A Muffin For Muffins

by BatwingCandlewaxxe


Progress Report Week 43

Progress Report Week 43
So busy this last moon; what with the Unified Theory of Magic project getting underway. I had thought these progress reports were no longer necessary, but recent events convinced me otherwise. First things first...

I've completed the proposal on my Unified Theory of Magic, with Princess Twilight and Sunset Shimmer as co-authors (they have both contributed so much effort and assistance, it would be unthinkable to fail to include them). If my theory is correct, it means that all ponies should have access to all magic — Unicorns could fly and cloudwalk, Earth Ponies could use telekinesis and other complex spells, Pegasi could farm as well as Earth Ponies, and so on like that. Everything so far points to my being right, that there's a single, unified source underlying all magic in the world, especially its expression through the pony tribes. Proving it is going to be difficult, though, which is why I haven't bothered with the journal. (Sorry Twilight, I know how important you think this journal is. I promise I'll keep up with it.)

I'm not working with Sigil any more, this is getting a bit much for him, and he says that he is more concerned with Meadowbrook's intelligence enhancement spell. He's putting almost all his time into that now. I don't begrudge him the time, he's got something that really interests him, and I think my current field of study is rather beyond even his immense knowledge. Regardless, I consider him a friend at this point, and there's no way I could have come as far as I have without his guidance. He has been as valuable a mentor for me as Princess Twilight. I owe both of them more than I could ever possibly repay.

Twilight and I completed a thesis statement and sent it off to Sunset for her input. Sunset wrote back a few days later and said she'll probably end up dropping off as co-author, insists she's better with the mechanics than the theory, and I'm too far beyond her right now. I convinced her that she's still the best pony to help me test some of the principles, because of her strong grasp of sigil-mechanics and practical application, so she's agreed to let me include her. She really does deserve it every bit as much as Twilight.

Twilight is also having a hard time keeping up, mostly because her duties as princess keep her so tied up in other ponies' problems that she doesn't have the free time to devote to study. I think that's a shame, given her sublime intelligence and profound love for magical theory; but she affirms that she loves her duties too, and I can't really blame her, she does amazing and very important work (I know she's not fond of the politics, though she rarely complains about it). She's about the only pony who truly understands what I'm trying for here, and has provided valuable insights and guidance. Unlike those useless old farts at Canterlot University. I submitted the proposal to the research committee at the College of Theoretical Magic, and was starkly ignored.

Half of those hidebound old coots won't even talk to me because I'm not a unicorn, most of the rest are too mired in tradition and prejudice to even consider the theory worth pursuing. I'm convinced they've simply failed to truly comprehend its nature and ramifications. Not one of them has published a paper in at least a couple decades, and few seem to be spending any time on original research of any sort, just fiddling about with insignificant details on the fringes of real magic. What an utter waste. Past their prime and resting on their laurels, and no use to anypony except callow neophytes. I got so frustrated I blew up at them, Twilight had to calm me down. Definitely did not help my case, and probably killed any likelihood of being taken seriously. Derpy the derp-pony derps up again.

Both Princess Celestia and Luna provided suggestions for potential research avenues; but I think even they lack the degree of understanding of magical theory that Twilight and I possess. Celestia and Twilight both think that if I turn out to be right, if the magic is linked the way my theory implies, that if the fundamental interconnectivity enables the different forms to cross the tribes, that there's a possibility I may be up for ascension myself, only the second pegasus ever to be so honored (Princess Cadance being the first). I like the sound of that. Maybe I'll even be a princess! Ha! Princess of Muffins! Oh, that had me laughing for a while. On a more serious note, if I'm truly right, and this truly means what I think it does, there's a chance it could result in something like ascension for all ponies, the three tribes becoming one, all alicorns. Imagine it! All of the tribes becoming powerful, graceful, elegant alicorns like the princesses. With supreme control over nature and magic. That would be a truly glorious sight to behold. I hope I live to see it, though I suspect the process may take centuries.

Even with all that, I'm still finding the time to work on my own writing. I've gotten a partial collection of my mature fairy tales together and sent it off to Redline, and am expecting a response back in a week or two. I've also gotten a fairly good start on my novel, despite having trouble with some of the alternate history. Do I bring in Windigos, as historically accurate? Or do I diverge further from history and go more pure fantasy. Twilight likes the idea of keeping it historically accurate (naturally), but Rosie thinks I should pursue a more fantastical path, give a freer reign to my imagination. So does Rainbow Dash, but she also thinks I should put in more epic monster battles, so there's that. What to do, what to do.

Speaking of Rosie, she and her stallion are definitely an item now. Bountiful Pasture, an Earth Pony botanist studying alfalfa breeding and propagation. She says he's working on a project to develop hardier, faster growing, and more nutritious strains. That sounds like interesting and useful work, and she's quite happy with him. I'm glad to hear that she's finally found a special somepony. I haven't gotten to meet him yet, but she says I should when he gets back from his trip to the Seaddle Agricultural Institute. Pinkie Pie is already planning the party (go figure).

Two more migraines over the last month. I'm probably just overdoing things, pushing myself too hard. Twilight and Rosie certainly believe that to be the case, and they're better at judging that sort of thing than I am. Zecora's remedy is helpful, but it's still so hard to function optimally, and it irks me to waste time sitting around doing nothing. While I'm recovering, I end up thinking about my mother quite a bit. I really wish I could remember more about her, but my recollections are so hazy. I recall her smile, and the feel of her wings, but I can't really remember the sound of her voice.

Broken feathers, that brings up the dream that I've tried to forget. The night of the second migraine, I had another disquieting ephialtes nocturnus. I was a young filly again, sliding down into a pit of monsters, trying desperately to climb out, but not making any progress. My mother was attempting to reach me, to pull me out, but an eldritch spectre clipped her wings so she couldn't fly. She kept calling out to me, assuring me that she would rescue me; but I remained perpetually just out of reach. At one point, she finally reached the edge of the chasm, stretched down her forehooves and nearly caught me, but a cyclopean monster composed all of dense black smoke, with multitudinous fangs and claws, abruptly reared up behind her, grab her her with its fangs and claws, ripped her wings off, and cast her down into the abyss. I screamed and screamed and screamed, I just couldn't stop screaming. I felt the monsters in the pit latch onto my rear hooves and drag me down, but I didn't wake, I just kept screaming incoherently.

Straightaway, Princess Luna appeared and rescued me, banishing the monsters and the pit; while I just held onto her, sobbing inconsolably. Once I finally calmed, I reverted to my adult state, and we talked for a few minutes, mostly regarding my longing for my mother. The entire time, she considered me intently, with a stern and piercing gaze, as though judging me for some unknown transgression. When I inquired, she responded that she saw something in me, something magical, that disturbed and mystified her; and informed me she would converse with Twilight about it in the morning. We embraced again and she flew off on her regular duties.

I was too keyed up to get back to sleep, so despite the late hour I went to see Rosie. She was alone, fortunately, and didn't seem at all upset about my waking her. Quite the opposite in fact. The moment she saw me, concern filled her face. She's become very good at reading me, and I think she realized right off that something was wrong. I gave her a brief summary of the nightmare and Princess Luna's comment, and she insisted I spend the rest of the night with her, chiding me gently for not bringing my previous episodes to her attention. I slept another few hours nightmare-free, though I'd hardly say well. Woke up well before Rosie (only sleeping a few hours a night these days), but lay there snuggling with her until the sun arose and she awoke. So many things on my mind, but being with her made it all seem so far away, so unimportant. I don't think it will ever be possible to tell her how much she means to me.

—————

Compound Sigil just sent over some notes regarding his research on Meadowbrook's intelligence spell. Says he may have found a flaw. I don't like the sound of this.