3 |
- Make a mental note to ask Moonflower what the lesson was like afterwards.
- Be available to talk to any of the few bat ponies that are still around, if they feel like talking. [...]
Willing as always to lend a helping hoof, you ask Luna if there's anything you can do to assist in the lesson. The princess smiles at your dedication, but shakes her head.
Luna: "Not yet. First, Moonflower must learn how to control her powers. To do so, she will need as few distractions as possible — including pleasant ones, such as the presence of her dear friends."
You nod in understanding, and tell Moonflower that you will both be waiting for her at your house when she is done.
Moonflower: "Got'cha! But don't wait for me to have fun. Now's your turn to get some alone time with Basket. Heehee!"
And with that, you bid farewell to Moonflower and Luna before they fly off into the distant hills in search of a more private setting.
As you and Apple Basket walk back through the camp, you come across the two bat ponies you spoke to earlier. Realizing that you haven't properly introduced yourselves yet, you decide to do just that as you pass by.
Minutious mare: "Oh, nice to see both again! I'm Agarica."
Sociable stallion: "Claytop. Likewise."
Before you head home, you decide to make sure that nothing was left unsaid. You ask the bat ponies whether or not there's anything they'd like to talk about, or need help with.
Claytop: "We're fine, at least for now. Your concern is appreciated, though."
Agarica: "I think the next big thing's gonna be figuring out how we're gonna rebuild our town, but that's a decision we'll have to make as a clan."
Apple Basket: "You said you wanted to move outside, right?"
Agarica: "That's what I'm thinkin', yeah! The tasty grass as far as the eye can see, the cool, fresh-smellin' wind that comes and goes; it's all so nice! And bein' under the open sky like this, somehow, it's never felt safer."
You follow Agarica's gaze to the stars as they begin to fill the twilit heavens, the short lull in the conversation bridged with the slowly rising song of crickets.
Claytop: "Either way, if we're going to put our town on the map — as is the Oracle's vision —, we'll have to learn more about the outside world. The festival she mentioned might be a good place to start."
Agarica: "A good place to start, sure, but did you hear at what time it starts? That's my bedtime! I might not make it 'til way into the afternoon. I hope they don't mind."
You assure the mare that the festival's organizers anticipated as much, and that it was extended further into the night for that very reason.
Agarica: "Just for us? That's so kind of 'em!"
Claytop: "It is kind. Too kind, is what I would have thought if it wasn't for the Oracle's involvement."
Agarica: "Well, I'm lookin' forward to meetin' new ponies there! All the ones we've met so far have been nothing but friendly to us."
Enter a comment
- If there isn't any interesting conversation to be made with anyone here, make our way home, but stop by Crystal Charm's campsite since it's on the way, in the hopes that we run into her there (or at least for old time's sake and to fill in Apple Basket).
- I wonder what the relative ages of Agarica and Moonflower are. My guess would be that Agarica is the older one, around our age, or even older. But it would be pretty cool if they were childhood friends, or she was a mentor for Moonflower when she was exploring the art of herbalism.
- I was worried Trailblazer wouldn't know what Agaric is, but Agarica's cutie mark should clear that up if she's observant.
- I really want to read those books tonight, but I've learned my lesson when it comes to really long commands :'). I think the furthest we'll have made it next round will be just arriving home, and that's assuming we don't strike up a cool/interesting conversation where we are right now.
- If Crystal Charm isn't at the campsite, she's likely off on one of her adventures in the Everfree, and it would be a lot easier to just catch up with her at the festival. Or she's sleeping peacefully at home, and we wouldn't want to bother her.
As for the books, we will surely have enough time to go through one or two of them, if we choose to do so when we get there!