//------------------------------//
// Twilight's Second Wish: Time Saver 
// Story: I Dream of a Genie with a Light Brown Mane 
// by Metool Bard 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 6:
Twilight's Second Wish: Time Saver


"Ooh, they've gotta be here somewhere!  Owlowiscious, do you think Starswirl the Bearded wrote anything about this?"

When Fluttershy and Spike got back to the library, it was already a mess.  Books lay strewn all over the place, and Twilight was at the center of it all, frantically flipping through tome after tome.

"My goodness," gasped Fluttershy. "What's wrong, Twilight?"

"What's wrong?  WHAT'S WRONG?!" Twilight screamed. "What's wrong is that today I promised Princess Celestia that I would work on this important report on how order and chaos can coexist!  I told her I'd have it ready by this afternoon, but because of Pinkie's party, I completely forgot!"

"What's the big deal?" asked Spike. "It's just a dinky little research paper."

"Oh, it's not just a research paper," said Twilight, still sifting through books. "This topic has been heavily debated by sages and philosophers since time immemorial.  I have to go through every single one and form my own opinion!  Do you know how long that'll take?!  I should've started this first thing in the morning!"

"Twilight, you're making a mountain out of a molehill.  Again," Spike said sternly, crossing his arms. "You can just ask Princess Celestia for an extension.  She'll understand."

Twilight's ear twitched, and she turned to Spike menacingly. "An extension?  Spike, how long have you known me?"

"Um, since I was born?" said Spike, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"And how many times did I ask the Princess for an extension?"

"Um, uh..."

"That's right.  NEVER!  I've always made it a point to hand all of my reports in ON TIME!" Twilight yelled, paranoia creeping into her voice. "If I ask for an extension, then the Princess will think that I'm not taking my studies seriously!  I can't let her think I'm slacking off!  If I don't turn this in by four o'clock this afternoon, I'll be tardy!  TARDY, I TELL YOU!"

"Um, Twilight?  Could you, please calm down?" Fluttershy asked meekly. "You're, scary when you panic like this."

"No time!  I have to hurry and get this report written!" said Twilight. "Wait, not hurry.  Then it won't be good.  Oh, but if I don't hurry, I'll miss the deadline!  I-I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!  ARGH!"

In a fit of frustration, she tossed the book she was reading into the air with her magic.  Spike managed to make a diving catch.

"Um, I'm sure it'll be fine, Twilight," said Fluttershy, flying over to her frantic friend and draping her wing around her.

"I don't see how," said Twilight glumly. "Oh, if only I hadn't forgotten.  If only I had more time."

"INCOMING!"

Just then, Rainbow Dash came crashing through the window, flying straight into a pile of books and scattering them every which way.  Twilight groaned.

"Rainbow, how many times did I tell you to use the door?" she scolded.

"Yeah, yeah.  I know, I know," said Rainbow, shaking herself and getting to her feet. "But I figured you wanted this as soon as possible."

She then showed that she was carrying the magic lamp in her hooves.

"AJ told me and Misty about your little panic attack, and she suggested that you might need her help," she said.

Twilight beamed, and tackled Rainbow Dash into a hug. "Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou, Rainbow Dash!  You're a lifesaver!"

"Urk.  No prob," Rainbow grunted. "Look, you'd better get to work on whatever you're doing, so..."

"Oh, right!" said Twilight, releasing the cyan pegasus. "Sorry."

"Again, no biggie," said Rainbow, brushing herself off. "I'll catch you later, Twilight!"

With that, she zoomed off.  Twilight wasted no time rubbing the lamp and summoning Misty.

"Yeesh.  When did this place become a disaster area?" the djinn said, looking around the library.

"Misty, thank Celestia you're here!" said Twilight. "I need to make a wish!"

"I, figured," said Misty. "Go on."

"Well, I have this very important and very labor-intensive report for the Princess due this afternoon," Twilight explained. "But because I forgot, I don't have time to finish it and do a good job.  And I can't ask for an extension, or else the Princess will think that I'm not taking my studies seriously!  And if she thinks I'm not taking my studies seriously, I'm in big trouble!  Of course, she'll think that if I turn in a rushed report or if I turn it in late!  But I can't turn it in on time without sacrificing quality, and I can't do a good job unless I'm tardy!  Either way, I'm doomed!"

"Alright, alright.  I get it," said Misty. "You want me to fix this somehow.  Alright, what's your wish?"

"Okay," said Twilight. "I wish to stop time."

Misty raised an eyebrow. "Stop time."

"Yes," said Twilight. "I want time to stop for everything except me and everything I need to write this report.  And, I want time to remain frozen until I say the word 'done.'"

Misty's jaw dropped. "My word.  Even when you're in a panic you think things through!  I would really like to know how your mind works."

"Never mind how my mind works!" Twilight yelled. "Can you do it or not?!"

"Well, sure I can," said Misty. "At least I think.  I've never had a time-stopping wish this specific before."

"Can't you at least try?" Twilight pleaded.

"I wouldn't be much of a genie if I didn't," said Misty. "Alright, let me run through this again so that I don't mess up.  You want time to stop."

"Yes."

"For everything except you and the stuff you need for this report."

"That includes books, parchment, quills, and ink."

"And you want time to start again when you say the word 'done.'"

"That's correct."

"Alrighty then," said Misty.  With that, an orb of energy formed in her hooves.  She began to kneed it and mold it, and as she did, it grew bigger and bigger. "As we say in the trade, your wish is my command."

She then splayed her arms outward, and the orb exploded into a brilliant flash.


***


When Twilight's eyes recovered from the flash, she couldn't believe her eyes.  She saw Fluttershy crouched on the ground, shielding her eyes.  But the yellow pegasus didn't even shiver.  Spike was frozen mid-fall, recoiling from the flash.  Twilight could even see the individual specks of dust that the baby dragon kicked up as he stumbled.  She looked out the window, and saw several ponies frozen in place.  Some were talking to one another, others just going for a light stroll.  The hands on the clock tower did not even move an inch.

"Well?" asked Misty. "What do you think?"

Twilight decided to put the wish to the test.  Using her magic, she lifted a book from the ground.  Sure enough, it obeyed her levitation spell.  She then focused on a blank piece of parchment that lay on the ground.  It followed her as well.  She smiled.

"Right.  Time to get started," she said, determination in her voice.  She got right to work, flipping through books and writing everything down.  With time no longer being an issue, she was free to put all of her effort into her work.  Gradually, she began to relax and take her time, considering each argument and formulating her thoughts in a clear manner.  She even had time to proofread her work.  After what felt like hours, she had written the last of her thoughts and closed the last of her books.

"And, done," she said.

As soon as she uttered those words, the world around her came alive.  Spike completed his fall to the ground, and Fluttershy began to shiver with fright.

"Whoa.  That was freaky," said Spike. "Well, did it work?"

"It sure did!" said Twilight with glee, clapping her hooves. "Spike, send this report to the Princess, pronto!"

"Huh?" asked Spike. "But that only took a second."

"Further proof that it worked," said Twilight with a shrug. "C'mon, Spike.  Don't dawdle."

"Um, right," said Spike, snatching the report from Twilight's desk.  He then bathed the parchment in emerald flame and sent it on its way.

"It's, over?" inquired Fluttershy, peeking over her hooves. "Goodness.  I thought that would take longer."

"It did.  You just didn't feel it," said Misty. "That's usually how it works."

"Well, thank you very much, Misty," said Twilight, beaming at the genie. "You really came through for me."

"Aw, shucks.  It was nothing, really," said Misty sheepishly. "If anything, I should applaud you for making such a smart wish."

"It's just how I think," said Twilight with a shrug. "Now then, it looks like my day has been freed up completely.  What should I do now?"

Her stomach then growled.

"Guess that's your answer," said Spike.

"Oh, I'd love it if you had lunch with me," said Fluttershy. "I promised Angel we'd go on a picnic this afternoon, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you're there."

"Sounds good, Fluttershy," said Twilight. "You want to come with us, Misty?"

"Me?  Oh, I couldn't," said Misty. "Trust me, that last wish took a lot out of me.  I think it's better if I just take a nap and recover my strength."

"I see," said Twilight. "Alright, I understand.  Thanks again."

With that, she galloped off with Spike and Fluttershy.  Misty gave them a wave goodbye, and sighed.

She really doesn't deserve any of this, she thought as she went back into her lamp. I just hope she makes that third wish soon, so that I can get this over with...