private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with LonnaKitty

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

She smiled and bumped him softly on his side with her own. "Happy to have you as one, not many get to see me take off the bracelets. I think I will tell you the other half of my story on the way home, since you have answered so many of my questions, and will probably answer a whooooooole lot more once we reach the town." She grinned, though under the laughs and calm exterior she was nervous. She didn't know what she would see after all. She will have to bite her tongue and try to keep excitement to a minimum, she reminded herself that she could take some mental notes, so she could remember questions later on. Her wings shivered a bit in anticipation. A whole new world basically to explore. What a wonderful concept.

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty,

 

Midnight gave a slight smile as he kept leading through the tangled brush, "I'd like to hear it, I'm glad you trust me enough to tell me. And honestly I enjoy answering questions about myself and the world."

 

Suddenly it seemed as if the forest were a bit less dense, in fact it opened up a bit in the direction they were traveling to reveal a somewhat worn path. "Ah, there's the path now. Shouldn't be long before we reach town now." 

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"Well I already told you the first half, I figure you should hear the rest," 'painful as it may be...' she thought that last part keeping it to herself. She looked around the forest, keeping her eyes peeled, she was so used to dense forest, she wasn't sure how well she was going to take the light. She looked at all the animals that were skittering about, enjoying the sounds of the birds chirping. She closed her eyes enjoying their song. 'This is so nice, I hope my citezens will also get to enjoy this one day as well'

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty

 

They weren't walking along the path for long before the forest suddenly ended. As if they had passed through a door they went from inside to outside the forest and into a clear view of the sky.

 

A few scattered clouds dotted the otherwise clear blue sky, and in the distance across a lush field of green grass was what must be Ponyville. True to his description it seemed to be mostly made up of thatch roofed buildings, though there were a few here and there that were of different styles. They could see from here a few ponies of different races going about their business.

 

Midnight turned towards Argante add he gestured to the town in the distance, "And there it is, the town of Ponyville."

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Argante blinked at the harsh sunlight, rubbing her eyes to get used to its brightness. As she adjusted she gasped and surveyed the bustling town. There were so many ponies, so many houses and stores. She continued to look around, looking at the hills that was around, looking up to see a few pegasi clearing away some unwanted clouds, and some laying on them. She went a little forward to get a better look, watching the ponies go about their lives. She smiled, sniffling a small bit. This looked like a nice town, full of acceptance, maybe her ponies would be alright coming into this new world after all. It made her heart swell with relief and then it was filled with excitement. She was ready, ready to go down and look around the town. Her wings quivered, she held them tightly to her body though.

 

"Come on lets go!" she giggled.

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

(I feel so bad to do this to Argante. Tell her I'm sorry.)

 

@@LonnaKitty

 

Midnight's smile grew at Argante's excitement, he thought for a moment that things might actually go well as he started to gallop towards the town, gesturing for her to follow him.

 

As they approached the town though things weren't as cheerful as Midnight had hoped, all it took was one to recognize him as the one their parents had told them about as foals for them all to run and hide, leaving one rather confused zebra alone in the center of town.

 

" What trickery is this? That the town is once again remiss?"

 

The zebra turned to see the approaching Midnight, who had slowed his approach to a sadder trot when he saw the citizens fleeing. She seemed to recognize him like the others had, but she reacted much differently, running towards him instead of away, bowing low before him once she grew close. She spoke again as she rose, this time in a different language, Midnight smiled as he heard it and responded in kind, the two sharing a laugh before he turned back towards Argante. "It seems we aren't the first to get such a cold welcome, and it is due to my reputation as I feared. This little zebra is Zecora, a descendant of one of the slaves I freed so long ago."

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Argante looked sad that this was happening, especially to a new friend. It made her blood boil, but a quick zap from her bracelet was enough to reel back the anger quickly. She looked toward the zebra that approached and smiled at the kind demeanor that she held for Midnight. She trotted to stand beside Midnight and bowed her head as a sign of respect to the zebra.

 

"It's nice to meet you Zecora." she kept the excitement down to a minimum, she didn't think she was going to meet a zebra so soon. As she looked at her, she realized how pretty she was. Were all zebras this pretty, or maybe mysterious would be the proper word. She then shook off the thoughts and continued to speak, "We aren't the first?" for such a friendly looking town to be so, unfriendly kinda put a damper on her spirit.

 

(hehe its okay, she will be a bit upset but she tough >3)  

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty

 

The zebra smiled as she looked at Argante, "when I first came, the ponies here treated me the same. Only a year ago was I no longer treated as foe."

 

Midnight gave a slight smile, "It seems my guess on the oral traditions of the earth ponies was correct, they had passed down the tales of Sir and I freeing the zebra slaves, and came to fear our image as a force of reckoning, thus they feared this zebra when she first came to town, and now they fear me. Nonetheless, I'm sure with time they would come to accept me add they did Zecora, but for now it will simply make it easier to deliver these letters."

 

He set off further into town looking at street signs. Argante could see the occasional pony risking a glance out a window before dating back in fear, it seemed the Ponyville residents were a rather skittish bunch.

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

She nodded and followed slowly behind. She looked around, her body felt uncomfortable with the occasional stares. She kept close to Midnight. As she looked, ignoring the stares, she noticed there were quite a few stores that caught her interest. She made note of them for a possible trip later on. Hopefully her next trip her might be a bit more welcoming than this. As she glanced, she would occasionally lock eyes with a pony, the look they had as they hid back away hurt her. She was so used to being surrounded by love and acceptance from her own ponies, that this shunning was taking a toll on her. She glanced to Midnight, she couldn't imagine the feelings he had weighing in on his mind. She shook her head, trying to stand up straight, trotting a bit to stand beside him,staying close to his side. She smiled at him, hoping it was a reassuring one. She was going to ask some questions, but she was afraid to even speak in this type of atmosphere. 

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty,

 

Midnight's expression brightened a bit as Argante approached and attempted to reassure him, while he was used to being shunned by Equestrians he certainly didn't enjoy it. He had hoped for a better first impression for Argante, but it seemed she would see their fear of the unknown first.

 

A smile came to his face as he found the correct street, turning a corner they found a blue-grey pegasus with a blond mane and tail garbed with a set of mail bags and an Equestrian Mail Service cap. She seemed to be engaged in a similar activity to them, looking back and forth from an envelope in her hoof to the houses around her.

 

She noticed them as they approached, at first she looked fearful though her expression switched to confused before finally recognition flashed across her misaligned eyes. She stowed the letter she had been holding as she trotted up to them. "Hello Midnight! I would assume that is, we haven't actually met before but you match the description pretty well, I mean who else is as tall as the princesses around here?"

 

Midnight smiled as he retrieved the letters he had been carrying, "It's nice to meet you too Mrs. Doo, I would similarly assume as you're the only one not afraid of my appearance. I actually have some letter for you to deliver, I was nearby so I thought I'd give them to you myself rather than have my usual courier do it." He passed the letters over to her.

 

She read the numbers quickly before stowing them as well, "Wow, a full set, must be something important and I would guess it has to do with the alicorn that's been following you around huh?" She turned to face Argante as she extended a hoof in her direction, "Hi new alicorn! I'm Ditzy Doo, the local mail mare and one of the only ponies that will deliver mail to Troy, what's your name?" 

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Argante looked shocked for a temporary moment. Double checking herself if her cloak was still on. It was. This pony was perceptive. She nodded, and slowly touched hooves with the small mare. "I-Its nice to meet you, I'm Argante." 

 

Yes, good, that was a sentence. Not bad for just meeting a new pony. She looked over her and with her crisscross eyes and very happy demeanor, it put Argante in a very happy mood, she thought the pony was adorable. A good in a bucket of bad. She tilted her head ever so slightly and asked, "How did you know what I was though?" 

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty,

 

Ditzy retracted her hoof with a smile, "Oh, most ponies think I can't see to well because of my eyes, but I can actually see better than most, just not always what I want to look at. How I could tell was the very cloak you use to hide in, it sits like it would on a pegasus, thus you have wings, and your horn isn't easy to miss so I took it to it's logical conclusion since I haven't ever seen a pegacorn that was also tall."

 

She spread her own wings and started fluttering to be a short distance off the ground, "Well, these letters have a long distance to travel, so I need to get going, but I get the feeling we'll see each other again." With that she flew off, sometimes sliding off course but quickly correcting herself as she went.

 

Midnight's smile faded a bit as she left, he turned back to Argante, "Well, that's done. I think the citizens would appreciate it if we left their town quickly so they can stop pretending they're not here." 

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

She stared after the strange pony, when midnight spoke to her she came out of her thoughts and back to the matter at hand. "Yeah, your right! I feel bad that this was what my first trip to a town ended up like though, however, I am glad we met Miss Doo, she is very nice."

 

Argante stood beside Midnight and smiled, "Shall we then?" she started to walk on ahead, back towards the forest. It might be longer for her citizens to blend back with the world than she hopped. Maybe not all is lost though. If she could just figure out something that would help. She stopped for a moment and scratched her head. 'Hnng this is going to take a lot of work.' 

 

As they walked, she continued to glance around the streets and stores till one caught her eye, as well as her nose. The bright building that had such wonderful smells coming from it made her mouth water. She frowned though. With things as they were right now, sweets should be the furthest from her mind, however her tummy, with it now rumbling at her in argument, would happily disagree.

 

"We should probably eat some berries near the forest once we get there, I knew I should have grabbed some food before we left."

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty,

 

Midnight gave a slight smile, "Mrs. Doo is certainly the odd sort of pony, not one really to give to prejudiced as she has suffered so much from it."

 

He followed beside her as she walked towards the forest, at the talk of berries he seemed a bit unsure, "Very little of what you can find in the forest nowadays is actually healthy, I always try to bring my own food when I travel through it just to be safe."

 

Just then it seemed Zecora had given up trying to do whatever she had come into town for and happened to come across the pair, "If it is food by the forest you need, then you two I would be happy to feed. My home is not far from here you see, so want not for aid and just follow me." With that she started into the forest down the same path they had exited from, it seemed her house must have been further down the path from where they had found it. 

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Argante sighed in relief. Though she may not look it she was actually quite the glutton, a trait that persisted to even adulthood, so she was quite happy at the mention of any kind of food. Maybe she would be able to try all kinds of new food now that they were released. 

 

As they followed the zebra, she took more note of the zebra, from her jewelry to her mark. 'Zebras are really mysterious, if I remember right Midnight told me they were really good at potions...' she opened her mouth to speak but closed it back. 'Would it be okay to ask her about it? I mean I barely know her...well, might as well leap I suppose.'

 

"So uhm Zecora, do you...do you make potions? Midnight told me that Zebras were really excellent at making them." 

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty,

 

Zecora looked back at Argante as they walked with a smile on her face, "Indeed there are many potions that I brew, perhaps one day I will make one for you? I am however no expert on the craft, there are others than I with far better drafts."

 

Midnight was happy to see Argante reaching out to interact with others, especially since the zebra were a race she hadn't encountered before.

 

It wasn't long before they arrived at a sort of hut that appeared to be built within the hollow of a large tree, though the tree showed no sign of having been carved out. It seemed to have grown that way through some force of magic. Many masks with different faces decorated the outside of the hut, and light from within shone out through the paneless windows.

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Argante stared in awe at the different multicolored masks that covered the tree. Looking at each one individually, she noted the carvings, the coloring, everything, about each one. Her eyes were filled with wonder as she looked at them. She noticed her companions already went inside and quickly followed. The magical feeling from the tree was very comforting, making her a bit more braver than usual.

 

She sat down in a place she felt was out of the way enough, then started to fulfill her curiosity, "So Zecora, why don't you live in Ponyville?" 

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty,

 

Midnight had taken a seat as well near a boiling cauldron that Zecora was tossing assorted herbs and roots into while occasionally stirring, it smelled different, but good in its own way. She paused for a moment at Argante's question before she returned to mixing thins in the pot. "When I first came to Ponyville you see, they took great fright at the sight of me. So I turned a new page in my life's tome, I turned around and made the forest my home. It puts me much closer to the herbs that I need, and it is with them you two I will feed."

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Argante nodded, her stomach growling as the smell of food wafted to her. She grabbed her stomach, giggling in embarrassment. As she watched the zebra prep the food, she decided to lose herself in her thoughts. Would ponies shun her own citizens cause of how they looked? Her and her ponies had lost a lot of their color since they could not get natural sunlight. Would they be treated the same as this poor zebra? Or like Midnight? Her ears flopped down as the thoughts traveled through her mind. Maybe it was better if the spell had not broken. She bit her lower lip, a small pain traveling through her body. No, she shouldn't think like that. She had to have hope, hope they could come back to the world. She looked to Midnight, a small smile across her features. He was going to help that, she could feel it. She had to have faith. She continued her thoughts, listening to the conversation.  

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty,

 

It wasn't long before the herb soup was done and Zecora dished it into bowls that she passed to her two guests before drinking some of her own. She seemed pleased with how it had turned out.

 

Midnight had some as well, his expression showing that he was impressed, had it had potatoes it would have made quite the stew, but even without it was quite good and actually decently filling with all the different herbs within it.

 

Midnight thanked Zecora once he finished before turning towards Argante, "Well, we really should get going. We wouldn't want your subjects to be too worried at your absence now would we?"

 

Zecora seemed surprised by this revelation and spoke to Midnight in her native language, to which he responded with a smile, "No this isn't Luna or Celestia in disguise, they would hardly be around me even then. No she is from a new little kingdom about twenty or so miles south by south west of here, they may be willing to buy potions and ingredients from you in the near future." 

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"Oh my gosh your right!!! I am super rude!" Argante grew flustered, her cloak moved showing one wing and her mark to the Zebra. "I shall formally introduce myself since we are out of so many eyes," she bowed as she normally did, hoof over chest, "I am Princess Argante, my kingdom has been hidden a long time, and I would like to ask you, if you would maybe teach my potions master sometime in the future, if you could teach him what you could that would be wonderful, and we would wish to possibly purchase or trade with you as well. I am sorry to have kept it secret." she bowed her head in apology, moving her cloak to settle back over her frame. She hoped she came off a sincere. She wasn't really used to this sort of thing after all.

 

She then thought of her subjects, she knew she wasn't gone for too long but she knew her ponies. There are probably several that are running around searching. She sighed inwardly at the trouble she was most likely in. She looked up at Midnight and smiled. "My subjects are probably pretty worried, I just hope the council won't be too mad at me." she giggled. Though she knew they would be mad, the bit of mischief had made her feel light again, her mood had been very low these few thousand years.    

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty

 

Zecora smiled at Argante's full introduction before speaking to Midnight again in her native tongue, she seemed more comfortable speaking in it, possibly happy top be with someone else that spoke it. "She forgives you for not introducing yourself sooner and recognizes the need for privacy. While she would be happy to help your citizens when it comes to the forest, guiding and gathering and such, though she doesn't consider herself worthy to teach your potion masters about brewing. But don't worry about that, I know a few at Archback who've been itching for a group to teach."

 

With that he stood, bowing low to Zecora before moving to the door, "We should get going then, the forest is most active at night so we don't want to be outside the city then."

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Argante nodded. She had always seen all the eyes outside of the barrier. They always made her uneasy, she never wanted to see the creatures those eyes belonged to. She stepped out with Midnight, saying her goodbyes to Zecora, and following the stallion through the woods. She kept glancing around, nerves and paranoia starting to get to her. She unconsciously trekked closer to Midnight than she intended, all of a sudden feeling like a small filly again.

 

She bumped softly into Midnight, snapping her out of her small little stupor. "A-ah sorry!" she stammered, stepping quickly to the side to be a bit further from him. She chastised herself in her mind, 'Snap out of it silly mare! You are strong, you are not a filly no more!' she bit her lower lip, her ears down, lost in her thoughts as they got closer to the town and its new earthen wall. She looked at the far away wall, almost home, almost there.

 

"Midnight," she started to speak, her eyes looking at the ground, her voice was quiet, "Do you...do you think that we will be, accepted?" Her fears were weighing heavily on her shoulders. She felt out here she should speak about it for a moment before she had to put the front that she knew what she was doing back on. Out here she could be honest, in there, she had to shroud herself.

 

(so I spent almost a day on this because I couldn't think of the word paranoia, guh!) 

[Illiad Easle 3,168]

@@LonnaKitty,

 

Midnight paused in his walking, understanding a bit why she wanted to talk about this sort of thing without the walls of her city. He seemed a bit sad as he thought of how poor a first impression the Equestrians had made. "In the global community you have little to worry about, the only thing that might set you back is how long you've been isolated. There will be quite a few things that your citizens will have to adapt to in the years to come but I think you'll fit in no problem. As to the Equestrians, given you're all still equine and of the three mane races you really won't have much of a problem integrating, color as a difference doesn't really mean much to them, they're actually far more tolerant and welcoming than they showed. Really the only things they hide from are the things they don't understand, the things they've been taught to fear, like me."

 

He gave a slight smile as he nudged Argante's neck with his nose, an instinctual comforting gesture to him, "I wouldn't worry too much about it, they may be scared of the new and different for a bit, but given time I'm sure they'll come to accept your citizens and culture."

 

At least I sincerely hope so, otherwise we'll have to move them out of Equestrian borders. There's a nice island across the river from Cowpenhagen if it comes to that.

 

(I wondered what was taking so long, don't worry too much about it, I get stuck on words all the time.)

[LonnaKitty 173]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

Argante nodded, pushing the tears that were about to happen back. She leaned into the comforting touch, welcoming it. She prayed that he was right, her citizens might do better with merging back, more than her at least. She closed her eyes, a soft sigh escaping. She would have to do a lot more hiding, a lot more lies. She hated herself for it a lot, it was probably the source of a lot of her problems, now that she actively thought on it.

 

She stepped back for a moment and smiled at him. "Thank you Midnight, you are very kind," she nuzzled him for a moment, then turned to the wall and opened it up. The earth crumbling under her touch. She walked in and waited for him to follow. Once he was in, the earth rose once more, to fill in the hole. She turned back, leading the way back to the keep. 

 

Walking back into the courtyard however they were met with panic filled voices. 

 

"Princess!"

"My lady!"

"Waaaaaa"

 

Argante winced at all the voices at once, pushing her way to the stage as so many ponies talked to her at once, surrounding and cutting her away from Midnigh. Her heart rate raised up, her panic starting to grab hold. A small shock from her bracelets pulled her back though, she shook her head and opened her wings, forcing the crowd around her to step back. Flying up and above everyone, she glided to stand up on the stage. She sighed and closed her eyes, folding her wings back to her side, calming her mind as someone spoke.

 

"Your Highness! Where have you BEEN!"

 

She winced as she saw Hoofbeat glare at her, the other members behind him. She glanced back and forth, between the council and her citizens. She took a large breath. She was prepared for this, not on this kind of scale of course, but prepared nonetheless. 

 

"I went out, with Midnight, outside the walls, he went to deliver letters, and as your princess, and a curious mare, I went to go see the town of Ponyville to see what has changed." her voice was firm, her stare was a challenge, she listened to the gossip and wanderings of the others. This was her hoof up, she had the upper hoof here, and she sure wasn't going to let it go. "Much has changed! We will need to prepare, we will need to adapt, all of us will have to plan, study, and work very hard. We need to be as accepting as we once were," she glanced towards her council members, they shifted, knowing it was directed towards them. She glanced around, finding Midnight in the crowd. Though it wasn't too hard to find him. She smiled, she hadn't felt so much courage bubbling in her in a long time. Her smiled grew wider.

 

"Everypony, I am here to also tell you I will be gone for a little while," the whispers grew loud as all the ponies started to panic a bit. Argante frowned, she never really realized how much they relied on her. That would definitely need to end. "Listen to me, we have lost touch with a lot of things, you lean on me too much, you need to rely on yourselves as well as me, and the council. They will be in charge of what they know, please, while I am gone, go to them with your problems if you can not solve it yourselves," the talking quieted once more. Argante removed her cloak, the fabric falling and wrapping around her hooves, she spread her wings wide, pulling herself to her full height. "I promise you, as your princess, as your leader, and as your friend, I will come back, with new ideas, with new possibilities, with hope!"

 

There was silence, she quickly grew embarrassed and tucked her wings back at her side, her ears flopping down. A cheer started though, and soon quickly grew into a roar of applause. The council looked around astonished. The hope upon everyone's faces was apparent, there hadn't been such hope in so long, it was breath taking. Argante could only smile, the tears that were once sad, now spilled over in happiness. 

 

Towards the back, the elderly pony, Raindew, made his way to Midnight, motioning for the stallion to follow him away from the crowd, the ponies surrounding them, unconsciously moving out of the way as he made his way through the crowd.