001 | VIDEO

[amygdalae]

[Soooooo.

Bruce isn't exactly sure where he is, but its pretty clear he isn't in Kansas New York anymore. Or even America, for that matter. Possibly Earth too, considering his attempts to get information.]

Um.

[Should he be using this thing? Its kind of... yeah. Suspicious. Its not everyday you fall asleep to wake up somewhere else with a strange device on you. (Well okay, the first part is something that’s happened while the second... actually, nevermind that.)

At least the place is... interesting. For a lack of a better word.]

If there’s anybody out there watching this - I would appreciate it if I could have an explanation about--all of this. [Gesturing to his surroundings in question for emphasis, which is a nice shot of one of the districts for a few moments before its broken by the aborable sounds of a Meow Wow as it starts to jump up and down, taking the screen each time.]

[...yeah so after a bit Bruce angles the device back at him, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.] I did try asking, but I don’t think a couple of ‘kupos’ and a cat-thing following after me is exactly the answer I’m looking for.

[Attempts to put on a smile here. Just... help him out here, please? He would appreciate it, really.]

Comments

[visual]

[raisethemoon]

The story the Moogles would have told you is that this is a dream-world. The veracity of this is somewhat debatable, but we are all most certainly trapped here.

And that is a Meow Wow. A Spirit, as it happens, but they come in many different varieties.

[visual]

[amygdalae]

[Annnnnnd now he's seeing a pony on the screen.

Maybe this is some weird hallucination he's having after Hulking out so much or soemthing. Maybe. Like heck if Bruce knows what's going on.]

Ah. [Right. So. Dream world... Moogles... and Meow Wow. Who gives the names around here?] Trapped, you say?

[He's still trying to understand the situation, forgive him.]

[visual]

[raisethemoon]

There are a few other dream worlds one can travel to, but they are all equally contained.

[She eyes him. She's not totally unfamiliar with humans reacting strangely to her, but most are rather more vocal about it.] Art thou quite well?

[action]

[sailorlaughter]

[Oh goodness me, what is that approaching? Is it a pink pony riding on top of a gigantic cat thing? Yes. Yes it is. She stands, one forehoof resting on his crown for balance, and waves wildly with the other as they lumber-bounce nearer.]

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!

[action] I'm dying inside omg

[amygdalae]

[AS IF ONE PONY WASN'T ENOUGH--

Bruce hears them bouncing before he sees it, and once he does see Bruce kind of quickly scrambles to the side because dear god what is happening.

The... Meow Wow, on the other hand, just kind of toddles after Bruce, because... yeah. No point running.]

[action] it had to be done

[sailorlaughter]

[Pinkie keeps waving and "hi"-ing until they're close enough for her to slide down her Meowjesty's side, landing neatly on her hooves before Bruce.]

Hi! You're new here, right? 'Cause I've never seen you before, and there's really not even as many people here as in Ponyville, so I know pretty much everyone! My name's Pinkie Pie, and this is Lord Tubbington the Third, and this is your "Welcome to Traverse Town" cupcake!

[Don't question where she pulled that cupcake from. It looks perfectly good.]

[letteropener]

[Bruce is probably convinced at this point that this is a world of ponies...]

Welcome to the world of dreams. I'm afraid it's a very long story, and one we are still seeking the answers to.

what is with all the ponies /cry

[amygdalae]

[...it's kind of cutting it close, yeah.

This time Bruce is just going to... Stare a bit, because one pony is okay, two is still manageable but three is...

Maybe he is really dreaming after all.]

I see. [Awkward pause.] Um. Thanks for the welcome. I think.

mwa ha ha

[letteropener]

Allow me to first reassure you that, according to all the evidence we have, your absence here will not be missed by anypony who awaits you at home. Our stay in the dream worlds, no matter how long it seems to us, appears to be perhaps a night long to those in the waking world.

This is not a promise, but it is what we believe given what we know. I hope that can give you some comfort.

[sailorgenerous]

[If he's not already convinced, let's push him straight over the edge, shall we? Rarity greets him with a bright smile.]

You're in Traverse Town, in what we've been told is a dream world. The cat-thing is a Meow Wow. Don't worry - Spirits are very friendly. It's the Nightmares you need to watch out for.

I'd be more than happy to show you around a bit, if you like.

[amygdalae]

[...yeah okay what is with all the ponies? Did Loki put some spell on him or something during the battle? Is this why he's seeing ponies everywhere??]

I've been told the gist, more or less. [Kind of... by other ponies...

Again: why ponies?]

But, um. I appreciate the offer. If you don't mind...?

[Yeah okay let's just go with the ponies and see what happens after that.]

Placeholder~

[seasaltkeys]

[Oh! That's a new meow wow! Bouncer hasn't seem him before! That means new people and new people mean new friends and this is exciting person you should be excited about this!

However, it's mostly just Bouncer's nose on the screen right now, making a loud snuffling sound.]

\o\

[amygdalae]

[Oh thank goodness its no longer a pony--

--well, hopefully. Bruce quickly figures out that it's another one of those cat-things--Meow Wows. The Meow Wow behind him is also bouncing excitedly, clearly elated to see another just like it and is totally trying to get to the screen as well.

Hello other Meow Wow, get a screenful of Meow Wow back in return as well.]

[shadearchivist]

This place is the realm of sleep. Put simply, you're currently in a dream world, trapped with the rest of us. The "cat-thing" following you will be your companion and assistant in any fights you participate in. As to why and how we're trapped here, all of us are still endeavoring to answer that question.

[amygdalae]

[Okay most of that he had already heard, but there's one thing that stands out...]

'Fights'?

[Its not what he thinks, is it...]

[blitz_of_gold]

[Recognizes Bruce's clothing style from earth, and the confusion in his eyes. He probably didn't even know that Magic existed before he woke up! She Appears of the screen with her best smile.]

Hello! I'm Fate, I just arrived here too. I know its all a lot to take in, but everything seems mostly safe, and I have a little experience with this sort of thing.

Perhaps we should meet up? Compare new friends?

[Fate lets her excitable komory bat flutter into view.]

[amygdalae]

[Oh a nice girl... and helpful too, even though she just said she arrived too.

Well that's something at least.]

It's a lot, but I'm managing. [A hopeful smile. He doesn't want to be a burden to anybody, and he can manage himself. At least there's that much.] And, ah--I don't want to trouble you. You must be pretty busy yourself too.

[video]

[the_mechanic]

[OH HEY, HE KNOWS THIS GUY. It's a few moments before he responds, though, once he sees the entire welcoming committee. Tony is thrilled to see you, Bruce, promise, but absolutely nothing was going to get in the way of watching you react to PONIES. (Though you're handling it all considerably better than he did, kudos for that.)

When he starts the feed, he's still laughing under his breath, his eyes bright, though clearly he is not sleeping well, if one cares to analyze the dark circles under his eyes. Might also have something to do with exactly how hilarious the situation appears to him. ...nah.

He's a few months ahead of you, Bruce, though other than minorly different facial hair and a less-balanced state of mind (yes, it's possible), it's probably not overtly obvious.]

Banner! Of all the dreamworlds and possible alternate universes I could get sucked into, you walked into mine.

I see you've already been accosted by the welcoming committee.

[Yeah, still grinning.]

[video]

[amygdalae]

[Tony? Is that Tony?

Oh man, it is Tony. Talk about a sight for sore eyes. Even though he barely knows him still at least having a face he actually recognizes is something very good. Much better compared to ponies and everything else, at least.

He's so glad, in fact, that he doesn't quite notice the difference in Tony yet - just relieved that there is somebody who he knows.]

I'm assuming you mean the ponies. [Have a wry smile here.] For a while I was starting to think this was some sort of magical ponyland instead of a dreamworld they're telling me.

[video]

[whoseesbynight]

Of course there are people watching this. You didn't think it was just the mewgles, did you?

[video]

[amygdalae]

Well, I had to be sure.

[video]

[alwaysfaithful]

[The feed shows the youngman of nineteen, feeling sympathy for the older man.]

The place you are in now currently is called Traverse Town. The device you have can transmit audio or video to the whole network of people or (I asumme) a locked post to certain people. I've been here for quite a while, even though I was gone for a few months. There's a hotel that some residents stay at. It's not the best but it beats sleeping outside.

My name is Chris Ramirez.

[video]

[amygdalae]

[Right okay he already got most of that by now, but having people confirm it is always good. And there's other info he hadn't heard about yet!]

Bruce Banner. [Introduces himself back with a small smile.] Thanks for all of that - its always nice to be certain.

But you said you left for a few months?

[colorbymemory]

[Oh, dear, another newcomer confused by the Moogles. At least it looks like the others are trying to fill in the gaps.]

If there's anything the Moogles couldn't explain well, the others and I can help. I think you found one of your friends?

[amygdalae]

[The others have filled in a lot of gaps, yes. Don't worry about it.]

I think I've been given the basic gist by now. [Smiles.] And--yes, I have.