(forward-dated to sunday)

[Slipstream is dressed in her best dress uniform, looking more stern than usual.]

It has come to my attention that an attack has been made on the princesses. A subtle attack, or as subtle as graffiti during an event as important as the Gala, but I feel that it will demand precise unification among those who can fight.

I require names, skills, and pony type for any and all willing to take up arms. I don't want to go looking for trouble, but if it comes, it would be careless to not have a civilian force designed to address foreign threats. I will, especially, require a roll call, and I will set up an official training session within the week.

I myself am skilled in endurance, training new recruits, and keeping strict order; Ms. Flare Star can place ponies in their most useful positions, and Ms. Rainbow Dash specializes in speed and combat. Together we should be able to put together a force to be reckoned with. Just don't expect it to be easy. Cadets, you will take on further responsibilities as you advance, but traitors will be unceremoniously removed from the program. Is that understood?

[And then, a note just for Rainbow Dash and Flare Star.]

If this crosses a line with either of you, please correspond with me. We have spoken on such matters in the past and it seemed that swift action was necessary.

[Once again, Flare seems to be looming over the scroll at first, though this time she's in a rather rickety looking shack. It's something put together with whatever loose wood she could scrabble together, basically held together with spit and hope. A makeshift shelter, little more.]

Alright, remember how I offered self-defense lessons? Me and Lieutenant Slipstream are lookin' into gettin' a kinda ponies' guardforce goin' on around Ponyville, in case any monsters, villains, or badass overlords decide to cause trouble for the normal, peaceful ponies in this world.

If any of you're interested in joinin' the cause but don't know how to use your hooves t'protect yourselves, I'm gonna be offerin' one-on-one lessons. If Slipstream and I can come to an agreement on somethin', we'll offer somethin' a little meatier, but for now I'm willin' to provide the basic "protect yourselves from brigands and diamond dogs" sorta package.

Just let me know and I'll set aside time, alright?

[Hello, Equestrians, both new and old! Your scrolls come to life, revealing a smiling Celestia. Behind her are several ponies, clearly moving tables and banners and even the occasional circular pan around.]

Good morning, everyone! There are a few days left until the pizza contest, and I am most interested in seeing who might be coming to Canterlot and participating. I am certainly looking forward to seeing what you've all come up with, and trying them all out.

[That smile widens, ever so slightly. She is totally not rubbing her hooves and licking her lips drooling when no one's looking at the prospect, oh no.]

Oh...I almost forgot! I'd like to extend to everyone who owns a scroll a special offer. You see, the prize for participating in the contest is a golden ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala, but I would really like to meet all of you up close and personal. So, I am extending a golden ticket to all of you, and hereby invite you all to the Grand Galloping Gala, which shall occur in three weeks' time.

I admit it is a little bit short notice, but I do hope to see you all here in Canterlot for the biggest party of the year-!

[The sounds of crashing glasses, wood thumping, and cats screeching suddenly echo through the background.]

-excuse me for a second. I hear an accident.

((OOC: Pizza contest update here!))

Okay, I'm in a sticky situation now, and I'm not just talking about all the tree sap.

[Karrin's eyes narrow, and even from the two-dimensional image of the scroll, her irritation is tangible.]

So. Much. Tree sap.

I can't possibly be this bad at getting a job. I mean, sure, I've been working at my life calling and career for over two decades, but I have skills beyond being a police officer and martial artist!

Maybe it's been a while since the last time I had to fill out a job application, but it's not like the song and dance really changes - you dress up a bit (still only seen a handful of the natives put on clothing more than once or twice, setting aside that one purple-haired unicorn shopkeeper), talk about your strengths and weaknesses and why you're a perfect fit for the job blah blah blah...

Three kitchen fires. Five glue incidents. Six incidents that ended with ponies getting things stuck in their eyes. Eight incidents that ended in near violence. And no less than fourteen incidents involving tree sap.

[At this point, Karrin reaches over and physically shakes the scroll in vexation. The veins of her eyes are clearly visible.]

HOW, I ASK, DID TREE SAP GET INTO THAT BUCKET OF PAINT!? HOW?!

[Deep, calming breath. The scroll is put down again.]

Anyways, I'm at my wits end, and I can't mooch off of Blossomforth forever - does anyone have any odd jobs for some...-pony... who's down on her luck? I don't have a lot of strength, seeing as how the universe decided it'd be hilarious to stick me in a body even shorter than the one I'm used to, but I work hard and can stick to my guns.

Anybody?

...Any... pony?

[Here we see a very worried pony looking into her scroll. She had a bag next to her with what looked to be four red and white balls.]

Guys this is important. My pokemon are missing.

Listen, I honestly thought that they didn't come here with me but after I checked my bag and found four pokeballs, I realized that four of my darlings might be wandering around this place looking for me.

[She anxiously taps her hoof at the ground]

Pokemon are like creature companions in my world. There I had a team of six so I don't really know who came here with me. But I have a dragon, a sea snake, a giant flying egg, a dog with a chest spike, a purple spirit haunting a rock and a giant pink slug.

I already met a pony who's going to help me with my missing dragon. But if anyone sees ANYTHING that resembles the creatures I described. Please PLEASE tell me.

[Unlike other posts which appear automatically on your scrolls, this one is quite patient, seeming to wait for ponies to actually read it. When the scrolls are opened, though, the following message shows up in regal, well-calligraphied print:]

My fellow Equestrians!

Greetings to you all. I find the name 'newponies' to be slightly unpleasant, so I shall call you simply as you are: new citizens of Equestria. My name is Princess Luna, sister to Celestia and ruler of the night. Believe me when I say that I do indeed know your plight of finding yourself in a strange new world, a place where you do not know where you may fit in without finding trouble. However, my sister has told me that, more than anything, I will be of aid to many of you where she could not. I have had to rapidly adjust to modern society in Equestria, so while my troubles may not be identical to your own, I can certainly relate to your woes. If thou wouldst have any questions you wished to extend to the Canterlot court, then I shall do my best to answer them.

We trust that things are well in Ponyville, or wherever you may lay thy head at night?

[Luna has left the 'post' open for replies of all sorts, though she will generally be replying in writing.]

[So this is. New. And frightening. Please don't tell him Pitch is somehow behind all of this. Okay, he probably wasn't considering how bright and colorful this all was. As soon as Jack had arrived, he'd taken to the skies. Staff clutched firmly in his teeth as he tried to scope out the land but none of it was familiar.

A scroll appeared once he went back down to the ground, landing rather ungracefully and in a tangle of limbs. He's a skinny thing, after all.]

Ow! Geez... you could've been a bit more gentle, y'know. I only asked for a ride, if you didn't wanna give me one, just say so next time.

[He huffs, getting up to regard the scroll with moving pictures. He keeps his staff close.]

Uh. Hello? Anyone there? North? Tooth? Bunny? Sandy?

...Pitch?

[OOC: He looks like this wearing this!]

[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?