private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with DwhitetheGamer

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight returned Copper's confused look. "A tabloid is like a magazine or newspaper that prints the sort of stories and such that official newspapers won't print. My tabloid prints the stories of things that Celestia didn't want her ponies to know about, the news from other nations and such mostly. But also an occasional article on a bit of history that she's edited. From the revenue sheets I've been recieving I know their doing pretty well. And yes, it is based in Canterlot."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper nodded.  He had figured it was a newspaper, but he wasn't quite sure.  "Maybe I should get my own subscription.  You know, to keep up with what's happening with the world and what-not.  Hopefully I could get more insight to the history of Canterlot than what I do know."

 

He chuckled afterwards.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"I don't know if they deliver out to Ponyville, but getting a subscription shouldn't be too hard. You might even get a discount for knowing me."

 

It wasn't long before they reached the base of the mountain and began the long trek across the plains.

 

"According to my memory of the area, we can take the more direct route which involves passing through the Drakenridge mountains to the north of Dragon Mountain, or we can go a bit further south, walking along the coast north of Manehatten and pass through the Mountains to the south of Dragon mountain. The southern pass is much easier, but a bit longer of a route."

Edited February 28, 2016 by Illiad Easle

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper nodded.  He liked having something to take his mind off of boredom for a while, and besides, he needed to find out more about the history of Equestria know that he knew it wasn't as it seemed.

 

He thought for a second, concerning which path to take.

 

"We can take the path on the coast north of Manehattan.  I went that way a while ago, and I did stop to gaze at the scenery there before finishing the trip."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight nodded, directing their course southward to skirt the bottom edge of the Shimmerwood forest. As they crossed the river at the bend Midnight turned towards Copper. "Well, we certainly have a long walk ahead of us, are there any outstanding questions you'd like answered about the colony?'

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper thought for a few seconds, wondering what kind of questions he had about the colony.  He had thought of a couple, but he didn't know if they sounded right.  But he asked one of them anyway.  "Uh, yeah.  I have a couple questions.  Are the Order kind of leaders of the colony?  Or are they second in command to Black Knight or yourself?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight pondered the question for a bit. "Sir and I lead the colony in a sort of advisory sense. Each of the three sections of the colony have their own leaders, but they come to us when they need direction. The children have the order, the Thestrals have the decedents of Fastar, and the zebra act fairly collectively with their shamans having the most respect."

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight pondered the question for a bit. "Sir and I lead the colony in a sort of advisory sense. Each of the three sections of the colony have their own leaders, but they come to us when they need direction. The children have the order, the Thestrals have the decedents of Fastar, and the zebra act fairly collectively with their shamans having the most respect."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper saw where Midnight was coming from.  Having an adviser for leaders is a good thing to have when you're stumped on a situation.  "Just like Princess Twilight has Princess Celestia as an adviser.  I'll keep it in mind just in case I happen to become a leader of something.  So my next question is, does any of the delegates live in the colony because there's not enough rooms in the Archback castle?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight gave a sly smile. "There is always enough rooms in Archback. The castle is much bigger than you think. I only showed you the ground floor as that is where all the interesting things are. So no, all the delegates have rooms in the castle, so the ones that live in the colony do so for their own reasons. Sir and I's relationship to the colony is closer to the relationship between Celestia and Cadence. They have some autonomy, but what we say comes above all else." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper saw the sly smile on Midnight's face, and gave one of his own.  "That's cool.  I should've asked for a tour of the whole castle, but I guess only the interesting stuff means much to anypony.  Anyways, that's all the questions I can think of for now.  If I have any more I'll let you know, okay?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"Alright then."

 

They proceeded without muck talking besides idle comments on the scenery for some while. In the distance they could see the shore north of Manehattan quickly approaching. It wouldn't be long before they passed though the Drakenridge mountains and along the north side of the Everfree Forest.

 

(Here is where we switch roles, We are entering your domain and it is your time to be the DM. Best of luck to you.)

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

(Here goes nothing.)

 

Copper and Midnight traversed the north side of the Everfree Forest.  There was a winding pathway as the two made their way.  Pretty soon, they came across two pathways, and Copper recognized this.  "We're taking the right path.  That's the path that leads to Ponyville and the old castle.  But first, do you wanna eat yet?  Because I'm pretty hungry after walking a lot."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight looked over the two paths. They were unfamiliar to him but he trusted Copper to know the right way to go. "I've been snacking off and on throughout, but if you want to stop and rest I have no qualms with that." Truthfully Midnight really wanted to rest, but he didn't want to look old and weak to Copper. 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper smiled and nodded.  He went quite a while without eating and it was bugging him a bit.  Now that he got to this area he would be able to eat a while before setting out.  "Thank you.  Now then, what kinds of food do you have in your bag?  Not in a rush, I would just like to know what you have."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"Hmm, Let me check." He rooted through hid bags. "It looks like I have a decent assortment of nuts like almonds and cashews, some dried oats, Some bits of chocolate as well, though I've eaten most of that. Oh, there's some... Ya, you wouldn't want that. Meat is an acquired  taste." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper nodded.  As he knew, ponies don't eat meat.  He looked curious as to how the Archback almonds and cashews tasted, and if they were any better than what in Ponyville had.  I'll take the almonds and cashews, please.  I'm rather curious as to how these taste compared to Ponyville."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight looked slightly skeptically at Copper, somewhat surprised to the lack of reaction he had to the meat he was carrying. It was high in calories but low in nutrients other than a few proteins. "I'm not giving you all my cashews or almonds, but you can have some of them." In an impressive display of dexterity Midnight managed to pour some of both kinds of nuts into a smaller sack that he passed to Copper. He retrieved a small amount of meat for himself which he ate quickly. Partially to see Copper's reaction to it, but also for the quick calories.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper nodded, taking the cashews and almonds he was given.  He raised an eyebrow as he saw Midnight take out some meat.  His entire life would have been a lie if Midnight says what Copper thinks he going to say.  "Midnight you wound me.  It would make sense that you're used to eating it, but I thought for sure ponies don't have the stomach to eat meat."

 

Shrugging, he proceeded to eat the cashews and almonds that he was given, nodding as he realized they tasted about the same as they did in Ponyville.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight thought for a moment. "It's mostly a social stigma combined with the fact that the vast majority of ponies have no idea how to cook meat and just eat it raw, when they get sick it reaffirms their notion that it was not meant for them. Generations of not eating meat have eliminated the bacteria necessary to digest it properly so it isn't very nutritious to you, but it is decent in calories and safe to consume when properly prepared. I've had meat off and on since I arrived, so it's slightly more beneficial to me than you. The Thestrals back at the colony can digest cooked meet just fine too." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper's ears drooped.  He knew it.  The ponies didn't know how to cook meat properly, and it was bad that he didn't know how to either.  He shook his head.  "Well, that's good to know."

 

Several seconds later, he had finished with his cashews and almonds.  He handed the sack he was given back to Midnight.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight was confused by Copper's apparent sadness at the news. "Did I say something wrong? It's not a bad thing that you ponies have evolved away from an inferior food source given the vast quantities of a superior source that you produce. In fact it is to be expected that your diet would shift over the generations. Meat is not something you really need to concern yourself with." He accepted the bag that Copper offered, placing it in his pack with the others. "If you're ready we can keep moving, but I'm fine to rest here a bit if you want." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper shook his head.  "You didn't say anything wrong.  I just knew that there was a time when ponies could eat meat.  I know it shouldn't concern me, but still..."

 

He got up from his seated position.  "Let's keep going.  I wanna take my mind off of my newly found fact."

 

He led Midnight to the right pathway, as he remembered from the last time.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight found it very strange that Copper was so fixated on the consumption of meat. It seemed a certainly odd thing to care about given he had likely never seriously considered the notion before. Midnight didn't really remember the first time he had had meat, it had been before he came here. He followed after Copper along the path he had chosen.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper sighed, knowing that his new memory won't go away, but he was determined not to let it bother him as he lead the way to Ponyville.

 

They continued walking down the chosen path, where this time it wasn't as windy as before.  There were still turns, but not as much.  A few miles later, Copper was able to see some buildings near the end of the pathway.  He recognized those buildings as those from Ponyville, and he smiled, looking at Midnight.

 

"We're getting close.  You'll be able to see some of Ponyville's houses from here."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight too could see the buildings in the distance. They were certainly interesting looking, at least at this distance. "It's certainly more colorful than I expected. Much more colorful than the structures of the colony. Such unique looking structures too, certainly an interesting town to see."