Advertisement
Not a member of Pastebin yet?
Sign Up,
it unlocks many cool features!
- >The air outside was cold.
- >Fortunately, you were snugly wrapped up in a blanket inside your cozy treehouse.
- >There wasn't much going on at the moment, and you enjoyed the silence as you read to yourself.
- >That is, until you felt a weak tug on your arm.
- >"Dad?"
- >You turned your head towards the voice.
- >As you already knew, it belonged to your beautiful daughter.
- "Yes, Glimmer?"
- >"Well, you see..."
- >She trailed off.
- >Funny, you thought to yourself. She was usually more straightforward than this.
- "Are you okay Sweet-"
- >"Could you help me with magic?"
- >"Please?"
- >Aye, there's the rub.
- >You should of seen it coming, the girl always gets antsy when the topic came up.
- "Well Glimmer, magic's really your mother's thing so-"
- >"I can't."
- "Why not?
- >"I want it to be a surprise, a gift."
- >"Y'know, for Christmas?"
- >The date was coming up
- >In fact, you yourself should work on gifts as well
- >Right now though you had a pleading satyr at your waist
- >What other choice did you have?
- "Well of course I'll help you."
- >Glimmer brightened up immediately
- >"Great, I'll go get my stuff!"
- >You wondered about what you had just gotten yourself into.
- \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
- >It wasn't before long that you heard the elevating sound of satyr stomps accompanied with the rustling of books and other artifacts.
- >Glimmer sprawled her things out on the floor and lay down next to them.
- >The satyr gave you a miffed glare as you looked at her, it seemed that she wants you lie down next to her.
- >And so, you did.
- >Glimmer went on for a while about her research and "findings" about magic.
- >Every time she did too she handed you a copy of the book she referenced it from.
- >You could tell this was going to last a while
- >...
- >"So to summarize..."
- >You both sit up.
- >"1. Magic is a manifestation of one's own energy, and the volume of magic is different within each person."
- >"2. In order to properly utilize magic, one must possess a form of catalyst. This can be observed in pegasi and unicorns."
- >"3. The volume of one's magic is most directly proportional to their special talent. This is why most unicorns can only do simple levitation."
- "You certainly have done your research."
- >Glimmer smiles at the compliment and thanks you accordingly
- "However, this leaves us with some problems. Problems that I'm sure you've realized as well."
- "Namely..."
- "As it is we are unsure if you , and satyrs in general, will ever get cutie marks."
- "You also lack a natural catalyst."
- "We also don't know if have any magic in you at all, what with your human half."
- >To this, Glimmer looked away despondently.
- >Perhaps you laid it on a bit thick.
- >You put your hand around her shoulder and gave her a half hug.
- >You could of sworn you heard a sniffle.
- >Before you could say anything, the young girl turned around and reciprocated your hug.
- >She rested her head on your chest and you felt the entirety of her warmth surrounding you.
- >You truly cherished these moments.
- \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
- >After some hugging, the two of you finally get back on topic.
- >Glimmer was the first to break the silence.
- >"Well, if we ever want any answers to these unknowns, we better start testing!."
- "I agree, experimentation is the cornerstone of research."
- "Although, there isn't really much we can test, there's just too many variables that are out of our control."
- >Glimmer sighs, and ponders this for a spell.
- >"Well I could always test random abilities until I find something I'm good at."
- "Cause that worked out so well for Applebloom and them."
- >The satyr gives you a confused look
- "Ah, you haven't been told about the Cutie Mark Crusaders have you?"
- "Let's just say it wasn't a good plan."
- >Glimmer gives you a pout.
- >You decide to intervene in her logic.
- "How about we try to find you a catalyst?"
- >Your daughter closes her eyes with a smug grin, consistently nodding.
- >"Yes, yes. That sounds most divine."
- >You smirk to yourself and decide to play along.
- "Well then little miss, for where do you suggest we head out to attain such a magical item?"
- >"Why naturally..."
- >"It would only make sense that we should venture into the magical darkness that is the Everfree
- Forest, does it not?"
- "That it does miss Sparkle, but thou are aware of the dangers found there art thou not?"
- >"Indubitably good sir. For this reason I shall be appointing Sir Father to offer thine protection."
- "Sir Father accepts this task wholeheartedly, miss Sparkle. When does the madame suggest we take off?"
- >"Immediately!"
- >Glimmer takes off running and exits the house before you even have a chance to respond.
- >You'll never understand where children get this much energy.
- \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
- >You catch up to your daughter and the two of you make your way into the Everfree Forest.
- >It was just as gloomy as ever. You told your daughter to stay close to you.
- >Now, truth be told, you didn't know jackshit about magic here or the specifics of magical catalysts.
- >Fortunately it seems to follow the fiction that you're used to, so you hope that that knowledge will be of some use.
- >Glimmer turns towards you.
- >"So, where do you think that we should search for?"
- >"I suppose any magically endowed item will do but.."
- "You're not sure how to figure that out, are you?"
- >"...No."
- "Well I don't know either, but I do know this."
- "For a catalyst to be useful, it should have a small fixated point of release."
- "To put more simply, think about the differences between a bowl of water versus a water pistol."
- >You explain a bit more of the physics to her in more depth.
- "This principle of higher concentration is, of course, what makes unicorns so magically adept."
- >Glimmer seemed to follow along well enough.
- >"So what you're saying is, I should look for some pointy stick?"
- >A huge smile happens upon your face.
- "Exactly! This is what magic wands are all about, pointy sticks!"
- >Your satyr returns your smile with the exact same enthusiasm.
- >"So lets find the pointiest stick of them all!"
- "Lets!"
- >...
- >"Oh, but we still don't know how to find the magical ones."
- "Man, that doesn't matter. Just use your better judgement."
- >"You sure?"
- "Of course I'm sure, and besides. If we pick up a whole bunch of them, one of them's bound to be a good one."
- >"Well it's not like I can think of anything better."
- >The both of you continue to scour the forest.
- >There were some thorns here, some poison joke to avoid there, but thankfully staying close to the edge discouraged any animals from following you.
- >Good thing too, you were terrified about what would happen to you if you got into any trouble. And more importantly, what would happen to Glimmer.
- >You amassed your faggots and headed home.
- \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
- >After some hours in the woods, you and Glimmer made it back home.
- >You were surprised with how dark it had gotten already.
- >You spent more time in the Everfree than you had thought.
- >By now Twilight was probably already back from Canterlot.
- >Glimmer must of realized this too, seeing as how she hasn't opened the door yet.
- "Don't worry, I'll go in first to make sure nothing gets ruined"
- >The door opened with the same creaks and squeaks it always does, you really need to find some pony equivalent of WD-40.
- >You walked inside only to find a solitary note on the table.
- >You pick it up and read it.
- "Dear Anon,
- It seems that the negotiations with Saddle Arabia are taking longer than we thought.
- I'll be coming home later than expected. I'm truly sorry for making you and Glimmer wait for me,
- but I'm sure that you'll find some way to pass the time in my absence.
- Your loving wife,
- Twilight Sparkle.
- >...
- "Well if there's a letter here, than that means..."
- >A voice came from the distance.
- >"Sup Anon?"
- >Suddenly before you comes a purple and green dragon.
- "Hey Spike, when'd you get back?"
- >"Oh not too long ago, you with Glim?"
- "Yeah, you see, she-"
- >You weren't sure how secretive she wanted this to be, better play it safe.
- "Well I'm helping her with some stuff."
- >Spike gives you an inquisitive look.
- >"Whatever, it's none of my business."
- >"If you need me I'll be in the basement!"
- > And with that he takes off.
- >Spike was always pretty bro with you, you should help him get some ponut action one of these days.
- >But back to the task at hand.
- >You went back outside to get Glimmer.
- >The satyr was busy getting a head start on practice it seems.
- >Although all it looked like to you was enthusiastic stick flailing.
- >She looked a bit embarrassed when you caught her.
- "It's safe Glimmer, let's get back inside."
- >She nods and quickly follows.
- \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
- >You've arrived back at the mountain of research books and add your sticks to the pile.
- >Glimmer accordingly adds hers.
- "Well, what do the books say is the simplest spell to cast?"
- >Glimmer scans through them.
- >"It says here that basic spells include: levitation, object manipulation, and fireballs."
- >She seemed pretty enthusiastic about that last one, to your dismay.
- "How about we just focus on levitation for now? Wouldn't want anyone burning down the Treebrary would we?"
- >She looks a bit disappointed, but she says she understands.
- "So what does the book say about levitation anyway?"
- >"Uhh, not much..."
- >"You look at it."
- >She hands you the book and picks up a different one for herself.
- "Let's see...'Levitation is among the most basic of pony spells. Unicorns primarily learn this technique at young ages and don't advance much further.'"
- "Blah blah blah, simply decide the object you want to move and concentrate, let your thoughts flow into your horn..."
- "Hmm, you found anything else girl?"
- >"Well there's this diagram I found in "The Science behind Magic", but it's a little confusing.
- >She promptly hands it to you for inspection.
- >Your advanced knowledge of High School physics suddenly comes flooding back to you.
- >What you make from the free body diagram actually seems relatively simple.
- >When you focus on an object there's a force of tension applied that works along some sort of "invisible string" sort of deal.
- >After that, that magic placed on the object seems to apply some sort of magical magnetic field that allows it to float.
- >Of course you could be dead wrong, but it was the best shot that you had at the moment.
- >You try to tell Glimmer what you've surmised about the diagram.
- >...
- >"So basically I'm tying some magical string on it that makes it levitate?"
- "More or less, maybe you should just try dragging things around for the moment?"
- >"Alright then, here I go!"
- \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
- >Glimmer looked down at the sticks in front of her and picked out the best looking one.
- >Waving it around in the air for a while, she seemed to be accustomed to it.
- >She focused as hard as she could, and brought her readings to fruition.
- >In the end what you were faced with was bow legged satyr sticking her arm out, closing her eyes while looking away, and violently flailing a stick.
- "Uh, Glimmer..."
- >"...It's not working is it?"
- "Negatory."
- >Glimmer slumps down in depression, you could tell that she was taking this pretty hard.
- "Maybe that stick just wasn't good enough."
- >"Yeah, that has to be it! Hit me with another one."
- >...
- "T-that stick might be bad as well. You won't know until you try another one."
- >"I guess that makes sense..."
- >...
- >......
- >No matter which stick she tried the end result was always the same.
- >Nothing glowed and nothing moved.
- >The only thing that did change was Glimmer's pose, from one ridiculous position to another.
- >She seemed very distraught, and threw her "wand" down in frustration.
- >"I just can't do it! I'll never be able to use magic!"
- >You try your best to console her.
- "Don't speak like that sweetie, you may just not be ready yet."
- >"I'll never be ready, don't you see!?"
- >"No matter how many times I try I'm met with failure!"
- >Mom could do this harder stuff than this as a filly!"
- >You weren't sure what to say.
- "Don't speak like that, I'm sure that if we just keep trying we'll-"
- >A voice came out.
- >"Get nowhere."
- >You and Glimmer turn your heads to the new voice, although you both already knew who it was.
- >"See, even Spike acknowledges my shortcomings!
- "Spike! What's wrong with you?"
- "Haven't you ever heard common decency?"
- >"You don't understand."
- >Spike picks up some sticks and promptly crushes them in his claws.
- >You and you daughter were shocked, and a bit angered.
- "What you're doing here is useless."
- "You can't channel magic through this dreck."
- \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
- >His words stung through the air.
- >"What, what do you mean I can't channel magic like this?"
- >"I mean that your "wands" aren't proper magic catalysts!"
- >"Jeez, I thought I made that obvious."
- >"But we got these from the Everfree Forest, and the point, the concentration..."
- >"And I'm saying they aren't good enough!"
- "What makes you so sure anyway?"
- >"Please, you don't spend your entire life being Twilight's assistant without picking up a few things."
- >"Now look, I don't know if you can use magic or not, but you definitely can't doing what you're doing."
- >Glimmer looks defeated.
- >"I'm rooting for you, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't stand seeing you do something that was hopeless."
- >"Honestly, you should just ask Twilight to help you, everyone knows she's the most magically gifted pony there is."
- >"About that..."
- "She wanted it to be a Christmas gift for her, to surprise her."
- >Glimmer shyly looks away.
- >Spike remains quiet for a while.
- >"Well I still think you should talk to Twi, what's the big deal about all of this anyway?"
- >"If you excuse me, I'll be getting some water and going to bed."
- >With that Spike takes his leave.
- >Glimmer seems to be thinking.
- >"I guess we should put up these books."
- "I guess so."
- >You decide not to bombard her with too many questions right now.
- >Sometimes it's best to let people think and sort out their emotions.
- >...
- >"Well, I guess I'm going to bed now."
- >Glimmer heads off to her room, but you abruptly interrupt her.
- "Not yet little missy."
- >Before she has time to complain, you give her a quick embrace.
- >It wasn't before long that you felt her arms around you too.
- "I love you Glimmer."
- >"I love you too Dad."
- >"And thanks for all the help, I had fun."
- "I had fun too Glimmer."
- >You feel your chest becoming wet.
- >You hug your daughter a bit tighter.
- >...
- >Eventually, you had to let go. Not that you wanted to.
- >Glimmer wiped her eyes on her sleeve and gave you a warm smile.
- >"Goodnight Dad."
- "Goodnight sweetie."
Advertisement
Add Comment
Please, Sign In to add comment
Advertisement