Chapter 2

Today, the unicorn with magenta hair was resting on a couch. She was often taking naps. It was an activity she had enjoyed since from how long she can remember. It's not that she was lazy, she likes to float into her sweet dreams. She was napping very often at home. Just like today. The difference was that she was not at home and that was not her couch.

Potion Nova slowly opened her eyes and was now awake. Then, she facehoof herself.

‘’Oh please, tell me it was a dream and that embarrassing moment never happened.’’

‘’Well, I could do that. But the simple fact that I can say it proves that it did happen, making a self-defeating argument. So yes. I am afraid that it did indeed happen. Sorry.’’

Say the face of Twilight Sparkle looking at her from above. Still Potion Nova was calm. She didn't know if it was because her brain did not fully awaken, or the sheer absurdity of the situation... or maybe that she had sunk so low that did no longer matters to even care, but she was feeling pretty calm. Still, it did not stop her hiding her face in shame.

‘’Ooooh why, why I'm always messing things up? I meet my idol, the legendary Twilight Sparkle, in a once-of-a-lifetime chance and I find the way to screw it up. I am sorry if I had freaked you out.’’

‘’Oh no please, don't feel like that. You know, I meet fans constantly. I am used to their reactions, I assure you.’’

Nova jumped back in sitting position, feeling hopeful.

‘’Really!’’

‘’Yes. ... ... Okay, I must still admit that one pony fainting at my presence is a first.’’

And the unicorn fell back on the couch while moaning the death cry of her last remaining dignity.

‘’Oooh I want to die.’’

‘’No no no! You better not. Not after all I had to do.’’

‘’Sorry. Wait? What does that mean?’’

‘’Hummm...’’

|***|

‘’Hurry Starlight, open her jacket away, I must cast my spell directly on her heart.’’

Twilight horn was charging with crackling lightning.

‘’CLEAR.’’

*zap*

**|**

‘’Oh, just an expression like that. Nothing important.’’

‘’I see. Was I out for long?’’

‘’I say nearly one hour.’’

‘’ONE HOUR! And you'd been at my side for that long! I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry.’’

‘’No please, don't feel bad about that. It's not like it was your fault. I'm the one who insisted on staying at your side.’’

‘’You are so kind to a stranger you had met for only a few minutes! You really are the friendly of all ponies.’’

‘’Oh no, I am not that special. Beside what my title say. And anyway, the first step to making a new friend is to always show to a new//

‘’new pony that he have importance and to treat him with decency.’’

‘’Yes! You know my friendship lessons!’’

‘’Of course. I know all of them. I used them every day to become a better pony.’’

‘’Now I think there can be no better way to show your admiration.’’

The door opened and Starlight came with a handleless cup full of a fuming beverage.

‘’Ah, I see that our sleeping beauty had awakened. You gave us quite a fright. But I understand. Sometimes, even me I feel like fainting when I see her. When she came in, it is often an omen for disaster.’’

‘’Ha ha, very funny. And also, speak for yourself. You are double more a disaster magnet than me.’’

‘’Heh heh, I had learned to behave!’’

‘’Tell that to the north tower.’’

‘’Twilight! Not in front of her! Also I promised you I will eventually re-equilibrate its space-time axis.’’

Both mares went to laughing heartfully. If they were capable to such playful banter then it was a sign of how close they were. That was what Nova was thinking at least. But then a question came to her mind.

‘’What are you doing here Princess. I mean, aren't you suppose to be at Canterlot Castle.’’

‘’I am on my annual holiday week.’’

‘’Holiday!’’

‘’Of course. Even princess needs holiday. Each year I am talking a week off duty. And each time, I always like to spend it at Ponyville. That town is so close to my heart and even if I was born at Canterlot, I always consider Ponyville my true home.’’

‘’I see. Well, I guess it's no wonder. But then, who will rule the kingdom in your stead?’’

‘’Do not worry. My royal advisor Spike is doing it for me. He has been by my side at every step, he knows how to deal with the management of the kingdom by himself. There is no drake more reliable.’’

Starlight came before Nova and present to her, levitated handleless cup.

‘’Here, it's for you. Drink this tisane Miss Nova, this will make you feel better.’’

She obeyed and took the cup with both her front hooves. It was warm at the touch and she took a delicate sip.

‘’Oh! You're right, I already feel better. It is quite tasty. Al... so...’’

She clicked her tongue several times. A reflex she have when she wants to analyze the taste of something.

‘’Ah, no wonder. You had put revitalizing tonic in it. And if I am not wrong, also, hummm... Pep-Up brew maybe?’’

‘’That's... that's right! You can tell just by the taste?’’

‘’Of course. Potions are my passion. It is even my special talent. Look, look.’’

She showed to all to them her cutie mark. A potion flask with light inside it.

‘’I had even taken a major in potion making at school. I was top of my class. I would like to make it a official profession but, hum... there are some difficulties.’’

‘’Ah yes, I am aware that potion making is a branch of magic that not a lot study and that is often neglected. I am guilty of that too I am afraid and I only the basic.’’

‘’Really! That is still a lot!’’

‘’You're too kind. Still I find that impressive that you want to pioneer on a magical science that is still not that explored. Even though there is not a lot of demand in the market for potion makers.’’

‘’Yes... ... not a lot of demand. So instead, here I am working as a Fresh Fridge employee. Oh I am not complaining. It is a great job and all my co-workers are nice. And I am still making potions as a hobby. Wait? MY JOB!’’

Potion Nova jumped straight from her couch in a panic.

‘’Oh no, the fridge! I should have installed it from long ago!’’

But Starlight put her hoof on Nova shoulder.

‘’It's alright, calm down. When you were out, I installed it for you. It was a simple task.’’

‘’It's done! Oh thanks you a lot. Thought I feel ashamed for it. Say, you won't say anything at my boss, will you? He can be pretty scary sometimes.’’

‘’My lips are sealed.’’

Starlight even playfully winked at her. Everypony in the room shared a good laugh. Potion Nova was sure feeling less stressed.

‘’Hahaha, sheesh, I must say, for a bunch of legendary figures, you girls are pretty easy to hang around.’’

‘’Well Nova, contrary to what our reputation say, we are just normal ponies in the end. Having a crown on my head does not make me that special. But tell me more about you, because you look like somepony very intriguing. So like that, you are a big fan of us?’’

‘’Oh yes, yes. You have no idea how much.’’

Her saddleback was near her. She took her precious scrapbook from it and she opened it up for everypony in the room to see.

‘’You and your friends have always been my inspiration. Since as long as I remember, my deepest wish was to do good and to bring somehow more happiness into the world. Oh gosh. It sounds childish say like that.’’

‘’You should never feel ashamed for wanting to be a good pony. I personally think that make you an admirable one. So don't feel... ... you always bring that scrapbook with you? Even during work?’’

‘’Hum! ... ... ... ... no.’’

Without looking at it, she put back the book back into her bag. And all the while, her face was frozen in an expression of awkwardness.

Seeing as all the room was plunged in silence that as awkward, Potion Nova saw that as a cue to change the subject.

‘’Sooo, Miss Starlight, what was the problem with your previous fridge? I could maybe give some advice to make sure it doesn't happen again.’’

‘’Oh! Hum well you see, the thing is...’’

|***|

Starlight went into the kitchen and she was bringing, in her levitated grasp, an open box full of cupcakes. A gift from Pinkie Pie. She was about to put them in her fridge and when she opened the door...

‘’!!!! Waaaaah! What is that! When it happens!?’’

Inside, there was a nasty mold that looked like [because of the PG of that story, the details had been judged far too gross to be described for you dear readers and so, are being censored.] and it was enough to make you nauseous.

‘’Ooh. Maybe I should clean it more often. And not left so many my leftovers to rot. And not put them as the same place as my chemical products. And now I think I understand why Sunburst and Trixie never want to eat at home.’’

But just like that, the mold started to move and grabbed the cupcakes box. It brought it with it and devoured it voraciously. Afraid, Starlight slammed shut the door. It bang furiously on it from the inside and Starlight desperately tried to hold the door back, her back pressed on it.

‘’Ah horror! It's alive! IT'S ALIVE! AND IT HAS A CRAPPY ATTITUDE!’’

**|**

‘’Hum, you know what, it has no importance. Just to make is short, let's just say a... complication came and I had toooo incinerate the whole thing.’’

‘’Wow, you really are into recycling.’’

‘’Recy... !? Oh yeah, yeah, sure. That's totally the reason why.’’

Potion Nova raised her head to look at the clock and noticed it was getting late.

‘’Oh my, I did not notice it was getting this late. Sorry, it was very nice but I must go.’’

Twilight replied, worries:

‘’You will not have problems at work?’’

‘’Nay don't worry. Once my deliveries are finished, I am suppose to go back straight at home. I was just afraid that you may have to fill a complaint. Well... farewell everyponies. I'm... glad I meet you all. That was... one of the greatest moments of my life. Alright, I'm going now.’’

‘’Potion Nova, could you just wait a minute?’’

‘’Huh?’’

‘’As I had said, I will say in Ponyville for a week. If you are free, we could hang on sometime. Soon, it would be the lantern festival. Would you like to come with us.’’

‘’What! Are you sure? This is your holiday week! I am sure you would prefer using it to relax or hang on with your friends.’’

‘’That right. And I would like to have you as a friend.’’

Potion Nova... simply blinked. Then, she looked around in every direction and then, she pointed her hoof incredulously at herself. This made the princess giggle.

‘’Yes you silly. I am talking about you.’’

‘’Huh! Huuuuh!!! You, you, you want me! As a friend!’’

‘’If you don't mind. I would like to.’’

‘’But... but we only met for such a short time.’’

‘’Oh! Then that must mean you must be a very fun pony to hang around. So, what do you GYAH!!!’’

Potion Nova threw herself at Twilight, hugging her tightly.

‘’Thanks you thanksyouthanksyou. You have no idea how much it means to me. Oh, and yes. Yes I would very like to be your friend. Oh gosh, where are my manners!’’

She went to Starlight and hugged too.

‘’Yes, I would like to be your friend too.’’

‘’What! But I didn't... oh and whatever. Yes, I would be glad too.’’

‘’Oh thanks you. Thanks you all and... I think I may have been too forward. Hehe... heh. IIII think I should better go before I embarrass myself any further.’’

She levitated her uniform, who had been well folded, put it in her bag and went towards the door but not before turning around and telling them a last goodbye.

‘’I say it again, I am glad I had to meet you all and I can't wait to see you again so goodbyhum I mean see yahum I mean... farewell, yes, just farewell. Farewell.’’

And she went away. But even as the door closed behind her, the other two mares could still hear the explosion of joy of the excitable unicorn from beyond it.

Starlight turned her head to speak to Twilight.

‘’Yeah. That girl is sure very go-go-go.’’

‘’She quite the character indeed. I got the feeling that this week will not be a boring one.’’

The day was still pretty sunny. Potion Nova was walking towards her home, dragging with her the now empty chariot. Well, she was not exactly walking. It was more than instead, she was frolicking with joy like a little filly. Her mood was one of the greatest she had ever been.

Her home was now in view. That building was situated in the outskirts of town, outside of the dense part. So, there were a lot of open space and greenery around that building. Say building was a two-floors renting apartment. Potion Nova was lodging on the first floor while a family of earth ponies, the owners, was lodging on the floor above. They are the one renting the floor below and Nova was lucky it opened the day she wanted to move.

On a small balcony on the second floor, slouching against the wedge was a little filly of yellow fur with a crimson mane. When she saw her, Potion Nova energetically waved her hoof at her.

‘’Hey Spring Song. Hello little one. How are you today?’’

Spring Song looked back at her with not a lot of interest.

‘’Hello weird lady. You seem to be in a good mood today.’’

‘’Aha, so you notice. That is right. Something wonderful happens to me. I won't bother you with the details. Let's just say one of my dreams had been realized.’’

‘’Ah. Well, happy for you then. Me, I bored. I am so much bored. I feel that nothing interesting is happening.’’

‘’If you want to see something interesting, why not going to my home one day? I can show you my... experiments, ohohoho.’’

‘’You, an adult, want a kid to hang with you! Wow. You must be very lonely.’’

‘’(Sheesh! Kids are brutal these days.) Another day then. Bye Springy.’’

‘’Bye weird lady.’’

Potion Nova put the empty chariot at its place and enter her house.

Once inside, she took off her cap and uniform with her magic and tossed them away at the coat hanger and, with her hoof, pushed the light switch. Light came back, illuminating her house. And at the heart of it was a big and long work table, taking nearly all the place, to which was resting chemical equipment, beakers, flasks, all connected to each other by plastic tube. All that laboratory equipment was already filled with all kinds of liquids with all the colors of the rainbow and more. With a swing of her head and a shimmer of her horn, her potion equipment came to life. Burners heated on, liquid boiled, filling the house with the sound of bubbles.

‘’Hello my little babies. Guess what I did today.’’

She trotted towards what she likes to call her 'little dream factory'. As she walked around it, her smiling face was reflected on each flask in a goofy way.

‘’It's an unbelievable story. I had met my idol since forever. Twilight Sparkle. That's right. The one and only Twilight Sparkle. Oh and I don't mean Twilight the imaginary friend, no, I mean the real one in the flesh. See. I told you it is unbelievable.’’

As she observed purple liquid circulating in a spiral tube to go into a bottle full of magenta one, a device resembling a pressure cooker was shaking. Without even giving a glimpse, she turned the mini handle with her magic, letting escape some steam.

‘’This, is, the happiest day of my life. I admire her so much that I fantasized for years that we were friends. Oh but I probably should not mention to her that in my dreams, she is my apprentice. It's not that I have a high opinion of me, I swear. What would she think of me? I am ashamed just saying out loud. Even if nopony can hear me. Oh except you all.’’

She took a round flask containing a red liquid. On a corner of the table, there was a pentagram with complex arcane drawn on the wood surface. At the heart of that pentagram, she deposit a tripod to which she put the flask on.

‘’Alrighty, the complicate part now.’’

She closed her eyes and concentrate. Her horn shimmered and soon the pentagram too. The magic on it radiated with light. That light moved and slide along towards the flask. The magic that was that light was concentrating on the liquid and compressing itself into it. When the spell was finished and all was done, the red liquid was now sparkling.

‘’Great. So far so good. Where I was? Ah yes. Now come to think of it, it would be best if I don't tell that I often like to imagine her and her friends into wacky and fun story that I invent. My imagination can run wild sometimes. But if talk to them about those daydreams, they might think that I am nuts. Or worse, a baby. Brrrrrr. No, better than I keep quiet.’’

She took the flask of sparkling red liquid, took another one full of green and put a third of its content in the red one with a mechanical precision.

‘’Hum, okay. Now, on another matter. Seeing what time it is on the clock, it should be ready//

*ding*

‘’Right now.’’

On a table adjacent, there was a mini oven. She opened it and inside, there was a loaf of bread that had just finished baking. That right, Potion Nova bakes her own bread. She is so good at it that she knows how long it needs to be heated in low temperature so that it is ready when she gets back after a long day of work. She sniffed its fresh and warm scent.

‘’Hummm. If only my potions were so easy to make. But I feel pretty confident about that one. Now it is time for the finishing touch.’’

She took the flask of mixing liquid with her as she went toward her fridge. On a side note, this fridge is from Fresh Fridge. She got it at a bargaining price because she was working there. The perks of being an employee of that company. She opened the door and let the cold air caressing her face. She grabbed with her magic a refrigerated test tube. With a pipette, she took some yellow liquid inside and put back the test tube in the fridge. Potion Nova walked then toward an open space of her house, the flask levitated before her with the pipette above it.

‘’This is it. My ninth attempt on my potion that should make your body bouncy. Oooh how fun it would be. But let's be serious. One drop, one single should be all I need for a success.’’

And with careful precision, she gave just an inch more of pressure on the grasp of her levitating aura. Exactly, precisely one drop fell.

At the outside, there was a tree in front the window of Nova house. A little blue bird was singing peacefully on its branch. That is until the noise of the explosion came, soon to be followed by the inside side of the window being all covered by a gooey sticky purple substance. It scared him away, ruining that idyllic scenery.

Saying it was a big mess wouldn't give it justice to it. Thick purple smoke was licking the roof. It was like it was a cloudy sky. And nearly every inch was now covered in that sticky gooey goo. Including Potion Nova whose face now was covered in a mask of slime. She was still holding in her aura the flask... ... well there was no more flask. All that was left was only a few sticky glass fragments.

‘’Annnnd it fails. Now that sure was a bust. Of colossal proportion.’’

Potion Nova opened up her eyes, her cyan iris contrasting with the purple gooey.

‘’That was not really what I had in mind. The only thing it did was making success 'bounce' off from me. How did I get such a spectacular failure? That might even be a record. All my calculations seemed correct though. Where did I go wrong? *sigh* Way to go. Sometimes I really can be such a ...’’

She slapped both sides of her face to pep herself back-up.

‘’No no no Nova. None of that. Thinking negatively is not your type. Besides, every failure is a step forward to success. I will crack it up eventually or my name is not//

‘’NOVAAAA.’’

Coming from the roof, she could hear the sound of what was probably a broom being knocked on the floor, surely by the ponies from above.

‘’What was that ruckus Nova? We nearly had a heart attack. What did you invent again?’’

‘’GYAAH! So, so, sorry neighbors. I did not mean to. It was an accident, I swear. I will be more careful.’’

‘’You always say that. And I hope you did not make a mess this time or you will be in so much trouble.’’

Scared, she quickly grabbed a mop and bucket of water and frantically stared cleaning.

‘’No no no. No mess at all. It's all pristine, all impeccable. There is no reason to be upset or come downstairs. Oh please, forget I had just said that.’’

Author's Note

As I had said, I wanted to bring more dimension to her. So that's why I had the idea to make the whole Pony Life show the product of the imagination of Nova. Of course, you have to take into account, what kind of ponies would imagine those fluffy and wacky adventures in the first place?

This single idea give a bunch of more ideas. Like contrary to her daydream, the true Nova is more naive, clumsy, but still well-meaning. Also, her admiration of Mane 6 is something that came naturally because, why would she imagine adventures where they are the main heroines instead of her? Sometime, a story can really write itself. There is more to come. I hope you will like my version of Potion Nova. Personally, I am already attached to it.