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]

Maybe, but something about the little shadowy beastie I saw earlier seems to say otherwise. [Daniel shrugs] Either way, might as well enjoy our time here, see what there is to see and do what there is to do and such.

So, considering that, I'm sort of in the mood to find something to eat, wanna come? [Daniel's stomach rumbles, as if to prove the point. Daniel's taken a shine to Celestia, he feels they could be good friends as they seem to share similar thoughts about their predicament.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia considers this for a moment, curling one hoof over her mouth as she thinks. There really is no delicate way to put this...]

Does your kind eat plants?

[mechanacet]

Only certain kinds, humans are omnivorous, and diets vary quite greatly among my species, but we lack particularly robust metabolisms. So perhaps a salad bar? [Daniel largely just eats vegetables anyway, they're cheaper than meat products and back home, Kara is actually a vegetarian, so he's largely adopted the lifestyle as well.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia laughs, an edge of nervous relief just coating the edges of the bright sound.] That would be wonderful. Please forgive the impolite question. I just have noticed very clearly that your species has, well, teeth suited to a carnivore.

[Naturally, she has yet to get a good view of human molars.]

[mechanacet]

It's fine, though humans actually have more teeth suited to a herbivorous diet than a carnivorous one, see? [And to show her, Daniel hooks a finger inside his cheek and pulls it out to show her his teeth. Daniel dislikes misconceptions, and will do a surprising amount to avoid or clear them up.]

[letteropener]

Oh! [Well, embarrassed as she is to have encouraged him to do that, she does appreciate the information!] Well, that answers a great deal I had wondered about, then. Your species is so new to my understanding that I feel I barely know where to start.

[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.