2nd Force Field [Text]

[ultra_vi]

[All that's on the scroll is a message, the writing a bit difficult to read.]

Need help. Invisible. Intangible. Don't know where I am.

Comments

[triceratrots]

I think I've worked with him before.

You'll be okay.

[Billy wishes he could reassure her better, but it's hard when he doesn't know exactly where she is.]

Want me to take a look around? I think I have an idea who it might be.

[Of course, he'll show up before Billy gets back. But he has to try.]

[ultra_vi]

If...you could, yeah....thanks.

[triceratrots]

I'm on the case.

[[Do you want him to come back later when she's safely in Allen's body?]]

[ultra_vi]

Thanks.

((Yeah, that might be a good idea.))

[triceratrots]

[Aaaand he trots back, sees Allen up and about, and is surprised.]

Allen! Er, uh. Violet. Are you okay?

[ultra_vi]

[Her - his? - ears twitch a little as the pony turns around.]

Uh...other than being in someone else's body, I guess so.

[triceratrots]

At least we can see you.

[Billy shakes his head.]

How's Allen doing?

[ultra_vi]

Yeah...It took a while, but we managed...

He's doing all right for the most part...he talked me through regaining visibility and finding his body.

[triceratrots]

Okay. I'm glad to hear it.

Do you need to practice anything else he gave you? I know the power swaps are really affecting people.

[ultra_vi]

U-Uh...well, I'm just...trying to keep control of his...Ether...

[She doesn't want to accidentally shoot lasers at anything.]

[triceratrots]

Ether? That's a sort of magic, right?

[ultra_vi]

I think so. It's connected to his ability of shooting lasers.

[triceratrots]

Lasers? Hmm. Have you been doing target practice?

[ultra_vi]

Er...not really....mostly I've just been...trying not to use it.

[triceratrots]

Do you want to try? This would be the perfect time for an enemy to attack us, unfortunately. And I'm concerned about the possibility.

[ultra_vi]

[That was a good point.]

...Okay.

[She'll just have to be careful.]

[triceratrots]

All right. Why don't you focus on...here, hold on.

[Billy dragged a few planks from town and propped them up as targets.]

We're far away from everyone, you shouldn't have to worry about collateral damage.

[ultra_vi]

O-Okay...

[Still hesitating a bit longer, she then focused on the planks. She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing, but soon enough she felt...something heating up.

And in the next moment, one of the planks was hit with the laser she fired.]

[triceratrots]

[Billy cheered.]

That's it. A few more shots and you should be fine...aside from the strange feeling of being someone else. I've been there before: I know how disorienting it can be. But it should pass soon.

[ultra_vi]

[She's still concentrating, and she manages another shot or two. But she can't help but ask.]

This has happened to you before?

[triceratrots]

[He awkwardly kicks a hoof, but he thinks telling this story will help her, so he overcomes his embarrassment and launches in.]

Yes. My attempt at a mind-reading device was turned on me, and so I inadvertently switched with a friend of mine. But my world wasn't ready to know about my experiments, so we were forced to pretend to be each other for a day.

In short: I ruined her reputation by smearing makeup all over my face and causing a mass explosion in her cooking class. At least you don't have to pretend that you're him, right?

[ultra_vi]

Oh wow...yeah, I guess that's a good point.

Was it hard for you guys? I mean, besides having to pretend to be each other.

[triceratrots]

Yeah. Things were awkward between us for a little while, given that we'd had to pretend to our families and friends. She endangered my reputation too, and we almost lost the friendship over it.

But we prevailed. And I'm sure that you will too!

[ultra_vi]

...Yeah. Hopefully.

Bet it was pretty funny to look back on.

[triceratrots]

[He smiled.]

Yeah, it was. I hope this experience is the same for you, even if it seems impossible now.