first design [ dictated / action ]

[arealwoman]

Well since this thing's already decided to announce that I'm here it seems pointless to stay silent on it, although I still don't really know how I feel about the whole thing.

[ If you can hear the sound of chopping in the background? That's because she is. She's making a sandwich ]

I find it hard to believe that I'd be the only one to say this but it's crazy. Magic and castle's that can bring you here? It's not right, although neither is a lot that I've known about but that's slightly different still.

And an even better part than that? I've heard that even worse things can happen, although to whoever told me that's not exactly the kind of thing that you want to hear when you've just been whisked off to some strange place. It's not exactly comforting when you know absolutely nothing about any of this stuff.

And for everyone else here? I don't know how you can handle it. Kids running around and things just happening? It's madder by the minute.

[ There's a pause as Christina thinks, and stops chopping ]

I guess what I want to know is how do you handle it? Especially when this kind of thing just doesn't exist? Because I'm already starting to wonder if I've gone crazy, although I certainly couldn't have come up with anything like this. I hope, anyway.

[ And anyone around? Come find her in the kitchen ]

Comments

[arealwoman]

They could be. [ And now she's actually wondering whether there are shy goats or no goats. Oh, her life ]

Is there anything else missing? Except that exit that no one can find.

[doublethefun]

[hmm]

I have seen neither griffons nor manticores here.

[arealwoman]

[ And now they're back to things that she doesn't know about ]

And what would those be exactly?

[doublethefun]

Griffons are half eagle and half lion whilst manticores exhibit a leonine appearance overall, but also possess bat wings and ears and a scorpion tail.

[arealwoman]

So things found in books that no one sees. I see why they're not here.

[doublethefun]

They are uncommon, but hardly stealthy. One merely has to search in the correct environs.

[arealwoman]

Which you apparently know, then? [ She didn't even know what this conversation was anymore ]

[doublethefun]

The Everfree Forest back home houses many different types of animals. It seems as if the castle has not seen fit to bring them here, however.

[arealwoman]

And probably not the forest either, although I doubt you can move a place.

[doublethefun]

One can move the landmarks attributed to a place, if not the actual coordinates.

In any case, that is neither here nor there because it seems much more interested in creatures than places.

[arealwoman]

Moving landmarks? They'd probably be ruined in the effort.

Creatures, right. Althpuhh you've mentioned a few that are missing.

[doublethefun]

Are humans not creatures?

[arealwoman]

We're people.

[doublethefun]

I am not exclusively referring to humans. As such, 'creatures' seems to be a fitting alternative the usual term 'ponies.'

[arealwoman]

Creatures work for animals, though people aren't animals.

[doublethefun]

Humans undergo all life processes and they do not synthesize their own nutrients using light energy from the sun. That is one of the basic definitions of 'animal,' I believe.

[eyeroll] Of course, humans may secretly be fungi for all I know.

[arealwoman]

Aye but not all creatures are animals. There's more to us than that.

[ And ignoring that bit ]

[doublethefun]

More? I would be pleased if thou wouldst explain.

[arealwoman]

Part of its breeding. Birds lay eggs but we don't. Like cats, they're an animal but a mammal.

How don't you know this?

[doublethefun]

[off handedly:] I have never met a human before this particular experience.

Then humans are placental mammals. So are many other animals.

[arealwoman]

Aye, we are.

You've not- [ Pause. Oh, not another ] You're not a dragon too, are you?

[doublethefun]

Nay, I am a pony.

[arealwoman]

A pony.

[ Oh, this was even better ]

And you've never met a human?

[doublethefun]

Not before this; there are no humans in Equestria.

[arealwoman]

And you live somewhere that humans haven't heard of.