You turn back to ask Derpy more questions, but she has already disappeared behind the towering stacks of paperwork on her desk, eagerly helping the next visitor in line. Her bubbly voice fades into the din of the crowded chamber.
You stand aimlessly amidst the streams of diverse creatures shuffling to and fro. The vaulted golden ceilings tower far above you, sunbeams filtering down through intricate stained glass windows. You feel small and lost in this glittering world.
"Excuse me." You turn to see a taller pony behind you, her coat a regal purple, her mane dark with streaks of pink. She has both wings and a spiraled horn, with a gleaming crown resting upon her head. Her violet eyes are kind and earnest. "You look a little lost. I'm Twilight Sparkle." She extends a hoof in greeting. "Can I help you find your way?"
You shake her smooth hoof, dwarfed by her graceful frame. She seems caring and sage beyond her years. As other travelers race past in a blur, you sense Twilight may be the guide you need in this strange new realm.
Taking a deep breath, you explain your situation. Twilight nods along thoughtfully, humming as she listens. You feel calmed being heard and understood.
"Well, I'd be happy to help orient you to Equestria and show you around." Twilight smiles warmly, placing a reassuring hoof on your shoulder. At her invitation, the bustling hall seems a little less chaotic.
"Now, we're not in Equestria proper, I should warn. This is... something of the entrance lobby." She points to the door most are waiting to enter. "All who pass through there join us entirely, as ponies. We welcome them as new brothers and sisters, to live a life of love and cheer." She skips a bit in place. "But protecting that means filtering those who come to their proper place. Now..."
She turns towards you. "What questions did you have? I am happy to sit with you as long as we need."
You:
1: Proceed through the door.
2: But I want to be a human, please? I'll be good!
3: This doesn't sound like my kind of world, can I move on?
Option 2. Let's see her bullshit excuses for why that isn't allowed.
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I thought you had questions for me. I'm here to help address things before we jump right to the end. You don't have all you may need to know before making such an important decision, or request.
Hey. I know I personally love the idea of going to meet Muffins "Derpy" Hooves and become friends with her and lots of other cute ponies. Maybe a few other species too if I don't chicken out. And it'd be nice to have your support Twilight. But I do have questions too if you don't mind. You don't mind answering do you? I um well kinda had a bunch. And once I get started I have a tendency to ramble.
Thanks for your time. I understand you probably have other things to do, but it means a lot to have some individual questions answered.
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Oh. You do have a lot of questions... Let's go one by one.
This is a midway point. You've seen how the mirror portals work, have you not? It's the same principle, delayed until after this filtering process. If a candidate is rejected, they never enter Equestria and are sent along to another universe.
As for how they become ponies, that's simple. That is the default form of this point in time and space. We just make it comfortable and assure you're surrounded by support. I don't want what I went through arriving in the human world to happen the other way around. That was very disorienting.
Ponies have pockets! Whatever you had will remain in your pockets. If anything dangerous is picked up on the way through the tunnel, it will be put aside for safe examination. If it can be disarmed, it will be returned to you at a later date.
Once you put a hoof into the multiverse, you realize the problem was always there, and always will be. This is, literally, an unending job. But we do our best!
Yes and no. If a future somepony really had their heart set, the forces that act on them should be enough to get them the rest of the way. We're not even involved!
We do our best to keep this out of their manes. They know people come 'from foreign lands', but really don't need to be bothered with the specifics.
It's not anywhere, at least not anywhere on Equestria. It rests between universes, and allows us to inform, filter, and direct all manner of creatures before they arrive in Equestria, or move around it.
I couldn't say, honestly. All we do is send them past Equestria. The multiverse is grandly large. Maybe they land somewhere nice. We hope so. It could even be another, more accepting, Equestria. I can't say that's impossible. But it is past us, and our job is done at that point.
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Oh no. No no no. I have follow up questions. Really sorry Twilight. Can you wait before answering these? Unless like no else has other questions or things they want. Then I guess it’s okay.
Wait a minute! There must be an alternate entrance into Equestria other than the door in front of us if I understood the concept of the mirror portals correctly. After all you still are a majestic beautiful pony and mirror portals were a 2 way thing.
You also said default form. Unless I'm reading way too far into it, I think you might have already cracked how to transform into other species besides pony.
Sorry. I know it’s probably a really complicated political climate over there, but is there any particular reasons why you can't reveal humans are a thing? I mean you're already doing your best making sure no bad people or others that don't want to be here don't come.
What happens if with time some humans dont like to be ponies?, you have some support group o you send them back herw?
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To put this... simply... ponies are delightful creatures! I should know, being one of them. But most of them are... emotionally young. I am the assigned mother of a lot of eager little magical gradeschoolers. I love them all, from the bottom to the top. (she pauses to swish her tail as if that made it clear)
Which means breaking down the nature of the multiverse is not something I'm rushing to do. It won't help them, it will hurt some of them. And for what benefit? They're happier in their little gardens, playing their little games, and fussing over little lessons in life.
Guilty... We can tune things to align an incoming soul with about any shell we have available. This could mean, for example, a dragon, yak, kirin, or changeling. We have samples of many Equestrian creatures, so you could become one of them, if you'd prefer? Most of us are ponies, to remind, but we are trying... I'm trying to encourage slow integration. If you want to be on the front of that... I suppose I won't say no. Just know the challenge ahead of you.
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That happens at times, especially coming from races with so many... digits... We do offer all the support we can. They are a citizen of Equestria. Once you're past the tunnel, that is a fact. We don't want any citizen, native born or not, to be suffering from mental difficulties. Therapy, both physical and mental, are available.
The pony form isn't a bad one to have. I confess, I was born with it. That does give me an inescapable bias... If it helps, I did try fingers. They were interesting...
Ahem... If an immigrant really wasn't happy, we could help send them on. That offer remains open. Equestria is not a trap.
Well golly Twilight, I'd sure like to stay as a human if you don't mind. Hands are awfully useful ya see, and I'm sure I can find employment as a uniquely skilled artisan or something. Surely nopony would think to arbitrarily deny me payment based on my having fewer legs than average?
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Oh, if hands are the problem, have you considered a griffon, hippogriff, or minotaur? They all have very clever digits. Now that a think of it... a changeling might be right up your alley, as you'll already have some practice with being body-fluid.
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Option added!