//------------------------------// // #19 Gold Star // Story: The Rift // by Colors //------------------------------// “So,” Twilight said, “what’s going on?” I “I don’t know,” Gold Star replied, which was of course a lie. Sigma had given her very careful instructions on what to tell, what to keep a secret... and what to lie about. It had been a shock, but Sigma... she couldn’t quite remember how she had put it, but the essence of it was even though lying was normally bad, in this case there was so much at stake that they shouldn’t even worry about it. It was frustrating, and it was hard for Gold Star to follow, particularly because she had no idea what the reasons for all the secrecy were, but Sigma had emphasized that saying the wrong things could literally have world-ending consequences. And Gold Star really, really didn’t want the world to end. “I’ve been sent by somepony from Canterlot,” Gold Star said, eager to be able to talk about things that were true. “She’s trying to fix everything, and she thinks she can use your help.” “She can use Twilight’s help?” Rarity asked. “Who is this mare?” “I think she’s the smartest pony in Equestria,” Gold Star said. “Or maybe she’s crazy and I’m eating it up. But, uhm, she did say it would get worse, and that seems to be true. I don’t understand anything of what she does, but I trust her.” “The smartest pony in Equestria,” Rarity echoed. “And we are supposed to just take your word for it, darling, aren’t we?” That was what Gold Star had asked, too. Sigma had sighed and said that she didn’t understand other ponies very well and what Gold Star thought would be convincing. “What does she even want to do?” Twilight asked. Gold Star shrugged. “I have no idea. Err... I asked her if she could give me something that would demonstrate her... uhm, abilities, and she told me to give you this...” She pulled a piece of paper out of her bag, offering it to Twilight, who took it from her with a frown. “She said it’s a proof for the, err, ‘false complexity theorem of spells’.” II Everypony watched as Twilight’s eyes trailed over the letter. Eventually, Applejack cleared her throat. “Uhm,” Twilight said, who seemed to have almost forgotten her surroundings. “I’m... I’m not sure... this is really complicated stuff... I think I get it, but...” She murmured something else which Gold Star didn’t understand, then looked back at the paper. “That’s cheating!” She suddenly exclaimed. “Wow. That’s so... I never would have... I need to...” She loosened her gaze from the paper. After a few moments, a book came flying out of its shelf, hovering next to her. Twilight opened it, only to momentarily freeze on the spot. “Twilight?” Fluttershy asked. “Twilight, are you okay?” “... no. I’m not. Look at this!” She turned the book around. Gold Star had to take a step closer to see it: there was a single phrase being repeated over and over on both pages. Some of its texture is moving. Gold Star had no idea what that meant. Twilight flipped through the book. Every page looked the same. She dropped the book, summoning another one. As she opened it, it was the exact same sight. No breaks, no paragraphs, just that one phrase. “My books!” She cried. “My books! The library! It’s all gone! AHHHHHH!!!!” Deadly silence. Twilight gave a long sigh. “Alright,” she said eventually, “what does your friend want us to do?” III “Well...” Gold Star bit her lip, feeling more than a bit uncomfortable. “She said we should form a group of volunteers, be ready to do... well, I don’t know what, but you should be ready. ... uhm ... well, she said she can come by in a few days, and that if we had a group of ponies ready to help her, that would be good. And she said she can’t explain more but she only wants the best for everyone. And she said the ponies she needs should be good at magic, or very strong, or maybe if they can do new things because of the stuff that’s been happening, that could also help. ... That’s it. I’m sorry.” Twilight looked at her. Then she looked back at the piece of paper. Then she shook her head. “The princess has to know what to do.” “About that...” Gold Star could now literally feel a drop of sweat on her brow. “She said that the only thing you really shouldn’t do is to tell the princess.” ... “Declined,” Twilight said, her voice suddenly much less friendly than before. “Who does that mare thing she is?” Rainbow asked. “Yes,” Rarity said, ”she is being way out of line.” “Please!” Gold Star was now in full panic, rushing over to Twilight. “Please, Twilight! She said it’s incredibly important not to tell the princess! She said it could be the thing that ruins everything!” “Why would-” “I don’t know! I have no idea! But do you really want to ignore the word of a pony who can do this?” She gave a nod to the paper. That seemed to give Twilight pause. “She said it’s not at all because Celestia is evil.” “Why then?” “I don’t know! Please, Twilight.” “I trust Celestia more than anypony in the world," Twilight said slowly. "Even more than somepony who just proved one of the most important theorem in magic – If the proof is even true. I’m sorry.” “WAIT!” Gold Star shouted, even though it wasn’t as if Twilight had been about to send a letter right then and there. “Wait! I...” “Look-” Twilight began, but Gold Star cut her off. “Can’t you just... wait a bit with sending it? Enough so I can ask her for... uhm...” “I don’t think so.” “What if I go there right now? It’s, um, three PM. I can get the train at four. I can be back at seven. Please?”