#159
Summer. Day 170. Morning. En Route to Canterlot.

Apricot and I slept together last night. I had dreams of Aeron's story unravel in my mind the entire time. Partly disturbing and overall strange. For a moment, I think I saw what the Designer had done- or at least felt. Aeron mentioned him seeing the outcome of something, should they continue their presence in their previous forms. Rebirth doesn't seem like the answer, it doesn't fit. The Designer hasn't heard of it.

From what I can recall from my dream, the Designer shrouded in black, tall and lanky, reached out to a console eerily similar to the one at Planar. He flicked his arms up and commandeered a array of screens glowing bright and revealing our local solar system. Planets ringed by asteroids and moons and even other smaller planets caught up in their orbits. The screen had labeled each in an all too familiar script. The planets were labeled with a string of letters and numbers, indecipherable to me but there was a small connection between a few of the parts.

The screens focused in on the largest planet in our system and a white blip appeared from one of the moons. More appeared when the screens focused on the other planets. The Designer formed a chair with magic of his own and sat down in it. Leaning forward he contemplated his decision once more before taking in a long and tired breath. Then with a final touch, he triggered an absurd number of lines of text upon text constantly changing and scrolling through string after string. When the screens faded and the console lost its glow, the shadow said: “And now we wait.” A white flash woke me then.

It was an absurdly realistic dream. I could sense everything in there. Still, I have the feeling that I don't quite yet have the answers in my reach. I wonder if there's another piece of the puzzle I'm missing that we don't know about.

Aside from my strange state of dreaming, we're heading back to Canterlot for supplies and to attend a royal event of sorts. A wedding, I should say. Pip asked Luna after we had first parted ways in Canterlot, after my incident in Hestan. Might explain why I haven't seen her that much since we've been on the ship. Though, I do wonder if Celestia has ever thought of such a thing. Perhaps her duties have turned her away from love. Perhaps she already has and is simply staying faithful. I should ask, maybe, when we get there.

After the wedding, there's the honeymoon of course. Pip thinks there's a nice resort area near the next set of coordinates he mapped out. Says he passed by the place before and comparing it with his other maps, it's not that far of a stretch. It seems that Circuit is the next one and oddly enough, the last two are in a slightly similar location. Their numbers off by just a couple digits. For a moment, I thought I recognized the area he had pointed out, but the name slipped my mind and said nothing.

I found Apricot asleep once more in our small and shared room on this ship. I took to lying beside her and writing in this journal of mine. I came across the pendent she had given me while digging for my journal. The ear band too, was hiding in there, refusing to move. Perhaps I had no more magic left to use. Though, I still wonder what the connection is there, between the wisps and magic. Maybe I ought to find someone who understands it far better than I do.

I turned my attention to pendent, which had lost some of its luster over the year. The polish fading and scrapped, revealing the true color of the metal Apricot had used to craft it. I flipped it open and looked at the pictures. My heart fluttered again and a smile grew slowly across my face. Apricot had snuck in two newer pictures of us. Portraits facing one another, new and unscathed. I recalled the older one of myself and compared. I had grown far more than most ponies should. I looked tired and distant. Apricot looked more mature too. Her eyes looked more motherly, as if taking care of those orphaned pets had given her a new perspective on things.

I looked at her then, yearning for her to be closer. In much the same way I was to Ginger. Felt my face burn red and began thinking about committing the similar acts to Apricot. Surprising I hadn't thought about it before. Guess I was far too preoccupied with what was going on. I kept staring until her eyes slowly creaked open. I glanced to the door as if I had heard a noise on the other side. My heart fired up and hoped that Apricot wouldn't ask anything. Eventually, my backside was all she would see.

“Letter, what are you doing? I swear it felt like someone was drilling holes in my head before I woke up.” Shoot.

“I might have been staring at you.” I said, my eyes still aimed at the lifeless door. Something that clearly had little to no intricate craft whatsoever. Worn planks of wood had some life there but not enough to warrant the staring contest I had with it. “I-I might have gotten lost in a bit of thought.”

I felt her brows raise as she stretched her forelegs. “And what kind of thought might this be?” she nudged my tail playfully with a hoof. “Why is your face is all sorts of red?”

I traced a crack in the floorboard, “I-I- uh well... well yes it was, but what if I said it was a bit more than just thinking about all that we've ever done together.” I stammered out the words.

“You mean like marriage? Letter...” she squeaked. “Isn't this bad timing. I mean y-”

“Not exactly, Apri. I mean, it wasn't marriage I was thinking about.” I imagined her lips against mine in a way far more romantic than our last kiss. I buried my head in my forelegs. I couldn't understand why I was acting that way, still can't. Nervousness, maybe?

“Oh. OH. Oh my. Oh my goodness, Letter.” I could feel her face light up and a flustered panic overcome her. “Maybe when we get back home. That would probably be for the better. I mean...” she trailed off as if overbearing steam from her head had muted her.

“It's new, thinking of it. With you, I mean.”

“It's the next step, really... I just think we should hold off on it, okay? And no more roughing around with other mares, either. Speaking of which. Did I tell you that I would like to meet this 'Princess Ginger?'”

I raised my head, the embarrassment fading away. “The portal should actually be open by the time we get back to Canterlot. But it only stays open for one day every thirteen days. So we might wind up stuck there for a while.”

“I don't think I would mind it too much, you know.” Normally, Apricot was a bit more timid about such a thing. I guess my saving her and showing her some of what was really going on in my journey. Maybe she's found some sort of courage from Fluttershy and the rest. “My mother is a famous fashion designer, after all.”

“That's true.” I always seemed to forget about that for one reason or another. Never really remembered her name either. Which is rather unfortunate. “I have to go on to the other designs, Apri. I have to figure out what my mother means by Rebirth.”

“Wouldn't the Designer know? I mean Aeron said he foresaw something terrible.”

“He did, but the question his how far did that foresight actually reveal to him? For all we know, it could have been something they already prevented and the time has long passed.” And now we wait. “No, whatever it is, it's still an issue. The Designer would've relinquished his grasp on the world by now if that was the case. There's still something that's not set right...”

“The question is 'what.'”

“I have an idea. In Hestan, there was an under ground structure that he had apparently used once before. He said he shut it down but I have the itching feeling that he didn't. That design is called Planar, for a very good reason and the excessive height of the tower above.” The dream flickered back into mind. “It's part of something bigger. Oh shit. Oh my fucking shit.”

“Easy with the language there, Letter. What's gotten into you?”

“Planar refers to astral or space and that tower acts like an antennae. It functions like a fake unicorn horn. And the tower at Hestan used to have a massive shield surrounding it. Apri.” I said, my hooves grasping her by the shoulders and my face nearing hers. I could've of shaken her like a rag-doll. “Aeron's kind knew more about our world and our solar system than we do. It's why they were in hiding. It's...oh shit. I think I might know what their original intentions might have been.” A part of me felt absolutely terrified. Aeron mentioned his kind loved war, in a variety of ways.

“Letter, calm down and breathe.” Her eyes locked to mine. “Breathe.” and I did, slowly. “Good. Now, we'll get the captain to stay in Canterlot for a few extra days. While the two of us go on in there ourselves and hopefully contact the Designer.”

“We'll be able to. I can read his script, It shouldn't be hard to turn the thing back on again.”

#160
Summer. Day 170. Evening. Canterlot.

We got back to Canterlot surprisingly fast. Pip kicked up the speed of the Chebec after he realized that he was going to be late for an appointment, to get his suit fitted for the wedding. He invited me to be part of it as well, even if I wasn't playing an important role. Told him that Apricot and I didn't even have proper attire for the occasion. Said not to worry, royal palaces and castles are used to these types of things. A little bit of magic and having nearly everything on hoof already helps a lot. Don't call them wardrobe rooms without a reason.

Tomorrow is rehearsal and the day after is the wedding. Pip hopes that nothing hoes awry, to the more extreme extents. One example being another changeling fiasco, like Shining Armor's and Princess Candence's wedding. Not something I heard too much about, despite the fact that it was such a huge event. Guess news can only travel so far without dangers being involved.

I wound up meeting Sitka Spruce again. She'd been assigned the task of organizing the entire wedding down to the step. She seemed more exhausted than the last time I saw her. I suggested that she take a break but she refused. Said she wouldn't have it and a break would have to wait until rehearsal was over. It was after the short quip that she lead Apricot and I to a fitting room where were pulled apart and measured for every seam and length.

For a moment, I thought I caught a glimpse of Rarity on Apricot's side. The large velvet curtain obscured any possible means of seeing the other half of the room. Muffled voices far too much to be anything intelligible. On my end was a mare, young and aspiring, light cyan in her mane, with a flowered clip, and tail. A lighter amber color for her coat. Like a marshmallow that absorbed the tiniest bit of hot chocolate. Wore a collar too, purple and white with a red tie. As she lightly danced around me, I couldn't help but feel that some touch of Rarity had rubbed off onto the mare at some point. For whatever reason, I didn't bother to ask.

She went through a stack of suits and gave me one before rushing me into another room and locking the door behind me. That is when my glimpse became the real thing. Rarity stood there with a smile. Pulling the suit from off my back with her magic and began adding her own touches to it. In the midst of lifting spools away from the single table she had, she said: “Ah Letter, I didn't expect to see you in this wedding.”

“Well, it was kind of short notice, honestly. Pipsqueak offered the invitation and didn't take no for an answer.”

“Because he trusts you, Letter. You're the one who gave him the extra push after all.” I hadn't thought about that. I guess he needed an opinion from someone that wasn't a part of his crew. “Aside from that, did you tell her?”

I hesitated, having the urge to continue talking about Pip, but I didn't have much to say in the first place. “I did.” My eyes caught the large work of stained glass on one side of the room. Stretching from the floor to the ceiling, depicting a single flower. “She tried committing suicide.”

“Tried?” She said, unflinching.

“She tried hanging herself. I got back to her in time, after foolishly leaving her house, and saved her. I can tell she's still shaken up about it, even if she tries hiding it.”

She sighed, “Maybe you shouldn't have told her after all.”

“It was for the better, in the long run.”

“Yet she still stays with you... I wonder why.”

“I'm curious too, about the answer for that.”

“Perhaps you already know it.” Her magic weaving a pattern of lines in the cuffs of the undershirt I was to wear. “It might take a little bit of looking, darling, but I'm sure you'll find the answer.”

“Did you and Idol have difficulties like this?”

“Hrrm, I suppose we have. I got jealous of a few other mares he was seeing. He always wholeheartedly assured me that it was just business. Several times I assured myself that it was a lie. We had our arguments about it but eventually I could tell when he was telling the truth. And when he lied.” Her voice lowered, our thoughts felt the same then. “Especially when he started getting sick.”

“That was a bad habit of his.” I smiled with a heavy heart. “I always wound up having to take care of him regardless. I wonder how he faired before he met you.”

“Funny you should mention it, dear. We met on the train out of Ponyville. Said he went through Everfree on his own and wanted to go to Manehatten so he could start a new career. Being the element of Generosity, I offered my help. He graciously accepted with a bow.” Her cheeks turned the slightest bit red. “I never met a stallion of his status who had done that. It's a shame his illness took him like it did. He did so many wonderful things.” The suit tumbled to the ground as her focus dulled. “He outdid himself.” Her eyes watered up. “I just can't forgive him for being so charming.”

I moved to hold her and she wrapped her forelegs around me. I did the same, “It's okay, Rarity. I never could either.” She buried her head into my shoulder and cried her heart out. “My mother said this when my uncle passed: 'Let us not dwell in the hole he left in our hearts. Instead, let us turn the hole into a monument.'”

“She sounds like a wise mare.”

“She was. For a variety of reasons.”

She squeezed me tightly before finally pulling away and drying her eyes. “Oh dear... my makeup is all runny now. Letter be a darling and fetch my kit from the shelf over there, please.” I did so, pulling it from a lonely shelf on the other side of the room. Brought it back to her to receive a thank you and patiently waited for her to continue working on the suit's many parts.

Rarity went on to tell me the name of the mare that had take my measurements and their connection to one another. Coco and Rarity met each other at a contest and after some tribulation with one of the other contestants, Coco left her employer and took up interest in working with Rarity instead. A happy ending there, I suppose. I guess the other contestant, who lied and cheated her way through, wasn't so happy about Rarity winning regardless.

After that story, she helped me into the suit, making sure it fitted my body perfectly despite my crippled wing. I've lost a lot of movement there, Rarity crafted the suit to make up for it. Cleverly hiding buttons underneath the fabric to make it seem as if it hadn't been altered at all. When the final alterations were completed, she stuck me before a large full length mirror. Something that stretched according to her will. I'd never worn a suit before, “ravishing,” she said. Apricot's mention of marriage darted through my mind and my face turned all sorts of red.

Rarity chuckled, “Darling dear, what's gotten into you? You've worn a suit before haven't you?”

“No , I haven't. The wedding with Ginger had something different. There's a different reason for this, I assure you.”

“Oh.” Rarity eyed me with her utmost interest. “Do tell, Letter, you've made me curious.”

I took a deep breath, “Well, I was thinking about the same scenario that I had with Ginger, but with Apricot instead. I told Apricot because well, she caught me with my face all red while I was thinking about it. She mentioned that marriage was something we could wait on.”

“Oh darling that's great. Maybe after your little adventure is over, you should pop the question.” She humored, stars in her eyes. “I can already imagine the dresses and veils and shoes. I only wish that Idol and I could experience the same thing.”

“What counts is that you both loved each other very much, no matter how long or short that may have been. We've all lose someone in our lives and what matters is that we keep going and that we remember them.”

She glanced to the window, “You're right.” She jolted her attention back to me with a jeering smile and clapped her front hooves together. “Anyways, I have more attendees to get to, dear.” Then proceeded to remove the mirror from my sight and poof my new suit into a small box. Which she then gave to me. “Here, keep this somewhere where you can find it. I don't want to have to adjust another one. So don't go ruining or losing this one.”

She nudged me out the door where I met Coco once more and Apricot, who held a similar box. “Apri, I see you got something too.” she nodded. “Well, I guess we should head to our rooms, if there are any reserved.”

“Pip came in and left to tell us that we could just spend the night on the ship. I mean, we don't exactly need a fancy room.”

“That's true.” I looked to Coco and thanked her, then told her to pass my thanks to Rarity.

Apricot and I made our way back to the ship without much of a fuss. Nor did we lose ourselves in the large and lustrous castle. I suppose the strong breeze helped out quite a bit too. When we got back to our small quarter on the ship, we set our boxes down next to our bags and comfortably nestled against each other in silence. She quietly mused herself to sleep while I write in my journal. I still find it odd that her happiness has so flippantly overwhelmed her depression. Maybe we're both feeling the same about it, our relationship, I mean.

#161
Summer. Day 171. Late Evening. Canterlot.

Well, the wedding went over pretty well. Everyone who was anyone was there. Hundreds of friends and family from all walks of life gathered in the castle's largest hall. Sat in row after row under arched ceilings with a multitude of glass chandeliers merely meant for decoration. Apricot and I got seats in the third row from the stage. She looked lovely in that dark and bold blue dress of hers.

The procession was lovely too. Each groom stallions walked a brides maid down the aisle, who were dressed in dark hues of purple or blue. I wasn't surprised when I saw Twilight and her closest friends among them. Luna had eight in total, the other two being Sweetie Belle and the other was a mare I had never met before. Pink in color and pink, purple, and yellow mane. A bit flashy, honestly.

On the other half of the stage, were Pip's groom stallions. His crew members were there, all accounted and suited up. It was kind of weird to see Stone Wall dressed up in a suit. His broad body made it seem as if a flinch would tear his suit apart. The others were better formed and slimming and all the same aside from their furs and manes.

Celestia stood under an arched trellis, adorned with pleasant looking vines and berries. The vines knotted together in a decorative fashion, entangling their ends in the most wonderful ways. Upon the upper most knot, were two gold flaked leaves that shimmered under the light. There's some symbolism there, I'm sure, I didn't have the opportunity to find out at the time. Celestia herself wore a simple dress, something that wouldn't draw attention away from the bride.

With a glance, the organist changed the tune to something more overbearing and happy. In a moment all heads turned to the door and any chit chat ceased to exist. Save for the organ, it was a deathly silence. First down the aisle, Pipsqueak who held his head high and proud. For a moment, I could have mistaken him for Idol. He ascended the single step and turned his gaze to the door. The organ blared a low note again.

Then came Luna from the doorway. Faced veiled behind a white laced cloth drawn from a blank white cap. Her dress was long and delicately crafted. White all around save for flourishes of glittering silver and gold. The tail of her dress trailed behind her and was helped up by two mares. An orange pegasus with a rather small set of wings and a yellow earth pony who walked much like Applejack. We all watched on as she approached the stage to take on that single step. As we did, I couldn't help but see a smile run over Pip's face as kept himself from choking up. Out of joy, I'm sure. I swear I've never seen a happier pony before then. Even Idol couldn't compete. A quick nudge from his closest groom stallion made him snap to, breaking the solid and stiffened stance that he had.

Luna took the step, the tail end of her dress helped up and pulled onto the stage. The two mares took two of the empty seats in the front row and watched on. Another glance from Celestia and the organ slowly dropped dead. The player covered the keys and turned his attention to the ceremony that was about to begin. The large doors creaked close with a stroke of magic and Celestia began to recite her lines as if it were a play she had read a thousand times over. However, it seemed it was something she wasn't tired of, but excited for. I can only imagine the feeling.

At a certain points, Pip and Luna recited, and repeated, lines that Celestia spoke directly to one or the other. Then came the small stories of how Pip slowly fell for Luna. Started off with how they first met on Nightmare Night and then to the moment where they met again. When Pip also promised that he would offer his services whenever she needed them. After that, he began his life as a pirate, then a personal flagship and the first of its kind. The last point Pip made were his adventures with her and the reason behind his proposal. She was the last piece of the puzzle to him. Typical, but nonetheless sweet.

Luna gave her words too, starting with her awkward visit upon Nightmare Night. Something that was quickly resolved with the help of a few her bride's maids. Then she went on to say something similar to what Pip said. Only from her point of view and at first, she had a small attachment simply from old memory. That attachment slowly grew the more time they spent together and eventually, she was just eagerly awaiting the moment for him to propose.

With a last bunch of words between the three of them, Pip kissed his bride, now his wife. Then the organ blared its pipes again. Loud and clear for all to hear. Probably heard throughout entirety of Canterlot. A cheer roared through the hall alongside thunderous applause. A standing ovation, too. Deep in my heart, a part of me felt proud of Pip despite the fact that I barely knew the pony.

After that, we had the reception in the ballroom. Decorated much the same as the hall before. Glass chandeliers, streamers, fancy curtains, and incredibly large rugs. This time around, there were far more tables. Most were circular and the largest stretched nearly the full length of the shortest wall. That is where the newly weds and their chosen ponies flanked them on either side.

Before everyone took their seats however, we watched Pip and Luna cut the largest cake I had ever laid eyes on. Pinkie sniffled after they both delighted in the taste. Proud of her work, I assume. Then came the tossing of the bride's flowers. I saw Apricot off at that, giddy and excited to catch the bouquet as her own. Something she happily succeeded in. There was an old tradition, often forgotten in Clackerton, catching the bouquet meant that the mare who caught it, would be the next in line for marriage. No matter the time between them.

Apricot came back to me in that moment just as happy and joyous as ever. The happiest I've ever seen her. She hugged me and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. After that we grabbed some food and sat down at our assigned tables. We sat by Statuesque, a pony I was surprised to see and Coco Pommel. Sitka took a pulled up a chair to the table as well, as it had a good view of both the long table, dance area, and the rest of the tables. I introduced Apricot to the others, who received shy hellos.

After a while of catching up on interesting points in each other's lives, aside from my own, I left the ball room to take up some fresh air. While I enjoyed the atmosphere, there's only so much noise I can bear. The sun had finished setting, only a dim fiery orange remained just above the horizon before cooling to the dark and lovely shades of magenta and violet. The breeze was soft and a tad chilling but oddly comfortable.

“Enjoying the fresh air Letter?” Pip said, breaking my empty thoughts.

I glanced over to see his tie disheveled and lips stained dark blue. From Luna no doubt. “I am.”

“Now, don't lie to me, what really happened there, at Eidolon?”

“So you knew I was lying?” He nodded, suddenly my shoulders released a tension that I hadn't noticed before. “It's a bit of a tale. I hope you don't mind.” Odd that I didn't hear him approach.

“I live for that sort of thing, Letter. There's more than just adventures, maps, treasures to the high seas, buddy. Tales are by far the most fascinating, and in a world full of magic and wonder, there's always going to be something new and untold. Your eyes alone hold more than a fair share. Always staring into the distance, wild even.”

“I suppose.” I smiled dimly.

I started from the beginning, starting with my job. To Light Fringe, Dream's history, the discovery of the Designs. What they were and how they came to be, apart from the pieces I'm still missing. How I wound up in Vesta because I had inadvertently gotten involved in the dastardly schemes of a friend's family. Then I told him about my recovery in Vesta and my continued journey into Peckan and Hestan. After that I told him about Ginger's connection to me and my understanding of wisps. Finally I told him about Eidolon and Aeron. After I finished speaking, I wasn't sure if he was actually listening at all.

“So, you've made friends with a bringer of death, took on a prince who wielded an ancient power, translated a ton of ancient script we were never able to translate, took on a mafia boss while wounded, and married a princess who you escorted while braving a maelstrom of snow? I thought I knew crazy, Letter, but you've bull-headed some dangerous situations. You keep doing this kind of stuff and you'll wind up being more than a legend.”

“That's not something I'm planning on.”

“Thing is, most folks don't. We become famous in our own right in different ways. Take a look at Twilight, she never really intended on becoming more than a quiet librarian with only her assistant. When Celestia instructed her to move to Ponyville, the events that followed have lead to her being a princess was likely something she never imagined from the start. On the other hoof, there are those who want they want to be from the get go. They plan everything out to what extents they can.” He mused. “You are the former, like Twilight. Others have thrusted a large responsibility onto you. What you do with that is up to you but you can't simply drop it. It will come back, two-fold, and it'll hurt.”

“You sound like you're speaking from experience.”

He gave a short laugh. “Yea, I suppose you could say that. Anyways, I leave you to stargaze. Luna is probably getting a little impatient with me. We have a dance to do before the night is through.” Before heading back inside, he turned and gave me his thanks.

Surely Pip couldn't have been much older than me. How could he be so wise and able? Had his adventures as a sailor lead him to some great gain in knowledge? An spell that made him skip a few ages? I recall his story about Nightmare Night, he was no more than a colt then. That was at least two or three years ago. There's a mystery to Pip I don't quite yet understand. However, that's something I think I'll learn later down the road.

Shaking off the thoughts I wandered back to the doorway and leaned against the frame, peering upon the newlyweds as they slowly swayed back and forth. Like an anchored ship bobbing in the ocean. Their heads butted together, eyes closed as their legs and hooves took to memory. Every step precise and proper. Before I knew it, Apricot was at my side. “You're going to have to learn that one of these days, you know.” she whispered.

“I know.” the reply was instinctive.

“Do you want to head back to the ship?”

“Let's stay a little longer.” She smiled and sat down, resting her head against my shoulder. The bouquet tucked under the belt of her dress.

It was quite some time before the ballroom finally cleared up. Eventually it was just the four of us: Luna, Pip, Apricot, and myself, talking to each other about the simplest of things. Gardens, birds, roads, weather, crummy days. The larger issue I had was merely an other worldly problem. So far and distant, dim and nearly forgotten. It was great, feeling like that again. The last I shared in such a moment was with my family, eating dinner. Nearly bursted into tears in the middle of our conversation when the thought crossed my mind. Apricot cheered me up then.

Exhausted, Apricot and I finally left the castle's halls and took refuge in the ship once more. In the morning I'll have to find my way to the portal, either on my own or with Luna's help. For now, Apricot and I rest in our quarters. For whatever reason, I'm still wide awake and my hoof is barely aching even after all of this writing. Maybe it's some of the wine numbing the pain I'd usually have.