Unicorn watching [Open]

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It was another beautiful, perfect morning in the Crystal Empire. Only... Lazuli thought for a moment that there had been a strange flicker, a moment when the sky had muddied, and a dull, sickly dark had shone over everything. A wave of terror had swept over her like a bad nightmare, and she had cowered and shut her eyes like the little foal she was. But when she opened them again, all was back to ...normal? No, these lovely mornings were not yet 'normal' to her. All was love and light once more, then. Just a flicker.

The entire experience left her feeling grey and foggy and cold inside. Like there was something important... but she couldn't remember. With a sigh, Lazuli flopped down on a patch of grass and looked over the Piazza. She could see how beautiful it all was, but she couldn't feel it. The beauty and radiance had no power to move her, though she thought that it ought to. And that made her feel sad and frightened as well. Then she just wanted to forget everything and sleep! ...But she couldn't do that, either. She tried. Nothing ever goes right she thought, frustrated now as well.

Just then, something caught her eye. It was one of the outsiders, a unicorn, trotting past as they levitated some items around them to carry them along as they went. Lazuli watched intently, all her troubles put aside for the moment as she stared. The little foal didn't know how simple telekinetic magic was, to a unicorn. It seemed like a miracle to her. They could carry so many things! and lookit how pretty the magic aura was! The crystal foal propped up her head on her hooves to watch as long as she could, and when the unicorn turned out of sight, she looked for another one among the crowd.

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If there was thing in life that Flim could be secure in knowing, it was that he was not the heroic type. His brother and him were travelling salesponies, nonpareil of course. Dashing feats of heroism, solving ancient puzzles, exploring hidden caverns just weren’t their cup of tea. Instead, in arriving in the Crystal Empire, they decided to help in the only way that they could. What was that way? Why, providing a wide variety of Equestrian-made goods to the recently arrived to this millennium Crystal Ponies. Maps of the current world, history books, etc. etc. And of course, the Flim-Flam Bros. signature cider, produced on site by the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. All, of course, at everyday low prices.

Unfortunately, it seemed that in their current conditions the Crystal Ponies were not open to the idea of buying things. Their rather depressed state was of great discouragement to consumerism it seemed. After several hours of no sales at all, the brothers had decided to take a break and explore a bit to try and learn a bit more about the ponies. That way, once things had brightened up a bit, they knew what kind of goods to try and sell them. Maybe they’d even find someone interested in that rather elaborate crystal they had found back in Appleloosa during their last attempt to ‘bargain’ for some apples.

For now, though, Flim was content munching on some of the crystal berries that were growing on some of the bushes decorating the piazza. They were rather sweet and juicy, which was surprising for something named “crystal.” He was levitating a bunch of them around him, the shimmer of the berries reflecting his uniquely green aura.

”Hmm, it probably wouldn’t be too hard to make some drinks from this…” he said out loud to himself as he chewed,”And they’d probably be easy to store too. Crystalline form, pretty solid, most likely won’t rot quickly…”

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Lazuli was still at her unicorn-gazing when she heard movement and a voice close by. That in and of itself wouldn't have attracted her notice in her gloomy mood- there were lots of voices these days since Sombra was gone... And she was glad about that, much better cheerful noise than the sad silence, but... no matter how cheery and happy they sounded, she just couldn't care very much. Then she heard it. The sound of magic. Never a loud sound, something between a tinkle, a hum, and a buzz. Most ponies never noticed it, but Lazuli rarely missed it these days, the way you always catch a few bars of your favorite song when its popular.

Sitting up straight and looking around, she caught sight of the unicorn she was looking for. Actually, there was no way Lazuli could have missed him- he not only had a bunch of berries hanging in the air around him, but he was also dressed in the strangest clothes Lazuli had ever seen. They reminded her of... of something!  She couldn't think of it with the grey, foggy feeling on her. Something good, though, it would have been, if she could only think of it. Cautiously, quietly, Lazuli crept up on the unsuspecting salespony, gingerly placing one hoof at a time delicately before her, as though he might move off, or run away if he noticed her coming. He was talking to himself, something about the berries. How they might make a good drink, and probably keep a good while. It sounded terribly interesting!

Lazuli hesitated from her stealthy approach to study one of the suspended crystal berries, her nose almost-but not quite! touching the aura. It was beautiful, simply stunning. His aura was like... like limes and emeralds! She didn't dare disturb a single one, as though he would be able to feel it. Had Flim turned around at that moment, he might have been amused by the crystal foal's acrobatic (not to mention exaggerated and comical) attempts to dodge around the few berries so that she could get right up close to him.

He looked... clean her mind decided. But no, that wasn't the right word, all the ponies were clean, or at least they weren't running around raising little dust clouds or stinking up the empire. Maybe smooth was a better word, but no, that was like polished crystal or an ice-puddle, and he didn't look like that! Whatever it was, Lazuli liked the look of him. She gave a hopeful, tentative smile and took a little breath...

...And couldn't think of a thing to say.

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As he continued munching on the berries, Flim began to feel as if he was being watched. He didn’t pay too much mind to it, however, as all the ponies who came to the Empire had gotten looks from the locals. It was a little depressing at times, however. They just look so depressed and sad, for understandable reasons of course. That was frustrating for business, but if they were going to establish themselves here they were just going to have to deal with it. Maybe give out some free drinks to start with, made out of these crystal berries, and then start charging after that…

Was that a gasp of breath?

His mind freed from thinking about business, he finally noticed the foal that was staring at him and the berries with a smile. Huh, now that he thought about it, that was the only one he had seen so far.

”Well hello there sweetie, is there anything I can help you with?” he asked, smiling like any good, polite businessman would. Taking a glance at the last few berries he was levitating with him, he looked at the foal again.

”Would you like one my dear?”

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It was fortunate that Lazuli didn't have any money, and Flim was not trying to sell the berries he had just offered. Because if both of those situations had just occurred, Lazuli would have bought them, notwithstanding the fact that the bushes were loaded with berries she might have picked herself. Those berries had been touched by magic, and they were special. As it was, Lazuli accepted the offer with an enthusiastic nod and a brightening of color- though she was unaware of it.

"I... I like your magic, its beautiful!" the little filly managed to gasp out eventually, despite her shyness. Then, having managed so much, a few more questions tumbled out immediately afterward. "What does magic feel like? Why is yours green? Does... Does it tingle on your horn when you do it? How do you make it do what you want? Is it harder to pick up big heavy things than little things? I.." She stopped, a little embarrassed. She cowered a little, as though she was afraid she might have made him mad, and was about to run away.

"I... I hope I'm not being rude..." she added in a tiny thread of a voice, finding a last bit of courage from somewhere. "M-My Name is Lazuli. Lazuli Rose."

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Flim noticed the slight change in color that occurred as the filly ate the berry. Hmm, were these things good for brightening one’s coat? Glancing back at his own, he didn’t see any difference. Maybe it was only effective on Crystal Ponies or something? Well, they were crystal berries after all; it wouldn’t be surprising that they affected Crystal Ponies differently. He wondered rather quickly if they could be used to make a shampoo, but soon his wondering was interrupted by the filly’s compliment.

”Why thank you my dear. It..”

Before he could answer, a deluge of questions came his way. Even his quick tongue had trouble keeping up, and eventually he quit trying to answer and instead waited her out. Once she was done, he watched her cower and apologize for being rude. With his charming smile and pearly teeth, he shook his head and bent down to her level.

”It’s no trouble at all Lazuli my dear. Why, it’s quite natural for young fillies like yourself to be so inquisitive.”

He patted her on the head before standing up straight again, trying to figure out where to start on the questions. Since he wasn’t a scholar, he honestly couldn’t talk much about the deep mechanics of magic. His brother knew a little bit more, but at the end of the day they worked more on instinct and experience than theoretical knowledge. Still, if the filly wanted some answer, then he was going to give her some.

”Well then, where to start on magic. You see my dear filly, magic tends to come quite natural to unicorns, though very few tend to specialize in the field. Most, like my brother and I, have an instinctual knowledge of magic that helps with our special talents. Together, our magic helps us run our cider-making machine and other inventions, which we then try and sell to ponies all across Equestria.”

Well, that covered the basics, even if it didn’t really answer some of her questions.

”As for what you asked, a lot of that varies from unicorn to unicorn. My brother and I are more skilled at manipulating small things for our machines, so while we could pluck apples right off a tree, we really wouldn’t be able to lift the tree. As for how it feels, I, uhm…”

Shoot, just how could he describe it? Magic was such a natural part of him that he wasn’t really sure how it could be described to anypony else.

”I guess I do get a slight tingly feeling whenever I use it, but when you’ve gone your whole life with it you don’t really notice. Unless you’re doing something big, it almost feels like a natural extension of yourself, like your forelegs or wings for a pegasus. As for why my magic is green, well…we just liked the color so we change the aura just a bit to get it. Helps us stand out and all.”

That was the best he could really do, but he really hoped she didn’t ask for more because he quite frankly wasn’t sure he could do any better than that. He was a salespony, not a scholar dangit!

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”Well then, where to start on magic. You see my dear filly..."

One had to give the crystal filly credit. For as many questions as she could ask, she could also sit and listen to the answers, her attention focused on Flim, and only on Flim. She was surprised to learn that most unicorns didn't study magic in and of itself as a specialty. Lazuli was sure that, given the chance, she would have studied nothing but magic of all kinds. She listened to the brief explanation of how Flim (and his brother!) used their magic. A fleeting look of puzzlement crossed her face for a moment, but she tucked the question away for the moment. She'd ask when he was done.

Flim went on to explain that it did take more effort to lift large things than small ones. That magic was a little tingly. Lazuli was delighted. This unicorn must be the kindest, smartest, most generous unicorn in all of Equestria, and at that moment, Lazuli was sure that he knew everything in the world. Not only that, he didn't seem to mind talking to her, even though she was a boring old crystal pony with no magic at all. And if all that wasn't enough, He was also a really good talker! She would have tried to think up more questions, just so she could listen to him longer. Luckily, she already had one.

"Thank you so much! I hope you don't mind me bothering you," the crystal filly added, with an apologetic smile, "But what... what is Cider?"

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It seemed that his ability to captivate was still in full swing, at least amongst the Crystal Ponies. Which was quite wonderful considering his explanation of magic was barely past the level of what you would learn in magic kindergarten. Still, capturing an audience was capturing an audience, so he’d take what he could get. Of course the filly’s next question was going to be a little more difficult to respond to.

”What is cider you ask? Why it’s just one of the tastiest, satisfying, sweetest, tangiest, most increeeedible drinks that has ever been produced in Equestria.”

Like any good showpony, he had said all of that with the appropriate gestures and swinging of the forelegs. Of course after talking it up like that, he did seem to be required to actually introduce the drink to her. It was lucky for the filly that his brother and him had been able to purchase some stock of apples for the production of cider when they had last been in Appleloosa. Considering that had only been a few days ago, they were still fresh enough to be used for cider. Of course with Flam being off who knew where, the full use of the machine would be a little difficult. But it was possible for one of them to run it at a time…

”And, to help with introduction of the culinary wonders from Equestria into the Crystal Empire, why don’t I show how Flim-Flam Bros. world famous freshly-made cider is produced? Our machine is nearby, and while my brother is currently unavailable, I will be glad to make you a mug or two if you’d like.”

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For all the words Flim had used to describe it, he certainly had not painted any clear picture of what Cider actually was, other than being a sweet and tangy drink. Which was something. On the other hoof, to a filly who had never even seen an apple, perhaps his explanation was better than a dry, practical scientific one with less ...flavor.

One thing was for sure, however. Whatever it was, Lazuli wanted it! He made it sound Magical. He made it sound delicious. Like the kind of thing Royalty would drink. And when he offered to not only make her a mug of this... this liquid magic, but to show her how it was made, she was utterly speechless. But perhaps her brilliant, crystalline sheen and the light that seemed to radiate from within spoke much clearer than any words could have, anyway.

"Oh, Please!" Lazuli gasped at last, as though he'd offered her some priceless treasure as a gift. "I really want to try it! I really want to see!" If Flim had ever wondered what it was like to be the focus of somepony's pure, unadulterated adoration, he now knew. At that moment, She would follow him right out of the Crystal Empire into the Arctic North, if he was keen to lead her there!