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Aquaria saw yet another filly approach the petting zoo, the hybrid squirming with anticipation. When she heard the eager red filly say she wanted to take a pet home, Aquaria gasped dramatically, her tail slowing down. She remembered the first rule on her awesome vest and shook a digit at the pony. "Smuggling of petting zoo members is against the rules. If you try to steal a crystal critter, I'm gonna have to tell Soaring to stop you," she playfully scolded in a voice that was not even remotely threatening.

"Of course you can see the crystal critters up close Haywire. You just gotta promise to not steal anything. Is that a deal? I have to protect the crystal empire from all threats, evil and adorable," she giggled with a smile. Aquaria was proud of her 'stern' discussion with the pony, her chest poofing out proudly as she kept control of the situation.

It was clear that Haywire didn't have all of Aquaria's attention, the hybrid talking to another griffon and filly while other ponies swarmed her. "What do you wanna play with Haymaker? I'm sure the crystal sheep are the funnest to poke. They are super squishy," she explained with a giggle, wondering if Haymaker just wanted to see the elusive crystal griffon.

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Red smiled broadly as 'Spring Breeze' exclaimed, “Come on! I hear they do jousting here, I've only ever read about that! I wanna go see!” as she nearly galloped down the causeway. He'd been so caught up in talking with her on the train ride up that he never did ask if she wanted to see anything in particular, but as luck would have it, the two of them had had the same thought. He trotted quickly up behind her, calling "Yeah, me, too! I wanna see how they do it with that much armour on their..."

But he never did get to finish that thought as out of the crowd a bright purple unicorn virtually pounced 'Spring Breeze' in a tackling hug. Red briefly worried about who would come after her and why, but after a second it dawned on him that the unicorn was actually hugging her, and had called her 'Spring'. Evidently there was at least some familiarity, anyway.

After extricating herself from 'Spring Breeze', the other unicorn introduced herself as Flux. Red recovered from his surprise long enough to smile back. "'Lo. My name's Red Cedar," he said by way of introduction, then turned to 'Spring Breeze' again. "Friend of yours?" he asked, as though the hug weren't evidence enough.

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It took considerably creativity to convince one's superior officers that doing one's duty consisted of going where one had been clearly told not to go, and doing what one was absolutely forbidden to do. But if there was any changeling in the Hive that could manage it, it was Kahz. The diminutive, cheeky, charming, and rare pleasant specimen among the loyalists, this little lovebug had decided that it was absolutely necessary to the success of the hive to scout out a festival similar to the one of the pending invasion, and perhaps do a little recon upon a likely threat they'd have to face up eventually.

Only, he seemed to have lost his way. Disguised as an earth pony by the name of "Heart Sight," his illusion skills were not quite up to the standard needed to conceal his twisted leg or bent back, but that didn't matter! A bold spirit could overcome any physical limitation. Besides, aside from several sympathetic looks and offers of help, politely refused, he didn't draw too many heads. A plain gray coat and brown mane blended in with the Equestrian faire-goers, and an eye superimposed on a heart wasn't too out there as far as cutie marks were concerned.
No, the problem was that he was encountering nopony of importance at all, or at least that he recognized. Those weren't many, admittedly. In a kind of confusion, he'd wandered over to this pavilion where, surprisingly, he found a familiar face. Flux! He'd know that attitude anywhere! So, he wasn't the only changeling here, was he? She seemed to be greeting an old friend. Hm, and what might that old friend be?

Filing the sight away in his mind, keeping an eye on them for a polite time to address them, he came across the crystal filly as she wound up her explanations. Now, this might be a good opportunity to see how well his pony skills were developing. An interesting challenge... How does one relate to a pony wrapped up in books and hidden mysteries? Well, being enigmatic and mysterious oneself probably helped. Yes, now only if he could think of something...

Kahz remembered seeing a magician in Manehattan, an illusionist who talked in such a way. He decided to borrow one of his lines. Strolling up to Tourmaline Glass, he stood beside her, not looking at her, but talking in such a manner as to address her. "Which is the greater mystery: what a thing is, or what it means?" Well, it certainly sounded right.
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This filly certainly was intelligent...and full of herself. A little acid dripping from one's personality wasn't that terrible as long as it was paired with a certain ignorance of its existence. This was more practiced antisocial tendencies or innate bristleness coming to the forefront of a filly who otherwise may have a lot to offer. Well read and intelligent, there was a certain lack of the more confident fillies her age where it came from what they knew or could learn and less than what they could do physically. But with this sort of attitude it was hard to ant to engage with her. Most fillies were proud to share this information. Tourmaline seemed more transfixed on the fact nopony was on her level than she was on the chance to bring them along with her. Sad. Sometimes a filly could just be a big meanie. But Soarin' wasn't going to get angry with her. It was rare when you could feel so smart and Soarin' was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Luckily somepony new came by and posed a semi-philosophical question, saving Soarin' from being the butt of all attention.

That was only so true for Sugar Rush. Boy, she blushed like a filly who had just gotten caught with her hands in the cookie jar of love for the first time. Yeah, he'd seen that look more than a few times and it rarely mattered what gender or station the blusher came from, crushes tended to look the same. Well, something else to not bring any further than it needed to go. “Well, nice to have somepony from the REA here! Though I'm not sure how blushing is supposed to keep you camouflaged in the Crystal Empire, Specialist,” Soarin' winked and laughed, “so Sugar, how-” the Wonderbolt began before his head was impacted by some rogue glasses, knocking his eyes around his forehead some before he shook his head and found the rogue pair. Well, that was interesting. The company that made those glasses specialized in top flight filly and colt flying goggles and a quick inspection proved him right. Which meant it had been dropped by a young one. Today was an odd day for young ones, wasn't it? He heard a voice that matched the implication and quickly tossed the goggles at its source, smiling afterward.

“Watch where you drop those, cadet. Safe flying goggles like those are hard to come by!” Soarin' offered a quick and snappy salute towards the advancing filly. “I had that same brand when I was a colt. They're really nice but I thought they stopped selling them. Where did you get it from?” Soarin' asked just as a griffon popped into view and got very close and very loud. Wow. She didn't know much about the Wondebolts but her energy was high enough he'd disregard all of it, even as she started to go off on her would be could be should be military career. A very eclectic collection of Faire attendees, wasn't it? “Tell Echo I said thank you- and who may you be? And you're quite right. This does look like an awfully bolty type of storm,” he allowed a pregnant pause to fill the space before he turned faux dramatically to Tourmaline. Time to indulge her, even if she was acidic.

“So, if that storm is chaos and strife, why do you think that is? What do you think is going to happen?”

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Red was in agreement with 'Spring Breeze', it seemed he had some curiosity about it as well. He wasn't quite able to catch up to her as she galloped off though, at least not until she was interrupted.

She saw it at the last second, another pony leaping out of the crowd onto her. Caught off guard, she only had time to brace for the impact before she was tackled to the ground. Always ready for a fight, she was about to return in kind, but stopped herself when she recognized the unicorn who'd tackled her, and was glad she did. The tackle turned out to be a hug.

“Hey yourself, Flux!” 'Spring Breeze' said with a giggle, returning to her previous carefree attitude. “I never expected to find you here! You around for the Faire too?” She waved off Red as he came up to the two of them, concern momentarily in his expression, and let Flux help her up.

As she rose to her hooves, she caught sight of an otherwise plain looking earth pony, watching them from a short distance away. He seemed a little too intent for it to be a random look, but before 'Spring Breeze' had long to ponder it Red asked her a question, grabbing her attention. Looking back only to find the pony had vanished, 'Spring Breeze' returned to the matter at hoof.

"Friend of yours?"

'Spring Breeze' laughed. “Ha, I guess so!" Truth be told, she hadn't been entirely sure where she stood with Flux. The false unicorn had treated her pretty positively, but that seemed to be the case for most ponies she ran into. It was a bit of a pleasant surprise that Flux might remember 'Spring" so fondly. "I've run into her a few times now, and while she shares my, erm, 'diet'-” 'Spring Breeze's voice lowered a bit when she said that last word. She figured it was a fairly safe way to inform Red that Flux was also a changeling, though it still felt slightly risky. “- she's a good mare. More than that, well you can see for yourself,” she finished with a grin, guessing that Flux's cheerful and somewhat insane demeanor didn't need further explanation.

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Purple Haze raced down the middle of the main throughway with her besties, giggling happily as they headed for the jousting. She hoped they had armor small enough to fit them! None of them had ever jousted before, and she couldn't wait to see who would win! She dodged around ponies as she worked to keep up with the other two faster fillies, though thankfully they weren't going full out. This was no race, just eager excitement.

She had managed to wrangle a train ticket to the fair from her big brother by feeding him all sorts of garbage about it being a wonderful historic opportunity to learn about ancient cultures and blah blah blah. He ate that sort of stuff up. She doubted she'd fooled him, but he'd relented and let her go for the day.

The surroundings were really beautiful. So pretty, like midwinter branches with the night's fog frozen on them. Keeping only half an eye towards where she was running, she was craning her neck to take it all in. Then her eye caught a sight that, Sunrise being who she was, Purple could not help but recognize. She reached her head forward, grabbed hold of Sunrise's tail between her teeth, and dug in her hooves. "Hol' up!" she said through clenched teeth, hoping Marzipan would notice that they had stopped.

"Oye, Sunrise! Guess 'oo Oi jes' spotted!" She grinned impishly at her friend, and reached out to grab under Sunrise's chin and turn her gaze towards Soarin', making little kissy noises while she waited for her friend to go into her standard fangirl frenzy. "Mua mua mua!"

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Flux beamed at Red as he introduced himself, bouncing excitedly in place as Spring talked about her. Her smile did faulter somewhat when Spring said they shared a diet, which she figured could only mean one thing. Still, she waited for Spring to finish before responding.

"Yeah, I'm here for the Faire. It's pretty fun so far! Except for miss gloomy-Gus over there who doesn't want to make friends." Flux said, indicating Tourmaline with a wave of her hoof. She fell silent for a couple moments before continuing. "So... He knows about our... special diets?"

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Aquaria gasped when Derecho mentioned his home of Stalliongrad. "I thought about going to Stalliongrad for the polarpony swim event there, but it seemed really cold." He nodded. "Yes, polar swim is very cold. But I tell you secret. Two things: sauna, and wodka." the leopard griffon said with a wink, holding two talons up. Both would definitely warm you up after a dip in the icy waters, that was certain. She gasped again when he mentioned Cloudsdale. "Apparently that city floats on clouds or something. Isn't that cool." "I suppose is cool." he replied. In truth, Derecho hadn't really thought about what made the floating city in the sky well, float. Cloud architecture was not his speciality.

He banished the thought from his mind and turned his attention back to the lifeguard / petting zoo attraction. And how very attractive she was, although the more she talked her young age became more apparent. Well, Derecho was no spring chicken, but he wasn't an old buzzard either. He saw no harm in engaging in a little light flirtation. He smiled and nodded as she burbled about swimming and military. "Keeping young ones safe is very important job. Not everyone can be soldier."

The petting zoo was getting busier, more young ponies were scampering over to see the colorful sheep and other creatures. "Say, kitten, how long are you 'on duty'? You would like to wander the city with me, get a drink later perhaps?" He could always go see more of the fair and come back if Aquaria was going to be stuck here for awhile.

(OOC: Two characters is okay, right?)

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It was difficult for Marzipan to focus, she was so excited. The Crystal Empire! A fair! And no adults! She and her friends Purple Haze and Sunrise Beach had managed to convince their guardians to let them attend the Crystal Fair unacompanied. Purple had it hardest, her older brother had to be fed a line about historical significance. Sunrise had it much easier, her mom was elsewhere working, and Twilight thought it was a fabulous idea for her young page to go visit the Empire. Most likely Twilight was here somewhere anyway, since her brother and sister-in-law were the rulers. Probably at a fancy royal ball in the castle. As for Marzipan, she had taken the train from Roam all by herself, and so her cousin Snickerdoodle thought it would be just fine for her to come here without an adult as well.

The train ride was uneventful. The girls had talked amongst themselves about all the awesome stuff they would do when they got to the Empire. Marzipan had barely noticed the change in landscape until the train pulled into the station. And then she was overwhelmed. The sights! The colors! She cursed herself for not bringing her watercolors. But Snickerdoodle had stuffed the little filly's bags so full of treats (and a sack of bits to buy souvenirs) that all she had room for was one sketchbook and a few pencils.

There was no time to stop and draw anyway. Right out of the station they bolted down the lanes towards the jousting arena. Purple and Sunrise wanted to try their hooves at the sport, while Marzipan was content to watch and cheer from the sidelines. At least that way she could get some quick action sketches of the events to paint from later. The almond pegasus was so caught up in all the wonderful things around her that she barely noticed when her friends came to a screeching halt. "Hol' up!" the green earth filly hollered. "Ai, what'sa goin on?" "Oye, Sunrise! Guess 'oo Oi jes' spotted!" All three fillies turned to look in the direction of the petting zoo. No, just past the petting zoo. Ah, one of the Wonderbolts! No wonder the other two had stopped. Everypony knew that Sunrise had a huge crush on the flying team. "Ah, your heero! Gonna go get hes 'autograph'?" she teased.

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Red smiled to Flux again as 'Spring Breeze' told him how she knew the purple unicorn. His eyebrow raised noticably at the mention of Flux sharing a 'diet' with 'Spring Breeze', looking over at Flux again. As Flux leaned in to ask if that meant Red knew what she thought he knew, Red just smiled and leaned in himself, lowering his voice as he said, "Yes, I know, and according to Spring I'm very filling so you should be fine around me."

Red looked over in the direction Flux had pointed. There was a young filly with a book, and a grey Earth Pony, but those weren't what caught his attention. What he did notice was a member of the REA on one side, and a pony in the distinctive uniform of the Wonderbolts on the other. Even if they were all simply taking in the Faire, Red himself would have felt better away from those two ponies, and he figured at least 'Spring Breeze' would, too. Looking back to Flux, he added, "Well, we were on our way to find the jousting tournament. You're welcome to join us."

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It wasn't difficult for Sunrise Beach to get the day free to attend the Crystal Faire with her besties Purple Haze and Marzipan. As it was the weekend there was no school to deal with, something her sponsor would have never allowed her to skip, given the lavender alicorn's obsession with book learning. More importantly she was given the day off from her job as a royal page at Princess Twilight's castle by the captain of the guard there, who was also kind enough to give her a few bits for the journey as normally she didn't actually get paid, just room and board.

The trio had decided to check out the jousting area, as there was some hope it would be open to anypony who wanted to try. Sure there was a petting zoo in the same area but Sunrise was way too mature for little foal stuff like that now! Besides the only thing more radical than watching jousting is participating in jousting! Being a pony who worked in an actual jousting arena, granted only to setup targets and clean the field, she figured she would easily be better at it then any other filly or colt! Oh course that all depended on being allowed to try and not being told by lame adults that she and her friends were "too young".

Before the turquoise filly had a chance to say anything about her impending victories, she had found herself suddenly slowed down to a stop by her friend Purple using her tail as a brake! It never ceased to amaze Sunrise how strong earth ponies could be as it only took a few seconds before she was brought to a complete stop, still it was annoying, "like hey, what's the big idea?! 'Fraid I'm like, going to beat you to the arena?!?"

Turned out her bestie had to show her something oh so important; whatever it was, it had better be really awesome for being pulled out of the race to the arena she was totally winning! At first Sunrise looked with an expression of frustrated confusion, as there was the petting zoo for little foals, a small gathering of ponies and…

"Ermahcerlerster! Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" Sunrise pressed her forehooves to her cheeks in excitement, she could hardly believe it, her idol, the stunning hunk of a Wonderbolt that was Soarin'!! "He's here!! Nopony told me he was going to be here!! Like, why didn't you tell me he was going to be here!?! We sooooooooo totally got to meet him!! Like right naoww!!! Eeeeeee!!!!" As if on cue, Sunrise started to dance around on all fours in a circle giggling and blushing, she couldn't believe her luck!!

"Ermahcerlerster" is "Oh My Celestia!" :D

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Oh, Tripp was well and fully aware how cold and dangerous the water of Baltimare's shores could be. In fact...that was pretty much all she heard from her parents any time she tried to convince them to let her try and learn to swim on her own, even when there were lifeguards around. Didn't that kind of defeat the purpose of lifeguards?

"Yeeeaaaaah, kind of a fat chance mom and dad'll let me down to the water, anyways. They say I can go after I learn to swim, but they've been saying that for years and they still don't have the time to teach me." Tripp scowled at the surly reminder of this least favorable trait of hers, but then just as quickly brightened up as an idea struck her thoughts. "I dunno, though, maybe you could teach me when we're back home. I'm pretty sure Mom would say yes. And you didn't ask before, but my name's Tripp Hardy."

Now that she'd had some time to look at a griffon up close, Tripp had to admit she was a little less excited now. Proud, yes, for the experience, but it was no longer the huge rush she had experienced running up to Aquaria. And, with a fresh bunch of fillies swarming over, she figured maybe it was high time to move out of the way and maybe go ask her mom about swimming lessons with Aquaria. "Welp, I'm gonna go talk to mom about the water thing. Maybe I can bring her back over here if she has any questions to ask you about it." Tripp waved a hoof lazily and turned to go, in her mind plotting and thinking away on ways she could broach the subject to her parents without getting freaked out at.

...at least, she could ask, if Berry Sunrise was still at the berry cart and not unexpectedly gone.

"...mom?" Tripp stopped rather abruptly, blinking with a horribly confused expression on her face as she stared at the spot, hoping for a moment that maybe she was being a dummy and her mom was right there after all. Surely nopony would just--up and walk off without their foal, right? ...Right? "Mom...?"

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The REA guardsmare seemed the only of the three who listened to what Tourmaline had said, though she wasn't sure she got the things Tourmaline was saying. It was about more than storms. It was an omen, a foretelling of something greater, something darker, just on the horizon. Soon, perhaps that day, everything they knew and loved would be enveloped in the cold grip of evil once more and there was doubtless little they could do to stop it. Or at least, that was a distinct possibility. All things considered, this guardspony words came to her like the words of a condescending adult. She'd see though. They'd all see how very real this all was.

She looked toward the male pegasus as he exchanged words with some other ponies while the guard spoke of him. She honestly didn't see anything more than an average pegasus before her. "Is that truly so? What makes him so important? Is he some kind of heroic champion?"

Just then, a misshapen earth pony stallion approached her to speak some cryptic words. Now this was more her speed! A curious stranger coming from nowhere with questions of truth? It was like something ripped from any of the many fantasy novels Tourmaline read. She couldn't help but smile as she considered the riddle.

"What it means! Definitely. Anyone with an interest in auguries would say the same. It would be of little real interest to know the why and the what of those clouds there in the sky, but to consider the thing they foretell... the possibilities are endless," Tourmaline nodded, certain of what she expected. "The future, the truth of everything, it's all written, hidden in the signs. All we need is to know how to look and we can find the meaning. We can know the truth. It is the true mystery. Those who seek only to know what is and what isn't are simple minds, incapable of seeing even what is in plain view."

At this moment, the apparently important male pegasus turned back toward her with a question, taking her attention away from the misshapen stranger. Apparently he had been listening more than Tourmaline had thought. She frowned at his questions. Adults were always so caught up on specifics. "Well, that is why it is mystery. If I could know fully what the future foretold, I would use that power to bend it," said Tourmaline with a huff. "I do not know if the evil king came with a storm, but perhaps this could mark the coming of a successor to his dark legacy? Perhaps it could be an unrelated threat? Dragon attack, Windigos, some unknown monstrosity here from the untold depths, never before seen. Who truly knows. The possibilities cannot be determined. Not form just this cloud omen, at least."
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Haywire smiled widely at Aquaria. She was just as fascinated with meeting another griffin as she was being at the petting zoo. Carefully, the rust colored filly read Aquaria's nametag so she could address her properly.

"Ya ain't gotta worry none about me, Miss Aquaria. I'd NEVER EVER steal any pets for this here pettin' zoo. If'n I done that, then that'd cheat the other fillies and colts from spendin' time with'm, and I sure wouldn't wanna do that. Ya say thar's crystal sheep? I'd love to see them critters! But if'n they're made of crystal, does that mean ya can't sheer'm? Would be kinda hard ta sheer sheep if they're made outta crystal. They could shatter! OH MY! That'd be really really bad! WOW! Yur a griffin! I have a griffin friend mahself! He's kinda datin' mah older sister. Some might think that's weird fer a griffin an' a earth mare ta be together like that, but I don't think it's weird at all! In fact, I really like him! Kinda gotta strange sense of humor though, but he did like mah treehouse, mah rubber plants and mah slingshots! I probably best keep mah slingshot in mah saddlebag. Wouldn't wanna accidentally fling a rock an' break crystal critters, or crystal ponies fer that matter! So, whar's them crystal sheep at?"

After Haywire had asked her questions, the blonde blank flank filly notice Tripp Hardy, who seemed to be in a dilemma. She hadn't heard much of the filly's earlier conversation with Aquaria, but now Haywire noticed that she seemed distressed.

"Hay thar! Are ya alright?" the rust colored filly asked Tripp Hardy. "Don't mean ta pry, but if'n ya got some troubles, maybe I kin help ya out! Name's Haywire!"

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Aquaria listened closely to Derecho as he spoke, the lifeguard giggling as he mentioned sauna and wodka. While she was old enough to drink, the kitten wasn't familiar enough with alcohol to make a connection with wodka. It might not have been too obvious though as she immediately replied to the sauna. "Saunas? I went to one once and it was fun. I was wet and hot, it was weird," she giggled, the odd hybrid having a low threshold for what could be fun.

At the mention that her job was important too, she squirmed excitedly and placed a talon to her chin in thought. If I was in the military I would be great in the coast guard," she cheered with a giggle.

After being asked if she could leave, Aquaria poofed her cheeks defensively. "I get off in a little while, but a soldier never abandons her post without just cause. We can go have some fun when I get my zoo freedom," she replied in a semi serious manner while poofing up a little bit. When duty called, the jovial lifeguard could be serious, at least in short spurts.

When Tripp introduced herself by name, Aquaria clapped excitedly for her new friend. "I could always give you private lessons if your parents let you learn. Everypony should learn to swim, it is the best thing ever. But if you have to go, good luck buddy," she cheered with a giggle a bit sad to see her friend have to leave already. Making new friends was always bittersweet, but lucky for Aquaria, her bubbly personality dulled the pain of separation from her friends!

Aquaria gasped at the mention of shearing crystal sheep. She had no idea how any of that worked, but it never stopped her imagination from kicking into overdrive and making something up that sounded plausible. "You just need special crystal shears to remove crystal wool! Then crystal ponies crystal weave it into crystal clothes. Make sense," Aquaria explained confidently, her phrasing hiding the idea that she had no idea at all. She didn't answer the remarks about shattering, the bastion of positivity unable to imagine such a thing. I dated a few ponies in high school. Granted there weren't any griffons to hang out with. I'm okay with about anything really, as long as everyone loves each other," she cooed like a singing pony before forgetting the hug rule and squeezing the filly. "Ah, no hugs, sorry," she apologized in an upbeat giggle.

As soon as the filly mentioned that her mom was gone, Aquaria gasped as a mental cog spun in her head. "Rule four! Foals aren't allowed to leave unsupervised! Tripp I can help you find mom, just give me a second," she explained before notifying another pet handler that she had to leave with the child. "If a pony comes looking for Tripp, tell them to stand by until I return. Tripp will be back in approximately ten minutes! You ready to go look for mom Tripp," she asked warmly with a smile as she placed the filly on her black feathered neck. "We have ponies to find Haymaker, let's charge and blaze a trail," she cheered while rearing up on her hind legs playfully.

"Lead the way Tripp! Derecho, want to accompany me while I abandon my post with good reason," she cheered playfully, her positive attitude keeping her calm. Aquaria looked over to her suitor with a smile as she waited for her now lone rider to drive her along!

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Well, as opening moves went, it hadn't gone badly. He could tell that this little filly's interest was caught, and that his thoughts towards him were positive. Good, very good, but how to capitalize on that? She seemed smart; an intelligent observer, even if her view was bounded by two flaps of cardboard. Perhaps... perhaps as an extra pair of eyes.

Kahz grinned. The irony was almost too much for him; she was gabbling about augeries and vague meanings of clouds, and never questioning what was right in front of her. He tapped Orphic's book with his hoof. "The Map is not the Territory." He remembered that phrase from a scrap of philosophy he'd caught being declaimed from a box in Central Park, and it had impressed him greatly at the time. "Until you have read the world, and the hearts of those in it, it's footnotes will bring no enlightenment."

The life of this changeling seemed to be serendipitous; he ventures forth a cryptic answer, and a chance remark from a uniformed Stallion (what was that uniform anyway? He didn't recognize it from the descriptions given by the changelings present at the invasion) proved a support. He chimed in brightly, "Generally, I find that the best way to predict the future is to know the ponies that have to react to it."
Leaning in closely to the filly, he whispered, "And there are at least two here who... hide significant, and probably relevant, secrets, about what they really are. I will concede you to have the greater wisdom between us, if you can find out who they are." And with a wink, he trotted off. Now this was bold, considering that the secrets the two mares hid were the same as his own, but the filly would probably look at others as well as them, and probably not at himself, and what she could dig up would, presumably, double the value of his recon mission.

For now, he approached his next vantage point. Overhearing the conversations of adoring fans, he found out that the Pegasus stallion was a celebrity of some kind; a Wonderbolt, whatever that was. Athletic team name, perhaps? There were two griffons over by the petting zoo, with one consoling a foal separated from their parent. *Hm, so griffons and ponies can work together in such a way? And they work in each other's countries... hm, perhaps the queen's alliance with the Razorclaws will prove less valuable than assumed.*

All very interesting, but not the subject of his burning curiosity right now. Casually, as he had been going in their direction anyway, he approached Flux, wearing his best smile. "Well, hello! I don't know if you remember me; I think we met in Ponyville? You gave me a cookie, as I recall." He laughed, "My sweetooth has a better memory than the rest of me sometimes. Who's your friends?" He looked over Red, and settled his gaze upon Spring Breeze. "Do I... know you, from somewhere?"

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Sugar’s blush just deepened further with every word Soarin’ spoke, causing her to lift a hoof (covered by a golden shoe) to her face to rub her cheeks a little.

“You’re right, and I have this knack for blushing over the smallest things – sometimes even just speaking to somepony new makes a walking tomato out of me! It’s always worse before it gets better when somepony points it out, though,” she sighed and placed her hoof back down, very aware of how silly it must seem for a soldier to be so prone to red cheeks. She had accepted the truth of her own little quirks years ago, however, so her spirits were rarely dampened by them these days. Instead she took the opportunity of her own faults to make other people laugh!

“Hopefully nopony’s going to hold it against a lowly Specialist for blushing – our shiny golden armour is much more of a distraction than rosy cheeks will ever be!”

With that, she returned the older stallion’s wink with an impish glint in her eyes before turning her attentions back to little Swirly, sporting the hint of a smirk in her smile, “He’s a heroic champion of the skies to most pegasi, that’s for sure! Soarin’s part of a group of the best flyers Equestria has to offer, a group that most ponies with wings dream of joining at some point in their lives. The Wonderbolts are masters of the skies.”

The moment Sugar grew quiet another pony trickled into the conversation speaking the same kind of mysterious gobbledygook that the little crystal filly seemed so invested in. And try as the specialist might to follow the conversation, she felt her head spinning the more she tried to wrap her mind around what was being said. She was never really one for waxing philosophical at all, for though she loved reading, her books were straight to the point. Or had pictures – or lots of romance! This kind of talk was way beyond her, good little grunt soldier that she was. Only his mention of ponies with secrets caught her interest, if only because it made her slightly nervous that somepony might pry it out of her that she had a secret love of bows, sparkles, romance, and anything with the word “princess” attached.

When the odd stallion slipped away again Sugar giggled nervous and made to speak again but was interrupted by the delighted squeals of a type of pony she had seen more than once before: fanfillies. Wincing at the shrill screams of a particularly excited unicorn that was spinning about at the sight of Soarin’, Sugar flashed Swirly a wicked grin and gestured to the shrieking fanfilly.

“See that? And she’s not even a pegasus!” the specialist laughed, before addressing Soarin’ once more, “I take it you have very few quiet days in your life?”

All of Sugar Star’s thoughts of a comic book romance playing out between the gathered ponies had been kicked out the door of her mind. There was simply too much happening here to follow the tropes and possible plotlines to have that kind of fun – but it didn’t matter. This Crystal Faire and the ponies attending were that active and fascinating that Sugar was having a blast just rolling with it!

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Dusty scooped up her goggles just as her hooves touched the ground. She put them over her head so they hung comfortably around her neck and looked up at Soarin, who, sure enough, had noticed her. Sweet! Huh, he was even cuter than she thought up close... nope, she shook those thoughts away. Did she really have a chance with a Wonderbolt? Probably not.

But it got even better. Soarin' said that he had those exact same goggles when he was a colt. Who knew? Definitely something to brag about when she gets back to Manehattan. Dusty couldn't help but smile, trying her best not to grin too dumbly. Keeping her cool, that's what she had to do. Wouldn't want to mess up a chance with somepony like Soarin'.

"R-really? I got these a couple years ago. I used to have some cheap ones as a filly, but of course they broke.So I saved up and got these beauties. Pretty durable, I like them." she paused for a moment. "Come to think of it, you're right. I haven't seen this brand in the stores lately. Huh..." Dusty still couldn't believe she was actually talking to Soarin. Could this day get any better?

The mare then turned to the other ponies that were talking to him when she dropped in. Well, when she arrived, she saw a a flash of purple as one unicorn dashed away to join a friend. Now it was just another pegasus in an REA uniform. Dusty noticed her staring at her a bit oddly for a moment. She must have been thinking about something. Dusty only wondered what. But then she started praising about Soarin' to somepony else. He was pretty amazing, so Dusty couldn't help but chime in.

"Oh, Soarin' is a total champion in the air! I've seen him in a ton of shows in Manehat-"

Dusty was cut off at the high pitched sound of a squeal. A turquoise unicorn filly, not even a pegasus, had also noticed the Wonderbolt was here. Greeeat. Just what he probably needed, fangirls. She couldn't help but roll her eyes a little.

((OOC: Whoops, forgot to refresh before posting, editied a little.))

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"Hay thar! Are ya alright?" Just before Tripp could start to feel afraid of her own situation, somepony piped up right next to her. She looked over her shoulder at the blonde-maned speaker, at the moment having gone too blank to know whether to act tough or not. "Don't mean ta pry, but if'n ya got some troubles, maybe I kin help ya out! Name's Haywire!"

After a moment of spinning mental cogs, Tripp figured it might be relatively safe to her pride to give a name of her own. "I'm Tripp," she answered, feeling a little more composed at how cool and composed it came out just then. "Tripp Hardy. But you can just call me Tripp." Yep, now habit was picking up and that bored, tough tone was starting to affect how the rest of her felt. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. To get her confidence across, the little filly "absently" flicked her head to toss a puffy pigtail over her shoulder, satisfied when this time it didn't come back around to smack her cheek--normally that move was always coming right back to bite her in the flank.

"It's no big deal," she went on, gesturing broadly to the fruit stand and hoping the other filly wouldn't think it really was a big deal. "I thought my mom was right there, but I guess she moved while I was looking at the griffons. I just gotta go catch up to her, I'm sure she didn't get f--"

A gasp cut Tripp off, causing her to look back behind her into the fenced area. On second thought, maaaaaayyyybe it was the griffon she should have worried would make a big deal of things, according to Aquaria's shocked expression.

"Rule four! Foals aren't allowed to leave unsupervised! Tripp I can help you find mom, just give me a second,"

"What?" Hang on, she was sure she could handle this by herself! Surely mom would have noticed by now that she was gone, and would make it easier for Tripp to catch up! Right?? "Oh, no, really, I don't need hel--" Too late, Aquaria had just barely finished talking to some other grown-up and was now hoisting Tripp up onto her back. Honestly! On her BACK! As if Tripp was still a little baby foal that couldn't be left alone to try walking on her own! There were other ponies watching and everything, come on! Still...the griffoness wasn't really the kind of person Tripp felt okay with snarking at, and not just because she was a griffon. And it looked like the other filly might be tagging along too, maybe, so maybe the two of them could talk about other things to keep her mind off of how babied she felt in this current position. Tripp sighed and simply let herself be perched there, doing her best not to look or sound TOO resentful.

"You ready to go look for mom Tripp?"

"Yeah...okay. Well, last time I saw her she was over there, talking to the pony selling those crystal berry things." Tripp pointed to the cart again, leaning precariously around Aquaria's neck to do so and hoping not to fall off--riding a griffon, she had to admit it was kind of cool but also felt kind of weird. "And then I came over here, and I didn't see which way she went after."

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Flux seemed happy with 'Spring Breeze's introduction of her, though she seemed a little concerned that Red knew 'Spring's and now Flux's secret.

Red confirmed the notion, before offering assurances that it wouldn't be any kind of issue. 'Spring Breeze' thought his discretion could use some work, a well as his phrasing. She wrapped a limb around him, and leaned in. Blushing a little at what it implied about them, 'Spring Breeze' spoke quietly to him. “I'm not sure it's safe to be saying that while out in the open...”

Disentagling herself, she turned back to Flux. Seeing the mare a little distressed, she wanted to offer her own assurances. “Nothing to worry about, I wouldn't have told it to him if I didn't think he'd be responsible with the information. Though we should probably hold off the rest of this conversation until we're in private.” She gave a meaningful look to both of them, before smiling once again.

Red offered for Flux to join them in going to watch the jousts, but before the false unicorn had a chance to respond the earth pony that 'Spring Breeze' spotted earlier wandered over. Supposedly this was another friend of Flux's, and it was no surprise to learn that a cookie was involved.

"Do I... know you, from somewhere?"

At the stallion's statement caused 'Spring Breeze' to look at him more closely. His leg and movements vaguely reminded her of a changeling back in the hive, but she assumed that was coincidence and dismissed it. “Well I don't recognize you, but you said you were in Ponyville and that's where I've been living the past several months. Maybe you've seen me around there?” She shook her head slightly, thinking this probably wasn't the best way to make an introduction. She smiled and extended a hoof. “My name's Spring Breeze.” She looked to Red, thinking he didn't need her to speak for him.

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Between Spring and Red, Flux was sufficiently convinced that Red knowing what she was wasn't going to be a problem. She smiled again, nodding enthusiastically as Spring said to save the conversation for later. Then she began bouncing in place as Red offered her a place with them as they went to see the jousting. Before she could respond, some earth pony came over who apparently knew her, something about her giving him a cookie in Ponyville. She tilted her head at him, still bouncing, as she racked her brain for who the stallion was. She wasn't coming up with anything, though the crippled pony did look familiar, if only because of his leg.

"Hmm... I don't know... I feel like I remember you, but I can't really place it... Actually, you remind me of somepony who had a leg just like that one, only a different color... So! You already know me, who are you?" Flux said, smiling widely as she bounced. She may not remember this stallion, but she wanted to. She liked meeting new ponies. Actually... he reminded her of Kahz, that changeling from that little club she had visited over in the Changeling Kingdom.

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9DmcOs.jpgHaywire

"Pleased ta meetcha, Tripp!" Haywire neighed as Aquaria explained about the uniqueness of crystal sheep and their wool. The blonde filly was very pleased with the griffin's reaction to telling her about her older sister being with a griffin, and then the hug Aquaria gave with her apology.

"Hay ma'am, ya ain't gotta apologize fer huggin' me! I love ta be hugged an' I think it's really cool ta be hugged by a griffin! Wait till I tell mah big brother I made a new griffin friend!"

After hearing that Aquaria was going to assist Tripp in finding her mom, Haywire instantly and happily volunteered to join them.

"If'n yur lookin' fer yur mom, I'll gladly help too!" the blank flank filly shouted, "I'm real good at findin' things! Well, I'm kinda better at losin' stuff then findin' stuff, but I willin' ta try! That's what friends er fer, ain't it? I kin pet sheep later, findin' yur mom's more important! Do ya have a picture er can ya tell us what she looks like?"

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Red had been to more than enough fairs and festivals to know that it was often hard to hear the ponies you were standing with clearly, let alone any who spoke in hushed tones as he had to 'Spring' and Flux, so he had no problem with doing so. Nevertheless, he nodded his agreement to 'Spring Breeze' when she suggested that anything further be left until later. As long as there was understanding all around, there was no problem.

At least until the grey Earth Pony he had seen earlier came up and joined the conversation. It was a little disconcerting to him that this particular pony had virtually mentally tuned out Red's presence in order to talk to 'Spring' and Flux. Something about the way he carried himself didn't sit quite right, and it had nothing to do with the other Earth Pony's leg.

After 'Spring' introduced herself, trying to offer an explanation of why she seemed familiar to the other pony, Red himself also offered his hoof. "My name's Red Cedar," he added with a smile. "Pleased to meet you."

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Soarinbanner_zpse58630fe.png

Being a Wonderbolt, Soarin' was used to be a celebrity amongst the crowd. Always being on, always being the Wonderbolt, on and off duty it was part of the life. The only time you could ever be anything less than what they expected you to be was when you were home and even then it was hard to allow the life to rub off for a day here or there. It was easier to be the character and less the person because of it. He didn't have that same problem when he was on the Flight Fantastic in Las Pegasus. Yeah, he had to be the stallion with the plan and it was a city devoted to entertainment but in an odd way it was understood by locals that ponies like him needed the time to be normal. As a Wonderbolt, almost every interaction was guaranteed to be the one and only view a pony would have of him and of his team. So he was used to being the center of attention and used to this being the case no matter where he was.

It was no different now, and he had so many different ponies vying for his attention. Sugar Rush was an adorably easy to amuse mare who seemed to have her head on straight and her face turned up to certain hues. Tourmaline was thankfully not focused on himself as much as she was herself and that was a helpful distraction, but tossing a question her way once in a while to boost her ego nonetheless warmed the cockles of his heart. The filly with the overactive, headhunting goggles wasn't quite as taken back but maybe the familiarity of dropping something on his head eased the transition. She was fun. Oh, the trio of gaggling and giggling fillies that was only now making their way over led by a cutie patootie, they would be fun. Yeah, he wanted his privacy but he was a Wonderbolt and that was equal parts impossible and sinful. He'd play the part of Soarin' yet again without a hint of regret because for all intents and purposes that cheerfulness was more a part of him than any sense of privacy and quiet could ever be.

“Well, I would suggest before any pegasus tries to join the Wonderbolts they should first join a local team. Get those teamwork skills up to snuff so when we train you we don't have to make a diamond out of a...well...company not permitting,” Soarin' said knowingly, first to the crowd and then to Sugar. No cursing in front of fillies and colts! “But for you, I suggest you go ahead and get that blush under control, missy. I'm afraid that it would give you away in the sky. It's so bright you can see it for miles and so infectious you might be carrying something,” Soarin' said playfully before touching her forehead with his hoof before pulling it back in faux pain, then shaking, “ohhh, hot! Hot! Your blush is making you hot...probably on account of the sun or somesuch,” he ended with a laugh and a wink. With that wink stil in play he waved at the trio of incoming fillies and gave them a nice, firm wing-wave. They could join the festivities soon.

“That design of goggles is actually very important to Wonderbolt history, you know. General Flufflepuff and Commander Night Scream had this big debate about what sort of goggles the Wonderbolts should wear. Night Scream had this idea for a pair of goggles that could see through the night with a little bit of his magic stored in, and outside of that, could be fit with any sort of magical aid device. Pretty cool, right? Well, Flufflepuff's goggles seemed a lot less cool. Just a simple but durable pair. The Wonderbolts selected Night Scream's goggles. One day during training near the Everfree, a rogue storm came by and swallowed the teams whole, sending them to and fro. Those super special goggles broke one by one and in such a storm the Wonderbolts were helpless because they couldn't see! Helpless, save for Flufflepuff. She went from Wonderbolt to Wonderbolt, pulling them out of the storm. Her design stayed intact the whole time and thanks to her the Wonderbolts were saved. Those goggles are based off of that very design! Nowadays we use some higher magitek variations, but what you have there is the exact same sort of goggle that saved the Wonderbolts!” Soarin' told the goggle filly, excited to share a piece of lore. Which, speaking of saving stuff and fillies, brought him back to the too smart for her own good one. “And if it's a dragon, don't you worry. I've fought them before,” he added, leaving out the fact that he had been trapped and scared the whole time.

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Tourmaline listened with rapt attention as the oddly shaped stranger spoke more cryptic words.He couldn't be a normal pony. Tourmaline would not allow herself to even begin to doubt. There was no way this was just some adult carelessly stringing her along. This was someone otherworldly. A spirit taken earthly shape, sensing the knowledge of truth inside her and delivering portents of the things she must keep in mind. Was Tourmaline's mettle finally about to be tested? Was darkness to descend with her alone standing as the prospective heroine? It was a chilling--yet exciting thought.

"The Map is not the Territory"? Was that to say that reading her books alone could not prepare her for confronting the true mysteries? "Reading the world and the hearts"... it seemed a clear enough phrase but how was it realized. Was she still but grasping for a fleeting meaning when she was still blinded by the things apparent to her? His lines then changed to more direct advice, that the best way to predict the future was to know the ponies involved, but how could one truly know a pony when any one of them could have their own inner shadows?

His final words to her were utterly chilling. There were two amongst them who held secrets? Who were perhaps more than she could see? Clearly this pony himself had to be one, but which else? She looked immediately toward the unicorn she had bumped into, recaling the alien way her magic had felt. Was the other her despite her frivolous friend-making attitude? Or was it one of the others about? it couldn't be the pegasus stallion as evidently he was a public figure, could it? It seemed unlikely, but even those in the public eye could hold secrets. The pretty guardsmare perhaps, though she too seemed something of a fool for an adult. Perhaps one of the others, the children and the griffons populating the general area. Even Tourmaline herself was a possibility, she supposed. Perhaps there was something inside of her, a shadowy something she couldn't consciously recognize. She shuddered at the thought.

As the harbinger wandered off to speak to some pony else familiarly as if none of it had happened--the controlling spirit having perhaps departed an unconscious host--Tourmaline's mind raced at the thought of the shadows closing in. The more she thought on it, the more convince she was that she was right. It would not be long now. The chaos was coming. No one else realized it, but that didn't change the truth. She needed to be aware. She needed to keep it together. Only then could she solve these mysteries and unravel this bizarre prophecy.

Anxious for her thoughts, Tourmaline thrust her attention back toward the silly guardsmare and her attempts to converse with her. Maybe idle conversation with these ponies was the key to finding the truth of what the harbinger had laid out for her.

"So all he does is fly around for people's amusement? Is that truly so grand a profession to command such worship?" she said blankly. "I would say what you do is far more worthy of admiration, defending the land from the shadows that would besiege it."

At the gesture, her eyes went to the absurd creature shrieking shrilly in adoration of the pegasus stallion. it was a unicorn filly, a little older than Tourmaline was, but far less wise. There were ponies like this one in Tourmaline's school. She had no taste for them at all. Tourmaline gave a small laugh at the display before turning back toward the guard. "If this display is a regularity in his life, I can now only extend pity to him."

She kept an ear open listening to what the stallion said regardless, uninterested by most of the story. her ears did perk up at the mention of dragons, however. Perhaps there was more of note to the stallion than she had thought... though she remained not fully convinced.
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CKK4ndD.png

Purple smirked in amusement at Sunrise's antics, and gave a wink to Marzipan before she reached out with both forehooves to pull her besties in for a quiet huddle. "Oi dinnae tell ye 'cause Oi dinnae know! So ye fancy 'im, aye? Now, Oi've a plan fer ye. See 'ow he's standin' unner that decoration wi' th' crystal flowers. All ye hae tae do is hie on o'er an' tell him ye read those flowers are 'Love Blooms'"

Purple Haze free-associated quickly. "Tell 'im ye read there's some ancient tradition 'at ye gotta have a snog unner Love Blooms er it's bad luck!" Like Purple had ever actually read about ancient historical stuff, but it sounded like something you'd find around here. "We'll be rootin' fer ye back 'ere, tryin' some of th' nibbles at these stands!" She grinned at Marzipan. "Oi'm sure we kin get one ah th' crystal ponies t'cough up a recipe, aye?"

Silly Sunrise, all colt-crazy like that. You wouldn't catch Purple getting all silly and stupid over some -

Purple had never seen a gryphon before, and her train of thought was completely disrupted when she saw two of them over there, talking to each other. They were gorgeous! Like cats, but bigger, so lean and athletic, like every movement was coiled for motion. And the stallion! Or ... tom? He had this suave smirk on his beak, and his flank was so spotty! She felt her face growing heated. His claws and beak were so sharp, but his fur looked all shiny and soft. All dangerous and handsome, like a hero from a story! Though she'd never heard a story with a gryphon as a hero. They should be heroes in stories!

"Wow... those are gryphons, right? Oi nae seen one b'fore! Um. So, uh, nibbles!" She was already nibbling on the tip of her mane, her eyes caught on the exotic beings.
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