We Can Make this House a Home [Visual]

[thedoctorsmate]

[There have been a lot of apologies going around since they'd managed to reforge the 'Fire of Friendship' to drive off the Windigos. Donna's been holding off, too embarrassed to join in the chorus, but there's really not a way to avoid it. At least she can limit the apology proper to the members of the commune. Everyone else? Well, there were a lot of people who could help with building.]

Hey, everybody. This is Donna Noble from the Ponyville Commune. We had some trouble recently and are looking for any help we can get to organize a building party. This isn't just for the commune, though, it's something I'd like to put together for something more regular in case any of us need the help. With everything we've faced since getting here, with as kind as the ponies in Ponyville are, I think we owe it to them to have some sort of, I dunno, on-call group. A bunch of us who'll come and fix something up if it gets knocked down in the latest invasion or whatever. If you'd like to help, please let me know. I'll be setting something up for the commune soon. I know the Agency needs some work for expansion, too, that we could see to helping with after that.


Locked to Commune Residents
[Donna takes a deep breath before addressing the scroll this time.]

Donna, here, again. I just wanted to say everybody at the Commune that I'm sorry. I'm the one who half burned down the barn. I'll see to setting it right, help or not, but... I-I need to get ahold of the powers I've suddenly got. They're dangerous. I think I should probably leave for a bit until that's sorted. Plenty of nice caves in the Everfree. [Her smile is more half-hearted than she meant it to be.] I want to make sure the repairs happen, but after that, I'll see myself off just until I can figure out a little more control. Nephenee, I'm more than happy to keep track of the commune's finances still. Just might be a little more work communicating via scroll.


Locked to Terra
[And here's the one that's hardest.]

Terra, we need to talk. I think I caught your magic. How would that happen?

Comments

[Locked to Commune Residents]

[friendshipxfriendship]

It's okay, I'm sure everypony understands. Just don't let Rainbow Dash - the one with the jacket - know it was you. Please. We'd never hear the end of it if she found out you did this.

As for the powers thing, I think I can help you get a better handle on them.

[thedoctorsmate]

[This is a unicorn Twilight, but it's not... she's pretty sure it's not the one who's with Pollo. There are entirely too many Twilights to keep track of, and now two are living on the commune. Well, at least Twilights are good.]

I'll... try not to tell her? [Donna's not entirely sure why that would be quite a big deal to Rainbow Dash.] But thank you for the offer. I dunno who to really ask about it. Earth ponies aren't really meant to have elemental magic like unicorns, right?

[Visual, private]

[bluesuit_hoofy]

I'm sorry, Donna. I never even realized -- and I was so caught up in my own problems after the fire....

[He hasn't been there for her, is what he's saying. Andrew rubs his foreleg, a deep frown tugging down the edges of his mouth.] You don't have to go alone. You shouldn't go alone, not into the Everfree.

I'll go with you.

[Visual, private]

[thedoctorsmate]

Andrew, you don't have to... [She holds up a hoof, shaking her head.] I'll just be away a few weeks. I'm not trying to run away forever, it's just 'til I can make sure I'll be safe. Safe for you, too. At least I've got magic to set any timberwolves on fire now, yeah? [Isn't that reassuring, Andrew?]

[Visual, private]

[bluesuit_hoofy]

[Not the slightest bit reassuring, Donna. In times past Andrew might have joked about spreading the tradition of commune fires to the Everfree, but the thought of taking another jab at Donna makes him feel a bit sick.]

You always were the sensible one. [Though this makes him think self-sacrifice more than it makes him think 'sensible.'] I know -- I wouldn't blame you for not wanting me along, but you should bring someone.

[Private]

[terraburning]

Terra's eyes are wide and slightly frightened.

"W-what? No, no...that...that shouldn't have happened...it couldn't have lasted long enough to affect you!"

[Private]

[thedoctorsmate]

"What couldn't have lasted long enough?" Because Donna's pretty sure whatever it is, it's lasted, and she wants to know what Terra was doing with her body.

[terraburning]

"An Esper's power...can only be transferred in full when they're dead. But...we weren't switched long enough...for you to inherit...the spells Father teaches."

Pause.

"R-right?"

[locked to the commune][visual]

[polyturtle]

Don't think anything of it.

[Don, why are you so loud? And why are you so up close to the scroll?]

[locked to the commune][visual]

[thedoctorsmate]

[These are questions on Donna's mind.]

Thanks. But Don. [He's not getting out of things that easy.] What's going on with you?

[locked to the commune][visual]

[polyturtle]

Oh, me? Not much!

[Well of course he won't. Especially if Donna decides to go to the commune. He's pretty hard to miss right now.

Speaking of, he manages to zoom out, sort of. Enough to show that he has splinters in his mane.]

I wouldn't worry too much about what happened. A lot of ponies were affected, and...it just wouldn't be the commune without property damage, it seems.

[visual]

[keepcalmandflutteron]

I'd be good for emotional support! Oh! And I can also report in on people who are being lazy!!

[Anything much more then that is going to be a bit of a stretch.]

[visual]

[thedoctorsmate]

[That is a talking butterfly. Okay. Donna's seen some strange things in Equestria, but that's new.]

Emotional support is important! [Donna tries to smile encouragingly.] Never say die... but this is more sort of a volunteer thing. There's no need to report on people. How d'you feel about singing. It's going to sound weird, but that usually helps a lot.

[millionbitpipes]

Yeah, that sounds like a darn good idea. Insurance rates around here have gotten insane...

[Not that one can REALLY blame them.]

[thedoctorsmate]

I know! We've been thinking about getting insurance for the commune... I don't think we could grow enough to pay for everything, even if we had four seasons and perfect weather.

[She switches to a private line.]

Also, I... I wanted to apologize properly for how I was in the storm. I'm sorry I snapped at you like that Harvey.

[Locked to Commune Residents]

[adandyinspace]

First of all, how dare you.

[Locked to Commune Residents]

[thedoctorsmate]

[Oh. Great. Donna's lips form a thin line and her ears flick back. She deserves this, but it's still irritating.]

Yeah, I know, okay. It's not like I was planning to turn the barn into a bonfire.

[Visual]

[surpriserainbows]

Uh, well, I'm in man! Kind of a chance to maybe add to it too, maybe make some improvements to it.

[Visual]

[thedoctorsmate]

Yeah! I was thinking we could expand the kitchen and the dry storage. The farm's been doing really well, but if we want to bump that up, we're gonna need more space. We've got a lot of new ponies on the commune, too, so that should help.

The thing I feel worst about is Cadence's shipping wall, though. [Her face falls.] The fire got a good part of that, and I don't see us being able to get away without painting over the rest.

[locked to commune residents]

[soulofblue]

You thought it was a bad idea for me to go live alone in the forest when I couldn't control myself. Why does it make any more sense for you?

[locked to commune residents]

[thedoctorsmate]

I'm not running away forever. [Donna huffs.] It's just... a few weeks. Like a really extended camp out. You were running away from yourself. I'm being a responsible adult. [Clearly this is different because she says it is.]

[visual]

[ultra_vi]

[Answering this was a lot harder than she thought it would be...but she had to, after everything that happened.]

...I'd...I'd be willing to help...

[visual]>[private]

[thedoctorsmate]

Oh... great!

[Donna switches to a private channel because this should really be private.]

Okay, I'm really sorry about what happened during that storm. I was... I wasn't myself at all, and I feel so bad. I promise, that's never going to happen again.

[Visual | Commune Lock]

[nailed_it]

Oh, so you're the reason the commune was looking kinda charred after the storm. I was wondering how that happened.

[Yang sounds anything but accusatory. Honestly, this time she sounds almost amused. She'd spent most of the blizzard away from the Commune after all, as had most of her friends, so no harm there.

That and she had no room to talk given she'd made an impromptu fire pit in some poor pony's floor during the storm. ...With good reason, but still.]

I wouldn't mind helping out when things need to be fixed or re-built.

[It'd be something else to do at any rate.]

[Visual | Commune Lock]

[thedoctorsmate]

[Donna pulls a face, but at least the other mare doesn't seem angry.]

Yeah, we'll be set on charcoal for the next two years or so. Thanks, though. I don't think we've really met, yet, though. I'm Donna. I do most of the bookkeeping for the commune.