Up in the North, the ponies have successfully found who, or rather, what was damaging the mine. But their quest is not over, as they go to look for the source of the trouble. In Baltimare, Iron, Silver, and Dark Star enjoy the fruits of defeating the cultists, while Midnight herds the remaining rescues.
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>>127359Silver can definitely say he's far cleaner now than he was earlier. Even with the pain of his wounds, he feels far better. He gets out, drains the bathtub water, and dries off with a towel.
Feeling clean and now back to his normal floofy self, he heads back downstairs to join the others.
>>127360There are only four towels, but surely enough. Silver gets out, fluffier than before
Downstairs, the creatures seem to have separated. Jubilosa has placed a bottle of wine she found on the table in the living room, as she is laying on her back passed out, with her rogue hanging out of her open beak and her right foreleg on her chest.
Sounds come from the kitchen, the door to outside is partly open, and Keskoo is nowhere to be seen
>>127361Silver looks at Jubilosa on the couch, then trots over to the kitchen where Khoi presumably is.
>>127345She sits up, and throws her forehooves to the air, in a clear “I give up”
Iron can see her cutie mark: a needle and red thread
>>127362Silver goes over and sees Khoi placing pots and pans, as well as some food items on the counters. The kitchen looks fairly nice, with an electric stove and wide sinks. There isn’t much food at all, mostly fish and what looks like squid, and even that is low in quantity. A take out bag has been tossed in the trash, with the trash can being placed out in the open as well. There are not many pots or pans, but a few
>>127364Silver gives a curious look at what she's doing before speaking up.
"Would you like help with whatever it is you are doing?"
>>127365“I am almost finished. I am inventorying the kitchen. The people here before left ‘food’ here”
>>127366"I see that. We will have to shop for groceries sometime today."
He looks back at the open door.
"Where did Keskoo go?"
>>127367If Mint Marine were here, he could probably identify not only the fish but where it lives. Loputu could offer more useful information, such as whether it was caught in the bay or purchased. But this is Khoi, and she just knows she doesn’t want to eat it, setting it to the side with mild disgust. She points with a hoof past the bar and to the balcony
“Outside”
>>127368He smiles and nods at her.
"Thank you."
Following her direction, he checks up on Keskoo.
>>127369There is a double door between the dining area and the living area that opens onto a wooden deck, which has a wooden railing. A table and a couple seats, and extends a little further than the second floor balcony. A wooden staircase descends from the deck down to the ground. There is grass an sand on the ground, and as a whole, this property must not be more than 3 or so feet above the high tide mark. By the water is a string of rocks, and a little sand beyond that, as well as a small dock that extends into the water. There is a small white rowboat tied to the dock, bobbing on the waves. And next to the dock, on the rocks above the sand where the edges of the waves meet the land, is Keskoo. She sits there, staring out into harbor bay
>>127370Silver trots over to her.
"Mind if I give you some company?"
>>127371She looks over to him, up, and then nods. She turns her head back to the water, seemingly watching a smaller freight ship - probably not ocean going - move across the bay towards the harbor mouth
>>127372Silver sits down next to her, looking at the same ship.
"Remind you of home at all?"
>>127373"Not really. No. I was inland. And when I saw ocean, there were no big buildings like these. It was much colder. More trees. More rocky shore and less sand."
>>127374"It sounds like what I have heard about Skynavia. It sounds like hard place to make living."
>>127375“But I am not from Skynavia. I am from Cubria!” she protests, exhaling through her nose and turning her head. But then she inhales, and answers Silver’s question
“It can be, yes. The growing season is short and not all crops will grow so far north. Some, only further south. The soil is hard and thin. The winters are unforgiving. But we made a living.”
>>127376He bows his head to her.
"My apologies, I did not mean to offend. You are from Cubria."
He returns to looking at the harbor.
"It sounds little bit different from my own Motherland. I have heard, though, that *Cubria* has made ponies who are stronger and more resilient than most."
>>127377"I have not met most ponies. But I thought we were resilient. Strong..."
She looks out into the bay again. There are several moving objects. Looks like green water freighters and a couple fishing vessels. A naval ship - or more likely, a patrol ship owned by customs - hangs around near the mouth of the bay
>>127378"How are you holding up, with everything?"
>>127379"Not.... Good. But I am alive."
>>127380He nods.
"Anything you want to talk about, get off your mind?"
>>127381"I... don't know... They chained me up in the factory floor in there. Yelled at me. Barked at me and hit me. It was not as bad in the collective factory in Everfrost, but it was not so much better either. I am free of both now. And for that, I should be grateful"
She has tears in her emerald eyes
>>127382Silver nods.
"It is over. You are free now, and I will help you as much as I am able or as much as you want."
>>127383"I was told ponies coming to New Mareland get guaranteed jobs and housing" She says, turning back and looking to him
"Not that I am sure I want to be in another government factory"
>>127384He smiles.
"I cannot blame you. We can look for other work for you soon, something
you actually want to do. What is it you want to do, exactly?"
>>127385"Sewing and embroidery, mostly. My grandmother taught me how to make the gákti our ponies would wear. Take dyed thread and mix together blues and yellows. Or even sew metal to leather in the more traditional garb. I can do more, I am sure"
>>127386Silver strokes his muzzle in thought, before Keskoo can practically see a lightbulb go off over his head.
"I...think I have idea. There is neighborhood in city with more ponies of your culture. I would have to look at prices, but...perhaps I could help you open sewing and textiles shop there?"
>>127387"Maybe, if I can compete with factories. But at least I will not be visited by secret police for 'resisting collectivization' if I embroider a wedding dress for money."
>>127388"You have couple of things factories do not. You know how to make fabrics in your culture's traditional style, which factories cannot replicate, and you can get to know your customers on personal basis. I will do whatever I can to help you get started, even if I have to pay out of my own pockets."
>>127389She looks at him, blinks, and then says
"Thank you..."
>>127390"You remember young stallion from last night, Loputu? Perhaps we should go talk with him. He might know of good place for shop, and can show us around Redheart."
>>127391"Yes, I remember him, He said he was from Bluffhead. That was like a wholly different tribe back before the Griffin Socialists came. Not that I have much memory of that time. He was nice."
>>127392"He did seem to like having somepony to speak in his native tongue with. We can go see him whenever you want."
>>127393"Maybe I should... It's very new life here. Some time..."
She looks at him and blinks
"What are we doing
here?"
>>127394"I got this property deed from Maakie's safe. He was griffon behind how you and many others got tricked. I was hoping it would have space enough for some of those we rescued to stay, at least for time being."
>>127395She draws her lips back
"Good riddance to him... I didn't know griffins had big houses in Equestria"
>>127396"Sometime, free country has...problems. Anyways...there are three rooms suitable for bedrooms, but I need to buy furniture for one of them. Would you want to stay here, or should we find other place for you?"
>>127397"I... don't know. This is a very nice house. I would not mind staying here, if only for a while. And I would not mind talking to those from Bluffhead and Skynavia. Like Loputu."
>>127398He smiles again at her.
"Want to go take look around Redheart before making decision? Maybe we will find better place there."
>>127349>>127353>>127355I'm very sorry, maybe it was the Easter wine but I am terrible at spatial visualization despite your precise description. Is there a very basic diagram of the first & second floor layouts?
>>127358>Mercenary who used to be happy living just about anywhere isn't satisfied with a decent bathroom. Did his tavern room even have an attached bath?>>127359Is replacing bandages not a thing? >>127400Silver stands up, and offers Keskoo a hoof for her to get up with, too.
"I just hope Khoi and Jubilosa do not get in
too much trouble while we are gone."
>>127402She looks down at the hoof, and waits a moment. Then she takes it, and stands up with Silver pulling her to help
>>127404True >>127405He heads back inside, Keskoo presumably following. Before he actually leaves, he checks in with Khoi.
"Keskoo and I are going to Redheart. Do you need anything?"
>>127406She looks up, back at him
"This house needs lettuce oats, rice, curry, and a few other things. But I am fine."
>>127407"Can you make grocery list, or should we just pick up basics?"
>>127408"I will make list" She says