//------------------------------// // Chapter 19 - Spatial Rift // Story: Nature of The Experiment // by Cracked Egg //------------------------------// "Hmmmn hmmmn hm hmmm..." The sound of a page flip echoed throughout the silent library. "Tote that barge, lift that bale..." I sang Ol' Man River as I worked, the song brightening up the atmosphere of the dimension considerably. As I read the tenth log book out of thirteen in the set of them, I felt more at home than ever. Days just spent researching and casually fixing a device more advanced than anything ever seen rushed to the forefront of my thoughts. As the nostalgia waved within me, I searched the notes for any more clues that could assist. 100Miles had been very thorough, yet vague in his work. He had compiled a whole of thirteen reports spread across thirteen books. Why he was so fixated on thirteen, I have no idea. What I did find in them was even more interesting. It seems this 'Void Star' he mentioned several times has the ability to seal holes, portals, or gates between worlds. The 'obsidian spiked crown', as it was described, is a highly powerful artifact capable of negating those kinds of phenomena. There's even a possibility it could shut off all powers around it permanently, along with itself, except that was just a bit of speculation he had added. There are, interestingly enough, thirteen Void Stars in existence. These Void Stars are all scattered across, you guessed it, thirteen different dimensions. Considering Equestria's magical properties, I wouldn't doubt a Void Star being there, but I digress. I believe we could mend the hole I had made using the Void Star, but there's a catch. I mean, why wouldn't there be? The catch is that this Void Star is corruptive, mainly because of a hive mind connected by the thirteen Void Stars. Each individual Void Star has a different facet of their personality, but they all corrupt. Some of them can be reasoned with, while other Void Stars simply drown you in it's influence. No, really, I saw a report where a guy actually drowned in dark energy. Eugh. Anyway, if we can find a Void Star, then we may be able to fix this mess. Or I could ask Discord and have it done faster than you can say 'hollabackat'ch-' Wait a minute. "DISCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-" "You called?" I nearly fell out of my chair in surprise, the drangonequus leaning against the table in a white suit with a bit of red splatter on it. I blinked a few times while slowly righting myself. I gave him a gleeful 'grin', then turned my attention back to the books in front of me. I hummed quietly while Discord ate an apple made of tin. "He must know somethin', but don't say nothin'..." Discord picked up the first book in the series of them, and flipped to a page. His eyes bugged out of his head, up until he swatted them with a newspaper so they could return to normal. I shook my head at his antics, and resume my reading, while Discord wrapped himself around my chair. I struggled a bit, but sent a deadpan look his way while he smiled mischievously. Freeing my arms, I picked up the eleventh book and began reading. Or I would have, if Discord hadn't plucked it from my grasp. "Hey! I was reading that!" He compared the two books he now had, appearing to come to a realization. He put his face next to me and leaned in darkly. "Why are you looking for Void Star?" Discord's voice came out low and threatening, but considering I'd had one too many run-ins with powerful beings, I wasn't too concerned right then. I rubbed the back of my head, suddenly finding the floor very interesting. "Well..." [|||] Me, Rainbow Dash, and MISSINGNO., had all gathered in front of the rift I had accidentally created. We all inspected every corner of the shattered area of reality, trying to think up a way to mend it. Meanwhile, I could not sit still, as I was zooming around MISSINGNO. like a fly on an annoyance mission. "ARE YOU TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY?" I paused halfway through my third lap around the pixel block. Putting a blue flipper to my beak in mock thought, I shrugged and continued flying. "Probably not. I have no ideas on how to fix this, but..." I held up 100Mile's log book so MISSINGNO. could see. "If there are more of these books, then perhaps I could find something in them to aid us?" MISSINGNO. shifted, it's pixels shuffling in disgruntled amusement. "YOU CANNOT EXPECT AN ANSWER TO DROP OUT OF NOWHERE, BUT IF YOU INSIST." I nodded eagerly, making a beeline for the library, while Rainbow Dash popped her head through the rift. [|||] Discord had been listening intently, and as I finished my recount, he snapped his claws. His white suit flashed, transforming into a brown overcoat. "Listen carefully." I folded my arms, paying attention now that I was torn from my work. "A Void Star will only do harm for you. You may seal the portal, but what then?" He snaked over to me, and rested a paw on me. "Become consumed by darkness? Allow it's influence to roam free? Those are the only two choices it'll ever allow you, if it even gives them in the first place." I sighed, observing the intense spectacle of bookshelves reorganizing themselves. Slapping away Discord's paw, I pointed at the books he was holding. "I'm not going to use a Void Star, I was just wondering." Discord brushed his arm off, then donned a pair of reading glasses, as in two glass cups within each other. "Yes, but you really shouldn't-" I cut him off with a smug look that hopefully said, 'I just got you'. "Actually, I was planning on asking you to do it." He froze, a few icicles hanging off of him, and pondered this for a moment. Once he thawed, the chaos being jumped into the air while squeeing for joy. Yes, I know squeeing is not an actual word, but I've had to update my internal dictionary as of late. Sweet mother of lag... "Oh this is simply marvelous!" Discord all but jabbed a talon into my beak. "I accept, but you, me, and Canterlot are having a prank war next week! I'll hold you to it!" I stared off into space to process the information. A prank war? Oh well, I've had worse in school. Can't be that bad. ... What is this cold feeling of dread that grips me? [|||] Of course Discord was rubbing in his smug attitude all the way to the hole in the sky. I barely tolerated the bragging, my left eye twitching ever so often. I felt my dartboard pattern upgrade to optical illusion, my pupil collapsing in on itself multiple times over. Once we found Dash and MISSINGNO., I couldn't help but let out an extremely loud groan of relief. I should have held my breath, because Discord and MISSINGNO. immediately were acquainted. "OH, YOU AGAIN." I knew it wouldn't be easy. "Oh, hello Missy! How're you doing lately?" Rainbow Dash was desperately trying to prevent from doubling over in laughter, and I was doing the same. "YES, YES, YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF MOCKERY. MAY WE MOVE [color=#e9766ebe]ON TO THE ISSUE AT MOMENT?" Discord stroked his goatee, looking over the starburst-shaped rift. He suddenly perked up, and snapped his talons again. [|||] Canterlot was in a frenzy. The nobles were in uproar over the fact reality had been ripped apart just above their heads, and were demanding they speak with the Princesses. The hallway up to the throne room was negatively bursting with ponies, all wanting to give Celestia a piece of their minds. One alabaster unicorn stallion with a blue mane that had a perfectly groomed sheen to it, straightened his pale purple bow tie, and adjusted his monocle. Fancy Pants had been strolling to a business meeting about the Hoover Dam near Trottingham, when the sky had been split open in a shock-wave that nearly knocked him off his hooves. He was one of the more reasonable nobles in Canterlot, but even he was anxious at the sudden appearance of yet another bizarre event. To be honest, it was just another Friday. Prince Blueblood, on the other hoof, was not so reserved in his feelings. He had practically barged through the crowd to the front using his title as leverage, but as soon as he reached the throne room doors, he had been rejected due to the Princesses not even being there in the first place. While the Prince cursed the horrible luck of Celestia not being present while this was happening, he headed towards his quarters to simmer down. As Bluebood approached the door to his room, he noticed a brown, battered box resting just next to it. Lifting it in his in cyan magic, the box seemed to rustle and pulsate for a moment, but went inert soon after as if nothing happened. The Prince nearly dropped the package, looking around the hall to see if he might spot who had left it. He toted the box into his office, grumbling to himself. Today was going to be a long day. [|||] The rift had been sealed, except what the problem was, is that it was now filled with styrofoam pellets. I faceflippered, while Rainbow Dash simply looked on in confusion. MISSINGNO. huffed, and Discord used a napkin to wipe away a tear. "It's beautiful." MISSINGNO. nearly dropped out of the air. "ONLY YOU, DISCORD. ONLY YOU..." The dragonequus chuckled, and I abruptly received a feeling. A feeling like something very bad was happening. Which could only mean one thing... "Gentlemen, we need to return to the library." Dash gave me an incredulous look. "What for? You just got here!" With her waving her hooves around gesturing, I adopted the Y posture again, and ran a movement cycle. Wiggle tail, rise into the air while spinning slowly, return to original position at the end of the rotation. "Because..." Because I'm dubbing this little movement the Y-Twirl for no real reason. "My vocabulary needs an upgrade."