//------------------------------//
// Come Meet the Gray Feathers 
// Story: Urohringr 
// by Imploding Colon 
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	Built along the vertical stalk of Durandana's central tower was a complex array of circular platforms, all interconnected by a double-helix of winding wooden lattices.  Atop these platforms, several large buildings had been fitted together out of elaborately carved wooden slats.  Many of the structures were three stories tall—consuming as much height as the base of the next upper platform could allow.  At first, Rainbow couldn't guess how the structures of Central D were capable of withstanding the mechanical extension of the tower itself, until she realized that its upper vertical pylons simply collapsed inside one another, occupying the hollow of the lower base when there was no sunlight up above to illuminate.

As it was First Light, the summit of the Central Tower was in full glow.  Rainbow watched as a fixed point of light beamed in from a distance—presumably originating in the reflectors of the eastmost tower—and found its mark somewhere in the center of a geometrically rigid structure.  A shiny "cube" with jagged edges topped off the tower like a piece of glittery chalk at the end of a standing pool cue.  Unlike the rest of the tower, this structure was noticeably metallic, with immaculate gold surfaces carrying a wet sheen from morning dew and mist.  There were several porous holes in the walls of this structure—including an east and west opening to allow for the magnified light to shine through the very heart of the crater.  Aside from that, the entire summit resonated with a platinum glow, illuminating the base of low-hanging clouds that drifted lazily overhead.

It was a difficult task to make a solid observation of this spectacle, for pegasi were constantly flying to and fro between the tower and Rainbow Dash, and the wandering flocks were growing even denser as the seconds rolled by.  One by one, the thick crowds of ponies took notice of the stranger with a ruby pendant hanging around her neck.  Collectively, Durandanans both young and old hovered about to stare at the Sivrem's group and the striking mare who was accompanying them.

Rainbow heard just as much commotion below her as above.  She glanced down to see that there were numerous buildings built all along the forest floor bordering the centeral spire.  Many of them were veritable towers in and of themselves, scaling as high as seven stories tall.  Structures were built into trees, erected on platforms, and even affixed to the base of the main spire itself.  The community of Central D was a virtual city, and it easily dwarfed the tiny cluster of treehouses that made up West D.  This made for innumerable platforms from which pegasi took off and landed, making their way to the furthest reaches of the crater.

Below all of the buildings—including the Central Tower itself—Rainbow could have sworn she saw a floor of solid wood.  She squinted, trying to see beyond the branches and foliage and pegasi feathers, but she couldn't tell if it was a courtyard or something else entirely.

By then, a terribly thick crowd had gathered.  Pegasi murmured to one another, their eyes all locked on Rainbow Dash.  From a distance, Rainbow could hear occasional murmurs of "outsider" and "ponies with no wings" and "flying Valkyrie silver."

"I guess I've been expected," Rainbow muttered.

Kitsune nodded as she flew alongside her and Sivrem.  "We're a talkative bunch here in Durandana."  She smirked aside at her.  "We just couldn't help ourselves."

"I almost wish we could have brought some of your buddies along!" Jagold exclaimed.  "No one here has seen a pony without feathers before!"

"Er..."  Rainbow smiled nervously.  "Maybe it's best that we take things one wing flap at a time..."

"There's no reason to be nervous, Rainbow," Sivrem said with a smile.

"It's not me I'm worried about."

Jerrio spoke up.  "There."  He pointed at the second lowest platform of the center tower.  "The elders await, Sivrem."

"Calm down, Jerrio," Sivrem said with a chuckle.  He flapped his wings and dove forward.  "I've got this."

Kitsune gestured for Rainbow to hold back, so she did.  Craning her neck, Rainbow watched as Sivrem touched down on the platform.  It was so low to the forest floor that the canopy shadowed most of the wooden surface, making for a cool and relaxing shade.  The longer Rainbow stared, she could make out several clusters of equine shapes lounging about in the sanctuary that the platform afforded.

"Is that where all the old ponies live?" Rainbow asked.

"Mmmm... mostly the First-Borns who become Gray Feathers," Kitsune explained.

"All ponies are welcome to congregate there," Jerrio chimed in.  "But the Inner Sanctum belongs to the Gray Feathers.  Only they can open the door to the Gold Lights."

"Uh huh..."  Rainbow nodded.  "Where exactly are the 'Gold Lights?'"

Jerrio fidgeted in midair.

"Oh... oops?"  Rainbow smiled awkwardly.  "Am I not supposed to know where they are?"

"That... is up to the Gray Feathers to share," Jerrio quietly remarked.

"What he said," Kitsune said with a smile.

"Kitsune!  Jerrio!" A pony called out from up above.  The wind whistled.  Rainbow looked up to see a middle-aged stallion gliding down, only to be followed closely by no less than three dozen fillies and colts.  "Is it true?  Do you have the outsider with you?"

"The one and only, Ice!" Kitsune said with a smile.  "Giving the little gulls their morning exercise!"

"You bet!"  Ice said with a smirk.  "But I couldn't resist swinging by just once!"  He squinted from where he glided in a slowly descending circle, accompanied by fast-feathered foals.  "Whoah... her mane really is the real deal!  Just like they said!"

"Uhhh..."  Rainbow nodded.  "I'm afraid so."

"Whoah!" A colt gasped in a scratchy voice.  "She talks!"

"Of course she talks!" A filly raspberried at him.  "She's a pony, isn't she?"

"From beyond the greens?!"  Another colt made a face.  "Could she be a frost ghost?"

Rainbow squinted.  "Frost... ghost...?"

"Yeah, well, can a frost ghost make colored lights appear out of thin air?!" Smythe said with a grin.

"What?!"

"No way!"

"She can make lights?!"

"Sure can!"  Rayvinne winked at the circling youngsters.  "With explosions like thunder too!"

"Cooooool!"

"That's so awesome!"

"I wanna see!"

Jerrio sighed.  "Now's not exactly a good time, Ice..."

"Oh, lemme guess..."  The stallion smirked in mid-glide.  "Off to feather the Gray Feathers, eh?"

"Sivrem's chatting with the elders right now," Kitsune said.

"By Valkyrie's shout!  How exciting!"

"Ice, can we stay and watch the outsider make lights?"

"Pleeeeeeease?"

"Oh, do let them stay!"  Jagold snatched two random foals with her forelimbs and nuzzled them closely.  "Heeeeeeee!  Life can never be too adorable!"

"Gaah!  Bleack!"

"She smells like spider webs!"

"Heheh... I get the point..."  Ice winked and let loose a shrill whistle.  "Alright, my little sparrows!"  He motioned towards the youngsters and ascended high above the treetops.  "We have fruit to gather for lunch, then it's lesson time!  Quickly, now!  Let's gust!"

"Alright, Ice!"

"Coming!"

"Bye, Miss Outsider!"

"I really like your mane!"

The fillies and colts took off after the stallion.  The group of foals glided along the northern horizon, disappearing beyond the mist.

Jagold blinked, hovering alone.  "Awwwwwwwwwww..."  She sighed, ears drooping.  Smythe drifted over with a chuckle and patted her shoulder.

"Ice is so good with those gulls," Rayvinne remarked.  "I only wish my wingteacher was half as pleasant as that stallion when I was little."

"You should take up flocking with the youngsters yourself, Ray," Kitsune said.  "It'd put your talents to good use."

"Pffft.  Eggshells to that!"  Rayvinne smirked.  "I'd kiss my social life good bye."

"Hah!  As if you only ever settle for kissing."

"Wuh oh.  Somepony's cruising for a wet tail wind!"

Both mares giggled.

"Shhh..."  Jerrio pointed.  "Sivrem's returning."

Rainbow Dash pivoted about in time to meet the stallion.

He hovered up, smiling.  "They're ready to greet you."  He looked past Rainbow.  "Kit?  Jerrio?"

The other two First-Borns drifted forward.  Rayvinne, Smythe, and Jagold stayed behind, with the last one waving happily.

Rainbow waved back, gulped, and followed the other three towards the lower platform.  As they entered the shade of the nearby jungle canopy, Rainbow's eyes refocused, and she saw dozens if not hundreds of equines gathered about on the wooden floor.  There were crude chairs and benches, upon which the majority of the oldest ponies sat.  At first, Rainbow presumed that they were sleeping.  She soon realized that their lips were moving, murmuring words in quiet meditative breaths.

Her companions touched down, so she did as well.  The closer she got to the ponies, she saw that they were all clad in plain gray tunics and gowns.  To her surprise, a multitude of the "elders" weren't exactly elders at all, but simply a few years older than the likes of Kitsune and Sivrem.  The truly senior equines didn't appear until she was led towards a building erected against the curved base of the tower itself.  There, lanterns full of flittering lightning bugs cast a dim illumination across the wooden floor and ceiling.

A full line of ponies stood in wait.  One stood out a few feet from the rest.  She was a mare with a youthful complexion and a calm, wise smile.  As Rainbow trotted up, so did she.  Her mane was bleached white, save for the very tips of her long locks, which still possessed a faded fascimile of multi-colored dye.

"Greetings, Rainbow Dash, we have been waiting for you," the mare said.  Her red eyes glowed in the lanternlight, adding warmth to her words.  "Sivrem has told us so much.  Welcome to Durandana."

"Uh... yeah.  I've been made to feel totally welcome."  Rainbow's eyes darted towards the other Gray Feathers.  Most of their manes were entirely ghost-white.  She glanced back at the pony who still possessed a hint of color.  "Really, it's been pretty cool.  I was kinda sorta afraid that maybe you all would be freaked out by my friends and I."

She chuckled richly.  "An understandable concern.  Trust me.  Durandana is all about peace and harmony.  It's something that the Valkyrie herself strove for.  She was a warrior at heart, true, but also a pacifist in spirit, which is what has made her legacy so remarkable."

"Heh..."  Rainbow nodded with a smile.  "I totally feel you."  She swallowed.  "Uhm... how should I refer to you...?"

"Please, call me by my foalname."  She pointed to herself.  "I am Fawful, and I've been chosen by the rest of the Gray Feathers to speak on our behalf, and to teach you the ways of the Valkyrie."

"Oh... uhm..."  Rainbow fidgeted.  "Uh—"

"And..."  She smiled, nodding her head.  "I'm certain that you have much to teach me in turn."

"Well..."  Rainbow scratched the back of her head, smiling.  "I dunno about teaching, but I definitely have some stuff to share.  I... uh..."  She glanced around.  "I have a buttload of questions about this place."

"And we certainly have many questions as well," Fawful said.  "Your presence here is a miracle in and of itself.  We never make contact with the realm beyond the greens."

"Yeah... heh..."  Rainbow smirked.  "I sorta got that part."

"Flying Valkyrie silver and ponies without wings?"  Fawful chuckled.  "Most remarkable indeed.  And here I thought my years of excitement were over."  A pause. She glanced aside at Sivrem, then back at Rainbow.  "I heard that you have the ability to generate your own lights."

Rainbow glanced at her companions.

Sivrem said nothing.  Jerrio bit his lip.

"With all due respect, elder..."  Kitsune bowed as she said, "Rainbow Dash isn't entirely in the best of health.  It would do her well to rest while conversing with the Gray Feathers."

"What?"  Rainbow gawked at her strangely.  "For real, I'm not—"

"I do not wish to be rude.  If she needs rest, then we will most certainly provide it," Fawful said.  She reached over and touched Kitsune's shoulders.  "Thank you, Kitsune.  You may go now."

Kitsune bowed again.  As she, Sivrem, and Jerrio turned to fly off, she gave Rainbow a lasting smile, then was gone.

Rainbow sighed.

"Is something wrong, outsider?" Fawful remarked.

"I dunno..."  Rainbow turned towards her with a weak smile.  "I've travelled an awful lot, and I'm... just not used to ponies treating me so nicely."

"Is that so?  How unfortunate," Fawful remarked.  She led Rainbow towards the dimly lit building before them.  "I would very much like to hear all about your journeys."

"I get the feeling you're gonna do just that," Rainbow said.