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?"

@@Lightning Bliss "Ah yes, miss. No, I mean Blissy." He quickly corrected himself. "I am kinda of used at saying miss... but I will remember to call you Blissy." "At least I will try." He nodded. "Well, I think they are used in living on our territory alone. I had heard some stories about bad blood, something from much time ago..." He said, trying to recollect. "But I am not very familiar with them. I just know that my elders said that the tundra belonged to us, the green belonging to others. Some kind of deal or pact I guess." When she asked why he was away from home, he jumped a bit. He didn't necessarily want to answer that question... but decided that it was better to just spill the beans. "I just... I guess I just wanted to see something different. I wanted to see how the green looked like. So I left." "I knew it could be dangerous, but I am confident in myself, miss... no, I mean Blissy." He said, giving another nod. "I really didn't know what to expect here... but I am not afraid of getting hurt either!" "I just like the feeling of adventure.", he smiled. "If the green is as dangerous as they said, I want to face it."

@@Lightning Bliss "Huh huh, miss. I guess so.", he frowned. "The chieftain once said that foreigners were usually followed by trouble. He told me that it's better that everyone stay in their own territories." Little Antler noticed that he hadn't started drinking the glass that the alicorn had gave him. He hadn't even noticed it, just putting it on a nearby table. He looked at it: it seemed a little thin for someone who didn't have fingers. His people knew how to make glasses, but they were usually thick. That helped them a lot with grabbing with their hooves. 'Well, those without horns and wings can do it...', he thought to himself. He picked the glass with his two front hooves and stared at it for a few seconds. Normally he would use his tongue to drink the contents, but he hasn't sure that would be very polished. He decided to just quickly turn it on his mouth, drinking the contents on a single gulp. The taste was pretty good, clearly beating snow berry wine. Resting the glass on the table, he answered: "Spring? Hmm... where I live there are some plants who only sprout on spring. The tundra gets pretty beautiful too. Now I wonder how your spring look like?" "Everything is so beautiful here." He smiled.

@@Lightning Bliss "Got it, miss.", he answered with a nod. 'Taking a train?', he thought. While the idea sounded pretty cool, his father would probably have an attack if he arrived with that thing. He wasn't sure if a huge metal vehicle would be useful in the snow, either. It seemed... kinda cumbersome. "Miss? Taking a train?" He asked. "We use coal for making metal tools... but I think that it would take a really big amount of coal to make that thing walk." Hearing about her cold sickness, he saw a connection. "Really? You cannot take the cold? My father told me that we caribou work the opposite: it's the warm weather that hurts us. I usually don't feel much cold, really. My body is always pretty warm." "Right." He said, admiring her wings. "I guess those really help. Flying must be so awesome." "Well, each of our houses have chieftains... or jarls, if you prefer. They all answer to the high king. The high king is usually the most able, wise and stronger between all of us, his house being the strongest one too.", he explained. "He mostly takes care of his own house however, only stepping in when there is a conflict or a menace that affects all of us."

@@Lightning Bliss "Hmm, I think I got it.", he said, giving her a nod. "I was wondering because I saw some metal and wood lines in at the base of the snowy mountains. My father told me that they belonged to a train, saying it was some kind of metal transport. He didn't tell me how it moved through." He shrugged a bit, before continuing. "Then I saw a train here. It seemed like a huge monster made of metal squares. I wondered if it was something alive or possibly animated." "From what you told me, it's kinda like a lantern? It does something as long it's has fuel?", he asked.

@@Lightning Bliss Antler noticed the blush on the alicorn cheeks. His compliment was successful. Perhaps he just needed a bit more confidence. He heard Lightning question, noticing that she was doing her best to don't push it. Perhaps by opening himself he could help the alicorn get more comfortable? "Yeah, miss. It's pretty challenging." He answered with a nod, before continuing: "The tundra is tough, but we are tougher. My father always told me this. The tundra made us tough, just so that we could survive in her embrace." "We are all fighters. And we like fighting. We like challenges." Little Antler said, now feeling kinda proud. "I may be small, but my father said that I am thicker than everyone from my age. And I guess... that is part of me?" "So don't feel uncomfortable by asking this." Little Antler answered with a smile, all his previous shyness leaving him. "I am satisfied with my roots, with the things I did... and there is still a lot more I want to accomplish too." He stopped talking for a bit, before continuing: "Share things from pony life? Okay. Let me see..." He thought for a bit, trying to figure out something interesting to say. He finally remembered something that was bugging him for some time. He asked: "Miss, what is a train?"

@@Lightning Bliss 'How does exactly someone become a completely new race?', he wondered. He wasn't necessary oblivious to magic, some creatures of the tundra being magical in nature. Still, becoming a new race... that was pretty interesting to ponder. A mix of three races... did their power mix together making a being of impressive power... or did they mix in a creature with both powers and flaws? Her body was pretty different from the average ponies, was this also result of being an alicorn? He watched as she talked, kind of cringing when she said birth defects. They didn't seem to be defects for him. Defects sounded like they were something undesirable, like being born without a leg. They were actually cute features. Well, most of the ponies he met were naturally cute. Antler felt compelled to say something, anything. It was kind of sad that someone who had beaten so many challenges still didn't know how to use sweet words... but perhaps those things came naturally. Little Antler put a smile on his face, the kid caribou replying: "I wouldn't call those defects miss. They kinda of fit into you. I wouldn't mind having those." He had a lot of other questions about alicorns. Where they came from? How did she exactly become one? And many others... but he noticed that she didn't want to talk about it. He concluded it was better to let it go. Answering her new question he said: "Yes, miss, I never had come this far before. I came from the tundra, the harsh snow. Our kind doesn't actually has much contact with yours. We mostly prefer to stay in our own borders." He stopped a little, before adding: "This was my first chance to be so far away from home. Things are so much more colorful here... it's feel strange being able to walk without worrying about getting into trouble." "Well, life threatening trouble." He finished with another smile.

@@Lightning Bliss Little Antler watched as the mare answered her question. He noticed that her eyes suddenly filling with joy, wondering what she was thinking about. As she finished answering, her answer seemed a bit short and incomplete... but maybe she didn't want into details about it. He listened as she quickly returned him with a question. 'She seems a bit shy', he thought. Anyway, he didn't see a problem in answering them: "Yes, I am new in this Canterlot miss." He looked a bit up, thinking how to best answer her second question. "Yup, I am kinda new in these lands. It was not much time ago that I have saw pegasi and unicorns. I knew about ponies, but I didn't know much about those..." "I take that pegasi are those with wings... and unicorns are those with horns. But I still haven't figured out how they work." He added, before continuing: "Magic kinda fill this gap... I think." As he said those words, he noticed that Lightning also had a pair of wings. She did move them as she talked before, too. Feeling curious he asked: "Miss, you have both of them. Are you a pegasi or an unicorn?"

@@Lightning Bliss Little Antler had successfully followed the scent of food to a big room. Inside of it was a table filled with strange geometry things, seemingly like little breads. Alongside them were little olives and near were container with a little of cheese. Olives and cheese were pretty rare to come to his home, but he remembered that they were pretty good. He wasn't sure about those little squares and circles, through. As he questioned if he really wanted to put those things inside him, his stomach reminded that he was still empty. When hungry anything goes, at least that was what his father used to say. For someone who was used to eat winter lichen those things shouldn't prove much of a challenge. He stared at them, wondering what would be the best way to start eating. He watched what some of the other ponies were doing: some of those with wings would use them as grapple to hold the food, others with mysterious horns in their face would make colored magic, bringing the food into their mouths. Those who lacked both appendages would somehow grab them with their hooves, or grab the things with their mouths and carefully push them inside. Deciding what would be the best method, Antler approached one of the little squares and bited it.He was too strong, the cracker breaking in half. At least half of it was safely inside his mouth, ready to be crushed. Said and done, he quickly chewed and gulped it down. He preferred more tasteful things, but still better than lichen. He then approached again the table, taking the rest of the cracker inside of him. It kinda of seemed a lot of effort to eat something so small. He was still hungry through... and there were a lot of those edible squares. He knew that manners usually demanded that guests ate with moderation, but it was really hard to get inside there. The minimum he could ask for was getting a full stomach. Sending care out of the window he started to eat a lot of crackers. Hopefully those things would be enough to keep his body going. As he merciless attacked the table, however, he felt someone bumping behind him. Turning back he saw a white pony with some kind of horn on her head, a pair of wings. He quickly turned back, gulping down whatever was in his mouth and using his hoof to clear any remnant of crackers that were on his face. He then turned back, giving a smile and saying: "Hello miss Lightning Bliss." Remembering pretty well his manners, he gave her a small bow. It was the minimum courtesy someone should do to another... or at least that was what he believed. "My name is Little Antler, of house Typhoon. I am Little Antler because I have a pair of antlers and I am pretty small." 'Maybe this is a good opportunity to figure out what those things are.', he thought. He kept seeing ponies using those horns to do strange things with some kind of magic. "You also have some type of horn on your head... does it have some kind of special power?", he asked. "I keep seeing ponies releasing some kind of energy from them, which they use to pick things without touching."

((OOC: My OC got his ticket from a fighting competition. The story of how he got to the Gala is a bit long, so I will put a link when I finish writing it down. Edit: fixed some grammar.)) After what was quite a difficult quest, Little Antler had finally succeeded at entering the Gala. And it was worth it: the castle of Canterlot was even more impressive from the inside. He looked at the fancy ponies walking around the place: mares dressed in dresses, stallions wearing tuxedos. The environment was also pretty sophisticated, the little child admiring the smooth colored walls and the nice music filling the environment. Right at the first room he noticed a wall mirror. He stopped a little, standing besides it: the short and young caribou was completely naked, except by the black bow tie in his neck. His clothing seemed kinda poor in comparison to the other ponies, but now it was too late to consider changing it. He also didn't have the money to buy something better anyway. He stopped, fixing the bow tie that was a bit out of place. His belly and his leg were still bruised, but thankfully his fur was covering them. The only thing that was really attention-getting was his small pair of antlers, the fact being that he was the only one who had them. He also hadn't saw any other caribous entering through the gate. Hopefully this wouldn't bring unnecessary attention to him. Well, nonetheless he was at the Gala. Now the question is: what should he do here? Before he could think of something to do, his belly immediately answered it by giving a small growl. Antler suddenly remembered that the whole day he hadn't eaten anything... and the scent of food was starting to fill his nostrils. His mouth started to salivate, his body demanding sustenance. Well, eating sounded perfect. He started following the scent of food, advancing deeper into the party...

@ Cool. So... should I start by posting how my OC found a ticket? Or should I put it here?