I did not expect to see the T_Star in the network.
It had been a few days since the singing of Ms. Rigby, and since neither side made any promises, I didn't feel any obligation to come back the next day. I then had to push it to the back of my mind to deal with some legitimate anomalies, always a pleasure. The fact did eat at me: There's another world, one with life on it, that we haven't found yet, because it's probably in another dimension. But it wasn't something I thought about all the time.
Which is why I kind of flipped when I saw the thing, and it stopped in its path when she saw me. I fumbled with my microphone for all of about two seconds before stammering: "What are you doing out here?"
"Learning!"
"Learning."
"The network is like a superlibrary. There's information, data, statistics-"
"And at least a few people who use the net unscrupulously, and possibly a few governments and organizations who might inquire into you. Just because we're mostly anonymous on the network, it doesn't mean that everyone is on the side of privacy."
She sighed. "I know, I know. But I was also kind of hoping to find you."
I raise an eyebrow at that. "May I ask why?"
"Well, for starters, I'd like you to meet my friends."
"Come back when you figure out a way to access the net without the user needing to actively use magic."
"Actually, I was thinking that you'd come to us."
"Care to elaborate?"
"I'm kind of in your world right now, right?"
"The network is not my world, you know that better than anyone else on your planet."
"It's close enough." I shut my mouth to hear where this is going. "So, you have space travel, universal networks, but you don't have magic, and you can't yet resolve a digital entity into real space, can you?"
"Is this going where I think it's going?"
"With magic, we could rez your avatar into my world, and you could use it to represent yourself, like you're doing right now!"
I resist the urge to laugh. "For real. Is that even possible? Maybe you should check with your superiors."
"I actually already have. Celestia said it would be great."
I stumble back in my seat, mixed emotions, but oddly enough, panic is what takes the forefront. "Wait, you're not kidding. This is legitimate. Exactly when are you planning on doing this?"
"Any time you're ready. You showed us your world, right? It's only fair we show you ours."
"Uh...see you at noon?"
"Sounds great! See you there...or, I guess, here!"
I was not originally looking forwards to the meeting. I was skeptical of not only the claim of permission, but of the actual action. If we can't do it with even the best technology, then how can they ever hope to do it? Then I remembered magic, and got even more skeptical, even with all the examples I've already seen.
That changed in a heartbeat. I saw the way the T_Sparkx4 were set up around an area which spoke to me Place Avatar Here without needing any words. They were at the corners of a tetrahedron, as if to scan my avatar from all possible angles with the limited resources. The T_Star was taking care not to move in the middle of them, but seemed to be continuously checking their position to make sure they were perfect. And it was using the scan laser that it learned from me! I proceeded to scan them all myself.
"Yes, that's a tetrahedron. This...looks like a perfect setup."
"Wha...? Oh! Thank you! If we're going to rez the avatar, it needs to be scanned first."
"Yes, but then what? Just because you know what it looks like, doesn't mean that you can physically form it. How are you going to do the actual rezzing?" I hope she speaks to me with technobabble, please be technobabble. It would ensure she understands what she's trying to do here.
"Well, is your computer connected to a router wired or wirelessly?"
"Wired. It's faster, but restrictive." A brief pause. "What are you planning to use as a router?"
"My horn, of course. And wirelessly, also of course."
"You're sure it's that simple."
"I actually did quite a few calculations. Just so you know, there's not much difference between performing science on your world and learning magic on mine."
"You didn't say 'doing' there."
"You need to know how to do a spell before you can actually cast it."
"Fair enough. And once my avatar is given physical form, will I need to keep it near the router?"
"I accommodated for that. You should be just fine to explore."
"All right. I suppose there's no putting it off any longer. You're sure this will work."
"Yes."
"Then do it." I move my avatar into the center of the Sparks, turn on some music, and take my hands off the keyboard. I watch as my avatar pulsates, then gets bombarded with scan lasers. In a few minutes, they stop-and then the screen turns white. And stays there for a full half minute. "Funny, my music seems to be stopped on 'mega mega white thing' right now..."
And then it faded, revealing the internal of what I could only assume to be Twilight's house. I look around the place, then speak. "Is anybody home?" No answer. "Did it work?"
That gets a response. "Yes, it did. I guess I should say...welcome to Ponyville, and my world as a whole."
I can't think of anything to say. I just mumble "mega mega white thing, mega mega white thing..." in time with my stuck soundtrack. Which is like a broken record, but there's no reason it would be doing this. Is it trying to send me a message?
I move the avatar for the door, but find I can't open it as is. Then I move for the window, and figure out the "message".
"Ha. The original 'mega mega white thing'. The sun." I then move my body for my own window and look out it. The sun is right above my head. "And I say it's all right."
I head back to my seat. "This is amazing, Twilight...speaking of which, I haven't seen you yet, not in your actual form. You mind?"
"Seriously? Just turn around." I feel like an idiot now. I do so.
"...whoa. You weren't kidding when you said unicorn pony."
"Well, you weren't kidding when you said human. Only fair, I guess."
"Yeah." I hear a tone in my headphones. "Aaand I just got a cue. Sorry, but I have to leave."
"Okay. Assuming you analyzed how it was done-"
"-which I didn't need to do, the Sparks 'regurgitated' information while scanning-"
"-then you should be able to come back anytime-"
"-through your horn? The one that may be in use? Or that you might not want me coming out at the time?"
"If you attempt to come here, I can easily either block access or let you through. And it won't be very draining."
"Sounds great. See you around."
"Bye."
I log out.