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

Chojin Patriarch · Feb 8, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
Luna looks down at me with an expression of bafflement on her face, then turns her head toward Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle, who are these ponies?"

I see Luna follows Celestia's example: Let Twilight Sparkle Handle It.

"They-."

"I'm Sunset Shimmer, Celestia's last student. The one before Twilight." Sunset snorts at the absent solar demigoddess. "Unless she's had others she didn't bother telling anyone about?"

I'm sure she's had many over the years. How many of them turned evil, died ignobly or went mad, no-one is quite sure of.

Twilight's ears perk up. "You were-? I didn't-." She frowns. "Why didn't Celestia ever tell me about you?"

I can't help but look at Luna. And not just because having a powerful female lying on me after a period of physical exertion is causing me to become more than a little aroused under my armour. I'm surprised that she hasn't gotten off yet, actually. Maybe I'm comfortable? Or maybe it's a pony thing.

Or maybe she's discreetly trying to 'get off'?

I mean, how many Alicorn Stallions has she met?

Sunset clenches her jaw. "I don't know.

"Hey, Luna?" She looks down at me and I give her a friendly smile. "Could you either get off… Or wriggle a bit more? I'm good either way…"

I'm guessing an eyebrow waggle would have had the wrong effect. Grayven is really enjoying this, in more ways than one.

"Ah. We apologise." I feel her wiggling, and for a confused moment I think she's actually going for Option 2, which might be awkward. Then she gives her wings a brief flap, rising off me and landing on the floor next to me.

Um. How do I get upright? No, no, stop thinking like a pony. Ring, give me a push.

By your command.

Probability of Luna and Twilight mistaking that for unicorn magic: High.

A construct piston appears and shoves me, causing me to roll onto my stomach. And getting up feels a little easier this time. I think I'm getting the hang of being a quadruped.

"Why did you ask Us to 'wriggle more'?"

"I'll tell you when you're older."

Given how often Luna acts like a teenager on the show, that's probably more accurate than entirely intended...

"-is she, anyway?" Sunset's looking at Twilight as she jabs her right forehoof at Luna, who doesn't exactly look impressed about being referred to in the third pony.

"We are Princess Luna, Princess of Equestria and Alicorn of the Night."

Sunset turns to face her. She doesn't appear to be irritated with Luna, just a bit put out about the whole situation. "And where did you come from?"

"Well, when a Stallion loves a Mare very much..."

Luna takes a step towards Sunset, clearly not entirely up to speed. Possibly not understanding why she's getting this level of backchat from a peasant. "We were banished to the moon for a millennia. We hath only returned these last fourteen months."

Sunset snorts, but this time with amusement rather than anger. "Oh, did you try reading a history book too?"

Heh. It's easy to believe, isn't ? Never mind all the evil, sentient books of magic. Read one unedited history book? Thousand Years MOON!

"What dost thou mean?"

Twilight blinks in confusion. "What?"

Sunset shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "I stopped being Celestia's student when I got banished for reading 'Canterlot Castle: A History'. Volume Two."

To be fair, it was in the same section of the library as the aforementioned evil books... You'd think they'd have higher security involved...

Twilight Sparkle sits down hard and starts to visibly sweat. "Princes Celestia b-b-b-banished you?"

Banishment for something entirely minor being one of her long-term fears, as we know.

Luna's eyes harden. "If thou wert banished then why hast thou returned?"

"Because I got banished for reading a history book! For trying to get an education and constantly being held back by [color]her[/color]."

"I'm here to show her what I've learned, spit in her eye and become an Alicorn!"

"Okay." I stride forward and put a restraining hoof across Sunset's chest. "Time out, my little pony. Deep breath." I get a small scowl again, but she closes her eyes for a moment and actually does take a deep breath. "Deep breath. The anger powers the engine, it doesn't turn the steering wheel."

She turns her head away. "I'm… Fffffine."

I see Grayven's learnt to manage the Red light pretty well... Someone's bucking for a White Ring.

I lean down. "Does somepony need a hug?"

And the glare's back. "Does somepony need a buck to the snout?"

Do eeeeet. Boop the Snoot...

"Dunno. Never had a snout before." I look up -though still somewhat down, she's quite a bit shorter than me- at the off-balance Luna. "Hi there. We got off on the wrong foot. My name's Grayven."

She looks me over, her eyes pausing momentarily on my wings and horn. "We have never met an alicorn stallion. And we are curious how you came to be in a place you claim was used by Equestria for the dumping of 'dangerous relics and creatures' when you so resemble a manifested umbrum."

Ah, if only there were some way to show her what you really look like. Like say, something that can make constructs...

"Alicorn stallion? No no no. Present appearances notwithstanding. Starswirl's Mirror transforms you when you pass through it. I don't usually look like this. This is-" I look down at my ponified chest. "-its best attempt to interpret my nature in pony terms." I pause for a moment. "Or it's just messing with me. Could go either way. I get the impression that Starswirl was kind of an arse."

Luna doesn't appear to appreciate me insulting him. "Starswirl was a great scholar and a hero of Equestria."

Doesn't mean he wasn't an arse. Who was it that made a spell that could switch Cutie Marks around again? Oh, yes...

"He also dumped problem individuals and magic items through a portal to another world. My world. It was too long ago for me to have good records on how many people died as a result of his unwillingness to deal with his problems himself rather than pawning them off on someone else, but it wasn't a small number. Be grateful I'm only calling him an arse."

"People died?"

"A long time ago, but yes."

"Those sirens who mind-controlled people into fighting each other? Following the myths, they rampaged around the world for a few hundred years before Prince Jon Haraldson slew them. The people on the other side of the mirror can use magic, but there aren't many with a high enough level of skill to cope with creatures like that."

Luna bows her head slightly. I think? With the long neck and the normal angle of equine faces it's a little difficult to parse the gesture. "In that case, We apologise on behalf of Equestria. We shall take back anyone or anything which Starswirl sent through to ensure that it no longer endangers your people."

She assumes there're any left alive? Equestrians are so naive...

"Nah." I shake my head. "We've pretty much dealt with them now, and you would not believe how much studying those relics has taught Sunset about how your magic works." I smile down at Sunset, raise my right forehoof, and lightly pat-.

"Get-" She bats my hoof away. "-off m-."

Still not in the mood for fatherly encouragement, Grayven...

She blinks.

"Wait. Fourteen months?"

Uh-oh, time dilation effect? as thebishop8 noted, that solves quite a few plotholes...

"Yes, our-."

"What year is it?"

Luna pauses a moment, clearly unaccustomed to being interrupted like this. "In the modern parlance, it is one thousand and one of the Celestia Era."

Though I fully expect the calender to change soon enough. Triumvirate era, perhaps?

Sunset's eyes widen. "That's over fifteen years in the future-."

My eyes widen too as Sunset and I stare at each other.

So anyone she knew are old and grey, or worse. though no time at all time is passing back on Earth.

"Fifteen to one time ratio-."

"Yes, I can count." She turns to face the mirror. "Ah…" Orange light surrounds her horn. "Okay, stabilising the link.. should…"

Time to Science!! that mirror. With Magic!!

Twilight looks from her to me. "What's going on?"

"By our reckoning Sunset Shimmer came to Earth a year ago. But it's been over fifteen years here. That means that time moves at different rates on each side of the portal. Which is fine for a visit, but is could be a bit of a nuisance for longer stays."

That's putting it mildly.

"But it's not a problem-problem. You're immortal and I'm going to be. Having fifteen minutes pass here for every one there won't adversely affect either of us." Sunset bows her head, a lance of orange magic striking the mirror and spreading around its frame. "But this should make it easier to change in the future."

"Wait." Twilight stares at the mirror and then at Sunset. "You just… Changed the spells on Starswirl's Mirror? That's…"

Sunset tosses her mane. "Yeah, I'm pretty good at magic. But-."

She says to the Princess of ~~Magic~~Friendship...

"Fifteen to one! That means-!" Her horn glows for a moment, then she sighs with relief. "Oh good, I'm not too late."

"Twilight Sparkle." I think we've expended Luna's patience. "To what do you refer?"

I'd like to know that too... Something we're missing?

She looks at Luna and puts on a ridiculous fake smile. "Nothing! And.. I.. just need to visit the train station really quickly for no reason. Back soon!"

She vanishes in a flare of purple.

How odd of her...

"So apparently Celestia makes crazy mares princesses now." Sunset turns to Luna. "Why did she make her an alicorn?"

"Mine Sister doth not-."

"Sister?" Sunset sits down hard in shock. "Celestia didn't tell me she had a sister!"

...The 'Princess' part didn't clue you in? I'm pretty sure Cadence wasn't Alicorned up in your day, either, so that can't be a source of confusion.

Luna huffs and rolls her eyes. "Sister decided that expunging us from the historical record would act to preserve our good name."

"But the only night-related alicorn I remember reading about is-."

...Well, she doesn't look as bad as the history books portray her?

"Yes." Luna ruffles her wings slightly. "We were Nightmare Moon. Twice we attempted to bring about an era of eternal night and twice we were thwarted."

I smile. "Look on the bright side: you're really bad at evil."

Not helping, Grayven.

Her eyes briefly alight on me. "We are uncertain that that is a beatitude."

I shr-. Oh. Ponies can't shrug. "Would you rather be highly skilled at evil? Because if so, I know some people?"

Please don't give the reforming princess ideas, Grayven... It'll end in tears...

"Nightmare Moon." Sunset doesn't look as if she believes it. "Foal-or-candy-eating Nightmare Moon. And that was Celestia trying to preserve your reputation."

"Not all of Sister's plans Bear their intended fruit. Something I believe thou hast experienced for thineself. Tell me, did Sister ever tell you of the Elements of Harmony?"

So, going with the 'well-intentioned but short-sighted' kind of Celestia, eh? Probably better than the 'habitual troll' or 'memetic molester'.

Seriously, Celestia has some 'splainin' to do to all three ponies, Grayven not included. So much of this could have been made easier by simply telling people things... You'd think she's learn that in a thousand-plus years...

King of Frost · Feb 8, 2020

I wonder who's going to make the wrong but easy assumption that Grayven is that world's counterpart to Celestia?

Twilight is probably the most likely one since all she knows is that he's an alicorn on the pony side, was the voice of reason and friendship when she was tied up by Sunset, and that Sunset learned from him. Princess Luna is less likely because she actually knows what Celestia is like and she can feel the "dark magic" or whatever it actually is on him.

It'd be amusing if it was Celestia herself for the same reasons as Twilight.

Side note, why is Paragon's timeline off by so much compared to Renegade's? In the far future he visits their world as early as the early days of Nightmare Moon's banishment and visits often up until she's released. But here they've already passed that point after less than two years of Grayven-Paul even being in the DC universe.

Rafin · Feb 8, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
A construct piston appears and shoves me,

Oh damn. He's even worse at it than I thought. Illustress Paul can literally have the ring control his body. And iirc he already used that kind of thing long before merging with the Ophidian. Grayven literally made a piston construct to push himself!

DAT_NOOB · Feb 8, 2020

King of Frost said:
I wonder who's going to make the wrong but easy assumption that Grayven is that world's counterpart to Celestia?

Twilight is probably the most likely one since all she knows is that he's an alicorn on the pony side, was the voice of reason and friendship when she was tied up by Sunset, and that Sunset learned from him. Princess Luna is less likely because she actually knows what Celestia is like and she can feel the "dark magic" or whatever it actually is on him.

It'd be amusing if it was Celestia herself for the same reasons as Twilight.

Side note, why is Paragon's timeline off by so much compared to Renegade's? In the far future he visits their world as early as the early days of Nightmare Moon's banishment and visits often up until she's released. But here they've already passed that point after less than two years of Grayven-Paul even being in the DC universe.

Time dilation, time travel, a new magical portal or a wizard did it.

Take your pick.

Belenus · Feb 8, 2020

This entire story arc is delightful.

ForeverShogo · Feb 8, 2020

Not every day that you get to be literally hung like a horse, and Grayven could do a lot worse than a princess.

Oh, and this has been pretty amusing.

Slayer Anderson · Feb 8, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
"Not all of Sister's plans Bear their intended fruit. Something I believe thou hast experienced for thineself. Tell me, did Sister ever tell you of the Elements of Harmony?"

Understatement of the millennium.

Also, someone's rage is about to break.

Mr Zoat said:
"Nah." I shake my head. "We've pretty much dealt with them now, and you would not believe how much studying those relics has taught Sunset about how your magic works." I smile down at Sunset, raise my right forehoof, and lightly pat-.

Also, it occurs to me that Sunset has actually done a fairly huge favor for both Equestria and Celestia by cleaning up Starswirl's remaining magical messes on the other side. That kind of thing could have instigated an interdimensional war if one of the relics or creatures caused enough of a disaster.

That's... kind of hilarious, and more than enough grounds for Celestia to not only forgive her, but reward her immensely.

deccan2008 · Feb 8, 2020

ForeverShogo said:
Not every day that you get to be literally hung like a horse, and Grayven could do a lot worse than a princess.

Oh, and this has been pretty amusing.

And now this story is even hosted on the right site for it!

RichardWhereat · Feb 8, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
"Not all of Sister's plans bear their intended fruit. Something I believe thou hast experienced for thineself. Tell me, did Sister ever tell you of the Elements of Harmony?"

Okay, now I'll believe she's incompetent.

Irked · Feb 8, 2020

Rafin said:
Oh damn. He's even worse at it than I thought. Illustress Paul can literally have the ring control his body. And iirc he already used that kind of thing long before merging with the Ophidian. Grayven literally made a piston construct to push himself!

Yeah Grayven might have a lot of various advantages/abilities that Paul doesn't have, but Paul outclasses him by literal Miles when it comes to Ring based stuff, especially as he has the heart of the Ophidian.

Rebu · Feb 8, 2020

ForeverShogo said:
Not every day that you get to be literally hung like a horse,

I assume you need a thicker rope and a much larger trapdoor.

Mquz · Feb 8, 2020

Rebu said:
I assume you need a thicker rope and a much larger trapdoor.

I think the rope might be thick enough? You might need to raise the platform, unless you do the thing of hanging the horse over the edge of a parapet, in which case you need to teach it how to handle stairs.

CTrees · Feb 8, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
I shr-. Oh. Ponies can't shrug. "Would you rather be highly skilled at evil? Because if so, I know some people?"

Ring, fabricate a copy of How to Succeed in Evil.

Caerwen · Feb 8, 2020

Mquz said:
I think the rope might be thick enough? You might need to raise the platform, unless you do the thing of hanging the horse over the edge of a parapet, in which case you need to teach it how to handle stairs.

Skip the platform altogether. use a slide at the end of the stairs.

fluffy · Feb 8, 2020

I did not think I would like this nearly as much as I do. Gravyven in this is funny for a change. I do have to ask though, as I have been reading the updates on my phone for the last two weeks, are grayven and the ponies talking with god speech.

Mr Zoat · Feb 8, 2020

fluffy said:
I did not think I would like this nearly as much as I do. Gravyven in this is funny for a change. I do have to ask though, as I have been reading the updates on my phone for the last two weeks, are grayven and the ponies talking with god speech.

Yes. Almost every single line. You're missing a major part of the story.

You monster.

liger0 · Feb 8, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
Yes. Almost every single line. You're missing a major part of the story.

You monster.

So, assuming you're only partly joking around, the ponies use "god speech"/their inherent magics to communicate with each other rather than "flapping their meat" or do they do that too?

AngelicKnight. · Feb 8, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
Yes. Almost every single line. You're missing a major part of the story.

You monster.

I especially liked the with the innuendo!

Oh and that one about severing beside him was good. Especially Luna's response.

Chaoswind · Feb 8, 2020

Still loving this.

Anyone has an idea of who is Twilight supposed to get in the train station? One of her pony friends? Spike?

Darko · Feb 8, 2020

Was that version of the SI that appeared and helped Luna during the first April fools episode using god speech?

Can Paul use God speech if he is enlightened?
He seemed to sense Canis using it when they were talking about Zatanna.

Chaoswind · Feb 8, 2020

Darko said:
Was that version of the SI that appeared and helped Luna during the first April fools episode using god speech?

Can Paul use God speech if he is enlightened?
He seemed to sense Canis using it when they were talking about Zatanna.

I think that was Sarcasm. The guards understood Grayven and Grayven understood the guards ergo we are dealing with ring translation not godspeech being standard in Wilson (pony world).

If anything Godspeech will be involved when Grayven starts to use his innate Alicorn magic as a transformed god of conquest turned dark alicorn.

Edit

Mr Zoat if prince Haralson killed the sirens turned witches does that mean they are in Hel, they got press recruited by Odin or they are sitting in another Afterlife (probably the fae planes). Celestia is probably going to ask what happened to the creatures Starswil sent to earth, so it would be funny if Grayven tells them they got killed and then during conversation reveals their spirits are probably trapped in an Afterlife.

DrThoth · Feb 8, 2020

Darko said:
Was that version of the SI that appeared and helped Luna during the first April fools episode using god speech?

Can Paul use God speech if he is enlightened?
He seemed to sense Canis using it when they were talking about Zatanna.

He also sensed the Anti-Life message and his universe's Grayven using it, but not perfectly; my personal interpretation is that he's on a similar but still distinct metaphysical radio frequency or something.

A few random questions, if I may:
-Where is the Trident of Neptune in both Paragon and Renegade timelines? I don't remember what happened to it after undead Ocean Master got defeated, but it doesn't look like Kaldur has it. And I don't think it ever showed up past Orm's death in Renegade.

-When Paragon revealed he knew Joker's real name back in the Injustice League episode, what was Batman's reaction (both to the information, and to Paragon for getting it) when Robin told him?

-Is Renegade Black Canary considering asking for Awakening? I was thinking she could be an Accomplished Perfect Physician-Lite or something. I could extend this and ask how many Leaguers who aren't already divinely empowered are considering it, or perhaps would consider it if Mister Miracle or someone figured out how to do it, instead of approaching Renegade.

Darko · Feb 8, 2020

I don't think paragon ever met Grayven.

The trident was destroyed in the paragon side when they trapped Oceanus.

Mr Zoat · Feb 8, 2020

Chaoswind said:
If anything Godspeech will be involved when Grayven starts to use his innate Alicorn magic as a transformed god of conquest turned dark alicorn.

He's kind of already one of those.

Mr Zoat if prince Haralson killed the sirens turned witches does that mean they are in Hel, they got press recruited by Odin or they are sitting in another Afterlife (probably the fae planes). Celestia is probably going to ask what happened to the creatures Starswil sent to earth, so it would be funny if Grayven tells them they got killed and then during conversation reveals their spirits are probably trapped in an Afterlife.

The Renegade doesn't know.

DrThoth said:
-When Paragon revealed he knew Joker's real name back in the Injustice League episode, what was Batman's reaction (both to the information, and to Paragon for getting it) when Robin told him?

He was puzzled and curious, and used it to improve his knowledge of Joker's background.

-Is Renegade Black Canary considering asking for Awakening? I was thinking she could be an Accomplished Perfect Physician-Lite or something. I could extend this and ask how many Leaguers who aren't already divinely empowered are considering it, or perhaps would consider it if Mister Miracle or someone figured out how to do it, instead of approaching Renegade.

No.

nic611 · Feb 8, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
Sunset shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "I stopped being Celestia's student when I got banished for reading 'Canterlot Castle: A History'. Volume Two."

Honestly when I look at Sunset accounting this episode, it sounds less like she was banished for reading the book and more Celestia terminated her apprenticeship for venturing into and scrounging around the forbidden section of the library. The banishment only came about when Sunset fought the guards that were escorting her out of the palace, and while I might be missing something (I don't venture into or remember well grayven sections often) it sounds like her 'banishment' was a self-imposed endeavour to avoid retaliation. If I'm wrong could someone enlighten me?

Idkusername · Feb 8, 2020

Hmmm, Mr Zoat, what is up with London's Dolmen gate system?

And does Paul have any plans to help out Akhlys in the works?

Are we likely to see John return soon? The Lord of Chaos, not John the Lord of Order. Damn, that's going to get confusing when they meet up.

Darko · Feb 8, 2020

I think Zoat said the SI may do something in the future to help Akhlys.

He said that John will return.
Also the new Fates last name is Quinn.
Johhs mothers maiden name was Quinn.
The Golden Boy theory may be true.

Mr Zoat · Feb 8, 2020

nic611 said:
Honestly when I look at Sunset accounting this episode, it sounds less like she was banished for reading the book and more Celestia terminated her apprenticeship for venturing into and scrounging around the forbidden section of the library. The banishment only came about when Sunset fought the guards that were escorting her out of the palace, and while I might be missing something (I don't venture into or remember well grayven sections often) it sounds like her 'banishment' was a self-imposed endeavour to avoid retaliation. If I'm wrong could someone enlighten me?

No, they were escorting her out after she was banished. She left because she was an angry teenager.

My theory is that she was banished because that defiance demonstrated that she wouldn't be what Celestia wanted her to be. Not just in a 'I'm not convinced on the value of friendship' sort of thing, but her whole 'find out through investigation' epistemology. If she found out about Nightmare Moon (and given her alicorn fixation it was bound to happen eventually) then she'd keep looking. And if she didn't, she'd never abandon reason for faith as Twilight did when she activated the Element of Magic.

Idkusername said:
Hmmm, Mr Zoat, what is up with London's Dolmen gate system?

It's working well.

And does Paul have any plans to help out Akhlys in the works?

I refer you to my previous answer.

Are we likely to see John return soon? The Lord of Chaos, not John the Lord of Order. Damn, that's going to get confusing when they meet up.

I don't know. It would work alright for a mini-event, but I was planning on having the Crisis soon and that covers that gap.

Darko · Feb 8, 2020

Are we going to see anyone develop blue enlightenment?

Mr Zoat · Feb 8, 2020

Darko said:
Are we going to see anyone develop blue enlightenment?

I don't know. Where do you live?

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

Veteran Lurker

Wishing I was somewhere colder no doubt.

Not too sore, are you?

Accused of writing in a far away land

Versed in the lewd.

Not too sore, are you?

Orthodox Heretic

Getting out there.

Aia airëa Fëanáro.

Experienced.

hey, little Anna, you're the one

Versed in the lewd.

Chasing the ring

Know what you're doing yet?

Not too sore, are you?

Dedicated ragequitter

Getting out there.

Lewd demon of negotiable affection

Lord of nonsense

Connoisseur.

Lord of nonsense

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Connoisseur.

Dedicated ragequitter

Getting out there.

Versed in the lewd.

Connoisseur.

Dedicated ragequitter

Connoisseur.

Dedicated ragequitter

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