Wandering the Streets

[mechanacet]

[In the aftermath of the events at the tower, Daniel has taken to wandering the streets. Heading in no direction in particular, he is building a map of the streets in his head. However, he does seem to be heading in roughly the direction of the old observatory, though this is likely only by chance.

As he walks, he is unconsciously and unknowingly fiddling with small pieces of machinery, small sparks of light fly harmlessly from the pieces as they bend to his subconscious whim.

Cam is sat, or as close to sitting as a tiny robot centaur can get, in his usual place atop Daniel's shoulder, keeping an eye out for any that might interrupt Daniel walk. Which is surprisingly easy when your head can swivel 360 degrees, as well as the fact that people are steering clear of the odd pair.]

Comments

[letteropener]

[The first sign of trouble is a startled yelp from above. That gives just enough time for Daniel to look up before a pony plummets through a low-lying cloud up above, wings and legs all asplay.]

[She recovers dexterously, though, twisting in midair to put her hooves down and her wings out, so that her landing on the ground nearby is graceful rather than catastrophic. But she looks startled beyond words.]

[mechanacet]

[More startled than anything, Daniel just stares as he watches the entire spectacle. He blinks, slowly, as if to remind himself that he is still in reality and not in some sort of bizarre dreamscape as he does so.] ...What.

It appears to be a winged Equine of some sort.

I can see that Cam. I do have eyes.

I merely wanted to make sure that you understood what you were seeing.

Thank you Cam. [Daniel shoots the tiny robot a glare]

[letteropener]

[Well, just talk about her as if she isn't here, shall you? Celestia shakes herself, a very equine gesture despite the mane and tail that flow as if in a wind despite the calm air, then clears her throat.]

My apologies. I did not mean to startle you.

[mechanacet]

[Daniel starts when she speaks to him; he definitely did not expect that. However, being English, he manages to recover his composure very quickly] I-it's fine. And I'm sorry, that was rude of me. [In his defense, he does look rather awkward and sorry.]

[letteropener]

[She smiles broadly, to make it clear she has no issue with his behavior.] Unless you routinely have ponies fall out of the sky, I think the reaction is quite understandable. Instead, my guess is that like the others I have met here, you are unused to talking equines?

[mechanacet]

You would be correct. [Daniel winces again at the word 'equines' and Cam has the grace to look about as bashful as a tiny robot centaur can.] Back home, only humans and a select few species possess the ability to talk. But anyway, it's good to meet you, I'm Daniel, and this is Cam [Daniel makes a gesture towards Cam, who is still making themselves as small as possible]

[letteropener]

I am Princess Celestia. [Spreading her wings, she bows her head most regally, a long-practiced maneuver that she barely needs to think about.] It is a pleasure to meet both of you, although the circumstances may leave a little to be desired.

[mechanacet]

[A Princess?!? Daniel takes a second to realize Celestia's station, paling slightly when he does so] Y-you're a Princess? I'm so sorry your majesty! I didn't realize! [Daniel then quickly bows while Cam tries to keep his footing, only just managing to do so.

(The poor boy's not very good at this social stuff, now is he?]

[letteropener]

No need for formality. I am far, far outside my kingdom and my element here. [She lets a small sigh slip as she says that, a testament to how truly throw she is. Normally her serene demeanor would never crack.]

[mechanacet]

Ah, Sorry. Though, to be honest, you're not the only one out of their element here. I'm used to magic and all of that; a lot of my friends have it in one form or another, but traveling to another world? It's the first time such a thing as happened to me, or anyone I know for that matter. [Daniel seems to diminish slightly, he looks tired, like someone who's been alert for too long.]

[letteropener]

I can certainly say the same. I had considered the abstract magical possibility of other worlds, but to have that become sudden reality -- in a far stranger way that I could have imagined...

[A mild shiver makes all of Celestia's wing feathers poof up just a bit, which leads to a surprising increase in her apparent size.]

Nor is this world at all... sensible.

[mechanacet]

There's been speculation in my own world as well, though I guess our current situation counts as proof, doesn't it?

I don't think being trapped in a city with a bunch of other people from random realities inside a big multicoloured bubble fits any definition of sensible, but yeah.

[Daniel sighs, looking tired] I think I'd be more okay with all this if I actually knew what we were here to do. I mean, I assume there's something we're meant to do while here, right?

[letteropener]

A good question... and one that philosophers tend to ask about life as a whole, with equally little chance of coming across a factual answer. For all we know our purpose to be here is simply to be here...

[She is of two minds, one eager to explore the ramifications of her thoughts and the other restraining the first from pointless speculation.]

[mechanacet]

[Daniel frowns, that description reminds him of something from his own world, something that sees his own world in the same way that the Changelings see Equestria.

And they can be fought, I take it? I assume you have ways of detecting if someone has been replaced?

[letteropener]

It is primarily a matter of identifying inconsistencies in behavior... that and the fact that their leader has something of an ego, which proved to be her undoing when she attempted to invade Equestria.

[mechanacet]

[Daniel grins at that.] Ah yes! The legendary Villain Ego. You'd be surprised how often people back on my home planet will give up the upper hand for a chance to gloat. It's truly astonishing.

I've occasionally had to deal with the odd doppelganger after my work, so I can sympathize. Though to be honest, they weren't very good at what they did. Something which I could probably attribute to the people I normally hang around with as they're somewhat... Unique. [Daniel grins again, but looks far away for a moment, as if reliving another time and place.]

[letteropener]

The Changeling Queen came very close to success, I'm afraid. [Celestia remembers the pain of her own defeat all too well, a shadow seeming to pass over her as the memory does.] But she failed in the end, which is all that matters.

[mechanacet]

Very true, though the path to victory is also important. I have seen too many good people compromise themselves in the pursuit of victory. [Daniel shudders slightly, recollecting some of the more recent battles with the Filth, and the sacrifices people have made to try to halt it's inexorable advance.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia smiles, a pure and genuine expression of happiness.]

She was defeated by love. I do not think you have to worry on that score.

[mechanacet]

Fair enough. It sounds like your world's magic works in different ways than my own.

[letteropener]

[Celestia smiles with warm confidence.] I do not believe friendship or love work differently on any world.

[mechanacet]

[Daniel frowns a little in confusion.] Okay, it seems I've missed something.Could you elaborate on how she was defeated?

[letteropener]

Shining Armor and Princess Cadence combined their strength to cast a spell that banished her, and her changeling army, from Canterlot. Neither of them is magically weak, of course, but they could only cast that spell because of the strength of the love that binds them.

[mechanacet]

Ah, so it was their bond that allowed them to work together so closely and cast the spell. That makes sense. Thank you for explaining it to me.

[Daniel thinks for a moment] Heh, kinda reminds me of a couple of friends of mine. I doubt they'd be able to do what they do if they weren't so closely bound.

[letteropener]

[Celestia favors him with a patient look, waiting. He can't simply say that and not elaborate, after all!]