"Looks like Silver's had a busy life," Raven commented quietly. "One mil? That's quite a few." "Nothing in basic training about skinnin' birds," Serana reminded. "That was all him." "Weird how he flies off the handle so quick at stuff like that," said Raven. "Can't blame him, though. Least he'd never lay a hoof on us."
"Historical studies estimate Silver Crescent's personal kill count to be anywhere from six hundred thousand to well over one million, though the exact number is unknown, and growing constantly," Nightshade quoted from an old personnel report. "There's a reason he's called 'Reaper.'" By this time they'd reached the cafe. As they walked in, a pink changeling lady smiled broadly at them. "Welcome to Cafe! Have a seat anywhere, we'll be right with you." As Nightshade took a seat, she sighed. "I dunno, Raven. You think I should talk to Asmo about it?" ************************************************************************************************************** Silver nodded. "That is unfortunate. I do ask that you take greater interest from here on out. I have a plan to end the threat of the Apophii once and for all. When they are gone, my hope is that the leaders of the Alliance will move swiftly to fill the power vacuum. But there will certainly be chaos. The Apophi have ruled this galactic cluster for eons. It would be... helpful... if the Council could ease the transition somehow."
Rep: Although we may be referred to as gods by certain civilizations, despite our attempts to the contrary, there is only so much we are permitted to do. However, within our limits, there isn't much we cannot do so we will definitely help.
Silver nodded. "I do not ask for direct interference. I just ask that you guide them in the right direction." He shook his head sadly. "The Apophii ruled for so long that there are none left who remember a time before them. They have no idea how to self-govern. This will not be an easy time in the galaxies."
"'Least convince him to report to you before he goes and eats an entire street gang," Raven suggested. having a seat with Serana. Casually, she turned to the dead bat and conversed, "So how'd you meet Maya? She never told me you met." "I asked her to be ya' new mom," Serana said quietly, looking over the menu. "You did what?" Raven pinned her ears back, apparently offended. "Y'wanted to get rid of me in the first place?!" "Wha-No." Serana rolled her eyes. "You jump to conclusions faster than a Day Guard questionin' a Zebra. Baby, I was already dyin' when she came in. Must not remember much after he died, huh? Shoot. She carried us both outta that house, tryinna get us to the clinic, thought I could still make it I guess, even though I only had like half a body left... I asked her name. Maya Heartstrings. Told her I was fadin'. Told her you had nopony to go to. Heard 'bout Dusty, 'n' all this stuff about her wantin' a foal some day, maybe it was just some idle chat to make my passin' a little nicer, I dunno. I never wanted you to go to Hollow Shades' bucked up foster care system, so I asked her if she'd help you. She said yeah. An' I... asked one more thing." Raven now had her ears drooped down to the side, almost overwhelmed by this new info, but listening intently. "W...what's that?" "Asked her to finish me off herself, so I didn't have to suffer. It hurt so bad, baby..." Serana was no longer reading the menu, but instead staring straight through it. "Belial tore my legs, broke my organs, set the wheels in motion for me to die, but Maya ended my sufferin'." "I... why didn't she tell..." "'Raven. I killed your mom. I'mma be your new mom now, okay?' Yeah, that'd sound good to a little filly." "Damn. Guess that's why you never moved on, but Dad did... Not Belial you're tied up with. It's Maya." Raven leaned forward, elbow on the table, hoof pressed against her lips, looking down, deep in thought.
Rep: We can definitely give guidance... We also have eons worth of information and knowledge collected on various ways to govern, and many other subjects, that we'd be happy to share, after all there is a saying, "Those who do not know their past are doomed to repeat it". Whilst the whole knowing the past may not apply to the freed societies, it will still be useful to show them examples of what has happened. And we'd love to be able to do a lot more than we can, but we came to terms with why we cannot. Things must happen in a certain way, regardless of what we do.
Nightshade put a wind around Raven. "You okay?" A mercy killing wasn't murder. It wouldn't weigh on Maya's soul, or deny her entry into Paradise if that was to be her fate one day. But the soul bond was there nonetheless. ************************************************************************************** Silver shook his head. "I have heard many philosophers and priests speak on the subject of predestiny. They claim the existence of a grand plan, and all happens is simply a part of this plan." His face grew dark. "I do not believe a word of it."
Raven nodded slowly. "I will be, babe. That's just a lot. Know why she kept that from me, wouldn't have understood back then... Bet money Dusty had something to do with me not remembering."
Rep: We've done extensive research into the subject. The Council has also done many experiments, even to the point of trying to prolong life in plants, yet nothing we do works. Nothing sentient was used, if you were worried that we performed possibly immoral experimentation. Mostly on certain species of plant, after many years of constant study, to show that they were indeed non-sentient. Or we're just bad at gardening and can't keep plants alive regardless. Don't tell the rest of the Council, but that's the one I'm leaning towards, that they just spent a whole lot of time looking after plants, and don't have green thumbs and just killed the plants. Perhaps there is something of merit about the talk, perhaps not. We don't know for certain either.
Nightshade nodded. "Wouldn't surprise me." A pastel blue changeling walked up to take their orders. Nightshade ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, and Summer ordered the same. *************************************************************************** Silver shrugged. "I suppose it does not matter right now."
Rep: (Nodding) I doubt that it would. I say, believe what you will, doesn't bother me much, unless you insult and/or threaten me or those under protection from me, I'm sure as a guard, warrior, and more importantly, a father, you understand? (Inquisitively)
Silver nodded. There seemed to be little else to say on the matter. ************************************************** The pink changeling from earlier soon brought them their meals, which turned out to be just as good as Summer had said. Naturally, Raven's steak was cut from a cockatrice tail, as a beef steak would cause all kinds of trouble down here.
As they ate, back on the ship, ancient mother and daughter were having a little debate about whose grass was of higher quality. "I've been using this on my migraines for a thousand years," Maya argued, though not angrily. "Using it on dying ponies, too, make that transition a little easier. Every generation of bud's an improvement, no way yours is better." Clover gave a playful scoff. "I beg to differ, young lady. I may have picked it up from you, but I have been dead for longer than anypony else can remember. I know how to engineer an escape from reality." "Prove it," Maya taunted. "I shall." Clover slid her daughter a large hookah, while Maya gave her a simple pipe. Not long after the debate, once they'd sampled each other's products, both mares were sprawled out on their backs somewhere near the ship's landing gear. "This is... pretty good stuff," Maya admitted, looking up at the ship's underbelly. "Hmmmhhh..." Clover mumbled something about cogs to herself while she studied her own hoof. "Hmm? Forgive me, beloved, I... didn't catch that." "Umm. What?"
Rep: Alright then. I'm probably gonna get going. I'll let you know if anything happens, and you can transmit a message to me if you need me. (Starts getting up) Selena: (Has just been going with the flow for the time being, occasionally looking around for whatever it was that was the source of whatever it is that felt as though it was itching at her spine, causing her shivering)
Selena: (Shakes her head) Uh uh. I used to try, but I never could track something precisely, due to sensitivity... I could get close, but things usually overwhelmed me, (sighs) most times to the point of blacking out, after nosebleeds.
