(Invention: The Gilgamesh)
I managed to get home faster than when I had left initially. Probably because I could see the main rotor sticking up from over the hills when I actually drove along side the fence. Either way, I had managed to keep my promise to the kids and got back before sunset. When I got closer to the ship, however, Steve was running out of the ship’s cargo bay in a panic. “SIR! We need your help pronto!”
I got off of my bike and looked at Steve for a moment before raising a hand and stopping him. “Steve, you’re going to have to explain. What is going on?”
Before Steve could even answer, a shout from the ship did so for him. “Cutie Mark Crusader Inventors YAY!” I could hear what could only be Boris, and three unidentified little girl voices coming from my ship.
I started calmly walking inside and handed my satchel to Steve. “Take this inside and put the books in my room. I need to talk with Boris.” The sound of something smashing and more hammering drew out a long, tired groan from me. “A long, long talk.”
Twilight was still pondering as she headed to the library. When she had arrived to confront Invention earlier, she’d been expecting a villain who would have claimed his knowledge to be greater, or some boastful remark about the magic not being necessary. She even would have accepted to see him acting sophisticated and stuck up like almost all of the Canterlot Nobles (her family, thankfully not included) and attempting to woo them to his side with his creations.
She hadn’t expected to see a man writhing in pain from an unknown source. Even less so did she expect him to run away.
Eventually her mind began to wander back to when she first learned of him. Not as Invention, but as the statue he had been imprisoned in. It was when she was but a filly, being lead with a group from Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. The statue had not been titled Invention, but the plaque had read “Knowledge” instead.
Twilight looked up at the strange creature as its stone face looked towards the sky. It stood on two legs and had a sword in its right hand in place of a cane. The clothes it wore reminded her of some of the nobles she had seen roaming the city. The little filly looked up at Celestia as she lead the tour. “Princess Celestia? What’s this one?”
Celestia seemed to falter for just a moment before she looked back towards the filly and knelt down. “This statue, my dear Twilight, is Knowledge, and the ability to shape the world with it’s power.” Celestia stood once more and looked over the tour group. “Now let us continue with the tour, This statue over here represents Chaos and Disharmony....”
Now that she recalled the memory, Twilight felt both worry and confusion. Celestia was treating Invention’s escape with even more seriousness than she even did with Discord or Nightmare Moon. Admittedly, the second one was her sister, but at the time Luna had nearly killed the whole world. Despite this, Invention still seemed to hold more importance than that to her mentor, which was the source of her worry. At one point he had been bested, and it filled her with the hope that they might be able to do so once more.
But then there was the moments she had seen herself that continued to contradict what she was hearing. Invention had not mortally harmed anyone during the fight aside from knocking them out and immobilizing them. He could have rendered her and her friends powerless by not giving them Rainbow back and keeping her prisoner somewhere far away. Yet he didn’t, and simply let them and every guard leave. Even Luna said that he was only a thief, but that wouldn’t have been enough to make Celestia take such drastic measures as to imprison him in stone.
Twilight shook her head and tried to clear the thoughts into some form of organization, but no matter how much she shook, they continued to bounce around in her mind. The menagerie of thoughts ended up making her think of the same question she had tried to ask the supposed criminal before he had fled. Just who are you Invention, and what did you do?
She was finally given the out she was looking for from her thoughts when Spike came running up to her. “Twilight! Twilight!” He came to a stop and started panting as he pointed back to the library. “Twilight! Something.... in library....out of nowhere....”
Twilight picked up her assistant and placed him on her back. She considered getting her friends really quick, but then remembered what had just transpired and made her go into her thoughts so heavily earlier. “Don’t worry Spike. I’ll take care of this. You get some rest.” You’ve earned it, she added silently.
Spike was out like a light as he laid down on her back and began to snore softly. Twilight teleported back to the library and into her room as she placed Spike on her bed. The drake curled up again for the third time that day and finally managed to get to sleep.
Twilight gave him a kiss on the head before she hardened her face and began to head downstairs. She didn’t want to risk teleporting, as not knowing where the creature was could lead her to accidentally fusing with it in a most unseemly and deadly way for both her and whatever was downstairs.
When she got downstairs, she spotted the creature instantly. The young woman was still laying in the middle of the floor, but had rolled onto her side and showed that only her right arm was covered by the long metal glove, and a shorter one that ended at the wrist was on her left hand. She was breathing deeply and slowly, assuring the world that she was in fact asleep. Twilight however, was instantly reminded of Invention when she looked at the young woman and cautiously approached. With her magic, she hesitantly nudged the young woman in an attempt to rouse her from slumber. This brought two things to Twilight’s mind that put her at a less worried state.
One, this woman did have magic in her unlike Invention, and it crackled like that of a pegasus.
Two, the lack of swords being drawn upon waking up made the woman seem less violent, and MUCH more approachable.
The young woman yawned and stretched as she sat up off of the floor, causing her form to be more pronounced for a moment. Her bleary hazel eyes looked around in a daze as she spoke up. “Wow, Greg I just had the weirdest dream. We went shopping for Halloween costumes and you helped me find a really nice sword to finish mine. Then the sidewalk vanished and I was falling for a while before I woke up just now.” The young woman giggled a little as she slowly started waking up. “Isn’t that silly? Sidewalks don’t just vanish.”
Twilight looked around nervously as she backed away from the bleary woman and looked at the bookshelves for a moment before daring to speak up. “Um... who are you talking to?”
The woman’s head snapped up and she looked around confused for a moment. “Wait a second.... this isn’t my house.” She stopped looking around as she spotted Twilight before jumping back with a startled yelp. “HOLY CRAP A UNICORN!”
Twilight also jumped back and had her horn lit up. “S-Stay back!”
The young woman raised her hands and waved them frantically. “That’s what I was about to say to you now please don’t hurt me!”
Twilight stopped channeling her magic and looked at the newcomer in confusion. “Hurt you?... Aren’t you.... with Invention?”
The young woman was hiding behind Twilight’s sofa as she peaked over for a moment. “Who the heck is Invention!? Where the heck am I!? What is going on!?”
Twilight sighed and looked back and forth for a moment before speaking up again. “Okay... I think we can both help each other here. But for me to be able to help you, I need you to stop hiding behind my couch and calm down.” Just as soon as my heart does as well. She started to trot over to her kitchen and looked over her shoulder back at the cowering woman. “I think some tea might be able to help you. What kind would you prefer?”
The woman was silent for a moment before a sigh could be heard from the couch. “Some Earl Grey would be nice right about now. Never liked the other stuff.” Twilight nodded and went to her cabinet to fetch the tea packets and used her magic to heat up the tea kettle before placing the bag inside. When she had finished brewing the tea, she brought the kettle and two cups out to the main room.
The woman had stopped hiding behind the couch and was sitting nervously as she looked around the library in curiosity. She stared for a moment in shock at the floating cutlery as it descended onto the table and Twilight sat down across from her. “There, now before we begin. I heard that you were wearing a ‘costume’ of somepony. May I ask what your name is?”
The woman twiddled with her hair for a moment before taking a small sip of tea. “I-It’s Jenny. Jenny Eriman.” Jenny took another sip as her muscles started to relax and her nerves calmed. “So uh.... who are you?”
Twilight offered a hoof. “My name is Twilight Sparkle. It’s a pleasure to meet you Jenny.”
Jenny nodded in agreement before looking at Twilight’s hovering tea cup. “The pleasure’s mine. Now up... where am I, and more importantly how in Heaven’s name are you doing that?”
(CMC and Boris: The Gilgamesh; Invention’s workshop)
Boris and his three new friends all backed away from the workbench and stared at what they had built. It may have been just a flashlight, a few of his dad’s bullets, and a bottle cap before, but now it was this super cool metal tubey...looking...thing... “So... any of you know what it does?”
Scootaloo looked at him for a moment. “I thought you knew.”
Sweetie scrunched up her face and attempted to lift it with her magic, but it only hovered an inch before falling back to the workbench. “It’s pretty heavy.”
Boris picked it up and turned it in his hands a few times. “I wonder what would happen if we turned it on.”
Applebloom eyed the device wearily. “Ah’m not too sure that’s a good idea.”
Boris and Scootaloo rolled their eyes and looked at her. “Aw come on Applebloom. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Ehem...” Boris froze and all of them turned, albeit some slower than others, to see me standing in the doorway. I had a scowl plastered on my face and was rhythmically tapping my foot on the ground. “Boris. Who exactly are your new friends?”
Sweetie Belle smiled a little and hopped down from the bench before trotting over to me. “Hi, I’m Sweetie Belle.” She pointed over to the others and introduced them. “And that’s Applebloom and Scootaloo.”
Scootaloo waved and I saw her holding one of my grappling hooks. “Hi.”
I walked over and picked it out of her hooves before placing it on the shelf. “Don’t touch that.” I turned to look at Boris, who was hanging his head. “Boris, what have I told you about bringing others into my workshop?”
Applebloom lowered her own head and grimaced. “Ah’m guessin’ we weren’t supposed ta be in here?”
I looked down at the three sad fillies before sighing and lightly gesturing over to the door. “No, you weren’t. But neither was Boris. So I think it’s proper that you three should wait out in the hall while I have a word with my son.”
They all lowered their head and started to trot out of the room. “Yes sir...”
Boris was still sitting on my stool as he fiddled with his fingers. “Um... dad I-”
“Not another word Boris.” I looked over at him again and he winced under my gaze. “I told you to stay on the ship. We are beyond far enough from the town I found that the only way those three could even get here was if someone were to bring them.” My gaze softened and I put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m guessing you just got a little cabin fever from being on the ship so long?”
Boris nodded and I pulled him into a light hug. “It’s alright, but that doesn’t change the fact you did exactly what I told you not to do. So that grounding I had decided to lay off will have to happen sooner it seems.” I let go of the hug and stepped back. “And that’s final.”
Boris looked at me with wide eyes as he jumped up out of the seat. “But Dad! Ed said it was okay to go exploring and Vicky came with me! We found them on accident! How come I’m getting grounded?”
My eye twitched for a moment before I sighed and rubbed my head. “I never said that your sister was getting off scott free Boris. She’s grounded too.” I took the device they had built from him and started for the door. Boris followed behind me with his head hanging. “Now head on up to your room, I’ll be back after I take these three home.”
Boris nodded and looked over at the three fillies who were standing behind me. “Bye girls.”
They all waved back as he headed up stairs. “Bye Boris.” Sweetie piped up for a moment. “Tell Vicky to come over to my sister’s boutique some time!”
I raised an eyebrow at that, but shook my head and started herding the trio back out of the ship. “Alright, that’s enough you three.” I looked over at The Psycho again and saw that Ed was attaching the small side car I’d built to it. I mounted the bike before turning it around and pointing to the car. “Grab your things and hop in. I’ll be leaving you with your families so they can decide how you should be punished. You did after all, run away from town and more than likely sent them into a panic.”
(Jenny: Ponyville)
Jenny listened intently to what Twilight said as she sipped at her tea. “So... this place is called Equestria, and there are other kinds of ‘ponies’ aside from unicorns like you?” Twilight nodded and Jenny frowned as she stared into her tea. They’d been discussing for the past hour about Twilight’s world, and it only seemed to make her feel afraid. Gone were the plain lifestyle and simple words of college life, and in their place was a land of fantasy where magic was commonplace. Heck, she was talking with a unicorn right now. With a sigh Jenny set her tea down and rubbed her head. “I’m sorry if I seem rude Twilight, but this is all so crazy.”
Twilight nodded a little. “I understand, and I don’t blame you.” Twilight’s mind ran towards an article she had read on tests to see if being taken from your home magically can have psychological effects on the mind. It happened a few years ago to see what kinds of damage could be done. It was all voluntary, thankfully, but half the subjects became paranoid to extreme degrees for months. Could something like that be happening to Invention?
Jenny cleared her throat and Twilight jumped a little. Jenny just smiled and rubbed the back of her head a little. “So anyways. When I woke up, you mentioned someone named Invention. Is he a pony like you?”
Twilight shook her head. “No actually, he isn’t.” She blushed a little and rubbed a hoof against her foreleg. “And I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions like that. It’s just that ever since he showed up earlier this morning, I’ve been so confused about what I’m supposed to do.”
Jenny hummed and picked up her tea to take another sip. “I see. Well Twilight, I’m not sure how I could help you with your dilemma. I know next to nothing about what’s happening in your life.”
Twilight put down her own tea before looking at Jenny. “Um, Jenny. This may seem insensitive, but how are you taking this so well? You just woke up in my living room, on another world, and are behaving remarkably well. I’d have thought that if I was in your position, I’d be panicking.”
Jenny took another sip of tea before smiling at Twilight. “Well, I’m leaning a little towards this all being a dream to be honest. If that is the case then I’ll wake up in my bed eventually and go on with my life.” She took another sip of tea as Twilight leaned back before talking again. “But this tea is starting to convince me otherwise. I think I burned my tongue a couple times.”
Twilight looked at Jenny in confusion before she blinked rapidly. “But... then why are you behaving so well?”
Jenny smiled softly as she set down the now empty teacup. “Because if this isn’t a dream, I don’t want to ruin my first impressions. They’re the most important, and ultimately shape how others see us.”
Twilight nodded and smiled a little. “That is true. I remember when I moved to this town. It was like everypony here was crazy.”
Jenny rubbed the metal gloves and sighed. “Speaking of crazy, the plastic gloves suddenly turning metal and my sword suddenly being a real blade are rather high on that list.”
Twilight nodded in agreement as she levitated Jenny’s sword over to the table before setting it down. They both stared at the blade in awe before Twilight looked up. “I remember you said that it was part of a costume. Who exactly where you dressing up as?”
Jenny smiled and clapped her hands together, causing a metallic clang. “I was supposed to be going to a party as General Beatrix of Alexandria, greatest sword wielder in the country, and loyal knight. She was one of my favorite characters from a game I used to play as a kid. When my little brother Greg found me a replica of her sword, Save the Queen, and then bought it for me, I couldn’t be happier. Then...” Jenny’s smile fell as she looked down at the blade. “I showed up here after falling through a hole in the ground.”
Twilight would have inquired further, but the door to the library slammed open and Rarity came charging through. “Twilight! Please tell me you’ve seen Sweetie Belle! She’s not at my boutique or with my parents!” Rarity then saw Jenny and shrieked in surprise and fright.
Jenny winced as Twilight trotted over to Rarity. “Rarity, calm down. She’s not like Invention. She only just arrived in my library.” Twilight eventually managed to calm the fashionista down and brought her closer to the table Jenny was sitting at. “Rarity, this is Jenny Eriman. Jenny, this is my friend Rarity.”
The armor clad woman held out a hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Rarity hesitantly shook Jenny’s hand before shaking her head. “Oh, I don’t have time for this... I’m terribly sorry Ms. Eriman, but I’m looking for my sister and I can’t find her anywhere. We’ll have to have a proper introduction later.” Rarity started trying to drag Twilight out of the library when Jenny stood up and picked up her sword.
She put it in the sheath it had come with and walked over. “Do you mind if I help? It doesn’t feel right to me to stand by and not help when someone could be in danger.”
Rarity hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. “Alright, but please we need to find her soon. Who knows what could be happening to her.” The three women then ran out of the building, and off into the town.
