Let the Light Shine

[letteropener]

[Ever just had one of those days where nothing makes sense any more?]

[Princess Celestia is having one of those days. Lost and patently confused, the pony princess wanders the streets of Freesia as completely befuddled as can be. Everything needs a second look, be it the buildings, the streets, the sidewalks, or the sun.]

[The sun. Not the sun she knows. Not one she is familiar with. And not even one she can reach with magic -- because every time she tries, her horn glows with light, but nothing comes of it at all.]

[And if you're wondering if the pony is just some random animal, well -- she has a little earbud clipped to one ear, the sort you'd expect to see on a normal person with a communicator. So there's that.]

...Where am I?

Comments

[unriddling]

[Hmm.] No doubt. There's nothing like a palace here, Princess, except perhaps the Spire.

[letteropener]

I hardly need a palace. If nothing else, I will simply find a cloud somewhere. [Little does she know...]

The Spire?

[unriddling]

[For a moment, he assumes that's some sort of euphemism, like 'a hole in the wall'. Then he thinks of everything else she's spoken of so far and wonders.] Don't tell me your clouds aren't water vapor.

The tallest and most important-looking building in Freesia, you'll know it when you see it. None of the citizens of this place go there, though some of we outsiders have. [Not him, yet.] I don't know if you'd be allowed to stay even if you wished to, but if you want to try...

[Riddler shrugs grandly. Up to her, in the end.]

[letteropener]

It sounds worthy of investigation, if not habitation. Thank you for telling me about it.

[Graciousness and gratitude never run thin. She inclines her head to him with both.]

There is so very much to adjust to, here...

[unriddling]

[He gives a very slight bow back. It could be perceived as mocking. It might be. Even he isn't certain.]

For you more than most, yes, though we've all had to work on it. Perhaps your stay will be short, if our abductor is found and persuaded</> to show us the way back before too long. [His voice is very neutral.]

[letteropener]

I would hope that we could arrive at some arrangement, yes.

[Celestia is just as neutral. Obviously, she would prefer diplomacy and discussion... but if necessary, she will fight to return back to her proper place and her subjects.]

[unriddling]

[Riddler gives an easy shrug. He doubts it'll go without a fight, and that it will be quite dangerous, but he doesn't particularly care. He just wants to find the man in the sunglasses and teach him not to mess with such a well-known villain.]

The best of luck on finding him, Princess. He hides well, if he's even around here.

[letteropener]

If it were easy, you would have done it already. But more heads may provide more answers to the problem.

[As serious as she is about addressing this whole problem, Celestia is also too patient and wise to get angry or aggressive about it pointlessly.]

[unriddling]

Of course I would have.

[A slightly less easy shrug.] I may give advice from this [he aims a thumb at his eyeglass] if you need it. It's a technology for long-distance communication, if you didn't have it back where you're from.

[letteropener]

No. We have nothing of the sort, not like this. [Her eyes go up and over to try to look at the device where it hangs by her ear, pure reflex since she cannot see it.] We communicated by mail, or sometimes by scrolls transmitted though dragonfire.

[unriddling]

It--[He reflexively takes a step forward, pauses for a split second as he registers and struggles with a few thoughts (she could probably put him in a lot of pain with a kick or a wingbeat; he doesn't really need to be touchy, he's in control enough and doesn't need to demean her) and then continues, just so they're properly face to face.] --it can be controlled with thought. It covers your ear and can show a screen for something like mail. Text and speech and video. [His voice is a bit like what one would hear at a lecture hall presentation. He gestures towards his head and demonstrates text with his own.]

how does dragonfire transmit anything?

[letteropener]

Oh, that is remarkable -- [She starts as the screen abruptly deploys in response to her mental energy, though not so much as to put him in any danger at all.]

[His question is there, and she reads it with a bit of difficulty for this new method of study before she focuses her eyes back on him.]

My student, Twilight Sparkle, had a baby dragon for an assistant, so we worked out a system of magic scrolls that he could send to me with his flame, and I could send back through it.

[unriddling]

...These seem more reliable than that sounds. [He looks a tad skeptical for a moment, but...really. He rolls with it, at least for now. Everything is strange now, he knows he'll figure it all out eventually when he feels like it.]

Student? Were you grooming an heir to take your place?

[letteropener]

Not to take my place... well, perhaps someday, but that is a complicated question. At the core, though, she had immense ability, a gift for magic that needed to be nurtured and cherished, so that she could unlock her own true potential.

it's amazing how well celestia manages to hit his weak points

[unriddling]

[That...certainly is an answer. One that hits him surprisingly hard, in fact. Substitute magic for intelligence, and--well. Edward is rather envious of that student.]

[Riddler straightens his expression swiftly. That doesn't matter.]

Princess, teacher, is there anything you can't do? [His tone was neutral again.]

[letteropener]

A great many things. [Celestia shuts her eyes briefly. Countless years of rule mean countless mistakes and failures, and though she had done her best at all times -- better than anypony else could have done -- they still all rankle and grate, the more so for their number.] But everypony has their own talent.

[unriddling]

Mmm. This city will surely be a learning experience. [Strangely uncomfortable, Riddler turns slightly to glance back towards the door. He can't quite recall what he'd been heading out to do in the first place.]

[letteropener]

That is the truest thing I have heard all day.

[Celestia laughs, a sincere if still reserved sound, though she does catch his glance backwards.]

Oh, I'm sorry, am I keeping you from something?

[unriddling]

...Somewhat. [It's not strictly a lie. This conversation has thrown him off balance more than he enjoys.]

[He waves a hand vaguely toward the street.] I have no need to further delay your explorations of the city.

[letteropener]

This conversation was far more helpful than my exploration had been, but in turn, I won't keep you any further. Thank you very much for your help.

[Sincere, genuine, and truly grateful. Probably not adjectives he's particularly used to describing people he's interacted with.]

[unriddling]

[Not at all. It may show on his face.]

[...And in the fact he just nods and awkwardly slips back into the apartment rather than continuing their conversation or saying 'you're welcome'.]