My Little Mane 6?by Nublyss
Chapters
0-Prologue
I, Jonathan Bylow, was born with a special ability.
One that I used to call Absolute Memory for most of my teenage years. Only to rename it later, calling it Absolute Soul Storage. Just from the names alone, someone can probably infer the effects of my superpower, but I’m going to tell you what it does anyways.
It integrates all of my memories, knowledge, and experience into my mind and soul. It also organizes that information as efficiently as possible, practically making it impossible to forget something, even if it is a physical skill... unless I want to.
That’s right I can even choose to erase a memory from my soul, or lock it up, or fade it out. I can almost manipulate my memories and experiences however I want.
It even allows me to bypass any mental inhibitors, granting me clear knowledge and memory of what I did the first (and last) time I got drunk at a party. Something that I most definitely should have, and wished I had, forgotten. Though my experience of that night was befuddled, and my memories looked wacky. The reason being that my ability only records what I felt and perceived through my own senses, and if my senses are impaired, then my recollection of that night was recorded through my impaired senses.
Though there are limits:
1) I cannot bring back or restore an erased memory, knowledge, or experience.
2) If I fade out a memory/experience, I can only restore it up to a certain extent. The more I have faded a memory, the less of it I can restore.
3) I cannot create a new memory, I can however modify a memory, though with limited success.
4) Lastly, if I lock up my memories with set conditions to open the locked memories, I will not be able to bypass my own mental lock until the conditions for the lock are fulfilled. This of course does not include memories, knowledge, or experiences that are locked away without a set condition. I can open them effortlessly.
All of this took one hell of a time to figure out, but by using a piece of paper, and a bunch of math problems I tested the limits of my ability to mess with my mind and soul. By writing down math equations and erasing my memory of ever doing them, I could test the limits of my power in a controlled setting.
While this power was great and all, I knew if I messed with my mind and soul too much, I could make myself crazy. So, at a young age, I swore to never erase anything. A promise that I have kept since I tested the limits of my power, because what are we but a collection of our own failures and achievements. Erasing anything from myself could cause harm to my own personal development. The most I ever did was fade the extremely traumatic or cringe-like events making them hazy, just by a bit, just to dull the pain. Though I made sure to be able to recall it enough so that I never made the same mistake again.
Nonetheless, my power helped me practically cruise my life, perfect recall is the greatest cheat in the modern world, only beat by the likes of super speed. My power was one that I kept under wraps as a result, graduating high school with a 3.9 GPA (on purpose), despite most of my time at home being used to play video games, or watching tv. College only accentuated how broken my power was, as I became a major in several languages, making me a polyglot on crack.
Why did I choose such an odd career path? Learning languages was easy for me, and anything I learned would stick permanently. Including my experience pronouncing each word correctly. All it would take was for me to say a word, a phrase once, or a letter once, then I would never say it incorrectly ever again. Then my job in life is to explore the world and translate whatever I needed to, where ever I needed to, even made a name for myself as the "natural global translator". Or the "living google translate", whichever floats your boat. By the time I was 34, I was living my dream of adventuring the world seeing all there is to see, life was practically a breeze. I even learned (and mastered) a couple different martial arts for the heck of it during my life, finding myself reveling in the combat, a new hobby gained as a result.
Then my parents died. Along with my brother and his wife.
It happened all in a plane crash, with only 12 survivors. One of the survivors being my 8 years old niece, a smart kid. Smart enough to have a relative understanding of what happened to her and her family, and that broke her more than it broke me. I was in anguish, but I had long since come to terms with mortality. Perks of being an adult, if anything I was rather more angry than depressed. Angered by the fact that they couldn't have lived longer lives. Hell, I would have traded my own life for theirs in a heartbeat, but Alice had her whole world ripped away from her.
As much as I had thought I would never take care of a child, I would be damned before I let my niece rot away in some orphanage.
"So, Alice, this is your room now," showing the child the 14 by 16 room that she now can claim as her territory. Alice gives me a hostile glare. One that she had when she first saw me at the funeral, and one that she has kept whenever she saw me.
She seemed to despise me, and I could only guess why. I have not seen my family in over 7 years thanks to my work. Though I may have kept in touch with frequent phone calls, the last time I actually saw Alice was when she was roughly 1.5 years old. To her, I was practically a stranger. She knew about me, but that didn't mean much.
"Thank," she politely replied, though with a hateful tone. She was being polite for the sake of formality.
"No problem, and ask me for anything you need, I'll do my best to help you out. In fact, to you want help unpac-"
"No," Alice sternly cuts me off. I back off and let her do her thing. In the meantime, I make some lunch.
I was craving some comfort food; mom's spicy tomato chicken curry with rice came to mind. My mom was Indian and my dad was American, as a result, they made some wild food combinations. Like a goatmeat cheeseburger with chutney, or naan taco with curry. Tomato chicken curry was one of the few dishes that my brother could actually make that rivaled my own cheat-level cooking prowess, though as the heretic he was, he would always turn down the spice.
So, I did the exact same thing my brother would have, hoping that this might bring in some familiarity and comfort for Alice. It has been a month since the funeral, there was a lot of paperwork to process before things could settle down. I doubt she has had any homely meals since then.
Though it could make her hate me even more.
"Alice, can you come out for lunch?" I waited at the door to her room for a couple of minutes, until my patience was rewarded with a response.
"Ok" It was a soft and mellow reply, she might have been crying.
I went back to the dining table and took a seat, and she followed soon after. She looked at the simple plate of food, her breath stopped for a moment, her eyes seemed to moisten with memories.
"Feed me," Alice almost whispered instinctively. A common tradition for Indian parents (mostly the mother) to feed their kids by hand. Something that my mother did sometimes even when I was 18 and going to college, something that my older brother must have emulated. However, once she noticed what she said, she froze up. I, however, took the initiative to do so anyway.
As I fed her by hand, we sat in silence, tears flowing down her face. Once she had finished her food, I pulled her in for a hug, being careful to not get any of my curry-covered fingers near her back.
"Why?" Alice questions.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you still ok, you fly in planes all the time, and you are fine. But... the one time I go..." She was running out of tears, but her anger at me was resurfacing, one which I understood a bit more now.
"I'm sorry, those things normally do not happen. I can learn about why it happened, but it won't change the fact that it had happened to you. We were simply unlucky, you more so than I."
"We... we were going to Florida, to Disney Land with grandma and grandpa," she then looked at me with hopeful eyes, "promise me you will never get on another plane again." Trama, and an understandable one at that. Looks like I'll have to change my job, not that I already didn't have to. Can't leave the kid at home while I go meandering in another country.
"I promise that as long as you hate airplanes, I will never get on one again," as I said before, Alice was a smart kid. She didn't like the way I phrased my words but was satisfied with my promise nevertheless. "Want to watch some TV together?"
"Yesh," her voice was muffled by my shirt. I carried her to the couch and gave her the remote. I wash up my hands, grab my cold plate of food and a fork (because spoons are pointless), and sit down next to her. During which, an interesting kids' show seemed to be on a marathon run, a show called My Little Ponies: Friendship is Magic.
"I think horses are gross," Alice states, "but I like them a lot," she points at the six ponies all huddled together. "They're not perfect, and they're all so different, but they're still good friends."
"So, you have seen this show before?"
"I watched it with mom, right now they are playing all the old episodes before season 3 comes out."
"So now is the perfect time to get caught up huh?"
"Yes?"
"Good, because from now on, I'm going to be watching the show with you," Alice looked at me oddly.
"But it's a girls' show?"
"Girls can wear clothes made for boys, boys have a skirt called kilts. Don't get me started about Indians and their lungis."
"Oh," Alice hesitates but askes another question. "Can I watch Ben 10 too? Mom didn't like that one much."
"Sure! As long as it was a show made for kids, you can watch it. Though you better not forget about your schoolwork." Alice groans in response.
Author's Note
1-Déjà Vu
I, Benjamin Polny, was reborn into a supernatural world granting me more special abilities.
One of them I call Absolute Soul Storage. This is a unique ability that I had in my past life, one that allowed me to be reborn with my previous memories and experiences, though it took 14 years for me to be able to access those memories. My body and mind had to be strong yet still malleable enough to handle the stress of almost a century's worth of living. Apparently, puberty was the age where the bare minimum requirements were met.
Anyways, while this body is no longer Jonathan, everything else was still here. I even talked and acted like my past self before I got complete access to my old memories once more, so there was no dissonance between the identities.
Lastly, my first ability seems to have gotten an upgrade since I reincarnated. Now I can do unto others’ minds what I do to my soul with my Absolute Soul Storage. All the same rules apply, but I must be in contact with the person for my power to work. I can also now copy and paste experiences and memories however I want, including between people. At this point, my name might as well be Charles Xavier.
The only thing I can’t do is engrave other peoples’ memories onto their souls, but my boons don’t just end there.
On Terra, people can be born with other soul-related powers. In fact, about 60% of the population can be born with a Soul-Power. If one was not born awakened, there were even artificial methods to awaken anyways. Making about 70% of the population have some form of Soul-Power.
There is more to it than that, as out of the 60% who awakened naturally, about 4% had a chance of a double awakening. Also known as being born with two powers. There is also a 0.2% chance of triple awakening, and if a quad awakening is a thing, it hasn't happened yet.
I was a part of the lucky group of double awakeners, having been born with 2 other powers. They are respectively called Tunnel and Cell. No, I didn't name them, this world has a Soul-Item called a soul reader. This was the item that told me the name of my powers. However, it could not recognize Absolute Soul Storage as a Soul-Power, which was quite interesting.
I did however wonder, why there weren't a faction of superheroes and a society of supervillains that were constantly at war with each other. Or at least why wasn't crime more rampant than it seemed around me.
That question was answered quite easily by one fact. I lived in the rich area of the capital, being born into a very, very, very, rich family. My mother in this life was the head of a very prominent and efficient transportation company, my father held a monopoly on soul item production. Together, they practically became John D. Rockefeller and the government couldn't stop them as my father's Soul-Item production was extremely crucial to society, so the government greatly benefitted from our monopoly.
Nevertheless, crime was definitely rampant, even more so than back on earth. Hell, slavery was even legal, especially thanks to Soul-Items that have the function to instill absolute commands. Thankfully my father and mother were not interested in slave trade, and the Soul-Items he produces were traditionally meant for the captured daemons or monsters that dominate Terra.
Ahh, yes. The other bombshell, humans have only conquered 25% of Terra. The rest of the world is dominated by beings of pure carnage and evil; the daemons. Or by animals who have rapidly mutated through Soul-Power; monsters. Put all that together with the fact that the phone was only invented when I turned 18.
Oh, Earth, you will be missed.
Once again, I watch as my mother was being buried, but I was happy for her. Both my parents' death was a natural one, they had me very late in their lives so their time came soon after I turned 36. Their deaths being mere months apart. Though somehow, I didn't mind. I was a bit mad at them for leaving me with so much paperwork, but as I watch them be buried, I could only remember the good times we had together.
Their death even got me a little introspective. I was mentally immortal thanks to my original superpower from Earth, there would be many times where I see people come in and out of my life.
I was at my happiest when I watch the people close to me live a fulfilling and satisfying life.
Maybe I should see a psychologist. I assume this line of thought isn't normal. Others at the funeral are even looking at me oddly, but that was probably due to my long-perfected poker face.
It took a couple of weeks to get all my emotions under control and manage the massive mound of paperwork that was left on my desk. Once I finished that up, I finally had the time to go out for a walk.
What! Managing a monopoly was tough, even though the technology in this world finally managed to catch up to Earth, to an extent.
I grabbed a beanie to cover my hair and put on some sunglasses with a trench coat to complete my disguise. I also nabbed a pencil and a small notepad, along with my phone, wallet, and some business cards. You never know when a grand business opportunity could show up. Once I shoved everything into their rightful pockets, I finally took a step outside and breathed in the fresh air.
Thankfully it was always chilly in Siript the capital of Issoulful. It never did go above 70* Fahrenheit It never got below 50* either, making it the best place to live for those who enjoyed the autumn chill. Something that I definitely did.
Walking around the streets, I take in the hustle and bustle of the city. After about an hour of walking, having relaxed my body, I head to the darker areas of the city. The places where the homeless congregate. Every now and then, I would go around and give money to some of these people. After I scanned their memories first to make sure they would use the money to actually get themselves off the streets.
This of course doesn’t even make a dent in the homeless population. Nor is it to make me feel good about myself. No, my main way to do that is through the various charities and homeless shelters that I own.
This was my way of making sure I don’t let the money get to me. Having so much power at your fingertips, and being cooped up in a mansion with so many butlers and maids, and constantly dealing with nobles with sticks so far up their asses that they don’t even realize that shit comes out their mouths.
No, I come out here and do this to help mellow myself out and regain some sanity. Ironic, I’m here to help others to help myself.
As I kept walking around, I heard the sound of little girls crying. Something that I haven’t heard since before my death. My fatherly instincts kick into overdrive, scouring around for the source of the noise. Until I come across two little... fillies, huddled together, crying.
One was a yellow pegasus with a soft pink mane and tail, the other was a purple unicorn with mostly deep purple hair. They both had marks on their flanks, the pegasus had butterflies, while the unicorn had stars.
They stifle their tears as they look at me with fear. I rub my eyes with disbelief. I should not be seeing this right now. This should be, by all means, impossible.
However, what am I but an impossibility as well?
I reach out my hand, to touch them, to scan their memories. To test if this was a new type of monster or a daemon’s illusion, but the pair flinch and cower further into each other in terror.
I stop and then try a way of communicating my lack of hostility towards them, a method that would only work if they truly are what they look to be. I draw on my notepad Equestria’s flags.
I squat down and show it to them, recognition immediately flashes on their faces. I put away the pad, as I reach out a hand to both of them, they both reach out with a hoof to meet my hands.
I scan their mind, but not to check who they are, as I already know. I compile and copy their knowledge and experience of the language of Equestria instantly onto myself.
“Hello little fillies, my name is Benjamin Polny,” I speak in perfect Equestrian. They both jump into my arms out of hope and relief, making me land on my glutes.
“Please help us!” Their sorrowful cry echoes around me, and I would be damned before I let these little girls rot away in the streets, or reject their call to action, or let my Alice’s saviors down.
Author's Note
2-What Happened
“Have you two calmed down?” I had given them some time to collect themselves in my arms. They both nodded and backed up. I decided to stay sitting down on the street. Communication is done better with constant eye contact, something that is hard to maintain if there is a substantial height difference. I was 7ft 3in (221cm), just an inch below the average height for humans on Terra. The two little ponies in front of me are somewhere around 2ft 4in (71.1cm), barely 3ft if they get up on their hind legs. There was a massive difference.
"Um, how can you speak our language? How do you know about our flag?" Twilight questions nervously. Fluttershy's eyes seemed to hold similar questions but she was too shy to voice them, thankfully, she didn't need to.
"Before that, do you remember how you two came here? If so, was it only you two, or are there others that tagged along?" If two of the Mane 6 are here, it wouldn't be bad to assume the others probably followed. Whatever sent them here seems to be too big of a deal to not involve the other four. If I wished to help, I needed to be thorough.
"We remember," Twilight hesitates for a bit, takes a deep breath, then continues. "My friends and I just finished taking down a being of absolute chaos with our special artifacts of harmony. We thought we had completely won, and banished the creature of discord for good. We had saved all of Equestria for the second time, but when we all headed back to my home to celebrate, the being's final trap activated. A massive energy blast of chaos and something much darker mixed in detonated. It was probably his attempt to get the last laugh, but our artifacts reacted to save us. The opposing forces of power somehow brought all six of us here, as fillies." Hmm, that's quite different from what I originally remember watching.
“Hmm, so where are the other friends of yours?” Twilight’s ears dropped down at my question, Fluttershy looks at the ground.
“We don’t know. When we arrived here one of our friends by the name of Pinkie went crazy with the prospect of meeting so many new creatures and making so many new friends. She constantly ran around and tried talking to the other beings like you-.”
“Humans.”
“Hue-manz? Right, she constantly ran around and tried to talk to the hue-manz. Rarity, one of my other friends, was greatly enamored by all the different clothing styles that the hue-manz had. So, she tagged along with Pinkie and her antics. Which greatly backfired, as a big armored cart came and many hue-manz popped out of it wearing various forms of armor and foal napped both of them. We chased after the cart, but Fluttershy and I couldn't keep up. Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued the chase." It seems that Rarity and Pinkie Pie have been captured by the Domestic Monster Safety and Control.
The DMSC is Terra's version of animal control but worse as they deal with monster taming, a ludicrous business of using a mass-produced Soul-Item called a Soul Collar to gradually tame monsters for domestication or commercial use. while we do have cars in this world, we have yet to invent any form of aircraft. Rather, we have actually domesticated wyverns, I even own one or two...
Ten, I own and meticulously take care of ten of them. Domestic wyverns are as big as a fighter jet and are absolutely jolly creatures that are basically overgrown dogs, just a bit smarter, and a bit less energetic.
"So how long have you two been on the streets. At least without the other four?"
"For about six days."
"Food and water?"
"Wild grass and berries, there is a small river nearby."
"Shelter?"
"Under the bridge over the river."
"Bathroom?"
"..." They have a deep crimson blush as they hide their face in shame.
“Right, how about you two come with me to my house where we can get you guys cleaned up, then we can figure out a plan on how to find your friends. Sounds good?"
"Um, sure, but you didn't answer any of my questions." Twilight was a bit wary of me, and I did try to avoid answering her questions, specifically the last one she had asked.
"I copied your knowledge of the language and applied it to myself when I held your hoof. As for your other question, I wish to explain that when we have gathered the rest of your friends. Is that alright?"
"Sure, but you can do that? Just copy another person's knowledge and skill? I didn't even feel any magic."
"Yes, and you didn't feel magic because I didn't use any. Magic does not normally exist in this world."
"That... explains a lot," Twilight mumbles as if she got hit by an epiphany. "Also, I have one last question, before we decide to trust you or not. Why are you helping us? Especially when one else has even bothered too?"
"The answer to that question is also related to how I know of Equestria, and people don't want to help you because they think you are a bunch of weird stray animals or monsters. My reason to aid you and your fellows is very personal. Though let it be known that I truly do wish for you ponies to be returned home safely, and I hope you guys can believe me." Twilight and Fluttershy start to whisper to each other for a bit before they seem to come to a conclusion.
"We will trust you, but part of that is because we have no clue how we are going to make it around here on our own."
"Then let me reward some of that trust." I hold out my hands and tap Twighlight's horn and Fluttershy's forehead. They are immediately struck with a soft headache, but they understood the knowledge that flowed into them, I gave them the knowledge and skill to speak Issoul, the most common language used by humans on this planet.
"Oh, my, that felt quite awful. Do you get a headache like this every time?" This was the second time I heard Fluttershy speak to me, though still quite softly.
"No," because I don't just store the memory in my mind, but also my soul. Which, according to research done by the scientist of Terra, has an endless storage space. Something that is apparently true for all conscious souls, I'm just the only one who can use my soul productively, at least to my knowledge.
We then finally left the streets, the ponies followed along as I slowly guided them to my abode. A three-story-tall mansion. I personally would rather have a smaller home, but was raised here and this place was given to me by my parents. I watched the ponies' jaws dropped at the sight of it. It was a big place by human standards, for the doors were the standard 8ft and 4in (254cm). Twilight and Fluttershy being fillies didn't help either.
"This place is huge! The doors look like they could let Celestia fit through without having to duck down!"
"Yep, this home is way too big for me but I inherited it from my parents, and it holds too many childhood memories. I'd rather not give it up unless I had to."
Leading them inside, I chuckled as the girls marveled at the insides of my home. My butler, whose name is Jonathan ironically, had approached me.
"Master, as adorable as they are, you must warn us before you bring more pets home. We will need new facilities and servants to-"
"Jonathan, they are not pets. They are guests. They were a group of sextuplet sisters who had been transformed into odd thestral like creatures somehow, probably due to the power of a daemon. I am going to be taking care of them personally and looking for their siblings. I doubt if I put them in an orphanage, they will be adopted. You know I am a sucker for sob stories." While horses did not exist in this world, thestrals did. It was the best comparison I could make.
"That is quite a terrible situation master. I will keep that in mind. Do you plan to adopt them? Will you have the time to cater to their needs?"
"I can easily make time for them, Jonathan. I just have to actually start using my Cater-type Soul-Power's vitality effect to its full potential again if need be. Besides these two are quite mature for their age, I think they will be fine. However, adoption is something necessary if I want to keep them with me legally. I will also have to get working on their identities. They are not registered within Issoulful's database yet, as they were left on the streets for all of their lives. If they wish to roam around and live properly, an ID will greatly benefit them.
"With how you are describing their life, it's a miracle these two even made it this far."
"Yes, but as you can see, four others are missing. Keep a lookout for anything like them, I wish to save the others as well if possible. Also, their transformation has made them vegetarian, be mindful of that when you make dinner later." Jonathan nods and walks off.
"What were you two talking about?" Fluttershy asks.
"I was giving him your alibi. Something that I need to go over with you two. Once we set things up, you two might be hounded by news reporters for some time. In the meanwhile, the closes large bathroom is over there," I point left, "go ahead and-" Before I can finish, the girls blitz away to clean themselves up. I just shook my head and called up a maid, asking her to guide the ponies to the dining room once they are done washing up. Sasha, the maid looked puzzled but complied.
Author's Note
3-The Plan
I’m at the dinner table with an odd-looking keyboard-like machine. From the right side of the machine, a faint glowing antenna stuck out and pulsed every few seconds. The left side had a wire-like rope that connected to a Soul-Item that looked like a glass panel, on the aforementioned glass panel, the words that I was typing out were seemingly etched into its face. Once I finished writing out a document, I pressed a button that seemed to clear the glass panel.
I had just finished up a document for the company and sent it out into the soulnet through a soul-writer. Our prototype version of the internet and a computer (though more like a fax machine). I took the technology they had for creating soulphones and reworked it to be able to store and transfer documents.
Though I could never get the system to save an image. While the compound soul-item, a massive soul-item that is made up of many smaller soul-items, that is used as a central hub of the soulnet is the most powerful tool ever created, it just can’t process an image.
The reason being that the soulnet system partially uses our own minds to log data. For example, if I press down on the letter A on a keyboard, the soulnet uses my own understanding of the letter A and records it. This system works fine for documents, but pictures and images can be so abstract between people, it is currently impossible to log an image without a standardized system that can adapt and accommodate everyone’s visual interpretations of the world around them. So, I’ll just leave it to the future generations to figure it out.
Hey, cut me some slack here, the compound soul-item I had made is powerful enough to send out a signal throughout the entire continent and receive one back within a microsecond. It is also not affected by any non-soul-item-based obstruction. So, I can be thousands of feet underground without any interference. It was the best I could do without having to invent rocket science and satellites. Or kick start a space race. None of which has happened yet, as most of the humans are still focused on exploring the monster-infested land rather than what might be out there in space.
Also, a cool side note, Terra’s moon has its own mini-moon! The lunar satellite orbits the moon once every four hours. How adorable.
“Master Benjamin, the girls are almost done and on their way with Sasha,” Jonathan informs me as he takes away my soul writer.
“Oh good. How long till dinner?”
“It will take a few minutes longer; you know how much you eat.”
“Yes, yes I do.” I begin tapping my table as I hum a tune. Not even a minute later, a butler then approaches with my favorite guitar.
“No need Sebastian. I am just messing around.” Sebastian smiles and walks back. Eventually, I take notice of a mirror and decide to occupy myself by adjusting my black hair, only for a maid to approach with scissors and a cape.
“Stop right there Ella, no need for that. You know I don't even need to have my hair cut anyways.” The maid pouts a bit but obliged. I let out a sigh, some of my servants are too overbearing. Or maybe I’m much too autonomous in spite of my luxurious upbringing?
Eventually, the door to the dining hall opens up, revealing a much cleaner-looking Twilight and Fluttershy. Coincidently, the food had been finished and was being brought out as well.
"Master Benjamin, I have prepared your large sushi patter full of various exotic and monstrous fishes as you know it is Sushi Saturday. For the girls, I have prepared some kimbap as they are a similar alternative, but still not as odd as your habit of eating raw fish meat."
The girls froze with a bit of disgust and fear, I often allow my servants to joke around as living without humor is a bland existence. I have also taught my chefs various earth cuisine, especially a variety of Indian dishes.
That seems to have come back to bite me in the ass. Whatever, let's get this over with.
"Jonathan, please leave me alone with the girls, I wish to speak with them a bit more privately." Jonathan gives me an odd look; I mouth the word adoption to him. He nods and walks off with the rest of the servants. I let out a sigh and began to speak to the girls. "As you have noticed, I am an omnivore. All of humanity is capable of digesting both plants and meats. Some choose to not consume meat; others choose to only consume meat. But a balance between both is most efficient for use. Any more questions?"
"Do, do you eat ponies?" Fluttershy was the one to speak up on that, she also seemed the most relaxed out of the two.
"Could we? Maybe, would we, most of us would not. Ponies don't exist in this world. We have thestrals, but they are rare and are made up of bones and skin, no meat on them," I answer calmly, neither of them relaxes. "Try out the meal in front of you, its main ingredients are seaweed, carrots, eggs, tofu, pickled radish, cucumber, avocado, and rice. Nothing meat-related in there." The fillies look at the food with hesitation, especially Fluttershy. Twilight seemed less hesitant, maybe due to her upbringing in Canterlot, so she lowers her head pops one in. She chews for a bit, and when the word "tastes good" seems to pop into her brain, she starts chomping away at the rest.
It has been some time since they had any good food. Fluttershy also goes crazy after getting over her own initial concerns for it. Then a thought came to my mind, I smiled as I pulled out some wasabi, it wasn't called wasabi in this world, but that was what I called it anyway.
"Try it with this dip, it's a bit spicey, but it makes it taste even better." That was a lie, you weren't supposed to eat kimbap with wasabi. Twilight and Fluttershy both dipped a roll in it like it was salsa, and ate the roll. I gave it a second until it finally hits them. Their eyes widen as they exhale as much air as they could, tears roll down their eyes as they rub their "burning" snout.
"Hawt! Bwuning!" That was all Twilight could say. Fluttershy drinks water, but it had no effect. While neither of them started to hiccup like I thought they might, it was still enough to send me into a fit of laughter. The wasabi eventually wore off, but they were looking at me while pouting."
"That was mean, you should have warned us."
"Fluttershy, he did warn us, but it seems that we both went for it anyways. How do you even eat that stuff?"
"Hahaha, you eat it in small doses, and not with kimbap, sorry girls." I calmed myself down, then began to tear into my large assortment of sushi. My meal was made with enough food to feed a family of 4, but it was necessary for my outrageously high metabolic rate. It took me about four minutes to eat all that food up. I would usually take my time eating but I have an important conversation ready for the duo that had stared at my vigorous consumption of food.
"Is meat really that good?" Twilight asked, with some disgust.
"It's nice, but I was eating that fast so we could focus on talking about your situation. If meat bothers you guys that much, I will lower my meat intake as a compromise," I suggested while cleaning up my face.
"I am grateful for that, thank you," Fluttershy responded with a strained smile.
"Alright, let's focus on what you guys need to know. First of all, I will explain to you two of the false identities that I have crafted to help you and your friends fit into this world while you guys figure out a way back home. You are now sextuplet sisters that have been cursed after birth by a daemon, a type of super-powerful evil creature in this world with abilities we have yet to fully understand, you have lived within the edge of the forest right outside of the city for most of your lives until you gals stumbled into the city. Then your sisterly group was split up, and eventually, I found you two and decided to adopt all of six of you sisters. Is that alright with you two, any question?"
"Why do you need to adopt us? We all are fully grown mares, even if we look like fillies. Even if we are fillies, humans don't know that." Not a bad question Twilight, in response I pull out a soul-item and put it on the table.
"This is a soul-item, called Health Reader. It can measure your biological condition and your bodies' relative maturity. If you can fool this, then we can skip the adoption can go straight to giving you guys adult identities. All you need to do is touch the handprint right there." They both frowned but did so anyway. Both Twilight and Fluttershy were identified as children by the device.
"So, either you guys are treated like animals, or sent to the orphanage as weird children, or adopted by me. There might be other possibilities, nevertheless, your freedom is greatly limited as fillies. I am sorry but I do promise none of you will have to call me dad. That would be very awkward for all of us, and a bit rude to your real parents."
Twilight frown, then focused on her horn, with a great amount of concentration it sent out some small sparks. However, whatever was constraining her magic proved to be too much, and she had nearly collapsed in exhaustion.
"Fine, it's honestly not that bad of a proposition. Just find it annoying that I'm a filly again." Twilight huffed out. I nod in understanding, been there done that. Might have to do it again thanks to my cheat, though I honestly find childhood years much more enjoyable due to its inherent lack of burdensome responsibilities.
"Thank you, now let's focus on our two main goals. Gather you six artifact bearers, and send you home. For the gathering part, you guy will be of no use as you are now. Your odd "magic" is limited, and you all have no knowledge of what's around you. I have already tasked my servants to keep a lookout for friends, and I will employ as many methods as possible to search them out. I will allow you two to aid in the search efforts once you have proven to me that you can be of use. Fair?"
"What will we do then, just sit around on our plots and wait for you to do all the work?" Twilight grumbles.
"I, I would appreciate it if we had some part in our endeavors as well, if you don't mind," Fluttershy added.
"I know, the important task that you two will work on are actually quite numerous depending on how you gals plan on returning home. As I see it, there are four ways to return:
A) Wait for help from your own world.
B) Find someone with the power to send you two back home in this world. Which I can already confirm such a person doesn't exist.
C) Train in soul-power in hopes of eventually obtaining the power to send yourselves home.
D) Train your magic to the point where you all can send yourselves home."
"The last one is also impossible or at least improbable as this world seems to reject my magic, making even the simplest spell a thousand times more difficult, and according to my calculations, that number isn't even an exaggeration." The purple unicorn interjects.
"That doesn't mean you should erase it as an option entirely. However, that does narrow down our options to A and C. While none of you were born with a soul-power ability, thankfully, we have figured out a way to artificially grant one to humans born without it. Unfortunately, such a method cannot be used without proper body conditioning and a minimum age of 13, or a teenager, as the process is quite taxing on the body."
"So, we need to train our bodies, that's it? That's all we can do."
"No, that is merely the first step. For trying to return to Equestria, your home. There are so many other things that might need to be done. This will be a long and arduous journey if your princesses do not come for you first, but until you all are 13, there are some finer tasks that need attending to.
"For example; all of you, including your friends once we find them, will need a proper summary understanding of the world they are in. So, an organized pamphlet of key information would be useful to have to better blend in. Also, a good understanding of the flora and fauna of this world would be nice to have so that none of you get yourselves surrounded by monsters or eat something poisonous. Sounds like a good idea?" I can see the gears turning in their head as a massive smile appears on their faces."
"You are right! This is an entirely different world with a different history and culture. There would be so many new things to learn, I almost feel like a filly again." Twilight beams.
"Twilight, you are a fill-"
"And to think of all the new creatures I can meet. I can't wait to find some of them!" Fluttershy cuts me off.
"Then would you like to meet my wyverns?" I suggest.
"What?" They both question.
"A dragon-like hybrid of a lizard and a bird. Fluffiest creatures I have ever had the pleasure of owning as a pet. We do have sometime before nightfall."
"But they aren't dragons?" Fluttershy asked while seeming to disappear behind Twilight.
"They have feathered beaks, talons, and a sword for a tail, are big, but they do not breath fire. You could they are as scary as a manticore," I shrugged.
"Oh, ok! Then let's go see them!" Fluttershy's enthusiasm immediately bounces back as she eagerly waits for me to lead the way.
As I lead these ponies to the wyvern hanger, I could feel that they were still worried about their friends, and worried about their situation. This only further cemented my beliefs that these ponies do not belong here. This world's brutality might break them, but I will not let that happen. At least not until I have figured out a way to send them home.
Then when that time comes, I will break my vow. I will erase their memories of this world. Leaving intact just the bare minimum to understand what had happened, but nothing more.
Non-Cannon Bit:
"Alright, let's focus on what you guys need to know. First of all, I will explain to you two of the false identities that I have crafted to help you and your friends fit into this world while you guys figure out a way back home. You are now sextuplet sisters-"
"Sextuplet Sisters?! Do you know what that means?! It means six birthday parties together in one giant, super-d-duper, mega-awesome, birthday bonanza!" Filly Pinkie Pie shouts out as she seemingly apparates out of Twilights mane sending confetti everywhere. Everyone around the dining table just looks at her in shock.
"Oh, right, I'm supposed to be all mopey-dopy right now because I'm filynapped with Rarity," The sporadic pink menace pulls out a pin from her mane and looks to have somehow popped her enthusiasm by stabbing the needle into her poofy hair. Her hair becomes straight as her demeanor becomes depressed. She then swivels like a screw back into Twilight's mane.
Author's Note
4-Auction
4-Auction
"Fluttershy, meet the crew. From left to right it is, Silver (Female), Sullivan (Male), Cresent (Male), Catherine (Female), Midna (Female), Maximilian (Male), Behemoth (Male), Belmond (Female), Alexandra (Female), Apex (Male). The first letter in their names signifies their couples match," I say as the de-aged mare stares starry-eyed at my feathered wyvern squad. The squad stares back with similar curiosity, but they mostly surround me for some attention. I began scratching some of them as they nudge me around, smothering me. All the while, Twilight hung back a bit, some reluctance in her eyes.
"Wyverns are oddly romantic as they bond for life, and they do so at quite a young age, so you have to get them in pairs most of the time. Hence the matching names."
"Aww, that's so sweet! Are any of them expecting? A baby wyvern sounds adorable!" Fluttershy approaches the wyverns and begins to attempt to pet Apex's wings, only for the beast to huff at her and walk away to my left. I motioned Fluttershy towards Silver, as she was one of the kinder wyverns and much more willing to be petted by strangers.
"Fluttershy, these guys all look like carnivores, are you sure we should get near them?" Twilight questions, and was right to do so, but I know my guys already understand that these fillies aren't food. Not that there would be much to eat anyways.
"Twilight, I have taken care of creatures from the likes of snakes and bears to manticores. Plus, we all faced off against a d-dragon before, a wyvern isn't that scary," Fluttershy countered though she whimpered off at the end. Her fear didn't last long as she looked to be on cloud nine right while fluffing Silver's feathers.
"Yeah, but we were fully grown adult mares with active magic! You can't even talk to animals or fly anymore; I can't even use a simple levitation spell!"
"That doesn't mean we should deny them our kindness, Twilight!" Fluttershy yelled... not really. She did speak with great intent, however.
An odd silence hung in the air as Twilight took a moment to collect her thoughts, "you're right. I should at least give them a chance; they didn't choose to be carnivores after all. It seems I let all the stress get to me."
"It's ok, Twilight. I am worried as well, but there isn't much we can do right now." They both became depressed. Let's see if I can change that around.
"Going back to your earlier question, Fluttershy, a female wyvern typically can only give birth to a maximum of four children within ten years after they reach adulthood at the age of ten. All of my wyverns are around 18-24 years of age. Most of them have already reached their birthing limit. However, Alexandra and Belmond are both pregnant, probably with their last fertilized eggs. I know this because wyverns unlike chickens cannot lay unfertilized eggs. Belmond's egg should pop out in a couple of weeks, and Alexandra's a week after."
"Ooooo. When will they hatch?"
"Wyvern eggs sadly take a long time to incubate, around two months after being laid."
"Oh... how long are we going to be on Terra. At least if we try to send ourselves home?" I wince a bit at that, I never mentioned such a thing as it was going to be a hard truth for them to swallow, but I need to be honest with things like this.
"According to my estimations. If I am being generous, and you all turn out to be a soul-power using genius. Once you guys are injected with a soul-power at the age of thirteen (roughly), it could take a minimum of four years to even have the chance to go back home, for a total time on Terra being around seven. Realistically it takes the average person ten years if they don't get themselves killed, so if we succeed and you guys do get away home, you might be stuck here for a total of thirteen years max by then." They both look at me in horror.
"Are you sure this plan is the fastest way?" Twilight seems to beg for a hopeful answer.
"It is the only way for even the slightest chance for what you want. I will explain why later when we have all you and your friends together. If I do manage to find a better and faster way, you will be the first person to know, Twilight." She was not happy with that answer.
I had some servants guide the girls to their new rooms, pretty sure they needed time to themselves after that bombshell. To be stripped away from everything you love and hold dear to you, the emotional turmoil within them must be immense.
"Hehe, and it's typically the other way around in most fanfics," I mutter out loud as I head over to my office. Yes, I had read a couple fics here and there once I had retired in my past life, hoping to relive some of the nostalgia with a new twist. I was mostly disappointed, so I turned to the comics. Something I probably should have done first, but I preferred reading books.
"Master Benjamin!" I hear head butler Jonathan approach, "I have some news!"
I halt and face him, "what is it?"
"I have found a clue about the location of some of their siblings." He then hands me a sheet of paper, one with chrome black ink. A list of rare one-of-a-kind pets on the monster auction. On it, one description stuck out to me.
"Mini-thestral like pets. No wings. Comes in white and pink, white one even comes with a sparkling horn?"
"It sounds similar to the other two, does it not?"
"Yes, very much so. The auction is tomorrow at noon? Well then, get me an invite. Also, contact the Red Rogues in case of... complications."
"You intend to steal them if something goes wrong?" Jonathan question's, I have been extremely "fair" and legal with most of my business endeavors. So, hearing me blatantly plan for thievery must have thrown him for a loop.
"It's not theft if they are not an object. I am rescuing innocent civilians from their kidnappers. Slavery is only legal if the person enslaved is an adult with a major criminal offense after all."
"Yes... Master Benjamin," Jonathan then goes off to carry out the tasks.
I head to my office, where all the work I have put off is placed in front of me, thank the heavens that sleep is merely a luxury for me.
"So haaah, you found haaah, our friends haaah!" Twilight exclaims with huffs in between. both Fluttershy and Twighlight are running laps with me around my old training grounds. Fluttershy was already a mess of sweat and pony on the ground about a half a mile back. Twilight is about to be knocked out soon as well.
"I have found two of your friends, I will be attempting to rescue them tonight," I speak after stopping, this was enough for them today.
"Could we, come with."
"It would be more harmful than helpful Twilight. The people involved in this tend to be more unhinges within society, while my wealth and influence would deter most of them. Some people are vile enough to fight against a fair outcome." The filly frowns at my words. "I know you want to help, but you said it best yesterday, you and Fluttershy are merely children, along with the fact that you two are without the full power of your magic..."
"Fine, I got it... Please bring them back as safely as possible," Twilight's worried face brings memories of my past life up into the forefront of my mind. I see Alice's face overlap with hers for a brief moment. She did connect with the purple mare the most out of everyone in the show, despite being more of a tomboy like Rainbow Dash.
"Will do," I go to pat her head in nostalgia, but catch myself in the act and stop, "Jonathan will bring you two to the library. Also, make sure Fluttershy goes with someone if she ever wishes to see the wyverns. They are not used to her."
Twilight looks at me oddly in silence for a while, then speaks, "you remind me of somepony, you know. I can't remember who though."
"I hope that's a good thing."
"I think it is."
"My mask is awesome, Red-Ghost." I protest to one of the members of the Red Rogues'. They were the groups of explores I hired as my bodyguard for this event, also their group is an expert in stealth and thievery in case I need to resort to such an extreme. They are also old college friends of mine. The group's members are; Red-Dragon, Red-Fairy, Red-Ogre, and of course Red-Ghost. All of them had Confrontational type spirit-powers except Ghost, who had a Cater type.
Confrontational type power tends to focus on close-quarters-combat, it is an active ability that requires those with it to get up close and personal with your enemy. Dragon has the Spirit Power called Dragon, what a surprise, I know. His ability allows him to use dragon-like attacks and do lightning dragon things. A similar situation is true for all the other members of the group. Basically, an offense-focused power.
Red-Ghost on the other hand has a Cater type power, an ability that influences one's self and or others around them beneficially. Things like a passive regeneration-focused ability that makes you hard to kill, or an active healing ability that allows you to heal your party. Ghost can make herself intangible, and eventually could also make his party intangible as well. Basically, a support-focused ability.
Lastly, a Control Type, like the one I have, is a power that focused on changing or warping the playing field or negatively affecting an enemy from a distance. Like poisoning a large area, or creating spiritual mines to leave around for others to step on. Basically, a crowd control, or an AOE de-buff focused power.
My power is to tunnel into the ground... Yeap. I can probably do more, but I never developed that power. I only advanced my Cater type power called Cell because it was a passive type ability, I can't not use it.
Of course, some abilities may be of one type but have aspects of another. So, there can be a bit of overlapping.
Anyways, Red-Ghost had said that the mask I chose to hide my face in the auction looked stupid. It was a cool ass replica of Spectra's mask from Bakugan (Darkus Version), another show I enjoyed watching with my niece, along with Ben 10 and My Little Pony (those were our golden trio). Not that the masks mattered, they were more of a formality rather than an actual way to hide your identity. It wasn't hard to figure out who was who.
I also didn't plan on hiding my identity, as I may have mentioned before, my economic power will be a great deterrent against those in the way of my goals today.
"I said it is childish, but you make it look stupid," Red-Ghost finally countered. She liked to stay quiet, but we were both bored out of our minds waiting for the auction to commence. The and the rest of the Red Rogues were tasked elsewhere. Hence my massive internal monologue earlier.
"I didn't pay you to spite me Ghost."
"I didn't ask to be paid; we all would have done the job for free."
"How the hell are you going to keep running your group without my cash?"
"Your money doesn't make the world turn around."
"Coulda fooled me," I say with a light-hearted laugh. Our banter was cut there as the stage lights turned on, first on the stage were some Noibirds. They were parrot-like monsters the size of a house cat with four bat-like wings, they can mimic speech and also produce a paralyzing screech through their soul-power. The peculiar thing here was that these avian were small, still very young, and that they didn't even have the soul-collars.
"These are the first official batch of the newly domesticated Noibirds. Currently undergoing a government trial to become official, but you can get one now before they become a trend. This batch are all sterile (as most Noibirds tend to be), as the seller isn't interested in any early competition."
This was interesting, it was even before my time when wyverns were domesticated, so I was interested in investing in something like this. I will have to figure out who the seller is. I look around and see a clear sign of disinterest throughout the auction. The current meta, as you might call it, for extravagant pets is to obtain a big and dangerous-looking one. My fault partially, as I had bought ten wyverns, and a lot of the upper class mimicked me. Not many can understand the potential that small creatures with voice mimicking ability may have, as normal parrots didn't exist.
Or if they did exist, then they lived in an undiscovered part of Terra.
"The starting price for each one will be 10,000 kirits." Ah yes, Issoulful's currency. The kirit, which roughly equates to 2 dollars in exchange, was "creatively" named after the concept of chi or ki and then the word spirit.
I raise my hand in my VIP booth up high in the auction house, "10,000!" People immediately took notice, someone else raised their hand, to either compete against me or to try and make my life harder by making me spend more than I have to. Most likely the latter.
"10,500!" The competitor shouted.
"11,000,"
"12,000!" The younger bidder smirks up at me, definitely the latter.
"15,000," I speak.
"20,000!" The young man outbids again. I stay my hand; the kid seems almost triumphant that he had outbid me. Until an older man next to him hits him over the head. A father and son duo, it seems that a good lesson was passed down between the two, as now the young man was stuck with a prize he probably didn't even want. The father then gives me a thumbs up, I send a smile in return. Then bid again for the next one.
"10,000." It was sold to me at starting bid, so was the one after it... Jonathan is going to give me a hard time over this, thankfully these creatures aren't the size of a fighter jet. They should be easier to look after. Thanks to my purchases, some others became curious over what exactly I see in the mammal-winged avian.
Afterward, came a collared flame salamander. Probably the closest thing to a dragon, beside the wyverns, as they can spit fire and are highly resistant towards it. However, the flame salamanders were an extremely stupid species.
Next was a collared thestral, a bony horse with wings. its whole body was being held together by its skin and spirit-power. A popular "pet" amongst the upper class, especially amongst females (I'm almost afraid to ask if horse girls were a multi-dimensional phenomenon). Apparently, they were easier to ride (blasphemy), and cheaper to maintain than a wyvern.
Finally came the unique mini-thestrals, aka Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. Collared and enslaved. Bundled together as a package deal due to their size. Frozen on stage because they were commanded to stay there. Pinkie's pink hair was straight and flat, and Rarity's purple locks were completely frazzled and untamed, barely resembling what it used to look like.
"So that pastel thestral are our targets? The children turned monsters due to a daemons curse?" Ghost spoke up. It was a hard-to-believe story, but much more believable than the truth.
"You will see what I mean later. For now, let's save them and get them back with their sisters." I raise my hand and go for the starting bid of 50,000 kirits. Half the price of an actual thestral.
"60,000," a woman announces. Madam Rosalin Voilet, an "equine" lover, always purchasing anything unique and thestral related. I had known she would be a problem.
"100,000," Fuck off.
"110,000!" She harshly announces.
"150,000," Bitch, please.
"200,000!" She got louder.
"300,000," Ah, yes, the price of the average wyvern.
"400,000!!" She yelled, then looks at me with rage.
"800,000." Suck my dick.
"..." She could go higher, she had the money, but I would win in the end. I was an unstoppable force; she was not an immovable object. There was no point in raising the price either. She would never make a dent in my wallet, and she was furious. As I had said before, being too rich can get to your head, and it made her near psychopathic, clearly seen by how vigorously she began biting her nails in frustration.
That will become an issue, we will see just how soon of an issue it will be.
Once the auction was over, I personally go over to get my "purchases", all of the Red-Rogues joining up from their various hidden locations to follow behind me. I gingerly pick up the blank-faced little girls and speak in their mother tongue as the Rogues' handle my Noibirds.
"Hello, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. I'm here on Twilight's behalf. I am here to help you two." The collar may control their bodies, but the tears of relief were more than enough to express what they were feeling.
4.5-First Omake Chapter: The Auction Block
An auctioneer walks up to the stage wearing a simple black suit, white mask, and a black top hat. He led behind him a long line of collared horse-like creatures with wings. Thestral is their race, though not all were thestrals. The two leading up at the front were tiny ponies. One has a white coat with a purple mane, the other was a vibrant pink in both, she was though lacking wings and a horn.
" Ladies and Gentlemen, today is a fine day for an auction!" The crowd erupts with soft applause in response. The auctioneer waits for the noise to die out then continues.
"All right you beasts, get on up there," he commands as he leads the two ponies along with an average-looking thestral up to the three lots on stage. Lot A, B, and C. Our ponies, Rarity and Pinkie Pie, begin to converse as they were positioned at lots B and C.
"Pinkie, no matter where we are sold off too, we shall rebel with zest and zeal! the collar may restrict our bodies, but it will not bind our spirits!" The fashionista whispers.
"I hear ya, if I don't throw a "Revolt Against Slavery Party" to revolt against slavery, then my name isn't Pinkamena Diane Pie! Though I am pretty sure that is my name... unless my name isn't Pinkie and I'm just an imposter!" Pinkie proceeds to randomly have an existential crisis.
"You are definitely the real Pinkie Pie, now hush, our time of reckoning is nigh!" Rarity exclaims silently.
"You mean neigh?"
"Is that not what I said?"
"Now, here we have on stage three thestrals, all being sold individually. Choose amongst lots A, B, and C," the auctioneer announces cutting short the two's conversation.
"100,000 kirits, on lot A!" A person shouts out in the back.
"110,000, on lot A," someone else exclaims.
"120,000, on lot A," another in the crowd cuts in.
"120,000, going once, going twice, going three times, sold! Lot A going to the woman with a blue feathered mask. The bought thestral walks off the stage. Rarity and Pinkie both let out a sigh of relief.
"I am quite glad I wasn't sold off just yet," Rarity once again converses with Pinkie.
"Me too, if I get sold off, I would go crazy! Loco even!" The pink one adds.
"I would probably do the same, as I'd rather not be owned by another creature." Rarity agrees. Then a new thestral walks up to the stage and there takes place on lot A. A female thestral, one that seems to exclaim power as she, unlike any of the others, actually seemed to have some meat on her. Her wingspan was greater than all the others by a couple feet (60-ish cm). The beast's mane and tail also seem to flow lusciously despite being indoors as well. Pinkie looks in awe as Rarity tries to flush out her own mane in hopes to get it even remotely near where it was back at home in Equestria.
"200,000, on lot A!"
"250,000, on lot A!"
"300,000, on lot A!"
"300,000, going once, going twice, three times, sold! Lot A going to the madam with the shiny black... armor?"
"Ok, I understand why she got picked first." Rarity spoke out.
"Totally, that was a no-brainer. She looked strong enough to go toe to toe with the Apple family!" Pinkie nodded along.
"Indeed, she looked as though she could keep up with Rainbow dash with those wings, and her mane and coat, along with her regal posture would allow her to be a model!"
"Yep, yep. I just can't figure out how they even managed to catch her?"
"Next," the auctioneer shouted, as a thestral almost as short as the two fillies got up. The equine seems to look so skinny that maybe even a soft gust of wind would be enough to make it topple over. It walked up to the stage and got on lot A.
"Now it seems our time to part ways has come, Pinkie."
"We can't split ourselves apart Rarity, that would be painful."
"Not what I-"
"40,000, lot A."
"40,000, going once, going twice, three times, sold to the man with the white leather mask."
"Now, that is quite interesting," Rarity speaks with shock, "quite surprising to say the least."
"Like, at this point, do they even know what they are looking for!? Their whole criteria is just wacky," Pinkie exclaims.
"While this should be good news for us. For some reason, it is absolutely infuriating."
"Right! Now, I kinda sorta want to be on lot A!"
"Exactly, when can a fashionable lady such as myself get on lot A?"
"Next," the auctioneer calls forth the next thestral slave. This was a thestral even smaller than the two fillies, its wings were barely even visible on its back, and it seems to hobble over to the stage.
"Oh! Ok, this time for sure, we will be separated. It's been a pleasure Pinkie dear."
"Yeah Rarity! Until we find a way to escape and get back together with Twilight and the others, go crazy!"
"Oh, I will, Pinkie, I will."
"260,000, lot A."
"260,000, going once, twice, three times, sold!"
"What in the name of Celestia just happened?!" Rarity shouts out. "How does something like that even happen?"
"Nuh-uh, Nuh-uh, nopey dopey, not true!" Pinkie points around, "all that is a bunch of gobbledygook!"
"Just look at him!"
"Yeah, look at him."
"He is even smaller than us!"
"He can't even stand on his hooves properly!"
"No offense to you good sir, but-" Rarity tries to continue, only to be cut off by a deep baritone voice.
"Offence taken." The thestral then hobbles of with simmering anger, leaving the fillies in silence, temporarily.
"While it was a bit uncouth, I was not wrong, was I?" Rarity askes Pinkie.
"They could talk?!" Pinkie ignores.
"I was merely stating an observed fact, while hurtful, speaking the truth isn't wrong. Right?"
"They could talk this whole time?! How many other ponies did we ignore, how many friends could we have made!"
"That stallion did indeed hobble around, and was incredibly short as well! It was a physical, observable, truth!"
"Rarity, you need to stop-"
"Enough!" The auctioneer explodes out. "I will not have my auction's reputation tarnished by a bunch of superficial bigoted slaves!"
"B-b-bigoted, us! Did such words really come out of your mouth?" Rarity was appalled.
"That's it! The auction is over!" The auctioneer finalized as he began to leave the stage guiding the remaining slave away as well. The crowd also began to thin out. After everyone cleared out. Pinkie Pie pulled out an odd-looking device from her hair and somehow unlocked both Rarity's and her own soul-collars.
"I can't believe that actually worked Pinkie, where did you come up with such an idea, do tell."
"I just read about it in a book! Now let's get out of here!" They both headed out of the building with wide smiles on their faces, as freedom was in their grasp.
"Um, Pinkie... I'm not bigoted, am I?"
Author's Note
I, Jonathan Bylow, was born with a special ability.
One that I used to call Absolute Memory for most of my teenage years. Only to rename it later, calling it Absolute Soul Storage. Just from the names alone, someone can probably infer the effects of my superpower, but I’m going to tell you what it does anyways.
It integrates all of my memories, knowledge, and experience into my mind and soul. It also organizes that information as efficiently as possible, practically making it impossible to forget something, even if it is a physical skill... unless I want to.
That’s right I can even choose to erase a memory from my soul, or lock it up, or fade it out. I can almost manipulate my memories and experiences however I want.
It even allows me to bypass any mental inhibitors, granting me clear knowledge and memory of what I did the first (and last) time I got drunk at a party. Something that I most definitely should have, and wished I had, forgotten. Though my experience of that night was befuddled, and my memories looked wacky. The reason being that my ability only records what I felt and perceived through my own senses, and if my senses are impaired, then my recollection of that night was recorded through my impaired senses.
Though there are limits:
1) I cannot bring back or restore an erased memory, knowledge, or experience.
2) If I fade out a memory/experience, I can only restore it up to a certain extent. The more I have faded a memory, the less of it I can restore.
3) I cannot create a new memory, I can however modify a memory, though with limited success.
4) Lastly, if I lock up my memories with set conditions to open the locked memories, I will not be able to bypass my own mental lock until the conditions for the lock are fulfilled. This of course does not include memories, knowledge, or experiences that are locked away without a set condition. I can open them effortlessly.
All of this took one hell of a time to figure out, but by using a piece of paper, and a bunch of math problems I tested the limits of my ability to mess with my mind and soul. By writing down math equations and erasing my memory of ever doing them, I could test the limits of my power in a controlled setting.
While this power was great and all, I knew if I messed with my mind and soul too much, I could make myself crazy. So, at a young age, I swore to never erase anything. A promise that I have kept since I tested the limits of my power, because what are we but a collection of our own failures and achievements. Erasing anything from myself could cause harm to my own personal development. The most I ever did was fade the extremely traumatic or cringe-like events making them hazy, just by a bit, just to dull the pain. Though I made sure to be able to recall it enough so that I never made the same mistake again.
Nonetheless, my power helped me practically cruise my life, perfect recall is the greatest cheat in the modern world, only beat by the likes of super speed. My power was one that I kept under wraps as a result, graduating high school with a 3.9 GPA (on purpose), despite most of my time at home being used to play video games, or watching tv. College only accentuated how broken my power was, as I became a major in several languages, making me a polyglot on crack.
Why did I choose such an odd career path? Learning languages was easy for me, and anything I learned would stick permanently. Including my experience pronouncing each word correctly. All it would take was for me to say a word, a phrase once, or a letter once, then I would never say it incorrectly ever again. Then my job in life is to explore the world and translate whatever I needed to, where ever I needed to, even made a name for myself as the "natural global translator". Or the "living google translate", whichever floats your boat. By the time I was 34, I was living my dream of adventuring the world seeing all there is to see, life was practically a breeze. I even learned (and mastered) a couple different martial arts for the heck of it during my life, finding myself reveling in the combat, a new hobby gained as a result.
Then my parents died. Along with my brother and his wife.
It happened all in a plane crash, with only 12 survivors. One of the survivors being my 8 years old niece, a smart kid. Smart enough to have a relative understanding of what happened to her and her family, and that broke her more than it broke me. I was in anguish, but I had long since come to terms with mortality. Perks of being an adult, if anything I was rather more angry than depressed. Angered by the fact that they couldn't have lived longer lives. Hell, I would have traded my own life for theirs in a heartbeat, but Alice had her whole world ripped away from her.
As much as I had thought I would never take care of a child, I would be damned before I let my niece rot away in some orphanage.
"So, Alice, this is your room now," showing the child the 14 by 16 room that she now can claim as her territory. Alice gives me a hostile glare. One that she had when she first saw me at the funeral, and one that she has kept whenever she saw me.
She seemed to despise me, and I could only guess why. I have not seen my family in over 7 years thanks to my work. Though I may have kept in touch with frequent phone calls, the last time I actually saw Alice was when she was roughly 1.5 years old. To her, I was practically a stranger. She knew about me, but that didn't mean much.
"Thank," she politely replied, though with a hateful tone. She was being polite for the sake of formality.
"No problem, and ask me for anything you need, I'll do my best to help you out. In fact, to you want help unpac-"
"No," Alice sternly cuts me off. I back off and let her do her thing. In the meantime, I make some lunch.
I was craving some comfort food; mom's spicy tomato chicken curry with rice came to mind. My mom was Indian and my dad was American, as a result, they made some wild food combinations. Like a goatmeat cheeseburger with chutney, or naan taco with curry. Tomato chicken curry was one of the few dishes that my brother could actually make that rivaled my own cheat-level cooking prowess, though as the heretic he was, he would always turn down the spice.
So, I did the exact same thing my brother would have, hoping that this might bring in some familiarity and comfort for Alice. It has been a month since the funeral, there was a lot of paperwork to process before things could settle down. I doubt she has had any homely meals since then.
Though it could make her hate me even more.
"Alice, can you come out for lunch?" I waited at the door to her room for a couple of minutes, until my patience was rewarded with a response.
"Ok" It was a soft and mellow reply, she might have been crying.
I went back to the dining table and took a seat, and she followed soon after. She looked at the simple plate of food, her breath stopped for a moment, her eyes seemed to moisten with memories.
"Feed me," Alice almost whispered instinctively. A common tradition for Indian parents (mostly the mother) to feed their kids by hand. Something that my mother did sometimes even when I was 18 and going to college, something that my older brother must have emulated. However, once she noticed what she said, she froze up. I, however, took the initiative to do so anyway.
As I fed her by hand, we sat in silence, tears flowing down her face. Once she had finished her food, I pulled her in for a hug, being careful to not get any of my curry-covered fingers near her back.
"Why?" Alice questions.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you still ok, you fly in planes all the time, and you are fine. But... the one time I go..." She was running out of tears, but her anger at me was resurfacing, one which I understood a bit more now.
"I'm sorry, those things normally do not happen. I can learn about why it happened, but it won't change the fact that it had happened to you. We were simply unlucky, you more so than I."
"We... we were going to Florida, to Disney Land with grandma and grandpa," she then looked at me with hopeful eyes, "promise me you will never get on another plane again." Trama, and an understandable one at that. Looks like I'll have to change my job, not that I already didn't have to. Can't leave the kid at home while I go meandering in another country.
"I promise that as long as you hate airplanes, I will never get on one again," as I said before, Alice was a smart kid. She didn't like the way I phrased my words but was satisfied with my promise nevertheless. "Want to watch some TV together?"
"Yesh," her voice was muffled by my shirt. I carried her to the couch and gave her the remote. I wash up my hands, grab my cold plate of food and a fork (because spoons are pointless), and sit down next to her. During which, an interesting kids' show seemed to be on a marathon run, a show called My Little Ponies: Friendship is Magic.
"I think horses are gross," Alice states, "but I like them a lot," she points at the six ponies all huddled together. "They're not perfect, and they're all so different, but they're still good friends."
"So, you have seen this show before?"
"I watched it with mom, right now they are playing all the old episodes before season 3 comes out."
"So now is the perfect time to get caught up huh?"
"Yes?"
"Good, because from now on, I'm going to be watching the show with you," Alice looked at me oddly.
"But it's a girls' show?"
"Girls can wear clothes made for boys, boys have a skirt called kilts. Don't get me started about Indians and their lungis."
"Oh," Alice hesitates but askes another question. "Can I watch Ben 10 too? Mom didn't like that one much."
"Sure! As long as it was a show made for kids, you can watch it. Though you better not forget about your schoolwork." Alice groans in response.
I, Benjamin Polny, was reborn into a supernatural world granting me more special abilities.
One of them I call Absolute Soul Storage. This is a unique ability that I had in my past life, one that allowed me to be reborn with my previous memories and experiences, though it took 14 years for me to be able to access those memories. My body and mind had to be strong yet still malleable enough to handle the stress of almost a century's worth of living. Apparently, puberty was the age where the bare minimum requirements were met.
Anyways, while this body is no longer Jonathan, everything else was still here. I even talked and acted like my past self before I got complete access to my old memories once more, so there was no dissonance between the identities.
Lastly, my first ability seems to have gotten an upgrade since I reincarnated. Now I can do unto others’ minds what I do to my soul with my Absolute Soul Storage. All the same rules apply, but I must be in contact with the person for my power to work. I can also now copy and paste experiences and memories however I want, including between people. At this point, my name might as well be Charles Xavier.
The only thing I can’t do is engrave other peoples’ memories onto their souls, but my boons don’t just end there.
On Terra, people can be born with other soul-related powers. In fact, about 60% of the population can be born with a Soul-Power. If one was not born awakened, there were even artificial methods to awaken anyways. Making about 70% of the population have some form of Soul-Power.
There is more to it than that, as out of the 60% who awakened naturally, about 4% had a chance of a double awakening. Also known as being born with two powers. There is also a 0.2% chance of triple awakening, and if a quad awakening is a thing, it hasn't happened yet.
I was a part of the lucky group of double awakeners, having been born with 2 other powers. They are respectively called Tunnel and Cell. No, I didn't name them, this world has a Soul-Item called a soul reader. This was the item that told me the name of my powers. However, it could not recognize Absolute Soul Storage as a Soul-Power, which was quite interesting.
I did however wonder, why there weren't a faction of superheroes and a society of supervillains that were constantly at war with each other. Or at least why wasn't crime more rampant than it seemed around me.
That question was answered quite easily by one fact. I lived in the rich area of the capital, being born into a very, very, very, rich family. My mother in this life was the head of a very prominent and efficient transportation company, my father held a monopoly on soul item production. Together, they practically became John D. Rockefeller and the government couldn't stop them as my father's Soul-Item production was extremely crucial to society, so the government greatly benefitted from our monopoly.
Nevertheless, crime was definitely rampant, even more so than back on earth. Hell, slavery was even legal, especially thanks to Soul-Items that have the function to instill absolute commands. Thankfully my father and mother were not interested in slave trade, and the Soul-Items he produces were traditionally meant for the captured daemons or monsters that dominate Terra.
Ahh, yes. The other bombshell, humans have only conquered 25% of Terra. The rest of the world is dominated by beings of pure carnage and evil; the daemons. Or by animals who have rapidly mutated through Soul-Power; monsters. Put all that together with the fact that the phone was only invented when I turned 18.
Oh, Earth, you will be missed.
Once again, I watch as my mother was being buried, but I was happy for her. Both my parents' death was a natural one, they had me very late in their lives so their time came soon after I turned 36. Their deaths being mere months apart. Though somehow, I didn't mind. I was a bit mad at them for leaving me with so much paperwork, but as I watch them be buried, I could only remember the good times we had together.
Their death even got me a little introspective. I was mentally immortal thanks to my original superpower from Earth, there would be many times where I see people come in and out of my life.
I was at my happiest when I watch the people close to me live a fulfilling and satisfying life.
Maybe I should see a psychologist. I assume this line of thought isn't normal. Others at the funeral are even looking at me oddly, but that was probably due to my long-perfected poker face.
It took a couple of weeks to get all my emotions under control and manage the massive mound of paperwork that was left on my desk. Once I finished that up, I finally had the time to go out for a walk.
What! Managing a monopoly was tough, even though the technology in this world finally managed to catch up to Earth, to an extent.
I grabbed a beanie to cover my hair and put on some sunglasses with a trench coat to complete my disguise. I also nabbed a pencil and a small notepad, along with my phone, wallet, and some business cards. You never know when a grand business opportunity could show up. Once I shoved everything into their rightful pockets, I finally took a step outside and breathed in the fresh air.
Thankfully it was always chilly in Siript the capital of Issoulful. It never did go above 70* Fahrenheit It never got below 50* either, making it the best place to live for those who enjoyed the autumn chill. Something that I definitely did.
Walking around the streets, I take in the hustle and bustle of the city. After about an hour of walking, having relaxed my body, I head to the darker areas of the city. The places where the homeless congregate. Every now and then, I would go around and give money to some of these people. After I scanned their memories first to make sure they would use the money to actually get themselves off the streets.
This of course doesn’t even make a dent in the homeless population. Nor is it to make me feel good about myself. No, my main way to do that is through the various charities and homeless shelters that I own.
This was my way of making sure I don’t let the money get to me. Having so much power at your fingertips, and being cooped up in a mansion with so many butlers and maids, and constantly dealing with nobles with sticks so far up their asses that they don’t even realize that shit comes out their mouths.
No, I come out here and do this to help mellow myself out and regain some sanity. Ironic, I’m here to help others to help myself.
As I kept walking around, I heard the sound of little girls crying. Something that I haven’t heard since before my death. My fatherly instincts kick into overdrive, scouring around for the source of the noise. Until I come across two little... fillies, huddled together, crying.
One was a yellow pegasus with a soft pink mane and tail, the other was a purple unicorn with mostly deep purple hair. They both had marks on their flanks, the pegasus had butterflies, while the unicorn had stars.
They stifle their tears as they look at me with fear. I rub my eyes with disbelief. I should not be seeing this right now. This should be, by all means, impossible.
However, what am I but an impossibility as well?
I reach out my hand, to touch them, to scan their memories. To test if this was a new type of monster or a daemon’s illusion, but the pair flinch and cower further into each other in terror.
I stop and then try a way of communicating my lack of hostility towards them, a method that would only work if they truly are what they look to be. I draw on my notepad Equestria’s flags.
I squat down and show it to them, recognition immediately flashes on their faces. I put away the pad, as I reach out a hand to both of them, they both reach out with a hoof to meet my hands.
I scan their mind, but not to check who they are, as I already know. I compile and copy their knowledge and experience of the language of Equestria instantly onto myself.
“Hello little fillies, my name is Benjamin Polny,” I speak in perfect Equestrian. They both jump into my arms out of hope and relief, making me land on my glutes.
“Please help us!” Their sorrowful cry echoes around me, and I would be damned before I let these little girls rot away in the streets, or reject their call to action, or let my Alice’s saviors down.
“Have you two calmed down?” I had given them some time to collect themselves in my arms. They both nodded and backed up. I decided to stay sitting down on the street. Communication is done better with constant eye contact, something that is hard to maintain if there is a substantial height difference. I was 7ft 3in (221cm), just an inch below the average height for humans on Terra. The two little ponies in front of me are somewhere around 2ft 4in (71.1cm), barely 3ft if they get up on their hind legs. There was a massive difference.
"Um, how can you speak our language? How do you know about our flag?" Twilight questions nervously. Fluttershy's eyes seemed to hold similar questions but she was too shy to voice them, thankfully, she didn't need to.
"Before that, do you remember how you two came here? If so, was it only you two, or are there others that tagged along?" If two of the Mane 6 are here, it wouldn't be bad to assume the others probably followed. Whatever sent them here seems to be too big of a deal to not involve the other four. If I wished to help, I needed to be thorough.
"We remember," Twilight hesitates for a bit, takes a deep breath, then continues. "My friends and I just finished taking down a being of absolute chaos with our special artifacts of harmony. We thought we had completely won, and banished the creature of discord for good. We had saved all of Equestria for the second time, but when we all headed back to my home to celebrate, the being's final trap activated. A massive energy blast of chaos and something much darker mixed in detonated. It was probably his attempt to get the last laugh, but our artifacts reacted to save us. The opposing forces of power somehow brought all six of us here, as fillies." Hmm, that's quite different from what I originally remember watching.
“Hmm, so where are the other friends of yours?” Twilight’s ears dropped down at my question, Fluttershy looks at the ground.
“We don’t know. When we arrived here one of our friends by the name of Pinkie went crazy with the prospect of meeting so many new creatures and making so many new friends. She constantly ran around and tried talking to the other beings like you-.”
“Humans.”
“Hue-manz? Right, she constantly ran around and tried to talk to the hue-manz. Rarity, one of my other friends, was greatly enamored by all the different clothing styles that the hue-manz had. So, she tagged along with Pinkie and her antics. Which greatly backfired, as a big armored cart came and many hue-manz popped out of it wearing various forms of armor and foal napped both of them. We chased after the cart, but Fluttershy and I couldn't keep up. Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued the chase." It seems that Rarity and Pinkie Pie have been captured by the Domestic Monster Safety and Control.
The DMSC is Terra's version of animal control but worse as they deal with monster taming, a ludicrous business of using a mass-produced Soul-Item called a Soul Collar to gradually tame monsters for domestication or commercial use. while we do have cars in this world, we have yet to invent any form of aircraft. Rather, we have actually domesticated wyverns, I even own one or two...
Ten, I own and meticulously take care of ten of them. Domestic wyverns are as big as a fighter jet and are absolutely jolly creatures that are basically overgrown dogs, just a bit smarter, and a bit less energetic.
"So how long have you two been on the streets. At least without the other four?"
"For about six days."
"Food and water?"
"Wild grass and berries, there is a small river nearby."
"Shelter?"
"Under the bridge over the river."
"Bathroom?"
"..." They have a deep crimson blush as they hide their face in shame.
“Right, how about you two come with me to my house where we can get you guys cleaned up, then we can figure out a plan on how to find your friends. Sounds good?"
"Um, sure, but you didn't answer any of my questions." Twilight was a bit wary of me, and I did try to avoid answering her questions, specifically the last one she had asked.
"I copied your knowledge of the language and applied it to myself when I held your hoof. As for your other question, I wish to explain that when we have gathered the rest of your friends. Is that alright?"
"Sure, but you can do that? Just copy another person's knowledge and skill? I didn't even feel any magic."
"Yes, and you didn't feel magic because I didn't use any. Magic does not normally exist in this world."
"That... explains a lot," Twilight mumbles as if she got hit by an epiphany. "Also, I have one last question, before we decide to trust you or not. Why are you helping us? Especially when one else has even bothered too?"
"The answer to that question is also related to how I know of Equestria, and people don't want to help you because they think you are a bunch of weird stray animals or monsters. My reason to aid you and your fellows is very personal. Though let it be known that I truly do wish for you ponies to be returned home safely, and I hope you guys can believe me." Twilight and Fluttershy start to whisper to each other for a bit before they seem to come to a conclusion.
"We will trust you, but part of that is because we have no clue how we are going to make it around here on our own."
"Then let me reward some of that trust." I hold out my hands and tap Twighlight's horn and Fluttershy's forehead. They are immediately struck with a soft headache, but they understood the knowledge that flowed into them, I gave them the knowledge and skill to speak Issoul, the most common language used by humans on this planet.
"Oh, my, that felt quite awful. Do you get a headache like this every time?" This was the second time I heard Fluttershy speak to me, though still quite softly.
"No," because I don't just store the memory in my mind, but also my soul. Which, according to research done by the scientist of Terra, has an endless storage space. Something that is apparently true for all conscious souls, I'm just the only one who can use my soul productively, at least to my knowledge.
We then finally left the streets, the ponies followed along as I slowly guided them to my abode. A three-story-tall mansion. I personally would rather have a smaller home, but was raised here and this place was given to me by my parents. I watched the ponies' jaws dropped at the sight of it. It was a big place by human standards, for the doors were the standard 8ft and 4in (254cm). Twilight and Fluttershy being fillies didn't help either.
"This place is huge! The doors look like they could let Celestia fit through without having to duck down!"
"Yep, this home is way too big for me but I inherited it from my parents, and it holds too many childhood memories. I'd rather not give it up unless I had to."
Leading them inside, I chuckled as the girls marveled at the insides of my home. My butler, whose name is Jonathan ironically, had approached me.
"Master, as adorable as they are, you must warn us before you bring more pets home. We will need new facilities and servants to-"
"Jonathan, they are not pets. They are guests. They were a group of sextuplet sisters who had been transformed into odd thestral like creatures somehow, probably due to the power of a daemon. I am going to be taking care of them personally and looking for their siblings. I doubt if I put them in an orphanage, they will be adopted. You know I am a sucker for sob stories." While horses did not exist in this world, thestrals did. It was the best comparison I could make.
"That is quite a terrible situation master. I will keep that in mind. Do you plan to adopt them? Will you have the time to cater to their needs?"
"I can easily make time for them, Jonathan. I just have to actually start using my Cater-type Soul-Power's vitality effect to its full potential again if need be. Besides these two are quite mature for their age, I think they will be fine. However, adoption is something necessary if I want to keep them with me legally. I will also have to get working on their identities. They are not registered within Issoulful's database yet, as they were left on the streets for all of their lives. If they wish to roam around and live properly, an ID will greatly benefit them.
"With how you are describing their life, it's a miracle these two even made it this far."
"Yes, but as you can see, four others are missing. Keep a lookout for anything like them, I wish to save the others as well if possible. Also, their transformation has made them vegetarian, be mindful of that when you make dinner later." Jonathan nods and walks off.
"What were you two talking about?" Fluttershy asks.
"I was giving him your alibi. Something that I need to go over with you two. Once we set things up, you two might be hounded by news reporters for some time. In the meanwhile, the closes large bathroom is over there," I point left, "go ahead and-" Before I can finish, the girls blitz away to clean themselves up. I just shook my head and called up a maid, asking her to guide the ponies to the dining room once they are done washing up. Sasha, the maid looked puzzled but complied.
I’m at the dinner table with an odd-looking keyboard-like machine. From the right side of the machine, a faint glowing antenna stuck out and pulsed every few seconds. The left side had a wire-like rope that connected to a Soul-Item that looked like a glass panel, on the aforementioned glass panel, the words that I was typing out were seemingly etched into its face. Once I finished writing out a document, I pressed a button that seemed to clear the glass panel.
I had just finished up a document for the company and sent it out into the soulnet through a soul-writer. Our prototype version of the internet and a computer (though more like a fax machine). I took the technology they had for creating soulphones and reworked it to be able to store and transfer documents.
Though I could never get the system to save an image. While the compound soul-item, a massive soul-item that is made up of many smaller soul-items, that is used as a central hub of the soulnet is the most powerful tool ever created, it just can’t process an image.
The reason being that the soulnet system partially uses our own minds to log data. For example, if I press down on the letter A on a keyboard, the soulnet uses my own understanding of the letter A and records it. This system works fine for documents, but pictures and images can be so abstract between people, it is currently impossible to log an image without a standardized system that can adapt and accommodate everyone’s visual interpretations of the world around them. So, I’ll just leave it to the future generations to figure it out.
Hey, cut me some slack here, the compound soul-item I had made is powerful enough to send out a signal throughout the entire continent and receive one back within a microsecond. It is also not affected by any non-soul-item-based obstruction. So, I can be thousands of feet underground without any interference. It was the best I could do without having to invent rocket science and satellites. Or kick start a space race. None of which has happened yet, as most of the humans are still focused on exploring the monster-infested land rather than what might be out there in space.
Also, a cool side note, Terra’s moon has its own mini-moon! The lunar satellite orbits the moon once every four hours. How adorable.
“Master Benjamin, the girls are almost done and on their way with Sasha,” Jonathan informs me as he takes away my soul writer.
“Oh good. How long till dinner?”
“It will take a few minutes longer; you know how much you eat.”
“Yes, yes I do.” I begin tapping my table as I hum a tune. Not even a minute later, a butler then approaches with my favorite guitar.
“No need Sebastian. I am just messing around.” Sebastian smiles and walks back. Eventually, I take notice of a mirror and decide to occupy myself by adjusting my black hair, only for a maid to approach with scissors and a cape.
“Stop right there Ella, no need for that. You know I don't even need to have my hair cut anyways.” The maid pouts a bit but obliged. I let out a sigh, some of my servants are too overbearing. Or maybe I’m much too autonomous in spite of my luxurious upbringing?
Eventually, the door to the dining hall opens up, revealing a much cleaner-looking Twilight and Fluttershy. Coincidently, the food had been finished and was being brought out as well.
"Master Benjamin, I have prepared your large sushi patter full of various exotic and monstrous fishes as you know it is Sushi Saturday. For the girls, I have prepared some kimbap as they are a similar alternative, but still not as odd as your habit of eating raw fish meat."
The girls froze with a bit of disgust and fear, I often allow my servants to joke around as living without humor is a bland existence. I have also taught my chefs various earth cuisine, especially a variety of Indian dishes.
That seems to have come back to bite me in the ass. Whatever, let's get this over with.
"Jonathan, please leave me alone with the girls, I wish to speak with them a bit more privately." Jonathan gives me an odd look; I mouth the word adoption to him. He nods and walks off with the rest of the servants. I let out a sigh and began to speak to the girls. "As you have noticed, I am an omnivore. All of humanity is capable of digesting both plants and meats. Some choose to not consume meat; others choose to only consume meat. But a balance between both is most efficient for use. Any more questions?"
"Do, do you eat ponies?" Fluttershy was the one to speak up on that, she also seemed the most relaxed out of the two.
"Could we? Maybe, would we, most of us would not. Ponies don't exist in this world. We have thestrals, but they are rare and are made up of bones and skin, no meat on them," I answer calmly, neither of them relaxes. "Try out the meal in front of you, its main ingredients are seaweed, carrots, eggs, tofu, pickled radish, cucumber, avocado, and rice. Nothing meat-related in there." The fillies look at the food with hesitation, especially Fluttershy. Twilight seemed less hesitant, maybe due to her upbringing in Canterlot, so she lowers her head pops one in. She chews for a bit, and when the word "tastes good" seems to pop into her brain, she starts chomping away at the rest.
It has been some time since they had any good food. Fluttershy also goes crazy after getting over her own initial concerns for it. Then a thought came to my mind, I smiled as I pulled out some wasabi, it wasn't called wasabi in this world, but that was what I called it anyway.
"Try it with this dip, it's a bit spicey, but it makes it taste even better." That was a lie, you weren't supposed to eat kimbap with wasabi. Twilight and Fluttershy both dipped a roll in it like it was salsa, and ate the roll. I gave it a second until it finally hits them. Their eyes widen as they exhale as much air as they could, tears roll down their eyes as they rub their "burning" snout.
"Hawt! Bwuning!" That was all Twilight could say. Fluttershy drinks water, but it had no effect. While neither of them started to hiccup like I thought they might, it was still enough to send me into a fit of laughter. The wasabi eventually wore off, but they were looking at me while pouting."
"That was mean, you should have warned us."
"Fluttershy, he did warn us, but it seems that we both went for it anyways. How do you even eat that stuff?"
"Hahaha, you eat it in small doses, and not with kimbap, sorry girls." I calmed myself down, then began to tear into my large assortment of sushi. My meal was made with enough food to feed a family of 4, but it was necessary for my outrageously high metabolic rate. It took me about four minutes to eat all that food up. I would usually take my time eating but I have an important conversation ready for the duo that had stared at my vigorous consumption of food.
"Is meat really that good?" Twilight asked, with some disgust.
"It's nice, but I was eating that fast so we could focus on talking about your situation. If meat bothers you guys that much, I will lower my meat intake as a compromise," I suggested while cleaning up my face.
"I am grateful for that, thank you," Fluttershy responded with a strained smile.
"Alright, let's focus on what you guys need to know. First of all, I will explain to you two of the false identities that I have crafted to help you and your friends fit into this world while you guys figure out a way back home. You are now sextuplet sisters that have been cursed after birth by a daemon, a type of super-powerful evil creature in this world with abilities we have yet to fully understand, you have lived within the edge of the forest right outside of the city for most of your lives until you gals stumbled into the city. Then your sisterly group was split up, and eventually, I found you two and decided to adopt all of six of you sisters. Is that alright with you two, any question?"
"Why do you need to adopt us? We all are fully grown mares, even if we look like fillies. Even if we are fillies, humans don't know that." Not a bad question Twilight, in response I pull out a soul-item and put it on the table.
"This is a soul-item, called Health Reader. It can measure your biological condition and your bodies' relative maturity. If you can fool this, then we can skip the adoption can go straight to giving you guys adult identities. All you need to do is touch the handprint right there." They both frowned but did so anyway. Both Twilight and Fluttershy were identified as children by the device.
"So, either you guys are treated like animals, or sent to the orphanage as weird children, or adopted by me. There might be other possibilities, nevertheless, your freedom is greatly limited as fillies. I am sorry but I do promise none of you will have to call me dad. That would be very awkward for all of us, and a bit rude to your real parents."
Twilight frown, then focused on her horn, with a great amount of concentration it sent out some small sparks. However, whatever was constraining her magic proved to be too much, and she had nearly collapsed in exhaustion.
"Fine, it's honestly not that bad of a proposition. Just find it annoying that I'm a filly again." Twilight huffed out. I nod in understanding, been there done that. Might have to do it again thanks to my cheat, though I honestly find childhood years much more enjoyable due to its inherent lack of burdensome responsibilities.
"Thank you, now let's focus on our two main goals. Gather you six artifact bearers, and send you home. For the gathering part, you guy will be of no use as you are now. Your odd "magic" is limited, and you all have no knowledge of what's around you. I have already tasked my servants to keep a lookout for friends, and I will employ as many methods as possible to search them out. I will allow you two to aid in the search efforts once you have proven to me that you can be of use. Fair?"
"What will we do then, just sit around on our plots and wait for you to do all the work?" Twilight grumbles.
"I, I would appreciate it if we had some part in our endeavors as well, if you don't mind," Fluttershy added.
"I know, the important task that you two will work on are actually quite numerous depending on how you gals plan on returning home. As I see it, there are four ways to return:
A) Wait for help from your own world.
B) Find someone with the power to send you two back home in this world. Which I can already confirm such a person doesn't exist.
C) Train in soul-power in hopes of eventually obtaining the power to send yourselves home.
D) Train your magic to the point where you all can send yourselves home."
"The last one is also impossible or at least improbable as this world seems to reject my magic, making even the simplest spell a thousand times more difficult, and according to my calculations, that number isn't even an exaggeration." The purple unicorn interjects.
"That doesn't mean you should erase it as an option entirely. However, that does narrow down our options to A and C. While none of you were born with a soul-power ability, thankfully, we have figured out a way to artificially grant one to humans born without it. Unfortunately, such a method cannot be used without proper body conditioning and a minimum age of 13, or a teenager, as the process is quite taxing on the body."
"So, we need to train our bodies, that's it? That's all we can do."
"No, that is merely the first step. For trying to return to Equestria, your home. There are so many other things that might need to be done. This will be a long and arduous journey if your princesses do not come for you first, but until you all are 13, there are some finer tasks that need attending to.
"For example; all of you, including your friends once we find them, will need a proper summary understanding of the world they are in. So, an organized pamphlet of key information would be useful to have to better blend in. Also, a good understanding of the flora and fauna of this world would be nice to have so that none of you get yourselves surrounded by monsters or eat something poisonous. Sounds like a good idea?" I can see the gears turning in their head as a massive smile appears on their faces."
"You are right! This is an entirely different world with a different history and culture. There would be so many new things to learn, I almost feel like a filly again." Twilight beams.
"Twilight, you are a fill-"
"And to think of all the new creatures I can meet. I can't wait to find some of them!" Fluttershy cuts me off.
"Then would you like to meet my wyverns?" I suggest.
"What?" They both question.
"A dragon-like hybrid of a lizard and a bird. Fluffiest creatures I have ever had the pleasure of owning as a pet. We do have sometime before nightfall."
"But they aren't dragons?" Fluttershy asked while seeming to disappear behind Twilight.
"They have feathered beaks, talons, and a sword for a tail, are big, but they do not breath fire. You could they are as scary as a manticore," I shrugged.
"Oh, ok! Then let's go see them!" Fluttershy's enthusiasm immediately bounces back as she eagerly waits for me to lead the way.
As I lead these ponies to the wyvern hanger, I could feel that they were still worried about their friends, and worried about their situation. This only further cemented my beliefs that these ponies do not belong here. This world's brutality might break them, but I will not let that happen. At least not until I have figured out a way to send them home.
Then when that time comes, I will break my vow. I will erase their memories of this world. Leaving intact just the bare minimum to understand what had happened, but nothing more.
Non-Cannon Bit:
"Alright, let's focus on what you guys need to know. First of all, I will explain to you two of the false identities that I have crafted to help you and your friends fit into this world while you guys figure out a way back home. You are now sextuplet sisters-"
"Sextuplet Sisters?! Do you know what that means?! It means six birthday parties together in one giant, super-d-duper, mega-awesome, birthday bonanza!" Filly Pinkie Pie shouts out as she seemingly apparates out of Twilights mane sending confetti everywhere. Everyone around the dining table just looks at her in shock.
"Oh, right, I'm supposed to be all mopey-dopy right now because I'm filynapped with Rarity," The sporadic pink menace pulls out a pin from her mane and looks to have somehow popped her enthusiasm by stabbing the needle into her poofy hair. Her hair becomes straight as her demeanor becomes depressed. She then swivels like a screw back into Twilight's mane.
"Fluttershy, meet the crew. From left to right it is, Silver (Female), Sullivan (Male), Cresent (Male), Catherine (Female), Midna (Female), Maximilian (Male), Behemoth (Male), Belmond (Female), Alexandra (Female), Apex (Male). The first letter in their names signifies their couples match," I say as the de-aged mare stares starry-eyed at my feathered wyvern squad. The squad stares back with similar curiosity, but they mostly surround me for some attention. I began scratching some of them as they nudge me around, smothering me. All the while, Twilight hung back a bit, some reluctance in her eyes.
"Wyverns are oddly romantic as they bond for life, and they do so at quite a young age, so you have to get them in pairs most of the time. Hence the matching names."
"Aww, that's so sweet! Are any of them expecting? A baby wyvern sounds adorable!" Fluttershy approaches the wyverns and begins to attempt to pet Apex's wings, only for the beast to huff at her and walk away to my left. I motioned Fluttershy towards Silver, as she was one of the kinder wyverns and much more willing to be petted by strangers.
"Fluttershy, these guys all look like carnivores, are you sure we should get near them?" Twilight questions, and was right to do so, but I know my guys already understand that these fillies aren't food. Not that there would be much to eat anyways.
"Twilight, I have taken care of creatures from the likes of snakes and bears to manticores. Plus, we all faced off against a d-dragon before, a wyvern isn't that scary," Fluttershy countered though she whimpered off at the end. Her fear didn't last long as she looked to be on cloud nine right while fluffing Silver's feathers.
"Yeah, but we were fully grown adult mares with active magic! You can't even talk to animals or fly anymore; I can't even use a simple levitation spell!"
"That doesn't mean we should deny them our kindness, Twilight!" Fluttershy yelled... not really. She did speak with great intent, however.
An odd silence hung in the air as Twilight took a moment to collect her thoughts, "you're right. I should at least give them a chance; they didn't choose to be carnivores after all. It seems I let all the stress get to me."
"It's ok, Twilight. I am worried as well, but there isn't much we can do right now." They both became depressed. Let's see if I can change that around.
"Going back to your earlier question, Fluttershy, a female wyvern typically can only give birth to a maximum of four children within ten years after they reach adulthood at the age of ten. All of my wyverns are around 18-24 years of age. Most of them have already reached their birthing limit. However, Alexandra and Belmond are both pregnant, probably with their last fertilized eggs. I know this because wyverns unlike chickens cannot lay unfertilized eggs. Belmond's egg should pop out in a couple of weeks, and Alexandra's a week after."
"Ooooo. When will they hatch?"
"Wyvern eggs sadly take a long time to incubate, around two months after being laid."
"Oh... how long are we going to be on Terra. At least if we try to send ourselves home?" I wince a bit at that, I never mentioned such a thing as it was going to be a hard truth for them to swallow, but I need to be honest with things like this.
"According to my estimations. If I am being generous, and you all turn out to be a soul-power using genius. Once you guys are injected with a soul-power at the age of thirteen (roughly), it could take a minimum of four years to even have the chance to go back home, for a total time on Terra being around seven. Realistically it takes the average person ten years if they don't get themselves killed, so if we succeed and you guys do get away home, you might be stuck here for a total of thirteen years max by then." They both look at me in horror.
"Are you sure this plan is the fastest way?" Twilight seems to beg for a hopeful answer.
"It is the only way for even the slightest chance for what you want. I will explain why later when we have all you and your friends together. If I do manage to find a better and faster way, you will be the first person to know, Twilight." She was not happy with that answer.
I had some servants guide the girls to their new rooms, pretty sure they needed time to themselves after that bombshell. To be stripped away from everything you love and hold dear to you, the emotional turmoil within them must be immense.
"Hehe, and it's typically the other way around in most fanfics," I mutter out loud as I head over to my office. Yes, I had read a couple fics here and there once I had retired in my past life, hoping to relive some of the nostalgia with a new twist. I was mostly disappointed, so I turned to the comics. Something I probably should have done first, but I preferred reading books.
"Master Benjamin!" I hear head butler Jonathan approach, "I have some news!"
I halt and face him, "what is it?"
"I have found a clue about the location of some of their siblings." He then hands me a sheet of paper, one with chrome black ink. A list of rare one-of-a-kind pets on the monster auction. On it, one description stuck out to me.
"Mini-thestral like pets. No wings. Comes in white and pink, white one even comes with a sparkling horn?"
"It sounds similar to the other two, does it not?"
"Yes, very much so. The auction is tomorrow at noon? Well then, get me an invite. Also, contact the Red Rogues in case of... complications."
"You intend to steal them if something goes wrong?" Jonathan question's, I have been extremely "fair" and legal with most of my business endeavors. So, hearing me blatantly plan for thievery must have thrown him for a loop.
"It's not theft if they are not an object. I am rescuing innocent civilians from their kidnappers. Slavery is only legal if the person enslaved is an adult with a major criminal offense after all."
"Yes... Master Benjamin," Jonathan then goes off to carry out the tasks.
I head to my office, where all the work I have put off is placed in front of me, thank the heavens that sleep is merely a luxury for me.
"So haaah, you found haaah, our friends haaah!" Twilight exclaims with huffs in between. both Fluttershy and Twighlight are running laps with me around my old training grounds. Fluttershy was already a mess of sweat and pony on the ground about a half a mile back. Twilight is about to be knocked out soon as well.
"I have found two of your friends, I will be attempting to rescue them tonight," I speak after stopping, this was enough for them today.
"Could we, come with."
"It would be more harmful than helpful Twilight. The people involved in this tend to be more unhinges within society, while my wealth and influence would deter most of them. Some people are vile enough to fight against a fair outcome." The filly frowns at my words. "I know you want to help, but you said it best yesterday, you and Fluttershy are merely children, along with the fact that you two are without the full power of your magic..."
"Fine, I got it... Please bring them back as safely as possible," Twilight's worried face brings memories of my past life up into the forefront of my mind. I see Alice's face overlap with hers for a brief moment. She did connect with the purple mare the most out of everyone in the show, despite being more of a tomboy like Rainbow Dash.
"Will do," I go to pat her head in nostalgia, but catch myself in the act and stop, "Jonathan will bring you two to the library. Also, make sure Fluttershy goes with someone if she ever wishes to see the wyverns. They are not used to her."
Twilight looks at me oddly in silence for a while, then speaks, "you remind me of somepony, you know. I can't remember who though."
"I hope that's a good thing."
"I think it is."
"My mask is awesome, Red-Ghost." I protest to one of the members of the Red Rogues'. They were the groups of explores I hired as my bodyguard for this event, also their group is an expert in stealth and thievery in case I need to resort to such an extreme. They are also old college friends of mine. The group's members are; Red-Dragon, Red-Fairy, Red-Ogre, and of course Red-Ghost. All of them had Confrontational type spirit-powers except Ghost, who had a Cater type.
Confrontational type power tends to focus on close-quarters-combat, it is an active ability that requires those with it to get up close and personal with your enemy. Dragon has the Spirit Power called Dragon, what a surprise, I know. His ability allows him to use dragon-like attacks and do lightning dragon things. A similar situation is true for all the other members of the group. Basically, an offense-focused power.
Red-Ghost on the other hand has a Cater type power, an ability that influences one's self and or others around them beneficially. Things like a passive regeneration-focused ability that makes you hard to kill, or an active healing ability that allows you to heal your party. Ghost can make herself intangible, and eventually could also make his party intangible as well. Basically, a support-focused ability.
Lastly, a Control Type, like the one I have, is a power that focused on changing or warping the playing field or negatively affecting an enemy from a distance. Like poisoning a large area, or creating spiritual mines to leave around for others to step on. Basically, a crowd control, or an AOE de-buff focused power.
My power is to tunnel into the ground... Yeap. I can probably do more, but I never developed that power. I only advanced my Cater type power called Cell because it was a passive type ability, I can't not use it.
Of course, some abilities may be of one type but have aspects of another. So, there can be a bit of overlapping.
Anyways, Red-Ghost had said that the mask I chose to hide my face in the auction looked stupid. It was a cool ass replica of Spectra's mask from Bakugan (Darkus Version), another show I enjoyed watching with my niece, along with Ben 10 and My Little Pony (those were our golden trio). Not that the masks mattered, they were more of a formality rather than an actual way to hide your identity. It wasn't hard to figure out who was who.
I also didn't plan on hiding my identity, as I may have mentioned before, my economic power will be a great deterrent against those in the way of my goals today.
"I said it is childish, but you make it look stupid," Red-Ghost finally countered. She liked to stay quiet, but we were both bored out of our minds waiting for the auction to commence. The and the rest of the Red Rogues were tasked elsewhere. Hence my massive internal monologue earlier.
"I didn't pay you to spite me Ghost."
"I didn't ask to be paid; we all would have done the job for free."
"How the hell are you going to keep running your group without my cash?"
"Your money doesn't make the world turn around."
"Coulda fooled me," I say with a light-hearted laugh. Our banter was cut there as the stage lights turned on, first on the stage were some Noibirds. They were parrot-like monsters the size of a house cat with four bat-like wings, they can mimic speech and also produce a paralyzing screech through their soul-power. The peculiar thing here was that these avian were small, still very young, and that they didn't even have the soul-collars.
"These are the first official batch of the newly domesticated Noibirds. Currently undergoing a government trial to become official, but you can get one now before they become a trend. This batch are all sterile (as most Noibirds tend to be), as the seller isn't interested in any early competition."
This was interesting, it was even before my time when wyverns were domesticated, so I was interested in investing in something like this. I will have to figure out who the seller is. I look around and see a clear sign of disinterest throughout the auction. The current meta, as you might call it, for extravagant pets is to obtain a big and dangerous-looking one. My fault partially, as I had bought ten wyverns, and a lot of the upper class mimicked me. Not many can understand the potential that small creatures with voice mimicking ability may have, as normal parrots didn't exist.
Or if they did exist, then they lived in an undiscovered part of Terra.
"The starting price for each one will be 10,000 kirits." Ah yes, Issoulful's currency. The kirit, which roughly equates to 2 dollars in exchange, was "creatively" named after the concept of chi or ki and then the word spirit.
I raise my hand in my VIP booth up high in the auction house, "10,000!" People immediately took notice, someone else raised their hand, to either compete against me or to try and make my life harder by making me spend more than I have to. Most likely the latter.
"10,500!" The competitor shouted.
"11,000,"
"12,000!" The younger bidder smirks up at me, definitely the latter.
"15,000," I speak.
"20,000!" The young man outbids again. I stay my hand; the kid seems almost triumphant that he had outbid me. Until an older man next to him hits him over the head. A father and son duo, it seems that a good lesson was passed down between the two, as now the young man was stuck with a prize he probably didn't even want. The father then gives me a thumbs up, I send a smile in return. Then bid again for the next one.
"10,000." It was sold to me at starting bid, so was the one after it... Jonathan is going to give me a hard time over this, thankfully these creatures aren't the size of a fighter jet. They should be easier to look after. Thanks to my purchases, some others became curious over what exactly I see in the mammal-winged avian.
Afterward, came a collared flame salamander. Probably the closest thing to a dragon, beside the wyverns, as they can spit fire and are highly resistant towards it. However, the flame salamanders were an extremely stupid species.
Next was a collared thestral, a bony horse with wings. its whole body was being held together by its skin and spirit-power. A popular "pet" amongst the upper class, especially amongst females (I'm almost afraid to ask if horse girls were a multi-dimensional phenomenon). Apparently, they were easier to ride (blasphemy), and cheaper to maintain than a wyvern.
Finally came the unique mini-thestrals, aka Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. Collared and enslaved. Bundled together as a package deal due to their size. Frozen on stage because they were commanded to stay there. Pinkie's pink hair was straight and flat, and Rarity's purple locks were completely frazzled and untamed, barely resembling what it used to look like.
"So that pastel thestral are our targets? The children turned monsters due to a daemons curse?" Ghost spoke up. It was a hard-to-believe story, but much more believable than the truth.
"You will see what I mean later. For now, let's save them and get them back with their sisters." I raise my hand and go for the starting bid of 50,000 kirits. Half the price of an actual thestral.
"60,000," a woman announces. Madam Rosalin Voilet, an "equine" lover, always purchasing anything unique and thestral related. I had known she would be a problem.
"100,000," Fuck off.
"110,000!" She harshly announces.
"150,000," Bitch, please.
"200,000!" She got louder.
"300,000," Ah, yes, the price of the average wyvern.
"400,000!!" She yelled, then looks at me with rage.
"800,000." Suck my dick.
"..." She could go higher, she had the money, but I would win in the end. I was an unstoppable force; she was not an immovable object. There was no point in raising the price either. She would never make a dent in my wallet, and she was furious. As I had said before, being too rich can get to your head, and it made her near psychopathic, clearly seen by how vigorously she began biting her nails in frustration.
That will become an issue, we will see just how soon of an issue it will be.
Once the auction was over, I personally go over to get my "purchases", all of the Red-Rogues joining up from their various hidden locations to follow behind me. I gingerly pick up the blank-faced little girls and speak in their mother tongue as the Rogues' handle my Noibirds.
"Hello, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. I'm here on Twilight's behalf. I am here to help you two." The collar may control their bodies, but the tears of relief were more than enough to express what they were feeling.
An auctioneer walks up to the stage wearing a simple black suit, white mask, and a black top hat. He led behind him a long line of collared horse-like creatures with wings. Thestral is their race, though not all were thestrals. The two leading up at the front were tiny ponies. One has a white coat with a purple mane, the other was a vibrant pink in both, she was though lacking wings and a horn.
" Ladies and Gentlemen, today is a fine day for an auction!" The crowd erupts with soft applause in response. The auctioneer waits for the noise to die out then continues.
"All right you beasts, get on up there," he commands as he leads the two ponies along with an average-looking thestral up to the three lots on stage. Lot A, B, and C. Our ponies, Rarity and Pinkie Pie, begin to converse as they were positioned at lots B and C.
"Pinkie, no matter where we are sold off too, we shall rebel with zest and zeal! the collar may restrict our bodies, but it will not bind our spirits!" The fashionista whispers.
"I hear ya, if I don't throw a "Revolt Against Slavery Party" to revolt against slavery, then my name isn't Pinkamena Diane Pie! Though I am pretty sure that is my name... unless my name isn't Pinkie and I'm just an imposter!" Pinkie proceeds to randomly have an existential crisis.
"You are definitely the real Pinkie Pie, now hush, our time of reckoning is nigh!" Rarity exclaims silently.
"You mean neigh?"
"Is that not what I said?"
"Now, here we have on stage three thestrals, all being sold individually. Choose amongst lots A, B, and C," the auctioneer announces cutting short the two's conversation.
"100,000 kirits, on lot A!" A person shouts out in the back.
"110,000, on lot A," someone else exclaims.
"120,000, on lot A," another in the crowd cuts in.
"120,000, going once, going twice, going three times, sold! Lot A going to the woman with a blue feathered mask. The bought thestral walks off the stage. Rarity and Pinkie both let out a sigh of relief.
"I am quite glad I wasn't sold off just yet," Rarity once again converses with Pinkie.
"Me too, if I get sold off, I would go crazy! Loco even!" The pink one adds.
"I would probably do the same, as I'd rather not be owned by another creature." Rarity agrees. Then a new thestral walks up to the stage and there takes place on lot A. A female thestral, one that seems to exclaim power as she, unlike any of the others, actually seemed to have some meat on her. Her wingspan was greater than all the others by a couple feet (60-ish cm). The beast's mane and tail also seem to flow lusciously despite being indoors as well. Pinkie looks in awe as Rarity tries to flush out her own mane in hopes to get it even remotely near where it was back at home in Equestria.
"200,000, on lot A!"
"250,000, on lot A!"
"300,000, on lot A!"
"300,000, going once, going twice, three times, sold! Lot A going to the madam with the shiny black... armor?"
"Ok, I understand why she got picked first." Rarity spoke out.
"Totally, that was a no-brainer. She looked strong enough to go toe to toe with the Apple family!" Pinkie nodded along.
"Indeed, she looked as though she could keep up with Rainbow dash with those wings, and her mane and coat, along with her regal posture would allow her to be a model!"
"Yep, yep. I just can't figure out how they even managed to catch her?"
"Next," the auctioneer shouted, as a thestral almost as short as the two fillies got up. The equine seems to look so skinny that maybe even a soft gust of wind would be enough to make it topple over. It walked up to the stage and got on lot A.
"Now it seems our time to part ways has come, Pinkie."
"We can't split ourselves apart Rarity, that would be painful."
"Not what I-"
"40,000, lot A."
"40,000, going once, going twice, three times, sold to the man with the white leather mask."
"Now, that is quite interesting," Rarity speaks with shock, "quite surprising to say the least."
"Like, at this point, do they even know what they are looking for!? Their whole criteria is just wacky," Pinkie exclaims.
"While this should be good news for us. For some reason, it is absolutely infuriating."
"Right! Now, I kinda sorta want to be on lot A!"
"Exactly, when can a fashionable lady such as myself get on lot A?"
"Next," the auctioneer calls forth the next thestral slave. This was a thestral even smaller than the two fillies, its wings were barely even visible on its back, and it seems to hobble over to the stage.
"Oh! Ok, this time for sure, we will be separated. It's been a pleasure Pinkie dear."
"Yeah Rarity! Until we find a way to escape and get back together with Twilight and the others, go crazy!"
"Oh, I will, Pinkie, I will."
"260,000, lot A."
"260,000, going once, twice, three times, sold!"
"What in the name of Celestia just happened?!" Rarity shouts out. "How does something like that even happen?"
"Nuh-uh, Nuh-uh, nopey dopey, not true!" Pinkie points around, "all that is a bunch of gobbledygook!"
"Just look at him!"
"Yeah, look at him."
"He is even smaller than us!"
"He can't even stand on his hooves properly!"
"No offense to you good sir, but-" Rarity tries to continue, only to be cut off by a deep baritone voice.
"Offence taken." The thestral then hobbles of with simmering anger, leaving the fillies in silence, temporarily.
"While it was a bit uncouth, I was not wrong, was I?" Rarity askes Pinkie.
"They could talk?!" Pinkie ignores.
"I was merely stating an observed fact, while hurtful, speaking the truth isn't wrong. Right?"
"They could talk this whole time?! How many other ponies did we ignore, how many friends could we have made!"
"That stallion did indeed hobble around, and was incredibly short as well! It was a physical, observable, truth!"
"Rarity, you need to stop-"
"Enough!" The auctioneer explodes out. "I will not have my auction's reputation tarnished by a bunch of superficial bigoted slaves!"
"B-b-bigoted, us! Did such words really come out of your mouth?" Rarity was appalled.
"That's it! The auction is over!" The auctioneer finalized as he began to leave the stage guiding the remaining slave away as well. The crowd also began to thin out. After everyone cleared out. Pinkie Pie pulled out an odd-looking device from her hair and somehow unlocked both Rarity's and her own soul-collars.
"I can't believe that actually worked Pinkie, where did you come up with such an idea, do tell."
"I just read about it in a book! Now let's get out of here!" They both headed out of the building with wide smiles on their faces, as freedom was in their grasp.
"Um, Pinkie... I'm not bigoted, am I?"