[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]

You're welcome.

[He takes another thoughtful sip of tea, checking over his shoulder to the kitchen, before flashing her a slightly more cheerful smile...]

You're a good kid, Terra.

[He moves from the table, heading towards the kitchen.]

And that pie smells just about ready. Hope you're ready to have your socks knocked off.

[terraburning]

Terra's amnesia is retrograde, not total.

"I normally wear...stockings, though."

So that wasn't her not understanding figurative language, it was a joke.

She doesn't do those too often.

[theytookmypants]

[It's definitely something that doesn't go unnoticed. He even stops to look back at her a little surprised at the humor...but that grin just seems to get wider.]


Oh, well, forgive me, hold onto your stockings then. We wouldn't want them sliding away.

[He laughs as he enters the kitchen. When he comes back to the table he brings out the pie and some plates for them both. Setting them down, he serves her up the first slice.]

Careful, it's still hot.

[terraburning]

Heat isn't really something Terra notices, much of the time, but she heeds his words anyway, waiting a few moments before taking her first bite and chewing thoughtfully.

"It's...very good."

[theytookmypants]

[He nods and smiles sitting down to enjoy his own slice.]

I'm glad you think so...now if only I'd thought to have ice cream on hand. If you think it's good now, phoo, you ain't tasted anything yet.

[terraburning]

"What is...ice cream?"

[theytookmypants]

....oh sweetie, you truly are missing out.

[He has to think about it for a moment.]

It's a fozen food made with sweetened and flavored milk. Comes in a lot of different flavors too, from strawberry to cinnamon. Usually for everyone.

[terraburning]

Terra thinks about this for a long moment, considering her life experience to date, and proceeds to ask the most incisive possible question.

"Is there...a tomato flavor?"

[theytookmypants]

I...don't know. Never seen a wolfs peach one before...don't think the acids and milk would mix well together honestly...

[Be an interesting flavor a the very least, ?]

[terraburning]

...huh?

"What is...a wolf peach?"

[theytookmypants]

It's another term for tomatoes back home, my father-

[He closes his mouth abruptly and looks down at his tea going very quiet. After a deep breath he looks back up at her smiling, though for once it looks decidedly more forced.]

...they're part of the nightshade family, and in another country back home, called Germany, were called a Wolf's Peach since they were said to have been used by witches in potions to turn themselves into werewolves.

[terraburning]

Oh, that...was the kind of hemming and hawing Sabin did when he told her about the perfectly preserved corpse of Locke's girlfriend.

Terra decides not to ask.

"Oh."

...needs something extra.

"...I'm not a werewolf."

[theytookmypants]

[He can't help a snort of laughter at her.]

Well I'd hope not, otherwise every full moon things would get a little interesting around here.

[He chuckles a little and looks off thoughtfully.]

[terraburning]

Conversations are hard, so Terra will just eat some more pie and wash it down with tea.