//------------------------------// // II. An Electronic Music Pony // Story: Twilight's Dollhouse // by Kaidan //------------------------------// Twilight turned the lights on and smiled. She headed over to Lyra’s house quickly, and levitated her and Bon Bon out. She loomed over the tiny ponies and had set aside plenty of time to play with her newest friends. “I’m so glad I finally have time to play. You would not believe the day I’ve had,” Twilight explained. She levitated a book over and flipped it open. Lyra and Bon Bon were set down in front of the book. “Alright, I’m going to test a come to life spell on you. I mean, you were never really dead. I have to animate the plastic to allow you to move and speak again. I don’t expect any trouble from either of you. I can reverse the spell easily, and I could really use my two new best friends right now.” Twilight began channeling a spell on Bon Bon. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m testing it on you first, just in case. . .” Bon Bon had been trapped in the plastic prison for almost a day now. She couldn’t move, and was only aware of what was in front of her eyes when she had been put away for the day. Now, she felt a tingling sensation. The first thing she noticed was her legs felt softer, and she was able to bend them. Soon, she was walking. Twilight smiled as Bon Bon walked towards her. “This is great!” “You monster! How could you do this to us?” Bon Bon asked. “Mind your manners, I did this so we could always be happy.” “You think we’ll be happy being a toy for a psychotic witch? No thanks.” Bon Bon ran towards the basement steps as quickly as she could, which wasn’t very fast at all. Twilight frowned and lowered her ears slightly. “You can’t escape so you might as well make the most of it.” Bon Bon continued to run out of the replica town. When she crossed the border where the painted floor of the town ended and the wooden basement floor began, she fell to the ground. A spell around the town prevented her from escaping by turning her back to an inanimate doll. “See? Come now, Lyra, hopefully you can show a little appreciation.” Twilight lit up her horn and seconds later, Lyra began to examine her new plastic hooves. While she was doing this, Twilight floated Bon Bon back over and re-animated her. “Okay, what should we play first? I rebuilt the bowling alley, or we could visit the Everfree. I hid a treasure in there and we could go find it!” Twilight leaned down to look more closely at the tiny mannequins. “Lyra, are you okay?” Bon Bon asked. “Yeah,” she replied. “I. . . I don’t know what to think of all this.” “She blew up our house! The gas line even took out our neighbor's house, killing Blossom and Rose!” “That’s horrible but—” “But what? She’s obviously gone insane with grief, or maybe she was always crazy! I told you when she moved to town she was bad news!” Bon Bon yelled. “That’s it, Bon Bon. I’m going to leave you in the punishment box so you can think about how rude you’ve been. If you don’t learn to behave, I’ll stop re-animating you,” Twilight scolded. She levitated her into the air while Bon Bon continued to shout. “I’ll never play with you! Psycho whore stinking mare of a wyvern emo flank-lick—” The lid to the small shoebox sized prison closed shut, muffling her insults. She was now inside a dark metal box at the New Ponyville police station. It served as solitary confinement until dolls fixed their attitude. There was some very faint tapping as she explored her new prison. Lyra had finished examining her new body. She had spent all night panicking and trying to move. As a foal she was afraid of being buried alive, and that is what being unable to move felt like. She looked up at Twilight and thought about the best way to ensure she never got frozen again. “Um, Twilight? How was your day, you seem stressed.” Lyra tapped on her hoof to get her attention. Twilight turned back and quickly wiped a tear away. “Oh, uh it was fine Lyra. I just had to go to a city council meeting, investigate the gas line explosion, and then I thought Bon Bon and you would want to have some fun with me. . .” Lyra pondered the mare in front of her. It was a different mare than the one who had poisoned her tea and trapped her in a miniature figurine. Twilight looked so scared and vulnerable, as if she genuinely couldn’t relate to her real friends anymore. She decided to be Twilight’s first friend. Lyra would try to get her to open up, and maybe find a way to undo all of this in the process. “I’d like to go for a walk and you can tell me about it. Did you recreate the lake?” Lyra asked. “Yeah, it’s right over here.” Twilight grabbed her to levitate her to the lake. “I’d like to walk,” Lyra repeated. “So, friend, tell me why the day was so tough.” “Oh, I guess it’s the usual. Lots of boring city ordinances and my friends are all too busy to hang out. Dash is practicing for the Wonderbolts, Applejack is looking to expand the farm further and it’s applebuck season. Pinkie’s been visiting her parents more often, Fluttershy went to help start an animal shelter in Canterlot. Rarity and Sweetie, well, between all those dresses and their visits to their parents in Manehatten, they can’t play either. “It’s just me, Spike, and you two. . . I have to re-examine my schedule if I’m going to convince all my friends to move into New Ponyville with me.” Twilight looked away towards the basement door and wiped a hoof across her face. “Pretty soon, they’ll all leave and forget about me.” “I won’t forget about you, Twilight. I may not be thrilled at what you did, and how you did it, but there’s no changing that now. I’d like to be your best friend and make the best of this. Would you like that?” Lyra asked. She already knew how Twilight would reply, thus gaining her trust. “Yes! That’d be wonderful. Look, here’s the lake,” Twilight exclaimed. Her demeanor changed to giddiness as soon as her smile finished forming. Lyra walked up to the edge of the lake and examined her reflection. She looked much the same as she did when she was a pony. The only difference was the unnatural shine to her skin where there should be fur. Her hair appeared stiff, and yet it almost swayed like real hair. Lyra noticed her cutie mark, and then sat down and started to cry. Twilight looked at the mare and felt a twinge of guilt. Her friends were supposed to be happy, not sad. “What’s wrong best friend?” “I just realized. . . I’ll never get to play my harp again,” Lyra cried. “Oh, but I think I can fix that and we can play together! You’re still you, I just need to adjust the spell to allow you to tap your magic. It won’t be nearly as strong, in fact you probably won’t be able to do anything beyond levitate objects your own size and play lyre, but I think you’ve earned it.” Twilight left her by the lake to grab the book and lyre. She then began quietly making calculations in her head. Her horn lit up, encasing Lyra’s plastic horn. “There, try it now,” Twilight cheered. The lyre was next to Lyra, and she began to focus on it. The magic felt so different and weak, and yet she was able to hover the instrument over to her. With a few tentative plucks, she began to play a lullaby on the lyre. The miniaturized lyre was the same one that she had played all of her life. If nothing else, at least Twilight hadn’t taken away her music. The lullaby ended and Lyra set the instrument down. “That was beautiful, Lyra.” “Thanks, it’s. . . what I was going to play before you turned me into a doll,” Lyra muttered. “I meant to ask for my notes, was it painful being transformed?” Twilight inquired. “Not until the end.” Lyra shuddered. “When it reached my lungs and heart it felt like an anvil was crushing them. Why poison me and do all that anyway? Can’t you just cast a spell to do it instantly?” “No, it’s complicated. It all boils down to weakening the pony to a near-death state, suspending their essence while their body is transformed, and restoring it to them. A unicorn would have time to counter the effects. This is the only way to make a pony immortal.” Twilight brushed a hoof down Lyra’s back, causing her to shudder. “I’m. . . I’m sorry if the hemlock hurt too much.” "It was painful, but probably not as painful as your Sister-in-law's funeral. So I forgive you for the hemlock." "Yes," she replied. "The funeral was painful. Can you imagine when I have to go to Applejacks funeral to comfort Applebloom? Then Applebloom's funeral to comfort her kids, then their kids, and their grandkids? My whole life will be one friend dying after the next. I can't. . .I just can't live like that." Twilight stifled a sob. Lyra gasped. "I'm so sorry, Twilight. I had no idea. You make it sound so horrible." She had never imagined watching everypony she knew die. She didn’t even want to think about how she would die one day. Lyra realized that the concept of never dying, spending her entire life as a doll, was just as frightening. "But it'll all be okay. We'll all be together forever soon, perfect and cheerful just like I remember. Come on, what do you want to do next?" Twilight asked. Lyra smiled warmly. Many thoughts were going through her mind. Twilight seemed to genuinely want to be her friend. Lyra would be able to learn all sorts of valuable info about the spells trapping her here. At the same time, Lyra also saw a mare in pain with nopony else to talk to. “Want to go to the bowling alley with me?” Lyra trotted off happily with her lyre in tow. *************************************************************** Lyra and Twilight had explored most of the town, forgetting entirely about the angry candy maker in the lockbox. The two were laughing and cheering each other on in no time. The end to their games came when a loud bass sound started thudding through the library. “Ugh, Vinyl again. She’s the worst neighbor in Ponyville,” Twilight complained. Lyra took her place on her favorite park bench. It wasn’t the real bench where she spent her afternoons playing the lyre, yet it brought her some comfort all the same. “Are you going to ask her to turn it down?” Twilight’s eyelid was twitching each time she heard the bass rhythm. “No, I’ve had enough. I’m going to adjust the schedule and turn her into a doll tonight.” “Wait, shouldn’t you just ignore it?” Lyra hoped she could at least buy Vinyl some time. “No,” Twilight replied. Twilight began to overlook the roster of the ponies living in Ponyville. She adjusted a few strings on the board, re-arranged a couple photos, and checked a few boxes on a checklist. “There, that wasn’t too hard. I’ll get her and Octavia tonight. You three can play music together so that’s perfect! I’ll just put the house up for sell after shrinking and hiding all their personal effects, and everypony will think they moved out.” “Are you sure? I mean, I wouldn’t want you to rush and make a mistake,” Lyra stated. Another particularly loud drop shook the library. “Ugh, no, I’m ending this now. I need to get you and Bon Bon back to your house.” Twilight levitated Lyra towards her house, and pulled Bon Bon out of the box. “Filthy no-good double-crossing spoiled bra—” Bon Bon was cut off as the spell allowing her to move and speak was turned off. “Wait!” Lyra shouted. She flattened her ears and tucked her legs in as she hovered. “Please, don’t turn me back into that. It’s so horrible being trapped in my body, unable to move. Can I please stay like this? I know if I try to escape I’ll just wind up like Bon Bon did.” “Hmm. . .well I guess it couldn’t hurt, you’ve been great company tonight and I want to make you happy.” Twilight’s smile vanished as she narrowed her eyes. “Just don’t go doing anything to lose my trust, or else.” Lyra gulped as she was set down outside her house next to Bon Bon. This was the Twilight that had poisoned her the other night. The sad Twilight, the one who just wanted to play with her friends forever, had receded back inside her. “Yes, Twilight. Be safe,” Lyra said. Twilight walked up the stairs silently, locking the basement behind her. Lyra turned her attentions to Bon Bon, who had been frozen with an angry grimace on her face. “Oh Bon Bon, must you provoke her? It’s not like we could reverse the spell without her help. And look at you, she’s obviously not stable. She could leave you like this forever. Won’t you at least try to be nice to her, for me?” Lyra begged. Bon Bon couldn’t respond or move. All she could do was shed a tear from within the plastic figurine. Lyra wiped the tear off and hugged her. “I know, Bonnie, I know. . .I’m going to turn you around so you have a nicer view, then I’m going to explore this New Ponyville. Maybe I can find something useful, or at least a good hiding place Twilight doesn’t know about. If we’re patient, maybe we can find a way out.” Lyra trotted off towards town square, looking back to smile at Bon Bon before she walked out of sight. *************************************************************** Twilight banged on the door again. It was a futile effort. Vinyl likely had severe hearing damage by now, and the music was still at full volume. She looked around, then used her magic to open the door. She locked it behind her. Heading to the door to the basement, the music continued to get louder. Dust fell from the wooden beams of the ceiling from the loud music. This would be a good opportunity to test her spell on a pony that had not been subdued or weakened by herbs. She made a mental checklist in her head, preparing the scientific method for a real world trial. As she walked down the stairs she could barely hear herself think over the music. Twilight opened her mouth yelling at the DJ, to no avail. Finally, she pulled the plugs out of the wall, silencing all the equipment. “Octy, what did I say about doin—oh. Hi Twilight, was uh. . . was it too loud?” Vinyl asked sheepishly. “Yes, Vinyl, it was. And you’re never going to do it again if you want to be my friend,” Twilight threatened. Vinyl leaned over the table and raised her hoofs in a gesture of surrender. “Geez, I’m sorry, ok? We can be friends, I just forget how loud I get sometimes. So, all is forgiven?” The corner of Twilight’s mouth rose up in a smirk. “Almost, there’s just one last thing I wanted to say.” Vinyl cocked her head to the side, listening intently. Twilight fired up her horn, focusing the magic as quickly as she could. By the time Vinyl realized she was casting a spell at her, she had little time to react. The DJ panicked, releasing as much energy as she could at the incoming projectile. It deflected to the side. “Twilight what on—” Vinyl was cut off as she narrowly dodged another projectile. She turned for a second as she heard a horrible grating sound. Her subwoofers and equipment were being covered in black ooze. “No Twilight! Not my equi—” Vinyl was cut off. A large mass had attached itself to the side of her head. She looked back at Twilight through her one uncovered eye. Twilight stood on the steps smiling. “It’s over, Vinyl.” “What on Equestria?” she complained. She fired up her horn and pulled at the mass on the side of her head. She could feel it spreading down her neck and towards her nose. The magic seemed to have little effect on it. Her blue aura surrounded and slowed the ooze, but she didn’t know any defensive magic to remove it. Vinyl did the only other thing that came to her mind: she charged Twilight. If she tackled her, then she could at least take Twilight with her. Twilight gasped and jumped to the side as the blind DJ hurtled past where she had been standing. Vinyl hit the wall with a loud thud, and fell to the ground. Vinyl felt a sharp pain in her horn as she collided with the wall. She tried to focus magic on anything, but couldn’t. She wanted to stand up, but her front hooves were glued to the mass. It was creeping down her mouth and nose and it was getting hard to breath. Vinyl kicked out with her rear legs, which were now covered in the goo also. They stuck to whatever they hit, Vinyl couldn’t tell. She laid there near the stairs, spread out and convulsing. All that was left was the feeling of the thick goop rolling down into her stomach and lungs. Vinyl’s last thoughts were of Octavia. Would she think Vinyl had abandoned her, abandoned their relationship? Twilight quickly shrank the DJ down, examining the vinyl figurine. “Heh, fitting, Vinyl is now vinyl. It’s almost like my magic has a sense of humor.” She headed upstairs to get Octavia. The earth pony was a loose end now, and once she was gone the house could go up for sale. Upon reaching her room, she found that Octavia and her cello were gone. “Crap, if she’s at a concert there’s no telling when she’ll get back. . .unless I convince Vinyl to tell me.” *************************************************************** “So that’s your situation, Vinyl. Lyra here has been such a wonderful pony that I let her keep the spell active. Bon Bon was quite rude, and spent a couple hours in a small locked box. I’m going to animate you and ask you some questions. How you answer will determine what I do with you,” Twilight explained. Vinyl gasped for air as feeling and movement returned to her. She then realized what a hollow gesture it was, as she had no lungs or even throat. “Luna’s nipples, what the hay did you do to me? What was that spell?” Vinyl asked. “Didn’t we just cover that, Vinyl? I told you, I turned you into a doll so you can be my friend forever! Seriously, am I going to have to pin a list to the wall? ‘Frequently Asked Questions About Your New Life as my Immortal Best Friends’?” Twilight mocked. “I sorta get the how and why, but really. . .all this because I am too loud?” Vinyl inquired. “Nope, though your loud music did bump you to the top of my list.” She narrowed her eyes and gazed straight at Vinyl. “If you want to be happy, tell me where Octavia is.” “You leave her out of this!” Vinyl shouted. “I’m going to find her and bring her here, with or without your help. If I have to do it without your help. . .it will be unpleasant.” “She’s off at a concert and she’ll be long gone when she sees what you did to trash my equipment!” “Vinyl,” Lyra implored. “Please, don’t make her angry.” “What, and you’re on her side now? She’s psychotic. Just look at Bon Bon!” Vinyl pointed to the mare that was still standing motionless on all four legs. Twilight levitated some string and thumb tacks over to Vinyl, fastening her to the ground. She was forced onto her belly by the strings. “Well, I suppose I need to motivate you. I’ve learned pain is such a good motivator, shall we test that out?” Twilight asked. “Hey, let me go!” Vinyl yelled. “Twilight, please,” Lyra begged. The light on the ceiling that simulated the sun grew in intensity, until it lit the room up just like the real sun would have. “First, a demonstration.” Twilight pulled one of Vinyl’s hooves forward and shoved a thumb tack through it. “Ow! What the hay, stop that!” Vinyl yelled. “Tell me exactly when Octavia will be back so I can intercept her,” Twilight demanded. “Never, you're not turning her into some twisted plaything!” Vinyl tugged at her hoof. Twilight drove a thumb tack through her other leg. “Your loyalty would make Dash proud, but it’s just going to get you punished here.” She levitated a large magnifying glass over next to Vinyl. It focused the artificial sun’s rays. The painted ground where the light was focused was already charring black and smoking. “No!” Lyra yelled. She pulled at the thumbtacks trying to free Vinyl. “Lyra, stay out of this!” Twilight ordered coldly. Lyra could feel the heat from the magnifying glass, and ran. She hid behind a nearby row of bushes and covered her plastic ears. “Go ahead, kill me and get it over with,” Vinyl shouted. “As you wish.” Twilight focused the light onto Vinyl, quickly melting a hole deep into her side. “Gah! It—No—wait!—please!” Vinyl screamed. A white hot spear skewered her side, penetrating straight through it. She felt sensations of molten, sizzling plastic, and as if some part of her soul were being torn off. The pain had been unbearable, worse than anything she had ever felt as a pony. The magnifying glass was set down, and Vinyl looked back to find the wound. She could see the burnt plastic and a horrible residual pain lingered. “Tell me when Octavia will be back, and I might fix that for you.” Vinyl lowered her head in shame. “Tomorrow, 6pm at the train station.” She hardly noticed as Twilight fixed the wound, restoring her to perfect condition. Twilight then reversed the spell, freezing Vinyl. “I told you we could all live in bliss. If you two remember what you learned here today we can even be best friends.” Vinyl and Bon Bon were moved back to their respective houses. Twilight then noticed that Lyra was still out there somewhere. “Lyra? Are you hiding from me?” She returned to find Lyra still cowering behind the same bush from earlier. Twilight gently tapped her with her magic. “Lyra, are you alright?” Twilight asked. “N-n-no,” Lyra mumbled. “I’m sorry, was it Vinyl?” “Y-yes.” Lyra wiggled her muzzle further under her hooves to hide her eyes. “Lyra, I had to know when Octavia was coming back. She could ruin everything. I fixed Vinyl as good as new right after.” “P-p-please don’t do that to B-bon Bon,” Lyra cried, trembling. Twilight bit her lip and looked at her best friend shaking there. “Ok. I promise never to hurt you or Bon Bon like I did to Vinyl. If she keeps misbehaving, I’ll just continue to use solitary confinement, I won’t hurt her.” Lyra looked up from behind her bush, meeting Twilight’s giant eye that was only a few inches away. “O-okay.” “Poor thing, I won’t make you watch that ever again. Would it cheer you up if we went outside?” “You can do that?” Lyra asked as she stood up. “I can go outside?” “Well, not without my help to keep the spell active. And I can’t exactly be showing off my new Lyra toy to the whole town a day after your death. But we can head up to my balcony and have tea.” “Normal tea, this time?” Lyra inquired. Twilight joined in the laughter. “Yes, normal tea.”