1) B: A broad concept, but at the same time too specific. Suppose, if you can, that physical objects aren’t the only things that can disappear. Someone can be right in front of you- you can touch them; hold a conversation with them. But they’re still gone. You might not even be able to tell it.
B: It’s easier to live when you think you know what to be afraid of. Knowing? That’s something else altogether.
2) B: I don’t have problems, I have habits… Apprehensions, maybe.
3) B: Sounds like a pretentious college student’s freshmare thesis on destiny. Trying to be deep without understanding what deep is. And you can take your gardening offer and-
Gonna cut this early before it gets any more insulting!
4) I myself feel that three struck the best balance, because one constantly restricted the player’s movement, and two put pits and enemies in just the right places that-even when you knew they were there you’d slam right into them unless you slowed down.
1) Why do I keep seeing this? Is this the new forced meme or something? ‘Cause this can’t be a real thing.
2) B: … My cutie mark has nothing to do with what I’ve been doing for the last five years. But then again, as a guard before that, what I was doing still had nothing to do with my special talent.
B: I’ve… never actually worked in the field before.
3) Are you kidding? There’s the tabletop game I’ve been putting off. I was given a drawing tablet that I haven’t used in, like, two years. I managed to get a musical piece done for Sir Lintalot, but there’s still another one I was working on before that I’ve stalled on. It’s like the only thing I want to do right now is ignore everything.
Oh, and B doesn’t care. I mean, he’d have to make up a new alias that isn’t the one he’s using now- 'cause he still can’t use his real name.
4) B: Hmph. Your very question betrays how little you know. What does it mean to disappear to you?
5) I’ve heard of it. But I’m really more interested in the psychological and sociological side of your universe. As I understand it the show touches upon more broad concepts than the original. Is there an episode about society and culture as a global civilization?
Lyranne, i was looking at my tumblr activity, and saw some chump liked this post. And i was like “wtf is this post again? Some rarijack nonsense….” and i LOOKED through it once…then i was like…wait…wAIT WAIT OH! WIAT IS THAT
LYRA IS THIS YOUR LONG-LOST FATHER?!!?
… Well?
B: I didn’t meet your father until after he joined the guard, so I don’t know his natural coat color. But apart from his body being recovered after the attack, he was a unicorn. That’s an earth pony. I’m sorry, that pony must be related to some other Lyra.
Well now wait a minute. My parents must have had family, right? What if he’s an uncle or something?
B: Hmm… From the few conversations we had, your father never mentioned his family. Never spoke with your mother… I suppose it’s worth looking into. Not like I have anything else to do anymore.
1) B: Take time off from retirement?
2) B: Members of CUE work for five years. No extensions. My time was up.
3) Oh, I know that feeling. Wouldn’t life be so much easier if time was the only thing we had to balance?
4) I believe the concept you are describing is fate. Even supporters of fate must first accept something as being fated.
Of course, having the option to choose to accept fate, consciously or not, sort of throws a wrench in the sequence.
Lyra: Tartarus would have been too good for you, Discord!
Discord: Oh, you’re really just making this so much more difficult for me.
B: Argh!
???: They do grow them strong these days, don’t they?
Lyra: NO! Let him go! [Gasp]
[Crash]
Discord: Well, that seemed a tad unnecessary.
???: Hmph.
[Fading footsteps]
Lyra: Discord… Why…?
Discord: Please. You ponies were just using me.
Lyra: He’s using you… When he’s done… He’ll…
Discord: He’ll what? Cook me some fried squash? … Lyra? …
[Recording timed-out]
1) B: I am without purpose and I feel as though my life has lost all meaning.
2) Oh my gosh! Congratulations! That’s fantastic! And Bon-Bon got her brother-in-law to look after Simple. Evidently he both couldn’t make it and agreed. Color me surprised.
3) Lyra: Oh for pony’s sake… There was nothing-
B: [Sharp intake of breath]
Lyra: … Is-?
B: Something’s wrong.
Lyra: Ri~ght… He’s not taking his retirement very well, if you couldn’t tell.
4) Yes! I remember! I loved that tumblr! It was great! You portray a funny old pony very well!
[A dulled roar, as if within a massive crowd.]
Lyra: Okay. And you said I could post this too, right?
B: Sure.
Lyra: Alright! Take it away! Magic disabling! Go!
B: The notion of suppressing spell casting has been the subject of much research for nearly as long as spell casting has been around. There hasn’t been any real effective method up to this point. But it seems crystal ponies have created one. And it’s quite elegant. They used spell threading to weave together a complex Counterspell that sticks to the unicorn’s horn.
B: Now, a Counterspell wall isn’t a new concept. But crystal ponies took it so much further. They created a spell wall that seeks out sources of magic and wraps them in a Counterspell while leaving the rest of the subject unaffected.
B: It’s absolutely remarkable. If the Counterspell wrapped up the entire unicorn, then this would leave the subject in an unpleasant condition not far removed from being at a high altitude and breathing in thinner air. But because it targets only the source of magic- it’s the perfect solution to unwanted spell use for a public gathering. It could even be repurposed as a pacifying tool during riots or further, a non-fatal instrument of war.
B: That they created something so incredible such a short time after their return is simply astounding.
1) Aw. I was hoping you’d be here.
Opening ceremony was pretty cool. I’d never been to the games before. Also, they had Spike from Ponyville light the torch! Which must have been a last minute addition, because it wasn’t in the program.
B: I’d keep it down about magic duels. Not the sort of conduct government employees are expected to be involved in. Just my two bits.
3) Bon-Bon: I would say that Lyra is very much a nerd, but not a dork. She’s too socially-oriented to be a dork. She gets excited about the silliest things, though. Like-
Lyra: That’s enough out of you.
4) Yeah… If I’m not doing well then I’m not having fun. I hate games that just kick my butt even when I know what I’m doing.
1) Bon-Bon: Well, thank you but they always got in the way.
B: Hate to break this to you, but somepony already tried the whole puppy thing. Doomed to failure from the start, of course. But as far as ludicrous conquest plans go, it wound up being quite threatening. Before it was all over they completely took over Hoofington; and the population there didn’t even know it.
2) Yes. In fact, there’s quite a few ponies that look nearly identical to one another. Strange phenomenon that has something to do with near-perfect genetic match-ups going back to common ancestors.
I was at the royal wedding. But during the attack I spent most of my time running around the streets trying to get ponies to safety. She told me about it after the fact, but Professor Lyra (inactive) was mind-controlled.
Older followers might remember that Professor Lyra was the one that gave Krastos his present home in Ponyville, after she moved to Canterlot.
2) I’ve seen it played. Looked alright, but not something I was interested in playing at the time.
3) B: I’m sure security isn’t that tight. I don’t know of any spell development projects with so much secrecy that you can’t even talk about it. No specifics about the development process or pacing, but than again you’d know better than I would.
4) You said gender. There’s very little difference in gender. There are certain expectations based on sex, but not gender.
B: Can you even hear yourself? That doesn’t make any sense.
And you have something to add?
B: How about colts growing up in a world where we’re expected to be steward protectors, but also to keep our months shut when the mares are talking?
But even if that’s true that’s not gender, that’s sex. You can behave however you want and hold whatever interests you want regardless of gender.
1) Aw yeah! Green beans! I used to eat them a lot back in Canterlot, when I could anyway. But they were just heated up in cans.
We can get them fresh in Ponyville! Bon-Bon does all kinds of stuff, but I still like them boiled, if cooked at all. Sort of nostalgic, you know?
2) Krastos? On tumblr! And you’re in luck! I made a big ol’ post about this not long ago and had the forethought to tag it properly! Hold on!
…
Wait- A year ago?! Really?! Okay, so maybe it wasn’t so recent. Anyway, here it is. Enjoy! Also, you’re fine sending a message with an account. I actually prefer it that way! I just get a lot of messages and answering each in order can sometimes take a while to get to them.
3) Wow, look at the time. It’s “not getting political up in here” o'clock.
4) B: They research spellcasting. I’m pretty sure they don’t care about your wizard eyes.
Lyra: Thanks, Strawberry, but that’s okay. I don’t know what half of those are.
1) Lyra: I have a bunch of questions, but I wanted to get to this one now. I’m very sorry to hear that. You’ve been a delight to talk to and I wish there was something I could do to help.
Bon-Bon: I certainly hope you at least find someplace safe to say, if you are forced out. I’d hate for something to happen to you.
Lyra: I’m glad we could help ease your mind somehow. We both hope the best for you.
2) Was it last week or the week before? It wasn’t for very long. He insists he has time when I come over, but I know better. I can’t tell if I’m imagining it or not, but he looks more tired than before he started on his doctorate.
3) You’re fine, but why would you wear an eyepatch?
B: It’s been almost two months. You mean you’ve already been hired? That was fast for a government position.
But that’s great, Strawberry! Congratulations!
4) Lyra: Absolutely!
Bon-Bon: Of course! Can’t wait!
Lyra: Wait… the weekend is tomorrow… oops.
Bon-Bon: Plenty of notice, I’m sure.
1) Well, Krastos doesn’t technically live here. He has his own house in Ponyville. Bon-Bon? Yes, but Tootsie-… Well, I mean she spends a lot of time here, certainly. But she… You see, her parents work a lot so she stays here during the week. She lives with them on the-… You know what? Yeah. Tootsie lives here.
Sweetie moved back home a while ago. I think her parents were having a mid-life crisis with all the vacations and traveling. But don’t tell them I said that. That’s cool that you’re putting me in your Sim-town, though!
2) It doesn’t have to be so black and white, you know. I neither make decent money nor do something I love for a living.
On reflection, I’m not sure I’d enjoy working as a professional musician anyway. If I was one, I’d have to constantly practice and practice and that’s not fun. That’s not enjoyable. Why would anypony want to do that to themselves? Turn what they love to do into work? But, when I come home from working as an aid, I get to pick up my lyre and just have fun with it. No pressure. And if I don’t want to play something, I don’t have to.
I think the only critical thing is that you avoid doing something you hate. It’s like having a bad day everyday. It will ruin you.
3) B: Closure is something real. That thing won’t show her what’s real, only what she wants to see.
Even if it was real, I don’t even know what I’d use it for. I don’t want to see my mother being killed. Or my father…
Thank you, though. I know you’re trying.
1) B: I’ve seen one of those before. It’ll show you whatever you want to see, with no bearing on what’s real. Great if you want a five second vacation in your head, but little else.
B: If there were an easy solution to everypony’s problems, we’d have used it.
2) Alright, look. I’m in hard mode here and this Macca is important. If I give you some will you for real join me?
3) Well, that is sort of the point. Being ruled by a single entity for a long duration only works if the one in charge is truly benevolent and willing to sacrifice for the advancement of his/her subjects.
Otherwise a government for the ruled needs to be governed by the ruled. Rotating an individual in and out every few years only minimizes the damage caused by whoever managed to win a popularity contest.
4) Thanks! That means a lot. Things are a little… shaky right now, but I’m okay and I hope to be here for many years more!
1) Lyra: I have a bunch of questions, but I wanted to get to this one now. I’m very sorry to hear that. You’ve been a delight to talk to and I wish there was something I could do to help.
