The Vitality of Culture [open]

[erastusmeek]

Erastus Meek pulled the watering contraption across the fields as a group of zebra mares followed, pulling at the weeds. The grain was beginning to deepen in their green shades and Erastus grinned at their progress. It had taken years to get the crops this far along, but somehow he knew, if this one took, there would soon be crops just like it sprouting all across Neighroby, bringing a surplus of food to those who needed it desperately. The watering contraption had been an idea sent by a young pegasus missionary. Erastus had to remember to send a note thanking him for the blue prints. The waterers had proven invaluable as they sprayed good square hoofage without trampling the crops.

"The water-bearers!" Somepony cried. Erastus brought his cart to a stop, breathing heavily.

Being a Unicorn, he would always be more brains than brawn, but if he kept this up, he was bound to become at least a little close to as strong as an Earth Pony. The thought made him chuckle as he took a measured drink from the water being passed around.

A call erupted from behind him and Erastus recognized one of his Ponese students galloping towards him.

"Kijani! Kijani! A pony here to speak with you! Come!"

Kijani was what the natives called Erastus, which, he supposed, fit him quite well. It was short for meupe na kijani, "white and green," since there was no Zebraic word for teal. The natives were, of course, unfamiliar with such bright colors and nicknamed the missionaries after the color that was most prominent on their pelts.

"Very well, Mjumbe. Tell them I am coming."

Mjumbe galloped tirelessly back the way he came, leaving Erastus to unhitch himself and wonder who wanted an audience with him.

[Deleted]

It was a long journey and Kolor Scene had already begun regretting her decision once she had crossed into the Zebra territories. The temperature was hotter than normal here, and she wasn't used to it. Her usual thick hoodie was draped over her back to protect her from Celestia's sun's rays with the hood resting on top of her horn to create a sort of umbrella. Her normally shaggy hot pink and black mane was damp and heavy against her neck. Her striped body was vivid in color in contrast to the barren landscape. It was obvious as to why she always wore a hoodie before. Ponies normally poked fun at her zebra heritage and odd stripes, but now it was shown she had also performed quite and intricate design of tribal tattoo at the bottom of her stripes just around her girth area that would attract a bit more attention. Around these parts, she didn't really care.

Straps for a harness were secured around her neck and shoulders for her cart that held all of her life at the moment. She had originally moved from Canterlot to Ponyville in hopes for a new start and spent every bit she had on a house and a piece of property there. Before she could properly set up shop. Now her airbrush wagon was all that she had left and she was not about to leave it behind. She also wasn't about to return to Canterlot to face her unicorn mother who would like nothing more than to say "I told you so", as she always liked to say. Kolor really didn't have much options left to go to after Ponyville had gotten reduced to ruins from the stupid Diamond Mutts and their leaders. Her striped ears flattened against her head in anger at the thought of those annoying brutes. She wasn't about to go to any of the other places like Hoofington and Manehattan where there were too many guards around to properly set up a business. Nor was she about to go to the wild-west of Appaloosa where there was more Country music than she can handle.

So, she resorted to going back to her roots. She had grown up her whole life hating her father's side. A side she had never met. She was told by her mother that her father had left before her birth because he was selfish and too immature to give up his homesickness. After all of the years living with her mother and noticing how much of a bad-mouth she was, she couldn't help wonder if it was all a lie. Maybe her father had a good reason to return to the Zebra territories. Or perhaps, it was her mother who had left him.

She didn't even know quite where to start. She barely knew her father's name, let alone what he looks like. She just hoped that if she asked enough ponies.. or zebras, that one would have an idea of who had a pink unicorn wife at one point.

Her muscles grew tired from the walking, but she kept pushing forwards. She had pulled this cart for most years of her life, and knew she was no where near her limit. Her muscles were strong and hard, and her hooves were worn down and hardened nicely against the ground. It was obvious she was used to travelling a bit. She flipped her mane out of her eyes and squinted forward with her fuchsia eyes. There seemed to be some cottages up ahead with signs of life around. She pulled the cart towards the area and unbuckled her harness from her sweaty pelt. She tossed her hoodie on top of the cart and shook the sand off of her face.
"Man, I need a shower."

she thought to herself. she looked around and spotted a black and white striped pony. He looked younger than herself but she jumped forward.
"Hi! Excuse me, but could you tell me where..hey wait!"[/color] she said as the zebra looked at her excitedly and bounded off. She sighed and looked around, hoping that maybe she was in the right place.[/color][/size][/blockquote]

[erastusmeek]

Erastus trundled up to the village, trying to keep the unintentionally elusive zebra messenger in his sights. He needn't have bothered, however, the stranger's fuchsia hair was visible enough. Erastus' missed a step. Was this finally a contact from the evasive Coloured Tribe? He picked up his pace in spite of his sore muscles. Who knew what dialect they spoke? He paused to take a second look, no, that cart wasn't Native-made. Besides, now he got a closer look at the mare in front of him, she seemed completely unaccustomed to her surroundings.

Erastus approached, trying to look more business-like. "Welcome to Neighroby, Miss. It must have been a long journey." Not forgetting his manners, Erastus gestured to the cart. "Need any help?"

[Deleted]

Kolor took in her surroundings. It was a very barren area except for a cluster of shelters close together. She supposed it was a small village. She was surprised to see so many zebras in one area. This was going to be harder than she thought. Finally, something familiar caught her eye. A unicorn like herself was approaching her. He was white with teal colors in his mane and glasses around his eye. However, unlike herself, he didn't appear to have any zebra in him. She wondered what he was doing in a place such as this.

"Well it was a long journey, but I can deal."

she said, giving a little bit of a shrug. She was tired, but she knew her strength wasn't about to give up on her just yet. She noticed how he looked to her cart when asking if she needed any help. Yes, she must have looked a little silly travelling all of this distance with that thing and not exactly need it with her. She just didn't know where to put it where it would be in safe hooves. All she ever worked for was in that cart. And with the ongoing war.. no where was safe now.
"Actually, maybe you can help me."[/color] she smiled. She walked a bit closer to the group of clustering zebras and the unicorn.
"My name is Kolor Scene. I've been looking for my dad. I've never met him before, but I do know he is Zebra..I don't exactly know his name either...[/color] She lowered her striped turquoise head and sighed. She should have figured this was going to get confusing with not knowing any other descriptions.
"All I know about him was that he lived in a Zebra populated village. I mean, are you aware of anyone who had a unicorn wife at one point? Or had moved away? Anything?"[/color] she looked around, wondering if the locals even understood her. She had heard plenty of stories about this place, how some spoke only in riddles and rhymes, where others had a dialect all their own. The unicorn was obviously not from around here, but she knew he probably looked at her just like everyone else did.[/color][/size][/blockquote]

[erastusmeek]

Erastus didn't notice the crowd gathering until Kolor Scene looked behind him. A number of foals, speaking in their native dialect, rushed all at once towards the striped unicorn. Erastus grinned and motioned towards his own hut, speaking above all the commotion.

"Come inside and I will see what we can do. It is good to meet you, Kolor Scene. I am Erastus Meek, head of the missionary movement out here in Neighroby."

Erastus began helping Kolor out of her harness, motioning for some of the zebras to escort their guest to his hut. A half-zebra, eh? This would be interesting. Perhaps he would get his lead to the Coloured Tribe after all. It would simply take a bit more work was all.

[Deleted]

Kolor Scene followed the teal maned pony into one of the shelters, followed by some of the zebras. She didn't expect to ever see so many zebras ever in her life. She didn't even remember seeing one zebra. She wasn't sure if she had ever seen her father. When she got into the shelter, She looked around. Wooden masks were hung on the wall. They appeared to be hoof-carved and painted. There were designs painted with a style she was unfamiliar with, but could possible serve as inspiration. She walked over, vaguely aware of the others, and studied the artwork. It was stuff truly beyond what she'd be able to think up. She studied the different artifacts an objects that were so foreign to her, she was unable to figure out what they might be used for. She turned around and noticed that they were probably all staring at her in confusion. She blushed slightly and walked back over to them, realizing she was probably being quite rude.

"I'm sorry. It's just that.. I'm an artist, and I've never seen stuff like this before. It's truly awe-inspiring. she flipped her mane out of her eyes and approached Erastus.
"Missionary huh? So you're not from around here..

she said, wondering if he would be any help at all. There was a possibility that this unicorn wouldn't be any help to her at all.[/color][/size][/blockquote]