Week 2: Clarify [Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

(Oh look, it's that unicorn who made an ass of herself a few weeks ago. Remember her? If not her face, then her voice might sound familiar. Otherwise, it's just a unicorn with a strange pair of skeletal wings on her back.)

...Well. I'm at least using the scroll properly this time. I certainly made a fool of myself a few weeks ago and I can say with certainty that my mission continued to proceed offtrack. As you can see, my contact hasn't quite called me back, so as an apology to all of you, I should explain my purpose.

My name is Kreutzer. I'm a Reaper, officer rank, and I work in the Reaper's Game. In short, it's a game the dead play in hopes of winning the grand prize of resurrection. The one in charge of the Reaper's Game is called the Composer; the Composer runs everything and the workers, that includes us Reapers, make sure to follow the Composer's instructions. The game changes its location every week, hopping across time and space as the Composer sees fit, which is why I was so insistent to finish my mission by week's end.

My contact, the Composer, is fairly new at her job, but has the determination to do it well. Her determination, however, is weighed down by the mystery she has yet to solve: her death. It occurred several months ago. Granted, there's little continuity to be had across different universes and their timelines, but for us, it happened two months ago. As Reaper, I offered to investigate this mystery and she agreed to send me here. Why Equestria? Because that's her home of origin. The Composer, my contact, is a zebra named Zecora.

Given how...different this Equestria is, I can only assume it isn't my contact's. As such, my mission has been updated to solving the distortion in this world.

...I apologize for being so selfish and ominous.

(In other words, she blew it, she's as screwed as you guys and is calling a truce.)

Comments

[vis]

[stormbroken]

I apologize for threatenin' to drown ya.

So you've got experience worldhopping, then, but not with the special brand we got goin' on here?

[vis]

[ponykreutzer]

Precisely. The kind I'm used to followed a schedule. This one, however, does not.

My confusion stemmed from jumping into this one according to that schedule.

[vis]

[stormbroken]

...still, you might know things that could help us figure out what's happening to us.

You should try talking to Princess Celestia up in Canterlot; she's the one spearheading the investigations on how to undo this crap.

[vis]

[ponykreutzer]

If I can establish contact, I'll tell her what I know.

...I take it you have questions of your own.

[vis]

[stormbroken]

None that I think you can answer.

[vis]

[ponykreutzer]

But some you wish to ask, regardless.

[vis]

[stormbroken]

Not really. Acting like you're more important than you are is how we got at each other's throats to begin with.

[vis]

[ponykreutzer]

Fair enough...though perhaps you can answer one of mine.

(A pause.)

Nightmare Moon...what kind of character was she?

[vis]

[stormbroken]

Imposing. I... don't know what to tell you there, since I never met her first-hoof. I do know someone you could talk to about that, though - Princess Luna.

No better way of finding out about someone than asking their other side, is there...? Kind of like how Fluttercruel could tell you about Fluttershy.

[vis]

[ponykreutzer]

I shall speak with her at the next available opportunity, then.

...I ask because a strange force lurks in the castle in the forest. Even now, I can feel it calling to me and it grows stronger the closer I am to that castle. I believe that force and Nightmare Moon to be connected.

[vis]

[stormbroken]

In the castle...? Did you feel it during Nightmare Night?

[Come to think of it, were you even there for that?]

[vis]

[ponykreutzer]

I arrived well after that night. It...doesn't feel as though it's remnant energy; it feels as if the source is still there.

[vis]

[stormbroken]

...I didn't think remnant energy...

[She was wondering if it was the Pale Pony they felt.]

[vis]

[ponykreutzer]

Someone else, then?

[vis]

[stormbroken]

Yeah... the one I think is behind it all.

[Visual]

[weekwizard]

I had a feeling that was the case, but now I almost feel cheated working so hard to get that information out of you.

[Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

Look at it this way: your efforts yielded a fragment of the story. It's not as if they were a complete waste.

[Visual]

[weekwizard]

I suppose not. It was rather entertaining listening to you trying and failing to cover your interntions.

[Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

Such is the effects of hubris. All the same, I can admit to only being a part-time fool.

Re: [Visual]

[weekwizard]

We will see about that in time.

[She says that as a joke, but the deadpan delivery could say otherwise.]

[Private Visual]

[cruel_kindness]

We were kinda keeping it a secret that we're dead so the others wouldn't worry about it, but whatever.

[Private Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

Such is the way of damage control, I suppose: fighting fire with fire, as it were.

...Sorry about that.

[Private Visual]

[cruel_kindness]

Eh... We weren't really sure if we were dead or not is mostly what kept us from telling. Guess we'll just have to deal with it.

[Private Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

Understandable. If it becomes too much of a problem, then I'll gladly jump in.

[Private Visual]

[cruel_kindness]

Thanks for that, Kreutz.

So how're you enjoying Equestria so far?

[Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

It's certainly as colorful as I expected. A welcome change to the usual grays of cities, I'd say.

A bit more rustic than I'm used to, but the peace and quiet is nice...well, relative peace and quiet. Is it always this lively?

[Visual]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Well now, this is a curious story.
My counterpart seems to have her fair share of glory.

[Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

As the previous game's champion and the new game's Composer, fair is a bit of an understatement.

I'd be glad to tell you of her journey, if you'd like...though I'm sure a part of you probably knows already.

[Visual]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

I would very much like to know
How such a story might go.

[Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

Like an epic tale of how one's determination for resolution can inspire many. If you're free today, I'll gladly tell you.

[Visual]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

I have already confessed
My personal interest.

[Zecora chuckles. She isn't so mysterious and aloof that she can't admit to a real interest in her other self personally.]

Shall I come to you or you to me?
Either way is fine. I am quite free.

[Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

If you'll have me, I'll come right over. I'm...lacking a permanent residence with which to invite you.

[Visual]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

By all means, I will await
Your visit, so don't be too late!

[Visual]

[ponykreutzer]

I shall come right over, then.

(And soon after the girl rolls up her scroll, she makes for the Everfree Forest. As always, the strange pull of the castle calls to her, but she ignores it for now. There's nothing more she can do there right now and besides, she didn't want to keep the zebra waiting.

Some time later, there's a knock on the zebra's door.)

[action]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Zecora opens the door a moment later, beckoning her in with a smile. At her little table, a pair of mugs sit ready, with a selection of several herbs ready to be added.]

I don't know what you prefer to drink
But you'll find something you like, I think.

[action]

[ponykreutzer]

If nothing else, I'm willing to try new things.

(She gives a smile and a light bow of her head as she steps inside. Even if she's not her Zecora, Kreutzer would still pay her respects to the zebra all the same. Fundamentally, they are one and the same.

The reaper sits by the table, inspecting the herbs before her before finally taking one to mix with her drink.)

This is quite the home you have. It represents you perfectly.

[action]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

I should hope so! It's styled like home
Carried with me, no matter how far I roam.

[Zecora selects and mixes her own tea without even seeming to notice what she's doing.]

I assume the other me you knew
Inspired that observation. True?

[bluesuit_hoofy]

Not our Zecora? [News to him. Someone hasn't talked to the zebra in a while.]

[ponykreutzer]

Not this world's Zecora, no. Another Zecora...though the strong spirit is something I'm sure all Zecoras share.

[bluesuit_hoofy]

[That's a relief.] Did you know you'd come to a different Equestria?

[ponykreutzer]

I didn't. And I'm still not sure why I did; it seems far too convenient that I end up here while trying to go to another Equestria.

[bluesuit_hoofy]

If I knew more about how you were sent -- maybe there was an increased chance of you getting picked up since you were on your way to a similar world. Whatever has been putting us here may not have meant to take you at all.

[ponykreutzer]

That's another question I'll have to ask our host since, accidental or not, I'm here to stay.

Unfortunately, I honestly don't understand how the composer sent me here. I didn't ask her before I left.

[bluesuit_hoofy]

You don't know how she normally does it? And you still let her?

[ponykreutzer]

I trust her with my life. I know even if she were to mess up, it would've been an honest mistake without malevolent intent.

[bluesuit_hoofy]

But she could mess up, and you don't even know how.