mylittlejamjar | [Visual] -8th Shadow- No absence of light...

[The scroll opens on Crmsn looking down into it, it's flat on the ground and he's hovering over it. It's pretty obvious that he's barely given himself time to breath since getting back. There's also a rather...unclear focus in his eyes.]

Alright. Alright I just...I need a second here just...okay the-nngh...

[He winces a little and shakes his head roughly.]

Ugh...kay...I...okay...the dive into Calice. Right. We went in, we did our thing...J-A's team is still in there s'far as I know. Ya might have already seen, but we lost one on the way out...I just...I wanted to give this a day but...

[He lets out a deep exasperated breath.]

First things first...I know there's a lot of feelings going around...believe me I know what it's like. And...digital gods...'Shy was brave, and is a wonderful pony. She'd be the first to tell us it was okay though. She was shy, and meek, but she was strong enough to put our needs above hers and put herself in harms way so we would be okay. That was friendship. That was bravery, and kindness the likes of which any person here would be lucky to find in their lifetime. And I for one am going to pull myself off my sorry arse and not stop believing in her. One way or another we're going to get her back.

[He takes another breath and re-steadys himself.]

...Second. Regarding Calice...

[He mulls something over and shifts a little uncomfortably, then looks back to the scroll.]

I've given this a lot of thought, and I don't think Calice and Twilight are the same...I want to say entity. I think they're sharing the same body and I don't know which we keep speaking to, but I'd imagine Twilight's still in there fighting back for control. I think...I think the power in control is getting stronger, and it keeps having to exert more control to keep its hold on her. It's...it's theory right now, but that was not the same force we felt the last time we were in there, and it was not...it wasn't as...as...nngh...

[He eases back looking more frustrated than tired and rubs at his temple.]

Fracking...work dangit! I need you to think more and hurt less. Coherent! That's the word. It wasn't as coherent as it was last time. It was more disjointed...i-it was...

Look I know this might sound strange, and everything hurts right now, but this is what I need you guys to do. For...for our friends. Don't give up on them. Don't start thinking this is hopeless. They are not gone. Fluttershy...the Twilight of that world...bit every pony that's been taken. They need our bravery, for us to face forwards. Keep them in your hearts and believe in their strength. We will get them back. So please, for them. Don't lose heart.

[He nods to the scroll, a little more affirmative in his stance.]

We all hurt, but hurting isn't going to get them back to us...that's all I have to say right now. If you want more answers I'll try and answer anything I can over the scroll, if you want someone to yell at, you can find me at the Decanter soaking this headache in a hard cider.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Really? You thought that?

I thought that too!

Glad to know I'm not alone at least.

Yeah, she kept talking different! I mean, her voice sounded different - it never REALLY sounded a whole lot like Twi anyway, but you know what I mean?

Uh...no...actually. I hadn't...noticed the fluctuations......

[He was a little too focused on not snapping and putting everyone at risk with his powers like last time.]

You're saying you could tell the difference in her voice? Between Calice and Twilight?

Well...no. I don't know.

[Pinkie looks at her hooves, dragging one back and forth against the ground for a moment.]

I mean, neither of them were exactly Twilight anymore. I'dve recognized her when she first showed up if they were! But they weren't the same either. Maybe one was more her than the other one.

Well that's at least more of a confirmation than straight theory like mine. Thank you Pinkie...

[It's cementing an idea further and further in his mind.]

Anything else you noticed?

Um...I dunno, I guess she got pretty rambly when she was talking about futile and everything returning to her and all that? Which doesn't even really make any sense, 'cause I'm pretty sure most things haven't even been in there yet, so they can't go back!

Plausible and possible...but I think it's just confused primal instinct of the entity. All that it knows and understands is absorbing everything and breaking it down to nothing...

"Eliminate all possibilities and what you have left over is the truth," kind of thinking...hmm...

She wants an answer to something that keeps eluding her...Which reminds me that we need to look into the Everfree...not sure if she meant here, or over there though...all things considered though, I think here.

Iiiiiii don't think we'd get a whole lot of exploring done in there.

Cause the ambient magics of the forest, right. But we know there used to be a castle in there right? Luna...or Starswirls......

Oh, I meant in HER! But probably not a whole lot here either. It's kinda full of monsters and stuff, y'know?

But sure, I've been to that castle loads of times! Zetta's living there now!

I thought Zetta's castle and the castle that one of the Princesses used to use in there were two separate things?

Naaah, it's the same one! He just fixed it up! And I think they both used to live there - Twilight said it was called the Castle of the Two Sisters, back when we went there for the Elements!

What about the time all the magic went into the forest, that wasn't Zetta too, was it?

Nah, I don't really know what THAT was.

My guess is the 'Anomaly in the trees'...either that or she was talking about Twilight from Mayfield. She had an interest in her after all.

Yeeeeah, but that Twi isn't living in the library. Or any other trees, really. I bet it's TOTALLY the forest thing!

We should head out there and see if we can find anything!

We should...but maybe after a day of resting up, I'd like for this headache to just stop first.

Yeah. Yeah, I've got some stuff I've gotta do too.

[There's a pause before she speaks again.]

...I think maybe I shouldn'tve gone in there.

[Crmsn pauses and blinks at her.]

What makes you say that?

Well, I thought I could maybe just throw a party and treat her like another Twilight, instead of some big giant evil THING, but...it kinda didn't work out too well. And I was thinking, Twilight wasn't too big on parties when she very-VERY first showed up in town, so maybe she doesn't even like them anymore now?

I mean, I know she DOESN'T, she doesn't like anything anymore. But the still-Twilighty part!

Pinkie, Twilight is...well she's kinda lost right now. Calice has had control of her for...Azulongmon knows how long. She's still in there though.

[He rubs at his cheek.]

If it's anything like what happens to me...she's been forced to watch everything going on. She's watched her friends and family become broken, the world around her falter and fail...it's like a nightmare she can't wake up from. I'm sure Calice would love that...

Twilight probably doesn't remember herself too well, and it'll take some time, but I know we can do it. Which is why we need to be strong for her. So...maybe not parties, but definitely your big heart. You're her friend after all. That's more important.

Iiiiif you say so.

I really wish we still had the Elements to use, though. Those cleared Princess Luna up pretty quick.

[Visual] -8th Shadow- No absence of light...

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