"I'm home," Crystal called as she opened the door to her and Silent's quarters. The lights were off and it was just a bell before noon, so it was no surprise that Silent was at work. That didn't keep her tail and ears from drooping a little at the empty home, however.
Crystal sighed and brought her luggage in, dropping it on the sofa while she collapsed on the rug. A soft groan dragged out of her, starting as a low moan and ramping up into a high-pitched whine.
She had come to the complete and total conclusion that a job that required her to be on her hooves for hours on end was her definition of Tartarus. And she had only done it for two days.
After a final snort to relieve the remaining frustration and exhaustion within her, Crystal rolled over to sit upright and looked around. The space was emptier than she remembered. Hadn't she gone shopping recently? Why were there no personal touches? Savoir and Horsey's home above the restaurant was full of memories and love. Velvet had made the condo her own. This place was still cold and smooth—too smooth.
A shopping trip was definitely in order. All she needed was a couple picture frames, some vases, a few doilies… Crystal smiled, rising to her hooves and retrieving her saddlebags. And, perhaps, she could surprise Silent and drop by for an impromptu lunch. He might enjoy that half as much as she would! In fact, that seemed like a wonderful place to start.
The sights of the Crystal Empire were wondrous as always and had yet to grow old. Though she was fairly sure it would have to happen eventually, she had some doubts about that. The stained glass murals in Canterlot Palace always took her breath away whenever she had stopped to really look at them. Perhaps casual strolls through the Empire would become less brilliant with time, but if she ever took a moment to take in the sights, it would likely still glimmer and sparkle with the same radiance that it had on her first visit.
Crystal smiled to herself, trotting down the wide street that led toward the palace. It loomed above without any sense of looming; instead, it was a beacon of all that was good in the world with the way it stood tall and proud. A symbol of peace and harmony. And there was no better pony to occupy it as its keeper than Lady Cadence… even if she had developed the unfortunate habit of listening to Velvet's advice on Crystal's likes and dislikes.
"Hello!" a crystal pony greeted from the street corner. "Hello, would you like to try a sample?"
"A sample?" Crystal stopped and turned her head to look at the stallion. "A sample of what?"
The answer, however, couldn't have been more obvious. He stood in front of a candy store and had a tray of different, colorful sweet treats held in his magic.
The stallion smiled. "Some of our candies, of course! The Crystal Candy Corner has anything you might like, I guarantee! Why don't you try some?"
Crystal walked closer, her gaze darting between the options and her mouth watering in anticipation. Of course, she had already been a mite peckish with the time of lunch approaching, but the candies did look very appealing. "Oh, my, they all look wonderful! What do you recommend?"
"Why not a bit of everything?" He winked and held the tray closer to her. "We have more! Lots more!"
Crystal giggled and shook her head, pawing at the air in his direction. "I'll spoil my appetite if I try everything, sir! But if you have a box of samples I could purchase and enjoy for dessert?"
Quick as a blink, an oversized box just as colorful as what it contained levitated over. "Of course! Normally it's thirty bits, but on such a lovely day for such a lovely lady, who could charge anything more than twenty-five bits?"
A bubble of laughter escaped her and she retrieved the bits. Though it was all a sales tactic, it still felt genuine. Everything about the crystal ponies felt that way, but perhaps when her base of reference was Canterlot, that was just a side effect of culture shock. "You, my good sir, have yourself a deal. I look forward to enjoying them!"
"I look forward to seeing you again as a repeat customer, I'm sure of it!" He waved as she tucked the box into her bags and started on her way back toward the palace. "Have a wonderful day, ma'am!"
"You as well!" she called over her shoulder before settling into a merry little hum. It already was a wonderful day. Their house might not yet be a home, but the Empire and its citizens were certainly growing on her.
When she approached the large double doors that led into the palace, the guards standing at their posts straightened to attention. One cracked a light smile and said, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Wishes. Visiting your husband?"
Crystal bobbed her head in a light nod. "I am indeed! Just a quick little visit before I go shopping."
"Very good, Mrs. Wishes." He pulled the door nearest to him open as she reached the top of the stairs. "Have a nice visit and good luck with your shopping."
The Crystal Palace was unnecessarily large, in her opinion. She couldn't fathom there being a pony in existence that needed doors so wide or rooms so tall. It sometimes made her feel small and insignificant against the crystalline grandeur, a stark contrast to the culture of the Empire. Of course, that didn't detract any from how gorgeous the architecture was. She just wished it was on a more reasonable scale.
As she made her way along the halls, guards greeted her here and there. It hadn't even been three weeks and they were polite enough to remember her name, though she was still learning theirs. She really needed to work on that. Unlike Luna's House Guard, however, there were just so many of them and she had yet to spend any time with them out of the armor. It was hard to remember the name of a pony who had no distinct personality around her.
Brushing the thoughts from her mind, she arrived at Silent's office and knocked, a little jolt of joy jumpstarting her mood when she heard his voice call her in. She pushed the door open, chiming, "Hi, honey!"
Silent froze. He sat behind his desk with a partially eaten sandwich held in his hooves. He glanced between her and his lunch, which he slowly lowered as he said, "Oh. You're back."
One brow arched, Crystal strode over and put her forehooves on his desk. "Yes, I am. Why do you look like a colt stuck in a cookie jar? And where did you get that sandwich? Hmm?"
His wings drooped and his ears folded back. "Sorry. I didn't know you'd be home so soon. I packed my own lunch." He started to stand up. "But I can put it away and we can—"
Crystal sputtered into giggles, waving him back down. "Oh, don't be silly! You're almost done with it, so just finish." She leaned in as far as she could toward him, the desk proving to be quite the barrier between them.
"All right. If you're sure." A smile lit up his face and he met her halfway with a light kiss. "Welcome home."
With a small hum of delight, she stole one more kiss before sitting down. "It's a shame you couldn't come with. Horsey's foal is absolutely perfect."
Silent said around a bite of sandwich, "Yeah? What's 'er name?"
"Claire de Lune," Crystal purred more than said. "A perfect name for a perfect foal. Oh, Siley, she has her mother's eyes, and looks like a beam of moonlight came down from the heavens to grace us with how perfect she is." She hooked her forehooves together to rest her chin on them. "She'll grow up to be a beautiful mare, and with a personality to match it if she has even half of Horsey's kindness."
"Wow." He blinked. "That must be some foal. We'll have to invite them up sometime so I can meet this Claire."
She gasped and jolted upright. "Oh! That's a wonderful idea! When Claire is of age to travel, we should absolutely invite them. They can enjoy the sights of the Empire while you and I sit the foal!"
After a brief pause, his brow knitted and he tilted his head. "Sit the foal? Don't you want to spend time with Horsey?"
"Well, yes, certainly, of course." She waved a hoof. "But you don't understand! Red was an adorable foal. Is an adorable foal. But it's as Velvet said. He's grown so much that I hardly remembered how wonderful little foals are."
There was another pause and he asked slowly, "Are you trying to tell me you want a foal?" One ear flicked. "I'm not against the idea, but we only just got married, and—"
"What?" She scrunched up her nose, then gave a quick shake of her head. "What? No! I'm talking about Horsey's foal, not having a foal! If I talk about somepony's pet, that doesn't mean I want to have a pet."
He eyed her with a look of suspicion before he shrugged. "It's okay. I think it would be normal for you to want to have foals. You'd make a great mother."
She huffed lightly. "I'm not saying that, either. I just want to talk about Claire, and—" She blinked, tilted her head, and then smiled. "Do you really think that? That I'd be a great mother?"
The tension seemed to leave his shoulders as he relaxed back into his seat, nodding. "Of course. Just… in a month, maybe. Or two. I'd like to get settled here in the Empire before then. If that's okay with you."
"Oh, honey, I'm fine with waiting much longer than that." She shifted one hindleg to cross over the other. "If it's okay with you, I just want to enjoy the married life for now. Besides, I can enjoy Horsey's foal in the meantime." She giggled and inclined her head toward the saddlebags resting on the floor beside her. Her magic sought out the flap and retrieved the box of candies. "For now, why don't we have dessert?"
Silent's ears perked and angled toward her, interest glimmering in his eyes. Even he, who had never expressed an excessive fondness for sweets, was drawn in by the colorful box that promised a delightful experience. "What's that?"
Crystal set the box between them and pulled back the lid. "A sampling of what they sell at the Crystal Candy Corner." A shiny yellow, spherical candy with a swirl of white in the center rose in her magic and bobbed over to him. "Try it and see what you think!"
"What is it?" he asked, but opened his mouth and accepted it nonetheless. His nose wiggled when he tried to bite into it and the sound of his teeth clacking revealed it to be much softer than anticipated. "Oh," he said, chewing the sugary remains, "it's lemon. And soft. I thought it would be a hard candy."
"Me, too!" She retrieved a half-pink, half-white sphere for herself, bit down with much more care, and giggled as an explosion of flavor burst along her tongue. "Mm, strawberries and cream…"
Silent picked up another—this one yellow with a green stripe—and balanced it on his hoof to give it a closer look. "You should get more of these." His gaze lifted to meet hers. "Unfortunately, my lunch break is almost over, so—"
"Oh! Right!" She scooped the box back into her saddlebags. "I'm sorry, I got carried away. I have some shopping to do, so I'll see you at home?"
He smiled and rose to his hooves when she stood. "Of course. Do you have what you need to buy what you want?"
Suppressing a giggle, she leaned in to kiss him one more time before turning to the door. "Don't worry about my bitpurse! It and I are just fine. Have a good day, dear!"
♡
While unpacking yet another box from the pile that never seemed to grow any smaller, Crystal had made a most wonderful discovery.
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee.
Her record player and collection of records had been safely tucked into a box at the bottom of a stack. Oh, how she had forgotten the joys of song in her life! She hummed along with the tune as she dusted the shelves and rearranged her most recent purchases.
Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away.
The world was so much brighter with music. It made the hours pass by like leaves on a stream, and soon Silent would be home. Yes, home—it was starting to feel that way after the past few days of shopping since she got back from Ponyville. A cute collection of pink, blue, and white shimmering vases had been an absolute must-have she couldn't pass up.
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody.
Frames were affixed to the walls with secure strips, sans any pictures. She couldn't decide which ones she wanted on display; Silent would just have to help her with that when he got home. There was still some time before he would, however, so she was arranging and rearranging and re-rearranging the vases. On the table? On the counter? On top of the bookshelves? So many options!
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Her ear twitched at the sound of somepony undoing the lock and she flipped the player off. So perhaps she didn't have as much time as she thought. Music did have a tendency to take away the time she wanted to pass as well as the time she tried to watch. The door would open at any moment, and the vases were scattered in different locations. She had to pick a place, she had to—
Silent walked in, their eyes met, and her time was up.
"Welcome home, sweetie!" she chimed, hoping to look casual as she hurriedly decided on top of the bookshelves would be a suitable place for the time being.
"Thanks." His gaze followed the floating vases while he shut the door behind him. "Somepony's been busy today again, I see."
"Somepony has indeed!" She puffed out her chest with pride. "Every time I go out, I find inspiration to decorate our home with everywhere." Tossing her mane, she looked around at her accomplishments. Individually, they weren't much—little knicknacks, at best—but collectively they really brought the place together. "Even though it looks more like any old Royal Guard base than a Crystal Empire home, it still feels like we're living in a crystalline wonderland. The glamour has yet to wear off for me." She returned her attention to him and smiled. "How was work?"
Silent continued to take a scrutinizing look around, as if playing a game of spotting the differences. "Hmm. Work was fine. Cadence was busy, as usual. Same for Shining Armor. I did have lunch with Russet today, though, so that was nice."
"Good for you!" While he looked at the new decor, she looked at the old. His armor, to be precise. Sometimes it was nice to take a moment to appreciate how well he filled it, and how despite what it covered, she could still see his firm, muscular form. She blinked and tried to focus on the conversation. "Have you made friends with the any of the other guards yet?"
He met her gaze and an unreadable look was on his face. Finally, after a moment, he shook his head. "Not yet. There are a few junior officers I am around more than others, but not a lot. Besides, I have you and Russet."
She huffed and waggled a hoof at him, trying to look stern. "As well and good as that may be, you should make some friends! The ponies here are so nice that I'm surprised one hasn't just declared themselves as your friend already." Her expression lightened as she giggled. "Oh well. I made some good progress today on unpacking. It's your turn soon, mister. When are you going to unpack the one you put in the closet?"
His wings twitched before tucking close to his sides. "Do you need the closet space?"
"No, but it's the last box of yours, so wouldn't it be nice to mark that task complete?" She tried to flutter her eyelashes. Really, she was just obnoxiously curious about its contents. Too many times she had opened the closet, stared at it, and felt like it was staring back at her. She was fairly certain that at one point, a flap twitched as if to ask her to tear it open.
He smiled and shrugged. "Maybe next week?"
The fluttering of her lashes ceased and a frown took over her lips. "But that's what you said last week."
"I'm sorry, sweetie." He lifted his helmet, set it on the stand, and walked over to kiss her cheek. "I just don't feel like unpacking it. I'll take care of it on my next day off."
Curiosity would have to wait. Whatever was in that box was clearly not meant to be revealed just yet. "Oh, it's fine." She giggled and nuzzled her nose to his. "I'm just fulfilling my duty as a wife to nag you a little." With another giggle, she teased, "Get it? I'm a little nag for you?"
One of his brows arched. "I do, but you realize that you are saying that you are, yourself, a nag, right?"
Her ears flicked back and she pulled away from him to shoot him a full-faced dirty look. "Okay, that didn't work out how I intended." She tried to turn her head away from him in a huff, but instead caught sight of the mail resting on the kitchen counter. "Oh!" She returned her gaze to him. "I almost forgot. Mindful Soul sent a letter saying that she'll be here on Friday for your appointment. She requested for you to pick her up at the train station when she arrives, and I believe that's the least you can do since you're having her come all this way."
He nodded and said in a perfectly even voice, "Of course… nag."
A gasp escaped her and she swatted at him. "Hey!" She squeaked when he wrapped his forehooves around her, pulling her to him. "Don't hug me!" She struggled—not too much, of course—and glared up at him. "You called me a nag!"
He nuzzled her cheek. "You called you a nag first."
"Of course! That's my word." She turned her head away from him. "You can't call me my word."
With a soft chuckle, he lowered his head to instead nuzzle her exposed neck. A tingle shot down her spine and almost reflexively, she started to melt. He always knew how to find that particular spot there that sent a wonderful sensation to the very tips of her hooves.
"Stop that…" He kissed and her muscles relaxed. "Don't…" He nibbled and her knees gave out. "Mm, don't stop…"
He put his weight against her and guided her into a tumbling fall to the floor, one hoof on the back of her head and the other around her middle. His wings flared out almost like a blanket to shield them from the rest of the world as he nibbled a trail down her neck.
She giggled at first, then gasped and pushed a hoof against his chest. "Siley!" She tried to move her head away from his ministrations. "What if the neighbors hear us?"
"Then they'll be jealous," he mumbled, the movement of his lips and jaw sending more of those pleasant tingles through her.
Her will to fight him was waning, but she had to at least try. They had missed the rug, and the solid surface beneath her wasn't entirely comfortable, though the cool crystal against her hot coat wasn't entirely unwelcome, either. It was actually a little thrilling, in a way.
"I'm a lady," she tried to say without moaning. "We have a perfectly nice bed and—" She squeaked at the sound of somepony knocking on the door. The neighbors had heard! How would she ever face them after this?! Her face grew hotter than the rest of her while Silent grumbled and they stood up. She tried to smooth out her mane to prepare herself for whoever was on the other side of the door when Silent opened it.
"Sorry to bother you, sir!" a crystal pony said, standing at rigid attention. His gaze was aimed high, which only made her feel all the more embarrassed. He must have heard something. Oh, she needed to figure out who he was so she could never talk to him again.
Silent shook his head and put a hoof on his helmet, ready for the inevitable. "Is something wrong?"
The pony didn't lower his gaze or relax his stance. "The governor sent me to get you herself. She didn't say anything but given that it couldn’t wait…"
"Yeah." Silent looked over his shoulder at Crystal, his eyes asking for permission as well as forgiveness.
Did she want him to go? No. She wanted him to stay. But he would be home later, and she'd be waiting for him. She put on her best smile and waved a hoof. "Go. I know how this works."
Silent picked up his helmet, stole a kiss that was quicker than she wanted, and just like that he was gone. The silence that followed the door shutting was almost harrowing. She waited a while longer, however, in case he might change his mind and deal with whatever it was in the morning. It could happen.
It didn't, but it could have.
She sighed and turned her head toward the record player. "I know how this works," she mumbled as her horn lit up to put the needle down. Wandering over to the couch, she dropped down and settled in for a long night of patiently waiting, hugging a throw pillow close to her chest.
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
Even as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me…
The life of a military/police spouse sucks.
Serious roller-coaster emotional stuff there!
It's not fair how much of a roller coaster these chapters are. They hurt my heart!
By the by.
Was Russet hiding behind the curtain when Crystal came to eat chocolates on Silent's lunch break?
I liked the little musical number. It did a good job of describing that feeling of how music make otherwise ordinary moments more interesting.
A good chapter. Though I'm already missing Velvet again!
7055208 Hmm, second mention I've received about the lunch thing. The second part is supposed to be a few days later ("after a few days of shopping"), Guess I'll have to make that more explicit.
Oh, poor Crystal. Already missing her beau. I'm... not quite looking forward to what happens next.
Otherwise, another great chapter. :)
7055214
Whoops! My bad! Yeah I didn't catch that, maybe I skimmed that part?
I think the worst casualty in this misunderstanding though is the shattering of my mental imagine of Russet behind the curtain. :(
Ok, so we aren't that far behind Trials.
Having now caught up on all the stories, I can say with confidence that I prefer Crystal's POV in Crystal-Shining Knight scenes. So much cuter than the stoic SK.
Keep it up! Really like it!
Should that be to nag you a little?
With the Crystal Empire's return has the favorite fancy dessert location for dragons returned as well?
Oh boy. In one quick luxury purchase Crystal has blown the entirety of her "normal" spending money.
My immediate thought when reading this is Crystal naming them by body part. Toned Behind, Shiny Wings, Swoony Abs, Captivating Eyes, etc.
I'm going to take this next sentence as confirmation of my theory.
Yep, it appears that Claire's name is truth in advertising.
Time for a wild theory. This is a reference to C.W. Step's book where the mare is waiting for her love to return which of course Crystal Wishes used Silent Knight as inspiration. This is a nice circular reference to Crystal Wishes now waiting for Silent Knight to come back into her life so she doesn't feel so lonely even though they are now married and living together.
I'm still waiting for the ball to drop with the finances. It just keeps getting worse and worse.
I sure hope Crystal can find a way to live with a service member without seeking out another warm body to fill the void, like quite a few other spouses tend to do (In real life).
"Every time I go out, I find inspiration to decorate our home with everywhere."
:P I totally imagined Crystal throwing her hooves out towards the walls and exclaiming that that she was decorating 'with everywhere'.
Great chapter as usual. :)
Oh bouncy baby Jesus in his baby blue pram, that equine variant of a human train wreck isn't joining the party is she.... why?!
Also... gotten a gander at Crystal's stud muffin. If I was a mare, she'd have a herd. Or even a stallon So strong his face... he's picked out fighting outfit, made sure pants not tight! Need clothe to breath to kill beasts, your getting killed tonight!
in short, his theme song
7054586 Hahahaha yes! It was definitely one of my favorite moments in this chapter. I love how calm Horsey is when she knows they're coming!
Smart and quick on the draw as always.
This was an interesting chapter, but it did show that she is adepting as well as could be hoped to living in the crystal empire. and its good that shes able to make a place her home. The poor guard who had to come get Silent. I bet hes gonna be paranoid for a while. It was a great chapter. ALSO! on a side node, Is the name of this chapter a Mulan reference?
And... then... they... ate... sandwiches...
I think you'll find my ending is superior.
I am so hungry right now....
'Till the Huns - arrive!
It is sad. I am an adult, and I just saw that movie for the first time last week.
I will haz all ur pityz nao.
Anyway, good chapter.
Do you really, Crystal Wishes? I sure hope so. There are long, lonely nights and that burning yearning inside your very core... That fear for your chosen one, far away, where lives are at stake and can be extinguished like flames of a candle...
Let us hope your love is sufficient to deal with it.
... or, do you have other plans for our adorable mare, Crystal? :sly grin:
Crystal! How unladylike!
Great chapter. It sounds like Crystal is going to go into debt with all this shopping of hers XD
"I'm just fulfilling my duty as a wife to nag you a little." With another giggle, she teased, "Get it? I'm a little nag for you?"
One of his brows arched. "I do, but you realize that you are saying that you are, yourself, a nag, right?"
Funniest part of a greatly enjoyable chapter
Excellent chapter as always Crystal!
I'm starting to feel bad for Crystal, she needs more hugs.
Queue dramatic music... Duhant duhant duhan!
Poor Crystal all reved up and shut down by a knock at the door. Those of us will h kids can sympathize.
Ah yeah, being married to a military person has its positives and negatives. One of the negatives being that that soldier is on call 24/7. That's always been a hard pill to swallow for the military spouse. It seems though that Crystal is able to adapt.
I still love the banter between Crystal and Silent Knight. Always good to get a dose of the warm fuzzies.
7055734
Crystal has received a lot of comments in the past regarding Cloud Kicker from another story of hers. Many of her readers, myself included, jokingly pointed out that she unintentionally portrayed her interpretation of Cloud Kicker like the one from Chengar Qordath's winningverse stories. While we meant no harm, Crystal is still quite embittered about that fact.
7055201 It definitely isn't a life meant for everyone. It can be really hard and try your patience and your love! Crystal said she knew what she was getting into, though...
7055208 Don't worry! It'll only get
worsebetter from here!I love music. It has the same effect on me as it did on Crystal in this chapter. Life is just better with music!
7055282 Everything'll be fine!
7055339 Nope, not too far at all. We are pretty close in the timeline. Almost to the end of Secrets!
Glad you're enjoying it!!
7055400 Oh, no... In one quick luxury purchase she went through Silent's idea of normal spending money. They have different income levels, different lifestyles, different levels of financial comforts... Crystal's a bit spoiled on the finer things in life, but at least she supplements with her own income, and isn't like... stealing from Silent or begging more money out of him.
Hahahahaha. You know what, I'm not going to say that's not how she names them. I'm not saying it is, but I'm not saying it's not.
That's a pretty interesting wild theory ya got there.
7055532 It would definitely be a problem if she started asking him for extra money or something like that! It helps that she has her own income that she's spending, though.
7055698 Ahahah, yes! With everywhere. She just grabbed things off the streets and decorated with "everywhere".
7055734 Cloud Kicker is a background pony who appears in a few episodes in the background (as her non-main and non-supporting status would entail). Anything beyond that is, obviously, fanon. My representation of characters has no bearing on other 'verses, just as I would expect other 'verses to have no bearing on Anzel and my's. That would just be silly if completely unrelated stories had to adhere to each other for some bizarre reason, especially when the characterization of the character in question was unknown to the author at the time of inclusion because not everyone reads everything.
7055753 The Empire is a pretty nice place! Hard not to adapt. And as for the title... hmm...
7055814 Phyco! Have a snickers! You're not you when you're hungry.
7055838 Well, good timing on seeing it, though, eh? Glad you enjoyed it!
7055923 Only time will tell... I certainly can't spoil anything. For now, it depends on how much faith you have in Crystal's faith!
7056020 She can't be a lady all the time!
7056076 She does get royalties for three books, as well as the short stories she writes... Ponies probably give fair royalties, so who knows! I think she does pretty well for herself. She doesn't have to pay rent, after all, and she used to cover half the rent for a nice condo in Canterlot. That frees up some money right there!
7056123 Their little fake-fights are adorable to me.
7056280 Thank you!!
7056339 Sadly, throw pillows don't hug back.
7056466 It is definitely an unfortunate situation, for sure. I don't think either of them enjoyed being interrupted!
7056536 I've done a lot of reading of blogs and accounts from military spouses... It's not an easy life, and I hope to represent it respectfully enough. and yes, I have to get in my warm fuzzies whenever I can!!
7056619
I probably should have been more blatant about the "normal" bit. I was certainly referencing the allowance given by Silent Knight. Which the box of chocolates (25 bits) clearly shows the difference in their perception of money.
7056690 Yup! That's kind of the intent with the money thing. I'm not trying to start a conflict between them per se, but just trying to show that they have very different perceptions of money. The box of chocolates/candies was expensive, and Crystal didn't bat an eye.
7056536
What remains to be seen is how much of that is adapting and how much of it is the post-honeymoon high and Crystal being busier than normal unpacking and homing up the place.
I have a feeling that I would quickly grow tired of the sheer color variety that Crystal Empire style seems to consist of.
Unfaithfulness with a sandwich!
So, Crystal...feeling the call of motherhood?
I see that Silent is getting the same impression as I am.
Hmn. Are you trying to tell me that I need to buy some vases, Crystal? I think my cats would love (to destroy) them.
But just imagine the eventual fun embarrassment of admitting to Velvet that you conceived your first foal in the middle of the living room!
Uh oh, looks like it's time for external events to start intruding on the happy ending.
7056619 ahh, forgot about that. The lack of communication is still an issue. It also isn't being run as a combined household.
7056619
I have a lot. I'm just a sucker for emotional drama.
7056743 Ah, yes that is a valid point.
Why am I reading this and thinking "Foreshadowing?"
7056982
Communication is, without a doubt, extremely important to successful relationships and marriages. To me, this is a small thing. She hasn't told him how much she makes for a living. He also hasn't asked.
As far as the second part of your comment, I'd ask you to elaborate. Crystal and I have been married for years. We don't have a combined checking account. We don't mingle our money. She has her responsibilities and I have mine. As a result, we never have fights about money and or spending. I don't see this as a negative for our family.
7057182 It foreshadows the bus crash that's going to happen next chapter.
7057228
Will 100 of the least used names on the Quill & Blade roster be riding that bus to conveniently downsize the cast and lower expenses?
7056619
senpai noticed me
senpai... hmm... ok
i.imgbox.com/CsC9eAom
Apparently you are delivered flaky pastry treat who, as this video and general consensus proposes, be making da ladies crazy
And I know all that. But I see that overdone Cloud sooooo often. Just once I'd like her portrayed as a shy introvert of the Littlepip variety, or at least someone of some decency. Feh. And I'm a fan of his, you'd think his most popular work would be right up my alley, but...
anyway, yeah, sorry about ruffling your feather Mrs. Crystal.
7057300 It's okay! It's just a sore subject after having it repeatedly pointed out to the point where I just wanted to rip Cloud Kicker out of the plans. I was completely and wholly unaware of the popularized fanon interpretation of her (and as I disclaimer every time, I have absolutely nothing against that characterization or the verse it's in at all!!).
I picked her because her MLP wikia page gave the impression that she's shown more toward the athletic side, which suited my needs for Horsey, who gets a trainer to get her on an exercise regime. She participated in the Running of the Leaves, the Best Young Fliers Contest, at the Wonderbolts Academy, in the Equestria Games, and the Sisterhood Social. That was my basis of her personality seen in the show and what I ran with. All I did was have her show up, tell Horsey to exercise smarter not harder, and heard about completely unrelated personality traits.
Think of it like this... You have some friends over and you made lasagna. You're pretty pleased with your lasagna. You set it on the table and the thing everyone at the table says is, "Oh, hey, lasagna! Stacy made lasagna. I really like Stacy's lasagna."
Well then go eat Stacy's lasagna and get out of my house.
...
The train wreck is coming
7057331
again, apologies, didn't mean to knot your tail.
No wonder you wanted her pulled... but lets expand on this a little, if you'll indulge me. That's bad enough, and it stings, but imagine as a enjoyer of lasagna, going out and finding that everyone's doing stacy's fucking lasagna. Sorry for the blue language... but literally, everywhere you turn, there it is, a mockery of a meal, Stacy's consistently horrible mommy issue laden testimony to bad behavior.
And then, you find yourself at a banquet, a superb gathering of tasty wonders, a schmorgoshberg of likeable characters and cohesive plot... but there's that damned lasagna again. But thankfully its fresh made, not the same Olive garden and tinfoil pan crap that one is used to, so thank you for that my good author
7057391 It's okay. I'm not mad. I'm just tired of hearing about lasagna.
And, again, I have 0 qualms with her usual characterization, the stories thereof, or the writer. I just didn't know about them and found out right when I was trying to introduce a new character for the story! I barely got to introduce her and already she had a scarlet letter.
For what it's worth, Cloud Kicker will have little to no role in Hopes beyond being part of a representation of Horsey's advancement in life in that one chapter. She will have a much bigger role in Horsey's story-to-be-rebooted, and is not the same as Stacy's lasagna. Not better, not worse, just different! I layer my lasagna noodles differently. It's all in the layering. And the cheese. Don't forget the cheese!
7057232 yes
7057391 I find this comment delightful.
Damn, that cockblock at the end was rough.
Also, the song Crystal was listening to piqued my interest, so I decided to look it up. It's a pretty lovely piece.
7057481
And I find your delight delightful
7057226 It's just the way i was raised. I was raised in a stable household with a combined income (there wasn't any money fights either) so it's something I view as the norm. Personally, keeping everything separate is a bit of a red flag for me. I do view it as a lack of communication, and there are some other issues i have with it as well. Please not that i'm not trying to say or imply anything about you and Crystal, i'm sure you two have a great relationship. I'm just sharing my thoughts. So I guess i'm inserting red flags and potential conflict into Crystal and Silents relationship when there isn't really supposed to be any.
I'm more excited for the possibility of a future foal
if that was foreshadowingthan I am for what I know is about to happen.Mind writing more about foals? I quite like foals. foals can't make widows, even if that's not where I expect this to go.
7056619
not so, good Crystal! BEHOLD!
I.imgbox.com/Nw2ci9Vv
7057226
The feminists are slowly fazing you out man! First finances, now hugging pillows! WHAT POSSIBLE THING CAN YOU GIVE CRYSTAL NOW TO SHOW HER YOU CARE
7057226
It's funny that this conversation about marital finances is happening, so I'll throw in my two cents.
There are expenses that affect both parties, so I believe it's vital to budget together and be open and honest about spending habits, income and expectations so you can be on the same page. Whether it's in one account or two or ten doesn't really matter.
Yes, it's a little weird from my perspective but I like to consolidate everything since not being able to keep track of stuff hurts my brain.
The problem was already said, they don't KNOW what the other pony makes or spends. If my wife came home with a box of chocolates my first question would be "how much was it" followed quickly by "how many, dear Queen of Mine may I have?"
Still love this story and look forward to the next chapter
I wonder, if you two had written Silent and Crystal with FANTASTIC communication skills if everyone would be saying "that doesn't fit their characters!" or "no newlyweds are that perfect!"
You just can't win with people...