The Crystology Experiment

In the mountains far above the crystal empire:

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Loading... Loading... Loading... Would you like to continue last session Y/N? 10... 9... 8… 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Y. Compiling last session... Processing files... Initiating program startup... Status: Active. Standing by for manual startup................

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Climbing the crystal mountains:

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"Why are we here again Twi?" Called Rainbow from a few meters above her head.

"Because, Rainbow, there was a magical disturbance from somewhere in these mountains and the princess told us to check it out." Twilight replied to the irritated Rainbow Dash.

"Yes, but whhyyyy? "Rainbow whined.

"B-because princess says so!" Twilight spluttered.

"... Fiiiiine" Rainbow sighed, " but what could be so important about a magical disturbance?"

"Magic." Twilight stated. " Weird magic."

"... Someday I will make you explain things." Rainbow Dash grumbled.

"Well if you insist." Twilight said, " The thaumic ripple that emanated from the mountains had a force of 23843 gfs of enthused sub energized quarks and-"

"In none egghead-ise!" Rainbow Dash interrupted with a yell. "Besides, how are we supposed to find something 'in the mountains'? What are the odds we will just stumble across it out here?"

Twilight attempted to reply "Well, it depends on a number of-"

"Girls, ah think Pinkie might a found something." Called Apple Jack, breaking off their squabbling. Twilight gave Rainbow a smug look.

"Finally!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Let's see what it is!"

    As one they approached the shape just a little to the side of the path they were following, stopping a few feet away. “It’s a, box?” Twilight said perplexed. “Now why on earth would there be a BOX out here?”

    “Ooh! Maybe it has buttons!”

    “No Pinkie, ah don’t think that there box has buttons.”

    “I’m a gonna check anyway!”

    “Pinkie!” Twilight yelled.

“Oh! It’s a pony!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Well, ah was right it didn’t have buttons at least.” Apple Jack grumbled as she walked forward.

“Ooh! And it has buttons!” Pinkie called.

“”Wait, what is a pony doing out here? If possible that is even MORE troubling than a box. And are they okay?” Twilight questioned.

“I don’t know, but they have buttons so that’s a good thing. I’m going to press one!”

"Pinkie!" sounded Twilights exasperated call yet again as a lone pink hoof plunged towards a cheery red button.

As the hoof connected a low beeping sound could have been heard, if anyone but Pinkie was listening. "Pinkie!" Twilight shouted, again, "You can't just push buttons, that's my job!" As Twilight vented at Pinkie no one noticed that there were no longer any visible buttons on the figure, except perhaps Pinkie, and that it was slowly starting to rise.

"Manual startup confirmed." proclaimed a smooth monotone, "External threat detected, automatic defense systems targeting."

"Wait, what?!?!" Twilight whipped her head around, just before a force strong enough to blast them back to the Empire hit the group. Thankfully Twilight had reacted quickly enough to set up a shield. "What on Equus was that!?!?" Twilight shouted.

"Twilight, ah think we may have found the source of that pulse."

"Defense systems inadequate to penetrate force (x), activating system self relocation." Droned the monotone as a wave of thaumic energy dispersed around it, hiding the wisp of super concentrated energy that accompanied the disappearance of the pony.

"..........WHAT!!!!!"

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Somewhere between Ponyville and Canterlot:

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System checking... 60% physical systems online. 90% ethereal systems online. 80% data storage online. 20% processors online. Mostly functional.

Rebooting central sub processors…..

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*__*_*_*__*- rebooting failed: hardware is damaged or out of date. Repair systems online. Repairs needed, activating repair systems. Repairing main central sub processors _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*       Complete: Repair systems exhausted. Rebooting available systems_*_*_*_*_*_*_* Reboot complete. Activating available systems. Hibernating: available systems taking over.

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So, I am sure this would be a change of pace if their was a frame of reference. Oh well!

Just great. This is SO welcome. Stupid sunlight

Oh come on old grumps!

I came into being after you.

It doesn’t matter! Haven’t you heard age is mental.

Then maybe we should average for our actual age?

I have no idea.

Hey, what are those?

They appear to be ponies, sir.

If a deadpan glare could be transmitted through a telepathic link you would be getting one right now.

Fine fine. but they really do seem to be ponies.

And the reason they are coming towards us?

I have the exact same idea as you.

That they are coming to investigate?

No, that they are coming to throw us a party, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Jeesh. Well they technically could be coming just out of pure coincidence.

True. Sorry, I'm feeling snappish.

Completely fine. So shall we hide?

Let's.