Ponyville Sewers {JUMP IN}

[The Wandering Magus]

"That doesn't sound like the contamination is from a natural source, although the conditions down here do throw that conclusion into doubt. Could it be possible for an organism to amplify the mana in it's surroundings? Some artifacts draw mana from the air to power themselves, maybe one of the creatures down here has evolved a similar mechanism."
Cloudy theorizes aloud, watching the matrices as she does so.

The professor nodded, pondering the possibilities.  "Perhaps..."  He looked up at the gigantic creature again.  "Perhaps... THAT has something to do with the reading?"

[Voidwalker]

"Perhaps. Well have to have a look at its systems and see if there is organs capable of processing mana."
Cloudy walks though the water towards the fleshy mass.
"I don't think we should use invasive methods though. Who knows what kind of response it might trigger."

[The Wandering Magus]

"Perhaps. Well have to have a look at its systems and see if there is organs capable of processing mana."
Cloudy walks though the water towards the fleshy mass.
"I don't think we should use invasive methods though. Who knows what kind of response it might trigger."

As if in reply, the creature let out what was comparable to a sigh as clear fluid and undigested bits came gushing out of some orifices, partially raising the water level.  A few of these orifices were large enough for several ponies to fit through, and seemed to go on a ways.

"Hmm... you're right.  But I wonder if it minds us probing it like that.  We COULD try walking in...  I'm not sure I can scan something so huge with my matrices."

[Voidwalker]

"I don't think we should go inside, It will probably have a defense mechanism against intruding organisms. I don't suppose your suit or helmet has remote observation equipment?
We could always modify this helmet I'm wearing to make a rudimentary mobile camera." Cloudy suggests, clearly anxious about entering the organism.

[The Wandering Magus]

"I don't think we should go inside, It will probably have a defense mechanism against intruding organisms. I don't suppose your suit or helmet has remote observation equipment?
We could always modify this helmet I'm wearing to make a rudimentary mobile camera." Cloudy suggests, clearly anxious about entering the organism.

Feather thought for a moment.  "Whether scanning the creature is possible or not depends entirely on the internal structure, which is unfortunately what we're trying to scan.  I could try a magical resonance imaging matrix, but the mutations which created the creature may have changed the very thaums to such an extent so as to be completely opaque to the scan.  I suppose it would be worth a try, in any case."

[Voidwalker]

"While you try that, I'll see if I can synchronize our helmet's displays. That way we can use my helmet as a rudimentary endoscope."
Cloudy takes off her helmet and begins looking at the components. Seeing the transmitter she unplugs the data out from the screen and plugs it directly into the transmitter, then begins scanning through the frequencies to find Feather's helmet. ((I'm assuming the helmet uses modular circuitry, else Cloudy cannot modify it.))

[The Wandering Magus]

"While you try that, I'll see if I can synchronize our helmet's displays. That way we can use my helmet as a rudimentary endoscope."
Cloudy takes off her helmet and begins looking at the components. Seeing the transmitter she unplugs the data out from the screen and plugs it directly into the transmitter, then begins scanning through the frequencies to find Feather's helmet. ((I'm assuming the helmet uses modular circuitry, else Cloudy cannot modify it.))

((yep, it's modular))

The helmet is located easily enough, but the scanning matrix is a bit more difficult to build.  After half an hour carefully setting up one configuration, and then another, and then yet another, the researcher seemed no closer to being able to make one that could scan the creature.  It was so bizarrely different from any other creature in Equestria that he was quite flummoxed with the resonance frequencies.

[Voidwalker]

Having reconfigured the helmet, Cloudy waits for the professor to finish constructing his matrices.
"Maybe just a very rudimentary matrix that scans the vascular structure and another that analyses the materials." Cloudy suggests.

[The Wandering Magus]

Having reconfigured the helmet, Cloudy waits for the professor to finish constructing his matrices.
"Maybe just a very rudimentary matrix that scans the vascular structure and another that analyses the materials." Cloudy suggests.

Suddenly, a burst of light came from the matrices.  "Success!" cried the professor as a strange whirring came from the contraption, revealing....

That which was not meant for ponies to see, or know, or understand.  It was so... bizarre, so... completely mind-boggling, the professor was forced to turn away, clutching his head in agony.  "What... Sweet Sisters, what in Equestria IS that thing?!"

[Voidwalker]

Cloudy stares at the readout from the matrix, looking from the outer layers inwards.
"The outer layers are relatively normal, but the inner layers appear to exist on several planes at once." She turns away from the readout clutching her head and retching.
"There also seems to be something that causes intense nausea when the pony brain cannot process it. It doesn't appear to be affecting the matrices or the helmets though, so it appears that devices are unaffected. Perhaps it should be analysed indirectly, with a program designed to simplify the structure and present one plane at a time."

[The Wandering Magus]

Cloudy stares at the readout from the matrix, looking from the outer layers inwards.
"The outer layers are relatively normal, but the inner layers appear to exist on several planes at once." She turns away from the readout clutching her head and retching.
"There also seems to be something that causes intense nausea when the pony brain cannot process it. It doesn't appear to be affecting the matrices or the helmets though, so it appears that devices are unaffected. Perhaps it should be analysed indirectly, with a program designed to simplify the structure and present one plane at a time."

"Analyzing mathematically?"

The professor's ears perked up, and a smile came to his face.

"Of COURSE!  You're a genius, Cloudy!"

With a wave of his horn, the matrix rearranged itself slightly, and what once was an unbearably mind-boggling THING suddenly turned into ten or so simple equations, and several three-dimensional models of various projections and "contour" maps of the higher-dimensional shape.

"Well what do you know, non-euclidean geometry, and warped space-time to boot.  It WAS a good idea to stay out, we might have been in there literally ages as time flowed by at a snail's pace outside."

[Voidwalker]

"Even viewed one plane at a time, I still cannot identify most of the structures. The physiology is different from any creature I've ever studied." Cloudy complains as she cycles through the images provided by the matrices.

[The Wandering Magus]

"Even viewed one plane at a time, I still cannot identify most of the structures. The physiology is different from any creature I've ever studied." Cloudy complains as she cycles through the images provided by the matrices.

Feather examined the models closely.  "I see a few recognizable shapes, or close enough.  A fifth dimensional spheroid, what looks like a terrasact 'stamped' on the 'side' of a five-dimensional pyramid-like structure comprised of multiple triangles in various intersections in four-space.  Is that a spacetime membrane distortion organ?  And it looks like it feeds off not only matter and mana, but also the higher levels of 'cosmic magic' I've only heard theories on so far... this... this is the discovery of the millenium!" he exclaimed, eyes widening at the implications.  "The potential for the magical community... is astounding!"

[Voidwalker]

Cloudy looks at the possible space-time distortion organ, watching as the shapes appear to revolve through themselves.
"Cosmic magic?" She comments. "So this thing is able to feed off lunar wavelengths similar to those required in some forms of potions, certain spells and lycanthropy? I suppose it feeds of other emissions from space as-well, but they'll be weaker due to the large distances and high rate of magical decay."

[The Wandering Magus]

Cloudy looks at the possible space-time distortion organ, watching as the shapes appear to revolve through themselves.
"Cosmic magic?" She comments. "So this thing is able to feed off lunar wavelengths similar to those required in some forms of potions, certain spells and lycanthropy? I suppose it feeds of other emissions from space as-well, but they'll be weaker due to the large distances and high rate of magical decay."

"Only assuming the magical energy disperses itsef across the cosmos; Equestria is bombarded with countless trillions of state-neutral magitrons every second without any of us noticing, since being state-neutral the particles rarely interact with anything at all, though the speed at which they pass through the planet can cause occasional disruptions in the global magic field.  But if a creature, attuned to magic and constantly self-improving, were to somehow tap into that massive energy source..."

The professor looked up at the pulsating mass of unspeakably bizarre biology.

[Voidwalker]

"Then it would have a lot of magical power to feed off or use. I hope it doesn't store it and uses it instantaneously, else this thing could release a huge mana discharge should it die or if certain conditions are met." Cloudy says in subdued tones, quite a bit more nervous around the organism than she was.

[The Wandering Magus]

"Then it would have a lot of magical power to feed off or use. I hope it doesn't store it and uses it instantaneously, else this thing could release a huge mana discharge should it die or if certain conditions are met." Cloudy says in subdued tones, quite a bit more nervous around the organism than she was.

"Indeed," shuddered the professor.  "Perhaps that also explains in part the reason that Star Creatures are so powerful yet a protected species.  Imagine the scale of the discharge if something were to happen to a single Ursa Major..."

[Voidwalker]

"Not to mention this is right under Canterlot. We will have to research it throughly before we can take measures to reduce the threat it presents. Even if it is declared a protected creature it can still be harmed by other sources."
Cloudy looks around the area.
"We would need better equipment though and the authorities need to be notified so that a zone of restricted access can be set up. We wouldn't want some-pony to accidentally or intentionally harm the... We also need a name for it."

[The Wandering Magus]

"Not to mention this is right under Canterlot. We will have to research it throughly before we can take measures to reduce the threat it presents. Even if it is declared a protected creature it can still be harmed by other sources."
Cloudy looks around the area.
"We would need better equipment though and the authorities need to be notified so that a zone of restricted access can be set up. We wouldn't want some-pony to accidentally or intentionally harm the... We also need a name for it."

"Indeed.  How about Valde spurcamen perussi, Greater Sewage-eater?"

[Voidwalker]

"Hmm, Greater Sewage Eater sounds good, however I don't agree with giving it a Latin name yet.
We will need to see if there is a link between this and the other organisms that is strong enough to give them a Genus, and then classify that into separate species."
Cloudy gingerly approaches the greater sewage eater, then changes her mind and stops looking for a place to take a tissue specimen.
"If we can collect a sample from each form of creature then we can analyse them genetically and have a much clearer view of their relation to one another.
Unfortunately I don't know how it will react to tissue damage, so I'm going to leave it until some contingency measures have been put in place."