Objective: Find source of mnemonic anomaly. Study anomaly while avoiding harmful exposure. Find way to neutralize anomaly while keeping source intact unharmed. Record results.

A bit short for an experiment summary. It would have to do. Brain Storm poked his head out of his lab and looked. Nopony was around, which wasn’t surprising considering the time was 13:37:28. He crept through the house towards the shop front and heard a light scratching noise. A mouse, maybe. He entered the shop and found it was only Dry Quill writing in that strange and very old book of his. The book was made of a brittle-looking papyrus that somehow never seemed to tear, and Dry Quill only wrote in it with a quill that he refilled from a turntable of eight inkwells. Brain Storm had once offered to date the book for appraisal, but Dry Quill had refused, saying that the book, “is too old to date.” Brain Storm huffed at the memory, prompting Dry Quill to look up.

“Ah, good–” Dry Quill glanced at a candle-lit clock “–morning Brain Storm, and what is that you are wearing on your head this time?” He went back to writing as he awaited an answer.

“I am doing a study on a suspected magic anomaly concerning a resident in Ponyville,” Brain Storm answered.

“Anomaly,” Dry Quill said as his quill flew across the papyrus. “What kind of anomaly?”

“One that seemingly only affects me so far,” Brain Storm said. With that, he walked out the door.

Dry Quill snickered and wrote a few more words. He read over what he just wrote. "How cringy," he mumbled.

Brain Storm walked at a confident pace through the chill air. He wore nothing but the strange contraption on his head and a belt of tools, for he had learned long ago how to ignore the cold. Unknown to supposedly everyone, he had snuck out two nights ago and ascertained the location of the anomaly's source's home, a small house near the Everfree Forest. Brain Storm hypothesized that the source must have contracted the anomaly from the forest, and that her secluded living has decreased the chances of the anomaly being discovered to all but the most magically sensitive ponies, such as himself. He found the bridge that started the dirt trail to the source's house and went on his way.

He arrived at the cottage and looked inside through the window. As suspected, no one was awake. He reached up to the contraption on his head and flipped down a lens over his eyes, something that he called the "one-way light," which allowed him to see at night. He also had a lens that filtered out any magic effects and illusions. He looked into the house again and could see the form of the source sleeping under her sheets. Brain Storm couldn't see her directly though, and looked for a way to get a better view. As he looked for another window or potentially a way in, he heard a rustling and turned to the noise. What he found was a very angry bear named Harold standing several feet above him and growling. If Brain Storm was scared by this new development, he didn't show it.

Either way, Harold started to swing at Brain Storm who dodged with ease and never broke a sweat, all the while thinking of a way out of this. After a while, Harold tired and put himself between Brain Storm and the house. It was at this point that Brain Storm realized that, "you aren't trying to maul me, you are just trying to chase me away," he said to the bear. Harold huffed and bared his teeth. Brain Storm heard the door open and saw the source run out to Harold. He flipped on his magic filter lens and got a better look.

"Harold, what's wrong?" Fluttershy said as she petted Harold's arm. She looked to where Harold was growling to, but didn't see anything or anyone.

Brain Storm ran through the bushes and trees of the Everfree, stumbling over roots and scratching himself on branches. He somehow had the mind to flip on his one-way light and was able to continue with much less difficulty. He eventually found himself entering Sweet Apple Acres from the forest, and slowed to a trot as he passed by the barn. He then set his mind to trying to figure out what happened. His lens had failed, that much he knew, and that's all he could conclude for the time being. As his mind went through the recent events over and over again, he couldn't figure out what went wrong. Deciding to pursue this case only after his mind was more level, he looked up to the stars to check the time. It was about 14:46, though he could never ascertain the seconds. A pink figure popped up from a bush, she wore regular night-vision goggles and a black suit.

“Hiya Brainy!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie, “whatcha doing out here so late?”

Brain Storm considered the nickname and deemed it fitting. “I am conducting an experiment,” he replied

“Oooooooo!” Pinkie Pie went, “very sciency!” She waved her hooves in the air and giggled. “What’s it about?”

Brain Storm smiled just a tiny amount; he found it hard to be upset at this mare despite her randomness and defiance of the laws of physics.”I am observing a potential magical anomoly with one of Ponyville’s residents,” he explained.

Pinkie’s smile dropped in concern.

Brain Storm held up a hoof. “There is not any reason to worry; it is harmless, but curious.”

Pinkie Pie’s smile returned in relief. “Well, I gotta be going now. Bye! Good Luck!” she said, then waved and dashed off. And, just as fast as she came, she was gone.

Brain Storm let out a deep, sputtering breath at the conclusion of that interaction. Talking to others was draining, and Pnkie Pie counted for five ponies. He looked to the sky again.

The stars are like candles with infinite wicks.

Brain Storm looked around, but decided that that was illogical. No one had said that, it had come from his own mind. He didn't like that, those poetic thoughts; that was for Zakuru and Dry Quill to take part in, and were distracting to him. Brain Storm decided that magic barriers would not work, and reasoned that the next thing he could try would be to stop the disruption at his mind through mental training. Yes, that should probably work.

Dry Quill gave a little huff as he wrote.

Morning time, and with it came a premature chilly wind that forced anyone with half a mind and no other obligations to stay inside. Dew Drop was not so lucky to have this luxury, nor were any of the other schoolfoals as they all trundled to school. They were all bundled up in thick jackets and scarves, with nothing but their half-closed eyes visible. They traveled in a group unlike most days, with those living closest to the school joining the procession farthest forward and acting as a sort of windshield, and any that tried to cheat this system were nudged none too gently to their proper spot. Eventually, the students made it to the school and hurriedly filed in. Ms. Cheerilee watched with slight bemusement as her students sat down and winced as they made contact with the cold seats. Cinder Glow was already at the heater trying to get it lit, a responsibly that most teachers wouldn't even think about giving to a student, but Ms. Cheerilee trusted him as he exhibited an aptitude for it.

The door opened with a renewed rush of cold air, causing the students already seated to glare in the direction of the newcomer. It was Silver Spoon, and she had a note in her mouth. After quickly shutting the door, she gave Ms. Cheerilee the note and quietly went to her seat. Ms. Cheerilee read the note and her eyes narrowed. She appeared to read it over a few times, her expression softening with every retake. Finally, she set the note down and cleared her throat with the class's attention following suit.

"Diamond Tiara won't be with us this week. Her and her dad are taking a 'special vacation'," said Cheerilee. Jealous groans arose from the students, despite the fact that most of them have done similar things themselves, and that Diamond Tiara had never before missed school for any such reason. There was a large fwoomp as the flames in the heater sprung to life, and everypony scooted the little distance that they could manage closer to the beloved heat. Class could now begin.

As the lessons were taught and classwork was done, Dew Drop noticed that every time she turned her head away from whatever she was supposed to be paying attention to, she saw the heads of her classmates quickly turning their heads away from her. After trying this a few times she found that she could never make eye contact with anyone.

By the time recess came, the weather team had decided that the cold was much too off-season and had made the weather a little milder, so the schoolfoals were allowed to go outside. They all made an effort to go before Dew Drop, who followed curiously. When she rounded the corner to the back of the school, all the other students gathered in a half circle around her, then looked at her silently.

Featherweight stepped to the middle of the small enclosure that they formed and squeaked, "Dew Drop, step forward." There was a solemn air to the proceedings, whatever they were. Dew Drop complied and walked up to Featherweight. "Dew Drop, for acts of valor, bravery, precociousness, and virago, we present you with this crown," he said, putting a wood and paper crown on Dew Drop's head that had the word "cangradulations" scrawled across the front.

Dew Drop wondered about his choice of adjectives that he used and then asked, "what did I do?"

"You freed us of the tyrant!

"You put Diamond Tiara in her place!"

"You gave her a solid smacking!"

"You beat her up."

All the schoolfoals turned around to whoever said that blunt and less-than-enthusiastic declaration. It was Silver Spoon, who stood at the back a few feet from the crowd. The schoolfoals huffed and ignored her, and Silver Spoon sulked around the corner of the schoolhouse. They surrounded Dew Drop and asked her various questions about where she learned to fight like that and if she enjoyed it and could she teach them to do that cool grapple. Dew Drop frowned at the torrent of questions and didn't know what to do for a few seconds; she had never before talked to more than one foal at a time, or really any foals, for that matter. She then had an idea and got out her satchel and started to quickly mix together some multicolored liquids. The schoolfoals, now mesmerized by the actions of their celebrity, quieted down and watched. The mixture started to bubble violently and those who had prematurely developed common sense stepped back while the rest leaned in inquisitively. There was a loud whump and the crowd was enveloped in opaque, rainbow smoke. Now exactly how the smoke could be rainbow-colored, Dew Drop knew no more now than she did when she accidentally made the mixture the other day. What she did know was that the smoke was harmless and would effectively hide her escape, an opportunity of which she took expeditiously. She found herself around the school close to Silver Spoon, who had her back facing Dew Drop. She idly scratched at the hard ground.

"Well if it isn't the big hero," said Silver Spoon, but her tone wasn't so much venomous as it was depressed. In fact, it sounded like an acknowledgement.

Dew Drop wasn't sure what to say. She looked around awkwardly.

Silver Spoon stopped scratching the ground. "It's ok if you don't want to talk to me. I understand." She sat there and almost blended in with the gloomy surroundings.

Dew Drop thought of something. "Were you the henchmare?"

Silver Spoon took a few seconds to realize that Dew Drop said something. "Huh?" she said, turning her head slightly.

"I said, were you the henchmare?" After seeing Silver Spoon's confused expression, she explained, "I've read a lot of books, and whenever there's a bad guy, he almost always has a henchmare or henchcolt. They always follow the bad guy around and carry out his orders no matter what." She walked up to Silver Spoon and sat down by her.

"I'm not some mindless servant," said Silver Spoon with a touch of sass.

Dew Drop's face scrunched up a bit. "I don't think the comparison is that much," she said, "but at the end of these books, when the bad guy is defeated, I never know what happens to the henchponies." She thought for a second. "I sometimes try to imagine what they do afterward. I guess the ones that aren't caught just wander off or something. I dunno." She trailed off there, and before she could think of anything else to say, the bell to call everyone back to class rang. Dew drop got up to go and looked back to Silver Spoon, who seemed to be thinking. “Are you coming, Silver Spoon?” she asked.

Silver Spoon jerked her head up and looked at Dew Drop. “Oh, right,” she muttered. She slowly got up, stood there for a second, and then walked back to the classroom.

Filthy Rich held up a teacup and sipped it noisily. He read over the papers in front of him with scrunched eyebrows. His lips pursed and he set down the teacup, then grabbed the paper with both hooves. He put the papers down and smiled.

"Dear me!" he said, "why, Princess Cottonly, this may be the best princess play I have ever read!" He adjusted the napkin tucked in his suit and gave the papers back to Diamond Tiara.

"Do you think it could be a hit?" Diamond Tia– Princess Cottonly asked excitedly.

Filthy Rich shot a hoof in the air. "To Broadneigh!"

"Yay!"

Author's Note

I can't believe myself. Heck, I should have labeled this on Hiatus. But, I've resolved to continue this story after the mother of writer's block prevented any meaningful progress for about a year.