[Not long before several of the offworlders get sucked iinto an epictaking place in the distant past, some in the Commune might have noticed some meetings between a certain blue Commune leader and what looked to be construction workers. Most of the time, they seemed amicable, but once or twice, there was some clearly deep discussion, both sides waving hooves in grand gestures, indicating something foreign to anyone not privy to the conversation.

It's after one of these talks, that Nephenee shows up on the scrolls, sweaty and a bit disheveled, but no more so than usual during the summer. The Sentinel peers about for a moment to be sure somepony isn't around, before addressing everyone else, voice a bit hushed.]

Hey folks, Ah wanted to let y'all know somethin', an' ask a favor o'few.

So, Morgan's birthday's comin' up the 29th, an' Ah really wanna have a nice party for him, an' everypony's invited! In fact, it's a pool party! Ah mean what better way to spend time when it's gettin' to be the hottest part o'the year?

Ah gotta few ideas, but Ah've never thrown a pool party before, an' wanted see 'bout gettin' some ideas...mean, what's normally at a pool party?

Second, Ah've been workin' to get the pool for the house, since that's..kinda the big present, an' even managed to haggle for one for the Commune, too, but...we ran into a problem. Namely, since it's a surprise, Ah'm..kinda at a loss for figurin' how we hide the enclosures.

[Her expression looks very confused now.]

Mean. how do ya hide a buildin'? So...Ah need ideas on how to either hide it somehow as it's gettin' built, or, probably a better idea, distract him long enough for a bunch o'us to do it, an' hide it til he gets back or whatever. Ah'd probably be better at figurin' this out myself, but... [She holds up some theoretical magic homework.] Ah think this done fried my brain.

Also, if folks would like, Ah could use some help settin' up for the party, too. Like...Miss Pinkie, Miss Mina, would y'all be willin' to help me with the cake? Ah gotta idea for one, but...don't really know how to do it. Y'all are the best party planners around, though!

If..anyone else got any ideas, Ah'd be all for 'em!

~~~~

( Action to Minato & Shinjiro )

Yo.

[Minato appears on the scrolls, as neutral as ever, greeting everypony as if the past two weeks hadn't been absolutely hectic.]

Now that we've got a moment. I want to suggest something.

[...Maybe he should have rehearsed first. Oh well.]

It's been some year so far. Lot of stuff happened, lot of stuff went wrong, either from Calice, or somepony else, or us... especially us. I don't need to give examples. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking of something right now, something you're blaming yourself for. We've been doing that a lot lately, taking all the blame for something to save our friends' face. It's admirable, yeah, but it's not always the best thing to do. Or the most healthy.

[He pauses to give a look of slight exasperation to the camera. There's gonna be a friendship speech next, and he knows it's probably getting old by now, but bear with him; he'll make it short.]

Sure, you can get those friends to support you and dig you out of that hole later, but I think that sometimes you just have to let them sit there in that hole with you. Share in your sorrow instead of just watching you from above.

I have a story to tell about that, back from home. I was going to just talk about it with a couple people, but I figure some of you might want to hear it, too, or need to hear it. Or maybe you've got one of your own you want to share. Call it therapy, if you want. Or just a party. I was told to bring games and food.

[It was an odd conversation.]

Long story short, I'm holding this thing Saturday afternoon. Found a nice open spot outside the Night Market to set things up. Anypony's welcome to come, but I'm expecting to see a certain few of you there.

That's all for now. Later.

[The scroll closes for most people, but he's got a few more people to contact directly.]

( [Private to Yu, Luna, Yukiko, Shinjiro, Jappleack] )

So, hey. I've got a question, now that th'world is back to what passes for "normal" 'round here.

What do you do if it turns out that you've been livin' a lie all your life? Not, like, in the Mayfield sense, but... what if you thought you were a hero and you turned out to only be hurtin' people, or...

[Flare goes quiet, and glances away.]

...or what if you believed you were cursed, only t'find out it was all in your head, and you were only holdin' yourself back? What do you do when you find that sorta thing out?

( [Private to Zetta] )

[It's been one hell of a battle against Tirek so far, and there has been a lot of people who once had power, and even just were strong physically, that are now without that, and even without that, their cutie marks are gone; for many, the power was part of their identities, and so after seeing many scared to stand up to Tirek, whether in battle or in spirit, Nephenee decides to try to raise eveyone's hopes...and simultaneously show their enemy that they won't back down.]

[So, before some of them travel into Tartarus, the Sentinel makes two posts: one locked from the centaur...and one decidedly not.]

( Visual, locked from Tirek )

( Unlocked, viewable to EVERYONE )

[The scroll opens on Crmsn looking down into it, it's flat on the ground and he's hovering over it. It's pretty obvious that he's barely given himself time to breath since getting back. There's also a rather...unclear focus in his eyes.]

Alright. Alright I just...I need a second here just...okay the-nngh...

[He winces a little and shakes his head roughly.]

Ugh...kay...I...okay...the dive into Calice. Right. We went in, we did our thing...J-A's team is still in there s'far as I know. Ya might have already seen, but we lost one on the way out...I just...I wanted to give this a day but...

[He lets out a deep exasperated breath.]

First things first...I know there's a lot of feelings going around...believe me I know what it's like. And...digital gods...'Shy was brave, and is a wonderful pony. She'd be the first to tell us it was okay though. She was shy, and meek, but she was strong enough to put our needs above hers and put herself in harms way so we would be okay. That was friendship. That was bravery, and kindness the likes of which any person here would be lucky to find in their lifetime. And I for one am going to pull myself off my sorry arse and not stop believing in her. One way or another we're going to get her back.

[He takes another breath and re-steadys himself.]

...Second. Regarding Calice...

[He mulls something over and shifts a little uncomfortably, then looks back to the scroll.]

I've given this a lot of thought, and I don't think Calice and Twilight are the same...I want to say entity. I think they're sharing the same body and I don't know which we keep speaking to, but I'd imagine Twilight's still in there fighting back for control. I think...I think the power in control is getting stronger, and it keeps having to exert more control to keep its hold on her. It's...it's theory right now, but that was not the same force we felt the last time we were in there, and it was not...it wasn't as...as...nngh...

[He eases back looking more frustrated than tired and rubs at his temple.]

Fracking...work dangit! I need you to think more and hurt less. Coherent! That's the word. It wasn't as coherent as it was last time. It was more disjointed...i-it was...

Look I know this might sound strange, and everything hurts right now, but this is what I need you guys to do. For...for our friends. Don't give up on them. Don't start thinking this is hopeless. They are not gone. Fluttershy...the Twilight of that world...bit every pony that's been taken. They need our bravery, for us to face forwards. Keep them in your hearts and believe in their strength. We will get them back. So please, for them. Don't lose heart.

[He nods to the scroll, a little more affirmative in his stance.]

We all hurt, but hurting isn't going to get them back to us...that's all I have to say right now. If you want more answers I'll try and answer anything I can over the scroll, if you want someone to yell at, you can find me at the Decanter soaking this headache in a hard cider.

...Today's the fifth, huh?

[There's a noticeable pause, too long for just announcing a random date. For thse perceptive to it, there's a strange melancholy behind those words, too.]

That's the day I- ...the day I left home in Iwatodai. Think it's been four years now? Hard to tell with dates changing every time I arrive somewhere new.

...I need a drink. Anypony want to come with?

[A dingy and darkly dressed earth pony in Town Square appears on your magic scroll, his deep frown and narrowed gaze greeting you...not so cheerfully. It might be a bit intimidating to some. Hearing the scroll chatter with activity almost like a cell phone, he attempts to communicate with it...or whoever it's connected to.]

I just wanna know one th--!

[Said dingy dressed pony does a face plant as his scroll bounces against the ground beside him, though it captures the spill perfectly.]

Goddamn it...

[Shinjiro slowly climbs back on all four hooves and carefully inches back towards the scroll. A bunch of birds start tweeting...are they laughing at him? He frowns and shoots a glare at them, but decides it's not worth it to pursue the issue further. They'll just get another laugh out of his misfortune.]

Is this the first stop on the itinerary, or is this it?

[Because if it is the last 'stop', it's...not what he was expecting.]

[Minato's not looking at the scroll as he addresses it, instead looking up at the ceiling of his cloud home as he lies on his bed.]

Over the past few days, I've been thinking. Our situation here doesn't seem to be all that unique, does it? Bunch of people from different universes all gathered in one place for some reason or another... I'm sure a lot of us here have been to at least one other place like that. The Thor for me, Mayfield, Rauken, Garden, 'murder school'... I'm probably not even scratching the surface of how many of these places there are.

[He pauses for a moment to roll over and look at the scroll directly.]

I'm starting to think these places aren't just formed out of coincidence, like there's some bigger cause out there, bigger than Calice or anything else we've seen. Could all just be me being crazy, though. Never know.

Still, I kinda want to hear stories from all of these places, maybe figure something out, or at least have a good time exchanging all the stupid stuff that happens. The idea was brought up a few weeks ago, but with the holidays and everything, I didn't have time to put anything together.

Now I do. Who would be up for sharing, or at least coming and listening?

Tis the season everypony.

[Dame Rarity appears on screen wearing a marvelous pale purple sweater with accenting amethysts added to the collar and cuffs. She does a pose, showing off the comfortable sweater from every angle before taking a step back to reveal various other sweaters in numerous sizes and colors. Along with the sweaters are comfortable winter coats and scarves that obviously match.]

You could say this is my winter collection for this years Hearth's Warming Eve.  Of course, each sweater is made with a material created by yours truly to resist collecting dust or pet hair

And for those of you who are more....battle oriented, I can design warm clothes that are still stylish and battle ready if so desired.

If any pony is interested, please contact me directly and we can discus what you would like.

( [Private to Zetta] )

[Oh look, it's Zecora, whose hut has taken on a distinctly Nightmare Before Christmas aesthetic thanks to a few Hearth's Warming decorations being mixed in with her masks, cauldrons, and supplies. But Zecora herself looks sinister and ominous in the green light of a bubbling brew, and deeply serious indeed.]

I believe the time has come
To give you all a message from
A sinsiter place to us:
The depths of Tartarus.

For those of you who heard the story
That Celestia in all her glory
Told to us of the Pale Pony,
This may clear up uncertainty.

The Pale Pony -- the true one,
Not she who captured us for fun,
But the true figure of which legends speak
Is somepony we ought to seek.

For her existence may indeed be fact.
This new knowledge that we have lacked
May explain many mysteries
Littered throughout our histories.

She may be the one who hid the Tree
Which bore the Elements of Harmony.
So she may not be quite on our side
But against one foe, we may be allied.

Keep this in mind and seek more clues.
This fight is one we must not lose.

[Tonight people may hear the sound of jingle bells coming from their scrolls. Those who open up will see a white unicorn... staring at them like that one girl in The Ring. For a moment her eyes are obscured under a mane of white. Her face slowly rises allowing the two glowing red eyes to appear below the bangs.]

Seasons greetings.

The air has grown colder and the leaves have fallen. Yet the houses are warm and smiles are rampant. Every pony and unicorn and pagasus hearts are full of fellowship and cheer. Streamers, lights and banners decorate the hallways and roadways, illuminating the snow in a rainbow of shining sparkles. Even the air itself echoes the cheerful songs trumpeting their awe of snowflakes, mistletoe, and conifers.

It is quite the spectacle.

[The unicorn raises a hoof to the side and there is an insufferable sound like a dozen discordant pianos hammering down a note simultaneously.]

Meanwhile, you are still ensnared, here. Your goals, desires, ambitions and machinations lie elsewhere. The land that you know and the people that had been entwined with yours continues. You are still within a shell of the being this world has deemed suitable for it's denizens. And within the planes between your enemy grows in strength and insanity. All of this is true, and will continue to be so until such time has found an ultimate conclusion to the one that binds us or that our physical and spiritual form ceases to exist. Each moment of each day we find ourselves one step closer to this absolution or destruction.

And I truly doubt the hour of your demise will care that you have taken the time to enjoy the moment of the season.

[The scrolls open to a smiling pegasus, with a red scarf around his neck and small white cuffs around all four of his legs. (Visual reference!) These scrolls were his way to communicate with the rest of the world, right?]

Hey! Nice to meet you all. My name's Tails, and I'm new here. [He's learned a bit about Equestria from a friend of his in the last place he found himself. He extends his wings, and then realizes he has them.] Huh. I have wings, so I guess that means I can still fly, too!

Though I do have one question... [He motions to his wrench that's lying on the ground.] How d'you hold heavier stuff with your hooves? I can't really fix or build things like this.

[See Minato.]

[Or at least, something that vaguely resembles him. It's hard to tell, considering the pegasus is covered head to hoof in scarves.]

[Seriously, he has around twenty or so scarves on. One properly on his neck, some around his face, a couple on each limb, a few around his midsection, two tied to each wing, a couple on his tail... Most of them were given to him as gifts, so they're mostly various shades of blue, but some are other colors. All of them are tied to him in such a way so that they're all blowing in the late fall wind. It would almost look cool if he wasn't covered in them.]

[Plus the one around his neck seems to be blowing in the opposite direction of all the other scarves. Quite frankly, the entire thing looks ridiculous.]

[So what does he have to say about this?]

I am the warmest pony in Equestria.

[That's all. The stoic Fool of Equestria, everypony.]

[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.]

[Geez Neph, you've been talkative lately. But this time, instead of a normal looking blue pony, the scroll opens to...a lovely blue pony in a sage green dress, mane styled to be lovely and wavy, with a preserved marigold in it. It's not precisely fancy, but certainly nice enough for something special. And Nephenee's beaming as she addresses ponies.]

Hey, everypony~ Um...Ah...Ah jus' wanted to let folks who've been cheerin' me on 'bout finally confessin' to my suitor..that Ah'm gonna tell him tonight. Thank y'all...everyone who's helped me realize Ah love him, an' for helpin' me get ready for it. 'Specially Princess Cadence an' those that helped me get the lake ready...an' Dad an' Sir Cobbles Much, for helpin' me get the necklace done...

H-hopefully Ah can say it without gettin' too sheepish... [Yeah, right.]

Wish me luck, everypony!

[OOC: The log in question has a spot for spectators to hide out and watch the event and proceedings, so that's open for spying!]

[The scroll seems totally dark at first, with nothing more than a few whirring noises. Light appears as a small robotic race-car-like contraption rolls off of the scroll - unrolling those without limbs is rather difficult.]

Hello? No, that isn't it. Hell-o? Hello. [It starts as Echo's natural voice, for anyone who's heard it, but shifts into Pollo's as he works it out.] Ah...it's Pollo. I seem to have ended up in Echo's body - or, rather, the temporary one we've been housing her in until we get something a little more substantial built. Naturally, this happened before we got that done.

Well, I suppose it's better me than someone else. I've been robotic before.

[But he does not sound happy about it.]

Anyway, it seems as though her systems pick up people as amorphous forms of color, rather than with a traditional visual setup. I'm not seeing a clear correlation between that color and their actual physical color either, so...I'm having some trouble recognizing people even without all the switching. My apologies in advance for that.

...I really hope this ends when the holiday does.

So back during the Running of the Leaves, I ended up picking up a hitchhiker. Some odd series of events later, and she's decided to stay with me.

[Minato turns the scroll to show a small white rabbit lounging on a couch. There appears to be a pink flower on her head, resting behind one of her ears.]

I'm fine with it, but naming her is becoming a problem. She won't accept any of the ones I give her and I don't understand bunny language enough to ask her what it is. Can I get somepony who knows animals to come and help me figure this out?