Chapters
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Lilac Empathy listened to the words of the strange hymn, moving her mouth along to each verse. Her school had so many students that one little pony in the back who wasn't singing could hardly be noticed.The other students each sang along as though it were music they’d heard for a lifetime, as familiar in their way as the old Christmas tunes that came back onto the radio year after year. They sang with much of that same energy that a child's choir ought to.But the words they sang—that was where she…-
8.5 K •
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When Lyra stepped out into the impossible clearing, it wasn't naked and muddy or wearing fur. Now she felt like she was dressed for war—a thin, flexible top of metal links, with a skirt to match. Somehow it fit her perfectly without adjustment, or even much struggle to get over her damp skin.It was magic, obviously—the strange, new kind of magic that surrounded her, or rested on her ears as a little wreath. She was still a plain, ordinary human—but the locals didn't stare and point anymore. Most…-
98.0 K •
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Let's call it "Temporary Princess" 76%“I’m not from the other world,” she answered, and meant it. “But I would like to use their way of doing things to try and make up for our shortfalls. You said I’d be free to get help from anyone I wanted, right? If you’ve heard what I did with farming and lessons for unicorns, it would be like that, but… across other domains. I’d like the pegasi and the handful of hippogriffs and griffins we’ve got in the zone to be able to fly. Imagine how effective…-
132.5 K •
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Hayden had almost nothing of what she needed. She didn’t even have the passable set of tools she had commissioned from the castle blacksmith. But Hayden had spent years of her life as a general contractor, and years before that in the military. In neither of those careers had “not having what she needed” been an excuse. She wouldn’t let it be in Defiance, either.Besides, though she lacked almost anything of what might’ve been considered essential by others, she had the one thing that just…-
141.3 K •
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Theo was lying in the snow. He couldn’t have said how he got there, or what he’d been. He couldn’t say much of anything at first, as his body adjusted to the apparent beating he’d just endured. For a few seconds it was all he could do to twitch and moan, trying to get up. There was motion around him, shouts and boots and many moving figures. More than there should’ve been. God, what happened?Memories were foggy to return at first. There’d been… a confrontation. Kate had been waiting for them,…-
163.3 K •
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“It’s been the same for the last three nights,” Alex said, staring down at the floor. Jackie’s little corner of their shared room had all the lights covered, and survived only on the glow that came in through the crack in the door.But the bat seemed true to her name—she hadn’t once bumped into anything or expressed regret about making it so dark. “It doesn’t get any better. I’m always in the same place, I’m always… well, you’d have to see it. But it’s bad, and it’s making it…-
187.6 K •
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It would’ve been wonderful to fly directly to their destination and get everything over with. Summer was eager to reach that portal, and confront whatever reality waited on the other side. Whether she’d be able to continue her relationship with Sharp or not, whether the portal would even work—at least the endless confusion and doubt would be over, and she could see how the chips would fall.But there were some distractions too tempting even for her.It was after at least two weeks of gentle travel that…
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163.3 K •
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Time got a little confusing when you weren't something with a clear conception of time. Lyra was somewhere else—somewhere with lots of interesting new smells and places to explore. She wandered around for a while. A few times people came her way. They were familiar enough that she didn't want to run, but rarely novel enough that she stayed near them for very long.Long enough for them to talk about some things, or others. But none of them were as interesting as all the exciting corners of her new place.…
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98.0 K •
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Within the hour, the Purple Council had been convened. Faith thought the name was a little silly, particularly since it included her mother, who was black, and the princess, for whom a rank meant nothing. At least she didn’t have to force her way into the meetings. It wasn’t just her father’s name that got her in anymore—now she led the Gatecrashers.The meeting hadn’t actually waited for her. By the time she slipped inside, Lord Commander Chain Mail was already speaking. “—at least there…-
231.4 K •
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Domino stood in the courtyard, alone. He’d been ready for his (admittedly minor) role in this heist for what felt like days now. The delay wore on him like an acid bath. He paced back and forth near the gates, shuffling uneasily in the clothing he’d chosen for the event, and feeling incredibly silly.Living in Wintercrest meant his options were about what someone in the twenties might’ve been able to get their hands on. He could just as easily go naked, but that felt even stupider. So he dressed like…-
111.2 K •
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