Untitled

INTRO:  http://pastebin.com/6ETeJZdT

PART 1: http://pastebin.com/ACSQ11iw

PART 2: http://pastebin.com/vuDWd0gN

PART 3: http://pastebin.com/FHsBM3FS

PART 4: http://pastebin.com/JQQyvrGT

PART 5: http://pastebin.com/qA7iNnNK

PART 6: http://pastebin.com/MC8nJrAD

PART 7: http://pastebin.com/TMPtZnp9

BONUS7: http://pastebin.com/BWztXa7k

 

LAST TIME

After arriving in Canterlot, you had the chance to meet Lyra's fabulously privileged parentage and enjoy the luxuries of a bath and an oddly erotic encounter with a masseuse. After gallantly evading those advances, you set out to explore the surrounding Castletown district and think of a way to get into the AEIOU while avoiding the Downtown mobs.

 

AND NOW

You're in a back alley of the Castletown Bazaar, inside a quaint little tent littered with mystical tchotchke. Meditating before you is a curvy redheaded woman, the first human you've personally contacted in weeks. This is ostensibly Guillemot, the local "witch" and a renowned point of human contact outside of Canterlot's Downtown.

 

Whether she really does look appealing or you're that hard up for human contact, you can't keep staring at her.

 

...

 

>>2574659 >>2574717

You remind yourself to look with your eyes, not with your hoov—er, hands—as you clear your throat rather loudly and call to her. "Excuse me, is Guillemot here?"

 

"I sense a soul in search of answers." Now that her eyes are open you find it a smidge easier not to be so distracted by her other features. She smiles and nods, "Hello, fellow world-skipper! What can I do for you today? Potion? Fortune? Or just need help getting familiar with this new plane of existence?"

 

...

 

>>2575163

"Oh, you just wanted company? What kind of establishment do you think I run here?" She gives you disapproving look before laughing. "I'm kidding! I know what you're talking about, being one of few human businesses outside of Downtown."

 

"I didn't think it was that bad you had to come all the way out here." She looks you up and down, and you realize that you're not particularly dressed for the affluence of the neighborhood. "You don't live in Canterlot, do you? That's radical, man, where you from?"

 

>>2575314

"Ponyville, actually." Your answer makes Guillemot's eyes light up.

"Oh, wow! That's, like, out in the country and the Everfree Forest. I get a lot of ingredients shipped in from out there, that place is wild."

"Ingredients... You said you make potions?"

"Yeah! The real thing, man." She gets up and fetches an earthen bowl of cloves. "Equestria's rife with magic, real magic, and everything in it has a unique effect on humans. We don't have magic back home, so there's no telling! I've made it my business to learn how ponies use it and how humans can use it."

"That kind of thing see a lot of demand from the rich?"

"If you mean how I got to be in the Castletown bazaar, yeah, pretty much. That and the old zebra wanted an apprentice."

 

[cont'd]

 

"I think someone like you would've been valuable to the AEIOU. Aren't they into this cross-cultural stuff?"

"Oh, no." She gets a very displeased look. "The AEIOU is all suits and scholars. No respect for a homeopathic and mystic like myself. It's not 'proper science' they said. Didn't stop me from applying, though."

"I imagine you might have a lot of friends there, though, considering."

"You would not believe how easy it is to get joak poisoning even in the middle of Downtown." She rolls her eyes.

 

"Why do you ask? You thinking of joining the AEIOU? They could use a janitor to help clean up the mess Downtown."

 

...

 

>>2575867

You have chosen... wisely?

 

You deflect the witch's jab with a laugh and ask her what else she makes.

"Well, the, er, Intimate Stamina one is a big hit. And there's human-approved Cold Cure, Karma Jolt, Limited Invisibility but I'm legally required to add an aural component to that so no funny business and also to tell you up front about that, and there's also this new one but it's not ready yet because that idiot won't give me his formula because it's patented. How can the AEIOU patent anything? They're not a real company..."

 

As she goes off on her tirade, you notice the post-lunch traffic is picking up in the bazaar outside. You may want to get your shopping done before Lyra and company start worrying.

 

...

 

>>2576215 >>2576222 >>2576242 >>2576289

"Karma Jolt sounds interesting. What's that do?"

"It's actually a memory supplement of sorts. A dose helps you recall past events, but it also has a nasty side effect of stirring up feelings tied to those memories. Totally radical, I do not guarantee that you will see your actual past reincarnations, but who knows?"

 

"And what did you mean by an aural component on the invisibility one?"

"Well, instead of just being invisible you'll have kind of a glow about you so folks will know you're there. It's meant for fun, and they can't have folks running around places they aren't supposed to; doesn't mean people haven't tried. I needed to go through a lot of paperwork to get the legal formula and I'm bound not to share it with anyone. Underground alchemists have been trying to reverse engineer it for ages, I hear."

 

"And what was the new one? What kind of potion would have the AEIOU's stamp on it?"

"Oh, I don't know if I should tell you about that."

"I might be able to help you." Your implicit offer earns you a funny look.

"If you really could, I would be honored. But first, tell me what you'd like. I'll grab some out of my stock and return with the info on the, er, job."

 

"Well, three Karma Jolts and..."

Do you still want the invisibility and/or others?

 

...

 

GM's note: Karma Jolt lets you draw on the wisdom and courage of other Quest Anons. Maybe.

 

...

 

You get:

[INTIMATE STAMINA]

[KARMA JOLT x3]

[TEMPORARY INVISIBLITY W/ AURA]

 

"And here's the guy with the patented formula." She hands you a photo of an earth pony stallion. "Name's Bromide. He works in the AEIOU as a... scientist something or other. Look, I don't know what you have planned, but don't hurt or threaten him. He's a friend of mine. Hey, if you're really going to do this for me, can I get your name?"

 

You can continue getting information from her, or return to the Travis estate, possibly buy a souvenir in the bazaar on your way out.

 

...

 

"Well, how would I get into the AEIOU? I imagine security is tight these days."

"If you had some kind of business, that'd work great. It's more lax on the inside frome what I remember, apart from lab safety. Apart from that, you could try hitching a ride in one of the carriages that go in." She shrugs. "Hey, it's not like I thought about it. A lot."

 

"Why're you and the AEIOU so concerned about this formula? What does it do?"

"It's a... controversial thing, but I think it's pretty radical. Apparently there's a way to magically induce a cutie mark, or something that looks like one, on non-ponies."

"Er, couldn't you just do a tattoo?"

"Well, a cutie mark has actual magic properties. This can simulate more than just the image, or so I'm told. Still, I've heard lots of talk, especially from humans wanting to... transition." She seems disturbed at this notion.

 

"Any other questions?"

 

...

 

"I'm just curious about what it's been like for other humans. We should talk over lunch some time, Miss Guillemot."

"Call me Shana. And yeah, I got all kinds of stories. Nice talking to you, Anon. You know where to find me!"

 

You thank her for the help and look around for the bazaar. Certainly you should have something more than an Intimate Stamina potion to show for it?

 

Examining the stalls and prices, you find a wide variety of exotic merchandise and craft pieces, but you'd have to settle for either a bunch of smaller trinkets (enough for Bonbon and the fam) or just one expensive piece.

 

Whichever you decide, write in your ideas.

 

...

 

You rack your brain for ideas. Maybe something musical for Lyra? A fancy fashion accessory for her mom? What about Bonbon? And there's no guessing what Lord Travis is into... Lyra's family is so loaded, would they even appreciate any of it?

 

You decide to wait to get to know them better, but as you stroll through the bazaar, you spot a stall of musical instruments. You know Lyra specializes in strings, so maybe you could get one for her here? Maybe she could teach you to play? Of course, you'd look like an idiot lugging one along with you up to the estate. Ah, the things we do for love.

 

Of strings, there's an Earth guitar here, and two items of Equestrian origin. One resembles Chinese guqin, though the vendor tells you it is of Griffon design. The other is a Zebra instrument, best likened to an autoharp.

 

You also spot a fourth curiousity: a pale green guitar pick carved from horn. This would certainly make a good complement to Lyra's strings collection.

 

...

 

On the zebra autoharp: It is shaped to accommodate equine form, and isn't all that much smaller to the Earth equivalent, owning to the need for a more generous space for hoof-based manipulation, but it operates on the same principles.

 

...

 

>>2577806 >>2577865

As interesting as the strange instruments are to you (not to mention the familiar panty-melting Earth guitar), you decide to settle for something more nuanced: the guitar pick.

 

The vendor seems surprised at first when you inquire about it, and he gladly hands it over to you for what seems a largely nominal price. He almost seems glad to be rid of it.

 

Back to the estate, finally?

 

...

 

Heading back to the estate is fairly uneventful. You do peek into Pony Joe's to see if Rarity is still there—she isn't.

 

Inside, you can't even get your coat off entirely before you find Lyra hanging off of your shoulders by her hooves. "Where WERE you? Having fun without us?"

 

...

 

>>2578214

You explain to Lyra that you were exploring town, and even show her the gifts you got for her. She's intrigued by the sketch of your hands and has you hold them up to compare.

"Wow, I can't believe you bumped into Rarity! Too bad she can't see what else those hands can do, huh?" Lyra gets a dirty grin on her face.

 

"I've never really used picks, but darn if this thing doesn't look rad awesome." She admires the guitar pick, examining its etched design closely. It looks like a skull with two spiral horns coming off of it. "That design, it must be minotaur. They hold this between their fingers to play a string, same as humans."

 

"So where's Bonbon and your mom?"

"They're relaxing in the hot tub, actually. I thought I'd go check out the old music room while they did that, and then... well, I kinda sensed you were here. Weird, now that I think about it." Lyra ponders this for all of a second. "Join me in the music room? We'll have a bit of privacy, and maybe you can try that pick."

 

...

 

The music room has a much warmer atmosphere to it, owing to the simpler architecture of flat planes hewn from dark wood. Most likely due to acoustics.

"Yeah, my parents spoiled me and built a big room. They support most of my interests." She pulls you to an opening in the center, getting a kind of look in her eyes. Her horn glows and you can hear the faint snap of the door locking. "Most of them, anyways."

 

Business, or pleasure?

 

...

 

>>2578565

"Here? Now? In your parent's mansion?" You question Lyra even as she pulls you towards the floor, but you stop her with a gentle grasp on her eager hooves.

"Well, where else we gonna do it? It's not like we can up and leave for a hotel."

"We have to talk about the AEIOU."

"Oh sunspots, yeah, about that." She slumps down and just lies on her back.

"It's a mess downtown. I think we can get a taxi, but I'm not sure. Will they send one out for you?"

"I called them to let them know I was in town. I'd just have to call them again to arrange a pickup."

"And you have a cover story?"

"Uh, yeah, like, um... transCendenZ guild meetup. Yeah. Parents and Bonbon don't care for the game at all."

 

"So, Anon... They said they wouldn't ask me to bring the father in, unless I wanted to... you're coming with me, right? I mean, I don't know what kinds of things they'll be doing." Lyra curls up a bit, shaken at some unspoken fear.

 

...

 

>>2578730

Your best guess is Lyra's been pregnant for over a month. Ponies have longer gestational periods, so it's not evident yet. However, you know that between your meeting, and her hiding it for a long while, not to mention the logistics of having to get her test results to the AEIOU, she's probably further along than you'd like to admit.

 

...

 

You recall that the popular MMO has a cross-world playerbase, not to mention both you and Lyra have player accounts on it. Yes, you're even in the same guild! The two of you meeting with fellow guildmates IRL is a totally sensible outing. There might even be other humans there, or at least anthrophiles who'd take an interest in you.

 

"Well, of course, I'm coming with you!" You reassure her and stroke her mane. "I'm not going to make you go through this alone."

"They'll know you're the father."

"I don't see what's wrong with that."

"Okay." She still seems pensive. "But you don't have to, you know? I mean, I don't deserve it. So if you don't want this responsibility, I won't force you to take it."

 

...

 

>>2578936 >>2579005

You lean down and kiss her. Not one of those sloppy, no-idea-what-you're-doing, trying-eat-the-same-hot-dog, the-lights-are-off-I-hope-this-isn't-a-nostril kisses, but a simple liplock that transfers an inordinate warmth between yourselves. It almost hurts to pull away so you can tell her,

"I want to go."

 

It's the first real smile you've seen from her since arriving in Canterlot.

 

[end]