LOPE Explanation (Don't Panic) seven.

Alright. Okay, alright. Today has been a productive day. Once again, I have informed a party of passengers who were oblivious to their own plight, only knowing they might have one. I may have ranted again, no intent to ramble. But what can I do? They never told us anything in advance, and they cruelly kept it a secret even when the opportunity was ripe. Water under the bridge, I suppose. What's worse is how woefully unprepared they were to do anything, it's a miracle it even had *some* of the effects intended. However, the misery they caused by not leaving well enough alone bugged me in my early years, and the quick demise that would have happened before would have been fast enough, not to mention suicide for those who knew. Even in the brief time (two years) they had, they could have thought of something. Knowing this, I wasn't angry at the Equestrians. I had to curb my anger and any extreme feelings during my time in the force. The same is almost certainly not true for these poor souls. Unlike me, I feel they almost certainly have a seething hatred for them, providing they still aren't withdrawn and still retreated in their own minds. Probably convinced they are in a very realistic lucid dream. Poor things, poor souls.

I enjoy giving these lectures, but I can and do get far too passionate about them. But I also wonder if I can get passionate enough. Among-st so many other things, our genetics have been forever stolen away without chance to have them returned. Sherman is my brother, but running a blood test wouldn't indicate it anymore. Our new bodies are no more related than a couple of complete and total strangers. Even if some of those survivors met someone they knew, they'd be unrecognizable. The spell doesn't carry over your eyes, your hair, your voice, or anything but your memories, your own recollection of events leading up to the present. Or genitals. Fortunately, it's quite rare I have met a man with a mare's body, and I am grateful that that was one thing they have controlled and mostly prevented. I have almost never met anyone like that, and no one here seems to have been affected in that manner. It certainly did me a whole lot of good, it did. Not that I ever wanted to mate or produce any offspring one way or another. The same is likely not true for these folks, and their own bloodlines are already dead because of this. I didn't care about mine that much. Frankly I am much more concerned for those who didn't get through without becoming mad.

There was one who nearly snapped a tool in two when practicing magic. I am honestly surprised that there aren't more like that. There were plenty of depressed and distant ponies for certain. I didn't get too near them, but Sudden gave a firm shove to one of them, and surely earned him a few nightmares. She didn't act alone, though. Our sweet reptile friend Vinnie gave that stallion a lift, and through being forceful, almost certainly gave him nightmares. I would not have resorted to such methods, but I know their intent is good. It wasn't without cost to them, either. This recent appearance has turned many of us out from home and into Vancouver. Sudden Storm is usually in her small Canadian town in the mall broadcasting to the world in order to reach those in need whenever possible. She doesn't usually leave one of her three friends to take over for more than twelve hours straight.

Vinnie is usually scavenging pieces of rusted iron for food and for melting, for her benefit and for ours. Melting metal is always a good commodity. She has even found a good hill full of iron ore and excavated for the last fifteen years. Twenty twenty has been kind to us, has it not? I have never seen her be anything but generous. She rarely thinks of herself, and never misses out on a chance to read literature about brewing. Bless her. She actually ended one of her excavations early in order to be here for the returnees. We could all use some now and then. Too bad she can't have the heavy stuff. Only ale, beer and wine. She still gets buzzed as all of us, though, and it's always worth it. I imagine the ones who aren't spaced out likely took all the booze they could without killing themselves.

Thinking of which, I have had the (mis) fortune of stopping Miss Andrew's floor from being tainted with vomit, again. I don't know why they persistently insist on making poultry hot dogs time after time. No matter how much they stress how much it's only for the bugs, endothermic reptiles, dog people, and eagle lions, they never listen. I just barely got there in time to stop that mare from ruining one of the few remaining carpets left. She looked just fine immediately afterwards, but disappointed that happened. Always the hard way. Reminds me of the time Alex Torrez ate that wiener and vomited all over the curb fifteen minutes later. To this day, that host will not eat anything someone else had not first.

I wonder how the Equestrians would feel about this? All I do know is Sunny, an Equestrian mare who showed up and introduced herself to us
in twenty twenty told us she wasn't on board with this were it not Tia's will. Without loyalty to her, she would have protested this the whole way. She did what she did nonetheless and did not look back... until it was too late. Immediately after finding out how awry the whole scheme went, she instantly regretted having any part in it, and would have taken a different course of action were it not for Celestia egging her on. She kept silent as per orders, but now says she would have blabbed the truth had she known how sparse we really were in that first year. To every horse she met. She had never made it any secret she is always remorseful of her people's actions, more so than any and all others to her knowledge. I am happy to call her a friend. I think she should have been here today. Her presence would have been highly appreciated to some androgynous insect horse who has been overwhelmed with the wide range of emotions all around us today. I could tell s/he needed someone to sympathize, and I would have been best for the job, but my sensitivity hasn't been the kindest after I finding a dick and a hoof. That poor thing is saturated with bitter, sour and sweet anger, hatred, and occasionally affection all around her, with little relief due to this event. Val should have been here, but he and Will are needed too much back home, I guess. S/he is still here, so I try my "hand" at comforting cheese grate hooves.

On to good news: Alex and Anthony have informed me that Sweet is carrying. Always good news in this morose world. With all the abandoned towns and villages and seemingly deserted cities left to rust and overgrowth, and so much death, a new life is a real treasure.

Once again, I feel some form of envy for Alex and Anthony, and moreover Scott and his fillies. I'd like to have that sixth sense they all have. It'd be nice to naturally sense raw energy like they can, and it likely wouldn't be quite as overwhelming as people's emotions. They never seem to be so.

--From Vancouver BC, yours truly, Monica Hadley. Best of luck to future humans.