mylittlejamjar | [Visual] -5th Shadow-

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.

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(That's...pretty damn heavy, gotta say. If nothing else, Dante can relate to the worries of Calice knowing everyone's weak points. Even the red dragon has a few of his own, despite the fearless demeanor he flaunts on a daily basis.)

...That's rough.

(And that's a very keen observation, Dante.)

She hasn't tried using that knowledge against you, has she?

[Despite the fact that Vergil is still awkward around situations that require sympathy, he seems to wordlessly echo Dante's reaction.

While he doesn't know much about emotions, he does know a little about magic. He takes a short silence after Dante's words -- both out of respect for the gravity of the revelation, and to consider the issue at hand.]

And as far as the magic goes, shouldn't there be a way to amplify it, now that you're here? Since this place more or less runs on magic, you might be able to give it a boost to see if it can heal you completely.

[He's almost glad for the awkward...it makes it feel less awkward for him. He relaxes and shakes his head to Dantes question.]

Not directly, no. I'm worried she might though. There was a sub-note by my name in that flashdrive Jappleack and her party brought back. Said my weakness was a cure for cancer...

[He does laugh at that...however something bothers him.]

Though...her powers of negating a pony's powers...

[He lets that hang in the air. It's obvious what would happen if that power was removed. He looks to Vergil for a moment before addressing his suggestion.]

That...gets a little complicated. While I admit, and fully will, that magic is what's keeping me together...the price she paid for it....I really don't want to put anyone, pony or otherwise, into a position where they might hurt themselves for my sake, again.

[He protectively covers his chest and smiles a little softer.]

Plus right now...it's a reminder that she's still connected to me. Weird, and as selfish, as that might sound, it makes being here, easier to bear.

[He...would blush right now at his own sap if it wasn't for his preoccupation with everything going on. Might even show just why his nickname was Crmsn too. He sighs a little and shakes his head.]

If someone could do it without disrupting her magic, I'd be okay with it, but for right now...knowing she's still here with me in some way helps more than any healing ever could.

There's another idea I had though...either of you know anything about warding?

(Despite the questionable choice of not choosing to alter his wife's magic in any way, Dante somehow understands the reasoning. That magic keeps them together, despite universe-wide gaps, and changing it could disrupt that connection. The red dragon may not have an analogue, but clinging to reminders of one he holds dearly? That he can understand without question.

He nods.)

I know some stuff, but I know a unicorn who knows more about them than I do.

[It's something Vergil understands as well, which might be obvious when he doesn't immediately point out the flaw in that choice. After all, he kept his amulet because it made him feel like his family was still there, even when it made him a direct target in the demon world.]

I think there could be ways to bolster it, without worrying about her magic being replaced in the process. I could look into it for you, if it's something you'd be interested in.

As far as warding, I do know a little. I didn't focus much on it where I was from, but some was necessary. If the unicorn in question can't help, I'd be willing to re-acquaint myself with it.

[He looks off thoughtfully for a moment.]

Getting the unicorns help would be great, though, especially if they could lay the brick work and help boost your own, I'd prefer that a great deal. Even if you're not the best at it, I'd like it to be you guys. I get the feeling it'd be stronger if it came from my friends...

The power of friendship. Gotcha.

(Made sense, all joking aside. Love and friendship can actually affect some magic. Plus, his current spell is from his wife. That's plenty of love already.)

I'll give it a shot, but now you got me curious: how close are you to any of the Twilights?

[Visual] -5th Shadow-

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