After the incident at the castle, I doubt many ponies could've anticipated what would happen next. Of course I assured Twilight at the time I would get rid of the spell and never use it again - it was the only way to get her off my back. I had no honest intentions of actually getting rid of the spell, that would just be too much.
Getting rid of a spell I concocted, though from the separate parts of other spells, was tantamount to asking a painter to burn one of their masterpieces, or asking a writer to shred a document they were particularly proud of. It was nigh on to criminal! I almost cast the spell on her in the hopes I might have some peace, but I never did.
Instead, I just took the spell and began to research further into it in secret. The possibilities were endless! I could imagine myself putting a timer feature of sorts so that it would automatically release the target of the spell from its grasp at a designated time marker. I could only think how productive I could be if I casted it on myself.
Sure, I'd definitely have to add some way of allowing the mind to expand out to see ramifications and to put some personality into the work that was getting done. I didn't need myself making something that was completely devoid of anything remotely like what I'd want to make. I also didn't like the thought of becoming a wind up toy soldier.
It was after this I stumbled upon the possibility of simply letting the effect attach itself to the host's, or 'target's' as the case may be, brain on a subconscious level. Rewriting something about the pony on a fundamental level! No need for years of training in a habit when I could just zap myself with the spell and suddenly I automatically take an hour out of my day to take a nap. Rest, after all, is a proven enhancer of a pony's abilities.
I had floated the idea to some of the ponies around me, phrasing it as an experiment into how pliable a pony's brain really could be and how to instill beneficial habits into ponies or even remove negative ones from others. I didn't quite expect the ponies that would be my first foray into the use of this power to be...
"You know as well as Ah do that I can't just up and leave 'em all!"
"And I'm not saying you should, AJ!"
"Well, it certainly sounds like you are! Yer basically tellin' me that the only way yeh're seein' this go is us elopin' like a pair of degenerates!"
"No, I'm saying we should forget trying to please everypony and think about us! US! AJ, you do realize that we are no longer in 'me' and 'you' territory, we are deep into 'us' territory! It isn't about one or the other of us but both of us!"
"Yeah, an' yer actin' like-"
"Well I suppose that about sums it up," I interjected, breaking the two ponies apart, "But if we could run through it one more time without the shouting, that'd be great."
"Oh, sorry, Sugarcube." AJ sighed as she composed herself. "Is jess... you know, we're, what's it, emotionally compro-whatsit?"
"Compromised, and it's fine, just start from the start and end with the end and we'll work out the details as we go along." I coaxed as encouragingly as I could.
"Right... well. You see, we've been... goin' out behind the barn for-"
"You've been what now?" I cut in, her countryisms catching me off guard.
"Sneaking out, we've been sneaking out. It's been like this for, what, two, three months?" Rainbow cut in.
"Two months, three weeks, and... two days." Applejack said.
"Heh, yeah, that. Well, uh, we've been sneaking out and seeing each other, usually at night, though recently some daytime trips have been thrown in, you know, 'cause usually, both of us are a bit tired to actually really meet at night. Anyways, usually, it's just us sitting and talking, usually about our days, though recently, well, it's been more about our futures, or really, our future. We've been taking it slow, took me until four days ago to get the snuggle ban lifted."
"And Ah've enjoyed every second of us bein' closer, Dash, trust me. Ah can't wait for us to go further, but..." Hesitation and concern were painted across Applejack's face, she obviously was way above her head in all of this.
"She's got concerns about how well her family is going to take it; the first grandkid to want to get in somepony's pants and all." Applejack playfully smacked Rainbow's leg for that one before letting out another sigh.
"Is jess... so gosh darn complicated. Farm work is straightforward. You see a tree, you kick a tree; you kick a tree, you get yerself some apples. But this love thing, heck if I know if it could be any less straightforward!"
"So both of you want, well, this," I said, motioning at the two of them, receiving eager nods from both, "But we got some hangups, and you want me to help by..." I motioned for one of them to finish, only to receiving both their answers simultaneously.
"Making me more patient." Rainbow said.
"Makin' me less worried." Applejack's response came.
...
...
...
I think I just had a heart attack.
"A-a-all right then. Here we go." With relative ease, I cast the modified spell on the two of them simultaneously. Looking at the two of them, I smiled as I began. "Rainbow Dash, you are the same pony you were before, your life has not changed, but in the future, you will be a tad more patient with AJ and her quirks. You will be a tad more understanding about the troubles that are on her mind." I watched as Rainbow slowly nodded, her suggestible state receiving my words loud and clear. "And, Applejack, you too will be a tad more understanding of Rainbow and her quirks. You aren't about to rush this, and will continue to take it at your own pace, but from now on, you will be open to the idea of sharing a bed with her, seeing as you are, how they say, a ring away from marriage, and who knows, maybe if Rainbow can reason you into it, maybe some kissing or outright nudity. You can decide on that and if you want to get outright intimate with her or not, but you'll consider it for sure."
Over the next few weeks I've popped in on the two lovebirds, and you know what, it feels good doing good with this spell. Still holding on those wedding invites, though.
