• Published 30th Sep 2016
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The Quickverse Chronicles - Quick Fix



Everypony has several stories to tell, of their own and with the wider world. These are just some of them.

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Cultural Exchange (Sky Eye)

Fulmar Pass, Equestria-Zebahi-Saddle Arabia border
June 5th, Year 3 under the Four Princesses


While Equestria was a land renowned for maintaining peace and harmony, there was an unspoken acceptance that that the regions that made up its southern border were a highly dangerous zone. While the Macintosh Hills and San Palomino Desert were benign enough to see scattered settlements, the Hayseed Swamps on the southeast coast were home to a number of monsters no sane pony would approach and the Equestrian Badlands further inland were a rocky wasteland with an atmosphere more sensitive unicorns likened to breathing dark magic. The land beyond these was even worse with the jungles of the east being the origin of the monsters in the swamps as well as things even worse, while the southwest was Arimaspi territory, a region even the minotaurs knew better than to disturb.


The only part of the region that was even remotely safe was Fulmar Pass, a narrow strip of canyon that carved between the dangers on either side and the only reliable link non-pegasi had between Equestria and the two nations that lay to the south; Zebahi and Saddle Arabia. A railway line had been established through the pass a hundred and twenty years ago and while trains were spaced out on the route compared to the rest of Equestria, it was enough to ensure a steady stream of trade and connections between the three countries. Today was a day like any other for the journey through the pass, a train with three passenger carriages and two supply cars weaving it's way through the needle of clear terrain with the late morning sun beating down upon it. While the summer heat was something of a bother for the ponies on board, two of them had other concerns.


"Mom, how much longer?" A small pegasus colt asked for the sixth time that day as he looked out of the train window only to be met by the sight of a wall of rock again. Only around nine years of ago, the colt had an amethyst coat, a long, ruby coloured mane and tail with a trio of scarlet streaks running through them, dark blue eyes and a cutie mark of a cloud in vivid detail.


"Just ten minutes more, Sky Eye." His mother told him in a strong zebra accent as she watched him settle down in his seat again. At first glance she looked like a gray earth mare in her mid-thirties with a white mane and orange eyes. There were a few oddities to her on a closer look though. Her mane had four silver streaks running through it, a trio of white stripes across her back and down the sides of her barrel with a fourth that wrapped around her chest like a necklace, as well as a complete lack of a cutie mark.


"Awww, but this is so slow!" Sky moaned as he pressed back against his seat, stopping when he saw the warning look he was being given. "Sorry. I'm looking forward to this, really. I just can't wait to finally meet granddad."


"I know sweetie," She replied, tussling his hair gently. "I've been waiting to introduce you to him for months for months now, and have him help teach you about your other heritage."


Heritage. Sky Eye had heard that word a few times while he was growing up. He still didn't understand what it meant, only that it had something to do with why he was different to the other fillies and colts. Just like his mother was different to other ponies. She was half zebra, just as he was a quarter zebra. She had done her best to explain the simpler parts of what that meant, like how he should do his best to respect the world and all living things around him, but apparently they needed to talk to family outside of Equestria for the whole story. That was why they were here now.


After a few minutes the walls of the pass started to fall away and he scrambled up to get a look outside again, eager for his first glance at just how the world beyond Equestria looked. The lands here were now primarily savannah plains, a mixture of towering bushy trees and scrubland as far as the eye could see, the only variation being several rocky outcrops spread throughout the area and a sizeable town just off to the west. Even from this distance he could see the buildings there were relatively small compared to the ones back in Canterlot, as well as using different materials he didn't recognise. The thing that caught his interest most though was the fact the rail lines headed straight that way.


"Is that it?"


"Yes," Sky's mom smiled warmly at the sight. "That's Wahje. It was founded by zebras but now marks the meeting point for several countries, so you'll also see quite a few ponies there, as well as another race called saddle arabians. It can be very busy so stay close to me and only stop to look around when I do, okay?"


"I will," He replied, nodding quickly as he looked back at her. "You know a lot about that town."


"I should. It's where I was born after all."


Sky Eye's jaw dropped a little at that. For all the things he thought he knew about his mother she still managed to surprise him. She giggled slightly at the sight and sat back in her seat.


"If it makes you feel better, you can surprise your friends at school the same way now." She finished, only making him stare in further disbelief. She always seemed to figure out what he was thinking.


The two of them sat back and took in the view for the remaining few minutes of the journey as the train pulled into the station just inside Wahje. While they waited to avoid the initial rush of ponies disembarking, Sky took another look outside for his first proper look at the other races that lived here. The zebras were the most common sight on the platform, looking physically comparable to an earth pony, though they had a number of distinguishing features. Their coats and the many variations of stripes they wore were only in shades of grey, brown, black and white. Their manes were typically longer and stiffer than a pony's and none of them had cutie marks of any kind.


The saddle arabians were completely different, with much slenderer limbs and bodies, smaller heads and a lot of height to them. The average stallion was roughly six feet tall, about the same height as Princess Luna. They also had much lighter coats, thin furred and only in bright or pale colours. Necessary for living in the desert, but no less intriguing for a colt to see for the first time.


"You're really fascinated by this aren't you?" Sky's mother asked, getting a quick nod in response. "Tell you what then, why don't you ride on my back while we're in town? No worries about getting separated then."


Sky gave a small happy whinny as his wings opened up and he fluttered up onto her back, knowing to give her a moment to make sure his weight was settled before tapping her neck to let her know he was ready. It was a lot easier for him to take everything in from here while she headed down the platform to get their things from the supply cars. As much as they had come here for his sake, she was also a trader and it made sense for her to try and make a few bits while they were here.


Once she had her bags gathered and placed behind Sky, the two of them made their way out of the station and into Wahje proper. In terms of the town's design, it felt rather reminiscent of the residential districts of Canterlot where they lived. Tight streets with a lot of locals about, squares spaced out every so often for parks or marketplaces, buildings averaging twenty feet high on both sides due to the space requirements of the saddle arabians. The main difference was instead of the white stone that was so popular in the Equestrian capital, all the buildings out here were made of sun-baked bricks and carved rock that gave a more natural feel to the environment, as well as the majority being only a single story in design and sand pathways rather than full streets. The overall atmosphere was one he couldn't really describe, but it wasn't unpleasant.


"So, what'd you think so far?" Sky's mother asked him as they entered one of the central market squares, stopping to let him get a look at the area. While he was taking it in her eyes went to a limestone statue set up in the center of the square, depicting a zebra stallion, an arabian mare and a pegasus mare standing proudly together. Though her ear only twitched slightly at the sight of it, her mind was going back to the events that had befallen Wahje fifteen years ago. Why everyone that lived here rightly considered Migac, Ta'Jova and Cadance heroes. How the latter had earned her horn that day...


"It's...So different to back home." Sky answered obliviously, trying to take everything in as he shielded his eyes from the intensity of the sun.


"I said the same thing the first time I visited Equestria," She replied, silently thankful for him breaking her train of thought, now heading into the market and feeling him holding onto her mane as he rested his head atop hers. "Being back here though, with so many spirits working with drive and purpose...It's soothing in a way. Especially when I know who's here."


"Spirits?" He asked in confusion, only getting a silence in return that teased he'd be getting his answers soon. He hated when she made him wait like that.


As they moved through the marketplace Sky's attention was drawn to the myriad voices around him, trying his best to figure out the fragments of conversation he could hear. His efforts were largely in vain though as he could only properly understand any equestrian being spoken. He could pick out any zebra being spoken by the accents like his mother had, but he was still learning and could only understand isolated snippets. Hopefully he'd be learning some more soon, or maybe even today.


The two of them soon reached a stall that sold herbs for both food and medicinal purposes, manned by a zebra stallion that looked to be in his sixties. His seven brown stripes looked paled with age and his mane drooped onto his white body. His sapphire blue eyes still carried a sense of strength behind him though, an intensity that only increased as he noticed the two ponies approaching him.


"Przez duchy! Kupi!" He exclaimed happily, stepped out from his stall and hugging Sky Eye's mom, a move she returned in kind. Sky's ears twitched slightly as he hopped off her back to let them have the moment. Even if he didn't recognise most of the words, he'd still clearly recognise his mother's name in there.


"To bylo za dlugie, ojciec," Kupi replied softly, nosing the elder zebra softly before he broke the hug and looked over to the colt. "To jest moj syn, Nieba Oka. On tylko mowi konny obecnie. Sky Eye, this is your grandfather, Rennak"


"Ah, the young light," Rennak said in equestrian, smiling warmly as he took in Sky. "I've been looking forward to this day for years."


"You have?" Sky asked in surprise, though he couldn't completely hide the fascination in his voice.


"Of course. I get to spend some time with my grandson at long last, helping you learn about the other side to who you are. Kupi, do you wish to join us for this?"


"I wouldn't miss it." Kupi said happily, putting her bags down by the side of the stall and sitting down with her face to the crowds.


Rennak nodded and motioned for Sky to do the same, sitting down on his other side. Although it was something as simple as this, the colt could tell that this was the beginning of something more. A part of him that had always been there, lingering out of reach until he could meet somepony that could truely help him reach it. Now he had two on either side, ready to help him understand what his 'heritage' really meant.


"Alright, take a look out at the ponies out there," Kupi told him, motioning out at the crowds as she glanced up to make sure the shade was going to stay in place for now. "What do you see?"


"Is this a trick question, mom?" He asked, watching as she simply shook her head. "Okay...Ponies, zebras, saddle Arabians...A tree. Is there something physical I'm supposed to see?"


"No, but they all have something you can't see. A spirit," Rennak explained, his voice taking a softer tone as if reminiscing a happy memory. "Spirits are, not entirely of this world. We cannot interact with them, but they usually have no wish to interfere with us either. They come to the birth of new life and bond themselves to us for the rest of their chosen one's life, ensuring their safety as best they can."


"So, there's a spirit around me?" Sky asked, looking down his front and placing a hoof on his chest.


"And me, and your father, and every pony, every zebra, every living thing." Kupi told him, smiling softly at how accepting he was of all this. One of her unspoken concerns about this moment was that Sky wouldn't be open to learning all this, his perceptions too firmly placed from spending his life in Equestria. To see him at least wanting to listen was a huge moment for her.


"If everything living has a spirit, is that why I should do my best to respect the world around me?"


"Exactly, spirits are not limited to sentient beings. They can be found everywhere. Zebahi is filled with jungles that contain so much life that spirits rest in every tree, every patch of moss. The winds carry them out across the whole world so they may find new lives to watch over."


Sky nodded and looked down thoughtfully. Kupi and Rennak both watched him silently, waiting to see how he was taking it all in. They both knew from experience that it typically came off as strange at best to many ponies, with some exceptions, like Kupi's friend, Treehugger. He had been curious and engaged so far though. A few moments later, a look of shock crossed Sky's face and he looked back up at them.


"Mom...R-remember last year, that fight I got into at school..." He said quietly, as if fearing what the response might be. "What happens if I hurt somepony's spirit?"


"That depends," Rennak told him, still looking and sounding impartial. "What was it about?"


"It was a misinformed filly with a few...Outdated ideas about zebras," Kupi answered for Sky. "Oka jumped straight to our defence, though he didn't escalate it until she made a comment about me."


"I see..." Rennak closed his eyes, mulling the situation over in his mind while Sky watched with concern. "Wounding another's spirit, willingly or unprovoked, is a serious action that must be atoned for in some way, some action to make it up to the unfortunate ones. That said, the severity is lessened if done by accident or to protect in minor circumstances. You were defending family in your actions so it's not as bad as it could have been. I'd need to hear more though."


"Why don't we go through it all over lunch?" Kupi suggested. "Then you two can go through the details about the spirits."


"That, sounds good," Sky said, his composure starting to return now that he knew he wasn't in trouble. "And we don't have to rush it, me and mom are here for the rest of the week."


"Ciesze sie," Rennak said to himself in zebra before nodding and standing up, silently giving thanks for being allowed this opportunity to teach his grandson while he still had time. "These coming days sound wonderful."

Author's Note:

That feeling when you come back to a story you wrote four months ago and have to translate everything again. Once again, if anyone happens to speak the actual language I used for the zebras, I'm sorry for butchering it.