//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 (part 2) // Story: My Little Pony: Isk is Magic // by keyan88 //------------------------------//         All the ponies near Keyan stared at him in shock as his comment drifted over their ears. They ranged from shock to anger, not the best way to make a first impression. Keyan stood there, once again cursing his big mouth. His gaze shifted over to Twilight and friends, who were standing there with frozen expressions.         The awkward silence continued for a few seconds, but much to Keyan’s surprise it was Rarity who broke the silence. A single giggle escaped her lips before she clamped a hoof over her mouth, her cheeks reddening to an extraordinary degree. This broke the damn as Rainbow Dash immediately broke out into peals of laughter. Keyan managed a weak grin at Celestia, who was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. Lune looked positively engraged.         “Captain, I assure you, even if I were to “lay off” the cake, I would still be far more mare than you could handle,” Celestia said with a small smirk.         Luna turned to her sister in shock, surely she expected her vaporize Keyan on the spot.         Keyan smiled,         “Ponies aren’t my thing Princess, but thank you for the offer.”         This caused Applejack to join Rainbow in laughter. But now Twilight was glaring at him with Luna.         Celestia chuckled lightly at the comeback,         “Duly noted Captain. But come, we have a wedding to attend.”          Apparently seeing the Princess wasn’t offended was enough for the crowd to disregard Keyan’s earlier statement. Luna and Twilight still stared daggers at him, but oh well, can’t win them all.         Celestia motioned for Keyan to step up next to her and Luna. When he did so they both turned as one and started up the steps to the Palace. After a few seconds the two ranks of guards fell in line behind them.         Scootaloo, who still remained on top of his head, leaned down into his vision.         “Keyan! You have to meet my friends! We’re gonna be the flower fillies!”         Keyan chucked and reached up a hand to ruffle her mane.         “Sure, I’d love to Scoots.”         Scootaloo batted his hand away,         “Don’t touch my mane! you’ll mess it up!”         Keyan chuckled,         “I didn’t think you would be the one care about that Scoots.”         She shot him a smirk,         “Hey, everyponies gotta look good sometimes.”         Keyan laughed,         “You’re more like me than I thought!”         *****         A short while later Keyan found himself mingling with ponies while they waited for the ceremony to start. He wasn’t able to meet Scootaloo’s friends as they had to go get ready. Scootaloo herself had to go as well, leaving Keyan alone in the sea of ponies.         Well, except for Luna, who Celestia had ordered to mingle as well.         Currently the two of them were standing off to the side of the room at a table, neither really wanted to deal the the posh nobles. But sadly, this put the two of them together.         “So Luna,” Keyan began, “are you enjoying yourself?”         Luna glanced at Keyan over the table,         “Perhaps I would if the company was better.”         Keyan’s first thought was to shoot a rude retort back to her, but the slight rise her in her lips showed what she was trying to do.         “Not gonna work Luna,” he replied.         Luna broke out in a small smile,         “What does thine accuse us of?” she asked turning to face Keyan.         Keyan rolled his eyes,         “Nothing Princess, nothing.”         Luna licked her lips,         “So Keyan. you promised me a return visit to thine ship.”         Keyan nodded,         “That I did”         “When?”         Keyan chuckled. Luna’s tone was the same one a filly would have.         “Sometime after the wedding. Let me get known here and then I can take you up okay?”         Luna nodded slightly,         “That is acceptable. But make it post-haste Captain. I do not like to be kept waiting.”         Keyan smirked,         “Eager to get back into my bed huh?”         Luna spit out her drink as a blush leapt to her face. She tried sputtering out a response. Keyan broke out into laughter.         “You should see your face princess!”         Luna once again tried to respond but was once again inhibited. After a few more moments both Luna and Keyan managed to quiet themselves down. Her blush once again under control, Luna turned back to Keyan,         “You are the most infuriating alien I have ever met.”         Keyan chuckled,         “But I’m also the most good looking.”         Luna let out an exasperated sigh and buried her head in her hooves. Keyan stopped laughing and reached across the table. He gently patted Luna on the back, “I’m sorry Princess, you just make it too easy.” Luna sat back up and stared at him, “What's it like?”   Her tone was almost somber. The sudden change startled Keyan who looked at the Princess confusedly, “What’s what like?” Luna turned her head and looked out the window,         “Traveling the stars Keyan. What’s it like?”         Keyan stroked his goatee for a while, no one had ever asked him this before. Eventually he said,         “Thats a hard question Luna.”         Keyan took a sip of his drink and followed Luna’s gaze out the window. The sun was nearing the horizon, and the ceremony was set to take place at sunset.         “Its beautiful. I’ll give you that. I’ve seen some things that are nothing short of spectacular,” he looked over at the princess, “I’ll show them to you some day.”         Luna smiled,         “That would be nice.”         Keyan smiled back,         “And trust me. You haven’t seen hectic until you see Jita on a discount day. Its the main market hub of the galaxy, so theres thousands upon thousands of ships there. The amount of isk flowing through there every day is insane. Theres people dueling each other, it's quite the light show.”         Luna was lost in thought trying to picture it.         “But if you want a light show, you should see two alliances go at it. Hundreds of capital ships, some of which that have enough firepower to destroy Canterlot in a single shot, if not the planet. Hundreds of thousands of drones swarming ships. Shield and energy transfer arrays, remote armor reps working overtime. Thousands of smaller ships, fighting in between the capital ships. And you haven’t seen fireworks until one of those cap ships bites it.”         “And what of their crews?” Luna interjected.         Keyan’s face dropped,         “They don’t matter Luna. Millions die every battle, they’re just a statistic.”         Luna winced at his words, they sounded practiced. He had been told to think this, and apparently everyone else in his world did so too. She reached out and placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder,         “And what of your friends Keyan?”         Keyan managed a weak smile,         “Friends are hard to come by up there Luna. Most of the people I know would sell me out in a heartbeat if the price was big enough,” he sighed, “but there are a few good ones. This guy named Copheros is one, I’m sure he’s out there looking for me, there are maybe 5 others that I would trust,” He smiled at Luna, “You girls are my first new friends in years,” Keyan looked back at Luna, “why do you want to know?”.         Luna pursed her lips,         “I spent 1000 years on the moon Keyan. There were two things for me to watch, The stars or Equestria. When I stared at Equestria I wanted revenge. But when I stared at the stars, I saw freedom. It has been a dream of mine for centuries to travel them.”         Her voice had dropped towards the end. Keyan reached up and grabbed the hoof on his shoulder,         “For what its worth Luna, I’m more of a fan of the night than the day. And besides, you’re much better looking than your sister.”         Luna’s blush hit her face like a cruise missile. Thankfully, she was saved when their conversation was interrupted by a polite cough next to their table. They both turned to see two white unicorns standing there. Judging from their posture and clothes they were very well off.         “Good evening your majesty,” the pony spoke and then turned to Keyan, “and to you as well Captain. And may I say what an honor it is to meet you,” he finished his statement with a deep bow that was mirrored by the mare next to him.         Keyan moved to stand in front of them and returned the bow and with as much poshness as he could muster he said,         “The honor is all mine. May I have the privilege of knowing your name, as well as the name of the lovely mare next to you,” he finished his sentence by kneeling down in front of the two ponies.         The stallion stood up tall,         “I am Fancy Pants, and the “lovely” mare next to me is my wife, Fleur de Lis,” he motioned towards said mare.         She held up a hoof gracefully and spoke in a lightly accented melodic voice,         “Charmed to meet you Captain.”         Keyan smiled and gently lifted up her hoof,         “The pleasure is all mine milady. And please, call me Keyan,” he punctuated his sentence by giving her hoof a small kiss.         She giggled daintly,         “My my, what a gentlecolt, and please call me Fleur.”         Keyan gave her a winning grin and turned back to Fancy Pants. He extended his hand and Fancy Pants grasped(?) it in his hoof.         “Captain, If you would please I would love to have you over to my house for dinner, you must have the most interesting stories,” Fancy Pants said with a small smile.         “I would be honored, but I’m afraid I can’t set a date right now, my schedule for the next few days is still undecided.”         Fancy Pants gave a polite nod,         “I understand you must be busy, but please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any assistance… acclimating to our society.”         Keyan bowed slightly,         “Your help is greatly appreciated. And please, call me Keyan.”         “Very well Keyan. I’m afraid Fleur and I can’t stay to chat any longer, we just wanted to introduce ourselves, and there are other ponies to mingle with.”         Keyan smiled,         “I understand. I hope you two have a wonderful night. I’ll look for you after the ceremony.”         “Of course, but until then, Farewell.”         Keyan watched as the two unicorns headed back towards the others. After seeing them disappear in the crowd he turned back to Luna.         “How was that?” he asked with a smile.         Luna stared at him like he grew two heads.         “What?”         “You infuriate me you know that?” Luna asked.         Keyan chuckled,         “Why do you say that?”         Luna threw her hooves up in the air and planted her face in the table.         “I give up.”         Keyan smiled as he looked at the distraught princess. He reached out a hand and patted her head gently.         “Don’t worry Woona, you’ll be okay.”         “I hate you”         “Luna, I’ve been meaning to ask you, you’re speaking a lot less formally than when I first met you. What’s up with that?”         Luna sat back up and cleared her throat,         “I’ve been practicing on how “normal” ponies act in these times, and am doing my best to “fit in”, as they say it nowadays.”         “Good for you princess.”         Their conversation was interrupted once again by a pony clearing their throat. The two of them turned to see a Solar Guard standing there awkwardly,         “My apologies, but Shining Armor has requested the Captain’s presence.”         Keyan rolled his eyes,         “What does he need me for? Its not like hes going through a nervous breakdown or anything.”         The guard chuckled awkwardly.         “Dammit”