Chapter 15: Over The World Wall

=== The Conversion Bureau: A New Age, A New Era ====== Chapter 15: Over The World Wall ===

[ Earth, November 15, 2080 ]

        The week since Kyoko's conversion came and went about as fast as any week that any of the Humans at the Isegawa Clinic (and Dormitory Complex) could remember. Thankfully for Kyoko's sake, being reformatted into an Earth Pony (along with her Terran Spark of Earth) allowed her to adapt physically to her new body fairly quickly. The one thing that concerned her naturally, was just exactly how Earth Pony Life Magic even worked. Kyoko spent most of the week learning how to coordinate her body and having to retain a lot of theory about how Life Magic worked. Applejack resolved to help Kyoko as best she could once they got to Equestria, which would be sometime in the morning now the day of 'great move' had arrived.

        All of the Ponies spent the previous night and now this morning getting their belongings in order. The leftovers were put into containers for transport, the bed linens that the Bearers themselves didn't bring were sanitized and stored away for when they were to return. All in all, the mechanics of the move were going on just fine and dandy. The issue was... well all of the Terran Conduits were collective a gigantic bundle of nerves and anticipation.

"Oh man, today is the day... I... I honestly don't know how to feel," Andre said out loud, trying to find a sympathetic ear.

"You think you're nervous? It's like my body is trying to run to the Transport Room to get over the Barrier already. I knew Pegasi tended to get a little antsy, but this is ridiculous," Ethan replied. He had spent the last couple of hours pacing and flitting about trying to do something to take his mind off the impending move.

Natasha and Kyoko were marginally more calm, spending their time after packing trying to figure out what to name themselves.

Twilight Sparkle and Rarity were busy making sure everyone had their things in order. Domestic drones were set to start moving the material to the transport room since it was going to be sent over first.

"Ok Rarity, are you sure you got everything? I don't want you flipping out in case you forgot a design or something," Twilight asked, not noticing the irony in the question.

Fortunately, Rarity did notice said irony. "Me.. flip out?! Darling, I think you should be the one to worry about that. I'd wager if one book turned up missing, you'd tear Ponyville apart trying to find it."

The two Unicorn mares chuckled at the thought. The Bearers of Harmony were all ready to get back on home turf, as it were; even if they were still going to be on the proverbial clock training the four Terran Conduits. As time went on, eventually there were two carts full of things to move, Rarity and her equipment and finished works, including four pieces in black, vinyl protectors; as well as Twilight and her roaming mini-library. The other cart was full of the bags of the other eight Ponies, the Conduits deciding it was easier just to bring some personal affects (sans electronics).

        After the drones were most of the way to the transport room to send the belongings on ahead, the Princesses decided to appear before the ten Bearers and Conduits. They wanted to have a little chat before proceeding.

Celestia began speaking, her voice rather excited for an ages-old monarch, but no one was going to argue this wasn’t a momentous occasion. "Good day my little Ponies. As you know, today is the day the four Conduits of Terra set their hooves into Equestria for the first time. Consider this both a preview of a possible future home, but also you all beginning to be immersed in our culture. On top of that, I want you to consider the concept of Harmony. Not only is this a venture to help you harmonize your Terran Magic with your Equestrian Magic, but harmonizing the human within you with the Pony that you now are."

As the Ponies discussed the meaning of this 'harmonization of self' line, Fluttershy had a little more pressing concern. "Princess Celestia ma'am? Um, will the Bureaus be alright while we all are back in Equestria?"

Celestia was a tad optimistic in this regard. "We have not seen real signs of any mass organized violence or other resistance against the Bureaus. Most of the incidents have been isolated as far as the police can tell."

Luna however, wasn't so optimistic. "We can only hope they aren't truly organized. I fear what the self-professed Elite would do in light of the recent elections. The fact that the reformists have begun to occupy more positions of political power cannot sit well with them, and who knows what they might attempt in order to de-legitimize them. At the same time, we have no idea about the nature of the degenerating seal on Earth's Magic, so we do need to be efficient and effective in our teaching to our four new charges.

“Unfortunately, we will have to play all of this by ear, as it were. I'm afraid the Magic we are talking about has been lost for so long, I cannot find any records of it, aside from the various works of fiction and legend in Earth’s collective 'library'."

Ethan chuckled at the idea. "I guess you can say we're like archaeologists. We're reviving an ancient lost power, with absolutely no idea what it can do. But to not revive it, well, I dunno if I want to think what'll happen if we get this wrong or take too long."

Everyone but the Princesses wanted to argue the analogy, but none of them could really think of any better way to put it.

"Everything seems to be in order then," Celestia began. "With that, my little Ponies and Dragon. Let us be on our way."

Spike took a spot on Luna's back, still trying to avoid visual contact with Dr. Hayato, and all left for the Transport Room.

        A few minutes later, they all arrived at the Transport Room. Since this room had a direct connection to the New Light Bridge, it was one of the points of greatest exposure to raw magic. Therefore the Doctors Isegawa stood in the control room, which was more than adequately shielded, during the big sendoff.

Princess Luna, before opening the gates, made a brief statement to everyone present. "As you know, we will soon be in Ponyville; the center of operations, so to speak, for your second wave of training in Equestrian Magic. Because Equestria is a land of magic itself - you, Conduits of the Elements of Terra, should be able to safely practice both your Equestrian and Terran Magic. To the Doctors Isegawa, we will be keeping you informed of all of their progress, and we hope that you will keep us informed of the happenings here on Earth, along with our many Earth-side contacts. We cannot know if or when this world may start turning even worse than it is now, but hopefully we will be afforded enough time to get everyone sufficiently prepared. We thank you for all you have done for Equestria and the whole of Earth so far, and we hope for your continued goodwill and support into the future."

Before anyone was allowed to continue, though, Princess Celestia turned to the red Unicorn and the green Earth Pony. "Before we continue, I would like to specifically ask you two a question. I'd like to know if  both or either of you have come up with your Equestrian names yet?"

Natasha and Kyoko looked at each other briefly, and then looked at everyone with rather large smiles on their faces.

Natasha went first, "Yes Princess Celestia. I'd like to be known as Red Blaze when I arrive there."

Then Kyoko, "And I'd like to be known as Midori Hana."

The Doctors Isegawa chuckled as they realized that Kyoko now began to embody her screen-name, so why not choose it? As the chuckling died down a bit, Dr. Jun took the microphone and stated her sentiments. "We thank you very much. And please take good care of our daughter and her friends, they are all like an extended family to us. Oh, and Andre, or Blue Vague as you liked to be called now, you especially take good care of our daughter. We hope maybe to call you our son-in-law one day."

Kyoko and Andre were both as red-faced as green and blue-coated Ponies could be. Then again, it really was no secret that the two would like to pursue their relationship further.

Dr. Hayato then took the mic to say something, "Oh, and to your little purple dragon friend, tell him I'd hope to be able to talk and study him further when you all return. I promise not to do anything dangerous to him."

Spike just waved sheepishly from behind Luna's mane, trying to figure out when they found out he existed.

As Luna and Celestia opened the gates formally, a wave of emotion was going through all ten of the 'regular' Ponies minds. For the Six Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, it was a chance to return home and get caught up on lost times. For the Four Conduits of the Elements of Terra, it was a chance to see an entirely new world, even if it would be just be one town in that new world.

A town that was about to re-affirm its place as the most powerful weirdness magnet in that or any other world.

The Royal Sisters lifted everyone's belongings, and went through the gate first. Then the six Equestrian Ponies all went through, waving their goodbyes to the good doctors. The four Terran Ponies all turned around, waved their goodbyes, and crossed the threshold as well. With that, the Gate drew closed, and everything went quiet as the sensors waited for the thaumatic radiation to be absorbed by the sinks.

Dr. Jun turned to Dr. Hayato, with a bit of worry in her voice. "So, how do you think they are going to do over there?"

Dr. Hayato replied, having absorbed the sense of purpose all thirteen creatures shared and projected before they left. "Despite looking for all the world like giant plush toys, I can tell they are tough and resilient creatures. They'll be just fine, although Kyoko and her three friends will come back changed. You don't go to an entirely new place, and live there without being changed. But it's my firm belief that they will be changed for the better."

Elsewhere, in a shrine somewhere deep inside the Earth, the mysterious robed figure began to speak to the Bearers of Harmony and her new Conduits of Terra: Learn from them, Conduits of the this World's Power. Learn from them, Bearers of the Other World's Will. Learn the ultimate truth behind all magic, and life itself: Without Power, Will is just idle hope; and without Will, Power is just mindless aggression. If all ten of you can learn these truths, you will be worthy of forging A New Era for both worlds. But you must hurry, for the time of decision draws ever closer...

She looked with forlorn at a titanic square pyramid, with a giant, ornate stone figure on top of it. The figure, the Seal of all Terran Mana, was already beginning to crumble into ethereal dust.

==========================

[ Equestria, November 15, ??? ]

        The Four Bearers saw things they'd never think they see, in that instant that seemed to stretch forever. Travelling at incalculable speeds through a magical dimensional bridge had thrown them all for a massive sensory loop. They saw all kinds of images - the History of Equestria, the History of Earth, the History of the Universe itself. They were staring sideways through time, and sensing things that made utterly no sense. Colors felt like sounds, sounds like tastes, visions like feelings. Thankfully, this experience was brief, as they saw the Equestrian Gate open.

Ponyville, a supposedly quiet nondescript town out in the middle of Equestria. Not too far away from the Capital of Canterlot, but far enough to be a solid day's flight out for a normal Pegasus.

Ponyville, now the site of the training of four Converted Humans in a Magic that hasn't been seen in eons.

"It's really good to be back home," Twilight said, wondering if Owloysius was able to keep everything in order like she wanted.

"Yeah it's nice to see a familiar place again, well sorta familiar," Spike said, figuring they were in the Ponyville New Citizen Reception Center. Which was notably empty at the time. Celestia purposefully had the schedule cleared in order to sort things out between the group of eleven.

"Woo-hoo~!! I'm gonna have to get to work on a big party, with a big cake, and lots of ice cream, and lots of music..." Pinkie Pie shouted. She had been restraining herself while on Earth more or less; but now she was back in her element, and totally ready to cut loose.

"Oh I do hope nothing major has happened trend-wise, I have a business to maintain and all," said Rarity, already thinking of how to further incorporate neutrals like gray and brown in her designs without seeming too drab.

"My animals should be fine physically, but I hope that being gone for so long haven't upset them too much. Especially Angel..." Fluttershy said worriedly, then again she was always concerned about something.

"I just hope I didn't miss anything major with Apple Bloom back at the farm. She'd be devastated if she found her Cutie Mark, and I wasn't there for it," Applejack stated. Her family was so important to her, as was Sweet Apple Acres. Thankfully the farm had plenty of help come in during Apple-Bucking Season, and the winter Cider Season was still a little while away from getting underway in earnest.

"I'm just glad to be back in Equestrian air-space. I mean I thought I was gonna go totally stir-crazy, having to watch everywhere I flew, and then all the haze and smog made it so hard to breathe," Rainbow Dash said, already looking forward to showing off for Golden Storm and any other Converts still in Ponyville.

        For their part, the four Terran Ponies stood there completely and absolutely STUNNED at, well, everything. The gate to the dimensional portal was carved and adorned so richly. The wood and stone of the reception center, entirely natural. As they looked around, everything was like they had walked back in time about 100 years or so, chucked out everything computer-related; and then decided everything needed a bright and fresh coat of highly color-saturated paint. The one phrase the four Conduits kept thinking as they soaked in the sights and smells - everything was just so bright and fresh. The air was pure, the ground felt solid, the water was clean, the sun was shining in the bright blue morning sky. It really was like they were walking through a storybook, except now they were characters in the story.

"Golden Storm, are we dreaming? Because if you told me we were dreaming this, and we'd soon wake up in a nice white room with lots of padding and some very calm sounding doctors, I would totally believe you," Blue Vague asked Golden Storm, mouth slightly agape.

"No, I'm pretty sure this is real. I mean we were turned into Ponies and everything, and it has been a good few weeks or months," Golden Storm replied after a bit of pause.

"I'm just... dumbfounded. I mean we all read the brochures. We all watched the slide-shows. We all heard the stories. But to see it, to feel it, to smell it. It's, it's overwhelming," Red Blaze said, looking out the windows onto the thatch roofs of a large residential area of Ponyville.

"It's like everything is alive. Even the things that should be inanimate, like the houses and the stone roads, just feel... alive somehow. Like if everything were to suddenly get up and start dancing then it would not be entirely out of the ordinary here," Midori Hana said, muzzle pressed against the window like Red Blaze's.

The other nine travelers all blanched at that statement. They've had enough dancing and singing random objects to last them a lifetime; after Discord worked his magic to turn the world upside-down, and nearly inside-out.

Celestia cleared her throat to get everyone's attention, and they all gathered back around in the center of the reception hall in order to hear what she and Luna had to say. Celestia then began. "My little Ponies, as you can see, we are back in Equestria. Conduits of the Elements of Terra, I want you to consider three things while you study and train here. One is to learn firsthand Equestrian life and culture, this is the part I will actively you with, by giving you the knowledge of our written language."

Celestia's horn flashed briefly as the four Conduits felt a brief pang of pain in their skulls. After it subsided, they looked around, and marveled at the fact that none of them struggled to read any of the signs or posters that adorned the Transport Hall of the Reception Center.

"Two, is to learn how to wield the Magic that is innate in your bodies. For Blue Vague and Red Blaze, that is Unicorn Explicit Magic. For Golden Storm, that is Pegasus Weather Magic. For Midori Hana, that is Earth Pony Life Magic. Finally, you here also to practice your Terran Magic. That is to be done here in Equestria, to ensure that you do not cause some kind of incident on Earth. Also, Elements of Harmony, I want you all to pay close attention to how the mana flows around the Terran Conduits. For, if our suspicions are correct, once the mana is unsealed from Earth, it will be able to flow here across the New Light Bridge."

While most of the Bearers of Harmony had a hard time contemplating what that meant, Twilight Sparkle was not entirely surprised by this theory. She figured as much, seeing as Equestria and Earth were getting bound tighter and tighter by the week.

Luna then began to speak. "We have fashioned a home for Terran Conduits using the best engineers in Manehatten, which will be teleported here sometime tomorrow. In the meantime I ask that you all call the dormitories here your temporary home. I will allow the rest of today for you all to start getting acclimated here, before I begin supervising your training. And believe me, you will learn a lot under my indigo wings."

Twilight Sparkle and Rarity remembered how Luna founded and presided over the now legendary University For Advanced Magical Studies, back in Canterlot a millennia ago. They hoped the time on the Moon and in recovery hadn't made her rusty as a full-time teacher.

        Celestia and Luna then excused themselves and teleported back to Canterlot - Luna wanting to get a nap in before she had to raise the Moon, and Celestia having to get back to the drudgery of personally dealing with the concerns of the nobles and community leaders. With that, there was nothing left for the Conduits to do but put away their meager things, and help the Bearers to get their things back home.

=====

        So they set off from the Center, Blue Vague and Golden Storm walking with a pair of carts full of the belongings of the Bearers of Harmony. They really didn't bother to argue much, besides Rarity and Twilight's things, there wasn't exactly that much to carry. The first stop was Fluttershy's Cottage near the edge of Everfree Forest.

"Yeah, so what exactly is the Everfree Forest anyway?" Midori Hana asked of Fluttershy. The brochures really didn't do a good job in her estimation of explaining it.

"Well, they are what most of us call a 'Wild Zone'. There are places in Equestria where Nature is allowed to do what it will, with little to no interference from us," Fluttershy replied. She knew the reason why the Princesses would set up large blocks of Equestria to not be 'developed' by the Ponies, but hated what that meant some respects.

Hrm, sounds like national parks and wilderness areas writ large to me... Blue Vague thought to himself. He wondered how long it took the Princesses to convince the population that everything and everywhere within Equestria's borders didn't have to be put under clockwork management.

As they approached her cottage, they saw what this meant to Fluttershy personally. They also began to understand just why she was chosen as the Element of Kindness.

"Wow, it's like a rehabilitation center for animals," Midori Hana said, in awe at all the live animals, even if some weren't in the best of shape.

"Yeah, really the only place live animals were kept back on Earth, were in the nature preserve Domes; well not counting some of the more robust breeds of domesticated animals. So this is a new experience for us as a group mostly," Blue Vague said, while looking at a bunch of chickens just scratching at the ground and carrying on as chickens were wanton to do.

        Just then, a white blur shot out of the cottage, Golden Storm swearing it was way faster than Rainbow Dash managed to get in Earth's atmosphere that day they had their little dogfight. The white blur turned out to be a young white rabbit who effectively latched onto Fluttershy's leg, like a child who hadn't seen a parent in forever. He looked at Fluttershy with first a look of mild rage at being left 'alone' for so long, which soon softened into crying that she was back.

He and Luna had spent the last few months taking care of everything here, most of the animals had recovered on their own but the long term cases still remained. Fluttershy thanked her ten travelling mates for walking all the way out to the edge of town with her, as she floated over to the cart to retrieve her bag. Before walking back into the cottage, she turned to the other ten to speak.

"Thank you so very much. I don't have too much to unpack, so as soon as I get Angel settled back down, we'll meet together back in Ponyville again, around sundown. If that's all right with you all?"

The other ten agreed that would be just fine, and they began the trek back across town, heading for Sweet Apple Acres orchard.

        "Applejack?! Applejack!! Look Big Mac, Applejack's back!" shouted yellow and rose-red-maned filly. Applejack and ran ahead to meet her. They shared a warm and loving embrace as a fairly large red and blond-maned stallion came up to meet them.

"Hey guys, it's been way too long," Applejack said, trying to speak clearly while crying.

"Eeyup, too long," Big Macintosh replied, succinct as ever.

The 3 of them continued on like this for a few minutes, before Applejack managed to compose herself long enough to introduce her family properly. "Alright, okay. Guys, " she started, while addressing the four Terran Ponies, "the yellow filly here is my little sister Apple Bloom, and the big guy here is my older brother Big Macintosh."

They would have chuckled at how the whole family was named after apples, but thought better of it.

"Alright then, well I'll meet up with y'all later in Ponyville around sundown. Gotta start catching up and everything," Applejack said before walking away to the main house with her saddle/duffel bag across her back.

With that, the now group of nine trotted off to a supposedly non-descript area along the edge of Ponyville.

        The four Conduits were fairly surprised, to say the least, when they got to the edge of Ponyville and looked up a few human-scale stories off the ground. What greeted them was a tower-like structure, and the 'grounds' surrounding it, made entirely out of clouds. To further enrage every human materials scientist ever, they thought, there was a permanent, de-saturated rainbow coming out of the top of the tower, and apparently liquefied rainbow flowing like miniature waterfalls off the sides of the grounds, some just disappearing into the ether.

"Well... I am honestly speechless..." Blue Vague said, the sight defying all sense of logic, well, logic borne of human experience anyway.

"It's a house... that's a tower... that's made out of clouds... with materialized rainbows..." Golden Storm said while trying to rationalize the whole thing. He thought that Pegasi cloud-forming was limited to just forming rain and storm clouds, not for full-blown construction.

"I know right. It's so awesome, just like me!" Rainbow Dash said, while absolutely beaming with pride. She began to go on about how she was able to make the self-sustaining rainbow pools from only a small amount of source rainbow from the Cloudsdale Rainbow Factory.

The four Terran Ponies were just trying to get used to the fact that this open flaunting of ability, and blatant disregard of the rules of material science and physics, was just par for the course - especially concerning Rainbow Dash.

"I dunno, I like it. It just exudes a personal confidence. I would have gone a bit easier on the rainbows myself though," Red Blaze said, appreciating the somewhat classical Greek styling of the edifice after starting to recover from the initial shock.

"Too bad we can't go inside to see it, I heard only Pegasi can naturally cloud-walk; so we'd just probably sink right through like rocks in espresso foam," Midori Hana concluded sadly.

"Anyway, I'm gonna catch a nap in my own bed. Don't worry, I'll meet with you all this evening in Ponyville," Rainbow Dash said excitably, grabbing her bag and looking forward to crashing in her own bed for the first time in months.

So the now group of eight walked on to Pinkie Pie's place of residence.

Hana's jaw hit the ground, utterly stunned by the edifice now before her. "Wow, that's.... just... wow..."

Storm was more confused than surprised. "Is that something you live in or something you eat?"

Blaze was a little more logical about the whole thing. "Well, I guess the former seeing as it's still standing."

Vague felt himself losing the capacity to be surprised at this point. "I highly doubt anyone could mistake what this place sells."

"Yep, welcome to the Sugarcube Corner. Well we sell cakes, pies, cookies, tarts, candy canes, regular candies... pretty much anything made out of sugar and can be thrown into an oven," Pinkie Pie said bounding around the place like she was trying to advertise something that really didn't need much advertising.

"Pinkie? Is that you Pinkie?" a rather calm sounding male voice called out from the door they were standing near.

"Oh hey Mr. Cake, yeah it's me. And look, I brought new friends," Pinkie said, bounding back to her landlord/employer/something of an adoptive father.

"Yeah Pinkie, you're gonna have to explain this situation to us..." Vague stated somewhat flatly.

"Okay. Well, I both work and live here at the Sugarcube Corner, where I help the Cakes with baking and sometimes babysit when they take a night out," Pinkie said, oddly calmly and succinctly.

The Four Terran Ponies didn't what to be more surprised by - the fact they got a simple answer out of Pinkie Pie, or the fact the Cakes saw fit to entrust their foals to her.

With the explanations done for now, Pinkie grabbed her case and walked inside. After putting it down, she popped her head out the still open door to speak before new friends left. "Ok let me get the Cakes caught up on everything, and get my stuff put away. Then we'll meet at Twilight's for our little evening picnic, 'kay?!"

With that, the now group of seven walked on to the Carousel Boutique, Rarity's home and place of business.

"Well, it certainly does live up to its name, doesn't it," Blue Vague said, looking at the merry-go-round-like building.

"That it does, Blue, that it does..." Golden Storm added, trying to figure out if Rarity slept in the upper-tier or somewhere in the center of the building.

"Well here is my home and place of business - the Carousel Boutique. Where the finest of the fine come to find the perfect wardrobe." Rarity said, before going off into a rather extensive list of the stores in Canterlot she contracted to sell her designs in, and the various higher-tier designers and celebrities that have worn her wares.

"She certainly has made a name for herself, or is trying very hard to," Red Blaze said, looking all around.

"Rarity? Rarity!! It's been too long!" shouted a white Unicorn filly.

"Oh Sweetie Belle. It has been too long, hasn't it. But don't worry, your big sister Rarity has returned," Rarity cried as she ran to Sweetie Belle, nuzzling her; both crying tears of joy after meeting after such a long absence. Rarity asked, while in the middle of reconnecting with Sweetie, "Vague, Storm, if you don't mind could you bring my bags inside for me?"

Blue Vague and Golden Storm wheeled both carts around in order to start offloading all of Rarity's belongings. As they moved the things into the building proper, they were duly impressed at all the various designs that were scattered amongst the mannequins, all at various degrees of being finished. The shop itself was also remarkably clean given Rarity wasn't there for so long; Sweetie Belle obviously taking the time to help maintain the shop as best she could. What caught their eyes most of all, were the absolute abundance of gems - so much so that she adorned a good number of her designs with the things.

"Say Rarity, how are you able to sell these designs with all of these gems all over them, wouldn't that get inordinately expensive?" Golden Storm asked.

"Well, here in Equestria, gems are an incredibly common occurrence. Aside from things like the Fire Ruby that dear Spike gave me, they are so common that I was able to design a spell for the expressed purpose of finding them as a filly." Rarity replied while starting to get her sewing machines and mannequins back into place.

Blue Vague just shrugged, it wouldn't be a surprise that gemstones would be that common here given the general craziness this world contains.

As the two Terrans left to rejoin Twilight and others outside, Rarity gave one last message for the time being. "Well tell the others that I will see you all later, sundown it was? Also, I will have something to present to the four of you in particular, so look forward to it, okay?"

The now group of six went to the Ponyville Library, their last official stop on this unofficial tour of their new friends' residences.

        The six of them got the house-tree/library. The four Terran Ponies honestly felt the sight of a library and multi-room domicile carved or built into an apparently still-living tree should have been more surprising than it was; but honestly at this point they had run out of ability to be shocked by Equestria's general theory of architecture.

Twilight nervously said, "Well, here we are, if you wanna take a look that'd be fine, just try not to get the books out of order, okay?"

"Apparently these places are bigger on the inside than they are on the outside, or our perception of space is starting to falter," Red Blaze said, noticing that even though it was at least a 2 story library/house-tree, there was still plenty of clearance overhead.

"Seeing as the entire realm is filled with all kinds of magic, it might be both," Midori Hana added, looking for a book on Equestrian plants to read back at her dormitory.

Spike for his part just scrambled upstairs, he wanted a nap in his own basket so bad, and he needed to decompress from being on Earth all that time anyway.

Blue Vague noticed a sleeping owl roosting in an un-lit corner as he and Storm moved Twilight's books back into the library proper for sorting. "Hrm, you keep an owl? Interesting choice for a pet."

"Yeah that's Owloysius, he helps me during the night during long sessions when Spike should be asleep," Twilight Sparkle beamed, taking pride in her pet and secondary assistant.

"All things considered, that makes a lot of sense. Dunno if that means I'm going crazy or I'm just getting used to how things work on this side," Vague replied, finding keeping a nocturnal assistant for someone who apparently studied every waking hour she could, would indeed make a lot of sense.

"Well, here are some bits, the money on this side of the Aurora Barrier. Just take a stroll around town and we'll all meet here at the Library at sun-down, which should be around... 5:20 PM if any of you still have working watches. Oh, and here is a map... and I marked some places of interest. Including a nice watch shop if none of you have working watches." Twilight Sparkle said, taking out four of many, many, MANY maps Celestia had sent to the library for safe-keeping in case Converts started arriving faster than the town's ability to give guided tours could handle.

The four Terran Ponies gave their thanks and headed out, deciding to go get those watches and then head back to the Center's dormitories to start taking in everything they've seen so far.

=====

Hrm, these watches are pretty nice, and it's easier to see the time on them than I thought... Blue Vague though, as he and the other Conduits sat in a common area of the Ponyville New Citizen Reception Center, near the cafeteria, of course.

        The four in question spent the rest of the afternoon wondering about what the home that was supposed to be teleported in the next day would look like. Red Blaze hoped it wouldn't be anything too ostentatious, but that seemed to be of little concern to the larger population of Ponyville at least, and it was probably true all over Equestria. Midori Hana was busy learning about some of native plants of Equestria, commenting on how Poison Joak seemed to be a particularly nasty weed. Golden Storm was staring outside at the sky, just remarking on how remarkably blue it was. He figured if he engaged Rainbow Dash in another aerial show he'd probably lose, but he really wanted to see how good a flier she was. Blue Vague was trying to practice moving water he had ran out of a nearby faucet, going from bucket to bucket with his Terran Magic instead of his Explicit Magic. He wasn't having much luck at the exercise though, constantly spilling the water all over the floor and having to mop it up and wring it out.

I should have realized only two months learning the very basics of Unicorn Magic wouldn't be enough to really get used to channeling through this body. Hopefully the exposure and Princess Luna will help, it's going to have to... he thought to himself.

Midori Hana looked up from her book to see what Blue Vague was doing. When she asked, he explained to her and the rest of them that he was trying to see if he could move his element with only the magic channeled from his Terran Spark, and he wasn't having much luck at all. That's when he reasoned out loud what the Royal Princesses must have realized.

"I guess this is one of the things that Voice meant when she was talking about Will and Power. Right now, we are still neophytes when it comes to our Equestrian bodies. If magic is channeled through the body like I think, then it stands to reason until we get used to using our natural Equestrian Magic, it's going to be a pain in the ass to use our Terran Magic."

Golden Storm thought about his Wind Magic only seemed to have two modes, trickle and full blast. Red Blaze feared what that meant regarding her Element of Fire. Midori Hana, only having her body for little over a week, was wondering how her Earth magic even manifested.

"Blue Vague is right. If we had to go fight some monster or if we had to protect a Bureau back on Earth from some violent mob, we wouldn't be able to control our Terran Magic at all. We'd either get ourselves injured or killed not being able to do anything, or cause who knows how much collateral damage going all-out," Golden Storm said, following Blue Vague's train of thought.

"I for one wouldn't feel comfortable only being able to only light a candle or burn an entire building to the ground," Red Blaze added, figuring that she'd have the most to learn about controlling her element.

"I'm just wondering what the Terran Element of Earth is. Like do I control rocks, dirt, plants? I wish the Voice had told me then," Midori Hana added on her part, still trying to figure out how to make her magic manifest safely.

        The four Terran Ponies continued to discuss the day's events and predictions for the near future, all the while walking back towards the main hall of the Center. They heard from some of the workers that the rest of the new Converts were supposed to be coming in for processing now, since Celestia's business with them was more or less completed for today. They were coming in from all over the world, most of them speaking 'accented' Equestrian (which to them sounded pretty much like English anyway). The four briefly wondered how they were all speaking supposedly fluent Equestrian so quickly regardless of previous nationality, figuring it had to be some magic done after the fact in order to ease the transition.

Well, at least we aren't the only ones that have to will have to embrace this madness... Blue Vague thought to himself. They were all going to one of the three larger cities anyway, and none of them had to deal with learning two different kinds of magic at the same time.

=====

        It was now close to the appointed time, and the Four Terran Ponies were already at Twilight's Library; they weren't exactly doing anything before except talking and touring the town so why not show up early, they thought. Twilight certainly appreciated the punctuality, being a stickler for organization and detail. As time went on, the other five Bearers Ponies began to arrive. Fluttershy came bearing burnable plants she learned from an Earth Pony would keep mosquitoes at bay in case they went close to the Everfree Forest. Applejack brought plenty of apples and apple goods, along with some of the early batches of apple juice to keep everyone fed that evening. Pinkie Pie arrived with some of her creations as well, especially the pineapple mini-cakes that seemed to rapidly disappear while in the presence of Blue Vague. Rarity brought a nice blanket for everyone to sit on, not wanting to smell wet fur from the evening dew, as well as 4 opaque black objects, obviously some new work she wanted to debut. Rainbow Dash flew down from clearing the sky overhead, making sure they had a nice clear view of what she was going to be an amazing sight for the newcomers to their group.

        Twilight took the fact that Owloysius was already awake as meaning that Luna was close to formally raising the moon. Luna took greater appreciation for this task, since a lot of the Converts were thoroughly impressed and even awestruck by the Equestrian night sky; and they seemed to stay up later anyway just to appreciate it and the Equestrian version of night-life. The ten Ponies plus dragon all trotted quickly, Applejack and Blue Vauge working the wagons this time, as they travelled northward from town out to some rolling hills. The four Conduits just soaked in how serene and picturesque everything was, having only seen a scene like this in media productions or games; all around them, there were rolling hills, gentle rivers and streams, and the animals were living their lives in the wild. The hills were all manners of green and brown, the soil was incredibly healthy looking, and the grass was nice and thick. They even saw the brief twinkling of some of the brightest stars; in this realm, Luna made sure to actively enhance the view of the stars in the sky, feeling that nopony should have to use a device to see them.

        Rarity had already unfurled the massive blanket for everyone to sit on and stay dry from the dew, and Applejack and Fluttershy were setting the paper plates and various juices and water. Rainbow Dash had set up some torches to give a little extra light and warmth if needed; even with the fur coats, a late fall's night could still get fairly cool.

"Alright, " Twilight Sparkle started, addressing the Four Terran Ponies, " as you have learned by now, Princess Luna has resumed the active raising the Moon in the night sky over Equestria. So I want you all just to sit back and enjoy the show. I promise it's one that you all will never forget."

< Author's Note: Just a bit of an personal appeal, this is the BGM I'd like you all to listen to while reading this next section in particular - Super Robot Taisen K's Rendition of Stargazer ~Hoshi no Tobira~ (Doorway to the Stars) >

        The sky had gone midnight-blue now, the Sun was completely under the horizon. The now night sky was dotted with sundry very bright stars, ones that Luna didn't necessarily need to enhance view of in order for everyone to see when the sky was clear. As the four Terran Ponies tried to figure out what these super-bright stars were, they then saw Luna's signature aurora, the various indigos, blues, and violets all swirling around in a faint but noticeable sphere. As a pathway was being traced through the sky, they saw a familiar milk-white, cratered orb rise in the sky - the Moon, but aglow with Luna's bluish aura. The four Terran Ponies were absolutely floored by this utter display of power and beauty, they had no idea just what 'raising the Moon' meant when it was described to them in the orientations.

        The show then expanded, after the Moon was set onto the slow path across the sky. More of Luna's aura was coalescing behind the Moon, and then it exploded across the sky, like dark colored fireworks. As the waves of indigo and blue ripped across the sky, points began to light up. The array of lights flaring into 'existence' was like someone ordering everyone in a fairly large city to first shut off every light, and then turn them back on in particular sequence. Constellations in all shapes and sizes came into view: Orion, Sagittarius, Virgo, Leo, all the constellations were like Earth's Zodiac, and there were so many more. More stars all flared into view; Red Blaze could swear she could even see a faint hint of their actual color from the glow. Blue Vague remembered scenes like this in his various information trawls on the Internet. It was like Luna was recreating Hubble's Deep Field across the sky; but instead of being an image, it was the real thing. They could even see the bands of the Milky Way, or this cosmos's equivalent, in the sky. All four of them were absolutely dumbstruck, their eyes agape at this display of beauty and wonder of the natural world.

"Wow... I... it's just amazing," Midori Hana said haltingly, mind boggling at the incalculable numbers of points of lights in the sky now.

"So many of them. All stages of cycle, all sizes, it's as if Space itself wanted to welcome us here," Red Blaze said, trying to see if she could pick out any Blue Supergiants.

"I've been on night-flights high in the sky, and I can safely say I've never seen anything like this. Man, they have no idea what they are missing back on Earth," Golden Storm said to himself, wondering just how much of Earth's sky has been blocked from view due to the pollution.

"Try as they might to simulate this kind of sky in the Domes, they could never touch Luna in this department. It almost makes me feel sorry for them." Blue Vague said, just wanting everything to continue as it was indefinitely.

        The Six Bearers of Harmony were also thoroughly impressed. Usually there were a few less pyrotechnics involved in the Raising of the Moon and Lighting of the Stars as they called it, except for certain night festivals; but Luna wanted to put on a special show for her new students and the rest of the newcomers.

I had to worry about the four them forgetting this night. I'm pretty sure this is something that none of us sitting here will forget... Twilight thought to herself.

The picnic under the full moon continued. Rainbow Dash lit the torches so that everyone had enough light to see what they were grabbing and eating and drinking. Applejack told more stories of the misadventures of Apple Bloom and her friends, who collectively call themselves the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders'. The Four Terran Ponies all wondered what symbol(s) would appear on their flanks whenever they found or mastered their special talent. Fluttershy tried her hand at singing a song called "Stargazer ~Hoshi no Tobira~" she had found it while looking up various examples of Earth music, and found it particularly relevant. Midori Hana recognized the song somewhat, and helped her correct the lyrics, knowing Fluttershy couldn't be experienced singing anything in Japanese. Rarity then got up and called everyone to attention, telekinetically pulling four black cloth protectors to her.

"Yes. This night has been lovely, and now I feel it is time for myself to unveil my latest creation. In honor of our new friends from Earth, this is for you all. I do hope you all enjoy them," Rarity said, beaming with all the pride and expectation an artist unveiling a new peice would.

With that, she unzipped the cloth covers to reveal four long capes. Each cape was made of highest quality satin she could manage, and dyed in the exact color that each Terran Element Necklace was. Each Symbol of Terra stitched into the back of said cape, Rarity going off Pinkie Pie's near-eidetic memory, albeit rounded off more due to being cloth and not gemstone.

"Wow, the attention to detail, the feel. You are truly an artist with the cloth," Midori Hana said, putting on her green cape.

"It feels great. And it will look perfect as a showpiece when I'm not wearing it," Red Blaze added.

"Man, I don't know how you pulled the color off so well. It'd be an understatement to say you and Pinkie Pie both have good eyes," Golden Storm added, still marveling at how well she got the color and Pinkie Pie got the symbol shape right.

"Usually, I'm not one for showing off, but this is something I'll have to wear around from time to time. It's just too good not to show off once in a while," Blue Vague said, deeply appreciating everything the Princesses and the Bearers of Harmony did for the four of them. He had no idea how he was going to repay them, but he was going to come up with something.

"Well I am glad you all like them. And don't hesitate to ask me if you'd like something else worthy of showing off," Rarity said, absolutely a-glow with pride.

No wonder she Bears the Elements of Generosity, this is way more than anyone has done for us before, at least in this amount of time... Blue Vague thought to himself as he wondered how the cape would look shining in Celestia's sun.

        So they carried on into the night, the Four Terran Ponies thinking everything was going to work out fine, culture shock notwithstanding. Meanwhile, over in Canterlot Castle, Luna sat on a balcony, overlooking her work that night.

"I'm thoroughly glad that you all enjoyed the show. Let's hope you enjoy my lessons in two day's time." she said, with a devious smirk on her face. The Four Terran Ponies were gonna have to get used to their Equestrian bodies and fast. There was no telling much time was left on Earth before the political detente between the Domes and the duly elected national governments would start to break down.