Kickoff [Video/Massive Audio later]

[like_a_dragon]

[A green pony with a matted down brown mop-top appears on the scroll. From the furrowed brows, flared nostrils and fierce grimace, she does not appear... pleased.]

WHAT THE TARTARUS IS GOING ON HERE!?

[Taking a step away from the scroll would probably be a good idea...]

I can't even begin to count all the things that is wrong here! I mean, at first I thought this was a dream but then when somepony actually pinched me -- WITH THEIR MOUTH NO LESS -- I knew that this was actually real. Talking ponies? And the ones with wings? EVEN ONES WITH MAGIC HORNS?? I even saw one that brought in a raincloud! IT WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF ME!!

[She takes a moment and her hoof comes up to scrub off her hair and her face.]

Alright... you know what... considering everything else I have seen before a world of talking ponies is actually not that out there. And, hey, at least my fur color is one that I'd like. Just, in this case, I hope my friends aren't here to have this happen to them.

Also, I have to ask just one question...

Why couldn't I have been one of those cool ones with the wings?

EDIT:

[A little bit later there is a shout. A glorious shout. A mighty shout. It rings to the heavens and may even be heard as far as way as The Crystal Kingdom.]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN PONIES DON'T EAT MEAT?!!!!

[Thanks, Teddie.]

EDIT: x2

[And a little bit after that there is another shout, though not quite as powerful, whatever is doing it definitely has a healthy set of lungs.]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S NO TV?!!

[Thanks, Rise.]

Comments

what, it's not like that meat-flavored gum had any actual meat in it!

[therealrisette]

Um... not that I've seen so far...

[She was so used to that other world being screwed over several different ways, she didn't even think of all the modern conveniences she's missing here.]

Oh, but we can use our Personas here!

[That's probably not what Chie was wondering about, but the mention of TVs reminded her.]

there is no scientific evidence that they don't!!

[like_a_dragon]

[And a little bit after that there is another shout, though not quite as powerful, whatever is doing it definitely has a healthy set of lungs.]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S NO TV?!!

[Thanks, Rise.]

[therealrisette]

[Wow, Chie, calm down. She doesn't need to go deaf!]

Well, there's no electricity, so...

[She thought that was kind of an obvious conclusion to draw.]

I guess they just do everything live here.

[like_a_dragon]

B-B-B-B-But... that would mean that there's no Blue Three or Let Ji movies! Or karate shows or... anything!

[Clearly, this was the biggest crisis faced so far. Aside from the loss of meat, obviously.]

[therealrisette]

[Oh yeah, Chie was really into that stuff, wasn't she?]

... Maybe there's other stuff like that here?

They have live performers, even though they don't have idol shows! So...

[Not that she's seen any live karate shows, but who's to say there aren't? Not her.]

[like_a_dragon]

I-I'm sorry...

...

I think I need to sit down for a minute.

[This is probably the most crestfallen you've seen her, Rise.]

[therealrisette]

[Oh no... Chie why...?]

H-... Hey!

... Is it really that big a deal?

[Probably not helping, Rise.]

[like_a_dragon]

Well, yeah! [Said as though that was the most obvious thing.]

Martial arts are my life, Rise! My life. If I don't have my martial arts movies I...

It's like I'm missing a part of me.

[therealrisette]

[Oh, Chie. Chie, no. You don't understand. Rise lived for almost a year missing parts of herself. Her career as an idol, her friends... literally everything she had was taken away until what little she had rebuilt of herself was battling with what someone she trusted was trying to make her into. She wasn't entirely aware of it, and still isn't... but neither side won out in the end. She just became the Rise that arrived here a couple of months ago, making everyone who knew her back home wonder just what had happened to her in that other world.

Of course, Chie probably hasn't been missing Rise like Rise's been missing everyone. To her, she probably saw Rise a few days ago at the worst. But with the sudden rush of memories and feelings of just how much of herself Rise has missed over the last year... she doesn't want to think of it this way, but she can't help but feel that Chie's taken her for granted.

Still, she tries...]

Yeah... I get it.

[Her words are understanding. But her tone is quiet, even a bit hollow. It's not long before she's fighting back tears, trying so hard not to say anything to hurt Chie because she genuinely does know what losing something important feels like. She doesn't want to be selfish. But dammit Chie, you tripped over a whole bundle of nerves with that one.]

[like_a_dragon]

[For her part, Chie noticed something, but she is too new to know anything about what was going on and what happened.]

[So she takes her best stab at it.]

Sorry, Rise. I know I'm being melodramatic about this.

And it's not like I really missed seeing you.

I'll just... close this thing up, I guess. I'm still feeling pretty pouty.

[And she doesn't want her kouhai to see her this way.]