Stop.

For just a minute, everypony, please, just stop.

[Hear that everyone? It sounds like a pony having a panic attack, considering how wheezy more than usual Surprise's voice is at the moment.]

Do you think maybe before we go and take on the elder thing that slunk out of some horrible nether-crevasse we could come up with actual plans instead of just announcing what we're going to do over the scrolls? I mean, don't get me wrong, man, everyone's brave and all but maybe we should actually get organized first? Maybe know who is doing what so everypony knows what's going where?

I mean it's no big deal trying to go against this thing but hey it's just a suggestion! I mean this thing could be older than the stars or have eaten galaxies or something so maybe, just maybe?

We could get organized first before everypony throws themselves at this thing? I mean, you know, if that's okay with everyone!

[Hey there everyone. It's been a while since Surprise really used her scroll that much but here she is coming at ya, a small pair of goggles over her eyes like some weird, mad scientist.]

So, you know, this is the first time I really had any kind of interest in Hearts and Hooves Day since, man. I dunno. Maybe fourth grade or something? I had a crush on this weird kid who sat a few rows behind me, you know, the kind of kid who used to eat paste, and I made him this big, elaborate paper heart with glitter and shiny marker and everything.

I. Uh. I'm pretty sure he ate it.

So hey you know, man, kind of saying I'm pretty new to trying to, you know. Be sweet on someone! Or give gifts to someone! So I was thinking what's a romantic thing to get a guy you've known for a while. And then I had it.

Tesla coils.

Check this out.

[The white pegasus moves the scroll to position it so that it gives a view of three large Tesla coils, set up in a triangular pattern. As the pegasus switches the coils on, electricity sparks and curls between the pillars. Eventually, the electricity begins to stabilize, to form a pattern that results in a large heart shape with the word "ON" in the middle of it.]

It's, uh...it's supposed to say Don but I think I need to calibrate it a bit more. I mean I still have a few days, man, I'm golden.

Oh. I also knitted him a scarf and sweater since it can get cold in his lab, especially right now.

[And she pushes a purple scarf and sweater combo forward for a moment.

And then pauses.]

Do you think that's too much?

[There have been a lot of apologies going around since they'd managed to reforge the 'Fire of Friendship' to drive off the Windigos. Donna's been holding off, too embarrassed to join in the chorus, but there's really not a way to avoid it. At least she can limit the apology proper to the members of the commune. Everyone else? Well, there were a lot of people who could help with building.]

Hey, everybody. This is Donna Noble from the Ponyville Commune. We had some trouble recently and are looking for any help we can get to organize a building party. This isn't just for the commune, though, it's something I'd like to put together for something more regular in case any of us need the help. With everything we've faced since getting here, with as kind as the ponies in Ponyville are, I think we owe it to them to have some sort of, I dunno, on-call group. A bunch of us who'll come and fix something up if it gets knocked down in the latest invasion or whatever. If you'd like to help, please let me know. I'll be setting something up for the commune soon. I know the Agency needs some work for expansion, too, that we could see to helping with after that.


( Locked to Commune Residents )


( Locked to Terra )

[Trixie appears on the scrolls, looking a little frustrated.]

Snow... It's all everywhere, and in a flurry. It appears that The Great and Powerful Trixie will have to indefinitely cancel her performances. 'Tis a shame that the local Pegasi seem to be useless at their jobs.

[Wait, isn't that a little mean to say, even for Trixie herself?]

It's always like them, isn't it? They can barely handle the weather at all anyway.

Er...

[There's a bit of fussing with the scrolls before it actually goes to show who's actually using it...and when it does, what everyone sees is a sleek emerald dragon in a thick wool cloak and tricorn hat.

A very nice tricorn hat.]

I ah, think I've got it. There's no shortage of questions that I have concerning where I am and why I'm suddenly a mount worthy of Her Majesty's Thirteenth, but honestly? I'm sure any answer I get will only raise further questions.

[There's a very pained, puzzled sigh from her before she tips her hat to a presumed audience, in some flustered, vague attempt at courtesy.]

I only want to know whether anyone has seen any walkers about--or Risen, whatever you want to call them. The laws of my world have...likely been abandoned, for now, but I need to be sure.

And gods, if they are here, don't come close to one if you see it! [There's a hint of panic in her voice now, but she's still fairly controlled.] Use guns, or pitchforks, or fire if you must, but know that their embrace means death if you're daft enough to let one touch you.

[Okay, okay. Calm down, Kaj...]

I'll be looking for a place a twenty-foot wyvern could possibly stay in this village, if any of you happen to be about. I should like to find one by the morrow, but this is far from the worst that's happened to me.

[The feed opens up showing the back of a white pony with black hair, with a black weapon sitting in the grass beside her. (A few might recognize it as Gambol Shroud.) She seems to be talking to another pony with blonde hair that many will likely recognize as Yang. The feed seems to cut midway into their conversation.]

-ns up, just like one of our Scrolls back home. It works kinda like the CCT back home, just on a smaller scale. And it's mobile! Most everybody uses it to video chat but I've used it to send written messages back and forth too.

[Yang sends a wry smile in her quiet partner's direction.]

So it's not like you have to use it to talk to anyone if you don't want to-oh!

[The blonde pony's attention is drawn back to the scroll, and while she looks surprised she doesn't...look that surprised.]

Uhhh, looks like it started recording by accident. Well! Might as well say "Hi". Helloooooooo!

[She trills a greeting, waving a hoof at the feed and then glances at her teammate.]

Your turn, Blake.

[Blake looks back at the scrolls, with a serious look on her face, and then turns back to Yang.]

No.

[She closes the scrolls. Too bad it's not that easy to avoid interaction, Blake!]

(OOC: Blake will be answering any responses to this, but be prepared for potential Yang threadjacks. She's got a big mouth, after all~)

What ho, what ho, Equestrians all! [Here's a bright yellow pegasus doing his best to smile brightly with the season.] Bertram Wooster, here, for all who might not know me. I thought I might put a bee into the proverbial bonnet with all this festive whatsit carrying on. Now, I know we've all got to be frightfully busy around this time of year, but there has to be an hour or two for fun, eh? On the counsel of my dearly adopted sister, young Nephenee, I'd like to propose a day or two of sledding.

Now what we need, though, are actual sleds. Dashed difficult to have some sort of jolly down-hilling without the proper equipment. If anypony has a sled or two to spare... or might be able to build one, I'd love to hear from you. We'll be having hot cocoa and mulled cider for any sledders once it's all set up along with the standard sort of towels and blankets once you're ready to call the day.


( Private to Surprise )

[There's been a new face around today, for what could be seen of him considering the mask and cloak he wore. After arriving he had spent a great deal of time looking around and getting used to walking on four legs; the wings, which at the moment were underneath the cloak, would wait until later.

He had also done a little poking around with the scroll, and watching other ponies go about their business. And at the end of the exploration, all he really had was one question, so he opened up the scroll to ask.]

I get that magic can do a lot of things. But how exactly do horses build things without fingers?

[Inquiring minds want to know.]

So. You're probably wondering why I have a dog in a banana costume.

[It would, Surprise supposes, be a thing most would wonder, as there is indeed a dog, a dachshund to be specific, slowly waltzing about around her while dressed in a small, bright yellow banana costume.]

First, uh...I should probably apologize for how I was this time of year last year. I...Nightmare Night isn't exactly something I look forward to. I guess...I mean I know the war that came from it didn't seem to affect this Equestria or maybe most like it did mine. I mean, you know, I'm not sure why that is, since you'd think a war would leave lasting scars on a social conscious no matter where it happens, right!?

But hey let's not talk about war and the lasting damage it does to society! Let's talk about war and why we dress dogs up in remembrance of it! Or, uh, traditions for Nightmare Night I guess. I think how the war happened in my world is different from most so I'm gonna explain a few things.

So about a thousand years ago, the Princesses took an initiative to be more open with the public, including saying they were willing to hear any suggestions their citizens had. It's not known how it started, but legend has it that someone requested that Celestia dress in a banana costume. It seemed to start as a joke, but eventually it got a lot of support somehow. Apparently everyone just kind of loved it.

In response Princess Celestia decided to end the initiative and destroyed a small settlement she thought the request came from. Princess Luna, however, wanted to keep the initiative going and pushed for Celestia to wear the banana costume to appease the public. She tried to push it everywhere she could, and eventually tried to slip it into the fiscal budget plan for the coming year to force it.

When that didn't work, Princess Luna did the only thing she could to try and get Celestia to acquiesce to her demand: she sold her sanity to the dark gods that lay on the fringes of reality and proceeded to bombard Canterlot with dark magic, leading to her banishment to the moon and a century long ban on fruit based costumes.

And so, in my Equestria today, we remember this horrific war that still shatters families and friends apart in two specific ways. The first is the burning of all fiscal yearly budget reports, although that's...you know, it's kind of been going out of style considering all the damage it does to the economy. The second is the dressing up of dogs in banana costumes.

I...I'm not really clear on why we do it to dogs specifically, man, the history is kind of hazy. I know that like three hundred years back some pony scientists tried to shoot a bunch of dogs dressed in banana costumes to the moon, but you know, it just kind of ended up raining costumed dogs for a day instead.

So, uh. Other than the usual trick or treating, that's how and why we celebrate Nightmare Night!

[The dachshund, meanwhile, is still waddling about a bit before managing to trip over a bit of the costume somehow.]

Oh, yeah. Is anypony missing a dog or something named Jellybeans? Because I found it.

So, you know, there's a bunch of monsters wandering around now that the Library is gone! So let's talk about monsters! Or monsters who aren't really monsters! I mean there's the yogurt zombies and they really are monsters and jerks just wandering around now! But there's also a monster a lot of you probably don't know!

So there might be a giant squid monster man wandering around a lot! And even though he's big and intimidating at first and has the potential to make your mind snap in existential terror at the sheer initial sight of him, he's not a monster at all! He's Nurshen! You know, he's just a guy that likes cake and baths and...I guess other things that you learn to like while trapped in some dungeon for who knows how long! So if you see him there's not really any reason to get out pitchforks or torches or artillery or magic powers! And if you do think first about how maybe, deep down, there's just a little monster living deep inside all of us. Just eating away at our thoughts of who we are and our perceptions of self and morality and society. Just growing to the point we don't even know it! But we don't really judge each other based on that, and-

[Surprise just cuts her rambling off mid-sentence, smacking her lips a little.]

Wow, that sounded a lot better in my head when I was thinking it.

[Man. Maybe she really should just write down everything she intends to say before she says it.]

Look. All I want to say is that there's a big squid man going around, and even though he looks scary he's really nice, and he used to be a pony, and he's been trapped in a dungeon for a thousand years without seeing the outside world, and he wouldn't hurt anyone. So just don't worry, you know, if you see him around, and give him a chance.

That's, uh. That's all I wanted to say.

[Hey guys, its Don again, this time in his basement. He is surrounded by very obviously newly-constructed machinery. All from discarded scrap. Huh.

He looks fired up, even under his goggles, as he speaks, rubbing his hooves together.]

Ok guys! I've taken some stuff and I'm tinkering with the idea of making night-resistant plants!

[Holding up corn.]

See, if Zetta's eternal darkness is going to be long-term, we have to find a way to compensate for the lack of sunlight. Plants will die without chlorophyll, which is generated from light. Likewise animals will have difficulty in getting certain essential vitamins.

But, I think I've found ways to ensure that these plants and animals can get what they need!

[At this, he held up a rock with a lichen on it.]

I'm going to try and use my magic to alter and crossbreed the DNA of Ambleartic lichen into some crop seeds! With any luck, this will make the plants able to survive with minimal to no sunlight. I'll also infuse it with vitamin D shots so animals will be able to continue to stay healthy!

[At this, he rubs his hooves again.]

I can do this. Yeah. Yeah!

[He chuckles. Wait, what's in that giant jug behind him? Is that...coffee?]

We'll be all right, everypony!

I know with... the current events this may not be exactly the best time, but I'm planning a little bit of a film festival for the future. To that end, I'd like to let you all know that there will be a film contest to be held for short movies, which will be screened to the public. There will also be public viewings of movies with... bigger budgets, to say the least. [Because "better" might not exactly apply here.]

Just letting you all know. Feel free to suggest movies you might like to see, Equestrian or otherwise, and I'll take any suggestions into consideration.

Thank you.

[Private to Alastor]

Alastor, I remember talking with you about your movie collection... do you think you could show it to me? Might need to borrow some stuff, with your permission, of course.

[This morning the scroll opens up and very bleary-eyed looking Chie is on the other end. Apparently she hasn't gotten any sleep.]

Okay guys, I got some bad news. The creepy loud unicorn wasn't lying when he said that there's a thing that's blotting out the sun and the moon. I stood up all night to check on it and *yaaawn* oh, erm... yeah, the small eclipse pretty much confirms it.

[She looks to the side at the rising sun and glowers a little. There was something else that she wanted to get off her chest.]

And guys, I know that guy is crazy and nuts, but I can't help but think if the Princesses are all that much better. I mean, we were dragged here with a crazy creepy monster thing, and now the planet is going to die because one guy doesn't get to be a princess, too.

[Maybe it's the lack of sleep talking but she's just getting angry.] Maybe I'm giving them too much credit, but I can't help but feel like they're just not doing their job here to keep the peace. So what's the big plan now, ladies?

[He probably ought to have paid more attention to the date. But what with the business with the Pale Pony and Pollo, it's the 3rd of September before he's had a chance to catch his breath. The stallion's still fairishly certain he isn't madly in love with anypony... though there might be a certain dragon he's got his eye on. He's hardly going to go mooning after a chum, though. That might be worse than falling in love with Jeeves! He doesn't look particularly enthused when the scroll comes on.]

What ho, what ho! I'm in a bit of a spot that I hope somepony might be able to help me out of. I wouldn't normally... well, I mean. It-it's just a bit- not that there's anything really-

[Right. Pull it together Wooster.]

That blighter, Discord's cursed me. I'm going to turn into some sort of seahorse if I can't get somepony who's in love with me to kiss me in the nearish-to-soonish. I can assure you, no obligations need be made, nor favors advanced if you've got the tender pash for young Bertram. All I need is a kiss.

I'll just... I'll just be waiting in the Night Market if anypony wants to pop round. Sorry.

[Even though the scrollwork has cut on to a visual feed, the room is dark, with all the curtains drawn shut and only the faintest trickle of light shining through them. The mare speaking looks like she'd been run over by the 4:50 Express, and if the cups of water and...what appear to be a raw egg next to her are any indication, she knows damn well why she hurts so much. Her voice is a low, hoarse mutter, but loud enough to be audible.]

Flanks and fetlocks, I'm a buckin' idiot. First and foremost: you're all right, I'm a damn idiot. Let's just... let's just get business out of the way, yeah...?

First: I wish I could undo the crap I spewed at you, Hamato. You didn't deserve that, even if it felt like you were twistin' the knife at the time. We'd... we'd known for about a day by the time y'said anything. We.....we took it real well, Harv and I. You didn't deserve what we did t'ya.

Second: Just because I don't want to kill anyone anymore doesn't mean you don't deserve to have your face turned into abstract art, Goggles. You're an asshat and if there was any justice in th'world you'd be the Pale Pony's bitch instead of all the innocents out there forced to be sucked into her.

[Flare's voice lowers to a rough growl, but she cuts herself off with a fit of coughing before it goes too far.]

Third: Thanks for at least stoppin' us before we were dumber, Lyra. Sure felt like you were stabbin' us in the back and agreein' with Goggles sayin' Harv was useless when it happened, though. Dunno if he'll still think you feel that way when he wakes up, but he still did before he finally passed out.

[The pegasus glances over her shoulder, reluctantly, at the earth pony still passed out behind her. Ugh, she can deal with hangovers, but something told her she wasn't going to like the aftermath of this one.]

Fourth: Dust, if you're still around and don't mind fixing up a wrecked apartment, the place is all yours. I don't think I c'n stay there at the moment. Gonna be here with Harv for a while.

Fifth: Sorry, Rarity. Kinda totaled the apartment y'gave to me. Better than takin' it out on a pony, I guess. Dash, don't worry, that thing you got me is built t'withstand a rainboom, so at least it's still in one piece, though I gotta lug it here now.

And I guess the last thing I gotta say is... well, if you don't understand why the two of us were such buckin' foals last night... give it time. Sooner or later, th'Pale Pony's gonna take away everyone you love, too. And it's gonna hurt. That's why I was so eager a few weeks ago.

Sorry.

[And with that, Flare rolls up the scroll with a quiet grunt. Maybe she can wallow in her idiocy for a few weeks, now.]

[Dandy disappeared for a few days, not that he's expecting anyone to notice. They should've, I mean, he is fantastic, but when he addresses the scroll he acts like nothing ever happened.]

Hey, listen up, I actually have a plan, so maybe you should sit down and hear me out for once. Especially you guys trying to form an angry mob or something. Not that I'm opposed to a good ass beating, but you geniuses are dealing with a lady here.

[He's talking about the Pale Pony, if that wasn't clear enough yet.]

Honestly, I'm surprised in you. I thought ponies fed off friendship or some crap. ...I know you at least wail on people over it... [He rubs the side of his face momentarily as he looks off to the side. That is not a happy face he's making as he strolls down memory lane. But hey! He's all smiles again when he looks back.] So why the hell are you planning to kill some chick?

Lemme propose a step above friendship, I'm talkin' the power of love, baby! Women like these usually have some emotional backstory, who wants to bet she's really hurting on the inside? Maybe throw in some daddy issues while we're at it. Nothing a little tender loving care can handle, you know what I'm saying? That's why I'm going to score with the Pale Pony. That's right!

[Hold your applause.]

Step one? [He digs into his jacket pocket and whips out a long piece of cloth.] Boom! Blindfold. Can't use her creepy eye magic if I can't see her eyes. She might even buy the whole "in it for her personality" if I can't even get a look at that booty.

Science side of Ponyville might need to help me come up with the next steps, but I think I'm onto something here. Dandy out!

[Have an awkward looking unicorn, Ponyville.]

Right. So. First off, just wanna say, I'd like to apologize for a little... misunderstanding. That occurred when I arrived here. I had assumed this was. A different universe. I don't plan on taking over anyone [He coughs quickly in a way that sounds a little like "for now".]. No ill intentions.

You should really learn to differentiate yourselves more.

Now, to business. Assuming terrifying elder gods aren't your usual cup of acids, I'd like to offer my assistance in any matters relating to said horrors. In a scientific aspect, of course. Don't even want to think about going near something like that unprepared again.

On a more... personal note, can someone direct me to a place to spend my nights? And that local library? It appears my GPS didn't arrive with me.

[A voice off-screen scoffs.] And he never got off his behind and actually explored his surroundings.

[Linksano turns to glare at the voice... presumably. His eyebrows are hidden behind the goggles, but his frown is very visible.]

Do you mind? Now I have to film the whole thing all over again!

Wha- isn't it live?

Of course not! Its quite clearl- oh. Drat.

[The scroll immediately shuts off.]

[As usual, the best way to tell this Rainbow apart from her counterpart is the black coat, the Blaster Edge, and the bracelet. Added to that is the unusually stern look she's given the scroll, fierce and serious and faintly angry.]

Okay, listen up, 'cuz we've got a problem here.

A lot of you ponies have been getting stuff that just shoots you higher than Cloudsdale out of nowhere. Stuff from the dungeon, weird transformations, magic powers, we've got Hayate doling out stuff like it's free cookie day at Sugercube Corner.

This is bad. It's dangerous and it's wrong. As much as everypony has good reasons for wanting this stuff and using it, and I'm not saying anypony's out to do anything wrong with it, it's still really scary. If someone just hands you some ultimate power, especially these days, you should be worried.

You don't know anything about this stuff. What was it doing in the dungeon? Maybe all of it was planted by the Pale Pony just as a trick or some experiment. It can be taken away from you at any time, like Discord did. You don't know what's powering it. You don't know the rules of it.

[She leans forward to prod the scroll with a hoof, like she's prodding the viewer, her gaze intensifying.]

Now you might call me a hypocrite, 'cuz you know I picked up a bunch of things in Garden, but the difference is, I sweated and struggled and gave it my 100% best all the time I was there. I sat there and I practiced and I studied and, Celestia help me, I even took academic classes and followed the Garden Code the best I could, to learn what I was doing. And before that, I didn't just appear on the Wonderbolts one day -- I was putting in my licks every day getting stronger and faster and better so one day I'd be worthy of it.

So if you're relying on some power or gadget or device you just got, you're just asking for trouble. The only safe power is what you understand, and you only understand it if you put time and effort and energy into studying, learning, and practicing. Otherwise, you're just asking to break and fail when we finally do take on the Pale Pony.

And just remember. This is Equestria. We don't fight alone. When it all comes down, we're going in together, and it's our friendships and our bonds that'll see us to victory. Not one incredible hero or some mighty spell.

Everyone come to the commune! We're having a slumber party tonight! It's totally okay if we have a group slumber party there, right guys?

Oh, and...Twilight, you guys are still out in Stalliongrad, huh? [That's disappointing. Unicorn Twilight probably needs the slumber party a lot, judging from that message of hers.] Um, is there maybe anyone who could go out to Stalliongrad and get them? You could totally go back in the morning and keep researching stuff!

I just think it'd be nice for us all to get together!