Spell 1 [Visual]

[hockety_pockety]

 [This holiday season, the scroll feed is proud to present... a bleary-eyed sky-blue pony with white bed hair that encompasses his entire head. Groggily, he pushes himself semi-upright and smacks his lips, blinking off his sleep.]

...hhh...where...where in the world am I, do you suppose?...Archimedes? Archimedes, are you about somewhe- oh.

[Enough cognisance has been regained that he suddenly notices his hoof, and he examines it for a moment.]

...mm. That's odd. I don't remember turning into a shetland pony. Let's see now...

[Finally getting up, the old equine trots around a bit, giving himself a once over.]

Beard's still here, unusual, that. The rest seems OH! Oh, that had better not be a tattoo down there. Ngh... won't rub off. No, that won't do, I'm not going through that nonsense again. Now, where I w...Hmm. Glasses still there, that's good. Pointy hat? Yes, yes, that seems to be in good nick. Bit crumpled, but nothing a goo- ...by george, is that a horn on my head?!

Comments

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

Trust me, it'll take a long time to get used to this, I'm still getting used to this.

[Skyfire fluffs his wings up around him a bit to make sure the feathers made a comfy 'nest' around Merlin.]

Did anything else come with you? [He's doing a quick look around to make sure that there was nothing they'd be leaving behind.]

[hockety_pockety]

...mmmNo, as far as I'm aware, the only belongings that followed me here are my glasses and hat. Both of which are right where I left them.

[He wrinkles his nose, shifting his glasses upwards]

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

Hmmm, might be an issue then, since I doubt you arrived with any local currency if that was all you had on you...

[Pausing, he considers some of the things he saw on the scrolls and asked curiously.]

Would you like me to loan you some bits? That's the local currency here... You could pay me back whenever you get yourself settled in and sorted... [It wasn't like it was much to loan him some money after all... and maybe someone with magic from another world might better luck figuring out what the tail cuff he used to shrink himself was so hard on his body.]

[hockety_pockety]

Oh, yes, that might be an idea, thank you.

I've managed to get by for a while without any money, mind you. Not much good in a land without law and order for twelve years. Besides, there's plenty of good food to be found in the woodlands, as long as you're careful. Oh, listen to me blathering on like an old goat...

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

It's really no trouble, and if it were spring or summer, I'd be less worried... but it is getting rather cold out. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of edibles out here for your new body either. I think I still have a book on 'pony' nutrition at home if you think it would help you any?

[Skyfire chuckles a little.]

You'll have to be careful about using sayings like that here I think. You might unintentionally offend someone. While I have yet to see a goat here, I'd not rule out them being sentients as well. After all, the cows here are sentient as are... well, most animals I think. Fish seem to be an exception... Then again, I haven't traveled much outside of this area yet.

[hockety_pockety]

Ah, I see. Well, yes I suppose I will have to watch my footing where animal sayings are concerned. I've had quite enough trouble with a sapient animal back home giving me a hard time for saying "It'll be a hoot".

Oh, and thank you for the offer, Skyfire. Yes, I'm sure such a book will be very invaluable in my present condition. I'm sure there's a few tidbits I'd be able to remember on horse rearing, but it wouldn't hurt to be reminded.

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

[He chuckles and grins a bit.] That must have been interesting. I bet it was an owl of some type?

It's no problem at all. I have a little collection of books, but I try and thin out the ones I don't use. Most of the time I prefer to borrow from the library, even if my size makes things a bit of an issue.

I suppose we should stop at my home first, pick up the book and some bits for you... [He twists that long neck of his around to give Merlin a quick look over.] I might have a bag that will fit you as well. I ordered one for a gift, but it came in the wrong size...

[hockety_pockety]

[Merlin gives a curt nod at the owl question, then listens to the rest of what Skyfire has to say]

Well, now, that's very generous of you, very much indeed. Yes, let's stop there first, then.

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

You'll pay me back eventually, I'm sure. [For some reason, he had a good feeling about Merlin.] I believe we have a plan then. I can point out a few things along the way... hmmm...

[He considers things a little and starts walking towards town, figuring he can point out a few things on the way through rather than going around the outside.]

I live outside of town, mostly due to my size, but it shouldn't take us too long to get there. We can walk through the town as a bit of a shortcut...

[hockety_pockety]

Yes, yes, that might be the best option. Getting a full view of the place, so to speak,

...ehhh- so long as the townsfolk aren't discomfited by your presence, o-or vice versa.

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

That is something that has taken me the most time to get used to... They actually want me around. I even have friends trying to convince me to go out to town more... It's... nice.

... Granted, it's still a bit uncomfortable for me to go into town sometimes. Shopping is rather awkward, but nobody has run screaming from me yet and I haven't been chased off with arrows and swords... so... [He gives a little shrug. Clearly, Skyfire hadn't had a very easy time of it before arriving in Equestria.]

[hockety_pockety]

...Well now! Ho ho, that's marvellous to hear. Yes, the first few to greet me did seem like a very friendly and sociable lot. Well, except perhaps for the chinese dragon but still quite friendly all the same.

And this? Well, this seems like a very friendly place as well. Warm, bright, nice pastel colours here and there...as places go, not a bad place to be, I think.

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

Much better than where I used to be at least. If it's an option, I don't think I'll go back.

[He pauses to point out a few shops and places as they reach the town, moving at an easy pace, but still likely quicker than Merlin could trot.]

... If I could find a stable way to reduce my size, I think this world is as close to perfect for me as one could get. [Sure, some still found him scary but at least they didn't react as badly as anyone on earth had.]

[hockety_pockety]

[Merlin's face suddenly lights up like a christmas tree. ]

Well, why didn't you say so, my good man?!

[He hurriedly tried clambering off Skyfire's back]

I think I might have just the thing for that.

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

[Skyfire looks panicked for a second and poofs up his wings in an attempt to get Merlin to stay put.]

Whoa. Hold it... Don't do that! You do not just try and jump down like that. You could get hurt!

[Scolding Merlin like a misbehaving child? Yup. Skyfire was really worried about him possibly getting hurt.]

[hockety_pockety]

Woah!

[Merlin nearly rolls onto his back from the landing strip very suddenly rising.]

N-now-now there's need for that, Skyfire. I'm quite durable for my age, I'll have you know, a-...erm...

Then again, er, perhaps I did get a tad too excitable just now. Eh- Changing someone's permanent size isn't something you want to rush into, after all.

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

Your old body might have been durable, take the time to learn about this one before you start trying things like that. Mine looked very similar to the way I do now, but it took time to re-learn my limits.

[Skyfire blinks and then sighs.]

Not something you want to rush into... and not something you want to try without being sure it won't hurt either of us. Magic here seems to have some interesting reactions to other magics... You have magic in your own world? [Sure he'd skimmed the scroll, but better to get the information first hand.]

[hockety_pockety]

Oh, yes, we do have some magic there. It's not very widely used, mind you, uh...to tell the truth, I'm one of two people in a hundred miles of where I live that practice it...ehm, but I'd say I'm rather well acquainted with it.

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

Well... here it's used and encouraged, so I doubt that you'll have any trouble using it here. I'm having more trouble finding the things I need to make little mechanical toys... well that and finding a size shift method that I can use or not as needed. The cuff I'm using at the moment is very hard on my body.

[He sighs] As much as I would like a permanent size change, if it carries over to my er... earth... I'd not survive long if I went back.

[hockety_pockety]

Oh... I-I-In what way, exactly? Do you mean the spell's effects might warp you in the transportation home, or...?

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

.... not counting any way it might affect the trip back or changes to my body... Being small back there would be very dangerous.

While I would hope that they'd be less afraid of me at a smaller size, I'm nothing more than an 'animal' or 'demon' to most there. I can't say much about the humans in your world, but being hunted, caged, or turned into a weapon doesn't appeal to me. It's hard enough to evade danger at this size back there.

[For the moment at least, his size back on the earth he was from, was a deterrent to all but the most stubborn. Even if it was lonely. He was hoping humans as a species would grow out of that...]

[hockety_pockety]

Hrmm. I might have guessed it. Packs of dumb, panicky little idiots back in those days. Show them something a little outside the norm and they'll show you something to throw rocks at, [mutter, grumble, moan]

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

[Skyfire snorts softly and starts walking again.]

More like spears, arrows and boulders when it comes to me... but you have most of them pegged pretty well.

... I hope that they'll grow out of it eventually.

Once you have yourself settled, perhaps you'd want to try and help me decipher the magic on the tail cuff I've been using to see if there's a way to remove the negative effects using it has?

((ooc: I do want to keep him large sized most of the time, just as a heads up. :3 ))

[hockety_pockety]

((ooc: Fair enough. :) ))

["... I hope that they'll grow out of it eventually."]

Oh, I'm confident they shall. The next generation tends to be a little more reasonable than the last, you understand. Bit by bit, but it all adds up eventually.

["Once you have yourself settled, perhaps you'd want to try and help me decipher the magic on the tail cuff I've been using to see if there's a way to remove the negative effects using it has?"]

Mm? [Looks over] Oh, I see, right. Well, it could take me a day or two to get properly settled, but give me a shout after that, and I'll see what I can do to help, hm?

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

((ooc: Want me to send you a pm later with the details of the cuff and what it does if you want Merlin to take a crack at it?))

[He chuckles as Merlin looks around, assuming he's looking for the cuff.]

Of course I'm not wearing it now. I keep it locked up when I'm not using it. There is no real rush, so whenever you'd like something to puzzle over is fine. Get yourself settled and learn your way around first.

[They'd almost reached the other side of the town and Skyfire headed for an area sort of near the Everfree forest, but not really. His home was in a clear area of land a little ways from town. From the distance it looked somewhat like a huge, built up hill, with a large window of raw glass on one end and a covered opening on the other. A couple of stone chimneys sticking out of the top as well.]