First Flight | Visual

[twotailedgenius]

[The scrolls open to a smiling pegasus, with a red scarf around his neck and small white cuffs around all four of his legs. (Visual reference!) These scrolls were his way to communicate with the rest of the world, right?]

Hey! Nice to meet you all. My name's Tails, and I'm new here. [He's learned a bit about Equestria from a friend of his in the last place he found himself. He extends his wings, and then realizes he has them.] Huh. I have wings, so I guess that means I can still fly, too!

Though I do have one question... [He motions to his wrench that's lying on the ground.] How d'you hold heavier stuff with your hooves? I can't really fix or build things like this.

Comments

[Visual]

[ponymechanic]

My friends have stood by me and didn't abandon me even when I thought I didn't deserve it. You have NO idea what you're talking about.

[Well technically Yu and Yukiko have become more casual acquaintances with him, but that was beside the point.]

What's that story got to do with me?

No, I don't. That amulet was controlling me that night.

[Visual] -> [Private Visual]

[cape_and_wizard_hat]

Ugh...

[Trixie facehoofs.]

Nothing I'm saying is getting through to you. We're done.

[She changes the scroll to private with the Tails that will actually listen to her, then sighs.]

Just... I'm sorry you had to see that other you.

[Visual] -> [Private Visual to 3G!Tails]

[ponymechanic]

[That was fine with him so he switches to a locked thread to his other self.]

Sorry about her. She's a real bully and full of herself.

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

[He sighs. This is gonna be a long first day.]

It's fine. Just... I wish either of you would've listened to me and stopped it for now. Just like I said, it didn't and wouldn't have helped anything.

[Private Visual]

[ponymechanic]

[He starts calming down himself.]

It's no use making peace with her. She's not sorry for what happened at the Gala. I suppose I should explain my side of the story of what happened.

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

I guess. [Good thing they both know they're good listeners.]

[Private Visual]

[ponymechanic]

[He takes a deep breath before continuing.]

Before I begin, I should explain a couple things.

The Gala we keep mentioning is the Grand Galloping Gala that happens every year. It's a huge fancy party that Princess Celestia hosts at the castle in Canterlot and it's where usually only the rich attend. However, Princess Celestia has been inviting us off-worlders to attend to it twice so far. It's supposed to be one of those boring ones, but apparently every time we attended it, some disaster happens. The first time got sabotaged by Lord Zetta, long story there. Then the statues got tampered with symbols of the Pale Pony and tells us to "beware".

Anyway, before the last Gala, I had won an amulet from an auction back in January. I had no idea it was cursed at the time. I do recall it kind of "called" to me and compelled me to buy it. I didn't wear it for months until a week before the Gala.

When I tried it on, it apparently took a hold on me and possessed me for that whole week.

With me so far?

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

[Pretty standard fare, minus the possession. Not the first time he's seen or heard it before.]

Yeah. Go on.

[Private Visual]

[ponymechanic]

Okay. Like I said to Trixie, I really don't remember most of that night. I do know I was acting like a jerk because a polar bear cub named Teddie got scared of me afterwards. I don't remember what I said or did to him, but it must have been bad.

I remember the amulet going off and I was surrounded by light. It transformed me into a Timberwolf monster and I apparently attacked ponies with it, though I don't really remember that part. Next time I remember, I was back to myself and I nearly choke to death. Once I had help clearing my throat and be able to breathe again, Trixie went up to me, yelled at me, then she slapped me and called me a monster.

[He looks downward.]

It really hurt. Especially since I was in such a horrible state 'cause I felt so bad for what happened and for ruining the Gala and because my mind was unstable. That amulet had also provided protection with my mind and when it was destroyed, my mind got worse.

After the Gala, I tried to run away. I was afraid of what would happen if I stayed and because Trixie calling me a monster made me think I was one. Some of my friends convinced me to stay.

The mind part is apart of that long story with the community.

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

I'll be honest. Hearing both your stories, I think she was being harsh to you just now... but you were being almost as bad by shouting back at her.

[He's seen bad things happen when people get into heated arguments with one another. It just... never ends well.]

I don't think it's your fault for what happened while you were under the amulet's spell. I mean, if it was possessive and manipulative by itself, and it didn't seem to fully take hold of you until the Gala, what could you do?

[Private Visual]

[ponymechanic]

[He rolls his eyes at that.] Of course.

Exactly. She has no right holding that against me.

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

It was kinda a reckless thing to do, especially if you thought it was 'calling out' to you, but at the same time if Trixie had a similar thing happen to her? More could have been done to prevent it.

Either way, I'm at least trying to explain this much to her. There were mistakes on both sides and nobody really has the right to hold anything against anyone in this situation.

[Private Visual]

[ponymechanic]

I guess so, though I kinda had forgotten about the calling thing until after I was back to normal. At the time, I was more focused on getting ready for the Gala. I think I was originally planning on using the same formal wear from the first Gala, but I didn't end up using it. I still have that jacket in my closet.

[He would offer if he wanted it, but he had a feeling it wouldn't fit him.]

I can't really argue with that one. As much as I would like an apology, she said so herself that she isn't sorry for what happened. No point in waiting for one that'll never come.

[Private Visual] 1/2

[twotailedgenius]

[... Let's be real here, this Tails doesn't know what to say.

Whaaaat has he gotten himself into.]

[Private Visual] 2/2

[twotailedgenius]

E-Er... well... I'm honestly not sure what to think. Like I said, I don't know the whole story. I'm not siding with anyone here. [He's just sorry he failed to stop it.]

[Private Visual]

[cape_and_wizard_hat]

Lucky for you, I just so happen to be a storyteller.

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

[A small sigh.]

Go on.

[Private Visual]

[cape_and_wizard_hat]

This had all happened back last May. He had apparently got the cursed, corruptive amulet way back last January. I had just got done with one of my performances and was asking around until I reached him. That strange amulet he was wearing had started to glow and he looked a little dizzy, so I asked him where he got it and if he knew what it does.

Sadly, he had gotten extremely defensive, saying that I couldn't have it. He didn't know what it id and I had personal experience with corruptive amulets before, so I warned him. He didn't listen.

I don't know what exactly happened between then and him transforming into a timber wolf and attacking people both within the castle and the gardens.

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

Hmm. You said he had gotten dizzy. If it was a possessive amulet, you think maybe it affected how he responded to you? Maybe that's why he didn't remember it.

Also, what happened after the attacks?

[Private Visual]

[cape_and_wizard_hat]

Every corruptive amulet changes people. The longer they wear it, the worse they get. I had worn one for a time once. I went from just wanting to prove myself stronger than someone to considering overthrowing Equestria...

But that should be no excuse for what you do when the amulet is worn, even though everyone else seems to think so for some strange reason.

[Trixie sighs.]

...It had hurt, seeing another corruptive amulet incident happen like that. It was like the worst moment in my life being thrown back in my face all over again. I admonished him for being so stupid and reckless with that amulet and ignoring my warning. After all, the same should have been done for me.

But all I got was somepony accepting my apology.

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

But by that logic, if he didn't remember what you said, and you didn't tell him after... he technically wasn't warned while he was fully conscious.

There should be no actual 'excuse' for anything, but it does not make them a monster if they were not in their right mind. It sounds like more could have been done to prevent it, and if so, there should have been. If anyone knew an amulet was causing the trouble, why didn't anyone try to remove it from him forcibly? Better that than to allow more trouble to happen. I mean, I can't say it was obvious the amulet was causing it or that it was obvious he was wearing it but... if it were and I were in his place I'd prefer someone knocking me out and removing the amulet from me if that's what it took.

It was reckless in its own right, but you say 'ignoring your warning' and it goes right back up to 'more prevention' and a question... why wasn't it repeated if there were any mention of said amulet again?

[Private Visual]

[cape_and_wizard_hat]

[Insert that one Ace Attorney sound here. You know.

Okay, the amulet wasn't exactly like The Alicorn Amulet. She had just assumed...]

Well, the one I had worn could only be removed by me because I was the one wearing it at the time. No one else. I had only just met him and seen that amulet. Suspicion is one thing, but if I knocked him out on the grounds that the amulet had just glowed and made him dizzy, that wouldn't have been right. I just trusted him to be careful.

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

[He nods.]

I understand. That would've been pretty bad.

But the point still stands that if it was affecting him at the time, that it was possibly too late. I'm not saying that's your fault, since he couldn't remember it and you didn't think to tell him after. And I guess if he turned into a timber wolf, there was no easy way to stop him at that point.

I just think that maybe in the end, you both made mistakes, and learned from them. Somewhat similar mistakes at different times. I mean, we've never had possessive artifacts where we came from. There would've been no way to know it was like that until it was too late, and far too late when the Gala came. And I'm not just saying this because he's another version of me. We've both had our own unique adventures that have changed us, so I can't say I know him as well as I know myself.

[Private Visual]

[cape_and_wizard_hat]

...Look, at the time, I didn't know anything about the amulet. So... I guess you're right about it being too late. I should've tried taking it off of him or something. And maybe the amulet was protecting him against my warning...

...But how can I ever forgive him if I can't even forgive myself yet?

[Private Visual]

[twotailedgenius]

Well, you both made mistakes and learned from them, right? Similar mistakes, which ended up with possession and different things happening with them. You remembered yours while he didn't, because I guess you both were possessed differently? Or maybe you were just manipulated and he was fully possessed. I'm not sure.

Either way, I don't know what happened that ended up with you getting possessed or manipulated, but all that came after was against your will. I don't really know you, but you don't seem like a bad person. Not someone who would willingly allow themselves to get possessed and enslave a town. It's like how the other Tails can't blame himself for what happened while he was possessed.

I think... if you've learned from your mistake, as he seems to have learned from his, you shouldn't be blaming yourself. I wouldn't think little of what happened because of it... but it happened in the past. If you really feel like you've bettered yourself from it... there's no reason to blame yourself anymore. You've done all you can as a pony. Nobody's perfect. All we can do is strive to make ourselves the best we can be, and be there for each other.