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Where before many mare have gone.jpg
Occupied Equestria - Between Storms
Anonymous
3f5f16c
?
No.129000
In the North, Spark has encountered a new tribe of creatures, who are eager to take him as an emissary between cultures. In the south, Iron sleeps off his wounds, with dreams of a new life for himself and a certain zebra. Silver tries to settle in those he saved from the cultists into their own lives. Fantasy play establishes herself in Baltimare, and she too, has encountered cultures unknown to her before. As they all search for normalcy, it remains to be seen just what dangers await beyond the horizon
1835 replies and 47 files omitted.
Amber Sunset
7580e37
?
No.130554
130556
>>130551
She looks up at the presumably grand building and walks through its venerable doors. If the floor is stone then she may expect her hoofsteps to echo through the foyer. Is there anypony at the entrance?
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130555
130556
>>130553
Iron tilts his head slightly before hovering his head atop the rice for a quick sniff of the rice.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130556
130557 130560
>>130554
It's a two story stone building with recessed windows and no columns. The most interesting feature is a blue roof. Nevertheless, she may enter. Inside there is a stairwell to another floor, an open lobby around the entrance with railings on the second floor, a desk, and rows of books. Darker woods dominate. There is a pony behind the front desk.

>>130555
More spices, tomato, and a light steam coming off of the rice
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130557
130558
>>130556
Seeing no obviously strange ingredient on the food, Iron neatly nips at the rice for a quick little taste.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130558
130559
>>130557
It's rice, of course, with a tomato flavor, as well as onions, red pepper, garlic, and more than a bit of curry. The rice itself is almost perfectly cooked, but the tomato is a bit overcooked or even burned, and the onion and pepper could have used more sauteing. The spices, once again, are heavy
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130559
130561
>>130558
Iron hums softly as he munches on the rice, nodding along. "This one she will need a bit more practice," he surmises before going for another, bigger bite, chewing softly.
Amber Sunset
7580e37
?
No.130560
130561
>>130556
She walks up the pony and talks in a low voice. "Hello.
May I look around?"
she asks politely.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130561
130562 130563
>>130560
It's a unicorn mare. You could almost say "another" unicorn after the receptionist a while ago, although this one is a little older

"Sure, sweetie. If you need any help, just ask"

>>130559
Much the same as the last set of bites. Sands looks on over
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130562
130564
>>130561
Gulping it down with a little exhale, Iron looks at Sands. "This may prove to be a bit too strong for your taste," he admits before continuing his munching, wondering if Sands will actually go for it anyways.
Amber Sunset
7580e37
?
No.130563
130564
>>130561
Amber smiles and nods. She enters the library proper and looks at what sections are on the first floor. How many books are there?
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130564
130565 130566
>>130563
If Amber is going to count books, she'll be there all day. It is, however, a reasonable assumption that this is the largest library in the metropolitan area. The first few sections seem to hold primarily non-fiction books

>>130562
She shrugs
"I trust your judgement on that"
Amber Sunset
7580e37
?
No.130565
130567
>>130564
She certainly does not want to be there all today, she's a busy mare. She does however look to see where the history, biography, science/magic and guide sections are, particularly the one on music. She lets her eyes pass over a few titles.
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130566
130567
>>130564
With a nod, Iron finishes off the rice as he leans back into a hopeful backrest, huffing lightly in both mild satisfaction and flavor assault on his tongue. "Seems she is at least adept," he comments "and I am pretty sure she will get the hang of these dishes in a day or two. Heavy on the details and a bit too much of something in the rice paste, but everything else seems correct."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130567
130568 130572
>>130565
These topics are large enough to have their own rows. There are beginners guides, an esoteric guide to the harmony of the spheres, books on string instruments, books on music theory, and so forth

>>130566
"Well, it sounds like she better. They don't trust a kirin to do a Zebra's job, and she doesn't seem pleased to leave Zebrica to come work for Zebras."
Amber Sunset
7580e37
?
No.130568
130569
>>130567
"I think I should have brought my bags…" she mumbles to herself. She looks for stairs up to the second level.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130569
130570
>>130568
The second level has more practical books, like on how to do taxes, and a children's section. At least some of the works of fiction are upstairs as well. Tables for reading are located primarily upstairs
Amber Sunset
7580e37
?
No.130570
130571
>>130569
I wish there was a section on renting an apartment without going into debt…
She briefly browses through the fiction section to see what kind of stories are there. Does it look like more fiction books are elsewhere?
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130571
>>130570
Novels seem to be the most popular format, although there are compilations of poems and short stories as well, and a few epics. Fiction seems to span parts of both floors, and comes in all genres. In some areas across the library, numbers of books have been pulled off the shelves, but the library is mostly well stocked with domestic and even in some instances, foreign books.
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130572
130573
>>130567
Iron nods along Sands' explanation before suddenly tilting his head towards the unicorn at the second part of her explanation. "Why would she not?" he asks as his left ear droop alongside his head tilt "Do their species have a fued between eachother or something?"
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130573
130574
>>130572
“I just doubt that is what she had in mind when she thought of Equestria, Homeland of the Pony race. That is all.” She answers
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130574
130575
>>130573
"She does not strike me as one to worship ponies' hooves, considering her neutral demeanor towards the ones she has seen so far," Iron answers as he pokes his chin in thought.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130575
130576
>>130574
“And she shouldn’t. But she probably had different expectations.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130576
130577
>>130575
"Would it make that much of a difference if her employers were ponies instead?" he asks, scritching his chin futher "Like I said, I do not think she came here just to have a pony as her employer either, and considering her seemingly lack of skills to provide, it does sound she came here for necessity rather than to thrive."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130577
130578
>>130576
She leans back in her booth
“I don’t know why she came here. I can only assume she cane here because she thought things would be different here than the place she left behind, and I suspect she’s already found fewer differences than she hoped for. And that is all I can say about her.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130578
>>130577
Iron once more changes the tilt of his head from one side to the other, still confused at Sands' conclusion. "How can you tell?"
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130579
130580
>>13058 →
“Because she told that Zebra mare, to her face, ‘I thought there would be more ponies in Equestria,’ and because I very sincerely doubt that, when she got on that boat, her smugglers would enslave her, try to sacrifice her to some kind of griffin god or whatever it is, and that she’d have to fight griffins with a hammer here in Equestria. But really, I don’t know what she expected, I don’t know why she’s here, and I don’t really care. If she was disillusioned with ponies before she got in that boat, then good for her. But if she literally sold herself into slavery and left her family thousands of miles behind to go to a place she didn’t think was any meaningfully different from zebra cities she could have gone to for less money, less risk, and less distant from family, then I have a very low opinion of her intelligence. Either way, it isn’t really my concern, and I won’t pain myself over it. I have pain enough looking out for myself.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130580
130581
>>130579
"There is a chance she was escaping some sort of persecution or war," Iron offers but soon pouts lightly "...although this land is not exactly going to be peaceful for long either, but perhaps she was practically forced to escape."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130581
130582
>>130580
Her expression changes from mild annoyance to curiosity
“Not going to be peaceful for long?”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130582
130583
>>130581
"There is a lot of fearmongering being spread around of the chinitous fellows," Iron surmises "which will inevitably cause a spark sooner or later. I have no clue when it would happen, however."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130583
130584
>>130582
“Yes yes, what about them?”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130584
130585
>>130583
"I have a feeling their endgoal is to garner enough fear to actively hunt them down and wipe them out," Iron presents tentatively "mostly because they probably are not too confident about subjugating an entire species whose main abilitiy is to blend into the crowd."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130585
130586
>>130584
She picks up the beer - which she has barely touched thus far, and she has already finished her coffee - and takes a sip.

“You said a couple nights ago that you wanted to meet a Changeling, but can’t. Don’t be sad. Nature gave them the talent they needed to evade their enemies.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130586
130587
>>130585
"Hiding only works for so long," Iron counters with a pout "and considering this amalgamation of a jungle this is, they probably will crack said nature of theirs with enough time."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130587
130588
>>130586
“So you understand why Chrysalis chooses to knock down the front door.” She takes another sip of the beer. “You can hide for a long time though. Wouldn’t we all like to hide from our problems.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130588
130589
>>130587
"In all honesty, attempts to hide from problems will inevitably destroy a pony," Iron replies as he averts his gaze slighlty "it grows and grows until it pops out an outcome even worse than confronting the problem."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130589
130590
>>130588
“Somehow... I doubt that is how you really feel.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130590
130591
>>130589
"You could say it is not something I follow myself," Iron replies with a little sheepish smile before sagging his shoulders and resting his neck on the booth wall. "It is extremely scary to... open one self to others and hope that one day, I can manage to do so."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130591
130592
>>130590
“Well, you ran from the police last night. I know that.”
She takes another drink
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130592
130593
>>130591
Iron can't help but wheeze softly, looking at Sands once more. "That is not even close to what I was talking about," he answers with a smile on his face.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130593
130594
>>130592
“Well, I don’t really know what you’re talking about”
She takes a long pause to light a cigarette
“But I did see you run away from your business partners last night, while they stuck around, and I can’t imagine you’ll be sharing in any bounties they collected.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130594
130595
>>130593
"There was not any bounties that I have been told about," Iron answers with a shrug "so I figured the latter option was a better idea."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130595
130596
>>130594
She holds her cigarette in the frog of her left hoof
“Then why did they stay?”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130596
130597
>>130595
"Moral obligations, if I had to guess," Iron replies "everypony there wanted to ensure it stopped if I read the room correctly."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130597
130598
>>130596
“And you didn’t have any moral obligations? To make sure it stopped?” She raises an eyebrow
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130598
130599
>>130597
"More like I was sure they would manage without me," Iron clarifies "since I am not much more than a foreign brute whose skillset is punching things, unlike the others. My part was done when the main threat was taken out."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130599
130600
>>130598
“Well, they certainly weren’t afraid of the police, but you were, and I can’t imagine they would have worked for the police if there wasn’t a bounty.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130600
130601
>>130599
"Like I said, they probably felt inspired enough to stay there and mop up for the police as some sort of civic duty," Iron explains "considering nopony but me asked about payment."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130601
130602
>>130600
“Did you ask?”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130602
130603
>>130601
"That is what I said, yes," Iron replies with a nod "although we were never told about how deep this whole operation went save for making immigrants work absurd hours without the leaders' permission and some strange events we did not understand until now."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130603
130604
>>130602
“Okay... but don’t tell me you didn’t run and hide”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130604
130605
>>130603
"I never said I did not," Iron answers with a tilt of his head "What gave you that idea?"
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130605
130606
>>130604
“Mister ‘confront your problems head on.’”
She drinks from the beer
“I will stick to hiding.”
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130606
130607
>>130605
Iron tilts his head further. "...I never did tell you not to run and hide," he answers, mildly surprised "only that, long term, constant hiding will inevitably cause far more problems than facing them head on."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130607
130608
>>130606
"Okay, that's fine. You do your thing, Khoi does her thing, and I do mine." She takes a long drink
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130608
130609 130611
>>130607
Iron blinks a couple of times, flabberghasted by the drawn out discussion stemmed from a misunderstanding. "Uh," Iron utters "are you really hiding from so many things that even the idea of not hiding will never be worth pursuing?"
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130609
130610
>>130608
"I never said that"
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130610
130612
>>130609
"I never said hiding is a death sentence everytime, either," Iron replies with a scratch on the side of his head "but your relentless defense towards hiding and saying it is your thing implies you hide a lot from others."
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130611
130612
>>130608
>flabberghasted by the drawn out discussion stemmed from a misunderstanding
Who could ever see this coming?
Anyway, I finished with an exam so I'm ready to go again.

Amber is quite pleased at the stock that exists. I've never seen so many books since I visited the library in Canterlot.
I could spend all day here.
Nonetheless, she wrenches herself away and goes to talk with the receptionist. "Ma'am, I'm interested in exploring the northern part of town.
Is there a church around? Are there any restaurants you would recommend? How about music halls?"
She asks these questions eagerly.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130612
130613 130620
>>130610
She pulls back in her seat, and tilts her head away

>>130611
"Yes, there are several churches. The northern Parish Cathedral is Saint Eligius. The town opera house is nearby, but there are may restaurants and bars with live music. As for restaurants, there are several depending on what kind of food you are looking for."
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130613
130614
>>130612
Iron exhales through his nostrils as he leans forward. "I do not mind if you have things to hide because it can get you killed," he explains "but constantly having your hidden aspects chew inside cannot be healthy for one's mind. Thanks to you last night, I realized that."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130614
130615
>>130613
"Whatt do you mean?" She asked
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130615
130616
>>130614
"What I spilled last night to you was something I probably would have never even considered saying to anypony," Iron explains "only because you came forward and admitted there was something severely amiss was when I uttered all those... pathetic lines that, more likely than not, would have spooked any other pony away from me."
He sighs softly as he, in turn, leans backs once more. "It would have tore me apart if I had not done that," he admits softly.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130616
130617
>>130615
She frowns, and takes a draw
"Lovely"
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130617
130618
>>130616
"Now I am here, seeing you showing the same signs I had," Iron continues "and it worries me that you might break from that same pressure into doing something drastic."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130618
130619
>>130617
"Well... You tell me last night that there is nothing about me to love, and you confront me and argue with me when I give an opinion on that kirin, or make a remark about Changelings."
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130619
130621
>>130618
"That is because I want to know why you think what you think on the second two points," Iron replies "while the first one could be simply fixed by something you keep hidden that I do not know about. Even after all you have told me, I have this feeling we are still strangers to eachother. Do you not feel it, too?"
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130620
130621
>>130612
She exclaims, "Oh, that sounds good!" before catching herself. She whispers, "Could you please give me directions to there? As for restaurants, I'd be happy with any good Old Mareland cuisine that has ponies I could meet."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130621
130622 130624
>>130619
"I just don't want to argue" She says

>>130620
"Oh, you'll find a diner easily. The opera house is six blocks south and two east"
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130622
130623
>>130621
Amber thanks the mare and leaves. She goes instead to the north where the cathedral is.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130623
130625
>>130622
It's not quite as large nor as ornate as the Neo-gothic cathedrals of some of the older cities further north, but it's a hell of an honorable mention. The church is many stories tall, with two large stone towers
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130624
130626
>>130621
"I only want to get to know you," Iron responds, followed by a sigh "but I do not have a lot to go off of."
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130625
130626
Spoilered
>>130623
Amber's eyes widen in amazement. She just stands on the steps for a few minutes, looking at all the reliefs, carvings, and windows in detail. When she's finished she tries to open the door and walk inside.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130626
130627
>>130624
"Well, I hoped you learned something in the past few minutes"

>>130625
The ceiling is high and valuated, with small kind of diamond shaped ornaments springing out from the edges. At the top is a stone carving of what must be Celestia. Below her is a frieze, which seems to depict scenes from the colonozation of Equetsria, like the proclaiming of "earth" and the meeting of the three second-in-commands in the cold cold caves under Canterlot.

Opening the doors, she sees the inside of the Cathedral. It's tall, a minimum of 40 feet under the vaulted ceilings, with stained glass depicting an unknown saint and Princess Celestia, although a lone panel depicts all four princesses. No pony immediately greets her
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130627
130628
>>130626
"...not really," Iron mutters disappointedly, exhaling softly.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130628
130629
>>130627
"And what would be enough to go off of?"
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130629
130631
>>130628
"I do not know," he answers with another little sigh "...will every conversation we ever have end up like this?"
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130630
130631
Amber freezes in place, mouth agape, for half a minute as her eyes pan the interior. Hesitantly, as if afraid to make a sound, she walks down the nave, stopping every few moments to look around again. Oh my princess…
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130631
130632 130634
>>130629
"I'll give you some advice, not that you'll take it. Just so I'm on the record, whatever that is worth. Every word spoken, ever act taken, every little thing she does... It tells you something about the person. You want to know a person, don't demand more information, make better use of the information you have. Or at least, ask more specific questions."

At this point, she looks down at her glass, to see that it is empty, and at her cigarette, to see that it is entirely consumed.

>>130630
It's nicely silent. Electric candles keep the area lit. The altar is raised and has black marble, or at least a facade of it.
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130632
130633
>>130631
"I doubt that will work out in this case," Iron replies, further deflating into his seat before giving her a weak smile "but thank you for trying nonetheless."
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130633
130635
>>130632
"Okay" She says
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130634
130636
>>130631
She walks down a bit farther, looks around, and enters a pew that is about midway from the altar. She lowers herself down until her hock joints touch the floor and she puts her front hooves on the railing in front of her, then closes her eyes. I assume that's how ponies kneel Thank you for granting me a safe journey, a job, and lodging… she silently mouths.
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130635
130636
>>130633
Iron simply lets out another defeated exhale, waiting for Blanche to end this conversation.
('Did I ever tell you what the definition of insanity is?) his mind echoes softly inside his head in his father's voice.
673a4c2
?
No.130636
130637 130638
[1d3 = 1]
>>130635
Sands mumbles something

>>130634
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130637
130639
>>130636
Iron blinks a couple of times, trying his hardest to hear her voice amist his own mental monolouge. ('Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting things to change.') it continues on as he rubs one of his eyes.
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130638
130639
>>130636
Please help me stay strong as I deal with the difficulties of city living. I think I could get used to this but it will take some time. Maybe I just need a friend to look out for me…
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130639
130640 130642
>>130637
It sounds like something to the effect of "I can say nothing without him disagreeing"

>>130638
"Hi there!"
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130640
130641
>>130639
Amber blinks as she raises her head and looks around, ears swiveling.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130641
130644
>>130640
Behind her is a rather plump earth pony, with a white-ish coat and black and white religious garb.

"Oh. You were praying. Uh... I'll let you go then"
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130642
130643
>>130639
Iron lightly bites his lip after hearing it, unable to properly make a rebuttal out of it. ('The first time somepony told me about it, I didn't believe it,) his father's voice continues (left her not soon after that and went on with my day.')
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130643
130645
>>130642
Blanche comes in with an awkward smile

"Uh... was there an agreement about payment?"
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130644
130646 130647
>>130641
She blinks. "No, it's okay. I'm new to Baltimare and I thought I'd pay a visit."
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130645
>>130643
"O-oh," Iron replies absent-mindedly in his own little world "h-how much was it?"
('Soon enough, however, I started to see her point,') the voice carries on ('everpony was stuck in their own little routines while complaining about it everytime with their peers and in turn they nodded along.')
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130646
130648
>>130644
"Well, it's... it would be 13 bits for the whole set, normally"
She has a very uncertain expression
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130647
130649
>>130644
He jumps up
"Oh. Hi! Welcome to Baltimare! Nice of you to visit!"
Anonymous
f9e8634
?
No.130648
130650
>>130646
('That. is. crazy.') the voice whispers in his ear before dissipating into the deeper confines of his mind.
"R-right," he utters out before pulling out 18 bits from his pouch and passing it to the striped waitress "here you go."
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130649
130650
>>130647
She smiles. "Actually I'm not visiting, I moved here from the countryside. I guess you could say I'm still getting my city-legs. Do you want to talk outside?"
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130650
130651 130653
>>130648
Blanches's nervousness - and she was indeed nervous - dissipates. She takes the bits
"Have a nice day!" she says

White Sands stands up

>>130649
"Oh..." He says
"Sure! We can talk outside or in a side room"
Amber Sunset
f535b80
?
No.130651
130652
>>130650
Amber stands up and leaves the pew. "Lead the way," she says softly.
Anonymous
673a4c2
?
No.130652
130654
>>130651
He walks over, between the pews, and then finds a way to a door on the side.. He opens it to a small room that has a hallway to the right, tile floors, and a few windows to the side

"We are out of the Sanctuary now... so... What's your name!?"
Anonymous
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No.130653
130655
>>130650
With a little exhale, Iron follows suit, simply standing there with a blank look on his face for a few second before turning to Blanche. "Tell the cook: For your first time, it went better than expected."
With that, he starts to walk towards the door at a slow pace in case Sands wanted to stay for a bit longer, without any clear destination in mind.