Chapter 28
“They bucking what!?” I asked, looking at Moon Glow in surprise.
“They say they walked here along the railway,” she said and shifted her wings, “They showed up this morning.”
I stared at her with a frown, “Why not take the train? And walked along the railway, that’s a couple of weeks of walking at least, maybe a month. How did nothing eat them!?”
“No idea, sir. They showed up pulling a small wagon and carrying bags,” she said and shifted her wings in a shrug again, “Do you want us to interrogate them?”
I frowned, looking down at the front fangs of my throne just before my forehooves before I shook my head, looking at her again, “Bring them here, I’ll talk to them.”
She bowed and left.
I lifted a slice of apple in my magic, eating it with a frown. This was strange to say the least. Hmm.
The door opened to allow three earth ponies inside. Three adults, two mares and one stallion. The mare to the left had a grey coat and a blue mane with a seed cutiemark. The one in the middle was a pale yellow, her mane the same color as her coat and she had a cloud cutiemark, unusual for an earth pony. The stallion had a dark coat, almost black and a light grey mane, his cutiemark was an axe.
They didn’t wear anything or carried any bags, but the stallion had a pair of goggles hanging from a strap around his neck.
All three bowed deeply as they came to a stop.
“This is all of them?” I asked Moon Glow as she moved to stand next to me again.
She shook her head, “No, sir. Four foals as well, four fillies between six and twelve. They are waiting outside.”
I nodded and then looked at them, “Who are you?”
They got up, the middle mare taking another step forward, “I’m Whispering Wind, your highness,” she said and motioned to the other mare and stallion in turn, “This is Sweet Slice and Carrying Load.”
“Family?” I asked.
All three nodded.
“Married, sir,” Whispering Wind confirmed.
I nodded, “So… why are you here and how did you not get eaten on the way?” I asked bluntly as I regarded them, “The jungle is dangerous and you walked through it for weeks.”
Sweet Slice stepped forward, “We’re nomads, your highness,” she said, “We’re normally traveling through the southern end of Equestria, surviving off the land and taking jobs where we can,” she supplied.
Whispering Wind nodded in agreement, “A lot of what we do to make Bits is to go into the jungle and gather fruits or wood that we can haul out for sale in the villages. We’re well aware of the dangers and how to avoid them.”
I looked between them, “How many times did something try to eat you on the way?”
“Five times,” Carrying Load said quietly, his voice quite deep, “And we had to hide another half a dozen other times. But we have done that many times before.”
“Why didn’t you take the train?” I asked with a frown.
He shrugged, “It doesn't stop in any of the villages close by, sir. And even if it did, we couldn’t afford it.”
“So why in Equestria did you want to come here so urgently?” I asked as I looked between them, “yet alone drag your foals along.”
Whispering Wind flicked her ears, “Because our foals,” she said quietly, “Because… because we want them to have a better life than we have. Unless we manage to just sell a cart full of goods, usually we have to graze for dinner. Every time we go and gather that fruit or cut that wood, there is a risk that something dangerous could happen to any of us.”
“So why not settle down in one of the villages you trade with?”
She shrugged, “Neither of us is made for normal farming. Sweets special talent is the closest.”
“I’m good at telling what’s edible,“ Sweet Slice said and shifted slightly, “It’s my special talent.”
“Mine is being able to read clouds,” Whispering Wind said and snorted, “Very useful for an earth pony. Carry here’s special talent is cutting down trees, and well…”
Outside the jungle there were grass plains all the way to the rest of Equestria. Not a lot of need for lumberjacks there.
“Not that we didn’t try,” Carrying Load said, “We all take jobs as farmhooves when it’s the season for it. It pays enough to live on during that time, but not for the rest of the year, especially as we’re all mediocre at it at best.”
Whispering Wind nodded and looked at me, “We thought that Nocturnis was our best chance. We thought that maybe… maybe we could be useful here. Make an actual home for our girls.”
I watched them for a long moment, meeting each of their eyes before I finally nodded, “I’m not going to say that each of you wouldn’t be useful here,” I finally said, “And if you really want to settle down here, I’m not about to argue with you about it as if you were determined enough to walk here, you have clearly made your minds up already. But are you sure that Nocturnis is where you would like to live? Even up in the village, this is still not a safe place.”
They looked between each other before Whispering Wind nodded, “We are, sir.”
“Well then,” I said and looked at Flower Rain, “We don’t have any free family homes, do we?”
She shook her head, no bothering checking any notes, “No, sir. I’m afraid not.”
Whispering Wind shook her head, “We don’t need anyth-” and then broke off as Sweet Slice shot her a look.
Heh, Wind might be the talker of the group, but it was clear even from here who was actually in charge.
I nodded and turned fully back to them, “We’re building new houses all the time,” I told them, “There is a waiting list for them though, especially the family sized living spaces.”
“Don’t worry, your highness,” Carrying Load said with a small bow, “We’re used to our small wagon and tents. Or just the clear sky.”
I flicked one ear, “I’m sure we will be able to do at least a little better than that. Flower, there should be some family sized partitions free at the barracks by now, right?”
She nodded, “Yes, your majesty.”
“Could you arrange for them to pick which they like and then make sure they get something to eat?” I asked her.
“Of course, sir.”
I nodded and looked over at the earth ponies with a small smile, “Welcome to Nocturnis.”
I was met with happy smiles.
Like we would have turned them away. Like we could afford to turn anypony away.
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Nice
Life gets pretty bad for migrant/seasonal workers. Forget prisoners, they're the real modern slaves. This is actually... not that surprising, all things considered.
10949511
Doubly so in a society that relies on talents.
Gods, getting a mark for something that fell entirely out of use could end up being a death sentence if an individual couldn't adapt.
Huh all three of those talents could be fairly useful around there. Interesting family to suddenly show up.
That determination! Exacly the ponys needed to full the population of a frontier city.
There talents are very conviniently fitting.
Establisment of a weather team, classification of food or poisen fruits and berrys and well... Lumberjacks are needed for the next decades.
Great additions to Nocturnis!
Ayi Specialist :3
10949511
ya, the way they're treated under US law is appalling but then the visa system itself is absolutely terrible
No scan from Amber and the Snugglebugs to check if they are from a competing swarm?
They really trigger my inner sceptic.
Looking forward to see how this turns out.
I can already see them add new stops for the train to the current route. All those villages not connected to it could be a good asest to nocturnis.
useful talents to have in a rainforest
Page can truly admire the grit and determination of this family that came here to have a decent future for them.
10949511
And true nomads have historically been distrusted on an even greater scale; most people don't even realize the Romani exist because all they hear about is "gypsies"...
10949443
Of course, how silly of me.
To get an idea how they might have been treated I recommend De Writers stories about the Rom.
The first in the series is this one. Nore's Choice : The Salvation and Origin of the Rom by De Writer. I agree a snugglebug scan is most definitely in order, "Trust but verify ". that set of talents is just so handy.
...I share Page's sentiment
Yeah it is
Migrants have arrived, and they aren't just seven worthless nobles with mandates in hand, yay!
Still as others have commented, awfully convenient. Almost too convenient.
Well that wasn't suspicious at all.
I may be somewhat biased, but when folks like that come in good faith to your land, that's just Harmony bringing you the best kind of neighbors.
O,o 7 new pony's for the story this is grate.
*Brown unicorn with yellow eyes and goatee guided family to accommodation*
Strange Unicorn: Here you go! Sorry for the rushed state of everything!
Whispering Wind: Its no problem! Thank you.
Strange Unicorn: Interesting cutie mark...any flyers in your family? Particularly pale pink pegasus fillies with icy blue curls?
Carrying Load: Uhhh...no. We are all Earth ponies...why?
Strange Unicorn: NO REASON! Have a good day!
*Strange Unicorn turns the corner before turning back into Discord*
Discord: Good! Still no sign of her! I refuse to allow that mistake here in this world. *snort* This city is safe for now.
10949625
sometimes a party of wandering ponies are just a party of wandering ponies
Well, the new family seems to have skillsets that should integrate well with the growing settlement, and they are all believable for an Earthpony family making a living on the border of the jungle. I would hope by this point Amber's subordinates have vetted them, or the changeling security force is seriously falling down on the job.
At any rate, the family adds three useful talents and a decent squard of jungle-adapted foragers to things. It should be interesting to see if they have any useful tips or tricks to share with their new neighbors in the coming weeks and months.
10950265
True, but in the middle of a Murder Forest?
It comes of as a bit suspicious.
But raising the population cap, means we get to see skitter on a regular basis, so I hope they turn out ok.
10949625
Most likely spotted and scanned by at least 10 changelings before they even reached the train station. No way are the 'lings going to allow anything to harm their food source.
11121407
And remember, Page can see through illusions by just being near. If I recall correctly, this includes changelings.
10949998
Who are you talking about?
11706693
Cozy glow