[Perception] You roll a 20 (required 10). Critical success‼

You thank the crew for getting you this far and, agreeing with their advice, bid them farewell for now. You figure that if you want a chance at getting anywhere in this foreign land, you will need to find a guide as soon as possible.

With that in mind, you begin to wander along the docks in search of someone who might be able to help. As expected, most of the locals are Kirin: long-haired unicorns with a lion's mane, cloven hooves, and a stripe of scales from nose to tail; some pony-sized, others much larger, and all speaking a language you've never heard before.

Then, your heart skips a beat. From the corner of your eye, you spot something — or rather someone — unexpectedly familiar. Sapphire mane over light pear coat, eyes covered and a carefree grin, an earth pony with an accent from as far away as you are now.

Moonflower: "Ooh, you're right! She looks jus' like the plushie merchant from Amblerta!"

You nod. A chance like this may never come again, and so you decide to seize it and approach the mare with a greeting. She seems to recognize you, and responds with her usual slow yet passionate cadence.

Azure Spark: "Yo, changeling girl."

You offer Azure Spark a smile from the heart, and ask if that is her nickname for you. Her grin widens, and she tilts her head to take a better concealed look at you.

Azure Spark: "Sometime hair blue, sometime red. Sometime earth'o pony, sometime unicorn. Sometime girl, sometime ehh...?"

Moonflower: "Ooh, she's right, ya kinda change a lot."

You briefly lift a leg to let her confirm the latter, and admit that she might have a point. That said, you figure that you should properly introduce yourselves. Better late than never!

Azure Spark: "Ah, T'u'railblazah! And Moonflowah, Honourshine — cute'o girl friends."

Moonflower: "Heehee!"

You nod, and curious, you ask Azure Spark what brings her to the Kirin Empire.

Azure Spark: "I was visiting'u family in Fenbao-Ku."

Moonflower: "Whoa! You're from around here?"

Azure Spark: "Yes. Earth'o pony, kind of rare, but! Many many creatures in Kirin Empire. And you are here for... what?"

You let the mare know that you are here on a quest to find someone, and that you are looking for a guide to help you on your journey.

Azure Spark: "Oh, okay! Don't worry! I will tell you how to get guide'o, for t'u'ravel and t'u'rans'u'lation. Okay? What you need is supu-raito! You go behind village temple — the big tower —, there is sp'u'ring'u. Okay? That is supu-raito fountain.

Then, you give away important'o item'u. Not expensive! Very sentimental'u value only. You drop item'u in the water for payment'o, and guide'o will come with you. Okay?"

In an attempt to confirm Azure Spark's bizarre instructions, you repeat that you must go to a water spring behind the temple, and throw an item of great sentimental value into the pool, which will somehow act as payment for a guide.

Azure Spark: "Yes."

You glance over to Honourshine, who clearly seems to think that you are being messed with, and offer her a shrug. However strange it may sound, you have no reason to doubt the mare.

But before you begin to think about which of your possessions to sacrifice, the subject of payment reminds you that you have no means to pay for anything else, either. You ask the merchant if she knows anyone willing to trade gold bits for zen.

Azure Spark: "Mh, mh, mh. Bits'u is okay. Zen is okay too. How much do you want?"