//------------------------------// // My Little Omake: Word Play is Magical // Story: Calming Sigh-- with a Breath of Fire // by Laze Around //------------------------------// It was a bright and sunny day in Ponyville. The ponies were doing their best to scuttle away from my path, and all of them were giving me uncomfortable looks as I passed. I was on my way to Twilight Sparkle’s little library to deliver a package. I didn’t know why she couldn’t get it herself from the post office, but since it was her turn to spend some time with me I couldn’t rightly refuse without a good reason. Applejack would tan my hide if I did. The package in question was a small box, about meter long. Sparkle said that it was the final component of a project of hers. When I entered the library I tossed out a [Might] spell over to Spike, who was struggling to carry a large stack of books in his arms. The little whelp blinked in surprise when he suddenly lifted the books with ease, the spell increasing his muscle’s output by a quarter more. I left the dragon to his chores, snorting in amusement as the pup shifted the stack he was carrying to one arm to flex the other. He started looking rather smug when his eyes caught his own reflection in one of the library’s windows, then he started reciting some cheesy lines to an imaginary Miss Rarity. I made my way down towards the basement, where Sparkle had set up a lab to conduct her experiments. Said unicorn was writing something down on a notepad when I found her. “Delivery for the Mad Scientist, Twilight Sparkle.” The purple pony lifted her face up and gave me a pointed look. “That’s not funny, Ryu.” “How is your experiment doing?” I walked over to the side and leaned against the wall, giving the pony an uninterested look. “Are we ready for the next lightning storm? Or have you been practicing your cries of ‘IT’S ALIVE, IT’S ALIVE!’” “I really don’t see how Fluttershy got along with you better than me if you’re always like this.” she gave me a pointed glare, something I ignored with ease. “It’s because I like her better.” I said with a shrug. “Anyway, you said that you needed my help with something?” And just like that, her frustrations were suddenly overwhelmed by her excitement. She was grinning giddily as she bounced in place. “That’s right! I want your help with something I’ve been working on.” The pony scientist turned around and motioned over to something that was hidden under a massive cloth. It was bigger than I was, and it took the whole backroom of the lab. “What is it with you tinkers and your little presentations?” I couldn’t help but comment. Sparkle teleported the cloth away to reveal what was underneath…. I don’t know what it was. It looked like a platform, with two antenna things on both sides. There were just too many things to point out that it just became indescribable. The variety of colors of each part made it seem like something you’d see in an art exhibit. Frankly it was making my head hurt. “What is it?” I asked as I rubbed my eyes. I probably stared at it for too long. “It’s something I made to help me study your transformation.” the unicorn scientist explained. “After hearing how it involves you using your magic to awaken dormant genes, I wanted to see if I could replicate it somehow.” I looked down at the stupidly curious pony and held my stare until she became uncomfortable with it. “You want to harness Forced Evolution?” “Yes!” she nodded her head excitedly. “Exactly. Just think of the possibilities!” “Think of the Disaster!” I exclaimed with equal zeal. “Think of all the new types of diseases, health complications because of it, and the violation of mother nature.” I deadpanned. “Think about that.” “Er… well, I also thought about that.” she scuffed her hoof on the floor, looking very sheepish from the things I pointed out. “But it’s not like we’re going through with it, yet. We’ll perform a few tests before we go any further.” I leaned back and narrowed my eyes in thought. “I don’t know… I admit that I’m also a bit curious of what we’ll find but--” “Then it’s fine!” Twilight Sparkle interrupted. “You’re curious, I’m curious… Just think of the things that we’ll discover!” My lips pursed as I stared at her for a moment. It was actually to give me a few seconds to think, but there was no denying my curiosity over my own body. “.... Alright, I guess I could go along with this for now.” “Great!” she exclaimed. “Now we just need the final component for us to begin.” Her horn started to glow before I felt something tug at my belt. “Hey!” A purple glow was wrapped around the package I had hanging under my belt. Apparently that was that last thing we needed to start this experiment of hers. My hips jerked forward along with her tug, and for a moment I was afraid something might rip. “Oi! Don’t just start tugging it like that!” I took the package in my hand, breaking Sparkle’s overeager grasp from it. “Let me undo my belt first, dammit.” My clothes were ancient. Even if they were magical clothes I didn’t want to risk any permanent damage on them. “Sorry!” she apologized, but it did little to dampen her excitement. I could practically smell it from where I was standing. “I’m just a bit excited. You have no idea how long I wanted to do this.” “Then at least let me keep my pants in one piece.” I turned around and unhooked my belt, releasing the package from a sling I made to hold it in place and presented it to the unicorn. “Here.” “Sorry.” she said, this time with even more sincerity. She was blushing when she took it back into her magical grasp. “Let me just take it out so that we can get started.” I eased myself back to the wall and watched as how she gently took it out. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes were shining with awe as stared at it. From the tip to the base, it was quite a sight to behold. From her expression alone I could tell that Sparkle’s never seen anything like it, or at least see it close and personal. I have no doubt that there was probably a book about it somewhere in the library. There was without a doubt that the thick and pulsing shaft in her grasp was magical. The lines around its girth pulsed at the touch. It was warm when you hold it, but it becomes hotter the more you work your grip around it. This magical tool was something that no pony has ever produced, or will ever for that matter. And that made my lips quirk into bemusement. This majestic thing was something you see only with dragons. It was tempered by their hot blood and fiery hearts. To see such a tiny pony looking at it with awe just sets something wrong inside me. “Just look at it.” she said with a heavy breath. “Now I really can’t wait for us to get started.” I looked up from where I was and stared at the door heading up to the library. I could hear the ponies just outside, probably wanting to borrow a book but the librarian was busy drooling over the shaft in her grasp. “Now, Ryu.” My attention went back to Sparkle again. Right. We were doing an experiment concerning my transformation. What she had in her telekinesis was probably going to be used as a battery, even though it was made from a dragon’s blood and their dying heart. “I want you to insert this into this opening.” she pointed at the dragon rod and her machine, where I noticed had a little hole in its center. “Me?” I asked. “Why can’t you do it? I’d really rather sit back and watch you work.” “Because I’ve already prepared everything else.” she rolled her eyes and passed the shaft to my hand. “I want you to have some contribution before we start this session.” I gave her a flat look. “I’m probably going to do most of the work.” “Come on, Ryu. Just do it.” she rolled her eyes and waved me close to her little hole. “I know you’re just as eager as I am about this.” “I can’t see why you don’t just use your hooves or telekinesis for this.” Moving closer to the hole, I peered inside it and began to line up the tool in my hand. It was barely an inch towards the hole when I stopped. “Why did you stop?” “It won’t fit.” I said, still holding the pulsing shaft near the hole. “What do you mean it won’t fit.” I turned to her with a flat look. “What I mean is that it won’t fit.” I pressed the tip into the hole, but no matter how much I pushed, the rest of it just won’t slide in. It would probably need more force for me to do that. “Is it too small?” I stopped pushing and glared at her. “It’s as thick as your arm, of course it’s not small.” I moved it close to her arm and made the comparison. “It’s just too big and your hole is just too small!” “But that’s impossible!” she exclaimed. “I personally prepared the hole myself with the exact measurements of the tool that’ll go into it.” I sighed in frustration as I rubbed my face. “And where did you even find these measurements?” “I found them in a very sophisticated manual explaining the mechanics of a dragon’s magical shaft and their almost boundless energy---” “You found them in a magazine inside the library.” I summarized with a flat look before I palmed my face. “These things don’t come in fixed sizes, you know.” Sparkle made a frustrated groan as she pointed back into her hole. “Just try again.” I did. “Still too big.” “Alternate position, then. Rotate.” “I could always just force it in.” I suggested. “No! You’ll break it!” she exclaimed before glaring at me. “Maybe we just need something to make it slippery for easier insertion.” “Why not spit on it.” I moved the shaft to her face, right in front of her mouth. That’s what the Apples do for stubborn things like this. “Wha-Ew, no! That’s disgusting! And stop waving it at my face, it’s rude.” she moved her head back from the tool and pushed it away. “It’s you who wanted to do this.” I reasoned. “So unless you want to postpone it…” “No! I want to do this now!” she nearly shouted. “I’ve waited for so long to do this. You were always hanging out with my friends, and I saw how closer you are to them than me. I want this to be something only the two of us could share.” I think I just swooned a little. “Give it here.” she said. “Let me try.” “Okay.” I shrugged and passed her back the tool. Her magical grasp wrapped around the shaft, bringing it closer to the hole that she personally prepared for our bonding time. A girl’s touch would probably be better for delicate insertions like this. I wouldn’t want to hurt her feelings by forcing my ideas on her. The little mare’s tongue stuck out as she focused on the task, spreading her legs and lining her sight into the hole. The tool twitched after each failed attempt, eliciting a groan of frustration from her. “Don’t hurt yourself, now.” I said, easing back on the wall again. “I’m…” she tried again, and failed. “...fine.” I looked up to the door that led to the library again, hearing more hooves moving on the other side along with more than one voice talking. A lot of ponies seem to be interested in books today. After a minute or so of just sitting back and hearing Sparkle’s groans and startled gasps, I had to ask. “Are you sure you don’t want me to just force it in?” “YES!” she exclaimed, the multiple failed attempts of insertion finally setting off her temper. “This part is very delicate and very important. You can’t just power through it!” “Alright, alright.” I said placatingly. “There’s no need to lash out on me. But still, it’s not like we’ll ever get this started until you put that in.” “We can’t force it!” She insisted. “Then oil it!” I exclaimed, throwing my arms up in aggravation. “Provide some lubrication for it like I said earlier! Gods, it’s like this is the first time you’ve had something like this.” “Um… well.” I gave her a flat look. “This is your first time?” “No.” she firmly said as she frowned at me. “I’ve done this a few times before. Back then I had Spike assisting me, though.” “WHAT!!!” I looked up to the library, where the loud exclamation came from. “What was that?” “Ignore it.” Sparkle shook her head in frustration, turning her attention back to the shaft and her tiny little hole. “This is more important.” “It sounds like there are some ponies upstairs.” I pointed out. “Aren’t you the one supposed to be running this place?” “I already asked Spike to handle everything for me today.” she grunted from another failed attempt. “Let’s just get back to what we’re doing.” “Where’s the oil, then?” I asked. A bottle of said lubricant floated over to me. It was covered with Sparkle’s telekinesis. “Here.” I took the bottle in the air. My brow furrowed as I shook it. “It’s empty.” I said. The mare blinked a couple of times and looked at me. Then she looked at the empty bottle. “Oh. Um, I probably used it up without noticing.” “This still looks brand new.” I noted, looking at the brand name on it. “Is this the only bottle you have?” “No, actually.” her head pointed over to the side of the room, where a few more bottles hovered over close to us. “I have plenty.” I took them all one by one, frowning more and more as I grabbed them all. “They're all empty.” “Huh?” “Every single one of them’s empty.” I shook one, tossed it away, shook another, then did the same for the rest of them. “How much of this stuff do you use?” “Um…” her cheeks gained a bit of color as she looked away shyly. “Sometimes a whole bottle when I’m in the mood for a few experiments.” I leaned back a bit and blinked, slightly impressed. “I’m not really judging or anything, but wow.” I can’t even think of what she used all of those bottles for. The mare turned her head away sheepishly, looking a bit embarrassed from the compliment. I noted that she was just probing the little hole with the tool in her magical grasp and wasn’t really paying attention. An idea then struck me, and I couldn’t help but act on it. “Gotcha!” “EEP!” Sparkle gave out a startled cry as I shoved the entire length of the shaft into her hole. Her whole body trembled as she pulled myself away slowly, her eyes focused only on the part where the entire tool vanished within the tiny hole. It took her a moment to recover from the surprise, but when she did she gave me the fiercest glare she could muster. “I told you not to force it!” I made a careless shrug and pointed at the finished task. “It’s fine, isn’t it? Nothing looks broken.” “You could have damaged it!” she exclaimed. “Do you have any idea how much that scared me?!” “Sorry, okay?” I sighed, trying my best to placate her rising temper. “Do you have any idea how sensitive that hole was?!” she leaned her face closer to mine, trying to be intimidating. “It had to be for what we plan on doing.” “Bah. Whatever.” I pulled out from this little engagement and retreated out of her reach. The mood for the whole experiment was already ruined, so nothing productive was going to come out of this. “Let’s continue this tomorrow. You can check if anything was damaged until then.” We started making our way up the stairs to the library. Sparkle was saying something under her breath about me being a complete and utter jerk to her. When I opened the door as we reached the top, however, we found the rest of the Bearers looking at us with a shocked expression. All of their mouths were hanging wide open. “What?”