"Hmmm..." Pilate thought aloud. The O.A.S.I.S. manasphere hovered above a juncture of symbols along the wall before him in the chamber. "Why is this particular pattern here so asymmetrical? These two symbols appear and reappear equally on the right side, but on the left there is this discrepancy. Perhaps it has significance? It suggests imperfection?"
He flipped a page in the tome and flickered the light from the manasphere to it.
"Maybe it's a west horizon versus an east horizon thing. If I focus on the symbols connecting them to 'Austraeoh,' maybe I will find a purpose..." His metal brow furrowed as he continued to think aloud. "Then just what are these symbols at the apex of the pegasus' crown...?"
He was so engrossed in his studies that he barely registered the arrival of a quartet of soft hoofsteps. Bellesmith walked daintily into the place, paused to observe his research, then shuffled over to his side.
"It looks like you've stumbled upon quite the mural here, beloved."
"Guh!" Pilate jumped in place, a very rare thing. "By the Spark, Belle! Has anypony told you that you have the silent grace of a windigo?"
"Heeheehee... Not recently!" Bellesmith smiled and squatted down beside him. "Goodness! You must really, truly be intrigued by this thing for me to have gone unnoticed by yours of all ears."
"Well, there's just such a lot to take in," Pilate said. "Did Crimson tell you about this? Is that why you're down here?"
"Darling, I'm down here because I miss you." Belle leaned in and nuzzled him. "Still, I wouldn't mind helping you out with this, for what it's worth."
"It's worth a lot, my love," Pilate said with a smile. He reached a hoof out to caress her mane. "Always—" He froze and his face contorted into pleasant shock upon the silken contact with her braids. "Uhhh...."
"Yes?" Belle smirked at him. "Is something amiss, Pilate?"
"Oh, no, hardly. I just..." His brow furrowed. "Is this your mane?"
"No," she replied with flat eyes. "I found a royal duvet out of pony hair and slapped it on my skull."
"I'm just..." He gulped as he caressed her tresses gently. "Zounds, that's beyond remarkable!"
"I think somepony has lost his concentration."
"Wherever did you find the time to do such intricate work on it?"
"Mmmm... EE helped."
"EE?"
"Eagle Eye, you silly zebra."
"Oh. So he... helped you, did he?"
"Yes. Just now. The little darling certainly knows his way around a delicate scalp."
Pilate's ears drooped as he tilted his face towards the wall of symbols yet again. "I see..."
Belle raised an eyebrow. "Beloved? Is there something wrong?"
"Hmm? Wrong? Well... uh, no... it's just that..."
"Do tell me..."
Pilate fidgeted slightly. "He seems quite... affectionate."
"Are stallions not allowed to be?"
"I mean... he seems to be spending an awful lot of time with you and... and..." He bit his lip. "He's a soldier, Bellesmith. Affectionate or not, mercenaries who have been away from home and their loved ones for so long are lonely, and I can only imagine that—when they're with a mare—they... well... they must only have one thing on their mind, and—"
The chamber filled with a melodic thunder; Belle was laughing.
Pilate frowned. "What?! I was being serious! I dare think you're humoring his advances and—"
"Ohhhhh Pilate." Belle leaned in and hugged him dearly, nuzzling his striped neck. "I love you like no tomorrow, but sometimes you really, really are a blind zebra."
Pilate gulped, blushing furiously. "I... I don't get it..."
"Let us study the symbols some more, darling."
"Ahem. Yes. Let's."
OH that is FUNNEH
Hoo boy... My sides...
...Yes. He is blind in more than one sense of the word, it seems.
I guess OASIS doesn't come equipped with Gaydar.
No push-ups, ):(. Good job this round.
LOL
Oh Pilate.
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Oh the laughs I have laughed
I mean no offense to Pilate (both the zebra and the commentator) but perhaps this is ICs way of showing us that everything we are coming up with is nowhere near what he/she has in mind. At any rate this was quite the funny little chapter as stated by others before me.
...Pilate. He's flaming.
Aaaaaah that was interesting. But Pilate, maybe it would do you well to calm down a bit.
Onwards!
2107348 Well played sir
Wooosh! Right over his head.
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Yes. That's how you pick up girls. Braid their hair. Thanks for the advice IC
2107333
One day Pilate, one day
2107571
He's been doing that for months. Why do you think Pilate is blind in the first place?
Pilate's probably confused. Less so than Eagle Eye, and in a different manner, but still confused.
that was good for a chuckle.
lol
2110623You are right in that sense. When I started the Evaluation Time way back in Austraeoh, I honestly meant for it to be a reviewing thing like you said an evaluation should be. But once I got into the story, I realized that no one, not even me, had a clue what was going on. (At the beginning, at least.) So I started trying to explain Austraeoh and interpret what was going on. So yes, it did develop into something different from what a true evaluation would be, but I prefer to write them this way. Everyone knows it's awesome, I don't need to keep telling them...
I'm really glad you like them, though!
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IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Oh, wow, that was funny...oh gawd...just...just give me a minute...
Okay, there I'm good. There's actually nothing else in this chapter...Pilate's ramblings at the beginning don't seem to have much significance. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
Pilate, its only if Eagle Eye asks to glamorize your mane that you have permission to worry. Actually, then it would be Belle's turn to don the jealousy pants. Because really, you can only resist the fabulosity that is EE for so long
In his defense, he did have a reasonable point there...
Somepony's jealous!
grace and peace,
-Psyco Josho
2108372 Maybe it's because you are the government, but I honestly imagine the queen being that OC profile pic of yours. Damn you
2107348
2426898 that would actually be pretty damn chilly if the Queen is a power-hungry batshit-insane crazy mare like the joker. Like Kim Il Sun basically.
PIlate's overthinking this. Also, that banter was nice, a good break from the action of before.
Pilate, you aren't one to be so jealous and defensive. But it's hilarious how EE's tru sweg has an effect on him.
hm, yeah that was that
oh jesus, I audibly laughed
i think that's the first time I've done that during this story
bravo
full marks
2107348 That's the most upvotes for a single comment I've seen so far. Well done, sir.
On topic:
5965270 From the gay guy reading the story. He gets another one from me.
Amazing how the most intelligent usually can't see the brutally obvious.
Bwhahahahaha!
As distracting and hilarious as the ending to the chapter was, I have a feeling that the beginning had some important hints.
6148365
Hey! I resent that!
It's not "common sense" to EVERYONE!
Don't laugh, cuz it might come true...
After Belle's sequenced on a random mercenary that is.
Pilate does not comprehend the gay.
That was absolutely hilarious, but I definitely think Pilate’s early diatribe was worth something. And no, I did not steal this from the guy a few comments below me, I actually thought that when reading the early bits of the chapter.