[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

[Visual]

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Uh, hey.

[This is pretty awkward, both given the circumstances and Zetta's history.]

So, uh, where the hell's the real you?

[Visual]

[ponymeisters]

SHE IS AROUND. IT WOULD BE SILLY TO SAY WHERE OUT LOUD HERE, WHERE OWL EYES CAN SEE.

[Visual]

[badassfreakingoverlord]

...She's not in my castle somewhere, is she? Because no offense, but I'm really getting tired of mares popping up in my castle when I'm not aware they were there.

[Visual]

[ponymeisters]

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

[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.

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.

[Visual]

[badassfreakingoverlord]

So all of us getting our ass kicked left and right because you're too unwilling to take a risk on us is acceptable? We've proven ourselves! [Unconsciously but very effectively punctuating his point, the Overlord's wings snap open.] What the hell more does it take?

[Visual]

[ponymeisters]

ITS HARDLY ABOUT PROVING YOURSELVES. RATHER, THERE'S A LARGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RISK AND COMPLETE FOOLISHNESS SAVE FOR A MOMENT. THERE IS A TIME THAT WILL COME WHEN THE RISK WILL BE ACCEPTABLE AND EVEN NECESSARY. BUT FOR NOW, AT THIS MOMENT, REVEALING MYSELF WOULD RESULT IN DOOMING ALL OF EXISTENCE.

AND I'D REALLY RATHER NOT HAVE YOU AND EVERYPONY DISAPPEAR IRREVERSIBLY IN THE ENDLESS VOID THAT WOULD FOLLOW THE COLLAPSE OF EVERYTHING EVER BECAUSE I WASN'T PRUDENT ENOUGH OF A GAZING PRESENCE TO KNOW PRECISELY WHEN TO INTERVENE. WHEN ONE CAN SEE AND KNOW EVERYTHING, ITS IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR PROPER WHENS.

[Visual]

[badassfreakingoverlord]

[Zetta considers this carefully, gathering together his thoughts to make a solemn pronouncement on the statement, one that will surely be remembered since it's coming from an ascended alicorn.]

That's crap!

[Zetta slaps the scroll angrily to emphasize his point.] If you're going to tell us that you've seen the future and you know what's coming, then just tell us nothing we do actually matters -- we're all dancing along with our actions written out for us already and we might as well be robots or puppets or something. That viewpoint might suit your ego, but I'm the most badass freaking Overlord in the entire cosmos! If I was at my peak, Calice would be nothing -- I'm so frickin' powerful, death itself can't touch me! I've known Oracles, and I've relied on their prophecies, and one thing I've learned for damn sure is that people have free will.

So if you're gonna say that there's going to be a moment when the risk is acceptable, then all I hear is that you're playing it safe until a moment comes along when you're certain it isn't a risk any more. That point when your power added to ours will make the win guaranteed.

[The Overlord snorts as his mana power, riled up by his anger, begins to settle down into its usual swift flow around his hooves. Irritated though he is, Zetta isn't truly mad.]

That's fine. We can get it to that point. We don't even need you in the end. But not having you will make the road longer and harder, the same as not having you now makes the road longer and harder. I would have taken the risk, but if you don't want to? We'll deal.