private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with Bracket Sparks

[Bracket Sparks 49]

Bracket decided he no longer had to hurry but spotted a long line at the ticket station. he might as well get a ticket and then some food. he tried his best not to bump anypony on his way over to the line but ended up getting some up turned muzzles and he had to snort at the ridiculous look on their faces. it looked like they had smelled something sour at the same time they tried to look high and mighty. it was ludicrous, Bracket continued through the line and purchased a ticket for Manehattan. He then looked around for a place that sold apple cider, one of his favorite local drinks. finding one to be his liking bracket sat down and ate an oat salad with cider on the side. he looked at the time, and he had 15 minutes before the train left. Continuing to enjoy his lunch bracket looked around the station trying to think of things to entertain his partner during the equestrian side. thinking about ponyville it was likely that Midnight would not know much about the town, at least some history would be interesting. cleaning his platter bracket stood and trotted to the train, slowly moving with the flow of ponies he entered the train and traveled to the back and sat down with a row to himself.

Edited August 6, 2016 by Bracket Sparks

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

The train quickly made its way out of the station, traveling down Canterlot Mountain and on its way to the big city of Manehatten.

 

No one bothered him on his trip.

 

A few hours later the train stopped at Manehattan station, the track past the station turning south towards Las Pegasus also stood near the shore line. There was a sign for ferry tickets pointing towards the shore on the north side of town, nearly opposite from where the train had let off.

 

The city itself was much like one would expect, many tall buildings and absolutely filled with ponies going every which way, if one blended in they could pass without being noticed, but if one stood out then everyone there would know.

[Bracket Sparks 49]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Bracket decided to try his best to blend in, following the flow of ponies towards the ferries, no ponies seemed inclined for conversation. He eventually reached the dock and scanned the sides of the street, looking at the shore based buildings for a ferry rental where he could get a boat to the Archback mountains. Bracket reflected on how midnight hadn't given him instructions for which ferry to take. "possibly this is a test to see how resourceful I am?" he thought.

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

There was a sign on one of the buildings near the shore that advertised passage for Glascow and points west. Another sign on the same building listed out all the possible destinations, one of them being the Shimmerwood/Archback river dock. The cost wasn't very expensive either.

 

(We'll just time skip here and say you got on the ferry for simplicity as I really don't want to bother with all this as it has nothing really to do with the actual story.)

 

Midnight stood in his glass tower, the enchanted windows allowing him to see much of the Equestrian continent. Today he was watching the river leading out to the Antlertic Ocean, waiting for a ferry to make its way towards the Archback dock. With one in sight he made his way quickly down the mountain and to the dock, a smile on his face the whole way. Unfortunately the ferry would arrive before he did.

 

The ferry approached a rather standard looking dock right where a river from the north flowed into the westward flowing river. imposing to the north was Archback Mountain, a lone peak standing apart from the nearby mountain range, and to the north east, was what Bracket could only assume was the Shimmerwood forest. In the dimming light of the setting sun Bracket could see faint lights beginning to glow from within the forest and on the mountain itself.

[Bracket Sparks 49]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Bracket thanked the ferry pony and eagerly started up the trail looking into the forest and remarking to himself how different it felt from the everfree. he looked at the trees and how they did shimmer with the moonlight and simply let his mouth hang agape as he raised his eyes further and started at the sky. the stars were brighter out here and different giving the whole area an alien and interesting feel that he could only enjoy with a silent mouth. he looked up the trail looking for midnight. "Hadn't he said he'd be here? i wouldn't be questioning his absence but i don't know a bit about this wondrous place."

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

Bracket saw a black mass running down the path towards him, it was quite a bit taller than a normal pony, rivaling even the princesses for height, as the sun had not quite set yet He could still see the large eight pointed star on the horse's flank and the smaller four point star on his forehead, both to match his white mane and tail.

 

Midnight came to a rather elegant stop in front of Bracket, towering over him by a good half meter. "Ah, you must be Mr. Sparks. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." 

[Bracket Sparks 49]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Bracket looked up and smiled at what he assumed was midnight.

 

"Nice to meet you too, Midnight, i brought the wings with me. And before i begin asking you questions about every little particle of this place, I have to say you're taller than i thought." Bracket shuffled his shoulders to display the brass wings. "This forest, is amazing no doubt. is it full of magical creatures? and are they hostile? in the everfree we have a lot of timber wolves and such. making it dangerous for ponies to explore. this is the shimmerwood yes? it has a different feel about it. welcoming and magical." Bracket stared into the forest trying to discern any creatures but quickly turned back to midnight. "I must seem like an ignorant child to you. But i am curious as to the mysteries of this place."

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

Midnight gave a slight laugh at Bracket's introduction. "When you get as old and knowledgeable as I am most seem like ignorant foals, but at least you are an inquisitive one as well. Your wings are quite impressive and I would love to see them in action at some point."

 

He moved to Bracket's side as he started walking along the river that lead towards the forest. "To answer your questions about the Shimmerwood forest, it is just as inhabited as any other forest in the world, presently it is home to the Fastar clan of thestrals, which we could meet tonight if you aren't too tired from your travels. It used to be filled with more dangerous animals, but ever since Fastar founded his clan there they've been on the decline, though there is still the occasional timber wolf ant manticore within if you get too far away from the settlement." 

 

As they made their way closer to the forest Bracket could start to see some winged shapes moving about between the trees as well as the faint glow of lanterns being lit inside the forest. On the mountain side as well lights began to appear as the mountain hid more and more of the sunlight behind it. Up ahead the river turned to go along the side of the forest rather than directly into it, and where the river crossed between the mountain and the forest there seemed to be another set of houses, and a sort of windmill, though they were too far away to see clearly.

[Bracket Sparks 49]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Bracket laughed with midnight, and when he noticed the lanterns being lit he questioned "Are the thestral's nocternal?" he continued to look into the forest with awe. "I'd love to met them, all this excitement is giving me energy. You called them a 'clan', is their government a tribal system with an elder at the head? and are the descendants of Fastar the elder's or is it a test of wisdom to become one?"

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks, 

 

Midnight gave a sideways smile as he kept walking, "Well then, we'll head over to their little village first. They are in fact nocturnal, so now is the perfect time to visit them. Their governing system is tribal, though its more like a big extended family led by what is usually a descendant of Fastar yes, though occasionally if said descendant is unfit another is selected to lead until a true descendant is fit to rule."

 

As the river turned so did they, moving towards the village by the river. It didn't look like it would be too hard to cross the river, but it seemed Midnight was not inclined to do so.

 

As they drew closer to he village Bracket could start to see more about the shapes moving in the village, it seemed to be occupied almost entirely by zebra. In the distance past the village there were many fields by the river of many kinds of grains as well as a few different orchards and gardens as well as a windmill.

[Bracket Sparks 49]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

bracket looked at the zebra, and then at midnight. "These zebras are they also nocturnal?  and is this an extension of the fastar clan or another clan entirely?" bracket was so full of questions and yet he was afraid to ask them all for fear of looking like a complete idiot. in a thought, 'I don't know what a thestral is, are they similar to dragons in appearance or more like skeletons? do they posses magic at all? and if so is it similar to a Pegasus or more like the reindeer?' bracket just waited silently for midnight's response before continuing with more questions.

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

Midnight had a slightly surprised expression at Bracket's question on the zebras, "In a word, hardly. Which does apply to all of your questions. The zebra are no more nocturnal than any pony, it's only sunset after all. And further the zebra were here lone before Fastar arrived, they're descendants of the zebra slaves Sir and I freed over a thousand years ago. They follow their own tribal system, though it's a bit less organized than the Fastar's is with more of a council of elders than a set leader. We leave them to themselves so long as how they do things doesn't cause any trouble to the rest of the area, and so far their way has worked perfectly." 

[Bracket Sparks 49]

Bracket nodded as midnight explained, "About the thestrals, what do they look like? are they dragonoid or skeletal? do they posses magic like the reindeer?" As the two walked along bracket continued to stare into the forest. he waited for the trail ahead to reveal what kind of place the knightly pony on his side would live in.

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

Midnight thought he had answered that question then realized he had glossed over it, "Oh, sorry I should have answered that sooner. Thestral is the proper term for what most call bat ponies, they're a variant of the pegasus with leathery instead of feathery wings as well as acute night vision, nocturnal tendencies, and an increased nutritional requirement of protein in their diet supplemented by their omnivorous rather than herbivorous diet. They have the same flight and weather manipulation magic that pegasi do."

 

With that, they reached the edge of the zebra village. Those that were still up and about waved to Midnight as they passed whilst shooting curious and somewhat suspicious glances at Bracket. They didn't, however, seem to be afraid, despite giving the pair a wide berth as they passed through the town.

[Bracket Sparks 49]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Bracket imagined what these thestrals would look like, with their leathery wings, would they have reflective eyes and fangs? his questions where thrown aside as they neared the edge of the Zebra village. he waved at the zebras that looked at him and through the shadows of the trees he couldn't quite make out the colors of the equins in front of him. he peered around and saw more zebras. "So where are we going? their city hall type of building?" "And are these zebras afraid of me?"

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

Midnight raised an eyebrow as he kept moving, "Oh, we're just passing through, for now, it's pretty late to be talking to the elders now isn't it? We'll be visiting them at some other point during this exchange but not tonight. While the zebra here aren't afraid of you per say, they are a bit suspicious of strangers. I'm sure they'd warm up to you if you stayed long enough, but for now, they'll be civil enough given you're my guest."

 

He paused near what seemed to be a main road, as if contemplating something before looking back at Bracket, "Well, we could either go and meet the thestrals tonight, or we can head up to the castle now, get a good night's rest and meet them tomorrow. It's your choice."

 

As he spoke he gestured down each side of the road, to their right the road led to a bridge before continuing into the forest, to their left the road reached to the base of the mountain before appearing to snake back and forth up the side of it all the way to a rather imposing castle near the top.

[Bracket Sparks 49]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Bracket looked down each path, he had become used to staying up late with his work, even in the hospital. Even so, his journey had tired him, he paused for contemplation one one hoof he could explore more of these several cultures that midnight had presented him tonight, or he could rest up and meet new ponies tomorrow. Again bracket looked at the trails ahead of him.

 

"Alright, i'm used to staying up anyway Let's meet the Thestrals!"

 

Bracket smiled and started towards the bridge.

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

Midnight gave a large smile at Bracket's enthusiasm, quickly moving to follow after him. "Alright then, let's go."

 

As they neared the bridge the buildings looked more and more residential before falling away to cultivated fields as they crossed over the bridge. It became easier to see the thestrals as they approached the edge of the forest, walkways and buildings built up into the trees were lit up with dim magical torches to reveal the dark coated ponies moving about.

 

When they reached the midpoint between the bridge and he forest one thestral took wing out of the forest to come to a stop just a few paces away from the pair. She approached with a wide smile, "Hello again Midnight! It's good to see you again." She was a deep bluish purple in color with a deep purple mane and light blue slitted eyes which seemed to almost glow as she looked at Bracket, "And you must be the Bracket Sparks that I've heard so much about."

[Bracket Sparks 49]

@@Illiad Easle,

Bracket smiled back at the thestral, and then replied "Hello, yeah I'm Bracket." thoughts quickly swirled in his head, 'would it be inappropriate to question her appearance? an interesting color no doubt' 'eyes that glow. interesting. probably reflective' 

 

"So midnight tells me that the thestrals have elders, are these thestral's positions closer to ruler or adviser to a council? I am completely new to all of this and I am quite curious." Bracket tried to not to look psychotic a look he was told he often developed when excited. a smile too wide and eyes too curious. Some ponies might think he was crazy. He then realized he was still wearing his wings. would the thestral be interested in them? they don't look anything like their wings. perhaps he would make a new set to match the thestrals. Those would look impressive.

[Illiad Easle 3,128]

@@Bracket Sparks,

 

The thestral looked over at Midnight with a look of confusion to which Midnight looked over at Bracket, "It seems you're getting the Zebra and the Thestrals mixed up, the zebra have elders while the Thestrals have tribal descendants for leaders."

 

The thestral nodded as the confusion left, "That sounds a bit more accurate, though to answer your question it is like a monarchy with usually a pair though no more than three advisors. My father actually is the current leader, and my family's been prepping me to take his place when the time comes, with the exception of my brother who went to find his place in the world since he wouldn't be the leader here if he stayed. Last I heard he was climbing the guard ranks in Troy, and doing very well for himself if I might add, at least the part of his earnings that he sends back indicate a decent measure of success."

 

She smiled wide, revealing her pair of fangs briefly before she continued, "Anyway, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about our clan here, so long as you're willing to tell me about those things you have strapped to you."