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Post by Nandh'Ji Rajem on Oct 20, 2011 11:23:15 GMT -5
Nandh'ji Rajem had come into Ponyville that morning, and the cheerful mood of the town quickly rubbed off to him. He had spent the morning at the marketplace, buying supplies and generally talking with ponies to get to know what manner of place he had come to. At first, many ponies hesitated when the cloaked and outlandish Nandh'ji approached them, but all quickly forgot their fears when they heard his polite greeting and questions. He did not know it, but an affair with a certain Zebra had done much to alleviate the suspicions Ponyvilleans held against outlanders.
The place where the easterling stallion wanted to visit the most was, of course, the town's library. According to what he had been told, the librarian was some sort of protegé of Princess Celestia, and quite a gifted sorceress herself. She would certainly be in possession of many tomes and scrolls Nandh'ji would be delighted to take a look at, and perhaps she'd have some sort of a laboratory he could use with her permission. It had been some time since he last had an opportunity to practice the trade, and he feared he was getting rusty.
Nandh'ji arrived at the library - a curious building that was somehow built into a living tree. He wondered at who had built the library as he approached the door, at which point he promptly entered, not knowing that besides being a library, the place was also somepony's home. He glanced around, and saw nopony, but assumed that the librarian was somewhere filing returns or something similar. Quietly, like one ought to be in a library, he made his way to the nearest bookshelf and began browsing through.
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Oct 20, 2011 15:45:19 GMT -5
Twilight had been studying in the other room as she often did when she went back into the main room for a reference guide. She walked in to find a deep purple stallion looking through books. It seemed the library was being visited a lot in the past few days. "Excuse me? Can i help you with anything?" she said politely.
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Post by Nandh'Ji Rajem on Oct 20, 2011 16:09:49 GMT -5
Nandh'ji was holding a book and flipping through its pages thoughtfully when he heard a voice behind him. He put the tome back where he had taken it from, turned around and looked at whom he presumed to be the student of the Princess, Twilight Sparkle. He bowed graciously and smiled warmly, before he began to speak in a polite tone, but with a very strange accent. He prolonged the vowels slightly too much, pressed the wrong parts of some words, and his general rhythym of speech was much more singsong than that of Equestrian ponies.
"Greetings! I did not see anypony, and I took the liberty of.. examening, is it? If you would have certain books, you see. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Nandh'ji Rajem, though it might be more comfortable for you to call me Starmist Veil. And you must be Twilight Sparkle, if I am not mistaken? I have heard you are the personal student of her divine majesty, Princess Celestia. I am honored to be graced by the presence of somepony of talent and wisdom great enough to reach such an enviable position", he said, before he glanced over his shoulder at the bookshelf he was going through.
"Would you happen to be in the possession of a certain tome? It's Arcane Ink's "Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura" that I am looking for. A very rare tome, but perhaps somepony in your position would have access to it, yes?" He sounded very enthusiastic when he spoke of that certain tome, and kept on smiling in a warm and polite fashion.
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Oct 20, 2011 20:40:45 GMT -5
Twilight was taken aback at how he acted as though she herself was a princess. "Oh please, im only her student." She said with a very subtle blush, "Im still nothing in comparison to the princess herself." Her modesty beginning to show. "But yes, I guess I am the Twilight Sparkle." Her and her friends were the heros of Equestria and Ponyville on more than one occasion, but she still didn't feel any different. She was just Twilight to herself, but to others she guessed she must be famous.
"And to answer your question," She said, "I don't believe we have that book. I think I remember a copy being all the way at the royal library in Canterlot, but thats a while away. Sorry. Is there anything else I can help you with?" She asked inquisitively. She liked that ponies were starting to visit the library more often. Maybe her and Starmist Veil could be friends. He seemed like the bookish type.
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Post by Nandh'Ji Rajem on Oct 22, 2011 14:29:06 GMT -5
Nandh'ji Rajem waved a hoof dismissively at Twilight's modesty. "Ah, but you are too humble for your position! Very charming, and quite respectable. I would have not thought the disciple of the Princess be so modest!" He let out a small chuckle, clapping his hooves together a few times. When the lilac Unicorn said she was not in the possession of the book Nandh'ji sought, he sighed and shrugged. "Very well. Perhaps I shall try my luck if I sometimes find myself in the glorious Canterlot."
The outlandish-looking pony pondered Twilight's question for a moment. She seemed like a nice mare, and seemed like a very formal, studious type at a first glance, not exactly shy, perhaps, but certainly not a socialite. Rajem thought that perhaps he shouldn't bother the mare any longer and simply say his farewells, but on the other hoof, he wished to practice his art, and surely she would have a laboratory, or even a telescope.
"Yes, there might indeed be something you might be able to help me with. Would you have a laboratory I might use, or some sort of visual equipment for studying the firmament? I would also wish to see if you would have any grimoires, scrolls or tomes I might take interest in, and perhaps borrow them for a while if you wouldn't mind?"
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Oct 23, 2011 19:12:16 GMT -5
Twilight smiled, impressed by his above average vocabulary. She had adapted at a young age to not talk like that if you want other ponies to understand you. Still, it was nice to hear somepony with higher standards. "Yes, I do have a telescope, and yes I do have books magic or otherwise." She said with a sly grin. "Why do you need a laboratory, telescope, and books on magic anyway?" She asked.
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Post by Nandh'Ji Rajem on Oct 24, 2011 12:17:39 GMT -5
The jest behind Twilight's words was lost to Starmist, but he smiled warmly nontheless, seeming very excited to hear the mare was ready to allow him to use her equipment. "Ah, I am most grateful for this generosity! Your Princess must be proud of her student to possess such virtues", he complimented her and used his telekinesis to open the small saddlebag hidden underneath his traveller's cloak, levitated a scroll and opened it between them. It was a schematic of some kind; very detailed, with drawings and explanations, and an underlined text at the top, reading: "the Vendrigoth Device."
"You see, honored Twilight Sparkle, I am a scholar of sorts, studying astronomy, alchemy, the arcane and ancient lore; and this is a contraption I wish to unravel. I know not what it does, nor where it is from - yet the design intrigues me greatly. It is a puzzle to be unsolved, an.." Nandh'ji paused for a moment, thinking of how to express himself in the language foreign to him," .. an enigma to be unrevealed, yes?" He finally said, smiling.
"Indeed, if you wish, your considerable knowledge and talent would be most welcome in aiding me piece together this arcane engine", he commended the Unicorn, levitating the scroll onto a nearby table.
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Oct 24, 2011 22:53:30 GMT -5
Twilight looked over the schematic in intrigue, almost awed even. The plans were interesting at first glance, but the more she stared the more she put together exactly how it would work in her mind. She began mumbling to herself while over going the paper. "Yes, I would love to help. I think I know enough to build it." Twilight said more audibly than her previous muttering. This truly astounded her. She could feel a rush of glee and excitement coming on.
She jumped over to her table and began jotting down all the supplies they would need, although some parts of it she still didn't yet fully grasp. "I think with our combined genius this might work." She said already excited. "This is going to be so fun!" She absolutely loved these kinds of things. This was the type of stuff she might even be remembered forever for. Maybe this machine was the most amazing thing ever. Then she would be called into audience with the princess and be given a prestigious award! Of course Starmist would be rewarded as well, but this was Twilights dream of one day accomplishing such a huge feat. Of course the machine could be a big fancy paper weight, but she could dream, right?
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Post by Nandh'Ji Rajem on Oct 25, 2011 14:15:59 GMT -5
Nandh'ji smirked and clapped his front hooves together in excitement. "Spectacular!" He proclaimed. "It is an honor to work with you, lady Sparkle", the stallion bowed and then quickly moved next to Twilight to show her some details about the device's blueprints. The stranger from a faraway land smelled of outlandish spices and herbs, faint but sweet, not sulfur or bitter powders as one would expect from an alchemist in Equestria. Starmist Veil gestured a part of the schematics with a hoof, to fix Twilight's attention on it.
"See this, here? This seems to be a projector of sorts, and these here, they seem like transmitters or.. ah, forgive me, I do not know the word in your tongue", he apologized, tapping the sketchy drawing where the machine had a pair of thin, coiled poles or pipes. "This is a very old scroll; the only way to resolve this mystery is to create the engine."
Nandh'ji was just as excited as Twilight, but he did not dream of being rewarded or commended like her, but to be able to see what the Vendrigoth Device did - sating his curiosity was reward enough. He glanced at Twilight who stood next to him with dazzling eyes, eager to get working on the machine. "This will be exciting! Most wondrous of things our hooves will create - things of awe and inspiration!"
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Oct 26, 2011 17:13:25 GMT -5
Twilights horn glowed as things flew across the room to where they would be needed. She actually was moving so many things at once she almost hit herself in the head with a book. "I'll get a few thing ready here, do you think you could go out and get as many things on the list as you can?" She said, objects still shifting rapidly through the air. "If theres anything I missed, don't hesitate to put it down too." She added.
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Post by Nandh'Ji Rajem on Oct 27, 2011 15:31:55 GMT -5
Nandh'Ji's horn sparked as he took the list and levitated it into his satchel. He was awed by Twilight's ability to spread her magic on so many objects at once, and smiled in wonder. "Your sorcery is most potent, lady Sparkle! Indeed, the Princess of the Sun was great in her wisdom to choose you as her pupil." The stallion raised the hood of his cloak and headed for the door on Twilight's suggestion.
"I shall bring the supplies we require; but I know not this town well, and I might be a while. But for now, I must bid you farewell!" He opened the door with his own magic and stepped outside, heading to the streets to ask ponies for directions. Twilight Sparkle! You are certainly just as much of a genius as I thought. But I didn't expect you to be that humble. What an amazing pony, indeed. Nandh'Ji stopped a pony to ask him where he could find certain parts they needed for the machine, and thanked courteously when the brown colt showed him in the right direction.
Eventually, after over an hour, he had found himself to be in possession of all the required items, and returned to the library with them in his saddlebags. "I return, lady Sparkle", he called out when he entered the treehouse. He opened the bags and levitated all the little coils and tubes and other more exotic things into neat piles. "You must forgive me for the delay, lady Sparkle. I believe I did find everything we require, though."
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Oct 29, 2011 16:09:43 GMT -5
Twilight had several books ready, as well as a few other equipment. "This should be enough!" She said satisfied she had all these tools. Twilight took a look back at the scroll. She then levitated a feel odds and ends up it the air. "Well then," She said, "Lets get this started!" A few more parts flew in the air as she tried not to conflict her spells with Starmists.
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Post by Nandh'Ji Rajem on Oct 29, 2011 19:32:15 GMT -5
Starmist's own magic was pathetic compared to Twilight's potent sorcery; while she could levitate multiple objects at once with ease, Nandh'ji had to focus to move even one. And she wasn't good at just magic; Nandh'ji soon noticed that she had a knack for science, arcane or mundane. The two worked together for hours, trying to get the complex machine to work with the faded, ancient plans as their only guide.
In the end, however, the two could see their work bear fruit. Before them stood, on eight spidery legs, a device made of brass and steel; with tubes running up and down the edges, with water coursing inside them, and five glass spheres, one held between six tall rods at the top, as if some sort of a lightning catcher. The machine was about the size of a large vase, and gave off a small humming sound, a result of the magic used to give it the spark it required to activate. Nandh'Ji had done that - he had natural aptitude for channeling magic into machinery, and had done it multiple times before to create wondrous toys and trinkets.
"It is ready, but what does it do?" He frowned, walking around the table where the thing stood, silent if not for that quiet hum. "Is there a button to activate it? A command word? What have we created, and what is it's purpose?" He glanced at Twilight, as if hoping she had some kind of an answer.
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Nov 1, 2011 16:56:16 GMT -5
Twilight stared at the contraption. She felt the world slowly fade away, shutting out everything but her and the machine in a seemingly endless black void. She did this when she needed to focus. Her horn began to spark involuntarily as she stepped closer to it. It seemed to interact with her on a magical frequency. She felt energized by it somehow. For a long while she just stared and thought deeply. All around her the black void brightened into various colors. She was back in the library.
She turned to Starmist smiling. "I think I understand it! It uses a small amount of magic to start and then it takes natural energy from the air and earth and converts it to magical energy! I could be wrong about where it gets its energy, but I know for sure its putting off alot of it!" She was getting increasingly excited, and the energy she was getting from machine didn't help to calm her. "This is amazing. I think the Princess might even need to hear about this..." She said in awe of the possibility of them both being showered in appreciation from the Princess.
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Post by Nandh'Ji Rajem on Nov 2, 2011 11:52:15 GMT -5
Rajem gave Twilight a surprised look that quickly turned into an eager, triumphant smile. He leaned closer to the artifact and examined it again with newfound insight. It was awe-inspiring how the Unicorn had managed to discern so much of the machine with but a single look, while he, having spent his life meddling with things such as this, couldn't. Now that she had spoken aloud her thoughts, Nandh'Ji couldn't but to agree with her views. The lightning rod-esque top, the glass orbs, the mainframe and the core unit inside it.. She was right!
"Your skills of observation are most astounding, Twilight Sparkle. I stand in awe", Starmist complimented her. He stepped closer to the machine, as well, and could feel his magic align with that of the device, empowering his sorcery. His horn gave a spark, and the stallion smiled. He had never experienced such a thrill of raw arcane force course through his being as now! Was this how Twilight felt constantly? He had always been a bit jealous of other Unicorns due to them possessing far more magic than he did, and the proximity of the device gave him an inkling of how mighty they surely felt.
He calmed is mind and focused. This needed research. Scientific study and objectivity. "Twilight Sparkle, we must first test this contraption utterly. Make sure it is safe and document our findings. Not get ahead of ourselves, as you say, yes?" He looked at the mare. "We could start first thing on the morrow; this day has been long and tedious, has it not? We both need our rest, no?"
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