Miracle CYOA

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>>27780298
Normally I'd assume that what I have over me it's where the bum rests, but I can't help but think it's a ceiling from it's shape.
There are several sticks in the wall, but the lowest seem to have broken recently. I give a look to Biggs (Noticing that I am his eye level) but he just smirks.

>>27780626
Can we stick our hooves to the wall and walk up to the steps?

>>27780626
Pull our rope up from behind us, knot the end around the nearest stick in the wall using telekinesis, and climb again.

>>27780653
And if not, can we transmute some of the sap out of these plants and make sticky oaste to coat our hooves in? Changing my vote from >>27780669 to this because I just remembered that we are supposed to be showcasing as many different schools of magic as we can, and we already used telekinesis.

>>27780692
*sticky paste

>>27780692
That was my thinking. The vines are the logical option for climbing, but we're both climbing and demonstrating magical versatility here.
We could still tie them around us and a step above and use them as a safety harness.

>>27780719
Telekinesis AND glue. Even more magic, I approve. Also we should smile and wave to Biggs as we head up, seeing how we're at eye height.

>>27780831
The high ground is ours.
We can finally look down on him!

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>>27780653
>>27780669
>>27780692
>>27780703
>>27780719
>>27780831
>>27780849
1/2
Hmm...
I mash some vines, using magic to make their sap as sticky as I can, and climb the wall, making sure to keep a vine attached to me for security. Keeping the sap sticky requires constant consentration, but little by little I reach the top of the chair.
I wave at the others below and try to say something, but puke a little in my mouth instead. Yuck.

>>27780912
Walk sideways to stand on the top.

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>>27780912
2/2
I look down and wave at the others again, noticing that for the first time I see Biggs from above.
"You did well," He smiles widely, "Want me to take you down?"
My heart misses a beat from the surprise, but I bite down the words for now.
I had always just assumed his tongue was simply small, not that he didn't have any. His mouth looks like an empty cave, and . In the bottom of it I can just barely see some kind of silvery metal.
"Not for now!" I shout back, still gasping for breath. "Gimme a second!"
I sit, wincing from the headache that's forming.
A click comes from behind me.

>>27781050
Duck.

>>27781050
Turn around, step to one side, then duck.

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>>27781089
>>27781066
I sidestep in reflex, remembering the abundant warnings received when I helped Selene try her crossbows, but nothing happens.
I turn to see the source of the sound. It's a small stone with a spot glowing a soft green, and seems to have something carved roughly into it.

>>27781175
Try picking it up.

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>>27781206
I try to grab it with both magic and my hooves, but it's attached to the rock bellow.
I look at it more closely.
I could swear it's looking back. It's button clicks again, louder.

>>27781303
Hello. Are you an automated information retrieval unit?

>>27781325
"Are you one of those information faces?"
The buttons clicks several times.

>>27781619
Push the button in the name of righteous blind curiosity.

>>27781655
This. Also checked.

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>>27781839
>>27781655
The stone starts cracking where it's mouth would be, if it had one.
A mouth starts drawing itself in the surface.
It stares at me, it's eyes penetrating, and the shape of the mouth can't resolve itself-- it's shifting constantly, changing expressions, forming more and more small cracks in the stone.

>>27781971
You broken, guy? Maybe just low on power? Quick, connect our magic to it and try and help it out.

>>27781971
Yell down to Biggs and ask him if there's a way to help one of these stone creatures if they can't move right.

>>27782463
No, don't do that. He'll just tell us to stop.

>>27782081
1/2
I prod it with my magic, searching for some spot to provide it with en

>>27782463
I had already drawn the update and was writing the post.

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>>27782519
2/2
The filly looks around her, confused. There's some kind of... mist blocking her sight beyond a few centimetres directly ahead.
She calls out for someone, but the only response are distant wails.

>>27782524
Approach thingy. Say hello.

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>>27782538
1/2
"What?" The filly looks around her, searching the source of the voice "What thing? Who are you?"
The wail goes silent, and something turns to the filly. It tries to walk, but without legs it collapses, and it drags itself with an arm, the other grasping for whatever may be there.
https://files.catbox.moe/gv86fc.mp3

>>27782810
2/2
A mare shouts at me, concerned.
"Girl? Girl, can you hear me?" She grabs my head between her hooves and forces my eyes to open, "Say anything, please!"

>>27782888
Anything, please.

>>27782888
Tell her who and what we are.

>>27782910
>>27783002
"Any--" A sudden headache makes me bite my tongue. "Wha..."
"Good, I need you to be brave for a minute, can you?" I can't help but notice her odd accent.
"I... I want to nap for--"
"No! You need to be brave for a second. Only that," She walks behind me, and I hear a wet sound accompanied by a pained grunt on her part. "Don't turn. Can you tell me your name?"
"Lu--" The headache worsens, and I can't continue.
"Good enough." I feel something sharp poke me in the back of the head. "Stay calm, I need to take out the bad idea before it hurts you. How about the people below? Can you tell me anything about them?" My head starts itching, but she doesn't let me scratch anything, "No, just keep talking. Stay awake."

>>27783038
Follow her advice. Talk about the people below. Talk about anything we can. When it becomes painful, switch to a different topic. Keep talking.

>>27783038
Hey, I worked hard for my ideas.

>>27783038
Which of my ideas is bad and why? Can't it be made into a GOOD idea instead of just removed?

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>>27783064
>>27783056
>>27783051
"Bad--?" I have to swallow vomit. "Bad idea?"
"It's a very loose name, but I don't know how to say it in this we-- your language. The... the scary thing, it's still in your head. But tell me of the others."
"The dragon is Biggs--"
"Is he bad?"
"No, he's just kinda..." I have to stop for breath, "A jerk, but a good person."
"I know people like that. And the others?"
"Selene is the pegasus, she--" Whatever she's doing makes me scream in pain, and the itch goes away.
"It's almost out, keep talking."
"The earth pony is my brother, he--" There is a feeling of pause, as if time happened without me noticing it. "What happened?"
"I took it out. The pegasus... Selene is coming." She groans in pain again, and I hear something clank against this place's edge before falling to the ground below. "Now give me a second, I need to kill this thing before it hurts anyone else."

>>27783195
No don't. I want to talk to it. I want to know what it is.

>>27783195
What is it?
Why can't I know it?

>>27783222
>>27783214
Selene lands in the platform, giving the mare a curious look before grabbing me.
"Lud? Did anything go wrong? You've been here for nearly half an hour." She says as Biggs stands in his hindlegs to see us.
I ignore them both, "What? No! I want to know what it is!"
"It's bad for you. Isn't that enough?" Replies the mare without taking her eyes from the crumpled ball, poking it with the tips of her wings. "Don't worry, I am pretty sure it doesn't have any analogue of pain. I just need to find the spots to undo it without any backslash."
Checked, and going to bed.

>>27783606
You're not listening to me. I don't want you to kill it, whether it can feel pain or not, and I want to know what it is.

Also, is that Twilight or her ancestor or something? Ask as Rarity if need be. I assume Ludwig is describing all the characters in this.

>>27783606
Of course it's not enough. I need to know why it's bad for me, how it's bad for me, where it came from and where it's going
Also who are you and where did you come from?

time to get your bump on.

>>27780298
Nice Argentina flag

>>27784765

Page ten save.

>>27784012
>>27783632
1/2
"I don't care! I want to know!" I pause to take breath. "I hate it when people keeps saying stuff is bad for me and won't tell me why because they are adults and idiots!" I shout at the top of my lungs.
Everyone pauses at that, Selene giving me a surprised look and Biggs' eyes shifting between me and the mare.
"Fine, you want to know why bad ideas are dangerous?" She turns to me. "The bad idea is a memetic entity that operates within the fourth, fifth, and seventh frequencies of arcanoelectricochemical resonance within the magic field that affects our world. It's damaging because they often are as obstinated as it gets, only their wills are terribly warped, and the magical field responds to their wishes. They don't want to hurt you. They don't even know who or what you are. But they are simply incompatible with any living being, and will have the same effect as eating bad food, only in your psyche and nervous system. Do you want to know what happens when your brain or mind tries to vomit? I've seen it. I've experienced it. It's horrible." She pauses to inhale. "Are you satisfied?"

>>27787059
>Are you satisfied?
No. What happens when your brain or mind tries to vomit? Also, can the memetic aspect of the ideas be suppressed without destroying them, so that they are sustained by a magical field without warping it?

>>27787059
>>27787112
Also, what distinguishes the arcanoelectricochemical resonance frequencies from each other, and how many are there?

>>27787059
>>27787137
Also also:
>They don't even know who or what you are.
If they can affect us, we can affect them. How do we open communications? Can we build up a tolerance? Are there any magical spells that act as mental antihistamines?

>>27787059
>>27787157
Also also also, will you be my teacher too? Most adults won't tell me things.

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>>27787059
2/2
Ludwig pauses, noticing that Rarity is too quiet.
"Anything wrong?" She asks.
"This mare... you said violet fur? And dark blue mane with a pink streak?"
"It was more of fuchsia, but yeah. Why?"
"Nothing, it's just..." Rarity shakes her head. "She wouldn't."
"Who--" Ludwig is interrupted by Applejack yelling something.


[Pass control to AJ temporarily?]
>>27787112
>>27787137
>>27787157
>>27787165
Queued.

>>27787227
Appletime.

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>>27787339
The thin sheets of protein that cover my cornea open.
What is going on.

>>27787422
Something interesting. We appear to be seeing things a bit differently. Minimally, to me exact.

Go inform our friends. See if they look any different.

>>27787422
Ask Mirria if she's also experiencing a minimalist worldview.

>>27787440
>>27787499
I try to move the protein/myosin constructs that manage my moving extremities, but can't manage to get a hold of the actin in time and, instead, move towards the floor carrying enough kinetic energy to generate swelling in the skin that assists in protecting my central nervous system.
I try to talk, but only manage to produce a loud droning noise.
"Hm?" Says someone behind me. "Calm down."

>>27787550
We are calm. But also confused.

>>27787550
That the way you want to play it? Okay.

Attempt to communicate by vocalizing various syntactic combination of lexicals and names drawn from your vocabulary, with each of these being comprised of the phonetic combination of vowel and consonant speech sound units, articulated by your larynx, pharynx, jaw, tongue, and lips via instruction from the motor cortex of your parietal lobe.

>>27787582
>>27787605
I take a moment to...
Look? No area of my nervous system related to sight is currently being used. Or hearing. Or any of my other senses.
I am aware of that normally I'd be worried, but right now I only feel a sort of melancholy.
"It's dreadsome, isn't it? So... empty. The opposite of what every sapient stands for." The voice pauses "Pure objectivitism is something I stand against. Ironic, don't you think?"

>>27787662
Fuck, forgot to link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y6htlLOdRY

>>27787662
I'm going to ignore you now.
If you feel like discussing something worth hearing I'll be right here, trying to remember how to be me.

>>27787662
Tell the voice that yes, this is a rather colorless and empty way to view the world. The emotional deadness is even worse.

You've lost quite a bit if this is how you experience reality. I hope you got something for it.

>>27787702
>>27787774
I ignore the voice and try to get up, getting a hold of my limbs, try to wake up--
I look around, fear forming in my gut.
"Ah, there it is. Objectivism lasts very little in the face of intellect."
I look at the complex system that breathes softly in the wood/cloth contraption, protein and calcium amassed into what I like to call a friend, complex chemicals flowing in her nervous system like fireworks.
"But enough smalltalk, Applejack. It had been quite some time since we last talked."
I try to answer, but still can't understand how to control the long chain of mechanisms in my throat and mouth.
"I am sorry you have to be like this. It's dreadful for both of us-- for Honesty, I mean, to be lied to." It pauses for a moment, "You are trying to talk too hard. Just relax, try to make it go in automatic, will you? Your body knows what to do."
I close the protein sheets over my eyes in reflex and breathe, trying to not think of the huge, complex mechanisms involved.
"Is dhis--" I make an effort not to think of my mispronunciation. "--Jow iu see dhe word?"
"Ah? No, my sight is far more colourful. Filled. A bit overbearing at times, but beautiful all the same."
"This is how you see the world when you forget your true truths and try to wield me, Applejack."

>>27787814
Well I'm trying to remember, but it's hard when you can't remember what you forgot.

>>27787814
Who are you?

>>27787814
When did I attempt to wield you?

>>27788094
>>27788030
>>27787862
"Iu-- You are the element? Honesty?"
"It's more complicated than that, but yes, that's one of my names."
"'Nd I tryd to use you?"
"More like we were finally able to find a breach in her barrier, but close enough."
I pause for a minute, "It's ghard to--" I nearly choke, and have to spend a moment normalizing the systems involved with my speech. "--To remember. I've been trying to."
"Oh, true truths are not about memories. They are about principles.
"I came to help you with that, actually. Your friend has made it so I can't just give you your memories," Anger alights it's voice for a moment "But I can help you. No memory is ever truly lost, after all."

>>27788313
If she is my friend, I will trust that there was a reason for depriving me of my memories. Considering that you seem to be the abstract force of truth or something to that effect, I can understand why you might be upset with him or her for doing that.

That being said, if you want to help me, I would love your help. What can I do for you in return?

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>>27788455
"Ehi-- I am sure she had her reasons."
"Everyone does. Whether they are good or bad is another topic altogether." Says Honesty, severely. "You didn't want her to. She did it anyway."
"'Nd what do you want?"
"Me? I want to keep people safe. I think you've earned some special attention, after having been my paladin for as long as you were." He pauses, "It's sad that your friend, Twilight, had to insult her title so crassly. But don't worry about her-- Magic is hunting her as we speak."
I turn around, but can't see... perceive, or whatever it is, Honesty anywhere.

>>27788688
Wait, I DIDN'T want her to do this to me? This was without my permission? Okay, that changes my opinion of it a bit. You have my full permission to do whatever you want to try to unearth my memories.

Will Twilight be okay? I know you said she did this bad thing to me without my permission, but you also said she was my friend, and I don't want bad things to happen to her. The magic that is hunting her won't hurt her, will it?

>>27788688
Au contraire. You can see honesty EVERYWHERE.

>>27788939
>>27788999
"Iu can breeng meh memories back?"
"Not exactly, but I can get you started in remembering, or becoming aware, of your true truths-- your own Honesty, as you perceive it."
"What will Magic do to her?" I say, unable not to ask.
"I have no idea, or control over Magic's actions for that mater." Honesty pauses, almost hesitantly. "Between you and me, I am afraid of what Twilight may do to Magic, rather than the other way around. She has become quite... unhinged since the last time we had had contact with you, when you decided to stop being our bearers."

>7788999
Fuckin checked

>>27789292
Why did we decide to stop being your bearers? Honesty sounds like a great thing to be a bearer of.

>>27789292
Unhinged how?

>>27789292
I've already uncovered one of those true truths.
Friendship.
It's great.
I want to protect and help my friends.

>>27789326
>>27789489
>>27789545
"We decided to...? Why?"
"Your friend, Rarity, will be able to give a much better answer. We don't have much time left-- I am drawing from the same well Energy is using to combat Twilight as we speak, and I don't want to weaken her unnecessarily. But remember this: Ask the others what is their truth-- their understanding of Honesty, it will guide you to your own."
"Wait!" I hold what I can only guess is a hoof. "I remembered something."
"Hm?"
"Friends." I pause. "Friendship. I want to keep them safe, no mater what." I take a deep breath, feeling the melancholy fade, "All of them, I'll protect them."
Honestly seems glad as his voice fades, "I guess we could say Friendship is..."
I am alone.

We can return to the story at any time we want to.

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>>27789686
Of all the times to forget an image

>>27789686
I can't imagine getting back to sleep after that, and I don't want to wake Mirria. Can we go talk to Rarity? Apologize for interrupting the story, swear we'll only take a minute of her time, and then ask her about us. Ask her about us and honesty.

>>27789893
Tuck Mirria in first so the cape doesn't fall off.

>>27790107
>>27789893
I tuck Mirria in, making sure to not wake her up, and go see the others.
I hear Ludwig--
I don't think I'll ever get used to that. I hear the blade yell, and Surane answer calmly, and I stop to look in curiously.
A large crab is holding the blade in place while Surane talks, sitting in a chair and sipping coffee.

>>27790280
Hey guys. What are you talking about? I was just heading off to see Rarity. I need to talk to someone who knew me "before".

What are you two up to?

>>27790305
"What are you doing?"
Surane seems surprised for a moment, but turns to me.
"We understand this-- Bitch-- Idiot-- lady needs psychological assistance. Her brother requested our services."
"I am still growing a few extra rooms," He gestures at a hole in the wall with his free pincer.

>>27790769
Can I do anything to help, or just stay out of your way?

>>27790813
"Can I do anything for you?"
"Much appreciated, but no." Sarim shakes his claw.
I nod and go see Rarity and Ludwig. The instant I enter the room Rarity starts fussing over me, "Whatever happened, dear? You scared me."

>>27791071
HONESTY spoke to me. It was upset that Twilight had taken my memories from me, apparently against my wishes. Right now MAGIC is looking for her and I hope she'll be okay, since she was apparently a friend of mine.

HONESTY said that it could help me regain some of what I lost. I need to ask others what is their understanding of HONESTY, as it will guide me to my own.

Rarity. You know me of old. What is your truth?

>>27791177
"Honesty spoke to me--"
"What!? But they promised to..." Her voice fades. "I always figured they'd come back, sooner than later." She says after a moment.
I wait for her to say anything else, but she doesn't. "Honesty said I had to ask you all about your honesties. How you see truth."
"My honesty?" She takes a moment to answer. "I always wanted to bring back the inner shine of ponies, show them how to be at beautiful in the outside as they were in the inside."

>>27791535
That's a very generous way to live your life.

>>27791535
What happened last time they came?

>>27791856
>>27792005
"That sounds..."
"Generous?" She smiles, an odd little thing I can't quite understand, "I've been told it is, yes."
"What happened last time they came to us?"
"They didn't come to us, we called them," She pauses for a moment, avoiding my eyes. "We weren't ever proud of it, but we had to renounce to our titles as element bearers."

>>27792245
Why?

>>27792254
"Why? That..." I remember the way Mirria spoke of Rainbow before, "Why would we? It sounds great."
"Because it was. We," She scratches the floor nervously as she says it. "We were tired. After having saved the world again, and again, and again... we just wanted some quiet. To not have to risk our lives constantly." She pauses for a second, lost in thought, "Surely you understand?"

>>27792293
I suppose I do. Ludwig, what's your truth?

>>27792358
"I guess I do."
"No, you don't," She sighs, "But thanks for trying, anyway."
I take a moment to think, "Ludwig?"
"Yeah?"
"What's your truth?"
"Truth? Personally?" She pauses to think. "Truth is whatever you've proven to yourself." She smiles softly for a moment. "A friend of me told me that, once. That something isn't really true until you've prodded, touched, turned, and squinted at it hard enough."

Pausing for the night.

Save.

>>27792452
What did I say about truth back when I had my memory?

B

>>27793847
"Thanks," I turn back to Rarity, "Did I ever tell you what my truth was?"
"I can't say you did," She shakes her head, "You and Pinkie, you always had a much easier time with your Elements than the rest of us," She shifts uncomfortably, "The rest of us had to remind ourselves of them from time to time, but you two always were there for us. I don't think either of you could've verbalized it easy."

>>27796564
Does the name Pinkie trigger any memories like the name Dash did? Is Pinkie still alive like me and Twilight, or did she pass on like you did?

>>27796874
"Pinkie?"
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this," Her face is grim as she says it, "A pink earth pony, and the element of Laughter. These days she's far more subdued than she used to be but she still shines, in her way."

>>27797264
Well, thank you for sharing your truths with me. I'm going to go ask the rest on my way back to bed. Sorry for interrupting your story.

We can go back to Sacrifice now.

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>>27797789
"Thanks for that," I turn and head back to the couch.

>>27787112
>>27787137
>>27787157
>>27787165
"No! I wanna know stuff about it!"
"You can't just learn 'stuff' about--"
"Yes I can! I only need to learn enough magic!"
"You are only a stupid little chi--" She starts, enraged, only to be interrupted by Biggs clearing his throat.
"I'd like to know who you are, why your face is bloodied near my pupil, and why do you think you can talk like that to my pupil, in that order." He says, more bothered than angry.

>>27798201
Me too.

Stay silent and see what she has to say.

>>27798238
I don't say anything, but can't help but step back with Selene-- I don't think I had ever seen Biggs like this.
The mare takes her sweet time to answer, holding Biggs' gaze, "I am Ren. And I just saved your pupil's life, thank you very much."
"You only answered one of my questions."
"And taking the bad idea involv--"
"What kind of fool knows how to do that but doesn't know how to name what she's removing?" He moves closer to Ren, giving her a warning glance. "What kind of fool do you think I am?"
"I am not familiar with your language," She stands her ground.
"What language are you more familiar with? Do tell. I can understand every tongue in the world." Ren doesn't answer, "What I don't know is your accent, in any case, so you are either making it up or fooling with things you should not."
Ren's eye twitches before she answers, "I am searching for an unicorn. If that unicorn doesn't learn how to do a specific thing, I have no way to predict what will happen."
Biggs looks at her for a moment, "If you do anything I don't like, I will be swift to take care of you. Is that understood?"
"I--"
"Is that understood, you little liar?" He bears down on her again. "Don't think I can't see what you really are, or expose you with a single phrase."
The mare nods grudgingly and flies away without another word.

>>27798597
What was she, Biggs? And what do we do with the idea?

>>27798597
So can Twilight time travel now?

>>27798787
"What is she?" I ask after a moment.
"Between us? I am not sure," He looks closely at the bad idea, "I assume you'll want to keep it, and won't ever stop buggering me if you don't."

>>27798958
Ludwig wouldn't have any reason to ask that.

>>27799016
Rarity could ask.

>>27799016
You know me so well, Biggs. I'm going to keep it and probably name it.

If you don't know what she is, was all that "don't think I can't see what you really are, or expose you with a single phrase" talk just bluffing?

>>27799063
"Wait you were bluffing?"
"Oh, I can see the shape she hides. That I don't know what it is is just... a technicality."
I think about that for a second and look at the bad idea, "I wanna keep it, yeah."
"And I have no interest in killing it either, so..." He touches it with his nails, making it rotate, "I'll store it, properly prepared glass should suffice. But," He looks at me warningly, "I'll keep it, and whatever you do with it has to pass by me before."

>>27799050
Ludwig turns to Rarity, worried about the way she's fretting, "What is it? Who were you talking a moment ago?"
"The mare, Ren..." Rarity hesitates. "It's strikingly similar to a friend of mine. A friend of mine who I know can travel time, and who Applejack said has become dangerous."
"I don't think I understand, give me..." Ludwig is silent for a moment, "Wait, time travel? As in going to the past and future?" Rarity nods. "Alright, that'd explain some things."

>>27799120
What things would it explain, aside from her accent that Larson didn't recognize?

>>27799147
"Like what?"
"Well, Selene's still alive, right? Ren avoided her if she could. And she kept appearing out of nowhere for... well, years. Always looking the exact same."

Return to the story now?

>>27799344
Yeah, back to the story.

>>27799380
Then give me something for Ludwig to do there.
We could also fast forward now.

>>27799495
Fast forward. We had a bunch of things queued, like learning dragon, learning more magic, and now also experimenting with the idea.

sweet jumping skills

>>27799495
Ask Biggs what our reward is for getting to the top of the chair.

>>27799495
We should ask Biggs about the creature we saw in the mist.

>>27802903
>>27803402
"But enough of that," He grabs the bad idea with a hand and, with a blurry movement, makes it disappear. "I'll store it later. Whatever did it do to you?"
I shift uncomfortably, "I was somewhere..."
"How was it?"
"I don't know," I shake my head. "I am not sure if there was a floor, there was this... thing that didn't let me see much ahead," Biggs nods, gesturing at me to continue, "And someone talked to me. Said I had to talk to a thingy. And then something came to me. I think it was breathing too, really loud."
Selene and Biggs share a glance, the way all grown ups do, and then she ruffles my mane.
"Yeah, but you are fine now, right?" I nod weakly, "And want to hear about your prize?" She gives Biggs a tense glance that threatens with sweet murder.
"Pri-- Oh, yes, the reward, for getting to the top." He pauses, "You want to know things. Make a question. I'll answer it as well as I can."

>>27803822
Why did you say ponies are not made for being immortal?

>>27803883
That's a really good question. I can support that.

Mine was going to be "How can a pony safely know things that would otherwise damage their psyche?" since I feel like he knows more about how to achieve our end goal than he is telling us.

>>27803883
>>27804212
Taking a while to draw the next panel.

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>>27804212
>>27803883
"I wanna know why I can't be immortal."
"Ponies, you mean?" He cringes, "I had hoped to tell you when you were older, but..." He crouches, then stands again with Sarim in his outstretched palm, "Get in."
We jump on his hand and he chants something, fire erupting from his mouth and engulfing us. We don't have time to react before finding ourselves in what seems to be a very large cavern, Biggs nowhere to be seen.
"You are in the guests area," His voice comes from below. "Come down here. And mind the stairs."

>>27804725
Head on down.
After touching everything.

>>27804746
This. Ask what everything is as you poke it.

>>27804746
>>27804825
Selene and I stand still for a moment.
"Wait." She says after a minute, earning a confused look from Sarim. "What."
"Anything wrong?" Asks Biggs from below.
"Yes." I answer immediately.
A minute passes.
"...That being?"
"Teleportation is a myth." Says Selene, still not moving an inch.
A minute passes, "It is?"
"Yes."
Another one passes.
"Why?"
"Because you can't teleport."
"I can't?"
"No."
"Why?"
I share a look with Selene.
"Because spells can't carry that much information." I say mater-of-factly. "Even five-cores spells collapse."
"I used a six-cores spell." He answers, confused. "Wait, you ponies forgot half your sciences again? Can't you stop doing that already?" He groans.
A few minutes of silence pass.
"What's that?" I point to the floating shapes, then remember he can't see me. "The lights."
"I think it's a greeting and a warning, but I can't remember. Come down already, I don't like being here if I don't have to."

>>27805118
Coming on down. What language is the greeting in? How many cores is the maximum?

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>>27805343
"What language is it in?" I ask as we go down.
"Can't remember, we'll get to that in a moment."
"And how many cores can you use?" Asks Selene.
"Mmh... 'How many cores I can use safely' would be a better question. At twelve I have to cool the air around me to keep the spell's integrity, and at eighteen or so the air grows a face and plays pranks on the neighbours. Haven't tried thirty in a long time. At forty you are causing earthquakes by mistake." He says as we follow. "And mind the crystals. A lot of them are salt, and very sharp. You don't want 'em to hurt you."

>>27805986
What's the most cores anyone has ever used? Is there a world record set by some supremely ancient dragon archmage?

>>27805986
Where are we, anyway?

>>27806037
Inside the dragon?

>>27806026
>>27806037
>>27806354
"What's the most cores that have been used?"
Heis silent for a moment, deep in thought, "Can't remember it well, but the sun got broken once. Had to make a new one. That one was... quite a few dragons and immortals, and about seven hundred cores?" He stops walking to tap a nail against the ground. "No, the south sections broke and we had to improvize. I think that involved about fifty more." He shrugs, "Ancient history, anyway. I don't think any of you will ever get to see even forty-cores spells. These centuries seem to be a lull in disasters-- barely a world-crisis or two per decade." He walks again.
We follow in silence, Selene and I trying to imagine how incredibly huge a spell that would be.
"Where are we?" Asks Sarim after a moment.
"Where I store my memories."

>>27806458
What's wrong with storing things in your head?

>>27806458
Are we in the metaphorical physical representation of your mind? Follow up question: that's awesome.

>>27806530
>>27806560
"Wait, this is your head?"
"You could say so. Storing many of my memories has definitely altered the space," His head raises for a moment, "If you hear voices, ignore them. Memories don't work well outside their minds."
"What do you have against having memories in your head?"
"Oh, wetware only takes you so far," We reach a huge door and he starts pushing it open, "But you got me sidetracked. Pony society is simply too anchored in mortality-- you may not want it to happen, but the first twenty or thirty years of your lives are spent preparing for your parents' deaths, for example. Besides, you wouldn't ever do this. Your culture sees forgetting things as an act of cowardice. But a skull and brain can only store so many things before things start breaking-- which is why we immortals have to store things externally from time to time if we want to stay sane." He pauses to take air, then taps his wounds, "These are anchors, in a way. You can't remove memories that are affecting you this physically. And the peace of mind thing still applies, of course." He says before giving another push to the door.

>>27806780
We're too "anchored in mortality"? Is that all? We're mortal because we're used to thinking of ourselves as mortal? Well I've got news for you: I'm used to thinking of myself as being able to do anything.

(Also, help him push the door open.)

>>27806780
How did you decide what to remember and what to forget?

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>>27806968
>>27807209
"How do you mean we are too anchored to mortality? We could get used to it."
"Oh, I am not saying you can't be immortal," He heaves against the door, "Just that you aren't made for it, as a group. You are herd creatures, just like most dragons are individualistic to the point of not understanding parenthood-- dragon seeds are generally abandoned in a place where they are unlikely to be broken." He stops to breath. "It's reasonable-- they take about six hundred years to germinate. It isn't healthy for us to be fathers and mothers."
The door finishes opening with a groan of ancient metal, "This is where I store my memories."
"How do you decide which ones to store?"
"I decide which ones to not store, the rest come or go semirandomly," He pauses hesitantly, "Unless I make mistakes. It's how I really lost my name." He says quietly.

>>27807398
What mistake made you lose your birth name? And you still didn't answer my question: how do you decide which memories to not store?

>>27807503
"Wait you lost your birth name?" Selene gives me and Sarim an offended look, "And I was supposed to know this?"
"Not birth name, just name. We don't get birth names." I open my mouth, but he answers before I make the question. "We decide on a name when we are old enough to not choose a stupid one. And I can only suppose I wasn't careful enough when setting it up. Now it's too dangerous to try to find it, with so many things in the crystal."
I look at the crystal for a moment, it's thin strands of bright smoke playing between the fragments.
"You didn't tell me how you decide what stays in."
"If it's urgent I keep it in. Day-to-day stuff it's what goes in, generally," He shrugs, "I have some smaller crystals to store information I want to get back immediately, but those are somewhere else."

>>27807753
Oh and we can still make the timejump at any given moment.

>>27807753
How many years of life does this big crystal hold? And why did you bring me here and show me this, considering that you answered my immortality question on the way here? Not that I don't appreciate getting to see this, though. This is fascinating.

>>27807759
After we're done in the dragon's head.

>>27807805
"But why do you show me this?"
"Because every... cubic metre can store nearly a hundred years, and I've filled nearly half of it. Do you have any idea of how long I've been using it for?" He looks at us for a moment. "When you ponies think about immortality, you think in a long time. When immortals think about immortality, we think about an immeasurable time. Enough to cultivate crystals like this one."

>>27808027
I'd argue that a pony who could live a long time would learn to think about a really long time.

>>27808037
Sarim interrupts me before I can talk, "But if someone lived for long enough they'd learn. You weren't born old. Right?" He adds, not completely sure of himself.
"Maybe. I've seen ponies reach an immortal state a few times," He guides us out of the room and starts pulling the door closed, "But it never pans out well for anyone involved after the first few centuries. Last one was..." He is silent for a minute, pulling the door, "I think you ponies call him Discord, in your legends?" The door closes with clang that makes my ears ring, "He's the closest thing I've seen to a stable immortal pony, to give you an idea." He looks at us silently for a moment, his face unreadable in the darkness, "Don't think I don't want to be proven wrong. I just have yet to."

>>27808059
Well shit. That's not encouraging. On the other hand, it seems to have worked out alright for the Princesses.

Head back up the stairs.

beb

Save.

>>27809673

>>27808059
Well then guess what? I'm going to prove you wrong. You're welcome.

>>27810363

>>27811466

>>27811466

>>27808822
>>27810730
...there's nothing left to do here. I hadn't even really planned for Biggs to show this yet. Timejump?

>>27812572
Sure, but after this jump I expect to speak dragon and have that idea measured, cataloged, and safely stored.

"Lud, are you sure we need to be up this early?"
"Yeah! Sunlight would affect it!"
She mutters something under her breath.
"What?"
"Nothing. What do you want to do with the carrot?"
"It'll either grow faster and bigger or explode. Ideally both."
"What?"
"Nothing," I cast the spell before she has the time to stop me.
We look at the carrot expectantly for a moment. It explodes.
"Cool."
We are silent as we clean the carrot from ourselves, but when we are done she looks at the mound created by the carrot thoughtfully.
"Lud, I am not sure I should stay quiet about the third vegetable you've weaponized," She pauses. "Your mother will kill us both if she finds out."
I use the preparing of the next carrot to gain time to think of an answer.

>That feel when you forgot to proofread before posting again.
>>27812913
In a while.

>>27813531
But now it has no image.

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>>27813531
fugg

>>27813531
You call it weaponizing, I call it experimenting. You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs, and you can't train your magic without magically unmaking a few vegetables.

>>27813865
"It's just an experiment."
"Your experiments keep exploding things."
"It's science! You said that!"
"Look, I..." She pauses, "I like explosions as much as the next girl, but I am getting worried. The adults won't like it if they find out about this, you know how they are about..." She mouths for a moment, "Well, anything related to war."

>>27814128
Yeah, yeah, war of the tribes, fleeing for our lives on the open seas, all that. I know. Feel free to assure them that I will not be starting any wars with my veggie spells. These are for plants, not ponies.

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>>27814286
"It's not the same. I am not exploding ponies."
"Then why don't you tell them?"
I finish casting the spell in the next carrot and plant it, trying to find something good to answer.
"...'cause I think they'd freak out and make it seem worse than it is and then talk like I don't know what I am talking about." I admit, defeated.
"I don't know about your folks, but Seer and Jenkins and a lot of the others? They were soldiers and ran from it for a reason. I wish you exploded less things," She adds hesitantly, "But I also know you've kept it in check until now. Adults are different. They are always scared of kids-- Lookout!" She shouts, eyes wide.
I look behind me and see a massive claw, stopping before it crushes me.
Sussanah's head descends to our level, a worried expression in her face.
"You, young sons-of-mares? Why awake so early? You need sleep. You do, Right?" She adds after a pause. "Didnot await anyone awake so early. Would have make noise otherwise."

>>27814510
Hey, Susie. Just practicing my magic. What about you? Don't dragons need sleep too?

>>27814599
"I was practising magic. Don't dragons need to sleep too?"
"Every some weeks, yes." She looks around the clearing, "Magic eggs? What for?"

>>27814796
Demonstrate our spell for her. If it explodes again tell her what was supposed to happen and ask if she has any advice for how to fix it.

>>27814836
I make some modifications to the spell (The idea was to make it bigger too, after all) and cast it again. This time the carrot grows exponentially in size before exploding.
"Ah, larger eggs? To eat more?"
"Yes. But as I told her several times," Selene gives me a tired look, "There's a reason we don't do this. Do it two or three times and the earth is ruined."
"Why, then?" Her glance passes to me.
"To learn about magic! Hey, do you know anything about magic?"
"Me?" She laughs softly. "No, no. Larson is mage. I am..." She falls quiet, and her eyes seem to gaze into the infinite. "I..."

>>27815132
What are you? Or what did you used to do, if you don't do it any more?

>>27815132
Every time you have to talk about your past you get all nervous. Is it really that bad?

>>27815506
>>27815606
"Why do you get sad when you talk about before? What were you?"
Sussanah snaps out of it and gives me a nervous look, "You sons-of-mare call it... wife, yes?" She says hesitantly. "I thinked I was one, or wanted to."

>>27815661
Whose wife were you? Are they still around?

>>27815673
"What happened?"
"For sons-of-mare a wife and her... husband, they love each other, yes?"
"Yeah," Selene is giving Susannah a nervous look.
"I wanted..." She pauses and mutters under her breath for a moment, "I wanted to see love, the way sons-of-mare see it, where maybe there wasn't."

Paused for the night.

>>27815764
You made someone love you?

>>27815764
Yeah, Biggs said dragons aren't big on family.
Sorry things didn't work out for you.
Still, there's other options. You ever thought about dating someone who isn't a dragon?

found you on page 10. i'll give you a bump.

beb

>>27816788
And again on nine.

>>27816224
"Yeah, Biggs said dragons don't like families much..."
"Larson speaks of much." She interrupts me, mildly bothered.
"But have you thought about anything but dragons? I've got a brother you know." I add.
Sussanah laughs and Selene knocks me in the head, "Hey!"
"Ouch! Why?"
"You can't hook up Sarim with a random girl!"
"Why?"
Her eyes are blank for a moment, "She's a dragon!" She says weakly.
"Kids, kids," Sussanah stops her laugher, "I wouldn't, with someone so shortlived. Not offence, yes?"

>>27818121
Actually, I've talked with Biggs, and he explained the nature of mortality to me. Took me into his mind palace and everything. I think immortality might be possible for ponies.

>>27818121
You shouldn't limit yourself Susssanah.
Love is still love wherever you find it.

>>27818121
Maybe it would help if you got your last relationship off your chest. Would you like to talk about it?

>>27818219
>>27818362
>>27818417
"Love is love--!" Selene knocks me in the head again, "Hey, stop that!"
"You stop it." She gives me a look and turns her face to Sussanah. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Ah? My pony, much too bad. Larson hears."

>>27818512
If you mean you think we'll tell Larson, I promise you we won't.

>>27818512
If not relationships, let us do SOMETHING to help you. You always seem so upset.

>>27818512
Look, I'm gonna tell you a pony secret now, and you can't share it with anyone.
Alright, listen well.
When you stop spending time with someone because they weren't treating you right, you have to get together with some friends and say bad things about them until you feel better.

>>27818790
>>27818855
>>27818896
"You think we'll tell Biggs?"
She's silent for a moment, clearly confused, "No, no. I talk to Larson, and he hears. My pony, not good enough."
"Alright, but can't we do something?" She doesn't answer, a puzzled expression in her eyes, "You are always upset."
"I--" She seems touched, but interrupts herself.
"Come on! It's just talking. It's what you do when you are angry."
"Some things, you only need time to not be bad," Her voice is soft. "Nothing else. Your matriarch and patriarch, they love each other?" She asks me and Selene.

>>27818965
Yes. It's really gross sometimes.

>>27819008
"Yeah." I pause. "It's kinda gross."
"Tell them I am glad for them. But not all are lucky." She looks at the sky and back at us. "You both, I hope you find love. But I must go soon."

Time jump?

>>27819077
Oh and paused for two hours or so

>>27819077
How stubborn. We're going to have to send elegable bachelors her way until one sticks.

>>27819077
Sure, time jump. I expect magical and linguistic progress by then, though.

Drawing next update

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>>27819398
I awake with a headache, not remembering the last hour.
Hm.
Biggs, chatting with my very nervous parents, faces me for a moment, "You were too swift again. Charge it for a minute before turning it on."
I turn to the platform.
Ah. The tests with the bad idea.
Nimrod is making a test with her bricks nearby. They seem to have a brighter tone than last time I saw them.

>>27820714
Use your horn and charge it for TWO minutes to be safe.

>>27820714
What the hell is it that we made and what are we trying to do to the idea?

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>>27820727
>>27820780
I begin charging the platform.
If I am lucky enough, it will send a small static charge to the capsule that contains the bad idea. If it responds in any form, I'll have the beginnings of a communication method-- in all sciences -including psionics- talking is just a very complex series of pings.

>>27821133
Hey, the runes are turning blue. That's probably good. Keep charging, then when it's full repeat the experiment to try and communicate with it.

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>>27821224
I push past the first resistance, feeling a faint clicking sound.

>>27821507
Clicking sounds plus stone machines means things happening. Keep going until you pass all the resistances.

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>>27821757
I keep pushing, but eventually something stops the flow-- probably some of the auxiliary systems is trying to stop me from doing something that'd break the runic system.

>>27822015
Okay, if that's as far as it will go, then that's what we'll use. Release the charge and try and communicate with the idea. Try different amounts of charge to see what works best.

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>>27822088
I try to force my way into getting at least a bit of energy to the other end of the system, but one of the fusibles burns and the charge is shot back to me.
My face hurts.

>>27822730
Okay, so we can't charge it farther than that, and the amount of charge that we can push in isn't enough to get through. It just spits it back out.

Maybe if we charge it very slowly at a low level of power? Would that maybe let it through? I don't really know how this thing works since we just time jumped to using it immediately.

>>27822730
That's what the goggles are for. Walk around the side and charge it from closer to the end.

>>27822730
That's just the healthy pain of discovery.
We should note here that the visible runes did not charge symmetrically.
Perhaps that means something?

>>27822788
I'm not sure if it will let us charge it from the middle. I think it just has the one input, but I suppose it couldn't hurt to try.

>>27822774
Adding onto my earlier suggestion, perhaps we should explain our idea to Biggs first, since he's here to help. Tell him that we tried charging it for longer like he suggested, but it just blew up in our face when we turned it on. Tell him that we are going to try to charge it a lot slower this time, and ask if he thinks that is a good idea.

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>>27822844 #
>>27822830 #
>>27822788 #
>>27822774 #
Hm... I'll tell Biggs if I am out of options. It's my machine and I will fix it.
Also, it wouldn't look as cool if I have to ask for help.
I examine the runic systems, but nothing seems superficially damaged... trying to add more outputs would make the power escape, so that one's out too. And besides, I need a valve system to charge the magic and be able to study this without feeding it power constantly.
Maybe the last time I failed the machine broke in the inside?
I close my eyes and cast another spell to see the residual magic inside it.
It's hard to concentrate like this.
The magic of the ground bellow seeps into the sky, and so does that of every living being-- A spider, crawling in the grass a few meters away from me, projects an especially annoying design that, if I wanted to read and had the knowledge required, would spell out the workings of it's poison, and a fly in the air meets it's sacred purpose of buzzing annoyingly. I am barely able to block out the magic emitted by more discrete creatures

Fugg am I stupid. Paused for the night before I fuck up worse.

>>27823117
Yeah, looks like we have damage.
How hard is that to fix?

time to bump

>>27823117
Fix or reroute around that little red spot.

beb

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>>27824811
>>27823344
It takes me several minutes, but I gain enough focus to see the small spot of much too unrefined magic clogging the conduits. A bug or something must've walked into the drainer.
Note to self: Put a lid in all future inputs.
It's difficult, but after a few minutes I coerce it out. A quick scan confirms that it was a fly.
I replace the fusible and charge it again, slowly.
The platform emits a satisfactory hum when it's completely charged.

>>27825992
Release the magic. Open communication.

>>27825992
Hey, we did something without even blowing it up!
Now lets see if we can do it twice.

>>27826509
>>27826589
I open the valves and let the magic escape, not wanting to find a failure in the worst possible moment, and charge it again. Both tests go without a hitch.
I give a look to Biggs, who lifts his thumb with a grin. My parents even manage to smile through their nervousness for a moment, and I grin back at them.
I use the small controls on the surface of the stone distractedly with some telekinesis to create a small static discharge, but there doesn't seem to be an answer. Nimrod is talking with a mare, but I don't pay either of them much heed.

>>27826777
Try a longer blast at the same power, then a shorter one at a higher power.

>>27827519
I try a stronger blast, but it doesn't answer either so I use a soft yet long one.
After nearly a minute of it, the green liquid that contains the bad idea grows turbulent and I see one of its tendrils moving morosely.

>>27827662
Stop the pulse to try and let it know that we recognized it was doing something. If it immediately stops moving we can always resupply it with power again and continue.

Also, try different methods. Maybe we need to keep the power constant and change the strength to communicate, instead of just turning it on and off.

>>27827985
I stop the pulse and wait for it to stop moving. It takes nearly five minutes this time.
I turn it on again and, once it responds again, change it's intensity. It doesn't seem to change the response in any way I can tell.

>>27828248
Okay, in that case we keep it low. Continue until it responds in a meaningful way. It might just be really slow and we need to make each pulse several minutes long.

>>27828465
The next hour is spent sending pulses of varying intensity, all of them at least ten minutes long to be on the sure side.
>>Grade 3 intensity: After seven minutes, a thick tendril waves about 1.5 cm away from the top of the flask
>>Grade 4 intensity: Same as above.
>>Grade 5 intensity: No response. Cut after ten minutes.
>>Grade 6 intensity: Same as above.
>>Grade 1 intensity: After three minutes, two small tendrils pass near the glass in the side with the most sunlight and disappear after approx. seven seconds. Test was repeated four times, with timing having a variation of around 17 seconds.
>>Grade 2 intensity: After five minutes, the glass tinkles slightly. According to Biggs this means the bad idea is trying to affect its surroundings more strongly than usual. He advised me to not do this until I have a better understanding of the bad idea.

Holy hell P10 already?

>>27828971
Okay, use level three. Send it numbers, since we only have on and off. Beep. Beep beep. Beep beep beep.

>>27829614
The machine warms up slowly as I turn the pulse on and off again, and after two hours I charge it again halfheartedly. There wasn't any variation that I could notice.
"Huh?" Ren walks away from Nimrod in my direction and gives the machine a somewhat interested look. "Morse? Clever. I'd watch, but I have to go somewhere." She flies away before I can answer, and I could swear there's a small purple flash in the other side of the cloud she stands in. I share a look with Biggs, but he shrugs.

>>27830071
She's totally teleporting, Biggs. You know that, right? I thought you said ponies couldn't do that.

>>27830071
It reached for the sun, right? Try turning the power on and letting it run, then pointing lights at it in a pattern.

>>27830743
I send another first grade charge and illuminate it from different points.
It seems to follow whatever point is the warmest, paying less heed to the light itself. If there's no heat it'll follow the light, however, and it won't follow heat without light.
I think establishing patterns would take a few moons.

Timejump?
Also, I
had software problems. Sorry for the delay.
>>27830607
When did Biggs say that?

>>27831101
Timejump, yeah.

>>27831101
I was thinking of what Selene said.

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>>27831241
>>27831229
A mare shouts outside, panic ringing in her voice, just as I put a hoof in my bed for a nap after dinner.
What now?

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>>27831598
Fugg, forgot to enable the light layer. Also paused for the night.

>>27831598
Go see what she wants.

>>27831598
Outside we go, with haste!

>>27831623
Now THAT'S a good level of dark.

Making next update.

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>>27831663
>>27832509
Sarim is looking out, his eyes wide open. People running in the streets.

>>27833598
Er, what's the point of darkness if you can see what's in it at first glance? I wouldn't call this darkness. More like gloom

>>27836633
Take a peek. What's happening out there?

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>>27836653
I am walking to see what's happening when Sarim screams and runs in, running onto the table. A bunny jumps off his face as he spirals in the air.
"What's wrong?"
Sarim rubs his muzzle, "I dhing I broke my nose."
"And the bunny?"
"Bunnies are jumping to people's faces," He gets up and pushes me away from the bunny, "They are so cold it hurts, no idea why."
The bunny looks at me. It makes my horn itch.

>>27836900
Scan it, the same way we did with the machine earlier.

>>27836900
This was not on the extensive list of possible catastrophes we made. Interesting!
Now lets scan the ice bunny.

>>27836999
>>27837035
I scan the bunny, trying to find whatever magic entwined itself with it's own.
Uh.
Mom enters the room and helps Sarim up, asking him if anything's wrong.
The magic in this bunny is similar to the spell I used in the carrots, moons ago.
The bunny readies to jump, the energetic syphon that surrounds it ready to snatch any energy. that approaches it.

>>27837367
Try to drain the energy around it, undoing the spell.

>>27837608
I try to starve the syphon, but the bunny grows colder and I have to let go in fear of hurting it.

>>27837844
Okay, how about creating a second, opposite spell on it? A heat based version of what it has on it now. Maybe the magics will cancel each other out.

>>27837939
i dont get it

>>27838364
The spell is stealing energy to make cold. Add a second spell that does the exact opposite thing and see if they will negate each other. You counter a heater with an air conditioner.

>>27837367
Okay, I'm not sure how we can disable this spell if it just drains anything we send at it, and I'm not sure what the connection is to our carrot spell, but we should definitely find out.

Dodge the rabbit, then try to shoo it safely into a closet or a box or something, using something inorganic like a broom, not our hoof or magic. Then we need to go find one of our teachers and inform them that the local wildlife might be infected with some sort of unstable spell.

Try to undo the spell on the rabbit. If it is similar to our carrot spell we should be familiar with it, so hopefully we can unmake the spell as well as we can make it. Try to drain the magical spell, taking it apart the same way we put it together for our carrot spell.

>>27839082
This.
>>27838998
Then this if it doesn't work.

beb

>>27839899

>>27841317

>>27839082
>>27838998
Now I understand Nimrod's insistence in putting termination conditions and self-destruction triggers in all spells. Sadly, it wasn't something I understood when I enchanted the carrots.
Lessee... the carrots absorbed nutrients and sunlight at an accelerated rate, and I am guessing this bunny would digest anything it ate faster -Yuck!- , but maybe if I send it the wrong energy it'd collapse. It wasn't designed to last this long in the first place, after all.
Mom grabs it just as it jumps, her teeth chattering.
"D-Don't worry sweetie," She tenses and relaxes her legs and neck, reducing the chattering of her teeth somehow, "I've felt colder when flying."
With a dubious nod I keep testing the spell, focusing in the parts that didn't change significantly from the original. It takes more time than I am comfortable with, but I make a part of it collapse and, before it reforms, feed it a healthy dose of low-key radiation.
The spell collapses, washing us all in a wave of heat.

>>27842762
Good. We need to find out where this came from. Can we trace where the rabbit went? Maybe look for a trail of cold?

>>27842762
We should try finding one of our magic teachers to find out if spells can normally be transferred by being eaten or if this is something to worry about.

>>27843562
>>27843718
Mom lets go of the bunny and rubs the parts of her that touched it directly, muttering something under her breath. The bunny lands with a soft pomf and looks at us thankfully.
I try to track down the source of the magic, but catch a glimpse of the outside and walk to the door.
What I have to guess are hundreds of bunnies jump after people, cold mist trailing after them. Jotts climbed to a nearby building and is trying to scream off the dozens of bunnies that are trying to reach him.
Hm... find teachers, track the spell, or try to dispell the bunnies?

>>27843950
We probably can assume where it cam from was the rabbits eating our carrots and absorbing the spell. Find teachers, dispelling any bunnies along the way, then tell them what probably happened and where the spell came from, and then work alongside them to remove all the magic from the furry menace.

>>27843970
The bunnies are disenchanted one after another with my advance, Mom and Sarim following me.
I am taking a breather when I see them. Nimrod, with other unicorns in tow, disenchants the bunnies without a bat of her eye.
She walks to me and whispers, "Girl, don't think I don't recognize your spellwork," She blocks a bunny's jump with a shield, "We'll have a talk about it later."

Updates will probably be slower due to D&D session.

>>27844530
In my defense, those carrots I made were really really good. I guess I needed more than just a fence around the garden.

>>27844530
Y-you too.

>>27844631
>>27844657
"Hey, the carrots worked!" Mom walkes closer, so I lower my voice, "I just forgot to clean the bits from the forest."
Nimrod gives me an irritated look, shielding our group from more bunnies and dispelling them, "Next time, you won't argue about termination conditions, you hear me?"
Before I can answer there is a scream a few streets away, and a column of fire coming from Jotts raises to the sky, "You. Fukken. RATS!"

>>27845648
Of course. Control is important. I know that now. Sorry.

I'm going to go help defend Ignis from cryobunnies. Be right back.

beb

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>>27845947
"Is that your elemental!?" Nimrod takes a step away, probably not realizing it herself, "No, of course. He's made of fire--"
"Gotta go!" I run in Jotts' direction before she finishes, and find him in a park, amidst a group of bunnies. From time to time one jumps to him, dissolving parts of whatever is that he's made of. I dispell them, but he doesn't back off. Looking directly at him hurts my eyes.

>>27847642
Jotts! Calm down! The rabbits are gone now! Your heat is no longer threat. Look at me. Can you try to make yourself a bit smaller for me?

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>>27848186
"Hey, the bunnies are harm--"
A blast of heated air, nearly hot enough to burn, explodes out of him, and a shape too bright for me to see raises, throwing me to the ground.
"Calm down!" I yell at him. "Please, Jotts! They won't hurt you!"
Legs thick as a pony each stop growing, and a pair of eyes that seem to project even more heat focus on me.
"Jotts..." His jaw doesn't move, only moving slowly as if breathing. "Jotts, I, I remember that name." He says, his voice tired, "You... you gave it to me?"

Sorry for not having seen the reply sooner, and paused.

>>27849168
Yes! Ingis H. Jotts. That's your name. I'm your friend, Ludwig.

>>27851264

beb

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>>27849856
"Yes! I am Ludwig, remember me?"
He pauses, mismatched parts of his body collapsing into themselves, "Th-- Tha--" A pained groan escapes him, and for a moment he seems to disappear.
My stomach feels heavier. Did he...
Sparks coalesce around me, and a tiny figure falls on my outstretched hooves.
"Lud?" He rubs what I suppose is his head. "What the heck happened?" He pauses and looks around, "This isn't my dinner. Why is everything so big?"

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>>27853284

>>27853284
Energy draining rabbits drained most of you.

>>27853288
Uh, you got attacked by magic rabbits.
Don't worry, they're gone now.

>>27853388
>>27853320
"Rabbits."
"Rabbits?"
"They were sucking energy."
"Oh." He pauses. "That sounds pretty cruddy."
"Yeah."
"Must've hurt like heck, no wonder I blacked out." He turns and seems nearly ready to jump off my hooves, but turns back to me, "Hey, bunnies don't do that normally. They don't right?"

>>27853619
Nah, these were magic bunnies.

>>27853619
They ate my magic energy funnel carrots and gained super powers. It was an accident.

>>27853851
>>27853694
"They were magic bunnies."
"Oh?"
"I kinda sorta made magic carrots. And they exploded. And I forgot to clean what was left."
"Oh." He spends a moment watching the bunnies behind me, "They are alright now?"
"Yeah."
"Eh, no grudge then. Just don't do it again."

Timejump?

>>27854121
Sure

>>27854121
Yeah, okay.

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>>27854973
>>27854212
Sussanah said she needed to tell me something the other day, so I decided to check on her in my way to visiting Biggs.
I knock the door of the building she occupies, but there's no answer from inside.


Guys, I think this is becoming more and more obvious as time goes on but I simply don't have much passion for Sacrifice. All I can think about when I QM this is that I want to return to Miracle.
I don't know what will I do with this -I'll take my time to think about it- but I just wanted to explain my slow updates. I simply don't enjoy QMing it, even when I like most of the characters.

>>27855314
Knock louder and call out her name.

>spoiler
Then return to Miracle. We can finish this later.

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>>27856113
"Wash...? No, Marsh, right?" I ask.
Mirria adjusts her wing slightly, pointing at the tips.
"Oh, harsh?"
She nods, but before she can reposition her wings a crash comes from the room where Ludwig and Rarity are.

Alright, back to Miracle proper. For now I think Sacrifice won't be resumed-- I will make a flowchart explaining what was left as in depth as I can make it and link it here when it's done.
Also, sprites will be undergoing a slight revamp to fix small problems and make them Less ugly.

>>27856702
Go see what's the matter, obviously.

>>27856702
I'd rather come back to it later rather than just read a flowchart.

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>>27856729
We run to the room, but are surprised to find them unharmed.
"What is going on?" I ask them.
"There's something down," Ludwig backs away from the window, "Rarity can't see it, but there's something down there."
Quibra is yelling something outside, but his voice is covered by the groan of stone and wood being shattered.

>>27856761
I understand that, and I am sorry-- I know there's a very important difference between narrating a story and telling it. But I honestly dread QMing Sacrifice, and it was showing. Heavily.A QM not having fun is one of the better ways to ruin a quest.
If you don't want to read the flowchart, it's fine-- there never was any information in Sacrifice that was outright vital to Miracle, but I don't honestly think I'll have any interest in resuming it, and I feel lying about this would be just plain irrespectful.

>>27856804
Look out the window and see what it is.

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>>27856826
Quibra's brother is trying to hold the door closed, but it seems like the stone is ready to give up at any moment.

Bu,[ before bed

>>27856973
Ask them what happened. When did the giant start doing this?

>>27858136
Also ask if there is any way we can help from up here.

Fuck 4 threads from 404 writing update

>>27858136
>>27858341
"What in Tartarus happened!?"
Quibra looks around in confused panic, but soon enough he seems to notice where I am.
"We don't know! The giant was screaming and started chasing as soon as it saw us!" A splinter of wood flies off the door and Deere moves quickly to intercept it, the wood shattering against his helmet "We just ran!"
"You two, come here," Calls their older sibling. They share a look and do so without a moment's pause, "Questrian, close the shutters!"
He doesn't give them time to think-- Instead they are grabbed by their arms and thrown to the window like a meat sack.
"I'll hold it as long as I can!" The broken wood and stone seem to resonate with his voice, a twin screech growing in volume by the second, as more and more bricks crack, "But stay inside!"

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qAQfiwNVT5xwPrmLSXIV-JFV7xE_CG2XkMNhenjCIPc/edit?usp=sharing
Will update it with more flashbacks as I write them.

>>27859621
Do as he says.

>>27859621
>I'm going to do actual things while you stay inside
Stay inside and check that the brothers are okay, I guess. And Rarity, look. It's that guy from the tree.

>>27859738
>It's that guy from the tree.
Am I forgetting about something here?

>>27859903
The armor clad figure sleeping in a tree that Rarity saw on her way here. That wasn't Deere?

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>>27859714
>>27859738
I close the window, a click from the lock as soon as the shutters touch each other.
"No!" Quibra throws himself to the window, but it doesn't let go, "Open it! Open it!"
"I can't--"
"Find a way to!" He bears on me, but Rarity and Mirria put themselves in his way.

>>27860016
Oh that.

>>27860048
And what are you planning to do when you get out there?
Distract your brother?
Get hurt?

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>>27860070
"You'll get hurt--"
"I don't care to, big brother is outside with that thing!"
Deere says something quietly before any of us can answer, and Quibra storms off with an enraged scream.

>>27860384
Can Rarity ask him what he said, since AJ doesn't speak whatever language he uses?

>>27860787
It's a desperate grasp, but I have to try, "Rarity? did you understand what he said?"
"Hm? Oh, no," She shakes her head "The only foreign language I know is romantique."

>>27860889
But she talked to him in Meeting.

What were we even doing before sacrifice? It's been so long I forgot.

>>27861086
The objective was basically 'Go up'. Making a map.

>>27861168
Do we have the map still? Can we see it?

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>>27861348
I was drawing it.

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>>27861392
Forgot marking where we are.

>>27861403
Well, Rarity came from the shaft by Reddo, so we already know what's back there. Let's fill in those question marks first. Head up and to the left in the room due east.

>>27861521
That's fine.

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>>27861403
Improved version. Some things were deleted for obvious reasons.
>>27861553
>>27861521
Writing update.

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>>27861553
>>27861521
I think for a moment and turn to Rarity.
"You will come with us, won't you."
"Wouldn't even consider doing otherwise." She says curtly. "This is such a dreadful place..."
I nod and go for mine and Mirria's things, she clearly displeased.
A few minutes later, we are watching the floor and ceiling of the hallways before what I suppose is Rubicon's office, trying to find any clue of how it fits here.
"AJ?" Rarity rubs her horn with, wincing. "It's hard to make light."
"What?"
"It'll sound strange, but I don't think the tower wants to be lit."

>>27861812
What does it feel like when you try to light it? What kind of resistance?

>>27861812
This is the area with the ladder that we already went to. I wanted to fill in what was behind the arrow in >>27861604. Can we go back one?

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>>27862358
>>27862325
"How do you mean?"
"It's hard to explain to a non-unicorn, but the stone here, it doesn't like magic."
I don't know what to say, so we step forward again.
Rarity gives the floor an odd look, but remains silent.
I shrug, "You get used to it."

>>27862533
so there isn't anything in between those two screens?

>>27862533
Go to the upper right. It's the only place still unexplored on this level, unless we count Rarity's entry shaft.

>>27862806
I think the arrow on the map means they connect with nothing in between.

>>27862835
"And what's that?" Rarity turns around.
"That? There's not enough space for Mirria to fly in there."
"Hm. Perhaps you could make some kind of bridge?"

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>>27863028

>>27863028
There are three tables, two couches, and a length of chain that a chandelier is hanging from. I'm sure we could hoist enough of those up here to make a platform or bridge.

>>27863071
Could you hoist me up with telekinesis and then I can grab you all and pull you in as you fly up?

Wanted to get this update today, but I am too tired. Paused.

Bump before bed.

beb

>>27865309

>>27866076

>>27866603

>>27867086

>>27868083

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>>27863377
It takes us several minutes, but we get the board down the stairs and into the proper place.
This is a rather tight fit. There is what seems to be a stone column blocking our way.

Had to do stuff. In the other hand, I am about halfway through with another flashback for the GDoc.

>>27869172
Flippy switchy.

>>27869238
I do the gymnastics required to lift a hoof without punching anyone else with my elbow and try to lift the dial, but it remains stuck. After a moment of pushing, a tiny voice comes from it.
"Yo, bitch! I told you I wouldn't move from this spot!"

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>>27869454
What?

>>27869602
"What?"
"I wasn't talking to yo, bitch, I was talking to the white bitch! She yanked me, just like that! Like I am some tool!"
"Must you be so rude?" Rarity glares at the dial, "I told you I was sorry for being too forceful."
"And I told you I don't give no shits!" Yells the dial.