460/A Guest In Canterlot

A Guest In Canterlot
Date of Scene:	20 August 2014
Location:	Divided Equestria
Synopsis:	The Archmagister helps another learn to read, and gets a little carried away.
Cast of Characters:	475, 514

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Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    Calumnia will be asked to disguise herself as an /Earth Pony/ this time. Twilight was very specific about that for some reason! What's more, stepping through the gate will have her met with an armed escort, falling in on either side to march the short distance to Twilight's carriage.

    "I apologize for the greeting," Twilight will say. "Some do have the ability to ferret out Changelings, and if you were discovered there would be... questions. Unfortunately the railroad is still inoperable, so we will need to go the rest of the way by carriage. Canterlot is almost exclusively for unicorns, but the shield lets through unicorns... and if you were in unicorn guise when blocked, that too would lead to questions."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    As requested, it's an Earth pony that steps through the gate, bearing a pleasant off-white, barely yellow coat with a deeper orange mane and tail. Her facial features, however, are fairly familiar, not particularly differentiated from Calumnia's natural face. Possibly intentionally to aid in identification.

    What's unexpect, however, is the rictus of discomfort upon stepping through the gate spread across her face. "I think I took a wrong turn. I never awnt to see a spider that size again." She shudders from nose to tail as she climbs into the carriage.

    The explaination once she's settled in is met with a mildly blank look, but with a shrug of equine shoulders, she nods. "Alright. I'm rather grateful for the escort anyway. Discovery back home would mean being run out by panicky locals. I'll be glad to avoid finding out what owuld have happened here."

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    Twilight tsks, settling in as the carriage starts to move. "Yes, there are some awkward things out in the Multiverse. I am at least hoping to give you some familiarity here." Of course the tech base is far more advanced, and the carriage moves /alongside/ the railroad. But Twilight herself is in pony form, at least, which is probably much less awkward than seeing all the humanoid ones about.

    "Is there anything you would like to see before we go to the library?" Twilight suddenly asks in a rare moment of friendliness. "I cannot risk taking you anywhere extremely public, but I will do what I can, if you are curious about the possible future of your world. Though I suspect even doing this much has irrevocably altered your timeline, for better or worse."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    Calumnia considers that, and starts to apply logic to the concept of damaging a timeline. "But... if my world isn't in the past, then how is it possible to damage our timeline at all? It hasn't been established yet." She sounds more like she's chewing on the idea than arguing though, by the tone of her voice.

    "Errm... Anyway, I actually don't really know what I'd ask to see. I'm still mostly getting used to... well everything at home. I could ask to see how the healing arts have progressed but I wouldn't really be able to appreciate the changes. I guess unless I wanted to see the Everfree completed, I'll defer to your judgement. Is there anything that /you/ would like /me/ to see, Twilight?" Cal asks, looking at the other mare with a smile that's obviously coming easier to her face than it had at the last meeting.

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    One ear perks up, and Twilight smiles. "Yes, you are correct about the timeline, but that seems hard for many to grasp. I'm sure you'll be a fine student." She swishes her tail with a pleased look, her ears more attentive now. Ponies will be ponis, hmm?

    "Ah, well..." Twilight suddenly has a darker expression. "I'm afraid Everfree is now the domain of Lady Fluttershy, and she viciously defends it against outsiders. We are going to Canterlot, some distance away, and the city that Celestia ruled from for one thousand years or more. If you look out the window you can see it."

    The castle on the mountainside and its attached city looks... like a fortress now, though. Certainly still pretty in its own way, but fortified and shielded. It doesn't look like it's ready for war, not this deep into Twilight's territory, but that shimmering force field probably means they don't need as many fortifications.

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    "I see. I suppose those things happen when one looks into a possible future a few thousand years away from the present." Calumnia responds with bemusement, then leans a bit, looking at the window. The image of the shining city reflects off of her eyes, before she looks back. "That is an impressive amount of fortification. What could possibly threaten Equestria to warrant a spell to be maintained like that? I don't even ahve a horn right now and I feel like I can feel it vibrating just looking at it."

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    Siigh. Twilight shakes her head as the carriage approaches the gate, which opens up a hole in the shield. "The Element Bearers... and Changelings, such as what your descendents become. It is a time of strife, I am afraid... totally unlike my own childhood. I am attempting to make it a better place once again."

    She pauses and quiets, because passing through the city will give a better impression. Unicorns only, for the most part, but in Canterlot the ponies seem pretty satisfied. Many of them move about in humanoid form, though, which might take some getting used to. "There are, of course, some other differences between our worlds."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    "Differences are to be expected and enjoyed, I think."Calumnia responds after listening. She elects not to comment on the earlier answer; any further questions would either lead to more questions or simply take too much time to explain.

    Still, after seeing for herself the segregation she can't help but ask, "I suppose I'm going to have to ask at some point, so I may as well do so now; why are the pony races so divided here?" The question comes from the mare looking out on the streets, watching a number of humanoids walking past with an occasional pony.

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    The question posed gets a little flinch from Twilight. "That is a long story. It is not... entirely because of race. Or rather, it is, but that is simply because of the way the division has fallen. Many are perfectly happy to work with another of the pony races, but here in Canterlot we only allow unicorns due to some... complications. The vast bulk of the pegasi, especially, wish to see Canterlot fall, so Earth Ponies such as 'yourself' must receive a special ID, as well as pegasi who wish to stay."

    The carriage pulls up to the largest building, the palace itself, and opens the door so that the two can disembark. "We will be going to my private library," she notes. "Very few ponies see it, but I think it will be more comfortable for you."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    The response earns a look on her face approaching sympathy and disappointment, ears pinned i back into her mane before a little shake of Calumnia's head refocuses her thoughts in time to climb out of the carriage. She doesn't even pretend dignity, looking at the stonework and arhcitecture in somewhat captivated wonder. She almost misses Twilight's words.

    "Oh..! Well then I thank you for the consideration, and another act of kindness." She pauses, slowing a little as he considers the implications, then, "And trust." She adds, cantering abit to catch up.

    "Back home there isn't much in the way of surviving permenant architecture; at least none like this. The Palace in the Everfree is making nice headway but I think for many ponies just the novelty of a house that would take longer than a day or two to rebuild is a novelty. Myself included."

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    Twilight nods slightly. "I am showing you some degree of trust. Whatever your possible-descendants have done, you clearly have no desire to become that. And..." She pauses at the door, dismissing her guards. "I think it is a shame for any pony to not have the chance to read. I do not have much time for lessons, but you seem intelligent so perhaps it will go easy. As well, I will have help."

    She opens the door with a shimmer of her horn and steps inside, making a grand gesture with her hoof. It is her 'private' Library, but still has several rows of shelves and thick tomes of varying age. More important is the small dias in one corner, where a ghostly image of a pony shimmers into view. A unicorn, with a short and refined beard and a swirling star cutie mark.

    "Star Swirl, this is Calumnia. Don't say I never did anything for you."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    It's the smell that hits the changeling first. The utterly alien scent of ancient papers and parchments from old rolled scrolls to carefully preserved vellum, eliciting a crinkled nose at the unexpected and strange scent. Dust and age are palpable in a manner as bizarre as any of Discord's creations, and the sheer aura of the Library (for no such sanctum of knowledge could be referred to as anything but) stuns the new-comer.

    It is in such a muddled stupor of the awed that it takes the mare several long moments to realize that she has been introduced, and several more to realize she has been introduced to - "...That's a ghost."

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    "Quite," Star Swirl agrees. "Archmagister Twilight Sparkle has brought me from beyond and bound me here to assist in her matters of arcane research. I am rather relieved that this is nearly the farthest she has gone into necromancy." He peers more closely. "The Changelings were unknown in my time. To think that their ancestor was a contemporary of mine!" Any bitterness he may have about having been summoned is gone for the moment.

    Twilight is piling several books onto her desk, in a neatly-ordered fashion. "Star Swirl is one of - perhaps THE greatest magician that unicorns have ever known. Though the one in your time may likely be less advanced."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    "...As in that is a spirit called back through the ether to the realm of the living." Calumnia just stares, responding dumbly. "Not even Discord did such a thing." Slowly, she comes to her senses, sectioning off the bizarre nature of the situation in the portion of her mind developed as a coping mechanism remaiing from the King of Chaos' reign.

    A deep breath, and.. "The name is unfamiliar to me, admittedly. Whether that is my own fault or simply the lack of renown is of course up for debate. Since my magic is finite, I do not generally waste it through experimentation. Though lately I am able to try new things from time to time... Still on the note of my magic, would it be safe to resume my natural form here?"

    As she speaks, her eyes glance from Starswirl to the dias, over the various books and to those being stacked on a desk, registerring, identifying what she can recognize, and lingering slightly on what she can't.

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    The books are introductory texts, for the most part, obviously not NORMALLY in a library like this. Twilight looks up and blinks, "Oh, yes, of course. Star Swirl has been informed of what you are, obviously. Feel free to get more comfortable."

    Star Swirl considers, "Yes, necromancy is a... dark and mysterious art. Twilight studies it with care, perhaps the best decision she has made in recent years. She and I rarely see eye to eye on policies, I am afraid." He floats over a little closer with an appraising eye. "Of course, the Multiverse changes everything."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    Accepting the invitation, Calumnia's form warps, gaining size and stature along with the wood-warped curve of a horn and translucent, tattered wings that might belong on a Breezie. Fangs press past her upper lip as the soft silky coat melds away to a thick charcoa-grey hide, while her remaining hair deepens to a shade of green, falling limp and long, though at least clean.

    "Thank you. It's not particularly taxing to maintain a form such as that but after spending a few weeks simply as myself I notice the pull more than I used to. I would compare it to... suddenly feeling the draw of using telekinesis after growing used to the draw." She offers a fangy smile. "Anyway, necromancy is well outside my range of skills, interests, and likely capabilities. Still, it's a pleasure to meet you, even despite the oddness of the manner of our meeting."

    Slotting the ghost in the back of her mind, she makes her way to Twilight's desk and finds a seat on the floor, smiling. She peers at the innocious, even thin books, several even featuring colorful covers and large letters. "So, not to derail the subject but, I would like to begin. You have me somewhat curious and I borrowed the services of a scribe to record a few of my thoughts and musings so that I could see them written. It was... Interesting."

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    It looks like Star Swirl can't go too far from the dias, though he hovers close enough to help. Twilight is used to him, so just kinda... ignores him for now and opens the first book. "Of course. We'll start with the simpler ones... short words and letters." A is for Apple is the sort of thing in this book, and Twilight settles in to clear her throat and lift her hat away, telekinetically, to prop it up.

    "Now then. A is for Apple. As you can see, they've illustrated it for reference. This is a foal's book, but I think it best if we start with the simpler parts just to make sure you get them," she explains. "You will likely pick these up quickly."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    Perhaps a foal's approach is appropriate, given that it is very likely the mare settled on the floor and browsing the colorful book had her knowledge of language either gifted or maintained by a deranged draconequus. So like a foal, she looks up in confusion from the book already. "But, 'A,'" She repeats the letter, "Doesn't sound like anything in the word 'Apple'.. I mean a little bita t the beginning but it sounds a bit like 'eight'."

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    Sigh. Twilight steps aside, but she doesn't look tired... just like she's considering. This is what she LIKES to do... and it's been far too long since she really enjoyed herself. "Now pay attention, and we can go through something a little bit easier to remember." Ahem hem.

    Light flares from her horn, forming a capital A and lowercase in the air. Then she starts /singing/ like a total dork. "A is for Apple, just one letter of many. It doesn't seem to make sense, but soon enough you'll see. Twenty-six symbols in all, each with a tall and a small. Put several side by side and you'll know it's right inside~"

    The player is not seriously going to make all the lyrics for a song like this, but the shimmering letters will twist to illustrate each one.

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    Well it's certainly memorable! The changeling mare sits quietly, caught like a deer in headlights during a heart song born of... teaching her the alphabet. Still, she does have to admit that Twilight does have a rather pleasant singing voice.

    "But Twilight even though now I know the letters from A to Z," She finds herself singing in response to the melody, "How they make words I just don't see. If A is for 'Apple' and B is for 'Bat' how do I remember the rules for that?"

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    It seems Calumnia's player has difficulty creating lyrics on the fly for a song as well.

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    "Simple repitition! That can be the key~ Just pay attention, soon you'll sing along with me!" Twilight trots around with a little prance, and Star Swirl is actively staring, surprised at the sudden levity. Twilight doesn't seem to notice. "Take each word's appearance, and break them apart! When you find the pattern, it's really a work of art~!"

    She twirls around a little, floating up 'at,' 'bat,' and 'cat,' then breaking off the 'b' and 'c' to float apart. "At bat and cat, each letter is a sound. When you see and hear it, isn't it profound?"

    It may be silly, but the illustration of the magical viewing does make it clear what 'b' and 'c' are, doesn't it?

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    And so it goes, the teacher and student caught up in the bizarre magic of a heart song and Calumnia at least having far more fun than she would believe safe or sane in such a circumstance. By the time the song winds down she finds herself able to read small words at least, provided there's an illustration nearby to help her match it to a concept or a spoken word. So it is that roughly an hour after the beginning of their little song, she's lieing down on her belly with a foal's book telling a simple story in her forehooves. "Let's see... O-R-A-N-G-E.. O-are-ei,en,gee,ee? Oarainjy?" She looks up at Twilgiht in confusion.

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    Twilight actually chuckles, "Yes, some words are a little hard because they break the rules. Learning these exceptions is part of the challenge of learning to read. The word is orange. You were very close. You let the last part out softer... this will be more common when you learn harder words, but by then you will get a feel for what's right."

    As formal as she's sounding again, she's actually on her belly, flopped and looking a little tired but satisfied. Star Swirl has 'settled' nearby, and is curiously watching the two now with a faint smile.

    Though Twilight sighs, "Sadly I cannot spare /too/ much time. It's later than I thought."

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    Cal nods a few times. "I see! I suppose I'll simply need to practice- Oh." She sounds disappointed. "Well, still I'm grateful for whatever time you can spare. You're really helping and I'm finding I enjoy learning. I actually found a teacher at home in the Everfree as well. She's training me, albeit somewhat... sporatically, in healing."

    She giggles a little, disappointment vanishing a moment. "Actually, some of the village foals have found out that if you come into her clinic and complain about hiccups she'll have me pop out and scare them. It's effective in the adults, but there's a mysterious plague of them sweeping across the foals of the area." There's a little self-satisfied smile, and she closes the book between her forelegs. "Should we head back to the gate?"

Magister Twilight (475) has posed:
    Twilight gets a brief, pained look for a moment before she floats her hat over to herself. "It was... my pleasure, actually. I'd do so again, though probably without the musical number. Probably." She smirks at the foal story. "Yes, well... foals do like that. I remember teaching Luna exactly what Ni-"

    She halts, closing her eyes. "Right. A holiday you wouldn't know yet. This can be difficult sometimes. Let's... let's get you back home. It should be easier at this hour." Back to her cold, distant personality it seems.

Calumnia (514) has posed:
    Calumnia pauses, considering that shift in personality and tries something that her own Luna gave her an idea for. Somewhat hesitently she leans over... and then touches her nose to Twilight's cheek, lightly nuzzling. "Don't do that. Timeline isn't established yet. What might be /might/ be, only what /was/ is. Besides, you seem to have good memories. Cherish them or you might wake up one day without any." She offers an unsure smile, then shuffles away somewhat awkwardly and stands, shifting back into the earth pony guise in the rather protean manner modern changelings aren't exactly known for.