Cookies for Heaven

[letteropener]

Who: Princess Celestia
When: October 14-21st
Where: All around the Far Shore
What: Princess Celestia brings cookies and, perhaps more importantly, wellness checks to the temples of the Far Shore.


Two things circled each other in Celestia's mind, forming a taijutu symbol in the way each completed the other: A lot of people in the Far Shore really needed some personal attention, friendship, and care; and she had, thanks to practice and effort, gotten quite good at baking cookies.

So each morning, Celestia cheerfully moved dough into her oven on sheet after sheet, the entire kitchen in Inti's temple animated in golden light like Merlin himself had set it all to baking-- and each afternoon, Celestia took wing above the Far Shore, traveling from temple to temple to seek out the inhabitants therein.

So at some point, an alicorn will come knocking at your door, with a bright smile on her face and a basket of cookies floating by her side.

Comments

[letteropener]

It does keep me occupied.

[Celestia doesn't quite go all Belle-in-the-Beast's-castle as they enter the library, but she does immediately begin her appraisal with eager curiosity.] Are any of these books your selections yet?

[unlucky7]

[Her selection? Ginia quickly shakes her head, though oops, Celestia is looking at the shelf.]

I've only been here for a few days, I don't think it'd be appropriate for me to add anything to the shelves.

[letteropener]

I can't imagine why not. Everypony should have a good book or three to curl up with! [This is one of Celestia's rare opinions as opposed to wise facts, but she shares it with no more restraint than anything else.]

[unlucky7]

I've borrowed books. I'm currently reading about the history of plants for medical purposes and I have a handbook for identifying plants.

[The latter which has been quite useful in identifying the plants in Nona's garden.]

I'm beginning with the leftmost shelf and working my way through. [It's the most logical way to work through a library, right?]

[letteropener]

That sounds like useful information. You want to read everything that is here, just because you can, then? There is a larger library in the Far Shore, as it happens...

[unlucky7]

[Because she can, because it's here, because it's something to fill the gaps left by her missing memories, because it's something to do as she waits for an order, there are plenty of reasons.

But the news of a larger library comes as a shock.]

There is? Where?

[letteropener]

Here, let me show you a map in your phone. [The handy directions it offers don't work in the Far Shore, so Celestia will just have to draw it out herself. Not a difficult prospect when one is a magical pony.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia hasn't tried using a maps app in the Far Shore, but she's definitely noticed the way the west district doesn't seem to exist in any consistent state on her runs. She opens up a sketch app and holds her phone still so Celestia can draw.]

[letteropener]

[The actual process of providing a map is far more of a flurry than it appears: Celestia turns on the NFC for Ginia's phone and her own, taps them together to copy over the pictures she'd taken of the Far Shore from up above, then pulls up the relevant one to circle the library on it. But this is all fairly simple magic (once one figure out how to make a touch screen respond to telekinesis, which Celestia had managed some time ago), so it looks perfectly calm on the outside. And Ginia also gets some impressive aerial photography out of the deal.]

There you go.

[unlucky7]

[The wonders of the fusion of technology and magic. It's super impressive and Ginia studies the picture, already plotting out the running path to get there. She looks up with a rare, genuine smile, quickly switching back to text-to-speech and typing rapidly.]

Thank you so much! Do you have any suggestions on books to look for while I'm there?

[letteropener]

Avoid the dull books. The big thick references. Read something fascinating and entertaining.

[That might not be what Ginia meant, but as far as Celestia is concerned she can't offer more important advice.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's expression doesn't change as she considers the thick reference book on flowers sitting in her bedroom. It makes for dry reading, but the information is valuable.]

Don't you have to read the book first to know if it's fascinating and entertaining?

[letteropener]

[And there is a time and a place for such things, make no mistake. But as for what to start with, especially from a library? Something that will keep you going back. Something fun.]

Oh, not entirely necessarily, if you can consider what genres and subjects you consider most exciting.

[unlucky7]

What genres and subjects do you consider exciting?

[It's obvious fishing for direction, but any guidance is welcome, especially when the only subject she has any deep familiarity with are all related to fighting and killing.

It's probably not the best subject matter for a book either.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia shoots a glance around, as if checking for eavesdroppers, before leaning in slightly as she drops her voice.]

I'm partial to pulp adventures, personally!

[unlucky7]

[At Celestia's change in behavior, Ginia changes over to text, glancing around uncertainly. One day Ginia will understand jokes. Today is not that day.]

What sets "pulp adventure" apart from just "adventure?"

[letteropener]

It's a little overblown, sensational, trashy, and not always the most skilled writing in the world. [Celestia winks playfully.] That isn't to say I don't like good adventures too, of course...

[unlucky7]

[Ginia presses her lips and furrows her brow at the explanation, an expression that's all too common these days.]

If it's bad, why spend time with it? Is it to appreciate things that are good?

[letteropener]

Well, sometimes you don't want excessive symbolism and complex plots and deep nuanced tales with flawed heroes. Sometimes you just want to read about Dangerous Punches the frontier hero unloading his trademark right hoof into the face of the insidious scumbag Frequent Foreclosures.

[unlucky7]

[That's...okay, that's a very good point. And Ginia can get behind scumbags getting punched (or hoofed).]

Are there books from your world here?

[letteropener]

I'm afraid not, but I don't consider that a terrible loss. After all, I've read most of those books!

[unlucky7]

That's a shame; I was hoping I could read some.

[Look, there are no shortage of books about humans going on adventures. Books about ponies going on adventures is a novelty. Though at the same time, all books are still a novelty so it's really win/win all around.]

[letteropener]

I'd love to share the Daring Do books with the Far Shore at large. I think everypony could enjoy them. [Ah well. Wish in one hoof...]

[unlucky7]

[Alas, but at least there are plenty of other pulp novels to read in the Near and Far Shore.

With the ruse of secrecy gone, Ginia changes back to audio, gesturing at the shelves as she plays her message.]

Do you want to look around more or do you want to see the rest of the temple?

Sorry I'm not a good guide, I've never shown people around before.

[letteropener]

Oh, I can go either way. Your god won't mind if I get the full tour?

[Or at least a partial one? She doesn't want to intrude onto any private spaces, after all.]