Parcly Taxel: Saddle Arabian genies have been engaging in massage for over a thousand years. Regardless of their occupation, it's common for a passerby to wish one of them for a massage, and this will usually be granted without further reservations. Because of this hospitality, the places where genies live have become invaluable resting points for weary travellers and tourists alike.

Each genie has their own unique way of massaging. For me, I magically warp small sections of the outer covering of the pony or other creature being massaged into twisted manifolds, as I have a love for topology and knot theory. The process is just like kneading dough — the covering is folded upon and intersects itself, becoming soft and comfortable.

When I was released very early in the morning, I thus had the opportunity to massage myself before going out to Shirakawa (白川), the place I had mentioned in the prelude to my Japan trip. Spindle held my bottle while I did this, as I can't feel my mistified lower body.

Spindle: The road to Shirakawa darts through the mountains from Takayama, involving a few bridges that offer spectacular vantage points and many more cleverly drilled tunnels. Snow had been plowed to the sides, with much more of it lying at our destination; under the radiant sun individual crystals were sparkling in their brightest colours before melting. I saw pools of water everywhere that were growing due to "rainfall" from the trees and roofs.

But forget about the minor details! Together with the neighbouring Gokayama, this place is a World Heritage Site for its historic houses. The roofs are thatched, very thick and quite steep, like a pony clapping their hooves above their head. During summer this thatching provides nice and natural insulation, while snowfall gets broken up on its surface during winter — I found the latter fact out when I generated my own snow on the roof.

Parcly: All that stood under the sky was beautiful, even the narrow bridge leading to the village and the rock-lined river below. The cracking ice and snow under my hooves formed a rhythm set against the shifting winds. For a while I felt like being in Applejack's dream… until I went up to the lookout point. There isn't any plain-

Rarity: What do you say, a venue fit for darling Applejack? I adore your description of Shirakawa so far. I'd love to stay there and walk among those rustic buildings!

…on second thought, I'd rather remain in my boutique because I can't stand the farming they do here.

Parcly: That's OK. At least you can dine in one of the distinctive houses, which is what we did for lunch. We even received a free biscuit at the end of it.

Rarity: Delightful. Is there anything else worth mentioning?

Spindle: Not much, and Parcly was so awestruck at the sights that her bottle suddenly slurped her in as we crossed the narrow bridge back. I felt nothing beneath the glass where there should be a steady current, indicating that she had fainted, and I had to bring her to an onsen for revival.

Parcly: Certain onsen present themselves as cure-alls, though the exact maladies cured are a matter of debate. It did cure my dizziness at Shirakawa, and soon we were off to eat more Hida beef for dinner — a fitting way to close our last full day in Takayama.