Temple tinkering

[very_goodman]

Who: Barry Goodman and Princess Celestia
When: July 20
Where: Amaterasu's Temple
What: Mission #16

[Barry doesn't know much about architecture or carpentry, but he does know a few things. One, Amaterasu is a perfect sun child. Two, she therefore did not deserve to have her temple attacked and burned. And three, he has to do whatever he can to help. So of course, lacking the requisite knowledge to actually help out, he did what any reasonable person would do - turned to the knowledge contained in books. In this case, however, he's turned to the manga adaptation of Magic Girl Development Planning.]

Okay, so I guess I oughta start with Construction-chan's intro chapter... or maybe Blueprint-chan?

[Someone please help.]

Comments

[letteropener]

...What are you reading?

[Celestia can't help but peer over his shoulder at that muttering, because what in Equestria is a 'construction-chan'?]

[very_goodman]

Oh, this? Heheh... I was helpin' with the construction efforts, so I thought it'd be a good idea to do a little canon review.

[He turns the manga around so she can see the cover. It's pretty transparently a magical girl story.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia has been a serene, wise, patient princess for many, many, many years now. And only through this utmost experience does she not so much as blink an eye.]

How does a work of fiction tell you how to mend a building?

[very_goodman]

The girls in it all have powers based around the real estate industry!

[He flips it open for her to see, as if this will explain everything.]

[letteropener]

Ah, I see. Do you possess the magical abilities necessary to duplicate what they do?

[very_goodman]

Nope!

[Barry is sincere, but kind of dumb.]

I just thought this'd be a good place to start to get an idea of what to do.

[Please help him, pony with actual magic. Before he does even more damage.]

[letteropener]

Might I perhaps suggest something else? If you will help gather up all the rubble, I can be of some small assistance in rebuilding.

[very_goodman]

Yeah? That'd be great! To tell ya the truth, I don't really know where to start.

[As if that wasn't abundantly obvious.]

So... just pick it up and put it in a pile, then?

[He'll start doing so.]

[letteropener]

A pile would work. Anyplace I can access it -- I can't rebuild if I'm missing the parts, after all!

[very_goodman]

Just leave it to me, then!

[At least Barry is strong and a hard worker. He works up a pretty good sweat picking up the various pieces of debris and piling them up, but eventually he's got it all in one place.]

Whew... there!

[Grinning, he wipes the sweat from his forehead before turning to Celestia.]

Okay, let's see what ya can do with it!

[letteropener]

[Celestia is too gentle and wise to be a little smug, but there is just a tiny flicker of arrogant pride in the back of her head, it must be admitted.]

[Her horn lights up all golden yellow sun, and then the same glow appears around all of the pieces of rubble. A slight toss of her head to gesture them forwards, and the shattered blocks and stones all fly together like a puzzle assembling itself in midair, right back where they all ought to be. Flares of magic run along the cracks, rejoining the pieces as if they'd never been broken, and then Celestia allows the spell to dissipate, leaving the wall as good as new.]

[very_goodman]

[Barry whistles, hands on his hips and looking impressed.]

Wow... that's some trick! Where'd you learn to do somethin' like that?

[letteropener]

Over the course of my rule of Equestria, I have often needed to fix broken things. Sometimes on a very large scale. So I learned a spell that would help me.

[Simple enough, right?]

[very_goodman]

Wonder if I could learn somethin' like that...

[Shinki do learn spells, after all.]

[letteropener]

A good question. I do not know. Humans... I am still trying to figure out just how some of you do magic. [Talk about confusing. It violates all understood principles of anatomy as well as science. There must be an explanation!]

[very_goodman]

Beats me! If ya ever figure it out, lemme know.

[Not that he's ever looked into it himself.]

[letteropener]

I certainly will! But in the meantime, let us focus more on the task at hand, shall we? [A wall does not a rebuild make, and while Celestia is happy to repair other things, she may not know everything a human needs repaired.]

[very_goodman]

You got it! One more pile of debris, comin' right up!

[letteropener]

[Celestia settles in to reassemble the pieces as he gathers them, a smile on her face all the while. The process is by no means exhausting to her, even with the temple in the state is is.]