Personification Life IC IX - [Semi Open]

[Giovenith]

"Such a different name, eh?" Toscha smiled. He was a bit shaken up from the revelations of the night, having just moved in and all, but otherwise, he seemed to be holding up alright. "It's quite the pleasure, indeed, for both of us it seems. I've only met a few people here, namely Willow and Sterling. They're both pretty nice, you know them?" He asked, smiling. He took out his bottle of water, cooled it slightly, and started to drink.

"I do, though they're rather new friends too," Giovenith turned and smiled faintly at the two ponies comforting one another. "There was an old rhyme about new friends and old friends, how one is silver and the other gold. It always struck me as antagonistic because it implied that one kind was better than the other, and further bewildered you by forcing you to guess which was meant to be which. All friends are golden, in my eyes." She turned back her smile on Toscha. "That means you're golden too. We all are. Like a royal star."

[New Aksarben]

His roommate now an icy pillar, Willow surrendered the battle to bring her up and instead turned his attentions on Sterling. He flew over to the side of his friend, landing and patting Sterling's back with a wing. "... How are you holding up?"

Sterling stopped the tapping for a few seconds to look over at his friend. "O-oh. Yeah. I'm good. Still trying to wrap my head around this 'Bane' thing and the fact that... whatever they called it, the primordial existence, wants to destroy this world and all worlds. It just doesn't make any sense to me why it would want to do that. Why would it destroy our homes and families and friends? It must have a reason.... But the way they explained it made me think it only wishes to destroy. What wants sheer destruction? Nothing I am familiar with..."

Sterling sighed heavily, and subconsciously resumed his tapping of the floor, creating a slight rhythm like a drum beat by doing so. "I-I also just don't know what to think of this idea of nothingness. Nothing in the Lore of Equestria matches it at all. Our ancestors seemed to have no concept that our world came from nothingness that I can remember. And I've read most of the ancient legends over my childhood. And you know how good my memory is for things I read, Willow. I don't forget much about them...."

[The BranRiech]

"Yeah, that would have definitely put a damper on our plans." Drova chuckled a bit before the sudden realization of what was out there, while his sister was missing! "Oh, gods . . . Yuna. She's missing, and that, that . . . Thing is out there too, Bane." He said, his face twisting in pain. His sister definitely didn't deserve that. Her brother was also starting to question whether or not she was still alive.

"No, I can't think that. She's alive. She's gotta' be alive."

--

"Very interesting term, if I've ever heard it. I don't think I have though. But yes, you're correct. Although I suppose friends could be like candy? You don't know what they're truly like until you take the wrapper off, right?" Toscha shrugged. It was his own version of the classic "Don't judge a book by it's cover." But it fit the situation just as well.

[Giovenith]

His roommate now an icy pillar, Willow surrendered the battle to bring her up and instead turned his attentions on Sterling. He flew over to the side of his friend, landing and patting Sterling's back with a wing. "... How are you holding up?"

Sterling stopped the tapping for a few seconds to look over at his friend. "O-oh. Yeah. I'm good. Still trying to wrap my head around this 'Bane' thing and the fact that... whatever they called it, the primordial existence, wants to destroy this world and all worlds. It just doesn't make any sense to me why it would want to do that. Why would it destroy our homes and families and friends? It must have a reason.... But the way they explained it made me think it only wishes to destroy. What wants sheer destruction? Nothing I am familiar with..."

Sterling sighed heavily, and subconsciously resumed his tapping of the floor, creating a slight rhythm like a drum beat by doing so. "I-I also just don't know what to think of this idea of nothingness. Nothing in the Lore of Equestria matches it at all. Our ancestors seemed to have no concept that our world came from nothingness that I can remember. And I've read most of the ancient legends over my childhood. And you know how good my memory is for things I read, Willow. I don't forget much about them...."

Willow didn't immediately answer, instead calmly looking off to the side, seemingly in thought.

"... There's a lot of things nopony in Equestria every really seemed to talk about, the more I think about it," he finally said. "I never liked the label the griffons and the dragons frequently slap us with, about how we're too idealistic, and probably ignorant because of it. Stereotypes are harsh things, and should not be taken too seriously. But they do not come from nowhere... they have unfortunate bits of truth in them."

Willow took a deep breath, brushing back his mane in tired-out contemplation. "We, even I, never really did think about things that didn't revolve around our concept of harmony, did we? Maybe on occasion, but not much heaviness was given. Little interest in death, little interest in what lied beyond our quaint, safe country, little interest in the beginning of our world, or the end... I suppose in our home, these things didn't matter much, for various reasons. But they matter here. And it's going to take a bite out of us if we don't start adjusting our thinking caps."

"Very interesting term, if I've ever heard it. I don't think I have though. But yes, you're correct. Although I suppose friends could be like candy? You don't know what they're truly like until you take the wrapper off, right?" Toscha shrugged. It was his own version of the classic "Don't judge a book by it's cover." But it fit the situation just as well.

"Oooo, I like that one!" Giovenith giggled a bit, clapping her hands. "Especially if it involves candy... yum! Did you say you wanted a snack before?" She began to reach into her pocket.

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

Ray looked on at occurrences going on outside of the railcar while listening in to the nurse-bot's speech. The anti-septic sprayers, robotic assembly lines: they all seemed so incredibly high-tech, and even as if they were something to be found in a spy movie villain's moon base lair. Which probably applied to the raptors once again. Ray could probably make a few memes out of the raptors if he wanted, although the tugging voice in his head told him to focus on the surroundings.

He did, however, wonder what could have been grown inside of the tanks. Aside from the obvious, of course. It was a strange feeling, wondering if something else was going on. There wasn't much use or credence in becoming a conspiracy theorist suddenly, but Ray could hardly be blamed for inserting the raptor meme.

One question that he did have, when listening in to the nurse-bot's spell of words, was how exactly all of the things in the facility were actually kept sterile and clean to 100% of a margin. Not every germ could have been kept dead, could it? It had to be a bit of corporate-speak, but at the same time, the future-technology issue entered. And if Ray asked of it, he would probably be assured of it being 100% clean. And likely not only get a few stares from his fellow 'tourists', but also from the nurse-bot. It was really just unnecessary questioning, so Ray kept his mouth shut on the question.

But the other question that soon entered his mind was on Fortu: that nurse-bot said that he founded the company. Quite the assurance that there would be some data on where he was inside the facility, but once again, there were no assurances here. Perhaps he could ask about Fortu? Maybe not the big questions so soon, but he could ease his way into it (hopefully without attracting too much attention).

"What sort of experience has Dr. Fortu had within the field? How much of the facility was built in his vision?", Ray raised a hand in question, trying to remain straight-faced.

"Dr. Fortu improved and streamlined the biomedical technology needed, after his own personal crisis that required life support. He realized that the whole world can benefit from his work, so he keeps a close eye on all operations to ensure the public are served to the fullest capacity that he can provide. This facility is completely within his vision as he designed it himself, even the construction to expand operations is completely automated to ensure it meets his high standards and reduce opportunities for error." the nurse-bot cheerfully answered as they entered the next section after passing through another antiseptic spray.

This room had full nurse-bots being assembled among other high-tech medical equipment. It seemed that the Nursebots were the only androids, every other robot was built for specific purposes and functions.

"As you see this facility is self maintaining, with three levels of self-repair mechanisms to ensure that everything runs smoothly." the Nurse-bot added.

"So who designed his automation?" the human investor asked as he inspected the sight beyond the glass.

"Dr. Fortu designed it himself, he is quite adept with robotics, especially since he studied biomechanical engineering and robotics abroad." the nurse-bot replied as the railcar continued magnetically gliding along the rail.

[Mincaldenteans]

With the meeting coming to a quiet end, Dan looked around before to see who he could talk to, although many were in conversations of their own. Not wanting to interject into anyone's discussion, he quietly slipped out and explored the facilities it had to offer while thoughts of which direction to go with concerning this Bane entity was best. Klaus had mentioned anyone that was particularly good with illusions would be helpful and Dan, despite his young age, was quite apt with it than he was with his other hand of power. Illusions came easily to him, as he found it to be an open canvas that was limited only by his creativity and imagination. Thus far he had created many illusions, some from simple optical light works to more convincing settings that individuals could touch and taste - though it was taxing to keep it up.

Maybe he could talk to Klaus about this, though he wasn't even sure how to approach him and slipping out after the meeting wasn't a good idea now that his thoughts were just surfacing on the situation. There was also the option of joining anyone else to the island as mentioned. It wasn't a bad thought, and Dan knew risking his life was something the Queen would not be keen on. If she only knew what was happening here, she might send me back, he mused to himself.

Realizing he passed up the library and the gym, Dan bit his lower lip, too indecisive on what he wanted, or could be, to do. "Eh, could always just unpack. No pixies around to clean up after us anymore," he grumbled, making his way to the elevator and back to his apartment.

[Warpspace]

The note read:

Dear Prey noble Astartes,

Keep talking. I dare you.

Sincerely,

Malice

P.S. Is there any next of kin that should be notified?

Volturius hissed immediately upon reading the letter, feeling a combination of fury and even fear to some degree. The emotion was largely alien to him, only brought forth by exposure to the more horrendous entities within the warp, and the strangest xenos in the galaxy. The initial shiver in response to the letter rippled through his body, leaving his feathers fluffed in its wake. The cold embrace of fear was soon replaced by a Khornate storm of anger, one that fueled a desire to throttle the god and personally kill all his servants over the possibility of it threatening Tipper- even if it was simply toying with him.

Stooping to a fairly juvenile level, Volturius pricked his finger and wrote a series of insults in Nostramon on the opposite page of the paper airplane- filling it with numerous hostile insults written in a thin line of his blood. Finished with his work of numerous insults written in his 'home' language, the Astartes walked over to the nearest window and dropped the re-folded paper plane out the window- sending it on its way with multiple thundering verbal insults directed at Malice.

Done with the deed, Volturius dusted his hands, metaphorically shedding the guilt of stooping to such a childish retort. While a small twinge of fear remained, it was 'comforted' with the company of embarrassment for acting like a young child. But fuck it, the asshole deserved it.

[The BranRiech]

"Hmm, yeah, I believe I did. I snagged a bag of crisps, but I didn't really get filled up by it." Toscha smiled. He was still quite the hungry Lamia, and now considered heading out to get something larger to eat after the meeting, but a snack right now might be able to tide him over. He was probably also feeling hungry from needing to cool down his water, so that could have been a factor as well, but he didn't seem tired very much.

[Giovenith]

"Hmm, yeah, I believe I did. I snagged a bag of crisps, but I didn't really get filled up by it." Toscha smiled. He was still quite the hungry Lamia, and now considered heading out to get something larger to eat after the meeting, but a snack right now might be able to tide him over. He was probably also feeling hungry from needing to cool down his water, so that could have been a factor as well, but he didn't seem tired very much.

"Well I've got a few snacks I always save if you want some!" At that, she pulled a clump of dandelions from her pocket, with clumps of dirt still attached to the thing little roots. "They're out of season now too, so especially special snack." Giovenith took a swipe-bite at the plants, nipping off a head and chewing it.

[Torsiedelle]

Yoshi laid his chin on Katya's shoulder, still blushing. "Are you doing okay? W-we haven't' spoken in like a week." He squeaked out. He hugged her just a little tighter, happy just to be there. Yoshi was easy to please, unlike some men. He only required love and affection like a plant needed the sun and water, other than that, you didn't need to do anything for him and everything that his lover did was the best thing in the world to him.

His Girlfriend turned her head back to see him. Her intense, dark blue eyes smiled back at him.

"Nothing much. Well, last night and today, I hung out with Dora. She took her down to the government buildings to do some paperwork, then we had lunch. Other than that, I haven't been up to much this week. How have you been?"

[Urran]

Yoshi's worst fears were confirmed, she had been with Dora, but he didn't let that bother him right now. "I've been pretty good. Mostly writing and working, I've been pretty busy. I would have been around more other wise." Yoshi explained. He was smiling brightly at her. "So, do you want to come over tonight?" he asked.

[Torsiedelle]

Yoshi's worst fears were confirmed, she had been with Dora, but he didn't let that bother him right now. "I've been pretty good. Mostly writing and working, I've been pretty busy. I would have been around more other wise." Yoshi explained. He was smiling brightly at her. "So, do you want to come over tonight?" he asked.

"Sure thing. Sounds nice.", She replied. "We could talk more, no?

Katya wouldn't quite understand what Yoshi would be upset about if she was just hanging out with Dora. It wasn't like she was sleeping around for the whole week.

She sunk a little more into him, and watched the room around them. Tora seemed a little put off....

[Urran]

Yoshi sighed happily. He smiled at Tora and listened to the conversations going on around the room. It pleased him to know that they were going to the island. He had only been there once and was eager to go there again. It was a nice place and best of all, all of his friends would be there. Perfect. He wondered what Katya wanted to eat tonight, he just hoped that it wasn't out of his budget.

[The BranRiech]

"Well I've got a few snacks I always save if you want some!" At that, she pulled a clump of dandelions from her pocket, with clumps of dirt still attached to the thing little roots. "They're out of season now too, so especially special snack." Giovenith took a swipe-bite at the plants, nipping off a head and chewing it.

While any other person might have found this weird, Toscha simply saw it as normal. He'd been used to eating such things as a child. Although he did look at the weeds with suspicion. He never tried these Human flowers before. So, like his User did, he took one of the flowers and bit out the middle of the flower, savoring the sweet honey-like taste of the dandelion.

"Mmm, thank you, Giovenith." He smiled brightly.

[Giovenith]

"Well I've got a few snacks I always save if you want some!" At that, she pulled a clump of dandelions from her pocket, with clumps of dirt still attached to the thing little roots. "They're out of season now too, so especially special snack." Giovenith took a swipe-bite at the plants, nipping off a head and chewing it.

While any other person might have found this weird, Toscha simply saw it as normal. He'd been used to eating such things as a child. Although he did look at the weeds with suspicion. He never tried these Human flowers before. So, like his User did, he took one of the flowers and bit out the middle of the flower, savoring the sweet honey-like taste of the dandelion.

"Mmm, thank you, Giovenith." He smiled brightly.

"It's not a problem at all!" The girl smiled back, brightly as well. "I wanted to say before too, sorry if this is all a little fast for you... you know, the... nothingness." She paused for a moment, collecting herself. "... It shook me up too, but we're going to a safe place, and everything's going to be just fine! So we should focus on becoming great friends, yeah? Have you already found your room?"

[Swith Witherward]

Dora, fresh off her silent mini-debate with Luce, cleared her throat, wincing slightly as Ogoti's head reconstituted itself. Awful-looking process, she thought.

"So, then, how are we getting to the Island? The portal I remember using once, after we came back to the building - wouldn't that draw Bane's interest?"

“We’ll need to stay on our toes until then. Report any suspicious activity to the Conservators. They’ve agreed to help us out in this matter.”

Luce folded his arms and stood there rather silently, gazing about through his glasses and taking stock of the others. Chrys lounged between him and Hans. Tan and gray fabric rustling against her gauntlets, she gave a cheerful wave to the crowd as she introduced herself and Luce.

Hans had flown under the wire. Klaus was too preoccupied to make any mention of him sitting with the Conservators. It wasn't that Hans would be disallowed from doing so. He was simply Klaus' second in command and should have sat with the other henchmen in the back.

He gave it some thought. Realization slowly dawned on him. If Klaus were going to take his mantle, then he needed a cultist leader.

Hans lifted his head and looked at the henchers in the back. They looked at him, reflecting his own sense of peace. Hans blinked. Was he now the new cultist leader?

Holy shit, that would be an awesome promotion!

Chrys' waving caught his attention and he smiled at her enthusiasm.

Holy shit, if I'm the new cultist leader, I'm allowed to DATE!

That prospect nearly sent him sailing through the ceiling. He was risking much by asking Chrys to have a relationship with him. Granted, she risked drawing her mate's ire, but he risked his existence. Now, however, with leadership looming on the horizon...

He eyes rested upon Minerva briefly. She was absolutely calm. He knew from experience that there was much going on behind her eyes. She was calculating. She was watching and waiting and seeing how things fell out, and where things fell, and if there was any opportunity in that falling.

Holy shit, I'll never be on that level.

He crossed ankle over knee, nudging Chrys a little in the process (on purpose, of course) and rested his hands in his lap. Life had taken an interesting turn.

"Well I am sure that the Thanksgiving thing isn't all that important, right? Or is it something spectacular? "

"It depends on who you ask I suppose. Swith calls it Gluttony Day and says that's the day they celebrate an increase in their poultry, antacid and laxative industries. People eat food like hedonistic fools on that day. Ogoti says that's the day they celebrate the near-genocide of the American buffalo and native peoples. Klaus says it's a stupid holiday made by the god, Hallmark. Hallmark commands that all his people set forth to purchase paper bearing his name on the back, and they offer these papers to each other as a sign that Hallmark blesses him. He also share Christmas with Elohim, and more people buy Hallmark's products than they do food for the poor, which Klaus says is typical of Hallmark's greed."

Xanthe scrunched up her expression. "I honestly don't know if I should believe Klaus. I wouldn't have except that I saw a Hallmark shrine in the grocery store where all these paper products could be purchased for any occasion. Who is this god and why is he so expensive?"

She shrugged. "It's better than what Blythe says. She says Thanksgiving is a holiday that started 1863 when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. BUT... the first one was in 1621 and celebrated by pilgrims as a way to thank God for their first harvest. Both of those are stupid answers. It's America. Why would the government and people honor a holiday that's Christian in nature? I mean, let's face it, God isn't allowed in America. Well, he is, but he's not allowed to set foot in government buildings or show his face on TV unless it's one of his TV channels. Surely the government wouldn't make a federal holiday out of a Christian one, right? That would be hypocrisy."

Xanthe scratched her nose and then snorted in contempt.

"I'm sorry," she ventured at last. "It just irritates me. America does. All the animosity towards him makes me sad. Poor Elohim. He gets a raw deal."

She "got down from her soapbox" and opened up a packet of Saltines, offering one of the crackers to the Archangel.

--

Charumati watched the meeting break down into small discussion groups and was glad to note that most of the discussion dwelt on things other than Bane. Good, they'd taken the tidings well.

She wasn't drawn to any of their topics. A dark cloud hung over her, especially now that her "Swith" nature was shoved into Naomi. She felt no kinship with anyone here. She was depressed and in no mood for handling their trivial needs, or entertaining them, or reassuring them.

She retreated into the shadows and drew them about her like a cloak. She vanished from sight.

[The BranRiech]

"It's not a problem at all!" The girl smiled back, brightly as well. "I wanted to say before too, sorry if this is all a little fast for you... you know, the... nothingness." She paused for a moment, collecting herself. "... It shook me up too, but we're going to a safe place, and everything's going to be just fine! So we should focus on becoming great friends, yeah? Have you already found your room?"

"Yep, I've been there already, and thank you. It all seems a bit unnerving to me, but I trust that I've got nothing to fear, at least I hope so, right?" Toscha chuckled. He knew it was all serious, because he knew to trust people who seemed more experienced. "I know I wouldn't be able to help, so I guess an early vacation? Good, I'm tired of winter already." He nodded, still chewing on a dandelion, or the remants of one.

--

Unfortunately because his User was quite the idiot, Bran didn't notice Tora trying to address him, and was still chatting with Kei, who looked at the girl with an expression that read "Sorry about that."

She gestured for Torii to sit down next to her.

[Erucia]

"Dr. Fortu improved and streamlined the biomedical technology needed, after his own personal crisis that required life support. He realized that the whole world can benefit from his work, so he keeps a close eye on all operations to ensure the public are served to the fullest capacity that he can provide. This facility is completely within his vision as he designed it himself, even the construction to expand operations is completely automated to ensure it meets his high standards and reduce opportunities for error." the nurse-bot cheerfully answered as they entered the next section after passing through another antiseptic spray.

This room had full nurse-bots being assembled among other high-tech medical equipment. It seemed that the Nursebots were the only androids, every other robot was built for specific purposes and functions.

"As you see this facility is self maintaining, with three levels of self-repair mechanisms to ensure that everything runs smoothly." the Nurse-bot added.

"So who designed his automation?" the human investor asked as he inspected the sight beyond the glass.

"Dr. Fortu designed it himself, he is quite adept with robotics, especially since he studied biomechanical engineering and robotics abroad." the nurse-bot replied as the railcar continued magnetically gliding along the rail.

Ray listened in attentively to the answer he was given by the nursebot, and actually ended up believing the explanation given. He had no reason to necessarily believe that the company would give out faulty products. At the very least, it would serve badly from a PR standpoint, and there wasn't much reason to believe the raptors didn't have hearts. After all, they were willing to help out Ray. It was probably just a question of reward.

"What kind of products does the company produce? Is it simply geared towards limb replacement?", Ray chimed in an additional question while dodging his vision between the nursebot and the view outside of the glass.

[Torsiedelle]

Finally, Torii was addressed. Stikk, her question wasn't exactly answer...

She sat down in a seat near Kei, feeing a bit more comfortable around the goddess. She asked her question again.

"So, what do you think of this whole situation with Bane?"

[Giovenith]

"It's not a problem at all!" The girl smiled back, brightly as well. "I wanted to say before too, sorry if this is all a little fast for you... you know, the... nothingness." She paused for a moment, collecting herself. "... It shook me up too, but we're going to a safe place, and everything's going to be just fine! So we should focus on becoming great friends, yeah? Have you already found your room?"

"Yep, I've been there already, and thank you. It all seems a bit unnerving to me, but I trust that I've got nothing to fear, at least I hope so, right?" Toscha chuckled. He knew it was all serious, because he knew to trust people who seemed more experienced. "I know I wouldn't be able to help, so I guess an early vacation? Good, I'm tired of winter already." He nodded, still chewing on a dandelion, or the remants of one.

Giovenith did not answer his first question. "Oh you'll love it then, it is an absolutely beautiful, warm, lovely island! Fond memories have been made there before, and we have many a new friend whose first trip there this will be, yourself included. I promise it will be stunning."

[New Aksarben]

"Yeah, that would have definitely put a damper on our plans." Drova chuckled a bit before the sudden realization of what was out there, while his sister was missing! "Oh, gods . . . Yuna. She's missing, and that, that . . . Thing is out there too, Bane." He said, his face twisting in pain. His sister definitely didn't deserve that. Her brother was also starting to question whether or not she was still alive.

"No, I can't think that. She's alive. She's gotta' be alive."

"Yeah. She should be alive still. I don't see her being dead. She was probably just wandering around. She does always seem to like doing that. She might not have noticed that it is the next day, or something, Drova. But we should definitely find her before this Bane can. A monster of Chaos is not an easy thing to defeat. Even the Olympians have difficulty facing the spawn of the chaotic gods. Those born from Chaos itself, and who are the primogenitors of all the Gods of my home."

Octavian sighed heavily, and glanced around the room. "Yeah. We better get going. Food can wait until we are more certain of where your sister is. She needs to know the danger of Bane so she won't wander alone. Does she have a phone with her, Drova?"

---

Willow didn't immediately answer, instead calmly looking off to the side, seemingly in thought.

"... There's a lot of things nopony in Equestria every really seemed to talk about, the more I think about it," he finally said. "I never liked the label the griffons and the dragons frequently slap us with, about how we're too idealistic, and probably ignorant because of it. Stereotypes are harsh things, and should not be taken too seriously. But they do not come from nowhere... they have unfortunate bits of truth in them."

Willow took a deep breath, brushing back his mane in tired-out contemplation. "We, even I, never really did think about things that didn't revolve around our concept of harmony, did we? Maybe on occasion, but not much heaviness was given. Little interest in death, little interest in what lied beyond our quaint, safe country, little interest in the beginning of our world, or the end... I suppose in our home, these things didn't matter much, for various reasons. But they matter here. And it's going to take a bite out of us if we don't start adjusting our thinking caps."

"You're right, Willow. We never really did think about things like that back home. Or really anything beyond our daily routines. Its a bit odd now that I look back. Once we have our talents, most ponies seem to stop thinking about anything that doesn't relate to it in some way, shape, or form. It's odd thinking about these things now because I never did back home. I was content to read what we had, while older tomes slowly became dust in the libraries of Canterlot, forever losing the knowledge within them."

The unicorn blinked a bit, shaking his head once he realized how cynical and Willow-esque he had been just sounding. "B-but I think they'll figure out something with this Chaos-guy. But I'm worried that using my magic will attract him. I don't want to be obliterated from existence, Willow, just for picking up a book. Can he detect us in this building? I may have tuned out parts of their briefing while I tried figuring out the idea of that 'primordial force' they are talking about..."

[Giovenith]

"I will not patronize you by pretending that I know any more about the specifics of what they said about this whole situation than you," Willow turned his eyes away from their resting gaze at the random spot in space to his right back at Sterling. His friend's fear were not unfounded, considering the very nature of their existence as Equestria ponies, and even now Willow was struggling between bucking himself good and hard for almost going outside to fly, and thanking unseen forces for his meeting with Toscha that stopped him.

"But it is usually my job to be critical about these things, isn't it?" The sentence dripped a poisonous mix of grim humor and dry acceptance of the reality at hoof, a three-cornered smile contrasting with hardened eyes. The now-analytic eyes swept the ceiling and all around the room, as the pegasus pony turned and walked in a few careful half-circles, digging for some kind of suggestion that would make the greatest sense. Suffice to say, it was no easy task. "... From what I gathered, we will eventually be moving to some spot apparently safer than here. And if the many individuals pointed out by that man with the exploding stick were correct, then I don't think we would be far off from guessing that this place already had a large amount of its own kind of magic long before we arrived. Thus, this place must have some kind shielding, and I believe I remember him saying something of the sorts."

He hovered in the air for a few moments, clopping his two front hooves together in thought, much the same as a human might drum their fingers together. "I suggest we stay inside until the day comes when we move to this safe zone. I don't know how long that will be, but suffering from a little stir craziness is infinity times better than being obliterated from existence. As for magic... I don't know the details of this detection, but, if I had to guess on the safe side, I would say that until we leave, you should probably try to reserve it for when you absolutely need it, no big spells or anything. I know that's kind of asking for you to step out of what may be your comfort zone, and it's totally up to you... but that just seems safest to me, from what I currently know."

Willow himself was holding in a sigh of frustration at the dents this put in his own planning that had been in work from the hour they arrived here on Earth... with this thing lurking about, trying to summon up a magic to transport them back to Equestria was completely, totally, 100% out of the question till further notice, no matter how itchy their desire to submit to regression and run for home made things. "What say you? That is only my approach."

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

Ray listened in attentively to the answer he was given by the nursebot, and actually ended up believing the explanation given. He had no reason to necessarily believe that the company would give out faulty products. At the very least, it would serve badly from a PR standpoint, and there wasn't much reason to believe the raptors didn't have hearts. After all, they were willing to help out Ray. It was probably just a question of reward.

"What kind of products does the company produce? Is it simply geared towards limb replacement?", Ray chimed in an additional question while dodging his vision between the nursebot and the view outside of the glass.

In a brief second a man and woman could be glimpsed, staring at the railcar with their glowing red eyes. Dressed in pastel suit and dress with plastic faces, the vanished in a blink, without a trace nor clue to where they went. except a brief burst of static from the nurse-bot's voicebox.

"~-...Artificial replacements for organs and limbs as well as enhancements and general medical equipment for use in hospitals. In fact everything currently produced can be examined in the gallery." The Nurse-bot replied as the railcar entered the next area through an airlock and another antiseptic gas.

Here the railcar silently glided to a stop at the exit station. But this area was not entirely unlike a modern art gallery in minimalist white. With artificial hearts, livers, and lungs displayed on pedestals for criticism A full nurse-bot stood behind a rail holding a tray of three identical, evenly spaced gift bags. The door slid open to let them off and examine the dozen products on display. The human investor was drawn to the heart and scanned it with his phone.

"Remember, patents pending in several countries!" The other Nurse-bot informed.

The robot investor scrutinized something mounted to the ceiling. A sort of octopus thing wit metal tentacles tipped with medical instruments and claws. He may have only had eyes to express himself, but he had a look of distain.

[The BranRiech]

"As long as it's warm, it's always a good memory, you know?" Toscha grinned. Oh, the island seemed perfect! He actually couldn't wait to go now, if it was a tropical island, then it'd sweeten the deal even more. Just anything to get out of Bielefeld during the coldest season.

"Hmm, I'll need to call my parents then, they'll want to know where I'm going." He noted for later.

--

"Yeah, we'll see if she's alright, or if we can't, we won't give up hope. I just want to know, if she's still alive, that she's at least safe where she is." Drova said with a certain worry in his voice. His wings were twitching with uncomforting feelings that he'd never see Yuna again. Unbeknownst to him though, his sister was fine . . .

But he didn't know that!

"Yeah, let's see if there's anything left in the meeting if we need to know some things."

Despite the cool, it seemed obvious Drova was getting fidgety about the whole "Never exist" thing with Bane.

--

Drova wasn't the only one being a bit fidgety, Kei was shaking ever so slightly in her seat as well. She might not have been the biggest target, but she was probably still up there on the list of people to make gone.

"Honestly, it's damn scary. I don't even feel safe going outside anymore now, it's like a stalker who wants to kill you, except they actually can kill you, and erase all evidence you even existed." She explained to Torii, knowing that she didn't really care for things like this, so Kei at least elt she needed to explain it in a nutshell to her.

"Oh, and you can't fight back."

[Giovenith]

"As long as it's warm, it's always a good memory, you know?" Toscha grinned. Oh, the island seemed perfect! He actually couldn't wait to go now, if it was a tropical island, then it'd sweeten the deal even more. Just anything to get out of Bielefeld during the coldest season.

"Hmm, I'll need to call my parents then, they'll want to know where I'm going." He noted for later.

"Good memories are one of the most precious things to me," Giovenith agreed. "I would trade a chest of pearls and emeralds to keep them. They keep me afloat through the hard times, and make me appreciate them as well. Like resting after tough exercise, or dessert after veggies." That was as she believed.