The City That Lives (IC, Steampunk/Pony/Anthro/Human)

[The Flutterlands]

(One timeskip later)
Pitch Black, breathing heavily, with a throbbing heart, peeled his eyes open, as he laid on the floor, against Roo's sweaty red coat. It was just like, last night; only indoors, a bit more... intense, and a couple drinks. The room, was faintly lit again. For during the timeskip, Pitch lost focus, and his horn went out. The black unicorn looked around the room, gazing at four empty vodka bottles on the floor. Pitch then cocked his head, facing Roo, and gave her a drunken smile. "Y-you're just... wonderful!" said Pitch, with a giggle, as he kissed Roo's nose. "T-that... was fun!"

Roo smiled broadly. She wrinkled her nose and giggled when he kissed it. She wrapped her sweat covered arms around him and stroked his mane slowly and softly while she gently, deeply and seductively kissed his lips. When she pulled away she tucked her head under his and giggled again. "Well I should hope that was fun. It was for me as well. You are surprisingly good at this kind of thing for a beginner." She said softly and kissed his chest softly while she continued to stroke his mane. "You know, considering you're a pony and I'm a fox, we fit together surprisingly well." She said and pressed her body into his with another giggle.

"Yeah..." said Pitch, happily. He just remand in place, and enjoyed more of the attention from Roo. He could smell the sweat. "You know, there is a river nearby, with a waterfall." said Pitch, "If you want... we could wash up there..." Pitch looked around the room, and noticed just how cutoff from society it really is. "Yeah... Living here sucks. Perhaps we can move into the city, one day? Can we?"

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

"Yeah..." said Pitch, happily. He just remand in place, and enjoyed more of the attention from Roo. He could smell the sweat. "You know, there is a river nearby, with a waterfall." said Pitch, "If you want... we could wash up there..." Pitch looked around the room, and noticed just how cutoff from society it really is. "Yeah... Living here sucks. Perhaps we can move into the city, one day? Can we?"

Roo sighed blissfully and rubbed her head against his chest, "A waterfall sounds wonderful. We can go now if you want." She said and moved to look into his eyes before she rubbed her damp, black nose against his. "We can move wherever you want to honey, where you go I'll be right next to you . . . or under you depending on the situation." She said with a giggle and kissed him again. "Shall we go to that waterfall then? Some fun in a river can't hurt."

[Sungai Pusat]

Grace chuckled as well. "Well, your's is at least one face I prefer to see, anyways, so I don't mind. And that certainly makes sense, doesn't it?" She let her hoof travel over his chest, should she be close enough at this point, and smiled. "Only pony to be satisfied being the devil herself..." She sighed, her mind jauntily thinking about all the sense that his words had made to her thus far, her face reddening immensely at his compliment as her heart thumped quickly. "T-think nothing of it. I kinda slipped and lost my focus initially, then lost it again, so I don't really think I'm the best mare to be complimentin' 'bout on the way I attacked her..." She lowered her head to the floor and, with a despondent look on her face, reminisced what she had figured to be the worst fight she had been thrown into so far, whispering reassurances that the limitation was brought about because of the closed space and the type of pony she had been facing up to, a hint of wonder still creeping into her sorrowful expression as she looked to the floor.

Mac smiled reassuringly, "Just cause ye slipped doesn't mean ye didn't fight amazin'ly and look at it this way ye didn't end up tied ta a chair. If anypony shouldn't be complimented it's me fer screwin' up." He said with a chuckle. "That metal pony blew the TNT early, that's why I didn't clear the buildin'." He said with a smile. "I hope I didn't worry ye too much while I was gone." He said cheerfully. "So who's idea was it ta come inta the sewer guns ablazin' ta rescue me?"

Grace's blush deepened and she smiled with a chuckle of her own, caressing his cheek softly. "Shucks, you don't have to say that, Mac. And it's... well, yes." Her face swiftly changed, her hooves wrapping around his uneasily as she tilted her back over a little, pulling him into a gentle embrace as she winced in tears from both her physical and psychological pain. "Don't..." She sniffled. "Y-you d-didn't worry us, Mac... no... not at all, Mackie..." She pulled away just as slowly and blushed deeply, clearing her throat a little before facing the floor again.

As soon as Grace tilted her neck up, she was back to her old self, cocky smirk and all, when question of credit came into the picture. As best she could, she flashed an even broader grin and puffed her chest upwards, recoiling a little with her puffing as her almost childish beam remained. "I did, sir!" She giggled, laying herself back on her bed to rest, looking up plainly at the ceiling as she let out a soft sigh. "Truthfully, I did push the idea forward, but Blinky helped see it through." She winked at him as she said Blink's name, jubilantly squeeing at the thought of the little yellow filly. "Your sister's cute, ya know that? Got alotta spunk and energy like me." She stifled a chuckle at her shamelessness as she looked back to Mac once again with a warm smile on her face, waiting patiently for his words to flow out of his mouth.

[The Flutterlands]

"Yeah..." said Pitch, happily. He just remand in place, and enjoyed more of the attention from Roo. He could smell the sweat. "You know, there is a river nearby, with a waterfall." said Pitch, "If you want... we could wash up there..." Pitch looked around the room, and noticed just how cutoff from society it really is. "Yeah... Living here sucks. Perhaps we can move into the city, one day? Can we?"

Roo sighed blissfully and rubbed her head against his chest, "A waterfall sounds wonderful. We can go now if you want." She said and moved to look into his eyes before she rubbed her damp, black nose against his. "We can move wherever you want to honey, where you go I'll be right next to you . . . or under you depending on the situation." She said with a giggle and kissed him again. "Shall we go to that waterfall then? Some fun in a river can't hurt."

"Yeah. Let's go." said Pitch, " Uh... I'll get a towel, first... for both of us." Pitch got up onto his hooves and limped into his bedroom. He went to a burrow, and took out a couple towels. Pitch brought one to Roo. "Ready?" Pitch asked, cheerfully.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

As soon as Grace tilted her neck up, she was back to her old self, cocky smirk and all, when question of credit came into the picture. As best she could, she flashed an even broader grin and puffed her chest upwards, recoiling a little with her puffing as her almost childish beam remained. "I did, sir!" She giggled, laying herself back on her bed to rest, looking up plainly at the ceiling as she let out a soft sigh. "Truthfully, I did push the idea forward, but Blinky helped see it through." She winked at him as she said Blink's name, jubilantly squeeing at the thought of the little yellow filly. "Your sister's cute, ya know that? Got alotta spunk and energy like me." She stifled a chuckle at her shamelessness as she looked back to Mac once again with a warm smile on her face, waiting patiently for his words to flow out of his mouth.

Mac was a little surprised by the hug but he didn't resist, hell in his current state he couldn't. He smiled cheerfully and listened as she spoke feeling a little pang of pride when she mentioned Blink's part in the plan. When Grace thought that Blink was his sister he smiled a little, "My sister? Aw no, that would be nice though. Blink doesn't have any siblings." He said with a sigh. "She does remind me a lot about my sister sometimes though. Little Gem was a wonderful filly before pa died, then ma gave up on life and left Gem and I alone. Gem didn't . . . She stopped thinkin' straight. Began talkin' ta the walls and gigglin' all the time. She even started pretendin' nopony else existed. She was sent ta the same place as Blink but she died before Blink . . . Well, ye've seen Blink's home. Gem was put ta sleep 'cause she attacked one o' the shrinks there." He said softly, his expression spoke of grief and sadness before he shook his head and smiled to Grace, "Blink kinda adopted me as a father though and I'm glad fer it. She's a wonderful little filly fer the most part." He said with a smile.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

"Yeah. Let's go." said Pitch, " Uh... I'll get a towel, first... for both of us." Pitch got up onto his hooves and limped into his bedroom. He went to a burrow, and took out a couple towels. Pitch brought one to Roo. "Ready?" Pitch asked, cheerfully.

Roo smiled and stood up before taking the towel from Pitch she kissed his snout lovingly and looked around the room. She gathered up her clothes and underclothes before folding them into a neat pile. She left the pile on the couch and then walked up next to Pitch again, "Now I'm ready love. Let's go." She said and took his hurt hoof gently in her hand. "Tell me if it hurts 'kay?" She said softly and knelt in front of the quadruped before giving him a long kiss on the lips, "I couldn't stand hurting you." She said and began walking out the house with his hoof in her hand.

[Sungai Pusat]

Mac was a little surprised by the hug but he didn't resist, hell in his current state he couldn't. He smiled cheerfully and listened as she spoke feeling a little pang of pride when she mentioned Blink's part in the plan. When Grace thought that Blink was his sister he smiled a little, "My sister? Aw no, that would be nice though. Blink doesn't have any siblings." He said with a sigh. "She does remind me a lot about my sister sometimes though. Little Gem was a wonderful filly before pa died, then ma gave up on life and left Gem and I alone. Gem didn't . . . She stopped thinkin' straight. Began talkin' ta the walls and gigglin' all the time. She even started pretendin' nopony else existed. She was sent ta the same place as Blink but she died before Blink . . . Well, ye've seen Blink's home. Gem was put ta sleep 'cause she attacked one o' the shrinks there." He said softly, his expression spoke of grief and sadness before he shook his head and smiled to Grace, "Blink kinda adopted me as a father though and I'm glad fer it. She's a wonderful little filly fer the most part." He said with a smile.

Grace lolled her head a little about, nodding along as Mac spoke, gasping softly as Mac explained his real sister's predicament and about how she had died after being put to sleep. She felt her heart being stabbed a little as she heard about his background, looking down to the floor sadly as her mind went to how fortunate her own life had been up until now... about how fortunate her life had always been. She hadn't even really understood why she had decided to join the rebellion still, the questions behind her head now erupting like a geyser. She shook her head furiously and covered her ears with a pillow, groaning loudly into it after he had said his piece. With a crestfallen smile, she turned to face him and she found a way somehow to grab his hooves over, holding them tightly in hers. "I... I didn't know..." She spoke softly. "I-I'm sorry for your loss, Mackie..." She had felt like mentally slapping herself at the pet name she had given him, but her hooves held firmly onto his, kissing Mac's strong hooves instinctively before she gazed into his eyes lovingly, fighting a blush from rising into her cheeks. "She certainly is a wonderful filly, isn't she?" She let out a soft giggle and squirmed a little in delight, her initial sadness fading away from her heart as she counted her own blessings. "After all, she's a lot like me in many places, how couldn't I like 'er?" She smirked slightly and let it fall back into a smile just as warm as it was before, her face growing rosy red as she stared deeply into his eyes.

[The Flutterlands]

"Yeah. Let's go." said Pitch, " Uh... I'll get a towel, first... for both of us." Pitch got up onto his hooves and limped into his bedroom. He went to a burrow, and took out a couple towels. Pitch brought one to Roo. "Ready?" Pitch asked, cheerfully.

Roo smiled and stood up before taking the towel from Pitch she kissed his snout lovingly and looked around the room. She gathered up her clothes and underclothes before folding them into a neat pile. She left the pile on the couch and then walked up next to Pitch again, "Now I'm ready love. Let's go." She said and took his hurt hoof gently in her hand. "Tell me if it hurts 'kay?" She said softly and knelt in front of the quadruped before giving him a long kiss on the lips, "I couldn't stand hurting you." She said and began walking out the house with his hoof in her hand.

Pitch simply made a slight grunt in pain, as Roo took his hoof. It did hurt, but, not much. "Just don't pull on it, too hard." he said. Pitch then cocked his head towards the south, opposite to the city. "It's right over there." he said, "Just a half-mile walk, that's all."

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Grace lolled her head a little about, nodding along as Mac spoke, gasping softly as Mac explained his real sister's predicament and about how she had died after being put to sleep. She felt her heart being stabbed a little as she heard about his background, looking down to the floor sadly as her mind went to how fortunate her own life had been up until now... about how fortunate her life had always been. She hadn't even really understood why she had decided to join the rebellion still, the questions behind her head now erupting like a geyser. She shook her head furiously and covered her ears with a pillow, groaning loudly into it after he had said his piece. With a crestfallen smile, she turned to face him and she found a way somehow to grab his hooves over, holding them tightly in hers. "I... I didn't know..." She spoke softly. "I-I'm sorry for your loss, Mackie..." She had felt like mentally slapping herself at the pet name she had given him, but her hooves held firmly onto his, kissing Mac's strong hooves instinctively before she gazed into his eyes lovingly, fighting a blush from rising into her cheeks. "She certainly is a wonderful filly, isn't she?" She let out a soft giggle and squirmed a little in delight, her initial sadness fading away from her heart as she counted her own blessings. "After all, she's a lot like me in many places, how couldn't I like 'er?" She smirked slightly and let it fall back into a smile just as warm as it was before, her face growing rosy red as she stared deeply into his eyes.

Mac winced a little as she held his broken hoof but smiled as she kissed his hooves. He shook his head and chuckled, "Don't worry about it, I could hardly expect anyone ta know my past. I guess I see her as how I would've treated my sister if she weren't put ta sleep." He said with a smile. He looked at her with a deep sense of caring and love, Oh ye're so dead if Concerto heard any of this ye hear?!. "Yeah, Blink is a pretty amazin' filly and I love Blink as if she were my own filly." He said with a chuckle.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Pitch simply made a slight grunt in pain, as Roo took his hoof. It did hurt, but, not much. "Just don't pull on it, too hard." he said. Pitch then cocked his head towards the south, opposite to the city. "It's right over there." he said, "Just a half-mile walk, that's all."

Roo giggled and loosened her grip on his hoof and bent down to place a kiss on it as she threw the towel over her shoulder. "A half-mile walk with you hardly counts as effort." She said and rubbed up against him as they walked, "I'm sure your hoof will feel a lot better after we play around a bit in the river . . . Maybe an underwater massage for my Pitchy Pie." She cooed and released his hoof, placing her hand on his neck and stroked his mane as she loved doing.

[Raktio]

"Maybe I'll go talk to it and get it to simply send them else where, or we could expand the city, I think it just doesn't understand somethings," she replied defensively. A moment later she asked "so where is a nearby work shop that I can use for fixing this up?"

"Wait, you can talk to the Machine? It actually let's you enter its core?" Silver asked her in utter amazement. "Well, then please I am almost, almost mind you, begging you to go talk to it. If you can persuade it to stop then we don't have to kill it." He said in amazement. "As for the workshop, as I mentioned there's an abandoned factory that used to produce bruisers and anachromatic automobiles, you could use that to fix your machine."

"It's more complicated than that but essentially I can talk to it, and I've learned to listen to it," Nada explained. "So which direction is the factory?" She asked wanting to get the Flitter fixed up sooner rather than later.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

"It's more complicated than that but essentially I can talk to it, and I've learned to listen to it," Nada explained. "So which direction is the factory?" She asked wanting to get the Flitter fixed up sooner rather than later.

"Well whatever it is you do, try and make it see our view." He said with a sigh. He pointed in the direction of the industrial sector and chuckled, "Just that way, I kinda live there so I know the way, now let's get this thing of yours to the factory 'kay?" He asked with a smile and began leading the way to the factory.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Concerto

Sleeping beauty? Really, Mac? Ugh, damn him and his interest in Grace! Concerto thought, internally groaning at Mac's rather obvious attraction towards Grace. What if Mac loves her more? What if he abandons you, and lives the rest of his life with Grace?! Concerto thought, worriedly. Oh, come on, Concerto, are you really naive enough to think that anypony would choose her over you?You have everything! Money, a large and luxurious home, crowds of adoring fans and admirers; what does she have that could possibly get Mac to choose her? He started to reassure himself. Oh, you're right, I am pretty great, aren't I? Give him time, and I'm sure he'll choose me! Concerto continued thinking, before snapping himself out of his deep thought.

"Well, Graceful, it's nice to see you awake and alright. I'd hate to see anything happen to you, after all. But, in any case, we really best get going; duty calls, and we have things to do." Concerto said. He probably should have said something long ago, but was far too deep in thought to realize it. Well, Grace can go home, me and Mac can go home, and everypony will live happily ever after. He thought, awaiting a response.

[Sungai Pusat]

Concerto

Sleeping beauty? Really, Mac? Ugh, damn him and his interest in Grace! Concerto thought, internally groaning at Mac's rather obvious attraction towards Grace. What if Mac loves her more? What if he abandons you, and lives the rest of his life with Grace?! Concerto thought, worriedly. Oh, come on, Concerto, are you really naive enough to think that anypony would choose her over you?You have everything! Money, a large and luxurious home, crowds of adoring fans and admirers; what does she have that could possibly get Mac to choose her? He started to reassure himself. Oh, you're right, I am pretty great, aren't I? Give him time, and I'm sure he'll choose me! Concerto continued thinking, before snapping himself out of his deep thought.

"Well, Graceful, it's nice to see you awake and alright. I'd hate to see anything happen to you, after all. But, in any case, we really best get going; duty calls, and we have things to do." Concerto said. He probably should have said something long ago, but was far too deep in thought to realize it. Well, Grace can go home, me and Mac can go home, and everypony will live happily ever after. He thought, awaiting a response.

Grace coughed softly at Concerto and nodded slowly. "Well, I'll see if my damn back is able to get itself moving before we see..." She shifted a little over, carefully placing a hoof over the other onto the floor and eventually, she managed to find herself steady on the ground, albeit wincing a little at her pain. She beamed, nonetheless, at what had appeared to be a giant breakthrough in her walking, and decidedly tugged on Mac's hooves gently to help him out of the bed as well. "You heard the mare! I mean stallion." She chuckled genuinely, a hint of malice lacking in her voice as she smiled innocently at Concerto for a millisecond before returning to Mac with a warm smile on her face.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Concerto

Sleeping beauty? Really, Mac? Ugh, damn him and his interest in Grace! Concerto thought, internally groaning at Mac's rather obvious attraction towards Grace. What if Mac loves her more? What if he abandons you, and lives the rest of his life with Grace?! Concerto thought, worriedly. Oh, come on, Concerto, are you really naive enough to think that anypony would choose her over you?You have everything! Money, a large and luxurious home, crowds of adoring fans and admirers; what does she have that could possibly get Mac to choose her? He started to reassure himself. Oh, you're right, I am pretty great, aren't I? Give him time, and I'm sure he'll choose me! Concerto continued thinking, before snapping himself out of his deep thought.

"Well, Graceful, it's nice to see you awake and alright. I'd hate to see anything happen to you, after all. But, in any case, we really best get going; duty calls, and we have things to do." Concerto said. He probably should have said something long ago, but was far too deep in thought to realize it. Well, Grace can go home, me and Mac can go home, and everypony will live happily ever after. He thought, awaiting a response.

Mac smiled broadly and chuckled, "Yeah, we should be goin' and disobeyin' Doc's orders." He said and chuckled at Grace's little quip. "Ye better watch what ye say, Concerto's hardly made of porcelain." Mac said cheerfully and smiled. He still pondered what he should do concerning the two ponies he loved. He decided delaying things wasn't working but it would do for now. "Yeah we should get goin' I need ta get Blink home. She's prob'ly fallin' back inta her usual by now." He said and got painfully to his hooves.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Mac smiled broadly and chuckled, "Yeah, we should be goin' and disobeyin' Doc's orders." He said and chuckled at Grace's little quip. "Ye better watch what ye say, Concerto's hardly made of porcelain." Mac said cheerfully and smiled. He still pondered what he should do concerning the two ponies he loved. He decided delaying things wasn't working but it would do for now. "Yeah we should get goin' I need ta get Blink home. She's prob'ly fallin' back inta her usual by now." He said and got painfully to his hooves.

Concerto

"And I need to get back to my musical work. I'm going to need to work all night catching up to my compositions. Oh, and Mac, you still owe me that dinner you promised on the night we blew up the factory." Concerto said, thinking of all the work he'd have to do. Dammit all, I have three pieces to finish for my next concert! I'm not going to be able to get any sleep at all tonight... Concerto thought, knowing that he'd probably have to work until sunrise to get everything done.

[Sungai Pusat]

Mac smiled broadly and chuckled, "Yeah, we should be goin' and disobeyin' Doc's orders." He said and chuckled at Grace's little quip. "Ye better watch what ye say, Concerto's hardly made of porcelain." Mac said cheerfully and smiled. He still pondered what he should do concerning the two ponies he loved. He decided delaying things wasn't working but it would do for now. "Yeah we should get goin' I need ta get Blink home. She's prob'ly fallin' back inta her usual by now." He said and got painfully to his hooves.

Grace giggled and nodded. "I mean, it was an honest to Celestia slip of the tongue, so I won't 'orry." She chuckled, wincing slightly as Mac got onto the floor painfully, helping hold him up with her own hooves. "D-don't. There's no need to: Concerto and I've promised to take Blink over to both of our houses respectively. I-I mean I'm bringing Blink to mine first, then Concerto to his!" She laughed softly and blushed at her error. "You're losing your edge, dammit!" Her mind screamed, causing her to shake her head furiously before looking at Concerto, mouthing to him "Back me up!" With a soft chuckle.

Concerto

"And I need to get back to my musical work. I'm going to need to work all night catching up to my compositions. Oh, and Mac, you still owe me that dinner you promised on the night we blew up the factory." Concerto said, thinking of all the work he'd have to do. Dammit all, I have three pieces to finish for my next concert! I'm not going to be able to get any sleep at all tonight... Concerto thought, knowing that he'd probably have to work until sunrise to get everything done.

"Oh..." She almost snickered at this, but she held her composure and nodded to Concerto. "You do that, then. I'll take Blink over to my house as promised before bringing her back to Mac's." She smiled warmly at him and nodded once more, tilting her head to the exit. "Go now if you need to, I've got it under control."

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Mac smiled broadly and chuckled, "Yeah, we should be goin' and disobeyin' Doc's orders." He said and chuckled at Grace's little quip. "Ye better watch what ye say, Concerto's hardly made of porcelain." Mac said cheerfully and smiled. He still pondered what he should do concerning the two ponies he loved. He decided delaying things wasn't working but it would do for now. "Yeah we should get goin' I need ta get Blink home. She's prob'ly fallin' back inta her usual by now." He said and got painfully to his hooves.

Grace giggled and nodded. "I mean, it was an honest to Celestia slip of the tongue, so I won't 'orry." She chuckled, wincing slightly as Mac got onto the floor painfully, helping hold him up with her own hooves. "D-don't. There's no need to: Concerto and I've promised to take Blink over to both of our houses respectively. I-I mean I'm bringing Blink to mine first, then Concerto to his!" She laughed softly and blushed at her error. "You're losing your edge, dammit!" Her mind screamed, causing her to shake her head furiously before looking at Concerto, mouthing to him "Back me up!" With a soft chuckle.

Concerto

"And I need to get back to my musical work. I'm going to need to work all night catching up to my compositions. Oh, and Mac, you still owe me that dinner you promised on the night we blew up the factory." Concerto said, thinking of all the work he'd have to do. Dammit all, I have three pieces to finish for my next concert! I'm not going to be able to get any sleep at all tonight... Concerto thought, knowing that he'd probably have to work until sunrise to get everything done.

"Oh..." She almost snickered at this, but she held her composure and nodded to Concerto. "You do that, then. I'll take Blink over to my house as promised before bringing her back to Mac's." She smiled warmly at him and nodded once more, tilting her head to the exit. "Go now if you need to, I've got it under control."

Mac smiled as she steadied him and nodded, "Oh, well thank ye kindly, both of ye. She could definitely use a break from the slums fer a bit." He said with a smile. He could her a faint murmuring in the background as if somepony was singing in another room. Mac sighed tiredly, "Oh great, she's startin' again." He said and hobbled over to the exit. "Concerto, I'll see if I can stop by a little later t'night if that's okay with ye." He said with a friendly smile. He turned to Grace. "I'll just have ta ask Shimmer if it's okay. She knows Blink better'n anypony. Ye don't want Blink ta be at yer house if she has a snap." He said worriedly and hobbled out of the room as he heard the singing grow a little louder. When he arrived in the waiting room Blink was sitting in a corner of the room, hunched over and staring at the point where the corner met the floor as she sang her ring-a-ring-a-pony song in a loud clear voice. Mac hobbled up behind her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. She disappeared and reappeared behind him. He turned around to see her smiling at him. Although the smile wasn't quite right, her mouth was smiling but her eyes looked like they were on the brink of tears. He smiled to her genuinely and hobbled to her. He picked her up in his hooves and hugged her tightly despite his one hoof being in a cast. "It's okay Blinky, I'm here."
She giggled a little and smiled wider, "Daddy said it was okay too." She said in a strangely singsong voice. Mac sighed and kissed her forehead.
"But I'm Mac remember? Ye haven't fergotten Mac have ye?" He said with a smile. Blink's smile persisted as a tear ran down her face and she sang the song verse again really softly. "Blinky, don't be like that filly. You've got a playdate with Gracey remember?" He said and held her tight. She looked up at him in confusion.
"My friends and me had a playdate once . . . We played lots of games. Hide and seek, catches, painting. I won all of them. My friends weren't very good sports." She said softly.
"Grace, Concerto, could ye give me a little help with her please." Mac said loudly and worriedly.

[Sungai Pusat]

Mac smiled as she steadied him and nodded, "Oh, well thank ye kindly, both of ye. She could definitely use a break from the slums fer a bit." He said with a smile. He could her a faint murmuring in the background as if somepony was singing in another room. Mac sighed tiredly, "Oh great, she's startin' again." He said and hobbled over to the exit. "Concerto, I'll see if I can stop by a little later t'night if that's okay with ye." He said with a friendly smile. He turned to Grace. "I'll just have ta ask Shimmer if it's okay. She knows Blink better'n anypony. Ye don't want Blink ta be at yer house if she has a snap." He said worriedly and hobbled out of the room as he heard the singing grow a little louder. When he arrived in the waiting room Blink was sitting in a corner of the room, hunched over and staring at the point where the corner met the floor as she sang her ring-a-ring-a-pony song in a loud clear voice. Mac hobbled up behind her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. She disappeared and reappeared behind him. He turned around to see her smiling at him. Although the smile wasn't quite right, her mouth was smiling but her eyes looked like they were on the brink of tears. He smiled to her genuinely and hobbled to her. He picked her up in his hooves and hugged her tightly despite his one hoof being in a cast. "It's okay Blinky, I'm here."
She giggled a little and smiled wider, "Daddy said it was okay too." She said in a strangely singsong voice. Mac sighed and kissed her forehead.
"But I'm Mac remember? Ye haven't fergotten Mac have ye?" He said with a smile. Blink's smile persisted as a tear ran down her face and she sang the song verse again really softly. "Blinky, don't be like that filly. You've got a playdate with Gracey remember?" He said and held her tight. She looked up at him in confusion.
"My friends and me had a playdate once . . . We played lots of games. Hide and seek, catches, painting. I won all of them. My friends weren't very good sports." She said softly.
"Grace, Concerto, could ye give me a little help with her please." Mac said loudly and worriedly.

Grace sighed and nodded sadly, her mind now reminding itself painfully and inwardly that the poor thing had... a little too many problems in her head. Fiddling with her hooves gently when the rest of the events happened, her eyes snapped open as she was about to doze off for a brief nap. She jumped out of her place and began to gallop loudly towards where she had heard Mac coming from, eventually slowing to a quiet trot as she arrived in front of the door. Tactfully, she gently opened the door and peeked into see Mac and Blink in a little corner. Her heart thumped and she shivered at the sight. "W-w-what do you need help with?" She whispered to them.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Mac smiled as she steadied him and nodded, "Oh, well thank ye kindly, both of ye. She could definitely use a break from the slums fer a bit." He said with a smile. He could her a faint murmuring in the background as if somepony was singing in another room. Mac sighed tiredly, "Oh great, she's startin' again." He said and hobbled over to the exit. "Concerto, I'll see if I can stop by a little later t'night if that's okay with ye." He said with a friendly smile. He turned to Grace. "I'll just have ta ask Shimmer if it's okay. She knows Blink better'n anypony. Ye don't want Blink ta be at yer house if she has a snap." He said worriedly and hobbled out of the room as he heard the singing grow a little louder. When he arrived in the waiting room Blink was sitting in a corner of the room, hunched over and staring at the point where the corner met the floor as she sang her ring-a-ring-a-pony song in a loud clear voice. Mac hobbled up behind her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. She disappeared and reappeared behind him. He turned around to see her smiling at him. Although the smile wasn't quite right, her mouth was smiling but her eyes looked like they were on the brink of tears. He smiled to her genuinely and hobbled to her. He picked her up in his hooves and hugged her tightly despite his one hoof being in a cast. "It's okay Blinky, I'm here."
She giggled a little and smiled wider, "Daddy said it was okay too." She said in a strangely singsong voice. Mac sighed and kissed her forehead.
"But I'm Mac remember? Ye haven't fergotten Mac have ye?" He said with a smile. Blink's smile persisted as a tear ran down her face and she sang the song verse again really softly. "Blinky, don't be like that filly. You've got a playdate with Gracey remember?" He said and held her tight. She looked up at him in confusion.
"My friends and me had a playdate once . . . We played lots of games. Hide and seek, catches, painting. I won all of them. My friends weren't very good sports." She said softly.
"Grace, Concerto, could ye give me a little help with her please." Mac said loudly and worriedly.

Concerto

Um...What do I do? I don't know how to take care of fillies...I'm a musician, not a foalsitter! Concerto thought as he quickly walked in to join Mac, genuinely unsure of how to help. "Blink, don't be sad, there's no need to cry. Don't let the past get you down, Blink, when there's plenty of things to be happy about." Concerto said, comfortingly, to Blink, trying to be helpful. Of course, he had almost no experience with either foals or even depressed friends, and wasn't particularly sure how to handle the situation. Oh, how I do so hate seeing friends sad...If only I knew how to change ponies' moods... Concerto thought, hoping that he wouldn't do anything wrong.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Grace sighed and nodded sadly, her mind now reminding itself painfully and inwardly that the poor thing had... a little too many problems in her head. Fiddling with her hooves gently when the rest of the events happened, her eyes snapped open as she was about to doze off for a brief nap. She jumped out of her place and began to gallop loudly towards where she had heard Mac coming from, eventually slowing to a quiet trot as she arrived in front of the door. Tactfully, she gently opened the door and peeked into see Mac and Blink in a little corner. Her heart thumped and she shivered at the sight. "W-w-what do you need help with?" She whispered to them.

Mac paused and glanced to Grace and Concerto. In all honesty he wasn't entirely sure whether either could help at all. He looked down to Blink who was still smile-crying in his hooves "Listen to Concerto dear. Remember Concerto?". He carried her to where Grace was and showed her Grace. "Remember Grace? You, Grace and Concerto saved me remember?"
Blink paused for a moment and tilted her head to a side, "Gracey . . . When I made a plan?" She said.
Mac was completely lost but went with it, "Yes, when ye made a plan and saved me remember? Ye beat up that mean machine." He said.
"I beat the meanie . . . I taught him to be nice." She said softly.
"Blink, ye were going to Grace's house ta have some fun." Mac said desperately. Blink looked up at him curiously, "Am I weird Mac?" She asked him with her smile. He hugged her tight and stroked her mane, "No my filly, ye're special. Ye're the most special pony in the world ta me." He said tenderly. Blink returned his hug and smiled to him properly. "Thank you Mac. Can I go to Gracey's house? She said I could have a bath." Blink said cheerfully. Mac smiled lovingly, "Of course ye can my filly, I'll ask Shimmer if there's anything you need to take with ye and bring it there fer ye." He said and placed her on the ground again. She jumped into the air and teleported to Grace's side, "YAY! Hear that Gracey? I can come to your house!" She said and hugged Graceful.

[Das Metro]

Oddity giggled sheepishly and nodded, "S-Sorry... Been a while since I've done something like this with... er- a mare," Oddity wasn't sure why he was so nervous. In his experience, it was all the same, regardless of gender. "Well, there's a lovely little place down the street from the Cabaret that's a very welcome change of scenery after a long day of low-light, razor blades, dancing, and other little... things..." Oddity said, "I don't know the name, it's somethin' foreign. Hope you like French food... Did I say that right?" Oddity knew french was a romantic language, but it confused the living hell out of him with it's odd pronounciation.

Shimmer smiled to him when he apologised, "Relax, we're just going for dinner and tea, it's nothing huge." She said with a gentle smile, her long years of caring for Blink having worn away at her social skills and her ability to detect romantic intent. "I do like French food, that would be delightful. Believe it or not arriving home to corpses, blood writing and a single eternally smiling filly is not exactly the most relaxing of lifestyles." She chuckled wryly and sighed. "Well then, let's go shall we?"

Oddity nodded, "After you Mi-... After you Shimmer!" This was going to be fun, not only had he not been to this restaurant for a while, but he had company for the first time in a while. He could finally walk up to that fancy host-person and tell him 'table for two'. Oddity found that notion especially exciting.

[Sungai Pusat]

Grace sighed and nodded sadly, her mind now reminding itself painfully and inwardly that the poor thing had... a little too many problems in her head. Fiddling with her hooves gently when the rest of the events happened, her eyes snapped open as she was about to doze off for a brief nap. She jumped out of her place and began to gallop loudly towards where she had heard Mac coming from, eventually slowing to a quiet trot as she arrived in front of the door. Tactfully, she gently opened the door and peeked into see Mac and Blink in a little corner. Her heart thumped and she shivered at the sight. "W-w-what do you need help with?" She whispered to them.

Mac paused and glanced to Grace. In all honesty he wasn't entirely sure whether she could help at all. He looked down to Blink who was still smile-crying in his hooves. He carried her to where Grace was and showed her Grace. "Remember Grace? You, Grace and Concerto saved me remember?"
Blink paused for a moment and tilted her head to a side, "Gracey . . . When I made a plan?" She said.
Mac was completely lost but went with it, "Yes, when ye made a plan and saved me remember? Ye beat up that mean machine." He said.
"I beat the meanie . . . I taught him to be nice." She said softly.
"Blink, ye were going to Grace's house ta have some fun." Mac said desperately. Blink looked up at him curiously, "Am I weird Mac?" She asked him with her smile. He hugged her tight and stroked her mane, "No my filly, ye're special. Ye're the most special pony in the world ta me." He said tenderly. Blink returned his hug and smiled to him properly. "Thank you Mac. Can I go to Gracey's house? She said I could have a bath." Blink said cheerfully. Mac smiled lovingly, "Of course ye can my filly, I'll ask Shimmer if there's anything you need to take with ye and bring it there fer ye." He said and placed her on the ground again. She jumped into the air and teleported to Grace's side, "YAY! Hear that Gracey? I can come to your house!" She said and hugged Graceful.

Grace looked worriedly at Mac's desperation, all hints of worry fading away as she saw how Mac was caring for Blink. Her face broke into a little smile as Blink recounted her plans with her, having obviously regained some footing mentally. She oofed softly at the hug and laughed jubilantly, hugging her with as much energy, clearing away the once dreadful atmosphere that had clogged up the room's space. "Of course I heard that, Blinkey! And I know, it's so exciting, isn't it?!" She carried the young filly into the air with her hooves and practically beamed at her, all worry crumbling into the ground as her own spunk and buzz ignited again as she stared into Blink's wide eyes.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Grace looked worriedly at Mac's desperation, all hints of worry fading away as she saw how Mac was caring for Blink. Her face broke into a little smile as Blink recounted her plans with her, having obviously regained some footing mentally. She oofed softly at the hug and laughed jubilantly, hugging her with as much energy, clearing away the once dreadful atmosphere that had clogged up the room's space. "Of course I heard that, Blinkey! And I know, it's so exciting, isn't it?!" She carried the young filly into the air with her hooves and practically beamed at her, all worry crumbling into the ground as her own spunk and buzz ignited again as she stared into Blink's wide eyes.

Blink giggled, "WEEE!" She yelled as Grace lifted her into the air. She giggled happily and Mac sighed with relief. "Good, she's back ta herself." He said tiredly and sat down. He smiled to Grace and chuckled, "Don't leave her alone fer too long. Sheesh, can't believe I fergot that." He hit his forehead with his hoof and sighed, "And whatever ye do, don't touch her neck. Don't let anypony else touch her neck either." He said seriously. He shook his head and smiled, "Ye've got this under control though. Have fun my filly mkay?" He asked Blink. She smiled and teleported to his side. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and nuzzled his side. "I will daddy." She said and teleported back into Grace's hooves, leaving Mac looking rather dumbfounded.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Blink giggled, "WEEE!" She yelled as Grace lifted her into the air. She giggled happily and Mac sighed with relief. "Good, she's back ta herself." He said tiredly and sat down. He smiled to Grace and chuckled, "Don't leave her alone fer too long. Sheesh, can't believe I fergot that." He hit his forehead with his hoof and sighed, "And whatever ye do, don't touch her neck. Don't let anypony else touch her neck either." He said seriously. He shook his head and smiled, "Ye've got this under control though. Have fun my filly mkay?" He asked Blink. She smiled and teleported to his side. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and nuzzled his side. "I will daddy." She said and teleported back into Grace's hooves, leaving Mac looking rather dumbfounded.

Concerto

Concerto couldn't help but smile at Blink being happy. "Glad to see you feeling better, Blink." Concerto said cheerfully to Blink before walking over to Mac. "You should really get that filly some anti-depressants, or something for her mood swings." Concerto whispered in Mac's ear. As sweet and adorable as Blink is, I'd rather not see her be sad, serving as a reminder of my own mood swings... Concerto thought, thinking back to his own manic-depressive tendencies.