Oh, Allah Save Us

The ambassador of Saddle Arabia was usually a dignified delegate. She carried herself well, and though she was very friendly and occasionally humorous, there was no denying that hard-earned nobility served her rather well.

Which was why, of course, ponies would find it odd to suddenly hear a jingling noise, reminiscent of keys on a ring multiplied by fifty, before they screeched in fear as a rather long, purple, venomous viper slithered past, and obvious grin of elation on her face, followed by a harried Amina Abbasi streaking after the snake. One would think she'd be able to catch her mischievous pet, with her more-than-capable legs, but Nadira could move under ponies, bookshelves, and tables while Amina could not.

It had all started out fine and dandy. Amina was just popping in for some Equestrian History studying when the viper in her saddle had decided, oh, what a prank to play on her pony friend by causing so much chaos! And off she went, disrupting peaceful and happy ponies as she giggled with glee. Soon, she was heading towards the closest pony, intending to scare whomever the unlucky pony it may be...

Wild Card was sitting in the Library, all fine and dandy. He didn't read any of the books he took out. He either sniffed, licked, or chewed on them. He wasn't one for literature. And the books smelled pretty nice for some reason. They had a good taste to them too.

While sniffing a book on Equestrian History, he glimpsed down to see a snake slithering towards him. It was all slithery and snakey and... purpley. He watched it slither towards him, and when it was close, he lowered his hoof to pet it

"Aww, who's a cute little snakey wakey buddy?"

Nadira hissed indignantly. Her master plan had so suddenly failed! She blushed deeply with embarrassment as her pony friend galloped over, breathing hard as she scooped the snake up and deposited her promptly on top of the saddle sitting on  the pink horse's back.

"Oh, sank Allah you caught her," Amina said between breaths. "You silly Nadira, what did I say about scaring other bonies?"

Nadira coiled up in shame, peeking out with her bright, jewel-like eyes at the two before her.

"Sank you so much. How may I ever repay you?" she asked, looking expectantly at the two. "My name is Amina Abbasi, Delegate of Saddle Arabia."

Wild Card got up and looked at the strange pink pony. She looked too big to even call a pony. He had no idea what she was, or why she had all of those jingly things on her. Was it some kind of fashion statement? Well, he did wear a vest and armbands everywhere. Fashion wasn't his forte.

Wild looked at another mare who was also petting the snake. They all seemed like fun. And he was offered soemthing for getting the snake, even though he did nothing but pet the little girl. He looked in his pocket and saw his jelly sandwich was gone. He must have eaten already. Then he looked at his over sized tummy, that he was often criticized for.

"Do you have any food from S...ad...dle A... A, uh... Rai... by, uh?"

"Ah, yes!" Amina said, recognition dawning in her eyes. "I remember you, Lunar Star. It is my pleasure to meet you again, as it has been far too long. Zis makes the rescue all the better. Last time, my little Nadira was not wiz me, and I am glad you finally get to meet her."

She chuckled at the young mare's enthusiasm. It was inappropriate for a library setting, true, but she escorted the two outside for a moment as she continued to speak.

"Of course I do," she replied to the stallion, grinning at him. "Not wiz me, but of course, but we could stay here or head back to my current residence. Your pick."

She leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"We have shawarma."

Wild Card's eyes widened when Amina leaned in and whispered in his ear about a food he didn't know about. Whatever it was, it, sounded tasty. He almost jumped up in glee, but this one of the only times he controlled himself. Amina was a delegate, which was also something he didn't know, but he heard it was important. And ponies would not like his normal act in a library.

"I wanna go with the new and pretty mare!"

Wild stood next to Amina in agreement. Then he leaned back to the table and took one more whiff of a book and went back to Amina.

"Books smell pretty"

((So we are moving after this one, correct?))

Amina chuckled again, taking her new(ish) friends away from the library. It was just odd to sniff books, but she could understand. Fresh parchment and old pages had that smell, that feel, that only came from a book carefully written and read by many other ponies. It was just that 'library' feeling.

She led the two excited ponies towards her "vacation" home (though really this visit to Equestria was just a huge work/play vacation) which she shared with the Prima Ballerina of The Royal Canterlot Ballet, Cloud Dancer. 

"If you are looking for true Arabian food, we drink somesing called coffee and, at least to me, ze best lunch would be a nice, warm plate of homemade shawarma. You will see! I am sure you've heard of coffee before, but this one is special, and I have not seen anypony drinking it here in Equestria."

Wild Card followed behind the Saddle Arabian delegate, actually hopping behind her. Despite his size, he was still somewhat agile. Years of running around and living up to your name could do that. He just had a real big appetite. He kept wondering about what Amina's food would taste like. Could it be even better than jelly?

"You're a really nice pony Amina! And you have all the jingly stuff on. That's fancy! I want something like that! Do a lot of ponies wear that where you're from?"

((don't have to. we don't need a new thread for a new location.))

Lunar pranced behind the stallion. She couldn't believe it, he was hopping! She's usually the only one who does that. Ponyville was appearing to be a more lively town than Canterlot. Lunar wasn't exactly hungry, but she was going simply so she can have a good time. That's pretty much the only reason she does anything, really.

((Sorry for short post. I Just decided to get something, if anything, out before bed.))

"Sank you," Amina responded, pleased with the compliment. "It's very kind of you to say. Oh, and yes, everypony wears ze ornaments, but ze higher status a bony is, ze more ornaments she wears."

She pointed to the scarves on her flank and the headdress on her forehead.

"Zese are only for bonies of ze royal court. I did not have zese before I was invited into the court, and before I had traveled, I just wore a blanket over my back."

She looked gravely at the two.

"It is considered a great matter of shame to have one's saddle removed in bublic. To walk bare-back said zat you had been disowned from your family, zat you were a criminal or an outcast. Zat is why you will never see me in less zan what I wear, and zough ze colors may differ, I shall never shame my country and family by taking zem off."

On that somber note, she opened the door to the cottage and waved the ponies inside.

Wild Card was both surprised and confused about the ornaments Amina was wearing. Apparently jingly things meant you were important. And if you had a lot, you were super important. And if you took off the saddle, everypony would hate you. Saddle Arabia was weird.

Wild trotted into the cottage him and Lunar were led to. There were a few ponies in there already. He waved and went to hug each of them, as that was common for his greeting.

"Hello everypony! I'm Wild Card!"

((You can skip me as I'm too busy to post. Sorry guys.))

Amina trotted in, only stopping when a little green blur ran straight into her legs.

"Hi Auntie Mina!" Nikki squealed, hugging Amina's legs. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"Hello, Little One," Amina answered, picking up the filly and plopping her down on the saddle. "Is Auntie Cloud watching you for your mommy?"

Nikki nodded, giggling when Nadira twisted around her and curled up in her lap.

"Wild Card, this is Nikki. She is my friend's daughter," Amina explained. "My housemate is watching over her, I assume, while Calla is working. We're going to make lunch, Nikki, is that okay?"

Nikki giggled again and leaped off of Amina's back, trotting away with the purple snake.