Around the world through laziness and boredom

      That night, the locomotive crossed quite a lot of territory - mountains of various heights, glades of different widths, and even the Hub - trading city in the very centre of Equestria. Sunshine was also lucky with the spot where she made up her mind - small woods, turning to the side.   There, where the railroad turned as well, the forest grew a lot more. However, the safe town probably should be looked for in a different place. The pathway split, seemingly confirming this thought - quite visible fork is seen, leading both into the forest and towards tall mountains.   Mountains, already familiar to the little pony. Those are the Dragon Peaks - the highest point in Equestria, if not in all the world. Long ago, before all the bans and taboos, scaly creatures spent a lot of time there, observing everything they could from a huge height. Since those two did not care about the ultimatum, maybe..?   — Sun?   Fantasies of possible meetings with dragons were suddenly interrupted by the chitin friend. He was probably concerned about her companion simply standing still, forgetting about everything in the world after the jump. After all, they were followed by the blue-haired stallion, with unknown motives in mind..   — Sun, wake up. - the bug touched Sunshine’s cheeks - We need-   — I know what we need! - suddenly, she snorted and grumbled.   — Why did you become so easily-raging?   — I’m not..! Silly!   It appears that the insect understood what this pony lacked. Every time, when he had emotional outbursts or was simply confused, he was hugged. Why would the changeling not do so first, then? And very tightly at that - just like how this little horse hugged others.   Intuition has not let down - all the bitterness vanished after a sincere hug. But the emotional swings still swirled around - a bit slowly, changing one set of emotions to another. Gambit was already going to curse the adornment in her mane, when the solar pony expressed her thoughts a bit earlier:   — I still doubt what we do and how we do it.   — There were doubts before, no?   — Not much, because of the flower. Now it actually protects me, not restricts. - pony made a short pause - I feel it. I won’t take it off - the plant can still be useful.   — I am near, and I can protect as well. Everything will be fine. - he continued to hug his friend - But we have to go further, stay hidden - if I am seen, there will be no surprise for our enemy. Will we go now?   Sunshine could not get angry or upset at her friend at all - especially after his calm and thorough explanation. Those chaotic squeaks, his vibrating voice and strange moves, seemingly became a synonym to safety and guarantee of calmness, that helped keep a big-eared horse in check.   — I need to rest. - winged mare shook her head - We need to rest! From this, all of this..!   — Think of Dalliant. How she was treated. Like an animal. All of them are a flock to others. Listen and obey every time, hoping for shelter. But in the end, real shepherd will eat them all.   — I don’t like this comparison. - the pony stayed on her wave - We still have a chance - I believe that it can be resolved peacefully! We have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst!   — Because of this, while we still have strength, we have to spend it usefully. You understand it all yourself. Sun, please.   She knew and realised, that all the critique and words of despair were simply a reaction to questionable deeds. There were so many unusual situations, that the plated bug even stopped joking, on the contrary to the first hours of their travel. He changed along with her, keeping near the most important thing - friendship.   — You’re right. Come now, get on my back, and we’ll go.   ..Or, not exactly - pony barely thought of it, when the playful insect only pretended that he is saddlebags, falling on her back without actually morphing. And how could one miss such a silly moment? One could not. And the couple rolled down on the grass, cheerfully laughing at each other.   — You’re si-illy! What were you saying just now?   — Hello, I am silly. Nice to meet you, Sunshine.         Friends had fun so hard, that they repeated their experience in the desert and completely lost the sense of time. They ran after each other, played hide and seek, and did many other things together. How easily and quickly did their heads clear up after a productive rest!   — This, for you! - the horse passed a wreath of flowers to the bug.   — Why? What is this? - he sincerely did not understand.   — You’ll look very adorable with it!   — Will it fit? - insect tried to put it through his head - Seems, like..   And he made crushing sounds, as if he broke something. Silly bug decided to jest as silly, and got hit on the head as a joke. However, it is certainly not a hint at stopping the foolery - actually, opposite of that - the company only continued to have fun, twice as hard.   — ..You know, I thought of something. - changeling spoke with great ease - If every hive does what mine does, maybe there is a friendly hive out there?   — A friendly hive? How do you mean?   — One that does not banish their own. One that lives as a family. One that tries to live with ponies.   Complexity of this idea was perceived very kindly and easily. There must be something like this out there! Nothing is impossible! Especially with such a relaxation - one could even lay down on the grass and look at the sky. Even now, at such a location and with light coming from the white Sun, especially bright stars and quite big celestial objects appeared in the sky.   — This bright thing, other than the Sun - is the Moon. ..No, not Moonrise. - literate pony pointed at the Earth’s only satellite - It’s a planet that is made of ice!   — Not liquid, I hope?   — Ga-amby! Stop it! Planet with “liquid ice” is ours. We have a lot of water!   — And what is that? - whiskered insect pointed at something bright and different - That, there.   And there, was something that Sunshine could not see clearly to make conclusions. Even though it looks like a star, it is quite small for one. Not to mention its rotations, not far from the main celestial luminary, and the planet itself. There is still so much unexplored in this world, but there are already means to uncover all these secrets. If only those means were near..   — I don’t know.. We need a telescope! So much can be seen with its help! Lemon, and Pinkie, and..! When we get home, we will- - pony suddenly fell silent.   — ..Will we? Have we not run away all this time? Are we not running away now?   — It’s different! We.. I mean me, actually ran away. From problems as well. But now, now we are trying to hide - and win some time - to return properly.   — We already lost this time. But it was worth it. - the bug pulled towards the little pony, warming up from her fur - We did not have any time to spend together. Not at home, not at will. We are doing the righ-         All of a sudden, the insect got back up on his legs and furiously hissed at nothingness. His antennas did sense something, but not him, nor Sunshine, could understand completely what tried to interfere and cause problems - trees and grass still trailed around. Yet above them..   Above, behind several trees, sat a very real giant spider. He clinged to the branches and weaved a cobweb on his free legs. Seems like this insect observed the prey for a long time, since it somehow managed to get so close to the adventurers. This haired beast blended in nicely with the bark - only the loud moves revealed him to the bug.   Before the giant insect could jump at friends, Gambit pushed the little pony in time and rolled away on the other side. Not only did the big spider lose his moment and a web trap - he now stood on the surface. Though, despite the expectations, the giant insect simply stared at the whiskered bug. As if nothing happened.   — It’s a frightener! - Sunshine ran to the shapeshifter - Just look at him and walk back!   White changeling followed his friend’s instructions, before he backed enough to a safe distance. All this time, while someone kept eye contact with this creature, it has not tried to get close. And only after the red-eyed mare got up in the sky, the many-eyed beast tried to reach his food. But he could not.         Pegasus flew towards the dragon mountains, not stopping for a second. This eight-legged monster continued to run after her without a stop either. The flight exhausted the winged mare all the time, but now it seemingly tested her body - not only because of the saddlebags, but due to lack of sleep. And the pony kept on!   Until her head started spinning. One could certainly stop and take a bite, but the spider still followed the tired horse. Together, they overcame few tens of kilometres, and a sight of another forest did not scare the frightener at all. But it inspired the sunny mare.   Since chopped wood was visible among the trees. Barely, but still - someone certainly lived there! Need to fly a little longer, and the help will be there! However, tiredness reminded of itself perhaps too well - the walls could be imagined, and the wings even slowly stopped moving.   Orange horse landed near the border of another grove, rolling head over hooves in its direction. Exhausted pony could not even stand up - her legs simply did not listen to her - they were not even felt by her. But it is too early to surrender - white bug managed to face the hungry insect. Except, that advice with staring did not work anymore.         The spider could not catch the agile bug, and he, seemingly knowing where to strike, skillfully dealt with the big one. Huge long legs slowly but steadily separated and fell onto the ground. And even though the fluffy insect had less chances now, he continued to throw the heavy and smooth insect off of him. As if the beast was not bothered by the absence of its legs at all.   At least, until someone sounded the alarm, from the forest’s side. Someone was indeed there, nobody imagined anything! But who was it? If only not the bandits.. Brigands do not hiss, do they? Roans would not try to fight a huge beast for someone they do not know, would they? Alas, but Sunshine could not see her saviours - eyes closed by themselves.         They opened only after she managed to get somewhat of a rest - only after a few days. The bug near her dwelt in joy, not doubting his friend at all - after all, she likes to sleep a lot, sleeping through many things. Sincere laugh and further hugging barely woke the long-eared pony up.   — Knew it! Told you! - fanged insect pulled the mare off her bed - Desert did not get her, and the frightener would not!   Seems like the eyesight deceived the red-eyed pony - common stallions stood near some hooved beings with scales. All of them looked at her and the changeling, and nobody disgusted - more like the opposite - everyone openly rejoiced. Except some unusual scaly creatures, hiding their emotions.   — Where are we? Who are you? - tired horse pointed at other fanged beings - And especially you?   — Barely caem back, and already askin’ questions. - one of the stallions jokingly gruntled.   — This is good. - claimed one strange four-legged creature.   — This is interesting. - another, similar to the first one, continued after his brethren.   Maybe, they did not deceive. All of them thought nothing bad about the shapeshifter’s presence. Even more so - the villagers probably co-existed in peace with those lizards, similar to ponies in anatomy. Eyes like the dragons have, skin as well. Only the body is equestrian.   — We are liz’zlings. - snake-like pony continued to talk.   — We are not enemies. - clarified the second one.   — They're a strange bunch, but they don’t make no trouble. - explained the nearest stallion - Not like the changelings. But yer friend’s probly decent, lawful - let it be that way.   — ..Wait, but why..?   Solar pony could not manage to tie two words together, not to mention picking the right ones. She could use some more sleep, some water and food. Even better all at once and at this instant. Aroma behind the crowd and doorway intoxicated, even - friends surely remained in a tavern, at a rush hour.   — Why we don’ shoo away the pony-likes? Or ‘y we helped ye? - one of the saviours tried to understand.   — Probly all at the saem tiem. - guessed another lumberer - Me father always said - if it looks dangerous, it may not be so. Liz’zlings help us from tiem to tiem, nay interfere. But the buglings..   — We don’ trust the changelings. Trust only them who don’ hide their motives, don’ hide beneath other skin. ‘Tis got justified in the end! Gambit seems to be alright - helped us fo’ past days a lot.   — And so, how can we not help ye? We don’ leave our kind, and our kind is every upstanding and decent being.   The plot thickens. Little known settlement in the middle of the woods, near a historical point, and strange creatures never seen by the world live with them. They reminded the little pony of shapeshifters, but could they be them? Visually - no, but similarities in everything else strike in, like nothing else in the world.   If the bugs simply squeak with their bodies and make strange nature sounds, then those skinny creatures wail like dragons, like the ones described in books - one moment quiet, then it is loud. Both races did not know about personal space, got their noses close to everything. And their manner of speech is worth it all alone!   — Why don’t you trust them?   — How can one trust an evil bodystealer? Changelings’ one thing, succublings are ‘nother story! They’ll stick to ye and bring no one knows what..   — Trouble. They always bring trouble! Death! ‘Tis white one is not like them - ‘s a good one - workd with us. No need for tools - he’s like a tool himself!         Somehow, that does not sound right. This hamlet certainly has a problem - a story about vulgar insects and distrust towards them did not appear from nothing. Just as their obscene similarities with liz’zlings. Equestria is undoubtedly big, but it does not have anything even close to this species, anywhere. Except, again, changelings. Someone is pulling someone’s legs.   — Can I speak to your chief? - pony addressed one of the natives - Or someone at all. Alone, without extra ears, without liz’z-   — Why? - suddenly, one of the snake-like creatures interrupted the little mare.   — We are nice. We want to be around. - the second one quickly got the thought.   — We want to listen. - thick-skinned being talked again - We like you.   However, despite what the insisting folk wanted, stallions led the curious lizards away from the room. It appeared to be problematic, but the room emptied in the end. In a few moments, travellers were joined by an aged earth pony, inspiring trust with only his appearance.   Bearded horse sat near adventurers, without any hesitation or annoyance. If only all the Equestria was like him - kind, harmless by the looks and trimmed; tidy. Despite the absence of usual civilization, the stallion knew about manners, albeit he had some villagery habits.   — Me name’s Goodwill, if anythin’. - stallion deeply bowed with his head - Well, Sun, nice to meet you!   — Nice to meet you too! - pony nodded as a sign of greeting - Where did those liz’zlings come from anyway? Lived my whole life and never saw anything like it!   — They’re here for all we can remember. Help us the moment we got here - scared all of them spiders, searched for food with us, so many things we done together!   — It’s just.. They really look like changelings, in so many ways! What if they are?         Earth pony strongly tensed up after only this bold statement. He sort of believed her words, and sort of not exactly. Truly, one needs proof - at least something that confirms the little pony’s words. Snowwhite bug was an insect, but he did not behave like them. Or did he?   Even now, he simply hugged his friend very tightly, and rubbed his chitin on her fur, forgetting about any sort of personal space. Of course, the solar pony did not object at all, but it is a sign already. What about the liz’zling behaviour? Surely they are different?   — Sometimes they behave like this. Few times a few days, they do. But they’re different!   — Gamby’s different too! And they are alike together! Maybe they hide themselves?   — I would appear as a dragon in their places, or something similar. - added the lilac insectoid - Nothing new to come up with. Dragon Peaks.   — By the way, about coming up with stuff! Who first started talking about.. succublings? Sounds like borrowed from a tale..   The stallion seriously thought about it all. Very noticeable, how all the doubts displaced all the peace of mind. If that is true, then they were tricked for many years, if not tens of years! For too long the naivety and kindness of native folk was used, for them to react to truth adequately..   — I’ll show them..! - tricked horse looked at his axe.   — Wait! You are upstanding and fair, aren’t you? - begged the long-eared pony - Try to talk with them! You talked to us, after all, and you helped us! And you didn’t care that you lent a hoof to a whiskered insect!   — Insist. - the shapeshifter also tried to help - Show that they have nothing to fear. Like with me - with Sunshine. Hug them. They cannot draw emotions from their own kind; I did not feel anything from them all this time.   Earth pony wanted to listen to the saved pair, but a loud voice of doubt screamed inside him. With new suggestions and proposals, it steadily quietened, before the familiar trust got back and grabbed the inspired thought. After all, they always did what those two proposed. Except for one case.   — You can stay for as long as ye need. I’ll tell the others - they’ll ‘member this.         Gratitude did not take long to make itself known - friends could feast on the house! While the starved mare stuffed herself with deliciousness and quickly gathered strength, lumberers and other labourers discussed something together. Not even ten minutes had passed, as they befriended the fanged creatures again.   Still, quite fascinating, how this village differed from the rest. Probably the only one, where nobody sweared and argued, where everyone lived together and in peace. This hamlet is certainly far from the world; such a disgusting influence was not much on it, but was it all enough for such hospitality and friendship?         Seems like it was not. Soon, a deafening wail was heard somewhere from the street. Everyone ran outside to prove their guesses, and Sunshine did not stay behind either. A real white and sky-blue dragon flew above the forest! The mountains, where this giant lizard headed towards, lived up to their name after all.   Pony rushed into the passage through the peaks with her friend. Caves, that connected the surrounded highground with the whole world, were barely covered with sunlight. But the darkness did not stop the friends from going up - light at the end of the tunnel seemingly hinted at an absence of hinderings ahead.   However, that light appeared to be actual snow, that hardly reflected anything. That is why the cave was cold and dark! Travellers did not even notice at first, how they managed to get to the very tops - the tunnel hardly got up with every metre. But they, were noticed immediately.         And to see the real dragon - was not that hard either - white creature somehow stood out from the white snow. The beast clearly waited for someone, looking at the cave entrance from the start, but it probably did not expect such small creatures to remain calm, not scared of it at all.   Unpierceable scales, countless teeth and freezing exhales, would totally stun those who were not scared of the draconid sizes - not counting the wings, the ice lizard could be compared to at least a tavern, where the changeling and the pegasus rested a while ago.   — Come, if you are not frightened.   It is a female! Could not be otherwise - loud, unusual voice with a special timbre; also giving away positive vibes. Adventurers went forward without any doubts, slowly walking through tall snow. Though, it appeared that the dragon could simply move her head closer to the conversation, for it to start properly.   — You sure are not from these lands. - sharp eyes went back and forth - Do you know, what qualities the dragons stand out with the most?   — Longevity! - winged pony was happy to be questioned - A-and knowledge!   — True. You can ask me any question you want, but only one. Think it through, take your time.   What a generosity! Any secret of the world, any mystery, anything can be uncovered and explained! However, this one and only question should not be wasted. Friends had hundreds if not thousands of dilemmas spinning in their heads. Still, the choice was not hard at all.   The changeling gave way to his friend - she obviously knew more stuff than him. Her question would totally give more food for thought, and she could explain the rest to the bug in time. And the mare had not thought for long, before continuing the conversation:   — How are you doing?         The knowing being confused, completely not knowing how to react. For some reason, that situation seemed familiar to the changeling, emotionally - surprise, uncertainty; hope glancing through a little. Without hesitation, Gambit tried to hug the big creature’s claw.   Thick-skinned dragon could not hold her emotions at the sight of such sensitivity. Further hugs from the orange horse even made the beast shake her head - she could not hold her feelings and tears before the smaller and lesser, but no less smart creatures.   — I have waited for this for so long.. - ice dragon covered her face with the second claw out of shame - So many years, so much time, and nobody tried to talk with me just like that, without a reason! Even below, in Hoofgrad, after many talks and teachings, I did not receive anything closer in return. I never asked for anything, but you..! Where are you from?         The dragon by the name of Sneuwitje could not answer Sunshine’s question with plain words. In the end, the smart creature told a lot more than she promised to. Unending curiosity came from all of them - finally, almost anything could be discussed!   Of course, the horse was still interested in only one dragon - in her interlocutor. And that dragon told both her story, and the world history, as not many remember it. Sneuwitje was one of the first ones who saw the light, and her life is truly a long one - four hundred and some years.   All this time, she flew and observed many other creatures - small critters, first non-talking hooved beings.. Big-winged dragon lived through many local conflicts and big wars between the others. And ultimatums from pony-likes touched her deeply every time she remembered about little ones’ silliness.   — ..Since then, I spend most of my time in Zebrica, or Eldervale. Only once in a generation do I return here - once in twenty years. You can live far longer - some could reach even fifty, but you constantly fight and kill each other. Why?   — We can’t always reach an agreement. You are not that many, and ponies have the same numbers in some hamlet alone! But I believe that it’s still possible!   — That is right. Sizes and counts do not matter. It is enough to simply give in a little, and even the dragon could agree with a bug! - Sneuwitje paid attention to another white being - ..I meant nothing offensive, of course. Simply could not find the right words. Oh, you are so miraculous; like words! Every one of them means something, and the languages-!   — By the way! - the mare interrupted the scaly creature, who obviously got carried away - Isn’t that place called Everdale?   Everdale, Eldervale - what is the difference? The title changed a little, but that valley is not getting any younger by that. Though, the name that the dragons gave it almost disappeared - probably another of Celestia’s shenanigans. But what a miraculous place it is - the presence of the only surface vulcan says a lot.   — ..So many wonderful beings appeared there, of all time! They could be asked about from other draconids. But you? We cannot study you because of Celestia. Islands of Joy are also beautiful, but you..!   — But we don’t hold any grudges against you!   — I know. Appearance of alicorns became a tragedy for all of us. For obscure for us reasons, they declared us enemies and isolated the whole world. It is true - even a couple of elder creatures is enough to pillage and destroy a whole nation, but why? Even with all the taboos, if one wants to, one will do evil. We do not wish to do so. We want to remember, to explore..         Seems like all dragons are deeply tied to emotions. They affect the mind the most, it is hard to control them, after all. And what if the thick-skinned beast will get attached to someone, like Sneuwitje and others bonded with ponies? No laws and pacts could stop them. Even though the agreements are above everything for such beings.   Why pay someone who wants to save the world as it is, with simple gold and silver? Helping them with something, though, is another story. For example, crossing to another continent, in an exchange for what the first creature would not do for some reason. Conscience, for instance?   First thing that comes to mind is food - extermination of any population is inevitable to feed oneselves. But nobody would say if one takes this meat from someone else. And the council, where those dragons decided to not touch the planet? A favour can cost a lot in such moments.   — ..Yes, we also need to eat. But we take so little! We want to save the world as it is.   — And what about Discord? - curious pony could not understand the contradictions - He doesn’t listen to anyone!   — Do not say his name! He is a dragon, but he is not one of us. - ice creature immediately angered - He broke the pact! He is not listening to other opinions! He-   — He created us! And you spend time with our kind! - the mare screamed in response - He didn’t do anything bad to anyone! Not directly, not some other way! He learns practically, while you simply look around - he collects knowledge another way! He teaches us, like you - like all of you..!   — ..Go away! I wish to unsee you! - the dragon hid her face with her wing - We are not like that!   — You act as if you know everything, but he will still know more! - the pony went towards the passage.         Even for such a smart creature, the word of truth burned the consciousness and conscience. How could one resist before such cute, small and silly beings? How could they not be guided, how could one not tell the horses something that can change their life for the better? It still goes its own way, even with an intellect made by someone else.   Before the friends had to leave the Dragon Peaks, Sneuwitje brought the bug closer to her and whispered something into his ear. Whiskered bug was happy and confused - there it is, a continuation of this contradictory that Sunshine spoke of! Did the knowing creature attach to the unusual insect? Was it because he did not judge her outloud, only surprised her?