private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with DwhitetheGamer

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight nodded as he looked up from his breakfast. "The first race is a standard 500m sprint like any traditional speed race. The track will be straight so we can go fast without worry for turning. The second race is a 5km endurance where we can use our special abilities. It too is a straight path so we need only worry about running into each other while we run."

 

(So I have 17.337m/s pegged as Copper's top speed. Do you want to make that his top unassisted speed? If so, how much faster will his spin dash be? To compare, Midnight's top unassisted is 19.6563m/s.)

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

(With Copper's Spin Dash as fast as a racing Pegasus, he could go about 9m/s faster if he wanted to.  I was thinking more 18.2634m/s of his running if that's okay.)

 

Copper nodded a few times with the mention of the tracks.  He then thought of the Lightning Sprint and gave a confused look.

 

"Now I have a question about this Lightning Sprint you guys can do.  How do you do it and how fast can you go with it?"

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

(That works)

 

Midnight returned to his breakfast while the Black Knight answered this one. "​The lightning sprint is a complicated process. At it's simplest, while riding on Midnight's back I call down a magic bolt of lightning, similar to my javelins, it strikes us and fills Midnight with immense energy, allowing him to move double to triple his usual speed for a few seconds before it wears off." 

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper understood what they needed to do in the second race, which was fine by him.  He nodded.

 

"So you have to work together to do the Lightning Sprint, huh?  Does it hurt afterwards?  I'm only asking because whenever I do my Spin Dash anywhere near or at full speed, it hurts my body, but only just a bit.  The last time I did it, though, when I was travelling here, it didn't hurt as much as the few times I did go near-full speed."

Edited January 22, 2016 by DwhitetheGamer

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"If you'll pardon the pun, the experience is electrifying, the first time is fine but each successive one burns my nerve endings if there isn't enough rest period in between for me to discharge the static buildup. It does make my attacks a bit more powerful afterwards as the discharge goes into those I hit. I could do it alone, but that would be quite painful as without Sir to call down a lightning bolt I'd have to infuse myself manually, I won't get into that as it shouldn't ever be necessary." 

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper chuckled at the pun Midnight gave.  He was almost finished with his breakfast when he had thought of another question for Black Knight.

 

"So, Sir-or is it alright to call you Black Knight?-what do you think about Princess Celestia after her promise to help the other nations?"

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

The Black Knight seemed slightly disappointed that the teapot was no longer steaming as he set it aside. "You may continue to call me the Black Knight. If Celestia actually keeps her promises then that will be proof to me that she has changed. But she has a history of words without actions, and in changing history books to her favor. If she holds to her promises there is a good chance she will prevent the war that has been brewing in the discontent of the other nations. She has kept her citizens happy at the cost of their social and technological development, ultimately she fears what would happen if her citizens didn't need her and thus makes herself indispensable to them. She has her flaws and I don't fault her for them, should she make good on her promises I will forgive her for her actions against me." 

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper was wide-eyed with shock the moment Black Knight mentioned a war that would happen if Celestia didn't keep her promise.  He gulped in fear.

 

"That doesn't sound good, the war.  To think after all this time she told us nothing could go wrong after the recent attacks by Queen Chrysalis, Tirek, and Discord.  I'll bet anything this is what she feared, that somepony in Equestria knew the truth.  Excuse me."

 

Copper got up from his seat, took his tray and finished tea to the Dish Return, and went back to his seat with Midnight and Black Knight.

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight did likewise having finished his breakfast as well. "Many of Celestia's problems have been caused by her actions in the past, putting off problems instead of dealing with them. The war would have been one of them had she continued to do nothing in regards to her fellow nations. Now she will have to fulfill her promises or the backlash will be great, both outside and within her own nation." 

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"*sigh* I hope she will.  The last thing we and the Elements of Harmony need is for friendship to be dead thanks to her.  Well, I guess it's time to train.  So where exactly are we going to go for the training, the courtyard or outside?  Because I'll be fine with either choice."

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight rose from the table as the Black Knight took his tray to the return area. "Out at the base of the mountain would e a better area to train as the open area is bigger. It's always a good idea to train in the conditions you will be racing in." With that Midnight rose from the table and headed for the exit. "I just need to get some things, I'll meet you at the front gate when you're ready to begin." 

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper nodded as Midnight rose from the table.  The base of the mountain, he assumed, would be a large flat area good enough to run around.  He decided to wait for Black Knight in case he was going to the mountain's base to watch both of them train together.

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

The Black Knight exited the room to the opposite side as Midnight, to the grand hall, no doubt to moderate another session of the court.

 

Midnight went to the armory and retrieved a heavy bundle that had gained some dust. He took the bundle and made his way to the front gate.

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper frowned.  He thought that Black Knight would actually watch the training, then he remembered that he had to moderate court sessions.  He sighed, then shrugged.  Maybe Black Knight would get around to watching the training once the session was done.  He turned to the exit and trotted to the front gate, where he would wait for Midnight.

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight was waiting for Copper when he arrived, the bundle resting on his back. "Alright then, I can show you around the Children's colony on the way down the mountain. It isn't night this time so they'll actually be out and about and likely willing to talk to you, but if you don't want to right now I can show you around some other time." 

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

He saw Midnight already at the front gate.  He smiled when he was offered to go to the Children's Colony to talk to the children.

 

"That sounds like a good idea.  It'll let me get to know them a little more than what I do know.  I want to visit them."

 

It was obvious that he wanted to go, but don't think he wasn't excited for the race, either.

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight smiled as well as he began to walk down the mountain. "Alright, I'll show you around as he head down." They took their time heading down the mountain, in the daytime Copper could see how the buildings seemed to extend into the mountain, with significantly more windows than doors. There were many more colorful ponies on the streets today, green and blue and white and brown and mixtures of those providing quite a bit of diversity in the community. They were also of all ages from foals to the elderly, many waved at Midnight and Copper and they all smiled as they passed, but none seemed interested in initiating conversation. Until a young colt came flying towards them with impressive speed. He had a light blue coat and a dark grey mane with a blond streak in it. "Hiya Uncle Midnight!" He came to a stop in front of the two. "Who's that you got there?" "Hello Windsurfer, this is Copper Strikes, I'm showing him around the colony." Midnight looked as if a sudden idea had struck him. "Would you like to help?" The young colt seemed excited. "I'd Love Too!" He turned to face Copper and tried to look like one who would know what they were talking about. "Do you have any questions I could answer?"

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper followed Midnight down the mountain to the Children's colony.  He smiled at the ponies who waved at him and waved back.  He saw a colt, who he would soon learn to be Windsurfer, approach the two.  He had a grin as the young colt agreed to help with the tour of the colony.

 

"Yeah, I do have a couple of questions.  What's it like to live with the Children in this colony?  And do you know where the Children live?"

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Windsurfer looked like he was concentrating very hard. "Well... All of us here on the mountain are the Children of the Moon, I guess maybe you meant the Lunar Order? I like living here, since we all have the common 12 ancestors everyone is fairly closely related in that we're all distant cousins, far enough apart as to not cause issues in most cases. All the children are nice to each other. I like living here on the mountain because I can catch some great winds to surf coming up from the valley. The Children live all up and down this side of the mountain, and deep within too, there are some large carved out sections from mining that have been converted into housing areas, it's actually really nice there, especially when it gets really hot or cold out here. The Order all live up at the castle with Uncle Midnight like the first twelve did a thousand years ago. Magpie came to my class once, she's really cool and a great teacher." He looked around conspiratorially "Don't tell her I said this, but I really like her mane."  

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper nodded, putting a hoof on the bottom of his mouth as he thought about the Children.  Slowly but surely, though, a smile came across his face the moment Windsurfer said something about Magpie's mane.

 

"You're actually in love with Magpie, aren't you?"

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Windsurfer's eyes widened as his face turned to a blush he started to protest, but then his head fell. "I guess, but she's much older than me, I'd probably be happier with someone closer to me in age. Besides, Magpie's already got a special somepony, she said so." 

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper couldn't help but chuckle at the reaction by Windsurfer.  He sighed a little deeply.  "I'm sorry.  I couldn't help myself.  Sometimes some ponies are like that.  Anyways, I take it you heard about the race me and Midnight are having tomorrow?  It'll be a great one!"

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Windsurfer looked confused at first, then got really excited. "A race! Here! That sounds really cool! Tomorrow you say? I need to tell my friends!" And with that Windsurfer leapt into the air woth his wings extended, catching a nice breeze to float down the mountain on. "It seems the race will be a much bigger deal now, both Equestria and the Colony will hear of the results. Now that Windsurfer's spreading the news I guess I no longer need to." Midnight resumed walking down the mountain. 

[DwhitetheGamer 866]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper looked rather surprised that Windsurfer didn't know about the race.  Yet he continued to follow Midnight down the mountain.  "I thought one of the Children would have told the entire Colony about the race after I told them.  I bet they thought it was going to be a private race between us."

[Illiad Easle 2,651]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight smiled slightly. "One might have, but news doesn't spread quite that fast here, there are over four thousand ponies on the mountain, not counting the zebra or thestral settlements in the greater colony. They'll all know by race time though, it should be a good showing."

 

They arrived at the base of the mountain, in the distance they could see the zebra village and the entrance to the thestral clan. The area was wide and flat between the mountain and the forest, perfect for farming as evidenced by the sprawling farms along the river. Midnight moved towards the area where they had first met, further from the zebras there were fewer farms to worry about. "Here we are, the plains." He set his bundle down on the ground. "You can go ahead and start training if you like, I'll be starting shortly."