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spectrumancer said:
Don’t treat it like an emergency camp, treat it like a village-wide camping trip. Get some campfires set up, make some s’mores, sing some songs. Someone can probably hop over to Hoofington for supplies. It’ll keep spirits up, ease everyone’s stress, and let you all watch over one another. Have Moonflower present the idea, it’ll help her get some leadership experience.
Sensing the bat ponies’ reluctance to leave the cave, you turn to Moonflower, and ask her about her thoughts on the matter.
Moonflower: “Y’know, none o’ these ponies ever went outside before, except for me, Starbolt, and Rune Whisper. Even if it’s dangerous in here, they still think it’s way worse out there.”
Apple Basket: “I understand bein’ scared, but what’s so bad outside that they’d never leave?”
Moonflower: “I dunno! I never got into any trouble sneakin’ out. Maybe there was a time when it was real bad, and the fear just stuck. And even if it’s safer now, they’re not gonna believe it. Doesn’t matter how many times we tell ’em.”
As you think about the cold history between your tribes, an idea comes mind. You suggest relieving the tension by building a nice campsite for the villagers, rather than a simple makeshift refuge. If they enjoy themselves, they might forget about their fears.
Moonflower: “What’s a campsite about?”
Admittedly, you realize that you haven’t spent a single night outside of a comfy bed since the start of your adventure. You try to explain the basics of a camping trip to Moonflower, along with some of the activities that would typically go with it.
Apple Basket: “It’s like a vacation. Sometimes, not having everythin’ you’re used to havin’ is half the fun. You gotta improvise, try somethin’ different.”
Moonflower: “Ooh, I think I got’cha.”
You tell Moonflower that if she likes the idea, then she should be the one to propose it. The young Oracle takes a moment to think about it, then nods, and looks over to the small crowd.
Moonflower: “Everypony, listen! I got somethin’ to say…”
You pull the last pole’s rope until the wall fully unfolds, then hold until Apple Basket drives its peg into the ground. With another tent pitched, you wipe your brow, then move on to help with the next.
The moon has since risen, illuminating the grassy fields with its serene light. Moonflower flies above you, tying string lights from one tent’s roof to the next. It took some doing, but at long last, she managed to convince the bat ponies to venture out into the great unknown.
Soon, you all take a break to share an educational — and delicious — bounty from Sungrain Fields. With bellies warm and full, you get back to work, while a pair of well-equipped unicorns dives back inside the cavern to retrieve the villagers’ most prized possessions.
Slowly but surely, the encampment comes to life as locals and neighbours trade games, songs and stories around cozy campfires. For the first time in memory, the bat ponies of Starfalls Town truly begin to feel at ease under the sparkling night sky.
A few hours pass before most of the militia returns to Hoofington, leaving behind a few guards, and a small festive town. You let out a content sigh at a job well done, and check the time. Your pocket watch indicates ten o’clock.
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