Post by Luna on Sept 23, 2013 11:46:28 GMT -5
IF ANYPONY HAS RECORDED THE EVENTS TRANSPIRING AFTER WE LEFT, WE COMMAND THEE TO ATTACH THEM BELOW.
#=#=#=#=#=# PONYVILLE SQUARE #=#=#=#=#=#
At the heart of Ponyville stands a proud and massive pavillion known as Town Hall. Around it lies the town square, a well-kept ring decorated with tall banners and the occasional picturesque bush. A fountain sits before the entrance to the hall with a joyous, reared-up earth pony statue as its ornament. Various municipal officials have pitched colorful, conical tents in the square from which they run their operations. The town square is lined along one side by a stream crossed by a broad stone bridge, while on its other sides it's surrounded by a combination of commercial establishments and some of the oldest houses in Ponyville. The mood here is generally cheerful but officious.
Derpy shouts "Is AUTUMNTIME, ponies!! Smell the air to-day!" (Public-shout)
PUB >> Completely impartial, Princess Luna says, "And we're about to have a public scene about it with princesses!"
PUB >> Princess Bookface says, "For all your princessing needs."
*FZWOMP* Blue light flashes, its glare and shadows turning the square two-tone momentarily. It fades to reveal Princesses Luna and Twilight Sparkle. The former is doing her especially regal 'standing tall with her mane and tail glittering and waving in a nonexistent wind' pose. "We shall begin here, Twilight Sparkle. Thy townmates must see that thou are thyself, and yet more. THOU must see that thou are more. Are thou ready to step out of thy familiar shoes, and let thy friends see thee as a true princess?"
Twilight_Sparkle looks a bit less natural in the role than does Luna; she still stands kind of like an awkward librarian, shifting her weight from side to side as she looks out at the square and swallows. "Ready as I'll ever be."
The square is sparsely occupied at the moment, but those who do occupy it look over, murmur, and linger. Gradually, more ponies wander over from the market and elsewhere. A single large cloud sails low; otherwise the sky is clear.
Maplewing has arrived.
Luna's horn glows. The statue in the square is detached from its base, and that base slides across the ground right in front of Luna and Twilight. A door slams open, and Rarity's fainting couch comes flying out of her boutique, settling neatly on top of the newly created dais. Luna flutters a wing at it, and gives Twilight a faint smile. "Then take thy throne, fellow princess, and gather thy strength. Thou shall need it all." She takes a deep, a very deep breath, and the Royal Canterlot Voice booms! "PONIES OF PONYVILLE! THE LONG DAYS ARE ENDED, AND THE LONG NIGHTS YET TO BEGIN. THOU STAND NOW AT THE TWILIGHT OF THE YEAR. COME, THEN, AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE PRINCESS OF TWILIGHT. ASK FOR THE BOON THAT IS ONLY HERS TO GIVE, AND BE REMADE IN A NEW FORM!" As the echoes roll around, she leans over to whisper to Twilight, "They always love it when thou give gifts."
Luna's voice blasts through Ponyville from the Town Square. "PONIES OF PONYVILLE! THE LONG DAYS ARE ENDED, AND THE LONG NIGHTS YET TO BEGIN. THOU STAND NOW AT THE TWILIGHT OF THE YEAR. COME, THEN, AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE PRINCESS OF TWILIGHT. ASK FOR THE BOON THAT IS ONLY HERS TO GIVE, AND BE REMADE IN A NEW FORM!" (Public-pose)
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "(Um... the long nights yet t'begin are technically from June 21st...) BUT WHO CARES BECAUSE YAY TWILIGHT!"
PUB >> Princess Bookface says, "It's just an excuse to party, like any other holiday!"
Derpy,who happens to be walking by unencumbered, opens her mouth in delight at the announcement. She walks over toward the dias and Twilight Sparkle and hesitates, unsure how close to get. She casts around and finds a piece of discarded chalk. Taking it in her mouth, she carefully draws a line on the cobblestones and then lines up her hooves neatly behind it.
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "EXACTLY"
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple gives Twilight a party smooch!
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple also slips a note to Mr. Cake.
Twilight_Sparkle smiles at Derpy, and motions her over!
PUB >> Completely impartial, Princess Luna opens an encyclopedia to 'Autumnal Equinox' and pushes it in front of Sky Blue.
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "Butbutbut u.n"
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "The longest day is the 21st of June, so the 22nd is the end of the long- OHHHHH."
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "Y'SEE, THIS IS WHY PAPA BLUE TOOK CARE OF CALENDARS AND THINGS."
Derpy is surprised to be summoned after so little time spent hoofing the line! But then, she is the only one in line so far. She recovers her composure, smiles vaguely, and walks forward, bowing so deeply before Twilight that her yellow mane brushes the auburn cobblestones.
Luna unfurls her wing, and pats Twilight on the back with it. "The Winter Solstice is my night, and the Summer Solstice Celestia's day. It is only fitting that this evening belongs to thee. Thy subjects will need thee to wield thy power so as to show that it is greater than any mortal pony's, so I thought - why not change what kind of pony they are?" Scooping Twilight up, Luna pushes her onto the couch. "Ask this petitioner what she wishes to be. With thy Princessly strength, the spell of transformation should be well within thy abilities."
Twilight_Sparkle tries to get comfortable there on the couch, which actually has the effect of making her look even more awkward; she can't quite decide what to do with her front legs, folding them to one side, then letting them dangle, then compromising and dangling the right one, with the left folded. This dilemma out of the way, she looks up at the taller princess in surprise. "Really? You think? I mean..." She thinks. "I suppose I could do that. For obvious reasons I've been studying that kind of transformation magic a lot recently."
Derpy raises her head, wondering whether she's bowed long enough. She watches with incisive curiosity as Twilight repositions herself. Helpfully, she slips her nose under Twilight's right foreleg and lifts it up to the couch's edge, letting it rest. Then she backs away to the chalk line she drew again, still standing docilely.
A sudden sprinkle of snow drops down from the sky - no, just sparkling flakes of something shiny and scintillating in the light of the drooping sunlight, and immediately after is the sound of flapping wings. "Wave the flag of Trotson high boys, show them how we stand!~" a clear voice sings out as a shape spirals down from above, skidding to a halt on the cobblestones just behind Derpy. It's Bardigan! He lifts his hat and tosses back his mane, dressed for weather that hasn't even arrived yet: a grey tweed jacket and thick white scarf. He takes one look around at the empty line and trots bravely down the line, keeping his head low. "Clever girls, dressed to kill," he addresses the Princesses, "I have come."
Luna chuckles lightly, giving Twilight an unregal mane-ruffle with her wing. "Thou shall find the spell much easier now that thou can feel all of the different kinds of pony magic within thee." She folds that wing, and gives Bardigan a cautionary stare, beckoning instead to Derpy with her other wing. "Come forth, Dreamy Eyed Mare. The Princess of Twilight waits for thy request. What kind of pony would thou like to be?" She gives Derpy a wide, encouraging smile, even as a barrel is dragged out of a market stall and skids up next to her with 'Ponies Who Asked To Be Alicorns' written on it in sparkly blue.
Derpy gazes up at Luna's smile with wonder. She glances at the barrel and her eyes follow the letters on it slowly. She walks over and peeks into the barrel, and then looks up, puzzled to find it empty. Then, dutifully, she climbs into the barrel and disappears.
Bardigan regards the barrel curiously, and shakes his head. "One pony's cask is another's chrysalis, I suppose..."
Twilight_Sparkle watches Derpy, frowning. "You didn't...put any unpleasant enchantments on that barrel, did you, Luna? It IS just a barrel?" But it's hard for her to keep her eyes off Bardigan, who knows how to make an entrance, and even if he didn't, she's rather fond of him. "Looks like you're at the front of the line. Ready for a new experience?"
Chance trots out of the Research Center, glancing about at the crowd here. He meanders his way around until he can see what's going on, just hanging back for now, curious about the current going-ons here.
Luna sighs, her smile widening, if wryly. "Knowing the Dreamy Eyed Mare, we have a new alicorn on our hooves. Her fate shall become clear eventually." She flutters her wings in a shrug, and gives Bardigan a downright evil grin over Twilight's shoulder. "Yes. Come forth, Playwright, and tell the Princess of Twilight what body thou wish to wear for three days."
Thunderfire comes into the square pushing through the crowd to get closer until he stumbles out a bit almost falling. Looking up at Luna and then Twilight he bows to the pair though waits his turn? Looking around he wonders if there is a line.
Clara strides forth from a nearby place of business, pickaxe in hand and being used as a cane. She sets it aside, however, by a tree, and walks over on all fours toward the Princesses. But she remains at a respectful distance and merely watches the proceedings.
Bardigan turns to Twilight, and though his stance is relaxed, there's a tightness in his cheeks, a quiver in his gaze, that speaks of some deeper yearning. He opens his mouth, and then nothing but air spills out. He takes another brave breath. "To be your knight?" he wonders. "Your champion? Your study buddy? Any would do. Anything that adds to a Princess' joy, your Highness. But if we're talking about bodies..." He leans forward, perhaps further than propriety should allow, and whispers his answer.
<OOC> Luna just knows she's going to have to stuff him in the 'Ponies Who Asked To Be An Alicorn' barrel.
Twilight_Sparkle blushes at Bardigan's whisper! She gives the pegasus a gentle smile, and then her eyes and horn light up, glowing red, then white; the light envelops Bardigan, and swirls around him! Bardigan, surrounded by light, rises gently into the air, and slowly turns around once...and when he gently lands back on his hooves, his wings are gone, and his forehead sports a horn the color of his coat. She smiles. "You've always had some magic about you," she tells the bard.
Chance swivels his ears forward as he watches what's actually going on. He smiles lightly as he watches the temporary transformation. This is interesting, though he doesn't approach; at least, not for now.
Clara opens her mouth in disbelief, and fades into the shadows.
Luna smiles warmly as Twilight and Bardigan whisper, and her head rises, chest puffing out in pride as Twilight so smoothly performs one of the most difficult spells known to unicorn! Then her horn shines, and a spectral, glittery blue wing forms around Bardigan, scooping him violently out of the way. "NEXT!"
Bardigan closes his eyes, letting Twilight's magic blanket him. His wings flare out to catch the magical breeze, grinning tremulously as if tickled by the sensation. So much the better to note the transformation when they're gone. At first he gasps, and then touches his horn, then starts to laugh giddily. "Oh, Twi-iiIIAAAHH!" he yelps as he gets scooped up like a dollop of chocolate ice cream. He has no wings, so he flaps his hooves instead.
Thunderfire blinks wtching this in awe.. He trots forward now not caring really if he breaks in the line or night. "Princess Twilight! Not sure you remember me but we met a long time ago at your library. Since then I was taken in by the Memory family but.. I don't really fit in well. I'm oddly colored and don't feel really special. It would be too much to ask to be an alicorn like you or Princess Luna right? So.. Can I just be made a pegasus? Maybe also instead of being oddly colored maybe just a fire orange coat with a black mane and tail?" the young boy asks glancing between the princesses.
Somewhere behind the buildings, the line of ponies eagerly awaiting presents and gifts, and the intense murmur of the crowd whispering hushed desires and extravagant dreams, little Diamond Dancer steathfully makes her way through the crowd. Thats right- Stealthfully. That is to say, she doesn't come crashing face first into the planet with a gut wrenching, cement cracking, free fall. Shes walking, and in little discolored legs, the small filly sneaks over to see if she can't sit next to Princess Luna. Firefly gets to do it all the time at events like this, so she should be able too, right? Sit next to Luna, look cool and regal and professional. Yeah! She's got it in her head this is what she's gonna do today- if, the princess allows it, of course.
Twilight_Sparkle frowns a little, her eyes darting to the barrel, at the mention of the word "alicorn!" She reflects momentarily on how fortunate it is that the colt went with his better instincts. "I think you'd make a fine pegasus. It'll only be temporary, of course, but the equinox is a good time to try new things!" She morions Thunderfire closer. "It doesn't mean you're not special just like you are, though." She pats him on the head. "So I'll do it on one condition! Next time, you have to promise to properly wait your turn in line."
Thunderfire nods his head, "I promise. That mean the color change would be temporary too?" he asks lightly.
Twilight_Sparkle waves a hoof. "Dye jobs are easy! I can do that for you. Of course, you'll need another one when your natural color grows back out."
Chance spots Fluttershy entering the area, and heads over to the jittery pegasus. "Hello Fluttershy." he greets with a light smile. "Are you here to get a change as well?"
Twilight_Sparkle puts on the same sort of light show for the little earth pony that she did with Bardigan, swirling light from the princess's horn enveloping him and gently lifting him into the air. When she sets him back down and the light recedes, his coat's been dyed a striking orange color, like autumn leaves, with an inky black mane and tail and, of course, a nice feathery pair of wings.
Luna leans over the back of the couch and tells Twilight, "Welcome to the night, Twilight Sparkle. It is always like this. It seems at first that nopony cares, and then they need what thou can give, and the line stretches to the next continent." The sparkling blue spectral wing forms again, wrapping around Thunderfire. "NEXT!" Luna bellows, but instead of flinging him away, the wing lifts Thunderfire up, floats him over to get a kiss on the forehead from Princess Luna, and then floats Thunderfire away to set him down next to the tumbled Bardigan. Then Luna glares at the next pony, and taps her hoof on the 'Ponies Who Asked To Be An Alicorn' barrel.
Thunderfire blinks as he is magically lifted into the air and the changes take place. Once its over he glances at the wings with a bright smile though the next rather shocks him. Being drawn magically closer to Luna and kissed on the forehead before being deposited safely near Bardigan he blushes a little bit.
Bardigan gives Thunderfire a hoofs-up from the ground. "Good choice, little guy."
Diamond_Dancer works herself over near the princess. She doesn't have a ...Princesseseses. She doesn't have a cloud to lounge on like Firefly usually does, so she settles for trying to sneak her way over to sit next to the...where did that couch come from? That looks familiar...doesn't matter! Eyes on the prize Diamond, Sit up straight, look professional and for the love of Luna, don't SAY anything. "Hi Princess!" The girl's cheerful voice rings out, before she clamps her hooves over her mouth, and the voice in her head sighs. What did I -JUST- say?
Chance spots Diamond Dancer and raises a brow as she moves up beside Luna. He gives a soft chuckle as she blurts out a greeting.
From the edge of Ponyville comes a strange sight: Zecora in the open, sans her traveling cloak, as casual as one might walk out to get some asparagus. She's been here long enough to know the streets, and trots towards the gathering, her expression curiously inscrutable. She takes her place in line with several polite greetings to those near her, saving a wise, private smile for Twilight Sparkle herself.
Twisting and turning, cavorting and swerving, a trot and a canter with stories to share - zoom back outside Ponyville to a quartet of little marshmallowy yellow hooves crossing over the bridge to town, a pink tial trailing on the ground behind them. It's everypony's favorite yellow mare (butterfly flank category), Fluttershy! She keeps on humming, heading into Ponyville square at a surprising clip, and then - um? W-what is all this?
Twilight_Sparkle looks to see who's next in line!
Diamond_Dancer glances left, then right, then left again, also right. Finally, she glances left, and slips from around the princess's side to, um, the OTHER side of the other princess. "Psssst...Um...Miss Twilight? Hi, Diamond Dancah, here, um. I was wonderin' if maybe you'se could maybe turn me into a pony, whose uh, NOT ugly? Like, wifout all da blotches and splotches n' stuff? I would totally apperciate it, and promise to tell you'se about any raising rebellions interested in over throwin' you'se rule." She says as a matter-o-factly.
Luna grins rather wolfishly for a pony. "Thou can ask no fairer offer than that." Leaning in a bit closer, she murmurs (with Luna, this means it can only be heard fifteen feet away) into Twilight's ear, "Since she did not specify, make her an Earth Pony. Let her enjoy good health and a connection with all that lives for once in her life."
Skyheart has been watching somewhat passively. He's rather weirded out by the proceedings so far. Still, he keeps watch nearby, but staying out of sight.
Bardigan, who is prancing about not too far away (and was bugging anypony he got his hooves on about his horn), hears Diamond's request. He snaps to attention. The corners of his eyes suddenly burn hotly, and he stands perfectly still like a startled deer, watching the proceedings closely.
What is it, Zebra day? Tejene arrives as well, about the same time but from a different Everfree trail as Zecora. He's also without cloak or saddle bags, stopping just outside the town square to take in the situation before proceeding.
Chance glances over to Tejene, and gives a hoof-wave to the zebra!
Twilight_Sparkle looks down at Diamond Dancer, and tilts her head. "Ugly? Why would you think that about yourself? You're beautiful just like you are!" She leans down and kisses Diamond on the nose. "I think your coloration is lovely." At Luna's words, Twilight gives a slow nod, and looks down at Diamond. "Princess Luna makes an interesting suggestion. Maybe it would be a good thing for you to get in touch with your...essential pony-ness! You might be surprised at what you can accomplish if you only keep all four hooves on the ground." The lights swirl again, enveloping Diamond Dancer, and when they recede she's standing in front of the princesses a little earth pony. She smiles. "Only temporary of course!" Glancing at Luna, she says "I think we can let this one sit with us a while, don't you?"
Luna raises her eyebrows. "Allow? This tiny foal had the daring and determination to win a place in our court. To sit or stand by our side is her right, her privilege, and her just due." Luna's horn glows, and the sparkling spectral wing wraps around Diamond... fuzzles her mane, and then disappears again.
A crackle of magic flashes on the other side of Luna, which opens up into swirling vortex of golden energy with bolts of energy spreading outward from the event horizon. After a moment the first thing that emerges is.. a peach? It's being held aloft by the same aura of gold as the portal and it's owner steps out a moment later. A tall unicorn with a coat of orange and an unkept red mane & tail, light green eyes blinking behind a pair of glasses. The portal closes with a flash and Scope freezes in place once realization kicks in, gaze staring outward at the line of ponies and then aside to the Soverign of the Night who's next to him, brow lifting as he takes a bite from the fruit. "Well, messed that up again."
Zecora's ear flicks in Tejene's direction. If he cares to look, it even gives him a little waggle. Hello, fellow zebra! Her eyes flick down at the magic gyrating and gamboling at Twilight's behest, and when the young alicorn is done and the work of kindness completed, she gets another little smile from the striped hermit. The Princesses are not the only ones who feel proud of how far Twilight has come.
"Um." Zecora might feel a light tap, m-maybe, if it's okay, from behind. Fluttershy pulls back her hoof. "Zecora?" she whispers. "Did Twilight really just, um...y-you know?"
Twilight_Sparkle catches Zecora's eye, and returns the smile.
Diamond_Dancer holds up her hooves in alarm. "Whoa, WHOA! N, nopony said nothin' bout losin da wings! I like da wings! I love da wings! No pony is complainin' about da- ..."She gives a little sigh and looks over her shoulder at her missing wings, and then back down at her body. "...Well...1 outta 2 ain't so bad. Woooooow...I'm silvah. "She squeaks quietly, looking over her shimmery little frame. "I'm ...I'm totally pretty!!"
Luna nods to Diamond. "Indeed. NEXT!" The word is bellowed so hard that it blows Diamond right off the dais, but with a blue flash Diamond is teleported behind Luna, and lands on Scope's back instead of the ground. "Sun Guard, thou and the filly are both out of uniform. Please... fetch her popcorn, or whatever it is ponies do." Just in case it wasn't enough the first time, she yells, "NEXT!" again.
Tejene catches that greeting out of the corner of his eye and trots casually across the square. He filters nimbly through the crowd and smiles brightly, greeting Zecora in an obscure southern Zebrican dialect and settling in alongside the line. "Much magic in the air tonight" he mentions, "transmutation however is an impressive sight."
Bardigan watches Diamond spinning and shining in celebration - a come-to-life vision of something he sees himself many times in the mirror, in storefront windows, even in little puddles when they go by them. *Now* he swipes at his eyes with his hooves, and is smiling so much it hurts.
Autumn_Breeze rolls in a pumpkin nexto Twilight, then another, larger, pumpkin next to Luna.
Horn aglow, DD is surrounded by his golden aura and lifted from his back where she's gently deposited onto the ground, and with another flash of gold Sunflare is now Scope, gone fron orange & red to grey & white, glasses removed as his eyes are now amber instead of the pistachio green before. Adorning his body now is his normal Sun Guard armor, cobalt blue w/gold trim & the sun of Celestia adorning his chest. "Done."
Zecora glances back at Tejene with a little grin, and says something in return, but it's drowned out by the cacophonous noise of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Taking a moment to adjust her mohawk and make sure her coat looks presentable and her bangles are all aglitter, she gives Fluttershy and Tejene an affirmative nod. She steps onto the dais and bows low. "Many rhymes I've learned and labeled, from axioms to stories fabled. But one has always confounded me, and been a conundrum to a tee. Of my stripes I can't say what type, white on black or black on white. Though this body I've been fated, let my curiosity be sated. To live more freely among the ponykind, make monochromatic my fur this time. Green or blue, gold or grey, only that I be out of the way."
Diamond_Dancer lands on her rump, after once, but twice being throw about through the air by Luna's tremendous voice. She lands her brilliant, silvery rump on Scope's back, then takes a seat down next to the other two princesseseses- after getting some deliciously magical popcorn- which is magically delicious!
Firefly glides in with a chilly breeze and a near silent swhoosh, quite unlike her usual entrances, landing on a roof top to look over the Square.
Ohshootohshootohshoot. Fluttershy's next in line now. Her eyes flare wide and she tries to backpedal as somepony pushes her forward. Nothing she can do now but watch Zecora...
With a great deal on his mind of late, Maplewing has been mulling around the square, letting his thoughts wander as he watches with curiosity, debating to himself how much his request would be out of the question. So far nopony has gone much beyond pony sorts of changes, so with a bit of anxiety, Maple settles himself at the back of the line to wait his turn, still watching curiously.
Starfire gets in line, wherever it is. "I wonder what we are in line for....I hope its a cream cake."
Romper slips clumsily through the crowd, a mass of nerves, stumbling behind Starfire and nearly running into her backside. Giving her some space, he hops from hoof to hoof. Oh no, oh no, what if he's too late?
Chance spots Starfire and trots on over to her. "They're changing ponies into other types of ponies, apparently for a few days." he tells her.
Starfire meeps and steps out of line getting beside Chance instead. "I'm fine like I am, I rather enjoy flying."
Twilight_Sparkle tilts her head, regarding Zecora. "It's funny, you know...I've often thought your stripes were very stylish, but I can see why you'd wonder about that. So this'll just be a temporary spell--not that you'd have any trouble washing it off. You taught ME how to do that." She smiles. "Wish granted, then! And I want to stop by this week to restock on a couple of things--I'll bring you a sandwich from that place you like." Her eyes and horn light up again, shoots of colorful magic enveloping Zecora and lifting her into the air. Shen her hooves are back on the ground and the magic recedes, Zecora is looking very different--neither black nor white, but a uniform cool gray.
Oh no oh no oh no. W-what should she choose?! Alicorn? Fluttershy's eyes fall on the barrel and she blanches. Seapony? B-but they might laugh at her again...glow pony! N-no, that might be asking for too much...
Autumn_Breeze considers in her usual slow, methodical fashion. What WOULD it be like to be a pumpkin?
Angel nudges Fluttershy forward, making 'go on' motiins with his paws. She sees Celestia every other day, and Twilight every day, this shuld be easy.
<OOC> Tejene says, "One word. Fluttertree."
<OOC> Zecora says, "Why not Flutterhedge? Flutterblossom? Fluttertuber?"
Nitro_Nine trots into the square, as usual, in a nice dress. Her mane's styled, she... Stops dead in her tracks. "Bleedin' sod! What'n' Luna's Mighty Beard's goin' on?!" she says, shocked into her natural 'street argot' and out of her cultured Canterlot High Culture. She seeks out (the next one to pose) and taps them on the shoulder. "'Cuse me gov, wot's goin' on 'ere?!"
<OOC> Firefly votes for I-ron Flutterfly.
<OOC> Autumn_Breeze pssts. Flutterdragon.
<OOC> Fluttershy may as well be the Steam Powered Fluttergolem, then.
Romper watches Starfire get out of line. She ENJOYS FLYING?! What a mad pony! Romper just stands there, shocked and surprised, wings tucked in close.
Luna looks bemusedly uncomprehending at Zecora and Twilight's exchange, but when the transformation is done, out comes the spectral wing, wrapping around Zecora and lifting her up into the air. Zeroca is drawn closer just long enough for Luna to tell her, "We thank thee for thy efforts teaching our pupil Dinky, earth pony witch," and then Zecora is floated away and set down next to Bardigan and Thunderfire. "NEXT!!!"
Nononono
aaaaaah
angel what are you doing
...no avoiding it now. Fluttershy steps forward, glancing nervously from side to side. S-so many ponies. "...hello, Twilight."
Zecora takes a deep breath and looks her 'new' form over. She gives Twilight a gentle, grateful smile of her own, then runs her hoof over her mohawk. As her hoof goes by, it falls down straight against her neck, and she is all but indistinguishable from the pony population. Perhaps that was her real wish? "Such magic as yours I have never truly wielded, and against such energies I've stayed shielded. But thank you for granting this boon; and I look forward to that sandwich, soon! Ever is my home open to you, a good friend through and through." And with that, she bows low to Twilight and Luna, and when she is lowered, prances happily back down the line. Then she pauses, and crinkles her brow. /Earth pony?/
Tejene looks pretty much entirely confused as to what just happened. Really. He's easy to confuse that way, ponies are entirely mystifying. There's a couple minutes of manescratching, and he settles into radiating question marks toward Zecora.
Angel hops up and Fluttershy and noddles. Much better. Assertiveshy now.
Romper realises that he is now after Fluttershy. Oh goodness. Oh goodness. Ahh! AAAAAAAAHHHHHH. It's like a dream come true all at once, and now it's happening. Minor freak out.
Nitro_Nine glances around and heads to the end of the line. Raising a hoof, she gives Romper a firm poke. "Ey', wot's goin' on 'ere?" she asks him with a bit of a confused smile.
Firefly spreads her wings and glides across the open square, keeping high for now, turning and banking once across, swooping in on Luna's right side. "Majesty..." she says with a bow, taking station.
Romper almost jumps out of his coat when he's poked. "Sparklight Twile is being granted wishes by everypony who stands in this line and then moves to the front of the line and then at the end of the line leaves the line and gets their wish!" Pant. Pant. Pant.
Twilight_Sparkle smiles brightly, seeing her friend Fluttershy at the front of the line. "Hey, Fluttershy! What can I do for you?"
"Wait, I'm not even supposed to BE here today!", complains the armored unicorn, who lets out a bit of a grumble as he's pushed aside by Firefly (who had been inhabiting the spot next to Luna). Giving a shake of his head he leaves that particular area and trots around behind the alicorns, nosewrinkling a little with a growl until he spots the barrel of "Ponies who want to be Alicorns" nearby, lifting a brow as he approaches it.
Is the answer 'a lot of fidgeting?' Because that's what Fluttershy's doing. The way her hooves are going, she might well dig herself out of line before the words come out of her mouth. Twilight should be used to this by now, right? "Um," says the yellow mare. "W-well, I, um...hello." Yes, we've established that, Fluttershy. Go on. "S-so I, um, I just got here, and I, um--I-I thought about it really hard--" (for five minutes) "--and I thought, um, about a lot of different things--" Would you SPEAK UP, pony? "--but I thought, you know, a-a seapony or a glow pony would be too much to ask for but...but there is one thing I'm kind of curious about..." Now she's sitting up, hunched over, twiddling her hooves. "S-so, would it be too hard to do, um..." She leans waaay forward, whispering to Twilight.
Zecora turns to Tejene with a smile. "Hello, Tejene," she says, giving her hair a little toss. It feels good to let her mane down. "Have you come to be showered in the magic of a Princess?" she asks, and, surprise! She is not rhyming, either! But it is not like the last time - her exotic accent remains, though it's much more mild. "She is giving all who ask a new form, for but three days." She spins in place, with a flourish. "I had a question that needed answering."
Meteor_Galaxy lands in the square trotting through the others finding the back of the line. Indeed even the perfect Meteor has a request! He listens as Fluttershy at the front trips over her words.
Chance nuzzles Starfire, then spots Scope. "One moment, Star.." He trots over in Scope's direction, giving him a light whuffle in greeting.
Tejene looks absolutely and completely lost. The world is upside-down. Fish are building skycrapers. Birds are digging mines. The mountains have turned inside out and the train is upside-down. He mumbles a few half-quiet exclamations of stammering amazement in his native tongue, and loses consciousness. Thud.
Starfire noses Chance back and giggles. "Allrighty." watching Fluttershy talking to Twilight.
Twilight_Sparkle blinks in surprise, thinking about Fluttershy's request. "That's an unusual request!" She smiles at her friend. "And you're an unusual pony. That's a trickier spell, but I think I can oblige you." She looks Fluttershy over, squinting a little as if she's mentally fitting the pegasus for a dress. "After all, this is all about walking in somepony else's horseshoes...and you're with your animal friends so much of the time." As with the others, Twilight's magical light envelops and lifts Fluttershy, and when it fades, she looks like her counterpart here: dennybutt.deviantart.com/art/The-Six-Deer-398757072
Luna tilts her head, watching Fluttershy's transformation curiously. She breaks into a wide smile, her head lifting proudly above Twilight, and she murmurs, "Thou have grown, Princess Twilight Sparkle, as a mage and as a pony. Well done." Luna's horn glows, and the glittery blue magic wing forms... and very gently nudges Fluttershy off of the dais towards Bardigan and the other rej- fai- previously served applicants. As soon as Fluttershy is out of the blast cone, Luna Royal Canterlot Voices, "NEEEEEXT!"
But as she's gently nudged away in teh same way Fluttershy might herd one of her little animal friends, Fluttershy stretches her neck - now much longer and slendered, like her legs - back and whispers, "Um...j-jut in case she doesn't make it um, I-I think you might want to talk to Applejack later. And...thank you." And then she takes a moment to examine herself - Fluttershy has always had long legs for a filly, but now they're even more so. She takes a few experimental steps around the square on her new cloven hooves.
Firefly meeps at landing almost on Scope, shaking off and following him. "Sorry about that....I forgot right from left in that U-turn, was watching too many things at once...prolly should have stayed on the rooftop." watching Flutterdeer get swept over to the 'outbox'.
It's happening! Romper practically trips as he scampers up towards the dias, throwing himself down in front of the newly minted Princess. "Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight! Um, hey. Hi, Your Grace, um. I'm Romper, and I can't stand hei-... height-... high things! Or ff- flying. Or otherwise being off the ground. Um. Can you make me into an Earth Pony so that I don't have to worry about people asking me why I can't fly?" Big, biiiiiiiiiiiiiig eyes, and a little tiny whimper.
Zecora, who has been watching the proceedings calmly from the sidelines, finally takes pity on Tejene and pulls a little pouch of smelling salts from out under her bangles - she doesn't need much. They're very... pungent. She waves it under Tejene's nose, just in time for him to see more magic, in fact! And also the pony that is now a deer.
Twilight_Sparkle laughs softly. "You should talk to my friend Fluttershy! You remind me a lot of her." She glances over at Flutterdeer, and smiles; inwardly, the princess is pretty proud of herself for that one. Sometimes magic is art! Turning back to Romper, she tells him, "as your princess, I'm happy to grant your request!" Lights, magic...earth pony! "Of course it's only temporary, but I really hope you enjoy it."
Right at this moment, FLuttershy is holding a hoof in front of her shiny black nose, eyes crossed. She wiggles one tip...then the other! Then the other! And then the OTHER! Oh, my! She can move her hooftips independently! S-she might even *grasp things*!
Romper shivers briefly. It's a strange feeling; his wings shrink, disppearing into his body with a bright shower of sparks. His eyes go wide. The feeling could best be described as picking at a scab... it kind of hurts, a little tiny bit, but it also feels good. A warm coccoon of light envelops his body, and when it fades, his wings are gone. Limbs are stronger. Legs, tougher. Neck, shorter. He steps once or twice, testing it. More sturdy. More stable. Much better! "T-Thank you, Princess!"
Meteor_Galaxy waits patiently in line for a turn. Though once at the front his attention turns to Princess Luna instead of Twilight. He bows his head towards her, "Princess Luna, I am called Meteor Galaxy and I request to become a trainee to be part of your royal guard." see he didn't have a request for Twilight afterall but how else will he ever get the chance to speak with Luna again?
Tejene does actually wake up after a moment. Okay, he wakes up almost instantly when the smelling salts hit his nose. There's a moment to rub his eyes before he gets back up to his hooves. Okay. Another moment to stare at Zecora. He watches the young pegasus transform into an earth pony, then catches FlutterDoe out of the corner of his eye. Instead of scratching his mane, he pulls something from it. A small glowing green thing, and he speaks rather flatly. Not even a rhyme. "I must consult with the ancestors." He claps his hooves together, smashing the little charm to dust, and dematerializes into a vaguely zebra shaped cloud of mist which dissipates after just a moment.
Nitro_Nine looks moderately grouchy as the 'wishes' line suddenly ends with her at the front... With a rather sour look, the young mare tosses her mane and turns to trot away, rather perturbed.
Twilight_Sparkle taps Nitro on the shoulder.
Twilight_Sparkle smiles. "Drop by the library later? I'll fix you up."
Zecora rolls her eyes at Tejene's abrupt departure, but she smiles into the mist regardless. She wasn't much better when she saw her first ponies and their magic. There's still three days left to shock him later.
Nitro_Nine turns, blinking quietly. And then smiles. "Thank you dear... I may not have known what was going on, but I was looking forward to seeing what everyone was going to become." she says, before turning to regard Romper, in a far better humor. "Earth Pony...? Are you sure?" she asks, patting the stallion's shoulder.
Luna scoops Romper out of th- no, wait. In fact, it has gone full dark, with the stars sparkling in the sky. Luna rises up on her hind legs, flaps her huge wings twice, and floats up into the air. As she does, the moon rises, full and pale on the horizon. Luna floats back down in front of Twilight rather than behind, her eyes glowing, mane and tail whipping. "IT IS DONE! THE TWILIGHT OF THE YEAR IS OVER. THE LONG NIGHTS BEGIN. REMEMBER THE GENTLENESS OF THE PRINCESS WHO SHEPHERDED THEE FROM DAY TO NIGHT, PONIES OF PONYVILLE, AND BE GRATEFUL THAT TWILIGHT SPARKLE WALKS AMONG THEE." Luna's eyes flare, and in that blinding instant she and Twilight Sparkle disappear. The dais the statue is usually standing on is back into place, and Rarity's fainting couch... oh, Rarity's fainting couch is now sitting on the ground, with the statue lying on top of it. Oh, well.
Romper nodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnod. "Earth Pony," he confirms, dizzy for a moment. "At least this way I don't have to be concerned about the sky." Then Luna explodes into the CANTERLOT VOICE and the moon is high in the sky. Well... that was fast! But awesome.
"Could be worse. You could've fried me with lightning for getting in your way.", comes a snort from the armored unicorn in reply to Firefly, looking over his shoulder at the Storm Pegasus with a little smirk. However, back to the barrel! Horn aglow he snags the top with his aura, pulling it free and peeeering inside just as.. Luna & Twilight vanish as does the barrel, leaving him staring the ground. "..Huh."
Nitro_Nine smiles. "Perhaps we could explore a little more of this... festival? I must admit, I have had little contact with non-unicorns, having lived int Canterlot for so long... What ARE YOU?!" she asks, looking at Fluttershy.
Bardigan's eyes widen as he realizes what's about to happen. "Wait!" he says, raising a hoof, but the Princesses are already gone. His hoof hovers, and drops. The unibard then smiles, timidly, and stands up to go pluck Diamond Dancer out of the crowd.
Meteor_Galaxy listens as Luna announces to the public that things are over. Be that as it may he stands in front of her still waiting for an answer to his request.
Firefly says "I was rather ill that day, and if I recall, you still got me fairly well, though my memory is a touch hazy there."
Meteor_Galaxy snorts with a shake of the head as the Princess disappears. "Right.. Knew I should of just went to Celestia. My mistake to think the moon princess would answer." the pegasus takes flight leaving the square heading back to Cloudsdale or at least away.
Chance gets up to Scope after giving him a whuffle-greeting. He offers the other stallion a light smile. "Good day Scope. Has everything been going well for you?"
Firefly lifts her head a moment, then turns and takes flight, following Meteor, waiting until she catches up to ask, "And what of Celestia seek thee in question, that the Princess of the Night can not examine?"
Starfire, now that the main event was ended, turns and walks over towards Chance and Scope and Firefly. Then watches Firefly shoot away. "Wow..and no lightning this time. Must not be feeling well."
Meteor_Galaxy hovers in the air glancing at Firefly, "I don't know. You are one of Princess Luna's guards correct? How would I go about getting training and applying for such a position?"
"Nope!", Scope smirks, looking up from the ground to the approaching chance. "Things aren't going well at all! But I'm making it so far, just workin." A glance is tossed over his shoulder as Firefly heads off to go after a pegasus whom he's quite familiar with. "Either that or something's on her mind. S'prolly nothing though."
Firefly grins a bit and pulls into a hover. "I am more than a Guard, I am her Squire. I carry her voice and aithority in her stead." then nods off to the side, hovering a bit out of the main area. "To which guard wish thee to apply? Celestia's Guards or Milady Luna's guards?"
Romper ohs and nods to Nitro! Very happy with his new form. "That sounds like a good plan!" He too looks to Flutterdeer. Oh... dear.
Meep! Flutterdoe may be a deer, but inside, she's still the same old Fluttershy. Why is why you totally didin't catch her with her split hooftips inches away from her much larger nose. "Um...m-me? I, um, I'm F-Fluttershy. ...a-and I'm a deer. For now."
Starfire has to giggle a bit. "I thought the only things ever on her mind were related to lemond cookies and tea." then tilts her head. "Why is everything not good?"
Nitro_Nine smiles. "So... What is your name? I am Nitro Nine, of Canterlot." she says in a slightly snobbish voice. "Why an Earth Pony though? Are you truly afraid of heights?"
Chance glances over to Starfire with a light smirk, then nods over to Scope. "Yes, what's wrong lately?" he inquires as well.
Meteor_Galaxy moves off to the side with Firefly, "Princess Luna's guards. Not that I wouldn't help Princess Celestia its just I am more of one for the night."
<OOC> Luna says, "Fluttershy . o O (OH MY CELESTIA. I can pick MY OWN nose now!!!)"
"Can't talk about it, and that just makes it worse!" Scope replies with a wide, wide smile. .. Hm, something may be up with him as all this time the remainder of his peach has been hovering nearby surrounded by his magic. .. Seems he forgot about it. "It's classified!"
Firefly grins and lands on a rooftop, laying down. "Well now, if anypony can help you there I can." nodding. "Pull up an eave and tell me all about what thee seek and why."
Meteor_Galaxy lands close to Firefly and sits down. "Well.. I am a flight engineer and for now design airships. But.. Honestly I seek something more for myself. To be better than just creating flying objects. Protecting the Princess would make me feel as if I have more purpose. Protection is important and as a Bitalian. I want to learn to serve and protect even if it means ith my life."
Firefly listens and tilts her head. "I have never met an engineer type before...usually they are holed up in musty old libraries or drafting rooms." looking Meteor over. "Thy do realize of the Guard, Celestia's are regimental and ornamental, quite the well oiled machine. Not the most exciting aspect of such, to be certain." then smiles. "Now, Luna on the other hoof....you get to fight monsters, and train against some really tough ponies, you bleed, break, get better and stronger, and faster and more awesome!"
Chance tilts his head a bit. "Well, if there's anything we can do for you, even if it's just for a visit and chat, feel free to ask." he tells Scope.
Starfire giggles. "Do palace emplyees get inside info?" grinning. "I am always curious."
Meteor_Galaxy smirks a little, "Not all engineers hold up in the library. At least not this one! I like wide open spaces. Not really one to be all fancy and regal. Pricess Luna's guard sounds more my key."
Firefly nods. "Well, there is one pony I know for sure who knows how both worlds operate rather well." lifting her head a bit. "To serve the Night, one must truly understand the Night...have thee ever been to Everfree?"
Meteor_Galaxy nods his head, "Been through one or two times. Have not stayed there but I am willing if need be. I'll do whatever it takes."
Scope's eyes blink once, then twice as he turns his attention all on Starfire. "Unfortunately no. If I told you I would literally have to vaporize you and spread your dust into the wind so there would be absolutely no chance of information being leaked." As for Chance his gaze shifts back to the fellow unicorn, replying with only a nod.
Starfire giggles. "Ouch...I don't think my boss would be very happy if I got vaporised. She might even cut my vacation short."
Chance says "I wouldn't be very happy if you got vaporized. Hard to marry particles." he tells Starfire, then looks over to Scope. "Sounds extra secret this time. Hope things turn out alright."
...and only now, long after Princess and Princess Jr. have zip-zapped away, does a light green unicorn with a shoulder-length mane and a string instrument on her flank come galloping along. "Princess! P-Princess! I need...I...aw, HORSEAPPLES!" She conjures a hat, slams it on the ground, stomps on it, and then stomps away. So grumpy.
Nitro_Nine blinks and wanders over towards Firefly. "Fair evening to you." she says, bowing respectfully. "How are you this fine day?"
Flutterdeer gasps, putting her hooves to her cheeks and pushing them way up high. "N-not the forest!"
"We shall see. Until the universe rips apart at it's seams and all of reality is destroyed, then." Stepping back away from the other unicorns, Scope's aura increases in brightness before there's a flash of light and the guard (and peach) vanishes, the unicorn having teleported somewhere he hopes is close to his target.
Firefly nods to Meteor. "The Night is not for the weak willed or soft bellied..." grinning, then she stands up, spreading her wings which erupt into black silent heatless flames, her eyes shifting to Nightmare Moon styled ones, grinning to the Engineer. "Training with the Night shall take thee into the very heart of Tartarus...it will leave thee with thy face and most of thy body embedded in the roadways...and it will leave thy blood boiling to know the joy of racing the rocs when the moon is high, across the murky swamps of Everfree."
Meteor_Galaxy is up on a roof speaking with Firefly as Nitro is below them. Rising to his own hoovs, "I am ready and willing! Where do I sign up?" he asks her before glancing down towards Nitro hearing her greeting whom of course assumes is to Firefly.
Starfire noddles. "Yeah, that would make getting to the wedding a bit hard...not to mention the honeymoon. My particles would just blow out the window of the train as we travelled."
Chance glances over to Starfire. "That would be inconvenient. As for Scope's issues, sounds like one MRC's usual days." he mentions, then glances up to Firefly. He chuckles lightly. "Sounds like a relaxing night, Firefly."
Firefly looks over the side of the two stoey building. "Who are you talking to down there?" seeing as she was not at the edge like Meteor so can't hear what's on the ground so well. "Oh, hello." shifting back to normal so she can wave a wing.
Nitro_Nine smiles and concentrates. "I shant interrupt." she calls up,
Nitro_Nine says "But I should like to have tea with you some time!"
Meteor_Galaxy glances at Nitro for a moment allowing the two to speak a moment.
Firefly grins. "Tea is always good!" hollering back down. "Come to the Palace some night, when I'm in Night Court!" waving to Chance as well. Then she hovers up and looks to Meteor. "Come to the Palace in a night or two, see me, and I shall show thee more."
Meteor_Galaxy glances at Firefly with a nod, "I will be there. Thank you, Squire Firefly." he bows his head out of respect towards her.
Firefly bows and takes off, circling back down to the ground.
#=#=#=#=#=# PONYVILLE SQUARE #=#=#=#=#=#
At the heart of Ponyville stands a proud and massive pavillion known as Town Hall. Around it lies the town square, a well-kept ring decorated with tall banners and the occasional picturesque bush. A fountain sits before the entrance to the hall with a joyous, reared-up earth pony statue as its ornament. Various municipal officials have pitched colorful, conical tents in the square from which they run their operations. The town square is lined along one side by a stream crossed by a broad stone bridge, while on its other sides it's surrounded by a combination of commercial establishments and some of the oldest houses in Ponyville. The mood here is generally cheerful but officious.
Derpy shouts "Is AUTUMNTIME, ponies!! Smell the air to-day!" (Public-shout)
PUB >> Completely impartial, Princess Luna says, "And we're about to have a public scene about it with princesses!"
PUB >> Princess Bookface says, "For all your princessing needs."
*FZWOMP* Blue light flashes, its glare and shadows turning the square two-tone momentarily. It fades to reveal Princesses Luna and Twilight Sparkle. The former is doing her especially regal 'standing tall with her mane and tail glittering and waving in a nonexistent wind' pose. "We shall begin here, Twilight Sparkle. Thy townmates must see that thou are thyself, and yet more. THOU must see that thou are more. Are thou ready to step out of thy familiar shoes, and let thy friends see thee as a true princess?"
Twilight_Sparkle looks a bit less natural in the role than does Luna; she still stands kind of like an awkward librarian, shifting her weight from side to side as she looks out at the square and swallows. "Ready as I'll ever be."
The square is sparsely occupied at the moment, but those who do occupy it look over, murmur, and linger. Gradually, more ponies wander over from the market and elsewhere. A single large cloud sails low; otherwise the sky is clear.
Maplewing has arrived.
Luna's horn glows. The statue in the square is detached from its base, and that base slides across the ground right in front of Luna and Twilight. A door slams open, and Rarity's fainting couch comes flying out of her boutique, settling neatly on top of the newly created dais. Luna flutters a wing at it, and gives Twilight a faint smile. "Then take thy throne, fellow princess, and gather thy strength. Thou shall need it all." She takes a deep, a very deep breath, and the Royal Canterlot Voice booms! "PONIES OF PONYVILLE! THE LONG DAYS ARE ENDED, AND THE LONG NIGHTS YET TO BEGIN. THOU STAND NOW AT THE TWILIGHT OF THE YEAR. COME, THEN, AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE PRINCESS OF TWILIGHT. ASK FOR THE BOON THAT IS ONLY HERS TO GIVE, AND BE REMADE IN A NEW FORM!" As the echoes roll around, she leans over to whisper to Twilight, "They always love it when thou give gifts."
Luna's voice blasts through Ponyville from the Town Square. "PONIES OF PONYVILLE! THE LONG DAYS ARE ENDED, AND THE LONG NIGHTS YET TO BEGIN. THOU STAND NOW AT THE TWILIGHT OF THE YEAR. COME, THEN, AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE PRINCESS OF TWILIGHT. ASK FOR THE BOON THAT IS ONLY HERS TO GIVE, AND BE REMADE IN A NEW FORM!" (Public-pose)
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "(Um... the long nights yet t'begin are technically from June 21st...) BUT WHO CARES BECAUSE YAY TWILIGHT!"
PUB >> Princess Bookface says, "It's just an excuse to party, like any other holiday!"
Derpy,who happens to be walking by unencumbered, opens her mouth in delight at the announcement. She walks over toward the dias and Twilight Sparkle and hesitates, unsure how close to get. She casts around and finds a piece of discarded chalk. Taking it in her mouth, she carefully draws a line on the cobblestones and then lines up her hooves neatly behind it.
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "EXACTLY"
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple gives Twilight a party smooch!
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple also slips a note to Mr. Cake.
Twilight_Sparkle smiles at Derpy, and motions her over!
PUB >> Completely impartial, Princess Luna opens an encyclopedia to 'Autumnal Equinox' and pushes it in front of Sky Blue.
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "Butbutbut u.n"
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "The longest day is the 21st of June, so the 22nd is the end of the long- OHHHHH."
PUB >> Princess Pollyapple says, "Y'SEE, THIS IS WHY PAPA BLUE TOOK CARE OF CALENDARS AND THINGS."
Derpy is surprised to be summoned after so little time spent hoofing the line! But then, she is the only one in line so far. She recovers her composure, smiles vaguely, and walks forward, bowing so deeply before Twilight that her yellow mane brushes the auburn cobblestones.
Luna unfurls her wing, and pats Twilight on the back with it. "The Winter Solstice is my night, and the Summer Solstice Celestia's day. It is only fitting that this evening belongs to thee. Thy subjects will need thee to wield thy power so as to show that it is greater than any mortal pony's, so I thought - why not change what kind of pony they are?" Scooping Twilight up, Luna pushes her onto the couch. "Ask this petitioner what she wishes to be. With thy Princessly strength, the spell of transformation should be well within thy abilities."
Twilight_Sparkle tries to get comfortable there on the couch, which actually has the effect of making her look even more awkward; she can't quite decide what to do with her front legs, folding them to one side, then letting them dangle, then compromising and dangling the right one, with the left folded. This dilemma out of the way, she looks up at the taller princess in surprise. "Really? You think? I mean..." She thinks. "I suppose I could do that. For obvious reasons I've been studying that kind of transformation magic a lot recently."
Derpy raises her head, wondering whether she's bowed long enough. She watches with incisive curiosity as Twilight repositions herself. Helpfully, she slips her nose under Twilight's right foreleg and lifts it up to the couch's edge, letting it rest. Then she backs away to the chalk line she drew again, still standing docilely.
A sudden sprinkle of snow drops down from the sky - no, just sparkling flakes of something shiny and scintillating in the light of the drooping sunlight, and immediately after is the sound of flapping wings. "Wave the flag of Trotson high boys, show them how we stand!~" a clear voice sings out as a shape spirals down from above, skidding to a halt on the cobblestones just behind Derpy. It's Bardigan! He lifts his hat and tosses back his mane, dressed for weather that hasn't even arrived yet: a grey tweed jacket and thick white scarf. He takes one look around at the empty line and trots bravely down the line, keeping his head low. "Clever girls, dressed to kill," he addresses the Princesses, "I have come."
Luna chuckles lightly, giving Twilight an unregal mane-ruffle with her wing. "Thou shall find the spell much easier now that thou can feel all of the different kinds of pony magic within thee." She folds that wing, and gives Bardigan a cautionary stare, beckoning instead to Derpy with her other wing. "Come forth, Dreamy Eyed Mare. The Princess of Twilight waits for thy request. What kind of pony would thou like to be?" She gives Derpy a wide, encouraging smile, even as a barrel is dragged out of a market stall and skids up next to her with 'Ponies Who Asked To Be Alicorns' written on it in sparkly blue.
Derpy gazes up at Luna's smile with wonder. She glances at the barrel and her eyes follow the letters on it slowly. She walks over and peeks into the barrel, and then looks up, puzzled to find it empty. Then, dutifully, she climbs into the barrel and disappears.
Bardigan regards the barrel curiously, and shakes his head. "One pony's cask is another's chrysalis, I suppose..."
Twilight_Sparkle watches Derpy, frowning. "You didn't...put any unpleasant enchantments on that barrel, did you, Luna? It IS just a barrel?" But it's hard for her to keep her eyes off Bardigan, who knows how to make an entrance, and even if he didn't, she's rather fond of him. "Looks like you're at the front of the line. Ready for a new experience?"
Chance trots out of the Research Center, glancing about at the crowd here. He meanders his way around until he can see what's going on, just hanging back for now, curious about the current going-ons here.
Luna sighs, her smile widening, if wryly. "Knowing the Dreamy Eyed Mare, we have a new alicorn on our hooves. Her fate shall become clear eventually." She flutters her wings in a shrug, and gives Bardigan a downright evil grin over Twilight's shoulder. "Yes. Come forth, Playwright, and tell the Princess of Twilight what body thou wish to wear for three days."
Thunderfire comes into the square pushing through the crowd to get closer until he stumbles out a bit almost falling. Looking up at Luna and then Twilight he bows to the pair though waits his turn? Looking around he wonders if there is a line.
Clara strides forth from a nearby place of business, pickaxe in hand and being used as a cane. She sets it aside, however, by a tree, and walks over on all fours toward the Princesses. But she remains at a respectful distance and merely watches the proceedings.
Bardigan turns to Twilight, and though his stance is relaxed, there's a tightness in his cheeks, a quiver in his gaze, that speaks of some deeper yearning. He opens his mouth, and then nothing but air spills out. He takes another brave breath. "To be your knight?" he wonders. "Your champion? Your study buddy? Any would do. Anything that adds to a Princess' joy, your Highness. But if we're talking about bodies..." He leans forward, perhaps further than propriety should allow, and whispers his answer.
<OOC> Luna just knows she's going to have to stuff him in the 'Ponies Who Asked To Be An Alicorn' barrel.
Twilight_Sparkle blushes at Bardigan's whisper! She gives the pegasus a gentle smile, and then her eyes and horn light up, glowing red, then white; the light envelops Bardigan, and swirls around him! Bardigan, surrounded by light, rises gently into the air, and slowly turns around once...and when he gently lands back on his hooves, his wings are gone, and his forehead sports a horn the color of his coat. She smiles. "You've always had some magic about you," she tells the bard.
Chance swivels his ears forward as he watches what's actually going on. He smiles lightly as he watches the temporary transformation. This is interesting, though he doesn't approach; at least, not for now.
Clara opens her mouth in disbelief, and fades into the shadows.
Luna smiles warmly as Twilight and Bardigan whisper, and her head rises, chest puffing out in pride as Twilight so smoothly performs one of the most difficult spells known to unicorn! Then her horn shines, and a spectral, glittery blue wing forms around Bardigan, scooping him violently out of the way. "NEXT!"
Bardigan closes his eyes, letting Twilight's magic blanket him. His wings flare out to catch the magical breeze, grinning tremulously as if tickled by the sensation. So much the better to note the transformation when they're gone. At first he gasps, and then touches his horn, then starts to laugh giddily. "Oh, Twi-iiIIAAAHH!" he yelps as he gets scooped up like a dollop of chocolate ice cream. He has no wings, so he flaps his hooves instead.
Thunderfire blinks wtching this in awe.. He trots forward now not caring really if he breaks in the line or night. "Princess Twilight! Not sure you remember me but we met a long time ago at your library. Since then I was taken in by the Memory family but.. I don't really fit in well. I'm oddly colored and don't feel really special. It would be too much to ask to be an alicorn like you or Princess Luna right? So.. Can I just be made a pegasus? Maybe also instead of being oddly colored maybe just a fire orange coat with a black mane and tail?" the young boy asks glancing between the princesses.
Somewhere behind the buildings, the line of ponies eagerly awaiting presents and gifts, and the intense murmur of the crowd whispering hushed desires and extravagant dreams, little Diamond Dancer steathfully makes her way through the crowd. Thats right- Stealthfully. That is to say, she doesn't come crashing face first into the planet with a gut wrenching, cement cracking, free fall. Shes walking, and in little discolored legs, the small filly sneaks over to see if she can't sit next to Princess Luna. Firefly gets to do it all the time at events like this, so she should be able too, right? Sit next to Luna, look cool and regal and professional. Yeah! She's got it in her head this is what she's gonna do today- if, the princess allows it, of course.
Twilight_Sparkle frowns a little, her eyes darting to the barrel, at the mention of the word "alicorn!" She reflects momentarily on how fortunate it is that the colt went with his better instincts. "I think you'd make a fine pegasus. It'll only be temporary, of course, but the equinox is a good time to try new things!" She morions Thunderfire closer. "It doesn't mean you're not special just like you are, though." She pats him on the head. "So I'll do it on one condition! Next time, you have to promise to properly wait your turn in line."
Thunderfire nods his head, "I promise. That mean the color change would be temporary too?" he asks lightly.
Twilight_Sparkle waves a hoof. "Dye jobs are easy! I can do that for you. Of course, you'll need another one when your natural color grows back out."
Chance spots Fluttershy entering the area, and heads over to the jittery pegasus. "Hello Fluttershy." he greets with a light smile. "Are you here to get a change as well?"
Twilight_Sparkle puts on the same sort of light show for the little earth pony that she did with Bardigan, swirling light from the princess's horn enveloping him and gently lifting him into the air. When she sets him back down and the light recedes, his coat's been dyed a striking orange color, like autumn leaves, with an inky black mane and tail and, of course, a nice feathery pair of wings.
Luna leans over the back of the couch and tells Twilight, "Welcome to the night, Twilight Sparkle. It is always like this. It seems at first that nopony cares, and then they need what thou can give, and the line stretches to the next continent." The sparkling blue spectral wing forms again, wrapping around Thunderfire. "NEXT!" Luna bellows, but instead of flinging him away, the wing lifts Thunderfire up, floats him over to get a kiss on the forehead from Princess Luna, and then floats Thunderfire away to set him down next to the tumbled Bardigan. Then Luna glares at the next pony, and taps her hoof on the 'Ponies Who Asked To Be An Alicorn' barrel.
Thunderfire blinks as he is magically lifted into the air and the changes take place. Once its over he glances at the wings with a bright smile though the next rather shocks him. Being drawn magically closer to Luna and kissed on the forehead before being deposited safely near Bardigan he blushes a little bit.
Bardigan gives Thunderfire a hoofs-up from the ground. "Good choice, little guy."
Diamond_Dancer works herself over near the princess. She doesn't have a ...Princesseseses. She doesn't have a cloud to lounge on like Firefly usually does, so she settles for trying to sneak her way over to sit next to the...where did that couch come from? That looks familiar...doesn't matter! Eyes on the prize Diamond, Sit up straight, look professional and for the love of Luna, don't SAY anything. "Hi Princess!" The girl's cheerful voice rings out, before she clamps her hooves over her mouth, and the voice in her head sighs. What did I -JUST- say?
Chance spots Diamond Dancer and raises a brow as she moves up beside Luna. He gives a soft chuckle as she blurts out a greeting.
From the edge of Ponyville comes a strange sight: Zecora in the open, sans her traveling cloak, as casual as one might walk out to get some asparagus. She's been here long enough to know the streets, and trots towards the gathering, her expression curiously inscrutable. She takes her place in line with several polite greetings to those near her, saving a wise, private smile for Twilight Sparkle herself.
Twisting and turning, cavorting and swerving, a trot and a canter with stories to share - zoom back outside Ponyville to a quartet of little marshmallowy yellow hooves crossing over the bridge to town, a pink tial trailing on the ground behind them. It's everypony's favorite yellow mare (butterfly flank category), Fluttershy! She keeps on humming, heading into Ponyville square at a surprising clip, and then - um? W-what is all this?
Twilight_Sparkle looks to see who's next in line!
Diamond_Dancer glances left, then right, then left again, also right. Finally, she glances left, and slips from around the princess's side to, um, the OTHER side of the other princess. "Psssst...Um...Miss Twilight? Hi, Diamond Dancah, here, um. I was wonderin' if maybe you'se could maybe turn me into a pony, whose uh, NOT ugly? Like, wifout all da blotches and splotches n' stuff? I would totally apperciate it, and promise to tell you'se about any raising rebellions interested in over throwin' you'se rule." She says as a matter-o-factly.
Luna grins rather wolfishly for a pony. "Thou can ask no fairer offer than that." Leaning in a bit closer, she murmurs (with Luna, this means it can only be heard fifteen feet away) into Twilight's ear, "Since she did not specify, make her an Earth Pony. Let her enjoy good health and a connection with all that lives for once in her life."
Skyheart has been watching somewhat passively. He's rather weirded out by the proceedings so far. Still, he keeps watch nearby, but staying out of sight.
Bardigan, who is prancing about not too far away (and was bugging anypony he got his hooves on about his horn), hears Diamond's request. He snaps to attention. The corners of his eyes suddenly burn hotly, and he stands perfectly still like a startled deer, watching the proceedings closely.
What is it, Zebra day? Tejene arrives as well, about the same time but from a different Everfree trail as Zecora. He's also without cloak or saddle bags, stopping just outside the town square to take in the situation before proceeding.
Chance glances over to Tejene, and gives a hoof-wave to the zebra!
Twilight_Sparkle looks down at Diamond Dancer, and tilts her head. "Ugly? Why would you think that about yourself? You're beautiful just like you are!" She leans down and kisses Diamond on the nose. "I think your coloration is lovely." At Luna's words, Twilight gives a slow nod, and looks down at Diamond. "Princess Luna makes an interesting suggestion. Maybe it would be a good thing for you to get in touch with your...essential pony-ness! You might be surprised at what you can accomplish if you only keep all four hooves on the ground." The lights swirl again, enveloping Diamond Dancer, and when they recede she's standing in front of the princesses a little earth pony. She smiles. "Only temporary of course!" Glancing at Luna, she says "I think we can let this one sit with us a while, don't you?"
Luna raises her eyebrows. "Allow? This tiny foal had the daring and determination to win a place in our court. To sit or stand by our side is her right, her privilege, and her just due." Luna's horn glows, and the sparkling spectral wing wraps around Diamond... fuzzles her mane, and then disappears again.
A crackle of magic flashes on the other side of Luna, which opens up into swirling vortex of golden energy with bolts of energy spreading outward from the event horizon. After a moment the first thing that emerges is.. a peach? It's being held aloft by the same aura of gold as the portal and it's owner steps out a moment later. A tall unicorn with a coat of orange and an unkept red mane & tail, light green eyes blinking behind a pair of glasses. The portal closes with a flash and Scope freezes in place once realization kicks in, gaze staring outward at the line of ponies and then aside to the Soverign of the Night who's next to him, brow lifting as he takes a bite from the fruit. "Well, messed that up again."
Zecora's ear flicks in Tejene's direction. If he cares to look, it even gives him a little waggle. Hello, fellow zebra! Her eyes flick down at the magic gyrating and gamboling at Twilight's behest, and when the young alicorn is done and the work of kindness completed, she gets another little smile from the striped hermit. The Princesses are not the only ones who feel proud of how far Twilight has come.
"Um." Zecora might feel a light tap, m-maybe, if it's okay, from behind. Fluttershy pulls back her hoof. "Zecora?" she whispers. "Did Twilight really just, um...y-you know?"
Twilight_Sparkle catches Zecora's eye, and returns the smile.
Diamond_Dancer holds up her hooves in alarm. "Whoa, WHOA! N, nopony said nothin' bout losin da wings! I like da wings! I love da wings! No pony is complainin' about da- ..."She gives a little sigh and looks over her shoulder at her missing wings, and then back down at her body. "...Well...1 outta 2 ain't so bad. Woooooow...I'm silvah. "She squeaks quietly, looking over her shimmery little frame. "I'm ...I'm totally pretty!!"
Luna nods to Diamond. "Indeed. NEXT!" The word is bellowed so hard that it blows Diamond right off the dais, but with a blue flash Diamond is teleported behind Luna, and lands on Scope's back instead of the ground. "Sun Guard, thou and the filly are both out of uniform. Please... fetch her popcorn, or whatever it is ponies do." Just in case it wasn't enough the first time, she yells, "NEXT!" again.
Tejene catches that greeting out of the corner of his eye and trots casually across the square. He filters nimbly through the crowd and smiles brightly, greeting Zecora in an obscure southern Zebrican dialect and settling in alongside the line. "Much magic in the air tonight" he mentions, "transmutation however is an impressive sight."
Bardigan watches Diamond spinning and shining in celebration - a come-to-life vision of something he sees himself many times in the mirror, in storefront windows, even in little puddles when they go by them. *Now* he swipes at his eyes with his hooves, and is smiling so much it hurts.
Autumn_Breeze rolls in a pumpkin nexto Twilight, then another, larger, pumpkin next to Luna.
Horn aglow, DD is surrounded by his golden aura and lifted from his back where she's gently deposited onto the ground, and with another flash of gold Sunflare is now Scope, gone fron orange & red to grey & white, glasses removed as his eyes are now amber instead of the pistachio green before. Adorning his body now is his normal Sun Guard armor, cobalt blue w/gold trim & the sun of Celestia adorning his chest. "Done."
Zecora glances back at Tejene with a little grin, and says something in return, but it's drowned out by the cacophonous noise of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Taking a moment to adjust her mohawk and make sure her coat looks presentable and her bangles are all aglitter, she gives Fluttershy and Tejene an affirmative nod. She steps onto the dais and bows low. "Many rhymes I've learned and labeled, from axioms to stories fabled. But one has always confounded me, and been a conundrum to a tee. Of my stripes I can't say what type, white on black or black on white. Though this body I've been fated, let my curiosity be sated. To live more freely among the ponykind, make monochromatic my fur this time. Green or blue, gold or grey, only that I be out of the way."
Diamond_Dancer lands on her rump, after once, but twice being throw about through the air by Luna's tremendous voice. She lands her brilliant, silvery rump on Scope's back, then takes a seat down next to the other two princesseseses- after getting some deliciously magical popcorn- which is magically delicious!
Firefly glides in with a chilly breeze and a near silent swhoosh, quite unlike her usual entrances, landing on a roof top to look over the Square.
Ohshootohshootohshoot. Fluttershy's next in line now. Her eyes flare wide and she tries to backpedal as somepony pushes her forward. Nothing she can do now but watch Zecora...
With a great deal on his mind of late, Maplewing has been mulling around the square, letting his thoughts wander as he watches with curiosity, debating to himself how much his request would be out of the question. So far nopony has gone much beyond pony sorts of changes, so with a bit of anxiety, Maple settles himself at the back of the line to wait his turn, still watching curiously.
Starfire gets in line, wherever it is. "I wonder what we are in line for....I hope its a cream cake."
Romper slips clumsily through the crowd, a mass of nerves, stumbling behind Starfire and nearly running into her backside. Giving her some space, he hops from hoof to hoof. Oh no, oh no, what if he's too late?
Chance spots Starfire and trots on over to her. "They're changing ponies into other types of ponies, apparently for a few days." he tells her.
Starfire meeps and steps out of line getting beside Chance instead. "I'm fine like I am, I rather enjoy flying."
Twilight_Sparkle tilts her head, regarding Zecora. "It's funny, you know...I've often thought your stripes were very stylish, but I can see why you'd wonder about that. So this'll just be a temporary spell--not that you'd have any trouble washing it off. You taught ME how to do that." She smiles. "Wish granted, then! And I want to stop by this week to restock on a couple of things--I'll bring you a sandwich from that place you like." Her eyes and horn light up again, shoots of colorful magic enveloping Zecora and lifting her into the air. Shen her hooves are back on the ground and the magic recedes, Zecora is looking very different--neither black nor white, but a uniform cool gray.
Oh no oh no oh no. W-what should she choose?! Alicorn? Fluttershy's eyes fall on the barrel and she blanches. Seapony? B-but they might laugh at her again...glow pony! N-no, that might be asking for too much...
Autumn_Breeze considers in her usual slow, methodical fashion. What WOULD it be like to be a pumpkin?
Angel nudges Fluttershy forward, making 'go on' motiins with his paws. She sees Celestia every other day, and Twilight every day, this shuld be easy.
<OOC> Tejene says, "One word. Fluttertree."
<OOC> Zecora says, "Why not Flutterhedge? Flutterblossom? Fluttertuber?"
Nitro_Nine trots into the square, as usual, in a nice dress. Her mane's styled, she... Stops dead in her tracks. "Bleedin' sod! What'n' Luna's Mighty Beard's goin' on?!" she says, shocked into her natural 'street argot' and out of her cultured Canterlot High Culture. She seeks out (the next one to pose) and taps them on the shoulder. "'Cuse me gov, wot's goin' on 'ere?!"
<OOC> Firefly votes for I-ron Flutterfly.
<OOC> Autumn_Breeze pssts. Flutterdragon.
<OOC> Fluttershy may as well be the Steam Powered Fluttergolem, then.
Romper watches Starfire get out of line. She ENJOYS FLYING?! What a mad pony! Romper just stands there, shocked and surprised, wings tucked in close.
Luna looks bemusedly uncomprehending at Zecora and Twilight's exchange, but when the transformation is done, out comes the spectral wing, wrapping around Zecora and lifting her up into the air. Zeroca is drawn closer just long enough for Luna to tell her, "We thank thee for thy efforts teaching our pupil Dinky, earth pony witch," and then Zecora is floated away and set down next to Bardigan and Thunderfire. "NEXT!!!"
Nononono
aaaaaah
angel what are you doing
...no avoiding it now. Fluttershy steps forward, glancing nervously from side to side. S-so many ponies. "...hello, Twilight."
Zecora takes a deep breath and looks her 'new' form over. She gives Twilight a gentle, grateful smile of her own, then runs her hoof over her mohawk. As her hoof goes by, it falls down straight against her neck, and she is all but indistinguishable from the pony population. Perhaps that was her real wish? "Such magic as yours I have never truly wielded, and against such energies I've stayed shielded. But thank you for granting this boon; and I look forward to that sandwich, soon! Ever is my home open to you, a good friend through and through." And with that, she bows low to Twilight and Luna, and when she is lowered, prances happily back down the line. Then she pauses, and crinkles her brow. /Earth pony?/
Tejene looks pretty much entirely confused as to what just happened. Really. He's easy to confuse that way, ponies are entirely mystifying. There's a couple minutes of manescratching, and he settles into radiating question marks toward Zecora.
Angel hops up and Fluttershy and noddles. Much better. Assertiveshy now.
Romper realises that he is now after Fluttershy. Oh goodness. Oh goodness. Ahh! AAAAAAAAHHHHHH. It's like a dream come true all at once, and now it's happening. Minor freak out.
Nitro_Nine glances around and heads to the end of the line. Raising a hoof, she gives Romper a firm poke. "Ey', wot's goin' on 'ere?" she asks him with a bit of a confused smile.
Firefly spreads her wings and glides across the open square, keeping high for now, turning and banking once across, swooping in on Luna's right side. "Majesty..." she says with a bow, taking station.
Romper almost jumps out of his coat when he's poked. "Sparklight Twile is being granted wishes by everypony who stands in this line and then moves to the front of the line and then at the end of the line leaves the line and gets their wish!" Pant. Pant. Pant.
Twilight_Sparkle smiles brightly, seeing her friend Fluttershy at the front of the line. "Hey, Fluttershy! What can I do for you?"
"Wait, I'm not even supposed to BE here today!", complains the armored unicorn, who lets out a bit of a grumble as he's pushed aside by Firefly (who had been inhabiting the spot next to Luna). Giving a shake of his head he leaves that particular area and trots around behind the alicorns, nosewrinkling a little with a growl until he spots the barrel of "Ponies who want to be Alicorns" nearby, lifting a brow as he approaches it.
Is the answer 'a lot of fidgeting?' Because that's what Fluttershy's doing. The way her hooves are going, she might well dig herself out of line before the words come out of her mouth. Twilight should be used to this by now, right? "Um," says the yellow mare. "W-well, I, um...hello." Yes, we've established that, Fluttershy. Go on. "S-so I, um, I just got here, and I, um--I-I thought about it really hard--" (for five minutes) "--and I thought, um, about a lot of different things--" Would you SPEAK UP, pony? "--but I thought, you know, a-a seapony or a glow pony would be too much to ask for but...but there is one thing I'm kind of curious about..." Now she's sitting up, hunched over, twiddling her hooves. "S-so, would it be too hard to do, um..." She leans waaay forward, whispering to Twilight.
Zecora turns to Tejene with a smile. "Hello, Tejene," she says, giving her hair a little toss. It feels good to let her mane down. "Have you come to be showered in the magic of a Princess?" she asks, and, surprise! She is not rhyming, either! But it is not like the last time - her exotic accent remains, though it's much more mild. "She is giving all who ask a new form, for but three days." She spins in place, with a flourish. "I had a question that needed answering."
Meteor_Galaxy lands in the square trotting through the others finding the back of the line. Indeed even the perfect Meteor has a request! He listens as Fluttershy at the front trips over her words.
Chance nuzzles Starfire, then spots Scope. "One moment, Star.." He trots over in Scope's direction, giving him a light whuffle in greeting.
Tejene looks absolutely and completely lost. The world is upside-down. Fish are building skycrapers. Birds are digging mines. The mountains have turned inside out and the train is upside-down. He mumbles a few half-quiet exclamations of stammering amazement in his native tongue, and loses consciousness. Thud.
Starfire noses Chance back and giggles. "Allrighty." watching Fluttershy talking to Twilight.
Twilight_Sparkle blinks in surprise, thinking about Fluttershy's request. "That's an unusual request!" She smiles at her friend. "And you're an unusual pony. That's a trickier spell, but I think I can oblige you." She looks Fluttershy over, squinting a little as if she's mentally fitting the pegasus for a dress. "After all, this is all about walking in somepony else's horseshoes...and you're with your animal friends so much of the time." As with the others, Twilight's magical light envelops and lifts Fluttershy, and when it fades, she looks like her counterpart here: dennybutt.deviantart.com/art/The-Six-Deer-398757072
Luna tilts her head, watching Fluttershy's transformation curiously. She breaks into a wide smile, her head lifting proudly above Twilight, and she murmurs, "Thou have grown, Princess Twilight Sparkle, as a mage and as a pony. Well done." Luna's horn glows, and the glittery blue magic wing forms... and very gently nudges Fluttershy off of the dais towards Bardigan and the other rej- fai- previously served applicants. As soon as Fluttershy is out of the blast cone, Luna Royal Canterlot Voices, "NEEEEEXT!"
But as she's gently nudged away in teh same way Fluttershy might herd one of her little animal friends, Fluttershy stretches her neck - now much longer and slendered, like her legs - back and whispers, "Um...j-jut in case she doesn't make it um, I-I think you might want to talk to Applejack later. And...thank you." And then she takes a moment to examine herself - Fluttershy has always had long legs for a filly, but now they're even more so. She takes a few experimental steps around the square on her new cloven hooves.
Firefly meeps at landing almost on Scope, shaking off and following him. "Sorry about that....I forgot right from left in that U-turn, was watching too many things at once...prolly should have stayed on the rooftop." watching Flutterdeer get swept over to the 'outbox'.
It's happening! Romper practically trips as he scampers up towards the dias, throwing himself down in front of the newly minted Princess. "Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight! Um, hey. Hi, Your Grace, um. I'm Romper, and I can't stand hei-... height-... high things! Or ff- flying. Or otherwise being off the ground. Um. Can you make me into an Earth Pony so that I don't have to worry about people asking me why I can't fly?" Big, biiiiiiiiiiiiiig eyes, and a little tiny whimper.
Zecora, who has been watching the proceedings calmly from the sidelines, finally takes pity on Tejene and pulls a little pouch of smelling salts from out under her bangles - she doesn't need much. They're very... pungent. She waves it under Tejene's nose, just in time for him to see more magic, in fact! And also the pony that is now a deer.
Twilight_Sparkle laughs softly. "You should talk to my friend Fluttershy! You remind me a lot of her." She glances over at Flutterdeer, and smiles; inwardly, the princess is pretty proud of herself for that one. Sometimes magic is art! Turning back to Romper, she tells him, "as your princess, I'm happy to grant your request!" Lights, magic...earth pony! "Of course it's only temporary, but I really hope you enjoy it."
Right at this moment, FLuttershy is holding a hoof in front of her shiny black nose, eyes crossed. She wiggles one tip...then the other! Then the other! And then the OTHER! Oh, my! She can move her hooftips independently! S-she might even *grasp things*!
Romper shivers briefly. It's a strange feeling; his wings shrink, disppearing into his body with a bright shower of sparks. His eyes go wide. The feeling could best be described as picking at a scab... it kind of hurts, a little tiny bit, but it also feels good. A warm coccoon of light envelops his body, and when it fades, his wings are gone. Limbs are stronger. Legs, tougher. Neck, shorter. He steps once or twice, testing it. More sturdy. More stable. Much better! "T-Thank you, Princess!"
Meteor_Galaxy waits patiently in line for a turn. Though once at the front his attention turns to Princess Luna instead of Twilight. He bows his head towards her, "Princess Luna, I am called Meteor Galaxy and I request to become a trainee to be part of your royal guard." see he didn't have a request for Twilight afterall but how else will he ever get the chance to speak with Luna again?
Tejene does actually wake up after a moment. Okay, he wakes up almost instantly when the smelling salts hit his nose. There's a moment to rub his eyes before he gets back up to his hooves. Okay. Another moment to stare at Zecora. He watches the young pegasus transform into an earth pony, then catches FlutterDoe out of the corner of his eye. Instead of scratching his mane, he pulls something from it. A small glowing green thing, and he speaks rather flatly. Not even a rhyme. "I must consult with the ancestors." He claps his hooves together, smashing the little charm to dust, and dematerializes into a vaguely zebra shaped cloud of mist which dissipates after just a moment.
Nitro_Nine looks moderately grouchy as the 'wishes' line suddenly ends with her at the front... With a rather sour look, the young mare tosses her mane and turns to trot away, rather perturbed.
Twilight_Sparkle taps Nitro on the shoulder.
Twilight_Sparkle smiles. "Drop by the library later? I'll fix you up."
Zecora rolls her eyes at Tejene's abrupt departure, but she smiles into the mist regardless. She wasn't much better when she saw her first ponies and their magic. There's still three days left to shock him later.
Nitro_Nine turns, blinking quietly. And then smiles. "Thank you dear... I may not have known what was going on, but I was looking forward to seeing what everyone was going to become." she says, before turning to regard Romper, in a far better humor. "Earth Pony...? Are you sure?" she asks, patting the stallion's shoulder.
Luna scoops Romper out of th- no, wait. In fact, it has gone full dark, with the stars sparkling in the sky. Luna rises up on her hind legs, flaps her huge wings twice, and floats up into the air. As she does, the moon rises, full and pale on the horizon. Luna floats back down in front of Twilight rather than behind, her eyes glowing, mane and tail whipping. "IT IS DONE! THE TWILIGHT OF THE YEAR IS OVER. THE LONG NIGHTS BEGIN. REMEMBER THE GENTLENESS OF THE PRINCESS WHO SHEPHERDED THEE FROM DAY TO NIGHT, PONIES OF PONYVILLE, AND BE GRATEFUL THAT TWILIGHT SPARKLE WALKS AMONG THEE." Luna's eyes flare, and in that blinding instant she and Twilight Sparkle disappear. The dais the statue is usually standing on is back into place, and Rarity's fainting couch... oh, Rarity's fainting couch is now sitting on the ground, with the statue lying on top of it. Oh, well.
Romper nodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnodnod. "Earth Pony," he confirms, dizzy for a moment. "At least this way I don't have to be concerned about the sky." Then Luna explodes into the CANTERLOT VOICE and the moon is high in the sky. Well... that was fast! But awesome.
"Could be worse. You could've fried me with lightning for getting in your way.", comes a snort from the armored unicorn in reply to Firefly, looking over his shoulder at the Storm Pegasus with a little smirk. However, back to the barrel! Horn aglow he snags the top with his aura, pulling it free and peeeering inside just as.. Luna & Twilight vanish as does the barrel, leaving him staring the ground. "..Huh."
Nitro_Nine smiles. "Perhaps we could explore a little more of this... festival? I must admit, I have had little contact with non-unicorns, having lived int Canterlot for so long... What ARE YOU?!" she asks, looking at Fluttershy.
Bardigan's eyes widen as he realizes what's about to happen. "Wait!" he says, raising a hoof, but the Princesses are already gone. His hoof hovers, and drops. The unibard then smiles, timidly, and stands up to go pluck Diamond Dancer out of the crowd.
Meteor_Galaxy listens as Luna announces to the public that things are over. Be that as it may he stands in front of her still waiting for an answer to his request.
Firefly says "I was rather ill that day, and if I recall, you still got me fairly well, though my memory is a touch hazy there."
Meteor_Galaxy snorts with a shake of the head as the Princess disappears. "Right.. Knew I should of just went to Celestia. My mistake to think the moon princess would answer." the pegasus takes flight leaving the square heading back to Cloudsdale or at least away.
Chance gets up to Scope after giving him a whuffle-greeting. He offers the other stallion a light smile. "Good day Scope. Has everything been going well for you?"
Firefly lifts her head a moment, then turns and takes flight, following Meteor, waiting until she catches up to ask, "And what of Celestia seek thee in question, that the Princess of the Night can not examine?"
Starfire, now that the main event was ended, turns and walks over towards Chance and Scope and Firefly. Then watches Firefly shoot away. "Wow..and no lightning this time. Must not be feeling well."
Meteor_Galaxy hovers in the air glancing at Firefly, "I don't know. You are one of Princess Luna's guards correct? How would I go about getting training and applying for such a position?"
"Nope!", Scope smirks, looking up from the ground to the approaching chance. "Things aren't going well at all! But I'm making it so far, just workin." A glance is tossed over his shoulder as Firefly heads off to go after a pegasus whom he's quite familiar with. "Either that or something's on her mind. S'prolly nothing though."
Firefly grins a bit and pulls into a hover. "I am more than a Guard, I am her Squire. I carry her voice and aithority in her stead." then nods off to the side, hovering a bit out of the main area. "To which guard wish thee to apply? Celestia's Guards or Milady Luna's guards?"
Romper ohs and nods to Nitro! Very happy with his new form. "That sounds like a good plan!" He too looks to Flutterdeer. Oh... dear.
Meep! Flutterdoe may be a deer, but inside, she's still the same old Fluttershy. Why is why you totally didin't catch her with her split hooftips inches away from her much larger nose. "Um...m-me? I, um, I'm F-Fluttershy. ...a-and I'm a deer. For now."
Starfire has to giggle a bit. "I thought the only things ever on her mind were related to lemond cookies and tea." then tilts her head. "Why is everything not good?"
Nitro_Nine smiles. "So... What is your name? I am Nitro Nine, of Canterlot." she says in a slightly snobbish voice. "Why an Earth Pony though? Are you truly afraid of heights?"
Chance glances over to Starfire with a light smirk, then nods over to Scope. "Yes, what's wrong lately?" he inquires as well.
Meteor_Galaxy moves off to the side with Firefly, "Princess Luna's guards. Not that I wouldn't help Princess Celestia its just I am more of one for the night."
<OOC> Luna says, "Fluttershy . o O (OH MY CELESTIA. I can pick MY OWN nose now!!!)"
"Can't talk about it, and that just makes it worse!" Scope replies with a wide, wide smile. .. Hm, something may be up with him as all this time the remainder of his peach has been hovering nearby surrounded by his magic. .. Seems he forgot about it. "It's classified!"
Firefly grins and lands on a rooftop, laying down. "Well now, if anypony can help you there I can." nodding. "Pull up an eave and tell me all about what thee seek and why."
Meteor_Galaxy lands close to Firefly and sits down. "Well.. I am a flight engineer and for now design airships. But.. Honestly I seek something more for myself. To be better than just creating flying objects. Protecting the Princess would make me feel as if I have more purpose. Protection is important and as a Bitalian. I want to learn to serve and protect even if it means ith my life."
Firefly listens and tilts her head. "I have never met an engineer type before...usually they are holed up in musty old libraries or drafting rooms." looking Meteor over. "Thy do realize of the Guard, Celestia's are regimental and ornamental, quite the well oiled machine. Not the most exciting aspect of such, to be certain." then smiles. "Now, Luna on the other hoof....you get to fight monsters, and train against some really tough ponies, you bleed, break, get better and stronger, and faster and more awesome!"
Chance tilts his head a bit. "Well, if there's anything we can do for you, even if it's just for a visit and chat, feel free to ask." he tells Scope.
Starfire giggles. "Do palace emplyees get inside info?" grinning. "I am always curious."
Meteor_Galaxy smirks a little, "Not all engineers hold up in the library. At least not this one! I like wide open spaces. Not really one to be all fancy and regal. Pricess Luna's guard sounds more my key."
Firefly nods. "Well, there is one pony I know for sure who knows how both worlds operate rather well." lifting her head a bit. "To serve the Night, one must truly understand the Night...have thee ever been to Everfree?"
Meteor_Galaxy nods his head, "Been through one or two times. Have not stayed there but I am willing if need be. I'll do whatever it takes."
Scope's eyes blink once, then twice as he turns his attention all on Starfire. "Unfortunately no. If I told you I would literally have to vaporize you and spread your dust into the wind so there would be absolutely no chance of information being leaked." As for Chance his gaze shifts back to the fellow unicorn, replying with only a nod.
Starfire giggles. "Ouch...I don't think my boss would be very happy if I got vaporised. She might even cut my vacation short."
Chance says "I wouldn't be very happy if you got vaporized. Hard to marry particles." he tells Starfire, then looks over to Scope. "Sounds extra secret this time. Hope things turn out alright."
...and only now, long after Princess and Princess Jr. have zip-zapped away, does a light green unicorn with a shoulder-length mane and a string instrument on her flank come galloping along. "Princess! P-Princess! I need...I...aw, HORSEAPPLES!" She conjures a hat, slams it on the ground, stomps on it, and then stomps away. So grumpy.
Nitro_Nine blinks and wanders over towards Firefly. "Fair evening to you." she says, bowing respectfully. "How are you this fine day?"
Flutterdeer gasps, putting her hooves to her cheeks and pushing them way up high. "N-not the forest!"
"We shall see. Until the universe rips apart at it's seams and all of reality is destroyed, then." Stepping back away from the other unicorns, Scope's aura increases in brightness before there's a flash of light and the guard (and peach) vanishes, the unicorn having teleported somewhere he hopes is close to his target.
Firefly nods to Meteor. "The Night is not for the weak willed or soft bellied..." grinning, then she stands up, spreading her wings which erupt into black silent heatless flames, her eyes shifting to Nightmare Moon styled ones, grinning to the Engineer. "Training with the Night shall take thee into the very heart of Tartarus...it will leave thee with thy face and most of thy body embedded in the roadways...and it will leave thy blood boiling to know the joy of racing the rocs when the moon is high, across the murky swamps of Everfree."
Meteor_Galaxy is up on a roof speaking with Firefly as Nitro is below them. Rising to his own hoovs, "I am ready and willing! Where do I sign up?" he asks her before glancing down towards Nitro hearing her greeting whom of course assumes is to Firefly.
Starfire noddles. "Yeah, that would make getting to the wedding a bit hard...not to mention the honeymoon. My particles would just blow out the window of the train as we travelled."
Chance glances over to Starfire. "That would be inconvenient. As for Scope's issues, sounds like one MRC's usual days." he mentions, then glances up to Firefly. He chuckles lightly. "Sounds like a relaxing night, Firefly."
Firefly looks over the side of the two stoey building. "Who are you talking to down there?" seeing as she was not at the edge like Meteor so can't hear what's on the ground so well. "Oh, hello." shifting back to normal so she can wave a wing.
Nitro_Nine smiles and concentrates. "I shant interrupt." she calls up,
Nitro_Nine says "But I should like to have tea with you some time!"
Meteor_Galaxy glances at Nitro for a moment allowing the two to speak a moment.
Firefly grins. "Tea is always good!" hollering back down. "Come to the Palace some night, when I'm in Night Court!" waving to Chance as well. Then she hovers up and looks to Meteor. "Come to the Palace in a night or two, see me, and I shall show thee more."
Meteor_Galaxy glances at Firefly with a nod, "I will be there. Thank you, Squire Firefly." he bows his head out of respect towards her.
Firefly bows and takes off, circling back down to the ground.