Lunastice

[no_vampires_plz]

As Twilight leads the little foal down the path, the character of the woods around them changes. The trees are bigger, the brambles thicker, and the few plants that are still growing look considerably more... exotic than what one generally sees around Milliways. The most noticeable change, though, is in the weather. The thin layer of snow and frost on the ground is replaced by thick snowdrifts that crunch under their hooves, and the leaden sky of a Scottish winter gives way to a clear dark blue. The setting sun makes the snow gleam gold and pink as the trees thin out and give way to rolling hills.

"Alright. If anyone asks, your name is Sharp Tack and you're a friend of the family visiting from Canterlot."

Comments

[basic_powers]

"Nnnnope, but lemme guess, he's grown up in Canterlot and knows YOU really well?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"I have literally known him since he was hatched," Twilight admits sheepishly. "We live together. Sorry, I should have said something."

[basic_powers]

"That's okay..it probably slipped your mind..." Tyler nods looking about. "You going to tell him about Milliways?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Eventually. Probably."

[basic_powers]

"Where're you planning to go stargazing, anyways?"

Time for a subject change...

"And what else can we do before then?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Well, the buffet just opened..."

[basic_powers]

That gets a chuckle from Tyler, food is nearly ALWAYS a good distraction tool.

"Okay! I'll just wait a bit and see if I can't avoid awkward questions."

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight nods. "Are you going to be okay if I leave you by yourself for a bit?"

[basic_powers]

"Pretty sure, if anything I'll try finding you or meeting you by Apple Jack's stall if i'm gone for too long, okay?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Okay, shall I meet you there in half an hour?"

[basic_powers]

"Sure, I think I'll look at the lights some more.." As for how to pay for the buffet, well, he'll see if he can't sell or trade some of his paper art he's been keeping busy with.

[nponyc]

Meanwhile, he is accosted by an earth pony filly who appears to be about his own age, or perhaps just a little younger. Her coat is pale yellow, and her mane is a vivid red with a very large bow tied into it. "Howdy!" she says. "Mah name's Apple Bloom. What's yours?"

[basic_powers]

"I'm Sharp Tack, but you can just call me Sharp if you like." Tyler replies, looking at this new filly with his ears up surprised.

[nponyc]

"You must be new, right? I know all the foals in Ponyville." She looks a little wistful. "I was startin' to think we were the only blank flanks left in the whole world..."

[basic_powers]

"Nah, there's a bunch still in Canterlot." Tyler smiles just a little, he's recalling what Twilight told him about cutie marks. "Didn't think anyone'd notice my lack here."

[nponyc]

"Hey, Apple Bloom! Who are you talking to?"

That would be an orange pegasus filly with a spiky fuchsia mane, walking alongside a white unicorn filly with a mane of pale pink and lavender curls.

"Scootaloo! Sweetie Belle! You made it!" says Apple Bloom. "This is Sharp Tack. He's from all the way out in Canterlot."

[basic_powers]

"Hi, pleased to meet you."

They seem like nice..fillys. Probably wouldn't hurt to meet them.

[nponyc]

"So what are you doing in Ponyville?" asks the unicorn (who, presumably, is named Sweetie Belle). "Rarity says the Lunastice lights in Canterlot are way fancier than they are here..."

[basic_powers]

"They are but..I kinda wanted to go out and figure things out, you know. Explore!" Tyler replies. "Anyways it can get really crowded sometimes too. Uncle Ray managed to convince my parents that it'd be okay if I went somewhere quiet for Lunastice this year."

[nponyc]

"Who's Uncle Ray?" asks Scootaloo.

"An' how'dja get yer parents to letcha come here all by yerself?" asks Apple Bloom.

[basic_powers]

"He's a light technician, he's from Manehattan, which is where mom's from." Tyler says, the quickly formed lie rolling right out. "Dad thought it'd be a great way for me to find my cutie mark. Mom was kind of against it though, until Ray said he'd try to find someone trustworthy from Canterlot to meet me at each station."

[nponyc]

Apple Bloom pouts. "Granny Smith won't let me go anywhere by myself."

"Since when does that stop you?" says Sweetie Belle. "You go to Zecora's by yourself all the time."

"I don't have to get a train ticket to go to Zecora's," Apple Bloom protests. "It's diff'rent!"

[basic_powers]

"Who's Zecora?"

[nponyc]

"She's a friend of mine who lives in the Everfree Forest," explains Apple Bloom. "She's a zebra."

"And she's weird," adds Scootaloo. "She always talks in rhyme."

"That's the way all zebras talk! --I think," says Sweetie Belle.

[basic_powers]

"Oh? ...I guess it's best mom doesn't know about her yet then...she's kinda...fussy." Said like any pony whose mother really does worry about the unimportant things just a leettle too much. "So what all is there to do around here? I was thinking of getting something for mom and dad as a souveneir."