//------------------------------// // Chapter 32: Visitation // Story: Partial // by Halira //------------------------------// It was Sunday morning, or, it was Sunday morning on Earth..Jessica sat, watching Jonathan carefully label each stone that had been found. Well, every stone but the one bonded to her and the one bonded to Rebecca.  While many stones had been found, only those two had reacted to any of the crew..There were thirty-six unreactive stones, every one them a different shape, although all of them were roughly hand-sized. They were waiting to find their owners, but it was unlikely the Dreamwardens or the government would allow people to test to see if a stone reacted to them. Those stones would provide more power than every power plant on Earth combined, if they could find a way of harnassing them  It would be an insane task to figure that out who the stones belonged to anyway. There were roughly a billion people who had some magic, even if over half those had so little that it didn’t equate to any ability. You couldn’t have that many people trying each stone out to see who it belonged to. The fact they had found two that reacted with crew members was such an improbability that it only reaffirmed the planet was deliberately taking action.  Why just her and Rebecca? Why not Luna or one of the others? Luna was certainly more deserving of such power than her. You could argue Charlotte was more deserving. Charlotte at least was a soldier who defended people. Giving one to Rebecca was off too. Rebecca was a Dreamwarden, they weren't supposed to have power in the waking world. Sure, Luna did, but she already was a princess and alicorn before becoming a Dreamwarden. Plus, Rebecca’s sanity might be questionable. It at least seemed questionable from where Jessica stood. The fat pegasus took next to nothing seriously. Was it a good idea to give such an unstable individual that kind of power? Maybe it wasn't a huge deal. Just because Rebecca had a stone didn't mean she would ever be able to use it to its full potential. Who was she to question a living planet that was older than the universe? Well, she wouldn’t be doing much with her stone. If the planet had some sort of plan, it could figure that out without her. If it had been around at least fourteen billion years or more—actually, now that she thought about it, how long it had to be around in the previous universe before the previous universe died was an unfathomable amount of time, considering it would have had to have been created before the dark era of the previous universe; billions of years weren't even a blink of an eye in that case, and that was assuming it hadn't survived more than one cycle of universes being born and dying. They could be measuring time in googols and googolplexs if that were the case. That was shiver inducing. Anyway, if it had been around that long, what anyone did or didn't do with its gifts were meaningless. She had no desire to have her sound powers become stronger. They were inconvenient enough. Thinking of her sound powers made her think of another thing that made her uncomfortable about this place—the silence. Aside from the sounds the crew and the ship made, there was no sound at all on the planet. There was no wind, no sound of ground settling, no insects, no trickle of water, no sounds of rocks falling, nothing at all. Their footsteps didn't even make a sound. She's figured the fact that there were different atmospheric conditions just a short distance away would stir up something resembling wind or some sort of storm that she could hear, but there was nothing—cause without effect. Jeg'galla'gamp'pi defied all logic. She should be happy being here, but the fact this place was not somewhere that expanded the knowledge of how the universe worked, but instead defied all universal laws. It made her skin crawl. What kind of force did it take to even make this kind of place and who could ever accomplish such a feat? She wasn't religious. However, it would take not a mere ascended being, or even large collection of ascended beings, but a true god to create something like this. Whoever had done it, it was difficult enough that the accomplishment had never been replicated before or after. There was only one Jeg'galla'gamp'pi. “Is him cataloging those stones really that interesting?”  She turned and saw Charlotte and Ashley approaching her. It had been Charlotte who had spoken.  “Maybe she's got the hots for Jonathan. They’re both massive nerds” Ashley suggested. “He’s available, by the way. He's Rebecca's red herring, and I bodyguard her through bodyguarding him, so I can say without a shadow of doubt that he hasn't been on a date before.” “He's not Jessie's type,” Charlotte remarked. “She likes macho types or completely girly prisses. We're more her type than that dude.” She held up her tattooed wings. “l do technically swing that way, but she's not my type. I'm not sure what my type is, but definitely not Jessie. Sleeping with a human is just…yeck! Listening to the Marshmallow carry on about her love life in detail makes me want to vomit.” Well, I wasn't interested in you either, but you didn't have to stress how disgusting it is to you,Jessica thought bitterly.  “I found most ponies born after ETS are against bedding a human, yet ponies that were born before ETS, even if they were only a few weeks old when they got it, are more open to human relationships. I never understood why. Maybe it has to do with the fact we were once human ourselves, while ponies like you never were. We older ponies still have some small background part of our minds that see humans as the same species as us that you younger ponies lack,” Ashley mused.  “Could be,” Charlotte agreed. “You’re right about not seeing them as same species. The thought of bedding a human is like agreeing to beastiality when I think about it. I try not to be judgemental, but part of me always cringes when I see a human and pony kissing.” “Do you have to go into so much detail about how disgusted you are by the idea?” Jessica snapped. Charlotte gave an agitated flap. “Sorry. That wasn't very tactful, and probably hurtful. I should have kept that to myself. if it makes you feel any better, the idea of sleeping with a stallion also makes me feel that way. I'm not saying those relationships shouldn't exist. I just don't want to visualize it. Does that help?” Jessica crossed her arms. “Not really, but I'll let it slide as long as you are more respectful about others when expressing your feelings about that stuff. Saying you wouldn't be comfortable or able to have those sorts of relationships and don't want the finer details about them said around you is enough. I can be sensitive to your feelings, knowing the subject makes you uneasy.” “Will do,” Charlotte agreed. “I respect you; you respect me. To clarify, it is mainly the Marshmallow carrying on about her sex life. She has no filter.” “Yinyu was her mentor,” Ashley reminded them. “Oh, we can definitely tell,” Charlotte muttered.  Ashley shook her head  “Anyway, I'm strictly into guys myself, even open to humans, although most guys get turned off by my face,” Ashley remarked. “If they don't get turned off by that, they get turned off by hearing how I got my scars. I mean, explaining how I nearly got tortured to death by a psychopath when I was a filly isn't the most romantic discussion.” “It’s a good opening to show a little vulnerability,” Charlotte said.  “I'm not vulnerable,” Ashley said with a scowl.  “All the more reason to take what little openings you have to show some vulnerability. Hard to open up and be vulnerable to someone who never shows any vulnerability themselves,” Charlotte replied.  Jessica licked her lips. “I might have a date coming up.” Charlotte tilted her head. “You? On a date?” “Is that so hard to believe?” Jessica snapped, offended again.  “Don't take this the wrong way, but yes,” Charlotte answered with a shrug. “I mean, out of our core group of friends and family, I would rank you last on putting yourself out there in that way—aside from possibly me. You and I are the only two who have shown zero interest in romance. My sister is married and has a kid. In the last two years, Jackie has had several relationships that last a few weeks to a month or two, and I'm confident at least one of those had a roll in the grass happen—maybe more than one. Jordan might still be single, but she's horny as hell and not afraid to express it, so it's just a matter of time before her single days are over. We don't even have to mention my brother and his growing brood. You and I were the only two who didn't have relationships on the radar. So, yeah, it's shocking, but I'm happy for you. It's good to hear.” “Um…you guys might want to come out here…now!” Smiley yelled from outside the ship.  They all looked at each other before turning and heading outside. Jessica could hear the elevator was on the move, indicating Rebecca and Luna were on their way as well.  Smiley and Terrance were standing, staring in shock at something just put of sight around the corner of the ship. Jessica stepped cautiously closer before stopping and gaping.   What could be best described as a silvery dragon sat, although it was no Equestrian dragon. This was clearly an unrelated species to those known. It watched them from a short distance from them. It was roughly the size of a horse…not a pony…a horse, it was straight silver and had some sort of metal armor over its legs and chest, as well as a golden crown. It seemed calm, watching them with eyes that matched the crown.  Triss had decided to visit them.  Wait, how was Triss surviving in their environment? “I see the question in your eyes, child. I am not actually here. This is a mere shadow of my true self. It is helpful, for I would struggle to replicate your language in the flesh, as you would mine. My magical limitations are few, but my physical limitations are many,” Triss said. She then went back to watching the group, not anyone in particular, just the group as a whole. Jessica didn't appreciate being called child. She might be billions of years younger than Triss, but she was still an adult.  Did the dragon just smile? It was hard to say, but she could swear Triss had reacted to her thoughts. Was the dragon reading her thoughts? She better not do that in front of Rebecca. The Dreamwarden would throw a fit.  “So…you decided you couldn't leave well enough alone. You had to come visit,” Rebecca said as she come around the corner. There was an uncommon undercurrent of hostility in the Dreamwarden's voice. Maybe Rebecca had noticed the mind reading. Triss blinked, it was hard to say what that blink meant, as the rest of her features did not shift.  “Are you shocked, Dreamwarden?” Triss asked. “I wish to see the first beings, other than myself, who have been to this world since before your planet formed. I was born and raised here, even if I ceased to think of this place as home long before the Devourer Cataclysm came, favoring my species’s true home world, but Jeg'galla'gamp'pi still holds a special place in my heart.” Her eyes focused on Luna as Luna stepped into view. “Greetings, alicorn princess. It is good to see you.” Luna nodded. “And good to see you as well, Queen Triss. I admit, I had thought you'd be taller.” “I have no need to make my form grander than it is. I am not defined by my physical attributes. This is my true size and shape,” Triss replied. The dragon looked up at the ship. “Impressive. Somewhat crude, but given your limited resources and technology, this is a wonder, as it would have been for my people. It is based off the ship Joss designed, is it not?” “It is,” Rebecca said, watching Triss with suspicion.  “It was an excellent design,” Triss said. “The Hall of Teachers did not appreciate much of what Joss had conceived. We had already been well underway in exploring the farthest reaches of our galaxy and meeting many other intelligent species. With Joss's design, we could have spread out across the universe, far beyond our galaxy. His efforts were always underappreciated. To my shame, I think I was most guilty of underappreciating him, not just in this design, but in all things. Not until his bitterness and loathing had already grown to a point of no return did I realize how little he felt he was valued or loved. I was so focused on bringing about our species's ascension that I failed to see how great his works were, and my people followed my example. I was the Great Mage and Teacher, queen of my people and most admired and loved, but he was the Great Engineer, and deserved more praise than he ever received. My vision was clouded to anything outside my goals. I realized my folly too late.” “A tale that I can empathize with,” Luna replied, looking away.  Triss nodded. “What occurred with you and your sister mirrors what occurred between me and my soulfriend. Luckily, you did not have the despair for living that Joss had, not access to the Thinkers and their weapons. I wonder if I could have saved him from himself if it weren’t for the Devourers. You feel love and appreciation now, do you not? Perhaps Joss could have as well. Even with him giving them the last piece the Thinkers needed to bring about their Devourer Cataclysm, I still love him. My mourning for him is no less than for all those that he brought an end, even after all this time and death.” The dragon stood up and walked towards them. Jessica tensed a little, even though she knew this was a projection that shouldn’t be able to touch them. This might be a projection, but it was also Triss, and her magic was on a whole other level, even beyond the alicorns. With magic like that, there was no telling what exactly the dragon was capable of doing.  Triss walked in front of Terrance looked him over for a second, then moved immediately on to Smiley. She looked at Smiley’s cutie mark, a gold trophy mug with ice cream in it, and then moved onto Jonathan.  “You have the feel of another universe on you, other than this or Equestria,” Triss stated.  Jonathan nodded. “I journeyed once to another universe. Discord decided to drop my friend Blanche and I, along with a former bodyguard of one of the Dreamwarden, into another universe plagued by war. It seemed a short time had passed for everyone else, but for us, it had been about a year.” Luna’s ears flattened. “Discord did what?! I was not informed of this.” Jonathan shrugged. “None of us wanted to spend a lot of time discussing what had happened.” The alicorns did not seem placated by the explanation. “I shall have a very long talk with him. This is not acceptable!”  Triss blinked. “Fascinating. And what is your name, child of three universes?” “Jonathan, ma’am,” Jonathan answered.  Triss nodded. “I am saddened that you do not wish to speak of this third universe, yet I pleased to meet you, Jonathan. I shall have to question the chaos creature when I have a chance, although he is quite difficult to catch, as your Dreamwardens can attest,” The dragon then moved on to Charlotte. “You are the daughter of one of the current Dreamwardens, are you not, child?” Charlotte scowled. “Phobia Remedy is my mom, not my birth mother, but still my mom, along with my mama. I don’t like being defined by my relationship to her. I’m my own person, not just the daughter of Phobia Remedy, ma’am.” “A position I can respect your wishes on,” Triss agreed. She moved on without asking Charlotte her name.  Triss examined Ashley for a moment or two, eyes taking in the unicorn's scars and examining Ashley’s cutie mark. She moved on without comment to Jessica. Triss looked at Jessica’s ears, legs, tail, before locking her golden eyes on Jessica’s face.  “Neither pony nor human, but with aspects of both. Not unheard of, but still interesting. I sense your magic is stronger than most like yourself, save your world’s Prime Storyteller. I also know one of the stones of this place bonded with you. What is your name, child?” “Doctor Jessica Middleton,” Jessica answered. She didn’t know if there was any proper formality she was supposed to follow, but no one else had shown much formality. “Ma’am.” She tacked the last word on to be safe. Charlotte and Jonathan had said ma’am.  Triss nodded. “I am pleased to meet you, Doctor Jessica Middleton.” She then moved on to stand before Rebecca. “You’re being fined ten thousand American dollars for mind reading!” Rebecca said before Triss could speak.  Triss blinked. “Is this one of your jokes, The Marshmallow? I may not understand your humor as well as I thought.” Rebecca shook her head. “Nope! You mind read my friend. I saw it happen. You owe a fine.” “You are aware that I do not have any of your currency, correct?” Triss asked.  Rebecca sat down. “Then you face upwards of a month in jail.” Wow. Talk about audacity. Telling the most powerful magic user in the universe to pay a fine or get jailed. How was Rebecca even supposed to enforce something like that? Triss must have thought the same thing. “You would jail me? How would you accomplish such a thing?” “I’m creative; I’ll think of something,” Rebecca answered, not backing down. She seemed dead serious.  Triss stared, unblinking, then a huge diamond materialized in the air and dropped down to the ground between the two of them. “Would this cover my fine?” Rebecca didn’t blink or look down at the diamond, instead keeping her eyes locked to Triss’s. “Jonathan, will that cover it?” Jonathan walked cautiously over and picked it up, adjusted his glasses, then nodded. “This would more than cover the fine.” He then quickly retreated to his previous position. “Very well, you're good,” Rebecca answered. “Just don’t do it again!” “You may be much more diminutive and weak in the waking world, but that does not cause you to lack boldness, The Marshmallow. I did not wish to put to the test whether you could do what you threatened. It seemed unlikely, but I have been surprised before. I see one of the stones has come to you. Use it well,” Triss replied. She then looked at Luna. “And we have already exchanged greetings, alicorn princess, Luna.” Rebecca stepped forward, wings spread wide. “You’ve met everyone now. Do you have any further reason for being here?” Triss turned to look at Rebecca. “The Marshmallow, does the Dreamwarden hate for me run so deep that you can’t let it go even in the waking world? You know my regrets. You know how much I loved your forbearer. Why must Joss’s hate for me run so true with every one of you?” “He never hated you,” Rebecca replied. “Even in the end, he told you to flee. He wanted you to live. I remember it clearly.” “Wanted me to live with the sorrow and pain,” Triss said.  “Wanted you to live so you could bring an end to what he started,” Rebecca said bitterly. “And what have you done? You have continued to do the same things you’ve always done. Even just now, you stand there judging how worthy different people are. I saw how quickly you dismissed half this team as not worth your time. You are supposed to be trying to help us stop this, but you can’t even bother to learn the names of people. They are beneath you. We don’t hate you because of how you failed Joss in his life, we know your remorse, we can forgive that, but you fail him still after his death. You fail everyone. How can someone with so much power and so much supposed wisdom have so little love for others? Get out of my sight until you can get your head out of your ass!” Rebecca then rapidly clicked and gagged out something that seemed too ordered not to be a language, but nothing resembling anything spoken on Earth or Equestria.  Triss actually flinched back then stared silently at Rebecca. Everyone held their breath.  Then Triss disappeared.  Luna rounded on Rebecca. “That was unca—” “I need a few minutes by myself,” Rebecca said in a whisper, sounding like she was ready to cry. She then walked off, head held low, ears sagging, and tail dragging the ground.