Generations-Chapter 6

Sweetsong and Wysteria reached the foothills at the northern end of the valley in the early evening and stopped to eat dinner.

"If we veer off toward the northwest, we'll reach the coast. To the northeast is a large mountain range called the Snowy Mountains," Sweetsong advised between bites. "Ponies used to live there too you know."

"They did?" Wysteria was surprised. "How did they survive?"

"I dunno. I didn't fully translate those chapters from the history book. I was much more interested in the island ponies."

"Oh, ok." Wysteria seemed disappointed.

"Wait a minute," Sweetsong teased, "Am I actually detecting an interest in history?"

Wysteria shrugged. "Sure, why not? Tell you what, you translate it and I'll go gather some wood. We'll build a fire, camp here tonight, and that will be our bedtime story." Sweetsong nodded.

Later that evening, the two friends sat roasting marshmallows, and Sweetsong related the history book.

"So, it turns out that these mountain ponies were called So-Softs. They had a thick coat of fuzzy fur to keep them warm. They made their living on the ski slopes, and had quite a successful village for hundreds of years based around that."

"They must have tapped into the tourist market."

Sweetsong nodded. "But there was a tragic avalanche one year that crashed right through the center of the village. Many lives were lost, the book said, and the survivors scattered after that."

"Oh how terrible!"

"Yes, but it's made me realize something. I think that Twilight and her mother were So-Softs."

"How do you know that?"

"There was a chalk drawing in the chest, as well as an oil painting. I figured out pretty quickly that the oil was of Twilight and the chalk was of her mother and father. One of the first things I noticed was their fuzzy skin. Twilight could very well have been the last of the So-Softs. We obviously don't see them around today."

Wysteria's eyes danced. "Oh, I hope she gets married and has kids then. Maybe she'll even marry Prince Barnacle."

"We don't know that; she just met him. But I guess we'll find out." Sweetsong ate a s'more and thought it over. "You know, Twilight's father was not a So-Soft, and neither is Barnacle, so the likelihood of her having a So-Soft baby is less and less with every generation."

Wysteria rolled her eyes. "You're putting way to much thought into this. You're making my head hurt. What other pony civilizations have you learned about?"

"Well, we may meet another civilization tomorrow. I didn't realize this when we left, but there's a fishing village on the coast just over the foothills."

"You're kidding! I can't believe it's only a two day walk to the coast and we've never even heard of it."

Sweetsong rolled her eyes and put her hoof on Wysteria's shoulder. "Wysteria," she said very seriously, "The more I learn, the more I realize we live a very sheltered life."

Wysteria nodded. "So what are these fishing ponies like?"

"They're called 'Princess Ponies' I guess. The book was pretty vague about them except that they make their living by fishing."

Wysteria raised an eyebrow. "They're all princesses" That doesn't make sense. How can they all try to rule each other? Not to mention, how do they have babies and new generations without any men?"

"I don't know!" Sweetsong said exasperatedly. "Now you're the one putting too much thought into it."

"You're right," Wysteria yawned. "My brain's had too much work for the day. I'm going to sleep. Goodnight hon."

"Night."
 

Twilight pushed the door open to the library and saw Barnacle sitting in a large leather chair in the center of the room. She stopped in her tracks. He was reading. She took a step back; maybe she could just sneak back out of there quietly. Too late, he saw her.

"There you are!" He said matter-of-factly, and then went back to reading. Twilight just stood in the doorway, having no idea what to do. That wasn't really a question; did it require a response? Barnacle looked up at her again and raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you coming in to study?"

"Oh, yes your highness," she said with a curtsy. She walked into the room and set her books on the table. Barnacle continued reading. She sighed; she wasn't going to get anything done tonight with him sitting there.

"How are you studies coming?" He asked with an air of indifference.

"Very well, thank you your highness."

He rolled his eyes. "You know what?" He shut his book irritatedly and looked straight at her. "We've got to stop this 'your highness' business right now!" Twilight was stunned, but then his serious face broke into a smile. "I wish I hadn't told you I was the prince. I regretted it all the way home last night. That's why I waited for you tonight; to see how you'd react to me now that you knew." He sighed, "I'm afraid it's as I feared. You're completely different."

"Well," Twilight began slowly, "You're completely different to me tonight too."

Barnacle caught her meaning immediately. "Oh, I'm so sorry! How is your arm feeling may I ask?"

"Much better, thank you."

"Oh! Here, I almost forgot the real reason I wanted to meet you in here." He pulled out a small bag from behind him. "It's aloe, and some other herbs. It will help with the burning." He handed Twilight the bag, but then snatched it back. "Well, you can't put it on by yourself, one-handed." He helped her untie the bandage, place the aloe inside, and retie it. He kept his hoof on her arm.

"Thank you." Her heart was pounding with him so close. "Oh that reminds me," she pulled out the handkerchief. "I washed it earlier today for you."

"No, no, please," he insisted, "It's yours."

She smiled. For the rest of the evening they worked together and talked. They had so much in common, the same interests, the same passions. They had the most amazing conversation, and Twilight felt like she had known him forever.

Later, she was working on the Rosetta, and they had both been silent for quite some time. "Where did you find the aloe?" She really wasn't that curious; she just wanted to break the silence. "I didn't know any grew around here."

"Oh, well," Barnacle cleared his throat, "I was out walking today on the pasture and happened to find some..." He looked away and shook his head. "Nope. That's a lie. I woke up very early this morning and spent a good part of the day looking for it just so I would have an excuse to meet you here tonight."

Twilight blushed. "Well, what was all that about wanting to find out if I was different?"

"Oh, I'm sorry about my behavior when you first arrived," then he smiled flirtatiously. "I was just testing you."

"Oh really?" she flirted back. "And did I pass?"

His face got very serious, and he brushed a hair back from her face and looked into her eyes. "I couldn't imagine you failing at anything."

Later, as they said goodnight, he walked her to the gate. "I'm afraid I won't be able to walk you home tonight. It's much later than last night, and I don't want anyone wondering where I am."

"That's ok. Thank you for a lovely evening."

"No, thank you." He had to purposely pull his eyes away from her. "Sunlight!"

Sunlight trotted up, "Yes your highness?"

"Please see that Miss Twilight gets home safely."

"Yes, sir."

As they walked the cobblestone path towards town, Sunlight nudged her. "So, you and Prince Barnacle?"

She blushed. "Nope, don't you say a word more!" Sunlight just nodded and grinned.
 

Previous Chapter     Next Chapter