My little pony:Adventure of Seresia

Xiao Ling might take a pot of bamboo wine and a plate of fried peanuts if she had nothing to do. She would then look for a spot with a good view, enjoying the coastline under the night sky while savoring the delicious snacks in her paws.

“I really want a glass of bamboo wine...” Xiao Ling sighed as she gazed up at the moon. It had been nearly a year and a half since she first joined the fleet as the first mate, and she had no idea when she would return. The long hours of repair work made her feel a bit thirsty, and she missed the rice wine produced by the pandas in YouYun.

In Seresia, bamboo wine is a well-known drink enjoyed by many creatures. Officially labeled as rice wine, it resembles a beverage more than traditional wine. Pandas use carefully cultivated bamboo containers and add glutinous rice and a bit of yeast before using their unique distillation method. Within just a few days, a jar of rice wine is created. The glutinous rice ferments, producing a milky-white liquid that completely soaks the rice. The aromatic scent of rice, the fresh fragrance of bamboo, and the delicate aroma of the wine blend together, creating a mouthwatering fragrance that tempts anyone who catches a whiff. A small cup is scooped, the exquisite brew is enjoyed, and the soft, melting glutinous rice is savored. The three flavors burst on the tongue, stimulating sensitive taste buds and lingering in the mind for a long time. This beverage is especially loved during the summer.

“Guh...” Her stomach let out an untimely growl as she reminisced about the lingering fragrance of bamboo wine. Xiao Ling quickly closed her eyes and straightened her posture. She raised her paws to her abdomen, then opened her palms upward, gradually pushing toward her chest while taking deep breaths. As she exhaled, she flipped her palms over, slowly pressing them back down to their original position. She tried calming herself with this breathing method, hoping to make her hunger disappear from her thoughts.

“Bang!” The sound of a heavy object hitting the wooden boards interrupted Xiao Ling's meditation. Her ears perked up as she quickly discerned the noise coming from the ship's bow. Intrigued, Xiao Ling rushed to the bow and carefully peeked around. Soon, her gaze locked onto the flickering firelight approaching from the rocky beach. Xiao Ling squinted and realized it was Jin Yun, Spike, and some creatures she had never met before. Seeing them holding torches and trailing behind Jin Yun and Spike, Xiao Ling immediately concluded they must be in danger. Though she wanted to rush forward to help, the larger numbers and towering figures made her hesitant about her ability to fight them. She could only observe quietly while considering her options.

When the group got close enough, Xiao Ling sensed they intended to board the ship. She glanced back at the helm and the cabin, then raised her gaze to the bare main mast. Without delay, Xiao Ling quickly ran toward the mast, jumped up using her legs, and leveraged her sharp claws to climb to the highest point. The whole process took less than five seconds as she concealed herself in the shadows and prepared to act.

The creatures were the first to board the ship, and as soon as they came aboard, they looked around as if searching for something. This strengthened Xiao Ling's judgment, but she couldn't find any opportunity to intervene. She could only watch helplessly as those creatures searched from the deck to the control room and then from the control room to the cabin. In the end, Jin Yun, Spike, and the creatures gathered on the deck. They exchanged a few words and then disembarked together. Just before leaving the ship, Jin Yun glanced back at the deck and made a very inconspicuous gesture, discarding something before exiting, all of which Xiao Ling observed. Once the group disappeared into the night, Xiao Ling leaped onto the deck without making a sound. She hurried to the front of the ship, where Jin Yun had left and searched carefully until she discovered a small black bag.

Upon opening it, she found several fruits inside, which puzzled her. She searched through the bag and noticed two notes pressed beneath the contents: one large and one small.

The more significant note was a homemade map drawn, while the minor note contained a few short words written in Persian. It was clearly addressed to Xiao Ling:

“The princess is in trouble. Hurry for help.”

This was a SOS signal sent by Jin Yun, and judging by the creatures' behavior, they seemed unaware of Xiao Ling's presence. She decided to set off immediately, but before leaving, she glanced back at the fruit in the bag and decided to tuck it into her arms for future needs.

With the map's guidance, Xiao Ling quickly arrived at the foot of the mountain. She skillfully climbed a large tree and, aided by the moonlight, spotted the fortress halfway up the hill. As she surveyed the surroundings, planning to get a bit closer, she realized that the only path to the mountain fortress was now heavily defended, making it nearly impossible for her to enter alone.

“I need to find a way in...” As Xiao Ling crouched in the shadows, looking for an opportunity, the gate of the station was pushed open, and a couple of ponies were driven out. At first, Xiao Ling didn’t pay much attention, but the couple's conversation suddenly made her feel that an opportunity had arisen.

“Let’s go... Buttercup, I think we have no chance to help that pegasi named Rainbow Dash,” Bright McIntosh gently patted Pear Butter's shoulder, trying to offer comfort. However, Pear Butter's mood did not improve; her face was filled with disappointment, which troubled McIntosh.

“How could this happen... Poor lady, we should come up with another plan...!” Pear Butter sighed, still unwilling to give up; she planned to think of another way after returning. Suddenly, a pair of claws reached out from behind and pulled her and Bright McIntosh into the nearby woods. Pear Butter, frightened, wanted to scream but had her mouth covered, leaving her unable to make any sound other than whimpers.

“Shh! Don’t make a sound; don’t attract the guards' attention.” Pear Butter and Bright McIntosh struggled to free their mouths from the creature's grasp, but their efforts were in vain. When they turned to each other, their terrified gazes locked for a moment. After a brief shared glance, they both frowned and shifted their attention back to the direction of the fortress, clearly anxious that the guards might hear them.

“I’m sorry! I didn't mean to do this. But I don't want to take any risks of being discovered.” the creature said. “As long as you promise not to shout, I will let you go.” Hearing this, Pear Butter and Bright McIntosh exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. Only then did the creature release its hold. As soon as it did, Pear Butter quickly took the opportunity to hide behind Bright McIntosh, who remained vigilant, watching the creatures that stood nearly as tall as the otters.

“I’m Xiao Ling, a friend of Rainbow Dash. I just overheard you talking about her. I had no choice but to act this way, and I hope you can forgive me.”

“You’re Rainbow Dash’s friend?!” The fear on Pear Butter's face faded almost instantly upon hearing Xiao Ling's words. Before Bright McIntosh could respond, Pear Butter rushed before Xiao Ling.

“Buttercup!” Bright McIntosh lowered his voice but spoke urgently, hoping his wife would return to his side. She set aside her fear and turned to Xiao Ling.

“Are you really a friend of Rainbow Dash?” With a nod from Xiao Ling, Pear Butter pressed on, “Your friend is likely locked up in the fortress on the mountain!”

“I know,” Xiao Ling replied. “I only arrived here after receiving the message. Do you have any way to help me get inside?”