Worthy opponent

by The Silver Shroud

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad
Length: 6726

The story of how Coil Sparks and Light Wizard grew to be enemys

"So why do Coil and Light hate each other?" asked Babs. It was a simple question in her mind but hat Humble was about to say made it a lot more complicated.

Cover art by this guy

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-09-06 17:51:36 UTC

The Wizard

It was a cold and snowy winter day in the metropolis of Manehattan and Humble Pie was waking up in his cozy bed in his toasty apartment.

“Ahhh,good morning Slit” he yawned waking up, hoping for the familiar feeling of greeny scales at the foot of his bed, but only feeling the lightness of the air. “Oh yeah,” said Humble with a disappointed tone. “Slits at my family house down in New Fluereans, oh well,” he said getting out of bed. “Might as well start the day.” After getting dressed and prepared for the day, Humble made the one thing that would wake up his sleeping roommate Coil Sparks: chocolate pancakes, but soon after making them the sound of hoofs other than his own did not appar. “Hmm, that’s odd. Coil always wakes up to the smell of chocolate pancakes, better see if he’s alright. So putting away the the pans and stuff Humble trotted over to Coil’s room. “I hope he’s still not upset over the grocery incident,” said Humble before knocking on Coil’s door. “Coil? Buddy, you in there?” he asked to the reply of silence. After a few moments Humble opened the door anyway. “Coil? Are you-Coil?” Inside the room was no sign of the inventor save for his things and Coo his stuffed pigeon. “Where is that sta-” Humble was answered by the sound of a falling trashcan outside.

“Just gonna borrow this for a sec,” said the muffled voice of Coil

Opening the window to the embrace of a cold breeze, Humble saw the sight of Coil rolling a trashcan to a bunch of other object in what appeared to be the beginning of a fort. “Coil!” shouted Humble causing Coil to look up.

“Oh! Good morning Humble. What are you doing in my room?” Coil said padding a mound of snow.

“Looking for you! It’s breakfast time!”  shouted Humble to the street. “I made chocolate pancakes!”

Looking up again with a grin Coil said words that Humble had never thought he hear from his friends face hole. “You can have them,” he said casually.

“What!?” shouted Humble rushing outside in his winter clothes.

“Yeah, you can have them,” replied Coil squatting down behind his fort of snow.

“W-well okay,” said Humble wondering why Coil was squatting down. “Coil what are you doing?” asked Humble looking at his friend deep in the snow.

“Waiting,” replied Coil, staring intensely at a corner of the street.

“Waiting for what?” asked Humble with curiosity.

“That!” shouted Coil pointing at a white stallion who was in a brown overcoat drinking a coffee.

“Light Wizard?” asked Humble getting worried. “Coil you're not gonna-” Before he could finish it happened.

Throwing a sphere like projectile made of frozen water at the unaware stallion, Coil shouted “Take that Light!”

“Huh? C-omph!” Light said as the icy missile hit him square in the face, causing him to drop his coffee. Looking up in seething rage Light shouted “Damn you Coil!”

Shaking his behind at him Coil said in a taunting voice “What ya gonna do ab-auch!” He had been hit by a icy projectile in the place where Celestia don’t shine.

“That’s what I’m gonna do,” said Light with a smirk.

“That’s it Light, you and me. Right here right now!” shouted Coil with a growl.

“Coil and Light you gu-” said Humble before being cut off.

“Like I don’t have anything better to do then play your foalish games,” said Lighting turning away.

“Bawk, bawk, chicken!” said Coil waving his arms like a chicken.

“Why you cock!” yelled Light turning back before picking up some snow and making it into a sphere. “Nobody calls Light Wizard a chicken.

“I’m just gonna go get some soup kay?” said Humble.

“Bring it Light!” shouted Coil not hearing Humble.

Groaning at the start of the fight before him, Humble walked a bit more down the street to a ponara. After ordering a sandwich and a soup, Humble sat at a table inside looking out of the cafe’s window to the sight of a crowd starting to gather around the two fighting inventors. “Ugh, I need a vacation,” said Humble drinking some water.

The door of the cafe opened to the sight of a orange coated and purple maned filly whose name was Babs Seed. Noticing the unhappy author Babs headed over to Humble to see what was wrong. “How ya doin Humble,” she said with a cheerful tone.

“Hello Babs,” reponded Humble with a moan while playing around with some packets of sugar.

“What’s the matter Humble?” asked Babs with a concerned tone. “Is it with Coil and Light fighting again.”

“Pretty much,” replied Humble beckoning for the filly to take a seat.

“Why are those two fighting?” asked Babs getting seated. “An why so far away?

“Well you see...”

“So to make a long story short” said Humble to Babs. “Light and Coil both payed for the damages to the store and were not required to be near each other in 6 yards...for 2 weeks.” said Humble eating his sandwich.

“Huh, that explains why they’re throwing snowballs at each other from the street,” Babs said looking at the crowd surrounding the duo's war of snow battle before them.

“You will pay for that Light!” shouted a war painted Coil who had just been hit by a snowball.

“Well even if I would, which I won’t, at least I have the  money to!” yelled back a icicle throwing Light.

“You motherbucker!” shouted Coil throwing frozen water at Light.

“But Mr. Humble?” asked Babs with a determined look.

“Yes he?” said Humble, ordering some more soup.

“Why do Coil and Light hate each other? Is it because their just rivals?” said Babs  wanting to know the origins of the duos feud.

With a sigh Humble looked at Babs.“partly, but the real reason would require us to go back long time ago,” said Humble ordering another sandwich at the cafe.

“How long ago?” asked Babs ready for another story.

“Back to when Coil and I came back to Manehattan.”

It was 6 years ago today, back before Luna returning, the discord reformation, Tirek,  the crystal empire, back when all our electronics were powered by unicorns. Now if ya remember Babs that while unicorn magic and it’s enchantments are good they only work as well as the unicorns skill so it was hard to always enchant even the most basic things for long amounts of time such as flashlights that would last awhile before sputtering out or steam engines that were powered by unicorn flames guttering and spent and requiring the train to be brought thru tough lands by earth ponies. That was until Coil met Light.

The landscape of the aponiancn mountains along with some small towns sped past the windows of Coil Sparks and Humble Pies cabin car whilst the two were playing goldfish at a table.

“And royal flush, read’em and weep!” said younger looking Coil laying down his cards.

“Yeah umm, Coil?” said a equally younger looking Humble. “We’re goldfish not poker.”

“Oh, I guess I should return the bishop pieces to you, right?” asked Coil holding one up.

“Ummm, nevermind. How about we look at the scenery for a bit?” Humble said putting away the pieces.

“Oh alright,” responded Coil helping put away the pieces.

After doing that the two stallions sat across from each other eating their lunches as the watched the Mane forest past them.

“Ain’t it pretty Humble?” asked Coil.

“Yeah, very nice looking,” replied a quiet voiced Humble.

“What’s wrong?” asked Coil concerned for his friend.

“It’s nothing.”

“No, it’s not nothing. Spill it-oh you're still upset aren’t ya?”

“............”

“Hey come on buddy, it’s not like it’s the end of the world, right?” said Coil before the cabin went dark. “Ahhhhh! I was wrong! Repent to the sun goddess!” he shouted when all of a sudden the sun returned to the windows.

“Wait,” said Babs interrupting Humble’s tale.

“Yeah? What’s wrong?” replied Humble wondering why he was interrupted.

“What we’re ya upset over?”

“Like I was saying this is Coil’s tale, not mine.”

“Relax Coil,” Humble said trying to calm his frantic friend down. “All we did was pass thru a tunnel in the mountains, alright? Look,” he said pointing to the window where the view of the tunnel  was growing farther away.

“Oh, I knew that,” said Coil sitting down in his seat.

“Course ya did,” replied Humble looking out the window.

After a few seconds of silence Coil spoke up. “So,” said Coil twiddling his hooves. “Why isn’t Slit coming with us?”

Looking at his friend, Humble just grinned. “He’s staying with the family while we get set up, beside it’s supposed to snow up here soon and him being cold blooded I decided to let him stay behind till it gets warm.”

“Ah, I see,” said Coil, his curiosity quelled. “So do you think their gonna like me?”

“Who’s their?” replied Humble.

“The city of Manehattan,” said Coil. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been there. What if they don’t like me?”

“Coil, listen to me when I say this,” said Humble with a smirk. “They are gonna love us like.”

“Aww, that’s nice” said Coil sharing a chuckle along with Humble.

The hours afterward were normal with us just talking and playing cards and I spy. Eventfully the scenery outside changed into that of a series of tunnels till we saw it!

“Coil,” said Humble nudging his friend who was sleeping.

“I’ll take the trash out later,” snored Coil.

“Coil!” shouted Humble waking up his sleeping companion.

“W-what!” yelled Coil bolting up from his bed.

“Wake up, we’re there,” said Humble opening a curtain.

To what would have just been a dark sky, but instead, in place was something even more  amazing. Manehattan. The city shone with the lights of hundreds of unicorns powering it, the towers of steel struck high into the open night sky, the boat beneath the bridges honked with determination, and the sound of a thousand voices could be heard even from such a distance.

“It’s amazing!” shouted Coil whose face was planted hard on the cabin window, his eyes scouring the place like searchlights.

“It is isn’t it,” said Humble with a grin at the sight of his friend’s giddiness.

After pulling into grand pony central, the two got of the train and headed upstairs to see what the view was like up close.

The streets were crowded with dozens of rushing ponies, griffons, donkeys,zebras, and all varieties of creatures. The skyscrapers above them stood intimately, like sentials.

“My Celestia,” said a awed Coil and Humble.

“We could get lost in this place for hours!” shouted Coil, excited to explore the city.

“Well before we do that,” said Humble calling a cab. “Let’s just head to oru new home first alright?”

“Sound good to me,” replied Coil as he and Humble both entered a cab.

The Earth pony pulling the cart was a tough looking brown coated, black maned, and wheel cutie mark stallion with a flat hat looking at the duo and spoke to them in a thick new horsian accent. “Where yous two heading?”

“3456, maple street please,” replied Coil as he and Humble put their luggage on the cart.

“Got ya,” said the stallion waiting for Humble and Coil before galloping to the duos new home. “By the way my name is Wheel Runner.”

“Nice to meet you Wheel Runner, my name is Humble Pie and this here is Coil Sparks,” said Humble pointing at Coil who was waving at passersby.

“Nice to meet yas Humble and Coil, so that accent, ain’t heard it in this city. You from the south?” asked Wheel Runner stopping at a light.

“Eeyup, New Fleureas born and raised,” replied Humble looking at the towers. “You?’”

“New Horsian city born and raised as well,” said Wheel Runner galloping to catch up so he didn't’ get yelled at by other driver. “your friend Coil though, he ain’t got a accent like yours,” said Wheel Runner. “He from someplace else?”

“Well his mother was born in seripony so that’s how he got his accent, but no he was born in New Fluereans as well.”

“Huh, what about his father?” asked Wheel Runner.

“Umm, I honestly don’t know,” whispered Humble so that Coil wouldn't hear. “I never met him.”

“Hmm, deadbeat huh, well let me tell you this. Ya gotta keep your friend safe,” said Wheel Runner.

“What do you mean?” asked Humble with a glare.

“Well for one your friend is at the moment waving at some shady figures.

“What are you tal-oh,” said Humble looking at Coil waving at a chestnut colored stallion and other shady figures.

“Hello there! shouted Coil waving still to the chestnut stallion and his lemon colored friend.

“Umm, Coil?” asked Humble to his friend.

Stopping his waving Coil turned around to his friend. “Yeah?”

“I don’t think they wanna talk” said Humble with a wave at the two of stallions.

“Oh alright,” turning around Coil shouted again. “Bye!”

“Newcomers,” muttered Wheel Runner.

Eventfully the we arrived at the apartment complex and after paying Wheel Runner we headed on in.

The Apartment complex’s lobby was a small one with two wooden chairs in the corner and a pegasus stallion behind a bar covered desk. Heading over to the desk, they saw that the stallion’s name was Sky Blue whose coat matched his name and he appeared to have a keyhole for  a cutie mark.

“Can I help you two gentlecolts?” asked Sky.

“Yes, my name is Humble Pie and this is Coil Sparks,” said Humble pointing to Coil who was looking at a magazine on birds. “We are supposed to move into tonight.”

“Ah! Yes Mrs. Checkers told me we would have you coming tonight, your stuff is already pack inside the apartment. If you will just follow me,” said Sky getting out of his desk cell. You will have to carry your luggage I’m afraid, the elevator has not been working.”

Heading upstairs proved to be a difficult task with the back and forth motions up the stairs, but eventually the three stallions entered a narrow hallway that housed their….house.

“Here you are,” said Sky leading them to a door with the words 566 on them. “I hope it’s to your pleasure.”

After giving him a tip, Sky went back down to his desk cell, leaving the two stallions to open the door.

“Well here it goes,” said Humble turning the key till it clicked, opening the door way to a small but comfortable looking room with crates everywhere.

“Huh,” said Humble lighting a lantern. “Lets check the other rooms.” After seeing that the other three rooms consisted of a bed and window along with one bathroom they went pack to the to be living room. “Looks like we’ll have to unpack everything ourselves Coil...Coil?” turning around he saw Coil with a handlebar breaking open everything and shouting. “Why are they called package peanuts? They don’t taste like them.”

After unpacking everything the two stallions felt like they were gonna collapse from exhaustion, so with a goodnight they drifted off to sleep.

“Humble?” asked Babs with impatient look.

“Yeah?” replied Humble.

“When are we going to get to the part where Coil and Light meet!”

“I was just getting to it.”

Awaking from his sleep, Coil trotted down the small hall to the smell of chocolate pancakes. Seeing Humble making the pancakes in the apartments small kitchen, Coil quickly did a jig. “Yeeha!”

“Well someone's excited,” said Humble smiling at his friends display.

“Food, food, food!” chanted Coil pounding the silverware against the table.

“Alright, alright here ya ho,” said Humble putting the pancakes in front of Coil only for him to swallow them in one gulp.

“Mmmm, tasty,” said a content Coil. “Oh no! I ate your breakfast too!”

“Nah. don’t worry about it,” said Humble calming Coil. “I’m going to get something to eat on the way to my appointment at my publisher.

“That’s today?” said Coil sadly. “But I thought we could go feed some pigeons!”

“Don’t worry we’ll feed all the pigeons you want tomorrow,” said Humble.

“Oh, alright,” sighed a disappointed Coil.

Noticing his friends sadness Humble came up with a brilliant idea. “Hey how about you go see this,” said Humble laying down a newspaper in front of Coil.

“A bikini sale? I know I look good in swimwear, but-”

“Not the sale, beneath it.”

Looking at the words with squinted eyes, Coil read aloud. “Come see The Wizard of Helo Park? Is it a magic show?”

“Don’t know to be honest but from what I heard at the store this morning it’s supposed to be great,” aid Humble putting his brown suit on. “You should see it, I left some money on the counter if you get hungry, bye!” he said shutting the door behind him.

“Bye!” shouted Coil as Humble left. Looking down at the ad Coil thought for a moment before saying the immortal words “Why not?” So grabbing his coat and hat he headed down to a subway that was heading to New Horsian. Getting in the subway he trotted thru a crowd of mares and stallion before sitting at the side of an older looking white coated and mane stallion with a lighting bolt for a cutie mark reading a book with no cover art and the words “Steam and me”

“Hello there,” said Coil with a joyful smile to the stallion. “My names Coil.”

Looking up from his book the stallion looked at Coil with confused look before talking. “Umm, are you talking to me?”

“I believe I am,” said Coil with a serious face before giggling. “My friend Humble taught me that.”

“That’s ,uhh, nice,” said the stallion before once again burying his muzzle deep into the words of ink.

Looking at the book Coil beamed. “I see you're interested in the study of steam usage ?”

Looking surprised for a second, the stallion looked up at Coil with a smile. “Yes I am, how did you know that if I might inquire?”

“Well it just so happens I to study the use of steam as well,” said Coil with a prideful tone.

“Really?” said the stallion shocked that another pony studied steam applications.

“Really,” replied Coil.

A few moments of silence later the stallion spoke up. “What did you say your name was again?”

“Coil, Coil Sparks,” said Coil holding out a hoof.

“Well Coil nice to meet another educated pony,” said the Stallion shaking Coil’s hoof. “My name is Light Wizard.”

“Pfffft!” said Babs spitting out her apple\juice. “What?! Coil and Light were once nice to each other?!”

“Yes,” said Humble wiping the apple juice off himself.

“B-but they hate each other!”

“Now, but not back then. So lets continue shall we?”

“Nice to meet you Light,” said Coil finishing the shake. “So where are you heading?”

“Helo park,” replied Light. “You?”

“What a coincidence!” exclaimed Coil. “I’m heading there too.”

“Oh? May I ask what for?” asked Light curious.

“To see this magician called the wizard of helo park!” said Coil with joy.

“Hahahaha!” laughed Light confusing Coil till he got infected by the laughing as well. After being told to quiet down by the other passengers Light said. “My friend I think you will find quite the surprise when you get there.”

“What do you mean?” asked Coil with a eyebrow raised.

“Oh you’ll see,” said Light with a grin. “You’ll see.”

After getting off the train they trotted over to the park while talking.

“So what you're saying is that you are trying to are a scientist?” asked LIght.

“Pretty much,” said Coil as he and Humble went under the parks gate.

“Fascinating, I can’t tell you how hard it is to be a scientist in this place,” grumbled Light.

“I know right!? People always laugh at me when I when I-nevermind,” said Coil with a sign.

“No, tell me. Why do people laugh at you for? You seem like a very educated stallion,” said Light comforting Coil.

“Well tell you what I’ll tell you after we see the wizard, which should be,” said Coil looking everywhere for any sign of wizardry. “There!” he shouted pointing at a plain grey, wooden, one story building with one small venting window and a sign “The Wizard of Helo park” next to the building. “I can’t wait to see him!” yelled Coil as he sat on his flank like a foal waiting for a puppet show among a small crowd of mares and stallions.

“Well while you wait, I’m gonna go use the restroom,” said Light going around the building.

“Kay! Don’t be too long I think it’s gonna start soon!” called Coil to Light.

After a few minutes more ponies came to the small building, all of them waiting for the wizard to appear. But Coil was just getting worried about Light. “Oh! Where is he?” he said getting worried. “He’s gonna miss the show if he-” but Coil was interrupted by the sound of a grainy sound of music, flipping his head he heard an odd voice from the area around him as he and the crowd looked everywhere for the source of the voice

Ladies and gentlecolts, colts and fillies, I ask you what is the future?

“Oh, I know!” shouted Coil waving his hoof up and jumping. “The thing that’s not the present and the past!” said Coil smugly.

The future is in science!

“Oh,” said Coil blushing. “That’s nice too.”

Now put your hooves and of limbs together for the wizard of Helo Park!

“Gasp!” gasped a squeezing Coil as he stood on the shoulder of a annoyed stallion. “It’s the wizard!”

Light Wizard!

“Yay! For- wait, Light!?” said Coil as a wooden wall slided from the building to reveal Light in something that resembled a lab.

“Yes, it is I! Light Wizard,” he said taking a bow which Coil was the only one to clap to. Getting a bit nervous at the odd response Light continued. “Umm, so yes how many of you are here to learn about the wonders of science!?” shouted Light with a smile as he pulled out a bunch of sticks and a piece of flint with a iron stick.

“Umm, actually I was wondering this was the food shack?” asked a zebra.

“No, that’s on the south side of the park,” said a deadpan Light.

“Oh! Thank,” said the zebra leaving.

“Your welcome,” signed Light before hearing Coil.

“Psst, Light,” hissed Coil. “I’m here to learn about science!”

“Thank sir, okay everypony,” said Light to his dwindling audience. “Do any of you know what causes heat?”

A mare raised her hoof.

“Ah! You there my good lady, do you know what causes heat?” asked Light with a hopeful look.

“Yes,” said the mare. “heat is caused by friction between atoms,”

“Good!” Light before adding. “But my lady I know have another question. What causes electricity?”

“Well thats easy, magic too” replied the lady with a clap from all but Coil and Light.

“Umm, actually miss you see while magic does indeed caused electricity, what causes the magic to make electricity? asked Light.

“Magic!” shouted the crowd except Coil.

“Umm, no you see-”

“What are you talking about? Magic is the source of electricity.” said a colt.

“Yeah! Lets all go to the food shake this shack is stupid,” shouted a filly causing everypony to leave.

“Yay, food!” the crowd shouted leaving a depressed Light in his building.

Sighing, Light started to close up the thing before.

“I know what causes electricity” shouted Coil who had not left.

“Let me guess, magic?” muttered annoyed Light.

“No, electrons,” said Coil.

Dropping his vials, Light looked at Coil incredulously before smiling. “Yes, yes they do.”

“I’m home!” shouted Humble as he came back from his appointment. “Coil?” he asked before hearing giggling from Coil’s room.

Opening it Humble saw the sight of Light and Coil laughing while drink cider in two chairs. “So I said to him that’s not how you eat a muffin!” said Light causing Coil to fall to his floor in a fit of laughters before looking up at Humble.

“Oh, hi Humble!” said Coil the smell of cider on his breath, getting  up and putting a hoof around Humble.

“Umm, hello Coil who’s your friend?” asked Humble keeping his friend from falling.

“Who? Oh you mean Light!” said coil before pointing at Light who was waving with a grin. “Light this here is my best friend I was telling you about, Humble Pie.”

Getting up, Light trotted over to Humble before holding out a hoof. “A pleasure to meet you good sir, your friend Coil is a very talented mind if I might say.

Shaking Light’s hoof Humble said “Well any friend of Coil is a friend of mine, will you be staying for dinner?”

“Really? I wouldn’t want to intrude,” said Light.

“Well,” said a smirking Humble pointing at the empty bottles of cider. “It seems you kinda already did when ya drunk my cider.”

“That was yours!? Coil you said that was yours!” yelled Light at the buzzed  serpony.

“It is….okay it’s not but I didn’t see you hesitate even for a second!” said Coil laughing.

“Sir I assure you I will pay-”

“Really it’s no problem, I don’t even drink cider often.”

“But you're drinking cider right now,” said Babs.

“Non hard cider though,” said Humble taking a sip.

“So if you would like to eat-” said Humble before Coil rushed to the kitchen.

“Hay noodles!” shouted a joyful Coil.

“He always like that?” asked Light to Humble.

“Only on Wednesdays and Thursdays,” replied Humble. “So will you stay?”

“Well, I suppose a little bite wouldn’t hurt?”

“Ugh, I’m full,” said a crumb covered Light. “Thank you gentlecolts for the meal, but I really must get back to my workshop.”

“You sure you don’t want to spend the night? I can sleep on the couch,” said Humble.

“Yeah please!” said Coil who was giving pigeon eyes.

“Nah I really got to get back….but Coil?” said Light.

“Yeah?”

“I might need your help tomorrow at my workshop,” said Light heading to the door. “Partner,” he said with a smirk closing the door.

“.........” was all Coil could say.

“Coil? You alright?” asked Humble also a bit shocked at the sudden partnership.

“I have a study buddy!” shouted Coil hugging Humble tightly. “Oh I better get to bed, big day tomorrow. Night Humble!” said Coil before racing to his room.

“haha, night to you to Coil,” said Humble getting out his writing book. “Good night.”

The next day Coil headed over to the workshop to find Light looking at a bunch of equations.

“Hmm, maybe I carry the two-oh! Coil, didn’t see you there,” said Light.

“Aww, that’s alright a lot of people don’t see me the neighbors, Slit when I’m behind him, the bus dr-ooh what’s that!” shouted Coil pointing at a strange looking device on the back counter.

“Oh this thing?,” replied Light picking it up. “This is a  device that makes the air around a person wetter.”

“Oh my Celestia!” shouted Coil. “You mean this thing teleport people to swamps!”

“not exactly,” chuckled Light. “But it does have a somewhat effect, no this device send a spray of water into the air allowing the area to be less dry.”

“So it’s like a spraying water in the air?” said Coil.

“Kinda, but what I really want to talk about is if you have any good ideas we could try?” said Light hoping his new partner would have an invention idea.

“Well I do have this one where-umm actually never mind,” said Coil with a sigh.

“No not never mind, come on tell me what it is, please?” said Light wanting to hear it.

“Well I thought about trying to make electricity without magic,” said Coil quickly.

“Sorry didn’t hear that. Could you say it again?” said Light putting his ear closer.

“Makeeletrictywithoutmagic,” said Coil.

“I’m sorry Coil you gonna have to spea-”

“I want to make electricity without magic!” shouted Coil before putting his hoofs over his mouth.

“What?” said Light with a surprised looking his face.

“I wanna make electricity without magic and Light why are you falling?” said Coil before Light fell unconscious.

“Light,” said a voice.

“Huh?” said Light waking up to the sight of Coil about to dump water on him. “Wait Coil-”gurgle!”

“Your fine!” said Coil with a happy face.

Sputtering the water out of his mouth and shaking the water off him Light just looked at Coil.

“Whats wrong? Is my makeup running! Slit said it would stay on no matter what!” said Coil.

“Coil come with me,” said Light getting up.

“Why?”

“Just come.”

The two stallions walked to a fridge in the buildings kitchen before Light moved it and exposed a trap door under it.

“Ohhh, secret entrance!” said Coil following Light down the steps of the trapp door. “So what is this place-oh my Celestia!”

The room Coil so before him had a huge circle of copper while at the end of it.

“Coil Sparks welcome to the pinnacle of my studies,” said Light walking to the copper circle.

“Wow! You have a nice pinnacle!” said Coil.

“Thank you, now Coil you're probably wondering why I brought you to a basement correct?” said Light.

“To check for rats?” said Coil.

“No...but do tell me if you see any, no the true reason is because Coil like you I to have been studying on a way make electricity without the use of magic,” said Light. “But all I so far can find is that electricity goes thru copper very well.”

“I tried to do the same thing to my towns water supply once when I exited it to conduct electricity...all it did was get me banned from the waterworks plant,” said Coil looking at the copper.

“Thats nice, but Coil I believe you and I can find a way to make electricity without magic. We know only that when electrons move fast they produce electricity but we don’t know what causes it,” said Light.

“We this looks like a job for my lucky magnet!” said Coil bring it out of his pocket.

“A lucky magnet?” said Light confused.

“I always seem to make a breakthrough when I have my magnet...wait a second..wait a second, electricity is attracted to magnets correct?” said Coil.

“Yeah, but what does this have to do with-what are you doing?” said Light as Coil walked with his magnet before throwing it to the copper wires.

“What happened next would transform the way we lived.” said Humble playing a friendly snowball game with Babs.

“What was it?” said Babs ducking behind a trash can.

“The lights came on.”

As soon as the magnet went thru the copper Coil and Light noticed something. It seemed to cause the copper to shake a little.

“Coil?” said Light understanding what just happened.

“Yeah,” said Coil.

“Go bring bring me a chair.”

“Why?”

“Because your gonna need one when I shake you when I say you're a genius!”

A little while later the two had set up a pole that would turn quickly when powered steam from a pot a boiling water and would go thru a tungsten wire  from the coil and cause the electricity to direct itself to the wire inside an insulated vase and with luck would do what needed to be done.

“You sure this will work?” said Coil.

“Yes if I’m right the electron will cause the suggestion to heat up and glow inside the vase, ready?” said Light.

“Ready,” said Coil as he and Light went behind their safety area.

When the allowed the steam to rise the propeller on the end of the pole caused it to make the magnets on the other end quickly spin around the coil.

“Come on,” said Light.

“Please work,” said Coil with clenched teeth.

And like a light bulb coming on, the light bulb came on.

“Woohoo!” shouted Coil and Light doing a belly bump. “We’re not failures!”

“Humble!” shouted Coil throwing the apartment door open. “Guess what!”

“What?” said Humble looking up from his book.

“We did it!” said Coil picking up Slit and twirling him around. “Me and Light did it!”

“Did what?” said Humble taking a sip of lemonade.

“We made made a electric current and lit a vase without magic!” said Coil putting Slit down.”

“Pffffft!” said Humble spitting his lemond dae out. “What!?”

“We made a light without magic!” said Coil hugging his friend.

“C-congratulations!” said Humble. “T-this is amazing! Do you know what this means Coil?”

“We don’t have to pay those mean unicron neighbors to power are tv?” said Coil.

“Well yes, but it also means you and Light are gonna be legends!” said Humble. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Awww, shucks,” said a blushing Coil. “Beside if it wasn’t for you telling me to go to Marelo park I wouldn’t have met Light in the first place.

“Thanks, by the way how does it work?” said Humble.

“Well you see when a magnet goes very fast around a copper wire it makes the electrons go very fast and make electricity which then is conducted to a thing called a light bulb that Light is working on and it heats up a tungsten wire so much that it glows!” explained Coil dancing.

“Wow, so what are you and Light gonna do now?” said Humble.

“Well tomorrow were gonna head to umm, well umm, Dazzles grandfather,” said Coil nervously. “He opened a branch of that institute of his here.”

“Oh,” said a deflated Humble with a hint of anger. “Will he even want you to come I mean you're very well acquainted with me?”

“Well luckily he’s not at the institute I heard from Light, so that shouldn't be a problem. If you don’t want me to go I under-”

“No Coil, don’t let my “past” get in the way of your future,” said Humble putting his hoof on Coil’s shoulder. “Go show them what Spark and Wizard Co. can do!”

The next day Coil and Light headed over to the institutes office of recruiters to show the board their invention.

“Do you think they will like it?” said Light while he and Coil sat in the waiting room.

“Don’t worry.  Light, they can’t pass us over I got a secret technique,” said Coil while patting his pocket.

“Hmm, alright if you say so,” said Light calming down.

After a few minutes the secretary said, “Mr. Light  and Mr. Sparks, the board will see you now.”

“Well he goes nothing,” said Light heading in.

“I thought we were doing something?” said Coil closing the door with the invention in hand.

The two stallion saw before them a council consisting of eight ponies half of them mares the other half stallions all of them with the same expressionless faces. After a few seconds one of the stallions spoke up.

“Gentlecolts I hear you have a new way to use electricity?” said the Stallion.

“Yes,” said Light while Coil sat up the invention with the faces of the board changing into curios. “Ladies and Gentlecolts me and my business partner have found a way to make a electric current without the use of magic-” at this a few snorts were heard.”-And a way to make a glow of light appear.”

“Well Mr. umm,” said a mare.

“Light Wizard,” said Coil with a smile.

“Yes “Light Wizard”,” said the mare with a glare at Coil. “We find it hard to believe the use of electricity without magic a bit far fetched.”

“True but as my business partner will explain, umm parenter?” said Light looking at Coil opening a window.

“Sorry it’s a bit hot, anyway what Light was saying is that if we spin a magnet around a copper coil, Light would you?” said coil pointing at the on switch.

“Turning on,” said Light taking the heated water out and letting the steam rise.

“The flow of electrons produces an electric current and when conducted to a object we call a light bulb, it causes the tungsten wire to heat up and glow, see?” said Coil pointing at the bulb which flashed brightly for a few second before the steam stopped rising to make the pole spin.

The board just look surprised and amazed except for one stallion.

“But is it practical?” said the stallion. “Would magic not be more practical?”

“You may think so, but we have found a many different sources of power to use, and this more natural made electricity does not have to depend on under powered unicorns to power it making the energy last longer and stronger,” said Light.

“Well Mr. Wizard and Mr. Sparks I think we have found our new top inventors,” said the stallion. “All in favor?”

The board murmured in agreement to the delight of Light and Coil.

“Welcome to your future gentlecolts!” said the stallion smiling.

“We did it Light!” said Coil jumping up and down to a few snickers.

“I know Coil! I can’t be-”

“Wait! Coil? As in Coil Sparks?,” said a mare. “As in the best friend of Humble Pie?”

“Yeah?” said Coil.

“Humble Pie was the stallion who was the bosses granddaughter’s colt friend, right?”said another board member to a bunch of nodding heads. “But will still hire you.”

“Really!? said Coil and Light.

“Light! did you hear that were gonna be em-empl-what’s so funny sir?” said Coil to a laughing mare.

“Hahahah, you my boy! I’m afraid I can’t let sompony whose best friend was our bosses granddaughter's coltfriend!”

“What?” said Coil.

“Oh don’t worry you will receive a moderate amount of bits for your patents.”

“But madam!” said Light. “Coil here is a genius and my friend and and you just can’t kick him out!”

“Oh, but I think I can,” said the mare. “But you Mr. Light have a gift, you can stay.”

“What!?” shouted Coil.

“Never miss!” said Light heading to the door with the device. “Come on Coil, lets leave-”

“Wheres the snack shack,” said a stallion board member who once saw Light’s show.

“What?” said Light turning around. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, it means everything,” said the stallion. “You leave that door now you will die penniless with the words “here lies Light Wizard: he knew where the snack shack was” Do you really want that to be on your grave?”

Silence was all Light could say while thinking. “N-no I don’t want those words,” he said speaking up. “But Coil here-”

“Is a fool,” said a stallion. “He’s been nothing but weird and-”

“Wait!” said Coil scrambling to get his whistle in his pocket. “Maybe this will help?!” he said before blowing the whistle that caused hundred of pigeons to come in and instead of dancing, they attacked the board memeber before Coil looked at Light who just had a blank face

“Light?” said Coil. “Remember it’s me...your friend.”

“Goodbye,” said Light shoving Coil out the door with his whistle falling on the floor.

“Light?” said Coil being dragged out of the building by security. “Light?” he said the last thing he heard was the sound of of Light opening the door and chasing the pigeons away before the sound of applause from the board was heard...

“And the rest is history,” said Humble to Babs as they walked back to the battlefield which consisted of unconscious stallions and mare in tires with Coil and Light being put in handcuffs. “Coil wasn’t mad at me, even though I kinda wish he was, no he turned that anger to his former partner and current rival Light.”

“Wow,” was all Babs could say.

“Yeah well, it looks like Coil needs somepony to bail him out, see ya Babs,” said Humble before stopping and turning around. “The one thing that I know without a doubt is that I wonder what would have happened had them still being partners,” he said trotting to the police station.

Babs just stood there while the snow fell upon her, not feeling the coldness of the ice water for her thoughts were thinking of only one thing.

What would have happened if they were still partners?