private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with DwhitetheGamer

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper smiled.  He was glad to see some good interest in the town from Midnight.  "Well, then, let's go!  I'll be more than happy to show you around town."

 

As they walked to the town, they could tell it was beaming with life.  Ponies of all kinds were on the streets, minding their own business until Copper and Midnight went through.  Most of the ponies greeted the two, adding in a 'Welcome to Ponyville' to Midnight.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight was impressed by the diversity of the town, between the three standard types that was. He was slightly dismayed by the little to no population of any other race to be seen. "They certainly are a welcoming sort, it's almost as if I've stepped into an Equestria so much different from the one I knew." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"Well, as you're already aware, ponies can change over time.  All the things you know from the past are tossed out of the window.  Oh, hi, Pinkie Pie!"

 

Pinkie was trotting over to them as she overheard that the two made it to Ponyville.  She smiled and waved at them.

 

"Hi, Copper.  Hi, Midnight.  Welcome to Ponyville!  It's nice to meet you again!"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight was surprised and slightly offended at Copper's blatant dismissal of his centuries of first hoof experience with the world as well as a lifetime of learning. But he didn't show it. When you live for centuries you see the cycles that populations go through over time and knowing the past is how you build a better future, could he not see that?

 

"Oh, hello again Miss Pie, I'm glad to see a familiar face around here."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Pinkie giggled.  She was used to hearing such formal words from ponies like Midnight, but she couldn't help but giggle.  She felt something that bothered him though.

 

"I sense something that was gonna make you frownie.  Copper, what did you say to him before I came here?"

 

Copper looked surprised.  "Uh, I said that thing you know about the past are tossed out of the window for seeing the future."

 

"You shouldn't say things like that.  He saw things that have happened in the past that you don't understand.  Knowing the past is how you build a better future.  You probably offended him.

 

Copper was wide-eyed.  He turned to Midnight.  "Oh, I'm so sorry, Midnight.  I didn't mean to offend you."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight found that his head did not have quite the space with which to raise his eyebrow to a sufficient extent to convey the shear incredulous surprise that Pinkie had not only discerned how he really felt, but also the exact words by which he thought of it. So he raised is neck up and back to compensate his facial shortcomings. "I'd appreciate it Miss Pie, if you didn't read so deeply into my feelings. It is certainly a powerful sense of perception you have but it is quite uncanny to witness." He turned back towards Copper with a slightly more serious expression. "Unlike you, the past is the vast majority of my life, I know enough to see that just because creatures have changed does not mean we can forget how things were. But I accept your apology."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper closed his eyes, thinking of something else to say.  "You have to get used to Pinkie Pie.  She's the most random pony you'll ever meet.  Anything she does can and will surprise anypony at any time.  Fun fact: she can sense when something's about to happen.  It's called her Pinkie Sense."

 

Pinkie spoke up.  "You never know when it'll pop up.  You'll see it from my twitchy tail, to a combo, like shaky legs, twitchy ears... my whole body is a trigger waiting to happen.  Hey, there's the rest of our friends!"

 

Copper turned to see the rest of the Mane Six approaching them.  He waved a hoof to them, to which they waved back.  

 

"Hi, Midnight.  Glad to see you again.  Welcome to Ponyville." Twilight said when they stopped.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"I'm familiar with precognition in Earth ponies, but she has it to an extent I've never seen before. Strange how she can see so much yet be so carefree." He turned to the approaching set of mares. "Hello again to you too, you do this for all newcomers or am I being singled out for some reason?" 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"Usually, when Pinkie throws a Welcoming Party to anypony new, EVERYPONY in Ponyville gets invited.  You're an exception because Copper told us not to throw you one for you strike when you feel threatened." Twilight said.

 

"We're just a welcoming bunch of ponies, Midnight." Applejack said.  "While Canterlot is the real capital of Equestria, Ponyville's the friendship capital basically."

 

Copper smiled.  This was his home, and he wouldn't have it any other way.  "Hey, why don't we all show Midnight around Ponyville?"

 

"Sounds like a great idea, Copper!  That is, if Midnight's up for it."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight sighed. "I'm not some unstable war-horse, I can handle a surprise if I can see it coming. Better yet, why does it even have to be a surprise? But you are correct, I would strike if threatened, and I do think Miss Pie could manage to actually surprise me." He gave a shake of his head before he perked back up. "I'd love to see your town, you ponies seem like you would really know the place." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

The Mane Six and Copper nodded in agreement.  "Then follow us, Midnight Star.  Ponyville did not disappoint me when I first moved here." Twilight said.

 

The group lead Midnight throughout Ponyville, starting with their bakery shop.  Pinkie was the first to speak up.  "This is Sugarcube Corner, the town's bakery.  I work here with the Cake family, although I don't have as much time as I used to since now most of my time is spent helping my friends solve friendship problems throughout Equestria."

 

"It's a really great place to hang out with friends and relax when you've had a rough day." Copper said.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight was surprised by the... eccentricity, of the building. Quite unlike the utilitarian exteriors of the shops in the colony. "It is certainly an interesting looking establishment, I've noticed that many of the buildings that I've seen are quite, expressive, compared to the ones in the colony." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Everypony knew just as soon as Midnight finished his statement that he wasn't used to seeing expressive things, which didn't bother them, considering that they knew that he was over a thousand years old.  They simply smiled at him.  

 

"I hope you don't see it as a problem, MIdnight." Twilight said.  "It's how we are here in Ponyville.  Shall we continue?"

 

They led Midnight to the Carousel Boutique, where it was Rarity's turn to speak.  "Here we have the most perfect shop in Ponyville, The Carousel Boutique.  I work here, designing dresses and vests for ponies for special events and occasions.  I remember a time where I had to make dresses for the Grand Galloping Gala, for it was our first time going there.  It was NOT a good time for me at all until they made a dress for me."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer, 

 

Midnight gave a slight yawn, he had traveled over a hundred miles after all. "It's certainly different that I'm used to. Every town has its own unique architectural style and this one seems to be based on outward expressionism. A greater emphasis on form than functionality that betrays a density of very niche specialty goods."

 

Midnight looked slightly surprised about the Gala. "Celestia's still having the Gala after all this time? I went to that once way back when, wall to wall with stuffy nobles. I'm glad she never invited me to another one. Is it any different now?"

 

(Didn't she offer to make the dresses?)

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

(I think so.)

 

Rarity sighed.  "As much as we don't want to talk about it, we did make it a little different the first time we went there.  We were determined to make it the best night ever our own ways, but that didn't end well, at least for us."

 

"Celestia did seem to enjoy it, though.  She said it was better than all the galas she went to, and that the ones she did go to were all the same boring stuff according to her.  I'm still at a loss for it, but I went with it." Twilight stated.  "Let's continue."

 

Their next stop was Fluttershy's cottage.  "This is my cottage, where I take care of the animals who don't have a home.  I think Discord is still in there."

 

She knocked on the door, and a few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Discord.  "Hello, Fluttershy, to you all.  Might I inquire what you..." he stopped as soon as he saw Midnight.  "Midnight?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight simply nodded at the talk of the Gala, as they went into no detail he had very little to go off of other than that his tabloid had celebrated at the free stories.

 

Midnight wasn't sure what he expected from this town, but it was certainly not Discord. "Discord," he said amicably, "I don't believe I thanked you properly for freeing Sir back when you escaped. I hadn't seen you since and I feared Celestia had you sealed away again." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Discord couldn't help but smile at his new friend.  "My pleasure, Midnight.  I've changed since my return, thanks to Fluttershy.  The others couldn't bring up the courage to reform me, so it was left to Fluttershy to do it, and I do believe it went well.  Now, what brings you here to Ponyville?"

 

Copper spoke up.  "He's staying here for a few days, as part of an exchange of cultures between myself and him."

 

"Ooh, sounds fun.  How did it go for you so far, Midnight?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight pondered for a bit. "It was good to get to show someone around that wouldn't be living there on an extended basis. And it ended up with Celestia finally admitting that she could, and has, made mistakes. I still worry though, now that the war is out of the way what big and terrible thing is coming. We're honestly overdue to have a negative event and I worry the longer it takes to occur that it will be bigger than we're prepared for. Especially with you... less like the you I knew." Midnight shook his head. "Anyway, I aim to see what's changed in Equestria since I was last here, so far it looks like things have changed for the better."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"Oh, you have no idea how much has changed, Midnight.  These fine little ponies, besides Copper, of course, as you know, spread friendship throughout Equestria, though I fear it'll take more than friendship to settle what would be coming." Discord said.

 

The Mane Six and Copper looked at each other, afraid of what's to come.  Discord coughed a bit.  "Well, I think it's time I went back to my duties here.  Don't want the animals to go wild now, do I?"

 

He went back into the house, closing the door.  Copper shivered.  "Long overdue?  I hate to see it when it happens.  Let's keep going."

 

The group once again led Midnight, this time to Applejack's barn.  "This is my family's barn.  I'll bet Copper told you that my family has founded Ponyville, right?"

 

Copper nodded.  "Yep.  I offered to answer his questions about Ponyville.  Oh, hi, Applebloom!"

 

Applebloom trotted up to the group.  "Hi, Copper!  Hi, everypony!  Who's the new pony you got with you?"

 

(We're going with the canon continuity of the CMCs getting their cutie marks, okay?)

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight was surprised how quickly they were moving about, it was like the sun wasn't even moving in the sky. "I don't even want to know what the future has in store, maybe it isn't for a long ways off still, but the longer it takes the worse it will be."

 

He was impressed with the expanse of the Apple farm. "You Apples sure have recovered from the damage I did way back when. This is certainly an impressive farm, how do you manage to run an operation of this scale? Clearly your family runs it quite well, must take quite a bit of labor to tend a field this large." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"Oh, you have no idea how far we've come from the damage, Midnight." Applejack said.

 

Applebloom looked confused.  "Uh, am I missing something?  What kind of damage are we talking about?"

 

"To put it lightly, sis, my family was... lazy back in the old days." Applejack replied, cringing again at the thought.

 

Applebloom caught the meaning, and cringed as well.  "I believe you, and we'll just leave it at that until I'm older.  I have a good feeling that's necessary.  Anyways, we worked harder than you could imagine, sir... uh, I never caught your name."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"Oh?" He noticed the pony even smaller than the other ponies he had been surrounded by. "I go by many names, Midnight Star, The Black Knight, Demon Horse, Blazing Steed, some call me the boogiepony but I prefer Midnight, you can call me that if you want." He gave a slight smile at the end. Whenever some noble was being annoying he would sign all the names to the end of the document.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Applebloom looked very confused at the assortment of names.  "Uh, I'll go with Midnight, then."  She chuckled nervously, not knowing what else to say.

 

Copper spoke up.  "I never did get to congratulate you on getting your cutie mark, Applebloom."

 

Applebloom's ears perked up.  "Thanks, Copper.  And since we're on that, Midnight, me and my friends Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle have decided to help other fillies with finding their cutie marks after working so hard just to find ours.  Isn't that great?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight looked a bit awkward himself, perhaps he had gone a bit overboard with the names. "Yah, that's what most people would choose. And that is certainly a noble effort you have going there, helping young ponies pursue their interests and achieve their self-actualization. Helping others find themselves is something I wish I got to do more often."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Applebloom smiled and nodded.  "Yep.  We know it's not going to be easy, but we'll do our best.  Anyways, I better get going. Gotta help out my friends find other ponies' cutie marks!"

 

She then headed off in the direction of town.  Applejack smiled.  "I'm so proud of her.  She and her friends helping other fillies... they've just became you, Copper."

 

Copper smiled.  "Thanks.  I like it when ponies look out for other ponies in need.  Hey, there's your brother!"

 

Just then, Big Macintosh walked up to them.  "Howdy, folks.  Who's the new pony ya'll have?"