>>12387765 (OP)
Well then let's get this over with.

Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?Wie fühlt es sich eigentlich an schwul zu sein?aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

>>12387765 (OP)
Accompany them to Celestia's tent.
Or wherever it is she wants you to go.

>>12387872
>>12388182
Celestia leads the two of you off, away from the camp. There's no real good spot for a private conversation, given the place is a barren wasteland of dust and rock, so Celestia stops when you're all out of earshot of the camp.

"Thank you for coming with me. I am sorry if these questions seem invasive at all, but I feel I should ask them." She turns to Rose first. "Why do you wear blunters on your wingblades?"

Blunters? You cross your arms, looking to Rose.

Rose scans the area, making sure you're all alone. There's more than a touch of sarcasm to her tone as she answers. "I would think the question answers itself. One wears blunters to prevent the blade from cutting."

Celestia is unfazed. "Indeed. Perhaps I should rephrase: what is your personal motivation for putting blunters on your wingblades?"

Rose frowns. You can tell she's weighing the question in her mind. A long glance at you ends her internal debate. "I think I've had enough killing for now, especially if my enemy is to be my fellow pony."

"I saw how the blunters were applied. They were welded on and worn-in. It would take weeks of such use to cause that, and you've only been with us for days." At Rose's deepening frown, Celestia added, "I am sorry, I do not wish to accuse you of anything. But if you are to join our cause, this is of special interest to me."

Rose actually looks... uncomfortable.

>>12388299
Interject, we just went over this with Rose and she's probably not willing to share.

>>12388299
Let her handle it.

>>12388299
She probably has good reasons not to share. Step in and try to defuse the situation calmly.

>>12388419
She told us the likely reason why last time in confidence.

>>12388353
>>12388419
"Celestia, I think I know why."

"Hmm?"

Both her and Rose turn to you, one curious, the other about to sear a hole through your head with pure anger.

"It's not really mine to share, but it is a good reason. Good enough for me. There's nothing to worry about."

Rose's anger melts away like fire in rain, her face regaining its usual cool. Celestia looks between you and Rose a moment before nodding.

"Very well. If you are content with it, so am I. My next question concerns our enemy, or, specifically, their methods of tracking us. Do you know of anything we may have overlooked? I am surprised they found our last camp so quickly."

Rose shakes her head. "No. The Stampede has no spectacular tracking abilities or spells."

"Do you know where our enemy might be based?"

"I know of Stampede outposts, but the enemy seems to be only a portion of the Stampede, albeit a rather large one. I do not know which they are using and which they are not. I would also not expect the one you seek to be using any location I know of."

Celestia sighs. "It was worth asking, at least. You've been willing to answer my questions without protest. Have you decided to fight for me, then?"

The pause isn't long, but you can feel the void of silence hang for just long enough before Rose speaks. "Not for you."

"I... see."

[cont]

>>12388755
You raise your hand. "Didn't you have a question for me?"

Celestia's face animates into a large grin. "Yes, I did." She lifts her saddlebags off her back and brings them over to you with magic. "Leftovers from our trip. Can you return these to the supply tent?" She dumps them into your arms, nodding to Rose as she walks off. "Thank you."

You hear Rose mumble something under her breath. "Errand boy."

>>12388762
Check the contents of the bag.

>>12388806
Sorry I haven't posted anything. Didn't want to continue with only 1 person.

>>12389436
I'm lurking, just couldn't think of an answer
Though I would go with what was suggested

>>12389436
o-oh...

>>12388806
>>12389518
"Whatever," you say to Rose, getting a better grip on the bags. "You're just jealous."

"Your humor is still sub-par."

Rolling your eyes, you ignore Rose and instead open up one of the bags. Inside is some water and a little food, just as you expected. Underneath those, however...

You reach into the bag, pulling out a large, brown blanket--the same you'd packed when you first left. "What the heck? Why is this in her bag? And why didn't she tell me she had it?"

"Are you asking me? Because that princess of yours is just as much a mystery to me as she is to you."

"Yeah, I guess I underestimated exactly how much of one." You stare at the blanket, trying to figure out what it's doing there. This doesn't make any sense. Hoping Celestia's still in earshot, you turn around and look for her, but she's gone, probably back in her tent. It's not that big of a deal, really. Just... curious.

Shurgging, you stuff the blanket back inside the pack and sling it over your shoulder, making for the supply tent. Rose follows.

On the way there, you spot Silver wandering around, as well as Steady chatting with the two pegasai from earlier. He must be giving them assignments. Luna is talking with the Elements, but still no sign of Celestia.

>>12389628
>Celestia hid the blanket so we would have to snuggle up to her for warmth
oh-ho-ho~

>>12389628
see what Luna and the elements are up to.

>>12389648
She wants it
>>12389668
This sounds good

>>12389628
Could try finding something to make ourselves useful.
>>12389436
I'm preoccupied, still here though.

>>12389668
>>12389685
You stash the supplies back in the supply tent, then head towards Luna and the Elements. Halfway there, you notice Rose is still tagging along, though not saying much of anything.

"Are you... following me?"

"Yes."

"Can I ask why?"

"You amuse me. What else is there for me to do here, anyways?"

"I thought you said my humor was sub-par."

"Yes, but your attempts fail in such spectacular ways."

You sigh. You're not exactly sure how well it will go, but you can at least introduce her to the Elements.

You greet Luna and the Elements with a wave and a, "Hello." Luna nods in acknowledgement, as do most the rest of the Elements. Pinkie, however, takes immediate interest in Rose.

"Ooooh, who's this? You must be new! I'm Pinkie Pie!" She bounds over to Rose, grin barely constrained on her face as she leans in. "So, what's your name?"

You take the moment to realize that bringing Rose and Pinkie together may have been a very big mistake.

>>12389879
"Rose, run."

>>12389879
Give a snicker, but let things pan out.
Could easily be amusing.

>>12389879
I imagine she's heard of the elements of harmony.

>>12389879
Oh dear. Well, if nothing else this'll let us see how Rose reacts to less serious types.

>>12389985
>>12390081
Snickering, you cross your arms and watch Pinkie work her magic. It's a rare opportunity to have fun at Rose's expense. Damn the consequences.

"My name is Victory Rose. Now I would appreciate you giving me some space."

"What a cool name!" Completely ignoring Rose's request, Pinkie zips around her, inspecting and poking at her armor. "This armor is neat! Where'd you get it? What's it made of? Can I tickle you through it?" Pinkie reaches under Rose's belly, looking for a ticklish spot, but it earns nothing but an icy glare. "Hmm, I need to think of a nickname for you. How about Rosey? Ros-Ros? Lickie-Vick? Oh, wait, I know! Vikki! Vikki Vikki Vikki! That's fun to say! Vikkiiiiieeeee--"

A hoof stuffed in her mouth halts her tirade. Rose leans in, eyes narrowing. "My name is Victory Rose. You can use Rose, or Victory, or any combination of the two, but do not even think of calling me--" she stuck her tongue out like the word tasted bad, "--Vikki."

Quick as lightning, Pinkie's behind Rose, out of her grasp. "Okie dokie, Vikki!"

Looking at the rest of the Elements and Luna, you find Rainbow on the verge of laughing, Fluttershy trying to disappear, Rarity squirming like she should do something about it but unsure exactly what, and Luna has got the largest, most smug grin you've ever seen on her.

[cont]

>>12390313
>>12390015
"Rose, you've heard of the Elements of Harmony, correct?"

Her avarice shifts to you and you about freeze into a popsicle at her glare. "Yes."

"Then let me introduce them. You've met Pinkie, Laughter, then there is Rarity, Generosity; Rainbow Dash, Loyalty; and Fluttershy, Kindness." You gesture to each pony as you name them. Fluttershy flinches when Rose's gaze turns to her.

"These are the Elements?" She raises an eyebrow, but doesn't comment further. You're fairly sure no one would've liked what she had to say.

"We sure are, Vikki!" Pinkie lands on Rose's back, rubbing her cheek against Rose's.

"You should sleep with one eye open tonight, or not at all."

>>12390336
Try to change the subject. Ask Luna if there's been progress towards planning the attacks on the possible camp locations.

Looking through the earlier logs, Rarity said:
>"the Elements... focus the power inherent to them through to the sixth holder, Magic, or Twilight in our case."
There's probably a distance limit, but it couldn't hurt to ask if it would still work: with power Twilight might be able to free herself or contact us somehow. Luna also implied it was possible to track excessive magic use when we were asking about the limits of using the worldshards; that alone could maybe help us find her.
I just worry that them kidnapping the Princess of Magic might have been for more reasons than just opportunity

Also, don't forget about Rarity suggesting that she might have left a clue, somehow. From what Celestia said earlier she wouldn't have had any suspicion that anything was up until the moment she opened the book and was teleported, so it'd have to be something she knew how to do well. Can any of her friends think of any spells she uses regularly that could have been used to leave some communication?

We still haven't seen Spike, have we?

>>12390336
We'll need to thank Rose later on for showing some restraint.

>>12390545
I like this suggestion, a lot
And no Spike as of yet, and cause they haven't mentioned him before, I don't think we can actually ask about him

>>12390624
Yeah, figured as much, so I spoilered it trying to indicate it as sort of meta chat. Suddenly occured to me that we haven't seen the little guy anywhere, despite it being his sister/carer/what-ever-the-fuck-their-relationship-is that's missing and that we've brought the rest of the mane crew along. Hope he's all right.

>>12390624
Yep, they never mentioned him by name, just that someone lived with Twilight which means his usefulness is alreayd up.

>Op_will_surely_deliver.jpg
Fuck I need to save some of those 'OP will deliver pics'

>>12391256
He's slow sometimes, usually means something big or something distracting on his part.

File: 1374956708182.png-(506 KB, 850x730, CurrentMap1.png)

Sorry this one took so long. I needed to eat. Also should've posted this map earlier to give you an idea of where you are.

>>12390534
You carefully remove Pinkie from Rose's back before things escalate any further. You go to plop Pinkie on the ground, but she ends up crawling up your arms and resting on your head and shoulders, nuzzling your hair. She probably could not have stood still for more than 3 seconds, anyways. Better there than Rose, you figure.

"So, Luna, have you made any progress with planning our next step?"

"Yes, that's part of what my sister and I were discussing after everyone left. She's favoring the plan of moving the entire camp as one and investigating sites one at a time, starting with the Scales. My suggestion was a hybrid of sorts: moving the camp to the Scales, and, if finding it unoccupied, setting up a base there while we send out scouts. The final decision will be made tomorrow, once everyone is healed."

Sounds like a good a plan as any. You can't imagine teleporting the camp over and over was good for Luna's health.

>>12390545
What Rarity had said earlier still intrigued you. What sort of sign could twilight have left?

"I'm not entirely sure how the Elements work, but you did say earlier the magic is channeled through Twilight, right? What if you tried to use them now? Would you be able to tell where the magic went?"

[cont]

>>12391523
Rarity's face falls. "I'm afraid that's not possible. We don't have the Elements themselves here, for risk of losing them. We have also never tried using them without all six present. I'm not sure that would even work."

>>12391523
We'll be ready for whatever plan you set in motion then.

>>12390336
What's Applejack up to?

File: 1374957183325.png-(535 KB, 850x730, 1374956708182.png)

>>12391523
Sadly I'm on a borrowed computer so I don't have my fancy paint.net and hxd to look at it, but looks like MSPaint and Notepad will do. Nothing appended to the end of the image data that I can see in Notepad, but MSPaint clearly shows up some stuff hidden in plain sight.
Maybe we've missed something in our previous hidden stuff.

>>12391680
WAIT
I just noticed, what's that time/date/whatever in the bottom part of "LOOK"? Can someone else clear that up further for me?

>>12391722
Huh, maybe it's apart of a link or the times of posts he wants us to look closer at?

>>12391722
It's the second word 'CLOSER'
So basically he's telling us to look closer...I wonder what we should look closer at
Dammit SmutAnon why you gotta be 2deep4me

File: 1374957659949.png-(534 KB, 850x730, 1374956708182.png)

>>12391722
Nevermind, cleaned it up with good ol' MSPaint anyway.
1:1:34A 1:2:30b 1:3:55 7:4:51A 3:3:22A 4:1:11A 6:1:47b 2:1:12b

Um.

>>12391820
Oh wait I didn't see what you're talking about, I just noticed it
Dammit my brain hurts now

>>12391796
Nah, LOOK CLOSER along the bottom line of the L in LOOK, and along from there. There's some other stuff written there.

>>12391820
Also, I suspect those lower-case "b" looking things are just to distinguish them from 8's in that limited-pixel font, so they might be uppercase for whatever we need to use them for.

>>12391820
First number ranges from 1-7, second from 1-4, third from 11-55. Maybe they're something like thread number, post number, character number? The A/B thing has me confused, though.

>>12391820
>>12391896
Also weird that the third one doesn't have an A OR a B

>>12391570
"I'll be ready for whatever you can throw at me."

"I as well," added Rose, still eyeing Pinkie suspiciously.

"It is good to hear I have your support. Both of you," says Luna. She looks past you, noting something in the background. Turning around, you find Steady waving her over to the newcomers. "It looks like I've got some pegasai to meet. It has been a pleasure, Rose," she says, nodding. "And the rest of you, farewell for now." With that, she walks off.

You turn to Rarity, who still seems the most composed of the Elements. Rainbow is giving Pinkie--still atop your head--a funny look, and Fluttershy is peeking out at Rose from behind her mane. "So, any ideas about what sign Twilight might've left behind?"

She shakes her head. "My fear is she's done something incredibly obscure that only someone as educated as herself may recognize. Celestia and Luna are much more likely to divine whatever it might be, assuming there is something to be found."

Rainbow nudges her. "Hey! You're plenty smart. If Twilight wasn't the egghead of our group, it'd definitely be you."

"Thanks...?"


>>12391573
That was explained earlier. She's helping out on the farm and couldn't afford to join at harvest time.

>>12391896
Or maybe post #, line #, character/letter #.
Feels like more than a coincidence that the first one ranges from 1-7 when there's been 7 quest posts in the thread before the image was posted, discounting the OP. Guess there's no way to find out except to start counting.

>>12391928
>Spoiler
Whoops, sorry.

>>12392112
Give that a try and let us know what you come up with when you manage faster than me.

>>12392112
>>12392166
Scratch that idea, Post 1, Line 3 doesn't even have 55 characters.

>>12391928
Seeing as there's nothing going on here, go and find something to do
Think it's a good idea to go and ask Celestia about the blanket thing?

>>12392341
Non-chalantly mention we found the blanket we were looking for the other night so we're not accusing her of anything.

>>12392337
I'll try thread, post, word next.

>>12392371
This, then
Seek out Celestia, and talk to her about the plan Luna was talking about, then throw in the blanket thing as casually as we can
If you can't add in the part about the blanket I'll understand, but yeah, go and talk to her about the plan

>>12392397
>First and second sessions occur in the first thread and are labelled Sessions 1-3
>Third session is labelled Session 4
>Fourth session is also labelled Session 4
Yeah, I'm just going to assume that navigating that mess isn't required as part of the solution for now until I've exhausted some other options.

>>12392545
Yep.

Did anyone else get why Celestia was asking Rose about blunting her blades? It seemed like she had a reason beyond curiosity, but I can't really see it.
I thought it might have been "Are you a turncoat and blunting your blades so that you don't hurt the people who's side you're actually on", but then she said she could see they'd been that way for quite a while, which would counter that.

>>12392341
>>12392371
>>12392430
You pick up Pinkie and set her down. She grins at you, bouncing off to befriend or pester the next pony that caught her fancy. You say goodbye to the rest of the Elements and go to the princesses' tent. Rose is still right behind you, so you pause before entering.

"Can I chat with her alone?"

She shrugs. "Very well. By the way, don't forget, I'm still training you. Be up early tomorrow."

Wow, you'd completely forgetten about that. Maybe because you half-expected her to stop. "Sure," you say, then duck into the tent.

Celestia's inside, humming to herself as she--oh, wow she's cleaning herself. Brushes and buckets of water float around her as she scrubs her backside and combs her hair. You blush and immediately back away. "S-sorry, I didn't realize you were--"

The tent flap behind you is sealed with a golden glow. You're stuck in here with her.

"Nonsense. I don't mind the intrusion at all. Take a seat," she says, gesturing to her bed. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

>>12392681
"W-well, Luna mentioned the plan you were considering."

"Did she? It's exactly the same as the one that was discussed with everyone else. I'm afraid I couldn't really say anything more about it." One of the buckets hovering about her tips, splashing water onto her back. She smiles when it hits, brushing the wet area with soap.

"That's about what I figured. I just thought I'd mention running into her on the way back to put your saddlebags and my blanket back in the supply tent."

"Oh?" She's stopped cleaning herself, turning back to you. "I thought you'd lost that."

Roll Time!
No roll: Don't push it, just let her know you know about the blanket.
Try to get her to admit stealing it [medium difficulty]
This is a minor roll, but there are still positive consequences for success and negative consequences for failure.

>>12392688
Oh fuck.
Someone else can choose.

>>12392688
I'd say it's ill-advised to push our luck after making so many difficult rolls, but...fuck it.
Try to get her to admit stealing it. A little teasing couldn't hurt.

>>12392766
Alright, we'll go for it
Watch us fuck up all the Celestia related rolls.

File: 1374961046297.png-(135 KB, 620x347, rxn sweaty pie.png)

>>12392688
Oh shit man I'm freaking out right now
Fuck it, try and get her to admit #yolo

>inb4 we ruin our chances with her

>>12392799
it's only a moderate-difficulty roll
if we were willing to risk severe bodily injury from Rose last time, Celestia being mildly peeved should be no biggie should we fail
...I hope we don't fail...

Yeah, let's try it. We didn't pick persuasion just to ignore persuasion-based opportunities

time to be punished for our hubris

>>12392974
Basically.

>>12391896
>>12391915
Haven't made too much more progress, but if it is characters rather than words, then it could be another pastebin URL with the A/B indicating uppercase/lowercase and the one without either being a number.

File: 1374962381130.png-(7 KB, 333x41, Confession Roll 1d10.png)

By the skin of your teeth. Success was 6.

>>12392785
>>12392799
>>12392893
"Yeah, me too. A real interesting place to find it, in your bag and everything. You don't know how it got there, do you?"

"Someone might have misplaced it. We were all quite weary for a good portion of that trip. I may have accidentally placed it there myself and forgotten all about it just as much as you could've done the same."

You shake your head. "I wasn't the one doing all the flying, and, knowing you, you were probably never actually 'out of it'. Your mind is very sharp, I can tell, even if your body is tired. The only way it could've gotten there was if you put it there. On purpose."

Her wings poof out with a sound not unlike an explosion of feathers, knocking one of her brushes away. It almost hits the ground before Celestia grabs it with her magic again. "That's... quite a theory. Why would I do something like that?" Somehow, she keeps her tone steady. Must be all those years of princess-ing that gives her the ability to not crack so easily.

"I think you were playing a joke on me."

"Oh, dear, I've been found out." Her wings slowly retract back to her sides. "Yes, I was trying to play a joke. I was going to hide it until you got worried."

You grin. She took the bait. Now that she's admitted to the WHAT, you can work on the WHY. "Well, I dunno. Maybe you wanted me to use something else as a blanket."

[cont]

>>12393275
Again, her wings burst from her sides, faster than last time. You wonder what that means. She shakes her head, mumbles something to herself, then turns around, smiling a soft little smile. Walking over to you, she lays one of her sopping-wet wings on your head.

"Hey!" You jump off her bed, only to be grabbed by the other wing. Celestia giggles as she rubs the water into you before letting you go. Shaking your arms free of the water, you look over yourself. Your clothes are soaked now.

"It's been a very long day. I suggest you wind down and get ready to sleep. I don't see the days growning any shorter." She nudges you toward the exit with magic and you comply, but not before getting out one last statement.

"You never answered my question!"

"My dear traveler, I never needed to."

The tent seals itself behind you. Damn that pony! What did she mean?

Well we should probably hang our wet clothing to dry and get some rest.

>>12393225
What if it's paragraph:sentence:character?

>>12393289
The day tomorrow will be long too since Rose going to kick our ass in the morning during training.
Go to the tent and rest then.

>>12393343
...Do we have any alternate clothing?

>>12393402
I have no idea, but can we really sleep soaking wet?

>>12393436
We could leave our clothes out to dry.

>>12393463
That's what I was suggesting when >>12393402 asked if we had any other clothes.

>>12393402
>>12393496
As far as human clothing, no. What you have is what was on you when you were teleported to Equestria.

>>12393496
doh. missed that.
screw alternate clothing, we can march around in our skivvies for awhile.

>>12393369
We'd have to pick a post, then. The only one I can see making sense is the one with the map in it, but that doesn't work since 7th paragraph 4th sentence doesn't work regardless of whether or not you count the spoilered part.

>>12393527
I guess we can just sleep in the buff then.

>>12393527
Ew, ffs questanon get your shit together and wash your clothes everyday.

>>12393546
nah, it works. If your guess is right, it's an uppercase X. There's a second part to that post.

>>12393343
>>12393373
>>12393568
You trudge around the camp, looking for a place to hang up your clothes as the sun sets. Military ponies must not go through many clothes, as you can't find a clothesline or equivalent anywhere.

You settle for laying them over top of your tent, hoping they don't fall off overnight. Luckily, no one noticed or made note of your lack of clothing. You keep your underwear on, but that's it. They dry off fairly quickly in the dry heat of the Badlands.

Settling into your tiny sleeping bag, you can't help but think about what Celestia had said. Never needed to answer? Does that mean she doesn't have to answer you because she's the princess, or was it something else? And how would the planning go tomorrow?

You groan, holding your head in your hands. That's not even mentioning the training with Rose. Things had gotten far out of hand. You'd thought things were crazy when you first came here, but that fight with the unicorns was straight-forward at least. This is true insanity.

~

That's all for today. Next session Wednesday.

>>12393904
Whew. Guess we'll have to chew this puzzle over the interim. Thanks for the session, as always!

>>12393904
thanks SA
Anon is pretty dense.

>>12393904
Thanks SA