//------------------------------// // L11.2 // Story: A little loopy. // by FaelaArts //------------------------------// Sweetie followed her sister to Twilight’s the next morning. It was so nice to not have to worry about school, the benefit of having a sister who was aware of the loop. As they entered, Twilight and the others turned to greet them. Sweetie shrank slightly as they all looked to her. Twilight held out Sweetie’s notes, and she carefully put them back into her saddlebags. “Alright, I’ve done some extensive studying, and there are a few methods to try to make it easier for you to fill us in. The first one I’ve done is fairly simple; each of us has written a note with something only we would know on it, and we’re going to hand them to you. I don’t need to warn you what happens when you go Gabby Gums do I?” Twilight narrowed her eyes and Sweetie shook her head. There was no point, they’d forget after a week. Sweetie decided it might make a fun joke one loop. “Alright, here’s the seven letters.” Sweetie took them, noticing Spike was off to one side. Putting them in her saddlebags, Sweetie pulled out one of her time loop books and placed it on a table. Sweetie would need more room, and she had read that one thrice already. Twilight nodded once, and then held out a small glass bottle, corked with something inside. “I have also tried alchemy to essentially ‘bottle’ my memories. This is less likely to work, so I’ve only done my own. If it does work; the others will also get one done.” Twilight held out the bottle, and Sweetie put it in her bag as well. Sweetie wondered why this one was less likely to work, but supposed it might have something to do with time rewinding being similar to looping. “Finally, I’m going to also teach you a ‘memory transfer’ spell. Essentially you’ll be able to show people, rather than try to provide evidence. The problem with this is I don’t think you have enough magic to cast it yet, but I’m sure it will be useful in the future.” Twilight held out a book titled ‘Showing versus Telling: A guide to memory spells.’ Sweetie giggled with glee and put it in her bag. New spells, oh this sounded positively exploitable. For a moment her thoughts soured, would she be able to skip that night? “I’ve left notes on the bookmarks to help you learn, but that’s essentially all I could think of at the moment. I can imagine you’re excited to try and learn the spell, so while you go have fun with that, we’re going to spend the rest of the day preparing a proper laboratory for me. If I have proper equipment, maybe I can help at least alleviate that headache you told me about. Oh! I also added a calendar spell to the front, so you can immediately know what day it is.” Twilight smiled once, and Sweetie silently thanked her. “Ok! See you later everypony.” Sweetie smiled at the adults, and turned. Trotting out the door, she missed the worried glances they all held as they formed a circle. No, she was too busy walking toward the treehouse to hear any of the conversation. But if Sweetie had thought to stay around to eavesdrop, she would have heard something startling. “So how are we going to stop that filly from going insane? All loop stories show that it is only a matter of time.” Twilight glanced between her friends, serious. If Sweetie went insane, then they would pay for it. Sure, they might not remember, but it would still hurt that version of them. Rainbow Dash frowned, before smiling. “Hey, she hasn’t tried the death thing yet right? Let’s say we convince her when she’s insane that that’s the way outta the loop.” Dash winced as all gave her shocked glares, and realised what she had said, cowering before them. “Sorry,” was all she could say in her defence. The other sighed and rolled their eyes. Dash might have been brash, and spoke without thinking, but she wasn’t a murderer. Twilight could see the logic in the plan, and knew Dash had likely not thought it through before saying it. Looking toward Pinkie Pie, she vaguely mused on the fact that Dash wasn’t the only friend who sometimes had that problem. “M-Maybe if s-she had something to h-hold onto d-during-” Fluttershy was cut off by Rarity, who raised a hoof and smiled as she spoke. “I got it! I should make her a soft toy she can hug that will go with her through the loops. It can be sort of like her good luck charm, something she can always count on to be there, her anchor.” Rarity smiled as the others all nodded, agreeing. It was better than nothing. “Alright, I’ll get started.” Rarity stood up, and bowed to her friends. Twilight watched her leave, before turning to her other friends, and smiling. “Let’s get this lab set up. I can’t wait to do some science.” Twilight rubbed her hooves together, and the other four shivered. All knew that when Twilight got like this, you did what she asked and hoped the world didn’t blow up. As they went to work, Rarity arrived back at the Boutique and hummed a tune as she began to work. ‘Now, it can’t have any gems, it needs to be sturdy. Material has to be special. The real question is, what should I make it. It has to be something Sweetie will love, but familiar too.’ Rarity sighed, flicking through her fabric. Something brushed her leg and she looked down. It was her cat, Opalescence. “Thank you Opal.” Rarity smiled, and knew just what to make the toy. Something familiar, something Sweetie loved, but never got the chance to hug. Something that was always there, like Rarity tried to be. Sitting down, Rarity slowly began to design the cat doll. It would have to be fluffy beyond compare, and made of the softest material, but not easy to damage. “Alright Opal, time to prove to the world that you are the best pet for the job.” Rarity didn’t even notice time fly, nor her sister returning home. In fact, she barely even noticed Sweetie grab a box of cereal for dinner, since Rarity had not made dinner. Sweetie didn’t mind, she was used to it. It always made her smile to see Rarity so absorbed in a task. In her talent.