Unlimited Books, But No Book

1003 P.N.M (Post Nightmare Moon)
March - Wednesday - 11:06 AM

Well, I had been hoping to keep this Journal updated Day-To-Day, but I'll have to add recounts of days prior. Finding time to properly Journal is becoming more difficult.

Between trying to be available in case Barnon returns, ~~trying to get into the Holopad and past the password~~, and keeping everything secret from the others, I don't have as much time as I'd like. And I'm not about to start withholding time from my experiments with the Cook-Fast spell.

I should probably stop calling it that, but I've yet to identify a better name. I'm getting closer to figuring it out.

Without a spare microwave, I've only managed to induce a very small portal to somewhere in Equestria; I believe it was the Dragonlands, considering the heat that it exuded before I closed it. Much too small to fit anything in or out of, but that confirms that recreating the circumstances are possible.

It did, kind of... maybe... detonate half of my laboratory, though. Still ironing it out, and I won't be touching the existing portals structure anytime soon.

If I could recreate the portal... I could talk to Barnon in a way that wasn't through my microwave. I could actually see him, in-pony. Theoretically. Maybe.

But first, yesterday. And the day before. Starting with Monday. Dash, AJ and Pinkie came over. They had me running around in a panic to keep them from finding out.

Not Applejack; she was polite. But Dash kept trying to use the microwave, having brought food with her that she was complaining was too cold; probably because she flew here from Cloudsdale with it in her mouth.

She gave me a weird look, but I managed to convince her to use the oven.

Pinkie is a problem. She doesn't know what I'm up to, but she knows I'm up to something. Hiding something. I keep finding her snooping. I'll need some kind of distraction to keep her from finding the Holopad. Hopefully, she doesn't suspect the microwave.

I should find a way to fully lock off the library. Maybe I can claim a termite infestation? I've already pulled the sick card too many times. Maybe I can fake a Canterlot trip, and just keep my windows shut. I can only keep sending Spike to go hang out with Rarity so many times, though. Hmm. Speaking of Spike, he's starting to figure out I'm up to something. He's caught me sitting in front of the microwave too many times.

Should I tell him?

I'll think about it. Need to run risk calculations.

Now, yesterday.

I managed to catch Barnon while he was back for a few hours. He was a lot more tired than he's ever been when we talk; it must be straining work. He was half undressed, sprawled on his bed with his suit piled on the floor. We didn't get to talk for very long, before he passed out mid conversation, beginning to snore. He sleeps funny, the way his limbs dangle around; I wish I had more of a chance to speak with him, but... it was kind of soothing seeing him like that. Relaxed. He's always so willing to just... be himself, around me.

I checked on him a few more times. The second and third, each an hour apart, he was still out cold. One of the times I checked on him, I think one of those Drones that delivers him supplies arrived. I heard some weird, industrial sounds before a 'bing' noise, right beside the Microwave. It announced "Delivery for Purple Porny list". I don't know what that is... but I'm the only purple thing I think he's seen in a while. I think. But it's Pony, not Porny. Did he order something for me?

The fourth time I checked on him, he was gone; back out in space, working away.

Rarity and some of the other girls wanted to hang out at Cafe Hay, so I couldn't wait for him for very long.

But, that takes us to today.

He did get me something. Not from the Drone, though.

I found it this morning, sitting on my side of the portal, inside the Microwave. He was already gone, so I don't know how long it was sitting there for.

It's a small, cleaned up portion of Borutine. It's polished, giving it a soft sheen, and unlike the gems that Spike is so fond of; its a sturdy chunk of Ore, but is surprisingly soft to the touch?

My first, real, space-ore. I haven't stopped staring at it. Toying with it in my hooves, with my magic, looking it over. One day, I'll have it sat out somewhere pretty, ~~but it stays in the stash for now.~~ I don't need Spike asking if he can eat it. Especially not alien Ores not of Equestria. But, this is huge. Scientifically for Equestria, this is one of the few and only materials from beyond our own world. Given to us by an Alien with technology far, far beyond our level.

And... it's pretty.

~~I've started a stash, underneath the couch. It's where I tuck the Holopad now, and it's where I keep his gifts.~~ (It seems like someone came back to this entry, and heavily scribbled this portion out.)

Off to do some errands. Write later.

March - Wednesday - 6:46 PM

Heard a knocking on the Microwave an hour ago. Spike had just got back from helping Rarity; he gave me the oddest look as I ran to stop him from opening it.

I'm going to have to tell him. He knows something is up, and I'd rather I get the chance to explain it before he finds it for himself, freaks out and tells everybody.

I'll do it tomorrow. I will. I really don't want to... but if I don't, it's just going to get even worse.

Thankfully, Barnon is okay with it. After I managed to shoo Spike away, I got some time to talk to him. He said he finished up for the day; "Cracked a surprisingly big vein and passed quota for the day", so he actually had the energy to talk.

It'd only been three days, and I realized how much I missed, and enjoyed our conversations.

Barnon is fun. He jokes, he's raunchy -- he's pragmatic even, but he's also real. I can talk to him about any of my problems, and he gives advice that I feel like I'd hear from Princess Celestia; he doesn't just assure me that I can do things, but walks me through my thoughts, my worries. Doesn't get upset when I come off as rude or don't word something right; just asks me to clarify and laughs about it after.

He got me something else, too, from that Drone that arrived yesterday. He said he's been trying to find me interesting things I might like.

He got me this weird metal cup, with a twisty top. Said its called a 'Thermos' and can keep things cold or warm for a long time, without magic or electricity.

He also got me a few packs of those burritos he likes. Made sure none of them were the meat type. A 'Peace Offering' and an apology; said he still thinks about how he was probably a bit too mean, not used to interacting with "People" directly. They're pretty tasty. He's surprisingly thoughtful.

I've made a little progress with the spell. I'm being as careful as I can with it. No direct improvements to the portal, its distance or its size yet, but I'm getting a feeling for the formula. I might be able to substitute the electricity that served as a conduit for our connection with magic.

I've given Barnon a small, magically charged Gem in the meantime. I felt a little bad being the only one getting Gifts, so I tried to think of something useful. Since he mines for a living, he's probably used to Gems... but that's not the point. It's Cerul, a Gemstone that's particularly conductive of magic. If I'm lucky, I can use it as an anchor point for spells. I didn't tell him that yet though. Just said to hang onto it. I don't want him being scared of it or anything, since he's not used to magic.

I tried filling the Thermos with some tea. Going to record how long it stays warm for, and will report back. Need to clean up the Library a bit, and get ready to tell Spike. I'm hoping he takes it well.

Barnon, recently showered, lays boxers-only on his bed, idly toying with the little, vibrantly green gem that Twilight had given him. She didn't make it sound like a gift, really... more like she was asking him to hang onto it? He wasn't quite sure, but it was pretty. Part of him wondered just what she was up to... but he was also just too damn tired.

The work itself wasn't too laborious, but being suited up and out there meant it was like tensing his mental and physical muscles the whole time. Space walking was one big drain on the energy. Sure, you could space out. But you need to make sure you're not clipping your suit, tangling your tether, not overheating your drill; 90% just focusing on keeping yourself from doing dumb shit, 10% doing the actual mining.

He should pick up one of those fancy grid-projection-shield arm holographers. Funky little tech he heard about recently that helps shield from debris; he got battered pretty good today by some loose rocks that launched out when he was cracking a vein.

Twilight seemed very excited by every gift he got her. It made him feel good. He didn't get to do this kind of thing with people. Or ponies; his mind idly wanders to what else he could get her.

Oh, right. She asked if she could tell Spike; apparently he was like... her adoptive baby brother, slash adoptive kid? Who was a baby dragon? That she raised? It was kind of weird, but if she thought it would go alright, he didn't mind. He wasn't the one playing the secrecy game.

Barnon wonders what she's up to, playing catch with the little twinkling gem. What did she call it, Cerul? Why did that sound familiar?