[visual][backdated to Friday]

[ponymeisters]

[Its true that she's answering questions for those in the scroll. However, she knows that not everypony was looking at the scrolls, reading the story. So, she decides to open up to others outside the story, while the story was still going.

Even if she's just the book's version of it, there's no denying the sheer presence of this creature, with good reason, of course.

So she smiles, then speaks, her voice everywhere and nowhere at the same time.]

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYPONY. I'M CERTAIN YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY PRESENCE IN THIS STORY, AND PROBABLY OTHER THINGS.

I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM.

Comments

[ponymeisters]

THAT'S THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT. OF COURSE, MY TRUE SELF WILL HELP YOU, WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

[Visual]

[ponymeisters]

WELL, NOW THAT YOU'VE PUT THE IDEA OUT INTO THE OPEN...SHE'S NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT MAYBE SHE WILL SOMETIME.

[ponymeisters]

AH, THE LAMENT OF MARECLES.

THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY UNTRUE. I WAS THE FIRST BEARER OF MAGIC, EVER. WHAT YOU KNOW AS THE ELEMENTS ONCE ALSO HAD OTHER AVATARS WHO EMBODIED THEM, BACK IN THE VERY BEGINNING.

[soulofblue]

...you mean other bearers?

[That language...he isn't sure he's following exactly. Still, any bearers from so long ago would obviously be long gone now. He winces a little, and asks sympathetically:]

Were they...mortal?

[crapfully]

Okay, so. Getting from Point A to Point B.

Any hints?

[Visual]

[badassfreakingoverlord]

I'm a frickin' boarding school.. [Zetta mutters this without particular rancor, then looks back up at the scroll.]

So why the hiding then? We could use a little help out here. It might make the difference.

[Visual]

[nailed_it]

Woah...

[Admittedly she hasn't been paying the best attention to this story, being somewhat distracted with some distressing happenings outside and...well, trying to avoid getting sucked into this mess herself.

But still.]

No way...

[Visual]

[chatwithdeath]

[Well, the Pale Pony and Calice were separate... that's... curious]

... Are you the real Pale Pony Star Swirl the Bearded spoke of?

[visual]

[tinkertytonk]

They were the last time we talked to them down in Tartarus. There was also another chappie down there they were chattering with. I didn't catch his name, but he helped the princesses when some fiend named Tirek stole their powers and chucked them to the bottom of the place.

If the Tree of Harmony doesn't exist, how are we meant to defeat Calice, though? All the native Element Bearers except Ms. Fluttershy are inside of her.

[visual]

[thedoctorsmate]

[Donna sighs.]

Okay. Fair enough. What can you tell us to help cure the Corruption, then? If old Red Eyes is might be watching.

[pirateponyprincess]

It wouldn't be the first time for me. I have a way of getting around.

[needsteaplz]

Well this maybe selfish of me ask but.... [She sighs. This maybe the only chance she can ask this even though asking this question is risky over a compromised network. ]

My understanding is that Alicorns are like gods in this world. If thats the case, then why... didn't that translate when I came here? Is it possible Calice had something to do with this or am I lacking in something?

[ponymeisters]

NO, NOT AT ALL. THOUGH SOME HAVE TAKEN MORTAL GUISES OVER THE YEARS FOR...A VARIETY OF REASONS. THEY WERE MY SIBLINGS, AFTER ALL.

I BELIEVE YOU MAY HAVE EVEN MET MOST OF THEM SINCE YOUR TIME HERE.

Re: [Visual]

[ponymeisters]

BEING EATEN BY CALICE AND HAVING THE CORRUPTION GAIN THE POWER I HAVE ISN'T AN OPTION. GIVING HER MY ABILITIES WOULD DOOM EVERY MULTIVERSE EVENTUALLY.

Re: [Visual]

[ponymeisters]

I AM, DOCTOR. IT WAS MY POWER HE SOUGHT TO EMULATE, THE POWER TO CONTROL THE WAYS OF LIFE AND DEATH.

RATHER, I'M A REASONABLE FACSIMILE WHICH RESIDES IN THIS SCROLL. BUT I AM AT THE SAME TIME HER.

[Visual]

[ponymeisters]

[Wave!]

HELLO.

[ponymeisters]

ALICORNS ARE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MORTAL PONIES AND MYSELF. MOST ARE MORE SIMILAR TO DEMIGOD THAN GOD. EVERYPONY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME AN ALICORN, THOUGH SOME ARE BETTER SUITED THAN OTHERS, ULTIMATELY, TO BEAR THE BURDEN.

ITS NOT ANYTHING YOU LACK, SAORI. PART OF IT IS THAT CALICE DID INDEED ALTER YOU; WHEN THAT OCCURRED YOUR POWERS WERE CHANGED FOR THIS WORLD. AND PARTIALLY, PERHAPS, BECAUSE YOU AREN'T MEANT TO BE AN ALICORN IN THIS REALITY. ITS NOTHING AGAINST YOU. IT SIMPLY IS IN THIS EQUESTRIA.

[ponymeisters]

THE BARRIER WILL FALL SOON. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE END OF YOUR TRIALS WILL BEGIN.

[visual]

[ponymeisters]

THE CORRUPTION'S GREATEST WEAKNESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHAT MAKES EQUESTRIA THE WONDERFUL PLACE IT IS.

FRIENDSHIP, AND THE HAPPINESS IT BRINGS. IT CAN'T COMPREHEND IT BECAUSE IT NEVER TRULY EXISTED TO KNOW IT.

Re: [visual]

[ponymeisters]

I KNOW WHO YOU SPEAK OF IN THOSE PARTS, THEN, YES.

THE TREE WILL EXIST WHEN IT NEEDS TO, THOUGH SIMPLY 'DEFEATING' CALICE WON'T SOLVE WHAT IS HAPPENING.

[ponymeisters]

AS DO I, APPARENTLY. THE LAST TIME ANYPONY OPENED THIS SCROLL, THE WORLD WAS STILL SPEAKING ANCIENT TONGUES IN THE FAR NORTH.

[crapfully]

The barrier? Some kind of...wall. Like a door? Mirror?

[ponymeisters]

THE BARRIER WITHIN THE HEART OF THE EVERFREE FOREST.

[crapfully]

Heart of the forest. Got it.

[Hey, solid progress! He'll scribble a note and pass this on to the rest of the team.]

Now that we've got some kind of solid lead, I'm thinking we'll see you in...four to six months at the rate it usually takes us to get the band together.

[chatwithdeath]

Is that right? That's a fool's desire.

[She would prefer life and death being left to deities thanks... or Xerneas.]

I take there's a limit to what you can answer then?