Things Are Not What They Seem: CYOA Part 10

Last thread: http://archive.heinessen.com/mlp/thread/8240351

 

Pastebins are all at pastebin.com/u/smutanon

 

>RP Status: 70 means eligible for romance.

>PP: 30

>TS: 45

>PC: 67 (3 points short!)

>RD: 41

>FS: 39

>R: 37

 

"I can't say I know what you went through, Celestia. I don't even know if I have siblings. But I know a good sister when I see one. And that's all anyone can ever really do: be the best sibling they can, you know? Do what's right by their family. Is that what you believed you were doing?"

 

On the brink of tears, she nods, keeping her mouth shut for fear a cry would escape it.

 

"Then you'll both be fine."

 

She releases a long breath a manages a somewhat convincing smile, letting thoughts of the past return to the past. "well, Anon, that's my speech on Duty. Do you have any questions? Hold nothing back; even a minor oversight could be costly."

 

Where could you even start? All of this was so overwhelming and sudden, both hearing about Celestia's past and your new weapon. In any other circumstance you might find this fascinating, but like this, it's just morbid.

 

What do you ask?

>(A) More about Duty

>(B) More about Celestia and Luna's past

>(C) More about Chrysalis

>(D) Suggest a walk to clear you head

>(E) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(D)

 

You need to get out of this room, stretch your legs, get your mind off of, well, everything.

 

"Can we take a walk? I need to get out of here."

 

Concern flashes on Celestia's face a moment before she nods. "That would be an excellent idea. Come."

 

Taking one last look behind you at the pedestal where Duty lied, you leave the room right behind Celestia then take up place alongside her. At first you say nothing, only allowing her to lead you through the hallways of her castle, keeping your eyes on the floor and the walls. The patterns decorating the hallways are certainly impressive, though you don't give yourself the time to appreciate them.

 

Your thoughts lie elsewhere.

 

For the first time, you realize you're not worried about getting home any more. The safety of these ponies—well, one in particular—is your first priority. You blink at the thought. Maybe you are a good person after all. Maybe it wasn't just those voices.

 

"Does it get easier? With time, I mean."

 

The sudden question grabs Celestia's attention, though she continues forward without a stutter. "Time heals many things simply by giving you the chance to reflect, whether to regret or justify. Too much time, however, can only make one more vulnerable. Yes, Anon, time does easy my mind. But sometimes I wonder if it deserves to be eased."

 

"Does it really matter what we deserve, though? We have what we have." You raise your head, taking in your surroundings more thoroughly now. "Where are we headed?"

 

"You bedchambers. You need rest."

 

Glancing over to Celestia, you can't help but feel a chance slipping away here.

 

What do you say?

>Open response

 

 

 

 

You find yourself becoming more and more nervous as you approach your bedchamber. Celestia shows no hint of emotion, chin up and head straight, walking with the dignified gait that comes so naturally to her. Here you are, finally admitting you feel something for her, and you can't even get the words out. What would she want to hear anyways?

 

The two of you walk in silence for a few more minutes before Celestia stops. You're too busy thinking to yourself and actually pass her before stopping yourself. She's looking straight into your eyes, but the emotion in them is hidden behind that royal visage of hers. All you want to do is break it again, see the Celestia you saw back in that repository, the one that might feel something for you, too.

 

"Here is your chamber, Anon." Her horn glows as she opens the door for you. "Please try to get some rest. You will need it." With a horribly polite nod of farewell, she starts off toward somewhere else. Somewhere without you.

 

"Wait, Celestia."

 

She freezes in place, turning over her shoulder at you, waiting for you to speak.

 

You swallow, taking in a deep breath and puffing out your chest a bit, hoping it gave you the strength to say what you needed to. "You know you're a good pony, right? I dunno, maybe on this planet it's weird for someone to try and tell you whether you've made the right choice, or messed up, or even judge you in general. But... I feel like you don't know it. Like you need someone to tell you."

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

 

You feel your body start to heat up with anxiety and you scratch your arm, trying to find something to do with your arms. "You say you don't know if you deserve to be eased, but Celestia, no one deserves it MORE. Because how can someone keep going on for decades, for centuries, for millenia, trying as hard as they can to make the right decisions, to never forget their mistakes but never let their past overwhelm them? I... remember leaders from back home. Some did okay, some did terrible, and I imagine they all did the best they could with what they had—just like you. But, Celestia, none of them were ever as benevolent as you."

 

She stood in place, gaze still hard and still, blinking and silent. 'Ah, screw it,' you thought. 'That wasn't what she needed to hear.' Turning to your bedchamber, defeated, you start to walk inside.

 

"For what it's worth, that's why I'm glad I met you. Your benevolence. Not just as a leader, but as a pony." You sigh. "Goodnight."

 

You grab the doorhandle and start closing the door behind you...

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

 

...but find it anchored in place by an amber glow.

 

"Anon, I know it may not be the most responsible thing, given what we may have to do tomorrow, but there is a spot in the royal gardens my sister has a soft spot for. It's always glowing with moonlight, no matter what phase of the moon it is. It's just a short walk. Would you like to accompany me?"

 

Shifting your gaze upward, you find Celestia just outside the door, her once-stoic face now finally beginning to crack, letting just a little of herself though.

 

RP: PC: 70 (+3)

 

>(A) Go with her

>(B) Go to sleep

>(C) Offer another location

 

 

 

 

>(A)

 

Celestia's offer excites you a lot more than you let on. You do your best to play it cool, but a grin escapes onto your face.

 

"I'd love to."

 

"Excellent." Wait... was Celestia blushing? "It's just down this hallway."

 

You eagerly follow, though when you're by her side again, you can't figure out what to say. She's interested, certainly, but you were just winging it! Talking about politics would probably be boring as hell to her, seeing as she probably lives it. Maybe she likes music or art? Perhaps she shares some traits with Twilight, seeing as they've been a student-teacher pair for a while. You feel sweat start to form on your forehead and you quickly wipe it away, hoping Celestia didn't notice.

 

"So, Anon, I'm afraid I do not really know much about you. What is it you enjoy doing back home?"

 

Well, with her asking the questions that solves one problem, but presents you with a new one...

 

What they hell DO you enjoy?

>(A) Music

>(B) Drawing

>(C) Sports

>(D) Try to crack a joke

>(E) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(C)

 

"Ah, well, I played some sports. Backyard football, track, followed the pro teams and whatnot."

 

Looking at Celestia, you hope to find some hint of either approval or disapproval in her eyes, but she hides her reaction well. Either that, or her opinion is neutral. But what if she really isn't into sports? What if she—

 

'Dangit, Anon, pull it together!' you yell internally. Overthinking everything isn't going to help you at all. What you need to do is relax.

 

"Say, Celestia, the garden is just down this hall, right?"

 

She raises an eyebrow but nods nonetheless.

 

"Well, seeing as I enjoy a little competition, and you seem to be in fine shape... race you to the garden!" You add a light slap to her haunch for encouragement, then take off.

 

Celestia scoffs. "Anon!" she calls to you, now breaking into a gallop. You afford yourself a glance over your shoulder to see her gaining quickly. Ponies are fast—though you figured as much, which is why you gave yourself the surprise head-start.

 

Ahead, you can see the garden through a pair of open doors. You're close, you just need to maintain your rapidly shrinking lead. Pumping your arms and legs in a sprinter's rythym, you blast you way forward, victory in sight—

 

—only to fall flat on your face when your pants suddenly drop to your ankles. Celestia buzzes by you and stops at the entrance to the garden, not ten feet away, the most smug smile on her face.

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

 

"Just because I am 'benevolent' and old does not mean I cannot play dirty, too, Anon."

 

Grumbling, you get to your feet, pulling your pants back up.

 

What next?

>(A) Tease her about playing dirty

>(B) Go along with it

>(C) Try to crack a joke

>(D) Compliment her on her win

>(E) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(D) + (A)

 

"Yes, fantastic win, there, sunbutt. I knew you just wanted to get my pants off."

 

Shaking her head, Celestia offers her reply, "Anon, as a nearly two-thousand year-old goddess of ponykind, I would like to inform you that any attacks on my modesty will fail spectatularly." She accenuates her next statement with a smirk. "Though you do have a quite shapely posterior."

 

You walk past Celestia briskly, never locking eyes with her in an attempt to hide the blush blooming on your face. "Yeah, yeah. How about we look at this garden of yours?"

 

As you step outside, you nearly gasp at the change in atmosphere. There's a soft lull of wildlife in the background and the the breeze lays the gentle brushing of leaves on the air. You find flowers and bushes all around you, as well as shorter, albeit wide and beautiful trees, some even budding. Taking in the scents, you don't notice Celestia walk up to your side until she speaks.

 

"Luna has worked so hard on this garden, something I never give her enough credit for. I've come here many times myself to relax, let go of stress and feelings, get lost in the world, even if only for a moment. Did you have a place like this back home? Somewhere you could escape?"

 

How do you reply?

>(A) No, I never found a place like this

>(B) Yes, it was... (specify)

>(C) Non-committal, change subject back to Celestia

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(B)

 

Allowing yourself a private chuckle, you put your hands on your hips and give your answer. "Yeah, you could say that, though it wasn't like this." You turn to Celestia, tapping your head. "It was in here. Fantasies, drawn by the word of another. I spent my time in castles, in sky cities, in other worlds, other times, other bodies. When I wanted to escape, Celestia, I read. Do you read as well?"

 

She shares your smile. "Of course. I've likely read more books than anypony alive. Sure, a lot of it was non-fiction, but novels have always held a place in my heart. You probably wouldn't have guessed it, but I've written one or two myself."

 

"Really?"

 

"Oh, yes. I wrote about private fantasy worlds, places only in my dreams. They never had a princess, though."

 

"Of course they didn't," you say, placing a hand on her withers, "they'd never live up to the real thing."

 

Celestia throws her head up with a bemused chortle. "If you're to try flattery, Anon, you'll have to try harder. Nobles often assail me with it for political purpose, and while their words ring hollow, some of them are quite creative."

 

"Yes, but the nobles don't have..."

 

>(A) Do something crass

>(B) Do something sensual

>(C) Do something silly

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(B)

 

"...fingers." With that, your hand wanders to her close wing, diving underneath the feathers and massaging the cusp where wing meets body.

 

The response is immediate; her wings spring upward, unfurling to reveal the full beauty of her wingspread. Before you could really get into it, though, she smacks your arm with a wing, forcing you to pull it back. Hoping to see her finally cracking, you look into her eyes only to find an amused smirk on her lips.

 

"Almost none of them are so bold."

 

She walks away, deeper into the garden. You can't help but watch her rear sway back and forth, betraying a deliberate tease in her gait. With a gulp and a foolish grin, you jog over to catch back up with her and the two of you journey through the garden, no particular path in mind.

 

"Why don't we talk about you for a change, Celestia? I know you're the leader, Twilight's teacher and you've got a sister, but not a whole lot else."

 

The look in her eyes is sharp, practically daring you to dig deeper. "Go ahead, though I'm afraid I'm poor at bragging."

 

What do you ask?

>(A) About her hobbies

>(B) About her family

>(C) About her friends

>(D) Her favorite thing

>(E) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(E) Everything

 

Never one to back down from a challenge—especially Celestia's—you narrow your eyes, gazing directly into hers. "I want to know everything. Hobbies, other family members, friends, what your favorite thing about this world is—all of it."

 

"Your ambition is not limited to sports, I see." She looks up, gathing the answer in her mind. "Hobbies I'm afraid I couldn't give you a solid answer. They change over the centuries. I used love writing and walking amoungs the clouds that gather on mountaintops, but now I find it more enjoyable to study architechture and spent my quiet time here. You know, at one time I even made it a hobby to learn every species of flora and fauna." Shaking her head, she drew her mane from her eyes with a hoof. "Still working on that. Family—that's limited to my sister and I, and I'm sure you've heard more than you'd like to about her. I still love her dearly, though." She glanced to the moon, a familiar longing filling her eyes for a moment. "You want to know what my favorite thing about Equestria? It believes. No matter the opponent, these ponies, this world: they believe in what they have, what they've earned, how they live. There's never been a moment where I've stood out on my balcony or flown above the city to look down and see despair." The playful grin she once wore has faded. "Something even beyond my grasp."

 

"Celestia—"

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

Her head whips to face you, her gaze much more severe than it was a moment ago. "I know that tone of yours, Anon. Try not to see me as a pony who needs your help every time she feels burdened. I have carried my burdens for longer than you can imagine and I shall continue to do so as my station demands it."

 

You raise a finger, trying to think up a point to to lay out, and argument against her strict self-sufficience, but nothing comes to mind. Nothing that would sway someone as experienced as her.

 

"I'm sorry, Anon, I did not mean to snap. Let's not let it ruin the moment, shall we?"

 

You nod, though your once springy walk had now degenerated to a shuffle.