private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with DwhitetheGamer

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper looked at the direction at where Midnight went, then turned to Cookie, who just showed up with Midnight's order.  She asked him where Midnight went, in which he smiled.

 

"Midnight went to find a changeling for me, and said he'll be back shortly.  I asked him what he knew about changelings and he said he'll come back with one."

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer, 

 

"Huh, he's probably after Permu's delegate then. Goldy's always been a curious one." She set the toast down next to Copper before returning to the back of the counter to wait for another delegate to arrive.

 

Midnight returned shortly after with the golden unicorn that Copper had seen the night before. Midnight took his seat next to Copper and began eating his toast while the new unicorn took a seat directly across from Copper. It was clear that the unicorn was not entirely comfortable about the situation. "So, you want to learn about changelings? I think we saw each other last night, my name is Interchange, if Midnight likes you then you must be a good sort."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper took a sip of his tea when Midnight and a gold unicorn that he saw last night arrived.  He smiled at both of them as they took their seats, with the unicorn sitting directly across him, introducing himself.

 

"Hi, Interchange.  I'm Copper Strikes, and yeah, I do want to know about the changelings, apart from what I already know about them.  From the looks of it, you had a bad experience with them, didn't you?"

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"I..." He seemed then to take notice of what Copper said, he adopted a very confused expression complete with raised eyebrow. He looked over at Midnight who simply shrugged before continuing to eat his toast. Interchange turned back towards Copper. "Quite the opposite actually, in fact I'd say that some of my good friends are changelings. Why did you think I'd had a bad experience?" 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper looked confused.  Then he realized he wasn't used to this situation.  He chuckled lightly at his mistake.

 

"My mistake.  I thought that you had been captured by them or something, but I digress.  Anyways, I would like to know more about the changelings, at least more than what I know.  From what I know, they can become anypony they want, right?"

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"Supposing enough time has been spent studying the pony to learn their mannerisms speech patterns and as much about them as possible, then yes. However, it is usually only useful in times of dire need as taking someone's place will only provide a temporary source of cultured emotional energy. It is usually much more effective to make a new identity and integrate into the community, cultivate honest relationships and such. This also tends to provide higher levels of cultivated emotional energy that is higher in quality to the passive energy that everyone gives off naturally." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper took another sip of his tea as Interchange explained his kind's abilities.

 

"That's interesting.  So, I can imagine having to learn about somepony is tedious, right?  But does it also count as to what ponies can do?  As far as talents outside the norm, like my Spin Dash talent?

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"If one could copy the talent of another it wouldn't exactly be special now would it. Most talents can be imitated to a large degree, but that is usually where the disguise is unraveled. Thus another benefit of making a new identity. I would have to see your spin dash in action to be certain, but it may be possible to replicate to a lesser extent, one that might be noticeable to those familiar with you." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"That's actually a good thing.  If Midnight hadn't told you already, me and him are going to have a race to see who's the fastest Earth Pony in Equestria.  Once we finish our breakfast I can show both of you my Spin Dash talent."

 

Copper was pretty excited.  He not only gained a changeling friend, he got to witness his own move with his eyes.  Well, technically not his move in full power, but it was better than nothing, and he knew it.

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"As much as I'd love to see it now, I have a job to do. And besides, I'm not very good at copying. This form is really a placeholder mostly as I am a diplomat, not an infiltrator or harvester. But if you ever visit a hive I'm sure the'll have some-ling that can do your move justice. I can answer a few more questions if you'd like, and I suppose you could find me again later if you need." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper was disappointed that he wouldn't get to show his talent to him, but he nodded at Interchange, seeing that the changeling has a job to do.

 

"I understand.  I don't want to get in the way of your job, so I won't ask any questions.  It has been nice knowing you, Interchange."

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Interchange sighed, rolling his eyes as he got up from the table. "I best be getting back to it then, Chrysalis did more damage then I thought to our image. This really makes it hard for the other hives, but I'm sure we'll be able to figure something out." He turned towards Copper as an idea struck him. "I want to show you something before I go." In a flash of green fire Interchange dropped his disguise, standing in his natural changeling form. His eyes and back were a dark gold in color, quite unlike the blues of Chrysalis' hive. His chitin was also just a bit lighter in shade. The changeling gave a smile just big enough to show his short fangs, before another flash of green returned him to his disguised state. Without another word Interchange left the way he came.

 

"I'm surprised you didn't ask him more questions, he seemed eager to share his knowledge with you. But I suppose you can ask more questions later. You ready to tour the castle now or is there something you want to do first?"

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper looked apologetic at Interchange before he changed to his changeling form.  He then smiled back before the disguise returned then when he left, took one final drink of tea.  He looked at Midnight.

 

"Yeah, I thought it'd be best if I let him go on with his work, without bother.  Like I said yesterday, I'm not going to get in the way of their duties.  Anyways, yes I would like a tour of the castle now.

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight finished off his toast then rose from the table. "Alright, the first stop on the tour is the dish return." Midnight grabbed what dishes he had accrued and moved over to the side of the counter, where there was a small opening that said 'Dish Return' Inside was a conveyor belt that no doubt took the dishes wherever they needed to go.

 

Dishes cared for Midnight waited for Copper to do likewise then proceeded with the tour, walking as he talked. "We'll start with what you've already seen, there are four main hallways in the castle: The entryway, Country delegates, Collective delegates, and the back hall. Your room is in the country delegates hall along with the delegates for each major country, namely the Trojan Empire, the Griffon Kingdoms, the Crystal Empire, Cervidas (the deer), Camelu, Zebrica, and Minos." He turned the corner to the hallway that his room was attached to. "The back hallway has my and Sir's rooms, as well as the secure storage areas for things like food and dangerous materials." 12 tapestries hung on the wall as they passed, each depicted a different pony at different stages of their life. Midnight looked at them and seemed about to talk about them, before not and simply proceeding around the next corner. "This is the hall of Collective delegates, for the groups that don't have official land boarders but still deserve representation. Here is where the delegates for each of the changeling hives live as well as the buffalo tribes and the scattered dog colonies and a dragon from their overseeing order. The dragon usually stays in one of the caves in the mountain and uses his room to store his flammable valuables." Midnight turned one last corner the entry hallway was much larger than the other three hallways and with the sun up Copper could see that each of the windows had a slightly different color of stained glass in them. "And this is the entryway, designed to be grand to bring awe to those that visit." He paused at the large front doors, "Well, that's the first half of the castle tour, do you have any questions beffore we move on to the next half?"

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper finished with his breakfast and followed Midnight to the dish return.  He put his dishes on the conveyor belt and walked with his guide on the tour.  He gazed as he walked on the 12 tapestries for a bit before proceeding with Midnight.  When they reached the entryway, ending the first half of the tour, he pondered about the 12 tapestries before asking him about it.

 

"Yeah, about those ponies on the wall we passed earlier.  Do you remember who they are?  Are they the descendants of the Children?"

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight sighed a bit, "​I knew them yes, they were the original children, the twelve that started it all. Luna cared for them a bit before she was banished, without her I knew they wouldn't last long so I came and helped them. Each of them were special, a unique perspective on the world around them. They helped me build this castle so they would have a home. After they died I wove a tapestry of them so they would never be forgotten. It's not as impressive as the stained glass of Canterlot Castle, but I think its better this way, it shows a degree of humility." He sighed again as he seemed to stare off into the distance. "Every so often a generation will have twelve that look just like they did, act just like they did, it's like they returned again." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper smiled at the fact that he saw the original Children.  Midnight's extended life span, as he knew, proved invaluable to knowing the Children.

 

"You know, I wish I could meet the original Children, get to know them and all that.  It's amazing what you learn, see, and meet through a thousand years, right?"

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"I suppose so, but there is a burden to it as well. Watching everyone I've ever known slowly die. It's the children that give me purpose, I can see why Celestia would never want to be unnecessary, I don't know what I would do with myself at this point if I didn't have the children to care for. But yes, I have learned much in my life and travels, seen more of the world than most ever will. As to meeting the children, the current generation is just about your age at this point I believe. They're probably around here somewhere if you want to meet them yourself." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper nodded at Midnight's point about a burden to living a thousand years.  He smiled as he was offered to meet the current Children of the Night.

 

"I actually want to do that.  But first, let's finish the castle tour.  Once we finish, then we can meet the Children."

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight nodded "Alright then," He proceeded through the door opposite of the entryway, entering into a central  courtyard. There were plants of many different kinds all about and cobble walkways. In the center of this courtyard garden twelve ponies, four of each kind, sat arrayed in a circle as if meditating. If they noticed Midnight's approach they did not do anything about it. They sat on a large stone circle engraved with many odd patterns and symbols the air felt energized with magic to the point where it almost made your hair stand on end. Quietly Midnight kept moving through the courtyard until he entered a large structure that connected to the slope of the mountain. To either side it was more obvious that the halls of the castle extended directly into the mountain. Three towers stuck out of the mountain a bit higher up, they reached high enough to almost be as tall as the peak within sight of the courtyard. Once inside the large structure, "What we just passed through was the courtyard and those ponies were the latest iteration of the children, they have come closer than ever to replicating the unity magic in the elements of harmony, should they accomplish it they will be quite powerful as a team, and it will mean many breakthroughs for magic and science alike. This is the grand hall, it is usually used for large banquettes like when we host the actual rulers the delegates represent. Sometimes Sir uses this like a court where he can be approached for citizens to air their grievances or seek advice in a formal setting. When there is a heated debate between two or more groups we will bring them here so their points can be deliberated, though smaller disagreements are usually resolved in more private meeting arrangements. Lately we've had problems with disagreements between Equestria and other nations, Celestia refuses to allow anyone to stand over her, especially if it is to keep her in check. Because she refuses to answer our requests and often wont even speak to the other nations directly it has put the world in a rather precarious predicament. Notably the Trojan Empire has many border disputes, especially since Equestria settled Appaloosa so deep within Trojan and buffalo territory. Hopefully Luna will be able to get her sister to be more reasonable before things get worse."

There were four doors ahead of them, one to each side of the room and one to each side of a large chair on the far wall. "The side doors lead to the other dining areas, the one on the right to the one we were in this morning, and the other to the other. Behind the throne is the entrance to the back hallway." Midnight continued forward into the back hallway. "What I did not mention when we came through this hall before is that in addition to the secure storage is the access to the towers we saw from the courtyard, one of them you can access, but it would be best that you stay out of the other two for your safety." With that Midnight went into a door in the middle of the hallway. it opened into a smaller hallway the stretched deeper into the mountain. at the end of the hallway were three staircases and the hallway was lined with doors. Midnight proceeded up the left staircase with Copper in tow.

It was a long staircase to climb but once they reached the top Copper realized that he could see really far out and with impressive detail. "This tower has specially enchanted windows that allow you to see for miles in every direction, you can just make out Manehattan across that lake."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper followed Midnight in the next half of the tour to the courtyards of the castle.  He could see 12 ponies, who he had figured to be the Children, looking as if they were meditating.  He nodded at Midnight as he explained the courtyard, the Children, and what Sir does in it.  The next area he saw four doors, and they went through the door that led to the back hallway.

 

He went with Midnight to the left of three staircases.  Once they reached the top, as soon as Copper looked out a window, his jaw dropped.

 

"Wow!  You can see Manehattan from here?  Amazing!"

 

He recovered from his excitement to look at Midnight.  "Okay, for another question.  How are the Children, if they're able to, replicate the unity magic of the Elements of Harmony?  From what I know, they'd have to do something to represent their respective element."

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"It's not quite the same as the actual elements, what they're trying to do. The elements work by pooling the six bearer's magic into one focus, allowing the magical reserves of Earth ponies and pegasi to be used in things other than agriculture and weather. The elements simple provide a focus to a single task, it can only heal or petrify. What the children have been trying to do is direct the focus to other pursuits. Stable portals, massive spell frames, the power of twelve focused on a single goal. and if they can perfect it then it can be adjusted for other scales, made bigger or smaller to accomplish tremendous feats of magic. The possibilities are unknowable." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper shook his head.  He couldn't believe what he was hearing, let alone wanting to witness it firsthoof.  If the bearers of the Elements could even try to do what the Children were doing right now, there's a good chance the entire world will experience the magic of friendship.

 

"It's amazing what they're doing.  I'll bet Rainbow Dash would be so jealous.  Anyways, I think now's a good time to meet them.  I want to learn more about them."

[Illiad Easle 3,131]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"If they're still meditating or practicing it would not be opportune to disturb them," He pushed on one of the enchanted panes so it pivoted up enough that he could look down on the courtyard. "Oh, it looks like they're going to try something now." He moved another pane so Copper could look down on the courtyard as well.

 

They were arranged in an even distribution of race and gender, with a unicorn on each cardinal direction, a pegasus to the right of each unicorn, and an Earth pony to the right of each pegasus. They all had their heads bowed towards the center, the pegasi had their wings outstretched to touch the ponies next to them, while the unicorns charged their horns, pooling magic into a ball at the center of the circle. The ball was small at first but then grew, mixing in the color of the four unicorns. All twelve seemed to glow with the light of the center orb. Suddenly, the orb split into twelve smaller balls, each striking a participant and breaking the circle. They all fell after being struck with the exception of the light brown unicorn. Her eyes were glowing intensely before soft beams of light emerged from her horn, connecting to the others. Then she too collapsed, the beams dying.

 

Copper would then notice that Midnight was already down there with the children, having left the tower as soon as the first of the children fell.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

Copper looked downward to the courtyard after Midnight moved a pane so he could see the Children practicing.  He marveled at the sight of the balls before they struck their participants.  He was wide-eyed with shock, then turned to Midnight, who already left.  Without thinking, he galloped at high speed to the courtyard to see Midnight, who would be already tending to the Children.  He had a concerned look on his face if the Children looked to see him standing there.