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

[batdweeb]

Is that all you remember? Did you see anyone unusual? Can you tell me what you remember doing before the light?

[He realizes he's going into interrogation mode. Right, Bruce Wayne isn't a detective. Oh, and he's being rude.]

[He clears his throat.]

Sorry, again. You probably have a lot of questions of your own.

[letteropener]

Countless. I only wish I could be more aid to you. The truth is, I am somewhat concerned I have sustained mental damage during the course of coming here, owing to my inability to perform magic properly. I fear my answers regarding my appearance here are not to be relied on.

[She says this all calmly, as if having brain trauma is no serious concern or cause for alarm.]

[batdweeb]

[As calm as Celestia is about the matter, Bruce is visibly alarmed by the thought- he quickly looks Celestia up and down, paying special attention to her gait and her eyes. But she seems fine, as far as Bruce can tell.]

You don't look like you've been hurt. I think your problem's something else.

[Luckily, he does have a theory.]

I'd better start from the beginning. You weren't the only person brought here against their will. Over a month ago, a handful of people woke up in Freesia with no memory of how they arrived. We all found a recording of a man in sunglasses, who claimed we'd been brought here to defend this world from monsters known as the Nox.

[Which is a bit more specific than Tacky Shades was, but Bruce is fairly sure that's what he meant.]

In order to fight the Nox, he said we'd been given "gifts," and several of us discovered powers we hadn't previously had. Is it possible that could be what's interfering with yours?

[letteropener]

[Celestia slowly shakes her head.] That is not the case. I have no new powers to call upon, here. Rather, my magic appears to be sharply circumscribed. I have attempted numerous spells that have not only failed, but completely failed to even manifest as exertion, and even my most basic magic is weak.

I do apologize for not offering to help you with your bags, on that note, but my ability to lift objects is strongly impaired as well. [She has been terribly rude, and she knows it, but at the moment she has no real choice.]

[batdweeb]

[Bruce hasn't even considered the bags- Celestia is noticeably lacking hands, on top of obviously having problems of her own- so he glances from them to Celestia.]

These? It's fine. They're not as heavy as they look.

[He gives her an amiable smile, then resumes looking thoughtful.]

Are you going to be okay, with most of your magic gone?

[After all, the way she describes it makes it sound as essential to her as an arm or leg would be to Bruce.]

[letteropener]

[Laughter might not be the proper response, but he gets it nonetheless, bright and musical.]

Thank you for your concern, but I think I will be all right. I have been around a little while, after all. Magic does not make a pony; a pony makes magic, be it through spells or strength or personality.

[batdweeb]

[The laughter does catch Bruce off guard... for a moment, after which he eases into a smile.]

[Oh hey, he doesn't know her name.]

As long as you're sure you can manage, Miss...?

[letteropener]

[A moment of silence precedes her abrupt realization that he has no idea who she is. As an ageless ruler, she honestly isn't used to that.]

[The pony bows, head lowered and wings spread. Quite the elegant motion.] I am Princess Celestia.

[batdweeb]

[And Bruce Wayne bows as well, perhaps not as elegantly, but otherwise right and properly.]

Your Royal Highness.

[And then he straightens up, looking more cheery.]

I'm Bruce Wayne. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, despite the circumstances.

[letteropener]

You took the words right out of my mouth. [She may have to do something about this whole 'formality' thing. It seems so inappropriate here, especially since she is not here in any diplomatic capacity.] Certainly not the way I would have chosen to meet new people, but I won't complain that I am doing so.