Little Antler

@@Rainbow Eclipse Antler stared at what had happened. 'Yup, he really wanted to become small to have some fun.', he thought. Now that he was alone again, perhaps there was some other ponies he could met in this party? Not knowing a lot about the castle, he picked any random direction and left the room.

@@Rainbow Eclipse Little Antler just watched as Riley asked a guest for magic, then was turned to a very small size. 'Well, that wasn't exactly what I was thinking... I guess he really wanted to see how a mouse hole looked from the inside.', he thought. Kneeling down and standing at the entrance of the hole, Antler asked: "Are you okay there?"

@@Rainbow Eclipse "Lots of spells?" Antler asked. "Magic really seems a lot of fun." "I wish I could use spells..." Antler frowned a little, before adding: "But I think it must be a lot of work controlling them. From my kind the only ones that know how to use magic are the elders... and they use some kind of talismans to do so." "Sir, perhaps you could ask it to a random unicorn?" Little Antler suddenly suggested. "I don't think they would mind doing a random act of kindness."

@@Rainbow Eclipse "Oh." Antler replied. "Well, I am new here. I sadly don't know anypony sir." He frowned. "But that gumball seems pretty small. Bliss said she couldn't resize you... but maybe she could levitate it?" Antler suggested. "I am not a wizard, but I don't think lifting it would take a lot of mana."

@@Rainbow Eclipse "I... see?" Little Antler had no idea what Riley was talking about. But it seemed like the stallion had some fun adventures with his friends. He could see his point, through: deep down he wondered how an ant hole would look from inside. He was pretty small, but not that small. Still, that hole caught his attention. He approached where Riley was, asking: "How small is the hole sir? Perhaps my hoof could fit there."

@@Rainbow Eclipse Little Antler was still feeling weird. Why did Riley want to be small? Was it because he was small too? Antler didn't like having to look up to see the other eyes. Antler suddenly noticed Riley peering into something. He hadn't noticed that it was because he had missed a gumball. The child caribou approached, asking: "Sir, is something there that caught your attention?"

@@Rainbow Eclipse,@@Lightning Bliss Antler looked at both of them with a weird expression. 'That stallion... want to become a caribou?' He wasn't sure what to say, it just sounded pretty strange to him. He looked at Riley, saying: "Sir, I take as a compliment that you want to know how my kind feels. I really cannot describe it, except that the winter gets comfy and the summer gets pretty hot. I think... you would feel warmer?"

@@Rainbow Eclipse @@Lightning Bliss "Really mister?" Antler eyes got bright, almost giving a small jump. He said excited: "So she is an expert archer? And she does it with only her hooves and her mouth? How much far can she hit? With how much precision? Does she teach others how to do it?" Then Antler noticed Blissy introducing him. "Oh sorry, sir, I forgot to do so. Yes sir, as Blissy said I am Little Antler. I am not from around here, coming from the far north." "...and I also got these." He finished, pointing to his growing antlers.

@@Rainbow Eclipse @Lightning Bliss "Errr... nice to meet you too, sir." He said, still a bit uncomfortable. He picked the stallion hoof and shacked it. Antler stared at him for a bit. He wasn't sure if he should share his personal quest... at least near Bliss. She could get even more worried. But he also hated lying either. After thinking a little he answered: "You could say it's a family matter. It's just... something that I need to do by myself." He stared at him for a bit longer, watching as he talked about some girl he never met. The young caribou wasn't very romantic, usually finding those love stories pretty boring. There was something however that caught his interest: archery. The little caribou suddenly interrupted Riley by saying: "Sir... did you say she is good with a bow? Do you... also use the bow?"

@@Rainbow Eclipse Antler stares at... he had no idea who that guy was. Or where he came from. Or how he heard what they were talking about. He looked at the stallion: he had a red coat, with gold mane and brown eyes. Scratching his antler, he wasn't sure of how he should react. Besides, why was the stallion inquiring such thing about himself? Was he a guard or something? His father once told him: when unsure of what to do it's always better to stop and listen. After thinking for a moment he replied with a question: "Huh... who are you sir?"

@@Lightning Bliss "Ah, don't worry about it.", Antler replied. He could see in Lightning's face that she was worried, which made him feel bad. He didn't want to make her worry about his problems. "This is a path I need to take myself. I don't want to put it on you." "Besides there is always plenty of adventure to be found. And I am in no rush to accomplish it either." He said with a smile, adding: "I also have a personal mission, so I am not actually lacking in ideas. You could say I am taking a time from it."

@@Lightning Bliss "Hmm..." He stopped, thinking a bit about it. While it seemed like something unique, he knew that wasn't what the caribou tribe demanded. "Thank you a lot Blissy..." He answered with a frown, adding: "...but I don't think they would consider this a feat. The other caribous feats usually involved life threatening danger. Like getting trapped in a cavern without supplies... grappling with a yeti... facing an ice elemental." "I dunno... I feel like it needs to be... riskier?", he completed.

@@Lightning Bliss "Being treated different... I know that feel." He said with a frown. He stopped a little, remembering about his homeland... he then continued: "I got beat a lot for being small. I always were small, smaller than all the other kids... so I was a easy target for them." "But I grew through it. My father kept teaching me how to defend, how to protect myself. They left me alone when I learned how to fend them back." He answered with a smile. "It made me strong, and they respected me for it." "About our marks... we get them when we complete a great feat. The elder or chieftain draws them in winter dye, which makes them pretty hard to remove. It's not... as magical as you described yours, Blissy." He replied. He then looked down a little, before adding: "I don't have one of those... just like I don't have title... because I still haven't completed a deed." "I guess that I am like your fillies and colts, on a life journey to find it." He then continued, suddenly bringing a happy smile out of nowhere: "But I think it's going pretty well. I have seen so much new stuff! I really like here a lot."

@@Lightning Bliss "Princess of peace?" He repeated, before continuing: "I see... that is your title because of what you do. Those from my clan also get their titles because of their deeds. My father for example is known as the Bane of Anthropoids... because he managed to defeat a frostbite spider all by himself." "So you don't have subjects? Your nobility remains on title?", he asked, before adding with a smile: "A princess... even if you have no kingdom, what you told me is a pretty big feat. You shouldn't be worried about it, you deserved it." Looking at Bliss' cutie-mark, he added: "I noticed that you guys had those stamps on your backs some time ago... I take that it's like our tattoos. When I get older I hope to get a pretty cool one." "I think that perhaps they enjoy being for themselves. I am not so sure the reason of why through.", he answered with a frown, then continuing: "But I really wish that didn't make you sad, Blissy."

@@Lightning Bliss "Dragons... well, I am familiar with ice drakes. They usually give a lot of trouble before being moved." He giggled. "Where is this Everfree Forest? It could be interesting give a look at it. Also, is this 'Tartarus' some kind of prison?" "That really seems very challenging Blissy." He smiled. "I couldn't suspect this, by watching those colorful buildings and roads. You guys must do a lot of work to keep this place safe." It was then that something caught his mind. "Wait... are you a princess too?" Antler asked. "You did say that you were an alicorn. Do you have our own kingdom... or are you the daughter of a king?"