Episode responses that I feel are worth giving voice to, and maybe other older stuff in the I Dream of Twilight Sparkle archives. Oh, and of course using it for Ain't Never Had Friends Like Us, and Geniequestria too. There's always the possibility 15.ai unconveniently goes down for me for a little while. Though it should never be as long as it did as when it went down in February and didn't come back again until September ever again hopefully.

P.S. Color coding the text got a bit tedious. So I'm going for just white text and putting the name of the character speaking from now on.

[jjstenhouse]

Always add a little sparkle where you can 😉 #treelights #winterlights #twinklelights #twinkle #sparkles #lighttheworld (at Lower Largo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtjOtFJFkLE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1e3uboel3vc25

[mleighlikes]

M’L Instants #28 ~ 2019 Holiday Bunch :)

Hey Inter World, I hope you’ve enjoyed these posts of my Instant poems from my main blog mleighsquickspot this year. I very much look forward to doing more in 2020. So please do check out these and any other of my works, have a blessed day. Also check out exclusive pieces on my Patreon. Or look me up on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook :)

SilverGold…

See the patterns in the night

Twinkling lights dance upon the surface

Candles illuminate the scene, shadows try to keep things dim

Take on a silver hew, the world becomes tencel, strings of decorations fall

Bring out the golden glow, the light shining, the eye’s bright as they see such beauty

Silver crystals frozen to outside glass window panes

Golden warmth in the heart, for this time of year has come once again…

TreeLights…

Watch them shimmer and shine

Takes effort to get the blinking patterns just right

First to be placed on a waiting tree

The foundation for decorating makeup

Watch them change from red to green to gold and blue

As if alive, they dance in circles around the evergreen branches

Every twilight until the new coming of the dawn

A season given meaning, given purpose to remind us to also shine on…

Decorate…

Pull out the boxes, blow the dust away

They get to see the light again, these treasures placed away each year

Some are so old, bringing back so many memories

Other’s stand newer, representing recent snow covered frosted day’s

Gifts to be shared I display, touch it not, you break it you pay for it

Question the methods of storage due to past encounter’s, why is that there

Pick up each piece and place it with care

When you’re done look all around

You’ve made your own wonderland again this year…

I wonder if Frosty or Santa Claus will be coming to my town…

WithoutRibbons…

Nothing strimming down

Nothing tied in a know

No bows to be seen

Nothing to keep it secure

Placed up above

Placed down underneath

Just a regular item

Left sitting at my feet

On such a day, we need the shine

The strings that flow for miles

Tie me up, place a bow

Make the gift say something, written in sparkling show…

WithoutTags…

Where are they, hidden from view

I need to sign my name

This one’s for Mom and this one’s for Dad

This one’s for that silly guy I the plad

Now who are these for again, dang I forgot

To much office work this season, my brains in a knot…

Here tag’s, here taggy taggy I call in vain

Well just have to mark my gifts another way…

Can’t leave them plain

WithoutPackages…

Gifts wrapped, tied up with ribbons, tencel, and string

Placed under the tree, in the stockings and by the fire place with love and care

Keep them guessing what do they possibly have waiting for them on Christmas Day

Hold the shape, don’t give it away

Harder to keep holiday secrets with out four or more sturdy corner’s

So many boxes, bags, bows all around

Eyes wide due to all the glittering hues

Keep them wondering, filling their dreams at night

The big box I the back was for me right…

Cookie’s & Milk…

Treats left out for ole St. Nick

Sweet treats fuel for the frosted mind

From home to home they roam a jolly fellow with sleigh in tole

Magic down each chimely covered I silver and gold

Wiggle the ears tickle the noise

Spreading Christmas joy wherever he goes

From the start of his time, and forever still

Good girls and boys remember to thank old Santa with cookies and milk

Hanging Stockings…

Buy the mantel

Over the crackling fire place

Hung with care

Initials places on each

Have to remember all in the family

Scenes knitted, woven within

Snowmen, rain deer and a jolly old elf

Placed within, candy’s, and small treats not meant to be under a tree

A child’s eyes light up, as an adults does as well in remembrance

Joy in a sock, red and green

Placed on the mantel, over a fire place cracking with glee

SugarPlums…

Those Christmas fruits left to dance in your head

Dream of a morning spent around the tree

Opening long awaited gifts, wrapped in good and love

Covered in beautiful bows and tags

Think of figs, cookies and cakes

Nog left, enough to go around

Sing Carol’s, carve the roast beast, toast with family and friends the holidays are here

The day soon done, gone to fast

Playing in the snow, leads to warm coca in steaming mugs

Return to bed in time, you begin to dream

Sugar plums dance in your head, a beautiful lingering sweet

CountDown…

The hours, minutes, seconds pass

Get ready a change is coming

From one moment in time to another

We take such things for granted

New time is fresh and untainted

Seen through new eye’s, so many possibilities

Count them down, time of one phase is coming to a close

Take in the new, let go of the old, the chimes of a new midnight will show you the way

Resolution…

Resolve to let go

To be free from what has been

Look now only to the future

Let not the past control you

Let go of the unworthy

The unwilling, the inability

Make your lists, check them twice

Throw them away, all you need is strength of will and sound of mind

2020…

5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

Happy New Year, is what you’ll say at the chime of midnight

What for you will really change though

As you end your festivities and climb into bed, for what will you dream

When the sun rises before your eyes in the morning, will you look at the world anew

As you make your way through your daily routine, what will you do

Change from within and bring what you wish for to come to life

A new year greets you, but will a new you dare to greet it back

Look with hope, feel your dreams, let a new start truly embrace you

Let a new day rise and set with joy and anticipation for tomorrow…

Let me know what you think and pass the thought along.

[darkcloud-kcalifornia]

Finally, let’s see if we can get some pony watching done before I hit the hay tonight.  This is “Uprooted”.

* Riiiiiight, either this is a dream sequence or Discord has fallen off the wagon.  You know, Dash did say she wanted to rule the Dream Realm when Luna retired and she was in the beginning of this.  This might be Rainbow learning the ropes of dream manipulation, and subsequently is causing a bunch of dreams to collide, with some of the Lil’ 6 having pleasant dreams (Silver Stream, Smolder) and the others nightmares (Yona, Gallus, Ocellus).

* Or it’s Treelight Sparkle? Dude, I don’t care if your body got blasted into kindling, Rainbow had dibs.  Interesting that the Tree would call on them rather than the Mane 6 though, especially as the Mane 6 are already in on the Tree being in pretty bad shape.

* Yeah, kinda funny how in a place where Harmony is a powerful force, getting together to try and use good vibes to heal it is considered worth trying because it’s not that far out there.

* Shapeshifters have whole areas of snark not readily available to the form-locked.

* Sandbar is… a mediocre background pony.  But at least this episode is giving him some conflict and things to do?  It’s also interesting that they all have different ideas of how to best honor the fallen tree.  Though really most of those ideas aren’t really incompatible.

* How in Equestria does the site of the Tree have tourists?!  That thing is still in the middle of the Everfree forest, which wasn’t a safe place at the best of times.  And this is hardly the best of times!

* “Yaks know things not forever.  That’s why smash, and rebuild.”  Huh. That’s… an interesting way of approaching things.  At least it makes the yaks seem less like a gaggle of idiots if they’re able to reflect upon the ephemeral nature of all things, if in a somewhat unique way.

* Well, can’t say I particularly cared for the song.  But the after effect of coming together to build the Treehouse of Harmony was very impressive.  And shiny. I wonder if the Tree’s decorations are taking a cue from what the Mane 6 did to decorate the Friendship Palace to make it feel like a home for Twilight.  Also, “You get a palace!  You get a palace!  Everycreature gets a palace!”

* Aww… they’re not gonna show us the inside?  Ripoff!

 Anyway, that’s the episode. Overall, not bad at all.  Not the most original and there weren’t exactly any unexpected twists here, but it’s a nice way of teaching that just because something you cared about is gone doesn’t mean that its influence has to be.  And it reassures the younger audience that nobody really dies in this series, they just get really big booboos.  As for the Treehouse of Harmony, I like the look of the exterior.  I just really wish we’d gotten to see something of the interior.  Oh well, maybe in a future episode.

[gxldenfinwe]

"Impossible. I think you are far more handsome in person." He was, of course, biased. Arvo smiled, thrilled his son liked it. He was planning a whole collection of portraits for each child as they came of age. "I have done one for your sister as well. You can hang them wherever you wish - there is glitter in the paint, it will sparkle in the Treelight."

"My son," Arafinwë carried the covered canvas into his son's room. "I have a gift for you. Consider it a slightly late coming of age present."

Finda smiles at his father, turning from where he had been braiding his hair, “good morning Atta,” he watched Arvo enter and stood to help him, “a present? Oh you know I love gifts.” He couldn’t wait to see what his father had made for him- his favorite gifts were always ones that were hand made!

[i-dream-of-twilight-sparkle]

Chapter 8: The Pink Party Pony Preparations

Pinkie Pie bounces out of the castle and immediately gets to work getting to ponies she wants to invite. Even if the ponies weren’t really expecting it. Like poor Bon Bon and Lyra, just about to kiss in their home when suddenly…

Pinkie Pie: HIIIIII

Lyra & Bon Bon: AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH

The engaged couple fall down after being scared by Pinkie’s appearance.

Bon Bon: Pinkie! This was not the time to suddenly pop in on us!

Pinkie: Oops, sorry Bon Bon. But by the way, congratulations on getting engaged! Speaking of weddings though, I’ll be heading soon to Saddle Arabia where there will be a Royal Ball and a Wedding. I know you also have to think about planning on having a wedding soon, but in case you feel like you can go to one more wedding before you have your own in Ponyville, eventually.

The two ponder for a moment. Lyra just shrugs.

Lyra: Sure why not, we’re actually in no rush as we haven’t decided a date yet

Bon Bon: I guess we can, Pinkie. But next time you plan on popping in on us, can you knock on our door beforehand instead?

Pinkie: I’ll keep that in mind, again apologies for the sudden entrance. But, I’ll see you lovebirds later. Seeya!

Pinkie waves and closes off the portal. As the couple becomes alone once again, hopefully with no more interruptions they give each other half-lidded eyes.

Bon Bon: Now where were we?~

Pinkie realizes she probably should be using the portals just outside the door so she doesn’t get yelled at like she just did. Next she puts another portal up close to the door of Cranky Doodle Donkey and his wife Matilda. She bounces out of the portal and knocks. Matilda is there to answer the door.

Pinkie: Hiya Matilda!

Matilda: Pinkie Pie! How nice to see you again, what brings you here?

Pinkie: I have something to invite you and Cranky to! Is he home?

Matilda: Yep, he’s just reading the newspaper over here.

Matilda looks into the house and starts calling for her husband

Matilda: Doodle! Pinkie Pie’s here, mind coming over even if only for a short bit to say hi?

Cranky: Oh, sorry Matilda and Pinkie. I was just pretty engrossed with the news, and hearing about the big battle ended not too long ago, not to mention Twilight’s going to be leader of all Equestria in about a year. It feels like just yesterday she was just a librarian in our quaint little town…

Pinkie: Yeah, things have been pretty crazy isn’t it? But looks like we have some time for some relaxation and fun. How would you two like to go with me and my other friends, including Twilight. To Saddle Arabia for a Royal Ball and a wedding for two of Twilight’s friends that live there.

Matilda: Hm, going to a wedding long after our own might be nice.

Cranky: Wait, this wedding isn’t for Lyra and Bon Bon? I thought they were the next ones getting hitched.

Pinkie: Well this is entirely different area of the world, but yeah looks like they beat them to the punch.

Cranky: How are we even going to get there, I’m looking at the map and Saddle Arabia is pretty darn far.

Pinkie: Oh don’t you worry about that. Twilight gave me portal gum. When it’s time you’ll only have to go through them, and when we need to go home, get another!

Matilda: Very convenient!

Cranky: Well if the Princess is making it that easy, she must really want the ones they invite there. Guess it could be interesting. We’ll see if we can go, Pinkie. Thanks for inviting us.

Pinkie: No problem! Hope to see you there!

Pinkie bounces out of the donkey couple’s house before stopping and pondering who to try to get to next.

Pinkie: Ooooo! I can’t forget Maud’s in ponyville! I’ll try to find her!

Pinkie first tries the underground cavern that Maud chose as her home in town. But she sees no sign of her.

Pinkie: Huh, wonder where she went? Maybe she went to visit Starlight in her school office?

Pinkie uses another gum portal to peek into the Principal’s office. But no one is there either.

Pinkie: Darn it! Where could she be?!

Pinkie suddenly starts using many of the gum packs all over Ponyville, if she happens to teleport near another pony. She asks if they’ve seen Maud but usually Pinkie’s sudden appearance just spooks them away before they answer. Eventually it gets to a point where Pinkie… runs out of gum to use.

Pinkie: Oh no! I used all my gum, I sure hope Twilight isn’t going on her invitations right now…

((Story continues after the break))

Pinkie runs back to the inside of Twilight’s castle, and to her luck Twilight is still there. She decided to get some royal paperwork done before heading off to get her invitees.

Pinkie: Hey Twilight!

Twilight: Pinkie? What you doing here back so soon? Did you already get your invitees or something?.

Pinkie: I have a few already… but I kinndddddaaaaaaaaaa used up my entire gum pack looking for my sister…

Twilight: *facehoofs* Pinkie, be a little more efficient with your portal use next time. I can give you another pack, but please think a little more before deciding to try using so many on finding one pony…

Pinkie: Sorry Twilight… It’s just I know Maud is SOMEWHERE near Ponyville as she probably would of told me if she was heading out of town. But she’s not in the usual spots I usually find her.

Twilight: If it’s any help, I know where Maud is. She’s with Mud Briar seeing Treelight again at our student’s treehouse.

Pinkie: Ooooooooooooooh, thanks Twilight! I’ll head there right away!

Twilight: Seeya, Pinkie!

With Pinkie directed to the location of her sister, she portals close to the treehouse that was made after the Student Six had. And just as Twilight said, Maud was standing next to her special somepony Mud Briar in front of the spirit of the Tree of Harmony. A sparkly version of Twilight that guided the Student Six, even if in a rather creepy manner. Though not on purpose, since the spirit was of course accustomed to being a tree rather then a talking being. Twilight’s been teaching the tree more normal behavior to make her less unsettling and by now, while she still speaks generally monotone, her body language is more normal. Pinkie meanwhile, bounces toward the two ponies and the spirit.

Pinkie: Hiiiiiii Maud, Mud, and Treelight!

Maud Pie: Hi Pinkie. Did you come to see Treelight too? She’s pretty fascinating. pretty neat that she describes both being crystal…

Mud Briar: But also actually still a tree!

Maud & Mud: At the same time

Pinkie: Huh, that does sound like something that’d interest the both of you. Though come to think of it, I think only Twilight of my friends have spoken with the spirit. Maybe I should talk with it a little bit. Hi there, Treelight!

The spirit looks over to Pinkie and smiles.

Treelight: Hello bearer of the Element of Laughter, your sister and her mate have been very friendly And they’re both also pretty funny.

Pinkie: Wait, can trees like you even understand humor? And even laugh?

Treelight: Of course, laughter is your element. It’s therefore, part of me. Allow me to show.

Treelight proceeds to laugh, which at first sounds just like whenever Twilight was laughing, but then it starts getting higher pitched. And suddenly the spirit shifts into a new form, purple coat becoming pink, horns and wings disappear, the dark blue hair with highlights becomes poofy and a darker pink color, eyes turning blue, it’s now a sparkly Pinkie Pie.

Maud: Whoa, that’s cool. Looks like whenever it does something that reflects one of the elements of harmony, it switches form to the other elements. Even the voice changes.

Pinkie: That IS pretty cool! Quick, say something that’s honest.

Treekie: Ok then.. I am…

The sparkly pinkie turns orange, the poofy pink mane turns blond, and the spirit’s eyes turn green

Appletree: …ah tree!

Pinkie Pie claps her hooves

Pinkie: Now try listening to me in loyalty by following something I want you to try, jump up in the air for me!

The sparkly Applejack spirit jumps up listening to Pinkie, turning sky blue, growing wings, and mane and tail going from blonde to a full rainbow range of colors, and now a sparkly Rainbow Dash hovering in the air and flapping wings

Treebow: Like this?

Pinkie Pie: Sweet! Now say something kind about anypony here

Treebow: Maud, you are…

The sparkly Rainbow turns yellow, the rainbow mane & tail turns pink and grows exponentially longer 

Fluttertree: a nice pony!

Pinkie: Neat! But now who do we make a spirit do a generous act?

Fluttertree: Allow me…

The Spirit floats back down to the ground, wings disappear. Yellow coat becomes white while the long pink mane & tail shrink back a little but into fancy purple curls and a horn grows.

Raritree: …to show you,

The sparkly Rarity makes a white transparent tentacle comes from the side of her body and grabs some apples that were growing nearby and drops them to the ground for the 3 ponies.

Pinkie: Wow! Though how do you usually go to Twilight’s form then?

Raritree: Oh I can do that, at literally any point…

The spirit’s horn & coat becomes purple, big wings grow, the fancy purple mane & tail become the more simpler mane & tail Twilight normally has.

Treelight: There’s kind of a reason I’m in the form of the bearer of Magic most often, as it’s sort of my default form as a spirit.

Maud: Very interesting

Pinkie: Indeed! Thanks for the demonstration! But now I need to speak with my sister if that’s ok.

Treelight: No problem.

Pinkie: Maud, I’m going to Saddle Arabia with my friends to attend a Royal Ball as well as a wedding pretty soon. Would you like to come with?

Maud: Sure, Pinkie. I can bring Mud Briar too, right?

Pinkie: Of course! You two can have a nice night together there. But now I’m going to head to the Rock Farm to get the rest of our sisters and our parents!

Maud: Bye Pinkie

Pinkie opens another gum portal and she’s now at the Rock Farm where she spent a good part of her childhood before finding happier pastures in Ponyville. She finds both of her sisters who still live here mining outside.

Pinkie: Hi Limestone & Marble! How’s it been?

Limestone: What do you think it’s been? Just more work mining rocks!

Pinkie: Heh heh… well. If I can get our parents out here, I actually have something that could get you girls out for a nice break!

Limestone: That could be nice… let me call them out first. Ma! Pa! Pinkie’s here, and wants to ask us something

Pinkie’s parents walk on out to greet their visiting daughter.

Cloudy Quartz: Pinkamena! What a nice little surprise to see you back here

Igneous Rock: Limestone mentioned you came here to ask us something. What is it?

Pinkie: I came here to invite you all to Saddle Arabia! There will be a Royal ball and many of my own friend’s families and friends will be there too and we can just enjoy ourselves with entertainment. Oh, Maud will also be there, so if you miss her and would like to see her again. Would be a good opportunity for you all to do so!

Cloudy Quartz: I guess every once in a while we should break the monotony of our mining. What say you Igneous, dear.

Igneous: Sure, why not.

Marble: Mmhmm *Marble nods a yes indicating she’d like to go*

Limestone: I guess if you’re all going, I might as well, better then rock mining alone if I were to say no.

Pinkie: Great! I’ll come back to pick you up through a portal when it’s time. I’ll see you all later!

Pinkie portals back to Ponyville and ponders who to go see next.

Pinkie: Hm… maybe I should bring along Prince Rutherford. Besides… I’m not sure I want to have a yak like him find out I didn’t invite him to a large party like this next time I see him. Probably good for Yakyakistan to be there for diplomatic reasons as well.

Pinkie once again does another portal this time to the cold tundra of Yakyakistan. The yaks were at first a pretty dangerous bunch that smash everything the moment things are even a hair out of place. But as things opened up for relations betweens Yaks and Ponies, including having a representative at the School of Friendship in Yona. The Yaks have generally learned more to forgive if there are tiny mistakes, though certainly still never a good idea to anger a Yak in any fashion.

Pinkie enters the largest hut in the capital village to find Rutherford drinking with his royal ensemble.

Pinkie: Hi Ruthy!

Prince Rutherford: Well if it isn’t Pink Pony! Come to visit our great land once again, eh?

Pinkie: It is a great land, your majesty. Buuuuut I actually came here to ask if you’d be interested in going to Saddle Arabia with me and my friends. A Royal Ball is taking place, probably a good idea for you to be there for diplomatic reasons between the nations too I imagine

Rutherford: Hmm… would like to go. But Saddle Arabia, very hot. Exact opposite of Yakyakistan where fur makes cold bearable.

Pinkie: Well I’m sure as long as you’re in the palace they’ll have some form of air conditioning. Just try not to go to the desert perhaps.

Rutherford: Good point, pink pony. We’ll see if conditions are fine, but if we end up profusely sweating at any point. We might have some trouble…

Pinkie: Don’t worry if at any point it starts getting too hot for you yaks we can just make a gum portal to get you back to Yakyakistan. Also, while I’m not totally sure, there’s a chance Yona could be there. You could see how she’s been doing lately.

Rutherford: In that case, suppose us Yaks can go. And Yona might show? Excellent, hope she is well.

Pinkie: I’ll come back when it’s time! See you all then!

Pinkie Pie bounces out of the hut and goes back to Ponyville through the portal she left. She thinks once more of where to go, and realizes she hasn’t even gotten an entertainer yet, unless she wants to count if Maud did stand-up but she never asked if Maud wanted to do that, and assumes it won’t happen anyhow. Pinkie said she’d try to get Cheese Sandwich to Twilight earlier, so looks like it was time to return to his laugh factory. Even though Cheese started traveling again, he still stops by the factory to check on Sans Smirk. Sans has also livened up the factory with a little more color to make it look less dreary. Even when Pinkie sees the same security guards that were at first tough on her until they realized she had an invitation has gotten much softer.

Security Guard #1: Good day there, Pinkie

Security Guard #2: You want to see Cheese Sandwich? He is with Sans in the factory.

Pinkie: Huh? You two were tougher guards last time I was here. I don’t even have a technical invitation here.

Security Guard #1: Well, since that day Cheese Sandwich has kinda authorized a sort of permanent invitation for you that Sans Smirk agreed to let you have specifically. He doesn’t give that to many ponies, but you get special permission.

Security Guard #2: And besides, we’ve loosened up ourselves as well.

Pinkie: I guess, thank you then!

Pinkie bounces toward the factory and eventually reaches the office. It’s now Sans Smirk’s since Cheese stepped down as president of the factory but Pinkie still finds Cheese there meeting up with Sans.

Pinkie: Hi Cheese & Sans!

Cheese Sandwich turns around and is immediately excited to see Pinkie’s here.

Cheese Sandwich: Pinkie! I’m so happy to see you again! Say did you ever find out your life’s purpose you mentioned in your last visit?

Pinkie: I just found my purpose to be similar to yours: To spread the joy and laughter wherever I am. I can’t travel as much as you can, as I have friends in Ponyville. But I think what I’ve been doing already already does a lot of my purpose.

Cheese: Ah I see, though uh I do have a bit of an update on my situation. While I don’t live at the factory any more. I have been thinking of finding somewhere to call my new home. And I’ve been thinking of maybe making that home in Ponyville. Where… we could see each other everyday.

Pinkie raises one eyebrow with a skeptic face, which worries Cheese a little bit of what she’s about to say

Pinkie: Could Ponyville really handle two super duper party ponies living there on at least a semi-permanent basis?

Cheese: Uh… I hope so?

Pinkie Pie just grins and laughs

Pinkie: Of course it can! It’d be great to have you around more often!

Cheese: Oh *phew*

Pinkie: Though before you get set on moving, I actually came here to invite you, as well as give a place you can have another show at!

Cheese: Oh really? What super fun event are you inviting me to?

Pinkie: Saddle Arabia’s hosting a royal ball, and there’s also a wedding between two of Twilight’s friends who live in Saddle Arabia. The Royal family is also looking for entertainers, and you were the first name that came up for me in terms of that!

Cheese: Oh sure! I’ll definitely go! Hey Sans, would you like to go Saddle Arabia with me and Pinkie later?

Sans: Sure thing, sire!

Pinkie: Great! I’ll be so excited for your show! I think you may be my last invitee, so thank you Cheese! I’ll be heading home.

Cheese: Wait! Pinkie, I have something important to tell you.

Cheese Sandwich blushes

Cheese: There’s another reason I decided that I wanted to get a home in ponyville, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time but I didn’t know yet if it was the right time. Pinkie Pie… I lo-

Pinkie: OH SNAP! I ALMOST FORGOT THE CAKE FAMILY! AHHHHHHH

Pinkie freaks out and immediately makes a portal to Sugarcube Corner

Pinkie: Sorry to cut you off short on what you were saying but I gotta get them on board. I’ll see you at the ball and you can finish there! Byyyyyeeeeeeeee!

Pinkie pie bounces out and the portal closes.

Cheese: Well dang… guess I’ll have to tell her at the Ball instead.

Cheese ponders for a moment

Cheese: Actually, that might work out for the better anyway. I might have a more… super duper party pony way of telling her in mind…

Cheese muses to himself while thinking about his plan

Pinkie is back in Ponyville and immediately rushes to Sugarcube Corner. Mr. and Mrs. Cake ae just attending to their little foals Pumpkin and Pound Cake.

Pinkie: Hi Mr. & Mrs. Cake!

Pinkie looks down on the floor towards the two foals. And of course I can’t forget the two littlest cakes in the family.

The babies giggle and cheer that their favorite babysitter is here.

Mrs. Cake: It’s good to see you, Pinkie!

Mr. Cake: Do you need anything from us Pinkie? Or just stopping by and heading to your room upstairs?

Pinkie: Actually, I came here because you’re the last ones I want to invite you all to a Royal Ball in Saddle Arabia I’m going to! My family back in the Rock Farm as well as many of my friends with their own ensemble of family and friends of their own are going so thought I’d offer!

Mrs. Cake: Oh sure, that sounds like a great time. Though uh, we have a favor to ask of you, Pinkie.

Pinkie: Oh? What’s that?

Mr. Cake: We need to go out to the markets to buy more supplies. We need both more supplies for baking, and we also need a restock on just about everything for our little twins here. From food, diaper, and maybe even a few new toys for them to play with.

Mrs. Cake: But of course, I imagine you know what that means

Pinkie: Ah, you want me to babysit while you’re shopping! I can do that, certainly!

Mrs. Cake: Should only be for about an hour or two, but thank you Pinkie.

Mr. and Mrs. Cake start heading out, they wave back at Pinkie and the Cake Twins before heading off. Leaving Pinkie to entertain the babies for a little bit.

Pinkie: Are you two ready for play time?!

The babies cheer once more and can’t wait to have more fun with Pinkie. Pinkie is just satisfied to have her invitees done and now have an hour or two of babysitting before waiting for when the go ahead for the Royal Ball is done.

NEXT UP: Chapter 9: The Sands Of Time & Love

[elesianne]

A Silmarillion fanfic, chapter ten

Chapter summary: Tuilindien tries to reason out matters of the heart and meets with Carnistir.

Story summary: Sometimes your heart chooses for you before you even know there is a choice to make, and then all that can be done is find out whether love can build bridges across differences and fears. This is my story of how Caranthir comes to be married, with Caranthir's family members alternately helping and hindering his attempts at courting.

Tag-type thingies for the whole story: rating: Teen and up audiences; no warnings; relationships: Caranthir/future wife, various family relationships some keywords: years of the trees, romance, falling in love, developing relationship, family, courtship, anger management issues, the Noldor, the Vanyar, some fluff and some angst

Chapter notes: I DID IT YOU GUYS. It took me a long time again to figure out how I wanted to tell this part of the story, but it's here now. This chapter is written from Tuilindien's point of view, whereas the next one will be from Carnistir's.

(Also posted on AO3 etc.)

*

Chapter X // Matters of faith and reason

Tuilindien has trouble concentrating on the words on the parchment in front of her, and after a while she gives up and pushes away the messy notes she'd intended to write into a coherent whole. It is only a week until her presentation at the scholars' colloquium and she needs to finalise her plans very soon, but after an hour of trying and failing she has to accept that she is not going to get any work done before her midday meeting with Carnistir.

She'd been glad when he had run after her and asked her to see him again so soon, but her feelings have grown conflicted again since then. In the quiet of the night with only her sister's steady breathing from the other side of the room for company, Fëanáro's words had returned to haunt her and kept her from finding rest.

And in the morning on the way to the library her own father, her quiet and gentle father, had spoken to her with surprising vehemence about how one shouldn't marry a person who makes one as unhappy as she had seemed last night. Tuilindien had tried to explain that Carnistir had never made her feel anything but beautiful and interesting and wanted – if not in those words – but her father had proved difficult to convince.

'Promise me you will guard you heart well, Tuilë', he asked of her. 'For it is the most precious thing you can give away.'

She promised.

Now she wonders why Carnistir asked to see her, if he has any specific purpose other than assure himself and her that all hope is not lost for them though his father would prefer that.

Tuilindien hopes that Carnistir won't do any grand gesture like asking her to marry him. It is far too soon for that to be wise, and she is not ready to give an answer of any kind.

She leans back in her chair which is both beautiful and practical like everything the Noldor make, rubs her temples and prays that all of the other scholars at their desks are engrossed enough in their work that they don't notice her neglecting hers. She chose a spot in a quiet corner, close enough to a tall window that she can gaze upon the city of Tirion if she tilts her head a little.

Tirion is sparkling white and beautiful, and foreign and familiar at the same time. It shares many features with her home, the small town around Ingwë's palace, and with Valmar, yet it feels very different. The spiritual distance between Tirion and the cities of the Vanyar is longer than the physical distance.

The sheer industriousness and passion for craft and beauty that Tuilindien has met everywhere in the city of the Noldor is very different from the quiet reverence of Ingwë's court or the simple lifestyle on the plains where farmers live their lives in the rhythm of the seasons changing. If it didn't sound so trite, she'd think the difference much like the difference between her and Carnistir, one intense and passionate and the other quieter and more thoughtful.

She dreamt of him again last night – she dreams of little else these days. This time the dream was of the two of them dancing, and when she woke she was breathless in a way she's never been before.

This visit to Tirion has turned out very differently from what she expected. She has been able to commit less of her time and focus to her studies, and the way she views her upcoming presentation has changed drastically.

Ever since she chose a youthful work of prince Fëanáro's as her subject, she has been a little nervous of his reaction should he deign to pay any attention to a young Vanyarin scholar discussing his work; now, because of the personal connections, her nervousness has a new edge, knife-sharp. She fears he might actually show up to listen and, even worse, to make comments. The weakest part of her has already suggested that she change her subject.

But no matter Fëanáro's insinuations last night and her own insecurities that creep on her every now and then, she does have a little bit of ambition and courage. She will not listen to that weak part of herself. It would be disastrous to changer her subject this late. It would also seem like a display of strong fear or respect for Fëanáro, and in the end, she neither fears nor respects him that much.

It is the way of the scholarly community to comment and build upon previous works, often criticising them in the process, and Tuilindien was a scholar before she became Carnistir's… whatever she is.

It is ironic, very much so, that because she escaped at Finwë's celebration her sister's attempts at finding her a husband, she had met a man whose heart called to hers. Such an unexpected man, in so many ways.

Why him? she asks herself, far from the first time she has done so. Why, why, why. Why Carnistir, a Noldo whom she would probably never see again in the ordinary course of things, as they were of different peoples and he didn't even like hers? Why a man whose temper shifts so quickly that she can't keep up with it, making her nervous because she could not understand such a nature, having never really known anyone like him?

Before coming to Tirion Tuilindien along with all the other Vanyarin girls had expected to be enchanted by the beauty of Nelyafinwë or Turkafinwë whose fair forms are talked about even among the Vanyar. And she certainly finds them fair, pleasant to admire as one might admire a beautiful painting or a song played with skill. She finds far greater enjoyment at looking at Carnistir, seeing the animation in his eyes and watching the muscles of his face move as he speaks, even if he has no beauty of great renown.

Morifinwë Carnistir. Both his names describe his looks, for even among the generally dark-haired Noldor, he is a dark one with his night-black hair inherited from his father and grandfather, black brows heavier than Tuilindien has seen before, eyes of a grey so dark they look almost black, and a ruddy complexion inherited from his mother that flushes easily and turns bright red when he feels strongly about something, which is most of the time.

Tuilindien has not thought very much about marriage, but she has supposed that she would marry one day as most people do. On the rare occasions that she has thought about her future husband she has had in her mind a vague image of someone with golden hair and golden skin and a gentle nature – the kind of man she lived her whole life among, someone like her.

Is Carnistir's being so different from herself and everyone she knows the reason she is drawn to him? She has never been attracted by extremes before, though she knows that some people are. Is that why he is attracted to her? Does he find her enchanting because she is exotic to him? That is one more thing to worry about.

No, it isn't; she dismisses that worry quickly. The mental connection she and Carnistir developed so quickly proves that their feelings for each other go deeper than the surface, and she would do them both injustice if she thought otherwise.

In any case it isn't like she's the first Vanya Carnistir has ever see. There are Vanyar in his own extended family, after all, and many more in other families in Tirion. The white city was originally home to both the Noldor and the Vanyar, and most who'd married Noldor during that time remained in the city when Ingwë took his people to Taniquetil and the plains. There have been later marriages too. Because there were very few Vanyar in the beginning, many of them are closely related and seeking spouses among the Noldor and, less commonly, the Teleri, is not unusual.

The next thing she begins worrying about is Carnistir's family, his father most of all of course – the Noldor and Vanyar are on friendly terms in general, and Tuilindien had thought that Fëanáro would be able to overcome his prejudice for his son's sake. She isn't so sure of that anymore.

Yet it isn't just worrying and anxiety hindering her concentration, it is also all the good things about Carnistir, things that fascinate her about him and things she wants to know and experience more about. After all, before they had encountered Fëanáro they had danced together, and it had been both the most disconcerting and most wonderful experience of her life.

The memory of being so close to Carnistir, of being held and holding him, sends shivers down her back though the treelight streaming in through the high windows keeps the library warm. She glances around again but none of the other scholars seem to be paying any mind to her lack of progress, so she dares to keep daydreaming. It is easy to relax since libraries have always been her favourite place.

Her sister or mother would have been much better suited to falling for a temperamental Noldo than she is. Tuilindien loves peace, quiet, the still ambiance of libraries where dust motes dance in the air and the only sound is the rustling of parchment and the scribbling of quill pens.

She breathes in that quiet air now, leans forward on the desk on her elbows, stares unseeing at the book in front of her, lost in her thoughts.

If I end what has grown between Carnistir and me it will be out of cowardice, yet if I keep going on this path, it will be because I am afraid of how lost I will be if I leave it. This really isn't bringing out the best in me.

I have always wanted a peaceful life, yet I also want you, Carnistir, and you are as far from peaceful as can be, full of passion and fire.

 I could drown in all that passion, lose myself in it.

 How can the threat of drowning feel so tempting?

She can find no ready-formed answers in her own mind, try as she might. And this lovely tranquil library, a place of words and learning, isn't the right place to make a decision about Carnistir, because logic and reason are too little for the as yet nameless thing that has taken such a powerful hold on her spirit. This is a matter of faith, of choosing to believe in the feelings growing between them, and she will have to see if she has enough faith in them, and in him.

*

Tuilindien walks with slow steps into the great square beneath the Mindon, the greatest of the many white towers of Tirion, embarrassed to be early. The quiet library had in the end began to feel stifling, and she had hurriedly stuffed her books and scrolls and writing things into her satchel and left before she needed to.

She should have remembered Carnistir's impatience, though. As soon as she looks around the square she spots him, early as well, pacing back and forth near Galathilion, the white tree made by Yavanna in the image of Telperion. This tree sheds no light, but Carnistir with his black hair and dark clothes seems surrounded by a bright glow cast by his white surroundings. He looks anxious, and beautiful to Tuilindien. She stops for a moment to admire both him and the tree.

Carnistir notices her soon and stops his pacing; they meet half-way.

'Shall we sit down?' Carnistir asks, brows furrowed, pointing to the benches around the tree and the many fountains on the square.

Tuilindien chooses a bench from which they can see the tree. It is slender and beautiful even though it is a small, pale echo of the glory of the silver-shining White Tree, and it reminds Tuilindien that this city, this square and the tree all belonged to the Vanyar in the beginning as much as they belonged to the Noldor. She is not so out of place here as she has felt herself to be; her own ancestors lived here, walked across this square on their way to the tower of Mindon where King Ingwë used to reside.

She moves her gaze from the tree to Carnistir, quiet and distracted-looking beside her, not quite close enough to touch.

'I'm sorry about my appearance', he says when he notices her looking at him. 'I was working with my father in the forge and wasn't able to leave early enough to change.'

Tuilindien realises only now that he is indeed dressed in work clothes: sturdy trousers and a grey shirt of light linen, both garments soot-covered in places. He rubs at a stain on his knee.

'I don't mind what clothes you wear', Tuilindien says after another moment of awkward silence. 'But… did your father try to stop you coming? Is that why you had no time to change?'

'No!' Carnistir's gaze meets hers. 'I talked with him last night, after the party. Well, we shouted at each other, to be more accurate. In the end he promised not to interfere anymore. I wasn't late because of him, not directly anyway. We just got so lost in our work that I lost track of time.'

'I see.' Tuilindien has experienced the same thing herself but finds it difficult to believe that Fëanáro has relented already. 'So your father doesn't mind that you continue seeing me?'

Carnistir scratches the back of his neck and tugs at the thick black braid hanging down his back. 'I wouldn't say that', he says, somewhat red-faced. Tuilindien notices he's speaking more diplomatically than is his custom, and it seems to take some effort. 'That will take more time. But he promised he won't speak against you again.'

'That is good', Tuilindien replies in an equally careful tone, keeping her feelings to herself as she has all this time.

'I promise, Tuilë, he won't hurt you again like he did last night.' Carnistir's expression is hesitant as he realises he used the shortened, affectionate version of her name. Tuilindien gives him a small smile, the nervous one she thinks she probably wore for most of the night when she met Carnistir for the first time.

'I am good at working stone, you know', Carnistir continues. 'Even my stubborn father's head cannot be much harder than that. I'll make him change his mind further.'

A giggle escapes Tuilindien, as nervous as her smile. Carnistir smiles back, the uncomfortable tension between them melting away and something warmer flowing in its place.

'I don't work together with him very often these days. I'm a member of the stonemasons' guild now and spend most of my time on building projects. My family is close, though, and all of us come back to father's workshop every now and then. I'm working there while Curvo is at grandfather Mahtan's.'

'I don't disapprove of you working with your father', Tuilindien hastens to reassure him. 'I am glad you are close with your family; so am I with mine.'

Another smile is exchanged and Carnistir says, 'If I manage to stop myself getting annoyed at him while we work side by side, it's a good opportunity to work on his attitude as well. I wouldn't expect an apology from him any time soon, though', he finishes somewhat despondently.

'I didn't really expect one.'

Carnistir moves closer to her on the bench. 'Tuilindien, may I see you again tomorrow? I don't have a lot of time today, I have a meeting with a merchant soon, but tomorrow –'

'Tomorrow I'm spending the day with Rúmil, going over my plans for the colloquium. He has very generously agreed to look over my work, since our research interests are largely the same. Not that I don't want to see you again', she adds quickly. 'But I am very busy for the next week, until the colloquium is over. The day after tomorrow we could perhaps have lunch together? I think I can take that much time off. On some other days as well.'

Carnistir agrees to that with eagerness that tugs at Tuilindien's heartstrings and makes her blush a little, and she doesn't mind it at all when Carnistir moves even closer to her. Testing her control of the mental connection between them, she tries to share a little bit of her quiet but deep delight that they are going to keep pursuing their relationship.

Carnistir seems to understand, for when he next speaks it is to say, 'I am very glad – and that isn't a strong enough word for it, but I don't know what else to say – that we will keep spending time together. If you have time, I'll have lunch with you every day.'

Tuilindien finds herself looking at her hands folded in her lap. 'I am only going to be in Tirion for three weeks longer. If that were not the case I would think that we should take things slower, that to see every day was foolish… I believe, or thought I believed, in long courtships. I thought it was best to see what feelings develop over a lengthy period of time.' She allows herself a nervous gesture, a smoothing of her skirt near her knees, as she gathers courage to say what she wants to say next.

Then she wrinkles the skirt by bunching it up between her fingers as she admits, 'That was before I knew that I could come to care for someone deeply in just a few weeks' time. Two weeks, really, that is all the time that has passed since we first met, isn't it?' She glances at Carnistir and he nods, and her gaze becomes captured in his eyes, the dark greys reflecting so much back at her. 'I will see you every day', she continues, quietly; she knows Carnistir will hear. 'It has been and continues to be necessary for us to have a fast-paced courtship, if we want to have one at all. And I don't want to waste a single day.'

'Let's not waste any, then', replies Carnistir. He lays a gentling hand on her tense ones, and she lets go of her skirt to entwine her fingers with his. His touch is as warm and reassuring as ever and Tuilindien relaxes, opening herself to their connection. Carnistir's emotions that flood to her are so joyful, affectionate and strong that she feels as though she were back on the plains of Valinor very close to the green mound of Ezellohar, gazing at the brilliance of Laurelin at its brightest, surrounded by the warmth that radiates from it.

She hopes her own feelings can bring as much pleasure to Carnistir.

They sit like that for a while, holding hands in silence while sitting far too close to each other for it to be decorous, communicating without words how glad they are to be together and intent on going forward together after the previous night's disasters.

When Tuilindien begins to grow restless, realising that they are having a moment that should be private in a place that is quite literally in the middle of the city, people walking past them all the time, Carnistir regains her attention by calling her name quietly.

'Tuilindien.'

'Yes, Carnistir?'

'You should know that I have never wanted anything as much as I want you for my own. For my wife.'

It couldn't be clearer from the way he speaks that he means every word so she doesn't even need affirmation of his honesty in the connection between them, but she receives it anyway. Stronger than ever before, there is in his rush of feelings a bright, singing thing that must be love, love of a kind she has never felt before.

She cannot help but savour it, and she knows that she could respond that she has never wanted anything as much as him and it would be just as true. But she is more cautious than he is and less able to forget everything else in the world, on a grander scale as well as in this moment. In the library she had hoped that he wouldn't propose marriage to her yet. Now she hopes that his words weren't a proposal.

'I care for you very much', she says softly, knowing that whatever he meant by his words, this probably isn't as much as he hoped for. 'Do not doubt that. Even so, I will not make any declarations stronger than that yet, and no promises beyond seeing you every day while I am here in your city.'

She closes her eyes for the short, difficult moment before Carnistir gets his emotions under control, trying to ignore the anger tied together with his disappointment. Anger colours so many of his emotions.

'I will try to be content with that', he says gruffly. 'I know I should be, but I am my father's son. We find it difficult to be content with anything short of everything.'

There it is again, the passion that both excites and scares her, along with a heartbreaking awareness of his own shortcomings that seems to be as much a part of him as his anger and the passion. 'Just give me – us – a little time to figure out how we fit together and in the world, Carnistir. Even if you and I know how we feel, there are other things we must take into account. If it were just you and me in the world, if there was nothing else to think about –'

'There isn't, not really. Nothing else is important.'

'No, my hasty Noldo, that is not right.' She lays her free hand on his flaming cheek, unable to keep from touching him more even while she tries to bring caution into their passion. 'Nothing else is as important as what we feel, but there are other things to consider. We do not lead solitary lives, but have families who are part of our lives, very dear and important to us.

'It would not be wise, for you or for me, to choose a spouse that doesn't have our family's approval. I don't think we could have a happy marriage following a wedding without the traditional blessings of parents, and a marriage should be a joining of two families, not just the two individuals. And the matter with your father is not fully resolved yet, I suspect.'

She strokes her hand across his cheek once more; he drops his gaze to their joined hands. He asks, 'Does your family disapprove of me? Your mother looked surprisingly approving last night…'

'She knows you have behaved honourably with me, and she and father have nothing against you personally. But they did both tell me, in their own ways, that they hope I will not join myself to a family, however high and noble, if that family does not accept me as I am.'

'And that is your primary objection too?' In spite of her cautious words, his drip with hope.

A deep breath and, 'Yes.'

His fingers press hers almost hard enough to hurt. 'I will overcome it, I promise. I will talk with my father again, and my mother too, and perhaps my grandfather – he surely understands and approves, and he could talk with my father too.' Carnistir speaks quickly, thinking out loud. 'No, perhaps not. Grandfather Finwë has never been able make my father understand his own second marriage. But one way or another, Tuilë, I will make him change his mind. He can be… unreasonable, but he does want me and my brothers to be happy, that I have always believed. I just need to make him understand that my happiness now lies with you, and I think I have already made some progress on this.'

His hope and determination is transmitted to her, but she doesn't know what to say.

'Do you trust me to do this, Tuilë?' He studies her closely.

She takes another deep breath and another leap of faith, another lunge off a high cliff into water whose depth she can't be certain of. 'I do, Carnistir, I trust you.' With all that great fire and will in you, how could you fail?

He lifts their entwined hands to his mouth and kisses her fingers. 'Then every day we will meet for our midday meal, and every day I will keep working on my father's attitude like I would chip away at stubborn stone. With constant pressure.'

Tuilindien presses his hand in turn. 'I believe in you. But I must remind you of one more unpleasant thing.' She gently extricates her fingers from his and moves a little farther away. 'We must return to propriety in our meetings, at least as long as we must meet in public. We have touched each other too much today, startled as we were by yesterday's events, but it will not do in the future. Gossip of us taking freedoms with each other will not help our case with your father or any others who might disapprove.'

Irritation bleeds an ugly dark stripe into Carnistir's happy mood. No doubt he wishes she were less concerned with propriety, but she will not back down on this. She knows it is for the best.

Carnistir's next words surprise her by echoing her thoughts. 'You know better than I do how to behave', he says. 'I must say, though, that I am tired of worrying about damned gossips. There should be nothing gossip-worthy about two young people courting. It happens every day with countless people.'

'I am tired of it too', Tuilindien answers. 'But people do gossip, my dear.' She fears the affectionate term of address might sound patronising; instead, it makes Carnistir's frown disappear. 'And they come up to me and pretend to be complimentary or concerned, trying to get information out of me, whenever something has been seen happening between us. Ever since our first meeting all people have wanted to talk to me about is you, and us. I ate breakfast in my bedchamber today because I wasn't in the mood for evading questions.'

'It's worse for you than me.' Carnistir is clearly realising that just now. 'Of course it is. I should have realised. Few people dare to openly pry into my family's affairs, and mine least of all my brothers' since I am well known for responding badly to that sort of thing. Whereas you're a guest at the court…'

 Tuilindien nods, and Carnistir curses, too loudly.  '  Valar-damned busybodies. Tuilë, let me know if someone harasses you too much from now, and I will put an end to it.'

She nods again, though she thinks that Carnistir attempting to 'put an end to it' might cause more of a scandal than their sitting close together sharing little touches will.

Even though they are no longer touching, she can feel his fierceness, in the form of near-violent protectiveness this time.

I truly need to find a Noldorin courage in myself, she thinks after they have said their goodbyes and she walks back to the library with slow, thoughtful steps. For I will need courage to withstand and indeed to enjoy the storm in you, my dear Carnistir.

*

A/N: I hope this didn't feel too melodramatic. As a Fëanorian, Carnistir is kind of a dramatic guy. And since I'm keeping this fic largely LaCE-compliant, divorce and remarriage aren't options for elves, so choosing a spouse is a very serious business for them.

According to HoME there were fourteen (fourteen!) Vanyar originally so unless they did quite a lot of marrying outside their own tribe, there was a lot of incest going on. Ugh, actually, this is probably one of those half-poetic things Tolkien wrote that it's best just to ignore or not take very literally at least. But that's why I mentioned Vanyar marrying Noldor and Teleri, anyway.

The next chapter will speed through the week of lunch dates and Tuilindien's presentation, concluding with Carnistir seeking romantic advice from Makalaurë.

[eldestfeanarion]

“It’s lovely,” Maitimo said, still smiling, as he gently removed the gem from the box and held it up, observing how its facets made it sparkle in the treelight. “Your Atya and Haru must be very proud of how you’re doing in your lessons if you can already make something like this!”

(taminnmacar) Uncle, I've made you something!

Maitimo looked up from the pile of papers on his desk - he was working on editing a manuscript for one of the other members of the Lambengolmor - and smiled fondly.  “That is very kind of you, Tyelpe! Thank you,” he said, setting down his quill and ink. Had one of his brothers interrupted him, he might have grumbled at them and returned to his work, but he was always happy to make time for his nephew.  @taminnmacar

[resiliencyguy]

Now, these are some good looking people here! #Benicia #BeniciaBay #treelighting #love #SPARKLE #onelife #lovelife (at Benicia Main Street)