March 18, 1825AD
Beach
“So, what is your opinion on this?” Guerrero asked.
The midday sun shone over the two camps, and the members of both were simply mingling about, still mostly the confines of their own, although some of the humans were on their ship. Some of the humans had made little ventures to explore the south and east, to inspect the area, but not dared to head across the pegasi camp to the north. Guerrero had called forth for another meeting, taking place in the captain’s quarters of the ship, as usual. A few papers laid on the desk, of which the other participants looked at them as suggested.
“These ponies do not cease to amaze me,” Lemaur stated.
“This whole morning had been a surprise after another, not unlike yesterday,” Álvarez said.
“By the point they started to write with their mouths, it now seemed minor.”
“Not seemed, it was the least significant thing,” Austin corrected.
The morning had seemingly started ordinarily, as much it could be after yesterday. Guerrero had decided last night; first order of business was try to overcome the language barrier. Though that would wait for until after breakfast, and it was that time when things had become once more extraordinary for them. They had spotted a couple of the pegasi fly up high, it caught the attention of many. The sky was partially cloudy, so the pegasi were quickly out of view. They would’ve stopped paying attention if it wasn’t that not too soon after one of the clouds had started to descend. Imagine their surprise when they saw it was the pegasi the ones pushing it down with their front hooves, once it had descended low enough to see above it.
It was a more subdued reaction compared to yesterday’s, with no one running back to the ship in panic. On the contrary, now everyone was intent in paying attention all the way through. The pegasi took note of this, but carried on with their own business. The cloud was brought down close to the ground. About a man and a half’s worth of height. The other pegasi, meanwhile, had placed various wooden buckets on the ground below the cloud was brought down into. The pegasi, once done pushing it down, assumed a standing position on top of the cloud, giving the humans’ amazement more fuel. They then proceeded to raise their front hooves, and stomped the cloud.
To the ever-increasing amazement of the humans, water began to pour down from the cloud, to the buckets below.
“The least indeed!” Lemaur added.
“Just imagine what would the ability to control clouds could mean. And who knows what else.”
“Certainly, a lot, I would say,” Austin said.
“Exactly,” Lemaur continued. “But so little we can find out right now, unable to communicate with them, and when we have yet to see the kind of civilization they have.”
“That may be an interesting subject,” Álvarez said.
“But we must not forget we should prioritize heading back.”
“Which brings to our next order of business,” Guerrero said.
“At this point, I would not deem to consider this place as dangerous. Those ponies out there have shown to not be hostile, or at least, not without provocation. They have not taken our arrival as intruding in their lands, and are open to dialogue. As best it could be done for the time being.”
“Hopefully we aren’t making a mistake there,” Álvarez said.
“After what they did this morning?” Lemaur said.
Wing Shield sat at the edge of camp, looking over at the human camp. He could see a few of the creatures around a barrel. They were holding cups with their limbs, and one leaned in and placed the limb holding the cup into the barrel. It was hard to tell, but he could tell from how much the limb sunk in, the barrel was more empty than full. The limb was bought back out, and then another introduced his. They took turns, until they all had filled their cups, with what Wing Shield presumed was water.
Although, he could see they weren’t particularly enjoying their drinks. He shook his head. He could probably hazard a guess. He rose and walked back to his camp, heading towards the nearest group of pegasi. They were only about four of them.
“Ah, captain,” one of them noticed his approached, and saluted. The others did the same in response.
“At ease,” Wing Shield said.
“I have a task for you. I want you to bring back down a cloud, and release its water.”
The pegasi briefly looked at each other.
“But, captain, we don’t need to restock our water provisions,” one of them said.
“I am aware. The water is not for us, rather, for our guests here,” Wing Shield pointed a hoof towards the other camp.
“Um, whatever for, sir?” Another asked.
“After the events of yesterday, I am no longer so sure these creatures came here seeking Equestria. Regardless of reason, they are far from their home, in a foreign land; and until we receive word back on further orders, we are the only ones nearby. And look at them.”
He glanced back to the other camp, briefly.
“No wings, no magic displayed so far. And in these wild lands with no control over the weather, I ignore how long they traveled but I wouldn’t be surprised if their water reserves are already low.”
“Well, we know the great river flows not that far north from here,” the first pegasus shrugged.
“We can direct them to it if they really need the water.”
“We could do that, but I think a more direct approach may be best. A gesture of goodwill,” Wing Shield explained.
“Is that really necessary, sir?”
“No, but if this is the first of many further contacts between our countries, leaving a good impression on them won’t hurt in the long run.”
“Well, if you say so, captain,” the third Pegasus shook his head.
“Though I don’t think we really need to worry for that sort of thing.”
He nevertheless took position to fly, followed by his comrades, and they took off.
They still have much to learn, Wing Shield thought as he watched them rise. We all do.
The job half done, Wing Shield immediately went to work on the rest.
“They did help replenish our water supplies, even if we could not exactly ask them to,” Lemaur pointed out.
“And not a moment too soon, I would say,” Austin added.
“The water was already getting quite stale. It was unfortunate it didn’t rain much.”
“After such an action, it helps me think any ulterior motive they may have, is not to our detriment,” Guerrero said.
“But I concede Álvarez’s point. After what we have seen, we must report back as soon as possible. It is another two weeks at best the journey back, in addition to any time we remain here.”
“How long?” Lemaur asked.
“Not less than a week, at the most,” Guerrero answered.
“In any case, as long we remain here, we should not forget about the creatures outside. We should prioritize learning the most we can about their language. They are our only lead to these lands, in case we make a return trip.”
“Which brings us back to the papers, I presume?” Álvarez inquired.
“Precisely,” Lemaur placed a finger over the words written on one of them.
“Despite initial appearances, of which the proof otherwise lies before us, they have a writing system, using their mouths to hold the quill. At first, it carries some degree of sense because of their hooves, and yet…”
He trailed off, but there was no need to continue.
“Yes, I was almost expecting them to use their hooves,” Austin said.
“I have to admit, wanting to know how exactly that works is a strong consideration against leaving right away,” Álvarez said.
“Maybe we can ask them, once we can grasp their language enough,” Guerrero said.
“Or they to ours. We each made copies of the papers.”
Western Equestria
“… so, as it is, we don’t know how their meeting might be going,” Thunderbolt finished.
He spared a brief glance to Scud, who was devouring a loaf of bread. He barely suppressed rolling his eyes.
The three ponies had moved into the mess hall of the outpost, and sat before one of the tables, where Thunderbolt and Scud had begun to report to Starswirl. Or at least, Thunderbolt mostly did, for Scud had focused more on eating than explaining.
“Captain Wing Shield made a wise choice to send word right away,” Starswirl said.
Unlike the pegasi who sat down at the same side, the unicorn sat across them. Not with food before him but a simple cup of warm tea, occasionally grabbing it with his magic to drink. If he thought anything about the scene before him, Thunderbolt couldn’t tell.
“Though perhaps he could have waited until he had gathered more information,” Starswirl continued.
“Surely there is nothing to worry about, Lord Starswirl?” Thunderbolt asked.
“Perhaps; it is too early to tell. We might not receive further word until hours later if something happened.”
“You worry too much, Thunderbolt,” Scud finally said, mouth still stuffed with bread, crumbs flying.
Thunderbolt shook his head.
“Tables manners aside, you should heed his advice,” Starswirl chuckled, taking a sip from his cup.
“See? Lord Starswirl agrees!” Another mouthful comment from Scud.
“Right now,” Starswirl continued, unfazed, “worrying will not help you.”
“Not when you are no position to do something about it.”
I could fly back right now, Thunderbolt thought.
“It is mostly about my brother, sir,” he replied.
“I had to leave him behind.”
“Ah, a family matter, I see,” Starswirl said.
“But surely both of you knew joining the military would carry risks, as peaceful our realm is, Discord notwithstanding. If it eases your mind, once I had heard your report I am to discuss the matter with the King. You may not have to wait here for long,” he took one last sip from his cup, now empty, before rising from his seat and walked towards the exit.
Thunderbolt watched the unicorn leave, before gazing back to the table and sighing.
“You’re going to finish that?” Scud, mouth finally devoid of food, suddenly asked pointing at Thunderbolt’s half-finished food.
Thunderbolt rolled his eyes before pushing it over. He didn’t have much hunger in the first place, anyway.
Central Equestria
Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. A city on the side of a mountain, it was one of Equestria’s first settlements. The most prominent building was, naturally, the royal castle overlooking the rest of the city. And it was within its halls that, sitting on his throne and flanked by two guards, was the King.
King Gold Ingot, direct descendant of Founder Princess Platinum herself, and reinstated as King after Discord was dealt with. The last few months had been a busy and almost hectic matter, shaping the realm back to its hooves. But things are never that easy, as the sudden flash of light signified. Despite so, none of the three there to witness it even flinched.
“Your majesty,” Starswirl bowed, for he was the one that had teleported in.
“Ah, Starswirl,” Gold Ingot smiled at the sight of the fellow unicorn.
“What news about our potential visitors?”
“Unfortunately, there is not much to tell,” Starswirl rose.
“Captain Wing Shield opted to send word already before actually meeting them face to face.”
The King’s smile faltered.
“That is unfortunate, the Council will not be pleased hearing their debates of all morning were for naught.”
“And yet we know they will still go through with it,” Starswirl said.
“Assuming, of course, they actually have by now.”
A brief silence followed, before both suddenly chuckled.
“Yes, they can be a stubborn lot,” Gold Ingot said, before rising from his throne.
“Well, I am not going to wait for them if so.”
He began to walk towards the doors of the room, with the two guards following him.
“Oh, have you come to a decision yourself, your majesty?” Starswirl asked when the King was now passing next to him.
“I was not just sitting on my throne waiting for your return, you know,” Gold Ingot replied.
“The Council may not be happy,” Starswirl began to walk as well, just shortly behind Gold Ingot, to the side.
“Let them complain, but they will agree in the end,” was all the King answered.
Nacogdoches, Coahuila & Texas
The sun had yet to rise across the sea, but the light of dawn was already there, and the town of Nacogdoches was already stirring. In a corner of the central plaza lied a stone house, and at close inspection one could see light coming from the second floor. It came from candlelight, as it illuminated a room currently housing a few dozen people.
They made small talk between each other, as they waited. There were many chairs in the room, but a few of the men had preferred to remain standing. Some had arrived for the better part of an hour ago, and as more people came in, so did the anticipation. Finally, one more person enters the room.
“Gentlemen!”
He calls out firm and loud. The small talk dies quick but gradually, as they notice. The few standing men finally sit down in the remaining chairs. The man who spoke glances around the room.
“It’s good to see many decided to come,” he said.
“Why did it had to be at such early hour?” One of the men asked.
“I had a half a mind in remaining in bed.”
“It gives us some more time of privacy,” the first man answered.
“Not that what we’ll be talking shortly is crucial that remains secret. Not for now, at least.”
“So what then,” a different man spoke, “could be so important?”
“I’ll get to that in a moment, just let me talk, then you can all make your questions,” the first man said.
“As you all are quite aware, a few months ago America disappeared…”