It's nice up here, a stiff breeze, the sight of the entire city, and the sound of music in the air. The guards are keeping their distance, I think, they think I'm going to jump. How ridiculous, how utterly absurd. Why would I climb all the way up here just to jump off?

I get it, I suppose I should stop teasing them. Each time one steps towards me I twirl around the edge, and they always retreat when I do. I can take solace in the fact that at least the pink one seems to be enjoying the music, however harrowing her expression may be.

"Princess, should we do something?"

"I've already sent for someone...and she's not going to jump. At least I don't think so."

I tapped my bow across the strings a few times to try and talk to her. She stared at me hard for a few moments before folding her legs and laying on her belly.

I smiled in return for her calm. I sat on the very edge of the spire, continuing my music and making the guards extremely uncomfortable. Each sway I put into the music would send their wings open, each dip made them jump, it was like playing with puppets.

I finished up my song and set my violin down. The guard inched closer until I twitched, causing them to jump back. I laid across the edge and stared at them, they were obviously not pleased with my behavior. Then again, I wasn't too pleased with their sour expressions, so I think I can call this karmatically neutral.

"Out of my way, out of my damn way!" A golden haired guard, obviously not from around here, burst into the scene. "Great...alright." she inched closer to me, ignoring my movements and standing a few inches away. "Can you talk?"

I stood up and perched my toes on the edge. I quickly started signing, unsure if anyone could understand me. (Not well, you won't understand it.)

The mare watched my fingers closely as I did, eventually looking up at me. "Well this is good enough, why the heck are you up here!?"

I gave a fleeting smile. (I saw a tall building, I wanted to be up here, so I came up here.)

"What's she saying?" the large pink one trotted over.

"Nothing smart...she said she just wanted to."

(Not exactly, I came to be alone. Good to see that worked out great.)

"Okay...I can get that," the mare shifted uneasily. "But why are you sitting on the edge?"

I looked behind me at the massive drop below. (It makes them nervous. They start prancing around like little girls when I do it.)

Cadence leaned down to the translator. "What did she say?"

The translator stared at me. "She uh...she wanted to play her music out here."

I started laughing. (That's not what I said.)

"She said she's ready to leave now...right?" the mare walked over and started tugging on my coat sleeve.

I yanked her away. (No, not yet. Tell her two things.) I pointed at Cadence, (Tell her I'll be back for more music, and that I want you to come with me. Then I'll leave.)

The translator let out a flustered groan. "You're nuts!"

"What did she-"

"She said she's just gonna come back!" the guards around the room tensed up.

(That's not what I said. Tell her exactly what I said.)

The translator started grumbling. "She said: She's gonna come back to keep playing...and that...she wants...she wants me to go with her when she leaves."

Cadence looked at me. "One of those things is okay...but no more edges okay?"

(But it's so much fun...fine.)

The translator parlayed my message. Cadence slowly walked over and moved me away from the edge with a wing. "Okay, now about her." she bobbed her head towards the mare. "Why do you want her to go with you? I can't really make her."

I found my way out of her wing and to the translator. (It would be nice if someone who understood me could help me around town.)

"Yeah well I'm not a tour guide!" Cadence looked confused at the mare. "Eugh- she wants me to translate for her once we're back on the ground."

(I can pay.)

"With what money!? Wait, I'm a royal guard, I can't be bought!"

A helmet-less guard walked over. "Parchment?"

The translator started fidgeting. "She said she can pay. But I don-"

"So she can pay, and needs a translator to speak? Ask her, her name."

(It's Bianca.) The translator, Parchment, relayed my words.

"Well Bianca, I think we can work something out...if you stop with the suicide jokes!" he snapped, losing his temper for just a moment. "I really should throw you in the dungeon."

(Then do it!)

"Don't test him!" Parchment started pushing me towards the stairs.

The helmet-less one stopped me at the first step. "You follow me, okay?" I shrugged and started down the steps. This way was much easier than climbing up the side of the tower.

I froze in place, Parchment bumping into my back. "Hey what the heck!" I pushed past her and darted back up the stairs. "Really!?"

I pushed to the top and found what I forgot. My violin and bow sat happily on the edge. I grabbed it and let out a soft sigh. I turned around to an extremely angry mare. "Are you kidding me!? Don't run back up here like an idiot!"

I tucked my violin beneath my arm and pet her head, ruffling her mane and rubbing her ears. "Oh you-" she tried to pull away, I followed her steps and continued to pet her. "Stop it!" I continued my light petting. "Stop- it- stop!"

A rough cough came from behind her. I peaked beyond her, letting her escape. The helmet-less guard was staring at us. "Can you stop...we have business to attend to."

I scratched my cheek and started after him. Parchment grumbled as we went down the steps. I stopped again and ran my hand along her neck. "Buck you!"

"Parchment! Control yourself!"

I smiled devilishly as Parchment tried to defend herself. "She keeps touching me!"

The guard just shook his head and continued down the steps.

The helmet-less guard lead me through the halls. He ducked into an office and found a seat. "Okay...one thing before we start. You can't come back to the tower."

I shrugged, he wasn't about to stop me.

"Alright then. Now about Parchment, I'm willing to work out a contract."

"What!?"

"Quiet Parchment. Now it will cost quiet a bit per month."

I cocked an eyebrow to my new help. (Tell him money isn't a problem.)

Parchment walked to the desk. "She said she can't afford it."

I started shaking my head hard. The Helmet-less one shook his head. "Parchment...tell the truth."

Parchment sank to her rump. "But I don't want to."

I looked at the desk, a small name slate gave the Helmet-less one a name. Shining Armor shook his head and started levitating out some papers. "If you can afford it, sign here...here...and here."

I found a pen on his desk and started reading the contract. Live in help, licensed through the royal guard. Four thousand bits a month. That is expensive, but it shouldn't be a problem. I started signing the contract.

I watched Parchment's face turn to a scowl as I handed the paperwork over. "Alright...local resident...okay...okay...okay!" Shining Armor tapped his hoof on his desk. "I'll send her over soon. Until then, please, no more climbing, it's getting a little old."

I gave him a fake hurt look. Standing up in a huff and spinning towards the door. I walked off in a false rage and started off towards home. I stopped just steps after leaving the office. I leaned against the wall and eavesdropped.

"Sir, you can't be serious about this. She should be in jail!"

"She's done this on the other spires, all she ever does is play her music. And yes I'm serious, we didn't bring you down from Canterlot for nothing."

"You had this planned!?"

"Oh calm down...I'm sure you'll get along great."

I started off with a smug smile. I waved to each and every guard on the way out, leaving some confused and others infuriated. Some knew me from the other times I'd climbed the buildings around town, but soon enough everyone would know the maniac who climbed the castle.

I danced my way outside and hit the streets. I strolled calmly through the town, perching my violin on my shoulder and letting it sway as I walked. My house came up soon, I quickly ran to it and stood on the porch, watching ponies and a few humans walk by.

I tapped my bow once again and started playing. I drew a bit of attention, passersby would sometimes stop and listen for a few moments before moving on. Others would walk backwards and listen to me play. Others still would stop entirely and enjoy the music.

Once the song ended the groups lingered until I headed inside. I always felt so safe in this town, always surrounded by people I could trust, people that loved my music, even when I was perched on the edge of a spire, I felt like I was floating.

I walked around my horribly empty home before settling into the couch and starting a fire. I curled up close to it and drifted to sleep on the floor.

Tomorrow, tomorrow was a big day. I should probably wear something nice.

I looked down at my brightly colored socks.

Naw, I'm sure she'll be all pissy either way.

I spread my legs out and bent as much of my front towards the fire as I could. I rubbed my toes to warm them up before drifting to sleep. The mare from earlier occupied my thoughts as I faded away.

Gold hair with a white coat...seemed a bit generic, but still it had a certain allure.

I shot upright.

Did I just think allure!? Next Chapter: Spells gone haywire Estimated time remaining: 37 Minutes