[Visual]

[scattered_rose]

[There's been a new face around today, for what could be seen of him considering the mask and cloak he wore. After arriving he had spent a great deal of time looking around and getting used to walking on four legs; the wings, which at the moment were underneath the cloak, would wait until later.

He had also done a little poking around with the scroll, and watching other ponies go about their business. And at the end of the exploration, all he really had was one question, so he opened up the scroll to ask.]

I get that magic can do a lot of things. But how exactly do horses build things without fingers?

[Inquiring minds want to know.]

Comments

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

I see. So it's kind of like the animal is your family's protector.

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

That's pretty much how it was, yeah.

Tough imagery helps, when you fight monsters.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

Monsters? What kind of monsters?

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

Mmh. They're called Chaotics, and they're what happens when the magic inside a human or a demon turns sour and destroys them from the inside out. They're a major threat to society, and I was trained in the art of hunting them.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

So...they used to be human?

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

...Some of them, yeah. But when you turn into a Chaotic there's no going back. It even burns up all of your magic and you're just left as a feral beast that's a mix-and-match of different creatures.

It... it sucks. But it has to be done.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

...Yeah. That's kinda sad though.

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

I agree, but there's not much to be done about it.

The bad thing is, in recent years the numbers of Chaotics have been increasing, and no one's been able to figure out why.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

Increasing...? [That definitely didn't sound good.]

You said it...had something to do with someone's magic? Could there be something going wrong with the magic in your world?

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

Maybe, but there hasn't been much other evidence of that.

It's not just the magic turning bad that creates Chaotics either though, sometimes it's like... like an extreme degradation of their sense of self, or morals, or things like that. Even more than just being a "bad guy", like you're really super at risk if you're cold-hearted evil, no remorse, maybe a little crazy on the side. I couldn't see how that'd be at work here either, but... there's more to it besides, than just magic gone sour.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

Hmm...that's really strange. Does it normally take a long time for someone to become a...Chaotic?

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

It depends. Sometimes it can happen in an instant, sometimes it's a long drawn out process. Humans have been scared about Chaotics since the beginning almost, even though it's a one in a billion chance, and they blamed demons for their existence. Even though demons are no more or less susceptible to becoming one that humans are, despite having more magic than humans do.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

One in a billion...and yet more are suddenly popping up...

[That really was strange.]

So I guess demons don't have any clue about why that is either, huh?

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

Pretty much. Nobody, at least that I know, has any idea what's going on, though different people are trying to find out.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

Yeah...I can imagine they'd really want to.

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

[He nodded and sighed softly.]

Yeah, that's been something that's been going on for at least a few years now.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

Geez. That must be crazy.

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

....Yeah. It is.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

...

[That didn't seem good.]

You okay?

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

[He seemed reluctant to speak at first, glancing off and away.

At length however, perhaps with a little extra nudge, he looked back up and spoke.]

A couple years ago, a strange swarm of Chaotics destroyed my hometown. Of the people who were around at the time anyway, I was one of the few survivors.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

O-Oh... [Well now she just feels bad for bringing it up.] I'm...I'm sorry...

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

[He shook his head after a moment.]

It's alright. I'm sad it happened of course, but... I've.. come to terms with it. [That sounded much more truthful in his head.]

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

...Probably doesn't stop it from hurting, though.

[visual]

[scattered_rose]

It hurts in its own way.

[He sighed through his nose, an odd whuff distorted out the front of the mask, and then he drew himself up some.]

It'll help when I manage to find my family, though. My birth family, who were different from the family that raised me and were lost in the fight.

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

[She blinks.] ...You were adopted?