//------------------------------// // Testing // Story: The Sphere // by random reader //------------------------------// The royal duties of Princess Celestia were very dull that day. Hardly anypony had come in, and Celestia was free to just fill out mindless paperwork. “I’d give up cake for a week if I could just get a distraction right about now.” thought Celestia as she signed yet another document detailing some trade agreement or another. As if to answer her wish, the telltale sign of dragon magic filtered in through the window and towards the princess. It manifested into a letter which Celestia happily snagged in her aura, forgetting the pile of paperwork she set down next to her. “Oh, what have we here? A letter from Twilight?” thought Celestia happily as she unrolled the scroll. As her eyes swept from side to side, her expression became increasingly bemused. An object that wouldn’t be affected by magic? Such a notion was to only exist in books of fantasy, not in a serious letter from her former student. But maybe… “Captain Gilded Shield,” commanded Celestia, as one of her royal gaurds approached her. “Yes, your majesty?” “Please inform my sister that I will be taking the rest of the day off. A small matter has arisen in Ponyville that may require my attention.” “Yes, your majesty.” said Gilded Shield. “Pinkie, we need another batch of chocolate chip cookies for the front counter!” shouted Mr. Cake over his shoulder. “Coming right up!” a cheerful voice from the kitchens answered back. Pinkie started mixing the butter and sugar together, as always, and was halfway through measuring out the flour when Mr. Cake called back to her again. “Pinkie, your friend Twilight is here to see you!” Suddenly, Pinkie’s whole body began shaking and convulsing. Then, as suddenly as it started, it stopped. “Ooh, Twilight has got a real doozy for me this time.” thought pinkie as she made her way out of the kitchens into the common area. “Hey Twilight, what’s up?” “Pinkie, you grew up on a rock farm, right?” asked Twilight, her expression almost pleading. “Umm, yeah, that’s where I told you I got my cutie mark, remember?” “Pinkie, I need you to come and see something with me.” Said Twilight, practically pulling Pinkie out of the shop. “Wait Twilight, I need to check to see if it’s okay with Mr. Cake for me to leave while I’m still on duty.” “It’s fine,” said Mr. Cake, having overheard the conversation. “As long as you aren’t gone for too long.” “Well then, that settles it! So Twilight, what did you want me to see-woah!” Pinkie yelped as Twilight pulled her out of the store by one hoof with her magic. “What’s going on Twilight? Why are you acting so crazy? And coming from me, I think that says a lot.” Twilight let Pinkie go, and let out a sigh. “You’re right Pinkie, it’s just that I found something that I can’t possibly explain and-“ “Twilight, we’ve been through this, remember? My pinkie sense didn’t make any sense to you either, and in the end, you just ended up accepting it for what it was. Oh, is that why you need me? To get some perspective into your head of how little you truly understand?” “Pinkie, wha- no. I need your help because I was hoping you could tell me about a rock Rainbow Dash found.” “Ooh! I’m great with rocks! I grew up on a rock farm you know.” “Yes, I know Pinkie, that’s why I need your help on this. Rainbow found a rock in Whitetail Woods, and I need your help to identify it.” “Oh, okay then, lead the way.” Twilight made her way into Whitetail woods, with Pinkie bouncing behind her. “Hmm, it was around here somewhere…” thought Twilight. As Twilight and Pinkie Pie made their way into a clearing, Twilight spotted the round gray mass that showed where the sphere was. “There it is Pinkie, now I hope you can help me with it.” As they both approached the sphere, Pinkie went right up to it and began running her hoof all over it. “Wow! It’s so smooth! And round! It’s like a miniature granite moon.” “So, it definitely is granite then?” Pinkie nodded. “Yep! I know granite when I see it, and this is most certainly granite. Beyond the shadow of a-“ Pinkie trailed off, suddenly looking uneasy. “Twilight, what’s wrong with this granite?” mumbled Pinkie, who had averted her gaze, and was now looking at the ground. That gripping unease was starting to return to Twilight as well, but not as strongly as before. “I don’t know Pinkie, that’s what I was hoping you could help me with. No matter how hard I try to levitate it, it won’t rise up. I also want to try a few other spells on it, to test whether it is truly immune to magic.” “Twilight, I don’t want to be here. This thing, it’s making me feel weird. Like it’s staring at me.” Twilight wasn’t expecting that response. Sure, the sphere freaked her out, but she never felt like it was looking at her. Twilight looked at the sphere again, and didn’t feel any different. “I’m not sure what you’re feeling Pinkie, but I’m not feeling it. You can go now though, thanks for trying.” “Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.” Said Pinkie, looking downtrodden as she walked back to Ponyville. Twilight tried to levitate the sphere 3 more times, with exactly the same result as before. Next, she tried teleporting the sphere. Even though casting the spell required a lot of energy, the sphere did not change its position. Next, she tried transfiguring the sphere, and turn it from granite to wood. Absolutely nothing happened. Finally, she tried to heat up the sphere, and yet again, Twilight was frustrated by failure. “Grr, what is with you?!” Twilight shouted, then quickly realized how silly it was to yell at a stone. Finally giving up, Twilight decided it was time to wait until the princesses replied to her letter. Princess Celestia would know what this thing was and what to do, she always knew. And with that comforting thought, Twilight turned away and went home, noticing with a start, that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “I hope Spike made some lunch in my absence.”