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// 51 -  Dancing Abroad 
// Story: Mending Light 
// by Kiromancer 
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Dinner and dancing in Ostfriesen was one of the most interesting and strangest experiences of my life, though of course I loved every minute of it. That gnawing feeling of disbelief had been washed away in the source of Ostfriesen's bounty, replaced by awe at this foreign city full of things beyond belief.  

Dusky and I left the center of Oasis to find food, passing by the high-scale restaurants to find something a little more within our means. Eventually we settled on a cafe set on a street corner. It was a little green building with a short awning over the entrance and a few umbrella covered tables out front. It seemed fine on its own, but what drew my eye was the elegantly scripted sign that read 'Caffe Luna Rosa', with a stylized image of the moon and a wave depicting the mare in the moon.

I glanced up at the sign as we were about to walk past. "Luna...?"

"Probably not named after the Princess. At least, not on purpose." Dusky glanced in through the window to scope it out. "Seems nice. Want to give it a try?"

"Sure." It surely wasn’t anything but coincidence, but it certainly felt like a sign.

The interior of the restaurant was thick with the scent of spices, which burnt my nose. Once the initial punch was past, it wasn't that unpleasant, and gave the whole place an earthy tone. Even inside, the cafe was designed to look like we were in a garden, with lanterns and long troughs, and painted dividers that looked like fences.

Before long, an intricately dressed unicorn greeted us with a polite tone reminiscent to Starshadow. She was dressed up in a long frock with more ribbons than could possibly be necessary. Ostfriesen fashion definitely had a need to stand out, one way or another. She led us to a small table with a great view of the street corner and gave us our menus.

I settled in, still looking about. It wasn’t too hard to imagine this place in Canterlot, or even in Ponyville. It wasn’t the fanciest place, but the atmosphere was certainly unique. 

The server returned before too long, levitating a pair of water glasses to the table. "What can I get for the two of you?"

Dusky's eyes scanned the menu. "Hmm. What's the house special?"

The server bowed her head to Dusky. "We've a lovely house salad, as well as our chef's specialty, a dumpling pot pie."

"Chef's specialty? I guess I'll try the pot pie, then." Dusky set her menu down and looked up at me.

I’d let my mind wander as Dusky had perused the menu, but I didn’t really have any preference, and surely whatever Dusky had ordered would be good, especially if it was the specialty. I set my menu down and nodded to the server. "Oh, um, make it two."

Before the server could take the menus, Dusky interrupted. “Uh, Night, are you sure?”

“U-um, yes?” I glanced at the server who peered at me patiently, then back to Dusky who only seemed to be concerned, though I couldn’t imagine why. “No? Maybe?”

Dusky breathed out slowly. “That particular dish contains meat.”

I flinched, certainly not expecting that. "Err, meat?"

The server nodded, interjecting. “I assure you that our meat is of the highest quality and prepared with the utmost care. But if you wish, I can give you a few more minutes.”

Dusky nodded, giving me a faint smile. “Maybe that would for be best.”

I considered a moment, then settled back in. It made sense. The early refugees had settled into an area surrounded by monsters, lacking the ability to grow more than a limited supply of crops, they'd survived with what was available. They'd likely survived with meat as the primary staple to their diets for generations.

“W-wait. No, I’ll have it.” I looked up at Dusky and smiled. It couldn't hurt to try it, after all. I was here, someplace totally new, and it only made sense to try something new while I was here.

"Two pot pies, excellent. I shall return with your orders." With a bow that still felt out of place from a restaurant employee, the server headed into the back.

As I turned back at Dusky, I found her giving me the strangest look. "What?"

Dusky tilted her head. "You sure you’re okay with this? I know meat isn’t to everyone’s taste." 

I smiled in return. “W-well, you’re having it, right? It can’t be that bad.”

Dusky smirked a little. "My palette has had a bit more time to adapt. It comes from years of trying local cuisines. And, yes, while I did have to start somewhere, I don’t want you to feel obligated because of me."

“No, not obligated.” I scuffed a hoof on the table, but grinned. "I want to. I’d have already missed so many things if I hadn’t stepped outside my comfort zone. Besides, after fighting a dragon, how hard can this be?"

Dusky giggled, stretching a hoof across the table to set atop my own. "If you say so."

"I do." I shook my head. I'd have missed a lot of sights and experiences, but most of all I would have missed her. I thought back to Oasis and everything I'd said to her, my rambling and confessions, and her response. "Though, I'm already a bit spoiled. I've already seen the most beautiful thing I could imagine."

She tilted her head. "Was the oasis that impressive to you?"

"I... I was more referring to you. Going to be hard to find anything in the world that rivals your eyes, or your smile."

Dusky voice was deadpan, but the amusement never left her face. "Okay, this time you're definitely just being a flatterer."

I smirked, and felt some color rise up in my face. "Maybe a little."

Soon enough, the server returned with our food. The pot pie was steaming hot, filled with cooked vegetables, spices, and indeed, meat. The flavor was surprising, not foul or bloody as I might have imagined, but instead very savory, with a completely different texture than anything I'd ever eaten. 

“Well?” Dusky asked between bites.

I finished off my current mouthful and smiled. “It’s good. I don’t know how often I’d want to have it, but… I’m glad I ordered it tonight.”

Dusky laughed, her smile growing wider once again. “Glad to hear.”

---

After dinner, we searched for someplace to stretch our legs and cut loose. Walking in the early evening, we found plenty of clubs that wouldn’t be too unfamiliar looking even in Ponyville. The problem was getting in, as most of the clubs had lines of ponies out the door. 

We eventually came across one dance club that lacked the pristine, vibrant look so many of the other buildings boasted. I couldn’t be sure if this was an attempt to create a unique atmosphere, or if the building simply was much older and been allowed to deteriorate. Either way, I’d have wagered the place was just as busy inside as any of those other clubs, with an earth pony band rocking the stage.

The music was certainly unfamiliar, with a steady beat and a strong rhythm that only became stronger as we listened. Rather than jumping in right away, Dusky motioned us to the sidelines to watch first. I was surprisingly eager to step out there, but with so much going on, it only made sense to sit out a song to get some sense of what was happening here.

The ponies of Ostfriesen had dance styles and moves all their own, lacking the fluid movement of some of Equestria’s more high paced dancing, they instead moved in rapid but oddly stoic motions, snapping their legs out in sync and stomping quickly. It felt more like a fast paced marching drill back at the Royal Guard Academy than it did a dance.

When the second song started, Dusky looked back at me and began to head out onto the dance floor. I eagerly followed, unable to keep the grin off my face. We started by following the same basic movements of the other dancers, just to get warmed up. As the dance routines reached the more complicated movements, Dusky began to improvise. It took me a moment to recognize what she was doing, but I couldn’t help but smirk. This was practically a fight song, and so Dusky was treating it as such, mixing in her own fighting style. I grinned as I began to mix in a few of the fighting poses and drills I recalled from my Guard training. 

It was like my training, sparring with Starshadow, or my sister Mint had been, but without the darker thoughts of that trainings purpose. It was a way to do something together with Dusky, something which we both enjoyed, and which allowed us to be close. We moved together across the dance floor. Maybe our moves weren’t the smoothest, maybe we missed a few moves in that unfamiliar dance, but it certainly felt like we were in perfect sync. 

“Let’s slow things down a little!” the band’s lead singer called out from the stage after they’d completed the third song we’d heard. “Now that you’re nice and warm, why don’t you settle in close for a round of Frondly Waltz?”

My ears perked up. The more intense, fight dancing was one thing, and it had certainly succeeded at getting my blood pumping, but waltzes were far more my speed. As the song began, I offered a hoof to Dusky, who accepted it readily and moved in close.

We began to sway to the unfamiliar song, taking a bit of time to follow the rhythm, but getting it figured out fairly quickly. Dusky felt warm, pressed against me as we moved across the dance floor. These moments were priceless to me. We may have been in a crowded club surrounded by ponies, but just then, pressed in close as we danced, she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Dusky gave a short squeeze with a hoof. “How’re you holding up?” 

“Fine.” I grinned as I met her eyes. “Just fine.”

She nodded and smiled back. “That’s good. Wasn’t sure what you’d think of those first few.”

“It… it wasn’t my favorite.” I much preferred slow dances to the more rapid martial dance moves of Ostfriesen, though in the end, the important part wasn’t what we were doing, but that we were doing it together. “But it was still fun.”

“Yeah, it was a little weird.” Dusky settled her head back against me as the waltz continued. “Good thing that’s the norm on the dance floor.”

---

The waltz sadly didn’t last all night, as the band had apparently only used it as a transition between one fast-paced style of dance to another. We kept up for another few songs, but soon found that we were both feeling drained and ready for a peaceful and likely very restful sleep.

We settled back into our room at the Roebuck Tavern, snuggling up onto the bed together. As I’d anticipated, we both seemed to sleep well that night. I couldn’t be sure if it was from the night of dancing, or the peace of mind that our friends were safe. For myself, I certainly couldn't discount the effect of Dusky's presence, cuddled up with me as she slept. I only hoped I served as a boon for her own restful dreams.

When we woke the next morning, or afternoon actually, we eventually made our way down into the tavern room and settled in to wait for Merri. Sleeping in had caused us to miss breakfast, and so we ordered off the bar menu. The food at the Roebuck Tavern could have been something that was served back home without a second glance, and hay fries that could have just as easily been cooked up in the Lusty Seapony. 

As we finished up our meals, Merri made her entrance into the bar. Lacking her armor, she was dressed in a light colored dress that was almost see-through, draped in long ribbons around her body and wrapping down her legs. “Hey, you two. Didja get a chance to shake your booties~?”

I blushed, thoughts of Dusky’s ‘booty’ intruding momentarily. “Y-yeah, we found a place.”

Merri stared me down, an evil smile on her face. “Good~. Good~.”

Dusky smirked back. “You’re looking uncharacteristically formal today.”

“Bah.” Merri lifted a hoof, carefully wrapped in a gauzy ribbon.” You should have seen me before. I always got into this kinda stuff. The only reason I didn’t wear any around Ponyville is Sis’ insisted we didn’t have room to bring any of the good stuff. But now that we’re back here, I had a chance to raid the old wardrobe~. Feeling pretty good, if I do say so myself~.”

Dusky giggled, eyeing the outfit. “Well, I’m happy you’re happy. If we have time, maybe you’ll have to show it off to me.”

Merri came in close to the table and wrapped a hoof around Dusky. “Pshaw, show nothing. If you see anything you like, let me know and you can have it~. Better than having it all sit around collecting dust, anyway~.”

Merri waggled her eyebrows at me then leaned in closer to Dusky as if about to whisper. It was not a whisper at all. “There’s at least a couple I could get you in that would get Night there as red as a beet~.”

I pictured Dusky in a similar dress to what Merri wore now, the ribbons and wispy skirt around accentuating without exposing her flank, and all that talk of Dusky’s booty flashed back into my mind. I struggled to find a response, but couldn’t get past the mental images Merri had put there.

“Merri.” Dusky’s voice was not appreciative.

“Oops, didn’t mean to get carried away~!” The evil grin upon Merri’s face only grew as we looked at me once more. “Cover your ears. We’re doing girl talk here~.”

Dusky sighed, though she seemed at least a little amused. “How much time do we have now, anyway?”

“Well, things are wrapping up, but Sis’ still has to work through a bit of paperwork, so probably about three days, give or take.”

Three days. It was both good and bad news. It mean that much longer before we were heading home, but at the same time, knowing everyone was fine, that we were safe here, and thinking back to the previous night. I certainly couldn’t object to three more days like the day before.

The curiosity had sparked in Dusky’s eyes once more as well. “Guess we can still see a few more things if we plan accordingly. Anything you’d recommend?”

Merri settled back and grinned. “Oh, yes, plenty. But why tell you when I could show you~?”

“Don’t you have things to do at the castle?” Dusky eyed Merri carefully.

“Some. Sis’ is the important one, though, so I can be in and out a bit. So, what do you say? Would you like me to show you around~?”

“Would I?” Dusky’s smile widened. A native Ostfriesen, and not just any native, but our friend, offering to give us a tour of her homeland. There was no way Dusky would turn that down. I might have to endure a bit more of Merri’s teasing, but to see more of Dusky’s smile, it would be more than worth it.