private Another Cultural Exchange (1x1 with Skylight Scintillate)

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

Nova struggled to keep up with everything that Speckle was saying, but he wasn't bothered as he had also enjoyed all the things they had done in the show.

His ears perked more at the mention of a fan meetup though, he would have commented on it had Speckle not immediately gone to the next thing in her list of excitement, so he'd wait.

On 2024-10-22 at 10:23 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

"You sound just like Rainbow Dash whenever she talks about the Wonderbolts," Princess Twilight remarked. While she didn’t show her excitement as obviously as Speckle, it was clear she quite enjoyed the Wonderbolts performance as well. Noticing that Nova was quite a bit more quiet then Speckle, Twilight would ask "Hey Nova, how are you feeling?"

Nova was at least nearly as visibly enthused as Speckle, but it was quite fair to say he was quieter about it than Speckle. Nova nodded at Twilight's question, "I'm feeling good, it was a very impressive show! I can't say I've ever seen anything like it before, the forest doesn't really lend itself to air shows like this. Thank you for letting us sit up here to watch it with you."

 

He turned back towards Speckle, "You said that Rainbow Dash has a fan meetup? Do... do you think she'd be there? So we could maybe meet her?"

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle 

On 2024-10-24 at 3:58 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"I'm feeling good, it was a very impressive show! I can't say I've ever seen anything like it before, the forest doesn't really lend itself to air shows like this. Thank you for letting us sit up here to watch it with you."

"No problem. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's nice spending time doing things that you enjoy with your friends," Twilight replied, content that it was an enjoyable experience for the trio. Twilight's enthusiasm was more similar to Nova's than Speckle's, preferring to enjoy it all quietly without saying much. 

On 2024-10-24 at 3:58 PM, Illiad Easle said:

He turned back towards Speckle, "You said that Rainbow Dash has a fan meetup? Do... do you think she'd be there? So we could maybe meet her?"

After a few minutes, Nova would finally be able to get a word in when Speckle had to stop to catch her breath. "Huh? Oh yeah, Rainbow Dash has a fan club..." Speckle replied as she caught her breath. 

After a few moments for her to catch her breath and to put her thoughts together, she replied. "So yeah, lots of fans of the Wonderbolts have their favorite Wonderbolt, and this would be the opportunity to meet them. It's kind of like when we met Princess Luna at that super fancy restaurant yesterday," Speckle explained. "...Though, I have no idea how to get there from here..." 

Twilight would think for a moment before extending her hoof, implying that Nova and Speckle should hold on. "Want to try something else new?"

Speckle would stare at the hoof before realizing and grabbing hold "Teleportation? Oh my gosh, you're so cool!"

Twilight would nod, and once all three of them had grabbed a hold of each other, Twilight cast her teleportation spell. In what felt like only an instant, Speckle could feel herself disappear from one place and simultaneously appear in another place. This was the first time Speckle teleported, and it was a little disorienting, but it was so cool.

"Woah. We were, well, wherever we were before, and now we're here!" Speckle exclaimed. Looking around, the group found themselves in a large room that appeared to be set up for a Wonderbolt meetup. Fans were already trickling in from other parts of the stadium. While some fans noticed the trio's sudden appearance, they didn't have much time to think about it because Rainbow Dash barged in. 

"Hey everypony! Sup?" Rainbow Dash announced as she made her dramatic introduction. The crowd would immediately form a large semi-circle around her with a loud cheer.

"Oh my gosh! It's Rainbow Dash!" a fan would shout.

Spoiler

https://derpibooru.org/images/1483137

Edited October 27 by Skylight Scintillate

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

On 2024-10-26 at 11:16 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

Twilight would think for a moment before extending her hoof, implying that Nova and Speckle should hold on. "Want to try something else new?"

Speckle would stare at the hoof before realizing and grabbing hold "Teleportation? Oh my gosh, you're so cool!"

Nova was hesitant to actually touch the princess, having been told by his father that that was something one simply did not do, but seeing that Speckle had no issue doing it and that Princess Twilight didn't seem to mind Speckle doing so indicated that it was actually the desired action.

Still though, he did his best to only touch her gently, only momentarily surprised to feel that, for the most part, she didn't feel any different from a regular pony. Sure, there was the obvious feeling of magical power flowing through her, but physically she felt like any other earth pony.

On 2024-10-26 at 11:16 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

Twilight would nod, and once all three of them had grabbed a hold of each other, Twilight cast her teleportation spell. In what felt like only an instant, Speckle could feel herself disappear from one place and simultaneously appear in another place. This was the first time Speckle teleported, and it was a little disorienting, but it was so cool.

It was also the first time that Nova had teleported, and his delicate sense of direction was a bit more thrown off than Speckle's was, leaving him visibly dizzy for a few moments, wobbling in place as he regained his bearings, "Woah! That was so strange."

On 2024-10-26 at 11:16 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Hey everypony! Sup?" Rainbow Dash announced as she made her dramatic introduction. The crowd would immediately form a large semi-circle around her with a loud cheer.

"Oh my gosh! It's Rainbow Dash!" a fan would shout.

Nova did his best to recover as quickly as he could once Rainbow Dash entered. Though he was a bit surprised by the crowd reaction. She was a national hero wasn't she? Wouldn't a bow or salute be more appropriate? Still, he wasn't about to make a fool of himself, so he would follow Speckle's lead on how to interact.

"She's so colorful, does she paint her mane all those colors? It must take ages."

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle 

On 2024-10-30 at 4:32 PM, Illiad Easle said:

It was also the first time that Nova had teleported, and his delicate sense of direction was a bit more thrown off than Speckle's was, leaving him visibly dizzy for a few moments, wobbling in place as he regained his bearings, "Woah! That was so strange."

"Sorry about that," Twilight apologized. "I forgot to warn you that dizziness is a potential side effect of teleportation."

On 2024-10-30 at 4:32 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"She's so colorful, does she paint her mane all those colors? It must take ages."

"Uh, no? I heard her mane is always like that," Speckle replied. While there wasn't anything to suggest Rainbow Dash had done anything to her mane to get her iconic colors, looking around at the various fan ponies in the crowd, it was clear that quite a lot of them had painted their names in rainbow colors.

"Tell us what it was like flying this show!" a fan pony exclaimed.

"I don't know. Can words describe how awesome it is to fly as a Wonderbolt?" Rainbow Dash joked. This got a laugh out of the crowd. 

"Well, first we all take off together as a group, and then we split apart to fly towards each other... ...To make a flower in the sky, every bolt does a partial roll when we all come together to avoid clipping wings... ...The ponies holding the show here in Canterlot had a rainbow brought in from Cloudsdale for the rainbow stunt that we did..." Rainbow Dash described. Her excitement recalling the details of the performance from her perspective almost rivaled the excitement of her fans.

Once she finished describing her experience, she would interact with her fans, doing what they wanted to do in an ad hoc way. This included things from signing Wonderbolt merch to taking pictures with fans to answering questions from fans, all while radiating excitement.

While all her fans frequently talked over each other in excitement, wanting to interact with Rainbow Dash, Nova, and Speckle would get a few chances to interact with the Wonderbolt herself. Speckle would use this opportunity to get a picture of herself with Princess Twilight and Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash. If Nova wanted to be in the picture, he would be included as well. A young colt standing next to Nova would notice Twilight Sparkle and remark, "Wow, there are so many celebrities here in Canterlot..."

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

On 2024-11-02 at 9:41 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

While all her fans frequently talked over each other in excitement, wanting to interact with Rainbow Dash, Nova, and Speckle would get a few chances to interact with the Wonderbolt herself. Speckle would use this opportunity to get a picture of herself with Princess Twilight and Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash. If Nova wanted to be in the picture, he would be included as well. A young colt standing next to Nova would notice Twilight Sparkle and remark, "Wow, there are so many celebrities here in Canterlot..."

The crowded and energetic nature of the crowd was a bit much for Nova, there were more ponies in this small room than in his whole colony! And there were likely more words spoken here than in an entire day back home.

Still though, he did his best to tune out the commotion and focus on what was important. When he was offered to be part of the picture he accepted, not entirely certain what a picture was as his clan mostly dealt with formal portraits and Archback was a bit far for delicate camera equipment to be shipped safely, so there weren't many cameras on the mountain.

The flash irritated his sensitive eyes, despite the glasses, but he was happy to be included.

He would look to Speckle, "What was that, some sort of spell?"

Once his eyes readjusted he would also ask, "It's a bit crowded here, can we go somewhere else?" 

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle 

7 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The flash irritated his sensitive eyes, despite the glasses, but he was happy to be included.

He would look to Speckle, "What was that, some sort of spell?"

"Uuh, it's this!" Speckle said, not quite sure how to explain it. She grabbed the picture that the photographer handed her and showed it to Nova. Unlike Nova, she made sure her eyes were closed when the flash happened since they wouldn't be visible in the picture through her sunglasses. Due to this, her eyes were able to adjust back to normal a lot more quickly. She would hold to picture for Nova to see, waiting a few seconds for him to reply before realizing.

"Oh... Uuh, sorry I forgot to tell you about that. I guess I forgot because of how excited I was... But uh, I usually close my eyes when they take the picture because you can't see them behind the sunglasses..." Speckle apologized. 

7 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Once his eyes readjusted he would also ask, "It's a bit crowded here, can we go somewhere else?" 

Speckle glanced at Nova with concern. She was about to ask Nova how he was doing, but Princess Twilight beat her to it.

"Are you ok?" Twilight asked. She would step back and let Nova slip away from the crowd of ponies around Rainbow Dash. "I know these events aren't for everypony." There was enough space in the room for Twilight and Nova to step away from the crowd. However, Twilight would opt to use her noise-cancelation spell to help remove any extra stimuli that could overwhelm Nova, and it would allow them to have a quiet conversation that wouldn't be drowned out by Dash's fans.

Meanwhile, Dash and her fans were feeding off of each other's adrenaline and dopamine. The Wonderbolt bathed in the attention she was getting as she felt the satisfaction of fast-paced action keeping up with her fans. Almost right after she finished posing for the photograph, she signed a picture for another fan before diving into a story about managing the weather in Ponyville. 

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

On 2024-11-12 at 10:51 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Uuh, it's this!" Speckle said, not quite sure how to explain it. She grabbed the picture that the photographer handed her and showed it to Nova. Unlike Nova, she made sure her eyes were closed when the flash happened since they wouldn't be visible in the picture through her sunglasses. Due to this, her eyes were able to adjust back to normal a lot more quickly. She would hold to picture for Nova to see, waiting a few seconds for him to reply before realizing.

"Oh... Uuh, sorry I forgot to tell you about that. I guess I forgot because of how excited I was... But uh, I usually close my eyes when they take the picture because you can't see them behind the sunglasses..." Speckle apologized. 

Nova was very impressed by the picture, once his eyes adjusted enough to see it properly. "Oh, wow! it's like a tiny portrait! And so fast, it must be a real powerful spell."

He looked a bit disappointed, "Hmm, too bad we didn't have this when we met Princess Luna, that would have been a cool thing to be able to bring back home."

On 2024-11-12 at 10:51 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Are you ok?" Twilight asked. She would step back and let Nova slip away from the crowd of ponies around Rainbow Dash. "I know these events aren't for everypony." There was enough space in the room for Twilight and Nova to step away from the crowd. However, Twilight would opt to use her noise-cancelation spell to help remove any extra stimuli that could overwhelm Nova, and it would allow them to have a quiet conversation that wouldn't be drowned out by Dash's fans.

Meanwhile, Dash and her fans were feeding off of each other's adrenaline and dopamine. The Wonderbolt bathed in the attention she was getting as she felt the satisfaction of fast-paced action keeping up with her fans. Almost right after she finished posing for the photograph, she signed a picture for another fan before diving into a story about managing the weather in Ponyville. 

Nova nodded, "There's just a lot of ponies here in such a small space. It's like when I went on a tour of Archback Mountain, but there was a bit more space there for everyone to move around."

Watching the fans interact with Dash Nova looked contemplative, "It's weird, to me, how... casual? informal? this is. Like, when the elders visit my colony, it isn't like this. Even when the guards who work here come home on break it's different."

He shrugged, "Even spending time with you is so different than I thought it would be. Is... is it bad that I like this more? That I wish I could get to talk to the elders of my clan like I talk to you?"

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle

On 2024-11-18 at 4:41 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Nova was very impressed by the picture, once his eyes adjusted enough to see it properly. "Oh, wow! it's like a tiny portrait! And so fast, it must be a real powerful spell."

He looked a bit disappointed, "Hmm, too bad we didn't have this when we met Princess Luna, that would have been a cool thing to be able to bring back home."

"I don't know what it is, but I know it's not a spell," Speckle replied.

"It's not a spell. It's technology," Twilight replied nonchalantly. 

On 2024-11-18 at 4:41 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Watching the fans interact with Dash Nova looked contemplative, "It's weird, to me, how... casual? informal? this is. Like, when the elders visit my colony, it isn't like this. Even when the guards who work here come home on break it's different."

He shrugged, "Even spending time with you is so different than I thought it would be. Is... is it bad that I like this more? That I wish I could get to talk to the elders of my clan like I talk to you?"

"Well I have my preferences for how I like to do things, and your elders have their own preferences. Each of us might have reasons for our preferences, but nopony else can decide for you what you like. You have to figure it out yourself," Twilight explained. 

"I like things casual because it allows us to talk more freely," Twilight justified. 

"Yeah you might not notice it, but there are so many super fancy fru-fru events in Canterlot where you have to do things in a particular way or say things in a particular way, and it's all very weird, and I don't know why they do it or how anypony can remember all this stuff," Speckle butted in, her attention ping-pong between what was going on with Rainbow Dash and the conversation Twilight and Nova were having.

"Is that what your elders are like?" Speckle asked.

Speckle would give Nova a chance to reply. However, once the trio was finished with their conversation and Twilight dispersed the spell, Speckle would ask Rainbow Dash about whether species other than Pegasi could join the Wonderbolts.

"Oh you ponies want me to tell the story about Wind Sock again? Sure! So many moons ago, there was this Earth pony who wanted to fly with the Wonderbolts more than anything... ...worked at Wonderbolts headquarters just to be around Wonderbolts... ...Made glider wings to save a Wonderbolt that got trapped in a ravine... ...And that was how an Earth Pony joined the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash explained, making dramatic movements in the air as she retold the story.

"Woah, that's so cool! Maybe I could be a Wonderbolt!" a young unicorn colt exclaimed.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

16 hours ago, Skylight Scintillate said:

"I don't know what it is, but I know it's not a spell," Speckle replied.

"It's not a spell. It's technology," Twilight replied nonchalantly. 

Nova looked confused at the distinction, but didn't press the issue. Science and magic were equally foreign to the young thestral, so they may as well be the same to him.

16 hours ago, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Yeah you might not notice it, but there are so many super fancy fru-fru events in Canterlot where you have to do things in a particular way or say things in a particular way, and it's all very weird, and I don't know why they do it or how anypony can remember all this stuff," Speckle butted in, her attention ping-pong between what was going on with Rainbow Dash and the conversation Twilight and Nova were having.

"Is that what your elders are like?" Speckle asked.

Nova shrugged, "I haven't been to any fancy events here, just this today and the dinner with Princess Luna last night, so I don't know if they're the same or not."

16 hours ago, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Oh you ponies want me to tell the story about Wind Sock again? Sure! So many moons ago, there was this Earth pony who wanted to fly with the Wonderbolts more than anything... ...worked at Wonderbolts headquarters just to be around Wonderbolts... ...Made glider wings to save a Wonderbolt that got trapped in a ravine... ...And that was how an Earth Pony joined the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash explained, making dramatic movements in the air as she retold the story.

"Woah, that's so cool! Maybe I could be a Wonderbolt!" a young unicorn colt exclaimed.

Nova looked thoughtful at that, but didn't have anything to add other than agreeing that the story was pretty cool.

 

Nova had gotten out of this event what he had hoped to, and the short sleep he had had between the dinner and now was starting to catch up to him, but it seemed like the other two wanted to stick around a bit longer so he didn't speak up about it, not wanting to make Speckle leave early if she was still having a good time.

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle 

On 2024-11-21 at 4:47 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Nova had gotten out of this event what he had hoped to, and the short sleep he had had between the dinner and now was starting to catch up to him, but it seemed like the other two wanted to stick around a bit longer so he didn't speak up about it, not wanting to make Speckle leave early if she was still having a good time.

"Unless you want to continue talking, feel free to leave whenever you want, Nova and Speckle. I plan on spending some time with Rainbow Dash at a cafe after this event," Twilight explained. She didn't bother going back into the crowd around Rainbow Dash. It was clear she was enjoying her time here, even if it wasn't interacting with Rainbow Dash or her fans directly.

Nova didn't have to wait long for Speckle as she slipped away from the crowd not long afterward. "Alright, I think I'm ready to go. These events are so exciting but exhausting at the same time," she remarked as she tried to straighten her now cartoonishly disheveled mane. "How are you doing, Nova?"

 

The pair would spend the next few days doing various other activities around Canterlot, such as visiting the numerous museums. Speckle would make sure that Nova could choose what he was interested in doing.

 

Before Speckle knew it, it was time for the pair to visit Nova's home. Speckle was running around the apartment, trying to figure out what to pack. "What do I need to pack? Do I pack this? What about this? Do they have, uuh, you know, the thingy?" Speckle asked as part of her frenzy. It was unclear whether she was asking Nova or her parents for some of the questions.

"Alight, Nova, you make sure you packed everything you brought here?" Speckle's dad asked as they prepared to head to the train station. He gestured to Nova's and Speckle's luggage packed by the front door.

Edited November 23 by Skylight Scintillate

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

(Sorry for the delay, busy with family)

On 2024-11-22 at 10:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

The pair would spend the next few days doing various other activities around Canterlot, such as visiting the numerous museums. Speckle would make sure that Nova could choose what he was interested in doing.

Nova had grown a bit more comfortable during his time in Canterlot, opening up a bit more to Speckle with each passing day. By the end it seemed like he was having a good time, and was sad that his time in Canterlot was over already.

He was a bit sad though that Princess Luna had not visited his dreams again, he figured that she wasn't likely to do it while he was back in his village, given the distance. Still, he had gotten to see her in person, and that was something most in his clan who were not in her guard could not claim.

Whether they would believe him was another story.

 

On 2024-11-22 at 10:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Alight, Nova, you make sure you packed everything you brought here?" Speckle's dad asked as they prepared to head to the train station. He gestured to Nova's and Speckle's luggage packed by the front door.

Nova nodded, having kept most of his stuff packed for the duration of the visit he only needed to put his toiletries back in his bag and to move the bag from the bedroom to the entryway. He was still amazed at just how much space Speckle's family had all to themselves. Still, he was looking forward to showing her his family's home, as small and cozy as it was.

Just like when he had arrived, his mother would be meeting them at the train station to accompany them back to the Fastar Clan territory. The train would take them as far as Las Pegasus, where they would then get on a ferry to take them up the river to the Archback docks, then they would fly the rest of the way to the Shimmerwood forest where Nova's clan lived.

If they wanted, one or both of her parents could feasibly join them as far as Las Pegasus.

 

Once Speckle was ready Nova would be too, eyeing just how much she thought she needed for a week in the forest.
(I'll set things up proper in my next post, I need to find my map)

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle 

"You're all packed. I helped you pack, remember? I've checked the list, and you don't need to bring much," Speckle's dad explained, gesturing to the list. Speckle would check the list and then check her bag, confirming she had everything she needed. Despite all the running around she did, everything she packed fit into a single bag.

Speckle's parents would accompany the rest of the group to the train station. Once the train arrived, Speckle would say goodbye to her parents and board with Nova and his mom. She would get a bit of rest in, a bit exhausted from her running around the apartment earlier and preparing the the numerous transfers that the group would be doing. 

Once the group landed in the Shimmerwood forest, Speckle would remark, "Oh wow, that's a lot of traveling! There are so many interesting places we passed through. So uh, what happens now?" Speckle would look around the forest, trying to immerse the new and unfamiliar environment. 

Edited December 3 by Skylight Scintillate

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

(Found the map! I had to dig through so many old files and emails to find it, turns out I had never converted the raw file to a png so it was hidden as an xcf)

(I hope you don't mind, but I want to include some steps before they get to the Shimmerwood forest.)

On 2024-12-02 at 10:20 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

Speckle's parents would accompany the rest of the group to the train station. Once the train arrived, Speckle would say goodbye to her parents and board with Nova and his mom. She would get a bit of rest in, a bit exhausted from her running around the apartment earlier and preparing the the numerous transfers that the group would be doing. 

Nova, at his mother's insistence, also took the opportunity to rest during the train ride from Canterlot to Las Pegasus, having already seen the route on his way up to Canterlot.

Indigo gently woke the pair as the train was pulling in to the Las Pegasus station, which was conveniently outside of the city proper and near to the docks where they would board the ferry. Still, they got to see the tall tower connecting the ground portion of the city to the cloud portion. When most ponies think of Las Pegasus, they talk about the resorts and attractions predominantly found in the clouds, and forget about the homes and businesses present on the ground that support all of it. Locals often refer to the different halves as Upper and Lower Las Pegasus.

Still, Indigo encouraged the group to keep moving, soon boarding the ferry with all of their bags in tow. They were able to find a shaded spot on the ferry as it started to make its slow journey up the river, the sun only just starting to set.

Nova moved to the front of the ferry, pointing to a single mountain growing larger in the distance, "You see that? That's Archback mountain. If you look really closely you can see the castle near the top!"

Sure enough, if Speckle squinted, she'd be able to see what kind of looked like a structure of some kind with two large towers. It wasn't as large or as flashy as Canterlot castle by any means, which they could still barely see if they looked back at Canterlot Mountain.

Nova seemed a bit mixed between nervous and excited, "I, um, I hope you're excited too, and that you have a good time. I know it's not as big or impressive as Canterlot is."

 

It would be a few hours before the ferry landed at the Archback docks, a number of zebra and darker coated ponies boarding to help unload the crates that had joined them on this trip, as well as to load new crates on, including one that Nova pointed out to Speckle, "That's a crate of Shimmerwood, from my clan! Too bad it's boxed up, but I'm sure I'll be able to show you some this week."

Indigo would help Speckle and Nova strap on their bags so they could fly the rest of the way, and would carry anything that couldn't be easily strapped on if necessary. "Alright you two, follow me, try not to drift off too far and let me know if you need a break."

Then she would fly ahead, the sun having just touched the horizon at that point. She kept her pace slow enough that the other two could easily keep up, but even burdened Nova proved to be an excellent flyer. Still, he would do his best to stay by Speckle, pointing out some things as they followed the river offshoot up towards the forest.

"So all over the mountain is where the Children of the Moon live, and up near the top is Archback Castle. Then here in the valley between the mountain and the forest is where the zebra live." They were passing over the buildings of the zebra village now, they had the same general shape as what zebra dwellings would look like back in Zebrica, just made more out of wood than clay, they also had some large crop fields along the river itself.

 

On 2024-12-02 at 10:20 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

Once the group landed in the Shimmerwood forest, Speckle would remark, "Oh wow, that's a lot of traveling! There are so many interesting places we passed through. So uh, what happens now?" Speckle would look around the forest, trying to immerse the new and unfamiliar environment. 

The group landed just outside the forest, where a well worn path entered the trees connected to a road that crossed the river and headed toward the zebra city. Indigo smiled, "Well, it's sunset now, so the clan will just be waking up now. We'll be able to get you two some breakfast then we'll see how you're feeling. After all that travel you may want to take a nap before doing much else."

She would lead the way down the forest path. As the light from the sun dimmed the forest seemed to come alive, every so often there would be a tree whose back seemed to shine like the stars, offering a faint glow that illuminated the way well enough even if they didn't have excellent night vision. There were the faint sounds of animals moving through the forest, birds settling in for the night, crickets chirping.

They came to a fork in the road and Indigo led them to the right where they soon emerged into the clan proper.

There was a large clearing with a view of the sky. In the middle was a fire pit that a few adult thestrals were tending to, along with the smell of some food cooking, though it was hard to tell exactly what was being made. Up in the large trees that surrounded the clearing were small structures, likely the houses where the clan members lived, with a few rope bridges and walkways between them along with some stairs that led up to them from the ground, though those were rare.

The thestrals that saw them simply nodded in greeting, not paying them much attention.

Indigo led them to one of the houses on the east side of the clearing, flying up to the doorway, she spoke softly as she let them in, "Well, here we are."

Inside, the house was fairly cozy. It was two levels with the tree rising through the middle. On the bottom level there were a few chairs and items, and a desk covered with flowers and dyes of various kinds, and on the top layer were some hammocks hung from some of the branches extending from the tree, along with storage for other things.

Nova turned to Speckle, "So, what do you think?"

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle 

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Still, they got to see the tall tower connecting the ground portion of the city to the cloud portion. When most ponies think of Las Pegasus, they talk about the resorts and attractions predominantly found in the clouds, and forget about the homes and businesses present on the ground that support all of it. Locals often refer to the different halves as Upper and Lower Las Pegasus.

Speckle would stare up in awe at the city of Las Pegasus in the clouds. She had never seen a floating city before, and it was mesmerizing. "Woah, they have a floating city in the clouds? That's so cool!" She remarked as she followed the other two from the station to the docks. 

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Nova moved to the front of the ferry, pointing to a single mountain growing larger in the distance, "You see that? That's Archback mountain. If you look really closely you can see the castle near the top!"

Given that Speckle was not familiar with the environment, it took her a significant amount of time before she saw it. "Oh, cool! So does the princess of Archback live there? Or ruler?" Speckle asked. "What is it like? Have you been there?"

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Nova seemed a bit mixed between nervous and excited, "I, um, I hope you're excited too, and that you have a good time. I know it's not as big or impressive as Canterlot is."

"Are you kidding? I get to explore new places and learn new cultures, and I get to do all this with you as my friend!" Speckle exclaimed.

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

It would be a few hours before the ferry landed at the Archback docks, a number of zebra and darker coated ponies boarding to help unload the crates that had joined them on this trip, as well as to load new crates on, including one that Nova pointed out to Speckle, "That's a crate of Shimmerwood, from my clan! Too bad it's boxed up, but I'm sure I'll be able to show you some this week."

Speckle would stare at the crate for a few moments, half expecting something unusual to happen.

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Indigo would help Speckle and Nova strap on their bags so they could fly the rest of the way, and would carry anything that couldn't be easily strapped on if necessary. "Alright you two, follow me, try not to drift off too far and let me know if you need a break."

Then she would fly ahead, the sun having just touched the horizon at that point. She kept her pace slow enough that the other two could easily keep up, but even burdened Nova proved to be an excellent flyer. Still, he would do his best to stay by Speckle, pointing out some things as they followed the river offshoot up towards the forest.

While Speckle considered herself an excellent flier with stunts and agile maneuvers, she was slightly surprised at how exhausting it was to fly while carrying items. Due to this, she required pausing once or twice to catch her breath and take a drink of water. 

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"So all over the mountain is where the Children of the Moon live, and up near the top is Archback Castle. Then here in the valley between the mountain and the forest is where the zebra live." They were passing over the buildings of the zebra village now, they had the same general shape as what zebra dwellings would look like back in Zebrica, just made more out of wood than clay, they also had some large crop fields along the river itself.

"Oh I see," Speckle nodded. However, it was a bit much to take in everything that was new while trying to understand everything and flying while carrying things on her back. Due to this, she was a bit quieter during the flight than on the ferry or train. However, there was one thing that immediately stood out to her. "What are the zebra like?" she asked.

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

The group landed just outside the forest, where a well worn path entered the trees connected to a road that crossed the river and headed toward the zebra city. Indigo smiled, "Well, it's sunset now, so the clan will just be waking up now. We'll be able to get you two some breakfast then we'll see how you're feeling. After all that travel you may want to take a nap before doing much else."

"Yeah I'm a little tired, but also kind of hungry," Speckle admitted. 

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

She would lead the way down the forest path. As the light from the sun dimmed the forest seemed to come alive, every so often there would be a tree whose back seemed to shine like the stars, offering a faint glow that illuminated the way well enough even if they didn't have excellent night vision. There were the faint sounds of animals moving through the forest, birds settling in for the night, crickets chirping.

They came to a fork in the road and Indigo led them to the right where they soon emerged into the clan proper.

Speckle would pause briefly to stare at one of the glowing trees. The way it glowed captured her attention. "Is this the shimmerwood you're talking about?" Speckle asked Nova. She would also note the fork in the road and ask, "What's over there?" as her curiosity piqued her interest. The sights, smells, and sounds were all so different from what she experienced in the hustle and bustle of Canterlot. 

On 2024-12-10 at 5:12 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Indigo led them to one of the houses on the east side of the clearing, flying up to the doorway, she spoke softly as she let them in, "Well, here we are."

Inside, the house was fairly cozy. It was two levels with the tree rising through the middle. On the bottom level there were a few chairs and items, and a desk covered with flowers and dyes of various kinds, and on the top layer were some hammocks hung from some of the branches extending from the tree, along with storage for other things.

Nova turned to Speckle, "So, what do you think?"

"Oh my gosh, you live in a treehouse? That's so cool! I like how cozy it feels," Speckle exclaimed. After setting down her bag, she glanced around the home in excitement, trying to absorb all the new sights. She knew it was going to be small, but it somehow managed to be a bit smaller than that. However, it was cozy, and had homey vibes. She glanced around the home, taking it all in. Suddenly, the hammocks made sense, as they could hang them from the tree branches.

Something else Speckle appreciated about Nova's home up in the trees was that they had a nice view of the clearing down below. It kind of reminded her of the view from the balcony of her family's apartment. It was also cozy, like her own home. 

"I like it here," Speckle remarked.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

On 2024-12-11 at 9:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

Speckle would stare up in awe at the city of Las Pegasus in the clouds. She had never seen a floating city before, and it was mesmerizing. "Woah, they have a floating city in the clouds? That's so cool!" She remarked as she followed the other two from the station to the docks. 

Indigo nodded, "Yes they do, similar to Cloudsdale I'm told."

On 2024-12-11 at 9:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

Given that Speckle was not familiar with the environment, it took her a significant amount of time before she saw it. "Oh, cool! So does the princess of Archback live there? Or ruler?" Speckle asked. "What is it like? Have you been there?"

Nova shook his head, "No, only really important ponies get to go to the castle, but I've seen some of the places on the mountain before."

Indigo also answered, "That castle is also where Midnight Star and the Black Knight live. They are the rulers of Archback, it is said that Midnight and Princess Luna were once close, a thousand years ago."

On 2024-12-11 at 9:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Are you kidding? I get to explore new places and learn new cultures, and I get to do all this with you as my friend!" Speckle exclaimed.

Nova smiled, a bit comforted by that.

On 2024-12-11 at 9:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

While Speckle considered herself an excellent flier with stunts and agile maneuvers, she was slightly surprised at how exhausting it was to fly while carrying items. Due to this, she required pausing once or twice to catch her breath and take a drink of water. 

Rather than stopping, Indigo would let Speckle land on her back to rest as needed.

On 2024-12-11 at 9:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Oh I see," Speckle nodded. However, it was a bit much to take in everything that was new while trying to understand everything and flying while carrying things on her back. Due to this, she was a bit quieter during the flight than on the ferry or train. However, there was one thing that immediately stood out to her. "What are the zebra like?" she asked.

Nova thought for a moment, "Well, they farm? They make potions that we use for medicine and such. They really like mom's dyes." He shrugged, "They mostly keep to themselves, like we do, but they seem nice enough when I go to trade with mom."

Indigo smiled, "Maybe you two would like to come to my stall with me this week? See the zebra a bit closer?"

Nova seemed interested, but he turned to see what Speckle thought of that idea, not wanting to pressure her into something.

 

On 2024-12-11 at 9:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

Speckle would pause briefly to stare at one of the glowing trees. The way it glowed captured her attention. "Is this the shimmerwood you're talking about?" Speckle asked Nova. She would also note the fork in the road and ask, "What's over there?" as her curiosity piqued her interest. The sights, smells, and sounds were all so different from what she experienced in the hustle and bustle of Canterlot. 

Nova nodded, "Yep, those are shimmerwood trees! The bark doesn't glow as much as the wood, so they're dimmer here, but it lets you carve things into them so they glow!"

He pointed out one in particular which seemed to serve as a signpost with arrows carved into the bark. The arrows stood out from the rest of the tree.

 

As to her other question, Indigo answered, "That's the road that leads to the original clan colony. Where the clan was first founded. Our clan is one of the few big enough to need more than one colony. It is deep in the forest though, which is why we made a second one closer to Archback."

 

On 2024-12-11 at 9:43 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Oh my gosh, you live in a treehouse? That's so cool! I like how cozy it feels," Speckle exclaimed. After setting down her bag, she glanced around the home in excitement, trying to absorb all the new sights. She knew it was going to be small, but it somehow managed to be a bit smaller than that. However, it was cozy, and had homey vibes. She glanced around the home, taking it all in. Suddenly, the hammocks made sense, as they could hang them from the tree branches.

Something else Speckle appreciated about Nova's home up in the trees was that they had a nice view of the clearing down below. It kind of reminded her of the view from the balcony of her family's apartment. It was also cozy, like her own home. 

"I like it here," Speckle remarked.

Nova and Indigo smiled, Indigo answering, "I'm glad you like it, I hope you'll be comfortable here."

She turned to leave, "Nova? Why don't you help Speckle settle in while I pick up your sister. When I get back we'll all go down to breakfast okay?"

Nova nodded, "Okay mom!"

With that Indigo left, flying over to another of the tree houses.

Nova motioned for Speckle to follow him to the second level, "Let's see, we have a spare hammock for you, we just need to hang it up, and there's a shelf there where you can put your stuff..."

He set to work hanging the hammock from a pair of free branches and putting a small amount of cloud inside it for her.

Speckle might notice that this house did not have a bathroom or a kitchen. If she asked about it Nova would say, "Oh, yeah, everyone eats together at the firepit, so all the cooked food is made there. Better to keep the fire away from the trees so you don't burn the house down. Then there's a large bathroom building by the river that runs through the forest. Easier to go to the water than to bring the water up to the houses."

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle 

On 2024-12-13 at 4:31 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Indigo also answered, "That castle is also where Midnight Star and the Black Knight live. They are the rulers of Archback, it is said that Midnight and Princess Luna were once close, a thousand years ago."

"Wait, does that mean Midnight is also immortal?" Speckle asked. "What are Midnight Star and Black Knight like?"

On 2024-12-13 at 4:31 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Nova thought for a moment, "Well, they farm? They make potions that we use for medicine and such. They really like mom's dyes." He shrugged, "They mostly keep to themselves, like we do, but they seem nice enough when I go to trade with mom."

Indigo smiled, "Maybe you two would like to come to my stall with me this week? See the zebra a bit closer?"

Nova seemed interested, but he turned to see what Speckle thought of that idea, not wanting to pressure her into something.

"I see. Yeah, maybe we could take a look at the stall," Speckle replied. To her, this idea seemed interesting, but she wasn't really sure what there was to do here yet, so she didn't want to commit to doing so.

On 2024-12-13 at 4:31 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Nova nodded, "Yep, those are shimmerwood trees! The bark doesn't glow as much as the wood, so they're dimmer here, but it lets you carve things into them so they glow!"

He pointed out one in particular which seemed to serve as a signpost with arrows carved into the bark. The arrows stood out from the rest of the tree.

 

As to her other question, Indigo answered, "That's the road that leads to the original clan colony. Where the clan was first founded. Our clan is one of the few big enough to need more than one colony. It is deep in the forest though, which is why we made a second one closer to Archback."

"That's cool!" Speckle remarked. "I think glowing trees are so cool."

On 2024-12-13 at 4:31 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Nova motioned for Speckle to follow him to the second level, "Let's see, we have a spare hammock for you, we just need to hang it up, and there's a shelf there where you can put your stuff..."

He set to work hanging the hammock from a pair of free branches and putting a small amount of cloud inside it for her.

Speckle would move her bag from where she set it on the floor onto the shelf. Inside her bag were mostly toiletries, a container for water, and her plushie, which she set in her hammock. She would poke the cloud that Nova set in her hammock curiously, wondering how Nova used it. 

On 2024-12-13 at 4:31 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Speckle might notice that this house did not have a bathroom or a kitchen. If she asked about it Nova would say, "Oh, yeah, everyone eats together at the firepit, so all the cooked food is made there. Better to keep the fire away from the trees so you don't burn the house down. Then there's a large bathroom building by the river that runs through the forest. Easier to go to the water than to bring the water up to the houses."

Having noticed the cooking down below, she wasn't surprised to see that there was no kitchen in the house. However, she was a little surprised that there was no bathroom. "You don't have a bathroom? Oh yeah, I suppose it would be hard to get water up here..." Speckle thought out loud.

"Actually, do you think you could show me the bathroom now? I kind of need to go use it..." Speckle blushed.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

10 hours ago, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Wait, does that mean Midnight is also immortal?" Speckle asked. "What are Midnight Star and Black Knight like?"

Indigo shrugged, "Who knows? I can say he hasn't seemed to have aged so long as I've been here, but I haven't lived here too long. The Clan Chronicler has tales of him as far back as the founding of our clan two centuries ago, so he is at least that old."

As to the leaders, Indigo was quiet as she thought of how to answer. "Hmm, compared to the princesses of Equestria, they are more similar to Princess Luna than Princess Celestia. They are also a bit their opposite. Where the Princesses are often present, active in the lives of their subjects, Midnight and the Black Knight are more reserved, they seldom leave their castle, but are nonetheless engaged in ruling."

 

10 hours ago, Skylight Scintillate said:

"That's cool!" Speckle remarked. "I think glowing trees are so cool."

Nova smiled, "I really like them too. Maybe we can get you some to take home?"

He looked to his mother, who looked thoughtful, "We'll see."

 

10 hours ago, Skylight Scintillate said:

Speckle would move her bag from where she set it on the floor onto the shelf. Inside her bag were mostly toiletries, a container for water, and her plushie, which she set in her hammock. She would poke the cloud that Nova set in her hammock curiously, wondering how Nova used it. 

The hammock wasn't overly large, just a bit bigger than a sleeping bag for her would be. The cloud seemed to be situated like a very comfy pillow.

 

10 hours ago, Skylight Scintillate said:

"Actually, do you think you could show me the bathroom now? I kind of need to go use it..." Speckle blushed.

Nova nodded, "Sure! It's right over this way."

As they left the house they met his mother in the doorway, his little sister Lilac sitting on her back looking like she had just woken up, "Where are you two running off to?"

"I'm going to show her where the bathroom is."

Indigo nodded, "Ah, that's good. Don't take too long, we'll meet you two at breakfast."

Nova nodded before winging down from the walkway in front of their door to the ground, landing near a well worn path leading out of the colony. From there they could already hear the river deeper in the forest.

He led the way on hoof, there were more glowing trees along this path than that led into the colony, Nova commenting, "They keep this path well lit so the younger ones don't get lost."

It was only about a minute until they reached the building, it was fairly large, the largest structure in the colony. Entering the building there were a row of sinks and mirrors, and a pair of doors. One door was marked with a shower symbol, and the other led to a room full of bathroom stalls.

"Yeah, here is where the bathroom is, we've got showers and toilets, and all the sinks and such are over here for tooth brushing and hoof washing."

He moved to leave the building, "I'll wait outside for you."

(Think like a fancy campground bathroom, the kind that comes with heated showers)

 

Once she was done, Nova would be waiting outside, looking a bit down, but he perked up once Speckle was back. "Alright? Let's head to breakfast!"

Nova would lead the way back to the colony, where it looked like the whole colony was gathered at large tables. Nova took a seat next to his mother and motioned for Speckle to sit next to him.

The table was stacked with a modest portion of food. Lots of juicy mangos, some grilled peppers, eggs in a variety of preparations, some fish, some chicken, and other prepared portions of small game was available for everyone to eat.

Before they began, one of the older thestrals, likely one of the elders, stood and everyone watched him. "Thanks we give to those who have prepared this feast. And thanks we give to the moon and the stars. May their light ever guide us."

"May the stars guide us." all those around responded.

The elder nodded and took his seat, and everyone began to eat.

Despite the number gathered, similar to the number who had been at the dinner with Princess Luna, there was very little conversation. Most only speaking softly to their neighbors.

[Skylight Scintillate 2,031]

@Illiad Easle 

23 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

 

Indigo shrugged, "Who knows? I can say he hasn't seemed to have aged so long as I've been here, but I haven't lived here too long. The Clan Chronicler has tales of him as far back as the founding of our clan two centuries ago, so he is at least that old."

 

As to the leaders, Indigo was quiet as she thought of how to answer. "Hmm, compared to the princesses of Equestria, they are more similar to Princess Luna than Princess Celestia. They are also a bit their opposite. Where the Princesses are often present, active in the lives of their subjects, Midnight and the Black Knight are more reserved, they seldom leave their castle, but are nonetheless engaged in ruling."

Nova smiled, "I really like them too. Maybe we can get you some to take home?"

He looked to his mother, who looked thoughtful, "We'll see."

Speckle nodded to all of this but didn't comment further.

23 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

He led the way on hoof, there were more glowing trees along this path than that led into the colony, Nova commenting, "They keep this path well lit so the younger ones don't get lost."

It was only about a minute until they reached the building, it was fairly large, the largest structure in the colony. Entering the building there were a row of sinks and mirrors, and a pair of doors. One door was marked with a shower symbol, and the other led to a room full of bathroom stalls.

"Yeah, here is where the bathroom is, we've got showers and toilets, and all the sinks and such are over here for tooth brushing and hoof washing."

Speckle would glance around, taking a moment to make sense of the communal bathroom before going into one of the stalls to do her business. The place felt a little similar to the bathrooms at the train station or the arena. Once she finished, she would wash her hooves and then head back to where Nova was waiting. 

"Alright I'm all set," Speckle said, ready to head back with Nova. 

23 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The table was stacked with a modest portion of food. Lots of juicy mangos, some grilled peppers, eggs in a variety of preparations, some fish, some chicken, and other prepared portions of small game was available for everyone to eat.

There were some foods that Speckle didn't recognize, especially with the different ways that they were prepared. However, she was willing to try new things, and she would accept what was served to her. 

On 2024-12-16 at 11:44 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Before they began, one of the older thestrals, likely one of the elders, stood and everyone watched him. "Thanks we give to those who have prepared this feast. And thanks we give to the moon and the stars. May their light ever guide us."

"May the stars guide us." all those around responded.

Speckle watched the elders in awkward silence, having no idea what she was supposed to do in that situation.

On 2024-12-16 at 11:44 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Despite the number gathered, similar to the number who had been at the dinner with Princess Luna, there was very little conversation. Most only speaking softly to their neighbors.

Speckle glanced around the table awkwardly before whispering to Nova, "Are we allowed to talk while we eat? Also, is this the whole colony?"

Speckle felt a little weird while she ate. It felt a little too quiet. Whenever she ate with her parents, the three of them would always be talking. Then, there was dinner with Princess Luna and Princess Twilight. During that time, Speckle distinctly remembered multiple conversations occurring simultaneously that filled the room with chatter. While Speckle wanted to talk with Nova, it felt like doing so would cause her to stick out poorly, and it wasn't like any situation she had experienced before. 

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Skylight Scintillate

22 hours ago, Skylight Scintillate said:

Speckle glanced around the table awkwardly before whispering to Nova, "Are we allowed to talk while we eat? Also, is this the whole colony?"

Speckle felt a little weird while she ate. It felt a little too quiet. Whenever she ate with her parents, the three of them would always be talking. Then, there was dinner with Princess Luna and Princess Twilight. During that time, Speckle distinctly remembered multiple conversations occurring simultaneously that filled the room with chatter. While Speckle wanted to talk with Nova, it felt like doing so would cause her to stick out poorly, and it wasn't like any situation she had experienced before. 

Nova nodded, "Yeah, just, quietly. This is most of the colony, the ones that live here at least. There are a few out patrolling who ate earlier. The clan is bigger though, we're just a small part of it out here. The rest are in the center of the forest where the clan was first founded. I think there's like a few hundred or so members of the clan?"

Speckle did get a few glances her way, being new to the small clan, but their stoic nature led to no comments being made to or about her, except for a pair of younger thestrals who started whispering to each other after seeing her.

Their conversation didn't last too long before one of them was struck by the wing of a neighboring adult, who quietly chided them: "Gossip is unbecoming of a Fastar."

 

Despite the almost oppressive quiet of the meal, the food was quite good. There was something different about food that had been grown or caught right there locally, rather than having to be transported up the mountain to Canterlot. It was too bad that the stoicism seemed to sour the mood.