Fandom MLP - Age of Exploration (Discord Chat Available)

[Avedon]

Dreamweaver
Fortunate for both of them that Avedon certainly did not try or find pleasure in this either. The taste was certainly something, as was the power and sudden clarity it gave him of his mind, but it was greatly offset by the creepy worry of what he was.
"It couldn't have just been me meeting Nightmare Moon all those years ago...unless...well- you may recall I was not precisely raised under...normal circumstances. Magic was infused into us from a young age. Dark and terrible magic straight from the era of Old Night. Maybe something there could have reacted with it? Or...been waiting all this time for the sign to start coming forth..."
That last thought was particularly heinous and chilling to him. That he had been secretly carrying some dark curse this whole time, biding itself through the years...

 

[Dreamweaver]

Avedon
"They were trying to recreate the vampire lords of old. Perhaps those experiments were not a total failure." Luna said with a slight nod of her head, staring off again as her mind worked through how to possibly solve this. Something as simple as a Remove Curse spell probably wouldn't do anything. Curses were one thing, but being infused with dark magic was something else entirely. There was only one pony that Luna knew of, who might be able to cure such a thing...

"... We have two options here, Avedon. Option one is we go see my wife, and perhaps she is able to cleanse you of your dark magic. That seems... unlikely. The other option is that you learn how to control it. I know of one remaining vampire lord, who has been hiding away in the past few years. I believe you would know her as Aurelia Nightsong? She used to be in the Night Guard, before being moved to private security."

 

[Avedon]

Dreamweaver
Avedon stared, thinking back. Aurelia. That was a name he had not thought of in a long time but was not one he would soon forget. Though he had never imagined she was such a creature.
"Oh course I remember her. We had a hazing ritual of her crawling all over the walls near the new recruits. They always freaked. One of them cried once. It was literally the best....a vampire-lord? My...well my "father", I call him that posthumously as he was the closest thing to somepony that raised me, but he had certain unnatural powers. I remember when I killed him he didn't...act like someone who was about to die should. It felt like part of him went into m- no. No let's see Aurelia. Let's see Aurelia. She can tell us. She is a vampire....she can show you the wall-trick too."

 

[Cyan Hide]

Avedon


Wing did not like the look in Kroger's eyes. It reminded her of Tirek. That intelligence and cunning, that could cut through all facades and see the real you. Under different circumstances, her and Kroger could perhaps been friends or allies, but alas, Wing needed to earn some trust. She needed to make her overseers, especially Luna, think that she had turned over a new leaf and that she had abandoned all thoughts of trying to betray the Princesses and seize power for herself. But Wing knew. She could legitimately become one of the kindest, most caring servants of Equestria, and it could take decades, but that desire. That need to control. That thirst for power. That is what drove her. Motivated her. It was her reason for living. She couldn't escape it even if she wanted to, which she didn't.

"That's quite a claim," replied the tourist, getting giddier and giddier with excitement but appearing to be trying to reign it in, an act within an act. "I can certainly see that your stall is popular but I have some big dreams. I have no reason to doubt you but it all just sounds too good to be true!" She didn't say 'what's the catch?' but her tone implied it. Wing was in truth getting increasingly more curious, and increasingly more convinced that this wasn't just a crocodile running a scam. There was definitely magic involved. And with the lax security and the behaviour of the ponies, it might not stop once you got off the boat. Still, Wing wasn't worried for herself just yet.

 

[Avedon]

Cyan Hide
Kroger reached up to take off his tiny hat and put it over his heart, raising up his stubby frog-like fingers up with his free hand.
"Now I don't never charge no-one what they ain't willing to pay. My merchandise never fails to deliver exactly what it says and beyond. Ain't ever gotten a complain bout a faulty item not meeting someone's expectations."
He flipped his tiny hat up to his head and stroked down his large rubbery-whiskers as the cat-fish waddled forward a bit.
"Now certainly they can be a bit PRICEY but I aaaalways let people pick the terms of their own financing if they want to walk out of here with an item right away. The plight and sorrow of the dear simple pony is always something I am willing to listen to..."

He opened his fanged mouth and a giant tongue shot out to snag up a few thick mosquitos hovers over some of the gamblers that were beginning to become uncomfortable with their presence and about to leave, dragging the bugs back into his mouth and slurping them down and away.
"Scuse me darling."
He took out a tiny handkerchief and pat his lips with it.
"Now, if ya came all this way lookin' for stories...surely there are more interstin' tales I can offer you then my bargains...though none quite as appealing!"
He let out a raucous laughter that shook his entire belly, giving her a nudge.

 

[Cyan Hide]

Avedon

Kroger was a gifted speaker and manipulator but to an equally gifted speaker and manipulator, if not a better one, Wing could see what he was doing. Lots of fancy, tantalizing language. Lots of lures and assurances. Very few actual details of what she would be getting into wen she actually saw his wares. A lesser pony would be strung along, and would play this game at Kroger's pace, and with Kroger's rules, but Cozy could feel her patience slipping and she needed to stay in character. Her temper was a weakness she had yet to overcome.

She laughed at his joke and pretended to not have even noticed him eating flies in her presence. "Oh, I'm sure we'll have time enough for any stories after you show me your wares," she replies, deciding to start pressing him now. "But you've talked up your wares so much I cannot wait any longer. You must show me exactly what all these ponies have been raving about!"

 

[Avedon]

Cyan Hide
"Well, I rarely do show people my wares first-hand but you are such a sweet little mare how can I resist."
He pinched her cheek and wobbled it a bit
"Tell me what you do for a living. Maybe I'll have something to make it easier? Or maybe you got a hobby you want to be the best at?Tell me your desires, there's bound to be something to fit your needs in one of these here stalls."

 

[Dreamweaver]

Avedon
"I have, unfortunately, seen the wall trick before. There aren't many things that make my skin crawl, but seeing a pony climb upside down on the ceiling does it for me. I mean, I could do it with magic, but there's something creepier about it not being magic, y'know?" Luna rambled on for several seconds, before shaking her head clear. She was getting distracted! They had to go find Aurelia.

"... Let's go. And please, keep your instincts under check. I do not wish to kill you, Avedon... you are my best friend... but I will kill you if you are threatening my citizens. The good ones at least. Feast on the bad ones all you want, I don't care." She shrugged her shoulders a bit as they began to walk off! If this meeting was going to take place, it should be on the outer edges of town, in an abandoned building. Luna wasn't sure how these two would react to each other.

Cyan Hide
"Griffons ain't good news, that's somethin' I learned long ago. I'm glad ye agree, AJ. Even my marefriend... she's half griffon, but I ain't trustin' that side o'er. Ye can see it in the griffons eyes... they wanna hunt us. I'm just happy Silverstream's pony side seems to outweigh her griffon side..." Eira, a blatant racist, said with a slight nod of her head.

Yeah she hated griffons with a passion. At least she had a reason though, it wasn't blind hatred like some other ponies. She had been on the receiving end of beak and claw, and it made her angry.

GeneralTyrus
The travel to Equestria was a pretty long journey. By regular hoof-travel during the day, and resting at night, it took ponies nearly two months to make the journey. Of course there was teleportation circles set up between the cities, but it's not like Sombra could wander into the Crystal Empire and use their teleportation circle! Not to mention, suddenly appearing in the middle of Canterlot would be... hazardous to his health, to say the least.

Especially with Empress Luna and Empress Celestia around. If the stories about Griffonstone were to be believed, those two were no longer sitting idly by and watching things unfold. They had entered the fray and struck fear into the rest of the world. The other deities of the world were terrified of those two, for good reason as they had proven.

Luckily, Sombra didn't have to travel like a regular pony. While he could not travel in the day, since obviously shadow-forms didn't work in sunlight, he was a lot faster at night than the average pony. He reached Ponyville in just over two weeks...

 

[Cyan Hide]

Dreamweaver

Applejack smirked suddenly after listening to Eira. "Wait, hold on a minute. You're saying that Silverstream is your marefriend. Why, that's something I jes' gotta see in action. I was her teacher once upon a time. A right lil excitable ball of energy an' feathers, she was. Never really thought of her, of Hippogriffs, as half-Griffins before. Ah can kinda see it in how they look now ya mention it, but they're a whole world of different where it counts," she stated, pointing to her heart. "Course I first met 'em when they were just sea ponies, an they helped us save Equestria after that."


Avedon


"My desires?" Cozy mused to herself. Hmmm, what if Kroger could actually give Wing an item that could fulfil her desires and dreams? One that could free her from the contract Luna placed upon her soul and thus grant her true freedom? It was too good a chance to pass up, but if she revealed too munch to Kroger, her secrets could be leverage, and Wing's pockets has limits. If Luna found out what Wing had tried to get, would she help her clear her debt? Would S.M.I.L.E be of any help?

She decided the risk was worth it, she got closer, as if she was sharing a hushed secret, which she supposed she was.

"I have a, shall we say, contract with a patron of mine which is very restricting of my freedom in certain regards. You wouldn't happen to have anything to ease such restrictions, would you?"

 

[Avedon]

Dreamweaver
Avedon held Luna's leg weakly for just a moment before they left. His eyes staring into her. Avedon had never once broken a promise to her. Never failed to do a single thing he had told her he would. He'd been loyal until his body had been mangled to the verge of death on their adventures together. He spoke with as much weight in his words as he had at any time before.
"Luna, I swear I will never feed on any pony that is not willing or else is my enemy or has sought to harm your citizens. Whatever this creature is in me, I will master it, or I will drag us both down to Hell before I ever harm you or any innocents...I'll hold this vow as sacred as any oaths I've ever made to you in your service..."
He blinked, his strength faded a bit and he nodded. eager to follow Luna to Aurellia! Avedon waiting with trepidation, something he had not felt in years.

Cyan Hide
"Well..."
He seemed deep in thought over that one, stroking his rubbery-whiskers as he stared up over the makeshift casino
"I would never recommend breaking a deal! That's the very cornerstone of my business model. A contract is a contract and a deal is a deal. You don't break one and you don't break the law. That's how any business flourishes. Now though, I might offer you a bit of a tip I've learned in my business, for free infact: Ain't no deal, even ones made in stone, set in stone. A new deal between both parties that made the original one, that absolves the prior arrangement, supersedes the original contract. Essentially, you get your patron to make you a new bargain to remove the old one...now I might have some little nick-knacks to help with that..."

 

[GeneralTyrus]

Dreamweaver

Sombra would have waited for it to be around nighttime, before heading towards the center of the town in his shadow form. It was already dark, so he didn't think anyone could really see him. He was positive actually.He'd stop, the cloud of shadow sinking to hover just above the ground. Sombra would look at the large Crystal Castle in front of him. Sombra would move towards the entrance, before floating upwards towards one of the windows, looking around. He'd groan, and went back to the mane door. He'd take into his normal appearance, and used his magic to make the illusion of a cloak over him.

Sighing deeply, he'd knock on the door, finding no better why than to get into contact with this Aurora. He had questions he wanted answered, and then he'd decide what he wanted to do, for better or worse....

 

[Dreamweaver]

Avedon
That was all nice and well, except... "You already harmed me, Avedon. Though I did offer, you still went through with it either way. Not to mention the fact that you lunged at me. If it was another pony standing there instead of me, would you have been able to stop yourself...?" She let that question just hang in the air as they walked. She knew Avedon was feeling worried about this encounter, and he was right to be. Luna had absolutely no idea how Aurelia was going to react to this.

Soon enough the pair of them arrived in an empty warehouse on the other side of Canterlot. All it took was a quick messaging spell to alert Aurelia to their location, and soon enough the mare arrived. In horrifying style!

Blood began to drip down the walls around them. Not just blood either, but organs as well. Eyeballs, a heart, everything. In a matter of seconds this oozing pile of meat was formed into a mare standing directly in front of Avedon, and staring into his soul. Her mouth was upturned with a very slight smile. "... It's winning, isn't it?"

Cyan Hide
"Ye were teachin' Silver? Yer smart enough tah teach?" Wait that came out harsher than intended. Eira held up her hooves calmly and quickly corrected herself. "I do not mean that ye are stupid. What I meant was, I did not expect ye to teach anything that wasn't farming. What did ye teach 'er? Swordplay? Nature magic? Oooo was it monster biology class? I bet it was..."

That about summed up Eira's schooling.

GeneralTyrus Dumbledoof
Sombra was either incredibly stupid or incredibly brave! Probably a little bit of both actually. Going in at night was at least a smart idea, since nopony could see him with his naturally dark coat. Not to mention everypony was basically asleep. Aurora was asleep at the moment too. Or at least she was, until that knocking came from her door. Why would anypony be knocking at this hour?! Oh well... it was probably just local spellcasters needing assistance.

She was actually kind of correct on that assumption.

Looking over at Twilight, who had also probably woken up from the noise, Aurora just laid her hoof on the mare's neck. "I'll get it..." She said, leaning over to kiss Twilight gently before rolling out of bed. With a sigh she teleported down to the door, and opened it. She was not expecting what she saw there. It actually scared her a bit!

Aurora's first reaction was to unleash a flood of magic, which shifted Sombra, Twilight, herself and the entirety of the crystal castle to her own personal plane of existence. They all reappeared standing in the middle of a wide open field, which was surrounded with purple rivers of magic. This should be a fine place to either talk, or take out the trash depending on how this went.

"... You're being strangely non-hostile. The last time I saw you, you took the entirety of the Crystal Empire with you. Sorry for the precautions, but I'm not allowing that to happen again." She said while motioning around to her personal plane that they were on.

Twilight and Sombra could both tell that there was no leaving this place by any means. Not unless Aurora decided to allow it.

 

[Cyan Hide]

Avedon


"Oh, of course not!" replied Wing in a mockingly exaggerated 'offended' tone. "I would neeever go back on a deal! However, if you have an item that could help me re-negotiate that deal, I would be very, very interested, and I'm sure I would be able to clear the debt no matter how large. It would be worth it!"

Wing really meant everything she said. Of course, she neglected to mention that 'clearing the debt' wasn't going to involve her paying him a single bit. The moment she had decided that Kroger would be a sacrifice on her altar, his fate was sealed. Even if, no, especially if he gave her something she could use to alter her soul-binding contract with Luna. That would just mean he had leverage over her, and was therefore an obstacle in her path to be swept aside or destroyed.


Dreamweaver


Applejack knew what Eira meant, but still raised an eyebrow. So this was what it felt like to be on the receiving end of some straight-talking frank honesty. She might have to keep that in mind in future. "Nah, Twilight Sparkle was the magic teacher and Fluttershy taught them about animals. An I don't think anypony taught them swordplay though that wouldn't have been a bad idea. No, I taught Honesty classes and Survival classes, as well as organizing all the field trips. Knowin' how to camp, dig a well or start a fire ain't never gonna be a useless skill for a youngun to have, if you ask me."

 

[Avedon]

Dreamweaver
Avedon looked down, still feeling his blood tear in his veins, trying to take over and force his body around itself.
"...I meant what I said. The moment it comes that it looks like I won't stop myself, we end this once and for all..."

When the blood began to seep from the walls his thoughts were turned from the grim affair at hoof and he just wondered
"...Who's even going to clean all this up?!"
Better not be him, he already had to put together his office again! When the organs began to fall and form up together into a mare Avedon tilted his head ever so slightly to the side, utterly confused as his dumb giant bat-ears fell to the side but he offered a tiny little grin. Her arrival and attitude certainly put a chuckle and a bit of mirth into the air after too long in the gloom.
"Avedon actually but I understand the confusion. Both are apt names for me."

Cyan Hide
"Well, there's no item here that could help you write a contract as much as I could, if'n you could bring it over here I could give it a look-see for a nominal fee...but if that doesn't suit you how about..."
He moved around to a few different stalls and pulled out a pair of glasses.
"Spectracles. When charged they let you see a person's current heart's desire?"
He asked, feeling out her needs as he went over a few things.

 

[Dumbledoof]

Dreamweaver GeneralTyrus
Twilight made a deep grumbling noise when she heard a knocking at the door echoing through, an enchantment transmitting the sound all the way to her bedroom. Who could possibly be knocking on her door at this time? What really sucks is she had just gotten comfy and was very close to asleep as well. So annoying. Whatever they're here for, they could've waited until morning unless it's a world ending event.

With Aurora's hoof on her neck, Twilight raised her head slightly. "Okaaaaaay..." She mumbled in response... pretty much faceplanting back into her pillow. Damn doors. Should make an enchantment for it to stop existing after a certain time at night.

The sudden flood of magic made Twilight's eyes actually snap open, and she was definitely not standing when they reappeared. Instead, Twilight was in the air, her forelegs sort of sprawled out around her. "GAH!" She screeched, falling straight onto the ground with a thud and a very annoyed sigh. Standing up, she dusted herself off. "I'm awake, I'm awake. What is..."

She never completed that sentence. Right before her, there was Sombra. Again. The asshole who made the Crystal Empire disappear for a thousand years because he was too salty to die alone. The same pony who also attacked Equestria, turned all of the ponies she knew and loved into practically zombies, who had only a single minded focus for serving him. How was this guy even still alive, he got blasted by the Crystal Heart and then the Magic of Friendship.

She quickly stepped over closer to Aurora, her horn igniting with restrained magical fury. "What are you doing here?" Twilight growled. "Can't you just stay dead and leave Equestria alone!? How many times do you have to get blasted before you go away!?"

Well... guess Twilight isn't happy to see him return. Again.

 

[GeneralTyrus]

Dumbledoof Dreamweaver

Sombra had of course been expecting things to take a quick turn. What he was not expecting, was to literally be 'greeted' by the pony he was supposed to capture. Well. Oh well. Sombra would grunt, and blink as they were forced into some other realm. He'd take a look around, before looking down at them both. He forgot just how tall he was, and figured it was all his time spent in the damn pits of hell. Literally.

He'd look at Twilight as she started to charge up her horn, and rose a brow at her, "I'd ask why you're surprised, but... Even I wonder why I'm alive." He'd say grimly, before shaking his head, blinking a few times. He'd look at the two of them, "Twilight Sparkle, and... Aurora." He'd say, nodding his head slowly, "I was sent here to.... Well... I was sent to kidnap this one." He'd say, pointing at Twilight, "I however, have heard about you Aurora. In my travels in getting here, you're a God... Revolving around magic?" He'd ask, staring at her.

Sombra just wanted to get some answers, and he knew he might get some truth from the God of Magic. Maybe, he wasn't entirely sure, but he figured it was worth a shot at this point. How long had he been alive? Sombra would shake his head, and blink, looking at Aurora, "I... I wanted to know if... If the dead can be brought back. Truly brought back." He'd ask, stepping forward. It likely seemed like a evil request, but his eyes showed plenty of desperation. And he wanted something to be actually alive again, so likely not a army of undead.

 

[Dreamweaver]

Avedon
The mare actually laughed! One short, serious laugh. But it was something! "I've been watching you, Avedon. You have been struggling for a while now.... I do not know that 'winner' is much of a term to describe you at the moment." Aurelia stepped back a bit and looked him over, before just shaking her head. This seemed like a lost cause if she had ever seen one.

"Let me guess. You have come to beg at my hooves to make me turn you, because you think that I can help you control that thing inside of you. But here's the truth, Avedon; I can't. I know what lives inside of you, the two of us knew each other once many decades ago. My blood could suppress him, but not overpower him. That's a fight you must make yourself if you wish to be rid of him. If you wish to simply have something else in control, perhaps I could be of assistance. For a price, of course."

GeneralTyrus Dumbledoof
When Twilight stepped closer to Aurora, the Goddess of Magic just held her hoof out to stop Twilight from moving forward at all. "Twilight Sparkle, you are strong. Not that strong. Step away." She warned the mare. With the Elements of Harmony, sure; Twilight could take Sombra. But in an open fight? That was a lot more risky. The last thing Aurora wanted was for these two lunatics to start tearing holes in the Weave.

For now, Aurora's attention shifted back to Sombra. He was not being hostile in the slightest, which set off alarm bells in her head. Whatever he was planning to do, he was playing the long game. She would humour him for now, but sooner rather than later she would have to take out the trash. "I would advise you not to call me a 'God' again. I am a Goddess." Aurora quickly corrected. With other real Gods roaming around, she would rather not be referred to by the male term for a deity!

"By truly brought back, I assume you mean resurrection. In which case, yes. If they have been dead 200 years or less, certain Light magic is powerful enough to do such a thing. Nothing that I can accomplish, nor something that should be undertaken lightly. You may find that your corpse does not wish to rise again, and is quite happy in the afterlife."

 

[Avedon]

Dreamweaver
"I remember fighting a shadow inside me once. It called itself the Spectre of Duty. A blood-drenched thing with pain in places of words when it spoke that nearly claimed my soul. I beat it then with the help of my friends. I won't be anyone else's slave or puppet. This thing has clawed at me in dreams and stolen my blood in the dark, turning my body against me. I've not give not given it my soul but even so it will only be a matter of time until I'm nothing but a glint behind a monster's eyes as my body moves without me commanding it."

"I don't need a new thing controlling me, and I don't need him suppressed. I just need a chance to do what I do best. The only thing he taught me and the only thing left between me and him: To fight. I want to fight him on even terms. A chance to fight back against my body rebelling against me and take that power from him to myself..."

 

[Cyan Hide]

Avedon

Wing shook her head, and sighed. "I'm afraid I don't have it with me and it's a little too delicate to discuss anyway. However, these Spectracles sound like something I could put to good use in a variety of situations! First of all, how much? And second of all, how do you charge them?"

Wing only asked about their price out of courtesy. She had no intention of paying for them. Unless they were dirt-cheap, which she doubted, she'd take this deal that would temporarily put her in debt. If the Spectracles indeed worked, that would only make it all the easier to go about exacting her counterattack. Be reading the heart's desire of ponies, she could discern what they received from Kroger, or could bring them what they desired to win them over to her cause. Or simply to gain leverage over them. And if they didn't work, she could then firmly take the angle that this Kroger was a con artist. Either way, she won.

 

[Avedon]

Cyan Hide
Why, these spectracles themselves are totally free....well of bits anyways. All I'd ask is a little favor. Ain't even nothing demanding. Mayor Mare just left here so swift she forgot the letter I was going to give her. If you can trot on over and give that to her to sign that'd be swell. As for charging, well I got a little bayou magic for that. I can fill it up for you, just, oh something cheap for such a lovely mare...20 bits a charge? Of course, you need to OWN my glasses first..."
He said dropping the spectracles gently on her head.

 

[Cyan Hide]

Avedon

"So, let me get this straight," Wing replied, chuckling. "All I need to do is deliver this letter to Mayor Mare, bring it back signed, and pay you a paltry 20 bits and I'll receive these spectracles fully charged? What's the catch?" She asked that slyly, and knowingly, as if she knew this was a fair, honest deal and was merely remarking how beneficial to her it was. "Probably nothing too big, but if, say, you're the only person who can recharge them, and you move upriver or downriver for whatever reason, then I'll be bang out of luck!"

 

[GeneralTyrus]

Dreamweaver Dumbledoof

Sombra would look between the two of them, watching as Aurora stopped Twilight from stepping to far forward. He'd frown a bit, his eyes locking onto Twilight. He'd stare at her for a moment, before looking back to Aurora, taking in what she'd said. He ignore her comment about being a goddess. They were all gods to him, he didn't care about the tiny details at the moment. Of course, what she'd said garnered a reaction from him. He visibly sagged for a moment, and his eyes seemed to dull for a moment, before lighting back up, looking at Aurora, "So it would be impossible to help me." He'd say, grumbling as he thought about everything he'd once been told.

He'd growl, grinding his hoof into the floor, "I was lied to." He'd say through grit teeth. He'd come to that conclusion a long time ago,but now he'd heard that fact answer from the mouth of the god. He'd look down at the ground, thinking of what he wanted to do now. He thought of one good idea. Though likely not for himself.

"I have a..." He'd pause for a moment, "Master." He'd finish, his voice dripping with venom, "He told me to bring you to him, but.... I find myself uncaring for him." He'd say, gritting his teeth. His muscles rippled as he contained her anger, "He wanted me to hurt or capture this one." He'd say, pointing back to Twilight, "But his main want, was you." He'd continue, looking at Aurora, "He wants you for some damnable reason, I'd assume to kill you... Or worse." He'd say, shaking his head, rubbing his temple, "I no longer want to follow him out of blind desperation. For a promise that will never happen." He'd say bitterly, looking down at the two of them.

 

[Avedon]

Cyan Hide
"Oh well I am, I am,at least the only one who can while still being so...freindly-like. But don't you worry your pretty little-head off darling. I ain't going nowhere."
The air felt heavy with that last word as a wide grin spread on his face.
"Now, hop along, I gotta get myself looking proper respectable."
He wiped his fingers over his suit and waddled into his ship.

 

[Cyan Hide]

Avedon


Wing tried not to let the disappointment show on her face. So these were useless without Kroger. At the very least, they could be put to use against Kroger, if they actually had any charge in them at the moment. If not, she'd pay to get them charged up once. In her older days, when she was a naive little filly, she'd have considered working with Kroger a relationship beneficial to them both, but now she knew better. She knew that Kroger was almost as untrustworthy as she was. Being in his debt was not worth any benefits these glasses might bring.

"Well, I will be back as soon as I can with that signed letter, you you better not!" she replied cheerfully, and set off towards the mayor's office. The moment her back was turned, her face became a picture of indignation and malice. Luckily she was back in character when she reached the mayor's office and knocked on the door. She was now wearing the Spectracles so that she looked even less like herself. Plus, she wanted to see Mayor Mare's desires.

 

[Avedon]

Cyan Hide
Mayor Mare's house was the exemplification of an orderly and tidy home - exactly how Cozy remembered it. Infact it had barely changed over the years, a simply grown older like the mare herself. She heard some shuffling within as Mayor Mare stumbled over a piece of furniture without her glasses to get to the door before answering. It was fortunate that Cozy was nothing but a blur before the Mayor's eyes, she wasn't recognized this way.
"Oh...hello? Is there something I can do for you? Why don't you come inside...Miiiissssss?.....teeeeer?"
She cleared her throat and took a breath, focusing on her deep knowledge of exactly how she organized her house to pick her way through and miraculously set up tea for both of them.
"...Does this have something to do with something Kroger took from you? I'm really afraid I can't help there, everything he does is entirely legal...I just wish..."
She shook her head.
"Please, let me know what the matter is."

The glasses though told Cozy the rest of the story though. Mayor Mare's deepest desire was not to get her glasses back. It was not even to really get rid of Kroger...though that one seemed to bubble up high enough that it was close to her deepest desire. It was that ponies would stop believing and buying into grand sweeping promises. She had been the mayor in Ponyville for so long despite not making promises, even when it'd had been easier to be elected against her opponents by making them. Mayor Mare knew that you could not simply make every promise you made come true. The best you could do was make plans, and work hard, and sometimes they would pay off and sometimes they wouldn't. You couldn't promise to make things great all the time and make everyone's wishes come true. You could only promise that when things went wrong you would try to fix them, and when bad things happened you would be there.

That kind of attitude had met it's opposite in Kroger, and it had lost to him. At least she felt that way.