private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with DwhitetheGamer

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper looked confused.  "I could swear Black Knight said the castle was his.  But I digress, if it's yours, Midnight, it's yours."

 

Mayor Mare shrugged.  "All the same.  It could be that you two co-rule the kingdom.  Anyways, my next question is, some ponies have been talking about some twelve ponies that live with them in the Archback.  They said they were the 'Children of the Night.'  Do they have something to do with Princess Luna?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight looked over at Copper, "You heard that during the standoff between him and Luna right? It was more him emphasizing that it was not her castle or her kingdom, thus she had no authority to tell him what to do." 

 

He turned back towards the mayor. "Well, most of the ponies living on the mountain are descendants of the original 12 orphans that Luna took before her banishment. They were the original children of the night and thus all their descendants too are called the children of the night. Every hundred years or so a generation will contain twelve that look exactly like the original twelve, those are likely the ones you are referring to. In a way, I would think they are related to Luna."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Mayor Mare nodded at Copper.  "It was right for him to emphasize that it wasn't her kingdom, Copper.  Even though she's an alicorn, she has to respect the authority of other rulers in other kingdoms."

 

She turned back to Midnight.  "I see.  Every hundred years, huh?  Is the current generation the ones that look exactly like the twelve?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight nodded, "Yes, this generation is one of those with the twelve, they've actually come pretty far in their studies now, they may even manage to succeed where the other generations of the order have failed. If they do it would mean a whole new revolution in how natural magic is seen." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Mayor Mare was wide-eyed after Midnight stated that the Order might revolutionize magic in their work.  "Well, that's great for them!  Tell them that I wish nothing but the best of them in their studies when you get back to your home.  I'm sure Princess Twilight would be honored to study their revolutionary magic."

 

She looked out the window.  It was somewhat turning into the evening  She turned back to Midnight.  "I have a few more questions before you're free to leave.  How is your first time here in Ponyville?  I know I'm kind of directing away from Archback right now, but I'm just rather curious as to what you think about the town."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight nodded, "I'm sure they'll appreciate the support. As to Ponyville, it's certainly different from anything that I'm used to. Mostly it's how stylized the buildings here are, most of the buildings back at Archback are quite plain. I'm not entirely surprised by the lack of diversity among the inhabitants, though I guess it is more diverse than other places in Equestria. In all, I think it's a nice little town with a great sense of community." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

The mayor smiled at Midnight's compliment.  "Thank you.  I have worked hard to make this town a great community, and with Princess Twilight and her friends, it's even better now than it was before.  It's been mostly ponies for years, but I'm open to have other types of inhabitants here, by the way.  Next question, and we go back to Archback for this one, now that Equestria has a delegate for you there, how do you think the relations will go between us and the rest of the surrounding countries in the world, should everything go well?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight didn't look too sure, "Having a delegate is a start, but it won't fix all of the problems that the other countries have with Equestria. It will take a couple decades for Celestia to truly fulfill her promises and fully make reparations to the countries she has hurt. It's a step in the right direction at least, so things are looking up in that regard." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Mayor Mare nodded.  "If it takes that long, then so be it.  Equestria can wait.  We will stay with our princesses regardless, no matter what happens during those years.  My very last question is, and don't take this in the wrong way, I could've swore I heard something about a changeling delegate in Archback before the race.  Changelings aren't what we made them out to be, are they?"

 

Copper cast a worried glance at Midnight, to which the Mayor raised an eyebrow as soon as she saw it.  If her assumption was right, then this might be the first step in improving relations between changelings and ponies.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight adopted a slightly more serious expression. "I can neither confirm nor deny at this time exactly which non-national groups are being represented at Archback. In the strictest confidence I can tell you that you didn't hear of this so called changeling delegate from anyone currently residing at Archback."

 

He looked around to see if anyone else could hear. "I do Not know of someone in this town that could shed some more light on the subject, even if you were interested." Though his expression told that the opposite was true. It seemed Midnight was rather intent on keeping the changelings a secret to the very best of his ability. 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Mayor Mare grunted.  "That was my thought.  I'm getting old, so my hearing may be off, but I can still hold my own here in Ponyville."

 

Then she raised an eyebrow at the expression given to her, but she decided to go with it by nodding and speaking in a lower voice.  "I see.  You've checked.  I guess there's no need to know then, even though I would want to renew relations with them."  That last portion could tell anypony that she didn't believe Midnight, which made Copper even more nervous about the situation.  He knew Midnight didn't want anypony else to know about the changeling in Ponyville.

 

He got up from his chair and motioned Midnight out of the office as quickly as he could.  "I guess we should take our leave, then.  It's getting dark out, and we don't want to miss our sleep.  Goodnight, Mayor Mare."

 

The mayor raised an eyebrow again, but nodded.  "Of course, you're both free to leave.  I've got all I needed to know about Archback anyway.  Goodnight, Copper, Midnight."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight stood and turned at his own. leisurely pace. "Farewell Mayor Mare, I assume you know where to find me if you have further inquiries? Though I think you'd find the local princess has the information you seek."

 

He then made his way regally out the door to the office. 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

They both made their way out of the office, with the ponies present raising eyebrows before returning with their work in hoof.  Once they were outside, they made their way back to Copper's house without any word.  Once inside, Copper closed the door when Midnight went through and said, in a low voice, "You know she doesn't believe you, right?  I fear the truth is going to come out, and we're going to get ourselves in a mighty pickle once it happens."

 

He paced the floor in the living room, muttering to himself repeatedly, "Why?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight looked over at Copper with a slightly amused expression, "The entire point was that she not believe me, I said it specifically so if anyone happened to overhear then they would hear that there was no one in town, but to those who could see me, they could tell that the opposite was true. I wanted the mayor and only the mayor to start looking. I could tell my point wasn't getting across too well, which is why I directed the Mayor at Princess Sparkle. Believe me, if I were trying to lie to the Mayor even you wouldn't notice it wasn't the truth."

 

Midnight sighed, "This did reveal some troubling news though, a possible leak among the delegates as most of the residents don't even know all that we host, I wonder who could have told the Mayor. Furthermore, why would she want to know about changelings? What even prompted in her mind that there were changelings worth renewing a relationship with? Hopefully the leak is only one, it will make it much easier to plug. We'll also get to see how binding that promise of Twilight's really is, see if she keeps it or tells the Mayor what Null told you guys."

 

Midnight looked over at Copper with a slightly worried expression, "You didn't tell the mayor did you?" 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper stopped his pacing and turned to Midnight.  "Oh, it wasn't?  I should've caught that.  Twilight wouldn't tell her, given that she did the Pinkie Promise.

 

He shook his head on the notion of Twilight breaking her promise.  "Don't worry about the promise.  Nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise, and if they do, let me just say Pinkie will no longer trust them.  It gets worse than how I explained it.

 

He shook his head again on the thought that he told Mayor Mare.  "No.  I didn't."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight had a surprised and slightly disappointed expression on his face, "That is the only penalty to a Pinkie Promise? You lose her esteem of you? That hardly sounds binding nor does it really convey the importance of the secrets they were entrusted with. Which is why I have to discover who was spreading secrets back at the castle. A violator of that secret cannot be trusted further and must unfortunately be... reprimanded. Hopefully no more secrets will fall before I return."

 

He sighed and looked more directly at Copper, "So.... Any more plans tonight?"

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper gave a confused look at Midnight when he said it was all the Pinkie Promise penalty was.  "I just said it would be worse than how I described it.  Besides, I think it was where Mayor Mare was sitting in the race and she picked it up when she wasn't supposed to.  She did say she was getting old, and her ears might have given her false information, so that is a possibility.  Anyways, I have no further plans tonight.  Do you?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight didn't look so sure. "She may be old, but I doubt her ears are to blame for this. Why else would she want to renew relations? for all she should know changelings are the ones that attacked Canterlot. As to plans tonight, I have none. I don't exactly know many of the residents, though it might be nice to meet with Ms. Doo again."

 

Midnight thought for a bit, "If it doesn't interfere with your plans Copper, would you mind if I went to meet with Ms. Doo tomorrow?" 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper smiled, then thought of his plans of being in Canterlot for his payment of the articles of what's happening in the world.  "I was planning on going to Canterlot for those articles of the happenings in the world, but I can push it back for a visit with Ditzy.  What exactly did you want to meet with her for?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight shrugged, "She's a friend I haven't seen in some time. Do I need a better reason to meet with her? Mostly I just want to know what has happened to her since she left the castle. It is clear that much has changed in her life and it would likely make a great story to tell future generations." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper grinned again at Midnight.  "She is a great friend, isn't she?  And to think she had adventures with Daring, I wanna know how it's like to have adventures like her and her sister.  Well, I think it's time to call it a night, then.  Good night, Midnight."

 

He started to his room, yawning as he went by Midnight.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight shrugged, he knew what adventuring was like and he could agree that to do it alone was far less enjoyable than to adventure with a companion. 

 

He proceeded to his room and through the previous night's routine. Soon he was back in his familiar state of dreamless meditative rest.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

[Entering day 8]

 

The process was more or less the same as yesterday, except there was no letter this time for Midnight to read.  This time Copper prepared Midnight a breakfast that contained two pieces of toast with much of the same cashews as yesterday, as well as some blueberry jam.

 

Copper trotted over to the Mail Service building to begin his work, only to find Ditzy there.  "Hi, Ditzy!"

 

"Hi, Copper."  she said.

 

"Can you come with me this time?  Midnight wants to meet you again today."

 

"Sure!"

 

The two, after Copper had been given the usual mail, headed off around Ponyville, casually conversing with each other.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@,

 

Midnight found it slightly odd that his host made little attempt to wake him, perhaps he should mention to Copper that he wouldn't mind joining him in the morning? Oh well, it was best that he got this opportunity to sleep in after so long.

 

He ate the prepared breakfast without much fanfare and decided he would go for a morning trot again, perhaps he would run into Copper like he had the previous day? He took the same path as before just to be sure.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

It was a good thing that Midnight took the same route as last time, because, like last time, Copper and Ditzy found him trotting the way he did before.  Copper smiled and waved at his friend.  "Hi, Midnight!  I brought Ditzy along!"

 

Ditzy also waved her hoof at Midnight.  "Hi, Midnight!" she called.