//------------------------------// // Giraffe Glade II // Story: Rainbow Dash Around the World // by MagicS //------------------------------// “Uh, hi. Are you “He Whose Neck Is long”?” Rainbow Dash asked the male giraffe standing outside the entrance to one of the village’s large domes. “That is what this one is called, yes,” the giraffe nodded. His eyes were half-lidded in a tired expression, but he was giving Rainbow Dash his full attention. The other giraffe; “She Whose Legs Are Short”, was politely and quietly standing by after Rainbow Dash had come up to speak with her conversation partner. “Great, my name is Rainbow Dash, I was told you’re the one who deals with outsiders and merchants?” She raised an eyebrow. “This one is indeed the liaison for such things,” He Whose Neck Is Long replied. “Are you a merchant, or just an outsider?” “Just an outsider,” Rainbow smiled. “I came here from really far away, I’ve been flying for the past couple of days and I found your village. So, uh, was just kind of wondering if I could learn about it and stuff. Maybe find a place to eat and sleep for the day? I’ve never actually met any giraffes before and I guarantee you’ve never met any ponies from where I’m from.” He Whose Neck Is Long blinked and he looked over at his companion. “Would you please excuse us for now? It seems this one has business.” “Of course, this one will return later,” She Whose Legs Are Short said and walked away. “Sorry about interrupting,” Rainbow said. “It is no matter, this one and that one will meet again later tonight,” he said. “May this one ask where exactly you are from, pony Rainbow Dash?” “Big country called Equestria, aaaaalll the way on the other side of the world,” Rainbow said. “What’s your village called?” “This place is known as Dacty. Welcome,” He Whose Neck Is Long bowed ever so slightly. “Cool. You get a lot of travelers and merchants through here?” Rainbow asked. “Many through, yes. Not many stop for trade and sale, most do business elsewhere,” he answered. “Yeah I can see why...” Rainbow said as she looked around at the grass and mud huts. “Is there any specific reason you stopped here?” He Whose Neck Is Long asked. Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I mean not really, I’m kind of just traveling all over the world, and I’ve got friends back home who would be super curious to learn anything about a new group of creatures and their home. If I see a village like yours I kind of just automatically stop now.” She glanced up at the sky. “And I have no idea how things south of here are like, so even though it’s only the middle of the day I was thinking of stopping here for the night. If that’s okay with you giraffes?” “You staying here is no issue for us. However, we do not have lodgings for a creature of your stature. But if you would like you can take a tent to the outskirts of Dacty,” He Whose Neck Is Long answered. “Is there anything else you’d like to know about Dacty? We are a small giraffe enclave in the north-center edge of giraffe territory. The camels don’t like us moving any closer to their desert.” “Yeah that aint really a surprise,” Rainbow Dash sorted. “So you’re just a small town and there are other places giraffes live around here?” He Whose Neck Is Long nodded. “Yes. This one is from another village. This one moved here for work. The Long Neck of Dacty is He Whose Neck Is Longer Still, if you would care to meet him while you are here.” Rainbow Dash blinked and tilted her head. “That’s your leader or something?” “Yes. This one has been told that a similar term would be “mayor” or “chief”. This one apologizes if he is not making things clear for you,” the giraffe said. Rainbow Dash awkwardly waved her hooves in front of her. “No, no, no, it’s totally cool. I get it. I don’t know if I’ll like really be doing anything here or staying for longer than a day though, if you have questions about where I come from, or if there’s something special about you giraffes you want to share with a super awesome outsider who will tell others about you then we can do that. Otherwise I’m gonna be flying south fast before the sun’s even up tomorrow.” “This one would be happy to hear about your home. Though there are better giraffes in the village for that, such as She Whose Neck Is Not Quite So Long, an older giraffe and our storyteller,” He Whose Neck Is Long said. “Umm… cool, like maybe tonight I can go see her then,” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck. The way giraffes talked was already starting to strain her brain. “Very well. And as for something special about us giraffes that we would like travelers and visitors to know about—this one can think of nothing more fitting than our poetry,” he said. Rainbow Dash blinked, her face blank. “What?” “Our poetry. We giraffes take great pride in our way with words,” he said with the same lack of emotion and expression as always. “In fact, a large poetry recital is happening this afternoon in our Poetry Hall.” Rainbow Dash blinked again. “What?” He Whose Neck Is Long gestured to one of the long rectangular mud and grass buildings in the village. “There, our hall. Quite a few giraffes are going to be reciting poetry just a short time from now. Would you care to come with this one and watch the recital? This one can think of no better way to quickly attune an outsider with our culture and way of life.” “I, um. Maybe if... I gotta...” Rainbow Dash sighed and dragged a hoof down her face. “Aw geez, I literally don’t have anything better to do. Alright, let’s go to the poetry recital.” She almost shuddered as those words left her mouth. He Whose Neck Is Long didn’t seem to pick up on her reservations at all. “I am sure you will find it most enjoyable, there will be some great poems read today.” “Y-Yeah...” Rainbow winced. Cart had said that giraffes were kind of weird. Now she was getting to learn that first hoof.