By flickering candlelight, Ebon Mane shuffled across the leaning interior of the Noble Jury's kitchen. Muttering slightly to himself, he scooped several pots and pans and utensils from the floor, shoving them into their respective places inside cabinets with widely dangling doors.
The candle suddenly went out with a gust of air. Ebon cursed under his breath and fumbled blindly for the matches. Just then, a lavender light lit up the room four times as brightly as the single candle. Blinking, Ebon turned and looked up.
Eagle Eye stood within the open doorway leading from the stairwell. "Sorry..." He blushed a bit. "I-I guess I brought a bit of the hurricane inside with me."
"It's fine," Ebon said with a sigh, glancing lethargically at the kitchen floor. "I wasn't getting much work done anyways."
"What makes you say that?"
"Unnngh... I gotta wash off all these dishes and junk! The darn things have been lying on the floor ever since we did battle with the Lounge! But I can't very well scrub them when the power's out! Besides, even if we somehow took off from this thing and flew victoriously to Alafreo, there's no telling what amount of turbulence would just propel them back onto the floor in the end!" He groaned and pulled at his mane. "So what's the use..."
Eagle bit his lip. "I-I could help you, y'know!" He smiled nervously. "One horn is better than eight hooves, where I come from."
"The only thing I'd need help with right now is fixing a group salad with tomato slices..." Ebon grumbled. "That needs a lot more light than what you've got."
"Uhhhhh..." Eagle Eye turned, illuminated the breezy stairwell, and then pivoted to face Ebon once more with a crooked smirk. "Considering where we are n'stuff, I really doubt the Jurists have munching on their mind."
"Feh. Josho does. Don't deny it."
"Josho can jump off the edge of my tail!" Eagle winked. "Big fat old stallion only knows how to do two things: fart and complain."
"Then why do you love the moron so much?"
Eagle giggled. "Somepony that plushie is impossible to not hug."
"Grrgghhh..." Ebon kicked at a clattering pot and slumped against a slanted cabinet. "I'm just so sick of this!"
Eagle squinted. "Sick of what?"
"It feels to me that—like—ever since we left Gray Smoke, I've been fumbling and stumbling to do anything right around here!" Ebon sighed heavily. He slid down to the floor and hugged himself. His eyes softened as he murmured, "I just... I-I just want to be useful, that's all..."
"Ebon, buddy, you are useful!"
Ebon sniffled. "Then why is it that everypony on board seems to h-hate me! I'm just the 'Sailboat Boomer' who can't prepare a soup right, I swear..."
Eagle smirked as he shuffled over. "Ebon, you're the ship's cook." He sat down right beside Ebon, slumping against the same cabinet. "I promise, there's nopony on board who hates you." He finished with a giggle.
Ebon raised an eyebrow. "Floydien hates me."
"Yeah, well..." Eagle scratched his neck and shrugged "That elk hates everyone. But I think that's his only way of loving everyone."
Ebon's face scrunched. "That doesn't make any sense."
"So, what about the magic space antlers that shoot electricity into stuff?"
Ebon nodded. "You have a point."
"Yes, and it's a good thing that it glows," Eagle squeaked before letting loose another giggle.
Ebon glared at him, then leaned his head back against the cabinet as he stared at the slanted ceiling. "You're really nice to try and cheer me up and all, but you don't need to bother, EE. I just... get into these crazy funks and I can't really pull myself out of it. It can't be helped."
"Why's that?"
"I dunno..." Ebon shrugged. "I guess I just go with the crowd." He gulped. "I feel it in my gut that this ship has just... been so miserable as of late. It keeps me awake at night, and I feel powerless to change any of it."
Eagle Eye blinked. "What about Zaid? You think he's miserable?"
"Idiots don't count."
"Good point."
"I feel like there's something that I should be doing to change all of it, but I can't." Ebon bit his lip as his eyes watered. "More than anything, I hate just... feeling so useless."
Eagle Eye shifted, his eyes darting to the cluttered floor. "Would you... like to be useful to me?"
"Hmmm?" Ebon's ears twitched. "Yeah, how?" He felt a soft mane against his neck. Blinking, he glanced aside.
Eagle was leaning his head on the stallion's shoulder. His violet eyes reflected his burgundy muzzle like that of a foal's. "Try not to look so sad." Eagle smiled weakly. "I really, really hate it when you've got a long muzzle."
Ebon stared at him. His face twitched, and he broke out an awkward smile. "Thanks."
Eagle immediately said, "For what?"
Ebon's skin pulsed from a jerk to his heartbeat. "I... I-I'm not sure yet..."
Dead silence fell across the room, during which neither stallion said anything. Calming down, Ebon leaned his head to his side, so that eventually the petite bodies of the two ponies were peacefully supported by one another. The wind howled outside, but the stallions took no notice of it. Neither did they realize exactly when it was that Eagle's light went out.
Dawww...I love interaction between those two.
Hmm...fuel for the "Ebon might be a changeling" crowd...
Ouch.
4171612
Yeah, that's pretty much the same thing I was thinking.
What's the name for this pairing? Eagon? Whatever it is, I ship it like Derpy ships packages.
Ebon, I swear, if you keep like this, I will--
Ow...
I can't stay mad at you, you're both so adorable.
4171602 I have feelings too...
Bow chicka bow wow.
That's because you're an empathic changeling who can feel everyone's shitty mood, dear.
What you're feeling is the delicious and nutritious mancrush your purple boyfriend has for you. You know, feelings you could only feel if you were A CHANGELING.
I swear I'm not a yaoi fan girl.
So much EE Ebon shipping (EEE). It's glorious. I wait for the day when Josho catches the two of them together and makes a few humorous remarks.
24
Gods they are just far too adorable!
derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/9/19/430901__safe_solo_rainbow+dash_animated_blushing_edit_cute_upvotes+galore_pixiv_happy.gif
I think I just realized that Ebon probably isn't a unicorn.
When are these 2 gonna kiss and get it over with. Cute chapter.
"I guess I just go with the crowd."
"I feel it in my gut that this ship has just... been so miserable as of late.
is face twitched, and he broke out an awkward smile. "Thanks."
I... I-I'm not sure yet..."
CHANGELING
24.media.tumblr.com/eade6a5edc23e91588e1780b796664ef/tumblr_n1o8erC9oi1rcd4r2o1_r1_400.gif
awwwwww
i.imgur.com/fuwPUoN.gif
If it turns out that Ebon isn't a changeling, I'm going to laugh.
And then I'm going to wonder why the heck he isn't a changeling.
shipshipship
oh, how heartbroken will Josho be when it is revealed that the only cook is a bug?
4171646 "Eagon" it is then.
I really hope Ebon's not a changeling. Or at least not an evil one.
There is only one thing better than constant EagleMane ship-teasing. And that is opening the floodgates on that motherhubbard.
And if that should ever happen, I can honestly say that I won't be responsible for my actions after that point.
Also yes, Ebon starving because of Belle and Pilate being so cold was just getting fed by Eagle yadda yadda...
4171657 Idiots don't count.
Then again the dead don't have feelings either... I'll shut up now
img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120521120404/men-in-black/images/6/69/Edgar-human_SS_01.jpg
Your cook in an edgar suit. (men in black ref)
poor Zaid, I guess he is the comic relief guy
Multiple black thin obelisks floating in a fixed array, with everything moving relative around them?
My Gosh, theyre full of Stars.
Wonder just how old Mrs Turtle is, and whether she sticks round with Prowse because he reminds her of her favourite crazy young nephew?
Big problem. If the obelisks are a fractured part of the Machine World control spire, and Dash triggers the recreation, they no longer will be suspended to form the Hypercell, which means the weather wlll calm, which means the Lounge will be able to reach them, but would they be after the now fully operational control spire, or would the spire be after them?
4172636
Last year's April Fool's chapter? I went back and looked, but didn't see anything, so maybe it wasn't.
Dude they're gonna fuck.
Ebon's still totally a changeling. The Jury's atmosphere of misery hits him the hardest because he literally eats that right up.
I don't want to go to the kitchen. I want to go to the lobby...to get myself a treat.
Daww cuteness! I dont care that Ebon is totally a Changeling. Him and EE are adorable together.
4173874
I keep seeing this chapter in my feed and thinking of this comic.
4175417 lol that's one bizarre strip.
4171683
You don't need to be a Changeling to feel the mood of the Noble Jury of late.
Can't get enough of these two, it's so sweet.
4171646
EEbon, is what I like to think of it as.
Oh just screw each other already
[youtube=http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Bj-7b0rC4]
These two are just do damn adorably sweet. I'm afraid. I'm afraid Skirts is way too much like Joss Whedon where they put everyone in wonderful relationships and then destroy those relationships.
4171837 I just noticed her tongue has a heart on it.
What everypony else has said: ):( does a great job of using show, not tell, to show us that Ebon is probably a changeling.
mlpforums.com/uploads/post_images/img-2456214-1-373805.gif
I'm going to have to use that picture in every chapter with these two, aren't I?
4171646
EbonEye seems to be the most common name for it.
-Spirit
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Awww, these two are adorable. I really like the relationship that they've developed between themselves. I'm sensing that their friendship will begin to play a bigger role in this arc...also, Ebon changeling because feelings. And letters to mother.
Mystery intensifies! The changeling cook. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
This ship. I ship it. Holy Hell, I ship it. It feels so weird saying that, considering I don't read M/M romance stories. Skirts, you're changing me.
.......go on
5796987 It's okay, after all it is REALLY REALLY Cute and well written.
I mean to be completely honest, I DO Read M/M romance and this is some of the better I've seen. Especially considering it's an adventure story.
All aboard the SS EagleMane
Poor changeling.
More evidence of increased emotional sensitivity, but the fact he didn't change back at seclorum's camp is puzzling.
kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss
6386009
I agree. Right now (and since I'm books behind am probably wrong), I'm thinking that it's either because he's a Royal Ling. Since the Harmony Nuke didn't force Chryssy to strip. Rather she did so because the jigg was up. Or since Ebon's a pure soul, and both feeds off of and gives friendship (rather than the theft and hoarding that Lings in this AU are addicted too) he's harmonious. None of the other lings were big on Harmony, and the EoH srpeads harmony. So if Ebon is harmonious, the EoH Friendship Nuke wouldn't effect him ... could be both though.
7015705
God, if he turns out to be Tchern...
The opening makes me picture the kitchen scene from Rainbow Rocks - and just as shippy. This is so sweet.
Come on you two, kiss already! We could really use something light and cute right about now.
Aww, what sweet boys.