Time Lost
Ch. 7: Pinkie Pie’s World Destroying Idea
Disclaimer: I do not own the right to MLP. All other characters are of my own creation.
Pinkie Pie stood triumphantly in front of the ponies and hippogriff with a raised hoof. All eyes were on the pink pony, her hair vibrating under the stress of Pinkie Pie’s excitement. Before God himself, Pinkie held her audience captivated with bated breath.
“Um, Pinkie Pie,” Twilight began, “could you what you were about to say. We’ve been waiting here for five minutes?”
Was it five minutes? It felt longer than that.
“Oh right,” Pinkie Pie blushed in embarrassment, “and now without further ado, My Idea.” A single drum rolled in front of Pinkie.
Luke raised an eyebrow at the traveling instrument, “Okay.”
“Luke can have a sleepover with his new friends!”
Pinkie Pie’s voice split the air in half, then decided to punch it in the gut, stab it and take its wallet.
Luke pressed both of his palms to his eardrums. Owe. Luke’s eye watched the ponies in front of him for their reaction. The fillies and colts were jumping up and down while the adults smiled. Luke felt torn at the idea. Sure a sleepover would be fun, but it’s been years since Luke’s ever been to one. It felt kinda childish. Hi pot, my names kettle. Have we met? Luke thought to himself as all those wide eyes beamed directly at him with their phazors set to stun.
Pinkie Pie looked to Luke with an expecting eye, “What do you think Luke?”
“I would love to,” Luke started, “as long as Big Mac and Applejack wouldn’t mind.”
“That’s alright,” Big Mac shrugged his massive shoulders. Big Mac reached over and took Luke’s saxophone in his hoof, “I’ll take this home for ya. Don’t want ya to damage it while you’re playing with your friends.”
Luke offered Big Mac a happy smile, “Thanks Big Mac.”
Before anyone could say anything Pinkie Pie appeared next to Luke, balancing the cardboard box on her head. “Don’t forget the cupcakes!”
Luke turned to Pinkie Pie. When did she box those? When did she move? Why is one pony hurting my head so much?
“Sure,” Luke offered a sheepish smile.
“Just one problem,” Applejack pointed out. “Where are the six of you going to have your sleepover at?”
Every party needs a pooper
That’s why they invited you.
Party pooper.
Party pooper.
“Oh! Oh!” Button Mash jumped up and down to gain everyone’s attention. “My house is close. We can go there.”
“What about your mom?” the white unicorn with a purple curly mane standing next to Sweetie Belle said. Rarity looked at Luke with a small smile, unnerved by his attitude earlier and sad at his situation.
“Oh I don’t mind,” a tan earth pony with a straight dark brown mane and a cutie mark of a heart and milk bottle said from the entryway.
“Yeah!” Button Mash stood on his hind legs, his front legs waving excitedly in the air.
Luke looked at Button Mash’s Mom closely. She wore a kind and warm smile. “Hi, Mrs. Button Mash,” Luke smiled.
“You don’t need to call me that,” Button Mash’s Mom chuckled slightly. “You can call me Milano.”
Button Mash froze in place, his eyes growing wide. “Wait!” Button Mash turned to face his mom, “You’re names Milano.”
“Yes Button,” Milano said with a raised eyebrow. “What did you think my name was?”
“Mom.”
Milano’s hoof went to her forehead. “Button, I may be your mom but that doesn’t mean my name is mom.”
The look on Button Mash’s face, Priceless! Those wide innocent eyes were filled to the brim with so much confusion and wonder it was like Button Mash had stumbled upon a copy of Playcolt and didn’t know what to do with it.
I remember when I stumbled on my dad’s magazine collection…
…
…
I was in so much trouble when mom found out. But it was worth it!
“Really?”
Milano felt the all too familiar urge to smack her hoof against her head a second time. Instead Milano smiled at Button Mash, patting her son on the head, “Yes sweetie.”
“Thank ya kindly, Milano,” Applejack smiled gratefully alongside her brother.
It didn’t take long before Luke and the rest of the children entered Button Mash’s house. The house was nice, lined with warm green wallpaper and light brown wooden floors. Luke’s eye wondered over the collection of pictures hanging across the wall. Luke could barely make out some of the pictures because they were placed really high on the wall. From some of the lower ones, Luke could see a very happy family. A short stallion with light grey fur, a brown mane and eyes smiling at the camera with Milano wrapped in his hooves. In front of them were two colts, the smaller one being Button Mash. The older one had to be his brother. His brother took after his father with grey fur, but his mane was a bright blond and his eyes were the brightest blues Luke had ever seen.
Luke along with the rest of the group followed Button and Rumble further into the house. All the adults had left, leaving Luke alone with the other children. Luke could feel a disturbance in the air. The universe was winding up for something and it was going to bite Luke in the rear. With how much the temperature was rising, Luke assumed it was going to be a dozy. Do you smell sulfur? Repent, yo. Repent.
Milano followed closely, listening to the random conversation the five ponies and hippogriff were having. “So after we managed to sneak past the laser grid system, Rumble and I grabbed the last copy of Dead or Alive 6 in all of existence,” Button Mash finished his grand tale with a wide grin.
Luke and the rest of the CMC were scratching their heads. “Why would you pay 60 bits for a fighting game?” Luke asked, already familiar with the currency of Equestria.
Applebloom looked at Luke, dumbfounded, “That’s what you focus on? Not the shark pit, zombies, the evil wolf robots, or Nazi vampires? You instead focus on the price?”
“Well yeah,” Luke rolled his eye. “Who would pay sixty bucks for a new fighting game? Unless it’s Mortal Kombat or the next Dragon Ball game, anything else is of no concern to me.”
Button Mash turned to Luke, “I have no idea what any of those are.”
Luke’s face melted into the look of pure horror. No! Now I’ll never get to play as Super Saiyan God Goku or Scorpion. Why? WHY?
When the small group reached the end of the hallway, Button Mash pushed open the door to his room. Button’s room was, surprisingly clean. I’m guessing his mom made him clean it today. Pushed against one corner of the room was a bed with a comforter sporting the image of a tan mare with a long flowing white mane wearing a green tunic and cap with the captions ‘The Legend of Epona.’
Before Luke could scrutinize this further he caught sight of Button Mash’s toy box at the foot of the bed spread. Under the window sill was a wide bookcase filled to the brim with every type of video game imaginable. A soft rug occupied the majority of the floor, its dark brown and tan colors complemented the light walls. Pushed against the opposite wall was the single most important thing in Equestria. A choir of angels sung the ancient hymns of the gamer when Luke’s amber eye fell on something so beautiful. A large television screen with multiple gaming consoles stacked neatly underneath it on the shelf.
It’s so beautiful.
“So,” Button Mash turned to face his friends, “this is my room. And these…” Button rushed to his television and game systems, “are my game systems!” Button smiled widely at the majesty of technology at his disposal. Luke whistled while the rest of the ponies only rolled their eyes. Button scanned all of his friends’ faces, asking, “What would you want to do?”
Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and Applebloom thought deeply. Luke merrily shrugged. Rumble was about to answer but a blur of pink stopped him.
“How about some cupcakes?!” Pinkie Pie sang to the smaller children, holding the box high in the air.
All of the children looked at her in confusion. “Where did you come from? And where were you carrying those? And where were they after we left Sugarcube Corner?” Luke asked, his brain jumping into high gear trying to process all of this new information.
“I kept them in my mane,” Pinkie Pie answered with a smile, laying the box on the ground. “Milano doesn’t like Button having a lot of sweets late at night and I knew she would just put them on the counter when she got home. So I decided to deliver them myself. Enjoy!” Pinkie Pie’s hoof flipped open the lid to reveal twelve beautiful cupcakes covered in frosting of bright blues, pinks, yellow, orange, red and purple.
The ponies felt their mouths water. So did Luke, but one was really bugging him. None of the foals saw hide or hair of Pinkie when they left Sugarcube Corner. “Why were you hiding? Isn’t that like stalking?”
“Oh Luke,” Pinkie Pie softly patted Luke on his feathered head, “I stalk all of my new friends. That’s how I learn all their likes and dislikes.”
Luke’s beak opened and closed, no sound leaving his throat.
Pinkie Pie took this opportunity to shove a chocolate cupcake in Luke’s open mouth. Sure it was delicious and yes Luke really enjoyed, but Pinkie Pie’s answered raised some very disturbing questions. Luke swallowed his mouthful of sugary goodness before turning to face Pinkie Pie, but she wasn’t there.
Like a shadow in the night, Pinkie Pie disappeared without a trace.
Luke quickly scanned the room, looking for any sign of pink. “How did she do that?”
Applebloom put a comforting hoof to Luke’s shoulder. “It’s Pinkie Pie, it’s best not to question it.”
“But-“
“No.”
“But-“
“No.”
Luke huffed indignantly, “Fine.” Luke eyed the box of cupcakes. For some reason only one cupcake remained. Applebloom, Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo, Rumble and Button Mash were happily licking the frosting from their lips. A bright blue cupcake covered with sprinkles shaped like stars literally had Luke’s name written all over it. It looked so good and Luke really-really wanted to eat it. And I sure don’t regret it.
From the bush outside Button’s window, two ponies were quietly arguing. “Pinkie, why did you do that?” Twilight whispered harshly.
“The cupcakes would go to waste,” Pinkie responded passionately. From the tone in Pinkie Pie’s voice, a wasted cupcake could be the end of the world for all she cared.
“Was breaking and entering really necessary?” Twilight asked.
“No, but it made it more fun,” Pinkie answered with a giggle. “By the way, why are we out here?”
“I’m studying.”
“Studying what?”
“Luke,” Twilight answered, a notepad and quill held at the ready in her purple magic.
“Why?”
“Because,” Twilight answer, jotting down notes as Luke ducked under a flying pillow. The room exploded in full pandemonium with Luke grabbed the fallen pillow, using it to counter attack on a rushing Appebloom. “I need to start a case study. If I can outline Luke’s characteristics, I can then create a basic profile of him for future studies.”
“Soooooooo,” Pinkie rubbed her chin, “you’re stalking him?”
“I am not stalking him!”
“But you’re watching him without his knowledge and making notes on what you observe,” Pinkie pointed out innocently.
“Yeah, but this is for science,” Twilight countered. “I can use this knowledge for when I do a physical examination.”
“So? I was doing the same thing for a different reason.”
“Wait, what?” Twilight asked in absolute confusion.
“I was following Luke yesterday to find the perfect present for him,” Pinkie Pie admitted without any remorse.
“Okay,” Twilight eyed her friend with some hesitation.
“But that was a gift to make him smile,” Pinkie continued. “What you’re doing is kinda creepy?”
“Creepy?” Twilight nearly yelled. “What about you and your stalking?”
“I’m not the one who wants to physically examine an eight-year-old,” Pinkie Pie said.
Twilight just sat there, surrounded by swaying branches and leaves. No sound or words to describe the level of shame and embarrassment she felt right now.
“Oooooh,” Pinkie Pie whispered, looking at the fillies and colts inside the room.
“What?” Twilight asked, dropping her notebook to the ground like it was a venomous snake.
“Those cupcakes I gave them were my super secret sugar deluxe special cupcakes,” Pinkie squinted, looking intently at the six children that were froze in place. “And it looks like they’re about to take effect.” Luke was completely still, his arm half-way to delivering a feathery pillow to Scootaloo’s side. Applebloom froze in the process of holding Rumble in one arm while giving him a severe case of the noogies. Sweetie Bell and Button Mash held their pillows against the other’s head. Across the room, Twilight could just see Button’s favorite hat lying on the floor far away from the action.
“What happened?”
Pinkie Pie turned to Twilight, “My super special cupcakes tend to have a delayed effect. After a couple seconds, the pony eating these cupcakes will get hit by with enough sugar to put a groan stallion into a coma.”
Twilight closed her eyes, trying to think of a response. “Why would you make a cupcake like that? Better yet, why would you give them to six children?”
“That’s how I start my day,” Pinkie Pie replied offhandedly, “with a large healthy dose of sugar. And I gave them those cupcakes to make their night even better.”
“Pinkie? I don’t think that’s healthy,” Twilight responded.
“You know the doctors keep telling me that, but I feel just fine.
Her mind turned back to the six children in the room. All of their large eyes were wide, their black pupils growing large to blot out their irises. This won’t end well. Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie, grabbing her by the tail with her magic. “We’re leaving,” was all Twilight said before she forcibly dragged her down the street and away from the impending disaster.
“But I wanna see what happens next,” Pinkie Pie whined. But no amount of begging would change Twilight’s mind.
Inside the room, Luke could see everything. All around him, Luke could see the individual particles in front of his own eyes. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, H2O and many more compounds flew through the open air. Luke could feel the earth beneath his feet, the massive tectonic tiles moving ever so slowly under his claws and hooves. Luke looked up to the roof. Through the wooden structure, Luke could feel the radiation leaking through the solid structure. They called to the young hippogriff with their warm glowing light. “Guys,” Luke said in a hushed whisper. “I’m don’t want you to freak out, but I think I can feel the universe. And it’s tripping me out.”
“I can see the future,” Button Mash yelled loudly. “I see the birth of a great icon, the bringer of the greatness in the world of video games who will lead a small company to the level of giants in his final fantasy.”
Scootaloo giggled loudly to Luke’s right. Scootaloo was gently poking Luke’s un-bandaged feathery neck. “These are like the softest thing I’ve ever felt,” Scootaloo wheezed out between her giggles. Scootaloo moved close to Luke and proceded started to rub against Luke’s soft, smooth feathers. “I just… I just don’t get it. How’d you get so soft? Where you always this soft?”
While Scootaloo proceeded to rub against Luke like a common house cat, Rumble’s wings were going into overdrive. The young colt hovered two feet above the ground. Rumble looked to the ground in complete disbelief, a high buzzing sound filling the room as his tiny wings flapped as hard as they could. “Hey! Hey!” Rumble screamed to his friends. When all of their eyes were on him, Rumble said, “I can fly!”
Applebloom toppled onto her flank, laughing up a storm at Rumble’s complete awe at himself. Applebloom’s face was red and she had difficulty focusing on anything around her. Everything sure looked funny to her.
Sweetie Bell looked to Rumble, then to the jabbering Button Mash, the laughing Applebloom and both Scootaloo and Luke with wide eyes. Every motion was so slow. Rumble was moving through the air slower than Fluttershy before Sweetie Bell’s eyes. She could make out each feather in his tiny wings. Sweetie Bell could the air pass through each of Rumble’s individual feathers as they slowly lifted up and down. “IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ccccccccccaaaaaaaannnnnnnn ffffffffffflllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy!”
Luke noticed Sweetie Bell’s look of horror. The world around her were slow, the words her friends were saying were hard to understand. Deciding to go to her, Luke’s stumbled towards the white unicorn. But he quickly had to stop because the universe decided to turn on the gravity, causing Luke to stumble worse than a stoned biblical whore.
Luke sat on his flank, watching the particles collide in front of his face before they exploded in bright fireworks. Far out.
The rest of the night became a blur for the children.
0 0 0
Milano yawned widely, stretching her limbs as she jumped out of bed. Wishfully, Milano looked to the empty side of her bed. Unfortunately, her husband was on a business trip to Trottingham for the next two weeks. The alarm clock read 9:55 A.M. Milano shrugged off the late hour the children finally went to bed and trotted out the room, moving down the hallway towards Button Mash’s room.
Milano knew the deal with sleepovers. Her little Mash and his friends would be very loud for the beginning until they tired out. After the sixth body crashed into the hard floor, all the noise from Button Mash’s room ended and Milano could finally get to sleep.
When she pushed open the door, Milano’s jaw hit the floor. Passed out in the center of the room was Button Mash, covered from head to tail in every color of food coloring Button could find in the kitchen.
Last night, Button wanted to know what it was like to be a rainbow.
It was a good idea at the time.
Sweetie Bell’s head rested on Button’s back. Her mane was jagged and short. Last night, Sweetie Bell had a panic attack and thought her hair was trying to eat her.
Rumble was hanging from the ceiling, his tail knotted in one of the fan’s blade. Rumble mumbled incoherently as he slowly rotated around in circles.
Applebloom was curled under a pile of pillows. Fort Apple had survived the Great Pillow War of Last Night. Many lives were lost, but Applebloom’s hard work and engineering had survived. Where other fell, Applebloom was still standing to bask in the glory of victory.
Luke had his back pressed against the frame of Button Mash’s bed. His head was leaning against the soft mattress with his mouth wide open. Dozens of papers were tapped to Luke’s body, making him look like a Christmas tree so pathetic the one in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special is laughing at him. This paper assortment also included a papier-mâché yellow star strapped directly to his forehead. A white foam coated Luke’s mouth, falling slowly to the ground as he mumbled, “I’m gonna get you cupcakes. You are the food and I am the destroyer.”
Scootaloo was the only one lying on the bed. The small filly was curled up in the center of a nest created by the comforter and sheet covering Button’s bed. At some point during the night, someone decided to draw a set of glasses and a mustache on Scootaloo’s face. And whoever they may be, I hope for their sake she doesn’t find out.
Milano felt a headache growing. The pain struck the center of her brain before traveling through her nervous system to settle just behind her large eyes. But that wasn’t the worst part. In the center of the room was the white empty box Pinkie Pie used for her cupcakes. In that moment, Milano knew who was responsible for the children’s current state.
From outside, the peaceful morning in Ponyville was quiet. Ponies were going about their business. A loud shrieked filled the air, striking fear into the hearts of everypony and succeeded in scaring the living daylights out of the six passed out children. “Pinkie Pie!”
In Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie shot up in her bed. “Oh no. I’ve really done it now,” Pinkie Pie mumbled to herself. “Quick to the Pinkie Cave!” Pinkie Pie threw herself into her closet. Her tail closed the door behind her.
The white sliding doors open just barely a slivered, a pink hoof quickly depositing a note on the door knob reading ‘Pinkie Pie’s not here.’ Gummy slept peacefully on his pillow, unaware of his owner’s distress.
0 0 0
After waking up all the children, and detangling a panicking Rumble from the ceiling fan, Milano set about making waffles.
“What happened last night?” Luke sat between Scootaloo and Button Mash, rubbing his head in a vain hope of alleviating the growing pain in his skull. Several patches of feathers and fur were missing from his coat. Apparently scotch tap wasn’t enough, so they resorted to duck tape.
Everyone at the table shook their heads. Button Mash was too busy scrubbing his fur with a wet rag. “Mom! It’s not coming off!”
“Rarity’s going to kill me,” Sweetie Bell slowly ran her hoof over her shortened mane.
Rumble had his eyes closed, holding his hooves to his head. “Make the spinning stop. Make it stop.”
Applebloom kept her forehead pressed against the table top. Scootaloo’s eyes were half lidded giggling softly to herself, “I don’t know what happened. But it had to be awesome.”
Milano turned to the table, holding a large plate in her teeth stacked high with the golden brown perfection only a mom could make. Cause every time I tried to make waffles, they end up either burnt or uglier than the Toxic Avenger’s complexion.
The children dug in with no mercy. Jumping on the stack of waffles like a pack of wild wolves. There was no mercy today. Only headache’s and hunger.
A loud knocking at the door gave Milano an excuse to leave the room. If she wasn’t careful, she might lose a hoof by accident.
“Hello?” Milano called out, opening the door to the bright morning light.
Applejack smiled widely at Milano, “Howdy.”
“Hey Applejack,” Milano smiled warmly. “Are you picking up the children today?”
“Sure am,” Applejack nodded. “Big Mac and Ah thought it would be good for me and Luke to spend some time together. Rarity’s probably still asleep and ah can drop off Scootaloo on my way to taking Luke to get his saddles made.” Applejack followed Milano into the household, “Do ah need to take Rumble home?”
“No, that’s alright. Thunderlane’s going to pick up Rumble after he’s done grocery shopping,” Milano said.
“Where was Thunderlane last night?” Applejack asked inquisitively.
“He and Roseluck were having an alone night.”
“Oh,” Applejack blushed a slight red.
Turning into the kitchen, Applejack was caught by surprise by the state of the five ponies and one hippogriff. “What happened to ya’ll?”
0 0 0
Luke squinted in the bright morning light. That sun is way too bright. After having to deal with Rarity’s reaction to Sweetie Bell’s new hair style, left the young hippogriff partially deaf. Scootaloo’s parents were cool. Thank goodness Rarity was able to magic the marker off her face.
Luke slumped against Applejack’s back with a sigh. The banging against his head was putting him in a bad mood. And constantly being carried around like a Chihuahua is really getting on my nerves, Luke thought angrily, but he sighed in defeat knowing that his speed and stamina were still very low. Applebloom was surprisingly quiet while they trudged down the dirt roads of Ponyville. “Hey Applejack?”
“Yes?”
“Could we stop by the library after I get my saddles? I wanna grab a new book to read,” Luke asked as nicely as he could.
“Sure thing,” Applejack smiled widely. “We’ll have to drop by Twilight’s place to have a look. But I’m sure she won’t mind you borrowing a few books.”
“Thank you.”
Luke, Applejack and Applebloom entered the cozy saddle shop. The front area was occupied by several wooden chairs with thick cushions overlooking a very tidy desk. Stationed behind the desk was a stool surrounded by three mirrors with several bright lights. To one side of the store was a large work station with one of the most heavy duty sewing machines Luke has ever seen. It was nothing like the one Luke’s mom used from the far distant past. It was made completely out of metal with four arms that contained thick thread being pulled into the center of the machine with the thickest needle Luke had ever seen. Against the wall were several rolls of fabric held inside a worn shelf.
Sitting patiently at the desk had to be the oldest earth pony Luke had ever seen. Her hair was pure white. She had wrinkles all over her faded pink coat that almost blocked out her eyes. Lady Silk had a very warm smile. Here white teeth sparkled brightly in the morning light. Her Cutie Mark was that of a heart shaped piece of fabric with several patches stitched together by a long grey needle.
“Good morning,” Silk said. Her voice was surprising. She sounds like the Asian lady I met at the laundry mat, Luke thought to himself.
Applejack tipped her hat to Lady Silk, “Howdy.”
“Howdy,” Applebloom smiled.
“Hello.”
“How can I help you today?” Silk asked.
“Luke here needs some saddles for school,” Applejack turned to present her passenger.
“Oh that’a sounds good,” Silk nodded. “Pleasea follow me, little griffon.”
Luke hopped of Applejack’s back. Luke stumbled slightly as he landed with his slightly opened wings. His flying was still a work in progress.
Lady Silk had Luke stand on the stood in front of the mirror. “Now, I’ma going to take your measurements. Then you cana pick the colors for your saddle,” Lady Silk smiled at Luke.
Luke nodded.
Lady Silk’s gently hooves went to work. Her gentle hooves held a tape measure between them as they noted Luke’s length from torso to tail, how tall he was, his waist and ribs. The skill of Lady Silk was apparent in all of her movements. “Very small, but needs room to grow. Best use the denim on the outside… That’ll last longer with those claws,” Lady Silk continued to circle around Luke.
Luke didn’t mind. It was like getting tailored. Lady Silk was very sweet and the measurements were going fine. Until…
As Lady Silk was measuring the width of Luke’s shoulders, she got a cough. And not just any cough. The cough. The cough that meant something was in her through.
Luke saw everything as it happened in slow motion. Silk’s throat contracted, her wrinkles moved as saliva and muscles force whatever buildup that happened to be tickling the old mare’s throat to her muzzle. Oh, please don’t. Luke begged.
*Cough*
In one single throat clearing gag, a speck of nasty black tar escaped Lady Silk’s muzzle and landed on Luke’s chest. It was certainly not the clear speckle of saliva from the average person when they had a accidental spit attack. This was from the mare that has been chewing for the past thirty years of her life. Yeah, that bad.
“Oh, so sorry!” Lady Silk hurriedly grabbed a tissue and dabbed at Luke’s feathers and bandages to clean the young child.
To Luke’s credit, he didn’t scream out loud in absolute disgust. Luke’s mind was a different story, AH! AHHHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Luke’s body went stiff as a board, the muscles seizing up. Luke was about ready to pour gasoline all over his body like a Buddhist monk protesting Tibet. Only fire will clean me now! It’s the only way!
After Lady Silk was done with her work and Luke managed to say through his clenched beak the color blue. Applejack lead Applebloom with a still grossed out Luke on her back.
Applejack tried to ask Luke and Applebloom how the sleepover went, but Luke wasn’t talking and Applebloom couldn’t remember jack about last night. So the trip to Twilight’s Friendship Castle passed in relative silence.
Applejack pushed open the tall door leading into the purple and blue crystal walls. Light reflected from the castle’s tower, casting a dark shadow on the three entering. Girly. Very, very girly.
The long, cold hallways were tall lined with torches and rich velvet tapestries. Applejack’s and Applebloom’s hooves echoed loudly in the empty space and high ceilings. “Twilight?” Applejack called out into the open. “Ya’ll here?”
“In the library,” Twilight responded.
Applejack took the nearest left, then a right, And I’m lost. After several minutes, Applejack pushed her way into the grand library. Two floors of crystal floors loaded with beautiful crystal shelves filled to the brim with so many books. In front of Applejack was Twilight sitting next to a large circle table. In front of her were stacks of paper Twilight was working intently on. Her quill was moving across the surface of the parchment so fast Luke could see the smoke rising from the quill’s tip. Next to Twilight was a large chalkboard on wheels.
“Howdy Twilight,” Applejack approached her, offering her a quick hug.
“Hey Applejack, Applebloom, and Luke,” Twilight smiled when she turned towards the group. Though when she looked at Luke, Twilight’s cheeks turned a slight red tint. Luke brushed it off the strange behavior, his eye wandering over the vast reservoir of knowledge. “How’s today going?”
“Good. Good,” Applejack nodded. “We were wandering if Luke could check out a few books.”
“Sure thing,” Twilight turned to Luke and Applebloom. “Have a look around and bring me the books you want when you’re ready to check out.”
Applebloom and Luke nodded before they took to the numerous shelves on the first floor. Luke thought about trying the second floor first, but he feared his old nemesis gravity would be waiting to ambush him like the Apple’s staircase.
While Luke and Applebloom were wondering between the shelves, Applejack took a good hard look at Twilight. Large dark bags under her eyes shown bright against Twilight’s purple fur and her eyes were slightly red. “You been sleeping well, Twi? Are ya still nervous around this here castle?” Applejack asked in concern.
Twilight shook her head, “Oh, no no no!” Applejack raised a single eyebrow. Her internal BS alarm was screaming loudly in her head. Twilight gave in, looking down at the ground, “Maybe a little.” Applejack waited patiently for Twilight to continue. “It’s just this place is so big and quiet,” Twilight sighed.
Applejack wrapped a foreleg around Twilight’s shoulders, “It’s all right sugarcube. There’s nothing wrong with that. How about we head to the kitchen, and ah’ll brew ya a cup of Apple family coffee?”
Twilight gave Applejack a confused look. Applejack lifted her hat, revealing a small silver cylinder filled with the Apple family’s secret recipe for the best coffee in Equestria. “Why did you have that in your hat?” Twilight asked.
“Cause ah had the feeling ah would need it today and ah didn’t want no pony seeing it,” Applejack whispered. “Ya’ll never know when there’s some varmint trying to steal mah family’s coffee.”
“Is it that good?”
“Oh Twilight,” Applejack chuckled. “Ah’m about to blow yur mind.”
Twilight and Applejack made towards the exit, Applejack calling over her shoulder, “You two stay out of trouble ya hear!”
“Yes, Applejack!” Luke and Applebloom called from the depths of the tall shelves.
“By the way, where’s Spike?” Applejack asked.
“He’s in his room. Probably still asleep,” Twilight commented.
Luke rubbed his chin as he stared intently at a book. The book was titled ‘The Science of Magic.’ Luke was deep in thought, That doesn’t make any sense. Magic is defined as ‘the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.’ Meaning that’s magic is outside the natural world and science is the study of the natural world. How do you do that? That’s like trying to mixing Democrats and Republicans. All you’re going to get is a big explosion in your face.
I mean… ?
That just doesn’t…?
I’ve got to read this just to see how that works.
Luke grabbed the book with his thin talons. On his way back, Luke also grabbed two other books: ‘Equestrian History for Dummies’ and ‘The Adventures of Puff the Magic Dragon.’
Luke hefted the heavy books onto the table. “I think these should last a couple of days,” Luke said to himself happily. Luke was about to go find Applebloom, but his eyes caught sight of the chalkboard.
“Hmmm,” Luke peered at the equation written in white chalk. The equation was quite advanced to Luke’s understanding. Interested, Luke decided to take a look at the papers that littered the table top.
Luke’s eyebrows furrowed at the various mathematics written on the thick parchment. The math wasn’t wrong, but the approached was. Luke turned back to the board than back to the paper. It was like looking at two different worlds. The equation on the board was highly advanced but unsolved, reminding Luke of his studies in advanced physics similar to Einstein’s works. But the work on the paper was very limited. It involved some impressive Calculus, but the tools were so far behind. It was like Newton was trying to understand the Theory of Relativity.
The gap between these two schools of thoughts had to be a great as the Grand Canyon.
With a determined face, Luke moved a chair up to the chalkboard. Taking a piece of chalk in his hand, Luke set to work solving the mysterious equation on the chalk board.
There were many approached to mathematics, but each was based on a core principle of Algebra. What happens on one side of the equation, the same thing must occur on the other side. All other schools of mathematics are based upon the simple concepts of Algebra. The more complex the equation will still draw from Algebra and can therefore be broken down into more manageable pieces.
With this equation, Luke started from the ground up. Starting with the basics, Luke fractured each side of the equation into more manageable sections. With such a large equation broken down, Luke began the real work.
I’ve seen this kind of problem. Not directly, but still pretty close, Luke thought to himself. The tools Luke had to use were some of the most advanced items in his scholarly repertoire. Luke strained his mind to the fullest, allowing his hand to scratch the work into the green board. Luke could feel the work unfolding in his mind. There was something about math. It put him in a calmed state of mind, allowing his subconscious to draw on the trapped knowledge lodged deep in his brain. It was like being hypnotized. A dream like state where Luke’s brain could access things his conscious mind would strain to solve in its current state.
That’s the funny thing about math.
Math may be based on rigid ideals, but the ability to solve them may require a more creative approach. Like a great artist, a mathematician would weave the number and patterns together to their own design to solve the problem. Double checking the work would prove if the problem had been solved.
Luke painted across the smooth surface with flourish. Every movement was a stroke of his paintbrush. Every single line a painting made exactly how he wanted to make it.
Applebloom returned to the table, her favorite book series balance on her head entitled ‘Nancy Doe.’ Applebloom skidded to a halt right behind Luke. Applebloom watched Luke continued his work. “Uh Luke? I don’t think Twilight’s gonna be very happy about ya messing with her chalkboard.”
“Uh-hu,” Luke mumbled. He was so close. The solution was there and Luke would solve this. It just required a little more work and double checking before he was satisfied.
Applejack and Twilight returned to the library. Twilight’s eyes were unfocused, captured in the bliss of Appeljack’s coffee. It had been twenty five minutes and Applejack was hoping Luke and Applebloom hadn’t destroyed the library.
The two mares entered the library, finding Luke and Applebloom chatting happily over her favorite Nancy Doe mystery. Not a big fan of mystery books.
Applejack smiled at the sight, Thank Celestia, they didn’t burn down the place. “You two ready to go?”
Luke and Applebloom nodded in unison. Twilight quickly checked their books out before walking the small group out of her castle. Twilight waved the small group off into the open streets of Ponyville.
A little ways down the road, Applebloom asked Luke, “Are ya sure it was alright to solve that math problem for Twilight? She might be mighty sore about not getting to solve whatever she was working on herself.”
Luke shrugged, “I’m sure. It’s not like it’s some earth shattering equation that could change the face the world. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“What are you two talking about?” Applejack asked, not liking the sound of the conversation.
“Luke played with Twilight’s chalkboard!”
Traitor!
I really need to finish preparing the library for public use. Twilight thought to herself, making her way slowly to the library. Having the library open to the public meant the castle would be a lot less empty. Twilight entered the two floored room, glancing at the chalkboard as she passed it.
Twilight froze. “That can’t be.”
Twilight’s eyes were wide, full of absolute shock. Every space of the worn surface was covered with numerals and figures leading from the top left corner just under Clover’s Conundrum to the bottom right. The solution to the equation was wrapped in a square box.
The solution to Clover’s Conundrum was right in front of her.
And she didn’t solve it.
Spike snoozed peacefully in his bed, dreaming about floating gems and a certain mare. That was until Twilight’s loud shriek brought the small dragon into the world of consciousness, “SPIKE! GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW! THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO CHANGE!”
Applebloom, Applejack and Luke exchanged awkward looks. “Did you hear something?” Luke asked.
“Ah think so,” Applejack answered while Applebloom nodded. Applejack motioned with her head, “Let’s get you two back to the farm. Then I’ll figure out how’re yur going to make it up to Twilight” Applejack and company continued on their way back to Sweet Apple Acres without any knowledge of the monster Luke unleashed into the world.
“Alright,” Luke hung his head low in mock shame