Second Night

[raisethemoon]

[Luna looks extremely pleased with herself, fairly beaming into the camera.]

Behold! [She swings it around, showing off a Kooma Panda fast asleep on her floor.] We hath created a bear! Her name is Ursa, in honor of our beloved Equestrian Ursae. We plan to paint her coat similarly to theirs as well! Doubtless, she shall serve as fiercely and valiantly as -

[The newly named Ursa yawns and scratches her belly, before rolling to face away from Luna.] ...ah, as...

[A silver-shod hoof reaches out to prod the panda in the back as Luna whispers urgently.] Ursa! This is thy introduction!

Comments

[dork_of_keys]

[Sora's not surprised in the least by the bear's anitcs. He's not laughing because he knows about stuff like this from experience. At the same time, he is smiling with faint amusement because it is still kind of funny.]

Looks like you've got a pretty mellow one.

[raisethemoon]

[Luna pokes Ursa again, to no effect.]

We suppose so. After the Post Office, we were expecting something a little more...active.

[dork_of_keys]

The ones at the Post Office might have started out worked up. That and Nightmares are usually more aggressive than Spirits anyway.

[raisethemoon]

'Tis true...

We shall simply have to work on it!

[dork_of_keys]

There you go. It'll work out.

[brodakota]

[North's Kooma Panda, Winnie, is determined to say hi because there is another Panda and he needs to greet it. North can be heard over the enthusiastic Panda's face.]

The Pandas are a good choice for a spirit.

[raisethemoon]

[Ursa groans and turns over, lifting a paw to wave blearily at Winnie.]

Oh, yes. Now thou art awake.

[brodakota]

Sometimes it just takes the right motivation.

Sorry, Winnie gets excited easily.

[raisethemoon]

We can only hope that battle shall also prove a motivator.

[brodakota]

It should. At least, it does for Winnie and I thought he would be the type to avoid fights. He'd rather make friends with people.

[raisethemoon]

That can be an admirable approach...

[allfunandgamesuntil]

[York grins at the screen.]

She looks pretty relaxed. At least she doesn't have stage fright.

[raisethemoon]

[Luna sighs.]

We suppose 'tis for the best we did not hold a full induction ceremony.

[allfunandgamesuntil]

How does that go?

[raisethemoon]

Well, having passed previous examinations, the pony in question must satisfy the captains of both the Solar and Lunar Guard. Traditionally, there would be a ceremonial exchange of blows, to ensure their dignity and poise under pressure. After this, my sister or I would accept them amongst our chosen ranks and confer unto them their enchanted armor.

We are given to understand the process hath changed somewhat, however...the last Lunar Guard induction was a hasty affair, so we hath not yet been able to see the new ceremony in its fullness.

[allfunandgamesuntil]

Sounds pretty fancy. She shouldn't be sleeping for that; she should be honored that she's getting the post. I would be.

[raisethemoon]

'Tis an honor indeed...

[Oh dear. Now she's tilting her head at him, like she's got an idea.]

[allfunandgamesuntil]

You look like you just got an idea.

[Wait, she cannot be thinking what he thinks she's thinking.]

[raisethemoon]

[That may or may not be a good smile.]

Perhaps we have.

[This will require a little more thought and planning, maybe. But whoever heard of a princess whose only honor guard consisted of animals?]

[unrecovered]

...as soon as she wakes up, right?

[He's smiling, though. He is not above teasing the princess.]

[raisethemoon]

We suppose we hath had guards with worse discipline. [Poke poke] She is less than an hour old.

[unrecovered]

Yeah, I hear newborns sleep a lot.

[Sorry, Luna, it's not often he actually gets to do the teasing instead of the other way around.]

[raisethemoon]

Ursa Minors especially. [She blinks as something occurs to her.] Oh stars, you do not think these creatures hibernate?

[unrecovered]

[Now there's a thought.] I don't know. Given that we're already in a dream world, I kind of doubt it.

[raisethemoon]

We hope not...

[4letters4ninja]

Ah, you decided on one of the pandas too? [She looks at hers, who is currently harassing Fluffy, because he probably deserves it.] They are impressive fighters.

[raisethemoon]

And impressive sleepers.

[4letters4ninja]

When it wakes up, you will have your hands full enough, if yours has a similar personality to mine.

[raisethemoon]

Ah, well, she is not so big as a newborn Ursa Minor. We shall manage.

[colorbymemory]

[Namine smiles.]

Ursa's a nice name.

[raisethemoon]

Thank thee! We named the first ones as well.

[colorbymemory]

The first ones?

[raisethemoon]

The Equestrian Ursae! They are great star-bears that still live in some wild places in our homeland. This is an Ursa Minor - [Her horn glows, and a small image of a starry blue bear appears.] - which shall grow and mature into an Ursa Major. [This bear is purple, and somewhat more alarming-looking.]

[colorbymemory]

Oh!

[Namine's eyes widen. Those bears definitely look like they could be trouble.]

Do they cause much trouble?

[raisethemoon]

Neigh, of course not! They are the gentlest and sweetest of creatures! Many times hath we played with them in our youth! We do hear tell a Minor nearly stepped on some homes in Ponyville last year, but 'twas only because some horrid unicorn tore him untimely from his mother, the poor dear cub.

[Luna may not the most objective judge here]

[colorbymemory]

So it's a case of looking fiercer than they are.

[Namine knows a little about that. She also knows a little bit about "nicer around some people than others".]

[raisethemoon]

Indeed! They are only fierce when endangered, or when we call upon them for aid against our foes!

[colorbymemory]

Maybe Ursa will be the same way. Quiet now, but helpful when the Nightmares attack.

[raisethemoon]

We shall see. We hath not yet been out Nightmare hunting together.

[go_dream]

Ursa looks kind of sleepy. [He smirks.]

[raisethemoon]

Thank thee. We had not noticed.

[go_dream]

You're welcome. Is this your first pet?

[raisethemoon]

[Siiiiiiiigh]

Neigh. We hath one other spirit, a Komory Bat named Noctis. He is out. [She's also had a great many other pets over the millenia, but maybe let's not get into that.]

[go_dream]

Oh. Cool. What's he doing?