private The Æther Project

[Blitz Boom 4,620]

@Illiad Easle

On 2021-02-28 at 6:30 AM, Illiad Easle said:

"We'll be sure to keep them under observation, hopefully your prediction of what they need is accurate, those seeds aren't too common, so if they die it won't be so easy to replace them."

The others would move the plants as Briar indicated and the clipboard pony would go back to their list, "Well, if you want to get some rest, you're free to do so, but if you want to help out, the upper layers are going to need help harvesting in preparation for the turnover."

"If they seem to falter, let me try and help them grow further. At least those we find have some usage, and are not simple weeds. I have yet to find a plant that cannot be saved, with the right tools at hoof. After that, it is mostly a matter of picking a good time to have them grow exponentially, so they can produce seeds for more plants. Yet, one step at a time.

As for rest, perish the thought sir. I have not bled so much, that I cannot stand and walk as stable as ever. And long as I can do so, I can work. If you would be so kind as to lead me to where you'd wish for me to be, and inform me of how you would prefer the harvest to proceed, I will begin as soon as possible. Today may have been long, but it is not yet over, and I do feel an urge to be productive."

At this point, Brittle would have reverted to herself again, and return to try and use Briar as a living shield, as well as whimper, in case somepony got too close to her.

[Windy Breeze 15,189]

@Illiad Easle

Serene lay on his new bed in his new bedroom, contemplating what he should do other than enjoying piece alone. Maybe he should try interacting with the residents of Æther, ay for the job he'd been recommended, or look for a place where he could see the list of the population to look for his family, specifically his mother. He decided to choose the last scenario. He got up from his bed and went out of the room with a look of determination in his face.

...

Shadow smiled mentally upon hearing Pleid acting up according to smart advices given to her. While foalnapping is unlikely to happen in the past, the guilt would come crashing down to the missing foal's parents and their lives broken apart. She knew many more are broken apart due to the reign of terror that is currently occurring which makes Pleid one of the most if not luckiest foals to survive the tragedy despite losing her father and her mother broken both in and outside.

Asked for her own introduction, she sat on the floor beside the filly “I'm Shadow Trail. I hail from Haytona and worked as a freelance photographer” she offered her friend, trying to fabricate a piece of a lie by making herself look more friendly. Of course who would want to meet a Shadowbolt? She will be possibly pelted with yells of accusation from the little filly.

[Windy Breeze 15,189]

@Illiad Easle

I looked at the obviously confused nurse with hidden guilt and embarrassment for puzzling her “Yeah, something related to that” the nurse told us there was a waiting area. Yeah, a waiting area. I forgot some clinics are reserved for waiting families or acquaintance. I went to another waiting area. I sat on one of the couches and waited.

It didn't took long before Tables came back with a new leg prosthetic, talking about doctors telling her she would get a permanent prosthetic days later. I smiled “That's great to hear that” I stood up from my seat and approached her, giving one quick glance to her temporary prosthetic, “So, where do you want to go?”

[Illiad Easle 3,127]

@C. Thunder Dash

The unicorn was very intrigued by what he just witnessed, and came in from the observation room to examine the newly hatched chick directly, "Fascinating! I don't know the types of chickens we keep in our hatchery, otherwise I'd check if this were one of them, but we'll put down as a hypothesis that you can transmute magic into objects, including the troubling prospect that you can imbue life in them as well."

He thought for a moment before continuing, "Do you know whether you're pulling things to you or transmuting them? Could you make something that looks like this?" He quickly sketched out an item, a rather complex one at that (Similar to a Celtic knot). "Could you make this?"

 

@Califorum

A soot grey zebra was the more masculine one, and he nodded towards Maud when she answered the door, "I hope you slept well, the higher ups are eager for us to get down there ASAP, Minostralia is rish with a rare element, Minostralium, which we need. I'll explain more on the way, if you'll quickly gather what personal effects you need with you on the surface then follow me?"

He would wait for Maud to get what she needed then would lead the way towards the hanger area, "You happen to have any experience with Minostralium? It's a metal similar in color and hardness to gold, but with a powerful magical aura. We'll be heading down in a cargo ship, a bit bumpier ride than what you came up in, and spend a few days down there excavating as much material as we can before we need to pull up, we don't want to get overwhelmed by the spawn after all."

Soon enough they'd arrive in the hangar where a pair of other earth ponies as well as a trio of diamond dogs were loading crates into a larger version of the vessel she had been carried up in, this one had four propellers instead of two.

 

Dazzle was a unicorn mare like Trixie, but with a white coat and red mane, "I'll be evaluating you sure, but more in line with where you'd fit best, not your value. Your value is not determined by your abilities after all. Grab whatever you need to perform with and I'll lead you to the training stage. Speaking of, you used to a large stage? Small? Streetside? We want to get as close to your natural element so you can do your very best."

Depending on how Trixie responded Dazzle would lead her to an area similar in structure. If the large stage they'd go to the same theater Zest had had them wait out the cycle in, if small they'd go to a smaller stage that sat near the open air floors, if streetside they'd go to a mostly empty area of the open air deck. "Let me know if you need any supplies to perform with, otherwise go ahead and show me your best."

 

@Kujamih

(You must like complicating things.)

Those gathered shared some looks as Light spoke, the expressions ranged among incredulous, fearful, and indignant. None of them looked very friendly.

On 2021-02-28 at 5:46 AM, Kujamih said:

.... "You see sibling the proof that you know who chrysalis is and me knowing who chrysalis is, is proof that her existance is dominant... For i have only heard of the names you have just spouted now... I might say that those beings you just named may only have existed here.... Maybe you are the ones who are really lied upon by the gods who rule this dimension." Light stared at the sibling that smacked him.

The changelings both looked on Light with contempt, the one that smacked him speaking up, "You're no sibling of ours. You haven't earned any such honor, nor do we give it to any who are not one of us. A Friend you may have been called in another place, but you have not earned that title here."

"Do not think that since you befriended one set of changelings that you've befriended them all. We are not all alike."

 

On 2021-02-28 at 5:46 AM, Kujamih said:

So they sent me to fix this dimension.... Either by removing the cause... Or completely destroying this whole dimension.

The changeling that had smacked him looked to the others, and with a nod from the minotaur he ran out of the room before teleporting away.

The remaining changeling and the minotaur looked much more tense. The minotaur was the one to speak, "What do you mean? How can you change millennia of history? And how can you think to destroy an entire dimension? By your word we've been traveling between dimensions this whole time. Five years we've traveled, we must have crossed through dozens of dimensions by now. All of them affected the same as the one we started in. Are they too to be destroyed because this 'higher being' disapproves of their existence?"

The other changeling soon returned, a number of armed guards with them. It looked like threatening to kill everyone wouldn't go over well.

 

@Jack Baker

The gun had a bit more kick than what he was used to, but it would be easy enough to handle once he took that into account. The minotaur nodded as he watched Raze's stance, "Lokks like you've got some good practice on you then, we'll skip ahead to the special then."

He'd wait to safely take the rifle back from Raze and set it back in it's case before moving to another case and pulling out a gun more akin in style to a grenade launcher along with a bag of ammunition. "This here is the anti-magic launcher, far more effective at taking down the spawn than slugs, but also more dangerous to use. This here is the blasting variant, launches an exploding shell to spread a cloud of antimagic over an area, always shoot it downwind, as you don't want to breath it in."

He pulled out one of the rounds, it had a sickly purple glow to it, and given his attunement to magic Raze could feel the magical voiding properties such a shot contained.  

The minotaur moved to put the launcher away, "But we can't train with this here, not enough space." He switched the launcher out for a rifle of the same style the mare who rescued them had used, "This is what most of the field operatives use, fires a shard of antimagic inert or a vial of the contagious variant. Inert is for the spawn, contagious is for loyalists, stops them from ever using chaos magic, or any magic, again. Can't stress enough how careful you need to be when handling this sort of ammunition."

 

@Blitz Boom

The chief looked impressed by Briar's work ethic, "I'm sure you'll gain some sense soon enough, but may as well make the best of it while you're here." He would lead the way out of the growing area and up a ramp to the layer above where they had started harvesting potatoes, "You can start here, sort the potatoes by quality as you harvest them, nothing's going to waste of course, but some are better served to the livestock than the residents. If you've got any questions anyone here will be happy to answer them." He gestured to the other ponies in the area, about four who had started in one corner and were working along the rows. Given the size of the plot there was no chance they'd finish today, but it sounded like they had a few days to get it done before the soil got cycled.

 

@Windy Breeze

Population, maybe they had a census of the residents? Where would that be, administration? Looking over the map pointed to a few possibilities as to where he might look. Records seemed a safe bet, if they didn't have it they'd likely know where he might look.

The hard part then was navigating the several floors and hallways to get to the records department, which was near the research division. As he walked he was passed by a changeling and a number of armed guards heading in a hurry towards the research division.

If he was undeterred he would soon arrive at the records room, managed by a young looking doe, "Hi there! Looking for something?"

 

Plein looked confused, "Haytona? Never heard of it, then again I haven't heard of most of the places ponies here are from. Is that in Equestria? I'm from Deltrot, that's in Troy, Mr. Wright says that's south of Equestria, or it was. I don't remember it much though, it was hot, and dark." She moved on to Shadow's next point, "A photographer? Wright says my dad was a painter, but not the sort that paints other ponies. He painted abstract things, I don't know what, something that was important before or something."

 

Tables chuckled, "To be perfectly honest? I haven't had a good rest in months, I think I need a good long sleep. So I'll be heading back to our apartments. How about you? You itching to look around?"

Tables would start to head back to the apartments they had picked for themselves unless Windy objected or offered a more intriguing option.

 

[Thundy]

@Illiad Easle

Thundy gathered some electricity and made a rope appear. He then threw it into the air and caught it with his electricity. The rope began to take the shape of the pony’s sketch and soon it was done. Thundy hovered the rope in front of the pony. “There you go.” He said. 

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle

" That's where you're wrong. mother was the only one who truly accepted me.... I just call all changelings siblings to give respect to her."

 

As the guards appeared, Light raised both his front hooves. As a sign of un armed.

 

"Ahhh you see minotaur... Theres the problem.... You've been jumping through too many different dimensions and changing their path.... And usually every dimension has it's own superior beings controlling it.... And they have noticed you. And have taken a liking to your destiny....you do not want multiple gods controlling your faith... Luckily some of the dimensions you jumped through has either dead ones.. or cooperative ones.... But who knows...maybe the reason why you guys cant beat discord is because a superior being wanted to spice up your fates... And seeing that every dimension you jumped into is the same... Means you aren't jumping through another dimension.... You are just going through a different history..... OR you are fighting something entirely more powerful than discord.... Or it could be that this discord has surpassed his Draconicous form and turned into a superior being. One thing i can say is you jumping through different dimensions is spreading the chaos and discord's reach."

" Oh and don't worry, destroying this dimension is quite impossible now.... There are too many writers controlling our fates here. I wouldn't dare destroy this dimension.... So i guess im doing it the hard way.... Repair it. Oh and lucky you guys... I have the one artifact that discord is weak against.... Chrysalis's throne."

 

Edited March 7, 2021 by Kujamih

[Windy Breeze 15,189]

@Illiad Easle

I second her idea, I don't really have plans to get lost in a massive ship-like city. Yeah there may be maps for guidance but there will be still a good chance I'll be running around in a maze and never go back to my room unless helped by some long-time resident here. That would be very embarrassing.

“Yeah, let's go back” I agreed. We walked back to the apartment, checking a few maps just in case we surely went the right way. Gee, just how many public sections does this Æther have, hundreds? I won't be getting the answer unless I took the risk of acting suspicious and getting thrown out of the city. Or worse.

As we head back to the apartments, i decided to give Tables a question “Do you have friends before the attack on Canterlot?”

Edited March 7, 2021 by Windy Breeze

[Windy Breeze 15,189]

@Illiad Easle

For Serene, he felt stupid and dumb for going aimlessly throughout the public areas of the Æther, but hey, atleast he a few gorgeous mares. He would soon find a map of the interior of the Æther which showed a lot places he could and couldn't explore. He was about to choose heading to the lobby, but one room caught his attention.

“Records Department? Mmm, that could be possible they kept census of the population” he mused, “Now how far is that department from my current local Oh...” he frowned. Doctors told him to take some rest especially  he twisted one of his hind legs and was just recently fixed yet now he had to go several floors and corners just to reach the department. He mumbled a swear of anger and began his very lovely adventure to the unknown...

Just kidding, trying to be sound sarcastic.

Several minutes later, he tried his best to avoid inflicting more pain to his hindleg as he felt his tibia burn in agony. He gritted his teeth, hissing out a little bit but low enough to not get any attention from any guards or staffs of nearby administrations. Speaking of guards, He was just passed by a changeling and several armed guards, he looked over his shoulder to stare at them in curiosity before continuing his way. Atleast, they didn't saw him as something suspicious.

He would enter the records department and be greeted by a young doe. Following his town's culture and way of formal greeting when it comes to other creatures, he saluted “Uh, hi there. Are you one of the members of this department? I was just wondering if I could check the population census of this place so I could make sure my family and friends are here. I'm Serene Spring, hailed from Richville.

...

“Haytona is a city in the southeast coast of Equestria just a few miles away south from Horseshoe Bay” Shadow explained before going to the other topic, “An abstract artist huh? I always applaud those who make abstract arts for their creativity, especially even without shapes they still make their paintings very fascinating to the eye”

“If your father's very talented enough to impress the professionals, his work would be featured in some art museum and he will be known by the art population, atleast if some civilization still exist down from here”

[Jack Baker 698]

@Illiad Easle

How interesting.

I grabbed one of the antimagic grenade rounds and observed it. As an earth pony, normally I wouldn't really think too much about these, but now was different. Thanks to the connection I shared with Thanatos, I could feel it. This stuff was bad news.

Think this'd seal you away for a bit? I asked him.

 

I'm afraid so, since it is my magic that binds us, he responded. But it shouldn't be for long. Regardless, I suggest we steer clear of this compound, or at the very least be alert when handling it, as the creature says.

Fair enough.

I slowly put the round back on the table and looked at the new rifle he laid out for me while listening to his rundown on the gun and the special ammunition. Now this stuff-- especially that contagious variant-- seemed even more dangerous to me than the last one. Sensing my concern, Thanatos spoke.

Do not worry, these rounds are incapable of breaking our pact, should they be used on you. The only thing that can break the pact is death. If anything, these should only seal me away for a bit longer.

Well, that answers that, I suppose. Still, best to be safe with this stuff. I looked up at the minotaur.

"Alright... anything else you'd like me to know?" I asked him. "With all due respect, I'd like to get started working as soon as possible."

Edited March 8, 2021 by Jack Baker

[Blitz Boom 4,620]

@Illiad Easle

"It is not my first stint on a potato field. I will work diligently to prove that, as I proceed with the task. Please take care until next we meet."

Briar would bow his head towards the chief, but not even wait for him to leave before beginning on a task that his vines were well suited for. Or rather, the grabbing buds at the end were, as he began to move through, and essentially use them to stab into the dirt, and drag out any potato that he encountered. He'd use his magic to feel out the quality of them, and move slowly through the field as he were doing this, with a big, joyful grin on his face.

After a few square meters, he'd stop up, and use the vines and magic to carry the piles of potatoes towards the slots were he assumed they were needed to be, though he would of course ask the first one he encountered. As well as something else, to sort of simplify things for him.

"Excuse me? I hate to interrupt, but are there any loose containers I may use whilst out in the fields? A few large tubs with handles perhaps? Or crates by any chance? I'd like to complete my work as efficiently as possible, if it is something that can be done. If not, or you are unaware of any containers, then I do apologize for taking up your time. I wish only to work with efficiency, so there can be harvested more."

Really, travel time were what were going to take the longest time, so if he could get some barrels, crates, etc. to work with, he could fill those, and drag them along. A barrel of potatoes were nothing compared to the grueling size of the trees he had been made to drag along, when he were but a slave in his own home, so it should not be too taxing. Though he'd certainly feel it afterwards, but what were not to like, with the pleasant soreness that came, from doing an honest days work?

As for Brittle, she would have followed, and just ensured that whatever potatoes tried to roll away from the piles Briar had made, or dropped off during transport, would be gathered up, and added in again. It wasn't much, but he were picking it up better than she could, so it were really for the better that she just did some simple maintenance work, more or less.

[Illiad Easle 3,127]

@C. Thunder Dash

The researcher looked a bit disappointed, "I suppose that answers that question then. Let's continue..." There was a bit of a commotion in the corridor and the unicorn stepped out to investigate before calling back to Thundy, "Looks like your friend's gone off the deep end. That's more guards than they usually bring down here."

If Thundy weren't interested in seeing what was going on with Light the researcher would shrug before resuming the demonstration, "Alright, what else can you do?"

 

@Kujamih

None of the guards took their eyes off of Light, nor did they relax at his attempt at appeasing them. The minotaur and the changelings left the room to let the guards take over. "Take him down to the psych ward. He's clearly insane, possibly twisted by Discord to cause us problems."

(You are free to object to this sequence at any point, just indicate where in the sequence you attempt to break away.)

Some of the guards would enter the room to surround Light while the others remained outside, "Come along now, don't cause trouble and we won't nullify you." They would not be nearly as nice in moving him as they had the first time.

If Light went along they would take him to a lower level, not quite so low as when he was suspected as being a loyalist, the walls had the same sterile white aesthetic as the research division. They marched him past a bored looking receptionist who rolled here eyes as one of the guards went to speak to her quietly while Light was marched deeper into what was apparently the psych ward. He would be led to an empty room not unlike the apartment he had selected for himself earlier and told to get in. After which the door would be shut and he would be left alone for a time.

A few minutes later the door would open and a feminine looking changeling would enter, "Hello there! I'm Dr. Coxa. Care to explain why you were brought down here?" unlike the other changelings he had seen so far, she had the same coloration as Chrysalis' changelings.

 

@Califorum

On 2021-03-07 at 12:16 PM, Maud Pie said:

You mention the spawn. We could weaponize this element, use it as a power source or combine it with some rare reactive explosive and make a pretty potent explosive.

Blast shook his head, "The higher ups already have a bunch of uses they need for it, apparently it can make the project run smoother, and anything that takes the nausea out of the cycle is fine by me. Worry not, we'll make sure you've got the best equipment we can give you. Efficiency is our top priority."

(More to follow)

 

Dazzle would lead Trixie to a streetside area near where the fruit trees are, "Do be careful about the trees and all your surroundings, the ground here is not nearly as robust as you may be used to, and we've already had too many performers knock themselves through the floor trying to do their show."

Other than that she would simply observe Trixie's performance. There weren't too many others walking about at the moment, but the few that did come by did seem impressed by the show.

After about half an hour Dazzle would signal for her to stop, "Very impressive, is there another form you'd like to try? How long at a time do you thing you could keep up a performance on the street? It's no problem if you can't perform for too long right now, no doubt you'll need some time to get back to your full strength, we just need to have a sense so we know where and when to schedule you for optimal moral boosting."

 

@Windy Breeze

Tables walked awkwardly at first, but soon got the hang of her new prosthetic and walked with a smile on her face that she hadn't had in a very long time.

The smile faded a bit when Windy asked about her previous friends, "Oh, um... not really. I wasn't exactly a very social mare, nor was I good at making friends. I mostly just worked all day and kept to myself when not at work. I never had any siblings, and my parents weren't very present in my life. They were old already when they had me, and they passed away before the incident, so I was already pretty much alone when it happened." She sighed, "There were many times when I was running or hiding when I wondered what the point was. I didn't have anyone to live for, no one would miss me if I died, why keep trying? When I lost my leg I very nearly allowed myself to get caught if only so it would end. Now though, I'm glad I kept moving, I'm going to try making some real friends here. How about you?"

 

On 2021-03-07 at 5:21 PM, Windy Breeze said:

he twisted one of his hind legs and was just recently fixed yet now he had to go several floors and corners just to reach the department. He mumbled a swear of anger and began his very lovely adventure to the unknown...

(You're allowed to not go along with the path I suggest when I lay out a sequence for you. All I'm doing is indicating what you'd find if you go down the path you indicated. It does not obligate you to go down that path.)

The doe gave a polite bow in response to Serene's salute, "That I am. As to a census, we still haven't received all the records from the newest batch of immigrants, but if they came aboard in one of the previous cycles we could take a look. What're their names and original cities? I'll take a look for you."

(You'll need to indicate who, if any, of them you'd like to have survived. You'll be free to interact with them at some point.)

 

Plein shrugged, Wright says he wasn't very well known until he got into politics. He says my dad knew Princess Luna personally, but I don't know if I believe that. I think Wright likes to make my dad seem cooler than he was so I think better of him. She thought for a moment before asking another question, "Do you have a family? Here I mean, that came with you?"

 

@Jack Baker

The minotaur looked surprised but also pleased at Raze's eagerness to get started, "It just so happens that we need some more guards for the mining expedition leaving shortly. If you're really ready to head out let me sign out your rifle to you with some extra ammunition and we can send you down with them."

The minotaur would take care of some paperwork rather quickly, then return with Raze's rifle and a pouch of extra ammo. "Here you are, now if you'll follow me I'll bring you to the crew."

He would lead the way to the door and wait for Raze to exit before locking up the range behind them.

 

@Califorum @Jack Baker

Raze and Maud were brought together in the hangar with the other guards and miners that would be heading out. Blast got their attention once all the supplies were loaded, "I suggest you all get to know each other, you'll be spending the next several days in close proximity, so now is the time to work out your differences."

 

@Blitz Boom

One of the earth ponies chuckled to himself as he nudged another pony near him, "Whatidi tellyas? One of these days the plants would start picking themselves! I toldya all that science and magic hooey would go too far one day."

He chuckled again as he turned his attention back to Briar, "I tease! You aint the first plant pony I've seen, but you're the biggest by far."

He gestured towards the bins they were using, "We've got these bins we drag along with us, why dontcha work over here with us, that way the bins are always nearby? What's with the cute little filly you got witcha? You two hitchedr somtin?"

 

[Windy Breeze 15,189]

@Illiad Easle

I feel bad for the mare but ateast she had nopony left to worry about. Thinking too much about your missing friends is not very helpful, I mean it, I can still feel it nagging me behind my mind telling me I have to find them. I'm just very glad she's going to start a new life here and make friends.

“Try to make friends to ponies like you in the Æther all while waiting for my friends left in the surface to be rescued. I got a lot of friends living in Ponyville and I don't know what happened to them. I was at Cloudsdale at that time” 

[Thundy]

@Illiad Easle

"I just hope Light's gonna be okay. Anyway, next..." Thundy stated. He gathered some electricity and made his Yu Gi Oh card binder appear. He searched for his Dark Magician card and pulled it out from the sleeve. He then rested the binder on a nearby table. "You may want to take a few steps back." Thundy warned. He then gathered some electricity and let it out on the card. The Dark Magician Card began to glow and all of a sudden, Thundy was sucked into the card rapidly. The card began to fall to the ground like a feather. A second later, out came Thundy draped in the Dark Magician's attire with the power of the Dark Magician as well. Thundy twirled his wand. "And that's called power binding. Rarely do I use it nowadays. To do it, I create a small dimensional pocket where I can connect with the Dark Magician to use it's abilities. As you can see, I have taken the appearance of the Dark Magician with this armor, hat and other features, but I'm still a griffon." Thundy said spreading his wings, which were now covered with dark purple metal plates. 

[Windy Breeze 15,189]

@Illiad Easle

17 minutes ago, Illiad Easle said:

The doe gave a polite bow in response to Serene's salute, "That I am. As to a census, we still haven't received all the records from the newest batch of immigrants, but if they came aboard in one of the previous cycles we could take a look. What're their names and original cities? I'll take a look for you."

(You'll need to indicate who, if any, of them you'd like to have survived. You'll be free to interact with them at some point.)

Serene smiled “Thank you. I got a lot of ponies I wanted to find but only two of them are very important to me: Maple Rain and Camper. They are my parents and both of them are pegasi, we live in the small town of Richville located on the base of a hill southwest of foal mountains. I may have left their pictures in my room”

...

So her dad knew Princess Luna? That was what came into Shadow's thought He must been working in Canterlot Invasion when Discord started his chaotic spree. In the other hoof, Wright might have been saying lies to Plein. Maybe her dad was actually a snob and Wright is one of his friends. There's no need to think negatively, she's talking to a filly not a full grown stallion.

23 minutes ago, Illiad Easle said:

"Do you have a family? Here I mean, that came with you?"

“I had no family” Plein may find this very wrong as Shadow was saying this casually, “I do have parents but they passed away when I was young and another mother decided to take care of me despite the bad reputation she's having. Unfortunately, that problem became the reason why she left me to fend myself. Lucky me I went adrift to the city of Haytona and started a new lie” a part of the story is true and while the other is a lie.

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle

"Oh hello doctor.... Co-xa? Am i pronouncing that right sister?.... I'm here because i said the truth. And apparently in this dimension, chrysalis is not the only queen around here... Which is weird... The dimension is so distorted here.... And theys should really stop jumping through other dimension.... Discord wont be the only problem you guysll have."

[Jack Baker 698]

@Illiad Easle @Califorum

After I got my gear and was escorted to the group I was meant to guard, I nodded to the minotaur as he left. "Take care, boss," I said to him.

A mining expedition, eh? Sounds good. I looked around at the various miners getting ready. None of them particularly stuck out to me... save for one. A grey earth pony; purple haired chick, with the most stone-faced, deadpan look I've ever seen. Like all the life had been sucked out of her. If this were Royal Guard boot camp, she'd definitely give the other recruits a run for their money when it came to military bearing...

"Wonder what her deal is..." I said under my breath.

I do not sense anything particularly strange about her, Thanatos chimed in. Perhaps that is simply the way she is.

Always observing every creature you come across, eh Than?

Of course. If danger lurks, I will know. And be ready to strike, should the need arise.

...Fair enough.

Still, never seen anypony like that before, and I couldn't help but walk up to her.

"Hey... you good? You seem a bit... out of it."

[Jack Baker 698]

@Califorum

Sweet Celestia above, she even sounds dead too.

"Me? I'm doing alright," I responded back to her. "I, uh, was just wondering because... well, I'm not really sure how to, uh, put this, but you looked a little... uhhhh..."

I twirled my left hoof, trying to think of what to say without somehow offending her.

"...Spaced... out??"

[Jack Baker 698]

 

@Califorum

As she looked directly at me, eyes seemingly staring into the depths of my soul, I could only stare back with a combination of both surprise and confusion, mouth slightly agape. 

"D-uh... I... uhhh... ok then." That was all I could manage to get out. What was up with this chick? Can't really seem to get a read on her, can't really tell what she's feeling. No change in her tone, not even the slightest change in her expression. In a weird sense, it was like... well, talking to a rock.

I managed to compose myself a bit, and sighed, looking away a bit. "Look... I'm sorry if I might have offended you, or weirded you out in some way. I was just a bit... concerned you might not be feeling well is all, and I wouldn't want anypony going out there if they were... well, out of it."

I looked back at her. "Let's start over then." I extended a hoof. "Name's Raze. I actually just got here today."

[Jack Baker 698]

@Califorum

"Pleasure to meet ya," I said as I shook her hoof. I looked down at the rock she showed me.

"...Huh. Pet rock, huh? Interesting..." I nodded at her.

I cannot sense anything special about that stone... why does she carry such a mundane object with her? Thanatos questioned.

It's, well... we call them "pet rocks", Than. They're like... sentimental objects someponies carry around and treat them like companions.

Mmmm... do all creatures partake in such a ritual?

Not all... most do. Hell, even I had one as a colt, just because. I called 'im Pete. Cuz you know, it sounds like... peat. Like the coal...?

....How peculiar.

Oh, shut it.

I turned my attention back to Maud. "So, I guess you really like this stuff? You know, mining and all that."

Edited March 11, 2021 by Jack Baker

[Jack Baker 698]

@Califorum

"That's cool!" I said to her with a nod. "Me personally, well... my talent lies in martial arts. Or more just like fighting in general, I suppose. Could pick up just about any weapon or fighting style out there. I'm a pretty quick learner." I turned to show her my crossed swords mark. "I was in the Royal Guard, before all of this. Served as one of Celestia's personal guards, before it all went down. So you don't gotta worry to much about the spawn down there. You're in good hooves." I smiled slightly at her.

[Jack Baker 698]

@Califorum

I tilted my head slightly. "No I don't... well I mean, it is a cutie mark, so I didn't really think about something like that..."

Suddenly, I had a thought. I drew my blade, and showed it to her.

"Maybe you could tell me what metals my actual sword is made of?"

[Jack Baker 698]

@Califorum

"Hmmm..." I looked at my blade and sheathed it. "I actually don't know myself. The smith never did tell me what the blade was made of, which is why I asked. He called it a trade secret of his. But--and I don't mean to knock your knowledge or anything-- I can say with certainty it ain't cobalt steel. Sure, cobalt is very hard and has a high temp resistance, which makes it good for tools like drills. But when you use it for something like a sword, that hardness can make the blade really brittle, since it doesn't have much flexibility. Meaning if you swing that sucker at a hard enough surface, the force of the impact will shatter the blade at the point of contact, since lack of flexibility in the material means the force can't be distributed across the volume of the blade..."

Oh crap. I just realized what I was doing, and I started to wave my hoof dismissively.

"Ah, b-but you don't have to care about that! I was just getting carried away; I wasn't trying to outdo your know-how on metals, which I'm sure you know waaaayy more about than me. That smith I was talking about just happened to teach me a little about weaponsmithing, is all..."

I shook my head and sighed. Smooth Raze. Real smooth...

"...Sorry. I, uh, tend to geek out over the things I'm passionate about."

[Blitz Boom 4,620]

@Illiad Easle

On 2021-03-10 at 7:40 AM, Illiad Easle said:

One of the earth ponies chuckled to himself as he nudged another pony near him, "Whatidi tellyas? One of these days the plants would start picking themselves! I toldya all that science and magic hooey would go too far one day."

"Yes. I have risen from the dirt to protest your fragrant disregard for picking me up. I am but a simple potato, yearning to feel wanted."

At this point, he had heard the jokes enough that Briar figured that he may as well play along. No harm, no foul, no?

On 2021-03-10 at 7:40 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He chuckled again as he turned his attention back to Briar, "I tease! You aint the first plant pony I've seen, but you're the biggest by far."

He gestured towards the bins they were using, "We've got these bins we drag along with us, why dontcha work over here with us, that way the bins are always nearby? What's with the cute little filly you got witcha? You two hitchedr somtin?"

"Worry not, I enjoy a hearty bit of humor. Especially after these rather dim times that have been in recent years. Some joy is gravely needed after that began.

I am surprised you mention you have met other plant ponies however. Others I have met does not seem to be aware of us evergrown, or think us mere fairy tales. Might I ask more into how you know my kind? Or perhaps, have you been in contact with dryads instead? I hear they are somewhat akin to us, but more varied in potential shapes."

He had never personally met them, but there were enough differences between them and his kind, that he felt certain it wasn't just a matter of mistaken identity, that had lead to them. For example, they could turn into plants, speak with animals, and had a history spanning millennia, rather than the evergrown's six hundred years. All strong indicators.

"As for your offering of working with you here, I humbly accept the kind invitation. I will do what I can to not slow down your progress. Neither will Brittle, whom are the filly you can see stand behind me. Please respect her personal space, and understand that her not saying something is not a sign of disrespect. It is fear, which sadly holds her tightly in its grip.

And while I think very fondly of her, we are not a couple. It is more correct to consider me her friend and protector, though I primarily refer to myself as her ward. Neither of us are in relationships. With her fear of essentially all we encounter, and my physical properties not being build for the base desire of other species, it is not something which seems likely to happen anytime soon. Unless of course, another evergrown does find her way up here. Preferably a delightful little snow lily of the northern variants, but ah, I digress. May I continue working? You are free to ask more as I do so, if you wish."

Briar - with brittle in tow - would get on to these ranks, and continue doing things as they did before. There seemed to be several days worth of work here, so it seemed they wouldn't be bored anytime soon, which Briar were thankful for. A solid, calm routine were desperately needed for a chance of Brittle improving but a little, and this may provide that relief.

[Jack Baker 698]

@Califorum

"Ah... Well I did have that much figured out," I said to her. As she moved away from me to sit down, I rubbed the back of my head with my hoof. Still couldn't really tell if she was offended or whatever. But that didn't really stop me from taking a seat next to her.

"So you know a bit about metalsmithing, eh? That's pretty cool. You know a lot more than you seem..." I paused for a bit, not really sure what else to say. Did I need to say anything? Why was I trying to push a conversation on her? I guess I just didn't want it to end on an awkward note or whatever...

"Oh, that reminds me, I mentioned what I did, but you never really told me what you did before all this. Did you have some sort of mining job back then?"

[Jack Baker 698]

@Califorum

Her answer was as blunt and to the point as usual, but for some reason, I could almost see a hint of... irritation in her otherwise unmoving glance. I slowly looked away, fearing I might have struck a nerve.

"Ah... I see." Welp, Raze, you didn't want it to be awkward, and you somehow managed to achieve the complete opposite of your goal. Awesome.