T.S & S.S Log #2
Hello? Shimmer, I have some news regarding the Everfree you might want to hear! Shimmer? Are you there?
Sorry Twilight. I've got news of my own I need to share, but I bet your's is kinda more important on the: Risk of Endangering The Entire Universe scale
I'm sure it can wait. What's wrong? You're handwriting looks a little shaky. Is everything okay?
I'm not entirely sure. I'm still debating whether this lands on the 'destruction of an entire being,' or, 'destruction of an entire society,' side of the RETEU scale
RETEU? Oh, I see! that little scale you talked about. That's cute. But what's the problem.
This might be my fault in the slightest bit, but a couple of weeks ago, before we knew, 'destruction of an entire universe,' was on the table Pinkie Pie suggested that we have a strange kinda party
I fail to see the issue here. Pinkie suggests different kinds of parties all the time. Some more... strange than others, but it's still like her. I wouldn't be surprised if she threw a party after the apocalypse... which upon further inspection is a lot more likely than we may have realized.
Here's the problem though. It's a kinda of party where... there's a special requirement to enter
And that would be?
Alright look I'm just gonna spill it out. She's throwing a pet get-together
And Squirt's invited?
Squirt's invited
I'd place it on the, 'Destruction of an Entire Society,' side of the scale.
Geez, thanks for the pep-talk, coach...
I was just kidding, I'm sure it'll be fine. He likes to stay close to Sonata anyway, and besides, you'll be there to keep an eye on him too. It'll be fine.
Yeah... there's kinda a tiny little problem with that
What could possible be the issue?
I don't have a pet...
... Destruction of society, DEFINITELY destruction of society.
Don't say that! I'm freaking out here!
I'm sure it'll be fine. Sonata knows Squirt best, I'm sure she'll take ever necessary step required to keep him... and the other pets... and everyone else... safe?
Now you see the problem?
Too many variables. You have to get in.
That's what I've been telling myself! The party is tomorrow and... Wait a second? I got an idea!
Shimmer? You still there?
Hold on!
Shimmer? Shimmer!?
Alright, I'm back!
It's been two hours. Where did you go?
I went to the pet store and I got a pet
Wait? It's that easy? So what'd you get?
I got a goldfish...
Oh... well... that's definitely... banal.
I know what that word means, Twi...
Darn it! I'm sorry, but seriously? A goldfish?
The party is tomorrow and I really can't afford a dog or cat under my short stack of a budget
Noted. So what's his name?
I dunno... I think I'll call him... Jaws.
Jaws?
Right right. I forgot you don't know the human world all too well. You heard of what movies are over here right?
I think. They're like magic projections except with technology, right?
Got it. Anyway there's this one movie called Jaws which is entirely about a giant shark going around and eating people like an all you can eat buffet
That's considered entertainment!? That's absolutely awful!
It may, and I repeat the word MAY be awful, but it's surprisingly fun to watch
I don't know you anymore.
Please don't go...
I can't believe you would want to name your cute little goldfish after a killing machine.
If it makes you feel any better, I'm only gonna feed him tofu humans
You can do that?
I'm joking.
So... you're gonna feed him regular humans?
I'm feeding him name-brand recommended fish food
Oh... So... that party? Is everyone else coming?
That is a definitive yes. Pinkie made all the arrangements yesterday and the party starts at 9:00 AM tomorrow. I've got my ticket in, and Squirt's hopefully not gonna accidentally destroy everyone else's pets. Disaster averted. Good job, team
Good to hear. I suppose it's my turn to share now. I'm not sure if you would approve, but lets just say I took my experimentation... outside the castle.
Oh boy... can't we hear good news for once?
I'm getting there. You see, I brought some of the... confidentials with me to the magic barrier of the Everfree, and may I add, it really isn't looking good. I took a risk, and I payed for it.
What happened? Did you get hurt?
No, I'm fine; thanks for asking. I brought some of the weapons outside the castle. Specifically the cannon. I don't know why exactly, I must have gotten too impatient with my current pace. Once I was within ten meters of the barrier... the vines disbanded.
Huh?
The vines that encased the barrier. Some retreated back into the ground. Upon five meters of the barrier, the surrounding area inside the barrier began to clear out. And once I was practically touching muzzles with it, an entire ten meters of the Everfree was cleared of those plants.
So what you're saying is?
Whatever magic this cannon uses... those plants can sense it, and not even they want anything to do with it. And it may be our solution.
So... progress?
Sweet, beautiful, delicious progress!
But... something tells me you can't use that type of magic?
Maybe I can't but I know someone who can.
... Who?
No, no, no. You gotta notice the darker outline around my words. Maybe I can't but I know SOMEONE who can.
Oh! You're using someONE instead of somePONY, I get it! But seriously, I still don't get it...
It's Discord.
Oh yeah! Wait? You sure he can use that thing?
He's the spirit of chaos. I'm sure he can do something with it.
Other than turn it into a quiche?
Yeah... I'm totally sure.
Or a robotic dog?
Positive...
Or a T-Rex with a top-hat and monocle?
Stop making me doubt myself!
Sorry! Sorry! But... you sure he can clear the Everfree with it?
That's honestly about it. If he can't figure it out, than it's back to our original plan.
Which is iffy to the fullest extreme...
Exactly.
I suppose there's not much else to do but wait. So... goodnight?
Goodnight, Shimmer. Also; keep me updated throughout the party. I might need to make a surprise visit if things go south.
Don't worry, Twi! Me and Jaws got this in the bag. The one I bought him in to be precise
Still can't believe that's what you named him...
See ya in the morning
We couldn't have reached a consensus or something?
I'm closing the book now, Twi
Like maybe Swimmy! Or perhaps even Mercury? I know it's not a fish-name but it's definitely a whole lot better than a man-eating shark! And also why not... Shimmer? You there? You open this book right now! We are not done discussing the morality of naming your pets after bad role-models! Shimmer? SHIMMER!
Good morning, Twilight
I'm still unhappy with you...
Come on! Seriously? It's just a name!
Which is a momentous decision to make! You didn't even think about the repercussions of naming your pet, you just decided, 'Oh yeah! Naming him after a man-eating-fish-demon totally won't give him a skewered look at the world!,' that's very poor care for your pet, Shimmer!
He's just a fish!
And he's still yours! What if he wants to pursue that kind of life-style? Did you think about that?
I've gotta get ready for the party, Twilight. I'll write you when I'm there
Don't you dare close this book on me! Shimmer!? Not again...
Alright I'm in. You still mad about Jaws?
Yes, very much. But I don't like to fight at parties so I'll drop it until you go home.
Okay, that's... something at least.
So, what do you see?
Fluttershy and Rarity got here first, so they're just talking a bit. Well, Rarity is doing the talking. Fluttershy's just listening with a bunny on her lap. Rarity's cat is enjoying the horderves
And everyone else?
Probably on the way. I'll keep you updated.
Applejack just walked in. She's got her dog beside her
Rainbow Dash is a check, along with her turtle
Tortoise.
Just waiting on Sonata, now.
She's not there yet?
This really isn't like her. The party is specifically for her and Squirt, I was honestly expecting her to be the first one here
Maybe she's just running late is all.
I see her!
And?
She just waved at everyone. She's wearing her school backpack and she's holding Squirt and he's
He's what? Don't tell me he got you too!
Sorry about that, Pinkie set up a bunch of party poppers and she set them all off at the samw time. Sounded like a BOMB! I might have gotten a little scared and dropped the book. Anyway; Squirt, He looks smaller
What?
He's small again! It's like he just shrank an entire foot and a half!
Anything else?
Sonata said something happened back at her house. She also has this really strange smell on her
What's she saying?
Hold up.
She said Squirt wasn't in her room when she woke up this morning, and that when she went downstairs, the entire living room was covered in this blue gunk, not only that, but her sisters were screaming for her in the bathroom. When she got in, she says that they were trying to hold Squirt inside the bathtub while it was overflowing with the stuff. She said he was trying to get out like his life depended on it
What happened?
She says he started leaking. Or more or less he started to cry from his skin? She says it was too messy in there to tell, and that the bathtub was filled with that blue stuff he excreted. Says it kinda tasted like the alcohol she brought home with her. That explains the strange smell
Did she keep a sample?
Let me ask... yeah, she says you might want it for later so she kept some before they drained the tub. She says she's gonna leave it by the portal tonight.
Anything else?
Squirt seems... different.
Different how? Is he even more bloodthirsty than before!? Oh no! Did he atomize Fluttershy's bunny?! Poor thing never stood a chance!
No. He's actually playful... he's seriously playing with some of the pets... well, he's trying to play with them. It honestly looks like a game of hide 'n' seek and he's the seeker. Also granted, Sonata is still right above him, but he actually looks happy
What!?
Big surprise, isn't it?
He's not trying to crack open any of their skulls?
Nope
You don't think his size has anything to do with it, do you?
Maybe. It's hard to tell. You think it's like dragons and how they get bigger with greed?
I'd have to be there myself to draw any conclusions.
She's pulling something out of her backpack
What is it?
It's the lyre
The what?
I forgot to mention it. We found this weird looking instrument, kinda looks like a harp with bull horns and a metal cog for a base. We let Fluttershy have it for safekeeping. I guess Sonata wanted to take a look at it for herself. She said she's gonna play a song on it. I gotta close the book for a minute, write you in a few
That was unexpected
What happened?
Sonata played it, alright. She played it real well
What do you mean?
First things first, Sonata doesn't have her voice, but her fingers still work wonders. Secondly: that thing is the strangest sounding lyre I've ever heard
Again I ask: What do you mean?
Well, to to start things off, it sounds like a guitar. Sonata says it tunes like one as well.
When did she learn to play a guitar?
Well, it plays like a lyre but sounds like a guitar. She said her and her sisters know how to play almost every instrument we have, and that this thing is really not too different. Say, wanna know the funny thing?
Tell me.
When she pulled it out; Squirt stopped everything he was doing and looked right at it for the longest time. And once she started to play it, he kinda... relaxed? I don't know how to describe it
How so?
I don't know. He just looked kinda out of it, you know? Like he was lost in thought or something
Perhaps he recognizes the sound it produces. Sonata told me he seemed to recognize the weapons and just how destructive they are.
Yeah, probably. I suppose. Things definitely went a lot better than anticipated, so I guess I should just enjoy the party in the meantime. Let Jaws mingle a bit.
Have fun, cause once we get home-
BYE!
HI AGAIN, TWILIGHT!
Sonata? Is that you?
Yeah!
Where's Shimmer? Did she forget the book again?
Yep.
She left it in a heavily populated area after I specifically told her to guard it with her life?
Yep.
She gave it to you, didn't she?
Yep.
Course she gave it to you. So where is Shimmer?
She left early with her pet. His bowl had a bunch little stickers on the side of it with teeth and jagged looking letters that said JAWS! I read the last couple pages again. Are you mad at her?
Not mad. Just incredibly disappointed in her choices as a caretaker.
Dagi says that a lot too. "I'm not mad... just disappointed," but really she's mad. And it's only when she's REALLY mad when she says that. Like... really mad.
I don't envy you.
Twilight, the party's gonna end in a bit, so I'm gonna drop something by the portal for you, kay?
I read you nice and clear... Okay, I'm sorry, but I need to ask: How do you get your handwriting THAT good? I've seen human handwriting and even I came to the conclusion that that's almost physically impossible.
I dunno. I guess I just always had it, Aria says it's cause Sirens are just naturally better than humans, Dagi says it's cause we have more skill than them, I dunno why we have it. Oh yeah! I wanted to say thank you. Well, not for... you know: Kinda crippling us for life... I meant thank you for everything else. For trying to get us home. It means so much to us.
Don't thank me yet, I haven't done anything, Sonata.
I know. But still, after I told them about what you're doing for us. They did something I didn't think they'd ever do again after the battle.
What?
They smiled. They made actual real smiles. Not those fake ones they make when they got drunk that one time, or when they see a human fall down on their face.
I'm glad to hear that, Sonata.
And then they started to cry... I kinda got scared when they did that, but then they got a few of the bottles and we had a really fun night.
I... just hang in their Sonata. I promise I'll do everything I can to bring you back. I promise.
I know you will. Anyway, I gotta go. Good luck on those meanie-bo-beanie plants, Twilight. Bye!
####
A starry night looked down upon the quiet streets of Canterlot high. Passing cars and pedestrians on the street just across of it, with no other sounds other than their clacking footsteps and burning of rubber on cobblestone.. A base statue stood in front of the school. Sitting at the foot of the statue was a single jar with material people could easily assume was pure blue water coloring, swirling in itself, almost alive in a way. Attached to the lid was a small note with writing and a small blue blot of the same blue liquid.
'I know they don't say it enough as I do, but I know they really want too, I just know it! So I'm gonna say it for them.
Thank you~A.D
Thank you~A.B
Thank you~S.D'