[Visual] -5th Shadow-

[theytookmypants]

Hey Equestria...I got a question for you, mostly this is for the other outlanders like myself, but...anyone is free to weigh in here. I'd like the input.

How many of you use friendship, or similar bonds, as a source of strength for yourselves back home?

Some pretense to that...where I come from there are creatures called Digimon. I myself am half-digimon. Long story to that, but I won't bore you with the details right now. A digimon is a creature born of digital data, they are however highly receptive to emotions and can grow stronger as they grow closer to others, becoming stronger and stronger as those bonds mature and grow.

Emotions from those that we make friend with rub off on us, we can become stronger, or weaker because of it, or we can become too strong that we can't control ourselves.

[He rubs at his cheek with a hoof and sighs deeply.]

Not only digimon have exhibited this trait, though. There is another being called a Net Navi where I'm from, another digital life-form, this one artificially created by humans. There's an entire battle tournament surrounding them even. A Navi and their NetOp, when they have a strong enough bond, can create powerful combinations with battle chips. They can even fuse together, share the core of their beings with another, the NetNavi’s can even form friendships of their own that unlock hidden potentials...

[ He holds a hoof over his chest reflexively, almost like he was reassuring himself about something...]

The core of my question is how many of you have something similar back home? An undertone to that is how many of us have forgotten about that? That we've taken it for granted or just forgotten our own basics? This place works on its own rules. Just like those of NetNavis, or Digimon...working together, believing in one another...we’ve heard it a lot lately, and seen that here, it’s its own force to be reckoned with. Friendship. We’re all in this together, and if we're going to-

[He stops short and scoffs softly to himself.]

Sorry. Getting off track...Anyways...just something I’ve been thinking about lately. If anyone would rather speak with me in person or private, you’re always welcome to call on me at the commune or approach me while I’m on duty in the Night Market.

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[A switch in the pony's demeanor, show's he looks far more tired than he may have been letting on.]

Hey, Dante...Vergil...I may I need your guys help with something. I dunno if you can, but I'd rather it be the two of you than others. I'd uh...rather speak somewhere off scroll, about it though. If you can, meet me at the Decanter.

Comments

[theytookmypants]

Well then, it's your lucky day!

[Pie is something universal, and should be shared....]

I happen to make a darn good apple pie. Since I'm a firm believer that no one should go without ever having tried one before, I think I'll just have to make one for you.

[He grins broadly.]

[terraburning]

"You...would do that?"

Well. She looks touched.

[theytookmypants]

Of course! I think it's something you might find you enjoy.

[He pauses thoughtfully.]

Considerate it a welcoming present.

[terraburning]

"I...thank you very much!"

[theytookmypants]

No thanks necessary. If you want you can come over if you'd like to help me make it.

[He smiles brightly.]

Sometimes that can make it taste all the better.

[terraburning]

Wide eyes.

"Really? May I?"

She seems so enthusiastic about this.

[theytookmypants]

Of course you may! I wouldn't have offered otherwise.

[He chuckles.]

I live in the Commune, d'ya know where that is?

[terraburning]

A slow nod.

"It's the place...that keeps burning down?"

[theytookmypants]

...It....does? Huh...

[Maybe he missed something while at work..or during his month living out of the library.]

Well, regardless, it's where I'm living at, I've got my own little home set up for myself there. C'mon by, it'll be the one with the purple dragon on the door.

Visual -> Action

[terraburning]

"I'll...be right there."

With that, she heads off, rolling up the scroll with her telekinesis.

-------

Several minutes later, she is very hesitantly knocking on Crmsn's door.

Action

[theytookmypants]

[She doesn't have to wait too long for Crmsn to answer the door, his smiling face brightening the doorway momentarily before he opens the door wider for her.]

Hey there, c'mon in. I was just rinsing the apples off.

[It's easy to see that the home is relatively small, a sitting area half merged with a dining area with a room off to one side for a bedroom, and a kitchen off off of the dining area.]

[terraburning]

As Terra steps inside, her eyes automatically flicker over every surface as she looks for...something. It's fast enough that it has to be an ingrained reflex, one that she's not entirely aware of herself.

"I...thank you very much?"

The way she's framed it as a question, this is pretty obviously outside her (admittedly limited) experience.

[theytookmypants]

[Crmsn watches her eyes for a moment when they dart around, filing the reflexive action away for later...surprised parties were probably out for this one...for a while anyways.]

Hey, no worries. No thanks necessary, not yet anyways.

[He laughs a little and motions for her to follow him to the kitchen as he heads that way.]

Think you can peel and chop the apples while I roll out the dough?

[terraburning]

Terra nods uncertainly.

"I...think so?"

[theytookmypants]

[He smiles at her a little softer. Terra you're kind of adorable.]

Do you need me to show you?

[terraburning]

Terra considers for a moment before nodding softly.

"I...maybe just the first one?"

[theytookmypants]

[He nods as he moves over to the basin.]

Sure thing, just give a moment...and...uh...don't let this surprise you any.

[There's a flicker of concentration and a brief glimpse of red in his eyes as the shadows along his forelegs solidify and slide up to his hooves, pulling themselves together into carefully constructed claws. He then uses the newly formed "hands" to pick up one of the freshly washed apples and a paring knife he'd set aside.

With the dexterity of an expert he presses the blade to the skin of the apple and slowly spirals it down, sheering off the skin in one smooth go, though he does go a bit slowly for her to see how he's doing it.]

It's none too difficult. Just start at the top like so, and just...cut along the outer layer, once you start it's easy to peel it away.

[He smiles at her before setting it down on a cutting board and cutting it into eight slivers. Picking one sliver up he cuts it in half and offers a piece to Terra, popping the other into his mouth.]

Here, have a taste.

[terraburning]

Terra doesn't seem at all surprised by Crmsn's use of shadow-claws, honestly. When he offers her a taste, she levitates it into her mouth and chews slowly, looking thoughtful.

"I...don't have claws anymore, so..."

The lavender glow of her magic surrounds one of the apples as she looks at it, floating it over to the cutting board. There's a slight pause as she stares at the apple for a few seconds before something seems to click and the skin comes off in one continuous piece, the flesh beneath neatly sliced into eight pieces.

"Is that...right?"

[theytookmypants]

Yeah, just like that.

[he grins wider.]

You pick things up quickly. While you take care of those I'll finish up with the dough.

[he moves over to a mixing bowl. He didn't work on Pinkie physics sadly, so he'll b doing this by hoof. He whips up the necessary ingredients for the dough.]

So have you met many people since you've arrived?

[terraburning]

Terra actually stops to think about it.

"Princess Twilight...someone named...Pippin...and you?"

There's a slight pause as she remembers one more person, her lips turning up slightly in a subtle smile.

"And...Dust."

[theytookmypants]

[He does catch that small smile and makes a mental note about that. She had someone that was just a little extra special. Good.]

I've had the pleasure of making Twilight's acquaintance, but not the other two I don't think. What're they like?

[terraburning]

"Pippin was worried because he...didn't know what his Cutie Mark was for...and Dust is..."

She trails off, trying to find the right word.

"Dust...understands me."

[theytookmypants]

[He nods as he kneads out the dough.]

I'm glad you've got someone that understands you, close friends like that are hard to come by sometimes.

[terraburning]

Terra blinks a few times.

"...oh. We are...friends?"

[theytookmypants]

[He stares for a moment.]

Aren't you? I'm sorry if I made a poor assumption there, I didn't mean any offense by it.