[ Video ]

[celestial_wizard]

[ The feed turns on, with Lucy sitting on the edge of the fountain in Traverse. There is a Meow-Wow currently bounding about in front of her, full of life and energy, much to her amusement. ]

Hey hey, those cute little moogles helped me with those Dream Eaters you guys were telling me about. Just look at him -- her ...uh...whichever. Isn't it cute!? [ She giggles, then ohs. ]

That reminds me, I promised I'd introduce some of my spirits to a few of you. Lyra and Plue should do, I think. [ She reaches to the keypouch at her side, drawing out two silver keys, swiping both into the air. ]

"I am connecting a path to the celestial spirit world! Heed my call and pass through the gate! Open the Gates of the Little Dog and Lyre. Come on Plue, Lyra!"

[ Incantation complete, there are twin POMS of smoke and sparkles, and seconds later are two figures - on Lucy's left, a young girl that looked about sixteen, holding a harp under one arm and looking far too excited for words. On her right, a tiny creature that resembled a snowman - and not a snowman at the same time; but he trembled, quickly hiding behind Lucy's right leg. ]

Comments

[unrecovered]

[What.]

[The.]

[Hell.]

[To his credit, Wash recovers from the surprise quickly; to his benefit, his expressions are still hidden behind his helmet. Still, she just summoned another person and a...snowman...dog...thing. Okay. Not any weirder than Dream Eaters, right?]

That's...handy.

[celestial_wizard]

[ And the other person is currently placing the snowman-dog on top of the Dream Eater, much to Lucy's amusement. Also she's oblivious to Wash's reaction because helmet and all. ]

Lyra and Plue aren't battle spirits, but they're both invaluable friends all the same.

[unrecovered]

[Time to see if Meow Wows make good ponies, huh.]

Then what do they...do?

[celestial_wizard]

[ So far, it's working out pretty good! ]

Plue is for companionship and Lyra provides entertainment - she plays that harp, or sings. She's really quite good.

Aaah, thank you Lucy-sama~!![ This last from Lyra, who moves over to sit next to Lucy, clinging to her left arm. Plue and Pudge, the Meow Wow, take a few hesitant hops before the spirits are cavorting around the pair in circles. ]

[brodakota]

[North is resting currently, even though it's fitful, so Theta's in control of the communicator today. He's looking at Plue curiously.]

That's really weird...

[celestial_wizard]

[ Plue peers curiously at the communicator from where he's sitting on Lucy's lap. Shivering like a chihuahua, he tentatively waves a paw. ]

Pu-pupun~..~!

[ Lucy giggles, gently petting the little creature as she tilts her head at Theta. ]

Weird? What do you mean?

[brodakota]

Why's he shaking like that? Is he cold?

[Theta does manage a small wave in reply.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Lucy giggles, shaking her head. ]

No, he doesn't seem to be. I think he's just a little nervous. He does shake an awful lot though, doesn't he?

[brodakota]

[Theta nods. He gets being nervous. He's like that to.]

Yeah, he does. He's going to be alright though, right?

[celestial_wizard]

[ Lucy nods with a quick grin. ]

Yeah, he's going to be fine.

[ She is distracted from this, however, when the other spirit who had been playing with the Dream Eater until now, suddenly reaches over to pluck Plue out of Lucy's lap, and set him down on the Dream Eater, giggling excitedly as the celestial spirit rides the other spirit like a pony. ]

Lucy-sama, look, isn't it cute? WHo are you talking to?

[ Sudden Lyraface leaning into the display, and Lucy giggles, pushing her back. ]

A friend. This is Theta, Lyra.

[brodakota]

[Theta backs away from the display, a little bit surprised. He kind of wishes North was available but he's trying to stay out of way.]

Uh...hi?

[icemaker]

[Gray will give a friendly wave to Lyra and Plue, but then get straight to business..]

Hey Lucy, have you named yours yet? I haven't named mine and I don't want it to have a lame name.

[celestial_wizard]

[ Both spirits wave back, one more timidly than the other, naturally. ]

Mine? I named him Pudge. [ Because he is a butterball of a Dream Eater, and it's a cute name! ]

[icemaker]

Pudge...? [Why does he have the feeling if Natsu were here, he'd be hungry just hearing that and ask if it tasted good?] ...Pretty fitting.

What would you name this guy? [He gestures to his Pricklemane, who is lazing by his feet.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ D: Because Natsu is just weird like that. ]

Hmmm... I'm not sure. I'd need to know his personality - I've never seen a spirit like that one here. What's he like?

[icemaker]

What's he like? [Gray frowns thoughtfully.] He's pretty friendly, I guess. He's good at fighting. He's kind of lazy the rest of the time though.

[celestial_wizard]

Hmhm... how does he fight? Does he have an element like you?

[icemaker]

He seems to boost my abilities or does these short range attacks. [He shrugs slightly.] Have you trained with yours yet Lucy?

[letteropener]

I don't believe I've ever seen magic of that nature before... They are connected to constellations?

[celestial_wizard]

Yeah. For every constellation there is, there's a spirit to go along with it. There may be countless more, but I haven't met them yet.

[letteropener]

I wish you could meet my student. She'd love to see this kind of magic.

[Brief, understandable sadness from Celestia. She feels no shame in admitting she misses her faithful student.]

Could you tell me more of the technical details?

[celestial_wizard]

Your student? She... isnt' here, is she? [ Lucy's voice dips a bit, sympathetic. But she brightens again in the question.]

Sure! What would you like to know in particular?

[letteropener]

No. Twilight Sparkle is not here. The only other Equestrian present is my sister, Princess Luna, and she was alone here for some time before I arrived.

[She says this with some regret, because while Luna hadn't truly been 'alone' in that she had made friends here, the idea that she had been taken away from the sister who loved her galls Celestia.]

What are the precise mechanics? Is this a true summoning, in which you are magically transporting the spirits here?

[celestial_wizard]

Yes. I use my magic to open the gate between this world and the Spirit world, and support them when they're pulled through to this plane. But because they're using my magic, depending on their level of strength, I can keep them summoned for only so long before they go back lest they drain my magic completely.

Sometimes they come on their own magic power though, to help out.

[letteropener]

So they are truly allies, and not merely contractual partners.

[Celestia approves of that sort of relationship very much.]