Memories Of The Flask

by WindigogoGadget


An Emmet Lost Its Way Where On Grass It Never Laid

"Concealed within shadows, these beings are known to hide among the living force, and are comprised entirely of black magic. They are solitary creatures, but can be known to be highly vocal... When alone in an area known to be populated by these beings, it is considered unwise to ignore the voices creeping into your head. Good or bad."
-Unknown

...

It's so nice to have a body again. But I don't think I'll ever get used to this feeling of being... Flat. It's like I'm stretched out to my limit everywhere, just wrapped around things like a sheet of ribbon.

I felt a pulse of magic reveal me, and a voice followed after it. "Alright. Alyosha, you may come out now."

I formed up a mass of magical flowers and possessed an old cloak, it lacked the purples and patterns of Starswirl's attire, instead being a drab olive green that had been quilted repeatedly. Not that I minded. Do you want to know what's worse though? Being almost killed by the thing you're made up of.
"So when am I going to ever be introduced to Clover instead of slinking away? Y'know I bet Luna or Celestia's told them of what you've been up to." I questioned, hovering around the laboratory. It seemed so much smaller now that I could move around, and I think because of that Starswirls started hiding his experiments now that I can accidentally wreck one.

Not that it ever happened, I don't think I could ever forgive myself if I messed up an experiment. I hate breaking lab safety, magical or mundane.

"When it's time. Perish the thought, Alyosha, I've had enough of Luna's jabs about maidenlessness."

"Well, maybe if you didn't get into dark magic you wouldn't be getting told to get some-" I paused, seeing Starswirls horn light up. "Don't. You. Dare."

"As I stated, perish the thought." He grumbled, an edge in his voice. I grumbled too and begrudgingly let it be, but I'll remember this next time he needs something from me. I hate when he does that. "In any case, you'll likely not be the last to say that. We have more visits later in the day." Oh, visits?

"Am I going to have to hide again? Who's showing up?" I asked. My flowers shifted, and disappeared from view, they were still there, just invisible and ethereal until a strong enough signal pulled them back out.

"Heavens no." Starswirl heartily replied, and then he quieted down as he tampered with a boiling flask. "Luna is visiting, and so is Celestia. They're eager for lessons, and to see the fruit of their labor as they assisted in making you a vessel."

Oh. So that's how they got this done on such short notice. I think. Giving me a body was sudden. "I'll have to thank them later then." I had tried to ask before, about what had happened for me to wake up like this, but he got quiet whenever I tried to bring it up, so I stopped trying. Everything's just been a hazy blur with flashes. "Starswirl?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think I'm able to eat in this form?"


Wind flowed through the meadow along with the chill of a fading winter, rustling leaves and long grass. It was quiet this far out, with exception of the occasional traveler making themselves known by taking the stone path. The road did lead to a main town, but it wasn't commonly used.

The sun hung high in the sky, just slightly beginning to lower, marking the beginning of the evening.
"Tia, were you not listening again?" Luna chided, huffing a bit. It was just like her sister to space out.
"What- No! Of course I was Lulu!"

"Really?" Luna stopped infront of Celestia, giving an annoyed huff. "What were we talking about then?"

"You were talking about... Ah.."

"Yes sister? Go on."

"About ah.. Al.. Alyosha? Right?" The white alicorn replied with a sheepish smile. "T'was a lucky guess, sister." The steps picked up again as the pair of sisters continued their light trot to Starswirls tower, stepping on the cobbled path as it came into view merging alongside the dirt path. "I'll refresh you about it again, but please, listen! I will not be able to repeat everything for you all the time."

"It's not that bad! I... I know that we were talking about the experiment for Starswirl, with the flowers? I'm sorry I wasn't there for that, it might have been interesting."

"Correct, it was a fascinating experience. I wasn't allowed to come up with the finished product, though. Master Starswirl wouldn't allow it. Anyways- those flowers are to help Alyosha get a new body! I can't imagine how that will work, do you think he'll possess one? Like one of those mana cores used in those little wands they sell as trinkets?"

"Or an animated puppet. A wand would not have been my first thought but I understand. So those flowers are to be a medium for him to interact with our world?"

"So you did pay attention!" Luna exclaimed

"I'm not that forgetful!" Celestia insisted, upping the pace for a moment to walk off her annoyance. "What I don't get is why flowers? Why not a gem?"

"Starswirl said that they might not bond properly and that it was best to use a material similar to what he used to make him." The night sister paused and gently rubbed her chin thoughtfully with her frog. Was make the right word? Alyosha might be artificial, but there was no denying that his feelings were genuine.

"One would think he'd have found somepony instead of trying to make a foal in a lab." Celestia murmured to herself, staring up at the tall tower that stood defiantly in the forest. Its height dared against gravity as it was not only built with magic, but with as many architectural techniques and modern materials that a pile of bits and time could muster.

"I KNOW! We have said the same thing too, but he insists that it was an accident and that he won't hear it!" Luna stopped in front of her sister, flaring her wings out. Finally, somepony else was catching on!

"A bit harsh to call a foal an accident. Perhaps Master Starswirl would be better off in a lab than with a mare. Still, even if he escaped from a furious mare he definitely has not escaped your lickerish humor, Lulu." The two sisters shared a short giggle before a golden glow opened the heavy wooden door. The first floor was not much to look at, it was simple, inviting, and bare of any sort of hazardous experiments and fragile material. It was safe.

It was also the only place to have a light snack without descending several flights of stairs, something she took advantage of before commencing the trek upward. Monotonous hoof steps flooded the stairwell as Celestia felt as if something was watching her, just a faint pressure that she decided to not comment on. It might just be part of another experiment, like a gravity spell of some kind. "Starswirl? We are coming up!" Celestia called out, quickly glancing at Luna "Luna do you remember what floor he said he'd be on?" "The fifteenth floor, possibly."

Celestia grit her teeth with as much refinement and grace as possible. More walking...


"What have we learned from this experiment Alyosha?"

"That I can't eat, and should never be allowed near magical items." The spell-child said dejectedly. Admittedly walking in on your mentor chastising a talking mass of flowers is not what one typically expects, much less so when there's potting soil, unusual liquids, and broken glass on the floor. Somehow the only undamaged part of the laboratory was a glass teacup, seeming half empty. "For now, Alyosha. For now." Starswirl said with a faint smile.

"Celestia, Luna, it is good to see you. Alyosha and I were merely... Well, it has gone awry and I am in dire need of clean-up." Starswirl turned and greeted the sisters, trailing off and deciding to let the obvious mess answer for itself. Sighing, he continued. "Head into the adjacent room, you can converse with Alyosha while I fix this."

"Very well Master Starswirl." Celestia replied. She felt unease drip across her spine, her sister seemed completely fine, entirely unaware of the weighted presence in the room. Maybe she was just more sensitive to these things? She had half a mind to tell Starswirl, but she had faith in her mentor to have already realized this and to be working to a resolution.
"Don't look so glum sister! We have bested the stairs and may rest!" came the sudden celebrational cry of Luna, who was already following a cloak held up by a gently glowing mass to a doorway off to the right. Luna was right, there was rest to be had and a conversation to strike up with the mysterious new spell-born! Admittedly she and the flask-child had not gotten off to a good start, but now she could hopefully start anew as equals.

Which also meant not calling them spell-born or flask-child, it- THEY- Had a name, and no matter how much Luna might have believed such a title to be inspiring or 'awesome', she could not help but feel that perhaps it could be interpreted as degrading.

"We had heard of good news, Celestia! This calls for celebration! Bring out the fine wine! Toast to our friends new body!"
"Luna, we don't even have access to wine. We're here as students, not town merrymakers!" She snapped at her sister, she understood it was in good fun but stars above- she could be too much. And besides. "Alyosha likely isn't even old enough to have a drink. I know mother was surprisingly stingy with her cup the entire time we knew her."

Luna slumped in an unbecoming matter into her seat, the mood only slightly grounded by the voice of reason. "She has a point. I don't think you should be drinking when you're about to be learning. How will you remember what you did after? Your notes!" Came the feathery voice from underneath the cloak. Where the hood was, were flowers that glowed a brilliant blue, sometimes shifting a light gold, like the brightest amber. Though, she wondered why they had a cloak over them.

"Alyosha! It is good to see you. I must ask, why the fabric?" Her head tilted, and she took her own seat at a small table. Luna had a cup of tea, raising the question of where she had found it. "Oh- Um. Starswirl... Starswirl couldn't really... Well, the flowers were unexpected, but the cloak helps me have a personality. It's a bit hard to read just a voice."

The atmosphere felt warm as a twirling lanyard of flowering stems held up a previously unseen teapot, pouring a cup for the second sister. The gentle light of a windowsill casting shadows on the wall. It was the only room in the entire tower that had glass panes cemented in. "Thank you for the tea. And I understand. I don't know what I'd do if I was in your position." With a faint smile she glanced around, and took a sip of her gifted cup. Minty. "Luna? What are you thinking about?"

"Hm? Oh, seeing as how all we have is tea, isn't this usually the time for thinking? Besides, I know that you've taken up sewing lately." The lunar alicorn paused, sipped, and... Stayed quiet?

"Yes..? I have? What about it?"

"No really, I don't get what you are trying to lead into." Celestia took a sip, glancing keenly at her sister. She just wiggled her brow while Alyosha cocked their hooded head, confused. "Sister, No."

"Tiaaa."

"No."

"But it'd be great practice! I promise I'll stop teasing you about it if you do." A smug, snake-like smile crept on Luna's face. A corner had been met, checkmate.

"Sorry to interrupt but what's this gonna be about? Also, you sew?" Alyosha had his own cup, but it was empty and had never been filled, the white porcelain remaining bone dry. "What do you make?"

"Alyosha!" The flower child slinked away slightly from the sheer force of Luna's words. "How do you feel about having sister dearest here stitch together a doll for thee?"

"A doll would be too small, Luna."

"Apologies, a puppet. Life sized- You know what I mean, We are not going to be putting him in a doll for foals."

"We? So you'll agree to help then?"

"Wait- Let's not get too hasty-"

"Seeing as how Luna will help out, then we should get to work post haste!" Celestia beamed a smile, and withdrew parchment from a corner of the room while Luna, resigned, levitated a charcoal stick and a quill from a saddlebag. "Alyosha! What colors do you love?"

"Colors? What? Um, I think this is too fast. Uh, I don't know? I-" He stammered, all the attention bouncing everywhere had caught him off guard when suddenly he was its focus. "I... Let me think first. This is going to be a pony body right? That's what Starswirl said you were called. What would- What would the talent mark be?

"Cutie Mark. Hm.. It is a good question, but we'll let you draw one up for thineself. Now answer the question, favorite colors?" Luna took over again, taking on an interrogative edge in her wording that really forced Alyosha to think. His flowers raised for a moment and withered in an imitation of a deep breath.

Favorite colors.
Colors were nice, but he could never make up his mind about them. Color schemes were great, browns and greens were natural colors that could be tweaked to be homey or just the forest. I still don't know what to choose.

Green is... Nice. It's the color of safety, forests were safe, and it came in all sorts of hues. Olive green, drab, ranger, sea-foam. Not really a favorite color. Gold is nice? Yellow. Yellow and Green might be a good color scheme. But blue is nice too. White and light colors won't be practical for stains though, and I'm not always going to have magic to wave away the consequences of mud, so I don't want to be in a washing machine- washboard just because of a grass stain.

I think I remember colors having meaning, is that true here? I guess I'll find out later. It'd be pretty weird if a race of talking magical ponies was racist over fur colors. "Yellow and green, I think I'd like those the most."

"Yellow and green? Are you certain you don't have any other colors you like?" Celestia asked. She gazed at me neutrally, but for some reason, I still felt uneasy around her. Maybe I just hadn't gotten over being shaken like a soda can the first time we met. "I like red." The cowl I wore shifted a bit, giving my best impression of shrugged shoulders. It was a weird choice of colors but they were mine.

Actually, if everything looks medieval and magical, don't they probably use symbolism really hard? I vaguely recall shades of red being seen as evil. Well, either way, that was a dumb idea, using logic in an illogical place but y'know it could work! Fifty-fifty. Minimum. Maximum.

The two of them shared a look while Luna got to work writing something in the paper she had withdrawn, I couldn't read it. Not easily anyway. I don't think I'd have the time to learn a third language right now. Maybe. No, probably not. Starswirl might ask questions. I think I'm thinking too hard right now. No, now I remember why I don't like her. It's not just the incident, there was more. I hovered around Luna's shoulder and peeked, something with numbers? It looked like math, so it might just be her trying to find the cost of the fabrics.

"Here, what do you think?" Celestia asked, I stopped looming over Luna so I could look at the gray-scale drawing of someone. Somepony. Me, technically. Not me yet.
On the paper was a pony, the limbs were stocky and short, and the mane was one solid piece. It also looked like there were seams drawn on as well, but judging by the notes next to them they were intended to be hidden. The eyes were button eyes, and near the base of the tail and lower hooves was when the sketch ceased to be. It wasn't crudely made, just simple and limited by the grayscale pallet she had to work with.

Okay maybe it was a bit rough but im not going to say it. Not when It took like five minutes or less for her to just scribble it into existence. Maybe I should ask about the scarecrow mouth.

"Would you care to make him less frightening sister? You've made a demon of fabric." Luna asked, snatching the paper from the spot in front of me. "I can't see it going well if he was ever encountered outside of this tower. It'd be terrifying to see something like this walk up to me in the dead of night. Crudely stitched, button eyes, and presumably a size true to life."

Celestia swallowed hard and glanced away, snatching the sketch back. "Wrong paper." Another one floated, and I was quick to position it so we could both see it. I mean really, it was supposed to be for me, why can't I be the one to snatch it away?

It was a lot nicer than the one before, but I also couldn't tell if this was just her using art to make the new body look nicer. It's not like I'm expecting fine linens or something, but I doubt I'll be getting the best stitch work or plush fabric of the modern era. "Perhaps we could, er, discuss cutie marks some more before I get a new body? If your studies allow for it, that is. I'd hate to be an inconvenience."

"Nonsense little Alyosha! I am most certain that we will be pleased to make such a gift! Especially Tia." Luna finished venomously. She was a little scary. Was this over how we first met?

On second thought, I don't think I want to share tea with these people anymore.