The next day, after I woke up and stretched my arms out and gave a good, long satisfied yawn, I left my bedroom and went toward the kitchen. Spike was likely cooking breakfast or was already done making it. Glad I didn't need a special spell cast on me the previous night: it's a LONG story, but it had nothing to do with Twilight losing it during Twi-fun.
However, when I was walking down the castle's hallways while wiping my eyes a little, I heard voices coming from the library, but they were too faint to make out. I told Twilight the secret to my "carrot" trick before we went to sleep, so it couldn't be her still trying to figure it out on some random ponies...right?
I went to the nearest door to the library, peeked in...and groaned at the sight.
What was I gonna do with that crazy mare?
Starlight Glimmer, Spike, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and even Sunset Shimmer were all beside each other in a line. They had green helmets with a bunch of small glowing, blinking lights on their heads; a ninth helmet lay on the floor beside Sunset, who stood on one of the ends of the line. Green cords connected the helmets to some large machine that was in the middle of the library. Some paper with wavy red lines were coming out of that thing. The paper and red lines reminded me of brain waves on an EEG.
And as for that crazy mare, Twilight was sitting on a chair in front of the gang, holding a sheet of paper and a quill in her magic.
“Okay, I’m going to ask you all a series of questions again. Just like before, answer with the very first thing that comes to mind.”
I stepped into the library and asked, “Twilight? Guys? What’s going on here? What's with the glowing hats?”
Twi turned her head toward me with a big smile. At least it wasn’t a crazy one this time, but an excited one. “Hi, Buggie, I’m glad you’re up. Could you come over here and place the helmet on your head that's beside Sunset? I want to ask you all some questions and see if I can figure out why most say ‘carrot’ when you ask them to name a vegetable, and why others don’t."
I facepalmed. What have I done? Kids, seriously, don’t troll neurotic alicorns if you’re not a professional, which even I’m not.
"This is a fascinating phenomenon that I don’t think Equestria knows about.” Twilight's smile grew bigger. “This is so exciting! Just think of the possibilities that learning about this unheard-of type of mentalism can have on Equestria’s overall knowledge of the subject. For that matter, the impact on psychology in general! Learning the secret might even win me a Nobel Prize!” She let out a high-pitched "squee". At least she'd get some adorkable points.
Of course, the rest of us were NOT in the mood to do a squee and I've never done it anyway. Most of our friends glared at me with scowls; Fluttershy wasn’t scowling, but just had a confused frown.
“So, Eric, I heard you taught Twilight a new trick,” Rarity said in a low tone.
“Maybe?” I felt the edges of my cheeks curling into a big 'ol sheepish grin. Even if she’s calm, Rarity can be pretty scary when she’s mad at you. Or mad period.
"I knew Spike and I should have talked you out of your plan to mess with Twilight yesterday," Starlight said.
"As Twilight's #1 assistant, I should have seen this coming."
Rainbow pointed a hoof at me. “When Twilight lets me go, Eric, I’m getting you for this. She barely gave me time to eat breakfast!”
“I had to settle for an apple for breakfast before Twilight dragged me here from my farm. Ya should’ve seen how bad she was beggin’!”
“I barely had a chance to feed Angel his breakfast,” Fluttershy said, but at least she didn’t sound mad, just confused. Good thing, because I did not want to find out how it feels to face “The Stare”.
“Twi got you too, Sunset?" I asked. "Don’t tell me she ran through the portal and dragged you here!”
Sunset shook her head. “She didn’t. When I woke up, I saw that she left a message in our journal saying ‘Sunset, come to Equestria as fast as you can!’ and I did. Next thing I know” -- Sunset pointed at her helmet -- ”I had this on my head."
I growled and my eyes locked on Twilight. This was getting ridiculous. “Twilight, can you knock it off and let them go?”
“But--”
“No ‘buts’! I’m serious, Twilight Sparkle! Cut it out before you start losing it again!”
"Yeah, what Eric said!" Pinkie yelled.
Twilight‘s ears drooped and she looked toward the floor. It’s not too often I get so serious with her, but still being a bit sleepy will make you less tolerant of stuff like this. I'll also admit that it can feel a tad weird trying to give a princess orders, even if I’m usually not too aware that Twilight is a princess. I look at her as my best friend/Equestrian big sister anyway.
The rest of the gang stared at Twilight with scowls, but they stayed quiet.
Twilight lifted her head to turn it to me again and give a deep sigh. Was she actually going to drop this silly plan?
“How about this: I’ll take anyone that helps me with my tests for an hour to ‘Hay & Shake’ for dinner tonight. My treat.”
I looked toward the others. They had stopped scowling when Twilight made her proposal, so we all simply stared at one another, then turned back to Twilight.
“I’m in,” Rainbow said.
“Me too," Spike said.
Pinkie bounced in place. "Me three!"
“Today isn't a school day, so I'll stick around. The girls won't worry that something happened to me if I don't stay here too long."
The others all agreed to let Twilight do her thing. Don't blame them.
I walked beside Sunset to join the line, picked up the helmet beside her, and put it on. “I’m game too, so let's get this over with, Twi. Just don't forget that you said this won't last longer than an hour.”
"I won't, I promise."
Hey, for a free dinner on Twilight’s dime, or bit, I can answer some questions. Hay & Stake has some delicious food, but is a little on the pricey side.
In fact, after our dinner, I think Twilight's going to be low on bits for a while. Safe to say that she'll pay for this, but literally.