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With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Discussion in 'Creative Writing' started by Mr Zoat, Jan 27, 2019.

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  1. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    Now that I think about it, the League may already have an idea that they could be considered fictional in some universes.

    During the Ambush Bug episode Paul told them about some of the universes he saw and that they were fictional in his world, so they could also think their universe is considered fictional in some universes.
     
  2. ForeverShogo

    ForeverShogo Not too sore, are you?

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    I guess I just always felt that if someone tried to prove I was fictional I'd be incredulous that anyone would find me entertaining enough to read/watch. Admittedly, I don't have superheroic adventures. Though there's an awful lot of detail if I'm some bit character.

    But also just annoyed that my writer apparently sucks and couldn't be assed to at the very least write me up a jackpot lottery ticket or something.
     
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  3. Queshire

    Queshire Not too sore, are you?

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    I like the idea of explaining it as some people getting glimpses of the DC universe, but since they're seen through the Dreaming the result is the stories we know.
     
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  4. Threadmarks: Cold Iron (supplementary, Renegade option)
    Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    26th June 2012
    14:14 GMT -7


    "Stable?"

    Pony-Artemis tests the stability of each of her legs then nods, tossing her head to get her mane out of her face. "Yeah, I think-." She turns her head towards me. "'Stable'? Really?"

    "If you look everywhere for equine puns, you'll find them everywhere. The country's called 'Equestria'."

    "What would you call a country full of ponies?"

    "Oh, this isn't the part of the planet ponies come from. As far as I've been able to tell, it's the canines that are the natives."

    "So what's the place the ponies come from called? Ponyland?" She watches my face. "No."

    "Like you said, it makes sense." I trot back a step. "You feel up to walking yet?"

    "Yeah, I.. guess."

    She turns her head to look along her barrel. Artemis came out of the mirror as a pale green alicorn with a white horn, white-flecked wings and a glowing white mane, which… Lends more credence to the 'long' interpretation of our stay in the future. My own equine appearance doesn't appear to have changed, though I think my 'labour tattoo' might be a little… Sharper.

    "A bow and arrow and a star. At least it's easy to interpret."

    "Artemis, that's pony-heresy. Getting your haunch-stamp is supposed to be a huge, life-changing event that defines your role in society."

    "I don't think my role in society is defined by shooting arrows at stars."

    "Have you t-"

    Artemis gasps in shock, tries to reorientate on the sound, half-trips and only stays upright by splaying her legs out!

    "-ried?"

    Pinkie Pie… The Canterlot one, is laying on top of the portal. I'm… Pretty sure that she wasn't there when we came through, there's one door…

    "How did you get up there?"

    I raise my right forehoof and gently put it on Artemis's right shoulder.

    "We don't question Pinkie Pie. Bad things happen."

    "Ah?"

    Artemis looks at the pink pony for several moments, then her eyes drop to the sides of the mirror's frame. Then they drift back up to the Canterlot Pinkie. Artemis opens her mouth to ask how a creature as physically specialised for flat countryside as a pony climbed up on top of an object with minimal handholds, much less how a creature as broad as a pony managed to lounge on the top of it without either of the other people in the room noticing.

    Then she closes her mouth.

    I breathe a sigh of relief. "Sorry, just checking: you are the Canterlot Pinkie, aren't you? I didn't meet all of you."

    "Yeperoonie." She falls backwards off the mirror, twisting in the air as she does so to land on her hooves. "Pinkie 'Canterlot' Pie at your service. And I'm not charging at you and shaking your hoof a whole lot because I know you'd fall over, but I'm still really-"

    And PCP-. Oh, good grief. Canterpinkie demonstrates her progenitor's casual disregard for personal space by rearing up on her hind legs and grinning right in Artemis's face.

    "-glad to meet you!"

    "Ah, nice to meet you too."

    "So have you shot any stars? You probably shouldn't do that here because then Princess Luna would have to nurse them back to health or maybe make a new one and the night sky wouldn't be quite right until she did and that would make all the astronomers mad at her, but on your side of the mirror the stars aren't the same as they are here so maybe you have?"

    "I won't shoot any stars. I don't have any hands."

    Her armour came through as light barding, and her bow and arrow-filled quiver are both still there. But she's right: bows aren't suitable for mouth and hooves, and if she had enough control to notch, draw and loose with magic then she'd probably be served just as well to fire a magic energy bolt instead.

    "Huh. Oh yeah, I guess that would be…" Pinkie drops back onto all fours, frowning. "Um, you might not want to stay too long then. Ponies who can't use their special talents can get a bit… Strange."

    Artemis's eyes flick to me, but my lack of reaction seems to reassure her. Though, actually…

    "Are… You and the other Pinkie Pies doing alright in that regard? I mean, you were-"

    Her expression goes a little rigid.

    "-in… The mirror pool…"

    "I'mfine!"

    "For a.. while."

    She twitches. Marvellous. There's a mob of Pinkie Pie clones spread across Equestria all suffering from Cutie Mark Repression Syndrome, which it turns out is a real condition. I mean, now that they can party freely they should be bleeding some of the stress off, but…

    Maybe we should keep an eye on them.

    "Is Luna around?"

    "No, she's a pony."

    I snort with amusement, making sure to smile afterwards. That appears to calm her down slightly.

    "She's in her office. A lot of ponies want to use Sunset's alicornication spell, and she wants to vet them to make sure no crazy ponies get through."

    "That seems like a sensible precaution to take. Though I am a little surprised that Sunset agreed to anyone other than her doing the filtering."

    "I don't think she agreed, exactly? But since Princess Luna's a princess and Sunset's not in Equestria all that much, that's what's happening."

    I… Think I'm going to need to ease Sunset gradually into the knowledge that that's what's happening. Luna's office is… Huh. No, I don't know where it is. Drawing rooms, her apartment, various state rooms, yes, but I haven't seen her actual office.

    "Please lead the way. Ah, slowly. Artemis is still finding her hooves."

    It's a bit of an obvious feed line, but-.

    "Whenever I'm not sure where my hooves are, I just look at the end of my legs!"

    It's not laugh-out-loud funny, but I snort again anyway.

    PCP prances towards the door, and Artemis haltingly follows her. I remember perfectly well how hard it is to adapt, and I know her well enough to know that she doesn't want advice or help. She doesn't want me to draw attention to it.

    We head down the corridor, guards giving us a glance but not running and hiding this time. Which is progress. It's night here, so the guards are Luna's people and I see that they're making use of some of Sunset's lighter equipment. I nod approvingly, then turn my head towards Artemis.

    "Given any thought to getting out of high school?"

    "Running an empire in the far future doesn't actually mean you know everything they teach you in high school."

    "No, it means you learn useful things. You've led armies. There aren't a lot of people on Earth who've done that and have super powers too. Lex would take you on at officer rank, and then the galactic rim is the limit."

    "Yeah, but that would mean working for Lex Luthor. And giving up my secret identity. Lex Luthor's not someone I want knowing my home address."

    "And putting you in an excellent position to shoot him if he acts up, and… Look, your father's record, your mother's record and Jade's record are public knowledge. It would be more strange if you weren't wearing a costume."

    "And I already know you're right, and I already know it's a great offer. It just feels wrong, you know?"

    "If it feels wrong, don't do it. But you should make sure that you're sure that it feels wrong, and that it's not that you think it should feel wrong."
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
  5. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    When did I ever call anyone 'mate'?
    You're fictional?
     
  6. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    'look'

    Our planet is called 'Dirt', so we can't exactly judge.

    'role in'

    But you did help a society by shooting an arrow at a star.

    Wise.

    Red Tornado Abridged: Because magic you fucking potato.

    Given her special talent is with arrows that may not be the case.
     
  7. moralrelativity

    moralrelativity Recovering pendant.

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    Loving the way these two communicate so well now. It only took, what, 2 thousand years?
     
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  8. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Thank you, corrected.
     
  9. Agent Orange

    Agent Orange Experienced.

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    I dunno. Sounds pretty sensible to me. Have everyone try after graduation from the Pointy Stick Launcher University. If they fail to put out a star then they are probably not a Drow Queen material.

    Ok, he walked into this one :D

    Oh come ON! [Thank you Dash] What? You need to finish it the old fashion way? You need to learn valuable life lessons that will serve you well in your 'adult life'? You've led armies and ran an empire for centuries! You've got more life experience than your county does. You don't recognise any of your class mates and you can get any kind of knowledge in a few sessions with G-nomes. Just test out and get on with your life.

    That's actually a very good advice.

    Either Rob (the Cornwall one) or Constantine. Or both.

    God I hope not. It would make for a boring story. And considering that the only person likely to write about me is me it would probably be dropped after a couple of chapters.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
  10. Chojin Patriarch

    Chojin Patriarch Veteran Lurker

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    Come on, equine-related puns are practically a narrative requirement here. Harmony has quite the odd sense of humour, after all.

    Oh, honey, don't ask questions like that, you know you're just feeding him a straight line.

    Grayven Nodded.

    Well, wobbling along like a newborn quadruped. Which she technically is, actually. At any rate, that's certainly going to make quite the first impression.

    Magic and Archery. ...You did explain the significance of a Star in Equestrian iconography before you brought her here, right?

    Hey, it could mean your job will be shooting stars at bad people! That's basically a Vigilante thing, right?

    A Wild Pinkie Pie Appears! Hilarity Ensues!

    Do not question the Pinkie. That way leads to madness... Just ask Twilight Sparkle about her attempts to make sense of Pinkie Sense.

    Usually to the questioner's sanity. Better to accept it as cartoon logic and preserve what little sanity remains.

    Yes. You see now?

    Have they considered taking different names, I wonder? Maybe different flavours of Pie? Or different comedic traditions...

    ...<facehoof> Oh, gods. Please, don't try to correct her, it will just give you a headache. Also, it's funny.

    I half expected Pinkie to smoush Artemis' cheeks. Might be a bit too much for someone she just met. Maybe next visit.

    And she doesn't have the magic skills needed for telekinesis. Also, Luna as maternal carer for the 'stars' of Equestria. What a universe.

    I don't know, Grayven seemed to be fine with not conquering anything... No, wait, he has been conquering things. Like Luna's reluctance towards romance.

    ...Danger, grey pony, danger!

    Keep a very close eye on her hair... If it goes flat, restrain her immediately, for cupcakes' sake!

    I can't imagine it was very fun in there, with only other Pinkies to throw parties for. Was there a rotation worked out for who got to organise each party? :p

    Yes, good idea, make sure the princesses knows about this possible hazard. Maybe put Twilight on it if she has time?

    Laughing at her bad jokes. Good way to defuse the Pinkie Pie equivalent of a Vietnam Flashback-level trauma...

    Like Sunset has time, in between bouts of doing magical Science!? Besides, I think the person who has personal experience of crazy alicorns is probably going to recognise warning signs better.

    Well, has she ever been working when you visited? It's quite likely she scheduled the times you turned up to be free. Unless there were times you didn't call ahead, you cad?

    Hey, whatever works to take her mind of bad things. Besides, you have a lot of Dad jokes to indulge in, with so many kids now.

    Never change Pinkie... Unless it's for the better.

    Good to see Luna isn't letting her troops stand idle on the equipment front.

    I agree with Agent Orange in this: She doesn't need school anymore. What they teach in school isn't much use in the real world anyway. When's the last time you saw a school that offered classes in things like 'household financial management' or 'not being a snotty idiot social courtesy'?

    At this point, I'd be amazed if he didn't know it anyway. Remember, there was a short period when the old Light had the League under their thumbs. Who knows what they had Batman reveal to them?

    Come on, as if you wouldn't jump at the chance to be in charge of stuff again, instead of being a follower on the Team. Seriously, the things you learned uptime would serve you well in Lex's fleet...

    A little twisty, but damn good advice. Don't second-guess your instincts. Make sure you aren't feeling that way simply because of Lex's reputation.

    Some nice plot points up in the air now. And some good insight into Artemis' state of mind after their little uptime trip. Wonder what her reaction to our favourite dark pony princess will be? At least it's better than watching the Paragon and Hal hauling people out of Castle Revolving...
     
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  11. Tbryan

    Tbryan Know what you're doing yet?

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    If she was worried about her secret identity, she shouldn't be using her real name as her hero name.
     
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  12. Sendral

    Sendral Getting some practice in, huh?

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    Writing thus, he sat back, satisfied with the post. For a small while he had considered sharing something, perhaps quipping about what a story about him would really be like - but no, he did not need validation. He would settle for being amusingly self-depreciating.

    He sighed, leaning back against the rough rock wall of the cape, his satellite connection still strong for the moment. What other choice did he have, really? Tell them the truth? That he was a cat-burglar-slash-ninja-surfer? No, they would never believe him; that had be the reaction of his ex, before Agent Blue got to her. He still missed her to this day, and he would not risk bringing harm to anyone else even indirectly by drawing attention to himself. The last thing he needed was for one of the others to find his little online refuge.

    It was still little moments like this that kept him sane, trawling for fiction and casual conversation. He didn't have time for nearly enough these days.

    Not with the solstice approaching.
     
  13. Agent Orange

    Agent Orange Experienced.

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    !!!

    How the hell did they-

    Was I sold out? Did they finally track me down?

    ... No. No, the poster described me as a 'surfer' as well. They are obviously going on fragmentary information and just extrapolating.

    Still. Maybe I should move. I stayed here too long anyway. Grew too secure after full three days of no attacks... This is a wake up call.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
  14. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    [Laughs in British.]
     
  15. WereDragon

    WereDragon Bookwyrm

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    Not often we see Grayven being so cowardly and submissive.
    Eldritch secrets are for dissecting, not running away from.

    On the one hand, clearly they are smarter than humans who seem almost universally reluctant to get upgrades.
    On the other hoof, I must wonder how many are actually capable of casting the spell. And how catastrophic the first screw-up will be.

    Why? She knows jack all about fleets or space combat. Little about commanding humans. Her preferred tech is a pointy stick launcher, not the computer interface of a warship.
    Might do it as a publicity thing I suppose but her skills and experience aren’t really what he is looking for.
     
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  16. Handlewithcare

    Handlewithcare Versed in the lewd.

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    Ground troops? Or rather, boarding parties?

    Also, "Haunch-stamp". I'll remember this one.
     
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  17. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Very few.
    Mostly it just wouldn't work.
    Right, but who exactly on Earth does have space experience? And who expects 2nd Lieutenants to actually know anything?
     
  18. PrinceJonathan

    PrinceJonathan Versed in the lewd.

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    Do we call our planet "Earth" because it's made of dirt, or do we call dirt "Earth" because it makes up the planet?
     
  19. Pez

    Pez Spaceman

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    Weren't they training Black Manta to be able to handle space fleets?

    Alternately, it's weird to think that Artemis is now older than Wonder Woman. Well, so's Renegade, too. I think I'd love to see Grayven have a conversation with WW where he he either goes all Nox, and say "The young do not always listen..." or just pats her on the head like a child.
     
  20. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    There are humans who want upgrades, there are just not that many and as far as we know most ponies may also be reluctant to do it and the ones that are willing to get them are a small minority.

    There aren't really any humans on Earth that have experience in space combat.

    She has at least centuries worth of experience in commanding people.

    She can just take some classes in the subject she's rusty in and then she'll be ready.
     
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  21. Mastigos2

    Mastigos2 Versed in the lewd.

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    On the other hand it's a great re-acclimatization tool.
     
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  22. DrThoth

    DrThoth I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    Has Artemis stopped her relationship with Tao because of the sudden disparity in their life experience? He's been fairly militarized so he might understand her better than most. I'm not sure if he's similarly immortal/ageless as New Gods though, since his divine Awakening wasn't a New God-affiliated process (I haven't read anything about the original comics version).
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
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  23. Zig

    Zig Not too sore, are you?

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    Lex made an offer to Arsenal who's preferred tech was also a pointy stick launcher and he had significantly less life experience.
     
  24. Pinklestia

    Pinklestia Well worn.

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    A lot of what we are taught is fictional even things we think is true.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factoid

    So while not everything and everyone is fictional, there is more fiction taken as fact that we know of.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
  25. infinityDivided

    infinityDivided ******** of Doom

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    Corrected.
     
  26. Coda

    Coda Versed in the lewd.

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    This one's intentional. It's not required at all and he only does it because he thinks it's funny.
     
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  27. Agent Orange

    Agent Orange Experienced.

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    He started doing because he thought it was funny, these days it's a habit, tomorrow it might be a crutch for the same reason all bad habits are. What happens if he can't move that hand for whatever reason (always tie down the casters reliant on gestures)? Will he just be stuck? What's the point of adding a component to the closest thing he has to an innate power.
     
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  28. transhumansage

    transhumansage Versed in the lewd.

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    i dont know all your behavior so far leads me to believe you are from australia. *snort* lol
     
  29. Sockmonkey

    Sockmonkey I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    Pony names are less silly than people think. Most western surnames are based on jobs their original ancestor had. Smith, Baker, Carpenter, etc.
     
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  30. Flightless Man

    Flightless Man Versed in the lewd.

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    My answer is make SI's earth a fake movie/book/show in DC. It's my go to choice now. Who cares if they are fictional to you, if when on day 2 in DC verse you see a rerun for a 90's sitcom and its a snapshot of your life. You have knowledge of world, everyone can have some knowledge of you. Are you in a comic or did a sitcom character (you) become real? Basically the every writers idea is a window into he multiverse theory.

    I thought Paragon Paul was believed by everyone to be from a alternate universe around a decade ahead?

    He's very non confrontional as Paragon, my money is on Canadian. We have never lost a war but also never started one. We win when everyone else has tried and we decide its really worth fighting over but drag our heels for ever.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
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