“Mrs. Barter Moon.” A stern voice spoke causing a small pony to stiffen, “I sincerely hope that you have gone to sleep.” The mare stepped towards the lump who was practically laying on a book, an eyebrow raised as she awaited a response.
“But Mother!” The filly whined, “I’m just reading one more chapter.”
“No, you are not Barter.” She said, “I don’t want you awake late into the morning. You know it’s not good for our eyes if we see the sun.”
“But Mother!!!” She whined again, “This book says that the fields are beautiful in the sun.”
“And that book was written by a diurnal.” The mother nodded, she raised a hoof to pat her daughter’s head, “Where did you get that book? Did you father give it to you?”
“Uh huh!” She grinned, displaying her sharp fangs, “He brought it from the Canterlot library!”
“Hmm, of course,” The mare let out a laugh, she smiled at her daughter before sighing. “Do you want to watch the sunrise?”
The filly nodded excessively, her mother had seen the sunrise many times and knew to look away when the sun peeked over the mountains, she wasn’t sure if Barter would heed her warning and look away. Still Barter asked to watch it countless times and her mother was finally giving in.
She hummed for a moment, thinking to herself, “Okay,” Barter jumped up at once before letting her Mother continue, “But!” The mare spread a leathery wing to block the filly from running to the cave opening, “You have to agree to a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Yes, a trade, a barter,” The last word caused Barter to smile, “You may watch the sunrise but you must shield your eyes the moment I tell you to.”
“I can do that!” She squeaked, her voice getting higher as she got more excited.
“Promise?”
“Mm hmm! Promise.”
“Then it’s a deal.” The mare extended her hoof, causing the filly to giggle and shake it. Only then did she fold her wing again and allowed Barter to gallop to the cave opening, with herself trotting close behind.
…
A brown earth colt stepped into his home, slamming the door in his wake. He hadn’t meant to slam it but his frustration had gotten the better of him.
“Discovery?” A stallion called from the kitchen, “Is that you?”
“Yes Pop.” Discovery rolled his eyes, he was almost certain of next thing his father would ask.
“How was school?”
Discovery set down his saddlebags and trotted into the kitchen.
“All we did is draw and introduce ourselves.” He scoffed.
“Oh, did you meet any new ponies?” His father asked, turning to remove something from the stove.
“‘Course not.” He sighed, “I know everypony in town, so do you.”
“Well what about drawing?” His father asked, turning to Discovery, “I know you like that.”
“Yeah, well,” Discovery hopped up onto one of the two chairs that surrounded the kitchen’s small table, “Miss Heart said to draw something, anything, and I told her that I needed to look at something to draw.”
“So did she let you look at something?” His father scooped something onto a plate.
“Eventually she got a flower but it took forever.” He complained, “And it was a daisy!”
“What’s wrong with a daisy?”
“I’ve drawn daisies before, a lot before, and this one wasn’t special.” He folded his arms over his chest.
“Oh I see.” His father set down the wooden plate in front of Discovery.
The food smelled wonderful and unlike anything the foal had ever smelled before, he instantly dropped his crossed arms and leaned over his food.
“In that case,” his father continued, “Dig in!”
Discovery didn’t hesitate. It was a veggie pie, he recognized a few things immediately: carrots and peas, but there was something else that he hadn’t had before. Sweet and soft bits of yellow were sprinkled throughout the pie, leaving a slight tingling feeling in Discovery’s mouth. He’d never tried such a fruit before.
He took another bite, “It’s so good! What is it?”
His father let out a hearty laugh, “Finish chewing before you talk.” Discovery nodded and chewed quicker, “It’s a fruit from the Forest of Ahuizotl.”
“Ah-wee-wha-tal?” The pony had stuffed his face yet again.
“Ahuizotl. And chew before you talk. It’s the creature they say protects the forest and the ponies who live there.” He smiled, “The natives call the fruit a pineapple, they gave it to me when I gave them some Cloudsdale jewelry. I think it was a fair trade.”
“It was!” Discovery confirmed, “This stuff is amazing! I wish I could see a whole one, I’d like to draw it.”
“Well your one lucky colt then.” His father got up and quickly went to get the fruit, though he was quick, he left plenty of time for Discovery, who ran to get charcoal and some paper from his bag. He was back at the kitchen, shoveling another bite of pie as his father stepped towards him with strange spiky plant.
“Woah!” Discovery exclaimed as his father set it down in the center of the table. Discovery took another bite, chewed and swallowed before picking up the charred stick in his mouth to draw with.
“Now,” his father sat back down, “You should get more friendly with the foal’s at school, I’m leaving again in a few-”
“Can I come this time?!” Discovery dropped the stick, “Please oh please!”
“I swear I’ll take you one day but not this time.”
“Awe.” He frowned
“I’ll bring you back something new.” His father said carefully trying and eventually succeeding in cheering his son up.
“You better!” Discovery smiled, “And,” he sighed, “I’ll just stay at Sun Flower’s place.”
“Again?” His father asked, watching as Discovery picked up the stick again, “Don’t you want to make some new friends?”
“I’m already friens wit them,” he spoke, his voice muffled by the stick, “Sun’s just nice. She let’s me dwaw her wings.”
“I see.” The stallion said, stifling a sigh. He guessed there was no helping it, he wouldn’t be surprised if those two got married in the future with how close they were. That is if he doesn’t meet anypony whilst traveling, though with how desperate Discovery is to find new things, that wouldn’t surprise him either.