//------------------------------//
// Stick in the Wheel 
// Story: A Tale of Equestrian Proportions 
// by DitzyDerpy1992 
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The door to my bedroom swung open with a slight nudge and I entered closely followed by Robbie. On my bed lay the portal gun and I gave Robbie a quick glance and he was looking a little sad at the fact we were heading back to earth. 

“Hey man, no need to look so glum. It’s only for roughly 12 hours and then we can come back again so it’s not like you have to wait long.” I reassured him giving him a quick smile and he gave me a not too convincing smile back. I placed the portal gun on the ground in facing the only blank wall in my room and I pressed the button to power it up. A mechanical sounding whir emitted from the machine as the few lights lit up along the side to say that it was ready for use. Pressing the button there was a loud crack and as normal I shielded my eyes from the flash created.  I turned to face Robbie.

“Ready to go?” I asked him and then noticed a look of confusion crossed with horror on his face and I turned to see what was wrong. 

Nothing. The blank wall stood as it always had, there was no portal back to the human world. My mouth dropped open and immediately I started examining the portal gun for any signs of malfunction and could see none. I pressed the button again and the loud crack sounded out once more but yielded the same result. 

“Crap” It was the only word I could muster right now and I had a lot of work to do if I was going to fix this. Robbie was still standing by the doorway looking as horrified as before with a look in his eyes that could only mean he had a million and one thoughts going on in his head at once. 

“I can fix this” I reassured him once more “I just need some time to disassemble the device and find the source of the problem. Why don’t you go get us some more cider? It’s going to be a long night.” I turned and levitated the device back onto my bed where I pulled out a small box of tools from underneath the bed. Robbie slowly dragged his hooves out of the door and I heard him enter the kitchen and pour cider before he promptly returned with one in his hoof and the other in his mouth. Taking the cup I took a long sip and began working. Taking apart this machine would take time and as for finding the problem, well that could take days. I sighed in frustration and began the slow process of removing screws and bolts. 

“So when do you think it will be operational again?” Robbie asked me from the doorway where he stood with most of his cider drunk already. 

“Could be a few days before I know what’s wrong with it. So I would settle in for a long wait, this could take some time.” I replied not wanting to worry him but not lying either. 

“Well I think I’m going to go to bed then. That way you have the space to work in peace and I won’t be grumpy tomorrow. Night Matt” He began to leave the room and I muttered a quick “goodnight” to him before I closed the door and focused a lamp on the complex series of wires and chips inside the device. Beads of sweat began to roll down my forehead from the amount of concentration I was having to put into this, one severed wire or broken part could mean we would be permanent residents of Equestria. Not a bad thought on one hand but not ideal on the other given my family would wonder where I had disappeared to and Robbie’s family would spend their lives thinking something terrible had happened. This was a lot of pressure for me and I quickly glanced at my clock as I was taking a sip of cider. It was roughly midnight which meant I had been working for around an hour now and I was starting to feel a little tired. The machine was almost completely in pieces around me and I decided to finish taking it to pieces and assess what was malfunctioning in the morning when I could be more focused. The last few pieces were the trickiest but with some slight persuasion and some mild swearing they eventually came apart and I laid them out neatly on the floor with the rest of the bits before climbing into my bed and my eyes sealed tight into the comforts of sleep. 

I awoke the next morning in a state of mild confusion and feeling rather rested although my dream was what was mostly on my mind. It had been based around the episode where Scootaloo had wanted to hear Rainbowdash’s cutie mark story so badly and how all the friends had that special connection before they even met. Which brought on a theory which he had not even began to think of because I was thinking about this universe as if it were the human universe. Everything happens for a reason. This thought was heavy on my mind as I made my way to the kitchen to prepare myself a light breakfast, nothing too heavy for this time in the morning, just an apple and carrot or something along those lines. Robbie was already downstairs and was tucking into an apple at the table and his eyes lit up a little when he saw me enter. 

“So any progress with the portal gun?” He asked with a hopeful look on his face. I grabbed an apple and sat down across the table from him. 

“Not so far but I will keep working on it today. Also I had this weird dream last night that has been playing on my mind slightly.” I took a large bite of the apple and allowed the flavour to fill my mouth before swallowing and continuing. 
“I had a dream about this universe and ours and this might sound crazy but what if in this universe things actually do happen for a reason and it’s not just people saying that to help you through your day? It seems like an odd theory but I just have this feeling that it failed for a reason and that we are still here for that very same reason.” I glanced at Robbie to make a quick judgement on what his response would be by the look on his face. It was a thoughtful look much like a philosopher would have as he pondered the mysteries of life and the universe. 

“I guess that sounds plausible but we can’t know for sure. You need to keep working and if your theory is true then we either will never go home or we will go home after a certain event has taken place.” He stood up and placed what remained of his apple in the bin and sat back down in the chair. The room was silent for the rest of breakfast and I quickly finished my apple and Robbie looked deep in thought. I began to wonder whether he actually took the theory seriously or not. I excused myself from the table and wandered back upstairs to inspect all of the parts to find broken or malfunctioning pieces. This would take some time and I was certain I would be inside all day even though the weather outside was once again absolutely stunning. I got myself comfy on the floor and began to thoroughly inspect parts.

After a couple of hours I hadn’t managed to find any malfunctioning parts and I was getting slightly frustrated. The theory of everything happening for a reason was looking more and more plausible with every part that worked perfectly. Eventually my labour came to an end and I couldn’t find anything wrong with the device as far as I could see. I would have to rebuild it and give it a test and hopefully that would have solved the problem but for now I would take a break and enjoy the sun for a little while. I trotted my way downstairs and grabbed a cold glass of apple juice as the cider was running low and Robbie liked to have a drink on hot days like today. I made my way into the front garden and lay down on my back on the grass. The sun warmed my coat and it felt amazing just to be able to not have to concentrate on fixing the broken machine that was spread over my bedroom floor. I began to doze off in the warmth of the sun and my worries seemed to drift away with the sounds of the birds chirping and the fresh air filling my lungs and soon I was taking a well-deserved nap in the sun. 

“MATT LOOK OUT!” I abruptly woke with a less than dignified “ooft!” as Robbie landed on me. He rubbed his head as he stood up and immediately started apologizing. 

“Oh my Celestia! I am so sorry! I was trying my first extended flight back home and I didn’t exactly nail my landing.” He offered me a hoof and I stood up and brushed myself off. 

“It’s fine don’t worry.” I checked myself over and there appeared to be no damage done so I was content with that. I rubbed my eyes in the light and glanced around to get an idea of how long I had been asleep for. It couldn’t be later than 3 o’clock now and it was still sunny and bright. Walking inside I washed my glass and put it back in the cupboard then proceeded to think about dinner. I was hungry having not eaten any lunch and I thought about going out for a meal but I wasn’t sure if Robbie would be alright with me leaving him tonight. He still looked worried about why the portal gun hadn’t worked and although he was putting on a pretty convincing face, I could tell it was on his mind. I then realised I had to re-build it and have a test run tonight so eating out would have to wait. Robbie could rustle us up something for dinner that would do both of us just fine. 

Making my way upstairs to the neatly organised parts and mechanisms on the floor of my bedroom I began to feel slightly nervous. What if it didn’t work this time, how would we get home? I would have to see if it worked first and worry about that later. Reluctantly I began to re-assemble the parts. It was slow work and working on the device for so long in twenty four hours was beginning to hurt my head but I would soldier on because of the importance of the situation. Time passed relatively quickly as I was working away and when I looked up the sun was beginning to set. I could hear Robbie speaking to someone downstairs but I didn’t have the time to go socialise. Beads of sweat from pure concentration dripped down my forehead and the portal gun was nearly complete again. 

“Matt! You coming down for some dinner?” I heard Robbie shout from downstairs even though I had completely forgotten to ask him to make some. But it seemed like he had already prepared and cooked something that smelt deliciously aromatic. The smell filled the hallway as I made my way down the staircase and joined Robbie in the living room. 

“Wow that smells good. What have you made tonight?” I walked past him and he stood proudly smiling and I entered the Kitchen to see Ditzy sitting at the table once more but this time she was joined by a small light purple unicorn I knew as Dinky. I took a seat at the table and greeted Ditzy and introduced myself to the young foal as Robbie served up what could only be described as a feast of roasted vegetables. Carrots, Peppers in tomato sauce, celery, broccoli and many more delicious looking treats were all set out on the table in front of us with Robbie burning his hoof on the hot roasting dishes a couple of times but he was used to this from working in a kitchen and managed to refrain from swearing. 

“Well guys help yourself!” Robbie said looking proudly at his meal he had obviously put a lot of time into. We all served ourselves generous portions and after some protests from Dinky about having to eat broccoli Robbie managed to convince her that it was good when he said she would grow up to be big and strong like her mum and it turns out that she loved broccoli.

Dinner conversation was initially light hearted and we discussed Dinky’s schoolwork and how Ditzy’s day had been and what we had planned for the next couple of weeks. I had never felt as full as I did after that meal and it was delicious. Robbie could really cook for someone who had no hands anymore. Then Robbie brought up some events that were coming up soon in the music world that we might want to attend. Octavia and her quartet were playing in Ponyville town hall in a week and he suggested going to see her perform. I agreed and Ditzy seemed quite keen as well but would have to see what her plans were for that night. 

“Dinky and I are actually planning on going to the Grand Galloping Gala this year aren’t we?” She smiled at her daughter and Dinky’s eyes immediately lit up. 

“Yeah! And it’s going to be the best and most magical night ever! I’m going to meet Princess Celestia and the Wonderbolts!” Dinky exclaimed obviously extremely excited at the ideas she had of how the night would go. 

“What do you reckon about that Matt?” Robbie looked at me across the table. “Could be a good night, plus we might be able to find you a marefriend.” He burst into laughter at that last part and I blushed a little and Ditzy gave me a smile from across the table. 

“Ew why would you want that” Dinky chimed in while sticking her tongue out and the laughter coming from Robbie spread to both me and Ditzy. It was beginning to get late and Dinky had school tomorrow so both Ditzy and Dinky excused themselves and bid us farewell before trotting off into the night. Robbie knew what was coming now as he turned to me after shutting the door. 

“Test time?” he asked me and I gave him a nod and I headed upstairs to attach the final few parts while Robbie washed the dishes and put them away and shortly he joined me in my room to see whether it was successful or not. The tension in the room was extremely high as I powered up the device and aimed it at the blank wall before firing once more. A loud crack emitted from the device with a blinding flash of light and we both turned yet again to see nothing but a blank wall in front of us. 

“I don’t think there is anything else I can do.” I said dropping the gun to the floor with a loud thud and my head dropped with the sorrow that overcame me. I felt a hoof on my shoulder. 

“It’s okay man. I knew this was risky when I first stepped through the portal. But I never thought this would actually happen and even though it has I’m sure we can figure this out together. People will be worried about us but if we make it back it will all be great again.” His calmness and understanding of the situation was comforting but I couldn’t help a tear from rolling down my cheek. I had brought my friend halfway across the world to show him something truly magical and now he was stuck in a different universe with no way back unless I could figure out the answer. I turned to face him now and all I could muster was a simple:

“I’m so sorry. Do you mind if I have some time alone? I don’t mean to be rude but I feel like I need it” I needed some time just to think and get my head straight before I could decide on my next move. Robbie gave me a sympathetic smile and a nod and left my room before closing the door. The room was still with only silence and the feeling of guilt inside me felt like it was filling the room and pushing its walls to the limits of breaking. The front door shut and it seems like Robbie had gone out for a night time walk and then I couldn’t contain it any more. A flood of tears began to flow from my eyes as everything that had occurred in the past few days came back to me. The amazement in Robbie’s eyes as he first entered this world, the first amazing day we had spent out in the town, and now it all seemed like it was slightly ruined by the fact that my device had failed and now they were trapped here forever. Although that might not seem such a bad prospect with the current state of the world back on earth but my family, Robbie’s family, would all be so worried when we never came home. I had failed my friend and I don’t think I could ever make it right.  I crawled my way onto my bed and buried my face into my pillow trying to suffocate the thoughts that were circling in my head but to no avail. This just wasn’t going to go away and I knew it would hang over me like a dark cloud for the next few days. 

The tears seemed never-ending and time seemed endless until I finally began to run out of tears which just left me with a red, puffy face and sobbing into my pillow. It was very late now and fatigue began to take its toll. I slowly drifted out of consciousness and fell asleep with my face still buried in the damp pillow. At least I wouldn’t have to feel any guilt while I was asleep. I would tackle this situation tomorrow and hopefully it would be a better day.