//------------------------------// // A Love's "Objective" // Story: A “Objective” Study // by Brony-Sibling //------------------------------// An “Objective” Study “Well. That was weird.” (Spike said while staring at the image of the ladder) He had expected something… much more climactic. Instead of an awe-inspiring explosion, or a portal to parts or realms unknown, he got the rather… simple image of a step-ladder. Shaking his head Spike gathered his wits and then did what he somehow instinctively knew was right. He promptly sat down in front of the “Object”. Unfortunately, this particular image was rather boring. There was little to actually learn from it, and the image just kept rotating in a slow circle as if the stepladder was on a pedestal. Occasionally words would spring up around the ladder spouting gibberish about numbers and how these supplies were somehow urgent. So Spike, tired now of this stepladder reached forward towards the knob again, and twisted it. Click. A new image flashed into view. It was a slowly moving image of an ocean’s tide, slowly cresting and falling along the shore under a sunset. But it had a voice speaking over it. (The voice said in a breathy, drawn out manner) “Now, breathe in again, and slowly let your stress out. As you reflect on the ocean, let the tide wash away your cares. Let your head become empty of al-” *CLICK* Spike reached forward and somewhat violently twisted the dial again, somehow irritated at the soothing voice, feeling somehow that the voice would brainwash him. “Eugh… That’s creepy.” Focusing back to the “object” Spike noticed the new image he had switched to. It was the image of two… something’s. They were crowned in fire and sword with armor glinting on their bodies, while metallic wings and swords glowed with highly concentrated beam magic! They were locked in an epic battle with each-other, shouting things like, “Eat my rage!” or, “I cannot forgive you!” Giant beams of light were constantly cast from their weapons! Hundreds of explosions in the background would blze constantly occur in the most dazzling display he had ever seen! It was EPIC. It was MANLY, It was the most AWESOME thing Spike had ever seen! Spike didn’t have a chance. He was hooked. 20 Minutes later… Spike was still enthralled with the images of the giant battling colossuses of armor, and their brightly colored explosions. His body was positioned as close to the “object” as he could be and he was oblivious to all that was around him. *PathzeW!* “Spike I-” (Twilight froze mid-syllable after teleporting in). “SPIKE!” (Spike lunged into the air with a yell) “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” “Um… practicing… obser…jaysion?” (Spike said) “Spike, it’s observation, and WHAT DID YOU DO?” (Twilight’s pupils were almost non-existent at this point) “Well,” (Spike said) "I… uh… kinda… decidedthatIcouldusemypositionasyournumberoneassistantandinvestigatethismyselfpleasedontbemad!” Twilight had been slowly shifting her attention to the “object” and the many colorful explosions that where being shown by its reflective surface. “Well… now at least it’s doing something…” (Twilight muttered)”it’s ok Spike, just wait for me in the future! But… what is this… stuff?” “Only the COOLEST stuff ever!” (Spike Gushed) “It had things going ‘boowhOOSh’ and lazers, and projectile stype-magic, and these giant things are doing battle for the survival of their people and their universe!!!!” (Spike was now talking through sound-effects, exaggerated claw gestures and volume than anything else) “Spike,” (Twilight said), “I’m glad you found something that you enjoy. But we’ve got to focus on the most important part of this discovery!!” (Twilight had started pacing in front of the “object”) “Regardless of what it is, it is showing us images from either another place, time, or reality altogether! We could learn so much!!!” (Twilight was positively glowing at this point!) 1 Day Later…. *Sigh…* “Spiiiiiike…” (Twilight groaned) “Doesn’t this thing show anything factual or useful? I mean all we have seen is fights with a smattering of dialogue, explosions, more explosions, and those advertisements for something called, “Bacon”. (Twilight mused to herself “What is with this obsession with bacon… Oh well, there was that one about ‘Conan the Librarian’ *heehe!* [She tittered to herself] “I wonder if I could get a poster of Conan for my room! Those librarian muscles are just…”) “TWILIGHT!” (Twilight jolted out of her daydream) “SPIKE! Oh… Rarity! I was just… never mind! How can I help you?!” (Rarity playfully tossed her mane) “Oh… Twilight. I know *that* look when I see it…. Who’s the lucky stallion?” (Rarity said, leaning in with her eyes half-lidded) “NO-ONE! I mean... …So, Rarity…” (Twilight said, averting her eyes) “What can I do for you?” (Rarity smiled and dropped the subject)“Oh Darling, I just dropped in to return the most recent novel by ‘Dangerous Romance’, and didn’t see you in the Library and… …What is that?” Ever through the explosion induced hypnotism Spike’s head whipped around at a speed and angle that would make even Owlicious jealous! (Twilight started to say) “That is an unidentifi-“ “Oh that?!” (Spike positively materialized in between Rarity and Twilight) “That’s something that Twilight couldn’t get to work, and I FIXED! It shows some of the COOLEST stories you’ve ever seen!” “Stories you see… so.. is it magic?” (Rarity said while inspecting the images) “Well my findings clearly sho-“ “We don’t know!” (Spike nearly shouted) “It just showed up here, and I discovered it!” (Twilight sighed, realizing that Spike was in his ‘Rarity’ Mode) “Spike, why don’t you sit here and let me know if anything… scientific happens here. I’m going to go write some letters.” “Thanks!” (Spike said with a beaming smile) “I know! Why don’t we see if it has anything on fashion!” “Alright dear, that couldn’t hurt…” (Rarity said, whilst keeping an eye on her not-so-secret dragon-admirer) (Spike reached forward and began rapidly rotating the knob between images so fast Rarity could hardly follow it) “Spike!" (Rarity huffed) "How can you even tell what its showing!” “Oh, sorry Rarity! I’ll switch it around slower.” (“I could tell what was going on though…” Spike thought) Bits of dialogue could now be heard in between each image. “Watch as the African Lio-“ *BzzT!* “OH! What a hit that wa-“ *Bzzt!* “That was the worst performance I’ve eve-“ *Bzzt!* Before Spike switched to the next image he heard this… “What a beautiful dress… it matches your eyes…” (His claw paused frozen over the dial…) “Alfonzo, you know we cannot be together! I need a man of intrigue, of class and fashion!” “But my Jewel, life is not worth living apart from you! Simply give me one day to prove myself! (Spike’s claw dropped to his side, and he sat spellbound, watching the drama unfold. While Rarity on the other-hand had initially just enjoyed looking at this “Jewel’s” wondrous dress, but now she was drawn into the swirling maelstrom that was this story of love and passion!) (Spike broke out of his entrancement and realized that if nothing was done, his “love” for Rarity might go un-returned! Spike resolved that he would not let that happen, He had to be like Alfonzo! He had to declare his love and win her heart! Spike began casting his eye about, searching for the perfect way to decla- AH! There is… Rarity would surely know of his feelings after this!) Spike slowly and resolutely reached his claws over to hold Rarity’s hoof… Closer… Closer… “Pony-feathers!” (Spike muttered as she removed her hoof to adjust her mane]) (Spike slowly shifted closer to Rarity, paying almost no attention to the drama unfolding in front of him and waiting for an opportunity.) Closer… Closer… (He could barely smell her perfume now…) Closer…. (Spike was so close when he began envisioning holding his beloved Rarity’s hoof. It would be wonderful, they would go on long walks… and… Rarity’s perfume was just so… pretty… and her hooves were just….) "Szzzzzzzzzz……. " “Oh dear Spike…” (Rarity said lovingly) “I’d better let you get your sleep. Researching this for Twilight positively exhausted you.” (Rarity then gentle levitated Spike onto her back, and carefully started making her way to the library, ensuring not to wake the sleeping baby dragon.) “Sleep well Spike. You’ll find your own Jewel someday…” A gentle flickering light would continue to emanate from the “object”, just waiting the next viewer to regale with its stories…