Jumping ahead a little . . . · 4:59pm Feb 22nd, 2018
I rubbed my forehead. I wasn’t imagining it; a headache really was manifesting. “Do I need to talk to her too?” I didn’t bother to control my resigned tone.
Sunset shot me a sharp look that softened after a moment. “No, I think we can handle it. It’s not like she’s a mustache-twirling villain. She’s just lonely, Cook.” She hesitated in thought. “Look, tell your bosses she really can’t give you anything new anyway—Princess Twi and I know more about what happened, and how it happened, than she does. The stone’s destroyed, and no you can’t have that shard she kept, so the last thing any of us need or want is to be run through the wringer over it.” She shook a finger at me. “You gassed on about us being adults and respecting our judgment. Time to put your money where your mouth is.”
I shrugged. “Fine. It’s not like I need more complications in my life.” I blinked as a figurative light bulb flashed. “I do wonder how much of her problem was self-inflicted, though. You said she used the stone quite a lot. It’s no wonder nobody remembered her.”
“Yeah. We didn’t mention it to her—and don’t you dare, if you do meet her!—because it’s a moot point now.”
I sighed and nodded. “Fair enough. That just leaves one question, then. How many more times are we gonna go through this?”
Sunset sat back and ran a hand through her unruly hair. “I wish I knew.”
Oh dear, poor Mr Cook can't ever have it easy can he?
4803162
Of course not! There’d be no story if he did.
4803167
I dunno, Juniper and Wallflower were surprisingly reasonable about things when confronted. The next one along might just start by handing the magic macguffin over.
And that's how Equestria got a cease and desist letter from the EPA. Redactedstan is not the horse world's arcane waste dump.
4803177
At some point I may have Cook present a pro forma diplomatic protest along just those lines. Not that there’s anything Celestia or Luna could do about it at this late date.
4803169
My first thought was “that sure would short-circuit the story, wouldn’t it?” My second thought was “no, wait, then the writers could use the ‘hot potato’ trope instead.”
4803210
"I found a magic rock, and being a sane, stable individual, used it (mostly) responsibly for the good of mankind and personal entertainment. Then the mafia found out."
4803209
Roll it up and thwap Starswirl with it repeatedly.
4803292
According to the rumor I’ve heard about the Dazzlings’ return, they fall prey to something like it.
Argh, yeah, something like that would be a possibility, wouldn’t it?
As for Star Swirl, well, now that he’s back I suspect he’s going to answer for quite a lot in both worlds. . . .
I feel like the government would probably be willing to let Wallflower be, but they'd be pretty insistent on handing over that stone. And a thorough accounting of any other dangerous things that were dumped in this world.
4803209 Given that Starswirl the Bearded is now alive and kicking, they could have a personal apology issued by the worst offender.
4803353
It wouldn’t be hard to sweep up what’s left, even if it was a powder, and deliver it in a Ziploc bag, though I’m not sure anyone would bother—Cook certainly wouldn’t—since the remnants are no longer a danger or possibly even particularly magical. The leftover shard probably wouldn’t be an issue, and Cook would defend Wallflower’s right to it as a keepsake and reminder. On the other hand, I absolutely can see Cook being very insistent about that list. Guess which princess would get stuck with that duty? (Not that she’d see it as an onerous task.)
Yeah, this is probably one of many apologies Star Swirl is traveling around dispensing. And about that list, Mister Star Swirl?