This darkness reminded me of a story I heard once from the Elves. Back in my world they are among the eldest peoples and they know stories from long long ago.

When my world was still young there were great powers called the Valar that helped to form the very earth and sea but they were betrayed by one of their own, who became the first Dark Lord. The first light after the stars were two lamps the Valar made that stood on high peaks at the ends of the world and poured light out into the lands all around.

The Dark Lord hated the light and threw down the lamps and ruined the Valar's hard work shaping the world. So the Valar moved into the West to start over. There Two Trees were given life on a great hill, and they shone bright with silver and golden light. These became the new source of light in place of the lamps.

For many ages the Elves and the Valar lived in great prosperity under the light of the Trees.

But the Dark Lord slipped into their lands, and he destroyed the Trees. The Valar tried to bring the trees back to life but could only bring forth one final flower and one last fruit from them. These they set in the sky with watchful guards to guide them, and my world has lived by those lights ever since. Those are the Moon and Sun of my world.

I don't expect it would be an easy task. But is there not a way we could make a sun and moon like they did? Nothing nearly as grand, we are not the Valar, but something that can help this land get by in the meantime? Large lamps? Or bright magic trees?

[He's pretty sure the story went something like that. He wasn't paying as much attention at story time in Rivendale as Frodo or Merry did.]

There's Woona stepping out of the shower. Before anypony can tell her to put on a towel, she hip-checks a musical device.

And then picks up a comb as she starts to warble the lyrics as she dances around, singing as she prepares for, bed? Waking? It's pretty late in the evening.

Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga

I can't stop this feeling
Deep inside of me
Girl, you just don't realize
What you do to me

When you hold me
In your arms so tight
You let me know
Everything's all right

I'm hooked on a feeling
I'm high on believing
That you're in love with me

Lips as sweet as candy
Its taste is on my mind
Girl, you got me thirsty
For another cup o' wine

Got a bug from you girl
But I don't need no cure
I'll just stay a victim
If I can for sure

All the good love
When we're all alone
Keep it up girl
Yeah, you turn me on

I'm hooked on a feeling
I'm high on believing
That you're in love with me

All the good love
When we're all alone
Keep it up girl
Yeah, you turn me on

I'm hooked on a feeling
I'm high on believing
That you're in love with me

I'm hooked on a feeling
And I'm high on believing
That you're in love with me

I said I'm hooked on a feeling
And I'm high on believing
That you're in love with me
I'm hooked on a feeling

I would like to thank the two ponies who helped me yesterday. Your kindness helped me... greatly. [He takes a deep breath to keep his emotions in check.]

For you two, and for anypony who will listen I would like to share a song. I once sang it during a dark time. At that time I was not sure there would be a good end. If it was possible. And yet all was well in the end. Perhaps it can bring us some luck. Or it will bring some peace to your hearts at least?

[He stands straight, closes his eyes as he takes in a breath, then starts to sing an almost haunting tune.]

♪ Home is behind
The world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow
To the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight

Mist and Shadow
Cloud and shade
All shall fade
All shall... fade

[ooc: Hello Pippin voice clip. If you wondered what he sounds like here you go. And all the fans of the lotr movie give a relieved sigh that the linked video doesn't include the sound of Denethor eating.]

Hey.

If you have a message for someone trapped in the Pale Pony, you can give it to me and I'll see if I can get it to them. No guarantees, but I'll sure as hell try.

Hey. Weird girl I talked with last month, who had the friend they thought could survive getting hurled through the Void with me, your friend still here? Cause if so, tell her she needs to book her ticket for her flight to Pale Bitch County, and it needs to be soon.

[Oh, is it giant baby hour already?]

...I'd like to go home now, please.

Hello! I have a question. Since I arrived here I have met a very friendly dragon which might be normal here but dragons are not known for being friendly in my homeworld. It was amazing! Thus I began to wonder: are there friendly goblins or trolls living in this world as well? I don't wish to mistake them for dangerous if I happen upon one if that's the case.

[Pippin appears to be at a desk in the middle of writing something. If one squints and manages to read upside down they would realize he has been working on some sort of report.]

[The scroll gets unrolled by a large, friendly looking white dog, who stares at the feed for a second, panting before there's a commotion behind her. Daisy spins around, whimpering, and now that she's out of the way, it looks like she's in the Commune's kitchen, and there's...a lot of baked goods.

Cookies, cupcakes, other things...Someone is stressed, it seems, given this is intense baking therapy. And from the look of it, Nephenee's working on...pancakes? That's what's on the plate beside the stove, but the pan's on the oven with nothing on it, and Nephenee is shaking her head fiercely, back to the scroll, before turning and...well, there is a tall, leggy blue pony with a pancake on her head. From the look of things, it's stuck, despite her bending her head down to pad at it with a hoof.]

Alright, never, ever, buyin' from that fella again! Ack, gotta be someways ta get it off...

[Her next attempt to remove the offending breakfast item has her flipping onto her back, tugging at it, before looking back in an effort to get a better angle...

And seeing the open scroll. Her face turns all sorts of embarrassed colors, and after a few moments of looking like she just might die, she rights herself, abashedly coming up to the scroll.]

Uh...hi, folks...Ah, uh...been doin' a buncha bakin' today, an' uh...

Ah...think Ah done been pranked...any...pony gotta idea how to get this off me?

[The pegasus turns away from the scroll once he activates it, stepping a few feet away to sit down on the cloud. The sun sets in the distance, as the night drifts in from behind the scroll. The ground is nowhere in sight.]

When I got this form back, I figured things were getting back to normal, but I'd still like to hear that all the fighting is over and all the strangeness is done. If it is... I'm coming back to Ponyville.

The dungeon's closed. The one under Canterlot. I tried to go there to get some practice in. [He shakes his head.] No good, though. Which means there really is nowhere left with monsters, or someone who needs to be stopped for the good of... well, anyone.

I'm starting to think my coming here was a mistake. Or unintentional...

Hey everyone! Skyfire just made me a room with loads of stuff and said I could invite people over to see it if they want!

So, anyone want to see?

[Locked from Skyfire]
Um...There's something else too. [Mani's smile turns a little unsure as she continues.]

Does anyone know how I can get a dragon sized bed too? Skyfire's been taking really good care of me but he still doesn't even have a bed to sleep in and I want to fix that.

[And across Ponyville, it seems that someone's giving tours - a reverted Nozomi! The people she's giving tours to? A redhead in pigtails and a purple-haired girl.]

Well, there's the Mayor's offiice and... [she points towards another location] That's Sugarcube Corner and...!

It's quite interesting, but, um... a-are you sure this isn't something the community has done?

Yeah, no offense, but being transported to a world full of ponies isn't natural

Nope, no community! Really, don't know who brought us here, though. But, at the very least it's fun here!

[And the other two girls don't seem too thrilled at that. How did Karen put up with her?]

(OoC: Oh, hey, guess who realized they still had a human!Nozomi journal? Pink text is DDD!Tsubomi and blue is DDD!Ellen. They'll be answering with their own journals - bag_has_snapped and hearts_beat)

[The scroll opens up to an unfamiliar pony sitting at a table delicately sipping some tea. She sets it down and offers a warm smile to the scroll.]

This tea is really lovely. Would someone like to join me? I'm at...

[This newcomer pauses to look at something off-scroll.]

...At a place called Sugarcube Corner. Perhaps we can have some cake, too?

[Wait, isn't she supposed to be confused?]

[Those near the town square might notice there's a new pony in town. He appears to be a colt dressed up in a very real looking knight costume. He gapes as he checks his surroundings and his eyes go wide at the sight of the other ponies.]

Well this is new. Colorful horses. I don't suppose they have any colorful ponies here? I'll need a ride back to The Shire after all.

[After all, the ponies walking by must be horses- they're that much bigger than he is.

Those checking their magic scrolls would find a new visual message of this confused little pony staring at the scroll, completely puzzled by it as he turns it over again and again checking for writing.]

[Sometime after the ponies wake up, scrolls and quills suddenly start raining from the sky. Don't worry, its not the ponypocalypse, its just a squadron of flying white ponies dropping them from above.

Once everyone receives one, the scrolls suddenly glow and come to life, its surface revealing the visage of a large white alicorn with rainbow hair and a golden crown, sitting on a large, velvet-upholstered throne. She has a calm, reassuring, regal smile on her face as she speaks, though those who know her better can see the light of worry and concern in her eyes.]

Good afternoon, newponies! I am Princess Celestia.

I've heard of your arrival in Ponyville and of some of the more interesting stories that have come from it. We're...not certain how this phenomenon has occurred, but we here at the royal castle will put our efforts into solving this mystery, and I hope you will help us out as we wish to help you out!

Rest assured, no harm will come to you. Nor, as some of you have worried, are we holding you against your will. On the contrary, you're free to move about Equestria as you please, be it through Ponyville, Los Pegasus or anywhere in between. I only request that you use the scrolls we have provided you to check in from time to time, so that we know where you might be when we figure out the solution to this current situation.

If you have any questions, you are free to ask them of me. If I am not available - and, I will admit, there are times when I can be quite busy - there are many other ponies willing to help you, including the other princesses of Equestria. We are all in this together, after all.

[And then she smiles a little more. Its a much more relaxed smile. The concern is still there, of course.]

But, in the meantime, I'd also like to get to know all of you! I always like to meet new people, after all. I hear we even have a dragon?