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

How much of what happened to Batman was post-ring vs post-smilexish exposure, and therefore, is Orion likely to have undergone a similar permanent mental change? We already know he changed physically.
 
How much of what happened to Batman was post-ring vs post-smilexish exposure, and therefore, is Orion likely to have undergone a similar permanent mental change? We already know he changed physically.
I think part of the problem is due to that specific yellow ring. It was forged through blood sacrifice via a connection to the realm of shadows, and was specifically brought to working order a qwardian who would happily see Paul dead.
 
I think part of the problem is due to that specific yellow ring. It was forged through blood sacrifice via a connection to the realm of shadows, and was specifically brought to working order a qwardian who would happily see Paul dead.
I wouldn't go that far. Diataria Lysis would be more ambivalent or wary of killing Paul because she wouldn't know how the OLC would retaliate.
 
Ripples (supplementary, Renegade option) New
23rd July 2013
09:05 GMT -7


"…the Storm Guard who were working for Tempest told the other Storm Guard, and now the Storm King is in the dungeon and Princess Celestia's put Blueblood in charge until we can work out what sort of treaty works for both sides."

Twilight smiles as I nod. "And all it took was them spending a few months in a county not ruled by a power-hungry tyrant to show them the light."

"Yes!" She nods. "Exactly! It gave me an idea, and… Well, you're the only pony I know who's got experience with government administration-" I frown. "-except for the Princess." My frown deepens. "Es-"

"Passable recovery."

"-so I thought I'd run it by you and see what you thought."

"Okay." I nod. "Hit me."

"I was thinking of opening a school-" I start to nod. "-dedicated to teaching friendship."

I continue nodding. "Good show."

She looks at me slightly suspiciously. "So… You think it's a good idea?"

"Yes. Honestly, Equestria's young offender system has been in need of someone taking a look-" Her face falls slightly. "-at it for a while, and I think that removing young ponies from their difficult home environments and-"

She awkwardly raises her right forehoof. "Um."

"-teaching them the social skills they didn't acquire from their parents is a jolly good way to spend your time."

"That…" She looks away awkwardly. "Wasn't exactly what I meant."

"Ah. Sorry, no. I suppose that would be a bit of a big step for your first project. A… Summer school, then? Youths spending time away from home to give their parents a week's respite while they learn self-reliance and camaraderie?"

"Um. Maybe? I was really thinking of a full time program of study."

"Ah, okay." I nod. "And who were you going to get to run it?"

She blinks. "I was going to run it." I wince. "Is..? That a problem?"

"Perhaps… Perhaps not. What sort of curriculum did you intend to have?"

She takes a deep breath, looking happier. "I was going to base it around the Elements of Harmony, with each of my friends teaching the same lessons to the next generation that they taught me."

"Okay." I nod. "And what about geography?"

"Ah-. Pardon?"

"Geography. The study of places, geology, settlements, that sort of thing? Or history?" She blinks. "Thaumaturgy?"

"Well it's… Really more of a Friendship school…"

"So…" I frown. "What? No academic subjects at all?"

"Um."

"Oh!" I perk up. "So you're handling the sociology and personal and social development stuff while Ponyville School handles the academics."

"Not… Not as such…"

"Oh. Ah, okay. So… You were planning on teaching purely friendship-related classes… Full time, as your student's main avenue of education."

"Ah-. Pretty much?" She grins unsettlingly at me.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Twilight, have you trained as a teacher?"

"Well… No, not… Formally."

"Because there are a few things you pick up… About what the aim of teaching is-." Huh. Oh. "And… Ah. I don't wish to be mean about this, but do you actually have… A scholastic qualification yourself?"

"I… Went to the School for Gifted Unicorns..?"

"Right, but… You were studying there when Celestia sent you to Ponyville… Then you stayed here, and didn't go back. I was just wondering if you ever formally graduated? Did you complete-" There's a growing look of horror on her face, and behind her Spike's eyes widen for a moment before he scurries into the basement. "-your courses by correspondence? I know that Sunset had to fill in a few forms to get her Bachelor of Thaumaturgy at the same time as she was preparing her thesis defence for her doctoral level work." I smile. "You should have seen the holes she wore in the mountain with her pacing. Ah. Was it something like that?"

Twilight is… Hugging her tail to her chest and stroking it, her eyes staring and unseeing.

"Um."

"I'm a high school drop out. Like Rainbow Dash!"

Dash sticks her head in through a nearby window. "Like what now? Oh, hey Grayven."

"Good morning, Miss Dash. Twilight just realised that she technically didn't graduate Unicorn School."

She recoils in shock. "No way! Like, ever?"

Twilight's head jerks around. "But that's okay, right? You manage perfectly well without a diploma."

Dash frowns in puzzlement. "Ah, Twilight? I dropped out of flight school. I still got a BTEC in Weather Management. I couldn't be Ponyville's weathermare without it."

Twilight's horror only deepens.

"Besides, the entry requirements for Wonderbolt training are at a higher level in, like, every category. I could probably apply for it now, I just didn't think it was worth it. I mean, It's not like I need a piece of paper to tell me I can fly."

Twilight… Appears to have collapsed somewhat.

Rainbow Dash leans in further through the window, looking down at her friend. "Ah… And… You don't need one to tell you you can do magic, right? That's your whole thing! You're great at magic."

Hm. Perhaps I could ask..? "Miss Dash, while Twilight's recovering from her existential crisis, could I ask you a few questions?"

Dash pulls herself fully through the window and lands on the floor, looking down at the slowly-rocking Twilight. "Ah… Sure? What is it?"

"I understand that being a Wonderbolt is a full-time job."

"Actually, it's more like a three quarters-time job. The on-season is pretty much full time and a half with training and performing, but off-season it's just regular training and sometimes doing a demo."

"Would you consider dropping the whole thing to become a full time school teacher?"

"Huh? Ah, no? It's, like, my life's ambition. I mean… I guess I could teach a flying class off-season..." She thinks for a moment. "That sounds kinda fun, actually. Good idea!"

"But not full time."

"Maybe when I…" She shudders, pulling a face. "Age.. out.. of the Wonderbolts. But not until then."

"And I assume that Rarity would feel the same about clothing?"

"Ah, yeah?" She frowns at me in confusion. "We've all got jobs, dude. And none of us have… Whatever piece of paper it is you need that says you know how to teach ponies stuff."

I nod. "That's what I thought."

We both look down at Twilight for a moment.

"So… Is it alright to leave her like that, or do I need to find some sort of rare first edition to use as smelling salts?"
 
Last edited:
happier. "I was going base in around the Elements of Harmo

"to base"

friend teaching the same

"friends"

Twilight's head jerks around. "But that's okay, right? You manage perfectly well without a diploma."

Dash frowns in puzzlement. "Ah, Twilight? I dropped out of flight school. I still got a BTEC in Weather Management. I couldn't be Ponyville's weathermare without it."

Twilight's horror only deepens

Haha.

Dash is more qualified than you.

Remove one ".
"So… Is it alright to leave her like that, or do I need to find some sort of rare first edition to use as smelling salts
The dustier it is the better.
 
23rd July 2013
09:05 GMT -7


"…the Storm Guard who were working for Tempest told the other Storm Guard, and now the Storm King is in the dungeon and Princess Celestia's put Blueblood in charge until we can work out what sort of treaty works for both sides."

Twilight smiles as I nod. "And all it took was them spending a few months in a county not ruled by a power-hungry tyrant to show them the light."
She's going to completely miss his jab at Equestria's rulers, isn't she? That's the 'Movie' plot gone by in the background, then. I suppose if the Renegade had been here, he'd have poked a hoof into it.

"Yes!" She nods. "Exactly! It gave me an idea, and… Well, you're the only pony I know who's got experience with government administration-" I frown. "-except for the Princess." My frown deepens. "Es-"

"Passable recovery."
If she's going to be in charge of the country, she's gonna have to stop putting her hoof in her mouth. 😏 Otherwise she may get a reputation.

"-so I thought I'd run it by you and see what you thought."

"Okay." I nod. "Hit me."
It's going to be totally unworkable in a realistic situation, entirely run on hopes and dreams and likely raise his blood pressure a fraction of a point, isn't it?

"I was thinking of opening a school-" I start to nod. "-dedicated to teaching friendship."

I continue nodding. "Good show."
Oh, that. Given the trouble she apparently had with it in the series, getting some real advice is definitely a good plan.

She looks at me slightly suspiciously. "So… You think it's a good idea?"

"Yes. Honestly, Equestria's young offender system has been in need of someone taking a look-" Her face falls slightly. "-at if for a while, and I think that removing young ponies from their difficult home environments and-"
I'd be amused if that's a lot of why some ponies are actually criminals...

She awkwardly raises her right forehoof. "Um."

"-teaching them the social skills they didn't acquire from their parents is a jolly good way to spend your time."
And having legal opportunities and credentials is likely to make them less likely to re-offend, of course.

"That…" She looks away awkwardly. "Wasn't exactly what I meant."

"Ah. Sorry, no. I suppose that would be a bit of a big step for your first project. A… Summer school, then? Youths spending time away from home to give their parents a week's respite while they learn self-reliance and camaraderie?"
...Something some people need for sure, but not quite what she had in mind, I think.

"Um. Maybe? I was really thinking of a full time program of study."

"Ah, okay." I nod. "And who were you going to get to run it?"
Because, you know, she's also going to be managing the country at some stage.

She blinks. "I was going to run it." I wince. "Is..? That a problem?"

"Perhaps… Perhaps not. What sort of curriculum did you intend to have?"
...I could hear the 'sucking air between his teeth' tone in his voice. 😏

She takes a deep breath, looking happier. "I was going to base it around the Elements of Harmony, with each of my friends teaching the same lessons to the next generation that they taught me."

"Okay." I nod. "And what about geography?"
And now we see Twilight's lack of real-world practical experience kicking in...

"Ah-. Pardon?"

"Geography. The study of places, geology, settlements, that sort of thing? Or history?" She blinks. "Thaumaturgy?"
Given the links between friendship and magic, I could see that one being useful.

"Well it's… Really more of a Friendship school…"

"So…" I frown. "What? No academic subjects at all?"

"Um."
And here we see the point at which he realises she's serious, yet totally out of her depth.

"Oh!" I perk up. "So you're handling the sociology and personal and social development stuff while Ponyville School handles the academics."

"Not… Not as such…"
Not a bad idea as a test case, really. Just needs a lot more thought.

"Oh. Ah, okay. So… You were planning on teaching purely friendship-related classes… Full time, as your student's main avenue of education."

"Ah-. Pretty much?" She grins unsettlingly at me.
A lot more thought. 😨

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Twilight, have you trained as a teacher?"

"Well… No, not… Formally."
I have to wonder if there's going to be any wall left if he starts head-desking against it once he gets done here. 😏

"Because there are a few things you pick up… About what the aim of teaching is-." Huh. Oh. "And… Ah. I don't wish to be mean about this, but do you actually have… A scholastic qualification yourself?"

"I… Went to the School for Gifted Unicorns..?"
He's got so much to say, he can't pick just one thing to begin with, eh?

"Right, but… You were studying there when Celestia sent you to Ponyville… Then you stayed here, and didn't go back. I was just wondering if you ever formally graduated? Did you complete-" There's a growing look of horror on her face, and behind her Spike's eyes widen for a moment before he scurries into the basement. "-your courses by correspondence? I know that Sunset had to fill in a few forms to get her Bachelor of Thaumaturgy at the same time as she was preparing her thesis defence for her doctoral level work." I smile. "You should have seen the holes she wore in the mountain with her pacing. Ah. Was it something like that?"
Oh, no. She's...

Twilight is… Hugging her tail to her chest and stroking it, her eyes staring and unseeing.

"Um."

"I'm a high school drop out. Like Rainbow Dash!"
...Monumentally unqualified for anything, it seems...

Dash sticks her head in through a nearby window. "Like what now? Oh, hey Grayven."

"Good morning, Miss Dash. Twilight just realised that she technically didn't graduate Unicorn School."
Boy, that's gonna be hilarious when she takes the throne...

She recoils in shock. "No way! Like, ever?"

Twilight's head jerks around. "But that's okay, right? You manage perfectly well without a diploma."
Somehow, I doubt it's that simple.

Dash frowns in puzzlement. "Ah, Twilight? I dropped out of flight school. I still got a BTEC in Weather Management. I couldn't be Ponyville's weathermare without it."

Twilight's horror only deepens.
So, bets on whether she literally shatters like glass, or turns to stone and crumbles into dust? 😄

"Besides, the entry requirements for Wonderbolt training are at a higher level in, like, every category. I could probably apply for it now, I just didn't think it was worth it. I mean, It's not like I need a piece of paper to tell me I can fly."

Twilight… Appears to have collapsed somewhat.
Ah, She's chosen to simply dissolve into a puddle of shame and regret. :eek: That's a classic. All she needs is the 'soul escaping out her mouth' to complete the performance.

Rainbow Dash leans in further through the window, looking down at her friend. "Ah… And… You don't need one to tell you you can do magic, right? That's your whole thing! You're great at magic""

Hm. Perhaps I could ask..? "Miss Dash, while Twilight's recovering from her existential crisis, could I ask you a few questions?"
I hope Spike's got something brewing to revive her, or you may be a while.

Dash pulls herself fully through the window and lands on the floor, looking down at the slowly-rocking Twilight. "Ah… Sure? What is it?"

"I understand that being a Wonderbolt is a full-time job."

"Actually, it's more like a three quarters-time job. The on-season is pretty much full time and a half with training and performing, but off-season it's just regular training and sometimes doing a demo."
So she's not really working as the main Ponyville weathermare at the moment, I take it. Or she's spreading her time really thin.

"Would you consider dropping the whole thing to become a full time school teacher?"

"Huh? Ah, no? It's, like, my life's ambition. I mean… I guess I could teach a flying class off-season..." She thinks for a moment. "That sounds kinda fun, actually. Good idea!"
Strike... Two? Against Twilight's plan.

"But not full time."

"Maybe when I…" She shudders, pulling a face. "Age.. out.. of the Wonderbolts. But not until then."
Ah, not looking forwards to getting older, I see. A very youthful outlook.

"And I assume that Rarity would feel the same about clothing?"

"Ah, yeah?" She frowns at me in confusion. "We've all got jobs, dude. And none of us have… Whatever piece of paper it is you need that says you know how to teach ponies stuff."
Strike Three, and Twilight's outta there. Also out of life, by the looks of her. 😨

I nod. "That's what I thought."

We both look down at Twilight for a moment.

"So… Is it alright to leave her like that, or do I need to find some sort of rare first edition to use as smelling salts?"
I don't know, she might need to suck her soul back in first before you worry about waking her up.

Ah, Renegade. Inadvertently poking enough holes in the later-season scenarios to turn them into window-screens. And mortally wounding the pride of the future ruler of Equestria in the process. I suspect Twilight's going to need a couple of old, rare books, some warm tea and a blanket to shake herself out of this one... And hopefully she does the research before thinking up another hare-brained idea like this one. 😄
 
Thank you, corrected.
That's the 'Movie' plot gone by in the background, then. I suppose if the Renegade had been here, he'd have poked a hoof into it.
He did so accidentally. By hiring Tempest Shadow and giving her Storm Guards exposure to Equestrian society, he accidentally caused a coup.
Because, you know, she's also going to be managing the country at some stage.
Since canonically Twilight turned out to be a worse ruler than Tirek, I doubt that anyone will complain.
I hope Spike's got something brewing to revive her, or you may be a while.
He's just taking cover. When Twilight gets angry, she canonically turns into a mini-Daybreaker.
So she's not really working as the main Ponyville weathermare at the moment, I take it. Or she's spreading her time really thin.
No, she quit that when she became a full-time Wonderbolt.
Ah, not looking forwards to getting older, I see. A very youthful outlook.
Kind of. Rainbow Dash knows perfectly well that ascension is now on offer to her. She's spent enough time with Scootaloo to know that the process doesn't really have downsides. She's sort of mentally decided to try it when aging out looms.
 
Dash frowns in puzzlement. "Ah, Twilight? I dropped out of flight school. I still got a BTEC in Weather Management. I couldn't be Ponyville's weathermare without it."

Twilight's horror only deepens.

"Besides, the entry requirements for Wonderbolt training are at a higher level in, like, every category. I could probably apply for it now, I just didn't think it was worth it. I mean, It's not like I need a piece of paper to tell me I can fly."
Thinking on it that tracks. Of all the Mane Six Dash is the most likely to have actually needed higher education of some sort.
AJ runs the family farm. Rarity has a privet business. Fluttershy and Pinkie… don't seem to do actual work, just full-time hobbies. Pinkie in particular seems to have dropped out of primary school and never looked back.

Kind of. Rainbow Dash knows perfectly well that ascension is now on offer to her. She's spent enough time with Scootaloo to know that the process doesn't really have downsides. She's sort of mentally decided to try it when aging out looms.
In fairness unless ascension becomes really common then being an alicorn rather undermines the whole 'best flyer in Equestria' thing she has going on. People expect physical gods to pull epic feats, so it isn't impressive.
 
Rarity has a privet business.
I thought she ran a clothing business.
Fluttershy and Pinkie… don't seem to do actual work, just full-time hobbies. Pinkie in particular seems to have dropped out of primary school and never looked back.
I think Fluttershy runs a pet shop/grooming parlor, though I have read fanfics where she's a famous 'romance' writer under a pen name.

I'm pretty sure that Pinkie works in the Cake's bakery and was homeschooled.
 
Ripples (part 3) New
23rd July 2013
08:34 GMT

Donna looks at Arsenal in concern. "Roy, are you okay?"

Through his faceplate I see him nod a bit too quickly. "I just assumed we'd be doing this in a spaceship."

Arisia cocks her head at him. "Why?"

"I just thought it was normal. You know, air, gravity, engines…"

"Most Green Lanterns don't use ships. When you've got a power ring-" She raises her right hand. "-there isn't much point."

"Abin Sur had a ship when he came to Earth."

She nods. "And that's why he didn't notice that Legion was interfering with his ring. Flying in a ship is why he died."

"I don't actually own a starship. And I don't.. think you know how to fly one?"

Roy shakes his head. "I'm just not completely comfortable floating in space tethered to you with no way to go anywhere."

Hm. "I could build a faster-than-light module for your power armour, but I'd have to use super-advanced alien systems and it would have a bunch of drawbacks."

"How about a starship?"

"Ah… Sure? When's your birthday?"

"Seriously?"

"Sure. I mean, I doubt that you'll enjoy all the documentation you'll need to read to control and maintain it, because if you thought the manuals for that armour were bad-."

"I don't care how thick they are. It's a spaceship."

"Alright, well, when we get back I'll start looking at designs and you can start work on your large aircraft licence."

Donna frowns at me. "Why didn't you just ask Bleez to give us a ride? She's got a spaceship."

"Ah, firstly, because her ship isn't big enough to comfortably fit five people. Secondly, because it would take her months to get here. Thirdly, because I'd rather not show her things she'd be obliged to report to Thanagarian intelligence. The people of New Genesis are nice-ish, but they can also by arrogant, domineering and highhanded, and I don't trust the government of Thanagar not to do something ill-considered."

Which… I mean, Hyathis would probably appreciate it, but I don't actually want to get involved in that… More than I already have.

"Sorry Roy. I'm just used to flying everywhere by ring. If I'd realised it would be a problem for you I'd have come up with something."

"It's fine. Let's just get down there."

I nod, then turn to Arisia. She blinks. "You want me to ask Highfather for permission?"

"Yes? I realise that Lantern Jordan might not have covered diplomacy yet, but this is a simple conversation with a friendly leader who would probably laugh it off it you did something slightly wrong."

"No, I mean… You're in command. I thought you'd do it."

"I'm not doing it because Orion might pick up."

She looks towards the planet. "How long would it take them to spot us?"

"They're almost certainly detected us already, and it's unlikely that any other Orange Lantern would be operating in this part of the universe. So if you could get on with it..?"

She nods, and raises her right hand. "This is Green Lantern Arisia Rrab to Supertown. We're requesting permission to approach New Genesis."

Nothing immediately happens. Which isn't that surprising. I'm not sure exactly what the arrangements are for receiving and transmitting messages on Supertown, but that was a general address. There are probably dozens of communication systems on the planet that could pick it up, and… Heh. Each of the recipients is going to assume that it's someone else's problem.

This star system doesn't appear to have a conventional interdiction system. I halfway suspect that it uses a conceptual one instead, and if that's the case then they know that we're here with peaceful intent. And I'm sure that they know that we're here, so them not reaching out to us was a conscious choice.

I don't know enough about New Genesis custom to know if ignoring someone like this is their way of telling them to get lost.

Arisia frowns. "Green-."

A giant head appears in space just in front of us. Highfather Izaya, looking down at us sternly but without hostility.

"I greet you, Green Lantern Arisia Rrab. Why are you here?"

She hesitates for a moment, glancing at me. I give her an encouraging smile and a nod.

"I've come here from Earth. Quite a lot of New God technology was left behind when the criminal Bruno Mannheim was defeated, and we're worried that someone is getting aid from a New God in misusing it."

"Yes, I share that concern. My son and his wife are aiding the local heroes in ensuring that does not happen."

"We recently discovered an Apokoliptian infiltrating one of the storage centres. Mister Miracle is… He can't be everywhere."

"What was the Apokoliptian's name?"

"Sleez."

Highfather grimaces. "I thought that Darkseid had exiled him."

"Yes. To Earth. Mister Miracle is interrogating him, but he's been there for a while. We are concerned that there may be others."

"I have authorised no others to travel to Earth, but I have been disobeyed before. Do you wish to speak with my people?"

"Yes, and with the Primitives."

"I can not command the Primitives to speak with you, but you may travel to their homes."

Arisia bows. "Thank you, Highfather. My team will be down shortly."

"First." The head rotates slightly, eyes focusing on me. "Orange Lantern."

"Highfather. Is Orion recovering?"

"Somewhat."

"I don't think there's anything I can do to help with that, but if there is, let me know and I'll do it."

"My son chose to aid you. You were open and honest about the likely consequences, so I cannot find it in myself to be too wrathful with you. But it pains me to see him as you have made him."

"The only alternative was freeing Atrocitus, which would have been worse. I'm gong into the jungle, and all being well won't go anywhere near him."

"I think that would be for the best. Lantern Rrab, I will greet you when you arrive."
 
About as peaceable a reception as could be hoped for - and it's so nice to see Highfather being reasonable. I mean, yes, Orion's situation is terrible; but he was warned, and all that could be done to shield him from it or undo it was done. While it would be understandable to see him angry, as a parent (or an asshole "jumped-up elemental," which is how I usually see him portrayed in the few times I've run across him), it's nice to see that Darkseid's opposite number is actually acting like it.
 

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