It started with a Sneeze

I was curious to see what would happen If we imbued other stones with magic, so we made a quick stop at the mines outside of town to gather some gems. Luckily we didn’t run into any Diamond Dogs, but we did spend a good two hours looking for gemstones. Should have stopped by Rarity’s to ask for the gem locator spell. In any case, we were able to gather a small hoof full of gems to run some tests and it turns out each one of them had a different reaction. Garnet would jump around, Aquamarine shine brightly, White Topaz would melt, Green Onyx would change color, Moonstone float, A Ruby wouldn’t do anything, Peridot would make a loud screeching sound, Blue Sapphire would turn black, Opal would grow in size, Citrine shrinks, and Blue Topaz shakes like crazy.

Trixie didn’t look as thrilled as I was at such a successful test. I explained to her that with the right combination of gems, we could make a lot of bits. She seemed Hesitant but agreed to continue going down this Rabbit Hole of mine. I asked her if she had an idea as to why the Ruby didn't do anything which she replied that she didn't know. Ruby's weren't exactly the most desirable of the gems so no pony had any reason to research as to why it was unaffected by Magic. I have a theory as to what could be happening, but that's going to require some more testing.

But right as we were going to leave for the day I had a crazy idea. What would happen if we were to tie up a bunch of gems together filled to the brim with magic? I thought we might have made the world's biggest crystallized top. But it turns out that different types of gems do not like being stuck together and filled with magic. As a result, we have accidentally successfully invented Magic TNT, if the 20-foot hole in the ground is anything to go by. Good thing we were set up at the outskirts of Pony Ville for testing and I had Trixie put up a magic force field around us from a proper distance, otherwise I don't think we would be in one piece. I got an earful from Trixie for endangering our lives as she tried to choke me to death with her hooves shaking me like a rag doll. I tried my best to tell her I didn’t know that it was going to explode, but I don’t think she believed me. However, I did tell her that this failure does have its uses. She had no idea why would we need such a thing until I explained to her the use of clearing out large sections of land.

I got the idea after watching a video of a stone quarry removing enormous sections of marble and granite from a wall. If we can successfully create a controlled explosion we will be able to patent this and make a lot of bits from this. Trixie was happy to hear this at first until she informed me that they already have ponies and creatures that can dig at lightning speed to clear out areas of land regardless of how tough it is. I can't believe I forgot the scene where Pinkie Pie dug through the ground like it wasn't even there with her hair. With abilities like that, it would make such an invention worthless,

My grief over missing an opportunity to make bits was postponed when we had to hide once Twilight and her friends along with some Royal Guards showed up at the explosion site to find out what that noise was. Luckily they didn’t know what they were looking for, allowing us to sneak back into town like nothing happened.

They didn't find out what caused that explosion and everypony was on alert for a while. Trixie and I decided to keep this matter to ourselves and ate a nice sandwich at the cafe in peace as everypony started talking about a possible new threat in the area. During our brake, we exchanged ideas of merchandise for her show to sell for little colts and fillies that want to be like her. By selling a box filled with small magic toys powered by the gemstone for the kids to feel like a little Trixie regardless if they are unicorns or not. She liked the idea, but after the incident earlier we decided to put the idea on hold until we could determine how to power the gemstone without the need for a unicorn being present. Along with being able to safely transport large amounts of magical goods without them causing a crater,

We are heading in the right direction to make more bits them we can even count, but that doesn’t help me with my other problem. As much as I don’t want to admit it, Sunburst has a better chance of getting Starlight than I do. And after our fight, l am convinced that he is more determined to win her over. I was hoping that Sunburst would return to the Crystal Empire so that I could have time to be with Starlight. But it would not be the case.

Turns out my untimely arrival in Equestria was only a couple of days after they just finished dealing with Chrysalis at her hive. So Sunburst was more than willing to stay nearby in case Starlight needed him.

No matter how I look at it so long as those two have a strong friendship with each other the chances of Starlight looking for some pony else is near impossible. Even if I were to find a way to destroy the relationship she has with her childhood friend she still wouldn't want to date some pony like me. Unless I can find a way to convince them to stay as friends and nothing more. But such a task is something I cannot achieve on my own,

But such things will have to wait as nighttime beckons its slumber for everypony. Shortly after I bid Trixie a good night a rainbow blur flew over me almost knocking me off my hooves. I glare at the flying menace as she grins at me.

“Hay Braden, how's it going?”

“Okay, all things considered. What do you want Rainbow?”

“Nothing much. I was just wondering something,”

I don’t have time for this, but who knows what she may have in store for me. Might as well hear her out, “And that might be?”

“Well since you were brought to Ponyville against your will. Have you found a place to stay for the night?”

“I was just about to get on that. Why do you care?”

“Well I was talking to Twilight and she said that you are welcome to stay at the castle until you can get back on your hooves again,”

My eyes widen at this sudden turn of events, “That’s very generous of her. Thank you for that Rainbow,”

“Don’t mention it,” She says rubbing a hoof on her chest like she is polishing it before inspecting it,

Well, that was easy and convenient, however, I get the feeling I know as to why she is doing this. So I am going to have to make one thing clear to her, “However that doesn’t make us even,”

She almost flew out of the sky at my comment before questioning me flabbergasted, “Wait What? Why not?”

“You chased me for over a week with a whip might I add,” I replied with a deadpanned expression, “And now everypony thinks I am a bad pony who did something terrible,”

“Hay! That was a misunderstanding,”

“Nevertheless, the damage is done and I have no choice but to live with it,” I start to walk away from the conversation and head to the castle when she flies in front of me blocking my way,

“What about I start talking to ponies and tell them that it was all a big misunderstanding?”

“That still won’t change how they feel about me,” I replied without missing a beat, “Don’t beat yourself over it. It's my problem to deal with not yours,”

She looked at a loss of words before shaking her head, “But I am partially responsible for putting you in this mess in the first place,”

“Rainbow,” I say trying to calm her down, “I know that you want to make things right, but with how things stand now. You will only make things worse,”

“Hay I am only trying to help!”

I huff at her rolling my eyes, “If you want to help me. How about you get me a date with Starlight,”

That threw her in for a loop not expecting to hear that coming from me, “Come again?”

“Do I have to spell it out for you? Me and Starlight, on a date. You are friends with her are you not?”

“Yeah but not close of friends,”

“Then we are done here,” I make to leave again but she blocks my path once again this time putting her hooves on my chest and stopping me,

“Wait!” I did as she requested waiting for her to continue. She must have thought I wouldn’t listen to her because it to her three seconds to realize that I was waiting for her. She composes herself taking her hooves back, “Why do you want to date her?”

“Do you want me to get into the sappy details or do you want me to give you a rough summary?”

“I'll set up for the rough summary,”

“Regardless of how we met, it was love at first sight. And I want to see if it's possible that we could become something,”

She laughs at that, “Good luck with that,”

Thanks for the load of confidence, “I know she's not currently looking for a special somepony. And that if she were looking for one, her first choice would be Sunburst,”

She stopped laughing once she heard that, “Oh, you notice that?”

“That is why I must pursue her before he takes any initiatives himself,”

“And what if you fail?”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

She rubs the back of her head trying to explain herself while sparring my feelings, “I mean is, what if for some unexplained reason, Sunburst gets her?”

I snorted at that notion refusing to believe in that outcome, “I'll cross that bridge if it does happen. But right now I'm going to do everything in my power to make Starlight mine,”

Easier said than done. Even if I were to start now, Sunburst has a lead on me. I will need some assistance to make any progress to catch up. Wait a minute. An idea came to me as I looked back at the mare before me, with a grin coming onto my face, “And you're going to help me do it,”

“Me?” She points at herself, “Why do I have to help you in this love triangle? And why would I help you?”

“Whip,”

“Not fair,”

“Come on Rainbow. I'm not going to ask you to do anything that you do not wish to do,” I reach to pull the mare out of the air to my side much to her surprise poking her in the chest with my other hoof, “I just need a wing pony to help set up scenarios where me and Starlight can be alone. And maybe keep some pony away. What do you say?”

She looks at my hoof poking her before looking away in thought, “I don't know. It doesn't sound like a good idea,”

“Oh come on Rainbow. Don't tell me you haven't been in a love triangle before,” I let her go as she took to the sky again while I started ranting looking to the night sky, “Love is a Battleground and if you're not willing to take some risk, you're going to fail,” I say with fire in my eyes, “And I will not give up on my love life,”

“Easy for you to say,” She mumbles to herself,

“What was that?” I look back at her missing what she said,

“Nothing!”