//------------------------------//
// An Exchange of Practice 
// Story: A Cultural Exchange 
// by Illiad_Easle 
//------------------------------//

It didn't take long to pinpoint the solitude and loneliness that seemed to be its' own little personal thunderstorm.  There was a pull from the far western side of the manor grounds; with the barest of examinations, Illiad's eye caught what looked to be an ivy-grown path leading from a rather discrete corner of the yard.  The path seemed to wind around the rocky outcropping at this end; no telling if it went further up or down.

Call ended up circling the manor once, checking the alcoves and hedges - just in case.  Finding nothing, he came back to the Trojan and huffed a sigh of frustration.

"Well, he isn't around the manor, and I couldn't see him in the quarry when I passed around the narrow side... I do hope he hasn't gone back into the mines; after the recent disturbances, I don't feel it would be safe until the workers say so."

He gazed back at the large iron doors of the quarry, visible from where they stood.

"Maybe he IS at his tent now; perhaps we missed him in passing this morning?"

Illiad turned to Call as he approached. "I am getting something from over there." He gestured towards the ivy covered path. "I think Dax may be that way, and it doesn't seem too good."

It's been what, a night since I last saw him? Then the rest of that day was taken up by Mrs. Blackwater, the night before was when he met Selena, so it's not like it’s been a long time since I last saw him. Why all the loneliness?

Call looked at where the Trojan was pointing... then he gave a slight sigh of relief.

"Oh... that DOES make sense.  He's at Blackwater Ridge; he does tend to go there when he's feeling bad.  What in the wide, wide world of Equestria could be bothering him NOW?  After all, he has you here, yes?  To hear him speak of it, one would have thought he'd be BLEEDING happiness from every limb!  But... he IS a unique one, Master Dax is..."

He stepped back towards the manor, looking (and feeling) far less stressed.

"Thank you - I'll tell Beck post-haste.  You can wait for us to escort you to him, but there should be no issue if you'd want to go to him yourself; mind the fence - it's rusty."

With that, Call hurried inside to ease his brother's worry, leaving Illiad to either wait... or go down the path himself.

Leaving loneliness to fester was hardly a good idea, so Illiad decided he'd make his way to Blackwater Ridge on his own to see what all the trouble was.

It seems Dax may be more socially damaged than I thought. I only hope that I can do something to improve his state before we step out of each other's lives again. If he has a hard time leaving me alone for a day then he definitely won't take the end of next week well. 

The path was a bit overgrown, but not troublesomely so; Illiad only had to step over a few clumps of ivy and a fallen branch before reaching a tall, rust-spotted metal gate. It looked as though it had been here for quite some time, wickedly sharp looking spines topped each rail, and a wrought-iron sign at the top of the gate proclaimed, in bold letters, "BLACKWATER RIDGE".

Through the gate, Illiad could see lines and rows of marble headstones, a few standing reliquaries, and a statue or three.  The area here was quiet and lonesome, though the view was serene as the open north end framed the mountains to the far north, affording an idyllic view that one wouldn't mind being buried at.

Blackwater Ridge was apparently the family cemetery.

At the far end, there was a dead tree standing next to a pony-sized statue of a stallion.  Dax was sitting at the statue's foot, looking for all the world like someone had just stolen his ice cream.  He sniffled, and wiped a hoof across his eyes.

Illiad adopted a concerned expression as he tentatively approached the crying colt. He held off on adjusting his emotions as this was the sort of point where one could do real damage to a pony's psyche. "Hey Dax," he spoke in a calm, even tone that was a bit uncharacteristic for him since he arrived. "You okay?" 

Dax jumped a bit when Illiad spoke, but he turned to look at the unicorn all the same.

"... no... I... I saw... you two were..."

He sniffled hard, then coughed once.

"... it's just... I'm being all... stupid..."

He wiped at his eyes again, the Empathic feeling Dax get a bit frustrated with his own tears.

"... you two looked so happy... just being... y'know... together... which I'm GLAD for that, but..."

He turned his view up to look at Illiad.

"... but I got jealous.  Not over Silver - she's like a sister to me - but... y'know... I saw you two having so much fun, and I just..."

He hung his head, now shame creeping into his emotional state as well.

"... just felt like... I dunno... like life's kind of... cheating me, I guess?  I mean, when I was still in Pony School, I tried to make friends, but... well, YOU know our reputation, Illiad.  I didn't have a... a snowball's chance in Tartarus.  But I feel like I don't have any room to complain, so... I didn't want to ruin the fun you two were having, so I went off by myself."

He sighed hard.

"... guess I got to thinking too much on it.  I'm so sorry."

Dax was lonely for a special somepony; the sight of Silver and Illiad together had made him jealous, and he had left so that his mood wouldn't spoil their fun.

Again, Dax proved that he was far more considerate than anypony would ever believe of a Blackwater.

Illiad sighed, he was entirely unsure about how he should proceed. Until he had met Silver he had never really thought about finding someone special to share his life with, he had been resigned to the fact that he might never find someone he would connect to on so many levels as he and Silver did.

He looked over at Dax, "Look, I can see why you feel the way you do. You do have the disadvantage where there aren't many creatures your age around here for you to interact with. I'd say that if ponies just got to know you then they'd see that you're so much better than the stereotypes, but I know that many ponies will not give you that chance."

A slight smile came to Illiad's face, "You know, I was talking to your mother about a similar issue yesterday, about working against the reputation to show the world that you aren't like your ancestors. I think that same message applies to you too. They may not see you for who you are at the start, but if you keep on being the kind and considerate pony I know you are they'll see it too. And remember, very few if any in Troy have ever heard of the Blackwaters. You won't have to worry about your reputation there, maybe you'll find someone there like I did here?"

Illiad came a bit closer, unsure yet if Dax was in a state where a hug would be acceptable. "I was actually trying to find you to thank you for the outing you prepared. You left so suddenly Silver and I thought you had set it up for us to be alone. I really appreciate the effort you put into it, thank you."

Dax looked up, and Illiad felt his mood lighten a bit.

"I thought... thought you'd be upset with me for... y'know... being upset?  But... thank you."

He wiped his eyes one more time, then stood up.  Behind him, the statue loomed over them both.  It was set on a high pedestal, about eye level, and it was more impressive up close - the face looked hard and a bit angry, but the eyes almost seemed to shine with a sense of boldness and optimism.  The brass plate on the front, pockmarked with corrosion spots, still read the name 'Serious Black' quite plainly.  The statue was of a caliber that belonged in a museum instead of a graveyard, to be honest - it was exquisite.

Dax gave a slight blush at Illiad's thanks.  

"I just saw that the two of you looked like you were having a moment... and I felt... yeah... so, I left you both to whatever you wanted to do - I don't wanna be a fifth wheel, so to speak.  But you're welcome; I was pretty happy to see my friend having such a good time."

Though the hurt was still there, it had been culled back enough for Dax's trademark enthusiasm to resurface.  He looked around the cemetery for a bit, then looked back to Illiad.

"So... this is Blackwater Ridge; it's where every Blackwater ancestor has been buried since the land was first purchased.  I come up here to be alone sometimes... but I'm glad YOU came, Illiad.  Thank you."

Illiad didn't have to wonder about the hug; Dax gave him one right then. He returned the hug, then sat. He wasn't entirely sure how to proceed and he never was very comfortable in graveyards.

"Well, I'm glad you're feeling better, Silver and I were going to talk with your father about some things, including what you and I encountered the night before last. Would you like to join us?" 

Dax grinned.

"I could do that, I guess.  Father can be tricky to talk to, but I know how to put things to him.  I'd be happy to come."

Before he left however, Dax placed a hoof gently on the statue's pedestal.

"Thanks for letting me stay with you, Grandpa Serious - I think Illiad has it from here."

He gave a small, sad smile, then turned back to the Trojan.

"Okay, let's go - if we have to talk with Father, it may take a while, so the sooner, the better."

Illiad gave a slight smile, glad to see Dax in a better mood. He turned back the way he came, "We better get going then, the sooner we start the sooner we'll be done talking to him. Oh, we need to go by Silver's to get her first, she has a bunch of stuff to show Mr. Blackwater in an effort to get him to invest in her idea of spreading industrialization across Equestria." 

Dax stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... investments?"

He shook his head, then looked at his friend again.

"Illiad - if you want ANYTHING to do with my family and their bits, you're speaking to the WRONG pony; that's MOTHER'S realm of influence.  I mean, you could speak to Father first, certainly... but it's Mother who controls the books.  If you get HIS approval but not HERS, it won't happen; if you at least get HERS, she'll find a way to make it work - even if she has to fund it herself."

Dax smiled a knowing smile.

"Father IS the one who put her in charge of our finances, after all - he trusts her to make the decisions.  So, I'd advise to speak with Mother first, then Father."

Dax would know his family better than the Trojan OR the mare, one could reason...

Illiad gave a slight smirk, he did know what he was after. "It's not the bits we're after, TrUST can supply all the funding we need. It's the backing we need. Silver wants the quarry as a company to back her patents on her machinery and for the quarry to manage the logistics of allowing other companies to use her patents in exchange for royalties. If Mr. Blackwater is against the quarry as a company backing the patents, then we'll have to find another company to back them in Equestria."

Illiad sighed, patent law was a difficult nest of tape. "In short, we're after the company as a legal backing in case her patents are ever contested." 

Dax shrugged.

"Still sounds like Mother's kind of thing to me... but when it comes to law, I expect you'd know a bit more than me, so we'll go talk to Father.  Let's get Silver and head back to the manor; I'll ask if he's busy."

Illiad and his Blackwater shadow made their way across the manor grounds, through the quarry yard and over to Shed #7 - Silver's Shack.  As they got close however, Illiad began to pick up feelings of panic and worry coming from what was undoubtedly Silver herself, inside the workshed.  When they got closer yet, they could both hear what sounded like crying.

Dax picked up his pace, headed for the shack.  Upon arriving, Illiad and Dax came across the poor mare sitting on the floor, surrounded by notebooks, ledgers, binders and loose diagrams in piles that almost came close to the tabletop.  There were tears running down her muzzle, and she looked quite distressed.

"Oh, Illiad... Dax... I can't d-d-d-d-decide WHAT to YUUU-HUUUU-HUUUUUSE!"

She began bawling anew, looking so absolutely adorable in her misery.

Dax made a strange face, then turned away as he fought the grin he had... he felt bad for Silver, but he was also quite relieved that it wasn't anything more... dangerous.

He nudged Illiad, then said, "Silver, calm down... you're gonna be fine."

Illiad had a slight smirk as he surveyed the situation, and gave a small laugh as he came a bit closer to Silver, drawing her into a gentle hug as he carefully calmed her emotions. "I've certainly had that problem, not knowing what piece of work would have the best impact on a new client, partially wanting to draw up something new just for the occasion. You're smart Silver, I'm sure you'll figure it out, though if I may make a suggestion, why don't you keep it simple? The goal here is to get Mr. Blackwater to back your patents and aid in the logistics of the distribution of your machines to Equestria. He's already seen some of your machines in action and understands the value of them. You've already proven to him how capable you are, you don't need something new and impressive to prove it to him again, just yourself."

Wow, I'm really being the advice guru today. 

Illiad looked for a spot where her could stand nearby and still be out of Silver's way. "Here, why don't we do a practice run of talking to him before we actually meet with him? That should certainly ease your stress, Dax can even stand in for Mr. Blackwater since he was going to advise us on how to speak to him anyway."

Silver's mood lightened with Illiad's hug, and lightened more at his advice.

"You're right, you're right... of course you are.  I'm a filly for crying over this - Mister Blackwater knows I'm good; he'll back me, I'm sure he will!"

Dax grinned, and his own heart lightened when Silver's did.  When the stallion suggested the Blackwater stand-in for his Father in a dry-run, Dax actually pepped up a bit more.

"OH!  Yeah, I can do that!  I've practiced!"

Dax cleared his throat, then his entire face seemed to transform into one big scowl; it was actually quite eerie how, wearing that expression, he DID look a lot like his father... the resemblance was downright uncanny.

"Enter." 

His voice the perfect pitch and timbre to match Luther's own, and Illiad was familiar with the minimalist greeting by now.

Silver noticed as well - the look on her face showed how impressed she was.

"That's... wow, Dax.  That's SPOT ON!"

Dax let a small grin onto his features for just a second before regaining his Luther-Face.

"Studs.  Easle.  Why are you here?"

Downright uncanny.

Illiad nodded, giving a slight smirk before he too settled into his role. "Mr. Blackwater, among other things we are here because I have found Silver to be a suitable candidate for the Trojan United Science TrUST. As such she want's your company's backing against the patents she would like to draft on her inventions."

He felt like that was as good a place as any to switch off, so he looked over at Silver in an attempt to convey that it was her turn to speak. It was a good thing they were practicing this as he realized he had little to no idea how to best phrase all of this. 

Silver smiled broadly, then looked at Dax and cleared her throat, ready to be all business-like.

"Mister Blackwater, you've known the work that my machinery can do, and you know how much good it's done your quarry.  I'm going to endeavor to spread this technology to all of Equestria, and I think that it would be remiss of me not to invite you and the quarry to get in on the ground floor of this venture."

Dax's face remained dour and stern.  "Cost?"

"The cost will actually be minimal, as I expect a quick turnaround - so I was thinking no more than a five-digit figure to start with would make enough of a difference to get me started... after that, we can negotiate further expenses, and even focus on machines you yourself have a vested interest in seeing come to life."

Dax put a hoof to his chin.  "Rights?"

Silver lifted an eyebrow, but was prepared for the question.  "I plan to retain the rights to my patents, Mister Blackwater... but as an investor, you will have FIRST PICK of anything I create for this end, and I would be honored if Missus Blackwater would possibly be so kind as to assist me in figuring out my expenses."

Dax frowned deeper, getting the same look on his face as Luther did when he was giving Illiad the once-over in his study, back on the first day here.  He looked over to Illiad.

"And YOUR part in this?"

Illiad gave a slight smile, "I personally have no part in this, other that my joy in Silver's successes, rather I will represent TrUST in the regard that they will desire access to all her patents and future designs, in exchange they will provide all the funding and other resources that Silver requires to continue inventing, including an escort to safe locations should the need ever arise."

"In my mind you have much to gain and little to lose from allowing the quarry to back Silver's patents, the possible royalties the quarry could gain by allowing other companies to use Silver's designs would easily recoup your investment and even possibly improve your and the quarry's reputation in the social and business worlds."

Dax put on a semi-goofy 'thinking look' and began a slow, exaggerated pacing that Silver couldn't help but giggle at.

"Sounds good - perhaps worth looking into.  Studs works hard; earned my trust.  Solid worker."

He then turned and looked Silver in the eye, crossing his own as he spoke and making her giggle even harder.

"What guarantee will I have on this supposed profit?  And what will happen if you should happen to fail?"

At those words, Silver pulled herself together.  "Well, I can offer you the patents to the equipment I've build for your quarry, if your investments fail; that way, you'll at least have the rights to the things you KNOW already work.  It's the closest thing I CAN offer to a guarantee... but I promise, once Equestria sees what I have to offer, there is no possible WAY this could ever fail!"

Dax strolled toward the edge of the table and placed his forehooves on it, leaning over and looking so very much like Luther leaning over his desk.

"Why the interest NOW?"

Silver smirked, and looked at Illiad.

"THAT has to do with TrUST - Illiad thinks they would have a vested interest in making this kind of machinery available to everypony... and I think it would say a LOT about the Blackwaters if you were to show your support of this project, Mister Blackwater."

Dax nodded.  He stood back from the table, then walked to the doorway as if it were Luther's balcony, then made an exaggerated show of looking out majestically at the imaginary quarry.

"It will be considered... and my vest is full of grape jelly."

With that last line, delivered in Luther Blackwater's deadpan voice, Dax and Silver both burst out laughing merrily at his little jest.  

Illiad too laughed heartily at the non-sequitur transition. Whilst looking around to ensure that no one that disliked them or Mr. Blackwater had overheard. That would certainly not go over well if they did.

"You certainly sound just like your father, I think you'll do a fine job running this quarry some day if that's what you end up doing."

Dax half-grinned at Illiad's comment, but his mood fell just a bit at that... however, it wasn't low for long, as he turned and walked over to Silver and walked a slow, comically-strutting circle around her, his eyes exaggeratedly wide and staring.  She wore a smirk of her own, and was blushing a bit from the effort of trying NOT to laugh.

"You are willing to stake your reputation..."  he got eye to eye with her, their muzzles pressed together nostril-to-nostril.  "...ON OURS?????"

Silver burst out laughing, and hit the floor rolling with whinnygiggles and snorts of amusement.

Dax looked at Illiad with that dour face... and wiggled his eyebrows up and down rapidly.

Illiad too laughed a bit before calming down, he had never been one to laugh uproariously, unless he was tired of course, in the which case everything was absolutely hilarious and he would be laughing for minutes on end. Unfortunately this was not one of those times.

"So," he looked about the pair, "Are we ready to talk to Mr. Blackwater then?" To be frank Illiad was still a bit nervous about speaking to Mr. Blackwater, perhaps he had pulled too much of it from Silver. 

Silver collected herself while Dax got the last of his giggles out.  He then turned to them both and smiled.

"Okay, you've got an idea what he'll say... now, if we can-"

Dax's words were cut off by a small, humble voice that typically had no reason to sound meek and mild as it did.

"Dax."

He turned around, and it was Oglevy Blackwater, his stuffed dragon perched on his back, standing there looking at them all.  He looked far more subdued than usual, and Illiad could feel a low but steady thrum of regret, shame... and a dash of fear, as well.

Dax lifted an eyebrow, about to snark off at the little pest... when he realized Oglevy wasn't BEING a pest.

"Uhhhhhhmmmm... yeah?  What?"

The colt gave each one in turn a serious, almost apprehensive look... then he faced his big brother again.

"Mother wants to speak to you."

Dax's confusion at his younger sibling's behavior was evident as he gave Illiad and Silver a slightly worried look.  Turning back, he asked plainly, "What is it?"

Oglevy looked his brother right in the eyes.  "She knows about the pearls, Dax."

Dax's eyes went huge, while his pupils shrunk to pinpoints.

"Oh, manure."

NOW, worry, guilt and nervousness began to ripple from the older brother, while it seemed like Oglevy had already had to deal with whatever this was.  Dax looked at his friends again.

"Uhm... if Mother wants me for... f-f-for this, then I'd better go... uhm, yeah - it's... kinda bad."

Oglevy spoke up quickly.  "I stuck to our story!"

Dax looked at him... and gave him a soft smile.  "I knew you would, Oglevy - it's why it works!"

THERE; Illiad had sensed the world of love that Luther had for his son, and the ocean that had threatened to drown his from Vylia... and now, it was so with Oglevy Blackwater.

The young colt didn't seem to do anything more outwardly than give a small, shy smile.  Emotionally, just hearing that Dax had trusted him was like twin bombs of emotion in the tyke - first a megaton blast of admiration, then a secondary burst of affection.  Dax hadn't even noticed the effect it had on Oglevy; Illiad got the impression that it was okay that way, too.

The young stallion turned back to the Trojan and the mare.

"Uhm, I have to go do this... but, uhm... I gave you the rundown; stick to what we said, and you should be fine!"

He nodded to his younger brother, then went for the door... but he stopped there, and turned back one more time.

"I'll be okay - it was a long time ago... but, well... Mother found out."

He shrugged, then he and Oglevy (who also glanced back at the duo standing there) headed into the manor to face the apparently long-overdue music.

Illiad's eye was still twitching from the sudden burst of emotion. He couldn't warp out of the way this time, so he did the best he could to shield himself from the emotional onslaught. It worked to a limited extent, he wasn't about to be overwhelmed, but it still left him a bit frazzled. They really need to work on their emotional states before they seriously hurt someone, or themselves. This isn't a healthy way to express themselves.

Silver looked at Illiad, and words started tumbling nervously from her lips.  "Uhh... we should wait, right?  Right?  I think so... maybe, we should, don't you think?  I think maybe we could reschedule, it wouldn't be so bad - maybe the weather's not-... I mean, we shouldn't-... p-p-p-p-perhaps we can just... uhhhh..."

Silver was getting cold hooves, and her emotional state matched it.

Illiad shook his head in an effort to clear it and get his eye to stop twitching. He turned back to Silver with a bit of nervous determination on his face. "We have two options here, either we go or we don't. Either way TrUST will back your research and development, and they will ensure your patents in Troy and beyond. If we go then this dilemma will be done with, but if we don't then we'll have to make this choice again and again until we decide to go. You don't have to get your works patented in Equestria, but it is the only way you'll be able to successfully enact your plans of an Equestrian Industrial Revolution."

Given the recent emotional bomb he couldn't help her nerves directly, so he hoped his words would suffice. "Either way, I'll support you in your decision."

Silver gulped, then closed her eyes.

"Okay, okay, okay... I need to calm down and just... just... breathe..."

She took a number of forcibly slow and even breaths before she simply sighed.

"You're right... I'm being a foal.  Well, maybe not so much as a foal, but it's more like I'm acting rather childish.  I can DO this - especially with you here!  I'm just... y'know... scared."

She blushed a bit.

"Well, no time like... well, like the present.  Let's get this done before I turn into a block of ice from all the chills I've got!"

She held her head up confidently, and strolled her way towards Luther's office.

Her emotions still said she was as scared as she could be... but she was doing it, all the same.

It hurt Illiad that he was not in a state to assist her with her emotions, give her a boost of confidence. He'd have to recover from Oglevy's burst before he could risk any emotional manipulation on others. It was like trying to see after a recent blinding flash spell, he could still feel Silver because she was close both in proximity and emotional state, and he would feel Dax if he got close enough again, but he wouldn't be able to discern much else for some time.