video } the wonderful part of the mess that we made we pick ourselves undone

[truefriendship]

[Starlight's not used to these devices or much about this place, but it's just like learning new magic. She's sure she can do it. After a few minutes of fiddling with a hoof, she turns it on, using her magic to hold it out in front of her.

Slightly upside-down, but she hasn't noticed.]

Greetings. My name is Starlight Glimmer. I am a newcomer here. I have read all your pamphlets and other resources, it's all very informative, but none of it answers my real question.

[She hesitates, then pushes through.]

...is this a friendship test?

Comments

Re: video

[directed]

Not at all, actually.

[So just which part was making you nervous, Starlight? That he had, or hadn't bothered to mention you?]

He's just something of a unique creature here in the mansion. Or, he had been, up until your arrival.

I'm Rip Hunter, by the way.

[truefriendship]

[It sounds closer to a pony name than anything else she's heard, and that makes her relax, if only slightly.]

So I've noticed. A lot of... humans here.

[She has learned the term since arriving. She hadn't seen any before she got here.]

[directed]

[He'll take pony name over pornstar name any day, thank you very much.]

The majority of us, yes--certainly in appearance. There are no doubt still variations, though few that stand out quite so much as unicorns seem to.

Regardless, welcome to Wonderland. [As much as one can be welcomed.] I expect Sunburst will be in touch shortly, if he hasn't been already.

[truefriendship]

Assuming he's not too buried in books to notice. [She gives a fond smile.] Are you friends with him?

[directed]

Hopefully not, although the risk certainly remains. [Rip hasn’t forgotten the rather heated conversation he and Sunburst had had regarding burning books, after all. Certainly the unicorn is fond of his tomes.

What’s less expected is how Starlight continues on. Rip’s surprise shows in his expression; while not an unusual question, it’s not often asked of him—and Rip isn’t typically one to make friends.

But.] …I’d like to think so. [Sunburst had proven himself supportive more than once, when Rip had been sent back from his own world, and equally in the prison made by the last event. He’s a rather good fellow, Rip thinks. One who deserves such kindness in turn.

Unfortunately, that’s not always something Rip’s good at.]

[truefriendship]

Good! That's... good.

[It's good Sunburst has friends! Friendship is a good thing. And she tries not to worry too much about the potential for Sunburst liking these humans more than he likes her. After all, ponies can definitely have more than one friend. She has more than one friend!

But Sunburst is her oldest friend and she sort of hopes he doesn't like this guy better than he likes her.]

[directed]

…Right.

[Someone is coming off as trying a touch too hard—although Rip cannot say exactly to what end.]

At any rate, if you have any questions about where we are, feel free to ask. Although there are those who have been here longer, I’ve made it well past the year mark, so. I should be able to answer most things.

[truefriendship]

Right, and I understand a year isn't a long time to be stuck here.

[To her it seems like a very long time, but she supposes she might feel differently when she's been here longer.

And it does seem to be a when. Great.]

[directed]

It’s long enough regardless. [Even if there were a number of them who could claim longer periods of time, Rip’s also done his research. After a point that population dwindles; the longest had been there but six, maybe seven years at the most.]

This place isn’t exactly an easy one to endure—particularly not when compared to what I know of your world.

[He’d had to explain how to kill zombies to Sunburst, after all.]

[truefriendship]

What's that supposed to mean?

[He better be talking about how the doorknobs are at human hand height.]

[directed]

[Nope. Guess again Starlight.]

That certain events often involve brutal conflict up to and including murder, for one. As I understand it, bloodshed and death aren't quite so rampant in your world as they are in some.

[truefriendship]

[Rude! Very rude!]

Yeah, we just have demon overlords draining ponies of their magic or changelings kidnapping and replacing princesses or snowstorms trying to destroy whole kingdoms. Nothing brutal ever happens.

[She rolls her eyes.]

Did Sunburst tell you that? Just cause he's read through most of Equestria's latest disasters doesn't mean they didn't happen.

[directed]

[Well, seems someone leapt straight past “blood and murder” into assumption. Rip lets out a sigh.]

I never said that terrible things don’t happen in your world—nor did Sunburst, for that matter. [Might as well spare the pony some ire later on.] Only that the scope of what you’ll face here likely goes well beyond what you’ve encountered in your universe, something which can be said of many. It would do you well to be as prepared for it as you can.

[truefriendship]

You implied it.

[Starlight could probably backtrack now because there was clearly a misunderstanding.... or she could keep charging ahead.

Hahaha like Starlight's ever backtracked.]

Pretty sure I can handle it.

[directed]

I really didn’t.

[But semantics; arguing over who said or didn’t say what would only veer them further from the course—and as Starlight’s next reply makes clear, drive her further away from any sort of measures she might wisely take to ready herself for the worst of what may come.]

So are most, right up until the point they can’t. Wonderland may be gilded in a number of ways, but it remains a cage—one where prisoners are housed and left to their own devices until the time to torture them comes round. The trials are unavoidable; the events cannot be prevented, at least not through any effort made thus far, and too often the same is true of the specific effects of any given occurrence.

[Sure, there are small ways to mitigate the disaster. Hide from all manner of technology, alien or otherwise. Ignore all others and conserve your oxygen until you’re forced to swim between rooms. Shut your door and spare yourself the sight of your worst memories, played over and over again, each time with the promise that perhaps if this one thing might be changed, the past might be made right.]

Then comes the aftermath—which bleeds into a repetition of the cycle.

[truefriendship]

[It sounds bad, but really not worse than her actual life has been. Sure, most of her trials have been self-inflicted, but they still happened.]

So can you handle it?

[directed]

It rather depends on the event. [Somehow Rip doubts she’ll appreciate it if he tries to claim that he’s better equipped than many in some regards, thanks to his personal history—and lies won’t hold well at all. Thus, he gives a vague truth.

It’s the sort of thing he’s quite good at.]

Many have taken their toll.

[truefriendship]

[Hrmph. She still looks kind of annoyed, but also definitely curious.] What was the worst one?

[directed]

That answer no doubt varies depending on whom you ask.

[He knows well which was the worst for him--and quite purposefully doesn't offer it up.]

But you'll no doubt experience them for yourself soon enough.

[truefriendship]

Lucky me. [She hasn't been here very long at all and already she hates it here.] Well, thanks, I guess.