12 --- Power Levels Rising? [private visual to soul donors]

[soulofblue]

So, um. Some of you know this already. But during the eclipse, I realized that I...sort of have pieces of your magic. The unicorns, anyway; I don't know how to tell if I got it from Bertie, Andrew, and Joshua too. My aura has other colors in it now sometimes, and it's much stronger than I'm accustomed to.

Don said he felt a pull when I used magic near him, so I've been trying to use it as little as possible. I'm not sure it's safe. Princess Luna, do you know anything about this...?

Comments

[noxequus]

I would not typically call Zetta a "blighter", so I believe that might be your indication regarding Bertram.

It... I cannot say for certain about how inevitable this outcome is, but it does not surprise me. Souls are difficult things, and we had to replace a good half of your own. When those other shards come to the fore, those of us connected to them might feel that former fragment of our souls calling to us, certainly. It... should be safe, as it is not as if your body can get more soul than what it has.

You may occasionally slip into our habits in periods of high stress, however, much as you strayed to Mechakara's malicious ways when you were angered before.

[soulofblue]

Wh - oh.

[The sudden revelation is obvious. He'd been so angry when he yelled that, he'd never considered it too closely.]

But...none of you are any weaker, right?

[noxequus]

I am in fact stronger than I have ever been.

[soulofblue]

...good.

[Luna, sometimes you say vaguely alarming things. Please no using the moon as a battering ram.]

I think I may have some dreamwalking abilities now? I don't have much of a basis for comparison, but I'm not sure they're usually that lucid. Or multi-person.

[noxequus]

[About that... does "oversized cue ball" count? Because she couldn't use the moon as a battering ram on account of Antithesis being in the way... but it wasn't hard to use the moon as a catalyst for Zetta's planet becoming one...]

The situation may be different in recent days. I hear my other self has been...active, as of late. See if the lucid dreams persist after she returns.

[bluesuit_hoofy]

I haven't felt anything...but hang on, you haven't used your magic at all near me lately.

I'd like to try some experiments.

[soulofblue]

Well...I suppose. Luna said it should be alright.

[bluesuit_hoofy]

Brilliant! We'll take some measurements with me standing by you and you alone. How consistent are the results when you use your magic?

[soulofblue]

Not...that consistent. I think I'm getting a better handle on it, though.

[bluesuit_hoofy]

Well, we'll just have to run it a couple times and average the results. Meet me out in the field and we'll have you zap a meter, see what you can do.

[magicalrealist]

I don't think it'll be dangerous to any of us. We put pieces of ourselves into you to make you whole, so when you channel our strength, we feel it.

It doesn't hurt, though. It's just a reminder that part of us will always be with you.

[soulofblue]

But...if half my soul has always been made of someone else - or multiple people - am I even a real person?

[magicalrealist]

...

(Twilight stares wordlessly at the question. It struck a nerve with the mare and her hesitation hints at the subject's touchiness.

Eventually, her expression softens and she closes her eyes, sighing.)

...Pollo. You're a real person because you're you. It doesn't matter what you're made of or if part of you really belongs to others; what matters is what you do with what you have. You make decisions, you have feelings, you have friends, you lead your own life...it's all you.

(She opens her eyes.)

Sure, you have some of the powers of others, their ticks and maybe even their memories, but what makes you who you are is what you do with all of that. The things that are real to us are the things that matter most...and you mean more to me than I can properly describe.

Don't ever forget that, Pollo. If I can only ask one thing of you, it's that you never forget that.

[soulofblue]

...okay, Twilight.

[Yeah in retrospect he's realizing that may have been an insensitive question.]

[magicalrealist]

(Honestly, she'd rather defuse this bomb sooner than later. Twilight would have preferred the same thing, if she had that option.

The subject does add an unfortunate awkwardness in their conversation, so the mare decides to change the subject entirely.)

...You know, this does mean I can finally teach you magic.

[lurking non-comment]

[bluesuit_hoofy]

[Somepony else is listening...and somepony else needed to hear that.]

[trustme]

I feel perfectly fine! No need to worry yourself Pollo. As long as you are feeling well I'm more than happy to have contributed a little something. [It's just a soul. No big deal.]

My own magic is usually golden colored so I suppose you could confirm inheriting something from me by the aura. Or... the nature of what it does.

[soulofblue]

I had noticed the aura, yes. But it's only shown up with the others when I tried to lift a few things, so far. That was about the point when I stopped using it.

What might it do in particular?

[trustme]

If it's a common spell it should work like you'd expect.

However when I attended Lucia's magic attack demonstration and took out some aggression on a scarecrow to try it myself, the results were unusual. I meant to light it on fire as she had done but I only half-burned it successfully. The rest of the scarecrow appeared to be suddenly aged. She said I have time magic- a rare gift supposedly. Just like the other Me she met before coming to this Equestria.

It's potentially dangerous but I imagine you have a less intense version of it. I would think it's Princess Luna's powers you need to be more worried about keeping in check. [Chuckle. No Doctor, that remark doesn't help.]

[soulofblue]

...riiiiiight. [LOOK HOW COMFORTED HE IS, DOCTOR.] I'll keep an eye on it.

[tinkertytonk]

I don't suppose you've picked up a knack for pianos? [Bertie glances back at his flank.] Or dancing? I'm all right now, though. I was a bit tired after it all, but, um... small price to pay for peace of mind, eh? [He chuckles nervously.]

I don't feel any different now, though. But, ah... I don't suppose any of you have heard what Princess Celestia might have done with that Draught au Mechakara we sent to her with the Chalice?

[soulofblue]

I'm not sure. I haven't tried either of those... [Should he? He's thinking about it now.]

I haven't. But she must have destroyed it, right? [Pollo cannot imagine why someone would want to just keep Mechakara's soul sitting around.]

[tinkertytonk]

[One would hope she hasn't kept it, but this is the native Princess Celestia they're talking about. In spite of himself, Bertie's a bit dubious.] Ah, well, I'm sure she has. [No need to worry Pollo.]

You've got all this new magic, though, eh? [Time to redirect the topic.] I could come round and see if I get any sore of pull when you're... doing things I would. We could try seeing if you've got a knack for darts now, too, I suppose.

[soulofblue]

That...might be a good test to run, actually. [He's only tried it with unicorns and magic before.]

[tinkertytonk]

Are you at the Commune, at the moment? I think you chaps have still got that piano Nemo bought.