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.]

Since a lot of you seem to be planning to go to this Crystal Empire for the Games, I figured I might as well offer my services. I'll be traveling between there and Ponyville regularly while the event is going on, so if any of you need something brought back home, or realize you forgot something, or just want to ferry things around I'm available. Prices can be discussed upon contract, but since I'll be going between the two towns I'm more than willing to work out discounts. I can also make stops along the way, but anything too far off may have to wait until the games are over.

Which brings me to my next point, actually. Once the games are over I'll be traveling more, so if anyone is looking to have letters or parcels delivered to or from anywhere in Equestria or...whatever else this place is called...just let me know. I've got a few things to look for on my own, but there's nothing wrong with doing some freelance work on the side.

I'm Alex, by the way. Alex Buck, and back 'home' I worked as a courier. Just let me know if you're looking for one.

[ A spiky blue pony looks to be having trouble with, well, everything involving moving around. It doesn't look like he can get the hang of having extra appendages.

As he moves forward he tries walking upright on his two rear hooves and almost immediately falls back to the ground again. He tries scooting forward with his two front hooves, standing again, and then trying to balance on all fours. That didn't work so well either.

He ultimately sits back on his rear and rubs his forehead with something that diiidn't exactly look like the hand he was used to. ]

All right. I've got these. [ Sonic looks to his hooves. ] And this. [ He glances back at his tail. ] They sure weren't there before.

[ He sighs and tosses his front hooves into the air. ]

...You know, I think I'm just gonna cut out the investigative work and jump right ahead to blamin' Eggman for this. Only he could pull somethin' this weird outta the blue.

[ Sonic tries to work himself up to all fours again as he mutters. ] Maybe he transformed himself into a giant egg. Heh. That would sure be an improvement.

[And, like everyone else, the scroll pops open, this time showing a blue hedgehog-like creature, grinning like crazy.]

Rockin'! About time we're back to normal!

[The unicorn peering over the scrolls now is one with a... very interesting build. The weight and power-look of his body would probably more at home on an earth pony, to say the very least. And it looks almost hilariously mis-matched with the giant gem cutie mark he's rocking.]

So, something in this world triggered an energy like the Chaos Emeralds', to warp through space. [He's assuming that, anyway. Even if they don't have a direct equivalent to the Emeralds here, they clearly have something similar, if the information he has is right.] But the Chaos Emeralds don't twist the people who use them. Why am I a pony now?

[He seems surprisingly calm about this whole thing, just lifting a hoof to adjust the necklace clasped on over the white mark.]

...Ah, here we go.

[Instead of Tails, a doctor is using Tails' scroll instead. Sonic had made sure to grab Tails' scroll while Tails was taken to the hospital.

Speaking of which, Tails can be seen on the side on a hospital bed, hooked up to a machine that's making a steady beeping noise as well as have a breathing mask over his face. He's clearly not awake at the moment.]

Hello newponies and princesses. My name is Dr. Stable. I am happy to report our patient is still alive, thanks to the timely manner of the Wonderous Bolt and Mr. Prowers' friends.

However, due to his injuries from his accident, he has fallen into a comatose state. We're not sure when Mr. Prower will wake up, but he seems to be stable for now.

Thankfully he hasn't sustained worse injuries, though it appears he hasn't been getting proper sleep. We will provide him some medication whenever Mr. Prower wakes up.

For now, we will allow visitors, but only one pony may visit him at a time.

Unless you have any questions, I will turn this off and give you any updates if his condition improves.

Twilight, tell me I'm not the only one who sees that this entire town is overrun with bloody changelings. They show up and tell us exactly what kind of parasites they are, and what happens? They get hired as therapists and taken in as pets. Chrysalis tries to literally suck everyone dry, and she gets community service while everypony trips over themselves to give her changelings exactly what she was after for them. How does no one else see this? They're everywhere, and those are just the ones we can see are changelings. They're like bloody cockroaches, there are probably ten hidden for every one you see in the open.

Anything new on Hain? He can't keep up the facade forever, not even with everyone willfully ignoring what we all know he's really after.

Hey, guys, two big favors here: Where can I get someone who can shrink stuff and where can I find some real meat?

I got something from that auction from my world - a pair of old shoes I used once - and they're just a tad too big for me. Way too big. Like 'em smaller so I can run in them. And maybe grind of what I can find.

As for the meat? Seriously, I know you guys are horses, but snacking on gems has just no taste! And what you guys do for chili dogs is an outrage! CARROT chili dogs! If there's any crunch to my 'dog, I'd want it to be from the onions!

[And your scrolls are gonna have a new face meeting you - a baby dragon of sorts with green eyes and blue scales. The fact that he presents himself much older is telling that he isn't just a baby dragon.]

So, it looks like everything's settle, eh? Rockin'! Time for some proper introductions, then!

I may not look like it right now, but there's no two ways about - I'm Sonic the Hedgehog! Fastest thing alive... and, prior to showing up here? Also bearer of the title "Knight of the Wind". This? [And he reaches over and bring a sword with a face on it] Is Caliburn. He's a talking sword.

It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintances, everyone... [And a few ponies in the background look at him oddly] ...is it something I said?

Eh, we'll figure it out later. Right now, I think getting back to Camelot's number one on our list. Anyone knows how we can get back there? Also, Tails, up for the ride?

  [Shortly after one Queen Chrysalis 'graces' the journals with her visage, and a Pinkie Pie shoots off her message from the inside of a cocoon, an urgent visual message appears on the journals. One blue mare in armor and deep blue cloak can be seen with a few downed changelings behind her, and unlike normal, her countenance is anything but cheery, or even anxious. After checking to make sure the message is going out, she starts, her voice intense and determined. Have one relentless battlemaiden, Ponyville.]

Attention! This is Nephenee of Crimea, bringin' news from the battlefield!

Y'all just heard Pinkie and Chrysalis, right? Them Changelin's got a bunch of our friends, and they're sappin' 'em. We need to get rid of this threat, an' fast! We can't kill 'em, they're innocents, but we can knock 'em out, rescue our friends, and hold her 'til Princess Celestia gets here! But Ah can't do none of this by myself, so Ah ask to see who will help rescue and-or take out this so called 'Queen'! 

[Another changeling charges her, and she hangs the scroll in midair long enough to spinkick it off screen,]

Please contact me as soon as y'all can! We need folks for that an' we need folks who know a strategy for beatin' these jerks! Any help will be appreciated!

[In short, reconnaissance and fighters, and a battle plan beyond that.]

To those captured, help is on the way as soon as we can! Don't lose hope!

[She quickly ends the feed as more charge. Dang, are these things everywhere?!]

[As for those nearby, the Sentinel is fighting off a bunch of these things by herself, but with their sapping, she probably could use some assistance.]

( Private to Celestia )[After talking to Celestia:]

Does anypony here know binding magic?!

[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?