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- My room had gone from the original drab crystalline that it once was to a veritable /tg/ wet-dream. I had moved in shelves upon shelves of bookcases from the library, and they were crammed full of books on various equestrian theories on magic and alchemy. A working furnace had been set up in the corner opposite of my desk and I had been practicing making runes out of lead and copper, and making various beads and other items to use for foci. Finally, a bubbling cauldron of heavy iron had taken up space close to the center of the room and was busy bubbling away to make some potion base.
- Ever since my nightmare, I had been especially apprehensive if my robe wasn't close at hand. I also had to repair the ceiling. So now a delicate twisted iron chandelier hung around the scorched spot on the roof. I had realized more about what Twilight had said around the first time I was using magic around her. I was capable of amazing feats just by drawing in ambient power like a battery and holding onto it. However, I hated the way I felt holding it in for any longer than a handful of seconds.
- It was like having a buzzing in my teeth, an ache in my bones, and restless energy coursing through my muscles. But that's what some of the larger spells and more complicated runes needed; it was easier to draw in a lot of magic in short order rather than wait and slowly charge the lump of metal.
- I had taken to selling little trinket runes to the locals. Many of them were positively enthralled with my work. Most left pretty quickly with small charms for simple things like a charm to prevent bread or milk from spoiling or keeping dirt and water away. One unicorn, in particular, would swing by on a daily basis to ask me questions about where I came from and what I did before I ended up here. Her name was some instrument. I honestly thought it was funny.
- My room had gone from the original drab crystalline that it once was to a veritable /tg/ wet-dream. I had moved in shelves upon shelves of bookcases from the library, and they were crammed full of books on various equestrian theories on magic and alchemy. A working furnace had been set up in the corner opposite of my desk and I had been practicing making runes out of lead and copper, and making various beads and other items to use for foci. Finally, a bubbling cauldron of heavy iron had taken up space close to the center of the room and was busy bubbling away to make some potion base.
- Ever since my nightmare, I had been especially apprehensive if my robe wasn't close at hand. I also had to repair the ceiling. So now a delicate twisted iron chandelier hung around the scorched spot on the roof. I had realized more about what Twilight had said around the first time I was using magic around her. I was capable of amazing feats just by drawing in ambient power like a battery and holding onto it. However, I hated the way I felt holding it in for any longer than a handful of seconds.
- It was like having a buzzing in my teeth, an ache in my bones, and restless energy coursing through my muscles. But that's what some of the larger spells and more complicated runes needed; it was easier to draw in a lot of magic in short order rather than wait and slowly charge the lump of metal.
- I had taken to selling little trinket runes to the locals. Many of them were positively enthralled with my work. Most left pretty quickly with small charms for simple things like a charm to prevent bread or milk from spoiling or keeping dirt and water away. One unicorn, in particular, would swing by on a daily basis to ask me questions about where I came from and what I did before I ended up here. Her name was some instrument. I honestly thought it was funny.
- When I wasn't working on my growing business I was pouring over the worn tome. The book that brought me and my friends here in the first place. I had found a spell I was working on. It required a set of various runes and an accompanying crystal bowl filled with purified spring water. If I had everything done right I would be able to get a glimpse of my friends. Wherever they were.
- ---
- It took a while to gather the gold necessary to make the runes. Sure their dimension was weft with gems and other shiny things, but gold was surprisingly scarce aside from their coins. After having made and shaped the appropriate runes I had everything I needed. I cleared all consultations for runecrafting for the day. I cleared out an unused neighboring room and crafted the necessary elaborate circle of chalk and salt. I set the runes in between the chalk and salt rings. I carefully placed the bowl in the very center and filled it with the specially prepared water.
- I kneeled and began to attune myself to my workspace. I felt a presence lingering near the door. It wasn't Spike and the magical signature wasn't the princess. I tried to extend my sense through the door. The runes lit up, I didn't actually register it with my eyes but I could 'feel' the magic surrounding them. Time seemed to freeze after they lit up, and I was looking around in the room from what felt like a floating viewpoint. It was like looking through a grayscaled watery haze.
- I was moving around the castle. I was exploring every nook and cranny I could. I was in the library, then the kitchen and lastly Twilight's personal chambers as the princess was frozen in place reading a book about Equestrian myths and legends while laying down. I found that it was harder to look at places I hadn't seen and that while I was observing time seemed frozen.
- I focused on the one individual I wanted to find most. Mcfuckface. My vision and sense of location flip-flopped around and I had a hard time keeping focused and kept reminding myself it was just simple magic and I wasn't actually moving. Before long I finally stopped moving and I wasn't too far from the castle. It was a small house on the outside edge of the forest. a quaint little cottage with several animals frozen in their afternoon frolicking. I tried to take a look inside only to have my sense of 'self' repelled away. I gave one hard shove and my spell broke.
- I stood up quickly and pushed the door open. A pinkish unicorn with a multicolored mane was standing at the door. She said nothing as I crossed the hall and grabbed a staff I had prepared out of oak and inlaid with runes and a bunch of glass beads dangling from various strings and leather straps. "Twilight is in her room. Tell her I'm going for a walk. I'll be back before sunrise."
- "O-okay." The pony said as I headed out into the afternoon with a fury growing with each step.
- ---
- I found myself walking across the town as I was as if I was being avoided. It wasn't uncommon as Twilight said it took them months to finally get used to a zebra that lived in the woods. They'd eventually warm up to me when I was more than just another local curiosity. I stopped at the center of town.
- I quickly stopped and realized that even if I knew where I was going I didn't know how to get there. I waited while the flow of life continued on around me. families having fun in the noontime sun, birds and other wildlife chattering away, and ponies being ponies. No matter what I did or where I went I would always be an outsider in a strange land where impossible things can be made real with simple actions.
- I steeled myself and spoke out. "E-Excuse me. I need help finding a place."
- It seemed like anyone within earshot of me froze. None of them wanted to make eye contact. "Who'd be kind enough to help me find a friend?"
- I heard a loud gasp from behind me, and I was immediately wheeled around to face a pink pony grasping onto a tree branch at about face height. "HiMyNameIsPinkiePieAndI'llBeYourFriendThat'sAPinkiePromise~!" She said with a smile that I swore was accompanied by a squeak.
- The entire scene was a bit ridiculous and I laughed out loud. I found myself giggling as I tried to recollect my composure. "That's a great offer and I'm sure that you'll make good on that promise but I'm looking for an already existing friend."
- "Oh," She said looking almost deflated before she perked right up. "Well! I am a fantastical guide and I know almost everywhere in Ponyville! Even..." She looked around shiftily. "Secret places" she whispered.
- "Really? Well..." I spent time describing the place from my vision to my newfound friend and she practically interrupted me halfway through.
- "That's Fluttershy's cottage. It's pretty close to the Everfree forest, but it's not inside it like Zecora's hut. I'd know because I visit there ALL the time to hang out with Discord! He's a bit strange but you get used to him!" She said all in one short breath. "Let's get going!" She said suddenly on the ground in front of me.
- I looked at the branch she had been on before and back to her on the ground in front of me. I chalked it up to a dimensional quirk otherwise fixating on what I just saw would probably have driven me crazy.
- ---
- As we walked Pinkie Pie told me all about herself and her friends. She told me about they had fought off evil monsters and how Discord had also been evil but wasn't anymore. How the Royal sisters controlled the very stars and I'd probably have to talk to Princess Celestia at some point being that I was an 'outsider'.
- Before I could ask her more about that we had arrived. I felt a growing queasiness as we walked closer to the door. It was oppressive and not unlike the feeling of when I was around Twilight the first time completely unshielded. By the time we reached the door, I was having a hard time keeping my breakfast down.
- Where Twilight's magic made sense this new force was different. It twisted and zigzagged and just felt wrong.
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