trans_9 | Meat n' Greet

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Meat n' Greet

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a tall man in green armor and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

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Applejack was starting to learn human expressions. They weren't actually all that different from ponies when you got right down to it, she thought. And maybe...just maybe they were feeling the same. But she couldn't let grief overwhelm her now, not around these people. There was still so much to figure out.

"I'm Applejack," she nodded, tipping her hat "and I thank you kindly for the hospitality. "I'm still a little confused. So...how are we gonna find and fight who we need to fight to get our worlds back?

"You're very welcome!" Kaya said brightly. "It still takes some getting used to, when people from different universes meet each other when they're used to something else, but its a good way to get used to things! People won't be the only big difference on the ship."

Ugh. That was a hard question, and one that needed answering. It was simply too bad that she wasn't any more informed than most when it came down to it.

"Well," she said, bowing shortly as she's noted the tip of the hat, "that's something we're still working on. We have weapons, we have training, and the ship is full of the tools we need to recreate simulations. But they are strong, Applejack, the strongest enemies I've seen. Tell me, how do you deal with enemies in your world?"

"I can see that," Applejack observed, looking round at everything that was strange about the atmosphere. Statues, roots, throbbing walls that were almost like the earth but not...

Worst of all, no apples! But what was said about the enemies made slightly more sense than before, at least.

"Enemies? Why...we don't see too many of 'em, usually lurking in the Everfree Forest, but we just stop 'em however we can. I can buck or lasso," she demonstrated, hopping up on her front legs and kicking behind her powerfully, "unicorn ponies use their fancy magic, and the pegasus ponies can fly and push 'em outta the way.

How do you fight, then, Miss Kaya?"

"My apologies, I guess that's pretty obvious! I should count myself lucky anyway: you could be yelling and screaming at the top of your lungs about being here and how you'll go to whatever authority you have to get to the bottom of it all."

She hadn't done that, but plenty of others had.

"I see. Well, maybe Rein could find a way to fashion you some armor or something to enhance your strength, or maybe magic...I think it'll be easier to define once you've been here a bit longer. As for me, well, I'm a bender, a waterbender to be exact. Anything with water..."

She brought her hands to one of the pulsating walls, and with a squishing sound, droplets of water squeezed out and was then promptly placed back.

"...I can use."

"Nah, that's more Rarity's thing," Applejack couldn't help but laugh a little. "I don't need to yell about it, I'll just get right to the snooping."

She listened appreciably to the suggestions. "Armor's just fine, but I can't use magic. That's for the unicorns. Sounds like you've got it, though."

Yes, Applejack was now looking for a horn on Kaya's head. With powers like those, she was clearly a long lost unicorn. "So if that magic's waterbending, would that make Rarity a jewelbender?"

Sorry, Kaya. It sounds silly, but...it makes sense if you're from Ponyville.

"I see. Well, if I run into her, I'll do my best to try and calm her down," Kaya said, offering a smile. "But thank you for going the snooping route, its much quieter on my ears."

She shook her head. "It's a common misconception. Magic is something, from what I've seen on the ship here anyway, that you learn in books and spells. With bending, you're born with the ability, but you have to practice to be good at it. You use martial arts to perform your movement, but you also have to be in harmony with your element."

Kaya laughed. "Actually, in my world she might be classified as a particular kind of earthbender. Somehow though, I don't think she would like being compared with badgermoles."

Harmony? Element? What a coincidence that those familiar words came up. Applejack sat back a minute to think about what she'd been told.

"That makes even less sense than before. That's how magic works---I think, anyway. Unicorns are born knowin' it, and then they practice 'til they get it just right. None of us other ponies can do it."

Well, except that one time Twilight's spark had caused all of them to use the magic inside to heal Princess Luna. But hadn't that just been a one time thing?

"Naw, Rarity's no badgermole. She's a right proper lady and won't be called nothing different."

Darn it, there had to be a way of convincing people what she did wasn't magic already! But for now, that didn't matter: after all, they weren't here to argue about the differences between magic and bending, were they?

"I'll keep that in mind when I meet her then," Kaya said, imagining that this Rarity was likely as different from Applejack as day was to night. "I'm curious though: are there only ponies, where you're from? Where I live animals, don't really speak."

Except when they DID, of course.

Now that she could answer. Applejack tipped her head. "We don't really have people like all y'all where I'm from. I live in Ponyville, where all the ponies are just like me. We've also got talking dragons, and one really nasty griffon, but most of our smaller critters don't speak like us. My herding dog Winona had her barking."

Ah, Winona. Applejack missed her presence. "You sure they didn't speak? Maybe their words were just different."

"I see," Kaya said, "though as far as I know, they never spoke like you do now. Granted, I think we have translators built on Stacy anyway, but we have animals onboard here that still don't speak. Hiccup, someone on the ship, had a dragon that didn't speak either."

More confusing situations. GREAT.

"So have you just popped, or have you seen a bit of the ship yet?"

"Now that's funny. I've never known a dragon not to yammer on about something or other. Usually about all the gems somepony tried to steal." Things really were different here, she thought.

"Just popped. I've seen more pods than I can ever count, the tentacles that tied me up and put me in this awful suit, the place with our stuff, and this place. Next on the list for me is Hydroponics. Sounds like they need a farmhoof or two there."

Kaya laughed. "Well, he was the silent type, but a real sweetie: sleek, black and the most expressive eyes. I really was sad when I found out he was podded again."

She nodded. "Hydroponics is actually one of my favorite places: all of the exotic animals there, the strange flora and fauna: its one of the most relaxing places to be on this ship. Now, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Podded again? You mean it can just take us back whenever it wants to?"

Applejack didn't like the sound of that, not at all. Not even the distracting thought of Hydroponics could comfort her until she had another answer.

Kaya nodded. "Sorry to say, it does happen. It does it supposedly to keep our souls in place, since there is a genuine concern that it can fall out. I've said goodbye to many friends on this ship, sadly."

Without much thinking about it, she patted the pony's back. "It could be worse: at least you have a friend on board."

Applejack gasped. Well this was getting more and more complicated. "Souls fall out? Just...fall-out fall out? All on their own?" That sounded absolutely terrifying.

She calmed a little at the petting---just a little. "I know. It'd be awfully scary being a lone pony up here. Have you got yours?"

Friends, that is. Applejack was sadly unaware of how complicated that subject was for Kaya.

Kaya felt a pang of guilt at the look on Applejack's face. Somehow, she could see the fear on her face and regretted she had to puncture the pony's innocence a little.

"Yes," Kaya said softly. "I don't really understand myself what constitutes keeping a soul, but it can happen. As for me, I have...friends on board, yes. They made things easier to deal with."

"And nopony understands it either? Aww horseapples."

Applejack kicked at the ground a second, contemplating her options. "Well I won't let it get to me too much. I just gotta stay strong, right? With friends---like yours. I bet they're pretty special."

Maybe not 'bearers of the Elements of Harmony' special, but friendship was a pretty cool thing.

"It's not an easy thing for anyone to understand, I'm sorry," Kaya said. "But there's still a lot to learn. If there's anything to take in, I'll let you know what I find out."

She smiled "Yes, to em, they all are. I love them very much, and won't let anything happen to them. I'm sure you think the same way. You seem very strong."

"Thanks, it's awfully kind of you," Applejack smiled, taking a quick bow.

"Aww shoot, I'm just like any other gal with friends. They're always with fighting for."

Kaya shook her head. "I'm doing what anyone else would do. That's sort of what being on this ship is all about. If we can find a way to unify each other a bit more, we should take it. We're all in this together."

She nodded. "I have no doubt you'll make some friends here Applejack. They may seem different, but I'm sure you'll get used to things in time."

"Sounds like something Twi would write to the princess..." Applejack mumbled, brightening up at that last bit.

"I've just gotta find some tools fit for a pony, right? Seeing as how near all y'all have two legs instead of four."

"Twi? Is that another friend of yours?" Thank you Sheeana, for giving her the ability to hear better than she used to.

She nodded. "Rein would likely be the one to go to for that I'll honestly be very surprised if your friend Rarity doesn't find her soon. She's the one most people go to to be fitted for just about anything."

"I'll ask if she's met this Rein when I find her again." Oh, Rein and Rarity would have a perfect partnership. That much seemed certain.

"Ah---well," Appplejack looked up, feeling a little awkward. "Yes. Her real name's Twilight Sparkle. She's one of those unicorn ponies I mentioned, the ones with the magic. I bet she'd be thrilled to meet you."

And she'd be thrilled to see her again.

"I should try and meet this Rarity eventually. I doubt she'll be hard to miss though: there aren't any other talking ponies around here besides you two, right?"

Twilight Sparkle. Well that was a pretty name, and not on she would have expected somehow. "She sounds like she would be a great asset of she appeared, magic is always useful around here Not that I think magic is the only thing, but the more magic we have, the better!"

Usually.

"So tell me more about what you do!"

"Haven't seen any other ponies, and I've looked just about everywhere. No Twilight, no Rainbow, no Pinkie, no Fluttershy...but I'm downright fretting over our little sisters, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They'd better be in those pods.

If not, Applejack had some serious hell to raise.

"I'm just an everyday earth pony," Applejack introduced herself. "Magic's sure nice, but I don't need it to take care of a farm. I can herd and harvest without any fancy tricks."

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kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com - 2011-07-03 05:26 (UTC) - Expand

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