A Small Drop

by Glitch Hooves

Mancer's Dilemma Entry #1

Shimmer are you there? Please respond when you get the time.

I'm here, Twi. What's up?

I need to ask you something, I'm sure we both know the answer, but I need to be certain.

Alright? What is it?

Can I trust you?

What? Of course you can. We wouldn't have gotten this far if I didn't trust you already

I know, you just can't be too safe, what with the constant risk of an army of sentient, not sapient; two ENTIRELY different things, plants are bearing down your neck constantly.

I could imagine...

Anyway, as to the purpose why am I needed to ask that question. I intend on writing down any major logs I may make in here, and heed this. For YOUR EYES only. Can you do that?

You're gonna write down some top-secret stuff and don't want me to share it with anyone, got it

In laymen's terms... yes. It's not that the information is THAT dangerous, but it would probably be preferred if we keep it private. I don't want either of us to rope anyone else into this mess we dug. Try and leave the others out of it, they've done enough as it is.

I can understand that. But what about Sonata? She's definitely gonna want to know

Don't lie to her, but don't tell her anything she doesn't need to know.

Isn't this a little back-handed?

You can tell her anything you want, I just think it would be in our best interests to keep this between the two of us.

Alright, I understand

Remember: DON'T LIE TO HER!

I got it! Don't gotta write me twice

Okay... glad that's established. I suppose I should start writing down my notes.

As you do

Alright... T.S and S.S entry log #1 The materials that you brought have proved to be very interesting even under-

Is that our initials?

Yes. Why?

Nothing... I just found it a little funny is all

Okay... the materials you brought proved very interesting even under-

Am I like, your lab partner or something?

As much as the term can permit, I suppose.

Alright

As I was saying, The materials you brought proved very interesting even under-

D-

Were you about to say something?

No. Nothing

You sure? Cause there's an incomplete D right there...

No, I'm sure. Just a twitch is all

Okay... as I was saying, the materials you brought proved very interesting even under a controlled environment.

How so?

Well, to begin with, the material they're made off is... I don't know, but whatever it is, they appear to be magic-resistant.

You can't be serious?

I am. Anytime I try to grasp them, my magic appears to slip off. On several occasions, it even appeared to bounce off. The only other way that's possible is if the materials are giving off magic of their own, yet I can't seem to sense it.

That's a little concerning...

It's alright, so far unicorn magic trumps all else at the moment.

All right, good to hear. So how far along are you?

In all honesty? It feels like I hardly got anywhere.

I'll bite

I've only finished examining the spear, that machete, and the bow. They are definitely made of a materiel foreign to Equestria and even Earth. All the way to the molecular build-up; they don't share any similarities except in appearance. All materials appear to strengthen under the right conditions.

Which are?

Should you strike it, say at a perpendicular angle; you're chances of breaking any of them just dropped to zero out of ten percent chance. But striking either of them on their width, which is highly unlikely, you boosted your chances of cutting through a good bit.

So... how does that help us?

It doesn't... shows how good of a job I'm doing...

Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I meant did you find anything else?

Well, I have started to test the needle samples you brought from the Dazzling's house.

And how'd those turn out?

... Just as fruitless as before.

What!?

I tested it against every known natural, artificial, and magical pesticide you could imagine, and it didn't react in any way! Nothing short of fire is going to destroy them, and I can't just start national holiday where we burn down the Everfree.

As fun as that sounds...

And I'm worried about trying the other weapons against them in the likely case it causes more harm than good.

Wait? The plants are magic resistant?

At least their needles are. Without an actual specimen, I can't perform any real research, the most I can do is work with what I have, and I'm too scared to do even that!

Hey, it's alright, you just gotta keep at your own pace, it'll be fine

And if I fail?

How about we move on from that highly unlikely possibility? What else have you learned?

Well, I haven't begun research on that giant cannon you brought in. Yet, somehow, I can sort of... feel the magic it's giving off.

And what's it feel like?

Imagine... imagine feeling hot yet extremely cold at the same time. But also this constant sense of dread. It just feels wrong to even be around it. It's almost like the Dazzling's voices and influence when they had their pendants, but... stronger.

Speaking of which, I wanted to ask the importance of that page in the book

Right, right. Well, you see, the Dazzling's were Sirens from Equestria, right?

yeah, we kinda established that

Until Starswirl banished them, they were never heard of in Earth, right?

Correct, but I don't see-

The reason the Sirens never existed in Earth is because there was no magic to sustain them, so there was no feasible way to create them, even if Earth did have a means of replicating everyone else, but not them. It was only until they were banished did they finally exist there. Which also explains why they have no counterparts in the human world. So let's create three different worlds. World A which is Equestria, world C which is Earth, and world B which is this, 'Caelondia,' as the book calls it.

What're you saying? You're not saying that THEY somehow caused this, are you?

No, not at all. You see; world B contains Sirens, and so does world A, not only meaning it has magic that can sustain them, and since Sirens are also from Equestria, that means-

It's just another parallel universe of Equestria!

EXACTLY! Or at least in theory.

So you're saying this world is essential a mix of Equestria and earth?

More-or-less.

Meaning?

We may not have to DESTROY the plants, we just have to find away to connect world A to world B and we can simply DRIVE them out through different means.

Lot easier said than done, huh?

That's our next issue. Starswirl connected the one and only portal that can cross to another universe, and the only other way to connect Equestria to world B is by risking our connection with world C, so, yeah... everything may not be as cut-and-dry as we thought.

So you're saying we have to create a second, entirely fresh and new, mirror portal without severing ours?

In all honesty...? That may be our only option.

Alright, I guess that's more than what we started with. Look, I have to go to school in a bit, I'll try and think about it while I'm there, alright?

And I'll just be here... waiting.

See you in a bit, Twi

---

HI TWILIGHT!

Sunny is that you?

What? No, it's me, Sonata!

Sonata?! Wait, where's Shimmer?

She left her book at last period, she also looked really stressed out, I tried to give it back to her but I couldn't find her ANYWHERE! So I'm gonna give it back tomorrow!

And... how much did you read?

All of it.

Are you mad?

Why would I be mad?

because we tried to keep this entire thing a secret...

You TRIED, and besides, there wasn't anything good to talk about anyway. I also found that drawing of Squirt sunny drew and it is ADORABLE!

So you're not mad?

No! I want to help too!

Oh... okay? Well, first I wanted to ask, is that really your handwriting?

Yes...?

It's absolutely beautiful!

Wait, really?

Yes, absolutely! I'm using magic and even then, I think it's incomprehensible compared to yours.

Seriously? Aria and Adagio always make fun of me, saying that it looks like a monkey's with broken hands.

I can assure you, as my word as a princess, it is phenomenally good.

Thanks! But you should really see theirs before you say that.

On the other hand (Hey, look! I'm using human slang!), how's Squirt?

He's fine! In fact, after you took the weapons way, he seems happier!

Well, that's good to hear, but, how could he appear happier?

He seems more relaxed for some reason. I think he knew what those weapons are and got really happy that you took them.

I see...?

So, are you still thinking?

About what?

About how to open the portal, silly!

Oh, right. If you wanna know: I'm still drawing a blank to be completely honest. I tried sending a letter to Celestia about finding any of Starswirl's old records, and she said she'd get them to me as soon as possible.

But soon isn't now, right?

Yeah...

Well, did YOU come up with anything?

How could I? I'm like an infant child compared to Starswirl's works.

Oh, yeah right! You're like the smartest pony/human I've met! Way smarter than ol' Stinkbeard. I bet you can have that portal open by tomorrow!

While I appreciate the compliment, I'm afraid his records are all we have that's a reference to opening a portal with no sudden consequences to the space-time-continuum.

Yeah... I guess we should worry about that... space time continuum stuff. Hey! I have an idea: Have you tried to find a medium?

Excuse me?

Yeah! like something only Equestria and Caelondia have, did you?

How'd you learn it's name?

You guys wrote it down...

Oh, yeah. Anyway, no, but... on further thought, that does seem plausible. But at the same time completely impossible.

Why? Stinkbeard only managed to do it because he got really lucky! We're smarter than him, we can do this ten times better than that mean ol' Stinkbeard!

Thanks for the pep-talk, Sonata, but what could possibly be a medium for our two worlds? Even with the generous donations we got, nothing in Equestria could hope to match it.

What about me and my sisters?

What?

I read before. Maybe we're not Sirens anymore, but maybe we're just barely close enough to the other ones to actually help. It also might be fun to meet my C.D.S.S

C.D.S.S?

Cross Dimensional Siren Sisters!, Or? C.D.H.S.S: Cross Dimensional Half Siren Sisters, since... you know.

Sonata, I appreciate the offer, but, I'm sure we can find a different solution other than... live testing. But, I'll keep it mind, alright?

Okay. So... what can I do from here?

Keep monitoring Squirt, if anything changes, you just let me know, got it?

Got it.

As for me, I'm still gonna need to finish examining the materials you brought and then try and figure out the best solution for getting rid of these plants.

I still don't know why you just don't burn em'.

Cause collateral damage is what we're trying to avoid.

Oh, okay.

Although, when I put more thought into it, I may know a good candidate to help us begin our little world-searching project. At least if we find this medium you spoke of.

Who is it? I wanna know!

You might actually know him, his name is Discord.

D-

Sonata, you there?

You mean THE Discord, right? As in the spirit of chaos?

Yes? Do you know him?

He's still around?

Yes, but- Oh! Don't worry, he was reformed quite a ways back. Although there was a bit of a hiccup, I assure you he's still... at least trying to be good.

So, he's still alive?

Yes, why wouldn't he- Sonata? What happened between him and the three of you?

We don't like to talk about it...

Sonata, if there's something you want to tell me, than just tell me.

We don't like to talk about him...

Sonata, what happened back then?

Oh, look at the time! Goodnight Twilight! Sweet dreams. Squirt says goodnight too! Bye!

Hey, wait! It's seven o' clock! Don't you dare close this book! Sonata...? Sonata...? Sonata!

---

Hi, twilight you there...? Look I'm sorry about losing the book

It's alright, Sunny. We kinda lucked out that Sonata found it. How is your ink red like that?

I lost my pen yesterday so I had to borrow one, and all they had were red colored ones

Fascinating, colored ink? Who would've knew? Anyway, did you read what me and Sonata discussed yesterday?

You guys talked? I thought she started to draw a bit on the journal and erased it after

She what?

Yeah, everything's just kinda faded on the other pages except for the first log. What did you two talk abut?

Nothing much, but the fact she did that is what concerns me.

What did you talk about?

We discussed on theories on how to perhaps connect a portal between Equestria and world B, Sonata suggested we find a medium, something that both worlds share, like water. Although we're probably gonna need something more... exotic than that.

Okay? So what's the part where she felt inclined to erase everything else?

I started to talk about how Discord could help in the matter.

Did you say Discord? As in the embodiment of chaos, Discord?

Yes, I did, and before you go freaking out, he's been reformed. I had to explain this to Sonata as well.

Yeah... I believe you

What did that mean?

What did what mean?

Those ellipses! You wouldn't have put them there unless they indicated sarcasm!

What? No...

There they are again!

What? No...

You're poking fun at me, aren't you?

What? Yes...

Can we please get on topic.

What? Alright sure, I'll stop

As I was mentioning Discord, Sonata became tight-lipped. Or tight-fingered? Whatever works in this situation. She refused to tell me anything about their relations with Discord and she just closed the book on me!

You got hung up on?

Huh?

Never mind, go on

I don't know what happened, but it seems very personal for them. She must have erased the pages while I was asleep.

That doesn't seem like her?

Which is why this whole situation is very interesting to me. The history books never mentioned anything about the Sirens and Discord. I want to help her, but right now, I'm kinda worried we might drive her away in the process.

We should probably worry about bigger things. I'm sure she'll be fine if she hasn't brought it up before

Yeah, you're right. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. But that brings us to another issue.

Can we ever catch a break?

It's not that bad. But as we were discussing things, Sonata read our previous notes about the sirens in world B.

And?

She said that maybe she could be the medium we need.

What does that mean exactly? And you better give me good news this time

I'm not sure what it is so I'll just say it: She offered herself to help find world C, but to do so would be incredibly risky.

We'll have to bring her to Equestria, won't we?

I didn't tell her that part. But yes, the only way that plan can work is if we find a way to cross her over to Equestria which is an entirely different problem altogether. I told her that I'd consider her offer if there was no alternative.

And if there is none?

I don't know...

Comments

[Eyeswirl the Weirded]

Twilight and Sunset are so cute together.

Twilight's reasoning is a little flawed, though, how would she know that there weren't sirens in the human world by sheer virtue of not having run into them yet? A planet is a pretty big place, but I don't think they've met each others' dopplegangers yet and the same logic would mean they couldn't exist there either. There could be more than one portal for all they know, too, though there's probably less of a reason to suspect there definitively is one, if that makes sense.

You TRIED, and besides, there wasn't anything good to talk about anyway. I also found that drawing of Squirt sunny drew and it is ADORABLE!

She takes it like a champ.

What did that mean?
What did what mean?
Those ellipses! You wouldn't have put them there unless they indicated sarcasm!
What? No...
There they are again!
What? No...
You're poking fun at me, aren't you?
What? Yes...
Can we please get on topic.
What? Alright sure, I'll stop

Still adorable.