An Everfree Excursion (20monkies)

[Dark Star]

Dark Star watched worriedly as Raven set herself to rush forward. Her eyes glowed as Raven took flight, rushing as fast as she could while the door/wall slammed shut, ungracefully snipping a few hairs from the silver mares tail. Instinctively, Dark Star levitated forward, dismounting from the cloud-although still focusing her magic on it-in order to check on her. She was exhausted by the look of it, her breath heavy, sweat forming all over the exposed portions of her body. Raven smiled at Dark Star once she had caught her breath, which earned a smile back from the dark mare after confirming she was safe. "I'm just glad to know that you're alright" Dark Star said, her face closing close to the others, followed by a comforting nuzzling between the twos muzzles. 

After their little moment, Dark Stars eyes shot open, her face bright red, as she backed away nervously. "I-I'm sorry about that, I-I was just so worried is all..." she struggled to explain. Dark Star always showed her emotion so subtly. She took a quick glance around and let out a small gasp. "...Rapture" she whispered. The two quickly found themselves in a large library, wall after wall filled to the brim with bookshelves filled with books of all varieties and from all eras. Dark Stars eyes beamed brightly in excitement, never before had she been in such a wondrous room. "Raven, are you seeing this?" the dark mare rhetorically asked. She started trotting around, sometimes even trotting in place out of excitement. Her red magical aura enveloped at least a dozen different books from all kinds of different directions, levitating them in a great spiral all around her body as she skimmed along the covers of each of them. 

She breathed in the smell of some them, a pungent, musky odor that only truly aged books possess. Dark Star went weak in the knees and let out a satisfied moan. "Such...there are no words to describe how I feel" she breathed dreamily as her horn flared up. She teleported over to Raven with an excited grin and glowing eyes as she wrapped a foreleg around the silver mares shoulder. "Everything has now been worth it, especially since you're here with me" she said with a happy voice. With her leg still wrapped around the silver pegasus, Dark Star levitated a few books over and cracked them open, the old scent resonating in her nostrils. "I could spend hours just sitting here like this, reading away at the text, examining the artifacts, the things we can do are almost endless" she chirped. 

[20monkies]

It took a moment for Raven to realize what was going on, as soon as she had crossed the threshold of danger. She was on the lookout and taking care of Dark Star, something that came to her naturally with her companions. But what truly caught her by surprise was the fact that Dark Star had leaned forward and nuzzled her muzzle.

Her own shining eyes widened, her cheeks warming as she pulled herself back on instinct. She was not used to physical contact of that sort, and any sort of affection that was put towards her was usually unknown to her. So in those seconds, as the dark mare apologized, Raven shook her head, her mane falling in tendrils all over her face, draping down in cascading waves.

"Don't worry so much. I am quite capable. I am sorry for causing you stress in worrying about me." She smiled, a little antsy as she felt herself automatically putting her guard up. When the other looked around and exclaimed her findings, Raven had to gaze around herself to see where exactly they really were.

A library of sorts, filled to the brim with aging books and scrolls. There were shelves upon shelves of dusty readings, pedestals lining up and down the length of the room with ancient artefacts and Raven took in a deep breath. Despite it having been closed off, it still had an air of freshness to it, mingling with the musky odor of dust and paper. Whoever had come in here must have let in some forest air when they entered the room itself.

Her eyes searched the ground for any additional hoof prints or markings that would indicate which direction the said pony had gone in, but that was as far as dust and dirt went on the ground. It was all shuffled and moved, most likely from the air, so there was no clue present for the mares to follow after.

She took a few steps forward, being cautious with each step but sure that there couldn't possibly be any booby-traps in the library. The excitement that Dark Star displayed was entertainment enough as it was, a smile automatically gracing Raven's lips.

"I am so glad that you are happy with the outcome. I had no idea… such books existed. I have been to the Canterlot Archives before, but never have I seen such artefacts of writing in my entire life." She gazed longingly at a particular row of books, plucking one out to read the dusty covers. It was foreign, the writing itself, so Raven was sure there were languages even unknown to them between the covers of some of these books.

"I believe we should be safe here, for the time being. If you really want to spend your time reading, go ahead." Raven had her eyes peeled, taking in every little detail that she could. A few books lay open and piled up on the desks that were scattered throughout the library. She gazed over a few of the ones that were opened to particular pages, and magical spells and historical text were evidently present. Looking towards Dark Star, Raven cleared her throat.

"I'll be close at hand, if you need me… I'm going to take a look around, if you do not mind." A small giggle escaped her before she continued down a row of shelves, admiring the intricate bindings of some of the late writings. Even the tapestries that decorated the library hall itself had a sense of majestic beauty to it. Raven was intrigued, staring at the artwork in admiration.

[Dark Star]

The two mares sat/stood and examined the library with gusto. Dark Stars eyes scanned across the surface of each page of each book she read with a deep glow. She could read one series of text from the rest, yet she would never be satisfied until her eyes rolled out of her head. She heard Raven mention a few details, such as how the two would be safe for the time being, also that she was free to read if she so desired. "I have every intention to" the black-and-red unicorn responded. While she didn't normally didn't indulge herself in such an act, she couldn't help but do so in such a place. Her mind was focused entirely on the pages she skimmed through, absorbing one sizable chunk of knowledge after another.

Raven mentioned how she'd be close-by should she need her, bringing a further smile to the bright-eyed mare. She could hear Ravens hoof-steps upon the marble floor and kept a specific position of the silver mare by utilizing her keen hearing. As long as she could hear Raven, she could find her. She had done so several times during the many trips she had to take in the forest due to her work. She simply pin-pointed the locations she could hear noises coming from and took soft strides to make certain as to not confuse her own hoof-steps for others.

After a few more successful pages read, Dark Star looked up and saw that her focus on the cloud she came in on was slipping. To rectify her mistake, she pulled the cloud closer to her with her magic, the red glow becoming brighter as she renewed the time leftover on the spell. 'I can't allow such a spell to expire before we've even left' she thought as she performed the action. As she focused on it, she saw no sign of Raven anywhere. She closed her eyes and listened carefully. She heard hoof-steps in the distance and let out a sigh of relief. "Good, so she had kept her promise after-all" she spoke under her breath. She went back to her reading and waited for Ravens return.

[20monkies]

As she gazed upon the various titles lining up and down the book shelves, Raven noticed something odd. A book, laying spread open and face down with it's pages folded in upon itself. There were plenty other books in the same manner, but this one for some reason or another caught her attention. Slowly, she approached it and touched it with her hoof. There was no telling if any of these books were enchanted with magic or spell books that gave off a wave of unwanted energy.

Raising the book up to herself, she blew off the dust that had settled upon it's spine and cover, wiping away at the letters that were emblazoned in gold ink. Her eyes widened, awed by the discovery. Raven had read many books in her life, and spent as much time learning about anything and everything she came across. But this was something different altogether.

She placed the book carefully upon her back as she continued down the aisles, stopping momentarily. There was a sound, a shuffling. Raven turned the corner around one of the tall book shelves and saw that Dark Star was muzzle deep in a book.

Again, there was that shuffling and Raven was quite sure it wasn't her companion's doing. Her ears perked in the direction the sound was coming from, and her guard was raised. She didn't know if she wanted to alert Dark Star, seeing that she had already been frightened from earlier at the possibility of another pony lingering these walls. But at the same time, it would have been best to stick close to her newfound friend instead of heading off in the direction on her own.

Raven Feather back stepped, keeping her eye locked in the direction she suspected the noise coming from. There was some ripping of paper, and a thud. Her icy eyes quickly turned towards Dark Star and she gently cleared her throat.

"Dark Star…" she whispered softly, "You hear that, do you not?" gesturing with her hoof towards the noise. Another sound of a thud, Raven suspecting that a book had been dropped to the ground. The noise echoed, despite how congested the library appeared.

[Dark Star]

As Dark Star was intimately reading, she heard a multitude of different sounds coming from all over the bookshelf-ridden halls. She'd concluded that it was Raven's doing for the most part, but became a bit more concerned as the sounds inconsistently shifted to places she knew for certain Raven wasn't even close to. The dark mare's eyes began to glow slightly, her heartbeat increasing subtly as the fight-or-flight instinct started to appear. She wanted to run away and not look back so badly, yet she couldn't just leave her friend behind. Perish the thought. She merely held still while she kept her gaze on the book she was reading, making certain to mentally mark the places where the sounds were coming from. 

After a bit, a nervous-looking Raven came out from around the corner and asked if she had heard the strange noise, to which Dark Star nodded. She levitated her cloud over and climbed on it as carefully and as quietly as possible. After doing so, she turned and floated over to Raven, her eyes glowing a brighter red than before. "We should ascend to the ceiling, that way we can avoid being noticed and maybe find out what we're dealing with" she whispered. While she normally wasn't one for thinking under pressure, Dark Star certainly knew how to avoid being noticed. Truthfully, she just waned to hide somewhere this mysterious individual wouldn't think to look, but with Raven standing right there, she was obligated to inform her of her intentions. Without any further hesitations, she levitated her cloud-based locomotion higher until she'd been just a few inches from the ceiling. 

[20monkies]

The sounds continued, and then went quiet for a bit. Raven held her head up high, craning her neck to see if she could peer through the tops of books between the shelves. But there was nothing that she could see from where she was. Her own protective nature was kicking in, wanting to make sure Dark Star was kept safe yet at the same time she knew she might need her help if she could.

There was no telling if it was friend or foe that was lingering close to them.

Gazing back towards Dark Star, she watched as the other raised herself up towards the ceiling. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Raven knew that might not be the best idea. After all, she had deducted reasoning that the pony they were dealing with could fly just as well as either of them at this present moment. A scraping sound was heard, followed by the clip-clop of hooves landing firmly on the ground. Quickly, Raven reached beneath her cloak and into her saddlebag, drawing out a short blade – a knife, with intricate carvings in the shapes of dragons and flames – and held it out between her teeth.

The sounds came to a stop again.

Then, around the corner came a figure wearing a tattered brown cloak and face hooded just as Raven's was a while ago. A bulk of dark black hair streaked with silver spilled out from beneath the hood, cat-eye shaped glasses perched upon muzzle, framing her pale blue face. She had matching icy blue eyes, and for a moment Raven's heart skipped a beat. She appeared familiar, but she did not know from where and who.

The mare that stood before them seemed shocked as well in turn to see a knife drawn at the ready.

"What are you…" she broke off, and then noticed the book upon Raven's back. She gasped, and pointed a hoof towards Raven. "Where did you get that?" Raven was tempted to glance over her back to see what, but she knew it might be a trick.

"I am not falling for that one. Who are you, and what are you doing here, ripping pages out of ancient texts?"

"I could ask the same of you, young one." She said, and Raven gripped the knife tighter with her teeth. The silver gnashing against her teeth felt odd, scraping and sending shudders up and down her spine. But she was used to handling it, and she kept firm in her place. Her eyes drifted upwards quickly to make sure Dark Star was fine where she was before returning her gaze upon the other.

"I am not the one defacing property... are you a friend, or enemy?" She had to ask, but it seemed within moment's the other figure swept herself forward in a flurry, her wings spreading out from beneath the tattered cloak and snatching the book off her back. Raven was taken back from the backlash of wind created, her knife dropping without much ado. A gasp escaped her as she gripped the ground with her hooves and looked at the other as she disappeared to the other side.

"Dark Star! Do you see which way she is going?" She had to think quickly, knowing that the dark mare was at an advantage from the height she was at to look over the tops of the book shelves. Raven also did not want to leave her alone and rush away to chase after this new face. Or someone that might be familiar to her...

"I'm going after her. Please, hurry with me! That book – it is of value to me!"

[Dark Star]

Dark Star watched carefully as Raven pulled a knife out from her saddlebag, then gripped it tightly in her teeth. The dark mare's heart beat faster with each passing second as she looked all over the library, stopping immediately to lock onto her target; a pale-blue pegasus with black-and-silver hair spilling out a tattered, old cowl. Dark Star grit her teeth in anticipation of a fight, but remained silent to keep her location from being discovered. She watched as the two exchanged words and accusations of who was ripping apart all these books, bringing a harsh scowl across Dark Star's muzzle. After having asked if this new pony was ally or foe, the latter wasted no time playing and make a break for it, rushing passed Raven and leaving the silver-and-red pegasus stunned. Raven called up to Dark Star to make certain to keep an eye on her while she left to give chase. 

While her heart was beating, her eyes were focusing on the runaway pegasus, locking onto the exit where she was headed. With no hesitation on her part, Dark Star teleported right of front of the runaway, momentarily blinding the pegasus with a brilliant flash of red light, the likes of which made her trip just before the dark mare's figure. Dark Star noticed how the other mare kept her head on the ground, so with a momentary flash in her eyes, she angrily stomped her right fore-hoof on the ground, the resulting boom enforcing a startled yelp in the tripped-up pegasus. She looked up, initially angry, but quickly fell into despair from the other sight; A jet-black, nightmarish-looking unicorn with bright red eyes piercing through your very soul, towering over her with an intense glare.

The pegasus started breathing heavily, letting out a loud scream as her sanity finally broke. She was on her haunches, crawling away backwards while trying to avert her eyes from the terrifying gaze Dark Star was presenting. After a bit of struggling, she managed to stand up and started to gallop away until she hit a red wall, the likes of which was created by Dark Star herself. The black-and-red unicorn focused her magic all around the pegasus until the wall re-formed into a solid dome of red magic. The pegasus panicked, violently thrashing all against the domes insides, but to no avail. She looked over her back and noticed the book was missing, but then her jaw dropped as she found it, only to be held under the hoof of the unicorn responsible for trapping her. Dark Star continued her glare while Raven finally caught up to her. "I've got her in my magic, there's no way she'll escape now" she told her friend in a surprisingly dark tone. 

[20monkies]

Raven knew that Dark Star could see the direction in which the other went. And in a flash, they were both heading in the same path – Raven's own wings spread to help her sweep through the library. She wound around the book shelves with ease, narrowly avoiding getting caught at a dead end before turning around and watching above her to follow Dark Star.

Her heart was racing just as fast, no doubt anticipation building up inside of her. She just had to know – needed to know – who this mysterious Pegasus was. There was something about her that looked so familiar, someone whom she had been searching for years without a trace of her existence… it couldn't possibly be –

The trespasser halted to a stop just as Dark Star appeared in front of her. She had taken a step back, unaware of what was happening until she was sealed off in a glaring red box. She banged her shoulder against it to break free, but to no avail. A scowl appeared on her face as well, yelling at the unicorn.

"Excuse me, but would you please let me out!? This is completely uncalled for! The nerve!" She was frustrated, and upon noticing the book under the other's hoof frowned, deep lines settling at the corners of her eyes.

Raven Feather found the pair, but stopped just short as she noticed what Dark Star had done. She came up to her, a little taken aback. She could see, the magic that she had trapped her in. And Raven gently placed a hoof on the other's shoulder, breathless from the chase.

"Dark Star, I believe that is quite unnecessary. I'm sure she will step down and give us the answers we want. Am I correct?" She turned to the mare, raising a brow.

The mare crossed her hooves over her chest, looking away momentarily. There was hesitation in the other's body language, Raven Feather could tell.

"If we un-shield you, will you not fly away from us?"

"I cannot promise you such things. You are just as much responsible for trespassing on this property, with your own reasons. I have my own, and I do not require to give such explanations." Raven Feather sighed and turned to look at Dark Star once more.

She saw the book, and pointed towards it.

"Dark Star, you got the book from her. How…" shaking her head, she let the question drop. At least the book was safe, and Raven could finally get some answers she had been looking for in them.

"I believe you can let her go. As long as she does not take this away from me. May I?" she asked, holding her own hoof out for it.

[Dark Star]

Dark Star raised an eyebrow of her own when Raven mentioned the superfluous nature of her imprisoning the other pegasus. "It's just a safety precaution" she explained bluntly. She looked back at the mare that she imprisoned and found her fore-legs crossed over her chest. At least there was nothing she could do to escape, even if she wanted to. And there was certainly no way Dark Star would allow this runaway to escape so easily. Still, she couldn't help but submit to Raven's will. Just because she was cold to the trapped mare now didn't mean that she only had ice in her veins. She gave the pegasus a concerned look and eased up on the magical hold slightly, giving her just enough room to stick her head out and then close the opening tight to keep her from getting out, though still giving her enough room to breathe.

The next thing to come to her attention was Raven attempting to question how she got the book back. Curiously though, she stopped and focused on the condition of their little prisoner. "She dropped it when I appeared in front of her, I guess something about me just startled her. I have no idea what though...?" she wondered. She had time to worry about her appearance later though, as an interrogation was in order to find out whatever reasoning she may have had to inspire her to do all this. Raven held her hoof out for the book and Dark Star slid it over to her carefully. "I still don't trust her not to make a break for it, but I guess you may be right about her treatment" she stated as she completely undid the dome-prison. "I have my eyes locked on you though, so don't even think about trying to escape us again" she told the pegasus sternly.

[20monkies]

"Oh, you must be delusional! Nothing startled me at all!" It was quite evident their new 'friend' was refusing to admit her own plight when she had become trapped in Dark Star's magical grasp. Raven couldn't help continue to watch the other, openly amazed at her denial of it. She did not let that be the topic to linger, though, as the book was handed back to Raven, grasping it carefully as though it were a young foal.

The magical dome became undone, and the mare sat there continuing to watch the two with a serious expression on her face. Sure, she may have been tempted to fly away at this point but Raven had something she had been looking for, and the two mares intended to find out what.

Raven Feather smiled at Dark Star, grateful that she eased up on the Pegasus in front of them.

"You know, I do wonder. Considering that this is a hand written complement of magical instrument's designed and sold in Equestria, I can't help ask why you of all ponies would be searching for it as well." She raised a brow again, holding the fragile piece of literature close to her chest.

The Pegasus stay put where she was, her head turned with her hood fallen off of her head. Her black hair was curly and in thick waves around her face, tied messily against the back of her head. She looked dreadful, in a way a homeless pony could if they hadn't taken care of themselves in ages.

"Must I answer that? Perhaps we are searching for the same information." Raven glanced at Dark Star, unsure of how to approach the mare now. It didn't appear she would be making a break for it any time soon. But of course, since Raven held what she needed the most.

"You could merely have just asked, instead of darting off with the book." Raven said frustrated, rubbing a hoof to her forehead.

"Dark one." The mare was now looking at Dark Star. "Would you not do the same, if you found what you have been looking for all your life?" She had a serious expression on her face, her icy blue eyes piercing the other with great intensity.

[Dark Star]

Dark Star stood in complete silence as the two pegasus' little back-and-forth continued, neither side giving so much as an inch toward any compromise. She sighed and began to think of how something like this could happen; a bookish mare such as the one they encountered was so smitten with one particular read that she didn't hesitate to try and steal it right from under them. What could possibly be so important about a book such as that anyway? Such a question must be answered much sooner than later. For now, she merely observed how the two mares acted. The glasses-wearing one seemed to be quite frustrated at having been defeated, whereas Raven looked frustrated for a much different reason. She'd have observed longer had the thief not directly interacted with her, asking what she'd have done in a similar situation.

"I wouldn't resort to stealing the item, if that's what you're asking. If some conflict were to arise, then I'd try my best to find a compromise. It's what any logical mind would do" she huffed as she returned the gaze, her own fiery-red eyes attempting to burn the other just by glaring at her. "No matter what the importance this book possesses to you, it's no excuse for your actions. What is the importance of this book anyway, and while we're throwing questions around, just who are you?" she asked in a demanding tone. She and Raven seemed to form an excellent good cop-bad cop team, the former having played the part of bad cop surprisingly well. 'I suppose all those moments I was scolding Slipstream must be paying off' she thought as she awaited the response from their little 'friend'.

[20monkies]

The older Pegasus rubbed a hoof against her chin, watching Dark Star intensely from behind her cat-eyed glasses. She listened to her attentively, and couldn't help laughing at her.

She seemed maniacal, and Raven Feather only frowned at such a display of action. Her own blue eyes turned to Dark Star, concerned that this pony may have just gone mad and wanted to mess around with them for no reason at all. Perhaps because she knew just how important this book was to her…

"Oh, I have my own reasons. Just as you have your own reasons to want it as well. If I may be so bold to say, that you two are wasting your time here questioning me on a rather pointless topic. Besides…" She stood up now, and Raven's stance widened, taking her ground more firmly in case the other tried anything funny. The mare's gaze drifted to her, and the grin that was present on her face made Raven falter in place. "… the only pony that can tell you who I am is standing there before you. I am quite sure that what answers you seek, Raven Feather, are not in that book."

Raven stared at her with wider eyes, taking a step forward.

"How do you know…"

"Here isn't the best place to discuss these matters, but I know that you, young one, have many questions that only I can answer. You merely need to search for me, if you can."

With a gust of swirling wind and beating wings, the mare disappeared in a flurry of dust and clouds, leaving in her wake nothing but the quiet lingering presence of her being there moments before.

Raven looked around wildly, seeing the figure of the mare disappearing through a cracked opening in the ceiling above them.

"Wait!" She had opened her wings to fly after her. But Raven stopped herself, realizing the book was still with her and Dark Star was by her side. Raven didn't want to leave her, she didn't want to desert her friend after a pony that was most likely the whole reason behind her being alive today.

The Pegasus looked at the dark unicorn with confusion ridden all over her expression, no words coming to her mind in that moment.

After a beat of silence, she sighed and sat down in exhaustion.

"Dark Star… I have a fear that she may be some pony I have been searching for all of my life. And she has left me with only more questions than answers. Such riddling thoughts!" She groaned, pressing both her hooves to her face.

[Dark Star]

When the glasses-wearing pegasus started laughing it her, Dark Star practically blew her top. She wanted nothing more than to shut that insubordinate mouth of hers so bad, she was just so livid. Her eyes seemed to burn at an intensity she didn't think was possible for a while, though she had to cross her front legs together in order to keep from doing anything she'd regret. It was strenuous in itself to keep from locking this pegasus away in a magical dome, but she didn't want Raven thinking of her as a cruel pony, so she had no choice but to leave the mare unharmed. 'It doesn't mean I can't curse her from the confines of my mind though' she thought scornfully. 

After another back-and-forth between the glasses-wearing mare and Raven, the former managed to escape through a crack in the ceiling. Dark Star was caught completely off-guard by it, but what surprised her even more was how she had managed to know something about Raven. The latter had almost flown away when she suddenly stopped. In a fit of anger, Dark Star harshly stomped her right fiery-red hoof against the floor, the boom of the appendage thundering throughout the room loudly. She was right there in front of her, and yet she had managed to get away. How could something like that just happen!? Dark Star grit her teeth, her eyes nearly dying the light of the entire room red. 

Her moment of rage soon passed, however, as Raven suddenly brought her thoughts around. She seemed even more stressed out than the dark unicorn herself as she pressed her fore=hooves against her face. Feeling slightly calmer, she walked over and placed a hoof on the pegasus' shoulder, smiling warmly at her. "It's alright. We still have the book, and something tells me we can use to get back at her" she comforted while secretly scolding herself for just letting the pegasus escape like that. She removed her hoof and then sat down on her haunches, still keeping her smile on the pegasus as she thought about their next course of action. 

[20monkies]

As the dust settled around the two mares, Raven finally dropped her hooves and looked up at Dark Star, her eyes shining brightly.

The gentle touch of hoof against her arm was comforting, even warming to her being. It made her calmer, but it didn't change the fact that the mare that disappeared with the wind had left many questions whirling like a tornado in her mind

Dark Star was a good friend, and Raven was thankful for her company. If there was anything the two of them could do together was solve this mystery as a team. The book lay between the two ponies, her gaze falling down upon the literature.

"Perhaps, but another part of me is telling me that it may be hopeless. I am most positive she is right, and that she may hold the answers to my questions." She looked up at Dark Star, and there was a strange shadow that fell over her expression. "You see, my mother was a small town musician, but quite well known in most parts. To this day, I still do not know her real name to aid me in tracking her down. It is why I have travelled across the lands, simply to find news of her whereabouts. That is why I have turned to books. To historical archives, anything that would keep record of her identity. Or even a sign of where she had her instrument made…"

Gently, Raven drew out a wooden flute from her saddlebag and lay it across the top of the book. It was a beautifully carved piece of art, with intricate designs running up and down it's length. Part floral, part mystical.

"This book, a complement of magical instrument's designed and sold in Equestria might give me a clue to who made my mother's flute." A sigh escaped her as she replaced the precious instrument back into her saddlebag. "Perhaps that pony might know who she is, how she looked, any identification that would aid my search. For all I can hope…" Raven paused, looking Dark Star seriously into her eyes, "maybe she IS my mother."

[Dark Star]

Once again, Dark Star put her listening skills to work, hearing Raven out and finding out what she needed to know. Apparently, Raven was searching for clues that would've led to her mother, whom of which the pegasus didn't seem to know much about. It made some strange sense to the dark unicorn, how she had gone on a journey across the country in search of her unknown mother. It was almost...like something she'd read from a novel. Regardless, she felt as though she needed to be there for Raven during this time, especially when the latter made an inquiry about the possibility of the pegasus that escaped them actually being her mother.

Dark Star wasn't certain how to think of that. While that mare had been incredibly insightful about Raven, she was also incredibly cryptic and left to many questions lying in her wake. Still, she couldn't try to depress Raven with the thought of her possible mother being somepony else. Still, she had to say something to her. "Hmm..." she wondered aloud, her mind trying to find a way to speak itself without insinuating anything.  "We can't deny the fact that she may know something about your mother. Although, personally, I don't really think that she could actually be your mother, that just sounds like a really bad sci-fi plot twist" she commented as she gave Raven a small smile. "Still, that pegasus is somepony important to you, and I assure you that we'll find her" she ultimately said.