1: Arrival
“Mike, could you come here for a second? I need you to help with the sound system.”
“Sure Joe, just hold on a second.”
“Fine, but Aunt Babs wants me to be finished by noon. She says I need to eat sometime, at least.” Mike motioned to show how skinny he was.
“It’s only ten fifty. Mike, you should know that—”
“Spells are quite complex and hard to create, even for the experienced mage. You’ve said it a billion times.”
“Mike, I just need you to help for a second. Then I’ll be out of your way.”
“I can’t break concentration or I’ll have to recreate the spell—” The sound of falling pots and pans, along with a loud shatter of glass, caused Mike to lose his thoughts and ruin the spell.
“Ah, buck.”
“Mike, I didn’t know you swore!” said Joe with a laugh.
“Whatever. I guess I’ll help you with the— Hey! You were the one who dropped those pots!”
“It was an accident!”
“Not cool, man. Not cool.” Mike walked over to the sound system.
“It’s pretty messed up, I have to admit. Speakers torn, frayed wires, but nothing that Microphone can’t handle!”
“Third person isn’t cool, Mike.” Replies Joe. “Besides, I think it’s bucked up beyond all repair. No point in trying to fix it.”
“Microphone thinks third person is perfectly fine.” Jokes Mike with a grin. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Joe nods. “Duct tape?”
“Duct tape.”
An hour later, Microphone is almost done with the spell. Joe tries to carefully move past him, but slips and both of them go tumbling to the ground. A flash of light later, they’re definitely not in Joe’s house anymore.
***
Twilight Sparkle shook her head to clear her vision. Where was she? The dust finally settles and she sees two colts, one a pegasus and one a unicorn, standing there, the unicorn's horn still glowing.
“Microphone.”
“Microphone.”
“Microphone!” Cup a' Joe shakes Microphone violently. “We're here! You can stop the...” He trails off as he notices Twilight Sparkle, covered in dust. “Microphone, get up. Twilight Sparkle is right here, and she looks mad!” he whispers. Microphone instantly looks up.
“Oh, we're terribly sorry Miss Sparkle, but I digress, a failed teleportation spell is the cause of this mess.” He says, casting another spell that blows away the dust. Twilight Sparkle smiles.
“Thank you, and while you're here, maybe you would like to check out a book on teleportation? We wouldn't want another pony's home to be covered in dust, or anyplace for that matter.”
“Oh, thank you, but no thanks. We'll just be on our way--”
Rainbow Dash opens the door to the library. “Twilight, everypony's wondering what happened in here, the windows are covered in dust--” Rainbow Dash looks at the two colts standing in the library near Twilight Sparkle. When Microphone notices Rainbow Dash, his smile quickly goes away. “Wow, Twilight, I'd never think you'd get one coltfriend, but two? That's a little much, especially for an egghead like you.”
“I am not an egghead, I am—”
“Well read, blah blah blah, you've said it a thousand times before. You know, if you somehow manage to get two coltfriends in less than a day, maybe you should start giving me tips!” As soon as the door closes, Twilight Sparkle facehoofs.
“She will never let me live this down.” She sighs and sits down on a chair in front of a bookshelf.
“I hope your problems I do not prolong, but may I inquire what is wrong?” asks Microphone in a sing-song voice.
Twilight sighs. “A few days ago, Rainbow Dash was running short on money, so she challenged me to a competition to see who could get a coltfriend the fastest. Later that day, someone came into the library and asked for a book, when Rainbow walked in. That pony that I was talking to just happened to be a colt.” Twilight looks down with a sad expression on her face. “She’s probably scared him away from the library forever. As for Rainbow, she left with her pride broken, and her wallet empty. Now she taunts me any time I talk to a colt. I just don’t know what to do.”
Microphone thinks for a moment. “If your friendship is at stake, go out and bake a cake.”
“I don’t understand.”
“If you and Rainbow Dash’s friendship has taken a dent, you have a problem to prevent. One thing that works well is buying a present.”
Twilight looks up. “Thanks for the idea! Since Rainbow’s been short on money, she can’t get the new Wonderbolts ‘action figures’.”
“You said action figures mockingly.” Points out Joe.
“Well, everypony knows they aren’t action figures, they’re dolls for little fillies and colts. They’re not even based off of the real Wonderbolts, they’re based off of a foals’ television show.”
“Oh no, it’s bronies all over again.” Whispers Cup a’ Joe to Microphone.
“Not this again!” whispers Microphone back.
“Well, Twilight, if you really want her to stop bothering you, maybe you should watch the Wonderbolts show with her, or at least just pretend. Even if you don’t like it, it’ll allow your friendship to mend.”
“Thank you. By the way, do you happen to be related to Babs Seed? She said some of her relatives would be coming by soon.”
“Actually, I do happen to be related to her, but I don’t think she expected me to be coming.” replies Microphone, finally breaking his rhyme.
“Why not?”
“Because that failed teleportation spell happened to only teleport us in time. We’re from… About 25 years into the future, so I doubt she’d be expecting her nephew to come by when he hasn’t even been born yet. Besides, it’s dangerous to mess with time. We should be leaving anyway.” Microphone concentrates on a spell, but only a dull spark of light comes from his horn. “This could be a problem.”
“But you did the anti-dust spell earlier! Why can’t you do magic all of a sudden?”
“Because the average unicorn has a low range of magic they can perform with low magical energy. Even some ponies who are magical experts can barely teleport a few meters on low energy.”
“Excuse me, did you say you’re from the future?” asks Twilight.
“Yes—”
“Can I ask some questions?”
“No, I cant tell you what colt you’ll end up with, or—”
“Ha! So I do end up with a colt! That shows Rainbow who can’t get colts!”
“Or if you do end up with somepony at all.”
“Aww…” says Twilight with a sigh.
“So what other questions do you have?”