[Wizbell's POV]
I remained seated on the carpet in my room, staring at my bed for a few more seconds.
Snort.
Eventually, I got to my hooves. Staring at it any longer wasn't going to make it reappear... besides, I could always summon an exact replica.
To Tartarus with it... I'd summon several.
Just by recalling the formulas, four magic circles appeared before me. One after another, they dropped four identical pillows onto the carpet. I placed one on the bed and tossed the others into the closet with a small burst of magic.
That should do.
I stepped out of my room, though I paused for a moment in front of the door.
After what happened today... it would be better to avoid another accident.
Magic slowly spread through the wooden frame as I wove a simple enchantment. The door would respond only to my presence. Even Stella would have to wait until I personally allowed her inside.
It wasn't because I didn't trust her.
I just... preferred not to find another mare hiding under my bed.
"Puff... this is ridiculous. Kids are afraid of monsters, adults are afraid of work... and here I am, afraid of mares."
...Although, now that I thought about it, that wasn't exactly new.
Even before coming here, I'd always found them difficult to understand.
I sighed and reinforced the enchantment a little further.
After all, a certain mare had a disturbingly easy time slipping past my magical protections... and I was fairly certain plenty of others could do the same with enough cakes.
When I finished, a small replica of my Cutie Mark was engraved at the center of the white oak door, indicating the enchantment was active.
I headed downstairs toward my office.
Halfway there, I ran into Stella.
The little one simply flashed me a huge grin.
I raised an eyebrow.
She answered by smiling even wider, let out a little giggle, rubbed her paws together with obvious excitement, and dashed toward the cushion where she kept all her belongings.
"I'm rich!"
I heard her shout as she frantically searched through the magical pocket hidden inside her cushion.
"Dealer things."
I left her alone and continued on my way.
As soon as I entered the office, I looked over the mess I'd left behind.
Open scrolls everywhere, several quills scattered across the desk, notes mixed together without any order, and a small puddle of dried ink spreading across the wood.
...What a mess.
A simple spell was enough to put everything back in its place. The scrolls rolled themselves up before returning to their proper shelves. The quills floated back into the holder as though invisible hands had picked them up one by one, while the spilled ink peeled itself off the surface, forming a small black sphere that eventually evaporated into the air.
Well...
Now that I'd finally calmed down, the idea of airborne isolation didn't sound so bad.
There was no way of knowing when an invader might bring pathogens capable of spreading through the air. An imprisonment barrier already served part of that purpose, but it had been designed to contain specific magical organisms either inside or outside its boundaries. It relied more on the caster's intent than on a truly adaptable magical structure.
...Although there was already the purification spell.
And the cleaning spell.
Maybe I could combine them.
A small capsule capable of keeping the air inside completely isolated from the outside while constantly purifying it. The more magic invested into the spell, the longer it would remain active.
Hospitals...
Laboratories where a single impurity could ruin weeks of work.
Alchemists.
...Even kitchens.
That was interesting.
I'd started out trying to find a way to isolate my scent, and before I realized it, I was imagining a spell with far broader applications.
I love it.
A smile spread across my face on its own.
Maybe it was because I'd finally relaxed.
My mind had stopped going in circles trying to understand mares, and ideas were beginning to flow once again with that familiar, pleasant ease.
...
While I was busy writing different versions of the Air Isolation Spell, adjusting small details like size and functionality, Stella eventually pulled me out of my concentration.
I looked up.
The little one was standing on her hind legs, wobbling slightly as she held a huge box that was much larger than she was.
"Wizbell! Sparky is waiting for you in the living room!"
The moment she finished speaking, she shoved the box into Celestia's Magic Lamp.
The package was instantly consumed by the familiar emerald-green flames, disappearing without a trace as the enchantment sent it on its way.
Her tail never stopped swishing back and forth.
"Thanks for letting me know."
I set my quill down on the desk and headed for the living room to greet Twilight.
Stella stayed where she was with her back turned to me. She remained perfectly still in front of the lamp, although the rapid swishing of her tail made it obvious she was eagerly waiting for something.
[Pinkie's POV]
Today was fun!
I played with Wizzy this morning, and then this afternoon every mare in town started a treasure hunt!
I still don't know what kind of treasure Wizzy is going to hand out, but everypony's looking for it! Some of them even brought maps.
While I was searching under the fifty-third twelfth rock, I caught that smell.
Orange!
I followed it all the way down the street until I stopped in front of a bush.
...
My leg started twitching.
I felt like I had to say something.
So I said the first thing that came to mind.
"I know you'll have to come out for a cupcake eventually!"
It's true.
Wizzy has a very predictable routine.
I can always tell what time it is depending on where he is. If I see him leaving the library carrying books, it's still early. If I find him reading beneath a tree in the park, noon has already passed.
And when he walks into Sugarcube Corner for a cupcake...
It's two in the afternoon!
I haven't seen him come by for today's cupcake yet, so sooner or later he'll have to show up.
I usually keep him company while I eat my daily dozen cupcakes.
Sometimes I also make Applejack some apple juice. She always takes a little break around that time.
...
Now that I think about it...
I haven't seen Applejack in a while.
I should go check on her!
Ooh! Twilight!
I tilted my head when I spotted her trotting along with a huge smile, completely lost in her own little world. Spike followed a few steps behind, breathing a bit heavily while carrying several shopping bags.
Curious, I matched her pace and trotted beside her.
"Hi, Twilight! You look really happy! Did you find Wizzy's treasure?"
"I already have my treasure..."
"Really!? Can I see it? Show me!"
"...I only have a lemon cupcake."
I looked at my cupcake for a few seconds.
...Delicious lemon cupcake.
When I looked up again, Twilight had already wandered off.
"...I think I lost the treasure hunt... but he sure can bake."
I ate the cupcake in a single bite.
Mmm...
I remember hiding more around here for emergencies.
And losing a treasure hunt definitely counts as an emergency!
[Wizbell's POV]
The moment I saw the shopping bag on the table, I rushed over and opened it immediately.
There they were.
I recognized the soaps from the list. They were the same ones they used at the castle.
...Were they all orange-scented?
Well, whatever.
"Thanks, Twi!"
I gave her a quick hug before turning my attention back to the bag.
"You can tell me later how you want me to repay the favor! At least with these I'll feel a little safer. I should start preparing the bath... Which one was I supposed to use first?"
I picked up the list and gave it a quick read.
"Hmm... well, that can wait. Is there anything you need help with?"
I set everything on the table and sat down on my favorite couch.
"No... no. I'm perfectly fine right now."
Twilight stared into space for a few seconds before snapping back to reality.
"Oh, right. Could you tell me why you were so tense? And why were so many mares looking for you?"
Spike had remained completely silent the entire time. Taking advantage of the cool air, he'd fallen asleep on the floor.
I lifted him with magic and gently placed him on one of the couches without waking him.
"Well... it all started like any normal day."
I shifted into a more comfortable position before continuing.
"I decided to take a walk around Ponyville. Well... not exactly all of Ponyville, but I did cover quite a bit. I stopped by Sugarcube Corner, then the schoolhouse, and a few other places."
"The problem was that a lot of mares saw me just as they were picking up their foals or their younger sisters."
I sighed.
"I guess that's where it all started."
"Fortunately, Rarity showed up before things got out of hand."
I paused to think for a moment.
"...Although, I don't think anything truly bad would have happened."
"It's not that I dislike getting attention or that other mares find me attractive... it's just uncomfortable. It's like an emotion... a sticky one. It followed me around all day, every time somepony looked at me. After I talked with Rarity, it became much stronger."
A shiver ran from the back of my neck all the way to my tail.
"Hmm..."
Twilight tilted her head slightly.
"So... did you enjoy the attention?"
For just a moment, her eyes sparkled.
"No! And that's exactly the problem! For the next few days I'm going to keep being the center of attention! You know perfectly well how much I hate standing out! I can tolerate it in a classroom because I'm teaching... but this! In real life! By Celestia! Ugh... I don't want to go outside."
"If that's the case..." A small smile appeared on Twilight's face. "Maybe you shouldn't. I could teach your classes for you."
"...No."
I shook my head.
"It's honestly not a bad idea, but I have to be responsible. Though maybe someday I could invite you to help with one of my classes... they're still learning the absolute basics."
"I suppose we can consider this problem solved. Could you write your friendship report about it? Put something in there about how a friend sometimes has to challenge you and question you in order to reach the truth, even when it's uncomfortable. Rarity was very brave. She pulled me aside for a private conversation and made me realize the kind of message I was sending to all of Ponyville."
"Oh, right... Rarity."
Twilight smiled ever so slightly.
"And what did she look like while she was leading you away to talk?"
"Very serious and determined."
I nodded without thinking much about it.
"She was pretty harsh, honestly. But it was necessary. Sometimes a friend has to do that. Like Flash..."
I snorted.
"The jerk could've helped me, but he decided to keep racing Rainbow Dash instead."
"...I see."
Twilight kept smiling, though this time she looked a little more relaxed.
"Honestly... the only thing I really remember is how indignant she was."
I tapped my chin with a hoof while trying to reconstruct the conversation.
"She was using a cloth so she wouldn't smell me, she kept her distance the whole time, and once she realized I genuinely had no idea what the problem was, she was very respectful about it."
I tried to remember something else.
Her expression.
Her tone.
"...No."
I slowly shook my head.
"That's all I remember."
I looked at Twilight and smiled.
"We could also add that you'll never know how much help a friend needs unless you actually ask."
I nodded confidently.
"You're my savior, Twi. Rarity only warned me... you showed up exactly when I needed you most."
I paused for a moment.
"And besides... you're not like the others."
I hadn't felt that sticky emotion coming from her even once since she'd walked through the door.
"So, what spell were you working on?" Twi asked.
"Ah!"
I felt my tail bristle with excitement.
"I almost forgot! Come on, I want to show you."
I got up from the couch and headed toward the office while she followed behind me.
"This all started because I wanted to find a way to isolate my scent. I thought about using an imprisonment barrier, but they're too rigid. Then I remembered the purification spell... then the cleaning spell..."
I opened the office door with magic.
"Hehehehe..."
Stella was standing in front of Celestia's Magic Lamp, laughing maniacally. Between her paws she held a fully unrolled scroll.
The moment she noticed us, her laughter vanished instantly. She snapped the scroll shut, clamped it in her mouth, and slowly turned her head toward us like an owl.
She remained perfectly still for a second.
Then she bolted.
Halfway down the hallway, she stopped again. She silently watched us for a few moments before taking off once more, disappearing at full speed.
"Anyway... getting back to the point, the moment I finally cleared my head, I ended up imagining something completely different."
I levitated several scrolls above the desk.
"An Air Isolation Spell. A capsule that keeps the air inside completely separated from the outside while constantly purifying it."
A smile spread across my face before I even noticed.
"I think it could be useful for hospitals, laboratories, alchemists... even kitchens."
Twilight didn't waste any time. She barely glanced at the scrolls before pointing with her hoof at several places where the formulas failed to connect properly.
"You're breaking the continuity of the magical flow here... and this node never actually stabilizes."
Without hesitation, she grabbed a blank scroll and began sketching her own interpretation according to the established rules for magical spell notation.
Lines and symbols quickly appeared beneath her quill.
"If you connect it like this, the circuit should close on its own. At least... on paper."
[Celestia's POV]
One of the walls in my bedroom had been magically transformed into an enormous bookshelf.
Dozens upon dozens of Memory Catchers rested neatly arranged across its shelves.
"Today has been a wonderful day for my novel."
I smiled in satisfaction as I admired the collection.
"You've outdone yourself, Celestia."
I nodded to myself.
"It was an excellent idea not to give Wizbell the Emergency Isolation Spell Against WARDS Miasma. The poor fool could never imagine there have already been cases where entire cities had to be quarantined because of invaders."
My gaze settled on one of the newest Memory Catchers.
"Although... this one just made it into my Top 3."
A quiet giggle escaped my lips.
"It still can't beat the time Twilight used Wizbell as a pillow while he had fallen asleep wearing dinosaur pajamas and drawing spell formulas with crayons."
"Hehehe..."
I gave a little hop on the bed, unable to contain my excitement.
"I can't wait to show my entire collection to my little sister!"
I rested a hoof against my chin.
"...I could use that projection spell Wizbell invented to display the memories across the wall..."
My eyes began to sparkle.
My attention shifted toward the Memory Catcher that occupied the number one spot in my collection.
An image could be seen inside it.
Wizbell was wearing a ridiculous pair of dinosaur pajamas. He held up a scroll packed with magical formulas, wearing an enormous smile of pride as though he had just discovered the greatest spell in history...
In reality, it was nothing more than a spell to create a bubble of ambient water.
Curled up against his side, Twilight was using him as a pillow without the slightest hint of guilt while trying to decipher the scroll with a look of absolute fascination.
"Hehehe..."
"It's still my favorite."