Swirly Stars and Dark Arts
“Oh, how I wish I could concentrate,” sighed Starswirl the Bearded. From my laboratory in the Royal Canterlot Archives, it’s extremely rare to see anypony for days. He got up from his seat, and trotted over to the kitchen. Except for my trusty assistant Clover the Clever. Unfortunate he isn’t here this week . Taking out a kettle, he started to prepare some Camomile tea. Instead he was visiting family. I can never understand why ponies could feel so ... attached to other ponies. He pondered for a few moments “Something to ask Cadence,” he mused to himself. The water finally boiled, and after some anxious waiting for the tea to infuse, he finally strained it. Ah, finally. It is time to relax and get my concentration back. He moved over to the kitchen table, in the corner of the small area he called a kitchen. I’ll need it if I ever want to finalize the tempus porta spell. “I wonder why Clover called it that? It’s not really a gateway, more of a vortex” he thought.
Just as he was about to take a sip of tea, he noticed something felt ...odd. Looking down, he saw the source of that feeling. “Oh for goodness sake! Why does this always happen when I try to drink - well - anything?” he angrily muttered. Why does my beard always tend to dip into beverages? It almost feels like a chore to keep it in check. Thinking in his mind “Exhaurire liquor tondenti barba”, the tea disappeared from his beard: though something was off: Why does it feel as if part of my energy is gone; at least more than their should have been. Reviewing the spell, it finally clicked. Oh, I shouldn’t have used an absolute. It should have said to drain some of the liquid. “Well, at least it was a simple spell,” he sighed, relieved. "If it was more powerful, it could have likely killed me; but no use dwelling on the past."
He pushed his beard down, picked up his cup, and --KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK -- subsequently put his cup down. “Oh for the love of Celestia, who could that be?” he wondered. It was only three in the morning. "Hello, who's there?" he called out.
"We wish to speak to you: Sorcerer Starswirl," called (more like shouted) out a familiar sounding pony. Knowing exactly who that was, he opened the door.
"Ah, Princess Luna, what brings you by?" Starswirl questioned curious, while simultaneously bowing, "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"Why should we; It's 2 hours, 37 minutes past midnight; You know we are a ‘Night Owl’.
“Ah yes, I had forgotten. Thinking about it, it seems fitting”
“Yes, it does; but the time for idle banter has passed. We must make haste; an anomaly in the throne room requires your attention” Luna said rather urgently.
“Again?” I remarked unfazed, “This happens every day practically; why should I care”
“Because, it’s ripped a hole” she said, somewhat scared sounding.
“In what?” I inquired.
Luna sucked in a breath, released it, and finally replied “The Universe”.
