4th Report

[lessabrasive]

[ Behold, Ponyville! Once again lit by cheery sunshine.

Lin Beifong the charcoal coloured unicorn? Not quite so cheerful. ]


It would seem that Equestria is back to normal [for a dream world] but there doesn't appear to be any sign of a keyhole as yet.

To those who took part in the recent battle, was anything found in the aftermath? Of particular interest, were there any objects that seemed to 'talk' when held recovered after the fight?

Comments

[juniorganymedian]

I regret not, madam. No keyhole appeared and the Elements seem to have returned to their state prior to activating. The statue from whence the... mare Nightmare issued is gone, though. I understand it took some time before the first keyhole to a new world appeared. I don't believe the cause for delay was ever ascertained. Master Sora indicated that in his time here prior, keyholes appeared just after he had defeated large enemies such as the one we encountered.

[lessabrasive]

[Sigh. Well, perhaps she should have expected otherwise.]

Previous, keyholes have also appeared when enough people are gathered in a certain spot. And usually with at least one keybearer present.

[at least, that's what she was told about the keyhole that opened to the Mother of Invention]

[juniorganymedian]

[Jeeves' brow furrows ever so slightly.]

How many persons, would you say, Madam? There were 10 of us present at the battle, one of whom was a keyblade wielder.

[His tone becomes dry.]

Perhaps all of the current wielders could be persuaded to converge upon Ponyville.

[lessabrasive]

Three were present for the opening of the Keyhole to the Mother of Invention, at least one of whom was a keyblade wielder. I don't know how many were present for the fight against the nightmare on the Mother of Invention, but I know Eraqus was there and he is a Keyblade Master.

So, for convenience' sake, at least one would likely do.

[harrumph] If they'll go, I don't see why not.

[juniorganymedian]

Perhaps it is not so much the number of persons, but the composition? [It seems a little inconvenient to just round up all the keyblade wielders and send them off.]

Do you recall any particular unifying characteristic for the groups who found the items?

[lessabrasive]

As long as there is at least one per group, I think we may manage. We do have at least four present in the Realm of Sleep. [Five, if we count the recently arrived Riku]

Unfortunately, it isn't clear what else is necessary to trigger the appearance of one of the keyholes. The dreams have stopped now, but they were usually linked to the greater Nightmare for that world as it was.

[juniorganymedian]

[Jeeves places a finger to his lips as he ponders on this.]

The keyholes do not always appear where the battle for a world takes place, correct? Perhaps the groups could be directed to key landmarks about Ponyville on a rotating basis in the hopes that one might trigger the arrival of the keyhole? [He shakes his head slightly.] It is a most inelegant approach, but magic is well outside the bounds of my expertise apart from what little I've learned while in Ponyville.

[lessabrasive]

Frankly, it doesn't need to be elegant as long as something works.

Perhaps group a keybearer and someone with one of the elements together. Have them all start at the Libar--

[wait. another thought occurs to her.]

The Elements, and the note regarding their vanishing, were stored at the library.

[juniorganymedian]

[Jeeves' brows tilt just so in response to Lin's realization.]

It would seem it would behoove us - if you will pardon the pun - to check there, then, madam. Do you know where precisely the first note was found?

[lessabrasive]

I do. Pinkie Pie and Eraqus found the note inside a case that was used to house the Elements in the Library. I believe she still has the note in question.

[juniorganymedian]

[Of course it would be Pinkie Pie who had the note. Jeeves blinked slowly, carefully controlling his immediate grimace.]

I see. Perhaps you might contact her, then, madam. She was also present at the battle, so may have some greater insight.

[timeywimeyorb]

Do those typically appear after a battle like that?

[Setsuna is still new to all of this. She's trying to remember is someone had mentioned it.]

I helped, but I do not recall finding anything significant in the aftermath other than the Dream pieces and munny left behind by the entity.

[She raises an eyebrow.]

Certainly no items fitting that description.

[lessabrasive]

[sigh] Pity there wasn't another.

They've been one of the few common occurances with each world so far. If they've not show up after a battle against a larger nightmare, then after some form of combat or incident of interest in the open world. Previously, such things were found after exploring an abandoned mansion in Twilight Town and after an incident in the sub-levels of the post office. We have three such items so far.

[timeywimeyorb]

What did these items say and what kind of items were they?

[She's mainly curious now. It helps to gather information after all.]

I suppose if a keyhole hasn't appeared yet that means there is still something to do on the world? Is that what has occurred before?

[lessabrasive]

There are three items, presently in the hands of individuals in the dream: a set of blank photos held by Sora, an ID card from Ziva's world, and an AI chip from the Mother of Invention that is currently in Agent Washington's possession.

It's probable. I'm just not certain what else must be done now that the Elements of Harmony have been found.

[timeywimeyorb]

Have the original inhabitants of that world mentioned anything about it? Otherwise we may just have to continue to scour that particular world until a clue is discovered.

[lessabrasive]

So far, aside from the world resuming a regular day and night cycle -- the first dream world to have one, I might add -- they haven't reported anything different as yet.

If they can find time to explore now, it could help.

[laughingsword]

There's so much I still don't know about these places! What might those talking objects do?

[lessabrasive]

So far, the objects we've located whisper inside the head of the holder. When we brought all three together, the words came into greater focus, but at least part of the message was still missing.

A fourth could have been useful. That one hasn't turned up yet means we're missing something.

[or something happened to the sender. not good.]

[laughingsword]

[And she's not sharing what the message is. Even if part of it is missing... what information is it that she's protecting?]

These objects... they appear after battles? Or only battles with certain types of creature?

[He's already gotten used -- mostly -- to the idea that the Nightmares only leave behind little piles of money and bright shapes when they are slain. It's not much of a stretch to imagine that some might leave talking objects.]

[lessabrasive]

[Well of course not, this is not the safest place for that part. ]

Yes. There's usually some form of challenge or event, and many many nightmare spirits.

[laughingsword]

Perhaps there's more to the challenge than the battle you fought, then!

[lessabrasive]

[There's a sigh.]

The thought had occurred to me.

[her lack of enthusiasm, let her show it to you!]

[laughingsword]

Well! All there's left to do is discover what the second part is... isn't that right? Perhaps we should check that world.