10th Nightfall - New Moon [Visual, the night after the PokéPonies event]

[noxequus]

[It was night when Luna arrived back in Ponyville, and the first thing she did - in disguise as Dream Weaver, of course - was to buy a newspaper for no other reason than to check the date. After that it was a short time spent reconfirming that yes, this was the Equestria she thought it was - nowhere else would have the Night Market, after all - and trying to gather her thoughts over a coffee.

Yes, a coffee. It would be scandalous, if she didn't make it a point to avoid detection at all times. She's gotten better at that since she left... though it may be that one brighter star lurking right behind her mane making such things a reality.

When all is said and done, though, it's somewhere close to midnight when the scroll comes to life, the princess having not remembered to drop the disguise spell.]

This is Luna of the Night Market. Sixty days has been dilated into approximately six hundred.

We require an immediate report on the current situation of this Equestria, as well as a list of all who have vanished and who have arrived in our absence.

Comments

[superstylishsquid]

That's...going to be a long story. We've made some pretty big discoveries while you've been gone.

As for who's disappeared, Dan vanished a while ago.

[vis]

[noxequus]

"A while ago" - quite vague for someone who is usually a stickler for detail, is it not?

I have nothing but time at this point, however. The story could be as long as the neverending night I once desired, and yet I would still be free to listen.

[vis]

[superstylishsquid]

It's been a long few weeks, alright?

*He rubs at his snout with one hoof and sits down on the roof he paused to check the scrolls on.*

I haven't seen him since the start of the month, so either he's been playing hookie or he's gone. Given that I haven't even seen his juvenile pranks around, I'm inclined to think the latter.

[fckingcazadors]

Luna? I wanted to talk to you.

*He expected you to look...different.*

But I'm afraid I don't really have any good information I can give you about how this place is. There is a...announcement on these scrolls you'll probably want to look at. Right before yours.

[noxequus]

[She's got disguise magic active; it's probably messing up the Pip, too. Since she hasn't been called out on it, she hasn't made the effort to dismiss the spell.]

What need have you for a pony who was little more than a footnote in the history of this Equestria over the past two moons?

[Even if she couldn't find that announcement, Pollo has helpfully filled her in.]

[fckingcazadors]

*The Pip-boy doesn't really pick up over the comms, but it would drive it crazy in person.*

You're the owner of the Night Market, right?

[text]

[soulofblue]

[Well, of course Pollo immediately goes about trying to write up a report of everything that has happened for Luna. He was worried when she left, and she's done so much to help him.]

I haven't got a list of arrivals and departures. But we've learned some new things about the Pale Pony. This was found in some ancient ruins in Stalliongrad:

[Here, he copies out the poem Captain Celestia recorded.]

Also, Jappleack says that she went...inside the Pale Pony. Melissa's Equestria is there. All of them, absorbed into her.

[text]

[noxequus]

[Luna looks over that statement, and the poem, considering it.

It is another pony, likely another alicorn, fallen from grace. She should likely be as shocked and aghast as her sister would be, and yet she finds she lacks even an ounce of sympathy.]

I see. Do you at least know the status of individuals?

[text]

[soulofblue]

She says that they're alive in there, but it watches them and talks about tests and theories. Sometimes they can get out, but that draws increased attention, which...I imagine is not a pleasant experience. It was most fixated on Honeycomb - the real one - and a Spike when she left.

[voice][Venus filter]

[crescentbeams]

Sailor Venus reporting in.

We've managed to get information on the Pale Pony, its not all good, as you've probably been informed, already.

[voice][Private]

[noxequus]

Indeed. Our best option is to gather an overwhelming force and obliterate the beast from within.

However, I know many who will disagree with such methods.

[voice][Private]

[crescentbeams]

Well, its a strategy I'm personally not all that unopposed to or unfamiliar with. Sometimes a show of power is all it takes.

The problem is knowing our overall strength in comparison to the Pale Pony's. A lot of our powers have been blunted, probably by that creature. If we want to do something like that, we have to do some footwork to figure out just how we get rid of that advantage it holds over us.

[Visual]

[foolish_seal]

I'm sure everypony's informed you of what went down with some new discoveries we've made with the Pale Pony recently already. I could tell you what I know but they probably know more. There's been a number of minor incidents, as well, but nothing extremely pressing, as far as we know.

Night Market's been doing well, though. Lost a guard recently, but no dangerous changes.

[Visual]

[noxequus]

Tell me of the minor incidents. There is a grander picture here than I am being held privy to, and I would rather not be blindsided by whatever lies the periodicals here shall weave.

[iron_mare]

[Liz swallows dryly as she comes on the scroll. Something is clearly amiss by how somber she is.]

...Donatello disappeared. Just yesterday.

[noxequus]

I see.

[Having read up on what is new, she's not entirely certain to feel about that.]

That is not all that bothers you.

[Text]

[magicalrealist]

Donatello, Dan and Chrysalis have all gone missing, Don only a few days ago, Dan and Chrysalis shortly after the Summer Sun Celebration. Don vanished into rainbows, so I can only assume the same for the other two.

Zetta attempted to locate the Frozen Fire of Friendship in order to use its power to conquer Equestria. It ultimately failed, but during the counterattack a poem was located in Stalliongrad. This poem hinted at the origin of the Elements of Harmony and possibly the Pale Pony herself.

Dante was possessed by another offworlder and kidnapped Yukiko. They've been rescued, but from what I've heard, it wasn't completely clean. These three events happened during the same time period: near the end of June.

Resident of Ponyville began turning into Pokemon last week. I don't know what caused it, but last I checked, it's affected everyone in town.

Meanwhile, Minako, Patchouli, Pollo and I are currently in Stalliongrad researching the poem discovered in June. We haven't found anything yet, but I feel we may be close. After we're through here, I'll be conducting a search for more answers across the Frozen Continent.

[Text, Private]

[noxequus]

Keep your eyes open for Zetta. He is not an enemy despite his actions, he is our greatest asset.

The former changeling queen is gone?

[Audio]

[caneattheseapples]

There's a world inside the Pale Pony that she pretty much ate. All those who were on the world are still there, and everyone who's ever been here and has disappeared is now on that world.

That's what I learned in a nutshell.

[Audio]

[noxequus]

Did anyone speak of multiples? If not, it seems strange that we would have multiples of the same pony here, but not in the subsumed world.

[Visual]

[callmeyork]

Welcome back, Luna. I temporarily took over duties within the Night Market in your absence.

Otherwise, I'm sure you've been filled in on everything else that has been happening around here. [He's not going to be much more informative than that because he was either a) MIA during the whole poem thing and b) staring into the sun during PokePony Week.]

[Visual]

[noxequus]

[By the time she replies, she's removed the disguise, looking about as good as ever - which is to say "like she really needs that coffee she's holding".]

I have. What of Dante and Rarity? They were to supervise the market in my absence.

[Private]

[weaponizedgems]

[There's a certain Knight-Commander that's rather happy to see 'Dream Weaver'.]

Darling, you left your disguise spell on.

[Private, vis 1/2]

[noxequus]

I... pardon?

[Well, buck. Isn't her face red.]

[Private, vis]

[noxequus]

[And she brings the disguise down with a sigh and a bit of a weary smile.]

Would you believe you were the first to so much as comment on such matters, milady? I just suppose it goes to show...

[Luna trails off, shaking her head.]

What news do you bring, then?