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

[mechanacet]

It's fine, , I really hate it when people are misinformed. Unfortunately, I'm not a biologist, so I can't tell you the ins and outs of humanity as a species. However, I can try and answer any questions you might have. [Daniel starts to lead the way, meandering through the streets with his eyes open for a suitable veggie bar or cafe as they continue to talk.

Cam has settled down on Daniel's shoulder, merely looking about at the passing buildings, keeping lookout for anything out of the ordinary.]

[letteropener]

I will be happy to answer what I can about ponies in turn, though I understand that some humans are at least familiar with earth ponies. [Or such is the impression she has gotten in her discussions, strange as that is.]

[mechanacet]

That's true, though I've never seen a pony with a horn, or wings for that matter. What significance do they serve in your world? Outside of the obvious, of course. [Daniel is being fairly considerate with his questions. Normally, he rattles them off faster than most can keep up.]

[letteropener]

There are three types of ponies in Equestria. Unicorns have horns, and can do magic; pegasi have wings, and control the weather; earth ponies have neither, and are connected to the land and the living. Princesses are those ponies who have have earned the right to become alicorns, and as such, we have all three gifts.

None of them is working properly here, however. [She frowns, first up at her horn, then back at the cloud she had fallen through.]

Soryy this took so long, I was struggling with wording ><

[mechanacet]

[Daniel is listening closely, and from what he's seen so far, he's starting to come up with a theory] I see, I have a bit of a theory about why your abilities might not be working. In short, I think that whatever magic brought us here and granted us mystical gifts or whatever also might be interfering with your own abilities. It might be that in order for whatever abilities this word grants you to work, it needs to dampen your natural powers?

Either that, or your powers might be restricted to working only on your homeworld. Hmmmm.... [Daniel is doing the Daniel thing again, he is very likely to tangent into magical metaphysics or something if Celestia doesn't stop him.]

[letteropener]

[As if Celestia minds! The only problem in this whole conversation is that her granted magic seems to be simply a subset of her normal magic, which has her confused.]

Well, I am not surprised I cannot move the sun here, but I have not received any new magic, merely lost most of what I already possessed. Nor can I control the weather any more, which is even stranger.

[mechanacet]

Most? What powers do you still have? [Daniel gets the feeling like he may be onto something here, Celestia might not realize it, but her remaining abilities might be the ones given by this place and she's just using them like she would her normal abilities.] And the weather? I'm pretty sure pretty much everything here works at the whims of that bloke in the tacky sunglasses, so he's likely got control of that over anyone else.

[letteropener]

All I have is the ability to make light, any more. [The rarest of abilities, at that, but perfectly expected for a princess who raises the sun. She leans her head back to demonstrate, bringing a golden glow up around her horn.]

[mechanacet]

[Daniel's not surprised to hear that, based on the facts that he's still learning of the various powers in this world, as well as her previously stated abilities. But he is rather impressed when she demonstrates] Impressive... I wonder... Can you only produce this light from your horn? Can you manipulate it in any way? [Now that magic's the subject of conversation, Daniel's having to try harder to restrain himself from asking too many questions at once.]

[letteropener]

Normally, light is a secondary effect to magic, a side-effect of patterning magical energy through mental energy. [She casually tosses her head, sending what looks like it should be a withering bolt of energy into a nearby building. But it's only light. Nothing happens.] But this seems to have no magical energy in it at all.

[mechanacet]

[Daniel grins at the demonstration, based on what he's seen so far while in Freesia city, Celestia just might be one of the strongest vs the shadows.] Maybe not against a building, but have you used it on one of the shadows that are stalking the city yet? [He points down an alley, where, sure enough, a shadow-beast about the size of a large rat is busy skulking.]

[letteropener]

[He should have seen her before she came here.]

Shadow beast...?

[Celestia turns her attention to the creature with no small amount of surprise. Wait, what exactly is that thing...?]

[mechanacet]

Shadow-beast. They're something of a problem according the that guy with the Tacky Glasses. How about trying out your light-ray on that?

[Daniel makes a gesture which seems to say "Be my guest" Cam has his little sword in case things go wrong.]

[letteropener]

[The pony hesitates. Simply attacking something, especially on another's say-so, goes against her nature entirely. The creature has done her no harm, after all.]

What is it, exactly?

[mechanacet]

Some sort of... Thing... made of shadow. [Daniel looks uncomfortable while looking at the thing, it seems to remind him of something.] They're a plague on the local residents and apparently one of the reasons we were brought here, as far as I've been able to find out.

[letteropener]

Hm. Well, you must understand that I am reluctant to proceed simply on the basis of it being a shadow creature. After all, my own sister is the Princess of the Night. Darkness as a physical quality does not imply anything about its morality or ethics.

[mechanacet]

[Daniel raises his hands, seemingly in defeat, and sighs.] Fine, fine. In my defense though, I didn't know your sister was the Princess of the Night back on your homeworld. But... Just be careful, those things are definitely not friendly.

[The shadow-monster has noticed the peculiar pair by this point, and is slinking towards them through the alley.]

[letteropener]

[Giving credence to his words, Celestia keeps a close eye on the shadow. Though she is not assuming it will attack, she is prepared in case it does -- but she will give it the benefit of the doubt before striking first.]

[mechanacet]

[The Shadowy thing continues to tail them, sticking to darker sections when it can, but moving quickly between bits of cover when it's path is interrupted by patches of light.

Daniel has also spotted a likely candidate for a place that would sell them food. He points it out.] Over there seems like a good place to get something to eat, shall we?

[letteropener]

[Celestia never truly turns her attention away from the creature, but she is good at multitasking.]

Yes, by all means. I trust your opinion on the matter.

Sorry about the long wait, I hit something of a writer's block.

[mechanacet]

[Daniel may have taken his eyes of the creature, but Cam certainly hasn't. The little robot is staring at the little shadowbeast as Daniel leads Celestia into the salad bar, where a somewhat surly waiter directs them towards adequate seating for the pair of them.

The Shadow-beast remains in the shadows outside the salad-bar, slinking around briefly before heading out of sight.

Daniel flicks through the small menu, looking somewhat wistful. whatever thoughts he's having, however, fade to the back of his mind when turns his head to face Celestia again.] So, you've told me some stuff about your world. Is there anything you'd like to hear about mine? It's only fair after all.

[letteropener]

[Well, this is an interesting place indeed. Celestia appraises it with a careful look around, judging its ambiance and offerings before turning her attention back to her new friend.]

You humans are the dominant species, I take it, but what other ones are common?

[mechanacet]

In terms of other sentient species, I know of a few, though they're not really that common unless you go to their own territory so it's mostly just humans all the way down.

In terms of non-human contact, I've spoken with vampires, werewolves, ghosts, a few fairies, the occasional half-divinity, elementals of various types, far too many magic users with delusions of grandeur, and bees.

[Despite how definitively Daniel gave this list, (counting them off on his fingers no less) he is leaving something out. The young man leans back in his chair, directing a questioning glace at Celestia.] Your turn, outside of ponies, what sentient species do you have back home?

[letteropener]

The species capable of speech are ponies, of course, then donkeys, zebras, Diamond Dogs, griffons, Breezies, changelings, minotaurs, centaurs, sea serpents, and a number of other creatures that appear in even smaller numbers.

[Equestria and its corresponding world are some seriously diverse places.]

[mechanacet]

[Daniel is somewhat surprised for a moment at the sheer range of sentients Equestria has.] I've heard of most of those, but not Diamond Dogs, Breezies or changelings. Could you explain them further? As for the rest, the only ones you mentioned who are capable of speech in my world are centaurs, though they keep to themselves as humanity isn't really the nicest of species.

[That they are, Daniel's earth is the sort of world where every conspiracy theory, myth and legend generally finds a way to ruin your day, with a few notable exceptions.

The biggest problem species back home is something Daniel hasn't mentioned yet, but it's why he's got a no tolerance policy against the Nox. He didn't kill the one who is still lurking outside because it'd be impolite to ditch his conversational partner.]