>>155610"Well, for the school. I still can't afford it..." She starts to trail off
>>155611"Don't worry about that. i have it covered. but if you really want to know" He whispers
"1000 bits"
>>155612Her ears pop up
"What.. do I... have to do for you?" She asks
>>155613"have to do for me? what do you mean?"
He looks confused
>>155614"I mean... does that mean I owe you?" she asks anxiously
>>155615He take a moment
"That's okay.. nevermind... I know what you mean about excitemet.
>>155616"Owe me? Like Bits? No way."
>>155618"yea i'm sure. it's no big deal."
>>155619She looks at him, then leans in and hugs him again
"Thank you..." she says. It's a softer hug and thank you than before
>>155620He Hugs her Back
"It's No problem, You Deserve it."
>>155616"No wait…please tell me what you meant," she asks in a concerned tone of voice.
>>155621The zebra bat creature thing is hugged.When Solar Night hugs her, she presses into him with more strength, and seems to enjoy the contact, as she does not break off until she has to.
Solar Night and Lunar Nadir are
not registered for classes, and they have pending tuition payments due soon.
Solar Night needs a class schedule>>155622“I mean… have you seen my father? She is legally still married. She has no second income besides my sister’s entry level job, she doesn’t get a pension, abs age can’t remarry. She has to take care of us and the house all by herself. She’s not taking it well.”
>>155630Solar Night looks over at Nadir
"Have you thought about what classes you want to take?"
>>155631She pulls herself off of him, and moves away. She looks at him with ears perked straight up, and narrowed slit pupils.
“Uh…. Only a little….”
>>155632"What classes did you want to take?"
>>155633“Um… I don’t really know. I kind of want to just experiment with things. Most of what I’ve heard is ‘you have to do this for a job’. Work the docks or cut jute or type memos or work in a factory. I don’t want to learn just for a job. I want to know things that don’t make money.”
>>155634"I Couldn't Agree More. There's More to life than Slaving away, making somepony else rich."
>>155635"Yeah, exactly! And look at the rich. They don't spend all of their time working. They read books and go to plays. And who are all of those books and plays for? Not the poor and working class."
>>155636"Exactly, Especially the Rich Industrialist. They Don't Care about their Workers. They Just care about making their bit pouches Larger."
>>155637Her lips are back as she hangs onto Dark Star's every word
"Yes, yes. I shouldn't try to work for a rich industrialist. Not in their factories, not in their offices. They don't care. But I care. I care about more than just pouches."
She nods along
>>155638"The Working Class Should Be The Ones Calling the Shots Around Here. What Have the Industrialist Ever Done for us? They Sided with the Princesses against us."
>>155639"Yes!" She moves her tail in a whipping fashion.
"Yeah, we need to do away with them, and empower the workers. Get rid of them..."
>>155640"They Need to be forced to help the people, Because they will never do it on their own. Imagine the Good that could be done, Hospitals that actually work,No Pony in poverty, Roads that don't have so many potholes."
>>155641"Yeah" She nods, looking intently at Solar Night. She sits in front of him
"Yeah they should..."
She seems at once grave at the message being told, and happy for its messenger
>>155642"Well, thats enough philosophizing for now i think. we have to get you set up for classes."
He smiles
>>155643"Yeah..." She seems almost dazed by the talk. "We should do something about it. Creatures here seem pretty active pushing for change." She stands back up again
"But uh... let's go get set up for class."
Her mood picks up rapidly after saying this, and she is darting about again.
>>155644He Walks to the doors and then He Opens the Door For Her
>>155645She stops to look up at him, before scurrying through. It's worth noting that otherwise, she tends to follow just behind him, and usually a little to the right following almost like a dog.
The registration office is actually quite a bit like the admissions office, though a guidance counselor is available for questions about course choices.
>>155646He walks over to the guidance counselor
>>155647The guidance counselor is a female Pegasus of a very light orange color. She must be over 40, but has preserved her looks very well.
"Well hello" She says with a sanguine tone and smile. A secretary has already pulled Solar Night's file
"Are you just starting, or is this your second semester?"
>>155648"I'm Just Starting. and so is my Friend Here."
He Motions to Nadir
>>155649She turns to her on a swivel chair. This is in her office, with a window to the hall and the door open
"Hello." She says, smiling awkwardly, both happy and shy
The mare says,
"Well, in the first two years you'll mostly be working on your distribution requirements. Literature, History, a math and a science class, and a humanities and social science. But you'll also want to be working towards a major."
Nadir remains silent, and with a glance of her eyes seems to suggest she wants Solar Night to go first.
>>155650He Puts His Hoof to his chin in thought
"Well i think i would like philosophy and Hippology
Anthropology im not to sure about the rest."
>>155651She nods
"Okay, there is a class at this time... and one at this time." She is looking at a paper.
"Hippology counts as a social science. Philosophy is a liberal art. You are also going to need history and literature classes."
She looks over to him
"What are you thinking of majoring in?"
>>155652"My Major? I Was Thinking Political Science. as for history? Hmmmm How About Equestrian History or Equestrian Legends?"
>>155000What is thread? And if it's a fanfic is There a pasta
>>155653"Political Science. Okay, that's a fine major. Well, let's see... okay, there is a higher level course in Equestrian Literature that focuses on legends and myths. Huh. Well that's a Literature class. But it won't count for your distribution requirements. You are allowed to take a higher level course though. Not many, maybe one. I would still advise taking either a history class, math, or art.
>>155654You could call it a pen and paper RPG. Or maybe something like a CYOA.
There is no pasta
>>155657“Well, there’s Studio Art, Art History, and Architecture, all in the lower levels.”
>>155658"What Higher Level Classes do you offer? Art History Sounds Interesting."
>>155659“Well, in Art it’s like early Equestrian paintings, Religious Sculptures, or Griffonian Romanticism. Higher level classes in all departments are classes that count towards a Major or a Minor in that field, but will not count towards the general distribution requirements.”
>>155655>>155660"I Think I'll Take the Equestrian Literature Class. And maybe the Equestrian Painting class."
>>155661“Which Equestrian literature class? The basic overview?”
>>155662"The one that Focuses on Legends and Myths"
>>155663She nods
“But what about Political Science?”
>>155664"I Wanted that as my Major."
>>155665“So you will take an introductory political science class this semester?” She asks
>>155666"Yes? This is my First Year im not Exactly sure how this all Works."
>>155667She nods,
“It’s best to take introductory courses to get them out of the way. Now, you will be required to take Equestrian History and Equestrian literature at some point, as well as something like hippology, philosophy, or political science.”
>>155669“So…. You can take five classes.”
>>155670>>155668"Yea All of these you mentioned Before."
>>155681“Alright. Equestrian History to 400, Political Systems, Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Hippology, and Equestrian Myths abs Legends.”
It is done. Nadir goes next. She picks several classes that Solar Night has picked, but also Chemistry.
>>155682He Nods and Listens as Lunar Nadir Picks Her Classes
>>155683She decides she will take Philosophy and Hippology with Dark Star, as well as a class in Chemistry and in Literature. She protests against taking Equestrian History, and asks if she can take a different history class instead. After she is told that she must take two classes in Equestrian History to graduate, she decides to take the class with Solar Night.
And she is done.
>>155684I Smile and Write Down the Classes i will be taking
>>155685Not even necessary. A Secretary types out the classes, the location, the course numbers, the times, and the professors
>>155687The Secretary smiles
The counselor tells the two,
“Good luck on your respective journeys. What happens here will shape the future. Yours, and the World’s.”
>>155688Dark Star Feels a sense of Pride in his Chest
>>155689Nadir is overjoyed:
“I can’t believe it’s really happening! I’m actually getting to go to college!”
And Solar Night is now set up.
>>155690He Thanks the Counselor and leaves
>>155691Solar Night walks out of the administrative building onto the riding concrete pathways of the University campus, into the chilly wind of the Baltimare day.
>>155693>>155690"Im Happy For You. Its Not Every Day you get accepted into college."
He Smiles
>>155695“Yes!” Her wings are partly unfolded.
“I don’t know of anyone in my family… not that I have much family, but you know what I mean, who have gone to college. Not many ponies in Del Manantial, or the village, or really even that I know in Baltimare have gone to college. It’s all about going to work at a warehouse or store or something. That’s what I did much of last year. But I wanted to do something more. I didn’t think it could happen because I wasn’t smart enough, I didn’t have good enough grades. My family isn’t established or well respected or anything. But here I am. Here I am.”
She’s actually kind of breathing heavily by the end, probably because she is about to cry.
>>155625>tfw no hybrid bat-horse gf"I…oh." It slowly clicks into place. Amber had assumed Mrs. Dahlia was a widow from the shrine and her husband's absence. But if he was a POW, he can be considered to be still alive, and various legal benefits that come with being a widow don't apply.
"I see what you mean. So she's worried about Veneer marrying and her husband tragically disappearing?" she asks, her ears folded back.
>>155697feelsbadpone“She’s worried about Veneer getting pregnant out of wedlock by a stallion who doesn’t want to care for the foal. Or her.”
>>155699“It can happen, yes. Just get pregnant outside of marriage, and if the stallion doesn’t want to take care of the foal, then good luck forcing him to.
I don’t know, really. I don’t know what Veneer does. I know she goes out with friends. I know she drinks sometimes. She definitely looks like she’s trying to look pretty for someone. But I have never seen her with a stallion. I don’t ask her what she does, and she doesn’t tell me. I think my mother takes what she knows, and assumes the worst.”
>>155700She thinks about how it can be that a mare can get pregnant without both parents wanting the foal. She'll have to ask Mustard how it works sometime.
"It frankly seems mean that she gets treated like that. It's much better to assume the best of everypony, don't you think?"
>>155696i finished my baconHe Gives her a Hug
"You're Plenty Smart Enough Nadir. If Anypony Deserves to go to College its you."
>>155701“She is pretty mean a lot of the time. And honestly, I think if she didn’t need Veneer’s help with money, it would be worse than it is.”
He turns his head,
“I don’t know that she’s wrong though. The thing is, if she’s wrong, then she’s been cruel to her own daughter for no real reason. But if she’s right and she doesn’t stop it, her daughter’s life could be ruined, her grandfoal’s lives could be ruined, and she could look like a bad parent for failing to stop it. I don’t know. I don’t like it either.”
>>155702nomShe puffs her chest up, with glowing happy eyes, and an open mouth. Solar Night can see small fangs.
“D’awwww! Thank you Solar!”
She leans in and hugs him back. It’s a pretty tight hug, and she doesn’t break it quickly.
>>155704He Laughs
"Its No Problem at all,nadir."
>>155704Amber doesn't know what to think, if Mustard can't tell whether his own sister is "rough" or not. Although her own experience with the family has been positive, it has some serious problems.
"What if I made friends with her and kept tabs on what she's doing? Then we could know for sure," she suggests in a hushed whisper.
>>155706“I’m sure she’d love to go out to clubs like the one we were at last night, or talk to you about….. things I suspect you’d like to talk about, just because you’re a filly. I’m sure you could find out if she got past her envy of you. But I don’t want to know. I am afraid of the answer.”
>>155705bat creature thing is hugged“So uh… what now?”
>>155707He puts his hoof to his chin in thought
"I have no idea."
He looks at his class schedule to see when they start.
>>155707Amber pets Mustard's mane, smiling gently at him.
"Remember how suspicious you were of me last night?" she whispers.
"I think it's your ma rubbing off on you. I'd like to put your fears to rest."
>>155708And... Equestrian History is starting basically... Now
>>155709lanky colt is pet"True." He says. But then he whispers something into Amber's ear
"But my mom had good reason to be suspicious of me"
>>155710He looks over at Nadir.
"We're about to be late for a class."
>>155710She giggles and whispers back,
"But you're a good colt."
>>155711"Oh!" Let's go!
The Mistmane building is host to the lecture hall for Equestrian History
>>155712In a very, very soft voice, he says
"I lied to my mother, and laid with a mare out of wedlock"
>>155713She sighs softly, and answers back,
"I don't like that you lied to your own ma, but…she likes me, and I don't think she would mind it that much."But she continues,
"If you hadn't met me, would you…would you have laid with another mare?"
>>155714Nadir lingers in a spot for a time, but then lopes after Solar Night. She tends to take on a fast paced gait that almost looks like a series of hops. Like a rabbit almost. Her wings are as likely to be loose as they are properly folded.
They enter the two story story, stone façade building with its blue tile roof, and go down a tile floor until they get to room 113, the lecture hall. The design of the room is what Dark Star will come to know as a conventional design. The entrance to the room is higher than the floor, with a series of seats on a slope down. Solar Night doesn't quite have a good view of everypony in the room, but he is able to get a seat. Nadir sits next to him.
The professor is an Earth Pony with a tan coat and a black vest jacket. His age is maybe somewhere in his forties. He is writing something on the board. On the wall, there is an utterly massive map. It is a map of the continent of Equus with all of the area of the former Principality of Equestria highlighted, as well as a series of land further north and north of the Crystal Empire. It also has the former Equestrian Dominion of New Mareland, the Dominion of Puerto Caballo, and the Dominion of Maregypt in their respective places on the map highlighted. It shows, in short, everywhere that has ever been Equestria.
The stallion is talking about some of the overview details of the class. There is one textbook that is at the center of the class and most assignments will come out of that. There will be two papers and two tests, and that is the totality of grades in the class. He says he will not take attendance, and he has some derisive remarks about students who come to college just to have fun at their parents' expense, and then not do anything. "The university already got your money. It's up to you to get your worth out of it."
He then starts his shortened lecture
>>155715"What do you mean she wouldn't mind it?"And
"Would you have laid with another stallion?"
>>155716"She really wants us to be together. I was worried, but she does think of me as a good fillyfriend for you. And no, you are special to me and always will be." Her eyes shimmer with hurt disappointment at his rejoinder.
>>155717He frowns
"What's wrong?"
He doesn't wait long for an answer, as if he doesn't expect one
"She does like you, yes. I think you are so far what she wants."
>>155718"You know I wouldn't lie with another stallion," she whispers after he finishes.
"But you said your ma had reason to be distrustful. If Ms. Salt Lick, or Asper Spring, or any other pretty pony you know would have thrown herself before you…would you? You can be honest, I won't judge you if you say yes." She evaluates his features keenly.
>>155719"That's not what I meant. No..." His voice is at first slightly angry, but it very quickly tapers off. His ears fall down, and his are wide and watery.
>>155720She backs off and looks to the side, a little ashamed for pushing the question.
"I'm sorry, I hope you can forgive me for asking such a stupid question…." She looks back at him.
"But what did you mean?"
>>155723He shakes his head and his ears fall to a halfway position. "If you don't understand, you're not going to. I thought you would."
>>155726Before they leave, Amber leans her face forward close to his.
"Mustard, I love you and that means I'll also help your family any way I can, both your sis and your ma." She closes her eyes and gives him a gentle kiss on the lips.
>>155727Mustard Trim returns the kiss, leaning in. But he doesn't return the kiss gently. Rather, Amber can be confident that if Dahlia were not in the house expecting them downstairs, Mustard would have taken her to his bed. Mustard breaks it off himself, rather quickly, and has first a look of embarrassment, then guilt, and says to Amber
"Thank you. That means a lot to me."
>>155730Such energy! she thinks to herself, blushing and blinking in surprise.
She smiles back at him.
"Let's go have some lunch," she says, moving to go.
>>155732Mustard does not smile back. If anything, he looks ashamed. But he makes an awkward smile, and follows Amber down the stairs.
The table is in a small corner in the back designated as a dining area with wooden floors. The table is not very big, and while it could probably seat six with difficulty, it comfortably seats four. Dahlia sits in one spot, and presumably Amber and Mustard Trim on the other side. Amber is allowed by Mustard to sit down first, and so she has the pick of sitting across from Dahlia or Veneer. Veneer comes down with a kind of disinterested expression shortly after Mustard and Amber.
The food is corn on the cob, boiled carrots, and boiled cauliflower. There is salt, pepper, and an entire stick of butter.
>>155733Amber chooses to sit across from Veneer. When she sees the food laid out, there's a look of amazement on her face.
"You've laid out such a nice and plentiful meal!"
>>155734The orange filly looks up at Amber with eyes that were evidently not expecting Amber's energy.
Dahlia replies
"Why thank you!" in a tone of joy that betrays an underlying desperation. She pushes forth a set of biscuits and sits down, while Mustard immediately moves for the biscuits
>>155735She elbows Mustard, firmly but not enough to hurt.
"We should be thankful for this bounty. I wish we ate this well in the country. We used to, but not anymore," she says with a tinge of sadness.
>>155736Mustard turns to Amber, looking saddened. But Dahlia asks Amber,
“Would you like to lead the prayer?”
>>155737should have picked cleric for this"I would be honored," she responds. She clasps her hooves, bows her head and leads.
"Princesses, I am thankful to know such a wonderful family who invited me to this meal, and especially for knowing Mustard Trim, who has been especially kind. Thank you for this delicious food laid out before us on this beautiful day."
>>155738"Amen" Dahlia adds
"Amen" from Mustard Trim
After a delay, there is an "Amen" from Veneer
... And Mustard Trim already has a biscuit in hoof
>>155739Amber starts on the vegetable medley. How is it?
>>155740Boiler carrots… not too bad. They are closer to being overcooked than undercooked, being more or less okay. There is pepper, salt, and butter to help with flavor.
Mustard Trim places butter on the biscuit with a knife, while Veneer cuts the cauliflower with a knife abs eats it with a fork
>>155741Amber adds some of the seasonings and butter that were so graciously provided. She also reaches for a biscuit to butter.
"I'm still at something of a loss for what to expect from the city, where to buy groceries and how to get around without always taking a cab. It ai–it isn't easy adjusting."
>>155742If Amber was hoping for a sweet accidental hoof touch with Mustard, she is too late. He already has his biscuit.
It's hard to tell if the butter is real or margarine.
Dahlia:
"Yes, it was hard for us to adjust as well"
Veneer actually volunteers an answer:
"You get used to it, especially cabs. Just keep some coins on you. And you can walk most places, too."
>>155743Nothing like a buttered biscuit to make you feel at home in a country house.
She asks Veneer in between bites (properly chewed and swallowed, of course),
"I live east of the center of town. Do you know of any good places to walk to?"
>>155744Veneer:
"That's near where I work. There are quite a few fun bars, clubs, and restaurants in that area. Within about a mile or so, I mean."
>>155745"Oh," she responds with a smile. She doesn't explicitly ask Veneer if she might show her those sometime, because Dahlia would obviously disapprove, but she hopes she got the message across.
"I suppose every place has a bright side to it." She enjoys the cauliflower, at least as much as cauliflower can be enjoyed.
>>155746“Yeah. There’s more stuff to do here.” Veneer says
Mustard Trim makes a remark that he must assume no one will hear:
“I think if a mayoral candidate proses to tear down a quarter of the old buildings to put in street cars, he’d win in a landslide.”
Sadly, there is no changing the fact that cauliflower tastes like cauliflower. Pepper does help, though.
>>155747Amber replies to Mustard, though this might well trigger a political debate.
"The old buildings might not be perfect, but they still have charm. And where will ponies live then?"
>>155748He looks over to her, looking her in the eyes with a surprised expression, like he wasn’t expecting that.
“The buildings are old and weren’t very nice when they were made. They’ve only gotten worse since then. So many of them have been shelled abs not fixed. As for the creatures, half of them can go home.”
>>155750His ears fold back, and he presses his lips together. He says,
"Good point"
And immediately turns away from her, picking up his corn cob, and taking a huge bite out of it.
>>155751Amber likewise appreciates the simple pleasure of the corn she helped boil, after having buttered it of course.
>>155752Amber is left in silence for a few seconds to contemplate the fact that she lost her virginity to a colt who is too submissive to properly argue against her, and who has unsavory politics to boot. No take backs.
She has the fortune of having her revelation interrupted by Dahlia, who asks her,
"So have you been cooking since you got here?"
>>155753Could be worse, and he has room yet to grow a spine.
"No ma'am, I wish I could but I hadn't the funds to buy cookware, let alone groceries. I can at least start fixing meals on my own now."
>>155756“How are you eating?” She asks
>>155758“Awwww…” Dahlia looks sad for Amber’s condition
“Well, I’m happy to have you over today” she says
“And you can come with us any time.” She adds with a little smile
>>155760"I'm very thankful, Mrs. Dahlia," she replies with genuine appreciation.
"There's nothing finer than receiving hospitality in a strange city. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you folks."
>>155761“I’ll keep it in mind” she says, closing her eyes as she says this
>>155762Amber continues to dig in hungrily. She hadn't eaten since the cliffside restaurant, and her activity since has given her a hearty appetite.
>>155763There isn’t all that much food prepared. Several carrots, two cauliflower ears, one corn cob, abs a basket of biscuits leaving maybe two whole biscuits for each pony. Mustard Trim takes the most interest in eating, while Veneer takes the least. Mustard asks for several carrots from Veneer, who simply moves them over and he gobbles them down.
>>155764Amber doesn't blame Mustard for being so hungry, but she elects to show restraint so as to neither rob any family member of her food or to give the impression that it's insufficient. It's a sad state of affairs, though, that even a special meal to honor a potential new family member is scarce even in terms of bare staples. One which she knows only too well, leaving her quite sympathetic.
She also wonders how Veneer is able to go to these fancy places at night when their own pantry is so pitiful. Hopefully she can find out firsthand.
>>155765It wouldn't be fair to call the meal "insufficient," but it isn't going to suffice as the sole meal of the day. nor would it be enough for soldiers on the march. Veneer does not eat all of her food, which Mustard happily takes. Eventually, all of the food is eaten.
>>155766Amber wipes her mouth and grins broadly at her hostess.
"Thank you again, Mrs. Dahlia, for this fine meal. You sure feed your foals well."
>>155767"You're welcome" She says, smiling happily. She picks up her plate, and there's a little back and forth over doing the dishes. Normally it seems that Mustard would do the dishes, or at least it is his turn, but with Amber there Dahlia suggests Veneer does it. Veneer does not want to do it (probably because she wants to leave), and there's a sort of conclusion the dishes can be done later.
>>155769“Oh, it’s okay,” Dahlia says
>>155770"Then I'll do it."She picks up her plate with her mouth and carries it to the kitchen.
>>155771Mustard Trim is drafted in to help, and the two are washing dishes together in the kitchen.
>>155772Nothing makes her happier to have Mustard work beside her.
"It's much faster with two, ain't it?" she says with a wide smile.
>>155773"Yeah, it is" He says running a plate under the water, and scrubbing it.
"It doesn't really take that long though, usually. It's just the three of us. And she gets Veneer to do it sometimes."
>>155774"Veneer seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere. I was hopin' to get to talk to her," she says, picking up a freshly cleaned plate and drying it.
>>155775"Well, then go talk to her" Mustard says
>>155776"Alright, I'll be right back." She quickly dries off her hooves and heads for the entrance, hoping to catch Veneer before she leaves.
>>155777Veneer has actually gone to her room, and has grabbed a jacket. She sees her as she walks down the stairs.
>>155778"Hello Veneer, could we have a word?" she calls out with a friendly smile.
>>155779She looks over at Amber with a fairly serious expression. She moves much closer to Amber, closing the distance.
"Yes?"
>>155780Amber wears a slightly nervous smile and rubs her hoof against the carpet.
"After you, uh, told me about fun places around where I live I was hoping, maybe…maybe you could show me around them sometime? I want to pick up on city ways and not be so much of a bumpkin. If the location isn't too far away for you, I mean."
>>155781She is silent for a moment. But only for a moment.
"You still owe me for that stunt you pulled last night."
>>155782"Erm, alright, let me know what you need." It feels like her forehead's starting to sweat, she hopes it isn't visible.
>>155783"I'll decide later. And what do you want? You want me to name clubs? You want me to take you?"
>>155785"To a club?" She raises an eyebrow
>>155786"Mhm, wherever you usually…I mean, where you think is best." Still, that nervous smile.
>>155787"I suppose I
could take you. If only so you can pay for everything."
>>155788Her smile disappears, her ears hung low.
"I don't have much in the way of money, only enough for food until my next paycheck," she replies.
>>155789"Then you're lucky I didn't have to pay for a cab" She says
>>155790The filly stays quiet, unsure of what to say. Was Veneer upset because of how Mustard's fillyfriend hurt him, or because the incident was a nuisance to her?
>>155791"Look. Okay. I get it. I'll think of maybe taking you along with my coworkers and friends one night, okay?"
>>155792She adopts a small smile. This is all she wanted.
"Thank you."
>>155793“Careful though, or you won’t be her golden filly anymore.”
>>155795"My mother. Don't you see how she likes you more than her own foals?"
>>155796She looks off to the side.
"Yes…I'm surprised she actually likes me, I thought her impression would be…different."
>>155797She blinks, moves her head back, and smiles
"And what did you think it would be?"
>>155798"I thought she would treat me like she does Mustard, bein'…," she looks around to make sure she isn't overheard before whispering,
"Awful demanding and suspicious."
>>155799"Mustard is stuck with her. You can leave. She has to be nice to you, or else you'll go away." She pauses, but gives a sly smile
"She wants Mustard to have a fillyfriend. He hasn't taken the move, or the loss of his father and brother very well. And we thought he'd never get a filly friend. So when you come along, all adorable, a sweet and innocent little farm pony from the country, she's not going to scare you away. Or at least she'll try not to."
>>155801"Will you hit my brother again?" She asks
>>155802Amber widens her eyes in horror.
"No, never. Even if he hit me. I still feel horrible for hurting him at all, but honest-to-Celestia I never meant to do so."
>>155803"Uh huh. But you did it anyways." She rolls her eyes
"I don't know what she'd think of you after you got married. Mostly I think that's her goal. To get us both married, moved out of the house, and with grandchildren."
>>155805"Well now I have to support her here, with this expensive house. And yes, I want to have fun, if that was your question."
>>155807She nods
"Yeah. Life stuff."
She looks away, and then back to Amber
"What... kind of fun?"
>>155808She has a hopeful look about her.
"Whatever the city has to offer, I'm open to it."
>>155810She grins back.
"I love adventure and challenging my expectations."Inwardly she is wondering,
What am I getting myself into?
>>155811A wide smile comes across her face
“What
kind of adventure?”
>>155812"All kinds. The wilder the better," she says with a confident smile.
>>155813She nods, almost concerned
"Sounds like you don't much care to be Dahlia's golden filly"
>>155814"Like I said, I was surprised she thought of me as that at all. But I can't expect to stay like that forever. I've got to enjoy my youth."But she ponders to herself,
How deep in over my head am I?
>>155815“Heh heh, yeah”
She moves forward, and to the side of Amber, then partly around her. She stands between Amber and the first floor now, with her tail tied into a… well, s pony tail.
“Life is short, after all.”
>>155816If Amber wanted anything less than absolute rock-solid surety to bring back to Mustard, she would have backed down by now. But there is no backing down, at least not yet.
"It sure is, and I've hardly seen anything there is out there."