//------------------------------//
// Day 10: Terms and Conditions 
// Story: Phase Shift 
// by redtau 
//------------------------------//




Notes on another world Day 10


I've been given about fifteen minutes to make myself presentable before dealing with the local royalty. Or potentially, the local deities. Some quick notes.

1) Teleportation is bad. At least local teleportation. Imp says I've got about forty-eight hours to get an anchor or get back the the conversion pod or I am walking home.

2) The dimension jumper's primer is shit when it comes to diplomacy and politics. Consists of zero useful advice and a huge list of "Don'ts".
"Don't eat the natives." 
"Don't declare war on behalf of ARCO." 
"Don't surrender on behalf of ARCO." 
"Don't assassinate anyone on behalf of ARCO." 
and finally "Do not, under any circumstances, use your exotic nature, strange power, etc to have intimate relations with the locals."

3) The Equestrian government is a complex mess of elected representatives, appointed officials, nobility and captains of industry all capped off by the apparently immortal princes. I'm about to go out and ask to be an ambassador for ARCO. I have no idea how to do that.

4) From what Dusk told me before I got to the bathroom I caused a decent amount of property damage today. He paid for it. He wants me to pay him back. I have no idea how to do that either.

Times up, wish me luck.







The Elements of Harmony and the Princes of the Sun and the Moon sat around the large cage in the center of the library. To ease concerns after my rampage through the marketplace, I was sitting in the cage. To ease my concerns over capture, the door was not only unlocked but completely removed. Since there were at least four creatures present capable of containing me by magic alone I knew this was more a compliment than any real promise of security.

"Perhaps it is best to start" Prince Solaris said "by stating what we hope to come away from this meeting with."

I nodded. 

"My primary concern is for the protection of my ponies." Solaris nodded towards his student. "As much as Dusk might prefer to prioritize understanding. Twice you have been badly injured, for which I must express sympathy. Also twice you have shown a single minded pursuit of items to restore yourself, both times inflicting property damage."

"But not damage to any pony." Rainbow Blitz pointed out. "He actually had me at Elusive's house and tossed me out rather than hurt me."

A point in my favor at least.

"There is also the question of any other abilities you might have that could be dangerous, so I'd like some kind of assurance that you won't hurt anyone." Solaris smiled. "After that, establishing more formal relations and furthering understanding are secondary."

"Understandable. Under other conditions I would be pursuing the formal relations and understanding primarily." I winced as I felt a cold fire tugging at my gut. "There are other things that need to be addressed more urgently. I require an anchor to stay much longer, without it I either need to get back to my ship and return home or I'll be walking back."

"How does one walk between dimensions?" Dusk asked curiously.

"Prince Solaris, during the extended teleport, did you see anything?" The prince shuddered at my question. "That is what I walk through, and there is no guarantee I'll make it to the other side."

"Uh, if you could give us some idea of what you mean," Applejack asked, "Just so we're all on the same page."

"I'm surprised we can even be on the same book!" Barry joked.

"Imagine I live on the far side of the Everfree Forest and I want to visit Ponyville. I don't have wings but I've got a big spring and a very long rubber band. I throw myself over the forest and land here. An anchor holds me here so the band doesn't pull me back."

"But wouldn't the rubber band pull you back through the Everfree forest?" Elusive asked

"Yeah, very fast, through monster dens and past hungry beasts." I grinned as most of the ponies pale a little at the thought.

"An anchor would hold you here?" Prince Artemis inquired. I nodded. "Already you have shown some fair amount of power. Would your power grow with an anchor?"

"Imp?" I looked to my companion to better explain things, a good way to get out of explaining that I just don't know.

"There will be a moderate amount of power generated over time." Imp said. "That's a secondary part of the anchor, one ARCO uses."

"Right, when jumpers like me go home we take the anchor with us. The power buildup is used to help provide light, heat, and power to our civilization. A nice side effect to our exploration and discovery."

"Since my primary goal was to get you a little more under control I'm not sure I like you running around with more power." Prince Solaris frowned.

I looked to Imp for a long moment before turning back to the princes. "I can give you a- a very certain guarantee."

The prince raised an eyebrow so I continued.

"While it is generally best to get an anchor as a gift, it can be bartered for."

"Isn't that what you're doing already?" Rainbow asked.

"No, what we were doing was discussing things from a political standpoint. What we are discussing now is more binding."

"How binding?" Artemis asked.

"As in 'thou hast summoned and bound me to thy will' kind of binding." I said with a shudder. "But I get the benefit of arguing my contract before it's enacted. I can offer services and favors, as well as agreeing to limits, in exchange for an anchor."

"What happens if you break the agreement?" Dusk asked.

"My anchors burn me as a warning if I even try. If I push forward, the anchors stop being anchors and I get sucked into the void between worlds." I shrug, "It's a pretty effective deterrent."

"What sort of talents do you have to offer?" Artemis inquired. 

"I can repair things, unlock some things, and have an array of other small skills. My companions will offer me additional abilities like translation and healing that I might be able to use for others." I spread my hands. "Until my other companion activates I'm afraid I'm limited in what I can offer concretely."

"Then how about a favor for me and Artemis, along with a set of restrictions."

"The favor can't be malicious," I stipulated, "And has to be reasonably within the limits of my abilities."

"Agreed," Solaris nodded, "And you must not harm any pony if you can avoid it."

"Directly harm, I cannot track the consequences and side effects of everything I do."

"Fair enough."

"And you have to answer any question put to you honestly and completely." Dusk put in.

"I cannot agree to that." 

"Why not?" Dusk whined. "It's the best way for me to get information about your culture, civilization and such."

"Would you agree to it? So that I could get information about your culture, civilization, and such?"

"Of course." Dusk smiled with wide eyes, eager to share knowledge.

"Apologies for this your majesties." I nod to the princes and turn to face Dusk directly. "Sexual intercourse in incredibly pleasurable for my species and parts of my culture are based around it and its allure. To better understand and relate to your culture, please explain your biological reproductive process." I commanded of Dusk.

"It-" he started.

"And describe any and all personal experience and experimentation you may have had."

"WHAT?!" The unicorn was turning bright red.

"I'm just trying to make an example, albeit and embarrassing one.  Some parts of my culture and civilization may be disruptive or destructive here, and some parts are better kept private."

"An alteration then," Artemis proposed. "You may choose to answer any question, but you must answer honestly."

"I vow to answer questions with the truth." I replied, hoping to get away with partial truth at least.

"Acceptable." Prince Solaris nodded, pulling a small golden ring from beneath his regalia. "Dusk informed me a little of these anchors before I arrived, so I came prepared."

"Wait, are you able to accept multiple anchors?" Prince Artemis asked.

I looked over at imp.

"They will act as one and split any duty between them." he confirmed. "But if you take more than one at once and one of the set gets revoked they all get revoked."

"Good," Prince Artemis nodded, lighting his horn. A moment later a silver ring flashed into existence. "Then please accept a token from both of us, so that we may each have some level of control."

"A fair idea, having both of you in control means one doesn't have to run to the other if I go off the rails." I held out my hand for the rings. "Not that I'm planning to, mind. Do you offer these gifts as tokens of the contract we have spoken?"

"We do," the princes said in unison.

"Then I vow to uphold that contract to the best of my ability until my departure from this world or either of you request the anchors return." I took the rings and slipped one onto each hand. They were a little larger than expected so I ended up having to put them on my thumbs. "I'm guessing these aren't usually used for hands."

"Horn rings," Dusk clarified, "Unicorn jewelry. We might be able to resize them to fit you better."

"These are anchors now, so we would need to be careful not to break them. I'll see what my companions can manage later."

"Good," Dusk nodded, "Now that that's all settled." A scroll lifted from a nearby table and unfurled. "We need to discuss the damage you did to the marketplace and how you plan on paying for it."






I stood outside, breathing in the fresh air and listening to the wind in the leaves.

"Not a bad deal, all in all." Imp said, hovering up to perch on my shoulder.

I looked around at the ponies, many of whom were keeping a distance. I couldn't say if it was respectful or wary, but I was happy for it.

"Kill translation for a bit." I whispered, and shivered as the shift occurred. The little bits of gossip floating to me on the breeze were complete gobbledygook to me now. "This stays quiet."

"I'm not the best at quiet boss."

"There was another jumper, one who came here first."

"You supposed to meet up?" Imp looked around. "Are they undercover or something?"

"Their pod malfunctioned on landing, I'm hoping they are still alive. I want you to help me look."

Imp frowned. "You use the same coordinates as they did?" I nodded. "First jump right? You spend a week in the pod." Another nod. "What class companions?"

"Class B I think, the files were a bit confusing."

"Class B experienced jumper with more than two weeks head start?" Imp shook his head. "If they went to ground it's going to be damn hard to find any trace of them."

"But you can look at least."

"Boss I ain't a searcher or analyzer or anything like that. I'm here to help with the arcane, and help you adapt to this world so you can survive in it."

"Your adaptations so far make me melt in water and go feral if I get hurt." I grunted. "And that is on the Prince's almighty fix-it list."

I glared down at the short piece of paper in my hand. Dusk had kindly made a checklist of things to do. First was find a way around my water vulnerabilities and feral nature, a project Imp had assured everyone could be accomplished with a bit of time. Second was paying back the money owed for damages, a sum of around nine thousand bits. I had no real grasp of a bit's value so it was hard to say if that was high or not. The last item on the list, and the simplest in description and largest in scope, was to become an officially recognized ambassador for ARCO.

"You get help with the fix-it list." Imp pointed out.

"I get a spy, that's what I get." I groaned. "I get a pony who will look over my shoulder, read everything I write, and most likely report on any little slip up. As if living with the personal student of the prince wasn't bad enough." I shook my head and sighed. "You sure you can't help with the search?"

"Your tech companion will be more useful. I can boot her up in another week."

"I thought you were charging faster than that."

"Had to spend a little to bump your healing and such. Nothings free boss." 

I let out a long sigh. "Alright, kick the translation spell on again." I shivered as it took affect once more. "Come on, Barry lent me a few bits and I need a bite to eat. Lets see if any place is still serving eggs."

I stuffed the checklist back in my pockets, trying to ignore the last little note I'd scratched into the bottom. Solaris had pulled me aside and insisted on one last little detail, and I got the impression that a few plain clothes guards were going to enforce it.

Until a royal decree released me I was not to leave Ponyvile.