1st Cartwheel

[thepinkest]

[Action]

[So the clothing shop seems to have acquired a new mannequin -- a girl in her early teens, in a New Feather dress, with her cheerful pink wings neatly arranged as she slumps in an overstuffed, poorly upholstered armchair on a display in the shop. Yep, that sure is Ty Lee, with wings to match her aura!

All of a sudden, she comes awake with a start, giving a small gasp and shaking her head.]

No! I totally wasn't sleeping at my lesson, I swear! I know exactly what the capital of the-

Oh.

[No, that was just a bad dream about the Royal Fire Academy for Girls. She's definitely not there anymore!

But where is she is the question. She peers around with an air of befuddlement, then pushes herself out of the chair and turns to give it a look.]

Eww. What's that doing... here...?

What'm I doing here? Is this some kind of joke?

[Wait for it...]

...

Who took my clothes? This isn't my uniform! This isn't mine! It's like I'm dressed for a funeral...

[Which is kind of scary, actually.]


[Video, some time later]

[Well, she managed to find some clothes that aren't white, and that fit her -- it's not exactly a Kyoshi warrior uniform, but it's not a white dress or anything like what she wore in the Fire Nation, so good enough for now. And apparently someone's told her about the journals, because she's peering intently at it, the tip of her tongue sticking out as she messes with it.]

Weeeird. This isn't any kind of a normal journal! I thought journals were just for you to put your own stuff in, not... not do whatever this does!

Anyway, hi! Uh, if people actually do look at this thing, I dunno. Talking to a book is really strange. I mean, I know some people say books are their best friends, but this is just silly! (And so are they, if you ask me.) So if anyone's... listening to this book, whatever, nice to meet you!

Comments

[wannabolt]

'Cause the guys in charge are sick freaks who like messing with our heads. It didn't really crash into us, but it sure looked like it was gonna! Plus, it got this ugly face that just kept staring down at us.

[She shudders.]

It was right around Nightmare Night, so I give 'em props for trying to fit with the holiday spirit, but they kinda went overboard.

[thepinkest]

Eww, an ugly face on the moon? That's creepy.

So just who are the guys in charge, anyway? What's their deal?

[wannabolt]

Some people say they wanna help us get outta this place. Personally? I think they're a bunch of weirdos with no social life who pull their experiments because they're bored and maybe a little insane.

[thepinkest]

Well if they're trying to send us home, putting an ugly face on the moon and making like it's going to crash into us isn't a very good way to do that!

[wannabolt]

See, that's why I think they're a bunch of lazy shut-ins who could seriously use a new hobby. Maybe they oughta try zip lining. That's exciting!

[thepinkest]

Maybe...

[But she's got a few thoughts on what else they could be, doing things like that. Not the kind of thing she really wants to think about!]

So where are they? Are they here in this village with everyone else?

[wannabolt]

[Dash sighs and shakes her head.]

Nope, they're outside the barrier somewhere, probably hiding from us. I mean, I know plenty of people here who've wanted to give 'em a piece of their minds.

[thepinkest]

Hmph. Well, that makes it a little harder to go make 'em let us go! But there's gotta be a way.

[wannabolt]

Probably, but some people say they're as stuck as we are. If that's true, well... it could complicate things.

[Her eyes narrow.]

Plus, there's a bunch of these crazy cultists out there just waiting to get in. I've seen 'em myself, and they're the types who'd rather finish us off and ask questions later.

[thepinkest]

Cultists? What's their deal? If they're... if they're that kind of people...

[Yeah, she's a little uneasy about that. Can we just get away from the crazies for a while?]

[wannabolt]

Dunno all the details, but I think it's got something to do with some wacky rituals that're supposed to "save" us... by killing us.

[She brings a hoof to her face. Pony equivalent of a facepalm.]

Which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

[thepinkest]

That's not saving! That's like... that's the opposite! We've gotta save ourselves from them! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

[wannabolt]

You said it. But that's just one of Luceti's little problems. I'm going on two years here, and they've only become more obnoxious.

Which is totally unfair because I heard they gave everyone an amusement park once! And they haven't done anything that cool since I showed up.

[thepinkest]

Amusement park?

[Paaaaaause.]

... What's that?

[wannabolt]

You mean you've never heard of one?

[GASP. Then she's totally missing out.]

They're, like, one of the coolest places out there! They've got insane rides. Rollercoasters that zoom through loops almost as fast as I can fly. Tons of sweet games, food, and prizes. Can't forget about those!