Post by Mal on Apr 2, 2016 19:07:56 GMT -5
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Silent Dusk opened her eyes finding herself still on top of Distant and lifted herself up some. "Well at least we got some sleep in the end.. ohh sore.." then she nuzzled the stallion to see if he would awake as well. "Mmm right Yuna, flying lessons, are you awake big guy?"
Distant Lightning was not yet roused from slumber, the stallion out cold. He would not be easy to wake once he hit a deep sleep. He slept like a rock, and looked like a sock as he was flopped on his side, lying against one wing while the other was splayed out. His braids had been undone to sleep, so the claret curls were washed all out and about. Vest was discarded, with his monocle so he did not risk knocking it down. His wings fluttered a lot in his sleep.
Yunalesca lost track of the time, but when she lay dozing a little in bed it made her mind turn from what happened to wonder. Her thoughts tumbled from there, realizing what she'd meant to get done today before.. certain distractions came along. Oh. She lifted her head up from who she'd been using as a pillow and gently crawled out of bed to avoid waking him. She had flying lessons planned with Dusk today! The thestral had probably been waiting for her to show up, for all she knew. Yuna shook out her mane, straightening it again before she moved for the door- and to find Dusk. It seemed safe enough to assume, that if she wasn't up yet, to knock on Lightning's door; after all, her two companions seemed close.
Silent Dusk heard knocking and gently climbed off of Distant, giving herself a good shake, then flapped her wings followed by stretching her hindlegs with a wince. "Ow, worth it." then trotted to the door and opened it with a broad smile. "Yesss?" she'd inquire as she looked to see who it was.
Yunalesca felt relief to see Dusk answer the door, rather than Lightning, but she awkwardly scuffed a hoof against the floor. "Uh, hey. I hope I didn't wake you.. ? I kinda lost track of the time, and I just wanted to see if you were interested in those flying lessons now, or not." Yuna kept her eyes locked on the thestral's face; after the previous night's horror, she had no interest in looking inside.
Silent Dusk smiled more and nickered. "Oh no I just woke up, and Distant is still asleep so yes we can go outside and see if we can get some work out of those pretty wings of yours Yuna." she felt less apprehensive about it all but heh such was her nature.
Yunalesca shuffled her wings closer to her body, wondering if that was going to become a thing; everypony was complimenting her wings and she had no idea what to think about it. It was nice, but it would probably take her a while just to change her own opinion. Yuna grunted, clearing her throat and nodding. "Yeah alright, let's go." She managed, stepping back to give Dusk room and moving down the hall.
Silent Dusk trotted next to Yuna and nudged her. "Maybe you should hide your horn Yuna? or is it alright that everypony knows what you really are?" smiling warmly at her companion just wanting her secret safe if she wished it to be. "Oh and as a small favor for me teaching you flight answer me this, is he good?" oh cheeky little bat you just couldn't let it go could you? Had to tease the poor alicorn.
Yunalesca considered it, but shook her head and glanced over at her companion while they walked. "I had a talk with Tarnished yesterday about the whole alicorn thing, and I was going to try to not hide it so much. It's easier to hide my wings than my horn, anyway, but it doesn't matter." Yuna's eyes widened the moment she heard the next question, but she tried to hide any sign of being startled by it. "What are you talking about?" Faking confusion, turning away to the lobby so that they could make their way outside.
Silent Dusk gave the alicorn a bump and nickered. "You're no fun Yuna, besides we have good noses you know?" good bluff there bat, following the alicorn through the lobby and outside she cocked her head at her companion and asked. "Do you know anything at all about flying Yuna?"
Yunalesca stepped away from the bump and came to a halt once they were outside in the cold, keeping her face turned away from Dusk while she looked for a good spot to practice. Preferably a stretch of empty, snowy ground with no buildings to crash into. "I've no idea what you're talking about.. and I'm afraid I don't. I know flapping my wings is involved, but.." Yuna trailed off, shrugging.
Silent Dusk stopped badgering her and trotted towards an open area. "Yes but not just flapping, to remain aloft you need to bend your wings some with each flap to catch air under it and push you higher, what helps more is finding air currents, preferably warm so that you can glide and don't need to beat your wings so much."
Yunalesca followed after the thestral, listening closely to what she had to say so that she could keep mental notes. Or try to, anyway. "Sounds interesting." She commented, relaxing her wings just so she could give them a good stretch. "You'll have to show me, that seems to be the best way I've been learning anything with this stuff so far." There were no more questions about other things and for that Yuna was glad the topic had changed.
Silent Dusk gave a nod and pushed off, hovering above the ground as she showed Yuna how she curved her wings with each flap. "Now don't take this badly Yuna but I'll teach you how I teach foals from my village, so basics, also you are heavier than I am so you will spend more stamina in flight and will probably get tired fast in the beginning."
Yunalesca stepped back and observed the way Dusk's wings moved once she was airborne, following the way they curved. "That's alright. Just as long as you don't laugh at me or anything if I mess up," terribly was muttered and Yuna spread her wings. She made no move to take off yet, but she did give a few test flaps to see if she could mimic the thestral's way. It took some concentration, but she hoped she could pull it off once she attempted flying. Soon.
Silent Dusk flew around Yuna in a lazy circle mostly showing off how her muscles strained as she curved her wings. "Yuna another thing if you get tired you land immediately do you hear me? if you are stubborn about it I will stop the lessons immediately, and yes I say this because simply you are too heavy for me to carry, if you were to fall from great height, I can go and tell Gleam how I killed his ladyfriend, not fun no?"
Yunalesca stopped her practice to look up at Dusk as she circled overhead like a vulture. She stared. "L-Ladyfriend.. ?" The alicorn shook her head, deciding to let it pass before she ended up facehoofing. "Alright, I understand. Baby steps. Until I can handle it, I'll keep low to the ground okay?" Yuna promised her; she'd probably have to settle on hovering until her wings became stronger. She took a breath and decided then would be a good moment to try, bringing her wings down hard in an attempt to lift herself into the air.
Silent Dusk hovered next to Yuna keeping a sharp eye on her as she would naturally still try to catch her if she fell, but rather she would not have Yuna fall at all. "Yuna if you ever do fall try to spread your wings out to glide, and if you can't and know you'll go down the deep end, then dive head first it'll be over in an instant." morbid advice, yes but what if you fell and instead just shattered all your bones waiting to bleed out?
Yunalesca hadn't even made it off the ground with that attempt, just like in the nightmare. She harrumphed, ear flicking the thestral's way but not turning from her task. "That.. that sounds terrible." Yuna stated, a little aghast, glancing up. "I don't think I want to be frightened on my first lesson.. not about dying, anyway." She admitted, breathing in to calm herself. Yuna didn't care how long it took her to, but she was going to get airborne at some point today. She crouched, lifting her wings again, and jumped up at the same time she brought them down- this would work, right?
Silent Dusk flicked her ears back. "I'm sorry Yuna it's just.. I would not want to see any of my friends suffer." yes Yuna friends she say her crouch and shook her head. "Because you're a beginner try a small trot, then hop and try to catch the air under your wings, like this." she landed, then trotted a few steps, hopped and spread her wings flapping hard to gain altitude.
Yunalesca maybe managed a little better that time, but not by much. She still didn't make it into the air. She registered the word 'friends' with some surprise, but she shoved it to the side for now; to hear it was nice, but right now she was focused on something else. Yuna stilled long enough to watch Dusk demonstrate a different way of taking off. "Okay." She trod down the snow a little under her hooves before she took off at a trot, wings spread, and mimicked Dusk's motions.
Yunalesca brought her wings down hard and managed to gain some air, but she didn't let that distract her. She used the motions that Dusk had shown her to try to stay at a hover and curled her legs up closer to her body. It was how she'd seen some pegasi flying, even Dusk. "I.. I think I've got it!" Yuna exclaimed, though it was hard work; it was going to take some time.
Silent Dusk nodded and cheered clapping her hooves. "Yay go Yuna! now listen, keep hovering until your wings start to get sore then land alright?" it would give the alicorn's wings exercise and would toughen the never used muscles up, she smiled at the alicorn, then hovered close and nudged her cheek. "So proud."
Yunalesca kept her head down while she focused solely on her wings, but the nudge to her cheek made her wobble a little. "Thanks, yeah, I got it." She managed to say in a rush and hoped Dusk would move off. Whether or not she did, she continued to struggle with staying aloft; the unused muscles were starting to burn already. Yuna would wait until it became unbearable before she considered landing, however.
Silent Dusk flitted away and flew up high, then dove towards the ground turning into a screw dive followed by a loop before she hovered again smirking smugly. "Doing great there Yuna and I swear if you are ignoring what I said about getting tired earlier.."
Distant Lightning had taken the time to bathe and braid his hair properly. Using his wings and hooves in combination he was able to get that tight threading he had when they first met. His tail was last to be bound before placing on his vest, saddlebag and setting his monocle in place. Trotting out of the inn he would focus on his inventory. Looking over a small slip of parchment, he would be sure to remember to get more pencils. He gave pause, ears flicking over to the sound of familiar voices. He turned to face outside, noisy hooves scraping against the wooden ground. He poked his head outside, the small claw on his wings, and his wrists, tucking in front of his chest like a cloak.
Yunalesca felt Dusk's presence leave her and she was left to focus on the beating of her own wings, unobservant of the thestral showing off above. She could hear the sound of wings, but that was all. There her voice was again, warning her. "I'm not!" She huffed, "I mean, not ignoring you!" Her wings, however, were getting tired. The alicorn pushed herself as far as she could manage before she finally gave in. She unfolded her legs and lowered herself back onto the ground, breathing hard and holding out her wings. "Okay, there."
Silent Dusk landed next to her and nodded. "Not bad for a first try, was it very hard to keep focused? trust me one day it will become second nature to you." she then saw a familiar head poke out of the inn and she chuckled. "Hey look at that Yuna, I guess mine recovered first, darn you must have near killed yours.."
Distant Lightning narrowed his eyes, though he would always have a wee bit of a scowl. He turned his head away and mumbled something about stamina with a scoof, feeling quite threatened in that aspect. Stamina was what kept him in the air as long as he usually was traveling. He shook out his head, snorting at the thought of traveling -- all the way back home. Rolling his shoulder he trotted out with his head high, his usual noble aire about him. "Mares. I see the afternoon suits you." He greeted them with the list in his muzzle. he turned to tuck it back in his saddlebags, hind hoof assisting him. His wings were not often against his body, just hanging at his sides, relaxed. Flapping them out once he would settle his feathers and tuck them against his spine, his tail feathers folding as his braided tail twitched. "Still tutoring?" He wondered, not bothering to step off the raised step back into the inn.
Yunalesca left her wings loose when she looked up to Dusk, ear flicking. "It took most of my focus, yeah, but I'm sure it will. I'm going to see about practicing this every day until I'm strong enough to fly properly, I think." The alicorn talked on, trying to ignore Dusk's suggestive remarks as Lightning made himself known. She glanced his way, though her friend was given a confused look that said 'what are you talking about?' It wasn't any of Dusk's business in her opinion what they'd done and she was going to keep it that way. "Yeah, I guess."
Silent Dusk huffed playfully and returned a look that said 'I know what you did last summer... err night' then smiled and was in the air in no time, homing in on Distant Lightning like a bat out of tartarus, intending to hug him around his neck unless he sidestepped or such.
Distant Lightning stared at Yuna, looking rather disapproving. But it was just perhaps the stare produced from the way he held his monocle. Like a frightened chicken he would spread his wings when the predatory bat lunged him. The threatening display likely, did not flustered the bat. He tried to hold himself steady when she leapt onto him. He flushed, eyes turning down, making it seem as if was angry. He grunted and used his wings' wrists to manipulate the bat's wings to try and spread one. "Whatever she teaches you compensate for your wing size and weight." The bat was rather small. "I was thinking about going to the library now, but wished to..." he glanced away. "To request accompaniment." He lowly asked. He was uneasy in this foreign country.
Yunalesca was a little grumpy the way both of her companions had looked at her, but she was saved from Lightning's gaze by Dusk. "Alright." She struggled to fold her wings which felt weak from the workout she'd given them and wandered over, too. The library.. she wasn't very certain with herself about going, but she still wanted to help Gleam and Tarnished find a way to separate. It was the least she could do for them, when they'd promised to protect her. "Yeah, I'll go." After the library business was said and done, Yuna resolved to take a bath the next chance she got. "I'll probably have to go fetch a clean shawl from my cart. The other one's rather travel worn."
Silent Dusk nodded at Yuna while she clung to Distant a moment as he stretched her wing out, the soft leathery membrane looking a bit dusty and raw. "I'll come with you of course, I want to look up on a book myself while you do your research." smiling up at the stallion she nickered softly just to look cute.
Distant Lightning leaned a bit, as if trying to back up from Dusk, but merely shifted his weight. "I shall wait for your preparation. One should look their best, even for a stroll. It speaks highly of you." Though he did not think she was hiding her wings. They were quite lovely. He looked down at Dusk and nodded. "Quite. Research is a good exercise for the mind." He beamed proudly. "With knowledge one can defeat enemies before they .raise."
Yunalesca nodded to them both and ducked out to head down the street, following the moderately familiar path to where they'd left her cart. It wasn't too far away from the inn, at least, and it took her little time to unlock it with her magic. Digging through her things, she retrieved another shawl, black, and slung it over her shoulders. The cart was locked back and the alicorn returned at a trot, taking care to smooth the cloth over her wings. "Alright, let's go." Yuna might have been in a little bit of a rush, but it meant she could relax later.
Distant Lightning had seated himself, going through his saddlebag with his wing and hind hoof. The male was quite dexterous with the extra set of appendages, but it was to be expected when you handled books as often as him. The feathering by his claw was a bit undergrown, the wrist thumb dry. When she returned he flapped his wings vigorously before folding the loosened cape of feathers tightly. "Ah, quite." He was still a little uneasy with the mare. Her Alicorn origins aside, she seemed displeased with him on some level. "We simply need to gather some books, and I need to return the one I borrowed." But it it was the abode of a princess... as a foreign body. Yes bringing a native was always a good idea.
Distant Lightning would follow along the path he remembered toward the crystal palace. He wasn't too keen on entering and possibly disturbing an Alicorn Princess -- or dealing with one. At least Yuna was -- sort of social, well he was hardly even that. It was a towering palace, glittering with power. He padded toward the entrance. "Maybe...we should go back..." Yes that was a good idea.
Yunalesca leaned her head back a little to stare up at the palace- it looked like crystal, shaped much like a tree. It was an odd choice. "We came this far, haven't we? It would have been a waste of time to walk all this way, only to turn back." The alicorn had a point, even if she was feeling a little apprehensive about going inside. "Unless you really want to go back, then.." Yuna shrugged, pausing by the door with a hoof raised to knock.
Distant Lightning had promised to do research and ... he was a pony of his word. Puffing up his chest, wings fluffing a bit he moved to trot inside. Hos heavy hoofbeats only became that much louder, causing the peacock to spook. He folded his ears back and trotted forward. "You don't think anypony is here?" It was lunch time, certainly even a princess had to eat -- unless she was a pampered lazy bean sprout that had her meals brought to her.
Princess Sparkle let out a bit of a sigh as she wandered the empty halls. Everypony was out and had their own plans. Even Spike was gone for the day! Then again, it did give the purple alicorn a little time to herself to continue to try to puzzle out the peculiar 'plague' problem. She was passing by one of the doors to the castle foyer whenever she heard a voice... Who could it be? She ducked back and looked around the corner. From what she could see it was a... saddle arabian pony along with another mare. "Hello?" Perhaps these two were here to use the library and needed some help!
Yunalesca dropped her hoof when her companion simply strode in and followed after him before the door could shut- well, that solved that problem. "I don't know." She answered honestly enough, looking around at the sparse crystal halls. Kind of pretty on the inside.. Yuna jumped a little when a third and unfamiliar voice joined in. Spying its owner, she was a little in awe to be face to face with another alicorn- even if the princess didn't know it. ".. Uh.. Hey. Is there a library here?"
Distant Lightning's ears twitched as he looked around the glittering halls. Everything seemed to reflect, distort and make it look as if things were moving, when they were not. He had, before, been here for a moment and ghosted out. It was a big place and, frankly, terrifying. They were unfamiliar halls in an unknown place. they could be cursed with crazy, Alicorn magic! "Yes!" He suddenly chirped, hoof raising defensively as a third voice sprouted out from the crystal walls. By the sandseas why?! He stood tall with a scowl on his face. His saddlebags were heavy with research material and scowl poised toward the approaching mare in question.
Princess Sparkle looked towards the scowling pony with a hesitant frown. How... suspicious? Did she do something to upset him? And why did they seem so... off? Obviously she wasn't used to scowling ponies that weren't canterlot nobles.... in the words of a friend ~ was he a spy? "I-Is there anything in particular you are looking for? My assistant took a day to help one of our friends out." The alicorn was still somewhat hesitant to speak to the pair. ~ For some reason she felt like she was missing something important but for the life of her she didn't know what! "We have History? Magic? Magical Ailments? Political Studies? Science?"
Yunalesca flicked an ear back from the arabian's nervous response and tried to give the princess a smile, but it came off a little awkward and embarrassed. If Lightning actually wasn't going to do the talking.. "He came looking for some books and I think to return one.." She tried to prompt him to join in, "but, do you have anything on dream magic?" It seemed an odd request, considering, but it was the topic they'd brought up over breakfast. "Or anything around dreams and stuff."
Distant Lightning cleared his throat when Yuna spoke up, ears swiveling forward. It wasn't right to let a mare talk for him. he had to step him. He nodded his head. "Yes!" he said with more confidence. "I've a book here i borrowed yesterday, but I was actually looking for more. History, Magical studies, science, religion and indeed a very specific book involving the interpretation of dreams and effects they can have on the body." he spoke clearly, brightly, though the way he held his monocle kept him from smiling very widely.
Princess Sparkle turned to look at the 'unicorn' mare as she spoke and said that the stallion was looking for several books and to, of course, return one. She was fixing to reply whenever the stallion cleared his throat and finally seemed to find his voice. Oh! Was he perhaps... nervous or something? The purple alicorn gave the pegasus a friendly smile and turned. "Follow me!" The purple alicorn led them to the library and with a smile she directed them to several different sections. The books on dream magic took her a while to remember and were in one of the more far off corners. "These should have information on Dream Magic. Why are you looking up something like that?" curious alicorn was curious.
Yunalesca fell quiet and let Lightning speak- all he needed was a little nudge in the right direction. She started off after the princess at her bidding, trailing behind as they were soon shown to her library- large and orderly. "Oh, uh.." She tried to remember the details, and more specifically tried to formulate a good lie. "Curiosity, mainly. I forget the details.. Just to see how they effect ponies and how to deal with nightmares, all that stuff." Yuna said with a little wave of her hoof. "What he'd said."
Distant Lightning followed along, trying to keep up his bravado and charm. "My, what a lovely place this is. The structure is very unique, far different from the surrounding countryside." It stood out. Rather shallow. "Curiosity is what allows us to find answers. Curiosity is always enough reason to find nad learn something new." He explained. "Oh, pardon me, I am quite rude. My name is Distant Lightning, I am honored to make your acquaintance Miss..." He lead on, though he frankly could care less what the little Alicorn was called. She could be called Moondancer and he'd have about the same amount of respect for her now as he will later.
Princess Sparkle made a bit of a face as the 'unique'-ness of her castle was commented upon. "It is...okay." she'd begin with a bit of a hesitant look. "I miss my previous home. This is...far too big for two. But I suppose beggars can't be choosers. The tree of harmony created this castle and for that I am grateful." she pulled a few books from the shelves and set them for the ponies to look at. She had the tendency to go to small shops to see if she could get her hooves on any rare books! She glanced to the unicorn oddly when nightmares were mentioned. Didn't Princess Luna handle anything pertaining to nightmares? Why... The more she knew the more questions she had!
Yunalesca blocked out most of Lightning's rambling by habit, but she did pay attention to what the princess had to say. "Wow, really?" She was intrigued about how that happened, but they weren't here to grill her on such details. It was about books, information. Yuna wandered over when the other alicorn pulled down a few books and lifted one, opening up its pages to look for anything of interest. She'd introduce herself, too, but she was uncomfortable with the idea of giving away her name to one of the princesses. "I'll need your help, Distant, since I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for."
Distant Lightning was already prancing about, more than ready to cat cracking reading. His wing would brush over the books, the texture the tomes had was always quite unique. His tail feathers spread open a bit as his wings moved to reach out, a natural result of the movement of his wings. He had a full range of motion with the extra limbs, which were used to carrying his weight and than some. He was like a foal in a candy store, tapping about with a light air. "Tree of Harmony?" He had never heard of such a thing. "What is this?" His wing's digit curled over the book's spine and slid anything that looked interesting, out. Eventually the peacock had a number of heavy tomes tucked against his chest like a greedy foal.
Distant Lightning had nearly forgotten the reason for this trip and piled the books on a nearby table before peering over them. He raised a hoof, waving it a bit. "Yes, yes, pardon me." He grew a bit over excited, but there were so many titles he did not recognize. It was the the true spirit of a bookpony. Maybe he could stay here, if the small, purple Alicorn had other interesting information, like this Harmony Tree. "You should be able to find something under D, or any type of magic theory involving interpreting sleep." He had a few non-related books, but he would move toward S to find books relating to sleep. "Nightmares, Dreams go hoof in hoof, but is what's msot intriguing is the way they interact with magic." He say at the shelf staring, wing claw stroking along. "You see many pony cultures believe that dreams send them a message and they are used in many rituals."
Yunalesca decided to gather up the few books that the princess had brought down for them and when Distant was given her full attention- he had already gathered a small pile of books to peruse. That was quick. "There are a few here." She held up the books and moved over to where he looked to be setting down, finding her own spot at the table. Now.. the boring part was reading through all of them just to see if they said anything of interest; but whether or not they had anything that would help with Gleam's situation, she didn't know. It was pretty unique.
Distant Lightning was already sitting with two books open, going through them. His ears twitched as he seemed to be listening to the paces as he turned thim. His left hoof worked with one book while his right wing sat on the paces of another. He had a few parchments haphazardly rolled out, his quill being worked with his left wing. "While Equestrian is a difficult language..." he seemed to mutter between transcribing. "...your record keeping is incredible." he was quite impressed by the sequence they were written and ordered. Clearly dated and observer clearly marked. He seemed more energetic among the books than he had been since joining the party. The knowledge gain was incalculable. "Is this an original text."
Distant Lightning turned to the book's cover. "SO well taken care of, but it seems to hardly be read." It was a book on The Historical Accounts of Forest Herds. The other book was entitled: "Dreaming of Sheep." Strange title... "Miss Yuna I was wrong to have only come to borrow one book." As it was the History of Equestria's Dark Age. There were almost no clear accounts as to what happened, or when. It was mostly nonsense writing. He looked up to the disguised alicorn, his storm grey eyes a hue brighter in excitement. He seemed to want to say something but went back to reading and transcribing.
Yunalesca made herself comfortable and settled in to reading the first book, the one she'd opened. She heard Lightning muttering from his spot, but she had little to say on it as she scanned the text in front of her- she wasn't as much as a bibliophile as her pegasus ally apparently was. "Yeah?" Yuna responded idly upon hearing her name and put a toe down to mark her place so she could glance over at Lightning. He seemed excited and she waited, but he went back to his books. Shrugging, Yuna returned to her own. "Shouldn't hurt to borrow a few to take back with us to the inn."
Distant Lightning's ears pricked at her words. "May we?" One could only hope he didn't mean his current pile as it would take one ponies two trips, or two ponies one trip... "I am most relieved to hear Miss yuna say such things." He hummed softly and scribbled away, looking through them. He did not get completely through one book before moving two another two, simply scanning for words inf interest, key notes that would make the book worth continuing. As a researcher he did not simply read books in his free time, but too muddled about for information he may have no knowledge of. "I was beginning to think..." He shook his head and looked down. "Tis grand." He did not oft have company reading, it was different.
Yunalesca puzzled over his short question, he didn't have to ask her permission, just the permission of the books' keeper. "Well, yeah, if you want to." She said as she slowly flipped through the pages, deciding to scan passages rather than read them; that would take forever. "I'm sure I can keep Dusk busy so she's not constantly jumping on you." Flight lessons had been on her tongue but she held it back, knowing the other alicorn was possibly still in the room. "Think of what?"
Distant Lightning winced a bit, wings twitching. "My apologies. I perhaps should -- reprimand her?" That seemed a tad extreme though. he could hardly tell her no, let alone tell her no -- angrily. He looked down to the books again. "I did not think you would sit and read with me." It didn't seem like a big deal but it was something rather important and meaningful to him. A little oil lamp in the cold nights of the Academy's libraries -- Howling winds criss crossing the sandstone pillars. "I thought you were perhaps with anger toward me." he was a socially awkward penguin, and fumbled over his words, trying well to remain polite and courteous. Though not many looked to his actions as such. He got into disagreements often with his peers, enough to keep him from trying to make friends. Eventually he became a lone horse, in the desert, with no name. 'The flashy pony'.
Princess Sparkle was out looking through several other sections for anything that might pertain to dream magic or... nightmares, as the unicorn had mentioned. Anything about nightmares was perhaps an obscure branch of magic but she did have the habit of hunting down books on obscure magic! Whether in the canterlot archives, the crystal empire, or hole in the wall antique shops! Unfortunately in her search she'd come up with many-a-dud.... Like the cookbook... However after a while she managed to find a book that was rather promising! She returned back to the two and set the rather considerable tome down on the desk. "There is a rather lengthy section on the dream arts and nightmares in this book. I'm not sure how much of it will be useful though, as it was written by Moonstruck Nutmeg several centuries ago. This is a gemini re-print of his collective works." Of course she was unaware she was interrupting something.
Yunalesca shrugged. "It's entirely up to you, if she's bothering you too much. I guess if you need somepony else to tell her off, I will." She pulled her eyes away from her book after that, caught off guard by such questions. "Angry? No. I can recall a few times that you made me quite angry with you. Annoyed sometimes, but not angry." Yuna had considered whether or not she should admit the latter, but did so anyway. Her attention was drawn away once the princess came back with a particularly large book. "Oh.. uh, we can take a look and see. It might be helpful." She abandoned the book she'd been looking through, which didn't have anything even remotely interesting, and moved over to where the lavender mare stood to look.
Distant Lightning's ears folded back at her words. He lowered his head toward the book, but from his facial expression he looked vexed by her words. Frankly -- he was. Had he been causing so much trouble? He thought he was a charismatic sort. Perhaps it was his vestments. Color? He folded his wings back at the touch of self consciousness nipping at his tail pinions. When the mare returned holding claim to a book on dreams. He looked back, lowering his hooves from the table. "Truly?" He questioned, pushing to stand. His heavy hooffalls rumbled against the ground, his wings spreading out with a flap before flexing down to reach for the book. He had to set his feathers when ever he turned them to reach or pivot in these positions, lest risk snapping a stiff flight feather or pulling a tendon. "Would you kindly?" He queried. "Where did you find such a book?" He was hopeful it was the one they needed, but he couldn't be sure until he read it.
Princess Sparkle stepped back from the book and walked around the table to give the two ponies an opportunity to look at the book. Her horn once again lit up and the book opened. She flicked to the index and then hummed. "There are two chapters pertaining to nightmares and four more chapters on dream magic." She had no idea what they were looking for in a book but she really was going to try to be the best. She had always enjoyed being the librarian for golden oaks, this just gave her a chance to do something more 'normal'. "I don't really remember where I bought this particular book.... I ~ think it was from a pony who ran a small shop in manehattan."
Yunalesca moved back a little too for the arabian to take charge of looking through the book. He spent more time around them, and honestly he was probably a faster reader than she was. "It sounds interesting, regardless." Yuna put in, glancing up from the book for the alicorn princess. "Thanks. You've been pretty helpful since we came in." It felt only polite to say and the disguised lady peered around Lightning's wings, but she probably wouldn't be able to read anything in detail from there.
Distant Lightning seemed quite intrigued. He was surprised the Alicorn Princess was useful, though good things often came to an end. He mentally filed the city's name for later consideration. He felt Yuna shift close to him, causing him to instinctively tuck his wing in, seeing as she was not (currently) a threat. Though his left wing did continue to help his hooves handle the book after the alicorn opened it using her magic. Quite a -- flashy thing to do. But he remained calm and polite. "I am quite intrigued with nightmares, actually. I suffer from them often so learning more about them I hope to overcome them by learning more about them, but seeing as I know no magic to quell an uneasy spirit, do you perhaps also happen to carry books involving alchemical and medicinal solutions to insomnia and other sleeping sicknesses, such as nightmares." He chuckled. "A book on magic, while helping me to understand... will do nothing for me." He flexed his wing as if to physically display -- his inability to cast magic.
Princess Sparkle closed her eyes and looked to be in thought as she thought over the library inventory. "You might not be able to cast magic but your... friend might?" she asked only to hum and then nod. "I think I might have a few." she'd say as she turned and trotted off to go look for those books. Naught five minutes later she returned with a few more books. "Two zebra books on potions and alchemy and three books on medicinal draughts.... One medical grade." Of course alchemy wasn't the alicorn's strong suit so she was unsure if there was anything in these that helped.
Yunalesca listened idly while her companion spoke of nightmares, she wouldn't have guessed, but magic intrigued her. "I'm still.. learning magic, but I know somepony else who could." The lady commented, lifting her head as the princess made out of the room, and soon returned with other books to Lightning's request. He seemed to have this handled more than she did, when she had less of an idea about these things. She was mostly here to help Gleam- and probably the pegasus if he needed help carrying books, that was.
Distant Lightning did not glance away from the books, but when the alicorn princess left for a moment to search for the books the stallion spoke in a soft murmur. "Given that said companion is wearing a peculiar, cursed artifact, using magic on them would not be the wisest idea. As he has said he was a healer, not one excelling at artifices or the like. We must look at all points of view if we are looking to bring him peace, and not the sort that puts a pony into the ground." He hummed to cover his speaking, flipping through the pages with intrigue. "I must admit, though--" He spoke aloud this time. "I was not expecting so many unique and interesting books in a rural place such as this. Perhaps our literary host could humor this one with a trade? I've a book from my country, quite unique. Would you perhaps consider trading it for a book from these shelves?" He wondered.
Princess Sparkle couldn't help but smile some as she let the saddle arabian pony look over the books. "I.. don't see why we couldn't conduct some sort of trade! Bring the books you want to trade and we can see what sort of deal we can come up with." The lavender alicorn was always happy to be able to learn more! Books from saddle arabia were very hard to come across conventionally, many copies only occupying the shelves of the library in canterlot. And here was a saddle arabian pony offering to trade for some more! What if the books were unknown to Equestria as a whole! The librarian type alicorn made a sound that could possibly have been an excited 'squee'?
Distant Lightning nodded. "Yes, tomorrow than my literary kindred, I will borrow these books and look them over. In the morrow, when I have finished reading them, I shall bring you the book I brought from home. My time in Equestria is short, but I do hope these books bring me a little closer to your culture and traditions." He chuckled. Charming when he wanted to be, but it was the nature of the beast. He did love his books and was raised to speak and act with integrity. The know-it-all could be quite sharp! "I should bid you fare well, for I do not wish to intrude on luncheon hours any longer." He looked to Yuna. "Shall we be off madam?"
Princess Sparkle was forced out of her imaginings by the stallion saying his peace. The alicorn could only dip her head in reply and return the smile. "It is always fascinating to learn of other cultures!" the alicorn concurred only for her expression to fall just a little when it was said that the two should leave. A spell flashed over the books she assumed they were checking out and she smiled. "Make sure to have these back within a week of course." Then again if they weren't brought back they'd likely just be teleported back to the library with the recall spell. She glanced to the unicorn and then back at the pegasus. "I hope you find what you needed."
Yunalesca mostly sat back and listened in on the two very evident book nerds while they talked; she only ever read stories for fun, but she hadn't in a while and she wasn't one to say that. When Lightning made it clear their visit was over, she was a little glad- not out of any rude desire to get out of there, but it was part of the reason, but it meant a bath for her. "Sure." Yuna agreed, standing up and thought to lift some of the books offered to them in her magic. "Thank you for your help, princess." Yuna still didn't know her name, but oh well.
The End.