A Variant Season
Wyrd Days
"What, seriously? Ok, I'll tell her, hold on ok? Uh, you can sit in the customer area up here..." Scootaloo left the strange earth pony in the front room, muttering something about Scandineighvian Furniture. "HEY DASH, SOME HOITY-TOITY GUY IS HERE TO SEE YOU!" Rainbow was always going on about efficiency and junk-yelling across the shop had probably saved like four seconds, the orange filly smiled at her own cleverness.
Rainbow Dash was in the room in ten seconds, flat. "Who, what, where's on fire?" she caught her breath, pausing to detach the now unplugged circular saw from her wing. "Why are you shouting, squirt?" The filly pointed at the dark gray earth pony, who was taking off his fashionable sunglasses and trying not to laugh. "Wait, I know you..."
"Hwell, it is nice to know I'm still recognized. Are you training a new generation to break into pony's houses now?"
'Oh crud, now I know who you are. It really is Hoity Toity. Wait... He's here, in my design studio...'
"ash... hold on, she gets like this sometimes. YO DASH!" The shout, delivered from next to her ear almost shocked the blue pegasus back into insensibility.
"Gaaah! Stop doing that."
"Stop staring into space, it's creepy."
"You know, technically we're in space right now-"
"No, you are not turning this into another physics lesson!"
Rainbow glanced at her guest, "maybe later kiddo. So, ... this awkward. What, what should I call you?"
"I'm hoping 'client' will be an acceptable term, but my friends call me 'Hoity'."
'Do. Not. Squee. You're not going to blow this.' "Ah heh, sure. That's cool. I'm still Rainbow Dash, and this is my... uh ward? I guess. Her name is Scootaloo. I suppose she's my apprentice."
"I'm not your apprentice. I'm not any good at this stuff."
"You made those hats, and nopony starts out good at crafting. Well, I guess somepony with a Cutie Mark in a specific craft might have a natural 'knack' for it, but not necessarily. Look at Twist, she was making candy for a couple years before she got her Mark."
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting?" There was just a hint of annoyance in the Stallion's tone.
"Oh, mane. Sorry, mr... uh Hoity. You came here to hire me, right? What did you have in mind?"
"I am scouting potential designers for a rather high end sports project. You do still design clothing, don't you?" He was looking at the saw when he asked. Rainbow tried to nudge it behind the counter, out of sight.
"Sure, I make clothing. I... I'm not real into the fancy dress line, but you said sports. Yeah, I've had a few ideas kicking around I haven't gotten to try out. My last big project was for a spelunking expedition."
The fashion pony raised an eyebrow, "really?"
"Yeah, you see they needed a suit that was waterproof but breathable, that would retain heat but shed excess. Let me tell you, the technical details of coming up with the material were just plain nuts. Getting a layered material that would do all of that and not be, like, an inch thick was really hard, but luckily I just... 'acquired' two pretty talented unicorns and so I was able to cheat the edges a little bit. Then it turned out the design of the suit was sort of an issue too, not too tight, definitely not too loose, but no chafing-these guys were planning on being underground for days at a time, you understand. Well we get halfway through the project and they find out the caves they want to explore have some really gnarly cliffs-these are earth ponies mainly, did I already mention that? They were about to give up the whole thing and go low-tech when I suggested a pony-portable grapnel launching system I'd been playing around with, no real reason I just thought it sounded awesome. See, it uses a compressed gas launching system so it works even in low magic areas because there's almost no enchantments involved in the functions - the building process uses a ton though, which is why I never tried to mass market it. So I get the size down and the weight tolerance up and-"
"DASH! Knock it off, you're putting him to sleep. Sheesh, socks and saddles-"
"You watch your mouth little filly. Swearing's not nearly as much fun if you use the good stuff up early."
Scootaloo gave her elder a look that implied Dash had just found a way to make being rebellious nerdy. 'Mission accomplished.'
The blue pegasus turned back to her possible prospective employer. "Sorry about that, I really get into my work."
"If hyou can be half that enthusiastic about a flight suit I think I can overlook it." He put the shades back on so he could glance at her over the top of them, "But just this one time, hyou understand." He pushed them back onto the bridge of his snout and motioned her closer. "I'll need a mock-up by the end of the hweek, but I think you'll be interested in the client..."
"That is patently ridiculous. I will admit I often have a sense for when a patient is turning for the worse, but random events? No, that smacks too much of magic." Diane could not believe she was even having this conversation.
"It's not entirely unheard of and - look we've all noticed you... well, not be in the wrong place before." Twilight was losing confidence in her project. 'First go and she doesn't even believe in what she does. Sure, it's not scientific, but sometimes you just have to believe in things you can't see... oh, that's it!' "What about when one of your patients-"
Diane grabbed the purple unicorn and leapt away from the door. Moments later it burst open violently as an excited pegasus burst in grinning from ear to ear. "Hey girls, guess who's designing the next generation of flightsuit for the Wonderbolts!"
Twilight took one glance at Diane and then turned to her other friend. "Wow, that's great Dash."
Diane coughed and put on what she now thought of as smile #23, enthusiastic congratulations, "Indeed, quite a coup from what I understand."
"Huh? Oh sure, sure. But I've been looking at the principles for a lightning resistant garment, and with the stunts those ponies do, I can totally integrate it into the design. Just imagine if the weather team had one less thing to worry about wrangling with rogue weather from Everfree, in fact I need to go interview a few of them and see what else I might be completely missing. See you crazy kids later!" And like that, she was gone again.
They watched her 'dash' off, not quite sure what to make of it. Twilight recovered faster, determined not to be distracted again. "So, that was a pretty good illustration of what I was talking about. Don't even try to tell me you 'heard' her coming."
Twilight felt bad when Diane hung her head. "No, indeed, it was more akin to a reflex. Perhaps there is something to what you say, but it smacks too much of my recent ... problem, and am sorely afraid of losing my 'self' in such fantasy."
"What if learning to control this... whatever it is, what if doing that is the way to keep your... you?"
Diane sighed, releasing her anxiety and seeking to trust her friend, "That is what Mistress Poesy would likely have said. Very well, in my free time I shall be your test subject."
"Um, let's go with research partner."
To my dear friends,
I hope this letter finds you all well and in good spirits. My expressions of gratitude have likely become tiresome so I shall will try not to belabor the point. Your letters are a high point in my week, your adventures and hardships. I notice several of you are seeking a more organized approach, which brings me to the point of this letter:
What exactly are your collective abilities? It seems odd that I have not thought of the question before, but between your circle of friendship you seem to have the skills needed to match any obstacle. Celly has me studying the dizzying advances made by science in my absence, an I wonder if such an approach would not aid you in cataloging your powers.
I understand from 'certain sources' that all of you will be attending the Grand Galloping Galla. Perhaps afterward you could visit me, it would be nice to play hostess. Also, I believe I have a surprise for you.
In friendship and in trust,
Princess Luna Nocturne Equestria
Where did it all start? The trite way would be to say it started with a race in Pegasus Summer Flight Camp, or with the Great Everfree Storm and the event that became known as the 'Cloudboom'. Perhaps it started when a pegasus turned instinctual knowledge of flight physics into engineering know-how, and turned back to understand the incomprehensible-no, that wasn't a it. But it started with numbers, it started with ponies noticing something and saying 'I see'.
"So, you see, I'd like to ask some of your crew about their personal experiences flying with clothing and gear on. Get a fresh perspective." Dash's neck always hurt after talking to a pony on a cloud.
"Well, I don't see any problem with that. If they want to. After their shift is over. But..." 'Everything is ok now, don't hesitate. Or, if it isn't ok, it's getting there. Just say it.' "The crew are working really hard right now, and I know some of them are going to do this just because you ask and you're my friend, so I don't want you making them put any extra effort into it. So... you'll have to come up here to conduct your interviews."
"I... uh, yeah. That's reasonable I guess, have to look out for your team. I'll, I'll start tomorrow if that works." 'I can do this, this is fine. I'm fine. You can't forget how to walk on clouds, and I know I've kept myself in shape-sure my reflexes are probably gone but it's a feathering cloud, it can't be that hard.'
"Of course I think it's a fabulous idea Twilight, I just have to go make sure the excavation process is underway and proceeding correctly. I won't be more than two days, and since my sister and her friends are going to ...help... me I simply can't spare the time to start on this project with you." She continued packing her bags as she spoke, tools, scrolls, clothing and books flew around the room like organized chaos, mesmerizing in their number but each object resolute in its flight path.
"Rest assured that when I come back I will be glad to help you go over what you've gathered. Oh, that reminds me, I was going to ask if you could look after Heathspike while I'm gone... say, he can help you document your findings. He is a very skilled assistant, do you know he can write with one leg? Oh it's adorable." She bit back further doting, knowing from the other side that it was tedious to hear.
"Well, that could work.... you know, I tried out for Celestia's school... years ago. They had me try to hatch an egg, like you described in your 'Mark' story. I... I didn't do as well."
"Do you know, I did some research later and discovered that isn't even a standard part of the entrance exam? They 'reserve' it for special entrants, which I suspect is a polite term for ponies they don't want to take."
Rarity held her hoof to her mouth realizing what she had just said, she lay her... she put that hoof down and lay her other forehoof on Twilight's shoulder, "Which isn't to say they set you up for failure. Just, understand that you may not even have been given a fair chance in the first place."
Twilight fought back her tears, "But, you did it anyway. You got through it."
"I suffered an extreme magical outburst during the Cloudboom, there is no guarantee I would have had any more success than you if it hadn't happened." 'Heh, our little element of Loyalty was helping her friends before we even met.' Looking for something else to distract Twilight, a thought occurred to her. "It stands to reason they couldn't have had many of those eggs, I wonder if they gave you the same egg that my little Spikey hatched from. Why, that would make you his Aunt."
Twilight's face scrunched up as she tried to follow the white unicorn's logic, "but we would have to be sisters for that to make any sense..."
"Oh, but we are so alike, dear. In fact, I rather think you might have more raw magic than I do."
"What? But you're always using telekinesis and sending off cantrips, I get tired using transformations."
"Well that may be, but you also spend your every waking moment talking to trees. Have you ever stopped to consider how much energy you expend into plantlife? Perhaps the Apples are too polite to say anything, but I rather suspect that their yields since you discovered your talent have been higher than ever before." 'Of course I'm not mentioning that Applebloom overheard her family discussing it and passed it along to Sweetie.'
"Even if that were true, and I reserve judgement, it still isn't very useful."
"Try telling the Apples that." Rarity deadpanned, "Look, I'm going to use the most personal argument I can think of. That bear, the Ursus whate-"
"Ursa Minor."
"Quite, thank you. If you had not... started whatever you were trying to do to Nightmare Moon, well, I'd be dead, and Trixie wouldn't be in therapy, she'd either be on trial or storming the gates of Canterlot, and burned to a crisp I imagine."
"Eww"
"Indeed. Do remember to include yourself in our little catalogue of wonders, won't you dear."
"Of course. Maxim 24: Don't count your chickens before they hatch, count eggs."
Rarity let that one go.
The gray pegasus looked at the dragon, who was looking back at her. "Well what doesn't my Cutie Mark have to do with mail delivery?"
Twilight debated saying something, but decided anything she said would only make the conversation last longer.
"Ok, special talent... deliver-ing mail..." Spike concentrated on his writing, avoiding eye contact, with either eye.
She practiced near Diane's cottage, for the open space, for the relative privacy, and in case she was significantly more out of flight form than she feared. She needn't have worried. Her physical condition was not great, having used her wings to manipulate and move objects instead of herself and wind currents, her muscles were developed in different places. But the memories were still there, in her brain, in the muscle tissue-which was sub-optimal not unable, and in her very bones.
She restricted herself to about ten pony lengths above the ground, but that was enough to glide, to bank, and to remember what she had given up for so many years. This ecstasy of freedom, now a guilty pleasure. But really, it was practical, she could be more useful if she could fly - punishing herself had limited her utility to others, she realized. An afternoon convinced her she was ready, for low altitude flight in any case.
She was heading over to Diane's cottage to thank her for the use of the space when she saw it. It looked like a slow moving rock at first, until she saw the head. 'Wow, that's a big turtle... wait, it has feet, that makes it a... tortoise, right?'
"Wait, your special talent is being big?"
"Eyup."
Rainbow Dash thought back to the cat she'd tried to adopt, poor thing was a rescue, didn't trust anypony and would scratch anypony that came too close. In the end, she couldn't be sure Scootaloo would be safe around it, so she'd brought it out to Diane.
The pink pony pet the cat and sure enough got a cut for her effort. She had held her hoof out, let the cat keep scratching her, wincing every time it did, but she made no noise, didn't even cry. The cat stopped, and it just looked at her. She pet it with her other hoof, and the cat licked her wounds. "I will call you Opalescence, for your beautiful fur. Nothing will harm you here, be at peace." That was why Dash liked Diane, in her own way she fixed things too.
"...at which point I felt compelled to comment that oatmeal might not have been the best choice. Oh, you're back."
Rainbow shook her head, 'Oh, right, cottage, Diane, tortoise.' "Who's this guy?"
"It is a tortoise."
"I know a tortoise when I see one. I meant what's he doing here?"
"Very little, as a matter of fact. So far from it's native environment, I assume he was abandoned."
"Somepony just left you huh? What's, what does he need for food and care?"
"Very little, are you asking to take it home?"
"Yeah, I guess I am. He looks like he's seen a lot, like he's pretty solid. I... it sounds silly but I feel like I know him."
"Far be it for me to keep the two of you apart. I will write the instructions and pack you some lettuce for him." Diane allowed herself a smile, to imagine a pegasus with such an earthbound pet, "Now keep in mind that you will not be able to take him flying with you."
Rainbow Dash glanced at Diane, then back at the tortoise. "Is that a fact? Because I have to warn you, you're talking to the wrong pony about can't. You all want me to be confident? Well let me tell you sister, I can make the impossible happen. If I want to, I can make this little 'tank' of a guy fly like nopony's business. Wait, Tank... I like that." She knelt down next to the turt tortoise, "What do you think boy, do you like the name Tank? Ok, it's yours then."
"Mine is dominion over the border between water and air. I can manipulate aerated liquids, foams and rainclouds. And, as it turns out, whipped cream."
"Working with whipped cream... that's a weird Special Talent for a pegasus."
Twilight picked up the baby dragon and fled before the interviewee could get going.
Dear little Sis, Hero of Equestria,
Hey, your big brother here. Not doing so hot lately. Work's been brutal, the Guard has been on extra training rotations for a month now and I'm beat most of the time. That wouldn't even matter - I love what I do, knowing I'm helping keep Equestria safe - but... Cadence and I broke up.
It was stupid. I'm stupid. I mean, she broke it off with me, but it was my fault, I can admit that now. Too little, too late. I won't bore you with the details, just... well, it stopped being like a perfect fairytale and I was feeling tired so I was snapping at her - hey, if you ever find a time travel spell let me know.
She's had her own problems too, I mean imagine your 'Aunt' is the feathered Goddess of the Sun, too perfect to talk to, too busy running an entire nation, and then you find out she's got a sister. Oh and her sister, who she locked away for A THOUSAND YEARS goes nuts and stops the day. But she's all better now - you know what, you don't want to read this, and I know Princess Luna's trying really hard to be a good pony, but it's really hard around the castle. Everypony is walking on eggshells, and night-shift is seen as a punishment now, but I guess it's getting better.
Well, Mom and Dad say hi. Drop me a line if you can, I need to do something other than sit around feeling sorry for myself - even I can't stand it. The good thing in my life is knowing that you have a place for yourself, you have no idea how much of a comfort that is. I know the Parental Unit means well, but they... they weren't doing you much good. Stay safe, stay happy, I love you.
Your idiot brother,
Shining Armor
"Hwell, the lines are clean, the form works well and the fit seems good on your model... but, why have you gone with a full muzzle cover? None of the previous suits did that."
"Oh, that's removable. This is the storm-safe design, should be able to repel potential lightning strikes by reducing whole body conductivity to..." 'Don't spout numbers, you'll lose him.' "...it makes the wearer less likely to be hurt by a storm."
"Removable you say? Not bad." The style stallion seemed to be waiting for something.
"This, this is just the demonstration model, of course. Any modifications you'd suggest at this point?"
"Mmm? Oh, no, no, this is fine..."
"Anything? Anything at all?"
"Well... the clear patch for the wearer's Cutie Mark is a nice touch, but..."
"Yes?"
"It could stand to be about 20% more stylish."
"...ok, next model... could be... 20% cooler." 'Whatever the hay that means.'
"Well, my Cutie Mark is for playing the Lyre... yeah, don't bother making the joke I've heard EVERY variation. But what I'm going to be known for isn't my special talent, it's a project I've been working on for years." The green unicorn darted her eyes to the sides, making sure no bystanders were paying any attention to them before leaning forward and whispering, "I'm going to design the first set of functional hands for a pony. Hey... if you have any free time, I'd really like to study your claws-comparison only, of course."
"Maybelatergottago,bye!"
"So, Fluttershy, thanks for letting me quiz your crew-I really think I've gotten some good ideas out of it. I, um, well... could I maybe sit in on a few of your flight classes?" It was like pulling teeth, asking for help. 'I'm supposed to be helping others, here I am asking to waste city time on me recovering from self-inflicted neglect. Oh, and let's add self pity to the list why don't we? Nah, suck it up. Own this.'
At least this time she caught the end of the reply, "...happy to have you participate." Fluttershy seemed distracted.
"Thanks, it means a lot to me. What's on your mind?"
"Huh? Oh, Twilight's project. I'm wondering what to tell her when she comes. I... I don't do that much... why are you laughing?"
"Haa... Flutters, you-not do much? Seriously? Wow, you really believe that. Look, you've got a... charisma, you make ponies want to be better than they think they are. I'm pretty sure some of these ponies would die for you-"
"I would never let it come to that!"
"...you're proving my point here. That's WHY they trust you with their lives. that alone counts for a lot, but-miss 'sealed records', that isn't where you stop - if you ever do. The Cloudboom wouldn't have happened without you," she pre-empted another outburst, "AND that's a good thing, c'mon, you know the storm itself would have caused more damage. Plus, the experience left you with your Cutie Mark... oh don't you even try to tell me you don't have a 'special talent', I'm not a moron you know."
Rainbow crossed her hooves and grinned, "Going to be stubborn? Fine, I'll just tell you now and if I'm not wrong you don't have to say a thing: Storm cloud, lightning, turbulence, but you look closer... it's a butterfly, a creature of calm and gentleness. When you put it together it's laughably obvious, you make storms gentle-you're a stormbreaker. Oh, what's that I hear? No argument?"
'Very good Dash. Just a little more...' "Well, ok. So maybe that's true, maybe. But if you can see my talents so easily, what are You going to tell Twilight about?"
Dash staggered back like she had been struck, "Ah? I... well I make stuff. Useful stuff."
"Oh, that reminds me. Diane mentioned you got a new pet. A cute little tortoise..."
"Tank is adorable, but he's not little."
"She also told me you said something that stuck in her mind. That you can 'make the impossible happen'."
"That was boasting, I'm taking this whole liking myself thing one step at a time..."
"I don't think it was. Well, I think you might have been exaggerating or using hyperbole - but I think you were talking about what you do. I think you make the ponies, and other living things and even objects around you stronger, you see what could support them, see the potential in them to be great. I hope so, because I want your help."
"How the buck do you do that!? I'm all like, no you do good stuff, and you're all mopey like you don't think so, and then you turn around and put these big claims on me and in the same breath you ask for help and make it impossible for me to deny any of it. I'm going to start calling you 'Hurricane' too, Commander."
"That's 'captain'."
"As you command." Dash made an exaggerated bow, "So, what can this humble 'miracle worker' do for you?"
"I want to understand what happened in the Cloudboom."
"...ok, you've got my interest."
"I also want to see if it's related to what happened when I fell. No, don't start sputtering, this is purely information."
"Right..." Rainbow exhaled softly.
"They both involved bright explosions from a pony traveling really fast. I think there may be something under that."
"...huh, maybe." A mountain can be moved a grain at a time... if you're patient enough.
"How did you find me?", asked a confused looking tan and green pegasus filly.
The dragon gestured at the purple unicorn.
"Oh. Well, we don't get Cutie Marks."
Doccumentation, Observations on Changelings, Informal Interview 3
Q: Before we begin, I would like to say that you are looking healthier.
M: Yeah, I think this is working for now-but it can't last.
Q: Not from a single source, no. We have other ideas for the long term.
Q: Now we'll begin the session. Today we will focus on shapeshifting. How much of your 'energy' does it require?
M: I don't think you realize how many questions you're asking.
Q: Then tell me.
M: Well, there's easy and hard, and several grades between. The easiest is copying a pony that's right in front of you, and even then if you have a few moments to observe them it's even easier. That takes very little, but it's also the most dangerous for a Changeling, unless in very controlled circumstances.
Q: Such as the victim being restrained?
M: ...yeah... So the other advantage to copying a present pony is that you almost immediately pick up on emotional resonances in the area-what other ponies are feeling about that pony. With other shifts it's possible to 'tune' into the psychic frequency of the target, but it takes time and skill, if you have a subject right there you're most of the way when you start.
Q: You mentioned 'frequencies' before, can you explain a little more about them?
M: Well, it's what makes an individual... that individual, I guess. Same thing as an aura, really-but for us we can pick them up as a sort of vibration, but not a physical one. Like music, like every pony's life is a song.
Q: Very poetic.
M: For a psychic vampire, that's the part you're not saying, right? Everything eats to live.
Q: I am providing no judgement, we want to understand you - changelings as a whole. If we didn't recognize your right to live this conversation wouldn't even be happening.
Q: Perhaps you could give another example of shape shifting? One of the 'harder' ways?
M: The hardest is to make up a shape completely. It can be done, and with practice it gets easier. Actually, what I've found is that the more ponies believe in the persona, the easier it gets. Say I create a persona, we'll call it 'Jay Brony', first time I make him up, type of pony, frame, body weight, height, color, mane, all the details that go into what you see of a pony. It takes a lot out of me, almost two days of feeding. Now if I just practice on my own, in seclusion, I might halve that toll. But if I trot around town, talk to a bunch of ponies, get noticed, remembered, that one day's effort can cut it down to a quarter as much energy. But the ponies have to believe in Jay, have to want him to exist. If I neglect him, let the ponies forget him for a while or go someplace else, I lose all that investment. Jay stops being real to them and I expend more to get him back again.
Q: Interesting. It sounds metaphysical.
M: Well, I've had a lot of time to think about it. The middle ground is modifying a form I'm already in. Cosmetics are easy, hair texture, mane length, small items of clothing. Interestingly Cutie Marks are the hardest to change, depending on how big a change you make.
Q: Sounds like part of that sense of self, emotional reality.
M: Sure, sounds good.
Q: And other creatures?
M: The further from a quadruped you get, the harder it is. Also size makes a difference. I can go up to half the size without any real struggle, and maybe a hoof or two above my own size. So a mule? Same as a pony, just less likely to be recognized, at least here in Equestria, abroad who knows? A minotaur is pushing it, maybe twice as difficult. I think Will was easier because the rest of the crew was used to him being around. What's funny to me is that Alicorns aren't harder, well other than the size.
Q: Like your stage persona?
M: Oh, you mean Darklight? That was Trixie's idea, she wanted a scene where Celestia went all Nightmare Moon, except I guess that would be Nightmare Sun, but it had to be bigger, you know? So she called it 'Celestia Darklight'. Doesn't mean anything, and I think black looks far better on me than on a pony, personally. Come to think of it, why did you lot pick a [redacted]
Q: I'll discuss that with you off the record.
M: Are we done then?
[interview concluded]
Rainbow Dash looked over the numbers again. 'If this is right, I'll go back and modify the suit. But this can't be right...' She ran through all the calculations, all the facts she and Fluttershy had been able to pin down, all the statistics on aerodynamics she'd managed to put together. "It could work... It Could Work... IT COULD WORK!"
"Do you realize you're only the third dragon I have ever spoken to? I mean, in any universe. And the second one I'm still not ruling out having been a highly evolved dinosaur. I just love this world, everything is so fascinating. I mean look, you've got those stubby little claws, I don't think your 'thumb' is even possible, an yet there you are, writing. Ha, I love it."
"Twilight, do we really need this one? I want to go home."
"Sorry to waste your time sir."
"Oh, never you mind. Plenty more where that came from."
"So you see, the real issue is wingpower to surface drag. A single pony would have to be in ridiculously good condition or as small as a filly... nevermind that. But the drafting, that opens it up to a team of good but not necessarily superponian fliers."
"Show me."
"I'll need your best five fliers and a week. We can do this."
Spike looked down at the reams of scrolls, grumbling, "Well, maybe you could use Ponyville to just drive any invading horror crazy..."