Spike was happy the interviews were over, going through that many applicants as fast as he and Daring did wasn’t easy and was very exhausting. Cadance came down with the furniture for the part of the temple set aside for the acolytes. Daring said she wanted to keep it small for now, Cadance took that to mean thirty or less individuals being trained. Flurry was placed in a structure near the temple and central bathhouse, which was something she wanted to do so anyway. Cadance had also come down with Flurry to help her set things up.

Flurry had told them she wanted to be a participant observer, which means she would be part of events around the community almost as much as she would be recording them. Twilight wasn’t happy to hear that, even going to cite the need for objective information gathering. Flurry, amusingly enough, countered back that they would need some subjective data to act as a comparison and control against more objective data to see if the ones recording the info were genuinely being objective or possible or just saying they were being objective to get out of being scrutinized, Twilight conceded that point and allowed Flurry to do as she intended. Also, when she arrived Flurry gave Daring a pair of crystal chalices that she thought could be used for any rituals involving liquids, the goblets had edges that were actually smooth and comfortable to the touch.

With everything set up, and the appropriate ponies notified, the 150 or so ponies that were vetted had there train arriving later that day. Over a week of going through dossiers and interviews, Spike was surprised the two of them managed to pull it off in as little time as they did. Once everypony was off the train Daring’s speech would begin, and it was likely to be a doozy.

Twilight finally got her book distribution company up and running, they gave the option of self-publishing, or they could publish for you. If you went the self-publishing route, they had staff that was genuinely dedicated to showing you how to publish yourself. After the publishing problems were out of the way they would then begin copying and distributing them all over. Daring decided to go the self-publishing route, in light of her prior experiences. Her “remastered” Daring Do series was even allowed use the wording she intended it to have, and the relaunch of the series saw both “issue 0” and the final book of the series launching at almost the same time. Both were met with massive acclaim. And, of course, Rainbow bought the whole remastered set, complete with the last to books in the series. Amusingly enough, that all happened a few days prior to this event, an event Daring had actually said of immense importance to her. Spike could understand the reason why, this project was of its own kind and how things went from here would likely decide more than anyone anticipated.

**********************************

After all the residents were gathered outside the temple, an act that took a few hours. Everypony was lined up still as can be, some of the foals were fidgeting but not moving far from their parents for the time being. After surveying the surprisingly large group of ponies, Spike was thankful Daring had insisted on two hundred plus houses in the residential area, Daring began her speech.

“We are all thankful for your willing participation in this project,” Daring started, “we didn’t want this to be compulsory or mandatory in terms of participation, it was always intended to be a willing participation project. We’re sorry for any foals that might feel this move was forced upon them by their parents, in a few weeks time we’ll be endeavoring to get your thoughts and opinions on all of this without your parents or guardians saying things that effectively put words in your mouth that were not used about this place.” Some of the adult ponies with the younger members gave some sheepish grins, spike thought it was good they were being called out before the actual talks and took note of who it was that did so (he was thankful for Daring wanting to meet all the adult ponies that applied; personally, it helped put names to faces for possible unintentional problem members). “Now that that is out of the way, it is my duty to inform you this is technically not Equestria or the Crystal Empire. This community is not subject to the same laws and rules of those places, as such, we have some ground rules to go over before everypony gets settled in.”

All the new residents looked about with a bit of worry, concern, confusion, and among the younger members mischievous hopefulness. Spike gave a smirk when he spotted Flurry in disguise among the crowd, his time among Twilight and the other princesses had given him the ability to spot the telltale signs of disguise type spells. The ones that looked the most worried were the parents and legal guardians of the younger members present.

After giving a slight sigh, Spike said, “Most of these rules, and bylines aren’t meant to be invasive or overly restrictive, they're mainly here for everyone’s safety and security,” he then gave a smirk, “and maybe a little fun on the part of all the residents.”

Daring nodded and continued, “First rule, you are not permitted to talk about what goes on in this place with any outside individuals, the only exception to this rule is the princesses themselves. And when I say that, I mean only the princesses, you are not permitted to speak of what goes on here with anypony that visits that claims to be a proxy of the princesses, no matter how legitimate their claims seem to be.”

“There’s a good reason for this,” said Spike, “during some of the lead-ups to this project’s start we, and the princesses themselves, encountered parties that were exceptionally skilled and making their claims seem far more credible than actually were, we even encountered at least one group during the project was made to seem better than they actually were. The details of all this are currently restricted by a gag order by the princesses themselves, details which will become publicly available as this project moves forward. There are however vetted recording ponies here that will be residing in the community taking a variety of approaches to how things occur in this place that will be reporting to the princesses directly, for security reasons we are not permitted to inform you who these individuals are until a later date.”

“Rule two,” continued Daring, “you are expected to respect the choices and privacy of other, that means you are expected to follow the rules of common decency that are expected of all communities. However, our rules of common decency have a twist. It now my privilege to inform you that this community is clothing optional, that means you are permitted to walk about in whatever attire you want or do away with the attire all together in your going about the town. Also, if you will turn your attention the gazebos scattered about the town,” she gestured to a gazebo a short ways out from the temple, “these are set aside for acts of public intimacy so that those involved will not be blocking the roads and pathways other residents and guests are using. And when we say that we don’t just mean kisses, we also mean some of the kinkier acts of intimacy those about town are into.”

“This place is called Fetish for a reason,” said Spike, “several actually. The temple here is the central structure for a reason, a reason my charming partner will make clear before continuing with the rules.”

“I recently came in contact with an ancient dragon goddess,” Daring started, “one that was actually worshiped in the pre-alicorn era of Equestria’s history. I’ve had quite a few conversations with her; she even claims the Crystal Heart in the Crystal Empire was hers back before she ascended to the ranks of deityhood, the details of such a thing will be presented to any that are interested later. However, I made a bit of deal with her; this temple is modeled after her sign. Once a week I will be holding sermons in her honor, all who wish to participate are free to come, it’s your choice as to whether or not you want to participate in these religious rituals. Deities, much like alicorns, have spheres of influence that they hold domain over. The deity here is known as Zelshirska, and she is an ancient dragon goddess that domain over Fertility, Knowledge, and Connections. We made sure to have a few representations of her scattered throughout the town. All the princesses are already aware of all this, and for the time being, we ask that all the residents not share the details of the faith with those from outside the community.”

“It is also our duty inform you,” said Spike, “she claims to have two sisters. Her sisters were said to be the dragon deities that reigned over the sun and moon in the pre-Equestrian era. If any here would like to make a go at reviving the faith for either of those deities, we ask that you let us know, as well as the princesses. If you do have that interest, we will send word to the princesses about your interest so that you will be able to discuss the details with them.”

“Now, before we go on,” said Daring, “are there any questions about what has been brought up so far?”

Spike noticed a few foals shooting up their hands, along with a few of the adults, all in random scatterings.“Well, that’s more than we thought,” said Spike with a chuckle, “we won’t be able to get to all of you here now, so how about we address your questions while we help you get settled in, I think this is best because I’m seeing quite a few young and interested members here.”

Everyone nodded and the arms left the air. Looking about Daring gave a chuckle before moving on, “Rule three, anypony caught using magic that affects the mind without confirmed prior consent of the those they are using the magic on will be severely punished, Zelshirska doesn’t like mind afflicting magics that are being used in a non-defensive way. If you are using illusion magic to protect young from harm that is perfectly acceptable, but if you are doing so to hide something for personal gain then that is not permitted under any circumstance. Also, minors being affected by mind targeting magics are not alright, anypony found to be doing so, even with the prior consent of the minor in question, will still suffer legal punishment.”

“This also falls under the umbrella of common courtesy for the community,” said Spike, “and you are allowed to mention this rule to those not read into the project, this is one of the few highly enforced laws of the community, and it is important visitors know what is expected of them.”

“And finally,” said Daring, “Rule four, anypony found in violation of the prior rules can and will suffer severe punishments. Punishments that none have really seen in this era, but still fall into acceptable to modern sensibilities. Also, punishments will be different based on the regions that they occur.”

“Now, for a bit of a warning,” said Spike, “since the community has communal bathing facilities all the residential facilities do not have personal bathing areas. This decision was made because we want the residents to actually get outside their perceived comfort zones. We also want the community to develop its own distinctive identity built around connections. Now, the main bathhouse, the closest facility to the temple, is a mixed bath.”

“That means,” said Daring, “gender is not a factor, you will be seeing everyone who comes into the bath naked. It is expected that all residents of the town will take the time to bathe here, there are very few points in the day or night where the facility will be closed. Once or twice a month it may be closed for cleaning and maintenance reasons but will remain open with a rotating staff to ensure everypony gets what they need. The southern bathhouse, which is considerably smaller, is a female-only bath while the eastern bath is a male-only facility. It is expected that guests will mostly use these two bathhouses. Now just because these are expected doesn’t mean that anyone has to do things that way. The only things that you need adhere to are what everyone else is. However, if you want to parade around town in the way you always wanted, without the fear of being called on an account of public indecency you can here. The only time you’ll ever be called on an account of public indecency is if you decide the routes everyone uses are there for you to show off, flaunt or what have you without moving from the general area. Remember, everyone has places to go and the routes provided by the down make it easier to move about. Also, we have a clause in our development policy that we will not expand the town westward beyond this clearing. There are a variety of creatures that live here, some you are unable to find anywhere else on this continent, and we would like to preserve some of the natural splendor of this region for the wildlife. Keep these rules in mind while you are here. Also, then you are free to share the note on the development clause with those from outside the community, the western bathhouse is a sort of marker for how far we are willing to expand westward for the town. The current batthouses will not,” she expressed the word ‘not’ for any who were making a case against her in the crowd, “be expanding from their current capacities. When, and only when, it is required we have more bathhouses we will see to the building of more such facilities. Now, in the office section of the temple we have your housing and work assignments, feel free to ask and make requests regarding those assignments. Please feel free to move about the community grounds to gain some acclimation to everything; it would be problematic to everyone if you all just sat around here waiting for us to hand out your assignments. So we request you do so in pockets of ten to twenty while the rest go about the town and begin setting up after their assignments.”

“At this time,” said Spike, “we would like to request that the first group have the ponies that inquired about the restaurant structures, and the construction experts we decided to be part of this community. This has mostly to do with these two groups likely taking the most time to arrange properly; we also want both to get knowing each other so they can make the arrangements for changes to the blank restaurant structures. There is also fashion store in town that has been made mostly blank; we would request our fashion expert also be part of this first group. Also, due to the nature of this town, we will have some notes to give to each of the practicing professions in the town; and for you parents and guardians, this does include the school. The education curriculum will be a bit different than what you are used to, or even comfortable about children learning. Also, there is an additional learning plan we are calling the ‘religious lesson’ plans for those who want to learn about the faith my charming partner is making ago at reintroducing. Please note that while most the community is about inclusivity, these extra lesson plans are currently intended only for fillies and mares, mostly because the bulk of the clerical order is designed to center around females. We will be looking into admitting any that are interested, and for the parents of the fillies that are interested, we are prepared to give a full explanation of what the training program is intended to be like. Please note, that we will also be imparting a simplified summary to all interested fillies for them to share with their households.”

“Also during, and after, the training period the accepted fillies will be given the option to be housed within a prepared portion of the temple, and as is the case with all training plans there are certain rules they will be required to adhere to,” Daring said as a point of note. “We make no apologies for them if they come across as having personality aspects they wish to show off but you do not approve of. You have to remember they will be trained in a temple that is dedicated to a deity that is associated with fertility, that includes the ability to produce offspring,” for emphasis she tapped her swelling abdomen. While we think it might be easier to train younger females in the faith, we will also consider any mares interested in lessons in the faith as well.”

“Please note, that any repeated lack of commitment to the faith will result in removal from the clerical training program,” said Spike, then he smirked, “but those do make the cut will be permitted to offer up suggestions on how to improve it all.”

“Now,” said Daring, “in some of the faiths you might have heard about those of the clerical order are not permitted to have families and raise children. That is not the case here, doing anything like that is actually seen as a violation of the tenants of the faith, you can still be part of the order while also having a family if you so desire. We honestly don’t have any expectations for this, especially since we want it to all be based on free choice. Also, the younger fillies that still require education from the school will still be expected to attend the school during their training period; we do not want one field of studies to hinder or block another field of study. Once again, because it is a violation of faith’s tenants. So, to all, of you parents and guardians worried that having a young filly learning to be a priestess will miss out on their schooling with foals not being trained, that is not how things will go down. Any young residents found to be intentionally favoring a set of schooling over another will be placed in an environment where they will be encouraged, and if necessary gently forced, to be brought up to speed with others within the primary educational institution.”

“We take learning, of all kinds, very seriously here,” said Spike. “Now, break up into your groups and we’ll see to the rest.

*****************************************

Veggie Malt, that pony really needed to consider a legal name change, hit off well with the rest of the construction ponies, even though they were all from different teams during the construction of the town. All the construction ponies that had been admitted welcomed the suggestions by their culinary and fashion-minded compatriots as to restructure the building to meet certain aesthetic choices. The town’s new fashion expert, a mare that was a former pupil of Luna’s by the name of Stellar Weave, decided to call her shop “Mystique Elegance” and have the facility itself be redesigned to resemble an eclipsing moon with the silhouettes of various sapient creatures known to Equestria about the fringes of the shop. One of the restaurants was bakery that was going by the name “Divine Loaf” and being made to look like it had been made out of a variety of breads, the other was a more open bistro type establishment that decided to go by the name “Sanctified Dining” and decided to have them redesign the structure to show design inspirations from the temple while still showing it was a place of dining. All three shops even asked Daring to do some little blessings for their structures; for the bakery they asked all their flours be blessed for authenticity’s sake, the bistro asked that the water and various other drinks that were planned be blessed along with the amendment that they would later be changing it to the dishes themselves, Daring said she would probably leave that to an ordained lower ranking priestess when they could spare one but just blessing the drinks should be enough until then, and the fashion store asked for the ground to be sanctified and have the fabrics blessed. All the owners of the business also chose to reside above their places of business, much like Rarity back in Ponyville.

From the looks of things, some of the businesses decided to capitalize on the open religious components to the town. After the construction, food, and fashion businesses were taken care of the bathhouse staffs, postal staff, and school staff. Dinky, to her surprise and dismay, was accepted to the community but placed in charge of the main bathhouse; Eventide Note was selected as the town’s new teacher, much to her startled delight; and an earth pony stallion by the name of Alphabet Block was chosen as the head for the mail staff. Along with the rest of the faculty selected for each area as well.

After all the businesses that could prove valuable to the town were dealt with the rest of the residents were arranged for. Some of the younger fillies asked about being trained in the church, usually right in front of their parents and some of the other foals, after giving a brief summary for both the young and matured some of the parents were okay with it while others weren’t and still others chose to diplomatically say they needed to have a family discussion about it all before moving forward on that point. Some of the younger mares also expressed an interest and said they were on board after being given a breakdown of how things would likely be moving forward.

Author's Notes:

So yeah, the town finally has a population. Of course, I haven’t sad how many children are part of it all, just there are some.

You may have noticed I use the word clerical a bit different from the way it is usually used in the modern lexicon, I wonder if you can correctly assess what its use is.

I would love to see a layout of the town, but chances are no one would make that image anytime soon. As always, you know my policies.