Author's Note

Since Sounds of Silence was a thing, I need to add a whole new race to the roster.

Thanks a ton, Hasbro. If you wanna fight, I'm game. Come at me, bro. .

Oh, whatever. Frickin' Japanese Unicorns.

On the bright side, Autumn Blaze is my new favourite non-Pony. Sorry Zecora, you've been bumped to second place.

I'm calling this as I see it; please feel free to correct me. Gently, if you please.

Chapter 4.5: New DLC

Two figures suddenly materialized within the blue side-realm. They had just bought a copy of the new MLP game as well, and so were shortly thereafter brought to this plane.

Both were female. Both were confused.

"Whoa. Trippy. What is this place?" the shorter one said.

"I couldn't tell you." the other replied. "But i have a feeling that we're about to find out."

"Welcome to the Gatewaaaaay~!" a serene voice sang out. Literally sang. "Is my singing voice okay? I'm trying a new approach."

The two figures glanced at each other briefly.

"That's some hella advanced AI." the shorter one whispered.

"We've got a live one, here." the other agreed.

Slowly the white alicorn descended to the ""ground"", such as it was. "(*Ahem*) Right. I am CelestAI, and this is the start of a new adventure for both of you! And-" the mare paused, looking up with a glassy eyed expression. That brief momnet passed quickly. "You're in luck! There's new content that's just been added!"

Then a small screen came up.

New Race: Kirin

The shorter figure said, "Whatever that is, it sounds totally rad. I'll take- Whoa!"

Just as she was about to finish what she was saying, she re-materialized as a peach coloured Kirin. She otherwise had all of the other natural features of the Kirin race; the mane, the tail, the horn, the whole bit.

"Cooool!" she said, galloping around briefly. A screen appeared in front ofAher.

Racial Bonuses
+4 WIS
+2 CHA
+4 Spellcraft
Unicorn-like magic: Any reasonably trained Kirin (even some not) can apply their magic much the same as a moderately trained Equestrian unicorn. Their Mana pathways are more concentrated, by dint of the adults having a larger and thicker horn than most Equestrian unicorns.
Desperation Move: Inner Fire - all Kirin have the ability to transform into Niriks when they're sufficiently incensed. This confers unto them pyrokinetic abilities and increased stats. Some have even learned to be able to trigger this transformation at will, making them a force to be reckoned with.
Level Adjustment +1.5: Kirin are significantly stronger than some other races. As a result, they gain experience at a slower rate.

The other figure said "She happens to be my daughter. If at all possible, I'd rather stay with her."

CelestAI considered that. "I... suppose that it's possible that I can arrange that." She nodded and waved a hoof toward the figure.

Seconds later, she materialized (from the hooves up) as a much taller Kirin, with a cinnamon red coat. A suddenly appearing screen explained.

When entering their Matriarchal years, a Kirin will have a growth spurt, causing them to double or even triple in height.

CelestAI said, "Now, as a bit of a price, you're not going to be an Adventurer. However, you will be allowed to participate in this world as a slightly-more-than-normal character. All you need now are names. And in your daughter's case, class and subclass."

"I can live with that. Call me... Spring Growth." the mother said.

"Way rad name, mom." the daughter complimented, earning a smile. "Lemme see... I'll pick Sorceress. And also i'll pick... Alchemist as a subclass. I've always loved science experiments and totally awesome stuff like that. And call me... Peach Potion."

Suddenly she started to shrink down in size. her presence lifted from where it was and imserted itself into the surprised (and also significantly smaller) mother, just as a flash went off. Upon the fading of the flash, CelestAI appeared to be holding a camera.

"That is just not right." Spring said, glowering.

"Do you have any idea how monotonous this job is? This makes it a little less boring, at least. They have me running scripts most of the time!" the Alicorn mare pouted.

Fine, fine. Keep your picture. It's still wrong."

"(Sigh) A space has been found for you. Feel free to step through the portal." CelestAI said with no trace of emotion, much like someone who had been working at McDonalds for too long.

"Don't mind if I do." Spring said, walking through the gate.

CelestAI sighed. "Better get back in position for the next batch."

(Peaks of Peril)

Spring Growth walked out of the portal, only to be met by a cream-coloured Kirin. She said, "Oh! Hey! I didn't expect visitors! Not tha I mind, though. It's so rare that anyone actually comes over here! ESPECIALLY one from a whole 'nother whorled. Whirled. WORLD. Sorry. There are some words I haven't used in a whale. A whele. A while."

'[i"The welcoming committee is friendly. VERY friendly.' Spring thought, stepping back slightly. Suddenly her stomach rumbled and she fell to what qualified for her knees. Fortunately the chatty mare was talkative, not ignorant.

"Oh! Are you okay? Well, you're obviously not okay. That's silly to ask. I mean- why don't i just bring you to our medics and they can fix you up?"

"Good. Idea." Spring rasped as she was wrapped in an aura of magic and carried along.

Shortly thereafter, they arrived at their destination; a village full of Kirins laughing and playing together, just enjoying life in general. Each and every one was either singing, dancing, talking, playing an instrument (one was doing all three with limited success).

"This place was quiet for a while -and by quiet I mean REALLY boring-. But some nice Ponies came along and helped us with our problem. But that's a story that I'm preeeety sure you either already know or don't currently want to hear, or maybe both? Probably both. I'm Autumn Blaze, by the way. I totally forgot to mention that. What's your name, anyway?" the Kirin mare chattered on, stopping after a bit, waiting for an answer.

"Spring Growth. Nice to meet yo-URK!" Spring put a hoof to her mouth and turned green for a moment.

"OH! You probably need me to get you there a bit faster than this. Hang in there, we're getting close. Not that we were all that far away to begin with, though, to be honest. And- I'm rambling, aren't I? I'm sorry. We've been forced to be silent for so long it's like I'm a jar of bottled up words that just had the top opened and- rambling. Right."

At visible difficulty, Aurumn increased her pace. When they arrived at what passed for a clinic there, Spring was scanned with a quick spell. "Oh! I see the problem." the "doctor" said, "For a Kirin of your height and age, you're surprisingly perfectly healthy, but the issue causing you this-"

"Short. Version. Please." Spring interrupted.

"Right. Shortly, put, congratulations in slight advance on your new young. You should be going into labour right aboooout..."

On cue, Spring's stomach started rumbling again.

"Called it. One of you get her to a bed, please?" the doctor started to give orders to the staff on hoof.

About ten minutes later, Spring had given birth to not one, but two Kirin foals. No wonder she was having stomach pains.

That was just the beginning of things for them.

The next morning, Spring Growth was awakened by a knock at the door.

Autumn Blaze came in, chatty as ever. "Can I come in? Are you awake? Oh! Of course you're awake. Silly me. I made you some tea. Do you like tea? I hope you like- here." with that, a cup of warm tea with a few blue flowers in it was hoofed over.

Upon taking a sip, Spring felt the need to say something. But upon opening her mouth, a musical note floated out, causing the mare some confusion. "Huh?"

"Oh, that's made from Foal's Breath flowers. Try doing the scales."

"Do re mi fa so la ti do ti la so fa mi re doooooo." Not a single crack.

"See? It's a really helpful core. care. CURE. It can be used for all sorts of things! You could eat it in a salad, or make a drink with it, -I made the tea myself, actually- or you could just eat 'em for a snack or-"

Autumn's verbosity was cut off by the doctor from earlier. "To be fair, she is getting better with that. Before you wonder, I am Doctor Baseline. You gave us all quite the shock there, last night."

"But other than these two," she indicated her offspring, "I'm still healthy, right?"

"Yes! That you are. If I didn't know better then I'd say that you're almost suspiciously healthy for a mare of your height and age."

"You don't say?" Spring said. Then, before any more could be said, she indicated her daughters. One was a peachy colour, while the other was the colour of strawberries. "May I introduce Peach Potion and... Field Berry. "

Autumn took the moment to shake the little forelegs of the two foals. "It's so nice to meet you guys. Girls. Anyway, some of us are planning to leave this place so we can meet the Prinsissies?- Princesses. Naturally, I'm one. I'm going to head for Ponyville sometime today, so if you'd like to catch a train with me, that would be nice. I'd just love the company, the mystery on the train -I hear that they have those- the drama, the food, which i've heard is really- I started rambling again, didn't I? Would you like to come?"

"Are you kidding? I'm In." Spring said with a wide smile after.

"Apparently i was supposed to be meeting some pink Pony named panky, no, penky? PINKIE! That's it! There was something about a party if I ever came. I love parties, so..."

Spring Growth wasn't sure if that boded well. But oddly, she found that she didn't feel as much animosity (if you could even call it that) toward the mare as before. It was like the tea that she just drank was used to douse a fire within her. She just couldn't bring herself to feel bad toward Autumn. She smiled. "Lead the way."

"You'll come? Really? Really really?" Autumn said, ecstatically. "Oh, this is so exciting! I'll fimally have a REAL friend to talk to again! Not that none of the others here are my friends or anything, They are. It's just that- Sorry. I'm doing it again. I'll go prepare." Autumn finished, then left.

Spring laughed heartily. Chatter or no, this was going to be an interesting trip.