Iron got his ass beat and has pissed off a whole criminal syndicate, Amber is doing some shady shit at the police station, Silver is making friends, and Spark is enjoying Whinnysotan hospitality.
>>145669Spark starts to worry about how Waabishki is going to take this news.
>>145677"They ought to have made a statue to many workers who died trying to turn a swamp into a 'glory to rival Canterlot'."
>>145678Her voice raises, and there are some tears, but Makade and the Doctor's fairly soft tone seems to keep her in check.
>>145679Spark motions the doctor over for a question.
>>145679"I am not saying it is good that workers died to build St. Petershoof, but to build it from almost nothing...entire city is practically dedicated to those workers. For all of his achievements, all Peter got was city name and statue."
>>145680“Uh.. Just a moment.”
The Doctor stands up, and comes over to Spark.
“What is it?” he asks
>>145682Spark whispers.
"Did they mention how much it advanced?"
>>145681“That’s right. But that’s not because of Peter’s magnanimity, that’s because the ponies claimed what they built.
>>145683“It’s, it’s gotten pretty far. They only found it rather late.”
>>145684"Anyways, it is besides point. It is things like that Statue that make St. Petershoof and its history so important. Peter I was truly great leader. He led Severyana from series of squabling petty kingdoms into nation to rival Equestria, he championed science and the arts, and he passed many reforms to give greater rights to citizens and serfs."
>>145685“Well... History is a process, after all.” He says
“A better future is only built with great sacrifice. Maybe he was the best they could do at the time. And maybe he was necessary for the rise of the Stalliongrad we have today. All I can say is that I am very glad history didn’t have to end with him and his elitist cronies, who sometimes literally walked over the bones of those who died to make it possible.”
>>145686"In my own opinion, I would say he did more good than Steel Stallion, though I know you would disagree."
>>145686>>145687In the meantime, Silver gives the cab driver directions for 2 Strong 4 You, so he doesn't have to sit there during their discussion."
>>145687“What? Steel Stallion brought industry and land redistribution, and implemented what was at the time the very first socialist state.”
>>145688It is so. The taxi is on its way
>>145689"And Peter I brought peace and prosperity to divided land, modernized nation, and passed many reforms which made lives of Severyanans better."
>>145690“And didn’t Steel Stallion do all of that while finally ending the power of the landed aristocracy?”
>>145691"I mean, I would argue he divided it further, but..."
>>145692“It’s the dialectic process. History contains within it contradictions that must be acknowledged and come to to a head in dialectical conflict, where a thesis triumphs over its antithesis. Only then can it progress to the next stage. And that is what he did.”
>>145693"Hmm...I think I heard about dialectics from somepony else, recently."
>>145695"Pear Faucet, hippologist and professor from Stableside who is here in Baltimare on archaeology work."
>>145697“Oh, neat! You work with archeologists... or the universities?”
>>145698"In my hayday it was not entirely uncommon for me to be asked to rescue old Equestrian artifacts and bring them to local universities to be studied and put on display, but it has been while. This was chance encounter when I returned to Catacombs after I had already completed my mission there."
>>145699“Oh, that’s pretty neat. But like, do you do research for the universities or, help with other things”
>>145700Silver chuckles.
"I am not nearly intelligent or educated enough to do that."
>>145701“Well..... uh, that’s okay. That’s still kind of neat. What did she have to say about dialectics?”
>>145702"Largely what you said, that when two opposing ideas are in conflict with each other one will destroy other, but will be changed as result. She used it in referrence to conflict between Equestria and Hegemony, I believe."
>>145703“Hmmm... I suppose that’s one way to apply it. But that’s not how the latest philosophers would apply it. They see Equestria and the Hegemony as two imperialist powers that need to expand outwards to prevent themselves from collapsing inwards.”
>>145704"I think it has more to do with conflict between Harmony and Fascism."
>>145705He shakes his head
“Capitalist aristocracy, and a more advanced and decayed form of capitalist aristocracy.”
>>145706"Or friendship versus supremacy."
>>145707“Supremacy masquerading as friendship versus supremacy that’s dropped the facade.”
>>145708Silver tilts his head at Clip.
"What do you mean by first thing?"
>>145676Their lips meet. She opens hers to accept his. The room is incredibly silent in this moment, save for the sound of the air vents, the automobiles outside, and incredibly loudly meowing cat on the balcony of the apartment next door and... so it isn't very silent, but there's a definite sensation of the world coming to a stop at this moment... Of Iron's world coming to a stop at this moment.
>>145709“Well, look at the elements of harmony and Princess Twilight. They claim to bring change to bring harmony, and in many ways they did. But they had no interest in finishing the job. They kept the monarchy intact, they actively affirmed the inequalities of the curie mark system, and did nothing economically. It’s a change in the right direction, but then they stop, because they don’t want to change too much.”
>>145711"Inequalities of cutie mark system? What, like Starlight Glimmer proposed?"
>>145712“Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to physically remove them, because there is no doubt that a pony with a cutie mark produces more than one without it. What she did right was to recognize that cutie marks do make a difference between ponies. Different levels of respect and prestige, different levels of pay, and just generally to divide ponies by what they do rather than to acknowledge what they have in common - that they are all creatures who toil for their needs abs the needs of others. And that fact isn’t really something that was addressed under the old system.”
>>145710Funnily enough, Iron was content with just this: Having done that first step and landed such a kiss was more than enough to make his heart soar inside his chest. His only prerogative now is to make time still for as long as he could, simply enjoying Cauldron's lips meeting his own for the time being.
>>145714She moves a bit inward, increasing contact with Iron’s lips.
>>145715Iron certainly didn't mind such increased contact as he continued to press his lips against hers, too engrossed in the feeling of both accomplishment and love he stewed in for so long.
>>145716They are together for a period of time at once spanning to eternity, and lasting no time at all. She gently pulls back, and looks at Iron with a smile.
>>145717Iron had a smile of his own as well, only far dumber, with his mouth still hanging open a bit to show just a bit of throat inside it. "Did you like it?" he uttered serenely, as if in a soothing trance.
>>145718“Perhaps.” She says, batting her eyes.
“How about you?” She asks
>>145719"I loved it," Iron calmly murmured before giving Cauldron a little nuzzle on her cheek. "I might just keep at it all night."
>>145720“Oh
really now?” She says, still smiling, but raising an eyebrow
>>145721"You want me to try?" Iron suggestively replied as he slid his head up to toothlessly bite the tip of Cauldron's ear in a teasing manner.
>>145722“Heheh,”
She pulls back gently, pulling her ear out of his mouth. It twitches and flops.
“I’m just skeptical, that’s all.” She says
>>145724Iron's passion ignited at the faintest hint of doubt, the previous ember in his eyes being fueled to a warm fire to stave off the coldness of the world. "Then I guess you want some proof," he playfully presumed further as he lined his snout in front of hers before swiftly leaning in for a more intense kiss.
>>145725This takes her by surprise. Her eyes open widely, but her lips part to meet hers, and he can feel her lips press against his.
>>145726This time around, Iron gently started to lean further forwards as his forelegs spread towards Cauldron's neck and back in order to start leading her towards the floor against her back.
All the while, he finally started to tentatively try to sneak in his tongue through her mouth, hoping to show her just how serious he was about his commitment for a smooching all-nighter plus make her feel good.
>>145727She seems to make the word “woah,” though her breath simply flows out of her mouth and into his. Black Cauldron’s open lips and mouth are rather receptive, with her tounge rolled up and ready to receive his. She falls back into his legs.
>>145728Thus, as Iron carefully lead her to the floor back as he got his hindlegs ready to properly stand on top of her, he finally touched Cauldron's tongue with his, starting up with some light pokes to rouse its attnetion for the dance to come.