I’m at the dinner table with an odd-looking keyboard-like machine. From the right side of the machine, a faint glowing antenna stuck out and pulsed every few seconds. The left side had a wire-like rope that connected to a Soul-Item that looked like a glass panel, on the aforementioned glass panel, the words that I was typing out were seemingly etched into its face. Once I finished writing out a document, I pressed a button that seemed to clear the glass panel.
I had just finished up a document for the company and sent it out into the soulnet through a soul-writer. Our prototype version of the internet and a computer (though more like a fax machine). I took the technology they had for creating soulphones and reworked it to be able to store and transfer documents.
Though I could never get the system to save an image. While the compound soul-item, a massive soul-item that is made up of many smaller soul-items, that is used as a central hub of the soulnet is the most powerful tool ever created, it just can’t process an image.
The reason being that the soulnet system partially uses our own minds to log data. For example, if I press down on the letter A on a keyboard, the soulnet uses my own understanding of the letter A and records it. This system works fine for documents, but pictures and images can be so abstract between people, it is currently impossible to log an image without a standardized system that can adapt and accommodate everyone’s visual interpretations of the world around them. So, I’ll just leave it to the future generations to figure it out.
Hey, cut me some slack here, the compound soul-item I had made is powerful enough to send out a signal throughout the entire continent and receive one back within a microsecond. It is also not affected by any non-soul-item-based obstruction. So, I can be thousands of feet underground without any interference. It was the best I could do without having to invent rocket science and satellites. Or kick start a space race. None of which has happened yet, as most of the humans are still focused on exploring the monster-infested land rather than what might be out there in space.
Also, a cool side note, Terra’s moon has its own mini-moon! The lunar satellite orbits the moon once every four hours. How adorable.
“Master Benjamin, the girls are almost done and on their way with Sasha,” Jonathan informs me as he takes away my soul writer.
“Oh good. How long till dinner?”
“It will take a few minutes longer; you know how much you eat.”
“Yes, yes I do.” I begin tapping my table as I hum a tune. Not even a minute later, a butler then approaches with my favorite guitar.
“No need Sebastian. I am just messing around.” Sebastian smiles and walks back. Eventually, I take notice of a mirror and decide to occupy myself by adjusting my black hair, only for a maid to approach with scissors and a cape.
“Stop right there Ella, no need for that. You know I don't even need to have my hair cut anyways.” The maid pouts a bit but obliged. I let out a sigh, some of my servants are too overbearing. Or maybe I’m much too autonomous in spite of my luxurious upbringing?
Eventually, the door to the dining hall opens up, revealing a much cleaner-looking Twilight and Fluttershy. Coincidently, the food had been finished and was being brought out as well.
"Master Benjamin, I have prepared your large sushi patter full of various exotic and monstrous fishes as you know it is Sushi Saturday. For the girls, I have prepared some kimbap as they are a similar alternative, but still not as odd as your habit of eating raw fish meat."
The girls froze with a bit of disgust and fear, I often allow my servants to joke around as living without humor is a bland existence. I have also taught my chefs various earth cuisine, especially a variety of Indian dishes.
That seems to have come back to bite me in the ass. Whatever, let's get this over with.
"Jonathan, please leave me alone with the girls, I wish to speak with them a bit more privately." Jonathan gives me an odd look; I mouth the word adoption to him. He nods and walks off with the rest of the servants. I let out a sigh and began to speak to the girls. "As you have noticed, I am an omnivore. All of humanity is capable of digesting both plants and meats. Some choose to not consume meat; others choose to only consume meat. But a balance between both is most efficient for use. Any more questions?"
"Do, do you eat ponies?" Fluttershy was the one to speak up on that, she also seemed the most relaxed out of the two.
"Could we? Maybe, would we, most of us would not. Ponies don't exist in this world. We have thestrals, but they are rare and are made up of bones and skin, no meat on them," I answer calmly, neither of them relaxes. "Try out the meal in front of you, its main ingredients are seaweed, carrots, eggs, tofu, pickled radish, cucumber, avocado, and rice. Nothing meat-related in there." The fillies look at the food with hesitation, especially Fluttershy. Twilight seemed less hesitant, maybe due to her upbringing in Canterlot, so she lowers her head pops one in. She chews for a bit, and when the word "tastes good" seems to pop into her brain, she starts chomping away at the rest.
It has been some time since they had any good food. Fluttershy also goes crazy after getting over her own initial concerns for it. Then a thought came to my mind, I smiled as I pulled out some wasabi, it wasn't called wasabi in this world, but that was what I called it anyway.
"Try it with this dip, it's a bit spicey, but it makes it taste even better." That was a lie, you weren't supposed to eat kimbap with wasabi. Twilight and Fluttershy both dipped a roll in it like it was salsa, and ate the roll. I gave it a second until it finally hits them. Their eyes widen as they exhale as much air as they could, tears roll down their eyes as they rub their "burning" snout.
"Hawt! Bwuning!" That was all Twilight could say. Fluttershy drinks water, but it had no effect. While neither of them started to hiccup like I thought they might, it was still enough to send me into a fit of laughter. The wasabi eventually wore off, but they were looking at me while pouting."
"That was mean, you should have warned us."
"Fluttershy, he did warn us, but it seems that we both went for it anyways. How do you even eat that stuff?"
"Hahaha, you eat it in small doses, and not with kimbap, sorry girls." I calmed myself down, then began to tear into my large assortment of sushi. My meal was made with enough food to feed a family of 4, but it was necessary for my outrageously high metabolic rate. It took me about four minutes to eat all that food up. I would usually take my time eating but I have an important conversation ready for the duo that had stared at my vigorous consumption of food.
"Is meat really that good?" Twilight asked, with some disgust.
"It's nice, but I was eating that fast so we could focus on talking about your situation. If meat bothers you guys that much, I will lower my meat intake as a compromise," I suggested while cleaning up my face.
"I am grateful for that, thank you," Fluttershy responded with a strained smile.
"Alright, let's focus on what you guys need to know. First of all, I will explain to you two of the false identities that I have crafted to help you and your friends fit into this world while you guys figure out a way back home. You are now sextuplet sisters that have been cursed after birth by a daemon, a type of super-powerful evil creature in this world with abilities we have yet to fully understand, you have lived within the edge of the forest right outside of the city for most of your lives until you gals stumbled into the city. Then your sisterly group was split up, and eventually, I found you two and decided to adopt all of six of you sisters. Is that alright with you two, any question?"
"Why do you need to adopt us? We all are fully grown mares, even if we look like fillies. Even if we are fillies, humans don't know that." Not a bad question Twilight, in response I pull out a soul-item and put it on the table.
"This is a soul-item, called Health Reader. It can measure your biological condition and your bodies' relative maturity. If you can fool this, then we can skip the adoption can go straight to giving you guys adult identities. All you need to do is touch the handprint right there." They both frowned but did so anyway. Both Twilight and Fluttershy were identified as children by the device.
"So, either you guys are treated like animals, or sent to the orphanage as weird children, or adopted by me. There might be other possibilities, nevertheless, your freedom is greatly limited as fillies. I am sorry but I do promise none of you will have to call me dad. That would be very awkward for all of us, and a bit rude to your real parents."
Twilight frown, then focused on her horn, with a great amount of concentration it sent out some small sparks. However, whatever was constraining her magic proved to be too much, and she had nearly collapsed in exhaustion.
"Fine, it's honestly not that bad of a proposition. Just find it annoying that I'm a filly again." Twilight huffed out. I nod in understanding, been there done that. Might have to do it again thanks to my cheat, though I honestly find childhood years much more enjoyable due to its inherent lack of burdensome responsibilities.
"Thank you, now let's focus on our two main goals. Gather you six artifact bearers, and send you home. For the gathering part, you guy will be of no use as you are now. Your odd "magic" is limited, and you all have no knowledge of what's around you. I have already tasked my servants to keep a lookout for friends, and I will employ as many methods as possible to search them out. I will allow you two to aid in the search efforts once you have proven to me that you can be of use. Fair?"
"What will we do then, just sit around on our plots and wait for you to do all the work?" Twilight grumbles.
"I, I would appreciate it if we had some part in our endeavors as well, if you don't mind," Fluttershy added.
"I know, the important task that you two will work on are actually quite numerous depending on how you gals plan on returning home. As I see it, there are four ways to return:
A) Wait for help from your own world.
B) Find someone with the power to send you two back home in this world. Which I can already confirm such a person doesn't exist.
C) Train in soul-power in hopes of eventually obtaining the power to send yourselves home.
D) Train your magic to the point where you all can send yourselves home."
"The last one is also impossible or at least improbable as this world seems to reject my magic, making even the simplest spell a thousand times more difficult, and according to my calculations, that number isn't even an exaggeration." The purple unicorn interjects.
"That doesn't mean you should erase it as an option entirely. However, that does narrow down our options to A and C. While none of you were born with a soul-power ability, thankfully, we have figured out a way to artificially grant one to humans born without it. Unfortunately, such a method cannot be used without proper body conditioning and a minimum age of 13, or a teenager, as the process is quite taxing on the body."
"So, we need to train our bodies, that's it? That's all we can do."
"No, that is merely the first step. For trying to return to Equestria, your home. There are so many other things that might need to be done. This will be a long and arduous journey if your princesses do not come for you first, but until you all are 13, there are some finer tasks that need attending to.
"For example; all of you, including your friends once we find them, will need a proper summary understanding of the world they are in. So, an organized pamphlet of key information would be useful to have to better blend in. Also, a good understanding of the flora and fauna of this world would be nice to have so that none of you get yourselves surrounded by monsters or eat something poisonous. Sounds like a good idea?" I can see the gears turning in their head as a massive smile appears on their faces."
"You are right! This is an entirely different world with a different history and culture. There would be so many new things to learn, I almost feel like a filly again." Twilight beams.
"Twilight, you are a fill-"
"And to think of all the new creatures I can meet. I can't wait to find some of them!" Fluttershy cuts me off.
"Then would you like to meet my wyverns?" I suggest.
"What?" They both question.
"A dragon-like hybrid of a lizard and a bird. Fluffiest creatures I have ever had the pleasure of owning as a pet. We do have sometime before nightfall."
"But they aren't dragons?" Fluttershy asked while seeming to disappear behind Twilight.
"They have feathered beaks, talons, and a sword for a tail, are big, but they do not breath fire. You could they are as scary as a manticore," I shrugged.
"Oh, ok! Then let's go see them!" Fluttershy's enthusiasm immediately bounces back as she eagerly waits for me to lead the way.
As I lead these ponies to the wyvern hanger, I could feel that they were still worried about their friends, and worried about their situation. This only further cemented my beliefs that these ponies do not belong here. This world's brutality might break them, but I will not let that happen. At least not until I have figured out a way to send them home.
Then when that time comes, I will break my vow. I will erase their memories of this world. Leaving intact just the bare minimum to understand what had happened, but nothing more.
Non-Cannon Bit:
"Alright, let's focus on what you guys need to know. First of all, I will explain to you two of the false identities that I have crafted to help you and your friends fit into this world while you guys figure out a way back home. You are now sextuplet sisters-"
"Sextuplet Sisters?! Do you know what that means?! It means six birthday parties together in one giant, super-d-duper, mega-awesome, birthday bonanza!" Filly Pinkie Pie shouts out as she seemingly apparates out of Twilights mane sending confetti everywhere. Everyone around the dining table just looks at her in shock.
"Oh, right, I'm supposed to be all mopey-dopy right now because I'm filynapped with Rarity," The sporadic pink menace pulls out a pin from her mane and looks to have somehow popped her enthusiasm by stabbing the needle into her poofy hair. Her hair becomes straight as her demeanor becomes depressed. She then swivels like a screw back into Twilight's mane.