//------------------------------// // Warming Interest // Story: Fundamentals // by FerociousCreation //------------------------------// “You have twenty minutes to solve my equations,” Moon Dancer proclaimed. “Good luck Minuette.” “Understood!” Minuette nodded, prepared for the test at hoof. Clicking her hoof on a stopwatch, Moon Dancer started the test. “Begin!” No longer focused on her friend, Minuette turned the paper over and furrowed her brow, reading the written instructions. Your task is to do these math equations in a particular way. As you and I know, we count up from 1-9. For the problems below, you are to reverse our childhood counting ways and have 9 = 1 and 1 = 9. I made sure none of the answers will go into the double digits, so worry not about answers with two numbers. That's your only tip. Good luck. Great… math… The one subject Minuette hated and struggled with. She never thought she would be involved in another mathematical exam in her life, and was definitely not her strong suit. She sighed in relief, glad that most of her problems were at a simple elementary level. Peering over her first problem, it read, 9+8. Almost instinctively, Minuette knew the answer was 17 and almost wrote that as her answer. But she remembered her task and held her anxious hoof still. Seeing the rest of the equations, they grew progressively more complicated the further Minuette’s eyes traveled down. Thirty questions in total. Not impossible, but challenging. You can do this Minuette, she thought calmly. Give yourself five more minutes of studying Moon Dancer’s rules, then get to solving her questions. Minuette flipped the paper over, writing her own practice problems before tending to the ones on the other side. Moon Dancer sat beside Party Favor on his balloon couch, scribbling down anything she can think of. He glanced over her shoulder to read her words, then grew quickly board. “How can you find studying enjoyable Moon Dancer?” Party Favor asked. She looked at him as if he insulted her mother. “I- I'm just wondering is all.” “How do you find creating balloon animals enjoyable?” the mare countered, her eyes returning to her work. “It’s more than just making a simple dog out of rubber!” Party Favor rose his snout. “The art of making something three dimensional takes more than just a special talent, my good friend.” He blew into a balloon of his own, and created a large pair of glasses. Moon Dancer squirmed a little, trying her best to hold in a laugh and focus on her writing. The sudden change in Party Favor’s normal vocabulary amused Moon Dancer. When Party Favor placed his large rubber specs on his snout, it was too much for Moon Dancer to hold onto any amount of concentration. He knew he had Moon Dancer’s full attention, and resumed his talk, “Being able to grasp the ability to picture an object you have seen before, then create it in a matter of seconds is a master of art.” “Perhaps you can assist me in pottery if you are such a master of the arts,” Moon Dancer smirked. “In fact, writing is considered an art form as well.” She widened her grin and asked, “So, Mr. Art Master, tell me what art is?” Party Favor’s tongue got caught in his throat. He knew nothing of pottery, and his skills in other arts was little to none. Party Favor wasn't even sure if he could draw a straight line. “Perhaps I… should state that I am a master of art in making anything related to balloons.” “I thought so.” Moon Dancer gave Party Favor a wink before focusing on her notes and Minuette. “To answer your question, I take a liking to study because of learning what history and knowledge that has been and has yet to be discovered. An easy example is studying cutie marks. Ponies have a general knowledge about cutie marks. However…” Moon Dancer faced Party Favor and pushed her glasses further up her snout, her smile evaporated. “...I believe few ponies know what it's like to have their cutie marks removed and how it affects them.” The stallion’s tail curled around his flank. “Yeah, I only believe me, my villagers, Princess Twilight, and her friends know the exact effects.” Party Favor shook his head. “Actually, it was a staff that helped Starlight Glimmer remove cutie marks and gave us substitutes for cutie marks.” Moon Dancer almost dropped her notes. “I almost forgot about your past!” Party Favor could tell the researcher was getting excited. “Sometime, can we go to your village and ask them…” Slowly, the stallion reached for his glasses and removed them. He frowned at the ground, ever still haunted by that mare. “Oh Party Favor,” Moon Dancer choked with ears pointing back in shame, “I didn't mean to remind you-” “It's fine,” is all Party Favor could muster up. It was apparent that all was not fine for the stallion and Moon Dancer was at fault for his upset mood. No longer paying attention to her notes, Moon Dancer got close to her friend and wrapped an arm around him. “Again, sorry for not considering your feelings.” Party Favor’s cheeks flushed, the stallion feeling slightly different about Moon Dancer. The warmth from her embrace sucked away the slight chill the air held. He glanced at her, noting her eyes were closed, as if she were asleep. W-wow… she looks cute up close… Using his own arm, Party Favor held Moon Dancer, a hoof resting on her shoulder. A giggle escaped the mare, and the stallion gandered elsewhere to avoid any possible eye contact. Unfortunately a pair of wandering eyes caught Party Favor. Minuette gave the stallion a smug grin, her mouth slightly parted, daring to speak. Party Favor worried if the blue mare would try to add to the moment and hoped no words from her were said. The instant Moon Dancer made a slight adjustment, Minuette quickly returned to her problems. Peering up to Party Favor, Moon Dancer said, “If you ever need me to help you feel better, you can ask.” He grinned as he did when he had his false cutie mark. “Th-thanks.” Not smiling as wide, Party Favor continued, “I do appreciate the offer.” “It’s the least I can do,” Moon Dancer shrugged. “Besides, the only reason why I am studying cutie marks is because of you. In fact, the reason why Minuette and the others are considering me even more.” She gave Party Favor a sweet smile. “You really are a special friend. One that comes once in a lifetime.” Party Favor took this time to gander at Minuette, seeing a bothered crease in her brow. “I know I am a special friend,” he blurted obnoxiously. “Aren't I Minuette?” She rolled her eyes, keeping her attention still to the paper. “Oh!” Moon Dancer broke her contact with Party Favor. “And you too Minuette. You were there from the beginning and I thank you for wanting to be in my presence.” “And like any good friend,” Minuette added, now standing from her seat, “I have completed the task you needed finished.” Moon Dancer quickly tended to her stopwatch, noticing the time was still ticking down. “You had more than three minutes left.” A quill moved on its own, writing the thoughts of Moon Dancer. She made her way to Minuette’s test. “Let’s me see how successful you were with solving the math problems alongside my condition.” Minuette stood next to Moon Dancer, confident her work was perfect. Minuette heard a scratching on paper. She thought it was Moon Dancer marking an incorrect answer. But there was no quill beside the researcher. A twitch of the ear, and Minuette knew where the sound was coming from. Quickly, her head twisted to see Party Favor writing something down on that same pad she caught him scribbling on. Flinching at her quick movement, the stallion fumbled his notes before placing them behind his back, out of sight. Minuette could tell Party Favor was attempting to control his emotions, but failed, showing bright color in his cheeks. “Perfect!” A gasp of air sucked through Minuette’s throat, startled by Moon Dancer’s exclamation. “There are no incorrect answers. That was quite impressive of you, Minuette.” Clearing her throat, the blue unicorn boasted, “Why thank you! It was the best I could have done, but the compliment is still appreciated.” The black camera flew into view, almost hitting Moon Dancer’s head. “I do think a picture is in order.” Minuette looked to Moon Dancer and smiled, “How about it? You, me, and my perfect score.” Moon Dancer hummed in thought, pawing at her chin. “I think it will be a perfect addition for my research.” She glanced over to Party Favor, frowning at her neglect toward him. “Though, I think he should be included. For memory sake.” It took the stallion a few moments to realize he was being included. “O-oh- yes! Why how kind of you!” He shot a smug grin at Minuette, eyes half closed. “Maybe you should consider me in your pictures more often.” “I might…” Minuette had to keep her eyes from rolling. Party Favor quickly approached the mares, now in preparation for the picture. “Are you two ready?” Moon Dancer asked, holding Minuette’s test. “Of course!” Minuette spoke through her teeth, glaring at Party Favor. “As I will ever be,” Party Favor answered, mimicking Minuette. Grabbing hold of the camera with her magic, Moon Dancer made sure all three of them were to be captured in the picture. The bright light flashed, forever taking the moment. Unfortunately, Moon Dancer might consider the picture once she sees it; Party Favor and Minuette were leering at each other.