Tracy took over an hour to do what should’ve taken a few minutes. But while he still had all his soap and stuff, what he didn’t know was how to do anything without hands. He might’ve been completely lost, if his roommate hadn’t left her own stuff hanging in the shower for him to study.
Apparently little horses put things on sticks a lot, using their mouths to manipulate them. Even knowing that, Tracy resolved to use the showers at work as much as possible from now on. Having fur did not make this process easier. I’ll remember on Monday.
Everything was more complicated. He couldn’t just grab a towel, because he couldn’t really grab anything. After standing in the shower long enough that he’d started to dry on his own, he realized the purpose of the strange metal clips on the wall—he could secure his towel inside, then rub against it.
Why did these stupid things evolve? How can a civilization get smart without hands? It was an evolutionary mystery, one he lacked the expertise to solve.
And in special recognition of just how uncomfortable things were already, there was a window at head level that he had to face every minute, or else his simple act of sanitation would turn into a public display.
For a town where everyone was already naked.
Eventually he finished, emerging from the bathroom with dirty clothes clutched in his mouth. Here at least, being naked actually made sense. Though for him it was more not understanding any of his clothes and less not wanting to wear them.
He crossed the hall without more embarrassment, and soon he was back in his little bastion of sanity, surrounded by his old boxes with a window that correctly transitioned from day to night.
He tossed his laundry aside, then flopped into the bed. He closed his eyes and opened them again, as though the ritual could somehow restore reality to order and give him back his hands. But repeating it a few times all brought the same result: he really wasn’t human here, and doubting would not put things right.
I should probably try to get something done. In all the time since he’d embarked on this nightmare, he hadn’t even tried to get in touch with his friends back home. He should at least make sure they knew he was alright. There was even an Ethernet jack beside the desk. Maybe I should take up streaming in my spare time. Everyone would either think I’m an incredibly advanced animation, or the herald of the apocalypse.
Considering his deal with the Devil, he couldn’t be sure the latter wasn’t the case.
Setting up the laptop wasn’t as hard as he’d imagined. It was quite a bit larger, which he guessed might be related to the way his clothes changed when he came inside. Or maybe it was just the size of these new bodies compared to the way he should’ve been.
But how can it tell the difference between a shirt and a computer? What are the rules to this thing, anyway? He knew one outfit would change reliably into a polo shirt and slacks, so he could probably make that same assumption safely about similar items of clothing.
He spent the extra few minutes fishing around for the rest of his gaming setup—really just a keyboard and mouse. To his surprise, they weren’t just larger, but completely changed. They reminded him a little of devices that might be made for the physically disabled. The keyboard was an opening for each hoof, with buttons activated by pushing the hoof in any of several directions.
The mouse was something similar, securing around his right hoof so that he could push it around with precision. The plastic was still the same, the brands were the same. I don’t understand what gets changed and what doesn’t. He could probably ask the landlord about it—but did he really want to invite that kind of contact? That creature was still threatening to condemn his soul to endless horse-based torment if he didn’t pay rent.
Maybe this place is trying to keep me here. Change my stuff so it’s usable, tempt me not to run away. Maybe this was Hell already, trying to lure him to complacency. All he had to do was give up and accept the world he was given.
He still logged into Discord and checked in with his old friends, even if he got some mocking messages about how slow his responses were.
“Yeah, I found a place,” he typed. “And there’s no fucking way you’ll believe anything about it. If you ever make a trip over here, I’ll show you.”
He got some guesses from Shane, about the awful quality of roommates or maybe something special the place provided, like a spa in the bathroom. He laughed off those answers, and refused to confirm.
You’re going to think I’ve lost my mind if I really tell you. And maybe I have.
He didn’t quite feel like gaming, even if it was the weekend. Getting ready for his plan of avoiding this place as much as possible felt exhausting in itself after a week of work. How much could he screw things up by taking a peek at his surroundings?
It’s not like I’m committing to actually stay here. It’s stupid not to know what’s on both sides. For all he knew, the natives of this place might be able to help him out of his predicament. Maybe he could ask Rose about it. Clearly she wasn’t another lost soul, or else she’d probably at least try to wear something.
He dug through a few boxes, searching for something less revealing to wear. Maybe some of his clothes had been spared whatever process changed the others. But after upending a few boxes, he’d succeeded only at making a mess. There were plenty of clothes here, and all of them looked like they fit.
But none of it would make him feel any less completely naked.
Tracy chose a vest at random, not even bothering with the socks. Every horse he’d seen so far was completely naked anyway, so there was no sense trying to imitate clothes he’d wear on the other side. So long as he didn’t return to his world without getting dressed properly, there shouldn’t be any issue.
He emerged into the living room, ears alert and wings slightly spread. They weren’t exactly responsive to his commands, but at least they didn’t open all the way and make it impossible to walk anywhere.
The house was empty this time. The kitchen smelled like breakfast again, but the horse who’d cooked it was nowhere to be found. Because she’s probably at work. The day just ended for me, but it’s beginning for her.
It should’ve been a relief, but he couldn’t help feel a little disappointed. At least the one living with him would’ve been able to answer a few questions. If he wanted to go over to that side and investigate now, he’d be on his own.
Tracy approached the front door, slowing as he neared the window. He’d passed it several times now, but never really got a good look. Now he did, staring out at the world beyond and trying to make sense of what he saw.
It seemed like he was near the center of a small town, a town of truly ancient construction techniques. Of wood and thatch. The streets were cobblestone or dirt, and there was no sign of anything beyond basic infrastructure. A few poles he guessed were gas lamps, but that was all.
There were no cars in the streets, only more horses. Some of them were hitched to carts, but without anyone to drive them. Probably it was their stuff they were pulling.
There were dozens of them, male and female in colors he’d never imagined fur could grow. His search for any that might’ve been more civilized was in vain—he saw a few hats, bows, and little accessories, but nothing like clothes.
They did have symbols, though. He’d thought those were tattoos at first, until he’d noticed the one on his own body in the shower.
He turned to one side, so he could see it reflected faintly back to him in the window. A pair of electrodes, with energy arcing between them. It seemed to grow right from his fur, without any disturbance to the flesh below. They must be natural. But what do they mean?
There was as little pattern to them as the explosion of colors and species these horses belonged to. There were at least four different types, possibly more he hadn’t encountered yet. But there didn’t seem to be any kind of caste system or other status divisions, at least not from what he could see through the window.
I could go talk to a few of them, see what’s going on. Maybe they’d know who Discord is, how I can get out of this deal.
It was probably a good idea, but going out into another world all on his own—Tracy was many things, but not much of an explorer. He didn’t need to see strange new worlds when he could watch Star Trek anytime he wanted on Netflix.
One hoof caught the door for a second, before he turned away. The mysteries beyond that door could wait a little longer—at least until he had a chance to talk to his roommate and figure out if it was safe. After that… he still might never go out there.
But it wasn’t like he wanted to completely burn the Friday night. He could go out into his city and do something, but you typically needed money to have any fun, and that was something he didn’t have yet. He’d burned so much just getting here that he didn’t have any left to go out to a bar and try to work out his boredom a little more productively.
And do what, bring a girl back here? Dammit, I didn’t even think of that.
Whatever, there were plenty of other productive things he could get done. Like… setting up the television? Even if he wasn’t going to be here very often, it would probably be nice to have it ready when he needed it.
He unwrapped the old blankets and straps with care, though getting the TV itself onto the empty table waiting for it in front of the couch was a little harder. In the end he had to use his back, wedging it carefully then standing to lift it. It would hardly be the greatest tragedy if it broke—it was just Walmart’s latest 42”, but he still wouldn’t be able to replace it for months. So there was plenty of reason to be careful.
But once he plugged it in, that perpetuated another series of issues. More strangely redesigned controllers, though at least that meant he’d be able to use the dumb thing. There was no cable, and he couldn’t stream without plugging in the Xbox. Which meant getting the router out of his crap and plugging that in, which meant making more of a mess in his room.
By the time he was finally done, he was beginning to feel the weight of exhaustion, and his tablet-sized phone he couldn’t easily use read midnight. But it felt like a terrible shame not to at least try to watch something.
He flipped through the dwindling catalog of Marvel films and picked one still available on Netflix, then struggled to get comfortable while the movie began. As usual, his body didn’t want to cooperate, and there weren’t even any models to copy. How had those others done it?
The door clicked, then swung open. Tracy looked up, blushing instinctively as the pressure of nudity returned—but sitting with his legs in front felt like he was trying not to look like a deviant.
Rose shut the door behind her, carrying a paper bag in her mouth. She went straight for the kitchen table, settling it down there before finally noticing him. Or noticing a giant purple man killing some dirty people in a spaceship, anyway. Then she screamed.
Easy, socialization. The question is how does a civilization make stuff without hands. and in this case, the answer is a combination of telekinesis, flexible wings, and cheating. Remember that bat wings evolved from hands, Tracy.
"Been there, done that. Doomsday's off my personal calendar for the time being."
Interesting. The laptop itself follows Through the Aurora logic; unchanged, including any scaling effects that might account for how they're little ponies. But the peripherals are hoof-usable. It is neat to see how this particular portal works.
Oh no. He set up the TV in the living room? So much for pretending to not be an alien.
Ponies don't have television so it's only natural that she screams at the sight on the screen. Discord is indeed trying to tempt him to stay but realizing that isn't going to help.
Nothing about Discord the App vs. Discord the Devil?
Now, this is gonna be very interesting. Especially if Button Mash and Arcades are in this universe.
Oh good, Ethernet back out is working. Man, paying for interdimensional Internet would suck those pockets dry!
We're lucky Rose has been the only one screaming so far.
The chord keyboard isn't too bad to use, once you get used to it. Just need a bit to build up muscle memory.
Keep going! ;)
Well... unless Rose screams at literally every strange new experience or technology, this might be a problem. She might view Tracy as some sort of barbarian or savage for enjoying what is more or less blood sport (even if it's all simulated). Just another reason for Tracy to avoid Ponyville.
If it looks stupid but works, it ain't stupid.
He'll look quite the fool if he transforms without any pants.
That's a pretty big barrier for a long-term relationship.
But there's already one back here!
It’s going to be interesting to see how you keep the mane 6 from getting involved too soon. If for no other reason than as soon as Twilight discovers the internet Tracy will never get her off his computer.
10145633
"Discord did it" is one hell of a deterrent, to be fair.
10145571
To be fair, there was an Ethernet jack beside his desk. The construction of the town might be old and there's no cars around, but if you had internet access would you give a second thought to watching TV?
10145619
It's Rose, so…she does.
It's too bad the movie wasn't Apocalypse Now. "The horror…the horror…"
I must say, I got a chuckle that he's using Discord. To use the meme, in Soviet Equestria, Discord uses you!
I just went back to chapter 2 to take a look at the art, and came across this.
And now in chapter 6, he's plugging stuff in.
10145633
All the research that could be done!
10145672
I guess if Tracy doesn't want to be involved, a couple action movies is enough to stop Rose in her tracks at least romantically. Of course, curiosity might still get the better of her and her sisters. He's certainly a very strange little pony.
Well, as they say, "A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step". Trite, but true, even here.
Awk-ward~!
10145633
She knows about Internet (btw, it should be capitalized at all times, it's a proper name) from EqG. Though having Ethernet jack at somepony's home in Ponyville...
His contract's fine script reminded me of one old short story. "Don't worry, immortality is given for free"
Heh, the puns we all could make with that, especially in these circumstances...
And now we've got a whole laundry list of things Tracy's going to have to explain now. The TV, how it works, how the related and attached devices work, how video streaming works, explain that the film he's watching is fictional, what the characters are and what's up with them, introduce her to the MCU and inevitably need to give her a crash course on that so to get her up to speed, and that's all just for starters.
Of course, that's assuming Rose'll even stick around for the whole explanation or, intimidated, just chooses to settle with the bare minimums.
In Tracy's defense, it's easy to see how he'd overlook this being a problem. I mean, how was he not supposed to know TV and all that might not be a thing in Equestria? Especially when Discord explicitly mentioned that Tracy's devices would still work there, just so long as he was careful with the power hookups and all that. Innocent mistake, really, but one that's probably going to have a whole heap-load of consequences.
Oh well, Rose was going to have to be told the truth eventually, we all know it, so this is probably as good a time as to do it. I mean she surely knows who Discord is already and that'll be half the battle right there.
10145571
Personally, I always figured that since evolution is really just getting the best suited creature for the environment and its personal needs to survive and reproduce, adding magic into the mix is probably more than enough to fill in the blanks and makes it a bit easier to understand how the ponies otherwise evolved into being one of the dominant intelligent species on the planet, despite the lack of hands.
OMG! AHAHAHA.
Another cliffhanger. How diabolical. :o
Fun chapter though!
10145807
Oh, definitely. I just folded magic into "cheating."
He's getting service? Huh, that means that the portal's open 24/7, an impressive commitment from an unusually focused chaos spirit. And now first contact shenanigans? We shall lay all of the blame on Discord, he created this situation, he can deal with the problems of managing it.
10145749
I was wondering about that too...
10145854
Dischord made a couple comments that suggest he's not doing this of his own volition.
10145854
If it isn't a hijacked experiment or something, you gotta give Discord some credit, almost every other portal made by ponies required activation and here is one that's innately opened without any apparent need for power. Makes one wonder what other cards Discord has up his sleeve. And how irritated Twilight must be in Discord not sharing his knowledge.
10145821
Just one more thing Tracy will have to wrap his mind around. Of course, I hope he realizes quickly that only unicorns can levitate things. It'll be quite funny if he tries something like that in front of a crowd.
10145807
I wonder if there is a technological gap or difference as a result. Wouldn't be much use to develop certain things when magic can fill in the gaps. Of course, it could lead the other way and cause the development of more advanced technology because magic wouldn't have as many limitations as hand work.
10145801
Considering Discord explicitly told Tracy his name, he's certainly counting on it.
10145906
That's been my theory as to why Equestrian tech is...all over the place, in terms of level of advancement. Some areas haven't advanced far because it hasn't needed to--magic filled in the rest. Everything else continues advancing whenever magic alone is insufficient, though probably at a slower rate than in our world, otherwise I'd like to think the Equestrians would be at least a little farther along, tech-wise. Some they almost certainly just haven't ever thought of because they haven't been prompting themselves to think outside the box in those directions, because a need to hasn't yet come up.
Basically, its the same reason why the wizarding world in Harry Potter is so backwards technologically speaking (and culturally speaking in some ways), it's because their dependence on magic has, in a lot of ways, stalled out their tech development.
Given how much hangs on it, what he really ought to do is sit down and read that lease cover to cover, instead of skimming bits and pieces. Who knows what other clauses might be in there to trip over?
Oh, and buy a UPS like discord said.
Interesting, so the laptop keyboard remained the same while the external one changed? That's some awfully specific magic (and a decent chunk of luck).
Can't wait for the day where he's in a rush and forgets to put on the socks because he's too used to not wearing them while a bat pony.
Explaining the electronics is going to be... interesting. Looking forward to that conversation.
10145799
A lot of Human in Equestria stories have Equestria Girls not exist to avoid complications it would cause.
If EQG does exist that would make it even worse. She already knows just how much knowledge an Internet connection can provide. The temptation to go into the Canterlot High world and learn everything about it must be awful. She’s probably able to fight it by not being willing to abuse the mirror for personal gain. But, Tracy’s connection is on the Pony side.
10145896
My crack theory is that he's trying to win a bet with Cadance.
I don’t think he should have set the TV up in the common area. Should have kept it to his room.
10146069
That... may have crossed my mind as well.
10145921
Oliver's RTAC #15: Schizotech goes into detail on where Equestria appears to be and I highly recommend it.
Aside from laying out evidence that Equestria has most of our technologies aside from digital electronics (and leaves us in the dust when it comes to evidence of their chemistry knowledge) but just hasn't rolled them out to all the population yet, the most interesting observation he makes is that they seem to have developed solid-state electronics earlier than we did, relative to their use of vacuum tubes.
Primitive CRT-based oscilloscopes are shown on two separate occasions, but no raster-scan CRTs. They have mechanical adding machines and the hand-held megaphone Discord uses to achieve amplification in a magic nullifying field suggests that they have transistorized amplification, but they appear not to have achieved digital electronics yet. There's evidence of rotary-dial telephones in Manehattan and possibly other big cities, but evidence that long-distance calling isn't a thing yet. etc.
In short, they appear to be in the middle of catching up to us very rapidly and are just shy of their own digital electronics revolution, even as previous innovations haven't achieved uniformity yet. (And that rapid progress actually fits nicely with the statement during the early seasons that they were aiming for a "beginning of the 20th century" feel with things like the film projectors. Titanic's sinking is often characterized as a huge wake-up call for a civilization that was seeing such rapid progress that they had become complacent in the power of our R&D.)
They also seem to have a (possibly cultural) bias against mass production which reminds me of James Burke's thesis statement from the end of Connections. (A series that, while everyone should watch it, is a product of the mindset of the late 1970s, at the worst point for being able to foresee how mass-production and personalization could coexist.)
Wonder how long it'll be before Pinkie catches wind of him. Also, culture shock! Incredibly weird that he'd set up a TV in a common room. Also...how would Rose *not* question the strange adapters all over the house?
10146251
Given my comment, maybe she just writes it off as "something to do with yet another new technology that's flowing out from the big cities".
10146069
Cadence says, “Chaos can’t find ponies special someponies”. Discord replies, “Challenge accepted.”
Aha, and now we see the root of Discord's plan: to finally introduce ponies to cinema, and finally BREAK THEIR TINY PONY MINDS and remold them in the shape of a Terran!
Hehehe, hahahahaha, MUAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA! *Cracka-boom*
Now play them Sergeant York!
10146250
Well, I question whether or not if any examples of tech produced by Discord can really count, for the same reasons why you wouldn't count any the tech produced by the Genie in Disney's Aladdin to be good examples of Agrabah's tech level--everything Discord does is probably more the exception than the rule.
But otherwise it is a good analysis and you're right--given all the cited evidence, Equestria is probably closer to a digital tech revolution than we often give them credit for. I mean, they have cracked arcade machines, which that alone means they've cracked at least computer programming comparable to the late 70's to early 80's and would presumably have the needed components entailed for such a device like that to run and still be commercially viable, and for humans, other tech advances were fairly rapid fire after that point.
The only real catch then is we still don't know how much magic plays a role into it all, and can't really know because the show (and related official media) never goes into the needed detail for us to find out. We assume they have CRT tech, but truthfully, do we really know it's not just some form of technomagic that appears to produce a similar result visually? If so, that could throw this all off, and make it much harder to predict just where they might go next, technologically speaking.
It all depends on how influential magic is in all of this and how reliant this tech is or is not on it. I mean, it's probably safe to assume what passes for electricity in Equestria is really more raw magical power channeled as if electricity (for the purposes of this fic, Discord has already stated pretty much as such in an earlier chapter, three I think it was), as there's no real reason to assume otherwise, and that could change a whole lot about how their electronics would work. And yeah, there is still that dam which suggests at least hydroelectrical power, but that could just be for supply and demand, to supply power to a region that otherwise wouldn't have consistent access to such power through other means...or just another way to produce that same magical power (I mean, maybe the turbines are turning a magic-based generator instead). And seeing the Equestrians have such ready access to magic just through their normal biology, why wouldn't they then try to implement it in most everything else they build too, if that's how their world works and is so readily accessible and convenient?
I guess my point is that we probably be careful to not assume too much parallel with our world on how we developed things, because that might not be at all how they achieved the same things in Equestria, and because they came about it through entirely different means through potentially entirely different sciences, it may not be so natural for them to continue on in the same paths as we humans did. For all we know, they could skip right over digital electronics and on straight to whatever will come after that.
Still, I don't want to downplay the linked anyalsis here, and it's still a good read, because it gives you a good frame of mind of just what Equestria does and does not have in terms of tech, and once you have a list of all that, you can start building a bigger picture of how it all might work in their world and how they might have come about developing it, and that's all part of the fun of fanfic writing.
Except for two things: First, Pinkie's Discord-esque cartoon character antics have been acknowledged by other characters as at least partly in-universe phenomena, and second, the episode rundown he links from this bit...
...points out that:
The analysis pointed out that we went through an electromechanical arcade machine phase. No programming as you'd probably recognize it.
"computer programming comparable to the late 70's to early 80's" is the digital electronics they don't have yet and it makes sense that they'd go electromechanical with a bit of magic for enhanced visual effects.
True, but Oliver addressed that.
In short, yes. You could replace a lot... but, unless you have a very good reason to do so, it complicates things without sufficient benefit.
I'll reference the attitude toward writing taken by Isaac Asimov, and expressed in the introductions to Nemesis (1989) and Nightfall (1990, co-written with Robert Silverberg):
Also, buying a UPS wouldn't resolve magic being used in place of electricity... but it would solve a problem that existed with early power grids here on Earth... low-quality power. A UPS, in addition to functioning as a battery backup, functions as what's known as a "power line conditioner" (you can also buy them without a battery for commercial applications where the building gets low-quality power and you need to power a high-current device but it doesn't need the expense of a battery backup scaled to that high-current operation).
Basically, if the electronics expect a steady current of roughly 125 volts, with minimal line noise, then they're not going to like highly variable voltage (but still within the range that won't blow out a lightbulb) and high line noise. A power-line conditioner functions similarly to a high-quality "universal" computer power supply in that it'll take any voltage in the supported range without needing to be reconfigured, and output a steady voltage of clean power to drive your computer's innards. (Ohm's law lets you trade amperage for voltage or vice-versa)
A UPS just couples that with battery backup so brief drop-outs (like the ones you still get from time to time, living in the countryside in 2020) don't force things like gaming consoles and non-laptop computers to reboot. (Heck, a high-quality universal power supply will even smooth out the sub-second ones that cause the lights to blink without needing a UPS's help, just as a side-effect of how it works internally.)
Heck, it could be that the reason the TV was fine is because there were no drop-outs and it's got a universal power supply. They're becoming more common as a way for vendors to have one production line for the whole world and just stick different power cords in boxes bound for different markets.
10145799
Not so. That used to be the case, so it’s an understandable mistake to make, but we don’t capitalize the internet anymore.
10146538
Huh. You're right.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalization_of_Internet
TIL
Evolution? Pfff A wizard did it.
You could not live with your own failure, where did that bring you? Back to me.
10146531
Not just Pinkie. Rarity's fainting couches caused Twilight some issues in season 9. Both of them.
10145571
Different kinds of smart, social smarts allow civilization, tool use allows that to mean something. Humanity evolved for two roles- tool use and pursuit predatoon- and tool use is probably the driving factor in our rise, not socialization. Otherwise elephants should probably be a bit further allong than they are.
At least it makes for an cute mental image.
*rub rub rub*
I'm sure at one pint one of the pones is walking out to the human wolrd, but without socks on...
What size would an actual tablet have? An entire table?
She must really like screaming...
10145660
Or maybe the Ethernet is just a feature of his room and a 'gift' of Discord to keep him from moving out immediately.
Considering the other stuff Discord did it would only be an small detail for him.
Every time...
10148969
Soon~
of course he uses Discord
Some haters would say so, yes.
... if you want to avoid a certain Lord of Chaos logging into something carrying his name really doesn't sound like a good idea...
this story pleases me....... In another not I read about Tracy's mark and "electrodes" there are like 10 types of electrodes some of this examples are sticky pads for RUSS or EMS physical therapy those are electrodes, there are also soldiering electrodes: you know those metal sticks covered in white to paste metal together, then there are the electric component electrodes which are just cables with button ends....etc so I guesss my question lies along the lines of what type of engineer is he? (Im a mechatronic engineer specialized in hydraulic systems for industrial equipment) Im very interested in how he reacts to magic too, but I guess I will read that in the coming chapters I haven't read for I'm barely at chapter 5, damn I would go into denial and call magic "magnetic field manipulation or something hehe... magnets.
"Stop using your magnets in front of me, Twilight!"
Was rather weird seeing my name here, lol. This is getting good!