open Cultures Unite (1x1 with GeneralDirection)

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

“Oh, ok, well then sure, it sounds like a good idea to me.” He replies as he steps in and takes a seat inside the vehicle that Ryugane has created again. “It’ll serve as a reminder of the festival that I can have to look back on. Recording information is great and all, but having something tangible to look at is so much more meaningful.” He comments as they drive along.

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

They all get in and Ryugane drives away.

Returning to the more impoverished part of the district, Ryugane makes the vehicle disappear once more once they are at their destination. It's a beautiful stretch of green nature overlooking a wide river channel. However, the channel passes under a large stone bridge that blends in with its nature surroundings quite well. There is all ready plenty of citizens gathering around, wearing traditional Japonies kimonos and other such garments. The children are all ready running around and entertaining themselves while the adults wait for the big moment. There is also a few cart vendors in the area. Not many. One is selling snacks. Another is selling toys and commemorative stuff. The third is selling supplies for those who want to catch some fireflies for themselves. In moments like these, the citizens no longer seem poor or struggling. They are just proud Japonies citizens who are all here to have fun.

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

Silver leaves the vehicle and quickly surveys his surroundings. The scenery is quite nice here, and ponies of all ages have already started gathering in anticipation for the festival. He also notices a few vendors nearby, of most importance, the one selling supplies to catch fireflies. The kirin makes his way over to the cart.

“Hello!” He greets the salespony with a smile. “I’m looking for the supplies I’ll need so I can catch my own fireflies.”

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

Denki and Ryugane go to secure a spot while Samurai follows Silver. "Ah, Konbanwa! Irashaimase!! We have just what you need right here. Different methods for catching. The popular method is the standard catcher's net and a jar with a netted lid. We also sell pungent firefly food. You can put it in a jar and then hide the jar somewhere safe; but it only works in an area that usually goes undisturbed. Hard to find a spot like that on a night like this. For those that want to collect more than one or two of them, we also offer this bigger portable bug cage with carrying handle. And for those who want to collect MANY fireflies, or for those who are big spenders, we also have an activity cage that they can explore and have fun in. Different compartments for different activities, see? But first, I must ask... Do you only want to keep the fireflies for a day or so, or do you want to keep them longer and raise your own? Individually, they don't live very long. I can tell you which items to buy, based on what you're trying to accomplish." The seller explains while pointing out different things he is selling.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Samurai Equine

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

Silver listens to the salespony carefully before replying. He wasn’t aware that there could be so much available for catching fireflies, nor that they didn’t live very long. “Oh, well in that case, I would be interested in raising my own. I want to have them to show my friends and family when I get back home as a memento for the occasion. I’m not from Japone so it will be a long journey. I also don’t have much space in my saddlebag so a larger cage is out of the question.” He explains.

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

The salespony nods. "For starters, you'll want the medium-sized bug cage. Simple, portable, but room for raising your own fireflies. The jars are only good for collecting a few, not for raising; it would get cramped too soon. I have a starter kit for raising fireflies. It has plenty of food, some decorations for the cage so it feels like nature, and plenty of instructions for when to feed them, how to raise them, and any questions you might have. A perfect combination for first timers. I'll even thrown in a net for free."

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

Silver nods in agreement with everything the salespony has to say. “Yes, that sounds like a great setup. I wouldn’t want them to be confined to a small jar the whole time. I will take the medium-sized cage and your starter kit, please.”

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

The salespony sells the items to Silver. "Thank you for your business!" He says.

"Silver-san! Samurai-san! Over here!" Denki waves them over. It seems they have all ready found the perfect spot. "The festival is about to begin!"

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

Silver gives the salespony the bits for the purchase and thanks him. He then hears Denki calling for them and heads over to the spot he found. The kirin puts the items he bought from the vendor down beside him and takes a seat beside his friends, eagerly anticipating what was to come next.

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

Ryugane and Denki have all ready secured a blanket big enough for all of them to sit on. Ryugane and Denki sit upright with legs crossed. Samurai decides to lay upright, tucking all four of his legs underneath him. "Here it comes." Ryugane whispers.

In this moment, everypony attending the event quiets down and watches. It's been getting darker and darker until finally, the sun has gone fully down and there is no more light. Then, the fireflies are unleashed! The entire area becomes lit up with countless glowing fireflies! Some fly so fast, they look like little streaks of light. Some just aimlessly float around. It gets many Ooh's and Ahh's from the crowd as they admire the sight before finally letting their foals run around to collect fireflies. The children only have nets and jars. Hardly any of them have more then that. In any other situation, one might call this a massive infestation.

Spoiler

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by Samurai Equine

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

For a while, Silver simply sits in awe of the display before him. It was truly unlike anything he had seen before. He used this time to get the cage ready, placing the decorations and food inside it. Then he grabbed his net and the bug cage with his magic and went to go grab his own fireflies. The task wasn’t terribly difficult, given the sheer amount of the insects present. Silver collected a good number of fireflies in the bug cage before heading back to his friends.

“This is quite the sight.” Silver remarks quietly as he sits back down, gently placing the fireflies down beside him. "Never seen anything like it."

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

Indeed, it was not difficult. There are so many that even the citizens just sitting around and minding their own business are swarmed. They're not overtly aggressive either. Silver doesn't have to do any running around or wild net swinging. With just some simple movements, he can easily guide some fireflies into the cage.

"Try not to forget it, my friend. Moments like this are worth living for." Samurai says.

The festival doesn't last long. Only about an hour at most. The fireflies exploded onto the scene, lingered a while, then slowly and gradually started to hide and fade away into the grass and trees. When there's hardly any left floating around in the open air, citizens begin to collect their things and leave. This includes Samurai and his friends. Samurai, Denki, and Ryugane use their magic to light the way. "What do you think, Silver-san? This is the longest we've stayed in another samurai's district."

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

“I couldn’t agree more, my friend!” Silver replies to Samurai with a grin.

Soon, the fireflies fade into the environment, settling down under nearby plants. The crowd seems to notice this and ponies slowly start getting up and heading back home.

“What do I think?” He repeats. “It’s been quite an experience being here, although any place I go to in Japone is new to me. I hope we aren’t wearing out our welcome here. I’ve quite enjoyed it. I’m not sure what else there may be to see, but if it’s time for you to head back to your district, Samurai, then just say the word and we can head back.”

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

"Oh, it's not that our welcome is worn out. You don't need to worry about that anymore. But it's late, so unless you want to sleep in a local inn here, I suggest we go back to my place. Unless Ryugane-san would like us to have a sleepover?" Samurai suggests. "Absolutely not. My place is big, but I don't like overnight visitors." Ryugane insists.

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

“Yes, that’s very true, it is getting rather late now.” He looks up to see the moon slowly creeping into the night sky. “Ok, let’s head back to your place, then. Whenever you’re ready, my friend!”

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

"Then it's decided. Goodnight, everyone. Thank you for the stay." Samurai bows. "I am glad I finally know the real you, Silver-san." Ryugane bows. Denki does too before they all start departing.

After reconnecting with Samurai's palanquin, the two of them head back to Samurai's place. After wishing each other goodnight, they are back in their bedrooms. No doubt Silver will make sure the fireflies are fully taken care of in their new cage before going to bed. And waiting for him in slumber is a collection of strange creatures.

In his dream, there is a mysterious ghost, a divine elk, a flying fish, and a wayward sparrow waiting to show him around. However, each creature wants to take him in different directions. Which way will he choose?

Edited February 16, 2023 by Samurai Equine

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

Silver bows to Ryugane and Denki before heading back to Samurai’s place in the palanquin. He makes sure his fireflies are fed and safe before heading to bed. Once he’s fallen asleep, the kirin starts having a very strange dream. In the dream, several different creatures appear before him and wish to take him various ways. After thinking things over for a moment, he steps towards the elk and waits to see where it will take him.

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

These choices have been recorded. They will be remembered...

The ghost stares at Silver bitterly before drifting away into a dark void filled with oddly familiar screams, as if Silver left something important behind.
The fish flies away, following a road that leads to a party, but leaves a beautiful pearl for him to collect.
The sparrow flies up into the air to dance with the clouds, but leaves behind a cool feather for him to collect.

The elk was chosen. It bows before Silver. Somehow Silver knows that the elk is thankful for being chosen. It leads Silver past the light and into a land of nature. There are animals of all kind, but they don't act like themselves. Birds swim in the ocean, fish climb on trees, monkeys float in the clouds, etc. The grass and greenery are actually different shades of the rainbow. A weasel walks up and offers Silver something to drink. There is a sad yak crying near a cave.

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

Before he follows the elk, Silver notices the fish and the sparrow leave items behind, which he goes over and collects. He also notices the ghost giving him some sort of glare before drifting off into the void. He won’t have much time to think about this, though, as the elk takes off, and Silver soon follows behind. The place the elk takes him to is… very strange. Nothing here is the way that you would expect it to be, from the colour of the grass to the way the creatures move around. One of them walks right up to the kirin and offers him a drink. He’s not sure what it is, or if the creature can understand him, but he thanks the weasel anyway and takes the drink with his magic. Silver also sees a yak crying nearby, something else that’s also weird. Not really seeing many other options, he approaches the yak and attempts to comfort it.

“Hey there, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” He asks in a concerned tone, still not really knowing if it can even understand him.

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

The drink looks as clear as water, but tastes interesting. Like a soda? No. Like chocolate milk? No. Like some kind of fruit juice? The flavor changes with each gulp.

The yak wipes its tears away then points into the cave. "He's trapped inside. He's in pain. Won't you help him?"

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

Silver is a bit perplexed by the drink… every time he takes a sip of it, it tastes like something different. But then again, it is a dream, after all. Nothing here has made much sense thus far.

“Oh, I see. Who’s trapped? What happened to him?”  Silver asked.

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

The yak says no more, just points at the cave. Silver somehow knows that if he wants more answers, he'll have to investigate for himself. ... So, will he brave the dark unknown or stay out here where it's safe?

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

The yak doesn’t divulge any more information to Silver. He would have to enter the cave and find out what was in there for himself. The adventurer in him would heed the call for exploration of the unknown, despite having no idea what could be lurking inside. He leaves the yak and ventures into the cave to try and find this trapped and injured creature.

[Samurai Equine 50,992]

@GeneralDirection

The cave is long and dark, with a red glow coming from deep within. The closer he gets, the more Silver can hear some kind of animal sound. And then, whatever it is, the beast lunges at Silver! It doesn't attack him, but it does roar and try to bite him with its giant jaw and sharp teeth.

This sudden startle is enough to wake Silver up. It's morning. No doubt Samurai will be having breakfast made again.

[GeneralDirection 1,043]

@Samurai Equine

Silver’s descent into the cave leaves him mostly in darkness, only an eerie red glow coming from someplace deep within offers him any light. He picks up on the sound of a beast, though he’s not able to recognize what the sound is. Rounding a corner, he suddenly senses movement, and his quick reflexes enable him to dodge the beast as it jumps towards him, attempting to bite him. The beast misses, but this is also the end of the dream.

Silver wakes up, it’s now morning, and the smell of breakfast drifts through the air. He takes a moment to calm himself down before getting out of bed. Once he makes it to the kitchen, he takes a seat and helps himself to some food, waiting for Samurai to join him.