I; [video]

[raisethemoon]

[The video comes on to reveal an alicorn gazing seriously at the screen, head held proudly and wings slightly spread. It took her several practice runs to ensure that she was working the machine correctly; of course she wouldn't risk talking to anypony else until she had. Now, though, she is the picture of cool, calm royalty. In other words, she's doing the Celestia.]

Good evening to all. I am Luna, Princess of Equestria and the Moon, bringer of night and keeper of dreams. I know not by what power or authority this Emperor hath brought us hither, but I care not. I shall return to my people, and I swear that I shall see all of thee returned to thine. Now, I pray that thou wilt be willing to share whatever information thou hast gathered about our plight? [She glances off-screen, eyes narrowed.] Perhaps beginning with why my rooms are infested with these small furry beasts. On that note, I have a great deal of furniture I wish to dispose of...

[Her feathers ruffle and she shifts her weight a little, suddenly looking rather less certain of herself. She doesn't like it here, and that furniture is really just driving it home for her. Alone again, so soon? After a moment, she adds in a quieter tone:] ...also, should any Equestrians be present, stay where thou art. I shall come to thee.

Comments

video;

[storm_warning]

[Ororo's seen a lot since she got her near on a year ago, but this. This. Um.]

Weird. [Yeah. ER.] This some new trick that turtle hell's playing on us?

[raisethemoon]

[Luna tilts her head a little, briefly glancing about herself. Nothing amiss, or at least nothing different from when she entered the room.]

...what, precisely, are you referring to?

[storm_warning]

[A vague gesture to the screen.]

You're... a horse. We've done dogs and werewolves, sure, but a horse? That's a new level of weird.

[raisethemoon]

I am a pony. Is it truly so strange that different lands hold different peoples? We do not drop everything when a buffalo or a gryphon passes us by.

[storm_warning]

Buffalo? I can do. Gryphon's odd here too.

[Ororo is studying Luna.]

Look, I'm not trying to be rude or nothing, it's just... weird. Like, really weird. Horses -- okay, ponies are just a kids ride where I come from.

[raisethemoon]

...why would a young goat wish to ride a pony? My sister and I are likely the only ones large enough to carry them.

[storm_warning]

[She almost chokes at that comment. Kids? Goats? Wait, no--]

I meant people kids, not livestock.

[Man, this feels weird to be explaining.]

You know. Shorter versions of me?

[raisethemoon]

Ah, human children!

...why do your children ride ponies?

[storm_warning]

Yeah. Sort of.

[Let's just not go into the finite differences between mutants and humans.]

And they ride them because it's fun. Fairs are flops without a pony ride.

[Wait.]

You mean... You've never been ridden?

[raisethemoon]

Of course not! [What the hay, why would that ever happen]

[storm_warning]

No need to get your harness in a hitch. That's how it works back home.

[Shrug???]

Then you actually... Seriously? You're some pony princess of some pony kingdom?

[raisethemoon]

Yes. I stated so already, did I not? [Honest question, because apparently humans are even worse at understanding Old Equestrian than actual modern Equestrians.]

[storm_warning]

Yeah, but like I believed that.

[Just... keep putting your foot in your mouth, Ororo.]

I figured you were some sort of holographic prank.

[Which is her way of saying she's sorry?]

[raisethemoon]

[...Luna would be offended at the first statement, but she's promptly distracted by the fact that she does not understand the second one even a little bit.]

A what? [Okay well she's still kinda offended]

[storm_warning]

[Ororo is glad to offend you, Luna. Well, maybe not. SHE'S A BIT CONFUSED HERE TOO, LBR.]

An image. A really good one, but fake.

[raisethemoon]

Oh, an illusion? Like this?

[Her horn glows, and suddenly there is another pony standing next to her.] I fail to see why someone would go to the trouble to make such an illusion.

[storm_warning]

[Ororo nods -- now that she's got the actual pony thing downpat, the weirdness factor's not bothering her half as much. The palette swap's a bit weird, but okay.]

Yeah. Like that. Pranksters kill to be able to do that.

[raisethemoon]

I see...I suppose 'tis well they cannot. [She dismisses the illusion with one last glance - it is not her sister.] I mostly use it to be frightening these days. Only on Nightmare Night, that is! 'Tis expected, then.

[storm_warning]

What's this Nightmare Night thing?

ooc; dat icon... /FLEES

[raisethemoon]

'Tis a holiday... [Commemorating her dramatic fall into insanity about a millennium ago, oops.] ...in which foals dress in costumes and go from home to home to receive candy. I get a portion of the candy when I choose to participate in the festivities, 'tis quite fun!

[storm_warning]

You mean like Hallowe'en. [Those are her hands going slowly to her hips; it's not aggression, just a position of rest.] We do that, just with kids.

[raisethemoon]

Oh! Truly? Was thy holiday...inspired by anything in particular?

[storm_warning]

Candy companies wanting to make a quick buck?

[That would be a shrug.]

It goes way back, but I don't know much. Some sort of old autumn ritual or something that's all about death and haunting.