[Silver Shoals] Peace and Not So Quiet (Attn: Ice Storm)

[Skycoaster]

Though their new home was nowhere near as grand as Canterlot Castle, it was still home. A home she shared with her older sister, and one that would take time to get adjusted to. The midnight blue alicorn paced the floor back and forth. "Oh when will she arrive?" Luna said to herself under her breath. Perhaps she was having second thoughts about retiring or perhaps it was just cabin fever...or perhaps her sister was just driving her crazy. Ether way, Luna anxiously awaited the arrival of her guest. Snacks where laid out as best as she could. Her cooking skills where...subpar if she was to be honest with herself and was one of her priorities to work on.

 

Luna's nerves where beginning to get the best of her as each tick of the clock that her guest was not there. "Perhaps she has gotten lost?" she said aloud. "No. I am sure I gave adequate directions...Perhaps the train was running late? That must be it. I am sure she didn't forget about our meeting...at least I hope not."

[IceStorm]

 

 

 

So, Silver Shoals was the place that Luna had decided to settle down in. Ice wasn't really sure what to expect in the town itself. She'd never heard of the town before and that wasn't really a bad thing. There were so many places in Equestria that it would be impossible to just go, 'Hey! I know just about everything there is to know about this place!' Of course... there were a couple places that she could do that with. Canterlot and Ponyville being two of them. Las Pegasus was too large for her to be able to pinpoint everything in, and Seaddle was the same way. Still, she hadn't seen her friend since she had stepped down and it would be nice to spend some time together without having to worry about political aspects of things. She was sure she'd probably still have some questions about how things were going, but that was not at all the reason for this visit.

 

Ice Storm had received the invitation from Luna a couple weeks ago and she made preparations to have some trusted collegues run her establishments while she was away, the biggest being her new casino. It would be all to easy for somepony to try to swindle some money out of that considering. Still, she generally has a good judge of character when it came to picking ponies for this kind of thing. She was a business mare and a military tactician after all.

 

The train ride itself was... boring at best. There were some areas along the way that had some really nice scenery though. Still, there was only so much that mountains and flatlands could do over the course of the four-day train ride that it took to get here. It wasn't a problem really, she just made a mental note to pack a bit more in the way of traveling entertainment for future visits. When the train stopped, she made her way onto the platform and then started following the directions that she had been given. Soon she found herself looking at a small cottage. The address matched what she had been given and she approached the door, setting her suitcases down and ringing the bell.

[Skycoaster]

As the doorbell rang, Luna jumped back. Her guest was finally here. She would take a few moments to compose herself before walking to the door and opening it with a glow of her horn. A stern look would be on her face as she looked upon Ice Storm and her many bags. "Thou art late..." as she paused a few moments before wrapping the blue unicorn in a wings hug. "I had feared something had happened to you on your journey."

 

Luna would compose herself as she then levitated Ice's bags. "Make yourself at home. I shall take these to the guest room. I have make snacks for us so help yourself." The snacks that where laid out may have looked less then appealing, though the alicorn had tried her best. As she made her way up the staircase to the second floor where the guestroom was, the sound of a door creaking followed by a muted sound of an avalanche of boxes. "Seems I have found where Celestia has been storing the things we have yet to unpack..." she would mumble under her breath. With a quick spell, she would re-stack all the boxes in a corner, out of the way for now so there was a least a small path to the guest bed.

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

 

The initial reaction from Luna was... One that she was kind of expecting to be honest. She'd probably have done the same thing herself if Luna has came back to Canterlot or Las Pegasus for their get together. When she gave the wing hug, Ice returned it softly with a hoof and a smile as the princess says that she was worried that something happened on the trip. "I wish something would have happened on the trip!! That would have made it interesting! Instead it was just long and uneventful. They're is a lot of flat land between Las Pegasus and here... I think next time I'll just have one of my afraid airships being me and cut down on the travel time," she said with a smile. "Or at the very least pack extra travel stuff to do," I've finished grabbing some of the snacks in her magic, making sure her spheres remained in their sockets. She doubted that they would be needing them on this visit.

 

She then followed the former princess upstairs to the guest room if nothing else to see where she would be staying while she was here and she couldn't help but snicker a bit as an avalanche of boxes fell from the door. Luna's reaction made it priceless. She popped a couple of the snacks that Luna made in her mouth before approaching. Look wise there were nothing to be desired, but they didn't have to look good to be tasty! They definitely weren't the worst thing she's tasted. "You need some help with that?" She asked watching Luna make a path to the bed.

[Skycoaster]

Luna would shake her head. "No, I believe that I have the situation under control." Pausing a moment, she would look back, seeing that Ice had followed her upstairs to the small guest room. She would sigh. "You are a guest of mine Ice, I would hate for you to have to do any work on your time away," she would say with a smile. "Now then, let us go downstairs to where it is more comfortable and you can tell me all of what I have missed since starting retirement."

 

After making her way back downstairs to the somewhat quaint living room, the alicorn would take a seat on the right side of the couch and tap the seat to her left to signify where she wanted Ice to sit. "Perhaps we can start with the S.T.A.R. Project? I know that it seems like ages since it was conceived."

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

Ice just smiled as she watched Luna trying to do battle with all of the boxes making sure they were arranged so that they could actually get to the bed. Well, so she could actually get to the bed. She added she was a guest and didn't want her to have to work on her time away. It was an admirable thought, but at somepoint or another she always did work a little bit. After all, it was just simply rude to not lend a helping hoof where it was needed. Even if said hoof was helping a friend that she was visiting. When she make the suggestion to go back downstairs, she nodded and followed her before watching Luna take a seat on the side of the couch and patted next to her. Ice smiled and made her way over next to the blue alicorn and sat next to her as instructed. When she asked about STAR, Ice smiled. She wasn't expecting to start off with the organization, but she wasn't entirely surprised about it. After all, Luna was the most powerful supporter she had of the organization. Well at least until Twilight let on that she knew about it a couple weeks ago when she appeared during the final inspection of her ship.

 

"STAR is doing well, although I doubt for how much longer I'll be able to maintain it's secrecy. The Shadow of Ice is complete and the launch date for the ship is approaching. The battleship isn't fully armed yet, as I'm working on some prototype weaponry. One that should it be successful, should go to being the standard on all equestrian air warships. It's a cannon that uses aether rather than a projectile. That way gravity doesn't pull the projectile to the ground on a missed shot, eliminating collateral damage from inaccurate shots. An airship does Equestria no good at all if it ends up destroying the very thing it's trying to protect because of enemy evasive maneuvers," Ice responded. She wondered what the princess's response would be, and she hoped that she would be proud of her for making sure to put Equestrian safety above all else when finalizing the ships designs.

[Skycoaster]

The blue alicorn would smile as Ice Storm gave her 'unofficial' for her. In a way, she had wished she had waited to retire until after the STAR Project had launched, though the good news made her a bit more relaxed. "Yes, I agree. The safety of Equestria's subjects is always paramount. I am proud of you and your team for factoring it into your designs." Luna would levitate and then take a bite of what looked somewhat like a fruit covered waffle....well fruit covered something. "Hm..." she would say as she ate it before offering one to Ice.

 

"What kind of threats do you expect to face now that the worst of the worst are now ether in tartarus or encased in stone?" She would say raising an eyebrow. Sighing deeply, she would look down to the ground for a moment. "I do miss my nightly briefings every so often..." She would quickly try to change her tone. "So, how is Las Pegasus? Has much changes since Celestia forced me onto 'Wild Blue Two'? Perhaps if she had warmed up with a log flume, I may have enjoyed it more..."

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

 

Ice smiled when she heard Luna's response. The words coming from her filled her with confidence. To have Luna's support meant a lot to her. Even if she was l wasn't a princess anymore she was certain that her word still held some weight. Depending on how things went on the future that could prove to be important. When she asked what threats that she was aiming to stop with STAR now that the main threats were in Tartarus or in stone.

 

"Non-Equestrian to put it bluntly. Over the last several years Equestria had suffered from numerous invasions. I had the misfortune of being at the heart of one of them. I saved as many as I could... But I couldn't save them all. I plan on defending the borders and making sure nothing gets through that's not supposed to," Ice commented.

 

When Luna said that she missed her nighty briefings, Ice's smile widened a bit before holding a hoof up. "Hold on a sec," she similes before popping into the guest room and then returning with a small crystal orb and basin. "Here. Take this. This magical device let's myself and other ship captain's way of communicating with each other as well as different sectors of the base. We can use them to keep in touch while we are apart. I could at least give you a brief every night even if it's something small," she smiled.

 

"As far as Las Pegasus goes, it's what you'd expect it to be. It had a lot of potential for those who know how to play, and is the perfect place to cover something up because of the shadiness of the ground district anyway. Profit wise, my hotel and casino has been really  really successful and that's a good thing to. The profits from that has funded the entirety of the ship with plenty to spare from the rest of the shops I own. I might be opening another treat store in Baltimare as well," she smiled. "How about yourself? A nice quiet place you and Celestia have managed to find." 

[Skycoaster]

Luna nodded to Ice's assessment. "I see. Times have certainly changed since the last thread assessment, though Equestria is in good hooves," she would say with a small smile. As Ice would excuse herself for a moment, her mouth would hang open as if a thought was about to escape. She could hear Ice upstairs When she returned with the crystal, Luna grinned. "I know exactly what this is. Thank You." as she pulled the mare into a hug with her aura. "Nightly may be a bit much. Perhaps weekly....when Celestia is not around."

 

"Baltimare is a tad far from your present residence, is it not? I hope that you have chosen a more then capable manager. Perhaps your the assistant from the Canterlot location? Luna would smile. "It is nice and quiet, and there is also the beach-that was my request...though it was made before I knew the dangers of not using sunscreen...Though I am sure you may have heard that story." she chuckled.

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

Ice nodded before smiling and returning the hug that the former princess had pulled her into. She couldn't help but giggle a bit when she said nightly might be a bit too much, but they could definitely work out weekly whenever Celestia wasn't around. "Sounds like a plan then. Though if Celestia ever did wish for somepony else to talk to every now and then I would not deny her. I don't wish to imagine how lonely it's been for you both out here. I mean, I imagine you've made some new friends, but I personally would be wary of whose being your friend for legitimate reasons," Ice spoke. The last thing that she wanted was somepony trying to take advantage of Luna or Celestia for that matter because of who they were. She knew that at least Twilight would still hold deep seated ties to Celestia so somepony could easily try to use her to influence Twilight.

 

When Luna further spoke on the distances from Baltimare to her current residence, Ice nodded. "It is true, but it wouldn't be the first store I've opened like that. With the right ponies in charge, a lot can get done. I also still have my Ponyville store, a store in Hoofington, my store in Canterlot, and two in Seaddle. Perhaps I could open one up here specially for you at some point as well," she said as Luna described the area a bit more. She added onto the dangers of not using sunscreen on a beach, and that made Ice smirk a bit. "This is true. One should always protect yourself from the sun. At the very least your darker coat would help hide it, if not make you more susceptible to them because of it's heat retention," Ice commented.

[Skycoaster]

"Celestia and Twilight have been keeping in touch quite regularly. As for making friends here...." The alicron would would sigh deeply. "We have made a few...acquaintances?" The hesitation in her voice told the story. "Ice Storm, I wish for you to be honest with me. Do you find me....intimidating?" Luna would frown as she slouched into the couch and a frown appeared upon her muzzle. "Celestia always the more social of us though it seems many of our new neighbors have stopped to greet us, though that is the extent of our interactions. Do I need to take the initiative? I do not wish to seem needy..."

 

"On the subject of Ice Cream...Perhaps some 'Midnight Raspberry' would cheer me up?" as she gave the mare a small pout.

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

Ice had raised an eyebrow when Luna chose to use the word acquaintances rather that friends. The hesitation behind her word choice said everything that needed to be said. It was entirely likely that ponies haven't gotten used to them being retired yet so they still felt like they had this grand aura around them. When Luna asked Ice if she thought that she was intimidating, Ice paused in thought. She then answered. "While you were still on the throne you held an aura of command that could be intimidated when you needed to be, but for the most part, the only thing that I find intimidating about you is the size of the horseshoes I need to fill to even come close to any of the things you and Celestia have accomplished. Otherwise, I would say that you were more of an idol worship for me than anything intimidating."

 

"As for taking initiative with your neighbors and the other ponies here, you can take some initiative by trying to hold a few house parties in the like, or you can wait and see how quickly everypony else here warms up to you. Ultimately, I think it comes down to how quickly you would like to socialize versus how quickly other ponies would feel comfortable around both retired princesses at once. To a normal civilian I can see how that could be a little intimidating for somepony who's only known you from the papers," she smiled.

 

When Luna suggested the Ice cream, she smiled again before nodding. "As long as you have the Midnight Raspberries, I can happily make it for you. I didn't bring anything perishable like that on the train in fear that it would go bad before I even got here," she said standing up looking around. "What way to the kitchen? we can continue in there while we're making Ice Cream."

[Skycoaster]

The alicorn smiled when Ice said she would make the Ice Cream for her. “Ah, yes. The kitchen...” Luna’s smile quickly failed. “It’s...this way.” As she pointed a hoof behind her. She had left the kitchen in quite disarray for her earlier attempts of cooking and was ashamed by it’s appearance. “Here we are. Celestia would be  cross with me if she saw it’s present condition.The good news though...” as she levitated a jar down from a cupboard. “We have plenty of Midnight Raspberries.”

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

 

Ice Storm noted that Luna's smile faded once she asked about where the kitchen was, and once they got to the kitchen, it left little to the imagination as to why.  Luna was quick to levitate down the Raspberries that she would need to make her ice cream, but that left this matter to contend with as well. Ice smiled as she began her work, making the ice cream for her friend before she made her way over to the sink, arranging the dishes in it so that they fit properly while the ice cream thinned out and froze in the air. Once she was satisfied with it's consistency, she placed it in a bowl for the princess before she started to draw water for the dishes themselves. "Here, while we catch up, and you enjoy your ice cream, I'll help out a bit in here. It's the least I can do for letting me stay here. Besides... I'm not a mare that can just sit around and do nothing all day," she smiled. "Where are your wash cloths?"

[Skycoaster]

Luna would take a bite of the ice cream and grin. "T'is wonderful. I hope that you have made some for yourself as well." It had been so long...or at least it felt that way to the retired princess since she had any food that was not prepared by sister or herself...but mostly Celestia. When Ice asked where the wash cloths where, she paused in thought. When she could not think of the wash cloths location, a large frown appeared to her muzzle. "I....I do not know Ice Storm..." The alicron's eyes began to water as she took another large bite of her ice cream, though this one out of self pity. "I can not even do the simple task of a foal's chores. Between 1000 years on the moon and paroling the dream realm..." She would look to Ice Storm as her watery eyes turned to tears.

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

 

Ice paused for a moment when she didn't get an answer from Luna and then turned to see her have. When Luna told her that she didn't know, it was like a wave of pent up hurt and frustration released itself all at once as the princess broke down. Ice gently sent the dishes that she had already levitated down and moved over to the princess, and wrapped her hooves around her in a tight hug. 

 

"Hey, it's okay. There may have been a lot that changed, but I highly doubt that you're incapable of doing a few menial tasks. After all, not only a year or so ago, you were still part of the rolling body. The palace servants did most of the tidy work so there wasn't a reason for you to remember those. That's not too say once we started it'd be too difficult for you," she said making sure not to let go until the princess was feeling better.

[Skycoaster]

-Princess Luna 

 

The alicorn would attempt to force a smile. “I...I guess retirement was not what I was expecting now that novelty has worn off.” It would take a few moments but her tears would begin to dry up. “I...I guess I was expecting a permanent vacation. Celestia may just have been more prepared then I when it comes to medial matters. Perhaps in my mind I expected being called upon as Twilight and her friends had been so many times.”

 

She would take a few deep breaths. “Perhaps something to take my mind off this situation.” Looking round, she would take note of a calendar on the wall nearby. “Perhaps that?” As she pointed to the add for the local bowling alley.

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

When the princess explained that retirement wasn't what she was expecting... That she was more or less expecting a permanent vacation, Ice nodded and smiled. "Sometimes not everything is as it appears, and we have to roll with whatever is thrown at us. May not be ideal, but it's always workable," she said pulling back from the hug and started rummaging through the drawers until she found the rags and began working on the dishes. 

 

When Luna said that they should do something for her to perhaps take her mind off of things. Something like that. She looked at the ad that she was pointing to and it was for the local bowling alley. "Oh, I've actually never been bowling before. That could be fun. Have to promise not to make fun of me if I get all gutters though," she giggled. 

[Skycoaster]

-Princess Luna 

 

The alicorn appreciated Ice Storm’s help with the dishes. She would give the unicorn a quick hug before looking back at the add. “What is this gutter you speak of?” Luna herself had never been bowling as well. “I’m sure that both of us will achieve at least one ball of gutter.” 

Luna would take a much closer look at the add and grin. “It says today is bargain day,” as she began to trot in place. “Oh what luck.” She would quickly run upstairs to her room and grab some bits and return to the kitchen. “I am ready if you ate Ice Storm,” as she tried to hide her eagerness.

 

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

Ice smiled a bit when Luna asked about what a gutter ball was. It was clear she'd never been bowling either, so the prospect of hitting anything was a maybe at this point. With it being bargain day though, if shouldn't be too outrageous. Of course, not like either of them couldn't afford it anyway. Luna was a former princess, and Ice was among the upper circle of wealth herself. At least in Canterlot. There were still a bit in Las Pegasus that were a good bit ahead of her in that department. That was because they had solidified themselves as early staples to the city, and had been there a lot longer that Ice has with her casino. 

 

When Luna went up to get the bits for the event, she started to make way for the door herself. Luna made it back down before she got out of the kitchen, starting that she was ready whenever. "Ready!!" Ice said enthusiastically with a smile.

[Skycoaster]

Luna would quickly jot down a note for her sister explaining where she had gotten off to. In the back of her head she had to wonder where Celestia had vanished to as well. Perhaps she too had decided to go Bowling. With a quick glow of her horn and a floating quill and parchment, the note would be complete as she looked to Ice Storm. With a large grin, the alicorn would quickly leave the house and be standing in the middle of the street waiting for her friend. "I think the add said the Bowling Lanes where this way. Down an Ally I believe." as she pointed a hoof.

 

After a rather short walk...being quite literally only a few blocks down the street, a rather inconspicuous structure stood before them. It matched most of the other buildings in Silver Shoals in design with the exception of the porch supports made to look like a stack of bowling pins. Luna looked to Ice Storm, her grin beginning to fade. "Perhaps...you should go in first?" she said with hesitation in her voice. "I...I do not want to draw attention to myself..."

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

 

Ice smiled as she walked with Luna through the town. Mane of the buildings here were built in the same style, which wasn't a bad thing. If it ain't broke don't fix it. They still had signs to tell everything apart, it just meant you'd have to pay attention to them. If you didn't, she could see it easy to end up in the wrong store. 

 

That wasn't the case here though. While she had never been bowling before, she could recognize the pins. When Luna asked if she could go in first cause she didn't wanna draw attention to herself, she raised an eyebrow but nodded. She was still a former princess, she was going to get some attention regardless of when she went in. Still Ice smiled as she opened the door, instantly hearing the sound of a ball crashing into the pins.

[Skycoaster]

-Princess Luna-

 

Luna entered behind Ice and would pause in awe. The sights and sounds where almost overwhelming to her. She had seen a few bowling alleys in dreams before, but now she stood in one for real. 
 

Being the middle of the day, it was still fairly slow with a decent few lanes not in use. The alicorn’s eyes would be drawn to lane 12. “I think we should see about renting that one,” she would say to Ice as she walked up to the counter. “Myself and my friend here would like to rent Number 12 and all the things one needs to bowl.”

 

”You mean shoes and a ball-“ the attendant would look up and freeze for a moment before putting two pairs of bowling shoes on the counter. “That’s 5 bits please,” as he collected himself. “Balls are on the racks.”

 

Luna would pay the bits and trot over to the lane and begin fiddling with the scoring system. Icy v. Luna would appear on the screen as she waited for Ice.

[IceStorm]

~~~Ice Storm~~~

 

 

Ice smiled and watched as the princess paid for everything. The smell inside the bowling alley was unique. It was a very different atmosphere then most of the other places that she went to before. It was light but heavy at the same time. The sound of balls hitting and rolling down the wooden lanes striking her as appealing and the the sound of the pins crashing into the back had a ring to it that couldn't really be described as much that she could thing of, but it was a pleasant sound nonetheless.

 

As they rented the lane, and Icy put the horseshoes on, she went to find a ball that she could use. She got one that felt good in her hooves and she looked at the rules on the board. There were magic inhibitors over the lanes so they could through the balls with magic, but not control where they went afterwards. they also protected the pins. "Makes sense, otherwise that would be to easy. Still, that might make it a little bit easier. You'd think they would have rules against that entirely though. I'd think that would still give a unicorn an unfair advantage..." she said to herself as she found a nice glittery dark blue ball and set in on the return as she looked over to Luna who was getting everything set up. "Is everything ready to go?" she asked with a smile.

[Skycoaster]

"I...I think?" Luna hesitated. "Shoes, Lane, Ball....The Ball..." A rather embarrassed look would grace the alicron's muzzle. How could she have forgotten what could be considered the most important part of bowling. Slowly she would walk in the direction of the rack. "Ice, how is one supposed to know how to pick a ball?" Looking at each ball one at a time, she would look to Ice Storm. "Some are heaver then others. Do I want a heavy ball or a ligher one?" The feeling of self pity was slowly returning, though she quickly perked up upon seeing a Black ball with sparkles and glitter that shined under the lights of the ally. "THIS IS THE ONE!" she exclaimed, forgetting her setting. "Sorry," she quickly apologized to those within earshot. "Ice, do you know what 'Ponswick Manticore Bruiser' means?"

 

Levitating the ball all the way back to the lane, she too placed hers in the return. "Guests first," she would say as she motioned with a hoof towards the lane. "Also, I do not thing the scoring system would know what to do if we went out of order." she giggled.