Dark Star fights against CRT in the school system continues along his path to ensure a future for his and his race's children. Iron conducts a salvage operation finds and recovers hidden treasure. Amber is learning how to exploit simps establishes relationships in her new town. Spark harbors multiple terrorist continues helping Wellspring and the wolf tribe. Silver acts as a step father for unwanted foals gives back to the community at the orphanage. All of this and more
>>153537She nods, pleased. She takes her hoof, and rubs it across his cheek
"Think you can die happy now?"
>>153538"Hmmmmmm"
He Puts his Hoof to his chin in thought
"Nope."
He Laughs
>>153539She tilts her head
"Okay, I'll bite. What's missing?"
>>153540"Well,I Have Somepony to care for now."
He smiles at Blue
>>153541She spends a moment looking at him, and then moves her forelegs around him, embracing him in a hug. She pulls her head up, and whispers in his ear
"Is it me?"
>>153543She hugs him and nuzzles him
coo
>>153544He Returns the hug and nuzzles Her back, as he stiffles a yawn
>>153546"Yea,it was....Quite a day"
>>153547"Are you excited for tomorrow?"
>>153548"Uh,Honestly, i'm kinda Nervous."
He rubs the back of his head
>>153549"What'cha nervous about?"
>>153550"well, ive never actually....Been to School Before"
>>153553"Not even the basics of rhetoric, drama, philosophy, or history?"
>>153554"Well, i never said i learned nothing. My Brother Taught me a lot, So did mom."
>>153556"History,Some basic science. My Brother Loved philosophy. they tried teaching me math but im not very good at that."
>>153557"Huh...." This leaves her silent for a moment. "Your brother is a pegasus, right?"
>>153559She smiles almost smuggly.
"That makes more sense. Equestria is actually more similar to Nimbusia than I thought. Earth ponies don't really gain much from education, and they usually don't receive it. When they do, it's usually technical. Unicorns have some creativity and business sense, but really they don't have the virtue to take it a good direction on their own. A pegasus, however, loves and is improved by philosophy, literature, and history."
She blinks
"Just an earth pony having a pegasus brother is a bit... different, though."
>>153560"Well i Can't Argue with you on that.Its True to an extent. Different? What do you mean?"
>>153561"I mean... how do I put this. There wasn't really any miscegenation on a large scale. It happened, but not really officially. So pegasi mares wouldn't really give birth to earth pony or unicorn foals, and if they did, it was a scandal. Earth ponies and unicorns would give birth to pegasi more often but, well, it's not really like here."
>>153563"That if I saw a family like yours in Nimbusia of farmers where one foal is a pegasus, but it's an earth pony family, I would assume some pegasus colt was taking out his sexual frustrations on the helots."
>>153564"Are you implying my mother was a whore?"
He says not sounding to pleased by the accusation
>>153565"What? No?"
She scoots back, repositioning herself so that she is no longer lying on her back, so much as sitting up. Her head moves in front of Dark Star, and rises closer to his level, while he wings are folded neatly to her back.
>>153566"What did you mean then?"
He raises an eyebrow
>>153568"Nothing. Just that, well, in Nimbusia, the races didn't really mix. You married somepony of the same race. Your place and role in society was in large part determined by your race. You made a point of showing your ancestry was pure going back generations. When you slept with somepony of a different race, you kept it secret and did it in the dark, because you knew it was something that would bring shame if brought to light. And the villages and towns would even be separate. There would even be separate quarters in the large cities for unicorns that sometimes had walls around them.
And here, in Equestria, well it's more like that than it isn't, but it's not the same. The races sometimes all live in the same city. They sleep together without hiding it, and they even go so far as to marry each other. It's different."
>>153569"So you think my mother slept with a pegasi?"
Eyebrow still raised
>>153570"Dark Star, my brother spent a decade trying to undermine my standing in our family and alienate me from my father because he thought that I was the child of my mother's infidelity. I'm not implying anything about your family, and I am definitely not casting judgement.
I think your brother has a father or grandfather or great grand father or great great grand father or some ancestor somewhere who was a Pegasus, because that's where pegasi come from. If he doesn't, then I don't know how to explain him, unless maybe the unicorns or zebras made some kind of spell or potion to turn foals into unicorns, and I don't think they'd want to do that."
>>153571He Gets a Mixture of Realization and Sorrow for her story
"Im Sorry That Happend,Blue. and im sorry i got a little defensive there."
He Hugs her
>>153572The little pony is hugged"I forgive you.
This time."
She extends her legs, and hugs him in return
"But if she did and he is, I think you should love them both all the same."
>>153573Sorry for the delay got some ramen"That....would need some- I Would Need time to think about that if it were the case."
>>153573But what flavor was it?She pulls away from the hug, and looks him in the eyes, contemplating his response for several moments. Then she moves her head a little closer, and speaks into his ear at a volume just above a whisper.
"What if the reason he's a pegasus in an earth pony family... is because he's actually a changeling."
>>153575He Looks at the Ground in thought, as if Recalling every experience he ever had with his brother, stays quiet for a few seconds then says.
"No, Thats impossible.if he were a changeling i..I Would have known.It's Impossible."
Korean BBQ. ive never had actual Korean bbq so i dont know how accurate the taste is. But i like it.
>>153576Interesting. I've never heard of thatShe looks at him seriously in silence for several moments. Then, like a dam burst, she smiles. Then she snickers. Then she burst out laughing
"Bahaha! He'd be a
very confused Changeling. I'm just messing with you, Darkie."
>>153577He Breathes a sigh of relief and then joins her in laughing
"Good, i think its time for me to get some sleep though."
Its in a Cup, Nissin Makes them. Its stir fry style
>>153578She moves a hoof, and rubs him
"I have to go back out tonight." She says
>>153579His Leg slightly kicks as she rubs him
"You do?" He frowns slightly
>>153580"I think so. I am on standby."
She rubs him more
"We're moving to take control of the Comte investigation."
>>153581"Im Gonna miss you."
He smiles
His eyes go wide as she tells him about comte
"Wait? Really Thats big news"
>>153582She smiles likewise, though the smile slowly fades as her expression becomes more serious.
"Yes. Yes it is. And don't tell anypony about it until it's over. I only found out because I was there for it at the beginning."
>>153583He Gets equally as serious
"As far as i'm concerned,you didn't tell me anything."
>>153584She smiles, and then moves her hoof up to ruffle Dark Star's mane on his neck
"That's the spirit."
She moves further up, and moves her legs so that she can stand up, and off of the loveseat.
>>153585"Wait." He says
He gets up and walks over to his saddle bag, and gets out his leather jacket, and walks back over to her
>>153587"i want you to wear it while you're out.It'll Keep you warm."
He smiles and her and gives her the jacket
>>153588She smiles a bit wider
"Oh Dark Star. That's sweet of you."
She bats her eyes at him
"They would prefer I wear my officer's uniform, since this particular operation is a 'marked' official event. But I appreciate the sentiment."
>>153589"Oh,okay.well,why don't you keep it in our bag just in case?"
>>153590"You know... I think I'll take it. Just in case." She says, standing up next to the loveseat.
She takes the jacket from him, and places it over her shoulder.
>>153591He smiles very wide and then Hugs Her Tightly
>>153592squeakyThe little pony is hugged, with a mixture of soft fur, muscle, bone, and feather underneath.
When the hug is done, she kisses him.
>>153594The two lock tongues, at least briefly
>>153595He rubs Her Cheek with his hoof,as they kiss
>>153596Even as they lock lips, she pulls hers back in a smile. She breaks the kiss eventually, and moves over to the table. As she walks away, Dark Star may enjoy the view of her moving her tail down as she tries to hide Dark Star's handiwork.
>>153597He Does enjoy it. He walks towards the bed, then turns to looks at her again
>>153598It's definitely cold in the room. Dark Star may wonder if the heater is on for the upper levels at night at all.
She moves over to the table and places Dark Star's jacket on a chair as she takes her own black vest, and puts it on. Then she picks up her badge, and her .38 Special in its holster.
She looks young, reasonably thin but reasonably muscular with a well maintained coat and mane. Her black cotton vest covers her upper body, but her lower body remains naked. She keeps her tail close to her hindquarters as mares are expected to do.
Once this is done, she takes Dark Star's jacket, and casually places it over her back, not putting her legs through the sleeves. It's leather, thicker, and larger than her, making it sort of fit like this.
>>153599"Hey, is it always so Cold up here?"
Dark Star asks getting a little Cold
>>153600She turns to him
"Huh?"
She tilts her head. After a moment, she says
"Well, sort of. There are only so many ponies up here, so they don't always keep the heat on the halls on, to save on cost. I keep it kind of cold in here."
>>153602"Dark Star" She says, adjusting the gun so that it's under her vest
"Clean your mess up."
>>153604"You left some love on the loveseat" She answers
>>153606"Just.. clean that up." She gets up, and goes towards the door
"Good thing I have a thick jacket on this cold night." She says, with an overly sweet voice
>>153607He Gets out of the bed and grabs a paper towel and cleans the couch
"Im Glad you do too."
He smiles at Her
>>153608"I'll see you, Darkie." She says, turning to smile to him, then opening the door, and walking out.
>>153609"See you."
He Walks back over to the bed and then he Gets into it and covers up, Trying to warm up. He Shivers Slightly
>>153610He does feel a little warmer now. Doubtless he'll feel much warmer once his body has warmed the sheets.
It's been a long day, and it just might be a longer day tomorrow
>>153611He closes his eye and lays his weary head down on the pillow
>>153612And so, Dark Star soon falls asleep. What thoughts occupy his mind in those moments before, who can say?
>>153614It would depend on what left the strongest impression on him in the previous day
>>153615Hmmmmmmm well that's up to you but i think the speech probably did.
>>153616Dark Star's dreams, or at least, his recollection of his dreams, are a set of individual scenes with no obvious interconnection. Indeed, he has more recollection of the emotional imprint the scenes left on him. But what he recalls is the following
At a dining table in some half-lit white room, some sort of attractive young unicorn mare - with effort, Dark Star can identify her as Mars Loaf - converses with Dark Star. She tells him that her made the right choice in having the affair that produced his brother, and that more mares should stand up for themselves like that.
In another scene, a set of stallions in black suits walk down stone steps away from the Ionic columns of a government building. At the center walks a stallion that Dark Star can't make out the details of, but whom he understands to be Comte Burgher, a stallion he has only ever seen in pictures. But what leaves a greater impression, is the sound of cheering, and clapping, from a horde of ponies who surround the steps, and cheer him on.
Finally, Dark Star is in the Baltimare Convention Center, listening to a speech, just the same as he listened to from Golden Morning the week before. But Golden Morning is not the presenter. Rather, it's the speaker he heard in the university, earlier that day giving the speech. Exactly what ideas he is advocating, Dark Star does not retain in his memory. What he does remember, is the speaker saying that he feels the administration of Princesses Twilight and Celestia has been very receptive to his message, and that things
are heading in the right direction.
And besides these, Dark Star feels emotions of revulsion, fear, and disgust.
>>153617The Dreams Weigh Heavy upon him. Stirring him from his slumber.
>>153618Dark Star wakes up to light in the room. He still feels tired, very tired.
Something is different this morning versus others. Actually, something is different this morning than in any other morning in his life. For the first time, Dark Star wakes up to find Blue Skies sleeping in the bed next to him. She's lying on her back, her chest visibly rising and falling with each breath, occupying the edge of the bed a little separated from Dark Star.
>>153619He Smiles as he sees her.
But he trys not to wake her.as he gets out of bed. and moves quietly towards the bathroom
>>153621He takes care of business. Then he gets into the shower.
>>153622It's probably very refreshing after all of this time.
He retains the dyed yellow fur of "Solar Night," which persists through the hot water and soap.
>>153624He Sighs happily as the Hot water warms him up.
>>153625He's definitely warm now, and in general, the room and Dark Star feel warmer
>>153626He Gets out and dries off
>>153627In the room, Dark Star can see Blue Skies, lying on her belly, and trying to brush her mane near the night stand
>>153628Is she facing towards him?
>>153630He trys to Sneak up on her
>>153631He's only medium sneaky
She looks up to Dark Star as he approaches, with no immediate words for him.
>>153632"Hey, i didnt wake you up did i?"
>>153634"Oh,I'm Sorry."
He walks up to her
"I Tried not to wake you up. What time did you get in last night?"
>>153635She raises her head slightly from under the covers.
“Maybe 2:30, or later.” She answers
>>153636He Looks over at the clock then sits down on the bed next to her
>>1536377:06 AM.
She lies on her belly, forelegs in front of her, mostly under the covers, with her head and ears poking out.
>>153638"Hmmmmm. I Still have an hour before i leave."
He gets back into bed with her
>>153639She turns to look back to him, and Dark Star can see, or perhaps even feel, her long tail
"How did you get in, anyways?"
>>153640He Smiles as he feels her tell,and cuddles Her
"Well i may have never Been to school but im very Good in social situations."
>>153641pony is cuddledpony is soft“But like… don’t they require school grades, or a test, or something?”
>>153642"I Talked to Sea Breeze about that. He said he would take care of it,"
>>153643"Ah" She says. "Just making sure"
>>153644"I Uh, I Hope Everything goes well."
>>153645"Good luck" she says
"How are you infiltrating them, anyways? I see you have a new coat and all, but, well, I'm curious."
>>153646"Well,I've gotten in with a set of communists, i met at the speech"
>>153647She nods
"Tell me how it goes. I only really took you as
medium sneaky."
>>153648"Well i might not be Very Sneaky. But i can talk my way out of most situations."
>>153649"You'll need to. I don't think I need to explain to you how bad it could be if you're caught."
>>153650"Im Fully aware of how bad things could get."
He Grabs his bag and shows her the revolvers at the bottom wrapped in linen
"I Think ill be ok"
>>153651She gives a weak smile
"And be careful that doesn't get found."
>>153652"Don't Worry. i keep them at the very bottom. I Appreciate your Concern though."
He Smiles back
>>153653"I suppose I'll see how it turns out" she says, smiling malignly.
>>153655"It's a risk." She says
"Still feel like you can die happy?"
>>153657Pony is nuzzledHer back is still turned to him, but she turns her head to him
"Mostly?!" She says, feigning surprise
>>153658Hello!
wavesAmber and her January boy toy have entered the diner
>>153659He Snickers at her fake surprise
"Yea Mostly"
>>153660"Well... Try not to die then."
>>153661"Crawdads?!" He reacts with surprise
>>153662"You Sound like you want me to come back."
He says teasing her
>>153663"Well, I mean... I don't really mind having a roommate. One who provides a little warmth at night."
>>153664"Uh, okay..." He gives an awkward, toothy smile, as the two walk inside of the diner
>>153665He Smiles
"If i didn't know any better i'd say you have some feelings for me."
>>153667A waitress - a small, pink earth pony filly with a braided yellow mane, and who is in the same cohort as Amber and Mustard Trim - walks up to them. Her voice is high, and she's a little bubbly
"Hello, my name is Blossum. Welcome to Wrecker's Reef. What can I get for you to drink?"
>>153666"What?!"
She is shocked at these allegations
>>153669"Hmmmm...." She seems to ponder this question for a moment
"Yes! Yes we do." She says
She looks over to Mustard Trim,
"I'll have a sweat tea" he says
He blinks, then says,
"No wait. I'll have a hot chocolate too."
>>153671He's
thirstyThe mare takes notes, and walks away, with an "Okay"
>>153673Or rather, he's thurs tea.
This prompts him to look around at the patronage of the restaurant. It appears that winter is indeed the off-season.
>>153675"Yeah, this is nice."
A window above the booth gives a view of the cliffs and the setting sun. He gazes outside.
But of course, the sunset is to be enjoyed, so she follows his gaze to the great beyond.
>>153678The sun is almost parallel to the cost line, and off to the left just enough so that the whole of the orange orb is visible, surrounded by clouds on the horizon. The coast itself is a series of black and then grey rock cliffs, with a grassy hill beyond on the right.
He stares out the window for a while, before turning his gaze to Amber.
>>153678surprised pony face
>>153679"Something wrong? was i off?"
He grins
>>153679She stares out, mesmerized.
"Gosh, it's beautiful…I wonder what painters came to this same exact spot, at this time in the evening…"
>>153683"You know..." He says, "I didn't think of that. It
is kind of like a picture, isn't it?"
He takes his forelegs, and holds them up in two parallel lines, looking through them at Amber
>>153682"Well, I'm still in charge over you in your role as a Voluntary Assistant. So it would be a bit embarrassing to lose you on duty."
>>153684He Grins
"I'm Sure that's the only reason"
>>153685"Don't get too cocky" She says, smiling
>>153684She doesn't seem to take notice of what he's doing.
"It sure is. The ocean isn't a place I've thought about so much, but there's something magical about it and the waves."
>>153687"Well I've thought about it." He says
"But uh... what's magical about it to you?"
>>153689scrunch>>153690"Yeah. You got that right. I liked watching the larger ships on the horizon at Blackwater, some nights. Or watching the estuary fill up with water at high tide. I didn't really think of the water as this violent thing. It wasn't violent like it is here. It was more... stable. Steady."
>>153691He Laughs again, then glances over at the clock
>>153692Dark Star has taken up another 4 or so minutes
>>153690>>153690Also, the waitress returns with two hot chocolates that produce visible steam. Each has two marshmellows.
>>153694Blue Skies looks over at the presumably hungry pony
>>153691>>153695"Hmm, no wonder ships would head there and not here, then."She thanks the peppy little waitress and takes a sip of the warm, chocolatey goodness.
>>153696"Oh, they didn't head there, mostly. Just passing by on their way in and out of Baltimare harbor, I think."
The hot chocolte is reasonably hot and decently chocolatey. The second marshmellow might be a bit much, and disturb the flavor. It's a bit on the thinner side, and sadly Amber may suspect they used hot water instead of, or in addition to hot milk.
"This is good" He says, sipping it, flinching after he evidently burns his tongue, and then sipping more cautiously.
>>153697"Oh really? And what are you going to do about that?"
>>153698"Hmmmmm, well i was thinking maybe you want to get something to eat too."
>>153699"Oh, I'm alright" She says
>>153700"Well, i think ill go grab a bite to eat before i have to head to the campus"
He kisses Her Nose
>>153701Snoot is kissedShe closes her eyes and her head moves back
"OKay. Maybe it's better if your new persona and I weren't seen together in public."
>>153702"Yea i thought about that to. but i thought i would ask anyway."
He kisses her Nose again
>>153704He Gets up, Grabs his beige overcoat and glasses and heads out the door as he blows blue a kiss
>>153705She moves her tail around from under the covers as Dark Star, or rather, Solar Night leaves.
>>153707Just keep smiling through, like you always do. Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.
>>153708BasedHe walks down the hallway and down the stairs
>>153709Down the hallway and down the stairs, there are ponies downstairs. Fewer questions are asked of a pony already inside the building than one who enters, and so Dark Star is allowed to move unopposed.
>>153710He Goes to Sea Breeze's Office
>>153711In he goes. Dark Star actually has to wait a few minutes, though he manages to get in.
"Yes?" He asks
>>153713"Good Morning Dark Star. What brings you here?" He says, rolling in his chair a little closer. He speaks a little more quickly and less warmly than the last several times that Dark Star has seen him.
>>153714"I Was just wondering if everything at the college was taken care of,in order for me to enroll,Sit."
>>153715"Well, let's see. We have here a letter saying that you've 'been admitted' and have chosen to enroll. The tuition I'm not sure has been taken care of. We haven't registered you for classes. That's a bit more micromanaging than we're willing to do. Take this letter to the administration in person. It should match another letter we've planted in their files. You need to register for classes. And don't be surprised if something somewhere isn't in their files. Delay them if you have to."
>>153716He Salutes the takes the Letter from Him
"Thank You sir. I Won't let you or the party Down."
>>153717He takes the letter. Note that the letter, which has the University's seal and a date on it from about a month ago, pertains solely to Solar Night's enrollment.
>>153718"a month ago?"
He Looks slightly confused
>>153719It must be a fake date, as obviously the paperwork was not prepared by that time.
>>153720He Folds it up and puts it in his coat
>>153721Dark Star has the letter, and may be on his way
>>153722He Salutes Sea Breeze
"You Won't Regret this,Sir,"
>>153725Dark Star leaves, and goes back into the main building
>>153726Does he see anypony he knows?
>>153727The white unicorn Secretary (if he could be said to know her), and Dusty Outback. Felipe is probably around, but he doesn’t see him
>>153731He’s a bit older, and he looks over to Dark Star with a calm, phlegmatic expression as he walks over
>>153734"Yea we have, only briefly though."
>>153735He tilts his head
“Were you at Winsome Falls?” He asks
>>153736He Puts his Hoof to his chin in thought
"Hmmmmm i Don't think so. But tell me do you remember a dark red pony with a black mane running around here causing all kinds of problems?"
>>153737“Leather jacket guy? Yeah, he got wounded a week ago and I had to drive him to a doctor.”