Reactions to Twilight Sparkle’s inventions often involved unprecedented sentences in the Wranglish languages. Given that those inventions included a capacitor for energy not native to her universe, a camera drone with a sense of self-preservation, and a self-aware girlfriend for her pet dog, it logically followed that people's thoughts on them were similarly revolutionary.
“Are you doing science or just making the world’s biggest baked potato?”
That logic didn’t make them any less annoying, especially when coming from Rainbow Dash. Twilight crossed her arms and tried to ignore any resemblance the test chamber might have to tubers at any stage of culinary preparation. Which was minimal at best, given how the chamber's main body was a free-standing, enclosed shower stall. “The aluminum foil is a vital and cost-effective component of the thaumic shielding.”
Dash rolled her eyes. “Right, you don’t have a sense of humor while you’re wearing a lab coat.”
Sunset put an arm around Twilight’s shoulders before she could answer. “Hey, maybe don’t antagonize the mad scientist in her sinister lair?” Contrary to what certain people might claim, Twilight could tell Sunset was teasing her and gave her an appreciative smile.
“Ladies, if we could speed this along?” Rarity walked into the lab like she was strutting down a catwalk. Especially impressive given she was actually strutting into a garage full of testing equipment which… wasn’t entirely liberated from certain parts of Crystal Prep that had been named after Twilight’s grandmother. “I know I volunteered for this, but wearing a bathrobe and a smile isn’t exactly my style.” She was actually missing the smile, and pulled the robe's belt a little tighter.
Again, contrary to the beliefs of some, Twilight was socially cognizant enough to tell her friend needed some reassurance. “It shouldn’t take long. And based on earlier trials, you’ll be grateful you have less getting in your way.”
Somehow, Rarity seemed less than reassured. “If you say so, Twilight.”
As the volunteer grabbed her keytaur, Applejack cleared her throat. “So, uh, I don’t wanna sound like the no-nothin’ country bumpkin, but what’re we testin’ here exactly?”
“Yeah, Twilight rambled about the whatever-it-is so fast, I didn’t understand a word she’d said. I mean, who does that?”
The whole group took a long look at Pinkie.
She just looked back, the confused little frown showing no sign she was in on this particular joke. “What?”
Twilight decided it was best to focus elsewhere. “I’m calling it the Thaumic Hyperdensity Chamber. It’s designed to take the magic we radiate when ponying up and reflect back at us, thus augmenting our supernatural capabilities. In theory.”
Fluttershy cleared her throat from her corner. It was getting a little cramped, but she had gravitated to the little alcove practically from the moment she'd come in. And she kept glancing at the partially assembled robot dog head on—
Twilight facepalmed and moved the unblinking metal skull into a filing cabinet she used for spare parts. "Sorry about that, Fluttershy. You had a question?"
The other girl relaxed very slightly, though she was still glancing at the scrap drawer. "Um... why?"
“Mostly to see what happens." Twilight took in her friends' bemused expressions—except Sunset and, oddly enough, Pinkie—and could only say, "What?"
"Right?" said Pinkie.
"I would like to understand how magic behaves in this world, and I don't have to tear it apart to find out how. And given the last test subject…" Twilight glanced at Sunset before clearing her throat. "Well, we want to get some independent confirmation of some unexpected phenomena.”
“Somethin’ screwy happened last time, and y’all wanna see if it happens again, ‘cause that’s science in a nutshell." Applejack nodded. "I got that much. But what all happened last time?”
Twilight shook her head. “Given the psychoreactive nature of magic, it’s best not to say. Expecting that event to happen may increase the probability. We can’t go full double-blind trial—not without the Memory Stone, anyway—”
“We are not restoring the dark magic artifact to lessen experimental bias,” said Sunset, who was probably right on moral grounds. Probably.
“Even so, we can at least go into this with a neutral test subject.”
“I don’t know if I’d describe myself as neutral, but I am willing to see if this can augment my fabulosity. And to model the bathrobe.” Rarity did a twirl. Twilight had to admit, even by her limited understanding of fashion, the robe did seem to balance comfort and elegance well. “Shall we?”
"Let's." Twilight pulled open the shower stall, then carefully unwrapped the layers of aluminum foil with her telekinesis. "Okay, Rarity, whenever you're ready."
Rarity hesitated at the threshold. “So I just… go in and play?”
“Exactly.”
“I see." She took a deep breath and visibly steeled herself. "Here it goes, then.”
Twilight tried not to feel too insulted. Not after the incident with the engine grease. She just focused on reassembling the shielding. "Once I release the foil, you can start."
"Will do, darling."
Once the last layer was back in place, Twilight released her focus and took a step back. The synth line from "The Other Side" started up, Rarity soon adding the chorus. Glimmers of rainbow light peeked out through a few holes in the shielding. Twilight kept one eye on the chamber and one on her latest-model thaumometer (one with no capacitor functionality whatsoever.)
Soon enough, the song cut out midverse, as did the light show. “Oh. Oh my. Oh my!”
Applejack rushed to the front of the chamber, fast enough that Twilight had to jump out of the way. “Rares, you okay?”
“It’s… unusual, certainly, but I believe I'm fine. Twilight, might I ask you…" Rarity trailed off and hummed. "Hang on a moment.”
A bluer glow than Twilight's magic peeled apart the foil and slid the door open. Rarity strode out of the chamber with just as much grace as her entrance, though with twice as many legs and a horn to boot. The retriever-sized unicorn set her keytaur on the stand, robe trailing on her like a terrycloth cape, and looked around the room. "My. This is certainly a novel perspective."
“Huh." Sunset brought a hand to her chin. "Wasn’t just because I’m Equestrian after all.”
“Indeed.” Twilight pulled a clipboard to her and started taking notes.
“Neat!" Pinkie squatted down at Rarity's new eye level. "How’s it feel?”
“Much as it did after we made our way back after that disastrous cruise.” Rarity wrinkled her muzzle. “Though the laboratory is hardly pleasant to an equine nose. You may want to air the place out soon, Twilight.”
“Duly noted.” Twilight did just that, along with another note about the displeased whicker Rarity had made and would likely deny if anyone pointed it out.
“So, when can I expect my hands back?”
Twilight's pencil froze along with most of her entire body. She traded an uneasy glance with Sunset.
“Twilight? Sunset?" Rarity glared up at them, somewhere between an unamused cat and an irate marshmallow. "An estimate would be appreciated.”
“Uh, well, when I did it, I turned back into a human soon after I stepped out of the chamber,” said Sunset, carefully studying the ceiling.
Rarity arched an eyebrow in a way that transcended species. "And by 'soon,' you mean?"
Twilight winced as Sunset cleared her throat and finally admitted. "A few seconds."
The longer the staring went on, the less cute it got and the more Twilight became aware of just how sharp that horn was. “I beg your pardon?”
“I do have a hypothesis," said Twilight, who definitely wasn't hiding behind her clipboard, "but I don’t know if you’ll believe me.”
It shouldn’t have been possible for a dainty unicorn the size of a Shirish setter to radiate so much murderous intent with a single glare, but Rarity found a way. “Try me, darling.”
“W-well, seeing as how our magic is powered by positive emotions and interpersonal connections, it would stand to reason that—”
A stomping hoof cut off the ramble. “Twilight Sparkle, are you seriously telling me that you've created a curse that can only be broken by true love’s kiss?”
Twilight adjusted her glasses and frowned. Mortal peril was one thing, but technical inaccuracy was quite another. “‘Curse’ is a—”
Rarity spun around, magically grabbing Applejack by the collar and pulling her down into a kiss that made Twilight avert her eyes.
At some point, there was a sound like a soft thunderclap, as if air were being shoved away by a suddenly larger body. “I’ve wanted to do that for longer than I’d care to admit.”
Applejack's "Whoa, Nelly!" kept Twilight from turning around. “Uh, you may want to do up your robe there, darlin’.”
“Ah. Yes. Alright, everyone, I'm decent.”
Rainbow Dash snickered. "If that's what you wanna call it."
“For the record," said Twilight, "I was going to say that grounding the charge through any physical and significant emotional bond would work.”
Rarity reddened, but she kept holding Applejack's hand. “Well. Be that as it may, some good still came out of it.”
“No kidding!" Pinkie sprang up behind the two of them, each arm around a different girl's shoulder. "I thought I might have to reschedule your Finally Officially Girlfriends party!”
Dash scowled. “Dang it, Pinkie did win the pool, didn’t she?”
“Hold up." Applejack scowled at the room in general. "Y’all were bettin’ on us?”
In terms of pure decibels, the cleared throat was quiet. In terms of force of personality, it shoved out the possibility of any other sound. All eyes turned to Fluttershy, whose determined stare made Rarity’s earlier expression seem gentle by comparison. “I have been very patient. I would like to pet some ponies now.”
And so the discussion of any wagers that may or may not have been made regarding certain girls’ love lives was tabled in favor of ear scratches.