Post by Solar Solstice on May 24, 2012 18:33:15 GMT -5
Place: Celestia's Quarters
Time: Evening
Cast: Celestia, Scope, Gearshaft (spoofed by Solar_Solstice)
Event: The Princess is approached by one of her subjects about the development of a most astonishing invention.
--------
Celestia is resting in one of her private studies located a short distance away from her private chambers and the throne room. This one, it appears, is her 'Opal' room - in which the whole room is decorated in such a theme. Opals decorate the ceiling, the walls, and the furniture - it's a little gaudy, sure, but the way the gems reflect the candles makes it seem like it's daytime even when it's well into the evening.
It would be fair to say that Gearshaft of Ponyville is a working stallion, the toil of many years in clear display in the pronounced muscular angles of his dark-coloured body, yet when he comes into Celestia's presence he does so with uncommon grace, his silver-gray mane finely combed for the occasion. With great learned poise he steps towards the Princess and bows down. "Your Highness," he greets her, "I am pleased that you have chosen to regard my request." Even before he went on this trip he could already feel the weight of his great invention within the beaten saddlebag slung across his back.
Celestia takes a moment to finish reading the scroll levitating before her before signing something with a quill and setting everyting aside. "Of course, Gearshaft. It is my pleasure," she greets before gesturing for a guard to set a cushion down on the ground before the Princess's desk. "I am ready to hear it when you are."
Said guard is Scope, horn alight with magic as he sets down the cushion for the visitor to sit upon before standing off to the side and snapping back to attention. .. Huh, he's in a formal mood today it seems.
Gearshaft bows; the Princess wants to cut to the chase, it seems. "Very well, Princess." He reaches his head into his saddlebag and pulls out the Device, a gleaming orb of brass and amber. Setting it down gently, he gently places the edge of his hoof on a switch at the side and presses down, and at once the Device begins to open, shockingly bright light seeping out of widening gaps as the orb's clockwork parts shift and turn. After a few seconds it pops open like an egg to expose the core, a rapidly spinning entity of energy and light that continuously folds into itself as it rotates, scattering starlight and shadows across the whole room. If would be brighter still if not for the protective covering around the very inner section of the orb. "The Coronasphere, your Highness, the solution, I believe, to many problems." He takes a seat on the offered cushion, glancing at Scope momentarily.
Celestia does note the strange aura of formality that Scope has taken on today. Her brillant eyes glance towards Scope for a moment before returning back to Gearshaft. As Gearshaft pulls out that strange device, the Princess steps close, her focus growing on the device. "And what problems would this address, might I ask?" she asks curiously, her tone growing hushed as she observes the movements of the device.
Scope's eyes shift to glance over to the device as it activates, horn glowing for a moment in case it turns out to be a threat. Well, it hasn't exploded or vaporized anypony yet so he can stand down for the time being, eyes turning forward once more as the aura surrounding his horn vanishes.
One of Gearshaft's ears flickers. "Why, the Defense of the Realm, of course," he states. "After all, it would be most advantageous if Equestria did not burden a single pony with the responsibility of protecting Canterlot from invasion." Whether or not Gearshaft detects the irony in this statement is not immedietely evident. He takes a few moments to look around the room, taking note of a particularly large and shiny onyx off to the side.
And it's a very good thing that it didn't blow up or destroy anything too terribly! That might have been mildly unpleasant. "Hm," the Princess vocalizes for a moment as she observes the strange little device. "What does it do, exactly?" the Princess asks. A little machine taking the defense duties of a whole army is... vaguely interesting. If also potentially disturbing.
Gearshaft smiles a little. "I'm glad you asked, your Majesty. At the bare minimum, it can act as a power source, but it's capable of more than that...much more." He stomps his right forehoof lightly to activate what appears to be some kind of bracelet around it. He stomps once, causing the Device to glow green, and suddenly he disappears from where he sits, popping back into reality a few feet to the right. He stomps again, giving a little twist this time, and the Device begins to glow blue. It crackles and surges and then... loses all power. Gearshaft frowns. "It's...in the prototype stage," he explains, his pride hurt. "But given time and resources I will perfect it, and given a few years...I can have every border outpost in Equestria equipped with this technology. Maybe within a decade I might have one large enough to shield Canterlot...or not." He sighs in defeat. "So far all I've gotten it to do is relocate various objects and ponies. That...has to be useful, right?"
Celestia ponders for a long moment as she continues to stare at the device. It is... very, very interesting. It is intriguing that any pony at all has attained this technology. Is it somewhat frightening? Yes. Does it have exceptional potential? Oh, yes yes. "What is the source of its... energy?" the alicorn asks softly.
All this talk of shielding Canterlot and relocating ponies and objects makes the guardpony's eyes widen just a tad, crossing to look upwards at the horn atop of his head. Well, that'll certainly put him out of a job in a quick second and now the conversation has his full attention, head turning to look down upon the object.
Gearshaft happens to catch a glimpse of Scope's expression, and its almost enough to remove the sting from the malfunction. "In Eskellia, there were those who said that the paths between the stars surged with a substance known as Aether, or Flux, the medium upon which magic acts. What I have built is merely an application of that theory, a Device to generate an Aether pathway at will. Some say the Lightning Lord himself was the first to build such a device." The Lightning Lord was once the ruler of Eskellia, a handsome alicorn with great knowledge. That was before the coup.
"So it is a form of magic that powers it?" the alicorn asks softly, her horn giving a subtle golden glow as she stares longer at the device. She seems to examine it more closely than could easily be seen... her eyes widen just slightly as her horn glows, as though she's looking beyond the physical nature of the object itself.
"Apologies for speaking out of turn, your majesty.", the guardstallion suddenly pipes up as he turns to completely face the other male, clearing his throat. "That is an intricate piece of technology, sir, but if it does all that is says it does then there's a high chance that there'll be no more need for me.. or any of us. If this thing were to protect all of Canterlot then what need would there be for us?"
Whatever secrets the Device might have, it doesn't seem willing to provide them quite so easily despite Celestia's probing. In fact, Gearshaft himself might not be wholly aware of its nature, either. The dark-hued stallion regards Scope with interest and concerns. He's heard whispers like that before, back when the Lightning Lord still ruled on the Cobalt Throne. "I understand where you're coming from," he tells Scope, "but I assure you, I think there will be even greater need of ponies like you. This Device requires an operator to function, and it has very limited use. It only works passively: it can only affect the user and not his surroundings. Not even technology can replace magic." He turns back to the Princess. "But it can augment it, refine it. It can ascertain, at the very least, that incidents such as occurred during the wedding are much less likely."
"It has potential," the Princess says softly, to no one in particular. "It has... great... potential," the Princess muses again before pulling back a bit, her horn's aura dissipating. "Where would you like to continue this research, and what resources would you need?"
The unicorn doesn't speak again, having said all he wanted to say. Scope turns away from Solar & Celestia to return to his previous spot and once again going into staute mode and staring across the room at some point on the wall.
"I already have the means to continue my research at home," Gearshaft explains, "though if I were to receive permission to make use of the Academy's facilities from time to time, that would be most helpful. Also...I hear that you have a very interesting set of crystal mines beneath the city." He walks over to the Device and rubs the sides, causing the whole thing to wind up tightly like a clockwork toy, the glowing Coronasphere concealed once more in its brass casing. "I think I can have a working prototype by the end of this year."
"If at all possible, I would like to have occasional... updates... on your progress," the Princess continues softly. "I will send you one of the castle's staff to discuss your research, from time to time. In return, I will give you permission to use the acadamy's facilities as you see fit. Is that a fair deal?"
"Very much so, your Majesty," says Gearshaft. He bends down and takes the Device by the teeth, shoving it back into his saddlebag. "Will you have anything else of me, Princess?"
"I believe that is all, Gearshaft," the Princess says with a little smile. "I will look forward to hearing from you in the future. Do you have anything else you would like to discuss?"
"None at all, your Majesty." The earth-stallion bows reverently. "I am honoured, Princess," he says, before turning around and makings his way out of Celestia's chambers. Along the way he emits a sigh of relief: he can barely believe that he got Celestia to agree to his offer. Of course, now he will be harassed by busybodies from the capital, but its a small price to pay for aiding in Equestria's security... and in fulfulling his own sense of justice.
Celestia looks over towards Scope once the stallion departs from the office. "Thoughts?" she asks her guard curiously.
"I'm just wondering how an Earth Pony was able to create such a device.", grumbles the guard as it's just him and Celestia now and he casually flops to his rump. "Honestly, I'm impressed by what I saw but otherwise I'm a little.. concerned about what that technology could do in the wrong hooves."
"My thoughts precisely, Scope," the Princess muses softly. "Potential is power. And power requires great responsibility. All the more reason to keep it close."
((I just had to include this OOC exchange))
<OOC> You say, "Fillies and gentleclots, I have successfully privatized world peace!"
<OOC> Celestia says, "And the economist in me LOVES THIS."
"And secret, your highness.", he replies with a stern gaze to the mare, something a regular pony would probably be scolded for. "With all due respect, this should be done behind closed doors. If the Academy IS to be involved then I advise picking only those whom you deem absolutely trustworthy and whom you know will not let a peep of their work out to anypony."
Celestia smiles a little bit at that. "Not entirely behind closed doors," she says with that little sparkle in her eye. The Princess turns and walks back to the window to stare out it for a long moment. "Just... under constant and close information management. Hide something, it gets revealed and you have no control. Let something be known, but only known the way you want it - you have control."
"Of course, my mistake.", the stallion chuckles as he reaches up a hoof to rub at the back of his neck. "I'm just so used to the more important projects being classified that it's what I went for, my apologies." Getting to his hooves with a little stretch he takes a step towards the princess and steps up beside her, looking out the window. "Certainly a lot to think about and I don't envy you, this is something.. wonderful and distressing all the same."
Celestia smiles to her guard. "Hardly a mistake. You had a very good suggestion - you are learning well, Sir Scope," Celestia says before turning back away from the window to return to her guest. "When you have lived thousands of years, everything is wonderful and distressing all at the same time."
He remains at the window for a few more moments before turning as well with a sigh, looking sadly to the winged unicorn princess and moving up to stand beside her once more. "It's late, your highness.. you should get some rest."
Celestia looks back to the guard before watching as he moves up beside her. "Yes... yes, I should be. Come, let us be headed to my chambers," the Princess says with a soft, wistful little sigh.
Time: Evening
Cast: Celestia, Scope, Gearshaft (spoofed by Solar_Solstice)
Event: The Princess is approached by one of her subjects about the development of a most astonishing invention.
--------
Celestia is resting in one of her private studies located a short distance away from her private chambers and the throne room. This one, it appears, is her 'Opal' room - in which the whole room is decorated in such a theme. Opals decorate the ceiling, the walls, and the furniture - it's a little gaudy, sure, but the way the gems reflect the candles makes it seem like it's daytime even when it's well into the evening.
It would be fair to say that Gearshaft of Ponyville is a working stallion, the toil of many years in clear display in the pronounced muscular angles of his dark-coloured body, yet when he comes into Celestia's presence he does so with uncommon grace, his silver-gray mane finely combed for the occasion. With great learned poise he steps towards the Princess and bows down. "Your Highness," he greets her, "I am pleased that you have chosen to regard my request." Even before he went on this trip he could already feel the weight of his great invention within the beaten saddlebag slung across his back.
Celestia takes a moment to finish reading the scroll levitating before her before signing something with a quill and setting everyting aside. "Of course, Gearshaft. It is my pleasure," she greets before gesturing for a guard to set a cushion down on the ground before the Princess's desk. "I am ready to hear it when you are."
Said guard is Scope, horn alight with magic as he sets down the cushion for the visitor to sit upon before standing off to the side and snapping back to attention. .. Huh, he's in a formal mood today it seems.
Gearshaft bows; the Princess wants to cut to the chase, it seems. "Very well, Princess." He reaches his head into his saddlebag and pulls out the Device, a gleaming orb of brass and amber. Setting it down gently, he gently places the edge of his hoof on a switch at the side and presses down, and at once the Device begins to open, shockingly bright light seeping out of widening gaps as the orb's clockwork parts shift and turn. After a few seconds it pops open like an egg to expose the core, a rapidly spinning entity of energy and light that continuously folds into itself as it rotates, scattering starlight and shadows across the whole room. If would be brighter still if not for the protective covering around the very inner section of the orb. "The Coronasphere, your Highness, the solution, I believe, to many problems." He takes a seat on the offered cushion, glancing at Scope momentarily.
Celestia does note the strange aura of formality that Scope has taken on today. Her brillant eyes glance towards Scope for a moment before returning back to Gearshaft. As Gearshaft pulls out that strange device, the Princess steps close, her focus growing on the device. "And what problems would this address, might I ask?" she asks curiously, her tone growing hushed as she observes the movements of the device.
Scope's eyes shift to glance over to the device as it activates, horn glowing for a moment in case it turns out to be a threat. Well, it hasn't exploded or vaporized anypony yet so he can stand down for the time being, eyes turning forward once more as the aura surrounding his horn vanishes.
One of Gearshaft's ears flickers. "Why, the Defense of the Realm, of course," he states. "After all, it would be most advantageous if Equestria did not burden a single pony with the responsibility of protecting Canterlot from invasion." Whether or not Gearshaft detects the irony in this statement is not immedietely evident. He takes a few moments to look around the room, taking note of a particularly large and shiny onyx off to the side.
And it's a very good thing that it didn't blow up or destroy anything too terribly! That might have been mildly unpleasant. "Hm," the Princess vocalizes for a moment as she observes the strange little device. "What does it do, exactly?" the Princess asks. A little machine taking the defense duties of a whole army is... vaguely interesting. If also potentially disturbing.
Gearshaft smiles a little. "I'm glad you asked, your Majesty. At the bare minimum, it can act as a power source, but it's capable of more than that...much more." He stomps his right forehoof lightly to activate what appears to be some kind of bracelet around it. He stomps once, causing the Device to glow green, and suddenly he disappears from where he sits, popping back into reality a few feet to the right. He stomps again, giving a little twist this time, and the Device begins to glow blue. It crackles and surges and then... loses all power. Gearshaft frowns. "It's...in the prototype stage," he explains, his pride hurt. "But given time and resources I will perfect it, and given a few years...I can have every border outpost in Equestria equipped with this technology. Maybe within a decade I might have one large enough to shield Canterlot...or not." He sighs in defeat. "So far all I've gotten it to do is relocate various objects and ponies. That...has to be useful, right?"
Celestia ponders for a long moment as she continues to stare at the device. It is... very, very interesting. It is intriguing that any pony at all has attained this technology. Is it somewhat frightening? Yes. Does it have exceptional potential? Oh, yes yes. "What is the source of its... energy?" the alicorn asks softly.
All this talk of shielding Canterlot and relocating ponies and objects makes the guardpony's eyes widen just a tad, crossing to look upwards at the horn atop of his head. Well, that'll certainly put him out of a job in a quick second and now the conversation has his full attention, head turning to look down upon the object.
Gearshaft happens to catch a glimpse of Scope's expression, and its almost enough to remove the sting from the malfunction. "In Eskellia, there were those who said that the paths between the stars surged with a substance known as Aether, or Flux, the medium upon which magic acts. What I have built is merely an application of that theory, a Device to generate an Aether pathway at will. Some say the Lightning Lord himself was the first to build such a device." The Lightning Lord was once the ruler of Eskellia, a handsome alicorn with great knowledge. That was before the coup.
"So it is a form of magic that powers it?" the alicorn asks softly, her horn giving a subtle golden glow as she stares longer at the device. She seems to examine it more closely than could easily be seen... her eyes widen just slightly as her horn glows, as though she's looking beyond the physical nature of the object itself.
"Apologies for speaking out of turn, your majesty.", the guardstallion suddenly pipes up as he turns to completely face the other male, clearing his throat. "That is an intricate piece of technology, sir, but if it does all that is says it does then there's a high chance that there'll be no more need for me.. or any of us. If this thing were to protect all of Canterlot then what need would there be for us?"
Whatever secrets the Device might have, it doesn't seem willing to provide them quite so easily despite Celestia's probing. In fact, Gearshaft himself might not be wholly aware of its nature, either. The dark-hued stallion regards Scope with interest and concerns. He's heard whispers like that before, back when the Lightning Lord still ruled on the Cobalt Throne. "I understand where you're coming from," he tells Scope, "but I assure you, I think there will be even greater need of ponies like you. This Device requires an operator to function, and it has very limited use. It only works passively: it can only affect the user and not his surroundings. Not even technology can replace magic." He turns back to the Princess. "But it can augment it, refine it. It can ascertain, at the very least, that incidents such as occurred during the wedding are much less likely."
"It has potential," the Princess says softly, to no one in particular. "It has... great... potential," the Princess muses again before pulling back a bit, her horn's aura dissipating. "Where would you like to continue this research, and what resources would you need?"
The unicorn doesn't speak again, having said all he wanted to say. Scope turns away from Solar & Celestia to return to his previous spot and once again going into staute mode and staring across the room at some point on the wall.
"I already have the means to continue my research at home," Gearshaft explains, "though if I were to receive permission to make use of the Academy's facilities from time to time, that would be most helpful. Also...I hear that you have a very interesting set of crystal mines beneath the city." He walks over to the Device and rubs the sides, causing the whole thing to wind up tightly like a clockwork toy, the glowing Coronasphere concealed once more in its brass casing. "I think I can have a working prototype by the end of this year."
"If at all possible, I would like to have occasional... updates... on your progress," the Princess continues softly. "I will send you one of the castle's staff to discuss your research, from time to time. In return, I will give you permission to use the acadamy's facilities as you see fit. Is that a fair deal?"
"Very much so, your Majesty," says Gearshaft. He bends down and takes the Device by the teeth, shoving it back into his saddlebag. "Will you have anything else of me, Princess?"
"I believe that is all, Gearshaft," the Princess says with a little smile. "I will look forward to hearing from you in the future. Do you have anything else you would like to discuss?"
"None at all, your Majesty." The earth-stallion bows reverently. "I am honoured, Princess," he says, before turning around and makings his way out of Celestia's chambers. Along the way he emits a sigh of relief: he can barely believe that he got Celestia to agree to his offer. Of course, now he will be harassed by busybodies from the capital, but its a small price to pay for aiding in Equestria's security... and in fulfulling his own sense of justice.
Celestia looks over towards Scope once the stallion departs from the office. "Thoughts?" she asks her guard curiously.
"I'm just wondering how an Earth Pony was able to create such a device.", grumbles the guard as it's just him and Celestia now and he casually flops to his rump. "Honestly, I'm impressed by what I saw but otherwise I'm a little.. concerned about what that technology could do in the wrong hooves."
"My thoughts precisely, Scope," the Princess muses softly. "Potential is power. And power requires great responsibility. All the more reason to keep it close."
((I just had to include this OOC exchange))
<OOC> You say, "Fillies and gentleclots, I have successfully privatized world peace!"
<OOC> Celestia says, "And the economist in me LOVES THIS."
"And secret, your highness.", he replies with a stern gaze to the mare, something a regular pony would probably be scolded for. "With all due respect, this should be done behind closed doors. If the Academy IS to be involved then I advise picking only those whom you deem absolutely trustworthy and whom you know will not let a peep of their work out to anypony."
Celestia smiles a little bit at that. "Not entirely behind closed doors," she says with that little sparkle in her eye. The Princess turns and walks back to the window to stare out it for a long moment. "Just... under constant and close information management. Hide something, it gets revealed and you have no control. Let something be known, but only known the way you want it - you have control."
"Of course, my mistake.", the stallion chuckles as he reaches up a hoof to rub at the back of his neck. "I'm just so used to the more important projects being classified that it's what I went for, my apologies." Getting to his hooves with a little stretch he takes a step towards the princess and steps up beside her, looking out the window. "Certainly a lot to think about and I don't envy you, this is something.. wonderful and distressing all the same."
Celestia smiles to her guard. "Hardly a mistake. You had a very good suggestion - you are learning well, Sir Scope," Celestia says before turning back away from the window to return to her guest. "When you have lived thousands of years, everything is wonderful and distressing all at the same time."
He remains at the window for a few more moments before turning as well with a sigh, looking sadly to the winged unicorn princess and moving up to stand beside her once more. "It's late, your highness.. you should get some rest."
Celestia looks back to the guard before watching as he moves up beside her. "Yes... yes, I should be. Come, let us be headed to my chambers," the Princess says with a soft, wistful little sigh.