Group 4 Session 56

<uSeaGM> **PnP Group 4 Session 56**
<uSeaGM>
<uSeaGM> In the small coastal town of Harbourage (which looks a bit like: http://imgur.com/zFG6zeB), surrounded by mountains on three sides, our party has found that the townsfolk, and one mare in particular, need their help.
<uSeaGM> A great beam of light erupted from the water while they were out fishing for mystical 'Moon Fish' and it seemed to cause giant sea monsters to attack. These monsters were far larger and more dangerous than the Razor Squid they usually face near the schools of Moon Fish, and even the mighty warship they use to escort the fishing boats was forced to retreat.
<uSeaGM> The party has gallantly agreed to help the captain's daughter, Machine Spirit (usually know as Genie), repair the damaged warship in the harbour and sail it into hostile waters.
<uSeaGM> We left the group in a humble domestic scene. Genie's mother gave everypony (and griffon) a generous portion of fish soup, while spoon-feeding her husband (much to his annoyance) their last bowl of medicinal Moon Fish soup.
* Jasmine eagerly wolfed down the entire bowl of fish soup, with little regard to any proper ettiquette or any eating utinsels, spilling a bit of the broth with each audible slurp.
* Prism eats in a rather refined manner as a contrast to Jasmine.
* Jasmine raised the bowl above her head as she opened her beak, as one would in order to drink some falling rainwater, as she shook the bowl in order to milk every last drop of the dish.
* Whisper quietly drinks the soup out of the bowl.
* Jasmine then lets out a loud belch, before returning a grin towards their hosts. "That's some good eating!" She exclaimed, a bit of the soup dripping off of her face. Chuckling a bit, she then reaches into her back "But you know.... I've got something that'll make it taste even better!"
* Milia is put to shame by Jasmines ability to utterly consume. She actually wasn't a terribly huge fan of fish, so she takes her time in what some might consider an uncharacteristically restrained manner. Really, she was just forcing herself to eat it since it was free food and you never turn down free food.
* Milia dreads where Jasmine was going with this. You never turn down free food, /unless/ it's something Jas tries to give you.
* Jasmine then pulls out some herbs that she had foraged before meeting up with the group. "These babies really give a kick to anything you put it in!" She continues, revealing a mix of red, green, and blue herbs.
* Milia perks up. That was surprisingly not horrible! Downright useful, even! "Shit, Jas, you been holdin' out on me! Why didn't you tell me you had a greenhouse in your bags sooner!"
<Prism> "That was really good."
<Prism> "Thank you."
* Jasmine turns towards Milia and raises an eyebrow. "I thought you didnt like 'Gryphon food'! I didn't want to gross you out or anything.... Even though I dunno WHY you'd be grossed out."
* Whisper mumbles, "'Cause griffin food is all served raw?"
<uSeaGM> Genie's mother smiles. "So polite. You could learn a thing or two, Genie." Her daughter, meanwhile, was busy licking her bowl clean. "Mooooom!" She groans, in that tone of voice particular to teenagers.
* Jasmine whaps Whisper upside the head. "Only when I dont have a fire or anything to cook with!"
<Jasmine> "Which is... most of the time"
* Whisper curls into a fetal position, holding his head. "I'm sorry...," he whimpers.
* Milia facehooves. With spiked shoes on. Ow. "Yeah, it's gross when it's the animal carcass kind; not the useful, enjoyed-by-all plant kind! You do remember I'm an /alchemist/, right? Remember the butt-wings? I can totally use herbs!"
* Whisper whimpers again, "I don't wanna remember the wings."
* Jasmine 's eyes lit up, and she grinned widely, a giddy chuckle escaping her beak. "So... you mean you can make another one... that isnt broken?"
* Milia glares at Jasmine. "My talismans are not /broken/, thank you very much. They just aren't designed to work with gryphon biology. I think." The zebra lets out a groan. "Look, it gets murky when you learn most of your recipes through dreams and drunken fugue states. Where would you even grow a second set of wings besides your ass, anyhow?"
* Prism giggles slightly at Milia.
* Whisper stares in horror at Milia. He's now more disturbed by her magic than ever. At least unicorns usually learn their stuff when sober.
* Milia raises an eyebrow at Whisper, confused. "...something on my face?"
* Artifica_ finishes consuming her soup in peaceful silence.  Zen and the art of ignoring your friends shinnanigans.
<uSeaGM> Behind the group the domestic scene continues and the captain finishes his special Moon Fish soup. "Thank you Honey, I'm breathing easier already."
<Jasmine> "Ive got room on my back!" She protests. "besides! I need to strike fear into the hearts of villains everywhere! They need to know that no matter how badass they think they are, I'll be there to put them down! What better way to scare them silly than with a rockin pair of batwings as I descend upon them like an angel of death?! ITS PERFECT!"
<Whisper> "You...that talisman...the wings...you made that based on a hallicination!?" Whisper squeals in terror.
<Artifica_> Yes, delicious, delicious soup...
<Prism> "I think that's hillarious."
* Milia shrugs at Whisper in an extremely exaggerated fashion. "I dunno! Yeah, I guess? I MIGHT have gotten the idea while wracked with unbearable Dash withdrawal and suffering from a shotgun blast to my face, but does that really make it any less valid of an idea?"
<Milia> "I mean it WORKED, didn't it?"
* Whisper continues staring at Milia in horror. "But what if it hadn't worn off? What if something had gone wrong? What if I'd been reduced to some gibbering mutant monstrosity?'
<Whisper> "Though it did work if you were trying to turn me into a demon from Tartarus."
* Milia slurps down the last bit of her soup. She lets out a small, contented sigh, having defeated the soup she didn't really care for. An important victory. The zebra rolls her eyes at Whisper. "Oh puh-lease, it's not like you /ate/ the damn thing. I've only irreversibly changed somepony with my flight talismans ONE time, and last time I checked..."
* Milia boops Whisper on the nose. "...You ain't a pegasus. So don't worry your withers!"
* Whisper recoils backwards. "That's supposed to make me feel /better/!?"
<Prism> "Well, he has every right to be concerned, but he may be overblowing it just a tad."
* Whisper glares at Prism. "Easy for you to say. You can just unmagic yourself if anything goes wrong."
* Jasmine looks at her herbs, and then at Milia, then at the soup bowls, and then back at Milia again. "Well, do you at least know something mega cool you could make FOR gryphons?"
* Prism sighs.  "You're beyond any sort of reasoning."
* Milia shrugs at the stallion. "It's just the truth, dude! How it makes you feel is up to you. But, fine, since you're so freaked out by what I am sure is a completely *legitimate* form of self education, I'll just keep my alchemy away from you."
* Whisper looks away from Prism. "Look who's talking."
* Milia turns back to Jasmine...reluctantly. "Uhhh...kinda puttin' me on the spot here, Jas. Do...healing potions count? They keep you from dying immediately, that's pretty cool right?"
* Prism is about to say something but shrugs and turns away.   "Why bother..."
* Artifica_ politely turns to Genie's mother.  "Thank you for the soup."
* Whisper says, "I'm going to get some fresh air." He walks towards the front door.
* Jasmine puts a talon up to her chin and 'hmmms' thoughtfully. "Maybe, maybe. Not dying DOES sound good."
* Prism was hesitant to call anyone an ignorant savage, but wow, was it really so tempting right now.
* Whisper walks out the front door and sits down on the porch.
<uSeaGM> Genie's mother nods at Artifica and collects the bowls. "I'm glad you liked it, Dearie. Genie's friends are always welcome."
* Milia nods at Jasmine. "Yes, yes it does. And herbs help me do that. So, mind sparing me a few?"
* Milia manages to beam an awkward smile of gratitude to Genie's mother as she cleans up the bowls.
* Jasmine starts to hand the Herbs over, but pauses. "...If you learn any new awesome things that a gryphon can totally use, let me know, kay?"
* Milia nods. "You'll be the first cat-bird I tell. Promise."
* Jasmine smiles, and nods back, handing over the herbs. "Good!"
<uSeaGM> Sitting largely ignored in the corner, an old radio crackles to life.
<uSeaGM> “Heeeeeeeeey everypony! This is Wavelength, bringing the East news you can't refuse! Prefect doesn't think we should use the radio like this... but he's just grumpy 'cus he has to stay up all night to stop a giant death laser!” The bubbly mare's voice on the radio says this last part like it was the most normal thing in the world.
<uSeaGM> “Now let's see... news news news... aha! The ponies freed from those meanie-pants slavers are in good health and many have already found places to stay. Extra farm-hooves are always appreciated!” There is the sound of shuffling papers. “Oh, and Buttercup is expecting a foal soon so everypony send her your love and best wishes.”
* Milia grabs the bundle of herbs happily, shoving them into her saddlebags. Her ears perk up as the sound of radio chatter fills the air. "Augh, dammit..." she curses.
<uSeaGM> “Lastly, there are some dark clouds over Lost Hope so if you're out in the town bring an umbrella! And don't poke the ghoulies, of course. Anyway, I hooked up a tape player so now it won't just be me singing into the microphone until I pass out. Hurray for production values! Here's Sweetie Belle with 'Crazy He Calls Me '."
* Milia looks back and forth between the front door and the radio, trying to decide what she wants to do. She was GOING to go try and talk with Whisper, but this seemed important to listen to.
* Whisper sighs, gets up, and quietly reenters the house.
* Jasmine turns herself towards the radio, and all of a sudden became quiet, which was quite the feat! She began to listen intently to the radio
* Whisper sits down next to the door and listens.
* Prism listens to the radio, completely ignoring Whisper.
* Milia breathes a sigh of relief at the mention of Prefect. "Well, good to know he hasn't missed it yet, though I suppose we'd know if he had..." she mutters.
* Milia listens thoughtfully to the broadcast, casting a glance back at the doorway when the music comes on. "Hey, uh, 'scuse me for a sec..." she mumbles to the rest of her group, before getting up to approach the isolated stallion.
* Milia trots up next to Whisper, though she doesn't sit. "So, hey...I think we need to talk, if you're down to."
* Whisper looks over at Milia. "Uh, sure, what about?"
<uSeaGM> The music forms a pleasant interlude as Sweetie Belle's voice serenades the soul from eons past.
* Milia nods her head to the side, gesturing for them to step out for a moment.
* Whisper silently stands and walks out the door again.
* Milia steps out with the stallion and sits down on the porch. "So...Prism, he's a pretty stand-up guy, don't you think?" she states with all the subtlety you might expect of her.
* Whisper snorts. "Not quite the word I'd use..."
* Artifica_ nickers, "So, how long have you two been dating?"
* Milia leans forward and looks Whisper in the eye. "Yeah, I know it isn't. Dude, you mind telling me what's up with that? You've been wary of him since day one. As in, today. When you met him for the first time. A few hours ago. Either you're the quickest pony to form a grudge or there's something more going on here."
* Whisper looks down, then back up at Milia. "One of my brothers was unicorn. We didn't get along."
<Milia> "I get the feeling you're putting that mildly."
<Whisper> "...Yeah."
* Artifica_ sits down next to Prism and listens to the radio.
* Artifica_ smiles.  "I'm loving this station.  I'd like to meet Wavelength.  Next time we're out at the big death laser control, we need to get Prefect to introduce us to his friend."
* Milia takes this moment to light up a cigarette. She probably hadn't had one in a while, and seeing as they were both outside and /weren't/ getting shot at... "Where you from, anyways?" she mutters as she fiddles with her weird horse-lighter.
* Whisper softens a bit. "Tenpony Tower, why?"
<Prism> "I really need to learn all this stuff all of you are doing.   A big death laser seems to be certainly cause for alarm."
* Long is now known as Godna
* Artifica_ nods to Prism.  "Very much so.  But this current mission is related, so you'll have the chance to learn much more.  We all will."  She then looks to Jasmine, "By the way, have you considered that maybe the reason that the wing talisman didn't make you more awesome is that griffins are already at max awesome?"
* Milia takes a long drag of her newly lit smoke-tube, slowly exhaling a long strem of tobacco. "What, can't I be curious? We're probably going to be fighting nightmare death squids here and who knows what else pretty soon. I like to know the ponies who might be saving my life in the near future." She offers up a cigarette to Whisper. "Want one?"
* Whisper holds up a hoof. "No thanks. I don't smoke."
<Whisper> "Well...what do you want to know, then?"
* Jasmine blinks and turns to Artificia, seemingly coming out of her trance. She just chuckles to herself "That is just silly! Theres no such thing as max awesome!" With a grin, she stands up and stretches out her wings. "I mean, come on! These things? They are pretty cool, but BAT WINGS ARE LIKE, FIVEHUNDRED TIMES EVEN MORE COOL!"
<Prism> "What about robot wings, or perhaps a jetpack?"
* Artifica_ laughs and shakes her head.
* Artifica_ looks to Genie's mother.  "Would you like any help cleaning up?"
* Milia puts the pack away. "Suit yourself, more for me." She mutters. "So, Tenpony Tower, huh? Pretty snazzy. I thought livin' in Tenpony meant you were livin' the good life. Why'd you take off?"
* Jasmine scratches her chin and seems to zone out. "Hmm yes.. yes! Robot wings.... but not as intimidating though... Robots are everywhere nowadays... but whens the last time you saw a giant bat?!"
<Prism> "I don't make it a habit of wandering into caves."
* Whisper looks away again. "My dad," he says, as though the word were a particularly vulgar one.
<Jasmine> "And why is that? Because Bats! EXACTLY!"
* Milia raises an eyebrow. "Dad, huh? What'd he do?" She pauses. "Uh...if it's cool to talk about, that is."
<Prism> "Not really.  There's generally nothing interesting about caves."
* Whisper stares into the distance, contemplating. Finally, he begins to speak. "My father is a obsessed with his legacy. He told me and my brothers that when we came of age he was throwing us out into the Wastes with minimal supplies. The first to get buy his way back into Tenpony would get the inheritance, for proving himself 'worthy'."
<Prism> "What about dragon wings?"
<Prism> "Those would be more interesting."
<uSeaGM> Genie's mother calls out to Artifica from the kitchen. "It's very kind of you to offer but this'll only take a minute."
* Milia inhales through her teeth, hearing Whisper's story. "Woah...what a total chode. Uh, it's cool if I say that, right?"
* Jasmine freezes, and it seemed as if her brain had just overloaded. She began to open her mouth but only a hardly audible screech escaped. Prism officially blew her mind.
* Whisper smiles darkly. "No, it's fine. I've got my own ideas on how to pay back my father."
* Artifica chuckles.  "Great, Prism.  You broke our griffin."
<Prism> "I'm good at fixing them."   For a moment, he had the mental image of Jasmine trying to armwrestle a dragon.
* Milia 's eyes go a bit wide. In the short time she'd known Whisper she'd never seen him get as grim as he had when he spoke of his father. "Oh, good, 'cause like...damn. What a fuckin' asshole. Pardon my fancy. So he's still alive and kickin' then, yeah? How 'bout your brothers? Have either of them gotten back in yet or anything?"
* Whisper frowns again. "I don't know. I haven't seen much of them since leaving the tower. If I make it first, though, I might hang around to rub it in their faces when they show up. I'd love to see their reaction to being beat by the poor, feeble mud pony."
* Milia isn't quite sure what to make of that. "Feeble mud pony. Their words, I take it?"
<Prism> "But if I ever find a way to put dragon wings onto something, you'll be the first to get them, Jasmine."
<Whisper> "Theirs, my fathers." His face falls a bit. "Not like they're entirely off base, though..."
* Jasmine grabs ahold of Prism and pulls him closer, staring directly into his eyes with an excited and unsettling stare. "YOU. ARE. MY. FAVORITE."
* Milia smirks. "Self deprecation really doesn't suit you, dude. Why do you say that?"
* Whisper turns to Milia with an 'oh really' look. "I'm small, not particularly strong, have no magic, can't fly, and can't do alchemy. What edge do I have against supersonic pegasi and unicorns who can rewrite reality with their brains again?"
* Artifica looks at Prism.  "Thinking an Alter Physiology spell?"
<Prism> "I'm going to have to learn something like that."
<Prism> "I mean, I know something like it, but I don't think it would achieve that effect."
<Prism> "And unlike our...suspicious friend may seem to believe, I won't use magic on others unless I'm pretty sure it will be completely safe."
* Milia returns the 'oh really' look. "Let me think. Oh, I don't know, bullets? It's hard to cast a spell or do a flashy aerial move when your brain is outside your skull. I mean, when it gets down to it, you can laundry list all you like but that doesn't change the fact that you've managed to survive this long, which, I dunno if you've noticed? A lot of ponies can't say. Because they're dead."
<Milia> "And I can tell you right now; you can move quieter than anypony I've met in a long, long time.  You're not nearly as incompetent or helpless as you might think.  But, hey, I get it, after being told you suck and aren't good for anything your whole life, you probably start to believe it, and nothing some uppity zebra punk says is gonna change that.  Just...don't get so lost in the bad that you lose sight of the good, too."
* Whisper drops his look. "Yeah...but most of that surviving was because I ran and hid. I'm no Lightbringer. I'm just a little pony. And I need a way to become more than that."
* Prism grins.  "Well, I'll be on the lookout to learn a spell like that, Jasmine.   I want to be sure it's safe though."
* Milia releases a deep sigh, spitting out the cigarette butt. "Let me tell you right now, there's nothing wrong with running and hiding. It saves lives, and if I was half as good as staying silent as you are I'd probably have a couple more friends left alive right now. I don't really know how you can 'become more', but I know the way you AREN'T going to do it, is by snubbing ponies you just meet."
* Whisper freezes. "And how do I know I can trust Prism? For all I know he's planning to liquify me just for kicks."
* Milia levels a bemused glare at Whisper. "And he also might be the one removing a bullet from you here pretty soon, or saving you from bleeding out, or carrying your unconscious body instead of leaving you to die the next fight we get into. He's NOT your brother, or your father, and it's not fair to treat him like he is."
* Whisper thinks on this for a second. "Fine, but I hope you're not expecting me to go back in there and give him a hug."
* Artifica watches with amusement.
* Milia shrugs. "Hey, you do what you like with the whole hugging thing. All I'm asking is that you give him a fair shot before assuming he's a terrible pony, the same as the rest of us. Apologizing for getting off on the wrong hoof might not be a bad idea, either."
<Milia> "And, hey, if you both end up not getting along?  Fine, that's life.  It happens.  But at least you'll have given it a fair shot first."
* Whisper frowns. "Fine. I'll apologize. But I'm still not getting all buddy-buddy with him."
* Whisper then looks pleading. "But, uh, do you have any more questions before I go do that? Please?"
* Milia raises an eyebrow. She stays silent for a couple moments. "Uh, sure, here's one...are you nervous, Whisper?"
<Whisper> "About what? Getting killed by giant monsters? Or being surrounded by others who can manipulate reality with their brains?"
<Milia> "About apologizing, you doof."
* Whisper laughs nervously and responds with uncharacteristic volume. "What!? Why, of course not! Why would I be worried that Prism will take the opportunity for revenge to break my sanity into a million pieces or launch me through a wall? Worried? Me? Never!"
* Milia grasps Whisper by the shoulders, firmly, yet gentle. "Dude, relax! He's not gonna do that, alright? I PROMISE you, I promise he will not undo your reality with his sinister sorcery or whatever you might be thinking! In fact, here, do you want me to go talk to him first? Would that help?"
<Whisper> "Uh...sure. We...got off to a bad start. I doubt he wants to hear anything from me right now."
* Milia lets go of the jittery pony. "Okay, I can do that. Now, if I walk in there, you're still gonna be here when I call you inside, right?"
* Whisper calms down a bit. "Yeah. No tricks."
* Jasmine lets go of Prism and lets out a giddy laugh to herself. She turns towards the door, and opens it "Hey Milly! Forget about the bat wings! Prism's gonna give me dragon wings!" She announces, apparently glossing over Prism's comment that he couldnt actually do something like that at the time, or taking into account he wouldnt do it unless it was safe.
* Milia lets out a sigh of relief. "Okay. Cool. I /promise/ you, this will go fi-DAMMIT JAS!"
<Prism> "Jasmine, I can't actually do anything like that yet.   I would be interested in learning the spell to do so."
* Whisper 's look turns to one of abject horror.
* Jasmine blinks, looking at Whisper, and then at Milia who suddenly yelled at her. "....What? What'd I do?!"
* Milia shoots a glare a Jasmine, quickly getting up and yanking her back into the cabin. "REALLYBADTIMINGJASLIKETHEWORSTWOW." she quiet-yells. "Happy thoughts, Whisper, happy thoughts! Don't move a muscle!" She calls out through the doorway.
* Whisper sits silently on the porch, contemplating the endless horrors unicorns must surely be capable of...in his mind.
<Jasmine> "Geez, Milly, you act like I just detonated a megaspell, what gives?" Jasmine asked, confused, unaware of what she had actually done.
* Prism decides that something was going on, and starts tuning everyone out and listening to the radio again.
* Prism changes the subject.  "Where is Berry, anyways?"
* Artifica starts looking for berry
<uSeaGM> By this point the song has stopped and the DJ is back talking about living with seven brothers.
<Prism> "Pft, I know the feeling DJ...though, probably not the same situation."
* Milia lets out an exasperated sigh. "I am trapped in an insane world where I am playing mother to several ponies many years older than me and I'm wondering where it all went pear shaped, that's what gives Jas."
* Milia shakes her head. "Uh, you know what...ignore that. Dragon wings, huh?" she idly comments as she approaches Prism.
<Prism> "Yes, I am interested in learning a spell that can alter physiological traits."
<Prism> "As a part of my growing interest in the field of medical magic, it may be worth learning about the alteration or cosmetic side of things."   Wow he was such a nerd.
* Milia whistles. "Well, that'd be fresh to death, if I do say so myself. Uh, speaking of magic, though, there's a totally freaked out earth pony sitting on the porch who wants to talk to you."
<Prism> "Whisper, huh?   I am surprised given how much he dislikes me for even existing.  Feeling isn't mutual, though I'm a bit saddened by it.   If he's going to get along with me, he is simply going to have to accept a facet of pony society since near its inception."
<Prism> "And as much as he doesn't seem to know it, earth ponies do in fact have their own type of magic, even if it is more subtle."
* Prism says in a lower time.  "They let us know THAT all the time back home."
<Prism> tone, not time*
* Jasmine grins, wrapping an arm around both Prism and Millia, puling them closer to her. "Isnt that just the coolest thing ever, though? When all the baddies see a gryphon with a pair of dragon wings... how do YOU think they'd react? I'll bet theyll be begging for mercy!"
* Milia 's ears droop a bit. "Yeah, well he hasn't been told that, I can guarantee you. The dude's been through a lot and...has some interesting ideas about unicorn mojo. I'm not saying that makes it okay to brush you off and act cold towards you, and he wants to apologize, so just...try to go a bit easy on him? Even though you're rightfully irritated at him?"
<Prism> "I really have nothing against him.  I don't think I've done anything to make him distrust me.   But if it comes down to having to help him, well, if a patient distrusts their doctor, that isn't good for anyone.   But yeah, if he wants to apologize, I'd be happy to accept it."
* Milia 's eyes bulge as she's wrapped into a surprisingly strong gryphon grab. "Gah! If you say so, Jas!" she says, trying to wriggle out.
* Prism is wrapped in the same hug. "URGH, I am not...really accustomed to hugs, but it isn't so bad...oncey ou get used to the crushing."
* Jasmine lets them go and lets out a laugh. "Sorry about that!"
* Milia gasps for air as she slumps down. "...Goddess, she's a lot friggin' stronger than she looks..."
* Prism gasps for air as well.  "Really, really strong."
<Prism> "Regardless, I am not expecting him to want to be my friend suddenly, but we need to have some level of trust between us."
* Milia takes a moment to regain her composure, before turning back to Prism. "Anyways, yeah...porch, Whisper, apology...have fun."
* Tankenstein_PhD is now known as Whisper
* Prism trots out to the porch.   This was likely going to be unpleasant to some degree, but he wanted to give Whisper a chance at least.
<Prism> "Hello.  Nice day, isn't it?"
* uSeaGM gives voice to Whisper
* Whisper looks up. "Yes," he says awkwardly, "it is. Nice, I mean. A nice day."
* Whisper clears his throat and begins speaking, albeit very formally. "I just wanted to apologize for how I treated you earlier. It was unfair and I hope we can put it behind us. I am sorry."
<Prism> "I accept.   I have nothing against you.   But listen, we need to have some level of trust between us.  I'm not asking you to be instantly friends with me.  But given that I am a scientist and doctor, there may be a time when I need to help you, and without a level of trust, that probably won't go so well."
<Prism> "If there is some reason for distrust, we'd better get everything out in the open.  Otherwise it may keep being a problem."
* Whisper fails to suppress a nervous chuckle. "Trust? Easy. I trust you. Is that all?" he finishes with a too-large smile.
<Prism> "Well, things suggest it isn't that simple, Whisper.  Milia iterated to me that much.  Is there something which is causing this problem?"
* Whisper 's smile falters. "Heh. Um. Well." His smile disappears. "You having all the freaky magic powers kinda worries me."
<Prism> "Do you wish me to outline everything I can do so that I can't take you by surprise?  All unicorns possess at least some ability to do so.  Artifica included.   But it's not as if you're without magic yourself either.  All ponies possess it to some degree."
<Prism> "And as well, I can assure you, I am of the belief that magic should only be used responsibly.  I'd never jeopardize the safety of a friend or ally with it."
* Whisper rolls his eyes. "I've heard the whole 'earth ponies are magic too' bit before. I don't buy it. But yes, I'd be interested to know what you can do."
<Prism> "As for the first part, you do.  Where I come from, they make that crystal clear.   The earth ponies wear the powered barding and are able to receive cybernetic implants without ill effect, not to mention they tend to be more successful in things when magic is not involved."
* Whisper perks up at hearing the words "cybernetic implants", but says nothing.
<Prism> "But about what I can do, I can do the two spells most unicorns can do, telekinesis and light.   I can also make objects come to life, sculpt inorganic matter, summon objects to my location, teleprort, allow ponies to walk on clouds, remove magic in an area, turn certain objects into something else, create shields, toughen others against bullets, protect against environmental conditions ---
<Prism> heal others, relieve the pain of others, cause others to have a restful sleep, as well as spells to remove the effects of harmful chems and toxins from their system."
<Whisper> "Wait...that's it? No more? You're sure?"
<Prism> "No more, though I wish to learn more of a suite of medical spells."
<Prism> "I've spent most of my life either honing my magical skill, or learning how to repair everything from weapons to toasters, and general science."
* Whisper stares for a minute. "But...you mean that all unicorns only know telekinesis and light for sure? I was expecting more...lethality. And mind control."
<Prism> "Most unicorns only study a single field of magic.   Through study we can learn more."
<Prism> "And unfortunately those spells do exist, though I find them rather distasteful."
<Prism> "And most harmful spells are a waste, in my opinion.   Why bother when there are so many guns available to shoot?"
* Whisper stares blankly for a minute. His eye twitches.
* Artifica watches from nearby, having failed to find Cerberus.  Now she's wondering if there is anything she should say or do to help.  This seems like a unicorn magic problem... but it's also really a Whisper/Prism problem, and she doesn't want to interfere.
* Whisper 's eyes narrow. Under his breath, he vows, "Glib Tonuge, if the Wastes don't kill me, I'm gonna kill you."
<Prism> "Is there anything else you wish me to clear the air about?"
* Whisper snaps back to normal. "Uh...you said something about cybernetics...where'd you see those, again?"
<Prism> "Well, given the ponies back home are...avid collectors of tech, at best, we've come across such quite often.   I am slightly interested in learning how to install the stuff successfully."
<Prism> "Though I could never use it myself.   Interferes with magic from what I hear."
* Artifica looks to Milia.  "Think they'll be all right?"
* Artifica adds, that was really good, what you did.  Assuming it was everything I suspect it was.  I wasn't eavesdropping even a little."
* Whisper 's eyes go wide. "I-Installing it, you say?" Why, that's, uh, quite interesting. I don't suppose you know any place where such upgrades can be installed, do you?"
<Prism> "It's tricky, requiring advanced medical knowledge.   Of which, I am steadily getting better with.  Oh, and I only know of two really, back home...where outsiders are generally not accepted at all when they aren't shot on sight.   And the second, maybe those Follower ponies have such a facility. "
<Prism> "But their facilities are pretty far away."
* Artifica adds (now with quotation marks), "That was really good, what you did.  Assuming it was everything I suspect it was.  I wasn't eavesdropping even a little."
* Whisper deflates a little. "Oh. Well, thank you for accepting my apology and clearing things up. I mean, it would have been a shame to let something like this impede the progress of our little group."
* Milia lets out a giggle, trotting over and leaning against Artifica. "Not eavesdropping, huh? Oh you sneaky, naughty little mare, you!" she coos playfully. After a moment, she speaks up again, this time in a much more serious tone. "Goddess, though, I have no clue...trauma is really hard to get over, especially when it makes you think a certain way about an entire group of ponies."
* Prism nods.  "If you have any more questions, please ask me them.  I am happy to help anyone.  That's my purpose out here after all."