26th Spell [Video]

[friendyousohard]

So, we're in the first week of the new month and we'll probably be getting new people for a while... and it's occurred to me that there's something about that I've been thinking about for some time now, but have never really addressed.

[Twilight folds her arms a bit, frowning in consideration at the screen.]

Most of us ought to know by now about the helpful guide that Riku, the owner of the training center and the new breeding center, wrote about this world some time ago. It's still a useful resource despite needing some updating, and it's where I got the seed of my idea, but it's a bit... oversized for a newcomer, no offense Riku.

Is there a way to maybe... [She pauses a moment to grope for words.] Create some sort of collective document where we all put in our thoughts on what a new arrival should know about this world right away? Something simple and straightforward, that gives them a grounding point for their first few days. I always worry I've forgotten to mention something important when I talk to someone new, and I think that's a problem we all share. This could fix that, and give them a bit of a leg up in adapting to this world. And as long as we all know about it we can be sure someone's going to show it to them when they arrive.

It might not seem like much, but if you think back on how we all felt when we first arrived, I think most of us would have really liked something like that to at least be available.

Comments

[stonebones]

...I guess I shouldn't be surprised there's that kind of magic here, too. Beats boar drifting, I bet!

[How Nier was always able to just climb onto those things and dash off, he'll probably never know...]

The only pokemon I have right now is a...Sableye. It's kind of similar to something back home, but just different enough that I don't...[know anything. Though he still has trouble accepting that the thing is so nice.] Does it teleport?

[friendyousohard]

Boar drifting? That sounds unbelievably dangerous.

[Even Fluttershy probably wouldn't try to ride a wild boar.]

Sableye... no, I'm afraid they don't learn teleport as far as I know. You'll mostly be looking for psychic-types to learn that move. And of course you can't teleport somewhere you yourself have never been, even once you do get a Pokemon with the ability.

[stonebones]

It...kind of is. We have to make sure to stay out of the way. He crashed a lot at first, too...

[Even if the wild boars were kind of a menace, he still felt bad for them whenever they crashed.]

This place has a lot of rules, doesn't it... [But he supposed it was better than just throwing magic about all willynilly.] I'll have Stilzchen keep an eye out for that type of pokemon, then! He's pretty good about that sort of thing. Even if I can't use its ability right away, it sounds like a nice companion.

[friendyousohard]

You have some very interesting friends... well, not that I can talk.

[She can see Rainbow trying something similar if they didn't talk her out of it.]

Every place has a lot of rules. It's just that they aren't always nicely written down and accessible. I definitely prefer it this way.

[stonebones]

[Emil giggles. Can't argue with that.]

He looked really cool when he did it, too...

[That was totally important, right?]

That's right... And there's always wiggle room. The people of Façade were really into rules. Living there would be hard, even if they're all good people. I don't know a lot of things about this place, but it seems...doable, for now.

[friendyousohard]

You have a problem with rules?

[He doesn't seem particularly rebellious...]

[stonebones]

I'm mostly worried I'll break them by accident. But hopefully this place doesn't have any like -- oh, what was one they told me about...

[After a moment to think, Emil takes on a commanding tone.]

You must view the town by ship before you can buy anything -- or something like that. And I think there was one about not being able to buy everything from a store, but that one makes sense. There's a lot of rules about how you have to dress, too...

Those are all set by people, though, not the world.

[friendyousohard]

... Well those are all a bit much. I can vaguely see the point behind viewing the whole town first, so they're sure visitors know everything there is to offer, but making it a rule is just going overboard. And why by ship?

Regardless, I don't think there are any rules that silly around here.

[Some would argue the rules against carrying weapons, but as far as Twilight's concerned that's what the Pokemon are for. Besides if it cuts down on actual fights she's all for it.]

[stonebones]

Façade has a river of sand through it and it's got all different levels to it -- I think that was part of another rule! For normal people, it's easier to go on the sand ship-thing than to try and figure it out.

[He heaves a sigh, obviously grinning.]

Well that's a relief!

[friendyousohard]

Wait, so they were making rules out of common sense? ... Well I suppose that's one way to keep people from doing stupid things.

[Though she's pretty sure that people will find a way to be stupid regardless.]

[stonebones]

They live for their rules... And they make new ones all the time -- at least now they can vote to change them, thanks to Nier.

[There was something they'd said, right? ...Ah, yes.]

"Rules do not exist to bind you. They exist so you may know your freedoms."

[friendyousohard]

They couldn't before? That sounds like a terrible idea. If things change, sometimes the rules need to as well.

That's... an interesting philosophy they have, though.

[stonebones]

...Yeah. That's what he was able to show them. They were all good people, but it definitely left some people off worse than others, from what I've heard. I also never had to follow most of their rules, whenever we would visit. I didn't know if this place would be so kind about that kind of thing...

So far the people are the same sort, though. Nice. A little odd sometimes, but nice.

[friendyousohard]

Most of the rules around here are rules you can't really help but follow. And the ones that aren't are basically common sense, like not attacking other humans with your Pokemon.

In my experience, everyone's odd when you learn enough about them. But that's what makes people interesting.

[stonebones]

Like which pokemon can learn teleportation magic... I see.

[Well, it shouldn't really be an issue, then. Aside from not understanding what was right under his nose.]

Oh, yeah! I agree. My best friends are the weirdest people I know. I like it when people aren't quite "normal".

[friendyousohard]

"Normal" is a very subjective term, really. Honestly, a lot of the people here probably consider themselves normal by the standards of their own worlds, but since we're all from different worlds, well... the standards are a bit different for everyone.

[stonebones]

Really? Is thinking you're normal really that common?

[He used to be normal. He'd said it himself, to Nier and Weiss. That'd been so long ago, though...]

Anyway! I guess that means I'll meet a lot of people to like, if everyone's weird in their own way.

[friendyousohard]

Oh, I think you'll find plenty of people you can get along with. And you'll have your Pokemon as well, don't forget.

[stonebones]

[Awkward. Pause.]

...Yeah. I...will get along with him, I'm sure. Them.

[friendyousohard]

[Well that's basically the most concerning thing he could have done.]

Is there... something wrong with your Pokemon?

[stonebones]

[He tries real hard to not just start this off with an "UHHHHHHH".]

Not...wrong. Just -- well, I said he reminds me of something from home, right?

It's not really...a good something.

[friendyousohard]

Oh. Well...

That's something I'm afraid I can't give you much advice on. You'll have to figure out how to handle it for yourself.

[stonebones]

Yeah... [He stifles a sigh, then tries to sound a bit more optimistic.] He's really not so bad, just...have to get used to it. The person I talked to this morning said that the Sableye he's met have all been pretty nice, too, so...

[friendyousohard]

They are a little unnerving, though. Well, good luck, I suppose.

[stonebones]

Mn. [More than a little...] Thank you! For everything you've told me about.

...If my friend Weiss shows up, I'll be sure to introduce you to him. Since you like books so much, you're sure to like him.