I paused in the main room, focusing on the echoes of the ripple that had brought me here. It only took an instant for me to trace it back to one of the back rooms. My mastery of my own mental might was undone by Lulu calling out to me.
<<In the inspiration room with Rarity! Please be here to help! Or even understand me...>> I snorted, making my way through the building. I did my level best to ignore the shifting images superimposing themselves over the Boutique as I hit pockets of past emotion and eddies of memories. I even saw dresses and suits assemble themselves in the main workroom.
This was a problem that I had been facing in town. Everything with a mind left behind a part of themselves on everything they touch. Most of these impressions quickly dissipate, but strong or frequent ones, like those made on a home, become permanent. And each imprint reflects the thoughts and mood of the individual that made it. Not that much of a problem in a secluded cottage like Fluttershy's.
In a small town, on the other hand...
I almost walked past the inspiration room's door because Sweetie rarely goes in there, and her imprint happened to be the stronger one.
I paused in the doorway and took in the room. A pure white cat with shimmering golden paws and silver tail slept away on an upper shelf, while an alicorn of pearlescent hued scales adorned with a waterfall of crushed violet gems for a mane and tail stood bent over a desk. A light blue aura encased her diamond horn and the parchments and charcoal dancing around her. Also floating in the mare's aura was a living glass sculpture filled with flame and a humanoid woman.
The woman had faintly blue tinted skin, her dark hair tied back in an elegant braided ponytail, the ends of which flared and flattened out. The nails of her webbed hands and feet were painted a deep blue to match the one piece she wore, its short fluted skirt flowing in an invisible current. A finned canine mask held a look of annoyance as she peered over the mare's shoulders. Its expression rippled to relief as she turned to face me. <<Thank Arceus.>> She murmured, fur briefly dipping down from her hairline.
Sometimes this is distracting, but it has its beauty. I thought as reality reimposed itself.
<<Can you please take Peewee to Spike?>> Lulu asked, giving the chick a push in my direction. I slipped my mind through and around Rarity's hold on the giggling chick, pulling him close to me. Lulu gave me an appraising eye. <<Are you sure you don't know Telekinesis?>>
<<Yes.>> I answered as Rarity began looking around. <<It takes more concentration to do on a living creature then you'd think. I don't think I can do it in battle yet.>> I placed Peewee on the ground in preparation for Rarity.
"Oh, Yomega!" Rarity called out when she finally saw me. "I'm glad you're here." She floated a tube harness over to me as she scribbled out a quick note. "Could you bring this to Ember and Smolder, please? I need them here for their final fitting." I nodded, patiently waiting for her to stuff the note into the tube and attach it to me. Curling my tail around Peewee, I turned to leave. "I think they said that they were going to Sugarcube, darling."
"Thank you." I thought at her.
Rarity jolted before looking around. "But, I don't even have a radio..." She murmured.
I rolled my eyes and lead Peewee out, shutting the doors on my way. I took a breath of fresh air, placed Peewee onto my back, and began to deftly dodge the ponies on the street. I knew that some of them weren't really there, but I didn't want to take any risks with Peewee yammering away on my back.
"So, what's Uncle Spike like?"
"Wise, but young. Kind, but fierce. Loyal, but independent. Honestly sarcastic. Generous with what he hoards." I snorted. "His dry wit is humorous. He is the best and worst of the mares he used to define his life by."
I felt Peewee's confusion. "Yeah, but... What's he like?"
I sighed. "You'll have to meet him to understand, Peewee. He's nothing like anyone you've met before. Just remember," I paused across the street from the bakery, "he can't understand us."
"Like Miss Rarity?"
My reply was cut off by the bakery door opening, letting another humanoid leave the establishment. This one was a red tinted male, his burnt amber hair spiking up and flicking about as if caught in a strong wind. His left arm was a large metal device, pumping and churning, flecks of flame spurting from its barrel. Tubes attached it to the engine running on his back, which powered a miniature forge on his chest in turn. All of this was hard to see due the many, many, many blue papers swirling around him.
Damn it. I sighed as I blinked my eyes clear.
Zann stood in front of me with a confused look. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." I assured him. "I thought that you'd still be in there helping Pinkie set up the party."
"Nah." Zann waved his metal claw at me. "They'll need to leave for Canterlot in a bit. You want me to tell Luke to go to Rarity's?"
I narrowed my eyes at the fire type. "How did you-?"
"Moon Dancer left for Canterlot last night, said something about the University needing her. I figured that would be involving Luke and his hoard, and that she would only need to leave this early if they would be there this afternoon." Zann rattled off. "You're also carrying a tube with Peewee, meaning that you just came from Rarity's with a message from her. Which would have to be for the dragonesses, since she's making their clothes. But Luke went for a quickie race with Leo, so I'll need to go tell him."
I shook my head, causing Peewee to giggle at our antics. "But, how-?"
Zann gave me a sad smile. "Leo and I are the same. We're crazy, not stupid." He stepped behind me and pushed me towards the bakery. "Now, go on. He's just as eager to see you as you are to see him."
I squashed my first instinct to get answers from him, and instead entered the bakery. I took a quick look around to spot a large purple drake with silver armor, wings draped over it like a cape. A ruby red crown of spikes and thorns floated above his head while parchment, ink and quills orbited one of his hands. The other was busy cramming gemstone cupcakes into his mouth.
"That's the real you?!"
Spike jumped. "Wha?" He finally saw me. "Yomega! Where have you been hiding?"
"Oh, around. Needed to figure somethings out. I've got a message to deliver to Ember." I stepped up to his side. "Why don't you play with Peewee for a bit? I'll be right back."
"S-sure." Spike carefully lifted the chick off my back. "I think Pinkie's showing them the kitchen. Hey there, little guy. Do you know me?"
<<Uncle Spike!>> Peewee glomped the drake as best he could.
I used the distraction to slip away.Okay. Here and now, here and now, here and now... I chanted to myself. I really didn't want any distractions in such a busy place. I entered the kitchen and desperately held my laughter back. Ember had what looked like Spike's pink apron on, and was busy trying to pour batter into cupcake cups and not all over the counter. Smolder was covertly sneaking gems under her wings, while Pinkie was even more covertly putting them back.
<<Mail call!>> I yelled into the room, throwing Ember concentration off. Pinkie hopped over as the older dragoness swore up a storm. I waited patiently for the bubbly mare to take the letter out of the tube, counting down the second before I could go reconnect with Spike. Thankfully, Pinkie opted to take the full harness as opposed to just the letter. Once everyone's attention was off of me, I turned and left.
I returned to the main room to see that the Crusaders had arrived, and Peewee was playing with Zephyr amongst Triphyle's branches. I smiled as I approached Spike's side. "Just think of what you want to say." I thought at Spike. "I don't want ponies thinking you're crazy for talking at thin air."
Spike frowned at me. "O-okay?"
"Very good." I smiled. "I'm so glad that you can understand me, at least. Nopony seems to be able to pick up my thoughts when I want to talk to them."
"Oh?"
I lay down at his feet. "Yeah. It doesn't help that I can barely focus with all these new things I can see now that my mind has expanded."
Spike hummed in thought. Thoughts I respectively stayed out of. "I've got an idea." He looked over at the Crusaders. "Hey, Sweetie?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I borrow Eros?" That got a lot of raised eyebrows.
"Why?" Sweetie asked as the Ralts flashed into existence behind her.
"Yomega's been having problems since he changed." Spike explained. "I think that Eros may be able to help him."
Sweetie looked back at her summon, and I could almost hear the conversation they had. Finally, Sweetie turned back to Spike. "Sure, but only if I can be there to supervise, she can leave whenever she wants or needs to, and that we wait until she can get things set up."
"It's a deal!" Spike gave her a thumbs up. he returned to his plate of goodies. "So, how have you been?"
"Well...
Spike and I were walking back to the library after watching Luke's chariot leave for the Canterlot. We had plans to catch up on Spike's reading, as well as for prepping the library for a general reshelving in the next week. For the first time since I got back to Ponyville, I felt relaxed. The imprints weren't even bugging me right now. "Should we start with the biology or magic sections? Both should be a mess by now with Twilight and-"
<<Oi, Yomega!>>
I turned to see an Eevee rapidly shuffling towards us. Only the head and the paw tips were visible, the rest obscured by a rat's nest of chains. Some were rusty, others were brand new. One was even being forged anew as it broke apart. Dream catchers, rune stones, sigils and glyphs were carved or attached seemingly at random. Blood seeped through the bottom, evaporating before it could hit the ground, completely at odds with her cheery face. A very faint mist of what I hoped wasn't blood hung at her side, mimicking folded wings. As she approached, chains would shoot out and anchor themselves into her surroundings.
I quickly schooled my expression. <<Yes, Leo?>>
<<Guess what!>>
Knowing I would regret this, I replied. <<What?>>
<<Ember is a lucky dragon.>> Leo stated, blushing heavily.
My tail tips were pinching the bridge of my muzzle before I could stop them. <<Oh my Arceus, Leo, really?!>> I turned and marched toward the crystal tree imprinting the Library. <<That's it, I'm done. Good night!>>