* ZODIAC CYOA * thread 2

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>>29288240

>you'll have to come back some other time when you aren't in a hurry
>right now your focus is getting back and talking with Libra like you promised
>you continue back the way you came working your way to the ballroom
>the hall loses some of the life and earthiness that you felt walking in the other direction
>the harsh structure of the castle becomes more apparent
>it is darker now, the luminescence is gone
>all the colors seem muted, or at least more normalized
>you take the time to pick up the note you left on the way back
>no reason to confuse anyone
>the ballroom is empty when you re-enter it, the echo of your footsteps is overwhelming in this amount of open space
>it feels desolate, having company really makes such a huge difference here
>something to break the silence
>you think about your night as you make your way up the stairs
>definitely something different to say the least
>some parts don't quite make sense to you still, but all and all things are going better than you could have asked for
>the surreal feeling sets back in
>your surroundings, the castle roof overlooking the desert, the intensity of the moon
>you hope that conversation will be smooth, it seems like a nice way to end the day
>something calming...
>you look over the balcony to the ballroom below for a second to catch your thoughts before opening the door to Air house
>it's quiet inside, the clouds painted on the ceiling are dark and heavy
>light blues have turned to grays
>the inspiring air has calmed and settled into a stormy setting

>>29288250

it takes you a moment to notice that there are ponies in the room
>Libra is sitting on the large couch in the room, she looks to be lost in thought when she notices you
>it's not quite the expression you are used to seeing on her
>the two Gemini ponies are on the shorter couch
>they are spaced further apart than you are used to seeing them
>no one is speaking, you feel like you should be hearing the sound of raindrops
>the ceiling casts an interesting shadow, like there are actually clouds overhead
>you don't see Aquarius anywhere
>one of the Gemini ponies is the first to break the silence
>you still haven't figured out which is which
> “Hey Anon, did you get to explore the castle at all?”
>you nod still a bit hesitant to break the silence
>you look over to Libra and she makes eye contact with you
>she looks almost concerned but she perks up slightly before speaking in her normal lively tone
> “Oh hey! You're back, did you have something in mind that you wanted to go do together? We could go anywhere on the castle grounds”
>she stops then bites her lip
> “Oh and did you see Aquarius at all? We figured either you two were together or she decided to stay in her observatory... she normally likes to come out and talk with us afterwards”

>input

>>29288270
No i have not seen her sorry
A walk through the gardens could be nice

Have a good night page 10.

>>29288270
Do you think Aquarius is missing? Where do you think she went?

>>29291351

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>>29288655
>>29290662

>>29288270

>Libra shifts her positioning on the couch slightly, she leans up further
“I haven't seen Aquarius, sorry. Do you think she is missing?”
>her bright blue eyes remains calm, contemplating
>her tone matches her facial expression
> “She must still be in her observatory then”
>the yellow Gemini pony speaks
>it doesn't seem like they are too concerned
> “Yeah, she must still be in there. Huh, not really like her, must have been a tough session”
>green pony is quick to speak after
>“We will keep an eye out for her, she has to come out at some point”
>Libra hops of the couch and nods
> “You're right Gemmy, I'm getting worked up over nothing”
>she starts to make her way towards you
>there is a bit of spring to her step, but it seems like that is always there
“So I was thinking we could go for a walk through the garden?”
>she is now by your side
> “That sounds great! I bet the orchards are really cool at night”
>she starts to make her way out of Air house, there is almost a sway to her step
>you begin to follow her but she stops when someone speaks up from behind her
> “Wow Libra, no invite?”
>Libra stops
>she turns around and huffs
>it's adorable, the yellow pony laughs
> “Just giving you hell, have fun out there you two ~”
>the green pony starts laughing too
>Libra just blushes and continues her way out the door looking flustered

>>29292185

>you and Libra make your way out onto the balcony
>it is much darker now, there seems to be a torch keeping things lit but it must be a considerable distance away
>you start to make your way down the stairs
>it's nice having company, the castle feel much less empty
>you look over the railing and can see that the lunar clock is no longer bright, it has returned to its dark stone look
> “So the gardens are on the south end of the grounds, it's a pretty far walk...”
>Libra stops walking
>you continue past her a little bit but she remains investigating the railing
> “But luckily your best friend Libra knows a short cut”
>she giggles and pushes into a break in the railing
>oh damn, it swings outward on a hinge to reveal a staircase
>it is steep, the steps are small and stone but the landing below is fairly close
>impressive
>you follow Libra downward, closing the makeshift gate behind you
>the break in the railing is subtle, or maybe just in this lighting
>you find yourself on a small balcony, still overlooking the ballroom beneath you
>there is a single hallway that winds its way into the castle
>the floor is carpeted, light blues, whites and grays in a vintage floral pattern
> “Pretty cool huh? Being a pegasus has its perks ~”
>guess this hallway would be a bit more noticeable if you could fly...
>Libra trots ahead of you, the spring in her step very pronounced
> “So what'd ya do during the ritual Anon? Did you get to explore?”
>she stops on a dime and turns around to face you
> “Oh ! And you absolutely have to tell me about where you are from! I've always wondered what is it like to be on a star!”
>she looks up at you, her eyes have a slight sparkle to them

>input

>>29292195
a little i looked at the stars for a little then went exploring but the session ended rather early apparently
as for where i am from it is not a star but a planet
3rd closest planet to our sun though.

wait is the sun here a star

>>29292302
This

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>>29292302
>>29292884

>>29292195

>the two of you continue your pace forward as you speak
“I went up on top of the castle and looked at the stars for a bit, then went exploring but your ritual thing ended early apparently”
>you get a little distracted by your surroundings, it looks like you are coming up on a staircase
>there are several doors in this area but Libra seems to be paying no attention to them, her eyes are fixed directly ahead
>she glances at you
“As for where I am from, it's a planet, not a star. Third planet from our sun”
>you make your way down the stairs
>it feels like you are in more of a house than a castle right now
>the stairs brought you right into a small room
>the interior is a soft green, it's cozy
>Libra speaks up
> “So what do you mean third planet from our sun? Does your species live on three planets?”
>she looks a tad bit confused but continues out of the room
>you follow her out
>oh wow this hallway is overwhelming
>it extends in either direction with a precise black and white tile pattern
>you can't see the end of the hallway in either direction because of the changes in elevation
>Libra begins trotting down the hall to the left while you think of how to explain
“Out of all the planets that orbit our sun, ours is the third furthest away. The other planets are uninhabited”
>Libra completely stops
>“Wait wait, you know what an orbit is?”
>you nod yes
>she continues her pace forward
> “That's impressive! Not many ponies know about that! You kinda have to watch the sky for long enough to figure it out. Celestia moves our sun... or at least... well nevermind”

>>29293482

>she stops talking pretty abruptly, her paces loses some of its spring
>the hallway continues to slant downwards
>there are so many doors here
>there must be a lot of ways to reach this hallway
>you were kinda under the impression that this entire area was isolated because of your odd entrance
>either that or this castle is absolutely massive
>Libra speaks up again, like she was thinking of how to phrase her words
> “A lot of us around here... Well, we are kinda skeptics I guess. It's just hard to believe a single pony could be that powerful”
>you think you understand what she means
>it was hard for you to believe when you first heard about the royal sisters
“I think I understand”
>she slows her pace to stay at your side and brushes into you
> “Thanks Anon, that means a lot to me”
>the two of your continue walking in the comfortable silence
>her hoof-steps are quiet
>finally it looks like you reach an end to the hallway
>two large doors with windows on either side
>they are stained glass, even in the dark the vibrancy of greens and blues are impressive
>each panel is the same, asides from minor details
>plant life with the focal point of the art being on an extravagant looking purple flower
>the purple is too dark to make much of an impression but you can tell that it is detailed
>Libra opens the doors revealing the outside world

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>>29293496

>it feels nice, not as cold as the top of the castle
>there is less energy out here, it is calm
>feels good to be back in an open space, just the right amount of view
>you can see the wall surrounding the castle ahead, but there is plenty of land out here
>the stars are still bright but feel more distant
>the moons light softly highlights the land and brings a glow to the trees
>you and Libra walk across the grounds quietly enjoying each others company
>you start to make your way to the rows of crops
>so structured and organized, everything looks fresh
>colorful fruits and berries are everywhere
>the air feels moist here, more so than the rest of the castle grounds
>Libra brushes into you again as you make your way through the crops
>you hear water ahead
>sure enough, you reach the end of the row and the land drops revealing a bit of a valley
>a river runs through the land
>the sound of the water is rhythmic and calming
>there is stone bench overlooking the land
>there is a statue behind the bench, but you can't make out the details very well in the lighting at this distance
>next to it is a bush that seems to be growing a spiky orange colored fruit
>Libra breaks the serene rhyme of the river with her voice
>“it's so different at night here... wow”
>her tone is hushed like she is appreciating the sounds around her
>the river shines and sparkles, reflecting the light of the moon
>maybe this would be a good place to stop?
>Libra is still standing looking off into the distance, maybe she wants to keep walking?
>you feel like you should say something

>input

>>29293511
You've never been here at night? Why not? Would you like to continue on? I wouldn't mind going a little further ahead but I don't want to get too far.

>>29293511
Ask her about the statue

>>29293806
do this and talk some more about earth, the sun, the moon, and the planets

also she being quite physical, should we show our own interest or not?

>>29293979
Nah hold off on the romance until we have spent time with each pony i reckon
Or maybe go for a harem i'm sure at least a few of them would be up for it.

>>29293979
>should we show our own interest or not?
Capricorn has also shown interest. She may be disappointed if Anon starts favoring Libra too much.

>>29293511

>you want to keep moving on for a little bit
>nothing too much at least
“You've never been here at night? Why not? Would you like to continue on? I wouldn't mind going a little further ahead but I don't want to get too far...”
>Libra pauses then looks back at you
>she begins to move down towards the river and you follow
>she stutters then begins to speak
> “Well, I usually like to come out here alone... And I try not to be alone at night, it makes the aloneness so much more lonely”
>you catch up with her and stick close to her side
>you are tempted to initiate some contact but decide against it
>“But with you out here it's different!”
>she bumps into you again
>“This is fun thanks”
>you nod knowingly, hopefully you aren't coming off as too cold
>ah, probably not
“So what is the story with that statue back there by the bench?”
>Libra perks up as you make your way down the hill side with her
>you are right along the bed of the river now
> “Oh! That one is cool, so around the orchard there are a bunch of statues of animals. Like exotic far away crazy dangerous animals!”
>she flutters off the ground
> “That statue is of a tiger! That's about all I can tell you, I don't know why it is there”
>cool stuff
>you continue along the river observing the plant life and flowers that are growing around you

>>29295357

>you think about the stars again looking up at them
>so many, the moon's glow is still intense but it looks to be fading
“Yeah so the planet I'm from is called Earth. There are about seven billion other people who live on the planet”
>Libra touches back down on the ground
> “Wow! That is a lot!”
>you nod yes
“Yeah definitely. There are other planets in our solar system, but all of them too hot or too cold to support life... We have one moon too, it orbits our planet”
>she looks up at you with a spark in her eyes
>“It must be like a whole different world. Space is crazy wow!”
>yeah things are different here to say the least
>the sound of the river is the only thing fighting for your attention
>you look ahead in the distance and see some large metal structures
>you can't quite tell what they are, they look like boxes of different sizes and shapes
>the architecture is unique, bars are spaced out and layered on top of each other to form almost a metal cage
>you can't help but wonder what kind of purpose these would serve
>Libra leaps off the ground and flies up to the top of one of the sculptures
>guess that's what you could call them
>you are able to climb up off the ground and join her to catch your breath for a moment
>you wonder how you could get in or out of one of these things, there doesn't seem to be any kind of entrance
>you both take a moment to look at the scenery and take in your surroundings
>you follow Libra's dreary gaze across the horizon
>there seems to be some sort of building in the distance near the foot of the wall
>you wonder if she is starting to get tired... maybe you could go back to the bench ?

>input


*hope there aren't too many errors, in a hurry to get this up, be back in a few hours!

>>29295367
Ask her what we are sitting on do you enter it from underground somewhere.

Talk some more about earth mention its about 150 millon kilometers from our sun talk about the same side of the moon always facing it.

Ask her about the local solar system.

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thought I was gonna have time to write but too tired. put this some text over a vector instead, hope that's a fair compromise. I'll be around to write later tomorrow if this thread is still alive.

do you want to stay and talk where you are at for a while or continue to explore? the consensus is not to show interest yet, yeah?

>>29296319

gotcha, thanks Anon I appreciate it

>>29295367
We could carry here to the building at the wall.

>>29297183
Yeah lets not court any ponys yet.

Time for a bump from 10

Waiting bump

Exploration is always fun. Unless it's somewhere dangerous.

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>>29296319
>>29300581
>>29297854

>you decide to stay for a second longer
>appreciate the moment kinda thing
>you can't help but wonder about this land
“So do you know what we are sitting on? How do you get in?”
>the metal work is simple yet has a flare to it
>it reminds you of a knot almost
>“Oh weird! I was just wondering how you would get out if you happened to get in...”
>Libra looks down into the structure beneath you
>she pauses then continues
> “As for what they are, well, I'm not sure but I have my theories”
>you look at her expecting her to continue
“Well, what do you think?”
>she signs
> “I think that they are cages. Something about them just... I don't know, upsets the balance of the land. Does that make sense?”
>you take a moment for her words to sink in
>you look across the landscape, the area is different
>it's practically wild on this side of the orchard
>the ground beneath you looks warn down
>you nod
> “Judging by all the statues on this part of the grounds, I'd guess that this was some kind of zoo”
>her face goes slightly pale
>you decide to get down from the structure
>the metal is cold anyways
>might be a good time for a change of scenery
>and topic

>>29300983

>Libra quickly follows, the color and gleam quickly returning to her face
>her hoofsteps are so light, soft, but yet she trots at a moderate pace ahead
“A bit more about where I'm from, the same side of the moon is always facing our planet and we are about 150 million kilometers from our sun”
>you plan to continue but Libra speaks up
> “Oh! That's cool! How'd ya figure that out? What's a kilometer?”
>uh
>you stop talking for a second and she giggles
>damn equestrians need to switch to metric like the rest of the world
“Anyways, what can you tell me about your solar system here?”
>Libra thinks for a moment as you continue to trot forward through the hedges and closer to the castle
>looks like she is taking you a different way back
>more statues this way, or at least you see a large one ahead
>it's still too dark to make out a lot of detail at a distance
>the hedges are tall and really restrict vision, they run crisscrossing one another
>it must be a sight from far enough above
> “Well... We don't know a lot to be honest. Space is largely a mystery to us. Ponies are told that Luna and Celestia control the sun and moon... There are a lot of myths about stars, some say it Luna's past time to move them across the sky, others say they are tributes to fallen greats through pony history”

>>29300999

>the two of you make your way around a corner
>Libra mutters something just barely loud enough for you to hear
> “We are trying to understand”
>you are about to question further when something flies across your field of vision
>like a flash it is there and gone
>you and Libra stop walking
>stuck in the hedge a couple strides ahead of you is an arrow
>your brief moment of shock is interrupted by a voice
>“Sorry about that! Didn't see you there!”
>you turn to your side to see the orange pegasus stallion from earlier
>he has a bow slung over his back and is approaching you and Libra quickly
> “Sagittarius! Are you trying to kill us?”
>Libra glares at him and huffs
>he shrugs and speaks
> “Well that'd be a hell of a way to introduce myself wouldn't it? Nice to finally meet you Anon, name is Sagittarius”
>he extends a hoof which you shake not so awkwardly
>okay kinda awkward still with hands and hooves and all
>he continues to speak, his tone is lively but surprisingly level
> “Didn't mean to interrupt your date Libra, but you really gotta work on that attitude”
>she huffs at him with more vigor, there is definitely a blush to her face now

>input

>>29295367

whoops, meant to make this update a reply to the last update. >>29300983

thanks for keeping the thread alive for my slow ass writing again

>>29301010
Ask if we can try firing his bow. I've always wanted to try it.

>>29295367

I reckon it would be a bit too much of an extensive question right now to ask as to where did the Zodiacs come from, (given how it was mentioned by Aquarius that they did get their supplies from somewhere prior to coming here) but could we ask her instead how much time did the Zodiacs spend here already? Time here kinda fluid here, what with the clock and what not... not necessarily mentioned that though. However, one could ask her if she ever noticed what is it that contributes to a stargazing session's length.

Alternatively, we could ask Libra what parts of the castle had she visited so far, sneaking in a comment on how she gives off the vibe of quite an adventurous pony.

What do you guys think?

>>29301055

>tfw had supper in the middle of composing the message and had the QM make an update before finishing - which one got to notice only after sending it.

Feels bad man.
Kinda dumb.

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>>29301028

On a completely unrelated to the game note, dyslexia, gotta say you have a very nice tripcode.

Sounds almost like the name of a musical instrument in at least one language...

>>29301055
>>29301080

that is too real of a feel. thanks a bunch for the feedback, I'll make a point to get to it, I keep all the replies in a notepad so posts coming in a bit late can get worked in later. anything else for this update?

>>29301131

hey cool. got lucky, I'm happy with how the text looks visual. I assumed that the tripcode would be ugly af, but I'm pleased with it

>>29301036

gotcha

>>29300999

Impressive digits.

>>29301010

Ask why Sagittarius would practice archery during the night instead of the day. He must have quite the impressive sight to do that..

Is it that ponies here are generally active during the night and sleep during the day, given the amount of stargazing involoved?

>>29301218

That is nice of you, thanks. Sounds like quite a tidy way of keeping record too.

As far as the input concerning the nwest update is concerned, i'm the author of >>29301252 too, so being satisfied with that, given the late hour - as well wishing to let others have a say too.

>>29301010
I have to agree you should be more careful but still no hard feelings.

Time to party.

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>>29301010

>he's being awfully friendly for someone who nearly just shot you in the head
“You should be more careful but no hard feelings”
>he laughs a bit
“Why are you practicing at night anyways? You must have quiet the sight to do that”
>Libra huddles a little closer to you but remains silent
>Sagittarius looks at you with a smile
> “Yeah, I have good eyes for sure. I'm trying to get good at archery, might as well practice in different conditions right? Being well versed and all”
>guess that makes sense
>Libra speaks up finally
> “Yeah, well still be careful other ponies live here you know”
>he laughs and trots back down the row of hedges a bit
“Can I try firing your bow? I've always wanted to try it”
>he looks back at you
> “Definitely! Come back here I'll show you what I've been practicing”
>you and Libra follow him to the back of the row facing the wall of hedges where his previous arrow found its mark
> “So practicing at night is cool because you can seriously focus on the mechanics of your motion. Ponies are so reliant on what their eyes tell them that they sometimes forget that firing an arrow is a physical action”
>he moves to the far edge and draws his bow
> “I've been lining up all the way to the side cause I've been trying to correct this leftward pull I have going on, not sure if it is just the wind speed but...”
>Sagittarius lets the arrow fly
>you can almost see where it struck at this distance, it isn't a very far shot
>it looks to be very close to the first arrow
>“I'm pretty good at this”
>Libra scoffs
>“show off”
>he shrugs and passes you the bow and an arrow
> “Let's see what you got Anon”

* just for the hell of it, let's do a roll for arrow accuracy. I'll go by the first post with "roll" in it.

1, 5, 9 - bad shot, you suck
2 , 4 , 8 - okay shot, not bad for first try
3, 6 , 7 - pretty good!
dubs - damn

oh and >input for after would be appreciated too

>>29301831
Hoping to roll ok shot lets see how we do
Afterwards ask him where he gets replacment arrows from

>>29301967
Rolled a 7! Nice!

>>29301831
Ask Sagittarius why he's trying to get good at archery.

>>29301967
Oh well pretty good is fine to

>>29301967
>>29302755

>>29301831

>you look down the row ahead at the hedge
>you can't see much but the glint of the arrow's tip is visible to you
>the moonlight illuminates just enough to get a clear view
>you line the bow up and take a deep breath
>it takes a lot more torque than you were expecting but you pull it back until you can feel a considerable amount of tension then let the arrow fly
>it doesn't fly with quite the same zip as Sagittarius' arrow, but it lands very near his first and second marks
>Libra claps her hooves together in some type of cheer
> “Hey, not bad Anon. If you ever wanna go shooting more some other time let me know”
>you nod, Libra approaches your side
“So why are you trying to get good at archery? Where do you get your replacement arrows?”
>you hand Sagittarius his bow back carefully
> “I try not to lose them and I brought a lot, but we've also found several in the castle. You don't need many arrows if you are careful with them. Archery is a hobby of mine, great for socializing and for defense, great way to pass the time if you ask me”
>seems legitimate
>you think you hear Libra yawn
>you couldn't even begin to guess what time it is
>it looks like Sagittarius is thinking along the same lines
> “Well, I should go fetch those arrows and try to get some rest. Have fun you two lovebirds”
>even when drowsy she is expressive
> “Hey!”
>he just laughs and gives an exaggerated wave as he trots away
>you wave back, Libra huffs

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>>29303580

>after a moment of taking in the silence of the courtyard Libra speaks up
> “I don't know about you but I'm getting tired...”
>you give her an understanding nod and begin to make your way through the hedges
>there isn't much for a reference point asides from a large elephant statue
>must have been what you saw in the distance before running into Sagittarius
>the elephant's wrinkles are worked into the natural curvature of the rock very well
>just as you continue to admire the stonework Libra yawns then leans into you
>it's pretty damn adorable
>she leans back away abruptly and walks ahead to open the door to the castle
>she opens the door for you
>the interior of this hallway is more modest than a lot of what you have seen thus far
>simple and crude stone work, torch lighting the works
>it looks fairly short though, it seems to connect to the lower part of the ballroom
>weird, seems like the way there was much longer
>or maybe you walked a ways in those hedges
>makes you question Libra's short cut...

>>29303604

>you feel like you should talk
“So do you all sleep in the day since you are so active at night here?”
>Libra giggles as you make your way into the ballroom and towards the flight of stairs that you now know leads to Air house
>“Varies from pony to pony. I like the mornings here a lot personally”
>you nod, noted
>the two of you continue up the stairs walking side by side
>this housing option is a workout
>you can see the top of the stairs in sight
“Where are the Zodiac from? How long have you been here?”
>Libra steps are starting to slow, or maybe it is just you
> “We are from all kinds of different backgrounds... and don't even get me started on the time thing it's waaaaay too late for that. I'll tell you some other time k?”
>you nod and open the door into air house
>the inside is still stormy but the clouds look slightly less intense and more like a regular painting
>Libra follows you in closely
>the common-area is empty and quiet, you are starting to feel tired

>input

*last update for the night, I'll be back tomorrow *

Sagittarius a qt

>>29303609
Lets go to bed ready for a nice day exploring tomorow

>>29303609

I think we should see Libra off to her room and thank for the time she spend with us. It was pleasant and informative (since it holds true regardless if it's platonic or not)

Let her day end on that nice note, being about her. To do that, only after we part ways should we try and check if Aquarius is ok. Both Libra and Gemini were worried about her later, so i think showing a little concern for the mare that was so nice to us would be ok.

Knock at her door delicately though. Both as to not alert Libra as to what we are doing and as to not wake Aquarius up, in case she already went to sleep.

>>29304254

were worried about her earlier*

>>29303609
Time for us to sleep ourselves. We saw a lot of interesting things today.

>>29304064
>>29304254
>>29304690

so saying goodnight to Libra. then going straight to bed or knocking on Aquarius' door? I'll be back from class in 2 to 3 hours

>>29304064
Actuly yeah
>>29304254
Change my vote to check on aquarius

>>29304254 here.

>>29305114

My vote remains as it was.

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>pic related = reason why Libra and Gemini worried about Aquarius not coming out of her room.

>>29305758
Stop whining Scorps, you're a water sign.

Also, bump

>>29304254
>>29305243

>>29303609

>it's time to sleep for sure, you start to think on how you want to conclude the day
>you walk with Libra up to the door of her observatory
“Thanks for spending some time with me tonight Libra. It was really pleasant and informative”
>she smiles and rubs against you affectionately
> “Thank you Anon, it was nice not being alone tonight”
>her tone is really dreary at this point, she must be ready to fall asleep
>she opens her door and lingers for a second as if considering something to say
>you get a glimpse of her observatory's interior
>it looks similar to the furnishing in the living room, at least at first glance
>you don't get time to investigate much further, Libra waves then closes the door
>you are filled with a comfortable feeling, even in the emptiness of the castle housing
>you yawn
>as much as you want to sleep you can't help but be concerned about Aquarius
>she was so welcome, you feel the need to make sure that she is alright
>you wait for a second and walk up to her door
>no reason to concern Libra with this
>Aquarius' observatory door is sturdy
>there are two sharp zig-zag lines on the door, you vaguely recognize it as her cutie mark
>you knock on the door softly and wait
>silence
>you continue to wait for a second and look up at the ceiling
>you look back at the door
>nothing
>just as you turn to leave it opens the slightest amount
>Aquarius peaks through the door to her observatory
>she looks somber, her eyes are moist as if holding back tears
>her expression changes to one of slight surprise when she sees you
> “Oh, Anonymous. I-I thought, I... is there something you need?”
>she looks down, her tone doesn't have the same soothing effect as before
>she looks anxious

>input

>>29306209
We wanted to say hi and see you. Are we interrupting you?

>>29306209
Whats wrong
Surwly its not something you could not share with your peers.

>>29306340
*surely

>>29306209


Couldn't help but worry about you, given how didn't leave your chamber earlier on. Pains to see your long face after how nice you've been to us. Do you need some alone time or would you rather have some company?

(If she is not against compant but seems hestitant about saying things outright, try some small talk to ease her mind:)

You were right about our stargazing session tonight being intense. Wondered if yours wasn't as well. Is it by any means connected with what's been mentioned in the letter we got as this annual tradition of yours?)

>>29306615

not against company*

Is anyone else getting the feeling that the mild rivalry/feud between Libra and Aquarius might have sparked to life a bit more due to our coming here? It seems as if this house is built somewhat upon the strain of contrast - with lively Libra on one side and tranquil Aquarius on the other, with what i assume might be a bridge in-between in the form of Gemini. I wonder whether these twins make use of their duality to comfort/counsel both Aquarius and Libra simultaneously in times of need. I reckon that, given how Gemmy and Minny had dealt with the two other residents of the Air House in the past, we should consult them in the following days ASAP as to get a briefing/a broader&clearer look at the situation present. Perhaps we may yet avoid breaking hearts unnecessary, if Gemini proves to be helpful.

>>29307401

>mild rivalry/feud between Libra and Aquarius

In retrospect, those may've been too strong terms after what've seen, even if one uses the word "mild". A character clash between these two though, for sure.

>>29288240
Who best zodiac here?
t. libra

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>>29306209

>you think of the best thing to say
“Just wanted to say hi... Couldn't help but worry about you a bit, I tried stargazing tonight and I can see that it is intense. Am I interrupting?”
>Aquarius doesn't say anything for a second before mumbling
>she doesn't open the door any further
> “I'm fine”
>she stops talking and speaks up in a low tone
>“you don't have to worry about me”
>she closes the door a little further but you speak quickly
“I want to see you, do you want company or do you want to be alone?”
>Aquarius stops closing the door but remains silent
>you wonder if she heard you
>your inner whiteknight rages with a fiery passion
“It pains me to see you so sad”
>she stays quiet but mumbles something you can't hear
“What was that?”
>she opens the door and looks up at you
>“I said I'll come out, one second”
>you decide to give her some space to gather herself
>you take a seat on the large couch in the common-area and wait
>the paintings in here really do change
>it's like each time you look at the walls you see different patterns in the wildlife and plants
>different tones make the plants look more or less lively
>it really is a simple harmony, an ecosystem in its own right
>just as you begin to admire the artwork more deeply Aquarius walks out of her observatory
>she makes eye contact with you and takes a seat close next to you
>the room is silent, her presence doesn't feel as soothing as earlier today
>you can't help but wonder what happened
>or is happening
>she looks at you

>input

>>29308074
Lets ease into it ask how her night observing went.

self bumping, I'll be back in the morning

>>29309315
Night

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>>29308074

>your inner whiteknight rages with a fiery passion

Okay, took the clue. Didn't think of sounding that way, honestly. Will try to consider things more thoroughly in the future. Don't wanna invoke >pic related by going too far too early.

>>29308074

Gosh, kinda hoped we could leave her be and have the time to herself, with just a little notion that we do, in fact, care. Not as if we're anywhere close as to have a heart-to-heart conversation yet, i reckon.

It sounds as though she wasn't comfortable coming out, but did so, possibly because of feeling sort of an obligation towards a guest on the first day... which sounds quite bad, if you think about it. Kinda hard to choose a topic now, as to not potentially trigger (not happy with choosing this word either) a negative response.
Talking about how we walked around the castle and how admirable it is? What if she's bothered by how we've spent time with Libra, instead of waiting for her to get out of her observatory back then, as if we didn't care? It'll only make her picture how much we've experienced with Libra instead of her.
Asking about stargazing, like >>29308633 proposed? What if, given how it seems to provide a personal experience, probably even more so for the Zodiacs, it was directly connected to how she seems down now? Was it a time of reflection, in which she, possibly, thought back on how she behaved and concluded that her actions, while meaning to simply come off as a good host, have given off a different kind of air and have been interpreted wrongly?

I'm getting the feeling that the best course of action right now may be to share something of our own, instead of demanding from her to talk. How about mentioning how people on Earth used to stargaze? Telescopes, satellites... makes one wonder if by pursuing the knowledge so much, humans didn't lose some of the magic inherent in the starry sky. This castle would seem out of place in our world. Glad there is one as such here...

Sure is lonely keeping the watch on the european side. Might as well use that post as more than a bump and add that although in >>29310277 i've tried to look into the matter a bit more carefully than the last time, i am by no means certain that the proposed by me path of action is the correct one. Prone to be wrong, I'm honestly hoping some more people will contribute to alleviating this social issue. Would hate to see this story propelled by tripping over a stone i may've thrown under its feet.

just woke up and I'm gonna need a bit of time before I can write something coherent anyways so I'll let the discussion go longer

>>29310277
>>29310920

thanks europe I'll be sure to use a lot of this

>>29309982

it's chill, it was mostly a joke. I appreciated that input

>>29310920
I think you are jumping to conclusions about what the problem is.

Get a little bump

>>29311022

That is appreciated, i'm grateful for the sincerity. Not many QMs seem to take the time to explain and reconcile.

Hopefully, the prolonged time frame will encourage people to give more input..


>>29311091

It is actually what i'm attempting to avoid, though i undertand i might be coming off as such regardless. Hence my plea for help.:


Might any of you out there have other ideas?

>>29312002
We should avoid Libra as a topic for now, maybe even stargazing since that seemed to be the cause for her sadness.

>>29308074
How about asking her about her cutiemark and what it means? Where did she get it?
Does she have anything she wants to ask us?
Maybe even mention our archery session with Sagittarius.

>>29312678

>We should avoid Libra as a topic for now, maybe even stargazing since that seemed to be the cause for her sadness.

Umm, i kinda suggested that? (looks back at >>29310277)

... ok, so first i spend two paragraphs advising against those two topics, then as an alternative suggesting sharing something of our own... but in the process, used one of them as a core.

What the fuck, brain!?

Sorry, I... got little clue as to how i came to that. I think the idea was to focus on technology/architecture, but it seems like I've sorta rolled over from the previous paragraph to this one, dragging the stargazing idea with me, as to make a smooth connection between the two, as in an essay. Force of habit, i guess - and the fatigued mind did the rest (may i use the excuse that i recently got out of hospital? Didn't wish to do that, but I guess it might be showing, as the leftovers of the sickness are still wrecking havoc)

See, that's why I need people like You, Anon. To show me what I am doing wrong. Cause admittedly, that's some dumb stuff right there if I ever saw any.

Thank you.

I'm still standing by what my intentions were originally, limited to sharing the contemplation of the surroundings/speaking of the way it was back home... for lack of a better usage of that idea. Hope somebody would expand on that, i think it's got potential. Speaking about the way it was back home. Our home, that is.

Like, for example:

>How about asking her about her cutiemark and what it means? Where did she get it?

I don't think she'd be up for a full-fledged memory recollection right now. Could go for this approach, i guess, but... consider the following - how about we comment on her Cutie Mark, slipping in the fact that back on Earth we used the same symbols? Used them for constellations bearing names of these ponies as well? Wouldn't that be an intriguing invitation to a beguiling conversation, one ready to sweep Aquarius her mind off her worries?

>>29312678
>>29313172

Having said that though, yeah, i realize that might be one of the hella big issues out there that we might wish to save up for later. However, I will say preemptively that I doubt the Zodiac ponies here would suffer existentional trauma upon learning the similarities between our and the pony culture regarding the horoscope-related stuff. We're all stargazers here, right? We do share the same sky... or don't we?

(Not sure if tag that as a question to the QM, given how the character could've just as easily figured that out... as he could've not. Not every Anon is into identifying constellations and the wise offhand, I reckon)

>Does she have anything she wants to ask us?
>Maybe even mention our archery session with Sagittarius.

That being said, i don't think Aquarius is in any state to show initiative, which the second question demands... though I'd say the third one seems ok. Maybe light up the mood even, asking jokingly if - since Sagittarius had such "good" aim as to almost hit us in the head while we were walking around, are we safe from here where we are?

>>29313270
Good topics of conversation for later in our chat but i really think we should open by asking her whats wrong.

>>29313270
>>29313172
Really liking the bit about slipping in that we know the symbol from earth.
Cutie marks tend to have pretty obvious causes, she probably got hers from stargazing which is why I want to use it as an ice-breaker.

>>29313983
I don't want to open directly with that, it just comes off as a bit too invasive.
We should ease her into it a bit by asking how her stargazing was instead, get some information first.
For all we know this could be something she doesn't want to talk about, and not be related to us in any way.

>>29314030
True but she already knows thats why we are here.
I think the best compromise would be to ask her how her stargazing went first.

curious

>>29314030
>>29314291
I think we should open up the conversation with a short ramble about astrology on Earth. If she remains somber then we avoid asking her heavy questions. If she appears receptive ask her how the stargazing went. That takes the pressure off her a bit since she's not feeling well.

looking back at >>29288270 everyone in the air house seemed to be down after the gazing
and it was a short but intense session so it may be as simple as they were unhappy that it was over so quickly

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>you don't really know what to say or do
>it seems like just leaving the observatory has returned her back to a more level and focused state
>the distance in between the two of you on the couch is noticeable
>you kinda just start talking and hope for the best
“You know, back on Earth we had this thing called astrology. I never knew too much about the specifics, but there were 12 signs, each that matched a constellation in the stars. Humans knew a lot about the sky all things considered... We had telescopes and these things called satellites that we launched into space. We could predict where planets were going to be and a bunch of other bizarre stuff, but it's funny, the pursuit of knowledge kinda clouded up our night skies, took away some of it's vibrancy and magic..”
>you don't quiet know where you are going with this still, but you pause to catch your breath and resume
>Aquarius is looking at you with an expression of mild curiosity, maybe wonder?
“I walked around the castle a bit tonight, and it is really admirable. It is like nothing that you'd see back on Earth... I tried stargazing at the top of the castle for a while, I can start to see that it is intense now”
>she remains silent and calm
>her breathing has leveled noticeably
>the room feels tranquil, the clouds above are still gray and heavy but not as threatening
>everything definitely feels lighter

>>29316297

>Aquarius speaks up in her ever surreal tone
>“That's incredible...”
>she shifts to face you more, opening up her body language and raising her hooves a bit
> “And yes... things can definitely be intense. I just... t-the moon can be so revealing”
>she looks down for a moment and the silence re-invades the room
“I just wanted to let you know that I care”
>with that she looks back up at you
>her eyes are such a beautiful shade of blue
>you feel closer, both emotionally and physically
>she speaks up, her tone sounds almost less formal, yet still maintains its consistent cadence
> “Let me ask you something... What do you think of the ponies here so far? Do you feel properly situated?”
>she blinks slowly and perks up a bit more

>input
*good stuff! I didn't want to hurry things, I know it's a small update but there was a lot stuff to consider. I think it worked out nicely. I'll try to be more productive when I update tomorrow, organize my thoughts, look into archiving the story text in some clear manner instead of making artwork with vectors that don't match the story's current mood

>>29316308
They seek nice dont worry I like it here in air house
So what was the problem eariler.

>>29316558
*they seem nice

>>29316308
So far everyone has been nice to me. I even managed to impress Sagittarius.
If there is anything I could help you with, just let me know.

>>29316297
>>29316308

Interesting notion, that of the revealing moon, that is... answering her question, however:


They seem friendly and welcoming. It seems they really mean making us feel at home.

Except Scorpio, perhaps? It was nice of Aquarius to warn us of her, saying she's a troublemaker, yet with pure intentions. The way she glared us... makes one wonder if she is simply a cautious/protective pony of sorts. Possibly not liking the way we approached Cancer. We should probably be on the lookout for a meeting with her, i reckon.

That being said, what i think might be even more important than speaking of Scorpio is admitting that, well, we simply didn't get the time to properly have the time to speak to everyone yet.

Like, after the journey we've had here, the remainder of the day allowed us to get in touch with, like... less than 1/4 of the Zodiacs total (counting in Gemini as 2, up to a total of 13) and that is counting in the brief moment with Sagittarius.


Are any of you Anons out there also getting the feeling that it's a nice change of pace from the regular Pinkie Pie's instant integration into pony society style? We're able to explore and get to know ponies on our own pace. I think it's quite soothing - pleasant in a calming way, that is. Maybe we could slip that in? Especially since Aquarius herself seems to value pacing at different levels herself?

>>29301967

Didn't get to say that earlier, so using that opportunity now - nice shot, Anon!

You seem to have scored some points in more than one way.

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>>29316308

>you nod yes
“So far everyone has been welcoming and friendly, it really seems like they mean to make me feel at home, well, except maybe Scorpio but I think she was just being protective...”
>Aquarius smiles at you and nods
>“Yes, that definitely sounds like her”
>she looks tired, like she is finally starting to genuinely unwind
>you keep talking, speaking in a hushed and mellow tone
“I've been able to explore and get to know everyone at my own pace which has been pleasant and calming... I haven't had the time to properly speak with everyone yet, I got to meet Sagittarius tonight. He seemed nice even if he almost shot me”
>her eyes widen a bit but you laugh reassuringly
“You shouldn't worry yourself, I like it here in the Air house. If there is anything I can help you with, let me know...”
>you give her a look over, trying to make yourself available if she wants to talk
>she looks pleased, no longer under duress
>it's nice
> “I... Thank you Anonymous, that is all very reassuring to hear. I just might take you up on your offer sometime in the future”
>she looks hesitant
>she moves closer to you and nuzzle into your shoulder very briefly before leaning up
>you definitely weren't expecting that kind of affection
>it seemed innocent enough
>Aquarius leaves the couch slowly
> “I... really appreciate what you did for me tonight Anonymous. Thank you. I think I'm going to get some rest, unless you need anything else... I suspect you will want to get some sleep as well”
>she walks to her observatory door slowly in a calm trot

>input

* so I imagine that the next step is going to be something along the lines of 'say goodnight and go to sleep' in one variety or another but I could be wrong. if there isn't enough to talk about maybe some suggestions for what to do in the morning / plans for tomorrow? I feel like doing it this way will make the transition a bit less awkward, at least from a writing perspective

>>29319104
Say good night and the plans for tomorrow are to get some more one on one time with the other ponies. Or hang with a group.

>>29319104
Say good night and go to bed.
Lets have a look at the other 2 houses tomorow

>>29319104

I'm with >>29319484. However, let's not forget that we had a deal with Capricorn to let her be our guide, so let's go find her first, perhaps?
We know a safe route to the Earth House and she could teach us the ones to the other houses instead of us, walking around blindly.


Tomorrow should also be the time for us to get to know which Gemini twin is Gemmy and which is Minny. Maybe we could catch those round the breakfast time?


Now that i think about it... we might wanna look into the kitchen area more closely. See what we will and what we won't be able to prepare from our Anon-ish menu. Not saying necessarily spaghetti, but just checking out what the ponies here eat in comparison to what is generally served in Equestria.
Hey, these horses possibly came from planet other than this, so who knows? Although they found a thriving orchard ready here, they did bring some seeds of their own - so possibly some unknown plant species as well? Could look into that.

>>29320164
>However, let's not forget that we had a deal with Capricorn to let her be our guide, so let's go find her first, perhaps?
In retrospect that was a bad move because now Anon is locked into Capricorn's company and it cuts down on our options.

Bump. Every thread gets one.

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>>29319104

>you yawn, it is really starting to get late
>at least, you think...
“Goodnight Aquarius, I'll see you in the morning”
>she looks at you and speaks
>“Goodnight Anonymous”
>and with that she closes the door to her observatory
>you linger in the living area for a moment before making your way to the comfort of your own room
>oh wow this bed is soft
>you lay down and look at the ceiling, letting your mind process some of the details of the cloudy artwork above you
>the events of today start to blur together in your mind making a coherent image
>you reminisce on the wonders and ambiance of the ancient castle
>thinking about the past, why it is here, what it meant to the ponies who used to occupy it...
>history
>you can feel your mind starting to slow down, your body starting to relax
>your surroundings become less and less important as you shift positioning trying to get comfortable
>so relaxing... colors, mysterious landscapes half formed by your mind
>nothing has meaning here...
>black

>>29322320

>you slowly start to stir awake
>sunlight is entering your room from somewhere
>must be a window higher up
>you roll over and enjoy your tranquil and comfortable state for a moment
>everything is so soft damn
>you lean up and stretch out a bit before yawning and burying your face back into the pillow
>just as you start to slip back into the world of sleep you are brought to your senses by the sound a voice in the living room
>it sounds energetic, excited, you recognize it as Libra's immediately
> “Luna is coming here! Princess Luna is coming! Oh my gosh she is actually going to show up!”
>wait, right now? you are too tired to properly process things so you decide to crawl out of bed and see what all the commotion is about
>you walking into a very high energy common-area, Libra is fluttering around the room excitedly
>the yellow Gemini pony looks as confused as you do
> “Wait, you mean she actually responded to our invitation?”
>she looks at Libra then to the green pony next to her with a look of slight disbelief
>Libra lands right in front of the two of them and hops up and down excitedly several times
>it is way too early for this
>probably
>you don't see Aquarius around, you can only hope that she is feeling better
> “Yeah Minny! She is going to show up! For our ball! I can't believe this!”
>Libra stops hopping and flies your way before wrapping you in a hug
> “Oh I am so excited! Isn't that incredible Anon? Princess Luna!”
>you unlatch Libra from you slightly before speaking
“That really is something, maybe you'll be able to ask her about the clock”

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>>29322334

>this time the green Gemini pony speaks up
> “Oh yeah, that is a good idea! thanks Anon”
>you nod
“Hey, so which one of you is Gemmy and which is Minny? Sorry I haven't got the chance to ask until now”
>she laughs slightly
> “I'm Gemmy, the yellow pony is Minny”
>Minny nods at you and winks before speaking up
> “So what do you say about some breakfast in honor of our ball now being a host to royalty? My treat”
>you nod yes and Libra claps her hooves together
>the four of you make your way into the modest kitchen within the Air house
>the mood is very high energy, this must be a really big deal for them
>you are finally starting to feel awake
>the two Gemini ponies start cooking, it looks like they are making something simple
>eggs, a couple pastries and an assortment of fruits
>you and Libra take your seats at the table
>Libra speaks up in her bubbly and excited tone, the enthusiasm is still strong in her voice
> “So Anon... What's the plan today?”
>she blinks at you a couple of times
>you remember back to talking with Capricorn yesterday
“I think I am going to start by trying to see the other two houses, I told Capricorn yesterday that she could be my guide”
>Libra gasps, her eyes sparkle a bit
> “Ooooh you are going to hang out with Capricorn? Am I invited?”
>she gives you an exaggerated smile as if trying to be convincing
>before you can think any further a plate of food is set in front of you, breakfast time

>input / planning / questions

*that's gonna be all for tonight. I'll be around tomorrow after I get done with classes. thanks for keeping the thread alive

>>29322344
I suppose you can tag along if you want it probably won't take us long though.
So princess luna is coming huh that's a pretty big deal.

As for plans for tomorow go see the other houses with capricorn then go find the library.

>>29322344

Seems like we have a classic example of "two's company, three's a crowd" with Libra already testing the waters, as to see how much of her time she might wrote onto hours.

With all respect to how adorably affectionate Libra can be, i'm pretty sure we don't want to turn this tour into "Show everyone how much we've bonded with Libra already", especially since we're visiting the remaining houses for the first time. Not to mention Capricorn probably wasn't vying for an additional party member and we've already somewhat failed her hopes twice already. Let's give the mare a chance she'd been wishing for.

For that purpose, as well as to not disappoint Libra, make her a counterproposal. How about we go together with Libra to the earth house and part our ways there?

Paying Libra a compliment as to how spirited of a Pegasus she seems to be, ask whether it wouldn't be better if she flew ahead and shared the news about Luna's impending arrival. Ponies could use hearing that ahead, in case they wished to start preparing. Not to mention, that way, the houses we're about to visit would have the time to settle down, as to not have Princess Luna as the only topic of our conversation once we arrive.

We're not really suited to bring those news with Capricorn, as that might take a while, since we'll probably be walking at a leisurely pace and possibly taking detours.

>>29323688

as to see how much of her time she might write* onto ours*

Dunno how that escaped me, sorry.

>>29323688
i really think you are reading into ponys motivations to much.
yes they want to spend time with us but i really don't think anybody is thinking of it as a competition.

>>29323709

I am not saying it's "competition".

It's just the fact that without a highly affectionate, highly talkative, all-over-the-place-pony like Libra around, it'll likely be easier for less outgoing ponies to express themselves and for us to get to know them.

>>29323721
ah you make a good point then
>>29323008
disregard what i said about letting libra tag along (still go to the library tomorrow though)

I suppose the question is how do we let her down gently maybe tell her she can show you the library once you are done with Capricorn

>>29323738

Re-reading what i wrote earlier, i now see how i may've put it as to give the wrong vibe. Glad you've expressed your opinion so that it led to the clarification on the matter.

As far as the ideas regarding 'letting her down gently' i was actually considering telling her than if we were going to simply 'hang out with' and not get to know Capricorn for the first time, then we'd be in for it. So, how about the next time such a situation arises, assuming Capricorn would be ok with it?

We might slip in that we saw how the two of them got along nicely, so maybe(?) ask her whether she doesn't think, knowing her better as her friend, whether Capricorn wouldn't rather have some space too. Let us let Libra consider it from Capricorn's perspective too and give the pegasus a little trust with the judgement, possibly? That would be plan B or C though, in case of Libra's persistence, i reckon.

Meanwhile, I'm still opting for the plan i've described in >>29323688 as the primary one. May i hear your opinion on it?


I like your idea of visiting library later on. at least partly so. Wonder which of the Zodiacs could we enconter there... Not really envisioning such a lively pegasus as Libra as an often-seen conneseur of the grimoires out there though. Unless it's an invitation for LIBRAry jokes that you're opting for. However, I think Gemini here would be a better choice for accompanying us to that place, honestly. We could also ask Capricorn along the way who, out of the remaining houses, would be most likely in for such a treat. Virgo, Pisces perhaps?

Also, why tomorrow? Do you think we'll have so little time after wandering around with Capricorn that we won't be able to accomplish that today?

>>29324659
>Also, why tomorrow? Do you think we'll have so little time after wandering around with Capricorn that we won't be able to accomplish that today?
for some reason i got confused and thought it was still the previous night
>>29323688
yeah this sounds good

As to add on to the breakfast time, in case additional input is welcome - how about we ask what was the reason behind the original element-based division into the 4 houses? On which principles did the ponies divide themselves back then?

>>29325380

was about to start writing, you caught me just in time! it's gonna take me a bit to organize all this, and I'll probably make/find some kind of image. thanks for all the solid discussion guys

>>29325408

Ain't that nice to hear... Thank you for sharing that. Looking forward to the next update. Your story is very enjoyable - pleasant, yet daunting at the same time.

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>>29325408

>you use the food in front as an excuse to think for a moment
>you have the common sense to thank the Gemini ponies for breakfast
>...
>they take the seats across from you and Libra
>you figure it would probably be best to have some one on one time to get to know Capricorn
“If I weren't getting to know her for the first time, I'd probably say yes.... but do you think she would appreciate the space? Maybe it'd be better if you just walked me to the Earth house instead?”
>Libra looks a little rejected but she brushes it off pretty quickly
> “Uh, yeah you are probably right. Maybe next time then? I can walk you down there for sure”
>you nod yes and continue to eat
>the food is delicious, all of the fruits are small in size but intense and fresh in flavor
>you take a sip of the cold glass of water in front of you
“So how about princess Luna coming to the ball? That must be very exciting news”
>the two Gemini ponies smile in sync
>Minny speaks up
> “Yeah! It is going to be incredible”
>Gemmy nods
> “It's nice that the hard work we put in is finally paying off”
>you look over to Libra who is enjoying some type of bizarre fruit

>>29322344
opps, read >>29326097 first if you use replies to follow

>>29326097

“Do you think it'd be a good idea to fly ahead of me and inform the other houses?”
>Libra continues to chew happily
> “Don't think I will need to! Luna notified me by dream! One pony from each house should know... At least that's what the invitation said”
>she pauses for a second before continuing
> “It was really clever of her to use dreams to talk with us! I don't think we can even get mail out here”
>she stops talking again and a look of panic crosses her face
> “Oh no! What if I just dreamed of the letter in my dream and she isn't really coming?”
>she gasps and stands up
>the two Gemini ponies just laugh before green pony speaks up
> “I'm sure she'd have cleared things up in person if that were the case”
>yellow pony follows her up in a teasing tone
> “Yeah, jeez calm down Libra. You can always ask someone from Earth house too”
>Libra looks slightly embarrassed but takes her seat again
>you start to finish your breakfast
>you feel like asking some questions
“So why did you decide to split the houses up by elements in the first place anyways? What principles did you divide yourselves by?”

>>29326118

>Libra takes her chance to jump back into the conversation
>“All of the houses are oriented in a way where we can view and mentally map out certain sections of the sky. Each element has a lot of common traits and ideally should harmonize well with each other...”
>Gemmy speaks up in a simple tone
>“Mainly though, when you arrive in a new and unexplored place and you find a door with your cutie mark on it... You get the hint pretty fast”
>that does make things pretty simple, you assumed those were a later addition to the castle
>Minny nods in agreement before speaking up
>“It really is eerie, especially after living your whole life with such a... well, unexplained cutie mark to say the least...”
>Libra bites her lip and looks down
“That is really strange for sure I could only imagine. It seems that the housing is working out pretty well though, huh?”
>Libra speaks up from next to you in her normal energized tone
> “Oh for sure! I'm glad I'm in Air house, I couldn't imagine living with some of the other ponies here, it'd be a mess”
>she giggles and the Gemini ponies nod
>everyone is done with their breakfast, you figure it is time to make your way down to Earth house
>you take a moment admire the silverware, plating and glass while cleaning up after yourself
>it is fancy, you wonder if the glass is crystal
>the silverware looks to be real silver, solid definitely not plated
>Libra brushes into you
> “About ready to go Anon? ~”
>you nod yes and wave to Gemmy and Minny
>they wave back in sync
>Minny talks from across the room
> “See you soon Anon!”
>Gemmy turns to her and says something
>you and Libra make your way out of the kitchen and back into the common area

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>>29326136

>the clouds painted on the ceiling above are sparse, fluffy and white, while the sky is a light blue
>you make your way out onto the balcony to see that it is also bright out here
>a different kind of bright than during the ceremony last night
>the light is very non-specified, mostly natural
>it feels intense, but not as invasive and personal as the moonlight
>the florescence is replaced with a feeling of overexposure
>you and Libra make your way down the stairs towards the ballroom
>you were half expecting to see several ponies down there, but it is empty
>the clock has a sparkle to it in this lighting, tints of blue shine out towards you, but it still has a dark ambiance
>you make your way into the ballroom and start to head to the underground area of the castle
“I think maybe later I will check out the library, not sure though. Know any ponies who might be interested?”
>Libra giggles
> “So you're the library type huh? You'll have to talk with Gemini”
>you start to make your way down the steeply descending hallway
> “Not too sure who'd be interested in the other houses, maybe Pisces but that pony is so quiet you'd never know...”
>you turn left at the desk and take a moment to admire how absolutely massive these walls must be
>the hall starts to take on more of a wild feeling, you know Earth house must be getting close

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>>29326156

>sure enough you find yourself in the lobby quickly
>the air is so thick here compared to that of Air house
>you feel immersed in the plant life
>you admire the gardens and see the Virgo is the only one out in the main room
>she notices the two of you quickly
>it looks like she is watering some type of flower garden
>you can't see much except what is growing above the white marble wall
>she makes eye contact with you from a considerable distance
>“Hello Anonymous! Hello Libra”
>she looks at Libra and scowls kinda
>Libra flutters over to her and wraps her into a hug
>Virgo doesn't seem to approve, yet she doesn't fight to break it either
> “Heyyyyy Virgo, Anon here is trying to challenge you for the title of being my best friend!”
>she continues to cling to Virgo while giggling profusely to herself
>Virgo finally breaks the grip and takes a few steps away
> “Whatever would I do without you”
>her voice is completely deadpan
>she sighs and collects herself
> “I'm assuming that your house was informed accordingly per Princess Luna written request?”
>Libra continues to giggle
> “Yep! I used smaller words to do it though”
>Virgo scoffs then speaks
>“Why are you here Libra?”

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>>29326224

>you feel inclined to speak up and ease the tension a bit
>or, Virgo's tension, it looks like Libra is doing just fine on her own
“Actually, she was just seeing me down here. I was looking for Capricorn, she was going to give me a tour of the other houses”
>Virgo gives you an understanding smile and nods
>“I'll go get her for you, one second!”
>she trots away at a quick pace
>you take the time to admire the gardens and the staircases in the common area
>they look to lead up pretty far, the railing is brass, it goes well with the elegant and bright look of the room
>within moments Capricorn trots up, it looks like Virgo went off to other parts of the garden
>“Oh! Hey Anon! I-I wasn't expecting you so early”
>you smile
“Good to see you Capricorn”
>she gives you a very genuinely happy smile
>“Hey Libra! Uh, are you coming along?”
>Libra giggles before speaking in a playful tone
>“He's all yours Caps, have fun you two ~”
>Capricorn blushes a bit at Libra's teasing, she is at a disadvantage with such a light coat
>“O-okay, good seeing you Libra! I'll catch you later”
>Libra waves then starts to trot up one of the staircases
>huh
>Capricorn speaks up
>“I-I'm gonna need a few minutes to get ready. I hope you don't mind! I didn't know you'd be here so fast”
>she trots in place a tiny bit, moving anxiously
> “In the mean time think about if you want to go to Fire or Water house first?”
>you nod and start to think of topics for your walk

>input

The moment i wrote >>29326060 i actually went to bed. Gotten up a while later, however, having remembered that i needed to write one more mail. Glad i did. That update was great! Can feel the earth house ponies growing on me. Pun not intended. Gonna have something refreshing to sweeten the dreams with; thanks QM!

>>29326245
Fire house
Talk about lunas visit unless anybody has a better idea.

>>29326245
>>29326535

Water house.
While we wait on Capricorn, ask Virgo if this garden was here when they arrived or did they grow it from scratch.
It seems quite lively here because of it, nice job keeping that in such a good condition.

>>29326535
>>29327053

alright noted both of these.

so which one Fire or Water? or does no one really care that much?

>>29328015
Whichever is closer

>>29327053
second for water

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>>29329397

was just about to bump before I go to sleep, ty anon. I'll write tomorrow and leave this open for input, any ponies in the houses you want to talk to specifically? etc...

so while I was creating the pastebin I found out that I completely forgot a wall of text last thread! it was during the stargazing scene at the top of the castle, like I worked really hard on that scene then totally never posted the bulk of it. bummer. if anyone wants to go back and re-read lines 617 through 698, idk might make more sense

oh and by the way pastebin!

http://pastebin.com/n1SMm4XE

>>29329457
will check it out
night dyslexia

>>29329457

Feels more like 1/3 of it, given only lines 645-668 were missing. Still, yeah, that does expand upon the scene, thanks for notifying.

Those lines especially seem to hold meaning:

>the power of the moon
>it's like a magnet your eyes are drawn to it immediately
>it feels like the moon is looking back
>staring into you
>its light overpowers everything
>illuminates

As without having read those, one could think that Aquarius saying...:

> “And yes... things can definitely be intense. I just... t-the moon can be so revealing”

... could have meant that the naughty mare watched Anon going round the garden with Libra from her balcony, seeing them because of how bright was the moon shining.

>>29329457
There is something strangely humorous about forgetting a wall of text

>>29329457

I was thinking of asking when exactly is the ball going to take place.

Other than that, mention that you've heard earlier today the story of how the ponies here got divided into the houses. Guess someone was right in not having Libra at the same place as Virgo?
Congrats to the latter, too. She seems to have quite the amount of self-control, having proven that in the face of Libra's violation of personal space. As one cannot simply get along with everyone, it's a valuable trait for someone, who seems to be keeping things in order here, given Virgo's welcoming yesterday. Use the occasion to comment that you're feeling glad to be at the castle so far. Pretty sure, as a good host, she could appreciate it.

Mental note to self - avoid mixing the company of Virgo and Libra, for the time being.


As far as the ponies to be met go... given the fact that we've only just heard of her and never heard a word from her, i'm kinda hoping we could get to know Pisces. Wonder how she and Capricorn get along, given their astrological compatibilty.

(Though i'm getting the gut feeling that we're yet to be stung by Scorpio today... not to say i'm not looking forward to that. Thrilled to see it happening even. Only thinking it might not be the best time, with Capricorn around and us, getting to know one another for the first time. Wouldn't wish to have her feel obliged to mediate between Scorpio and us, standing painfully in the middle of a conflict..)

>>29329457
aight

Now to bump up from 10.

>>29332283
>>29332284

lol I was about to bump too. gonna start writing now might be a bit

Virgo a cute.
Cute grump.

>>29326245

Anyone ever wonder why Capricorn has her tail styled this way?

>>29334141
Compliment her on her tail and ask her.

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>>29326245

>Capricorn quickly trots away to go prepare however she needs to
>you give yourself another moment to just sit and appreciate the Earth house
>you can't help but wonder about the garden, you decide to make your way over to where Virgo went while you wait for Capricorn
>she is still scanning over a bed of flowers, looking at them intently
>definitely something a little more than just admiration, planning maybe?
“Hey, I just figured I'd use the occasion to let you know that I am glad to be here at the castle. You all have been wonderful hosts for me so far”
>Virgo looks up from her gardening and gives you a smile
> “Awww, thank you Anonymous! I appreciate that”
>you give her a nod and look over the bed of brightly colored flowers again
“So was this garden here when you arrived or did you all grow it from scratch?”
>Virgo continues her overview of the garden bed, occasionally touching her hooves to some of the more brightly colored flower petals
>they contrast well with her clean white coat
> “When we first arrived the garden was here, I couldn't imagine trying to start this from scratch!”
>she looks up and across the room over all of the plant life
>“I have been doing my best to maintain it, it was supporting itself with some type of magic, but naturally things had gotten messy over the years. Just can't compete with Earth pony gardening skills”
>she smiles proudly
>you give her a nod and smile back

>>29335714

>you notice Capricorn making her way back towards the two of you, that was fast enough
“Well, everything looks incredible in here, keep up the good work Virgo”
>her smiles becomes more vibrant, she giggles a little to herself
> “Thank you Anonymous, I look forward to seeing you around here again soon”
>Capricorn is now by your side
> “So ready to go Anon? Which house first?”
>you think for another moment in case the order is relevant in anyway
“Let's check out Water house first, then we can go to Fire house”
>Capricorn nods and starts to lead you back through the way that you came
> “Alright great! Catch you around Virgo!”
>Virgo waves at the two of you before resuming her meticulous evaluation of the plants
>you make your way out of Earth house and back into the castle hall

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>>29335728

>Capricorn stays close to your side while you make your way back up the hall
>her tail swishes into you slightly as the two of you remain silent
>you notice the way that it is parted at the end, interesting
“Hey, I was wondering why you style your tail like that”
>Capricorn looks up at you resuming her pace forward
>“What this?”
>she swishes her tail again in an exaggerated motion and giggles
>“I don't know, I've always done it like this! I think it is fashionable, how else you supposed to stand out when everyone is dressing up?”
>good point
“Well, I like it. Seems very fitting for a trip to Water house”
>Capricorn smiles and laughs
>“Hey! Thank you”
>the two of you approach the desk with all the notepads on it
>you instinctively start to turn right to make your way back to the ballroom but Capricorn continues to trot straight ahead
>you follow her and walk past the desk
>Capricorn stays close to your side, a different kind of close than Libra, despite being right next to you she doesn't make any physical contact
>the hallway continues to descend deeper underground, you see stairs ahead
>this isn't like the way to Earth house where it levels out either, it seems to just continue to drop downward
>the lighting becomes cooler in tone, the path remains stone, no plants or dirt in this direction
>as much as you like closely admiring stonework, you feel that it would be best to talk with Capricorn a bit more

>>29335771

“The Princess Luna thing must be really exciting to hear, when exactly is the ball?”
>the two of you continue to descend downward, the stairs start to spiral
>it looks like the path levels out up ahead though
>you can't help but wonder how much weight in stone is above your head right now...
>you brush your hand against the polished stone, it is cool to touch
>the stonework is clean, sharp, focused, you are confident that it will hold for a very long time
>the walls are polished, the floor is polished, everything has a very sterile look for being so far underground
>yet at the same time you can tell that it is vintage, the stone is filled with various cracks, discolorations and other imperfections that give the entire hallway ahead a very mysterious and unique look
>the more you look the more you notice details everywhere, strange carvings along the walls, ceiling and floor
>it is almost reminiscent of hieroglyphics
>you can hear water running somewhere up ahead
>Capricorn's hooves click clack on the tile beneath her as she speaks
>“Should be exactly a week away today! And yeah, the Luna thing is just... Wow! Looks like things are finally starting to come together in my life”
>she giggles, it is infectious, she looks happy, definitely more at ease than the times you met before >even if her nervousness wasn't noticeable to you then
>you reach the bottom of the stairs and the path levels out to reveal a straight hallway that leads to a single solid door
>on either side of the hallway a thin aqueduct flows
>it is a nice touch for sure
>you make your way to the closed door, Capricorn knocks

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>>29335778

>the two of you wait a moment, nothing but the sound of the water running over the smoothly polished catches your attention
>the door opens and Cancer looks out, her crab is resting on her head
>she smiles wide and hugs you
>you return her embrace to the best of your ability, you weren't expecting that
>she is so warm
> “Anon! You came to visit! Hey Capricorn!”
>Capricorn smiles, Cancer continues to cling to you for a moment then lets go
>“Can we come in?”
>the purple pony smiles and nods carefully as to not disrupt her pet
>“Of course! I was just out in the common area talking with Pisces”
>the three of you make your way through the doorway into the common area of the water house
>this is really something, you weren't expecting it to continue to go downward
>you wonder how they can get a view of the sky from here...
>you find yourself on a balcony overlooking a large pool
>woah, fancy
>the water is very calm right now, undisturbed, you can see a multitude of colors at the bottom
>like a mosaic of rainbow tiles
>the rest of the architecture is pale, tan, or white
>the center piece of the room is a waterfall across the room on the other side of the balcony that cascades downward into the water below
>you are surprised that it doesn't disturb the rest of the water more

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>>29335839

>Capricorn looks down over the pool
> “Aw, I always forget how fancy the pool here is”
>Cancer snickers a little to her in a playful manner
>“Yeah we have it made! You're missing out Caps”
>you follow Cancer to the right, it looks like the balcony extends all the way across the room in a circle and behind the waterfall
>the three of you take another quick right and you find yourself in more of an actual common-area
>light purple couches, chairs, and lamps, it is a really soothing ambiance
>feels old fashioned, like staying in a home that someone has spent a life in
>Pisces is sitting one of the larger couches
>there is an aquarium with several colorful goldfish on the table near where she is sitting
>Cancer takes the sit next to Pisces
>“Hey Pisces! Anon and Capricorn came to visit!”
>Pisces looks away from the aquarium and at you and Capricorn
>Capricorn takes a seat on a different couch next to Cancer and Pisces
>you wave to Pisces
>she looks up at you, makes eye contact before looking away quickly
>“Oh! Um, hey”
>she looks up for a moment then shifts her gaze back at the aquarium then looks back at you again before giving you a very brief and unconvincing smile
>her tone is soft and pleasant, comforting
>“I-I'm Pisces, nice to meet you Anon”

>input

>>29335855
Its nice to meet you also.
Ask how they are able to see the stars from so far down.

>>29335855

I'm getting the feeling a good way to start, especially for Pisces, would be to ask about her and Cancer's pets.

For example, do they ever use that giant pool here to let them have some more breathing space? Were we ever to use it, should we worry about accidentally scaring Pisces' fishes or a certain crab, getting a grip on us?

Share the fact that some people on earth also used to keep aquatic animals as their pets. Tell the tale of oceanariums - aquariums so huge you would walk through them in glass pipes, admiring the marine life up close. The biggest of those on Earth offering hundreds of species and multiple thousands of specimens.

Reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWr14nh8gfA

Turn the starry eyes on and describe the experience. After all, it is one of the memories of the human race one can be proud of.

Also, kinda wondering whether, with that great a pool, they ever organize any festivities. Like, for example, swimming contests for all the Zodiac ponies out there.

>>29335855
Ask where the third water pony Scorpio is.
Too bad we can't just go for a swim without flashing them, maybe when they are all busy gazing?

>>29338252

Guess no one coming to a castle would've expected a pool inside.

I'm not sure about this notion of yours. Feels kinda risky. The pool is just next to the common area of the water house and the stargazing time has proven to have shifting length.
However, if we could somehow get a time reference as to how long does a short session last (like the one yesterday) i believe we could play it safe and go for what you proposed. I'd be in for that.

Not that it wouldn't be fun taking the risks, but i reckon we should avoid that if we can.

Bumpity

Gotta say, did not expect an instant transition between the earth and the water house. Thought there would be some time during the walk to get to know Capricorn first. Withheld questions for her cause of that, kinda, and now, we have instantly a whole group of ponies out there instead of only Capricorn. Not saying it's necessarily bad as use can use that as well, but did not expect that to happen. Wondering whether it would be possible to have that kinda time in-between vistis to the water and the fire house instead...

Wrote >>29340029 among other reasons, such as providing feedback, in order to bump the thread, but after having rejected the notion of simply writing "bump".

>Tfw >>29340027 eight seconds prior to posting. Oh the irony.

That being said, it's nice to see people keeping watch, as to not let the thread die. However, instead of simply "bumping", why not share more input or share your opinions on the game? Reckon there's much that could be discussed.

>>29340765
I would but for me there is nothing to really talk about until we start to explore the depths of the castle.

What do we know about Pisces so far?

>>29337461
>Also, kinda wondering whether, with that great a pool, they ever organize any festivities. Like, for example, swimming contests for all the Zodiac ponies out there.
Ask the Water House ponies if they use the pool for swimming.

Time to make a new friend.

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>>29335855

>you decide to take the seat on the couch next to Capricorn
>figure it is only fair since you didn't get to talk much on the way here
>she seems pleased
“Nice to meet you too Pisces”
>you smile and take a look at the aquarium next to her
>those fish are way colorful damn
>they are a visual focal piece of this lounge type area, they contrast strongly with the otherwise sepia furnishing and walls
>you fondly recall
“You know, back on Earth we had giant aquariums called oceanariums, they housed thousands of species. They had giant glass pipes that you could walk through so you could admire the marine life up close... They were really incredible, definitely one memory of my race that I can be proud of”
>you look take another second to admire the aquarium before turning to look at Pisces
>she looks down
>Capricorn is listening intently next to you
>Pisces speaks in a fairly meek tone
>“Oh, that sounds cool”
>you expect her to say more but she doesn't, instead Cancer speaks up
>“That is cool Anon! I don't know if we have any aquariums like that in Equestria”
>you look over to Cancer, the crab is now wandering on their couch
>she is keeping a close eye on it, probably making sure it doesn't wander off too far
“So that pool is really impressive! Makes me want to go for a swim, do you use it for swimming or festivities? Do you use the pool for your pets? I wouldn't want to disturb them...”
>Cancer looks up at you
>“Oh! You won't have to worry about Crabbers here, he's always with me”
>she brings the crab back a little closer to her and continues to speak
>“The fish stay in the aquarium up here. And yeah! We do swim in that pool sometimes, the water is a little different though...”
>Capricorn nods next to you then starts to talk
>“Yeah, I haven't used it much but it makes you feel a bit weird afterwards... I don't know how to describe it”
>she kinda huffs

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>>29341829

>Pisces speaks up a quietly
>“It seems spiritual to me. The pool slows your perception of time and let's you experience the castle from some kind of different angle. I imagine that the magic was intended to be therapeutic, but the enchantment seems to me like it was a work in progress... If you do swim I wouldn't advice staying in the water for too long”
>you look at Pisces and make eye contact
>she swishes her two toned blue mane lightly, revealing more of her horn
>Cancer hugs her
>“Wow Pisces, I didn't know you had that many words in you!”
>Pisces blushes and moves away slightly
>you and Capricorn share a little bit of a laugh at their antics
>you can't help but wonder where the other pony is
“Aren't there three ponies in your house? Do you know where Scorpio is?”
>Cancer's face drops a little bit
>Pisces speaks up
>“We haven't seen her since before the ritual last night. I'm sure she is okay, she does this a lot... but if you do happen to see her around let me know okay?”

>>29341844

>you nod and decide to change the topic
“So how do you see the stars from this far underground?”
>Cancer giggles
>“ A lot of stairs! Or, at least for me, I can't speak for Pisces and Scorpio”
>Pisces looks down and remains silent
>Capricorn decides to break the silence
>“It's good to see the two of you! It's been too long since we've got to talk. We will have to plan later for Princess Luna's arrival”
>Pisces nods but Cancer gasps loudly in surprise
>“Wait, Capricorn, you mean Princess Luna is actually coming here?! When did you find that out? What?”
>Capricorn gives her a confused look
>“Uh, Virgo told me this morning. I thought someone from each house was suppose to know”
>huh, Luna must have notified Scorpio
>it looks like Cancer draws the same conclusion but Pisces speaks up softly
>“Oh, yeah. I was meaning to tell you Cancer but I couldn't find a good time to bring it up...”
>the green pony hides in her mane a little Cancer gives her a deadpan expression
>“Pisces, the two of us have been together all morning. Most of that time in silence!”
>Pisces blushes and Capricorn laughs
>you wonder how long it has been since you got here
>it doesn't seem like you have over stayed your welcome yet but it would be good to spend some time with Capricorn too...

>input

>>29340029

yes definitely, I just wanted a strong prompt for that update.

>>29341858
I suppose i might take a short did in the pool some time to expirence it.
Are there any more normal pools as well.

>>29341938
*short dip

>>29341858
>>29341938

Maybe ask how long do you need to stay in the water for the effect to kick in - and how much of your body needs to be dipped in the water. Maybe we could try it out now in the controlled environment, with ponies watching, dipping just our arm or head?

>>29342966

I mean, it could have a different effect on humans too, right?

>>29341858
It is interesting if the enchantment is indeed incomplete then whoever used to live here likely did not expect to leave when they did or they probably would not have started it

unless the enchantment takes many years i suppose. maybe luna will know something about it.

>>29343030

Seems like the Princess of the Night is gonna have a busy time here in the Castle.

Wonder how complex is her connection with the Constellation ponies here, if any.

>>29343677
She probably has something to do with the clock at least.
I expect she will be asked about that 13 times in as many minuites when she first arives.

>>29343699

Heh. Guess we should avoid asking that ourselves too, as to not get on her bad side?

Thursdays are busy for me, I'll be back to write in about 6 hours. thanks for all the solid discussion!

>>29341844

>“The fish stay in the aquarium up here.

So, the fish do not get to visit the pool... but the picture makes sure makes one wonder if it isn't Pisces visiting the Aquarium herself at times!

So much fun is being had.

should we go check on Scorpio before leaving the water house

>>29341858

They certainly seem like good friends. Could comment on that.

Ask how long have the Zodiacs knows each other, perhaps?

>>29347920


“Aren't there three ponies in your house? Do you know where Scorpio is?”
>Cancer's face drops a little bit
>Pisces speaks up
>“We haven't seen her since before the ritual last night. I'm sure she is okay, she does this a lot... but if you do happen to see her around let me know okay?”

From these words, I'm assuming she might have snuck out and is somewhere out there on the castle grounds, instead of in her room. That's why they're asking us to report if we see her walking around - they could be simply waiting for her here if she were just in her room.

Was that the message intended, QM?

>>29347963

yeah that is what I was trying to imply. I'm going to start writing soon

>>29341858

>your thoughts keep drifting back to the huge pool by the entrance
>something about it is so alluring
>maybe it's because on some level you know that you are in the desert...
>you look over the ponies in the room
“It seems like you are all very good friends, how long have you known each other?”
>Cancer and Pisces look at each other for a moment before Cancer starts to speak
>“We've known each other for a few years, but some of the Zodiacs have met more recently”
>Capricorn nods and speaks up next to you
>“Yeah, it's hard to say with how time is here. I'd say that I met you two about a year ago when we first came to the castle”
>Pisces speaks up quietly
>“Has it really been that long?”
>Cancer interrupts in a much more lively tone
>“I think it has been much longer than that!”
>Capricorn huffs
>“It was just a guess”
>you look back over at the pool and admire the tiles at the bottom once more
“I think I want to try the pool, how long do you have to be in the water for there to be an effect? Do you have to be fully submerged?”
>Pisces is looking into the aquarium appearing to be in thought
>she looks at you briefly then looks down
>“Oh! Um, not sure, the longer you stay in the stronger the effect. You could probably just dip your head in for a minute...”
>you nod
“Might as well try it out now in a controlled environment, right?”

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>>29348548

>Cancer claps her hooves together and stands up
>“Oh! Follow me”
>you and Capricorn get off of the couch and follow while Pisces trails a ways behind the two of you
>Capricorn is still close by your side
>Cancer leads you to a series of stairs on the other side of the lounge
>it leads downward several levels to the pool
>you wonder how much space is in this house...
>hell, all of the houses
>eventually you reach the surface of the water
>the tiles look vibrant from this close
>“Alright Anon, whenever you are ready!”
>you look to Cancer and nod before dipping your head beneath the calm surface of the water
>it is refreshing, you take a moment to feel the sensation with your eyes closed
>the water feels light and cool, but otherwise normalized
>you leave yourself submerged for another second
>you can't help but wonder what the tile looks like from underwater
>you open your eyes briefly
>fractals
>you were not expecting that
>you lose all sense of your surroundings
>the water is somehow distorting the colorful tiles beneath you into a ridiculously elaborate colorful pattern
>repeating in and out, you can't begin to guess how deep the water is
>you pull your head up and out of the water and take a breath of air

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>>29348560

>everything feels bright
>you open your eyes and are dazzled by the stone
>once sepia, they now are omitting a soft rainbow glow
>everything seems so crisp, vividly real
>you remain silent in awe of your surroundings
>a soft voice enters your ear
>“Anon? Are you okay?”
>you look up into a pair of beautiful dazzling purple eyes
>Capricorn's face expresses genuine concern
>she has been so nice to you so far...
>they all been really kind
>her mane is so cute
>you wonder what you did to deserve her affection, after doing nothing but pushing her away the first few times you talked
>everything feels different
>how long have you been thinking for?
“Yeah, I'm okay. Everything is just really real right now”
>you take couple deep breaths and stand up
>Capricorn helps you to your feet, then quickly withdraws her touch
>you don't want to pull away, she feels really nice right now
>you look at her, she still seems withdrawn and nervous on some level
>it's like you are becoming more and more aware of it
>you look at Pisces and Cancer
>they seem to be a bit more comfortable
>Pisces speaks up
>“Just try to relax and realize that everything is truly okay, appreciate your surroundings”
>you look over to the waterfall and get lost in thought
>everything is so tranquil... the rhythm of the water
>these ponies are so nice, you wonder what you should do
>you hope Capricorn is okay

>input

Capricorn needs a soft petting.

>>29348579
Say you will have to try this again some time.
Also ask if they have a more normal pool somewhere in the castle.

>Zodiac
I'm a Taurus.

If we ever meet someone from outside of the castle who knows when exactly did the Zodiacs come here, I feel like we should ask them about it.

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>>29348667

pet pone? y/n

stay in water house longer? y/n

>>29351470
may as well pet her i suppose
lets move onto the next house after asking if they have any other more normal pools

>>29348579

The water really does seem to make one see things from a different angle, just as Pisces said...

In response to the unicorn's latest words:

>“Just try to relax and realize that everything is truly okay, appreciate your surroundings”

Answer that almost everything is okay. Would be, perhaps, if we took the time to appreciate more one element in our surrounding. Take a meaningful glance at Capricorn.

>>29351470

If anything, we now have the excuse of this water, having an impact on us. Go for the petting, but make it a bit more of a concilitory act. Do it only after you say that you're sorry if she's still down because we've chosen the air and not the earth house. There were so many ponies to choose from back then and we didn't even get to know half of them yet...

She's been a very nice mare and we appreciate her company. We're still not really sure to what extent do the Zodiacs decide on their shared activities here based on which house they belong to. It seems to be a much bigger deal than we could have imagined it to be - what with the huge common areas and facilities like the water house's pool here. Despite that, if she wishes to spent some more time with us, regardless of being in a different house, then that's perfectly fine.

>>29351470
Forgot to add the part about staying in the house. >>29351792 here. Although i'm ok with either, my proposition would to attempt this walk, see how we perceive the other parts of the castle now with the water effect applied.

However, do that after asking the Zodiacs present a follow-up question to what'll be said to Capricorn. The letter we were sent said: "As a guest of honor, you will be treated as one of the ZODIAC family." What does it mean for them to be members of the different houses then? (Don't wanna ask what it means for them to be parts of the Zodiac family yet, as that could be too extensive/personal. Kinda. Not really sure.)

>>29351470
When going in for the pet make sure to do it slowly and gauge Capricorn's reaction. If she shies away immediately abort the attempted pet and play it off as just examining your hand real quick.

>>29352518

Suppoting this notion.

>>29348579

>you look around the housing more before answering Pisces
“Almost everything is okay. I just need to appreciate all the elements in my surroundings...”
>you give Capricorn a meaningful glance
>her purple eyes sparkle and return your gaze
“I'm sorry for not choosing to stay in the Earth house with you Capricorn, there were just so many ponies to choose from and I hadn't really met anyone yet”
>she really is adorable, you decide to reach down and give her a couple soft pets
>at first she looks surprised but then smiles and blushes before leaning into your hand
>Cancer makes an 'awww' noise and Pisces looks away
>Capricorn speaks up in a soft voice
>“Aw, thanks for that Anon, don't worry I understand”
>you give her a nod and she continues to lean into you
>she looks a lot more at ease but still a little in disbelief
“You're a very nice mare and I appreciate your company. I'm still not sure the extent to which the houses here do activities, or what it really means to belong to a house, but this is much more than I could have imagined. If you want to spend more time with me despite being in a different house I am perfectly okay with that”
>Capricorn blushes more furiously and nods
>“Yeah of course! Um, you are about ready to go see the Fire house maybe?”
>she clops her hooves together slightly
>you nod yes and turn to the two water house ponies
“I'll have to try this water here again sometime in the future. Do you have a normal pool anywhere?”
>Cancer nods and speaks, there seems to be a lingering sense of disappointment in her eyes
>maybe you are seeing too much into these ponies right now...
> “Yep! All the way upstairs by where you came in. Two lefts from the entrance, directly across from the lounge”
>you nod and try to remember the instructions while looking over at Pisces
>surprisingly she seems to be the most calm out of the group, you can't help but wonder more about her

>>29353722

>Capricorn breaks the silence
> “You know, it has been too long. Before we leave a little dip couldn't hurt”
>she looks at the surface of the water hesitatingly before taking a few steps in to soak her hooves
>Capricorn signs loudly
>“This is really soothing”
>she continues to stand in the water and looks back at you
>she giggles and waves at you before speaking
>“Figured you'd want someone a little bit more of the same frequency as you Anon”
>she looks vibrant in the water, full of life and emotion
>a real pony... crazy, her horns looks so exotic
>she closes her eyes and takes a couple deep breathes before making it back out of the water towards you Cancer and Pisces
>Cancer and Pisces look at Capricorn who is still giggling
>she leans into you again more heavily
>the physical contact feels enhanced, either that or she is just really really soft
>“Woah! Really colorful”
>she looks up at the ceiling with wonder in her eyes
>“Ooooh.... so ready to go to Fire house Anon?”
>it feels like you have been down by this pool for so long
>the idea of changing scenery hadn't really occurred to you
>you nod yes and Capricorn laughs
>you feel connected, as if not having to say too many words to communicate

>>29353733

“Thanks for having us over! I'll have to come back and try the water again”
>Pisces giggles very softly
“Oh, I already said that huh?”
>she nods
>Cancer comes over to give you a hug
>“Don't be a stranger Anon, enjoy the spirituality of the castle, you will feel different for a while”
>you nod and return her embrace before making your way back up the stairs out of Water house with Capricorn
>all of the changes of elevation in this castle are really incredible
>you remember you are underground...
>Capricorn just seems to be taking in everything in awe as well
>“You know, I feel like I have gotten so involved with trying to explore this castle that I've forgotten how beautiful it is here... I'm glad you're here to experience this with me Anon”
>she leans into you affectionately as you make your way out of the water house back into the sterile looking hallway
>it looks even more sterile and minimal, pure hospital core
>the aqueducts are really sparkly, they glisten and dance in the lighting
>it is bizarre
>you look down and make eye contact with Capricorn briefly
>the click clack of her hooves on the tile beneath you is exaggerated

>input

>>29353740
Ask her what her plans are for lunas visit.

A pool that makes you high just by being in it.
That's a new one.

>>29354392
It doesn't make you high it enhances the senses you filthy druggy. Makes things clearer.

I thought that this prompt might not illicit much discussion, I'm just going to start writing unless anyone else has something to add

>>29355337

:^)

bump for exploration.

>>29355543

Will add stuff, just needing to get home in a few hours.

>>29357337

Arrived. Gonna be getting to it soon.

Wow, no one else responded so far? Like, geeze, it is a more peaceful prompt, but really?

Also, posting that kinda rambling because being on page 10 now.

>>29353740
>>29358416

Comment that if she met with the other Zodiacs about a year ago and was involved in exploring the castle ever since, then it really must be holding a gargantuan amount of secrets.

Seems mysterious that this big a castle would be left as if intentionally for their care, what with the signs engraved on their doors, resembling their Cutie Marks and the wise. Like they were supposed to be the lords of the castle or something of the kind.

That mentioned, we were offered a place at one of the houses. Is there room for honoured guests outside of that though? If not, would that mean Princess Luna will also be choosing a house to stay at?

Also, this mare, Pisces. With the amount of fishgazing she does, makes one wonder if, contrary to Cancer, needing a lot of stairs to go up, Pisces looks at the stars... in the reflection of the water below.

And about that stargazing... it seems to be such an intense, spiritual experience. Makes one wonder if the ponies of the water house ever go for it after having dipped themselves in the water. Wonder what that would feel like. Don't think we should try it though. The stimuli could overload us. I feel like we could ask the water house ponies about that one day though.

Further on the subject of the stargazing... how about we ask Capricorn what sort of an experience it is for her, comparing it to ours?

Also, might wanna mention the fact that after last night's very short stargazing session, some of the ponies in our house felt really down. Was that the case in the earth house as well? Is that an often occurence overall?

>>29353740
May as well ask Capricorn more questions: what's your favorite pastime? Got any hobbies (aside from stargazing)? Strangest experience you've ever had? Favorite meal? Favorite color? Any life ambitions?

Give her ample time to respond and relate her answers to our experiences on Earth so she doesn't feel like she's being interrogated.

What a nice pony.

>>29360235

Given the reasoning behind her, taking a dip in the pool? Yeah, would definitely agree on that.

>>29353740

>the two of you continue to make your way down the hallway
>you feel energetic, finally awake and alert
>guess you aren't really a morning person
>you continue to look at the patterns in the stone
>it seems like there are more subtle patterns that weren't there before, moving in waves
>huh
>there is so much detail, the contrast bounces around in your field of vision
>you and Capricorn start ascend up the stairs
>this is taking forever
>she brushes into you again and giggles
> “Okay, so I'm going to take you to the ballroom first, that way you will be oriented”
>you nod and continue to focus on the stonework
> “But what you'll come to find the longer you stay here is that there's more than one way to get everywhere”
>she hesitates
> “D-do you know what I'm saying?”
>you are slightly confused but nod reassuringly
“If you all have been here for a year then there must really be a ridiculous amount of secrets to be discovered in this castle, huh?”
>Capricorn nods yes
>you are filled with an overwhelming sense of wonder as you reach the top of the stairs to the hallway
>you are starting to get the impression that there could be seriously anything in here
>even in this hallway there are several doors that you didn't quite take notice of on your first pass through
>“You know it's funny, I feel like I know less about why this castle is here than when I first arrived”
>Capricorn huffs as you make your way towards the ballroom
>you can't help but feel like someone is watching you
>or rather there is a mutual awareness
>like you are aware of the history around you, while simultaneously becoming part of it
>the ballroom feels eerily empty, it appears that natural light is entering from somewhere

>>29361761

>you look at the clock, what they referred to as the heart of the castle
>the hand is still far away from either of the marks
“You know, this castle is really mysterious. I can see how trying to understand it would be frustrating...”
>Capricorn smiles
>“Jeez, tell me about it”
>you continue
“The whole thing with your cutie marks being on the doors and the castle being intact, it's like it was built for all of you”
>the two of you make your way to the large staircase that you first entered the castle ballroom from on your first night
>“Hey, it was bound to happen eventually right? I was due for a free castle”
>she giggles and leans into you before looking up at you
>so warm damn
>you ascend further up the stairs, past the hallway and continue to move up further
>it looks like you aren't quite level with the elevation of air house, but you are close to it
>you make your way to a break in the stairs and Capricorn turns to the left down a hallway
>the carpeting is a silky red
>it's bright and stands out strongly with the more darkly colored stones around you
“So what do you have planned for Princess Luna's arrival then? Is Luna also going to be offered a house to stay at, or other guests of honor?”
>Capricorn continues forward as she speaks
>she doesn't feel like a guide really like Aquarius, but rather like a friend who explaining a new area to you
>very informal, despite the fact you are sure she has a wealth of knowledge about the castle
>the pathway ahead starts winding different directions and changing in elevation
>dipping then raising, left then right, the stonework is very unlevel
>there are tons of doors in this hallway as well

>>29361772

>“Well, we have been trying to figure out a lot of the magical patterns in the castle. We think they have something to do with the stars above. This alignment should be a show in itself, the castle is going to be doing a lot of the dazzling for us”
>that does make sense, the venue seems like a good location
>“Other then that... We invited several other guests, prestigious ponies, writers, element bearers but we don't really expect them to show up early like you did. Although, I guess they are welcome to stay after the ball too if they want!”
>Capricorn pauses as you continue to make your way down the winding path
>it is starting to feel warmer ahead
>the stone remains a dark hue, the tone of the carpet is now more of a deep blood red
> “To be honest, there is a lot of planning to be done still... We wanted some of your perceptive, since you are literally otherworldly... We figured an outside and non-biased view would really move things along around here”
>the hallway to come to an end ahead
>about time, you were starting to feel dizzy
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I will try to help out how I can. The stargazing on the roof last night was very intense. It brings out a whole different side of the land. I don't know how it was for you and Earth house, but Air house was really somber”
>Capricorn nods understandingly
>“Last night was not too bad for most of Earth house, but that was because the moon fell within Earth houses reign. The energy that was project matched more closely with what we naturally agree with. Sometimes it can be hard for Air houses to be down to earth and straight forward, see things from a direct and head on angle”
>she trails off
> “Am I speaking too much? I feel like I am speaking too much. Did you follow that okay?”
>you laugh and nod

>>29361799

“I like hearing from you, it's fine. You should tell me more about yourself”
>Capricorn nods, leans into you further and blushes as you make your way out of the hallway
>the room you enter is circular, the walls are lined with 5 heavy looking metal doors, the ceiling is high above you
>Capricorn keeps trotting forward to the door directly ahead as you continue to speak
“Favorite color? Favorite food? Any life ambitions? Strangest thing you've had happen to you here? Hobbies?”
>she giggles
>“Oh! Favorite color is black, if that counts, favorite food blueberries...”
>she pauses to think for a minute before the door ahead of you
> “Life ambitions, find out why the heck I have this cutie mark and these horns, hobbies I like to research magic... I know I'm not a unicorn”
>she huffs a little
>“But that doesn't mean it isn't really interesting!”
>you laugh and give her a scratch on the head
>she sighs then giggles remaining close to her
>you feel really connected, you are walking at the same pace
“That's alright, I definitely know what it is like to have unusual interests”
>she ponders for a moment more before speaking again
>“And the last thing... what was it? Oh yeah! Strangest thing... It's kinda hard to describe”
>you give her a reassuring look
“That's alright”
>she nods
>“So a few nights after I arrived in the castle I decided to go exploring for the first time by myself”
>she pauses and you urge her to go on
>“Well, anyways, I was at the very top of the castle, or at least it what I thought was the very top. One of the spires, I had been gazing there for a while but it was really cloudy so the stars weren't telling me much”

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>>29361833

>that is an interesting way to phrase that
>“So I decided to take the stairs back down the outside of the spire, only when I went over I found that they keep going upwards too... In the name of exploring I decided to follow them as high as I could, which was a dead end above the cloud-line”
>she stops and opens the door ahead of you
>“I thought that maybe it would connect to some kind of cloud structure! So I rushed back into the castle to get Libra cause she is a Pegasus and could walk on the clouds, only when I came back with her the staircase wasn't there. Libra thought I was going crazy, but it just didn't extend upward into the clouds like it did before...”
>you are about to respond to Capricorn but you are stunned by the sight of fire
>flames
>huge, in the center of the room a large fire burns wild
>it illuminates the entire house common area, the couches are positioned around the fire
>the stone work is urban and crude
>you see that Leo and the pony you remember to be Aries are sitting on one of the couches chatting
>Leo stops speaking and looks directly at you from all the way across the common-area
>the fire is so intense
>Leo's eyes have a spark to them, she is still in that lion suit
>she barks at you from across the room
> “Anon! There you are! About time!”
>she jumps off the couch and runs over to you
>she makes it across the room in several fast strides before pouncing on you
>at least you were expecting it this time and are able to stay on your feet
>so much energy in this room you feel like you are spinning
>after behind so immersed in slow thought and conversation, everything feels alive
> “How come it took you so long to come visit your best pal Leo Anon?”
>Capricorn looks down and moves a bit away from the energetic ball of lion costume
>Aries keeps his distance, watching from the couch
>he yells over to you
>“Morning Anon!”
>Oh wow, it is still morning, everything is moving a mile a minute

>input

>>29361854
Ask how long it took to find the houses when they first arived if the castle does change sometimes like you just indicated were you somehow guided to them because the paths we took are rather complicated even if they are not the only one.

>>29361854
Good morning and give Leo a big hug. Apologize for taking so long but you're here now! Ask how they are.

>>29361854
Sure is a nice fire you all have got there. Do you keep that burning all the time?

>>29361854

>you decide to return Leo's hug with vigor
“Good morning Leo, sorry it took so long but I'm here now! How's everyone in Fire house?”
>Leo nuzzles into you a bit before letting go and taking a couple steps back
>Capricorn remains silent, she appears to be a little uneasy
>it feels so busy in here, everything was calming in Water house and in the hallway
>you both must be stunned at the vibrancy of this housing
>Aries leaves his position on the couch and starts making his way over towards the three of you
>Leo is the first to talk
>“All's well in Fire house! Sagittarius is off shooting his bow somewhere, Aries and I were just talking about how PRINCESS LUNA is coming to the castle! I can't believe it! Can you believe it?”
>you laugh a little and nod
“It is pretty incredible... “
>your eyes are drawn to the fire again
“Hey, that's a nice fire you have over there, do you keep it burning all the time?”
>Aries responds a bit louder than necessary
>“Oh yeah, I don't think we could stop it if we wanted to. It has been going for who knows how long. Fancy magic of some kind”

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>>29363427

>you and Capricorn look up into the flames
>they are very warm, they heat up the entire room
>their color is off in some way, tainted with hints of purple and blue
>or maybe you are seeing things, everything seem overexposed in this common-area
>you are starting to adapt
>energy, heat, noise
>you still feel a touch overwhelmed
“So how long did it take you to find these houses when you first arrived? Did you gravitate towards them naturally?”
>Leo laughs
> “I wish! It took a lot of time, hard-work and self-discovery”
>Aries deadpans and interrupts
>“Oh come on! It was like 2 or 3 weeks at most before we found the Fire housing”
>Capricorn giggles next to you
>Leo speaks back in a dismissive tone
>“Pssh, whatever Aries. Trust me it was rough”
>she pauses and looks serious for a very brief moment, as if in thought
>she takes a moment and speaks in a cheery voice
>“So Anon! Any questions about Fire house? Anything you want to do? Or see? Or accomplish?”
>Leo leaps forward and leans up on her tip toes in a futile attempt to make eye contact
>she blinks her eyes rapidly several times

>input

*pastebin is updated to this point, I might have time for one more update tonight but I am most likely going to stop until the morning. hope everyone is enjoying thus far!

http://pastebin.com/n1SMm4XE

>>29363449
I assume a lot of the castle is heated from here if so I would love to see where it all comes from.
Do you have any lava.

Added Zodiac CYOA to the archive:
https://www.anonpone.com/zodiac/

She should probably get a chair or table to stand on if she wants to be eye level with us. Have you ever cooked anything over that fire?

I'll give you a bump from page 10.

>>29363449
Crouch down and speak to Leo at eye level. Or this >>29365407

Wanna see some fire house rooms?

I know where we'll be hanging out when it gets cold.

Who's the most senior member?

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been being lazy today sorry guys. I'll update in a few hours! have some spyro 1 inspiration

>>29369564
That's completely fine. Take your time.

What >>29369622 said.

Also, it's neat to see such a piece of childhood incorporated in this CYOA. Can definitely see how it made its way into whay you've presented so far.

In a way, I'm considering myself lucky. If it weren't for you, starting late, I wouldn't have been able to give input of my own today:

>>29363449

It took Capricorn some time to develop some connection with us, physical level included. Earth house and all that, not taking things too fast. I'm getting the feeling she has been taking us for someone a bit closer to the earth house mentality, even going as far as to dip in the water to remain on the same wavelength as us. It seemed inportant for her and one can see why.
I'm not surprised she's become uneasy, seeing us jump into the physical level of Leo so easily, one that she's worked long to achieve herself. Maybe questioning if what she's achieved seemed trivial and is being handwaved by us. If it didn't seem sily of her to withhold for so much even, perhaps? With how she seemed to be holding back ever since we've rejected her over-eager self offering us a place at the earth house... I know I'd feel anxious, if at least for a moment.

There is a remedy though, i think, if we act fast and carefully enough. Ask Leo jokingly if Capricorn doesn't deserve a pounce herself. Or is it just that we don't yet know each other that we're getting the queen of the jungle treatment? Ask Capricorn if she feels like she's been pounced a satisfying amount of times.

If not, maybe we should dress up and help out with the pouncing duty? Cosplays were a thing back on earth and boy were they fun...

If done in moderation of course, but still.

Also, in all seriousness, no, us, pouncing others now would probably be a bad idea.

On a side note, ask Leo if it isn't too warm for her in that costume, especially with the fire going on in here.

>>29363449
>>29370005

Furthermore, you might wanna mention that it's okay that Sagittarius is away - we've actually had a chance to talk with him earlier, as we've stumbled into him having shooting practice while having a walk yesterday. It's Leo and Aries that we're yet to get to know.
Heck, that's probably what we're hoping to achieve here most today.

Answering Leo's inquiries... we've seen plants at the earth house and the pool in the water house. Kinda hard to imagine what would they have, expect for a bonfire of this kind. Unless it's some gym where BURN AWAY your excess calories? Puns aside, this house does seem to put some more weight on physical activities.

Does Aries do any sports?

>>29370097

Unless it's some gym where you*

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>>29363449

>you are assumed at her antics
>you lean down so that you're more on eye level with her
“So queen of the jungle, are you gonna give Capricorn here a pounce too? Or am I getting a special treatment cause I don't know ya yet?”
>Leo gets down off her tip toes and looks over to Capricorn
>she crouches
>Capricorn goes pale
>Leo laughs and speaks up
>“You are always so expressive Caps, relax. I know you've had enough pouncing ~”
>Capricorn blushes and looks down
“So are there any other rooms I can see in the Fire house?”
>Aries nods before speaking up in his normal energized tone
>“Oh totally! You'll love this, it's the best chill spot”
>Leo seems to know which room he is referring to because they both start heading back across the room to a door on the other side of the flames
>you can't help but notice how quickly the intensity of the heat rises as you get near it
>the flames sparkle and glisten with accents of abnormal colors
“I assume that a lot of the castle is heated from here? I would love to see where it comes from, do you ever use this Fire to cook?”
>Aries laughs as the four of you walk by the flames and go through a tall stone door frame
>it reveals a staircase that seems to descend a level or two
>“I try to stay away from that fire, of course I'm clumsy. Nothing good can come of it you know? I think it burns too hot to cook anyways”
>it does look very large, it lays silhouettes on the stone walls of this stairwell
>it feels like you are with a crowd of ponies
“Any lava? What else is burned here? Calories? You have a gym too maybe?”
>Aries doesn't miss a beat with his response
>“No lava, no gym. I like to use the track outside in the courtyard if I need to go for a run”
>you nod

File: whatdoyouseeanon.jpg (219KB, 600x365px) Image search: [Google]

219KB, 600x365px

>>29371210

>the four of you reach the bottom of the stairs to reveal a lounge area
>the walls are an off colored white stone, the furniture is a tasteful teal color
>surprisingly close to the tone of Capricorn's tail and mane
>it is a little cooler in here
>sprawled across the walls and ceiling extending upward are miscellaneous shelves with various jars >different shapes and sizes
>each jar contains a small colored flame, burning with a vague intensity that gives the room a very odd lighting
>it seems to dazzle and reflect off of the marble, doubling, tripling forming patterns and fractals
>kind of like the stars last night
>you reorient and blink before looking at your surroundings again
>how long have you been in here?
>Capricorn seems to be lost in the sparkles as well
>Leo and Aries have already taken their seats together on one of the couches
>Capricorn is still staring upward but she is brought back out of the trace by Leo's voice
>“Come over here and take a seat you two, jeez!”
>the two of you make your way to the couch and sit down
>Capricorn leans into you a little, Leo is close to your left but on the other couch

>>29371231

>you look at her
“Isn't it too hot in here for that costume?”
>Leo giggles and bats her eyelashes at you
>“Why? You want to see me take it off or something ~”
>Capricorn blushes bright red, you look down as Leo continues to giggle
>you decide to think about how convenient the amount of couches in this castle is
>Aries speaks up before you have time to fully gather yourself
>“It's too bad Sagittarius isn't here right now, you'll have to meet him later”
>you take a short breath before responding
“Oh don't worry about it! I actually met him last night, what I am really hoping to achieve is getting to know all of you...”
>it is true, you are fascinated by the idea of other ponies right now
>everything is so vivid, meaningful and full of energy here
>Capricorn remains quiet, it looks like she bites her lip a little, you can't tell out of the corner of your eye
>Leo gets a devious look in her eyes
> “I know the perfect way for us all to get acquainted if you are game...”
>you don't know if you like where this is going...
>“Sooooo Anon, truth or dare?

>input

*glad I took my time on this update, ty you guys. start thinking of ideas if you want to go through with Leo's game

>>29371253
Nooope I learnt long ago not to do that.
How about we just ask each other questions normally.

The true reason why the Zodiac ponies were so down yesterday:

The stars told them this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXRinzI9Jmc

“Isn't it too hot in here for that costume?”
>Leo giggles and bats her eyelashes at you
>“Why? You want to see me take it off or something ~”

As a player, hadn't thought of it that way, but certainly wouldn't object..

Truth or dare? That could go really, really bad. If we do it let's just always pick truth.

What are some good truth questions for the ponies?
What questions can we anticipate answering?
What dares should we give?

gonna let this discussion run for a bit longer, but I'm around.

>>29373619

all this stuff would be really helpful too

>>29373619
I would still rather ask questions normally but whatever we end up doing we should ask about there childhoods.

>>29373948
As for dares we could dare others to wear leos costume.

>>29371253
>>29373619

Will be getting to those thoroughly after finishing work today.

Seems like a tricky situation, one needing to be handled with care.