17. [Video]

[brodakota]

[The feed flicks on to show Traverse Town, and most people have probably been around long enough to recognize the second district on sight. And it's a surprisingly welcome sight to see the portals again. Who knew multiple worlds was such a thing to be missed?

North flips the camera around to face him.]

It looks like the portals came back since we got rid of the Spellican. I haven't visited any of them, so I don't know if anything's changed but things seem normal from this end at least.

[He pauses briefly]

I think we should take care though, in case this happens again. Getting stuck in Traverse Town was one thing, but who knows what was happening to those other worlds in the meantime.

I was thinking about making emergency kits, or a safehouse to something. Just, somewhere for people to go so they won't have to fight nightmares all the time.

It's still kind of in the rough stages though.

Comments

[avengingarrow]

Not a bad plan actually. I know we had safe houses when I worked for SHIELD, and that was on the SAME world. Wouldn't hurt to have places like that if we're talking about world hopping here.

You need help with that?

[Clint got here when the portal closed, so he hasn't been out on the worlds yet but he's excited all the same and curious to boot.]

[brodakota]

Yeah, the last thing we need is someone getting cut off with no supplies or anything.

[While most of the worlds are sort of self-sufficient, it always helps to have something available.]

Wouldn't mind it. Mostly just figuring out the right kind of rations and how much. Stuff like that.

[avengingarrow]

I'll need to get out an explore some of these places then before I can give too much input on what rations would work. I'll get back with you soon on that.

[brodakota]

Sure thing.

I'd just be careful since we don't know if anything's changed. Also watch your step in Ponyville.

If no one's told you, you turn into a pony.

[Said completely seriously.]

[avengingarrow]

I think I can handle my---

[He trails off as the last part sinks in.]

Wait...what? Seriously?

[brodakota]

Yup. Apparently there's some worlds that cause you to change, and Ponyville is one of them.

Learning to walk again was fun.

[avengingarrow]

Greaat. Guess I can go get that out of the way then.

[brodakota]

Well, at least you know what to expect. If you need help, let me know.

[avengingarrow]

I'll keep everyone posted.

[brodakota]

Thanks Clint.

[dork_of_keys]

Huh. The last time I saw worlds closed off like that and then opened up again, there were stronger Nightmares around. Other than that, there wasn't anything different.

[Of course, if there was anything else different, he could have missed just because he hadn't stayed long. This time, it was likely going to be a lot longer. Who knew what else might happen?]

Safehouses do sound like a good idea.

[brodakota]

So, basically be careful when we visit them?

[Good thing that was his plan from the start.]

Anything you'd put in one?

[dork_of_keys]

Yeah.

[That's a good plan.]

Hmm. Potions are a good idea. Maybe canned food and stuff like that that keeps a long time too.

[brodakota]

Oh, I didn't think of potions. That'd be really good. They don't have an expiry date, do they?

[dork_of_keys]

I don't think potions expire, but I'm not really sure. The Moogles would probably know.

[brodakota]

I'll ask them when I go and get some. It's probably a good thing to know in general.

[raisethemoon]

Safehouses sound like an excellent idea.

Also, I plan to return to Ponyville shortly. Now that the Spellican is defeated, I would like to see if another Keyhole has appeared.

[brodakota]

Glad you think so. Anything you think should be in them?

[He nods.]

Be careful when you do though. Like I said, I don't know if anything's changed.

[colorbymemory]

That sounds like a good idea, just in case.

[Says the one who would probably be making good use of such things as someone still getting used to defending herself.]

[brodakota]

Yeah, just in case. I'm not trying to invite it, but we should be ready if it happens again.

[colorbymemory]

[Namine nods] Where do you think we should them up? The area near the portal is usually safe.

[brodakota]

That's where I was thinking at first, but some of those places aren't exactly comfortable.

[Especially the MoI bridge]

[colorbymemory]

[Namine nods.]

Maybe in some worlds we could use a building that's already there? Nightmares don't go indoors.

[That doesn't solve the issue for the MoI, but it might help for Ponyville and Twilight Town.]

[brodakota]

That was part of my plan. Safe yet comfortable is sort of what I'm aiming for.

[The next step is going to the worlds and scouting out proper locations.]

[colorbymemory]

You could probably store more supplies there, as well.

[She'd help scout, but she's still working on the whole "self-defense lessons" thing.]

If you need any help setting them up once you've decided, let me know?

[brodakota]

Will do. I'm getting a pretty good idea of how I want to run this, and I think after I do some preliminary scouting, I'll be able to move forward.

[fatemeter]

Yes, safehouses are an interesting proposition. Choice of location would be paramount, as would a coordinated defense in the worst-case scenario... At this rough stage, what did you have in mind?

[brodakota]

Well, I've mostly been thinking about caches, that would have essential items like food, potions, and blankets. Locations are something I'm still wondering about, since they'd have to be nightmare free, but also comfortable, if we're in for the long haul.

[fatemeter]

Hmm. I take it that you haven't yet established any candidates for such a site, then. But based on what we know of these Nightmares' attack patterns, would the task of finding an acceptable location not be rather secondary to keeping it that way?

[brodakota]

Not yet. I figured I should let people know about the portals first.

Safety is the priority, yeah, but nightmares tend not to attack if you're inside, so that helps.

[fatemeter]

Do you intend to start searching now?

[brodakota]

Pretty soon, yeah. Did you want to come along?

[fatemeter]

If you don't mind. I'd be interested to know where you intend to start.

[brodakota]

I'll be glad for the help. I was thinking of looking at Ponyville first, since there's a lot to account for there.

[allpurposescarf]

You'd have to find a way to make sure that they stayed safe, given the Nightmares, but it certainly couldn't hurt.

[brodakota]

That's a good point actually, I hadn't thought of that.

[North has Theta add that to the list he's keeping.]

If they're indoors, that should help a bit at least.

[allpurposescarf]

It should, yes. But that doesn't mean that a more determined Nightmare might not be able to get inside anyway. Or anything else that might want to get in.

[Just because they've only really seen the Nightmares doesn't mean that there might not be something else around, and even if he'd like to believe that it's a relatively calm dream-world the fact that it's lasted as long as it has is a little worrying.]

sorry, lost the tag

[brodakota]

I guess weapons, or some sort of fortifications would be worthwhile.

Both probably, just to be safe.

no worries!

[allpurposescarf]

Both would probably be better, yes. Especially given that not everyone might know how to use the weapons. Or want to, for that matter.

[brodakota]

[The idea of not fighting back is a bit of an odd one for North but he has Theta make note of the information.]

Well, it is intended to be a place to stay, and not so much a place to fight from. Hopefully it won't come to that either.

I'm pretty sure I can work it all in though.

[allpurposescarf]

Hopefully it wouldn't, no. But it's still best to be ready just in case. If you're planning something like this, I mean.

[brodakota]

Exactly. Especially since pretty much anything can happen here.

[allpurposescarf]

So I've begun to notice, yes.

[brodakota]

Anyway, I think going to head to ponyville, see if I can scout out potential locations.

[allpurposescarf]

Ah, good luck with it, then.

[brodakota]

Thanks Doctor. Should I let you know if I find anything?

[allpurposescarf]

That would be wonderful, yes.