mylittlejamjar | 4th Moonrise: Changing of the Guard, Literally (Text)

[The following missive is in a familiar immaculate hornwriting, meaning it's obvious who it's from, provided it isn't forged.]

By Lunar decree, may I acknowledge the tentative appointment of Yang Xiao Long in the Night Market guard position formerly held by Dan Mandel. As this is the first instance of such a change in faculty, the following apply:

Yang is to be considered in training for the period of one (1) month. She will retain constabulary duties as long as she is in the company of another trained guard, and should she abuse the power granted to her by the acting sovereign Luna of the Night Market, those duties - and her employment - shall be stripped from her. If she maintains proper morals in the interim, she will be instated as a guard formally at the turn of the new year.

Many thanks for your time. Following this notice are individualized statements.

[Private to Alastor]
Yang does wish, at some point, to be introduced to and/or to spar with your bloodgoyles. I told her that it was entirely your discretion, as those magicks are not under my jurisdiction.

Consider it the proviso for keeping your elevated pay despite not being Daniel's foalsitter any more.

[Private to Dante]
Any and all sparring is to be done away from the Night Market. I do not doubt her capabilities, however I fear the potential interaction that would occur when you two meet in combat.

[Private to York]
There is little I know about Yang's world in particular, though it appears that she appeared within a short time frame with several others from her world, and she spoke of fighting creatures that strike myself personally as unpleasantly familiar.

Your newest assignment: Get to know this group better, and pass on anything you may learn regarding the "Grimm".

[Private to Yang]
Welcome aboard. I believe I already discussed the rules of the Night Market and the various business-related procedures with you, but if you wished to ask me anything about that or anything else, I would be happy to answer.

...except the miniskirt. Accept "it was a lost challenge" as the only explanation I will provide there.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Another version Equestria...?

[It's not an actual question, just a general expression of incredulousness. That's like 3 different ones she's heard of now, how many Equestrias could there possibly be? ...Sure, Princess Luna did warn her about the possibility of infinite alternate worlds but, seriously?

She frowns at...some other thought, before she shrugs with a bit of a lop-sided smile.]

Well, if that's her game. ...For somebody who's supposedly acquired a bunch of knowledge already, Calice doesn't seem that smart.

Having knowledge is one thing. Understanding and using it's another thing entirely.

[He knows she probably has some big plan that no one's able to see or comprehend yet, but by now snarking at and about Big Bads has become his thing.]

She also doesn't understand things like friendship and the like. Right now, we think that's what's going to beat her in the end, cheesy as it sounds.

Good point. I've heard something like that once before.

[Suddenly that speech of Professor Ozpin's at the beginning of the school year was making a little more sense.

There's a decidedly quizzical look at that last part though.]

Look, I'm all for exploiting any weaknesses she has, but how exactly do you beat somebody with friendship?

You want the short answer or the long, waxing poetic answer?

The short answer.

[Please.]

A lot of the magic in Equestria seems to stem from positive relationships between ponies, or something like that. I think that's how it goes.

We're either trying to show Calice the error of her ways by working together despite what she throws at us or charging a giant metaphorical cannon. Maybe both.

[That sounds kinda silly, at least at first, but there's a thoughtful look on her face all the same.]

Hmm. Well, I guess there is a lot to be said for teamwork.

I didn't realize that magic here works based on positive feelings. That's...kind of interesting.

[In a "things that vaguely remind her of home" sort of way.]

Whatever works, I guess.

[He's used to it, though. His powers run on friendship, too.]

So if you ever need an excuse to hang out with somepony, there you go.

[She laughs.]

I never need an excuse but that's definitely a nice perk.

[And it's something she can mention to Ruby. You need to make more friends, little sis. Friendship is weaponry.]

4th Moonrise: Changing of the Guard, Literally (Text)

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