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[YouTube] The True Gift of Gifting [Embed]

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Occupied Equestria - New Opportunities
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.143000
Continuing
1791 replies and 28 files omitted.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144576
144577
>>144574
a couple hours maybe. I’m a bit distracted at the moment, so it’s hard to do a big scene-setting reply

>>144575
Iron and White Sands - White Sands only with resistance from Cauldron - are taken back to Black Cauldron’s apartment
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144577
144578
>>144576
Iron was still extremely bummed out when they arrived, simply following along with absolute silence right behind Cauldron with a grimace.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144578
144579
>>144577
Black Cauldron places Iron on the couch (the sand one he slept on a couple nights ago).

“Well? How do you feel now?”

She pulls out a vile
“May as well spend a couple of these.”
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144579
144580
>>144578
"...tired," Iron muttered as he made himself comfortable on the couch with a small frown. Although his heart yearned to have Cauldron console him in these dark times, he felt he wasn't worthy of such affection after what he had just done.

He blinked slowly as the zebra mare got around to fetch the vials, softly chewing his lower lip, as he was conflicted between sleeping it off now or drinking it to get back to action as fast as he could in order to get back into the fray.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144580
144581
>>144579
“Not proud? I suppose you shouldn’t be. Nearly got yourself killed. Dragged her into this. May have dragged all of us into this...”
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144581
144582
>>144580
Iron simply exhaled as he slowly lowered his chin to the cushion, staring ahead vacantly while his lip chewing intensified.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144582
144583
>>144581
“Here. Take this”

She hoods him a vial, and a second vial. She reluctantly extends one to White Sands as well.
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144583
144584
>>144582
Iron stared at it for a few awkward seconds, keeping his chewing up as he decided whether to actually take it or not.
"...are you sure?" he mumbled to Cauldron from down at the cushion.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144584
144585
>>144583
She sighs

"Yes. You need it."
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144585
144586
>>144584
Iron frowned softly, staring deep into the vial with a conflicted look to it: Is now really the time for second guessing oneself?

(Why do I get this feeling I cannot take it?) he questioned himself. (Why am I not strengthening myself back to my peak?)

Was he afraid of something...? He couldn't quite understand it yet.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144586
144587
>>144585
"Iron? Are you alright? I know you're not alright but.."
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144587
144588
>>144586
"Uh..." Iron trailed off, stopping his lip biting as he kept staring at the vial Cauldron was offering for him...

Has he really done enough to warrant his recovery at her hooves? Has all his past deeds allowed him to rest here after potentially putting her and her family in danger? Putting Sands in danger? Hurting both of them in such unprecedented ways? Why shouldn't he be banished for his mistakes?

His features softened considerably at this barrage of self-doubt as his frame sunk deeper into the cushioning.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144588
144589
>>144587
“Iron? I’m worried for you...”
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144589
144590
>>144588
"I... should not," Iron finally concluded as he shook his laid head.

No. There is no way he was going to become some sort of... leech to her, to Sands or anypony. He shouldn't be helped in such a way. He wasn't worth the effort. He'll recover with the bare minimum. No way he'll stoop so low as to drain the zebra he's grown to love out of her hard-earned resources.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144590
144591
>>144589
“Iron? You’re hurt. I’m worried. Take it. Why won’t you take it?”

There is a fear and sadness in her voice. Her eyes water
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144591
144592
>>144590
Iron's eyes widened considerably, almost... confused at the sudden well of tears Cauldron was exhibiting at an alarming rate. "I... I can let my body heal by itself," he tried to excuse himself, still lying on the cushions, yet deep down he was still debating on whether he should actually do it.

This... this can't be right. Why is she crying right now? She should be angry, disappointed, anything but crying.
(...I do not understand,) he thought to himself, perplexed at the display.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144592
144593
>>144591
“Iron...”

She leans in, and hugs him, of tries to, rather, by placing her forelegs over him and resting her muzzle over his fur. Her coat is more coarse, and her legs former than White Sands.
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144593
144594
>>144592
Iron tries his best to face the somewhat hugging Cauldron with an astonished look on his face, ears finally spiking up in surpirse. "...why?" he simply asked in disbelief, failing to understand her motives to actually comfort him.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144594
144595
>>144593
"I care about you"
She says, softly
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144595
144596
>>144594
"B-but I made your life harder," Iron shakily replied in further disbelief. "Y-you may have to fight in a war I caused. I-It does not make sense..."
His eyes quivered lightly ambivalently between hope and despair by this point.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144596
144597
>>144595
"I know.." She says, placing her muzzle a little more firmly on his fur. She tries to wrap her legs around him, having some presence of mind to avoid the recent wounds
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144597
144598
>>144596
"T-then why?" Iron repeated with the faintest tinge of a snarl on his tone. "W-why do you subject yourself to me?"

It doesn't make sense! I failed her. I should've died right when that big bull took me down and spared her this foolishness. Why in the gods is she still with me?! The one thing he was good at failed him!

On and on he kept beating himself up in his head, as if the notion of him being cared for without some sort of return was criminal in his eyes. His breathing started to shake softly as his body started to tremble a bit like a wounded dog used to sleeping on the streets.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144598
144599
>>144597
"You would have done it for me"

Is her simple, unhesitating answer
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144599
144600
>>144598
At first, Iron stared at Cauldron, practically dumbfounded at her answer before it truly started to sink in: He would.

He would actually fight in a war she created, he would've healed her after every battle, no matter how stupid were the reasons. He would give her a place to stay in an unforgiving, unknown landscape if she needed to... because he saw the potential in her. He saw something to cherish... to love

The stallion's ears drooped once again and closed his eyes shut, sniffling unintentionally. "I-I..." he stammered out, voice practically quivering.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144600
144601
>>144599
For the moment, Black Cauldron merely stands over Iron in silence, still truing to wrap her forelegs around him, and place her muzzle into his back. He can hear her breath, with a sudden inhale that sounds almost, though not quite, like a sniffle. She shifts her body around, and digs a hoof underneath him.
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144601
144602
>>144600
Iron decided to properly connect the hug, shuffling his body gently so he was laid on his back rather than his stomach before firmly yet carefully wrapping his forelegs around her crest.

He didn't say much of anything aside from sporadic sniffling for a while, riding through the emotional wave barreling through his debilitated system.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144602
144603
>>144601
The shifting of position helps Black Cauldron greatly, who moves in to almost lay on Iron, wrapping her forelegs around, still standing on her hindlegs. Iron manages his legs around, feeling her coarse and firm, yet very much receptive
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144603
144604
>>144602
Iron's heartbeat rose in intensity at the encroaching mass of coarse, firm coat that Cauldron brushed against his own, feeling himself blush the tiniest bit at the position as he inadvertedly hugged her tighter.
"Y-you are a silly zebra, you know that?" Iron croaked out with a small, thankful smile on his features before sniffling softly.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144604
144605
>>144603
"Heh" She gives a small giggle, though it sounds as if she is near crying. Her coat carries little smell, but Iron can make out a trace of a flower smell.
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144605
144606
>>144604
Without further ado, Iron finally leans up a bit so that his head was neatly nestled next to hers, nuzzling her crest tenderly. "Thank you," he softly whispers in her ear, stroking her withers lovingly. "I do not know where I would be without you."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144606
144607
>>144605
"Heh heh." She seems a little calmer, and tries to turn her head and eyes to meet his, although she's so close, there isn't the room to move her head completely. Still, he can see her blue eyes looking back at him

"I have some ideas. Probably cut up and wounded. Mauled by a tiger and a shotgun."
She smiles
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144607
144608
>>144606
Iron couldn't help but chuckle slightly himself at the many routes he may have taken, nuzzling her cheek. "You were not supposed to answer that," he amusedly replied with his own, far warmer smile than before.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144608
144609
>>144607
"And you were not supposed to get yourself cut up again" She says, smiling and moving a bit at the muzzling. Her voice sounds more playful.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144609
144610
>>144608
Iron held back another chuckle at the response. "What can I say?" he answered with his own mischievous tone. "The cuts come to me naturally."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144610
144611
>>144609
"You find them. That is for sure." She says, with a moderately soft tone
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144611
144612
>>144610
"You know what else I am good at finding?" Iron followed up with a smirk. "Lots of stripes... mostly because they find me first."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144612
144613
>>144611
She blinks
"What?"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144613
144614
>>144612
Iron simply taps at Cauldron's side, particularly at her stripes on her coat.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144614
144615
>>144613
"Oh. Hehe. I guess I did find you."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144615
144616
>>144614
Iron stifled another chuckle at her reply. "Yeah," he replied with a calmer smile, setting his hooves a bit further into her back, just past her withers. "You do not mind if we stay like this for a while, right?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144616
144617
>>144615
She looks back, and then into Iron's eyes
"Heh. You.. you should take those potions." She says
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144617
144618
>>144616
"I really should," Iron agreed with a nod, soon looking to the sides to see where they were set.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144618
144619
>>144617
She picks them up and produces them with a hoof, after having previously set them on the couch
Anonymous
d163c59
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No.144619
144620
>>144618
Iron's response was to rest his head against the cushion, lightly open his mouth with a playful look and gesturing her with his head to pour them into it.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144620
144621
>>144619
She smiles and goes along with this.

"Careful"

She pops the first vial open, and pours it into his mouth. Then the second. Both times she makes sure Iron does not choke on it.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144621
144622
>>144620
Iron patiently allows Cauldron to slowly pour it into his mouth, swallowing the contents in a series of calculated gulps until they both go down with a serene look on his face, waiting to feel its rejuvenating effects.
[2d8+2 = 16]<Healz
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144622
144623
>>144621
Iron can feel it working through him, making breathing easier, and releasing pain on his chest. He feels much better
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144623
144624
>>144622
In response, Iron took one big, deep breath, puffing his chest up a bit, before calmly exhaling it out again. "That... does feel better," he admitted softly with a relaxed smile.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144624
144625
>>144623
She pulls back a bit, looking down at Iron and trying to gauge the effects of the potion.

"You look better"
She says
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144625
144626
>>144624
"I also feel better," Iron added with a more powerful smile, revitalized almost to the extent of a common non-Earth stallion. "So much better, in fact, that I can lift you up right now."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144626
144627
>>144625
Her expression is one of surprise

"...What?"
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144627
144628
>>144626
"You know," Iron followed up with a sort of sheepish smile "something a heavily wounded stallion cannot do. Like lift a pony up."

(I feel that was a bit out of left field...) he thought to himself, licking the back of his teeth.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144628
144629
>>144627
She blinks
"Oh."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144629
144630
>>144628
Iron snickered softly, ruffling Cauldron's mane playfully. "You are not supposed to take it too seriously," he explained amusedly before the passionate fire in his eyes were threatening to light up again "unless you want me to."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144630
144631
>>144629
She pulls her lips back in a smile at the ruffling of the mane, again moving her head.

"i bet you couldn't do it." She says
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144631
144632
>>144630
The spark was cast, and the flames rose up in Iron's pupils, shining with confidence. "It is on," he declared.

Without even standing up, Iron soon got into position, sneaking his hindlegs underneath her lower portion while sliding his forelegs below her withers and onto her chest. "I suggest you stand on top of me for this one," he added with a smile.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144632
144633
>>144631
Her expression is of surprise, but hints at a smile as she jumps up, her hind legs over Iron
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144633
144634
>>144632
He soon placed his forehooves onto her coarse chest while his hindhooves rested on her hopefully toned, strong belly.
"Alright," he uttered, soon checking just how stretched his limbs were, wondering if he could try to prop her up now or ask her to take her legs off the cushions before doing anything else.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144634
144635
>>144633
Iron can pull his hooves in and under her. She is ready
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144635
144636
>>144634
Seeing everything in place, Iron slowly stretches his legs upwards, pushing against the zebra's body to slowly lift her off the ground.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144636
144637
>>144635
"Woah" She looks around, surprised by the lift, but also excited, smiling. Her body holds firm as she is slowly lifted up into the air
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144637
144638
>>144636
Iron continued driving Cauldron's ascent until his legs were fully stretched, allowing her to almost feel like's she's hovering in the air. All the while, he wore a content smile as she watched the zebra's excited smile, taking his time to admire the beautiful toned mare over him with a confident gaze.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
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No.144638
144639
>>144637
She smiles, looking down at Iron.

This is indeed one of the closer views Iron has had of her. She is neither exceptionally thin nor fat. She feels muscular at the touch, though it doesn't especially reflect in her appearance. Her tail is long with straight, black hair, that seems thin, perhaps because of a tie a third of the way down the length.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144639
144657
>>144638
Cauldron would see quite the similar body below her, only bulkier and a bit bigger than hers. There were certainly outlines of his musculature on his legs, however, which were currently highlighted by the act of pulling her upwards. As a sidenote, his poofy mane definitely needs some combing.

"Enjoying the view?" Iron playfully asked the mare above him.
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144640
144641
>>144560
Spark steps over a bit closer to Waabishki.
"Are you not enjoying yourself here?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144641
144642
>>144640
“Wah.” Sparks words seem to break Waabishki out of a trance.

“Oh. This is nice. I like the heat. I’m just worried, is all.”
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144642
144643
>>144641
"Worried?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144643
144644
>>144642
“Yes...” she looks down towards the maroon colored carpet.

“About Miskobag”
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144644
144645
>>144643
"It might not be easy, but this will give him much more of a chance at life than if we did nothing. And we will be with him through the struggle, and that will, more than magic and medicine, be what helps him no matter the outcome."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144645
144646
>>144644
“I know... but... he is more than just a mentor. He is a pillar of our remaining culture. A library of knowledge that we can’t afford to lose.”
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144646
144647
>>144645
"Even all the magic ponies had did not stop death by age, disease, and war. We gave it our best shot, but not everything can be fixed. So if we fail, then the best course of action is for us to learn to be the pillar and library in his stead."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144647
144648
>>144646
“Yes... I know... I need more time.” She says, looking away from Spark
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144648
144649
>>144647
"This is the best shot at more time."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144649
144650
>>144648
“I know...” she says

“But I don’t even know what’s wrong with him. I am worried what they will say. Or if they even know.”
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144650
144651
>>144649
"If they don't know, then we will just be back to where we were before, not knowing. And if they give us bad news, then being here to learn it is better than not understanding and feeling powerless."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144651
144652
>>144650
Her breathing is heavy.

“I already feel powerless.”
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144652
144653
>>144651
"Even those with the most power feel that way. We simply can't control everything. What we do have power over is our response to that which is is out of control. Fear and despair will only consume your ability to control even that. The power you have right now is the ability to keep his perception positive and that he is loved. The magic of friendship tends to work wonders for the ill."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144653
144654
>>144652
Her breathing eases, and she blinks, while looking forward, and then back up to Spark.

“You are right. I know.”
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144654
144655
>>144653
"Feeling well enough to join the rest? I believe they are having something to eat."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144655
144656
>>144654
“I don’t know if I trust pony food, but... sure.”
Shimmering Spark
9145bf6
?
No.144656
144657
>>144655
"These ponies raises a wolf. I'm sure they have something more appealing to you."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144657
144659
>>144639
"Woah, heh heh." She looks down at Iron, her mane hanging off to her right side, and then in the room around her. She extends her legs out, as if in flight, or suspended in water.

>>144656
"They raised Makade. But I'll see. Maybe they will surprise me."
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144658
144670
>>144534
"Well... I grew up with my family around New Freeside. My mother worked in a sewing machine factory. Or used to, anyways. Hasn't for a while. My father was a trucker, and in the Union for it. I went to Coltlumbus Primary School, and then later to Blight High School. I didn't do sports, but I spent a lot of time around in town."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144659
144660
>>144657
Iron couldn't help but giggle as well, wondering just what Cauldron was feeling being suspended by his sturdy legs as her head scanned the room around her. The fact the zebra was posing like pegasus pony made this all the more endearing to the native.

However, there is one tiny question propping up in his head: What was Sands doing during all of this?
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144660
144661 144677
>>144659
White Sands, it seems, never left the room. She started off sitting down near a chair on the opposite side of the room, but has since crept slightly closer. She's completely quite, and only noticeable by sight. She seems to take interest in the interactions between Iron and Black Cauldron.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144661
144662
>>144660
Iron smiled sheepishly at Sands' way for a second before looking back up at Cauldron's hovering form, beaming in both pride, excitement and wonder. "How does it feel up there?" he amusedly called out from below.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144662
144663
>>144661
Sands has a wide eyed expression, like she's been caught, or something. But it doesn't matter, as she lays low to the ground and does not say anything.

"Like laying on a rock, haha" She says. She smiles, looking straight forward and at the window of her apartment.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144663
144664
>>144662
insert lewd joke here
Iron decides not to pay attention at Sands' seemingly pertified frame, feeling her curiosity might turn into some sort of exploratory phase with him later.

He had to wonder if she wished for the same treatment...

"I have been told my name is a rock, too," Iron quipped to Cauldron with a playful, warm smile.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144664
144665
>>144663
"What?" Cauldron says, moving her legs down, and moving her head down in genuine puzzlement.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144665
144666
>>144664
"Is iron not a rock?" the native asked, now puzzled himself.
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144666
144667
>>144665
She twists her lips in genuine confusion for a moment, before bursting out laughing

"Bahaha. No, that's a metal."
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144667
144668
>>144666
Iron scrunched his snout in surprise for a second, almost astonished to see his joke had landed so cleanly.
Only after Cauldron explained why it was so funny did he burst out laughing himself, blushing lightly. "I have been telling the joke wrong all this time?" he questioned gleefully, beaming. "How ironic!"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144668
144669
>>144667
Black Cauldron scrunches. But Iron's pun is so bad as to evoke a response from White Sands, who quickly pulls out from her position next to the couch, and sits upright. This makes a sound that is heard by Black Cauldron, who moves her head to look at White Sands.

"Have you been there the whole time?"
She says
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144669
144671
>>144668
Iron's attention was once more turned towards Sands, wondering what just happened to he with curiosity flowing through his gaze. "It was not that bad, was it?" he offered towards the unicorn mare, holding back a proud smirk.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144670
144671
>>144658
"What was it like in New Freeside?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144671
144672 144673
>>144669
>>144670
"Maybe I shouldn't really say this without having lived, well, anywhere else. But.. Not good. They closed down the sewing machine factory. That, and so many others. The trucking company nearly went other, and resisted the unions. Immigrants still came in from the griffin lands. Not the ponylands, but the griffin lands. Evidently things are worse still there. And many of the locals didn't like them. Distrust of the colonial government... The town looked almost rundown."

>>144669
White Sands pulls further back still, scrunching and defensive. She says nothing.
Anonymous
d163c59
?
No.144672
144674
>>144671
Iron's happy demeanor soon mellowed out at the response, somehow feeling responsible for how Sands is feeling right now. "...did I do something wrong?" he asked the unicorn with concern. The native might have done something bad and he needed to make sure if it was something he could fix later on.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144673
144674
>>144671
"That is unfortunate to hear. It sounds worse than living in St. Petershoof as foal. I suppose that is why you took up political stance?"
Anonymous
6ec7d89
?
No.144674
144675 144676
>>144672
She turns her dark green eyes up towards Iron.

"No." She says plainly, her first word since arriving, and perhaps even before then.

>>144673
"Among many reasons." He says
Silver "The Floof" Sword
c95152b
?
No.144675
144678
>>144674
"Like what?"