[ Well, here's a familiar face! Or perhaps not, because he's been gone for a while. At any rate, there's a ginger on your screen, looking rather tired and a mite annoyed, at that! He gives the camera a half-hearted wave. ]

Heeeeeeey, guuuys. Miss me? Well, now you don't have to, because here I am! Without even a "Welcome Back" party, either. You guys really know how to make a guy feel at home, let me tell you.

[ He's totally not dripping sarcasm. Really. Please forgive him; he hasn't slept in at least a day. ]

There just wasn't enough going on back home, you know? Totally uneventful. I'm a teenager; I need some excitement in my life! And what better place to find it than on the Satellite of Loooove, with its dampening field and talking rainbow ponies and crazy experiments? It's perfect! And here I was just going to go for a midnight stroll! What was I thinking?

[ He throws his hands in the air and meanders around the hall for a few moments as Cambot watches, obviously trying to walk off his frustration. This was not supposed to turn into a rant. Calm down, Wally. Breeeeeeeathe. Okay, now try again. ]

Where is everybody? I haven't seen anyone, and I've been here for at least an hour already. Are you all hiding from me? Planning that "Welcome Back, Wally" party as a surprise? 'Cause I'm totally cool with that! Buuuut shouldn't everyone still be acting relatively normal? Like, you know, not all completely disappearing? Seriously, I'm starting to feel like I'm in a horror flick, here, On an abandoned satellite waiting for aliens to attack!

Or zombies.

Or zombie aliens.

[ He takes a moment to consider this. ]

I wouldn't put it past this place. Better go stock up on knives and forks from the cafeteria, just in case. Rob didn't teach me to throw Batarangs for nothing.

[There is this thing snoring in Minako's room. Just splayed out and snoring like it doesn't have a care in the world.

But the snoring is a bit annoying - its rather loudm like sawing logs. If anyone wants to try and wake this thing up before Minako returns to her room, all are free to try.

Or, well, if it is Minako, damn she snores.]

...my head...

[Oh hey! There's Minako! She looks very confused and out of it.]

Oh, geez, guys! Sorry if I seem out of it. I hit my head on something and then I had this insane dream I was in Vegas! That I went back into the 90s before I even went back! And this sleepy guy who said his name was Joe or something was there, and we went and got these Bloody Books or whatever and I had to dress up in order to get into a comic book convention...and I married 90s Kid, of all people! Dressed up in that stupid black co--

[Wait. WAIT. WHAT-]


......................................................

[No amount of description can actually describe the look of horror on Minako's face as Cambot quickly turns off before the inevitable freak out.

Oh, by the was, SoL, LOUD SCREAMING HAS COMMENCED. Might want to plug those ears!]

 I really should have expected something like this to happen. 

[The voice that's speaking is a deep, adult one. One that some people should find unsettlingly familiar. The person the voice belongs to probably looks unsettlingly familiar too.]

I mean, compared with the pony thing, this is practically mundane.

[He pauses and sighs, annoyed]

So is it just affecting me, or did this happen to everyone else?

[Hello, viewers, please enjoy this image of an enormous green eye. Apparently some creature (reptilian in nature, judging by the snake-like pupil) is leaning super close to Cambot to peer at his lens. Blink, blink. After a second, he leans away and scratches his head, revealing himself to be a small purple dragon, riding on the back of a purple pony. Just another day on the Satellite of Love.] Uh, hey, Twilight?

[The aforementioned pony seems to have her nose buried in a long scroll of parchment.] So after we go pick up the new quills and parchment, we can stop by Sugarcube Corner and see if we can get some pastries for our next party, and then we'll need to go out to Sweet Apple Acres and help Applejack measure the foundation for that new storage cellar she wants to put in.

[The dragon tugs gently on Twilight's mane to get her attention.] Yeah, okay, but Twilight?

Oh, and Cheerilee wanted to talk to us about coming in and demonstrating some magic for her younger students and she has all those books to return so we might as well pick them up while we're over there, and once we get home we need to reorganize at least the Classics section and possibly Modern Spellcasting as well because someone got into them and messed everything up and nothing's where it should be anymore.

[Tugging gently has been upgraded to tugging not so gently.] Kinda need you to see this...

And the globe needs polishing, and the floor needs to be scrubbed again, and I think our clock might be thirty seconds too fast --

TWILIGHT!! [Finally he gives up and snatches the to-do list away from her.]

What is it, Spi-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIhhhhhhhhhhhhk! [Her eyes go almost as wide as her head as her breath is sucked completely out of her body at what she's seeing.]

Yyyyyyeah. [And Spike just deadpans it:] I think we're lost.


((Double intro post! Expect responses from both Spike and Twilight (sailormagic). \o/))

[Blackness. Is this Cambot actually on? It sure seems like it is...]

Okay...maaaaaaaybe that wasn't the best idea.

[Light, as a strip of the darkness is torn away in the form of a piece of duct tape clutched carefully between Pinkie's teeth. She spits it out, making a little face of disgust before turning back to the camera. Her colors are almost shockingly bright compared to the muted gray hues of the past few days, but she still looks a bit distressed, scuffing nervously at the ground with a forehoof as she speaks.]

Um...hey, everypony. Do any of you know how to fix a Cambot? I...kinda broke Cammy's screen thingy...and I don't think tape is gonna work.

And...and I'm really really REALLY sorry I was such a meanie-pants to everypony! I didn't really mean any of it, Pinkie Promise! And once everypony is back to normal, I'm gonna throw the biggest party ANYPONY has ever seen, EVER!

[That isn't the only way she plans to make amends, though. A few seconds later, she's off to find a certain neon-green colt, trailing a few balloons behind her. Riku will also find his aspirin bottle put back where she found it. Yay?]

[Here's Minakopony, with a not-kicked-in-by-back-hooves Cambot, looking...well. Serious. Which is a sign that srs bsns is about to happen. So she clears her throat.]

Ok, roll call time!


Who here on this ship has their colors intact, doesn't hate everyone and doesn't want to kill people? Show of hands and hooves! I need to know sooner rather than later because...well, it's probably pretty obvious why and if it isn't I'm willing to explain!

[And there's another pony running around now, except this one looks just a little different. Sure, most of him is pony-like enough, his body teal like his normal clothing and his mane and tail his normal blond, but Zidane's tail is still his normal tail, long and thin and prehensile, not a proper fluffy pony-tail. Unlike most people- er, ponies, he seems to not be having trouble staying on his feet, but that's probably because he's always had an extra appendage to help balance. His mark, when it's visible, is an odd symbol, and he's undoubtedly got a smirk on his face as well as wings on his back. He and his brother make gravity their bitch, after all.]

So I didn't expect to run into this kind of problem on my third day here, but at least it's a new one. Always be up for trying new things; that's the way we always did it at home! So all of you guys who aren't happy with it, just give it a shot! Maybe one day soon we'll be switched back just as fast as we were switched to begin with.

Oh yeah, and all you guys who've got horns now - you're unicorns, right? So you're all attracted to virgins all the time now aren't you? Guess we could say you're pretty horny.

[WIDER SMIRK AND EYEBROW WIGGLE. Apparently he's also gotten a hardy and compliant - or mischievous - Cambot, because it chimes in with music.]

[Cambot is following a forest green pony with a light brown mane and tail and cutie mark which resembles this sword. He seems to be just getting used to walking on four legs. He also seems miffed.]

Is it safe to assume that I'm not the only one who suddenly isn't human anymore?

[Though his transformation has otherwise left him unadorned, he still has his hat and earrings.]

Hey, everypony! Oh my gosh, I can TOTALLY say that now! Everypony! [She giggles behind a hoof.] Okie-dokie-lokie! I heard that a lot of you are having a liiiiiittle trouble with being a pony! So I thought I'd do something to help you all out!

[Cammy starts playing some music as the lesson starts. What, you didn't think it'd be normal, did you? He zooms in on Pinkie's hooves as she demonstrates the very FIRST thing you've got to know when you're a pony.]

Just put one hoof in front of the other~
And soon you’ll be walking 'cross the floooooor!
Put one hoof in front of the other~
And soon you’ll be trottin' out the door!

You just gotta get the right rhythm!
Just listen to Pinkie's little song!
Just flick that little tail and keep with 'em!
Your hooves will carry you all day long!

Put one hoof in front of the other~
And soon you’ll be walking 'cross the floooooor!
Put one hoof in front of the other~
And soon you’ll be trottin' out the door!

[Technically, what she's doing by now is more along the lines of moonwalking. Or maybe shuffling. But it's the principle of the matter. She jumps on a trampoline and starts bouncing for the next verse.]

Now if you've got wings you can beat
I've just got one thing to say
Well, don't be afraid - flying's real neat!
Princess Luna can show you the way!

[She hops off the trampoline to demonstrate basic walking/dancing/shuffling again.]

Put one hoof in front of the other~
And soon you’ll be walking 'cross the floooooor!
Put one hoof in front of the other~
And soon you’ll be trottin' out the door!

And if on your flank you've got a picture
Like a diamond or a star or a BALLOON! [She shoves her own flank into the screen, showing off her cutie mark.]
You know your special talent, that much is sure!
If not, it's okay, you'll get one soon!

Put one hoof in front of the other~
And soon you’ll be walking 'cross the floooooor!
Put one hoof in front of the other~
And soon you’ll be trottin' out the door!

[Ironically, the last verse is delivered while she's standing on her hind hooves, in true grand finale form. She drops back to all fours as the music fades.] And if you have any questions about anything else, just ask!

[There is a very confused green filly on the nature deck, staring at her reflection in the pond and vaguely trying to reach her tiny hoof up to the horn on her head, trying to figure out what it is.]

What happened? Why am I suddenly a...a horse?

[Cambot is, well... running away from something. Residents of the SOL might be forgiven in thinking that one shade survived Doof's -inator device, because there's quick footfalls coming from behind the speeding mechanical. Something's definitely chasing it. But any concern about it being a shade is put immediately to rest when whatever-it-is speaks and it can be heard by everyone.]

HEY! Get back here! You can't just run away from me!

[Cambot continues fleeing, but then the view bounces, shaking wobbily as ... well, who knows, but it's not moving as fast and it's kind of swaying from side to side. And then the tip of a tail, covered in blond fur, comes into view, only to be whisked away and replaced by a pair of hands in white gloves gripping the edges of the lens and an upside-down face staring straight into it and his ponytail whipping around.]

HEY! WHATEVER'S IN THERE! I WANNA ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS!

[...Yes. Zidane is literally riding the Cambot. And now he's knocking on the lens with a fist, dear god monkeyboy what are you doing.]

HEY! Park this thing and get out so we can talk!

[Cambot peeks into Link's room. It's the middle of the night, yet the sleepy head is up. At the moment, he's sitting on the bed as he puts his boots on. Then he stands, grabbing his hat off the night table and heading for the door. cambot follows him.

There really isn't much to show. He's poking around the satellite, perhaps looking a little miffed at seeing nothing but night sky and the world looking like a giant marble from the windows. Nothing of interest really occurs until he gets to the Servo deck...

Cambot doesn't follow him in, instead watching from afar as one of the Servos approaches him. He talks to the Servo for a moment, but Cambot is too far away to pick up what's being said. Whatever it is, the exchange seems to have upset the Servo and things get a little heated.

Too involved with the first Servo, Link doesn't noticed the others right away as they draw closer. It isn't until he catches a movement at the edge of his vision that he realizes he has a problem.

He might need some help...]

[Cambot picks up his feed on the costume deck, if the surprisingly neat piles of clothes are any indication. Prominent in the foreground are the trademark black Organization coat, with matching pants and other articles of clothing along with. A figure - Lexaeus, given the height and size of him - is bending into a cabinet that seems to be a jumble of clothes.]

[Cambot brushes a pile of clothes and it topples over; Lexaeus straightens too quickly and bumps his head, bringing a shower of Bellarian accoutrements, wigs, props, and other things down on his head. He turns to see who made the noise.]

[And, well.]

( [So THAT'S where the Fabio wigs were.] )

[Cambot focuses in on a pointy-eared young man who clearly seems lost. Judging by the way he's looking around, he probably came from a situation where being off guard could get him hurt or worse. He can be heard grumbling under his breath a little bit, but he doesn't say anything clearly enough to be understood.

He hasn't noticed Cambot yet. Although the fact that Cambot is staying out of his line of sight doesn't help matters, but this gives anyone watching a good opportunity to make some observations, such as how he looks like he might be a warrior, if that ring mail is any indication.

Nope, he's not going to notice Cambot until it needs to let him know someone's talking to him through the network.]

[It's fairly late in the day when the feed starts. Cambot seems to be hiding in a corner on the weapons deck. The sound of clanging metal and a high, child-like voice crying out at certain intervals fills the air.

Cambot peeks over his hiding spot to see Link engaged in a swordfight with his doppelganger. Oddly enough, it seems as though he's dealt with something like this before.

The shadow version of the boy says something, and Link grits his teeth angrily and replies:]

Y-yeah, well, you used to be taller, too!

[And he lunges at the doppelganger, trying to find an opening to finish the thing off. They trade blows, swords clanging off of shields. All the while, Link is trying to back the thing into a corner, while the doppelganger flings unheard insults at him

When he's finally able to corner the shadow, he leaps at it, bringing his sword down to cleave it in two. It disappears almost instantly.

I liked you better when you couldn't talk...

[Cammy isn't following Pinkie today. He's hovering in front of a grey pony who, except for her coloring and the silky-straightness of her black mane, looks eerily similar to his usual mistress. The little bot beeps and darts from side-to-side, but Pinkamena shoves roughly past him and gallops off down the hallway. Cammy follows after with an indignant squeal, catching sight of a bright pink tail disappearing around a corner ahead of the pair.]

[When Pinkamena and Cammy reach the door of Pinkie's bedroom, it is shut tight. The dark pony snorts once and turns about, bucking it open with surprising force. Peering over her shoulder, Cammy catches sight of Pinkie's brief flinch at the sound, before she plasters a bright smile over her face.] SURPRIIIIISE!

[This doesn't look like Pinkie's usual parties. It was clearly hastily thrown together, with just a few random balloons tied to the end of her bed and a tray of cookies that looks like it's left over from the holiday party. Pinkie shrinks back a little when her doppelganger doesn't react.] I'm sorry it's kinda small, but I got it together really really fast, because other ponies hardly EVER come to the Satellite and I was so excited and normally I just give everypony cupcakes but you don't seem very happy so I thought maybe I'd throw you a party instead, because I mean who doesn't -

[Cammy darts around from behind Pinkamena just in time to catch the doppelganger's lips moving, though he doesn't pick up any audio. Whatever she said, Pinkie visibly wilts.] That's not very nice...

[Pinkamena is still silent, but pointing and laughing isn't really the kind of thing that needs words.]

[The transmission starts when Riku has obviously given his Cambot a smack. It's static-ey for a moment, but clears to reveal Riku sitting down with a guitar in his lap. He smiles a little, but says nothing, turning his attention to the guitar.]

[And he plays.]

[After the song, he smirks and the transmission cuts out.]

[Not that long after the fire breaks out on the SOL, the Mads decide to give the Satellite a call. Dr. F appears on the screen, looking highly amused.]

Ahhhh, nothing smells quite like Christmas spirit like seeing space nuts roasting on an open fire!

What's the matter, yule log get out of hand? I do hope you try it again soon!

[Terra is walking towards the Weapons Deck and Cambot is playing this strangely melancholy song as he follows Terra. Terra comes to an abrupt halt when he walks in and discovers everything is GONE]

Huh? What's going on? Where'd everything go?

[He wanders in further and nearly walks right over/steps on a very pathetic looking twig. Oh, wait, no it's a tree isn't it. He stumbles back, glad he didn't crush the poor tree that looks like it can barely support the weight of the one ornament it has]

That's a...rather sad looking tree, Cambot. It was harvested way too early, they should have left it in the ground a bit longer and--

[Cambot starts playing WAH WAH WAH WAH WAH noises and Terra just gives him a confused look. Apparently Terra is not familiar with a certain Christmas special. He kneels down and gently puts a hand to the tree, trying to lift one of the branches, when he takes his hand away it slumps even more. HE shakes his head]

I'm not even sure transplanting it or watering it would help at this point.

[Cambot continues to play Charlie Brown Xmas music]