dry rot

Because we know from Rose’s diary that her wish to be in the castle is more about her younger sibling than it is for her. She’s the older one, looking after Sparrow is her responsibility. So, she wishes they could live in the castle. So that Sparrow will be safe at last. She doesn’t live to see that her wish does end up coming true.

Sparrow takes the castle when Lucien is finally killed. They suffer so much between that wish and when they stand in front of the throne — their throne — for the first time.

They’ve died twice. They’ve lost friends, they’ve been tortured, they’ve saved the world from Lucien and his madness. The empty, cavernous halls of the castle are theirs. The sound of the music box echoes in their ears.

The relic granted Rose’s wish, it simply made the world bleed for it.

And when Sparrow builds the reliquary under Brightwall, they shove that accursed music box inside its depths, never turning back even as it plays its soothing melody.

The guild seal becomes the key they take to their grave, only a Hero could retrieve the music box and they hope and pray against fate that being a “Hero” rots with them.

Soooo we’re drawing ponies again? :)