The hut was small, cramped even with three ponies to cram into it, but Rose insisted it'd be alright. It was, in a sense. The room grew unfortunately chilly as the night deepened and they found the warmth of fur and flesh kept it at bay. Eventually they all settled to sleep in a pile of pony bodies.
Twilight blinked open her eyes and began feeling around for her glasses. She could see it was lighter around herself but... There they were. She pulled the glasses closer with a hoof and frowned at the limb. What she wouldn't do for a hand... She tried to pick up the glasses and fumbled through the process several times before she managed to work them onto her snout and restore the world to acuity. "There we go."
Her words stirred Sunset from her rest and she sat up, startling a moment before she realized she went to sleep as a pony and woke up the same. "Morning Twilight." She sat up and looked around. They were alone in the small hut. "Where's Rose?"
Twilight looked around. Their little friend hadn't stayed around it seemed. "Well, unless he's literally in the walls, which isn't impossible, he's left."
Sunset spotted a brush and her horn glowed as she lifted the brush up and got it to work making her mane less of a mess.
Twilight gawked at her friend as she casually employed magic. "How are you doing that?"
Sunset blinked softly, then glanced at the brush Twilight was staring at, then at Twilight. "Oh!" She colored a bit as she realized what then seemed obvious. "We're unicorns. Unicorns can do this, with practice."
Twilight looked cross-eyed up at her own horn. "How?" She glared at the door, but produced little more than sparks.
"Easy there. Sparks means you're pushing too hard." Sunset reached out a hoof to Twilight's shoulder. "Imagine it like you're grabbing something, just, without an arm attached."
Twilight's mouth worked silently a moment before she nodded. "Right..." She glanced across at Sunset. "You realize we're both magical horses, right?"
"I got a lot of practice in before I left." Sunset rose to her hooves. "Not that I think this is... right. I don't recognize this place out of Equestria at all, but it still could be some little town nobody bothered to map."
Twilight let out a soft sigh. "Magically lost horses, fantastic." She turned her attention back to the door and tried to reach for it without touching it, and lo, it did work. Her horn glowed softly and the door opened obediently for her. Twilight let out an excited squeal at the result, clapping her hooves together with a clopping noise. Sure, opening a door wasn't a huge feat, but it was hers.
Outside, with the sun spilling into the small building, they could see the town was much more lively than it had been the night before. There were dozens on dozens of small ponies setting up for something. They put up new torches and set up fences in places while other worked busily to hang up decorations of flowers on the buildings and even polished a large stone statue of an equally squat looking pony. Around the statue were countless little trinkets and bits of art.
Sunset peered at the hive of activity curiously. "Do you think they're preparing for the spring festival they brought up?"
Twilight adjusted her glasses nervously. "I would imagine. Perhaps some ceremony to hope for good crops?"
"More than that!" A new figure appeared at the door. "Hello! Rose said he had some visitors, but he didn't mention they were so captivating." The small mare approached them with bright eyes. "Have you come to pay your respects to Lashtada, have fun, or are you looking for a special someone?"
Sunset blinked rapidly. "W-what? I want to ask who or what that is, but do you always come up to people you barely know and offer that?"
The small mare looked perplexed. "Offer a good time? I try to. Or do you mean some matchmaking?" She leaned forward, smiling at the both of them. "You must be from a city. Viljatown? I hear that's getting bigger really fast. Well, this isn't Viljatown, and we don't believe in hiding our feelings to be 'polite'."
Twilight rose to her hooves, looking over the pony curiously. She had brown fur and bright red mane. On her flank was a symbol that seemed to show two horse heads touching at the snout. Kissing? Nuzzling? Twilight supposed either would be appropriate. "What if we just want to go back to where we came from?"
The mare flopped to her haunches. "Well, I'd say that sounds not very fun, but I wouldn't stop you. Oh, let me get out of the way." She scooted to the side quickly to leave the doorway clear. "Seems a shame to travel all this way to see us, just to run away. Did we do anything wrong?"
Sunset advanced, exiting the building. "It's not you, or Rose? You were very, um, nice, but we didn't plan to come here."
The mare tilted her head. "Where did you plan to go?"
A new, male, voice called out, "did you say hello to the newcomers?" Around the corner came a new small pony, rushing up towards them. "Oh, there's one! Hello!" He rushed right up to Sunset and hugged her without hesitation or delay. "Welcome!"
Sunset discovered that the small ponies were especially fuzzy. They had thick pelts suited for the cold forest they called home. She also learned that they gave uncomfortably long hugs if allowed to. She gently pushed the stallion back and he parted without complaint, but it felt like he would have gone all day if allowed. "Um, nice to meet you both." She glanced around curiously before she saw the darndest thing. A mother-pony was escorting her little foal along, and it had a cutie mark. It was clearly too young to have one, not even a yearling, but there it was.
Twilight came out beside Sunset, eyes wide behind her glasses as she took in the bustling activity of the village. This turned into a surprised squeak as the stallion gave her a hug just as he had embraced Sunset. "Get it off!"
The mare pulled the clingy stallion away. "He does that with everyone he meets. You should see the expression on some of the visiting stallions."
The stallion nodded at Twilight. "I didn't mean nothing bad by it. Welcome! You're just in time for the Spring Festival. Are you--"
The mare cut him off with a thrust hoof and shook her head. "They're leaving."
He pouted at that. "What? But they're just in time... Lashtada must have planned it." He bounced upright. "Surely you were meant to be here. Please, reconsider."
Sunset narrowed her eyes a little. "Who is this 'Lashtada'?"
Several gasps came from small mouths as ponies stopped what they were doing to look over at them.
The mare smiled. "It's pretty common for outsiders to not know her. It still surprises us though. There." She gestured to the statue. "That is a statue of her. She is a goddess of love and fertility. She is also our mother. We were formed in her image, and she loves us, and we love her."
"We do," agreed the male. "During the Spring Festival, she descends from the heavenly planes to dance alongside us. It's the only time of year we can see her in the divine flesh, and feel her love personally. Oh please! It's tonight. You can't throw away a chance to see a goddess, can you?"
Twilight blinked with growing confusion. "Goddess?" She shook her head. "If... I mean..." Magic horses was about her limit. A goddess, that would appear physically? "How do you know she's real?" Sunset made some quick motions for quiet, but the words had already been spoken.
The mare blinked before a frown formed on her face. "Clerics answer her calls and perform miracles in her name, and the foals she makes with us are blessed and touched by the divine. Besides, she's our mother. You believe in your own mother, don't you?"
Twilight crashed to her haunches. "I don't have to 'believe' in my mother... She's fact."
The stallion nodded. "Yep, just like our mother."
The mare nodded in agreement. "If you'll stay, you'll see her yourself, and you can dance with us. Everyone has a good time."
The stallion suddenly perked. "If you're looking for partners that are more your size, there are a few other outsiders that'll be at the dance too. There's always a few for the Spring Festival."
The mare looked Sunset and Twilight up and down. "You're not that large. We could handle you if you're willing to give us a try."
What sort of 'festival' was this exactly? Sunset shook her head slowly with building doubt that she was in Equestria. "T-thanks, really, but we're both feeling overwhelmed. Could we have a moment?"
They wandered off, joining the crowd to prepare for the festivities.
Twilight leaned towards Sunset. "Did she say 'cleric'?"
"Huh? Yeah? So?" Sunset blinked at her friend with confusion. Of all the words to get caught up on.
Twilight tapped her chin before flagging down a passing pony. "Excuse me."
"Yes? Hello!"
"Hello." Twilight nodded at the stallion. "Tell me if these words are familiar or odd."
"Okay?" He settled down, ready to listen.
"Ranger, Wizard, Inquisitor, Barbarian, Rogue, Paladin, Sorcerer."
He blinked softly. "All names of professions."
Twilight gave a slow blink. "We're in a living game of Oubliettes and Ogres."
He tilted his head. "I don't recognize that third to last word."
Twilight gave a nervous smile. "Thanks, you've been a huge help."
"Glad to help." He wandered off with a pleased expression.
Sunset nudged Twilight in the side. "What?"
"You never played?" Twilight let out a slightly hysterical laugh. "We're in a roleplaying world, as magic horses... We're so doomed..."
Sunset shook her head slowly. "I never got into that... I mean, why play a game where I can pretend I can hurl spells when I literally came from that?"
Twilight quirked a smile. "Well, fine, alright, deep breaths." She was speaking to herself more than anyone else. "Sunset, I don't think this is your home."
"I don't think so either." Sunset frowned. "But alright, let's assume your theory is correct. What do we do about it?"
"Is panicking a valid option?" Twilight leaned against Sunset. "At least your magic works. Great, that's... something. If we run into a bugbear or something, I'm running the other direction while you take care of it."
Sunset tapped Twilight on the horn gently. "You're a unicorn. You could learn magic if you wanted to, but more importantly, you have to fix your phone and get it to take us back home."
Twilight let out a laugh that didn't try to hide her building hysteria. "Right, no problem!"
Well, at least she handled it better than her counterpart.
The worrying thing is if Twilight next rolls up her own character sheet, and Lashtada passes it.
Including those ability rolls you wish you never had.
Like plus 10 Courtesan.
First though, we wait to find out what level, classes, feats and abilities Twilight and Sunset are set up with.
Igor. My Universal D120 please.
I think that Sunset will be either a Wizard or a Warlock. Twilight is probably going to end up being a Sorcerer. Mage party for the win!
Sci Twi gotta freak, as is due for a Twi. Nice to know she's at least a little genre savvy, though
Ooooohh crap...they're in the early Empire Era, before the Short-Legs were almost completely wiped out...and knowing the laws of Narrative Drama, probably RIGHT before the attack that does so. ...Have fun girls.
Also, Twilight got screwed on the transition, didn't she? Especially since Everglow's world does include humans. Ah well, consequences of fiddling with a magic portal without having the manual on hand.
As for possible classes, Sunset will be something magical of course. Maybe Arcanist like Princess Twilight, but, given her obvious charisma (she was able to practically rule a high school through social manipulation) she would make a good sorcerer, but she's got the INT to go wizard to.
As for Twilight, I think she'd go for alchemist or some other scientific style class.
Me neither.
Because you misspelled Oubliette.
And holy crap, Lashtoodles? That's a long time ago...
They're talking about a lot of sex, right? Those are all double entendres, right?
Silly Twilight. You're not in an O&O game, you're in a variant of Wayseeker.
But yeah, having someone wise in the ways of tabletop RPGs could prove an incredible asset, especially if some irreplaceable components of the transport device are burnt out. Let's face it, with an entrance like that, these two would be locked into an adventuring role even if the story didn't star them.
Also, Lashtada clearly blessed the typos, for they have been fruitful:
Their.
Too.
Size.
Oubliettes and Ogres.
7292652
7292606 Lashtada is a kind goddess. She would see all creatures be fruitful, even typos.
To put it bluntly, yes. They are being invited eagerly to what often degrades into a wild party. One could call it debauched, but ponies form permanent marriages as often as not from the mess and families are formed without hesitation. The little ponies love... loving, in all its forms.
Dance with us!
7292698
Yeah. Sex positive and sex negative is pretty contextual...
Can't say that sleeping around is always simply good. Lots of bad decisions and pain and resentment lie that way.
Can't say that sleeping only in a strictly regimented way is the only acceptable behavior.
Is Lashtada neutral good?
7292726 She is neutral. Love is all the matters. Life begets life, and two halves of a soul finding completion is the end goal.
Sometimes this can be extremely selfish, or altruistic. This can follow the rules set out by society or spurn them and find its own path.
She claims no place in the war between law and chaos or good and evil. Let them fight. Life will live.
7292739
I was under the impression that Lashtada was good to contrast the other God's evil alignment of love.
Or was that just the Oracle whose name escapes me who was good, following a neutral god?
7292790 She was a goody good oracle, yes. Lashtada is not so selfless. If love blossoms from violence and tragedy, it's still love.
Kara wields love like a weapon. They are far from the same.
I can't wait until Twilight and Sunset run into a bugbear...of either variety. If they run into the Goblin variety, Sunset is going to be so relieved what with her version being able to fight an alicorn with backup by itself.
7292965 I'm not sure 'relief' is the first sensation to be had.
7292999 I'm not saying that it would be right then and there, more after the fact.
Sure.... "dance".... That's one way to learn about your body...
Keep going! ;)
Very interesting start.
accuity - acuity
*****
I have nothing clever to say, other than I'm really enjoying this new foray into Everglow. I'm curious to see when in the timeline this is happening. It could be long before Lashtada was all but wiped from the histories, or it could be long after she was rediscovered.
I can't explain why, but this made me laugh. It still makes me smile as I read over it again.
I think it would be hilarious for Sci!Twi to be a Pathfinder Psychic from the "Occult Adventures" splat book instead: Still magic, but she can have bonus abilities related to Friendship in the class as written! Alternately, and still tied to Twilight's Ur!Example: she gan get psychic powers from binge-reading.
And the ability to sling with magic day in and day out... (A Psychic cantrip lets a caster fling stones, loose detritus, w/e as a 1d6 bludgeoning ranged attack; basically a sling)
7293805
Pretty sure before. One of the natives referred to Viljatown in a way that sounded like it being a major city was a new thing, which would indicate that they're in the early days of the Empire.
7293805 Oops, another typo contained. Surely they'll all enjoy the party, right?
It was,
they were
others...pony. (period)
He knows "oubliette" but not "ogre"?
Also, genre-savvy Twilight could make for an interesting development.
7298858 Typos fixed!
Good to see a new cross over, want to sit and read it all now. Need to get some sleep as have work so will catch up tomorrow hopefully
I'm guessing this takes place in the Pathfinder game series only with ponies?
7321291 http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/125583/Ponyfinder--Campaign-Setting
So, is this a complete stand alone to Dangerous Sparkle?
7391337 It is neither seqeul nor prequel.
7391337
Or does it happen before the little horsies are destroyed by the love/lust goddess and Lashtada's book is stolen, or a while after where they got better.
Personally I hope it's the latter. This Twilight comes across the same guild the other found, and gets recognised from an old picture/painting of her other self. Her reaction to learning that not only was her other self here but she was a badass would be priceless.
All they have to do now is not say the evil 5 sentence word that would screw them over.
7292726
So are they...pony goblins or what?