mylittlejamjar | Second Gambit

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Second Gambit

*There is what appears to be a robotic pony on the scrolls. Even his voice sounds robotic!*

You know, not to be seen as playing devil's advocate, but don't you think you're all acting a little bit entitled? I understand that you were all scared during the supposed takeover plot, but has it occurred to anypony that that was the point? You needed to be convincing in your anger and fear. All it would have taken was one person whowas a poor actor and the Pale Pony could have caught on. Really, it was a brilliant scheme, and I have to commend those who thought it up.

Bravo, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Overlord Zetta. With minds like you on our side, I'm having trouble imagining how we could lose.

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Their scheme was commendable, though I doubt you'll find many others who would ever agree here.

Then I suppose it'll be a good test to tell the wise few from the foalish masses.

The foolish, unfortunately, always outnumber the wise.

You've chosen to adopt their vernacular, I see.

Well, you know what they say, when in Rome...

*He also thinks it's fun and amusing, but trying to keep up a more serious appearance for this identity...*

Perhaps crediting Zetta for his keen intellect is a bit of a reach.

That said, this, too, shall pass. Emotions run high for obvious reasons, and once cooler heads prevail they will realize the necessity of such subterfuge. And how they dance to that plan in their righteous indignation even now.

I am admittedly mildly interested in how Hoovesweek will spin it all to be some sort of plot to destroy Equestria for real. Certainly "true journalists" can do a better job than a few rightfully upset ponies.

I met him fairly recently, so I don't have much to go off of.

But we'll see if people manage to calm down before they cause lasting tensions and form grudges, shall we?

And would you mind explaining a bit more about Hoovesweek? I've heard of it, but I haven't been able to get my hooves on any back copies. Something about bonfires?

They are your typical high-publicity gossip cesspool, bending truths and weaving assumptions from whole cloth. As of the last few editions, focus has been less on celebrity scandal and more upon the kind of sentiment that has been thick within these scrolls recently: discrimination and antiestablishmentarianism.

Their inflammatory views have especially infuriated offworlders and those who sympathize with their plight, myself included. I do not participate in the burnings, but I know of them.

Edited 2014-09-23 02:25 (UTC)

Sounds more like propaganda than gossip. Have you considered the possibility of treasonous intentions?

There is reason I do not allow its presence within the confines of my market.

That said, I am quite interested, at the present moment. After all, considering the backlash the magazine has gotten recently, and the fact that a new issue is due henceforth, I am curious how many ponies will realize that they are acting exactly like that which they despise?

Amazing how often people in glass houses decide to throw stones, isn't it? I almost wish there was a way to record their faces when they realize that the gossip magazine they all hate sounds exactly like the network right now.

Oh, I am quite certain a few of them will have their scrolls active when it sets in.

I do not believe we have been properly introduced, however, and I have been remiss in my manners. Luna of the Night Market, Overlord in Training.

[...Luna, are you actually making that part of your title now]

Edited (ben has been remiss too) 2014-09-23 02:57 (UTC)

Given the fresh start here, I think I'd prefer to see what people decide to call me on their own. It's an amazing indicator of public perceptions.

*That, and he thinks it could be funny.*

Then we shall see what the populace thinks.

[Luna, on the other hand, is one of those sorts that will instead go "heyyyyy...uh... you. You there." when she needs to refer to someone she doesn't know by name.]

Pray they do not mistake you initially for a mare.

[Wally was not so lucky.]

Edited 2014-09-23 03:04 (UTC)

I would hope that's unlikely. I was never considered particularly androgynous in my natural form, at least.

I do agree it's a bit unreasonable to expect the rulers of the nation to share everything with us on a personal level. But ponies were very frightened by what happened. I hope the princesses expected this level of backlash; it's only natural.

Are you a robot? [That's what he really wanted to ask; he just didn't want to be rude and ignore everything the maybe-robot had to say.]

But people should also understand that they had very valid reasons for hiding what they did.

Not quite. I do have a robotic body double back home, but I'm flesh and blood inside a cybernetic suit.

Considering the environmental damage seems to have been small in the long run...the benefits probably did outweigh the costs. But it's hard to think of it that way when you've spent two weeks afraid that the world is about to end.

Oh. [Disappointment.] I used to be a robot, but now I'm flesh and blood.

And here I thought you were all confident that you could put a stop to it.

*He tilts his head and one ear flicks forward curiously.*

That's interesting. And it makes me wonder if the Pale Pony actually transformed your mechanical body to an organic one or if your current body was created from scratch to house your soul.

Some of us were. But that's to say nothing for the entire population of native ponies.

My mechanical body was destroyed just before I woke up here...I hesitate to say "beyond repair", obviously I didn't get a look at it. But in April, when we all briefly returned to our original forms, it was functioning as normal. [Which isn't to say well, given his situation, but there were no bullets in him.]

Sounds like they don't have much faith in national security, then.

Returned to your original forms, you say? So it is possible to undo this transformation?

Evidently. Though it involved a magic mirror being smashed, and I don't believe there's any more of those lying around.

And I can't imagine it would be a good idea to do so on a regular basis, anyway. Still, there might be a chance that the results can be duplicated.

It was a very chaotic affair. It also caused a mass influx of new arrivals, who all disappeared again the same day the changes reversed themselves. It would be best not to do that again.

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Second Gambit

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