Heaven's BBS | Text

[letteropener]

Date: July 29
Posted by: Inti

Good day, everypony! I have a question for you all: when those ayakashi that looked like fireflies came out of the opening near the viewing, at one point there was a giant sword hovering above the scene.

Does anypony know what that was about?

Comments

(Text; From: Dali)

[stonebird]

I have wondered too over the images. Spirits have light; we can see that plainly - and swords are tools for protection or battle.

I have heard of some gods and shinki gaining powers they did not previously have. It makes me wonder if Heaven is preparing us for something greater than what we have thus seen.

[letteropener]

Interesting information -- it seems swords are to humans what lances are to ponies, although I should also add that we are far more separated from them than humans seem to be over time.

I can certainly attest to the gaining of powers, however. I myself gained a power to change my shape, which is not performed as ordinary spellwork and which I can assure you I never had before. But that sword was of such power and potency that I think it is on another level than the powers we receive in the Far Shore. In my mind, it must have been an ability possessed before they came here, whoever summoned it.

[stonebird]

So you are an actual - (Heaven gets stranger and stranger!) Meaning your race is more peaceful? I think humans could learn a thing or two in that regard.

What other shapes can you take? (Sorry, she is drowning in curiosity.) I have a new power too; one that I did not possess in Westeros. Yet I do not speak of it: I speak of powers beyond what we are given when we initially arrive.

If it is a power someone already possesses, why have they not spoken up?

[letteropener]

You must understand, ponies have been guided to peace and harmony for hundreds of years now. I think humans would be more peaceful if that were tru of them as well.

As for shapes, I seem to be able to assume the form of humans, many animals around my size, and other races of Equestria.

I do not know why nopony has spoken up yet, though.

[stonebird]

How were you guided? Who managed such an amazing feat?

What are the races of your Equestria? (A fitting name for her world!) Forgive me for my curiosity. This is a first for me. There are horses and ponies in my world, but they do not speak as you do.

[letteropener]

I apologize if this sounds immodest, but that was me. I have ruled Equestria since its founding, with my sister's help as well for the greater part of those years.

Equestria consists primarily of earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns, but we welcome all who are willing to live there in the spirit of peace and harmony. We have minotaurs, griffins, donkeys, a zebra, even a dragon citizen.

[stonebird]

The truth is never immodest, Your Grace. I have never heard of a kingdom ruled by two women. Did no men wish to take the honor from you?

Unicorns supposedly exist in my world too. They live on the island of Skagos. I have never heard of Earth Ponies or Pegasi, however. Nor do I know of Minotaurs or Zebras.

[letteropener]

My sister and I are alicorns -- for the longest time, the only alicorns. Alicorns are particularly special kinds of ponies, for many reasons -- one of which is that we have the virtues of all three types of ponies. When Equestria was founded, the wise unicorn sage Star Swirl the Bearded asked us to take the throne, since Equestria represented the union of all three types of ponies in harmony. Who better to lead them than ponies who embodied all three kinds?

We briefly lost Equestria to Discord, the Spirit of Disharmony, but we defeated him and restored order and peace to the land. Beyond that -- well, as I said, we were the only alicorns for a very long time.

Earth ponies look like what you humans think of as 'ponies' in general, and their gift is for plants and animals. Pegasi are winged ponies, who control the weather. Minotaurs are bipedal cow-people. Zebras are fellow equines, but they have black-and-white stripes, and always speak in rhyme.

[stonebird]

I can think of no one better in form. However if your personality is not suitable for the task, some other pony might be more worthy. (Someone can be born of a royal line and be completely wrong on the throne.) You do not strike me as a cruel, petty or selfish ruler. I think your subjects are blessed.

Discord is...a spirit? Can he touch other lands? (This is the first she has ever heard of that subject being embodied in a being.)

Many Westerosi believe in the Stranger. He is neither good nor bad; simply unknown.

I think your land sounds very interesting. I should like to visit, but would I stand out too much?

[letteropener]

Nopony is an alicorn who is not worthy of being an alicorn. Which is not to say we are perfect, far from it. But ruling is a responsibility that must be earned -- not a matter of heritage or popularity, as I understand human rulership is often based on.

I do not know what Discord did before he came to Equestria, but afterwards he was a statue for a thousand years, and more recently he has reformed. So he has certainly not bothered any other place in a very long time.

You would stand out, for I have never seen humans before I came to the Far Shore. But that does not mean you would be unwelcome.