01 // audio

[fatemeter]

Good evening. [However little that means in a place that doesn't seem to have actual days, it hardly hurts to be polite.] My name is Naoto Shirogane. In my... own world [there's just a moment of hesitation], I'm a detective by trade. As such, in the interest of consolidating what information we have, I have a few questions I'd like to ask.

[It might be a bit difficult to put a gender to the voice here without any visual cues. It is unambiguously young - but given the practised, professional air with which all of this is being reeled off, you might overlook that. To some extent, that's the point.]

Firstly: what are the last events you recall before waking up in this "realm of dreams"? Is the memory continuous as far as you can remember, or is there a gap?

Secondly: were you previously familiar with the phenomenon of movement between different worlds, voluntary or otherwise? If so, what comparisons could you draw, if any, to the process of entering this one?

Thirdly: from what you know of those in this same situation, can you think of any commonalities we may have had prior to our arrival here? Is there evidence to suggest that the selection is something other than wholly random - based on certain criteria, perhaps, or even a conscious choice on the part of some other entity?

And, finally... [This level tone of voice doesn't change.] Where in this place might somebody procure firearms, should the need arise?

[Potentially unfortunate implications? What unfortunate implications?]

I assure you, any answers you can offer will be helpful. Thank you for your time.

[Without fanfare, the recording switches off.]

Comments

[fatemeter]

Er... hoof?

[Sorry, she had something more intelligent to say as well, but give her a minute.]

[letteropener]

We ponies generally use that word where humans would use 'hand', being as we have the one whereas you have the other.

[fatemeter]

Oh... Yes. Naturally. My apologies.

[She was warned about this, but not the puns. Is that a general talking animal thing? Or is that the only one? Please, please let that be the only one.]

Your... guidance, therefore, is the apparent link between this realm and the worlds outside? [She doesn't really want her lived experience to colour her interpretation of whatever's happening here, at least beyond taking her starting hypothesis from it - that wouldn't be rational - but the more she hears, the harder it gets not to think about it...] I wonder how deep that goes.

[letteropener]

That's quite all right. I had, and still have, a very great deal to learn about humans in turn.

Allow me to give you another example. Ponyville appeared as the fourth world we had access to. In the waking world, the six Elements of Harmony were kept on display in the library by my prize student, Twilight Sparkle. Here, however, they are not present -- instead, a note advises us to look for them where our hearts dwell.

[fatemeter]

I take it that's the site you're currently focusing on? Who have you been working with?

[letteropener]

At present, most of my effort has been dedicated to teaching non-ponies who become unicorns on stepping into Ponyville how to use unicorn magic, as my sister has been teaching those who become pegasi to fly and control the weather.

[fatemeter]

... Oh?

[All of a sudden, she can't mask her discomfort. Given how calmly she's been talking up until now, it's striking.

She presses on, though.] In that case, I can hardly expect you to describe the current progress in much detail... Who else has been participating in the investigation?

[letteropener]

Most of the people here, in some capacity. I'm afraid I can't give you specifics. I have been tied up with... personal matters.

[She says this as calmly and evenly as everything else, but nevertheless, the phrase carries an undercurrent that invites no further questions. Her sister's pain is not hers to share with others.]

[fatemeter]

Yes, I quite understand.

If I may move onto a different subject... [She might have been a little hastier there than normal... But no, she wasn't done. She's very far from done.] These so-called significant items you mention - on what basis do you describe them as such? Is it again extrapolation from your experience in your home world?

[letteropener]

That is correct. The Elements of Harmony are unfathomably powerful artifacts, in Equestria. Were we to have them and the six bearers here, we would almost certainly be able to resolve our problems through their use.

[fatemeter]

[She's got plenty left of it, but it's a bit harder to stop her patience from trickling away now that she's been rattled once. This lady (...mare?) really enjoys her sweeping, baseless statements, doesn't she?]

You're confident that they would function the way you're familiar with in a realm such as this? The other artefacts you've mentioned - were they along similar lines?

[letteropener]

Kindness, Laughter, Honesty, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic are the same wherever you go. Even in the realm of dreams.

[Indeed, the similarities between humans and ponies constantly delight her here in the sleeping worlds.]

I'm not certain other Equestrian artifacts would be of use, though. The Crystal Heart, for example, has little use outside of the Crystal Empire.

[fatemeter]

Well, perhaps that was poor wording on my part... I'd like to know if the "significant items" you recall from previously opened worlds were similar objects to the ones I understand are the current focus of the investigation. Are they also metaphorical?

[letteropener]

I do not know. I do not believe so, but at least the one that I saw was a device with technology beyond Equestria's knowledge. But I can say that, when held, it seemed to have a voice.

[fatemeter]

Interesting. [So basically, she's probably not going to get anything more useful out of this pony about those. That's helpful to know.]

Besides the absence of the artefacts you're looking for, does anything else differentiate the facsimile of your world in this realm from the waking world itself?

[letteropener]

Beyond the boundaries of travel, I do not know, but I'm not as familiar with Ponyville as its residents. You should ask Pinkie Pie and Rarity.

[fatemeter]

Residents? You aren't a resident of that world? ...I'm sorry, but may I ask who I'm speaking to? [Come to think, maybe she should have established that before getting herself all caught up in the bigger mystery. Whoops.]

[letteropener]

Ah, I apologize! I am Princess Celestia. [The slight rustle of feathers indicates Celestia briefly attempted to make a gesture in accompaniment with that statement, but then remembered it was audio...] My sister and I rule Equestria, but my residence is in Canterlot, a city some distance from Ponyville.

The problem here is the use of the term 'world'. If you look at Traverse Town, it is a town, not a planet, but we nonetheless call it a 'world' in the realm of sleep. Similarly, Ponyville is just one town in one country in one world, but here it is a 'world' we can travel to. So I am a resident of Equestria, but not of Ponyville.

[fatemeter]

[Actual royalty? How novel. But... probably not relevant at the moment, so she mentally files it away.]

Out of curiosity, where does this terminology originate? With the pre-existing residents of this realm?

[letteropener]

[Celestia casts her mind back to her own arrival here... but comes up empty.]

I believe it comes originally from some of the sleepers here who are familiar with this situation, but to be honest, I do not know for sure.

[fatemeter]

[Oh, that's something relevant.] Familiar with this situation? How so?

[letteropener]

I believe I mentioned that the worlds here all have connections to some of us who inhabit them? The first world, Traverse Town, and the second, Twilight Town, both have some history to them.

[fatemeter]

Ah, I see. This specific situation. [More people to track down and hound for clues, then. Well, she'll definitely be able to keep herself busy.

If not by chatting with this pony. Still, she's been helpful in her own way, and certainly friendly about it.]

I'm sorry to ask so many questions of you. I do have... hypotheses on the nature of this place, but it's rather difficult to approach a case like this one without leaning too heavily on preconceptions.

[letteropener]

Never apologize for asking questions. There's no better way to learn, and to understand. None of us have all the answers here, but with every question we ask and answer, we get closer to the truth.

[fatemeter]

[Amazing, something they can agree on! Even if it is sort of another platitude. A trace of Naoto's elusive smile might even be audible as she replies - it's practically an in-joke.] Quite so. And none more critical than the ones we ask of our own assumptions.

...That being the case, would you mind if I contacted you again, should your particular expertise become relevant? [Besides, if there might be a link between this Celestia and the way in which new parts of this realm spring up, however tenuous, it probably couldn't hurt to keep tabs on her.]