Trying a New Job
In Which I Expound On Earth Pony Magic
Forest Trails pointed out to me last night that since most of those that read this are not earth ponies, they would probably be interested in how earth pony magic works. I figure that she is probably right, so I decided to make a few quick notes for those of you that are interested. This will be very brief however, and I urge those that are truly interested to hit up their local library and check out the book 'Your Hooves and You; An Earth Pony Primer.'
So the first thing you need to know about earth pony magic is that it all extends from connections between their hooves and something else. The second thing to know is that it is not flashy. It is as subtle as possible. I would go so far as to say that it is shy, though the books I read disagree on whether or not the magic that we tap into is alive, or just something subconscious on the earth ponies part.
All earth pony magic is based on these two laws. For example; The folding trick that I pulled off with the egg was done because I was holding it in my hooves, and only possible because there was no-one around. I flowed power into it and altered its properties so that it was two dimensional and able to bend in the third dimension without causing stress to the egg. To give people an idea; it took me about ten minutes to do. Now take a look at Pinky Pie from the show who can slip a canon into and out existence in a fraction of a second.
As I learned from the books last night, there are other ways to carry more than one thing, you can shrink it, or make it weigh less. You can even with skill, slip it out existence completely and pull it back again later. The only thing you have to watch is that no one is observing what you are doing when you do it, otherwise the magic will fail and you will get hit with backlash.
As I understand it, backlash makes it so that an earth pony is unable to use their magic for a certain amount of time depending on how badly they messed up. If someone witnessed me folding the egg for example, I would have been without magic for several minutes. If someone caught me popping the egg out of existence however, I could lose my power for upwards of an hour. On top of that the magic I was trying to use wouldn't manifest in the first place leaving the egg unchanged.
One more interesting thing about backlash; the amount of backlash that a pony recieves is directly linked to how closely they are friends with the pony that witnessed their attempt. If two ponies are strong friends and one happens to witness the attempt, the resulting backlash is orders of magnitude less powerful. For example; if Forest Trails were to witness me attempting to fold the egg, the magic would have failed, but I probably would have only lost my power for a few seconds.
At the extreme end of this Two ponies who are completely in love with one another can actually witness each others magic with no ill consequences, and from what I understand of this book, doing so is considered a very sentiment act, shared either between parent and foal growing up, or between two lovers when the pony is old enough.
Now after all of this you might be wondering how Forest Trails could possibly teach me earth pony magic. The answer is that she shows me how it works (or rather, the effects of it working, for example going out a door on one side of the library and then walking in from the other side), and then explains to me how to do it. Her explanations get shown on the pony pad's interface so that I can see how to go about copying her.
Ahem.
So according to Trails I've been rambling. I guess that means that I should probably stop here. I might continue this tomorrow if you guys are interested, let me know in the comments. Hopefully no one found this too boring.
That said...
The First Day Of A New Job In Equestria
So I logged in and found myself at the library. The fire had died down over night and now sunlight was shining in through the windows. A sunbeam was shining down on me and the books that Trails and I had been reading the night before.
I was just glancing around trying to find her when I heard a nervous voice from above me ask, “Um? Hello? Are you Treasure Island?”
I looked up to find a smallish mare hovering in the air above me. She coat was pure white, and her main and tail were golden. The light danced in her mane giving her the appearance of a halo. My first thought looking at her was that she looked like an angel that had been personified. My second was that she looked way to nervous to be an angel.
“I... Uh...” I stammered for half a second before feeling a weird sense of shame, “Yes I am. What can I do for you?”
She gave a relieved smile, “Oh, good! Sometimes it's really hard to track certain ponies down. Would you believe that I've been trying to find you for over a day?”
“Yeah,” I said, “Sorry about that. I'm usually only around between five and six in the afternoon.”
“I'll keep that in mind next time I need to bring you something,” She said, “Oh, that reminds me.”
She reached into her saddlebags and fished around, “I have a delivery for you.”
“Oh? Who from?” I asked.
“Some stallion named Brazen Origin. Ah here we go!” She pulled out a set of saddlebags and tossed them down.
I caught them and looked them over, on the flap that closed them was Forest Trails cutie mark. Inside I saw a note saying; 'Forest Trails would love to see you wearing this.' I glanced back up at the pegasus who was still hovering above me, “Thank you!”
“You're welcome.” She said with a warm smile on her face.
She turned to leave, but I stopped her with a question, “If I need to send something how should I go about it?”
“It's actually pretty easy,” She replied over her shoulder, “Just go down to the post office at The Crossroads and ask for Shining Halo. I'll be willing to deliver whatever you want to send.” She took off again, and left a streak of golden light behind her that momentary blinded me.
“The Crossroads?” I asked, but she was already gone. The light of her passing turned to sparkles that slowly floated downward before twinkling out reminding me of fireworks.
“What about crossroads?” I heard behind me and turned to find Forest Trails coming out from behind a bookshelf.
I gave her a smile, “I don't know. A mailmare told me that if I ever needed anything delivered to ask for her at 'The Crossroads.' Does that mean anything to you?”
“Nope. If you want we could look it up later, but not right now. Right now we have a stallion to see about a job.” As she came up beside me, she gave me a gentle swat, “You shouldn't let yourself get distracted so easily.”
I winced, “Sorry, do you know a good shortcut to his place?”
She nodded, “Yeah, there is an unused alley nearby, just follow the route I take.”
She stepped behind a bookcase and I sent out a line of influence, following hers through the city till I felt it stop. I linked the location back to where I was and folded the two together. A second later I was through letting the power drop before anyone could see the fold that I had just stepped through. Ahead of me Forest trails walked out of the alleyway. I took a moment to slip on my new saddle bags and then I followed her.
We had arrived only half a block away from Maps To Adventure. As we walked I ended up passing Forest Trails because I was pretty excited. However just after I passed her, Forest Trails pulled me off to the side of the road, a tiny bit of a blush on her cheeks, “Treasure Island... Do you know what it means to wear saddle bags with the mark of a mare?”
Walking through Canterlot with an embarrassed Forest Trails
“No,” I said with a bit of a sinking feeling.
She chuckled, “I figured. It is a way of stating to the world your engagement to that mare. Or stallion if it is reversed.”
I blushed a bit myself and slipped the bags off again, “I don't think I want to move that fast,” I said with a nervous chuckle.
She smirked, “I didn't think so. If you want we could go get the mark changed-”
“Or,” I said cutting her off, “I could give it to you. It wouldn't have any implications that I am not aware of would it?”
She blinked taken aback, “I... Uh... Well. No. I don't think so. But you-”
I silenced her with a hoof and slid the saddlebags onto her back, “For you, my dear Forest Trails.”
She blushed really prettily, I turned and started walking again, though I went slow so that it would be easy for her to catch up. After a few seconds she did. She had regained her composure, but her cheeks were still a bit pink. And every now and then I noticed her glancing at me. I unfortunately am not the type of guy that can read body language like that well, so I don't have a clue what it meant.
When we were about to step inside the shop she glanced at me with a twinkle in her eye, “So, I guess this is what it is going to be like being your marefriend.”
“Hmm?” I questioned.
“Having all my gifts from you be hand-me-downs.” she said, her twinkle growing into a familiar smirk. I stumbled and she she took the lead stepping inside the shop ahead of me.
“I- Hey!” I chased her into the shop, and found Free Breeze standing between the two of us. He turned to face me and behind him I saw Forest Trails playfully stick out her tongue.
“Island! Hey, how are you?” Free Breeze said either missing or ignoring the byplay.
“Erk” I said before composing myself. “I'm doing fine. I'm ready to go!”
He nodded and adjusted his saddlebags, “How 'bout you miss?”
“Always ready,” she said, her smirk disappearing and a serious look replacing it.
“Right, then it's time to go!” He said with a grin, his horn lighting up. A moment later the three of us teleported in a flash of light.
As I got my vision back from, I glanced around and found that were standing on a beach. To one side of us the ocean rolled, and on the other I could see several large palm trees growing. High above the palm trees I could see a mountain standing tall. “Where are we,” I asked fairly surprised. I had been expecting to take a train or something.
“I don't know,” Breeze said with a grin. “Why don't you try to figure it out?”
“You don't know where we are? You're kidding right?” He shook his head indicating that he was not. I sighed and stamped a hoof against the ground sending out my power in a pulse, just seeing what was connected to the point of ground I was standing on. As the pulse spread out I realized that we were instead on an island that was fairly large. As my power got spread over a greater and greater distance the details got fuzzy, but I kept it up till I hit the nearest major land mass.
The nearest continent was over a thousand miles away. I turned to stare at Breeze, “We are on an island in the middle of the ocean. I think you're spell failed.”
He shook his head, “Nope. It goes and finds a random unexplored area that I can survive in. So it won't drop me in space or anything.”
As I was thinking over the sheer insanity of it Forest Trails spoke up, “Canterlot is about twelve hundred miles north west west of here.”
I glanced at her, “I think I need to practice more. I could only tell that there was land out that way.”
“Do it in multiple steps. When you find land, send your power out in a narrow line and use the edge of land as your new epicentre,” she replied.
Free Breeze looked out at the ocean, “That is a good distance. Actually you don't have to worry. I have a return section as part of the spell, so that I can return to Canterlot as long as I and everyone I took with me are together at our arrival place.”
I nodded, “That makes more sense. Still, what do we do now?”
Free Breeze and Forest Trails glanced at each other and grinned. Free Breeze replied, “Simple. We head to the highest point on the island and do some mapping, then we go explore anything that looks interesting.”
I nodded and we started walking. I practised a bit more earth pony magic as we walked. Small stuff so that it wouldn't get disrupted by the other two. I started to get a fairly good idea of what the island looked liked, but found that there were a few caves that messed with my head when I tried to send my power into them. I also spotted some ruins, but they seemed twisted off the rest of the island somehow and it seemed the only way to get to them was by passing through a water fall.
I shared this with the others as we walked and Free Breeze mentioned that a lot of the most interesting areas didn't bother conforming to normal geometry. That was one of the reasons why we were going to get a look from the high point. The way that earth pony magic worked actually meant that the view I was getting of the island would be distorted compared to what someone would see if they were flying over (actually the other way around. I was sensing the true island, and someone flying over would see the island distorted).
Notes From The End Of The Day
We made it to the top of the peak that was in the centre of the island. There is actually a small cave up here that we are going to camp in for today, and then tomorrow we will do some exploring of the island.
Back on earth we actually finished the claims a day early. My father and I split up today and each managed to finish a claim on our on and we are actually on our way home as I am typing this. It's just another hour drive till I get to my computer and I wanted to get this post up while it was till fresh in my mind. That means that I will actually be able to read your comments again.
Oh, and Trails apparently wants to add something so I'm going to let her take over writing for a minute.
Dear Brazen Origin,
I applaud your skill with pranking and thank you for being an opportunity to be a part of it. I would like to let you know that I feel indebted to you for this great honour. Indeed, it is not every day that a mare gets to be publicly embarrassed, and I look forward to answering the questions of my family when I get back home. It shall surely give me a great opportunity to explain to them that I am not about to be married out of wedlock.I would like to repay this kindness, but as you are a visitor my options are limited. However you shouldn't worry. I am a mare with many talents, and of great imagination. I always to pay my debts.
Sincerely
Forest Trails
It's interesting. I've never seen her smile quite so sweetly as she did while she was writing that letter. I think I'm going to sit a bit further away from her right now. I'll see you in the comments in an hour. Till then.
Susland
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Earth Pony magic is so complicated. I'm glad I'm a unicorn. Somepony sees me teleporting something, they just pass it off as perfectly normal. Now I want to go spy on Earth ponies and see if I can't mess with them.
Just got in. I'm grabbing a bite to eat then I'll get to replying.
Looks like a lot of comments to catch up on
...wait.
None of the books I have say anything like that!
You realize you just gave away the great racial secrets of the Earth Ponies, don't you? Squeeee, Earth Pony secrets!
Also, who was Brazen Origin?
Not much to report on my own Equestrian adventures lately except that Izzy is really coming along. We've started flying places together, racing pegasi throught the skies, you know. Desert Sun is actually dealing with some conflict in his sietch about how to configure their Sliding of the Sands (autumnal equinox for desert areas of Equestria, apparently).
OoE (Out of Equestria): I'm really actually hoping the game AI is good enough to make "Izzy the Ziv" a conscious, living creature. I haven't loved a pet this much since our first dog
.
But you do look so sweet together(in that picture you posted). And you found out something very important about Trails, plus the fact that she did not say no. Her first reaction was embarrassment followed by a polite question. Had her answer been no, it would not have gone down that way.
3238921
Well considering these books are in the Canterlot public library it's not that secret. Did you ever try looking under anything other than magic? It seems like earth ponies don't tend to use that term very much.
Also a quick check of the comments shows that Brazen Origin is silvadel.
3238908
Are we checking the same ones?
Hmm... a very strange thought. Are we sure that mechanics are constant across shards? In theory Celestia could alter them to fit the ponies that inhabit each shard. We already know she messes a bit with the mechanics of how player stats look.
I donno, just a thought. Probably not even right
3238616
I will say that Earth Pony magic is tricky to use, but it is also very rewarding. And don't mess up poor earth ponies. How would you like losing your magic for a day?
3238962 with regard to pjabrony.
Actually that is NOT how earth pony magic works -- you haven't gotten deep enough into that book of yours -- try chapter 14. In the case of a pony deliberately trying to mess with an earth pony's magic, they become the most unlucky pony on equestria. Things like anvils falling from the sky due to a botched mail delivery have been known to happen in these cases. CF when Twilight tried to explain Pinkie Sense and followed her around all day. You can't lose your magic unless it is your own fault.
You said that you have trouble reading between the lines, so I'll just point out that even though she was joking it would still be a good idea to buy something nice for her when you get back to Canterlot. If that would feel too much like you're only doing it because she half-suggested it, consider it thanks for all the magic she's been teaching you.
Also, considering how much of an impact Shining Halo had on you for such a brief meeting, I'm going to put my prediction in here that she'll turn up again at some point!
3230143
Fair point. As you point out, it would be fun to do, but it isn't really practical. I guess I got a little bit too excited over the thought of having my very own time machine.
3230339
I'm actually doing much better now. I think I'll be back to perfect health in the morning
3230360
Look, Trails and I are now dating. However I would still be hesitant to use words like smitten. Consider the fall out if it turns out that a long distance relationship can't work? If I am truly in love it would be devastating.
I really don't even want to think about it to be honest. >.<
3230497
I'll take a look. In the lost fleet books the ships don't even have windows. Why would they when windows are a structural weak point that seldom show anything interesting anyway? Another fun thing the books poke fun at is orbital space stations and how useless they are for defending a system, as well as the fact that if you are on a planet and a ship jumps into the system, if they want cause wide spread devastation it is as simple as launching a few rocks while moving at point one light speed. It's not like the planet or cities can get out of the way.
A quick glance at schlock mercenary makes me think I'll like it
3230528
Yeah, okay, that is a good point too. I'll talk with her about it. But as AFan said, it doens't make logistical sense anyway.
3230544
I can't believe I never saw that parallel before. I feel so blind. >.<
3230560
That... Is a disturbing thought. I like her because she isn't perfect because I would find it disturbing if a person was made to be perfect for me. However now that I suspect that she is made for me because she is not perfect and I know I wouldn't accept perfect would that mean that she is no longer perfect?
3230568
See my response to book burner just above this one.
3230696
So it was your bag that I got. I think you might be in a bit of trouble. Just so you know, no hard feelings between us. I got to give a nice expensive present to Trails because of it.
3232989
Actually I have suspicions that she might have wanted me to go looking for her. That said your explanation makes a lot of sense too. It isn't important now I guess, but now you've made me curious.
3233225
For me I get that feeling the most when contemplating time and the amount of free will a person can have when time is theorized to be a solid state that is unchanging. Also because I am a Christian I believe God can see every single point in time simultaneously. That means he already knows what I am going to type. If he knows what I am going to do, do I still have free will to do it?
3233348
Nice. Very Nice.
3234207
I don't believe in the ten thousand hour rule. There are many things that I am decent at that I haven't done for ten thousand hours. It might be a good guideline, but it isn't a rule or a law.
As Dunbar and the rest, I can barely keep up with 2-3 friends at a time. That must mean that I am massively socially underdeveloped.
3234262
You sorta got your wish with this post... I'll talk to her and see what she thinks.
3234351
The UI for using earth pony powers. The closest that I can explain it is think of a top down racing game, except instead of racing, you are trying to use it to write the answer to a math problem you haven't solved yet before someone walks in on you and asks you what you are doing. That is the closest feel that I can imagine.
If you want I can go into the mechanics and interface more in a later post.
I also just had an idea, I can spend some time when we are walking somewhere to fill in Trails on some of the more interesting comments from down here. If she says anything interesting back I'll be sure to relay it.
3234369
Will do!
3234664
Hmm... I don't know much about being a unicorn honestly. Maybe if you are lucky you will run into Trails parents, or whatever equivalents exist in your shard.
3236192
Thanks. I think.
I'm not good at taking complements
sorry.
3236399
I think I know what you mean after today. Those caves I felt are really hard to grasp even as an earth pony.
3236582
Bah! We've all seen Pinky teleport on the show. Unless you seriously think that she can outrun Rainbow Dash!
Sorry, sorry. I think the game just uses mlp as an outline. You don't see any ponies really teleport except Twilight, but in the game it seems to be one of the basic things that most unicorns can do.
3238984 Taking an anvil to the face can be fun once in a while though.
3238984
I did spend a lot of time looking at the books. I had nothing better to do last night. I didn't see anything about that at all.
I'll ask Trails, but for now I think for now I'm going consider it evidence that mechanics can actually change from shard to shard.
3239010
That is a really good idea! Thank you for the suggestion. I probably should also take her out for a nice diner too. I did some looking and I actually do have some bits. I couldn't share it with her, but we could at least eat supper at the same time together in a fancy location in EO.
Hmm. Well I'll mark down your prediction. If you are right I'll try to put down a comment about how you called it.
3239132
That's probably good advice, but I'd have to read more carefully. I suspect that if I messed up I'd be left without magic for a while. Hmm... I'll definitely look into that.
That might be a good idea, but I'm already at my limit for reading for now just trying to learn earth pony magic. I think for now I'll just rely on you guys to warn me if I'm making a mistake.
I'm also not sure what you mean by that last question. I double check and I covered everything. Could you be more specific?
Just wait until you hit the fun caves and old ruins. I speak of course of the kind that has non-euclidian geometry. Those are fun.
3238962
Brazen Origin... stop. This is totally going to end up like that time I dated a mare from a different religion even though I knew I wasn't supposed to. That is, this is totally going to end in a really cute, lovely actual relationship that Treasure Island will feel guilty and wrong about anyway. Before I said I could hear wedding bells ringing in Canterlot, but seriously, I can hear wedding bells ringing in Canterlot. I am so totally shipping you two right now.
Also, you speak as if I've been to the Canterlot Public Library. Nope, too busy FLYING MY PET PHOENIX EVERYWHERE BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
3239132
TREASURE ISLAND MY BRO, SHE WANTS YOUR... hoof in marriage! What? What did you think I was going to say
?
3239133
Ok, here's where I stop being my normal douchebag self and speak seriously.
You are smitten. If you want to maintain the tiniest amount of emotional self-control, you need to accept that fact. And so is she. I am not joking when I say you two are really cute together and this could get long-term.
Now, here's the tough part. I don't know what happened to my previous letters about the subject... but I'm sure you've heard the rumors. This relationship might not end up being nearly as long-distance as you think it would be right now.
If you can't handle falling in love, or if the rumored events worry you, then you should leave Equestria now, or at the very least break up with Forest Trails. And quite possibly, never come back. Harsh, but true. Magic of Friendship: the only way to avoid it is to just cut yourself off from it, but to those of us with a tolerance, it's like mainlining joy.
Because I know what it looks like when a mare is looking at a stallion and thinking, He's mine and I love him!, and that is the look on her face. That or afterglow.
Nopony is going to make your big life decisions for you, so you need to make them. If you want to talk about it, we can meet up sometime. As my name implies, I kinda prefer coastal areas, but actually, I could try exploring for an island to settle on.
Ooooh, or a chain of islands, to build a series of volcano lairs on!
Your true, true friend,
Tidal Pool
PS -- Written from within Equestria, obviously.
3239133
Simple way of working around that: infinite improbability. He knows and sees everything you could possibly be doing/have done/will do, but there are so many different "you's" doing everything at the same times that even though he knows what you'll type no matter what, it's sort of weighted by probability. You are extremely unlikely to suddenly start talking about the benefits of using flying whales and flowerpots in coffeemaking when you're describing Earth Pony magic, but you could choose to do that – in fact, you did do that in some parallel timeline. So you do have free will in choosing which part that he already knows about is going to be the one that this particular iteration of you undergoes. I guess free will in regards to an omniscient god is really only as great and real as you perceive it to be. In a way (and this may be a bit offensive, but I'm merely offering it as
nightmare fuelfood for thought,) SIlestia is similar; she builds a profile of you, extrapolates your most likely responses to various scenarios, and puts weight on what happens in a shard accordingly. I'd go on about the religious similarities, but I don't think the comment section of a Let's Play is a great place to do that.TL;DR: of course you have free will, unless you don't see it that way.
(if any of that seemed scattered, it made perfect sense in my head and I can try and clarify it later.)
Well Brazen Origin, you're fucked.
3238616 You're evil, you do know that right? What would you say if I were to mess with your horn so you couldn't do magic for a week?
3239190
Your last words went like this:
I think it was just some fun and games in the background. Just curious.
3240038
I assume nothing (or try). My pony-self comes from a dangerous shard where details are the key to success and to baking a good cake. What? Normal things happen to my pony-self! Not like a 24/7/365 adventure happens all the time. Most of us troublemakers have non-troubling legal hobbies. Never-mind about that.
...
So... pet phoenix that you ride... does that hurt and do you think heavy metal music would go well with in the background while riding one? Just curious.
3238616
Looks like you ARE just curious. Peek-a-boo! Good earth pony-watching hunting!
[OOC: A couple of times you used descriptions like 'feeling' or 'sensing' the results of magic or other less visible information. I'd just like to point out, that in 'reality' (second tier) you're still sitting somewhere with a pony pad in your lap. Those descriptions make it sound like 'you' have already emigrated. Any UI can only do so much to convey information.]
When exploring such caves, I like to play with another computer nearby. I then map the caves on a graph and can easily add the connectivity of halls and spaces. That makes it much easier than to try to write it on parchment in the game. Some consider that to be cheating, but what is there to win? I'm just having fun and that's all there is. Besides, all that graphing has actually helped me in my job, because I can now much easier visualize complex class and object relations when programming. So who was saying EQO doesn't help in real life?
3239190
Everything else about EP Magic was right, I just was saying that you do not have to worry about other ponies specifically TRYING to spy on earth ponies to mess their magic up. If you take sufficient precaution you do not need to worry about that kind of outlier. The universe itself takes care of that instance.
Oh, and I am being sincere when I think you look really good together. I had my misgivings initially due to the circumstances of it all, the fact that Celestia very likely did set this up for you, and her initial reactions to the egg. However, as complex as Trails seems to be, and the reactions that she has shown, I have come to the conclusion that you are good for each other. Meaning I think you will make a better mare of her and she has helped you see things about yourself.
3240475
Challenged maybe but certainly not lost.
3239356
I got a glimpse of that yesterday. It gave me a bit of a headache. Though I hesitate to use the term 'non-euclidean' after I saw a rant on how AniChamber was not non-euclidean despite how much it messed with space.
3240038
I am being shipped with someone. This is a very odd experience.
Ho boy. I think we might be talking past each other a bit. To me smitten means a complete loss of objectivity and ability to make rational decisions. That is why I am denying that I am smitten. I certainly care for her, and want to be around her. I would even go so far as to say that I might love her, but previous relationships taught me not to bring up that word. Ever.
Now as for the relationship not being as long distance in the future, I have heard rumors of an occulus rift add on. I don't see it making much difference honestly, but then again all the videos I've seen of people using it swear it is the next best thing to being there so I don't know.
But the major point come down to that I don't know if I can make a long distance relationship like this work. That is precisely why I am dating Forest Trails. It is specifically to find out. I'm not the type to run from a problem because it might not work out. I like to make sure I fully understand why I feel what I do before I make such major decisions.
And if Forest and I did break it off, I wouldn't quit playing. That would be like deciding not to go to the library because a girl you used to date works their. If there is anything I have learned so far, it is that Equestria is vast.
Finally I wouldn't break up with Trails unless I felt there was no other way. I think you are right that she cares for me too and I don't want to break her heart no matter what.
3240363
My view of God works a bit differently than that. I came up with my current view when I was younger to answer questions like 'Why does God let all these bad things happen.' The upside is that I have an answer that hasn't failed me yet. The downside is that I sometimes get minor existential crisis's.
And no matter how awesome Celestia is, she is not even close to how I view God. Not even from within the game itself. Superficially maybe, but only superficially. In short Celestia can model my actions based on observations. God can see what effect every action he takes will have through all of time. And you are right, we probably shouldn't turn this into a religious discussion. It tends to lead to bad things.
3240475
Well, I guess I shall get to see how creative Forest Trails can be.
3240809
She felt that I was beginning to ramble so she grabbed the parchment and sent it. I guess the Quit that transcribed when we were wrestling over it.
3241123
Trust me, it was better for everyone that I described it like that. Seriously it was. My first draft was started to go on for three paragraphs on how the interface worked before Trails poked me and told me it would be better to just shorten it. Tell you what, I'll do a basic write up of how the interface works and add it to the start of this chapter.
That said I will keep using words like feel and sense for the game play sections because they sound better, and because they don't interrupt the flow of what is happening with long technical explanations that I would have to give otherwise.
Also it is cool to see that EO is helping you in the real world. That is really neat!
Wow, you have been having some wacky adventures bro, I just got my name. If I ever encounter you, just took for the mare with a semi-light-dark blue coat with a mane kind of like vinyls' but darker blue-purple with darkened cyan streaks. I'll have a surprise gift for both you and trails. Just you wait.
Writing from Equestria, your random acquaintance, Moonlight Shine
P.S. Hey Forest, want any help with the revenge?
You meant "cannon," but I really like the mental image of Pinkie shuttling entire continuities back and forth. Maybe she's at work behind the scenes at FiMFiction!
Reading the bit about earth pony magic was oddly immersive; up until when you mentioned the PonyPad, it was as though you were writing as Treasure Island rather than as Susland. I'm not complaining; it was just an interesting experience. Oh, and thanks for the book recommendation.
One last thing; when next you see SIlestia, see if she can enable Forest to see our comments. I've certainly never seen a co-op LP done by a player and an NPC before.
(Not to demean Forest, mind you. It's just that she is an NPC by the strictest definition of the term. No one's playing her.)
3240809
If we had some way of actually playing heavy-metal music while many hundreds of meters into the skies, yes, we would be.
3241231
You should not have written that. Don't even articulate that idea to yourself, no matter what. Go get an IRL girlfriend.
You just gave CelestAI a massive trump card. Remember that this game builds its storylines around your values and emotions.
I have been trying to warn you, but there's only so much I can say without just spilling the beans on one of the most nastily worded Non-Disclosure Agreements in the history of ever.
The choice is not between dating Forest Trails or not dating her. "This day I call the heavens and earth of Equestria as witness against you that I have set before you life and death, curse and blessing. Now choose death, so that you and your children may die and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him."
3241231
EQO + Occulus =
I also heard they were doing something in Japan. Not sure what, rumours from a friend of a friend on a forum, but it's supposed to be "Revolutionary." Though seeing is as that word gets thrown around for everything these days, it's probably nothing.
[OOC: I really can't see why Celestia would add such a limitation to earth pony magic. It would probably turn off quite a few gamers, especially since they can't just switch characters, and that's something she wants to avoid at this stage.]
3243381 [OOC: Maybe. Limits and challenges can be an incentive to certain mindsets. Not all shards would have the same rules is what I figure. I don't think pony race has to be final. You could go questing to find a way to change your character. Or with enough information, Celestia would "nudge" you during character creation to your optimal identity.]
"The only thing you have to watch is that no one is observing what you are doing when you do it, otherwise the magic will fail and you will get hit with backlash." Mage: The Ascension anyone?
Since 'wedlock' is just the state of being married, I'm somewhat curious as to how one could be 'married out of wedlock' in the first place...
3960493
If I'm not mistaken, it typically involves a tractor, a ham, and a set of twins.
I hope the fourth wall doesn't count, because we've seen Pinkie do this.
3960493
Maybe it refers to acting married (a citizen's marriage) while out of wedlock (not officially being married). Her family assumes more than is reasonable from the available evidence, or she told a grey lie that it specifically means "engaged" when it actually means "MINE, NO ONE ELSE CAN MARRY" (more like a wedding ring than an engagement ring).
*waves* Hi, Eakin!