//------------------------------// // Subterranean Tour // Story: Lilligold and Mizuko's Neighponese Tale // by Razalon The Lizardman //------------------------------// True to her word, Mizuko worked to keep curious onlookers from acting out of line as she and Lilligold explored the city. Now on their own, the two mares found themselves on the receiving end of a lot more attention which was too close for comfort. The constant camera flashes were unavoidable, but Lilligold grew accustomed to the incessant photography after a few dozen pictures, enough that it eventually no longer bothered her. Still a nuisance, however, were the occasional attempts to pet her like a zoo animal. Every now and then a kappa — all of whom female, oddly enough — would come up from behind and begin petting Lilligold’s mane, causing her to cry out in surprise and for Mizuko to diffuse the situation before things escalated. “All the stories I’ve heard don’t paint kappas in a very respectful light,” Mizuko explained upon being questioned by Lilligold as to why her mane seemed to attract so much attention. “As for why they’re attracted to your mane specifically?” She shrugged. “Maybe they think it’s really pretty?” Lilligold replied with a nervous chuckle, and the two continued exploring the town. At one point, they came across a couple of older-looking kappas with saxophones leaning against a building with their cases in front of them, open, while they alternated playing a slow jazz tune. As they passed, Mizuko reached into her bag and fished out four coins, before tossing two each into their cases. The kappas responded only with a small bow and a smile each before resuming play. “I have a weakness for jazz,” Mizuko explained at Lilligold's questioning gaze. The rest of their exploration of the city was fairly uneventful. Mostly, Mizuko and Lilligold busied themselves with checking out various open air stores and all the exotic — for both of them — items on display. All the various knick-knacks for sale were quite different from anything Mizuko had ever seen in Gujo Hachimare. Time in self-imposed exile had resulted in a lack of variety in kappa artistry, as most of the pots, necklaces, and other items exclusively depicted kappa characters, with only a scant few showing a pony, kitsune, or tanooki. Seeing all this made Mizuko sad again for the kappas, and she made a vow to help reintegrate kappas back into modern society. It wasn’t until toward the end of their trip as they neared the hospital that the two mares’ attention was drawn to one store in particular. The overhanging sign depicted a traditional Neighponese kabuto, but the hats displayed on the closest rack were much more modern-looking in both design and the materials used. Their attention was drawn to one row in particular. Hats of assorted colors lined the shelf, each with a white initial sewn onto the front. One hat was red with the letter ‘M’, while another was green with the letter ‘L’. Mizuko lifted the red hat slightly off its stick, feeling the material on her hoof. It seemed to be well made, and red would make for a striking contrast against her blue coat, while the green one would be good against Lilligold’s pink coat. The two mares shared a knowing look, before Mizuko took the hats off the rack and tossed the appropriate change to the shopkeeper, who took the coins and waved the mares off with a grateful smile. “Now I have two souvenirs,” Lilligold said as she levitated the green hat on her head, momentarily setting her bonsai plant down on the walkway. “I wonder what everypony will think about these hats?” Mizuko mused as she placed the red one on her own head, smoothing her mane a little so it could fit comfortably. “I’ll probably end up telling everyone about this city as a result.” She frowned. “They might not believe me, however.” “Well, I’d be more than happy to vouch for you,” Lilligold said, smiling wide. “Thank you,” Mizuko replied with her own smile. Happy with their self-conducted tour of the kappa city, the two mares finished the trek back to the hospital. This time, Lilligold decided to follow Mizuko inside. The inside was about as rudimentary as she expected, given the overall rustic design of the entire city. Set into the left wall was a shelf holding all sorts of medicine bottles and various standard medical devices like stethoscopes and syringes. Along the opposite wall was a series of olive green cots with simple white blankets and pillows; a still unconscious Yadame occupied the center-most cot. Immediately to the mares’ right was a small wooden desk, attended to by a kappa wearing a standard white doctor’s uniform and a mirror headband. The kappa noticed them enter and stood up, giving a small bow in greeting. “Irasshaimase,” it said to them in a soft, feminine voice. Mizuko gave no verbal response, instead returning the bow. Lilligold immediately followed suit, more determined now to come across as less of an ignorant foreigner. The doctor kappa then led them to Yadame’s bedside. Lilligold couldn’t help but coo a little at the adorable sight of him laying down, the blanket rising and falling with his soft breathing, and it took all of her willpower to not chuckle at the snot bubble coming out of his left nostril. “Kare wa, nin'i no naibu gaishō ya shukketsu o kabutte imasen,” the doctor spoke up, drawing her attention. “Wazuka sū kizu.” Mizuko breathed a sigh of relief. “Sore wa yoi,” she said, and bowed again. “Tasuketekurete arigatō.” “Dōitashimashite.” The doctor held out her webbed hand. “Sore wa, 10-mai no koin ni narudarou.” Mizuko reached into her coin bag and fished out the appropriate change. She passed it to the doctor, who accepted it with a nod before returning to her work desk. Mizuko grabbed Yadame by the nap of his neck and gently lifted the sleeping colt onto her back alongside her coin bag. “Hopefully he doesn’t wake up before we’re out of here. I can’t imagine how he’d react to seeing this city.” Lilligold smiled at the sleeping colt. “He’d probably faint again at the sight of it.” The two then exited the hospital and began making their way back toward the city’s entrance. As before, they couldn’t make it ten steps without one or more overzealous photographers snapping a picture in their direction. Unlike before, however, Lilligold found herself more at ease being the center of so much attention. Whether it was her simply having become desensitized, or her enthusiasm for finally being done with all the craziness of the day overtaking her anxiety, she didn’t know. But as excited as she was to finally be on the verge of completing her mission, a small part of her conscience felt that, in all honesty, the day’s events had done an admirable job rejuvenating her spirit in a way that she hadn’t felt in such a long time. Enough that she was seriously starting to consider taking more vacations.