//------------------------------//
// Variation 4: Decade Effect 
// Story: Patch Day 
// by drunkenpandaren 
//------------------------------//

"My Prince, Dusk Shine is here to see you," said the guard at the door.
 
"Send him in and dismiss the guard. I expect privacy for the conversation we are to have." Said Prince Solaris. The guard bowed and ushered in the young alicorn, stepping through the door and bowing for a moment.

"You sent for me, Prince Solaris? It's not another test is it?" asked Dusk Shine.

"Nothing like that. Come along, and walk with me. There is something that I wish to show you." Turning, the Prince tapped the door in three places before it opened up nearby, and revealed a room hidden from sight. Dusk tilted his head curiously before following. What he saw was a small study, with a large jewel-encrusted mirror in the middle. "Is this...?"

"It is not the same mirror I sent you, Dusk," said Solaris. "That was the prototype mirror, the one that lead to the human world."
 
"Ooookay, so if that's the prototype, then this must be the completed one." Circling around the horseshoe shaped mirror, Dusk prodded it. "What's this all about?"

"As you know, there are several worlds that can only be accessed at certain times of the day, month, year and hour. The mirror to the human world is one of those, but it has the side effect of causing a blending in effect. This one, has no such limitations. My mentor, Star Whirl, created a portal. We journeyed through it once, only to find that a wide multiverse had opened up for us. And from it, we hopped from world to world, bringing new inventions we see here today, cures for diseases, and other such items and trinkets." Solaris gestured towards the mirror. "However, we discovered something amiss, an effect that we call the Decade Effect."

"The Decade Effect?" asked Dusk curiously. "What's that?"

"It's an effect that occurs when you visit a world more than one time, a cascading effect comes into play as the two worlds will begin to become linked. It was theorized that more than one journey to the world would begin to merge both worlds together, bringing them closer to one another. I was hoping to avoid this, by sealing it up. Star Whirl disagreed with me, but in time, we decided it was for the best. We left notes on all of its effects, before sealing it away into this pocket-room."

Turning to Dusk, Solaris said, "We were hoping that some day, I would take on a student brighter than I was in my youth, who could perfect the portal and avoid the Decade Effect before it threatens both worlds. To facilitate cross-dimensional travel once more, would be a boon to our people and the rest of society. Imagine what we could learn, now that time has passed in many worlds. The advances we could obtain with negotiation."

"It's a lot of work..." said Dusk as he stepped over to the book and flipped it open, the pages crisp as the day they set the book there. "But I'll do my best."

=====

Decade Effect

=====

Equestria-3
12:45 pm
Thursday

Dusk had never come across such a challenge as this one. Day by day, he worked on the project, deciphering the complexities of space-time travel. "Star Whirl was either mad, or a mad genius to have come up with most of these spells to pierce space and time." he muttered to himself, paging through the book.

"But what is she missing? There's something missing here that would probably turn this in our favor. Some kind of device or spell or cantrip I missed..."

Hanging his head, Dusk gritted his teeth. "No, no way am I giving up. I'm the Prince of Friendship, I can figure this out. And maybe I need a little help from the rest of the court so to speak."

Moving to the door, he called out, "Guards?" At his call, two uniformed guards stepped forward. "Send a summons to my friends if you will please. I'd like to see them as soon as possible."

"Yes my prince," the pair echoed in tandem as they headed off to send the message. With that settled, Dusk returned to his studies, pouring over the notes. Taking a sip of cold tea, Dusk continued to scribble on the parchment. "It's not the power structure, it's something else entirely. Something I'm missing that causes the Decade Effect to happen."

An hour passed, and soon a assembled group of ponies stood in the room. Well mostly. Bubble Berry was bouncing around, looking at everything in the secret room while others examined the items organized on the shelves. "So to recap, Prince Solaris wants me, with the help of all of you, to figure out why the Decade Effect continually occurs. If we're able to stop it, and clear the portal of this effect then we will be able to visit other worlds."

"And you figured that more eyes looking over the notes would be a good idea then? Sounds like boring egghead work to me," grumbled Rainbow Blitz. "But if this'll get you out of the cave more often than I guess I'll help out."

"This is not a cave, it's just very well sealed," retorted Dusk. "And Bubble Berry, don't go through that mirror! We don't know where it's linked up to right now."

"Oh c'mon, it's sparkly!" Protested Bubble Berry but he grinned. "Hey, look at these runes on the side of it."

"... what runes?" said Dusk, peering at the mirror. "I don't see any runes."

"Well maybe you're just looking from the front, silly!" And with that, Bubble Berry spun the mirror about to show off the carvings on the side of the mirror.

"He's got you there," drawled Applejack as Blitz facepalmed and Elusive hid a smile at Dusk's seemingly perturbed expression. "Now lets see..."

"Hey I recognize this one," said Blitz suddenly as the stallions encircled the mirror. "This one is similar to my cutie mark!"

"This one over here too," said Elusive. "And dear me, there's more. At least twelve in all."

"Honesty, Loyalty, Magic," read off Butterscotch from one side before going to the other. "And there's Laughter, Kindness and Generosity on the other. So what are these other symbols meaning?"

"It's got to be in a book somewhere," said Dusk, grabbing the book and automatically flipping through it. "It might be some symbols from the other worlds they visited..."

"Here's one, it's in the shape of... hmm, actually I'm not too sure what it looks like. Like a bug with a heart," said Applejack. "Some kind of symbol for...?"

"That's no symbol or cutie mark I've seen before," muttered Elusive. "But a heart with some kind of adornments could be related to perhaps your brother-in-law, Dusk?"

"So... love then?" surmised Blitz. "What a girly, er, I mean, yeah, that's probably it."

"This other one... here, look at this!" Exclaimed Applejack, pointing at those. "Ah'd recognize those symbols anywhere, it's the Flim Flam Brothers cutie mark!"

"... no offence but I don't think the Element of Swindling works," deadpanned Blitz as Butterscotch cleared his throat softly. "Yeah, Butterscotch?"
 
"Well actually, if you look here... the way those symbols are angled? It's sort of styled in a interlocking F symbol." said Butterscotch. "What could that stand for?"

"Faker? Fraud?" Said Applejack.

"Fairness," said Elusive, the others turning towards him. "Look its only natural if you think about it. What's the polar opposite of their act? Fairness. The trust and fair work of a pair of brothers in arms to keep everypony happy."

"Seems far fetched to me, but I'll run with it. Now then, look at this. This is Presto's cutie mark. If we're going by the same methodology then, what are we looking at?" asked Dusk.

"Ooh ooh I know this one! Humility!" Exclaimed Bubble Berry excitedly. "Because Presto's got an ego the size of the Grand Canyon! Being totally humble would really be his opposite!"

"So that's three down, three to go," said Dusk, looking at the next symbol and going wall-eyed for a moment. "... seven bubbles?"

"No flippin' way," deadpanned Blitz. "Derpy Doo's cutie mark? That bubblehead...! He's a good mailpony but his directions are so bad!"

"Let's not count this out. What is Derpy known for?" asked Dusk.

"Airheadedness, problems with his short term memory, lack of directions..." Listed off Applejack. "Nothing that stands out here."
 
"Well..." said Butterscotch, "When we were in school together, Derpy got the lowest grades at times, but made up for it in others so... Perhaps Knowledge?"

"Well, he is smart in a lot of stuff, I mean he is keeping the house running with those kids of his," mused Applejack. "And he knows his numbers an' Red Gala's fancy mathematics even if he crashes into a lot of stuff."
 
"His strength is remarkable, and he's world-wise, if not educated. Perhaps this is one of those things that we need to look beyond appearances for," said Elusive. "Honestly, a lot of ponies misjudge Derpy after all."

"Then its settled. This symbol is probably Knowledge then, and lets not count out Derpy next time." Blitz had a moment to look embarrassed as Dusk cleared off the dust in the last few symbols. "Now this is strange... We've gone through four of them, but the last two symbols are scratched out."

"Maybe that's the key we're looking for," said Applejack. "If there's a chance we can find the last two symbols, then we can safely put aside whatever that effect might be."

Blitz moved upwards, scrubbing at the surface before frowning. "It's not scratched out," he said. "Something is MISSING." And he moved to the other side. "And here too! Look, it's too smooth to be a scratch. Whatever happened here, somepony removed something from the sides of the mirror."

"Well, we won't get any answers just examining it. I say we hit the books then." Said Dusk firmly as he floated over several books from the surrounding library. "Keep an eye out for any mention of the mirror in these. I've got more work to do."

=====

Hours passed, as the light in the room was switched to lamps with Solaris lowering the sun that evening. As the books piled up, Blitz had fallen asleep on his books only to be nudged awake a few times by Applejack who was similarly looking exhausted from the days study.

Bubble Berry had already gone off on a hunch, leaving the group while Elusive and Butterscotch returned after fetching food for the rest of the group. "Anything?" Asked Elusive, setting the food down in front of Dusk.

Dusk levitated a carrot stick up and bit into it absently. "Nothing so far, and I've already gone through so many books. I'm beginning to think that this might be a waste of time looking through here. If only the old library was still intact."

"We all miss Golden Oaks," said Butterscotch. "But I suppose we'll have to wait for the tree to re-grow in that spot."

"Yeah. Say, where'd Bubble Berry go?" asked Dusk. The others looked up as he groaned. "Don't tell me he's still off on his hunch."

"With Bubble Berry Hunches you never know. For all we know he's probably in the kitchen," laughed Applejack.

"Well, I guess we should report all of this to the Prince then." Said Dusk. "Before we get any more derailed."

"I agree," said Elusive. "The sooner the better."

=====

"As expected," mused the Prince after Dusk and the others gave their report. Bubble Berry was still nowhere to be seen in the group. "In all my years going through that portal, I never noticed those symbols on the side had any deep significance. Now then, you were asking about those deep impressions into the side of the wood?"

"Yes, we were hoping that you could shed some light on it." Said Dusk. "Can you remember anything about the mirror?"

"When we shut it down the first time, Star Whirl took two gemstones from either side. I had thought them to be the stabilizers at the time, but when I tested the portal on a whim, it opened up perfectly." Solaris' brow furrrowed in thought. "Perhaps however, I was wrong at that time. If these gemstones provide the conduit in which to prevent the Effect from happening, then perhaps we should be cautious about reopening the mirror once more."

"Or... and this is simply conjecture, I had a thought. What if the Effect came about because of those gemstones?" Said Elusive thoughtfully. "I know quite a bit about gemstones, and there is also a problem with utilizing them as a source of energy or a focus. The slightest imperfection could cause a change in a spell matrix."

"Oh? A remarkable suggestion." Said Solaris. "I am impressed, Elusive but tell me; where did you discover such a detail?"

"It was nothing your majesty, only a thought. However, when I created the new cape for Presto a few weeks ago, he commissioned a ruby to be set in the middle of it. The ruby served as a focus for his magic, in order to amplify his stage performances and abilities, not unlike his previous incident with the Alicorn Amulet." Elusive cleared his throat at the expressions the others gave him. "However, it would serve better as a type of "wand" as it were. In fact, many of my finest creations house gemstones in very specific patterns in order to utilize the route of magic."

"So if magic stones are the key here, then where'd Bubble Berry get off to?" Asked Applejack.

"Bubble Berry asked for a ride to his hometown," said Solaris. "He said there was a specialist he needed to fetch on the subject of rocks and gemstones."
 
"It must be his older brother, Rock Berry," surmised Dusk. "If anypony knows anything about gemstones more than anypony combined, it's Rock Berry."

"I have to agree on that," said Elusive. "His skill with rocks are quite impressive."

"Then we should wait for Bubble Berry to return, so that we may get the impression of our specialist," said Solaris. "In time, you five should go and get some rest. It is a bit of a carriage trip from here to Rockville and back."

"No argument here. I could use a mite to stretch my legs." Applejack turned around. "C'mon Blitz, lets go racin' around the gardens."

"Finally, some action! Count me in." With that, Blitz streaked out of the room, leaving rustling papers behind.

"I think I'm going to take a nap," said Butterscotch. "The animals are still a little lukewarm since the last time I visited."
 
"A room will be made up for you then," said Solaris as he summoned a guard who saluted and lead the butter pony out of the room. "And you, Dusk and Elusive?"

"I'm going back to the mirror. I might have missed something even Bubble Berry missed," said Dusk.

"I will take the time to freshen up then," said Elusive. "And compose a letter to Silver Bell to eat out tonight with his friends. If you will excuse me."

As the ponies dispersed, Solaris frowned to himself in thought as he stepped off his chair and headed for the private rooms. He hadn't gotten two steps however before a voice cut in. "Tis a glorious night. It is a waning half-moon... or is it a waxing gibbous?"

"Artemis," greeted Solaris. "You're usually on patrol by now."

"We have bigger fish to fry tonight, dear brother." Said Artemis, the younger prince of the night walking over and matching Solaris's stride. "The mirror, it worries you?"

"It does. I do not wish to endanger my little ponies if the Effect comes into play. But I do wish to allow them to explore the multiverse as freely as I once did. Is that so wrong?"

"Not wrong, no. Just endearing. Dusk Shine and his friends have grown in many ways, and I am certain that they will handle the responsibility thus far. It has been an age since the magic mirrors were opened up however." Artemis tilted his head in thought. "Perhaps it would be all right, to risk a little more."

"And send them out fully knowing that the Effect is in play? Artemis..."

"Hear me out brother. There are tens of hundreds of worlds out there, each with its own society, all of them different. Even if they were to visit once, the chance of revisiting is highly unlikely. Why not risk a little more? In time, we can stabilize the portal without any further damage to reality." Artemis rolled his eyes at Solaris' expression. "You're over-thinking it."

",,, perhaps you're right. I'm just worried that if we stayed any longer than we should in a world, the Effect would begin to pull our world closer to another."

"Let the younger generation learn from what we have done then." Said Artemis. "And they will be able to create what we have failed to do."