In Changelingia (West Equestria), Brie gains the support of a Changeling queen for his endeavors. Spark is doing his best to help an ill Wolf spiritual leader.
In Free Equestria (East Equestria), Iron is trying to intimidate a group of criminal griffin interlopers. Fantasy Play is helping to shut down an Anarchist press. Silver is helping his new household. Amber Sunset is walking through the city, and Dark Star has just finished helping the orphans.
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>>138294Silver decides to accept that this is the best he'll get from them, and gives them a smile.
"I wish you best of luck."
>>138295Sundown blinks, and looks at Silver a little longer
"Thank you." And then she turns, and moves away
>>138296Silver watches them go, presumably with Pear alongside.
>>138297Pear:
"Unless you have another way out than how we came, it would be best to follow them. So there are no surprises"
>>138298"Hmm. You are probably right. Come on, let us go."
>>138299Silver and Pear follow Sundown and Askfalt, staying some paces back. Both of them look back, but there isn't anything they can do or even complain about, as both pairs are presumably going to the same location. It's down the stairs to the second floor, then down to the basement, and back through the tunnel, where it goes into the second tunnel, and then into the church basement, and back into the church. The two griffins look back when both enter the church basement, but make no contact as they go back up.
Of course this means that they remain within at least earshot for this whole period of time, lasting several minutes.
>>138300Silver is content with remaining silent along the journey, unless Pear has something to say. He gives the griffons a smile every so often when they turn around.
>>138301The two turn around and face Silver and Pear. The ponies would need to walk past them to leave the church. Pear is cautious but moves forward, and then Sundown speaks to Silver, asking:
"What will happen from here?"
>>138302Silver tilts his head in confusion.
"Huh? What is it you mean?"
>>138303"There... won't be any police, will there?"
>>138304Silver shakes his head.
"I did not see any when we came in. If I can be honest, reason why I said we were Black Hooves is because I thought
you were police when we came to this place."
>>138305This answer seems to please her. A smile slowly comes to cover her face, fully enveloping it as she tilts her head down, but looks back up towards Silver. There's a definitely mischievous, or even malign quality to it. "She has told me why she is here. Why don't you tell me why you are here?"
>>138306He points to Pear, or at least in her general direction.
"I was helping her. She mentioned she was not going to be in Baltimare long, and she wanted to learn about...well, you know. Thank you again for obliging her, I bet it meant world to her."
>>138307She opens her beak in part
"All the world and more"
Her stance has completely changed, from distrust to a smile and tiptoed posture that looks perhaps even seductive
"Why didn't you just lead with that?"
>>138308He knocks a forehoof against his own head lightly, smiling.
"Because I am not very smart pony."
>>138309"No matter. His followers come from many places and seek many very different ends. But they all follow the same way."
>>138310He is somewhat worried by this statement, but the unicorn quickly shakes it off.
"So what do you think you will do now with your mate?"
>>138311"Go back to our apartment, or linger around here to see if any more intruders come by." She answers. She seems to want to add something to that, but awaits Silver's response
>>138312He smiles some more, evidently happy.
"That sounds quite relaxing. Or at least first portion of it does."
>>138313"Did you want to ask something?" She says, smiling
>>138314"Uh...hmm...I will be honest, I am not sure if there is something I am suppose to ask or not."
>>138315"I'll leave it at that." She says with her almost sensual look.
"Have a good night with your mare" she says
>>138316He seems a bit confused by her response, but he waves goodbye to her.
"Have good night with your mate!"
>>138317She waves back, and after a moment, Askfalt does as well. Pear waves to them, and gives a light smile. They start to leave the church, though they linger to see if Silver and Pear are leaving as well.
>>138318Silver looks over to Pear.
"Shall we?"
>>138319Pear trots on through the door, down the short set of steps, and onto the pavement, and progresses down the sidewalk with Silver
>>138320Silver looks at her as they trot.
"So, ready to tell me how it went?"
>>138321She twitches her still tied up tail, and the book she carries almost sticks out of her pack.
"They were willing to open up after a while, after I convinced them I had no interest in the police or any persecution. You saw they weren't entirely sure with you. Neither of them was a priest and so didn't have intimate knowledge of how the rituals worked or of the precise details about many parts of the theology, but I got something out of them. I think they may have held back out of diffidence, but that is to be expected. I don't think I would have done any better with a more obviously captive pair of subjects like at the jail. I think the money you gave them really loosened them up." She says
>>138322He smiles.
"I am glad to have been of some help, at least."
>>138327"Heh," She smiles and moves forward in a sudden spurt
"Yes... Thank you."
>>138336"I bet you did not expect to be doing all of this tonight, huh? We had almost like miniature adventure."
>>138337“No.” After saying that, she turns her head back to smile at him. “Is every dat like this for you?”
>>138338He smiles back and chuckles.
"Heh, it usually is. Sometimes it is nice to have days where you do 'normal' things too. Read book, talk with friends, shop for groceries, that kind of thing."
>>138339"I would bet. It's exciting, but it was more than a little nerve wracking seeing a griffin charge at us with a machete. I... Don't think I would like to do that
every day. But I suppose you get paid well enough you don't need to.(?)"
That last part is inflected
almost like a question
>>138340Silver nods.
"It is little nervewracking, but it does pay handsomely."
>>138341"I figured. Being an Associate Professor is better pay than most jobs, but less than you'd think, especially for eight years of school."
She looks away, then down, the up, then opens her mouth, then looks back approximately in the direction of Silver but not directly at him
"Uh... I suppose I owe you for this...?"
>>138342He uses a forehoof while trotting along to wave it off.
"There is no need to owe me. I am just glad I could help fulfill your wish."
>>138344"Really."
He smiles and nods, before tilting his head at her.
"Does being associate professor really not pay so much?"
>>138345"Thank you so much"
She hops back over, and towards floof pone, jumping up, and hugging him. She moves over his shoulders, wrapping a leg around him. She is rather small, has a short coat, a long mane that is kept in a tie, and is generally dainty. It takes her a moment to reply, as she positions herself over him.
"Well, for the education level."
>>138346Silver slows down to be able to enjoy the hug and this bit of pony interaction. He brings his opposite foreleg around to pat the petite unicorn who is so opposite to him in body size.
"Huh. I always figured college was how one got to have really high paying career. Either that or learning trade."
>>138347She closes her eyes at the large foreleg coming down on her. She isn't
that much smaller in terms of dimensions, but her build is much less massive, and it is easy to see.
"I didn't go to make money. Unlike my father. People who take this path do so for love of knowledge... or the shorter working hours and air conditioning."
>>138350"Money is not everything, but it
is nice to have."
Silver resumes his trotting, half carrying Pear with him as long as she holds on.
"Air conditioning...is it that one machine that cools air in room? Now
that is fancy. I can see why that would be perk."
>>138351She moves off him, but she seems elated still, with a louder voice and faster pace of walk.
"Yes. It's really nice to have in the University in August and late spring. There's no hard outside work when teaching in the semester. It's when you're doing research you have to go out in the humidity."
>>138352Silver looks down at his fluffy figure.
"I have little idea how I am going to survive Summer down here. I might have to shave almost completely bald."
>>138353"Heh, maybe. It's a bit cooler here than in Stableside, but it can get pretty warm here. It's kind of chilly tonight though. I wish I brought my sweater."