Ask Sunskip and Lucky!

Sunskip: I have to say, I was surprised when I woke up this morning to find this beauty at my front door. Seriously, have you seen this thing? Er, I know you have, because you built it… heh. But wow! It’s nothing short of amazing— an engineering masterpiece! Not that I know anything about engineering. I’m just saying, I love it!

Well, I like looking at it, that is… walking is, at best, an awkward hobble. Then again, it’s been that way since the accident. Maybe I just need more time with it. It’s so difficult getting used to life with four hooves again. I… I panic sometimes; I worry that something might happen that would cause me to lose everything, again. In all honesty, I’ll probably try to avoid walking with it at all costs. But, whenever I get the chance, I’ll put it on. I can’t let your hard work go to waste, so I at least need to try.

I’m sending you some more infinity lotuses that I gathered the other day; I hope they might help in any other engineering goals you may have. I’ll also be sending you something else… er, yeah, it’s another plant. It may not help your career in any way, but it does have some symbolism attached to it. It’s a species of amaranth; it grows well while potted, it’s low maintenance, and its cymes are the deepest purple you’ve ever seen. Where I’m from, the giving of this plant is a sign of friendship. It’s growth is meant to represent the strengthening of a bond between two close friends. The reason why it’s so special though is because it only grows in a specific glade within the Whitetail Woods; they’re extremely rare, to say the least. So uh, take care of it! I hope you do… all it requires is water and plenty of sunshine. I know, I know, maybe plants aren’t your thing. But if you care for the amaranth as you do your friends, only good can come of it.

Thank you for your continued kindness, Grease Feather. Hope to talk to you again soon!

Sunskip: You… you would do that? I honestly don’t know how to respond. Sure, I’d love to go back to a time when I didn’t have to balance check every step. But… well, it’s not that simple. I’ve grown so used to a life plagued with disability that it’s difficult for me to imagine life as a, shall I say it, normal pony. It just wouldn’t feel… natural. I guess that’s what I’m trying to say. A prosthetic would help, but it’s a fix that wouldn’t feel complete.

Thank you for offering. I mean, I’m not saying no; I just wouldn’t want you going to all that effort of making a leg just for me to say it didn’t fit or didn’t feel comfortable. I’m not sure I could deal with a leg that was built and not grown. You’d be taking a risk if you chose to build me one… I can’t promise I’d use it. But again, thank you. Acts of kindness such as this are what drive me, and keep me living through the chaos that surrounds us.

Keep me posted, if you decide to go through with it. I don’t think I can accept a gift like this right away; only time will tell. I admire your compassion. It’s a quality that few have, and that many ignore.

Take care, friend. And of course, if you have any major engineering feats you’d like to accomplish, I’d love to hear about them! If you need any help, you have but to ask.

Sunskip: What is real? Hmmm… you know, I thought about this a lot when I was younger. There was a point where it became difficult for me to differentiate between fantasy and reality. I guess life changing experiences will do that to a pony.

You’re… you’re probably wondering what I’m talking about, aren’t you? Well, you see… uh… *sigh* I’m sorry, I just don’t think I’m ready to talk about the accident yet. But I guess… maybe, I can shed some light on why I am the way I am. In short, there was a mishap that occured when I was a younger colt, something that caused me to lose a part of myself— literally.

It all happened so fast, I can hardly remember the details. I recall being rushed to the hospital, but my memories surrounding that point in time are foggy. But the memory that I always relive in my dreams, the one that has imprinted itself permanently into every fiber of my being, is when I was given the doctor’s diagnosis. The damage was too severe; I was beyond repair. They had no choice… they had to amputate my left hind hoof.

The news was absolutely life shattering. Could you imagine, being an earth pony, and losing one of your most valuable assets in life? That would be like a pegasus without the ability to fly, or a unicorn without magic. I felt completely inadequate— I couldn’t perform everyday tasks, found it hard to keep up with my peers, and fell behind in school. Everything seemed to have taken a turn for the worse…

But then, I discovered my true passion for the natural world. I got myself back on track, learned to live with an altered body. And as I soon found out… life wasn’t so bad after all.

Now, back to your question. What is real? My love for the great outdoors, that’s real. My friends, my family, my supporters, my customers— they’re all real. And this life, a life as a tripod pony, this is real too. I had to learn to accept reality after I lost a leg. Before then, I couldn’t stop creating fantasies in my head about what life would be like if the accident hadn’t occured. But I can’t change my circumstances. I’ve had to come to terms with that, and it’s taken time. But finally, I can say that I’m happy again. And it’s because I’ve realized what life means to me.

Now, I see reality as a manifestation of all my hopes and dreams. Everything I love is real, and everything that is real, I love. Truly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sunskip: Wow, that’s great! Of course, I can’t take all the credit. If it wasn’t for your knowledge of electricity and engineering, well, who knows! I guess I have you to thank for reintroducing me to the infinity lotus; haven’t worked with that plant in ages. I never knew it was capable of such a thing. Imagine all the possibilities waiting to be discovered! Eheheh… heh… don’t mind me, I just can’t help but geek out at a discovery such as this.

Anyway, do be careful with those lotuses… I don’t have any more available, and obtaining more would mean a stroll through the Everfree. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel at home in the forest. Something about sharing my personal space with cockatrices and timberwolves really sets me on edge.

In any case, I’m glad I could help! If you have anymore questions, don’t hesitate!

Sunskip: Hmm… not that I know of, sorry. I must admit, engineering doesn’t come anywhere close to my area of expertise. I can hardly construct a birdhouse, let alone… well, anything really. But back to the subject at hoof.

I know that some crops can be harvested for fuel, but electicity? Not too sure about that one. But I will say, there is someting that might be worth looking into: the infinity lotus. This plant regenerates each and every cell of its being on a daily basis. It’s called the infinity lotus because, as you may have guessed, it has no definite life span. In theory, it can live forever. Pretty cool, huh? I can’t say I know a whole lot about about the plant; I am unable to plant it in my garden because it refuses to grow in proximity to any of my other specimens, so I haven’t had enough time to fully study its capabilities. But the way it regenerates, that must use up a tremendous amount of energy. If there were some way to utilize that to generate electricity… well, I’m not sure it’s possible, but it’d be worth a try!

Tell you what, I’ll send you what I have left of the lotuses I collected from the Everfree a few days ago. It’s only three flowers, but it should do for now. You’ll have to be careful with the petals, though; they’re brittle and may crumble with even the slightest touch. Anyways, good luck, let me know how it goes!

Sunskip: Great! In fact, I’m just preparing to switch out the summer annuals with some beautiful hostas, which are set to bloom near the end of the month. It’s exciting, isn’t it? Hehe, I think so.

Fun fact for all you ponies out there: whenever I discover a new species that I wish to add to my collection, I rearrange my entire garden to accompony the plant as best I can. I know, I know. It seems like a waste of time. But the symbiosis of plants is something that takes years of study to understand. In a small space, such as my garden, some plants will grow in harmony, but some will wilt if paired incorrectly. Having a garden isn’t just about looks. You have to feel and understand each individual plant, and the interactions between them. There needs to be a balance. It’s like life, I suppose; learning to handle each moment as it comes and goes… to tenderly care for the parts that matter, and to help heal from the ones that bring you pain. All of this both inside and outside of our personal bubble, our very own imaginary picket fence…

Well, I suppose I should get back to the gardening. Sorry about the rant. Sometimes, I really should get off my high horse. Ahahaha, I crack myself up… it’s even funnier because I’m short. ^_^;;; Uh, well, bye now!

Sunskip: Bad… ass? Nope, afraid not sir. I seem to have outgrown a need for more excitement than I can handle. I’m not saying I don’t like to have fun, mind you, but… ah, how should I explain?

I’ve always been a pony who tends to lurk in the shadows. Of course I have my close friends and family for moral support, but I’ve never really had the drive to try new things. I just have an irrational fear of the unkown I guess. Why irrational? Well, I have always strived to learn as much as possible— which means discovering new things— about the growth of the world. That includes studying plants. See what I did there? Growth? Plants? It’s a joke… what was I saying?

Ah yes, back to your question. So… no, I guess I’m not really a bad ass pony. At least, not in the way that you understand the term. But I love what I do and I’m good at it, and I personally think that’s pretty b—… pretty awesome. Appreciate the question, good sir!

Sunskip: Well when I came across the verdrum lily in the forest, I didn’t quite understand the “mechanics”, if you will, of the flower. When I saw it from afar, I couldn’t believe my eyes, and the lily’s glow grew even brighter as I approached. I leaned down beside it to examine it for myself… the intensity of the lily’s light was just amazing! I couldn’t help but wonder aloud, “These aren’t like the lilies I’ve seen around Ponyville… *gasp* Are these the verdrum lilies my papa told me about?” Needless to say, the flower’s glow went from a dull green hue to a brilliant emerald blaze in a matter of seconds. It was dazzling— in more ways than one. Oh, I can’t tell you how excited I was. I dashed home as fast as I could to tell my father. The verdrum lily had answered my question!

Of course, it had also answered another question, one I hadn’t asked. Should I stare directly at the petals of a verdrum lily from a close distance while asking a very obvious question? No, no I should not. Obviously.

Of course, the first serious question I asked the verdrum lily came much later in my life, when I had become a young colt. Things had taken a turn for the worse and I needed… guidance. Of course, I still had a firm interest in plants and living things, and the Everfree forest provided no shortage of research material and botanical specimens to add to my garden, which at the time was used as a means of therapy.

You see, gardening for me was enough to make a living. I sold to local merchants and family friends. But… was it enough to make a life? That’s what I went into the forest to find out. As it turns out, I was meant to be a gardener. The verdrum lily told me I should pursue my gardening career.

And what do you know, it was right! Shortly after receiving my answer, I took to the fields. And what to my wandering eyes would appear? Why, my cutie mark, of course! Oh, I was so excited. I’ll have to get Lucky to paint it one of these days!

Well, I hope that answers your question. Amazing how one little flower can have so much impact, isn’t it?

((OOC: Gah, sorry I took so long to answer.

*channels Twilight Sparkle* No excuses!))