Maple Shifted again to look at Scarlet with the exact same look he was giving her.
"No, I'm being very serious. No Pony here has asked the Wand what it was doing. Glitter Shake hasn't said her side of things yet... for all we know she was the one with the idea to target Cloudsdale and the Wand just used that as a means of getting a host to take it out of confinement. Snowy Did the wand try to tempt you? Did you not pass that test? Did you then somehow convince it to help you do something good?"
Maple shifted back to herself... "I may not have touched one of these things yet, but I have seen into one's mind ... and even Brusselsprouts wasn't entirely unreasonable, but you just go on and be insulated, Scarlet.
Static turned a sharp look at Maple. "Snowy's in the wrong here, Maple. There's no way around that. But in case you've missed the past couple minutes, I've stood up for him. Night Cap stood up for him. Scarlet just went a couple rounds with Rhapsody standing up for him. Tartarus! Even Rhapsody, Luna bless her, just tried to comfort him in her own way. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're the only one who gives a damn about him!
"It's worth being insulted when somepony uses insults, Maple. If I didn't trust Snowy, I wouldn't have asked for his help with the wand. And while we should have tried to find some way to ask the wand before now--we erred on the side of caution due to the level of danger--I did ask Snowy to find out what the wand wanted. While I'll say that the team probably does need to sort out some trust issues, I don't think they're where you think they are. Also, not only do I doubt Ms. Sparkle said that, I've been around far longer than she has."
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Brisk Iron opened it to find Princess Celestia. "I didn't expect you to make it here so quickly." "I felt I could help and I was available." "Snowy, you'll be going with Princess Celestia. I feel she'll be able to help your situation better than I. On that note, she'll be taking the wand in the hopes that both your situation can be fixed and that the wand can find some solace as well. Princess, while I'm sure you'll share all this, if you could also let Luna know to help him with his nights..." "Certainly."
"You have the Keep address if you need to send letters to any of us. Was there anything else you had to say before you go, Snowy?"
"It wasn't a quote. Hello Princess Celestia... "
When Static, Scarlet, and Night Cap had supported him, he had felt embarassed, and a little unworthy. But Rhapsody was different. As ever, Snowy rose to harsh words by cracking a smile. "I wouldn't call it giving up. It's just the next contingency in a plan that you won't stop. Now that Brisk Iron knows--"
"...that happens." Snowy finishes, trying and failing to pretend that he had seen this coming. Really, it was better than he had hoped for. In his whirlwind brain, it never occurs to him that he should bow.
"Oh, lots." Snowy says. "Maple, mirroring the person you're talking to is very rude. Save it for extreme situations." He walks over to Princess Celestia, and finally bows. "I'm ready."
This is my third disappearing act to date, he realizes. It's not as clean as the others. I'm leaving something behind.
In a swirl of yellow light, he was gone.
"No, I'm being very serious. No Pony here has asked the Wand what it was doing. Glitter Shake hasn't said her side of things yet... for all we know she was the one with the idea to target Cloudsdale and the Wand just used that as a means of getting a host to take it out of confinement. Snowy Did the wand try to tempt you? Did you not pass that test? Did you then somehow convince it to help you do something good?"
Maple shifted back to herself... "I may not have touched one of these things yet, but I have seen into one's mind ... and even Brusselsprouts wasn't entirely unreasonable, but you just go on and be insulated, Scarlet.
Static turned a sharp look at Maple. "Snowy's in the wrong here, Maple. There's no way around that. But in case you've missed the past couple minutes, I've stood up for him. Night Cap stood up for him. Scarlet just went a couple rounds with Rhapsody standing up for him. Tartarus! Even Rhapsody, Luna bless her, just tried to comfort him in her own way. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're the only one who gives a damn about him!
"It's worth being insulted when somepony uses insults, Maple. If I didn't trust Snowy, I wouldn't have asked for his help with the wand. And while we should have tried to find some way to ask the wand before now--we erred on the side of caution due to the level of danger--I did ask Snowy to find out what the wand wanted. While I'll say that the team probably does need to sort out some trust issues, I don't think they're where you think they are. Also, not only do I doubt Ms. Sparkle said that, I've been around far longer than she has."
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Brisk Iron opened it to find Princess Celestia. "I didn't expect you to make it here so quickly." "I felt I could help and I was available." "Snowy, you'll be going with Princess Celestia. I feel she'll be able to help your situation better than I. On that note, she'll be taking the wand in the hopes that both your situation can be fixed and that the wand can find some solace as well. Princess, while I'm sure you'll share all this, if you could also let Luna know to help him with his nights..." "Certainly."
"You have the Keep address if you need to send letters to any of us. Was there anything else you had to say before you go, Snowy?"
"It wasn't a quote. Hello Princess Celestia... "
When Static, Scarlet, and Night Cap had supported him, he had felt embarassed, and a little unworthy. But Rhapsody was different. As ever, Snowy rose to harsh words by cracking a smile. "I wouldn't call it giving up. It's just the next contingency in a plan that you won't stop. Now that Brisk Iron knows--"
"...that happens." Snowy finishes, trying and failing to pretend that he had seen this coming. Really, it was better than he had hoped for. In his whirlwind brain, it never occurs to him that he should bow.
"Oh, lots." Snowy says. "Maple, mirroring the person you're talking to is very rude. Save it for extreme situations." He walks over to Princess Celestia, and finally bows. "I'm ready."
This is my third disappearing act to date, he realizes. It's not as clean as the others. I'm leaving something behind.
In a swirl of yellow light, he was gone.