Sols 66-69
MISSION LOG – SOL 66
Made 79 kilometers today. Everything is working well. Acidalia Planitia is just as boring as you’d expect.
Starlight Glimmer brought three things with her: one of the magic batteries with an absolutely full charge, a whiteboard, and a sample bag full of markers. (Okay, that's more than three things. Bite me.) Now that she’s allowed to levitate things again, she’s going whole hog on writing lessons. She’s already mastered typing… by which I mean, she’s able to hunt and peck individual keys on the computer without mashing eight at once. Her speed is terrible, but she’s practicing.
Starlight likes disco. I think this is a sign that she has been hiding her true evil nature all along, but her dark side cannot resist the primitive synthesizers and thumping beats- the same ones that give me headaches. That said, she’s making a list of the relatively slower and quieter songs, because the peppier ones make her want to dance, and there’s no room in the rover for dancing.
There’s no room in the rover for much of anything. We have a free range of movement consisting of the airlock area, the driver seat, and a small, pony-sized section of the passenger bench. Everything else is either filled or obstructed with the piss-box, the shit-box, the hot-nuclear-death-box, the clean-water-do-not-get-this-mixed-up-box, the tool-no-hyphen-box, and fifty days of food. There’s just barely enough room for us to get in and out of suits when it’s time for an EVA.
I’m going to read more Christie to Starlight now. I’m quite surprised to learn that the ponies have mystery novels too, and horror, and other genres dealing with death. As happy and upbeat as they are most of the time, I thought they’d be more freaked out about a murder. But Starlight isn’t bothered. In fact, she seemed to approve when Poirot arranged things so that a murderer who could never be arrested met an unfortunate end.
Hopefully she can restrain her requests for me to spell out words to one per paragraph. I have definite mixed feelings about teaching a cute violet pony how to spell “exsanguination.”
“Starlight Glimmer, Amicitas. Starlight Glimmer, this is Amicitas, do you copy?”
“Amicitas, Starlight Glimmer. All going well here.”
“Good to hear, Starlight. Hello, Mark, hear me?”
“Hiya.”
“Good test. Starlight, we’ll call every day this time.”
“Copy, Amicitas. We’ll keep in touch. Starlight out.”
MISSION LOG – SOL 67
I haven’t spoken about my sex drive in this log. Sex is the one taboo NASA drills into our heads never to mention in any document that might ever see the light of day. So far as NASA is concerned all its astronauts are unattainable, asexual plastic models of perfect moral rectitude. Which is a load of bullshit, but the training is fierce, and it includes a couple of major black eyes astronauts gave the agency because of it, so it kind of sticks.
But I have to mention it here, because right now Starlight Glimmer and I aren’t on speaking terms with one another, and I have to figure out how to explain why in the least X-rated fashion without descending into NASA jargon.
Last night was the second time we’d slept together in the rover. During the one overnight of Sirius 3 we just slept in our respective seats. Starlight got the better of the deal, because I don’t sleep well in a chair. The driver’s seat is comfortable enough while driving, but there’s no way to turn on your side or even to tilt your head. So last night I cleaned off the whole passenger bench so I could turn it into a bed and claimed that.
Starlight apparently decided to join me during the night, because I woke up with my arms wrapped around her. The back of her head was just under my chin.
When I awakened I had… I’ll refer to it as a condition which is frequent in the human male when he has an urgent need to urinate immediately upon awakening.
I want to emphasize that, although at times I have been made keenly aware that four-fifths of my list of guests is female, the gross anatomical differences mean I have no interest in, well, unauthorized fraternization during the mission, as NASA might put it. If the Martian queen appears on the Martian roadside with her thumb sticking out and a sign reading ARES VALLES OR BUST, all bets are off, but not the ponies. What I woke up to was pure autonomous reflex due to a full bladder and nothing else.
My attempts to get out from under the pony woke her up.
I have to mention at this point that, due to the heat of the RTG, I was only wearing a makeshift short-sleeve shirt and cutoffs. Starlight, as is the pony preference, was completely nude.
So her first sensation upon awakening was of something poking her in what college zoological anatomy taught me to call the flank, a place that no female ever wants to be poked unexpectedly and that no equine likes to be poked at any time whatever.
There are two permanent hoofprints in the back of the passenger bench. Fortunately Starlight was sleeping on her side, which means those two permanent hoofprints are not in me. This means none of my bones are broken, none of my organs are ruptured, and if and when the time comes I will still be able to sire children. But it was a close call neither of us want to risk again.
Starlight activated the translation spell long enough for me to apologize and explain, and she reassured me that something similar occurs with males of her species, but that was the last word we exchanged all day. It was a long, silent 76 kilometers.
Starlight is wearing her under-spacesuit garment, I’m in mine, and the brick of insulation has been removed so we don’t sweat ourselves dry. Tonight I’m probably going to get to use it as a pillow here in this damn driver’s seat.
It’s going to be a long twenty days.
“Starlight Glimmer, this is Amicitas.”
“Amicitas, Starlight Glimmer. All go here. Out.”
“Starlight, is something wrong?”
“Mission proceeds as planned. Starlight out.”
“Can we speak to Mark?”
“Starlight Glimmer out.”
MISSION LOG – SOL 68
When I woke up this morning, Starlight was hiding behind the passenger couch, peeking over the back of it like a little kid.
The glare she was giving me wasn’t a little kid glare, though.
I don’t think I did anything in my sleep, but apparently there’s not going to be much conversation today, either.
Well, out to collect the solar panels, and then onward. Personnel problems or not, Pathfinder isn’t going to jump on Sojourner’s back and come to me.
“Starlight Glimmer, this is Amicitas.”
“Amicitas, this is Starlight. Mission proceeds. Out.”
“We need to ask Mark something about his lander. Specifically, what fuel it takes.”
“He’s not available right now. We’re very busy here. Save battery power. Out.”
“Starlight, what’s wrong? It might help if you-“
“The magic battery will power the main telepresence spell for no more than twenty-five minutes on a full charge. Conserve power. Starlight Glimmer OUT.”
MISSION LOG – SOL 69
I woke up this morning with Starlight in my lap. There wasn’t a repeat of Sol 67’s incident, mostly because the weight of her rump and rear hooves had cut off all circulation to my legs. She ended up going EVA to pack up and secure the solar panels. I couldn't.
After we stopped for the day it was her turn to apologize to me. She doesn’t remember joining me in the chair. She’s really spooked out about this. She shifted from English to pony-talk three times in fits of panic-babble. She tried to reassure me that she had no feelings for me “that way”.
We’re talking again. After two of these incidents in three days, we kind of have to. Today’s language lesson was really filthy, or would have been except Starlight insisted I not use any bad English words. Where the fuck’s the fun in that?
“Starlight, this is Amicitas, Cherry Berry speaking. We need to ask Mark about the fuel used by the Emm Deevee. Please put him on.”
“Hey, Mark, get your bucking crystal on!”
“One bucking minute, Starlight.”
“… Starlight, why the buck did you teach Mark the word ‘bucking’ in our language, and how did you get him to pronounce it properly?”
“It’s a long and mutually embarrassing story, Amicitas. We’ll explain when we get back. What do you need to know?”
“We need to know what the fuel is. We’re surveying what can be salvaged from the ships if we need to try to get off this rock in a hurry.”
“I’ll ask him. Mark, what the buck makes your lander fly?”
“Who the buck wants to know?”
“Answer the bucking question.”
“You know what, Starlight, buck it. Mark, I give Dragonfly wrench, open MDV, find out.”
“The buck you say.”
“Not joke, Mark.”
“Okay. Sorry. Please don’t do that. Rocket fuel in MDV is very dangerous.”
“We know. What kind fouel?”
“Fuel. I explain to Starlight. She tell tomorrow.”
“Okay. Thank you, Mark. Talk to you tomorrow, Starlight. Amicitas out.”
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Such a multipurpose word...
Sol 69, full of bucks. Rrriiiiiiiiiggghhhhhhttttttt.......
Should've seen that coming even with the warning, but I find this chapter extremely hilarious. Maybe it's because I can't relate to Mark... yet.
I like the part about glaring at him over the seat. And from the movie the crew area of the rover is tiny. I'm surprised he even took Starlight with him. She is extra weight and space, both of which he really doesn't need to bring along.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😉
Still, as far as alien tiny magical horses go, Starlight isn't bad to look at. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I know we're going for a happy ending here, but boy, given how careless the Equus space programs are, now that they're out of their magical-lucky-happy universe I would expect them to last barely 48 hours before self-destructing if it weren't for their plot armor.
I think I'd have the same opinion as Mark on that one.
8726475 ... you won't believe this, but I honestly didn't think of Sol 69 as anything other than a number when I was writing this.
8726481 Pony spacesuit, even when not worn, relieves consumables on the rover. And, eventually, they've got to figure out how to get everybody into the rover for the trip to the Ares IV MAV- unless Equestrian rescue comes first.
8726483 They're being more cautious than it sounds. Cherry Berry has been around Chrysalis enough to indulge in occasional manipulation, and she knows Dragonfly with a wrench anywhere near any of his equipment is one of Mark's push-buttons.
ahh yes, the need to pee moment, causing akward moments for longer then it man has recorded history.
Oh sure, sink my ships will you... anatomical differences my foot :p
That said, hilarious and cute.
Awkward and hilarious. About time we addressed this topic. Not that I was shipping Mark with anyone. Others...
Considering the incident yesterday, I honestly didn't expect a chapter today and was pleasantly surprised to find one. An average of more than one chapter a day for a serial fanfic is practically unheard of.
My family has always taught me "if you want to know whether you and your significant other are right for eachother, go on a vacation together."
This is that, only a thousand times worse. And more dangerous.
So... Was this a hard chapter to write?
That is one embarrassing story out the way, now we have to have the "I used to be a communist/ cultist" talk out of the way, a history like that might give Mark an idea of how poners are forgiving creatures.
Try spending time in a foreign country that doesn't speak your language and learn their language.
8726538
This whole ride is going to be a test of Mark's stamina and endurance. 
But I've no doubt he'll rise to the challenge. 
Some parts of it seemed pretty hard.
8726533
Sooooo, does this mean Mark and Starlight are right for each other or not? 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈
8726516
4 years on Mars is a long time. I'm not gonna give up on Marklight yet! Shit I started typing this as a joke but now I'm kind of really shipping them... what has this fandom done to me?
I keep reading this, and thinking of all the times not to have a copy of KSP on hand.
Then explaining that the physics engine is designed to actually make things harder in some cases. but I thik that at least the Changeling, and two of the Ponies would bust a nut at the comparison between KSP and the CSP.
To be honest, I'm surprised that something like this hasn't come up sooner. Specifically, if you don't manually "flush the tank" on a semi-regular basis, you'll eventually have some interesting dreams and the tank will flush itself automatically while you're asleep. Mark being alone in the novel makes it a non-issue (conservation of detail, and no reason to record such activities) but with five others around and a distinct lack of privacy...
"Hey, Starlight, why's Mark taking so long in the d-con shower?"
"I don't know. Why should I know? And I'm quite certain it has nothing to do with Dragonfly parking herself right outside the curtain."
"Um..."
"I know nothing and never wanted to! Is there some way we can make shower booties out of something?"
8726561
Wouldn't be the first time two foreign cultures are brought together that way. 😆😆😆😆😆 In fiction or real life. 😆😆😆
In other news, I'm actually surprised that you posted a chapter today. After yesterday, I don't think anybody would have blamed you.
8726575
(not even kidding at this point. I have a problem)
C'mon Kris bust out that romance tag! This story needs some shipping!
8726561
Not to mention, it is all for the poor lil Dragonfly. Would you let your friend starve when you could do something about it?
8726608
Good point! (I'm shipping Mark watney with Starlight glimmer and using an insect that feeds on love to justify it. Someone please kill me I didn't know what this place was doing to my brain)
8726624
The two getting together would save Dragonfly's life. I totally did not realize this. Wins all around.
Come on Mark. Pull a Kirk and boldly go where no man has gone before. 😂😂😂😂😂😆😆😆😆
8726624
8726654
Bonk the pony Mark. It's what JFK would've done. 🇺🇸
Let it be known from this point forward I ship Starlight x Mark and there's nothing anyone can do to stop me.
I look forward to welcoming their anthro abomination babies into this world.
8726640
I'm surprised this is the first time someone's mentioned Kirk. He raised an entire generation to dream of boning every alien female between here and the other side of the Andromeda sector. I was expecting a star trek reference to be one of the first comments.
Though I'm not sure how them having sex would help Dragonfly. Contrary to what many writers on here seem to think, lust and love are not the same thing.
8726481
The movie is messed up... in the movie the rover doesn't have an airlock.
8726467
For some insane reason, I now can't get the mental image of Glimmer singing the Vagina Dentata song out if my head...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SKgBTaLKR84
I'll save the multiple mental leaps that led me to this association...
8726684
It could always end up as love.
Maybe it's just the image of Starlight curled up on Marks lap or the one where he has his arms wrapped around her with his chin resting on the top of her head, which just seems so adorable, but I want this ship to happen.
Dragonfly requires unconditional snuggles.
Starlight sleep-walks to the nearest sorce of snuggles.
8726684
Well she's not limited only to love. (She said she could eat pity a couple chapters ago) lust is likely edible too.
I really think this should have been addressed earlier and more often, and I would enjoy it if it was.
So author, please more of this subject from time to time 😀
oh good lord... i have a feeling that either cherry, dragonfly, or fireball is gonna trigger a nasty hydrazine spill holy faust that would be bad and i also see a bit of denial from starlight in this chapter
you know there has GOT to be a slight attraction between the two I'm looking at YOU starlight you know you have feelings for him ;D
Starlight has no idea how close they got off beginning the only two people alive on Mars. If she did the freak out would've been massive
This was cute and awkward. But honestly, since dragonfly can eat things other than pure romantic love it's quite probable sex could make for quite the buffet, compared to now. It won't because of how the story is being written, but bonking should be a distinct possibility for helping DF stay alive.
8726753
And it wouldn't be the first time a pony developed feelings for a human. 😊 Right, Twilight?
8726753
I blame the "not gettin' any" factor and general compultion for ponies to herd (which one is stronger is up for debate) as the reasons why Starlight finds herself getting rather cozy with Mark.
Then again, they are trapped in a vehicle with less free room than my Hyundai Accent when I go on a con trip. I know all about the anguish of trying to sleep in the front seats that cannot be lowered or moved at all due to too much crap in the car.
Personally, I'd just roll with it. And if ear scritches happen, so be it. Mares are cuddy, deal with it.
8726700
I dunno. I can definitely see them as friends, but I like shipping him with Dragonfly better, personally.
8726716
If you want to get technical about it, she eats all emotions, it's just that not all of them are useful to her (and some are literally poison). She would definitely be able to eat the friendship and such that would lead them to be ok with having sex, but she can get that anyway.
I suppose we'll find out if the lust itself will do anything for her when Mark gets back. If Dragonfly tries to pull a succubus and seduce him, then we'll know, lol.
8726788
I guess Chryssy did say "scheme harder".
*Dragonfly starts first interdimensional/interplanetary brothel*
*Chryssy feels pride in one of her children for the first time*
They fight like a married couple! That's hilarious!
So far as NASA is concerned all its astronauts are unattainable, asexual plastic models of perfect moral rectitude.
Yeah. Like the time the married couple went up on the shuttle mission to the ISS, and everybody from NASA pretended there was no joining the Three-Hundred Mile High Club involved. Nope, no nookie here.
Dragonfly looked at Starlight with wide eyes, but lowered her voice to keep from alerting Mark at the other end of the Hab. "That's adorable. Look, I know it's been a long time for you, so did the two of you..." She waggled her eyebrow ridges and winked.
"No!" hissed Starlight. "I don't know why I even told you."
"Because I'd find out eventually, and this way you get to control how the information gets used," said Dragonfly in a matter-of-fact tone. "I wouldn't expect anything less. You just forgot one thing."
"What?" asked Starlight, who rapidly gained an expression of growing horror as Dragonfly waved to Mark until she got his attention, then proceeded to lick her eyebrow ridges and wink at the brilliantly blushing human.
"Ah," said Dragonfly. "Delicious."
Given the response I'm not sure the disclaimer was necessary. Funny though, no question there. I didn't catch the sol 69 thing either, props to that comment. All the 'bucking' reminded me of when Kirk had reintroduced Spock to swearing after his resurrection. "One damn minute, Admiral."
If you only knew... But she's uh... getting better. More or less. Love ya, Glim Glam.
I know you don't intend to visit this sort of issue much, if ever again, but it was pretty damn worth seeing, even if only once. Four years is a long time... I ship it.
So, I think we've safely established that (if you want the story to go that way) interspecies romance will not alienate your audience. And there are perfectly practical reasons to encourage it. We're just thinking of Dragonfly here...
But yeah, write as you like because I'll be happy either way. It's a great story and I love how you've managed to keep the tension despite game changers like pony magic. And I also really like how you manage to keep a focus on characters, when too often stories like this shove that into the background in order to focus on the puzzle aspects.
Interspecies romance is fine, as long as it's not the focus of the story, and no graphic descriptions (no Romance/Sex tags, after all)
8726891
No! Please graphic depictions.
media1.giphy.com/media/3ohs7V5sO9SxxcbvJm/giphy.gif
Naaaah, fine. I say it was a cute scene, not even cringy.
Good thing Watney's name isn't Bellerophon and SG is far from a skinny, garish, over-muscled freak... I won't survive a crossover.
8726716
I feel like it would be like comparing a cupcake and a fruit salad. Yeah, you won't starve but one is going to be a bit more beneficial than the other.